Mountain Views News, Pasadena Edition [Sierra Madre] Saturday, August 18, 2018

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Mountain View News Saturday, August 18, 2018 

Pasadena Pops Season Finale' 
Broadway Goes to the Movies'

New York musician Marc 
Berger to play at Coffee 
Gallery Backstage

Six Things About Opportunity 
Mars Rover Recovery Efforts

 

 Michael Feinstein and the 
Pasadena POPS close out their 
popular outdoor summer 
concert series at the Los 
Angeles County Arboretum 
on Saturday, September 8 with 
Broadway Goes to the Movies. 
The POPS season finale will 
provide a quintessential 
Feinstein experience with 
some of Broadway’s greatest 
performers recreating songs 
from hit shows that traveled 
from 42nd St. to Hollywood. 

 Feinstein has enlisted a 
showcase of spectacular 
entertainers for the POPS 
annual movie night. Two-
time Tony Award winner and 
Broadway legend Christine 
Ebersole, best known for her 
acclaimed role in Grey Gardens, 
brings her formidable talent to 
several songs she’s performed 
on Broadway throughout her 
illustrious career. Ebersole will 
be joined by two Jersey Boys 
- another Tony Award winner, 
John Lloyd Young, who starred 
as Frankie Valli on Broadway 
and also in the film version, 
and another tremendously 
gifted singer from the Jersey 
Boys movie, Erich Bergen, who 
just finished a stint as the lead 
in the Broadway production 
of Waitress. Known to many 
from his appearances on TV’s 
Madam Secretary, Bergen 
will be performing some of 
his favorite musical theatre 
selections for this spectacular 
season finale under the starlit 
summer sky.

 It’s the last chance to catch the 
best outdoor dinner party in 
town with spacious table seating 
and fine linens, or lawn seating 
for those who want to bring a 
blanket. Each option carries 
on the tradition of picnic-
dining with your family and 
friends with Pasadena’s premier 
orchestra! Among many venue 
amenities, concert goers can 
enjoy pre-ordered gourmet 
dining packages for on-site 
pickup just steps from their 
table from Julienne, Marston’s 
and Claud & Co and venue also 
offers mouth-watering food 
trucks and the convenience 
of two full beverage centers 
serving fine wines, beer, coffee 
and soft drinks.

 Audiences get the ultimate 
outdoor concert experience 
with large LED video screens 
to see Michael Feinstein 
and the orchestra up close, 
superior sound and the high-
quality production value that 
is a signature of the Pasadena 
POPS. Patrons may also visit 
the Pasadena Humane Society’s 
Mobile Adoption Unit, which 
will be on-site prior to the 
concert with deserving animals 
in need of a forever home as 
part of the Pups for POPS 
program. For those who want 
to make a night of it, exclusive 
hotel packages are available for 
POPS patrons at Pasadena’s 
landmark Hotel Constance.

 POPS concerts are held at the 
Los Angeles County Arboretum 
and Botanic Garden. Grounds 
open for picnicking and dining 
at 5:30pm and performances 
begin at 7:30pm. The 
Arboretum is located at 301 
North Baldwin Ave. Subscribers 
may pre-purchase parking on-
site at the Arboretum, and all 
concertgoers enjoy free parking 
at the adjacent Westfield Santa 
Anita shopping center with free 
non-stop shuttle service.

 Single tickets start at $25 
and are available by calling 
(626)-793-7172, online at 
PasadenaSymphony-Pops.org, 
or at the Arboretum on the day 
of the concert.

 
The Coffee Gallery 
Backstage in Altadena will 
present New York musician 
Marc Berger Saturday, 
August 25 at 7 p.m.

 Berger’s critically acclaimed 
current release, “Ride”, was 
inspired by his lifelong love 
affair with the American 
West, a vast expanse of 
magic and mystery.

 Ride presents ten cinematic 
recordings capturing the 
vastness and romance of the 
West’s wide open spaces.

 Clouds that forever 
stampede the endless sky, 
shadows gliding over canyon 
walls. American artists from 
John Ford to Frederick 
Remington to A.B. Guthrie 
have used film, canvas and 
the printed page to convey 
the essence of its unique 
landscape and mythology. 

 Marc has performed at 
Austin’s South X Southwest 
Music Festival, and the 
Kerrville and Falcon Ridge 
Folk Festivals, and has 
opened shows for Bob 
Dylan, and other national 
acts. His song “The Last 
One”, was a staple of Richie 
Havens’ concerts.

 For more information 
visit coffeegallery.com. 
Reservations are strongly 
suggested. Seating is limited. 
Call 626.798.6236 for 
Reservations Between 10 
a.m. and 10 p.m.

 


 NASA’s Opportunity rover 
has been silent since June 10, 
when a planet-encircling dust 
storm cut off solar power for 
the nearly-15-year-old rover. 
Now that scientists think the 
global dust storm is “decaying” 
-- meaning more dust is falling 
out of the atmosphere than 
is being raised back into it -- 
skies might soon clear enough 
for the solar-powered rover to 
recharge and attempt to “phone 
home.”

 No one will know how the rover 
is doing until it speaks. But the 
team notes there’s reason to be 
optimistic: They’ve performed 
several studies on the state of its 
batteries before the storm, and 
temperatures at its location. 
Because the batteries were in 
relatively good health before 
the storm, there’s not likely 
to be too much degradation. 
And because dust storms tend 
to warm the environment -- 
and the 2018 storm happened 
as Opportunity’s location on 
Mars entered summer -- the 
rover should have stayed warm 
enough to survive.

 What will engineers at NASA’s 
Jet Propulsion Laboratory 
in Pasadena, California, be 
looking for -- and what will 
those signs mean for recovery 
efforts?

A tau below 2

 Dust storms on Mars block 
sunlight from reaching the 
surface, raising the level of 
a measurement called “tau.” 
The higher the tau, the less 
sunlight is available; the last tau 
measured by Opportunity was 
10.8 on June 10. To compare, 
an average tau for its location 
on Mars is usually 0.5.

 JPL engineers predict that 
Opportunity will need a tau of 
less than 2.0 before the solar-
powered rover will be able to 
recharge its batteries. A wide-
angle camera on NASA’s Mars 
Reconnaissance Orbiter will 
watch for surface features to 
become visible as the skies 
clear. That will help scientists 
estimate the tau.

Two Ways to Listen for 
Opportunity

 Several times a week, engineers 
use NASA’s Deep Space 
Network, which communicates 
between planetary probes and 
Earth, to attempt to talk with 
Opportunity. The massive DSN 
antennas ping the rover during 
scheduled “wake-up” times, 
and then search for signals sent 
from Opportunity in response.

 In addition, JPL’s radio 
science group uses special 
equipment on DSN antennas 
that can detect a wider range 
of frequencies. Each day, they 
record any radio signal from 
Mars over most of the rover’s 
daylight hours, then search the 
recordings for Opportunity’s 
“voice.”

Rover faults out

 When Opportunity 
experiences a problem, it can 
go into so-called “fault modes” 
where it automatically takes 
action to maintain its health. 
Engineers are preparing for 
three key fault modes if they do 
hear back from Opportunity.

- Low-power fault: engineers 
assume the rover went into 
low-power fault shortly after 
it stopped communicating on 
June 10. This mode causes the 
rover to hibernate, assuming 
that it will wake up at a time 
when there’s more sunlight to 
let it recharge. 

- Clock fault: critical to 
operating while in hibernation 
is the rover’s onboard clock. If 
the rover doesn’t know what 
time it is, it doesn’t know when 
it should be attempting to 
communicate. The rover can 
use environmental clues, like 
an increase in sunlight, to make 
assumptions about the time.

- Uploss fault: when the 
rover hasn’t heard from Earth 
in a long time, it can go into 
“uploss” fault -- a warning that 
its communication equipment 
may not be functioning. When 
it experiences this, it begins to 
check the equipment and tries 
different ways to communicate 
with Earth.

 What happens if they hear 
back?

 After the first time engineers 
hear from Opportunity, there 
could be a lag of several weeks 
before a second time. It’s like 
a patient coming out of a 
coma: It takes time to fully 
recover. It may take several 
communication sessions 
before engineers have enough 
information to take action.

 The first thing to do is learn 
more about the state of the 
rover. Opportunity’s team will 
ask for a history of the rover’s 
battery and solar cells and take 
its temperature. If the clock lost 
track of time, it will be reset. 
The rover would take pictures 
of itself to see whether dust 
might be caked on sensitive 
parts, and test actuators to see 
if dust slipped inside, affecting 
its joints.

 Once they’ve gathered all this 
data, the team would take a poll 
about whether they’re ready to 
attempt a full recovery.

Not out of the woods

 Even if engineers hear back 
from Opportunity, there’s a real 
possibility the rover won’t be 
the same.

 The rover’s batteries could 
have discharged so much power 
-- and stayed inactive so long -- 
that their capacity is reduced. 
If those batteries can’t hold as 
much charge, it could affect the 
rover’s continued operations. It 
could also mean that energy-
draining behavior, like running 
its heaters during winter, could 
cause the batteries to brown 
out.

 Dust isn’t usually as much of 
a problem. Previous storms 
plastered dust on the camera 
lenses, but most of that was shed 
off over time. Any remaining 
dust can be calibrated out.

 Read more about Opportunity 
at: mars.nasa.gov/mer/
highlights.


Pet of the 
Week

 Allie (A462725) is a 
German Shepherd who is 
13 years young and does 
not act her age. She loves 
to play with toys and balls 
and walks on leash with 
spunk and energy. She spent 
this past weekend with our 
Wiggle Waggle Wagon crew 
and enjoyed meeting small 
and large dogs and people 
of all ages. She is a well-
behaved dog with a great 
temperament and is looking 
for a new home. 

 The adoption fee for dogs 
is $130. All dogs are spayed 
or neutered, microchipped, 
and vaccinated before going 
to their new home. 

 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.

 View photos of adoptable 
pets at pasadenahumane.
org. 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.

 *** Clear the Shelters,” 
a pet adoption campaign 
spearheaded by both 
stations. Today, the 
adoption fee for all animals 
will be reduced to $20 
and the shelter will hold 
extended adoption hours 
from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. View 
all animals at the shelter 
at pasadenahumane.org/
adopt.

Free Monthly Events at 
Pasadena Senior Center

 There is something for 
everyone in August 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.

 Friday Movie Matinees – 
Fridays at 1 p.m. Everyone 
enjoys watching movies and 
the pleasures they bring. 
Aug. 24: Downsizing (2017, 
R) starring Matt Damon 
and Kristin Wiig. When 
scientists discover how to 
shrink humans down to five 
inches tall as a solution to 
overpopulation, a man and 
his wife decide to get small 
and move to a downsized 
community, a choice that 
triggers life-changing 
adventures.

 Screening Mimis Film 
Club – Tuesday, Aug. 21, 
at 3 p.m. What used to 
require a monthly fee is 
now free! Classics, film noir, 
cult films, documentaries, 
shorts, foreign films, 
animated films and more 
are selected democratically 
by club members. Each 
screening is researched and 
its hidden history presented 
prior to each viewing. Lively 
discussions and Q&A follow 
each screening. Popcorn is 
provided. The film club is 
scheduled the first and third 
Tuesdays of every month. 
Email mmeovary@aol.com 
for more information.

 Free Summer Concerts for 
All Ages – Mondays at 6 p.m. 
through Sept. 3. Summer 
concerts sponsored by the 
Pasadena Senior Center 
have moved from Memorial 
Park to the air-conditioned 
comfort of the center’s Scott 
Pavilion. Aug. 20: Lisa Haley 
and the Zydekats will play 
lively Cajun Zydeco music 
with plenty of Louisiana 
spice. Aug. 27: Leah Zeger 
will perform spirited Gypsy 
jazz and beloved standards. 
Sept. 3: The Great American 
Swing Band will feature 
the sounds of Big Band, 
rhythm and blues, jazz and 
Dixieland.

 LA Opera Talk – Monday, 
Aug. 20, at 1 p.m. An LA 
Opera community educator 
will give a multimedia 
presentation titled “The 
Creation of an Opera” that 
will provide an in-depth 
look at all aspects of opera 
beyond music and singing, 
including set design and 
costume design, illustrated 
with examples from some 
of the world’s most beloved 
operas.

 My Gift to You: The 
Importance of Planning 
Ahead – Thursday, Aug. 
23, at 10 a.m. Life is a cycle 
with a beginning and an 
end. Most people prepare for 
months and sometimes years 
to bring a beginning to life, 
but the same time and care 
is not given to the natural 
cycle of the other end of the 
spectrum. Learn how to plan 
ahead so you and your loved 
ones can maneuver through 
emotional and financial 
hurdles when the time 
comes. Presented by Forest 
Lawn.

 U.S./ROUTES – Friday, 
Aug. 24, at 3:30 p.m. The 
most memorable moments 
and places in our lives are 
often set to music. Guest 
performing artists from 
MUSE/IQUE will explore 
the ultimate musical trip as 
the orchestra celebrates our 
unique American sound, 
from Duke Ellington’s New 
York state of mind and Jackie 
Wilson’s Detroit sound 
to the sparkling southern 
splash of James Brown and 
Frank Sinatra’s Vegas. The 
first 16 people who sign up 
at the Welcome Desk and 
attend this event will receive 
complimentary tickets for 
the Aug. 25 MUSE/IQUE 
concert at the Huntington 
Library, Art Collections and 
Botanical Gardens.

 Guide Dogs of the Desert 
– Thursday, Aug. 30, at 
10 a.m. Since 1972, Guide 
Dogs of the Desert has made 
a difference in the lives of 
people who are blind or 
visually impaired. Come 
learn about the more than 
1,400 client/dog teams across 
the nation that are enjoying 
richer, fuller and more 
productive lives.

 For more information visit 
www.pasadenaseniorcenter.
org or call 626-795-4331.

 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.

PCC TO OFFER ALL-DAY COLLEGE 
COURSES AT JOHN MUIR HIGH

 In a bold move designed 
to bring services directly to 
the heart of one of its most 
supportive communities, this 
fall Pasadena City College will 
establish a satellite campus 
at John Muir High School in 
Northwest Pasadena. 

 The agreement with the 
Pasadena Unified School 
District, which received final 
approval by the PCC Board 
of Trustees Wednesday night, 
gives the college permission to 
establish full-time operations in 
Building D on Muir’s campus. 
The 53,000 square-foot facility 
will allow the college to offer 
courses, academic support, 
and career guidance directly in 
Northwest Pasadena – bringing 
college that much closer to 
local residents.

 Known as “PCC Northwest,” 
the agreement grants the 
college its fourth campus in the 
district, with the Muir property 
joining facilities on Foothill 
Blvd., Rosemead Blvd., and the 
flagship campus on Colorado 
Blvd.

 “I’m so pleased that our 
college will be offering quality 
programs and services to 
our local neighborhoods – 
really, right in our backyard,” 
said PCC Trustee Berlinda 
Brown, whose district includes 
Northwest Pasadena. “The 
value of a college education 
is really immeasurable, and 
it can impact families and 
communities for generations 
after a student has finished 
his or her studies. To make 
this available to residents of 
Northwest Pasadena is truly a 
dream come true.”

 “A college education can be the 
gateway to a good-paying job,” 
said Dr. Anthony R. Fellow, 
president of PCC’s Board of 
Trustees. “We’re thrilled to be 
bringing this benefit to another 
corner of our district.”

 In just a few months, PCC 
plans to offer continuing 
education courses through 
its noncredit division at the 
Muir site, in response to public 
demand identified during 
a recent survey of the area. 
Respondents to that survey 
indicated that they would most 
benefit from self-enrichment 
and training courses that could 
lead to better jobs. The college 
had already been offering 
similar evening classes for the 
past two years.

 “We want to be sure this 
expanded facility is meeting 
our community’s needs,” said 
Dr. Rajen Vurdien, PCC’s 
superintendent/president. “We 
have heard what our residents 
are looking for and we’re 
planning accordingly. We are 
working on some very exciting 
courses for the fall.”

 Under the terms of the 
agreement, PCC will pay PUSD 
rent of $150,000 annually for 
10 years, with an option for 
a five-year extension. The 
college will make additional 
investments in upgrading 
classroom technology and 
other facilities improvements. 
A separate agreement between 
the districts allows college 
students to be present in the 
building and surrounding areas 
on Muir’s campus during the 
high school day.

ALTADENA CRIME BLOTTER

ALTADENA SHERIFF 
STATION WEEKLY CRIME 
BLOTTER

Sunday, August 5th

12:15 AM – A battery occurred 
in the 1600 block of Valencia 
Avenue. Suspect was taken into 
custody.

7:30 AM – A residential burglary 
occurred in the 2000 block of 
Sinaloa Avenue. Suspect is 
known by the victim.

Monday August 6th

No significant incidents

Tuesday, August 7th

12:00 PM – A commercial 
burglary occurred in the 600 
block of E. Mariposa Street. 
Suspect entered the location 
by prying the lock. Stolen: 
white Nintendo Wii and remote 
controllers.

Wednesday, August 8th

1:30 PM – A theft of landscaping 
equipment occurred in the 2400 
block of Porter Avenue. Stolen: 
red gas powered hedge trimmer.

Thursday, August 9th

6:16 PM – Joseph Peace, 29 
years old of Pasadena and 
Jonah Woodruff, 29 years old 
of Altadena were arrested in 
the 2100 block of N. Raymond 
Avenue for drinking in public.

Friday August 10th

No Significant incidents

Saturday, August 11th

1:00 AM – A domestic violence 
incident occurred in the 900 
block of Dolores Drive. Suspect 
has been identified.

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