SEE PAGE 4 for eaton canyon hikers rescued by lasd
Pasadena Press
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2014 - NOVEMBER 23, 2014
pasadenapress.com
Registered Nurses at Huntington Hospital voice serious concerns at Thursday rally by Terry Miller
Six elected representatives from federal, state, and city levels, along with over 250 community members, have signed letters calling on HMH to act in accordance with state law by implementing safe staffing and providing sufficient supplies. They also urged hospital management to cease violating labor rights.
Weatherman Fritz Coleman, the event captured a snapshot of Pasadena then and now in a gracious setting that evoked Pasadena gentility from the 1890s. The guests themselves reflected the diversity of both Friends In Deed and the community today. Coming from different economic levels, ethnic groups, and business and faith communities, they wined and dined together,
Public Health Dept. receives $1.5 million grant for tobacco control efforts
bid on silent auction items and enjoyed entertainment. “I’ve been going to benefits in Pasadena for 50 years, and I’ve never before had such a wonderful feeling,” said Janet Wood. “It was a community coming together.” The honorees also exemplified sense of community. The Please see page 2
Please see page 2
Congresswoman Judy Chu, Pasadena City Councilmember Victor Gordo, and other community leaders attended the rally to express support for nurses’ efforts to restore quality patient care at HMH. One of the many concerns Please see page 4
A community comes together to celebrate 120 years serving those in need Friends In Deed celebrated its 120th anniversary Nov. 5 at historic Castle Green with a crowd of friends dedicated to continuing to help the most vulnerable residents of Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley find their rightful place in the community. More than 250 strong, they demonstrated That’s What Friends Are For —theme of the event. Hosted by popular KNBC
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The City’s Public Health Department was awarded a $1.5 million grant by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for a three-year outreach campaign to reduce ethnic and racial tobacco health-related disparities in Northwest Pasadena. Pasadena is one of only 49 recipients nationwide to be awarded the competitive Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) grant to prevent and control chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke and cancer, which are the leading causes of death and disability in the U.S., according to the CDC. The funds will be used for the City’s outreach campaign to counter tobacco-related marketing efforts targeting low-income minority communities where African-American and Latino adults have a disproportionately high rate of tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke. Outreach efforts include increasing awareness about the dangers of tobacco through public service announcements, community presentations and other events and marketing efforts through the end of September 2017. Since 1999, the CDC REACH program has funded efforts to reduce tobacco use and exposure, improve nutrition, increase physical activity and improve access to chronic disease prevention, risk reduction and
- Photo by Terry Miller
Last Thursday, scores of registered nurses at Huntington Memorial Hospital attended a rally in an effort to restore quality patient care at HMH and to call on management to implement the highest standard of Ebola preparedness, including personal protective equipment and training for healthcare workers.
SEE PAGE 3 for staff training helps save a life
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Gatto Memorial Highway dedicated to Assemblyman’s father Part of the San Bernardino (10) Freeway in East Los Angeles was dedicated in memory of Joseph Gatto Wednesday. The occasion marked the oneyear anniversary killing of the 78-year-old former educator and father of Assemblyman Mike Gatto, D-Los Angeles.
The elder Gatto was fatally shot Nov. 12, 2013, in his home in the 2800 block of Bright Lane in Silver Lake. The murder remains unsolved and a reward of $50,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the death.
Grant for Public Health Department Continued from page 1
management opportunities. For more than 120 years, Pasadena’s Public Health Department has been committed to providing education, services and support to improve and maintain the health of Pasadena communities. For more information, visit www.cityofpasadena.net/publichealth.
Stay connected to the City of Pasadena! Visit us online at www. cityofpasadena.net; follow us on Twitter @PasadenaGov, www. twitter.com/pasadenagov, and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cityofpasadena. Or call the Citizen Service Center, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at (626) 744-7311.
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Friends In Deed 120th anniversairy Continued from page 1
Reverends Inman Moore and George Regas together have spent more than 100 years changing the cultural landscape through their efforts for peace and justice for all. Soroptimist of Altadena/ Pasadena by its very name — “best for women” —bespeaks the ongoing effort for equality. And Whole Foods Market Arroyo symbolizes the growing attention to values that matter. Lena Kennedy, a native of Pasadena dedicated to serving the community, chaired the honorary committee. As host of the evening, Coleman launched the evening entertainment with an ad lib comedy sketch that filled the ballroom with laughter. He then narrated a “Walk Through History, a revue of the past 12 decades through costume and song. The show featured contributors, volunteers, and members of the Friends In Deed community. Honorary committee members Edina Lekovic, Tarek Shawky with their baby Laila led off in gay nineties costume. The 2014 climax was contemporary attire modeled by Barbara Dangerfield, Dorothy Edwards and Maria Elena Juarez — “graduates” of The Women’s Room, a daytime refuge at Friends In Deed for women who are alone and homeless. Among honorary committee members present were Mayor Bill and Claire Bogaard, who also were sponsors; newly re-elected Congresswoman Judy Chu and Assemblyman Chris Holden represented by Gerald Phillips; the Rev. Ed Bacon, rec-
tor of All Saints Pasadena; community activist Monica Hubbard and husband Tom; Ron Nelson, president of the Pasadena Stake of the Church of Latter Day Saints and his wife Susan; and Deborah Sanchez represented by her husband, Police Chief Phillip Sanchez. Also present was last year’s honoree, Pasadena Director of Housing Bill Huang. Others attending included major sponsors: The Pasadena Methodist Foundation represented by Kevin and Andrea Lussier, Tom and Jeannie Bowman and J.P. and Diane Harris; Celia Leaver, Lena Kennedy, Jacqueline Knowles Aaron Wooler of Century Housing, Dr. Richard Cheung, Margaret Leong Checca, Dorothy Keane, Gloria and Don Pitzer, Mikala and Krut Rahn, Stacy Santeramo, Michele Stolis of April 25th Design & Decor, courtesy of Glenda Hale and Suzanne and Dale Burger. Corporate sponsors and donors were Westport Construction, NBC LA, Bolton & Company, California Linens, Sharp Seating Company, the Westin Pasadena Hotel and San Antonio Winery. Friends In Deed is an interfaith, community collaborative that promotes the welfare of those need through advocacy, sharing personal and financial resources and hands-on-service. Programs include the Food Pantry, Homeless Prevention Services, and two one-of-a-kind services in the San Gabriel Valley — the Bad Weather Shelter and The Women’s Room.
Volunteers for Make-A-Wish give their time and talents to help bring hope, strength and joy to children who are battling life-threatening medical conditions. We have a special need for volunteers in the Inland Empire to help local children.
Get Involved Today ocie.wish.org | 714-573-9474 Event planner and celebrity hair stylist Joseph Rene, emcee of the 120th anniversary of Friends In Deed - Photo by Michael Roberts
NOVEMBER 17, 2014 - NOVEMBER 23, 2014 | 3
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Staff training helps save a Jimmy Weldon life at Convention Center at Senior Center It was a typical busy day at the Pasadena Convention Center in October when public safety officers Zabrina Patterson and Max Pitpan heard frantic calls for help over their hand-held radios. Without hesitation, Zabrina and Max responded to where one of their co-workers was experiencing a sudden serious medical emergency. At that moment, Patterson and Pitpan relied on their regular training they receive as part of their employment with the Pasadena Center Operating Company. The training provided them with the skills and knowledge to save a life. The two worked in tandem to assess the victim, secure the scene, call paramedics and get the automated external defibrillator operational to treat a possible sudden cardiac arrest. “One of the first paramedics on the scene let us know that Max and Zabrina’s actions probably saved their co-worker’s life,” said Peter DeClerk, operations manager for the Pasadena Center Operating Company. “The event staff at PCOC is tasked with responding to accidents and injuries and is trained in CPR AED and First Aid. This is the one training we all hope we never have to use,” he said. “However, we also hope that when the time comes, the training will come back to us and we’ll able to handle a life-threatening emergency. Max and Zabrina learned first-hand that the training works and that it can save lives in a real world emergency.” Sudden cardiac arrest is a condition in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. When this happens, blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, SCA usually causes
death if it’s not treated within minutes, and each minute of SCA leads to a 10 percent reduction in the probability of survival. Using an AED on a person who is having SCA may save the person’s life. Patterson and Pitpan were recognized for their heroic actions recently (October, 2014) as X-Cellence Award winners by the Pasadena Center Operating Company. The award is presented quarterly to PCOC employees who display world class service. For more information, contact the Pasadena Convention and Visitors Bureau at (800) 307-7977 or visit www. VisitPasadena.com
On Wednesday, November 19th at 1:00pm, author and speaker Jimmy Weldon, with his faithful sidekick, Webster Webfoot, will share laughter and stories, hoping to motivate his audience into achieving their ultimate dreams. Mr. Weldon is an accomplished actor and former television host of the first children’s program in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. His career spans nearly 60 years, but he is best known as the voice of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon character “Yakky Doodle” in the Yogi Bear series. Join us at the Hart Park House Senior Center, 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. Limited seating available, please RSVP by Saturday, November 15th by calling 626.355.7394.
Long Beach Office 3780 Kilroy Airport Way Suite 360 Long Beach, CA 90806 Ph. (562) 472-0071 Fx. (562) 689-0071 Los Angeles Office 5701 South Eastern Avenue Suite 100 Los Angeles, CA 90040 Ph. (323) 727-1144 Fx. (323) 727-9198 www.heger-industrial.com Lic. #00814086
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Eaton Canyon hikers rescued by LASD On Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014 at approximately 10:00p.m., Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) Altadena Station desk received a call from a missing hiker regarding being lost in the Eaton Canyon recreation center by the “first waterfall.” He advised he was
with twelve additional hikers from a church out of Huntington Park. LASD Altadena Search and Rescue was activated in an attempt to locate the missing hikers. Los Angeles County Fire Department Search and Rescue along with deputies from LASD Parks Bureau also re-
sponded to assist in the search. Altadena Search and Rescue, along with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, continued their search for several missing hikers in the Eaton Canyon area. At 11:30 p.m., two hikers were located uninjured. The
search continued Monday morning as several hikers were still missing in the area. On Monday, Nov. 10, 2014 at approximately 9:00 a.m., the group of hikers was located. LASD Air Rescue 5 crew and pilots assisted and hoisted the hikers in groups to safety.
RN's at Huntington Hospital voice serious concerns at Thursday rally Continued from page 1
was a chaotic period recently at Huntington in which nurses were transitioning to an electronic data base which in turn created a serious delay in patient care. Some nurses said they were intimidated by administration and that they were photographed against their will. Nurses began organizing to affiliate with the California Nurses Association (CNA) this May after a number of their efforts to engage management on patient care issues were rebuffed. Since then, some improvements have been won, but management has begun to engage in “illegal activity in an attempt to thwart unionization attempts.” Managers have interrogated nurses about their organizing activities and threatened loss of support staff and healthcare benefits if the union drive continues. In an effort to demonstrate the need for patient care improvements throughout the hospital, nurses compiled an extensive Patient Care Report highlighting various patient care concerns—most notably chronic unsafe staffing practices.
“Like my colleagues, I’ve always been proud to work at Huntington because it has a reputation for providing quality patient care,” said Ann Linck, RN, Maternity. “However, in recent years we’ve seen hospital management prioritize profits and make decisions that degrade the quality of care delivery.” “By raising our collective voice we’ve already won some improvements here at HMH, but unfortunately management is now trying to intimidate us into silence,” said Allysha Almada, RN, Intensive Care. “It is our job as RNs to advocate for patient care so silence is not an option. Our patients deserve safe staffing and adequate supplies, and state law demands it. We are committed to continue organizing until quality care is restored at our hospital.” Two-day strikes which started Tuesday affected nearly 20,000 registered nurses at 86 Kaiser Permanente hospitals and clinics, a Sutter hospital in Tracy, and Watsonville Community Hospital kicking off a wave of protests at 15 states and the District of Co-
lumbia over eroding patient care conditions symbolized by inadequate Ebola safeguards at most U.S. hospitals. Kaiser RNs and nurse practitioners were on strike Tuesday morning in Antioch, Fremont, Fresno, Oakland, Redwood City, Richmond, Roseville, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose, San Leandro, San Rafael, Santa Clara, Santa Rosa, South Sacramento, South San Francisco, Stockton, Vacaville, Vallejo, Walnut Creek. Large noon rallies were held at Kaiser Oakland and Kaiser South Sacramento. On Wednesday, November 12, California RNs joined with nurses and allies in 14 other states and the District of Columbia to step up the call for improved safeguards in the face of the deadly Ebola virus. In California, in addition to Kaiser, Sutter Tracy and Watsonville, nurses also be picketed at hospitals that are part of Dignity Health, Sutter, St. Joseph Health System, Memorial Care, and the University of California medical centers. For striking nurses, the failure to secure Ebola safeguards symbolizes what nurses see as a steady erosion in care standards that increasingly put patients as well as nurses and other frontline health workers at risk. “Nurses, who have been willing to stand by the patients whether it’s the flu, whether it’s Ebola, whether it’s cancer, are now being asked to put themselves in harm’s way unprotected, unguarded,” said NNU Executive Director Rose Ann DeMoro, in a press conference announcing the actions.
On patient care issues, Kaiser RNs have cited cuts in hospital services at a number of Kaiser hospitals, sharp restrictions on admitting patients for hospital care or early discharge of patients who still need hospitalization. Kaiser RN Katy Roemer told reporters over the weekend that Kaiser nurses are “not seeing the resources we need on a daily basis to provide safe care. We are going out on strike about patient safety issues.” “Our call for a strike speaks loudly and clearly that we want management to stop their stalling in bargaining our first contract, stop the unfair labor practices, and provide the safeguards and resources needed to deliver safe patient care. It’s high time to listen to the nurses,” said Sutter Tracy RN Dotty Nygard. On Ebola, what NNU is demanding is the optimal personal protective equipment for nurses and other caregivers who interact with Ebola patients. That means full-body hazmat suits that meet the American Society for Testing and Materials F1670 standard for blood penetration, F1671 standard for viral penetration, and that leave no skin exposed or unprotected, and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health-approved powered air purifying respirators with an assigned protection factor of at least 50. Second, that all facilities provide continuous, rigorous interactive training for RNs and other health workers who might encounter an Ebola patient, that includes practice putting on and taking off the hazmat suits where some of the greatest risk of infection can occur.