Bell : Civic Center to Be Dedicated

An open house and dedication of Bell’s first community center, which was in the planning stages for five years, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday. The $1.5-million facility will become a one-stop center for “all kinds of activities that pertain to a wide variety of community groups,” City Administrator Byron Woosley said. The city set aside community block grant funds for four years to pay for the center, at Treder Park on Pine Avenue.

Besides a large meeting room, the center has several small rooms and office space that will be available to organizations that provide services to Bell residents, city officials said. So far, the 8,000-square-foot building will house the senior citizens’ nutrition program, citizenship classes conducted by the Los Angeles Unified School District and other legal, immigration and counseling organizations.

Several area lawmakers, including Rep. Matthew G. Martinez (D-Montebello) and Assemblywoman Teresa P. Hughes (D-Los Angeles), are expected to attend the dedication ceremony, said Cecilia Gonzales, the city’s human services coordinator. The ceremony will include entertainment and refreshments.