Mountain Views News          Saturday, September 7, 2013

5


Mountain Views-News Saturday, September 7, 2013 


Employees Tied Up 

During Walmart Robbery

Former JPL 
Director Dies 

 
Sheriff’s deputies are asking 
for the public’s help after 
a number of suspects tied 
up employees and ordered 
a manager, at gunpoint, to 
open a safe during an early 
morning robbery at the 
Altadena Walmart Aug. 24.

 According to sheriff’s 
deputies, at approximately 
3:15 a.m., four to five male 
black adults dressed in dark 
hoodies covering their faces 
and armed with small caliber 
handguns approached a 
group of employees taking 
a break outside the store. 
The employees were ordered 
into an office where a safe is 
located. The suspects then 
ordered a manager to open 
the safe. The robbers fled the 
store with $4,000 to $5,000.

Police said, during the 
robbery, the men zip-tied 
the employees’ hands and 
ordered them to lie face 
down.

 The suspects fled on foot 
northbound through the 
parking lot to eastbound 
Figueroa Drive and then to 
southbound Olive Avenue. 
No employees were injured 
in the incident. Members 
of the Los Angeles County 
Sheriff’s Department Crime 
Lab responded to process 
the scene for evidence. An 
investigation is ongoing. 

 Any information should be 
forwarded to the Altadena 
Sheriff’s Station at 626-798-
1131.

 Former JPL Director Bruce 
Murray died last week at the 
age of 81 after a long illness.

 As JPL director, Murray faced 
a rapidly shrinking budget, 
along with the rest of NASA.

 Murray salvaged for JPL the 
Galileo mission to Jupiter, 
brought the American portion 
of the joint Netherlands/
United Kingdom/U.S. Infrared 
Astronomy Satellite to JPL, and 
Caltech gained the project’s 
science data center.

 “He worked tirelessly to 
save our nation’s planetary 
exploration capability at a 
tumultuous time when there 
was serious consideration for 
curtailing future missions,” 
said current JPL Director 
Charles Elachi. “Long after 
returning to Caltech as a 
professor he continued to 
be an important voice in 
expressing the importance of 
space exploration.”

 Murray was at the helm of 
JPL from 1976 to 1982, during 
a very busy time for planetary 
exploration – when the Viking 
spacecraft landed on Mars, and 
Voyager 1 and 2 were launched 
and flew by Jupiter and Saturn.

 In 1979, Murray joined with 
the late astronomer Carl Sagan 
and engineer Louis Friedman 
to found the Planetary Society, 
a membership-based nonprofit 
organization dedicated to 
exploring the solar system and 
expanding public advocacy for 
space exploration.

 Murray published more 
than 130 scientific papers 
and authored or co-authored 
seven books. After he retired 
as director in late 1982, 
Murray returned to Caltech’s 
Geological and Planetary 
Sciences Division, and was 
later named an emeritus 
professor at the campus.

Thousands Expected for Wiggle Waggle

By Dean Lee

 The Pasadena Humane 
Society, the non-profit animal 
shelter dedicated to promoting 
animal welfare, said this week 
they are on track to raise 
$400,000 for this year’s 15th 
annual Wiggle Waggle Walk 
—the organization’s largest 
fundraising effort.

 Vice President of Community 
Relations, Ricky Whitman, said 
donations were being given in a 
mix of large and small amounts. 
The largest donors this year 
include, Pasadena Animal 
League $12,100.00, Pasadena 
Humane Society & SPCA 
$4,255.00 and The Walt Disney 
Company, $1,279.00. 

 All 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. The walk 
will start at 9 a.m. on Sunday, 
September 29. Whitman said.

 New this year, at the event, will 
be a V.I.P tent.

 “If you raise $1,000 or more 
you can go into that tent where 
there’s food,” she said. “Wil 
Wheaton is one of our major 
supporters and his beer [Stone 
Farking Wheaton W00tstout] 
will be there. He will also be 
hanging out there too with 
‘Team Wheaton’.” 

 Walkers and their dogs can 
choose either a one-mile or 
three-mile route around the 
outside of the Rose Bowl 
stadium. Whitman said there 
could be as many as 3,000 
walkers. 

 Whitman also said they expect 
it to be hot, “please always bring 
water for your pet, we will also 
have water stations, we will have 
six of them around the route.”

 Check-in starts at 8 a.m. at 
the entrance to Brookside 
Park. There will be a Pet Expo 
immediately after the walk until 
1 p.m. The expo will feature 
K9 demonstrations by the 
Pasadena Police Department, a 
variety of pet product booths, 
paw-tapping music and fun 
dog contests. This year’s 
sponsors include Wells Fargo, 
VCA Animal Hospitals, and 
Community Bank. For more 
information, or to donate, visit 
www.wigglewagglewalk.org.


Free Sept.
Pasadena

Senior Center 
Events

 There is something for 
everyone at the Pasadena 
Senior Center in September. 
Events listed below are free for 
PSC members. Some events 
require advance reservations 
as noted. Not a member? See 
the end of this release for how 
to join.

- Technology Workshops 
- Sept. 10 and 18 at 8:30 
a.m. Eighth graders from 
Westridge School for Girls will 
help members learn how to 
make the best use of their cell 
phones, iPhones, iPads and 
other forms of new technology 
and will help them join 
Facebook. Participants should 
bring their technology devices. 
For more information email 
raulm@pasadenaseniorcenter.
org or call Raul Martinez at 
(626) 685-6706.

- Oh, My Aching Joints! - 
Thursday, Sept. 12, at noon. 
Anatomy, exercises and injury 
prevention for hips, shoulders 
and knees will be reviewed 
as well as issues such as 
osteoarthritis and rheumatoid 
arthritis. A box lunch will be 
served to the first 50 members 
with confirmed reservations. 
(626) 795-4331. 

- LA Opera: Carmen - 
Monday, Sept. 16, at 1 p.m. 
Larry Verdugo, LA Opera 
community educator, will 
discuss Georges Bizet’s opera 
“Carmen” and play some of 
the intoxicating melodies. No 
man can resist Carmen’s gypsy 
charm, but when she’s ready to 
move on, watch out!

- A Matter of Balance - 
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 
Sept. 17 to Oct. 10, from 10 
a.m. to -noon. This program 
is designed to reduce the fear 
of falling and increase activity 
levels among older adults. It is 
offered in four-week sessions, 
twice a week. Registration is 
required. (626) 685-6730.

- Gourmet Dining Club - 
Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 5 p.m. 
Join us for lively conversation 
and great food at this month’s 
featured restaurant, La Nueva 
Posada, 2835 E. Foothill 
Blvd. in Pasadena. Call team 
captains Margaret Lawson and 
Syd Heyman at (626) 794-5858 
to make your reservation.

Chamber; Taste of Pasadena 
and SIP-tember Finale

The Pasadena Chamber of 
Commerce hosts the second 
Taste of Pasadena and SIP-
tember Finale on Thursday, 
September 26th from 6PM to 
9PM at the Rose Bowl. Enjoy 
food and drink tastings from 
many of Pasadena’s finest 
restaurants and help decide 
which SIP-tember cocktail is 
Pasadena’s favorite.

 Over the course of six weeks, 64 
cocktails will have faced off to 
determine which four finalists 
compete during the live taste-
off at the Rose Bowl. Those four 
cocktails will be available for 
live tasting. Guest will have the 
chance to vote for their favorite. 
Pasadena’s Favorite Cocktail, 
2013, will be named at 8:45PM, 
based on results of voting at the 
event. 

 Taste of Pasadena participants 
include Slater’s 50/50, La 
Grande Orange and the 
Luggage Room, Toro Sushi Bar 
Lounge, Kings Row Gastropub, 
Kal’s Mediterranean Bistro, BJ’s 
Restaurant and Brewhouse, 
Panda Catering, Haven 
Gastropub, Trattoria Neapolis 
and more.

 Tickets to the Taste of Pasadena 
and SIP-tember Finale are $25 
in advance and $30 at the door. 
To purchase tickets call the 
Chamber at 626-795-3355 or 
visit www.pasadena-chamber.
org/events/sip-tember.

 Local restaurants provide 
food samples, four finalist 
SIP-tember cocktails available 
for tasting, attendees vote for 
Pasadena’s Favorite Cocktail, 
2013


PCC Appoints Director 
of Governmental and 
Community Relations

 
Juan Gutierrez, director of 
Public Relations at Pasadena 
City College, will now lead 
the legislative and community 
relations’ effort of the college as 
the newly appointed director of 
Governmental and Community 
Relations. 

 In this new capacity, 
Gutierrez will be charged with 
overseeing governmental and 
community relations activities 
for the institution and provide 
overall leadership in planning, 
organizing, and directing 
strategies to inform and 
influence public policy at the 
city, county, state and federal 
levels.

 “The duties of the area have 
expanded exponentially and 
Juan has done a fabulous job,” 
said Dr. Mark Rocha, PCC 
superintendent/president. “I 
want to thank Juan for taking 
on this greater responsibility 
in the Governmental relations 
area.”

 “I am excited to build this 
effort from the ground up and 
work with our many wonderful 
community groups and 
dedicated legislators to create 
partnerships that will help 
students and our community,” 
Gutierrez said.

 Gutierrez has served as the 
director of Public Relations of 
Pasadena City College since 
2004 and has more than 10 
years experience in higher 
education marketing and 
communication within the 
California Community College 
system.

 As the chief spokesperson 
for PCC, Gutierrez was 
primarily responsible for all 
media relations, marketing/
advertising, and graphic design 
for the institution.

 During his tenure, he 
helped develop an integrated 
marketing and communication 
plan for the college. 

 Gutierrez serves as a board 
director for the Pasadena 
Community Access 
Corporation, is a board 
member and past president 
of the Community College 
Public Relations Organization 
(CCPRO), a member of the 
National Council for Marketing 
and Public Relations (NCMPR), 
a member of the Pasadena 
Mayor’s City of Learning 
committee, and a graduate 
of the Leadership Pasadena 
program.

Pet of the 
Week


Rose Bowl Legacy Cycling 
Challenge to be Held

 Penny is a very friendly and 
outgoing two-year-old pit 
bull. She enjoys attention 
and loves sitting laps. She’s 
been out on our Mobile 
Outreach Unit and did well 
with the other dogs. Penny 
also charmed everyone 
she met! She earned 
her Blue Ribbon in our 
Shelter School enrichment 
program, which means she 
knows her basic obedience 
commands: sit, down and 
stay. 

 Penny’s adoption fee is 
$100, 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 
A335599, 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.

 

 This fall, hundreds of 
cyclists from around Southern 
California will gather at the 
Rose Bowl Stadium to embark 
on a journey to support two 
iconic institutions. Taking 
place Sunday, October 20, the 
inaugural Rose Bowl Legacy 
Cycling Challenge is an 
important community initiative 
and collaborative effort between 
the Rose Bowl Legacy Campaign 
and City of Hope. Registration 
for the inaugural ride is open at 
RidetheRoseBowl.com. 

 Attracting various levels of 
cyclists, the event will feature 
three routes: 38 miles, 52 miles 
and 100 miles, all concluding 
at the fifty-yard line of the 
Rose Bowl Stadium. Winding 
through beautiful hills and the 
cities of the San Gabriel Valley, 
the ride is poised to be one of 
the best cycling days of the year.

 “The Rose Bowl area is 
an enthusiastic cycling 
community,” says Darryl Dunn, 
General manager of the Rose 
Bowl Stadium. “Having a ride 
that will end on the Rose Bowl 
field and the opportunity to 
work and partner with notable 
charities, such as the City of 
Hope & Rose Bowl Legacy, is 
going to be an event that we 
hope will turn into a wonderful 
tradition for years to come.” 

Registered cyclists will raise 
money for designated charities, 
City of Hope and the Rose 
Bowl Legacy Campaign, as they 
prepare for this one-day cycling 
event. 

 The Rose Bowl Legacy 
Campaign supports the much-
needed and appreciated 
renovations to the National 
Historic Landmark. Celebrating 
its 90th birthday, the Rose Bowl 
Stadium, is ensuring its use for 
many generations to come.

 “The Rose Bowl Cycling 
Challenge is a marvelous 
opportunity to highlight our 
community’s historic stadium,” 
says Andrea Van De Kamp of 
Rose Bowl Legacy Campaign. 
“We are delighted to share this 
experience with such a great 
organization as City of Hope.” 

 Now celebrating its centennial, 
City of Hope is a nationally 
known research and treatment 
center for cancer, diabetes and 
other life-threatening diseases. 
It provides leading-edge cancer 
treatment and patient care 
locally, along with research 
breakthroughs that benefit 
people worldwide. 

 “This is a wonderful way to 
support two iconic institutions, 
and to call attention to the 
importance of exercise,” said 
Leslie Bernstein, director of 
cancer etiology at City of Hope 
and one of the first researchers 
to discover exercise’s connection 
to reduced cancer risk. “If this 
event inspires more people to 
become, or stay, active, we’ll 
have a healthier community 
with, hopefully, fewer cases of 
cancer.” 

 Crossing the finish line will not 
only be a rewarding experience 
for riders, but also a symbol 
of continued tradition and 
excellence for the Rose Bowl 
organization and City of Hope. 

 Participation is limited to 1,000 
riders. There is registration 
fee of $75 per rider and a 
fundraising pledge of $350. 
For more information and to 
register, visit RidetheRoseBowl.
com.

Gold Line 
Extension 
CEO to 
Speak

JPL Sept. Events Calendar

 

 SEPT. 11: NASA’S CASSINI 
FLIES CLOSE TO TITAN 

 On Sept. 11 PDT (Sept. 
12 UTC), NASA’s Cassini 
spacecraft will fly within about 
870 miles (1,400 kilometers) of 
Saturn’s largest moon, Titan. 
This is the 95th targeted flyby of 
Titan in the mission. 

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov

 SEPT. 12-13: FREE LECTURE 
– TELEXPLORATION: 
HOW VIDEO GAME 
TECHNOLOGIES CAN TAKE 
NASA TO THE NEXT LEVEL

 How would you like to swim 
in the oceans of Europa? What 
would it feel like to climb Mount 
Olympus on Mars? Is it possible 
for all of us to experience these 
journeys together? The goal 
of the Telexploration project 
is to make us better explorers 
by building immersive 
environments that feel as 
though we are really there. By 
drawing together technologies 
from sources as unlikely as 
the video game industry and 
advancing the state of the art 
in human-system interaction, 
we are working toward low-
cost “holodecks” - not only for 
every NASA mission scientist, 
but for every person who longs 
to explore space with us. This 
presentation will describe our 
progress toward these ambitious 
goals, and the challenges that 
are ahead.

 Free lectures on Sept. 12 at 
JPL; Sept. 13 at Pasadena City 
College; both at 7 p.m.

 SEPT. 27: NASA’S DAWN 
LAUNCHED SIX YEARS AGO 

 On Sept. 27, 2007, NASA 
launched the Dawn spacecraft 
on its mission to orbit the 
two most massive bodies in 
the main asteroid belt, Vesta 
and Ceres. Dawn is currently 
cruising toward the dwarf 
planet Ceres, having completed 
its orbits around Vesta in 2012. 
It is expected to arrive at Ceres, 
which will be the first dwarf 
planet to be observed close-up, 
in spring 2015. 

http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov

 Habib Balian, CEO of the 
Metro Gold Line Foothill 
Extension Construction 
Authority, will give an update 
on the project to the Woman’s 
Civic League during their 
monthly luncheon Monday, 
Sept. 9, at noon at the Woman’s 
City Club, 160 N. Oakland 
Ave. in Pasadena.

 The project will extend from 
Pasadena to Montclair. A 
question-and-answer period 
will follow Balian’s update.

 Also at the luncheon, past 
presidents of the Woman’s 
Civic League will be honored.

 The luncheon cost is $20 and 
reservations are required; call 
(626) 564-1513.

 Established in 1911, The 
Woman’s Civic League 
advances the community 
through the study of social, 
economic and legislative 
issues.