LA County to send 112 deputies to inauguration

See the full article here: http://www.modbee.com/state_wire/v-print/story/535421.html

We're back! www.altadenasheriffs.org

We are pleased to announce that the 'official' website for the Sheriff's Support Group of Altadena has a new webmaster and will now be up-dated on a regular basis.

SSGA Board member, Bill Westphal, has taken over the position of webmaster for www.altadenasheriffs.org and he has already brought the site up-to-date.

There are new 'buttons' for the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) and the Altadena Sheriff's Clergy Council. There is also a 'Crime Log' providing residents with the latest information on crime in the Altadena Sheriff's Station service area.

This Blog will continue so now you will have two sources for the latest information about SSGA and the Altadena Sheriff's Station.

Shooting at Altadena liquor store

Follow this link for the full story: http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_10973878

2008 Food & Toy Drive

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Tour of Altadena - NEW!

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SAVE THE DATE! 12/06/08

The Altadena Sheriff's Station with the Los Angeles Sheriff's Athletic Association (LASAA) will be holding the 2008 Tour of Altadena.

The event will take place Saturday, December 6th, 2008 from 9:00 AM until 2:00 PM.

The Cycle-Thon is a 12.5 mile fun ride through Altadena. Start and finish will be at the Altadena Sheriff's Station, 730 East Altadena Drive. The ride starts at 9:00 AM. After the bike ride there will be a Barbecue at the Station featuring hot dogs, burgers, chips, salads and drinks. All for a small fee. The BBQ will start at 11:30 AM.

Visit the Sheriff's SHARE Trailer and meet Altadena Station Volunteer Groups: Sheriff's Support Group of Altadena, Community Advisory Committee, Altadena Clergy Council, Volunteers on Patrol, Altadena Posse Company # 7 & Altadena Mountain Rescue Team.

All proceeds will benefit the Altadena Sheriff's Station Annual Charitable Giving Campaign.

For more information contact: Sergeant Daniel Bartlett at: 626-798-1131 ext 2600.

Watch this space for more information.

11th Annual Haunted Jail

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JOB & RESOURCES FAIR - Oct. 18th

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2008 Summer Concert Series wrap up

The 12th Annual Summer Concerts in the Park came to a close on September 13th. We would appreciate your feed back on the acts we had and your overall impression of this year's Concerts.

Please take a moment to fill out this questionnaire. You can scan it and e-mail it to www.info@altadenasheriffs.org, or you can drop it off at the Altadena Sheriff's Station or, you can drop it in the mail to: SSGA, Altadena Community Center, 730 East Altadena Drive, Altadena, CA 91001

Thank you. See you next year!

2008 Summer Concert Series Questionnaire

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WOW! What a show with Rick Alviti and his Ultimate Tribute to Elvis Presley

What a great time we all had Saturday night for Rick Alviti's Ultimate Tribute to Elvis Presley. But... How in the world are we going to top that show for next year!? We'll find a way!


Patricia Sidrow from the Altadena Sheriff''s Station shares some of her photographs.

Rick Alviti the Ultimate Trbute to Elvis Presley - September 13th 7:00 PM Farnsworth Park

RICK ALVITI – THE ULTIMATE ELVIS TRIBUTE


Rick as Elvis is America’s leading and most respected artist in the country today. His tribute to Mr. Presley is flawless. His admiration for the King is apparent to all that have seen him.

Rick so impressed THE LAS VEGAS CONVENTION VISITORS AUTHORITY, that they appointed him spokesperson for the largest entertainment capital in the world – LAS VEGAS.

His Elvis Tribute performances have been received with standing ovations, performing at such venues as THE LAS VEGAS ROAD SHOW in 1998 (11 city tour), PLAYER’S ISLAND RESORT SHOWROOM, HOLIDAY INN CASINO, PLAYBOY MANSION, PALM DESERT MARRIOTT and THE DISNEYLAND HOTEL.

Rick Alviti’s film and television work is impressive. He has appeared on such shows as ELVIS IS ALIVE, VICKI LAWRENCE SHOW and the award winning E.R. with GEORGE CLOONEY. And he has appeared in many music videos.

Miller Lite paired Rick Alviti as Elvis with Winston Cup’s popular Rusty Wallace in conjunction with NASCAR for a national commercial.
In 1999 to present, Rick opened his own Theatre in North Myrtle Beach. Rick Alviti is a gentleman’s gentleman. When you see his Tribute to Elvis – you will be on your feet for more !!!!

Munyungo August 30th Farnsworth Park 7:00 PM.

Munyungo

DARRYL MUNYUNGO JACKSON

Seasoned percussionist Darryl Munyungo Jackson possesses an ever-increasing collection of instruments with which to execute his craft. That is one of the reasons this warm & unassuming West Coast artist can be found in virtually any musical setting—whether it’s Funk, Pop, Jazz, Latin, Reggae, or traditional dance music of such countries as Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Haiti, Brazil & Cuba.

Despite his youthful appearance, Munyungo is no newcomer: in his over thirty years of playing, he has developed an awesome versatility & became a well-respected & much requested session, concert & tour player. He has performed with Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Kenny Loggins, Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves, the Zawinul Syndicate, George Howard, Ronnie Laws, The Temptations, Four Tops, The Supremes, Bennie Maupin, Bill Summers, Marcus Miller, & dozens of others, including numerous ethnic music & dance troupes.

Munyungo’s passion for the timbales was only the beginning. From that point, he made the natural progression to Congas, Bongos, Latin Percussion & beyond, eventually to religious Bata Drumming & numerous drums & percussion from many different cultures.

Subsequently, he met & worked with traditional drummers from Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, China & Japan resulting in a collection of over four hundred percussion instruments & drums from all over the world — all of which he plays proficiently.

Why that name? On several occasions, he performed with some players from Africa & the Caribbean, who would shout “Munyungo!” (Which is a Zulu word meaning “door” or “entrance”) to cheer him on as he played — and it wasn’t long before the word attached to him as a nickname.

Now, for him, the name means “Gateway to Heaven.”
Munyungo is deeply committed to understanding — & keeping alive — the tradition surrounding the instruments he plays. “It’s hard to study drums without studying the cultures from which they come,” he points out. This respectfulness seasons his playing with hearty passion & enjoyment.

For series information visit: www.altadenasheriffs.blogspot.com or call; 626-296-2103

Robert Pope Ensemble August 16th 7:00 PM Farnsworth Park

Benson Brown

A BIOGRAPHICAL OVERVIEW
Benson Brown's musical career spans a period of 40 years. His vocal stylings encompass a variety of musical idioms such as ballads and show tunes tastefully laced with jazz, R & B and gospel.

His early professional career began with singing on the piano bar circuit at various supper clubs and dinner houses on the West Coast from San Diego to San Francisco.
During an engagement on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood he met Jimmy Rowles, a renowned jazz pianist and was invited to sing with him at Sherry's on the Strip, a popular jazz nightspot.
While enjoying a successful stint with Jimmy Rowles, he was heard by Louie Belson who invited him to appear with his big band at the Hollywood Palladium and various theatres in New York City.

Benson, being an accomplished pianist himself, later formed a jazz trio called Feva. He again had success playing such popular nightspots as Joan Rivers' "Ye Little Club," the National Playboy Club circuit and several European tours.

His latest endeavor is based on the nostalgic premise of bringing back the beautiful music from the 40's, 50's and 60's by such vocal icons as Nat King Cole, Billy Eckstine and Johnny Hartman, while using his own vocal stylings and interpretations. Benson Brown is a new millennium balladeer with his roots· firmly embedded in the rich sounds of jazz from a kinder, cooler, gentler time.

Robert Pope
Bassist

Robert Pope started studying and playing the upright bass in New York City in the 1960s. He studied with Ron Carter and Cecil McBee. His first professional gig was in 1965 with the original Inkspots, led by Deek Watson.

He was also a member of the Jazz Mobile Band in New York City in the late '60s. He led several groups and freelanced until 1990, when he returned to his hometown, Pasadena, Calif.
He attended Pasadena Community College's Jazz Program and played in the Studio Jazz Band and the Pasadena Community Orchestra.

Prior to forming Sounds of Jazz Quintet, he freelanced in the Los Angles area. He played the W orId Stage several times with his band, and his group played three years in a row on the Jazz Caravan. He and his band also played at the Temecula Jazz Festival and at Club 322. Today, he freelances around the Los Angeles area and performs with singer Benson Brown.

Louis Van Taylor Farnsworth Park - August 9th, 2008 - 7:00 PM

Louis Van Taylor

Louis Van Taylor's musical influences can be traced to his parent’s appreciation of jazz, ranging from the likes of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughn and Dizzy Gillespie. Louis spent his first eleven years of growth in the private and public schools of Salt Lake City, Utah, enjoying the sounds of classical music and his father’s choice of Miles Davis’ "Sketches of Spain" and Cannonball's and John Coltrane's duet recordings chiming throughout the family's home. Though interested in learning the violin, upon leaving Utah and arriving in Los Angeles during the late 60’s, Louis Taylor Sr. encouraged his son to pursue a wind instrument. His junior high school teacher at Foshay, Mrs. Bicknell, provided her students an opportunity to try out all the instruments: woodwinds, brass and percussion, before choosing the instrument of their liking. Louis’ choice was the B-flat soprano clarinet and in less than two weeks the bass clarinet. After a brief stay in Los Angeles the Taylor Family moved to Pasadena, where Louis upon hearing a friend’s rendition of "Wade in The Water," on the tenor saxophone, made a change. From stage bands to a top-40 band, Louis abandoned the bass clarinet for the tenor, nurtured by the sounds Eddie Harris, John Coltrane, Stanley Turrentine, Wilton Felder, Junior Walker, Jimmy Heath, Joe Henderson, Eric Dolphy and the like. With private study and mentorship from Warne Marsh, the LB West Coffee House early morning jams with drummer Candy Finch, Charles Owens, Bill Greene, Buddy Collete, and a dear friend Gary Hammon, the lure of mastery was on. He attended CSLA for his bachelor degree in Music and private study through the Berkley School of Music Correspondence course while a member of the Ray Charles orchestra. Now adding all the saxophones and woodwinds to his arsenal, Louis has been much sought after with the likes of his first professional job with the Temptations featuring Dennis Edwards and Otis Williams, a twenty year association and employment with Ray Charles, to the Gap Band, Kool and the Gang, Gerald Wilson, Jimmie and Jeannie Cheatham, Maxine Weldon, Charles Wright, Eric Benet, Carl Thomas and many esteemed others.

www.louisvantaylor.com

For series information visit: www.altadenasheriffs.blogspot.com or call; 626-296-2103

National Night Out, August 5th at the Loma Alta Equestrian Center UPDATED 7/29/08

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THOSE MANNING BOYS July 26th, 7:00 PM Farnsworth Pub

Those Manning Boys

Meet Mike and Sean Manning, brothers, respectively the oldest and the youngest of eight siblings born to Sis and Ray Manning and raised in Altadena. Both are graduates of St. Elizabeth Parish School in Altadena and La Salle High School (Pasadena).

Mike is a guitarist of 44 years. He plays the bass guitar, 6-string and 12-string all with equal talent and abandon. Through college and prior to military service he played in rock ‘n roll garage bands. Today he is the director of the 8:30 Folk Mass choir at St. Elizabeth Church.

Sean is a tenor in the 10:00AM Mass choir at St. Elizabeth Church. He has been performing his repertoire of Irish folk music for over 10 years. It was his idea to team up with his brother and form a duet today known as Those Manning Boys.

For the past six years Those Manning Boys have been delighting people at parties with their act which employs the authentic character of music found in the public houses of Ireland. They have made appearances at Matt Denny’s Restaurant and Ale House in Arcadia and Gallagher’s Irish Pub in Long Beach. They are a regular at the various fund-raising events at St. Elizabeth, and have made appearances for special events such as the Sierra Madre Cancer Walk Marathon and the Friends of Ireland St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

This is the fourth appearance of Those Manning Boys at the Sheriff’s Support Group Summer Concert Series at Farnsworth Park and they hope that people will delight in the music and even participate in an organized sing-along.

For series information visit: www.altadenasheriffs.blogspot.com or call; 626-296-2103

The America Flyers July 12th 7:00 PM Farnsworth Park, Altadena CA

THE AMERICAN FLYERS


The American Flyers came to be in the early 1990’s, born of players that had formed strong friendships in a number of different bands in the 1980’s. The flyers have gone through numerous versions since that time with all members maintaining a strong fraternal bond with one another.

The current line up includes founding members Phil Capuano (Drums), and Van Nixholm (original bassist and current rhythm guitarist), Rex Forman (Base Guitar) from the band’s 3rd rendition, and Gene Diorio (Lead Guitar) from our 2nd incarnation and the guy with the greatest performance longevity in the band.

As in the beginning, these guys play together because they enjoy the camaraderie they share and the music they make. The music they enjoy, mostly rock, blues, and country all has some personal attachment to one member or another, whether they are present players or not currently performing. Please enjoy their heartfelt musical offerings. Partners, brothers, and friends.

For series information visit: www.altadenasheriffs.blogspot.com or call; 626-296-2103

Letter to the Editor

We, the undersigned, all Altadena Outstanding Citizens of the Year who continue to be deeply involved with and concerned for our community are writing in answer to the claims of the Altadena Town Council regarding police abuse and the expectation of reprisals printed in the Star News letters on May 30.

The facts, the documentation, and the racial make up of our station and patrol personnel--both past and present--stand in opposition to these claims as well as to any casual observations by Council members from wherever they work or reside. Whatever their perch at any given time of day they certainly don’t capture the larger view of what has occurred one block or one mile away in this community of nine square miles and more than 46,000 people.

The Altadena Station personnel, patrol deputies, volunteers, and command staff conduct community outreach on a level rarely seen elsewhere in the County of Los Angeles. The forums and organizations available to the community through the Sheriff’s station include Neighborhood Watch, Altadena Clergy Council, Sheriff’s Support Group of Altadena, Community Advisory Committee, Youth Activities League, Mountain Rescue, Volunteers on Patrol, and the Mounted Posse. Through the volunteer efforts of these groups and those working at the station we have our Summer Concert Series at Farnsworth Park, community barbeques, community presentations, and forums throughout the town all in an effort to reach out to the community to communicate and receive feedback. The folks from the station when conducting these forums relate to the community what is involved with law enforcement and the difficulties that Deputies face every day in their effort to keep us safe and protect our property. At these presentations they regularly reinforce the reporting procedures.

The Town Council exists to bring together community members and the government agencies that serve their needs in a proactive forum in order for information to be exchanged and so that difficulties on the part of anyone in town can be addressed by the appropriate representative. Blindsiding and grandstanding statements for the benefit of the cameras without giving sufficient notice so that the representative may present an informed response discredits the Council and its members and diminishes their effectiveness.

It behooves the members of the Altadena Town Council to become enlightened with all that is provided them by the Sheriff’s at our station and understand the recourse available on behalf of their constituents. They should endeavor to hone their communication abilities as well. As elected representatives of the community it is a small effort they should each undertake.

Jamie Bissner Cumi MacKenzie
Tecumseh Shackelford Ken Balder Sandra Thomas, PhD
Bob Klomburg Kathy Klomburg Tom Joyce

DOWNBEAT EXPRESS June 28th 7:00 PM Farnsworth Park

DOWN BEAT EXPRESS

The Down Beat Express Big Band was founded in Pasadena twenty-five years ago by saxophonist Safford Chamberlain. Pat Emmett took the baton a year later. Since then, the band has played dozens of gigs from park concerts to wedding receptions to stage shows and jazz festivals.

In '07 for instance, in addition to the Farnsworth Park Concert, and private functions, the band performed at "Two-Strike Park" in LaCrescenta, The Sun City Theater in Palm Desert where it headlined "The Veterans' Day Salute Stage Show", and at the "Orange County Live Music Festival" in Anaheim.

Tonight's performance features the band's popular vocal star Jennifer Gates. John Noreyko will be our male vocalist for the 'Salute to Sinatra' set. John is a staff performer at Disneyland, tours parts of the U.S. annually, and does his 'Sinatra Sings' show in various L.A. area Clubs. Daveena limonick will also perform on the ‘Sinatra Set’. She has performed with the Downbeat Express over they last two years at Farnsworth Park.

The Down Beat Express' CD "The Silver Project" featuring Jennifer on vocals, is available for purchase at all performances.For more information contact Pat Emmett at: 928-566-4078 or pme@npgcable.com

For series information visit: www.altadenasheriffs.blogspot.com or call; 626-296-2103

ELLIOTT CAINE 6/14/08 Farnsworth Park - 7:00 PM

The Elliott Caine Sextet

Inspired by '60 "Blue Note" style jazz, as well as by the music of Tito Puente and Mongo Santamaria, the Elliott Caine Sextet plays original compositions, as well as the works of Lee Morgan, Hank Mobley, Donald Byrd, et al. The group's critically acclaimed first release, Orientation, has received generous radio airplay across the USA, being the "#1 most added" for jazz, nationally, for the week of 11/5 to 11/11/99, eventually reaching #29 on national radio's Gavin List in January 2000. Two of Elliott's original compositions from the CD are featured in the film, "Relax...It's Just Sex,” starring Jennifer Tilly, Paul Winfield, and other notables. The film has headlined at many film festivals and has been distributed internationally. Le Supercool, the 2nd CD release by the Elliott Caine Sextet, further explores musical ideas initiated with Orientation. Released in early 2001, Le Supercool received impressive notice nationally and internationally, attaining the rank of #14 for radioplay in the USA in early February 2001 (Gavin Jazz List). Additionally, music from Le Supercool has been used as interlude music for radio station WBAI in New York City. Selections from Le Supercool have been played on radio stations in Russia, France, Indonesia, Mexico, Canada and other nations in addition to the USA. Additionally, music from both CDs has been used for television and other "independent" films.

http://www.elliottcaine.com/

Altadena Sheriff's Station announces 'Community Forum'

Altadena Sheriff’s Station

And

Altadena Sheriff’s Community Advisory Committee

Present

IDENTITY THEFT
&
ELDER ABUSE

Community Forum




Join Altadena Station Captain Roosevelt Blow and Commercial Crimes Bureau Sergeant McCants for an informative presentation on Identity Theft and Elder Abuse. Learn how not to become a victim and what to do if you do. A question and answer session along with public commentary will immediately follow the presentation.

June 12, 2008
3:30 pm- 5:30pm or 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
(both presentations will be the same)
held at the
Altadena Community Center
730 E. Altadena Dr.
Altadena, Ca 91001





For additional information, contact the Altadena Sheriff’s Station Community Relations office at (626)296-2103 or (626)296-2104.

SAVE THE DATE! 2008 Summer Concert Series (Up-dated 5/14/08)

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Sheriff's Department gives tips on gangs in Altadena

Reprinted with the permission of the Pasadena Star News

Sheriff's department gives tips on gangs in Altadena
By Robert S. Hong, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 03/26/2008 10:41:26 PM PDT

Special Section
Gangs: From Prisons to Back Yards Frank Girardot's Crime Scene blog

ALTADENA - Inside a packed Altadena Community Center, local sheriff's personnel gave residents an eye-opening crash course on Altadena's gangs, featuring a slide-show presentation that showed the blacked-out images of reputed area gang members.

Sheriff's Department Detective Steve Long of the Altadena Station presented slides Wednesday night showing gang members flashing hand signs and wearing gang-specific colors, and he gave residents a primer on the methods deputies use to spot gangsters.

Long showed residents what to look for if they see someone in their neighborhood they suspect might belong to a particular gang. Parents also can use the tools to determine if their children are involved or at risk of joining a gang, Long said.

He advised parents to check their children's backpacks, notebooks and textbooks for signs of gang graffiti, and he showed them what to look for. He also reviewed a list of at least 11 street gangs currently operating in and around Altadena.

"It was a fantastic, fast-paced presentation," concluded Altadena resident Colleen Bissner. "It was interesting learning how to translate all of the gang language and knowing which ones wear which colors."

Residents remain law enforcement's first line of defense in fighting street gangs, officials told the audience.

"You are the people that will help us stop these crimes," said Sgt. Al Pelaez.

Bissner and several other residents said much of the presentation provided information they never knew about local gangs. Community activist and anti-gang worker Tim Rhambo said that, while he enjoyed the presentation, he had hoped for more input from local teens and young adults.

"It's good that it was an Altadena-focused event and everybody here lives in the community," said Rambo. "I wish there had been some young people to help give the presentation."

robert.hong@sgvn.com
(626) 578-6300, Ext. 4586

March Community Forum

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2008 Summer Concerts need your help

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Getting it down on tape

Reprinted with permission of the Pasadena Star News

Getting it down on tape
Recorders will help deputies on stops
By Robert S. Hong, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 02/21/2008 10:25:12 PM PST


ALTADENA - Area deputies may be packing more than guns when they make a traffic stop in coming weeks.

Through a $3,200 donation from the Sheriff's Support Group of Altadena, officials have purchased 60 electronic voice recorders to be used during traffic stops and other official interactions with the public.

"This affords (deputies) a tool in dealing with people on traffic stops," said Lt. Scott Young. "When complaints come in alleging they have been rude, they're encouraged to use the tape."

From time to time, people stopped for traffic violations make complaints against the deputies involved, accusing them of being harsh or curt with their language, he said.

When internal officials look into the complaint, it will be to a deputy's benefit to have the conversation recorded, Young said.

Carrying recorders is a trend among law enforcement agencies, but most officers purchase their own recorders, Young said.

The station has provided recorders in recent years, but many of them have stopped working or were kept by deputies who have left the department, Young said.

And they also serve other purposes.

"It's a great tool for gathering evidence and can be used in a series of ways," Capt. Roosevelt Blow said.

The recorders are useful for keeping track of any information or confessions made while a deputy is in-field, he said.

The Sheriff's Support Group was formed in the 1980s to keep the Altadena
Station open during a county budget crisis, and now frequently supplies the station with funding for various items.

"We've got them mountain bikes, computer monitors, scanners, a lot of electronic hardware and things that are just not available in the budget," said group president Robert Klomburg.

Along with the voice recorders, the group also purchased four new Tasers and 27 new holsters for the station.

robert.hong@sgvn.com
(626) 578-6300, Ext. 4586

Chief Ronnie Williams set to retire

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If you plan to attend, enclose a note indicating you would like to be seated at the Altadena Tables.

Altadena Sheriff's Station Newsletter January 2008

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Altadena Station News Letter (continued)

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Altadena Sheriff's Station announces 'Community Forum'

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