Mountain Views News          Saturday, September 10, 2011

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Mountain Views News Saturday, September 10, 2011


ARCADIA GETS NEW FOREST SERVICE HEADQUARTERS

By Scott Hettrick

After a quarter-century of administering 
activities and oversight for the entire Angeles 
National Forest from portable modular units 
west of Santa Anita Avenue just south of the 210 
freeway in Arcadia, the compound is getting a 
long ovedue makeover and permanent office 
housing.

Observant passersby may also notice a giant 
Smokey Bear topiary standing guard.

Forest Service officials have contracted 
with PW Construction Inc., of Chino, 
Calif., to build a two-story 24,000-foot 
administrative building funded by American 
Recovery and Reinvestment Act dollars.
The new structure will house administrative 
offices and a training facility for the Angeles 
National Forest. The project budget is about 
$12 million and includes an atrium and the 
training center that will be available to local, 
county and federal fire personnel. Construction, 
which began a few weeks ago, is expected to take 
about a year before completion in summer 2012, 
during which many locals will be employed on 
the project.

The deteriorating temporary modular trailers 
put in place in 1986 are not energy efficient, have 
inadequate lighting and ventilation, and annual 
maintenance is costly, according to Forest officials.
The new building will house about 100 employees 
and will be certified as minimum Silver LEED 
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), 
indicating various “green” features friendly to 
the environment that are still being planned.
It will also be much closer to the Forest Service 
entrance gate, and thus more accessible to the 
public.

A wood warehouse “A” that was built in the 
1930s or 1940s — the first building on the 
left when entering from Santa Anita — will 
be restored and used as the training center, 
according to a forest spokeswoman.

Construction work is clearly visible from 
the freeway as you exit at Santa Anita, and also 
from Santa Anita Avenue itself at the low-key 
entrance to the complex but it is unrelated to all 
the bridge construction near the same location at 
the freeway, and unrelated to all the construction 
going on a couple blocks south on the new 
Campus Commons senior housing or the new 
performing arts center being built at the high 
school on the same Campus Drive.


CHIEF GUTHRIE PRONOUNCES ARCADIA ‘SAFE’ 
BUT CITES CHALLENGES

From Arcadia’s Best

In his first public presentation 
Thursday (Sept. 1) since becoming 
the new Arcadia Police 
Chief a few weeks ago, Chief 
Robert Guthrie said at the free 
monthly Government Affairs 
Forum of the Arcadia Chamber 
of Commerce that despite 
economic cutbacks to the police 
force and major public venues 
that rival much larger cities, the 
City of Arcadia is safe and that 
the department continues to 
have strong working relationships 
with the business community 
and the school district.

 Chief Guthrie said he is currently 
working to get the current 
staffing level that is in the 
60s up to its budgeted contingent 
level of 72 within the next 
few months, but that it will not 
be going back up to the 80s the 
department once enjoyed.

Some of the staffing cutbacks 
have resulted in fewer dedicated 
police for programs like the 
student DARE drug program, 
which has been eliminated, 
and other community service 
programs, including a space at 
the Westfield Santa Anita mall, 
which the Chief hopes to get 
back at some point.

But new technology has offset 
some of those manpower losses, 
and services such as social 
media allow the police to keep 
businesses as well as residents 
and visitors informed about police 
alerts despite the elimination 
of a targeted Business Alert 
system once communicated via 
fax. 

Chief Guthrie praised the 
Chamber’s mission statement 
of promoting business and a 
fiscally sound community and 
said that dovetails with the police 
department’s objectives to 
work with businesses to encourage 
visitors and residents to feel 
safe and to be enticed to shop 
and stay in Arcadia in order to 
keep the community economically 
sound.

 The Chamber’s monthly Government 
Affairs Forums, led by 
co-chair persons Pete Ulrich, 
former Arcadia City Councilman, 
and Mary Dougherty, 
former President of the Arcadia 
School District Board of Education, 
are open to the public and 
held on the first Thursday of the 
month at 8 a.m. in the Chamber 
conference room at 388 W. 
Huntington Dr. Each 75-minute 
Forum includes regular monthly 
reports from City, County, 
and State government officials 
and the Metro Gold Line Foothill 
Extension.

 Assemblyman Tim Donnelly 
will make his first appearance at 
the Forum at 8 a.m. Thursday, 
Oct. 6, followed on November 
3 by Los Angeles County Supervisor 
Michael D. Antonovich. 
RSVPs are appreciated to the 
Chamber office: 626-447-2159 
or info@ArcadiaCaChamber.
org.

– By Scott Hettrick

Arcadia Police Blotter

For the period of Sunday, August 28, through 
Saturday, September 3, the Police Department 
responded to 839 calls for service of which 103 
required formal investigations. The following is a 
summary report of the major incidents handled by 
the Department during this period.

Sunday, August 28:

1. Between 8:20 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., an auto 
theft occurred in the 400 block of Oxford Drive. 
Suspect(s) stole a 1991 Honda Accord, red, 
4-door, parked at the location.

2. A traffic stop was conducted at approximately 
7:00 p.m. on Colorado Place at Oakhurst Lane for 
expired registration. A records check of the driver 
revealed a suspended driver’s license. During a 
consensual search of the vehicle officers found 
a collection of vintage silver dollar coins which 
were believed to be possible stolen property. The 
37-year-old Black male driver was placed under 
arrest for suspicion of receiving stolen property as 
well as driving with a suspended driver’s license.

Monday, August 29:

3. At approximately 12:43 p.m., a traffic stop 
was conducted on South Baldwin Avenue at 
Naomi Avenue for a broken brake light. A 
records check of the 24-year-old Hispanic male 
driver revealed an outstanding misdemeanor 
warrant for which he was placed under arrest.

4. At about 3:40 p.m., loss prevention 
personnel from Sephora at the Westfield Santa 
Anita Mall, 400 South Baldwin Avenue, detained 
two juvenile females for theft. The suspects took 
merchandise, concealed it, and walked out of the 
store without paying. The two females, ages 16 
and 13, were placed under arrest for commercial 
burglary after it was determined they came into 
the store with the intent to steal.

Tuesday, August 30:

5. At about 1:18 a.m., officers were 
dispatched to a payphone located in the 1000 
block of South Baldwin Avenue after a subject 
called 9-1-1 saying that he wanted to commit 
suicide. It was determined that the 41-year-old 
American Indian male was a danger to himself 
and he was placed into protective custody. He was 
transported to a local hospital for a psychiatric 
evaluation and treatment.

6. Shortly after 3:00 p.m., officers responded 
to the Chevron, 102 East Huntington Drive, 
regarding a counterfeit bill. A suspect, described 
as a White male approximately 40 years of age, 
with slicked back dark hair, side burns, wearing 
a tight black t-shirt, faded black jeans rolled at 
the bottom, black Converse sneakers, with a 
muscular build and tattoos on his right upper 
arm, had come in earlier in the day and paid 
for $50 worth of gasoline with a $100 dollar bill. 
It was later discovered by the manager that the 
$100 dollar bill had been printed on a washed 
$5.00 bill. 

Wednesday, August 31:

7. Between August 30th at 5:30 p.m. and August 
31st at 5:30 a.m., an auto burglary occurred in 
the 500 block of North Santa Anita Avenue. 
Suspect(s) entered the vehicle by unknown 
means and stole several tools, a CD player and 
a jacket. 

8. Between 10:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., a 
residential burglary occurred in the 2200 block 
of Canyon Road. Suspect(s) pried open the front 
door and triggered the audible alarm, which 
caused the suspect(s) to flee the home empty 
handed.

Thursday, September 1:

9. Shortly after 12:00 p.m., officers responded 
to the intersection of Baldwin Avenue and Palm 
Drive regarding a traffic collision involving a 
vehicle and a motorcycle. It was determined 
by the officers that the 29-year-old White male 
motorcyclist was deceased on arrival. The solo 
occupant/driver of the other vehicle suffered 
serious injuries as a result of the accident and was 
treated at the scene by Arcadia Fire Department 
Paramedics. The 75-year-old White male driver 
was transported to a local hospital for treatment 
where he later died from his injuries. 

10. Between 11:00 a.m. and 1:10p.m., a 
residential burglary occurred in the 1000 block 
of Burnell Oaks Lane. Suspect(s) pried open a 
bedroom window and made entry. Once inside, 
the suspect(s) ransacked the house and stole both 
U.S. and Taiwan currency.

Friday, September 2:

11. Between September 1st at 11:00 p.m. and 
September 2nd at 8:00 a.m., a residential burglary 
occurred in the 1100 block of Louise Avenue. 
Suspect(s) entered the victim’s garage through an 
open door and stole a lawn mower and liquor.

12. At about 6:32 p.m., loss prevention 
personnel from H&M at the Westfield Santa 
Anita Mall, 400 South Baldwin Avenue, detained 
two juvenile females for theft. The suspects took 
merchandise, concealed it, and walked out of the 
store without paying. The two females, ages 15 
and 14, were placed under arrest for commercial 
burglary after it was determined they came into 
the store with the intent to steal.

Saturday, September 3:

13. Between September 2nd at 2:45 p.m. and 
September 3rd at 1:00 a.m., officers responded 
to the 5600 block of Peck Road regarding an 
attempted vehicle theft. Suspect(s) smashed the 
driver’s side window and damaged the ignition in 
an attempt to take the vehicle.

14. Between September 2nd at 2:45 p.m. 
and September 3rd at 1:00 a.m., officers were 
dispatched to the 100 block of Alta Street 
regarding an attempted vehicle theft. Suspect(s) 
entered the vehicle by unknown means and once 
inside, started the vehicle by forcing an object 
into the ignition, damaging it. The suspect(s) 
then moved the vehicle about 155 feet away from 
the victim’s residence, abandoned the car, and 
took miscellaneous property from the trunk.

BE A FRIEND

Be a friend and visit the Friends Bookstore, 
just inside the entrance to the Arcadia Library. 
The Bookstore is an undiscovered gem, with 
a variety of books, hardbound and paperback, 
on subjects ranging from archaeology to 
history to mystery to opera to health and 
more! Foreign language materials are also 
available. All items at the store are priced at 
budget-conscious levels. Pass the word along 
to your friends. The store is open Monday 
through Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm. 

By “friending” the Bookstore, you will also 
“friend” the library, since all proceeds go 
directly to the library for funding of children’s 
programs, data bases, etc. 

RECREATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICES 

DEPARTMENT ADULT COOKING CLASSES - FALL 2011!

Come and learn how to cook quick, easy and 
delicious 3-course meals with Jan Sayvongsa, a 
Graduate of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary 
Arts. Every week will be an adventure for your 
taste buds. Enhance your knife skills and perfect 
all the cooking techniques. This class is for all 
skill levels of cooks! Fee is $60 for 6 weeks, PLUS 
$60 materials fee for Session 1 & 2. Classes are 
held in the Arcadia Community Center Kitchen, 
365 Campus Drive, Arcadia 91007.

 You can register now on-line, by mail or in 
person! For specific times, location, fees and to 
download the registration form go on-line to the 
City of Arcadia’s website: www.ci.arcadia.ca.us or 
stop by the office, 375 Campus Drive. 

 For more information please call 626.574.5113!

Opinion:

SUPERVISORIAL 
REDISTRICTING:

ONLY ONE CHOICE: 
PLAN A-3

By Joan Schmidt

 On Tuesday, I was one 
of 800 people who fought the 
heat, stood outside Kenneth 
Hahn Hall of Administration 
and waited to be admitted to 
speak ONE minute in support 
of redistricting plan A-3, 
which is what 80% of attendees 
wanted.

 There are three choices. Supervisor 
Gloria Molina’s and Supervisor 
Mark Ridley- Thomas’ 
plans, T-1 and S-2 and Plan A-3, 
submitted by Supervisor Don 
Knabe. The majority of people 
who live in the districts currently 
served by Don Knabe, Mike 
Antonovich, and Zev Yaroslavsky 
favored the A-3 Plan.

 If you are like me, I was confused 
about the choices for 
districting. After 3 hours of 
one- minute speakers, I left 
with a better understanding of 
the choices and a great respect 
for Supervisors Knabe and 
Yarosvsky.

 I sat in the first row with a 
wonderful group from the Rowland 
Heights/Hacienda Heights 
area. They asked me which 
plan I supported & when I said 
A-3, they welcomed me to join 
them. They were a great group 
of Asians and Anglos, They said 
Don had done SO MUCH for 
their areas and that Gloria was 
unacceptable. No one was allowed 
to cheer, but we waved 
hands when someone favored 
A-3, which was often. They 
came on a bus and brought a 
youth group who was formed 
because of Don. Then “Robert 
Thome” was introduced! I was 
so surprised, I blurted out, “I 
know him!” Although confined 
to a wheelchair, Robert is one 
of the AWESOME artists from 
Rancho Los Amigos in Downey. 
Robert came to support Plan 
A-3, because Don Knabe supports 
their program at Rancho 
Los Amigos. Now Supervisor 
Zev Yaroslavsky supporters 
- I am embarrassed to admit I 
had NO idea of his area and 
the impact he has had. Some 
of Zev’s area includes the San 
Fernando Valley, Agorra Hills, 
Calabassas, North Hollywood, 
Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, 
Malibu. Aleksander Rekhtman 
from the Valley, points out that 
“plans T-1 and S-2 would move 
nearly 3.5 million people from 
one district to the other, destroying 
established relationships 
and seriously setting back 
progress on important community 
issues. Speakers from Santa 
Monica, Malibu and Calabasas 
all spoke of their unique geographic 
areas with their specific 
issues/problems which Zev has 
addressed on so many occasions 
such as fires and flooding. 
Nancy Helsley of Calabassas 
said the redistricting proposals 
submitted by Supervisors Molina 
and Ridley-Thomas are” 
greatly gerrymandered”.

 Now, in our Fifth District. We 
WANT to keep Supervisor Antonovich. 
Monrovia-Arcadia-
Duarte Town Council Chair, 
David Hall said, “With twenty 
years of a wonderful relationship 
working with Supervisor 
Antonovich, we are indebted 
to him for the progress we have 
made in the county areas of 
Monrovia, Arcadia, Duarte. We 
have drawn together three communities, 
together diverse as 
they are, and enjoy the continuity 
and working relationships. I 
speak for three communities.”

 Monrovia Mayor Mary Ann 
Lutz spoke of her concern of 
the “split” that Monrovia would 
have to endure. “Our community 
has been split at the federal 
level. One option splits the City 
of Monrovia from the unincorporated 
area. We are unique in 
that we collaborate and work 
with our unincorporated areas…
we are ALL Monrovians.” 

 Steve Baker, Monrovia’s Treasurer 
and Historian spoke of 
how Arcadia-Monrovia-Duarte 
all came together. Years ago, 
the residents all attended MAD 
High School. “We have such a 
good relationship with Arcadia, 
our neighbor-we don’t want to 
be split from them.”

 Jim Kirchner, former Mayor 
and City Council Member from 
Duarte, approached the issue 
from a different prospect-an 
economic one. The San Gabriel 
River seems to separate us 
from areas East. He mentioned 
the proximity of the Arcadia-
Monrovia-Duarte areas and 
the shopping, businesses, socializing 
among the three. He 
DOESN’T want Monrovia 
and Duarte pulled away from 
Arcadia.

 Another Board of Supervisor’s 
meeting will be held on 
September 27th to discuss this 
issue. The problem is FOUR 
votes are needed for a plan to 
pass. I am afraid only three- 
Mike Antonovich, Don Knabe 
and Zev Yaroslavsky support 
A-3. If no plan is passed, then it 
goes to an independent panel of 
three, Sheriff Lee Baca, District 
Attorney Steve Cooley and the 
County Assessor.