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Pasadena fire & police chiefs discuss holiday safety tips
INDEPENDENT THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28 - DECEMBER 04, 2013 - Volume 1, No. 16
Foothill Unity Center, community share Thanksgiving bounty with 1200 people
Pasadena Fire Chief Calvin Wells & Pasadena Police Chief Phillip Sanchez joined forces Monday at a press conference to describe the upcoming safety precautions the city is undertaking in preparation for the holidays, Rose Parade and BCS football games at the Rose Bowl. Sanchez assured citizens that safety is the departments number one concern and reiterated the widely used slogan “ If you see something….say something” which has been used Please see page 2
TOR 2014 Float Judges announced Cheryl Cecchetto, James Folsom and René van Rems to select 2014 Float Awards The Tournament of Roses has selected Cheryl Cecchetto, James Folsom and René van Rems to be float judges for the 125th Rose Parade® presented by Honda. Twenty-four of the 46 floral masterpieces entered in the parade will receive awards in a variety of categories and specifications. Judges’ scores will be based on criteria such as creative design, floral craftsmanship, artistic merit, computerized animation, thematic interpretation, floral and color presentation and dramatic imPlease see page 3
FREE
1,200 plus received food for the Thanksgiving holiday from Foothill Unity Center-Photo by Terry Miller
Foothill Unity Center’s annual Thanksgiving food distribution in partnership with its eleven-city community started Mon-
day as precisely as a Swiss watch. The distribution for families was held at Ayers Hall at the Los Angeles County Arboretum in Ar-
cadia Monday. A second distribution for individuals was be held Tuesday, November 26, at the Center’s Monrovia and Pasadena
Colorado Street bridge centennial exhibition opens at Pasadena Museum of History
The Colorado Street Bridge – iconic landmark, connecting thoroughfare, engineering marvel, artistic inspiration, preservation model, and film star – is the focus of a new exhibition at Pasadena Museum of History in commemoration of the grand structure’s 100th anniversary. The Colorado Street Bridge Centennial Exhibition is on view in the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation Gallery from 12:00 to 5:00 pm Wednesdays through Sundays from through April 19, 2014. The public is invited to visit the exhibition free of charge on Saturday, December 7, Noon to 4:00 pm, and enjoy light refreshments
-Photo by Terry Miller
during a reception with the American Society of Civil Engineers, Los Angeles Section. Visitors will also have
the opportunity to meet exhibition co-curator/photogPlease see page 3
locations. While the operations this year ran smoothly and with a great volunteer effort, the need is greater
than ever according to officials. The difficult economy and cuts in the CalFresh food stamp program are swelling the ranks of local people who need help to feed their families, says Center Executive Director Betty McWilliams. Last year, we served more than 1,336 pre-registered families, she notes. As economic conditions remain difficult; the need for our weekly food assistance has grown. The community’s support is more vital than ever. 77% of the Center’s clients are at or below the National Poverty Level. The Thanksgiving Distribution is just one aspect of the Center’s year-round Family Food Program, which provided over 3.6 million pounds of groceries to food-insecure clients 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 Please see page 4
West Covina City Manager salary increase under fire; Assemblyman calls tactics “Distasteful”
Assembly member Roger Hernandez (D-West Covina) released a statement about the recent move by particular members of the West Covina City Council to increase perks to the current city manager. This move comes as a last minute effort before the new elected city council members take office: “Earlier today, I read the Article that appeared in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune regarding the coded language to increase the
salary and other perks to the current City Manager. I find it very appalling and disturbing that members of this council are willing to increase perks and salary to a City Manager that has neither proven himself nor demonstrated the capacity to lead the city into tomorrow. In a time when state and local governments, such as the City of West Covina, have reduced public safety personnel Please see page 5