San Marino News, CA Local News

San Marino man accused of intentionally driving truck into Black Lives Matters protest agrees to admit gun violations

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 22:26:08 +0000

A California man who drove a pickup truck through a crowd protesting the death of George Floyd last year has agreed to plead guilty to federal firearms offenses, the Los Angeles U.S. Attorney’s Office said Thursday.

No one was hurt in the incident at an intersection in Pasadena but the case involves an illegally obtained gun that Benjamin Jong Ren Hung, 28, brought with him to counterprotest, a prosecution press release said.

Hung, a San Marino resident who also has a home in Lodi, entered into a plea agreement filed in U.S. District Court along with a superseding indictment, the release said.

The 11 felonies include conspiracy, transporting and receiving firearms across state lines, making false statements during purchases of firearms, and possession of unregistered firearms.

According to prosecutors, Hung acknowledged participating in a multiyear conspiracy to make false statements to firearms dealers in Oregon and to illegally transport the firearms to California, evading registration laws. He gave cash to a co-conspirator in Oregon to buy handguns for him and to falsely state that the co-conspirator was the buyer. The co-conspirator then delivered the guns to Hung in California.

Prosecutors said Hung also admitted falsely attesting to firearms dealers in Washington that he was a resident of that state in order to buy four rifles and a shotgun in March 2020, and also to illegally taking the guns to California.

He also acknowledged possessing three unregistered short-barreled semiautomatic rifles that were seized from his Lodi home in September 2020.

In the Pasadena incident, Hung admitting bringing one of the illegally obtained guns when he accelerated a pickup truck with vanity license plates reading “WAR R1G” toward the intersection where the protesters were gathered. He sounded a train horn installed on the truck, stopped and then continued through the intersection, causing the truck to produce excessive exhaust in a technique called “coal rolling.”

An FBI agent’s affidavit filed last year described Hung’s truck as being “adorned with flags associated with right-wing extremist groups.”

Pasadena police detained Hung and then the FBI took over the investigation.

Art galleries at the Huntington Library now open after yearlong closure

Sat, 17 Apr 2021 20:48:53 +0000

The art galleries at the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino is ready to welcome back guests Saturday after having been closed for over a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Guests can expect to see the restored 18th century British portrait "The Blue Boy" by Thomas Gainsborough, as well the debut of the fifth iteration of the Hammer Museum’s biennial exhibition “Made in L.A. 2020: a version,” which will be on display at both the Hammer and The Huntington through Aug. 1.

The botanical gardens reopened last July, but the art galleries have been closed since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020.

Those who wish to purchase tickets can find more information on the Huntington Library's website.

In compliance with the COVID-19 regulations that remain in place, guests must wear a face covering, even if they have been vaccinated, and must get their temperature checked.

Visitor traffic and social distancing will be enforced inside of galleries.

Huntington Library Reopens For First Time In Over A Year

Sat, 17 Apr 2021 20:37:38 +0000

SAN MARINO (CBSLA) – The famous Huntington Library in San Marino became the latest Los Angeles area museum to reopen to visitors for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic took hold back in March of 2020.

FILE — The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens on March 8, 2021, in San Marino, Calif. (Getty Images)

The Huntington Art Museum and Botanical Gardens reopened three of its gallery spaces Saturday. Among the highlights on display is the newly restored “The Blue Boy” portrait by Thomas Gainsborough.

Also open is the “Made in L.A. 2020” exhibition, featuring the work of L.A. area artists.

The themed botanical gardens are also open.

According to the museum, capacity was being limited to 25% and tickets must be reserved online in advance.

Tickets range in price from $25 to $29 for adults, and $21 to $24 for students and seniors. Children ages 4 to 11 pay $13, while children age 3 and under get in free.

Huntington has a collection of 42,000 pieces of art and 11 million rare books. Its botanical gardens covers an area of 120 acres.

Meanwhile, the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades will reopen this coming Wednesday. The Getty Museum is expected to reopen next month.

Photos: Parents and kids unravel Easter egg riddles in San Marino

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 15:45:04 +0000

An Easter Bunny waves to children participating in a vehicle-based egg hunt in San Marino on Saturday, April 3, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
An Easter Bunny waves to children participating in a vehicle-based egg hunt in San Marino on Saturday, April 3, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
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Victoria Marshall distributes Easter bags to children at the start of a vehicle-based egg hunt in San Marino on Saturday, April 3, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Edith Yanez distributes Easter bags to children at the start of a vehicle-based egg hunt in San Marino on Saturday, April 3, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
An Easter Bunny waves to children participating in a vehicle-based egg hunt in San Marino on Saturday, April 3, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Various colors of bubbles given to children participating in a vehicle-based egg hunt in San Marino on Saturday, April 3, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Edith Yanez hands an Easter bag to a child at the start of a vehicle-based egg hunt in San Marino on Saturday, April 3, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Volunteer, Andrea Chiu creates bubbles for cars participating in a vehicle-based egg hunt in San Marino on Saturday, April 3, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

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Parents and children rolled through San Marino on Sunday, April 4, chasing clues and solving riddles during the city’s reimagined Easter egg hunt.

Children up to 12-years-old started their day at Stoneman School, where they were given a riddle-based map and a complimentary basket. They headed to seven other stops, unlocking surprises like books, candy, toys and other goodies.

Some lucky families even glimpsed Mr. and Mrs. Bunny, who promised city officials they would make an appearance.

But only 10 families were lucky enough to find one of the special eggs that had a golden ticket inside, which could be exchanged for prizes like chocolate bunnies, gift cards and other festive delights.

San Marino Unified’s Measure E fails, final results show

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 15:29:07 +0000

A parcel tax proposed by San Marino Unified faltered at the polls, failing to gather the two-thirds majority it needed to pass, according to the final tally released by election officials on Thursday, March 11.

The parcel tax, known as Measure E, won 63.04% of the final vote. It fell short of the 66.67% it needed to pass.

The final results come more than a week after the March 2 special election. There had been several updates since then, but Measure E slipped in the polls in every new tally, save for the first.

Measure E was identical to an existing parcel tax, also known as Measure E, which had been in place since 2009 and will expire on June 30.

If it hadn’t faltered in the polls, the new Measure E would have extended the parcel tax indefinitely, or until voters chose to end it.

The district has collected about $4 million annually from the previous Measure E. To fund this, every property owner in the district pays $968 each year, or a little more than $80 a month, regardless of property value.

In a board of education resolution that put Measure E on the ballot, district officials said the money is necessary because state funding is “inadequate to provide the level of support to the district’s education programs that the residents of the district expect.”

According to the district’s website, existing Measure E funds support the salaries of 34 teachers, three counselors and four technology support positions. Officials say the money keeps class sizes smaller and preserves many of its extracurricular activities.

San Marino Unified’s Measure E parcel tax loses ground in latest ballot count

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 17:38:10 +0000

Support for a proposed San Marino Unified parcel tax, Measure E, slipped by two-hundredths of a percentage point — still several points shy of the two-thirds majority it needs to pass — as county election officials released the latest vote totals on Tuesday, March 9.

Currently, 63.06% of voters support Measure E. It requires 66.67% to pass.

The latest numbers come one week after a special election wrapped up on March 2. The next update is expected on March 11, which may be the final update.

County officials estimate 575 ballots are still outstanding, but those are split between the four elections on March 2.

Thus far, more than 3,400 people voted for or against Measure E. It would take about 200 or so votes in favor of the parcel tax to pass it at this point, analysis shows.

Given the size and distribution of the most recent updates, Measure E will have a steep hill to climb.

Measure E is identical to an existing parcel tax — also called Measure E — that’s been in place since 2009 and set to expire on June 30.

If the new Measure E passes, it would extend the parcel tax indefinitely, or at least until voters choose to end it.

Special election: San Marino Unified’s Measure E parcel tax gets a small boost in latest update

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 17:25:16 +0000

A parcel tax measure from San Marino Unified, Measure E, got a slight boost in the latest update from county election officials, but it’s still short of the two-thirds majority it needs to pass.

In an update on Friday, March 5, Measure E had 63.08% of the vote — that’s up from 62.82% as of late Tuesday night — but it’s short of the 66.67% it needs.

Election officials say there’s estimated 730 outstanding mail-in ballots to be counted, but those could be spread between four different elections. Based on current figures, about 200 or so ballots favoring Measure E are needed to pass the parcel tax.

The next update will be on Tuesday, March 9.

Measure E is otherwise identical to another parcel tax — also called Measure E — that’s been in place since 2009 and set to expire on June 30.

If the new Measure E passes, it would extend the parcel tax indefinitely, or at least until voters choose to end it.

San Marino Unified’s Measure E parcel-tax boosters need help from uncounted ballots

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 15:42:57 +0000

San Marino Unified’s Measure E parcel tax fell short of the 2/3rds majority it needed to pass during the March 2 special election, according to semifinal results released late Tuesday night. It had won just 62.82% of the vote, but needed at least 66.67%.

Still, the race is not quite over.

The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s office said late Tuesday that there are still outstanding ballots remaining to be counted, though it’s unclear just how many.

The next update in the count will be posted Friday, March 5, with additional updates to be posted on March 9 and 11, official said.

Measure E is otherwise identical to another parcel tax — also called Measure E — that’s been in place since 2009 and set to expire on June 30.

If the new Measure E passes, it would extend the parcel tax indefinitely, or at least until voters choose to end it.

Unlike a bond measure, which can only be used to build facilities, a parcel tax such as Measure E can be spent on teachers salaries and any other expense the district may incur.

The board of education will have the option to increase the tax annually to keep up with inflation, the resolution says, noting that it will rise by either 3% a year or match the percentage of inflation noted by the Los Angeles Statistical Area Consumer Price Index — whichever is less.

The board can also reduce the tax if it chooses.

Like the previous Measure E, homeowners over the age of 65 are exempt from paying the tax on their residences.

In a board of education resolution, district officials said the money is necessary because state funding is “inadequate to provide the level of support to the district’s education programs that the residents of the district expect.”

Special election: San Marino Unified Measure E parcel tax falling just short of 2/3 majority

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 20:59:10 +0000

San Marino Unified’s Measure E parcel tax was falling just short of the votes it needed in early results from the special election on Tuesday, March 2. It had won 62.83% of the vote as of 8:45 p.m. The measure needs at least 66.67% to pass.

While it’s unclear how many ballots were still outstanding, elections officials had counted all of the mail-in ballots and a portion of the in-person votes.

Measure E is otherwise identical to another parcel tax — also called Measure E — that’s been in place since 2009 and set to expire on June 30.

If the new Measure E passes, it would extend the parcel tax indefinitely, or at least until voters choose to end it.

Just like the last time around, the new Measure E would require a two-thirds vote to pass.

Unlike a bond measure, which can only be used to build facilities, a parcel tax such as Measure E can be spent on teachers salaries and any other expense the district may incur.

The board can also reduce the tax if it chooses.

Like the previous Measure E, homeowners over the age of 65 are exempt from paying the tax on their residences.

It’s Election Day again in LA County for multiple communities

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 14:19:26 +0000

Voters in a handful of communities scattered across Los Angeles will head to the polls on Tuesday, March 2.

Voters will help fill Supervisor Holly Mitchell’s old job in the State Senate, choose a new trustee for the Rio Hondo Community College district, cast ballots for the mayor of Redondo Beach and make their voices heard in

Here’s a look at the key races:

State Senate District 30

Seven candidates want the chance to fill the remaining term — which expires next year — departed by Holly Mitchell, who in November won a seat on thecounty Board of Supervisors.

The district — which spans from Inglewood to Mar Vista and from Century City to South L.A. — is said to include a microcosm of issues facing many urban and suburban areas across California and the nation.

It’s more than 562,000 voters are dominated by Democrats, but whoever wins will represent a region of vast wealth disparities, where on one end leaders struggle to find solutions for homelessness, unaffordable housing and unemployment and on the other high-rises and condos define a commercial landscape.

Meanwhile, Apple and Amazon join Sony Pictures in Culver City, Inglewood struggles with gentrification and a potential recall of Gov. Gavin Newsom looms on the horizon.

Renita Duncan
Ernesto Huerta
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Tiffani Jones
Sydney Kamlager
Daniel Lee
Joe Lisuzzo
Cheryl C. Turner

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Candidates on the ballot include:

Three Democrats:

Sydney Kamlager, an assemblywoman who represents overlapping 54th Assembly District;
Daniel Lee, Culver City Councilman and vice mayor; and
Cheryl C. Turner, an attorney and commissioner on the state’s Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric.

Two Republicans:

Tiffani Jones, a business consultant in several sectors; and
Joe Lisuzzo, a retired business owner at Al Gelato Restaurant & Ice Cream Co.

Also running:

No party preference: Renita Duncan, Command Sergeant Major, U.S. Army Reserve; and
Peace & Freedom: Ernesto Huerta, community organizer.

The top two vote-getters will move on to general election on May 4.

Mitchell was the first African American to chair the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, where she was a leader in the passing of two state budgets and was at the forefront of criminal justice reform legislation.

Kamlager, Mitchell’s former district director, has touted her knowledge of the district and its needs. After winning a seat in the Assembly that overlaps with the state Senate district she said she can make inroads on issues such as universal healthcare.

But despite Kamlager’s progressive leanings, others — like Lee and Huerta — are running to her left on what they say is a more progressive platform that includes health care and criminal justice reform and immigrant justice.

Lee has taken an anti-establishment tone, slamming leaders in his own party for a lot of “eloquent” talk about environmental justice and healthcare, but in the end, he said many leaders are locked in to special interests. They don’t follow through on the talk, he said.

Huerta said his agenda rests on socialist goals to lift up the working class — canceling rent during the pandemic, guaranting housing for all, giving full rights to immigrants, reparations for African Americans while decrying a free market system that he says effectively incentivizes pollution of the environment.

Lisuzzo, running as a Republican along with Jones, says it’s that very free market that should be encouraged, allowing small businesses to recover from the pandemic. He decried the homeless situation, but said homeless housing should be placed in areas where it would decrease poperty values.

Duncan has touted a platform that hinges on economic empowerment, where she has called for going beyond a minimum wage to a “livable wage” buffered by early education programs such as STEM. She has called for increased accountability of elected officials on a range of issues, from veterans affairs to criminal justice.

For the state Senate Election District 30 primary election there are 20 vote centers and 40 ballot drop boxes, vote centers are open in their respective districts on Tuesday, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. You can drop off your mail-in ballot or vote at the centers, which observe public health pandemic protocols.

For an L.A. County Registrar fact sheet, visit here.

Redondo Beach

The city of Redondo Beach is tasked with choosing a new mayor, City Council members and school board members.

The mayoral candidates are:

Incumbent Bill Brand;
Chris Voisey, a chief technology officer and community volunteer;
Michael Ian Sachs, a retired Chevron employee who ran for mayor in 2017; and
Shayne Hartman, a proposal analyst at Northrop Grumman.

Running for City Council are:

In District 1, incumbent Nils Nehrenheim and outgoing school board member Brad Waller;
In District 2, incumbent Todd Lowentstein, public art advocate Paul David Moses, and Erika Snow Robinson, director of operations at a real estate group; and

In District 4, incumbent John Gran, and Zein Obagi Jr., an employment and business attorney.

City attorney Michael Webb will try to win reelection against Harden Sooper, chair of Redondo Beach’s Public Safety Commission.

School board candidates include:

Keith Arnold; political newcomer;
Jerome Chang, architect;
Karen F. Cull,
Dan Elder, chair of RBUSD’s bond oversight committee, chair of the city’s planning commission;
Kimberlee H. Isaacs, accountant and social justice activist;
Rachel Silverman Nemeth, family law attorney;
Rolf Curtis Strutzenberg, Redondo Beach planning commissioner; and
Margo Trone, CEO of the non-profit Dual Immersion Foundation.

In Redondo Beach, it was an all-mail election. Ballots were mailed to registered voters in Redondo Beach on Feb. 4, and then a second round went to newly registered voters on Feb. 23.

But it’s not too late to turn one in. Ballots must be postmarked on or before March 2 and received no later than March 5.

You can also just drop it off on Tuesday at one of three ballot drop bozes in the city:

Redondo Beach Main Library, 303 No. Pacific Coast Highway (adjacent to library entrance)
Redondo Beach North Branch Library, 2000 Artesia Blvd. (adjacent to entrance off parking lot)
Riviera Triangle, on the corner of S. Elena Avenue and Avenida del Norte

Ballot Drop Boxes will be locked promptly at 8:01 p.m. Tuesday.

Voters can also drop ballots off at the City Clerk’s Office – 415 Diamond St., Door 1 – during regular business hours, Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The ballot tabulation can be viewed in person from outside the City Council Chamber. But officials are asking that masks and social distancing be observed.

The city will air the count live on Channels 41 and 8, and live-streaming on Redondo.org/rbtv and YouTube. The first round of reporting is planned for approximately 8:15 p.m.

Rio Hondo Community College

In Whittier’s Rio Hondo Community College district special election, three hopefuls are vying to fill a District 1 term that ends in December of next year.

They are:

Anais Medina Diaz, a public health educator;
David Siegrist, El Monte City School District trustee and educator; and
Alfonzo Somilleda, an education policy director.

The seat is non-partisan.

Vote Centers:

El Monte Station (LA Metro)Retail Space3501 Santa Anita AvenueEl Monte, CA 91731
L.A. County Registrar-Recorder12400 Imperial HighwayNorwalk, CA 90650

Drop boxes:

- El Monte Library, 3224 Tyler Avenue; El Monte, CA 91731
- Norwood Library; 4550 Peck Road, El Monte, CA 91732; and
- South El Monte Library, 1430 Central Avenue, South El Monte, CA 91733;
- L.A. County Registrar-Recorder, 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650

Measure A

In the Lawndale, Centinella Valley Union High and Wiseburn Unified School Districts, Measure A asks voters if they want to approve a proposal to transfer territory from the Lawndale and Centinela districts to the Wiseburn Unified School District in a reorganization under the state’s education code.

Vote Centers:

Dana Middle School, Multi-Purpose Room, 5504 W. 135th Street, Hawthorne, CA 90250; and
L.A. County Registrar-Recorder, 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650

Drop boxes:

Wiseburn Library (24-Hour) 5335 W. 135th Street, Hawthorne, CA 90250; and
L.A. County Registrar-Recorder, 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650

Measure E

Voters in the San Marino Unified School District are asked whether to continue to levy a $968 education parcel tax, with exemptions for seniors. It would raise $4 million annually, to be assessed in each fiscal year with annual inflation adjustments.

Vote Centers:

Huntington Middle School Gymnasium, 1700 Huntington Drive, San Marino, CA 91108; and
L.A. County Registrar-Recorder, 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650

Drop boxes:

San Marino City Hall, 2200 Huntington Drive, San Marino, CA 91108; and
L.A. County Registrar-Recorder, 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650

For a fact sheet on elections in Rio Hondo Community College District, San Marino and in Lawndale, visit here.

For a Vote Center locator, visit the registar’s site at: https://locator.lavote.net/locations/vc?id=4256&culture=en.

For a list of drop boxes, visit the Registrar’s site: https://locator.lavote.net/locations-list/vbm/?id=4256&culture=en

For more upcoming elections, visit the L.A. County Registrar’s site: https://www.lavote.net/docs/rrcc/Election-Info/scheduled_elections_2021.pdf?v=15

Staff writer Tyler Shaun Evains contributed to this report.

It’s Election Day again in LA County for multiple communities

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 14:19:24 +0000

Voters in a handful of communities scattered across Los Angeles will head to the polls on Tuesday, March 2.

Here’s a look at the key races:

State Senate District 30

Seven candidates want the chance to fill the remaining term — which expires next year — departed by Holly Mitchell, who in November won a seat on thecounty Board of Supervisors.

Meanwhile, Apple and Amazon join Sony Pictures in Culver City, Inglewood struggles with gentrification and a potential recall of Gov. Gavin Newsom looms on the horizon.

Renita Duncan
Ernesto Huerta
Sound
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Tiffani Jones
Sydney Kamlager
Daniel Lee
Joe Lisuzzo
Cheryl C. Turner

Expand

Candidates on the ballot include:

Three Democrats:

Sydney Kamlager, an assemblywoman who represents overlapping 54th Assembly District;
Daniel Lee, Culver City Councilman and vice mayor; and
Cheryl C. Turner, an attorney and commissioner on the state’s Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric.

Two Republicans:

Tiffani Jones, a business consultant in several sectors; and
Joe Lisuzzo, a retired business owner at Al Gelato Restaurant & Ice Cream Co.

Also running:

No party preference: Renita Duncan, Command Sergeant Major, U.S. Army Reserve; and
Peace & Freedom: Ernesto Huerta, community organizer.

The top two vote-getters will move on to general election on May 4.

For an L.A. County Registrar fact sheet, visit here.

Redondo Beach

The city of Redondo Beach is tasked with choosing a new mayor, City Council members and school board members.

The mayoral candidates are:

Incumbent Bill Brand;
Chris Voisey, a chief technology officer and community volunteer;
Michael Ian Sachs, a retired Chevron employee who ran for mayor in 2017; and
Shayne Hartman, a proposal analyst at Northrop Grumman.

Running for City Council are:

In District 1, incumbent Nils Nehrenheim and outgoing school board member Brad Waller;
In District 2, incumbent Todd Lowentstein, public art advocate Paul David Moses, and Erika Snow Robinson, director of operations at a real estate group; and

In District 4, incumbent John Gran, and Zein Obagi Jr., an employment and business attorney.

City attorney Michael Webb will try to win reelection against Harden Sooper, chair of Redondo Beach’s Public Safety Commission.

School board candidates include:

Keith Arnold; political newcomer;
Jerome Chang, architect;
Karen F. Cull,
Dan Elder, chair of RBUSD’s bond oversight committee, chair of the city’s planning commission;
Kimberlee H. Isaacs, accountant and social justice activist;
Rachel Silverman Nemeth, family law attorney;
Rolf Curtis Strutzenberg, Redondo Beach planning commissioner; and
Margo Trone, CEO of the non-profit Dual Immersion Foundation.

In Redondo Beach, it was an all-mail election. Ballots were mailed to registered voters in Redondo Beach on Feb. 4, and then a second round went to newly registered voters on Feb. 23.

But it’s not too late to turn one in. Ballots must be postmarked on or before March 2 and received no later than March 5.

You can also just drop it off on Tuesday at one of three ballot drop bozes in the city:

Redondo Beach Main Library, 303 No. Pacific Coast Highway (adjacent to library entrance)
Redondo Beach North Branch Library, 2000 Artesia Blvd. (adjacent to entrance off parking lot)
Riviera Triangle, on the corner of S. Elena Avenue and Avenida del Norte

Ballot Drop Boxes will be locked promptly at 8:01 p.m. Tuesday.

Voters can also drop ballots off at the City Clerk’s Office – 415 Diamond St., Door 1 – during regular business hours, Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The ballot tabulation can be viewed in person from outside the City Council Chamber. But officials are asking that masks and social distancing be observed.

The city will air the count live on Channels 41 and 8, and live-streaming on Redondo.org/rbtv and YouTube. The first round of reporting is planned for approximately 8:15 p.m.

Rio Hondo Community College

In Whittier’s Rio Hondo Community College district special election, three hopefuls are vying to fill a District 1 term that ends in December of next year.

They are:

Anais Medina Diaz, a public health educator;
David Siegrist, El Monte City School District trustee and educator; and
Alfonzo Somilleda, an education policy director.

The seat is non-partisan.

Vote Centers:

El Monte Station (LA Metro)Retail Space3501 Santa Anita AvenueEl Monte, CA 91731
L.A. County Registrar-Recorder12400 Imperial HighwayNorwalk, CA 90650

Drop boxes:

- El Monte Library, 3224 Tyler Avenue; El Monte, CA 91731
- Norwood Library; 4550 Peck Road, El Monte, CA 91732; and
- South El Monte Library, 1430 Central Avenue, South El Monte, CA 91733;
- L.A. County Registrar-Recorder, 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650

Measure A

Vote Centers:

Dana Middle School, Multi-Purpose Room, 5504 W. 135th Street, Hawthorne, CA 90250; and
L.A. County Registrar-Recorder, 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650

Drop boxes:

Wiseburn Library (24-Hour) 5335 W. 135th Street, Hawthorne, CA 90250; and
L.A. County Registrar-Recorder, 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650

Measure E

Vote Centers:

Huntington Middle School Gymnasium, 1700 Huntington Drive, San Marino, CA 91108; and
L.A. County Registrar-Recorder, 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650

Drop boxes:

San Marino City Hall, 2200 Huntington Drive, San Marino, CA 91108; and
L.A. County Registrar-Recorder, 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650

For a fact sheet on elections in Rio Hondo Community College District, San Marino and in Lawndale, visit here.

For a Vote Center locator, visit the registar’s site at: https://locator.lavote.net/locations/vc?id=4256&culture=en.

For a list of drop boxes, visit the Registrar’s site: https://locator.lavote.net/locations-list/vbm/?id=4256&culture=en

For more upcoming elections, visit the L.A. County Registrar’s site: https://www.lavote.net/docs/rrcc/Election-Info/scheduled_elections_2021.pdf?v=15

Staff writer Tyler Shaun Evains contributed to this report.

San Marino Unified asks voters to renew parcel tax Measure E

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 18:11:07 +0000

Months before a longstanding parcel tax is set to expire, San Marino Unified will ask residents to approve an identical tax, Measure E, during a special election on Tuesday, March 2.

It will require a two-thirds vote to pass.

Unlike a bond measure, which can only be used to build facilities, a parcel tax such as Measure E can be spent on teachers salaries and any other expense the district may incur.

The district has collected about $4 million annually from the previous Measure E, which has been in place since 2009. To fund this, every property owner in the district pays $968 each year, or a little more than $80 a month, regardless of property value.

Right now, the previous Measure E is set to expire on June 30.

If voters approve the new Measure E — which is identical to the previous — the parcel tax will stay in place until it’s ended by voters, according to the resolution.

The board can also reduce the tax if it chooses.

Like the previous Measure E, homeowners over the age of 65 are exempt from paying the tax on their residences.

The district has one other parcel tax already in effect, Measure R, which is set to expire on June 30, 2025. It provides about $1.6 million annually to the district, costing every property owner $366 a year.

Here is the full text of the ballot measure:

PRESERVE SAN MARINO SCHOOLS – To continue San Marino’s tradition of community support for local schools, to retain outstanding classroom teachers and continue advanced programs in math, science, engineering, technology, provide honors and advanced placement classes, and to minimize class size increases, shall San Marino Unified School District continue to levy a $968 education parcel tax, with exemptions for seniors, raising approximately $4 million annually, to be assessed in each fiscal year with annual inflation adjustments until ended by voters?

You can find the Board of Education resolution here.

Things to do in the San Gabriel Valley and Whittier, Feb. 25-March 4

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 09:45:14 +0000

BONSAI BLISS: The tiny but mighty bonsai gets all the love at a Virtual Bonsai-A-Thon set from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, online through a Huntington Library Zoom. Admission is free with reservation. Join the Golden State Bonsai Federation at its reimagined annual celebration of all things bonsai. Ted Matson, curator of the bonsai collection at The Huntington, will give video tours of the bonsai courts, the Ben Oki Bonsai Nursery, and the “Lifelines/Timelines” bonsai exhibition. Phillip E. Bloom, the June and Simon K.C. Li curator of the Chinese Garden and director of the Center of East Asian Garden Studies, will introduce the garden’s new penjing court and discuss the history of this ancient art form. Both sessions include time for questions from the audience. Zoom link will be sent to attendees in registration confirmation email. For more information, visit www.huntington.org or call 626-405-2124.

Author author: Gayle Jessup White is descended not only from Thomas Jefferson but also two of the families he enslaved. Discover her lifelong journey tracing her family’s oral traditions and connection to our third President, on “Authors & Their Journeys: An American Journey, A Legacy of Freedom and Slavery,” from 5 to 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26, on Zoom. White is the first public relations and community engagement officer for Monticello, Jefferson’s home. Her book will be published in the fall. For more information, visit www.cityofpasadena.net/library

Vroman’s Live: Anne Lamott discusses “Dusk Night Dawn: Notes on Courage,” at 6 p.m. Monday, March 1, via Vroman’s Crowdcast. This event will be pre-recorded and live-streamed. Participants will receive a link and password to attend the Crowdcast event on the afternoon of Friday, Feb. 26. Event access and tickets include a hardcover of “Dusk Night Dawn,” which will be mailed after the event. Allow 3-4 weeks for delivery.The first 150 people who purchase a ticket will receive a copy that is signed by Lamott. For more information, including event admission price, email@vromansbookstore.com

Storybook tour: Esotouric sightseeing tour company presents an online Webinar on eclectic local architecture at noon Saturday, Feb. 27. Watch live, or see the recording for one week. Tickets are $10 from https://esotouric.com/event/storybook. The illustrated lecture will feature L.A.’s oddball architectural styles, including one stop on Whittier Boulevard on the border of East L.A. and Montebello. Discover storybook structures such as Spadena Witch’s House and Tam O’Shanter restaurant, as well as a Hansel and Gretel cottage that now houses a new style of Chicano tattooing.

Book it: “Wings of Fire” author Tui T. Sutherland discusses her latest in the series, “The Dangerous Gift,” for a live, virtual event at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, via Barnes & Noble Zoom. Tickets are $23 via Eventbrite. For more information, visit barnesandnoble.com

Weekly pop-up: Glendora Public Library presents Plaza Discovery Place, a weekly pop-up featuring activities, and materials on different topics. A selection of materials will be available for checkout. All others may be requested for pickup the next day. COVID-19 restrictions apply. Check out new books, audio, CDs and DVDs from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 3, at the next Discovery Place offering. The theme for March 10 is sports. For more information, call 626-852-4891.

ONGOING EVENTS

Grow on: Uptown Whittier Farmers Market offers fresh fruit and veggies, mixed nuts and dried fruit, micro-greens, organic herbs, hummus and cheese, eggs, seafood, and pre-packed tea. Public health procedures are in place. The market is open from 8 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Fridays, at 13018 Philadelphia St., corner Bright Avenue, in Whittier. For more information, email olivia@whittieruptown.org.

Fair Foodie Fest: The drive-thru fair foodie fest, going on now at the Rose Bowl, features giant turkey legs, Krispy Kreme donut cheeseburgers, an entire zone for BBQ everything and deep fried pretty-much-everything. Admission is free and you get a free mini funnel cake if you reserve your ticket online. It’s all happening weekends through Feb. 28, at Lot K of the Rose Bowl, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena. Check out times and dates at www.fairfoodiefest.com. Only credit cards accepted. Masks are required.

Young at Art: Norton Simon Museum offers great teaching resources inspired by the museum’s collections. Check out www.nortonsimon.org and access art activities and coloring sheets. Email educate@nortonsimon.org to get help from museum staff.

Green wise: The Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District presents free landscape Webinars to get your garden ready for spring. Topics include raised and in-ground planter beds on March 4; weed and pest management on April 1; lawn care and maintenance on May 6 and drop irrigation maintenance and trouble shooting on June 3. Webinars are set from 6 to 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month through June. For more information, visit www.upperdistrict.org.

Jurassic Quest: Jurassic Quest Drive-Thru Experience, a national dinosaur touring exhibit, will roar into the Fairplex in Pomona through Feb. 28. See if you’ll survive driving past 70 moving dinosaurs and a 50-foot-long Megalodon. Tickets include an online audio tour. Cost is $49 per vehicle with up to eight passengers. For more information, visit jurassicquest.com

Send calendar items to Anissa V. Rivera at sgvncalendar@gmail.com. Please send items at least three weeks before the event. Please list phone, email and/or website for additional information.

Voters have until Tuesday, Feb. 16, to register for March 2 special elections

Mon, 15 Feb 2021 14:43:24 +0000

The final day to register to vote in the March 2 special elections is nearly here.

Folks have until the end of the day Tuesday, Feb. 16, to register to vote for next month’s scheduled elections for the 30th state Senate district, the Rio Hondo Community College District, the San Marino Unified School District and the Lawndale, Centinela and Wiseburn school districts. The deadline to register in the Redondo Beach elections — which includes mayor, two City Council districts and the local school board — is also Tuesday; that city runs its own election.

Folks who do not register by Tuesday will not receive a vote-by-mail ballot, but they can still vote in person by completing a same-day conditional voter registration at any vote center in Los Angeles County.

Voters in Senate District 30 will pick a new representative March 2, though if none of the seven candidates for the overwhelmingly Democratic area — which includes Culver City, Mar Vista, Century City, Ladera Heights, Exposition Park, South Los Angeles, Westmont, much of downtown Los Angeles and a portion of Inglewood — receives a majority, the top-two finishers will compete in a May 4 runoff.

Folks in the Rio Hondo Community College District will choose a board member. In San Marino, voters will weigh in on Measure E to determine whether to continue a parcel tax to support local schools, and voters in the the Lawndale, Centinela and Wiseburn school districts will decide Measure A, which would transfer some territory from the Lawndale School District and the Centinela Valley Union High School District to the Wiseburn Unified School District.

Registered voters have already been sent mail-in ballots, which must be returned by March 2. Folks can start voting in person Feb. 20.

To find a vote center location or to register to vote, visit lavote.net.

City News Service contributed to this report.

Voters have until Tuesday, Feb. 16, to register for March 2 special elections

Mon, 15 Feb 2021 12:48:34 +0000

The final day to register to vote in the March 2 special elections is nearly here.

Folks have until Tuesday, Feb. 16, to register to vote for next month’s scheduled elections for the 30th state Senate district, the Rio Hondo Community College District, the San Marino Unified School District and the Lawndale, Centinela and Wiseburn school districts. The deadline to register in the Redondo Beach elections — which includes mayor, two City Council districts and the local school board — is also Tuesday; that city runs its own election.

Registered voters have already been sent mail-in ballots, which must be returned by March 2. Folks can start voting in person Feb. 20.

To find a vote center location or to register to vote, visit lavote.net.

City News Service contributed to this report.

Pursuit Starting In San Marino Leads To Standoff In Montebello

Sun, 14 Feb 2021 04:34:13 +0000

SAN MARINO (CBSLA) – A pursuit initiated by San Marino police has ended in a standoff outside the emergency room at Beverly Hospital, 309 W. Beverly Blvd., in Montebello.

It started around 7:30 p.m. Saturday in San Marino, south of Pasadena. Police chased the suspect to the parking lot of the hospital and were in a standoff as of 8:30 p.m.

It is unclear if the driver has a weapon.

The standoff ended around 8:40 p.m., police said.

(This is a developing story. Check back for updates.)

Huntington Library announces $7.5 million Rose Garden Tea Room renovation

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 19:40:49 +0000

The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens will soon renovate and expand its historic Rose Garden Tea Room, creating a new outdoor dining space and refreshing the aging entrance with a $7.5 million project, according to a Thursday news release, Jan. 21.

The San Marino-based nonprofit, famed for its gardens and art collections, will restore the entrance of the original 1911 building.

The group plans to create “a new outdoor dining experience and expand functionality in its service areas,” the release says.

The project, developed by the Huntington which worked with the Architectural Resources Group, “will upgrade the indoor dining space, modernize the kitchen, develop new restrooms and ancillary areas, and create a pavilion on its eastern side, opening onto the Shakespeare Garden for exterior dining service.”

On the western side of the building, “the room that opens out to the Herb Garden will also be renovated and made available for private rentals, in addition to being used for the Tea Room’s general service,” the release says.

The Huntington hopes to break ground later this year, planning to complete the project in 2022, assuming its municipal review later this month goes well. Most of the funding has been secured, the news release says.

While the Huntington’s art museums are closed right now, the gardens are still open for visitors.

When the museums reopen, sometime when the pandemic abates, guests will be able to see the recently restored Blue Boy painting. The effort took three years to complete and conservators often worked on the museum floor as guests milled about. Their efforts restored much of the color and detail of Thomas Gainsborough’s iconic 1770 painting of a young boy in a blue soldier costume.

Take a peek into the Huntington Library’s expanded Chinese Garden

Sat, 24 Oct 2020 11:08:08 +0000

Jagged rock formations and miniature potted trees accent the newly expanded Chinese Garden at the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

The garden occupies 15 acres on the 207-acre grounds of the Huntington, a research institution in an upscale residential neighborhood of San Marino.

The Huntington opened 11.5 of those acres to the public for the first time this month after declaring its third and final phase of construction complete.

Susan Holman of Pasadena called the expansion fabulous. She and two friends enjoyed the variety within the garden.

“It ties in so beautifully with what’s been here for years,” she said. “To have this huge, huge space that’s been transformed over the last 20 years is just extraordinary.”

The garden is much more than a collection of plants, according to curator Philip Bloom. It is history and poetry and art.

Here’s what visitors can expect.

A glimpse of the past

The Chinese Garden is also called the Garden of Flowing Fragrance, or Liu Fang Yuan. It is modeled after gardens created during the Ming Dynasty in the city of Sozhou, a city near Shanghai in eastern China.

New sections of the garden expand it beyond the 3.5-acre lake that opened in 2008. A mosaic pathway leads from the lake up a ridge to a series of courtyards on the west.

To the north is new museum space in buildings modeled after the Ming Dynasty, which lasted from the 14th to the 17th century.

The expansion, like earlier phases of construction, was a collaboration between local workers and architects and artisans from China.

Big rocks and small trees

The section west of the lake is called Verdant Microcosm. It is decorated with limestone rocks imported from the bed of a lake near Suzhou. Small rocks accent pathways through the garden. Larger rocks are positioned like sculptures and some feature reproductions of Chinese calligraphy.

In contrast to the rocks, miniature potted trees are on display throughout the courtyard. They are called penjing and are similar to Japanese bonsai.

Dramatic views

The high point of the expansion, literally, is the Stargazing Tower, a north-facing pavilion that looks down at the lake and up at the San Gabriel Mountains. It is named for its view of the Mount Wilson Observatory, not for the ability to see stars because the Huntington isn’t open at night.

Room for the arts

To the north of the lake is a reproduction of a Ming Dynasty art studio, an art gallery and a restaurant with counter service. Due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, the interior spaces aren’t expected to open until May 2021.

More to come

Bloom anticipates art exhibitions, monthly horticulture lectures, and concerts in the garden when pandemic restrictions ease.

Admittance to the Huntington is currently limited to guests who make advance reservations online and submit to a temperature check on arrival.

The Huntington is known for many other things, including the early 20th century Japanese Garden south of the Chinese Garden.

There are also several other gardens; a world-famous research center with a collection of rare books and manuscripts; and an art collection that includes “The Blue Boy,” an 18th century painting by Thomas Gainsborough that has undergone a years-long restoration and is back on the wall in the Huntington mansion, waiting for visitors to return.

Only the grounds, a gift shop and cafeteria are currently open.

If you go

Where: 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino

Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday through Monday; closed Tuesday

Admission: $25-$29 for non-members; $21-$24 for seniors, military and students; $13 for youth age 4-11

Reservations: huntington.org

No bail for San Marino man accused of driving truck into crowd of Pasadena protesters

Mon, 28 Sep 2020 13:40:17 +0000

LOS ANGELES — A San Gabriel Valley man accused of driving a truck loaded with weapons into a crowd of peaceful demonstrators in Old Town Pasadena will remain behind bars to await trial, a federal judge ruled Monday.

Benjamin Jong Ren Hung presents a danger to the community and no combination of conditions could be ordered to ensure he would not be a potential threat to others, U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricia Donahue determined.

Hung, 28, of San Marino, is charged with one count of conspiracy to transport firearms across state lines and to make a false statement in acquisition of firearms.

Hung drove his white Dodge Ram — adorned with flags associated with far-right extremist groups — at the crowd of about 150 protesters who had been chanting, “Black lives matter here” on May 31, federal agents allege in a complaint filed in Los Angeles federal court.

The demonstrators scattered as the truck accelerated toward them, and no injuries were reported in the incident.

Authorities seized a large cache of weapons and ammunition allegedly belonging to Benjamin Jong Ren Hung of San Marino, who is charged with driving a pickup truck into a group a protesters on May 31, 2020, in Old Town Pasadena. (Photo courtesy of US District Court for Central California)

At his initial court appearance last week, Hung was ordered detained pending the detention hearing Monday to determine his bail status. Hung’s arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 15, and a trial date has not yet been set.

According to bystander video and witness interviews, Hung’s truck bore an Oregon license plate that read, “WAR R1G,” prosecutors said. It was also modified with an elevated suspension, large tires, and an enhanced exhaust pipe, which expelled a large plume of black smoke as it accelerated into the crowd, the complaint states.

At the time of the incident, the truck was also flying three large flags: a “Thin Blue Line” flag, a Gadsden “Don’t Tread on Me” yellow flag, and an original 13 states “Betsy Ross” American flag, prosecutors said.

During a search of the vehicle, police found a loaded semiautomatic handgun, multiple high-capacity magazines loaded with ammunition, an 18-inch machete, $3,200 in cash, a long metal pipe and a megaphone, the complaint states.

Smoke is seen coming from a pickup truck that allegedly drove into the crowd during a Black Lives Matter protest on May 31, 2020, in Old Town Pasadena. The truck’s owner, San Marino resident Benjamin Jong Ren Hung, 28, faces federal charges of conspiracy to transport firearms across state lines and making a false statement in acquisition of firearms. The vehicle allegedly contained a loaded gun and multiple high-capacity magazines of ammunition. (Image from KTLA5 video)

Prosecutors allege Hung used his family’s vineyard in Lodi as a tactical training camp and gun range “to prepare for civil disorders.”

Hung and his associates “communicated regularly about his plans to stockpile firearms to prepare for civil disorders,” the complaint alleges. The messages appeared to escalate in early March at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the far-right movement began to propagate the theory that the virus was a hoax, the document states.

One of Hung’s neighbors in San Marino described seeing the defendant on muliple occasions “wearing military-like camouflage, military fatigues, and carrying a gray tactical vest,” prosecutors said.

Along with the vineyard — whose business name is 157 California Reserve Inc. — Hung’s parents own and operate an RV park in Bend, Oregon, according to the complaint.

If convicted, Hung would face up to five years in federal prison.

Huntington Library acquires painting of 18th century British actress

Thu, 24 Sep 2020 05:23:44 +0000

SAN MARINO >> The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens announced Wednesday, Sept. 23, that it has acquired a newly discovered painting by American-born artist John Singleton Copley depicting Mary Robinson, one of Britain’s most famous actresses of the late 18th century.

The Huntington also announced it has acquired works by British artists Alice Mary Chambers (1855-1920) and Madeline Green (1884-1947), and a set of screen prints by R.B. Kitaj (1932-2007), who, like Copley, was born in America and worked in England.

In addition, longtime Art Collectors’ Council members Hannah and Russel Kully purchased as a promised gift for The Huntington a portrait by 19th century British artist and designer Edward Burne-Jones of the artist’s daughter, had been kept in the family since it was painted around 1888.

The acquisitions were funded by The Huntington collectors’ council at its annual meeting last month.

“This year we cover 200 years of British art history and bridge the Atlantic, celebrating the interconnected web of American and British art,” said Christina Nielsen, director of the Art Museum at The Huntington.

“In this group are masterpieces, rarities, works by underrecognized female artists and works that tie together different collection areas at The Huntington in intriguing ways,” she said. “Together, they amplify our collection’s strengths and further its reach into the 20th century, all thanks to the generosity of our Art Collectors’ Council.”

The painting of Robinson, completed in 1780, is a cabinet portrait that was perhaps commissioned by an admirer of the actress, who was also known for being the mistress of the Prince of Wales, later George IV.

Lost for generations until it was sold in 1999 at auction as a French painting of an unknown sitter, the newly identified work portrays Robinson in her role as Oriana in George Farquhar’s comedy “The Inconstant; or The Way to Win Him,” which she performed on the London stage in the spring of 1780.

In the course of the play, Robinson’s character engages in a series of ruses — dressing as a nun, feigning madness, and finally disguising herself as a pageboy — to win the heart of her love interest. The portrait of Robinson in a nun’s habit was painted several years after Copley, a leading portraitist in colonial America, moved from Boston to London to test his skills at the Royal Academy.

Around the same time, the actress, then at the height of her career, also sat for four of Copley’s professional rivals — Sir Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough, George Romney and John Hoppner.

Burne-Jones was among the most influential artists of his day, according to The Huntington. A friend and collaborator of William Morris, he was a designer of stained glass, decorated furniture and textiles as well as a painter associated with both the Pre-Raphaelites and the Aesthetic Movement.

Hundreds of working drawings relating to his design accomplishments are held at The Huntington, as well as a popular installation in the Huntington Art Gallery, a two-story-high stained glass window that he designed for the Unitarian Chapel in Heywood, Lancashire, around 1898.

The portrait of Burne-Jones’ daughter, last owned by the sitter’s great-granddaughter, has never been exhibited or published. It will go on view in the Huntington Art Gallery alongside other works from the British Design Reform period.

Bicycle sales and repairs are skyrocketing, creating shortages and waiting lists

Tue, 22 Sep 2020 08:31:16 +0000

On a recent July day, Andrew Yip dragged nine old bicycles from his garage and listed them for sale on a mobile platform called OfferUp.

What was intended as a summer quarantine project lasted just six hours — the time it took to sell all nine to separate buyers. From college students to transplanted Europeans to a man who drove from Santa Clarita, the buyers came to his Hacienda Heights home almost immediately. All nine bicycles were gone before sundown.

“It was amazing,” said Yip, a cycling enthusiast. “People came nonstop and picked up the bikes. All told me they were having a hard time finding bikes.”

In the coronavirus pandemic, bicycles are selling as quickly as toilet paper did in the first weeks of the outbreak. And due to rocketing demand and supply chain disruptions, bicycles are now becoming as hard to find as Clorox wipes and jigsaw puzzles.

In the United States, cycling sales are through the roof. And the bike explosion is occurring throughout the world, especially in the Philippines, Italy and Great Britain.

In April, U.S. sales of traditional bikes, indoor bikes, parts and other accessories grew a combined 75%, according to NPD Group, a national retail sales tracking firm. April sales as compared to April 2019 crested $1 billion — doubling the typical April number for the first time ever, said NPD.

Bicycles were purchased for family use and neighborhood rides. NPD reported a 203% increased in year-over-year sales of basic adult bikes priced around $200, while sales of children’s bikes increased by 107%. As gyms and schools closed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, more and more people cooped up during the pandemic took to bike riding as a socially distanced way to exercise.

In June, bicycle aisles at big box stores such as Walmart and Target were empty, the Associated Press reported. In mid-August, Yip went to the Target store in Rosemead and found the same thing: Zero bikes for sale.

As lower-priced bikes became harder to find, more expensive bikes began selling.

NPD noticed a shift to higher-end bikes selling at $1,000 or more, according to an Aug. 19 report. High performance road bikes were up 87% in June over last year, mountain bikes up 92%, gravel bikes up 144% and electric bikes up 190%.

An NPD report released Wednesday said bicycle sales from April 2020 to July 2020 increased by 81% from the prior year, while total sales from January to July topped $3.4 billion.

Trek Bicycles, one of the top three bicycle makers in the world, would not release its sales numbers. But Eric Bjorling, director of brands for the Wisconsin-based company, said Trek echoed the NPD numbers, with Trek experiencing “unprecedented” sales in 2020.

“At the beginning (of the pandemic), it was kids’ bikes. Kids were home and parents needed to find them something to do. Next were entry-level bikes, then mountain bikes, then high-end stuff took off in June and July,” Bjorling explained on Wednesday, Sept. 16.

The pandemic-fueled biking revolution can be measured best at individual bike stores, said Bjorling. And every store owner interviewed reported unprecedented sales increases followed by dwindling supplies.

Low inventory is the flip side of a bullish bike market. Just ask Heather Bryer, manager of Cyclery USA in Redlands. Sales doubled at her store in April, May and June. But now, pre-ordered mountain bikes, low-end road and hybrid bikes are not expected to arrive until early 2021, she said.

“What people want is what we don’t have,” Bryer said Wednesday.

Many bicycle makers — mostly in China and Taiwan — shut down factories in January and February when the coronavirus hit hard, resulting in a slowdown of up to four months for new bikes coming into the U.S.

Carlos Morales, owner of Stan’s Bike Shop in downtown Azusa in the San Gabriel Valley, said he felt guilty capitalizing on a deadly virus.

“I’ve sold more bikes these past five months than I’ve sold in eight years,” he said Tuesday as he waited in line at a distribution warehouse in El Monte to buy bicycle parts.

“Pretty much any bike I bring into the store gets sold. All the mountain bikes sell within a week. Next are the hybrid and children’s bikes,” Morales said.

Astronomical jumps in sales volumes told the story at Roy’s Cyclery in Upland, as well.

“We’ve seen a 300% increase (in sales) since the start of the pandemic. People just want to get outside and ride,” said Mike Nittel, owner.

In Costa Mesa, Jonathan Wilson, manager of Two Wheels, One Planet Bike Store, said adjusting to high demand while keeping customers in the parking lot and properly socially-distanced was tough.

“There was a line of people waiting to be assisted every day from mid-March to mid-April,” Wilson said.

Standing outside his shop, an old gasoline station converted into a bicycle/plants/sports apparel store in San Marino, was Danny Heeley, manager. The Cub House normally has 50 or more bikes on the showroom floor. On Thursday, they had seven.

Instead of relying on sales, they’ve shifted to customer bike repairs. Heeley hired Simon Kovara, considered one of the best bike mechanics in the region, according to Wes Reutiman, special program manager with Active SGV, formerly Bike SGV, a nonprofit promoting alternative transportation and bike safety.

During the early pandemic months, The Cub House had 150 bikes in for repairs during a week. Now that number is down to around five per day, Heeley said.

“Our mechanic was staying here until 2 in the morning to finish repairs,” Heeley said.

On Thursday, Tom Todd of Pasadena rolled his old road bike up to the outdoor check-in station. The bike had been collecting rust in his garage.

“I want to get it tuned up. My 26-year-old son is showing an interest in biking. It needs new tires and a new seat and brakes,” Todd said.

But repairs are being hampered by a shortage of tire tubes, brake pads and other parts, Heeley said. A three-week wait in June has come down at Cub House. Reutiman said it took a week to get the appointment for a tune-up to his bike and another week until completion.

Nittel at Roy’s in Upland said the turnaround time for a bike repair went from six weeks in the spring to about two weeks in September.

“Oh, yeah. People are taking that old bike from the garage and bringing them here,” he said.

“The family bike ride is back in a big way,” agreed Bjorling, who’s also noticed an increase in mountain biking league memberships among teenagers.

Garcia in Azusa said he was quick to order more parts in March, accommodating one- to two-day repair turnaround times in September. “I have 5,000 inner tubes in my store,” he said.

He’s adjusted his buying strategies, talking directly to Chinese companies. “This pandemic has taken me into different markets,” he said. But he says the increase in bicycle riding is a good thing for people and the environment.

“When someone buys a bike for their child or spouse, I can see it in their eyes. You can see the excitement,” Garcia said.

Bike store owners and manufacturing reps are often cycling enthusiasts themselves and they say they love what they are seeing. Many wonder whether the switch by commuters to bicycles as a zero-pollution option, or by kids who ride as an antidote to inactivity from playing video games, will last.

Bjorling said the pandemic is forcing people to examine their habits.

“What we would like to see after all of this is a world where people take their health and their contribution to the environment more seriously,” he said.

The Huntington Prepares For Bloom Of Stinky ‘Corpse Flower’

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 20:09:51 +0000

SAN MARINO (CBSLA) — If a corpse flower blooms at the Huntington Library and no one is there to smell it in person, does it really stink?

The Huntington has launched #BloomWatch in anticipation of its amorphophallus titanum, or corpse flower, blooming in its conservatory. But, with indoor spaces at The Huntington closed to visitors, the watch will be online only.

Well, it's official. 2020 stinks.

An Amorphophallus titanum (aka #StinkyPlant) is gearing up for a big bloom in our Conservatory. Visitors won't be able to see the plant in person, but everyone can join the virtual #BloomWatch here: https://t.co/0KAUxY1Uko pic.twitter.com/Y88ldSSYLi

— The Huntington (@TheHuntington) August 28, 2020

The corpse flower had been measured at 22 inches Wednesday, but grew 3 inches since then. The bloom can reach more than eight feet in height and four feet in diameter. It’s been called the world’s largest flower, and when it blooms, it exudes a foul stench that’s been compared to the aroma of rotting meat.

While the watch is on, there’s no hurry just yet to tune in — Huntington spokeswoman Lisa Blackburn says the flower has about three more feet to grow before it flowers, which could take about 10 to 14 days.

The most recent bloom of the corpse flower at The Huntington was in July 2019.

The Huntington’s gardens are open to the public, but timed tickets must be reserved in advance and visitors must wear masks and observe physical distancing guidelines. Indoor galleries and high-touch outdoor spaces – like the conservatory where the corpse flower is located – remain closed.

A live feed has been set up so the corpse flower’s bloom can be watched in real time.

This news stinks: Another ‘corpse flower’ ready to bloom at Huntington Library

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 09:48:32 +0000

Another corpse flower is about to bloom at The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens in San Marino and its progress can be viewed online.

The Huntington’s indoor spaces remain closed because of the coronavius pandemic. What The Huntington is dubbing as a virtual #BloomWatch can be experienced at www.huntington.org/corpse-flower.

The Amorphophallus titanum, also known as a Titan Arum, corpse flower and #StinkyPlant, has been called the world’s largest flower, but is technically an “inflorescence,” or a cluster of flowers. It can reach more than 8 feet in height when it blooms, opening to a diameter of 4 feet.

This one was 24 inches tall Thursday, two inches taller than Wednesday. A daily growth chart is posted on the website.

This will be the first time a corpse flower has bloomed at The Huntington since July 24, 2019.

When in one of its ultra-rare blooms, it gives off an odor akin to rotting flesh, attracting insects that pollinate the flowers deep inside.

According to Huntington spokeswoman Lisa Blackburn, the blooming plant produces two key gases — dimethyl disulfide and dimethyl trisulfide —that also are present in decomposing animals and vegetables.

What prompts a particular plant to start the blooming process largely remains a mystery, Blackburn said, but the corpse flower tends to bloom during hot weather.

Huntington botanical curator John Trager talks with visitors about the “corpse flower” in 2018. Photo: Coutesy The Huntington

When a corpse flower was first displayed at the Kew Royal Botanic Gardens in the late 19th century, at least one Victorian woman was said to have swooned when she got a whiff of the bloom.

The flower was first displayed in the United States in 1937 at the New York Botanical Garden.

San Marino Fourth Of July Decorations Featuring Mannequin Of President Donald Trump Sparks Controversy

Thu, 25 Jun 2020 03:33:57 +0000

SAN MARINO (CBSLA) — The city of San Marino is hosting a home decorating contest ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.

Typically, the city holds a ceremony with traditional fireworks and a community gathering, but that’s not possible this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Instead, the recreation department is offering residents their own free home decorating starter kit to encourage them to display their patriotism for neighbors to see.

One home, in particular, has gotten a lot of attention for including a mannequin of President Donald Trump holding an American flag.

A mannequin display showing President Donald Trump holding an American flag was displayed outside a San Marino home. (Courtesy: CBS2/KCAL9)

Leslie Antosy-Flores said she was excited about the friendly competition and put out flags, banners and a depiction of Trump to show her enthusiasm.

“Of course we have our President Trump. He needs to be recognized since he is our president,” Antosy-Flores said.

The San Marino resident said she has been criticized for the decorations and that she doesn’t believe she did anything wrong.

“I did have somebody yell at me and call me a racist. All I’m doing is displaying him with an American flag. I didn’t do anything with any political agenda,” she said.

Antosy-Flores said she removed the display of Trump several times because of people yelling.

Another San Marino resident, who put up a six-foot eagle outside his home, supported her display.

“I think anyone who wants to show their patriotic spirit, God bless them for showing that for this administration, for our country, no matter their opinion,” Scott Solan said.

Opponents of President Trump have characterized using his likeness as a symbol of racial division in this country.

San Marino City Councilmember Susan Jakubowski said in response to the backlash over the display that people are able to decorate in any way they wish as long as it’s not offensive.

“I think now more so than ever we are all agreeing to be different to get along and this community like every other community has all different beliefs,” Jakubowski said.

The city gave out 300 starter kits to residents filled with sidewalk chalk, American flags, a pennant banner, one roll of patriotic crepe paper, and a participating home lawn sign.

San Marino city leaders say they hope to continue this competition in the years to come.

Winners for the home decorating contest — in the categories of Most Creative, Most Patriotic, Judge’s Choice, and Honorable Mention — will be announced on July 2.

The top four finalists in each category will receive a gift card from a local business and a recognition lawn sign.

Huntington Library Will Reopen Gardens To Members

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 21:48:09 +0000

SAN MARINO (CBSLA) — The Huntington Library has reopened, but there are limits and changes.

The Huntington reopened its gardens to its members Wednesday, and will open to the public on July 1.

Visitors are being asked to stay away if they feel sick, and people who do visit will be required to undergo temperature checks and urged to keep 6 feet apart from other people, wearing face coverings and wash their hands often.

Guest passes are not being permitted during the June member reopening, and all guest passes will require advance reservations starting in July. Non-member tickets will be available for purchase starting on June 28.

While the Huntington’s extensive gardens have reopened, the Children’s Garden, research library and several galleries will remain closed.

12 Southern California museums and cultural centers you can visit virtually

Thu, 26 Mar 2020 11:39:46 +0000

The entire state may be on lockdown due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, but that doesn’t mean people can’t visit museums and cultural institutions, at least virtually.

In response to the stay-at-home order to fight the spread of the virus, several local institutions are offering a way to experience culture, art and science with new online programming.

Much of the online programming is free, but donations to keep these institutions going are accepted.

Here are a dozen places in Southern California where you can log on and get your culture on.

Los Angeles County

Aquarium of the Pacific

Where: aquariumofpacific.org

Details: People can still check out adorable penguins, see menacing sharks swim around and stare at all the fish in the giant fish tank in the main hall (it’s officially called the Honda Blue Cavern) thanks to the Long Beach venue’s new Aquarium Online Academy. The Academy is a one-stop-shop for all the online activities you can handle until the Aquarium reopens. Some of the online fun includes live webcams focusing on a few of the animals (be prepared to waste hours staring at penguins); lectures for adults that touch on topics such as climate change; and online classes for kids that teach them about things such as kelp forests and the inner workings of squids. There is both streaming and on-demand content sectioned out by grade levels.

Battleship Iowa Museum

Where: pacificbattleship.com

Details: The battleship in San Pedro is inviting all on board with its Battleship Iowa app. Available at the app store, it lets you explore the ship via a 360-degree tour of the ship. You can also watch historic and educational videos and explore each deck of the USS Iowa through an interactive map.

The Getty

Where: getty.edu

Details: In order to keep people’s artistic spirits up, the Getty, which has the Getty Villa in Malibu and the larger Getty Center property in the hills of Brentwood, has rounded up a collection of its exhibitions, podcasts, and videos into one accessible page. People can explore online exhibits such as “Michelangelo: Mind of the Master,” “Assyria: Palace Art of Ancient Iraq,” or listen to podcasts including “Recording Artists: Radical Women” or watch a video that teaches people all about the mummification process.

Grammy Museum

Where: grammymuseum.org

Details: You can use the time spent indoors to really get to know some of your favorite artists thanks to the Grammy Museum. The downtown LA venue is uploading previously unreleased video interviews taped inside its 200-seat Clive Davis Theater every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. So far the list includes Larkin Poe (March 25), X Ambassadors (March 28), Brandi Carlile (March 30), Billie Eilish and Finneas (April 1), Greta Van Fleet (April 4) and Kool & The Gang (April 6).

The museum is also releasing slideshows featuring past exhibitions every Friday. Some of the exhibitions going up digitally include “X: 40 Years Of Punk in Los Angeles” and “Take Me Out To The Ball Game: Popular Music And The National Pastime.”

The Grammy Museum is offering several online programs while it’s closed due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. (AP file photo by Julio Cortez)
People can check out the penguins via webcam and take part in other activities at The Aquarium of the Pacific even while the venue is closed due to the coronavirus outbreak . (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Sound
The gallery will resume inseconds
The Petersen Automotive Museum will livestream a tour of its Vault while it remains closed due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. (Photo by David Crane/Los Angeles News Group)
The Battleship USS Iowa Museum has an app people can down load to take tours of the ship while it’s closed due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. (Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze/SCNG)
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is offering online programs during the novel coronavirus outbreak. (File photo by David Crane/Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG).
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) will be offering some of its exhibits online while it remains closed due to the novel coronavirus outbreak (Photo by Ed Crisostom
A Corpse Flower is readying to bloom at the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens in San Marino. (Photo courtesy of The Huntington).
Ten years in the making, The Garden of Flowing Fragrance, or Liu Fang Yuan opened to the public February 23, 2008 at The Huntington Library, Arts Collections, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino. Suzhou-style gardens features a 1.5-acre lake, complex of pavilions, a tea house and tea shop, and five stone bridges. This initial phase of the garden covers about 3.5 acres of a planned 12-acre site. Development of futre phases of the Chinese Garden will proceed over a period of years. (SGVN/Photo by Walt Mancini/SXCity)
The Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens in San Marino may be clised due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, but people can still visit the venue online, CA 4/19/2015 (Photo by John McCoy Daily News)
Casa Romantica’s mansion and garden are closed to the public but the venue is offering plenty of online activities. (Register file photo)
The San Bernardino County Museum in Redlands has posted some of its exhibits online through the Google Arts & Culture website (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
The Riverside Art Museum has posted some of its exhibits online at Google Arts & Culture website during its closure as part of the novel coronavirus outbreak.. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
The Western Science Center in Hemet is offering online educational programs during the novel coronavirus outbreak. (Stan Lim, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

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The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Garden

Where: Huntington.org.

Details: In hopes of giving people a place where they could stroll while still keeping a safe distance from each other The Huntington kept its botanical gardens open even after the venue closed its galleries. But on March 18 the gardens were forced to close as well. While it doesn’t compare to taking a walk through the picturesque gardens, people can still take an online stroll by clicking on the Botanical Collections Tour on the venue’s website. From there you can check out spots like the Rose Garden, the Chinese and Japanese gardens and the Children’s Garden. The Huntington also just launched a new podcast called “The Collections,” hosted by Huntington President Karen R. Lawrence, who talks about all aspects of the venue.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Where: Lacma.org

Details: In response to the novel coronavirus outbreak LACMA completely redesigned its homepage and dubbed it LACMA@Home. From the new page, virtual visitors can check out artwork from the venue’s permanent collection, watch short films and documentaries, and hey, why not brush up on your Chinese painting expertise with an online art course that’s available now.

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

Where: NHMLAC.ORG/connects.

Details: Not long after temporarily closing its doors, the museum launched its NHMLAC Connects program, which not only continues to teach people about nature but will even take you on a tour through the streets of L.A. Some of the activities compiled in the new online program are behind-the-scenes tours of the museum with videos that show things such as how dinosaur skeletons at the facility were assembled as well as experts chatting about the museum’s various exhibits. Among the activities for kids is a class on how to make your own fossil skull puppet, and while it may not be the same as going out for a drive through the city, there is also a video that takes you through a tour of L.A. that explains how many of the streets got their names.

Petersen Automotive Museum

Where: Petersen.org

Details: Just because you shouldn’t be out driving doesn’t mean you still can’t check out a few really cool cars. On select dates the museum will offer hour-long livestream tours led by a car expert, and yo

Huntington Library’s restored ‘Blue Boy’ returning to view

Thu, 27 Feb 2020 17:51:02 +0000

After a nearly three-year restoration effort, “The Blue Boy,” one of the most prized exhibits at the Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, will return to public display next month.

“‘The Blue Boy’ has been a star of The Huntington’s collections since we opened as the first old masters museum in Los Angeles in 1928, when visitors flocked to see this magnificent work of 18th-century British portraiture,” Huntington President Karen R. Lawrence said in a statement. “Now the painting is again the center of a joyous occasion, as we celebrate the completion of a robust and thoughtful conservation project.”

The painting will go back on public view March 26 in the Thornton Portrait Gallery.

The restoration effort, dubbed “Project Blue Boy,” began in August of 2017. The work by British artist Thomas Gainsborough, painted in roughly 1770, was fully removed from public view for about a year. But from September 2018 to September 2019, museum visitors were given the chance to watch as the restoration work was done on the painting.

More than 217,000 visitors got a glimpse of the effort during that time.

“A well-attended exhibition showcasing the conservator at work, more than 100 public talks and the convening of experts in the field all helped to define ‘Project Blue Boy’ as an ambitious and successful project with an educational focus,” Lawrence said.

The masterpiece — a lifesize image of a young man in a blue satin suit — was purchased by The Huntington’s founder, railroad magnate Henry E. Huntington, in 1921 for $728,800, a record price for a painting at the time.

The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens announced today that the extensive 18-month initiative to analyze, conserve, and restore The Blue Boy (ca. 1770) by Thomas Gainsborough (1727–1788) is complete, and the iconic painting will go back on view Thursday, March 26, in the Thornton Portrait Gallery. With much of the process carried out in public view during the “Project Blue Boy” exhibition (Sept. 22, 2018–Sept. 30, 2019), the major undertaking involved high-tech data gathering and analysis as well as more than 500 hours of expert conservation work to remove old overpaint and varnish, repair and reattach the lining and other structural materials, and inpaint areas of loss as a result of flaking and abrasion. Photo: Huntington, courtesy image

Before bringing the British treasure to San Marino, art dealer Joseph Duveen organized an international publicity campaign that made the painting more famous than ever. It was the art centerpiece of the museum when it opened in 1928, a year after Huntington died, and has remained so. The iconic painting’s first owner, aristocrat Jonathan Buttall (1752-1805), was once thought to be the model for the painting, but the identity of the famed work’s subject remains unknown.

Huntington officials said the painting had been on almost constant display since the museum opened, necessitating the restoration project.

According to the museum, the effort involved “more than 500 hours of expert conservation work to remove old overpaint and varnish, repair and reattach the lining and other structural materials, and inpaint areas of loss as a result of flaking and abrasion.”

Museum officials said the restoration included the removal of “several uneven layers of dirt and discolored varnish,” revealing the painting’s “original brilliant blues and other pigments.”

“Then, with tiny brushes, the artist’s brushstrokes were reconnected across the voids of past damage as part of the inpainting process,” according to the museum.

The result includes more defined shades of color, brushstroke textures and “nuanced details’ of both the portrait’s subject, his clothing and the surrounding landscape, returning the masterwork “closer to what Gainsborough intended.”

Friends, Family Of Man Killed By Teenage Street Racers Say Probation Is Not Enough

Sat, 04 Jan 2020 06:39:04 +0000

SAN MARINO (CBSLA) — Friends and family of a man killed while jogging in San Marino said probation was not enough for two 17-year-old boys who killed a man and dog after crashing into each other during a street race.

The tragic crash happened last July when 49-year-old Gabriel Crispo and his girlfriend, Martha, were jogging down the median on Huntington Avenue with their 5-year-old dog. Two 17-year-old boys were street racing when they crashed and flew into the center median, killing Crispo and the dog.

“You know, we know they’re juveniles,” Christy Neville, Crispo’s friend, said. “They’re not gonna be going to jail.”

But Crispo’s friends and family had been holding onto hope that the two boys would face severe consequences for their life-ending actions.

“To me, the punishment doesn’t fit the crime,” Neville said.

The boys were ultimately sentenced to probation — one for 30 days and the other for 60 days — allowed to return home and attend work service and hospital morgue programs.

“You can’t teach kids that it’s OK to go out and street race and if you kill someone all you’re gonna get is community service or probation,” Neville said.

Crispo was a longtime teacher at Pasadena City College and Don Bosco Tech.

He was adored by his friends and cherished by his girlfriend of 15 years who said what happened should serve as a lesson to teenagers that street racing is not a game, and that a car can be a lethal weapon.

But, she said, probation alone does not make that point.

“I mean, how is that going to teach our kids of the future not to street race,” Neville said.

The boys also have to write apology letters to Crispo’s family, and Neville said she hopes they dig deep.

“They’re still going to school and living their life,” she said. “And Martha’s without the love of her life, and she lost her dog.”

Off-Duty Alhambra Officer Shoots Himself While Being Pursued By Off-Duty Deputy In San Marino

Tue, 24 Sep 2019 00:45:58 +0000

SAN MARINO (CBSLA) – In a bizarre series of events, an off-duty Alhambra police officer accidentally shot himself while being pursued by an off-duty Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy for speeding in San Marino late Sunday night in what was initially reported as a road rage confrontation.

Just after 8:30 p.m., an off-duty L.A. County Sheriff’s deputy noticed a Subaru speeding in the area of San Gabriel Boulevard and Duarte Road and decided to give chase in his Mercedes with the intention of asking the driver to slow down, San Marino police told CBS2 Monday.

Investigators on scene of the accidental shooting in San Marino, Calif. Sept. 23, 2019. (CBS2)

The deputy caught up with the Subaru and motioned for its driver, who turned out to be an off-duty Alhambra police officer, to roll down his window.

The officer told investigators that he feared for his safety and tried to pull out his gun, at which point it accidentally discharged, and he shot himself in the torso, police said.

The officer was rushed by ambulance to a nearby hospital with non-life threatening injuries and he is expected to survive. The deputy was not hurt.

Records indicate the owner of the Subaru is an Alhambra police officer, but officials told CBSLA’s Dave Lopez they would not comment on any such information.

San Marino police also did not release the officer’s identity.

The deputy is assigned to the LASD Courts Services Division, police said.

Neither the deputy or the officer have been arrested or charged. There’s no evidence that either man knew the other was law enforcement, police said. The incident was initially reported as a road rage confrontation, but police later clarified to CBS2 that was not the case.

San Marino police are continuing to investigate.

2 Teens Arrested For Killing Jogger While Street Racing In San Marino

Fri, 05 Jul 2019 06:59:34 +0000

SAN MARINO (CBSLA) — Two teenagers are under arrest on manslaughter charges after allegedly killing a college teacher and his dog while street racing in San Marino Thursday morning.

July 4, 2019. (CBS2)

The two boys, age 17, are facing vehicular manslaughter charges, San Marino police report. The victim was identified as 49-year-old Gabriel Crispo, who taught at Pasadena City College. His girlfriend’s dog also died in the wreck.

According to police, a white Mercedes was racing a blue Toyota on Huntington Drive, near Kenilworth Avenue, when the accident occurred at around 10:35 a.m.

Investigators say security video shows the driver of the Mercedes attempt to cut off the Toyota before losing control and flying across the center median, where the car struck and killed Crispo while he jogged with his girlfriend’s dog.

Both drivers were arrested at the scene.

“Every morning for the rest of their lives, they’re going to wake up and they’re going to realize that they killed somebody,” San Marino Police Chief John Incontro said. “Their actions, at 17 years old, resulted in the death of someone.”

Suspect Arrested After Threat Cancels Classes At San Marino High School

Mon, 04 Mar 2019 18:20:25 +0000

SAN MARINO (CBSLA) – A suspect has been arrested after an alleged threat forced classes to be temporarily canceled at San Marino High School Monday morning.

At around 8 a.m., the school, located at 2701 Huntington Dr., was placed on lockdown after San Marino police contacted Principal Issaic Gates regarding an anonymous violent threat which had been made against a specifically named student and potentially his friends.

San Marino High School on lockdown. March 4, 2019. (CBS2)

Just after 9:30 a.m., the school made the decision to cancel classes for the day.

“A decision was made to cancel classes and close the high school until further notice,” the school wrote in a statement.

However, a little after 10 a.m., police reported that a suspect had been arrested on charges of making criminal threats. Police determined there were no “existing threats,” the lockdown was lifted and classes were allowed to resume.

Students were told to return to campus by fourth period, which begins at 11:10 a.m.

The suspect was not identified. It’s unclear if the person is a student at the school.

Meanwhile, in a previous statement, the school said it wanted to dispel rumors that there was an active shooter on campus.

“There are incorrect rumors going around that there is an active shooter at the high school,” the school wrote. “The high school is on lockdown only as a precaution.”

Massive Tree Falls In San Marino Causing Nearly 4,500 To Lose Power

Sun, 12 Aug 2018 00:24:10 +0000

SAN MARINO (CBSLA) — Authorities say a large tree fell in a San Marinon neighborhood Saturday afternoon taking a lot of power lines with it.

CBS2’s Adrianna Weingold reported from the scene were she said about 4,300 customers lost power after the tree fell. By 5 p.m., that number dwindled to less than 300.

The massive tree reportedly fell around 2:30 p.m. in the 800 block of Roanoke Road.

Officials could not say when power would be fully restored but said it would be “at least a couple of hours.”

The City of San Marino Police Department said all power was restored just after 7:20 p.m. At that time, they also said the road remained close due to the on-going tree removal.

San Marino School Board Member Under Investigation For Sexual Harassment

Tue, 30 Jan 2018 21:45:26 +0000

SAN MARINO (CBSLA) – A longtime member of the San Marino Unified School board is under investigation over allegations of sexual harassment.

The San Marino Police Department confirmed Monday that it had opened a criminal investigation into a school board member, but did not name the person. However, the Pasadena Star newspaper identified the board member as Chris Norgaard.

According to the newspaper, Norgaard is under investigation for claims of sexual harassment and battery. The details of the allegations were not disclosed by police or the school district. No charges have yet been filed.

The police department was notified of the allegations on Jan. 19.

“You know as much about these allegations as I do,” Norgaard told the Pasadena Star this week. “I have no idea what this is about, which is very frustrating to me.”

The district told the Pasadena Star that Norgaard is not allowed onto school district property at this time. Norgaard has been a board members since 2003 and works as a lawyer in downtown Los Angeles, according to the district’s website.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call San Marino police detectives at 626-300-0722.

Caught On Tape: Armed Robbers Hit Verizon Store, Clerks Ordered To The Floor

Thu, 19 Oct 2017 05:47:46 +0000

SAN MARINO (CBSLA) — A Verizon store in San Marino is popular with customers.

Unfortunately for the owners and clerks who work in the store, the property is also becoming popular with robbers. The store was just hit for the third time in seven months.

KCAL9’s Elsa Ramon reported from the location .

Detectives told her it’s happening to a lot of Verizon stores all over Southern California.

Two men — on a very warm day — approached the front entrance wearing hoodies. It soon became clear the men were not there for phones.

A man in a dark hoodie casually walks up to the register, pulls out a semi-automatic handgun and orders everyone to the floor.

While he aims the gun at the employees, his accomplice in the camo hoodie makes his way to the safe in the back of the store.

Within 2 1/2 to 3 minutes detectives say the thieves escaped through the back of the store with bags full of merchandise. The men are then seen hopping into a Chevy Impala LS with paper plates.

The employees remain down on the ground for several minutes, before they realize the two men were gone.

Susana Jako says she heard about the robbery and sayd her peace of mind is now shaken.

“We’re looking around you don’t feel safe anymore. You don’t know which store it’s going to happen in once you’re in,” Jakso said.

The brazen robbers had no problem pressing their luck. The Verizon store;s location? Just a a few doors down from the San Marino Police Station.

“I hear about it happening more and more around different areas but like I said, this areas is pretty safe. I never thought in my mind that something like this was going to happen,” Jako said.

Detectives told Ramon that two men are being prosecuted for one of the robberies at the Verizon store.

A representative for Verizon said they believe they were being targeted because unlike some phones, theirs work overseas and that’s where he believes they are being re-sold.

Boy, 12, Shocks Another Child With Stun Gun Disguised As Smartphone

Fri, 19 May 2017 17:03:53 +0000

SAN MARINO (CBSLA.com) — A boy brought a stun gun designed to look like a smartphone to a school in San Marino, prompting a police investigation.

A parent reported last Saturday that a 12-year-old boy had shocked another child with a stun gun by the lunch tables near the basketball courts at Huntington Middle School, San Marino police said Thursday.

The police investigation determined the stun gun was used in a joking manner, with no threatening intent, but possession of a stun gun by a minor is illegal, so the investigation soon shifted to determining where the child got the device.

Officers say the boy bought the stun gun at the “As Seen On TV Products” store at the Westfield Santa Anita Shopping Center in Arcadia. The store owner confirmed she sold the device to the boy, but said she didn’t realize it was illegal to sell a stun gun to a minor.

San Marino police officials say the investigation is ongoing, and appropriate charges, if any, will be determined after the case is reviewed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

San Marino Burglary Spree Has Police On High Alert

Fri, 10 Mar 2017 02:43:14 +0000

SAN MARINO (CBSLA.com) – More than two dozen burglaries in the San Marino area so far this year has prompted authorities to increase patrols and ask residents to be more cautious.

San Marino police reports that there have been 25 residential burglaries and six attempted burglaries between January and March. The number of burglaries marks a 38 percent increase over the same period last year, when there were 18. There has also been an increase throughout the entire San Gabriel Valley.

“It’s been a dramatic increase,” San Marino police Sgt. Tim Tebbetts told KCAL9 Thursday.

On March 4, four suspects were arrested on burglary charges thanks to a neighbor who reported suspicious activity, police said.

No one has been home during any of the burglaries. However, Tebbetts said some of the suspects who have been arrested are believed to be gang members so the burglars should be considered dangerous. The peak time for the burglaries has been between the hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.

San Marino police released surveillance video of some the burglaries and are asking for the public’s help.

“Even though a lot of them are wearing hoodies and trying to protect their identity, somebody knows who they are,” Tebbetts said. “And if you can recognize that person, the way they walk, piece of clothing that they’re wearing, anything that’s going to beneficial for us to even take a look at is going to help us.”

Tebbetts says if you see something unusual taking place, don’t approach the person, just contact police.

Suspected Gunman Arrested After Leading Police On Wild Chase Through San Gabriel Valley

Thu, 03 Mar 2016 23:45:45 +0000

PASADENA (CBSLA.com) — A suspected gunman was arrested Thursday afternoon after leading police on a wild, high-speed pursuit through the San Gabriel Valley.

Police started chasing a Black Kia at about 2:20 p.m. in the 400 block of Tremont Street in Boyle Heights after someone reported seeing a man armed with a gun, according to Officer Matthew Ludwig of the Los Angeles Police Department.

The chase went on the Arroyo Seco (110) Parkway and surface streets. At one point, a passenger jumped out of the vehicle and was arrested.

When the pursuit reached San Marino, the Kia crashed into a White Mercedes at the intersection of Huntington Drive and Winston Avenue.

After the collision, the driver bailed out of the Kia, ran a few blocks through a residential neighborhood and tried to hide inside a HoneyBaked Ham store at 480 S. Sierra Madre Boulevard in Pasadena.

With guns drawn, officers surrounded the building and rushed inside looking for the suspect. Minutes later, an officer is seen wrestling the suspect to the ground outside the store, handcuffing him and taking him into custody.

San Marino Woman Knocked Around During Overnight Home-Invasion Robbery

Tue, 26 Jan 2016 15:49:46 +0000

SAN MARINO (CBSLA.com) — Police say two men broke into San Marino home and knocked around the female resident while ransacking the place.

Police were called out to a home in the 1800 block of Sharon Place at about 1:10 a.m. Tuesday after a victim reported seeing two men in her bedroom closet, San Marino police Sgt. Tim Tebbetts said.

The woman told police she was sleeping in a spare bedroom when she heard a noise from the living room and walked out, thinking it was her husband. She saw a man wearing all dark clothes, going through a bedroom closet, Tebbetts said.

He grabbed her by the hair and forced her into her bedroom, where she saw a second man walking out from her bathroom. Tebbets said the first robber demanded she open the safe, and when she refused, he struck her face against the safe and ordered her to open it again.

Police say she ultimately opened the safe and thrown on to her bed, where she was struck again by the robber and told not to leave. After removing items from the safe, the robbers fled the location and the woman called police.

The first robber was described as a man, between 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-10, wearing dark clothes and gloves, with a medium build. The second robber was also described as a man, between 6 foot and 6-foot-2, also wearing dark clothes and gloves with a thin build.

Anyone with information about the robbery can call Sgt. Tim Tebbetts or Detective Gomez-Lara at (626) 300-0722.

San Marino High Student Claims Teachers Failed To Report Rape Allegations

Mon, 08 Jun 2015 17:10:07 +0000

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Attorneys for a former San Marino High School student have filed a lawsuit alleging school officials were indifferent to her claim that she was raped by a fellow member of the campus debate team while they were in a relationship.

The lawsuit filed last week against the San Marino Unified School District in Los Angeles Superior Court alleges gender discrimination and seeks unspecified damages.

Starting in Oct. 2011, the plaintiff began dating her alleged assailant, who “forced (her) to have sex with him, against her will, on multiple occasions” by the following summer, according to the suit.

After the relationship ended in Nov. 2012, the student revealed what happened to a teacher in March 2013, the lawsuit states.

In response, the teacher said, “Honey, you were raped” and talked about the culture of rape and its occurrences on college campuses, according to the lawsuit.

While the teacher urged the plaintiff to discuss the alleged assault with her friends, she “advised that the police would not believe (her) and showed (her) articles supporting this position,” the suit states.

The teacher also failed to inform administrators about the plaintiff’s allegations despite the student’s ask for help in doing so,” according to the suit.

The lawsuit also states that the plaintiff informed several other teachers about the allegations, but none of them encouraged her to go to police.

According to the suit, the trauma from the alleged attacks caused the plaintiff to be late to classes or skip them altogether, and forced her to quit the debate team.

Bamboo To Go? The Huntington Botanical Gardens Provide Food For San Diego’s Giant Pandas

Tue, 24 Mar 2015 17:35:45 +0000

SAN MARINO (CBSLA.com) — Three of the San Diego Zoo’s star attractions are ordering their meals to go from a local garden.

Once a week, a team from the zoo’s browse horticulturists, which are specialists in growing dietary plant material for zoological collections, make a trek from San Diego to San Marino to obtain bamboo from The Huntington Library’s Botanical Gardens.

The Huntington’s plant collections include nearly 70 different species of bamboo, many of them native to China, offering a range of delicacies for the zoo’s giant pandas Bai Yun, Gao Gao and three-year-old Xiao Liwu.

“When the zoo dietician contacted us about harvesting some of our bamboo, we were happy to help,” David MacLaren, curator of Asian Gardens at The Huntington, said in a statement. “We’ve got plenty of bamboo to spare, so it’s great to be able to donate some of our surplus growth to such a worthwhile cause.”

The Huntington’s harvest supplements bamboo grown in the San Diego Zoo’s own groves and vegetation obtained from the San Diego Botanic Garden and other sources.

“The zoo has a limited supply of what they feed the pandas there, and they said it was almost like giving somebody a chocolate chip cookie who has been rice crackers,” MacLaren said.

The pandas eat up to 50 lbs of bamboo per day.

The Huntington Acquires Henry Fuseli’s ‘Three Witches’

Tue, 07 Oct 2014 22:52:12 +0000

SAN MARINO (AP) — Southern California’s Huntington Library has acquired an early version of Anglo-Swiss painter Henry Fuseli’s classic “The Three Witches” and will put it on display beginning Saturday.

Huntington officials said Tuesday the painting also known as “The Weird Sisters” appears to be a full-size study made about 1782.

That was sometime before Fuseli created the two known final versions of his scary looking work depicting the witches of Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth.”

One of those is at England’s Royal Shakespeare Company. The other is at Zurich’s Museum of Modern Art.

This one, acquired from a private collection, has never been displayed publicly.

Although the Huntington is known for its 18th century British paintings, this is its first work by Fuseli, one of the most celebrated artists of that period.

Flower With Scent Of Dead Body Set For Rare Bloom

Sat, 16 Aug 2014 19:16:25 +0000

SAN MARINO (AP) — A gigantic flower that smells like rotting flesh will soon bloom at botanical gardens near Los Angeles.

The “corpse flower” is rare not just for its pungent odor, but also because it blooms so infrequently.

The Pasadena Star-News reports that officials at the Huntington gardens in San Marino expect that within the week, their flower will fully unfurl, reaching about 5 feet.

According to the Huntington, there have been only about 20 corpse flower blooms in the United States. The plant is native to Indonesia.

San Marino Mayor Resigns After Video Captures Him Throwing Dog Waste In Neighbor’s Yard

Wed, 18 Jun 2014 06:45:01 +0000

SAN MARINO (CBSLA.com) — The mayor of San Marino has stepped down after he was captured on surveillance video tossing a bag of dog waste onto his neighbor’s walkway earlier this month.

Dennis Kneier announced his immediate resignation Tuesday in a letter to the city and the City Council.

“As is well known, early in the evening of Saturday, June 7, I had a lapse of judgment and discarded dog waste on a neighbor’s walkway,” Kneier wrote. “It was insensitive, disrespectful and wrong. I have apologized to my neighbor for my action, and I will pay a fine for littering. I can understand why this matter has some questioning my ability to lead the council. I want to assure you that something like this will not happen again.”

Philip Lao, Kneier’s neighbor, has said that the two men have been embroiled in a feud since 2008 because he disagrees with some of the mayor’s proposals.

Vice Mayor Eugene Sun will assume mayoral responsibilities through June 27, when the council will select a new mayor and vice mayor.

Kneier will remain a councilman until his term ends in November 2015.

Caught On Video: San Marino Mayor Creating A Stink After Throwing Dog Waste Into Neighbor’s Yard

Thu, 12 Jun 2014 03:59:00 +0000

SAN MARINO (CBSLA.com) — The mayor of San Marino is in the doghouse after surveillance video caught him throwing dog feces onto his neighbor’s yard.

Some residents are even calling for his resignation.

“What in the world were you thinking?” a San Marino resident said at a crowded meeting Wednesday night at City Hall. “What procedures do we go through to have him resign?”

(credit: CBS)

Mayor Dennis Kneier’s neighbor Phillip Lao says the two have been embroiled in an ongoing feud since 2008 because he disagrees with some of the lawmaker’s proposals.

Lao says he’s filing harassment charges against the mayor and the city.

“If I were in his place I would resign, in shame,” Lao said.

The mayor apologized at the start of Wednesday’s meeting.

“I have absolutely regretted that action. I have apologized to the property owner to which the bag ended up,” Kneier said.

But a few residents spoke out, saying an apology wasn’t enough — they want Kneier to step down from his post.

Some people at the meeting spoke in the mayor’s defense, saying he and his wife have worked hard for the residents in San Marino.

“There are few people in this community who have dedicated as much time as Liz and Dennis,” one resident said.

The mayor did not comment whether he would consider resigning despite multiple inquiries.

San Marino Mayor Caught On Camera Throwing Dog Feces On Neighbor’s Walkway

Tue, 10 Jun 2014 06:33:58 +0000

SAN MARINO (CBSLA.com) — The mayor of San Marino was caught on camera throwing dog feces in his neighbor’s yard.

The video shows Mayor Dennis Kneier tossing the bag of dog waste onto Philip Lao’s walkway.

“I’m the kind of guy that’s always picking up trash and I reached down and picked it up and I am walking down the street . . . and in a moment of stupidity, I guess I was tired of carrying it, I disposed of it on his walkway. It was a mistake,” he said.

Lao, who captured the incident on his home surveillance system, told CBS2 that he thinks it was retaliation because he opposes a neighborhood dog park at nearby Lacy Park.

The mayor said he’s written an apology to Lao, which was also published in the local newspaper.

“To think that what I did, which again I say was a lapse of judgement, had anything to do with how I feel or may feel in the future and he feels about a dog park is just so far from the truth I can’t believe it,” Kneier said.

The video was handed over to police, but Lao declined to file charges.

Luxury Listing: $17M San Marino Estate

Fri, 23 May 2014 00:41:23 +0000

CBS2’s Suzanne Marques takes viewers inside a beautiful $17 million estate in San Marino.

Home Invasion Robbery Suspect Allegedly Tied Up Housekeeper At Knifepoint

Thu, 24 Apr 2014 00:14:44 +0000

ALHAMBRA (CBSLA.com) — A 24-year-old man faces life in prison for allegedly breaking into a San Marino home and then demanding money from a housekeeper at knifepoint, authorities reported.

Yongcheng Huang pleaded not guilty Tuesday afternoon to two counts of false imprisonment by violence and one count each of first-degree burglary,home invasion robbery, kidnapping for ransom and attempted home invasion robbery, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday.

Huang allegedly forced his way into the home last Friday, tied up the housekeeper, demanded money from the woman and then waited for the homeowner to return when she said she didn’t have any cash.

The homeowner came home and allegedly gave $900 to Huang. Prosecutors say the suspect fled the scene and was arrested soon afterward.

Huang is due back at the Alhambra courthouse on May 13, where a judge will schedule a hearing date.

Prosecutors say Huang faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.

Rockefeller Imposter Sentenced To 27 Years To Life For San Marino Murder

Thu, 15 Aug 2013 17:13:16 +0000

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A con man who posed as a member of the famous Rockefeller family was sentenced Thursday to 27 years to life in prison for the murder of a San Marino man 28 years ago.

Christian K. Gerhartsreiter was found guilty of murdering John Sohus in February 1985 in April.

Gerhartsreiter, 52, was living in a guest cottage at the home of Sohus’ mother in San Marino in 1985 when Sohus and his wife went missing.

Witnesses said the man, who then called himself Chris Chichester, vanished.

Sohus’ bones were unearthed during excavation of a swimming pool on the property in 1994. His wife is still missing.

Gerhartsreiter was eventually found on the East Coast, living under aliases such as Christopher Crowe, Chip Smith and Clark Rockefeller.

He had married a wealthy woman and controlled her funds, but his identity unraveled when he kidnapped their daughter during a custody dispute. She testified that he became increasingly paranoid when police begin inquiring about him.

When he was unmasked, he became the subject of magazine articles, true crime books and TV movies that sought to explore his bizarre story and get to the heart of the man behind the pseudonyms.

The resulting publicity led California authorities to revisit the Sohus disappearance. They realized the man in custody in Boston was not an heir to the Rockefeller fortune but was the man who had lived in San Marino decades earlier.

Gerhartsreiter was charged with Sohus’ murder in 2011 while he was serving time in Massachusetts for the kidnapping of his daughter. He was close to the end of his sentence when he was extradited to California.

Police: No Threat After Bomb Scare At San Marino High School

Mon, 08 Jul 2013 16:08:48 +0000

PASADENA (CBSLA.com) — A reported bomb threat at a Pasadena-area high school posed no danger to students and staff, police said Monday.

The threat was reported at San Marino High School at 2701 Huntington Dr. sometime around 8 a.m., according to reports.

One parent told KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO she was notified upon dropping her daughter off for summer school.

“We pull up, the teacher tells us all the classes are in lockdown, there was a bomb threat, and we’re waiting for the police to show up,” she said.

Police arrived shortly after 8 a.m., according to KNX 1070. Officers gave the all clear at around 8:50 a.m..

No other details were immediately available.

Family And Friends Gather To Remember Man Murdered By Rockefeller Impostor

Thu, 27 Jun 2013 06:34:20 +0000

LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE (CBS/AP) — Family and friends gathered Wednesday evening in La Canada to remember a man murdered by a conman who pretended to be a member of one of the richest families in America.

Twenty-seven-year-old computer programmer John Sohus and his wife, Linda, disappeared in 1985.

While Linda remains missing, John Sohus’ body was found in 1994, buried in the backyard of his mother’s former San Marino home.

A jury in April found Christian Gerhartsreiter, who once used the alias Clark Rockefeller, guilty of killing him.

At Wednesday’s memorial, John’s sister, Ellen Sohus, said her family can finally move on with his conviction.

Ellen spent a lot of time watching her brother’s killer in court but has little to say about him.

“I think he is ill. I think he is not well,” she told KCAL9 News.

The memorial was meant to coincide with Gerhartsreiter’s sentencing, which was scheduled for Wednesday. It has since been postponed to August.

Still, Ellen said the memorial was not about Gerhartsreiter, but about John and his wife.

“Many people have this common bond with Linda and John, and so it is just a really nice event. Really nice,” Ellen said.

Gerhartsreiter, who lived briefly in California in the 1980s, went by many names in the years following the disappearance of the Sohus newlyweds.

He eventually moved to New York, began working as a bonds trader on Wall Street, married and had a child. His identity unraveled when he kidnapped their daughter during a custody dispute.

The resulting publicity led authorities in San Marino to revisit the Sohus disappearance, and to Gerhartsreiter’s eventual conviction.

Gerhartsreiter could face a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison, plus two additional years because the jury also found that he used a blunt object and a sharp instrument as weapons in Sohus’ murder.

His lawyers have said they plan to appeal.

Gerhartsreiter’s sentencing is scheduled for August 15.

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)