Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, August 3, 2019

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Mountain View News Saturday, August 3, 2019 

Altadena Author Signs 
Copies of New Book

 
Richard Bale, author of a new 
book of memoirs about growing 
up in Altadena in the 1940s, will 
sign copies of his book from 
3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, 
in the community room of the 
Altadena main library.

 There will be a program at 
which Bale will speak at 3 p.m.

 The 120-page book, “An 
Altadena Boyhood,” with a 
forward by Altadena historian 
Michele Zack and illustrated with three dozen photos, has been 
published in cooperation between the Altadena Historical Society 
and Prospect Park Publishers of Altadena.

 The soft-cover, bound book will be available for $15 at the event, 
after which it will be available at the Historical Society, 730 E. 
Altadena Drive, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and 
Fridays.

 The society also will mail the book to out-of-towners for an 
additional price to cover packaging and postage.

 “For those of us who grew up in Altadena and newcomers alike, 
Richard’s book is an absolutely charming picture of a rather rural 
little town and somewhat simpler times,” said Kathy Larson 
Hoskins, society president.

 “Anyone interested in the history of 20th century Southern 
California should read this book,” said Larry Wilson, public editor 
of the Pasadena Star-News who also had an Altadena boyhood.

 Bale recalls neighborhood families raising chickens, goats and 
horses; Altadena Elementary School, Eliot Junior High School 
and John Muir High School; newspaper routes and Webster’s 
soda fountain; the Fuller Brush man and Helms Bakery trucks; 
and World War II blackout curtains and Victory Gardens.

 “Most people think their hometown is special and I’m no 
exception,” Bale writes. “I enjoyed living in Altadena and realize 
now what a lovely little community it was for a kid growing up.”

 Bale has written five books and numerous articles relating 
to family heritage, naval history, railroad history and model 
railroading. He is past president of the Jazz Society of Southern 
California. He retired as a senior executive at Price Club/Costco 
in 1995. He and his wife, Barbara, live in Oceanside; most of their 
eight children and 26 grand- and great-grandchildren live nearby.

 Richard Bale Signs 
Memoirs 3-5p.m. 
Saturday Aug. 24 at 
Altadena Library


South Pas National Night Out


August 6, 2019 6:00 pm - 9:00pm Orange Grove Park

815 Mission Street, South Pasadena

 This FREE event is designed to promote community camaraderie and 
make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live--come meet 
your police, fire, and various other city departments.

 There will be games, inflatables, and more! Food will be available to 
purchase. Bring your friends and family for an evening of fun!


AMATEUR BOXERS 
COMPETE IN 12TH 
ANNUAL DUARTE 
YOUTH BOXING 
SHOW

Young, amateur boxers from clubs 
throughout Southern California 
will be participating in the annual 
Duarte Youth Boxing Show on Saturday, 
August 17 with doors opening 
at 1 p.m. The event will be held 
at Duarte High School Gym (1565 
Central Ave.). Tickets are available 
at the door; $10 for attendees 
12 and up, $3 for children 11 years 
and under; children 3 years and under 
are free. Fans and supporters 
of amateur youth boxing may also 
purchase advance tickets for $8 at 
the Duarte Teen Center. The first 
bout begins promptly at 1 p.m.

The City of Duarte Parks and Recreation 
launched the Duarte Boxing 
Club in 1997. The program has developed 
over the years into a highly 
competitive, youth boxing program 
with participants competing successful 
in local and national competitions 
including twenty-one-
year-old Erika Sanchez who won 
her second National Golden Gloves 
Lightweight Champion title on May 
11. For more information about the 
boxing program, contact the City of 
Duarte at (626) 303-0863. 

ARCADIA POLICE BLOTTER

For the period of Sunday, July 21st, through Saturday, July 27th, the Police Department 
responded to 903 calls for service, of which 105 required formal investigations. The 
following is a summary report of the major incidents handled by the Department during 
this period.

Sunday, July 21:

1. Shortly before 9:05 a.m., an officer responded to 24 Hour Fitness, 125 North First 
Avenue, regarding a vehicle burglary report. Sometime between 7:50 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., 
the suspect smashed a front window and stole the victim’s tablet. A second vehicle burglary 
was reported from the same parking structure during the same time frame. The suspect fled 
with cash and a cellphone. No suspects were seen and no witnesses were located. 
2. At approximately 11:32 a.m., an officer responded to Hollister, 400 South Baldwin 
Avenue, regarding a grand theft report. The officer discovered the victim lost his wallet 
in Hollister on Saturday, July 20th. The following day, the wallet had been turned into 
security but was now missing $1,500.00 in cash. The investigation is ongoing. 


Monday, July 22:

3. Just after 5:17 a.m., an officer responded to the intersection of Michillinda 
Avenue and Huntington Drive regarding the notification of a stolen vehicle in the area. 
An investigation revealed the driver, a 64-year-old female from Pasadena, had knowingly 
refused to return the rental car. The suspect was arrested and transported to the Arcadia 
City Jail for booking. 
4. At approximately 9:24 a.m., officers responded to the 2300 block of South Eighth 
Avenue regarding an arson report. A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Deputy 
contacted the subject prior to the APD officers’ arrival and discovered the suspect, a 
51-year-old male from Arcadia, admitted to starting a fire in the area. The investigation 
is ongoing. 


Tuesday, July 23:

5. Around 12:08 a.m., an officer responded to the intersection of Santa Anita 
Avenue and Huntington Drive regarding a traffic collision. Upon contacting the driver, 
the officer detected a strong odor of alcohol emitting from his breath. The 21-year-
old male driver from Monrovia admitted to taking prescription medication and both 
medications were found inside the vehicle. After submitting a blood sample, he was 
arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. 
6. Just before 11:41 a.m., an officer responded to the 00 block of West Palm Drive 
regarding a vandalism report. Sometime between July 22nd at 12:00 p.m. and July 23rd at 
9:30 a.m., an unknown suspect used a small projectile to crack one of the victim’s residential 
windows. No suspects were seen and no witnesses were located. 


Wednesday, July 24:

7. At about 8:53 a.m., an officer responded to a residence in the 300 block of Vaquero 
Road regarding a fraud report. An investigation revealed the suspect(s) opened five 
fraudulent credit accounts under the victim’s name and also changed the delivery address 
of the victim’s packages. The victim does not know how the suspect obtained his personal 
information or their identity. 
8. Shortly after 8:56 a.m., an officer responded to the Arcadia Police Department 
front counter regarding a domestic violence report. The victim explained an argument 
with her husband resulted in her husband slapping her in the face. The 55-year-old male 
from Arcadia is outstanding as of July 30th. 


Thursday, July 25:

9. Before 2:41 a.m., an officer responded to the 400 block of Oxford Drive regarding 
a theft from vehicle report. Sometime between 12:30 a.m. and 1:40 a.m. on the morning 
of July 25th, an unknown suspect entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle and stole a suitcase 
and soccer cleats. The investigation is ongoing. 
10. Around 12:31 p.m., an officer responded to the 00 block of West Foothill 
Boulevard regarding a threat report. An altercation between two acquaintances resulted 
in the suspect displaying a small black handgun and threatening to kill the victim. The 
30-year-old male was gone by the time officers arrived. The investigation is ongoing. 


Friday, July 26: 

11. At about 3:11 p.m., an officer responded to a residence in the 400 block of 
Rosemarie Drive regarding a burglary report. Surveillance footage revealed two suspects 
entered the victim’s home by smashing a rear window. The suspects then ransacked the 
residence and fled in an awaiting black sedan. The suspects are described as fully covered 
in hooded sweatshirts, masks, and gloves. 


From the desk of the City Manager

CITY SET TO REBUILD THE 
LIFTED AND CRUMBLING 
SIDEWALKS IN FRONT 
OF MONROVIA HIGH 
SCHOOL ON COLORADO 
BOULEVARD

Project Will Result In Removal Of 20 
Trees, With A Commitment From The 
City To Replace Every Removed Tree 
On A 2-For-1 Basis

We wanted to let everyone know that starting this 
week, the City will be working to institute a fairly substantial 
public improvement project to repair the entire 
stretch of crumbling and lifted sidewalk on Colorado 
Boulevard in front of Monrovia High School (MHS). 
Of note, this effort will require the removal of 20 mature 
camphor trees located on the north side of Colorado 
Boulevard, directly in front of MHS.

Here at the City, we are always sensitive when it comes 
to removing any parkway trees, and we always try to 
avoid any tree removals here in the City. However, after 
spending significant time and consideration thinking 
through the options at hand, we identified that the 
camphor trees needed to be removed and replaced with 
a more appropriate parkway tree as part of our planned 
sidewalk improvement project.

Of note, staff did assess the possibility of leaving the 
trees in place and performing root pruning activities as 
part of the sidewalk enhancements. However, when we 
had our team further review that particular option, it 
was identified that the camphor tree root systems were 
so invasive that the root pruning effort would result in 
the trees failing.

Next, staff assessed the possibility of moving the new 
sidewalk further away from the camphor trees, however, 
that option was a non-starter as well. Given the 
City’s existing right-of-way options, and the need to 
maintain ADA access, relocating the sidewalk was not 
a feasible option.

Finally, it was brought to the City’s attention that the 
camphor tree, which is native to Eastern Asia, is actually 
considered an invasive tree species. Per the University 
of Redlands, “[B]ecause of the ability to adapt drastically 
and the ease of reproduction, the [Camphor] tree 
is considered invasive. In the US, the camphor tree is 
found in California and southern states. The Camphor 
is considered invasive on all continents…”

However, simply removing the trees was not a consideration 
for staff either, and we did want to share that 
the City will be abiding by our current practice of coordinating 
a 2-for-1 tree replacement program. This 
means that the City will be replacing the 20 camphor 
trees that we are removing by replanting 40 new trees 
in Monrovia. Most of those trees will be replaced in 
front of MHS as part of our planned work, and any additional 
trees that don’t fit in that particular location 
will be planted in other parts of the City.

Given all of these factors, staff did coordinate this past 
week with the Monrovia Unified School District to 
share our plans for the infrastructure and landscaping 
upgrades at MHS. By replacing all of the sidewalk, 
curb, and gutter, we will be able to construct a wider and 
safer sidewalk that will allow for easier student drop-off 
and pick-up at MHS. In addition, as mentioned previously, 
the City will be instituting a new landscape plan 
at the location as part of our improvement efforts.

In order for the work outlined above to be completed 
prior to school starting, the City has coordinated the 
following construction schedule:

Monday, July 29 – Wednesday, July 31 – tree removal 
efforts will be engaged

Tuesday, July 30 – Monday, August 5 – concrete cutting 
and sidewalk / curb removal will take place

Monday, August 5 – Friday, August 9 – tree removal 
and sidewalk / curb replacement will be completed, 
prior to the start of the new school year

By Friday, August 30 – landscape improvements are 
tentatively scheduled for completion

We are looking forward to completing this necessary 
capital project, and if you have any questions or concerns, 
please contact the Public Works Department at 
(626) 932-5575.

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