Mountain Views News, Pasadena Edition [Sierra Madre] Saturday, January 21, 2017

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Mountain View News Saturday, January 21, 2017 

USC Pam to Hold Annual 
Lunar New Year Festival

HEART Act to Help Animals 
Rescued by Government

Free Events Roundup at the 
Pasadena Senior Center

 Last week Representatives Judy 
Chu (CA-27) and John Katko 
(NY-24) introduced the Help 
Extract Animals from Red Tape 
(HEART) Act, which would 
expedite the rehabilitation 
process of abused animals that 
are seized by the government 
under federal gambling and 
animal fighting statutes. The 
HEART Act would also ease the 
burden for local animal shelters 
who often pay the cost of caring 
for the injured animals. It does 
so by allowing the government 
to cover the costs of housing 
and care for animals who have 
been seized. And, should the 
government’s case prevail, the 
person claiming an interest in 
the animal would be required 
to pay for the animal’s care. 
This bill has been endorsed 
by the American Society for 
the Prevention of Cruelty 
to Animals (ASPCA). Reps. 
Chu and Katko released the 
following statements:

 “Animal cruelty such as dog 
fighting is a particularly heinous 
crime against a defenseless 
creature. Our government is 
rightfully vigilant and active in 
shutting down these rings, but 
when the animals are seized, 
the cost and care often falls 
on local shelters,” said Rep. 
Chu. “Court proceedings can 
take over a year, which means 
the cost of doing the right 
thing can total millions of 
dollars. Additionally, shelters 
are unable to rehabilitate these 
animals until the proceedings 
have completed, which leaves 
animals stressed. It’s unjust that 
taxpayers and local shelters are 
picking up the tab for the care of 
these animals. This bill would 
help remedy that by allowing 
courts to consider animal 
welfare when considering trial 
expediency. I am so pleased to 
be able work bipartisanly with 
my colleague, Representative 
Katko, to help keep animals 
safe and place responsibility 
where it belongs.”

 “It is my pleasure to once 
again partner with Rep. Chu 
to introduce the HEART Act,” 
said Rep. Katko. “Throughout 
our country, local shelters and 
nonprofit organizations – like 
the ASPCA – work tirelessly 
to provide safety, shelter, and 
care for abused animals seized 
by federal officials in fighting 
and gambling cases. However, 
the significant cost associated 
with providing such care is 
often placed on shelters and on 
the taxpayer. This bipartisan 
measure will alleviate that 
burden by shifting the cost 
of care to the individual 
responsible. I’m proud to 
reintroduce this measure and 
will continue fighting to make 
it law.”

 The HEART Act would 
accomplish the following:

Accelerate the disposition 
process by reducing the time 
period the government has 
to notify interested parties 
following the seizure of animals 
under the federal animal 
fighting or gambling statutes 
from 60 days to 30 days, thus 
prioritizing the animals’ care;

 Allow for courts to consider 
animal welfare when 
considering trial expediency;

 Require the government to 
pay for the cost of care of seized 
animals while they are awaiting 
trial or dispensation

 Require the person claiming 
interest in the animal to 
reimburse the government for 
the cost of care, should the 
case be resolved in favor of the 
government. 

 Annual USC Pam Lunar 
New Year Festival

USC Pacific Asia Museum’s 
7th Annual Lunar New 
Year Festival celebrating the 
Year of the Rooster takes 
place Saturday, January 
28th from 11 am to 5 pm, 
with performances, craft. 
Admission is free and open 
to the public.

 The museum welcomes a 
delegation of 20 performers 
and traditional artisans 
from the Hangzhou 
Municipality in China, 
as well as performances 
from the cultures of 
Korea and Vietnam who 
all celebrate the Lunar 
New Year. Performances 
and demonstrations will 
take place at the Fuller 
Theological Seminary mall, 
activities and crafts will be 
available in the adjacent 
courtyard. Food trucks at 
Oakland Avenue and Ford 
Place will provide a varied 
selection all day long.

 Celebrate the Year of the 
Rooster across Asia with a 
free day of performances, 
demonstrations and hands-
on activities! Food trucks 
will be close by to satisfy 
hungry and thirsty visitors.

PERFORMANCES:

11:00 - 11:45 a.m. 
Northern Shaolim Kung Fu 
Association

11:45 - 12:30 p.m. Chinese 
delegation (Hangzhou 
Sounds & Dance troupe)

Part I

1:15 - 1:45 p.m. 
Performance

2:00 - 2:45 
p.m. Chinese delegation 
(Hangzhou Sounds & Dance 
troupe)

Part II

3:00 - 3:30 p.m. 
Pasadena Symphony

4:00 - 4:45 p.m. 
Jung Im Lee Korean Dance 
Academy

CRAFTS & ART 
ACTIVITIES:

11:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Anya Zeng - Calligraphy

Shelah Lehrer-Graiwer - 
Rooster theme art project

Anita Du - Paper rooster

Raymond Mei - Paper 
lantern craft

12:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Pasadena Symphony & Pops 
- Musical instrument petting 
zoo

STORY TIME:

Plus, story time for kids 
to hear fabled Lunar New 
Year stories from cultures 
throughout Asia. 

For more information and 
schedule updates visit: 
pacificasiamuseum.usc.edu.

 

 There is something for 
everyone in January at the 
Pasadena Senior Center, 85 
E. Holly St.

 You do not have to be a 
member to attend. Some 
events require advance 
reservations.

 Smart Phones, Tablets 
and Computers – Any 
Questions? – Tuesdays 
and Thursdays to Jan. 26, 
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!

 Friday Movie Matinees – 
at 1 p.m. Movies provide a 
window to a wider world that 
broadens our perspectives. 
Jan. 20: “The King and I” 
(1956, NR) starring Yul 
Brynner and Deborah Kerr. 
A British widow is hired by 
the King of Siam to tutor his 
many wives and children in 
modern western culture and 
soon finds herself in a culture 
clash of her own. Based on 
true events.

 A Matter of Balance – 
Tuesdays and Thursdays to 
Feb. 4, from 1 to 3 p.m. Are 
you concerned about falling? 
Learn how to reduce the 
fear of falling and increase 
balance and activity levels 
during this interactive 
workshop that combines 
discussion, video and 
exercise. Reservations are 
required; call 626-685-6732.

 Memory Loss Education 
Series – Tuesdays to Feb. 
7, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. 
Learn what can be done to 
help yourself and those you 
love deal with memory loss 
during a four-part series on 
brain health. Jan. 17: Memory 
Loss and Alzheimer’s 
Disease. Jan. 24: Keep Your 
Brain Healthy. Jan. 31: Are 
They Doing That to Annoy 
Us? Feb. 7: Communication 
and Dementia – Connecting 
with a Person with Memory 
Loss. Presented by the 
Alzheimer’s Association. 
Reservations are required; 
call 626-685-6730.

 LA Opera: “The 
Abduction from the 
Seraglio” – Monday, Jan. 
23, at 1 p.m. An LA Opera 
community educator will 
take participants through 
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s 
lighthearted operatic tale of 
two young women traveling 
from Istanbul to Paris 
who are held captive by a 
notorious Ottoman royal. 
Their faithful lovers must 
find a way to rescue them 
before it’s too late!

 Heritage and Legacy 
Planning – Thursday, Jan. 
26, at 10 a.m. What needs to 
be done at the time of one’s 
passing? Learn about senior 
dwelling benefits, parent-
child transfer exclusions and 
more during this informative 
session. Presented by the L.A. 
County Assessor’s Office and 
Forest Lawn.

 Founded in 1960, the 
Pasadena Senior Center is 
an independent, nonprofit 
organization that offers 
recreational, educational, 
wellness and social services 
to people ages 50 and older in 
a welcoming environment. 
Services are also provided 
for frail, low-income and 
homebound seniors. For 
more about the Senior Center 
visit pasadenaseniorcenter.
org or call (626) 795-4331.


Pet of the 
Week

 Blanca (A406622) is a 
3-year-old, spayed female, 
brindle Staffordshire 
mix and a total lapdog. 
Affectionate as can be, 
Blanca loves meeting new 
people. Before you know it, 
she’ll be crawling into your 
lap and giving you sweet 
kisses. Blanca walks well on 
a leash and has gotten along 
well with other dogs on trips 
with our Mobile Outreach 
Unit. This smart girl knows 
her sit, stay and down cues, 
earning her a Blue Ribbon 
from our behavior staff.

 Since she earned her Blue 
Ribbon, Blanca’s adoption 
fee is just $100, 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 
A406622, 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.

 

 Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) 
announced that she would join 
Rep. John Lewis (GA-05) and 
other Democratic Members of 
Congress and did not attending 
the inauguration of Donald 
Trump. Rep. Chu released the 
following statement: 

 “While I do not question 
the legitimacy of Mr. Trump’s 
election, I do object to his 
treatment of other Americans, 
particularly those who 
disagree with him. In a diverse 
democracy like ours, patriotic 
dissent is vital. That is why the 
values of pluralism, grievance, 
and criticism are enshrined 
in the 1st Amendment’s 
protections of religion, speech, 
and press - all three of which 
have been targets of the 
President-elect. 

 “The personal attacks on 
John Lewis were just the 
latest example of behavior 
unbefitting a president. So after 
much thought, I, like millions 
of other Americans, will choose 
not to attend the inauguration 
of President Trump. Instead, 
I will continue to focus on my 
efforts to ensure a more just 
and equal country for ourselves 
and future generations of 
all Americans - regardless of 
race, religion, ethnicity, or 
orientation.”

Chu Not 
Attending 
Inauguration

Pasadena Readers to have 
Discussion of ‘The Sparrow’

 Dr. Merry Pawlowski, 
Emeritus Professor of 
English, California State 
University, Bakersfield will 
lead a discussion of The 
Sparrow by Mary Doria 
Russell. To sign up, email 
creeder@cityofpasadena.
net.

 Monday, Jan. 23 at 3 p.m. at 
the Pasadena Central Library 
4th Floor Conference Room.

PUSD Accepting Applications for 
French Dual Language Program 

 The Pasadena Unified 
School District (PUSD) is 
accepting applications for 
a French dual language 
immersion program in the 
2017-2018 academic year 
after a group of parents 
approached district officials 
with a proposal to add a third 
language to the district’s 
successful dual language 
programs. PUSD currently 
offers dual language 
immersion programs in 
Spanish and Mandarin.

 “The ability to speak more 
than one language can 
enhance brain function, 
academic performance 
and business acumen,” 
said Superintendent Brian 
McDonald. “As a school 
system committed to 
responding to the needs 
and interests of Pasadena 
area families, we are 
expanding opportunities 
for multilingual education 
that prepare our students to 
compete on a global scale.”

 Enthusiastic interest from 
a series of meetings with 
parents and an online 
survey prompted district 
officials to propose opening 
a French kindergarten, first, 
and second grade program 
in 2017-2018, with plans to 
expand the program into 
upper grades each year. The 
proposal is scheduled for 
discussion and action by 
the Board of Education in 
January.

 Applications for the K-2 
French dual language 
program will be accepted 
during the district’s annual 
Open Enrollment-School 
Choice process, which 
is January 12 through 
February 3, 2017. Families 
of entering kindergarten 
students can apply for the 
program online at 2017.
open-enrollment.info. 
Families of entering first and 
second grade students must 
schedule an appointment 
with the district’s 
Language Assessment and 
Development Department 
at 626.396.3600 ext. 88280. 
All applicants who identify 
as French-dominant will 
be assessed for language 
fluency.

 The French program 
will begin at Altadena 
Elementary School and may 
be moved to another site at a 
later time.

 The programs pair native 
and non-native speakers 
of the target language 
who access subject matter 
content in both English 
and the target language. 
The programs begin in 
kindergarten with 90 
percent of instruction in the 
target language. Gradually 
the instruction shifts to 
50 percent in English and 
50 percent in the target 
language, prompting the 
student to master academic 
subjects in both. For more 
information about PUSD’s 
dual language immersion 
programs, go to pusd.us/
Domain/1288

 Pasadena Unified’s proposal 
reflects a national trend as 
dual-language programs 
grow in popularity across the 
country. Experts estimate 
there are at least 2,000 in the 
U.S. — a jump from about 
260 in 2005. A joint U.S. 
Department of Education- 
American Institutes for 
Research report shows 39 
states and Washington, D.C. 
were offering dual-language 
education during the 2012-
13 school year, For More 
visit pusd.us/Domain/1288.

Mars Rover Curiosity Looks 
at Possible Mud Cracks

ALTADENA POLICE BLOTTER

 

 Scientists used NASA’s 
Curiosity Mars rover in recent 
weeks to examine slabs of rock 
cross-hatched with shallow 
ridges that likely originated as 
cracks in drying mud. 

“Mud cracks are the most 
likely scenario here,” said 
Curiosity science team 
member Nathan Stein. He is a 
graduate student at Caltech in 
Pasadena, California, who led 
the investigation of a site called 
“Old Soaker,” on lower Mount 
Sharp, Mars. 

 If this interpretation holds up, 
these would be the first mud 
cracks -- technically called 
desiccation cracks -- confirmed 
by the Curiosity mission. 
They would be evidence that 
the ancient era when these 
sediments were deposited 
included some drying after 
wetter conditions. Curiosity has 
found evidence of ancient lakes 
in older, lower-lying rock layers 
and also in younger mudstone 
that is above Old Soaker.

 “Even from a distance, we 
could see a pattern of four- and 
five-sided polygons that don’t 
look like fractures we’ve seen 
previously with Curiosity,” 
Stein said. “It looks like what 
you’d see beside the road where 
muddy ground has dried and 
cracked.”

 The cracked layer formed 
more than 3 billion years ago 
and was subsequently buried 
by other layers of sediment, all 
becoming stratified rock. Later, 
wind erosion stripped away 
the layers above Old Soaker. 
Material that had filled the 
cracks resisted erosion better 
than the mudstone around it, so 
the pattern from the cracking 
now appears as raised ridges. 

 The team used Curiosity 
to examine the crack-filling 
material. Cracks that form at the 
surface, such as in drying mud, 
generally fill with windblown 
dust or sand. A different type 
of cracking with plentiful 
examples found by Curiosity 
occurs after sediments have 
hardened into rock. Pressure 
from accumulation of 
overlying sediments can cause 
underground fractures in the 
rock. These fractures generally 
have been filled by minerals 
delivered by groundwater 
circulating through the cracks, 
such as bright veins of calcium 
sulfate. 

 Both types of crack-filling 
material were found at Old 
Soaker. This may indicate 
multiple generations of 
fracturing: mud cracks first, 
with sediment accumulating 
in them, then a later episode 
of underground fracturing and 
vein forming. 

 “If these are indeed mud 
cracks, they fit well with the 
context of what we’re seeing 
in the section of Mount Sharp 
Curiosity has been climbing 
for many months,” said 
Curiosity Project Scientist 
Ashwin Vasavada of NASA’s 
Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 
Pasadena. “The ancient lakes 
varied in depth and extent 
over time, and sometimes 
disappeared. We’re seeing 
more evidence of dry intervals 
between what had been mostly 
a record of long-lived lakes.” 

 Besides the cracks that are 
likely due to drying, other types 
of evidence observed in the 
area include sandstone layers 
interspersed with the mudstone 
layers, and the presence of a 
layering pattern called cross-
bedding. This pattern can form 
where water was flowing more 
vigorously near the shore of 
a lake, or from windblown 
sediment during a dry episode. 

 For more information about 
Curiosity, visit: mars.jpl.nasa.
gov/msl

Sunday, January 8th

12:40 AM – A grand theft from 
a residence occurred in the 900 
block of E. Mendocino Street. 
Stolen: Winchester shotgun, 
brown wallet, cellphone, 
vehicle keys and Ford Contour 
vehicle. Suspect identified as 
the victim’s friend.

8:30 AM – A vehicle burglary 
occurred in the 2100 block of 
Lincoln Avenue. Suspect(s) 
entered the vehicle by 
shattering the window. Stolen: 
camo shoulder bag and toys.

6:00 PM – A shoplifting 
incident occurred in the 700 
block of E. Altadena Drive. 
Suspect described as a male, 6 
feet, between 180 – 200 pounds. 
Stolen: black camcorder.

Monday, January 9th

1:45 PM – A package theft 
occurred in the 2300 block 
of N. Maiden Lane. Suspects 
described as two males in a 
white truck. Stolen: package 
containing a black workout 
bicycle.

4:45 PM – A vehicle was 
reported stolen from the 90 
block of Marathon Road. 
Vehicle described as a beige 
2007 Honda Civic 4-door.

Tuesday, January 10th

12:00 PM – A theft from an 
unlocked vehicle occurred 
in the 400 block of E. Athens 
Street. Stolen: Glock 10mm 
handgun.

2:41 PM – A package theft 
occurred in the 600 block of 
E. Mariposa Street. Suspect 
described as a female, 20 – 30 
years old, heavy set, wearing 
a black beanie with a brown 
pom-pom, black hooded 
sweatshirt with the multi-
color lettering reading Hi, dark 
blue pants and gray boots. 
Suspect was seen in a silver or 
champagne late model sports 
utility type vehicle. Stolen: 
package containing pillow, 
fishing equipment, jeans, 
cellphone holder, shoe inserts, 
socks, clothing and various 
ceramic planters containing 
succulents.

7:00 PM – A vehicle burglary 
occurred in the 200 block of 
Laurel Drive. Suspect(s) entered 
the vehicle via unknown means. 
Stolen: unknown.

10:00 PM – A vehicle burglary 
occurred in the area of Crosby 
Street and Glenrose Avenue. 
Suspect(s) entered the vehicle 
by shattering the window. 
Stolen: Hitachi nail gun, air 
compressor, and skil-saw.

Wednesday, January 11th

8:00 AM – A vehicle vandalism 
occurred in the 2100 block of 
Lincoln Avenue. Suspect(s) 
shattered a window.

11:00 AM – A petty theft 
occurred in the 200 block of W. 
Poppyfields Drive. Stolen: tank-
less water heater.

Thursday, January 12th

1:57 PM – A package theft 
occurred in the 200 block 
of E. Mendocino Street. 
Suspect described as a female, 
between 5 feet 8 inches and 
5 feet 10 inches, heavy set in 
a gold colored sports utility 
type vehicle. Stolen: package 
containing clothing.

6:50 PM – A residential 
burglary occurred in the 
2000 block of E. Braeburn 
Road. Suspect(s) entered the 
residence by shattering the rear 
sliding door. Stolen: currency.

Saturday, January 14th

3:45 PM – A petty theft occurred 
in the 2200 block of Lincoln 
Avenue. Suspect described as a 
female, 40-50 years old, 5 feet 3 
inches and 140 pounds. Stolen: 
gold iPhone 6, credit cards, and 
driver’s license.

11:45 PM – A vehicle burglary 
occurred in the 2100 block of 
Lincoln Avenue. Suspect(s) 
entered the vehicle by 
shattering a window. Stolen: 
gold iPhone 6.

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