WPRA
West Pasadena Residents' Association 
Neighborhood Update
Saturday, October 11, 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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Justin Chapman
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).
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City Council and commission meetings
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<

Monday, October 13

 

City Council ... canceled

 

Tuesday, October 14

 

Senior Commission

2 p.m.

Jackie Robinson Center, Room 200
1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave.

 

Municipal Services Committee

4 p.m.

Council Chambers, Room 249

Pasadena City Hall

100 N. Garfield Ave.

 

Design Commission

6 p.m.

Hale Building, Room 120
175 N. Garfield Ave.

Wednesday, October 15

6 p.m.
175 N. Garfield Ave.
Permit Center Hearing Room, 1st Floor

Library Commission

6 p.m.

Santa Catalina Branch Library

999 E. Washington Blvd.

 

Board of Zoning Appeals

6:30 p.m.

Council Chambers, Room 249

Pasadena City Hall

100 N. Garfield Ave.

WPRA in motion
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<

   

Help "Connecting Pasadena Plan" design "the ditch"

Currently, an empty freeway ditch, the 710 stub, divides our city. Connecting Pasadena Plan (CPP) is a citizen-driven initiative that aims to develop a draft master plan for this 35-acre strip of land flanking the 710 stub south from Union to Del Mar and California and revitalize this "dead space." CPP will hold two sequential workshops on October 25 (at Maranatha High School) and November 8. Both workshops, to solicit input, will be led by architect and urbanist Stefanos Polyzoides and other transportation, economic and land-use experts. For more information, click on the headline above. Send RSVP to aokelley@msn.com

 

Fall 2014 WPRA newsletter is out now

The latest WPRA newsletter, "The News," was mailed to area homes on Thursday, October 9. The issue includes articles on the polyphagous shot hole borer beetle that is killing regional trees, updates on the Ambassador Gardens project and the Rose Bowl music festival, Maranatha's 20 year master plan, and much more!

 

Help us respond to the SR-710 DEIR/DEIS

The WPRA is forming a team to respond to the SR-710 Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) and Statement (DEIS), which is planned for release in February 2015. We're looking for experts or research-oriented amateurs to help review the following subject areas: legal, NEPA/CEQA, construction, geology, hydrology, transportation and traffic, air quality, water quality and usage, noise/vibration, hazardous materials and safety, global warming, human health, biological assessment, historic assets, cultural and social assets, economics and environmental justice. To volunteer or recommend an expert that might volunteer, contact Sarah Gavit at gavit@wpra.net.

 

Crime statistics on WPRA.net

The Pasadena Police Department has released the crime statistics for the month of September. There was a large increase in car burglaries. The Police Department is advising that the best defense against this is to make sure that nothing of value is visible from outside the car. To see the statistics, which are sorted by Police Service Area and City Council District, go to the WPRA home page, scroll down to the bottom and click on Local Area Crime Statistics.

 Neighborhoods in motion

>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<
 

TRAFFIC AND CROWD ALERT

More than 80,000 people are expected to attend the UCLA vs. Oregon football game at the Rose Bowl today, October 11, which begins at 12:30 p.m. The parking lots opened at 6:30 this morning, the UCLA Fan Zone opens in Area H at 8:30 a.m., and the gates open for all patrons at 11 a.m. Brookside Golf Course and Restaurant, Kidspace, Rose Bowl Aquatic Center and recreation on the Rose Bowl loop are closed today.

 

Join Pasadena firefighters in raising awareness for breast cancer at the Rose Bowl

The Fire Department invites the public to join them at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, October 13, to form a "sea of pink" by running a lap around the Rose Bowl to kick-off firefighters' Go Pink Week, when personnel will turn in the black and blue uniform shirts for pink to raise awareness of breast cancer and cancer research. Meet in front of the Rose Bowl neon sign at 7:30 a.m. for a warm-up and the walk begins at 8:00 a.m.

 

Share your thoughts on Pasadena's energy future

Join the Department of Water and Power for Pasadena's second Energy Roadmap Event in honor of Public Power Day. Come see PWP's scorecard comparing renewable and conventional energy resources for Pasadena's future energy plan. PWP experts will discuss how different scenarios could impact your bill, affect your electric service and benefit the environment. PWP will also discuss feedback collected from the Integrated Resource Plan survey, which is currently gathering community input. The event is taking place this Thursday, October 16, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Faculty Dining Room at Art Center College of Design, located at 1700 Lida St. RSVPs are required as seating is limited. To RSVP please contact the Citizen Service Center (626) 744-7311.

 

Pasadena Heritage hosts Craftsman Weekend

The 2014 Pasadena Heritage Craftsman Weekend taking place October 17 to 19 will include an exceptional variety of architectural tours including walking, bus, self-guided and an all-day drive-yourself tour of unique examples of Pasadena's extraordinary Craftsman-era homes. The Craftsman Exposition features exhibitors of period furnishings and decorative arts, and special receptions will be hosted at historic sites on Friday and Saturday evenings. Craftsman Weekend attracts approximately 3,000 guests, visiting Pasadena from all global points. Attendees arrive from across the country to immerse themselves in the American Arts and Crafts Movement that is so wonderfully demonstrated throughout Pasadena, the West Coast center for the Movement during the early twentieth century.

 

Sacred Japanese tea ceremony at Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden

On Sunday, October 19, celebrate autumn with a special evening at the stunning Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden. Learn about the "Way of Tea," the sacred Japanese tea ceremony that embodies harmony, respect and tranquility. Event takes place at 3 p.m. Tickets are $15.

 

CASO hosts meeting on Hahamongna sediment removal

The Council of Arroyo Seco Organizations will be meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 21, at the Pasadena Humane Society to discuss the Environmental Impact Report from the LA County Department of Public Works for their sediment removal program at Devil's Gate Dam. The report will be released the day before the meeting. The CASO agenda will also provide an update on the Arroyo Seco Canyon Project, the Arroyo River Parks campaign and the USACE Arroyo Seco study.

 

LA County to host three informational meetings on Hahamongna sediment removal

The LA County Department of Public Work has announced that the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the Devil's Gate Reservoir Sediment Removal and Management Project will be released on October 20. Three community informational meetings will be held to present the findings and results of the FEIR. Additionally, the project alternative that Public Works recommends to implement will be presented at the meeting. The recommended project alternative includes features to lessen air quality, traffic, and biological impacts. The meetings will be held on November 1, 3 and 6.

 

Arroyo Seco Canyon Project environmental document released, city accepting comments

From October 9 through November 8 The City of Pasadena is accepting written comments from the public on an initial environmental study recommending a Mitigated Negative Declaration with mitigation measures. The Arroyo Seco Canyon Project takes a multi-benefit, integrated approach to improve the water resources and restore the natural habitat in the Arroyo while enhancing the experience of recreational users.

 

Gas pipeline replacement project underway

The Southern California Gas Company has begun replacing a natural gas pipeline starting near Fair Oaks Avenue and Alessandro Place, continuing west on Bellefontaine and ending at S. Pasadena Avenue. The project will take approximately two months to complete. The north and southbound lanes along Fair Oaks, near the intersection of Bellefontaine, may be reduced to one or more lanes for approximately a week. For approximately one month, lane reductions may also occur along portions of Bellefontaine, between Fair Oaks and Pasadena Avenue, and sidewalk access access along the eastern portion of Fair Oaks will be closed between Alessandro Place and Hurlbut Street. If you have concerns about safety,call (800) 427-2200.

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

Did your favorite make the cut in the PW's Best of Pasadena issue?

"The Pasadena Weekly's Best of Pasadena issue came out Thursday and lists all of Pasadena's best restaurants, entertainment venues, shopping hot spots, services and much more, as voted on by the paper's readers." Pasadena Weekly

 

As the President visits LA, questions remain on San Gabriel Mountains national monument

"The question of whether a national monument will bring more funding is still up in the air." LA Times

 

Seven local girls chosen for 2015 Rose Parade Royal Court

"The seven princesses who make up the 2015 Rose Parade Royal Court were announced Monday morning in front of hundreds at the Tournament House." Pasadena Star-News


 NASA awards JPL and others $50 million to study future of life in universe

"NASA awarded tens of millions of dollars to four California research teams, including JPL, that will study the origins, evolution, distribution and future of life in the universe." Pasadena Star-News


 Bernard Melekian to serve as interim chair of Armenian Genocide Memorial Committee

"Last week, the Pasadena Armenian Genocide Memorial Committee accepted the resignation of former board chair William Paparian. This week, the board also unanimously elected former Pasadena Police Chief and White House COPS Program Executive Director Bernard Melekian as its interim chair." 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 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.