L.A. Monarchs Lions Club Citizen of the Year Award Event – Recognizing PCNC Chair, Dianabel Gonzalez – Thursday, February 16, 2012

Dianabel Gonzalez, Chair of the Panorama City Neighborhood Council Board of Directors, has been selected as “Citizen of the Year” by the Los Angeles Monarch Lions Club.  This award is based on her many volunteer activities in the community, which include work on public school issues and the First 5 LA “Best Start” program for families with young children, in addition to her work with the neighborhood council.

Ms. Gonzalez will receive her award in conjunction with an L. A. Monarch Lions Club student speaker contest event on Thursday, February 16, at 7pm.  The public is invited to this event, which will be held at a Denny’s Restaurant in Northridge.  (Food, if desired, can be purchased individually.)  Dress is formal business attire.  This is NOT a Panorama City Neighborhood Council meeting.

L. A. MONARCH LIONS CLUB
DISTRICT 4-L3 75TH ANNUAL STUDENT SPEAKER CONTEST
AND CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD
Denny’s Restaurant
9001 Tampa Avenue (south of Nordhoff)
Northridge, CA  91324

New Program Seeks to Boost the Local Job Market by Linking Local Job Seekers and Employers

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Board of Water and Power Commissioners on Tuesday approved the implementation of a new program called First Source Hiring, a free job referral system designed to help local job seekers located in LADWP’s service area find employment with companies working on LADWP contracts. Administered by the LADWP Economic Development Group, the program will also benefit LADWP contractors by saving them the time and resources needed to find suitable candidates to hire.

Through a fully automated web-based job portal, job seekers can review job postings and complete online applications. Similarly, employers will be able to track applicants, prescreen, rank and sort candidates.

LADWP’s program expects to build on the success First Source has already had at other City Departments, including Los Angeles World Airports. The program will have a two-step implementation process beginning with a 12-month pilot program. During the pilot phase, it will only be open to LADWP contracts for professional services consisting of $500,000 or more in direct labor costs.

First Source Hiring replaces the former Job Opportunities Training Program, which focused solely on providing job skill training to unemployed or underemployed persons within LADWP’s service area. First Source is a more cost-effective workforce development program because it increases job seekers’ chances of finding full-time employment by directly linking them to existing employment opportunities.

For more information on First Source and participation requirements, prospective employers and job seekers should contact the LADWP Economic Development Group at 1-800-864-4409 or email edg@ladwp.com.

The meeting will be held at the North Valley Caring Services center on Thursday January 26 from 5:00 to 6:30 pm.

15453 Rayen Street, North Hills, CA 91343

North Valley Caring Services (NVCS), a non-profit organization working in the densely populated area of North Hills, focuses its services on meeting the needs of the low-income residents, the majority of which are Spanish-speaking, in the surrounding community. A hub of programs and services, NVCS works closely with individuals and families to help them gain the necessary skills and provide resources that better their lives. As individuals and families achieve, grow and succeed, we’ve watched the positive change flow across the community of the Langdon-Orion Street neighborhood. One person and one family at a time, NVCS is making a difference. Please donate now and partner with us in this important endeavor.

It’s that time again to recycle your Christmas tree! Before recycling your tree, please remove all decorations, tinsel, and stand. Trees must be cut in half, stands removed, and placed in the green yard trimmings container, or if you are unable to cut in half, place your tree at the curb for collection. The Bureau of Sanitation offers several tree drop-off locations. Drop-off locations are open for ONE DAY ONLY between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 2, 2011.

HOLIDAY SAFETY TIPS:

• Test your smoke alarms.
• Make a fresh cut on the bottom of the tree.
• Place tree in a reservoir type tree stand and water daily.
• Check light cords for frays or empty sockets.
• Use no more than three sets of UL-approved lights per extension cord.
• Do not use candles on or near your tree.
• Turn off all Christmas lights prior to leaving your home or going to bed.
• Safely dispose of your tree before it becomes dangerously dry.
• Remove all ornaments, cut and place tree in green disposal container at curb. If you can’t cut the tree, place it at the curb for collection, or bring it to one of the City’s drop-off locations.
• Flocked trees cannot be recycled, cut the flocked tree and place it in the black container or place it at the curb.