Mountain Views News, Pasadena Edition [Sierra Madre] Saturday, November 24, 2018

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Mountain View News Saturday, November 24, 2018 

NASA Mobilizes to Aid 
California Fires Response

Pasadena 
Wins Digital 
City Award

ANW Production of Charles 
Dickens’ A Christmas Carol

 

 Pasadena recently was 
named as one of the “Top 
Ten” digital cities in the 
nation by The Center for 
Digital Government. This 
is the fourth time Pasadena 
has been recognized as a 
technologically progressive 
and innovative city when 
compared to other cities of 
similar population size.

 Pasadena ranked sixth in 
the 2018 survey for cities 
with a population between 
125,000 – 249,999 residents.

 “Pasadena continues to 
invest in many technology 
initiatives to improve 
citizen services, enhance 
transparency and encourage 
citizen engagement,” 
said Phillip Leclair, Chief 
Information Officer for 
the City’s Department of 
Information Technology.

 “The survey’s focus on 
transparency, cyber security 
and enhancing digital 
services aligns directly with 
the City’s digital strategy. 
This award is a great 
honor and an outstanding 
achievement for the City.”

 The Center for Digital 
Government is a national 
research and advisory 
institute on information 
technology policies and best 
practices in state and local 
government.

 Information about the 
Digital City Award is at http: 
govtech.com.

 
For the past two weeks NASA 
scientists and satellite data 
analysts have been working 
every day producing maps and 
damage assessments that can 
be used by disaster managers 
battling the Woolsey Fire near 
Los Angeles and the Camp 
Fire in Northern California. 
The agency-wide effort also 
deployed a research aircraft 
over the Woolsey Fire on Nov. 
15 to identify burned areas at 
risk of mudslides in advance 
of winter rains expected in the 
area.

 Spearheaded by NASA’s 
Disasters Program in the Earth 
Science Division, the team 
produces a variety of data 
products largely derived from 
satellite observations, including 
maps showing the locations of 
active fires, damage caused by 
fires, and burned areas that are 
susceptible to landslides and 
mudslides.

These products are distributed 
to agencies working on the 
ground in California, including 
the state National Guard, 
Department of Forestry and 
Fire Protection (Cal Fire), the 
Governor’s Office of Emergency 
Services, the California 
Earthquake Clearinghouse 
and the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency (FEMA).

NASA’s Disasters Program 
mobilizes for intensive risk 
events globally, including 
earthquakes, wildfires, floods 
and severe weather. The 
program capitalizes on the 
wealth of environmental data 
gathered by Earth-observing 
satellites and other remote-
sensing technology to help 
emergency response managers 
prepare for, respond to and 
recover from disasters. In 2017, 
the program responded to 89 
events.

 “When disasters occur, our 
researchers become providers 
and distributors of images, data 
and damage assessments,” said 
David Green, manager of the 
Disasters Program at NASA 
Headquarters in Washington. 
“We draw on NASA’s 
technical expertise and strong 
relationships with our partner 
organizations to provide useful 
products to disaster managers.”

 Much of the information 
is posted to a geographic 
information system (GIS)-
based Disasters Mapping Portal 
so that datasets can be adapted 
by response agencies to meet 
their specific needs.

 The NASA team also responds 
to requests from agencies 
for specific information. For 
example, the Earthquake 
Clearinghouse asked for 
help identifying areas at risk, 
particularly areas where the 
wildfires are close to critical 
infrastructure, to help prioritize 
their response targets.

 The Advanced Rapid Imaging 
and Analysis (ARIA) team 
at NASA’s Jet Propulsion 
Laboratory in Pasadena, 
California, quickly turned 
around a new “damage proxy 
map” derived from synthetic 
aperture radar images from 
European satellites. The GIS 
team, in turn, made the data 
more user-friendly so that 
California officials could 
identify how close the most 
severely damaged areas were 
to critical infrastructure like 
bridges and cellphone towers.

 Phil Beilin, information 
technology lead for the 
Earthquake Clearinghouse, 
found the data products NASA 
provided extremely helpful 
in his response efforts. With 
a standard online analysis 
tool, he was able to filter data 
from the damage proxy map 
to see the distance to critical 
infrastructure, such as a water 
treatment plant near the 
Woolsey Fire. “Being able to 
prioritize what to check in the 
field is very important, and this 
GIS format goes a long way to 
help that process, Beilin said. 
These data were also shared 
with the California Office of 
Emergency Services, Cal Fire, 
the California Environmental 
Protection Agency (CalEPA) 
and the California National 
Guard.

 NASA’s mobilization in 
response to the California 
fires also involved deploying 
a research aircraft on Nov. 
15 for a nighttime flight over 
the Woolsey Fire. The NASA 
C-20 aircraft carried sensors 
to map the fire scar, with a goal 
of identifying areas at risk of 
catastrophic mudslides in the 
coming winter rains.

 The flight was at night to stay 
out of the way of firefighting 
aircraft in the area. The aircraft 
took off from its base at NASA’s 
Armstrong Flight Research 
Center in Palmdale, California, 
carrying the Uninhabited 
Aerial Vehicle Synthetic 
Aperture Radar (UAVSAR), 
developed and operated by 
JPL. The instrument can “see” 
through smoke, clouds and the 
dark of night.

 UAVSAR data are often used 
by scientists to map ground 
elevation beneath the aircraft to 
study tectonic motion, but they 
can also be processed to map 
fire scars. The radar signals 
bounce off burned, barren 
terrain differently than they do 
from unburned, brush-covered 
hillsides.

 Andrea Donnellan of JPL 
used the instrument last year 
to image the fire scar from the 
Thomas Fire and the ensuing 
Montecito debris flows. She 
has been experimenting with 
combining that imagery 
with optical and thermal 
cameras. She emailed NASA 
Headquarters on Nov. 12, 
pointing out that the flight lines 
UAVSAR has been flying over 
the fire area and suggesting 
a priority order for new fire 
observations.

 “We quickly changed the flight 
missions we had planned on 
doing, redesigned where we 
were going to fly, and put this 
plan together to fly over these 
fires,” said NASA Armstrong 
research pilot Dean Neely, who 
was in charge of preparing 
the C-20A aircraft that carries 
UAVSAR.

 The resulting UAVSAR 
image of the 150-square-mile 
(241-square-km) fire area 
shows the fire scar, including 
where vegetation has burned off 
steep slopes, destabilizing them 
and increasing the potential 
for mud and debris flows. 
With rain in the forecast, this 
information is timely. Debris 
flows triggered by rainstorms 
after fires sometimes claim 
more lives than the fires 
themselves, as happened after 
last year’s Thomas Fire in 
Montecito, about 40 miles west 
of the Woolsey Fire.

 The UAVSAR data are shared 
by the Disasters Program 
team with agencies including 
Cal Fire, the U.S. Geological 
Survey, U.S. Forest Service, and 
the National Park Service.

 Updates are available at: 
disasters.nasa.gov.

 A Noise Within (ANW), the 
acclaimed classical repertory 
theatre company, continues 
the cherished holiday tradition 
of presenting its well-loved 
production of Charles Dickens’ 
A Christmas Carol this year, 
onstage for the seventh holiday 
season. This time-honored 
tale of forgiveness plays 17 
performances only, Saturday, 
December 1 through Sunday, 
December 23, 2018. After the 
show, audience members are 
invited to enjoy a cup of cider 
and take photos with the cast.

 This season, ANW is 
expanding the opportunities 
for members of the community 
to enjoy classical theatre by 
offering a Relaxed Performance 
of A Christmas Carol on 
Saturday, December 8 at 11am. 
Relaxed Performances provide 
an inviting environment for 
those living with Autism 
Spectrum Disorder (ASD), 
Developmental Delay, 
Neuromuscular Disorder, 
Sensory Integrative 
Dysfunction, Attention Deficit 
Disorder and Disorders 
of Social Interaction and 
Communication. And all the 
production quality audiences 
expect from A Noise Within 
is still in place, with light 
and sound levels adjusted 
to create a sensory-friendly 
environment for all attending. 
A Noise Within is partnering 
with Ivor Weiner, Professor of 
Special Education at California 
State University Northridge, to 
ensure best practices for our 
Relaxed Performances.

 Co-Producing Artistic Director 
Geoff Elliott, who adapted the 
play from the novella, will co-
direct with Julia Rodriguez-
Elliott this masterpiece 
about the redemptive and 
transformative power of love. 
In this production, hailed as 
“enchantment” by LA Weekly, 
Dickens’ poignant tale is 
matched by evocative original 
music by composer Ego Plum.

 “We thought that this would be 
the best play for us to introduce 
our Relaxed Performances 
to our public, welcoming 
new audience members and 
their families into our live 
performance experience. 
Annually remounting our 
acclaimed presentation of 
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas 
Carol allows families to 
once again take a supremely 
theatrical journey and 
celebrate the transformative 
power of forgiveness during 
the holidays,” says Elliott. 
Julia Rodriguez-Elliott adds, 
“Ebenezer Scrooge’s rebirth 
from miserly curmudgeon 
to the epitome of love and 
generosity affirms our faith 
in the potent goodness of 
humanity during this beloved 
time of year.”

 Tickets for A Christmas Carol, 
starting at $25, are available 
online at www.anoisewithin.
org and by phone by calling 
626-356-3121. Pay What You 
Can night is Friday, December 
14 at 8pm. Sunday Rush 
tickets are available on Sunday, 
December 9 at 7pm.

 Anyone in the community 
is open to attend our fully 
inclusive experience for A 
Christmas Carol with the 
understanding that this 
performance is “Hush-Free,” 
and that there will be a certain 
level of sound and movement 
throughout the show. If you 
have any questions or to see if 
this performance is right for 
you and your family, please feel 
free to contact Alicia Green 
at 626-356-3104 or agreen@
anoisewithin.org.

 

 “Well, hello!” Cici 
(A466447) says. Cici is a 
beautiful 2-year-old girl 
who loves attention and 
is not stingy with her 
affection either. When 
she has a visitor she 
immediately rubs her 
face on their hand, leans 
in for pets and then rolls 
on her side for even more 
massage. She is looking 
for a new cuddle buddy. 
Could it be you? 

 The adoption fee for cats is 
$75. All cats are spayed or 
neutered, microchipped, 
and vaccinated before 
being adopted. 

 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.

Pet of the 
Week


ALTADENA CRIME BLOTTER

Sunday, November 4th

6:59 PM – A petty theft 
from an unlocked vehicle 
occurred in the 400 block of 
E. Sacramento Street. Stolen: 
black Bolle sunglasses.

Monday, November 5th

2:50 AM – Meeghan Chavez, 
34 years old of Pasadena 
was arrested in the 1400 
block of Atchison Street for 
possession of a controlled 
substance.

Wednesday, November 7th

2:00 PM – A vehicle 
burglary occurred in the 
300 block of W. Altadena 
Drive. Suspect(s) entered 
the vehicle by shattering the 
front passenger window. 
Stolen: pink purse, textbook, 
red notepad, and a white and 
green stationary pouch.

5:00 PM – A residential 
burglary occurred in the 
1600 block of N. Altadena 
Drive. Suspect(s) entered the 
location by cutting the chain 
attached to a fence. Stolen: 
multiple construction tools 
and residential hardware.

5:10 PM – A petty theft 
incident occurred in the 
3000 block of Lincoln 
Avenue. Stolen: soda, chips, 
and donuts.

Thursday, November 8th

1:00 AM – A petty theft 
from an unlocked vehicle 
occurred in the 3000 block 
of Ewing Avenue. Stolen: 
currency.

1:25 PM – A battery occurred 
in the 300 block of W. Loma 
Alta Drive. Suspect has been 
identified.

Friday, November 9th

12:00 AM – A petty theft 
from an unlocked vehicle 
occurred in the 1700 block 
of Bellford Avenue. Stolen: 
pink Marc Jacobs purse, US 
passport, and wine bottle.

9:30 PM – Jorge Espinoza, 
22 years old of Pasadena 
was arrested in the area of 
Mountain View Street and 
Fair Oaks Avenue for under 
the influence of a controlled 
substance.

10:30 PM – A domestic 
violence incident occurred 
in the 100 block of W. Manor 
Street. Suspect has been 
identified.

Cultures and Politics 
of Korean Peninsula

 Tom Plate, clinical professor 
and distinguished scholar of 
Asian and Pacific Studies at 
Loyola Marymount University, 
will discuss Korean Peninsula 
cultures and politics Tuesday, 
Nov. 27, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the 
Scott Pavilion at the Pasadena 
Senior Center, 85 E. Holly St.

 The free presentation, open 
to members and non-members 
of the Pasadena Senior Center, 
will be the final event in the 
fall term of The Masters Series, 
which embraces and promotes 
lifelong learning.

 The Korean Peninsula, which 
consists of North Korea and 
South Korea, is surrounded 
on three sides by water and 
is bordered on the north by 
China and Russia.

 Plate is the founder of the Asia 
Pacific Media Center at Loyola 
Marymount University and 
the Asia Pacific Arts Center at 
USC. He is a columnist whose 
writings on Asia appear in 
newspapers throughout that 
continent and the Middle 
East. His best-selling Giants 
of Asia book series features 
transcribed conversations 
with prime ministers of South 
Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and 
Thailand.

 There will be a question-and-
answer period following Plate’s 
presentation.

 For more information or to 
be placed on the mailing list 
for the winter term of The 
Masters Series, email pamk@
pasadenaseniorcenter.org or 
call 626-685-6756.

 For more information about 
the programs and services of 
the Pasadena Senior Center, 
visit: pasadenaseniorcenter.org.

Free Monthly Events at 
Pasadena Senior Center

Bunny Enrichment 
Volunteering

Square Footage Taped: 2,458 | 3 Bedrooms | 3.5 Baths | Lot Size: 6,951 | Year Built: 2018 
See more at www.1452EastDelMar.com | Offered for sale at $1,600,000 
©2018 Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Owned by a subsidiary 
of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker, the Coldwell Banker Logo, Coldwell Banker Global Luxury and the Coldwell Banker Global Luxury logo service marks are registered or pending registrations owned by Coldwell Banker 
Real Estate LLC. Broker does not guarantee the accuracy of square footage, lot size or other information concerning the condition or features of property provided by seller or obtained from public records or other 
sources, and the buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information through personal inspection and with appropriate professionals. 
Catherine “Tink” Cheney 
Luxury Property Specialist 
Cell: 626 233 2938 
tinkcheney@earthlink.net 
www.tinkcheney.com 
CalBRE# 01173415 
1452 E. Del Mar Boulevard, Pasadena 
Hey bunny lovers Hop on 
over and join the Rabbit 
Enrichment Program at 
Pasadena Humane Society. 
Volunteers are essential in 
providing socialization and 
cleaning for these critters 
who need our help as 
much as dogs and cats do. 
This program focuses on 
rabbits who benefit from 
social interaction and are 
happier when given time 
to play outside of their 
kennels. Volunteers must 
be over the age of 18, or 
at least 15 and alongside 
a parent or guardian on 
all shifts. Come train in 
the Rabbit Enrichment 
Program here at PHS. 
Sign up for a volunteer 
orientation session to get 
started. For more go to: 
pasadenahumane.org. 

 There is something for 
everyone in September 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. 

 Health Insurance 
Counseling and Advocacy – 
Wednesdays, Nov. 28, at 10 
a.m. Receive counseling and 
advocacy on issues related to 
Medicare, Medigap, Medicare 
Part D and Cal MediConnect. 
Appointments are required by 
calling 626-795-4331. Presented 
by HICAP. 

 Live Longer and Stronger – 
Thursday, Nov. 29, at 10 a.m. 
Explore the challenges to living 
fully as you age. Dr. Bonnie 
Olsen, a clinical psychologist 
at Keck Medicine of USC, will 
help participants identify the 
key ingredients that lead to 
productive, engaging and well-
balanced lives. She will share 
examples that will inspire 
participants to develop goals 
for achieving more satisfying 
balance in physical health, 
cognitive stimulation and 
social engagement.

 SINGING/STORIES – 
Friday, Nov. 30, at 3:30 p.m. 
Guest performing artists from 
MUSE/IQUE will explore how 
music, when paired with words, 
can evoke deep wells of memory 
and unite a crowd of people 
in a single, shared emotion. 
Participants who register in 
advance at the Welcome Desk 
and attend this event will be 
eligible for a limited number 
of tickets for the Dec. 2 MUSE/
IQUE concert.

 Founded in 1960, the 
Pasadena Senior Center is an 
independent, donor-supported 
nonprofit organization that 
offers recreational, educational, 
wellness and social services to 
people ages 50 and older.

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