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West Pasadena Residents' Association
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Saturday, February 17
, 2018
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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.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20
6 p.m.
Hale Building, Hearing Room, 175 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda:
Certificate of appropriateness for 280 Ave. 64.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21
Library Commission
6 p.m.
Allendale Branch, 1130 S. Marengo Ave.
On the agenda:
Workgroup discussion; Committee reports.
PUSD Citizens' Oversight Committee
6:30 p.m.
351 S. Hudson Ave., Room 236
On the agenda: Status of outstanding requests for information, including information re Norma Coombs; District's intended response to outstanding COC requests for information about allocation of legal fees and staff salaries to TT; Architecture contracts: Industry standard AIA contracts versus PUSD architecture contracts; Selection of auditor(s) for forthcoming audits; Selection of new COC members; Review of new Board Reports; Reappointment of members whose terms expire on March 1, 2018; Election of new Chair; Appointment of new COC liaison to Facilities Committee.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22
PUSD Board of Education
6:30 p.m.
351 S. Hudson Ave., Room 236
On the agenda: Approval of resolutions; staff reports; committee reports; Dual enrollment and concurrent enrollment updates; A brief navigation of California School Dashboard 2017; PUSD foster youth profile.
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VERBATIM
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"It goes without saying that no one wants these cuts. We are hoping that these are the last."
-Roy Boulghourjian, PUSD Board of Education president, on the board's decision to eliminate 139 full-time positions, including 87 teachers (see Editor's Top News Picks below for more information) to avoid a county takeover of the school district
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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 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<
Join Dr. Bonnie Buratti, Director of Comets, Asteroids, and Satellites Group, from the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) , as she discusses the search for life in our universe. All ages welcome. The event will be held from
11 a.m. to 12 p.m. today, Saturday, February 17, at the Linda Vista Branch Library, 1281 Bryant St.
Public invited to Colorado Street Bridge meeting
The public is invited to the second community meeting of the Colorado Street Bridge Task Force regarding possible enhancements for the Colorado Street Bridge to help deter attempted suicides. The Task Force will present its evaluation of the recommendations made by the public at its first meeting in November and to receive additional feedback. The meeting is from
6:30 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, February 20, at the Maranatha High School Student Center, 169 S. Saint John Ave. Free parking is available in the Visitor's Parking Lot on campus or the school's underground parking, both off of S. St. John Ave.
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, March 1, at 6 p.m.: Council Chambers, City Hall
- Thursday, March 15, at 6 p.m.: Council Chambers, City Hall
- Thursday, April 5, at 6 p.m.: Council Chambers, City Hall
Delve into the worlds of science fiction in a multifaceted new exhibition this spring and summer at Pasadena Museum of History. Dreaming the Universe: The Intersection of Science, Fiction, & Southern California explores how the literary genre interacted with the advances of science, the changes in technology, and shifts in American society during five pivotal decades, the 1930s to the 1980s. Visitors are invited to help the museum launch the exhibit in style on Free Opening Day, Saturday, March 3, from 1 to 4 p.m.
The Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden is hosting a unique evening celebrating Japan's rich culture of dining and drinking traditions. Delicious treats from food and drink stations, music, a silent auction, nature, art and conversation are on the menu as supporters meet old and new friends at the garden. Tickets to the event will be $50 each and include valet parking. All proceeds from the event will help support the garden and its cultural and educational programming. The event will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 3, at Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden, 270 Arlington Dr.
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EDITOR'S TOP NEWS PICKS
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>CLICK ON
HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<
"In response to a long-looming fiscal crisis, one that could force the LA County Office of Education (LACOE) to take over the finances of the Pasadena Unified School District, the Pasadena Board of Education voted to eliminate 139 full-time employees - 87 of those positions held by teachers."
Pasadena Weekly
"The Pasadena City Council and Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education took their last steps in amending the City's Charter to reschedule elections to even-year cycles coinciding with State and Federal Elections at a Special Joint Meeting."
Pasadena Now
210 construction allegedly cracks man's windshield, traffic incidents mount on Foothill Freeway
"A motorist whose windshield was damaged in October 2017 as he passed a portion of the I-210 Freeway that's being repaved is preparing to file damage claims with Caltrans. Caltrans says they've had 31 claims for damage since the project started." Pasadena Now
Training scheduled throughout LA County for homeless outreach jobs
"With new funding starting to flow in from voter-approved Measure H, service agencies throughout Los Angeles County are busy training new hires as efforts ramp up to provide more outreach for the homeless." Pasadena Star-News
Renters outnumber homeowners in some Southern California cities
"The dream of homeownership is slipping away for residents in many Southland cities as renters increasingly outnumber those who own homes." Pasadena Star-News
Senator Portantino introduces legislation on behalf of the Arroyo Seco Tributary of the Los Angeles River
"Senator Anthony J. Portantino, who represents Pasadena in the California Senate, has introduced legislation that would include the Arroyo Seco Tributary in the Upper Los Angeles River and Tributaries Working Group plan - a revitalization plan to address the unique and diverse needs of the Upper Los Angeles River, the tributaries of the Pacoima Wash, Tujunga Wash, and Verdugo Wash, and the communities through which they pass." Pasadena Now
Dreading 'Day Zero' as California drought resumes
"Day Zero is the coming time when Cape Town, South Africa will essentially run out of municipal water for its 4 million residents - and for the visitors, too, who have long flocked to the beautiful, cosmopolitan city with a Mediterranean climate startlingly like our own." Pasadena Star-News
Pasadena Unified looking for five new members for bond measure oversight board
"The Pasadena Unified School District is looking to fill five vacant seats on its Measure TT Citizen Oversight Committee, a volunteer group responsible for monitoring the district's spending on a $350 million facilities bond passed in 2008." Pasadena Star-News
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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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