SEE PAGE 2 for community to feed thousands at union station
Pasadena Press
MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2014 - DECEMBER 7, 2014
pasadenapress.com
New Chief for Pasadena Fire Department
has been Fire Chief since November 2010. Clark County serves a diverse metropolitan community of about 900,000 residents, including the unincorporated areas around Las Vegas and one of the nation’s busiest airports. Prior to serving as Clark County’s Fire Chief, he worked for Las Vegas Fire and Rescue moving
City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave. The Mayor will light the tree at 6 p.m. City Officials have it on good authority that after the tree is lit, Santa Claus promises to make a special appearance with a little help from his friends at the Pasadena Fire Department. Parents and guardians should bring their own cameras to snap a special
Tournament of Roses® Announces 2015 Float Judges
holiday picture of Santa with your children in “Santa’s Village.” This will be Mayor Bogaard’s final Holiday Tree Lighting event. Great live entertainment both before and after the tree lighting includes performances by local school groups and bands. Free art projects by Pasadena’s Please see page 2
Please see page 4
- Photo by Terry Miller
through the ranks as a firefighter, paramedic, training officer, Captain, Battalion Chief and Assistant Chief. “Chief Washington’s collaborative leadership style, his experience leading a complex organization and professional training made him the top Please see page 4
Tree Lighting Friday, Dec. 5, 5-7PM at City Hall Get into the holiday spirit by joining Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard; who will light the city’s official holiday tree during a free, annual festive family celebration with local singers, art projects for kids and a special appearance by Santa Claus. The Mayor’s Annual Holiday Tree Lighting event happens from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 5, 2014 at Pasadena
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The Tournament of Roses has selected Els Hazenberg, Steven Wood Schmader and Eddie Zaratsian to be float judges for the 126th Rose Parade presented by Honda. The judges will grant awards in a variety of floral and design categories that emphasize fantastic floral presentations (especially in the use of roses), creativity, imagination, beauty, use of theme, humor, dramatic impact and entertainment value. Tournament of Roses President Rich Chinen will announce the winning floats the morning of January 1, 2015, at Tournament House. “The Rose Parade float judges bring diverse skills to the judging process that will greatly assist them in the difficult task of judging each of the incredible floral masterpieces that are designed, built and decorated by teams who put heart and soul into each presentation,” said Chinen. Els Hazenberg, internationally known Dutch freelance floral designer, instructor and judge, has travelled all over the world teaching the art of European floral design and promoting the use of flowers at seminars and floral events. She now continues her lifelong interest in flowers by studying botanical drawing and painting with Dutch, US and English artists. Hazenberg is a member of the Dutch Society of Botanical Artists and American Society of Botanical Artists. Her artwork is shown at galler-
New Fire Chief Bertral (“Bert”) Washington.
City Manager Michael J. Beck announced the appointment of Bertral “Bert” Washington as the new Chief for the Pasadena Fire Department. Chief Washington is expected to assume his new duties effective Dec. 15, 2014. Chief Washington comes from the Clark County Fire Department in Nevada, where he
see page 4 for renewed push for body cameras
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Tree Lighting Continued from page 1
Armory Center for the Arts will feature special “Holiday Crafts from the Around World” for young people to do. The crafts will highlight the holiday celebrations of cultures from around the globe. A special “Santa’s Village” display will also be available for viewing enjoyment and photos. The Pasadena Fire Department also will be collecting new, unwrapped toys or sports equipment from attendees able to donate a gift for needy children as part of the annual “Spark of Love” Toy Drive sponsored by the Fire Department with the local ABC television network station. Light refreshments will be served. The event is organized by the City’s Human Services and Recreation Department, with help from the Mayor’s Office, the Department of Public Works, Pasadena Water & Power, the Fire Department, Police Department and the City Manager’s Office.
KPAS, the City’s cable government access TV station, will be on hand to record the event for later broadcast during the holidays to help keep all of us in a festive mood! KPAS is available on Channel 3 for Charter subscribers, Channel 99 for AT&T U-Verse and is available online at both the City’s website and www.pasadenamedia.org.
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Community Unites to Feed Thousands in Need at Union Station Homeless Services’ Annual Dinner-in-the-Park It’s a deeply beloved tradition in Pasadena: each Thanksgiving and Christmas, more than 850 volunteers of all ages – adorned with hair nets, aprons and plastic gloves – lovingly serve turkey with stuffing, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and pie to those less fortunate in Pasadena’s Central Park. The tradition known as Dinner-in-the-Park began in 1972 when a group of local volunteers organized a free holiday meal to feed homeless and poor people in the community. More than four decades later, Union Station Homeless Service continues to organize the annual meal as an expression of compassion and care for those who otherwise might not see such holiday fare. This year, the tradition continues. Union Station Homeless Services expects to serve more than 4,000 plates of food, along with the help of volunteers, and key community partners, including Goldstar, Home Street Bank, Tsutayo Ichioka & Satsuki Nakao Charitable Foundation, Super King, Longo Toyoto-ScionLexus, Sprouts Famers Market,
Centerplate, and the Pasadena Convention Center. This wonderful community event provides thousands of holiday meals and hope for all who attend, including homeless men, women, children, seniors, very low-income families, and those with no place to go during the holidays. “We are so grateful to the caring volunteers who bring warmth and the true spirit of community to Central Park each year, said Marv Gross, CEO of Union Station Homeless Services. “Their efforts to help us feed thousands of people are truly inspirational!” Volunteer registration for Thanksgiving is now closed, but the agency is still in need of non-perishable food donations. A Wish List of much needed items can be found athttp:// unionstationhs.org/?p=3570. The community is invited to drop off these supplies (in the indicated sizes) at 412 S. Raymond. PLEASE NOTE: Due to Health Department regulations, Union Station Homeless Services is no longer able to accept turkey or prepared food donations at the event.
Pasadena Man Shot During Robbery A Pasadena convenience store clerk suffered a gunshot wound to his shoulder this Friday night on Los Robles. The man in his 50s suffered a gunshot wound to his shoulder and was hospitalized at Huntington Memorial after the 7 p.m. crime at Pepe’s Video & Wireless, 313 E. Orange Grove. The two robbers fled with
an undisclosed amount of cash. The clerk was released Saturday morning Officials described the gunman as a black man of about 300 pounds wearing all black clothing. His accomplice was described as a black man of thin build, also wearing all black clothing. No other details were available.
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Rep. Schiff Renews Push for Body Cameras for Law Enforcement On Tuesday Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), a former federal prosecutor who recently urged the Department of Justice to help fund local police departments’ purchase of small body-worn cameras in order to increase transparency, decrease tensions between police and community members, and create a record of events, released the following statement: "Last night, following the decision of a grand jury not to indict the policeman who shot and killed Michael Brown, several buildings were set ablaze and violence again plagued the streets of Ferguson. Brown's death and this new spate of violence has exposed anew the deep mistrust between many Americans, particularly those of color, and law enforcement. "I join the family of Michael Brown, the Attorney General, and the President in calling for an end to the violence, and for calm and restraint, both by protestors and police. As the President said late last night, we are a nation of laws and the grand jury's decision -- whether we agree with it or disagree -- was theirs to make. "We cannot undo the past -we cannot bring Michael back, but we can create a better future for our children and make our streets safer for citizens and police alike. That will not be an easy task, but a good start would be committing to further diversify our police forces so they are more representative of the communities they police, and equipping officers with body cameras -- cameras that may have put to rest the fevered speculation that has characterized this case, or better yet, avoided the deadly altercation altogether.” Schiff, along with other Members of Congress, recently sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder urging the Department of Justice to help fund local police departments’ purchase of small body-worn
cameras. From the letter: “Police departments around the country have begun adopting small body-worn cameras for police officers on patrol. These cameras provide a visual and audio record of interactions with the public, so that in the event of a confrontation or policeinvolved shooting, such as the one that occurred in Ferguson, there is an inalterable record of the events. There are also indications that the presence of body cameras has a civilizing effect on both police officers and the public, resulting in lower incidences of excessive force complaints and deescalat-
ing tense situations before they become violent. Perhaps most importantly, cameras can instill greater trust in police departments on the part of the public they are sworn to protect. In communities with frayed police-community relations, cameras demonstrate a commitment on the part of the local police department to transparency and accountability, while protecting officers from false or frivolous complaints. For all these reasons, the adoption of body cameras has been well received in the jurisdictions that have begun to use them, both by the public and the officers wearing the cameras.”
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2015 Rose Judges Continued from page 1
ies and art museums. For 30 years, Hazenberg and her late husband, George, decorated the official vehicles in the Rose Parade. This will be her third time serving as a float judge for the Tournament of Roses – Hazenberg was a float judge in 1984 and 2005. Steven Wood Schmader, CFEE, is the President and CEO of the International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA World), which celebrates 60 years supporting and enabling event professionals worldwide in 2015. He also serves as the publisher and editor of “ie: the business of international events” magazine. Early in his career, Schmader spent 12 years working for the international, educational and performing organization, Up with People, as their Director of Special Events. In 2002, Amusement Business Magazine recognized Schmader as an “Industry Difference Maker” and in 2004 was featured as a “Profile in Event
Leadership” in Special Events: Event Leadership for a New World. Schmader serves as the Director of the Event Management School at Oglebay National Training Center in West Virginia and architect of the IFEA World Festival & Event City Award, recognizing and encouraging positive city-event partnerships worldwide. Eddie Zaratsian, the creative director for Tic-Tock Couture Florals and Eddie Zaratsian Custom Florals and Lifestyle, is one of the most sought after floral designers internationally. One of the youngest inductees into the American Institute of Floral Designers, his consistently beautiful designs and undeniable talent continue to amaze his impressive list of clients and fans. The London Financial Times named Zaratsian as the top five leading floral designers in the world. A showcase of Zaratsian’s talents can be seen in his book, Eddie Zaratsian: Custom Florals and Lifestyle.
Pasadena Man Sentenced to Forty Years in Prison
for Drugging, Raping, Spraying Woman with Caustic Gas A 39-year-old man has been convicted of raping a woman after he drugged her and sprayed her with a refrigerant chemical at his Pasadena home, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced today. Deputy District Attorney Tamu Usher said Piotr Igor Dudkiewicz was sentenced on Friday, Nov. 21, to 40 years and eight months to life in state prison in case GA089620. He also is now registered as a sex offender for the rest of his life. A jury found Dudkiewicz guilty on Oct. 30 of a total of 12 felony counts: one count each of mayhem; false imprisonment by violence; oral copulation of an unconscious person; oral copulation by anesthesia; attempted sodomy of an unconscious victim; attempted sodomy by anesthesia; rape of unconscious person; rape by
use of drugs; forcible oral copulation; forcible rape and two counts of sexual penetration by foreign object. The jury also found true allegations of inflicting great bodily injury and tying and binding. On April 28, 2013, Dudkiewicz brought the victim to his house after agreeing to meet for the first time, the prosecutor said. He then attempted to force the woman to inhale the refrigerant gas and in the struggle the Freon burned her chest, face and hands, according to court testimony. Evidence at trial also revealed that the victim was then additionally drugged with ketamine, tied and sexually assaulted by Dudkiewicz. The following day the victim called 911 and eventually managed to leave the home, the prosecutor added. The case was investigated by the Pasadena Police Department.
New Chief for Pasadena Fire Department Continued from page 1
choice,” City Manager Michael J. Beck said. “Our selection process allowed us to look at many outstanding candidates from across the country and
Chief Washington clearly stood out as the best match to lead the Pasadena Fire Department.” Chief Washington said returning to Southern California
and working for Pasadena “is a dream come true for my family and me. “I am honored to become part of the City of Pasadena family, one of the most esteemed cities in the nation. I look forward to serving all of the residents, businesses and visitors with the highly regarded men and women of the Pasadena Fire Department and working with the community wherever we can to enhance our City in a variety of ways,” Chief Washington said. Chief Washington has a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in Eng-
lish from Howard University; and an associate’s degree in fire science management from the College of Southern Nevada. He is married to Cheri Washington and has a son, Chandler, 13, and a daughter, Blaire, 11. The Fire Chief’s top salary is about $228,000 per year, according to information posted on the City’s website. Contract terms will be finalized prior to the onset of his formal duties. Chief Washington replaces Fire Chief Calvin E. Wells, who joined the Pasadena Fire Department in 1979 and has served in numerous positions during his distinguished, 35year fire service career. Chief Wells retires at the end of 2014.