Mountain Views News          Saturday, February 16, 2013

4

Mountain Views-News Saturday, February 16, 2013 

MWD to Shutdown Pipeline


JPL Scientists: 
No 

Connection 
in Asteroids 

 
Pasadena residents will 
have to reduce their water 
use as the city declared 
a Level 4 water shortage 
banning outdoor watering 
and requires other water-
use restrictions throughout 
the city— while a major 
imported water pipeline is 
taken out of service for eight 
days beginning Thursday.

 “Even though this 
temporary cut in our supply 
is severe, we are confident 
Pasadena will once again rise 
to the challenge and cut back 
on daily water use, so that 
we all have enough water for 
drinking and vital indoor 
uses,” said Phyllis Currie, 
Pasadena Water and Power 
general manager.

 Metropolitan’s chief 
operating officer and 
assistant general manager, 
Debra Man, said the 
district routinely schedules 
shutdowns of its facilities in 
the winter and early spring, 
when temperatures usually 
are cooler and demands 
are lower, to complete 
inspections and perform 
maintenance and upgrades 
with the least impact on 
consumers.

 “One of the biggest 
challenges to ensuring 
reliable deliveries is the 
constant need to repair and 
upgrade aging facilities,” Man 
said, noting that more than 40 
percent of the district’s water 
system is over 60 years old. 
Construction of the Upper 
Feeder—which is comprised 
of tunnels, mortar-lined 
pipelines, and buried steel 
pipelines—started in 1933 
and ended when water was 
first delivered to Pasadena in 
November 1941.

 Officials said in preparation 
for the shutdown, residents 
and businesses are asked 
to do their part to ensure 
reservoirs and local 
supplies aren’t drawn down. 
Depending on the availability 
of local supplies, water 
conservation steps include 
no outdoor watering, hand-
washing vehicles, filling 
swimming pools or spas, 
or hosing down driveways 
and sidewalks. Other water-
saving measures include 
running only full loads 
in washing machines and 
dishwashers, not leaving the 
tap running when washing 
dishes, keeping showers to 
a maximum of 5 minutes 
and not leaving the water 
running while brushing your 
teeth or shaving.

 They added that residents 
can visit www.mwdh2o.com 
and www.bewaterwise.com 
for the latest information on 
the planned shutdown. 

 Residents asked 
to curtail water use 
during shutdown

By Dean Lee

 Researchers at JPL have 
ruled out and any connection 
between two asteroid related 
events Friday, one injuring over 
a 1,000 people as it streaked 
across the sky exploding over 
Russia’s Ural Mountains, and 
the other, asteroid 2012 DA14, 
a 160 foot long, 190,000 metric 
ton rock, missing earth by 
just17,150 miles.

 Paul Chodas, research 
scientist in the Near Earth 
Object Program Office at JPL 
explained why the two events 
were not related.

 “Our estimates are based on 
things like the direction of 
approach,” he said. “Which 
we believe was approximately 
north to south [for the Russia 
event], as far as we can tell from 
the many YouTube videos. 
Another reason is that the 
velocity was much greater than 
we would have expected from a 
remnant, something related to 
DA 14.”

 Chodas also said the meteorite 
that hit Russia had an orbit that 
originated from the asteroid 
belt, “The orbit of asteroid 2012 
DA14 is more Earth like, it does 
not go out so far.”

 Bill Cooke, lead for the 
Meteoroid Environments 
Office at NASA’s Marshall Space 
Flight Center in Huntsville, 
Ala. said the meteoroid that 
hit over Russia entered the 
atmosphere at 40,000 miles per 
hour blowing out windows and 
knocking down walls. Reports 
said at least 1,000 people were 
injured. 

 “This rock was about 15 meters 
in diameter, it was a weight 
of about 7,000 metric tons,” 
he said later adding that the 
fireball trail was over 300 miles 
long. He said the force from 
the explosion was equivalent 
to a nuclear bomb, measuring 
between 300 and 500 kilotons.

 The meteoroid hit at 9:28 a.m. 
Russian time he said. 

 Chodas said this was the 
largest recorded event since 
the 1908 Tunguska explosion, 
which a meteor, scorched over 
800 square miles of forest in 
Russia. 

Terry Tornek

A No Show for Council Candidates 

By Dean Lee

 The only candidate to show up 
Friday during the last in a series 
of debate forums was District 7 
Incumbent Terry Tornek fueling 
speculation that the candidates 
were dodging questions 
related to scathing accusations 
about them, from owing 
guns, harboring registered sex 
offenders to the legitimacy of 
their residencies. 

 “All city council candidates were 
invited to be here,” Moderator 
and Publisher of Pasadena 
Now, James Macpherson told 
the audience of about 100. “In 
District 3, Rev. Dr. Nicholas 
Benson never responded in 
any way to the invitation, 
Also District 3, Ishmael Trone 
accepted the invitation to be 
here tonight and is not here. 
Also district 3, John Kennedy 
accepted the invitation, as of 
this afternoon was coming. 
Representatives from him 
campaign came here tonight to 
say he is not coming.” 

 Reports in the Pasadena 
Weekly published Thursday, 
raises questions about all three 
candidates. 

 The article alleges that Benson 
lied about many things including 
his age and assumed names. 
He also lives with his family, 
including two children ages 15 
and 11, at the same address as 
two registered sex offenders. 
The paper also accuses Benson 
of not attending USC or the 
Fuller Theological Seminary as 
claimed.

 Trone is under investigation 
by the Los Angeles County 
District Attorney’s Office amid 
allegations he lives outside the 
district in Altadena. Trone’s 
opponent, Kennedy is now also 
under investigation of mail 
theft after a private investigator, 
and Kennedy supporter, leaked 
Trone’s personal mail showing 
an Altadena address. 

 The paper also claims all 
three candidates have criminal 
records, or had legal troubles, 
including Kennedy who was 
acquitted of a shooting in 
Northwest Pasadena in 1993. 
Trone was charged in 1997 with 
misdemeanor gun possession 
after being stopped by security 
at Bob Hope Airport. All three 
own guns, including a shotgun, 
9mm handgun and a .22-caliber 
handgun according to the paper. 

 Terry Tornek spoke briefly 
Friday night saying that city 
council has two primary duties.

 “The city council is really 
responsible, directly, for two 
things” he said. “The budget 
and planning and development. 
Those are the things I have 
focused my attention on. I am 
the chair, now, of the budget 
finance committee.” Tornek also 
made note that he was the city’s 
planning director in 1982. 

 Tornek and District 5 
councilmember Victor Gordo 
are both running unopposed.

PCOC Board 
Returns 
Michael 

Ross as CEO

31st Annual Black History 
Parade and Festival

 The Begins Annual Black 
History Parade at 10:00 a.m. 
at Charles White Park in 
Altadena, heads south on 
Fair Oaks Avenue and ends 
at Robinson Park, 1081 N. 
Fair Oaks Ave. After the 
parade, from noon to 4:00 
p.m., enjoy the Black History 
Festival at Robinson Park. 
Food for purchase, fun 
activities for kids, special 
displays, music and other 
entertainment. 

Closures, Event Info for 
Rock’n’roll Half Marathon

 An independent review of a 
personnel matter involving 
Pasadena Center Operating 
Company (PCOC) Chief 
Executive Officer Michael 
Ross has been completed. The 
PCOC Board of Directors 
considered the matter at its 
board meeting last night, 
February 11, 2013. Mr. 
Ross will return to work in 
his position as PCOC Chief 
Executive Officer on February 
19, 2013. The PCOC Board 
of Directors looks forward to 
continue working with him.

 Pasadena Assistant City 
Manager Julie Gutierrez will 
step down as Acting Chief 
Executive Officer for PCOC 
upon Mr. Ross’ return. The 
Board had placed Mr. Ross 
on a paid administrative leave 
of absence on Dec. 13, 2012 
pending the conclusion of the 
review.

 PCOC is a 501 (c) (4) 
nonprofit corporation 
wholly owned by the City 
of Pasadena that manages 
the Pasadena Conference 
Center, the Pasadena Civic 
Auditorium, the Pasadena 
Convention & Visitors Bureau 
and the Pasadena Ice Skating 
Center. PCOC was one of the 
first independent nonprofit 
organizations in the United 
States to combine its facility 
operations and destination 
marketing efforts.


Civil Rights Activist Connie 
Rice to Speak at PCC

 
Pasadena City College will 
present a lecture by Connie 
Rice, prominent civil 
rights activist and lawyer, 
on Thursday, Feb. 21, in 
Creveling Lounge beginning 
at noon.

 Rice will be discussing 
her book “Power Concedes 
Nothing,” which is a memoir 
of her life and career. She has 
received more than 50 awards 
for her work in expanding 
opportunity and advancing 
multi-racial democracy.

 “I heard her speak and I 
got the book right after,” 
said Beverly Tate, assistant 
professor in PCC’s English 
Division.

 Rice has been designated by 
the California Law Business 
Journal as one of the top 10 
most influential lawyers in 
the state two times. While 
in law school, Rice worked 
extensively on capital 
punishment cases at the 
NAACP Legal Defense and 
Educational Fund. After she 
graduated, she clerked for the 
Honorable Damon J. Keith at 
the United States Court of 
Appeals Sixth Circuit before 
heading back to California 
and establishing herself as 
“the voice of Los Angeles’ 
oppressed.”

 Rice, a second cousin of 
former U.S. Secretary of 
State Condeleeza Rice, is 
also the co-founder and co-
director of the Advancement 
Project in Los Angeles, an 
organization dedicated to 
closing the opportunity gap 
and helping members of all 
communities have the safety, 
opportunity and health 
needed to thrive.

 This event is free and open 
to the public.


Pet of the 
Week

 
The public is reminded of 
the following road closures 
and other important event 
information for the Kaiser 
Permanente Rock’n’Roll Half 
Marathon, Sunday, February 
17, held from 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 
p.m. Event activities include 
a half marathon and 5k run 
followed by a post-race festival 
and finish line concert. About 
7,000 participants have pre-
registered. 

 On race day only, the public 
number to call with day-of-
event questions about street 
closures, parking, towed 
vehicles or sound complaints is: 
(626) 577-3296. 

 The half marathon begins at 7:30 
a.m., followed by the 5k start at 
7:50 a.m. Race information 
and course maps are online 
at http://cityofpasadena.net/
specialevents/rock_n_roll/. 
To find out if you live within 
a ¼-mile radius of the half 
marathon route, use the maps 
online or call (626) 744-7665. 
The Start and Finish line is at 
the Rose Bowl Stadium. The 
finish line festival and concert 
will occur from 8:30 a.m. to 
12:00 p.m. on Area H located 
immediately south of the 
stadium. 

 Motorists and residents are 
advised that numerous City 
streets throughout Pasadena 
will be closed, restricted or 
unavailable to vehicles. All 
streets slated for barricades or 
closure will be closed no later 
than 6:30 a.m. on race day. 
Staggered re-openings of streets 
will occur until about 1:00 p.m. 
when most roads should be re-
opened. 

 The motoring public is urged 
to drive with extra caution; 
observe all temporary signs 
and restrictions and to obey 
directions from public safety 
personnel.

 Finn is an active four-year-
old Pointer mix. He enjoys 
going for walks in the park. 
He’s also been out on our 
Mobile Outreach Unit and 
did very well interacting 
with people. An active 
household would be great 
for him

 Finn’s regular adoption 
fee is $125, 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. 
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 
A319904, 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.

Associated 
Students 
Committee 
Sponsors 
‘March in 
March’

Learn How to Produce 
Your Own TV Show

 Pasadena Media offers 
a free television-training 
program for volunteers. 
Various Areas of training 
are available to Pasadena 
residents. Plan to attend 
an orientation to discover 
the right classes for you. 
Producers’ Training teaches 
citizens how to produce their 
own show for The Arroyo 
Channel. Studio Production/
Equipment training is 
also offered for volunteer 
crewmembers. In addition, 
on-going training and 
memberships are available in 
our citizen journalism and 
digital film groups. Call the 
office (626) 794-8585 or go 
to PASADENAMEDIA.ORG 
explore all that Pasadena 
Media has to offer.


Curiosity Rover Collects 
First Mars Rock Sample

 The Pasadena City College 
Associated Students Lobby 
Committee is sponsoring PCC 
students to join a statewide 
march for higher education 
in Sacramento on Monday, 
March 4.

 Called “March in March,” this 
event is free to PCC students 
registered for Spring 2013. The 
trip includes free airfare, food, 
and ground transportation. 
Limited seats are available so 
register soon and sign up in 
the Office of Student Affairs 
in the PCC Campus Center, 
Room 105.

 Mandatory informational 
meetings will be held in the 
PCC Circadian on Feb. 19 
from noon to 1 p.m., and Feb. 
20 from 5:45 to 7 p.m.

A $20 deposit is required at the 
mandatory meeting but will be 
returned the day of the trip.

 For more information, 
please contact Simon Fraser, 
Associated Students president, 
at swfraser@pasadena.edu.

 NASA’s Curiosity rover has, 
for the first time, used a drill 
carried at the end of its robotic 
arm to bore into a flat, veiny 
rock on Mars and collect a 
sample from its interior. This 
is the first time any robot has 
drilled into a rock to collect a 
sample on Mars.

 The fresh hole, about 0.63 
inch (1.6 centimeters) wide 
and 2.5 inches (6.4 centimeters) 
deep in a patch of fine-grained 
sedimentary bedrock, can be 
seen in images and other data 
Curiosity beamed to Earth 
Saturday. The rock is believed to 
hold evidence about long-gone 
wet environments. In pursuit of 
that evidence, the rover will use 
its laboratory instruments to 
analyze rock powder collected 
by the drill.

 “The most advanced planetary 
robot ever designed is now a fully 
operating analytical laboratory 
on Mars,” said John Grunsfeld, 
NASA associate administrator 
for the agency’s Science Mission 
Directorate. “This is the biggest 
milestone accomplishment for 
the Curiosity team since the 
sky-crane landing last August, 
another proud day for America.”

 For the next several days, 
ground controllers will 
command the rover’s arm to 
carry out a series ofsteps to 
process the sample, ultimately 
delivering portions to the 
instruments inside.

 “We commanded the first 
full-depth drilling, and we 
believe we have collected 
sufficient material from the 
rock to meet our objectives of 
hardware cleaning and sample 
drop-off,” said Avi Okon, drill 
cognizant engineer at NASA’s 
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 
Pasadena, Calif.

Class Offerings 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Nightly

Orientation: 1st & 3rd Monday

Producers’ Training 2nd & 4th Monday

Camera 1st & 3rd Tuesday

Character Generator 2nd & 4th Tuesday

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