Mountain Views News          Saturday, August 30, 2014

4

Mountain View News Saturday, August 30, 2014 


PUBLIC LIBRARY TO HOST 
DUST BOWL EXHIBITION

ARMED MEN 
ATTEMPT 
HOME 
INVASION 
ROBBERY

 

 
Pasadena Public Library 
will host “Dust, Drought, 
and Dreams Gone Dry,” a 
national traveling exhibition 
about the Dust Bowl, the 
disastrous drought and dust 
storms that wreaked havoc 
on the American Great 
Plains in the 1930s. The 
exhibit will be on display 
in Central Library’s Great 
Hall, 285 E. Walnut St. from 
September 2 to October 9. 
The library is open Monday 
through Thursday from 9 
a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and 
Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 
p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 
p.m.

 The exhibition recalls a tragic 
period in our history – the 
drought and dust storms that 
wreaked havoc on the Great 
Plains in the 1930s – and 
explores its environmental 
and cultural consequences. 
It raises several thought-
provoking questions: What 
caused fertile farms to turn 
to dust? How did people 
survive? What lessons can 
we learn?

 “The Dust Bowl was one 
of the worst man-made 
ecological disasters in 
American history. We are 
proud that Pasadena Public 
Library was selected to help 
make the public more aware 
of this important event,“ said 
Jan Sanders, Director of 
Libraries and Information 
Services.“ This exhibition 
delves into the history and 
geography behind the Dust 
Bowl, and also provides a 
human element; through 
the words of the survivors 
themselves, we learn what it 
was like to live through such 
a difficult time.”

 “Dust, Drought, and 
Dreams Gone Dry,” will be 
accompanied by a series 
of free library programs, 
including lectures and film 
screenings. The exhibition 
and programs feature several 
overlapping humanities 
themes: the nature of the 
connection between humans 
and nature; the many ways 
human beings respond to 
adversity; and how people 
came to understand and to 
describe their experiences 
living through the Dust 
Bowl. 

 The exhibition was organized 
by the American Library 
Association Public Programs 
Office, the Oklahoma State 
University and the Mount 

“Dust, Drought and 
Dreams Gone Dry” A 
commemoration of the 
1930s American Dust 
Bowl

 The Altadena Station 
Sheriff’s Department is 
asking for the public’s 
help after two armed men, 
one wearing a mask, tried 
to force their way into 
an Altadena residents 
Thursday night in an 
attempted home invasion 
robbery, it was unknown 
at the time if anything was 
taken from the victims.

 According to investigators, 
at approximately 10:40 p.m., 
Altadena Station received a 
call of a burglary occurring 
at the 600 block of Figueroa 
Drive, Altadena. 

 When deputies arrived, 
the victim reported that two 
male Black adults knocked 
on her door and asked for 
“Chris.” She told them there 
was no one by the name 
of “Chris” living there and 
attempted to close the door. 
As the victim started to 
close the door, the two male 
Black suspects, forced their 
way inside the residence. 
One suspect was wearing a 
plastic mask and carrying a 
handgun. 

 As the suspects entered the 
residence, the victim and 
her family members hid in 
various areas of the home. 
The victim immediately 
called Altadena Sheriff’s 
Station. 

 It is unknown at this time 
what items were taken 
from the residence prior 
to the suspects fleeing in an 
unknown direction. 

 Both Suspects are 
described as male Black 
adults in their 20’s.

 There is no further 
information at this time.

 Anyone with information 
can contact Lieutenant 
Tracy Stewart at (626) 
798-1131. If you prefer 
to provide information 
anonymously, call (800) 
222-TIPS (8477), or texting 
the letters TIPLA plus your 
tip to CRIMES (274637), or 
by using the website http://
lacrimestoppers.org.

FIRE OFFICIALS CLOSE CHARTER SCHOOL

 Hundreds of students and 
parents were without a school 
Wednesday after fire officials 
suddenly shutdown The Celerity 
Exa Charter School in Pasadena 
Tuesday due to substandard 
building conditions —deeming 
the school’s building dangerous 
and unsafe to the school’s 
approximate 300 students. 

 According to Pasadena Fire 
Spokeswoman Lisa Derderian, 
the Charter School was served 
with a notice Tuesday to 
immediately vacate the premises 
at 1530 Elizabeth Street, the 
William Carey International 
University Campus, for 
violations of the Pasadena 
Municipal and California Fire 
Codes.

 “The safety of children is our 
top priority and we take this 
situation very seriously,” Fire 
Marshal Calvin Wells said in a 
press statement.

 Derderian said they received 
a call from a concerned parent 
about the violations which 
prompted an immediate 
response.

 It was determined the school 
does not have a permit to operate 
an educational facility at the site, 
the building is not equipped 
with an automatic fire sprinkler 
system, fire alarm system and 
maintains inadequate exiting 
she said.

 The charter school, which 
opened in the fall of 2012, 
serves students in kindergarten 
through fifth grade. It is operated 
by Celerity Educational Group, 
which oversees several charter 
schools throughout Southern 
California, as well as in Ohio, 
Florida and Louisiana.

 Celerity EXA Charter School 
is chartered by The Pasadena 
Unified School District. 
Fire personnel immediately 
notified PUSD Administrators 
who have been cooperating 
and are in support of the 
Fire Department’s decision 
according to Derderian.

 For further information call 
626-945-5169.

LABOR DAY 
CLOSURES, 
REMINDERS 

 Pasadena residents and 
businesses are reminded 
that City Hall and many City 
services will be closed on 
Monday, September 1, 2014 in 
observance of Labor Day. 

 The City Council’s next 
regularly scheduled meeting 
will be Monday, Sept. 8. 

 Pasadena Fire and Police 
Departments will continue 
to be staffed for all patrol, 
jail, fire, paramedic and other 
emergency services. For any 
life-threatening emergencies, 
always remember to call 9-1-1. 

 Pasadena residents and 
businesses with any power 
emergencies should call the 
Pasadena Water and Power 
(PWP) Department at (626) 
744-4673 and for water-
related emergencies call (626) 
744-4138. PWP’s Customer 
Service Call Center will be 
closed for the holiday, but 
customers can access their 
accounts and make payments 
by phone at (626) 744-4005 or 
online at www.PWPweb.com. 
The City’s Municipal Services 
Payment Center at City Hall 
also will be closed on Labor 
Day. 

 During the week of Sept. 1, 
refuse and recycling service 
will be postponed one day. 
Monday pickup service will be 
on Tuesday, Tuesday pickup 
on Wednesday, Wednesday 
pickup on Thursday, Thursday 
service on Friday and Friday 
pickup on Saturday. There will 
be no bulky item pickups on 
Saturday. 

 The Citizen Service Center 
will be closed Sept. 1 in 
observance of Labor Day. 

 The City’s ARTS (Area Rapid 
Transit Service) and Dial-A-
Ride transportation programs 
will not be operating on Labor 
Day

 All parking meters are free 
and parking time limits will 
not enforced on Sept. 1, 
however, violations for red 
curb parking and blocking fire 
hydrants will continue to be 
issued. 

 All Recreation and 
Community Centers operated 
by the City’s Human Services 
and Recreation Department 
will be closed on Labor Day, 
but all parks will be open for 
picnics, fun and festivities. No 
site reservations are accepted 
on holidays. 

 Any suspicious activity 
should be reported to the 
Pasadena Police Department. 
“If You See Something, Say 
Something” is an instrumental 
component in working to keep 
the Pasadena community safe, 
every day. Report suspicious 
activity to (626) 744-4241.

Decker House Proposals Due 
Oct. 6, Pre-Bid Meeting Held


Free September Events at 
Pasadena Senior Center

 Persons and businesses 
interested in submitting 
bids to move and restore the 
historic “Decker House” have 
until 1 p.m., Monday, Oct. 6, 
to submit proposals although 
those interested had to attend a 
mandatory pre-bid conference 
last Thursday. 

 The Decker House is an 
historic Queen Anne-style, 
two-story home currently at 
750 N. Fair Oaks Ave. The 
house needs to be moved to a 
new location to make way for a 
new 70-unit affordable housing 
project slated for the Heritage 
Square site.

 For more information, visit 
www.cityofpasadena.net/
housing and click on the menu 
for Heritage Square. 

 The RFP includes points 
for developers to minimize 
the amount of city funding 
requested to relocate and restore 
the house. The maximum 
city subsidy for this project is 
$450,000. 

 As part of the relocation 
project, the requirements 
include that the house stay 
in Pasadena; the successfully 
selected development team 
have recent experience with 
both historic rehabilitation and 
house moving and must have 
site control of the land (lease, 
own or in escrow) where the 
home is to be relocated. The 
home’s exterior must be restored 
to federal historic standards per 
the Secretary of the Interior.

 In addition, bonus point 
categories include affordable 
housing reuse of the Decker 
House and developer 
commitment to exceed the 
City’s 20 percent local hiring 
requirement.

 There is something for 
everyone in September at the 
Pasadena Senior Center, 85 E. 
Holly St. You do not have to be a 
member to attend. Some events 
require advance reservations as 
noted.

 • Final Summer Concert in 
the Park – Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 6 
p.m. The Great American Swing 
Band will feature the sounds of 
Big Band, rhythm and blues, 
jazz and Dixieland in the Gold 
Shell at Memorial Park adjacent 
to the Pasadena Senior Center. 
Bring a picnic or purchase food 
at the BBQ snack bar.

 • Stay Connected with 
Social Media – Tuesdays and 
Thursdays, Sept. 2 to 25, from 
9 to 11 a.m. Learn how to keep 
in touch with family and friends 
via email, Skype, Facebook 
and other forms of social 
media during a 30-minute, 
one-on-one meeting with an 
instructor. You’ll choose which 
applications you want to learn. 
Bring a laptop or use an onsite 
computer. Sign up with Edison 
at the Welcome Desk. 626-795-
4331.

 • Understanding Vision Loss 
– Thursday, Sept. 4, at 10 a.m. 
As vision decreases, so can the 
ability to engage in activities 
of daily living. Learn about 
common eye diseases such as 
glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic 
retinopathy and macular 
degeneration; signs and 
symptoms of vision loss; and 
the emotional impact on seniors 
and caregivers. Presented by the 
Braille Institute.

 • Friday Movie Matinees – 
Fridays, Sept. 5, 12 and 19, at 1 
p.m. – Movies captivate us with 
their imaginary worlds brought 
to life. Aug 1: “Belle” (2013, PG) 
starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw and 
Matthew Goode. Aug. 12: “The 
Grand Budapest Hotel” (2014, 
R) starring Ralph Fiennes and 
F. Murray Abraham. Aug. 19: 
“Singin’ in the Rain” (1952) 
starring Gene Kelly and Debbie 
Reynolds.

 Founded in 1959, the Pasadena 
Senior Center is an independent, 
nonprofit organization that 
offers recreational, educational, 
wellness and social services to 
people ages 50 and over in a 
friendly environment. Services 
are also provided for frail, 
low-income and homebound 
seniors.

Pet of the 
Week


City Urges Residents to 
Sign up for Local PLEAS

 The 6.0 earthquake in Northern 
California’s Napa Valley 
region serves as an important 
reminder for everybody to 
get prepared now--and stay 
prepared--for disasters and 
emergencies with supplies for 
your home, at work and in your 
cars; basic disaster-response 
training and by signing up to 
receive emergency alerts from 
Public Safety officials. 

 Pasadena’s Public Safety 
officials urge everybody to 
be prepared now—or start 
preparing today—with 
emergency supplies, including 
“Go Kits” for homes, cars 
and your workplace; pre-
determined evacuation plans 
for family and pets, and many 
other steps that will help you, 
your loved ones and animal 
companions survive in the days 
following a major disaster or 
emergency event. 

 Successful emergency 
preparedness means having 
enough food, water, medicine, 
first aid supplies, hygiene 
products, flashlights, batteries, 
clothing and other supplies for 
each person and pet in your 
household to last a minimum of 
three days to week, or longer, if 
possible. 

 It is important to remember 
that in the event of a widespread 
disaster or emergency, police 
and fire officials throughout 
the region may become quickly 
overwhelmed with 9-1-1 calls 
and you and your neighbors 
may be on your own, without 
assistance from first responders 
for hours or even days. 

 If you are not prepared, start 
by watching an informative, 
12-minute disaster 
preparedness video posted 
at www.cityofpasadena.net/
Disaster_Preparedness_Video/. 
This important emergency 
preparedness video is available 
in English and Spanish, with 
captions and audio descriptions 
in both English and Spanish. 

 Additional disaster 
preparedness info is available 
at the following website, www.
cityofpasadena.net/disaster 
including a handy “Emergency 
Survival Guide” prepared by the 
County of Los Angeles. 

 The American Red Cross also 
offers an important website on 
preparing for disasters. Visit 
www.PrepareSoCal.org. 

 Locally, Pasadena officials urge 
all residents to sign up today 
for emergency alerts and other 
information from the City by 
joining the City’s Pasadena 
Local Emergency Alert System, 
or PLEAS. 

 PLEAS uses both text and 
voice messages to keep residents 
and community members in 
Pasadena informed in case of 
citywide or major emergencies. 
Phone subscribers will 
receive a message with the 
latest information and safety 
instructions—that must be 
listened to in its entirety or the 
system will call you back. 

 Go to www.cityofpasadena.
net/Fire/PLEAS/ to register. 

 Trump is an eight-month-
old Great Dane mix. He’s a 
sweet, playful puppy with 
the cutest floppy ears! He’s 
been out on our Mobile Unit 
and was a favorite among 
our volunteers and staff. His 
adoption fee is $125. 

 Trump’s 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. 

 Call the Pasadena 
Humane Society & SPCA at 
626.792.7151 to ask about 
A362717, 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.

Learn How to Produce 
Your Own TV Show

 New Citizen Journalism 
training starts Wednesday 
nights, learn how to report 
news using social media 

 With the opening of the new 
Pasadena Media studios at 150 
S. Los Robles Ave, they are 
offering free television-training 
programs for producers. Plan 
to attend an orientation to 
discover the right classes for 
you. Producers’ Training 
teaches how to produce shows 
for The Arroyo Channel. Studio 
Production/Equipment training 
is also offered to volunteer 
crewmembers. In addition, 
on-going training will soon be 
available in citizen journalism 
and digital film groups. Call the 
office (626) 794-8585 or go to 
PASADENAMEDIA.ORG and 
explore what Pasadena Media 
has to offer.


Solicitors 
Impersonating 
Police Officers 

 In the past several days the 
Pasadena Police Department 
has received numerous calls 
from citizens reporting to 
have received phone calls 
from persons impersonating 
law enforcement officers to 
include police officers and 
sheriff’s deputies. The callers 
are requesting personal 
information and asking for 
money. The callers are accusing 
people of not showing up for 
jury duty and owing money. 

 Do not provide personal 
information over the telephone 
or render payment to this type 
of solicitation.

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

Station Schedule 

Closed for Labor Day

Monday Sept. 1 All day

Board of Directors - Regular Meeting

Tuesday Sept. 2 at 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Orientation

Wednesday Sept. 3 at 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Citizen Journalism Training

Wednesday Sept. 3 at 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. 

Studio Cameras & Floor Manager

Wednesday Sept. 3 at 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.