Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, November 3, 2018

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Mountain View News Saturday, November 3, 2018 


Four of the Library Board of 
Trustees Seats up for Grabs

Local Area 
News Briefs

By Dean Lee

 For the first time in a long time, 
the Altadena community will 
have the opportunity Tuesday 
to directly elect four open 
seats on the Altadena Library 
District board.

 The community had 
complained for years that 
the board members were 
all appointed by themselves 
at times skipping elections 
because of a lack of candidates. 

 At stake on the five member 
board are two, four-year seats 
and two, two-year seats. Both 
two-year seats were vacated 
after the resignation of former 
board members, including 
former board president John 
McDonald. 

 McDonald resigned in March, 
shortly after being accused of 
attempting to destroy evidence 
related to emails that violated 
the Brown Act, California’s 
open meeting law. 

 At a Trustees Candidate Forum 
Oct 24 only one of the questions 
dealt directly with the Brown 
Act and the embattled director 
Mindy Kittay “As we get in 
new trustees, on the board, 
and eventually a new library 
director, how will you maintain 
transparency and openness to 
the public to be sure we don’t re 
see the recent problems we have 
experienced?” 

Their answers included.

 “I believe in the Brown Act, 
everything should be public 
that is appropriate, I have been 
trained in the Brown Act... that 
is the best way.” said Bernadette 
Hendry running for a four-year 
term. “We should make sure 
the community knows when 
we have meetings, make sure 
that the community is involved 
when we’re making decisions.” 

 “My campaign slogan is 
Community, Transparency and 
Sustainability...” said Dawn 
Mooney Digrius also running 
for a four-year term. What’s 
really important is making sure 
that agendas are in discussion 
between the board and director, 
that they are posted when they 
are supposed to be posted. 
That everything goes on to the 
website in a timely manner. 
So the public has the ability to 
view information... to make 
sure there is a critical dialogue 
that happens with all of the 
stakeholders.”

 “The problems that happened 
with regard to Brown Act 
violations had already 
happened by the time I showed 
up..” said appointed incumbent 
Betsy Kahn vying to keep her 
two-year seat. “I think we have 
committed, as the current 
board, to really revamp are 
commitment to transparency 
and to be as transparent as we 
can... there are instances where 
the Brown Act provides for 
personal issues and privacy is 
called for.”

 “The library board must not 
act in isolation... said Louise 
Hamlin running for a two-
year seat. “ I think mandatory 
training for the board is 
necessary, it’s a bit shocking 
that’s not been written into the 
Bylaws yet.”

 “Like Betsy, I arrived on the 
board after a lot of the Brown 
Act issues had occurred,” said 
appointed incumbent Terry 
Andrues, also vying to keep his 
two-year seat. “I had attended 
meeting before so I made it 
my business to get to know 
the Brown Act before I had 
my interview with the board... 
When you look at the current 
board and episodes where we 
have got some criticism about 
not saying enough. Silence is 
the sound of us doing our job, 
its these personal issues and 
things that can’t be discussed.” 

Both Andrues and Kahn 
said they wanted to set up a 
committee that would look 
at building refurbishment 
something they said could 
happen at their next meeting.

 “The reason in California we 
have a Brown Act is to ensure 
that public’s business is done 
in public...” said Katie Clark 
running for a four-year term. 
“I think that a real commitment 
to transparent deliberation is 
essential moving forward. I 
agree there need to be a system 
and updates to the Bylaws, 
training, all of that’s true... This 
has to be practiced in every 
room in Altadena and that 
means the board needs to get 
our of this room and into the 
community, we need to meet 
people were they are...

 Jason Capell running for a four-
year term was not at the forum 
but wrote “It is clear that we 
face significant administrative 
challenges, including hiring a 
director and finding a way to 
balance the budget absorb a 
significant impact to the recent 
lawsuits.” 

 The board recently offered 
Kittay, a $501,000 settlement to 
end a lawsuit, after they placed 
her on paid administrative 
leave pending an investigation. 
Kittay said she suffered stress 
related to her whistle blowing 
on Brown Act violations. 
Reports last month said Kittay 
did not agree the terms of the 
settlement. 

 Other questions during the 
hour and a half forum, included 
the current renovations of the 
libraries, time commitment 
needed for being a trustee, the 
future of libraries (other then 
books) and outreach and what 
makes each of candidates want 
to sit on the board and better 
than the other candidates. 

 The full Candidate Forum 
Videos and other election 
information can be found at: 
altadenaelection.org. 

 Man Arrested 
after Suspicious 
Device Forces 
Evacuations 

 
Pasadena police arrested a 
man Tuesday in connection 
to a suspicious device 
found at a U-Haul facility 
the night before that closed 
streets for hours as bomb 
squad officials used a robot 
to detonate the device. The 
device, a plastic container 
about six-to-eight inches 
in length, rapped in tape, 
was determined not to be 
explosive. 

 According to police, 
officers were called Monday 
night, after someone found 
the suspicious device 
attached to the rear of a 
U-Haul truck in a parking 
lot in the 500 block of South 
Raymond Avenue.

 Police closed California 
Blvd. from Fair Oaks 
to Arroyo Parkway and 
Raymond Ave. from Pico 
St. to Bellevue. Dr. as Los 
Angeles County Sheriff’s 
Department bomb squad 
blew up the device around 
9 p.m. Police said they 
used records at the U-Haul 
facility to determine 
Theodore Bancarz, of 
Glendale, had rented the 
truck. 
Investigators later found a 
similar container at Bancarz 
home filled with drugs and 
syringes. Police said he used 
the devices to transport 
illegal drugs by attaching it 
to the bumper of a vehicle 
with magnets. They said he 
forgot to remove it Monday 
when he returned the truck 
to the U-Haul facility. 

Bancarz was arrested and 
booked on misdemeanor 
drug charges police said.

Doo Dah Queen 'Jenny' Crowned

 It was a lively queen’s caucus 
Sunday in East Pasadena 
to decide who would be 
crowned Queen of the 2018 
Pasadena Doo Dah Parade. 
Among a boisterous crowd 
of onlookers, Jennipha-
Lauren Nielsen showed 
amped ability to have fun 
and also be committed to her 
community.

 Queen Jennipha-Lauren 
loves that Doo Dah is a coming 
together of people from all 
different backgrounds. “Doo 
Dah is another great piece of 
Pasadena culture, it’s of the 
people and for the people; 
a place where diversity and 
creativity are well honored.” 

 As clued in as she is on fun, 
“Jenny” has a serious side too. 
She is co-founder and CEO 
of the One World Project, a 
community-based initiative 
focussed on providing 
programs and advocacy in an 
effort to address problematic 
global issues. Nielsen was 
also student body president 
at CalState L.A., and student 
representative for the CSULA 
Foundation, which provides 
community expertise, 
oversight and advocacy to 
fundraising efforts for higher 
learning. 

 Jenny is no stranger to 
royal accolades. She was 
crowned Miss California 
World in 2011, with a 
platform for funding higher 
learning, girls and minority 
education especially in 
STEM. She is currently an 
avid spokesperson for gender 
equality and disability rights. 

 After crowning, she told 
Patricia Hurley, Parade 
Organizer, that she hopes to 
bring the group “Indivisible” 
into the parade for their first 
time.

 A close contender this year 
was Steven Johnson who 
transformed into “Princess 
Covfefe.” He will join the 
royal court on Doo Dah Day! 

 The 41st Occasional 
Pasadena Doo Dah Parade 
will be held on Sunday, 
November 18th, stepping off 
at 11:00am on the streets of 
East Pasadena. Entries are 
still invited! To enter go to: 
pasadenadoodahparade.info, 
for the entry form. or call 
(626) 590-1134.

Photo by D. Lee/MVNews

Meeting to Look at Soft-story 
Buildings Retrofit Ordinance

Pasadena 
to Salute 
Veterans

 

 The Planning and Community 
Development Department 
will be hosting a meeting 
Thursday night to provide 
general information regarding 
a potential ordinance requiring 
the retrofitting of wood 
soft-story apartments and 
condominium buildings. The 
meeting will be held from 6 
p.m. to 8 p.m. Pasadena City 
Hall Council Chambers, 100 N. 
Garfield, 2nd Floor

 Wood soft-story buildings 
are wood-framed buildings 
with more than one story that 
typically have extensive ground 
story windows, garage doors, 
or open-air spaces (such as 
parking) with little or no solid 
walls. The ordinance, if adopted, 
is estimated to go into effect in 
the Spring of 2019. The City will 
make a presentation containing 
general information about 
the draft requirements and 
applicability of the ordinance. 
The public is welcome to 
attend the meeting and provide 
comments. The details for the 
meeting are below:

 For additional information 
and to stay informed on 
future updates related to the 
ordinance: cityofpasadena.net/
planning/soft-story-retrofit-
ordinance/ 

 The Pasadena community 
is invited to join civic 
leaders, special guests, 
military veterans and active 
members of the U.S. armed 
forces for a Veterans Day 
commemoration Sunday, 
Nov. 11, beginning at 10:30 
a.m. in front of Pasadena 
City Hall, 100 N. Garfield 
Ave.

 Former Pasadena Mayor 
William E. Thomson, chair 
of the Veterans Day steering 
committee and a U.S. Army 
veteran, will serve as master 
of ceremonies.

 With the theme “Pasadena 
Salutes Our Veterans,” the 
event will include patriotic 
music and a color guard 
from a local high school.

 The National Anthem 
will be sung by Monet 
Bagneris, a singer, 
songwriter and musician 
whose grandfather, Marion 
Meredith Beal, was the first 
African American to serve 
at the U.S. Marine Corps 
national headquarters in 
Washington, D.C., during 
the second world war 
and an original member 
of the Montford Point 
Marine Association, an 
organization of African 
American U.S. Marines. 
Bagneris is the founder of 
the nonprofit organization 
Monet Cares and a former 
Miss Los Angeles County.

 Cmdr. Corey A. Poorman, 
commanding officer of the 
USS Pasadena, a U.S. Navy 
submarine, will be the 
keynote speaker.

 At 11:11 a.m., the event 
will conclude with the 
Condor Squadron of World 
War II-era T-6 planes 
flying in formation over 
Pasadena City Hall. After 
the ceremony, Pasadena 
firefighters will provide free 
refreshments, including 
their famous hot dogs 
cooked on their custom-
designed grill.

 “I encourage everyone 
to come to City Hall and 
acknowledge veterans 
who represent multiple 
generations that served 
our nation at home and 
abroad,” said Pasadena 
Mayor Terry Tornek, who 
served six years in the U.S. 
Army National Guard and 
Reserves.

Pet of the 
Week

Inaugural Pasadena 
Adaptive Sports Festival

 
Triumph Foundation, a 
nonprofit organization working 
to improve the lives of people 
living with disabilities, in 
partnership with the City of 
Pasadena, hosts the inaugural 
Pasadena Adaptive Sports 
Festival featuring eight adaptive 
recreational sporting events 
that are open to the general 
public with free participation 
on Saturday, November 10, 
2018 at Brookside Park.

 The adaptive sports include: 
hand cycling, wheelchair rugby, 
pickle ball, beep baseball, 
tennis, boccia, curling, and 
Zumba. Additionally, the event 
will feature a creative art section 
and resource fair.

 The purpose of this free 
Adaptive Sports Festival is 
to introduce the community 
to adaptive sports, provide 
learning opportunities to the 
general public, and to showcase 
members of the community 
with disabilities in a way 
that the general public does 
not often see. The Festival 
brings everyone together, of 
all abilities—able body and 
disabled alike—to take part in a 
day of fun activities and games.

 The Adaptive Sports Festival is 
part of the Paralympic Gateway 
to Gold, a talent identification 
program that introduces 
Paralympic-eligible athletes 
to sports, acts as a pipeline to 
competition, and is often the 
first step toward the podium 
representing U.S. Paralympic 
Team.

 “The City of Pasadena is 
excited to partner with Triumph 
Foundation, which has been 
serving the disabled community 
of Southern California for over 
a decade,” said Ali Everett, 
Accessibility Issues Coordinator 
for the City of Pasadena. “This 
is the first of what we hope 
will be many Pasadena-based 
events promoting accessible 
and inclusive sports and fitness 
opportunities.”

 “Triumph Foundation attracts 
thousands of participants to 
our adaptive sports events 
every year, and we are excited 
to be presenting a new annual 
event in partnership with the 
City of Pasadena,” said Triumph 
Foundation Founder Andrew 
Skinner who suffered a spinal 
cord injury in November 2004 
in a snowboarding accident 
and founded the organization 
in 2008. “Events like this give 
people with disabilities a 
chance to push the limits of 
their ability, play games with 
friends and family on a level 
playing ground, and enhances 
their quality of life through the 
benefit of exercise, sports and 
fitness.”

 “The City of Pasadena is a 
passionate supporter of the 
ADA, and the Arroyo Seco is a 
perfect venue for the Adaptive 
Sports Festival. I know the 
community will embrace it,” 
said Cy Estabrook, a member 
of the Pasadena Disability and 
Accessibility Commission. Mr. 
Estabrook, a local Pasadena 
math teacher, who sustained a 
spinal cord injury from a slip 
and fall accident that left him 
paralyzed in 2016.

 “After my injury two years 
ago, I thought I would never be 
an athlete again. But through 
Triumph Foundation’s adaptive 
recreation program I have 
continued my passion for 
tennis, baseball, cycling, and 
even learned to play rugby! I 
can’t wait to bring a Triumph 
athletic event to my hometown 
of Pasadena.”

 Join Triumph Foundation 
on November 10th to see 
how people with disabilities 
continue to stay active and live 
fulfilling lives. Triumph is also 
seeking community partners to 
help support this event.

 Register at: TriumphASF2018.
eventbrite.com

 For more information, email 
info@trimuphfoundation.org.

Free Monthly Events at 
Pasadena Senior Center

 Since October is National 
Pit Bull Awareness Month, 
we would like to highlight 
Biggie (A467297) this 
week! He is an adorable 
2-year-old not-so-small 
Pit Bull who was found 
as a stray in Arcadia at 
the beginning of the 
month. He is a good boy 
who knows how to sit on 
command, knows how to 
shake with both paws and 
responds well to clicker 
training. He just wants a 
little bit of praise and some 
ear scratches in return. 
Come to the Pasadena 
Humane Society & SPCA 
and meet Biggie and his 
other Pit Bull friends today. 

 The adoption fee for 
dogs is $130. All dogs 
are spayed or neutered, 
microchipped, and 
vaccinated before going 
to their new home. 

 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.

 View photos of 
adoptable pets at 
pasadenahumane.org. 
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.

 There is something for 
everyone in September 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. 

 A Matter of Balance – 
Tuesdays, to Nov. 20, from 1 
to 3 p.m. Are you concerned 
about falling? Learn how 
to reduce the fear of falling 
and increase balance, 
activity levels, confidence 
and independence during 
this eight-week, interactive 
workshop that combines 
discussion, video and exercise. 
Reservations are required: 
626-685-6732. 

 Friday Movie Matinees 
– Fridays, Nov. 9 and 16, 
at 1 p.m. Everyone enjoys 
watching movies and the 
pleasures they bring. Nov. 9: 
Mamma Mia! Here We Go 
Again (2018, PG-13) starring 
Amanda Seyfried and Meryl 
Streep. Five years after the 
events of 2008’s Mamma 
Mia!, Sophie prepares for 
the grand reopening of the 
Hotel Bella Donna on a Greek 
island as she learns more 
about her mother’s life. Nov. 
16: On Golden Pond (1981, 
PG-13) starring Henry Fonda 
and Katharine Hepburn. On 
summer vacation at their cabin 
on a lake in New England, a 
cranky retired professor with 
memory problems and his 
understanding wife agree 
to look after the 13-year-old 
son of their daughter’s (Jane 
Fonda) fiancé. 

 Flu Shot Clinic – Wednesday, 
Nov. 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
According to the Centers 
for Disease Control and 
Prevention, adults 65 and older 
are at greater risk of serious 
complications from the flu 
compared with younger adults 
because human immune 
defenses become weaker 
with age. Appointments are 
recommended by calling 626-
795-4331; walk-ins will also be 
welcome.

 Health Insurance Counseling 
and Advocacy – Wednesdays, 
Nov. 7, 14 and 28, at 10 a.m. 
Receive counseling and 
advocacy on issues related 
to Medicare, Medigap, 
Medicare Part D and Cal 
MediConnect. Appointments 
are required by calling 626-
795-4331. Presented by HICAP.

 Armchair Travel: Portugal 
– Thursday, Nov. 8, from 2 
to 4 p.m. Travel to Europe’s 
westernmost country without 
buying a plane ticket. Annie 
Laskey, events director at the 
Pasadena Senior Center, will 
share stories and photos of 
her recent travels to Lisbon 
and the ancient city of Évora, 
a UNESCO World Heritage 
site still partially enclosed by 
medieval walls. 

 Mediation and Dispute 
Resolution – Thursday, Nov. 
8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
Learn how to resolve conflicts 
without going to court. 
Appointments are required by 
calling 626-795-4331.

 Founded in 1960, the 
Pasadena Senior Center 
is an independent, donor-
supported nonprofit 
organization that offers 
recreational, educational, 
wellness and social services to 
people ages 50 and older.

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