Mountain Views News          Saturday, January 21, 2012

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Mountain Views News Saturday, January 21, 2012

Methodist Hospital Appoints Steven A. Sisto 

as Chief Operating Officer

Secret Service Agents Speak at Arcadia Chamber

By Joan Schmidt

At the recent Arcadia Chamber of Commerce’s 
monthly Government Affairs Forum, Secret 
Service Special Agents Garret Fritch and Owen 
Evans were featured guest speakers. Their topics 
included a brief history of the Agency and 
counterfeit Investigations.

Garret Fritch began by stating that he has been 
with the Secret Service since 2009, and is based 
in the Los Angeles area. He mentioned he had 
recently returned from Hawaii, where he was 
part of the group responsible for the President 
and his family’s safety. Of course everyone would 
enjoy time in Hawaii, but Garret also pointed out 
that other agencies such as Navy Seals, local law 
enforcement, Department of Defense and Coast 
Guards-to name a few - were also involved in the 
Presidential detail. 

Garret and Owen Evans are currently part 
of the “Counterfeit Squad”. The Agencies have 
several “squads”. Previously he had been assigned 
to a “Bank Fraud Squad.” 

Did you realize that the Secret Service actually 
began during President Lincoln’s term in office? 
On April 14, 1865, Abraham Lincoln signed the 
Secret Service into existence. During the Civil 
War, 1/3 of US currency was counterfeit! 

 A Power Point Presentation gave a lot of 
information about currency, how it is made, and 
ways to determine if it is real or not.

Real currency has NO wood pulp content. It is 
75% cotton and 25% linen.

Security features include red and blue fibers. 
All genuine US currency is printed by the Bureau 
of Printing and Engraving in Washington, DC.

Different methods of printing were disclosed:

• Intaglio Printing is printed under very 
high pressure, requires heavy equipment, has 
raised print-3D look, distinctive feel and unique 
feathering.

• Typographic Printing has treasury seal 
and unique green, raised printing serial number 
and “halo” stamp effect, worms, watermark in 
the paper, optically variable ink, red and blue 
fibers in the paper, micro printing on the front 
and security thread.

Where is counterfeit US money being printed? 
Not only in the United States, but it is printed also 
abroad in South and Central American countries. 
Digital technology (60-70% is produced digitally) 
has enabled counterfeit money to be produced at 
home. However when inkjet is used, the dots can 
be seen with the naked eye. 

Outside the United States, plants are constantly 
being produced on the Black Market. Some 
counterfeit bills are high quality; others look like 
a five-year-old drew them. 

After the informative presentation, there was a 
question-and-answer period in which we learned 
much about the counterfeit operation.

One was, “How are these bills dispersed?” The 
perpetrator chooses a crowded store and locates a 
swamped cashier. She/he may not have the time 
to examine the bill closely. Sometimes, a large 
item is purchased with a counterfeit bill. Then 
the item is returned to another branch of that 
store for a complete refund. One method was to 
purchase a low-cost item with a large counterfeit 
bill and ask for change.

Who dispenses the counterfeit bills? For 
instance, a person may print several thousand 
dollars of bills. He may have several “workers” 
whom he sells them to. For instance many 
bundles of $500 worth of counterfeit money are 
sold at $400 each. 

Banks do not accept counterfeit notes. For 
instance, someone in front of a person in line at 
the bank deposits $2,000 worth of counterfeit 
money. Then the next person makes a withdrawal 
of $100 and receives a counterfeit bill. The person 
receiving the counterfeit bill cannot go back to 
the bank and is stuck with a loss. This policy 
exists because anyone could just go to the bank 
with counterfeit money and pretend the bank 
issued it!

Another interesting note was that a counterfeit 
$20 bill is more common than a $100 bill!

When suspicious of money, compare it to 
genuine-genuine watermark, red and blue fibers, 
embedded security thread, and UV reactive to 
black light.

If in doubt, call (213) 533-4360 or (213) 533- 
4400 (24 hour duty desk).

ARCADIA (January 19, 2012) – Methodist 
Hospital is pleased to announce the appointment 
of Steven A. Sisto as senior vice president/
chief operating officer (COO).

“We are very fortunate to have such a talented 
executive join our team,” President 
and CEO Dan Ausman said. “Steve is an 
engaging leader, and his collaborative style 
fosters†a ‘can do’ problem-solving attitude 
that can quickly cut across all hospital departments 
to forge a working alliance with 
leaders, staff and physicians to improve service 
and satisfaction.”

Sisto has 20+ years of operational experience 
as a healthcare executive, most recently 
as the VP of operations for a large six-hospital 
system in Arizona, where he was responsible 
for coordinating operational initiatives, capital 
budgeting, facility construction, regional 
strategies for consolidated engineering, EVS, 
security and biomed across the system.†

“Steve is skilled in all areas of operational 
management, ranging from productivity 
to lean to expense management, managing 
multi-disciplinary service line committees to 
improve service, and holding staff accountable 
to achieving our goals,” Ausman said.

Sisto, who assumed his new duties January 
3, has also served as a CEO for a 132-bed 
acute-care facility and as a hospital COO at 
four other California acute facilities ranging 
in size from 150 beds to a 348-bed tertiary-
care trauma hospital.

He received his bachelor of science in 
healthcare administration from the University 
of La Verne and is a member of the 
American College of Healthcare Executives. 
Married with six children, Sisto said he is 
happy to be back in California and closer to 
family.

About Methodist Hospital

Founded in 1903, Methodist Hospital 
is a 460-bed, not-for-profit hospital serving 
Arcadia and surrounding communities. 
Services include comprehensive acute care 
such as medical, surgical, perinatal, pediatrics, 
oncology, intensive care (neonatal and 
adult) and complete cardiovascular services, 
including open-heart surgery. Methodist 
Hospital is accredited by The Joint Commission. 
An independent, not-for-profit organization, 
The Joint Commission is the nation’s 
main standards-setting and accrediting body 
in health care. For more information, visit 
www.methodisthospital.org.


Steven A. Sisto

Arcadia Police Blotter

ARCADIA SCHOOLS MAKE BIG CHANGES

By Scott Hettrick

While Arcadia School District officials and 
supporters wage campaigns on several fronts to 
cover millions of dollars in lost state funding, 
administrators have also been managing a recent 
flurry of high-level management departures and 
realignments.

The changes were sparked by the resignation 
the first week of January — unexpected by 
most District staff — of Deputy Superintendent 
Robert Leri effective March 1, and the sudden 
retirement of Food Services Director on Jan. 10, 
effective immediately. Leri is leaving to become 
Superintendent/Chief Learning Officer of the 
Tahoe Truckee Unified School District.

Last week it was announced that popular 
Arcadia High School principal David Vannasdall 
would take on the additional role of Deputy 
Superintendent March 1 and leave his post as 
principal at the end of this school year to become 
Deputy Superintendent. On March 1 the District 
will begin a search for a new AHS principal, 
according to a memo e-mailed to all District 
employees last week from Superintendent Dr. Joel 
Shawn.

And Camino Grove Elementary School 
principal Brook Reynolds is being assigned this 
week as the interim Director of Food Services, 
Operations, and Transportation. Danae Popovich, 
Teacher on Special Assignment, will immediately 
take Reynolds’ place at Camino Grove as interim 
principal.

The resignation of Amos exacerbated the 
situation involving an unfilled vacancy for the 
past year that was created with the unplanned 
departure of Paul Letson as Director of Facilities, 
Operations, Transportation, and Maintenance.

Since then, Assistant Superintendent of 
Business Services Christina Aragon has been 
supervising all those departments on top of her 
regular job.

While acknowledging that all of the above 
“represents a great deal of change,” Shawn said 
the District is fortunate to have the talent among 
current staff to fill the positions.

All this comes as the District is trying to cover 
a projected $7 million annual budget deficit 
by preparing a mail-in election on Feb. 13 for 
a five-year parcel tax of $228 per-year on each 
taxed parcel of land for property owners that 
would raise about $3.4 million per year; while 
the Arcadia Educational Foundation just mailed 
out its annual solicitation last week asking every 
adult resident to donate at least $365 and every 
parent to donate $500 for every student they have 
in schools; and against the backdrop of Governor 
Brown threatening to cut another $4.8 billion 
from the already depleted education funding 
if voters don’t approve his proposed tax this 
summer. (School parcel tax web site here.)

Deputy Superintendent Leri, an outdoor 
enthusiast, said in an e-mail to the District that he 
will assume his new role in Tahoe Truckee April 2 
as an opportunity to return to Central California 
where he grew up in the Modesto/Stockton area 
and lived in Mariposa County before coming to 
Arcadia in 1996.

“Living in a school district with at least five 
major ski resorts is exciting,” he said, but he noted 
that he is committed to helping pass the parcel tax 
and “being an active part of this district until my 
last day.”

For the period of Sunday, January 8th, through 
Saturday, January 14th, the Police Department 
responded to 874 calls for service, of which 120 
required formal investigations. The following is a 
summary report of the major incidents handled by 
the Department during this period.

Sunday, January 8:

At about 4:36 p.m., an officer responded to the 
Arcadia Police Department front counter in regards 
to a fraud report. The victim explained she 
discovered fraudulent charges on her credit card, 
which occurred in Las Vegas. The victim was in 
possession of her credit card at the time of the report. 
She is desirous of prosecution. 

At approximately 10:51 p.m., an officer was dispatched 
to Resident’s Inn, 321 East Huntington 
Drive, in regards to a burglary report. The victim 
left her hotel room unattended for a short period 
of time. When she returned, she discovered money 
was missing from her purse and other personal 
property. She had no idea who entered her room, 
except for the housekeeper. 

Monday, January 9:

Shortly after 10:42 a.m., an officer responded 
to the 2000 block of Louise Avenue, in reference 
to a residential burglary report. The victims returned 
home and discovered their rear patio 
door was tampered and left wide open. Unknown 
suspect(s) forced entry into the home and ransacked 
the bedrooms. Numerous items of jewelry 
were reported missing. No one saw or heard anything 
suspicious. 

Around 4:23 p.m., an officer responded to Burlington 
Coat Factory, 1201 South Baldwin Avenue, 
in regards to a theft investigation. While reviewing 
sales transactions, a loss prevention officer 
discovered an employee was fraudulently processing 
gift cards. Video surveillance revealed the 
suspect concealed the gift cards inside his wallet. 
The 19-year-old Hispanic male was arrested and 
transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. 

Tuesday, January 10:

Between 7:00 p.m. on January 9th and 5:00 a.m. 
on January 10th, unknown suspect(s) burglarized 
a vehicle in the 000 block of Southview Road. 
When the victim returned to his vehicle, he discovered 
his GPS system and sunglasses had been 
stolen. Officer determined the suspect(s) broke 
the driver side window and fled undetected. 

At approximately 8:00 p.m., an officer was dispatched 
to Nordstrom at the Santa Anita Mall, 
400 South Baldwin Avenue, in regards to a theft 
investigation. A female adult concealed merchandise 
inside a used shopping bag, and left the store 
without making payment. The 41-year-old Chinese 
female was arrested and transported to the 
Arcadia City Jail for booking. 

Wednesday, January 11:

Around 9:49 a.m., an officer was dispatched 
to LA Fitness, 1325 South Baldwin Avenue, in 
regards to a burglary report. The victim left his 
property secured inside a locker, and later discovered 
his locker was empty. Unknown suspect(s) 
cut the lock and fled undetected. 

A short time later, a woman filed a found property 
report at the Arcadia Police Department front 
counter, in which the property belonged to the 
victim. The woman was driving on Lovell Avenue 
and observed the property lying in the middle of 
the street. An investigation revealed the victim’s 
phone and cash from his wallet were still missing. 

At approximately 5:56 p.m., an officer responded 
to the intersection of Colorado Street and 
Harvard Drive, in regards to a two-party traffic 
accident. Party one, traveling northbound on 
Colorado Street, failed to yield to oncoming traffic 
as she attempted to make a left turn onto Harvard 
Drive. Party two did not have enough time 
to stop and collided with party one. No major injuries 
were reported.

Thursday, January 12:

Shortly after 1:30 a.m., an officer observed a 
white Toyota with a broken brake light traveling 
on Santa Anita Avenue, and conducted a traffic 
stop at Grand Avenue. Through investigation, 
the officer discovered the passenger provided 
false identification and had two warrants for his 
arrest, which included a felony no bail. A methamphetamine 
pipe was also found on his person. 
The 39-year-old White male was transported the 
Arcadia City Jail for booking. 

Around 9:07 a.m., an officer responded to the 
Arcadia Police Department front counter in regards 
to a suspicious circumstances report. The 
reporting party explained she was walking home 
from Arcadia High School on January 11th, in 
the area of El Monte Avenue, at Lemon Avenue, 
when she observed a blue pickup truck slowing 
down as it approached her. The juvenile walked 
west on Lemon Avenue and the driver pulled up 
alongside her. The driver repeatedly asked her if 
she wanted a ride, to which she declined. The vehicle 
drove away for a short distance, then made 
a u-turn, and approached the juvenile again. The 
juvenile quickly walked into a nearby driveway 
and the vehicle drove out of sight. The subject is 
described as a male Hispanic with light skin, late 
20’s to early 30’s, with wavy brown hair, brown 
mustache, long pointed goatee, wearing no shirt, 
and had tattoos covering his arms. The vehicle is 
described as an older model two-door “low rider”, 
sparkling blue paint, with an open bed and black 
rims. 

Friday, January 13:

At approximately 1:05 a.m., an officer responded 
to the Santa Anita Mall, 400 South Baldwin 
Avenue, in regards to a solo traffic collision. 
Upon contact with the driver, the officer noticed 
an odor of alcohol emitting from his breath. 
Through investigation, the officer determined 
the driver was under the influence of alcohol, 
and discovered he was on parole. The 25-year-
old Black male was arrested for DUI and placed 
on a parole hold. 

At about 5:52 p.m., an officer was dispatched to 
Pavilions, 745 West Naomi Avenue, in regards to a 
theft report. A female adult took plastic bags from 
an unmanned register, concealed merchandise 
inside the bags, and left the store without making 
payment. An investigation revealed the suspect 
had an outstanding misdemeanor warrant. 
The 46-year-old White female was arrested and 
transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. 

Saturday, January 14:

At roughly 5:20 a.m., an officer responded to 
Gorgeous Nail Spa, 330 East Foothill Boulevard, 
in reference to an activated burglary alarm. The 
officer discovered the rear window had been 
forced open and observed shoe footprints near 
the area of a motion detector. It appeared as if 
the suspect(s) fled when the alarm activated. No 
property was reported missing. 

14. Shortly after 2:48 p.m., an officer responded 
to BJ’S Restaurant, 400 East Huntington Drive, 
in regards to a disturbance. A group of about ten 
patrons became loud and began to rearrange the 
tables to block the aisle way. When the waiter 
informed the subjects about safety issues and 
calming their noise level, they became argumentative. 
The subjects fled the location without paying 
their tab. A few suspects were seen entering 
a black BMW, and they fled eastbound on Huntington 
Drive.


Debra Amos

City of Arcadia Senior Services

Nominations for 2012 Senior Citizen of the Year!

Applications are available at the Arcadia 
Community Center front desk for nominations 
for the 2012 Senior Citizen of the Year! Do 
you know someone who is: caring and at least 
55 years of age; an Arcadia resident; actively 
involved in volunteer work; invaluable to your 
organization and deserving of recognition? If 
so, then nominate that special person for the 
2012 Arcadia Senior Citizen of the Year Award. 
Recipient of the award will be honored at the 
Arcadia Rotary Club’s Salute to Seniors luncheon 
on Tuesday, May 8th. Nominations must be 
submitted by Tuesday, February 21, 2012 to the 
Arcadia Community Center, 365 Campus Drive, 
Arcadia, CA 91066-6021.

For more information, please call 626.574.5130.


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