Mountain Views News          Saturday, October 4, 2014

4


Mountain View News Saturday, October 4, 2014 


CALAWARE 
SUES PCC 
BOARD OVER 
BROWN ACT

Chairman of Armenian 
Genocide Memorial Resigns

 
Former Pasadena 
Mayor William Paparian, 
announced Tuesday his 
resignation as chairman 
of the board of directors 
of the Pasadena Armenian 
Genocide Memorial. 

 Paparian claims that the 
board treasurer provided 
fraudulent background 
information about himself 
and that the treasurer failed 
to follow California law 
regarding legal filings —
other board members also 
failed to address the issue 
according to Paparian.

 Paparian said that on Aug. 
6, the webmaster and social 
media coordinator for the 
memorial reported to the 
board that the bio of the 
treasurer had been removed 
from the website (www.
pasagmc.org) due to the 
discovery that his claims of 
being a certified treasury 
professional and a former 
paid employee of the cities 
of West Hollywood, Sierra 
Madre and Pasadena were 
false.

 The Pasadena Armenian 
Genocide Memorial Board 
of Directors severed ties with 
the webmaster and took no 
action on the allegations 
against the treasurer 
Paparian said.

 On Aug. 27, Paparian was 
informed by the board’s 
independent certified public 
accountant that the treasurer 
had never registered 
the Pasadena Armenian 
Genocide Memorial with the 
California attorney general’s 
Registry of Charitable 
Trusts as required by state 
law, although the treasurer 
informed the board on May 
19, 2013, that he had filed the 
registration.

 Paparian also learned that 
no financial reports had 
been filed by the treasurer for 
the past two years with the 
California attorney general 
as required by state law. 
Paparian said he was shocked 
to learn that the board 
had been unintentionally 
receiving donations for the 
memorial illegally as a result.

 “California law requires that 
the board of directors carry 
out their responsibilities in 
good faith and with such 
care, including reasonable 
inquiry, as would be used 
by an ordinarily prudent 
person,” said Paparian. “It 
is my belief that the board 
has failed in that fiduciary 
obligation owed to the 
community.”

 The memorial, approved by 
the Pasadena City Council 
in September 2013, has been 
scheduled to be completed 
and dedicated at the north 
side of Memorial Park in 
April 2015 to mark the 100th 
anniversary of the killing of 
1.5 million Armenians over a 
three-year period beginning 
in 1915.

 The government watchdog 
group, Californians Aware, 
is suing the Pasadena City 
College board of trustees 
over violation of open 
meeting laws, “seeking a 
court-ordered reversal of 
a recent board-approved 
$400,000 severance award to 
its retiring superintendent, 
Dr. Mark Rocha,” according 
to a statement by the group 
last week.

 Californians Aware claims 
that the college board of 
trustees voted in secrete to 
award Rocha the retirement 
and severance package in 
violation of the Ralph M. 
Brown Act. The lawsuit also 
claims that his retirement 
package never appeared on 
a PCC board agenda. 

 Terry Francke, General 
Counsel, for Californians 
Aware said in a statement, 
“[Rocha’s] approval was 
hatched in two closed 
sessions labeled as dealing 
with “anticipated litigation” 
without explaining what 
litigation was anticipated, 
or why, or who the 
potential plaintiff was. The 
board’s attorney calls the 
$400,000 a “settlement and 
release of claims,” without 
revealing what the claims 
were. CalAware argues the 
closed sessions were about 
compensation beyond 
the amount Dr. Rocha 
was entitled to under his 
contract and that the closed 
session agendas were 
misleadingly worded to 
avoid public awareness of 
the planned award.”

 According to Francke, the 
money was part of the terms 
of Rocha’s contract and not 
part of any litigation. The 
PCC board voted, in closed 
session, unanimously Aug. 
6 to approve the severance 
package. Open meeting 
law required the board to 
make the vote public within 
24 hours something Board 
President Anthony Fellow 
failed to do, even at the 
request of journalists.

Thousands Take Part in Wiggle Waggle

 By Dean Lee

 Nearly 3,000 people and 
1,500 dogs put their best paws 
forward Sunday during the 
Pasadena Humane Society & 
SPCA’s 16th annual Wiggle 
Waggle Walk. 

 Pasadena Humane Society 
Community Relations Associate 
Zahra Nealy said the walk —a 
community fundraiser for 
animals – at Brookside Park 
adjacent to the Rose Bowl, 
raised $325,000, just shy of the 
organization’s goal of $375,000.

 “We’re still tallying donations,” 
Nealy said. “People from as far 
as Denver attended, as well as 
people from Lompoc, Yucaipa 
and Lancaster.”

 “The Wiggle Waggle Walk is 
a community event for animal 
lovers,” says Steve McNall, 
president and CEO of the 
Pasadena Humane Society 
& SPCA. “This is our biggest 
fundraiser of the year. We would 
not be able to provide the level 
of care to all the animals in our 
nine-city service area without 
the community’s support.”

 Nealy said the money goes 
to food, shelter and medical 
care to stray animals, of which, 
nearly 12,000 are taken in by the 
organization every year.

 Walkers and their dogs chose 
a one-mile or three-mile route 
around the outside of the Rose 
Bowl stadium before enjoying a 
free Pet Expo at Brookside Park.

RISE of the Jack O’Lanterns 
Opens at Descanso Gardens

2015 Royal 
Court to be 
Announced

 
After a month-long 
process, seven young 
women will be named 
to the 2015 Royal Court 
during a ceremony Monday 
morning at the Tournament 
House grounds. 

 More than 700 young 
women participated in the 
tryout process; 31 of them 
advanced to the finals. The 
Royal Court will make as 
many as 100 media and 
community appearances 
and reign over the 126th 
Rose Parade presented by 
Honda, themed “Inspiring 
Stories,” and attend the 
College Football Playoff 
Semifinal at the Rose 
Bowl Game presented by 
Northwestern Mutual on 
January 1, 2015. From the 
Royal Court a Rose Queen 
will be selected during a 
Coronation Ceremony Oct. 
21 at the Civic Auditorium.

 Lighting up the night, 
for the first time in Los 
Angeles, this October is a 
unique all-ages Halloween 
extravaganza – RISE of the 
Jack O’Lanterns at Descanso 
Gardens. More than 5,000 
hand-carved jack o’lanterns 
created by professional artists 
and sculptors are arranged in 
artful displays throughout 
a 1/4-mile scenic trail. The 
entire family-friendly stroll 
is a multi-sensory experience 
that is sure to be a lasting 
annual family tradition.

 All new for 2014, Imagine 
seeing thousands of carved 
jack o’lanterns arranged 
within a variety of exciting 
themes. Visitors will see a 
re-creation of the New York 
City Skyline, favorite sports 
stars from your professional 
teams, amazingly carved 
images of famous TV stars, a 
giant graveyard made of jack 
o’lanterns, and a pre-historic 
arrangement of life-sized 
dinosaurs made entirely out 
of lit jack o’lanterns.

 RISE of the Jack O’Lanterns 
runs Oct. 3-5, 8-12, 15-19, 
22-26, 29- and Nov. 2.

 Advanced tickets are 
required. Descanso Gardens 
is at 1418 Descanso Drive 
in La Cañada Flintridge. 
For more information visit 
http://therise.org 

PCC Writer in Residence 
to Hold Writing Workshop

 Critically acclaimed novelist 
Francesca Lia Block, the 2014 
writer in residence at Pasadena 
City College, will conduct two 
events Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 
the Pasadena Senior Center, 85 
E. Holly St.

 From 10 to 11:30 a.m. she 
will read from her latest novel 
“Beyond the Pale Motel” and 
lead a discussion about the 
book.

 With more than a decade of 
sobriety behind them, two best 
friends are close to living the 
lives they have always wanted. 
But when one’s husband leaves 
her and a neighbor is murdered, 
her world comes crashing down, 
especially after she suspects her 
friend may be the next target.

 At 6 p.m. Block will conduct 
a writing workshop that will 
provide focused instruction 
and practice in the craft of 
storytelling, from basic writing 
concepts to character and 
conflict development.

 Both events are free and 
open to the public and are 
made possible by the Pasadena 
Festival of Women Authors.

 Block is the author of more 
than 25 books of fiction, non-
fiction, short stories and poetry. 
She has been the recipient of 
the Spectrum Award, Phoenix 
Award, American Library 
Association Rainbow Award 
and Margaret A. Edwards 
Lifetime Achievement Award 
as well as positive reviews from 
the New York Times Book 
Review, School Library Journal 
and Publishers Weekly.

 For more information call 626-
585-7371. Seating is limited for 
the writing workshop. To make 
a reservation, call 626-795-
4331.


JPL to Hold 
Open House

Free Lecture – Rosetta – A 
Lesson on Comets, The Solar 
System and Mysteries Of Earth

 JPL opens its doors to 
the public at its Open 
House. This year’s theme 
is “Welcome to Our 
Universe.” Visitors can see 
a life-size model of the 
Mars Science Laboratory 
rover, Curiosity, and check 
out demonstrations from 
numerous space missions. 
Attractions include mission 
control; JPL’s machine 
shop, where highly precise 
robotic spacecraft parts are 
built; and the Microdevices 
Lab, where engineers 
and scientists use tiny 
technology to revolutionize 
space exploration. 
Admission is free. Parking 
is limited, but free. The 
event takes place Saturday, 
Oct. 11, and Sunday, Oct. 
12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Pet of the 
Week

 


 Comets have inspired awe 
and wonder since the dawn of 
history. Many scientists today 
believe that comets crashed into 
Earth in its formative period, 
spewing organic molecules that 
were crucial to the growth of 
life. While some scientists think 
that comets and planets were 
made from the same clumps of 
dust and ice that spewed from 
our sun’s birth, others think 
that these roving time capsules 
are even older than that, and 
that they may contain grains 
of interstellar stuff that is even 
older than our solar system. The 
Rosetta spacecraft is on a 10-
year mission to catch a comet 
and become the first spacecraft 
to soft-land a robot on a comet. 
The three U.S. instruments 
aboard the Rosetta spacecraft 
are the Microwave Instrument 
for Rosetta Orbiter (MIRO), an 
ultraviolet spectrometer called 
Alice, and the Ion and Electron 
Sensor (IES). They are part of a 
suite of 11 science instruments 
aboard the Rosetta orbiter. JPL 
manages the U.S. contribution 
to the Rosetta mission for 
the agency’s Science Mission 
Directorate in Washington. 

Free lectures on October 9 at 
JPL; October 10 at Pasadena 
City College; both at 7 p.m.

 Europa is a 2-year-
old Calico. She is sweet, 
extremely affectionate, 
and enjoys being held and 
scratched. She would love 
to find a forever home. 

 Europa’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. 

 Call the Pasadena 
Humane Society & SPCA at 
626.792.7151 to ask about 
A361054, 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

Free October Events at the 
Pasadena Senior Center

Star Wars 
Read Day 
at the 
Altadena 
Library

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

 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.

 


 There is something for 
everyone in October 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.

 - Stay Connected with 
Social Media – Tuesdays and 
Thursdays, Oct. 7 to 30, 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 one of the 
onsite computers. If you have 
an email address, bring it and 
your password. Sign up for a 
30-minute, one-on-one session 
with Edison at the Welcome 
Desk.

 - Memory Loss Education – 
Tuesdays, Oct. 7 and Nov. 4, at 
10 a.m. Oct. 7: Learn about the 
risk factors for dementia and 
steps that can be taken to lower 
the risk of future cognitive 
issues. Nov. 4: Learn how to 
communicate effectively with 
someone with Alzheimer’s 
disease to increase meaningful 
moments that can lead to a 
better quality of life for everyone 
in the family. Reservations 
are required: 626-685-6730. 
Presented by the Alzheimer’s 
Association.

 - Medicare Resource Fair and 
Lecture – Thursday, Oct. 9, from 
9 a.m. to noon (lecture begins 
at noon) – As open enrollment 
approaches, professionals will 
provide information and answer 
questions about Medicare plans 
and services. A lecture at noon 
will feature upcoming Medicare 
changes for 2015.

 - Memories in the Making 
– Thursdays, Oct. 9 to Nov. 
13, at 1 p.m. This art program 
developed by the Alzheimer’s 
Association enables people 
with early-stage dementia to 
explore their memories and 
emotions through the creation 
of their own art. Reservations 
are required: 626-685-6733.

 Come celebrate Star Wars 
Reads Day at the Altadena 
Library. Stop by the Youth 
Services department 
between 11:00am - 4:00 
pm for Star Wars origami 
crafts and fun! Free Star 
Wars book giveaways, while 
supplies last. Costumes are 
definitely encouraged!

 Star Wars Reads Day is 
an international event that 
celebrates reading and 
Star Wars. It was launched 
in 2012 by Lucasfilm and 
its publishing partners — 
Abrams, Chronicle Books, 
Dark Horse, Del Rey, DK 
Publishing, Klutz, Random 
House Audio, Scholastic, 
and Workman Publishing.

Class offerings days and nights weekly

Station Schedule 

Orientation & Tour

Wednesday Oct. 6 at 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

PCAC Board Of Directors - Regular Meeting

Tuesday Oct. 7. at 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Producers Training

Wednesday Oct. 8 at 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Lighting Basics

Wednesday Oct. 8 at 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Citizen Journalism Training

Wednesday Oct. 8 at 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.