Chamber honors A.L. Van Houten as Temple City's Citizen of Year ...

PAGE 4 • TEMPLE CITY LIFE • JULY 2009
Temple City Life
A publication of the Temple City Chamber of Commerce.
Temple City Life is published at 9050 Las Tunas Drive,
Temple City, CA 91780. (626) 286-3101
Linda Payne, President, CEO ................... Editor and Publisher
Jeanne Murset ................. Membership Executive/News Writer
Jerry Jambazian ............................ Web Master / Photographer
Philip Pettus ........................................... Publishing Consultant
Temple City Life is a monthly publication produced by the
Temple City Chamber of Commerce and distributed to homes
and businesses in Temple City and vicinity. Articles submitted
and printed in the Temple City Life do not necessarily reflect the
opinion of the Temple City Chamber Commerce or its Board of
Directors. Information is published to inform the public and
stimulate discussion.
Our Mission Statement
Inspired by community-minded individuals, the
Temple City Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to
the high quality of life through the promotion of a
strong local economy and active participation of all
business.
Temple City
Chamber of Commerce
An organization working
to build the community through
its businesses and residents
Officers and Board of Directors
2008 – 2009
Herbert Chan ........................................ Chairman of the Board
GP Wedding and Photography
Andrea Olivas ..................................................... Vice Chairman
Golden State Properties
Kathy Chambers ........................................... Finance Chairman
Quality Bookkeeping Service
Lynne Burkardt ................................................ Board Secretary
Resident Member
Oscar Bustamante .............................................. Board Member
Shin Dance Academy/Temple City Dance & Music
Theresa Chessir .................................................. Board Member
Sonshine House Preschool
Jerry Jambazian ................................................. Board Member
Webmaster, Photographer
Wonder Cleaners & Drapery
Nick Pons ............................................................ Board Member
Wells Fargo Bank
Darlene Reynosa................................................. Board Member
Athens Services
Matt Smith .......................................................... Board Member
Resident
Manny Valenzuela .............................................. Board Member
Friends of the Library (nonprofit organization)
Brian Venerable, DC........................................... Board Member
Venerable Chiropractic Clinic
Bruce Wataru ...................................................... Board Member
Fanny’s Flowers
John Zubrick ....................................................... Board Member
High Twelve Club
Ex-Officio Members
Tom Chavez .............................................. City Council Liaison
Dr. Chelsea Kang-Smith .................................... TCUSD Liaison
Staff
Linda Payne ........................................................ President/CEO
Jeanne Murset ........................................ Membership Executive
e-mail to: info@templecitychamber.org
City addresses thoughtful agenda
Continued from Page 1
current city council and staff. However, morale
at City Hall remains upbeat. The staff is working
hard to make sure citizens enjoy events and services
previously provided, as well as new ones.
With three new council members, the current
council is committed to moving in a positive direction
and to revitalize the city into one our citizens
can be proud of.
2. Redevelopment. City Council voted to retain
Avant Garde to assist with redevelopment and
business retention. Robert Paz has been working
with staff and council members to create a plan
to not only increase our sales tax base, but also to
address the needs of current city businesses. A
committee, comprised of local business members,
service groups and citizens has begun to form to
assist Avant Garde with its recommendations.
3. Transparency in City Government. To ensure
that citizens have the opportunity to view
how their local government works, all City Council
meetings will now be broadcast on local cable.
The broadcast will also be available on the Web
in the very near future as well, together with other
city meetings throughout the year. The overall atmosphere
of the meetings has changed. Most in
attendance have stated that the current City
Council is more receptive to comments by those
in attendance and they feel comfortable speaking
at the meetings.
4. Joint Use Agreements. City Council has approved
joint-use agreements with El Monte Unified
School District and Temple City School District
for the continued use of school facilities for
city-sponsored programs.
5. Balanced Budget. A balanced budget was
recently passed without requiring the city to invade
its reserves, while maintaining its quality services
to our citizens. Interim city manager Cathy
Burroughs, Financial Services Manager, Monica
Molina and city staff worked very hard to meet
city goals.
6. City Commissions. The Council has been
busy filling vacancies on both the planning and
the parks and recreation commissions after receiving
numerous applicants from many quali-
Continued from Page 1
Award from the PTA for her
outstanding service to youth in
the community. She is very
proud to have achieved her goal
of changing Temple City High
School PTA into a PTSA, Parent-Teacher-StudentAssociation.
This is the first year for
TCHS PTSA and Janet is
pleased to have 380 student
members and several student
board members on the PTSA
Board.
This year, she is Sponsorship
Chairman for Ramrodders, the
football booster group at
Temple City High School. She
is also one of the “devoted”
team moms for the Rams Varsity
football team. Keeping the
traditions of the Rams alive,
Janet plans and prepares for the
pre-meal served before each
football game.
Janet is one of the founding
members of the Temple City
Schools Foundation. She serves
on the Board of Directors as the
PTA representative and has
served as Vice President and
Secretary in the past.
Janet chaired a committee to
raise funds to help pay for
medical expenses for a high
school senior and long-time
family friend who was diagnosed
with cancer. Congressman
Adam Schiff was one of
the honored guests who at-
tended this overwhelmingly
successful fundraiser.
During Woman’s History
month in March, 2007, Janet
received the “Woman of the
Year” award for Temple City
from Congressman Schiff for
her contributions made to the
29th Congressional District.
When her two oldest sons
were seniors at Temple City
High School, she enthusiastically
planned the game booths
that were part of the Grad Nite
celebration, a safe, all-night
party held on campus for the
graduates following the Graduation
ceremony. This year she
is busily planning the game
booths for the Santa Monica
Pier Area of Grad Nite 2009: I
Love L.A. She plans to continue
this tradition next year when
her youngest son, Collin, is a
senior.
Janet has been an active supporter
of the performing arts in
Temple City at both Oak Avenue
Intermediate School and
Temple City High School. She
served on the Temple City High
School Band Rose Parade committee
during 2003, helping
raise over $100,000 to support
the Pride of Temple City’s debut
in the Rose Parade on January
1, 2004.
Janet has thoroughly enjoyed
being a stay-at-home
mom and being involved
throughout the community.
www.templecitychamber.org
fied citizens. Council has also initiated discussions
on creating two advisory groups comprised of our
youth and senior citizens.
7. Non-Smoking Ban. City Council recently
approved a nonsmoking ban in all city parks, recognizing
the health benefits of such a ban.
8. City Manager Position. Longtime city manager
and city attorney, Charles Martin, has retired
and Cathy Burroughs, current Parks and Recreation
Director, has been installed as interim city
manager.
The process for hiring a permanent city manager
has intensified and the goal is to have someone
in place by the end of summer. Eric Vail has
been retained as interim city attorney until a permanent
city attorney is selected.
Cynthia Sternquist fills
vacancy on City Council
Cynthia
Sternquist is
the newest
member of
the Temple
City Council,
after she was
elected by the
remaining
members of
the council
following the
resignation of
Dave Capra,
June 2.
Capra resigned
after
pleading
guilty to violating
state
elections law
Photo by Jerry Jambazian
Cynthia Sternquist takes oath.
by accepting an unreported campaign donation in
2007.
Ms. Sternquist was selected on June 11 at special
meeting of the Temple City Council.
TCUSD honors Janet Smith with Golden Apple Award
She delights in attending the
boys’ activities and cheering
them on. Collin remains actively
involved at TCHS in
band, football, wrestling, and
track and field. Kyle graduated
from California State University
Fullerton in May, 2008 and after
student teaching in music in
Temple City and Arcadia, received
his teaching credential in
May, 2009.
She has enjoyed watching
Kyle play lacrosse the past 3
years at CSUF. Any chance she
gets, she and Matt like to go up
North to visit Cary at the University
of California at Berkeley
where he is a sophomore
and a sousaphone player in the
band.
She knows she’ll have many
more opportunities to volunteer
as Collin finishes high
school. In her free time, she enjoys
baking, photography and
being creative. She works part
time at a stationery store in San
Marino.
Janet’s husband, Matt, is
serving in his eleventh year as a
member of the TCUSD Board
of Education. He is a Technical
Sales Manager for AT&T.
The Temple City Unified
School District and the community
are better places to learn
and live thanks to Janet Smith,
a dedicated volunteer and enthusiastic
advocate for education.