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Taking care of history\

~ Keith Durflnger Staff PhotographerABOVE: Superintendent Jonathan Vasquez speaks during the rededication of the Los Nietos School District offce inWhittier as a part of the districts 150th anniversary celebration Thursday. BELOW: An 1894 photo of students and"-'-- .. -- I\lõ..t"c: School ' : -Los Nietos district holds .rededication of offce

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By Sandra T. Molina

Staff Writer

WHITTIER - Los NietosSchool District officials showedoff their refurbished offce Fri-day during a rededication cere-mony.

The 7,520-square-foot build-ing, with 14 rooms including aboard room and conferenceroom, was built in 1974.

"It hasn't had any improve-ments since then," LNSD boardPresident Nicholas Aquinosaid.

The event was pait of thedistrict's yearlong celebrationof its 150th anniversary.

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The district office, 8324 S.Westman Ave., had exteriorwork done, including a wheel-chair ramp, new plants, grassand a front entrance door acces-sible for persons with disabil- ,ties.

New utilty wiring and pip- ,ing was also installed, usingmoney from a $31 milion bond

passed by voters in 2008.

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"It's nice to be 150, but thewriting and piping reflect it,"LNSD SuperintendentJonathan Vasquez said.

Los Nietos' first school,

located at 9100 S. NorwalkBlvd., was opened in 1861, dur-ing Abraham Lincoln's presi-dency.

''We are the caretakers of a

rich history," Vasquez said."It's our job to share it with thecommunity."

Most of those in attendancehad a connection to that his"tory.

"I bought the home I grew. up in because I love this com-

munity," said Aquino, whoattended school in the dis-trict.

Family members' of formerschool board President RoySalas, who died in June, werein attendance, including his

I widow, Teresa Salas, anddaughter, Susan Salas.i - "It's an emotional day,"

Susan Salas said. .She and her five siblings ' Keith Durflinger Staff Photographer

grew up down .~he street from Guests and district employees gather for the rededication of the Los Nietos School District

the offce, ~hich _ her father offce in Whittier as a part of a 150th anniversary celebration Thursday..

helped dedicate' nearly 40years ago. Roy Salas was theboard president at the time. "It's a great part of history,"

"He was proud of the work ~aid'Schoff, of the district'she did here," Susan Salas said importance.of her father.' , She explained' how Car-

Also present was Carolyn) michael traveled daily, using aSchoff, great~granddaughter of horse and buggy, from his

.Nbert C~rmichael, one of Los home in Garden Grove.Nietos' first teachers.

In 1889, Carmichael came tothe district to teach grades fivethrough nine in one classroom.

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Schoff, who is the presidentof the Friends of Pio Pico,

called it interesting how she

now makes the drive fromSanta Ana to the same area.

"It's very interesting to con-nect the dots," she said.

The ceremony included theunveilng of a new plaque andred bricks, some with thenames of alumni and other'notable figures connected withLos Nietos, near the offce'sentrance.

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. The bricks were sold as part

of a fundraiser for the district,VaSquez said.

Anyone interested in buyinga brick, $75 for a4-inch-by-8-inch brick and$150 for an 8-inch-by-8-inch'brick, may call the districtöffce at 562-692-0271.

sandra.molina(~'sgin.com562-698.0955, ext. 3029