Friday, August 7, 2015

Chamber of Commerce Hears About the Minimum Wage Increase (and More) from County Mayor Antonovich

The Altadena Chamber of Commerce hosted Los Angeles County Mayor Michael D. Antonovich for a Thursday morning Power Breakfast.

After a “warpath outreach” the Altadena Chamber memberships have grown over 300% from less than 30 members one year ago to now more than 100.

Antonovich briefed the more than 50 attendees on important legislation that could impact business in Altadena including the recent approval of a minimum wage hike.

“We were not successful in defeating the minimum wage increase,” said Antonovich, who had cast one of the two votes against the measure that will incrementally raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2020 for the 1.5 million people living in unincorporated parts of the County like Altadena.

“It doesn’t help the unincorporated parts when they are located next to the city. It should be done at the state level,” Antonovich said.

Ed Wascahtka, who attended the meeting, said that the Pasadenan’s for a Liveable Wage group hopes to “fix” the discrepancy between the adjacent Pasadena and Altadena minimum wages within the upcoming months.

Thursday, August 6, 2015

County Receives $6.4 Million Grant to Combat Fraud

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has been awarded a $6.4 million grant – the largest in the state – to be used in the investigation and prosecution of cases involving workers’ compensation fraud.

The California Department of Insurance announced the grant as part of a $34.95 million fund allocation for anti-fraud programs being pursued by 37 district attorney offices representing 42 counties in the state.

State Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said the grants are crucial to the campaign to effectively enforce the law for the benefit of workers throughout the state.

“The impact of fraud is felt across California as a drain on our economy. These grants

will assist district attorneys across the state in uncovering workers’ compensation fraud schemes and prosecuting those who take advantage of the system,” Jones said.

The Insurance Commission says workers’ compensation insurance fraud includes medical provider fraud, employer premium fraud, employer defrauding employee, insider fraud, claimant fraud, and the willfully uninsured operating within the underground economy.

Thursday, August 6, 2015

ALTADENA NAACP ACT- SO Olympics of the Mind

The Altadena Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has won three medals in the Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) 38th Annual Competition in Philadelphia Pennsylvania on July 12th, 2015.

Often called the “Olympics of the Mind,”ACT-SO, a National Youth Initiative of the NAACP, is a yearlong enrichment program sponsored by branches of the NAACP in various communities throughout the nation. The Olympics is designed to stimulate, improve and encourage high academic and artistic achievement, and cultural awareness among ninth- through 12th- grade high school students.

Each ACT-SO Olympian awarded a gold medal at the local competitive level qualifies to compete in the national finals. The national finals are held each summer in conjunction with the NAACP National Convention. This year, the competition was held in Philadelphia.

The Altadena NAACP has competed in each national competition since 1997 and has won 33 National Medals from bronze to gold during that period. This year,

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Dogs Found on Marengo & Palm

Two dogs found: wandered into our friends yard at Marengo & Palm Aug. 4th at 10pm.They are possibly 5 month old puppies They seem to be a mix of Terrier and Cattle Herding( Wire Haired). Big Blue eyes. Here is a picture of one of them. Please reach out to  Tiffany and her number is 626.765.9127. If they belong to you

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

County Expands Services For District Attorney’s Victims Services Program

A report by the District Attorney shows that in Los Angeles County last year, just 20,000 crime victims received services — even though the number of  violent crime victims alone exceeded 45,000.  To help serve more victims, a motion by Mayor Michael D. Antonovich increasing the staff of the District Attorney’s victim services program was unanimously approved by the Board of Supervisors.

“Victims of crime are subjected to physical, emotional and financial harm through no fault of their own,” said Mayor Antonovich.  “Increasing the resources for direct services to victims ensures that they are not victimized again by the system.”

Mayor Antonovich’s motion allocated full funding for 15 positions and directed the Interim Chief Executive Officer to report back in 60 days with recommendations to fill other gaps in services for victims.  The second part of the motion establishing a mechanism for collecting restitution on behalf of victims of AB 109 offenders was continued to September 15,

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Altadena Station’s Crime Blotter for the week of July 19, 2015

Sunday, July 19th

3:30 AM – A vehicle burglary occurred in the 100 block of East Las Flores Drive.  Suspect(s) entered the vehicle by shattering the driver’s side window.  Stolen was a black tool bag containing safety equipment.

9:30 AM – Carolyn Jackson, 39 years old of Monrovia, was arrested in the 2000 block of North Marengo Avenue for criminal threats and brandishing a weapon (knife).

Monday, July 20th

9:00 AM – A residential vandalism occurred in the 2300 block of Garfield Avenue.   Suspect(s) used a key to tamper with the keyhole.  No entry was made.

2:00 PM – A vehicle was reported stolen from the 2200 block of East Crary Street.  Vehicle stolen described as: silver 2004 Mercedes SL55 AMG 2-door.  Vehicle was recovered by El Monte Police Department.

3:15 PM – A package theft occurred in the 400 block of West Las Flores Drive. 

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Community: Free concert, Caribbean,Reggae, Calypso, Soca & Steel Drum Music. Farnsworth Park, Altadena 7:00pm Saturday August 8

Sheriff’s Support Group of Altadena presents Concerts in the Park. Upstream, Reggae Band will be performing Saturday August 8, 2015 at 7:00pm. Join us for the FREE concert at Farnsworth Park, located at 586 Mount Curve Ave., Altadena 91001.

UPSTREAM

Welcome to the Upstream experience!

Upstream has been spreading their message of love and positivity through their exhilarating Caribbean Music, namely, Reggae, Calypso, Soca and Steel Drum Music, for quite some time now.

Through the years they have mesmerized audiences throughout the world and brought many to kneel at their alter of ultimate enjoyment. With a multi-talented line up of some of the most experienced and enlightened musicians in their camp, they continue to spread joy to an unsuspecting public.

Bandleader and Lead Singer/Guitarist “Haile Blackman” is originally from The Republic of Trinidad & Tobago and the Son of the Legendary Creator of Soca Music, the late Ras Shorty I. Steel Drum Extraordinaire “Derek Brewstafari” is also a Trinidad and Tobago native and will tug at your heartstrings with his melodic Steel Drum tones.

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Tree Trimming Alert: Altadena

Altadena City contractors will start a tree-removal project Tuesday along Allen Avenue between Mendocino Street and Meadowbrook Road to remove at least six dead or dying trees.

Public Works has sent an advisory saying that Allen Avenue will be closed to vehicle traffic during daylight working hours starting today.

Public Works also said the trees will be removed with a wide crane from the west side of the rock ditch along Allen. The tree-removal work is expected to last until Thursday, August 6th.

With the road closure, motorists will be guided with message signs already set up since Saturday to warn about the tree removal work and instruct drivers to reroute their trips.

Monday, August 3, 2015

Hiking Dog Rescued by LASD

An overheated and injured 5-year old Shephard mix, Koda,
was rescued by Altadena Mountain Rescue volunteer reserve deputies and was carried off the hill for safety. LASD also gave Koda a ride.
 

Monday, August 3, 2015

Scammers Target Seniors in “Grandson Scam” Plaguing Pasadena Area

Local law enforcement is investigating a recent rash of calls to senior citizens in Altadena purportedly from scammers connected to a “grandparent scam” exposed about a year ago in some parts of the United States and Canada.

In California, a CBS News documentary in April of 2014 exposed this type of fraud by showing how one 31-year-old man victimized several elderly citizens by calling them pretending he was their grandson and asking for money to pay for damages because he had been involved in an accident or was in trouble with the law.

The man revealed details of the scam while incarcerated after having been charged for multiple cases of fraud. He said as many as one in every 50 elderly citizens have been duped in several areas in North America and that scammers could make as much as $10,000 a day victimizing several people.

In Altadena, Sheriff’s Deputy Dan Paige said they are awaiting formal complaints from a couple of residents who said they had been contacted by scammers using a similar made-up scenario of a grandson in trouble and in need of money.