Whittier Chamber of Commerce

Mayor Joe Vinatieri Welcome To Whittier April 2008 Welcome to the Chamber of Commerce’s website! I encourage you to peruse the site and familiarize yourself with the Chamber’s services and programs. The City of Whittier recognizes the importance of historic preservation and maintaining an excellent quality of life for residents. It is our desire to have a community where we can LIVE, WORK and SHOP in Whittier. However, we also know that without sufficient sales and property tax revenue, the City will not be able to provide the quality services we have come to rely on. It is especially important to keep this in mind now, considering the State’s difficult economic times and as we prepare for the adoption of a new budget for Fiscal Year 2008-09. We have a busy year ahead of us with many major projects currently in construction or in the planning phase. During the coming year, the City Council will focus its efforts on continued economic development and build upon the successes of the recent past such as the Whittwood Town Center. The upcoming adoption of the new Uptown Whittier Specific Plan will present opportunities for a revitalized business district and additional sales tax revenue. We expect the new Uptown Specific Plan will encourage downtown pedestrian-oriented storefront retailers to consider opening in Whittier. Additionally, with the proposed increase in housing, the foot traffic and nighttime population will help support the businesses in Uptown (“SHOP” in Whittier). Another area for development opportunities is the Workplace District of the Whittier Boulevard Specific Plan. This area, between Philadelphia and the “Five-Points” intersection, is critical as we desire to attract developers who specialize in medical office and health science/education/biotech mixed use projects to create a synergy with Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital’s five-story medical office building and four-story hospital expansion building. Furthermore, job creation in the Workplace District will be beneficial for residents interested in working close to home (“WORK” in Whittier). The City Council also looks forward to the completion of the Whittier College expansion in the next few months; the Gables 96-unit Townhomes, which will include 15 affordable units for working families and provide additional property tax revenue for the City; and our continued partnership with the Whittier Area Chamber of Commerce (“LIVE” in Whittier). We are proud of our charming community nestled against the hills and hope that whether you LIVE, WORK, SHOP or even play in Whittier you share the same enthusiasm as we do. I am confident the continued partnership between the City and the Chamber will produce a prosperous future. Once again, thank you for your interest. Sincerely, Joe Vinatieri Mayor
History of Whittier The following information was contributed by the Whittier Historical Society. Quaker Family The eye-catching Quaker family symbolizes the importance of Whittier’s ancestry. Today the residence of the original Quaker family, Jonathan and Rebecca Bailey, can still be seen at 12501 Camilla St Unlike most towns, which are named after their founder, Whittier honors the American Quaker poet, John Greenleaf Whittier. When he was asked for the gift of his name, he penned a dedication poem. Friends Church The Friends Church embodies the dynamic role of religion in the daily lives of the Quakers. As soon as the land for Whittier was purchased in 1887, the Quakers, led by Jonathan Bailey and Aquilla Pickering built their church. Completed in August, 1887, it stood at Wardman St and Comstock Ave Today a new Friends Church, the largest in America, thrives at Philadelphia St and Washington Ave. Pio Pico Hacienda The Pio Pico Hacienda remains an historical tribute to the beloved last Mexican governor of California. You can visit the hacienda at the intersection of Whittier Boulevard and 605 Freeway between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Farmlands and Oil Wells Initially the Quakers depended upon agriculture to support them. In 1897, just 10 years after Whittier’s founding, a group of its enterprising citizens developed oil wells, which greatly expanded the local economy. Whittier College The early beginnings of Whittier College developed from the Quakers’ emphasis on education. Established as a private liberal arts college, it was the town’s first school of higher learning. Originally it stood on the land now functioning as American Savings’ parking lot. Its new location is at the corner of Painter Ave and Philadelphia St Today Whittier College proudly salutes its illustrious alumnus, Richard Milhous Nixon. First Schoolhouse In 1885, Evergreen School was built along El Camino Real by neighboring ranchers. When the Quakers founded Whittier, Evergreen School was outside the new town’s city limits. Thus in 1889, the industrious Quakers built a new school and respectfully. Other Facts of Whittier Quaker Town was originally suggested for Whittier's city name. On December 24, 1887, Whittier's first newspaper, The Whittier Graphic, was first published. First bank opened in Whittier on January 2, 1895, with $ 2,445.00 in capital and $ 5,012.75 in deposits. First bank robbery in Whittier occurred in 1955. First telephone was installed in 1904. Biggest department store " Meyers " was founded in 1905. The City of Whittier's official flower is the" Friendship Rose." Founders Day was celebrated for the first time on May 11, 1894.	top
Whittier City Council Mayor Joe Vinatieri Joe Vinatieri was reelected by the voters of Whittier to serve a four-year term in April 2008 after having been elected to a two-year term in 2006. Joe was born and raised in Whittier, attended Whittier schools and is employed in Whittier as an attorney at Bewley, Lassleben and Miller. Joe and his wife, Sandy, are proud parents of three children, Sarah, Joe and Susie, who attended Whittier schools. Joe’s local community involvement includes Member of the Board, Whittier Area Chamber of Commerce; Member, Whittier Union High School District Bond Oversight Committee; Member of the Board and Incorporator of Foundation, Whittier High School Alumni Association and Educational Foundation; Institutional Representative, Boy Scouts of America – Pack and Troop 219; and Member of the Board and past Vice-President, YMCA of Greater Whittier. Joe was on the Social Services Commission for the City of Whittier from 1984-1988 and was a Volunteer counseling youth offenders at Fred C. Nelles School for Boys for 10 years. Joe is a member of Plymouth Congregational Church. City Council Appointed Organizations: Southeast Area Social Services Funding Authority, Delegate Southeast Water Coalition, Delegate LA County Sanitation Districts, Delegate Gateway Cities Council of Governments, Alternate, SR91/I-605 Corridor Cities Committee Contact Information: E-Mail: jvcc@bewleylaw.com Mayor Pro Tem Bob Henderson Bob was elected to the City Council in 1976 and served until 1984. He served as Mayor Pro Tem from 1980-82. He was then re-elected in 1990, 1994, 2002, and 2006. Bob served as Mayor from 1992-94. An Uptown Whittier business owner, Bob owns Hendersons Insurance. He is also an active member in the Joint Powers Authorities relative to the hills. City Council Appointed Organizations: Independent Cities Risk Management Authority, Alternate Puente Hills Landfill Native Habitat Preservation Authority, Chairman Whittier/ Puente Hills Conservation Authority, Chairman Wildlife Corridor Conservation Authority(WCCA), Chairman Independent Cities Association, Delegate Hillside Open Space Education Committee (HOSEC), Chairman City Council Committees Greenway Trail Construction Contact Information: E-Mail: bob@hendersonsinsure.com Owen Newcomer Owen was reelected for a third term on the Whittier City Council in April 2008. He previously served as a trustee to the Whittier City School District for eleven years. Owen retired in June 2005 as a Political Science Professor at Rio Hondo College where he had been teaching since 1975. Owen now teaches part-time at Rio Hondo College. He earned his undergraduate and Master's Degree from California State University, Northridge in Political Science, and his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Southern California. He is the author of Governing California and Los Angeles. Owen is the Secretary for the Los Angeles Division of the League of California Cities. Supervisor Don Knabe appointed Owen to the Los Angeles County Homeless Services Authority Commission. City Council Appointed Organizations: • Puente Hills Landfill Native Habitat Preservation Authority, Alternate • LA County Division of the League of California Cities, Secretary • City Selection Committee, Delegate • Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority Commission, Delegate • Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District, Delegate • Gateway Cities MTA Service Sector, Council Member • Southeast Area Social Services Funding Authority, Alternate • Hillside Open Space Education Committee, Alternate City Council Committees: • Greenway Trail Construction • Nelles Property Acquisition Contact Information: E-Mail: newcomer_cityhall@charter.net Telephone: 562-693-0123 Councilman Greg Nordbak Greg has served on the Whittier City Council since his election in 1994. He was re-elected in 1998, 2002, and 2006 and served as Mayor Pro Tem in 1996-98, and Mayor, 1998-2000, and 2005-2006. Greg serves as Chairman of the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority (www.WQA.com) and serves on the Advisory Boards of Rancho Los Amigos Hospital, and Arts for Education at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center. He is a former Board Member of the Whittier Rio Hondo Aids Project (WRHAP), the Whittier Boys and Girls Club, Skills Foundation and the American Red Cross, Greg is also active in youth sports. He has served as President of the Friends of La Serna as well as a past member and President of the La Serna High School Touchdown Club. He is a past Board member of Whittier Girls Softball, Whittier Area Youth Soccer and Murphy Ranch Little League. Greg is also a member of the Whittier Rotary Club. Greg and his wife, Donna, have made Whittier their home for the past 28 years. They have two children, Tom (28), a police officer, and Amanda (23), a student at California State University, Fullerton. City Council Appointed Organizations: San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority, Chairman Los Angeles County Division of the League of California Cities, Alternate Independent Cities Association, Alternate Independent Cities Risk Management Authority, Delegate Southeast Water Coalition, Alternate Gateway Cities Council of Governments, Delegate, SR91/I-605 Corridor Cities Committee City Selection Committee, Alternate Wildlife Corridor Conservation Authority, Alternate Whittier/Puente Hills Conservation Authority, Alternate Gateway Cities Council of Governments, Past President of the Board of Directors LA County Sanitation District, Alternate LA County Sanitation District, Chairperson, District 18, also on Personnel Committee Legislative/Public Information (San Gabriel Valley Water Quality Authority) Contact Information: E-Mail: greg@nordbaks.com Councilwoman Cathy Warner Cathy Warner was first elected to the City Council in 2004 and was reelected to the City Council in 2008. She has lived in Whittier since 1948, her family has been here since 1920. She and her husband Dave have seven children and 20 grandchildren. Cathy attended John Greenleaf Whittier & Longfellow Elementary Schools, Dexter & East Whittier Junior High Schools and graduated from California High School. She received an A.A. Degree from Fullerton Junior College and a B.S. in Dental Hygiene from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. She and her husband practice periodontics in their Whittier-based office. She has previously served on the City's Cultural Arts Commission for 2 years, the East Whittier City School District Governing Board for 2 years, the Whittier Union High School District Board of Trustees for 12 years, and the Tri-Cities ROP Governing Board for 6 years. She has also been a member of the Project Area Committee for the Whittier Blvd. Commercial Corridor Redevelopment Project Area. City Council Appointed Organizations: Gateway Cities Council of Governments, Alternate City Council Committees: Nelles Property Acquisition Contact Information: E-Mail: cathywarner@earthlink.net	top
Chamber's Important Links Whittier City Hall Whittier Uptown Association Whittier Police Department	top

8158 Painter Ave. • Whittier, CA 90602 • Ph: (562) 698-9554 • Fx: (562) 693-2700