'Crimes of the Heart' opening in Long Beach

"Crimes of the Heart," the Pulitzer Prize-winning comic drama about three Mississippi sisters betrayed by their passions, opens June 9 at International City Theatre in Long Beach. 

“I have loved this play ever since I saw the original Broadway production,” says director Luke Yankee, whose previous directing credits at ICT include "Private Lives" and "Shipwrecked!" “Its wit, charm and humanity speak to me — and to many of us — on a very basic level. Its message of honoring and loving your family first, no matter what, is timeless.”

Set in Hazlehurst, Mississippi in 1974, "Crimes of the Heart" tells the story of the three Magrath sisters: Lenny, the oldest, is unmarried and facing diminishing marital prospects. Middle sister Meg has just returned from the West Coast after a failed attempt at a singing career. And youngest sister Babe has just been bailed out of jail after shooting her husband in the stomach.

Their priggish and insufferable cousin, Chick, seems only too pleased to stir up gossip and rehash old family scandals.

Into this disturbing but hilarious world of dysfunction comes Barnette, an awkward young lawyer who hopes to rescue Babe from her legal predicament. Rounding out the group is Doc Porter, Meg’s former flame whom she ditched after a brief tryst five years earlier during Hurricane Camille.

Beth Henley completed writing the play in 1978 and submitted it to several regional theaters — without success. Unknown to her, a friend entered it in the Great American Play Contest at the Actors Theatre of Louisville. It was named co-winner and produced at the 1979 Actors Theatre Festival of New American Plays.

There, it was so well received that it was selected by numerous regional theaters for their 1979-80 seasons. The Manhattan Theatre Club produced it off-Broadway in December 1980, where it a garnered the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best American Play. It opened on Broadway at the John Golden Theatre in 1981.

The 1986 film adaptation was directed by Bruce Beresford; it garnered three Academy Award nominations.

"Crimes of the Heart" runs Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., June 9-25. Two preview performances take place June 7-8, both at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $47 on Thursdays and Fridays, and $49 on Saturdays and Sundays, except for June 9 (opening night) for which tickets are $55 and include a post show reception at Utopia Restaurant. Tickets to preview shows are $35. 

International City Theatre is located in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. For reservations and information, call 562-436-4610 or go to InternationalCityTheatre.org.
 

Legislation would designate Rancho hospital as 'rehabilitation innovation center'

A bill to designate Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitant Center as a ‘rehabilitation innovation center’ advanced in the State Assembly with a 14-1 vote last week.

Photo by Pam Lane, DowneyDailyPhotos.com

Assembly Bill 1411, by Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens), was brought forward by constituents during the assemblywoman’s annual ‘There Ought to be a Law’ contest, which was won with this proposal.

The Rehabilitation Innovation Center designation recognizes an inpatient rehabilitation research center that has particular expertise in treating patients with the most complex rehabilitation needs.

Located in Downey, it was first founded in 1888 to serve farming families who could not afford medical services.

“Rancho Los Amigos provides care to approximately 4,000 inpatients and 71,000 outpatients annually, making it one of the largest rehabilitation centers in the nation,” said Garcia. “At a time when healthcare for working Americans is in a perilous position, 85% of this center’s patients are on MediCal and it’s the only public rehabilitation facility in Southern California even though it’s one of the most premiere facilities in the country.”

As the only rehabilitation hospital in Los Angeles County’s Department of Health Services, the center serves a unique and vital role in patient recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration. The hospital specializes in brain, neurology, orthopedic, pediatric, spine injury, and stroke rehabilitation. Each year, the hospital provides care to approximately 4,000 inpatients and 71,000 outpatients, making it one of the largest rehabilitation centers in the nation.

“This legislation recognizes the few rehabilitation centers, like Rancho Los Amigos, that have a higher calling to treat the most complex patients, provide access to the most vulnerable, and contribute to advancing the science of rehabilitation,” said Jorge Orozco, Chief Executive Officer at Rancho Los Amigos.

A video of just one of the innovative treatments the center has created can be found here.  In it, nodes connected directly to a paraplegic man’s brain control a robotic arm enabling him to drink a beer for the first time by himself since his accident. 

“Their innovative care and ability to heal thousands of people every year not only provide a beckon of hope for patients in need but they’re also a fantastic example of the services and advancements burgeoning in this region,” added Garcia.  “The work Rancho Los Amigos does is amazing—just watch the video!  The potential partnerships to advance care and innovation in rehabilitation treatments are endless and start-ups should take note and visit this jewel in my district soon.”

The bill will next be heard in Assembly Appropriations. 

Former mob boss is keynote speaker at Mayor's Prayer Breakfast

Former mafia boss Michael Franzese, who at his peak generated an estimated $8 million per week through illicit business dealings, will be the keynote speaker at the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, June 3.

The breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Rio Hondo Event Center. Admission is $20. 

A member of the Colombo crime family, Franzese made a fortune selling bootleg gasoline and other crime ventures. In 1986, at age 35, he was named by Vanity Fair one of the biggest money-earners the mob had seen since Al Capone. 

Fortune Magazine listed him No. 18 on its list of the "Fifty Wealthiest and Powerful Mafia Bosses." 

Not surprisingly, Franzese quickly became the target of Manhattan's famed federal prosecutor, Rudolph Guiliani. Facing 100 years behind bars after an indictment on federal racketerring charges, Franzese pleaded guilty to two counts, reducing his sentence to 10 years in prison and $14 million in restitution payments. 

Franzese denounced the crime lifestyle while in prison and became a devout Christian. He remains the only person of his rank to ever walk away from the mob -- and live. 

Downey man arrested in sting targeting unlicensed contractors

A Downey man was arrested last week after he was caught in a sting targeting unlicensed contractors. 

Sergio Enrique Garcia allegedly posted an online ad soliciting construction work. 

Investigators from the California State License Board responded, and Garcia traveled to a single-family home in Northridge for work. He was arrested after bidding on a painting and decorating job.

Garcia was charged with contracting without a license and illegal advertising. State law requires that unlicensed contractors state in all advertisements that they are not licensed. 

Fourteen people were arrested in total during the sting. 

“With today’s technology, it is easy for people to make very professional looking websites, business cards, and other forms of advertisements,” said CSLB Registrar David Fogt. “But the only way to be sure that a contractor is working legally is to verify their license number with CSLB.”

Letter to the Editor: Response from Downey PD

This letter is in response to a previous letter received last week.

Dear Editor:

On May 16th, 2017, at about 1352, our dispatch center received a call on the business line from Mrs. Curtis, but after a few moments, the call was placed on hold when they received an unrelated call via 911. Once the 911 call was handled, and our dispatcher was able to speak with Mrs Curtis, the call was entered and officers responded, arriving within five minutes of being dispatched. During the call, Mrs Curtis advised that the subject was last seen walking away from her residence and towards Pangborn Ave and Muller St.
 
Responding officers located the suspect away from the caller’s residence, and he was ultimately arrested. Unfortunately, the original caller was not notified of his arrest.
 
I called the Curtis residence this afternoon and spoke with Mrs Curtis, the original caller, to let her know what happened and apologized for us not following up with her immediately after making the arrest, as we should have.
 
While I understand that Mr. Curtis was upset in his belief that the Downey Police did not respond, it is simply not true. We should have notified them of the arrest, but unfortunately we did not until my phone call to them today.
 
In regards to Mrs Curtis being placed on hold, our dispatch center has to answer calls that come in via 911 as quickly as possible, not knowing the nature of the call. Often times, other callers may get put on hold when other, more emergent matters arise.
 
We appreciate the concern and feedback from the Curtis family, and apologize for falling short. We will continue to strive to be better.
 
Sincerely,
 
Dean R. Milligan
Police Captain, Field Operations

Downey woman linked to Florencia 13 street gang receives decade-plus sentence

LOS ANGELES – Two key operatives of the Florencia 13 street gang who were convicted of racketeering and narcotics offenses following a trial last year have each been sentenced to over a decade in federal prison.

Giselle Casado, also known as “Guera,” 33, of Downey, was sentenced on May 9 to 121 months in prison for being a “secretary” to the gang’s shot-caller, which allowed her to play an inside role in the gang’s illegal operations.

The evidence presented at last year’s trial showed that Casado relayed gang-related messages, controlled illicit monies, and assisted drug trafficking activities.

A second person found guilty last year by a federal jury – Jose Sanchez, also known as “Trouble” and “Troll,” 41, of Huntington Park – was sentenced last month to 238 months in federal prison.

Sanchez, a longtime F13 member, was sentenced on April 17 for his role in the gang’s racketeering activities, as well as related drug trafficking and firearm offenses.

Casado and Sanchez were sentenced by United States District Judge Beverly Reid O’Connell, who presided over a four-week trial that culminated last July with a jury returning guilty verdicts on charges of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and conspiracy to distribute narcotics.

Sanchez also was found guilty of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime for possessing a handgun at a “casita” – one of the illegal gambling establishments run by the gang.

The evidence presented at trial showed that Sanchez was one of the F13’s “soldiers,” who were required to engage in drug trafficking and violent acts on behalf of the gang. Sanchez served as armed security to protect illegal narcotics sales at several casitas. He also sold drugs both at the casitas and from his residence in Huntington Park.

When she sentenced Sanchez last month, Judge O’Connell described Sanchez as having “consistently led a life of crime.”

The jury that convicted Casado and Sanchez also returned guilty verdicts against two other F13 members who were charged in a federal racketeering indictment in August 2013. The indictment named 30 members and associates of the F13 Gang. With the four convictions last summer, a total of 25 defendants have been convicted in the case (one charged defendant died, and the other four remain fugitives).

The other two defendants found guilty at trial last summer are scheduled to be sentenced by Judge O’Connell on June 5. Jose Dorado, 35, and Tannous Fazah, 27, both of Huntington Park, were also found guilty of the RICO and drug trafficking conspiracies, with the latter offense based on F13’s street sales of illegal narcotics and smuggling of drugs into the Los Angeles County jail system.

During the trial, prosecutors argued that Dorado and Fazah were also “soldiers” who, among other things, participated in the murder of a junior member of the F13 Gang. At sentencing, Dorado and Fazah are each facing a maximum sentence of life without parole in federal prison.

Downey Patriot wins 5 awards at state journalism contest

The Downey Patriot earned five awards at a state journalism contest Saturday, including three prizes for photography. 

The California Newspaper Publishers Association received 2,668 total entries in 39 categories in its Better Newspaper Contest, which honored excellence in journalism during the 2016 year.

Winners were announced during a luncheon Saturday at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel. 

In the Best Front Page (Broadsheet) category, The Downey Patriot staff won honorable mention for its single entry of three front pages, which included: 

■the Oct. 20, 2016 issue that listed all campaign contributions for City Council candidates; 

■the Oct. 13, 2016 issue that included coverage of a Downey Patriot-sponsored City Council debate at the Downey Theatre; 

■and the June 30, 2016 issue, which reported on the City Council’s decision to put a proposed half-cent sales tax increase on that November’s ballot. 

Downey Patriot editor Eric Pierce won four awards, including second place for his photo essay of the Downey Christmas Parade. 

“Bringing a routine photo assignment like a Christmas parade to life is sometimes a challenge,” judges wrote in their comments. “These photos captured the event well and made me feel like I was there.”

Pierce also won three honorable mentions: two separate awards for his photo coverage of the Ricky Galvez memorial dedication, and for his essay titled “How I Went from Journalist to Realtor.”

The contest was open to daily and weekly newspapers across California, along with college publications.
 

Letter to the Editor: Upset with Downey Police

Dear Editor:

On May 16, my wife called me in a panic. A man was at our front door pulling his pants down to his ankles. Not knowing what to do, I told her to call the Downey Police Department and to keep the doors locked.

My wife was ready to leave the house to pick up our granddaughters from school, but was afraid to leave with the man standing at our door. When my wife called "Downey's finest," she was placed on hold for so long that she had to hang up and call our daughter to tell her that she was unable to pick up our granddaughters.

After explaining the situation to our daughter, she placed another call for help to the Downey Police, only to be asked if this was an emergency. When she was finally able to explain the situation, dispatch ask if she wanted to be contacted by an officer. Of course, she answered "Yes."

At no time since the call did she receive a call or visit from the Downey Police Department.

I can only imagine that the Police Department was so busy tracking down kidnappers, bank robbers and car thieves that they couldn't be bothered to respond to my wife's call for help. If that was the case, I understand, but to completely ignore a request from a panicked citizen is inexcusable.

Stanley Curtis
Downey

WWE Backlash: Preview and Predictions

It was a few weeks ago that the stars of Raw looked for some post-Wrestlemania “Payback.” Now, the superstars of Smackdown face “Backlash.”

Tye Dillinger vs Aiden English

The “Perfect 10” has defeated and frustrated “The Drama King” over the last several weeks. They’re both mid-card talent and there’s nothing really important hanging in the balance. This match wouldn’t be happening if the WWE wasn’t up to something. 

I was always of a fan of Aiden English and the Vaudevillians, however with Simon Gotch now gone from the company English finds himself a singles competitor. He’s been solidly beaten over the last several weeks, but I sense a change in his fortunes. 
Prediction: Aiden English

Sami Zayn vs Baron Corbin

Poor Sami Zayn is being fed to someone again.

These two have been going after each other for the last several weeks. Now, the score is set to be settled on Sunday. 

I long for the day that “The Underdog from the Underground” gets his time to shine, but for now Baron Corbin seems to be building momentum during his eventual push to the main event. 
Prediction: Baron Corbin

Luke Harper vs Erick Rowen

Two former Wyatt Family brothers now face off. 

Rowen returned from injury not too long ago, however upon his return the Wyatt Family was in the midst of imploding and Bray was quickly off to Raw. 

Rowen needs the win here, and with the tons of momentum Harper has had a loss won’s hurt him substantially.
Prediction: Erick Rowen

Naomi, Charlotte Flair, and Becky Lynch vs Natalya, Carmella, and Tamina

WWE is blessed with a wealth of great female talent right now, so they should avoid just booking the women for the sake of booking them. But I digress… 

The inaugural and current Smackdown Women’s Champions’ and Smackdown’s newest acquisition take on Natalya and her “welcoming committee.” 

WWE has been pushing the angle that Naomi, Flair and Lynch are “on the same page” really hard, which makes me smell a rat. 

Someone is going to turncoat and cost the good guys the match. The obvious choice is Flair, which makes me absolutely believe that we’re about to see an unexpected Lynch heel turn. 
Prediction: Natalya, Carmella, and Tamina.

The Usos (c) vs Breezango for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships

Call me crazy, but this match screams upset!

Compared to Raw, Smackdown’s tag team division is a little lacking, to say the least. Raw has Enzo and Big Cass, The Hardy Boyz, Sheamus and Cesaro, and The Club. Smackdown has, uh, The Ascension? 

The Usos have had much more of an entertaining title run than American Alpha before them, but the Blue Brand still needs to establish a few of their tag teams as credible. 
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but “The Fashion Police” are adding a new blue and silver accessory to their summer ensemble. 
Prediction: Breezeango

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Dolph Ziggler

“The King of Strong Style” vs “The Show Off;” if you’re not drooling, you may not be a real wrestling fan.

Nakamura’s long anticipated call up to the main roster finally came around the time of the Superstar Shakeup, however it’s been over a month and the WWE Universe has yet to see Nakamura participate in a match. 

Ziggler and Nakamura are both sensational workers who are known to put on spectacular matches. This has the potential to steal the show, and is a great opportunity for Nakamura to kick off from while not hurting Ziggler’s stock in the slightest. 
Prediction: Shinsuke Nakamura

Kevin Owens (c) vs AJ Styles for the United States Championship

If Nakamura and Ziggler doesn’t steal the show, this match will. 

Two of the most entertaining talents on the roster (if not the world) face off over for the United States Championship. 

Last Tuesday, AJ Styles told The Canadian “New Face of America” that he intended to bring the United States Championship back to America. 

Neither of these guys need the title; they’re both already extremely over with the crowd. Owens and Styles both are former World Champions, and undoubtedly will both be back in the main event scene eventually. 

For now, let Owens keep the title and build it and himself up. Both individuals should bring out the best in each other for one great match.
Prediction: Kevin Owens

Randy Orton (c) vs Jinder Mahal for the WWE Championship 

The Iron Sheik. Nikolai Volkoff. La Resistance. Mahammad Hassan. Rusev. WWE hasn’t been afraid to do the “evil anti-American foreigner” angle before, and the once laughable Jinder Mahal (along with former “Bollywood Boyz” the Singh Brothers) have settled into the role pretty successfully. 

Mahal was quickly and quite surprisingly thrust into the main event scene once he was acquired by Smackdown during the Superstar Shakeup. 

While Randy Orton is undoubtedly one of the more boring and least engaging champions as of late, Mahal isn’t quite at the superstar level he should be to take the title. This is likely not the end of the rivalry by any means.
Prediction: Randy Orton
 

Son, grandson of former Dodgers GM Al Campanis to speak in Downey

Jimmy and Jimmy Jr. Campanis, the son and grandson of former L.A. Dodgers general manager Al Campanis, will be at the Rio Hondo Event Center this Wednesday, May 24, at 7 a.m. for a speaking engagement. 

The event is hosted by Downey Los Amigos Kiwanis and is free and open to the public. 
Campanis was the first greek player in MLB history, playing second base for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Montreal Royals. 

He went on to become general manager of the Dodgers, serving from 1968 to 1987. In one of his first trades as general manager of the Dodgers, Campanis traded his own son, Jim, to the Kansas City Royals for two minor leaguers. 

Under Campanis the Dodgers reached the World Series four times, in 1974, 1977, 1978 and 1981. They lost the first three of these, but finally won in 1981.

Former Downey police officer Michael Westray passes away

Michael Anthony Westray, 77, of Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho passed away April 27 at the Schneidmiller House in Coeur d’ Alene surrounded by family and friends.

Mike, as everyone called him, was born to Vernon and Mary Alice Westray on Sept. 6, 1939 in Los Angeles. After graduating from South Gate High School, he joined the United States Navy and served his country for six years.

Upon completion of his engagement in the military, he became a police officer for the City of Downey and retired after 38 years of service.

Mike met Barbara Wade on Nov. 23, 1973 while working as a police officer. They were later married Feb. 21, 1976 in Hollydale. Together they lived in Downey where they raised their family. 

After retirement, Mike moved to north Idaho in 2004, settling in Coeur d’ Alene. He became a volunteer for the Coeur d’ Alene Police Department. 

In his younger years Mike enjoyed playing football, as well as speed skating, and riding dirt bikes. He was a member of the Huntington Park Jaycees, Bodie Chapter E Clampus Vitus, NRA, PORAC, and the OWLS.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years Barbara; two sons Matthew (Alice) Westray of Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, Donald (Karleen) Wade of Vista Murrieta Calif.; one daughter Michelle (Timothy) Lipa of Coeur d' Alene; brother Peter (Linda) Westray of California; 10 grandchildren, Shelby and Jack Westray, Alyson, Mitchell, Derek, Devon Wade, Hannah Levinson-Lipa, Timothy, Morgan, Isabella Lipa; two nephews, , Richard (Kristina) Wade, and Ryan (Jennifer) Wade; two nieces, Laura Westray, and Melissa Westray-Olsen; four great-nieces, Rebecca, Victoria, Madison, and Riley; four great-nephews, William, Tyler, Jameson, and Charles; brother-in-law Richard (Arlene) Wade; sister-in-law Rosemarie Wade; and his mother-in-law Jeanette Wade.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents and son, Timothy Westray.

A celebration of life will be held Friday June 23, at 6 p.m.. at the Downey Elks Lodge.

The family suggests that memorials may be made to Downey Police Officers' Association at dpoa.org and Fire Memorial Foundation P.O. Box 1748 Hayden, Idaho 83835. Or you can also donate to Gifts From Riley foundation, please visit www.giftsfromriley.org, and get more information regarding Mike's great-niece Riley.
 

Mel Baldivia was WWII veteran

DOWNEY – Mel G. Baldivia, a father, grandfather and great grandfather, passed away Saturday, April 29, at the age of 97. 

He was born May 24,1919 in Calvillo, Mexico. He served in WWII as part of the USMC First Division Marines stationed in the Pacific. 

He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Theresa, and is survived by his daughters Barbara Rood, Pat Baldivia and son Robert David Baldivia, two grandchildren and three great grandchildren. 

A rosary and visitation was held May 17, with chapel services May 18 at All Souls Cemetery in Long Beach.

Downey High swimmers capture CIF championship

The Downey High School girls’ swim team won the C.I.F. Division 4 championship last Friday.

The Lady Vikings had 11 girls competing at C.I.F. It is believed that this is the first C.I.F. swim title for the Downey girls’ swim team. Amazingly, seven of these swimmers are only freshmen.
Maritza Ochoa, Nektaria Anagnostou, Alejandra Villa and Valerie Vazquez took first place in the 200 Medley Relay with a time of 1:55.11. Nektaria Anagnostou took 3rd place with a time of 1:59.08 and Maritza Ochoa took 4th place with a time of 1:59.38 in the 200 Free.

Alejandra Villa took 9th place with a time of 2:21.05, Nikoletta Anagnostou took 13th place with a time of 2:20.72 and Maria Visoso took 12th place with a time of 2:21.90 in the 200 IM. Jania Gregorio took 8th place with a time of 1:02.54 and Maria Visoso took 9th place with a time of 1:04.40 in the 100 Fly.

Valerie Vazquez took 8th place with a time of 57.46 in the 100 Free. Nikoletta Anagnostou took 6th place with a time of 5:33 and Jania Gregorio took 10th place with a time of 5:39.82 in the 500 Free. Marie Olmedo, Michelle Prata, Maria Visoso and Jania Gregorio swam the 200 Free Relay. 

Maritza Ochoa took 7th place with a time of 1:04.08 in the 100 Backstroke. Nektaria Anagnostou took 2nd place with a time of 1:08.32 and Alejandra Villa took 8th place with a time of 1:14.34 in the 100 Breaststroke. Valerie Vazquez, Maritza Ochoa, Alejandra Villa and Nektaria Anagnostou took 2nd place in the 400 Free Relay.

■ The Downey High School boys’ swim team finished fourth at C.I.F. Finals last week. Of the eleven swimmers who qualified for prelims, eight returned for Finals. This was the most Downey has had qualify in the last ten years. Coach Delhousay said, “it was a great sendoff for the seniors that have worked so hard over the past four years.” 

Jesus Marguia, Nathan Lopez, Uriel Angeles and John Choi finished first in consolation and 10th overall in the 200 Medley Relay. In the 200 IM, Nathan Lopez finished 9th in the final heat with a personal best time of 2:06.15. Marcus Powell won the consolation heat with a time of 2:03.74 and was 10th overall. Werner Rosales finished 15th overall.

Dominik Del Carpio and Andrew Cabrera finished 11th and 13th overall in the 50 Free. Del Carpio and Cabrera finished 12th and 13th overall in the 100 Free. Nathan Lopez finished 10th overall in the 500 Free and Andrew Cabrera, Marcus Powell, Dominik Del Carpio and John Choi finished 3rd overall in the 200 Free Relay. Marcus Powell finished 5th overall and Werner Rosales finished 13th overall in the 100 Breaststroke. Nathan Lopez, Dominik Del Carpio, Andrew Cabrera and Marcus Powell finished 5th overall in the 400 Free Relay.

■ The Warren High School softball team currently has an overall record of 20-8 and finished S.G.V.L. play with a record of 8-2. 

Both league losses came against league champion Gahr (25-0, 10-0). The Bears traveled to North Torrance yesterday to compete in the first round of the C.I.F. Division Two playoffs (score unavailable at press time). If Warren defeated North Torrance yesterday, they would play the winner of the Santa Margarita/Millikan game next Tuesday. Warren is currently ranked 800 in the nation and 130 in California.

Gahr finished first and Warren finished second in S.G.V.L. play. Paramount finished in third place in S.G.V.L. play with an overall record of 18-5 and a league record of 6-4. Paramount earned a postseason playoff berth with their third place finish. Cross-town rival Downey finished fourth in league play with an overall record of 14-15 and a league record of 4-6. Lynwood finished fifth in league play with an overall record of 1-14 and a league record of 1-9 and Dominguez finished in sixth place with an overall record of 6-14 and a league record of 1-9.

■ The Warren High School girls’ track and field team advanced two athletes in the shot put to the C.I.F. Division One Finals.

Tanya Reyes is ranked 8th with a best throw of 38 feet (38’) and Cyrena Chavers is ranked 6th with a best throw of 38 feet 10 inches (38’10). Both athletes will be competing tomorrow at Cerritos College for a berth at the Southern Section Master’s Meet.

The Warren High School boys’ track and field team advanced “MJ” Togafau to also compete at Cerritos College in the discus and shot put. “MJ’ is ranked 4th in the discus with a best throw of 158 feet two inches (158’2) and is ranked 5th in the shot put with a best throw of 52 feet two inches (52’2).  

■ The Warren High School baseball team currently has an overall record of 19-9 and finished S.G.V.L. play as a co-champion with Gahr at 8-2. 

Cross town rival Downey finished third in S.G.V.L. play with an overall record of 14-13 and a S.G.V.L. record of 6-4. Paramount finished fourth in S.G.V.L. play  with an overall record of 12-16-1 and a S.G.V.L. record of 5-5.

Lynwood finished in fifth place in S.G.V.L. play with an overall record of 8-9 and a S.G.V.L. record of 3-7 and Dominguez finished in sixth place in S.G.V.L. play with an overall record of 6-20 and a S.G.V.L. record of 0-10

The Bears played Peninsula at Peninsula yesterday in the first round of the C.I.F. Division 3 playoffs (score unavailable at press time) and will play the winner of the Crean Lutheran/Ocean View game should they win. Warren defeated Long Beach Poly at Warren 3-2 on Tuesday in a play-in game to advance.

Warren came into yesterday’s game on a seven game win streak. The Bears are certainly playing some of their best baseball when it matters most. Coach Pearson, his staff and players are all looking forward to making a run in the C.I.F. Division 3 playoffs. Warren is currently ranked 2681 in the nation and 276 in the state.

■ The Downey High School boys’ soccer program will be hosting a two-week summer camp in June. 

Camp dates are June 12-16 and June 19-23. Camp days will start at 8 a.m. and end at 10 a.m. The cost will be $160 and all practices will take place on the soccer field at Downey High School. 

You can contact head coach Marvin Mires at (310) 993-4342 or by e-mail at mmires@dusd.net for more information. You can also contact Coach Mires by Twitter at @DowneySoccer or @LosAngelesCF and on Instagram @Downey_Soccer. 

■ The Downey High School girls’ lacrosse program will host a summer camp June 12-July 21. 
The camp days are Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon. The cost will be $160 and will also take place at Downey High School. 

You can contact head coach Marvin Mires with the same information mentioned above. 

■ The Downey High School girls’ tennis program will be having tryouts Friday, June 2, from 1-3:30 p.m. at the Downey High School tennis courts. 

Athletes should bring their own tennis rackets, workout clothes, tennis shoes and water. 
For more information contact head coach Denise Diego at ddiego@dusd.net.

Bellflower Civic Chorus opens 2017 season this weekend

BELLFLOWER – The Bellflower Civic Chorus opens their 2017 season with “Hello Broadway The Musicals” this weekend. 

Performances are May 19 at 7 p.m., and May 20-21 at 2:30 p.m., at the William Bristol Theater in Bellflower. Admission is $5. 

The chorus will pay tribute to Broadway’s musical theater. Chosen for the concert are popular medleys from “Steppin’ Out on Broadway,” “South Pacific,” “My Fair Lady” and “Carousel.”

The concert also features soloists, duets, and specialty dance numbers. 

Shared Stories: Po Tai Island and My Wonderful Uncle

Candy Wong’s family is from Po Tai island in Hong Kong. Every year the islanders celebrate the festival of Tin Hau, goddess of the sea who protects fishermen and sailors. Candy’s uncle has a well-known restaurant on this small, nearly uninhabited island. Shared Stories is a weekly column featuring articles by participants in a writing class at the Norwalk Senior Center. Bonnie Mansell is the instructor for this free class offered through the Cerritos College Adult Education Program. Curated by Carol Kearns

By Candy Wong
Po Toi Island, an island belonging to Hong Kong, is my homeland. It is the most southern part of Hong Kong. Most of the islanders are fishermen.

Being fishermen, they believe in a Goddess named Tin Hau. People on this island thank Tin Hau for blessing their lives. They celebrate Tin Hau’s birthday on March 23rd every year. 

The leaders of the island ask every resident in the island to donate money to pay for four days and three nights of opera performance. The opera performance is very intricate and requires a lot of preparation.

First, they need to build a temporary theater, which can seat 500 people. Then, they invite a Cantonese opera group to come to the island to perform opera in front of Tin Hau Temple. 
During the Tin Hau festival, every islander stops working and joins every gathering. Tin Hau festival is so much fun for everyone. It is like a carnival on the island.

My uncle, Leund Chi Ming, is one of the leaders in the festival and he’s a leader because of his involvement with tourism on the island. 

While I don’t live there anymore, my uncle is a famous cook who still lives on the Island. My uncle is able to survive on an island with less than fifty occupants through building a restaurant called Ming Kee.  

It’s an open-aired restaurant with a small stage for dancing.  Working only four days a week, from Thursday to Sunday, his salary stems from the tourism business. Most of the tourists venture onto the island for its hiking trails in hope of catching a sunset facing the Pacific Ocean.

Thursday is his business preparation day.  In the morning, he drives his small truck to the organic farms in Aberdeen to buy seasonal vegetables. In the afternoon, he chats with fishermen at the Aberdeen pier and makes deals with them. Usually he orders lobsters, shrimps, mussels, clams, fishes, crabs and, of course, my favorite eels. 

After all of the food is delivered to his restaurant, he works with the workers to clean and chop until midnight. He then awaits his first customer to come the next day.  He keeps a close eye on the pier to greet the first customer coming onto the island. 

Guided by two rows of hanging orange lights, customers slowly file in, and my uncle greets each one of them with the biggest smile. Usually, customers like to sit in the front part of the restaurant.  It is because the restaurant is built on the beach; and they can take a walk after dinner or dive into the sea and swim in the unpolluted sea water.  The meals at my uncle’s restaurant, in my heart, are priceless.

Gradually, many people in Hong Kong began to know about the restaurant. Recently, he was interviewed by a journalist from the travel guide, Lonely Planets. After the article was published, the business of my uncle’s restaurant increased 30%. 

He is planning to work one more day a week, and he hopes to use it to create new dish and do extra business preparation. I hope my uncle really enjoys his career because his passion to serve great food and provide an unforgettable experience to Po Tai Island is cherished.

You can find a picture of Po Tai island and Ming Kee restaurant on Google Maps.
 

Letter to the Editor: Misconceptions about Planned Parenthood

Dear Editor:

I’m writing in response to Patti Sharpe’s open letter to Senator Feinstein (Letters to the editor Patriot, 5/11/2017). While I appreciate her views as a pro-lifer, I must correct some inaccuracies in her letter regarding Planned Parenthood.

The first is in regard the use of federal funding for abortions, this is untrue. In 1976, The Hyde Amendment (Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL) prohibited the use of federal funds to pay for abortions with the exception in rape, incest, or life-endangering pregnancy.

While P.P. does perform abortions, among its top three health services (abortions, contraceptives, STD testing) it amounts to only about 3 percent of its long list of health services, like pregnancy testing and adoptions. P.P. receives Medicaid funding from the federal government, which allows the very low income to have access to health care.

The second inaccurate statement was that Planned Parenthood does not provide prenatal care. This is simply not true.

Therefore, I ask Patti if it make any sense to deny prenatal care to an unborn child because that parent is a low-income. That is what will happen: even relying on donations would not guarantee coverage to all 75 percent of Planned Parenthood's mostly-below-the-poverty-level patients. By defunding P.P., unwanted pregnancies would rise and Medicaid cost over 10 years would be $650 million. Trumpcare would phase out Medicaid.

So how is it pro-life to take away the poor’s healthcare, which is a basic human right along with clean water, air, and safe food?

Joanne Gallo
Downey

Opinion: Should Downey continue to fund a $50,000-per-year art gallery?

The Stay Gallery wants $50,000 a year to maintain its Downey Avenue site for the next five years, and it wants the City of Downey to pay it.

This is a steep price for a cramped storefront operation, and the city council has been of a mixed mind about how to deal fairly with the question of paying it. In one respect, the city is invested. When it first agreed to cover a $2000 a month rent in 2012, a sum lifted out of the Art in Public Places kitty, the city was feeling the heat from various arts advocates.

The 2009 Furman Park lockout of the Downey Museum of Art over a publicist’s hissy fit had become an ongoing embarrassment that ranged from farce to tragedy—the DMOA had enjoyed considerable prestige as the oldest art museum in Los Angeles county history, and was regularly reviewed by the Los Angeles Times. To this day it hasn’t reopened.

Photo by Joan Anderson, DowneyDailyPhotos.com

In addition, the Downey Civic Light Opera was on the ropes and was discernibly within a year of closing. This was also preventable. Under Marsha Moode’s directorial leadership, the DCLO was one of the last survivors in the region to bring one of America’s brightest, proudest, most ingenious and popular art forms—the musical—to audiences that traveled far distances to see the show. And it could safely be said that Moode, a former actress and beauty queen, was virtually the only figure who brought a touch of star quality to Downey, or at least knew how to move comfortably in an evening gown.

But in spite of noticeably rising production standards, the issue of succession put her at odds with the city, and the bad blood that quickly developed between Moode and VenueTech, the management firm hired to run the Downey Civic Theater, insured the permanent closing notice.

Now the city had lost two of its three most prestigious cultural institutions (the third was the Downey Symphony), which had existed for more than 50 years as sources of civic pride, and had nothing to show for it.

This was the partial backdrop that greeted Valentin Flores' and the Downey Art Vibe’s request for a space to mount art pieces and host other cultural events, including educational programs. And considering that the only other candidate for exhibition and performance -- The Avenue Theater -- was in such a rotten state of disrepair needing millions to fix, the Stay project seemed a modest investment.

Five years later, the city is wondering whether the investment has been worth it. Clearly Flores, Joseph Manacmul and others have worked like dogs to paint and refurbish a tired old store, and have tried endless schemes to diversify what goes on in that space, including installations, theater pieces, parties, literary events, Lorine Parks’ poetry programs, and kiddie exercises in impromptu painting.

But for a variety of reasons, Stay can’t make its nut. For one, no serious artist wants to show there, because the minimum price a working artist needs to stay afloat is $2000 a piece, and given its demographic, the Stay can’t charge more than $750. Another reason is that its physical space is narrow and small. Yet another is that Stay’s avowed invitational reach for artists and audiences is limited to Downey and adjacent cities, like Norwalk and Bell Gardens, which are working class cities without the kinds of traditions that give important place to galleries, museums, theaters and concert venues.

Photo by Pam Lane, DowneyDailyPhotos.com

In other words, the shallowness of the local talent pool has been made painfully obvious by most of what shows at the Stay. To compound matters, Flores really isn’t a serious student of art. He’s energetic, ambitious, charming and purposeful—and gifted at management. But he hasn’t stepped out of his comfort zone to take in one of the hottest art scenes in the world at the moment—the L.A. Arts District, 12 miles up the road—for ideas on how to bring sensation to the Stay, which is still, functionally speaking, a store without an identity.

The Downey Arts Coalition faces a similar dilemma. Formed around 2010, its founder Andrew Wahlquist has been an eloquent spokesman for the arts in Downey. His effort at forming and maintaining a group of artists and arts advocates has come at considerable personal sacrifice. City leaders respect him for his soft-spoken, reasoning demeanor; the DAC mounts as many arts shows (and the occasional play) as it can in the course of a year, mainly in connection with Downey Symphony; and it puts out an excellent newsletter.

Photo by Steve Mansell, DowneyDailyPhotos.com

The DAC has some good artists and smart people on its midst, but like the Stay people, its art-is-good intentions scarcely hide a general naivete and disconnect, not just from who’s who in art history, but who’s who now and what themes are emerging in the contemporary scene.

In writing about the recent Whitney Biennial, The New Yorker magazine’s Peter Schjeldahl mentioned Samara Golden, Rafa Esparza, Celeste Dupuy-Spencer, and Henry Taylor, all L.A. based artists with strong reputations. I doubt if anyone in the Downey arts scene would recognize those names if you brought them up (I once spoke to a DAC member who wanted to form a film society but didn’t know who Stanley Kubrick was).

Unless some other urgent matter knocks it off the agenda, the city council will meet Tuesday to decide what to do about Stay. Clearly the city feels it has to do something, but the problem there is that no one on the council has serious knowledge of the arts either, and isn’t terribly interested. Unless it’s to pick up an award or issue a proclamation, council members (with the possible exception of Blanca Pacheco, who’s new and still finding her sea legs) don’t go to concerts, exhibits or poetry readings.

They can identify with art in the abstract, but it’s usually in connection with the benefits of art as therapy or an educational tool, social betterment stuff that’s supposed to make people feel good. That’s not what art is about. But art has been so politicized over the past few decades by both the left and right that you almost can’t blame them for punting as much as they can when arts issues come up.

Writes Mayor Pro Tem Sean Ashton in a May 11 e-mail:  “…We are currently working on a funding plan for the Stay Gallery that allows usage by both the Downey Art Vibe (the current group that has been operating Stay) and the Downey Art Coalition as well as other non-profit groups that want to use the space. Hopefully it will be presented at the next council meeting in May.”

As for the status of the Downey Art Museum, Ashton contends, “I believe that the Downey Art
Coalition is in control of the art that was previously housed at Furman Park.”

Ashton’s belief is misplaced: The DAC is not in control of the museum collection. The museum has its own board, and is about to make an announcement that will keep it out of the Stay for the foreseeable. This can’t be encouraging for the city, and I don’t envy its position, especially after learning it could only allocate $11,000 a year to a nonprofit dedicated to helping the homeless.

Recently I had to go to the post office to mail some bills. It was near midnight, in cold, rainy conditions. A heavyset black woman sat in a wheelchair by the entrance, getting soaked while begging for a couple of bucks. She said she needed money for a place to stay for the night. I thought, fifty thou for Stay, eleven for the people in her predicament.

This is going to be a tough call.
 

Rancho foundation is recipient of county arts grant

DOWNEY – The Rancho Los Amigos Foundation, a non-profit that works to enhance services at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, was one of 37 organizations to be awarded grants by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission. 

The grants total $500,000 and art part of the Community Impact Arts Grant (CIAG) program, which provides funding for nonprofit organizations, offering arts services or activities to residents of LA County in a wide variety of situations and settings often outside a traditional arts environment.   

The Rancho foundation was awarded $14,900, which it will use to support a year-round, comprehensive art program for adults and pediatric patients with disabilities. 

In a statement, the arts commission said that the CIAG program “recognizes the value of the arts as a vital tool for civic problem solving across a range of issue areas and supports arts programming taking place at nonprofit social service and health organizations, municipal departments and institutions of higher education as part of larger missions to provide services to individuals and communities.”   

Examples of the projects supported by CIAG include the Urban Possibilities Writing Empowerment Program at Chrysalis Center; an afterschool expressive arts therapy project for youth at Special Services for Groups; Day Laborer Fandango Project, gathering stories of the day laborer community through verse writing workshops and fandango; and Community Coalition for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment’s annual arts festival Power Fest in South Los Angeles. More information about the all 37 organizations can be found below. 

Grant amounts range from $7,400 to $15,200 and support one year arts projects for organizations looking to build upon existing arts programming. There will be one additional year of available funding.   

Applications were reviewed and scored by 20 knowledgeable panelists with experience in the arts and social services, including artists, arts administrators, and those with experience working with the diverse communities being served by applicants.  

Of the 37 grant recipients, 15 were youth or after-school organizations, followed by disability (4), health (3), social justice (3), mental health (2), immigrant rights (2), homeless (2), education (2), veterans (1), municipality (1), environmental (1) and community centers (1). 

A full list of grant recipients is posted online at lacountyarts.org/ciag

'13 Reasons Why' prompts letter from Downey superintendent

DOWNEY – Downey Unified superintendent Dr. John Garcia issued a letter to parents Tuesday in response to growing popularity around the Netflix show, “13 Reasons Why,” about a high school student who died by suicide.

Below is the letter in its entirety. (The letter is also available online in Spanish.)

Dear Downey Unified Families:

As part of the District’s continued efforts to provide our students with an education that ensures he/she is a well-rounded whole child, we want to take this time to provide some information and support in regard to a topic that focuses on the social emotional needs of your student(s).

As some of you may already be aware, there is a new television series with a sensitive theme that has become popular with teenagers. The series is based on a 2007 bestselling novel with the same Netflix title, “13 Reasons Why.” The topics covered in this book are: adolescent bullying, rejection, heartbreak, sexual assault, abuse, revenge, depression, and desperate but unsuccessful efforts to find help or understanding. These topics are depicted as many of the reasons for the character’s tragic suicide at the end of the series. Series like this can be difficult to watch and could trigger feelings of distress for the viewer, especially if it is an adolescent or teenager.

While we understand that it can be difficult to control what your student(s) watch, we wanted to share information that parents and other adults may find useful.

If you choose to ask your student(s) if they have watched or heard about the show and open up a conversation with them, the guidelines below can help prepare you for that conversation.

We also encourage you to be alert to warning signs, including suicidal threats, giving away possessions, preoccupation with death; changes in behavior, appearance/hygiene, thoughts and/or feelings and emotional distress. If you have concerns about your child or another student, please reach out to your school counselor or other mental health professionals who have specific training in prevention and intervention during a crisis.

The National Association of School Psychologists has issued the following recommendations specifically in response to this show:

Guidance for families who choose to enter a discussion:

1.  Ask your child if they have heard or seen the series “13 Reasons Why.” While we don’t recommend that they be encouraged to view the series, do tell them you want to watch it with them or catch up and discuss their thoughts.

2.  If they exhibit any of the warnings signs above, don’t be afraid to ask if they have thought about suicide or if someone is hurting them. Raising the issue of suicide does not increase the risk or plant the idea. On the contrary, it creates the opportunity to offer help.

3.  Ask your child if they think any of their friends or classmates exhibit warning signs. Talk with them about how to seek help for their friend or classmate. Guide them on how to respond and when they see or hear any of the warning signs.

4. Listen to your children’s comments without judgment. Doing so requires that you fully concentrate, understand, respond, and then remember what is being said. Put your own agenda aside.

5.  Get help from a school-employee or community-based mental health professional if you are concerned for your child’s safety or the safety of one of their peers.

If you are concerned about your child, or someone else, please reach out for help:

■ Contact your child’s school counselor through your school’s main line or counseling office

■ Call or text the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, 1-800-273-TALK(8255),  or text “START” to 741741

■ Contact the Suicide Prevention Center, 1-800-727-4747, or the Youth Crisis Line, 1-800-843-  5200

■ Contact Teen Line (for teen to teen help): www.teenlineonline.org, 1-800-TLC-TEEN (1-800-852-8336), 310-855-HOPE(4673) or text “TEEN” to 839863

■ Contact the Californian Youth Crisis Line which is open 24/7, 1-800-843-5200

We are also here to provide support and information for you any time it is needed.  There is a school-based mental health team that is available to you at any time. There will also be mental health information workshops being held on the following dates and times:

■ Thursday, May 18, 6:30 p.m., inside the Downey High School library

■ Thursday, May 25, 6:30 p.m., inside the Warren High School library

These evenings will focus on general mental health, and District and community resources available to parents.  We urge any and all parents that would like information on this topic to attend one of these workshops.

Information and links to prevention sites are also available on our website, www.dusd.net, under Resources for Parents, for you to access at any time.

As we are all here to provide the best life and future for our students, I hope that we can continue to work together to support one another in this effort.

Sincerely,
John A. Garcia, Jr., Ph.D.
Superintendent

Letter to the Editor: Pro Life

Dear Editor:

Many today are striving for social justice. I believe social justice should be extended to include the rights of the unborn to be free from the threat of being killed by abortion-on-demand.

If anyone has any doubt about what abortion is, they should watch "The Silent Scream" on YouTube. It is an ultrasound of an actual abortion. When I saw the video, I knew I was watching the murder of a human being.

There are some who justify abortion because it was declared legal by the majority of the Supreme Court in 1973, but don't forget it was this same court which declared slavery to be legal in the 1800's. Slavery was unjust and abortion is unjust. Slavery was overturned and abortion will be overturned.

It is the ultimate act of selfishness to kill an innocent, unborn human merely to enjoy an improved quality of life. Greed is the abortionist's motive. Woe to those who get rich by evil means.

Why a woman willingly submits to the will of an abortionist is beyond my comprehension. She is violating her own natural maternal instinct.

Alan Halstensgaard
Downey