SAFE COMMUNITIES FESTIVAL THIS SATURDAY MARCH 23 AT ROWLAND HEIGHTS COMMUNITY PARK

ROWLAND HEIGHTS, CA – MARCH 20, 2013 – The community is invited to attend the 20th Annual Safe Communities Festival on Saturday, March 23, 2013 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Rowland Heights Community Park (located at 1500 Banida in Rowland Heights). The festival celebrates the role all facets of the community play in promoting a safe, secure and peaceful environment for all to enjoy. The Safe Communities Festival will feature more than 20 health and information booths, entertainment provided by Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation, food and game booths, a bounce house, and demonstrations by community groups and Rowland Unified schools. Public safety displays include “Shakey Quakey” and a “flyover” from the Los Angeles Fire Department and a “JAWS of Life” demonstration from the California Highway Patrol.

          The official program kicks off at 11 a.m. with Masters of Ceremony Dickie Simmons, Field Deputy for Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe and Deputy Douglas DeCesare of the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department who will recognize student winners for the Safe Communities Week District-wide Pee-chee folder and poster design contest. For the first time, there will also be the presentation of a $500 service award scholarship to a senior(s) in Rowland Unified School District for their community service work.  

          The Festival comes as the conclusion of the community-wide celebration of Safe Communities Week, March 18 - 23, 2013. The event is sponsored by Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe’s Office, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Department/Southeast Recreation District, California Highway Patrol – Santa Fe Springs Office, Operation Safe Community, the Rowland Unified School District and the Rowland Unified School District Safety and Drug Alcohol Tobacco Education (DATE) Program.

          Below is a list of booths featured at the event:

• American Cancer Society
• Buckboard Days Parade
• California Highway Patrol
• Caustics Digital Academy (Internet Safety)
• Citrus Valley Health Partners/GEM Project
• Credit Union of Southern California
• East Valley Community School Based Health Center – Now Open at Villacorta Elementary School
• Family Resource Center of Rowland USD
• Did Hirsch Medical Health Services
• Jack’s Lock & Key
• Jesus es Amor
• Dr. Nimesh Ladhawala (Complimentary chiropractor exams & massage)
• Los Angeles County Fire Department
• Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation
• Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder
• Los Angeles County Sheriff Department
• Nogales High School Choir Boosters (Providing Tacos/BBQ Skewers and rice for Fundraiser)
• Pacific Clinics
• Rowland Heights Coordinating Council (Disaster Preparedness)
• Rowland Water District
• RUSD Health Services (Children’s Clinic and T-Dap Requirement)
• RUSD Nutrition Project
• Sam’s Club
• Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale
• Spiritt Family Services
• Teamsters Horsemen Chapter 42
• The Fire Connection
• Walnut Valley Water District