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Thursday, APRIL 19 - APRIL 25, 2012
Community News, Arts & Opinions Since 1996
American Family Legion- Post 280 Going Strong History Lives Here and Comes Alive Every Day
As Memorial Day rapidly approaches, I thought it time to focus on a few good men, and women, in Pasadena. Recently, I got to know some remarkable people at the American Legion post 280 in Pasadena and tried to figure out what makes this place tick! I’m not a veteran, nor
am I an American citizen but I am a legal, registered alien with a Green Card! Since I’m British, perhaps they cut me some slack as we are, after all, the strongest of allies. Nevertheless, these men and women welcomed me with open arms and I felt comfortable talking with these individuals , many of whom have not only served their country in many different operations from World War 11,
Korea and Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan, but hold a high reverence for their fellow man. These men and women personify respect. The old adage of old veterans ( particularly men) sitting around drinking and telling war stories in a dark and dingy bar simply isn’t an accurate portrayal of the American Legion , Post 280 Member Vietnam Veteran Ric Johnson told me. Boy
was he right! The American Legion is a social and mutual-aid veterans’ organization which includes members of the United States armed forces. The organization was founded in 1919 by veterans returning from Europe after World War I, and was later chartered as an official American patriotic society under Title 36 of the United States Code. The organization is
Officials Kick Off Eaton Canyon Safety Campaign
headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, and also has offices in Washington, DC. The group has nearly 3 million members in over 14,000 Posts worldwide. In addition to organizing commemorative events and volunteer veteran support activities, the American Legion is active in issue oriented U.S. politics. Its primary political ac-
Recently there has been a significant increase in deaths, medical emergencies and rescues in and around the Eaton Canyon Falls area on the border of Pasadena/ Altadena. In the past 12 months alone there have been over 60 rescues in the Canyon. Every response involves a coordinated effort of several public safety agencies with jurisdictional and technical expertise. These agencies have collaborated in producing a Public Service Announcement addressing safety concerns and misconceptions. Russ Guiney, Director - Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation and Assistant Chief Bill Niccum – Los Angeles County Fire Department talked with reporters and other first responders atEaton Canyon Nature Center Tuesday afternoon. Of particular note, authorities wish to stress is that there is no safe trail to the second waterfall as has been widely published on social media sites such as Facebook and YouTube. The terrian is dangerous and there is no
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Peter Douglas III, who served in the United States Air Force from 1968-1972 is Pasadena ‘s American Family Legion Post 280 Commander. Douglas is committed to helping his fellow man and particularly those who have served in the military with the many activities the Legion offers. -Photo by Terry Miller
By Terry Miller
Volume XVII, No. XVI
Portantino’s Bill to End Alice Zhang Crosswalk Accident Burning Body Discovered Special Perk for Legislator’s Recreated by Arcadia City Officials Sunday A team from the city Vanity License PlatesPasses of Arcadia which included Morning in legal and traffic safety exKey Committee perts re-created the scene Altadena of a crosswalk accident last Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau detectives are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a man, which occurred on Sunday, April 15, 2012, in the 2600 block of North Windsor Avenue, Altadena. Detectives have Please see page 23
Assemblymember Anthony Portantino’s bill requiring legislators who have legislative vanity plates on their personal cars to pay the same fees paid by the general public for personalized plates, has passed its first legislative hurdle. AB 2068 was unanimously approved by the Assembly Transportation Committee this afternoon. “Most California driv-
ers who want personalized license plates, commonly referred to as vanity plates, have to pay an extra fee,” explained Assemblymember Portantino. “Even veterans pay the state an annual fee and just last week, the Assembly began discussion on whether or not to raise fees for veterans. Not California legislators. Current Please see page 5
This is the second in a series of accident recreations . The above image was taken exactly 24 hours after 16 year old Alice Zhang was killed last April. Detective Mike Hale is pictured sitting in the car involved in the accident checking the dirty windshield. -Photo by Terry Miller
April that took the life of Alice Zhang at exactly the same time of the accident one year ago at 6:45PM on Duarte Road. Officials sealed off the 600 block of Duarte Road, between Baldwin and Lovell avenues, as they studied where Zhang, 16, of Arcadia was killed and where her friend Priyanka Patel, Please see page 7