Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, September 2, 2023

5

Mountain View News Saturday, September 2, 2023 

Labor Day 
Closures & 
Reminders


Pasadena Transportation 
Director set to Step Down

 City officials announced 
that Laura Rubio-Cornejo 
(pictured), City of Pasadena 
Director of Transportation, 
has been appointed to serve 
as General Manager, City of 
Los Angeles Department of 
Transportation. Her last day 
with the City of Pasadena 
will be September 15.

 “It has been an honor and 
privilege to have served as 
Director of Transportation 
with Pasadena for the last 
four years. I am proud of 
the work that I have carried 
out, delivering multi-modal 
transportation options to 
the residents of Pasadena, 
and advancing the City’s goal 
of ensuring Pasadena will 
be a city where people can 
circulate without cars,” states 
Cornejo.

 City Manager Miguel 
Márquez said, “Laura has 
been a strong and steady 
leader and an integral part 
of the City’s management 
team, especially during our 
unprecedented COVID 
response and recovery 
efforts. She has been a 
remarkable steward of the 
City’s transportation assets, 
and a national leader in the 
transportation industry. Her 
strong work ethic, warm 
demeanor, and positive 
attitude has resulted in 
numerous accomplishments 
for the community we 
serve. She leaves a strong 
foundation for the City going 
forward.

 Cornejo credits the 
employees of the Department 
of Transportation who 
are unquestionably 
knowledgeable and 
committed to providing 
residents with safe, efficient, 
and accessible transportation 
solutions. A few of the major 
highlights she is most proud 
of include:

 Negotiating and securing 
the relinquishment of over 40 
acres of 710 transportation 
corridor, including a one-
time $5M payment to the 
City of Pasadena;

Securing $230M in Metro 
Measure R MIP funds to 
be invested in multi-modal 
transportation solutions 
serving the 710N corridor;

Adoption of the City’s Zero 
Emission Bus Plan;

Fully funding the City’s 
Transit Operations and 
Maintenance Facility;

Consolidation of the City’s 
garage operations contract, 
saving the City approximately 
$2M per year; and

Completion of the Union 
Street Bikeway.

 Cornejo has over 21 
years of experience in 
municipal, regional, and 
state government. She 
previously served as the 
Deputy Executive Officer of 
Countywide Planning with 
the Los Angeles County 
Metropolitan Transportation 
Authority (LA Metro).

 Pasadena’s Department of 
Transportation is committed 
to achieving the safe, efficient, 
and convenient movement of 
people and goods within the 
city in a variety of modes. 
The Department’s most 
recent priorities include the 
Complete Streets Program; 
providing and enhancing 
safe, reliable, seamless, and 
exemplary local transit 
services, including Dial-
A-Ride; enhancing the 
efficiencies of on- and off-
street parking management; 
and enhancing organizational 
and operational 
effectiveness, efficiency, and 
communication with the 
community.

 
Pasadena residents and 
businesses are reminded 
that City Hall and many 
City services will be closed 
on Monday, in observance 
of Labor Day. Specific 
closures and exceptions are 
noted below.

 Trash and recycling 
services will be postponed 
by one day. Monday 
pickup will occur on 
Tuesday; Tuesday pickup 
on Wednesday; Wednesday 
pickup on Thursday; 
Thursday pickup on 
Friday; and Friday pickup 
on Saturday. There will be 
no bulky item pickups on 
Saturday or Monday.

 The Citizen Service Center 
will be closed Monday and 
will resume regular hours 
on Tuesday.

 Pasadena residents and 
businesses experiencing 
power emergencies should 
call Pasadena Water and 
Power (PWP) at (626) 744-
4673. For water-related 
emergencies, call (626) 
744-4138. PWP’s regular 
Customer Call Center will 
be closed for the holiday, 
but customers can access 
their accounts and pay bills 
online at PWPweb.com or 
by calling (626) 744-4005.

 The City’s Municipal 
Services Payment Center 
and Parking Office will be 
closed on Labor Day. All 
parking meters not posted 
as “No Parking” will be free 
and time limits will not be 
enforced.

 Violations for overnight 
parking, red curb parking, 
“No Parking” zones, and 
blocking fire hydrants will 
continue to be enforced. 
Regular enforcement 
resumes Tuesday.

 The City’s Permit Center 
will be closed Monday 
but online permitting 
services are available 24/7 
at CityOfPasadena.net/
PermitCenterOnline. The 
Permit Center will resume 
regular hours on Tuesday.

 Pasadena Transit bus 
service and Dial-A-Ride 
transportation will not 
operate on Labor Day. 
Normal service will resume 
on Tuesday.

 All Pasadena Public 
Libraries will be closed 
on Sunday and Monday 
and will return to regular 
schedules on Tuesday.

 All recreation and 
community centers 
operated by the City’s 
Parks, Recreation and 
Community Services 
Department will be closed 
on Labor Day, but all parks 
will be open for picnics, 
fun and play. No site 
reservations are accepted 
for the holiday.

 Pasadena Police and Fire 
Departments will continue 
to be staffed for all patrol, 
jail, fire, paramedic and 
other emergency services. 
For life-threatening 
emergencies, always 
dial 9-1-1. If you see 
something, say something. 
Report suspicious activity 
to Pasadena Police 
Department at (626) 744-
4241.

 Stay connected to the City 
of Pasadena. Visit online at 
CityOfPasadena.net.

Doo Dah Returns to Old Town Pasadena

 Pasadena’s Occasional Doo 
Dah Parade will celebrate 
44 years of irreverent 
frolicking with a memorable 
cast of performance artists, 
showstoppers, hoofers and 
crooners, disruptors, political 
pundits, satirists, absurdists, 
lone wolves, float makers, and 
merrymakers by returning to its 
original route in Old Pasadena 
on Sunday, November 19.

 Pasadena Doo Dah Queen 
wannabes will have their chance 
to win the crown at the Doo 
Dah Queen Tryouts on Sunday, 
October 8 at the Old Towne 
Pub, 66 N. Fair Oaks Ave. Enter 
through the alley 39 E. Holly St. 

 The parade steps off at 11:00 
a.m. at Raymond Avenue at 
Holly Street, heads south and 
turns right onto Colorado 
Boulevard, ending at Pasadena 
Avenue. As always, the event is 
free-of-charge to the public.

 Known as the twisted sister of 
the conventional Rose Parade, 
the Occasional Pasadena Doo 
Dah Parade began as a grassroots 
event in 1978 to gain national 
attention for its eccentric and, 
often, irreverent satire. 

 Street parking will be available 
on side streets. Multiple public 
parking lots and garages are 
available within Old Pasadena. 
The LA Metro’s Gold Line’s 
Memorial Park station brings 
you right to the parade formation 
area. Pasadena Transit bus lines 
come directly to the area.

 There will also be an official 
after-party at the Old Towne 
Pub.

 For more information visit: 
pasadenadoodahparade.info.

Photo courtesy of Light Bringer 
Project

Selections 
Begins for 
Royal Court

 The Pasadena Tournament 
announced the selection 
process for the 2024 
Royal Court! Pasadena 
area applicants will visit 
Tournament House for the 
first round of interviews, 
starting Sept. 9 and answer 
one question asked by 
volunteer members of 
the Tournament of Roses. 
The selection process will 
continue for the next four 
weeks and conclude with the 
announcement of the 2024 
Royal Court on October 2.

 The seven members of 
the 2024 Royal Court 
will each receive a $7,500 
educational scholarship and 
serve as ambassadors of the 
Tournament of Roses, the 
Pasadena community and 
the greater Los Angeles area.

 All are encouraged to 
apply and participate in 
one of the initial interview 
sessions at Tournament 
House on Saturday, 
September 9, or Monday, 
September 11. Participants 
are selected based on a 
combination of qualities, 
including public speaking 
ability, youth leadership, 
academic achievement, 
and community and school 
involvement.

 Candidates participating 
in the interview process 
are in for a treat. After the 
interviews, they’ll dive into 
a world of fun, from Paul 
Mitchell styling tips and 
adorable pet adoptions by 
the Humane Society to 
refreshing ice cream, lively 
DJ tunes and volunteer 
opportunities from various 
non-profits. Outdoor games 
like Corn Hole, surprises 
from Macy’s and a chance 
to win exciting prizes, 
including tickets to UCLA 
Football, Parades, America’s 
Got Talent, and more. There’s 
something for everyone!

 Royal Court eligibility 
requirements and 
FAQs can be found at: 
tournamentofroses.com/
about/royal-court.

City Appoints New Director 

of Parks and Recreation

 Pasadnea City Manager Miguel 
Márquez announce Thrusday 
the appointment of former 
Pasadena resident and long-
time City of Glendale Parks 
& Recreation leader Koko 
Panossian as the new Director 
of Pasadena’s Parks, Recreation 
& Community Services (PRCS) 
Department. Panossian will 
begin his service in Pasadena on 
October 2.

 Panossian currently serves 
as the Deputy Director of the 
City of Glendale Community 
Services & Parks, directing all 
aspects of park operations and 
planning, managing 46 park 
and recreation facilities, creating 
and overseeing innovative 
programming, and providing 
support to cultural and arts 
programs and personnel.

 “I am very excited to have 
Koko join our leadership team,” 
said Márquez. “His extensive 
experience in all aspects of 
a large municipal parks and 
community services department 
is invaluable, as is his ability 
to connect with a variety of 
constituencies regardless of 
interests, level of involvement, 
or socioeconomic status. I look 
forward to our residents getting 
to know Koko in the months 
ahead.”

 In May 2023, the City solicited 
feedback from Pasadena 
residents on the Director’s 
position, which oversees 
recreational programs, sports 
leagues, community and social 
services, and educational 
activities, facilities, and citywide 
celebrations and cultural events 
such as the Latino Heritage 
and Black History parades and 
festivals.

 Panossian has worked in 
various roles in the City of 
Glendale Community Services 
& Parks for two decades. Prior 
to being appointed as Deputy 
Director, he served as a Parks 
Services Administrator, a Senior 
Park Services Manager, and as 
an Administrative Assistant. In 
addition to his experience in 
managing parks, facilities, and 
programming, he has extensive 
experience in budgeting, 
personnel, communications, 
government relations, and capital 
planning. A certified arborist, 
Panossian holds numerous 
certifications including from 
the National Recreation and 
Park Association, the California 
Park and Recreation Society, 
the National Playground Safety 
Institute, and the International 
Society of Arboriculture.

 “I believe in the profound 
impact public spaces and 
programming can have on a 
community,” said Panossian. “As 
a public servant, l strive to give 
my best to our profession. To 
serve as the Director of Parks, 
Recreation, and Community 
Services in Pasadena--the 
community where I grew up--
is an opportunity of a lifetime. 
I am honored to lead the 
Pasadena Parks, Recreation 
and Community Services 
Department. As someone who 
grew up in this great city, I 
recognize the strength of our 
community and the potential 
for what we can do together. I 
cannot wait to get started.”

 Panossian has volunteered his 
time with the American Red 
Cross, the American Youth 
Soccer Organization, and 
the University of California, 
Riverside, among many 
organizations.

 He is a proud graduate of 
Pasadena’s John Muir High 
School, earned two Bachelor of 
Arts degrees from the University 
of California, Irvine, in Political 
Science and International 
Studies, and he holds a Master 
of Public Administration and a 
Master of Arts in International 
Relations from the University of 
Southern California.


Caltech Science Exchange 

Sci-Fi to Sci-Fact: AI on the Big Screen

Saturday, September 23, at 1 p.m.

Arrive at 11:30 a.m. for festivities, food, and merchandise

Beckman Auditorium

 Join Caltech for a public event that explores the science 
behind depictions of artificial intelligence in films such as 
The Terminator, 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Matrix, and 
WALL-E. Moderated by Latif Nasser, co-host of the science 
and technology-inspired public radio podcast Radiolab, 
a panel of experts will use pop culture storytelling as a 
springboard to discuss the state of AI technology and where 
it is heading; whether we can trust AI; and how to protect 
against misinformation, bias, and other challenges. Audience 
members will have the opportunity to ask questions and 
engage with AI technology themselves.

For more information visit: caltech.edu.


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