June 29, 2011 - San Gabriel Valley Examiner

June 23 - 29, 2011 S.G.V. EXAMINER A1
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Volume XV, Issue No. 26 STRIVING FOR JOURNALISTIC EXCELLENCE IN LOCAL NEWS
June 23 - 29, 2011
Artist of the Year
Mustard Flowers In Late
Season by Marilyn Nettles / A4
INDEX
City Notices B14
Classifieds B15
Financial/ Consumer B4
Legal Notices B7
By Joan Schmidt
Something really exciting and
special happened at Annunciation
Church last Friday at 4pm.
A Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement
Exercises were held
for 39 very excited and elated
students. "Wow, we are the first
graduates of the new school
model." "Aren"t we very special?"
These were just a few of
the comments I heard!
This graduation was the first
ever for "ICA", Immaculate
Conception-Annunciation
School. This school merger
came as a result of the economy
and a low enrollment for both
Immaculate Conception School
in MNonrovia and Annunciation
School in Arcadia. The merger
was not an easy decision and
was not done overnight. First
there was aspecial committee
appointed to do a complete
study of what the option were
for these two schools. The
committee looked at other
schools and saw that mergers
worked.
This past year saw the
evolvement of the new school
model, Immaculate Conception-Annunciation,
dubbed,
"ICA". On the IC campus were
grades K-4. The middle school
campus at Annunciation housed
grades 5-8. Did this plan work?
Could two schools merge and
A Celebration on Anthony Nalbandian's Graduation
By Inday Moses
Graduation day is a time for
letting go, a time where certain
things will forever be
changed as the graduates embark
on another chapter in their
lives. Since the parents can't
be with them as they follow
their dreams, all that they can
do is hope and pray for the
best. One of the current graduates
who was given a lavish
celebration by his parents
Commander Reserve Gary
Nalbandian and wife Nadia,
was Anthony Nalbandian. Anthony
is a graduate from Upland
High School and will be
pursuing a college education at
U.C. Sta. Cruz.
"Dad, you've always made
me feel like a brother and a
best friend and I appreciate
that. And to the person that
taught me everything, from my
ABC's to math, and taught me
to be kind and caring, to love
people with all my heart, my
Mom. The most important person
in my life, or as she is commonly
mistaken , my girlfriend.
What more can I say about a
woman who gives every
muscle in her body back to her
Sheriff Lee Baca, Carol Baca, Brandon, Gary, Anthony, Nadia, Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich and Princess Tia
family… and still look this
beautiful. Mom, I love
you….And to all of you, thank
you for being here and I hope
that next time we have a cel-
The First Graduation Of ICA
The author pictured with her former student, Annasofia Zuleta.
students come together to learn
and work as "ONE"? Yes it
could!
As a substitute teacher this
past year, I saw the results firsthand.
Sure, there were a few
glitches, but overall improvement.
There now was a science
lab, more field trips which gave
students new experiences and
participation in both the
Monrovia District Spelling Bee
and Archdiocesan Decathlon.
The FIRST Graduation and
Mass of the new ICA School
were beautiful. The Valedictorian
was Carly Cheap and Salutatorian
was Taylor Hechanova.
Academic Awards were presented
in the following areas:
Literature-Taylor Hechanova,
Language Arts-Kirk Arce, Religion-Carly
Cheap, Beatitudes-
John Michael Trinidad, Math-
Ruby Kalra, Science-Liana
Arnot, Spelling-Ashlyn Reyes,
and Social Studies-Olivia Reyes.
Recipients of the Gold Chord
(First Honors) included Kirk
Arce, Liana Arnot, Gabriella
Carpinelli, Carly Cheap, Taylor
Hechanova, Ruby Kalra, Christian
Mah, Matthew Martinez,
Ashlyn Reyes, Olivia Rivas,
Courtney Totten and Alexander
Tuason. The Blue Chord (Second
Honors) was awarded to
Emily Alba, Victoria Alvarez,
Alexandra Cabrera, Katelin
Casner, Summer Castro,
Francis Ignacio, Brianna Leal,
Samantha Marquez, Ruben
Martinez, Teresa Pershey, Austin
Prieto, Anissa Ramirez, Margaret
Szavoszt, Yasmine
Vasquez, Kelly Yu and Annasofia
Zuleta. Congratulations first ICA
graduating class! Well done!
Womens Club of West Covina
Selects Joyce Owen as Queen
By George Ogden
WEST COVINA — At the
last meeting of the Woman's
Club of West Covina, they selected
a new queen for the
coming year. Joyce Owen was
selected and was "crowned"
by Rosa Spence who reigned
as queen for this past year.
Joyce Owen has been a
member since 1999. Owen
was also their President from
2005 to 2007. The Woman's
Club of West Covina has been
serving the community since
1956.
Incoming Queen Joyce Owen (left) with outgoing queen Rosa
Spence doing the crowning.
ebration you will be even
prouder of me."
Anthony's Dad, Gary made
a short speech as well, in recognition
of his wife Nadia's
endless hard work, worry and
tears, the lack of sleep in preparing
every second for her
son's success and for being
such a beautiful and wonderful
person. " While I was working
hard to bring home the
money, my wife brought to the
home, honor and respect,
GLENDORA - Engineering
Excellence: Jacqueline
Deeb, a 19-year-old engineering
major, was recently named
the 2011 Citrus College Woman
of the Year during the college's
annual Academic Achievement
Awards ceremony. A
resident of Glendora, Deeb is
a member of Citrus
GraviTeam, a group of nine
Citrus College students who
will be traveling to Houston this
month to flight test an experiment
at the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration
(NASA). She will be transferring
to Cal Poly, Pomona
for the fall 2011 semester and
hopes to pursue a career in engineering.
Student Veteran: David
Keys, a 29-year-old social science
major, was recently
named the 2011 Citrus College
Man of the Year at the college's
annual Academic Achieve-
ment Awards ceremony. A
resident of Upland, Keys is an
Army Veteran who served in
Operation Iraqi Freedom with
the 82nd Airborne Division.
He will be transferring to the
University of California at Berkeley
as an international relations
major for the fall 2011
semester.
They were selected from
Citrus College's student body
of nearly 13,000 to receive the
2011 Man and Woman of the
Year designations. Deeb and
Keys were given these honors
because of their impressive
grade point averages and many
contributions to Citrus College
and the community at large.
growth, sincerity and values
that matter most in life," said
Gary.
This event was held at the
prestigious restaurant "The
Babylon" in downtown
Pomona. The celebration was
filled with many political and
civic figures such as; Sheriff
Lee Baca and wife Carol,
Assemblyman Tim Donnely
and wife Rowena, Honorable
Judge James Kado, Los Angeles
City Attorney Carmen
Trutanich, Retired Chief Dave
Hining, Commander Bob
Lindsey, Commander Reserve
Jerry Jerjerian, Commander
Reserve Ramsy Bader,
Former Chief of Police,
Glendora Councilman Joe
Santoro and wife Janine,
Former Mayor of Glendora
John Gordon and Former
Mayor of Azusa, Eugene F.
Moses.
(For more photos, please
turn to Page A4)
Citrus College Names 2011
Man and Woman of the Year
Jacqueline Deeb and David Keys.
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Photo by Roy LaBomme
Sacred Heart Conference
SAN DIMAS - The 10th Annual
Sacred Heart Conference,
Healing the Family: Consecrating
Families to the Sacred Heart
of Jesus; Mary, Our Mother
Leads the Way. This conference
will be held at Holy Name
of Mary Church, 724 Bonita
Avenue, San Dimas on Friday
and Saturday, July 1 and 2nd.
Registration on Friday, July
1st at 6:30pm; the program will
be from 7:00pm to 9:00pm.
Registration of Saturday, July
2nd, at 8:30am and program will
be from 9:00am to 4:00 pm.
Father Mike Barry, SS. CC
will be presenting enthronement
of the Sacred Heart in the home
with Healing of the Family Tree
and Wayne Weible will be speaking
on his conversion and
Medjugorje, the message of the
Blessed Virgin. Mike and Suzi
Scanlon will give a special testimony.
$30.00 registration includes
lunch. For information and reservations,
call 909-260-2033 or
909-593-5441

A2
S.G.V. EXAMINER
A Very Special Father:
Richard Dale Blake Schmidt
By Joan Schmidt
Richard Dale Blake was born
May 8, 1942, in Columbus,
Ohio, the 2nd youngest of eight
children. Times were difficult
& the children were all placed
in foster homes, when Richard
was only four. He was shuffled
though different homes and
eventually was adopted by the
Schmidt’s when nine years old.
With the Schmidt’s, he was
confirmed and there were some
happy memories going to the
grandparent’s farm, and to a
cabin every summer. At seventeen,
he enlisted into the Army.
He was in for one tour. Then
returned to Ohio to look up his
biological family. He was reunited
with his siblings and
worked for his brother, Bill, a
contractor. He painted and even
laid brick. He was one of those
people who could fix anything.
However this was not the life
he wanted, so he re-enlisted.
I met Richard when he was
a Staff Sergeant at Stewart Air
Force Base, Newburgh, New
York, only because of a mail
strike. We were married
twenty-two years, fourteen of
those while he was in the military;
the last eight years, he was
on a special defense project at
JPL.
Richard was a man who
overcame hardships as a child,
and very difficult times in Viet
Nam to become a loving person
devoted to his family, kind
and helpful to all in need and
outstanding in his job. In Nam,
he helped run orphanages. He
SAN DIMAS - Please join us
for the inaugural James A. Martin
Memorial Walk for PH on
Saturday, June 25, 2011 at 10
AM! This 5K PHun walk promises
to be a day filled with feelgood
moments as we “JAM for
PHA” with two laps around the
beautiful South Shore of
Puddingstone Lake in Bonelli
Regional Park in San Dimas located
at 120 Via Verde, San
Dimas. Directly following is an
Opportunity Drawing and catered
lunch in the West Picnic
Valley.
All types of walkers are welcome;
so grab your family,
friends, strollers or wagons and
join us as much as health and
interest will allow. Registration
begins at 9 a.m. followed by the
walk beginning at 10 a.m.
The James A. Martin Memorial
Walk for PH is an upbeat
community event honoring the
memory of Jim Martin, an extraordinary
and loving husband,
father and grandfather who
passed away in January 2010
from pulmonary hypertension
(PH), a debilitating lung disease
currently with no cure.
Jim was a loyal and enthusiastic
resident of our local community
for 32 years. He would
be so proud of us gathering together
to walk in his selfless
footsteps to raise money in his
name to benefit those who still
suffer from this devastating illness.
felt a bond to those children
because of his difficult childhood.
Later in his life, he helped
at homeless shelters and shelters
for abused women. They
trusted him because of his
empathetic, kind manner. He
could be gentle with people
when needed or tough and
strong if necessary. Anything he
did, he was meticulous with. He
could take charge in any situation
when needed. He received
so many medals and awards
during his career- many I didn’t
know about because he was so
modest.
Several years ago, he went
back to Ohio, and two beloved
sisters had passed away. That
was a bitter disappointment. But
he did get to visit with siblings,
Bobbie and Don. Again, whenever
a disappointment or hardship
arose, Richard would pick
himself up and go on. This
Father’s Day was very difficult
for our three children, Richard,
Karen and Kristine; their
Inaugural James A. Martin
Memorial Walk for PH
As a thank you, an event tshirt
and goodie bag comes with
each paid adult registration and
children under 12 walk for free!
All proceeds will support the
Pulmonary Hypertension Association
(PHA), whose efforts
are dedicated to creating better
public understanding of this illness,
connecting PH patients,
caregivers and medical professionals,
and ultimately finding a
PH cure.
On behalf of PHA and my
family, I humbly thank you in
advance for your support and
generosity. I believe, just as my
father did, that there is hope,
"PHenomenal" hope that events
like ours will make a difference.
Questions? Please contact,
Bernie Gore, Event Chair at
626.524.1971 or
JAMforPHA@yahoo.com.
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spouses Melissa and Chris and
grandchildren, Sean, Richard,
Jennifer and Jacob. But they
must remember that their Dad
overcame many hardships and
accomplished much during his
lifetime.
Richard Dale Blake died June
13, 2010.
The San Gabriel Valley Examiner
June 23 - 29, 2011
To Advertise
CALL
626-852-3374

June 23 - 29, 2011 S.G.V. EXAMINER A3
One World, Many Stories
WEST COVINA - School
may be over, but reading is a
never-ending adventure! Studies
have shown that students
who participate in vacation reading
programs are more likely to
perform at or above grade level
when they return to school.
Keep up those reading skills by
participating in West Covina
Library's Summer Reading Program,
“One World, Many Stories.”
Kids and teens of all ages
can sign up for the program,
keep track of the time they
spend reading, and earn prizes.
The Library will also be hosting
a number of special programs
to encourage families to
come into the library and get
reading. The Summer Reading
Program is on from 2:00 PM to
4:00 PM. Also, every Wednesday
at 2:00 PM the Library will
feature special performances
for the whole family including
a live animal show, puppets, storytellers,
and more. There will
also be weekly storytimes,
game days, and more fun, interactive
programs for all ages.
Contact the library for a more
detailed schedule.
West Covina Library, part of
the County of Los Angeles Public
Library, is located at 1601
West Covina Parkway in West
Covina. For more information
about the library and its programs,
please call (626) 962-
3541 or visit the County Library
Web site at
www.colapublib.org.
To Advertise In
The San Gabriel Valley Examiner
CALL 626-852-3374
221 W. FOOTHILL BLVD - GLENDORA, CA 91741
TEL: 626-914-3500 --- FAX 626-914-3511
Store Hours: Tue-Sat 8:00-7:00 / Sun 9:00 - 5:00 / Closed Mondays
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The San Gabriel Valley
Examiner
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They Met At Sweet Daddy's In The Glendora Village
By Jayam Rutnam
It was a beautiful day, with
the large jacaranda trees in full
bloom. Passing by Finkbiner
Park in Glendora, there was a
wedding event in progress.
Photos were being taken outside
the Legion Hall where the
couple held their reception.
The parents of the bride,
Dolores and Richard Kirkham,
long time residents of Glendora
were looking on with pride and
joy as their daughter Allison
married Andrew Van Lahr. I
was able to get a quick photo
of the group, with the new husband
looking adoringly at his
bride Allison. When asked
where they met, they blurted
out in unison that Allison was
a server at Sweet Daddy's and
Andrew Van Lahr was a regular
customer. Sweet Daddy's
was located in the Village in
Glendora,.
Around 70 people gathered
at the Legion Hall for the reception.
Allison Van Lahr attended
Willow Elementary in
Glendora and then Royal Intermediate
in Covina and Charter
Oak High in Covina. She
now works as a "barrista" at
Kyle A. Cline, Agent
Insurance Lic. #: OD16727
1275 E Route 66
Glendora, CA 91740-3779
Bus: 626-335-0815 Toll Free: 888-400-5551
The San Gabriel Valley Examiner
Amanda Kirkham, Pastor Daniel Hopkins, Jackie Jones, Andrew Van Lahr, Allison Kirkham, Richard
and Dolores Kirkham
the Coffee Bean in Sierra
Madre. Andrew Van Lahr
went to Damien High School
and is now an executive at Ten-
Ex Ammunition. We wish the
couple many years of happiness.
Golfing Glendorans At
Rancho Palos Verdes
Tim Morales, Armando Arras, Dr. Song Park and Myung Kwok
By Jayam Rutnam
The Los Verdes Country
Club in Rancho Palos Verdes,
California was the venue for the
Global C. S. International Golf
Classic which was held last
week on a beautiful sunny day.
Glendorans Tim Morales,
Armando Arras, Myung Kwok
and Glendora's famous veterinarian
Dr. Song Park teed off
to play a full game of golf.
David & Olga Fernandez
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Verdes, this course is easily one
of the best golf sites in the
world. It is also an eighteen hole
course that is quite challenging.

A4
S.G.V. EXAMINER
A Celebration on Anthony Nalbandian's Graduation
Glendora Councilman Joe Santoro, Gary Nalbandian, Janine Santoro
Sam Shahrestan, Sheriff Lee and Carol Baca, Eva Shahrestan, Gary and Nadia Nalbandian
Anthony's teacher.......Bo Whieldon, Megan Whieldon and Anthony Nalbandian
Senator Huff Selects 29th
District “Artist of the Year”
Rowland Heights Artist Wins with Impressionist Style Entry
SACRAMENTO - Senator
Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar) has
selected a retired schoolteacher
from Rowland Heights as his
“Artist of the Year” from the
29th Senate District. Marilyn
Nettles, a hobbyist landscape
painter who has lived in the
Walnut and Rowland Heights
area of Los Angeles County
since 1979, won top honors
with her entry of mustard flowers
in late season.
The winning artwork submitted
by Ms. Nettles will be displayed
in the State Capitol with
other award-winning entries in
an art show that begins later this
month and will last for approximately
18-months. It will find
a home in both the Maddy
Lounge and Cox’s Clubhouse,
which are regularly used for
caucus briefings for both Republican
and Democrat Senators.
The art show will end in
September of next year.
“Marilyn captured the spirit
and beauty of my Senate District
with her entry,” said Senator
Huff. “Her attention to detail
and work with landscapes
is simply breathtaking. I’m
pleased that the 29th Senate
District will be well represented
in the upcoming display at the
State Capitol.”
Mustard Flowers In Late Season by Marilyn Nettles.
Nettles, 73, was born in San
Diego and has lived with her
husband, Donald, in the Los
Angeles area for nearly 50
years. She earned a Bachelor of
Science Degree from Brigham
Young University and later
earned a Bachelor of Arts from
California State University at
Los Angeles. She retired in
2001, after serving as an elementary
school teacher in the
Chino School District for 20
years. Since retirement, Nettles
has returned to her love of landscape
painting and painting
from photographs that were
taken on various vacations.
“This is quite an honor and
I’m very excited,” said Nettles
upon learning that she had won
a competition that drew close
to 50 entries. “I spent many
years making porcelain dolls
that won a number of awards,
but my artwork has never been
recognized in quite this way.”
Senator Huff serves as the
Senate Republican Caucus
Chair and represents the 29th
Senate District covering portions
of Los Angeles, Orange
and San Bernardino Counties.
The San Gabriel Valley Examiner
Janice Laing, Chief Tom Laing, Gary Nalbandian, Sheriff Lee and Carol Baca
Anthony with friends, Elijah, Gary, Samer, Harout, Anthony, Stevo
June 23 - 29, 2011
Sheila Tekin, Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, Rowena Donnelly, Gary Nalbandian, Mary Jerjerian, Gary
Jerjerian, Abraham Tekin
Arcadia Should Think Twice
By Joan Schmidt Clayton
About two or three weeks
ago, my WORST nightmare
happened. I was driving west
on Camino Real and saw the
UNBELIEVABLE! My favorite
house- a darling green bungalow-probably
the ONLY one left
in Arcadia- had THE SIGN in
front of it, "MURSOL CON-
STRUCTION" ! I went home
and cried! "Mursol Construction"
is synonymous with
"MONSTROSITY" as far as I
am concerned. I have NO
PROBLEM with a big house. I
grew up in Westfield, New Jersey,
and most of the houses are
large. But the houses in
Westfield and in most East
Coast towns are pretty and not
one is identical to another! Styles
include "Colonial", "English Tutor",
"Victorian", or "Greek Revival"
to name a few. There are
also smaller Cape Cod, bungalow
and Ranch Style homes!
I live in Monrovia-a few
blocks east of Arcadia. Driving
west, I saw a corner lot with a
chain link fence around it. In
front of the chain link was a
green covering to block the
view of the house. So I just
thought that house was being
remodeled. But "no" that house
also was a victim of the Arcadia
trend: "Raze a beautiful home
that has charm and put up a big
monstrosity"! If a person
passes Myrtle Avenue in
Monrovia and heads west to
Arcadia, they will see that two
attractive homes about TWO
BLOCKS apart are gone, and
soon construction will began on
yet another two monstrosities.
It's not surprising though.
Several years back, Arcadia had
a chance to be involved in a
"Habitat For Humanity" project.
But they turned up their noses.
Kyle A. Cline, Agent
1275 E Route 66
Glendora, CA 91740
626-335-0815
Insurance Lic. #: OD16727
A former Arcadia Council member
who shall remain anonymous
didn't want "Those kind
of houses" in their city. Or" the
class of people who lived in
those houses". What a snob. I
was involved with the Duarte
Habitat site. The homes are
lovely, and the owners are hardworking
decent people. I personally
knew five of the six
families chosen as I was on one
of the Habitat Selection Committees.
Well all I can say is " I
LOVE Monrovia and Duarte
and am glad I live here in the
"MAD" area"!
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