Mountain Views News          Saturday, May 12, 2012

4


Mountain Views-News Saturday, May 12, 2012 


City Manager Appoints 
Wells New Fire Chief 

Roommate 
Admits to 
Care Center 
Murder 

 
As anticipated, Calvin Wells 
became the city’s new fire chief. 
City Manager Michael Beck made 
the announcement Monday. 
Wells had been Interim Fire 
Chief since September, following 
the retirement of former Chief 
Dennis Downs. 

“Chief Wells is a career 
firefighter with more than 30 
years of experience serving our 
community. He has extensive 
experience with the Pasadena 
Fire Department’s operations 
and administration. He is 
the right choice to continue 
making Pasadena Fire a model 
fire department for others to 
replicate and look up to,” City 
Manager Beck said. 

According to Beck Chief 
Wells joined the Pasadena Fire 
Department in 1979 and has 
served in numerous positions 
here during his 32-year fire 
service career, including, 
Firefighter, Fire Inspector, Fire 
Engineer, Fire Investigator, 
Fire Captain I, Fire Captain II, 
Battalion Chief, Assistant Fire 
Chief, Fire Bureau Chief and 
Deputy Fire Chief. 

“It is an honor to be appointed 
as the next permanent Chief of 
the Pasadena Fire Department,” 
Wells said. “Pasadena Fire has 
a great legacy of public service, 
saving lives and protecting 
property. As Chief, it will be 
my privilege to advance that 
commitment.” 

Wells has overseen the 
Department’s Operations Bureau 
where he was responsible for all 
aspects of emergency service 
delivery. He also holds the title 
of Fire Marshal, overseeing the 
Prevention, Operations and 
Administration Bureaus Beck 
said. 


By Dean Lee

 A Pasadena Residential 
Care Center resident was 
arrested Monday after 
leading police to the body 
of another patient, not 
breathing, he later admitted 
to killing. Police said no 
motive was given for the 
alleged murder.

 According to police, on 
Monday, at approximately 
5:48 p.m., Pasadena police 
officers were conducting 
an investigation at the 
Pasadena Residential Care 
Center, 1400 block of North 
Garfield Avenue, when 
resident Paul Lopez, 38, 
approached them admitting 
to killing 61-year-old 
Pasadena resident George 
Schatford. 

 Police said they were first 
approached by an employee 
who asked for assistance 
regarding a patient not 
breathing. Officers found 
Schatford in a room within 
the facility unresponsive. 
The Pasadena Fire 
Department responded to 
the scene, but they were 
unable to revive Schatford 
they said.

 Police said marks were 
found around Schatford’s 
neck leading they to believe 
has was strangled

 Lopez was transported 
and booked for murder 
at the Pasadena Police 
Department. Pasadena 
Homicide/ Assault 
Detectives and the coroner’s 
office responded to the 
location. The California 
Health & Human Services 
Agency was advised of 
the incident according to 
police.

 Lopez is being held in lieu 
of $1 million bail.

New Council Districts Approved

By Dean Lee

 The city council approved an 
amendment Monday night that 
alters the boundaries of the seven 
districts from which council 
members are elected. District 4 
Council Member Gene Masuda 
was the only no vote saying that 
stripping thousands of residents 
from his district was unfair. 

 Both council members, Steve 
Madison and Chris Holden were 
absent. 

 Redistricting occurs, by law, 
every 10 years and uses the 
most recent U.S. Census figures. 
Between 2000 and 2010 Census 
records show the city grew 
by 3,186 residents putting the 
population at 137,122. According 
to city staff about 11,000 residents 
will be affected by changes. 

 Although District 4 grew slightly 
by 475 residents, a little less than 
2, 000 of those were shifted west 
of Mentor Avenue, and 2,395 
residents were added south of 
Colorado Boulevard. 

 “The problem that I had with 
this whole thing, when you strip 
2,000 people from District 4 and 
then on a staff report, and then 
quotes in the newspaper, I’ve 
been hearing,” He said. “they are 
comparing population numbers 
or impact of population numbers 
after the striping of 2,000 people... 
I find that really insulting because 
that is not what we were talking 
about.”

 Masuda said the issue was not 
crossing Colorado Boulevard. 

 “By the time they went across 
adjusting the numbers, by the 
time they got to district 5 and 
then 2 they needed 2,000 people, 
instead of crossing Colorado, 
he fixed that problem through 
district 4.” 

 Districts 2 and 5 also had major 
changes according to staff.

 The city has a long standing 
rule that all district touch a part 
of Colorado Blvd., at first, in part 
dealing with the Rose Parade 
although later more to do with 
the popularity of businesses along 
the boulevard. 

 The council also rejected 
The Downtown Pasadena 
Neighborhood Association 
proposed new district arguing 
that downtown Pasadena is 
currently split up between four 
different council districts that, 
they say, should be one.

 At the council’s April 30 meeting, 
Jonathan Edwards, speaking 
on behalf of The Downtown 
Pasadena Neighborhood 
Association reasoned that 
downtown Pasadena residents 
have different needs and should 
be represented by a council 
member with their goals in 
mind.

 “Sustainability, leadership, 
Innovation, urban walk-ability, 
a vibrant street life, these 
are themes that are founded 
throughout the redistricting 
discussion that we have had 
with you, and the task force,” 
he said. “And they are themes 
that are still relevant tonight. 
We’re here, The Downtown 
Pasadena Neighborhood 
Association united by common 
characteristics, We’re here 
because we enjoy urban way of 
life.”

 Edwards said that most 
residents in the downtown live in 
condominiums and apartments, 
ride bikes and use public 
transportation making it a unique 
neighborhood. He had proposed 
a one downtown district plan 
something the council rejected. 

 A number of council members, 
including Victor Gordo and 
Holden, had said that council 
district boundaries do not define 
neighborhood going so far as to 
say that the downtown benefits 
from being split four ways. 

 City Clerk Mark Jomsky said 
the new district lines are expected 
to be submitted to Los Angeles 
County by May 15. 

Guns, Cash Seized in 
Welfare Fraud Investigation


Northwest 
Commission 
to Reexamine 
Community 
Role

By Dean Lee

 Police took three people into 
custody Tuesday in connection 
with a yearlong sting operation 
on an East Pasadena liquor 
store thought to be a front for a 
massive welfare fraud operation. 
A fourth unnamed suspect is still 
outstanding police said.

 According to police, search 
warrants were served at Sunshine 
Liquor Store, 3360 E. Colorado 
Blvd., as well as five other 
locations in Pasadena, Burbank 
and Glendale. The raids netted 
nine weapons and $298,716.00 in 
cash.

 Three adults, including Sunshine 
Liquor owner George Kerio, 38 of 
Glendale and two clerks, Nassib 
Shankour, 43, Daniel Bonilla, 29, 
both from Pasadena were arrested 
for conspiracy to commit welfare 
fraud.

 The investigation was led by 
the Pasadena Police Department 
in conjunction with the United 
States Department of Agriculture 
(USDA), the US Secret Service, 
and the California Department of 
Alcoholic Beverage Control. 

 Police say the investigation 
started after receiving complaints 
last year about possible welfare 
fraud at Sunshine Liquor. 

 Pasadena’s Northwest 
Commission, the City 
Council-appointed advisory 
body regarding services 
and activities for the city’s 
northwest community, will 
hold a special community 
meeting to discuss potential 
restructuring in response 
to the dissolution of 
community redevelopment 
agencies and the City’s two 
redevelopment project area 
committees (PACs): the 
Fair Oaks PAC and the 
Lincoln Avenue PAC. 

 The public is invited to 
share opinions and ideas 
with the Commission 
regarding what role it 
might play in regard to 
economic development at 
the special meeting set for 
6:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 15, 
at Jackie Robinson Center 
Auditorium, 1020 N. Fair 
Oaks Ave. 

For more information, 
please contact Lola 
Osborne, Northwest 
Programs Manager at 
losborne@cityofpasadena.
net or (626) 744-6879. 

 For more information 
about the City of Pasadena, 
go online to cityofpasadena.
net. 

On Your Mark, Pasadena 
Marathon Coming May 20


Citizen 
Journalism 
Meet-up

 The Pasadena Marathon 
presented by Kaiser Permanente 
is scheduled to take place 
on Sunday, May 20th. The 
event will feature a full & half 
marathon, bike tour, and 5k 
community run/walk. For 
detailed information about 
course maps, registration, 
etc., please log-on to www.
pasadenamarathon.org. 

 The event will start and end at 
Pasadena City College with a 
day-long Finish Festival at that 
site. An estimated 6,500 people 
are expected to participate. The 
route will take participants past 
our City’s renowned cultural 
landmarks and through many of 
our scenic neighborhoods and 
vibrant commercial districts. 
Parking for the event is free and 
will be located at the Pasadena 
City College Campus and 
nearby Caltech. 

 Event Schedule 

5:00 am Secure Route 

5:45 am Bike Tour 

6:30 am Marathon/Half 

7:30 am 10k/5k 

9:00 am 1k Kids Run 

7:00 am Finish Line Festival 
Open to Public at PCC 

1:45 pm Rolling Closures 
with Final Mile Re-Opening by 
this time. 

 Street Closures 

 Beginning at 5:00 am on 
race day, Pasadena Police will 
assume control of the streets 
with restricted vehicular 
access only through designated 
intermittent traffic control 
points and those streets not 
affected by the route. Residents 
and visitors to the City should 
be advised to expect delays 
when traveling within the City. 
Streets will re-open according to 
a 15 minute per mile time clock. 
Please visit pasadenamarathon.
org for street closure map to 
see when streets will re-open 
in your neighborhood. The 
Pasadena Police Department 
reminds residents to remain 
patient when driving in the 
City.

Pet of 
the Week

 
Learn not just how to 
blog but how to report 
the news

 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 
May 15 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.

 Chapa is an 11-year-old 
cream Pekingese. He takes 
some time to warm up so 
a loving, calm and caring 
household would be great 
for him. 

 Chapa’s adoption fee is 
$120, which includes his 
neuter surgery, a microchip, 
the first set of vaccinations, 
as well as a free follow-
up health check at a 
participating vet. He also 
qualifies for the Seniors for 
Seniors program in which 
adopters 60 years old ,or 
older only pay the $20 
mandatory microchip fee. 
New adopters will receive 
complimentary health and 
wellness exam from VCA 
Animal Hospitals. Ask an 
adoptions counselor for 
more information during 
your visit.

 Call the Pasadena 
Humane Society & SPCA at 
626.792.7151 to ask about 
A304683 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.

Voter Registration Deadline 
Is May 21 for Primary Election

Fire Officials Offers Brush Clearance Tips

 

 Whether you’re voting 
interest in the upcoming 
June 5 California Primary is 
the Pasadena Unified School 
District charter amendment 
creating sub-districts, races 
for the Los Angeles County 
Board of Supervisors and the 
California Legislature, or the 
U.S. Senate and presidential 
contests, you first have to be 
registered to cast your ballot. 

 With the June 5 primary 
election just a few weeks away, 
Pasadena City Clerk Mark 
Jomsky reminds the public that 
the registration deadline to vote 
next month is May 21. 

 Voter registration in Los 
Angeles County is open to 
any county resident age 18 or 
over, or who will be 18 by the 
time of the election, who is 
not currently in custody or on 
parole for a felony conviction. 

 Registrants must fill out a hard-
copy form and return it to the 
County Elections Office, Jomsky 
said. Registration forms are 
available at most government 
buildings in Los Angeles 
County, including all Pasadena 
city offices, public libraries and 
community centers. Forms also 
can be downloaded from the 
California Secretary of State’s 
website at www.sos.ca.gov/
elections/register-to-vote/. 

 In addition to federal and 
state elective-office races and 
the Pasadena Unified School 
District sub-district proposal, 
Measure A, this year’s primary 
ballot includes state measures 
dealing with legislator term 
limits and the cigarette tax as 
well as county tax measures 
related to hotel occupancy and 
landfills. 

 For more information about 
this year’s elections, including 
finding your polling place and 
options for casting your ballot, 
visit the Los Angeles County 
Registrar-Recorder online at 
www.lavote.net. 

 For more information about 
the City of Pasadena, go online 
to www.cityofpasadena.net.

 The hills and wild areas are 
lush with vegetation now due 
to the recent damp weather, but 
that brush and grass will dry out 
soon, increasing the chance of 
wildfires. Pasadena firefighters 
are inspecting brush-prone areas 
through June and reminding 
property owners of the following 
responsibilities they have under 
the city’s Hazardous Vegetation 
Ordinance to help prevent fires. 

 Remove all dead trees and 
keep grasses and weeds mowed 
within 100 feet of any building 
(including those on adjacent 
property) and within 10 feet of 
any roadway used for vehicular 
travel. This does not apply to 
ornamental shrubbery, trees 
or cultivated ground cover. In 
extremely hazardous areas, 
distances up to 200 feet from a 
structure and 50 feet from a fence 
or roadway may be required by 
the Fire Department. 

 Grasses and other vegetation 
located more than 30 feet from 
any building and less than 
18 inches in height may be 
maintained where necessary 
to stabilize soil and prevent 
erosion. Large trees and shrubs 
in that area should be 18 feet 
apart. 

Remove leafy foliage, deadwood, 
combustible ground cover, twigs 
or branches within three feet of 
mature trees located within 100 
feet of any building or within 
10 feet of any roadway used for 
vehicular travel. 

 Remove dead limbs, branches 
and other combustible matter 
from trees or other growing 
vegetation adjacent to or 
overhanging any structure. 

Remove any portion of a tree 
which extends within 10 feet of a 
chimney or stovepipe. Trim and 
maintain all vegetation away 
from curb line up to a height 
of 13.5 feet to accommodate 
emergency vehicles. 

 Maintain five feet of vertical 
clearance between roof surfaces 
and any overhanging portions 
of trees. 

 The Fire Department does 
not recommend indiscriminate 
clearing of native chaparral due 
to the important role that it plays 
in slope stabilization, erosion 
control and local ecology. 

“These are all common-sense 
precautions that many property 
owners eventually take just to 
keep their properties looking 
good,” said Fire Chief Calvin 
E. Wells. “But we recommend 
that these safety precautions be 
taken now, before the vegetation 
dries out and becomes a real fire 
hazard.” 

 Firefighters will notify property 
owners of any vegetation fire 
hazards they spot during their 
inspections in the next two 
months. Contact Pasadena 
Fire at (626) 744-4675 with 
any questions about hazardous 
vegetation management. More 
information also can be found 
online at www.cityofpasadena.
net/Fire. 

 For more information visit 
www.cityofpasadena.net.