Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, December 24, 2016

5


Mountain View News Saturday, December 24, 2016


Caltrans Selling SR-
710 Corridor Homes


Christmas, 
New Year’s, 
Closures 
Reminders 
for Pasadena 

 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. 
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. 

 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. Unless otherwise 
posted as “No Parking” or 
restricted due to special events, 
all parking meters are free and 
time limits will not be enforced 
on Christmas Day. All parking 
meter enforcement resumes on 
Dec. 26. Likewise, all parking 
meters are free and time limits 
will not be enforced on Jan. 1 
and Jan. 2. 

 Pasadena’s Holiday Overnight 
Parking Citation Moratorium 
occurs from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m., 
through Jan. 3. No Parking 
restrictions on certain 
streets—will not be cited for 
overnight parking. Beginning 
Dec. 27, motorists are advised 
that 15 traffic signals along the 
5.5 mile Rose Parade route will 
be altered—on Orange Grove, 
Colorado Boulevard and Sierra 
Madre boulevards—so that 
tall floats needing additional 
clearance can safely navigate 
through the intersections. 

 All Pasadena Public Libraries 
will be closed Dec. 25-26 and 
Jan. 1-2. 

 For emergencies call 9-1-1. 
For other incidents, “If You See 
Something, Say Something!” 
by calling (626) 744-4241. 

Plaque Dedicates Obama’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. 

Hit-And-Run Puppy 
Seeks Christmas Miracle

Local Area 
News Briefs

 

 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. 

Plaque to be 
Unveiled to 
Celebrate the 
Cheeseburger 

 
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.

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

 Pasadena man killed, 
shooter at large

 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.

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

Pet of the 
Week


Semi-truck lands on 
Gold Line tracks

 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.

 Bruce (A410199) is a 
2-year-old, male, black 
rabbit. This snuggly fellow 
always has one ear up, one 
ear down – all the better to 
hear you with! Bruce enjoys 
ear rubs and absolutely 
adores being held. He’ll 
even calmly snuggle up on 
your lap for a quick snooze 
once he gets comfortable 
with you. Bruce also enjoys 
bouncing around our 
bunny enrichment kennel, 
hopping up and down our 
stairs and pushing toys 
around with his nose. When 
he’s not busy being the life 
of our Critter House, Bruce 
enjoys munching on mixed 
green salads.

 The adoption fee for 
rabbits is $30 and includes 
the spay or neuter surgery 
and a microchip.

 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 
A410199, 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.

Free Events Roundup at the 
Pasadena Senior Center

 There is something for 
everyone in January at the 
Pasadena Senior Center, 85 E. 
Holly St.

 You do not have to be a 
member to attend. Some 
events require advance 
reservations.

 Smart Phones, Tablets and 
Computers – Any Questions? – 
Tuesdays and Thursdays, Jan. 
3 to 26, 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!

 A Toast to the Joys of Music – 
Tuesdays, Jan. 3 to 31, from 9:30 
to 11:30 a.m. Tom Campbell 
will play guitar and sing songs 
in the Senior Center Lounge. 
Stop by and enjoy his covers 
of traditional country, country 
rock, blues, folk, gospel and 
classic rock originally made 
famous by Willie Nelson, Merle 
Haggard, Vince Gill, Elvis 
Presley, B.B. King, Neil Young, 
The Grateful Dead, The Rolling 
Stones and many more.

 Scenic Walkers Club – 
Wednesdays, Jan. 4 to 25, at 10 
a.m. Join this new group for a 
series of leisurely walks to enjoy 
the great outdoors and get 
some exercise. Alan Colville 
will give you a list of items 
to bring, let you know what 
to expect, provide detailed 
itineraries and arrange 
transportation. Destinations 
this month will include 
Descanso Gardens, Lower 
Arroyo Seco, Los Angeles 
County Arboretum and 
Botanic Garden and Eaton 
Canyon Natural Area. For 
more information or to sign up, 
email alancolville@charter.
net or call 626-221-3741.

 Moving: Things to Know When 
Leasing or Buying – Thursday, 
Jan. 5, at 10 a.m. Moving 
can be daunting at any age. 
Learn what to focus on and 
what to consider before you 
decide to make your move. 
Presented by Pat Lile/Norma 
Mardelli, Realtor

 Throw It Away? No Way! 
– Saturday, Jan. 7, from 10 
a.m. to 1 p.m. Come to the 
Repair Café where tinkers, 
tailors and blade sharpeners 
will be on hand to repair 
your appliances, electronics, 
clothing, toys, tools, knives, 
jewelry and other items for 
free. There will also be a seed 
and seedling swap, gardening 
advice, music, special Really 
Free Market sale and more. 
For more information or 
to volunteer as a repairer, 
email contact@repair-cafe-
pasadena.org. For more 
about the Senior Center visit 
pasadenaseniorcenter.org or 
call (626) 795-4331.

 During the Christmas 
and New Year season Lake 
Avenue Church will sponsor 
many events, including a 
Christmas concert, children’s 
programs, Messiah sing-
along and candlelight 
services. These events are:

 - Christmas Eve Family 
Service, Saturday Dec. 24, 4 
p.m. in the Worship Center. 
A casual service for the 
whole family led by a praise 
band. Childcare for children 
to four years old available in 
the Family Life Center.

 - Christmas Eve Candlelight 
Services, Saturday Dec. 24 in 
the Worship Center, 8 p.m. 
and 10 p.m., led by the choir 
and orchestra. The hour 
concludes with the lighting 
of candles. Childcare is not 
available for these services. 

 - Christmas Day Combined 
Service Sunday, Dec. 25, at 
10 am. Childcare and Early 
Childhood ministries will be 
offered for children through 
age four through 3rd Grade. 

 - New Year’s Eve Night 
of Worship, Dec. 31 at 5-7 
p.m. A family-friendly night 
of celebration, reflection, 
praise, scripture and prayer 
led by the church’s Worship 
Team and Band, pastors and 
church leadership.

 For questions about 
Christmas season events, 
contact worship@lakeave.
org or call (626) 844-4721.

 Lake Avenue Church 
is located at 393 N. Lake 
Avenue in Pasadena, at the 
corner of Lake Avenue and 
the 210 Freeway.

Holiday 
Events at 
Lake Avenue 
Church

Book Signing 
- Origami by 
Robert J. Lang

Jan 28, 2017 Saturday, 2 p.m.

 Join origami master Robert 
Lang for a gallery talk about 
the beautifully complex folded 
art he created for his current 
installation at The Huntington. 
(The exhibit ends Jan. 29.) 
A book signing follows 
the informal talk. Free; no 
reservations required. Brody 
Botanical Center. 

 The Huntington Library, 
Art Collections, 1151 Oxford 
Road, San Marino, or call 
626.405.2100.

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