Two Women, Three Men Who Helped Crime Victims Honored in Pasadena Ceremony, See P.13 pasadenaindependent.com
Thursday, May 14, 2015 - May 20, 2015
Volume 19, No. 20
Community News, Arts & Opinions Since 1996
Lengthy Lawsuit Between City, Sierra Madre Couple Slowly Approaches Trial Date by joe taglieri
After five years of legal wrangling, a contentious lawsuit featuring Sierra Madre's Building and Planning Department versus a local pair of aspiring wine entrepreneurs appears to be heading toward the home stretch — an actual courtroom trial that yields a definitive verdict. The case is scheduled to begin in September at the state Superior Court's Burbank venue, according to sources familiar with the lawsuit. The time frame for Jeff and Taryn Hildreth's project to convert their Montecito Avenue residence into an art cafe and wine storage and bottling business dates back much further than the lawsuit — to the late-1990s, when Jeff began excavating the 1910-era home's lower portions with the goal of creating a subterranean wine cellar. The Hildreths claim they had all necessary permits, copies of which they provided to the Sierra Madre Weekly, and were in compliance with the city's building protocol when, more than 10 years down the line, the project came to an abrupt halt. Development Services Department officials levied an order to stop work based on numerous but nonspecific code infractions and their apparent inability to locate the Hildreths' permits, the couple contends in a 2013 court document. Making matters worse, they allege officials ignored their repeated requests for direction on corrections necesSEE PG. 16
Pasadena Council Meetings on Level 2 Water Shortage Plan May 18, June 1
The public is welcome to provide comment and hear information on recommendations to implement the City’s Level 2 Water Shortage Plan during the City Council’s meetings May 18 and June 1. The Council will discuss the plan and other possible steps in response to the serious drought in California and Governor Jerry Brown’s mandate for a 25-percent cut in water use. The meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave. SEE PG. 15
LOCAL NEWS
Jeff and Taryn Hildreth outside their dream home on Montecito Street in Sierra Madre. Due to ongoing litigation against city hall, their dream has become a veritable nightmare. – Photo by Terry Miller
Pasadena Firefighters Honored in Mayor Tornek’s First Council Meeting By Nick Kipley On Monday night, Deputy Fire Chief Jon Trautwein began the City Council meeting in Pasadena City hall by introducing to the Mayor, Council, and members of staff to a group of exemplary emergency responders. “Thank you, Mr. Mayor and Members of Council, for this opportunity this evening to honor several of our firefighters and our paramedic intern,” Deputy Chief Trautwein began. “Recently, these firefighters and this paramedic intern did volunteer to provide relief over in Nepal for that devastating earthquake. We’re proud of these firefighters and our motto in the fire department is, ‘The Desire to serve and the Courage to Act,’ and I believe that these individuals here epitomize that. So we’re very honored and proud that
Fire Engineer Dave Marquez, Paramedic Matt Caffey, and Captain Tim Okimura went to Nepal on their own time to help in the disaster zone after the initial 7.8 Nepal quake. With the help of Cody Walker (the late actor Paul Walker’s brother). – Photo by Terry Miller
entertainment
opinion
SEE PG. 14
BUSINESS
Council Determines Application Process to Fill District 7 Vacancy
Play Review: Beauty and the Beast
Martin A. Gordon: Are We At War?
Business Profile: Old Town Barber Shop
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