HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

PASADENA

EDITION

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2016

VOLUME 10 NO. 53

Local Area 
News Briefs

Last Minute Rose Parade Preparations 

Barricades to be Used 
along Rose Parade Route

 
Pasadena pharmacy 
robbed mid-day

 
Police on Friday were still 
looking for two men involved 
in a brazen midday robbery 
Wednesday of a North 
East Pasadena pharmacy, 
the suspects made off with 
duffel bags filled with opioid 
medications.

 According to police, two 
men entered Pasadena 
City Pharmacy at 1648 E. 
Washington Blvd. about 12:10 
p.m., jumped the counter and
began filled two duffel bags 
with drugs. The men gestured 
as though they had guns but 
according to employees none 
were seen. 

 The suspects, described as 
between 25 and 30 years old 
wearing dark clothing, fled 
on foot. Police said it was not 
known how much drugs were 
taken.

 Anyone with information 
is asked to call police at 626-
744-4241 or anonymously at 
800-222-8477.



 This year the Secret Service 
under the U.S. Department of 
Homeland Security will be in 
charge of federal agencies as 
part of massive anti-terrorism 
efforts for this year’s Rose 
Parade and Rose Bowl game. 

 Police Chief Phillip Sanchez 
said water barricades will be 
placed on 56 side streets along 
the parade route beginning at 5 
p.m., Sunday. He said Colorado
Blvd. will not close until 7 a.m. 
Monday morning.

 He said the decision to use 
barricades comes in the wake 
of a number of terrorist attacks 
in the world using vehicles, 
including Dec. 19 in which a 
semi-truck struck was used in 
Berlin that killed 12 people at 
a Christmas Market. Sanchez 
said speed is the main factor 
in these types of attacks and 
something the barricades 
prevent. 

 He also said they will have 
more than 1,500 uniformed and 
undercover officers and bomb 
sniffing dogs and cameras 
along the entirety length of the 
parade. Sanchez said, said that 
parade and game gores should 
“pack a lots of patience.”

 He said vehicles close to the 
parade route can be searched. 
He also said to bring only 
permitted items to the Rose 
Bowl game as listed on the Rose 
Bowl’s website.

 Secret Service Special Agent 
Rob Savage said the agency is 
a natural fit for parade security 
and will be working with the 
FBI, ATF, Border Patrol, Coast 
Guard along with Homeland 
Security.

 Sanchez added “If You See 
Something, Say Something,” 
by calling the Pasadena Police 
Department at (626) 744-4241. 

 Visitor Hotline is also 
dedicated to all things Rose 
Parade and Rose Bowl The toll 
free number is (877) 793-9911. 
Hotline Hours of Operation

Saturday, Dec. 31 10 a.m. – 2 
p.m. Sunday, Jan. 1 10 a.m. 
–2 p.m.

 For all life-threatening 
emergencies, always call 9-1-1.

 
Metro to Offer Free Fares 
New Year’s Eve

 Metro will once again offer 
holiday free rides on all Metro 
Bus and Rail lines operating 
New Year’s Eve.

 New Year’s Eve: Metro Bus 
and Rail will operate on a 
regular Saturday schedule 
with overnight, 24-hour 
service on all Metro Rail lines. 
Free fares will be in effect from 
9 p.m. to 2 a.m. After 2 a.m.

 New Year’s Day Observed, 
Jan. 2: Metro will operate on 
a Sunday/Holiday schedule 
with enhanced Metro Rail 
service for the Rose Parade 
and Rose Bowl Game in 
Pasadena. The Gold Line 
will begin Pasadena-bound 
service at 3 a.m.

 While free fares are in effect, 
fare gates will be unlatched 
and anyone who taps their 
TAP card will not be 
charged. Metro’s one-way 
fare is $1.75 with two hours of 
free transfers. If you purchase 
a Metro Day Pass, it is valid 
until 3 a.m. the following day.

For more visit metro.net.


Freeway to 
be Named 
after 
President 
Obama







 State Senator Anthony 
Portantino last week 
introduced Resolution SCR 8, 
which will name the segment 
of the CA-134 freeway between 
the Glendale CA-2 and the 
Interstate 210 Freeway the 
“President Barack H. Obama 
Freeway”. President Obama 
attended Occidental College 
in Eagle Rock from 1979 to 
1981 and lived in Pasadena 
during his sophomore year. 
His attendance at Occidental 
College influenced his political 
trajectory and led him to 
become one of our most revered 
and respected Presidents in 
American history. President 
Obama is leaving office with 
tremendous approval from 
across our country.

 For his contributions 
as a community activist, 
constitutional scholar, United 
States Senator and President, 
it is only fitting to honor our 
44th President by naming 
a part of a freeway he most 
certainly used while living 
in the area. Over this past 
weekend, local activists in the 
25th Senate District suggested 
to Sen. Portantino that given 
the President’s connection to 
Southern California and Eagle 
Rock in particular, it would be 
appropriate to memorialize his 
time in Southern California 
with a freeway naming. Sen. 
Portantino spoke with Asm. 
Jimmy Gomez who currently 
represents Eagle Rock and he 
will be the principal co-author 
on this resolution. Portantino 
represented Eagle Rock while 
in the Assembly.

 “I am honored to be in a 
position to bring appropriate 
respect to President Obama’s 
leadership, his fond memories 
of living in the 25th Senate 
District, his college days in the 
51st Assembly District and his 
tremendous legacy. California 
has a long history of designating 
our freeways as reminders 
of the accomplishments of 
important leaders who have 
shown character, strength, and 
passion. President Obama is 
a laudable person to showcase 
and for Southern Californians 
to appreciate,” commented Sen. 
Portantino.

SHOOTING 
A GUN INTO 
THE AIR IS A 
FELONY

 The Los Angeles County 
Sheriff’s Department asks 
to Celebrate New Year’s 
Eve safely.

 Each return of New Year’s 
Eve brings the opportunity 
to symbolically say good 
bye to old habits and 
outmoded things, and 
begin a new chapter in 
one’s life with fresh ideas 
and a brighter outlook. 

 Unfortunately and all 
too often, the celebration 
of brooming-out the 
old and welcoming-in 
the new is disrupted by 
indiscriminate gunfire into 
the air. The adage of “what 
goes up, must come down” 
rings especially true in this 
case, free-falling objects 
speed up as they return 
to earth. The danger of 
injuring someone with 
firing even a single round 
into the air is a lethal 
prospect. 

 Despite public warnings 
and common sense, many 
people discharge firearms 
into the air to celebrate the 
arrival of the new year. 

 The Los Angeles County 
Sheriff’s Department 
wants all to know shooting 
into the air is not only 
irresponsible, but a felony-
level crime. Willfully 
discharging a firearm in a 
grossly negligent manner 
which could result in 
injury or death to a person 
is a violation of section 
246.3(a) of the California 
Penal Code.

 If you see someone 
discharge a firearm in 
public or into the air, take 
immediate shelter and call 
9-1-1. Do not attempt to 
confront the shooter. 

 Rose parade float builders get an extra day this 
year for any last minute necessities as this year 
holds the Tournament of Roses’ “never on Sunday,” 
policy meaning the parade will be held Monday 
starting at 8 a.m.

 Pictured top is the opening banner float that will 
welcome this year’s 128 parade with three pop-soul 
singers surrounded by 250 dancers. The parade 
will start with a blast of fireworks in front of the 
Wrigley Mansion. Tournament of Roses President, 
Brad Ratliff, will kick off the parade with a cheer 
of “go roses.”

 Pictured above right, a 42-foot giraffe bathes in 
the sunshine Thursday as the UPS Store gets their 
float “Books Bring us Together” gets ready for 
Monday’s parade. A mouse perched atop a colorful 
tower of books hold a book so the giraffe can read 
comfortably. UPS is the sponsor of Toys for Tots 
Literacy Program, the float’s theme. 

 Pictured above left a volunteer works on signage 
for the California Milk Advisory Board float 
“Legacy of Generations.” The float will pay homage 
to the past generations of California dairy families. 
The float will feature a life sized Holstein dairy cow. 

 Pictured above are Hawaiian Sea Turtles getting 
ready to be put on Dole Packaged Foods float “Spirit 
of Hawaii.” This float will have four waterfalls 
consisting of more than 2,000 gallons of cascading 
recycled water according to the lead builder. The 
float symbolizes the rich history of Hawaii with 
King Kamehameha the Great leading the float.

 The Tournament of Roses has had a “Never on 
Sunday” tradition since 1893, the first year since 
the beginning of the Tournament, that New Year’s 
Day fell on a Sunday. The Tournament wanted to 
avoid frightening horses that would be hitched 
outside churches and thus interfering with worship 
services so the events were moved to the next day, 
January 2. Though horses are no longer outside 
local churches, the tradition remains to this day.

 For a complete list of parade entrees visit 
tournamentofroses.com. 

 Photos by D. Lee/MVNews 

CALENDAR Pg. 2

MORE PASADENA NEWS

 Pg. 3

SAN MARINO/SO. PAS

Pg. 4

SIERRA MADRE Pg. 5

ARCADIA Pg. 6

MONROVIA 

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

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