WPRA
West Pasadena Residents' Association 
Neighborhood Update
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Celebrate July Fourth at the Rose Bowl Stadium
See article below
 
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.
View past issues of this weekly WPRA eNewsletter, which is emailed each Saturday morning to more than 1,100 residents of Pasadena (and beyond).
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Pasadena City Council and commission meetings
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Monday, June 30
  
City Council- Cancelled

  

Tuesday, July 1
 

Historic Preservation Commission

6 pm

Hale Building

175 N. Garfield Ave

 


Wednesday, July 2

6 pm

Hale Building

175 N. Garfield Ave.

WPRA in motion
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UPDATE: SR-710 freeway project

March on the Fourth to say NO to the SR-710: If you object to the SR-710 freeway tunnel proposal, it's time to show it: March with others who share your view in the South Pasadena "Festival of Balloons" Fourth of July parade. Put on your "No 710" or red t-shirt and show up at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Hope Street and Meridian Avenue in South Pasadena. Bring your family, neighbors and friends. "No 710" t-shirts will be available for $8. For more information, send an email to No710store@gmail.com or call (626) 354-4340. 

   

UPDATE: La Loma Bridge project start delayed until 2015

The La Loma Bridge project will again be delayed, according to District 6 Councilmember Steve Madison. While most expected the bridge to be closed this August to begin a two-year retrofit and renovation, Madison reports the closing will now not likely happen until April 2015. Meetings will be scheduled in early 2015 to share information about the project, which will require the bridge to be closed for nearly two years. "Seismic upgrades will strengthen the bridge," reports Pasadena Heritage, "with seismic strengthening on the east and west ends of the span that would keep the bridge standing, even if the fault that runs under the center of the bridge were to rupture. We especially look forward to the rebuilding of the bridge deck with replicated original design features including the handsome balustrade and light standards that once favored this 'little sister of the Colorado Street Bridge.'"

 

Neighborhoods in motion
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Japanese garden opens to the public and for piano recital

Inessa Niks returns to the Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden for another of her popular piano recitals this Open Day. For this performance, she will add selections of ragtime, the first completely American music, to her program of classical favorites. The open day is on Sunday, June 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The piano recital will begin at 1:30 and is free with the price of admission to the garden's open day. Reservations are not necessary. Admission is $7.50 in advance on the website or $10 cash or check at the gate (children age 12 and under are free). The garden is wheelchair-accessible.

 

Phos-chek spraying July 1

The Pasadena Fire Department will begin applying Phos-Chek, a wild-land fire retardant, at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, July 1, in the brush areas surrounding the Rose Bowl Stadium in advance of the Fourth of July holiday. This clear retardant helps keep trees and grassland from burning. Its main ingredients are phosphates and fertilizers, which can also help revegetate areas after a fire is out. 

 

City announces Fourth of July closures  

City Hall will be closed and many City services unavailable on Friday, July 4, 2014, in observance of the holiday.


Celebrate the Fourth at the Rose Bowl's Americafest

Celebrate the Fourth of July holiday with family and friends by attending the 88th annual "Americafest" at the Rose Bowl Stadium. The day begins outside the stadium at 2 p.m. Gates into the stadium open at 7 p.m. On the program for the evening are live motorcycle stunts, a tribute to our military personnel, a performance by Liverpool Legends, the Ultimate Beatles' Experience, and what is said to be Southern California's largest fireworks show.

 

You're invited to join Pasadena Heritage for the bi-annual Colorado Street Bridge Party on Saturday, July 12, 6-11:30 p.m. This night of music, dancing, vintage Mustangs, free activities for kids, and festive foods and beverages will be held on ... where else? ... the Colorado Street Bridge. Advance ticket purchase prices are $14 for adult Pasadena Heritage members and $16 for adult non-members. On the day of the event, tickets are $16 for adult PH members and $18 for adult non-members. Discounted tickets are available for children ages 7-12, and children age 7 or younger are admitted without charge.

 

New health inspection placards, public database begins July 1

New inspection placards for public display in Pasadena's restaurants and other permanent food facilities will be issued by the City's Public Health Department beginning July 1. The placards will indicate a facility's status of Pass, Conditional Pass or Closed at the time of the inspection. All placards will include a special "QR" code that can be scanned with a smart phone app for additional information about the food facility linked to a new inspection database on the City's website.

 

Editor's top news picks
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Pasadena Unified Superintendent sends farewell message

"Pasadena Unified School District Superintendent Jon R. Gundry, who announced Tuesday he will resign and take a new position leading the Santa Clara County Office of Education, has sent an official farewell email this morning." Pasadena Now

  

Pasadena Unified names Dr. Brian McDonald interim Superintendent

"At a special closed session meeting June 26, the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Board of Education voted unanimously to appoint Deputy Superintendent Brian McDonald, Ed.D., as Interim Superintendent until further notice. The appointment will take effect when Superintendent Jon Gundry's impending resignation is effective." Pasadena Now

 

City officials warned about energy program: Miss one payment, lose your home

"Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich has sent an open letter to Pasadena City Manager Michael Beck cautioning the latter of an approved energy program with alleged relatively high interest rates and administrative fees that may result to the foreclosure of properties among homeowners." Pasadena Now

 

Prepare for Southern California's 'most dangerous fire season - ever'

"As summer dawns on Saturday, Southern California is expected to sizzle, prompting officials to warn residents they should gird against what could be the most perilous fire season on record. After an unusually toasty fall, winter and spring, the Southland has received only 40 percent of its normal rain. Now a vast region parched by three years of scant rainfall is poised to tick up temperatures two to three degrees on average, climatologists say, with nary a summer monsoon in sight." Pasadena Star-News

 

Cycle tracks bill adds "freedom from Caltrans" clause

"AB 1193 from Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) would require Caltrans to develop standards for protected bike lanes so that local jurisdictions can plan and build them. An amendment published this week changed a single word-"shall" became "may"-opening up new possibilities for 'all city, county, regional, and other local agencies responsible for the development or operation of bikeways or roadways where bicycle travel is permitted.' That is, cities would no longer be required to use Caltrans' criteria when designing bicycle facilities. Bicycling advocates and planners have argued for a long time that it's inconsistent to require planners and engineers to adhere to Caltrans standards for bike facilities, but not other roadway features on local streets and roads." StreetsBlog LA

 

California community colleges may soon offer bachelor's degrees

"Up to 15 community colleges could start offering a bachelor's degree next year under a bill working its way through the state Assembly. Senate Bill 850, introduced by state Sen. Marty Block, D-San Diego, would authorize California Community Colleges, in consultation with the California State University and University of California systems, to launch the baccalaureate degree pilot program Jan. 1." Pasadena Star-News

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 and "like" our Facebook page  

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.