Mountain Views News          Saturday, June 11, 2011

5

 Mountain Views News Saturday, June 11, 2011 


Youth Boot Camp Instructor 
Arrested for Kidnapping

PLASTIC 
BAG BAN 
TO TAKE 
EFFECT

 

Pasadena Police announced 
Tuesday the arrest of a 
Monrovia resident, in 
May, for kidnapping, false 
imprisonment and extortion, 
after he handcuffed a 14-year-
old minor who was truant, 
transported the minor to a 
family member’s house, and 
demanded money for his 
services before releasing the 
minor. Kelvin McFarland 
also attempted to persuade 
the family into enrolling the 
minor in his own business, 
Family 1st Growth Camp, 
a Pasadena/Altadena based 
youth “boot camp.”

 Detectives believe that 
McFarland, known by local 
youth as “Sarge,” may have 
committed similar acts on 
minors and obtained illegal 
payments from parents 
or guardians. Pasadena 
detectives are asking anyone 
who may have been a victim 
to contact the Pasadena Police 
Department.

McFarland is being held 
on $285,000 bail for 
kidnapping, child abuse, false 
imprisonment, extortion 
and unlawful use of a badge. 
His preliminary hearing is 
scheduled for Monday.

 Individuals wanting to 
report a crime are asked to the 
contact the Pasadena Police 
Department at (626) 744-
4241. Clients with questions 
regarding their enrollment in 
the Family 1st Growth Camp 
should contact the business’ 
main office.

 
Beginning July shoppers 
will need to bring reusable 
bags when they shop in 
unincorporated areas of L.A. 
including East Pasadena and 
Altadena to avoid a new 10 
cent charge for paper bags. 
The Los Angeles County Board 
of Supervisors adopted an 
ordinance last year that bans 
single use plastic bags. 

 “Starting July 1, free carryout 
plastic bags will be history in 
all unincorporated area stores,” 
Said Los Angeles County 
Supervisor Gloria Molina. 
“To help make the transition 
easier for consumers, we’re 
giving away hundreds of free 
canvas bags at participating 
supermarkets across Los 
Angeles County on a first-
come, first-served basis. It’s 
our way of encouraging 
everyone to do what’s right for 
the environment.”

 The Departments of 
Agricultural Commissioner/
Weights and Measures and 
Public Health said they will 
assist with enforcement of 
the ordinance by monitoring 
compliance during the conduct 
of their respective routine 
inspection. 

 A failure to comply with any 
of the requirements after a 
written warning notice has 
been issued for that violation 
shall be guilty of an infraction. 
Fines rage from $100 to $500 
for repeat offenders they said.

 LA County Department of 
Public Works employees will 
be in stores at Howe’s Market, 
3035 Huntington Dr. in East 
Pasadena on Monday and at 
Ralphs 2270 N. Lake Ave and 
Superking in Altadena later 
in the month as part of the bag 
giveaway. Staff from Public 
Works will be on-hand from 10 
a.m. to 3 p.m. to disseminate 
free canvas bags.

 The ordinance is one of a 
handful of single use plastic 
carryout bag bans in the nation. 
The intent of the ordinance is 
to promote the use of reusable 
bags over single use plastic and 
paper carryout bags in order to 
reduce the negative economic 
and environmental impacts 
associated with single use bags. 
There has been a substantial 
amount of interest in this issue, 
and many jurisdictions are 
contemplating similar actions. 
Some cities within Los Angeles 
County who have already 
passed similar ordinances are: 
Malibu, Long Beach, Santa 
Monica, and Calabasas.

Air Operations Hosts Open House

 

 Police helicopters, an 
armored rescue vehicle, a 
mobile command post and 
police motorcycles were all on 
display Saturday as part of the 
Pasadena Police Department’s 
Air Operations Open House. 
SWAT and K9 units also gave 
demonstrations as hundreds 
watched an example of an arrest 
after a high speed chase and 
types of SWAT tactics.

 “We are excited to open our 
doors and increase the public’s 
awareness and education about 
airborne law enforcement,” 
said Chief Phillip L. Sanchez. 
“The Air Operations Section 
has a proud history of crime 
fighting and providing public 
safety services. We want the 
public to know what we do and 
why air support and the special 
operations community is so 
critical to our mission in today’s 
world.”

 Reports on local blogs had 
suggested the event was 
a reaction to a number of 
complaints about helicopter 
noise. 

 Pasadena DMZ 
(Demilitarization), which 
has a Facebook page at 
PasadenaDMZ@groups.
facebook.com, and a website 
Pasadena Helicopter Noise Blog 
is asking residents to actively 
complain to the city about the 
number of helicopters in the air. 

 Another group “Pasadenans 
Against Helicopter Noise” is 
using a service meetup.com to 
organize.

 A user wrote, “My wife and I 
live in NW Pasadena. In the 
five years we’ve lived here, we’re 
often plagued by low flying 
police helicopters. We don’t 
understand why it is necessary, 
and wonder how many more 
police officers Pasadena could 
afford if they stopped.” 

Gang Member Arrested 
in 2010 Murder Case


Police announced Thursday 
that an alleged Temple City 
gang member was charged 
with murder after confessing 
in May to killing a 20-year-old 
Pasadena resident last year. 

 On the evening of May 25, 
2010, two males were driving 
a vehicle in the area of Lincoln 
Avenue and Zanja Street when 
they stopped and exited the 
vehicle to make an engine 
adjustment police said. After 
re-entering their vehicle the 
victims began driving away, 
when a male black emerged 
from behind a residential wall 
and fired multiple rounds from 
a handgun striking the driver, 
male 19, and the passenger, 
male 20, both Pasadena 
residents. Both victims were 
transported to Huntington 
Memorial Hospital, where the 
passenger died as a result of 
his injuries. 

 After months of intensive 
investigation by the Pasadena 
Police Department’s 
Homicide/Assault unit, Omar 
Wright, male 21, a Temple 
City resident, was identified 
as the homicide suspect. On 
May 26, 2011, members of 
the Criminal Investigations 
Division arrested Wright 
in Los Angeles and he 
subsequently confessed to the 
murder.

 “The arrest of Omar Wright 
exemplifies operational 
excellence and outstanding 
work by our detectives. It 
also demonstrates our strong 
commitment to the victims, 
their families, and the 
Pasadena community,” said 
Chief Phillip L. Sanchez.

 The Los Angeles County 
District Attorney’s Office filed 
charges of murder, attempted 
murder, ex-felon with a gun, 
shooting at a moving vehicle, 
personal use of a firearm, 
and gang enhancements 
against Wright. He remains 
in custody on $3,000.000 bail. 
His preliminary hearing is 
scheduled for June 22.

Bot Fans Transform Convention Center

 
Touting itself as the largest gathering ever 
of Transformers fans, thousands descended 
on the Pasadena Convention Center over the 
weekend for BotCon 2011. The event comes 
just weeks before Transformers 3 the movie is 
released in theaters June 29. 

 Fans were able to get autographs from a 
number of the voice actors and listen to panel 
discussions. One, featuring developers from 
Activation, focused on the new Dark Side of 
the Moon Transformers Video Game.

 The game they said would be a prologue 
to the movies and focused on character play. 
The idea was not to retell the same story but to 
give fans more insight into the Transformers 
the panelists said. 

 Looking like the words largest toy store 
an exhibit hall-featured over 200 tables of 
Transformers merchandise. 

 There were also Transformers Film Fest-
displays of Transformers fans from all over 
the world as well as the skills of Transformers 
artists.

Summer Swimming Registration Offered

 Due to swimming’s popularity 
this time of year, parents are 
encouraged to register their 
families early for swim lessons 
and recreational swimming 
offered by the city of Pasadena.

 Early bird walk-in registration 
will be offered Saturday 
from 9 a.m. to noon. Online 
registration will be available 
June 13 at cityofpasadena.net/
reserve.

Swim lessons for groups or 
individuals will be offered 
through the city’s Human 
Services and Recreation 
Department from June 27 to 
August 25.

 The five levels of lessons, 
each lasting half an hour a day 
Monday through Thursday, are 
based on the American Red 
Cross Learn-to-Swim safety 
program, and are designed for 
ages 6 to 18.

 Recreational swimming is 
available at all pools but CORAL, 
in the afternoons Monday 
through Saturdays. Some pools 
are open on Sundays as well.

 Participants can choose 
to purchase daily passes 
or a seasonal family pass. 
Registration for lessons or 
recreational swimming is from 
9 a.m. to noon at two locations; 
Blair, Robinson Park and Villa-
Parke pools, register at Jackie 
Robinson Community Center, 
1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave. For 
CORAL and Pasadena High 
School pools, register at Victory 
Park , 2575 Paloma St . 

 Pasadena residents receive 
a discount on fees. Financial 
assistance is available for those 
eligible. For more information 
call (626) 744-7530.

Citizen Journalism Meet-up

 

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 
June 14 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

Pet of the 
Week


Deputies 
to conduct 
quality-of-life 
survey

City Calls Attention to Elder 
Abuse with Awareness Day

 In declaring Wednesday, Elder 
Abuse Awareness Day, the city 
of Pasadena is calling attention 
to the problem of elder abuse 
and to the ways citizens can 
help protect older adults.

 People across the globe are 
encouraged to wear something 
purple that day to “show the 
world you care,” states the city’s 
Senior Commission. 

Elder abuse can be committed 
by a relative, a caregiver, or 
another person who is in a 
position to cause harm to 
the elder. Key signs of elder 
abuse are physical appearance, 
behavioral changes, or the 
family member’s or caregiver’s 
attitude and behavior.

 How big is the problem? 
“No one knows for certain 
because relatively few cases are 
identified,” said Peggy Sisson, 
city Senior Commission staff. 
Research indicates that more 
than one in 10 elder may 
experience some type of abuse, 
but only one in five cases or 
fewer are reported. “This 
means that very few seniors 
who have been abused get the 
help they need,” she said. 

 Los Angeles County Adult 
Protective Services indicates 
there were more than 1,000 
cases of elder abuse reported in 
Pasadena from 2007-2009.

Pasadena City Council issued 
a proclamation on June 6 
encouraging everyone to 
commit to building a safer 
community for our older 
residents. “Abuse of older 
people is a tragedy inflicted on 
vulnerable seniors—an ever-
increasing problem in today’s 
society that crosses all socio-
economic boundaries,” reads 
the proclamation.

Seniors are prime targets 
for investment scams and 
fraud because they often 
have “nest eggs,” own homes, 
have excellent credit, and are 
perceived as open and trusting.

If a person has observed, is 
aware of, or suspects physical 
abuse, financial exploitation, 
mental abuse, neglect or self-
neglect of an elderly person, he 
or she can call the Elder Abuse 
Hotline (24 hours) immediately 
to report the abuse: (877) 477-
3646. 

 To verify the legitimacy of 
salespeople and companies 
before investing, seniors are 
encouraged to check with 
the California Department of 
Corporations – Seniors Against 
Investment Fraud (SAIF), (866) 
275-2677 or visit www.corp.
ca.gov

 Retro, a three year old, red 
tabby cat is so handsome! He 
was found with a fractured 
leg but has recovered and 
needs a loving home. Retro 
is very outgoing and loves 
to explore. He has become a 
staff favorite and would love 
to go home with you today. 
He is already neutered and 
ready for adoption!

 The regular cat adoption 
fee is $70 which includes 
the spay or neuter surgery, 
microchip, vaccinations, 
and a free follow-up health 
check at a participating vet.

 Please call 626-792-7151 
and ask about A284960 
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

 The Altadena Sheriff’s 
Station in conjunction 
with the Community 
Oriented Policing Services 
Bureau will be conducting 
a door-to-door survey of 
three neighborhoods to 
collect residents’ concerns 
regarding crime, law 
enforcement services 
and quality of life issues 
in Altadena. The surveys 
will allow the community 
to express their concerns 
regarding quality of life 
issues in the area. 

 The survey will be 
conducted on Sat., June 11, 
between 9 AM and 1 p.m. 
Participation in the survey 
will be voluntary and 
confidential. Names and 
contact phone numbers will 
be collected for follow-up 
purposes and will remain 
secured for the Sheriff’s 
Department’s use only. 
Deputies will be conducting 
door to door surveys which 
should only take a few 
minutes. 

PCC Offers Guarantees 
for First-Year Students

 Pasadena City College 
will celebrate its 90th 
anniversary in 2014. To 
mark the event, the college 
has challenged itself to 
increase rates significantly 
in several key areas: transfers 
to four-year institutions, 
associate degrees, workforce 
certificates, and basic skills 
math, English, and ESL 
course completion. 

 The college is using funds 
from a variety of sources, 
including a United States 
Department of Education 
Title V grant, to help it 
reach its goal. One new 
program, the First-Year 
Pathway, will begin in fall 
2011. It will provide new 
students with a complete set 
of essential classes in their 
fall and spring semesters. 
The program will also offer 
counseling, advisement, 
tutoring support, and 
an online “portal” that 
streamlines student access 
to important resources and 
support services.

 A diverse group of PCC 
faculty, staff, students, and 
administrators are working 
hard to pilot the First-Year 
Pathway and Portal in the 
2011-12 academic year with 
more than 300 new students 
from the Pasadena Area 
Community College District. 
PCC intends to grow the 
program over the next four 
years until all incoming 
students are served. 

 For more information about 
the First-Year Pathways 
Program, visit the PCC 
Pathways website at www.
pasadena.edu/pathways.

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