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.

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.

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

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.

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/

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

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.