Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, May 8, 2021

South 
Pasadena 
Police Chief 
Appointed 


Earthquake Safety Shuts Library Indefinitely 


2022 Donate Life float 


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 

South Pasadena 
Announced Tuesday that 
interim City Manager Sean 
Joyce has appointed Acting 
Police Chief Brian Solinsky 
(pictured), a 27-year 
veteran of South Pasadena 
Police Department, to the 
full-time Police Chief post. 

 The appointment came 
following a recruitment 
and two rounds of 
interviews conducted 
separately by a panel of 
four community members 
and a panel comprised 
of three police chiefs 
(including former South 
Pasadena Police Chief 
Art Miller) and South 
Pasadena Fire Chief Paul 
Riddle according to city 
staff.

 “I have been impressed 
with Acting Chief 
Solinsky’s leadership since 
Chief Ortiz’ departure late 
last year. Under Brian’s 
leadership, the Police 
Department has already 
renewed its commitment 
to community engagement 
and initiated training 
programs aimed at 
police accountability 
and inclusiveness. Now, 
with the benefit of the 
insights of eight interview 
panelists who evaluated 
four finalists, I am even 
more confident that 
Acting Chief Solinsky 
is the best candidate to 
lead the men and women 
of the South Pasadena 
Police Department during 
this transformational 
era in municipal law 
enforcement,” said City 
Manager Sean Joyce said.

 Upon learning of his 
appointment to lead 
the South Pasadena 
Police Department, 
Chief Solinsky said “It is 
an honor to have been 
selected as the next Chief 
of Police for the City of 
South Pasadena. I look 
forward to my continued 
service to this great city 
in this new position of 
leadership. I embrace 
contemporary policing 
philosophies that promote 
efficiency, effectiveness, 
and the equitable treatment 
of all. I am committed 
to strengthening the 
relationship between law 
enforcement and our 
citizens. I believe it is only 
through this partnership 
that a police department’s 
true success can be 
measured, and I pledge to 
serve the South Pasadena 
community with integrity 
and distinction.” 

Chief Solinsky will lead 
the Department of 36 
sworn officers and 15 full-
time non-sworn personnel 
and an annual budget of 
about $10 million. 

Just after in-person services at 
the Pasadena Central Library 
resumed, a Pasadena building 
official ordered the closure of 
the library, located at 285 E. 
Walnut St., until further notice 
due to earthquake saftey. 

 The opening followed the 
county’s move into the less-
restrictive orange tier.

 According to city staff, a 
recent structural assessment 
conducted as part of the 
scope of work for the Central 
Library Building Systems and 
Structural Assessment Capital 
Improvement Project revealed 
that most of the building is 
comprised of unreinforced 
masonry (URM) bearing walls 
that support concrete floors and 
walls.

 Now that it has been identified, 
staff said, it is clear that Central 

Pops Return for the 2021Summer Concert Series 

 Principal Pops Conductor 
Michael Feinstein and the 
Pasadena POPS are ecstatic to 
announce the return of live in-
person concerts this summer 
at the Los Angeles County 
Arboretum. The popular 2021 
Sierra Summer Concert Series 
will present five concerts from 
July 10 to September 11, 2021 
for fully vaccinated audiences. 
The series will feature a stellar 
line-up of stars including 
Thelma Houston, Billy Davis Jr. 
& Marilyn McCoo, Liz Callaway, 
Jordan Donica and more. Entry 
to all Pasadena POPS concerts 
will require proof of receiving 
a fully completed Covid-19 
vaccine at least two weeks prior 
to the concert date.

 The Pasadena POPS outdoor 
concert setting at the LA 
County Arboretum is uniquely 
designed with spacious round 
table seating allowing ample 
distance between tables, plus 
an expansive lawn area for 
socially-distanced seating on 
blankets and low back chairs. 
The venue plans to limit capacity 
this summer to provide even 
more spacing to support a safe 
concert-going experience for all.

 Feinstein kicks off the summer 
series on July 10 with The 
Road to Motown, honoring the 
Supremes’ Mary Wilson, who 
was originally slated to perform 
before her recent passing. 
Wilson’s “Mississippi Sister” 
Thelma Houston will pay tribute 
to the legend and celebrate the 
greatest hits of the Motown era 
with the Fifth Dimension’s Billy 
Davis Jr. & Marilyn McCoo, and 
the premiere Motown singing 
sensation, Spectrum. The music 
of super group Fleetwood Mac 
lights up the stage on July 24 
with special guests Landslide 
performing Rhiannon, Don’t 
Stop, Go Your Own Way and 
many more chart-topping hits 
for Fleetwood Mac: A Tribute.

 Michael takes the stage as 
soloist to bring Ol’ Blue Eyes’ 
biggest hits on August 14 for 
Michael Feinstein Sings: Sinatra’s 
Songbook. Back by popular 
demand, Classical Mystery Tour 
brings the timeless hits of the 

Library is not in conformance 
with the City’s URM Ordinance. 
Additionally, the results of the 
review provided to the city 
indicate that Central Library 
does not meet current seismic 
standards recommended by 
the American Society of Civil 
Engineers. Therefore, given our 
present state of knowledge, the 
building is unsafe to occupy, 
they said.

“This is devastating news 
for us all. Central Library is 
more than just a building; it’s 
where generations of families 
have grown up, and an iconic 
building that completes 
our Civic Center as one of 
Pasadena’s treasures,” said City 
Manager Steve Mermell. “We 
intend to do everything in our 
power to assess the severity of 
the problem and to work toward 

Fab Four to life on August 28 
with a fresh set list of Beatles’ 
favorites including “Can’t Buy 
Me Love,” “Here Comes the 
Sun,” “While My Guitar Gently 
Weeps,” “Imagine” and many 
more. Feinstein returns to the 
podium to close the season on 
September 11 with 100 Years 
of Broadway, covering the 
best shows coming out of The 
Great White Way from each 
decade leading up to the present 
performed by Hamilton’s Jordan 
Donica and Emmy-winner Liz 
Callaway.

 “The feeling of anticipation 
and joy bubbling up in all of us is 
palpable as we prepare to return 
to the experience of sharing 
live music,” says Feinstein. 
Personally, for me, I have missed 
the connection of creating 
acoustic sound with an audience 
present, because as grateful as I 
am for virtual music-making, it 
is simply not the same as hearing 
live music played by a symphony 
in a beautiful natural setting. I 
know I can speak confidently 
for our orchestra when I say 
that we have missed you, and 
we will perform with everything 
we’ve got. We’re going to have a 
brilliant season!”

 For the most up to date 
venue safety protocols and 
ticketing requirements, visit 
pasadenasymphony-pops.org/
covid-19-safety-protocols-pops.

 All concerts are held at the 
Los Angeles County Arboretum 
and Botanic Garden. Grounds 
open for picnicking and dining 
at 5:30pm and performances 
begin at 7:30pm. Don’t miss 
the best outdoor dinner party 
in town with spacious circular 
table seating with fine linens, 
or lawn seating for those who 
want to bring a blanket – each 
option carries on the tradition 
of picnic-dining with your 
family and friends with Michael 
Feinstein and the San Gabriel 
Valley’s premier orchestra! The 
Arboretum is located at 301 
North Baldwin Ave., Arcadia, 
CA. 
For more information Visit: 
PasadenaSymphony-Pops.orgor at the Arboretum on concert 
days. 

its resolution. This library 
cannot remain vacant, and we 
need to conserve it for another 
century of use.” 

Designed by Myron Hunt in 
1924, Central Library was the 
first building completed in 
Pasadena’s historic Civic Center 
Plan. The library is listed on the 
National Register of Historic 
Places. Averaging 1,000 daily 
visitors, the library serves as 
an educational and community 
cornerstone for all to gather, 
learn, explore ideas, and connect 
with people and resources.

 Central Library staff will be reassigned 
to other branches in 
order to offer expanded service 
hours at those locations. Library 
phone, chat, online content, 
and programming will continue 
without change, they said.

 For more information or a list 
of open library branches visit: 
cityofpasadena.net/library 

New South 
Pasadena 
City ManagerNamed

 Following a candidate 
screening, and two rounds 
of City Council interviews, 
and a well-received April 28 
virtual community forum 
with the final candidate, the 
City Council unanimously 
appointed Wednesday 
Armine Chaparyan to the 
City’s top administrative post. 
Chaparyan has 15 years of local 
government experience, most 
recently serving as assistant 
city manager of San Gabriel.

 “The City Council has an 
ambitious agenda for making 
South Pasadena even more 
special than it already is. 
We look forward to working 
with Armine to advance 
infrastructure projects and 
services that improve the 
quality of life of every South 
Pasadenan. We know that 
Armine is very familiar with 
our city and looks forward to 
putting her energy and talent 
to good use in South Pasadena. 
We are excited to welcome 
Armine as our new City 
Manager,” said Mayor Diana 
Mahmud.

 Chaparyan, a graduate of John 
Muir High School in Pasadena, 
holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree 
from U.C.L.A and a Masters of 
Public Administration from 

U.S.C. She will start her new 
position with South Pasadena 
on Monday, May 31, 2021. 
Her starting annual salary is 
$215,000. 
With benefit of the insights 
of four community focus 
groups of 31 South Pasadena 
community leaders, each 
describing the ideal qualities 
they wish to see in the next 
city manager, the City Council 
retained executive recruiter Mr. 
Gary Phillips, of Bob Murray 
& Associates to undertake a 
national recruitment to gather 
qualified candidates to fill 
the city’s vacant city manager 
position. 

Mountain Views-News Saturday, May 8, 2021 

Tournament Offers Sneak 
Peek at 2022 Rose Parade 

 As the Pasadena Tournament 
of Roses and community 
partners prepare for the return 
of the Rose Parade on January 
1, 2022, Tournament officials 
offer the first in a series of sneak 
previews of floral float entries 
that will inspire and charm our 
worldwide audience on New 
Year’s Day.

 Since the first Rose Parade in 
1890, each float entry presents 
a unique theme and visual story 
that bring their vessel to life. 
The theme of the 133rd Rose 
Parade — “Dream. Believe. 
Achieve.”— is reflected in the 
official renderings for float 
participants Donate Life, Lions 
Club International and Rotary 
Rose Parade Float Committee.

 The three organizations’ 
longtime Rose Parade 
participation, totaling 85 
entries since 1980, continues 
with symbolic and spectacular 
storytelling sure to be embraced 
by millions of streetside and 
broadcast viewers from across 
the country and around the 
world drawn to America’s New 
Year Celebration. 
Donate Life

 The centerpiece of the 2022 
Donate Life float, “Courage 
to Hope,” is the winged Lion 
of Venice from Italy’s Piazza 
San Marco, set amidst the 
Venetian Gothic architecture of 
the Doge’s Palace and Venice’s 
quintessential gondolas and 
canals. The Lion speaks to the 
Courage and Hope shared 
by donor families who have 
enabled a legacy through 
their decision to donate life; 
transplant candidates awaiting 
life-saving and healing organ, 
eye and tissue donation; and all 
who have been impacted by the 
pandemic. Each year more than 
50 organizations nationwide 


Celebrating Asian American-

Pacific Islander Heritage Month

 Pasadena Public Library is 

celebrating Asian American 

and Pacific Islander Heritage 

Month by recognizing the 

contributions and influence of 

Asian Americans and Pacific 

Islanders to the history, culture 

and achievements of the United 

States with a series of virtual 

programs, events and activities 

for all ages. Sponsored by 

The Friends of the Pasadena 

Public Library. View the Asian Heritage Month brochure at: 

American Pacific Islander cityofpasadena.net/library. 

TōyōMiyatake


sponsor the float’s life-saving 
mission, amplifying the Donate 
Life/Done Vida message to 
viewers and communities 
nationwide. 

Lions Clubs International

 For nearly 30 years, the 
entries developed by Lions 
Float, Inc. tell inspirational 
stories about how the largest 
service organization in the 
world helps others through 
humanitarian services, such 
as education initiatives like 
the Lions Quest program that 
helps students develop their 
social and emotional skills. 
Aboard the float are two Lions 
alongside three ships filled with 
children, teachers and mentors 
who are on a “Quest for 
Kindness,” a value championed 
by the organization worldwide. 
Towering above the riders 
is a lighthouse representing 
thousands of Lions clubs, 
programs and events that 
serve as “Beacons” within their 
communities. 
Rotary Rose Parade Float 
Committee (RRPFC)

 The 2022 Rose Parade marks 
the 42nd consecutive year 
the RRPFC has spearheaded 
Rotary’s representation 
in America’s New Year 
Celebration. This year’s theme, 
“Changing Lives Through 
Education,” aligns with one 
of Rotary’s seven areas of 
focus, Basic Education and 
Literacy. A sixteen-foot-tall 
owl embodies both the spirit 
of self-improvement and 
Rotary’s determination to 
make the tools of education 
available to everyone in every 
land. Books, a quill pen and a 
hybrid apple/globe symbolize 
the importance of education 
throughout the world.
For More inforamtion visit: 
tournamentofroses.com.