North Lake Avenue Parking Study Will Be Discussed At Community Meeting

  Pasadena’s Northwest Commission and the Lake Avenue Village Business Association will host a community meeting Saturday, Jan. 15, at 9 a.m. to discuss the recent North Lake Avenue Parking Study.

   The two groups will address issues of concern about findings of the study and ask for public comments for solutions to recommend to the Pasadena City Council.

   The meeting will be at Santa Catalina Branch Library, 999 E. Washington Blvd. For more information call Northwest Programs Manager Lola Osborne at (626) 744-4791.

Cal Poly Universities won the Viewers' Choice Award

Cal Poly Universities won the Viewers' Choice Award for the 2011 Rose Parade® presented by Honda, themed Building Dreams, Friendships and Memories.  The float, themed "Galactic Expedition," received 10,802 votes out of a total of 44,730 votes submitted. This is the third time that Cal Poly Universities has won the Viewers’ Choice Award.

"The Cal Poly Universities students have constructed floats that prove to be fan favorites year after year," said Gene Gregg, chairman of the Tournament of Roses Judging committee. "This is a very special award and we are thrilled that so many Rose Parade fans took an active role in Tournament of Roses history by casting their vote.”

For the first time ever, fans were able to cast their votes via text message in addition to an online poll. Out of a total 44,730 votes, 25,122 were cast via text message and 19,608 were cast at www.tournamentofroses.com/viewers-choice-award. Voting took place from 8:00 a.m. (PST) to 2:10 p.m. (PST) on January 1, 2011. Parade fans were able to vote for their favorite float up to five times.

The 2011 float submission from the two universities of Cal Poly San Louis Obispo and Cal Poly Pomona depicts seven childhood friends building the rocket ship of their dreams and taking their imagination to soaring heights. An operative crane, a spinning planet and a full complement of tools and toys are all situated on an airy cloud high above the earth's surface. The float is decorated with more than 12,000 roses, 8,500 mums and approximately 9,500 carnations. The Cal Poly Rose Float student organization has participated in the Rose Parade since 1949. The organization is comprised of students from both Cal Poly Universities campuses located in Pomona and San Luis Obispo, California. Students collaborate throughout the year to produce a crowd-pleasing float in two pieces and join them together in October when the decorating process begins.

The winner of the award was announced by Tournament of Roses President Jeff Throop, live from the Post Parade Showcase of Floats.

Police Identify Officers Involved In Dec. 27 Shooting

Pasadena Police Chief Phillip L. Sanchez has identified the police officers involved in a shooting incident Monday, Dec. 27, near Lake Avenue and Mountain Street.

Officer Ken Florendo has been a veteran of the Pasadena Police Department for more than five years; for more than two years he has been assigned to the Special Enforcement Section, where his duties include working with gangs. In this capacity he has been commended for his work with at-risk youths. He also is a member of the Pasadena Police Department’s Honor Guard. He has not been involved in any prior officer-involved shooting incidents. He is recovering from an injury he sustained to his face as a result of the suspect in the Dec. 27 incident shooting at him.

Officer Alex Torres has been a veteran of the Pasadena Police Department for more than six years; for more than two years he has been assigned to the Special Enforcement Section, where his duties include working with gangs. Two years ago Officer Torres was commended for preventing a suicide at the Colorado Street Bridge. At great peril to his own personal safety, he wrestled a distraught woman to the ground before she could jump to certain death. He was involved in one prior officer-involved shooting in September 2007, when he observed a woman being stabbed by her estranged husband. The assailant then advanced on Officer Torres while armed with a knife. Torres was forced to shoot the assailant, who died. As a result, the woman’s life was saved despite life-threatening stab wounds.

Speaking about the Dec. 27 shooting this past Monday evening, Chief Sanchez said: “In every violent encounter wherein the use of force is required, police officers are forced to make split-second decisions. In this incident, these officers placed themselves in harm’s way to protect the life of a citizen by engaging an armed assailant who had fired his gun at them. I am extremely thankful that despite the violent actions of the suspect, nobody was seriously injured.”

Three felony criminal charges have been filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office against suspect Sherwin Williams of Fontana.