international pianist grace chung to be featured at ...international pianist grace chung to be...

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2018

Alhambra Performing Arts Center, under the direction of award-winning Chef/Artistic Director Bill Yee, will pres-ent internationally acclaimed pianist Dr.

Alhambra Performing Arts Center. “Cooking is my profession, but mu-sic is my passion,” he said.

Free will offerings are accepted during intermission.

For more information, contact Mr. Yee at 626-230 5435 or at [email protected].

Visit the culinary school’s website at www.alhambraculinary-school.com.

International pianist Grace Chung to be featured at Performing Arts Center

Pianist Dr. Grace Chung is internationally ac-claimed. Chef/Artistic Director Bill Yee

School of Music. Throughout her years of performance, she has had the privilege of sharing her music all over the United States, Europe, and South America. Even while in school, she maintained an active performance career collaborating with many diverse and talented art-ists from both the classical world and the Broadway stage.

In addition to performing, Ms. Chung has taken on projects in writing and composition. She was commissioned by the Brehm New Music Initiative to write a set of children’s stories, Growing God’s Way, along with a set of so-la-themed organ arrangements, Je-sus Loves Me, in commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Prot-estant Reformation in 2017. These publications are available through Jubal House Publishing and the Hal Leonard Corporation.

Chef Yee will provide free re-freshments with his Alhambra Cu-linary School chefs and LA Omelet Catering Services. Both businesses also work in conjunction with the

Grace Chung in a free concert at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30, at Sage Granada Park United Methodist Church, 1850 W. Hellman Ave., Alhambra. She will perform works from classical to Broadway in a solo performance on the histori-cal, fully restored 1918 Mason & Hamlin grand piano.

Ms. Chung began her mu-sical studies at the age of 4, and her love of music has continually grown since then. She received her bachelor’s degree in piano perfor-mance from La Sierra University and went on to study at the Man-hattan School of Music, where she received her master of music degree in piano performance. She then returned to California where she taught as an adjunct professor of piano at La Sierra University.

After several years, Ms. Chung returned to school to complete her doctor of musical arts degree in keyboard collaborative arts as well a graduate certificate in or-gan performance at the University of Southern California Thornton

The word escrow is associated with buying and selling real estate. An escrow is a con-tractual arrangement and an escrow company performs this arrangement or function. Un-less you recently have done a real estate trans-action or work in this area, a closer look at

Escrow and real estate

See full article by Gary frueholz

on PaGe 18b

Twohey’s counts down to closing Alhambra locationBy Jewelyn Co

For 75 years, Twohey’s has served up the fin-est hamburgers and soda fountain specialties in the San Gabriel Valley. The large, iconic Little Stink-O sign of a weeping man with a clothespin on his nose and this classic American restaurant will be missed by many when Twohey’s moves back to the city of Pasadena.

Twohey’s Restaurant originally opened on Ar-royo Boulevard in Pasadena in 1943 and relocated at the intersection of Huntington Drive and Atlan-tic Boulevard in Alhambra in 1951. Owner John “Jack” Twohey had trademarked Little Stink-O and the slogan Oh-Stink-O in 1943 when he overheard a woman diner who upon smelling the pickle and onion filled burger responded with, “Oh stink-O!” For many years, Twohey’s served family-friendly American fare, including its signature famous burg-ers, onion rings, and award-winning soda fountain hot fudge sundaes. In 1997, Twohey’s was sold to Trias, LLC, and was renovated, but the new owner-ship kept some of its original concepts, dishes, and

interiors to retain its same ambience.Since losing its lease, Twohey’s has

made the decision to return to Pasadena instead of closing the restaurant.

“We didn’t really want to move at all,” said Twohey’s co-owner Jim Christos. “We negotiated with the landlord for about four years. But we will not be too far away. Pas-adena is close by. We hope our customers will continue to come to the new location in Pasadena.”

Since losing its lease Twohey’s has made the decision to return to Pasadena instead of closing the restaurant.

Continued on page 8B

bUSINeSS NewS / Around AlhAmbrApage 2b 09/2018

CalChamber: State Legislature needs to set standard on independent contractor test

During an interview with KPCC radio recently, Jennifer Barrera, senior vice president of policy for the California Cham-ber of Commerce, highlighted the urgent need for the Legislature to pause the application of a recent court ruling to allow time to de-cide the best test for determining whether a worker is an indepen-dent contractor.

In late April, the California Supreme Court issued a decision in Dynamex Operations West Inc. v. Superior Court of Los Angeles, No. S222732 (April 30, 2018), in which it set forth a new standard for distinguishing between an em-ployee versus an independent con-tractor.

To distinguish between an employee and an independent contractor, the Court conclud-ed that individuals are presumed to be employees, and a company classifying an individual as an in-dependent contractor bears the burden of justifying that individu-al’s independent contractor classi-fication under an “ABC test.”

“For the past 30 years we’ve been using a multi-factor test that really focused on control, and now this new test issued by the Su-preme Court only focuses on three

factors. That ‘B’ factor … wheth-er that service is outside the usual course of business, is really a chal-lenging factor and will completely narrow the ability for individuals to potentially continue their work as freelancers, self-employed, in-dependent contractors,” Ms. Bar-rera said to KPCC.

The ABC test replaces the previously used “right to control” or “common law” test, which fo-cused on the hiring entity’s abil-ity to control how the work was performed. Under the more re-strictive ABC test, an individual is presumed to be an employee, unless the company can prove all of the following:• That theworker is free from

control and direction of the hiring entity in connection with the performance of the work, both under the con-tract for the performance of the work and in fact.

• That the worker performswork that is outside the usual course of the hiring entity’s business.

• Thattheworkeriscustomarilyengaged in an independently established trade, occupation, or business of the same nature as the work performed.


SeNIor NewS / Around AlhAmbrA09/2018 page 3b

Senior Outings will visit the Port of Long Beach from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednes-day, Sept. 12. The excursion includes a 45-minute tour of the coast line of the port and the city of Long Beach, where participants will learn about the history and culture of the area while enjoying unobstructed views of the city skyline.

The Port of Long Beach is one of the most historical places in Southern California. It is constantly in flux. Since the gold rush days, the port has witnessed rapid growth and expansion. It became a major port during World War II and recently has morphed to accommodate today’s giant cargo ships’ growing international trade. Watch the play-ful sea lions and glimpse the famed Queen Mary along with the comings and goings of the huge container ships that arrive and depart from all over the world.

Enjoy lunch (not included) at Rainbow Harbor or nearby Shoreline Village. As always, pre-registration is required. Contact the Joslyn Adult Center for details.

The Old World Octoberfest in Huntington Beach is the next destination from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27. It has been called Orange County’s Biggest Party. This year’s Oktoberfest promises to be the best celebration yet, offering authentic Ger-man food (voted Best Bratwurst in California), imported German beers, and German bands that have come all the way from Germany to play the popular oom pa pah music. There will be entertainment, competitions, games, and more. So come along and expe-rience the best Oktoberfest celebration in the New World - Old World Oktoberfest in Huntington Beach.

Lunch and entertainment is included in the $20 fee. After lunch, enjoy the Old World European market, the German Deli, and German Bakery. If time, cross the street and experience the Bella Terra Mall.

For more information, phone 626-570-5056.

Senior Outings to visit Port of Long Beach, Octoberfest

es of their victims, especially if they are lonely, willing to listen, and more trusting than many younger adults. It’s human nature that as we get older, our interest increases in products and procedures that hold the possibility of increased cognitive function, health, anti-cancer prop-erties, and so on. We live in a renaissance of hopeful new cures, medicines, and vaccinations, so we can be susceptible to believing the hype. People who grew up in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s were generally raised to be polite. Scammers exploit this, know-ing that it is sometimes difficult to say “no” or just hang up the telephone. They also know that seniors are less likely to report a scam because they don’t know who to report it to, are too ashamed at having been scammed, or don’t know they have been scammed. A senior who gets fleeced in some way may be worried that relatives may think he/she is no lon-ger mentally capable of managing their financial affairs. 2. Scammers are always coming up with new scams.

Scammers may sound credible and kind, but they are only after your mon-ey. To do this, they may use any number of good causes and plausible concepts

including credit cards, sweepstakes or contests, chari-ties, health products, magazines, home improvements, equity skimming, investments, banking or wire trans-fers, and insurance. According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), here are the top 10 financial scams that are presently tricking seniors, and some common tell-tales: Medicare/health insurance fraud — being asked to give your social security number or to pay $100 to access the Affordable Care benefits; counterfeit pre-

Technology has made al-most everything faster and easier. Telephones, computers, and the internet have brought shopping, finance, banking, communica-tion, and information to our fingertips. But convenience is a two-way street. Like never before, seniors need to be extremely care-ful about new frauds and scams that appear almost daily. Seniors should always be mindful of three important concepts:

Seniors need to stay ahead of scammersBy Bill Hull, Director of Marketing, Atherton214 S Atlantic Blvd., Alhambra

1. Scammers are targeting seniors.Unfortunately, seniors are the most frequent targets

of scams. By some estimates, older Americans are de-frauded by over $12.5 billion annually. According to re-search by the Stanford Center on Longevity, those over the age of 65 are more likely to have lost money due to a financial scam than someone in their 40s. Seniors often have a “nest egg,” and they may own their home, and have excellent credit — all of which make them a magnet for scammers.

Scammers know how to prey upon the circumstanc-

Seniors / retirees News | activities, projects, Features


Elder Care Planning Attorney

Carlos A. Arcos Presents a FREE Workshop Series

Dates: Thursday, September 20, 2018 Thursday, October 25, 2018 Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Location: Joslyn Senior Center 210 N. Chapel Alhambra, CA 91801

No reservations required

Seating available on a first-come, first-seated basis For more information, please call

626-284-9003 or 800-284-9003

MANAGING ELDER CARE, TRUSTS & MEDI-CAL

Trustees Duties and Trusts Trustees and Planning for Aging Parents

Health & Medical News | Hospitals, Physicians, Dentists, Facilities

HealtH NewS / Around AlhAmbrApage 4b 09/2018

AskDr. Dara,

D.D.S.Dr. Dara Gashparova, D.D.S. is located at 1933 W. Valley Blvd. Readers with dental questions or concerns should contact her at 626-289-6131, or email [email protected].

TMJ is the temporomandibular joint, or the joint that connects the lower jaw to the rest of the head. Temporomandibular joints are a pair, positioned on the left and right in front of the ears. They are hinge-like and have a similar anatomy compared to the knee joint. The lower jaw has a rounded end that fits a socket located in your head. There is a rubbery like disk that acts like a shock absorber during normal mouth opening and closing.

TMJD or TMD stands for TMJ disor-der and is a group of conditions that cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and muscles that control jaw movement. TMJ disorder may result from several different

factors, such as stress, bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching), arthritis in the TMJ, or trauma and injury to the head, neck, or jaw. Clicking on its own is com-mon (20% of people have it) and unless it is associated with pain or reduced mouth opening, it does not normally require treatment.TMD symptoms:• Clicking or popping sounds

when you open and close your mouth, accompanied by pain.

• Stiffness or inability to openyour mouth wide to speak, yawn, or chew.

• Alockedorstuckjaw.• Painwhenchewingandbiting.

ical examination. Additional diagnostics that may be required include x-rays, CT scan, MRI, blood work. Some conditions you can help yourself with home remedies; some you may need professional medical help for.

Wearing an appliance: The dentist will look at your jaw movement and any wear on your teeth and compare them. If the reason for TMD is clenching or grind-ing at night, you will be fitted with a pro-tective splint or a night guard.

Topical anti-inflammatory medicine application helps when there is an inflam-matory process in the joint or the muscles surrounding it. Simply warm up the side of your face with a warm cloth and apply the topical cream. You can put some small plas-tic on the top and the warm cloth over it for five minutes. The plastic is to prevent the cream from being removed with the cloth.

Jaw exercises: It is essential to do both types of exercise: TMJ stretching and TMJ

muscle strengthening exercises. You can do slow, gentle jaw stretching exercises in the morning to help increase jaw mobility and strengthening exercises later in the day. There are many exercises available online; ask your dentist or make an appointment with us and we can explain them to you.

Important: Start with warm and fin-ish with cold. Before you do your TMJ exercises, you need to warm up the joint first with moist heat from a warm pack or a warm moist cloth. After you are done with your TMJ exercises, apply a cool pack; do not place ice directly on the spot.

Surgical: Sometimes surgery to re-place or rearrange a joint back to normal is necessary. “Less is more” is the rule of thumb in these situations. Most providers will try to help in the least invasive way possible. TMJ is surrounded by important nerves and blood vessels. It is very import-ant that treatment does not cause further harm.

Less is more when surgically treating TMJ disorder

• Painintheneck,shoulders,orears.• Earringing.• Frequentheadaches:paininthetemples.Treatment for TMJ disorder

Treatment for TMJ will depend on the cause and severity of your TMJ damage, so the sooner you can get to it, the less com-plicated and less costly is to manage. TMD treatment may include jaw and facial relax-ation exercises, lifestyle changes, restorative dental treatments, a mouth guard or night guard, or jaw surgery. There’s no magic cure and management is very important.

Its best for you to see a dentist to do a dental assessment. Most TMJ disorders can be diagnosed from the history and clin-

TMJ disorder may result from several different factors, such as stress, bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching), arthritis in the TMJ, or trauma and injury to the head, neck, or jaw.

HealtH NewS / Around AlhAmbrA09/2018 page 5b

Many ailments improve with exercise, eating, and sleeping. Take an inventory of your health habits to see if you are moving in the right direction. If not, find out what improvements are needed and learn as much as you can about the human body.

Life is movement. The body is designed to create movement using a network of sys-tems similar to a city. The body has blueprints (DNA) to guide the design. Building mate-rials are needed, which may vary in quality, quantity, cost, and availability, and will ulti-mately affect the design or appearance

Energy is necessary to cause movement. Gasoline powers a car, and oxygen powers our bodies. Movement will also create more movement. Notice how your limbs feel while sitting still versus when doing vigorous exer-cise.

Safety and defense systems ensure the process of living. We have external defenses such as sense organs and skin and internal de-fenses supplied by the immune system.

A sewage system is necessary for recy-cling and removal. The liver and kidneys fil-ter the blood, removing non-nutrients from the body, while the colon and bladder remove waste. The liver may not function as well when overloaded with alcohol, pollution, or chemicals. The colon functions better with a high fiber diet. A communication network coordinates external and internal environ-ments.

Finally, there is the leadership guiding the direction, decision-making and coordi-nation of effort, governed by the committee of the brain, heart, and gut. Obviously, these function better when information comes in quickly and accurately. It’s clear the organs

must be inter-dependent to work well together.

Bodies, like cities, vary significantly in size, design, and function. What kind of “city” are you planning to build?

Sheila Yonemoto, P.T., has been a phys-ical therapist for more than 30 years, specializing in integrative manual thera-py using a holistic approach. She can be reached at Yonemoto Physical Therapy, 55 S. Raymond Ave, Suite 100, Alhambra 91801. Sheila also offers a Qigong Chi-nese Energy exercise class. Your first class is free. Phone 626-576-0591 for more information, or visit www.yonemoto.com.

How the Body Works by Sheila yonemoto, P.t.

by John chao, D.D.S.Should you brush your teeth in the

shower? It is estimated that about 4% of Americans routinely brush their teeth in the shower, according to a recent survey by the Delta Dental Plans Association, a dental-in-surance provider. That’s about 13 million people.

What are the pros and cons? Some say that it saves time and water. As to saving time, it’s debatable. To save time, one would have to multi-task by scrubbing the body and brushing the teeth at the same time. But if you are loitering in the shower, it would make sense that by brushing your teeth there you are saving time.

As to saving water, according to the American Water Works Association, a non-profit founded to improve water quality and supply, modern shower heads use 2½ to 3½ gallons a minute, versus one to three for sinks. Especially if you are turning off the water while you are brushing over the sink, it appears that you would save some water.

Some folks even brush their teeth in the bath. They would have to not spit out the toothpaste nor rinse out the mouth until they get out of the bath tub. What if you swallow the toothpaste? You might be ingesting the fluoride, which is a poison in high doses.

The American Dental Association (ADA) said there isn’t any harm in shower brushing, as long as it gets done twice a day and that the toothbrush doesn’t stay in there. A moist environment is more conducive to bacteria growth, and if the shower doesn’t completely dry between uses, the toothbrush can be susceptible to bacterial growth, the ADA said. This may be somewhat inconve-nient for some folks. You’d have to take out the toothbrush each time to let it dry be-tween showers. But if you can do it, the ADA has no objection.

But the ADA does recommend flossing your teeth regularly. Wrapping your wet fin-gers around a floss and trying to floss your teeth without the aid of a mirror would be somewhat challenging for most people. You can use disposable plastic flossers that come in various shapes and sizes. They have small handles with a fork strung with a floss. They might be less difficult in some way.

For those folks with food traps between teeth, flossing is a must and is not optional. So, if you need to floss regularly, it would make sense for you to brush and floss over the sink, rather than brush your teeth in the shower, then floss your teeth over the sink.

If you think about it, flossing in the bath tub may not be something you’d want to do.

My recommendation is that since you should brush and floss your teeth regularly, you should do both over the sink.

If you still have questions, ask your dentist.

Pros, cons of brushing teeth in shower

Smile TalkDr. John Chao is the inventor of the Pinole® Surgical Tech-nique. For more informa-tion, contact Dr. Chao at 100 S. First

St., Alhambra, CA 91801 or phone at 626-308-9104. Visit Dr. Chao’s website, chickenswelcome.com

HealtH NewS / Around AlhAmbrApage 6b 09/2018

scription drugs — beware of buying greatly discounted medicines online; funeral and cemetery scams — scammers will read obituaries and either call or attend the funeral service so they can meet relatives and later claim the deceased had an outstanding debt that you need to settle; fake anti-aging products — scams operate in many ways, including very expensive treatments that may be harmful or “proven” homeopathic remedies that actually do nothing: beware of any anti-wrinkle cream that comes with a “free trial” offer; IRS phone scam — the IRS will never contact you by phone or e-mail; computer security — don’t believe any phone calls from an “expert” who says your computer is at risk for a security threat; they will hack into your accounts and steal both your money and your identity); investment/timeshare schemes — if you want to sell a timeshare, don’t believe anyone who wants to charge upfront advertising or sales commission costs or gives a 90-day guarantee; homeowner scams — be sure to get more than one written estimate, ask for references, check with the Better Business Bureau, and never use someone who expects payment in full before the work is com-pleted; reverse mortgage scams — as reverse mortgages have increased in popularity, scammers are peddling fake offers. According to the NCOA, “unsecured reverse mort-gages can lead property owners to lose their homes when the perpetrators offer money or a free house somewhere else in exchange for the title to the property”; grandparent scam — scammers call senior citizens and impersonate their adult grandchildren. They will claim to be in jail or in an accident with an immediate need for money. 3. Scammers are clever, but you can outsmart them. • It’snotimpolitetobeskeptical.Honestfolksarealwayshappytogivetheirbona

fides.• Whenindoubt,justhangupthephoneorshutthedooronthepersontryingto

get money from you.• Nevercallbackanunknownnumber.• Don’tvisitanysitesorinstallsoftwarerecommendedbyunsolicitedcallers.• Donotclickonanylinkinanye-mailyouwerenotexpecting.• Don’tgivetocharities,politicalcauses,etc.,overthephone.• Ifyouareunsureaboutanyphonecall:Asktocallbackandthencallthecompany,

(like the IRS, bank, insurance company, school, church, etc.) on the main number.• Alwaysdoyourresearchbeforeagreeingtoanything.• Neverhandovermoneyfora“prize”ortoanyonethatyoudonotknow.• Nevergiveoutpersonalinfooverthephoneorsendmoneytounknownsources

through a wire service.• Followtheage-oldwisdom:Ifitsoundstoogoodtobetrue,italmostalwaysis.• Finally,itdoesn’thurttoaskothersyoutrust.Thisdoesn’tmeanyoulacktheca-

pacity to manage your own affairs. In this age of high-tech scammers, we all need to look out for one another.

Seniors and scammersContinued from page 3B

DININg & eNtertaINmeNt NewS / Around AlhAmbrA09/2018 page 7b

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Beautiful murals, a Spanish mission like no other, fine wine and food, excellent birding — and aerospace. The hamlet of Lompoc, a two-hour drive north in the Santa Barbara wine country, is a vacation waiting to happen.

Once famous for flower seeds — it’s the place where you’d ooh and aah over the floral fields as you drove through on the way to somewhere else — has blossomed into a charming destination of its own, as I discovered one recent weekend.

A curvy highway through the hills of the Long Valley, 30 minutes north of Santa Barbara, provides a scenic entry into Lompoc. Set in a green valley, the town is a friendly mix of old and new architecture, agriculture fields, and vineyards every-where!

Lompoc offers a fresh base from which to explore the Santa Barbara wine region. The new Hilton Garden Inn Lom-poc, completed just 10 months ago, where I stayed, is wine-country chic, with a sleek, contemporary style and one of the area’s best farm-to-table restaurants, Valle Eat-ery + Bar, helmed by local celebrity chef Conrad Gonzales. The Scratch Kitchen is another Lompoc standout. Chef-own-er Augusto Caudillo packs the restaurant with his everything-made-from-scratch rustic interpretation of modern American cuisine.

“Lompoc is the beginning of the San-ta Rita Hills and the award-winning Sta. Rita Hills AVA,” Aaron Walker, head wine-maker for the Pali Wine Co., told me, as I sipped amid the barrels at Pali’s Lompoc tasting room, the first stop on my tasting schedule. “The AVA is known for pinot noir and chardonnay.” I can attest that Pali produces a vibrant interpretation of both. Next, I took a short drive into the Sta. Rita Hills AVA to the Sanford Winery & Vineyards. Sanford boasts Santa Barbara County’s oldest pinot noir vines — at 40 years — resulting in vintages as delicious as the vineyard is beautiful. No surprise that a scene from the 2004 California wine flick Sideways was filmed here.

Lastly, I hit the Lompoc Wine Ghet-to, a clutch of some 20 artisanal wine facil-ities and tasting rooms housed in former warehouses. Flying Goat Cellars’ cute label caught my eye first. Good thing, because its pinot noir, pinot gris, and Goat Bub-bles sparkling wine, made in the tradition-al methode champenoise, were excellent.

Outdoor murals are the eye catchers in Old Town Lompoc. They’re not just any wall paintings. These are gigantic works of art, with beautifully detailed scenes, that reflect Lompoc’s history, lore, and simply fun subjects. More than 36 decorate prom-inent buildings, alleyways, street corners, and even the crosswalks. Guided tours can be arranged through the Lompoc Mural Society, and self-guided maps are available at the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Com-merce & Visitors Center.

I paired the murals with the down-town boutiques. At A Little Something Special and More, I fell in love with the beautiful gourd art by local artist Thea DiNuzzo, who hand-paints gourds into whimsical creatures from penguins to Day of the Dead skulls.

Dining & entertainment what’s Happening for Food & Fun

Each Lompoc mural is beautifully detailed, reflecting the town’s history and lore.

There’s lots to love in Lompoc

A few minutes outside of town, time seemed to stand still at the La Purisima Mission — the 11th of the California mis-sions founded in 1787. Unlike most of the missions, La Purisima retains its 18th cen-tury setting surrounded by hills and open fields. It’s one of the few places where you can stand on the original El Camino Real road, a simple dirt path paralleling the mission’s front buildings.

“We’re literally stepping back in time,” Parker Grand, my 19-year-old mis-sion guide, explained as we walked across 18th century floor tiles. Turns out, we also were following in the footsteps of Parker’s great, great, great, great grandfather, who was a Spaniard and designed and oversaw the construction of the original mission. Parker’s passion for his ancestor’s work made the edifice come to life as he led me through the furnished rooms and vaulted chapel, which look as they did in 1820, even though the mission was extensive-ly restored in the 1930s. Sheep shearing, hide and tallow making, steer roping, and other living history activities added to the interest. Guided and self-guided tours are offered daily.

Natural attractions are also abun-dant. As a birding enthusiast, I drove to Lompoc’s Ocean Beach Park & Estuary, where the Santa Ynez River meets the Pa-cific Ocean. These sprawling wetlands are one of California’s largest coastal estuaries. Willow flycatchers, the California Least Turn, and in the summer, golden eagles, are among the hundreds of species to be seen.

Which brings me to flying objects of a different kind. Vandenberg Air Force Base is adjacent to Lompoc. So if you come up for an air show or lift-off, stay for the fun in Lompoc.

For more, visit www.explorelompoc.com.

You can walk along the original El Camino Real at La Purisima Mission.

DININg & eNtertaINmeNt NewS / Around AlhAmbrApage 8b 09/2018

Twohey’s counts down to closing Alhambra locationIt is not just the food that makes Twohey’s

a favorite restaurant; it is the memories and the milestones it has given to its customers. Two-hey’s, pronounced “2ee’s,” has been a landmark for many years and has brought many people together. To commemorate Twohey’s farewell to its location of 67 years in Alhambra, long-time Twohey’s customers Fred and Margaret Padilla renewed their wedding vow at Twohey’s, a place they consider special.

“The carhops on Friday nights with friends

and cruising in my 1958 Chevy during my high school years were the best,” said Mr. Padilla “Twohey’s always made me feel young again.”

“This was the place to go,” said longtime Twohey’s customer Ronald “Corky” Conzon-ire. ‘I have been coming to Twohey’s since it opened in Alhambra. I’ve taken my family here for celebrations and occasions. I’ve become such a regular that they know my seat and what my orders will be.”

As the countdown to moving date contin-

Continued from page 1B

Ronald “Corky” Conzonire, longtime Twohey’s customer and owner of The Hat and multiple businesses and past president of the Tournament of Ros-es (2008-2009), and Jim Christos, co-owner of Twohey’s.

For 75 years, Twohey’s has served up the finest hamburgers and soda fountain specialties in the San Gabriel Valley.

Sept. 30, 2018

ues for Twohey’s, visitors are making the best of Twohey’s last days in Al-hambra.

“We will have many fun up-coming events as we continue to be open in Alhambra, Mr. Christos said. “We will be bringing back peo-ple, and we’ll have specials.”

The restaurant will continue to operate during its regular hours until it closes in mid-September. For more information on Twohey’s, visit www.twoheys.com, and follow on social media for updates, events, and for some good food pictures.

Thank you Twohey’s for the great memories, good food, and your love for our community.

DININg & eNtertaINmeNt NewS / Around AlhAmbrA09/2018 page 9b

Expires 9-30-18 Expires 9-30-18

Scala Stonegrill offers unique cooking method

By Jewelyn CoScala Stonegrill, 1411 S. Garfield Ave.,

Alhambra, brings a unique interactive ex-perience of dining where dishes are served cooking at the table on high-heat natural stones. Introduced and developed by Stone-grill International Pty. Ltd. in Australia in 1985, Scala Stonegrill licensed with the company to bring this age-old concept of cooking on stones to the tables of mod-ern-day diners.

Special types of stones are heated to 752°F in a customized Stonegrill® oven and can stay heated for up to 40 minutes for diners to enjoy their hot dish longer. The Stonegrill® technique sears the meats quick-er and retains the natural juices keeping the flavors and tenderness of the food. Stonegrill choices of hearty USDA meat and seafood are sided with fresh vegetables and house-made sauces for dipping. This cook-it-your-self grilling gives diners their own choices and way of cooking their meat from rare to well done. The Stonegrill style of dining is fresh, healthy, and nutritious because it does

Chef Ben Tam

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not require the use of added fat or oil. Scala Stonegrill wants its customers to experience a fun and exciting way of stonegrill dining with the feelings of comfort and enjoyment of the tranquil ambience.

Presentation and quality of dishes are important to Scala Stonegrill, and their chef is devoted to the best standards of serv-ing. Chef Ben Tam, a renowned exclusive head chef with more than 50 years of expe-rience in cooking for highly acclaimed cli-ents and for the Peninsula Hotel Group, is recognized for his outstanding and delight-ful dishes that are often requested by well-known celebrities. Scala Stonegrill is proud and honored to have Chef Tam prepare and serve flavorful dishes such as the abalone and shrimp XO sauce fried rice, clam pasta with tomato sauce, and Cointreau orange short ribs. Diners may choose from 80 items on the menu, including tapas, salads, soups, noodles, and charcoal grilled dishes that are made and prepared with fresh in-gredients. Starter dishes are shareable with great portions. The charcoal grilled dishes are cooked in the kitchen with real charcoal for smoky flavors and taste. Noodle soups are made with rich flavored soup bases and loaded with assorted ingredients of vegeta-bles and meats. Scala Stonegrill offers fine choices for wines, champagnes, cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages, such as milk teas and soft drinks that nicely complement the meals. Guests can enjoy outdoor din-ing on the patio with plenty of tables and seating space. Scala Stonegrill offers an af-fordable lunch and happy hour specials on the menu.

For information on Scala Stonegrill, visit www.scalastonegrill.com. Follow them on media at @scalastonegrill on Facebook and Instagram. Check out reviews on yelp.com and make sure to leave a compliment.

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ProPILOT Assist system combines Nissan’s Intelligent Cruise Control, Steering Assist technologies

Nissan’s latest advanced technology is ProPILOT Assist

Nissan’s latest advanced technology, ProPILOT Assist, is a hands-on driving assistant designed to help drivers during long highway trips and the stop and go traffic of the daily commute.

Using a front radar sensor and a front-facing camera located behind the rear-view mirror, it can maintain a gap with the car in front at a preset distance and help to keep the vehicle centered during single lane driving, even on slight curves. The ProPILOT Assist system combines Nis-san’s Intelligent Cruise Control and Steering Assist tech-nologies and includes a stop and hold function that can bring the vehicle to a full stop, hold in place, and can bring the car back up to speed when traffic starts moving again.

The ProPILOT Assist system represents the first gen-eration of advanced driver assistance features in Nissan ve-hicles. The next generation of Nissan’s Assistance technol-ogy will support steering, braking, and accelerating during multi-lane driving.The future of driving

ProPILOT Assist is an integral part of Nissan Intelli-gent Mobility, an all-encompassing approach that looks to redefine how people move using the most up to date tech-nology today, while planning for a bold, bright tomorrow.

The current ProPILOT Assist is not a fully autono-mous system but a Level 2 Driver Assistance system as defined by the industry standard definitions created by

the Society of Automotive Engineering (S.A.E.). It’s designed to assist drivers, not replace them.

In fact, if ProPILOT Assist detects that a driver has removed their hands from the wheel it will go through a series of alerts to get the driver’s hands back in place. It can even bring the vehicle to a stop if it is not being used as it is in-tended.

Today’s ProPILOT As-sist system is the product of years of research and development that contin-ues to progress as people transition from driver as-sistance to fully autono-mous systems. Nissan is working to accelerate that

transition by using NASA technology designed for inter-planetary robotic travel to develop a trusted infrastructure for autonomous vehicles that will allow them to learn and share information in real time.How does Nissan ProPILOT Assist work?

Once the driver of a ProPILOT Assist-equipped ve-hicle enables the system with the steering-wheel-mounted button they will then set the desired speed and distance they want to follow the car in front of them.

While engaged and when lane markers are detected, the ProPILOT Assist steering wheel and lane line icons on the dash turn from grey to green and Steering Assist will provide small steering inputs to help the driver center the vehicle in the lane.

The driver can disengage the system at any time and if the system does not detect a hand on the wheel, it will provide a series of visual and audible alerts. If the driver still does not place their hands on the wheel the system will pulse the brakes to get their attention. Finally, if both of these warnings are ignored, the vehicle will gently apply the brakes, slow down within its lane, turn on the hazard lights and come to a complete stop.

aUtomotIve NewS / Around AlhAmbrA09/2018 page 13b

From the 1960 R360 Coupe, a micro car Mazda sold in Japan as well as Maz-da’s first passenger car, to the 2017 Mazda CX-5, Mazda has had a long history with the color red. Red has deep roots in the Japanese culture, as it denotes strength and passion and is even used to depict the sun in the Japanese nation-al flag. Believing paint color is one of the key elements of form, Mazda was determined

More than just a color:Mazda offers new Soul Red Crystal

Creating Soul Red Crystal was a challenging process, and it required Mazda to reinvent the way cars are painted.

to create the world’s most beautiful red when developing the new Soul Red Crystal.Let’s do this a different way

Creating Soul Red Crystal was a challenging process, and it required Mazda to reinvent the way cars are painted. Like any beautiful object, the way light dances across its surface is part of the beauty. The interplay of light and form inspired Mazda to create a paint with exceptional depth and reflective quality.

To ensure such visual perfection, the color designer and master painter worked together during the development process to make sure the designer’s color choices were translated perfectly onto the cars. To achieve such a deep, lustrous finish, the cars needed to be painted by hand. While this was possible for Mazda’s concept cars, a new technique was developed in order to achieve the same quality Soul Red Crystal in production models. In a process called, Takuminuri, which translates to English as “artisan coloring,” painting robots were effectively taught to duplicate the techniques of Mazda’s best craftsmen.Master craftsmen

Takuminuri is a Mazda-exclusive approach to advanced paint technology, starting with the original Soul Red Metallic paint color in 2012, perfected with Machine Gray in 2016 and further refined into a color that uses the learnings from both to stand among the most drool-worthy colors out there.

Mazda’s KODO–Soul of Motion design philosophy gives every Mazda a proper canvas, with a sensual, dynamic shape that captures the very instant energy becomes motion. Ev-erywhere you look, this poise is enhanced by premium details. Subtle, flowing body lines that show off the nuances of curves and a powerful stance are further highlighted as light reflects off of the Soul Red Crystal paint.

Mazda views cars as art, and the company’s desire is to have customers be emotionally moved by their car before even starting the engine.

The next generation 2019 Lexus ES 350 is scream-ing off the production line in Georgetown, Kentucky, and drivers will soon have a chance to hit the streets in this game-changing vehicle.

“We’ve implemented the all-new Lexus Global Archi-tecture platform,” said Susan Elkington, president, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc., (TMMK). “The 2019 ES starts with a newly developed, more rigid chassis and delivers class-leading handling and power you can feel and hear. The new platform allows Kentucky team mem-bers to build a car that is longer, lower, and wider than before with wheels pushed closer to the corners.

Combined with a tenacious commitment to crafts-manship — the foundation of Lexus manufacturing — the new ES also ups the ante on comfort and luxury.

“We strive to capture the Lexus mindset with every vehicle we build,” Ms. Elkington said. “We craft in quality, innovation, and delight for all the senses, for every cus-tomer.”The look, feel, and sound of Lexus craftsmanship

Lexus team members at the company’s U.S. facility

All-new 2019 Kentucky-assembled Lexus rolls off lineCombined with a tenacious commitment to craftsmanship — the foundation of Lexus manufacturing — the new ES also ups the ante on comfort and luxury.

spent more than 150,000 hours training to build the ES model that delivers a fundamentally higher level of per-formance than its predecessors. That includes sensory training that teaches assemblers, for instance, to feel for an abnormality as minute as a thread of hair.

“After extensive sensory training, our team members rely on sight, sound, and touch to know that the crafts-manship of the car is of the highest standard,” said Mike Bridge, Lexus assistant general manager. “A machine can’t make those judgments, and that’s why we take so much time to train before a new model goes into production.”

Mr. Bridge said an example of this sensory training can be seen in body weld, where team members are taught to feel gap differences measured in fractions as little as 0.3 millimeters. “This is equal to the thickness of three sheets of paper and can be felt even with gloves on,” he said.

Lexus began production of the ES in Kentucky in 2015 after investing more than $360 million in a new production facility on the Toyota Kentucky campus. In addition to the ES 350, the Lexus team of more than 800 Lexus-trained Kentuckians will now also build the all-

new, coveted F SPORT model.Quality in, quality out

In 2016, after just one year of production, the Lexus line received the Platinum award — a tie with Toyota’s Kyushu 2 plant in Japan — in the J.D. Power & Associ-ates’ Initial Quality Study, representing the highest-per-forming assembly plant in the world for initial quality. The Kentucky Lexus plant has been among the highest J.D. Power rankings every year since.

At a recent internal event, Toyota North America CEO Jim Lentz presented the Lexus line with its third consecutive J.D. Power honor, a Gold award.

“Because of the team we have here in Georgetown, and all that has been accomplished in just three years since initially launching Lexus, we’re confident our Lexus cus-tomers will Experience Amazing each time they get be-hind the wheel of a Kentucky-assembled ES,” Mr. Lentz said.Features and pricing

The seventh-generation, driver-centric ES maintains the comfort, quietness, and spacious attributes, while add-ing sharpened performance and class-leading active safety technology.

The 2019 ES 350 includes Eight-speed Direct Shift automatic transmission that more efficiently transfers power to the wheels; Standard Lexus Safety System+ 2.0, which furthers dedication to safety; Apple Car PlayTM phone functionality; and Amazon Alexa®-enabled with car-to-home and home-to-car commands.

The 2019 Lexus ES 350 will be in dealer showrooms in September. The price for the Lexus ES 350 starts at $39,500, and the F SPORT starts at $44,035.


Last weekend’s sensa-tional triumph for Walken-horst Motorsport at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francor-champs with the BMW M6 GT3 was the highlight of the 2018 season so far from a BMW Customer Racing point of view. After seven months of race action, it has been a more than positive year to date for the three BMW M Motorsport cus-tomer race cars: the BMW

M6 GT3, the new BMW M4 GT4, and the BMW M235i Racing. As well as the BMW M6 GT3’s magnificent victory at Spa, the new BMW M4 GT4, in its first season, has also proved to be a successful model from the word go in the hands of international customers.BMW Customer Racing

“It has been a great pleasure to watch the performances of our BMW Customer Racing cars, drivers, and teams in recent months,” said BMW Motorsport Direc-tor Jens Marquardt. “The year started well for the BMW M6 GT3, with the title in the Asian Le Mans Series. It has also tasted success in various series in Eu-rope, Asia, and North America. The latest victory at Spa-Francorchamps, courtesy of the Walkenhorst team, was obviously the icing on the cake. The BMW M235i Racing is continuing its success story as the ideal entry-level model. I am also im-pressed by the start that our new customer racing car, the BMW M4 GT4, has made. What started with the first GT4 win at the legendary Bathurst 12-hour race pro-gressed better than we had hoped, with many more victories and podium finishes over the course of the season.”

BMW M Motorsport customers have competed in the high-quality and fierce-ly-competitive GT4 class with the BMW M4 GT4 since the start of the 2018 sea-son. The new car earned its prestigious first class victory at Bathurst on the first weekend in February, courtesy of the Boat Works Racing Team. This was fol-lowed, between then and the end of July, by a further 19 race wins in Europe, Asia, North America, and Australia. Race series in which the BMW M4 GT4 has been successful include the VLN Endurance Championship at the Nürburgring, the British GT Championship, the GT4 Eu-ropean Series, the Australian GT Cham-pionship, the Pirelli World Challenge, and the Blancpain GT Series Asia. As well as the class wins, teams also took more than 50 top-three and over 120 top 10 finishes with the BMW M4 GT4.

Back in February, the AAI Motor-sports team won the GT title in the Asian Le Mans Series with the BMW M6 GT3, which received an Evo package for the 2018 season. Among those in action at the wheel of the car was BMW works driver Jesse Krohn. In total, teams run-ning the top model in the BMW Custom-er Racing range have so far achieved 14 class or overall wins, 30 top-three finish-es, and over 60 top 10 results in 2018. As well as winning the 24h Spa, the BMW M6 GT3 has also claimed victories in the Italian GT Championship, the Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup, the Blancpain GT Sports Club, the International GT Open,

The new BMW M4 GT4, in its first season, has also proved to be a successful model from the word go in the hands of inter-national cus-tomers.

Victory for Walkenhorst Motorsport at 24 Hours of Spa-Francor-champs becomes highlight of season so far for BMW M6 GT3

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the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Champi-onship, and the Japanese Super GT Cham-pionship.

As well as in its own specific BMW M235i Racing Cup class within the VLN and the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring, the BMW M235i Racing is primarily used in the North American Pirelli World Chal-lenge and the 24h Series. This global endur-ance series includes the 24h Dubai, 24h Sil-verstone, 24h Austin, and the 24h Portimão. In 2018, the BMW M235i Racing currently has 14 class wins, more than 40 top-three finishes and over 100 top-ten results to its name.

With the BMW Sports Trophy, BMW M Motorsport is once again recognizing the performances of private BMW drivers and teams with a total prize purse of 350,000 euros for the 25 most successful drivers and the season’s top 10 teams. Just under 250 drivers and 45 teams are registered for the 2017/18 competition. Up to now, more than 1,300 individual BMW results at al-most 200 events have been recorded by the BMW Sports Trophy team. By the end of the season, this figure will have risen to ap-proximately 340 race events. This season, BMW Sports Trophy points are up for grabs in 47 race series and events. The races take place in 27 different countries.

Three BMW customer racers had their financial support increased again in 2018: Michael Schrey, Max Koebolt, and Ricardo Van der Ende. With his two overall VLN victories in 2016 and 2017, Mr. Schrey is one of the most successful BMW privateers. In 2016, he won the BMW Sports Trophy Drivers’ Competition. As a reward for his consistently outstanding performances, Mr. Schrey received an additional bonus, which is available to him for his outings in the BMW M235i Racing.

“I am now in my fifth year of driving BMW cars in various race series,” Mr. Schrey said. “Following the two VLN titles in 2016 and 2017 and victory in the 2016 BMW Sports Trophy, I have had a very close rela-tionship with BMW Motorsport for a long time. As such, I was particularly pleased to hear about this scheme and support for 2018. It is nice to see the number 1 on a BMW in the VLN. At the same time, it is a nice reward for all the work I’ve put in over the past few years.”

As well as Mr. Schrey, the two BMW Sports Trophy winners from the 2016/17 season, Mr. Koebolt and Mr. Van der Ende, also received a bonus.

“It was a great honour for me when BMW Motorsport approached me with this news,” Mr. Koebolt said. “It showed that they have great faith in me as a racing driver. Winning the BMW Sports Trophy and the additional support have opened many new doors for me.”

“I am very happy that programs like the BMW Sports Trophy exist,” Mr. Van der Ende said. “Right from the word go I have wanted to win this competition in or-der to make a good impression at BMW. Since finishing runner-up in 2011, I have always tried to race in a BMW. When I fi-nally won the competition last year, it was an incredible feeling — not only because of the prize money. I am very grateful to BMW for the extra support this season. Without it, I would probably not have been able to drive a BMW this time. It feels really good to now be driving the BMW M4 GT4.”


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The all-new 2019 Volkswagen Jetta reflects years of exacting design work by a dedicated team that had to antic-ipate American market trends, meet a host of engineering requirements, and eventually craft a look that can appeal to millions.

“Cars are always reflecting society, fashion, architecture — they’re part of the development of mankind,” said Klaus Bischoff, head of design for Volk-swagen. “From the beginning, we said we need to have a breakthrough and create a new design language for this product.”

As the seventh iteration of the com-pact sedan, the new Jetta has a long design history that’s made an impres-

sion on American roads — from the squared-up look of the 1980 model to the Bauhaus-inspired designs of the fourth generation. With the move to a new chassis and all-new bodywork, de-signers had a high level of freedom to push the Jetta’s design forward with an American audience in mind — without losing the classic precision that’s a VW hallmark.

“We wanted to create a design that stands out, so when you see it on the road it is charismatic,” Mr. Bischoff said.

The front of every car serves as its face, and with all-new standard LED daytime running lights, designers were able to create a unique light “signature”

for the Jetta. Mr. Bischoff noted that, as with other new Volkswagen vehicles like the upcoming 2019 Arteon, the grille and lights are combined into one wide graphic, creating a lower, sleeker appearance.

With increased fuel efficiency as an ever-present goal, aerodynamics played a larger role in the Jetta’s design than ever be-fore. It’s easy to make a car look sleek, or to stand out, but it’s hard to do both — often a crease or feature such as larger wheels that adds character also adds aerodynamic drag in the process. So the Jetta’s design team used that challenge to their advantage and incorporated touches such as the discreet spoiler integrated into the trunk lid and an “air curtain” design in the front bumper that calms airflow to a highly competitive 0.27 coefficient of drag.

“Most of the time, you look at cars from the back,” Mr. Bischoff said, “so it’s import-ant to recognize it.” The rear of the Jetta has a completely reworked approach; it gathers several lines that run the length of the body-work, emphasizing the longer wheelbase, combined with a taillight/reflector that in-tegrates with the design of the decklid. The

deep creases also add what Mr, Bischoff called a “slim-fit, athletic” appearance.

Another key addition was adding two new colors to the Jetta’s palette: Sage Green and the vivid Habanero Orange for Jetta owners who want a warmer, more distinc-tive color that stands out from the crowd.

The interior takes a major step forward in technology, with highlights from the available Volkswagen Digital Cockpit1 to available 10-Color Ambient Lighting ac-cents that were once only available features in luxury cars. Every line in the interior em-phasizes the increased space and glass — or “daylight opening” in automotive design terms — but also improves usability for the driver. Despite the more dramatic slope of the roof line, headroom isn’t compromised, and the new optional panoramic sunroof can also give the interior a new feeling of freedom.

“Taken as a whole, the all-new 2019 Jetta is much more emotional, more pro-gressive, and more innovative. Volkswagen design is always about going in new direc-tions,” Mr. Bischoff said.

With the move to a new chas-sis and all-new bodywork, designers have a high level of freedom to push the Jetta’s design forward with an American audience in mind.

A designer’s look at the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta

With plans to make two-thirds of its global automobile sales from electrified vehicles by 2030, Honda is introducing a new Honda SmartChargeTM beta program that allows electric vehicle customers to reduce the environmental footprint of charging their cars while earning monetary rewards. Honda is the first automaker to introduce a program of this kind and will roll out the program to Honda Fit EV customers.

Electric vehicle customers typically plug in and charge their vehicles when they arrive home after work, but this early evening charge time is often when demand on the grid is highest and when electricity is the most expensive. Honda SmartChargeTM permits Fit EV customers to charge when electricity demand is low and when the availability of renewable energy is high.

Using the vehicle telematics system and Enel X subsidiary eMotorWerks’ JuiceNet software platform, Honda SmartChargeTM computes the best time to charge a vehicle from the electric grid, dynamically taking into account the driver’s daily schedule, the amount of renewable energy being generated, and the amount of CO2 emitted from power plants on the grid. By recording the customer’s desired charging times, the system enables the vehicle to be fully charged when the customer needs it next without affecting their use of the vehicle. As the Demand Response Provider (DRP) for Honda Smart-ChargeTM, eMotorWerks interfaces with the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) to allow for real-time control via cloud to cloud communication, enabling EVs to participate in demand response events to support the grid.

“Honda SmartChargeTM is uniquely able to shift electric vehicle charging in real-time without impacting the customer,” said Steve Center, vice president, Connected and Envi-ronmental Business Development for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “We believe the program will be a game changer with its ability to create new value for our customers, reduce demand on the grid during peak load times, and help contribute to our company’s goal of reducing CO2 emissions.”

Honda will study the results of the beta program among Fit EV customers, with an eye toward applying it to other electrified vehicles, including the Clarity Electric and Clarity Plug-in Hybrid. The Honda SmartChargeTM program is available on Apple devic-es for select California customers, with plans to expand to other areas in the near future.Earn rewards and help save the planet

To participate in the Honda SmartChargeTM beta program, Fit EV owners can down-load the free HondaLink EV app, create a profile, and select preferred charging times. The Honda SmartChargeTM app’s algorithms use pricing signals from the electric grid to determine optimal grid periods within customers’ preferred charging times. With the Honda SmartChargeTM app, Fit EV drivers are able to monitor their charging progress and receive push notifications to remind them to plug in. The app also offers a scorecard feature that tracks rewards earned, CO2 saved, and other stats related to customers’ par-ticipation in the program.

After receiving utility approval from eMotorWerks and completing five charging ses-sions, the customer earns a monetary sign-up reward. Additional rewards will be calculat-ed based on a customer’s participation rate over each two-month period. To learn more

Beta Program helps electric vehicle drivers save money, reduce environmental footprint

• Appfindsbesttimetochargeelectricvehicles,adjustingtoelectricgridconditionstoreduce customer costs and CO2 emissions.

• Participatingdriverscanearnmonetaryrewards.• HondaSmartChargeTM beta rolls out to Honda Fit EV customers, possible expansion

to other vehicles. • VideoofHondaSmartChargeTM available at https://honda.us/SmartCharge.

Continued on next page

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• Upgraded2019MustangShelbyGT350improves on precision and balance all to deliver faster lap times and performance on-track and on the street.

• 2019 Mustang Shelby GT350 perfor-mance enhancements include improved aerodynamics that reduce drag with the new spoiler and adds downforce with new available Gurney flap installed, new custom Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, plus chassis and antilock brake tuning for dramatically greater grip.

• ShelbyGT350benefits fromFordPer-formance Mustang road course racing experience and Shelby GT500 aerody-namic advancements, plus hundreds of hours of on-track and full vehicle simu-lations; Billy Johnson, Ford GT World Endurance driver, helped dial in final performance tuning.

To improve the new Ford Mustang Shelby® GT350 driver confidence and lap times, Ford Performance leveraged its Mustang road course racing programs and all-new upcoming Shelby® GT500, infus-ing GT350 with the very latest in track and street technology.

“Somewhere, Carroll is smiling,” said Hermann Salenbauch, global director for Ford Performance vehicle programs. “The new Shelby GT350 is our ultimate track Mustang. We’ve stuck to Carroll Shelby’s original formula for winning champion-ships and made our Shelby GT350 even better with the latest in race-proven aero-dynamics, tire, and chassis technology.”

From F-150 Raptor to the Ford GT supercar, Ford Performance is creating authentic performance cars, trucks, and utilities that deliver heart-pounding ex-

New 2019 Shelby GT350 adds tech from Mustang road course racing

For added control and improved driver feedback, Shelby GT350’s electric power-as-sist steering and three-mode electronic stability control settings feature enhancements taken from Ford Performance’s hundreds of hours of competitive track testing.

about Honda SmartChargeTM, visit smart-charge.honda.com.

Honda’s commitment to the environment Based on its vision of “Blue Skies for

our Children,” Honda is working to ad-vance technologies that address society’s en-vironmental and energy concerns. Honda is targeting a 50% reduction in its total com-pany CO2 emissions on a global basis by 2050, compared to the year 2000. To help reach this goal and advance the company toward its vision of creating a carbon-free society, Honda is implementing renewable energy projects throughout its operations.

The company intends for electrified ve-hicles to comprise two-thirds of its global automobile sales by 2030. In North Ameri-ca, the Honda Electrification Initiative will see Honda’s electrified powertrain technol-ogies applied to an expanding portfolio of cars and light trucks in the years ahead. Honda’s electrified vehicle lineup today includes the Clarity series of vehicles, fea-turing fuel cell, battery electric, and plug-in hybrid powertrains, along with the new Ac-cord Hybrid and Honda Insight.

Honda is working to reduce the envi-ronmental impact of its products through-out their life cycle, including reducing waste, emissions, and further improving the energy efficiency of producing, distributing and selling Honda and Acura products in North America. This includes a 93% reduc-tion in waste sent to landfills from Honda plants in North America.

Through its “green purchasing” and “green dealer” initiatives, the company also is working to promote more environmen-tally responsible business practices with its more than 650 original equipment suppliers and 1,300 retail dealer partners.

citement for customers around the world.

Next-level chassis technology and aero-dynamics

Building on a road course racing and track-focused legacy born in 1965, Ford Performance engineers and designers in-corporated the latest advances in tire, aerodynamics, and chassis technology into the 2019 Mustang Shelby GT350.

Working exclusively with Michelin, the team also engineered new Miche-lin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires with a Shelby GT350-specific tread pattern and differ-ent compound to deliver more grip for significantly improved acceleration and lateral acceleration, as well as braking. The 295/35 front and 305/35 rear tires are fit-ted to improve stiffness and optimize new 19-inch aluminum wheels.

An all-new rear spoiler with optional Gurney flap and optimized grille closeout was designed and tuned with experience gained from wind tunnel development of the Ford Performance Mustang road course racing cars and upcoming Shelby GT500 model. Together, they deliver sig-nificant rear greater aerodynamic efficien-cy when equipped with the new optional Gurney flap on the rear spoiler, which will be available after launch.

Upgrades to Mustang Shelby GT350’s standard MagneRide active suspension complement the aero and tire enhance-ments with recalibrated springs and re-vised damping to take full advantage of the improvements.

Stopping power is provided by six-pis-ton front and four-piston rear caliper

Continued on next page

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Brembo™ brakes. For added control and improved driver feedback, Shelby GT350’s electric power-assist steering and three-mode electronic stability control settings feature enhancements taken from Ford Performance’s hundreds of hours of com-petitive track testing.

Tuning with Billy Johnson in the driver’s seat

Billy Johnson knows racing. As a driv-er for the FIA World Endurance Ford GT and IMSA Mustang GT4 programs, Mr. Johnson has broad expertise in what makes for a great driver’s car. He worked with Ford Performance to dial in the Shelby GT350 for 2019.

Shelby GT350’s exclusive high-rev-ving 5.2-liter V8 remains the most pow-erful naturally aspirated Ford production engine ever and the only one of its type in the segment — delivering 526 horse-power and 429 lb.-ft. of torque at a blis-tering 8,250-rpm redline. It’s mated to a track-proven and precise-shifting Tremec® six-speed manual transmission.

Mr. Johnson said the result of the new Mustang Shelby GT350’s aerody-namics tuning, revised brake calibration, and much greater downforce is a more balanced, higher-performing car on the straightaways and especially in the corners.

“Along with improved grip, brake, and chassis refinements, Shelby GT350 brings a whole new level of performance driving,” he said. “It’s a rewarding car to drive on track for amateurs and pros alike, while making the driver feel like a superhero. It’s confidence inspiring in corners and begs to be pushed harder and to take corners faster.”

More craftsmanship, technology, and style

Inside, driver and passengers of the

2019 Mustang Shelby GT350 are treated to a comfortable, stylish, and purpose-built cockpit boasting the latest in advanced technology and premium materials expect-ed of a world-class sports car.

Fresh sporting cues include a standard machined aluminum instrument panel ap-pliqué with an available exposed carbon fiber version, plus newly designed door panel inserts in dark slate Miko® suede with accent stitching. A wrapped center console offers rich world-class craftsman-ship. Standard Recaro race seats with firm side bolstering and open pass-throughs for safety harnesses offer the highest level of

performance, while new power-adjustable seating is available with Miko suede inserts for those looking for added comfort.

A new high-performance, cus-tom-tuned 12-speaker B&O Play audio system by Harman is now available for the 2019 Mustang Shelby GT350, controlled via the now standard eight-inch SYNC® three-touch screen that features SiriusXM and FordPass™ Connect. Dual-zone elec-tronic automatic temperature control is now standard, along with a universal ga-rage door opener.

New colors for the 2019 Mustang Shelby GT350 include Velocity Blue and

for the first time, Ford Performance Blue. Optional factory-painted over-the-top rac-ing stripes are available in high-gloss Shad-ow Black, Oxford White, or Kona Blue. Mirror-mounted Shelby Cobra Projection Lamps come standard in the available Technology Package.

The 2019 Mustang Shelby GT350 will be available starting in early 2019 and will be built at Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Flat Rock, Michigan. Enrollment in an exclusive, complimentary Track Attack driving program from Ford Performance is included with each vehicle.

2019 Kia Niro EV debuts

The all-new 2019 Kia Niro EV has debuted internationally, expanding upon the Niro model family of hybrid crossovers and is set to arrive in the U.S. at the end of 2018. This highly anticipated electric vehicle has an electric motor that provides an estimated 201 horsepower and 291 lb-ft. of torque. And thanks to a liquid cooled state-of-the-art battery, Kia is targeting up to a 240-mile range on a single charge.

Every last detail is impressive and innovative. The 2019 Kia Niro EV’s intelligently designed modern shifter was pulled directly from the Niro Electric Vehicle concept car for a more natural human-machine interface (HMI). While an abundance of in-cabin technolo-gy, distinctive blue interior accents, and updated available 17-inch alloy wheels raise the bar on details that matter.

Niro’s existing design goes further by embracing the new all-electric powertrain and replacing the front intake grille with a convenient charge port. The smoother front fascia improves aerodynamic efficiency while maintaining Kia’s distinctive tiger-nose motif.

Clearly, the wait for one’s own Niro EV will be worth it.

Every last detail is impressive and innovative.

Find a car you like and want on Alhambra’s

Auto Row

new 2019 SHelBy Continued from previouS page

real eState & FINaNcIal NewS / Around AlhAmbrApage 18b 09/2018

real estate News | residential, commercial, loans

purchase tickets to travel.At the close of escrow, funds are acquired from

lending institutions and buyers down payment, and then distributed to the appropriate parties such as the sellers. Escrow companies are the quarterback that directs the title company to send their “runner” to the County Recorder’s Office to formally record the change of title and close escrow.

As a neutral third party, the escrow company may even take custody of the keys to the property and then give them to the new owners upon the close of escrow.

This may not be as complicated as writing differ-ential equations, but if you do not work with this on a frequent basis, it produces dividends to employ pro-fessionals who are competent and experienced in this profession.

Escrow and real estate

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these terms may be beneficial. The contractual arrangement of an escrow is when

an independent, neutral third party, the escrow com-pany, receives and disburses money or documents for the primary transacting parties. Funds and documents are disbursed following the terms and conditions agreed to by the transacting parties. The escrow com-pany verifies that the parties have performed their roles in the transaction.

California operates with escrow companies per-forming this neutral third party function. But other states, such as Alabama and New York, allow attorneys or title companies to serve the role that escrow com-panies perform here in California. Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington also use the escrow approach.

Escrow companies are a depository where funds and documents for the purchase of your home are held. This includes your down payment, your lender funds, along with documents for the mortgage, home owner association CC&Rs (covenants, conditions, and restrictions), title insurance, hazard insurance, and grant and trust deeds. Escrow companies coordinate the delivery of these documents to the parties of the transaction at the proper time.

In California, the terms and conditions are gen-erally contained in a purchase agreement. Purchase agreements can be obtained from realtors, lawyers, as-sociations of realtors, stationery stores, and even on the internet. However, understanding the intricacies of a purchase agreement generally benefit from having a professional involved.

The word escrow derives its meaning from the French word escroue, which means a scrap of paper or scroll of parchment.

The escrow is created shortly after the executed purchase agreement is given to them. Residential es-crows frequently last between 30 and 60 days, but may take longer. More complex commercial transactions can take longer since verification of historical busi-ness records, environmental reports and requirements, along with more detailed government requirements may need to be satisfied.

One of the initial functions of an escrow company is receiving the initial good faith deposit from a buy-er and placing it into the designated escrow account. Under certain circumstances where one party removes their contingencies, or in other words their “back out” clauses, the escrow company may release these funds to the other side.

Escrow companies request an initial title report to verify the status of title. They also research claims and debt obligations against the property. Escrow compa-nies request a payoff demand from beneficiaries when the seller is paying off debts secured by the property.

Continued from page 1B

And the lenders involved may have unique require-ments for the escrow com-pany to fulfill.

Not only do escrow companies handle the funds of the transaction, but also the generation of key docu-ments such as the grant deed, which transfers property from one person to another, and trust deed, which se-cures the lenders stake in the property being transact-ed.

Since most escrows do not close on the last day of the month, escrow companies prorate the taxes, interest on mortgages, insurance, and rents. Escrow companies calculate all months on a 30 day basis, and this can be confusing for clients tying to follow the numerical calculations.

Escrow companies verify signatures which they notarize, but make it clear they are not responsible for signatures not notarized. Also, they handle the trans-action in a manner to meet the specified date of close. This can be a significant issue when buyers and sell-ers schedule with professional moving companies and

If the hiring entity fails to show that the individual worker satisfies each of the three criteria, the worker is treated as an employee, not an independent contractor.

Ms. Barrera explained that for California employ-ers, the court ruling has produced a lot of concern and confusion on how this new standard will be applied, how broadly it will apply, and the different industries that will be affected.

“A decision like this, that is going to have such a significant impact on so many industries in California, we really feel like it’s the Legislature’s role to intervene, pause the application of this decision so that they can take into consideration all of the different professions and industries that are impacted … and really look at whether or not this ABC Factor is appropriate and should be applied across the board to all these different professions that could be affected and jeopardized as a result of this decision.”

The show, AirTalk, took live calls from employees, employers, and independent contractors from an expan-sive list of industries explaining how the new test could affect them.

Toward the end of the show, Ms. Barrera said that all the calls from various affected industries are the prime example why this ruling is just not a one-size-fits-all situation.

“The Legislature really needs to step in and identi-fy what is the appropriate standard for California,” she said.

Cal CHamBerContinued from page 2B

real eState & FINaNcIal NewS / Around AlhAmbrA09/2018 page 19b

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Be In The Know… Upcoming Measure in November! Prop 10: Expands Local Governments’ Authority to Enact

Rent Control on Residential Property This is the big one for 2018, potentially the final chapter in the

decades-long drive to repeal the 1995 Costa-Hawkins Act, which severely curtails California city’s ability to place rent-

control restrictions on properties. If passed, Prop 10 would add the following language to the

state’s Civil Code:“A city, county, or city and county shall have the authority to adopt a local charter provision, ordinance or

regulation that governs a landlord’s right to establish and increase rental rates on a dwelling or housing unit.”

This would allow cities to place rent restrictions on newly constructed multi-family properties again. Under the present law, only older existing housing stock built before February

1995 may be subject to rent control. Source: Curbed San Francisco by Adam Brinklow

Continuing last month’s column on Why California housing costs are so high: We pick up the discussion with items 4 and 5:1. We haven’t built enough housing.2. Demand in urban areas has reached a

breaking point — and part of that is global.

3. Prop 13 dilutes a city’s incentive to build new housing.

4. Getting new housing approved is diffi-cult and expensive.

5. Land, labor, and raw material costs are high — and rising.

4. Getting new housing approved is diffi-cult and expensiveIt can be hard to be sympathetic to devel-

opers. From time immemorial, it feels like they’ve complained about rules and regula-tions they say make it harder to build their projects. The builder who designed Stone-henge probably thought there was too much bureaucracy involved.

While it may be tough to trust develop-ers, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re wrong. The process by which a piece of land is approved for new construction can be incredibly cumbersome, time-consuming, and risky. While good data on exactly how much this adds to housing costs is hard to come by, typical approval time for projects in San Francisco is over a year, while in L.A. it’s eight months. That doesn’t include when land needs to be “rezoned” for residential de-velopment, which can take even longer.Why the lag? Here’s the laundry list.•Multiple layers of government review:

A housing project often must go through

multiple government agencies, including the planning department, health depart-ment, fire department, building depart-ment, and perhaps most importantly, a city council.

•Lots of avenues for “not in my back-yard” voices: The review process for new developments gives ample opportunity for local residents to express their opposition. Locals may fear that new housing projects will change the character of their neigh-borhoods, increase traffic, and hurt their property values. If a city councilmember votes for new housing, he or she may have to face dissatisfied voters.

•An often misused environmental law: The California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, requires that local agen-cies consider the environmental impact of a new housing development before ap-proving it. That sounds like a worthy goal, but the law has often been abused to pre-vent new developments — even environ-mentally friendly ones with high-density housing and bike lanes. According to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office, CEQA appeals delay a project by an aver-age of two and a half years.

•Local growth controls: Two-thirds of California coastal cities and counties have adopted policies that explicitly limit the number of new homes that can be built within their borders or policies that limit the density of new developments. Sub-tler growth controls include not zoning enough land for new development or re-quiring supermajorities to approve new housing.

5. Land, labor, and raw material costs are high — and risingUnfortunately, California’s coastline to-

pography makes it more expensive to build here than most other places. Also, there’s the ocean. You can’t expand into the ocean.

Limited land plus tons of demand means high land prices. In many markets in Cali-fornia, the bulk of a single family home or apartment building’s value is in the land it is built on.

But while the land itself is what typi-cally eats up most of a developer’s budget in California’s hottest markets, it’s not the only cost-driver. Construction labor and the cost of the raw materials have been ris-ing over the last five years and are higher in California than other parts of the country. According to the Legislative Analyst’s Of-fice, construction labor is about 20% more expensive in major California cities than in the rest of the country.

On the labor side, a shortage of skilled construction workers bears much of the

5 reasons California’s housing costs are so high

blame. When the housing market crashed in the late 2000s, construction workers left the industry in droves. And those same workers haven’t come back.

Construction today just doesn’t seem to have the same appeal to younger work-ers. Firms are struggling to recruit younger workers to supplement and eventually re-place a graying workforce.

Building codes and environmental-ly friendly design requirements in many California cities require different types of raw building materials to be used, some of which can be pricier than elsewhere in the country. And nationwide, the cost of vital resources like lumber and concrete are on the upswing.

There are plenty of reasons beyond the five I’ve mentioned here that help explain why California housings costs have gotten so out of control. The task of making Cal-ifornia affordable again — or at least rel-atively affordable again — defies a simple silver-bullet solution.

Commercial Real EstateBy Mark Paulson

anthony Venti realtorS, inc.

Mark Paulson is a Realtor in Alhambra specializing in the sale and leasing of commercial real estate. He has been a real estate professional since 1976.

commUNIty NewS / Around AlhAmbrApage 20b 09/2018

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