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Mountain Views-News Saturday, September 12, 2015
ROYAL COURT, INTERVIEWS,
TRYOUTS START TODAY
NEW PUBLIC
HEALTH
DIRECTOR
APPOINTED
Thousands of Pasadena-
area young women are
expected to be interviewed,
starting today, for the
opportunity to be part
of the 2016 Tournament
of Roses Royal Court.
Hopeful participants from
Pasadena and surrounding
communities will vie to
represent their communities,
schools and the Tournament
of Roses as ambassadors
– making as many as 100
appearances leading up to
New Year’s Day. Seven young
women will be named to
the 2016 Royal Court on
October 5, 2015. Of the
seven, one will be named
and crowned the 98th Rose
Queen on October 22.
The 2016 Rose Queen
and Royal Court will reign
over the 127th Rose Parade
and attend the 102nd Rose
Bowl Game on January 1,
2016. America’s New Year
Celebration will be seen by
millions of people around
the world.
Participants can pre-
register for the 2016 Royal
Court Tryouts by submitting
an application at http://bit.
ly/1G2cpJQ.
Long Awaited Desiderio Project Kicks Off
City Manager Michael Beck
announced, late last week,
the appointment of Michael
Johnson as the new Director
for the Pasadena Public Health
Department (PPHD). As
the Public Health Director,
Mr. Johnson is responsible
for the overall planning,
administration and operation
of the PPHD. He is expected
to begin his duties effective
Sept. 14, 2015.
“Mr. Johnson has a history
of successfully managing and
implementing public health
programs at both the county
and city level,” City Manager
Beck said. “His extensive
experience at various levels
within public health gives
him special insight into
effectively directing our health
department and building on
the department’s reputation of
excellence in public health.”
Johnson’s appointment capped
nearly a year-long nationwide
recruitment process by the
City. Johnson has been the
Assistant Director for the
Merced County Public Health
Department in Merced, Calif.,
since 2013.
The new Public Health
Director said he was “honored
and excited to serve the
Pasadena community” as the
new PPHD leader. “I look
forward to working with the
department, City officials
and most importantly the
community to continue
Pasadena’s tradition of
protecting the public’s health
and quality of life.”
The maximum annual salary
for the Director of Public
Health is $194,212, according
to information on the City’s
website. Contract terms will
be finalized prior to the start of
By Dean Lee
With a golden sledgehammer
gripped in their hands,
Councilmember Steve Madison
along with civic leaders,
kicked off, Thursday, the
Desiderio Army Reserve Center
demolition and transformation.
“What we will have after
the demolition and the site
preparation, ultimately this
concept of a joint neighborhood
park, open space and the
affordable housing by Habitat
for Humanity of San Gabriel
Valley,” Madison said.
He explained that about 25
percent of the property along
the Arroyo hillside will be nine
single-family bungalow homes.
The remaining 75 percent will
be for a park, most of that will
be an open space meadow, “I’ve
referred to that, many times, as
the repatriation of this space
through the Arroyo, just as it
should be.” Madison said.
Madison said that earlier this
year they finalized the transfer
of the land from the federal
government, “It’s ours now and
there’s really no stopping us,” he
said.
Madison also said there would
be a plaque in honor of Captain
Reginald Desiderio, whom the
area is named, killed in the
Korean War. He posthumously
received the Medal of Honor in
1950.
City Manager Michael Beck
called the project an oasis
in the middle of an urban
environment,” you’ve got the
beautiful Colorado Street
Bridge, staring up at the
amazing [federal] courthouse in
Pasadena,” he said.
Demolition of the former
U.S. Army Reserve Center is
expected to be completed in
December.
PWP to
Discuss
Pasadena
and the
Drought
2015 Rose Queen and Royal Court
Rueibin Chen to Perform
at Autumn Moon Gala
Chamber Votes to Oppose
Minimum Wage Increase
Interim General Manager for
Pasadena Water and Power,
Eric Klinkner, will kick off
the start of the new club
year for The Women’s Civic
League of Pasadena with a
presentation on “Pasadena
and the Drought” on Monday,
September 14 at noon.
A 23-year veteran in the
utility industry, Klinkner has
been with Pasadena Water
and Power since 1995, a
community-owned utility
serving more than 125,000
customers. His utility
experience covers a wide range
that includes power generation,
transmission, trading and
scheduling, water and power
conservation, renewable
resource procurement, and
environmental and strategic
policy development. Early
in his career, Klinkner was
instrumental in preparing
Pasadena’s electric system for
deregulation and participation
in the California Independent
System Operator markets. In
2000, Klinkner was promoted
to Assistant General Manager
of Power Supply where he
guided Pasadena through
the energy crisis and was
instrumental in diversifying
Pasadena’s power supply to
include a variety of renewable
sources and more efficient local
generation. In 2004, Klinkner
was selected as Deputy
General Manager, where
he spearheaded significant
increases in Pasadena’s energy
efficiency, water conservation,
and solar incentive programs.
Today, Pasadena ranks
amongst the highest levels
of energy efficiency and
renewable resource goals in
the state.
Klinkner serves on the Board
of the Southern California
Public Power Authority,
the Intermountain Power
Authority Coordinating
Committee, and is a member
of the Pasadena Rotary Club.
The Women’s City Club of
Pasadena, is at 160 N. Oakland
Avenue.
For more information,
contact Catherine Haskett
Hany (626) 793-7454
The USC Pacific Asia Museum
announced Wednesday that
celebrated classical pianist
Rueibin Chen will be the
featured performer at their 38th
Annual Festival of the Autumn
Moon Gala on October 3,
2015, an event that honors the
Museum and its devotion to the
arts of Asia and the Pacific Rim.
Art lovers, donors, and
collectors from throughout
Southern California will
gather to support USC PAM
and the arts. This year’s theme,
“Celebrating the Future and
Honoring the Past,” highlights
the upcoming special exhibition
Royal Taste: The Art of Princely
Courts in 15th Century China,
opening February 2016,
and commemorates two key
Museum leaders who passed
away this year: founding
board president Margaret
“Peg” Palmer (1915-2015)
and founding director Lennox
Tierney (1914-2015).
At a recent meeting, the Board
of Directors of the Pasadena
Chamber of Commerce,
voted unanimously to oppose
increasing the minimum
wage in Pasadena. Citing two
studies performed for the
Chamber and a peer-review
of that work, Board members,
representing small, medium
and large businesses in diverse
sectors of our local economy,
cited potential negative impacts
on the local economy, risks to
employment, impacts on the
local retail, hospitality and
healthcare industries, as well as
youth employment, in making
their decision.
Pasadena Chamber Board
members clearly stated that
imposing the Los Angeles
minimum wage model in
Pasadena would harm workers,
local small businesses and pose
a threat to our local economy.
“Recognizing that only 13,700
Pasadena residents work in the
city, and that a much smaller
subset of those are breadwinners
that earn minimum wage,
Chamber Board members
chose to support the Pasadena
economy in opposing the Los
Angeles minimum wage model
here,” said Pasadena Chamber
CEO and President Paul Little.
“We received analysis from
graduate scholars at Johns
Hopkins University and Boston
College, and requested a peer
review by a retired Ph.D. in
economics. The conclusions
were the same: raising the
minimum wage in Pasadena,
following the Los Angeles
model, would be detrimental to
our local economy, negatively
impact a significant portion
of our small, locally owned
businesses, result in fewer
employment opportunities for
our economically impacted
residents. Raising the minimum
wage here, following the LA
model, would have little, if any,
impact on poverty in our city.”
The Pasadena Chamber
polled its members about
the impact of importing the
Los Angeles minimum wage
model to Pasadena. While not
a scientifically valid poll, 69.4
percent of the respondents
indicated the increase to $15
per hour by 2020 would have
a negative impact on their
businesses. When asked,
Chamber member companies
said they would cope with the
increased costs by reducing
their workforce, cutting hours
for existing workers, raising
prices and not filling vacant
positions.
Loss of jobs, decreased
hours for workers,
negative impact on
small business and
local economy cited as
determining factors in
decision
Free Upcoming Events at
Pasadena Senior Center
There is something for
everyone in September at the
Pasadena Senior Center, 85 E.
Holly St. All events listed are
free.
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, through Sept.
29, 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
with Edison at the Welcome
Desk.
Smart Phones, Tablets and
Computers – Any Questions?
– Tuesdays and Thursdays,
through Sept. 29, from 10 to
11 a.m. Get the answers you
need about technology devices,
whether you own them already
or are considering a purchase.
Memories in the Making –
Mondays, Sept. 14 to Oct.
19, at 10 a.m. This fun and
engaging activity can turn into
your new hobby! Memories
in the Making is a program
developed by the Alzheimer’s
Association for people with
early stage dementias so they
can preserve distant memories
and capture precious moments
through art. Instead of teaching
new concepts, this program
focuses on skills that remain.
No previous artistic experience
is necessary. Reservations are
required: 626-685-6733.
Parkinson’s Education Group
– Tuesdays, Sept. 15, 22 and
29, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. This
education and support class
explores diagnosis, treatment,
maintaining mobility and
quality of life. Speakers will
include speech, occupational,
physical and speech therapists.
Registration is encouraged but
not required. 626-685-6730.
Walk-ins are welcome.
Chair Yoga – Wednesday,
Sept. 16, at 1 p.m. Improve your
balance, strength and flexibility
at this gentle and meditative
class taught by Kathy Eastwood,
a certified yoga instructor and a
registered nurse at Huntington
Hospital. Due to popular
demand, this class is limited to
the first 25 participants. Register
in advance at the Welcome Desk
or by calling 626-795-4331.
Five Wishes/Advance
Directives – Thursday, Sept.
17, at 10 a.m. Do you know
what kind of care you want if
you become seriously ill? By
filling out a simple form, you
can tell your family and friends
about your healthcare wishes
ahead of time and spare them
the uncertainty and confusion
that can be associated with
trying to make decisions
without such a directive. Learn
how a healthcare power of
attorney is used in California
and how to communicate your
wishes using a concise yet
comprehensive document. This
class will highlight Five Wishes,
the advance directive used by
most doctors and health plans.
Attendees will receive forms
at no cost. Presented by Vitas
Innovative Hospice Care.
Low Vision Screenings –
Thursday, Sept. 17, from 10
a.m. to 2 p.m. Low vision
screenings are designed to assist
partially sighted people in the
selection of magnifiers and other
devices to improve reading and
other visual tasks. Registration
is required in advance for one-
hour appointments: 626-795-
4331. Presented by the Braille
Institute.
Health Fair – Friday, Sept.
18, from 9 to 11 a.m. A new
medical safety identification
plan, sponsored by New York
Life, has been added to the
popular monthly health fair.
Bring your list of medications,
doctors and emergency contacts
and they will be placed on a
personal identification card
at no cost. Other health fair
services include glucose, blood
pressure and hearing screenings
as well as counseling and health
and community resources. For
more information call 626-685-
6732.
Pet of the
Week
Marigold (A383273) is
a gorgeous two-year-old
black and white female DSH
who is as outgoing as she
is pretty. She is definitely a
super social and affectionate
cat! This love bug also
gets along with other cats!
Marigold is already spayed,
microchipped, and fully
vaccinated so she is ready
to go home with you today.
Get your lap ready for some
cuddle time! Marigold is
available for adoption at Pet
Food Express, 320 S Lake
Ave, Pasadena.
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.
Public Library to Showoff
Array of Electric Cars
Pasadena Public Library
is Exploring New Roads in
technology, with sustainable
and alternative fuel vehicles on
Saturday, September 19 from 1
to 5 p.m. at Central Library, 285
E. Walnut St. Join us to see an
array of electric cars up close,
including a TESLA, a 2016
Chevy Volt, Pasadena Water
and Power’s (PWP’s) BMW i3
and Prius, and Caltech’s Electric
Go-Kart. Enjoy presentations
by alternative-vehicle experts
(see the schedule below), and
browse through special exhibits
provided by Pasadena’s Water
and Power and Transportation
Departments. A new electric
car charging station will be
unveiled in Central Library’s
north parking lot.
Special Presentations
New Technology at Pasadena
Public Library
Library Director Jan Sanders
highlights the library’s recent
technological advancements. 1
p.m. 1:15 p.m. Donald Wright
Auditorium
Formula SAE Electric
Presented by the Caltech
Sustainable Vehicle Club
1:15 p.m. Donald Wright
Auditorium
Future of Transportation
Design
Presented by Stewart Reed,
Chair, Transportation Design,
Art Center College of Design
2 p.m. Donald Wright
Auditorium
Video: “What is the Electric
Car?” followed by highlights
from the new book, What is
the Electric Car? 72 Reasons
to Drive Electric Presented
by Scott DuPont, Producer
and Author, followed by Q &
A. Books will be available for
sale. 3 p.m. Donald Wright
Auditorium
Reimagine Electric
Presented by TESLA Car
Company 4 p.m. Donald
Wright Auditorium
For more information contact
cakk (626) 744-7076.
Working
With Home
Remodeling
Contractors
Looking to remodel your
home? Join us on Saturday,
September 26, 3 p.m. at Linda
Vista Branch Library, 1281
Bryant Street and pick up tips
on working with contractors
from the experts at Slate Ltd.
This free educational seminar
provides homeowners with
information critical to the
success of a home remodeling
project from finding and
hiring the right contractor to
on-time, in-budget quality
outcomes.
For more information contact
Deborah Takahashi at (626)
744-7278 or dtakahashi@
cityofpasadena.net or Robin
Reidy at (626) 744-7278 or
rreidy@cityofpasadena.net.
Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com
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