"Spring Break Fun at the Parks," is a free program which will be offered at Apollo, Dennis the Menace, Crawford, Furman, Golden and Rio San Gabriel parks from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with activities scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The program will also be offered at Brookshire Park from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Children ages 6-12 will enjoy a daily program that includes: Lunch with the Leader, chalk art, mural making, Carroms/Basketball Tournament, art/crafts, Spring Fling Party, scavenger hunts, dodgeball, obstacle course and Challenge the Leader. Children are free to come and go at any time but they are encouraged to stay at the park sites.
"This is a popular event. The kids enjoy the park activities in a safe environment," said Teri Hamilton, recreations supervisor of Community Services.
Registration is required and can be completed at the park sites. Those who register before April 1 can do so from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the park sites. Those who sign up the week of the program can do so from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the park sites with the exception of Brookshire Park which is open from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Registration will be accepted until the program concludes. Flyers about the program are available at the park sites and City Hall.
"This is a nice chance to spend time outside. This time we are offering more activities," Hamilton added. For information, call her at 904-7238.
The agreement will be brought back to the Council March 26.
Mayor Meredith Perkins said he could not vote for a $13 million expenditure for Lakewood Boulevard when other aspects of the City need attention.
He also questioned the unusual treatment of the medians for water runoff.
A staff report notes that Lakewood (also known as state Route 19) between Gardendale and Telegraph Road was released by the state to the City of Downey July 3, 2001, and that the agreement included a lump sum payment from Caltrans of $9.8 million for needed improvements.
The city feels Lakewood Boulevard is vital for several reasons, among them being its direct access to the Green Line, the I-105 and I-5 Freeways, Stonewood Shopping Center, and the planned development at the Boeing/NASA site.
Improvements include bringing pedestrian access up to A.D.A. requirements, improvements of drainage at intersections prone to flooding, traffic signal coordination, and improvements dealing with pollutants that currently are carried to the sea through the antiquated storm-drainage system.
Work will include full reconstruction of Lakewood; parkways and medians; landscaping; accommodation of future traffic volumes expected when the 160-acre NASA/Boeing site is developed; meeting current design standards; address traffic needs at Lakewood and Telegraph and Gallatin roads, Florence Avenue, Third Street, Firestone Boulevard, Clark Avenue and Imperial Highway; improve flood control; mitigate storm water runoff reducing pollutants to meet requirements of the national Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit.
The current plan involves a non-traditional inverted road cross-section that will carry storm water flows from the outside edges of the road to the median, where a natural filtration system will treat storm water runoff along with a new storm drain to move floodwater. Additional solutions to storm runoff will also be considered along the length of Lakewood Boulevard.
After a lengthy study the contract was recommended to be awarded to Lim & Nascimento Engineering Corp. The current budget appropriated $1 million for the project. The staff report recommended the Council authorize an additional $200,000 appropriation from the Lakewood fund.
With the Mayor's fiscal stance against such a large expenditure as the Lakewood Project, Councilman Kirk Cartozian suggested a middle-path of bringing the matter back in two weeks.
The suggestion passed 4-0 (Councilman Richard Trejo was absent).
The month of March is "Downey History Month" at the networking meetings in conjunction with the City of Downey's 45th anniversary.
Chamber members and guests convene weekly to promote their business services and products. Complimentary coffee and breakfast treats are furnished.
For information call 923-2191.
The $20 per person cost includes 2 games, bowling shoes, pizza, and a soft drink. All proceeds go directly to the coffers of the foundation.
Pre-sale tickets are available at the Fire Department Office in City Hall and the Downey Police Department. For information, call 904-7345.
Jorge Lozano, Cerritos College fitness instructor, will teach seniors 50 and over a chair exercise program that will include the use of dynabands for resistance for strength training and a lot of range and motion exercises using the arms and legs.
"This course is really good if seniors are out of shape or have no muscle tone. It's great for the upper body because it adds flexibility," said Dan Belling, senior center supervisor.
This free class begins Tuesday, April 2, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and will run through mid-June at the Senior Center's Downey Room. Seniors that are interested in this course can attend whenever they would like. There is no registration for the class.
"I encourage seniors to dress comfortably by wearing loose clothing such as sweats and they should also bring water bottles to class," Belling added.
For information, call the Senior Center at 904-7223.
"Daily updates mean that citizens looking up sex offenders in their communities will see information gathered the previous day, rather than information on CD-ROMs gathered the month before," Lockyer said. "It also will make it more difficult for a registered sex offender to hide by moving from place to place often, as many of them now do."
"For those in our diverse state who do not speak English, this will open a door to information they can use to protect themselves, their families and their loved ones," Lockyer added.
Enacted in 1996, California's Megan's Law allows the public access to information on the identities and whereabouts of the state's 77,000 "serious" and "high risk" registered sex offenders. The information is available in three ways: Police and sheriff's departments may notify residents of a nearby sex offender; individuals may call (900) 448-3000; or people may view the information at a law enforcement agency. Of the state's 93,000 registered sex offenders, 77,000 are considered "serious" or "high risk" and information on their identities and whereabouts is subject to public disclosure.
To date, law enforcement agencies have disclosed information on more than 3,500 sex offenders, more than 80,000 searches have been conducted using the 900 phone line, and more than 100,000 people have viewed the CD-ROM under the supervision of law enforcement officers.
The complaints against Dynegy, Mirant, Reliant, Williams and their various affiliates cite numerous violations of the state's Unfair Competition Act. The civil complaints filed in San Francisco Superior Court seek more than $150 million in penalties, restitution, disgorgement of all profits the companies earned as a result of their alleged illegal conduct, and court-ordered protections against future misconduct. Dynegy and Reliant are based in Houston, Texas; Mirant is based in Atlanta, Georgia; and Williams is based in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
"These companies fattened their wallets at the expense of the safety and reliability of the transmission system serving Californians," Lockyer said. "They sold generating capacity to the California Independent System Operator which is responsible for maintaining the western power grid, then turned around and sold the same power capacity into the lucrative spot market for wholesale electricity."
The complaints allege that, as a result of this misconduct, the companies were able to collect millions of dollars in payments for emergency generating capacity they never in fact provided and, at the same time, pocket a profit on the sale of the energy.
In many cases, the generators were paid twice for the same generating capacity, according to the AG's office.
The location for the April 20 walk will again be Stonewood Center near the Acapulco Restaurant. Registration may be done now, or the morning of April 20 at 7 a.m. Opening ceremonies are at 8 a.m., with the one and three mile walkers stepping out at 8:30.
Registration forms are available and the Arc hopes to have some great teams "walking the walk" this year.
Prizes will be awarded in various categories. Individuals are encouraged to walk too-since it's a day when all walk together to support and celebrate the spirit of those with disabilities.
The Acapulco Restaurant will again sponsor a fine breakfast buffet for all participants. There will be bands, balloons, clowns and more.
The Arc provides employment, educational, and advocacy services to men, women and children with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities.
There is no charge to families for any of the Arc's services.
Stop by the Arc at 12049 Woodruff Ave. or call 803-4606 for registration forms or information.