Students Embrace Dr. King's Dream ARCADIA POLICE SEEK SUSPECT
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WHERE YOUR COMMUNITY NEWS COMES FIRST - Sierra Madre Arcadia Pasadena Altadena and Monrovia Week Ending January 18, 2008 Volume 2, No. 2 Danny Castro “In Their World” Students Embrace Dr. King’s Dream Sierra Madre’s New By Susan Henderson Just before breaking Development for the long holiday Director weekend, Caroly Sierra Madre, CA Halpern’s second grade – Aft er an extensive class at Sierra Madre recruitment process, the Elementary School City of Sierra Madre is took a few moments to excited to announce that tell me about a project Danny Castro of West they had been working Hollywood will be joining on. the All-America City team In commemoration as the new Development of the late Dr. Martin Services Director. Luther King, Jr., the Danny Castro brings to Sierra Madre over 15 class of enthusiastic years’ experience in the students decided to local government planning process, with expertise in both think about the world the public and private sectors. Mr. Castro was with the City around them and of Beverly Hills Community Development Department discuss ways to make it for over 10 years in a number of positions, each with better. increased responsibilities. His work included a wide variety Of primary concern of residential and commercial developments, zoning and to the students was our land use studies, and staff liaison for the Planning and ability to get along and Architectural Commissions. the environment. Mr. Castro’s private sector background extended his One student, Gray, expertise in project management as well as interests in historic preservation. At Th e Kor Group, a Los Angeles- sums it up as follows: based real estate company, Mr. Castro specialized in the conversion and rehabilitation of historic structures into residential uses. As a private planning consultant, his clients have included the cities of Claremont and Santa Monica, reviewing projects subject to design review, compliance with Teacher Caroly Halpern and her second grade students at Sierra Madre historic preservation policies, and environmental review Elementary School. Photos by S. Henderson/MVO requirements. Mr. Castro resides in West Hollywood where he is currently the Chair of the City’s Historic Preservation GRAY’S DREAM Commission, which, through various means, helps to preserve the community’s character through the protection, enhancement and preservation of cultural resources. In My World, “it would be a cleaner place, there would be Danny Castro is a native Californian, and grew up in Chula healthy people and peace in the world. In my world I would Vista, a suburb of San Diego. He graduated from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, with a Bachelor of try to make it so there were no wars and everybody got along. Science Degree in Urban and Regional Planning. In my world, I would make it so the world was shiny, nice and City Manager Elaine Aguilar stated, “I welcome Danny to the City of Sierra Madre. I think he brings the perfect balance clean and all the garbage disappeared. In my world I would of experience, technical expertise, and approachability try and make it so nobody smoked and everybody could live to that’s important in his new role as Development Services a long, old age. If Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. made changes, Director.” Mr. Castro will begin his tenure with the City of Sierra Madre on Monday, February 4, 2008. I’d like to do it too.” Controversial Blogger Jim Snider Found Dead Fire Investigation At Local Shopping Center “Unmaintained building (eyesore/embarrassment to Jim Snider, admitted owner of the infamous blog known as the Sierra Madre Cumquat, was found dead in his apartment on Th ursday. neighborhood).” - Code Compliance Officer’s report. According to sources close to Snider, he had not been seen for a few days locally. His By Dean Lee landlord entered his apartment at the behest of friends and discovered his body. Sierra Madre Police Captain Larry Giannone confi rmed the death of Snider, saying, With a list of city “No cause of death has been determined at this time. It does not appear, however, code complaints that the death is the result of foul play”. According to Giannone, it appeared that he dating back to the had been dead for several days. At press time, the LA County Coroner’s Offi ce still mid 1990s, Pasadena had not determined the exact cause of death. Vice-Mayor Steve Snider who at one time served on the Sierra Madre Volunteer Fire Department, Haderlein said he gained notoriety in recent years due to his involvement with several outrageous hopes that the Dec. websites. In addition to the ‘cumquat’ site, friends say he is also responsible for 30 fi re in a run others one of which mercilously abused senior resident Fay Angus and others. down shopping area One site was the subject of discussion before the city council when another local would now draw blogger known as ‘Sir Eric ’ (John Crawford), because of its solicitation of women to enough attention to participate in illegal acts in Sierra Madre. Th e websites were all mysteriously taken warrant action on down earlier this week. a situation which Despite the blogs, Jim had many friends who were saddened to hear of his passing. many say is still out Several contacted the paper out of concern that he would only be remembered for of control. “Believe it or not, the controversy, and not his “more humane side”. it’s actually a lot Jim Snider was 45 years of age. Staff /MVO A recent fire near has opened the door to an investigation better than it was,” of this poorly maintained shopping area at Michillinda and Haderlein said. “I Sierra Madre Blvd. in Pasadena ARCADIA POLICE SEEK SUSPECT know there has been some discussion that it [Albertson’s] was going to be sold to Whole Foods. I don’t Police are looking for this suspect who entered an open business and attacked the female know what happened to that. You would think the Hastings Ranch neighborhood employee using pepper spray and striking the victim several times to the face would support it.” Suspect: Male, possibly Asian, 25-30 years old, 6-00, 200 pounds, brown eyes, long black Haderlein said that the property’s list of code violations previously fi led with the shoulder length hair, navy blue sweatshirt and dark pants. city was longer than anyone could imagine. A search done by this newspaper at Any information, call Det. Davis at 626-574-5165 or Det. Crowther 626-574-5149. the Pasadena Permit Center turned up 24 separate citations in the last fi ve years. Going back further, the oldest dated May 11, 1994, was for trash and discarded sofas, something many still say is a problem. Friday’s trash could be seen along the Albertson’s loading dock area, as well as graffi ti. An abandoned dirty white Cadillac with fl at tires still sits facing Sierra Madre Boulevard. Trash, junked cars and graffi ti have been of most concern over the years, Haderlien said. Discarded shopping carts full of debris could also be seen in nearby bushes. Complaints have also cited overgrown shrubbery. A store manager at Albertson’s said that the owner, Robert Chan, lives in China. His son, Howard Chan, oversees the tenants, she said, but neither the owner nor his son returned requests seeking comment. A number of other tenants also declined comment. Eight of the code violations alone were for abandoned vehicles, seven were for trash and many had multiple violations. Violation can result in fi ne up to $500. Aft er that, the case may be referred to the city prosecutor’s offi ce for prosecution against the property owner. (cont. page 4) MountainViews-Observer 37 N. Auburn Avenue #7 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 www.mvobserver.com 2 MountainViews-Observer | Week Ending January 18, 2008 MountainViews-Observer THIS WEEK MLK Celebrated By SME Danny Castro New Director 1 Fire Investigation Community Calendar 2 Senior Happenings Rich Johnson: Immigrant Success 3 Woman’s Club Luncheon Pasadena’s State of The City 4 Brookside In Jeopardy SMEAC: Did You Know? Fire Safe Council 5 Police Blotter/Crossword One Of A Kind: La Vina Reality Check 6 All About Book Collecting Florence Kens Wins Trish’s Truth: Pull Up or 7 Pay Out Tolchin: Images of 2007 8 From The Desk Of The Editor Hail on Dr. King 9 Legal Notices 10 Legal Notices Looking Up: That Ole’ Sun 11 Clymer: My Way Jeff’s Pics 12 Pat Birdsall Inside Out Peter Dills: Table For Two 13 South Of The Border Nano Naming Contest Eastland: On Cheating 14 LaSalle’s John Mattheus WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS Pasadena Farmer’s Market Weather Wise Every Saturday to 12:30 p.m. 5-Day Forecast Bring the kiddies. PHS parking lot 2925 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. Sierra Madre, Ca. Longitude W118.0, Lattitude N34.2 Café 322 Saturday: Sunny Hi 60s Lows 40s Sunday Nights Let’s Sing Opera & Broadway Sunday: Sunny Hi 60s Lows 40s Pianist Danny Guerrero & Friends Monday: Cloudy HI 60s Lows 40s 322 Sierra Madre Blvd. Sierra Madre (626) 836-5414 Tuesday: Cloudy Hi 50s Lows 40s Wednesday: Cloudy Hi 50s Lows 40s Beantown 45 N. Baldwin Sierra Madre (626) 355-1596 Forecasts courtesy of the National Weather Service Lucky Baldwin’s 21 Kersting Court Sierra Madre (626) 355-1140 Mary’s Market Sierra Madre Citizen of the Year 2007 561 Woodland Drive Sierra Madre (626) 355-4534 Friday, January 25, 2008 Chandelier Room Santa Anita Park New Day! Th e Harvey Hyde Show 285 W.