Thursday, September 16, 2021

New Hearing Ordered for 1 of 2 Men Convicted in Altadena Murder

CITY NEWS SERVICE

A state appeals court panel Thursday ordered a new hearing for one of two men convicted in a 1997 crime spree that ended with an Altadena woman being shot to death outside her home.

The three-justice panel from California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal found that Jason Mency “is not entitled to re-sentencing at this stage of the proceedings,” but that an evidentiary hearing should be held to determine whether he could now be convicted of felony murder as a result of changes in state law since his trial.

Mency and co-defendant La Min Johnson, now both 48, were convicted of the Jan. 3, 1997, killing of Marsha Lee Birch, who was shot as she walked to her car.

Mency subsequently told police that he and Johnson had just burglarized a car belonging to Birch’s neighbor when the mother of four stepped outside her home.

He said Johnson then stole the woman’s purse and shot her with a gun that had been stolen from the neighbor’s car.

Sunday, August 15, 2021

Video Released in Fatal Shooting of Stabbing Suspect by Deputies in Altadena

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WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEO

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department released video footage Sunday stemming from the fatal shooting of a knife-wielding man in Altadena that took place shortly after the suspect had  beaten and stabbed an elderly woman in a seemingly random attack in Altadena last January.

Allen Mirzayan, 48, described as a U.S. Army Veteran from Pasadena, died from multiple gunshot wounds following the shooting, which took place just after 4 p.m. on January 10 at Lincoln Avenue and Figueroa Drive, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

Video footage taken from multiple sources, including surveillance cameras and deputy body cameras and witness cell phones, captured both the shooting, as well as the attack and confrontation with deputies that preceded it.

Mirzayan walked up to the elderly woman, who was using a walker to make her way  down the sidewalk.

Without any apparent reason, “[Mirzayan] can be seen knocking the elderly woman to the ground,

Thursday, August 5, 2021

Altadena Resident Awarded Eagle Scout Honor

By KEITH CALAYAG

When Cobhan Kale joined scouting in first grade, he never knew he would stay for years in the organization, thanks to the outdoor activities and backpacking which inspired him to continue.

“First, while I was in scouting, I wasn’t really sure if I wanted to do it or not.”

“I started to really enjoy going on backpacking trips. And it really gave me the confidence to keep going,” Kale told Pasadena Now.

Kale’s favorite experience throughout his journey — the 50-mile backpacking trek in the eastern High Sierras.

After over a decade of scouting, the Altadena resident, who just graduated from St. Francis High School, progressed through the ranks and finally reached the pinnacle of a Boy Scout’s career.

On Tuesday evening, Kale was officially recognized with the Boy Scouts of America’s highest honor during a ceremony held at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.

Troop 1 Committee Chair Craig Snodgrass served as the master of ceremonies along with Senior Patrol Leader Jackson Brooks and presented the Eagle Scout awards to Kale on behalf of Scoutmaster Don Matsumoto.

Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Altadena Library District Receives Grant Award from California Humanities

California Humanities has announced the recent round of Humanities For All Quick Grant awards. The Altadena Library District has been awarded $3,412 for its project entitled “Shared Landscapes: Mapping Teen Altadena.”

The Humanities For All Quick Grant is a competitive grant program of California Humanities that supports locally-initiated public humanities projects that respond to the needs and interests of Californians, encourage greater public participation in humanities programming, particularly by new and/or underserved audiences, and promotes understanding and empathy among all our state’s peoples in order to cultivate a thriving democracy.

The “Shared Landscapes” project is a teen-generated digital and print story map that documents the human geography young people create and inhabit in Altadena and the greater San Gabriel Valley. In the first phase of the project, teens will use technology to create audio, visual, and written records of specific locations associated with meaningful experiences. In the second phase, a teen editorial board will create digital and print maps that plot the submitted locations and integrate the accompanying documentation.

Thursday, June 3, 2021

Newsom: To-Go Alcohol Sales Are Here To Stay, But Only With Food Purchases

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Restaurants in the Southland and across the state will be able to continue offering a service that evolved during the COVID-19 pandemic — selling alcoholic beverages to-go, Gov. Gavin Newsom said today.

Newsom said the state will also continue permitting restaurants and bars to operate in outdoor areas such as sidewalks and parking lots, although such operations are still subject to local zoning regulations.

According to Newsom’s office, the governor is “urging local governments to facilitate outdoor dining through local zoning and programs that support and promote expanded, open-air, take-out and delivery options.”

Expanded outdoor dining options and the sale of to-go alcoholic beverages emerged during the pandemic in an effort to help restaurants struggling to survive under strict COVID-19 regulations, which forced indoor dining to close for months and restricted eateries to open-air or take-out service.

Newsom noted that while the sale of to-go alcohol will be able to continue, such sales will have to be coupled with food purchases.

Friday, May 28, 2021

Richard W. Jewett Jr. – June 2, 1942 – April 30, 2021

Richard W. Jewett Jr. 78 passed away April 30, 2021 surrounded by his wife and children.

Rick was born June 2, 1942, he grew up in Glendale CA and graduated from Glendale High School in 1960. Never being one to sit idle Rick had 2 careers. 37 years with Lockheed Martin Skunkworks where he proudly contributed to the success of some of our nation’s greatest military aircrafts know to date. At the same time Rick worked 33 years retiring as a Capitan for the Los Angeles Sheriff Department.

Rick is survived by his wife of 29 years, his children; Richard III (Lori), Audra (Greg) Norman, Jonathan (Erin) Brackney. Grandchildren; Connor, Brandon, Aubree (Marcos) Flores, Deklan Brackney. Brother David (Karen), Sister-In-Law Joanne Jewett-Burt.

Rick is predeceased by his brother John.

Private services will take place on Catalina Island

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Supervisors Renew $25,000 in Case of Altadena Boy Killed by Errant Bullet

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors renewed a $25,000 reward in the case of a 4-year-old killed by an errant bullet in a 2016 gang shooting in Altadena.

Supervisor Kathryn Barger asked her colleagues to renew a $25,000 reward for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of the gunman who shot and killed 4-year-old Salvador Esparza on July 5, 2016.

The boy was found lying on his front porch on the 300 block of West Figueroa Drive about 10:40 that evening. He had been shot once in the head. A 27-year-old gunshot victim was also found on the porch and taken to Huntington Memorial Hospital. He survived.

Witnesses say the gunman was chasing and fired on the older man, striking both victims, before running away south on Olive Avenue. Sheriff’s investigators believe the suspect is a gang member and the shooting was gang related, and that the child was not an intended target.

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

Free Summer Concerts at Farnsworth Park Announced

The Rotary Club of Altadena in association with the Sheriff’s Support Group of Altadena is announcing the lineup for the 24th season of Free Summer Concerts in the beautiful outdoor Amphitheater in Farnsworth Park, 568 E. Mt. Curve Ave., Altadena.

All Concerts are on Saturday evening and start at 7:00 p.m. This year’s season kicks off on July 10th featuring The Kings of ’88 and the classic piano rock of Billy Joel and Elton John. The July 17th concert will be Sgt. Peppers Beatles tribute band. On July 24th enjoy Psychedelic Summer Southern California’s Woodstock-era tribute band. July 31st Flogging Seagulls will perform classic KROQ era artists with an Irish-Celtic twist. On August 7th Country Nation will pay tribute to Country Music’s top contemporary artists. On August 14th Upstream returns to our stage once again as everyone’s favorite Steel Drum Reggae and Soca Band. As it is every year this concert will be a jammed packed audience! On August 21st the featured artists will be The Hodads featuring California beach music from the 50’s to the Disco of the 80’s.

Thursday, May 13, 2021

Young Man With Autism Who Went Missing in Altadena Found

An 18-year-old Altadena man with autism who went missing on Wednesday afternoon was found safe Thursday, sheriff’s officials said.

Kevin Aleman disappeared about 4 p.m. from the 800 block of Morada Place, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

After seeking help from the public, officials announced Thursday afternoon that Aleman had been found. No further details were available.

Friday, May 7, 2021

California Establishes Child Drowning Prevention Week in Honor of Girl Who Drowned at Altadena Summer Camp

By DAVID CROSS and BRIAN DAY

The third week of may has been officially declared “Roxie’s Wish: Drowning Prevention Week for Children” in honor of a 6-year-old Pasadena girl who drowned at an Altadena summer camp nearly two years ago.

The legislation, ACR 39, was authored by State Rep. Chris Holden, D-Pasadena, who has been working closely with the Meow Meow Foundation, set up by the parents of Roxie Forbes to raise awareness about child drowning danger in the wake of their family’s tragedy.

In observance of the newly created week of awareness, the Meow Meow Foundation, which is headed by Roxie’s parents, Doug Forbes and Elena Matyas, is planning a seven-day “unprecedented, week-long virtual event that addresses the endemic but largely underserved issue of childhood drowning,” the organization said in a written statement. The virtual event will begin on May 15.

“We honor Roxie in her death as we did in her life,” Forbes said. “Childhood drowning must finally receive the attention it deserves,