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The Trenton Trib
Marines stint landed former resident on Maui BY KATHY KANE
trentontrib.com
February 2012
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We’re keeping our eye out for former Trenton residents online just to touch base ask them what they’ve been up to since they left town — as well as what they miss about Trenton since leaving. Each month we’ll use this space to share some of our more interesting “finds.”
Trenton native Lou Robertson stands next to the GPC1 (Gigi-Pixel Camera 1=1.4 billion pixels) on the PS1 (Pan -STARRS 1 ) telescope on Haleakala on the island of Maui in Hawaii. Haleakala is a dormant volcano in the Haleakala National Park on the east side of the island.
Remember Lou Robertson? Robertson graduated from Trenton High School in 1973 and just so happens to be the brother of Bob Baker, the former chairman of the Civic Commission. We found him on the island of Oahu in Hawaii where he currently resides with his wife, Cheryl (who was born and raised in Hawaii), and their three children, Anita, Louis Jr., and Dave. While they have been gone from Trenton more than 30 years, they were back in the area for a few years and Louis Jr. was actually born at Seaway (Now Oakwood Southshore). After Robertson graduated from Trenton he joined the Marines and was stationed in Hawaii. He has worked in the tool and die business both here and in Hawaii. He had always loved machinery work since he had machine shop with Paul Martin in high school. Robertson was working for a small shop on the islands 21 years ago when a professor for the University of Hawaii admired his work and hired him to work at his current profession for the Institute for Astronomy as a Scientific Instrument Technician I, creating and fixing high powered telescopes.
ists that will perform Feb. 3. Resident Pamela Jackson is part of the Senior group. The other Junior contenders are Olivia Andersen, Arianna Bardoni, Christa Callahan, Katherine Fuller, Ellen McCarthy, Amanda Pagac, Emma Rathfon and Alexis Stockdale. The Junior field will be narrowed to six for the Feb. 10 finals. The other Senior semifinalists are Sterling Guerra, George Gullen, Nicole Johnson, Dave Martin, Janette McLenkamp, Scarlett Moore, Andrea O’Dell, Cheyenne Paonessa, Jill Ryan, Erika Sehnser and Lara Semetko. That field will be narrowed down to three or four for the Feb. 26 finals. The semi-finalist who
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He now works on the Pan-STARRS project as a Scientific Instrument Tech II as a Machinist and Mechanical Designer for the project with the world’s largest digital telescope that can produce 1.4 billion pixels. The famous Pan STARRS — Panoramic Survey Telescope & Rapid Response System — is an innovative design for a wide-field imaging facility developed at the University of Hawaii's Institute for Astronomy. A major goal of PanSTARRS is to discover and characterize Earthapproaching objects, both asteroids and comets, that might pose a danger to our planet. He has literally “seen” some fantastic and awe-inspiring events but his favorite is seeing a full moon up close and of course the very cool digital camera is breaking records for detecting asteroids. “The asteroids are amazing to see up close,”
Robertson said. “And I actually viewed live the Comet Shoemaker– Levy 9 (formally designated D/1993 F2), a comet that broke apart and collided with Jupiter in July 1994, providing the first direct observation of an extraterrestrial collision of solar system objects.” This generated a large amount of coverage in the mainstream media, and the comet was closely observed by astronomers worldwide. With his work with the university, he has been able to travel to other countries to view their astronomy facilities and his favorite visits included Scotland and Australia. Robertson also did some acting back in the day for Jake and the Fatman series, and was an extra on eight episodes. You might see him as a court reporter, doctor or a lawyer in past episodes. His favorite memories of Trenton are of summertime, A&W and cruising Elizabeth Park in his 1957 Chevy. His scientific work can be checked out at www.IFA.hawaii.edu.
Two residents seek ‘Idol’ crown From Page 3
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will perform Feb. 3 will have to sing a different work than was sung at the preliminary auditions. The singers must also perform in front of a live audience with acoustical accompaniment. Those selected to be Senior finalists will sing with the accompaniment of the SGLS orchestra mixed within the Fantasia works they will perform that day. “We would like to thank everyone that participated, and hope that all will attend the Semi Final event and help us select the Downriver Idol,” SGLS President Debbie Nykiel said. The SGLS, under the guidance of Music Director Charles Greenwell, currently is celebrating its 57th season, and has a variety of concert and other events planned through spring. All con-
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certs are open to the public with a special invitation to families with children. Parties of 10 or more can call for group rates. Tickets for all three dates can be purchased by calling (734) 246-2890; or ordered online at www.sgls.org If not sold out tickets will be available at the door.