Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, September 9, 2023

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ALTADENA - SOUTH PASADENA - SAN MARINO

Mountain View News Saturday, September 9, 2023 

Pasadena Central Library 
Retrofitting to Start in 2025 

San Marino Upcoming 
Events & Programming

Animals Jam Out to Music 
on the 2024 South Pas Float

 
The Pasadena City Council 
approved last week a plan 
to move forward and begin 
the process of seismically 
retrofitting and repairing the 
Pasadena Central Library with 
construction expecting to start 
in fall 2025. The council was 
given an estimated cost of $195 
million for construction. 

 City staff presented three 
earthquake retrofit approaches 
Monday that were identified 
by the design team. The 
development of these three 
retrofit approaches were 
guided by goals and objectives 
established with input from 
library stakeholders, including 
the Mayor’s Technical Oversight 
Committee and various outreach 
events and surveys. Those goals 
include seismic performance, 
life safety, historic preservation, 
accessibility, function, upgrade, 
and public benefit. The City 
Council selected the Concrete 
Shear Wall earthquake retrofit 
approach and directed staff to 
proceed with a detailed design 
of the project.

 With construction projected to 
commence in fall 2025 pending 
funding, the retrofitting and 
repair process will unfold in 
multiple phases, culminating 
in the anticipated re-opening of 
the Central Library by Fall 2028.

 Mayor Victor Gordo 
emphasized the project’s 
significance, “The Central 
Library holds a special place 
in the hearts of Pasadena’s 
residents, and its retrofit and 
repair marks a pivotal moment 
in the city’s history. By fusing 
historical reverence with 
forward-thinking engineering 
and design, the City of Pasadena 
is steadfastly committed to 
creating a resilient and inviting 
Central Library that will 
stand for another century and 
beyond.”

 According to city staff a second 
Community Town Hall is 
scheduled for September 21, at 
the Robinson Park Recreation 
Center. The event will offer 
residents an opportunity to gain 
insights into the recommended 
seismic retrofit approach and to 
stay informed about the latest 
developments in the journey of 
the nearly centennial Pasadena 
Central Library.

 On May 3, 2021, City officials 
closed the Central Library as a 
result of a seismic evaluation of 
the building’s structural system. 
The evaluation indicated that 
the building is an unreinforced 
masonry (URM) structure 
and is not in compliance with 
Pasadena Municipal Code nor 
meets the minimum structural 
performance should an 
earthquake occur.

 To learn more about the 
Pasadena Central Library 
Retrofit and Repair Project 
and to view the complete 
time line, please visit 
PasadenaPublicLibrary.net.

Puppy Love Dog Pawty on September 16

 Join us at Lacy Park on September 16 at 9 AM for the Puppy 
Love Dog PAW-ty! It's back again, and we're so excited to see 
your four-legged friends.

 There will be dog runs with obstacle courses, doggy snacks, 
goodie bags (limited supplies), music, dog contests, and 
more! New this year, there will be a costume contest with 
the following categories: funniest, most creative, and group 
theme. Registration is not required. Contact the Recreation 
Division at (626) 403-2200 with any questions.

Family Storytime

Tuesday, September 12 at 10:30 AM, Children’s Area

 Storytime features activities for children ages 5 and under 
that will promote early literacy and lifelong learning through 
songs, movement, fingerplays, and books. Storytime is 
also an opportunity for caregivers to learn ways they can 
incorporate learning activities into everyday routines. 
Storytime occurs weekly on Tuesday through October 3. 
Registration is not required. Please watch our social media 
for cancellations.

Huntington Nurses Health Screening

Wednesday, September 13 from 10:00 – 11:30 AM, Barth 
Community Room

 The Huntington Nurses offer free blood pressure and 
glucose screenings. Please plan to fast 2 hours prior to 
having glucose checked. These blood pressure and glucose 
evaluations can lead to prevention and early detection of the 
“silent killer” diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, 
and diabetes. Health screenings will be held every second 
Wednesday of the month. Registration is not required.

Chinese Club

Thursday, September 14 at 10:30 AM, Barth Community 
Room

 In the spirit of cultural exchange and appreciation of 
diversity, educational development, and community service, 
the Chinese Club of San Marino holds monthly lectures and 
workshops. Registration is required.

Dot Day

Thursday, September 14 at 3:30 PM, Barth Community 
Room

 Celebrate creativity, courage, and collaboration! Inspired 
by the book, “The Dot” by Peter H. Reynolds, children ages 
3-11 are invited to participate in different activities related 
to making dot art and reflecting on how they can leave their 
mark on the world. Registration is not required.

California Coastal Cleanup Day

 California Coastal Cleanup Day is September 23. Coastal 
Cleanup Day is a chance for everyone in the state, no matter 
where they live, to help clean up trash from the environment 
before the rains come and wash it out to the coast and ocean. 
Visit coastalcleanupday.org to learn more.

Movie Night

Saturday, September 30 at 6:30 PM, Lacy Park

 Bring your chairs, blankets, and snacks to enjoy a movie 
in the Park! We’ll be showing The Super Mario Bros Movie! 
This is a free event and registration is not required. 

Parks & Public Works

Electric-Powered Equipment

 Earlier this week, Public Works staff began use of the new 
electric-powered riding mowers to help mow the 35 acres 
of Lacy Park as well as the 25 acres of landscaped medians 
on Sierra Madre Boulevard, Huntington Drive, and Old 
Mill Road. In addition, staff also began using other new 
electric-powered equipment such as a string trimmer and 
leaf blower. These pieces of equipment were purchased with 
funds from the Air Quality Management District, and will 
assist the City in phasing in electric-powered equipment to 
ensure compliance with State regulations. Ultimately, these 
new mowers and other equipment will help the efficiency 
of the Department’s equipment fleet while being more 
environmentally-friendly to meet State requirements. 

Meetings

Recreation Commission Meeting

Monday, September 11 at 6:00 PM; Barth Room and Zoom 
(Public Access)

City Council Meeting

Wednesday, September 13 at 6:00 PM; City Hall Council 
Chambers and Zoom (Public Access)

Public Safety Commission

Monday, September 18 at 6:00 PM; City Hall Council 
Chambers and Zoom (Public Access)

 The South Pasadena 
Tournament of Roses (SPTOR) 
announced this week the design 
for the South Pasadena float 
that will be in the January 1, 
2024 Rose Parade presented 
by Honda. The float is titled 
“Boogie Fever.”

 The artist’s rendering depicts 
five joyful animals holding 
musical instruments. A smiling 
giraffe grasps a tambourine 
in its mouth. An elephant’s 
trunk has been transformed 
into a horn instrument. A 
happy orangutang plays bongo 
drums. A toucan shakes a pair 
of maracas. A snake is poised 
to start spinning a record on 
an old-fashioned player. Other 
vinyl platters lay beside it. They 
are all on a lush bed of colorful 
tropical flowers and plants.

 “The design was chosen from 
dozens of entries submitted by 
a variety of individuals from 
kindergarten students to senior 
citizens,” said Ed Donnelly. He 
is the president of the South 
Pasadena Tournament of Roses 
Committee (SPTOR).

 “The design committee studied 
each of them and ultimately 
landed on a brilliant concept 
submitted by Anne Muller,” 
he said. “Renee Hoss-Johnson 
took Anne’s sketch and created 
a vibrant rendering, as well as 
a practical guide that we can 
follow to build the float that you 
will see rolling down Colorado 
Boulevard in January.”

 “Boogie Fever” is the name 
of a number one hit song 
from the 1970s by the Sylvers, 
a Los Angeles-based group. 
The boogie of that time was a 
post-disco era musical genre, 
according to online sources. The 
animals are jamming along with 
the recorded song.

SPTOR has obtained the rights 
to play the tune royalty-free 
during the parade, according to 
committee members.

 “Boogie Fever” reflects the 
Tournament of Roses® Parade 
theme of “Celebrating a 
World of Music: the Universal 
Language.”

The float also highlights the 
spirit of South Pasadena.

 “Our design is a group of 
tropical animals playing music 
together in an explosion of joy,” 
he said. “This reflects the energy 
and enthusiasm of all the young 
families that have moved into 
town in the past few years.”

 Construction of the float has 
already begun under a massive 
tent in the parking lot of the 
War Memorial Building at 435 
Fair Oaks Ave. To inquire about 
volunteering on the construction 
crew, emailconstruction@
sptor.org . Signups for the 
deco (decoration) squad begin 
September 15. Visit: sptor.org 
for more information.

 Volunteers build and decorate 
the float. They also sponsor 
events to raise the $140,000 
needed annually to pay 
expenses. To donate,

visit: sptor.org

NASA’s Psyche Mission on 
Track for Liftoff Next Month

 
Bound for a metal-rich 
asteroid of the same name, 
the Psyche mission is 
targeting Oct. 5 to launch 
from NASA’s Kennedy 
Space Center in Florida.

 The spacecraft’s solar arrays 
are folded like an envelope 
into their stowed position. 
Xenon gas – fuel for the 
journey to the asteroid 
belt – is loaded. All four 
thrusters have passed their 
final tests. Engineers have 
confirmed the massive 
high-gain antenna is set to 
transmit data. The software is 
tested and ready. The science 
instruments – a multispectral 
imager, magnetometer, and 
gamma-ray and neutron 
spectrometer – that will 
investigate the asteroid 
Psyche are poised for action.

 NASA’s Psyche spacecraft 
has less than 30 days to 
go before the opening of 
its launch period, which 
runs from Thursday, Oct. 5 
through Wednesday, Oct. 
25. What the mission learns 
from the metal-rich asteroid 
may tell us more about how 
planets form.

 “These missions take so 
many people and so much 
meticulous, rigorous, 
personally driven work,” 
said Lindy Elkins-Tanton, 
principal investigator for 
Psyche at Arizona State 
University. “I am ready 
to be ecstatic. We all are, 
but we are not ecstatic yet. 
Let’s launch and establish 
communications – then we 
can scream, jump, and hug 
each other!”

 Within two weeks, 
technicians will begin 
encapsulating the spacecraft 
in its payload fairing – the 
cone at the top of the rocket – 
and the spacecraft will move 
to SpaceX facilities at NASA’s 
Kennedy Space Center in 
Florida. Psyche is set to 
launch atop a SpaceX Falcon 
Heavy from the center’s 
Launch Complex 39A at 
10:38 a.m. EDT on Oct. 5.

 “It’s getting increasingly real,” 
said Henry Stone, Psyche’s 
project manager at NASA’s 
Jet Propulsion Laboratory 
in Southern California. “We 
are counting the days. The 
team is more than ready 
to send this spacecraft off 
on its journey, and it’s very 
exciting.”

 After escaping Earth’s 
gravity, Psyche will use 
solar electric propulsion 
to accomplish its six-year 
journey to the asteroid. The 
efficient propulsion system 
works by accelerating and 
expelling charged atoms, or 
ions, of the neutral gas xenon 
– creating a thrust that gently 
propels the spacecraft with a 
force akin to what you’d feel 
holding a single AA battery 
in your hand. Technicians 
recently loaded 2,392 pounds 
(1,085 kilograms) of xenon 
onto the spacecraft over the 
course of about two weeks.

 Measuring roughly 173 
miles (279 kilometers) at its 
widest point, the asteroid 
Psyche presents a unique 
opportunity to explore 
a metal-rich body that 
may be part of a core of a 
planetesimal, the building 
block of an early planet. 
Once the spacecraft reaches 
Psyche in the main asteroid 
belt between Mars and 
Jupiter, it will spend about 26 
months orbiting the asteroid, 
gathering images and other 
data that will tell scientists 
more about its history and 
what it is made of.

 Arizona State University 
leads the Psyche mission. 
A division of Caltech in 
Pasadena, JPL is responsible 
for the mission’s overall 
management, system 
engineering, integration and 
test, and mission operations. 
Maxar Technologies in Palo 
Alto, California, provided 
the high-power solar electric 
propulsion spacecraft chassis.

 A technology demonstration 
called Deep Space Optical 
Communications (DSOC) 
will fly on Psyche in order 
to test high-data-rate laser 
communications that could 
be used by future NASA 
missions. JPL manages 
DSOC for the Technology 
Demonstration Missions 
program within NASA’s 
Space Technology Mission 
Directorate and the Space 
Communications and 
Navigation program within 
the Space Operations 
Mission Directorate.

 Psyche is the 14th mission 
selected as part of NASA’s 
Discovery Program, 
managed by the agency’s 
Marshall Space Flight Center 
in Huntsville, Alabama. 
NASA’s Launch Services 
Program, based at Kennedy, 
is managing the launch 
service.

 For more information go to: 
nasa.gov/psyche.

PWP Third Meeting on Power 
Integrated Resource Plan 

 Pasadena Water and Power 
(PWP) is hosting a Power 
Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 
virtual community meeting on 
Thursday, September 21, 2023, 
6:00 p.m - 8:00 p.m. This is 
the third community meeting 
focused on continuing the 
Power IRP discussion, a long-
range blueprint for supplying 
reliable and environmentally 
responsible electricity at 
competitive rates over a 25-year 
period.

 PWP has developed IRPs for 
more than 20 years to address 
the fundamental goals of 
maintaining a reliable power 
supply portfolio. This includes 
meeting customer needs while 
minimizing electric rate impacts 
and volatility, and meeting or 
exceeding sustainability goals 
and mandates. PWP produces 
an IRP every five years as 
required by law and issues 
periodic, voluntary updates 
when necessary.

 Pasadena Water and Power 
(PWP) provides electricity to 
more than 65,000 customers 
within Pasadena. PWP 
delivers water to almost 38,000 
households and businesses 
in Pasadena and adjacent 
communities in the San Gabriel 
Valley. As a community-owned 
utility, PWP is a not-for-profit 
public service owned and 
operated by the City of Pasadena 
for the benefit of its customers 
and the community. Its priorities 
are reliability, responsiveness to 
customers, reasonable rates and 
environmental stewardship.

 Residential and commercial 
customers are invited to attend 
the meeting, ask questions, and 
join the discussion. To stay up 
to date on Power IRP news, 
including recordings of past 
meetings, visit PWP online at 
PWPweb.com/PowerIRP.


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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