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USC Trojan Affiliates sets membership coffee meeting
By Pasadena Weekly Staff
Professor Jacob Vogel will speak about “Life After Art Bartner…the future of the Trojan Marching Band” to the USC Trojan Affiliates on Thursday, March 3, at a private home in San Marino.
The meeting will begin with hearty refreshments at 6:30 p.m. followed by the program.
Professor Jacob Vogel was recently named director of the USC Trojan Marching Band, the first new leader in over 50 years. This appointment followed a 12-year tenure as a teaching assistant, assistant director, associate director and program arranger.
Vogel also serves as an associate professor of practice in winds and percussion with the Thornton School of Music. In his former position as the Trojan Marching Band’s associate director and arranger, Vogel divided his time between creating contemporary arrangements and contributing to the members’ continuing music education.
Vogel’s arrangements have filled the coliseum for more than a decade, and his student-centered approach to music teaching and learning have been effective.
His artistic vision has been instrumental to the success of his collaborative efforts with the Thornton School of Music’s popular music program, the Kaufman School of Dance, X Ambassador’s Sam Harris, Fitz and the Tantrums, composers Ramin Djawadi and Alan Silvestri, as well as Angelina Jolie and Mark Hamill.
USC Trojan Affiliates, a women’s organization in the San Gabriel Valley, supports the University of Southern California and welcomes interested women to attend its meetings and events.
This meeting will focus on new member recruitment, and all women parents, alumni and friends of USC are encouraged to attend.
Gentleman are welcome to attend the meeting as well. The group meets five times a year at various homes and locations within the San Gabriel Valley and hosts additional social and cultural events while raising needed scholarship funds for USC students. It supports 14 students who attended San Gabriel Valley high schools.
USC Trojan Affiliates is in its sixth year of contributing money to its first scholarship endowment fund of $100,000 (now well over the initial funded amount), using these dollars to support its scholars.
Money is also raised from selling creative USC products — a special line of Maria de La Luz jewelry, scarves, clothing, tablecloths, towels and handmade signs.
Members also volunteer at the Pasadena Showcase House to earn funds and participate in the USC Day of SCervice, USC Homecoming, and Swim with Mike, programs to support the university and its students.
Community members who would like to speak at a Trojan Affiliates meeting should contact program Chairman Jacqueline Goodman at jtgoodman@aol.com.
For information, reservations and the meeting location, contact Trojan Affiliates Membership Chair Kandi Wopschall by Monday, Feb. 28, at wopschall@earthlink.net or 818-790-1970.
Festive Mardi Gras hits the ’denas
By Annika Tomlin Pasadena Weekly Staff Writer
Mardi Gras is around the corner, and the “A ’dena Home Companion” event at the Coffee Gallery Backstage on Sunday, Feb. 27, is all about the colorful celebration.
Longtime NPR and KPCC commentator Sandra Tsing Loh brings back her creative spin on Garrison Keillor’s “Prairie Home Companion” with February’s theme of Mardi-Gras-A-Dena. It’s a listener-friendly live monthly hometown “radio” show — complete with fictional ’dena-based sponsors covering Pasadena, Altadena and Eagle Rock — appearing the last Sunday of every month in 2022, except March, which will be hosted on Saturday, March 26.
This old school-style variety show features original humor and classic American songs with a twist ending with an all audience-welcome hootenanny. “A ’dena Home Companion” shows residents that there is more to the area than mystery cheese shops and drought-tolerant gardening — although these cities are, of course, also that.
The Feb. 27 performance comes after the successful sold-out debut on Jan. 30 at the peak of the omicron variant with strict COVID-19 restrictions hindering public events.
This month’s theme, Mardi-Gras-A Dena, is influenced by New Orleans/Mississippi-inspired music and culture. Original member of Ike and Tina Turner’s Ikettes and a well-known backup singer for the likes of Duran Duran and the Rollins Band, Maxayn Lewis will sing “Jambalaya (On the Bayou),” written and recorded by Hank Williams.
The performance will also include a rendering of the Doobie Brothers’ “Black Water” with original fiddler Novi Novog, along with “’dena-style paradin’.” Guests are encouraged to sing along with a Southern drawl or appear in full Mardi Gras regalia.
Original players set to return with Loh — pending availability — are Danette Christine, Matt Cooker, Randy Lewis, John Michael Higgins, Susan Marder, Roger Neill, Carlos Rodriguez and Rich Ruttenberg.
Patrons must be masked and fully vaccinated and present their vaccination card or an image of the card upon entry. Reservations are strongly suggested as seating is limited.
WHEN: 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27, continuing the last Sunday of each month, except March, which is Saturday, March 26 WHERE: Bob Stane’s Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 Lake Avenue, Altadena COST: $20 INFO: 626-798-6236, coffeegallery.com
Tickets start at $30 | pasadenaplayhouse.org | 626-356-PLAY (7529)
mar 22 - apr 24 jun 1 - jun 26
JUL 12 - AUG 7
Written by and Starring
HOLLAND TAYLOR
By
ANTON CHEKHOV Created by THOMAS KAIL, LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA, AND ANTHONY VENEZIALE
Join Us for the Rest of Our Season. Tickets On Sale Now!
Pasadena deploys ShotSpotter system to combat gun violence
By Luke Netzley Pasadena Weekly Deputy Editor
In the last year, the city of Pasadena has seen a sharp increase in gun violence.
According to the Pasadena Police Department, the number shootings rose 22% between 2020 and 2021 from 60 to 73, including the case of 13-year-old Iran Moreno killed by a stray bullet while playing video games inside his home on Raymond Avenue on Nov. 20, 2021.
In response to the increase in crime, Pasadena PD has deployed the ShotSpotter gunshot detection system to protect the Pasadena community by creating an environment of enhanced public safety and security.
“Pasadena does a really good job at having different approaches, such as violence interrupters that have been hired by the city to dampen crime and workforce development for people who are wanting to get out of whatever situation they’re in and to find opportunities,” Councilmember Tyron Hampton said. “And ShotSpotter is another tool that the police will be able to use.”
When a gunshot occurs, the system’s sensors work to triangulate the sound and pinpoint the location of the gunfire. Trained ShotSpotter acoustic experts on duty 24/7 will then review and qualify the given incident. If they confirm that the sound is gunfire, they will send a detailed alert to local law enforcement. The entire process occurs within a minute of the initial gunshot.
Research indicates that fewer than 20% of all gunshots nationwide are reported to the police. ShotSpotter not only lessens the reliance on delayed or unreported calls but also provides investigating officers with detailed gunfire data to improve evidence collection, prosecution and overall crime fighting efforts.
“It’s a deterrent for those that are thinking about coming into the city and terrorizing the community,” Hampton explained. “With this technology being coupled with the license plate readers that were recently purchased, we can have a pinpointed direction of exactly what we’re looking for. Instead of having a big-blanket approach of trying to figure out where shots happen, the Pasadena Police Department can find to a certainty of almost 800 feet where shots happen.”
Through wedding advanced technologies to efficiently detect and respond to threats, Pasadena PD hopes to protect and give peace of mind to the city’s residents.
“By installing this system, the officers of the Pasadena Police Department will be able to quickly respond, save lives, and increase the chance of taking into custody, those responsible for the senseless acts of violence,” Interim Police Chief Cheryl Moody said.
The ShotSpotter gunshot detection system was approved by the Pasadena City Council in October 2021 and became operational on Feb. 9. To learn more about ShotSpotter and how Pasadena PD is working to reduce gun violence, visit cityofpasadena.net/police.
