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MONDAY, DECEMBER 28 -JANUARY 3, 2009-2010 VOLUME 2, NO. 53
Holiday Drive Donations a Huge Success
T-Mobile Cell Tower Stalled again by Concerned Residents BY JOHN STEPHENS
Department of Veterans Affairs volunteer Peter Darmanian, Pat Brayer of SGV Humane Society, Councilman Tom Chavez, Department of Veterans Affairs John DeSoto, New Beginnings Family Church volunteers Jim and Paula Laschober, Pam Romano of Westminster Presbyterian and Temple City Parks and Recreation administrative coordinator Debbie Ingram were all on hand to celebrate the success of the “Sock-o-Rama” clothing drive. Photo by Terry Miller Story on Page 5
Relocation of Bank’s Millard Sheets Mural Under Discussion Winter Basketball
Registration Ends January 8th
BY SAMEEA KAMAL Catherine Haskett-Hany has been going to what is now Chase Bank on Lake Avenue and Colorado Boulevard since she was a child, and has always looked forward to seeing the mural of the Pasadena Rose parade on the wall. When she walked in one day to see it covered up by a wall, she was alarmed that it was hidden. Haskett-Hany, who is the Communications Director at the Pasadena Library, said the mural is one of the reasons she enjoys going to that bank. “They’ve made it so it’s very bank-like … and before it was a very special place to go to because you had that mural,” she said. “It didn’t matter how long the line was because you could enjoy the mural and there was always something to learn about it.” Haskett-Hany then contacted the Pasadena Cultural Affairs Office, who has been working with Chase Bank to
As a result, the mural is partially obscured to the public. Kischner said that though no one has complained about the possible donation of the piece, customers have voiced concerns that they were no longer able to see the mural, which was painted by Millard Sheets. Kischner said the bank tries to keep all of the art
Registration is continuing at the Live Oak Park Community Center for this year’s winter youth basketball league. Boys and girls from 4 years through 12th grade can register for the league which is sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department. The program’s enrollment fee is $75 per person ($65 for STARS Club members) for children in 8th grade and under. The fee for youth in 9-12th grade is $50. Deadline to register is January 8, 2010, space permitting. Back court press, 3 point shots, free throw lines and other rules are changed to address the developing skills of the Mini, Clinic and “C” division players. Depending upon enrollment, boys and girls will play separately in the 5th – 6th grade only. A player meeting and first practice will be held
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-Photo by Terry Miller
find a suitable relocation. “Having grown up with it, it means a lot to me,” she said. “More people other than (those) who know of it at the bank should be able to see it.” As a part of reconstructing the branch, the bank placed a wall to create a work area for employees that is out of sight of customers for security reasons, said Gary Kischner, spokesperson for the Pasadena branch.
At a meeting of the City Council on November 17 of this year, representatives from T-Mobile brought forward a plan to install a new cellular phone tower on the grounds of the Victory in Jesus Church at the intersection of El Monte Avenue and Freer Street. Despite the proposal that the tower would be disguised as a 50-foot “monopine” tree, a throng of upset neighbors besieged the meeting with public comments and pasteboard signs protesting the installation. T-Mobile is seeking to build the tower in this residential area of Temple City in an effort to address holes in their coverage in and around that area. But following the pleas from Temple City residents that the new tower, which they argued would be unsightly, detrimental to public health, and did not belong in a residential area, the city council asked the company to go back to the drawing board and come up with a new plan that addressed the concerns of area residents. One month later, on Tuesday, December 15, representatives from T-Mobile returned to the council chambers to present their revised plan to the council and citizens of Temple City. One resident who spoke during the public comment phase of the meeting praised the city council for always listening to the concerns of the city’s residents, but complained the FCC’s rules governing cellular towers were inadequate. “Why do we need them like every mile? It makes it seem like the technology is not good enough. We know that cancer rates are rising, but the FCC says it’s fine. We have 18 towers in this little tiny city. That’s crazy! I think it’s time we take a look at this stuff and do something about it. We need a moratorium on cell towers in this city and I think that needs to be our next resolution” Alonzo Lugo, a representative from T-Mobile, defended the tower by saying that traffic passing through the area added to the load on the towers and that “especially in cases of emergen-
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City Selects Winners in Holiday Decorating Contest
The spirit of the holidays lit up homes throughout Temple City neighborhoods this month. Entries for Temple City’s annual Holiday Home Decorating Contest displayed creativity, ingenuity and lots of yuletide spirit. Displays ranged from traditional decorations of lights, garlands and holiday characters
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