Included on the list are: Desiree Wilson, Downey Retirement Center, April 2; Chris Roth, World Financial Group, April 9; Fionnuala Anderson, Western States Glass, April 16; Greg Hafen, World Financial Group, April 23; and Budson Ellsworth, Healthy Horizons, April 30.
May speakers are: Barbara Briley Beard, Pro Networkers, May 7; Joe Keays, Downey Plumbing and Heating, May 14; John Lacey, Crystal Properties, May 21; and Sally Soto, Countrywide Home Loans, May 28.
Chamber members and guests meet weekly to network, exchange leads, and promote their individual business services and products. Complimentary coffee and breakfast treats are provided. For information call 923-2191.
The action was at Tuesday's regular Council meeting.
The Council also stipulated that as in past years the City waive costs associated with the event.
Brookshire will be closed from Firestone to Civic Center Drive between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. The Council previously approved the move to Brookshire at its Dec. 11 meeting. Since then, members of the police, fire and public works staffs have met several times to iron out details.
These are reflected by the permit approved at Tuesday's meeting.
Chamber Executive Director Joan Warner said the Downey Unified School District has granted the Chamber permission to use the high school's parking lot at Brookshire and Firestone and the lot at the Aquatic Center. The Chamber is seeking permission to use other parking in the area including the Wallar's lot south of Firestone and the Washington Mutual lot after morning banking hours are over. All fair parking areas will be clearly marked.
The Fire Department will require a first aid station at the fair site, and fire extinguishers at all booths where propane is used. The driveway between the Chamber and the Downey Theater will be closed during the fair's duration, and used as a right of way for emergency vehicles only.
Councilman Keith McCarthy noted that the annual fair is one of the city's most popular events.
Councilman Richard Trejo also said he enjoyed it. Councilman Kirk Cartozian then made the suggestion that the City cover the expenses as in the past. The vote was 5-0 in favor.
As I look back over nine years as editor, there are many stories and personalities that stand out. The early editions of The Downey Eagle featured the writing of Jerry Goldberg, who had been a longtime political writer for the Los Angeles Examiner and knew the inner workings of Sacramento.
He more or less died with a column for the Eagle in his typewriter. He will never be forgotten by those who knew him and his passion for the press.
Merl Moore was a mentor from my early days on the San Francisco Chronicle who wrote a weekly column for The Downey Eagle as a favor. His contributions on history and politics are notable.
But my all-time favorite contributor to the Eagle is one of the many poets who's poems appeared in the Poets' corner. Anona McConaghy brought a lifetime of living and verse to The Downey Eagle. She was in her 90's when she first appeared in the Eagle, but her verses had the verve of a young girl, mingled with the wisdom of a lifetime.
She wrote of a vacation taken years ago with her husband, when she kissed the Blarney Stone, which she found somewhat overrated.
She wrote of growing up on the San Fernando Valley side of the Hollywood Hills, near the intersection of Cahenga and Riverside Drive. The silence, she wrote, was such that you could hear the clock on the Times Building in downtown Los Angeles as it struck the hour. She said you could hear the roar of surf on the Ventura Coast during heavy storms there. As a little girl she played with cannon balls turned up by her grandfather's plow, presumably from the old battle of Cahuenga. Many nights, she wrote, she walked home after midnight after a dance in Hollywood. It was times like these when she could be alone with her thoughts.
She was a notable thinker, who conveyed wisdom through seemingly light verse, that bit the reader long after the page had been scanned and laid aside.
She moved to Downey in 1940 and though the incorporation of Bellflower changed the boundaries and gave her a Bellflower address, she lived in the same house for 60 years until her death.
During World War II she worked at Vultee on Lakewood Boulevard in Downey. Later she and her husband ran a restaurant at Rosecrans and Woodruff for eight years. Most of the time she was content as a housewife who wrote poetry and painted landscapes.
I have often thought of the young girl climbing that long hill to "hob nob" with Hollywood's finest, then walking home afterwards, alone with her thoughts. Did anyone at those parties know they had met someone noteworthy?
Probably not. But her worth blazed from the pages of her verse, and The Downey Eagle was proud to print them.
Goldberg, a skilled veteran of the political wars. Moore, accomplished retired journalist, thinking and reading and writing of our founding fathers. Anona McConaghy remembering those long-ago walks home.
All are part of The Eagle now.
Whatever the future holds, adieu...
Gonzolo Martinez was hit by multiple gunshots fired by police in what began as a DUI stop and escalated into a chase onto the I-5, the transition to the southbound 605 where he lost control of his vehicle and then allegedly tried to run down officers, then was finally stopped at Newville Avenue and Farm Street where the fatal bullets were fired.
Protesters maintain a videotape made by Channel 52 News shows he had his hands up and was trying to surrender when he was hit by the police bullets.
Police have said he put one hand behind his back as though reaching for a weapon.
No gun was found.
The dead man's mother, Norma Martinez, was among those holding signs outside City Hall Tuesday protesting his death. She then was among those who attended the meeting and spoke in protest.
Several speakers accused the police of murder and racism.
Mayor Meredith Perkins assured all at the meeting that he has asked for a thorough probe, and announced that a federal investigation by the FBI has been added to the Downey Police investigation and probes by the DA's Office and County Coroner.
Perkins added that the FBI investigation now extends to an anonymous letter which has circulated, in which officers are named and backgrounds are questioned.
Copies of the controversial anonymous letter were circulated in the audience at Tuesday's meeting.
Protesters at Tuesday's meeting said a march is planned for April 20 starting at the corner where the fatal shooting occurred and ending at City Hall.
The awards were presented by Chamber President John Tilley, Police Chief John Finch and Fire Chief Mark Sauter.
Awards were also presented by representatives of Congressman Steve Horn; County Supervisor Don Knabe; Assemblywoman Sally Havice; and state Senator Betty Karnette.
* Honored from the City's Office of Economic Development was Coordinator Steven Yee. He works closely with quality business to make sure it remains in Downey, and also works with developers to attract those businesses that the City wants to see here.
His recent successes include the facilitation of the Petco/Coffee Bean center, and he is currently working on the revitalization of the former Simpson Buick site.
His recent efforts through the Gateway Cities Council of Governments and the Economic Development Administration led to the securing a $1 million matching grant for the City to use for public improvements at the former NASA site.
Yee has also organized the auto dealers to successfully form the Downey Auto Dealers Association which it is hoped will lead to a joint marketing campaign to boost new car sales in Downey. He also has helped in the business development of the downtown, and has developed and maintains the City's website.
* Rod McNeill, a Corporal in the Police Traffic Division, has proven he is capable of being assigned projects that require tact and finesse. He began his career with the Downey Police in 1984. He worked eight years on patrol, then transferred to the Administrative Division where he was assigned to the Special Enforcement Team. One of his primary responsibilities while with SET was recruitment and hiring, involving background investigations.
He joined the Traffic Division four years ago, and was assigned a motor detail (motorcycles). He has consistently demonstrated high standards.
* Dwayne Cooper, Police Detective, joined the Downey Police Department in 1998, after years with the Monterey County Sheriff's Department. With Downey he soon was promoted to the rank of detective and assigned to the Special Investigation Section/Crime Impact Team.
Cooper is involved in several programs including Adopt-A-Park officer at Golden Park. He also works with GRASP, the after school program at Gauldin Elementary School, and is a School Resource Officer at Warren High. He speaks to the Department's Citizen's Academy on gangs and Downey.
* Bob Weinrich, Code Enforcement Officer, has lived in Downey since 1950. He has worn many hats including sales manager for a scientific equipment manufacturer, division manager for a heavy demolition company, and has owned and operated a small family business. His interests include astronomy, archery and watch repair. He is proud to be a member of the Downey Police and has worked for Code Enforcement since 1999.
* Paul Cruz, Firefighter, has been with Downey since 1971, and is known as "Mr. Consistent" around the fire station for his diligence and enthusiasm. He has been assigned to every engine and station in Downey over the years.
Cruz has helped support numerous charities and assistance programs while continuing to participate in the fire department's seasonal events for disabled children at Rancho Los Amigos. He has served on many milestone incidents and numerous wild land fires.
He carries a camera with him at all times and serves as the department photographer, keeping photo archives. He also has produced videos of the six weeks of fire training for recruit classes. His hobbies include restoring children's antique pedal cars, and antiques.
* Brad Van Ert, Captain, Downey Fire EMS Coordinator. He joined Downey Fire in 1980, attended paramedic school in 1981, and worked as a paramedic until his advancement to Captain in 1989. He was a training officer for three years and is a certified chief officer with the State Fire Marshal's Office. He was recently appointed EMS Coordinator. He has contributed to the department in many ways through the years, serving on numerous committees and many projects. His attitude is always refreshing. His interests include snow skiing, surfing, mountain biking and running. He has won many medals in the firefighters Summer and Winter Games.
* Darren Moon, Fire Captain, joined the department in 1988 after a brief stint as an assistant football coach at USC. He attended paramedic school and worked in that capacity for eight years. He then worked as a Fire Prevention Bureau Inspector/Public Education specialist and was promoted to Captain in September 1999 and Training Captain in July 2000. Moon makes a difference. He applies himself fully to each assignment and works hard to develop his crews and their talents.
He writes grants, one of which was the Hazard Elimination Safety Grant which funded $378,000 for preemption signal devices at 47 Downey intersections. He also secured $138,529 through a Fire Act grant to enhance the department's training program.
Interestingly, this all started with a casual conversation over an ironing board. While gathering signatures at the Post Office for the referendum on the first plans for the theater/parking structure, Dean Wright, owner of the House of Wright, called me aside and asked if I had ever thought about starting a newspaper to better get the voice of the people into the political process, that a newspaper can be more democratic than the vagaries of the referendum process. I rejected the idea out of hand only to have it rekindled from a meeting with a certain John Adams, suggested by Joyce Lawrence. Several conversations later a new adventure was taking shape. Donn Irving, a friend of John's, gave some early guidance and cohesiveness, Guy Sterner suggested the name and we were off and running, never to miss a deadline.
I would like to think the paper has been a plus for the community, has added to the dialogue of politics and facilitated the exchange of ideas. I have never heard of any overt corruption in our city government so there was none to report. About the most questionable practice is keeping the three day weekends every other week long past the gasoline shortage rational. That seems a little over the top in today's call for increased accountability.
With the reliance on large metro dailies for print news it is hard for a community weekly to survive: the money comes from advertising and the national stores do not advertise in small local weeklies. Support must come from the local businesses, which in our case it has. I wish to thank all of our advertisers for their support over the years. It is only through them that this paper has been successful. In any town that wants a hometown newspaper, the businesses have to make the commitment to advertise regularly, without expectation of influencing content or even currying favor. Independence is vital to the presenting of truth.
To look at our neighboring towns is to wonder if a local newspaper might have exposed the developing corruption early enough to head off the implosion of city government in Compton, Bell Gardens and South Gate. While the root of the trouble is dishonest politicians, it was the unaccountability of Redevelopment law that provided the opportunity for corruption. Hopefully an independent newspaper would have at least gotten the information out to the townspeople. An informed electorate will usually make better choices.
I would like to use this opportunity to thank our readers, our advertisers and our supporters. The future for a new local newspaper in Downey looks great. John has been putting one together since he learned of our retirement plan and I feel confident you can look forward to the same high standards of balanced news reporting. His years of experience on a large metro daily give him the breadth of understanding of what great reporting is all about. We all wish The Downey Patriot many years of excellence.