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News, Art, Opinions and Community Events Since 1996
Thursday, February 4 - 10, 2010 Volume XV, No. VII
MAD Residents Voice Concerns with Anti-Gang Efforts
Bittersweet Evening for Sierra Madre Many Applaud Duarte for Not Chamber Late Dr. Paul Neiby and Wife Louise Honored By Bill Coburn
At its annual Board Installation dinner on Friday the Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce for the first time honored not one but two people as Sierra Madre’s Citizens of the Year. About one hundred guests turned out for the dinner held in Santa Anita Park’s Chandelier Room to remember Dr. Paul Neiby, who passed away Jan. 13th, and to honor his wife Louise, who described the evening as “bittersweet.” The evening began with a cocktail hour featuring entertainment by the Mercy Powell Jazz Quartet which was followed by a brief welcome by 2007 Citizen of the Year Pete Siberell, who is in his 17th year at Santa Anita as Director of Community Service & Special Projects for the L. A. Turf Club. Pianist Vince Johnson had been requested by the Neibys to perform at the event, and as he picked out several
Joining Monrovia Gang Injunction By Terry Miller
Residents from Monrovia, Arcadia and Duarte (MAD) and other nearby areas crowded into a standing room only meeting in Duarte Tuesday evening on the heels of two new shootings last week in Duarte and the unincorporated area of Monrovia. Outrage at the recent violence has come to a head following concern that strict policies enacted by local law enforcement have either failed to quell the violence or and/or had other negative effects. The shootings wounded two black men, and prompted a call for answers from authorities, a fact that resulted in tunes on the piano guests perused items available at the silent auction table. This was the first time the Chamber has employed a silent auction at the Citizen of the Year dinner, and according to Chamber brass this year’s successful auction will likely become an annual activity as future Continued on Page 6
Jeanette Chavez wipes the tears from her eyes as citizens articulate their anger at a community meeting Tuesday night on gang and race violence in the area. Chavez is the mother of murder victim Sammantha Salas .Salas was shot and killed 2 years ago in a gang related incident; she had no gang ties whatsoever. - Photo by Terry Miller
a meeting well-attended by vociferous community members. Capt. Joe Fennell of Sheriff’s Temple Station addressed about 200 con-
cerned residents during the meeting at Maxwell Elementary School in Duarte on Tuesday night and attempted to reassure the general public that the
Joshua Locateil is now a free man after a strange set of circumstances led the mentally disabled individual into the spotlight after a supposed bank robbery attempt in Monrovia. Sierra Madre resident Joshua Locateil, 24, was arrested last Wednesday and charged with attempted robbery after a four hour stand-off with police at Citizens Business Bank on the corner on Myrtle and Huntington Wednesday afternoon, according to Capt. Jim Hunt of the Monrovia Police Department. Locateil was in custody
at the Monrovia Police station. The story continued to get stranger by the minute as information came to light. This was apparently not a typical bank robbery by any stretch of the imagination. Locateil had allegedly entered the bank around 9.55 AM and placed a note demanding money. The bank was evacuated. The contents of that note have not been disclosed. After surrendering, Locateil was ordered to strip down to ensure there was no device attached to his body. After his arrest, a roContinued on Page 6
There are fund-raisers in great abundance these days attempting to raise money to help Haiti through one of the worst natural disasters in history. This Monday the Pasadena Playhouse held a fund-raiser raising funds for Haiti. Perhaps we can never do enough to help in this disaster of Biblical proportions - however, try we must and perhaps the best one can do is donate cash to an organization you know and trust. This coming Saturday, Feb 6 from 7 p.m., the popular Brits Pub and Eatery (1770 E. Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena) will be donating proceeds from the evening’s Continued on Page 7
Local Doctor Flies Bush Plane to Aid Remote Haiti By Chris Bertrand
Dr. Michael Budincich, a Pasadena chiropractor fondly known as “Dr. Bud” to patients and friends is busy preparing his two bush planes to shuttle medical personnel into remote Haiti. As soon as the weather clears enough for safe travel in these single engine craft, this gentle giant of a man and a Newport Beach pilot will begin a multi-leg hop with his two planes to a staging area in Ft. Lauder-
Intellectually Incapable Bank Robber Released By Terry Miller
police are aware of the citizens’ concerns and are working within the confines of the law to apprehend those responsible for Continued on Page 8
Rotarians, Brits Pub Team to Shelter Haitians
Arcadia Sends in the Cavalry Increased Mounted Patrols will Follow Rash of Purse Snatchings Lieutenant Bob Anderson and Agent Bruce Smith held a meeting with Asian Business owners at First Bank on Duarte Road Wednesday. The meeting was held at the request of council candidate Sho Tay after a recent rash of robberies at Presidents Square Shopping Center. Arcadia Police officer, Agent Bruce Smith
spoke about the mounted unit’s responsibilities and plans. Smith is an accomplished equestrian who is well known for patrolling Arcadia aboard his horse Ringo when not in his patrol car. Smith was quick to point out that plans have been in the works for a while about increasing the mounted police patrols Continued on Page 4
dale, Florida. There he’ll meet up with doctors and medical supplies destined for an area on the southern coast of Haiti. Hope Force International, a Christian disaster relief organization founded by Jack and Cherie Minton after serving nineteen years on The Mercy Ship, is in particular need of Budincich’s bush planes and his rural piloting expertise. A Florida church has funded the fuel costs Continued on Page 4
Star-Studded Night for Hospital Foundation’s Awards Gala
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Social Whirl on Page 16 Foundation President Michael Driebe (as Groucho Marx) with Foundation Board Chair Mayor John Wuo and wife, Jane, at hospital awards dinner.