Changing Blogs

Google Blogger has been great, but we want to drive more traffic to our website, so we're switching our blogging over there. This will be my last blog entry here. To get the latest information log onto www.crowncitynews.com/blog.

Thanks for all your comments here, looking forward to more comments at www.crowncitynews.com/blog.

Tami

IndyMac Bank Taken Over by Feds

Wow, this is a such a huge story. The people I talked to about this with accounts at IndyMac didn't seem too worried about their money, but most didn't have more than 100,000 in their different accounts. But there are plenty with questions still, evidenced by the number of people who showed up Monday morning. The Federal Office of Thrift Supervision shut down the bank on Friday, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation took over operations. They're reassuring most people with funds in the bank that it's business as usual for them, but anyone with more than 100,000 will have access to half their uninsured funds, and the rest they'll get back when they sell off the bank in about 90 days. David Barr with the FDIC told me that it's possible they'll sell off the bank piece by piece.

IndyMac was worth about 32 billion and had about 19 billion in deposits. But customers made a run on the bank for about 1 billion dollars over two weeks. It all has to do with home mortgage loans given to people with questionable credit. Accounts of customers with credit lines for home equity are still frozen, but most others will have access to their funds.

Feds say IndyMac is the 5th FDIC Insured Failure this year, and that the last one was Southern Pacific Bank February in Torrance.

I'd like to know from you if you'll change the way you do your banking in light of this IndyMac takeover. If you have or had more than 100,000 would you split it into chunks under 100,000 and spread it out to different banks, so you're covered if there's a failure?

Reply with comments to this post and you may hear me read your response on TV on CCN - Crown City News.

CCN Website Update - Hooray!

Yeah, we're finally updating the video links on the CCN Website! To see this week's newscast, log onto:

http://crowncitynews.com/Archives.html

Leave your comments here, or e-mail us from the website.

Activist says "No Way Hosea" to School Bond Measure

I talked with local activist and schools watchdog Rene Amy about PUSD's announcement that they'll put a school bond measure on the November ballot asking tax payers to approve $350 million for facilities improvements. He emphatically said "No way Hosea!" He said they wasted the funds they recieved from Measure Y, and fool us once shame on them, fool us twice, forget it!

Watch the rest of what he said this week on CCN - Crown City News. Go to www.crowncitynews.com for air times.

Also, sound off with your comments.

Hands Free Law: Love it or Hate it?

I'm still experimenting with video and links to this blog, so hopefully soon, it'll have all the right links to interviews we get in the field. Bear with me!

About the new Hands free cell phone law in California: I was shocked that everyone we approached about it was very much in favor of it, and said the new law would save lives. That's pretty rare. Anyway, tell us what you think! Are you in favor of it, or is the government interfering? Either way, it is the law, and police are handing out tickets like crazy for the scofflaws!

Giant Sale for Universal Healthcare

I spoke with Irma Strantz today as she and others from the League of Women Voters collected donations for a giant sale they're putting on to raise money for a universal healthcare bill (SB 840) in the state legislature. She recognized that not everyone is in favor of universal health care and gave the following response to those who say socialized health care would degrade the quality of care people are accustomed to in the U.S.

Irma Strantz Video

The sale takes place Sunday, July 8 from 8:30am to 5:30pm at 1474 Oakdale Street in Pasadena. They'll still accept donated items during the day Sunday. If anyone wants to donate money after the sale is over they can either drop it off at 1474 Oakdale, or donate online to www.healtchareforall.org.

Irma wanted to stress that police will let anyone through the blockades for the PCC flea market to get to the universal health care sale.

Breaking News - Police Arrest Alleged Child Molester

Pasadena Police say they arrested a man who kidnapped a little girl for the purposes of rape at about 12 Noon today. Police say the little girl is under 9 years old.

Her mother was close by when Lt. Keith Jones says 39 year old Byron Herrera, a Hispanic man from Pasadena, pulled the girl into a doorway in the 2000 block of N. Fair Oaks Avenue. The mother heard her daughter scream and saw Herrera with both hands on the little girl, before he took her into a room.

The mother ran towards Herrera, and two men joined her. The men chased Herrera who ran southboud on Fair Oaks Avenue, and crossed over into the 1800 Block of North Raymond Avenue. One man cornered Herrera in a yard, while the other man ran back to the original scene.

When police pulled up to the location, the man took the officer to Herrera's location where police arrested the suspect. Investigators say a pornographic DVD was playing on the television in the suspect's room at the time of the kidnapping. Police arrested Herrera on charges of kidnapping for the purposes of sexual child abuse.

Gas Prices - What's Your Protest?

Tonight on CCN we talk to several people who are waging their own silent protest about the high gas prices. Log onto www.crowncitynews.com to watch the newscast and see when the other airtimes are. I'll update this post with pictures following the newscast, so please check back!

FIRST ON CCN - Town Council Elections Could Be Thrown Out!

There was drama last year, and this year looks like more of the same. You're hearing it here on CCN first. The June 21st Altadena Town Council elections may be completely thrown out.

There are so many complaints and candidates contesting the results, Town Council Chair George Lewis says the Ethics Committee will be investigating and that the entire Council will vote whether to throw out the results and start all over at the next Town Council meeting.

We caught up with candidate Regina Grimes who is challenging the results in tract 4602. The presumptive winner Okorie Ezieme responds to the allegations, saying he won fair and square. We hear first from Grimes, then Ezieme in their own words on CCN – Crown City News this week. Log onto www.crowncitynews.com to find the air times.

Town Council Chair George Lewis says 3 other people plan to contest the election including Walter Olszewski for census tract 4603.01, which Alice Wessen initially looks to have won. But Lewis says he hasn't received their official letter with the written challenges yet. Lewis says Joe Brown and the rest of the Ethics Committee will investigate all the complaints, and that the Council will decide whether to keep the election results or throw them out at the Tuesday July 15th meeting.

Law Enforcement Funding Press Release

Just recieved this press release from U-S Representative from 29th District Adam Schiff's Office regarding funding for local law enforcement:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 26, 2008

Schiff Secures Funding for Local Law Enforcement to Help Improve Safety and Investigation Efforts

Washington , DC – Today, Representative Adam Schiff announced that the House Appropriations Committee approved funding for several local law enforcement initiatives to establish a local forensic DNA laboratory and institute, to purchase protective equipment for SWAT team members and to upgrade investigation equipment. The funds for Glendale , the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Station in Temple City , Monterey Park , and California State University , Los Angeles were requested by Rep. Schiff and included in the Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations bill. The bill will now be sent to the House Floor for a vote.

“DNA evidence is one of the most powerful tools we have to track down murderers and rapists. The funding in this bill will help speed DNA analysis by establishing a new lab in Glendale and expanding the institute at Cal State LA. It will also provide life-saving equipment to law enforcement."

The bill included $1 million for the City of Glendale for a Forensic DNA Laboratory. The City of Glendale has a backlog of almost 1,000 cases with preserved DNA evidence. This funding would establish a DNA laboratory within the Glendale police facility which would provide a timely return of DNA analysis, crime evidence, and cold case evidence. While the DNA lab would be located in Glendale , it would also service the neighboring cities of Burbank and Pasadena and would be capable of accepting evidence from many of other regional communities as well.

The bill appropriated $1 million for Cal State , Los Angeles for its California Forensic Science Institute (CFSI). This funding will enable CFSI to become a training and technical support center for local public crime laboratories in California . The funds will provide start-up resources for CFSI, and will be used for forensic science curriculum materials and staff training programs.

The bill provides $50,000 to the Monterey Park Fire Department for protective equipment. This equipment will enable Monterey Park fire personnel to work with law enforcement agencies to set up staging areas in the event of an emergency. In addition, the Fire Department provides tactical medics to be a part of the Monterey Park Police Department’s Special Weapons and Tactics and Special Response Team (SWAT/SRT). These firefighters enter dangerous areas under conditions that could inflict life-threatening damage, and the funding will also be used to purchase body-armor for this work.

Lastly, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple City Station will receive $35,000 for a Mobile Law Enforcement Automobile Investigative System. Temple City Station serves a population of 200,000 and will use this funding to purchase a system to improve investigation capabilities. The unit will be installed on a sheriff's car and will help recognize and identify suspicious vehicles and will be used for investigative purposes.

High Quality Non-Profit Public Service Announcements - For Cheap!

For a limited time Crown City Media (CCN's parent company) is providing a VERY inexpensive way for non-profits to get a 30-second commercial (public service announcement or PSA) that your agency can run on CCN - Crown City News and local stations for free! You can even use it on your website or give it out to clients and potential donors.



We'll charge basically less than what your agency has in it's petty cash fund for this month: $150. Just send us your still pictures (if you don't have any, we'll come take them for you), and we'll create the PSA for you (with your input). Then we'll run it for free on CCN until we run out of space. If you want to change it to add an upcoming event, no problem. It'll only cost $25 for the change, and you have a very inexpensive way to publicize your upcoming events.



Here's an example of what we can do with still pictures.

If you'd like video, it'll cost a litle bit more, but here's the link to an example of a public service announcement we created for Convalescent Aid Society (http://www.cas1.org/). We run this PSA every week on CCN!

Click on the link or the picture below for the PSA.

http://kimballdevine.com/media/CAS-30comp.wmv

You really can't beat this deal!

E-mail tami@crowncitynews.com to take advantage of this awesome way to promote your non-profit.

Altadena Town Council Elections

The Altadena Town Council held their elections on Saturday, and below are the surprising results. Log onto http://www.altadenatowncouncil.org/ for more info.

Town Council Election
Saturday June 21, 2008 Election Results
Winners are listed in boldface - Census Tracts and Candidates -

4601
Eugene Sund (incumbent) 75

4602
Mabel Duncan (incumbent) 31
Okorie Ezieme 118
Regina Grimes 52

4603.01
Walter Olszewski (incumbent) 49
Alice Wessen 65

4603.03
Dr. Sandra Thomas (incumbent) 24

4610
Bobby Thompson (incumbent) 46
Tecumseh Shackleford 108
Rev. C. R. Tillman 4

4611
Allan Wasserman (incumbent) 29

4612
George Lewis (incumbent) 27
Ruth Neilan Edwards 96

4613
Susan Goldman (incumbent) 11

The Earthquake Game

Got this great quiz from Sgt. Yolanda Poloma at the Altadena Sheriff's Station. Test your earthquake IQ, and leave a comment to let us know what you think!

http://www.nwcn.com/sharedcontent/features/flash/quake/during.html

Gay Marriage

These are soundbites that didn't make it onto the newscast. Hope to put pictures up of the folks we talked to. But here are their opinions. Give us yours, and we may put it on the CCN - Crown City News newscast!

Emily Bannon: I think that they can't discriminate based on sexual orientation, it's a basic human right.

Matthew Osbourn: I think it's fine, that they should have as much right to marry as I do or anybody else. Go for it.

Mary: I feel bad they have love, but I do believe what the Bible says, that is my standard, but it's tough, there's a lot of love and a lot of hurt.

Heat

Hope to publish pictures with today's posts soon, but here's some soundbites we got from people on the Streets of Pasadena about a couple of different topics:

About the heat:

Mel from Pasadena who was walking along with his lady said he didn't mind it so much because of how his girlfriend looks:


Mel:
Can't do this in cold wether, dressed in shorts, cute top, so no I don't mind the heat at all.

Mario had me going. He said "I like the heat!" and I believed him! Then he said, "No, I really don't. I'm headed to the Apple Store to get in the airconditioning!"

Info-Tainment Videos

CCN's Parent Company Crown City Media also creates info-tainment videos that businesses or organizations can use to promote themselves. We'll produce the production and provide a host!

Check out what we did for Robin's Woodfire BBQ and Grill in Pasadena. Through our partnership with Inside Pasadena (http://www.insidepasadena.com/) you can maximize the marketing of your video.

We can come and do that for your business during the day or at night, whatever's best for your schedule or your business.

Call us about rates at 626-798-3288 or 626-676-9403 or e-mail tami@crowncitynews.com.

To have us make your business' info-tainment video call us at 626-798-3288 or 626-676-9403 or e-mail tami@crowncitynews.com

TV Commercials

CCN's parent company, Crown City Media, creates commercials, public service announcements and promotional videos for businesses and organizations. Here is a sample of what we can do.

If you like what you see, call us about rates: 626-798-3288 or 626-676-9403, or e-mail tami@crowncitynews.com.

Strings Music - made with still pictures - lowest rate

Call us to make your commercial: 626-798-3288 or 626-676-9403, or e-mail tami@crowncitynews.com.

Budget Bookkeeping and Income Tax Services - Basic Video/Voiceover

Call us to make your commercial: 626-798-3288 or 626-676-9403, or e-mail tami@crowncitynews.com.

Fairbanks Group - custom graphics, multiple locations

Call us to make your commercial: 626-798-3288 or 626-676-9403, or e-mail tami@crowncitynews.com.

Convalescent Aid Society

Got this press release from the Convalescent Aid Society. Check those guys out. Any kind of medical equipment you or a loved one needs is yours for free. The only requirement is that you return it when you don't need it anymore.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Information, Contact:Randy Votsch, Executive Director
(626) 793-1696
website: http://www.cas1.org/ <http://www.cas1.org/>Photo available online: http://www.cas1.org/pressrelease-08-pcc-scholar.html

CAS Awards Nursing Scholarship to PCC Student

Shalley Gupta, an international student from India studying at Pasadena Community College, is the most recent recipient of a Convalescent Aid Society (CAS) Nursing Scholarship.
Founded by a group of nurses more than 85 years ago, CAS loans medical equipment free of charge to residents throughout the San Gabriel Valley, as well as residents of Glendale and Burbank. The Pasadena-based charitable organization currently serves more than 7,500 clients, providing them with medical equipment ranging from wheelchairs to hospital beds.
The Nursing Scholarship program began in 2001, in honor of the nurses who founded the Convalescent Aid Society. Nursing students from Azusa Pacific University as well as Pasadena Community College have been the recipients.

The $1,000 scholarship CAS awarded to Shalley Gupta this year is providing some much-needed help. Gupta, an international student at Pasadena Community College, is in her first semester of the nursing program there.

“I have already put the CAS scholarship to good use buying books. Nursing books are very expensive,” she said, pointing to the large volume on the Starbucks table. “This one cost $150 used!”

A warm and friendly person, Gupta seems designed for the caring work of nursing. That is evident in how enthusiastic she is about her studies in the PCC nursing program.

“You learn so much that the semester goes by really fast. You meet so many people and you get to take care of people right away,” she said.

Soon after the first semester begins, nursing students are taking part in clinical practice. Gupta has already tended to patients in a local nursing home and at Methodist Hospital.

“You learn something and then you practice it. It is quite different from education in my country, India. There the focus is on grades. Here the focus is on knowledge.”

“The combination of classes and clinical work throughout the nursing program is helpful because you can put into practice what you have learned and you also see what you are lacking,” she said.

Two diabetic parents and many relatives in the medical field led Gupta into nursing. Speaking of her parents, she says, “You want to help take care of them, you want to learn more about the disease.” But in the meantime, her parents are helping her. They staying with her in El Monte and caring for her four-and-a-half-year-old son, Eashan, while she studies at PCC.

“They are very supportive of education,” she says of her parents. “They tell me, ‘you study, we’ll take care of everything else.’”

The professors at PCC are very helpful as well, Gupta says gratefully. She admits that in the beginning, taking care of patients can be a little intimidating. “But,” she adds, “the professors have been so supportive and the patients have been very responsive.

With the encouragement of her parents, the support of good professors, and financial help from CAS, Gupta is making good progress in pursuit of her nursing education, which she hopes will continue through a master’s degree.**

Power Outage in Pasadena

An area of Pasadena is without power this afternoon. Lake Avenue between Mountain and Union is dark after a circuit went out. A Pasadena Water and Power dispatcher says they aren't sure yet what caused the circuit to go out, or how many customers are affected. She says crews are working on the problem, but don't have a good estimate yet as to when power will be restored. She says it's a widespread area, and a number of restaurants and businesses are being affected. For more information or to contact PWP, call 626-744-4409 or log onto

http://www.cityofpasadena.net/waterandpower/

Grand Jury Investigation Request for Altadena's Lincoln Crossing

During Tuesday's Altadena Town Council meeting, Town Councilmember Steve Lamb made a motion to request a grand jury investigation into the Lincoln Crossing development. The motion was passed. During the public comment portion of the meeting Farm Fresh owner Par Aria said he has spent nearly $10 million on the store and hundreds of thousands on legal battles with the developer Dorn Platz over shoddy work. He is settling some disputes with Dorn Platz, but not before receiving an eviction notice for the store.

Dorn Platz has already faced a number of legal battles over the development. Complaints have come from contractors who did not receive payment for work done, Altadena residents who say the development does not look the way Dorn Platz originally said it would look, and from tenants who say the developer has not lived up to his end of the deal.

Helga Kuhn of Bessie's Daughters Soulful Tacos tells CCN that she was recently evicted and will sue the developer. She says the developer would not take care of a foul sewage odor coming from her vents, and that it kept customers from coming back. Bobbie Thompson of BJR Postal Center says flooding damaged his store, and that the developer asked for rental fees before he was even able to move into the building.

Look for more on this story Monday evening at 6pm on CCN - Crown City News. To watch the newscast online, just log onto www.crowncitynews.com, and click on the blue logo at the top right side of the screen. To find out when it'll be on TV, click on Airtimes on the website. For more questions and information about this story, contact Tami DeVine at 626-676-9403.

Gay Marriage

Opinion Central

Have strong opinions about current events or issues taking place in our San Gabriel Valley Communities? Then let your voice be heard! We'll post hot topics every once in a while here on the CCN Blog, and you can let us know what you think!

Since Gay Marriage is in the national spotlight after the recent CA State Supreme court ruling, what do you think? Should Gay Marriage be Legalized or Banned? Why or why not?

How Can We Help Foundation

Craig Penne leads a group of volunteers who have only one question for local schools and non-profits: How can we help? That's also the name of his Non-profit. In 2007 the group beautified and installed bulletin boards at two Pasadena Elementary schools, and in 2008 they've teamed up with John Muir High School to provide a basketball camp that teaches skillz on the court, and in life. Yes, I spelled skillz like that on purpose!


The camp's in July, they're still accepting applications, but someone has to refer or nominate a kid in order for them to be able to apply. To find out more, log onto http://www.howcanwehelpfoundation.org/. Here's the rest of their contact info:


How Can We Help Foundation
511 S. First Avenue, #171
Arcadia, CA 91006

800-379-6298

hcwhfoundation@gmail.com

From Felony to Freedom

Karen Chaves, now Associate Director at the Walter Hoving Home (http://www.walterhovinghome.com/) went from abusing drugs, to convicted felon, to second in command at the Walter Hoving Home in Pasadena. Her story will move you to tears. Catch it on Monday's special On-Camera edition of CCN - Crown City News.


The Walter Hoving Home helps women with addiction to drugs, involved in prostitution or a battling a number of other problems. Here's information on their three locations:

New York Branch
P.O. Box 194 40 Walter Hoving Road
Garrison, NY 10524
Telephone: (845) 424-3674
Fax: (845) 424-4179
Website: http://www.walterhovinghome.com/
E-mail:whhny@walterhovinghome.com



California Branch
127 South El Molino Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91101
Telephone: (626) 405-0950
Fax: (626) 564-0952 Website:
http://www.walterhovinghome.com/
E-mail: whhca@walterhovinghome.com


Las Vegas Branch
925 South Third Street
Las Vegas, NV 89101-6801
Telephone: (702) 386-1965
Fax: (702) 386-1966
Website: http://www.walterhovinghome.com/
E-mail: whhnv@walterhovinghome.com


The CCN program featuring the Walter Hoving Home airs live on the CCN Website Monday at 6pm, Wednesday at 2:30am and 2:30pm and the following Monday, June 23rd at 6am. Just log onto http://www.crowncitynews.com/ and click on the blue logo at the top right hand side of the screen. To watch this on TV in the San Gabriel Valley, Mondays and Wednesdays at the same times above, it's on PCAC Channel 56 in Pasadena and Altadena.


Additionally, Wednesday at 6:30 pm it's on in 16 San Gabriel Valley Cities! Here's the list:
Alhambra, Altadena, Arcadia, Azusa, Duarte, Irwindale, La Canada, La Puente, Monrovia (County), Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, Temple City, Valinda, Walnut, West Covina

Media Guru shares Marketing Secrets

So your budget is tight, but you need to market your business or non-profit? Veteran PR Guy George McQuade of Mayo Communications is on the CCN Set Monday, June 16 talking about "Creating a Buzz for your Business."

This airs live on the CCN Website Monday at 6pm, Wednesday at 2:30am and 2:30pm and the following Monday, June 23rd at 6am. Just log onto http://www.crowncitynews.com/ and click on the blue logo at the top right hand side of the screen.

To watch this on TV in the San Gabriel Valley, Mondays and Wednesdays at the same times above, it's on PCAC Channel 56 in Pasadena and Altadena.

Additionally, Wednesday at 6:30 pm it's on in 17 San Gabriel Valley Cities! Here's the list:

Alhambra
Altadena
Arcadia
Azusa
Duarte
East Pasadena
Irwindale
La Canada
La Puente

Monrovia (County)
Monterey Park
Pasadena
San Gabriel
Temple City
Valinda
Walnut
West Covina

CCN on Monday 6/16/08

We're finishing up a series of CCN specials with a great lineup of On-Camera guests. Here's who you can expect to see on set with me on Monday:

1) George McQuade of Mayo Communications - "Creating a buzz for your business"

2) Karen Chaves of Walter Hoving Home - hear her tear-jerking story

3) Ethel Gardner of Million Mothers March 2008 - She lost her son and now rallies other mothers to help ease the pain

4) Craig Penne and Coach Jones - How Can We Help Foundation and John Muir High School Boys Basketball collaborate to help kids at-risk.

This is a great lineup. You'll learn a lot! I'll have in-depth posts on each guest.

Welcome to the CCN Blog!

CCN - Crown City News is local TV News for Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley. We cover everything from hard news like fires and murders, to human interest stories, to arts & entertainment. We even have a segment dedicated to showcasing the many non-profits in the SGV. So if you need some free publicity for your non-profit, let us know!

We're glad to have you here! Check back often since we'll be updating this often. Please let us know your thoughts and feelings about news stories you see on CCN, or leave your own story ideas for us here! If you need to talk to us, call us at 626-798-3288 or 626-676-9403.