Mountain Views News          Saturday, November 30, 2013

5


Mountain Views-News Saturday, November 30, 2013 

One City, 
One Story 
Announced


MANDATORY 

PIT-BULL 
SPAY/NEUTER 

ORDINANCE 
APPROVED 

 Mr. Penumbra’s 24-
Hour Bookstore by 
author Robin Sloan

 Pasadena’s 12th One City, 
One Story community reading 
celebration book selection is the 
novel Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour 
Bookstore by author Robin 
Sloan.

 “Author Robin Sloan has 
written short stories and worked 
for Twitter. His new book brings 
those two worlds together to 
argue that embracing digital 
culture doesn’t mean you have 
to give up the treasured books 
— and values — of the past.” – 
NPR 

 Sloan grew up near Detroit 
and went to school at Michigan 
State, where he studied 
economics and co-founded a 
literary magazine called Oats. 
Between 2002 and 2012, Sloan 
worked at Poynter, Current TV 
and Twitter, and at all those 
places, his job had something to 
do with figuring out the future 
of media. 

 One City, One Story activities 
and events will be held in March 
2014. A community dialogue 
with the author is scheduled for 
Thursday, March 27. Details of 
book discussion groups, film 
series, and other events will be 
announced in the near future. 

 One City, One Story is designed 
to broaden and deepen an 
appreciation of reading and 
literature in the community. 
To engage participants in 
dialogue and bring Pasadenans 
together by promoting greater 
understanding of differing 
points of view.

 The Great Recession has 
shuffled Clay Jannon away from 
life as a San Francisco web-
design drone and into the aisles 
of Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour 
Bookstore. But after a few days 
on the job, Clay discovers that 
the store is more curious than 
either its name or its gnomic 
owner might suggest. The 
customers are few, and they 
never seem to buy anything – 
instead, they “check out” large, 
obscure volumes from strange 
corners of the store. Suspicious, 
Clay engineers an analysis of 
the clientele’s behavior, seeking 
help from his variously talented 
friends. But when they bring 
their findings to Mr. Penumbra, 
they discover the bookstore’s 
secrets extend far beyond its 
walls. For more information 
visit www.onecityonestory.com 
or call (626) 744-7076

By Dean Lee 

 Even with objection from the 
Pasadena Humane Society, 
the city council approved an 
ordinance Monday night that 
will mandate the spaying/
neutering of Pit bull and Pit 
bull cross breed dogs in the 
city. 

 “Even though Pit-bull breeds 
are four to six percent of 
total dogs, they account for 
over half of the fatalities,” 
said Councilmember Steve 
Madison. “That’s really 
what stimulated this whole 
discussion was how every 
month or two you read about 
a Pit-bull killing a toddler or 
senior, we don’t want that to 
happen in Pasadena.” 

 Representatives from the 
Pasadena Humane Society 
said they were concerned over 
the identification of a Pit-bull, 
“who is going to come up with 
the definition of what a pit-
bull is, and who at the end of 
the day is going to tell people 
that their dog is a Pit-bull.”

 Pasadena Humane Society 
officials said identification and 
notification is outside their 
contract with the city. “What 
backing would we get if we 
make a recommendation a 
resident disagrees with?”

 Director of Public Works 
Siobhan Foster said they 
followed a similar County of 
Riverside ordinance where 
a Pit-bill is any Staffordshire 
Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull 
Terrier, or American Stafford 
Terrier or any mix. She said 
they would work with the 
Humane Society to come up 
with a definition for Pasadena. 

 “There are a lot of dogs that 
appear to some people as a 
Pit-bull but are not those three 
breeds,” a Humane Society 
official said adding that it 
could also end up costing 
them a lot of money. 

 They said they do recommend 
the spaying/neutering of all 
dogs and cats in the city and 
not just one breed, something 
the council is set to take up 
next year.

 Only councilmember Jacque 
Robinson voted against the 
ordinance which goes into 
effect in 60 days.

“I don’t think we should be 
putting the Humane Society 
in the position of determining, 
for dog owners, what is a Pit-
bull,” she said.

Library Director Jan 

Firefighters Demonstrate Holiday Safety

By Dean Lee 

As a way to show the dangers 
associated with the holidays, 
firefighters lit a Christmas 
tree on fire that engulfed 
the fir within minutes—
burning at 2000 degrees— 
Monday morning at a press 
conference. 

Pasadena Fire Chief Calvin 
Wells said, “imagine this is 
your living room,” as flames 
shot into the air.

Calvin gave tips on selecting 
a holiday tree saying that it 
is imperative that the tree be 
fresh.

 “Make sure that tree is green 
in appearance, the needles 
are not falling off, it should 
pass the grip test, that is if 
you grip the branch of the 
tree and pull it gently the 
needles should not come off 
in your hand, “he said. 

He also advised making a 
fresh cut at the base of the 
tree and submerging it in 
water as soon as possible. He 
said to make sure the stand 
can support the height and 
weight of the tree. The stand 
should have a water capacity 
of two gallons.

“Christmas trees should be 
removed promptly after the 
holiday season is over,” he 
said.

He said electrical wiring is 
also a concern during the 
holidays. 

“It is important to make sure 
that all electrical products are 
listed and approved for the 
purpose for which you use 
them,” he said. “You should 
look for a UL (Underwriters 
Laboratory) or factory 
mutual label on the product.”

He said to also inspect the 
wiring to make sure it’s not 
frayed or damaged. He also 
cautioned on the use of 
candles and said to put fresh 
batteries in smoke detectors.

Pasadena Police Chief 
Phillip Sanchez said the 
department has again this 
year launched the “See 
Something, Say Something” 
initiative, “which is an active 
promotional tool to report 
suspicious activity here in 
Pasadena every day or on the 
Rose Parade or at the Rose 
Bowl games.”

Sanchez said large RVs 
and cambers parked along 
the parade route would be 
checked and a flyer placed 
in the window of the vehicle 
saying so.

“The simple reality is this, 
we live in an asymmetrical 
environment, we need the 
public’s help, or the public’s 
participation and the 
public support in reporting 
suspicious activity,” he said. 
“It is the foundation of 
community policing.”

Anyone with information 
should call (626) 744-4241 
he said.


Police Chief Phillip Sanchez 
talks about the “See Something, 
Say Something” initiative. 

Allendale Holiday Literary 
Festival and Tree Lighting

Rose Bowl 
Game 

All-Century 
Class Of 2000

 

 The Allendale Branch Library 
invites the public to get into 
the spirit of the holidays by 
attending the Second Annual 
Allendale Holiday Literary 
Festival and Tree Lighting on 
Saturday, December 7, from 
4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Presented in 
partnership with the Madison 
Heights Neighborhood 
Association and Pasadena 
Public Works Department, the 
festivities will be held at the 
Allendale Branch Library, 1130 
S. Marengo Ave.

 A stellar roster of poets 
and authors will explore 
the “true meanings” of the 
holidays in works ranging 
from the irreverent and 
satirical to the spiritual and 
devotional, including Carlye 
Archibeque, Fernando Castro, 
Dorian Cohen, Michael C 
Ford, Armine Iknadossian, 
David Kipen, Darlene Lacey, 
Shahe Mankerian, and Ellen 
Snortland.

 A special feature of this year’s 
Literary Festival will be an art 
display and set designed by 
Steve Escandon. The evening’s 
festivities will conclude with the 
lighting of the Allendale Park 
Christmas Tree, with the switch 
thrown at 5:30 p.m. Additional 
entertainment will include 
carols performed by the Blair IB 
Singers from Blair High School.

 The Second Annual Allendale 
Holiday Literary Festival and 
Tree Lighting is free of charge 
and open to the public. For 
further information, contact 
the Allendale Branch Library 
at (626) 744-7260 or visit 
pasadenapubliclibrary.net.

 Brian Cushing, Matt 
Leinart and Vince Young 
have been nominated as 
finalists for the Rose Bowl 
Game All-Century Class 
as representatives from the 
2000’s. The candidates, as 
voted by an esteemed panel 
from the Football Writers 
Association of America 
(FWAA), are the tenth of 
a series of names that will 
be unveiled each Sunday 
throughout the remainder 
of the college football 
regular season. 

 In commemoration of the 
100th Rose Bowl Game, 
the All-Century Class 
will highlight and honor 
great players and coaches 
throughout the history of 
The Granddaddy of Them 
All.

 The FWAA voting 
committee will select 
one Rose Bowl Game 
representative from each 
decade to comprise the 
All-Century Class. In 
addition, one overall player 
and one overall coach will 
be highlighted at a press 
conference on Selection 
Sunday, which will take 
place on December 8, 2013, 
in Pasadena.

 For more information 
on the 100th Rose Bowl 
Game, please visit www.
tournamentofroses.com.

Speeders Targeted to 
Reduce Traffic Accidents

 

 The Pasadena Police 
Department, on Monday, will 
conduct a Speed Enforcement 
Program. This operation will 
commence at 6:00 a.m. and 
will continue throughout the 
City of Pasadena during the 
morning hours police said.

 Speeding is the third highest 
cause of traffic deaths and 
the number one cause of 
serious injuries on California’s 
roadways. The Pasadena Police 
Department is committed 
to reducing the number of 
traffic collisions and injuries 
resulting from excessive speed. 
The program has shown to be 
an effective tool in educating 
the public in regards to safer 
driving habits. 

 Funding for this program is 
provided by a grant from the 
California Office of Traffic 
Safety, through the National 
Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration.


Antonovich Calls for Audit 
of GPS Tracking Devices

Pet of the 
Week

 

 To prevent failures in the 
County’s ability to monitor 
probationers, an amendment 
by Supervisor Michael D. 
Antonovich directs the County 
Probation Department to 
conduct a thorough audit of 
its contracts for electronic 
monitoring and GPS services.

 “Despite inherent weaknesses 
with electronic monitoring, it 
is imperative that the county 
ensure that the contractor’s 
equipment and monitoring 
services meet our standards and 
expectations,” said Antonovich. 
The Probation Department has 
recently identified problems 
associated with the services 
performed under one of the 
three contracts the County 
currently has for electronic 
monitoring and GPS services. 

 The Supervisor’s motion 
will include monthly contract 
compliance reports; board 
authorization prior to exercising 
the option to extend this 
contract at the end of the one 
year base term; a review of the 
terms and conditions of each 
contract; and recommendations 
that streamline and improve the 
delivery of these contracted 
services. The Probation 
Department will report back to 
the Board in 90 days. 

 
Lulu is a five-year-old 
Poodle mix. She’s friendly and 
enjoys going out for walks. In 
celebration of Adopt a Senior 
Pet Month, Lulu’s adoption fee 
is $55. She also qualifies for our 
Seniors for Seniors program 
in which her adoption fee is 
waived for adopters 60 years 
old and older.

 Lulu’s adoption fee includes 
her spay surgery, a microchip, 
the first set of vaccinations, as 
well as a free follow-up health 
check at a participating vet. 
New adopters will receive 
complimentary health and 
wellness exam from VCA 
Animal Hospitals, as well 
as a goody bag filled with 
information on how to 
care for your pet. Ask an 
adoptions counselor for more 
information during your visit. 

 Call the Pasadena 
Humane Society & SPCA at 
626.792.7151 to ask about 
A341198, or visit at 361 S. 
Raymond Ave. in Pasadena. 
Adoption hours are 11-4 
Sunday, 9-5 Tuesday –Friday, 
9-4 Saturday. Pets may not 
be available for adoption and 
cannot be held for potential 
adopters from phone calls or 
email. Directions and photos 
of all pets can be found at 
www.pasadenahumane.org. 

JPL Dec. Events Calendar

Learn How to Produce 
Your Own TV Show

Please note that JPL will be 
closed Dec. 25, 26 and Jan. 1 for 
the holidays.

 DEC. 1: CASSINI FLIES BY 
TITAN

NASA’s Cassini spacecraft will 
be flying close to Saturn’s largest 
moon Titan on Nov. 30 PST 
(Dec. 1 EST). The spacecraft will 
focus primarily on the moon’s 
high northern latitudes, where 
most of Titan’s hydrocarbon 
lakes and seas reside. Titan is 
the only world other than Earth 
known to have stable liquid on 
its surface. The spacecraft will 
come to within about 870 miles 
(1,400 kilometers) of the moon.

DEC. 5-6: FREE LECTURE 
–THE PLANCK SPACE 
TELESCOPE: REVEALING 
THE ANCIENT UNIVERSE

Launched on May 14, 2009, 
the Planck mission studies 
the ancient radiation from the 
Big Bang, called the cosmic 
microwave background, to 
help answer questions about 
the early history and evolution 
of the universe. The European 
Space Agency mission, 
with significant NASA/JPL 
participation, produced its first 
all-sky image, and scientists 
continue to analyze and parse 
the various and complex 
elements. The first cosmology 
results from Planck revealed the 
most precise measurements yet 
of the age, origins and fate of 
our universe.

Free lectures on Dec. 5 at JPL; 
Dec. 6 at Pasadena City College; 
both at 7 p.m.

DEC. 6: ANNUAL 
INVENTION CHALLENGE 
AT JPL: ‘HOLE IN ONE 
CONTEST’

School teams and JPL teams will 
compete in this fun and fast-
paced event. The objective is to 
create a device that can propel 
and/or move a golf ball into a 
target whose center is located 5 
feet away from the device. 

DEC. 9-13: AMERICAN 
GEOPHYSICAL UNION 
FALL MEETING IN SAN 
FRANCISCO

JPL researchers are among 
those who will present latest 
findings on a multitude of space 
and Earth science topics at 
the annual Fall Meeting of the 
American Geophysical Union. 
Topics for news conferences will 
include findings by missions 
and projects studying Earth, 
Mars and Saturn, and one on 
its way to Jupiter. The news 
conferences will be streamed 
online.

Gingerbread 
House 
Decorating 
Party

 In anticipation of Pasadena 
Media opening new studios at 
150 S. Los Robles Ave, they are 
offering free television-training 
programs for producers. Plan 
to attend an orientation to 
discover the right classes for 
you. Producers’ Training 
teaches how to produce shows 
for The Arroyo Channel. Studio 
Production/Equipment training 
is also offered to volunteer 
crewmembers. In addition, 
on-going training will soon be 
available in citizen journalism 
and digital film groups. Call the 
office (626) 794-8585 or go to 
PASADENAMEDIA.ORG and 
explore what Pasadena Media 
has to offer.

 
The whole family is invited 
to stop by the Altadena 
library Tuesday starting at 4 
p.m., to create gingerbread 
houses out of graham 
crackers, frosting and candy. 
Sponsored by the Friends of 
the Altadena Library, the 
library is located 600 E. 
Mariposa St., Altadena.

Class Offerings 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Nightly

 Orientation Training

Monday, Dec. 2 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Studio Camera Training

Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Audio Training

Wednesday Dec. 4 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm 

Field Production Kit Training

Thursday Dec. 5 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Producers’ Training

Monday, Dec. 9 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Citizen Journalism coming soon

Digital Film Group coming soon

Teen Cookie 
Creations

Teens and tweens ages 11-
17 are also invited Friday at 
4 p.m. to get in the holiday 
spirit by decorating cute, 
funny, and delectable 
cookies. Cookie Creations” 
takes place in the meeting 
room at the Main Library. 
Both programs are free, and 
all supplies are provided.