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West Pasadena Residents' Association
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Saturday, March 17
, 2018
This issue corrected this week's coming dates for city meetings.
We apologize for the error.
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Published weekly since 2000
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WELCOME
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Founded in 1962, the West Pasadena Residents' Association is dedicated to maintaining the character of our neighborhoods and enhancing the quality of life in southwest Pasadena.
Subscribe, unsubscribe or update your email address at the bottom of this page.
Send comments to [email protected]
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Neighborhood Update
This weekly WPRA eNewsletter is emailed each Saturday morning to more than 1,600 residents of Pasadena and beyond.
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COMMUNITY MEETINGS
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>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<
NOTE: The following meeting dates, times and agenda items are accurate as of Saturday morning.
Click on the appropriate blue headline to ensure the meeting hasn't been cancelled or rescheduled.
TUESDAY, March 20
City Council Economic Development & Technology Committee
4:15 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda:
Approval of Heritage Housing Partners financing agreement for purchase of unit
#113 at 596 No. Fair Oaks Ave., economic development goals of 2018 EdTech workshops
WEDNESDAY, March 21
6 p.m.
Hearing Room #120, Hale Building, 175 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Not available
6:30 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Not available
10:15 a.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Eight action and information items for financial, investment and budget review
6 p.m.
[rotates among branches]
On the agenda: Not available
THURSDAY, March 22
4 p.m.
Suite 210, Parking Division, Department of Transportation, 221 E. Walnut St.
On the agenda: FY 2019 - 20123 Capital Improvement Program, Short Range Transit Plan, Commission Orientation Program, various commission reports
4:00 p.m.
Room 236, 351 So. Hudson Street
On the agenda: Approve various resolutions, proposals, contracts, purchase orders, programs and personnel assignments.
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VERBATIM
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"The decision to step away from serving my community is a difficult one which took much deliberation and careful thought. For the past eight years I have had the honor of leading one of the nation's finest law enforcement agencies, comprised of heroic men and women who serve with distinction in keeping our city safe. Putting on the Pasadena Police Uniform every day has truly been a humbling experience."
Pasadena Chief of Police Phillip L. Sanchez's statement announcing his retirement. (See Editor's Top Picks: Pasadena Police Chief Phillip Sanchez Announces His Retirement)
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WPRA'S POINT OF VIEW
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>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<
The public is invited to attend the regular WPRA board meetings, held at 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month (except May, August and December) in the Westridge School Community Room (unless otherwise noted), 324 Madeline Dr. Park in the State St. lot and walk north across campus to the Community Room.
WPRA seeks email newsletter editors
Do you have writing and editing skills? If so, you can help the WPRA achieve its mission of informing the community. Send an email to [email protected] to volunteer to serve as one of several co-editors of WPRA's weekly Neighborhood Update email newsletter. It will only take a few hours a week (on your own schedule) in the month or two a year in which you'd serve. We'll train you.
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>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<
Tracy Drain, systems engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is currently the deputy chief engineer for the Juno Mission to Jupiter. Her work has provided valuable contributions on this mission as well as to Kepler, the mission looking for other Earth-like planets in our galaxy, and to the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Hear the story of her trajectory to JPL, the missions she has worked on, and her advice to young girls, anywhere in the world, who yearn to dare mighty things. Thursday, March 22 at 7 p.m., Central Library - Donald Wright Auditorium, 285 E. Walnut St.
Eyes on the Universe: Southern California's Leadership in Astronomy Today
Join
Dr. John Mulchaey, Director of the Carnegie Observatories, as he discusses the history and accomplishments of the Carnegie Observatories. All ages welcome. Saturday, March 24, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., at the Linda Vista Branch Pasadena Library, 1281 Bryant Street, 91103. Sponsored by the Linda Vista Library Associates
Free to the public, go outdoors for a guided walk in Eaton Canyon Natural Area, Saturday, March 17, 9 a.m. to
11 a.m. This tour is geared toward the family, including small children, and everyone is welcome. Walking shoes, sunscreen, water, and a hat are recommended. Meet in front of the building, 1750 No. Altadena Drive. Co-sponsored by Eaton Canyon Nature Center Associates and the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation.
Go on a leisurely walk, Sunday, March 25, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. through the native plant garden that surrounds the Center and into the nearby wild areas. The tours, different each time, begin at Eaton Canyon Nature Center, 1750 No. Altadena Drive. This event is sponsored by
California Native Plant Society, San Gabriel Mountains Chapter.
The Pasadena Symphony continues its 90th season
On Saturday, March 24th, at Ambassador Auditorium, 131 South St. John Ave, with performances at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., Music Director David Lockington will lead a program opening with Alexander Miller's contemporary puzzle overture Scherzo Crypto and closing the Enigma Variations of Elgar. The program centers around a classic Rachmaninoff melody, with his virtuosic Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini performed by brilliant pianist Andrew von Oeyen. Pasadena Symphony tickets start at $35 and can be purchased online here or by calling 626-793-7172.
Pasadena free oil filter exchange event
Do you change the oil for your car or truck by yourself? If so, you're welcome to take advantage of the City's free oil filter exchange program on Saturday, March 24, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Safely recycle both used oil and oil filters-and get a new oil filter for free at O'Reilly Auto Parts, 919 No. Lake Ave.
Just bring your used oil filter and get a free new oil filter, limited to three (3) per person, while supplies last. Residents are encouraged to bring their used oil to the event as well. Or, if you want your used oil picked up directly from your residence, please schedule an appointment by contacting the Pasadena Citizen Service Center at (626) 744-7311.
Pasadena Water and Power is continuing its Landscape Direct Install Program launched last year as an incentive for our low-income customers to replace turf with California-friendly plants. The program is one of the many available services featured in the Under One Roof program, providing a variety of no-cost home improvement services to help low-income residents increase the value of their homes and become more energy and water-efficient. For more information, go HERE.
The public is invited to participate in the meetings of the new Civic Center Task Force, which was established by the City Council on July 17, 2017 to provide recommendations to the City Council regarding new construction/development and land-use standards of the YWCA and YMCA blocks consistent with the Central District Specific Plan; possible programming of public rights-of-way within Centennial Plaza, Holly Street and Garfield Avenue; and potential landscape/hardscape improvements. For more information, contact Kevin Johnson at
[email protected]
or (626) 744-7806, or Julia Garzon at
[email protected]
or (626) 744-7310. The remaining meetings will be held:
Thursday, April 5, at 6 p.m. in the
Basement Training Room, City Hall.
The project will enhance the main entrance to the Lower Arroyo Seco, in progress and ending April 30 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (No work on Sundays or holidays) One of the driveway entrances to the Lower Arroyo Seco will be maintained and opened at all time during construction. An Inspector from the City's Department of Public Works, wearing a safety vest and City Identification, will be present on the job site most of the time to answer questions or provide assistance if needed. If you cannot locate an Inspector, please contact the Department of Public Works at
(626) 744-6736.
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EDITOR'S TOP NEWS PICKS
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>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<
Pasadena Police Chief Phillip Sanchez announces his retirement
"Pasadena Chief of Police Phillip L. Sanchez in a statement on Monday afternoon announced his retirement, effective April 18. Sanchez held the office since July, 2010. Deputy Chief of Police John Perez will assume the role of Interim Police Chief on Monday, March 19, a police spokesperson said.
Among the unfinished business Sanchez leaves is a new Community-Police Work Plan, which was reportedly in final stages of preparation, and involved closer outreach by police to community groups including the NAACP Pasadena branch." Pasadena Now
Who is Pasadena's new interim police chief, John Perez?
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Deputy Chief Perez has been awarded a commendation from the city of Pasadena for the Villa Parke Project, the community policing initiative which became widely known for its focus on establishing community partners to improve safety and reduce violence. He has also received a departmental commendation for his efforts as the Counter Terrorism Liaison and has twice been awarded the Chief's Special Award of Excellence. Deputy Chief Perez holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, a Master's degree in Behavioral Science and is currently a Doctoral candidate in the field of education." Pasadena Now
"'We are being too clever by half,' said Councilmember Margaret McAustin Monday night in arguing to eliminate a series of housing fees proposed for the construction of new Accessory Dwelling Units, called ADU's and also known as "Granny Flats." After a long evening of animated discussion, however, the Council eventually approved the proposed Zoning Code amendments which could lock in place what some residents argue are excessive Residential Impact Fees. Two motions to reduce those fees, failed. Pasadena Now
Pasadena schools hold silent demonstrations and gun violence workshops during nationwide walkouts
Students from Pasadena schools took part in National School Walkouts on Wednesday one month to the day after the tragic school shooting in Parkland, Florida in which 17 were killed. The walkouts protested congressional inaction on gun control and advocated for banning assault weapons, requiring universal background checks for gun sales, and passage of a restraining order law that would allow courts to take guns from individuals who demonstrate warning signs of violent behavior. Pasadena Now
L.A. taps the brakes on freeway expansion
A controversial project to widen a heavily trafficked freeway in Los Angeles County sputtered to a surprising halt earlier this month. Transportation officials had been expected to choose between two expansion plans for the 710 freeway in southeast L.A. County. Instead, the board of Metro, the county's transit agency, voted to move ahead with some improvements while tabling the controversial $6 billion scheme to add an additional lane in each direction from Long Beach to East L.A. CityLab
Julia Child's family home, now owned by Caltrans, is vacant, deteriorating in Pasadena
"The massive, brown-shingled craftsman-style home sits unnoticed on the defunct 710 Freeway route in Pasadena, one of dozens of homes owned by Caltrans that are historically significant because of their unique architecture. But the vacant and deteriorating 1911 home at 1199 S. Pasadena Ave. piques the interest of preservationists because of the person who lived there.
Child's home is showing its age. Its second-story is sagging, losing a battle with gravity. Though undoubtedly eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, it has not yet been listed." Pasadena Star-News
"Though final decisions are expected to be months away, dozens of local parents packed the Pasadena Unified School District Board meeting room and hallways Thursday to protest a committee recommendation to close five District schools. The Superintendent School Consolidation and Boundary Committee recommended "consolidating," or closing, Wilson Middle School, Blair High School, Jefferson Elementary, Cleveland Elementary, and Franklin Elementary beginning in the 2019-2020 school year." Pasadena Now
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- CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION -
Looking for other ways to entertain or educate yourself and your family?
For current events around the area, we encourage you to visit our local news outlets. Click on the publication title to visit that publication's events section (alphabetical order).
Attend WPRA board meetings each month Monthly WPRA board meeting dates and locations are on the WPRA website. Click on the headline above or visit our website and look under "Meetings and Events."
The WPRA needs you ... ... to serve your community and do it with a group of your neighbors who are equally dedicated. If you live within our service area, we'd welcome your help.
- Got the local news bug? Just curious about your city (and would like to share news with 1,600 or so of your closest friends), consider serving as a co-editor of Neighborhood Update. It will only take a few hours a week (on your own schedule) in the month or two a year in which you'd serve. We'll train you.
- We have lots of opportunities to serve on one of our many committees:
- Land use and planning
If you care about how we use our land
- Education
If you want to help save public education for West Pasadena
- Open space & conservation
If you care about preserving open space and conservation of land and resources
- Membership
If you'd like to help us continue to build our membership so we can do more
If you'd like to chat about ways we could help you become more involved or, more likely, more effective (by helping us), send an email to WPRA President. Tell him about your interests.
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To submit information for the Neighborhood Update, send it to [email protected].
Joseph Stoddard's watercolors: The WPRA is grateful to local artist Joseph Stoddard, who has generously allowed us to display his watercolors in our quarterly newsletter, The (WPRA) News; on the WPRA website; and in this publication. To explore Mr. Stoddard's work, visit josephstoddard.com.
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