Mountain Views News          Saturday, April 28, 2012

4


Mountain Views-News Saturday, April 28, 2012 

Dr. Jane Goodall Named 
Rose Parade Grand Marshal

City 

Appoints 
Boyer 

New PIO

Symphony and Scientists 
Partner to Create Chorus

 
Pasadena is a city rich with 
the arts and sciences, and the 
new JPL Chorus is perhaps the 
perfect blend of both. Formed 
earlier this year in partnership 
between the Pasadena 
Symphony Association and the 
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the 
JPL Chorus is comprised of 
JPL employees who rehearse 
weekly under the direction of 
Donald Brinegar, the Pasadena 
Symphony’s Director of 
Choruses. The JPL Chorus will 
debut in a free, public concert 
with the Pasadena City College 
Chamber Singers on May 5 
at 7:30pm at Ambassador 
Auditorium.

 The JPL Chorus is comprised 
of 53 employees who rehearse 
each Wednesday evening. Their 
concert program includes a 
mixture of classical repertoire 
to popular, with composers 
ranging from Benjamin Britten 
and Lennon/McCartney.

 According to Stephen 
Kulczycki, Deputy Director 
of Communications and 
Education at JPL (and a member 
of the bass section), the idea for a 
chorus came about after talking 
with Pasadena Symphony CEO 
Paul Zdunek about how the two 
organizations might be able to 
partner.

 “I suggested that we might get 
good participation if we tried 
a chorus, and Paul agreed,” 
explained Kulczycki. “We put 
out some test balloons, got 
about one hundred people to 
express some interest, and by 
the time we started rehearsing 
we had about fifty people 
regularly involved.”

 The singers come from a wide 
variety of roles within JPL, 
including scientists, engineers, 
administrators, software, 
business people, and more. “The 
idea is to celebrate JPL with our 
group’s enthusiasm about music 
and singing. It’s been a lot of fun, 
and I think what Don brings 
to this particularly is a great 
sense of joy in the experience,” 
continued Kulczycki.

 The JPL Chorus concert 
featuring the Pasadena City 
College Chamber Singers 
on May 5 at Ambassador 
Auditorium is free and open 
to the public. Reservations are 
not required. For additional 
information about the Pasadena 
Symphony Association or for 
a full schedule of concerts, 
contact the Box Office at 
626.793.7172 or visit www.
PasadenaSymphony-Pops.org.

By Dean Lee

 As she took to the stage 
Wednesday morning, Dr. Jane 
Goodall said she was a little 
startled when asked to be the 
2013 Tournament of Roses 
Grand Marshal confessing that, 
having grown up in England; 
she was not familiar with the 
Rose Parade and has never been 
to a football game in her life.

 “As Most of you know, I spent 
many, many years of my life 
out with the wild chimpanzees 
in Africa,” she said. “Kind of 
different from Pasadena.” 

Goodall told the small crowd 
of Tournament officials, media 
and friends and family that we 
should all care about the planet.

 “Just think, if we were to 
spend just a little bit of time 
each day thinking about the 
consequences of the choices 
we make,” she said. “The small 
choices, what we eat, what we 
wear, how we get from A to B. 
We would start making some 
changes that individually mean 
nothing but collectively around 
the planet, the more people 
that think about the future, 
that’s going to led to the kind of 
change we need.”

 She added, “Oh, then the places 
you’ll go,” a take on the parade 
theme.

 Goodall said she thought the 
Tournament of Roses brought 
out the best in human nature. 

“It symbolizes imagination, it 
symbolizes technology— the 
way the floats have evolved— 
and it certainly symbolizes 
endeavor and courage.”

 Tournament of Roses President 
Sally Bixby said the president 
has two duties, choose the 
parade theme and select the 
grand marshal. 

 “We selected our theme, ‘Oh, 
the Places You’ll Go!’ with Dr. 
Goodall in mind as Grand 
Marshal,” said Tournament 
of Roses President Sally 
Bixby. “The theme can be 
interpreted as a celebration of 
accomplishment, discovery and 
travel of course, but equally 
valid is its implicit call to action.”

 After riding down Colorado 
Blvd. Jan. 1 in front of a world 
television audience, Goodall 
will then toss the coin before the 
99th Rose Bowl Game. 


By Dean Lee 

 After a short three week 
stint without an official 
public information officer, 
City Manager Michael Beck 
announced Monday the 
appointment of William Boyer 
to the key position within city 
hall. 

Boyer replaces outgoing PIO 
Ann Erdman, who recently 
retired after serving the city 
for 21 years. 

 Erdman was known for 
working close with the mayor. 

“I have worked with Mr. Boyer 
in the time that he has been 
here, the last few days,” said 
Mayor Bill Bogaard. “And I’m 
very much reassured by his 
background and his focus on 
facts and commitment to be 
complete… in reporting on 
the events of the city.” 

 Beck said, most recently, Boyer 
served as the Communications 
Director for the County of 
Santa Barbara where he was 
the County’s Chief Public 
Information Officer. He was 
also the executive in charge 
of the County’s government 
television station. 

 Pasadena Community 
Access Corporation Executive 
Director Keri Stokstad said 
she knew Boyer well. Stokstad, 
who was also recently hired 
in January, is also from Santa 
Barbara. As PIO, Boyer 
will oversee KPAS the city’s 
government access television 
channel working with 
Stokstad.

 Boyer said Friday that 
he began his career as a 
journalist and had covered 
the Rose Parade for 10 years 
as a reporter for the Orange 
County Register, “I’m very 
familiar with Pasadena,” he 
said. He was also a journalist 
for Space News and has written 
for The Los Angeles Times, 
Final Frontier Magazine, Air 
& Space Smithsonian and 
numerous other publications. 


Sally Bixby and Dr. Jane Goodall

Pasadena Symphony at the Rose Bowl

Supervisor 
Calls for 
Report on 
Mislabeled 
Seafood

Museum Announces Free 
Chinese Culture Sundays 

Movies in the Park Program 
Expands To Robinson Park

 


 The popular Movies in the 
Park program, currently 
offered at Villa Parke and 
Victory Park, is expanding to 
Robinson Park. The animated 
film “Puss in Boots” will play 
on Friday, May 11, and “The 
Smurfs” on Friday, May 25. 
All movies will start at 7 p.m. 

 Hosted by the Human 
Services and Recreation 
Department, Movies in 
the Park Spring Series 
brings free movies – and 
free popcorn –to Robinson 
Park on alternating Fridays 
through May 25. All you 
need is your lawn chair and 
a blanket to enjoy the family-
friendly films. 

T he Movies in the Park 
Summer Series will begin 
Friday, June 8. 

For more information 
contact Yuriko Montes at 
626-744-7305 or Robinson 
Park staff at 626-744-7330. 

 For more information 
about the City of Pasadena, 
go online to www.
cityofpasadena.net.

Approved unanimously by 
the Board of Supervisors, a 
motion by Supervisor Michael 
Antonovich directed the 
Department of Public Health 
to work with Federal and State 
agencies to address seafood 
mislabeling in Los Angeles 
County.

 “Consumers must have 
confidence that the fish they 
are buying at restaurants and 
grocery stores is safe and 
labeled correctly,” Antonovich 
said. 

 Recently, Oceana, a non-profit 
organization, ran tests on 
seafood sold at sushi venues 
and grocery stores in Los 
Angeles County and found 
that more than 50% was not 
labeled correctly. 

Every single fish labeled as 
“snapper,” was a different fish, 
and 9 out of 10 sushi samples 
were mislabeled. In fact, 8 of 9 
sushi samples labeled as “white 
tuna” were actually “escolar” – 
a species that carries a health 
warning for its laxative effects. 

 The types of fish most 
frequently mislabeled were 
more expensive varieties 
including red snapper, white 
tuna, yellowtail, flounder, and 
sea bass. While less expensive 
fish such as, albacore, blue fin 
tuna, flounder and sockeye 
salmon were all labeled 
properly.

 Antonovich’s motion also 
calls for an assessment of 
the feasibility of Los Angeles 
County Public Health’s use 
of the FDA’s specialized 
laboratories for testing local 
samples of imported fish and a 
report back to the Board in 15 
days on actions that are being 
taken.

 Beginning May 6, 2012, 
Pacific Asia Museum 
introduces “Free Chinese 
Culture Sundays” presented 
by MetLife Foundation. This 
new event series highlights 
the rich traditions of Chinese 
cultural heritage and will be 
free and open to the public. 
These programs, held in the 
historic Chinese-style building 
and courtyard of Pacific Asia 
Museum, give the community 
an opportunity to explore 
Chinese art and culture through 
workshops, performances 
and presentations and the 
Pacific Asia Museum galleries 
completely free of charge on 
three select Sundays: May 6, 
June 3 and October 7, 2012.

 On May 6, visitors can 
“Be a Chinese Scholar for 
a Day.” During the Song 
Dynasty, Chinese scholars 
were expected to excel at the 
arts. This day-long program 
explores the wide variety of 
artistic skills expected of the 
scholarly classes, presented 
through performances, tours 
and interactive workshops. 
Ongoing throughout the day 
are craft activities and a family-
friendly gallery scavenger hunt. 
Beginning at 12 p.m., visitors 
can practice calligraphy, enjoy 
traditional Chinese music 
and sample tea in Pacific 
Asia Museum’s picturesque 
courtyard.Admission to Pacific 
Asia Museum is free all day for 
this event, and all activities and 
refreshments are also free of 
charge.

 On June 3, the Free Chinese 
Culture Sundays continue with 
“A Day with Kung Fu Masters” 
co-hosted by Joy of Kung Fu, 
featuring presentations and 
demonstrations by kung fu 
masters. A kung-fu film will 
be screened both before and 
after the program. October 7th’s 
Mid-Autumn Moon Festival 
is the grand finale to Pacific 
Asia Museum’s 2012 Chinese 
Culture Sundays. This day-long 
event includes performances, 
crafts and activities, and 
complimentary refreshments 
in partnership with the Chinese 
Culture Development Center. 
Admission to Pacific Asia 
Museum is free all day on June 3 
and October 7, and all activities 
are included.

 Free Chinese Culture Sundays 
are made possible by MetLife 
Foundation.


Citizen 
Journalism 
Meet-up

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

Pet of 
the Week

 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 
May 1 from 6 p.m. to 8p.m. 
at the Pasadena Community 
Network - Studio G, 2057 N. 
Los Robles Ave.

 For more info call 
626.794.8585 or visit 
pasadenan.com.


Dutch Pianist 
Bergmann 

to Perform


Measure to Modernize Financial 
Reporting By Public Officials 
Heads to Assembly Floor

 Shadow is a handsome six-
year-old black Chow Chow 
mix. He’s a big fellow, but don’t 
let that deter you, he’s very 
loving and affectionate. 

 Shadow’s adoption fee is 
$120, which includes his 
neuter surgery, a microchip, 
the first set of vaccinations, as 
well as a free follow-up health 
check at a participating vet. He 
also qualifies for the Seniors 
for Seniors program in which 
adopters 60 years old ,or older 
only pay the $20 mandatory 
microchip fee. New adopters 
will receive complimentary 
health and wellness exam 
from VCA Animal Hospitals. 
Ask an adoptions counselor 
for more information during 
your visit.

 Call the Pasadena 
Humane Society & SPCA at 
626.792.7151 to ask about 
A303682 or visit at 361 S. 
Raymond Ave. in Pasadena. 
Adoption hours are 11-4 
Sunday, 9-5 Tuesday –Friday, 
9-4 Saturday. Directions and 
photos of all pets can be found 
at www.pasadenahumane.org.

 Dutch pianist Eline 
Bergmann will be 
performing at Pasadena City 
College on April 28 at 2 p.m. 
in Harbeson Hall.

 Bergmann, a native of 
the Netherlands, has been 
playing the piano since age 
six. As a teenager she was 
admitted to the preparatory 
class of the North 
Netherlands Conservatory, 
where she studied with 
Alexander Makarov and 
Gerben Makkes van der 
Deijl. She participated 
frequently in national 
competitions like the Prinses 
ChristinaConcours, where 
she won the first prize in 
1994. The prize included a 
musical trip to St. Petersburg 
and London.

 In 1998, she performed in 
a Haydn piano concerto with 
the famous National Youth 
Orchestra, conducted by 
Roland Kieft. She graduated 
at the North Netherlands 
Conservatory in 2001 under 
the guidance of Hungarian 
concert pianist Klára Würtz.

 Bergmann currently lives 
in Amsterdam and gives 
many solo recitals. Recently 
she was a guest of the Dutch 
Classical Radio (Avro radio 
4), where she played pieces 
of Prokofiev’s Romeo & 
Juliet in the Concertgebouw 
Amsterdam. 

 For more information 
about the event, please 
call (626) 585-7684. For 
more information about 
Bergmann, please visit 
her website http://www.
elinebergmann.com.

 Assemblymember Anthony 
Portantino’s proposal to update 
and modernize financial 
reporting for politicians 
and public officials has 
been approved in Assembly 
Appropriations and is now on 
its way to the full Assembly for 
approval.

 Each year, politicians and 
public officials must complete 
what is known as a Form 700 – 
Statement of Economic Interest. 
It gives the public and watchdog 
groups a way to keep tabs on 
the outside financial interests of 
officeholders and other officials 
to ensure that they avoid 
conflicts of interest.

 “These forms haven’t been 
updated in more than 35 years 
and are way out-of-date. It’s 
time to make sure the public, 
good government advocates 
and the media know where 
there are potential conflicts,” 
commented Portantino.

 Portantino’s AB 2162 calls for 
restructuring dollar ranges 
in the Form 700. Currently 
there are only 4 ranges for 
investments, property and 
income. This bill would revise 
the dollar amounts associated 
with these ranges to 8 levels for 
investments and real estate and 
10 levels for income ranges.

 “In maintaining my 
commitment to good 
governmentreform, I’m trying 
to create a more accurate 
picture of the facts in these 
financial reporting forms. 
The forms are so general with 
such wide reporting ranges it’s 
almost impossible to figure out 
just how much outside money 
politicians are making. Form 
700 hasn’t been modernized 
since 1974; it’s time to update 
and get a clearer picture of 
what public officials are really 
making,” concluded Portantino.

Swift Resolve 
Called For in 
Assessor Probe

 As the District Attorney’s 
office continues its 
investigation into alleged 
influence-peddling by L.A. 
County Assessor, Supervisor 
Michael D. Antonovich issued 
the following statement:

“It is vital that the many 
important functions and 
duties of the County Assessor’s 
office be performed with the 
highest standard of integrity 
and impartiality. I encourage 
the District Attorney’s office 
to act expeditiously to expose 
and extinguish any undue 
influence or unethical dealings 
-- to restore the public’s trust 
in the office as swiftly as 
possible.”