WPRA
West Pasadena Residents' Association 
Neighborhood Update
Saturday, February 22, 2014

Welcome

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

   
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Chuck Hudson
Editor 

 

View the latest and past issues of the WPRA's quarterly magazine, The News, which is mailed to more than 7,000 homes in West Pasadena.
Neighborhood Update
View past issues of this weekly WPRA eNewsletter, which is emailed each Saturday morning to more than 1,100 residents of Pasadena (and beyond).
 
 
 

 

City Council
and commission meetings
- CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION -
 
Monday, February 24

   

SPECIAL JOINT MEETING 
City Council/Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education

6:30 pm

City Hall

Council Chambers

100 N. Garfield Ave.

On the agenda: School/City/Community program: review of 2013-14 work plan progress, approval of governance concept, appointment of two members from each board to serve on a related work plan ad hoc governance committee and approval of 2014-15 work plan

     

Tuesday, February 25

 

SPECIAL MEETING
Design Commission

6:30 pm

Council Chambers, Room S249

100 N. Garfield Ave.

On the agenda: Preliminary consultation about the 100 W. Walnut St. project (Parson's site) that currently includes plans for new construction of 660,000 square feet of office, retail and 475 residential and work/live units with 2,750 subterranean parking spaces

 

Wednesday, February 26

 

Planning Commission

6:30 pm

City Hall

Council Chambers

100 N. Garfield Ave.

On the agenda: Review of General Plan Draft Land Use and Mobility Element goals and policies, and collection of comments to be forwarded to City Council

Neighorhoods in motion
- CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION -

Conserve water: Make every drop count  

With "exceptional drought" declared in part of the state and the first ever zero allocation of water from the State Water Project, the Arroyo Seco Foundation reminds Southern Californians that there are many ways they can help conserve this essential resource. It may be as small as fixing a leak or as large as installed a drought-tolerant garden.

 

Free mulch available through 2014 

The City's 2014 Mulch Give-Away Program provides free, fresh garden mulch to Pasadena residents throughout the year. The mulch is delivered by Public Works to Victory Park, 2575 Paloma St., southeast corner of the parking lot. Mulch is available at the park while supplies last,

6 a.m. to 10 p.m., beginning Feb. 14

 

Street resurfacing project continues through April

The City will be resurfacing streets through April. During this process, the street segments listed below may be partially or totally closed to traffic, and parking will be prohibited between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

 

Street From To 
California Grand Orange Grove 
California Fair Oaks Raymond 
California Hill East City Limit 
California 180 ft. west of Fair Oaks 415 ft. west of Fair Oaks  
Marengo Green Glenarm  
Marengo Glenarm Los Robles 
State Railroad  East City Limit 

The City will send a general notification to residences, businesses and neighborhood associations, as well as a second notice, with more specific guidance, to the residents and businesses directly affected by the street resurfacing. Note: To avoid damaging your vehicle, don't drive in these areas while work is in progress. Also, the City urges residents not to walk on the hot asphalt or allow water from a water sprinkler system, for example, to run down the gutters or into the street while work is in progress. For more information, contact the Department of Public Works at (626) 744-4720 between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. In case of an after-hour emergency, call Emergency Services at (626) 744-4241.

Commercial filming may impact drive time on Arroyo Boulevard

A production company will be conducting a photo shoot for Reebok on Saturday, February 22, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Arroyo Boulevard between W. Holly Street and Westminster Drive. On-street parking is not permitted during this time in this portion of Arroyo Boulevard. Direct questions and concerns to the Pasadena Film Office (626) 744-3964.

Pasadena Black History Month events
Celebrate Black History Month 2014 in Pasadena by participating in a parade and numerous special events and activities planned through Friday, Feb. 28. All events are free unless otherwise noted.

   

Japanese garden features piano recital

The Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden will present a special piano recital by Pasadena resident Inessa Niks on its next Open Day, Sunday, February 23. The Open Day is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ms. Niks, who will perform at 1:30, will play works by Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert and Chopin. Seating is limited and reservations are necessary. The cost to enter the garden is $7.50 (children under age 12 are free). Garden admission (click on headline above) includes access to the recital.

 

"Your water: The big picture"

PWP invites all to discuss state and local water concerns during its upcoming forum, "Your Water: The Big Picture," beginning at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, February 26 at the Pasadena Convention Center. A panel of California water experts will share insights about the water supply challenges facing the state and what local efforts can be made to ensure long-term sustainability. Register for this free session online or by calling (626) 744-3715.

 

March 1 is 2014 deadline for buying a Rose Bowl Stadium brick  

If you'd like to purchase a Rose Bowl Stadium brick, note that the initial brick installation is slated for this summer; bricks must be purchased by March 1. Bricks may still be purchased after this date, but they will not be installed until 2015.

Editor's top news picks
- CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION - 

 

Monrovia wilderness preserve continues hiking era

"You could say Monrovia's chapter of the Great Hiking Era began in 1905 when resident and building contractor Ben Overturff discovered a plateau in the mountains north of the city he called Deer Park. In 1993, the Trust for Public Land and the Big Santa Anita Canyon Historical Society restored the land and rebuilt the trail named after the Monrovia pioneer. With a variety of mini-ecosystems, the trail has canyons, creeks, a razor-bridge with drops on both sides, and the ruins of Deer Park." Pasadena Star-News

 

Ivanpah partners tout solar-thermal generating plant's success

"Corporate executives and some government officials touted the world's largest solar-thermal generating plant - which is visible from the 250 mile-high International Space Station - as a tribute to American ingenuity." San Bernadino Sun

 

How California's new drought-relief funds will be spent

"A $687 million plan aimed at addressing the state's immediate and pressing drought concerns was approved Wednesday, with most of the funding coming from voter-approved bonds and dedicated to projects that are either under way or awaiting funds. Some of the expenditures were included in the governor's proposed budget for 2014-15." Pasadena Star-News

 

2014 Amgen Bicycle tour announces segment end at Pasadena City Hall

The Amgen Tour of California announced its cycling route for the seventh of its eight stages will end at Pasadena City Hall on Saturday, May 17, 2014. The city was originally scheduled to host the race in 2010, but was considered unsafe for travel due to subsequent rains and the Station Fire in August 2009." Pasadena Now

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 (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 ... 

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 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.