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MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015 - JANUARY 11, 2015 - VOLUME 3, NO. 1
Rose Parade Float Sculptors Cast a Spell on Parade Watchers BY TERRY MILLER AND JENNIFER SCHLUETER Today, January 1, 2015 makes the 126th Rose Parade where floats of every shape, size, color and sponsorship vie for your attention as they go down Colorado Blvd. We’ve all seen them, every New Year Day since the 1800’s in Pasadena. Yes, those giant floats that seem to magically come alive at 8 AM and proceed almost seamlessly through the 5 ½ mile route. The process to make these floats is a little awe inspiring to some and downright impossible to imagine to others. It takes weeks, perhaps months of preparation before even the fabrication can begin. Enter Dennis Midyett float sculptor who has been doing this for over 40 years. Mr. Midyett has a passion for his craft of sculpting the steel, fabricating the design from conception to reality. The process takes months of meticulous and precise workmanship than few pa-
Dennis Midyett, 63, (top right) has worked for all major float builders in Pasadena for over 40 years as a float sculptor. The sculptor is perhaps the most unsung hero of every float that is seen around the world on January 1 – Photos by Terry Miller
rade goers ever see. In fact, the art itself seems to be attracting less young sculptors which worries Mr. Midyett. “I hope it’s not a lost art…” he said. “The number of major sponsors has dropped
Former Pasadena City Official, Two Others Charged in $6Million Embezzlement Scheme Pasadena City Manager Michael J. Beck, Mayor Bill Bogaard and City Attorney Michele Beal Bagneris held a hurried press conference Tuesday afternoon regarding the arrest of former Pasadena city employee, Danny Wooten. Mr. Wooten who was was arrested Tuesday in connection with an investigation by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office into the alleged misappropriation of public funds and embezzlement of $6.4 million from the City of Pasadena. A former Pasadena Public Works analyst and two of his friends were arrested on charges they embezzled more than $6
million in city money over a decade, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced today. Danny R. Wooten, Tyrone Collins, and Melody Jenkins were arrested this morning by the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation. They are charged in a 60- count felony complaint for arrest warrant, case BA430233, with embezzlement, conflict of interest and grand theft with excessive taking allegations. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Bjorn Dodd with the Public InPlease see page 4
and subsequently there are far less floats than ever. The cost, of course, is a major factor,” Mr, Midyett added. The art of float sculpting in fact has been barely recognized in recent Tourna-
ment publications including the pricey 2015 Rose Parade guide. Mr. Midyett pointed out that there was only information about the floral asPlease see page 2
Pasadena Community Coalition Angered by TOR’s Silence Editor’s note: A few weeks ago we published an open letter from Pasadena Community Coalition asking why the Tournament of Roses seemingly lacks a diverse work force in management. (see: http://www. pasadenaindependent. com/community/columns/ open-letter-to-president-and-
board-of-tournament-of-roses-association/) Upon receiving the letter we contacted the TOR for comment. We were told that the Tournament would address Mr. Gordon’’s letter personally and not through the media. According to Mr. Martin, that response has yet to transpire, hence his follow-up.
Martin Gordon, flanked by his son and another community activist, Gene Washington, at the press conference held New Year’s Eve. Outside the Wrigley Mansion. – Photo by Terry Miller
Please see page 4
AHS Student Golfer Files Suit Against Arcadia Unified School District An AHS student golfer has filed suit against Arcadia Unified School District after a fall from a second story school balcony left her confined to a wheelchair. Michelle Cheung of Arcadia filed the negligence suit Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court. She seeks unspecified damages. According to the complaint, Cheung suffered two fractures to her right pelvis and broke several bones in her spine after falling from the second story balcony of the main building at Arcadia High School on Jan. 7, 2014. The complaint alleges the district did not maintain the
balcony railing in a safe condition, but does not elaborate further on how the student fell. Cheung was taken to Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena and underwent surgery two days after her fall, the suit states. Two metal rods and eight screws were inserted into her back, according to her complaint. She still does not have full mobility, requires the use of a wheelchair and it is uncertain whether she will fully recover or play golf again, the suit states. The AUSD superintendent’s office did not immediately return a call for comment.