Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, June 1, 2019

6

Mountain View News Saturday, June 1, 2019 

Local Area 
News Briefs

Deputies 
Arrest 
Stabbing 
Suspect in 
Altadena


Blair Middle School 
Teacher Named 2019 
PUSD Teacher of the Year

 Historic Frank 
Decker House 
Moved

 


 Elizabeth Najera-Bustillos, 
a Spanish Dual Language 
Immersion and English 
Language Development teacher 
at Blair Middle School, has 
been named the 2019 Pasadena 
Unified School District (PUSD) 
Teacher of the Year and is the 
district’s nominee for the 2019 
Los Angeles County Teacher of 
the Year honors competition.

 Najera-Bustillos was one of five 
Rotary Teachers of Excellence 
honored in May.

 “Congratulations to Ms. Najera-
Bustillos for this well-deserved 
honor,” said Superintendent 
Brian McDonald, a former 
middle school teacher and 
principal. “She is a phenomenal 
teacher who cares about the 
success of her students. I am 
grateful for the dedication and 
professionalism of all PUSD 
teachers who work hard every 
day in their classrooms to 
prepare and inspire our students 
to reach their potential.”

 Since 2016, Ms. Najera-
Bustillos has taught Spanish 
Language Arts and works with 
students who are learning 
English at Blair Middle School, 
an International Baccalaureate 
school that encourages students 
to develop multilingual skills 
and think critically in local and 
global contexts. In addition to 
International Baccalaureate, the 
school also has a Spanish Dual 
Language Immersion Program, 
an International Academy and 
a Health Careers Academy.

 Najera-Bustillos joined PUSD 
in 2005 as an English Language 
Development teacher at 
Pasadena High School and later 
became the school’s Language 
Resource teacher. At PHS, she 
developed and refined her 
teaching skills and as a result 
was often asked to present 
her successful strategies to 
her peers. Although leaving 
PHS was very difficult for her, 
she decided to move to Blair 
where she would be involved 
in the development and 
implementation of the school’s 
Spanish Dual Immersion 
Program.

 The child of Mexican 
immigrants, Najera-Bustillos 
was her family’s translator as 
a young child, an experience 
that inspired her to become 
a biliteracy teacher to help 
students “build bridges of 
understanding and compassion 
through language.” For her, it 
was very clear early on in her 
life that “there is power in being 
bilingual and biliterate and that 
living in a diverse community 
where people’s languages and 
cultures are respected is a great 
asset as our world becomes 
more and more globalized.”

 “I am extremely fortunate to 
be part of the Blair community 
that values biliteracy, where 
students can create and learn 
together,” said Ms. Najera-
Bustillos. “My favorite part of 
teaching is that perfection is 
not the goal; instead, it’s the 
journey that children take 
learning from their experiences 
and mistakes, taking risks, and 
becoming creative problem-
solvers.”

 She has a bachelor’s degree 
in Anthropology from the 
University of California Santa 
Cruz (UCSC), where she earned 
a master’s degree in Education. 
Ms. Najera-Bustillos began her 
teaching career in the Pajaro 
Valley Unified School District. 
As a biliteracy teacher, she 
worked in collaboration with 
a group of bilingual teachers 
and the UCSC New Teacher 
Center’s English Learners 
Institute to create and write 
curriculum for a program 
where students studied in both 
English and Spanish.

 As the district’s nominee, 
Najera-Bustillos will represent 
PUSD in the annual Los 
Angeles County Office of 
Education (LACOE) Teacher 
of the Year competition, the 
largest of its kind in the state 
that is also part of the oldest 
and most prestigious honors 
contest in the U.S. for public 
school teachers. If selected as 
L.A. County Teacher of the 
Year, Ms. Najera-Bustillos 
will be in contention for state 
designation.

 
Altadena Sheriff’s deputies 
arrested a suspect for assault 
with a deadly weapon after 
allegedly stabbing another man 
Wednesday night on a hiking 
trail in Altadena. 

 According to Los Angeles 
County Sheriff’s Department, 
a man was on a hiking trail in 
Eaton Canyon when he was 
stabbed multiple times by a 
suspect –the two did not know 
each other.

 According to reports, the 
suspect, Kristopher Brown, 
jumped out of bushes along 
the Henninger Flats hiking 
trail. The victim ran from the 
trail and to a residence near 
Altadena Drive and Roosevelt 
Avenue, in Altadena, pleading 
for help.

 When deputies arrived, they 
rendered aid to the victim 
and detained Brown within 
close proximity of the stabbing 
deputies said.

 The victim was transported to a 
local hospital with multiple stab 
wounds to the upper torso. His 
condition remains unknown. 
The victim’s name, at press time, 
was also withheld. 

 Brown was on the trail for 
reasons yet unknown. A knife 
was recovered at the scene 
according to deputies.

 In a statement, Altadena 
Sheriff’s deputies refuted 
media reports that Brown was 
homeless. 

 
“The attack has no indication 
of the suspect being a transient 
or living anywhere in the 
mountains or on the any of the 
trails,” They said. “Regarding our 
hiking trails we do investigation 
reports of crimes and homeless 
encampments seriously and 
follow up on a timely basis.”

 Brown remains held in lieu of 
$250,000 bail.

 Regarding hiking trails, 
deputies said, “we do 
investigation reports of crimes 
and homeless encampments 
seriously and follow up on a 
timely basis. As recently as 
seven days ago we had two 
patrol deputies spend a shift 
covering just under 40 miles 
of trails above Altadena. We 
like to patrol the mountains for 
police visibility and can learn 
what areas are popular with 
hikers and how accessible the 
trails are. We continue to patrol 
the hiking trails along with the 
united states forest service and 
Sheriff’s Parks Bureau who 
patrol Eaton Canyon.”

 Anyone with information about 
this incident is encouraged to 
contact the Los Angeles County 
Sheriff’s Department’s Altadena 
Station at (626) 798-1131. If you 
prefer to provide information 
anonymously, you may call 
“Crime Stoppers” by dialing 
(800) 222-TIPS (8477)

 After moving the historic 
Frank Decker home in 
North West Pasadena, 
up the street, Heritage 
Housing Partners plans to 
repurpose the Queen Anne 
style home built in 1892 
into affordable housing.

 Taking from late Thursday 
evening through last night, 
the property was cut in two 
and moved from north of 
Orange Grove Boulevard 
at 722 North Fair Oaks 
Avenue to 1661 North Fair 
Oaks Avenue. The cost 
to move it was estimated 
around $150,000. The 
home has been on the city’s 
historic record since 1988. 

 Heritage Housing 
Partners officals said 
the Frank Decker home 
will be part of a nine-
unit, two two-bedroom 
condominiums as part 
of an affordable home 
ownership development 
called Decker Court. The 
project is scheduled to be 
done by spring of 2020.

Statement 
on Passing 
of Jaylene 
Moseley


Earthquake 
Threat in 
SoCal: Are 
You Ready?

 “It is with great sadness that 
I share with you that our 
President Jaylene Moseley 
passed away on May 25, not 
long after being diagnosed 
with terminal cancer,” said 
James Kossler Chair, Board of 
Directors, Flintridge Center. 
“This is a difficult time for all of 
us who loved and admired her,” 

 Kossler also said Jaylene was 
a warm-hearted and joyful 
visionary who was unwavering 
in her commitment to making 
our community a place free 
from cycles of poverty and 
violence.

 It has been an honor and 
privilege for those of us 
who have worked alongside 
Jaylene in creating healthy, 
safe communities where 
families thrive, young people 
reach their full potential, and 
equality and opportunity are 
accessible to all. 

 Her inspirational spirit of 
relentless commitment will 
continue to guide us in the 
months and years ahead. Our 
board and staff are firmly 
dedicated to the continuation 
of the programs and services 
Jaylene initiated.

 Flintridge Center is assisting 
the Moseley family in the 
preparation of a memorial 
service, and we will provide 
details once plans have been 
finalized. In the meantime, 
we ask that everyone please 
respect the family’s wishes for 
privacy. In lieu of flowers or 
cards, the Moseley family asks 
that you consider a donation 
in Jaylene’s memory to support 
the work of Flintridge Center.

 A public memorial to 
celebrate her life and legacy 
will be held June 8 at 3 p.m., 
at the Rose Bowl according to 
board members.

 Moseley was active in 
Northwest Pasadena and 
Altadena communities 
for more than 30 years. 
As Flintridge President, 
she convened community 
stakeholders and facilitates 
partnerships and collaborative 
action to improve the quality 
of life for the area’s children, 
youth and families.

Playhouse Fundraiser 
Celebrity Game Night

 
Margaret Vinci, manager 
of the Seismological 
Laboratory at Caltech and 
ShakeAlert SoCal regional 
coordinator, will discuss 
the mechanics and risk of 
earthquakes today, 11 a.m., 
at Pasadena Public Library’s 
Linda Vista Branch, 1281 
Bryant St. She will also 
discuss the earthquake 
prediction tools available 
and demonstrate the new 
ShakeAlert earthquake 
early warning system.

 Vinci’s principal 
responsibility is the 
management of Caltech’s 
Earthquake Research 
Affiliates (ERA) program. 
Her responsibilities 
include the procurement 
of funds for continued 
research in fields of 
seismology and earthquake 
engineering, and the 
upgrade and maintenance 
of the Southern California 
Seismic Network (SCSN). 
Vinci also serves as the 
liaison between scientists 
and ERA member 
organizations and critical 
users of earthquake 
information. Additionally, 
Vinci conducts special 
tours of Caltech’s 
seismology laboratory and 
participates in outreach 
events to promote public 
relations and earthquake 
education within the local 
community.

 For more information, 
contact Robin Reidy at 
(626) 744-7278 or rreidy@
cityofpasadena.net, or 
Deborah Niblick at (626) 
744-7278 or dniblick@
cityofpasadena.net.

 

 Pasadena Playhouse, 
State Theater of California, 
announces Playhouse 
Celebrity Game Night: 
Speed Charades, ahilarious 
competition where celebrity 
teams go head-to-head and 
battle it out in a fierce and 
fun game of speed charades 
benefitting the programs 
of the Pasadena Playhouse. 
Players for the Monday, 
June 10 fundraiser will 
include John C. Reilly, Jane 
Kaczmarek, Alfred Molina, 
Simon Helberg, Matthew 
Lillard, Melora Hardin, Jason 
George, Cynthia Rowley, and 
more. 

 The event, at Pasadena 
Playhouse, begins at 6:00pm 
with a Red Carpet Arrival 
and Backstage Party, followed 
by Speed Charades at 7:30, 
and an After Party to follow. 

 For an up to date list 
of celebrity guests visit 
pasadenaplayhouse.org/
gamenight . Please note that 
celebrity players are based on 
continuing availability, cast 
subject to change.

 Tickets to the event 
include a variety of benefits 
including an after party 
with attendees and start 
at $250. Proceeds benefit 
all Pasadena Playhouse 
programs including our 
education and outreach 
initiatives. To book tickets 
or make a contribution, visit 
pasadenaplayhouse.org, or 
contact Becky Birdsong at 
626-204-7383 or gamenight@
pasadenaplayhouse.org.

 About Pasadena Playhouse 
Pasadena Playhouse is a place 
where people have gathered 
for 100 years to experience 
bold and important theater. 
It is one of the most prolific 
theaters in American history 
with a legacy of profound 
theatrical impact and 
courageous new work. In 
1937, the Playhouse was 
officially recognized as the 
State Theater of California 
for its contribution and 
commitment to the dramatic 
arts. Today it continues that 
tradition of excellence under 
the helm of producing artistic 
director Danny Feldman. 
Dedicated to enriching 
lives through theater, 
community programs and 
learning initiatives, Pasadena 
Playhouse is a living force in 
the community.

 For more information, please 
visit: pasadenaplayhouse.org.


ALTADENA CRIME BLOTTER

Monday, May 20th

4:30 PM – A vehicle burglary occurred in the 200 block of W. 
Woodbury Road. Suspect(s) entered the vehicle via unknown 
means. Stolen: personal documents, garage door opener, 
vehicle registration, white phone charger, and currency.

Tuesday, May 21st

11:15 AM – A vehicle burglary occurred in the 4000 block 
of Chaney Trail. Suspect(s) entered the vehicle via unknown 
means. Stolen: credit cards.

12:16 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 2900 block 
of Maiden Lane. Suspect(s) entered the residence by prying 
the window. Stolen: jewelry, black cable box, and black bag 
containing computer wires.

1:30 PM – A battery occurred in the 2300 block of N. Windsor 
Avenue. Suspect has been identified.

7:52 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 1600 
block of Pepper Drive. Suspect(s) entered the residence by 
shattering the window. Stolen: brown wood box.

Wednesday, May 22nd

3:30 PM – A vehicle vandalism occurred in the 1000 block of 
E. Dolores Drive. Suspect(s) shattered a window.

5:50 PM – An assault with a deadly weapon occurred in the 
800 block of W. Altadena Drive. Suspect was taken into 
custody.

6:00 PM – A vehicle burglary occurred in the 1200 block of E. 
Altadena Drive. Suspect(s) entered the vehicle by shattering 
the window. Stolen: unknown.

Thursday, May 23rd

8:30 AM – Vaughn Burnes, 35 years old from Palmdale was 
arrested in the area of Woodbury Road and Navarro Street 
for possession of stolen property.

6:25 PM – Brian Brown, 31 years old of Pasadena was 
arrested in the area of El Sol Avenue and Woodbury Road for 
possession of a controlled substance.

Saturday, May 25th

12:00 AM – A domestic violence incident occurred in the 
2600 block of Calanda Avenue. Suspect was taken into 
custody. 

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