Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, January 5, 2019

5


Mountain View News Saturday, January 5, 2019 


A Parade 
of Music

Rose Float Driver 'A Hero'

 


 With a theme “The Melody 
of Life,” it is not a surprise 
that the 130th Rose Parade 
Tuesday morning was filled 
with live music from, the Los 
Angeles Philharmonic, Kool 
& the Gang to surf rock and 
a Taiwan folk drum troupe, 
just to name a few. 

 Many of the floats also 
featured larger than life 
instruments such as guitars, 
keyboards and even an 
ancient musical instrument 
known as, “RABAB” 

 Grand Marshal Chaka Khan 
started the Parade’s opening 
act performing “I Feel For 
You” and a brand new single 
“Hello Happiness.” Anne-
Marie Rose sang “2002” 
during the parades premature 
ending. 

 In between all the floats were 
over 20 Marching Bands, 
from the hometown Pasadena 
City College Tournament of 
Roses Honor Band & Herald 
Trumpets to The Salvation 
Army Tournament of Roses 
Band, Long Beach. Others 
were from as far away as 
Karlskrona, Sweden (Royal 
Swedish Cadet Band) and 
Izumo, Japan (All-Izumo 
Honor Green Band) to 
Banda Municipal de Acosta 
(San José, Costa Rica). Many 
of the bands represented all 
parts of the country including 
Alabama State University 
Mighty Marching Hornets 
(Alabama), lorida A&M 
University, The Incomparable 
Marching “100” (Florida), 
to Hawaii’s Na Koa Ali`I – 
Hawai`i All-State Marching 
Band.

 Rose Parade Equestrian 
units were not forgotten with 
crowd favorites, Budweiser 
Clydesdales and the Mini 
Therapy Horses. The Norco 
Cowgirls Rodeo Drill Team 
& Little Miss Norco Cowgirls 
Jr. Drill Team and Spirit of 
the West Riders were back 
this year. The Hawaii Pa’u 
Riders from Waimanalo, 
Hawaii rode in line with Dole 
Packaged Foods “Rhythm 
of Paradise float” and the 
mentioned Na Koa Ali`I 
band. 

 The Dole float entree 
included Los Angeles-based 
Tahitian dance students of 
Te Aho Nui and professional 
fire dancers Lopati Leaso and 
Andrés Treviño. 

 There were many firsts in 
the parade including Gerald 
Freeny as the Tournament’s 
first African American 
president and Louise Deser 
Siskel as the first member of 
the LGBTQ community to be 
Rose Queen. 

 The parade had a chaotic 
end (see related story right) 
after the Chinese American 
Heritage Foundation float 
“Harmony Through Union” 
caught fire becoming 
disabled. As the float was 
being moved, temporary 
stopping the parade, many 
parade goers started to 
leave thinking the parade 
was over although both the 
South Pasadena float “Three 
Little Birds,” and Dig Alert: 
“Backyard Harmony” along 
with The Royal Swedish 
Cadet Band had not started 
down the parade route.

 South Pasadena float 
officials refused comment for 
this story.


By Dean Lee

 The two founders of the 
Chinese American Heritage 
Foundation, sponsor of the 
Rose Parade float Harmony 
Through Union that caught fire, 
crippling the float at Orange 
Grove and Colorado Boulevards 
– causing a backup and delay 
in the parade– said the true 
heros were the float driver and 
Tournament volunteers. 

 “He was able to turn the wheel 
inside the float to get it to stop,” 
said Wilson Lee, Founder of 
Chinese American Heritage 
Foundation. “ and before he left 
the float, he was able to grab the 
fire extinguisher and [put out 
the fire].”

 Lee said most of, what looked 
like, smoke was from the 
canisters of the extinguishers.

 “They emptied extinguishers 
on to that whole area to make 
sure that all the fire was put 
out,” he said.

 Lee said Tournament 
volunteers evacuated the float 
riders.

 “The procedure they have put 
in place, in case an accident 
like this were to occur, worked 
flawlessly. So we want to 
commend all the volunteers,” 
he said 

 He called the float built by 
Fiesta Floats a “work of art.”

 “We hate to have a small minor 
incident hurt the reputation 
of Fiesta, they are [best] float 
builders in the world, probably.”

 Lee also said the floats message 
of the 14,000 immigrants that 
built the Transcontinental 
Railroad 150 years ago, right 
after the Civil War, “represents 
the hardship of the Chinese, 
the Irish, Germans the Native 
Americans... everyone that had 
to due with building American.” 
He likened the floats message to 
that of the Statue of Liberty.

 He said they where working 
with Fiesta and the City of Los 
Angeles to possibly show it at 
the Golden Dragon Parade in 
Chinatown February 9. 

 He also dispel rumors that 
the float had been built in two 
weeks. 

 “What we did in two weeks 
was the decoration only,” Lee 
also said the float went though 
all the normal safety checks and 
testing. He added that the float 
chassis was built in October. 

 Esther Lee president of the 
Chinese American Heritage 
Foundation said they were 
leaving what happened to 
the engineering and the fire 
department.

 In a statement, Tim Estes, 
President if Fiesta Parade 
Floats said “Preliminary 
information suggests that a 
leak of transmission fluid made 
contact with a hot exhaust 
pipe. The contact with the pipe 
created a small flame and a lot 
more smoke.” 

Deals During 
Cheese-
burger Week

Schiff Sworn into 116th 
Congress for New Term

Royal Court

 As Pasadena celebrates the 
invention of the cheeseburger 
in the city in 1924, 40 
restaurants, burger joints and 
more take part in the citywide 
celebration. 

 Several participants in the 
2018 Cheeseburger Week, 
January 6 to 11, celebration 
and Cheeseburger Challenge 
are offering special meals and 
deals. 

 Those offering special meals 
include:

 El Portal Restaurant and 
Yahaira’s Cafe offering the 
Zacatecas Burger: Ground 
beef, ground pork and chorizo 
with special flavorings in a 
telera roll with tomato cheese, 
ham and secret chipotle sauce. 
Comes with fries; 

Pie ‘n Burger has a special 
Cheeseburger Week 
deal commemorating 
their 55th anniversary. 
Download the coupon at 
the Pasadena Restaurant 
Week website (www.
pasadenarestaurantweek.
com). 

Du-par’s offers the Original 
Patty Melt (invented by Tiny 
Naylor in 1932) with a side of 
choice, a slice of Key Lime Pie 
and a soft drink (for $16);

Dog Haus and Dog Haus 
Biergarten offer the KPOP 
Hero with 2 smashed 
Creekstone beef patties, kalbi 
glaze, white American cheese 
& KPOP 1000 island; served 
on a grilled King’s Hawaiian 
bun (for $6.99); 

New participants in 
Cheeseburger Week include 
Trejo’s Cantina in the 
Playhouse District, 1919 Café 
at The Huntington Library, 
Art Collections and Botanical 
Gardens, New School of 
Cooking in downtown and 
Foothill in east Pasadena.

 Want to try more than 
one burger? Organize a 
Cheeseburger Crawl with 
friends and visit as many 
restaurants as you want. 
Order burgers to share and 
enjoy a beverage and side 
dish, if you like.

 Join with friends and make 
a night of it by organizing 
a Cheeseburger Crawl. It 
works best with four or eight. 
Simply pick four restaurants 
to visit, order a cheeseburger 
and cut it into quarters, then 
each friend tastes it. Move on 
to the next place and do the 
same. After four restaurants, 
you each will have tasted 
four burgers. Enjoy drinks, 
have a beer, or just enjoy your 
cheeseburgers.

 For a full list of participants 
and more specials visit: 
pasadenarestaurantweek.com 
and click on the Restaurants 
and Menus tab.

 Voting in the 2019 
Cheeseburger Challenge 
opens January 6, 2019, and 
ends January 12.

 

 The 2019 Rose Queen and 
her Princesses will share 
their favorite princess stories 
and recent Tournament 
experiences as members of the 
Royal Court on Saturday, Jan. 
12, 2019 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. 
at Pasadena Public Library’s 
Hastings Branch, 3325 E. 
Orange Grove Blvd.

 Kings, Queens and Princesses 
are invited to come dressed 
in their finery for this special 
visit. Parents are encouraged 
to bring a camera and take 
photos of their own prince or 
princess with the Royal Court.

 For more information, call 
(626) 744-7262.

 
Adam Schiff was sworn 
into Congress Thursday 
for his tenth term, 
serving California’s 28th 
Congressional District, 
which includes part of 
Pasadena.

 “I am deeply grateful for the 
opportunity to continue to 
represent California’s 28th in 
Washington for the next two 
years. A great deal of work 
lies ahead of us, but I am 
motivated by the trust my 
constituents have placed in 
me to advance their priorities 
in our nation’s capitol.” said 
Schiff. “Our first task is to 
re-open the government 
and bring an end to the 
President’s decision to shut it 
down. Last night, we passed 
legislation to do that as our 
first act of the Congress.”

 Schiff will continue 
representing the 28th 
District in Congress, 
including all or parts of 
Atwater Village, Burbank, 
East Hollywood, Echo Park, 
Elysian Valley, Glendale, 
Griffith Park, Hollywood, 
Hollywood Hills, La Cañada-
Flintridge, La Crescenta, Los 
Feliz, Montrose, Pasadena, 
Shadow Hills, Silver Lake, 
Sunland, Tujunga and West 
Hollywood.

 Schiff continued, “The 
American people entrusted 
a new Majority in the House 
with a great responsibility 
to put forward a positive 
agenda for the nation. 
Along with my colleagues, 
I intend to advocate for 
legislation that puts people 
first by increasing incomes, 
and expanding affordable 
healthcare. I also intend to 
push forward local initiatives 
that improve the quality of 
life in our region, including 
expanding open space 
through the creation of the 
Rim of the Valley National 
Recreation Area, building 
the Earthquake Early 
Warning System for the west 
coast, reducing helicopter 
and airplane noise, and 
much more.

 “Finally, I will do my part 
to support and conduct 
vital oversight of the Trump 
Administration, and to 
restore Congress as a co-
equal branch of government. 
Let’s get to work.” 

Free Monthly Events at 
Pasadena Senior Center

 There is something for 
everyone in December 
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. 

 California Legislation 
that Affects Seniors – 
Thursday, Jan. 10, at 10 a.m. 
Significant progress has 
been made in expanding 
services for older adults 
in the past five years, 
but recent state budget 
cuts have led to cost-
cutting measures. Learn 
more at this informative 
talk presented by Wise & 
Healthy Aging. 

 Cultural Thursdays – 
Thursdays, Jan. 10 and 17, 
at 2 p.m. Jan. 10: Pianist Bob 
Lipson and commentator/
singer Saul H. Jacobs will 
lead a musical journey 
through the life and works of 
George and Ira Gershwin. 
Jan. 17: Musicians from 
the Pasadena Symphony 
and Pops will perform in 
concert

 Improvisation for Lifeskills 
PLAYshop – Jan. 11, from 10 
a.m. to noon. Tap into your 
natural, creative talents 
while enhancing your 
health and well-being. This 
series will focus on improv 
techniques, theater games 
and creative drama to 
increase your spontaneity, 
memory, focus and 
interactive social and 
communication skills in a 
fun, playful and creative 
environment. Sign up at the 
Welcome Desk or by calling 
626-795-4331. Presented by 
Trisha Jauchler, founder 
and director of On Bright 
Wings and Theatre on the 
Threshold. 

 Screening Mimis Film 
Discussion Club – Tuesday, 
Jan. 15, at 1:30 p.m. 
Diehard film fans are invited 
to watch Sinbad the Sailor 
(1947, NR) starring Douglas 
Fairbanks Jr. and Maureen 
O’Hara. An ocean of 
adventure awaits Sinbad 
as he sets out in search of 
the fabled lost treasure 
of Alexander the Great. 
The film will be preceded 
by a presentation about 
the film’s hidden history 
and followed by a lively 
discussion. 

 Chair Yoga – Wednesday, 
Jan. 16, at 1 p.m. Improve 
your balance and 
confidence through gentle 
yoga exercises while sitting 
in a chair or standing and 
using a chair for support. 

 My Gift to You: The 
Importance of Planning 
Ahead – Thursday, Jan. 
17, at 10 a.m. What to do 
when a loved one passes 
away is a difficult topic to 
discuss, and most families 
spend fewer than five 
minutes talking about it. 
This can cause them to be 
completely unprepared 
and overwhelmed 
by all the details that 
must be handled. A 
representative from 
Forest Lawn will explain 
how you and your loved 
ones can plan ahead to 
maneuver through this 
emotional and financial 
experience.

 Braille Technology 
and Library Resources – 
Thursday, Jan. 17, at 12:30 
p.m. Learn about free 
audiobooks and digital 
technology services 
for people who are 
visually impaired or blind. 
Presented by the Braille 
Institute.

 Health Fair – Friday, Jan. 18, 
from 9 to 11 a.m. Services 
will include glucose, blood 
pressure and hearing 
screenings, counseling, 
health and community 
resources. Call 626-685-
6732 for more information.

 For more information visit: 
pasadenaseniorcenter.org 
or call 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 in a welcoming 
environment. Services are 
also provided for frail, low-
income and homebound 
seniors.

Pet of the 
Week

 
Cozy (A445435) is so 
friendly. She cannot get 
enough affection! When 
staff and volunteers 
open up her kennel door 
she immediately rushes 
over and starts rubbing 
against the visitor’s arm 
and purring, eager for 
attention. She’s looking 
for an owner who doesn’t 
mind some cuddle time 
after they come home 
from work, and who would 
enjoy a cat companion 
on the couch. Visit 6-year-
old Cozy at the Pasadena 
Humane Society & SPCA 
today. 

 The adoption fee for cats is 
$75. All cats are spayed or 
neutered, microchipped, 
and vaccinated before 
being adopted. 

 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.

ALTADENA CRIME BLOTTER

Sunday, December 23rd 

10:00 AM – A residential 
burglary occurred in the 
2800 block of Saint James 
Place. Suspect(s) entered the 
location by shattering the 
windows. No loss reported. 

5:30 PM – A petty theft 
occurred in the 2200 block 
of El Molino Avenue. Stolen: 
currency. 

11:30 PM – A vehicle 
vandalism occurred in the 
1600 block of Crest Drive. 
Vehicle damage: cut weather 
stripping. 

Monday, December 24th 

7:00 PM – A petty theft of an 
unlocked vehicle occurred in 
the 1000 block of Marcheta 
Street. Stolen: white diaper 
bag containing clothing. 

Tuesday, December 25th 

9:30 PM – A domestic 
violence incident occurred 
in the 400 block of Figueroa 
Street. Suspect was taken 
into custody. 

Wednesday, December 26th 

2:20 PM – Elvis Cabral, 38 
years old of Altadena was 
arrested in the 200 block 
of Sacramento Street for 
taking a vehicle without the 
owner’s consent. Vehicle was 
reported stolen from the city 
of Pasadena. 

Friday, December 28th 

2:35 PM – Michael Martinez, 
30 years old of Altadena was 
arrested in the area of Lincoln 
Avenue and Figueroa Drive 
for public intoxication. 

9:20 PM – An assault with 
a deadly weapon occurred 
in the 300 block of E. Pine 
Street. Suspect was taken 
into custody. 

Saturday, December 29th 

1:30 AM – A grand theft 
from an unlocked vehicle 
occurred in the 3200 block 
of Thurin Avenue. Stolen: 
Ace Sonic karaoke player 
and mixing board with hard 
drives.

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