The city of Santa Fe Springs, in an effort to increase efficiency and become more environmentally conscious through the reduction of paper use and printing costs, will mail water bills every other month beginning January 1.

Residents may continue to make monthly payments if they prefer. Payments will appear on the bi-monthly bill. 

For information, call City Hall at (562) 868-0511 Ext. 7333.

It's the day after Christmas, and plenty of people are out stocking up on next year's decorations or redeeming their gift cards.

But longtime day-after-Christmas shoppers say the crowds are nothing compared to previous years.

At the Kohl's store in La Habra, there was only a smattering of people waiting for doors to open at 6 a.m., with a few trickling in over the next hour. The line outside Wal-Mart in La Habra was also pretty modest.

With most retailers offering between 50 percent and 70 percent off holiday decorations and other items, shoppers said the deals were good. But with the economic downturn, it seemed not as many were able to sock enough money away this year for after-Christmas sales.

Whittier's local representative in Washington, D.C., is among good company.

Rep Linda Sanchez, D-Lakewood, joins such names as former Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Gen. Colin Powell on the Presidential Inaugural Committee.

In issuing the statement, President-elect Barack Obama said the list includes prominent Americans "from both sides of the aisle who have dedicated their lives to selfless service to their fellow citizens.

"Vice President-elect Biden and I are grateful to these distinguished men and women for agreeing to serve as Honorary Co-Chairs for the Inauguration," Obama said.  "From family members to former Presidents, each of these leaders has an unwavering commitment to bipartisan cooperation and a proud record of service to their community and our country.  They exemplify the spirit of unity and shared purpose this Inauguration will reflect."

For the latest information on the 2009 Presidential Inauguration, visit www.pic2009.org.

80-pound ice block smashes into home

Only about two months after the dispute over three California Domestic Water Co. buildings was resolved, Whittier could be in for another fight over what some say are historic buildings. If you were at last week's Historic Resources Commission meeting, the same two forces were there in a battle over whether Whittier College should be allowed to demolish Guilford Hall, a 105-year-old house at 13501 Earlham Drive. The commission eventually voted not to make the house eligible, thus allowing it to be demolished.

But during the hearing, you had members of the Whittier Conservancy testifying in support of declaring the house to be eligible for historic designation. And you had members from Coalition for a Better Whittier -- formerly the Presidents Council -- supporting the college. The latter group was formed in response to the fight over the water company's buildings. In that case, the conservancy and the company eventually reached settled a lawsuit agreeing to save one of the buildings.

The fight moved into the political arena in the 2008 City Council election when the Coalition endorsed Mayor Joe Vinatieri, Councilwoman Cathy Warner and challenger Jeannette Fasone, significantly leaving out Councilman Owen Newcomer. They weren't successful in taking out Newcomer, but the Coalition remains as a force in Whittier politics.

The Conservancy also appears to be a force and we'll have to see whether or not they appeal the commission's decision. But if they do, they'll need help from some who haven't been supporters in the past. This time, only three members of the City Council will be allowed to participate.

Councilman Owen Newcomer teaches part-time at Whittier College and Mayor Joe Vinatieri has a law partner who represents the college and both have a conflict of interest. That means the conservancy needs the vote of not only Councilman Bob Henderson, who supported the group in the water company vote, but also the support of Council members Greg Nordbak and Cathy Warner. Both voted to allow the water company demolish its buildings.

Three votes -- no matter how many members of the council can participate always are needed to pass a resolution and override the commission, said Jeff Collier, director of community development. Anything else would mean the council did nothing and the commission's action stands. But no matter what happens, the issue shows the divisions in the California Domestic Water Co. case haven't gone away.

We'll know more later when we see what the Conservancy does.

Owners of blank land in Pico Rivera may soon find that they are being asked to fill it up, with fencing and landscaping, in order to keep the city from blight.

Pico Rivera is considering the same kind of ordinance already implemented by Whittier and La Habra, which would require owners of vacant lots to do landscaping.

Here's a sneak peak at the story, which will run in tomorrow's Whittier Daily News.

PICO RIVERA -- Officials are eyeing an ordinance that would require property owners to landscape their vacant lots.
The Planning Commission voted Tuesday to further investigate an ordinance which would force landowners to dress up their blank properties.
The ordinance would require landscaping and upkeep on private lots and a few owned by the city, according to Director of Community Development Jeff Brauckmann.
"It all falls in the same category of having a beautiful city to live in," Mayor Grace Gallegos said. "We've come so far. We can't let any edge of the city down."
In addition to provisions for vacant lots, Gallegos said she would like to see new rules made to govern the upkeep of foreclosed homes, which would require the bank to beautify them. Vacant commercial spaces, like the long-empty BigLots building at Beverly and Rosemead boulevards could also qualify under the ordinance, Gallegos said.
Brauckmann said staffers would consider those provisions as they work on the ordinance.
He said about 83 lots have been identified which would likely need landscaping under the new ordinance, which is now being researched by staff.
City staff will bring a possible ordinance to the Planning Commission in the next few months, Brauckmann said. If passed by the commission, the ordinance will go to the City Council for approval.
Nearby cities, including Whittier and La Habra, have implemented similar ordinances recently.
"We'll probably review with cities like Whittier and La Habra to see what kind of impact it's had, both good and bad," Brauckmann said.
According to Nancy Mendez, assistant city manager in Whittier, the measure was meant to prevent blight in the city.
"We initiated it because we were interested in having the community look better," Mendez said.
Under Whittier's ordinance, owners of lots more than 1 acre in size can use fencing to conceal an unlandscaped center, while planting on the outside perimeter of the fence. Those with smaller lots are required to beautify the entire lot.

While Whittier considered their ordinance, a few landowners came to City Council meetings to voice their opposition, citing the high cost of irrigating and maintaining landscaping.

However, at the Planning Commission meeting on Monday, no one showed up to voice disapproval.

For more on this story, pick up a copy of tomorrow's Whittier Daily News.

It's been a long time coming -- but in just about a month, more than 50 La Serna High teachers, students and parents will be in Washington D.C. to personally watch as Barack Obama becomes the 44th president of the United States.

It's a special trip that took root last year, when teachers Cecilia Juarez and Shannon Thompson put through the paperwork to get a student group to the 2009 inauguration.

Even if Obama hadn't won, Juarez said chances were good that history would be made during this presidential election, either with Hillary Clinton (first woman to hold the office) or John McCain (first prisoner-of-war/oldest person).

So they got their ducks in a row and now, 42 students are headed to Washington D.C. for five days in January with several chaperones to see the inauguration and enjoy the local historic sites.

More on this in Wednesday's paper.

Trophies were handed out to participants in the 55th Annual Uptown Whittier Christmas Parade by the Whittier Uptown Association President Robert Ruiz.

Drill Team - Middle School : Open

1st Place: First Avenue

2nd Place: Rincon

3rd Place: El Roble

4th Place: Shivley

5th Place: Alvarado

6th Place: Burke

Drill Team - High School: Open

1st Place: Montebello

2nd Place: Temple City

3rd Place: Schurr

4th Place: South El Monte

5th Place: John Glenn

6th Place: St. Paul

Auxiliary - Middle School: Class D

1st Place: Alvarado

2nd Place: El Roble

3rd Place: Burke

Auxiliary _ Middle School: Class C

1st Place: First Avenue

2nd Place: Tetzlaff

3rd Place: Rincon

4th Place: Dexter

Auxiliary _ High School: Class B

1st Place: Bell Gardens

2nd Place: South El Monte

3rd Place: St. Paul

4th Place: St. John Bosco

Auxiliary - High School: Class A

1st Place: El Rancho

2nd Place: John Glenn

3rd Place: Montebello

4th Place: Temple City

5th Place: Beckman

6th Place: Schurr

Drum Major - Middle School: Open

1st Place: Tetzlaff

2nd Place: First Avenue

3rd Place: Rincon

4th Place: Alvarado

Drum Major - High School: Mace

1st Place: Beckman

2nd Place: John Glenn

Drum Major - High School: Military

1st Place: Temple City

2nd Place: Montebello

Band - Middle School: Class D

1st Place: Alvarado

2nd Place: El Roble

3rd Place: Burke

Band - Middle School: Class C

1st Place: Tetzlaff

2nd Place: First Avenue

3rd Place: Rincon

4th Place: Dexter

Band - High School: Class B

1st Place: South El Monte

2nd Place: Bell Gardens

3rd Place: St. Paul

4th Place: St. John Bosco

Band - High School: Class A

1st Place: John Glenn

2nd Place: Temple City

3rd Place: Schurr

4th Place: El Rancho

5th Place: Beckman

Music Award:

Montebello

Band Sweepstakes

Montebello

You might think there's nothing more boring than going  to or just watch a Planning Commission and listening to a bunch of stuff about zones and variances and other rules.
But that  might not be true about the 7 p.m. Monday Whittier Planning Commission.
The commission will be dealing with some interesting topics from cancer (although on this one they're not allowed about it) to adult business to parking in the Uptown.

Now, I'll have to admit the cancer one was just to get your attention because it's related to a proposed ordinance regulating cell towers. Some believe they might cause cancer. Only the federal government says cities can't even consider health issues in deciding where they can or can't go. Still, cell towers have been a hot issue in Whittier and this ordinance is an attempt cool it down.

The commission also will consider an update of the city's adult business ordinance. One change would make those businesses open no earlier than 10 a.m. as opposed to 6 a.m.
A third ordinance would set up parking structure standards. This relates to the idea of providing more parking in the Uptown area.

Oh and you don't have to go. If you have cable, it will be live on Channel 6.

For those who are going to Saturday to the 55th Annual Uptown Whittier Christmas Parade, rain or shine, here is the final schedule of particpants:

• Whittier Police Department Color Guard
• 55th Annual Whittier Uptown Christmas Parade banner
• Sponsored By Whittier Uptown Association banner
• Whittier High School Cardinal Brigade marching band
• Boy Scout banner
• Division I Sponsor ACS GROUP
• ACS Group
• City of Whittier Mayor Joe Vinatieri (car)
• City of Whititer Mayor Pro Tem Bob Henderson (car)
• City of Whittier Council Member Cathy Warner (her pers. car)
• City of Whittier Council Member Owen Newcomer (car)
• Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe (car)
• Hispanic Outreach Taskforce Pres. Betty Tucker (car)
• La Serna High School Band
• City of Whittier Community Services/Cheer and Pepsters
• Whittier Therapueutic Recreation Program
• Division 2 Sponsor Banner Jack FM Radio 93.1
• Jack FM RADIO 93.1
• El Rancho High School
• Community Grand Marshal's banner
• Community Grand Marshal Bonnie (Acro Printing) (car)
• JoJo Sanchez , Commissioner LA CO Probation (car)
• Lydia Jackson Elementary PTA
• Prudential California Uptown Realty
• Santa Fe Springs High School Band & Colorguard
• Santa Fe Springs Mayor Pro Tem Louie Gonzalez
• Santa Fe Springs Councilmember William Rounds
• Santa Fe Springs Councilmember Betty Putnam
• El Roble Marching Band
• Automobile Club of So. Calif.
• Critters For Christ (Equestrian)
• First Family Church
• Cub Scouts Pack #438 2
• South El Monte High School
• Division 3 Sponsor Home Loan Center
• Martin Camero (CAR)
• Assemblyman Charles Calderon (car)
• Soroptimist
• Girl Scouts of St Mark's Lutheren
• Moms Club of Whittier
• Whittier Lions Club Eye Mobile
• John Glen High School Marching Eagle Band
• Classic Clowns
• And Dance! Studio for performing arts
• Boy Scouts Pack 630
• State Senator Ron Calderon 30th District (car)
• Palamino (Equestrial)
• Destiny Community Church Pastor Charley (car)
• John Greenleaf Whittier Chapter Daughters of Revolution
• St. Bened

• Hoover Dad's Club
• Palamino (Equestrial)
• Destiny Community Church Pastor Charley (car)
• John Greenleaf Whittier Chapter Daughters of Revolution
• St. Benedicts #836
• Pioneer High School Marching Band
• Whittier College Athletics
• Whittier Shrine Club
• Hoover Dad's Club
• Palmview Christian School
• 38th Congressional District Congresswoman Grace Napolitano
• Hoover Elementary School of Baton Classes
• St. Paul High School Marching Swordsmen
• Division 5 Sponsor Caremore
• Caremore Representative
• Whittier Area First Day
• Willie G. Ministries
• Temple City High School Band & Pagentry Corps.
• Frontier High School student body
• YWCA - California Youth Spirit Core
• L Bar S Trail Dusters (Equestrian)
• Wantland Family
• St. John Bosco High School
• Whittier For Jesus
• Belvedere Park Bulldogs
• Rio Hondo College
• Tetzlaff Middle School Trojan Band & Color Guard
• Division 6 Sponsor Whittier Chamber of Commerce banner
• Whittier Chamber President
• Pio Pico State Historic Park
• Dance Image
• American Legion Whittier Post 51
• Burke Middle School
• City of Pico Rivera Mayor Gracie Gallegos
• City of Pico Rivera Mayor Pro Tem Bob Archuleta
• City of Pico Rivera Council Member Ron Beilke
• City of Pico Rivera Council member David Armenta
• L.A. County Fire Department - Station 28
• Harmony Center for Spiritual Living
• Merrill Gardens
• Rincon Intermmediate School Band & Drill team
• Division 7 Sponsor PIH / Bright Health Physicians
• Bright Health Physicians Dr. Rosi Lim
• Careforce One
• Elwin Elementary Pep Squad
• Second Chance Christian
• St. Bruno Cub Scouts #337
• Plymouth Christian
• La Habra High School Highlander Marching Band
• City of La Habra Mayor Rose Espinoza (car)
• Whittier Parents Friends of Lesbians and Gays
• Schurr High School Band
• Protégé Volleyball
• YMCA of Greater Whittier
• A.M.Y Mens Club
• California High School Band
• Division 8 Sponsor Rick's Drive In & Out banner 8 2
• Rick's Drive In & Out Representative
• Montebello Pop Warner
• Posada of Whittier
• Katherine Edwards Middle School Royal Marching Band
• Wishing Well
• Marinello Schools of Beauty
• Miss Whittier and Miss Teen Whittier
• California Cheer Lions Club
• Broadoak's Children's School of Whittier College
• Whittier High School Dance Team
• Montebello High
• Division 9 Sponsor Whittier Daily News banner
• Whittier Daily News Editor Tim Traeger (car)
• Whittier Police Department Chief of Police Dave Singer (car)
• Whittier Police Department Entry Team
• Victory Tae Kwon Do
• Whittier Christian School Cheer & Football players
• West Wind Training Stables (equestrian / stallion)
• Whittier Christian High School Herald Marching Band
• Whittier Pony Baseball
• Whittier Area Peace and Justice
• Whittier Museum
• L.A. County Parks & Rec. Obregon Park Tigers
• Dexter Middle School Hornet Marching Band
• Division 10 Sponsor EXTREME TINT
• Extreme Tint trailer and vehicle
• American Red Cross
• Los Nietos Shrine Club
• First Avenue Middle School Spartan Band, Drill & Auxilars
• L.A. County Parks & Rec. Mayberry Park
• Boys & Girls Club of Whittier
• La Habra Jr ROTC
• Luxury Sports
• Bell Gardens Lancer Marching Regiment
• Division 11 Sponsor Whittier Uptown Association banner
• Whittier Uptown Association President Robert Ruiz
• Los Molinos Elementary School Wildcat cheerleader & Mascots
• Whittier Youth Football & Cheer
• Sorensen Park
• Dean L Shivley Middle
• Regency Christian Center float
• L.A. County Parks & Rec. Saybrook Park
• Alvarado Intermediate Band
• Pupil Transportation Center
• Fix Auto Whittier
• Beckman High School Patriot Marching Band
• Santa Claus

The parade begins at 10 a.m.

Here's an update on the story you have read online or in the newspaper earlier this week:

The young female pit bull dragged behind a pickup truck into the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority parking lot on December 4 is recovering from her injuries under the care of SEAACA's veterinarian, Dr. Bradley Brunskill.

She is expected to remain the favorite patient in the Animal Wellness Center for several more weeks while her abrasions and mange heal.

Donations to support Bluebell's ongoing treatment are gratefully received. Please indicate Bluebell Fund (or Prada Fund) on checks made out to SEAACA, and mail to: 9777 Seaaca St., Downey, CA 90241.

For information, call (562) 803-3301.

Looks like trustees at the small, four-school Los Nietos School District will be keeping me busy next year.

A routine, yearly election of the board's officers was anything but that on Wednesday night, when Diana Villalba was elected president by a vote of 3-2 with the expected support of friend Grisel Vasquez and a surprising nod from Ray Chacon.

It was opposed by outgoing President Nicholas Aquino and the outgoing Vice President Art Escobedo, who was technically next in line for the board's leadership position.

Most school boards -- Los Nietos definitely not included -- elect officers by rotation in an effort to be fair and avoid drama. For example, last year's clerk would become this year's vice president, and last year's vice president would be this year's president, so on and so forth.

But this is the second time in three years that Villalba and Vasquez joined with another trustee to make a power play for the presidency and successfully upset the rotation.

But don't feel badly for Escobedo, he says -- with the ongoing financial crisis, Villalba is going to have a lot to deal with in her yearlong reign.

With Wednesday's vote, it seems Villalba and Chacon have made up since the summertime. That's when she complained about Chacon missing board meetings because they conflicted with a class he was taking for his master's degree. That angered Chacon, who then called Villalba out for an incident earlier this year when she made it seem he joined her in opposing a school bond proposal when he actually supported it.

But those hard feelings seem to have evaporated -- and so the Los Nietos board's leadership now rests in the hands of Villalba as president, Chacon as vice president, and Vasquez as clerk.

Stories on all of the Whittier-area school board reorganizations will be forthcoming in the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned. 

Sitting on Santa's laps isn't only for children.

The PetSmart in the Downey Landing Mall, 12126 Lakewood Blvd, Downey, is hosting a Picture with Santa program from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday Dec. 13 & 20.
For information, call (562) 803-1607

     Whittier police say the reported attempted kidnapping of a 12-year-old boy Tuesday night at the Quad didn't happen.

     Police spokesman Jason Zuhlke said the boy told detectives he made the story up.

    The alleged incident was reported about 5 p.m., yesterday. The boy told police he was skateboarding and took a break in a secluded spot. He was allegedly approached by a man who dragged him into the back seat of a car. He jumped out of the car when it stopped at a light. The man reportedly chased him but he eluded his pursuer.

     That story was debunked today.

     Zuhlke said the boy was allegedly spitting on a car. The driver asked him what he was doing and followed the boy who took off on his skateboard, according to Zuhlke. Whoever the man was then left.

The sentencing was continued next week for an El Monte man whose friend got killed while they raced on Rosemead Boulevard to settle a dispute on whose car was faster. The Oct. 7, 2007 crash also injured a family of four from La Puente.

Fitzgerald Paragas, 19, and 18-year-old Brian Ramirez of Los Angeles saw the street racing movie, "The Fast and the Furious" earlier that day.

Ramirez lost control of his Mitsubishi Evo while trying to get around a slower-moving vehicle. The Evo crossed into opposing lanes and crashed head-on into a Volkswagen Jetta carrying the Saavedra family. Ramirez died at the scene.

Paragas was supposed to be sentenced today at Pomona Superior Court but it was continued to Dec. 17.

He had pleaded no contest in May to one count of vehicular manslaughter and to four counts of reckless driving causing injury. He faces getting probation or up to eight years in prison.
The prosecution had asked the court at an earlier hearing for a sentence of four to six years.

Procrastinators unite!!! That seems to be the model for prospective candidates for La Habra Heights and La Mirada March 3, 2009 city council elections.

So far, two candidates have filed in each of the election. But there remain a number of those who have taken out papers and are waiting until the last minute. So it's going to be interesting to see just who does or does not file for these upcoming elections.

In La Habra, all Stan Carroll and Councilman Brian Bergman have pulled papers, but still have yet to file. And Councilwoman Tela Millsap, who has given no indication of her plans, hasn't even done that. Their deadline is 6 p.m. Monday.

Challengers George Edwards and Carl Westerhoff have filed. Vincent Gomez has taken out papers, but still has to file. Should Millsap not file, Gomez and any other challengers would have until 6 p.m. Wednesday.

In La Mirada, incumbent Susan Tripp filed the day after filing opened, but Gabe Garcia, former Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District board member, waited until Friday.
Still, with incumbent Bob Chotiner choosing not to run for a sixth term, all other prospective candidates have until 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Three other potential challengers -- Tony Aiello, Thomas Dawson and Ken Taylor -- have taken out papers. We'll see if they wait until the last minute to file.

     If you want to brighten a local kid's holiday, you can donate new unwrapped toys to the Whittier Police Department's toy drive. The department teamed up with the Salvation Army Whittier Corps for the second year in a row.

     The holiday toy drive will end Dec. 14.

     The Salvation Army will distribute the toys Dec. 17 and 18 along with food boxes to Whittier families who have signed up for them.

     Collections boxes were placed at the following locations:

Whittier City Hall, 13230 Penn St.

Tucked inside a vacation photo sent to this newspaper on Wednesday was a separate note of notable accomplishment.

Seems earlier this year with son Doug visiting from Baltimore, the Kays family of Whittier went golfing at the Norwalk Par 3 golf course.

With sons Scott and Doug and grandsons Jacob, Tyler, Brandon and Evan as witnesses, Bill Kays smacked his first hole-in-one.

"It was great fun for me," the pround grandpa wrote. "But I think the grandsons were more excitied than I."

Congrats, Bill. Keep on duffing.

Good news first: State test results show that Whittier-area students in grades 5, 7 and 9 as a whole are getting more physically fit every year, even if it is at a slow, single-digit pace.

The bad news? Only about one-third of these students managed to meet the state's minimum fitness standards during testing this year.

As a district, the best news comes out of El Rancho Unified in Pico Rivera, which saw the highest percentages of physically fit students in fifth grade (36.5 percent) and seventh grade (49.3 percent).

The Whittier Union High School District had the best percentage of fit high-schoolers, with 40.2 percent.

Most districts saw improvements from last year's testing -- but educators say it's difficult to compare scores when a different set of kids are tested every year.

More details in Tuesday's paper.