Mountain Views News          Saturday, April 30, 2011

4

Mountain Views-News Saturday, April 30, 2011 


NASA Technology 
Looks Inside Japan’s 
Nuclear Reactor

Week-long 
Crime Spree 
Halted by 
Pasadena 
Police


Two men were taken into 
custody by police Monday 
after allegedly committing 
a series of robberies from 
Beverly Hills to Arcadia to 
Pasadena.

Juan Navarro, 24, and 
Gregorio Villalobos, 28, 
both from San Fernando 
Valley were arrested without 
incident police said.

Between 11:30 a.m. and 
12:39 p.m. Monday, three 
armed robberies and one 
attempted robbery occurred 
in Pasadena. Police said the 
crimes were thought to be 
committed by Navarro and 
Villalobos armed with a 
handgun and driving a gray 
GMC Yukon. 

Police said approximately 
five minutes after the last 
robbery, officers and the 
police helicopter searched 
the area and located the 
two suspects driving 
southbound in the 600 
block of Lincoln Avenue. 
The vehicle was stopped 
and inside the Yukon was 
property taken from the 
victims, along with a loaded 
.45 caliber handgun.

Following the arrest, 
Pasadena Robbery 
Detectives Carlos Sainz 
and Carolyn Gordon 
researched similar robbery 
cases reported in Los 
Angeles County. Detectives 
identified Navarro and 
Villalobos as likely suspects 
who committed multiple 
armed robberies in the 
cities of Los Angeles, 
Beverly Hills, Glendale, and 
Burbank. The spree appears 
to have begun on April 19, 
2011 and targeted male 
adults they said.

The Los Angeles District 
Attorney’s office filed six 
counts of armed robbery; 
three counts of attempted 
robbery; and personal use 
of a firearm. The suspects 
were arraigned Wednesday 
and remain in-custody with 
a bail set at $900,000.00. 

Persons with information 
regarding these crimes are 
asked to contact detectives at 
(626) 744-4512 or Pasadena 
Police Department dispatch 
at (626) 744-4241.

 Image shows Urbie, one of PackBot’s “ancestors.” This lightweight 
structure, which included some NASA technology, had rugged 
features that were useful in emergency response situations. 
age credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

 A new rover named PackBot, 
designed by JPL and created 
by IRobot, is being used to 
take radioactive readings 
in Japan’s Fukushima 
nuclear reactors the agency 
announced Thursday. 

The iRobot PackBot employs 
technologies used previously 
in the design of “Rocky-7,” 
which served as a terrestrial 
test bed at JPL for the 
current twin Mars rovers, 
Spirit and Opportunity. 
PackBot’s structural features 
are modeled after Rocky-7, 
including the lightweight, 
high-torque actuators that 
control the rover; and its 
strong, lightweight frame 
structure and sheet-metal 
chassis.

PackBot’s other “ancestor,” 
called Urbie, was an urban 
reconnaissance robot 
with military and disaster 
response applications. Urbie’s 
lightweight structure and 
rugged features also made it 
useful in emergency response 
situations; for example, at 
sites contaminated with 
radiation and chemical spills, 
and at buildings damaged by 
earthquakes. Urbie’s physical 
structure was designed by 
iRobot Corp., Bedford, Mass., 
while JPL was responsible 
for the intelligent robot’s 
onboard sensors and vision 
algorithms, which helped the 
robot factor in obstacles and 
determine an appropriate 
driving path. Following the 
success of Urbie’s milestones, 
the team at iRobot created its 
successor: PackBot.

Since 2002, iRobot has 
delivered variations of the 
PackBot model to the U.S. 
Army, U.S. Air Force and 
U.S. Navy. The tactical robot’s 
first military deployment 
was to Afghanistan in July 
2002, to assist soldiers by 
providing “eyes and ears” 
in the most dangerous or 
inaccessible areas. It was 
also used to search through 
debris at Ground Zero after 
the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in 
New York.

Recently, iRobot provided 
two PackBots to help after 
the devastating March 
11, 2011, earthquake and 
tsunami in Japan. The 
PackBot models, currently 
taking radioactivity readings 
in the damaged Fukushima 
Daiichi nuclear power plant 
buildings, are equipped with 
multiple cameras and hazard 
material sensors. The images 
and readings provided by the 
PackBots indicated radiation 
levels are still too high to 
allow human repair crews to 
safely enter the buildings.

Seismic Stability Closes Fire Station

By Dean Lee

 City officials were forced 
Wednesday to close and vacate 
a fire station along Avenue 64 
after it was learned that there 
could be a structural failure in 
the event of a large earthquake. 
The city held a press conference 
making the announcement 
at Station #39, located at 50 
Avenue 64, just one day before 
the closer.

 “Firefighter safety is of utmost 
concern and this closure is of a 
critical, time sensitive nature 
so as to not jeopardize the 
crew and apparatus.” Fire Chief 
Dennis Downs said. “A large 
seismic event is imminent, even 
though we can’t predict when it 
will occur. As first responders, 
our Firefighters need to get to an 
emergency in a timely manner. 
According to this report, in the 
case of a significant earthquake 
the crew members assigned to 
Station #39 could very well need 
rescue themselves. We recognize 
that we cannot afford to wait to 
take action,” 

 Downs referred to the 
department’s 2005-2010 
Strategic Plan, an analysis of 
the city’s eight fire stations. The 
report looked everything form 
structural integrity to aesthetic 
conditions he said.

Station #39, consisting of 
masonry bearing walls, wood 
frame floor and a wood framed 
roof was identified for potential 
structural failure if subjected to 
significant seismic loads. 

 The report states, in part, 
“There is significant risk of 
structural failure of the 2.5 
inch steel columns supporting 
the lintel in masonry opening. 
This portion of the second 
floor is in danger of collapse 
when subjected to seismic 
loading. Safety of the fire crew 
and protection of equipment 
is paramount and should be 
addressed without delay.” In 
addition, the study found that 
there is no practical manner in 
which to resolve Station #39’s 
structural deficiencies officials 
said.

 United States Geological 
Survey (USGS) data was utilized 
to determine design standards 
to withstand seismic loads, 
as outlined in the California 
Building Code as “Essential 
Service Facilities.” All new 
Fire Stations built in California 
are required to be built to 
this Essential Service Facility 
standard they said.

 Downs said “Pasadena 
Fire Stations #31 and #38 
in combination with Aid 
Agreements with adjacent 
agencies, which include the City 
and County of Los Angeles, will 
help in maintaining response 
times in the area served by 
Station #39.” 

 He went on to state, “The City 
Manager has recommended 
allocating a $400,000 Capital 
Improvement Program (CIP) 
request to initiate design and 
entitlements on the replacement 
facility.”

DISARM Searches Net 166 
Arrests, 27 Handguns, Cash

Author of 
Helen of 
Pasadena 
to Speak

 During the month of 
March, D.I.S.A.R.M. Officers 
confiscated 27 guns and six 
rifles, over $525,000 in illegal 
drugs and drug money, and 
arrested 166 probationers 
during 1259 unannounced 
searches of residences, persons, 
vehicles, and businesses, 
announced Los Angeles County 
Mayor Michael D. Antonovich . 

The searches were conducted 
through the Probation 
Department’s D.I.S.A.R.M. 
(Developing Increased Safety 
through Arms Reduction 
Management) program, 
initiated by Supervisor 
Antonovich following the 
tragic August 1999 shootings 
at the North Valley Jewish 
Community Center and the 
murder of a postal worker by 
Buford Furrow, an armed felon 
on probation from Washington 
State .

The D.I.S.A.R.M. program 
entails pairing Deputy 
Probation Officers with local 
law enforcement personnel 
to perform unannounced 
searches of probationers and 
their homes, as a condition 
of probation, and targets the 
confiscation of guns, drugs, and 
other contraband.

Lian Dolan, bestselling 
author of Helen of 
Pasadena, will discuss and 
sign her book on Thursday, 
May 12 at 7 p.m. at Pasadena 
Central Library’s Donald 
Wright Auditorium, 285 E. 
Walnut St. Books will be 
available for purchase at the 
event. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Dolan is a writer, producer, 
talk show host, podcast 
pioneer and social media 
consultant. She writes 
the blog and produces the 
weekly podcast The Chaos 
Chronicles a humorous look 
at modern motherhood 
that gets 50,000 downloads 
a month. She writes 
weekly for Oprah.com as a 
parenting expert. A decade 
ago, Dolan created Satellite 
Sisters, a talk show, blog 
and website with her four 
real sisters. From 2000 to 
2009, Satellite Sisters won 
eight Gracie Allen Awards 
and had a million listeners 
a week. Dolan is also 
the co-author of Satellite 
Sisters Uncommon Senses, 
published by Riverhead. 
She is a popular speaker for 
groups and corporations, 
always using humor as a 
hook.

Citizen Journalism Meet-up

 

 

 

 

The Pasadena Community 
Network and this newspaper 
are holding a workshop on 
Citizen Journalism. 

 This group is the place where 
aspiring journalists can learn 
from trained professionals 
and support their local 
community by covering 
what’s really happening in 
their neighborhoods.

 We will put the news in your 
hands. Learn how to find 
the story, the tools needed 
to capture the story and the 
means to tell the story using 
the power of video, audio 
and print along with online 
social media The next 
meeting is April 26 from 
6 p.m. to 8p.m. This week 
at the Donald R. Wright 
Auditorium (see below). For 
more info call 626.794.8585 
or visit pasadenan.com.

 
Learn not just how 
to blog but how to 
report the news

John Singleton Named Honorary 
Chair of The PCC Foundation For 
The Center For The Arts

Pet of the 
Week

 
John Singleton, acclaimed 
film director and Pasadena 
City College alumnus, has 
been named the honorary 
chair of the Center for the 
Arts capital campaign. 
He joins the campaign as 
PCC looks to augment and 
complete the state-of-the-
art building as a student and 
community resource with 
community support.

 “PCC is very important to 
me because without PCC I 
never would have gone onto 
film school and eventually 
become a filmmaker and 
realize my dream,” Singleton 
said. “The arts are the savior 
of any society and to have 
a great new facility where 
resource access is available 
for students would just 
be phenomenal for the 
community.”

 Singleton, who is best 
known for his 1991 Oscar-
nominated film “Boyz in the 
Hood,” studied film at PCC 
in the mid-1980s. He took 
his first cinematography 
class under PCC instructor 
Jack Akien and later 
transferred to the University 
of Southern California to 
earn a bachelor’s degree in 
Film Writing. His body of 
work includes such movies 
as “Poetic Justice,” “Higher 
Learning,” and “Shaft.” In 
1992, the then 24-year-
old Singleton became the 
youngest person, and the first 
African American, ever to be 
nominated for an Academy 
Award for Best Director.

 “When I attended PCC 
and took a cinematography 
class there, I learned the 
foundation of camera work, 
editing, and how to make a 
film work.” Singleton said. 
“That class really got me 
thinking about what was 
possible for me in film.”

 “We are very humbled 
and honored to have 
someone of John’s stature as 
honorary chair of the Capital 
Campaign for the PCC 
Center for the Arts,” said Dr. 
Lisa Sugimoto, vice president 
of College Advancement. 
“We at PCC are very proud 
of his accomplishments and 
his willingness to be involved 
with the institution he credits 
for his start in filmmaking.”

 Singleton will be working 
with Preston Howard, the 
general campaign chair, 
for the PCC Foundation’s 
$3.5 million Center for the 
Arts capital campaign. The 
unnamed, 69,000-square-
foot building will encompass 
studios, classrooms, 
laboratories, auditoriums, 
rehearsal halls among other 
things.

 “There is still time to be 
involved with the campaign 
and make a positive 
difference in the lives of our 
students,” Sugimoto added.


City to Celebrate Free 
Comic Book Day May 7

 Pasadena Public Library 
will join with other libraries 
and comic book stores all 
over the United States in 
celebrating Free Comic Book 
Day on Saturday, May 7 from 
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. While 
supplies last, kids and teens 
can each get a free comic 
book at any of the following 
Pasadena Public Library 
locations; Allendale Branch 
Library - 1130 S. Marengo 
Ave., Hastings Branch 
Library - 3325 E. Orange 
Grove Blvd., Hill Avenue 
Branch Library – 55 S. Hill 
Ave., Lamanda Park Branch 
Library – 140 S. Altadena 
Dr., La Pintoresca Branch 
Library, 1355 N. Raymond 
Ave., Linda Vista Branch 
Library – 1281 Bryant St., 
Santa Catalina Branch 
Library – 999 E. Washington 
Blvd. and Central Library in 
the Children’s Room, 285 E. 
Walnut St. 

This year is the 10th annual 
celebration of this event, 
which is timed to coincide 
with the May release of 
superhero-themed movies. 
Central Library will also have 
video programs, a visit by 
popular artist Kazu Kibuishi, 
and more, from 11 a.m. to 2 
p.m.in the Children’s Story 
Room. Hastings Branch 
Library will be showing 
superhero videos including 
the very early Superman 
cartoons at 1 p.m. 

Why Free Comic Book Day? 
Aren’t things always free at 
the library? Yes, but this is 
a comic book that is free to 
keep, with no due date.

Why comics in the library? 
The traditional form of the 
comic book is a thin, monthly 
magazine, not very durable. 
Then, in the 1970s, the idea of 
book-length comics became 
more popular, reprinting 
older works or printing new 
works for the first time as 
books filled with comic book 
content. These books were 
called “graphic novels,” but in 
essence they were long comic 
books in better bindings, 
a better fit for libraries. La 
Pintoresca Branch Library 
was an early experimenter 
with circulating comics and 
graphic novels in a library 
setting. Local writers 
and artists have made 
appearances at the library 
and this has helped the 
collection and the readership 
to grow.

Quicksilver, a gorgeous, 
three year old, longhair cat 
is friendly and playful. She 
is also quite the talker and 
wants to be with you as 
much as possible. She will 
be a great pet for someone in 
need of a loyal companion. 
Come visit with Quicksilver 
today!

 The regular cat adoption 
fee is $70 which includes 
the spay or neuter surgery, 
microchip, vaccinations, 
and a free follow-up health 
check at a participating vet.

 Please call 626-792-7151 
and ask about A283538 
or come to the Pasadena 
Humane Society & SPCA, 
361 S. Raymond Ave , 
Pasadena CA , 91105 . 
Our adoption hours are 
11-4 Sunday, 9-5 Tuesday, 
Wednesday, Thursday, and 
Friday, and 9-4 Saturday. 
Directions and photos of 
all pets updated hourly 
may be found at www.
pasadenahumane.org

Green Day: 
Southern 
California 
Landscaping

Linda Vista Branch Library 
will host Green Day on 
Saturday, May 14 from 10 
a.m. to 6 p.m. Presented 
by the Theodore Payne 
Foundation, Los Angeles 
County Arboretum and 
other gardening experts. 
Learn about sustainable 
planting, gardening and 
landscaping design for 
the Southern California 
climate. Plants will be 
available for sale too!

Linda Vista Branch Library 
is located at 1281 Bryant St. 
For more information, call 
(626) 744-7278.

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No.327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com