Mountain Views News          Saturday, January 29, 2011

4

Mountain Views-News Saturday, January 29, 2011 


FBI Arrest Former 
Huntington Memorial 
Hospital Official

WOMAN IN 
WHEELCHAIR 
STRUCK, 
KILLED BY 
VEHICLE

By Dean Lee

 
In the wake of Gov. Jerry Brown’s 
proposal suggesting phasing out 
redevelopment agencies, state 
auditors have begun a review 
of 18 such agencies, including 
Pasadena, across the state. 

 State Controller John Chiang 
made the announcement 
Monday. 

 The audits are an effort to obtain 
facts on how redevelopment 
funds are used and the extent 
to which they comply with 
laws governing their activities 
Chiang said. 

 “The heated debate over 
whether RDAs are the engines 
of local economic and job 
growth or are simply scams 
providing windfalls to political 
cronies at the expense of public 
services has largely been based 
on anecdotal evidence,” Chiang 
said. “As lawmakers deliberate 
the Governor’s proposal to close 
RDAs and divert those funds to 
local schools and public safety 
agencies, I believe it is important 
to provide factual, empirical 
information about how these 
agencies perform and what they 
bring to the communities they 
serve.”

 In light of Brown’s 
announcement, the Pasadena 
city council voted during 
a special meeting Jan. 18 
authorizing the city manager 
Michael Beck to enter into 
a series of promissory notes 
memorializing indebtedness 
previously incurred by 
the Pasadena Community 
Development Commission and 
owed to the city of Pasadena for 
a series of loans to the PCDC 
over the last 30 years.

 “It is important for the 
Pasadena City Council to ensure 
that obligations its community 
redevelopment agency made 
to the city’s General Fund 
are fulfilled and not usurped 
by anticipated actions by the 
governor and state legislature,” 
Beck said.“It is important to 
note that the city of Pasadena 
is not undertaking agreements 
for future projects, which 
would undoubtedly be lost if 
the governor and legislature 
proceed as anticipated.”

 The 18 RDAs selected 
for the reviews represent 
urban, suburban and rural 
communities. They are 
geographically diverse and 
represent a mix of varying 
populations. The reviews 
will look at, among other 
things, how the RDAs define a 
“blighted” area, whether they 
are appropriately paying for 
low- and moderate-income 
housing as required by law, 
whether they are accurately 
“passing through” payments to 
schools within their community, 
and how much RDA officials, 
board members and employees 
are being compensated for their 
services.

 City officials said that all of the 
loans, for various redevelopment 
projects in Pasadena, were 
properly reported annually and 
filed with the county of Los 
Angeles. Brown’s proposal to 
do away with all redevelopment 
agencies in the state by July is 
a way to help offset the state’s 
$25.4 billion budget shortfall 
Beck said. 

 The former director of 
construction for Huntington 
Memorial Hospital was 
arrested Friday morning 
on federal mail fraud 
arising from his role in 
a construction kickback 
scheme that allegedly 
brought him more than $3 
million in illegal payments.

 David Hamedany, 54, 
of Glendale, was arrested 
at his residence without 
incident by special agents 
with the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation.

 Hamedany was the 
director of construction 
for Huntington Memorial 
Hospital from 2006 until 
June 2010, during which 
time he had authority to 
enter into contracts and 
approve various invoices 
for the hospital. According 
to the indictment returned 
yesterday by a federal grand 
jury, Hamedany authorized 
payments of more than $3.8 
million to construction 
companies that later made 
kickback payments of more 
than $3 million to entities 
controlled by Hamedany 
and/or a relative of 
Hamedany.

 The indictment specifically 
alleges that three Northern 
California companies 
received most of the money 
involved in the fraudulent 
contracts, collectively 
receiving more than $3 
million from the hospital. 
The payments were pursuant 
to invoices approved by 
Hamedany, even though the 
three companies performed 
no construction work for 
the hospital. These three 
companies allegedly paid 
kickbacks of more than $2.5 
million to entities controlled 
by Hamedany and/or a 
relative of Hamedany. 

 The indictment in this case 
charges Hamendany with 12 
counts of mail fraud. Each 
count of mail fraud carries a 
maximum statutory penalty 
of 20 years in federal prison.

 Hamendany is expected to 
be arraigned this afternoon 
in United States District 
Court.

 On January 11, FBI agents 
seized approximately 
$480,000 from a bank 
account into which 
Hamendany transferred 
approximately $585,000.

Officials said “An indictment 
contains allegations that a 
defendant has committed 
a crime. Every defendant is 
presumed to be innocent 
until and unless proven 
guilty in court.”

 This case is the result of an 
investigation by the Federal 
Bureau of Investigation. 
Huntington Memorial 
Hospital has fully cooperated 
in the investigation.


State to Audit 
Pasadena 
Community 
Development 
Commission 

 By Dean Lee

 An elderly woman in 
a wheelchair was killed 
Thursday night after being 
stuck by a car and dragged 
up a driveway where she 
was pinned against a small 
retaining wall police and 
fire officials said.

 According to reports, 
firefighters first responded 
to a call at about 6:30 p.m. 
with information that a car 
had crashed into a wall on 
Fair Oaks Avenue north of 
Howard Street. 

 This was the second 
accident in less than a week 
in the area involving a 
wheelchair and car.

 Pasadena Fire Public 
Information Officer Lisa 
Derderian said at the scene 
they found the elderly 
woman in an electric 
wheelchair between the car 
and a wall. Derderian said 
the unidentified woman 
was pronounced dead at the 
scene. 

 A man said to be driving 
a Jaguar was uninjured 
according to Derderian. 
She also said that the car 
came to rest on a gas meter 
and because of the smell of 
gas the utility company had 
to come out and shut it off. 
At press time, police were 
still investigating the cause 
of the crash. 

 Last Friday afternoon the 
California Highway Patrol 
said an Altadena woman in 
a wheelchair was also struck 
by a car while crossing Lake 
Avenue near Altadena 
Drive. According to police, 
she was transported to 
Huntington Hospital 
with non life threatening 
injuries. 

 The accident occurred 
when a BMW made a left 
turn onto Lake Ave. and 
failed to see the woman. 
The driver of the Jaguar 
was arrested for leaving the 
scene.

Company Behind Americafest 
Fined for Storage Violations

Citizen Journalism Meet-up

 

 Pyro Spectaculars, the 
company behind Americafest 
at the Rose Bowl, agreed to 
pay $29,000 to the Bureau of 
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms 
and Explosives from an 
alleged violation of Federal 
explosives laws the agency 
announced Tuesday. 

 The company located in a 
portion of a former World 
War II military facility in 
Rialto agreed to forfeit 
the proceeds for the over 
storage of approximately 
62,000 pounds of explosives 
stored in excess of individual 
container limits ATF officials 
said.

 “This case is historic for ATF 
and the explosives industry 
in that this is the first time a 
forfeiture has ever happened 
for storage violations,” said 
John Torres, Special Agent 
in Charge of ATF’s Los 
Angeles Field Division. “I 
commend Pyro Spectacular 
for agreeing to the forfeiture. 
Secondly, it shows ATF has 
zero tolerance for those who 
may want to circumvent 
explosives storage laws. For 
anyone thinking of doing 
this, don’t. Public safety is 
our main concern and I feel 
we have done our part in 
ensuring their well-being.”

 In March, 2010, an explosive 
inspection was conducted 
at Pyro Spectaculars by 
ATF Industry Operations 
Investigators. Investigators 
found violations of the 
Federal mandated explosives 
storage laws which licensee’s 
must adhere to when storing 
explosives material. PSI 
worked with ATF to quickly 
mitigate the public safety 
concerns and has instituted 
procedures to ensure full 
compliance with all Federal 
explosives laws. 

 ATF is the Federal agency 
primarily responsible for 
administering and enforcing 
the criminal and regulatory 
provisions of the Federal laws 
pertaining to destructive 
devices (bombs), explosives, 
and arson. 

 

 

 

 
The Pasadena Community 
Network and this newspaper 
are holding a workshop on 
Citizen Journalism. 

 This group is the place where 
aspiring journalists can learn 
from trained professionals 
and support their local 
community by covering 
what’s really happening in 
their neighborhoods.

 We will put the news in your 
hands. Learn how to find 
the story, the tools needed 
to capture the story and the 
means to tell the story using 
the power of video, audio and 
print along with online social 
media The next meeting is 
Feb. 1 from 6 p.m. to 8p.m. 
at the Pasadena Community 
Network - Studio G, 2057 N. 
Los Robles Ave.

 For more info call 
626.794.8585 or visit 
pasadenan.com.

 
Learn not just how 
to blog but how to 
report the news

Playhouse Names New 
Director of Development

PCC Presents 
Tina Howe’s 
“Museum”

 
Dr. Jeanette Mann, a 
member of the Pasadena 
Area Community College 
District Board of Trustees, 
was recently appointed by 
the California Community 
Colleges Board of Governors 
to the Student Success Task 
Force. The 21-member 
committee will meet during 
the next 12 months to 
develop a strategic blueprint 
to help community college 
students to succeed.

 “The purpose of the task force 
is to help students reach their 
educational goals,” Mann 
said. “I personally am most 
interested in establishing a 
clear path for students so that 
they may take their courses 
at a community college, earn 
their associate degree, obtain 
a certificate, or transfer 
to a four-year university. 
Whatever a student wants to 
do, we need to have a clear 
pathway to their success.”

 The task force includes a 
broad array of academic, 
research, and business 
leaders and will be chaired 
by Board of Governors 
member Dr. Peter 
MacDougall. The task force 
will examine strategies for 
promoting student success, 
including improving student 
assessment, delivering basic 
skills instruction, increasing 
access to financial aid, and 
academic counseling, and 
identifying national funding 
models to incentivize 
completion rates.

 “An area of concern is that 
graduating high school 
seniors cannot enroll 
in community colleges 
because there are no spots 
for them,” Mann added. 
“A lack of funding to the 
community college system 
is a major reason for the lack 
of accessibility, but another 
is that students already at a 
college are not graduating or 
transferring. These students 
may have enough units to 
do so, but they either are 
unaware or need some help 
to take the next step.”

 Californians holding an 
associate or bachelor’s degree 
are likely to earn $1 million 
more in their lifetime than 
a person who holds only a 
high school diploma. For 
every $1 invested in higher 
education, an additional 
$3 is generated in tax 
revenue. Yet, studies indicate 
educational attainment is 
declining nationally with 
each younger generation. 
Given these findings, in 2010 
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger 
approved Senate Bill 1143, 
authored by State Senator 
Carol Liu. The bill calls upon 
the California Community 
Colleges Board of Governors 
to adopt a plan for improving 
student success by 2012. It 
also authorizes the creation 
of a task force on student 
success. 

Jeantte Mann 
Appointed to 
State Student 
Success Task 
Force

 Artistic Director Sheldon 
Epps and Executive 
Director Stephen Eich, of 
the Pasadena Playhouse, 
announced Monday that 
Jennifer Berger will serve 
as their new Director of 
Development for the theatre. 

 She will be responsible for 
overseeing, strategizing and 
implementing all Playhouse 
fundraising activities. 

 “It is my great pleasure 
to welcome Jennifer to 
our staff.” Eich said. “Her 
addition to our organization 
is most welcome and 
we look forward to her 
leadership in strengthening 
the development office. 
Jennifer’s expertise will 
complement Patti Eisenberg, 
Director of Major Gifts; 
Beth Lewis, Development 
Associate and our Board of 
Directors in efforts to shore 
up the ongoing fundraising 
initiatives of the company. 
I look forward to working 
with her as we ensure the 
ongoing vitality of the 
Pasadena Playhouse.” 

 Chairman of the Board, 
Michele Dedeaux Engemann, 
added “On behalf of The 
Pasadena Playhouse Board 
of Directors, I would like 
to welcome Jennifer Berger 
to our Playhouse family. 
Jennifer is the perfect 
choice in our quest for 
an experienced, devoted 
and energetic Director of 
Development. I, personally, 
along with the entire Board 
have great confidence in 
Jennifer’s leadership and 
expertise, and look forward 
to working with her to insure 
the future of our beloved 
landmark theatre: The 
Pasadena Playhouse.”

 Berger said “I have spent 
many years in Pasadena and 
The Pasadena Playhouse is a 
landmark for us all. Whether 
you love the theatre or love 
the opportunity for others to 
enjoy the theatre, it is clear the 
pressing need and relevance 
of The Pasadena Playhouse 
for our community. Under 
the leadership of the current 
Board headed by Michele 
Dedeaux Engemann, 
Stephen Eich and Sheldon 
Epps, I am honored and very 
excited to join this amazing 
group and look forward, as 
we all do, to see the magic 
grow.” 

 Most recently, Berger was 
Director of Development 
at Verdugo Hills Hospital 
Foundation in Glendale, 
California. There, she was 
responsible for overseeing 
all operational fundraising 
activities. Her professional 
background also includes 
the University of Southern 
California as a Director of 
Development of the Marshall 
School. 

 She graduated from Duke 
University with her BA 
in English and from USC 
with her Master of Public 
Administration, specializing 
in nonprofit management. 
While originally from 
Illinois, she spent her 
formative years in Pasadena, 
California, graduating 
from Chandler School and 
Westridge High School. Her 
two daughters, Madeleine 
and Grace, currently attend 
Chandler School and her 
husband, John, a Vice 
President at Coldwell Banker 
Commercial, is also a fellow 
Chandler alum, President of 
the Alumni Association and 
a member of its Board of 
Trustees.


Pet of the 
Week

 
The Pasadena City 
College Performing and 
Communication Arts 
Division will be performing 
“Museum” from Feb. 3-5. 
Written by Tina Howe and 
directed by PCC instructors 
Duke Stroud and Whitney 
Rydbeck, the play takes 
place in a museum set in a 
metropolitan city. It is the 
final day of an art show 
and patrons of all types 
and persuasions attend the 
event, and of course, hilarity 
ensues.

 “Howe’s popular play is a 
perfect fit for our talented 
assortment of student 
actors,” Rydbeck said. 
“The characters are diverse 
and fun, while the story 
is entertaining and very 
humorous.”

 Performances are 
scheduled for Feb. 3, 4, 
and 5 at 8 p.m., and Feb. 5 
at 2 p.m. All performances 
will take place in The Little 
Theater (C106). Tickets 
are sold at the door only, 
starting one hour prior to 
curtain. Tickets are priced 
at $10 for general admission 
and $5 for PCC students, 
PCC staff, and seniors.

 For more information, 
contact the PCC Performing 
and Communication Arts 
Division at (626) 585-7216.

 Jasper, an adorable terrier 
mix is about a year old, very 
friendly and loves to cuddle. 
He weighs about 15-20lbs, 
walks well on leash, and would 
love to take a training class. 
Come visit with this cutie 
today!

 The regular dog adoption fee is 
$120, which includes medical 
care prior to adoption, spaying 
or neutering, vaccinations, 
and a follow-up visit with a 
participating vet.

 Please call 626-792-7151 
and ask for A282657 or come 
to the Pasadena Humane 
Society & SPCA, 361 S. 
Raymond Ave , Pasadena 
CA , 91105 . Our adoption 
hours are 11-4 Sunday, 
9-5 Tuesday, Wednesday, 
Thursday, and Friday, and 
9-4 Saturday. Directions and 
photos of all pets updated 
hourly may be found at www.
pasadenahumane.org.

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No.327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com