PASADENA EDITION

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2016

VOLUME 10 NO. 49


Local Area 
News Briefs


Tournament Announces 
New Executive Director

Teens Rob Apple Store

 
Tournament of Roses 
officials announced 
Thursday the hire of David 
Eads as the new Executive 
Director / Chief Executive 
Officer of the Pasadena 
Tournament of Roses. 
Currently, Eads is the 
Executive Vice President 
and Chief Operating Officer 
for the Los Angeles Area 
Chamber of Commerce 
and will be officially joining 
the Tournament of Roses 
team in February. The 
announcement was made 
by Vice President and Chair 
of the Executive Search 
Committee, Lance Tibbet.

 Eads has held senior 
executive roles at the LA 
Chamber since 2000, and 
reports directly to CEO Gary 
L. Toebben. Currently he 
oversees Finance & Budget 
Management, Corporate 
Relations, Membership, 
Communications, Special 
Events, and the Chamber 
Foundation. He manages 
12 direct reports, 70 staff 
members, and an annual 
budget of $15M for one of 
the largest chambers in the 
country.

 Retiring William B. Flinn, 
the Association’s current 
Executive Director/CEO, 
has been a part of the 
Tournament of Roses for 
36 years. “Bill has been 
an invaluable asset to the 
Association and Community. 
His years of dedication and 
knowledge have established 
and reinforced countless 
relationships and will be 
an indelible part of our 
organization,” said Tibbet. 

 Eads has attended every 
Rose Parade and Rose Bowl 
Game since 2000 when he 
moved to Los Angeles from 
Wichita, Kansas, where he 
grew up. Previously, he was 
Executive Vice President 
of the Wichita Convention 
& Visitors Bureau for ten 
years and developed the 
Greater Wichita Area Sports 
Commission. Eads also 
brought the live CBS national 
broadcasts of the “Miss 
USA” and “Miss Teen USA” 
Pageants to Wichita from 
1990 to 1995 and consulted 
annually thereafter with 
the international host 
committee for Miss Universe 
Organization that produces 
the live Fox television 
broadcast.

 Eads earned his MBA 
and BA in Business 
Administration and 
Marketing at Wichita State 
University, and is certified as 
a Chamber Executive by the 
Association of Chamber of 
Commerce Executives based 
in Washington, D.C.

 This national search was 
managed by Berkhemer 
Clayton Retained Executive 
Search in Los Angeles, with 
a five-member team led by 
Betsy Berkhemer-Credaire, 
president and co-founder.

 “We are confident that 
David, due to his many 
talents and attributes, 
coupled with outstanding 
leadership qualities, will 
be a tremendous asset to 
the Tournament of Roses 
organization and will be a 
great fit with our volunteer-
driven, staff-supported 
Association.” added Tibbet, 
“We are pleased to welcome 
David to the Tournament 
family.”

 Police are looking for four 
teenagers who robbed the 
Apple Store in Old Pasadena 
Tuesday —steeling 23 
iPhones valued at $18,000. 
Police described the men as 
all African American in their 
late teens wearing baseball 
caps and hooded sweatshirts.

 According to police all four 
went into the store around 
11:20 a.m. together and 
grabbed the phones before 
running out the store and 
down De Lacey Avenue. 
Police said there could have 
been a getaway car, possibly 
an Acura, which was seen 
waiting in the alley.

 Anyone with information 
should call police at (626) 
744-4501.

Tornek

Santa Clause Photos D. Lee MVNews



By Dean Lee

 City officials had high winds on 
their minds Friday afternoon 
as they got ready for the year’s 
official Mayor’s tree lighting 
ceremony held at 6 p.m. in 
front of city hall. The festive 
ceremony was held a day after 
the fifth anniversary of the 
historic 2011 windstorms that 
damaged nearly 5,500 trees in 
Pasadena.

 “This was a little déjà vu for 
some of the folks,” said Pasadena 
Public Information Officer 
William Boyer. “Everyone 
pulled together and we got 
public works to bring out a lot 
of extra sand bags,”

 He said they doubled the 
number of sand bags at the base 
of the 22 foot White Fir, the 
center of the ceremony. Boyer 
added that they also made sure 
everything was safe, “like the 
lights that are out there and 
out in Santa’s Village, there was 
going to be more of a display, 
but we didn’t set that up because 
of the winds.” 

 Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek 
along with Vice Mayor Gene 
Masuda, Council members 
John Kennedy, Tyron Hampton 
and Andy Wilson, lit up White 
Fir in the City Hall Rotunda. 

 Tornek said he was proud of 
the city and the real sense of 
community, “We’re going to 
count down from 10, we are 
going to do that together, and 
if it all goes right we’ll see the 
tree light up,” he said to the 
hundreds of people waiting. 

 Soon after Santa Clause make a 
grand entrance, to the cheering 
crowd, atop a Pasadena Fire 
truck. Attendees stood in line 
to take pictures with Santa 
as artificial snow flurries fell 
around them.

 Boyer said this year’s tree came 
from Grants Pass Oregon. The 
city had, for years, purchased 
the trees through Burkard 
Nurseries, but the nursery 
closed in August after owner 
Frank Burkard Jr. retired.

 Boyer said there is a difficulty 
in finding a large real tree “I 
would have liked to stay local 
but I exhausted all the local 
nurseries [to get a large tree].”

 He said the fully decorated 
holiday tree will be on display 
through Jan. 3.

 In related news, authorities 
said Winds have topped 32 
MPH Friday in Altadena and 
some power lines fall onto a 
metal fence off of Lake Ave. 
They warned of trash cans and 
debris on the roads in Pasadena 
and Altadena. High winds are 
expected through today.

Tree Lighting 
Goes On in 
Spite of Wind

 Woman and children 
threatened by man with 
knife

 Pasadena Police officers 
investigated assault with 
a deadly weapon after a 
woman and her children are 
threatened in the 200 block 
of South Raymond Avenue on 
November 22, at about 4:20 
p.m.

 According to police, Divens 
Lewis, 52, a homeless male, 
yelled at the victim’s children 
who were seated in a vehicle. 
A short time later, Lewis 
confronted the victim riding 
a bicycle and challenged her 
to a fight. Lewis brandished 
a knife and lunged toward 
the victim. Lewis was seen 
by a police Helicopter crew 
and arrested. The weapon 
was recovered and he was 
arrested.

Pasadena 
Fire Chief 
Announces 
Promotions

 Pasadena Fire Chief Bertral 
Washington has announced 
Tuesday the promotions of 
four personnel, including 
the Department’s second 
female Captain, effective 
immediately. 

 Wendell Eaton has been 
promoted from Captain 
to Battalion Chief and will 
serve as the Deputy Fire 
Marshal. Eaton was hired 
as an Auxiliary Firefighter 
in 1992 and became a full-
time Firefighter/Paramedic 
in 1993. Eaton was promoted 
to Fire Captain in 2005, was 
assigned as the Fire/Arson 
Investigator in 2011, and now 
serves as the regional Arson 
Task Force Coordinator.

 Jodi Slicker is the second 
female in the Department’s 
history to be promoted to 
Captain. Slicker joined the 
Department in 2006 as a 
Firefighter. In 2009, she 
obtained her Paramedic 
license. Slicker has served 
on many Department 
committees including 
Women in the Fire Service, 
Recruitment, Accreditation 
and Personal Protection 
Equipment. Slicker is also 
a Fire Ground Survival 
Training, and Emergency 
Medical Technician, 
Instructor, and has scored top 
honors in numerous CrossFit 
Firefighter competitions 
including a World 
Conference.

 Oscar A. Sepulveda III was 
promoted to Captain after a 
sixteen year career in the fire 
service. He started with Kern 
County Fire Department and 
began working for Pasadena 
Fire in 2004. Sepulveda has 
spearheaded or been part of 
numerous committees and 
projects that showcase his 
commitment. 

 Jaime Pinedo has been 
promoted to Engineer. He 
joined the department in 
2005 after serving with the 
San Gabriel Fire Department 
as an Auxiliary Firefighter 
and with the Fullerton Fire 
Department as a Firefighter.

 “These diverse candidates 
were evaluated through 
an extensive promotional 
examination process and I 
am confident they will be 
successful in their positions,” 
said Fire Chief Bertral 
Washington.

MAYOR TO GIVE STATE OF CITY

 
Mark your calendars as city officials announced that Pasadena 
Mayor Terry Tornek’s State of the City address is set for Jan. 18, at 
the Pasadena Unified School District’s Washington STEAM Magnet 
Academy.

 The event will be held in the school’s new multi-purpose gymnasium.

 Doors open at 6:30 p.m. following a special ribbon cutting ceremony 
to dedicate the new gymnasium. 

 The program will begin at 7 p.m.

 City Staff said Mayor Tornek will provide financial information about the city as well as updates on 
several issues about the city’s economy and the importance of the Arroyo Seco area.

 Officials are also asking that 
high heels in order to help 
protect the new gymnasium 
floor.

 On-site parking and 
handicapped parking plus 
additional on-street parking 
will be available. Spanish 
translation and closed 
captioning services will be 
provided. Light refreshments 
will be served following the 
Mayor’s address.

 More information about 
the State of the City contact 
Rhonda Stone, (626) 744-
7210, rstone@cityofpasadena.
net.

Local Candidate Filing 
Period Closes Dec. 9



 The deadline to file nomination 
paperwork for the 2017 
elections for Pasadena’s City 
Council Districts 3, 5 and 7 and 
the Pasadena Unified School 
District (PUSD) Board of 
Education Districts 1, 3, 5 and 
7 is Dec. 9.

 Election information 
is available online www.
cityofpasadena.net/cityclerk/
election or by calling the City 
Clerk’s Office at (626) 744-
4124 during regular business 
hours, Monday through Friday. 
The webpage will be updated 
periodically with candidate 
nomination information or if 
any local measures are added to 
the ballot.

 Are you interested in helping 
out your community for the 
election? Poll workers and 
accessible polling sites are 
needed for the March 7, 2017 
consolidated City and PUSD 
primary election and the April 
18, 2017 general municipal 
election. If you speak Chinese,

 Korean, or Spanish, you are 
especially needed! If interested, 
call the City Clerk’s Office 
today.

 Do you need to register 
to vote? Voter registration 
information is available at City 
Hall Offices, public libraries, 
post offices, as well as online 
www.registertovote.ca.gov. The 
deadline to register to vote 
for the March 2017 Primary 
Nominating Election is 
Monday, February 20, 2017.


Humane Society 
Adoption Day/Donation 
Drive

Man Shines 
Laser at 
Police 
Helicopter

 Wondering how you can make a shelter pet’s life merrier this 
holiday season? Adopt or donate at the Pasadena Humane Society 
& SPCA (PHS). On Thursday, December 8, PHS joins forces with 
KTLA 5 for Take 5 to Care, a day-long free pet adoption event and 
donation drive aimed at finding our furry friends forever homes 
for the holidays.

 For those who would like to support PHS in other ways, the 
shelter is accepting donations online at pasadenahumane.org/
donate or by texting PAWS to 27722. Donations can also be 
dropped off at the shelter. The shelter’s wish list can be found at 
pasadenahumane.org/wishlist.

 The Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA is located at 361 S. 
Raymond Avenue in Pasadena, California. Adoption hours are 
from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Regular adoption policies and screening 
apply. View adoptable animals at pasadenahumane.org.

 A 20 year old man from 
Pasadena was arrested 
Wednesday after shining 
a laser pointer at a police 
helicopter. Police said the man 
repeatedly pointed the laser at 
the helicopter around 7 p.m. 
He was later found near south 
Oak Ave and Del Mar Blvd. 
and arrested without incident. 


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