San Gabriel

From the outside, they looked like other recently built San Gabriel townhouses ? two stories, Spanish style, with roofs of red tile. Inside they were maternity centers for Chinese women willing to pay handsomely to travel here to give birth to American citizens. Southern California has become a hub of so-called birthing tourism. Operators of such centers tend to try to blend in, attracting as little attention as possible. But on quiet, residential Palm Avenue, neighbors had noticed an unusual number of pregnant women going in and out, and some complained about noise.

The San Gabriel Mission will have a gang and drug awareness event at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the mission, 537 W. Mission Drive. Participants will include representatives of the San Gabriel and Monterey Park police departments and the Temple City sheriff's station. The event is free and geared toward school-age children and their parents.

The City Council, asked by the mayor of neighboring Alhambra to confirm San Gabriel's support of the proposed extension of the 710 Freeway through South Pasadena, unanimously endorsed the project Tuesday. The resolution updated the city's approval, last given by council vote in 1983. Councilwoman Mary Cammarano said completion of the freeway would improve traffic flow in San Gabriel and would reduce response time required by the Fire Department during rush hours.

Gone are the days when the monthly water bill was a drop in the bucket for Claremont and San Gabriel homeowners. Southern California Water Co., which serves about 21,000 customers in both cities, is seeking state approval to hike rates by more than 50% in Claremont and 36% in San Gabriel. Under the proposal, the average Claremont customer would pay an extra $13.49 per month next year. In San Gabriel, customers would pay an extra $3.88 per month next year.

City officials are looking for applicants who would like to serve on three city commissions: Parks and Recreation, Civil Service, and Planning. In addition, candidates are being sought for the Design Review Committee of the Planning Commission. To apply, contact Tina Miller, City Hall, 532 W. Mission Drive, San Gabriel 91776, or phone (818) 308-2803.

Ceremonies to raise a flag calling attention to U.S. servicemen still unaccounted for in Vietnam will be held at noon Saturday at San Gabriel City Hall. Participants will include Judie Mills Taber, California coordinator of an organization of families of missing servicemen, and Harry Jenkins, who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

Janis Cohen, a member of the San Gabriel City Council for three years, Tuesday night was elected mayor by fellow council members. Michael Falabrino was elected mayor pro tem. Cohen, 42, employee relations manager for General Felt Co. in Los Angeles, was appointed to the council three years ago and elected to a four-year term last week.

Ruth R. Wu of San Gabriel, dean of the School of Health and Human Services and professor of nursing at California State University, Los Angeles, has received the Hassenplug Award from the California Nursing Assn. for her contributions to education.

Tentative plans to make the area near the San Gabriel Mission and the Civic Auditorium the centerpiece of the city will be displayed at the San Gabriel Adult Center, 324 S. Mission Drive, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday. The open house is designed to encourage public comment on the improvement plans, city officials said. To make the area more friendly to pedestrians and attractive to tourists, the proposed designs include changes in traffic patterns and the planting of trees, said Frank S.

Concerned about the proliferation in recent years of unruly development projects, the City Council voted Tuesday to set up a 7-person design review board to ensure that plans for future commercial projects or multiunit residential buildings are compatible with existing buildings. Council members have expressed a concern for, among other things, the preservation of the city's mission-style decor. San Gabriel is the home of the San Gabriel Mission, which was established in 1771.