WPRA
West Pasadena Residents' Association 
Neighborhood Update
Saturday, June 29, 2013

   

Founded in 1962, the WPRA is dedicated to maintaining the character of our communities and enhancing the quality of life in West Pasadena. 

  

Editor  

Chuck Hudson

 

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Celebrate the Fourth ...

... at the Rose Bowl Stadium: The Rose Bowl Stadium will host the largest fireworks show of its storied history on the 4th of July. Thousands of special effects fireworks will be launched from inside and outside the stadium as part of AmericaFest™, a daylong entertainment extravaganza featuring Kenny G and the Mariachi Divas. Here's the schedule:
  • A Family Fun Zone outside the stadium, which will open at 2 p.m., includes food, entertainment, crafts, exhibits and inflatable rides for the kids.
  • More food will be available inside the stadium after the gates open at 6 p.m.
  • Opening ceremonies, starting at 7 p.m., include live motorcycle stunts, the Mariachi Divas and Grammy Award-winning special guest, saxophonist Kenny G. Also, staff will conduct guided tours of the newly renovated facility.
  • Fireworks will begin at 9:05 p.m.
General admission tickets, at $13, $20, $25 and $30, are on sale now at Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000 or by visiting ticketmaster.com. Children age 7 and younger are admitted at no charge. Also, members of the active military and up to three of their family members will also be admitted at no charge (with current military identification) through Gate B on the day of the event. Parking is $20 per vehicle at all lots.
 
... safely, legally: The Pasadena Fire and Police departments believe the best way to celebrate the Fourth with family and friends is by attending a professional fireworks show such as Americafest at the Rose Bowl Stadium. Sale or possession of fireworks is illegal in Pasadena. Violators will have their fireworks confiscated, may have their vehicles impounded and may be subject, if convicted, of up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $50,000. Call (626) 744-4241 to report illegal use of fireworks. Due to the high potential for fire hazards and injuries, police and fire personnel will be present at checkpoints around the Rose Bowl Stadium to seize all fireworks and arrest offenders.

... but note: nonessential City offices will be closed and services unavailable: City Hall will be closed and many City services unavailable on July 4. 
  • Pasadena Fire and Police departments will continue to be staffed for all patrol, jail, fire, paramedic and other emergency services.
  • Those with a power emergency should call the Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) Department at (626) 744-4673. For water-related emergencies, call (626) 744-4138. PWP's Customer Service Call Center will be closed for the holiday, but customers can access their accounts and make payments by phone at (626) 744-4005 or online at PWPweb.com.  
  • The City's Municipal Services Payment Center at City Hall will be closed.
  • City and recycling pickup services will be on a regular schedule for trash, recycling and yard waste pickups the week of July 1, including July 4. No pickups for bulky items will be scheduled for July 4.
  • All Pasadena Public Library sites will be closed.  
  • The City's ARTS (Area Rapid Transit Service) and Dial-A-Ride transportation programs will not operate, but will resume normal schedules again on July 5.
  • All parking meters will be free and parking time limits will not enforced on July 4, however, violations for red-curb parking and blocking of fire hydrants will continue to be issued.
  • All Recreation and Community centers operated by the City's Human Services and Recreation Department will be closed on July 4, but all parks will be open for picnics, fun and festivities. No site reservations are accepted on holidays. 
City Council and commission meetings
- CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION -
 

MONDAY 

JULY 1            

 

City Council - CANCELLED

 

Historic Preservation Commission

6 pm

Hale Building

175 N. Garfield Ave

  

TUESDAY 

JULY 2

 

Recreation & Parks Commission - CANCELLED

 

WEDNESDAY

JULY 3


Hearings: use permits and variances

6 pm

Permit Center Hearing Room, 1st floor

175 N. Garfield Ave.

WPRA notes
- CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION -
 

Committee wants you ... to march for the cause

The No 710 Action Committee is looking for citizens to march in South Pasadena's annual "Festival of Balloons" 4th of July parade. You can voice your outrage about the proposed Metro 710 Freeway tunnel project alongside of fellow 710 Freeway Fighters from 15 participating cities throughout the San Gabriel Valley. Bring your friends and family. Wear red or white. Walk or ride your bicycle, scooter and skateboard. The parade starts at the South Pasadena Library, 1020 El Centro (just east of the South Pasadena Gold Line station). RSVP by email to Waynna Kato or Cathy Morrison no later than July 2.

Minor victory for 710 Freeway extension opponents 
Metro Board accelerates Measure R projects, but excludes the 710 Freeway project 
"The Metro Board of Directors on Thursday approved a strategy for accelerating second- and third-decade Measure R transit and road projects by a 9 to 3 vote. An amendment, however, specifically excluded the 710 North project from the acceleration plan." Metro: The Source

The News, WPRA style
View the latest issue of The News, the WPRA quarterly magazine.   

Neighborhood notes
- CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION 

 

A number of Pasadena roads will be temporarily closed on Sunday, June 30, between 6:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. for the Pasadena Half-Marathon. Event includes a half marathon and 10K & 5K runs followed by a post-race festival at Pasadena City College. About 3,500 participants are expected to participate.  


REMINDER: New smoking ordinance effective on July 1
On July 11, 2011, City Council unanimously approved amendments to the City's Tobacco Use Prevention Ordinance to prohibit smoking in apartments and condominiums to protect residents from drifting tobacco smoke. The new law became effective on August 13, 2011, with provisions that take effect on certain dates. Beginning July 1, 2013, smoking is prohibited in all units of multi-unit housing (properties with two or more units), including balconies and patios. Violators will be subject to a $100 ticket citation for the first violation, $200 for the second violation, and $500 for the third violation occurring within a 12-month period.

Japanese garden open to public on Sunday, June 30
Enjoy the peace of the historic 2-acre Storrier-Stearns Japanese "stroll garden" on June 30 (and every last Sunday of every month) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In June, experts in the ancient art of origami will offer instructions for making the delicate folds that create paper treasures. Admission is $7.50 with reservations; $10 at the gate. For reservations send an email. The garden is located at 270 Arlington Dr.

Pasadena Senior Center sponsors free summer concerts
You don't have to be a senior citizen to attend free, family-friendly concerts at Pasadena's Memorial Park bandshell every Tuesday evening from 6 to 7 p.m. this summer, sponsored by the Pasadena Senior Center. 
 

Rose Bowl renovation update
Find out what's going on with the Rose Bowl Stadium renovation. 

Editor's top news picks
- CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION -
  
Introducing Innovate Pasadena "Innovate Pasadena" has recently been introduced as concerted effort to advance greater Pasadena as a leading center of innovation for technology and design through true collaboration. Innovate Pasadena aims to promote local collaboration across business and education to attract and retain companies, entrepreneurs, innovators and investment capital." Business Wire 
Leisure
- 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.

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 ... 

If you'd like to serve your community and do it with a group of your neighbors who are equally dedicated, the WPRA encourages you to join your neighborhood residents' association. 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 1,000 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.   
To learn more

Visit wpra.net or click on one of the following links

 

To submit information for the Neighborhood Update, send it to update@wpra.net. 

 

Joseph Stoddard's watercolors: The WPRA wishes to express its appreciation to local artist Joseph Stoddard, who has generously allowed us to display his watercolors in our quarterly magazine, WPRA News, on the WPRA website and in this publication. To explore Mr. Stoddard's work, visit josephstoddard.com.