Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, January 30, 2021

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Mountain Views-News Saturday, January 30, 2021 


City Appoints New Fire Chief

Pasadena 
Celebrates 
Black 

History Month

 Pasadena city officals 
announced Monday the 
appointment of Sacramento 
Fire Department Deputy Fire 
Chief Chad Augustin as the 
new fire chief of Pasadena Fire 
Department, effective Feb. 22. 
As fire chief, he will oversee 
190 full-time employees and an 
annual department budget of 
$55.5 million they said.

 According to a press statement 
Augustin began his career with 
SFD as a firefighter paramedic 
and has risen through the 
ranks over the last 20 years, 
serving in a wide range of 
areas, including training, fire 
prevention, administration, 
human resources, professional 
standards, operations and 
emergency medical services. 
He comes to Pasadena with 
a diverse background in 
hazardous materials, urban 
search and rescue, large-scale 
emergency/disaster incident 
management, and developing 
short- and long-range plans.

 As deputy fire chief for SFD, 
Augustin is responsible for the 
department’s Fire Operations 
and Emergency Medical 
Services (EMS) Divisions, 
overseeing the daily operations 
of 24 fire stations with an annual 
budget responsibility of $100 
million. During his tenure with 
SFD, he has provided leadership 
in support of high-quality 
EMS care and transportation, 
streamlined the emergency 
response model for ambulance 
dispatch, and managed cost 
recovery efforts and billing 
improvements. In February 
2020, Augustin was selected 
for the highly competitive 
Fire Service Executive 
Development Institute, a 
program developed by the 
International Association of 
Fire Chiefs, to provide new and 
aspiring chiefs with the tools 
they need to have successful 
and productive tenures.

 “I am so pleased to have Chief 
Augustin joining Pasadena 
as our next fire chief. He has 
impressive qualifications and 
well-rounded experience 
working at a busy urban 
fire department as well as 
demonstrated involvement 
in his community,” said City 
Manager Steve Mermell. “The 
chief’s passion for the fire 
service is infectious, and he has 
a reputation as being a leader 
others want to follow. His desire 
to foster innovation, collaborate 
with school districts and state 
and local agencies, and mentor 
the next generation of fire 
service leaders will benefit the 
Pasadena community and fire 
department employees.”

 During the recruitment 
process, Pasadena residents 
were invited to share feedback 
regarding qualifications and 
characteristics most important 
in a new fire chief. Of the 40 
applications received, the search 
firm identified 11 applicants 
as most qualified based on 
the established criteria. These 
applicants then participated 
in initial screening interviews, 
and the city manager and 
the consultant narrowed the 
field down to the top four 
applicants. These four finalists 
were interviewed in mid-
December by a professional 
panel of fire chiefs, Pasadena 
Fire Department employees, 
the assistant city managers, and 
city manager.

 
Pasadena is celebrating 
Black History Month by 
recognizing the achievements 
and contributions of Black 
Americans and their central 
role in our nation’s history 
with virtual programs, 
events, and activities 
for all ages. Pasadena 
Public Library; the Parks, 
Recreation, and Community 
Services Department; and 
the Pasadena Black History 
Committee are offering 
a month-long series of 
programs in February. 
Library programming is 
sponsored by The Friends of 
the Pasadena Public Library. 
The Parks, Recreation, 
and Community Services 
Department and Pasadena 
Black History Committee 
are holding events in lieu of 
Pasadena’s 39th Annual Black 
History Month Parade and 
Festival.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

-Black History Month
Reading Challenge

Pasadena Public Library
highlights Black history and
Black creators this month
with a special Black History
Month challenge. This just-
for-fun, month-long reading
challenge starts Feb. 1.
Participate by logging your
reading, posting reviews, and
attending some of our virtual
programs! Sign up now.

-Community Activity
-Support Black Owned
Businesses | Monday, Feb.
1-28 • Throughout Pasadena

Everyone is encouraged to 
support local Black-owned 
businesses. View a list of 
businesses.

-Family Activity - African
and African American Tales
with Storyteller Michael D.
McCarty | Thursday, Feb. 11,
4 p.m. • Zoom

Storyteller Michael D.
McCarty entertains 
and educates with tales 
from Africa and of African 
Americans that depict the 
challenges and triumphs of 
Black people throughout 
history. Perfect for families! 
Sign up now.

-Pasadena People, Places
and Events Shaped by 
African Americans | 
Monday, Feb. 15-Friday, Feb. 
19

Take a virtual tour with 
local community members 
as they provide information 
on landmarks, educational 
institutions, sports, business 
and other areas impacted 
by Black Pasadenans. Visit: 
cityofpasadena.net/parks-
and-rec for more information 
and to sign up.

-Music Activity - Jungle
Drum Circle with Chazz
Ross | Monday, Feb. 22, 2
p.m. • Zoom

Celebrate Black History
Month with Chazz Ross’s
Jungle Drum-Circle 
performance. Enjoy an
amazing percussion show
with African Djembe drums
and learn about their history.
Drawing on 40 years of
experience in African music
and dance, Chazz delivers an
exciting performance for all
ages. Sign up now.

-Music Activity - Celebrity
DJ Dance Party | Saturday, 
Feb. 27, 5-10 p.m. • Facebook 
& Instagram

Playing sounds from the 
1960s through the 2000s 
virtually. Livestream available 
on Facebook and Instagram. 
Visit: cityofpasadena.net/
parks-and-rec for more 
information and to sign up.

 For a full list of events or 
more information visit: 
pasadenapubliclibrary.net.

North Lake Safety Enhancement Plan

 City of Pasadena officials are 
asking the public to review 
and submit comments, 
by Sunday, for the first 
preliminary concept designs 
for a safety enhancement 
corridor along North Lake 
Avenue from Mountain 
Street to Maple Street. 

 According to city staff, the 
project aims to improve 
pedestrian and traffic 
safety along the 0.6 mile-
long corridor that links 
downtown and the Gold 
Line Lake Station with the 
neighborhoods north of the 
freeway and Altadena. The 
project includes continental 
high-visibility crosswalks, 
accessible bi-directional 
curb ramps, buss stop 
improvements, widen raised 
landscape median, narrow 
travel lanes, enhanced 
pedestrian and street lighting. 
The project proposes new 
traffic signals at Lake and 
Boylston St.. It also proposes 
improvements that include 
a new left-turn signal on N. 
Lake Ave. at Villa Street and 
widening curb extensions 
near Lake Ave. and Orange 
Grove as well as clear walk 
zones at driveway. 

 A concept design with cost 
estimation will be developed 
with feasible improvements 
supported by the community, 
they said. Community 
outreach is expected through 
May with a second virtual 
concept workshop in March 
and a third concept workshop 
in April. The cost estimation 
is expected the end of May 
with the project completed 
in June. 

 Staff said North Lake Avenue 
is defined as a principal 
arterial in the City’s General 
Plan. It consists of two travel 
lanes in each direction, 
with a two-way left-turn 
lane or a raised median in 
the middle. The roadway is 
heavily used by pedestrians 
and vehicles. It carries 
an average weekday daily 
vehicle volume of around 
36,800. A few intersections 
along the corridor are among 
those with the highest crash 
frequencies in the City of 
Pasadena.

 The project is part of the 
General Plans’ Mobility 
Element to provide a safe 
and efficient flow of vehicles, 
pedestrians, and bicycles.

 For more information, 
comment and a virtual tour 
visit: cityofpasadena.net/
transportation.

State Bill 
Aims to Help 
Deprived 
Business

 Assemblymember Chris 
Holden introduced AB 349 
Friday which requires that 
half of one percent of SB 1 
dollars be used to conduct 
outreach efforts to small 
business and disadvantaged 
business enterprises. The 
bill aims to bolster efforts to 
include minority owned and 
women owned business in a 
post COVID-19 economic 
recovery to meet contract 
procurement goals established 
by the California Department 
of Transportation.

 “This bill is about 
ensuring equity and a 
just COVID-19 recovery,” 
said Assemblymember 
Chris Holden. “We know 
communities of color continue 
to be disproportionally 
impacted by COVID-19 with 
higher rates of unemployment, 
reduced access to healthcare, 
and ultimately higher death 
rates. This bill will bring 
economic opportunities to 
these communities who are 
also hit hardest by taxes on gas 
and transportation.”

 According to Holden, as of 
October 2018, the California 
Department of Transportation 
had a goal of awarding 17.6 
percent of contract dollars 
to disadvantaged business 
enterprises. In 2018, only 12.1 
percent went to disadvantaged 
business enterprises. AB 349 
will provide the department 
the resources necessary to 
meet their goal.

 A disadvantaged business 
enterprise is a small business 
that is at least 51 percent 
owned by one or more 
individuals who are both 
socially and economically 
disadvantaged including 
people that identify as Black, 
Hispanic/Latino, Asian Pacific 
Islander, Native Americans, or 
women. 

 “Equitable distribution 
of public contracts to help 
businesses that have been 
historically marginalized has 
always been the goal, but now, 
it is more important than 
ever to make it a reality,” said 
Holden.

Playwright June Carryl to be 
Cultural Series Special Guest

City Returns to Purple Tier

 On Monday, the governor lifted California’s Regional Stay Home 
Order allowing Pasadena to returne to the state’s tiered system for 
reopening —specifically, Pasadena is back to Purple Tier 1.

 According to Pasadena health officer, Dr. Ying-Ying Goh, 
businesses and other organizations must again follow Purple Tier 
1 restrictions and guidelines. While the most restrictive tier, the 
return to the status quo includes the following:

Restaurants may open for takeout, delivery, and outdoor 
dining services

Wineries may only operate outdoors

Bars and breweries must remain closed

Retail may operate at 25 percent capacity

Hair salons may operate indoors with modifications

Nail salons may operate indoors with modifications

Personal care services may operate indoors with modifications

Museums and galleries may open for outdoor operations only

Places of worship may only conduct in-person services 
outdoors

Movie theatres may only operate outdoors

Hotels may operate with modifications

Fitness facilities may operate outdoors only

Cardrooms may operate outdoors only

Non-essential offices may open for remote work only

Professional sports may resume with no live audiences

 “We’re all glad to see case rates and hospitalizations are on the 
decline. But, even though the state has lifted the regional stay-at-
home order, we cannot afford to let our guard down. We must 
all continue following safety precautions to stop the spread of 
COVID-19 in our community. These include wearing a mask 
whenever we leave home, avoiding crowds, keeping at least 6 
feet away from people we don’t live with, and washing our hands 
often,” Goh said.

 Hosted by the Pasadena Senior 
Center, the event is part of the 
center’s Cultural Thursdays 
series. Black History Month 
event Thursday, Feb. 25, from 2 
to 3:15 p.m. via Zoom. 

 Carryl, who is a member of 
the Actors Studio and SAG-
AFTRA and an accomplished 
director and actor in theater, 
television and film, will be 
interviewed by Annie Laskey, 
director of special events at the 
center. They will discuss how 
Carryl’s experiences as a black 
woman inform her work and 
career, the challenges and joys 
of working in today’s theater 
and more, followed by a Q and 
A with the audience. 

 While the event is free to center 
members and nonmembers 
50 and older, registration is 
required. To register, visit www.
pasadenaseniorcenter.org and 
click on Events, Clubs and 
Lectures, then Online Events 
or call 626-795-4331. Everyone 
who registers will receive an 
email link to access the live 
program.

 Carryl’s play “The Good 
Minister from Harare” received 
the Saroyan/Paul 2016 Human 
Rights Award. Set in brutal 
dictator Robert Mugabe’s 
Zimbabwe, it is a reimagining 
of Bertold Brecht’s iconic 
play “The Good Person of 
Szechuan.”

 She has performed character 
roles in films such as “What 
Dreams May Come,” “Sweet 
November,” “Back Roads” and 
“Woman on Top,” and television 
shows including “Parenthood,” 
“Law and Order: L.A.,” “Castle” 
and “Criminal Minds.”

 She had a recurring role on 
the Netflix series “Mindhunter” 
and was a regular cast member 
on the Hulu series “Helstrom,” 
part of the Marvel Cinematic 
Universe franchise.

 While studying acting and 
working professionally as a 
playwright and stage actor for 
seven years in the Bay Area 
in the 1990s, she received 
the Dean Goodman Choice 
Award for Best Actress in 
Thick Description’s production 
of Suzi-Loren Parks’s drama 
“Venus.”

 For more information about 
online activities and other 
programs and services of 
the Pasadena Senior Center 
during the pandemic, visit: 
pasadenaseniorcenter.org or 
call 626-795-4331.

 The center, at 85 E. Holly St, 
is an independent, nonprofit 
organization that has been 
serving older adults for more 
than 60 years. During the 
pandemic, doors are open 
Mondays through Fridays from 
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for social 
services and other critical 
services for older adults in need. 
Masks and social distancing are 
required. 


Carryl


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