SEE PAGE 3 FOR california #1 in after school programs
Pasadena Press
MONDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2014 - NOVEMBER 2, 2014
pasadenapress.com
Marshall High School’s Madison Triplett selected 2015 Rose Queen by Terry Miller
Tournament of Roses® 2015 Rose Queen® Madison Elaine Triplett reacts to being named 97th Rose Queen next to Rose Princess Simona Shao (left) and Rose Princess Bergen Onufer (right) - Photo by Terry Miller
It has already been a banner year for Marshall High School academically, but Tuesday evening’s announcement was indeed the proverbial icing on the cake when The Tournament of Roses named Madison Elaine Triplett as the 97th Rose
Queen in an official ceremony at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium Plaza. The announcement concludes a month-long process that began with more than 700 Pasadena-area young women who participated in the Royal Court tryouts. The cer-
emony was emceed by KTLA Rose Parade® host and television personality, Stephanie Edwards. Rose Queen Madison and the Royal Court will make as Please see page 4
Outdoor watering limited to one day per week starting November 1 As part of the City’s Level 1 Water Supply Shortage Plan now in effect, Pasadena property owners will be limited to watering outdoors one day per week, on Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday, effective Nov. 1, 2014. Additionally, with the close of daylight saving time on Nov. 2, 2014, Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) reminds cus-
tomers to adjust their sprinkler timers to water before 9 a.m. or after 6 p.m. The City Council approved Pasadena’s existing Water Waste Prohibitions and Water Supply Shortage Plans Ordinance in 2009 and enacted the Level 1 plan on July 28, 2014. The key water waste prohibitions currently in effect for all PWP water customers
include: Outdoor watering one day per week, on Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday, during the fall and winter months, Nov. 1 through March 31. Property owners can water three days per week April 1 through Oct. 31. •No watering outdoors Please see page 2
SEE PAGE 4 for thanksgiving volunteers needed at foothill VOLUME 1, NO. 26
Man charged with killing Pasadena couple A 29-year-old man accused of fatally stabbing his cousin and his cousin’s wife was charged today with capital murder, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced. Jacob Mallory Bersson (DOB 4/9/85) has been charged with two counts of murder with a special circumstance allegation of multiple murders in case GA094945. The defendant was scheduled to be arraigned today, but the court appearance was continued to tomorrow, Oct. 16, in Department C of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Pasadena Branch. Additionally, the felony complaint contains a special allegation that the defendant personally used a deadly and dangerous weapon, a knife, in the commission of the crime. Prosecutors said at that the time of the killing, Bersson was living with his cousin Lawrence Bressler and his wife Denise Bressler at their Pasadena apartment. On the morning of Oct. 13, Bersson reportedly forced his way into the Bressler’s bedroom and stabbed them to death. Soon after the incident, the defendant was arrested in connection with the stabbings. The District Attorney’s Office will decide at a later time whether to seek the death penalty against the defendant or life in prison without the possibility of parole. Bersson is being held without bail. The case is being investigated by the Pasadena Police Department.
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Immigration official Motivational and inspirational sentenced to 30 months in speaker Michael Roberts prison for soliciting bribes speaks in Pasadena Oct. 30 to approve applications Local motivational and he learned and he did. inspirational Speaker Michael Michael grew up with Roberts will be speaking in divorced, alcoholic and abufor citizenship Pasadena Oct. 30. Roberts sive parents. Michael turned hopes to make a difference on to drugs and alcohol at an and green card a troubling disease that affects early age. By 13 years of age
An immigration service officer with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) who took thousands of dollars in bribes from immigrants who were seeking either citizenship or lawful permanent resident status in the United States was sentenced today to 30 months in federal prison. Mai Nhu Nguyen, 48, of Irvine, was sentenced by United States District Judge Josephine L. Staton. From 2011 through June 2013, Nguyen solicited and took bribes from Vietnamese immigrants. In one case, Nguyen took
$1,000 from an immigrant seeking a “Green Card” and 200 egg rolls from an immigrant seeking citizenship. Nguyen, who worked at USCIS’s Santa Ana office for approximately eight years and is now on leave, was an immigration service officer with the power to approve or deny applications for immigration benefits that are submitted by immigrants. The case against Nguyen is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General.
Change lives. Make wishes come true.
our nation. Hear his story of how the divorce of parents, alcohol and drug abuse led him to his suicide attempt by jumping off a 250 foot cliff - he survived. www.MichaelRobertsTheDarkPathChosen.com His book, Michael Roberts: The Dark Path Chosen will explain everything behind the dark paths that he once chose. People call him a life survivor, some call him a Motivational Speaker. His story and testimony is inspirational, he calls it determination, motivation, survival and a will to never give up; hear for yourself and you decide. He preaches the philosophy of Children See, Children Do, when you hear him speak you will understand why as he watched,
he was an alcoholic, by 15 he was introduced to drugs and became a drug addict. By 17, he attempted suicide. With no discipline and the freedom to do whatever he wanted, alcohol and drugs became his way of life. He will speaking on Thursday, October 30 from 5:00pm - 6:30pm at The Salvation Army Rehab Center in Pasadena, 86 Waverly St, Pasadena. For further information, please contact Victoria Scott at 626-795-8075 For more information on his free speaking events or if you want Michael to speak at your location, his events are free to attend and he speaks for free, please contact him direct at 310-890-3348 or Mroberts11@aol.com
Outdoor watering 1 day/week Continued from page 1
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between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., except with a handheld container or hose with a shutoff nozzle. •No watering during periods of rain. •All water leaks must be fixed within 72 hours. •No excessive water flow or runoff onto pavement, gutters or ditches from watering or irrigating landscapes or vegetation of any kind. •No washing down paved surfaces unless for safety or sanitation, in which case a bucket, a hose with a shutoff nozzle, a cleaning machine that recycles water or a low-volume/high-pressure water broom must be used. •No washing vehicles ex-
cept by using a handheld bucket or similar container or hose equipped with a water shutoff nozzle. PWP customers can report water waste to the Pasadena Citizen Service Center at (626) 744-7311 or online at www.cityofpasadena.net/csc. Fines for repeat offenders can be up to $500 per violation for residential customers and up to $1,000 per violation for commercial accounts. A complete list of water waste restrictions is available at www.PWPweb. com/WaterWaste. Water-saving rebates and conservation tips are available at www.PWPweb.com/SaveWater.
OCTOBER 27, 2014 - NOVEMBER 2, 2014 | 3
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California ranked #1 in after school programs State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today that California leads the nation in after school programs, placing first among all states in a national survey released Thursday by the Afterschool Alliance. “The good news is, because we have followed through on our long-term commitment to invest in our children, California has the largest network of after school programs in the country,” Torlakson said. “These programs are helping our children learn and stay safe after school, while helping working parents keep their jobs. The challenge is that many more children still need to be served.” Torlakson celebrated California’s number one ranking with students, parents, community leaders, and advocates Thursday in a visit to the after school program at Roy Romer Middle School in North Hollywood. The Alliance gave California its top ranking in the 2014 edition of its “America After 3PM” survey, singling the state out for both strong participation among students and high satisfaction with after school programs among parents. It found that expanded learning participation in California had increased to 25 percent, compared to 19 percent in 2009, with more than 1.6 million students enrolled. The survey also found that 92 percent of California parents were satisfied with the quality of care of their child’s after school program, up from 83 percent in 2009. “Superintendent Torlakson has spearheaded efforts to make California number one in the nation,” said Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant. “He created a statewide after school initiative within the California Department of Education that has increased quality and access to after school programs across this state. California stands head and shoulders above the rest of the country, not only for the percentage of
students it serves, but for its emphasis on making high-quality after school programs a state priority. From extraordinary STEM programs, to service learning, to its trailblazing literacy programming, California has done an amazing job with afterschool programs.” The Alliance’s report also noted California’s work to emphasize the quality of programs, including Torlakson’s move to create an After School Division within the California Department of Education (CDE) and to develop a strategic plan to build on the state’s investments in expanded learning. The CDE also recently completed development of newQuality Standards for Expanded Learning programs. A teacher and long-time
track and cross-country coach, Torlakson has long been a champion of after school programs. Legislation he authored led to the creation and expansion of these programs. California’s expanded learning programs today reach about 4,500 schools around the state. They are, in large part, funded through voter-approved Proposition 49, which guarantees $550 million annually for the state’s After School Education and Safety Program. California administers another $120 million in federal after school program funds. For more information about expanded learning, visit the CDE After School Division’s California Expanded Learning Programs Facebook Web page.
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4 | OCTOBER 27, 2014 - NOVEMBER 2, 2014
Foothill Unity Center seeking turkeys, food, funds, volunteer time for Thanksgiving Over 1,000 families will receive festive food boxes at November 24-25 distributions Foothill Unity Center is gearing up for its annual Thanksgiving food distribution in partnership with its elevencity community. The distribution for families will be held on Monday, November 24, at Ayers Hall at the Los Angeles County Arboretum in Arcadia. A second distribution for individuals will be held Tuesday, November 25, at the Center’s Monrovia and Pasadena locations. The Center is seeking donations of food, turkeys, funds, food drives and volunteer time for the Thanksgiving event and its upcoming Holiday Distribution in December. Funds may be donated securely online at foothillunitycenter.org. Food and checks may be dropped off weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5
p.m. at either Center location: 415 W. Chestnut Ave. in Monrovia or 191 N. Oak Ave. in Pasadena. Thanksgiving is an especially difficult holiday for families who are struggling to survive, says Center Executive Director Betty McWilliams. “Last year, we sent more than 1,116 pre-registered families home with bountiful food boxes sized for their families, containing all the elements for a festive Thanksgiving dinner,” she says. The experience of sharing this meal in their own homes is something they wouldn’t otherwise have been able to enjoy.” Information on Thanksgiving volunteer shifts is available at foothillunitycenter.org/thanksgiving-and-holiday-distribution-pro-
grams or by calling the Center at (626) 358-3486. Photos of last year’s events can be viewed in the online Photo Gallery. The Thanksgiving Distribution is just one aspect of the Center’s year-round Family Food Program, which provided 35,190 food services last year. Each month, clients receive a grocery cart of food items, sized by number of people in the family to supplement needs for 7-10 days. They may return to pick up perishable food items once a week, including fresh produce, dairy and baked goods. The Center also delivers monthly food packages to qualified homebound senior and disabled clients, and gave 4,749 substantial bag lunches (enough for about two days) to homeless or those who have no
place to store or cook food. Its volunteer-run Pet Food Bank helped families keep over 1,000 pets last year. The Center also provides referrals to over 100 organizations for crisis and housing assistance, employment counseling, and much more. Its Health Services Child Health Connection program connects children with urgent health care needs to free and low-cost care, helps uninsured clients enroll for low-cost insurance coverage, and conducts health screenings and education seminars. It also operates a Medical Outreach Clinic in partnership with the Community Health Alliance of Pasadena (ChapCare) providing health and dental care to homeless and uninsured adult clients.
Marshall High School's Madison Triplett selected 2015 Rose Queen Continued from page 1
many as 100 community and media appearances, culminating with the 126th Rose and the 101st Rose Bowl Game® serving as the first College Football Playoff Semifinal on New Year’s Day. “Leading up to America’s New Year Celebration®, Rose Queen Madison Elaine Triplett
and the six Rose Princesses will serve as ambassadors for the Tournament of Roses and the City of Pasadena,” said Tournament of Roses President Rich Chinen, who officially crowen Queen Madison. “We are eager for Rose Queen Madison and each member of the Royal Court to share their inspiring
stories with others and for the court to hear first-hand from the community about other meaningful stories.” The Rose Queen and Royal Court were selected based upon a combination of qualities, including public speaking ability, poise, academic achievement and community involvement. During the coronation ceremony, Chinen presented Rose Queen Madison with a Mikimoto crown featuring more than 600 cultured pearls and six carats of diamonds. Prior to the public event, all members of the Royal Court received a pearl necklace from Mikimoto. Rose Queen Madison Elaine Triplett, 17, attends John Marshall Fundamental High School and lives in Altadena. Madison is active with the Pasadena City Youth Council, Black Student Union
and with the student government at her high school. She plays on the varsity volleyball team and enjoys watching movies and tumbling in her free time. Madison plans to attend Tulane University to study economics with a minor in French. She aspires to develop a non-profit organization that educates minorities on financial literacy. Madison is the daughter of Reggie Triplett and Jouslynn Griffin and has two siblings: Reggie and Paige. The Rose Princesses are Mackenzie Joy Byers, 18, Pasadena City College; Gabrielle Ann Current, 18, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy; Veronica Sara Mejia, 19, Pasadena City College; Bergen Louise Onufer, 17, Mayfield Senior School; Simona K. Shao, 17, Westridge School; and Emily Alicia Olivas Stoker, 17, Temple City High School.