Hi, we’re Jane and Morris Mojo Jones, founders of Monrovia’s Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers. We moved to Monrovia from San Rafael, CA, when Jane was hired by JPL in 2003. We lived in a Huntington Drive Extended Stay hotel for three months, and one Friday night took a little local bus to Old Town Monrovia. We stepped out of the bus at Myrtle and Lime Streets and looked up and saw the moon, planets and winter constellations. Mojo said “we’ve found our Sidewalk Astronomy corner.” We’ve been setting up our telescopes on that corner since early 2004, almost 18 years now. Jane’s now a retired astronomy outreach educator and novice bridge player, and Mojo is a retired platform and systems engineer and Bridge player and teacher.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
We have four rescue cats – three indoor ferals and one love kitty named Dragon – who joined us one night when we were watching the International Space Station and the Dragon capsule passed overhead. Hence her name.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
Now, it’s bridge, travel and astronomy. Jane retired from JPL’s Planetary Education/Public Outreach, hosting an astronomy podcast, “What’s Up” for twelve years. Mojo retired from Dreamworks Animation. You can see his name in about eleven movie credits, including “How to Train your Dragon: The Hidden World.” He’s also a tournament Bridge Player, Bridge game director and Bridge teacher!
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
After Sidewalk Astronomy at Library Park, we always order pizza from Old Town Pizza, take it back to our house, and all the astronomers talk about stargazing, music, cats, and everything under the universe. We also like Bella Sera, The Saltner and Cafe Mundial.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
Since late 2003
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
Pam Thompson, teacher at Monrovia High School, and JPL’s Linda Spilker
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
We’re supposed to be on a cruise right now thru Panama Canal. Mojo teaches the card game bridge online and in person, thru PCC, private classes, and on cruise ships. (Editor’s note: Jane & Mojo filled out this interview awhile ago, so they may have just taken that cruise!)
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
Only Murders in the Building, Star Trek Discovery, Jeopardy, quirky smart cable series, like Schitt’s Creek
Q: What advice would you give to people?
We both would say follow your passions and make time for it. We both have had interesting careers and basically felt our jobs were just the same as our favorite hobbies. Keep learning.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
Iceland and Antarctica and driving to Alaska in our electric car!
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
Live classical and Jazz from LACO, LA Phil, Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
California Wine and Cheese, Caffe Opera
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
Composer John Adams, and a picnic in Library Park with a solar telescope.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
I love seeing the San Gabriel Mountains out my window, and I love that there are rocks in our mountains that are found on the moon!
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
We’re both retired, so we hope to be doing what we love – astronomy, music, travel, playing bridge
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
We have an Asteroid named after us by astronomers David Levy and Carolyn Shoemaker. It’s called 22338 Janemojo
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
Driving: Little Compton, Rhode Island; Natchez Trace, MS; Grand Canyon National Park, Mojave National Preserve
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
Feb 2 – it’s a cross-Quarter day celebrated since ancient times. It’s the halfway point between a solstice and equinox
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
sunsets, comets, wine and cheese
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
All children.
Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
pizza and plumeria
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Feed me, humans!
