Mountain Views News          Saturday, May 7, 2016

6


Mountain Views-News Saturday, May 7, 2016 


Pasadena 
News Briefs

Michael Watkins Named 
JPL Director, Caltech VP

Town Hall 
Held as 
Follow-up 
to Villa-Park 
Shooting 

Woman arrested over 
pepper spray attack on 
mail carrier

A Monrovia woman who ran up 
and allegedly pepper sprayed a 
postal worker after a road rage 
incident in Pasadena last month 
was arrested Wednesday by 
federal authorities and Pasadena 
police for assault on a U.S. Postal 
employee. If found guilty, she 
faces up to 20 years in prison.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s 
Office Central District of 
California Ruby Guerrero 
Valenzuela, 64, of Monrovia, 
was arrested in connection with 
the assault April 20 in the 1000 
block of North Lake Avenue.

 Witnesses, at the time, told 
police that Valenzuela chased 
down the mail carrier screamed 
obscenities at her, believing 
she cut her car off at a nearby 
intersection, before spraying the 
worker in the face.

Valenzuela was released by 
police Wednesday after posting 
$10,000 bail.

Man punched, robbed at 
ATM 

Police are asking the public’s 
help to find a suspect wanted 
for assault and robbery after 
a Pasadena man was punched 
in the face and knocked to the 
ground in the 1700 block of E. 
Colorado Blvd. before being 
robbed of $300 withdrawn from 
an ATM.

The suspect is described as a 
white or Hispanic man, 5’9”, with 
brown hair, possibly wearing a 
gray sweatshirt and blue paints. 

 Anyone with information is 
asked to call Pasadena police at 
626-744-4241 or anonymously 
to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-
8477.

Pasadena Public 
Libraries to Close for Staff 
Development Day

 All Pasadena Public Library 
sites will close for Staff 
Development Day, Thursday. 
They will reopen and resume 
their regular schedule on Friday. 

 For more information, contact 
Catherine Hany at (626) 744-
4207.

 
Former Jet Propulsion 
Laboratory employee Michael 
Watkins has been appointed 
director of JPL and vice 
president at Caltech, the 
Institute announced Tuesday.

 Watkins will formally assume 
his position on July 1. He 
succeeds Charles Elachi, who 
will retire as of June 30, and 
move to the Caltech faculty.

 At JPL Watkins served 
as mission manager and 
mission system manager for 
the Mars Science Laboratory 
Curiosity Rover; led review or 
development teams for several 
missions including the Cassini, 
Mars Odyssey, and Deep 
Impact probes; and was the 
project scientist leading science 
development for the GRAIL 
moon-mapping satellites, the 
GRACE Earth science mission, 
and the GRACE Follow-on 
mission, scheduled for launch 
in 2017. He last served at JPL 
as manager of the Science 
Division, and chief scientist for 
the Engineering and Science 
Directorate.

 “I’ve known Mike Watkins 
for more than 20 years now,” 
Elachi says. “Mike has played 
important and varying roles in a 
number of important JPL areas. 
His intimate knowledge of the 
lab and staff, combined with his 
highly diversified set of skills 
and knowledge base in science 
and engineering, will serve JPL 
very well in the years to come.”

 A committee composed of 
Caltech trustees, faculty, senior 
administrative leaders, and a 
member of the JPL executive 
council conducted an extensive 
search and recommended 
Watkins to Caltech’s president.

 Watkins holds a bachelor’s 
degree, master’s degree, and 
Ph.D. in aerospace engineering 
from The University of Texas 
at Austin. He has published 
broadly in both engineering and 
science, contributed more than 
100 conference presentations, 
and has served on the boards 
of numerous international 
scientific and engineering 
societies.

 “JPL has such a talented and 
deeply committed staff,” says 
Watkins. “It is a privilege to 
have this opportunity to lead 
the laboratory to even greater 
discoveries. I look forward to 
working with my colleagues on 
campus and across NASA to 
forge new directions in space 
exploration and Earth science.”

By Dean Lee

 Council member Victor Gordo 
made clear, during a community 
meeting Wednesday night, that 
more staffing of Pasadena police 
officers was necessary to ensure 
safety in the parks. The town 
hall meeting was held as a follow 
up to one he called in early April 
after a midday shooting at Villa-
Park left residents anxious and 
worried.

 “We do not have a fully staffed 
police department,” Gordo said. 
“In my view, that’s the priority.”

 He said that includes bringing 
back, two Neighborhood Action 
Teems (NAT) lost to budget 
cuts. The teams consisted of five 
officers and one sergeant, “there 
job was work with neighbors, 
to identify problems before 
they became serious problems, 
including in the parks.” 

 Gordo outline what, as far as 
safety, had been done since the 
last meeting 

 “First there was an internal 
meeting with human services 
recreation, my office and the 
police department,” Gordo said. 
“Following that meeting there 
was a coaches training with 
the police and our dispatchers. 
Some of the issues that came 
up were the responses to the 
public when they called in the 
shooting.”

 Gordo said people felt they 
were being dismissed and that 
the dispatchers were abrupt, “I 
think sometimes they do need 
to be abrupt because they need 
to get the information to relay to 
the officers as soon as possible,” 
Gordo said.

 Pasadena Police dispatcher 
Diane Marin said “we ask these 
questions abruptly because 
they can be very emotional and 
stressful thing when people are 
in certain situations, when you 
and the people around you can 
be in danger, so we try and help 
focus and get the information 
we need so we can respond to 
the treat.” 

 Gordo also said there were 
complaints that officers did not 
show up to the field where the 
shooting had first occurred, 
“One of the things that we 
learned was that’s maybe part of 
the strategy depending on what 
the dispatcher tells the officers 
and what the officers then 
formulate as a strategy to catch 
the bad guys,” he said.

 Pasadena Police Lieutenant Jesse 
Carrillo said “one of the main 
things we are thinking about is 
do we have an active shooter, so 
when we are responding here 
we’re looking to dispatch to 
give us more information, that’s 
why it’s so critical, we’re asking 
for additional information, 
direction of travel, what do they 
look like…” 

 Gordo said the Villa-Park 
athletic coaches went through 
active shooter training Monday 
something he said will be 
extended to all coaches in all 
parks throughout the city. 

 At Villa-Park, staff also will 
start to do “park checks” every 
half hour from 11 a.m. to close,” 
that comes as a result of coaches 
and residents saying, there was a 
shooting , and we could see staff 
around the field,” Gordo said. He 
also said that reports suggested 
that there may have been some 
people hanging around that 
should have been reported. 

 Both Gordo and Carrillo said 
in 2015, there were around 80 
shooting in Pasadena, twice 
the normal, and so far this year, 
there have been 28 including the 
April 2 shooting at Villa-Park, in 
which, a man shoot at a group 
of other men around 1:50 p.m. 
while a nearby youth soccer 
match was being played. 

Watkins credit: PL-Caltech

Altadena 
Deputies find 
Stolen Jaguar 

 Altadena Deputies arrested 
a man last week after the 
Pasadena Police department 
got a report of a stolen vehicle 
driving in northeast Altadena. 
On April 29 around 4 p.m. a 
police helicopter searched the 
area and asked deputies to join 
the search. Altadena deputies 
searched all of west Altadena 
for the stolen vehicle. They 
soon located the vehicle on 
Lincoln Avenue and Acacia 
Street. A felony traffic stop 
was made and all of Lincoln 
Avenue was shut down for 
a short period of time. A 
27-year-old was arrested 
driving a 2015 Jaguar stolen 
out of La Crescenta.

Seven Elected to National 
Academy of Sciences


May Is Asian Pacific 
American Heritage Month

 Three Caltech professors 
and four Caltech alumni have 
been elected to the prestigious 
National Academy of Sciences 
(NAS). The announcement was 
made Tuesday.

 Raymond Deshaies (pictured 
top left) is a professor of biology, 
investigator at the Howard 
Hughes Medical Institute, and 
executive officer for molecular 
biology. Deshaies’s work focuses 
on understanding the basic 
biology of protein homeostasis, 
the mechanisms that maintain 
a normal array of functional 
proteins within cells and 
organisms. He is the founder of 
Caltech’s Proteome Exploration 
Laboratory to study and 
sequence proteomes, which are 
all of the proteins encoded by a 
genome.

 John Eiler (pictured top 
middle) is the Robert P. Sharp 
Professor of Geology and 
professor of geochemistry, as 
well as the director of the Caltech 
Microanalysis Center. Eiler uses 
geochemistry to study the origin 
and evolution of meteorites and 
the earth’s rocks, atmosphere, 
and interior. Recently, his team 
published a paper detailing how 
dinosaurs’ body temperatures 
can be deduced from isotopic 
measurements of their eggshells.

 Ares Rosakis (pictured top right) 
is the Theodore von Kármán 
Professor of Aeronautics and 
Mechanical Engineering in the 
Division of Engineering and 
Applied Science. His research 
interests span a wide spectrum 
of length and time scales and 
range from the mechanics of 
earthquake seismology, to the 
physical processes involved 
in the catastrophic failure of 
aerospace materials, to the 
reliability of micro-electronic 
and opto-electronic structures 
and devices.

 Deshaies, Eiler, and Rosakis 
join 70 current Caltech faculty 
and three trustees as members 
of the NAS. The National 
Academy of Sciences is a 
private, nonprofit organization 
of scientists and engineers 
dedicated to the furtherance 
of science and its use for the 
general welfare. 

 All photos courtesy of Caltech.

 May is Asian-Pacific American 
Heritage Month - a celebration 
of Asians and Pacific Islanders in 
the United States. In celebration, 
USC Pacific Asia Museum is 
offering discounted admission 
and new membership sign-ups 
for the entire month of May.

 Admission: $2 off all ticket 
prices, including General 
Admission and Royal Taste 
admission.

 Membership: receive 
20% discount on all new 
Memberships for the month of 
May.

 Featured events this month 

 Graphic Novelist: Gene Luen 
Yang May 21, 2016, 12 pm - 1 
pm

 Those wishing to get books 
signed may bring up to three 
copies from home to be signed.

 Pathways Between Shores 6 
pm - 9 pm

 Co-sponsored with the Asian 
American New Music Institute, 
AANMI, join us as we welcome 
world-class violinist Rachel 
Lee Priday. 

 Lee Priday will perform new 
works by composers from 
around Asia and the United 
States. The Diamond Bar High 
School chamber orchestra will 
also be special guest performers.

 Saturday, May 21 7 -9 p.m. 
Composer panel to begin at 
6:00 pm. 

 Included with Museum 
General Admission.

 Pacific Asia Museum is located 
46 North Los Robles Avenue. 
For more information visit: 
pacificasiamuseum.usc.edu. 


Events at the 
Pasadena 
Humane 
Society

Pet of the 
Week

Lucky $13 Black Cat 
Adoptions: Friday, May 13 
from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

 Make a black cat the luckiest 
cat in the world! On the 
thirteenth of every month 
the adoption of any black, or 
mostly black cat, is only $13.00! 
The adoption fee includes the 
spay/neuter surgery, microchip, 
first set of vaccinations, and 
a complimentary health & 
wellness exam from VCA 
Animal Hospital.

View all of our adoptable 
animals at pasadenahumane.
org.

Cat and Rabbit Nail Trimming 
Clinic: Sunday, May 22 from 
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

 Does your furry friend give 
you a hard time or just plain 
disappear when you bring out 
the nail trimmers? No need 
to stress, we can help at PHS! 
We’ll do all the work, for an 
affordable price, so you and 
your furniture remain scratch 
free. All proceeds support the 
animals here at the shelter. Now 
you, your furniture and kitty 
(or bunny) can remain safe and 
scratch free! No appointments 
necessary. If you have any 
questions please call (626) 792-
7151 ext. 158. Please keep your 
pet secure in a carrier during 
your visit.

Puppy Social Drop-In: 
Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 
10:30 a.m. (No Puppy Social 
May 28)

 Drop in for a puppy social 
hour every Saturday at 
9:30 a.m. in the Behavior & 
Training Center. This is the 
perfect opportunity to get 
your two to six-month-old 
puppy socialized with other 
puppies in a safe and structured 
environment. Play interactions 
are managed and supervised 
by our trainers to ensure all 
puppies leave with a new 
positive experience. This one 
hour-off leash supervised play 
and socialization with other 
puppies is $8 for currently 
enrolled students and $10 for 
the general public.

 Pasadena Humane Society 
Animal Care Center, 361 S. 
Raymond Ave. 

 
Charles (A396411) is a 
four-year-old, neutered 
male, brown tabby, 
domestic shorthair. You will 
often find this friendly cat 
at the front of his kennel 
seeking attention. Charles is 
a social boy who begins to 
purr when you pet him. He 
is comfortable being held. 
Charles is neutered and 
ready to go home with you 
today! 

 The adoption fee for cats is 
$70 (or two for $85), which 
includes the spay or neuter 
surgery, microchip, and 
vaccinations. 

 New adopters will receive a 
complimentary health-and-
wellness exam from VCA 
Animal Hospitals, as well 
as a goody bag filled with 
information about how to 
care for your pet.

 Call the Pasadena Humane 
Society & SPCA at (626) 
792-7151 to ask about 
A396411, or visit at 361 S. 
Raymond Ave. in Pasadena. 
Adoption hours are 11 a.m. 
to 4 p.m. Sunday; 9 a.m. 
to 5 p.m. Tuesday through 
Friday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
Saturday.

 Pets may not be available 
for adoption and cannot be 
held for potential adopters 
by phone calls or email. 
Directions and photos of 
all pets can be found at 
pasadenahumane.org.

Free May Events at the 
Pasadena Senior Center

Crime Blotter for Altadena

Sunday, April 24th 

12:05 AM – A petty theft 
from an unlocked vehicle 
occurred in the 1500 block 
of N. Oxford Avenue. Stolen: 
school identification, vehicle 
registration, tire lug nuts. 

7:00 PM – A vehicle vandalism 
occurred in the 4200 block of 
Canyon Crest Road. Suspect(s) 
shattered the rear passenger 
window. 

Monday, April 25th 

3:02 AM – A commercial 
burglary occurred in the 
2400 block of E. Washington 
Boulevard. Suspect(s) entered 
the location by shattering 
the front glass door. Stolen: 
unknown. 

Wednesday, April 27th

 7:29 PM – Melvin Campos, 
38 years old of Los Angeles 
was arrested in the area of 
Woodbury Road and Hill 
Avenue for possession of a 
controlled substance. 

 Thursday, April 28th

 3:00 AM – Clinton Rumfelt, 
23 years old of Pasadena 
was arrested in the area of 
Washington Boulevard and 
Bellford Avenue for possession 
of a controlled substance. 

9:00 AM – A residential 
burglary occurred in the 3300 
block of Rubio Crest Drive. 
Suspect(s) entered the residence 
by shattering the rear sliding 
glass door. Stolen: firearms. 

12:00 PM – A petty theft 
occurred in the 800 block of W. 
Altadena Drive. Stolen: black 
purse. 

11:58 PM – Robert Ramirez, 
51 years old of Pasadena 
was arrested in the area of 
Washington Boulevard and 
Allen Avenue for possession of 
a controlled substance. 

 Friday, April 29th

 3:35 PM – A vehicle was 
reported from the area of 
Woodbury Road and El Sereno 
Avenue. *Vehicle was recovered 
at 11:29 PM and released to the 
owner. 

6:36 PM – Nicholas Benson, 
18 years old of Pasadena was 
arrested in the 40 block of W. 
Palm Street for possession for 
sales of narcotics. 

7:20 PM – Fredi Terrazas, 
34 years old of Altadena was 
arrested in the 2200 block of 
Glenrose Avenue for possession 
of a controlled substance. 

 Saturday, April 30th

 12:00 PM – A petty theft 
occurred in the 300 block of W. 
Harriet Street. Stolen: vehicle 
registration tags. 

9:00 PM – A vehicle vandalism 
occurred in the 1700 block of 
E. Woodbury Road. Suspect(s) 
shattered the vehicle windows 
and damaged the hood. 

9:15 PM – A commercial 
burglary occurred in the 2200 
block of N. Lincoln Avenue. 
Suspect(s) entered the location 
by shattering the front glass 
door. Stolen: currency. 

 There is something for 
everyone in May 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 to May 31 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 
to May 31 from 10 to 11 a.m. 
Get the answers you need 
about technology devices, 
whether you own them already 
or are considering a purchase. 
Learning how to text, check 
voicemail, set an alarm, navigate 
the Internet and download apps 
is easier than you may think!

 Caregiver Education and 
Support Groups – Wednesday 
May 18, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. 
Caregivers who could use 
information and support from 
others in similar situations are 
welcome to attend. Presented 
by the USC Davis School of 
Gerontology Family Caregiver 
Support Center.

 A Pain in the Neck! – 
Thursday, May 12, at noon. 
Do you have neck pain? Learn 
easy and comfortable exercises 
to reduce cervical pain and 
make your neck feel better. A 
boxed lunch will be served to 
the first 50 people who have 
made confirmed reservations by 
calling 626-795-4331. Presented 
by Vincent Physical Therapy.

 Smart Gardening Workshop – 
Saturday, May 14, from 9:30 to 
11 a.m. Learn how to improve 
your lawn and garden and 
reduce waste at this beginner 
class that will provide hands-
on instruction on composting, 
worm composting, water-wise 
gardening and grasscycling. 
Presented by the City of Los 
Angeles. www.smartgardening.
com.

 Friday Movie Matinees – 
Fridays, at 1 p.m. May 13: 
Brooklyn (2015, PG-13) starring 
Saoirse Ronan and Emory 
Cohen. An Irish immigrant 
arrives in 1950s Brooklyn where 
she falls into a romance with a 
local man, then must choose 
between two countries.

 The Pasadena Senior Center 
is an independent, nonprofit 
agency that offers recreational, 
educational, wellness and social 
services to people ages 50 and 
older.