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This week’s homily

November 1, 2013 Faith

By the Rev. Thomas M. Boles PhD., DMin. D.D.

If I can throw a single ray of light across the darkened pathway of another; if I can aid some soul to clearer sight of life and duty, and thus bless my brother and sister; if I can wipe from any human cheek a tear, I shall not have lived my life in vain while here.

If I can guide some erring one to truth, inspire within his heart a sense of duty; if I can plant within my soul of rosy youth a sense of right, a love of truth and beauty; if I can teach one man that God and heaven are near, I shall not then have lived in vain while here.

If from my mind I banish doubt and fear, and keep my life attuned to love and kindness; if I can scatter light and hope and cheer, and help remove the curse of mental blindness; if I can make more joy, more hope, less pain, I shall not have lived and loved in vain.

If by life’s roadside, I can plant a tree, beneath whose shade some wearied head may rest, though I may never share its beauty, I shall yet be truly blessed, though no one knows my name, nor drops a flower upon my grave, I shall not have lived in vain while here.”

The measure of a man’s character is not what he gets from his ancestors, but what he leaves his descendants.

A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children; and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

Proverbs 13: 22

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Police are getting into the SPIRITT

October 31, 2013 Around Town, Local News

The Whittier Police Department has the SPIRITT.
From 5:30 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013, SPIRITT Family Services will be honoring the department with its Healthy Communities Advocate Award during a “Filling the Basket with Gifts of the Heart” fundraiser at Town Center Hall in Santa Fe Springs.
The department has a longstanding contract to provide police services to SFS.

The event will feature live entertainment by the famed Mariachi Divas, raffles, auctions and food and wine tasting.

Aside from the department, Juvenile Court Judge Michael Nash will be feted with the Thriving Children Advocate Award while the Mariachi Divas will be honored with the Strengthening Communities Through Arts and Music Award.

All proceeds will benefit SPIRITT, a group whose mission is to strengthen local families in the community.

Tickets are $65 per person, or $120 per couple.

For information or tickets call 562-903-7000 or visit www.spiritt.org.

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Area prep football roundup for Oct. 30, 2013

October 31, 2013 Sports

El Rancho defeated California 22-15 during Oct. 25 Del Rio League action

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By Eric Terrazas

Staff Writer

www.411whittier.com

WHITTIER – El Rancho High School’s offense came alive in the fourth quarter, scoring 15 points en route to a 22-15 Del Rio League victory Oct. 25 at California High.

The Dons, trailing 12-7, grabbed the lead when senior quarterback Ryan Araujo scored on a 1-yard run with 6 minutes, 38 seconds remaining in regulation. Araujo then gave El Rancho a 15-12 advantage when he successfully scampered for a two-point conversion.

After Condors senior kicker Eric Amezquita’s game-tying 31-yard field goal, the Dons responded with the eventual game-winning drive that culminated with Araujo’s 55-yard scoring pass to senior wide receiver Javier Carillo. Carillo’s touchdown came with 2:22 left.

El Rancho then secured the win by stopping the Condors on a fourth down at California’s 22-yard line.

The Dons (5-3 overall , 3-0 league), with Friday’s triumph, maintain a share of first place in the Del Rio.

El Rancho senior running back Aaron Escareno played a major role, rushing for 121 yards and a score on 22 carries. Escareno’s touchdown came on a 10-yard run that put the Dons on the board after the Condors raced out to a 9-0 lead.

Araujo finished with 124 yards passing while completing 10 of 20 attempts.

Amezquita connected on three field goals (47, 24 and 31 yards) for the Condors (3-5, 1-2), who will look to rebound Thursday, Oct. 31 against Pioneer (3-5, 0-3). Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. at California High. The Condors will be the road team.

El Rancho will look to stay undefeated in league play as it hosts Santa Fe (5-3, 2-1) at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1.

Here is a look at other Del Rio League action from last week:

LA SERNA 62, PIONEER 7

The defending league champion Lancers (6-2, 3-0) continued their impressive roll by delivering a dominating perfromance Oct. 24 against the Titans.

The junior running back trio of Kevin Ramos, Ruben Rios and Bryce Oliver accounted for a major part of the La Serna offense. Ramos ran for 71 yards and a touchdown on four carries.

Rios and Oliver, who rushed for 59 and 52 yards respectively, also each added a rushing score.

Lancers senior quarterback Frankie Palmer turned in an efficent performance, completing 7 of 9 attempts for 134 yards and one touchdown. Senior wide receiver Matthew Rosales finished with three receptions for 68 yards and a score.

The Lancers will next host Whittier (3-5, 0-3) at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1 at California High.

SANTA FE 24, WHITTIER 21

Santa Fe remained on the inside track for a CIF-Southern Section Southeast Division postseason berth by besting the Cardinals on Oct. 25.

Senior wide receiver Brandon Takata paced the victorious Chiefs’ offensive attack, hauling in four receptions for 117 yards and two touchdowns.

Whittier senior running back Gerry Pantoja scored two touchdowns – one rushing and one receiving. Pantoja, who ran for 31 yards on eight carries, made one reception for 40 yards.

Cardinals junior running back Eddie Orta finished with 83 rushing yards on 18 carries.

MISSION LEAGUE

CHAMINADE 64, ST. PAUL 13

After recording its first victory of the season last week against Harvard-Westlake, the Swordsmen fell on the short end against a talented Chaminade squad.

The Oct. 25 defeat drops St. Paul (1-7, 1-2) into fourth place in the league standings behind third-place Chaminade (6-2, 2-1). Serra (8-0, 3-0) and St. Francis (8-0, 3-0) are locked in a first-place tie.

St. Paul will host Cathedral (5-3, 0-3) on Friday, Nov. 1. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.

OLYMPIC LEAGUE

WHITTIER CHRISTIAN 41, HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 34

Whittier Christian (5-3, 2-1) extended its winning streak to two games by turning in an impressive offensive performance Oct. 25 at Whittier College.

Sophomore running back Nick Watase led the Heralds offense by rushing for 323 yards and two touchdowns. Senior quarterback Ryan Esslinger also played a key role, completing 20 of 30 attempts for 188 yards and three scores.

The Heralds will face a huge test on Friday, Nov. 1 as they travel to Maranatha (6-2, 2-0) for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

@411whittierspts

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Whittier sports briefs for Oct. 30, 2013

October 31, 2013 Sports

El Rancho legend to be honored

Legendary El Rancho High School football coach Ernie Johnson, who died Sept. 15 at the age of 87, will be honored by the school at two upcoming events.

Johnson will be remembered at halftime of El Rancho’s Del Rio League contest against Santa Fe on Friday, Nov. 1. A memorial is also scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3, at El Rancho’s gym.

Several of Johnson’s former players are scheduled to speak.

Johnson coached the Dons from 1956 to 1968, posting an overall record of 108-31-5 and leading El Rancho to three CIF crowns.

For more information, call 562-801-5300.

Beginning skateboarding

Children ages 6 to 17 can register for a beginning skateboarding class that is scheduled from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturdays from Nov. 2 to 30, at Whittier Community Center, 7630 Washington Ave.

Participants must wear a helmet, elbow and knee pads, and bring their own skateboard. The fee is $107 for residents and $122 for nonresidents.

For more information, call 562-567-9430 or visit www.WhittierRec.com.

Youth wrestling

The city of Whittier offers a youth wrestling class for youngsters ages 5 to 18.

The Saturday program is slated from Nov. 9 to Dec. 14, at Whittier Community Center, 7630 Washington Ave. Children ages 5 to 12 will participate from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., followed by youngsters ages 13 to 18, who will wrestle from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The fee for both programs is $59 for residents and $69 for nonresidents.

For more information, call 562-567-9430 or visit www.WhittierRec.com.

Chair fitness for seniors

Chair fitness encourages health and fitness for active people or those whose physical condition, restricted mobility, or age, limits their participation in conventional forms of exercise.

The free ongoing class, open to ages 55 and over, requires no registration. Sessions are scheduled from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Parnell Park Activity Center, 15390 Lambert Road, and from 9 to 9:45 a.m. at Whittier Senior Center, 13225 Walnut St. Both classes are slated for Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. No class is scheduled for Nov. 11, Nov. 29, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, 2014.

For more information, call 562-567-9430 or visit www.WhittierRec.com.

Tai Chi for seniors

Ongoing Tai Chi classes are open to ages 55 and over.

The Whittier Senior Center, 13225 Walnut St., offers a Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday session while the Parnell Park Activity Center, 15390 Lambert Road, hosts a Friday class.

The fee for each session is $3.

For information call 562-567-9430 or visit www.WhittierRec.com.

Tae kwon do

Uptown Whittier YMCA, 12510 Hadley St. in Whittier, offers Tae kwon do classes for ages 3 to adult.

Instructors place strong emphasis on self-discipline and building self-esteem. They will teach how to use strength effectively, maintain cardiovascular fitness, improve flexibility and coordination, as well as tone the muscular system.

For class times and more information, call 562-907-6530.

Martial arts

The East Whittier YMCA Impact Martial Arts program offers several classes at 15740 Starbuck St. in Whittier.

Classes are available for all ages and levels of experience. Impact Martial Arts and Fitness is staffed by professional and experienced instructors who have dedicated their lives to sharing the power of martial arts with the community.

For class times and information, call 562-943-7241.

 

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Preserving Whittier’s history

October 30, 2013 Local News

Whittier Conservancy bestows preservation awards

By Maria Claver

Correspondent

411whittier.com

WHITTIER– Whittier Conservancy members gathered on Monday, Oct. 28, 2013 at the Rusty Monk restaurant to celebrate some historic accomplishments over the past year and hand out grants from Edison International for creating a curricular development project to bring Whittier’s rich history into the classroom and to recognize local residents and business owners for their “historic” contributions.

Part of the Whittier Conservancy’s mission is to, “Promote awareness and appreciation of Whittier’s historic, aesthetic and natural resources.” In the past year, its accomplishments include defending the code against incompatible development on West Road, coordinating efforts of a developer – Heritage Housing of Pasadena – with the city’s Re-Development Successor Agency to result in a project at Penn
/Comstock that will include Guilford Hall, and participating in hearings that addressed the city’s ongoing efforts to develop a list of homes worthy of being placed on the local register.

One of the highlights of the past year has been recognition by the state through the California Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation for the saving and rehabilitation efforts on the California Domestic Office building on Whittier Boulevard.

Another highlight of the past year has been completion of a grant through Edison International that funded the development of third-grade local history curriculum. The Whittier history curricular grant aims to ensure that third-grade teachers throughout Whittier have the materials necessary to adequately incorporate Whittier’s rich history into their social studies lesson.

Three Whittier educators, Raul Almada, Kathie Kivi, and Kay Webb, collaborated to produce a curriculum that incorporates Common Core State Standards and California Social Studies Standards.

The Conservancy is looking ahead to goals for next year, which include a recently-awarded $20,000 grant from Edison International, which will be used to buy landscaping for a green space that will include a Dorothea Boyd Memorial Parkway.

Regarding Earlham Hall at Whittier College, the Conservancy is exploring ways to help develop a solution that will serve the needs of the college, the neighborhood, as well as honor the landmark structure, which was home to the college’s first president.

An additional project involving Whittier College is a joint sustainability program with professors at the college to provide student internships that connect community service with hands-on green projects.

Conservancy Preservation Awards, which recognize the efforts of residents and business owners regarding the protection and rehabilitation of Whittier’s historic resources, were presented to Kyle and Marie Koestner for Commercial Restoration of the Rusty Monk on Greenleaf Avenue, the Pryor family for Paint, Design and Color for work completed at their residence on Painter Avenue, the Fullerton family for Historic Restoration at their home on Bright and Camilla, Robert Parminter for Community Enhancement for his new dental building on La Entrada, and the residents of the Earlham Neighborhood Historic District for Community Activism for their continued participation in saving Earlham and Guilford halls.

 

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Uptown Pub Crawl coming Oct. 30

October 29, 2013 Around Town, Local News

Don’t get too scared, but Uptown Whittier restaurants have joined forces to offer the 5th Annual Uptown Beer & Wine Tasting Calavera Pub Crawl from 6 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013.
For the paltry price of $8 patrons 21 and older can visit Bambooze Sushi & Brew House, Sage Whittier, Off The Hook, Crepes & Grapes Café, The Bottle Room, Steve’s BBQ, Seta dine:lounge, the Havana House Cigars & Lounge, Doppio Bacio, Studio Danza for a Crawl dance or Casita Del Pueblo for face painting.
Tickets are on sale at two locations: Casita Del Pueblo, 13100 Philadelphia St. or Crepes & Grapes Café, 6560 Greenleaf Ave.
For more information call Marie Ortiz at 562-696-2662 or 562-696-3763.

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Help feed needy Whittier families this holiday season

October 29, 2013 Around Town

The New Horizons Caregivers Group and Catholic Rainbow Outreach are teaming up with Albertsons grocery stores to help feed those in need this holiday season.
Donations of any amount, $1, $2, $5, $10 or more will help feed as many needy families as possible. New Horizons Caregivers Group and Catholic Rainbow Outreach are both 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving the Whittier area.

For more information call 562-944-2283.

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Nearly 1,000 people are ‘Fit for Life’

October 27, 2013 Local News, Sports

Costumed runners participating in Whittier’s 5K “Fit For LIfe” Run/Walk

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Eric Terrazas

Staff Writer

411whittier.com

WHITTIER – Nearly 1,000 runners young and old participated in Whittier’s fourth annual 5K “Fit for Life” run/walk on a foggy Saturday morning.

The Oct. 26, 2013 event, presented by the Whittier Community Foundation and the Whittier Host Lions Club, started and finished at the Whittier Community Center. Many of the runners also came decked out to sprint in costume.

Eli Rodriguez was the overall winner of the 5K, completing the course in 15 minutes, 14 seconds.

Pasadena resident Emily Garwood emerged as the top overall female performer. Garwood, who wore a Ms. Pac-Man costume, finished with a mark of 22:47.

“It’s really exciting,” Garwood said. “I never won a race before (as overall winner). It’s my first time racing here. It was great. I liked the uphill start – it got you ready to go. Then it was downhill later and that was a nice way to do it.”

According to race director Greg Alaniz, the event attracted about 850 runners.

“It’s getting bigger and bigger every year,” Alaniz said. “We had runners coming from the South Bay, Apple Valley, Tujunga and Orange County. It’s just a wonderful event and it’s a great community event. We have a great partnership with the Whittier Host Lions.”

The Whittier Community Foundation proceeds will go toward the community while the Whittier Host Lions Club proceeds will benefit “Sight for Kids,” a program that provides no-cost eye exams and eyeglasses for underprivileged children in Whittier.

@411whittierspts

 

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This week’s homily

October 26, 2013 Faith

By the Rev. Thomas M. Boles PhD., DMin., D.D.

During the reign of Abdullah the Third, a great drought struck Baghdad. The Mohammendan doctors issued a decree that all the faithful should offer prayers for rain. Still, the drought continued.

The Jews were then permitted to add their prayers.
Their supplications also appeared ineffectual. Finally when the
drought resulted in widespread famine, the Christians in the
land were asked to pray. It so happened that torrents of rain
followed almost immediately.

The whole Conclave was more upset over the cessation of the drought than it had been alarmed at its continuance. Feeling that some explanation was necessary, they issued this statement to the masses: “The God of our Prophet was highly gratified by the prayers of the faithful which were as sweet- smelling savors to Him.

“He refused their requests in order to prolong the pleasure of
listening to their prayers; but the prayers of those Christian infidels were an abomination to Him, and He granted their petitions the
sooner to be rid of their loathsome importunities.”

Be careful how you ridicule a victor. He may have the
skill to best you again in yet another contest.

Luck: a loser’s excuse for a winner’s position

The soul of the sluggard desireth,

and hath nothing; but the soul

of the diligent shall be made fat.

Proverbs 13: 4

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‘Keeping the Faith,’ 10/26/2013

October 26, 2013 Faith

The Man Who Saved the World

By Pastor Dwight Sullivan

Recently I saw a TV program on the remembrance of the Cuban Missile Crisis, an event which happened more than 50 years ago this month. It was one of the scariest times in human history.

Locked in a global struggle, the two superpowers of the USA and Communist Russia each had then a “Mutual Assured Destruction” stance. If one country tried to attack first with nuclear weapons, the other would unleash their arsenal to destroy that nation. Doomsday would happen.

In 1962 one of our spy planes spotted long-range missiles that the Russians had sneaked into Cuba. These missiles were capable of delivering nuclear bombs to the USA, including NYC and LA. The whole world grew tense. Our country declared a naval blockade and warned that any missile attack would be a declaration of war.

A Russian submarine secretly carrying a nuclear bomb torpedo was then trapped by the US Navy around Cuba. With a hot and clammy interior and with a loss of communication with Moscow, the submarine crew grew really on edge. When our Navy started dropping practice depth charges, the Russian sub did not understand that this was a signal for them to surface. Those on the sub wondered, “Had war started? Were they under attack?”

ONE MAN SAVED THE WORLD THEN

To activate the Russian nuclear bomb, three key officers had to agree unanimously. Stressed in the hot, cramped sub, the Russian captain wanted to nuke our ships. The political officer agreed. It was up to a third officer, Vasili Archopov. The submarine was unbearably hot, emotions were raw, nerves on edge and the crew seemed doomed. What if the war had started and they did nothing? Yet what if war had not started and they launched their weapon?

Vasili Archopov bravely said, “No.” He would not agree. He asked what if the depth charges around them meant (correctly) that the Americans wanted them to surface?

One man saved the whole world. Archopov made a huge moral choice not to launch. We owe our lives and our present civilization to this man, who was a Russian, a military officer, a Communist and probably an atheist. His actions said, “No, I will not take the chance of starting World War 3.”

BEFORE ALL THIS, ONE MAN REALLY SAVED THE WORLD

Amazing! But even more wondrous is that the Bible tells us that long ago, one man really saved the whole world. Christmas is a celebration of this one man’s appearance into our world. The Bible says on the night Jesus was born, an angel proclaimed, “I bring you great news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day… a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (1)

This one man came into a muddled, mixed up, murderous world that is entangled in conflict and rebellion to the true God. Jesus showed us the love of God in the midst of the darkness of our sin by his giving His life for us. On the cross our sins were forgiven. Because of this one man, we can have a new life “born from above.” God shows His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (2)

We owe our hope of eternal life through faith in this one man, a Jew, and an unlettered religious person. On this day will you receive the greatest gift ever, the gift of eternal life through trusting and following Christ for yourself?

– Dwight Sullivan is pastor of Whittier Evangelical UMC, 10262 Colima Road, Whittier, CA 90603

(1) Luke 2:10 (2) Romans 5:8

 

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