Monrovia WEEKLY monroviaweekly.com
Thursday, APRIL 25 - MAY 1, 2013
‘Foxy 6’ activists pre-trial hearing delayed Protestors arrested last November during Vicente Fox's visit to Pasadena want charges dropped
Please see page 9
San Gabriel Teachers' Association ratifies contract BY SHEL SEGAL The San Gabriel Teachers' Association has ratified a new contract that would include a 1 percent raise – the first of its kind in more than five years – retroactive to July 2012. While it still needs to be approved by the San Gabriel Unified School District Board of Education, association President William Wong said the contract is “a step in the right direction.” “It’s been a number of years (since there was a raise),” Wong said. “The teachers are happy there’s a glimmer of Please see page 17
COMMUNITY CALENDAR ON PAGE 14
FOR GREAT EVENTS IN YOUR CITY
Volume 18, No. 17
Community News, Arts & Opinions Since 1996
‘Madison Fire’ in Monrovia hillside contained South Fire chars 175 acres last weekend Pasadena Police Dept. and arson investigators arrest serial arsonist
-Courtesy Photo of SPPD
BY TERRY MILLER The ‘Foxy 6’ and their defense team held a press conference and rally after their court hearing in Pasadena on Monday, April 22, to update the public on the status of the case and call for all charges against them to be dropped. The Foxy 6 are individuals who were “attacked and
CHECK OUT OUR
Since November 2012, there have been 21 incidents of arson/ attempted arsons in the City of South Pasadena and 4 in the City of Pasadena. The massive fire last weekend was stopped in its tracks thanks in part to very swift air attacks with choppers at first and then fixed winged aircraft.
BY TERRY MILLER A quick aerial assault on the Monrovia Fire Saturday morning helped keep the fire from getting out of control. Lessons learned from the Altadena Fire a few years ago motivated swift action in the form of choppers and fixed wing aircraft to battle a blaze in the hills above Monrovia due to a spark from a gardening tool. The fire in the hillsides of northern Monrovia that quickly grew to 175 acres Saturday and prompted mandatory evacuations of about 200 homes is now fully contained according to authorities from the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The fire, which ignited shortly after 11 a.m. along the 300 block of Madison Ave., was 50 percent contained by nightfall on Sunday, Monrovia Fire Department and city officials said. As the fire continued to grow Saturday afternoon, mandatory evacuations were ordered along the fires eastern flank in an area above Foothill Boulevard in the vicinity of Myrtle Avenue. The blaze
Please see page 7
Rusnak expansion plans back in Arcadia's spotlight BY TERRY MILLER
Monrovia, but few actually used the facility. For those with pets, the Pasadena Human Society (626) 7927151 and Wonder Ranch Dog Ranch in Monrovia (626) 205-2501 were offering to board dogs and cats. Wonder Ranch received several animals for care during the fire including a couple of chickens, dogs and a bunny rabbit There were mandatory evacuations in the following neighborhoods:
Arcadia City officials have apparently picked up where they left off in negotiations with Rusnak-Arcadia Mercedes-Benz concerning their long awaited expansion plans. Victoria Rusnak, president and chief executive officer for the Pasadena based Rusnak Group spoke with Beacon Media on Tuesday and said she was “thrilled and is looking forward to the expansion.” While the next step involves city council approval, it seems likely that all cards are in Rusnak’s favor. What this could mean to the city of Arcadia and its residents is new tax dollars and a significant visual improvement to Santa Anita Drive just north of Huntington Drive
Please see page 8
Please see page 15
Thankful Monrovia residents voice their appreciation for the swift fire dept action which saved their homes on Saturday. -Photos by Terry Miller
was working its way east through heavy brush that has not burned in more than 55 years. But by nightfall, firefighters appeared to be getting the upper hand. The majority of evacuations -- for all but four streets -were lifted at 9 p.m. 200 homes were initially evacuated. Mandatory evacuations orders were still in place Sunday, however emergency response crews lifted the ban later in the day. The concern for Satur-
day night was downwind draft, which is typical for foothill areas” said Monrovia Fire Chief Chris Donovan. “I am comfortable with the situation and the lack of wind.” The Pasadena Firefighter injured earlier in the day was able to be treated on scene and is doing fine. The Madison brush fire has now reached 170 acres and is contained. The Red Cross had set up a shelter for those evacuated at the Community Center, 119 W Palm Avenue,