Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Reward Extended in Altadena Murder Case

The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion by Supervisor Kathryn Barger reestablishing a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of a suspect or suspects responsible for the murder of Marcus Nieto.

Nieto’s body was discovered on the Altadena Crest horse trail by two riders on horseback on February 16, 2013. Investigators have confirmed that Marcus Nieto left his residence to visit an acquaintance in Pomona but may have returned to the Covina/Azusa area at some point before he went missing. The Medical Examiner-Coroner has determined the mode of death to be a homicide. The $20,000 reward offer approved by the Board in April, 2014 has since expired.

Supervisor Barger encourages anyone with information about this heinous crime to contact Sergeant Robert J. Gray at (323) 890-5500.

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

County to Expand Program to Prevent School Violence

Supervisor Kathryn Barger announced that the Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved a motion she co-authored with Supervisor Janice Hahn to enhance the role of the county’s School Threat Assessment Response Team (START) program.

To prevent campus violence through early identification and intervention of at-risk youths and young adults, the Department of Mental Health created START in 2009 to partner with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to develop a regional approach to targeted school violence.

“Early identification and intervention are vital in our mutual effort to identify and prevent possible incidents of school violence,” said Supervisor Barger. “We cannot ignore the red flags and we must actively seek out troubled young people and get them the help they need before a tragedy occurs.”

START is currently staffed with 10 clinicians working with local law enforcement to respond to reports of potential school violence. In the past year, START conducted interventions with 127 students and in the past week START has received 63 referrals.

Monday, February 26, 2018

Pasadena Mayor Tornek Responds to Altadena Town Council Request to Restrict Pasadena Police in Altadena; Altadena Town Council Chair Reacts

Pasadena Mayor Terry Tomek has responded to a request by Altadena’s Town Council for restrictions on two Pasadena police officers involved in the violent arrest of Altadena resident Christopher Ballew during a November 2017 traffic stop in this unincorporated part of Los Angeles County.

The request came in the form of a February 10 letter sent by Town Council Chair Okorie Ezieme, in which he also asked Mayor Tornek and Police Chief Sanchez to review policies and procedures on use of force, racial profiling and investigatory stops.

“The Altadena Town Council, along with the residents we represent, will not tolerate brutality or racist practices, by anyone including law enforcement,” Ezieme wrote.

In his February 23 response addressed to Ezieme, Mayor Tomek said the Ballew incident is being “properly investigated to determine whether any policy violations were committed on the part of the Pasadena police officers involved. These policies represent best practices and are similar, if not identical, to those adopted by the Los Angeles County Sheriff.

Friday, February 23, 2018

Altadena Town Council Sends Letter to Pasadena Officials Requesting Restrictions on Pasadena Police Within Their Town Limits

In a Feb. 10 letter to top Pasadena officials, Altadena Town Council Chair Okorie Ezieme requested that two Pasadena police officers involved in the violent arrest of an Altadena man during a traffic stop not be allowed to patrol that unincorporated part of Los Angeles County.

“In an effort to uphold the safety and quality of life of each and every one of our Altadena residents, [Altadena residents] have voiced the following requests of the Pasadena Police Department. That Officers Larry [sic] Esparza and Zachary Lujan be restricted from conducting any police business within Altadena [town] limits. Pasadena Police Officers continued presence in Altadena has resulted in at least one additional harassment incident since the incident on November 9, and poses a continued safety concern to all residents of Altadena,” the letter reads.

Read the entire letter here

21-year-old Christopher Ballew suffered a broken fibula and head wounds during an encounter with the two Pasadena officers last Nov.

Thursday, February 22, 2018

‘Get Healthy Altadena’ Debut Event Integrates New Technology Designed to Detect and Predict Health Problems in Real Time, For Free

Men Educating Men About Health (MEMAH) will present their inaugural Get Healthy Altadena event this weekend and will feature helpful technology designed to detect and even predict health problems in real time, at no cost to the public.

The event, which provides a variety of health screenings for adult men and women, is a staple of MEMAH’s efforts. The nonprofit hosts a similar event in Pasadena each year called “Get Healthy Pasadena” and is expected to attract over 9,000 residents who are seeking preliminary health care this Saturday morning at the Altadena Senior Center.

“Our goal is to give all attendees a whole health experience, so they can make informed health care decisions,” says Jim Morris, executive director of MEMAH. “We want to introduce all of our participants to an exciting and healthy lifestyle that will increase their longevity and quality of life.”

MEMAH’s mission is dedicated to raising the awareness, importance, and understanding of men’s health issues by offering knowledge of traditional treatments and suggesting alternative options.

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Altadena Town Council Issues Agenda for February 20, 2018

Okorie Ezieme, Chair, Altadena Town Council has issued the agenda for the Council’s February 20, 2018 meeting to be conducted at the Altadena Community Center, 730 East Altadena Drive, starting at 7:00 p.m.

A pdf version is available by clicking here.

1. CALL TO ORDER

1.1 Pledge of Allegiance ________________________ Altadena Community Schools
Introduction, Judy Matthews
1.2 Roll Call _________________________________ Recording Secretary, Judy Matthews
1.3 Approve February 20, 2018 meeting Agenda _____ Pat Sutherlen

2. OFFICERS’ REPORTS

2.1 Chairman __________________________________ Okorie Ezieme
2.2 Vice Chairman ______________________________ Pat Sutherlen
2.3 Recording Secretary _________________________ Judy Matthews
2.3.1 Approve January 16, 2018 Meeting Minutes
2.4 Treasurer __________________________________ John White
2.5 Corresponding Secretary _____________________ Nestor de la Torre

3. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS

3.1. California Highway Patrol ____________________ Officer Mike Ulloa
3.2 Altadena Sheriff’s Station ____________________ Lt. Carmichael Octave/Lt. Yolanda Clay
3.3 County Fire ____________________________ Maria Grycan
3.4 CERT ______________________________________ Deputy Dan Paige
3.5 Map Your Neighborhood ______________________ Karen Gibson/Eric Vander Velde

4.

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Wind-Fanned Brush Fire in Eaton Canyon Quickly Knocked Down Monday Afternoon

A wind-fanned fire Monday afternoon in Eaton Canyon adjacent to the Henninger Flats trailhead and across the street from residential neighborhoods drew a quick, multi-agency response which doused the flames within about an hour.

Four Pasadena Fire Department engines joined lead Los Angeles County Fire Department with Glendale and San Marino engines, U.S. Forest Service hand crews and a County helicopter in attacking the 3:42 p.m. blaze, which grew to one acre before containment.

Dozens of hikers who had been in the Canyon and mountains self-evacuated. There were no reported injuries.

Altadena Drive was closed to traffic a short distance north of New York Drive, and a number of nearby residential streets were also shut down. The blaze was close to where Midwick Drive dead ends into Altadena Drive.

Eaton Canyon Nature Center was quickly closed and the parking lot evacuated.

By 4:22 p.m., the forward-progress of the fire had been stopped, officials said. The callup for a full response,

Saturday, February 17, 2018

MEMAH’s “Get Healthy Altadena” Event Offers Free Health Screenings on February 24

Men Educating Men About Health (MEMAH) will present their inaugural Get Healthy Altadena event on February 24, 2018, at the Altadena Senior Center. The purpose of the health event is to empower men and women with knowledge of their current health status, and provide traditional and alternative options for health prevention and treatment, including FREE health screenings.

“Our goal is to give all attendees a whole health experience, so they can make informed health care decisions,” says Jim Morris, executive director of MEMAH. “We want to introduce all of our participants to an exciting and healthy lifestyle that will increase their longevity and quality of life.”

MEMAH partners with Kaiser Permanente of Pasadena and many other health providers, local restaurants, and vendors to conduct this year’s event. Free services will include ultrasounds for the heart, arteries, liver, and kidneys; prostate, diabetes, cholesterol, stroke, and blood pressure screenings; body mass index (BMI), vision, hearing, and dental check-ups; massages, health seminars, and more. Free lunch will be provided to participants.

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Black History Parade Rolls from Altadena to Pasadena This Saturday, followed by Festival

Pasadena’s festive Black History Parade will blare, beat, thunder, dance, march and roll down Fair Oaks Avenue from Charles White Park in Altadena all the way down an afternoon Festival at Pasadena’s Robinson Park morning, February 17, under what forecasters predict will be 78-degree, sunny blue skies.

The enjoyable community event parades an outpouring of local school and civic organizations, city officials and political represents, bands and performers in colorful costumes celebrating Black History Month.

Traditionally families, groups of teenagers, and kids in wagons and on bikes line Fair Oaks Avenue to take in what has become one of Southern California’s largest Black History parades.

This 36th Parade kicks off at 10 a.m., the Festival at 12 noon, and all the events are free to attend. The Festival features live bands, dance performances, community booths, guests speakers, food to purchase and plenty of fun.

The Grand Marshals this year are Ishmael Trone and Nicole Benard. Also being honored are Community Service Awards recipients Ted Bates,

Monday, February 12, 2018

Just South of the Border, Altadena Ale House’s Sister Pub Jazzes It Up

Just south of the meandering Altadena/Pasadena border, Altadena Ale & Wine House’s sister establishment, The 1881 Bar and Lounge, is celebrating its seventh month of opening this weekend with live Jazz music and local artists. If you like to listen to professional artists and engage in heady conversations with an eclectic mix of people that included entertainers and musicians, rocket scientists and such, then come in and share the community love. There is never a cover charge.

The owners of the 1881 are the same family who owns the Altadena Ale. The family-owned little not-so-secret watering hole located in West Altadena on Fair Oaks Avenue.

“We are extending our community from the westside of Altadena to the eastside of Altadena and Northeast side of Pasadena at the 1881. The 1881 has great classic cocktails, happy hour specials daily with beer, wine and Champagne,” the family said.

People come here, mostly in walking distance from the neighborhood to listen to music and engage in social dialog.