WPRA
West Pasadena Residents' Association 
Neighborhood Update
Saturday, February 28, 2015

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

MONDAY, March 2

6 p.m.
City Hall
Council Chamber, Room S249
100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Executing agreements with Metro and CicLAvia for Open Streets event; South Fair Oaks Specific Plan; first reading of Public Library anti-smoking ordinance; second reading of ordinance temporarily limiting single family home demolition and construction in the neighborhood overlay district in order to preserve the potential historic character of the Lower Hastings Ranch neighborhood.

TUESDAY, March 3

6:30 p.m.
Jackie Robinson Center
1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave.
On the agenda: Hate crimes report, human rights education, bullying program, essay contest, honoring Mayor Bogaard, presentation on human trafficking and slavery.
Canceled

Canceled

THURSDAY, March 5

4 p.m.
Hale Building
175 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Code violations at 1162 N. Arroyo Blvd.
WPRA in motion
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<
 

710 DRAFT EIR REPORT TO BE RELEASED ANY MINUTE! WE NEED YOU TO DONATE & PITCH IN!

Help WPRA stop Metro's plan to build a 710 tunnel under West Pasadena

WPRA continues to assemble a team to analyze and respond to the SR-710 Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) and Statement (DEIS), which Caltrans/Metro released yesterday! While we're fortunate to have found many of the special skills we need to accomplish this highly complex task, we still need help from those with knowledge of the following areas:

  • Paleoseismology
  • Biological assessment (Arroyo Seco and Hahamongna/Flora and fauna)
  • General construction
  • Economic impact
  • Land use

The WPRA Neighborhood Protection Fund has been reactivated to raise the resources necessary to respond to the 710 tunnel plan. Please consider donating. 

 

Be part of this vital effort to stop what many believe would be a catastrophe for our community and lifestyle. To volunteer or recommend an expert, contact Sarah Gavit at gavit@wpra.net.

 

WPRA invites you to attend its upcoming board meeting

The WPRA board meets the first Wednesday of every month in the Community Room at Westridge School for Girls. The next meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. this Wednesday, March 4. The board will be discussing the 710 DEIR, the Lincoln Property Company's Parsons development, the Pasadena General Plan, mansionization, and other topics relevant to West Pasadena.

Neighborhoods in motion
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<

 

LA LOMA BRIDGE CLOSURE UPDATE 

The La Loma Bridge will be closed from April 2015 to December 2016 for seismic upgrades and rehabilitation. Stay tuned to the WPRA newsletter for more information.

 

The SR-710 North Study (i.e "Tunnel") Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) will be released any minute. Concerned citizens will have a 90-day opportunity to review and submit comments on the DEIR. In order to increase awareness about the comment process and help concerned citizens draft effective written comments, the City of La Caņada Flintridge is hosting a free workshop: "Addressing the SR-710 North Study Draft EIR: How to Submit Effective Written Comments, " today, February 28, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at City Hall. To RSVP, please e-mail jan@soohoos.org.

 

2015 'Status of Pasadena Women' report to be released at March 4 event

The public is invited to join Pasadena's Commission on the Status of Women for the release of its 2015 "Status of Women" report at a free reception and panel discussion from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 4, at the Pasadena Central Library, Donald R. Wright Auditorium, 285 E. Walnut St. Panelists discussing the report findings include representatives from Peace Over Violence, the Pasadena Police Department, Union Station Homeless Services, the California Department of Veteran Affairs (CAL VET) and the U.S. Department of Labor. For event information and to RSVP, call the Human Services and Recreation Department at (626) 744-4386. The report will be released in time for Women's History Month to raise awareness about women's needs and challenges. Copies of the report will be available at the event while supplies last. The report will be posted online starting March 4. 

 

The Rose Bowl Aquatics Center invites the public to attend its Community Day event from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 7. The event will be held in the Arroyo Room on the second floor of the Aquatics Center Clubhouse, located at 360 N. Arroyo Blvd.


LACFCD releases PEIR for the Enhanced Watershed Management Program (EWMP) 

Los Angeles County Department of Public Works has just released the Enhanced Watershed Management Programs Draft Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) on behalf of the Los Angeles County Flood Control District. The draft program is being developed to improve water quality of rivers, creeks and beaches throughout Los Angeles County. All comments must be made by March 9. The draft report developed by LA County Public Works on behalf of the LA County Flood Control District, studies the regional, cumulative effects of proposed projects and outlines the goals and policies that may be adopted in the future by watershed managers throughout the LA Basin. Although the report identifies a number of proposed stormwater quality improvement projects, subsequent environmental analysis of each individual project may be needed prior to implementation. Copies of the report are available for review at more than 40 public venues. Visit the LA Public Works website for a list of these locations and to view the report and comment online.

 

The public has until March 24 to review and comment on the Draft General Plan Update and the associated Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR). The Draft General Plan Update includes major revisions to the Land Use and Mobility elements, including the incorporation of several other previously independent optional elements and new goals to reflect progressive thinking in land-use management by demonstrating the link between land-use policies and mobility, historic preservation, urban design, sustainable infrastructure, community services and a number of other topics. The City expects the various City commissions to review of the Draft General Plan Update from February through June, and City Council to review them in July.


New exhibit at PMH tests knowledge of the Crown City 

"Mystery History," a new exhibit curated by Ann Erdman, is running until March 29 at the Pasadena Museum of History, 470 W. Walnut Street. This fun and engaging exhibition for all ages includes historic photographs, artworks and artifacts from Pasadena Museum of History's extensive collection. Inspired by the popular Mystery History series on her blog, Ann challenges visitors to identify the location and historical significance of the photos, which are complemented by rarely seen historic objects directly associated with them. Ann retired after a 38-year career in advertising and public relations, which included many years as public information officer of the City of Pasadena. Among her current activities, which she collects under the heading "professional gadabout," is service as a co-editor of Neighborhood Update.

 

Pasadena Heritage hosts Spanish Colonial Revival house tour

Pasadena and neighboring cities are known for their remarkable collection of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. On Sunday, March 29, docent-guided tours will be given at selected Pasadena and La Canada private residences for Pasadena Heritage's "Spectacular Spanish!" Spring home tour. The tour is self-driving, and visitors will tour four to five privately owned homes. A lecture preceding the tour on Thursday, March 26, will feature Michael Burch from Michael Burch Architects. His firm is internationally recognized for its work in the Spanish Colonial and Mediterranean Revival Styles perfected in California during the 1920s and 30s. The lecture will be held at the Pasadena Playhouse. Tickets went on sale February 20 with advance purchase discounts. Same-day tour tickets may be purchased at the will-call location until 1 p.m. Call (626) 441-6333 for more information or visit www.pasadenaheritage.org.

 

Rose Bowl invites the public to its first Easter egg hunt

Enjoy fun for the whole family with games and activities such as teen and senior scavenger hunts, face painting, live entertainment, balloon animals, trackless train, food, pictures with the Bunny, Stadium tours, and more. This will be Pasadena's largest egg hunt. Children will hip-hop their way onto the Rose Bowl field through more than 40,000 eggs in search of the ever so lucky golden egg. Admission is free, and nominal fees apply for major attractions and food. For this event only, stadium tours will be offered at special resident rate of $5.

 

Mayor Bill Bogaard Celebration Day

The public is invited to join Mayor Bill Bogaard and his wife, Claire, from 3 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, for a casual afternoon of music, art, children's activities, food trucks and more, in celebration of his 16 years of service as our first citywide elected Mayor. The event will be held in Centennial Square at City Hall. Share your personal reflections of "Moments with the Mayor" in letters or notes and drop them off at any public library in Pasadena prior to the celebration, write in a special memory book during the celebration or send your reflections electronically.

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

Potential 710 tunnel trouble

"They call it 'Bertha,' the massive tunnel-boring machine that arrived Seattle in July 2013. Seattle city officials expected a tunnel underneath the city to be completed this year. The machinery has remained motionless since December 2013 after it was damaged. Now no one in the City of Seattle is saying when work will restart and be completed." Pasadena Now

 

Pasadena City College student newspaper, the Courier, celebrates 100 years

"The Courier, one of the oldest student-run community college newspapers in the state, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this month. From the first black and white newsprint issue released Feb. 4, 1915 - when the college was still a high school - to where it stands today as a weekly publication distributed in both printed and digital formats, the Courier has been an integral part of PCC's long and storied history. A special issue commemorating the anniversary will be released in April. The issue will feature articles chronicling the Courier's history and coverage throughout the years." Pasadena Now

 

Election for mayor, city council and school board will shape Pasadena for years to come

"The future direction of Pasadena is at a pivotal junction. This election will determine or undermine our continued pathway to success as a world-class city. With critical issues such as city pension funding, financial embezzlement and the hiring of many new department heads, it is imperative that we elect leaders that not only have proven leadership skills but also a visionary plan for future generations." Pasadena Weekly

 

NASA's Earth Sciences Division celebrates busiest year in more than a decade

"Yesterday marks the most active year NASA's Earth Sciences Division has had in more than a decade thanks to the launching of five orbiters in the past 12 months." Pasadena Star-News

 

World's largest tunneling machine still stuck

This video from CNN shows how unreliable the gargantuan tunnel boring machines really are. Seattle's Big Bertha is actually smaller than the one Metro/Caltrans is proposing for the SR-710 tunnel.

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.