Mountain Views News          Saturday, August 24, 2013

4

Mountain Views-News Saturday, August 24, 2013 


Reviews Concluded 
On Pasadena Officers

POLICE 

CAUTION 
RESIDENTS 

AFTER RASH 
OF BREAK-INS

 The Los Angeles County 
Sheriff’s Department concluded 
an independent investigation 
into eight personnel complaints 
filed with the Pasadena Police 
Department, which included, 
alleged threats by an officer and 
hiding evidence among other 
allegations.

 According to Pasadena Police 
Chief Phillip Sanchez, all the 
complaints were brought forth 
by a sole source between April 
and October of 2012. “The 
combined complaints were 
primarily centered on three 
officers and were generated 
during court proceedings 
related to an aggravated assault 
trial.” Sanchez said in a written 
statement although did not 
state the officers names.

 The officers were “exonerated,” 
meaning the alleged act(s) 
occurred, but were justified, 
lawful, and proper, on 
complainants that officer 
tried to influence witness 
testimony, inappropriate 
use of an informant, That 
an officer failed to provide a 
copy of a search warrant and 
that the issuance of the search 
warrant was harassment, and 
that an officer inappropriately 
recorded a jailhouse telephone 
conversation.

 Several complainants were 
“sustained”—sufficient 
evidence to establish that the 
act occurred and it constituted 
a policy violation— including 
that an officer failed to submit 
discovery material before trial, 
and that an officer made an 
inappropriate comment. 

 Other complainants were 
“unfounded” meaning the 
allegation did not occur, 
including submission of 
misleading police report, and 
that an officer interfered with a 
witness statement. 

 There was also insufficient 
evidence to sustain a 
complainant that alleged 
unlawful arrest and failure to act 
by an officer. An investigation 
by LASD that alleged threats 
by an officer was also still on-
going.

 “The Pasadena Police 
Department takes seriously any 
allegations of misconduct by its 
employees,” Sanchez said. “If 
police personnel are found to 
have committed violations, they 
will be held accountable.”

 Pasadena police are asking 
for the public’s help after 
several homes have been 
burglarized between Lake 
Ave. and Martello Ave. 
north of Orange Grove 
Blvd. Seven break-ins have 
occurred between August 1 
and Wednesday, August 21 
they said. 

 Three of the home hit last 
week were on Loma Vista 
Street in the, 1400 block, 
1600 block, and 1900 block. 
Other burglaries occurred 
in the 1000 block of Mentor 
Ave, 1200 block of North 
Hill Ave, 1000 block of 
Terra Alta Dr., and the 1600 
block of Paloma Street.

 According to police, most 
of the burglaries have 
occurred during the day 
and early evening hours. 
Some have occurred within 
2-3 hours of the victim 
leaving their residence. The 
suspects are possibly in the 
area watching and waiting 
for the victims to leave and 
then enter the residences. 
“Please lock your doors 
and windows when not at 
home,” they cautioned.

 On one occasion, two 
male Blacks were seen both 
between the ages of 20-30; 
One was 5 feet 8 inches, 
thin, wearing a light colored 
“Harvard” t-shirt. The 
other was 5 feet 10 inches, 
thin, wearing a red t-shirt 
and olive cargo shorts. On 
another occasion, a female 
Hispanic or Armenian in 
her 20’s with black hair in 
a ponytail was seen taking a 
recently delivered package 
from a front porch. She got 
into a Red 4-door vehicle 
with black and yellow 
dealer paper plates, which 
was driven by a male.

 Police also said in most 
cases, miscellaneous 
electronic and Jewelry items 
were taken.

 Anyone with information 
is asked to call the Pasadena 
Police Department at (626) 
744-4241.

Firefighter Hopefuls Take Written Exam

 Thousands of Pasadena 
firefighter applicants showed 
up Monday at the Pasadena 
Convention Center to take a 
written exam, hopeful they 
would make it as one of about 
200 that would advance to the 
next round. 

 Pasadena Fire Spokeswoman 
Lisa Derderian said of the 
estimated 4,000 applicants, 
approximately 10 candidates 
will actually becoming 
firefighters. She also said this 
was the first hiring since a 
department hiring freeze in 
2009.

 “And then from this point, 
the ones that score highest 
move on to several interview 
boards, including the chief’s 
interview board if they make 
it to that level,” Derderian said 
in an interview with KNX 
News. “And then there’s a 16-
week academy for the small 
handful that do become the 
firefighters.”

 Derderian said the test 
consists of general education, 
“There is a misconception, 
that firefighting is not just 
a medical and firefighting 
part of it, but also involves 
a lot of report writing, 
documentation and so we 
want to ensure that they have 
a solid general education 
background first.”

 The three-hour aptitude test 
was given at 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. 
About 2,000 people showed 
at to each. People came from 
as far away as New York 
according to Derderian. 

 A handful that makes it will 
go through a four-month 
training period and receive 
$4,121 per month, she said. 

 Derderian said the 
department needs to fill the 
positions opened by retiring 
firefighters. 

 The Pasadena Fire 
Department consists of 180 
full time employees, with 153 
shift personnel, and 27 Bureau 
/ Administrative personnel. 

Library 
Extends 
Hours

 Library Director Jan Sanders 
announced Monday that 
“beginning in September 
2013, we will be reinstating 
the hours previously cut at 
the branch libraries and once 
again offering six or seven 
day service at all locations. 
This is due in great part to 
library parcel tax dollars 
and an improved city budget 
scenario.”

 In 2009 & 2010 Pasadena 
Public Library reduced library 
hours due to loss of revenue 
and projected shortfalls in 
the city’s annual budget. 
The reduced hours were 
maintained through the end of 
Fiscal Year 2012/2013.

 The new schedule will begin 
September 3rd for all the city’s 
libraries. 

 For more information, 
contact Catherine Hany at 
(626) 744-4207 or chany@
cityofpasadena.net.


Rose Bowl Stadium to 
Host Fantasy Football


Library to Feature Folk 
Singer Ross Altman

 The Allendale Branch Library 
presents the concluding 
program in its month-
long celebration of the 50th 
anniversary of the August 28, 
1963 March on Washington for 
Jobs and Freedom, a watershed 
in the struggle for civil rights in 
the United States. The March, 
which culminated with Dr. 
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have 
a Dream” speech in front of the 
Lincoln Memorial, is widely 
credited with helping to pass 
the Civil Rights Act (1964) and 
the Voting Rights Act (1965).

 On Saturday, August 31, at 
2:00 p.m., the Allendale Branch 
Library will feature folk singer 
Ross Altman in a program of 
folk music originally performed 
at the March on Washington 
by Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Len 
Chandler, Odetta, and Peter, 
Paul and Mary. The performance 
will also include a few songs 
that became prominent in 
the months leading up to the 
March from the 1963 Newport 
Folk Festival with Pete Seeger 
and the Mississippi Freedom 
Singers, and in the aftermath 
(such as Richard Farina’s 
“Birmingham Sunday”), and 
will conclude with a 50th 
anniversary remembrance of 
the assassination of John F. 
Kennedy on November 22, 
1963. The program, which is 
open to the public and free of 
charge, will be held at 1130 S. 
Marengo Ave., Pasadena, CA 
91106. Light refreshments will 
be served.

 A folk singer, guitarist, and 
music historian, 
Ross Altman continues in the 
tradition of Woody Guthrie 
“to comfort the afflicted, and 
afflict the comfortable.” He 
grew up on the folk music of 
Guthrie, Leadbelly, Pete Seeger, 
Burl Ives, Theodore Bikel, Josh 
White, Big Bill Broonzy, and 
later on Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, 
Phil Ochs, Tom Paxton, and 
Malvina Reynolds. In addition 
to his busy performance 
schedule, Altman writes a 
regular column for FolkWorks, 
Southern California’s free 
folk music magazine. His 
recording and music publishing 
company, Grey Goose Music, 
is named after a children’s 
song by Leadbelly about an 
indestructible goose. 

 For further information, 
contact the Allendale Branch 
Library at (626) 744-7260 or 
visit pasadenapubliclibrary.net. 


Jack Scott 
Awarded UC 
Presidential 
Medal

 


 The iconic Rose Bowl 
Stadium will open its doors 
to the public for the chance 
to draft their fantasy football 
teams.

 Twenty years ago, the Dallas 
Cowboys faced off against 
the Buffalo Bills in the fifth 
and final Super Bowl held at 
the Rose Bowl Stadium. On 
Sunday, September 1, fans 
can experience the NFL once 
again at the historic facility 
with the Fantasy Football 
Experience by hosting their 
fantasy draft in one of the 
luxury suites in the new 
Pavilion.

 “We’re excited to share this 
unique opportunity with the 
ultimate football fan,” Jens 
Widen, CRO of the Rose 
Bowl Stadium stated. “With 
our state of the art luxury 
suites, multiple televisions, 
WiFi and views of the 50-
yard line, what better place 
to draft your fantasy team 
than where legends and 
history are made!” 

 Fans have the opportunity 
to choose from four all-
inclusive packages: “Mr. 
Irrelevant,” “No. 1 Pick,” 
“The Commissioner” and 
“Ultimate Fantasy.” All 
packages include a private 
suite in the Pavilion, 40” 
HDTV with hook-up 
capabilities, food and non-
alcoholic beverages, and a 
behind-the-scenes tour of 
the stadium with a look at 
the locker rooms, postgame 
media rooms, playing field 
and more. Packages start at 
$1,500.

 To register for the Rose Bowl 
Stadium Fantasy Football 
Experience or additional 
package information, 
please visit rosebowlfantasy.
eventbrite.com or call (626) 
577-3100.

 Draft your fantasy 
at America’s Stadium 
Sunday, September 1

Pet of the 
Week

Ross Altman

 
Earlier this month University 
of California President 
Mark G. Yudof awarded the 
UC Presidential Medal to 
Jack Scott, the former state 
legislator who led the 112 
schools of the California 
Community Colleges as 
chancellor from 2009 until his 
retirement in 2012.

 Scott, who also served as 
president of Pasadena City 
College (1987–95) and 
Cypress College (1978–87), 
lectured as Scholar-in-
Residence at the Claremont 
Graduate University’s School 
of Educational Studies during 
the past academic year.

 In presenting the Presidential 
Medal to Scott in Pasadena 
on Aug. 15, Yudof said: 
“Your remarkable efforts and 
achievements as a lawmaker, 
educator and chancellor 
expanded opportunities for 
countless Californians to 
enhance their lives and pursue 
their dreams.”

 The Presidential Medal 
citation reads, in part: “…
you have been an ardent and 
powerful voice for California’s 
historic Master Plan for Higher 
Education, fully dedicated 
to the idea that, by working 
in partnership, California’s 
higher education segments 
have given this state a model 
for the world to follow…”

 The Presidential 
Medal, which recognizes 
extraordinary contributions 
to the University of California 
or the community of learning, 
is the highest honor UC’s 
president can bestow.

Scott served in the California 
State Assembly from 1996 to 
2000 and in the State Senate 
from 2000–08.

 He holds a Ph.D. in history 
from Claremont Graduate 
University and master of 
divinity from Yale University.

 Violet is a playful 
10-month-old Dalmatian/
Labrador retriever mix. 
She’s a very friendly and 
energetic pup. She’s been out 
on our Mobile Unit to events 
around the community, too. 
She even knows some basic 
obedience commands!

 Violet’s regular adoption 
fee is $125, which includes 
her spay surgery, a 
microchip, the first set of 
vaccinations, as well as 
a free follow-up health 
check at a participating vet. 
New adopters will receive 
complimentary health and 
wellness exam from VCA 
Animal Hospitals, as well 
as a goody bag filled with 
information on how to 
care for your pet. Ask an 
adoptions counselor for 
more information during 
your visit. 

 Call the Pasadena 
Humane Society & SPCA at 
626.792.7151 to ask about 
A334364, or visit at 361 S. 
Raymond Ave. in Pasadena. 
Adoption hours are 11-4 
Sunday, 9-5 Tuesday –
Friday, 9-4 Saturday. Pets 
may not be available for 
adoption and cannot be 
held for potential adopters 
from phone calls or email. 
Directions and photos of all 
pets can be found at www.
pasadenahumane.org.

Free September Events at 
Pasadena Senior Center

Police to Hold Motorcycle 
Safety Operation Sunday

 

 There is something for 
everyone at the Pasadena Senior 
Center in September. Events 
listed below are free for PSC 
members. Some events require 
advance reservations as noted. 
Not a member? See the end of 
this release for how to join.

 • Final Concert in the Park – 
Tuesday, Sept. 3, at 6 p.m. The 
Great American Swing Band 
will round out the summer 
concert series at Memorial Park 
with the sounds of Big Band, 
standards, swing, rhythm and 
blues, jazz and Dixieland. This 
event is open to members and 
non-members of all ages! Bring 
a picnic or purchase dinner at 
the BBQ snack bar. Memorial 
Park is on Raymond Avenue 
between Walnut and Holly 
streets in Pasadena.

 • Savvy Caregivers Group 
– Wednesdays, Sept. 4 to 
Oct. 9, from 10 a.m. to noon. 
Alzheimer’s disease can present 
special challenges for caregivers. 
You are not alone! This group 
helps caregivers understand 
the stages of the disease, how 
to deal with difficult behaviors, 
how to care for yourself and 
gain support from others. 
Registration is required. (800) 
540-4442.

 • Finding the Right Caregiver 
– Thursday, Sept. 5, at 10 a.m. 
Not all professional caregivers 
provide the same level or 
quality of service; finding the 
right fit is important to you and 
your loved ones. This workshop 
will help you learn what should 
be considered when hiring a 
professional.

 • Friday Movie Matinees – 
Fridays, Sept. 6, 13 and 20, at 1 
p.m. Great movies can take us 
to different places and different 
times unlike anything else. Sept. 
6: “Searching for Sugar Man” 
(documentary, 2012), featuring 
Stephen “Sugar” Segerman; 
Sept. 13: “The English Patient” 
(1996) starring Ralph Fiennes, 
Juliette Binoche, Willem Dafoe 
and Kristin Scott Thomas; Sept. 
20: “Sabrina” (1954) starring 
Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey 
Bogart and William Holden.

 The Pasadena Police 
Department will be conducting 
a specialized Motorcycle Safety 
Enforcement Operation on 
Sunday, August 25, 2013, in 
an effort to lower deaths and 
injuries. Extra officers will 
be on duty patrolling areas 
frequented by motorcyclists 
and where motorcycle crashes 
occur. Officers will be looking 
for violations made by drivers 
and riders alike that can lead to 
motorcycle crashes. They will be 
cracking down on both those 
operating regular vehicles and 
motorcycles who are under the 
influence of drugs or alcohol, 
speeding, making illegal 
turns, or any other dangerous 
violation. 

 Motorcycle fatalities saw a 
phenomenal drop of 37 percent 
from 2008 to 2010, but rose 
nearly 18 percent in 2011. 
Operations like this are aimed 
at curbing any more rises in 
motorcycle deaths and sending 
the numbers back downward. 

 California collision data 
reveals that primary causes of 
motorcycle-involved crashes 
include speeding, unsafe 
turning and impairment due 
to alcohol and other drugs. The 
Pasadena Police Department 
is also reminding all motorists 
to always be alert and watch 
out for motorcycles, especially 
when turning and changing 
lanes. 

 As the economy turns upward, 
there will likely be more miles 
driven by all vehicles, plus 
more novice motorcycle riders 
who are untrained and unable 
to handle the power of today’s 
motorcycles. The message to 
all drivers and motorcyclists is: 
share in the responsibility and 
do your part by safely “sharing 
the road.” Riders can get 
training through the California 
Motorcyclist Safety Program. 
Information and training 
locations are available at www.
CAmsp.org or 1-877 RIDE 411 
or 1-877-743-3411.