Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, March 11, 2023

Mountain View News Saturday, March 11, 2023 

Leaf Blower 
Ban set to 
Take Effect 

 
After the Pasadena citycouncil voted last year to banall gas-powered leaf-blowingmachines from the city, theordinance is expected to takeeffect April 28.

 According to the ordinance,
“It is [after April 28] unlawfulfor any person to operateor authorize the operationof a gas-powered leaf 
blower at any time for any 
purpose. Notwithstandingthe preceding sentence, theperson responsible for anyviolation… shall be limited 
to the landscape business 
owner, or homeowner if usingtheir private gas-powered leafblower.”

 At its time of writing, theordinance also banned the 
use of a leaf blower within 
a residential area, or withina radius of 500 feet of a 
residential area. before 8:00 

a.m. and after 6:00 p.m., 
Monday through Friday;
before 9:00 a.m. and after 5:00 
p.m. on Saturday; or at anytime on Sunday. 
It is also unlawful to operatemore than one leaf blower 
per parcel. And unlawful to 
operate a leaf blower for morethan 15 minutes per hour on aparcel less than half acre, andfor more than 30 minutes perhour on a parcel greater thanhalf acre. The rules also state 
that it is unlawful to operate aleaf blower with a maximum 
noise level of 65 decibels when 
measured from a distance of 
50 feet.

 Violations could result in 
fines up to a $1000 for multipleviolations.

 For more information visit: 
cityofpasadena.net. 

Conversation 
with Author 
Nadia Hashimi

 Join the Pasadena 
Library Friday, March 24at 7 p.m. as they welcomeauthor Nadia Hashimi to 
discuss her book SparksLike Stars as part of thecity’s 2023 One City, OneStory. A question-andanswer 
session will follow. 
The event will be held at 
Pasadena Presbyterian 
Church 585 E. Colorado 
Blvd.

 Sparks Like Stars by authorNadia Hashimi, is available 
to the community to keepas your own personal copy.
Books are available while 
supplies last at any of ourPasadena Public Librarybranches– one copy perlibrary cardholder.

 Visit: cityofpasadena.

 libguides.com/
onecityonestory to 
learn about upcoming 
community activities 
planned in celebration of 
this year’s selection. Eventsinclude book discussions, 
films and more. 

One City, One Story is 
sponsored by The Friendsof the Pasadena Public 
Library and Pasadena 
Literary Alliance – 
Pasadena Festival of 
Women Authors. 

New BIPOC Bookstore Opens to Large Crowd 

By Dean Lee

 Hundreds of bibliophileslined up late last month for theanticipated opening of a newbookstore, in East Pasadena,
centered around the city’s mostfamed African American science 
fiction writer Octavia Butler.

 Although not planned, Octavia’sBookshelf on North Hill Avenue 
held a grand opening on thesame day, February 18, at theexact time, 10 a.m., as the startof the 41st annual Black HistoryParade and Festival across town 
in Northwest Pasadena.

 “It was an unfortunate 
coincidence,” owner Nikki Highsaid. “I had people that went tothe parade and then came onover later. Next year I hope tobe at the parade and representOctavia’s Bookshelf.”

 High added that it had alwaysbeen her plan to open thebookstore during Black History 

that was the first science-fiction 

Month. “I just didn’t know 

book I read that featured Black 

when,” she said. 

characters,” she said. “It really

 As an avid read when she 

opened me up to the genre 

was young, High said she had 

at large. She had such a huge 

always wanted to open a Black, 

impact. I had the opportunity 

Indigenous, People of Color 

to look at some of her old 

[BIPOC] bookstore, “When the 

handwritten journals, how she 

opportunity presented itself, I 

wrote affirmations, some that 

thought, this dream, how can 

came true, some not in her 

I make this a reality? You will 

lifetime. I just want everyone to 

find [in the store] titles from 

know about Octavia Butler.” 

Indigenous writers, Latino 

High said she looks forward 

writers, Filipino writers, across 

to holding meet-the-author 

the gamut.” 

events and signings. American

 As for why Octavia Butler: 

novelist Terry McMillan, whose 

“When I was 16 I read ‘Kindred,’ 

work centers on the experiences 

Five Acres Gives Annual Awards 
and Greets New Board Member 

Octavia’s Bookshelf owner Nikki High 


of Black women in the United 
States, was a guest at the opening.

 This year’s Black History 
Parade honored the legacy 
of Councilmember John J. 
Kennedy, a long-standing staplein the community. Kennedyhad represented District 3 since2013. He passed away in July of 
last year.

 For more information visit: 
octaviasbookshelf.com. 

Tournament 
Announces 
Bands for 
2024 Parade

 The Pasadena Tournament 
of announce last week the 20 
bands that will showcase their 
talents in the upcoming 135thRose Parade on January 1,2024. Bands have begun their 
fundraising efforts to preparefor this monumental event,
centered around the theme,
“Celebrating a World of Music.”

 Hailing from diverse cornersof the world, including CostaRica, Japan and Sweden, thebands will travel to Pasadena to 
participate in this iconic Parade.
The bands are: 
Albertville High School AggieBand 
Banda Municipal de ZarceroCastle High SchoolJenks Trojan PrideLos Angeles Unified SchoolDistrict – All District HighSchool Honor Band 
Na Koa Ali’i - Hawai’i All State 
Marching BandNiceville High School EaglePride Marching BandThe “Blue and Gold MarchingMachine” 
Pasadena City College HeraldTrumpetsPasadena City CollegeTournament of Roses Honor 
Band 
Pipes On Parade: The MassedPipes & DrumsPulaski High School Red RaiderMarching BandThe Salvation ArmyTournament of Roses Band 
The Royal Swedish Cadet BandThe BOSS (Bands Of SantiagoSharks)
Toho Marching Band (JapanHonor Green Band)
United States Marine CorpsWest Coast Composite BandWest Chester University 
“INCOMPARABLE” Golden 
Rams Marching BandWestlake High School 
Chaparral BandWilliam Mason High SchoolMarching BandBands are selected by the 
Association’s volunteer 
members based on a 
variety of criteria including,
musicianship, marching abilityand entertainment or specialinterest value. 
For details on the bands 
with descriptions visit: 
tournamentofroses.com. 

City of Pasadena AppointsAssistant City Managers 


Harvey-Williams

 City Manager Miguel Márquezannounced Monday the 
promotions of Director of Parks,
Recreation and Community 
Services (PRCS) Brenda 
Harvey-Williams and Directorof Planning & CommunityDevelopment David Reyes toassistant city manager –effectiveMonday.

 “Brenda and David have been 
serving as department directorsfor the last several years and,
over the last year, both haveserved as acting assistant citymanager,” said Márquez. “Theirassistance has been invaluable 
to the City and to the CityManager’s Office, where theylead with their passion to servethe residents of Pasadena. 
I’m confident their in-depthknowledge, experience,
leadership skills, and energy willmake them incredibly effectivein their new roles.”

 Harvey-Williams has beenserving as the PRCS directorsince 2018 and has held various 
positions with increasinglevels of responsibility sincejoining the City as an internin 1987. Before her promotion 
to director, Harvey-Williams 
worked in the public works 
and finance departments, aswell as in the City Manager’sOffice. She has served as finance 
and management services 
administrator, acting deputy 

Reyes 

finance director, administrativeofficer, principal consulting 
analyst, and management 
analyst. She has significantexperience with and knowledgeof the City’s capital improvementand operating budgets.

 Harvey-Williams earned amaster’s degree in public affairs 
from the University of Texas 
LBJ School of Public Affairs 
and a bachelor’s degree in 
economics from the Universityof California, Los Angeles. Sheis an alumnus of LeadershipPasadena and member of the 
Pasadena chapter of Alpha 
Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.,
and was a 24-year member ofthe American Public Works 
Association.

 Reyes has been serving asthe City’s director of Planning& Community DevelopmentDepartment since 2016. Hefirst joined the City in 2012 
as the department’s zoningadministrator. In 2013, he waspromoted to deputy director.
Reyes has over 20 years ofexperience in the public 
sector. Prior to joining theCity of Pasadena, he workedin a range of positions for theplanning departments at theCities of Malibu, Santa Monicaand Beverly Hills. He holdsa bachelor’s degree in urbanstudies and planning from 
California State University, 
Northridge. 

From left to right: Senator Anthony Portantino, Five Acres CEOChanel Boutakidis, LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, and FiveAcres Board of Directors Chair Sue McGuirl 

 
Five Acres announced Friday 
a new board member and 
recognized its community awardrecipients at its 135th AnnualMeeting and Board CelebrationThursday. Hosting at The 
Athenaeum located at California 
Institute of Technology, FiveAcres honored communitymembers and volunteers who 
demonstrated an unwavering 
commitment to its mission 
during the previous year.

 These individuals have 
supported the charity’s missionin serving more than 6,500children and families annuallyacross six counties, with SanDiego as the newest county. Thecharity offers a full continuum 
of care for children and families 
in crisis, including foster 
care, adoption, deaf services,
therapeutic residential care 
for youth in foster care, andcommunity-based mental/
behavioral health programs.

 “In our 135th anniversary,
it gives me great honor torecognize and appreciate all ofour incredible awardees and 
our board of directors, who areamong a legacy of volunteersand supporters that have beencontributed to the impact andgrowth of Five Acres,” saidChanel Boutakidis, Five Acreschief executive officer. “With 
their commitment, we look 
toward the future of expandingour prevention and permanencyservices.”

 The individuals and 
organizations recognized were:
The Altadena Sheriff ’s Station,
The Children’s Thanks Award 
Cathy Simms, Five Acres Special 

Award 
Five Acres Foster Care Team, 
Special Service to Children 
Award 
Rob Trauber and Johnny Was,
Person of the Year Award 
Ruth Coyne, Volunteer of theYear Award 
The Youssef and Kamel Mawardi 
Fund, Special Recognition 
Award 
The Five Acres Leadership, 
Dorothy Cook Lifetime 
Achievement Award

 The charity also welcomes a 
new board member: Kelley 
Bannon Lashley, who joins the 
class of 2023. Lashley is thefounder of Deka Law Group.
She is certified by the StateBar of California Board of 
Legal Specialization in EstatePlanning, Trust and ProbateLaw. Lashley worked alongsideher grandfather, Robert D. 
Bannon, and eventually took 
over his successful estate 
planning practice that servedPasadena and the greater LosAngeles area for more than 50years. Over the past 10 years,
Lashley has expanded the firm’s 
practice into Ventura Countywhere Deka now serves clients 
in its Westlake Village office.

 The charity’s executivecommittee are Susan McGuirl,
chair; Shoshana Puccia,
secretary; Jason Melillo, vicechair, finance/investment; ChrisSelak, vice chair, advancement;
Grace Russak, vice chair,
nominating; Christianne Kerns,
vice chair, audit and formerboard chair; and Kirsten Hansen,
vice chair, administration. To 
learn more about Five Acres,
visit 5acres.org. 

Pasadena Pops AnnounceThe Summer Concert Series 

 Principal Pops ConductorMichael Feinstein and the 
Pasadena POPS announce the 
2023 Rusnak Summer Concert 
series at the Los Angeles CountyArboretum. The six-concert 
series will run from June 24 to 
September 9, with a line-up ofmultiple award-winning guestartists including Pink Martini’slarger-than-life Storm Large, 
Grammy Award-winningsinger Catherine Russell, EmmyAward winner Clint Holmes and 
two-time Tony Award winnerChristine Ebersole, plus themultiple Grammy and Emmy-
nominated Michael Feinstein 
in concert. The POPS summer 
season offers something for 
everyone.

 Feinstein heats up the 
summer on June 24 with Divas 

through the Decades, joinedby the sultry sounds of Jazz 
songstresses Nicole Henry 
and Catherine Russell, plusMotown singer Freda Payne tocelebrate powerful black womenwho shaped the American 
Songbook. On August 12,
Storm Large, Clint Holmes andMatthew Johnson bring a sliceof Sin City to the Arboretum forViva Las Vegas.

 All concerts are held at the 
Los Angeles County Arboretumlocated at 301 North Baldwin 
Ave. Grounds open for 
picnicking and dining at 5:30pmand performances begin at 7:30

p.m. Tickets are now on saleand available by calling the boxoffice at (626) 793-7172, online 
at pasadenasymphony-pops.
org/tickets or at the Arboretumon concert days. 
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