Mountain Views News          Saturday, July 14, 2012

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Mountain Views-News Saturday July 14, 2012 


Future of Historic YWCA 
Building to be Discussed

Police Plan 
Crackdown 
on Speeders

 The public is invited to 
attend one or both of the 
upcoming community 
meetings on July 19 and July 
21 regarding the status of the 
former YWCA building near 
City Hall. 

 The meetings will include 
information about the City’s 
process for submissions from 
qualified developers who are 
interested in rehabilitating 
the historic YWCA 
structure that was originally 
designed by famed architect 
Julia Morgan. Meeting 
participants also will be able 
to walk through the now-
closed YWCA building for 
the first time in many years. 

 Each meeting will consist of 
two parts: an on-site tour of 
the YWCA building, 78 N. 
Marengo, at Holly Street, and 
a presentation and comment 
session in the City Council 
Chambers at City Hall, 100 
N. Garfield Ave. 

 The meeting schedule is as 
follows: 

 YWCA Building Walking 
Tour, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., 
Thursday, July 19, followed 
by Presentation and 
Comments, 7:15 p.m. to 8:30 
p.m., Council Chambers, 
City Hall. 

 YWCA Building Walking 
Tour, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., 
Saturday, July 21, followed by 
Presentation and Comments, 
10:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., 
Council Chambers, City 
Hall. 

 Pasadena officials say the 
City plans to issue a Request 
for Proposals during the week 
of July 9 seeking responses 
on how to best preserve and 
re-use the historic building 
that the City acquired earlier 
this year. Preservation of 
the former YWCA has been 
a top priority for Pasadena 
Heritage for more than two 
decades. 

 Pasadena Heritage officials 
are supporting the meetings 
by providing volunteers 
to assist the public at the 
meetings and tours of the 
YWCA building. 

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

 
The Pasadena Police 
Department said Friday 
they will conduct a citywide 
Speed Enforcement 
Program Monday between 
6:00 a.m. and noon.

 They said the program is an 
effective tool in educating 
the public in regards to 
safer driving habits. 

 “The Pasadena Police 
Department is committed 
to reducing the number 
of traffic collisions and 
injuries resulting from 
driver’s speeding.”

 Funding for this program 
was provided by a grant 
from the California Office 
of Traffic Safety, through the 
National Highway Traffic 
Safety Administration.

Kidspace Opens New Physics Forest 

By Dean Lee

 Some have levers, others pulleys, 
or even buttons to press but 
the results of all 13 interactive 
exhibits of the new Kidspace’s 
Galvin Physics Forest, unveiled 
Thursday morning, are the same 
—to highlight matter and its 
motion through space-time. 

 After two years in development, 
and six months of construction, 
the new $4.4-million Robert 
& Mary Galvin Physics Forest 
opened to fanfare that included 
a ceremony hosted by Kidspace 
CEO Michael Shanklin, 
Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard, 
and famed Caltech astronomer 
Dr. Mike Brown among others.

 “There were many factors that 
initially drew me to Kidspace,” 
Shanklin said. “The opportunity 
that the Robert & Mary Galvin 
Physics Forest represents is one 
of the major ones. Professionally, 
it is extremely gratifying to see a 
project move from concept to 
construction to the point where 
our guests are fully engaging 
and enjoying it. Seeing the look 
on a child’s face when they are 
completely absorbed by an 
exhibit, and the moment when 
comprehension finally draws 
never gets old to me.”

 Shanklin continued, 
“Personally, as a parent, I 
am really looking forward to 
sharing this space with my own 
Kids, to see them captivated by 
what we’ve created, and for us to 
learn and have fun together.”

 Shanklin said the physics forest 
adds 30,000 square feet to the 
current 3.5 acre facility. The 
exhibits explore such physics 
principles as the conservation 
of energy with a roller coaster, 
pulleys, wheel roll, and 
ball bounce. Air pressure is 
illustrated through a tennis ball 
launcher, air cannon and bottle 
rocket. Mechanical advantage is 
seen through a giant lever, cool 
fan, tennis ball launcher and 
pulleys.

 Kidspace is open Tuesday - 
Friday, 9:30a.m.to 5:00p.m. 
Saturday & Sunday, 10:00a.m.to 
5:00p.m. The museum is closed 
Mondays. For more info visit 
kidspacemuseum.org. 

Public 
Reminded 
to Avoid 
Contact 
with Bats 

PCC Board 
Meeting to 
Be Held in 
Altadena

 
The Pasadena Area 
Community College 
District Board of Trustees 
invites the community to its 
regular business meeting at 
the Altadena Senior Center 
Community Room (560 E. 
Mariposa Street, 91001) on 
July 18.

 The meeting will be led by 
Geoffrey Baum, PACCD 
Board of Trustees president 
and Area 1 representative, 
and Dr. Mark Rocha, 
superintendent-president 
of Pasadena City College.

 Closed session begins at 
6:00 p.m. and the open 
session business meeting 
will commence at 7:00 p.m. 
For more information, go to 
www.pasadena.edu/board 
or call (626) 585-7202.

Citywide Cocktail Party 
to Celebrate Julia Child

Supervisors Send U.S. 
Forest Service Message

 

 America’s first celebrity chef, 
Julia Child, will be toasted 
at restaurants throughout 
Pasadena next month —for the 
100th anniversary of the famed 
cook’s birth— and as a kick-
off for “SIP-tember” cocktail 
bracket challenge. 

 The citywide cocktail party 
on August 15 will take place in 
restaurants all over Pasadena, 
culminating in a simultaneous 
toast at 7:00pm. The event 
is sponsored and organized 
by the Pasadena Chamber of 
Commerce with support from 
the City of Pasadena and Merrill 
Lynch/Bank of America.

 “We are inviting everyone: 
foodies, cocktail aficionados 
-- anyone who appreciates fine 
food and a good drink -- to 
come to Pasadena on August 
15th as we raise our glasses and 
toast the birth of America’s first 
cooking celebrity, Pasadena’s 
own Julia Child,” said Pasadena 
Chamber CEO and President 
Paul Little. “In addition to 
bringing fine French cuisine 
to Americans and cooking 
instruction to television, we 
know Julia Child appreciated 
a good glass of wine and 
the occasional cocktail. We 
encourage everyone to join us 
in Pasadena as we raise a glass 
to toast the 100th anniversary 
of her birth.”

 Some of the venues will 
be hosting Julia Child look-
alike contests. Everyone is 
encouraged to dress for a 1950s, 
1960s or 1970s era cocktail party 
and to celebrate responsibly.

 The Julia Child Pasadena 
Cocktail Party will kick-off the 
SIP-tember cocktail bracket 
challenge, a six week long 
celebration of the cocktail in 
Pasadena running from August 
15 through September 27.

SIP-tember and citywide Julia 
Child cocktail party participants 
include a/k/a: an American 
Bistro, Magnolia on Lake, Bar 
Celona, POP Champagne and 
Dessert Bar, the Tap Room at 
the Langham Huntington Hotel, 
Vertical Wine Bistro, California 
Pizza Kitchen, The StillRoom, 
El Portal, Gale’s, ix-tapa, Green 
Street Restaurant, El Cholo, 
Villa Sorriso, Market on Holly, 
Bar 1886 at The Raymond, New 
York Deli, Ruth’s Chris Steak 
House and Toro Sushi.

 


 On a motion Tuesday by 
Supervisor Antonovich, the 
Board of Supervisors will send 
another five-signature letter 
to the United States Secretary 
of Agriculture asking that the 
Forest Service adopt Los Angeles 
County Fire Department 
recommendations, which 
were approved unanimously 
by the Board in 2009, that 
included nighttime air attacks, 
procedural changes, tougher 
brush clearance requirements 
and the use of mechanized 
firefighting equipment.

“It has been nearly three years 
since the Station Fire devastated 
most of the Angeles National 
Forest and killed two Los 
Angeles County firefighters, 
and the U. S. Forest Service 
continues to ignore experts’ 
recommendations to change 
its nighttime aerial firefighting 
policy,” Antonovich said. “It 
is imperative that significant 
structural changes are made 
before the next major wildfire 
destroys more of our National 
Forests, personal property or 
any more lives.”

 Congressional hearings and 
the Government Accountability 
Office’s report revealed that 
it was the U.S. Forest Service, 
as the lead agency, that failed 
to communicate effectively, 
and forced other agencies to 
stand idly by as the boots-on-
the-ground waited for orders 
to proceed from its command 
center in Idaho.

 The Pasadena Public Health 
Department cautions the 
public to avoid contact with 
bats. Recent reports from 
the Los Angeles County 
Department of Public Health 
indicated bats are testing 
positive for rabies in the 
Pasadena area. 

 So far this year, 15 bats found 
throughout Los Angeles 
County have tested positive 
for rabies, County Health 
Officials said. Although on 
average there are eight to 12 
rabid bats detected locally 
each year, there were 38 bats 
found throughout the county 
last year that tested positive for 
rabies. 

 Pasadena Public Health 
Officer Dr. Eric Walsh reminds 
everybody that “if you see a 
bat, never touch it.” 

 Instead, contact authorities or 
the Pasadena Humane Society 
at (626) 792-7151 to capture 
and properly handle the bat, 
Dr. Walsh said. Anyone who 
has touched a bat or who 
may have had contact with 
bats should call the Pasadena 
Public Health Department 
Nursing Unit immediately at 
(626) 744-6089. Also make 
sure that your dog or cat 
vaccinations are current to 
prevent rabies infection. 

 For more information, go 
online to the Rabies Brochure 
on Pasadena Public Health 
Department’s website at 
http://cityofpasadena.net/
publichealth/environmental_
health_sevices/. 

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

Pet of 
the Week


Citizen 
Journalism 
Meet-up

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

 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 
July 17 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.

 Patches is a four-month-
old black kitten. He’s very 
curious and loves to play 
with his toys. 

 Patches’ regular adoption 
fee is $70, 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 $13 black 
cat adoption promotion 
this Friday, July 13! 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 
A307434, or visit at 361 S. 
Raymond Ave. in Pasadena. 
Adoption hours are 11-4 
Sunday, 9-5 Tuesday –
Friday, 9-4 Saturday. Pets 
may not be available for 
adoption and cannot be 
held for potential adopters 
from phone calls or email. 
Directions and photos of all 
pets can be found at www.
pasadenahumane.org.

Forestry Committee to 
Review Windstorm Report

 Results of an independent 
analysis regarding the 
extensive tree damage 
sustained in Pasadena 
during the hurricane-
force windstorm late last 
year will be presented at 
the next meeting of the 
Urban Forestry Advisory 
Committee. The meeting 
begins at 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, 
July 17, at the City Yards 
complex, 233 W. Mountain 
Street. 

 The report by the Davey 
Resource Group analyzed the 
damage to 5,500 trees located 
along streets and in parks 
that occurred during the 
severe winds from Nov. 30 to 
Dec. 1, 2011. Of those 5,500 
trees, about 1,500 mature 
trees were knocked down, 
uprooted or made unstable. 
Another 525 mature trees 
were severely damaged and 
required removal. The rest 
sustained less severe damage 
to branches or limbs. 

 According to the report, 
“evidence showed that it 
would have been impossible 
to prepare for such a unique 
and devastating wind event. 
In fact, the damage suffered 
to the City of Pasadena could 
have easily been worse had 
the City not had such an 
aggressive and effective tree 
maintenance program.” 

 After the windstorm, 
the City undertook an 
after-action assessment to 
understand how to improve 
its response to similar future 
emergencies. As part of this 
assessment, the City hired 
Davey Resource Group to 
investigate factors that may 
have contributed to the 
extensive tree damage. 

 The report notes that 
Pasadena maintains an 
extensive urban forest with 
about 57,500 street trees 
representing more than 
200 distinct species. Tree 
maintenance follows the 
most current International 
Society of Arboriculture 
(ISA) Best Management 
Practices with most trees 
routinely pruned on a five-
year cycle.

Schiff Honors Search and 
Rescue Team on House Floor 

 Congressman Adam Schiff 
honored the members of 
Montrose Search and Rescue 
Wednesday for their life-
saving work during a speech 
on the floor of the House of 
Representatives. In recent 
weeks, the team has received 
wide recognition of their 
heroism for saving a drowning 
girl in the Angeles National 
Forest. Schiff’s speech is below: 

 “Madam Speaker, I rise today 
to honor the Montrose Search 
and Rescue team. “For over 
sixty-five years, Montrose 
Search and Rescue has 
been conducting life-saving 
operations throughout the 
Angeles National Forest and 
neighboring areas. These brave 
men and women have risked 
their own lives time and time 
again to rescue stranded hikers, 
victims of natural disasters, and 
anyone in need of assistance. 

 “Two weeks ago, their 
heroism was on full display. 
The team spotted a little girl 
face down, drowning in a pool 
of running water in the Forest. 
The 18-month-old girl was 
unconscious and had stopped 
breathing when they pulled 
her out of the water. Thanks to 
them, this little girl was brought 
back to life to the unimaginable 
relief and gratitude of her 
family. 

 “That young girl, along with 
so many others, is alive today 
because of the heroic actions 
of the Montrose Search and 
Rescue team. And they do all 
of this for their community 
without asking anything in 
return. 

“Their humbling dedication to 
service and truly selfless desire 
to help those in need deserve 
our respect and gratitude. 

 “So today, I rise to say thank 
you, Montrose Search and 
Rescue, for the great work that 
you do and for the lives that you 
save through your efforts.”

Library to 
Close for 
Upgrades

 Hastings Branch Library 
will close beginning Monday, 
August 6 for flooring and 
electrical upgrades. The 
branch will reopen on Monday, 
October 1. Hastings is located 
at 3325 E. Orange Grove Blvd. 

 The nearest available libraries 
for Hastings customers are 
Lamanda Park Branch Library, 
140 S. Altadena Dr. and Santa 
Catalina Branch Library, 999 
E. Washington Blvd.

Book holds for delivery to 
Hastings customers may be 
picked up at Lamanda Park 
during the branch closure.

 For project updates visit 
www.pasadenapubliclibrary.
net. For more information, call 
(626) 744-4066.