JULY/AUGUST 2004

IN THIS ISSUE:

Explore the Universe at Central Library

Find It Fast with "Horizon"

Pasadena Summers: Not for the Faint-Hearted

Shooting Range Goes Indoors

City Hall Retrofit Update

Building a Great City

Overhead to Underground

Protect Yourself before Your Big Trip

Free Summer Concerts

Another National Tree Award

Cutting the Water Bills at Vista Nova

Clearing the Air with Hybrid Vehicles

Increases in Fees Fund Systems and Services

Etcetera...Etcetera

Noticias en Breve

Explore the Universe at Central Library

AKE A WILD RIDE TO SPACE THIS SUMMER with “NASA @ Your Library.” Pasadena is one of just three cities in California chosen to host this one-of-a-kind family exhibit sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Apple Computer Inc. and the American Library Association.

Photo courtesy of NASAl The interactive exhibit will be in  Central Library's lobby.

For five weeks from Aug. 13 through Sept. 19, you can visit Pasadena Central Library for a fun, free and fully interactive exhibit that will show you exactly what’s going on beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. Kids and adults can touch down at a huge hands-on workstation with six “Way Cool Flat Screen” computers, where you can test your skill at space exploration and other games and view more than 70 three-minute videos about the space shuttle program, living in space, the science of the universe, the International Space Station, missions to Mars and more. In a nearby audio/video dome, view continuous videos on how NASA has improved health (week one), home and transportation (week two), agriculture and environment (week three) and commerce (week 4). Parents can pick up a brochure with recommended books, resource guides, videos and websites covering everything from careers in science to the history of rockets.

The touring exhibit is part of NASA’s efforts to get kids and their parents excited about science and to recruit a new generation of researchers, astronauts and scientists. The exhibit also shows how NASA’s ongoing research benefits our everyday lives, impacting everything from agriculture to medicine.

Visit www.cityofpasadena.net/library, call 744-4045 or stop by Pasadena Central Library at 285 E. Walnut St.

Find it Fast with "Horizon"

Pasadena Public Library patrons are now spending less time searching and more time reading and learning thanks to “Horizon,” a new automated library catalog system at Central Library and all nine branches.

“Horizon” is a big change but it’s very simple. This new Internet-based search engine makes it easy to browse for library materials from your home or office. Search for books and you’ll learn where they're located and – here’s one of best parts – Horizon offers tables of contents, summaries and excerpts, author notes and bios, reviews, cover art for books, videos and DVDs. You can also set up a personal account, allowing you to request materials, renew your books, save your searches, create a favorites list and more. Horizon’s Kids Catalog provides quick and easy research tools for little ones and the Community Information Portal gives you instant info on community events, schools, clubs and more. Check it out at http://catalog.PasadenaPublicLibrary.net

Pasadena Summers: Not for the Faint-Hearted 

YOU'RE DIZZY you’re tired, your head hurts, it’s hot – and you may be suffering from heat stroke. The Pasadena Fire Department reminds you to take care this summer to avoid hot-weather ailments.

• When the mercury rises, wear light, loose-fitting clothing.
  

• Drink water often; don’t wait until you're thirsty.
  

• During the hottest hours, stay in an air-conditioned room. If you don’t have air conditioning at home, go to a library, community center, mall or movie theater to stay cool.
  

• Don’t overexert yourself if you’re outside or in a hot building.
  

• Try to stay out of the sun; if you must go outside, wear a hat with a wide brim.
  

• Never leave children, seniors or pets unattended in cars or other vehicles, even if the windows are down.
  

• Check in regularly on seniors, shut-ins and people with immune or respiratory problems and offer your assistance.
  

• Watch for symptoms including dizziness, fatigue, faintness, headaches, pale and clammy skin, rapid and weak pulse, fast and shallow breathing, muscle cramps and intense thirst. If someone experiences one or more of these symptoms, move the patient right away to a cooler, shaded place and give lots of fluids, such as sport drinks.

For more information, call the Fire Department’s disaster preparedness coordinator at 744-7276.

Shooting Range Goes Indoors

PASADENA POLICE OFFICERS and other law enforcement personnel will bring their target practice indoors with the opening of a new firing range now under construction at 2783 Eaton Canyon Dr.

Firearms training has been done outdoors in Eaton Canyon since 1927, but as neighborhoods were built closer to the site, residents became concerned with noise, stray bullets lying in their yards and a July 2000 brush fire caused by a bullet that hit dry grass.

The indoor range will feature mufflers, acoustic panels and state-of-the-art communication, bullet trap and target practice systems.

Officers will continue to shoot outdoors for a two-week period every October so they can qualify with their duty ammunition. In the highly unlikely event the indoor shooting range ever has to close temporarily for operational reasons, outdoor shooting would occur until the facility would reopen.

The indoor shooting range will open this fall. For more information call 744-6784.

City Hall Retrofit Update

CITY HALL OFFICES ARE MOVING to other locations through the end of July to make way for the $93.3 million renovation of Pasadena’s historic city hall.

Until the building reopens in 2007, here's where you can take care of your city business. Phone numbers have not changed.

Chamber Building 117 E. Colorado Blvd. (near Arroyo Parkway) City Clerk City Manager Finance Human Resources Human Services Information Technology Mayor Planning and Development Public Affairs Public Works Purchasing	Modular Complex 280 Ramona St. (next to Permit Center) Beginning Monday, August 2 Cashier/Municipal Services City Hall Seismic Project Licenses Public Works Engineering     Services/Permits Traffic Management Treasury Utility turn on/off	965 N. Fair Oaks Ave. (south of Robinson Park) Mail Services - Beginning Monday, August 2 Printing - Beginning Monday, August 9 Records Management
Walnut Plaza 215 N. Marengo Ave. (at Walnut) City Attorney	Fair Oaks Renaissance Plaza 665 N. Fair Oaks Ave., Second Floor  (at Orange Grove) Move Date to be Determined Housing	Park Center 221 E. Walnut St. (at Marengo) Transportation

Photos: Foster Hildreth

Beginning July 19, City Council meetings will be held at the Pasadena Senior Center, 85 E. Holly St., Mondays at 6:30 p.m. If you ride the Metro Gold Line to get to the meetings, show your ticket to the front desk attendant at the Pasadena Senior Center and receive a free token for your ride home; if you drive, there will be limited free parking in the structure at the southeast corner of Holly Street and Arroyo Parkway.

During the retrofit and restoration project, half of Garfield Avenue will be closed between Union Street and Ramona Street/Thurgood Marshall Way; other streets around City Hall may be closed periodically for the installation of new utility connections.

For updates, visit www.cityofpasadena.net and click on City Hall Project or call 744-7073.