Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, August 28, 2021

Mountain View News Saturday, August 28, 2021 
6 ALTADENA-SO. PASADENA-SAN MARINOALTADENA-SO. PASADENA-SAN MARINOMountain View News Saturday, August 28, 2021 
6 ALTADENA-SO. PASADENA-SAN MARINOALTADENA-SO. PASADENA-SAN MARINO
CalTech Town Hall: Return to AbilityFirst and FVO Solutions Police Asks Public To StayCampus, Vaccination, More Celebrate Historic Merger Safe Labor Day Weekend


As friends and family plan “Driving impaired is risky 
vacations during the final days and puts yourself and others 
of summer, Pasadena Police around you in serious danger,” 
Department is reminding Pasadena police Lt. Anthony 
everyone to stay safe by always Russo said. “If you are taking 
choosing a sober way to go. a road trip over the next few 

No matter how you choose to weeks, make good choices and 
celebrate the end of summer drive like your closest friends 
and Labor Day weekend, make and family are in the cars 
sure you do so responsibly. around you.” 
Take the necessary precautions Forty-five people were 
to protect yourself and your killed in crashes throughout 

she said. “The same exemption 

family by buckling up, ditching California over the 2019 Labor

Campus leaders discussed process that we have now 

the distractions, following the Day holiday, and the California

Caltech’s response to the will apply. …The Institute 

speed limit, and never driving Highway Patrol (CHP) made

COVID-19 Delta variant, is exploring options for on-

impaired. more than 1,000 arrests for 

outlined the return to campus campus clinics for boosters and 

To help keep our community driving under the influence 

plan, and addressed questions will provide that information as 

safe during the busy late during the 78-hour Labor Day

posed by community members soon as it’s available. AbilityFirst Board Members along with Congresswoman Judy Chu

” 

summer and Labor Day weekend enforcement period.

and AbilityFirst CEO Lori Gangemi participate in the ceremonious

at a virtual town hall meeting Howes reminded those in 

ribbon cutting to celebrate the completion of the merger between weekend travel season, Driving while impaired is not 

on Monday. attendance about the masking 

AbilityFirst and FVO Solutions. Photo by D. Lee/MVNews Pasadena Police Department just from alcohol. Prescription

Almost 1,000 students, faculty, policies in residences and 

will have additional officers on drugs, over-the-counter 

and staff, some connecting from indoor spaces on campus. “It With 95 years of experience and PossAbility programs. This 

patrol through Labor Day, Sept. medications, and marijuana 

as far away as Japan, Romania, is also really challenging for more than 50 years in Pasadena, program was made possible 

6, looking for drivers suspected may also impair your driving.

Lebanon, and Germany, joined folks who are in the public-AbilityFirst (formerly known by the merger because it 

of driving under the influence If you plan on drinking or

to hear the panel discussion, facing positions, such as in our as the Crippled Children’s combined FVO Solutions’ 

of alcohol and/or drugs. The taking medications with a 

which was moderated by dining or library facilities, to Society) celebrated its merger enterprising manufacturing increased efforts to address driving label, let

warning

Provost David Tirrell. constantly remind people to with FVO Solutions, Inc. services with AbilityFirst’s 

impaired driving are part of someone who is sober drive. If

In opening the town wear masks. We just ask that (formerly known as Foothill innovative, person-centered 

the national Drive Sober or Get you see someone who is driving

hall, President Thomas everybody continue to do so Vocational Opportunities) employment and community-

Pulled Over campaign. impaired, call 9-1-1.

F. Rosenbaum said, “The and treat one another with at a ceremonious ribbon-based programs. 
pandemic continues to evolve respect,” she said. “That’s one cutting event on Friday, Aug. Prior to the ribbon cutting, 
and our response continues of our community values. That 20 at AbilityFirst’s Fair Oaks Lori Gangemi welcomed 
South Pasadena Library

to evolve, which makes this shared commitment is really location, in Pasadena. guests and proclamations 
virtual gathering so important.” important as we continue to By joining forces, AbilityFirst were presented by US Rep. 

Expands Weekend Hours

He went on to note that, while fight this virus.” and FVO Solutions are uniquely Judy Chu, who addressed 
research labs on campus have Kevin Gilmartin, vice president positioned to deliver critical guests as well as, Pasadena maintain 6’ of distance from 
been “running essentially at full for student affairs, spoke and transformational support District 3 Councilmember The South Pasadena Library is others. In other parts of the 
occupancy and have been since about the virus’s impact on services to an expanded John J. Kennedy. Certificates now open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on library, it is recommended that 
the spring,” and that “the pace campus life and the residential population of more than 2,000 of recognition were presented Fridays and Saturdays. visitors maintain six feet of 
of discovery has continued experience, emphasizing that, people with developmental by field representatives from According to city officials, distance from people not in their 
with the characteristic Caltech “as we return to fully populated disabilities, and their families the offices of Senator Anthony to enter the library building, household. Customers should 
warp speed,” it is the return of undergraduate residences, our throughout Los Angeles Portantino, Assemblymember customers ages 2 and up not enter the library if they 
students to campus and the approach to any kind of formal County. Chris Holden, and Pasadena must wear a covering over have symptoms of COVID-19 
transition to in-person learning program will be cautious and “This merger has allowed us Mayor Victor Gordo. their mouth and nose at all (cough, difficulty breathing, 
that will transform the campus gradual.” Specifically, he said, to expand each of our unique AbilityFirst’s leadership, board times. The Children’s Room is fever, or chills). Library hours: 
once again. Convocation will be entirely services while ensuring that of directors, the Pasadena following guidelines for youth Monday through Thursday, 

“Our mission as an educational remote, and orientation and people with disabilities and Chamber of Commerce, and settings. Capacity is limited 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Fridayinstitution and the start of fall rotation will likely include their families have a wider donors were in attendance. and physical distancing is still and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 
term is what sets the timeline hybrid events, “taking access to a variety of programs After the ribbon cutting, guests mandatory. Children’s Room 5:00 p.m., and Sunday closed. 
for the broad return to campus advantage of outdoor spaces that can help to transform were given private tours of the visitors should stay with their For more information visit: 
for faculty and staff and wherever that is possible.” their lives. It has been a truly manufacturing floor. household members and southpasadenaca.gov. 
students,” Rosenbaum said. “Both orientation and rotation remarkable experience so far The combined organization 

Tirrell addressed the Institute’s are currently planned as in-and we look forward to what is led by AbilityFirst CEO South Pasadena 2021 pandemic planning and person events that can be scaled the future holds for our united Lori Gangemi and remains 
response efforts, noting that up or down,” he added, “and, as organizations,” said AbilityFirst headquartered on Green 

Election Information

the Delta variant has led to the time approaches, we will CEO Lori Gangemi. Street in Pasadena. AbilityFirst 
an acceleration of efforts to assess public health conditions The ribbon-cutting celebration looks beyond disabilities, The California Gubernatorial Recall Election voting period 
reach full vaccination status and campus infection rates, took place at AbilityFirst’s Fair focuses on capabilities and began, August 16 in LA County, and ends September 14, 
across campus. To that end, and make a final decision that Oaks building in Pasadena, expands possibilities. To learn 2021. You can register to vote or check your registration 

will require which is also the location of

the Institute will maximize the value of the more about AbilityFirst, visit status by visiting the LA County Registrar Recorder website. 

confirmation of full vaccination student experience while still the AbilityFirst Manufacturing, abilityfirst.org. 

All registered voters will receive a vote by mail ballot, and

for entry to campus buildings, prioritizing community safety. Supported Employment and 

ballot boxes will be available for submissions beginning

“a measure that we had not In all of our planning, I should 
anticipated several months stress that the aim is to get our Schiff 'California is Ready to August 16. If you have any questions about the Gubernatorial 
ago when infection numbers undergraduate students safely Recall Election visit: sos.ca.gov/elections. 
nationwide were significantly back into their residential Welcome Afghan Refugees, South Pasadena Vote Center: 
lower.” communities after more than War Memorial Building

Other impacts of the Delta a year away. We want our Representatives Adam Schiff, 435 Fair Oaks Avenue South Pasadena 
variant, Tirrell said, required students to be able to return to Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), and Hours: daily: 9:00a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 
developing a plan to “reduce campus learning and research.” Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), alongdensity in our classrooms in In addition, Gilmartin noted with 22 additional Members of NASA’s Perseverance Plans the fall, probably to less than that an increase in the number the California Congressional 
half of what it would ordinarily of outdoor spaces with seating Delegation, delivered a letter Next Rock Sample Attemptbe,” and to teach remotely those and shading that has occurred to President Joe Biden Tuesday 
classes where density cannot be over the past several months affirming California’s readiness The rover will abrade a sampling sequence so the team 
adequately reduced but with will allow for small unmasked to house Afghan refugees can review the image to ensure

rock this week, allowing

an in-person component in all groups to gather. “We are also and Special Immigrant Visa a rock core is present. Once a 
instances. For example, in cases working on plans to possibly recipients who have been scientists and engineers sample is confirmed, they will 
where larger lecture courses create outdoor tented spaces successfully evacuated from the to decide whether that command Perseverance to seal 
are remote, section meetings so that students and other country. target would withstand its the tube. 
would be held in person. members of the community “As concerned Members of powerful drill. Although the pulverized rock 
“The Institute position is that can have the chance to gather the California congressional eluded capture in the initial 
as many of our instructional socially,” he said. delegation, we write to express sample-acquisition effort, the and allies in the region. They In its search for signs of

activities as possible should be Julia McCallin, associate vice our urgent concern for the safe first sample tube still contains a 

saved American lives, and it is ancient microbial life on Mars,

conducted in person, consistent president for human resources, relocation of Afghan refugees sample of Martian atmosphere,

of the utmost importance that NASA’s Perseverance rover is

with safety guidelines,” he said. addressed questions regarding and Special Immigrant Visa which the mission had 

we utilize every tool at our once again preparing to collect

Tirrell said that despite changes return to work for employees, (SIV) applicants and voice originally planned to acquire at

disposal to protect them and the first of many rock core

to the details of the return-to-with a focus on how groups our strong support for the a later time. 

provide them safe harbor. samples that could eventually

campus plan, September 7 is across the Institute have been placement of these vulnerable “By returning samples to

Since 2001, over 60,000 be brought to Earth for further

“the date by which the campus assessing and ultimately individuals fleeing Afghanistan Earth, we hope to answer a

Afghan national military and study.

should be positioned for the structuring their operations in our state. We are indebted number of scientific questions,

police have given their lives to This week, a tool on the rover’s

start of an in-person academic models to support the return to our Afghan partners, including the composition 

protect our freedom. Countless 7-foot-long (2-meter-long)

year.” That said, he noted, the of Caltech’s residential learning many of whom aided the of Mars’ atmosphere,” said

Afghan interpreters, cultural robotic arm will abrade the

campus has been repopulating community. She noted that U.S. military and diplomatic Ken Farley, Perseverance’s

advisors, journalists, and other surface of a rock nicknamed

throughout the summer; as we move into the fall, efforts as translators, drivers, project scientist at Caltech in 

partners have served alongside “Rochette,” allowing scientists

card-swipe data shows that, some types of hybrid work contractors, and allies in the Pasadena, California. “That’s

American troops over the past to look inside and determine

while approximately 2,000 arrangements and staggered region,” the members write in two their why we’re interested in an

decades, putting whether they want to capture

individuals were regularly scheduling might be possible. a letter. “They saved American atmospheric sample along with

lives at risk for our soldiers. a sample with the rover’s

accessing campus in the spring, “Over the last four to five lives, and it is of the utmost rock samples.” 

Now those individuals face coring bit. Slightly thicker

approximately 3,300 are doing months,” she said, “we have importance that we utilize While atop Citadelle,

persecution and death threats than a pencil, the sample

so now. worked with our managers and every tool at our disposal to Perseverance will use its

from the Taliban because of would be sealed in one of the

“I should also emphasize that supervisors to provide them protect them and provide them subsurface radar, called

their service with our country. 42 remaining titanium tubes

we are expecting to allow some the tools to evaluate their work safe harbor.” RIMFAX – short for Radar

It is incumbent upon us to aboard the rover.

level of remote work in the requirements and for them The letter led by Reps. Schiff, Imager for Mars’ Subsurface 

protect our Afghan partners Should the team decide to

fall,” he added, “and so, on any to make informed decisions Swalwell and Lieu is signed by Experiment – to peer at rock 

and their families by ensuring acquire a core from this rock,

given day, there will be people on whether remote work or 25 members of the California layers below it. The top of the

their safe and rapid evacuation the sampling process would be

working remotely, and the a combination of remote and delegation, it reads, in part: ridge will also provide a great

from Afghanistan. initiated next week.

overall density on campus will on-site work is feasible for Dear President Biden: vantage point for Mastcam-Z

Since October 2020, California The mission attempted to

not be what it was prior to the the business needs of their As concerned Members of to look for other potential rock

has taken in more Afghan capture their first record of the

pandemic.” organization.” the California congressional targets in the area. 

refugees than any other state, crater floor on Aug. 6 from a

Jennifer Howes, assistant vice McCallin also pointed to delegation, we write to express More About the Mission 

providing safe refuge for rock that ultimately proved too

president for student affairs the availability of the state’s our urgent concern for the safe A key objective for

thousands of vulnerable citizens crumbly, breaking into powder

and wellness, spoke about the “COVID sick leave” for relocation of Afghan refugees Perseverance’s mission on

fleeing Afghanistan. Governor and fragments of material too

Institute’s surveillance testing individuals who either become and Special Immigrant Visa Mars is astrobiology, including

Gavin Newsom has announced small to be retained in the

program for all students as infected or need to isolate or (SIV) applicants and voice the search for signs of ancient

his commitment to embrace sample tube before it was sealed

well as for other unvaccinated care for others with the virus. our strong support for the microbial life. The rover 

refugees suffering through and stored within the rover.

community members and That leave pool is available placement of these vulnerable will characterize the planet’s

horrific events in Afghanistan, Perseverance has since trucked

announced that the program, through September 30, she individuals fleeing Afghanistan geology and past climate, pave

declaring California “a state of 1,493 feet (455 meters) to a

which operates from a campus said, adding that if the program in our state. We are indebted to the way for human exploration 

refuge.” We support this stance ridge nicknamed “Citadelle” –

laboratory, would be offered on is not again extended, Caltech our Afghan partners, many of of the Red Planet, and be the 

unequivocally. French for “castle,” a reference

an opt-in basis for vaccinated has a generous sick leave policy whom aided the U.S. military first mission to collect and

Full text of the letter can be this

community members and a Disability and Leave and diplomatic efforts as to how craggy spot cache Martian rock and regolith

found at: schiff.house.gov/ overlooks Jezero Crater’s floor.

beginning on August 30. “We Administration Unit that can translators, drivers, contractors, (broken rock and dust).

news/press-releases. The ridge is capped with a layer

have had a lot of community work with employees to address Subsequent NASA missions,

of rock that appears to resist

interest, and we are now able specific concerns. in cooperation with ESA 

wind erosion, a sign that it’s

to offer this more broadly,” she In closing the town hall (European Space Agency),

South Pasadena One City 

more likely to hold up during

said, adding that “participation meeting, Rosenbaum said: “All would send spacecraft to Mars

drilling.

in the surveillance program is of us hoped that we would not to collect these sealed samples

One Story to be Voted On 

“There are potentially older

not a substitute for vaccination.” still be having these kinds of from the surface and return 

rocks in the ‘South Séítah’ 

In addition, Howes discussed discussions but, just as before, This fall the South Pasadena Residents are encouraged to them to Earth for in-depth 

read the OCOS choice and region ahead of us, so having

the contact tracing process and I have every confidence that we Public Library is celebrating analysis. 
the process for isolating those will be able to pull together as nature, sustainability, and participate in our themed this younger sample can help us The Mars 2020 Perseverance 

reconstruct the whole timeline

students who test positive for a community and get through reading with its One City One programming throughout mission is part of NASA’s Moon 
SARS-CoV-2, the response for these challenges safely while Story (OCOS) citywide reading October and early November! of Jezero,” said Vivian Sun, to Mars exploration approach, 
those who are exposed to an successfully fulfilling our program. The OCOS theme is Take part in virtual and live book one of the mission’s scientists which includes Artemis 

at NASA’s Jet Propulsion

infected individual, and plans mission of discovery and “Navigating Nature”. discussions, a lecture on native missions to the Moon that 
regarding vaccine boosters. education in service of society. In September, residents will gardening and sustainability Laboratory in Southern will help prepare for human 
“In line with the vaccination We have done it before; we will vote online to decide which of in South Pasadena, a guided California. exploration of the Red Planet. 
mandate, we anticipate that continue to do it.” the 5 nature and environment tour of the South Pasadena The team has added a step to JPL, which is managed for 

the sampling process for this

boosters that are recommended For more information on themed books will be the Community Garden, and more. NASA by Caltech, built and 
by the CDC will be required the Institute’s response to the chosen OCOS title. The For the most up-to-date coming attempt: After using manages operations of the 
for all students and employees COVID-19 pandemic, visit the winning title will be announced information on OCOS sign-up its Mastcam-Z camera system Perseverance rover. 

to peer inside the sample

once they are readily available,” Caltech Together website. on September 27. for Library emails For more about Perseverance 

tube, the rover will pause the 

visit: mars.nasa.gov/mars2020. 

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