Mountain Views News          Saturday, August 9, 2014

SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 2014

SECTION B

AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

SUPERVISOR ANTONOVICH’S

ANNUAL POLICE CHIEFS LUNCHEON

COMMUNITY SUPPORT HELPS FOOTHILL UNITY CENTER PREPARE 
NEARLY 1,100 LOCAL KIDS OF VERY LOW INCOME FAMILIES 
FOR CLASS AT 16TH ANNUAL BACK TO SCHOOL EVENT 

 
After months of planning and work by 
Center staff, over 700 volunteers and a mass of 
community supporters, some 1,100 preregistered 
local K-12 children of very low income families 
got the backpacks, school supplies and clothing 
they needed to start the school year with 
confidence. 

 Throughout the day-long event at Santa Anita 
Park racetrack in Arcadia, a circle of support 
surrounded the excited youngsters every step 
of the way, as DJ Party Pros kept kids, parents 
and volunteers dancing. Hundreds of volunteers 
worked the event, staffing distribution tables for 
everything from uniforms and shoe vouchers 
to notebooks and calculators. Each child wore a 
“passport” lanyard with check-offs to make sure 
no one missed a single table.

 Citrus College cosmetology students contributed 
a full day of haircutting and manicure services. 
Monrovia Reads and A Foundation for Kids gave 
new grade-appropriate books to every child.

 Health connections were a major feature. The 
Ostrow School of Dentistry for USC offered free 
dental screenings, singling out children with the 
most urgent needs to be treated at the Center’s 
Mobile Dental Clinic this winter. SafetyBeltSafe 
U.S.A. gave families hands-on demonstrations 
of how to use seat belts and install car seats 
and booster seats, and gave free booster seats to 
qualified families.

 Attendees also got access to information direct 
from an array of health resources, including 
American Red Cross, CalFresh, CHAP Care, 
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Community 
Alliance of Pasadena, Department of Social 
Services, HEAR Center, Methodist Hospital, 
Monrovia Health Center, Options Child Care 
Services, Pacific Clinics, Pasadena Public Health 
Department and URDC/Bill More Community 
Clinic.

 Fun was everywhere, as kids lined up to see a 
model Mars rover from Jet Propulsion Laboratories 
(JPL) and learn about Exelis 3-D Deep Space 
Exploration. Other popular destinations included 
hands-on ceramic art projects with Paint N Play, 
the Southern California Edison Big Truck display, 
and fire engines and crew members from the 
Arcadia and Monrovia Fire Departments. A snack 
center featured egg rolls from Panda Restaurant 
Group and popcorn from LA Partyworks.

 The Center still needs funds to cover the cost 
of the massive event, which is paid for annually 
by donations from hundreds of local individuals, 
companies and organizations. Support is also 
needed to underwrite the upcoming Mobile 
Dental Clinic for which children were screened at 
the event.

 Key sponsors to date include Buddhist Tzu Chi 
Foundation, LA Party Works, Marshall’s/TJX 
Companies, Monrovia Reads, Monrovian Family 
Restaurant, Panda Restaurant Group, Santa Anita 
Park, Southern California Edison Company, The 
Outlet by E.L.S., Vons Foundation and Wells 
Fargo Foundation.

 Other supporters include 3M Company, 
Athens Services, Avery Office Supplies, Bowden 
Development, Inc., Burrtec, California Pizza 
Kitchen, City of Monrovia, Custom Comfort 
Mattress, Duarte Transit, Foothill Unity Center 
Auxiliary, Lakeshore Learning Materials, 
Monrovia Transit, Pacific Clinics, Red Lobster 
Restaurant, Southern California Gas Company, 
Starbucks and The Gables Monrovia.

 “79% of our clients have incomes at or below the 
National Poverty Level,” said Center Executive 
Director Betty McWilliams. “Many are employed, 
but don’t get the pay they need to survive without 
help. This event helps them send their children 
back to class with the new items they can’t afford 
to provide — and helps these kids start the school 
year on a level playing field. ” 

 

About Foothill Unity Center

Celebrating its 35th anniversary next year, 
Foothill Unity Center is the primary provider of 
food, case management/crisis help, and access to 
health care resources across eleven San Gabriel 
Valley cities: Pasadena, Altadena, South Pasadena, 
Sierra Madre, Arcadia, Monrovia, Bradbury, 
Duarte, Azusa, Baldwin Park and Irwindale. 79% 
of the Center’s clients are at or below the National 
Poverty Level. The number of people served by the 
organization has more than tripled over the last 
five years. The Center, the federally designated 
Community Action Agency for the Foothill Area, 
operates locations in Monrovia and Pasadena. 

Left to right: Sierra Madre Police Chief Larry Gianonne, Alhambra Capt. Cliff Mar and 
So. Pasadena Chief Art Miller Story and Photo By Joan Schmidt

THREAT OF FLASH FLOODING PROMPTS 
NONPROFIT FLASH TO OFFER SAFETY TIPS 
FOR RESIDENTS

 Recently Supervisor Mike 
Antonovich held his annual 
Police Luncheon. It’s a great 
event where old friends get a 
chance to visit and newly hired/
promoted Chiefs meet their 
counterparts from other cities. 
Three main topics included 
Sheriff Scott’s update on the 
status of LASD, Discussion 
on AB 109, Public Safety 
Realignment and Introduction 
of Inspector General Max 
Huntsman.

 After a Welcome by 
Supervisor Antonovich, self-
introductions: LASD Sheriff 
John Scott, Assistant Sheriffs 
Rich Barrantes, Mike Rothans , 
Terri McDonald; Chiefs Buddy 
Goldman, Anthony La Berge, 
Jim Lopez; Commanders Mike 
Parker, Matthew Dendo, David 
Halm; Station Commanders: 
Chris Reed (Altadena), Bill 
Song (Crescenta Valley), Donnie 
Mouldin (Temple), Don Slawson 
(San Dimas), Roosevelt Johnson 
(Santa Clarita Valley), Don 
Ford (Palmdale) and Lt. Randy 
Harris represented Palmdale; 
City Police Chiefs included 
Bob Guthrie (Arcadia), Jim 
Hunt (Monrovia), Rob Castro 
(Glendale), Dave Lawton (San 
Gabriel), Art Miller(South 
Pasadena), Larry Giannone 
(Sierra Madre), Scott Pickwith 
(La Verne), Deputy Chief 
Tom Angel (Burbank) and 
Captain Cliff Mar represented 
Alhambra, and LAPD Captains 
Kris Pitcher Dominic Choi also 
attended. From the Probation 
Office, Chief Jerry Powers, 
Assistant Chief Margarita 
Perez and Deputy Chief Reaver 
Bingham. 

 Sheriff Scott began by speaking 
of a “cyclone”- his six months 
in office. He has initiated 83 
reforms to date, made personnel 
changes to place people in 
positions where they would be 
most effective and revamped 
the structure of command. He 
wants to lift the “black cloud” 
over the Department; there is 
more accountability and more 
involvement. Each Monday, 
the station commanders will 
overlook patrol operations. 
The reorganization of the 
Department has the ENTIRE 
executive staff involved in all 
discussions. There will be a more 
balance approach as they deal 
with reality versus perception.

 Supervisor Antonovich 
provided all attendees with a 
handout on the Public Safety 
Realignment Act of 2011. (AB 
109) The first page outlines 
2011-2014. Some highlights 
include: 2011, a PRCS 24 hour 
Law Enforcement Hotline, 
Implemented Mobile Assistance 
Team and LAPD Parole 
Compliance Unit Pilot Program. 
During 2012, space requests 
were submitted, drafting of 
Policies & Directives and a Draft 
Procedural Manual. In 2013, 
Chief of Police Regional Support 
(COPRS) Pilot Program, 
and Local Law Enforcement 
Co-Location (LLE) During 
this past year, four AB 109 
Offices have opened. There are 
Community Re-Entry Resource 
Centers, Specialized caseloads, 
and Assembly Bill 1468 and 
Proposition 36. 

 Lastly Max Huntsman, 
Inspector General was 
introduced. In March, he 
had urged LA County to end 
contracts with the Office of 
Independent Review and 
Special Counsel Merrick Bobb. 
I can remember several years 
ago, that Merrick Bobb released 
reports with many glaring 
accounts of abuse in jails, 
misconduct of LASD personnel, 
but the problems continued. Mr. 
Huntsman felt the problem was 
that the Office of Independent 
Review functioned primarily as 
part of the Sheriff’s Department.

 On Tuesday, August 5, by a vote 
of 3-2, the Board of Supervisors 
voted against creating a civilian 
oversight commission for 
LASD. Supervisors Antonovich, 
Knabe and Yaroslavsky voted 
against it. Zaroslavsky said the 
“ambiguous roles” of current 
oversight committees may have 
contributed to the lack of focus 
in addressing the department’s 
problems…”Simply put, when 
everyone is in charge, no one is 
in charge.”

 Eighteen to 24 inches of moving water can wash 
an SUV off of the road. In fact, according to the 
National Weather Service, more than half of all 
flood-related deaths are people driving through 
flooded roads. With the risk of flash flooding 
in the area over the next few days, the nonprofit 
Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)® reminds 
residents to “Turn Around, Don’t Drown!” and offers 
the following flood safety tips to protect your home 
and family. 

Before the Flood

 Clear yard of any debris, plant material or items 
(garden décor, foliage, or garbage cans) that can 
block water flow and storm drains.

 When time permits, secure and/or elevate 
outdoor appliances, AC units or storage tanks.

 Place important papers (birth/marriage 
certificates, passports, bank and insurance 
information) in a watertight container. Take 
photographs or videos to create an inventory of 
your personal possessions and keep the camera card 
handy in case of evacuation.

 Identify and move electronics and other expensive 
items (computers, televisions, phone systems, area 
rugs, expensive furniture) on lower levels of the 
home and elevate if possible to keep them dry.

 When using sandbags, fill one-half full, fold the 
top of sandbag down and rest bag on its folded top.

Limit sandbag placement to three layers, unless 
stacked up against a building or sandbags are 
placed in a pyramid. Tamp each sandbag into place, 
completing each layer prior to starting the next 
layer.

 Clear a path between buildings for debris flow, 
and lay a plastic sheet in between the building and 
the sand bags to control the flow and prevent water 
from seeping in.

During the Flood

 Avoid flooded areas or those with rapid water 
flow. Do not attempt to cross a flowing stream. It 
takes only six inches of fast flowing water to sweep 
you off your feet.

 Don’t allow children to play near high water, 
storm drains or ditches. Hidden dangers could lie 
beneath the water.

 Turn Around, Don’t Drown! Flooded roads could 
have significant damage hidden by floodwaters. 
Never drive through floodwaters or on flooded 
roads. Water only two feet deep can float most 
vehicles.

 Do not camp or park your vehicle along streams 
and washes, particularly when threatening 
conditions exist.

 Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to 
see flooded roads.

 Stay alert as conditions can be ripe for mudslides 
especially when driving. Watch the road for 
collapsed pavement, mud, and other indications of 
a possible debris flow.

 Be aware of any sudden increase or decrease in 
water flow and notice whether the water changes 
from clear to muddy. These changes may mean 
there is debris flow activity upstream so be prepared 
to move quickly. Listen for sounds that indicate 
moving debris, such as trees cracking.

After the Flood

 Take photographs of damage throughout the 
building and around the property. Assess stability 
of plaster and drywall. Bulging or swelling ceilings 
indicate damage. Press upward on drywall ceilings. 
If nail heads appear, drywall will need to be re-
nailed but can be saved.

 Check foundation for any loose or missing blocks, 
bricks, stones or mortar.

 Clean and disinfect heating, air conditioning 
and ventilation ducts before use to avoid spread 
of airborne germs and mold spores. Use fans and 
sunlight to dry out interior spaces. Remove all 
wet carpets, curtains and fabrics. Allow to air dry 
completely.

 To learn more about how much flooding can cost 
you check out this cost of flooding tool provided by 
FloodSmart. For information on floodproofing your 
home, FLASH or visit FEMA

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