Mountain Views News          Saturday, October 6, 2012

4


Mountain Views-News Saturday, October 6, 2012 

City Appoints New Chief 
Information Officer

Pasadena 
Marathon 
Cut to Half 
Marathon

 
City Manager Michael Beck 
appointed Phillip Leclair 
Wednesday as the Chief 
Information Officer in charge 
of the City’s Department of 
Information Technology. 
Leclair, who has been the 
acting Chief Information 
Officer, assumes his new duties 
immediately.

 “After more than 200 applicants 
and extensive interviews, we 
felt Phillip best matched our 
goals to help move Pasadena 
forward by using new and 
emerging technologies to meet 
our internal needs while also 
helping us become a more 
efficient, customer service 
organization,” City Manager 
Beck said.

 Beck said that with Leclair’s 
appointment and the recent 
hiring of Kristi Recchia, the 
City’s new Human Resources 
Director, the City’s Executive 
Leadership Team is now at full 
strength.

 “I am extremely proud of the 
Executive Team that we have 
been able to assemble. I am 
confident that collectively it is 
one of the best in the country 
and I look forward to working 
with this exceptional team in 
leading our city departments 
and serving the residents and 
businesses of Pasadena,” Beck 
said.

 Since 2008, Leclair has worked 
for the City of Pasadena as both 
the acting and Deputy Chief 
Information Officer for the 
Department of Information 
Technology. From 2007 to 
2008, he worked for a private 
consulting group that provided 
information technology 
strategies and support to state 
and local governments and 
educations institutions. From 
2004 to 2007, he was the 
technology services manager 
for the City of New York’s 
Finance Department.

 For Pasadena, he will oversee 
a staff of 63 full-time employees 
and an annual department 
budget of $12.5 million.

 “I’m honored to be appointed 
as the Chief Information Officer 
and I’m excited to continue 
implementing the City’s plans 
for leveraging innovative 
technology solutions that 
support City departments in 
delivering quality services to 
the community,” Leclair said.

 He has a master’s degree in 
Business Administration from 
New York University (NYU), 
and a bachelor’s degree from 
University of California, 
Berkeley.

 Leclair, originally from Mission 
Viejo, Calif., currently resides in 
Burbank with his partner. He 
enjoys world traveling, culinary 
adventures and supporting 
local causes. 

By Dean Lee

 
Pasadena Marathon Race 
Director Israel Estrada told 
supporters Thursday they make 
plan to make lemonade out of 
the lemons after city officials 
refuse to permit a full marathon 
for next year’s June 30 race.

He said the event would still take 
place as a half marathon, 10K, 
5K, and Kids Run. 

“We will continue our discussions 
with City of Pasadena officials 
regarding the permit for the Full 
Marathon, Bike Tour and Full 
Marathon Relay.” Estrada said 
in an email to supporters. “We 
are heartened by the passionate 
support we have received 
from many of you, and by the 
response from some members 
of the Pasadena City Council 
which have reached out to us 
in an effort to understand the 
issues and help us, in particular 
Council members Terry Tornek 
and Jacque Robinson.”

Estrada also said registration 
is open for the 5th Annual 
Pasadena Marathon assuring 
participants that the event would 
take place.

“We remain committed to 
putting on the best event possible 
regardless of the challenges we 
face, and with your continued 
support and participation 
our committee will begin the 
planning to make 2013 our best 
year yet,” he said.

At press time, other reports 
suggest that the city is in talks 
with other organizations to stage 
a full marathon.

The Pasadena Marathon is no 
stranger to difficulties. The 
event’s inaugural race was 
cancelled in 2008 as a result of 
the significant wildfires in the 
Los Angeles area resulting unsafe 
air quality. In 2011, the event had 
to be postponed from February 
to May after working out a deal 
with the city. The year before that 
it poured rain at the start of the 
race. 

Estrada also said they are still 
in talks with the city to have a 
permanent reoccurring date for 
the race.

Rose Queen & Royal Court Finalists Picked 

 

The Tournament of Roses 
announced the 33 finalists 
Thursday from the annual Rose 
Queen & Royal Court tryouts. 
Starting from a group of more 
than 900 Pasadena-area young 
women, these 33 finalists will 
continue on in this unique 
selection process and vie for 
the prestigious honor of riding 
down Colorado Boulevard in 
the Rose Parade.

 Top row, from left: #730 
Emily Schofield (Westridge High 
School), #848 Kate Benuska 
(Maranatha High School), #941 
Kerry Wang (Arcadia High 
School), #947 Marie Santana 
(Pasadena City College), #946 
Grace Zhang (Temple City High 
School), #934 Randahl Brisco 
(Maranatha High School), #765 
Nicole Nelam (Pasadena High 
School)

 Fourth row, from left: #411 
Tiffany Chandra (Arcadia High 
School), #451 Sonia Shenoi 
(San Marino High School), 
#569 Mariah Holden (Pasadena 
High School), #626 Vanessa 
Manjarrez (Mayfield Senior 
School), #591 Michelle Floyd 
(San Marino High School), #471 
Natasha Jamieson (Pasadena 
High School), #437 Jessica 
Ogden (La Canada High 
School)

 Third row, from left: #232 
Bridget Ahad (Arcadia High 
School), #277 Holly Yamagata 
(Arcadia High School), #373 
Kelli Liu (Pasadena Polytechnic 
School), #389 Jessica Demasi 
(Maranatha High School), 
#376 Tracy Cresta (La Salle 
High School), #358 Noelle 
Niederhaus (Flintridge Sacred 
Heart Academy), #268 Victoria 
McGregor (Flintridge Sacred 
Heart Academy)

 Second row, from left: #164 
Swetha Rajkumar (Arcadia High 
School), #206 Shelby Dreves 
(Arcadia High School), #219 
Brianna Medina (Flintridge 
Sacred Heart Academy), #222 
Madison Teodo (La Canada 
High School), #216 Gabrielle 
Fitzpatrick (Flintridge Sacred 
Heart Academy), #175 Jennifer 
Robi (La Salle High School)

 First row, from left: #16 
Carissa Vera (Maranatha High 
School), #36 Lauren Gerard 
(Flintridge Preparatory), #61 
Alexandra Cross (La Salle High 
School), #83 Alessia Paciulli 
(Alverno High School), #37 
Casey Cousineau (Flintridge 
Preparatory), #34 Hannah 
Williamson (Maranatha High 
School)

 The Royal Court announcement 
will take place at 9:30 a.m. 
on Monday. Photo by D. Lee/
MVNews

Author to 
discuss 
Playwright’s 
‘Extravagant 
Inner Life’ 

 Author Sally Peters discusses 
her book, Bernard Shaw: The 
Ascent of the Superman, during 
a “Symposia Within” discussion 
prior to a performance of 
the playwright’s The Doctor’s 
Dilemma on Wednesday, 
October 17, 6:30 pm, at A 
Noise Within in Pasadena. 
Peters’ book is described as 
“deciphering the enigma that 
was Shaw… [uncovering] a 
convoluted and extravagant 
inner life studded with erotic 
secrets.” The Doctor’s Dilemma 
begins previews on October 
13, opens on October 20 and 
plays at the theatre through 
November 25. 

 According to A Noise Within’s 
Producing Artistic Director 
Julia Rodriguez-Elliott, 
“Sally Peters is a renowned 
scholar who brings a unique 
perspective on Shaw’s work 
by examining the fascinating 
personal life of both the man 
and artist.”

Sally Peters, Ph. D., a 
biographer, memoirist, drama 
critic, and cultural historian, 
spent almost two decades 
writing her Choice award-
winning biography Bernard 
Shaw: The Ascent of the 
Superman. She is formerly 
a faculty member at Yale 
University and in the Wesleyan 
University Graduate Liberal 
Studies Program.

Symposia Within is free to 
all The Doctor’s Dilemma 
ticket holders. Single tickets 
currently range from $40 - $52.

 A Noise Within is located 
on the corner of Foothill 
Boulevard and Sierra Madre 
Villa Avenue at 3352 East 
Foothill Blvd., Pasadena, CA 
91107. Contact the A Noise 
Within box office in-person, 
via phone at 626-356-3100, or 
online at www.anoisewithin.
org for updated pricing and 
seating availability.

PCC Hosts First Writer in 
Residence, Reyna Grande

 

 Pasadena City College will 
present its first Writer in 
Residence, award-winning 
author and PCC alumna Reyna 
Grande, on campus Oct. 15 
to 17. Grande has written two 
novels: “Across a Hundred 
Mountains and Dancing With 
Butterflies” and a new memoir 
called “The Distance Between 
Us.”

 Grande will be featured at 
two events on campus that are 
free and open to the public. 
On Tuesday, Oct. 16, she will 
be at the Community Writing 
Workshop from 12 to 1:30 
p.m. in the Circadian. On 
Wednesday Oct. 17, she will be 
at a Public Reading from 7 to 9 
p.m. in C333. Grande will also 
be visiting several classrooms, 
speaking with creative writing 
and composition classes.

 Grande is a recipient of 
the American Book Award 
(2007), the El Premio Aztlan 
Literary Award (2006) and 
the International Latino Book 
Award (2010). Copies of 
Grande’s books are available in 
the PCC Bookstore.

 For more information contact 
Manny Perea, English Division 
instructor, at (626) 585-7496 
or via email at mxperea@
pasadena.edu.


Wiggle Waggle Walk 
Panting for the Cause


Pet of 
the Week

 

 Despite the sweltering heat, 
people young and old along 
with their canine companions 
ventured to Brookside Park on 
Sunday to walk for the animals 
at the Pasadena Humane 
Society & SPCA’s 14th Annual 
Wiggle Waggle Walk. The 
annual event raised more than 
$325,000 – surpassing the 
original $300,000 goal.

 Approximately 2,000 people 
and their canine companions 
attended. The top fundraising 
team, The Punk Rock Rovers, 
raised more than $55,000. Top 
fundraiser, Karen Kiefaber, 
raised more than $24,800. 
After walking up a sweat, 
attendees enjoyed treats from 
numerous vendors along 
with demonstrations by the 
Pasadena and Glendale Police 
Department K9 Units, as well 
as an agility show by Muttley 
Crew and three dog contests – 
The Most Handsome Hound, 
The Most Glamorous Girl and 
The Pet Fashion Show.

 “This was a spectacular 
turnout,” says Steven R. McNall, 
president and CEO of the 
Pasadena Humane Society & 
SPCA. “The community plays 
such an integral part in helping 
PHS provide the best care 
possible for shelter animals. It’s 
a team effort.”

 The money raised will provide 
food, shelter and medical care 
to homeless animals, nearly 
12,000 of which are taken in by 
the humane society every year. 

 Visit www.pasadenahumane.
org for more information. 


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 Oct. 9 from 6: 
30 p.m. to 8p.m. at the Pasadena 
Community Network - Studio 
G, 2057 N. Los Robles Ave.

 For more info call 626.794.8585.

 Kalia is a four-year-old brindle 
and white pit bull. She’s petite 
and sweet! Kalia was a star on our 
Mobile Unit and gets along well 
with everyone. She’s also earned 
her Blue Ribbon, meaning she 
knows her sit, down and stay 
obedience commands. She’s got 
the cutest set of floppy ears! She’d 
make a great addition to a loving, 
active home. 

 Kalia’s adoption fee is $95, 
which includes her spay surgery, 
a microchip, the first set of 
vaccinations, as well as a free 
follow-up health check at a 
participating vet. New adopters 
will receive complimentary 
health and wellness exam from 
VCA Animal Hospitals, as 
well as a goody bag filled with 
information on how to care 
for your pet. Ask an adoptions 
counselor for more information 
during your visit 

 Call the Pasadena Humane 
Society & SPCA at 626.792.7151 
to ask about A314135, 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.

Artnight Pasadena to 
Features Exciting Venues

Library to 
Feature 
Horror and 
Classic 
Thrillers

 

 Come celebrate Pasadena’s 
creative, artistic community 
as ArtNight Pasadena returns 
from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., 
Friday, October 12, with free 
admission to 16 exciting arts 
and cultural venues throughout 
Pasadena. This four-hour 
cultural extravaganza offers 
a wide array of dance, music, 
visual arts and other fun 
activities for families and 
people of all ages to enjoy. Free 
shuttle buses will help provide 
transportation to each location. 

Explore the new Galvin Physics 
Forest at Kidspace Children’s 
Museum, 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., 
near the Rose Bowl. Moonwalk 
in the Fountain Courtyard at 
Pasadena’s Central Library, 
285 E. Walnut St. Join in 
the “Eternal Telethon,” a 
participatory art experience 
at Side Street Projects, 730 N. 
Fair Oaks Ave. Take in the 
Fifth Annual Art Show at the 
Boston Court Performing Arts 
Center, 70 N. Mentor, or see 
the Pennington Dance Group 
perform at A Room to Create 
(ARC) Pasadena, 1158 E. 
Colorado Blvd. 

It’s all happening, and 
much, much more, during 
ArtNight Pasadena 2012. 
For a full listing of events, 
activities and other important 
information, go online to 
www.artnightpasadena.org. A 
Spanish-language version of the 
website is also available. 

Free, specially marked shuttle 
buses will be available to 
take you to all of the venues. 
For those who ride Metro 
into Pasadena for ArtNight, 
remember to bring your Metro 
TAP card as many of the host 
venues plan to offer special 
discounts on store merchandise 
and memberships, including the 
Pasadena Museum of History, 
470 W. Walnut St., Alliance 
Française, 34 E. Union St., and 
the Pacific Asia Museum, 46 N. 
Los Robles Ave. 

Another popular way to enjoy 
ArtNight is by bicycle! Visit 
www.cicle.org/events/66/
artnight-ride for more 
information. And, several 
venues will also have trendy 
food trucks nearby with tasty 
treats for purchase to quench 
your thirst and appetites. 

 For more information call 
the ArtNight Hotline (626) 
744-7887 or visit www.
artnightpasadena.org. 

Curiosity Rover Checks In 
On Mars Using Foursquare

 NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover 
checked in on Mars Wednesday 
using the mobile application 
Foursquare. This marks the first 
check-in on another planet. 
Users on Foursquare can keep 
up with Curiosity as the rover 
checks in at key locations and 
posts photos and tips, all while 
exploring the Red Planet.

 “NASA is using Foursquare 
as a tool to share the rover’s 
new locations while exploring 
Mars,” said David Weaver, 
associate administrator for 
communications at NASA 
Headquarters in Washington. 
“This will help to involve the 
public with the mission and 
give them a sense of the rover’s 
travels through Gale Crater.” 

 After landing in Gale Crater 
last month, Curiosity began 
a planned 23-month mission 
that includes some of Mars’ 
most intriguing scientific 
destinations. Curiosity is 
roving toward Mount Sharp, 
a mountain about 3 miles (5 
kilometers) tall. The rover 
is conducting experiments 
along the way, seeking clues in 
the rocks and soil that would 
indicate whether Mars ever was 
capable of supporting microbial 
life. It is taking and sharing 
pictures of the trip. 

 Back here on Earth, 
Foursquare users will be able to 
earn a Curiosity-themed badge 
on the social media platform 
for check-ins at locations that 
generate an interest in science, 
technology, engineering and 
mathematics. Available late 
this year, this new badge will 
encourage Foursquare users 
to explore science centers, 
laboratories and museums that 
pique scientific curiosity.

 The Jet Propulsion Laboratory 
manages the Mars Science 
Laboratory mission and its 
Curiosity rover for NASA’s 
Science Mission Directorate 
in Washington. The rover 
was designed, developed and 
assembled at JPL, a division 
of the California Institute of 
Technology in Pasadena.

Pasadena Public Library 
celebrates Halloween this 
October with a month long 
series of Horror Classics 
and Classic Thrillers each 
Wednesday at 1 p.m. at 
Central Library, Donald 
Wright Auditorium, 285 E. 
Walnut St. The free film series 
will feature “And Then There 
Were None” on October 10, 
“Bunny Lake is Missing” on 
October 17, “The Others” on 
October 24 and “Invasion of 
the Body Snatchers” and “The 
Thing From Another World” 
on October 31.

The film series is presented by 
the Friends of the Pasadena 
Public Library. The movie will 
be cancelled if the Friends 
of the Library volunteers are 
unable to show the movie. 

For more information 
contact Christine Reeder at 
(626) 744-7270 or creeder@
cityofpasadena.net.