Monthly Archives: December 2014
Dec 31 2014
City of Pasadena Christmas Tree Drop Off Recycling Curbside Pickup 2014/2015

Remember to Recycle Your Christmas Tree-Make it a Holiday Tradition!

2014/2015 CHRISTMAS TREE COLLECTION & RECYCLING

Make sure recycling your Christmas tree is a part of your holiday traditions.  Recycling you tree is good for the environment and provides and important source of mulch that the City uses and gives away for free throughout the year. The following information will help make it easy for your to recycle your Christmas Tree. For more information, please contact the Citizen Service Center at (626) 744-7311.

DROP OFF DATES & LOCATIONS

OPEN: 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

December 26, 2014 through January 4, 2015

  • Eaton Blanche Park, 3100 E. Del Mar Blvd., Parking lot on Millicent Way

Robinson Park, 1081 N. Fair Oaks Ave., Parking lot on Morton Street

PLEASE REMOVE ALL STANDS, ORNAMENTS AND LIGHTS

CURBSIDE PICKUP DATES

January 2 – 17, 2015

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Dec 30 2014
City of Pasadena Former Employee Danny Wooten Allegedly Bilked City for over $6 million #pasadena

City of Pasadena Former Employees Allegedly Embezzled Over $6 million From City

Update 1/2/15: Special Meeting to be held.

MONDAY, JAN. 5th @ 5PM – Notice of Special Single Item Agenda Meeting regarding the Underground Utilities Program Audit

Several city employees involved in scheme, including six placed on “administrative leave” according to City Manager Michael Beck, who he refused to identify. Why?  I would imagine that this scheme ran deeper and as Councilman Torneck said City Hall has a “long-standing culture of complacency”.

This complacency in the city is unacceptable, all departments need extensive audits.  All city residents and tax payers should be demanding a full accounting of all departments, especially those with the larger budgets like Public Works and Water and Power.

City of Pasadena Officials have published KPMG’s full audit as of Tuesday on the city’s website.

Pasadena City Manager Michael J. Beck held a press conference announcing the arrest of a former city employee for allegedly bilking the city out of $6.4 million.  So far 3 have been arrested and four are on administrative leave, the identity of those on administrative leave has not been disclosed.

The City of Pasadena is providing a variety of documents and information to help keep the public informed about the arrest of a former City employee regarding the theft of public funds and steps that the City has-and will-take. The following links to documents are being provided.  As more information becomes available, additional postings to this webpage will occur.

Watch some short video clips from the press conference held Dec 30, 2014.

Danny R Wooten, served as “pastor” at Newco – New Covenant Christian Fellowship Center, you can see several “sermons” conducted by Mr Wooten.

Sunday Service Clip: What Kinda of Church We Got Going On?
Message: When You Pour, Make Mine A Double
Pastor Danny R. Wooten

Video on Facebook

Topic: What God has for me is for me and what God has for you is for you
Speaker: Pastor Danny R. Wooten

Video on Facebook

City of Pasadena’s Official News Release

City Manager’s Letter to Employees

Letter to City from District Attorney’s Office

KPMG Audit Report

LA District Attorney’s Press Release

Those charged and arrested thus far:

Danny R. Wooten, 51

dannywooten-image1Danny R Wooten with New Covenant Christian Fellowship Center – Est 2007

dannywooten-ChurchEvent1

Tyrone Collins, 55

and Melody Jenkins, 46

Danny Wooten was a Management Analyst IV in the city’s Public Works department and earned $131,621.87 in 2013 according to www.transparentcalifornia.com.  Wooten worked for the city for 12 years with the suspected criminal activity spanning over 10 years, between 2004 and March 2014

This from City of Pasadena Council Person

Margaret McAustin – District 2

City Employee Arrested for Embezzlement

Dear District Two Residents:

This is a sad day in Pasadena’s history. Today a former City employee was arrested for allegedly embezzling $6,432,810.98 over a period of eleven years from you and me, the residents of Pasadena.

I want to give you some background about this theft, and make you aware of a Special Meeting the City Council will be holding to discuss the issue and respond to the public.

Like many frauds and embezzlements, this was uncovered through a routine inquiry. Last May, the Municipal Services Committee was looking into the Underground Utility  Program  which is funded through a special tax (UUT), and places overhead utilities underground throughout the City. (The work on Hill Avenue is being funded by this program.) The Committee learned it would take around 150 years to place all the utilities underground and the Committee was evaluating whether this program should continue, or could perhaps be brought to a close at a logical point, and the UUT tax discontinued. It was through that discussion that a “Miscellaneous” account with a high balance was brought into question, and as staff investigated to respond to the Committee’s inquiries, the fraud was discovered.

Subsequently, the City Manager engaged KPMG, a company that specializes in forensic accounting. After investigating, KPMG determined an employee, Danny Wooten, had prepared and provided as many as 296 fraudulent invoices to the City on behalf of four entities with which he was affiliated and received checks totaling over $6.4 million in payment of those invoices. Mr. Wooten, who had already been terminated by the City for an unrelated matter, was arrested today and will be prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office. While investigators do not believe others were involved, four employees have been placed on administrative leave pending further investigation.

The reported prepared by KPMG lays out very clearly how this embezzlement occurred and what Red Flags should have drawn attention to the embezzlement. That report will be put on the City’s Web page for every resident in Pasadena to examine. It is the City’s intent to put all information about this scandal out to the public as soon as possible. In addition, the City Council will hold a public meeting on Monday, January 5, 2015 solely on this issue.

I want to restore your trust in our Municipal Government. I will answer every question you have, and make every piece of information I have on the matter available to you. For more information you may go to www.cityofpasadena.net/invoiceinvestigation. You are always welcome to contact me directly on my cell phone 626 808 6158 or via the City Council Office number, 626 744-4742.

Margaret McAustin

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Dec 29 2014
Pasadena 5th Annual District 1 Mix & Mingle – Jan 7, 2015

*Keep In Touch*
Sign up for the District 1 Email Blast at this link: https://bit.ly/1nGipv8  OR Text Keyword: DISTRICT1 to 22828 and follow the prompts. If you receive this email direct vs. forwarded from another person, you are already on the list. Click on the UNSUBSCRIBE link at the end of this email if you no longer wish to receive notices.

Happy Holidays from the City of Pasadena! Overnight parking (2 am – 6 am) will not be enforced from the morning of December 23rd through the morning of January 3rd. During this time you will not need a permit to park overnight on City streets. No refunds will be issued for permits purchased during this period.

 

OUT OF TOWN GUESTS?

Point them to the VISIT PASADENA & TofR websites for information on everything Pasadena. (click on the links for more info)
CITY MANAGER WEEKLY NEWSLETTERS

https://cityofpasadena.net/CityManager/CM_Newsletters/

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Dec 29 2014
The Waterfront Market San Pedro Harbor – Certified Farmers Market

The Waterfront Market – Certified Farmers Market

Year round:  Open Saturdays From 9:00am. to 2:00pm.

 Location:  Downtown San Pedro at the newly renovated Waterfront right next to the Los Angeles Maritime Museum.

 Farm Fresh Produce and delicious prepared and prepackaged food vendors.

Every Saturday 8am-2pm San Pedro Harbor – Starting November 8, 2014

Brought to you by Enriched Farms

 

Enriched Farms Inc. 

3836 Via Dolce

Marina del Rey, CA  90292

enrichedfarms@gmail.com

Tel: 818-699-6204
Fax: 818-874-3057 

www.enrichedfarms.com

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Dec 29 2014
The Science of Healthy Eating @caltech study – Healthy vs Tasty

More info: https://www.caltech.edu/news/cake-or-c…

Caltech neuroeconomists have found that your ability to exercise self-control when deciding what to eat may depend upon just how quickly your brain factors healthfulness into a decision,

  Dietary Self-Control Is Related to the Speed With Which Attributes of Healthfulness and Tastiness Are Processed  link

The Psychological Science study, “Dietary Self-Control Is Related to the Speed with Which Health and Taste Attributes Are Processed,” was authored by Sullivan and Rangel along with Caltech postdoctoral scholar Cendri Hutcherson and former Caltech postdoctoral scholar and visiting associate Alison Harris, who is now an assistant professor of psychology at Claremont McKenna College. Their work was funded by the National Science Foundation. – See more at: https://www.caltech.edu/news/cake-or-carrots-timing-may-decide-what-youll-nosh-45077#sthash.0cOK1T9D.dpuf


(Credit: Lance Hayashida/Caltech Marketing and Communications)

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Dec 24 2014
Pasadena Rose Parade Floats Sneak Preview 2015 – Pasadena PAL Special Float Viewing Preview

The Pasadena Police Department invites the community to join us this Friday December 26th., at 4:30 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., for a sneak preview of several of the 2015 Rose Parade Floats. Phoenix Decorating Company at 835 South Raymond Ave., Pasadena, is graciously hosting this special event. Cost is $25 per person which includes dinner!!! All proceeds directly benefit the Pasadena Police Activities League (non-profit) Hope to see you there.

Pasadena PAL Special Float Viewing Preview!

The Pasadena Police Department invites the community to join us this Friday December 26th., at 4:30 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., for a sneak preview of several of the 2015 Rose Parade Floats. Phoenix Decorating Company at 835 South Raymond Ave., Pasadena, is graciously hosting this special event. Cost is $25 per person which includes dinner!!! All proceeds directly benefit the Pasadena Police Activities League (non-profit) Hope to see you there!

Address/Location
Pasadena Police Department – CA
207 North Garfield Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91101



Lt. Vasken Gourdikian
Communtiy Services
vgourdikian@cityofpasadena.net
626-744-6485

– See more at: https://nixle.com/alert/5324637/#sthash.t4WSfSFI.dpuf

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Dec 24 2014
Movie The Interview Released by Sony YouTube, Google, at 10am PST, #theinterview

“The Interview” Sony movie available today at 1pm PST through YouTube/GooglePlay $6 rent/$15 to own

Looks like it will be available on: youtube, xbox, and google play. $5.99 rental and $14.99 to own. Interesting it is NOT available on PSN.

www.seetheinterview.com

The Interview

Watch here on YouTube:

 

 

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Dec 23 2014
A4C All4Cellular Flash Sale and Specials – Apple Lightning to USB Cable – White $6.95 @All4Cellular

DAILY DEAL EVERYDAY! Follow us now If you’re looking for the best selection of low-priced cell phone accessories or visit today.

A4C - Accessorize your device

Apple, Blackberry, Samsung & More Cases Starting at $1.49 at A4C

Apple Lightning to USB Cable – White

Apple Lightning to USB Cable - White (Main View)
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A4C Flash Deals – Up to 95% Off – HURRY Supplies are Limited!
A4C Cellphone Batteries at the Lowest Prices!
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A4C | 320 7th Avenue #260, Brooklyn, New York, 11215, United States

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Dec 17 2014
Now open: Avanti Italian Bistro & Bar #avantipasadena

Avanti Restaurant & Bar
187 N. Sierra Madre Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91107
(626) 817-9180

Now open: Avanti Italian Bistro & Bar @ 187 N Sierra Madre Blvd in Pasadena. (626) 817-9180

It’s been a long time coming, but we are finally open! #avanti #avantipasadena #cometryusout #italian #bar #restaurant #LA #pasadena

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Dec 16 2014
Dimples Karaoke Bar in Burbank Closing After 30+ Years @TalariaBurbank

Reports are that the famous karaoke bar Dimples is set to close in mid January to make room for a large development that will reportedly include a Whole Foods Market. the Talaria Project is set to begin construction soon, on the vacant lot across from NBC and Clear Channel.

Sustainable and aspirational. Eco-friendly and energy efficient. Live, stay, work, walk, bike. Talaria at Burbank.

Talaria at Burbank is a premium residential rental community to be built in the heart of the Burbank Media District, across the street from NBC, Clear Channel and Warner Brothers, and a short distance from The Walt Disney Company and Providence St. Joseph Medical Center. The project is being proposed as the first LEED-certified green residential community in the City of Burbank. Talaria’s exclusive retail tenant is a Whole Foods Market open to all.

Talaria at Burbank is an eco-friendly, LEED-certified premium residential rental community to be built in the heart of the Burbank Media District!

Photo

Photo: We're CLOSING sooner than we thought. Come make a few last memories at Dimples!

 

Follow Dimples on facebook to stay updated on developments, and some possible specials in the coming month before the closing.
Dimples Facebook

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