Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, February 10, 2018

5 
Mountain View News Saturday, February 10, 2018 
5 
Mountain View News Saturday, February 10, 2018 
Pasadena 
PIO BoyerSteps Down 

 Pasadena Public 
Information Officer (PIO) 
William Boyer abruptly 
stepped down Thursday 
after nearly six years 
overseeing the city’s social 
media and communications 
with news media. In a 
statement Boyer said he was 
offered another job.

“After tomorrow…, I will 
no longer represent the 
city of Pasadena in order 
to pursue a new career 
opportunity as the Director 
of Communications for the 
Los Angeles Community 
College District,” he said.

 He directed all media 
inquires to Interim Public 
Information Officer Lisa 
Derderian. 

 Derderian also serves as the 
Pasadena Fire Department 
PIO. 
City Manager Steve 
Mermell has not said if the 
city is looking to fill the 
position.

As PIO, Boyer oversaw 
daily communications, 
marketing and crisis 
communications for all 
16 city departments and 
over 2,000 employees. He 
also oversaw city media 
relations for events such as 
the Rose Parade and Rose 
Bowl game. Traditionally 
the PIO is also the speech 
writer for the mayor, which 
includes the state of the city.

 Most recently, Boyer dealt 
with the city’s controversial 
release of police video 
showing the violent 
beating, in November, of 
Christopher Ballew at an 
Altadena gas station. Police 
broke Ballew leg during the 
encounter.

 At the time, the Los 
Angeles Times quoted 
“Pasadena public 
information officer William 
Boyer said police officers 
Lerry Esparza and Zachary 
Lujan stopped Ballew, who 
is black, because of his car’s 
darkly tinted windows and 
missing front license plate.”

 According to the state of 
California Boyer's salary 
in 2016 was $160,847.26 a 
year including benefits. 

Pet of the 
Week


Isn’t Ziggy (A450161) just 
the cutest? This juvenile 
rabbit was found stray 
in Pasadena along with 
two siblings. All three are 
absolutely adorable. They 
run circles around one 
another and then snuggle 
together during naptime. 
Young rabbits should have 
alfalfa hay in their diets in 
addition to timothy hay 
and leafy greens. Be sure 
to speak to a veterinarian 
about the best diet for your 
rabbit. 

 The adoption fee for 
rabbits is $35. All rabbits 
are spayed or neutered and 
microchipped before going 
to their new home. 

New adopters will receive 
a complimentary healthand-
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.


City to Hold Meeting over Bridge Suicides


The city of Pasadena is set 
to hold a second community 
meeting of the Colorado 
Street Bridge Task Force to 
get public input on planned 
enhancements for the 
Colorado Street Bridge to 
stop suicides. 

 The meeting will be held 
from 6:30 to 8 p.m., February 
20, at the Maranatha High 
School.

 According to officials, The 
Task Force held its first 
community meeting Nov. 
29 to gather ideas from the 
public on viable options for 
the bridge. At the Feb. 20 
meeting, the Task Force will 
present its evaluation of the 
recommendations made by 
the public at the first meeting 
and to receive additional 
feedback they said.

 In June, the City installed 
10-foot-high metal mesh 
fencing around the benched 
alcoves on both sides of 
the Colorado Street Bridge 
as a temporary deterrent 
measure. The City is now 
seeking responsibly designed 
permanent solutions that 
can be an effective deterrent 
while also being respectful of 
the bridge’s national historic 
status and architectural 
significance.

 The Task Force includes 
experts in the fields of 
architecture, engineering, 

historic preservation, mental 
health, suicide prevention 
and public safety. The vision 
of the Task Force is to allow 
the community to experience 
and enjoy the Colorado 
Street Bridge and the Arroyo 
Seco area below it as a safe 
and beautiful environment.

 In July, the city’s Public 
Safety Committee took up 
the issue.

 Both Sue Mossman 
Executive Director Pasadena 
Heritage and Claire 
Bogaard Pasadena Heritage 
Board Member suggested 
planting trees and working 
with Pasadena architects, 
“working on solutions that 
might not be investigated 
yet,” Mossman said.

 Non-structural interventions 
such as phones/intercoms 
Bridge patrols pedestrian 
exclusion, along with 
structural solutions like, wire 
strand installation, mesh 
barriers, netting and picket 
extensions were discussed.

 Pasadena Mayor Terry 
Tornek criticized the mesh 
fencing “It’s aesthetically 
offensive but I don’t see any 
alternative and I commend 
staff for moving aggressively,” 
he said, calling the whole 
discussion very upsetting. 

 As part of this effort, the city 
reached out to prominent 
experts in the fields of 

Valentine’s Day Plans? 

 Old Pasadena’s businesses 
are gearing up for a “lovely” 
Valentine’s Day Week. 
Many Old Pas restaurants 
are offering special dining 
opportunities -now is 


Cakemix, Comedy Night 

the time to make your 

at iPic Theater, and some 

reservations! Other 

sweet Puppy Love at Color 

events include Pasadena 

Me Mine. Visit our Events 

Senior Center’s Valentine 

Calendar to plan your 

Luncheon, workshops at 

romantic or “Gal-entine’s” 

both We Olive and Duff ’s 

outings. 

PWP Announces Assistant 
General Manager 

 Pasadena Water and Power 
(PWP) appointed Mitchell 
Dion as its new Assistant 
General Manager (AGM) of 
Water Delivery. Dion will fill 
the position left by the previous 
Water AGM Shan Kwan, who 
retired in May 2016.

 Dion has extensive experience 
in the utility industry and 
has held senior management 
positions in both publicly and 
privately-owned utilities. As 
a former General Manager 
of water utilities in Northern 
and Southern California, Dion 
brings a distinctive perspective 
of California water issues to 
PWP. A champion of water 
resource stewardship, he led 
several local and regional 
programs for communities 
to implement integrated 
practices using stormwater, 
reclaimed water and other 
water supplies to balance 
water needs. Additionally, 
he assisted communities 
with water development 
and portfolio diversification 
projects, including Seattle’s 
Tolt River Project and the San 
Diego County Water Authority 
Carlsbad Desalination Project.

 Dion was hired after a 
nationwide search, and as the 
Assistant General Manager 
of Water Delivery, Dion will 
be responsible for all aspects 
of Pasadena’s water system 
services, which include 
resources, engineering, 

construction, operations and 
water quality. “I look forward to 
assisting PWP implement their 
strategic objectives and advance 
the community interests in 
water resources,” said Mitchell 
Dion.

 “Mitch Dion’s proven 
track record of success and 
commitment to the water 
industry makes him a great 
fit for Pasadena and we are 
excited to have him as part of 
our executive team,” said PWP 
General Manager Gurcharan 
Bawa. 
Dion holds a Master’s Degree 
from the University of Southern 
California Viterbi School of 
Engineering. He served in 
the Marines and his extensive 
military career includes a 
combination of engineering and 
policy decision making. He also 
worked within the State and 
Federal legislature. Additionally, 
his water development 
experience includes addressing 
groundwater contamination 
and mitigation from military 
and research facilities. His 
awards include recognition 
by the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency for 
emergency management 
and the Association of Civil 
Engineers for overseeing 
design and construction of 
environmentally sustainable 
facilities.

 To learn more about Dion, visit 
www.PWPweb.com/Executives. 

architecture, engineering, 
mental health, suicide 
prevention and public safety 
to form a task force. The 
Task Force’s mission is to 
engage the community in 
developing solutions that will 
deter people from attempting 
suicide at the bridge while 
also preserving the structure’s 
national historic status and 
architectural significance.

 At the first meeting in 
November there was a lengthy 
discussion about the Habitat 
for Humanity Desiderio Park 
housing project. Pasadena 
Mayor Terry Tornek said 
that suicides from the bridge 
would not detour the project. 
Tornek said that the whole 
issue was tragic. 

 The Maranatha High School 
Student Center is located 
169 S. Saint John Ave. Free 
parking will be available 
in the visitor’s parking lot 
on campus or the school’s 
underground parking, both 
off of South St. John Avenue. 
For more information visit:5. 
cityofpasadena.net or email 
ColoradoBridgeTaskForce @
cityofpasadena.net. 

Black HistoryParade 
and Festival 

 Pasadena community is 
invited to the 36th Annual 
Black History Parade & 
Festival on Sat. February 
17, 2018 from 10a.m. to 
4p.m. The parade begins 
at Charles White Park and 
the festival will take place at 
Robinson Park. 

Asteroids 
Safely PassBy Earth

 Two small asteroids recently 
discovered by astronomers at 
the NASA-funded Catalina 
Sky Survey (CSS) near Tucson, 
Arizona, are safely passing 
by Earth within one lunar 
distance this week.

 The first of this week’s close-
approaching asteroids --
discovered by CSS on Feb. 4 
-- is designated asteroid 2018 

CC. Its close approach to Earth 
came Tuesday (Feb. 6) at 12:10 
p.m. PST (3:10 p.m. EST) at 
a distance of about 114,000 
miles (184,000 kilometers). 
The asteroid is estimated to be 
between 50 and 100 feet (15 
and 30 meters) in size. 
Of potentially greater interest 
is asteroid 2018 CB, which will 
also pass closely by Earth on 
Friday, Feb. 9, at around 2:30 

p.m. PST (5:30 p.m. EST), at a 
distance of about 39,000 miles 
(64,000 kilometers), which is 
less than one-fifth the distance 
of Earth to the Moon). The 
asteroid, which is estimated to 
be between 50 and 130 feet (15 
and 40 meters) in size, was also 
discovered by CSS on Feb. 4.
“Although 2018 CB is 
quite small, it might well be 
larger than the asteroid that 
entered the atmosphere over 
Chelyabinsk, Russia, almost 
exactly five years ago, in 2013,” 
said Paul Chodas, manager 
of the Center for Near-Earth 
Object Studies at NASA’s 
Jet Propulsion Laboratory 
in Pasadena, California. 
“Asteroids of this size do not 
often approach this close to 
our planet -- maybe only once 
or twice a year.” 

Spring Home Tour andLecture –'Better 
Homes and Gardens'

 Pasadena Heritage is set 
to show historic homes, as 
architectural and landscape 
design, spanning more than 
130 years as part of their Spring 
Home Tour and Lecture. 

Inspired by the legendary 
magazine that has epitomized 
American living since 1922 
with articles such as, “Create 
the Perfect Front Yard” and 
“Backyard Landscapes with our 
Gardening Tips,”

 Better Homes and Gardens 
continues to be one of America’s 
favorite magazines. Pasadena 
Heritage’s Spring Home Tour, 
“Better Homes and Gardens”, 
allows guests to experience 
noteworthy architecture and 
landscape design that influence 
each other and combine 
to create perfect harmony. 
From “curb appeal” to private 
interiors, visitors will enjoy 
places that clearly demonstrate 
the beauty of indoor-outdoor 
living blended seamlessly 
together.

 The famed McNally Mansion, 
designed by Frederick L. 
Roehrig in 1887 for Andrew 
McNally of the Rand-McNally 
Map Company of Chicago, is 
a featured location on the tour. 
The 2 .-story Queen Anne-
style home retains remarkable 
integrity both inside and out. 
Though the property and the 
gardens have changed over the 
years, it remains a remarkable 
showplace. Original photos 
and postcards of the house and 
grounds will remind guests of 
this great estate's prominence 
and grandeur as one of 
Altadena's earliest mansions.

 Also in Altadena, tour-goers can 
visit a charming 1922 Spanish 
Colonial Revival bungalow with 
drought-tolerant and drought-
loving front and back gardens 
designed and cared for by the 
creative, design-conscious 
owner. The landscape was so 
well received by neighbors that 
they copied the design, giving 
the block cohesive curb appeal.

 Haynes Landscape Design’s 
home base will be part of the 
tour as well. See the gardens and 
nursery of their1902 farmhouse 
as well as the interior and 
exterior living spaces of two 
delightful, one bedroom, one 

bath, miniature1930s Spanish 
bungalows.

 The W. Parker Lyon House, 
which was designed in 1948 by 
noted architect Thornton Ladd, 
is an extraordinary example of 
mid-century architecture, with 
attention paid to every detail 
and strong emphasis on the 
connection between interior 
and exterior spaces. The current 
homeowners commissioned 
most of the current landscaping 
which beautifully frames the 
striking house and its many 
levels.

 In neighboring Sierra Madre is 
the 1949 mid-century Mulvihill 
House designed by Harwell 
Hamilton Harris. Harris visited 
the home to make suggestions 
for restoration and to explain his 
original design to the current 
owners. Owner John Tidwell 
Lyle designed the current 
landscape and studio. Lyle was 
the principal architect for the 
Lyle Center for Regenerative 
Studies at Cal Poly Pomona 
and the principal landscape 
architect for the Adam Joseph 
Lewis center for Environmental 
Studies at Oberlin College. He 
is the author of such books 
as “Regenerative Design for 
Sustainable Development” 
and “Design for Human 
Ecosystems.”

 Prior to the tour on March 8th 
at 7:00 p.m. Pasadena Heritage 
will present author Kelly 
Comras who will speak on the 
career and accomplishments 
of distinguished mid-century 
landscape architect Ruth 
Shellhorn. The evening also 
includes a screening of the 
documentary film about Ms. 
Shellhorn and a book-signing 
will follow the talk and film. 
Ruth Shellhorn, mid-century 
landscape architect who 
defined regional aesthetic of 
Southern California, is perhaps 
best known for her work on 
the Bullock’s department 
stores and her work with Walt 
Disney on the original design 
of Disneyland. Shellhorn also 
designed the landscape master 
plan for UC at Riverside and 
other campuses as well as a 
number of private gardens 
and estates for movie stars and 
business leaders in the Los 
Angeles region. 

Free February Events at
Pasadena Senior Center


 There is something foreveryone in February at thePasadena Senior Center, 85 E. 
Holly St. You do not have to be amember to attend. Some events 
require advance reservations asnoted. 

Tax Time – Wednesdaysand Fridays to Apr. 13, from9 to 11 a.m. Representativesfrom the AARP Foundation’s 
Tax-Aide program will assistlow- to middle-income filers in 
preparing their federal incometax returns. There is no age limit.
Appointments are required: 
626-795-4331. 

Tech It Up! The Basics 
and Benefits of Technology

– Mondays to Feb. 26, from 3to 4:30 pm. (the Feb. 19 will becanceled due to the holiday).
Learn the basics and advantagesof technology you can use in youreveryday life. Each class will havea specific focus on a commonapplication of technology, its 
benefits, disadvantages, basic 
setup and instructions alongwith other helpful hints. Feb. 5:
What are apps? Feb. 12: Twitter;
Feb. 26: Amazon. Presented 
by Jade Myer, a Pasadena 
community Gold Award GirlScout candidate. 
A Toast to the Joys ofMusic – Tuesdays, to Feb. 27,
from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tom 
Campbell will play guitar andsing songs in the Senior CenterLounge. Stop by and enjoy hiscovers of traditional country,
country rock, blues, folk, gospeland classic rock originally madefamous by Willie Nelson, MerleHaggard, Vince Gill, Elvis 
Presley, B.B. King, Neil Young,
The Grateful Dead, The RollingStones and many more.

Savvy Caregivers – 
Tuesdays, Feb. 6 to March 13,
from 1 to 3 p.m. Caregivers 
will learn basic knowledgeand skills needed to care for 
family members who have beendiagnosed with Alzheimer’s 
disease and other dementias. 
Presented by Alzheimer’s GreaterLos Angeles. Registration is 

required: 626-685-6730.

 Scenic Walkers Club – 
Wednesdays to Feb. 28, at 10 

a.m. Join this new group fora series of leisurely walks toenjoy the great outdoors and getsome exercise. Alan Colville will 
give you a list of items to bring,
let you know what to expect,
provide detailed itineraries and 
arrange transportation. For 
more information or to sign up,
email alancolville@charter.net. 
Diabetes Workshop –
Fridays, to March 16, from

9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Whether 
you or someone you care aboutis diabetic or pre-diabetic, thisseries will encourage you tomake lifestyle changes while 
learning more about yourdiabetes and how it affects yourhealth. Workshop topics includediet, exercise, medication issues, 
managing complications and 
the impact of diabetes on eyes,
teeth and feet. Reservations are 
required: 626-685-6732.
Long Term Care 
and Retirement Income – 
Thursday, Feb. 15, at 10 a.m.
Learn about financial tools to 
help you navigate through yourretirement, how to guaranteeyour retirement income for therest of your life, maximize yourSocial Security Benefits and 
avoid the biggest retirementrisks. Presented by New YorkLife. 

Elder Abuse –Thursday, Feb.
22, at 10 a.m. Elder abuse is a 
crime, and all seniors should 
know their rights. Protect 
yourself by learning what to doin the event you or someone youlove is being abused. Presentedby Adult Protective Services,
Pasadena Office. 

The Pasadena Senior 
Center is an independent, 
nonprofit organization that 
offers recreational, educational, 
wellness and social services 
to people ages 50 and olderin a welcoming environment.
Services are also provided 
for frail, low-income and 
homebound seniors.

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