News Briefs: Free hair cuts for veterans, library open house
DOWNEY – The Friends of the Downey City Library will be hosting its annual Open House and Holiday Marketplace Saturday, Nov. 5, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Downey City Library Cormack Room.
All proceeds go to support library programs.
The Friends will be selling an assortment of handmade crafts, holiday decorations, stocking stuffers, holiday craft and cook books, as well as quality recycled gifts and treasurers.
There will also be a one-day only raffle and silent bid auction on a number of donations from local businesses. They include tickets to the Aquarium of the Pacific, the Lakers, the Downey Civic Theatre, the Cinemark Movie Theatre, the USS Iowa Tour, the Pasadena Playhouse, Medieval Times and the Long Beach Dinner Detective.
Gift cards and other items were given by Lazy Dog, Sizzler, Burger City Grill, Gaucho Grill, Olive Garden, Hometown Hardware, Elephant Bar, Benihana’s, McDonald’s, Café Opa, Marketplace Grill, Massage Envy, In-N-Out, LA Fitness, Bed-Bath and Beyond, Chili’s, Great Clips Hair, Coco’s Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, Round Table and Starbucks.
In addition, Starbucks will be providing coffee to attendees.
VOTER REGISTRATION: Warren High student Jailene Lemus organized a voter registration drive on campus last week, registering or pre-registering 100 students during their lunch breaks.
Jailene said her main goal was to locally influence the young voter turnout, which she claims was at 8 percent in the 2014 elections.
Jailene is pictured with Mayor Alex Saab and Downey city clerk Adria Jimenez.
Assemblymember Cristina Garcia also attended the voter registration drive.
DRUG TAKE-BACK: A prescription drug take-back event at the Downey Plice Department last week resulted in the collection of over 443 lbs. of expired, unused and unwanted prescription medication.
The drugs were turned over to the DEA for disposal.
HAIRCUTS FOR VETS: Great Clips, a new hair salon at the Promenade, is offering free haircuts to U.S. military veterans and active military personnel on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.
Non-veterans who get their hair cut Nov. 11 receive a coupon for a free haircut that can be given to a veteran.
Great Clips is located in suite 120, near Benihana.
CHRISTMAS BRUNCH: Assistance League of Downey will be having its annual Christmas Tree Brunch on Sunday, Nov. 20, at 10 a.m.
Tickets will be available at Second Tyme Around Thrift Shop at 11026 Downey Avenue daily between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
The luncheon price is $50 for lunch with a silent auction, music and chances to win decorated Christmas trees.
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS: St. John Bosco High School will host its fourth annual Dia de los Muertos night Wednesday, Nov. 2, from 5:30-8 p.m. in the campus quad.
The free event is held to remember deceased loved ones.
There will be student-created altar displays, food vendors, art exhibits, live music and a prayer service.
PROPS 51 and 55: Downey’s board of education voted unanimously last month to pass resolutions in support of California propositions 51 and 55.
A “yes” vote on Prop 51 supports the state issuing $9 billion in bonds to fund improvement and construction of school facilities for K-12 schools and community colleges.
A “yes” vote on Prop 55 supports extending the personal income tax increases on incomes over $250,000 approved in 2012 for 12 years in order to fund education and healthcare.
Proposition 51 will provide resources for renovation and upgrade of existing classrooms, construction of new classrooms to accommodate growth and for Career Technical Education facilities to provide job training to meet the trained work force needs for California employers.
According to the California School Boards Association, 13,000 middle class jobs are created for each $1 billion in school facility infrastructure investment.
“That’s why my colleagues and I are supporting Proposition 51 because we have seen how school districts and the state work together to change learning conditions for children who rely on public education to make their dreams come true,” DUSD board member Donald said LaPlante.
“Prop 51 will help us make important steps to ensure that all children have a chance to learn in facilities that reflect how much we value their potential and how much we respect their aspirations.”
“These propositions will urge legislation to work with the public education community to identify stable, long-term, adequate funding solutions for all public schools,” added board president D. Mark Morris.
“Downey Unified’s Board of Education supports the passage of these propositions because it provides needed revenue to public schools and will specifically benefit the Downey Unified School District.”
OLPH APPRECIATION: Students in the Fine Arts department at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School honored the OLPH Women’s Guild recently for their continued support of the school’s programs.
President Paula Mayfield accepted the plaque from the students and Principal Theresa Voeltz at the Women’s Guild Luncheon, Oct. 19.
From left to right: Belen Yudess, 8th grade; Krystal Nuyen, 8th grade, Alex Ruiz, 8th grade, Sophi Ruocco, 3rd grade; Paula Mayfield, Guild president, Julieta Usquiano, 3rd grade; Eliza Contreras, 8th grade and Theresa Voeltz, principal.