Mountain Views News          Saturday, August 27, 2011

4


Mountain Views News Saturday, August 27, 2011


Murder Sparks Outcry 
from the Community 

Metro Gold 
Line Fist 
Fight Leads 
to Stabbing

 
Police say a fist fight on a 
Metro Gold Line light rail 
train Friday night resulted 
in one man stabbing 
another man. 

 According to Pasadena 
Police they received 
several 9-1-1 calls at 
6:38PM reporting that 
there had been a stabbing 
on a northbound Metro 
Gold Line train that was 
approaching the Memorial 
Park passenger station, 125 
E. Holly St., Pasadena. 

 “Passengers called 9-1-1, 
rendered aid to the victim, 
and pointed out the suspect 
to Pasadena Police officers 
who were already waiting 
when the train arrived,” 
said Captain Mike Parker, 
Sheriff’s Headquarters 
Bureau. “The passengers 
and police working together 
are what kept the suspect 
from escaping the scene 
and ensured the quickest 
medical care possible for 
the victim.” 

 Police officers immediately 
arrested the suspect.

 Firefighters provided 
emergency medical 
attention to the 33-year 
old Hispanic male victim 
and transported him to a 
nearby hospital. Officials 
said he is listed in critical 
but stable condition and is 
undergoing surgery. 

 A knife with blood on it 
was recovered from the 
suspect’s pants pocket. 

The 36-year old suspect Jose 
Paul Vasquez Flores is being 
treated for injuries sustained 
during his arrest. He will be 
booked for assault with a 
deadly weapon. His bail is 
set at $1 million. 

 No other suspects or 
victims are believed to be 
involved. 

 Sheriff’s Transit Services 
Bureau detectives are 
investigating this incident. 
The trains and buses 
of the Metropolitan 
Transportation Authority 
are policed by the Los 
Angeles County Sheriff’s 
Department. 

 The train involved in 
the incident is being held 
temporarily for a search 
for other possible evidence. 
Metro Gold train service is 
continuing to operate via 
single-tracking.

 Police Chief Phillip Sanchez talks with residents about a recent 
homicide during a public meeting at Fire Station 33 Thursday 
night. The meeting packed over 100 residents from the local area. 

 Friends of an 18-year-old 
Alhambra man shot and 
killed Monday night accused 
the city’s fire department of 
taking too long to respond 
to the incident on North Mar 
Vista Avenue — implying 
the department could have 
saved his life. 

Holding back tears, Marvin 
Laguan’s, girlfriend listened 
as friends said, during 
a community meeting 
Thursday, they waited 10 full 
minutes for paramedics to 
arrive something the local 
neighbors refuted.

“We want to know why it 
took 10 minutes if it was 
just two blocks away?” 
an unidentified friend of 
Laguan said. “Maybe if the 
ambulance got there on time 
he could have been saved.”

Police Chief Phillip Sanchez 
immediately said he did not 
have the answer but would 
look into it.

One resident said, “It would 
be unfortunate if anybody 
went away from here thinking 
that the fire department takes 
10 minutes to get anyplace, if 
it was 10 minutes, I’m sure it 
extraordinary circumstance.” 

Robin Salazar, well know 
city activist and owner of 
Robin’s Wood Fire BBQ & 
Grill, asked if the city could 
install a “shoots fired,” early 
acoustics warning system, 
something he said was being 
done in L.A.

The meeting’s focus was on 
crime prevention, including 
Neighborhood Watch as well 
as an update surrounding 
Monday’s shooting.

Police Lt. Tracey Ibarra said 
two male suspects were last 
seen walking southbound on 
N. Mar Vista Avenue from 
the scene. Both suspects 
were described as wearing 
dark color clothing. 

She said Laguan was shot 
while walking with his 
girlfriend after a get together 
with friends. Two men 
quarreled with Laguan and 
then he was shot in the neck 
shortly after 10 p.m. Police 
believe he was associated 
with a gang.

Sanchez said anyone who 
has information regarding 
this crime is asked to call the 
Pasadena Police Department 
at (626)744-4241. He assured 
everyone they could stay 
anonymous, “we just want 
the information.” 

Temporary Art Goes on Display 

The city of Pasadena is taking 
some of its artistic vision 
to the streets by installing 
temporary works of local, 
regional and national 
artists in Pasadena’s great 
outdoors. From August 
24 to September 1, the 
four colorful, vibrant and 
unique works of art will be 
installed at various locations 
around the city as part of 
its new Rotating Public Art 
Exhibition Program. 

Residents may notice 
“Convergence,” (pictured 
above) a gleaming red, 
bronze geometric sculpture; 
or “Timeless Joy,” a 
hummingbird made of 
Harley Davidson and bicycle 
parts. Or, depending on 
your route to work, residents 
might walk by “Diversity,” 
profiles of three ethnically 
diverse women who share the 
same colors to indicate their 
connection to each other and 
the human race, or marvel at 
“Handstand,” a larger-than-
life male figure mounted 
atop a nine-foot pole, upside 
down!

The exhibitions activate 
unusual locations such as 
traffic islands and medians, 
transforming small, often 
unnoticed areas into exciting 
and stimulating destinations 
for visitors and residents.

The first four locations 
and artworks include: 
“Convergence” by Jon 
Seeman at the traffic island 
of Washington Boulevard 
and Glen Avenue; “Timeless 
Joy” by LT Mustardseed 
at the southwest corner of 
Washington Boulevard and 
Marengo Avenue; “Diversity” 
by Cecilia Lueza at the traffic 
median east of intersection 
of Sierra Madre Boulevard 
and New York Drive and 
Handstand” by Daniel Stern 
at the northwest corner of 
Sunset Avenue and Mountain 
Street. 

Banners to Help Promote 
Northwest Pasadena

Free Library 
Cards During 
September

 

 Featuring a grid design of its 
main streets and an emphasis 
on culture, recreation, shopping 
and dining, recently installed 
street pole banners are touting 
Northwest Pasadena as the 
heart and soul of Pasadena.

 The bright orange and blue 
banners feature the city’s 
new rose logo, the Rose Bowl 
Stadium and people engaged in 
various activities. They are on 
display along Lincoln, Fair Oaks 
and Lake avenues, Villa Street 
and Orange Grove Boulevard.

 Designed by an ad hoc 
committee of Northwest 
Pasadena leaders, city staff 
and a local advertising agency, 
and with input from residents 
and the business and faith 
communities, the banners are 
the first phase of a marketing 
campaign to promote the 
amenities and diversity of this 
area of the city. The campaign 
was initiated by the Northwest 
Commission.

 “Our first target audience 
in this community-driven 
marketing campaign is the 
Northwest community itself, 
which may not be aware of 
the assets here in our own 
backyard, such as libraries, 
parks, community centers, the 
Rose Bowl recreation loop, 
landmark districts, mom-and-
pop shops, and an impressive 
number of unique and talented 
residents,” said Lola Osborne, 
Northwest Programs manager. 
“The banner design provides the 
blueprint for all communication 
efforts moving forward.”

 Northwest Programs focuses on 
maintaining a healthy business 
environment, facilitating 
redevelopment and promoting 
youth programs for the area 
that extends from Rose Bowl 
Drive to Lake Avenue and from 
the 210 Freeway to Woodbury 
Street.

 The slogan “heart and soul of 
Pasadena” refers to the area’s 
historic landmark districts, 
diverse population, arts and 
culture, strong neighborhoods 
and local businesses. Future 
marketing plans include an 
expanded website and more.

 For more information call 626-
744-6879.

 
As students head back to 
school this year, Pasadena 
Public Library wants to 
make sure that they have 
the most important school 
supply of all – a library card. 
This key resource provides 
students with free access to 
books, e-books, databases, 
encyclopedias, test preparation 
materials, homework help, 
Wi-Fi, internet access, and 
much more. 

 Your first library card is 
free. During the month of 
September lost or damaged 
library cards may be replaced 
free of charge at any Pasadena 
Public library site. 

 For information on how to 
sign up for a library card, visit 
any one of our ten library 
sites in person or go to http://
cityofpasadena.net/library/
library_cards_my_account/
library_cards.

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 
Aug. 30 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


City Humane 
Society to Host 
Vaccine Clinic

Pet of the 
Week


Moon Mission 
in Final 
Preparations 

 
NASA’s Gravity Recovery 
and Interior Laboratory 
(GRAIL) mission to study 
the moon is in final launch 
preparations for a scheduled 
Sept. 8 launch from Cape 
Canaveral Air Force Station 
in Florida.

 GRAIL’s twin spacecraft 
are tasked for a nine-
month mission to explore 
Earth’s nearest neighbor in 
unprecedented detail. They 
will determine the structure 
of the lunar interior from 
crust to core and advance 
our understanding of the 
thermal evolution of the 
moon.

 “Yesterday’s final 
encapsulation of the 
spacecraft is an important 
mission milestone,” said 
David Lehman, GRAIL 
project manager for NASA’s 
Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 
“Our two spacecraft are now 
sitting comfortably inside 
the payload fairing which 
will protect them during 
ascent. Next time the GRAIL 
twins will see the light of day, 
they will be about 95 miles 
up and accelerating.”

 The spacecraft twins, 
GRAIL-A and GRAIL-B, 
will fly aboard a Delta 
II rocket launched from 
Florida. The twins’ 
circuitous route to lunar 
orbit will take 3.5 months 
and cover approximately 2.6 
million miles (4.2 million 
kilometers) for GRAIL-A, 
and 2.7 million miles (4.3 
million kilometers) for 
GRAIL-B.

 In lunar orbit, the spacecraft 
will transmit radio signals 
precisely defining the 
distance between them. 
Regional gravitational 
differences on the moon 
are expected to expand and 
contract that distance.

 GRAIL scientists 
will use these accurate 
measurements to define the 
moon’s gravity field. The data 
will allow mission scientists 
to understand what goes 
on below the surface of our 
natural satellite.

 To view the webcast and the 
blog or to learn more about 
the GRAIL mission, visit: 
http://www.nasa.gov/grail 
and http://grail.nasa.gov .

 The launch will also be 
streamed live, with a chat 
available, on http://www.
ustream.tv/nasajpl2.

 
The Pasadena Humane 
Society will host a public 
low cost vaccination clinic 
Tuesday from 6:00 pm to 
8 pm. Veterinarians will 
be on hand to administer 
rabies shots and other 
vaccines to cats and dogs. 
Dog licenses for Arcadia, 
LaCañada Flintridge and 
San Marino will be available 
for purchase as well. You 
can have your dog or cat 
microchipped during the 
clinic for a charge of $20, 
which includes registration. 
All dogs four months of 
age and older are required 
by state, county and city 
ordinances to be vaccinated 
against rabies. The rabies 
vaccine provides three years 
of protection for dogs 12 
months and older, one year 
protection for dogs four 
to 11 months and for cats 
from 3 months of age. Also 
available are DHLPP and 
bordetella (kennel cough) 
vaccines for dogs and 
FVRCPP vaccines for cats; 
these may be given to pets 
eight weeks and older and 
provide protection for one 
year.

 All dogs should be on 
leash, and cats should 
be in carriers. Arrive 
early to avoid long lines 
and crowds! For more 
information please call the 
Pasadena Humane Society 
at 626.792.7151 ext 115.

Chamber of Commerce to 
Host Business Showcase

 

 The annual Pasadena 
Chamber of Commerce 
Business Showcase and 
Mini-Taste of Pasadena will 
be held at Paseo Colorado on 
Thursday, September 29th 
from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. 
Vendors and exhibitors will 
set up in the public area of the 
outdoor mall. New Chamber 
member restaurants are 
invited to provide free food 
samples to visitors.

 The annual showcase and 
expo is an inexpensive 
way for businesses to 
promote their products and 
services to the Pasadena 
community. The showcase 
is also a great business-to-
business networking event. 
The Foothill Workforce 
Investment Board is a major 
sponsor of the event.

 The Pasadena Chamber 
of Commerce Business 
Showcase, and Mini-Taste 
of Pasadena will be held at 
the Paseo Colorado at 260 
East Colorado Boulevard in 
Pasadena. This year’s event 
will feature exhibits by a 
wide variety of Pasadena 
area businesses. Exhibitor 
parking will be validated, 
visitors get 90 minutes of free 
parking.

 Participation is open 
to anyone and Pasadena 
Chamber membership 
is not required, though 
Chamber membership 
means discounted fees for 
Showcase participation. To 
promote their distinctive 
menus, several new member 
restaurants will provide 
samples of their fare for those 
in attendance. Businesses 
pay for exhibition space, but 
the public is invited to attend 
for free.

 In conjunction with the 
event, El Cholo and Noor 
Restaurant and Ballroom will 
host happy hours for those 
attending the event at their 
restaurants on the second 
floor at Paseo Colorado.

 Those who would like to 
be exhibitors or who would 
like more information about 
the Pasadena Chamber 
of Commerce Business 
Showcase can call the 
Chamber office at (626) 795-
3355 or visit the web site at 
www.pasadena-chamber.org 
or email leanne@pasadena-
chamber.org.

Frida, an adorable Husky mix 
is about five years old and such 
a fun girl! She loves going for 
walks in the park and is very 
affectionate with all the people 
she meets. Frida knows some 
basic commands and would 
love to learn more. She needs 
a home with someone who 
will give her lots of love and 
attention. Come visit Frida 
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. Frida 
qualifies for the Senior for 
Senior program where people 
over age 60 can adopt a pet 
over age 5 for just $20!

 Please call 626-792-7151 
and ask for A292998 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