Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, November 19, 2016

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Mountain View News Saturday, November 19, 2016


Thanksgiving Holiday 
Closures, Reminders

Local Area 
News Briefs

 

 Pasadena residents and 
businesses are reminded 
that City Hall and most City 
services will be closed on 
Thursday, Nov. 24, and Friday, 
Nov. 26, 2016, in observance 
of the Thanksgiving Day 
holiday. Specific closures 
and exceptions are noted 
below.

 Pasadena Fire and Police 
departments will continue to 
be staffed for all patrol, jail, 
fire, paramedic and other 
emergency services. Always 
call 9-1-1 for life-threatening 
emergencies. For non-
emergencies, call (626) 744-
4241. Remember, “If You See 
Something, Say Something.”

 Pasadena residents and 
businesses with power 
emergencies should call 
Pasadena’s Water and Power 
(PWP) Department at (626) 
744-4673 and for water-
related emergencies call 
(626) 744-4138. PWP’s 
Customer Service Call 
Center will be closed both 
days, but customers can 
access their accounts and 
make payments by phone 
at (626) 744-4005 or online 
at www.PWPweb.com. The 
Municipal Services Payment 
Center at City Hall will 
be closed both days. The 
Citizen Service Center, www.
cityofpasadena.net/Citizen-
Service-Center will be closed 
Thanksgiving Day, but will 
be open to take your calls at 
(626) 744-7311 from 8 a.m. 
to 2 p.m. Nov. 25 and Nov. 
26.

 Regular refuse and recycling 
collection for Thursday 
(Thanksgiving Day) will 
occur on Friday, Nov. 25, 
and Friday’s collection will 
be on Saturday, Nov. 26. No 
pickups for bulky items will 
be scheduled for the two-day 
holiday.

 Pasadena Transit and 
Dial-A-Ride transportation 
programs will not operate 
on Thursday, Nov. 24, but 
will resume regular service 
on Friday, Nov. 25. All 
parking meters are free 
and parking time limits 
will not be enforced on 
Thanksgiving Day, but 
shoppers are advised that all 
regular meter enforcement 
will resume on Friday, Nov. 
25. Violations for overnight 
parking restrictions, red 
curb parking and blocking 
fire hydrants will continue to 
be issued both days.

 All Pasadena Public Library 
sites will close at 5 p.m., 
Wednesday, Nov. 23, and 
will be closed the following 
two days.

 All Recreation and 
Community Centers 
operated by the City’s 
Human Services and 
Recreation Department will 
be closed on both days, but 
all parks will be open for 
picnics, fun and play. No site 
reservations are accepted for 
the holiday.

 The City wishes everyone a 
safe, enjoyable Thanksgiving 
Day. Remember to celebrate 
responsibly and always 
designate a driver!

 New ordnance 
Aims to Clean up 
Homelessness in Old 
Town and Parks

 The city council voted Monday 
night to give Pasadena police 
authority to target and remove 
belongings related to homeless 
people, in a move that some 
say is cruel. The new ordinance 
also makes it a crime to 
aggressively panhandle.

 Opponents of the ordnance 
said it criminalizes homeless 
and without enough housing 
they have nowhere else to 
go. Others said the new 
law violates the Fourth 
Amendment, seizing property 
without due process. 

 The property can be removed 
without notice and held for 30 
days, police said a note would 
be left as to where the property 
can be picked up, without 
charge.

 City staff said "the intent is 
to ensure city’s streets and 
sidewalks are unobstructed 
so that businesses can operate 
unimpeded and that patrons, 
employees, and visitors can 
move about the city without 
obstruction." It takes effect in 
30 days.

City Unveils New Anti-tobacco Campaign 

 City officials unveiled a new 
public awareness campaign 
Wednesday that uses snakes, 
sheep and a small child to send 
a message of the dangers of 
smoking menthol or tobacco-
flavored cigarettes and using 
electronic cigarettes. 

 The local educational 
campaign in English and 
Spanish is focused on reaching 
Latino and African American 
youths and adults, especially in 
Northwest Pasadena, with social 
media messages, bus shelter 
displays, interior placards inside 
Pasadena Transit buses and 
point-of-sale ads voluntarily 
used by tobacco retailers inside 
stores.

 “Most young people who use 
tobacco report using flavored 
products,” City Health Officer 
Dr. Ying-Ying Goh said. “These 
products are deadly tools that 
hook young people onto a 
lifetime of tobacco use.”

 She said tobacco use is still the 
number one preventable cause 
of death in the United States 
and statistics show the use of 
these types of tobacco products 
are very popular products with 
Hispanic/Latinos and African 
Americans.

 Funding for the educational 
campaign comes from a three-
year, $1.5 million grant from the 
U.S. Centers for Disease Control 
Prevention’s Racial and Ethnic 
Approaches to Community 
Health (REACH) Program. 
Currently, the federal REACH 
program has provided 49 grants, 
but Pasadena is the only city-
based health department in the 
country to receive funding and 
is also the only grantee using the 
funds for an anti-menthol, anti-
tobacco product prevention 
effort.

 Public Health Department 
Director Michael Johnson 
said the educational campaign 
seeks to raise awareness about 
the high use of mentholated 
cigarettes, electronic cigarettes 
and flavored tobacco products 
and the aggressive advertising 
tactics used by the tobacco 
industry. Increase knowledge 
about mentholated and flavored 
tobacco to combat common 
perceptions that these products 
are safer than regular tobacco. 
For more information about 
the campaign and other 
anti-tobacco efforts, visit 
www.cityofpasadena.net/
publichealth/REACH, or call 
(626) 744-6014.

 Pictured (left) Dr. Ying-Ying 
Goh and (right) Director 
Michael Johnson. Photo, D. Lee/
MVNews.

 Officers Save Dog 
from House Fire

 South Pasadena Police officers 
were dispatched Thursday to a 
residential house fire, at about 
1:10 p.m., in the 1000 block of 
Garfield Av. Upon their arrival, 
Corporal Craig Phillips and 
Officer Brian Wiley found the 
house to be partially engulfed 
in flames. 

 During a search of the 
residence, no residents were 
found; however, a small 17 
month-old Maltese was found 
cowering in the corner of a 
downstairs room. “Kolby” 
was rescued from the house 
uninjured and later reunited 
with his owner. 

 The cause of the fire is 
currently under investigation 
by the South Pasadena Fire 
Department assisted by SPPD 
detectives.

Pasadena 
Police DUI 
Enforcement 
Operation

Clearman’s North Woods 

to Hold Toy and Food Drive

 Officers from the Pasadena 
Police Department’s DUI 
Enforcement Team will 
be deploying next week to 
stop and arrest alcohol and 
drug-impaired drivers in 
the Department’s ongoing 
traffic safety campaign. DUI 
Saturation Patrols will deploy 
on Wednesday, between 
the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 
2:00 a.m. in areas with high 
frequencies of DUI collisions 
and/or arrests.

 Officers will be looking for 
signs of alcohol and/or drug 
impairment with officers 
checking drivers for proper 
licensing delaying motorists 
only momentarily. When 
possible, specially trained 
officers will be available to 
evaluate those suspected of 
drug-impaired driving, which 
now accounts for a growing 
number of impaired driving 
crashes. 

 Recent statistics reveal that 
30 percent of drivers in fatal 
crashes had one or more drugs 
in their systems. A study of 
active drivers showed more 
tested positive for drugs 
that may impair driving (14 
percent) than did for alcohol 
(7.3 percent). Of the drugs, 
marijuana was most prevalent, 
at 7.4 percent, slightly more 
than alcohol. Everyone should 
be mindful that if you’re 
taking medication – whether 
prescription or over-the-
counter – drinking even small 
amounts of alcohol can greatly 
intensify the impairment 
affects. 

 The cost of a ride home is 
cheap, nothing compared to a 
$10,000 DUI conviction and 
the ‘inconvenience’ of not 
driving your own car home 
is nothing compared to the 
inconvenience of spending 
time behind bars.

 
North Woods Inn, San Gabriel 
and The Galley right next 
door have joined to benefit the 
Pasadena Ronald McDonald 
House with a toy and canned 
food drive for the holidays. 
These two popular restaurants 
enjoy helping those whose 
families are going through 
medical challenges.

 The public is encouraged 
to bring a new unwrapped toy 
(worth $10 or more) or 7 non-
perishable food items to either 
North Woods Inn San Gabriel 
or The Galley (also known as 
The Boat). Donors will receive 
a coupon for a small salad and 
bread at The Galley or a coupon 
for a free dessert at North 
Woods Inn.

 Both restaurants are 
festive with holiday décor and 
encourage patrons to help make 
Christmas a little brighter for 
the families who stay at the 
Pasadena Ronald McDonald 
House.

 Since opening in February 
2004, more than 18,600 children 
and families have stayed at the 
Pasadena Ronald McDonald 
House. Families who need 
services are referred to them 
by medical personnel. The 
House has served families from 
California, Arizona, Colorado, 
Nevada, New Mexico, Florida, 
Idaho, Minnesota, Hawaii, 
Oregon, and North Carolina. 
They have also been honored 
to serve international families 
from Canada, Columbia, 
Guam, Guatemala, Iraq, 
Mexico, Russia, South Africa 
and Vietnam. Last year 45% of 
the families were new families.

 “It is important to remember 
what the holidays represent that 
the spirit of giving is what makes 
the holidays truly special. Who 
better to receive these gifts than 
children who can really use 
the toys and food,” says Renee 
Clark, General Manager of the 
Galley.

 “Their needs include food 
as well. Canned food and other 
non-perishables are imperative 
to keep the House running,” 
says Richard Selvik, General 
Manager of Clearman’s North 
Woods Inn, San Gabriel. Both 
locations will have donation 
boxes for these items starting 
Friday, November 25 through 
December 23.

 North Woods Inn San 
Gabriel is located at 7247 
Rosemead Blvd. in San Gabriel. 
Hours are 11:30-9 Monday – 
Thursday and Sunday. 11:30-10 
Friday and Saturday. Clearman’s 
Galley is located at 7215 N. 
Rosemead Blvd. in San Gabriel. 
Hours are 11-9 Monday – 
Thursday, 11-10 Friday & 
Saturday, and 10-9 on Sunday.

Pet of the 
Week

Thanksgiving at the 
Pasadena Senior Center

 

 Gobble gobble! The 
Pasadena Senior Center, 85 
E. Holly St., will continue 
its Thanksgiving tradition 
this year by offering a 
turkey feast with all the 
trimmings Thursday, Nov. 
24, at noon. They’ll even do 
all the cooking, all served by 
volunteers, and cleanup, so 
all you have to do is come!

 Prepaid reservations must 
be received at the Welcome 
Desk no later than Tuesday, 
Nov. 22. The cost is only $10 
for members and $12 for 
non-members of all ages.

 For more information call 
(626) 795-4311.


Poetry Fest! At Pasadena 
Senior Center Sun., Nov. 20

 Six-year-old Pluto 
(A400608) is an active 
pooch looking for a new 
home. This neutered male, 
black and white pit bull 
mix enjoys exploring on 
walks and absolutely loves 
playtime, especially if it 
involves a new squeaky 
toy. Pluto has mastered 
his sit, down and stay cues, 
earning him a Blue Ribbon 
from our behavior staff and 
reducing his adoption fee to 
just $100. 

 Adoption fee includes 
the spay or neuter 
surgery, microchip, and 
vaccinations. Pluto also 
qualifies for our Seniors 
for Seniors program, so his 
adoption fee is only $20 for 
adopters age 60 and up.

 New adopters will receive a 
complimentary health-and-
wellness exam from VCA 
Animal Hospitals, as well 
as a goody bag filled with 
information about how to 
care for your pet.

 Call the Pasadena Humane 
Society & SPCA at (626) 
792-7151 to ask about 
A400608, or visit at 361 S. 
Raymond Ave. in Pasadena. 
Adoption hours are 11 a.m. 
to 4 p.m. Sunday; 9 a.m. 
to 5 p.m. Tuesday through 
Friday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
Saturday.

 Pets may not be available 
for adoption and cannot be 
held for potential adopters 
by phone calls or email. 
Directions and photos of 
all pets can be found at 
pasadenahumane.org.

 Anyone who enjoys writing, 
reciting, reading or listening 
to poetry is invited to Poetry 
Fest! Sunday, Nov. 20, from 
1 to 4 p.m. at the Pasadena 
Senior Center, 85 E. Holly St.

 Writing is therapeutic 
and seniors are capable 
of producing meaningful 
poetry and prose. Evidence-
based research shows 
poetry and other forms of 
cultural expression offer 
myriad benefits for older 
adults, including improving 
memory and decreasing 
stress.

 Mira Mataric, who has 
taught the Creative Writing 
course at the Pasadena 
Senior Center since 1998, 
is organizing Poetry 
Fest! Poets, writers and 
musicians are encouraged 
to participate. Send an email 
to mira016@hotmail.com or 
call 626-578-0470 to express 
your interest.

 The event is free to all, 
whether reciting, performing 
or listening. Refreshments 
will be served.

Free Events Roundup at the 
Pasadena Senior Center

 

 To show community spirit 
and compassion, hundreds of 
volunteers of all ages will gather 
together on Thanksgiving to 
serve meals and cheer at Union 
Station Homeless Services’ 
annual Dinner in the Park.

For 45 years, this beloved 
tradition has been a staple event 
for the Pasadena community 
during the holiday season. 
Volunteers help prepare and 
serve meals--including turkey, 
stuffing, green bean casserole, 
mashed potatoes and pie--to all 
who are hungry at Pasadena’s 
Central Park on Thanksgiving.

 Union Station Homeless 
Services expects to serve 2,000 
plates of food this Thanksgiving, 
November 24th. Meal recipients 
will include individuals 
and families experiencing 
homelessness or poverty, senior 
citizens, and those who are alone 
for Thanksgiving or unable to 
afford a holiday meal.

 “I am so excited to be a part of 
Union Station’s long-standing 
Dinner in the Park event this 
Thanksgiving,” said John Brauer, 
Union Station’s new CEO. 
“Serving individuals who need 
a little help during the holiday 
season is both an honor and a 
privilege, and I look forward to 
rolling up my sleeves along with 
the other 800 other community 
volunteers to make this a special 
day. Union Station is such a 
vital part of our community, and 
I’m looking forward to meeting 
other folks who love the agency 
as much as I do!”

 Volunteer registration for 
the event is now closed, but 
community members are invited 
to help Union Station collect the 
ingredients and kitchen supplies 
needed to prepare a great 
Thanksgiving meal! The wish 
list of much-needed items is 
available at unionstationhs.org/
DIP2016. Donors may drop off 
these supplies in the indicated 
sizes at 412 S. Raymond Ave. in 
Pasadena.

 Dinner in the Park is a true 
community event and would not 
be possible without the support 
of our community members 
and volunteers. Union Station 
thanks its event sponsors, 
including the Tsutayo Ichioka 
& Satsuki Nakao Foundation, 
HomeStreet Bank, Citizens 
Business Bank, Individual 
Foodservice and Centerplate. 

 Union Station will no longer 
be holding Christmas dinner 
at Central Park. Instead, the 
festivities will be moved to their 
Adult Center at 412 S. Raymond 
for the first annual Christmas 
at the Station. Volunteer 
registration for Christmas at the 
Station will open on December 
1 at 9 a.m. 

 For more information visit 
unionstationhs.org

Thanksgiving 
Dinner 

in the Park

 

 There is something for 
everyone in November at the 
Pasadena Senior Center, 85 
E. Holly St. You do not have 
to be a member to attend. 
Some events require advance 
reservations as noted.

 Smart Phones, Tablets 
and Computers – Any 
Questions? – Tuesdays 
and Thursdays to Nov. 29, 
from 10 to 11 a.m. Get the 
answers you need about 
technology devices, whether 
you own them already or 
are considering a purchase. 
Learning how to text, check 
voicemail, set an alarm, 
navigate the Internet and 
download apps is easier 
than you may think! Please 
note there will be no session 
Thursday, Nov. 24.

 LA Opera: A Deeper 
Look – Monday, Nov. 28, 
at 1 p.m. Take a deeper 
look into opera and classical 
music through the eyes of an 
operaphile who will share 
the passion and enthusiasm 
for this popular art form, 
with topics ranging from the 
delightful to the disastrous!

 For more information visit 
www.pasadenaseniorcenter.
org or call (626) 795-4331.

 Founded in 1960, the 
Pasadena Senior Center is 
an independent, nonprofit 
organization that offers 
recreational, educational, 
wellness and social services 
to people ages 50 and older 
in a welcoming environment. 
Services are also provided 
for frail, low-income and 
homebound seniors.

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