Mountain Views News          Saturday, April 4, 2015

5

Mountain View News Saturday, April 4, 2015 


THREE ARRESTED FOR ASSAULT 
AND ROBBERY OF 87-YEAR-
OLD PASADENA MAN

POLICE 
MARCH ON 
CITY HALL 
OVER PAY


Pasadena Police 
Detectives and members 
of the Pacific Southwest 
Regional Fugitive Task 
Force still looking for 
fourth suspect. 

By Dean Lee

 Pasadena police officers 
packed the city hall council 
chambers Monday night 
after marching across 
the street from the police 
department headquarters, 
with protest signs, as a 
public outcry over pay raises 
and working conditions. 

 “The police department 
is in a state of crisis and 
we need your assistance,” 
Pasadena Police Officer 
Veronica Burris told the 
city council. “We are at 
a point where many of 
our most experienced 
officers are looking to work 
elsewhere… we are at a 
point where we cannot keep 
seasoned, well-trained, 
police officers. Nor can we 
fill the void of departing 
officers with qualified 
applicants.” 

 Burris said to terms of 
wages, salaries and benefits 
the department had 
also failed to keep pace 
with other surrounding 
departments. She said the 
Pasadena Police Officers 
Association was in a second 
year of an unsigned contract, 
“because city management 
has failed to meet with our 
association to hash out the 
differences.” Burris said as 
many as 25 officers had left 
the department. 

 Other unnamed members 
of the Pasadena Police 
Officers Association said 
more than 150 police 
officers were involved in 
the protest. They also said 
the department morale 
is at an all-time low due 
to Pasadena Police Chief 
Phillip Sanchez and his 
command staff, Deputy 
Chief Darryl Qualls and 
Commander John Perez.

 “I don’t think there is a 
more important service 
that we offer our residents 
and our business than 
public safety, Council 
Member Steve Madison 
said. “And I personally will 
do my level best to remedy 
this situation. I think 
compensation is a piece 
of it, I think the working 
conditions are a piece of it 
and I also happen to believe 
we all in our community 
need to do a better job 
of valuing our men and 
woman in our public safety 
departments.”

 Pasadena police detectives 
are still asking the public’s 
help in finding a fourth 
suspect believed responsible 
for assaulting and robbing 
an 87 year Pasadena man as 
he was on a morning walk 
on Friday, March 27. Idalene 
Yvannia Alvarado, described 
as a Hispanic female-19 from 
Rowland Heights, is wanted for 
attempted murder and robbery 
in the case.

 According to police the robbery 
occurred, just after 5:00 a.m. 
near the Rose Bowl on West 
Drive, north of Salvia Canyon 
Road. Other pedestrians 
exercising in the area found the 
victim lying on the ground and 
called 911. The victim sustained 
major head trauma and remains 
in critical but stable condition 
at a local hospital. It was 
determined the suspects took a 
pouch containing currently and 
personal identification. 

 Two of the outstanding 
suspects, Dominic Guzman 
of Hacienda Heights and Juan 
Medina of Rowland Heights 
surrendered to Pasadena 
Police detectives Monday. A 
third suspect Anthony Mixco 
of Rowland Heights walked 
into the Pasadena Police 
Department Tuesday evening.

 Shortly after the robbery 
March 27, the four suspects 
were recorded on video at 
a Pasadena service station 
attempting to use the victim’s 
credit card. Pasadena Police 
obtained surveillance footage 
and photographs of the suspects 
from the video. 

 The three suspects in custody 
at the Pasadena City Jail are 
being held on $1,055,000.00 
bail.

Dr. Rajen Vurdien

Dr. Robert Miller

Dr. Patricia Hsieh

PCC Narrows Presidential Candidates

Idalene Yvannia Alvarado

 Pasadena City College released 
the names of three finalists 
Monday, including interim 
PCC president Dr. Robert 
Miller, to permanently fill 
the superintendent-president 
position vacated by Dr. Mark 
Rocha in August. 

 Along with Miller, Dr. Patricia 
Hsieh, president of San Diego 
Miramar College and Dr. Rajen 
Vurdien, president of Fullerton 
College were chosen from a field 
of 51 applicants. 

 “I was very pleased with the 
entire search process,” Brown 
said. “The board unanimously 
felt that these three by far 
were the most qualified. We’re 
looking forward to showcasing 
these candidates to the campus 
and community and seeking 
their input.”

 The three will visit PCC, from 
April 13 to 15, to individually 
to meet with campus groups 
representing students, faculty, 
staff, management, and 
administration. Each candidate 
will also be given the opportunity 
to present themselves to the 
campus community and public 
in two open forums during their 
visits. The schedule and location 
of the forums are as follows:

 April 13, from 12:40 to 1:40 
p.m. in Westerbeck Recital 
Hall – All College Forum with 
Vurdien

 April 13, from 5:30 to 6:30 
p.m. in Creveling Lounge 
– Community Forum with 
Vurdien

 April 14, from 12:40 to 1:40 
p.m. in Westerbeck Recital Hall 
– All College Forum with Hsieh

 April 14, from 5:30 to 6:30 
p.m. in Creveling Lounge – 
Community Forum with Hsieh

 April 15, from 12:40 to 1:40 
p.m. in Westerbeck Recital Hall 
– All College Forum with Miller

 April 15, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. 
in Westerbeck Recital Hall – 
Community Forum with Miller

 The forums are open to 
the public. Attendees will 
be able to provide feedback 
on the candidates through 
a questionnaire that will be 
handed out at the end of each 
forum. The feedback will then 
be given to the Board of Trustees 
and will be factored into their 
decision-making process, 
Brown said.

 Hsieh is in her 10th year as 
president of San Diego Miramar 
College. She earned her Doctor 
of Education degree from 
Pepperdine University, and 
attended the Management 
and Leadership in Education 
Program and Institute for 
Educational Management 
at Harvard University. She 
is also the recipient of the 
2006 Asian Heritage Award, 
and in 2010 was selected as a 
Fulbright Fellow to the Russian 
Federation.

 Miller has served as interim 
superintendent-president of 
PCC since September of 2014. 
Prior to that post, he served 
as assistant superintendent/
senior vice president of 
Business and College 
Services and vice president 
of Educational Services. A 
PCC alumnus (Class of 1975), 
Miller earned a Doctorate 
of Public Administration at 
the University of La Verne. 
He has been involved with the 
Pasadena Tournament of Roses 
Association for 32 years, and 
will preside as the organization’s 
president in 2021.

 Vurdien was appointed 
president of Fullerton College 
in May of 2010. Prior to that 
post, he served as vice president 
of Instruction at Saddleback 
College. In the 1980s, Vurdien 
worked for the United Nations 
Development Program, where 
he was positioned in China 
and led the U.N. language 
programs. He earned a Master 
of Education and Doctor of 
Philosophy in Psychological 
Studies in Education at Temple 
University. 

PCC’s nationwide presidential 
search officially began last 
November, three months after 
the retirement of Rocha. 

Two Public 
Meetings 
on SR-710

The public can attend one 
or both public meetings in 
Pasadena April 13 and April 
14, 2015 regarding the Caltrans 
and Metro State Route 710 (SR-
710) North Study, but official 
comments for inclusion in 
the SR-710 North Study Draft 
Environment Impact Report 
(DEIR) will only be accepted 
at Metro’s April 14 meeting, 
not the separate City Council 
meeting April 13. 

The two separate meetings 
include the Pasadena City 
Council’s meeting Monday, 
April 13, beginning at 6:30 
p.m., with a discussion 
on the Pasadena Working 
Group’s recommendations 
for a preferred alternative. 
The Working Group’s report, 
and other related SR-710 
information, is online at www.
cityofpasadena.net/sr710. 
The report is at the Pasadena 
Central Library, 285 E. Walnut 
Street.

 Metro will hold a special 
hearing from 6-9 p.m., 
Tuesday, April 14 to receive 
official comments on the 
DEIR. The April 14 meeting 
begins with map viewing from 
5-6 p.m. A printed copy is 
also available at the Pasadena 
Central Library.

 More information from 
Metro on the SR-710 North 
project can be found at www.
metro.net/projects/sr-710-
conversations.

 Both meetings will be held 
at the Pasadena Convention 
Center, 300 E. Green St. Both 
meetings will be recorded 
by Pasadena Media, www.
pasadenamedia.tv, to air on 
KPAS, the City’s government 
cable access TV station, seen 
on Channel 99 by AT&T 
U-Verse subscribers and on 
Channel 3 for Charter. The 
meetings will be streamed on 
the Pasadena Media website 
and the City’s website at www.
cityofpasadena.net/Media.

 Paid parking for the 
Council’s April 13 meeting 
will be available at the Paseo 
Colorado parking structure, 
400 E. Green St., at Los Robles 
Avenue. Parking vouchers will 
be provided at the meeting site 
inside the Convention Center.


Surveillance footage of the suspects

Sheriff’s Group Free Summer 
Concerts in Farnsworth Park

 The Sheriff’s Support Group 
of Altadena (SSGA) has 
announced the lineup for the 
19th Annual FREE Summer 
Concerts in the beautiful 
outdoor Amphitheater in 
Farnsworth Park, 568 E. Mt. 
Curve Ave., Altadena, CA 
91001. All Concerts start at 7:00 
p.m.

 This year’s season kicks 
off on July 11h featuring the 
Downbeat Express-Altadena’s 
Big Band with Jennifer Gates 
which will be a patriotic 
performance in recognition of 
our Independence Day. The July 
18th concert will feature The 
Brian Hughes Band delivering 
the ultimate jazz experience. 
On July 25th the Manning 
Brothers & Friends will bring a 
celebration of Irish Music and 
Dance! On August 1st the group 
will be The Mighty Burnt Bacon 
returning for the second time 
with their Stax style soul band... 
On August8th UPSTREAM, by 
popular demand, returns to the 
stage at Farnsworth Park with 
steel drum, Soca and calypso 
music. On August 15th The 
Kings of 88 in their ultimate 
tribute to piano rock will 
“Rock the House”. On August 
22nd the featured artists will be 
Whiskey Hayride playing your 
favorite Country Western and 
much more. The August 29th 
concert will feature Floyd & The 
Flyboys with their R&B soul 
and funk.

 The 2015 Summer Concert 
Series Grand Finale concludes 
on September 12h featuring 
Sgt. Pepper in a tribute to the 
Beatles! Celebrating the 51th 
Anniversary of the Beatle’s 
invasion of America.

 Each year, the Summer 
Concert Series has been made 
possible by the generous 
support of our Sponsors. This 
year SSGA welcomes back a 
major sponsor, The Rotary Club 
of Altadena.

 Additional major sponsors 
include Supervisor Michael 
D. Antonovich, Walmart, 
Linda Seyffert & Associates, 
Altadena Community Chest, 
The Printworks, Altadena Town 
& Country Club,

 The Altadena Sheriff’s Station 
and Farnsworth Park are both 
hosting once again this year 
and The Sheriff’s Support 
Group is producing the series. 
SSGA is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit 
organization that assists the 
Altadena Sheriff’s Station with 
equipment and supplies not 
available through the County 
budget.

 El Patron Mexican Food 
Restaurant will be cooking and 
selling food at the top of the 
Amphitheater and The Rotary 
Club of Altadena will be selling 
beer and wine from the ground 
floor of the Davis Building 
throughout the entire SCS.

Pasadena to Host First 
CicLAvia Cycling Event


Pet of the 
Week

 
Pasadena has played host to 
parades, bike races and music 
festivals, and for the first time is 
opening its streets to the largest 
car-free open streets event in 
America. CicLAvia – Pasadena 
Presented by Metro takes place 
from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on 
Sunday, May 31. The city will 
lend its own charm and flair to 
CicLAvia as participants travel 
along Colorado Boulevard 
and down side streets, to parks 
and historic architecture, using 
foot, pedal and non-motorized 
wheel power. The event route 
will connect to the Memorial 
and Del Mar Metro Gold Line 
Stations enabling participants 
to have a car-free or car-lite day. 

 “Pasadena is excited to 
host CicLAvia to showcase 
the historic streets, vibrant 
shops and local businesses 
of our beautiful city,” Mayor 
Bill Bogaard said. “This is a 
wonderful opportunity to 
bring out the entire family and 
your canine companions to 
experience the best of Pasadena 
in a fun and healthy way on car-
free streets by walking, biking, 
roller skating or jogging.”

 Pasadena residents and 
businesses will have the 
opportunity to learn more 
about the route at a community 
meeting on April 8 at 7:00 
p.m. at the Pasadena Central 
Library. A second meeting 
will be held on April 29 at 
7:00 p.m. at Pasadena City 
College. CicLAvia staff and 
volunteers will begin door to 
door outreach to residents and 
businesses along the route next 
week. It will be one of several 
direct outreach efforts CicLAvia 
makes to inform Pasadena 
residents and businesses about 
the logistics of the event and the 
opportunities that exist.

 CicLAvia – Pasadena 
Presented by Metro is the 
second CicLAvia event in 2015. 
The remaining two events are 
CicLAvia - Culver City Meets 
Venice Presented by Metro 
(August 9) and CicLAvia – 
Heart of LA (October 18).

Learn How to Produce 
Your Own TV Show

 Jackson (A373975) is a 
two-year-old male black 
and white pit bull. He enjoys 
attention and loves going for 
walks. Jackson is friendly 
and playful and would love 
to find his forever home!

 The regular dog adoption 
fee is $125 which includes 
the spay or neuter surgery, 
microchip, vaccinations, 
and 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. 

 Call the Pasadena 
Humane Society & SPCA 
at 626.792.7151 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.

 New Citizen Journalism 
training starts Wednesday 
nights, learn how to 
report news using social 
media skills.

 
With the opening of 
the new Pasadena Media 
studios at 150 S. Los Robles 
Ave, they are offering free 
television-training programs 
for producers. Plan to attend 
an orientation to discover 
the right classes for you. 
Producers’ Training teaches 
how to produce shows for 
The Arroyo Channel. Studio 
Production/ Equipment 
training is also offered to 
volunteer crew members. In 
addition, on-going training 
will soon be available in 
citizen journalism and 
digital film groups. Call the 
office (626) 794-8585 or go 
to PASADENAMEDIA.ORG 
and explore what Pasadena 
Media has to offer.

JPL to Hold 
Free Lectures

April 23-24: Robots to the 
Rescue: JPL’s Robosimian and 
Surrogate Robots Are Here To 
Help

 JPL has been engaged in 
several programs over the 
last couple of years that 
have developed new robots 
and software to help out in 
terrestrial disaster scenarios 
or hazardous environments. 
In particular, the RoboSimian 
and Surrogate sibling robots 
have been designed to move 
through environments and 
complete tasks even after 
people have had to evacuate. 
RoboSimian will be put to the 
test against an international 
group of robotic competitors 
at the DARPA Robotics 
Challenge this June 5-6 at the 
Pomona Fairplex. Free lectures 
on April 23 at JPL; April 24 at 
Pasadena City College; both at 
7 p.m 

Community Invited to Mayor 
Bogaard Appreciation Day

Class offerings days and nights weekly

Station Schedule 

Orientation & Tour

Monday April 6, at 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Basic Editing - Session 1

Tuesday April 7, at 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Orientation & Tour

Wednesday April 8, at 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Lighting Basics

Wednesday April 8, at 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Audio Basic Training

Thursday April 9, at 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

 

 Everyone is invited to a free 
celebration honoring Mayor 
Bill Bogaard for his 16 years 
of dedicated service during 
the City’s “Mayor Bogaard 
Appreciation Day” event from 
3-5 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at 
Pasadena City Hall, Centennial 
Square, 100 N. Garfield Ave.

 The public will have the 
opportunity to offer their best 
wishes to Mayor Bogaard and 
his wife, Claire, during the 
event. Please, no gifts.

 Attendees can enjoy activities 
provided by the Armory 
Center for the Arts; a children’s 
obstacle course; numerous 
special displays by various City 
departments and live music.

 Bogaard retires as the City’s 
top elected official on May 
4. He became Pasadena’s first 
citywide-elected Mayor in 1999.