GREENLEAF GUARDIAN€¦ · 27/12/2019 · 11117 Santa Gertrudes Ave. Date Inspected: 12/17/19...

Friday, Dec. 27, 2019 Vol. 1 No. 9

A Whittier family shares their Christmas traditionS E E P A G E 8

Whittier students chosen to perform in Rose ParadeS E E P A G E 3

How popular holiday words got their meaningsS E E P A G E 7

Rose Hill’s new Our Lady of Guadalupe mausoleumS E E P A G E 3

GREENLEAF GUARDIANWhittier’s No. 1 News Source

FRIDAYTemp:

62°

SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAYTemp:

62°

Temp:

63°

Temp:

60°

Temp:

64°

Temp:

65°

Temp:

68°

WEEKEND HAPPENINGS

Whittierrestaurant

gradesFive Guys

10140 Carmenita Rd.Date Inspected: 12/20/19

Grade: A

Panda Express13471 Telegraph Rd.

Date Inspected: 12/20/19Grade: A

Meechycakes12823 Penn St.


Waba Grill10138 Carmenita Rd.


24 Hour Fitness10125 Whittwood Dr.


7 Eleven14968 Mulberry Dr.

Date Inspected: 12/19/19Grade: B

Friendly Hills Chevron14941 Whittier Blvd.


Happy Water13739 Leffingwell Rd.


Rockview Dairy15807 Leffingwell Rd.


Extra Mile15735 Leffingwell Rd.


Donuts One9150 Painter Ave


Target Food Service15614 Whittwood Ln.


Little Caesars11117 Santa Gertrudes Ave.Date Inspected: 12/17/19

Grade: A

Fruitty Bar Bionicos Juice15029 Mulberry Dr.


Cafe N’ Stuff3888 Workman Mill Rd.


Rubio’s Coastal Grill15311 Whittier Blvd.


Wienerschnitzel13543 Florence Ave.


Del Taco9719 Carmenita Rd.


Starbucks11270 Whittier Blvd.


Pizza Hut11550 Whittier Blvd.


HUNDREDS PAY TRIBUTE TO DANNY MARTIN

WHITTIER - Even in death, Danny Martin is bringing joy to Whittier.

Hundreds of people attended a memorial bicycle ride in East Whittier on Sunday afternoon, paying tribute to a man whose colorful tricycle and friendly waves were a fixture on Whittier Boulevard.

Martin was killed last week when he was struck by a vehicle while riding his tricycle on Whittier Boulevard near Jordan Road. He was 61.

Sunday’s bicycle ride originated at the collision site, where a makeshift memorial of candles and flowers honors Martin’s memory.

The bicycle ride was organized by Vince McLeod IV, a friend of Martin’s for more than two decades.

“It was really cool to see 250 people there,” McLeod said. “It’s unfortunate that it took him passing for us to honor him like

A group bicycle ride honoring late Whittier resident Danny Martin will become an annual tradition, organizers said.

By Eric PierceEditor

PHOTOS BY KEITH DURFLINGER

Nearly 250 people participated in a group bicycle ride Sunday honoring Danny Martin, a popular Whittier resident who died last week.

Group Bicycle RideSunday - Palm Park, 8:30 am

Choose from a 40-mile, 52-mile or 65-mile course that heads east on the Greenway Trail and then north Colima

Road. Leisurely pace.

LIttle PaintersSaturday - Sorenson Park, 11 am

Bring in your little painters and allow them to bring out their inner artists. For

parents/caregivers and their children ages 18 mos - 4 yrs.

The BrobotsSaturday - Mulcahey’s, 9 pm to 1 am

Rock and roll cover band The Brobots play Nirvana, The Beatles, Stevie

Wonder, The Police, Queen, and more. Listen to them live.

Tips to burn off those extra holiday caloriesBy Joe VinatieriMayor, City of Whittier

WHITTIER - Between holidays it’s a time to enjoy with family and friends. It also means eating, so I thought I’d come up with some ideas for some physical fun to work on that “extra enjoyment.”

Whittier is blessed to have a number of great places to walk, hike and just check out.

If you haven’t walked the hills, now is the time, as long as it is not muddy. Suggestion: experience the Arroyo Pescadero Trail, which is right off Colima Road. It is relatively flat and I actually almost bumped into a bobcat. If you see one, it’s a great treat.

You can also check out Hellman Park, but parking can be a little crazy. It has beautiful views and is somewhat strenuous.

We also have the fun Greenway Trail, which is Whittier’s award-winning rails to trails project. It is in various segments and each segment has its own character. I suggest that you look at the Five-Points segment which is the three railroad bridges over the Five-Points intersection and this time of year, the central trestle has the new beautifully lit snowflakes.

Another segment which is a bit quieter starts at Palm Park and winds its way west through the residential neighborhood to Pioneer Blvd.

And you also need to check out the east end of the Trail at Mills Ave. Across Mills, which will be the beginning of the new eastward segment, there are some beautiful outdoor art pieces that are finely crafted and fit the surroundings very well, telling the Whittier story.

And if you really want to do some walking but you just can’t leave the urban landscape, there is a great little walking trail around the Whittwood Town Center starting at the KidSmiles Pediatric Dentistry that not only hits various stores but the furthest outreaches of the parking lot to give you those “extra enjoyment” miles.

Everyone have a Happy New Year, and we’re looking forward to 2020! See you next year.

this. This guy did so much and he never got anything in return when he was alive. But he was so humble I’m not sure he would have accepted any kind of award anyway.”

The bicycle ride will become an annual tradition, McLeod said, with the first official ride tentatively scheduled for April. McLeod said he will soon begin

the process of obtaining permits, and proceeds from the ride will go towards a public memorial for Martin.

Martin was involved in a motorcycle crash in 1981 that left him partially paralyzed and unable to drive. He dedicated his life to Jesus Christ after the crash, thankful for his life and intent on bringing happiness to

the world.

He became a fixture in Whittier, riding his tricycle and waving to passing motorists.

“For someone who could have gone the opposite way, Danny celebrated that he lived,” McLeod said. “He chose to take the positive road. That’s something you don’t always see today.”

Volunteer tutors needed

WHITTIER - The Whittier Area Literacy Council is in need of volunteer tutors.

Volunteers will work with children, teens or adults.

Trainings are scheduled for Jan. 25, Feb. 1 and Feb. 8 from 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers must attend all training sessions to become a tutor.

To register, call (562) 698-6509 or email [email protected].

The Whittier Area LIteracy Council is located in the Calvary Baptist Church, 6548 Newlin Ave.

Worship Hip-HopSunday - Calvary Chapel Whittier,

6:30-10 pm

Christian hip-hop artists Bryann Trejo and Bizzle perform live. $20 general

admission tickets or $30 for VIP meet and greet.

Friday, Dec. 27, 20192 | GREENLEAF GUARDIAN

Friday, Dec. 27, 2019 GREENLEAF GUARDIAN | 3

Rose Hills opens mausoleum dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe

WHITTIER - A new mausoleum dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe opened recently at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier.

The memorial features space for above-ground burials as well as glass-front niches.

The mausoleum houses an original foundation stone gifted by the Basilica de Santa Maria de Guadalupe in Mexico City.

“Our Lady of Guadalupe Mausoleum is an open-air, single-story terraced garden mausoleum like no other,” Rose Hills said in a statement. “Designed in California Mission style, the architecture celebrates our heritage and pays homage to our history. Inside, the mausoleum will house premium glass-front niches, specialty

The mausoleum feaures a foundation stone from the Basilica de Santa Maria de Guadalupe in Mexico.

N e v e r M i s s a n I s s u eF i n d t h e G r e e n l e a f G u a r d i a n a t t h e f o l l o w in g

l o c a t i o n s :

K in g R i c h a r d ’s A n t i q u e C e n t e r1 2 3 0 1 W h i t t i e r B l v d .

F r i e n d s o f t h e W h i t t i e r L i b r a r y B o o k s t o r e6 7 0 3 C o m s t o c k A v e .

T h e C h i c k e n K o o p1 2 8 2 4 H a d le y S t . , # 1 0 5

A u n t i e ’s B a k e r y & C a f é6 5 0 6 G r e e n le a f A v e .

L i f t C o ff e e6 7 0 1 G r e e n le a f A v e .

B r i g h t D e n t a l6 5 4 2 B r i g h t A v e .

W h i t t i e r C i t y H a l l1 3 2 3 0 P e n n S t .

W h i t t i e r P u b l i c L i b r a r y7 3 4 4 W a s h i n g t o n A v e .

W h i t t w o o d B r a n c h L i b r a r y1 0 5 3 7 S a n t a G e r t r u d e s A v e .

C o ff e e B e a n7 2 0 1 G r e e n le a f A v e .

D o u b le T r e e H o t e l7 3 2 0 G r e e n le a f A v e .

W h i t t i e r A r e a C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e8 1 5 8 P a i n t e r A v e .

D r . B r i a n N o v a k D D S1 6 3 1 6 W h i t t i e r B l v d .

O r c h a r d ’s B B Q & G r i l l1 6 4 2 6 W h i t t i e r B l v d .

O r i g i n a l P a n c a k e H o u s e1 6 3 6 3 W h i t t i e r B l v d .

F r i e n d ly H i l l s B a n k1 6 0 1 1 W h i t t i e r B l v d .

WHITTIER - Eight Whittier Union students have been selected to join the Pasadena City College Honor Band and perform in the 131st Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day 2020.

Marching in every Rose Parade since 1930, the band consists of PCC Lancer Marching Band members and exceptional high school musicians auditioned from throughout Southern California. Over 600 high school students audition each year for the 200-plus spots in the band, pageantry and Herald Trumpets.

Selected from the California High School Condor Entertainment Unit were Kaelee Chavez (clarinet), Seth Diaz (tenor sax), Mark Gonzalez (trombone), Roberto Haro (trumpet), Myriam Hernandez (color guard/tall flag), Erica Leal (color guard/banner) and Chloe Martin (color guard/banner). Trumpet player Hector Torres will represent Santa Fe High School’s Chieftain Tribe.

Members began practice on Nov. 3 and continued every Sunday in November and December, as well as almost every day during winter break. They will memorize and perfect five pieces during the group and sectional rehearsals and train around the hills at Dodger Stadium for the 5.5-mile trek.

Eight Whittier students chosen to perform in Rose Parade

aboveground memorial options and a reliquary that enshrines the blessed image of Our Lady of Guadalupe and foundation stone from the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City.

“The exterior will include a series of undulating open-air mausoleum spaces, urn gardens, a niche plaza roof and a beautiful center courtyard with a trellis and fountain.”

The Story of Our Lady of Guadalupe

An elder Mexican man makes his way to Mass in the early morning twilight of December 9, 1531. He is a peasant, a simple farmer and laborer, and he has no education. Born under Aztec rule, he is a convert to Catholicism, and each step he takes this morning is a step into history.

The morning quiet is broken by a strange music that he will later describe as the beautiful sound of birds. Diverting his path to investigate the sound, Juan

Diego comes face to face with a radiant apparition of the Virgin Mary.

Juan Diego is 57 years old. He has just encountered the Virgin Mary on Tepeyac Hill, the site of a former Aztec Temple. His wife has died two years earlier, and he lives with his elder uncle, scratching his living from the earth as a humble peasant farmer. Why should this unlearned, man be chosen by Our Lady to carry a message to the Bishop? Perhaps because she would find none other as humble as Juan Diego.

Juan Diego is dazzled by the incredible beauty and miraculous nature of Our Lady’s appearance. She appears as a native princess to him, and her words sound more beautiful than the sweetest music ever made.

Our Lady calms the startled traveler, and assures him of who she is. She instructs Juan Diego to visit his bishop and ask that a temple be built on the site of her appearance, so that she will have a place to hear petitions and to heal the suffering of the Mexican people. “Now go and put forth your best effort,” Our Lady instructs.

Visibly shaken, Juan Diego approaches the Bishop who is initially very skeptical of his account. What did this peasant truly want? Does he merely seek attention? Notoriety? Money? Or is he possessed by demons? Has Juan Diego been tricked by the Devil?

The Bishop patiently listens to Juan Diego’s accounts and dismisses him. The humble farmer has failed.

Juan Diego begins to doubt himself. He returns to Tepeyac Hill where he hopes for some conformation of what he’s experienced. Indeed, Our Lady does not disappoint, for she

appears again, as radiant as before. Juan Diego tells Our Lady what she already knows, that the Bishop did not believe him. She instructs him to return the next morning and ask again.

The Bishop is beside himself. Why did this peasant insist on telling this story? How could he know if the peasant was lying or perhaps insane? At their second meeting, the Bishop asks for a sign. Juan Diego makes a promise he won’t keep, saying he will return the very next morning with a sign from Our Lady.

But that evening, Juan Diego returns home to find his uncle, Juan Bernadino, who is 68 years old, and suddenly, terribly ill. The illness is known to the people there and it brings a burning fever so hot, it’s almost always fatal. Juan Diego cannot leave his uncle’s bedside to keep his pledge to the Bishop. He spends two days with his uncle, trying to save him. When it becomes apparent his uncle is about to die, he leaves to find a priest who can prepare him for death.

Frightened and saddened, Juan Diego sets off in a great hurry, time is running out, and Juan Diego is afraid his uncle will die without a last confession. On the road, in his way, Our Lady appears for a third time. Upset and afraid, Juan explains himself. Our Lady replies, “Am I not your mother? ... Are you not in the crossing of my arms?” she asks.

Shamed by the admonishment, but emboldened by Our Lady’s presence, Juan Diego asks for the sign he promised to the Bishop. He knows he is wrong to doubt Our Lady.

Continued on page 8

This Week in Whittier HistoryDec. 22, 1909 – Advertisement: “Did it ever occur to you that she would appreciate an electric iron, toaster, coffee percolator or chafing dish for a Christmas present? We have them at reasonable prices. – Southern California Edison, 121 Philadelphia St., Phone 14”

Dec. 22, 1938 – Employees of the Whittier Sanitary Dairy were presented with cash bonuses by M.C. Lautrup, owner and manager, last evening at the dairy’s annual Christmas dinner and party in the banquet room of the William Penn Hotel.

Dec. 23, 1938 - Christmas carols were sung by more than 200 Girl Scouts last evening at Murphy Memorial Hospital from 7:30 until 8 o’clock. It was their offering of good cheer and a wish for Christmas joy for the unfortunate convalescents.

Dec. 26, 1957 - More than 400 persons in the Whittier area were given Christmas dinners yesterday by the Salvation Army. The local group also presented the Fred C. Nelles School for Boys with 250 sacks of candy, fruit and nuts and gave 250 bags to needy children.

“This Week in Whittier History” is courtesy of the Whittier Museum. Visit them at 6755 Newlin Ave.


You can contact puzzle editor Stan-ley Newman at his e-mail address: [email protected]. Or write him at P.O. Box 69, Massapequa Park, NY 11762, Please send a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you’d like a reply.

SPEED BUMP DAVE COVERLY

On This Day...Dec. 27, 1831: Charles Darwin set out on a voyage to the Pacific aboard the HMS Beagle. Darwin’s discoveries during the voyage helped him form the basis of his theories on evolution.

1904: James Barrie’s play “Peter Pan” premiered in London.

1947: The children’s television program “Howdy Doody,” hosted by Bob Smith, made its debut on NBC.

2000: Mario Lemeiux (Pittsburgh Penguins) returned to the National Hockey League (NHL) as a player after over 3 years of retirement. He was the first owner-player in the modern era of pro sports. Lemieux had purchased the Pittsburgh Penguins during his retirement from playing.

Friday, Dec. 27, 2019 GREENLEAF GUARDIAN | 5Opinion

BY FROMA HARROP

Heavens, no. We don’t want the U.S. government to negotiate drug prices for Americans. That would be socialism, conservatives keep saying. So let’s have the Canadian government do it for us.

President Donald Trump’s latest plan for reducing the outrageous prices Americans pay for their prescriptions is to let states import cheaper drugs from Canada. Past proposals to tie U.S. drug prices to other countries’ prices have gone nowhere. And nowhere is where this one will go.

Big Pharma doesn’t want to lose its captive market of American suckers. Do you really think that Alex Azar, Trump’s secretary of health and human services and a former top executive at Eli Lilly and Co., is going to let the American consumer off the hook?

Azar has said that “this administration does not believe in ... setting prices for drugs by government fiat.” How does he think Canada does it? He knows, of course, that nearly every advanced country demands reasonable drug prices, but drugmakers charge whatever they can get out of desperate Americans.

Thus, we have the pathetic spectacle of our diabetics taking buses to Canada to buy insulin for $30 a vial — a tenth (!) of the $300 they pay at home. The much-advertised drug Humira, for treating psoriatic arthritis, costs an average $822 in Switzerland and $2,669 here.

Allowing Canada to import drugs isn’t the answerBy the way, insulin is excluded from Trump’s Canada proposal. So

is Humira, because it is a biologic.

In any event, Canada says it will not become the supplier of drugs for the United States. Canada’s population is one-ninth ours, and its drug supply is limited. A huge boost in demand would drive up prices for Canadians.

We have to keep asking why Canada should be doing the job of the U.S. government. And so much for the great deal-maker in chief.

Some Americans may believe that drugmakers are going to sell more product to Canada so Americans can pay less for their wares. People believe a lot of things. As long as the GOP controls most of Washington, enormous profits will flow Big Pharma’s way.

For example, the Medicare drug benefit, written by Republican lawmakers, forbids Medicare from negotiating drug prices. The private insurers managing the drug benefits do put some brakes on what’s charged, but they don’t have the bargaining power of Medicare with its nearly 60 million beneficiaries.

The Department of Veterans Affairs does directly negotiate drug prices. If Medicare Part D were to pay prices similar to what the VA pays, Medicare would have saved $14 billion in 2016 alone, according to an analysis published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Candidate Trump vowed to negotiate on Medicare drug prices. Whether he was ever serious about it we have no idea.

The Democratic-run House just passed legislation that would let Medicare bargain for better prices. It has zero chance of getting through the Republican-controlled Senate.

Why doesn’t the almighty Trump use his famous powers of intimidation to whip Republican lawmakers into getting behind some plan to stop the drug industry’s extortion racket? It comes down to “our price or your life.”

Instead, Trump is blubbering about “freeloading” foreigners taking advantage of the American people. Or, as Azar put it, “The American senior and the American patient have been too long asked to overpay for drugs to subsidize the socialist systems of Europe.”

Don’t you love his use of the passive tense? Americans haven’t been “asked” anything. They’ve been forced by Azar’s industry. Furthermore, if he and Trump object to other countries enjoying better deals, why are they backing a plan that would let Canada share its lower prices with Americans?

Because it’s not going to happen.

Follow Froma Harrop on Twitter @FromaHarrop. She can be reached at [email protected].

BY RANDALL RUTTA

FDA officials approved a record number of rare disease treatments last year. One groundbreaking medicine treats an inherited bone condition that causes intense pain and immobility. Another treats Fabry disease, a genetic condition that can lead to kidney failure or stroke.

Breakthroughs like these offer hope to 30 million Americans living with rare diseases. But there’s still a long way to go. Scientists estimate there are 7,000 rare diseases, each of which afflicts fewer than 200,000 people. The majority of these ailments -- 95 percent -- lack a single approved treatment.

Unfortunately, one prominent healthcare nonprofit could undermine research into rare diseases.

The group, the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER), analyzes the “cost-effectiveness” of many new FDA-approved drugs, including treatments for rare diseases. Because it relies on flawed assumptions, ICER mostly concludes that rare disease treatments aren’t worth the price.

ICER hopes that health insurers will use its findings to decide which medicines to cover. If the group’s message -- rare disease treatments aren’t worth it -- wins the day, drug companies may well stop researching and developing rare disease treatments. And

Healthcare nonprofit discriminates against people with rare diseases

millions of Americans would lose access to life-changing therapies.

ICER analyzes drugs’ cost-effectiveness using a metric called a “quality adjusted life year.” A QALY quantifies the cost of providing a patient with 12 additional months of perfect health.

Imagine a healthy woman has an incurable -- but dormant -- genetic disease that will kill her almost instantly once it’s activated. If a treatment could delay activation by one year and it costs $30,000, then ICER would say the treatment costs $30,000 per QALY.

This metric effectively discriminates against the elderly, persons with chronic conditions and other sicknesses, and people living with disabilities. ICER’s position is that these individuals aren’t in perfect health to begin with. So, the group doesn’t count an additional 12 months of life expectancy as a full QALY.

For example, our hypothetical treatment for a genetic disease might still extend a 90-year-old infirm patient’s life by one year, but ICER might count the gain as only 0.5 QALY, due to the perceived lower quality of his/her life. As a result, that same $30,000 treatment would cost $60,000 on a QALY-adjusted basis -- potentially blocking access and affordability for patients.

Rare disease drugs are expensive for a reason. It can take over a decade and $2.6 billion to bring a new medicine to patients. Few experimental compounds even make it out of the lab.

Pharmaceutical companies have to charge enough to earn back their development costs. For common conditions that afflict millions of patients, companies might only need to charge a few dollars per pill to recoup their development costs.

By contrast, rare diseases affect just 200,000 people at most. So companies need to generate far more revenue per patient just to break even. Rare disease treatments also tend to be fragile, large-molecule drugs that require numerous manufacturing, shipping, and storage precautions -- further inflating costs.

ICER largely disregards these differences. The group evaluates rare disease drugs using roughly the same cost-effectiveness thresholds it uses for traditional, mass market medicines. Given this rigged scale, it’s no wonder that rare disease treatments score poorly.

Scientists are developing more than 560 medicines to treat rare diseases. That research will likely come to a halt -- causing patients to lose access to lifesaving drugs -- if insurers fail to recognize the faults in ICER’s reasoning.

Randall Rutta, the former president and CEO of Easterseals, is board chairman of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease.


WHITTIER HAPPENINGSFRIDAY, DECEMBER 27

Over the Hill Mini Hike, 8 am. Join other seniors for a short hike at Schabarum Regional Park. Reservations are required by calling the Whittier Senior Center at (562) 567-9450. Meet at Parnell Park, 15390 Lambert Rd.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28

Cube of Truth, 5-7:30 pm. A peaceful, static demonstratoin in which volunteers attempt to lead bystanders to a vegan conclusion. Masks, signs and outreach literature will be provided. La Monarca Bakery, 6727 Greenleaf Ave.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29

Penultimate Resonate Sounds, 4 pm. First Christian Whitter will permanently close on Dec. 31. This even is a heartfelt tribute to the church’s former musicians and a celebration of the ministry in Whittier. First Christian Church, 6355 Greenleaf Ave.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31

Prince and Michael Jackson Tributes, 7 pm to 2 am. Ring in 2020 with this joint Prince and Michael Jackson tribute show. Sage Restaurant and Lounge, 6511 Greenleaf Ave.

New Year’s Eve Party, 7 pm to 12:30 am. Dinner, dancing and a midnight toast. Cocktail attire encouraged. $50 admission. DoubleTree Hotel, 7320 Greenleaf Ave.

NYE Glow Party, 8 pm to 2 am. A New Year’s glow-out with a free champagne toast at midnight. Free makeup artist until 9 pm. Mulcahey’s, 15334 Whittier Blvd.

Reveal NYE Party, 8 pm. Come for a night of spoken word, rap, worship, food, and fellowship. Zoe Christian Fellowship of Whittier, 10252 Mills Ave.

NYE Soiree, 9 pm until spirits run out. A speakeasy party, with 1920’s attire encouraged. Four dance floors, champagne bar, light food, cigar lounge, photo booth, and more. $75. Edison Building, 6724 Bright Ave.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 4

Chess Tournament, 11 am. All ages and talent levels are welcome. The tournament will consist of 3 double round Swiss System chess tournament, with rated and unrated matches. This event is free, and tickets are available at the Reference desk at both Whittier libraries. Presented by the Whittier Chess Club and Whittier High School Chess Club. Whittier Public Library, 7344 Washington Ave.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 5

Vaccination Clinic, 10 am to 2 pm. Bring your pets for low-cost vaccines, microchips, and flea treatments. Presented by Spay Neuter Project LA. Whittier High School (Hadley Street and Whittier Avenue)

TUESDAY, JANUARY 7

Snowman Knockdown, 2 pm. Do you want to build a snowman? Learn about engineering and physics by building a catapult that will knock down a snowman created by you. For children ages 5 to 11. Sorensen Library, 6934 Broadway

FRIDAY, JANUARY 10

Health Screenings, 9 am. Life Line Screening offers different screening packages to thoroughly check you for risk of stroke, cardiovascular disease and other chronic conditions. Screenings start at $149. Redemption Hill Church, 16153 Russell St.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 11

The Makaha Sons featuring Jerome Koko, 2 pm. For 40 years, the Makaha Sons have committed themselves to perpetuating traditional Hawaiian music through their incomparable vocal arrangements with a delightful stage presence filled with comical antics. Additional performance at 7:30 pm. Ruth B. Shanon Center for the Performing Arts, 6760 Painter Ave.

Practical Magika Paranormal Society at Whittier Founders Park, 5:30-9 pm. We will begin our adventure at Practical Magicka. There we will discuss the layout and break into groups. Equipment and walkie-talkies will be available, however you are free to bring your own. Please arrive on time as we will be leaving no later than 6pm. Practikal Magicka, 9741 Flower St., Bellflower

Whittier College Player’s Clinic, 3-6 pm. Bring helmet, shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves, sticks, cleats (for field), sneakers (for classroom), extra

pair of clothes (for classroom), and plenty of water! Parents are welcomed and encouraged to view this clinic as well as attend the classroom portion to ask question. Cost $135

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14

Medicare Seminar, 10 am to noon. Meet with a representative from Blue Shield of California and learn about your Medicare options. Jack’s Restaurant, 13221 Whittier Blvd.

Scrapbooking 101, 4 pm. Using a variety of materials, learn how to get started on scrapbooking for the new year. Books will be available to provide ideas and inspiration. For ages 12-17. Sorensen Library, 6934 Broadway

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15

Business Expo, 4-7 pm. Learn more about Whittier and see some of the best local businesses on display. Plus giveaways and food samples. Presented by the Whittier Area Chamber of Commerce. DoubleTree Hotel, 7320 Greenleaf Ave.

Re-Election Fundraiser, 5:30-7:30 pm. Meet Mayor Joe Vinatieri and Councilmember Cathy Warner and learn about their re-election platforms. Friendly Hills Country Club, 8500 Villaverde Dr.


Eco Garden Workshop, 10 am. This free workshop will let homeowners explore how to improve the aesthetics of their properties and decrease unnecessary water usage in the process. Whittier Public Library, 7344 Washington Ave.

Little Painters, 11 am. Bring in your little painters and allow them to bring out their inner artists! They will have a blast learning about colors by visiting multiple painting stations. For parents/caregivers and their children ages 18 mos - 4 yrs. Sorensen Library, 6934 Broadway

Muriel Anderson and Andy McKee, 7:30 pm. Guitarist Muriel Anderson returns for her annual appearance at the Shannon Center. This year she is bringing guitarist Andy McKee with her to share the evening in what will be an unforgettable night of great music and guitar playing. Shannon B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts, 6760 Painter Ave.


Great Knights First Annual Showcase, 3:30-6 pm. Learn about St. Gregory the Great School, a private Catholic school for grades Pre-K through 8. St. Gregory, 13925 Telegraph Rd.

An Evening with George Winston, 7:30 pm. Known for his singular solo acoustic piano songs, George Winston has sold 15 million albums over a 40-year career. He still plays nearly 100 concerts annually and released his latest album, “Restless Wind,” last May. Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts, 6760 Painter Ave.

MONDAY, JANUARY 27

Family Storytime: Malala’s Sory, 5:30 pm. Drop in and learn about human rights activist and Nobel Prize Winner, Malala Yousafzai. Listen to stories Free as a Bird:The Story of Malala by Lina Maslo and Malala’s Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzi to learn about her struggles and accomplishments. We will conclude with an art activity and giveaways. For ages 5-11. Sorensen Library, 6934 Broadway

TUESDAY, JANUARY 28

Optical Illusions, 4 pm. What are optics? What is an illusion? Learn the answers to these questions and learn to draw your own optical illusion. For ages 12-17. Sorensen Library, 6934 Broadway

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1

Journey Tribute Concert, 7 pm. Journey tribute band DSB performs live. Complete with a band of world-class musicians, DSB remains true to Journeys musical legacy and delivers the nostalgic concert experience that will keep you believin’. Whittier Center Theater, 7360 Washington Ave.

Terry Riley with Gyan Riley: Live at 85, 7:30 pm. In 1964, California composer Terry Riley launched what came to be known as the Minimalist movement, with his revolutionary classic “In C.” This groundbreaking work provided a fresh concept in musical form based on interlocking repetitive patterns, changing the course of 20th century music. The composition’s influence is heard in the rock music of The Who, The Soft Machine, and others. He will perform live with his son, Gyan Riley, an accomplished guitar player in his own right. Ruth B. Shannon Center for the

Performing Arts, 6760 Painter Ave.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4

Teen Advisory Board, 4 pm. Are you a teen interested in making a difference in your library and community? Join the Teen Advisory Board. You will have the opportunity to voice your opinion and provide suggestions for new programs and services, while working with teens that share your interests in the library, and helping the community. Sorensen Library, 6934 Sorensen Ave.

Veggie & Herb Gardening, 6 pm. Gardener Joan Borgman will discuss how to successfully care for vegetables and herbs. Participants will be able to plant their own container of seasonal vegetables and herbs, as well as take home seeds. Sorensen Library, 6934 Broadway

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6

Square Dance Lessons, 7-9 pm. Learn to square dance at this beginner’s class. Classes will continue every Thursday. Ages 10 and up, no partner needed. $6 cash at the door. First class special: buy one $6 lesson, get one free. Whittier Senior Center, 13225 Walnut St.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7

Concert Preview, 10 am. A concert preview with musician Russ Litchfield presenting information about music “Celebrating Our American Heritage,” with the music of Gershwin, Bernstein and Copeland, to be played Sunday February 9, by the Whittier Regional Symphony. Free, guests welcome. First Friends Church, 13205 Philadelphia St.


Scott Ainsley & Reggie Harris, 7:30 pm. Armed with a variety of acoustic instruments, stories and songs, Scott Ainsley and Reggie Harris personalize America’s history and the shared struggle for equal social and civil rights. In their interactive concert program, “”Long Time Comin’”, we are welcomed and wrapped up in that journey. Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts, 6760 Painter Ave.

Retrovibes, 8 pm. Retrovibes is a band that plays classic rock, new wave, dance, funk, and old school. They will be performing live at Turnbull’s Tavern, 7011 Greenleaf Ave.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9

“All American Salute!”, 3 pm. The Whittier Regional Symphony performs Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” Bernstein’s “On the Town” and Copland’s “Symphony No. 3.” Vic Lopez Auditorium, Bailey and Whittier avenues.



FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14

Valentine’s Day with La Sonora Dinamita, 7 pm. La Sonora Dinamita, a full band hailing from Colombia, performs live. Doors open at 7 pm, the concert starts at 11 pm. Sage Restaurant & Lounge, 6511 Greenleaf Ave.


Encaustic Effects Painting Workshop, 10:30 am. Stretch your understanding of what acrylic paint can do and create a beautiful artwork ready to hang. $55, all materials included. Whittier Art Gallery, 8035 Painter Ave.

Wine and Paint Night, 6 pm. Bring Your love, your BFF, your sister, your mom, or anyone you would like to paint with and create a beautiful painting. $35 includes all supplies, instruction, wine and refreshments. Whittier Art Gallery, 8035 Painter Ave.



FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21

Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, 8 pm. It is a dark and stormy weekend as 10 strangers gather at a remote mansion after receiving a mysterious summons. The

weather closes in, the house is cut off, and the guests start dropping dead. Everyone has a secret, everyone is guilty of a capital offense, and someone is now exacting payment. Whittier Community Theatre, 7630 Washington Ave.


Whittier Area Classic Car Show, 9 am to 3 pm. Hundreds of amazing display cars and nostalgia dragsters, plus vendor booths, live music, food trucks, and raffles, with proceeds benefiting the Keith Boyer Memorial Scholarship Fund and Love Whittier. Whittier Area Community Church, 8100 Colima Rd.

Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, 8 pm. It is a dark and stormy weekend as 10 strangers gather at a remote mansion after receiving a mysterious summons. The weather closes in, the house is cut off, and the guests start dropping dead. Everyone has a secret, everyone is guilty of a capital offense, and someone is now exacting payment. Whittier Community Theatre, 7630 Washington Ave.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24

Hand Knitting: The Basics, 6:30 pm. Learn to knit in just a few weeks. This fun class begins with friendly guidance and essential basic knitting information for new knitters: choosing supplies, casting on, knitting, purling and binding off. Learn to increase, decrease, block, seam and read patterns. $25 supply fee due to the instructor on first day of class (cash only). Parnell Park Community & Senior Center, 15390 Lambert Rd.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28

Soroptimist Paris Cruise, 5:30 pm. An authentic Paris cruise all without leaving Whittier. This fundraiser supports Soroptimist International of Whittier. DoubleTree Hotel, 7320 Greenleaf Ave.




SUNDAY, MARCH 1

Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, 2:30 pm. It is a dark and stormy weekend as 10 strangers gather at a remote mansion after receiving a mysterious summons. The weather closes in, the house is cut off, and the guests start dropping dead. Everyone has a secret, everyone is guilty of a capital offense, and someone is now exacting payment. Whittier Community Theatre, 7630 Washington Ave.

THURSDAY, MARCH 5

Two Gentlemen of Verona, 7:30 pm. “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1589 and 1593. It is considered by some to be Shakespeare’s first play, and is often seen as showing his first tentative steps in laying out some of the themes and motifs with which he would later deal in more detail. Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts, 6760 Painter Ave.

FRIDAY, MARCH 6


SATURDAY, MARCH 7


SATURDAY, MARCH 14

Waipuna, 2 pm. Waipuna is at the forefront of Hawaiian contemporary music, consistently winning Hawaii’s version of the Grammy Awards every time they release a new album. Waipuna is a collaboration of three talented individuals, all from celebrated Hawaiian musical families. Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts, 6760 Painter Ave.

SATURDAY, MARCH 21

Meet the Authors, 8:30 am to 3 pm. Meet great authors, discuss books with other bibliophiles and enjoy lunch on the Robinson Theatre stage with authors Gayle Carline, Craig Carlson, Katya Cengel, Yangsze Choo and Chris Erskine. Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts, 6760 Painter Ave.

THURSDAY, APRIL 16

Vasen, 7:30 pm. Vasen is a Swedish acoustic trio; three musicians with a singular sound, a playful yet accomplished interplay that seems to defy the laws of physics, an intensity with a great sense of humor, and modernity rooted in tradition. Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts, 6760 Painter Ave.

FRIDAY, APRIL 17

Taste of Rio, 6-9 pm. This popular event, produced by the Rio Hondo College Foundation, brings together more than 500 guests for an evening of delicious foods, fine wine and craft beer, musical entertainment, and opportunity drawings. Rio Hondo College, 3600 Workman Mill Rd.

SATURDAY, APRIL 18

Sierra Hull, 7:30 pm. A talented mandolin player, Sierra Hull was a child prodigy, invited to perform at the Grand Ole Opry stage at age 11. She has since played the White House, Carnegie Hall, and the Kennedy Center, and became the first bluegrass musician to receive a Presidential Scholarship at the Berklee College of Music. Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts, 6760 Painter Ave.

SUNDAY, APRIL 19

Spring Garden Tour, 2-5 pm. Whittier Regional Symphony Guild 32nd Annual Garden Tour. Visit three beautiful local gardens with refreshments, live classical music, plant sale. Proceeds support Whittier Regional Symphony. Tickets available at Whittier Art Gallery at 8035 Painter or call 562-698-7010 or 562-949-2010.

THURSDAY, APRIL 23

The Wolves by Sarah DeLappe, 7:30 pm. Presented by the Whittier College Department of Theatre & Communication Arts, “The Wolves” is set in an indoor soccer facility. Each scene depicts the nine teenage girls who make up the Wolves, a soccer team, warming up before their game each week. The first scene opens with discussion of a murderous Cambodian dictator, and conversations stem from there. Overlapping dialogue illustrates an atmosphere where each group of girls have their own specific conversations while still chiming in on the main topic. These spin-offs include period gossip, talk of boyfriends, their coach’s obvious hangovers, and speculations about the new girl. Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts, 6760 Painter Ave.

SATURDAY, APRIL 25

The Wolves by Sarah DeLappe, 7:30 pm. Presented by the Whittier College Department of Theatre & Communication Arts, “The Wolves” is set in an indoor soccer facility. Each scene depicts the nine teenage girls who make up the Wolves, a soccer team, warming up before their game each week. Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts, 6760 Painter Ave.

SUNDAY, APRIL 26

The Wolves by Sarah DeLappe, 2 pm. Presented by the Whittier College Department of Theatre & Communication Arts, “The Wolves” is set in an indoor soccer facility. Each scene depicts the nine teenage girls who make up the Wolves, a soccer team, warming up before their game each week. Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts, 6760 Painter Ave.

FRIDAY, MAY 1

Concert Preview, 10 am. A concert preview with a speaker presenting information about the music of Hispanic composers Jose Pable Moncayo and

CLASSIFIEDSCLASSIFIEDSEMPLOYMENT

DRIVER WANTEDCatering Delivery, Montebello

Full TimeCall (323) 536-5814

Manuel de Falla and others to be played Sunday May 3 by the Whittier Regional Symphony. Free, guests welcome. First Friends Church, 13205 Philadelphia St.

SUNDAY, MAY 3

“Fiesta! Cinco de Mayo,” 3 pm. The Whittier Regional Symphony performs Jose Pablo Moncayo’s “Huapango,” De Falla’s “Suite from the Three-Cornered Hat” and other repertoires to be determined. Vic Lopez Auditorium, Bailey and Whittier avenues.

SATURDAY, MAY 23

Robert Cazimero & Halau Na Kamalei, 2 pm and 7:30 pm. In 1994, Hawaiian music legends the Brothers Cazimero performed for the first time at the Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts at Whittier College. The performances were a resounding success and began the new famous “Aloha Concert Series,” which is currently the longest running Hawaiian music series on the globe. Help celebrate 26 years of aloha with Robert Cazimero and his award-winning Halau Na Kamalei. Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts, 6760 Painter Ave.

FRIDAY, MAY 29

Noises Off, 8 pm One of the funniest farces ever written, “Noises Off” provides three different looks at backstage intrigue during the production of a minor play by a motley cast. Every act has its own pitfalls, revealed in hysterical fashion and at break-neck speed with slamming doors, pratfalls, and misdirection. You’ll laugh yourself silly and love every minute. Whittier Community Theatre, 7630 Washington Ave.

SATURDAY, MAY 30

Noises Off, 8 pm One of the funniest farces ever written, “Noises Off” provides three different looks at backstage intrigue during the production of a minor play by a motley cast. Every act has its own pitfalls, revealed in hysterical fashion and at break-neck speed with slamming doors, pratfalls, and misdirection. You’ll laugh yourself silly and love every minute. Whittier Community Theatre, 7630 Washington Ave.

FRIDAY, JUNE 5

Noises Off, 8 pm One of the funniest farces ever written, “Noises Off” provides three different looks at backstage intrigue during the production of a minor play by a motley cast. Whittier Community Theatre, 7630 Washington Ave.

SATURDAY, JUNE 6


SUNDAY, JUNE 7

Noises Off, 2:30 pm One of the funniest farces ever written, “Noises Off” provides three different looks at backstage intrigue during the production of a minor play by a motley cast. Whittier Community Theatre, 7630 Washington Ave.

FRIDAY, JUNE 12


SATURDAY, JUNE 13


Compiled by Eric Pierce. Some events may charge admission fees. Email calendar listings to [email protected]

Friday, Dec. 27, 2019 GREENLEAF GUARDIAN | 7

‘Wassail’, ‘Festivus’’ and more: The stories behind 8 holiday words

Wassail: This season, you might hear (or sing yourself) the Christmas carol that begins, “Here we come a-wassailing / among the leaves so green.”

As is holiday tradition, you will wonder: what in the world is “a-wassailing” and why is it happening among green leaves in the dead of winter?

Wassailing is an old custom that goes back to the 1300s. The verb wassail derives from the noun wassail, which dates to the 1200s and was first used to refer to an Old English custom of hospitality. In medieval England, a courteous host would offer a cup to a guest and toast them with wæs hæil, or “be in good health.” The guest would accept the cup and respond with drinc hæil, “drink in good health.” This custom, and the word wassail, were both adopted by the English from the Nordic Vikings: waes haeil is from the Old Norse ves heill, “be in good health.”

In short order, wassail was also applied to the party at which the wassail was offered, as well as the actual drink passed around. By the 1500s, it was used to refer specifically to a drink served at Christmastime (and especially on Twelfth Night).

Wassailing, then, originally referred to “keeping wassail”: gathering together and drinking to each other’s health. As the drink became associated with Christmas, wassailing itself changed. The meaning of the verb wassail as it shows up in the carol refers to going around, caroling, and wishing those you visit good health, and excellent wassail, or holiday parties.

Hanukkah: The Jewish festival of lights is set up by some as the Jewish counterpart to Christmas, but the origin point for Hanukkah has as little to do with gifts and dreidels as Christmas has to do with reindeer and Santa.

This holiday marks the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after its defilement by a foreign intruder and specifically the miracle God gave the Jews by keeping the menorah (required in worship) burning for eight days with only one day’s worth of oil. A candle is lit in the menorah each of the eight nights of the holiday to commemorate the miracle, and the name for the holiday comes from the Hebrew word that means “dedication.”

Kwanzaa: Another holiday whose spelling often confuses is Kwanzaa.

The holiday is celebrated by African Americans between December 26 and January 1, and is patterned after African harvest festivals. It was first celebrated in 1966 by its founder, Maulana Karenga, who took its name from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza (“first fruits”).

Each day is dedicated to one of seven principles: unity, self-determination, collective responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. The home is decorated with objects that tie the celebrants to African traditions: the mkeka, which is a woven mat; the mazao,

or a bowl of fruits that signify the community’s work; and the kinara, a seven-branched candelabra in which one candle is lit each night to represent the seven principles. Gifts are often exchanged on the last day, and on December 31 community members gather for a feast, the karamu.

Yule: The word yule is older than the word Christmas by several hundred years.

Yule comes ultimately from an Old English word geōl. The Old English word, and its etymological cousin from Old Norse were both likely used to refer to a midwinter pagan festival that took place in December. But once the British Isles were Christianized, the Anglo-Saxons used geōl to refer to the other big festival that happened in December and January: Christmastide.

As Christianity came to prominence in England, so too did the “Christmas” meaning of yule. The word shows up today mostly in carols, and in combinations like yule log and yuletide.

Boxing Day: If you happen to be in the UK or in a Commonwealth nation, then the Christmas season isn’t complete without Boxing Day.

This holiday, usually celebrated on December 26, has nothing to do with the sport, nor with recycling all the wrapping paper from the Christmas presents. On Boxing Day, Christmas boxes are traditionally given to postal workers and other service workers.

The holiday has been around since the 1600s: churches would put out boxes for donations for the poor, and servants (who usually got the day after Christmas off to spend with their own families) were often given a box of food and gifts to take home.

Santa Claus, St. Nick, and Kriss Kringle: Here in the U.S. you can’t have Christmas without the fat man in the red suit: Santa Claus. Logically, then, the word Santa Claus should go back as far as the word for the holiday, Christmas.

Unfortunately, this is English, and your logic doesn’t work here.

The name Santa Claus was first used nearly 600 years after Christmas showed up on the scene, sometime in the 1700s. One of our earliest references for the name gives up the origins of the word: an article in a New

York newspaper notes that a Dutch group called the Sons of St. Nicholas gathered to celebrate the anniversary of their patron saint, “otherwise called St. A Claus.”

How did we get Santa Claus from Saint Nicholas? The Dutch name for St. Nick is Sint Nikolaas: that was shortened into Sinterklaas, which the Dutch brought to America and adapted into Santa Claus.

St. Nicholas was a 3rd-century saint from Myra in modern-day Turkey who purportedly performed a number of good deeds and miracles for children. His most famous good deed is providing dowries for three poor girls who were about to be sold into prostitution; he saved them by throwing a bag of gold in through their family’s window.

He became the patron saint of children, and his feast day, December 6, was considered a lucky day to make large purchases or get married. His popularity remained high even through the iconoclastic Protestant Reformation, and he was a particular favorite of the Dutch. In many European countries, his feast day is still celebrated as a time to give gifts to children.

We’ve accounted for two names for the fat man in the red suit (Santa Claus and St. Nick), but how do you explain Kriss Kringle, another of Santa’s names? Kriss Kringle came into English from the German Christkindl, which means “Christmas gift” and “Christ child,” and as might be expected, it had a variety of spellings when it first came into English in the early 1800s.

Krampus: The modern Kris Kringle doesn’t bother with the rod for naughty children—it’s universally understood that, come Christmas, all children are good children.

Except when they aren’t, and that’s why there’s Krampus.

Krampus, for those who aren’t familiar, is the evil foil to Jolly Old St. Nick. With horns and claws, and carrying a sack and a bundle of sticks, he visits German children on December 5th, the night before St. Nicholas does. If a child has been naughty, Krampus will smack them with his bundle of sticks, and then stuff them in his sack to take down to the underworld.

The legend of Krampus originated in Germany and Austria hundreds of years ago,

and Krampus was commercialized in the late 1890s with German and Austrian postcards often emblazoned with a cheerful Gruss vom Krampus! (“Greetings from Krampus!”) and showing Krampus hauling naughty children away. The name Krampus appears to be from the German word krampen, which means “claw.”

Though Krampus-fever has taken over parts of America (due in no small part to the 2015 Christmas horror flick) and the word is still relatively new to many people, the tradition was known in America back to the 1800s. We have evidence of Krampus in English-language newspapers back to the 1870s, and some earlier use of Krampus in German-language newspapers that were published in America.

Festivus: There are those who eschew the more traditional December holidays as too religious, too commercial, too too. They have found solace and fellowship in the modern made-up replacement: Festivus.

Festivus first made its public appearance in a 1997 episode of the hit TV show “Seinfeld”:

FRANK CONSTANZA: Kramer, I got your message. I haven’t celebrated Festivus in years! What is your interest?

KRAMER: Well, just tell me everything, huh?

FRANK: Many Christmases ago, I went to buy a doll for my son. I reach for the last one they had—but so did another man. As I rained blows upon him, I realized there had to be another way!

KRAMER: What happened to the doll?

FRANK: It was destroyed. But out of that, a new holiday was born. “A Festivus for the rest of us!”

— “The Strike,” aired Dec. 18, 1997

The Festivus traditions founded by George’s father

involve the Festivus pole, a plain aluminum pole that is unadorned because Frank “finds tinsel distracting”; a meal marked by the Airing of Grievances, in which celebrants explain how their family disappointed them this year; and the Feats of Strength, where the head of the household chooses a family member to wrestle (and if the head of the household is properly pinned, Festivus is over). The “Seinfeld” episode also mentions two Festivus miracles—or, rather, anti-miracles, since they involve inviting to dinner two guests that one character wanted to avoid, and making another character’s girlfriend think he was cheating on her.

According to Dan O’Keefe, “Seinfeld” writer, Festivus was actually invented by his father Daniel O’Keefe in the 1960s. The name, the elder O’Keefe said, just “popped into his head,” and it was, according to son Dan, celebrated anywhere between October and May. Sadly, the O’Keefe Festivus celebrations did not involve a Festivus pole or the Feats of Strength. There was the Airing of Grievances, though Dan notes that the airing was done into a tape recorder, and was primarily

about the various indignities each family member had suffered in their respective domains. No Festivus pole, either, though the elder O’Keefe made up for that with the Festivus Clock:

The real symbol of the holiday was a clock my dad put in a bag and nailed to the wall every year. I don’t know why. I don’t know what it means; he would never tell me. He would always say, “That’s not for you to know.”

— Dan O’Keefe on CNN, 24 Dec. 2013

Dan was ambivalent about sharing this family holiday with the world. In that same CNN interview, he says

Actually I didn’t want to put it on TV. It was sort of a family disgrace, and then my younger brother let it slip that this went on, so the other writers and Jerry [Seinfeld] said, yeah, “we’d like to give this to America.” I said I don’t think America wants it at all or should have it, but they prevailed upon me and now the chickens have come home to roost.

Festivus bless us, every one.

Contributed by Merriam-Webster


Whittier family shares their Christmas traditionWHITTIER - Christmas is a time of traditions. Traditions are important within the life of a family,

and also a community, as they instill a sense of enchantment, excitement, and a calling-to-memory of past celebrations with loved ones and friends.

For one fellow Whittierite, Andrea White, Christmas traditions are where she shines.

“Cocoa Jams” is a tradition that Andrea started with her family in 2015. The goal of Cocoa Jams was to create a unique, bonding experience for she and her family – one that would also celebrate and bless another family in a small way.

Here’s how it works: Each year, in early December, Andrea gifts her family (her three children, her husband and herself) with a new set of Christmas pajamas. Then, in mid-December (once folks around Whittier have had a chance to set up their Christmas lights), she piles the whole family into the car and drives to Starbucks. The rule is, the entire family *must* walk into Starbucks in their pajamas for all to take in the glorious sight.

Are the kids embarrassed? Of course! Are the parents embarrassed? Most definitely. But remember…the goal is to create a unique, bonding experience for this young family and what better way to bond together than through a little display of public embarrassment, right?

The family orders a round of hot chocolate and they purchase one $10 gift card to give to an unsuspecting family. For the next couple hours, the family drives around Whittier listening to Christmas music on the radio and looking for the best-decorated Christmas house. (Full disclosure: Parents don’t get much say in what qualifies as “the best-decorated house. The kids are the self-proclaimed judges.)

Once it begins getting late and the hot chocolate has worn off, the family decides which house they will award their $10 Starbucks gift card to. Here again, a rule has been instituted to maximize the impact of this tradition: The winning family must be home. Many displays may have been in the running, but the winner can only be one whose family is home to celebrate this “prestigious honor.”

Andrea’s kids are proud to march up to the front door and ring the doorbell in excited announcement that “this house is the winner.” Christmas cheer and celebration erupt between the two families who are now acquainted with the spirit of Christmas.

This year’s winner is a beautiful family, The Cummo’s, of Starbuck Street. The patriarch of the

2019 “Cocoa Jams” winner: The Cummo Family of Starbuck Street.

family, Diego Cummo, spent two days just laying cotton on his lawn to mimic the appearance of snow. He then spent another day setting up the displays on in his front yard. What devotion to the Christmas spirit.

Upon discovering the news that his display was being awarded the 2019 Cocoa Jams Award from Andrea and her family, the Cummo’s treated the children to a few homemade treats and gifts that the family had made.

A good time was truly had by all

The story of Our Lady of GuadalupeContinued from page 3

Juan Diego is instructed to climb to the top of Tepeyac Hill where he will find flowers. He is to pick the flowers there, which are unlike any he has seen before, and he is to keep them hidden in his tilma until he reaches the Bishop.

Juan Diego is skeptical again. It’s December, what flowers could grow on the summit of the hill in this cold?

Nevertheless, he obeys and atop the hill he finds a great number of flowering roses which he picks and hastily gathers into his cloak.

For the third time, Juan Diego is ushered in to see the

Bishop. The skeptical cleric has waited for two days to see what sign Our Lady has for him. Juan opens his tilma, letting the roses cascade to the floor. But more than the roses, both men are astonished to see what is painted on his humble tilma - an exquisite image of Our Lady.

In the image, she stands as she appeared, a native princess with high cheekbones. Her head is bowed and her hands are folded in prayer to God. On her blue cloak, the stars are arranged as they appeared in the morning darkness at the hour of her first apparition.

Under her feet, is a great crescent moon, a symbol of the old Aztec religion. The message is clear, she is more powerful

than the Aztec gods, yet she herself is not God.

At the same time Our Lady is appearing to Juan Diego, and directing him to cut the flowers on Tepeyac Hill, she also appears to his uncle, Juan Bernadino who believes he is about to die.

As soon as she appears, the fever stops and Juan Bernadino feels well again. She tells Juan Bernadino, she wants to be known as “Santa Maria, de Guadalupe.”

Our Lady of Guadalupe did not appear again, for her mission was complete. The temple was built and remains there today, in what is now a suburb of Mexico City. Juan

Diego’s tilma, woven from cactus fibers, with a shelf-life of just 30 years at best, remains miraculously preserved.

The symbolism of Our Lady’s dress is obvious to over eight million Native Mexicans, whom all speak different languages. She is brighter than the sun, more powerful than any Aztec god, yet she is not a god herself, and she prays to one greater than her. Her gown is adorned with stars in the correct position as in the night sky, and the gold fringe of her cloak mirrors the surrounding countryside.

Millions of natives will convert at the news of what has happened. Millions more will make pilgrimages over the

next five centuries to see the miraculous tilma, and to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe. Great miracles continue to occur, even today.

On October 12, 1945, Pope Pius XII, decreed Our Lady of Guadalupe to be “Patroness of all the Americas.” Her feast day is December 12, and it is a Holy Day of Obligation in Mexico.

Our Lady of Guadalupe had this to say to Juan Diego:

“Know for certain, least of my sons, that I am the perfect and perpetual Virgin Mary, Mother of the True God through whom everything lives, the Lord of all things near and far, the Master of heaven and earth.

“It is my earnest wish that a temple be built here to my honor. Here I will demonstrate, I will exhibit, I will give all my love, my compassion, my help and my protection to the people.

“I am your merciful mother, the merciful mother of all of you who live united in this land, and of all mankind, of all those who love me, of those who cry to me, of those who seek me, of those who have confidence in me.

“Here I will hear their weeping, their sorrow, and will remedy and alleviate all their multiple sufferings, necessities and misfortunes.”

Date post:	19-Aug-2020
Category:	Documents
Upload:	others
View:	1 times
Download:	0 times

GREENLEAF GUARDIAN€¦ · 27/12/2019 · 11117 Santa Gertrudes Ave. Date Inspected: 12/17/19...

Documents