UNIVERSAL STUDIOS CELEBRATES 50 YRS
- SEE PAGE 3 -
- SEE PAGE 2 -
templecitytribune.com
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015 - MARCH 1, 2015 - VOLUME 20, NO. 8
Azusa Council Approves APU Bond Refinancing
Pasadena Icon, Colorful Float Designer Raul Rodriguez Dead at 71
BY JOE TAGLIERI
The Azusa City Council on Tuesday unanimously endorsed the refinancing of tax-exempt bonds issued by Azusa Pacific University for upgrades to its science department and student housing. Though the bonds pose no debt obligation for the city, federal tax law requires that local governments facilitate open discourse and legislate approval of public bond deals such as APU's financing efforts. The school is a nonprofit religious organization that qualifies for tax-exempt status. Similar to how homeowners may refinance home mortgages in pursuit of a lower interest rate, APU is seeking a lower rate for its revenuegenerating bonds. School officials expect the rate to drop from 8 to 4 percent. "The primary reason for our efforts to refinance that debt now is the same as the motivation for millions of homeowners who have refinanced their homes in the past few years — historically low interest rates," APU Senior Vice President Mark Dickerson told Azusa Beacon. The California Municipal Finance Authority, or CMFA, acts as the issuer of the bonds, which in this case total $136.7 million. In 2009 the university opened the approximately 70,000-square-foot Segerstrom Science Center, which cost $54 million. APU received an additional $13.5 million in donations for the project, including a combined $10 million from the Perry-Segerstrom family totaling the larg-
SEE PG. 5
W
FREE
BY TERRY MILLER
hat could be more colorful than the Pasadena Rose Parade? Not much, you might say. However, one character stood out from the crowd and was far more colorful than any of his designs of extraordinary floats he mastered over the years. Raul R. Rodriguez, 71, died Wednesday of a heart attack at his home in Pasadena, publicist Harlan Boll announced. Rodriguez had won more Tournament of Roses awards for his float designs than any single artist. He presented his 500th design in 2012, and his last parade appearance came Jan. 1, 2013, when he and his ever-present macaw, Sebastian, rode the Dole float. Rodriguez was 15 when he designed his first float. Rodriguez also worked for the Walt Disney for the 50th anniversary Parade of Dreams in 2005. Rodriguez studied at the Art Center School of Design
and attended Cerritos College and California State University Long Beach. Rodriguez was part of the team that won an Emmy for coverage of the 2001 Tournament of Roses Parade on Univision, and he received the prestigious Arthur Nobel Award from the City of Pasadena. A jovial soul who was present on just about every float he ever designed, Rodriguez was no stranger to Pasadena. He and his ever-present macaw, Sebastian, were fixtures at the parade as well as other civic happenings. The flamboyant artist was rarely at a loss for words. Survivors include his spouse Robert Cash, sisters Irene and Teresa, and a number of aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins. A funeral mass is scheduled for 11 a.m. Mar. 7 at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 311 N. Raymond Ave. in Pasadena. A 10 a.m. Rosary will precede the funeral mass. The burial service will be private.
Raul Rodriguez, the coloroful larger than life artist, with his ever-present Macaw, Sebastian at Fiesta Floats in 2013. - Photo by Terry Miller
New Bill May Require All Bicycle Riders to Wear Helmets BY TERRY MILLER
While most cyclists on the road are very safety conscious, not everyone is happy with Senator Liu’s proposal that would mandate helmets for adults when cycling on city streets. - Photo by Terry Miller
California could become the first state in the nation to require all adults wear a helmet while bicycling, under a bill introduced last week. The approach by a local senator has already caused considerable controversy. Many who opposed additional legislation say it’s the wrong approach to bike safety--“We don’t support mandating helmet use because the name of the game (to promote bike safety) is increasing bicycling. And this type of legislation has been shown to do just the opposite,” the San
Diego County Bicycle Coalition said. “We encourage helmet use but we’re not in favor of mandates,” it concluded. The California Bicycle Coalition opposes a helmet mandate for similar reasons. Sen. Carol Liu, D-La Cañada Flintridge, introduced the bill last Wednesday. She said public safety is at the heart of her legislation. “Any responsible bicycle rider should wear a helmet,” Liu said in a press release. “This law will help protect more people and make sure SEE PG. 4
Reduce Costs and Grow Your Business. No Risk! Call 888.930.3050 opt.1 for a free, no obligation assessment.
Selling Frozen Whole Raccoons in Temple City is Fishy
The Los Angeles County Health Department has taken more action after a Temple City market’s frozen foods section displayed dead whole raccoons, complete with head and fur visible in plastic bags. An investigation is ongoing, according to Janice Mackey of California Fish and Wildlife in Sacramento. The CDFW believes the origin of the raccoons is Florida. Ms. Mackey said that only licensed trappers are allowed to sell raccoon, or the remains. It is unlikely that the store that was selling raccoons obtained a trapper’s license. LA County Health Department officers visited the Metro Supermarket in Temple City last Tuesday in connection with a complaint filed by a shopper who videotaped the raccoon carcasses. Raccoon is considered a delicacy in China and Taiwan ROC. Calls to the Health Department for comment were not immediately returned. The market said it has stopped selling raccoons, since the department’s visit. The store was selling them for $9.99 a pound in the “Fish Dept.” with the average price being about $50 for a raccoon. The shop in Temple City has been selling raccoons for years without any complaint, until now. In fact the market for exotic meats is huge in San Gabriel Valley: http://www. exoticmeatmarkets.com/ raccoonmeat.html sells raccoon meat as a “dressed SEE PG. 2