Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, September 10, 2022

Mountain View News Saturday, September 10, 2022 

Police Nab 
Sexual Assault 
Suspect 

 
Pasadena police arrested 
a homeless man Thursdaywanted in connection to an 
attempted sexual assault at 
gunpoint Sunday of a localhealth spa employee in EastPasadena. 

According to police, theyarrested 45-year-old VictorHugo Vega shortly before

12:30 p.m. after officers 
recognized him walkingwith a bicycle near HillAvenue and Walnut Street. 
He was apprehendedafter a short chase. Vega 
was arrested the same 
day investigators releasedphotos of him to the public. 
Pasadena Police 
Lieutenant Keith Gomez 
said Vega entered a localhealth spa in the 2000 blockof E. Colorado Blvd. and 
requested a massage from 
an unnamed employee.
Just prior to receiving his 
massage, Vega suddenly 
assaulted the female 
employee; which includedbrandishing a firearm. 
During the lengthy assault,
the suspect attempted 
to sexually assault the 
employee. Vega eventuallyfled the location on a 
bicycle.

Investigators said Vega 
later admitted to the 
crimes. Police also found 
the weapon identified as aBB gun.

 The initial photo releasedto the public of Vargas isshow above. 

Police to 
RecognizeChild 
PassengerSafety Week

 During Child PassengerSafety Week, Sept. 18-24,
Pasadena Police Departmentwill provide referrals to 
parents and caregiversneeding assistance installingchild safety seats.

“We are offering parents andcaregivers guidance to ensurethat their child is as safe as 
possible in their car seat,” saidPasadena Police DepartmentLieutenant Anthony Russo.

 According to the NationalHighway Traffic Safety 
Administration (NHTSA),
46% of car seats are misused. 
California law requires allchildren under 2 years old toride in a rear-facing car seat, 
unless the child is 40 or more 
pounds or inches tall. Parents 
are encouraged to keep yourchild in rear- and forward-
facing seats as long as possible.
Children 8 and older—who 
are at least 4 feet 9 inches in 
height—may ride in the back 
seat of a vehicle in a properlyfitted safety belt.

 To search for car seat 
programs in your county, visitthe OTS website. You may alsocontact your local CHP areaoffice to schedule a free child 
safety seat inspection.

 For more information visit: 
cityofpasadena.net. 

City to Hold Meeting for District 3 Vacancy 

29 starting at 5:00 p.m. 

 
The Pasadena city council is set 
to vote Monday on whether they 
should hold a special meeting 
later this month —with only 
the interview and appointment 
process for the Council District 
3 vacancy on the agenda.

 If approved, the city council 
will meet Thursday, September 

 The council would use the 
following framework during 
the meeting for the interview 
process to fill the seat:

• Applicants provide 5-7 
minute for an introduction 
and overview on background,
qualifications, and involvementin City and District 3 issues
• Applicants answer a set 
number of questions
• Each Councilmember receives 
up to 3 additional minutes toask unscriptedquestions 
According to city staff, “an 
ad hoc committee of Mayor 
Gordo and Councilmembers 
Hampton, Madison, and Rivas 
met [September 2] to discuss 
the appointment process. 

 The ad hoc committee’s four 

members unanimously agreed 
not to meet with applicants 
outside the public interview 
process. If meetings have 
already occurred, or occur in 
the future, councilmembers 
are asked to publicly disclose 
those meetings at the special 
meeting on September 29, prior 
to interviews, as a matter of 
transparency.

A number of Pasadena 
residents are asking that the 
council appoint former council 
candidate Brandon Lamar to 
the open seat. 

 “Brandon had the courage 
to run for the District 3 
position against the beloved 
John Kennedy,” said former 
Council District 1 Liaison Tina 
Williams. “While he didn’t 
win the election, he received 

41.6 percent or the votes. I 
believe he is qualified and can 
meet the challenge of being a 
councilmember.” 
Another resident asked that 
Environmental Advisory 
Commission Chair Justin Jones 
be appointed to the seat. 

 The District 3 seat became 

Grand Opening of PlayhouseVillage Park to be Postponed 


City to designatepark stage to iconicrock band Van Halen

 Today’s grand openingof Playhouse Village Parkhas been postponed due 
to inclement weather 
anticipated this weekend. 
The official opening is nowscheduled to take place nextSaturday.
According to city staff, The 
new park features open spacefor informal recreation, 
relaxation, and community 
gatherings, a shaded 
children’s play area, separatedog runs for large and smalldogs, benches and seating,
a 48-space parking plaza,
among other amenities.
In addition to exploring thepark’s amenities, you are 
invited to participate in grandopening activities where you 
can: 
During the grand openingfestivities are expected toinclude: 
-Park officially opens with aribbon cutting ceremony at 9 
a.m. 
-Learn how to create a fun 

fan with USC Pacific Asia 
Museum 
-Develop a love for readingwith story time with Mr. Stevefrom Vroman’s Bookstore 
-Make traditional Mexican 
tissue paper flowers with 
Mercadito Monarca 
-Play a round of giant gameswith Playhouse Village 
Foundation 
-Discover the joys of ridingan e-bike from GoSGV 
-Join a read-aloud and then 
bring the story to life througharts and crafts with Southern 
California Children’s 
Museum 
-Get creative with a craft 
from the Pasadena Public 
Library 
-Enjoy light refreshmentsfrom Tepito Coffee and ElPortal 
The Pasadena City Councildecided to name the stageafter the entire band and 
not just guitarist Eddie VanHalen. The change was none 
at the request of the VanHalen family. Eddie Van 
Halen passed away in 2020after a battle with cancer. 
For more information visit: 
playhousevillage.org/park. 

vacant after the recent death, 
July 21, of Councilmember John 
Kennedy (pictured above).

 Because Kennedy had been 
reelected in June, the council 
must first make an appointment 
to the Council District 3 seat 
from the date of appointment to 
December 12. 

“At that time, the newly 
constituted city council may 
appoint the same person to 
serve, or consider appointing 
a different person to fill the 
vacancy, with the second 
appointment would serve from 
the date of that appointment 
until December 9, 2024,” 
according to a city notice. 

Celebrate 
National 
ComingOut Day

 Join the Pasadena Libraryas they commemorate thecity’s efforts to celebrate andfoster an inclusive communityand mark the anniversary ofNational Coming Out DayOctober 11.

 During the annual eventthere will be music, resourcetables, crafts, speakers, freeHIV testing, and giveawaysfor all ages. Presented bythe Pasadena Public Health 
Department, Pasadena PublicLibrary, and Pasadena Parks,
Recreation and CommunityServices.

 National Coming Out 
Day, celebrates coming out 
as lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, queer (LGBTQ)
or as an ally. Oct. 11, 2022,
marks the 34th anniversary ofNational Coming Out Day.

 Thirty-four years ago, on theanniversary of the NationalMarch on Washington forLesbian and Gay Rights,
National Coming Out Day 
was first observed as a 
reminder that one of our most 
basic tools is the power ofcoming out.

 One out of every twoAmericans has someone close 
to them who is gay or lesbian.
For transgender people, thatnumber is only one in 10.

 Coming out - whether itis as lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, queer or asexual 
-STILL MATTERS. When 
people know someone who 
is LGBTQ, they are far morelikely to support equalityunder the law. Beyond that,
our stories can be powerful toeach other.

 For more information visit: 
cityofpasadena.net/library. 

Royal Court SelectionProcess Begins Today 

 
Hundreds of Pasadena 
area applicants will tryout,
today, in the first round ofinterviews for the 2023 RoyalCourt. Participants will alsoattend a short orientation 
with past Royal Court 
members before their brief 
interview with volunteer 
Members of the Tournament 
of Roses.

 Each applicant will be asked 
a question and be given15 seconds to answer. The 
Queen & Court Committee, 
made of up 12 Tournamentof Roses Members, will beasking the question. The 
committee is looking for acombination of qualities, 
including public speaking 
ability, youth leadership, 
academic achievement,
and community and schoolinvolvement. 

The 2023 Royal Court 
members will each receive 
a $7,500 educational 
scholarship and serve 
as ambassadors of the 
Tournament of Roses, the 
Pasadena community and 
the greater Los Angeles area.

 The Royal Court attendsnearly 100 community andmedia functions, serving 
as ambassadors of the 
Tournament of Roses, thePasadena community, andthe greater Los Angeles area. 

The grand finale for the 
Royal Court is riding on theRoyal Court float in the RoseParade presented by Hondaand attending the Rose BowlGame both on New Year’s 
Day.
Eligibility requirements 
include: 
-Identify as a female, at least17 years of age by December31, 2022 and not more than 
21 years of age before January5, 2023

- Be a full-time resident of the 
Pasadena Area CommunityCollege District 
-Possess at least a 2.0 gradepoint average in both thecurrent and previous years’course work 
-Be available to participate,
in person, in all interviewsessions in the fall 
-Be a senior in high schoolor enrolled as a full-time 
student (minimum 12 units)
in any accredited school orcollege in the Pasadena AreaCommunity College District 
-Complete the official RoyalCourt online applicationMembers of the 2023 
Royal Court must be fullyvaccinated and provide 
proof of full COVID-19 
vaccination. 
More information can be 
found at: tournamentofroses. 
com/about/royal-court. 
Sept. LibraryCard Sign-
Up Month

 September is Library CardSign-up Month, when librariesnationwide join the AmericanLibrary Association (ALA) toremind parents, caregivers, 
students, and communitymembers that signing up for alibrary card is the first step onthe path to lifelong learning.

 To celebrate National LibraryCard Sign-up Month this year,
the Pasadena Public Libraryis giving away a set of limitededition library post cards. Each 
set has a post card dedicatedto one of our locations with 
a beautiful Art Deco styleillustration on one side and 
writing space on the other. Each 
branch has 25 sets that will 

be given to the first 25 people 
to sign-up for a card at their 
locations. Along with this, newcard members can go homewith a Libraries are Limitless 
bookmark (while supplies last)
to accompany their new cardand any items they check outthat day.

 The Pasadena Public Libraryis an information center for the 
Pasadena community in order topreserve and encourage the freeexpression of ideas essential toan informed citizenry. A varietyof highly vetted programs arepresented for children and 
adults and they represent theresearch and opinions of thepresenter and do not reflectan endorsement by the Cityof Pasadena nor the Pasadena 
Public Library.

To sign up for a library card orto learn more about the library’sresources and programs, visit:
cityofpasadena.net/library/ or 
call (626) 744-4066. 

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com