Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, October 3, 2020

5


Mountain Views-News Saturday, October 3, 2020 

Pasadena 
Outdoor 
Playgrounds 
Reopen


Home Instead Senior Care 
Donates to Senior Center


In accordance with 
COVID guidelines from 
the State on Outdoor 
Playgrounds and Other 
Recreational Facilities, 
the Parks, Recreation 
and Community Services 
Department reopened 
outdoor playgrounds on 
Friday. 

Visitors to outdoor 
community playgrounds 
must comply with the 
following requirements:

Face masks over the mouth 
and nose are required for 
everyone 2 years of age 
or older with caregiver 
supervision at all times to 
ensure face mask use.

Do not use the playground 
when different households 
are unable to maintain a 
physical distance of 6 feet 
or when the capacity limit 
has been reached.

Caregivers must monitor 
to keep adults and children 
from different households 
at least 6 feet apart.

Consider coming on 
different times or days 
to avoid wait times and 
potential crowded times.

No eating or drinking in 
playground, to ensure face 
masks are worn at all times.

Wash or sanitize hands 
before and after using the 
playground.

Elderly and persons 
with underlying medical 
conditions should avoid 
playground when others 
are present.

Limit visit to 30 min per day 
when others are present.

Signage will be posted 
with COVID-19 protocols 
at each playground. For 
more information, visit 
cityofpasadena.net/parks-
and-rec, or call (626) 744-
7311.

 Dr. Gregorio Sanchez 
(pictured above), co-owner 
of the Pasadena branch of 
Home Instead Senior Care, 
presented a $5,000 check to 
Akila Gibbs, executive director 
of the Pasadena Senior Center, 
Wednesday, Sept. 30, to assist 
with the center’s support of 
older adults’ physical, mental 
and emotional health during the 
COVID-19 pandemic. 

 This support includes a hotline 
(626-685-6725) for older adults 
who find themselves in need of 
food and/or hygiene products; 
online social activities, classes, 
discussions and celebratory 
events to help prevent 
quarantine-related loneliness, 
depression and boredom; 
the Telephone Reassurance 
Program that provides caring 
connections to help older adults 
make it through isolation; and 
more. 

 The donation was made 
possible after Home Instead 
Senior Care of Pasadena 
received the Founders Award 
from the national corporate 
headquarters for meeting a top 
tier of performance measures. 
This has afforded Home Instead 
Senior Care of Pasadena the 
opportunity to make a series 
of donations to nonprofit 
organizations in the community 
that provide services to older 
adults. 

 “The Pasadena franchise 
office has been active in the 
community for more than 15 
years. Our mission, to enhance 
the lives of aging adults and their 
families, is the driving force of 
our business model, community 
outreach and local philanthropic 
endeavors,” said Sanchez. “I 
am pleased and proud to make 
this donation to the Pasadena 
Senior Center, an organization 
that consistently thinks outside 
the box and offers an abundance 
of opportunities for older adults 
to remain active and engaged as 
our nation maneuvers through 
this pandemic.” 

Sanchez received his Ph.D. in 
chemistry from University of 
Southern California and worked 
as a research scientist in the 
pharmaceutical industry for 15 
years. His transition to owning 
a Home Instead Senior Care 
franchise was catalyzed by his 
experience as a family caregiver 
and his desire to provide the 
highest quality care to the most 
vulnerable residents in the 
Pasadena community. He and 
co-owner Carter Prescott are 
staunch advicates for person-
centered care within the aging 
adult and developmentally 
disabled communities. 

 “I am humbled by this 
generous donation because vital 
programs and services of the 
Pasadena Senior Center that 
serve the needs of older adults 
have been severely impacted by 
the COVID-19 issue,” said Akila 
Gibbs, executive director of the 
center. “If ever there was a time 
when we must rely on increased 
monetary donations from 
individuals, corporations and 
foundations, it is now. It would 
break my heart to have to begin 
cutting programs and services.” 

 For more information about 
Home Instead Senior Care of 
Pasadena, visit: homeinstead.
com/479/about-us/home-
instead-team or call 626-486-
0800. 

 For more information about 
Pasadena Senior Center 
programs and services, 
including online options for 
classes, events and activities 
during the COVID-19 crisis, 
and to make a donation, visit: 
pasadenaseniorcenter.org or call 
626-795-4331.

Vroman’s Books in Danger of Closing

 By Dean Lee 

 As with most struggling 
small businesses in Pasadena, 
Vroman’s Bookstore has seen 
foot traffic and sales plummet 
due to COVID-19 shutdowns. 
The 126 year old bookstore 
saw sales down 40 percent in 
the last few months something 
company officials said cannot 
keep them in business. 

 “If Vroman’s is to survive, sales 
must increase significantly from 
now through the holidays,” they 
said bluntly.

 Vroman’s is the oldest 
independent bookstore in 
Southern California.

 The bookstore staff made a 
plea with the community asking 
them to return to shopping at 
the store, making four requests.

 To shop online with curbside 
pickup or call us to place an 
order; Return to shop in our 
stores with our new health 
and safety measures in place, 
understanding that capacity 
must be limited to ensure social 
distancing; Shop in-store on 
weekday mornings, rather than 
busy weekends or afternoons; 
And shop early before the 
December holiday crowds – the 
stores will be far less crowded in 
October and November. 

 “We first opened our doors 
in Pasadena in 1894, and we’re 
proud to play an important 
role in our community - Our 
customers and community 
are at the heart of all we do,” 
they said. “There is no way 
we can adequately express to 
you our great appreciation 
for your loyalty and business. 
We are indebted to the many 
generations of customers who 
have made our 126-year legacy 
possible and we want to be 
here for you, for generations to 
come.” 

 Vroman’s is also a Community 
Partner of Pasadena Humane. 
Over the years, they have raised 
thousands of dollars for animals 
in need. 

 “They have stood the test 
of time..., through a variety 
of disasters and crises, but 
COVID-19 is proving to be the 
worst setback yet, Pasadena 
Humane officials said adding, 
“When you check out, make 
sure to tell the clerk that 
Pasadena Humane is your Give 
Back Program nonprofit of 
choice.”

 For more information about 
Vroman’s visit: 

 vromansbookstore.com 
or information about 
Pasadena Humane visit: 
pasadenahumane.org.

Free Oil Filter 
Exchange 
Event Today


Caltech Launches a Virtual

2020-2021 Watson Lectures



 Caltech Professor of Political 
and Computational Science, 
R. Michael Alvarez, will 
launch the 2020-2021 Watson 
Lectures season by asking, “Can 
America Have a Safe and Secure 
Presidential Election?” The 
Zoom event will take place on 
Wednesday at 5 p.m. Advance 
Zoom webinar registration is 
required.

 In this lecture, Alvarez will share 
how the scientific detection 
of election problems helps 
election officials improve their 
procedures and technologies, 
giving voters the information 
that they will need to bolster 
their confidence in the integrity 
of this and future elections.

 This event is free and open to 
the public. Advance registration 
is required as capacity is limited. 
The lecture begins at 5 p.m. and 
runs approximately 40 minutes, 
followed by live audience Q&A 
with Alvarez. Those unable 
to attend the 5 p.m. event can 
view the lecture (without Q&A) 
on-demand starting at 8 p.m. 
that same evening on Caltech’s 
YouTube channel. 

 Alvarez’s talk is the first of eight 
Earnest C. Watson Lectures for 
the 2020-21 season, which runs 
monthly from October through 
May. The Watson Lectures 
spotlight the pioneering research 
of Caltech’s faculty and represent 
the broad array of innovative 
and impactful research being 
done at the Institute. A full list of 
the dates, speakers, and topics is 
available on the Watson Lectures 
website.

 “Historically, the Watson 
Lectures were presented on 
our Pasadena campus to a 
local audience,” says Michael 
Alexander, director of Public 
Programs, which presents the 
Watson Lectures. “The virtual 
format creates a rare opportunity 
for anyone interested in 
Caltech’s cutting-edge research 
to take a ‘deep dive’ with Caltech 
researchers.

 “These lectures are a fascinating 
way to learn about the 
innovative tools and out-of-the-
box thinking our faculty use to 
address critical issues facing our 
society,” Alexander continues. 
“As we approach the November 
general election, I can think 
of no better example than the 
work of Michael Alvarez and his 
research team.”

 A professor in the Division 
of the Humanities and Social 
Sciences, and the co-director 
of the Caltech/MIT Voting 
Technology Project, Alvarez, 
along with his team, uses data 
science methods and tools to 
help improve the security of 
important election infrastructure 
and provide transparent and 
rapid monitoring and auditing 
of the integrity of elections.

 Alvarez notes that, in the 
states and counties that use 
such methods, voters can be 
more confident in the integrity 
of reported election results. To 
learn more about the science 
and technology behind voting 
and elections before Alvarez’s 
lecture, visit the Caltech Science 
Exchange, an online resource 
committed to the public 
understanding of science and 
informed by Alvarez and other 
experts.

 “Through initiatives like the 
Caltech Science Exchange, 
public programming like 
the Watson Lectures, and 
performing arts events, we 
are excited for more people to 
discover the many ways in which 
science intersects with our daily 
lives,” says Alexander.

 For more information, or to 
register for the Zoom webinar, 
visit: events.caltech.edu/watsons

 Reservations cannot be made 
over the phone or in person for 
the Watson Lecture Series.

 All Pasadena do-it-
yourselfers are invited to 
safely recycle their used 
motor oil and oil filters—and 
get a new oil filter for free—9 
a.m. to 1 p.m., today at Pep 
Boys Auto Parts & Service, 
1135 East Colorado Blvd. 
New filters are limited to 
three (3) per person with a 
maximum value of $15.00 
per filter. Free oil recycling 
kits will also be provided to 
attendees. Residents who 
would like their used motor 
oil picked up directly from 
their home can schedule an 
appointment by contacting 
the Pasadena Citizen Service 
Center at (626) 744-7311.

Used motor oil and oil filters 
are classified as household 
hazardous waste, so they 
should not be disposed of 
in trash bins or dumpsters. 
Motor oil that is not disposed 
of properly can make its way 
into ground and surface 
waters, causing serious 
pollution. Oil filter exchange 
events help protect the 
environment by promoting 
proper recycling of used oil 
and oil filters.

Can’t make it to Pep Boys 
on Saturday? View the list of 
certified used motor oil and 
oil filter collection centers 
located in Pasadena.

Pasadena’s oil filter exchange 
events are made possible by 
a grant from the California 
Department of Resources, 
Recycling and Recovery 
(CalRecycle).

South Pasadena Halloween 
Spooktacular goes Mobile

 City officals announced a 
free, fun, and safe drive thru 
trick-or-treat event with the 
City of South Pasadena! They 
encourage you to come dressed 
in your costumes and show 
us your Halloween spirit by 
decorating the exterior of your 
car! Registration is required, 
click here to register. For more 
information or questions please 
call 626.403.7380 or email: 
recreation@southpasadenaca.
gov.

Know before you go

Arrive only during your 
registered 15 minute time slot.

Upon arrival you will be asked 
how many participants are in 
the vehicle and be given that 
number to display in your 
windshield.

Follow designated treat trail, 
only stopping at each treat 
booth.

All participants must wear 
a face covering if any of the 
windows on the vehicle are 
open.

Participants must remain in 
their vehicle for the duration 
of the event and may only leave 
their vehicle in the event of an 
emergency.

Halloween 
Guidelines 
for Local 
Businesses

 City officials remind 
the public that Halloween 
celebrations will have a 
different look and feel 
on account of COVID. 
Pasadena businesses 
are encouraged to find 
creative ways to celebrate 
Halloween this year with 
their customers. While 
organized Halloween 
events are prohibited, 
businesses can distribute 
goodie bags with wrapped 
treats to customers who are 
already patronizing their 
stores. Other alternative 
Halloween activities such 
as scavenger hunts, online 
costume and pumpkin 
carving contests, car 
parades and drive-in movie 
theaters are consistent with 
the “spirit” of Halloween 
celebration guidelines.


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