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Support Your Local Businesses: Election 2024: Columnists: Recent Issues: |
ARE YOU READY FOR ELECTION 2024?........Page 17 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2024 VOLUME 18 NO. 40VOLUME 18 NO. 40 Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. Lic. #01991628. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footage are ap- proximate. If your property is currently listed for sale this is not a solicitation.EWhat opportunities could the historic Fed interest rate cut create for homeowners? Seize the Opportunity! Reach out to better understand your opportunities. Mortgage rates are expected to continue to decline, reducing monthly costs for refinancingHomebuyers will have access to larger loans and increased purchasing powerAs rates drop, buyer demand will increase competitive offersExperts in Representing Buyers & SellersJan Greteman 626.975.4033lic #01943630Judy Webb-Martin 626.688.2273lic #00541631Katie Orth 626.688.0418lic #00942500 FORMER SIERRA MADRE PHARMACIST BEGINS PRISON SENTENCE CONTRACTOR CHOSEN FOR LIBRARY RENOVATIONS By Kevin McGuire The City awarded AMG & Associates a general contractor services contract for the Meaningful Library Improvement Project (MLIP), which was set to address the many renovations needed to improve the Sierra Madre Library. On Tuesday, September 24, 2024, the City Council unanimously approved Resolution 24- 58, amending the 2024-25 Fiscal Year Budget to include $1,800,000 from General Fund Reserves for the library improvement project. According to the contract, AMG offered a base bid of $9,542,000, alternative #2 in the amount of $45,000, and a 10% contingency of $960,000 for a total not to exceed $10,547,000. Four bids were reviewed before the city agreed to the contract with AMG. The city also received funding from the California State Library Grant and the California State Library Building Forward Infrastructure Grant totaling $10,000,000, matched with federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 funds. Director of Public Works Arnulfo Yanez gave a brief presentation to the City Council and attendees outlining the budget for the MLIP. The goal of the MLIP is to address several maintenance needs dating back to 1955, when the library was first constructed. The 350 W. Sierra Madre Blvd building requires renovations to ensure seismic safety and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance. According to Yanez’s report, improvement will include: •Seismic retrofitting to ensure structural safety in case of earthquakes. •The library’s interior space will be expanded, the book collection and meeting spaces will be enhanced, and an outdoor community area will be provided for public use. •Green space improvements. •Replacing the Library’s windows and improving energy efficiency. •Upgrading the fire suppression systems to meet current safety standards. •Addressing HVAC needs, providing a more comfortable environment for staff and patrons while contributing to energy efficiency. •Asbestos abatement is crucial to ensure the health and safety of all who use the facility. • The city received several favorable references recommending AMG, including from La Habra, Santa Maria, and the County of Ventura. All references stated that AMG and Associates completed the work on schedule without excessive change orders. The references noted that “professionalism and a clear understanding of the work met their expectations.” According to the report, all references indicated they would use them again. Yanez expressed the importance of expertise with projects of this size. AMG holds the state of California’s top category review for best safety practices, protocols, and compliance with occupational health and safety regulations. “AMG is what we’re looking for. It fits our need. It fits our construction approach,” Yanez said. “Tonight, we have the opportunity to tell the community that the library is a priority. “We want the community to have the best library we can afford,” stated Councilmember Gene Goss, a Library Board of Trustees Representative. “Growing up in Sierra Madre, the library was where we were able to get resources that we couldn’t get anywhere else,” said Councilmember Kristine Lowe. “Any family could come. It’s a place of not just quietness but a place where you have activities that help the community. And it’s free,” Lowe stated. “Communities are judged by their libraries. Anywhere you go in the world, it is the libraries that end up being the foundation of a community,” stated Mayor Pro Tem Robert Parkhurst. “We tried to do this seven times. We are able to do it now. This makes a lot of sense,” Parkhurst added. It’s unclear when renovations will begin, but you can view the full report on the City’s website at www.cityofsierramadreca.gov On August 30, 2024, Paul Mansour of Sierra Madre, a pharmacist who formerly co-owned Mansour Partners Inc., doing business as Best Buy Drugs (Best Buy) surrendered himself to Federal Authorities to begin a two year prison sentence. Mansour pleaded guilty on April 5, 2023, to one count of health care fraud. At his sentencing hearing in June of this year, he was fined $100,000 and required to pay full restitution to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services the sum of $1, 038,411.96, both to be paid “no later than 60 days after the date of sentencing”. According to court records, from January 2017 to July 2022, Mansour created fake patient profiles in the Best Buy pharmacy’s digital filing system using fictitious names, dates of birth, and addresses. Mansour added fraudulent prescriptions to the fake patient profiles and then submitted false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for those prescriptions in the name of actual Best Buy patients. In doing so, Mansour billed Medicare for fraudulent prescriptions that were never dispensed to beneficiaries. Mansour was also sentenced to serve 24 months in jail and 3 years probation. His voluntary surrender to Federal Authorities to begin his sentence was confirmed by prison authorities on September 3, 2024. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting Assistant Director in Charge Krysti Hawkins of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Timothy DeFrancesca of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Los Angeles Regional Office made the announcement. The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case. Trial Attorney Matthew R. Belz of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www. justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care- fraud-unit. MVNews Eileen Benson626.278.0187CalRE# 01880650Barbara Rogers626.484.8135CalRE# 01169115Not intended as a solicitation if your property is already listed by another broker. Affi liated real estate agents are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. ©2023 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offi ces which are owned by a subsidiary of Anywhere Advisors LLC and franchised offi ces which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. We AreBringing Out The Big Dogs To Help Make Your 2024/25Real Estate Dreams Come True. Fall Is The Perfect Reminder OfHow Great Change Can Be. Is It Time To Sell Your HomeAnd Make The Move You’ve Always Dreamed Of? CALL US! We Want To Help You Achieve Your 2024/25 Real Estate GoalsInterest Rates are down. This is a GREAT time to SELL and BUY! InSIDE THIS WEEK Sierra Madre News Pages 1 - 4 PasadenaPage 5 Surrounding Cities....... Page 6 Around SGV Page 7 Education & Youth Page 8 Puzzles For You Page 9 Food - Wine & Fun Page 10 Best Friends Page 11 Good Life Page 12 Opinion Page 13 Legal Notices Page 14 Sports and Fitness Page 15 2024 Election: Page 17 DUARTE $449,0002 Beds, 2 Bath, 993 sf, TownHouseDuarte gem on quiet ground floorcorner lot with patio, pool, hot tub, modern kitchen, and 2-car garage. SIERRA MADRE $4,500 / MoCharming 3-bed, 2-bath SierraMadre home with modern upgrades, private yard, 2-car garage, sharedutilities. Wi-Fi, pets welcome! BIG BEAR CITY $449,0003 Beds, 2 Bath, 1,301 sf HomeTranquil Big Bear home with centralheat, fireplace, balcony, fenced yard, and wraparound deck. Perfectmountain retreat! 626.355.1451c21village.comLIC# 02119245Serving the Community since 1980follow us on Social Media @c21villageFOR LEASEFOR SALEFOR SALE | |||||||||||||||||||||
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