Mountain Views News          Saturday, June 9, 2012

6


Mountain Views-News Saturday June 9, 2012 

TRIBUTE TO JACKIE FAUST-MORENO by Scott Hettrick, Arcadia’s Best

You may have noticed the City’s flags flying at half-staff this week.

 It’s a generous and fitting gesture in honor and recognition of the 
unexpected death of a highly-regarded current head of a City Department 
while still in office, a rarity.

 Jackie Faust-Moreno, the Director of Arcadia Public Library and 
Museum Services, died Saturday morning at Methodist Hospital 
less than three days after suffering a heart attack in her office early 
Wednesday evening.

 

The Library Board of Trustees, including myself as Chairman, along 
with Meredith Brucker, Dorothy Denne, Anne Joseph, and Ron Larson, 
will hold an emergency meeting to name an interim Director of 
Library and Museum Services. A permanent Director is expected to 
be named in the near future. The Library’s deep pool of skilled and 
experienced staff ensures the transition will be smooth and stable.

 

Just hours before she was found slumped over in her office chair 
moments before she was to leave work for the day, Jackie was out 
walking during her lunch break on another of her recently initiated 
daily exercise strolls down Santa Anita Avenue to Longden Avenue 
from the Library at Duarte Road. On this day, which would be her 
last, she said she felt so good when she got to Longden that she kept 
walking down to Live Oak. But her return trip proved to be more 
strenuous than she expected; her staff told her she didn’t look good, 
and she conceded that maybe she overdid it.

 It turned out she had nearly complete blockage in two arteries.

 

Less than 24-hours earlier at a budget study session that was challenging 
for all City department heads, Jackie was holding her 
ground during some pointed questions by the City Council.

 That was so typically Jackie, and I was very proud of her during 
that session.

 

It was less than a year earlier that the five of us on the Library Board 
unanimously agreed to promote Jackie to the top spot. (Unlike the 
City of Arcadia’s other Commissions, which are primarily advisory, 
the all-volunteer Library Board has full and sole responsibility for 
the hiring and firing of the Library Director, any changes to the Library’s 
By-Laws, and oversight of the budget.)

 Despite Jackie’s 28-year career at the Arcadia Public Library and 
ten years in what would become the co-Number Two role as Library 
Services Manager, a couple of us on the board, including myself, 
only knew Jackie as something of a quiet tech-geek (she ramped up 
the Library’s web site and blogs and launched the Library’s Twitter 
feed, as well as the massive new open-source Koha online catalog 
system). We also knew she loved vampire novels and foreign language 
films (she initiated the Library’s regularly-scheduled Adult 
Foreign Language film program).

 

At least a couple of us were not familiar enough with Jackie to be 
100% certain that she had the experience to handle all the budgeting 
and myriad management aspects of the job, or the strong and 
strategic personality required to be the public face of the Library 
and deal with the political side of the Director position – managing 
our personalities on the Board of Trustees and pushing for approvals 
needed from the City Manager and City Council.

 

Boy, did Jackie quickly lay our fears to rest.

 

We interviewed numerous highly-qualified outside candidates but 
Jackie made it an easy choice for us, demonstrating her tenacity and 
subtlely gregarious public personality during the interview process.

 Her candor was also refreshing. She was nearly 63 years old at the 
time – she would have turned 64 this month. Despite knowing that 
we would prefer to have someone commit to the job for at least 3-5 
years, since she would be the third Director in less than three years 
after a long run of stability in that position, she boldly told us without 
hesitation that she planned to retire in about 2 ½ – 3 years. But 
she promised to be aggressive during her term and not simply ride 
out her time, that is, except for a previously planned extended overseas 
vacation in November/December (she wound up being gone 
right when the catastrophic windstorm hit Arcadia on Dec. 1, 2011).

 While those two revelations might have dissuaded some of us from 
choosing another candidate, it was charmingly frank and somehow 
reassuring coming from 
Jackie.

 She wasted no time in implementing 
ideas she had 
for changes at the Library. 
She felt passionate about 
making sure pre-teens and 
teens had a place to call 
their own so that they didn’t 
feel like they didn’t belong. 
She opened up the auditorium 
to high school students 
in the afternoons and 
expanded and redesigned 
the teen area to be more 
tailored to their interests. 
Recently, she also proudly 
showed me how she had begun 
to bring in new furniture 
and signage in the Jerry 
Broadwell Children’s Room 
area that would be clearly 
dedicated to middle school 
students who often feel like 
they don’t fit in anywhere.

 

Jackie also set all the preliminary 
work in place 
to completely upgrade 
and modernize the well-
used auditorium, pending 
spending approvals. And the Library’s recent debut of 
the first e-books came under her watch.

 

Shortly before she was taking on her new role, I had 
embarked on a new job as Executive Director of the Arcadia 
Chamber of Commerce, and shortly after her promotion, 
the Library board elected me to be the Chairman 
for 2011-12. Jackie understood the importance of 
being an ambassador for the Library and together we 
saw the potential for synergy in our new jobs. We jointly 
decided to have the Library host the Chamber’s monthly 
board meeting in January. More than two dozen movers 
and shakers stepped foot in the Library for the first time 
in years, or ever. Jackie and Library Services Manager 
Darlene Bradley offered a short pitch about the Library’s 
vast array of services and provided materials for the visitors 
to take with them. After the meeting, Darlene gave 
an illuminating walking tour of the entire facility.

 Jackie also eagerly offered the Library as the venue for 
the Chamber’s first official City Council candidates forum 
in March.

 In her additional role as head of the Arcadia Historical 
Museum, Jackie made it one of her first priorities to be an 
effective liaison between the City-run Museum and the 
separate non-profit volunteer group, the Arcadia Historical 
Society. That effort was very much-appreciated.

 

After graduating Hollywood High School and majoring 
in Theater Arts at Los Angeles City College and UCLA, 
Jackie received her Master of Library Science degree 
from USC and began her career as a librarian at USC.

 In 1984, she began her long employment with the Arcadia 
Public Library as a Reference Librarian before 
becoming supervisor of Cataloging and Information 
Services.

 In 2001 she became the Library Services Manager for Materials and 
Information Management, where she oversaw a variety of technology 
upgrades, including the recent migration to the Koha online 
catalog system.

 

Jackie was due for her first annual review by our board this month. 
It was already informally clear amongst all of us that Jackie was 
about to receive the highest praise for what she accomplished in the 
job she aspired to and, gratefully, lived to achieve.

The suddeness caught everyone by surprise. Most of her staff, family 
and friends remain in a mild state of shock and disbelief. The Hollywood 
resident is survived by her husband Dave, two daughters 
and a granddaughter. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, 
donations be sent to:

 Hollywood High Alumnae Association in memory of Jackie (Gillett) 
Faust-Moreno Scholarship Fund

 C/O Shrley Norby

 3852 Eureka Dr.

 Studio City, CA 91604 


Jackie proudly showing off the new Library marquee at Santa Anita Ave. and Duarte Rd


Jackie (center) as host of Chamber board meeting at Library January 
26, 2012, with then-Chamber President Bob Hoffman and Library Services 
Manager Darlene Bradley

For the period of Sunday, May 27th, through Saturday, June 2nd, the Police Department responded to 1,070 
calls for service of which 105 required formal investigations. The following is a summary report of the 
major incidents handled by the Department during this period.

Sunday, May 27:

1. At approximately 1:51 a.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop on a Toyota Camry for speeding 
in the area of Duarte Road and Baldwin Avenue. Upon contact with the driver, the officer smelt an 
odor of alcohol emitting from his breath and person. An investigation revealed the driver was under the 
influence and was never issued a license. The 20-year-old Vietnamese male was arrested and transported 
to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. 
2. Around 5:23 p.m., an officer responded to Nordstrom at the Santa Anita Mall, 400 South Baldwin 
Avenue, regarding a male adult in custody for theft. The suspect grabbed two watches and exited the 
store without making payment. An investigation revealed he was also in possession of stolen property. 
The 22-year-old Hispanic male was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. 


Monday, May 28:

At about 3:23 a.m., an officer was dispatched to a traffic collision on Baldwin Avenue, north of 
Huntington Drive, where a vehicle had veered into the center median and hit a City light pole. The 
driver was transported to the Arcadia Methodist Hospital and treated for neck pain. An investigation 
revealed the driver lost control of his vehicle, possibly due to falling asleep. Sobriety tests revealed 
alcohol was not a factor.

3. Shortly after 7:50 p.m., officers conducted a traffic stop on a black Honda Civic in Gate 10 of the 
Santa Anita Mall, near Baldwin Avenue. Dispatch advised mall security saw the occupants drinking and 
driving in the parking lot with an infant unrestrained inside the vehicle. Upon contact with the driver, 
the officers observed an infant sitting on the female passenger’s lap. An investigation revealed the female 
was breastfeeding the infant while drinking and at one point, held a beer bottle against the infant’s lips. 
The Hispanic driver and passenger, 28 and 29-years-old respectively, were arrested for DUI and Child 
Endangerment. During the booking process, officers discovered the passenger had an outstanding 
misdemeanor warrant and the driver’s license was expired. Their 7-month-old son was released to a 
family member and the case was forwarded to the Department of Child and Family Services for further 
investigation.


Tuesday, May 29:

Around 9:56 a.m., an officer responded to Arcadia High School, 180 Campus Drive, in reference to a 
student detained for possessing a knife on campus. The 18-year-old Asian male explained he carried the 
weapon in case he needed to defend himself. He was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail 
for booking. 

4. At approximately 5:45 p.m., officers were dispatched to Faschings Car Wash, 425 North Santa 
Anita Avenue, regarding a theft of service. Workers finished detailing a vehicle and released the keys to 
the owner after directing him to make payment at the Cashier’s Desk. The subject entered the vehicle, a 
2007 Ford Expedition with Arkansas license plates, and drove off southbound on Santa Anita Avenue 
without making payment. He is described as a White male, approximately 40-years-old, 5’11” tall, 165 
lbs., with curly brown hair and a goatee, wearing a t-shirt and blue jeans. 


 

Wednesday, May 30:

5. At about 8:05 p.m., officers conducted a traffic stop on a Dodge Dakota pick-up truck for 
expired registration, in the area of First Avenue and Haven Avenue. One of the passengers gave the 
officer a false name; however, a warrant check revealed she had an outstanding felony no bail warrant 
and a misdemeanor warrant for her arrest. The 31-year-old White female was arrested and transported 
to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. 
6. At approximately 10:40 p.m., officers made consensual contact with a subject standing in the 
middle of Huntington Drive, west of Santa Anita Avenue. A records check revealed a felony no bail 
warrant and a $30,000 warrant for his arrest. The 23-year-old White male was placed on a parole hold 
for pick-up by the California Department of Corrections. 


ARCADIA POLICE BLOTTER

FIRE BLAZES AT FOREST HQ IN ARCADIA


Twenty-six structures were consumed in a major blaze just after midnight Tuesday night/Wednesday 
morning at the headquarters of the United States Forest Service (USFS) west of Santa Anita Avenue 
just south of the 210 freeway.

 The former office buildings had been vacated and were being prepared for removal as part of a major 
renovation at the facility. There were no reported injuries to civilians or firefighters. The fire is currently 
still under investigation, but preliminary findings indicate the cause of the fire to be accidental 
in nature.

 The Arcadia Fire Department responded to a call at 12:40 a.m. regarding a strong odor of smoke in 
the 600-block of Cornell Drive. A single Engine was dispatched to the reported location for investigation. 
Upon arrival, fire personnel determined the smoke was originating from the United States 
Forest Service (USFS) site located in the 700-block of North Santa Anita. A full structure response 
was initiated with the Incident Commander requesting a 2nd alarm to obtain additional resources.

 

Units responded from Arcadia, Monrovia, Pasadena, South Pasadena, and Los Angeles County Fire 
Departments. Fire personnel discovered 26 modular structures placed together fully involved with 
fire. The structures were primarily used as office spaces, but, per USFS representatives, they were 
vacant at the time of the incident and in the process of being removed from the property for use 
elsewhere.

 Suppression personnel determined the structure was dangerously unstable due to heavy fire activity 
and were unable to make entry. Fire personnel utilized defensive tactics to extinguish the fire with 
large diameter fire hose, ground monitors, and an aerial ladder pipe.

 The fire was contained to the structure of origin with no damage to the surrounding structures or 
neighboring properties. The subject structure, which had been previously vacated, was completely 
destroyed from the fire.

 

Property loss is still being estimated by Arcadia Fire Department and the United States Forest Service 
personnel. 

– By Scott Hettrick from Arcadia Fire Department media release