Mountain Views News          Saturday, September 24, 2011

4


Mountain Views News Saturday, September 24, 2011

Local 
Barber 
Found 
Dead

Downs Steps Down as Chief

City Manager 
Gets Lifelong 
Contract

 


 Fire Chief Dennis Downs will 
retire as of Monday. He first 
made the announcement July 
21after serving as Pasadena’s 
fire chief for the last seven years.

 “Chief Downs has been a 
tremendous leader and a 
mentor to many of the Fire 
Department members,” said 
Pasadena City Manager Michael 
Beck. “A large percentage of the 
department has been hired or 
promoted under his command. 
He is a true professional that I 
value as a friend, and hold him 
in high regard for the numerous 
achievements during his 
tenure.” 

 Beck will oversee the hiring 
process for a new fire chief. He 
has named Pasadena Deputy 
Fire Chief Calvin Wells to 
serve as Interim Chief. Wells 
is a Pasadena resident and has 
served over 30 years with the 
Fire Department

 Over the course of Downs 
numerous years with the Fire 
Department, he had oversight 
of the preparation and 
administration of an annual 
budget exceeding $40 million 
and managed and lead a full 
service Department consisting 
of three divisions and 185 
employees. Additionally, he 
demonstrated the ability to 
successfully manage sensitive 
issues, such as striving to 
employ a diverse work force 
that reflects the community and 
restructuring the Department 
to meet changing needs. 
Some of his key projects 
include the development 
and administration of two 
successive Fire Department 
Strategic Plans, securing funds 
for the Department’s fifth 
rescue ambulance, initiating 
a Standards of Cover study to 
determine whether Fire Station 
locations are located for optimal 
emergency response, enhancing 
disaster preparedness for 
Pasadena community members 
and progressive community 
outreach Beck said in a 
statement in July.

 “Thanks to the dedication and 
commitment of the men and 
women that are the Pasadena 
Fire Department, I believe that 
the Department is in a better 
position today than when I 
started,” Downs said. “The first 
responsibility of a leader is to 
chart a course for the future; the 
last is to say thank you.” 

 Dows had chaired and/
or participated on several 
boards including the League 
of California Cities and 
the California Fire Chief’s 
Association among others.


By Dean Lee

 A Pasadena man was 
found dead in a pool 
of his own blood early 
Wednesday morning after a 
resident discover the body 
in the parking lot behind 
businesses in the 900 block of 
E. Washington Blvd.

 Police later identified the 
victim as King E. King, 43, a 
Pasadena resident and owner 
of King King Barber and 
Beauty Salon. A memorial 
for the popular barber 
sprang up on Thursday in 
front of the business with 
candles, flowers and balloons 
surrounding a photo of him 
with friends. 

Police said they received a call 
about 12:45 a.m. Wednesday, 
officers and paramedics were 
dispatched. 

 No information was released 
on the possible cause of 
death although reports from 
witnesses suggest King was 
stabbed to death. 

 Police said the Los Angeles 
Coroner’s Office would 
officially provide the cause of 
death after completion of an 
autopsy.

 During the course of the 
investigation, detectives said 
they detained four persons 
of interest, shortly before 8 
p.m. Wednesday, in the 1000 
block of E. Washington Blvd. 
and later arrested them all 
on murder charges. Police 
said one of the suspects fled 
officers and was later found 
in a nearby home with the 
others.

 Arrested were, Devon 
Wesley, 22 of Los Angeles, 
Alfred Mayes, 22 of Pasadena, 
Michelle McGowan of 
Pasadena and Sabrina King 
of Compton. Police said 
Sabrina King is not related to 
the victim. 

 Police said investigators 
found physical evidence at 
the scene that may lead to the 
suspects. 

Police said the investigation 
is on-going and the public 
is asked to contact the 
department if they have any 
information regarding this 
case.

 The public may also 
report information on 
Crime Stoppers tip line at 
(800) 222-8477 or http://
lacrimestoppers.org , 
Remember to say or insert 
“Pasadena”.

 King lived his entire live in 
Pasadena and was the father 
of three daughters family 
member said. 

 They also said Thursday the 
barber shop would remain 
open for business.

 The city council voted 
unanimously earlier this 
month to remove a clause 
from City Manager Michael 
Beck’s contract stating that 
his employment agreement 
would expire every four 
years.

 Without any public input, 
the council also made the 
agreement retroactive.

 “This agreement shall 
commence as of October 1, 
2008, and shall remain in 
effect until terminated by 
either party as provided in 
herein,” the terms read.

 The item was part of the 
council’s Sept. 12 consent 
calendar. Consent items 
are usually voted on with a 
single motion.

 According to the city 
staff report, Beck would 
still go through an annual 
performance review, at 
which time, the contract for 
salary and benefits would 
be reviewed.

 The contract also states, 
“The City desires to 
ensure the continuity of 
management services 
provided to the City, to 
provide inducement for 
Beck to remain in the 
city’s employment, and to 
make possible full work 
productivity by providing 
Beck with assurances 
regarding his employment.”

 The contract can be 
terminated, at any time, 
by the city council or Beck 
himself.

 Beck oversees all city 
employees and, according 
to records, has an annually 
salary of $265,000. 

 City Attorney, Michele 
Beal Bagneris and City 
Clerk Mark Jomsky have 
similar contracts. 

 King King Barber and Beauty Salon.

 
Fire Chief Dennis Downs

Police Foundation to Host 
‘Breakfast with the Chief’

Tournament 
of Roses 
Speakers 
Available

Annual Wiggle Waggle Walk 
Sunday at the Rose Bowl

 

 The public is invited to 
attend the Pasadena Police 
Foundation’s “Breakfast with 
the Chief.” The breakfast 
will be served promptly at 
7:30 a.m. at the Brookside 
Golf Club, 1133 Rosemont 
Avenue. 

 This year’s theme is “Youth 
Crime Prevention – Still Our 
Best Investment” presented 
by Chief Phillip L. Sanchez. 
The community is welcome. 

 All proceeds from this event 
support and enhance the 
Pasadena Police Department 
and its programs for youth, 
including: the Youth 
Accountability Board, the 
Kids Safety Academy, and 
the Junior Public Safety 
Academy. 

 For more information or 
to purchase tickets for the 
Pasadena Police Foundation 
Breakfast, please visit www.
pasadenapolicefoundation.
org or contact Ronnie 
Nanning at rnanning@
cityofpasadena.net

 
The Pasadena Humane 
Society & SPCA invites 
animal lovers to put their 
best feet forward on Sunday, 
September 25, 2011 during 
the shelter’s 13th annual 
Wiggle Waggle Walk 
fundraiser for the animals. 
Organizers hope to raise 
$315,000 through the event, 
which will provide food, 
shelter and medical care to 
homeless animals, nearly 
12,000 of which are taken in 
by the humane society every 
year. 

 Some 2,000 people and their 
dogs are expected to take part 
in the walk, which begins at 
9 a.m. at Brookside Park at 
the Rose Bowl. Walkers and 
their dogs can choose either 
a one-mile or three-mile 
route around the outside of 
the stadium before enjoying 
a free Fair & Pet Expo at 
the park. Participants do 
not need a dog to join the 
fun—just a desire to help the 
animals—and they can walk 
individually or form teams. 

 Registration is free but 
participants are encouraged 
to fundraise for the animals 
by creating personal web 
pages through the Wiggle 
Waggle Walk website and 
asking family, friends and 
co-workers for donations. 
The address is www.
wigglewagglewalk.org. 
Non-walkers, and those 
unable to attend the event, 
can also create fundraising 
web pages through this site. 
Raise or donate at least $50 
and receive an official Wiggle 
Waggle Walk T-shirt. 

 This year’s sponsors 
include Wells Fargo, Merrill 
Lynch- Tanimoto Group, 
Three Dog Bakery, VCA 
Animal Hospitals, Petco/
Petco Foundation, Centinela 
Feed & Pet Supply, Eye Care 
for Animals and TLC Pet 
Medical Center.

 Event day check-in starts 
at 8 a.m. at the entrance to 
Brookside Park in Parking 
Lot I. The walk will begin 
at 9:00am and the Fair & 
Pet Expo will take place 
immediately after the walk 
and will be open until 2 p.m. 
The Fair will feature Muttley 
Crew’s dog agility show, 
Glendale and Pasadena 
Police Departments K9 
demonstrations, a variety 
of pet product booths, paw-
tapping music, and fun dog 
contests, including best trick 
contest and cutest canine.

 For more information (626) 
792-7151 ext. 167 or visit 
www.wigglewagglewalk.org.

Tournament of Roses official 
speakers are available to 
speak to community and 
professional groups about 
the history and tradition of 
the Tournament of Roses 
Association®, the Rose 
Parade® and the Rose Bowl 
Game®. Speaking topics 
may include: History of 
the Tournament of Roses, 
Economic Impact, Rose 
Parade participation 
and Rose Bowl Stadium 
construction

The Pasadena Tournament 
of Roses Association is a 
non-profit, 935-member 
volunteer organization that 
is dedicated to bringing 
America’s New Year 
Celebration– the Rose 
Parade and Rose Bowl 
Game – to the world. 

 Speakers are available 
throughout the year for 
groups in Pasadena and 
surrounding communities. 
To book a speaker or to 
obtain further information 
please call the Tournament 
office at 626-449-4100.

Pet of the 
Week


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 Sept 27. 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


Schiff Makes 
Statement 
on Don’t Ask, 
Don’t Tell’

 Irma is a very sweet 
energetic pit bull cat about 
2 years old. She is playful, 
friendly and good on leash. 
She loves attention, is great 
with kids and other dogs. 

 She has earned her Blue 
Ribbon in Shelter School 
because she learned her 
basic commands. Now her 
adoption fee is $95. Her 
fee includes spay/neuter 
surgery, a microchip, the 
first set of vaccinations, 
and a free follow-up health 
check at a participating vet.

 Call the Pasadena 
Humane Society & SPCA at 
626.792.7151 to ask about 
A293846, or visit at 361 S. 
Raymond Ave. in Pasadena. 
Adoption hours are 11-4 
Sunday, 9-5 Tuesday –
Friday, 9-4 Saturday. 
Directions and photos of all 
pets can be found at www.
pasadenahumane.org.

 Congressman Adam Schiff 
released the following 
statement Tuesday on the 
end of the military’s Don’t 
Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy,

 “Today’s end to the ‘Don’t 
Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy is 
a major turning point in 
our nation’s history, finally 
ensuring a fair opportunity 
for all Americans to serve 
in the military. We should 
never discriminate against 
any American, and the need 
to ensure equality is all the 
more compelling when you 
consider that these men and 
women are putting their 
lives on the line for their 
country. I have been proud 
to support the repeal of this 
policy and I welcome this 
long-overdue change.”

New Date and Time for 
Meeting on Heritage Square

PCC to Host Performance 100 
Years of Women’s Right to Vote

 A community meeting 
regarding the proposed 
development of an 
affordable senior housing 
project at the northern 
portion of the Pasadena 
city-owned Heritage Square 
site, at 750-790 N. Fair Oaks 
Ave. , has been rescheduled 
to Saturday, Oct. 1. The 
original meeting date was to 
be Sept. 24.

 The time of the meeting 
has also changed, and will 
be held from 2 to 4 p.m. at 
the Jackie Robinson Center 
Auditorium, 1020 N. Fair 
Oaks Ave.

 City Housing staff will 
introduce the development 
team of BRIDGE Housing 
Corporation, which 
Pasadena City Council 
approved on September 
12, 2011 for exclusive 
negotiations to undertake 
the development of the 
Heritage Square senior 
housing project.

 An overview of the 
proposed project, including 
design concept, financing 
plan and local benefit, will 
be presented.

 To receive alerts about 
future community meetings 
on Heritage Square senior 
housing project, email 
jwong@cityofpasadena.net 
or call 626-744-8316.

 

 Pasadena City College 
will host writer/performer 
Amy Simon’s one-woman 
show, “She’s History! The 
Most Dangerous Women 
in America…Then and 
Now.” The show will be 
held Monday, Oct. 10 at 7 
p.m. in Creveling Lounge. 
A reception for the artist 
and local women’s civic 
organizations will follow at 
8:15 p.m.

 The event is co-sponsored 
by the League of Women 
Voters and the PCC Office 
of Student Affairs and the 
College Diversity Initiative. 
General admission is $7; 
PCC students are admitted 
free with school ID.

“She’s History!” celebrates 
100 years of California 
women’s right to vote. 
Simon’s show includes true 
stories of some of America’s 
most celebrated women, 
from Eleanor Roosevelt to 
Susan B. Anthony, in Simon’s 
poignantly funny style.

 On-site voter registration 
will be available.

 For more information, call 
(626) 798-0965.