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Mountain View News Saturday, May 18, 2024

Pasadena 
Car Crash 
Kills Three


Dr. Elizabeth Blanco to be 
Next PUSD Superintendent

 The Pasadena Unified School 
District (PUSD) Board of 
Education is set to finalize 
a contract Thursday with 
Dr. Elizabeth Blanco after 
announcing last month that 
they had selected her as the next 
Superintendent of Schools. 

 At a special meeting on April 
27 the PUSD Board voted 
unanimously to approve 
Blanco’s appointment and 
authorized district staff to 
enter negotiations to finalize a 
contract.

 Blanco’s appointment follows 
an extensive search, which 
brought an excellent field of 
highly qualified candidates. The 
Board’s decision reflects input 
gathered from families, staff, 
and other educational partners 
in the District regarding the 
qualities desired in PUSD’s 
next leader. Input for the 
new superintendent included 
sessions with administrators, 
staff, parents, and district 
partners along with an online 
survey.

“With her personal history, 
experience, and passion for 
social justice, Dr. Blanco is the 
right person to lead Pasadena 
Unified students, families, 
teachers, and staff in actualizing 
our district’s mission to prepare 
our students to be successful 
in an ever-evolving world,” 
said Board President Kimberly 
Kenne.

 Blanco had served as Interim 
Superintendent since July.

 
“I am honored to continue 
partnering with the students, 
staff, and families of this great 
district to create a culture of 
‘with’ that supports and uplifts 
our students,” said Dr. Blanco. 
“I’m thrilled and ready to work 
with PUSD’s dedicated and 
talented teachers, staff, families, 
partners, and Board to take all 
our schools and programs to the 
next level.”

 During her tenure as Interim 
Superintendent, Blanco has 
led the implementation of the 
district’s Strategic Plan and has 
put operational efficiencies in 
place while creating a culture 
of collaboration between the 
district and its partners. Before 
she was appointed Interim 
Superintendent, Blanco served 
as Deputy Superintendent from 
2022 and joined PUSD in 2017. 
She previously served in PUSD 
from 2009-2012.

 
Three people were killed 
and another three people 
were Injured early Saturday 
morning in a car crash that left 
hundreds of residents without 
power and a vacant building 
heavily damaged after the 
driver lost control at speeds 
over 100 mph. 

 According to Pasadena police, 
on Saturday at about 2:38 a.m., 
Police and Fire Department 
personnel responded to the 
2300 block of Foothill Blvd., 
regarding a report of a single-
vehicle traffic collision. 

 The collision involved a white 
2018 Tesla Model 3 with six 
occupants. Arriving personnel 
determined the driver 
Moheb Samuel and two male 
passengers, all from Pasadena, 
were killed in the crash. Three 
additional passengers were 
treated for life-threatening 
injuries and transported to a 
local hospital. 

 The preliminary investigation 
revealed the Tesla was 
traveling westbound on 
Foothill Blvd. in excess of 100 
mph. The Tesla ran the red 
light at Sierra Madre Blvd. 
narrowly avoiding a collision 
with a northbound vehicle. 
As the Tesla approached Vista 
Ave. it struck the north curb 
and left the roadway. The 
vehicle crashed through a 
streetlight and was launched 
into the air where it collided 
with a power pole and into a 
vacant building about 130 feet 
away.

 There were four passengers 
seated in the rear compartment 
of the vehicle. Three of those 
passengers who were not 
wearing seatbelts were ejected 
during the crash. 

 Anyone with information 
related to this case is 
encouraged to call the 
Pasadena Police at (626) 744-
4241 


Dr. Elizabeth Blanco

Pasadena 
to Expand 
Parking 
Meter Zone 
around the 
Playhouse

 

 The Pasadena city council 
is set to discuss and vote 
Monday night to expand the 
boundaries of the Pasadena 
Playhouse parking meter 
zone up to four times the 
current size. The council is 
also expected to vote to adopt 
a resolution establishing a 
Playhouse Parking Meter 
Zone Parking Advisory 
Commission. 

 If approved the proposed 
expansion would extend the 
Playhouse Parking Meter 
Zone boundaries east (see 
map above); bound by Union 
Street to the North, Los 
Robles Avenue to the West, 
El Dorado Street to the south 
along Oakland Avenue, then 
Green Street to the South 
along Hudson Avenue, then 
Colorado Boulevard to the 
South, Catalina Avenue to 
the East until reaching Union 
Street.

 The current zone is bounded 
by Union Street to the North, 
Los Robles Avenue to the 
West, El Dorado Street to the 
South, and Oakland Avenue 
to the East. 

 The council is expected to 
discuss changing the paid 
parking hours from Monday 
through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 
6:00 p.m. to Monday through 
Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 
p.m. They will also discuss 
adopting an occupancy-based 
parking meter rate at no less 
than $1.00 per hour and no 
greater than $5.00 per hour. 

 According to Pasadena 
Parking Manager, Jan 
Hamblen, the paid parking 
program will enhance the 
availability of short-term 
parking for businesses and 
merchants throughout the 
Playhouse Village area, 
promote long-term parkers 
to seek off-street parking, and 
enable the city to improve 
overall parking management 
and simplify parking 
enforcement. The city will 
partner with the Playhouse 
Village area to launch a 
comprehensive outreach 
campaign in preparation for 
future parking initiatives. 

 The campaign is expected 
to convey the benefits of 
paid parking, including 
the reduction of circling, 
increased on-street parking 
availability, and the 
overall enhancement to 
the customers’ experience 
Hamblen said.

 The implementation of the 
expanded meter zone area 
will have an initial projected 
cost of $836,885. This 
includes the pay stations, 
tax, programming costs, 
software fees, and $81,000 
for meter signage installation 
throughout the Playhouse 
Village meter zone according 
to Hamblen.

 Hamblen said that the 
expansion is estimated to 
increase revenue to the 
Playhouse Meter Fund in 
2025 by approximately 
$750,000.

 If passed, the City Attorney 
will prepare an ordinance 
within 60 days to amend 
Pasadena Municipal Code 
to include the expand 
boundaries.

 The city council meeting at 
5:30 in the Council Chamber, 
Pasadena City Hall

100 North Garfield Avenue, 
Room S249.

Chris Holden Set To Host 
Mental Health Webinar

 
Assemblymember Chris 
Holden announced Friday he 
is joining forces with a host 
of expert panelists to provide 
information on mental health 
resources from the state, 
local and community levels. 
Californians are welcome to 
join this free webinar and learn 
about what steps are available to 
expand mental health resources 
near them. The webinar titled, 
“Let’s Talk Mental Health” will 
take place on May 30 at 4:30 
p.m.

 “None of us go untouched 
by mental health problems 
impacting our community, 
Holden said. “Whether it is 
a loved one, a neighbor, or a 
coworker, most people in 2024 
can visibly witness the impact of 
mental and emotional distress 
in their community.”

 Last year, Assemblymember 
Holden’s bill, AB 289, was signed 
into law. The new law includes 
youth or youth mental health 
organizations on the list of 
stakeholders that counties must 
confer with when developing 
their three-year expenditure 
plans under the Mental Health 
Services Act. Holden has made 
it a point to advocate for all 
Californians to have access to 
mental health resources despite 
gender, race, socio-economic 
status, or sexual orientation.

 
“This month, I want to help 
provide awareness and increase 
access to the vital resources 
that not only set people on the 
road to recovery, but often saves 
lives,” he said.

 The webinar is expected to 
host panelists from LA County 
Mental Health Department, the 
National Alliance on Mental 
Illness (NAMI) Greater Los 
Angeles Area, and Mental 
Health Services Oversight & 
Accountability Commission. 
Attendees have the opportunity 
to submit questions and RSVP 
and the link to the webinar visit: 
a41.asmdc.org.

 Central Park 
Playground 
Revamped

Pasadena 
Boys & Girls 
Club Trivia 
Night May 31


Author Dr. Nancy Pine to Share 
Book on Modern Day China

 Join the Boys & Girls Club for 
Pasadena Loves Trivia Night 
Friday, May 31, at the Whimsy 
event space, 40 Edwin 
mills place, in Old Town 
Pasadena at 6:00 p.m. Put 
your knowledge to the test! 
While competing, enjoy taco 
meals from Chronic Tacos, 
a selection of beers from Mt. 
Lowe Brewing Company, 
and wine and soft drinks 
throughout the evening. 

 Trivia team entries and 
sponsorships are selling fast, 
so don’t miss out! Prizes will 
be awarded to the top teams, 
and all trivia team players 
and sponsors will receive a 
commemorative T-shirt. And 
you’ll have opportunities to 
win raffle prizes.

 This event marks our first-
ever CommUnity Night, 
to bring together local 
professionals and community 
members to connect, network, 
and most of all - have fun! 
Every sponsorship and ticket 
purchased for Pasadena Loves 
Trivia Night supports Boys & 
Girls Club of Pasadena and 
our unwavering mission to 
empower local youth through 
life-changing programming.

 For more information or to 
RSVP visit: bgcpasadena.org. 

 Pasadena Director of Public 
Works, Tony Olmos and 
Koko Panossian, Director 
of Parks, Recreation, and 
Community Services, 
announced Thursday the 
completion of construction 
on the Central Park 
Playground Improvements 
project on May 3. 
Improvements at the 
Central Park Playground 
included installation of new 
shade structures, ADA-
compliant rubberized play 
surface, and additional 
park lighting to enhance the 
users’ experience. 

 The project was 
implemented by the 
Department of Public 
Works in partnership 
with Parks, Recreation 
and Community Services 
Department. 

 The total cost of 
construction was $512,933.

 For more information 
visit: cityofpasadena.net.

 Dr. Nancy Pine, a former 
Pasadena elementary school 
teacher and bilingual education 
proponent, will share her book 
“One in a Billion: One Man’s 
Remarkable Odyssey through 
Modern-Day China” on June 
4 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the 
Pasadena Senior Center.

 This event is part of the 2024 
Summer Masters Series.

 The dramatic book explores 
the remarkable life of ordinary 
— and outspoken — Chinese 
farmer An Wei and the impact 
he has had on his community as 
he has fought for his values and 
stood up for his convictions. His 
compelling life provides a vivid 
backdrop for understanding the 
development of modern China 
from the unique perspective 
of an outspoken citizen. In 
her book, Dr. Pine looks at the 
complexities of authoritarian 
China by highlighting Mr. Wei, 
who has experienced both the 
accomplishments and disasters 
of modern China’s development.

 Pine will also share her journey 
of what led her to a decade of 
interviews with Mr. Wei and her 
work in urban China.

 Nancy Pine holds a Ph.D. in 
education and is a professor 
emerita at Mount St. Mary’s 
University in Los Angeles. She 
is one of the leading American 
experts on Chinese early 
childhood education. With her 
Chinese colleagues, she has 
done cross-cultural research in 
China and the United States for 
more than 20 years and is the 
author of over 30 education and 
research articles.

 The Pasadena Senior Center is 
located 85 E. Holly St.,

 The presentation is $12 for 
PSC members and $15 for 
nonmembers. To register or for 
more information, visit www.
pasadenaseniorcenter.org and 
click on Lectures & Classes, 
then Masters Series Lifelong 
Learning or call 626-795-4331. 

 The center’s mission is to 
improve the lives of older 
adults through caring service 
with opportunities for social 
interaction, fitness programs, 
basic support and needs services, 
education, volunteerism and 
community activism.

Wistaria Thrift Shop 
550 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre 
Sat., June 1 9a - 1p 
Everything MUST Go! 
626-355-7739 
Shop Closed 6/2 - 9/4; Reopens Thurs 9/5 
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