Mountain Views News          Saturday, April 18, 2015

4

Mountain Views-News Saturday, April 18, 2015 


RIDDLE TO 
RUN FOR 
STATE SENATE 

CALTECH TESTS SMARTPHONE 
EARTHQUAKE WARNING SYSTEM

 
A new study led by researchers 
at Caltech and the United States 
Geological Survey (USGS), 
released last week, suggests 
that all of our phones and other 
personal electronic devices 
could function as a distributed 
network, detecting any ground 
movements caused by a large 
earthquake, and, ultimately, 
giving people crucial seconds to 
prepare for a temblor.

 “Crowd-sourced alerting 
means that the community will 
benefit by data generated by the 
community,” said Sarah Minson 
(PhD ‘10), a USGS geophysicist 
and lead author of the study, 
which appears in the April 10 
issue of the new journal Science 
Advances. Minson completed 
the work while a postdoctoral 
scholar at Caltech in the 
laboratory of Thomas Heaton, 
professor of engineering 
seismology.

 Earthquake early warning 
(EEW) systems detect the start 
of an earthquake and rapidly 
transmit warnings to people 
and automated systems before 
they experience shaking at their 
location. 

 In the study, the researchers 
tested the feasibility of crowd-
sourced EEW with a simulation 
of a hypothetical magnitude 7 
earthquake, and with real data 
from the 2011 magnitude 9 
Tohoku-oki, Japan earthquake. 
The results show that crowd-
sourced EEW could be achieved 
with only a tiny percentage 
of people in a given area 
contributing information from 
their smartphones. For example, 
if phones from fewer than 5,000 
people in a large metropolitan 
area responded, the earthquake 
could be detected and analyzed 
fast enough to issue a warning 
to areas farther away before the 
onset of strong shaking.

 The researchers note that the 
GPS receivers in smartphones 
and similar devices would 
not be sufficient to detect 
earthquakes smaller than 
magnitude 7, which could 
still be potentially damaging. 
However, smartphones also 
have microelectromechanical 
systems (MEMS) 
accelerometers that are capable 
of recording any earthquake 
motions large enough to be felt; 
this means that smartphones 
may be useful in earthquakes as 
small as magnitude 5. 

 “Crowd-sourced data are 
less precise, but for larger 
earthquakes that cause 
large shifts in the ground 
surface, they contain enough 
information to detect that 
an earthquake has occurred, 
information necessary for early 
warning,” says study coauthor 
Susan Owen of JPL.

COUNCIL OPPOSES 710 TUNNEL OPTION

By Dean Lee

 The Pasadena City Council 
voted, during a special meeting 
Monday night, to oppose any 
plans to build a tunnel extending 
the 710 freeway form Alhambra 
to Pasadena but not before 
Council Member Terry Tornek 
offered a separate motion to 
place the issue on a November 
ballot.

 “Tonight, I will offer a 
substitute motion, is the 
motion, that supports the staff 
recommendation as given to 
us..,” Tornek said. “Offer the 
proposal to put on the ballot a 
measure for the citizens to vote 
on to overcome and refute the 
Measure A mandate from our 
citizens.”

At issue was whether provisions 
contained in Measure A, passed 
by voters in 2001, prohibited the 
council from legally opposing 
the 710 freeway extension. 
Tornek’s motion failed to get 
a majority vote after being 
modified and verbally opposed 
by Council Member Steve 
Madison.

 The council took further votes 
on two more separate motions, 
the first to oppose any tunnel 
option. “We clearly need to 
get rid of this threat to our 
community,” Madison said a 
number of times during the 
three hour meeting.

 The motion passed with 
5 to 3, with Tornek, and 
Councilmembers John Kennedy, 
Margaret McAustin voting 
against it. Councilmember 
Jacque Robinson seconded 
Madison’s proposed motion. 

 A final motion to support 
the 710 Working Group 
recommendations, including 
light rail transit, bus rapid 
transit, bicycle network 
enhancements and local street 
network enhancements as 
alternatives to the 710 freeway 
passed unanimously. 

 “I hope that Metro and Caltrans 
can take our constructive 
criticism here tonight,” 
Robinson said before voting. 
“Not just the firm position 
against the tunnel option but 
also a position that’s striving 
to be cooperative and partners 
this process as we formulate our 
transportation options.” 

Tornek and Robinson are both 
vying for Pasadena Mayor in 
Tuesday’s runoff election.

 About 30 people spoke 
during public comment, all 
opposed to the 710 freeway 
extension, including well know 
city leaders such as Glendale 
Councilmember Ara Najarian, 
representatives of Senator 
Carol Liu, Executive Director 
at Pasadena Heritage Sue 
Mossman and East Arroyo 
Residents Association President 
John Dean among others. 

 “We owe it to them [South 
Pasadena, Alhambra] and 
their residents to find a better 
transportation solution, Los 
Angeles County Metropolitan 
Transportation Authority board 
member, Najarian, said. “A 
tunnel won’t do that, a tunnel 
will be clogged the minute it 
opens, a tunnel will cost billions 
and billions of dollars… there 
will be fires, no exits, there will 
be smoke stacks on Colorado 
Boulevard, terrible things.” 

 Longtime Pasadena Police 
Department officer, Phlunte’ 
Riddle announced Monday 
her intent to run for 25th State 
Senate District that includes 
Pasadena, Burbank, Glendale, 
and La Cañada-Flintridge 
among other cities.

 “I’m running for the State 
Senate because we need a leader 
who has experience bringing 
people together to keep our 
communities safe, make 
investments in our schools, and 
create opportunity for middle-
class families,” she said in a 
press statement. “I have spent 
my life serving our community 
and actively listening to the 
resident’s concerns. I will draw 
from my work as a public safety 
officer, businesswoman, and an 
educator to find solutions to the 
challenges facing California.”

 Riddle spent nearly 29 years 
rising through the ranks of the 
Pasadena Police Department. 
She was the first African 
American female sergeant and 
lieutenant. As a lieutenant, she 
was the Public Information 
Officer and Adjutant to the 
Chief of Police, Phillip Sanchez. 

 According to Douglas 
Herman, leading her campaign, 
Riddle was a change agent for 
the police department. She 
helped increase diversity in 
the workplace and worked to 
modernize the department’s 
policies, making sure that 
officers had ongoing and 
updated training using the best 
technology available. 

Riddle also served in the role 
of interim Executive Director 
of the Pasadena Chapter of the 
YWCA.

 Senate District 25 is now 
represented by Carol Liu who 
terms out in 2016. 

Former Assemblyman 
Anthony Portantino has also 
said he will run for the senate 
seat.

ARMENIAN 
GENOCIDE 
MEMORIAL TO 
BE UNVEILED


West Nile Virus Mosquito 
Awareness this Week 

 Marking the 100th 
anniversary Saturday, the 
Pasadena Genocide Memorial 
Committee will unveil the 
Armenian Genocide Memorial 
in Pasadena’s Memorial Park. 
According to the committee, 
starting in 1915, as many as 
1.5 million men, women and 
children were killed by soldiers 
from the Turkish Ottoman 
Empire.

 The memorial’s design, by 
Catherine Menard an Art 
Center student, features a 26-
foot wide ring of stonework 
with a 16 foot tripod in the 
middle that drops water 
every 21 seconds. A total of 
1.5 million illuminated drops 
will fall annually according to 
Menard.

 The ceremony is set for 3 p.m. 
in Memorial Park along East 
Walnut Street east of Raymond 
Ave. Speakers to included, 
former Pasadena Mayor Bill 
Paparian, former Pasadena 
Police Chief Bernard Melekian 
among others.

 For more information visit: 
http://pagmc.org.

 California’s State Assembly 
recently declared this Sunday 
through Friday as “West 
Nile Virus and Mosquito & 
Vector Control Awareness 
Week” to help increase the 
fight against mosquitoes, 
which can transmit viruses 
to humans, including West 
Nile, Chikungunya and 
Dengue fever. 

Pasadena officials said 
residents are urged to do 
everything they can to help 
prevent mosquitoes from 
breeding by eliminating all 
standing water sources left 
outside; keeping swimming 
pools clean, and regularly 
checking for mosquito larvae 
in still water sources such as 
bird baths and ponds. 

“Current drought and warm 
weather conditions may 
contribute to more stagnant 
water sources and higher 
numbers of mosquitoes, 
which increases the risk of 
West Nile Virus infection,” 
Pasadena Public Health 
Officer Dr. Ying-Ying Goh 
said. “Take precautions now 
to prevent mosquitoes from 
breeding and to avoid being 
bitten.” 

PPHD Staff travel weekly to 
treat gutters, puddles, pools 
and other free-standing 
water sources water that 
serve as prime breeding 
grounds for mosquitoes. 
Additionally, PPHD works 
with the Pasadena Police 
Department’s aerial units 
to identify green pools. 
Citations will be issued to 
homeowners who allow the 
breeding of mosquitos. 

Preventive measures 
include wearing repellants 
containing DEET, avoiding 
areas likely to be inhabited 
by mosquitoes at dawn and 
dusk, wearing long-sleeved 
shirts and long pants when 
outdoors and checking your 
window screen for holes. 

For vector control 
information and to report 
a green pool or still water 
source, call the PPHD 
Environmental Health 
Division at (626) 744-6004. 

Park Service Releases Rim 
of the Valley Draft Report


Pet of the 
Week

 
The National Park Service 
(NPS) released its draft report 
on the Rim of the Valley Study 
Tuesday, which examined the 
possibility of expanding the 
boundary of Santa Monica 
Mountains National Recreation 
Area (SMMNRA) to include 
the Rim of the Valley. The 
draft report recommends a 
significant expansion of the 
existing recreation area and 
now awaits public comment. 

 “It’s my hope that after the 
public comment period, the 
Park Service will expeditiously 
conclude its study so we may 
move forward with the final 
phase of this lengthy process – 
enacting legislation to expand 
the park and preserve these 
beautiful resources for decades 
to come,” Congressman Adam 
Schiff said.

 Last year, Schiff and other 
Members of Congress urged 
the Park Service to adopt a mix 
of alternatives C and D when 
drafting their report. In the 
letter to the NPS, the Members 
write: “Alternatives C and D 
both expand the boundary of 
SMMNRA and would provide 
SMMNRA the authority to 
manage the new area in the 
same manner as the existing 
NRA, in partnership with 
existing land management 
agencies and organizations. But 
because the two alternatives 
have different focuses – C 
on expanding recreational 
opportunities for urban 
audiences and D on promoting 
the long term resiliency of the 
natural resources within the 
area – choosing only one of 
these alternatives would leave 
thousands of acres of nationally 
significant resources without 
adequate protection. The 
National Park Service should 
create a hybrid alternative that 
would include the boundary 
extensions of SMMNRA of 
both alternatives C and D.”

 “Over the past two years, the 
Park Service has worked to 
complete their draft report 
and has now recommended a 
major expansion of the park, 
as reflected in Alternative C, 
to better serve and connect 
this growing urban population 
to nature.” said Rep. Schiff. 
“While I am grateful that the 
Park Service has shown the 
foresight of recommending 
a substantial enlargement of 
the existing recreation area by 
embracing Alternative C, I am 
disappointed that it did not 
also adopt Alternative D, which 
would provide the greatest 
resource protection possible.”

 Schiff will host a town hall 
for interested constituents and 
community members to discuss 
the new draft report and offer 
feedback and concerns to the 
National Park Service on the 
evening of Monday, April 27 
at 6:30 pm. The town hall will 
be held at Descanso Gardens 
– Van de Kamp Hall (1418 
Descanso Drive, La Canada 
Flintridge. Attending the 
forum and presenting will 
be Anne Dove, Rim of the 
Valley Project Manager from 
the National Park Service; Joe 
Edmiston, Executive Director 
of the Santa Monica Mountains 
Conservancy; and Daniel 
Rossman, Southern California 
Regional Associate, The 
Wilderness Society.

 for more info visit: National 
Park Service via their website 
at http://www.nps.gov/pwro/
rimofthevalley/.

Adam Schiff to Host Town 
Hall to Discuss Draft 
Report on April 27 in La 
Cañada Flintridge

LIVING WITH 
WILDLIFE 
DURING 
DROUGHT

 Tobi (A374833) is a 10-year-
old male chocolate point 
and black Siamese cat who is 
looking for his forever home. 
He’s a relaxed and mellow 
senior who enjoys receiving 
attention and taking naps. 
He’s a sweet old fellow! Tobi 
also qualifies for the Seniors 
for Seniors program which 
waives the adoption fee for 
adopters age 60 and up. 

The mandatory microchip 
fee of $20 still applies. The 
regular cat adoption fee is 
$70 which includes the spay 
or neuter surgery, microchip, 
vaccinations, and 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 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

 The Pasadena Humane 
Society will hold a class 
Sunday to give the public 
information on wildlife as 
more animals come out of 
the local mountains looking 
for food and water due to 
current drought conditions. 
The class will run from 3 
p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is 
open to all. 

 The San Gabriel and 
Crescenta Valleys are 
home to many types of 
wildlife. This class provides 
an introduction to the 
most popular Southern 
California wildlife and 
how to co-exist with them. 
PHS Wildlife Specialist will 
discuss how to humanely 
deter unwanted wildlife 
visitors, as well as what to 
do should you encounter 
them. Handouts and 
resources will be provided.

 There is a $10 suggested 
donation. The Pasadena 
Humane Society & SPCA 
Behavior & Training Center 
is at 361 S. Raymond Ave 
Pasadena. Underground 
parking is available.

 For more information or 
questions, email agriffin@
pasadenahumane.org.

 
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 crew members. 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.

Class offerings days and nights weekly

STATION SCHEDULE 

Pasadena Media’s Member Meet-Up

Tuesday April 28, at 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Orientation & Tour

Monday May 4, at 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

PCAC Board of Directors Meeting

Tuesday May 5, at 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Producer Training

Wednesday May 6, at 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Intro to Field Production

Thursday May 7, at 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.