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HAPPY THANKSGIVING THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014 - DECEMBER 3, 2014
Arcadia’s DriveThrough Mail Boxes Returned to Original Position
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Monrovia’s Vintage Fire Engine: Where the rubber meets the road
BY TERRY MILLER In the last couple of weeks, we’ve been reporting on the rather unusual relocation of the drive-through mail boxes behind Arcadia’s main post office to the street on Santa Clara. Alas, after all the ensuing brouhaha, the Post Office finally returned the post boxes to the safe drive-through area. Now, Arcadia, you may
Please see page 9
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 AtPlease see page 2
Volume 19, No. 48
Millions of illegal immigrants now have a chance to live the American Dream BY JENNIFER SCHLUETER
Monrovia’s very first Fire Engine, a 1917 Seagrave Triple is being meticulously restored by Tired Iron Works largely with funds from an anonymous donor with additional assistance from other members of the community. – Photo by Terry Miller
BY SUSAN MOTANDER Monrovia’s first Fire Engine, a 1917 Seagrave Triple is being restored by Tired Iron Works largely with funds from an anonymous donor with additional assistance from other members of the community. The vintage engine is now in running order, its body has been restored and repainted and even the seat has been reupholstered. But addi-
tional funds are needed for the final restoration including purchasing very special solid rubber tires, not a small expense. For the rubber truly to meet the road, more assistance is needed. The engine is now owned by the Monrovia Firefighters’ Association and no public funds have been used in its purchase and restoration. The engine was first ordered by the city after the largest hotel in town burned
New Chief for Pasadena Fire Department
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 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 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 choice,” City Manager Michael J. Beck Please see page 5
down in 1916. It was the top of the line engine in its day, a triple with not just pumping capability (this distinguishes it from a fire truck), but also the ability to carry ladder as well as fight fires with chemicals. The engine served Monrovia for many years before being sold to Flintridge. Subsequently it was sold to several other firefighting agencies, each time to a smaller community. Ultimately he
(this writer is of the opinion that fire engines are definitely male…explanations upon request) was acquired by the Harrah collection in Reno. Unfortunately, the collection was dissolved upon the death of its founder before this engine was restored. Form there, Monrovia’s old engine moved from place to place, a tourist attraction called the Ponderosa
A 31 year-old Monrovia woman died on Monday evening at Arcadia Methodist Hospital while on life support. Earlier in the day, the young woman had been transported to the hospital by paramedics after they received a call to her home where she was reportedly found unconscious. Tanos Hawandjian was arrested on Monday by Monrovia Police and charged with 273.5a , Domestic Violence. Hawandjian was the party who originally called for assistance. When the woman,
whose name is not being released in deference to the family, died, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau took over the investigation at the request of the Monrovia P.D. according to officials in that department. The Los Angeles County Coroner’s office has yet to conduct a full autopsy and so no cause of death has yet been announced. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept., Homicide Division.
Last Thursday, in his immigration speech, President Obama promised to increase the budget for law enforcement at our Southern border to prevent illegal crossings and to speed up deportation of “those who do cross over.” Additionally, he promised to “make it easier and faster for high-skilled immigrants, graduates and entrepreneurs to stay and conPlease see page 18
Rep. Schiff Please see page 14 Renews Monrovia Woman’s Death, Push for Body 31, Being Investigated; Cameras Male Arrested for Law BY SUSAN MOTANDER 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 Please see page 16