Mountain Views News          Saturday, March 16, 2013

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Mountain Views-News Saturday, March 16, 2013 


Alan Zorthian Picked as

Doo Dah Grand Marshal

Police Hunt 
for Suspects 
in Shooting

 Alan Zorthian, architect, 
art lover and proprietor 
of Zorthian Ranch, will 
serve as Grand Marshal 
of the 36th Occasional 
Pasadena Doo Dah Parade. 
Zorthian, son of well-loved 
bohemian couple Jirayr and 
Dabney Zorthian, has been 
responsible for renewing the 
life of the unique multi-acre 
property in the foothills of 
the San Gabriel Mountains 
in Altadena.

 Zorthian grew up 
surrounded by artists and 
musicians and is no stranger 
to Doo Dah culture. Other 
Grand Marshals in the 
family include cousin, Savitri 
D., wife and collaborator 
with “Reverend Billy” and 
the Church of Stop Shopping 
who served in 2007, and 
of course Alan’s parents, 
Jirayr and Dabney, who each 
served in previous years.

 Upon their passing, many 
have conjectured about the 
fate of Zorthian Ranch. Alan 
took leadership by building 
and reinforcing structures on 
the property, while providing 
an archive for the art and life 
of his well-known parents.

 Alan also hosts an annual 
International Folk Music 
Festival, and has invited the 
Institute for Urban Ecology 
to create an urban farm on 
22-acres of ranch property. 
Now the Zorthian Ranch 
not only remains the site of 
eclectic cultural gatherings, 
it will become a hub for 
ecological workshops and 
organic ‘growing.’

 Upon being notified of 
his selection, Alan who 
sounded like he was in his 
car, paused then uttered, 
“I’m flabberghasted!” adding 
“I am not my parents but I 
gladly accept the honor!” he 
said.

 Parade organizer Tom 
Coston says Zorthian has all 
the qualities a Doo Grand 
Marshal should possess. 
“Alan has always been a big 
supporter and friend, he 
carries the Zorthian torch 
proudly and has Doo Dah in 
his DNA.” he explains.

 The new Grand Marshal 
will lead hundreds of Doo 
Dah marchers and revelers 
on Saturday, April 27th, 
stepping off at 11am in East 
Pasadena.

 
Undercover officers 
exchanged gunfire with 
two suspects Thursday 
afternoon prompting a 
massive manhunt lasting 
most of the day —the hunt 
also barred residents in the 
area from their homes. 

 At press time, police 
said they made one arrest 
although gave little details, 
including if the arrest was 
related to the shooting. 
Witness said they saw 
officers handcuffing a man 
on Hill Ave, near the area. 

 According to police, 
around 12:20 p.m., while 
detectives were working 
with LASD plain clothes 
deputies in a joint 
investigation they observed 
a suspect vehicle. Without 
notice the suspect vehicle 
collided with the deputies’ 
vehicle. Two suspects exited 
and abandoned their vehicle 
and at least one suspect 
fired rounds at the deputies. 
Deputies returned fire and 
it is unknown if either of the 
suspects were wounded. 

No law enforcement officers 
were injured they said. 

 Police dedicated a 
contingency of officers in 
a large containment area 
(Lake Ave. to Hill Ave. —
Villa St. to Orange Grove 
Blvd.) in an effort to locate 
the suspects. The area was 
opened and residents were 
allowed to return to their 
homes around 9 p.m.

 Both suspects were 
disrobed as male African 
American, 18-25, thin 
build, one wearing a black 
t-shirt, blue jeans, and the 
other, wearing a gray t-shirt, 
blue jeans.

 Police said the investigation 
is ongoing. Anyone with 
information is asked to 
contact the Pasadena Police 
Department at (626) 744-
4241, or LASD (323) 890-
5500.

Author Chats Up ‘The Age of Miracles’

By Dean Lee 

Karen Thompson Walker, 
author of “The Age of Miracles,” 
discussed the book Thursday 
night, in conversation with 
Library Director Jan Sanders 
as part of this year’s One City, 
One Story community reading 
project. 

Although this is Thompson 
Walker’s first novel, the 
much anticipated book made 
headlines, last year, when 
published.

 Thompson Walker spoke about 
being a former book editor at 
Simon & Schuster, and how she 
found time to write the book in 
the mornings before work. She 
said she would sometimes write 
while riding the subway. 

 She discussed a little of the 
science behind the story, which 
deals with a cataclysmic change 
in the earth’s rotation causing 
day and night to become longer, 
only saying, that although she 
does not have a background 
in science she has always been 
captivated by good stories that 
use it as the foundation. 

 Many have likened the book 
to be a cross between Ray 
Bradbury’s “All Summer in a 
Day,” and Alice Sebold’s “The 
Lovely Bones.” 

 In “The Age of Miracles” the 
catastrophe is juxtaposed against 
characters coming of age during 
extraordinary times and people 
going on with their lives in an 
era of profound uncertainty. The 
story is told through the eyes of 
an 11-year-old girl Julia. 

 Sanders took questions from 
the audience including if the 
book was aimed at young adults 
or whether a movie was in the 
works. 

 “I did auction the movie 
rights,” Thompson Walker said. 
“To a company River Road I 
was very excited about. They 
did Brokeback Mountain and 
The Tree of Life and a couple of 
other artistic movies.” 

 She said the company had 
already written a script and was 
looking for a director, “I hope 
that it happens, Hollywood 
is such a crazy place. Many 
times book rights will get sold 
but never made or it takes 15 
years…” she said.

 Thompson Walker said she 
wrote the novel for an adult 
audience. 

 The Age of Miracles was 
published on June 21 — the 
longest day of the year.

 Coming up, Pasadena Central 
Library’s One City, One Story 
Day on Saturday, March 23 
from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. will have 
a variety of themed programs 
surrounding, “The Age of 
Miracles,” including one family’s 
experiences living on Mars time 
when NASA’s Curiosity Rover 
landed on the red planet.

Fuller 
Announces 
New 
President

 The Fuller Theological 
Seminary Board of Trustees 
announced Tuesday that Mark 
Labberton has been chosen 
to serve as the school’s fifth 
president. Labberton will take 
over as president July 1. 

 “Along with my fellow 
trustees, I am delighted to 
welcome Mark Labberton 
to the presidency of Fuller 
Seminary,” Board Chair 
Clifford L. Penner said. “ 
We are excited and inspired 
by the outstanding qualities 
and accomplishments he 
brings to this position. He 
is a scholar and academic 
leader, pastor for more than 
25 years, accomplished author, 
and leading voice in many 
international ministries. 
Mark brings strong spiritual 
leadership, a wide range of 
experiences, and the vision to 
guide Fuller into a new era of 
global leadership in seminary 
education. As a Fuller alumnus 
(MDiv) and professor, he fully 
comprehends Fuller’s rich and 
diverse legacy.”

 “I feel an incredible sense 
of joy and hope to be given 
this opportunity,” said Dr. 
Labberton. “Thanks to Rich 
Mouw’s generous, gracious, 
and irenic leadership, 
Fuller is well positioned to 
influence how the gospel is 
communicated, understood, 
and embodied in the world.” 

 Richard J. Mouw, announced 
last May his retirement from 
the Fuller presidency as of June 
2013 and will return to Fuller 
in a faculty role following a 
study leave during the 2013-
14 academic year. “Mark 
Labberton is an excellent 
choice to be the next president 
of Fuller. I know him to be a 
very gifted Christian leader 
who will be able to take Fuller 
into an exciting new future,” 
he said. 

Altadena Sheriff’s Station 
‘Coffee with the Captain’

 

 The Altadena Sheriff’s Station 
is pleased to announce another 
“Coffee with the Captain” 
event on Monday, March 25, 
2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 
a.m. Altadena Sheriff’s Station 
Captain John Benedict will 
once again be at the Coffee 
Gallery, located at 2029 N. Lake 
Avenue. The Coffee Gallery is 
located on Lake Avenue just 
south of Alameda Street and 
was selected again as a location 
following the great turnout at 
prior events last year. 

 Captain Benedict has enjoyed 
meeting members of the 
community at these 

events. He finds these events 
an excellent opportunity 
to continue building on 
existing partnerships with 
the community and is very 
interested in hearing any 
questions or concerns anyone 
may have. These events help 
Captain Benedict and the 
Altadena Sheriff’s Station in 
identifying and prioritizing 
issues occurring in the 
community.

 If you see any suspicious 
activity in the Altadena Area, 
call the Altadena Sheriff’s 
station at (626) 798-1131 or 
9-1-1 in an emergency.

Mars Rover Mission Picked 
For Smithsonian Honor


Pet of the 
Week

 


 As part of its celebration 
of National Poetry Month, 
Pasadena City College will host 
a reception for California Poet 
Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera 
on Tuesday, March 19, from 7 
to 8:30 p.m. in PCC’s Creveling 
Lounge.

 Known for his work in socially-
centered poetics, Herrera often 
reads and performs at schools, 
prisons and farm worker 
camps, and in many college 
campuses across the nation. 
He’s published 29 books of 
poetry, spoken word, novels for 
young adults, and collections 
for children.

 Herrera has won numerous 
awards, including the 
Guggenheim Fellowship, the 
National Book Critic’s Circle 
Award, the Latino International 
Award, the PEN USA Award, 
and the Josephine Miles Pen/
Oakland Award. He is currently 
a member of the Board of 
Chancellors of the Academy of 
American Poetry, and teaches 
creative writing at UC Riverside.

 This event is open to students, 
faculty, and staff. While 
here, Herrera will encourage 
participants to submit ideas and 
stanzas for his various poetry 
projects on migration, healing, 
and unity.

 “If you want to write for the 
people pour kindness inside 
every word,” Herrera said.

PCC 
Welcomes 
Famed 
California 
Poet 

 
NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory 
Project, managed by NASA’s 
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 
has been selected to receive 
the top group honor from the 
Smithsonian’s National Air and 
Space Museum -- the Trophy 
for Current Achievement. The 
award will be presented on 
April 24 at a black-tie dinner in 
Washington, D.C.

 The Mars Science Laboratory 
Project built and operates the 
rover Curiosity, which has been 
investigating past and current 
environments in Mars’ Gale 
Crater since its dramatic sky- 
crane landing seven months ago.

 The trophies for current 
and lifetime achievement are 
the National Air and Space 
Museum’s most prestigious 
awards. They recognize 
outstanding achievements in the 
fields of aerospace science and 
technology and their history.

 NASA’s Mars Science 
Laboratory Project is using 
the Curiosity rover with its 
10 science instruments to 
investigate whether an area 
within Mars’ Gale Crater ever 
has offered an environment 
favorable for microbial life. 
JPL, a division of the California 
Institute of Technology in 
Pasadena, manages the project 
for NASA’s Science Mission 
Directorate in Washington.

 Glinda is 12-year-old black 
cat. She was rescued from an 
apartment fire in Glendale last 
month. Paramedics were able 
to resuscitate her and she’s 
made a full recovery. She’d 
love to find a loving home.

 Glinda’s adoption fee is 
$70, 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. She also qualifies 
for our Seniors for Seniors 
program, as well as our 
Lucky 13 Black Cat adoption 
event on Wednesday, March 
13 where he adoption fee 
is reduced to $13! Ask an 
adoptions counselor for more 
information during your visit 

 Call the Pasadena 
Humane Society & SPCA at 
626.792.7151 to ask about 
A321881, 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.

Jump into Spring Festivals, 
Egg Hunts in Pasadena

Learn How to Produce 
Your Own TV Show

Supervisors 
Send 
Welcome to 
New Pope

 

 Jump into spring by hopping 
over to one of several special 
festivals and egg hunts for 
children at Victory Park 
on March 23; Villa-Parke 
Community Center on March 
30 and Robinson Park, also on 
March 30. 

 The fun begins at Victory Park, 
2575 Paloma St., on Saturday, 
March 23, with a special 
“Breakfast with the Bunny” and 
egg hunt. 

 Enjoy Breakfast with the Bunny 
from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. 
with three pancakes, choice of 
bacon or sausage, choice of fruit 
and juice. The cost is $10 for 
adults and $5 for children. After 
breakfast, jump into the Spring 
Festival where arts and crafts, 
games, prizes, face painting, 
balloon animals and much more 
can be found from until 1:00 
p.m. 

 And don’t forget to bring your 
best basket! A special egg hunt 
just for toddlers will be held 
at 11:00 a.m., followed by a 
separate egg hunt beginning at 
noon for children ages 5 to 12. 

 All post-breakfast activities will 
be free, except for rides. The 
event is co-sponsored by District 
4 Councilmember Gene Masuda 
and the City’s Human Services 
and Recreation Department. 
For more information call (626) 
744.7507. 

 All families are invited to 
Villa-Parke Community Center, 
363 E. Villa St., for the Center’s 
Spring Egg Hunt, from noon to 
3:00 p.m., Saturday, March 30. 
Bring your cameras to hop in 
line for pictures with the Bunny 
too. 

 The day’s free events also will 
feature the Armory Center’s 
art projects; games, rides and 
more! Egg Hunt organized by 
age groups runs from 12:30 
p.m. until 2:15 p.m. For more 
information, call the Villa-Parke 
staff at (626) 744-6530. 

 Robinson Park, 1081 N. Fair 
Oaks Ave., also celebrates spring 
with an egg hunt, free treats, 
arts and crafts and other fun 
activities for kids from 9:00 a.m. 
to 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 
30. All children ages 1-12 are 
welcome. The hunt takes place 
on the athletic field just south 
of the Community Center. Call 
(626) 744-7330 for more details.

 
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.

 A motion by Supervisor 
Michael D. Antonovich 
will send a 5-signature 
congratulatory proclamation 
to Pope Francis I.

 On Wednesday, March 
13, Cardinal Jorge Mario 
Bergoglio of Argentina was 
elected as the new Pope of 
the Roman Catholic Church, 
taking the name Francis I, and 
becoming the 266th Pontiff 
in the Church’s 2,000-year 
history.

 “Having been founded at 
the San Gabriel Mission by 
Catholic missionaries in 1771, 
Los Angeles County has a 
rich history with the Church 
and today is home to nearly 
4,000,000 Catholics,” said 
Antonovich in his motion. 
“The election of Francis I has 
had a resounding and positive 
impact on County residents of 
many faiths.” 

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

Lighting 1st & 3rd Wednesday

Audio 2nd & 4th Wednesday

Video Tape Operator 1st & 3rd Thursday

Technical Director 2nd & 4th Thursday

Stage Manager 1st & 3rd Friday

Teleprompter 2nd & 4th Friday

Citizen Journalism Every Tuesday

Digital Film Group Every Thursday