WPRA
West Pasadena Residents' Association 
Neighborhood Update
Saturday, May 3, 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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Send comments to update@wpra.net 

Ann Erdman
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).
 
 
 

 

Pasadena City Council and commission meetings
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<

Monday, May 5

6:30 p.m.
City Hall 
Council Chambers
100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: 2015-2019 Recommended Capital Improvement Program Budget.

Tuesday, May 6

6 p.m.
Hale Building/Permit Center
First floor hearing room (enter through Ramona Street door)
175 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Selection of 2014 Preservation Award recipients.
 
6 p.m.
City Yards
Public Works Building, second floor
233 W. Mountain St.
On the agenda: Update on residential impact fees; park maintenance operational analysis.

Wednesday, May 7

6 p.m.
Hale Building/Permit Center
First floor hearing room (enter through Ramona Street door)
175 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Relinquishment of conditional use permit for a 248-unit senior life care facility and, instead, construct up to 78 market-rate multifamily residential units at 300 W. Green St. (former Ambassador College campus); and hillside development permit to construct additions totaling 2,060 square feet to an existing 2,158-square-foot single-family home at 333 S. San Rafael Ave.
WPRA in motion
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San Rafael School is among top in state

Three PUSD schools have been named 2014 California Distinguished Schools by the California Department of Education. San Rafael Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary and Webster Elementary were selected to receive the prestigious award, which honors schools that have demonstrated education excellence for all students and progress in narrowing the achievement gap. San Rafael School specifically was recognized for its Spanish-English dual language immersion program and implementation of the response to intervention program that systematically addresses the needs of each individual student. The WPRA has adopted San Rafael Elementary School and, over the past five years, has sponsored a very successful and robust student enrichment program.

Neighborhoods in motion
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Earth and Arts Festival

The Pasadena Earth and Arts Festival returns to Memorial Park and Armory Center for the Arts Saturday, May 3, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with family-friendly workshops, live music, dance demonstrations, interactive drum circle, eco-friendly exhibitors and more.

 

From Mars to the stage

The Pasadena Symphony Presents JPL scientists in a free concert Saturday, May 3, at 8 p.m. at Ambassador Auditorium. The 50-member JPL Chorus will perform "California: Through Their Eyes," a choral celebration featuring music by Benjamin Britten, Aaron Copland and Eric Idol. The JPL Chorus debuted last summer with the Pasadena Pops and Michael Feinstein. Prior to the JPL Chorus performance, the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra will perform free at 2 and 6 p.m.

 

Fluttering butterflies

Kidspace Children's Museum will celebrate the life cycle of butterflies Saturday and Sunday, May 3 and 4, at 2 p.m. as 500 butterflies are released from the Stone Hollow Amphitheater.

 

May is Historic Preservation Month

In commemoration of Historic Preservation Month, Pasadena Heritage presents a special Old Pasadena walking tour and lecture Saturday, May 3, the story of Busch Gardens Saturday, May 10, a Busch Gardens walking tour Saturday, May 17, and other events throughout the month.

 

San Rafael Library to close for one day

San Rafael Branch Library and all other Pasadena public libraries will be closed Thursday, May 8, for staff development and training. Libraries will reopen Friday, May 9.

Editor's top news picks
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Environmental study on 710 freeway extension will be released in 2015

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Caltrans announced Friday that the draft environmental report for the long fought over 710 freeway extension will not be released until February 2015. Pasadena Star-News

 

Fire Service Day will feature demonstrations, food and entertainment

The Pasadena Fire Department invites the public to join them in celebrating Fire Service Day Saturday, May 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pasadena Now

 

Rose Parade float protesters plead no contest on SeaWorld sit-in

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) stated in press release...that 13 of the 16 adults who held a sit-in in front of the SeaWorld Rose Parade float on Jan. 1 pled no contest to the charges. They were fined and released and given six months to pay. Examiner

 

June Wayne retrospective celebrates an artist who loved science

A new retrospective of work by June Wayne is opening at the Pasadena Museum of California Art and science lovers will want to check it out. Los Angeles Times

Leisure
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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.