CareMore leased more than 18,000 square feet in the Cerritos building located at 18000 Studebaker Road, covering the entire first floor. As part of the lease agreement, the building will feature the CareMore name.
According to Meg O'Toole, general manager of CareMore's new offices, the Cerritos location will house CareMore insurance services, sales and marketing, billing and collections, practice management, information technology, business services, customer service, claims and transportation departments.
"We simply needed more space for our growing departments and expanded managed health care membership," said O'Toole. "The Cerritos location was very centralized for our operations and our many medical offices in the surrounding communities. Moreover, it is close to our hub hospital partner, Lakewood Regional Medical Center."
CareMore Medical Group, which provides medical care to more than 15,000 area seniors, is comprised of more than 180 primary care physicians and 275 specialists in 31 offices throughout southeast Los Angeles and Orange County.
The event, a fundraiser for the Music in the Schools program which is supported by the Guild, was decorated by Katie Hare and Dodie Mosby, and filled the big hotel ballroom.
Guests were welcomed at the door with glasses of champagne and escorted to tables laden with appetizers.
A French meal followed, prepared by Chef Gregory Andro of Gregory's. The food was inspired-beginning with a French onion soup, followed by chicken chanticleer, filet roulade, a salad of Asian pears with avocado and Roquefort, and finally Gregory's crepe jubilee.
Pauline Hume, president of the Guild, introduced her board and fellow workers. She stressed that those attending were benefiting the Symphony Orchestra and the Music in the Schools program.
Andro was then presented with a plaque expressing the Guild's appreciation for his generous help.
He then served as auctioneer.
Prominent persons present included Downey Symphony Conductor and Director Thomas Osborn and his wife; Diane Boggs and Bob Brazelton, former Council members; Dr. Loren DeWind; Sid and Jerry Elicks; Bill Hare, president of the Downey Symphonic Association and his wife, Katie; Hazel Scotto, Art Morris and many more.
Dancing followed to the music of the Mobile D.J.
The noon event will feature portrayals by Carol Tarbell of Astronaut Sally Ride, and Kathy Harkness of athlete Wilma Rudolph. Their portrayals are part of an American University women's historical enrichment series prepared originally for schools.
For reservations, call 691-7184.
Father Donahue could not accept the award in person, as he has served the church in Honduras for the last 21 years, most recently as the pastor of a multicultural parish in Sangrelaya where he is the only priest amid the Garifuna, Ladino, and Miskito cultures.
The priest was a student at OLPH from 1952 through 1960. He attended Loyola High School from which he graduated in 1964, then entered the Jesuit Novitiate in Montecito, California in 1966 where he pronounced his vows of poverty, chastity and obedience to God in the Society of Jesus. He studied at Loyola University until 1968, then Spokane, Washington where he graduated in philosophy in 1970. He received a master's in divinity and master's of sacred theology from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley.
Ordained as a priest on June 16, 1979 in Los Angeles, he spent three months at St. Joseph's in San Jose before receiving his mission to Honduras.
He also said a solid Catholic education helps to unite a knowledge of God and Christian faith with poor people's demands for justice, truth, love and peace.
Past achievements in Honduras include the building of a Nutrition Center in Urraco, and helping finish a hospital in Tocoa, where he also denounced the disappearance of an ex-Jesuit priest some years earlier, while calling for justice.
Past recipients of this award include Mike Pohlen, John Weber, Mary Kellet McCullough, Debbie Hale, Mary Felix, Judy Commodore, Theresa Nicholas and Chris French.
He told the group that at 88, it is time to step down with his lovely wife, Jill, and enjoy retirement.
Those at the luncheon included Lucy Aguero, Anne Bayer, Evelyn Bradley, Faye Campbell, Diane Lumsdaine, Jill DiLoreto, Doris Patterson, Joyce and Mike Prokop, Robert Barbera, Lou Ugliano, Grace Hu, Gloria DiLoreto and Terry Lambros.
DiLoreto chose those at the luncheon to assist in his annual giving program. Some 60 charities and service clubs in the greater Los Angeles area were recipients of grants totaling more than one-half million dollars.
He asked those present to help carry out his works, including Citizens for Downey which he founded in 1979, the Congress for American Principles, and several other projects.
Downey has benefited through many of his projects since the 1950s.
For the small fee of $2.50 per person those in attendance will enjoy a breakfast which will consist of pancakes, sausage patty, orange drink and orange slices. Other fun-filled activities include an Easter craft, indoor games and Eggs-citing games. Children will also have an opportunity to take a picture with the Bunny for $1.25. Tickets for the picture with the Bunny can be purchased the day of the breakfast.
"This breakfast sells out. It's a very popular event especially with the younger kids," said Teri Hamilton, recreations supervisor of the Community Services Department. "Children enjoy this event a lot. They have a great time because it takes place in a fun environment," Hamilton added.
Tickets for the breakfast will be on sale on Tuesday, March 5 at the Community Services Department, located on the second floor of City Hall. Those interested should purchase their tickets soon because they sell out quickly. Parents are encouraged to bring their own cameras. The event will go on rain or shine.
"This is a nice way to start off the Easter season. Parents get a real kick out of seeing their kids make an Easter craft," Hamilton said.
Tickets will not be sold at the door. For information, call Teri Hamilton at 904-7238.
Retired Downey dentist John Sims will be the featured speaker in the first of the series Tuesday, March 5, at 7:15 a.m., in the board room of the Chamber, 11131 Brookshire Ave.
Chamber members and guests meet every Tuesday to network and promote their business products and services. Complimentary breakfast treats and coffee are furnished.
Other speakers scheduled are: Elton Waller, retired Downey businessman on March 12; John Vincent of the Downey Historical Society on March 19; and Joan Warner, executive director of the Chamber speaking on the history of the Chamber March 26.
For information, call 923-2191.
Havice's resolution-ACR 129-passed unanimously.
"The first order of business in a civilized society is to protect its citizens," said Havice, who applauded efforts by victims to hold offenders more accountable for their crimes and for advocating tough public safety measures.
Her measure comes at a time when crime is once again starting to rise, after years of declining crime rates.
Havice said she hopes her resolution proclaiming Crime Victims' Rights Week will bring "closure and comfort" to victims who often go forward into uncertainty after their encounters with crime.
"Often, the clearest voice of reason heard in the Capitol is from crime victims," Havice said, adding that her resolution is the Legislature's way to "recognize the pain and suffering of crime victims," who deserve an official time of reflection.
The public will be able to choose from a wide variety of handmade items made by nonprofessional vendors such as aprons, afghans, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, wood objects, decorated candy jars, hats, scarves and baby blankets, among other handcrafted items. The public will also be able to purchase, for a small fee, breakfast items such as croissants, bagels, coffee, hot tea and hot cocoa and lunch items including sandwiches, sodas and chips.
Entrance into the boutique is free and it will be held in the Diane Boggs Auditorium and the Downey Room.
"The boutique is a nice way to assist some of our vendors in the community who might not have any other means to showcase their items and sell them," said Dan Belling, Senior Center supervisor.
For information, call the Senior Center at 904-7223.