Mountain Views News, Pasadena Edition [Sierra Madre] Saturday, May 12, 2018

4

SOUTH PASADENA - SAN MARINO

Mountain Views-News Saturday, May 12, 2018 

Talk: What Can We Do 
About Global Warming

The Wonderful Collection 
of Norma LeValley

Library Exhibit on South 
Pasadena Pacific Electric 

 


 The family of Norma 
Gardiner LeValley, who 
passed away on July 22, 2017, 
has donated her extensive, 
impressive personal book 
collection, including 
many dozens of rare local 
history titles, to the South 
Pasadena Public Library 
and the Friends of the South 
Pasadena Public Library. 
Before her peaceful passing, 
Norma gave so much of her 
time, talents, and energy 
to South Pasadena, where 
she resided for more than 
55 years. Norma was a self-
professed ‘bookaholic’ and 
wrote hundreds of stories 
and editorials for the “South 
Pasadena Review” for which 
she worked for more than 20 
years. She had a very gentle 
interviewing style that 
helped her subjects open 
up to her and her stories 
sparkled with insights.

 According to an 
autobiography provided 
by her family, Norma was 
“brought up” in Upstate 
New York and attended 
the University of Buffalo 
where she married a medical 
student. The young couple 
moved to San Francisco for 
his new job at the Letterman 
Army Hospital on the 
Presidio. After transferring 
to Alaska, and then on to 
Kentucky, the pair made it 
back to Northern California 
before purchasing a “For 
Sale By Owner” house in 
South Pasadena in 1962.

 Norma returned to college 
after a 17-year absence 
and earned a Journalism 
degree at Cal State LA. She 
was appointed to both the 
Preservation Foundation 
and the Library Board of 
Trustees, for whom she 
wrote publicity for three 
years. Norma then went 
to work for the “South 
Pasadena Review” and was 
soon chosen to become 
its editor. She became the 
first female president of the 
South Pasadena Kiwanis 
Club and assumed the post 
of Editorial Coordinator for 
the “Quarterly Magazine” 
for whom she wrote many 
incisive, knowledgeable 
features about local 
happenings and history. In 
doing so, her keen interest 
and strong zeal for all things 
‘South Pasadena’ deepened 
even further.

 Norma worked devotedly 
with an impressive array 
of local organizations, 
including the South 
Pasadena Health and 
Safety Commission, the 
Tournament of Roses Parade 
Committee, the Natural 
Resources Commission, 
the Police Department, the 
PTA, the Girl Scouts, the 
TreePeople, the Huntington 
Westerners, and the 
American Association of 
University Woman, and 
many others. While doing 
so, Norma also helped the 
City acquire its official 
Tree City USA designation. 
Characteristically, she also 
served as a board member 
of South Pasadena Beautiful, 
the “Relay for Life” 
walkathon, and coordinated 
Arbor Day programs for 
children at the Library. In 
addition, Norma penned her 
own book for kids entitled 
“A Tree For Me”. 

 LeValley was in “Who’s 
Who of American Women” 
and was presented with 
the “Older American’s 
Recognition Award by the 
5th Supervisorial District 
of LA County, but still 
considered her recognition 
as “Citizen of the Year” in 
South Pasadena in 2006 to 
be her favorite honor.

 Norma is survived by her 
two daughters, Lisa LeValley 
and Nancy LeValley Vos, and 
their supportive partners, 
John Harmon and son-in-
law Douglas Vos, as well 
as her two grandchildren, 
McLean Goldwhite (22 
years) and Zachary Vos 
(13 years). Donations in 
her honor may be made to 
the Friends of the South 
Pasadena Public Library.

 Informed individuals are 
well aware of climate change 
from the countless reports 
continually appearing in 
the media. What is less 
well known is the state of 
progress in dealing with 
its mitigation. On Tuesday 
evening, May 22 at Crowell 
Public Library, USC 
Professor Emeritus Thomas 
Flood will present a program 
that summarizes the changes 
necessary to head off the 
most serious consequences 
that will likely occur if 
society continues on the path 
of “business as usual.” These 
changes include: a shift to 
renewable technologies 
as the exclusive sources of 
energy; abandonment of the 
internal combustion engine 
with all transportation 
and machinery driven 
by renewable electricity; 
reversal of deforestation; 
and revision of agricultural 
practices. The scientific and 
technological knowledge 
exists to accomplish most of 
these goals. Climate change 
mitigation is not all-or-
nothing. If we cannot get 
to 100% renewables right 
away, it is still extremely 
important to get to 50 or 
60% as soon as possible. The 
change to renewable energy 
can be accomplished as a net 
positive for society. 

 After receiving his 
doctorate in Chemistry at 
MIT, Professor Thomas 
Flood spent most of his forty 
years at USC conducting 
research on how metal-
containing molecules react 
with hydrocarbons. The 
work had direct relevance 
to fossil fuels and led to his 
interest in energy sources 
and the effects of their use 
on the environment and 
on climate. Professor Flood 
has presented courses 
at USC on atmospheric 
chemistry and pollution, 
conventional and renewable 
energy sources, and global 
warming and climate 
change. He has participated 
in Al Gore’s Climate Reality 
Project Leadership Training 
program, the Citizens 
Climate Lobby, the Sierra 
Club, and the Union of 
Concerned Scientists. Since 
retiring in 2012, he has given 
lectures on climate change, 
renewable energy and 
sustainable transportation 
for UCLA Extension, the 
Emeriti College at USC, 
and for various community 
organizations in the greater 
LA area. 

 It is very clear that if we 
ignore the global warming, 
it will likely lead to wide-
ranging destructive and 
expensive consequences. 
Learn more when Crowell 
Library presents Professor 
Thomas Flood on Tuesday, 
May 22 at 7:00 p.m. in the 
Barth Community Room.

 
Scholar of ‘All Things 
South Pasadena’ Donated 
to Library

Thomas Flood

 During the month of May, 
Pacific Electric photos, 
models, and books are 
exhibited in the display 
case in the entryway to the 
main room of the Library. 
From 1901 to 1951, South 
Pasadena was served by the 
Pacific Electric Railway, the 
largest electric interurban 
railroad in the U.S. Dan 
Evans prepared the exhibit 
for the South Pasadena 
Preservation Foundation. 
The Library is locaed 1100 
Oxley Street. For more 
information call (626) 403-
7340.

Memorial Day Service 
and a Call for Veterans

 A special Memorial Day ceremony will be held on 
Monday, May 28 at 9 am at Lacy Park. The public is invited 
to join the City of San Marino in honoring the dedication 
and sacrifices the men and women of our Nation’s Armed 
Forces have made. The event will include recognition of 
veterans, special guest speakers, and patriotic music. Lacy 
Park is located at 1485 Virginia Road.

 For more information, call the Recreation Department at 
(626) 403-2200. 

Draft Local Hazard Mitigation 

Plan Available For Review

 The City of South Pasadena 
is currently in the process of 
updating its Local Hazard 
Mitigation Plan (LHMP). 
This plan helps prepare the 
City by reviewing the hazards 
and risks associated with its 
facilities related to natural and 
human caused disasters. The 
LHMP has been reviewed by 
both the City’s Public Safety 
Commission and the Planning 
Commission. In addition to 
these bodies, the document is 
also available for public review 
by the City’s residents. 

 Please got to southpasadenaca.
gov to view the plan. If you 
are interested in making a 
comment on the LHMP, please 
email them to Acting Captain 
Robert Bartl of the South 
Pasadena Police Department 
at: rbartl@southpasadenaca.
gov. The Public Review periods 
closes on Saturday, June 2.


Movies in 
the Park

 The South Pasadena 
Community Services 
Department is screening 
two movies at Garfield Park 
this summer:

June 22 - Despicable Me 3

August 10 - Coco

Attendees are encouraged to 
bring blankets and low seat 
lawn chairs.

 Movies begin 8:15pm (dusk)

Garfield Park

625 1/2 Stratford Avenue

For more information, 
please contact the Recreation 
Office - 626-403-7380

San Marino Fourth of July 
Event Pre-sale Wristbands

 

 The community of San 
Marino is invited to attend the 
City’s annual Fourth of July 
event on Wednesday, July 4 
at Lacy Park. The celebration 
will include food booths, 
a fun zone, a community 
parade, entertainment, and a 
fireworks display at 9 p.m. All 
guests will need a wristband 
to enter the park.

 The Virginia Road entrance 
to Lacy Park will open at 7 
a.m. No one will be allowed 
to enter via St. Albans Road 
until 3 p.m. Guests may 
reserve areas using blankets 
and chairs; no stakes or ropes 
will be permitted.

 Pre-sale wristbands will 
be available to San Marino 
residents for $5 each. Proof 
of residency is required 
and residents must present 
an identification card with 
their address or a utility bill. 
Pre-sale wristbands will be 
available for non-residents 
for $15 each. Children ages 2 
years and under are free.

Wristbands can be purchased 
Monday, June 11 through 
Tuesday, July 3 at the 
Recreation Department, 
Monday through Thursday 
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and at 
City Hall, Monday through 
Thursday from 7 a.m. to 2 
p.m. and Friday from 7 to 11 
a.m. Wristband sales begin 
at Crowell Public Library on 
Monday, June 18, Monday 
through Thursday from 10 
a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and 
Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 
p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 
p.m. Wristbands purchased 
on Wednesday, July 4 are 
$20 each, regardless of 
residency. Children 2 years 
and under are free. For more 
information, call (626) 943-
2627.

 The Rotary Club of San 
Marino will present its 
Annual Fourth of July Parade. 
Children on decorated bikes 
accompanied by an adult are 
invited to participate. Bikes 
parade in a special section at 
the front and no registration 
is needed. Bands are also 
welcome. If you would like to 
drive a vehicle in the parade, 
registration is required. For 
more information, call (626) 
440-1959.

Schedule a 
Bulky Item 
Pick-up

 A free bulky item pick-
up day in San Marino is 
scheduled for Saturday, July 
14. Please call the City’s trash 
hauler, Athens Services, to 
make an appointment if 
you have bulky items you 
would like removed. Athens 
customer service number is 
(888) 336-6100.

 “Bulky” items are those that 
are oversized or overweight, 
such as stoves, refrigerators 
(Freon free), water heaters, 
washing machines, 
furniture, sofas, mattresses, 
box springs and large rugs.

 For more information visit: 
ci.san-marino.ca.us. 


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