Happy Holidays FROM ALL OF US TO ALL OF YOU

PASADENA EDITION


SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2016

VOLUME 10 NO. 52

Christmas, 
New Year’s, 
Closures 
Reminders 
for Pasadena 

Caltrans Selling SR-
710 Corridor Homes

 
State Senator Anthony 
Portantino announced 
Monday that after a decade 
of work by local leaders on 
the dispensation of Caltrans 
owned properties along the 
SR-710 corridor, Caltrans 
has begun the process of 
selling the homes this week.

 According to a statement, 
Veterans Realty Group 
has been selected as the 
contractor and in the coming 
days, eligible residents 
will receive a package 
that outlines the process, 
details for the home buyer 
education workshops, and 
includes the notice of offer 
to sell. The sale of homes 
will be conducted in three 
phases. Phase 1 is estimated 
to take a year and includes 
42 homes mostly in South 
Pasadena and Pasadena. 

 “Like many, I am relieved to 
see this day finally here. The 
State was never equipped 
to be in the single family 
property business and these 
homes need to be in private 
hands and benefitting the 
local communities I am 
optimistic that the 1950’s 
decisions that put us in 
this situation are a thing 
of the past as our region 
has different needs and 
priorities. I am very glad 
that our audit helped bring 
public scrutiny to the 
710 corridor that helped 
make this day happen,” 
commented State Senator 
Anthony Portantino.

 While in the Assembly 
Portantino initiated a state 
audit that highlighted 
many of the challenges 
and problems Caltrans 
faced while managing the 
properties. He has also 
been a longtime advocate 
for selling the many homes 
owned by the state for the 
unnecessary, discredited 
and out dated 710 freeway 
proposal. 

 More information can be 
found by calling (213) 897-
8184 or by visiting Caltrans’ 
website at dot.ca.gov/d7/
business/710sales/index.
html.

 Due to Christmas Day 
and New Year’s Day both 
falling on a Sunday during 
the current Holiday Season, 
Pasadena City Hall and 
most City services will be 
closed on Monday, Dec. 26 
in observance of Christmas 
Day and Monday, Jan. 2 in 
observance of New Year’s Day. 

 Pasadena residents and 
businesses with any power 
emergencies should call the 
Pasadena Water and Power 
(PWP) Department at (626) 
744-4673. For water-related 
emergencies call (626) 
744-4138. PWP’s regular 
Customer Service Call 
Center will be closed for the 
Christmas and New Year’s 
holidays, but customers can 
still pay their bills by phone at 
(626) 744-4005 or on the Web 
at PWPweb.com. 

 Pasadena’s Citizen Service 
Center, (626) 744-7311, 
cityofpasadena.net/citizen-
service-center is closed Dec. 
25-26, but will offer special 
extending operating hours 
during the holidays to take 
your calls, including from 
7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Dec. 27-
30; 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Dec. 31; 5 
p.m. to midnight, Jan. 1, 2017 
and midnight to 2 p.m., Jan. 2, 
2017. 

 In addition, a toll-free 
“Visitor Hotline” at (877) 
793-9911 operated by the 
Pasadena Convention and 
Visitors Bureau, www.
visitpasadena.com, will be 
open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 
Thursday, Dec. 29 and Friday, 
Dec. 30; and from 10 a.m. to 
2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 31, and 
Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017. 

 All motorists must obey all 
temporary “No Parking” signs 
posted for the Rose Parade 
and Rose Bowl. Vehicles will 
be towed at owners’ expense, 
no exceptions. Public access 
maps are at the city’s website, 

DEDICATION OF PRESIDENT'S FORMER HOME

By Dean Lee

 Dignitaries added Barack H. 
Obama, the 44th U.S. President, 
to the list of historic people 
that have lived in Pasadena —
unveiling a dedicated plaque 
last week in his name in front 
of a small apartment he lived 
in while in college from 1980-
1981.

 About 200 people attended 
the dedication, held Dec. 17 at 
253 Glenarm Street, including 
Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek, 
and Council members Andy 
Wilson and John Kennedy. 

 “How lucky we are,” said 
Wilson. “literally up the street is 
the home of Julia Childs, so the 
people who are not into politics 
but cooking, on Oakland Ave, we 
have Albert Einstein [residents], 
and if you’re into science you go 
a few blocks away, on Holladay 
Drive, you have George Ellery 
Hale’s office and observatory, 
the history of Pasadena is truly 
extraordinary.”

 The plaque dedicated to 
Obama is at 253 Glenarm Street 
in Council District 7, a seat now 
held by Wilson. 

 The inspiration for the plaque 
came from Councilmember 
Steve Madison.

 “We have had 44 Presidents 
in the history of our country,” 
Madison said. “My guess is that 
if you added up all of the homes 
towns of all of our Presidents, 
it would be a surprisingly 
low number. So I think it’s 
appropriate, proper and very 
fitting that we acknowledge the 
man and the office in this way.”

 Madison said he had first met 
Obama in late 2007, before 
becoming President.

 “I mentioned that I was on the 
city council in Pasadena and his 
eyes lit up and he said ‘I love 
Pasadena,’” Madison said. “He 
said, ‘I lived in Pasadena my 
sophomore year when I was at 
Occidental College.’”

 Madison said he worked with 
the city manager’s staff and 
the library staff to hunt down 
Obama’s former address.

 “Who knows, if some student 
from Blair High School will 
happen by this plaque and be 
inspired to do something great 
in the future,” Tornek said. “It’s 
a small piece of history but 
it’s something else to remind 
people… what a special place 
Pasadena really is.”

 Kennedy, who has also met 
Obama a number of times, said 
“All of the ordinary good people 
of Pasadena are welcoming 
you [Obama] home… and you 
promised us that you would 
come to Pasadena again before 
you leave office. And we want to 
hold you to that promise.” 

 Pictured, Councilmember 
Madison, top left, 253 Glenarm 
Street. D. Lee /MVNews.


Pictured, Caltrans owned property 265 Waverly Drive and right, 
the end of 710 freeway stub in Pasadena. 

Local Area 
News Briefs

Hit-And-Run Puppy 
Seeks Christmas Miracle

 Pasadena man killed, 
shooter at large

 Pasadena Humane 
Society hopes to reunite 
4-month-old beagle with 
owner before the holidays.

 The Pasadena Humane 
Society officials said Thursday 
the owner of a puppy injured 
in a hit-and-run car accident in 
South Pasadena. A 4-month-
old beagle mix, now called 
“Miracle” by PHS staff, is 
suffering from a severe injury 
to her hind leg, but is in good 
spirits as she awaits major 
surgery.

 Miracle was hit by a car in 
the intersection of Fair Oaks 
and Huntington. After the 
puppy was struck, she rolled 
underneath the car and landed 
on the sidewalk. A Good 
Samaritan ran to the puppy’s 
side, while the car drove away. 
This good-hearted individual 
rushed the injured dog to the 
Pasadena Humane Society.

 “We are pulling together all 
our resources to ensure Miracle 
receives the best care possible 
and we need your help,” says 
Julie Bank, President/CEO of 
the Pasadena Humane Society 
& SPCA. “We want to give 
her the best shot at having as 
normal a life as possible after 
such a devastating injury.”

 PHS is hoping to find the 
Miracle’s owner to reunite 
this sweet young dog with 
her family. No one has come 
forward yet and the puppy 
had no identification tags or 
microchip. Proof of ownership 
must be provided. 

If we cannot locate the puppy’s 
owner, she will be put up for 
adoption when she recovers 
from her injury. Interested 
parties can email adoptions@
pasadenahumane.org and 
reference animal ID# A410205 
for more information. 

I f you have any information 
about this puppy, her owner or 
the hit and run itself, please call 
the Pasadena Humane Society 
at 626.792.7151.


Plaque to be 
Unveiled to 
Celebrate the 
Cheeseburger 

 
Police on Friday were still 
looking for a suspect that shot 
and kill a man in North West 
Pasadena Thursday night.

 According to police Brandon 
Douglas was shot around 
9:45 p.m. on the sidewalk in 
the 1200 block of North Fair 
Oaks Avenue. He later died at 
a nearby hospital. 

 Investigators said they are 
in the early stages and have 
no motive or information 
on the suspect’s description. 
Anyone with information is 
asked to call 626-744-4241. 
Or anonymously at 800-222-
8477.

 (cont. page 3)

Event will raise 
money to support 
Pasadena Ronald 
McDonald House through sale of Pie ‘n Burger 
meals.

CALENDAR Pg. 2

MORE PASADENA NEWS

 Pg. 3

 Officials are set to unveil a plaque January 5 where, 
in 1924, teenaged Lionel Sternberger put cheese on 
a hamburger and sold it to a delighted customer at his 
father’s roadside stand, The Rite Spot —now home to the 
LA Financial Credit Union. The Pasadena Chamber of 
Commerce and LA Financial Credit Union will unveil a 
plaque commemorating the invention of the cheeseburger 
by young Mr. Sternberger.

 The Rite Spot was at 1500 West Colorado Boulevard in 
Pasadena. Known as “The Aristocratic Burger” at the Rite 
Spot is the first recorded instance of a hamburger with 
cheese being cooked and served to a customer.

 The Pie ‘n Burger truck will be on hand serving 
cheeseburgers to those in attendance. Twenty percent of 
the proceeds from the sale of burgers will be donated to 
Ronald McDonald House Pasadena. The plaque unveiling 
will also kick off Cheeseburger Week in Pasadena.

 “We are very pleased that LA Financial Credit Union 
is allowing us to memorialize the invention of the 
cheeseburger on the site of the original Rite Spot in 
Pasadena,” said Pasadena Chamber CEO Paul Little. “In 
the city where Julia Child was born, so many ‘firsts’ have 
happened and the world’s attention is focused on New 
Year’s Day, we thought it appropriate to commemorate 
the invention of the cheeseburger, as well.”

 Cheeseburger Week from January 8th to January 13th, 
Pasadena honors Sternberger’s genius in inventing the 
cheeseburger. Forty of Pasadena’s favorite restaurants, 
lounges and burger joints offer their signature burgers, 
some special creations and great deals during Pasadena 
Cheeseburger Week. Cheeseburger Week is a Pasadena 
Restaurant Week and California Restaurant Month event 
presented by the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce. 
Cheeseburger Week is generously sponsored by the City 
of Pasadena and the Pasadena Star-News. Information 
on Cheeseburger Week, the Cheeseburger Challenge or 
Cheeseburger Crawls visit pasadenarestaurantweek.com.

 LA Financial Credit Union is a member-owned not-for-
profit financial institution, offering a member-focused 
alternative to banks and savings and loans. 

SAN MARINO/SO. PAS

Pg. 4

Semi-truck lands on 
Gold Line tracks

SIERRA MADRE Pg. 5

ARCADIA Pg. 6

MONROVIA 

 A big rig crash early 
Thursday morning brought 
the 210 freeway to a crawl and 
suspended Metro Gold Line 
service between Lake and 
Sierra Madre Villa stations 
after the semi-truck went 
through the center divider 
barrier and landed on the 
tracks near San Gabriel 
Boulevard.

According to authorities, the 
accident was reported around 
5 a.m. blocking both tracks 
damaging parts of the Gold 
Line power supply system. 

 Police said there was another 
car involved. Neither of the 
drivers were injured. Speed 
was probably a factor they 
said. 

Metro officials said they 
hoped to have the repairs 
done yesterday. Bus shuttles 
were in service between Lake, 
Allen and Sierra Madre Villa 
stations. 

 In Related news: Metro 
officials said earlier this year, 
the Metro Board approved 
$11 million in funding to do 
the environmental and design 
work on raising some or all of 
the barriers between the 210 
freeway and the Gold Line 
tracks.

EDUCATION/YOUTH

Pg. 7

FOOD & DRINK Pg. 8

THE GOOD LIFE Pg. 9

WORLD AROUND US 

 Pg. 10

 
BEST FRIENDS Pg. 11

SECTION B: 

AROUND SAN GABRIEL 
VALLEYB1

THE ARTS B2

BUSINESS NEWS

B3

OPINIONB4

LEGAL NOTICES B5

2591 Fair Oaks Avenue Altadena, CA 91001 
626-797-1135 FAX 626-797-5889 
ShopAtHoopla@gmail.com ShopAtHoopla.comu Locally Sourced Books, Cards, Gifts, & Gourmetu Healing Crystals, Tarot Cards & Readings, 
Moon Celebrations 
u Fairy Gardens, Garden DécorALTADENA’S OWNNamed Best Gift Shop by LA HOT LIST votersu Fair Trade Productsu Large Selection Of Teas & Coffeeu UPS Packing & Shipping Services 
u Private Mail Box RentalsGorgeous Gift Wrap is Always Complimentary!
INSTAGRAM: @HOOPLAEMPORIUM PINTEREST.COM/SHOPATHOOPLAFACEBOOK/WEBSTERSFS TWITTER: @HOOPLAEMP
Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com