JANUARY/FEBRUARY  2007 - SPECIAL EDITION

The State of the City

Opera Talks Return to Central Library
 

New Use for an Old Army Base

Map Leads Way Through Arroyo

The State of the City

The 2007 State of the City event is scheduled Wednesday, Jan. 17, in the Hamilton Elementary School auditorium, 2089 Rose Villa St. Tours and entertainment start at 6:30 p.m. and the program will begin at 7 p.m.

Pasadena’s mayor will provide updates and future plans on important issues including the environment, programs and services for children and youths, economic development, arts and culture, public safety, transportation and more. A video presentation will spotlight Pasadena’s accomplishments over the past year.
Residents are encouraged to attend this free event. Spanish interpretation will be provided and refreshments will be served. Enter on Del Mar Boulevard for free parking.
The event will be broadcast live on 55 KPAS and via the Internet at
 www.cityofpasadena.net (click on City News). For more information call 744-4311.

Opera Talks Return to Central Library

Los Angeles Opera’s free “Opera Talks” series returns to Pasadena Central Library’s Donald Wright Auditorium.

The series starts Jan. 10 with a discussion of Kurt Weill’s “The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny,” set to coincide with L.A. Opera’s performances starring four-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

The series continues with discussions of Wagner’s “Tannhauser” Feb. 7, a “behind-the-scenes” chat March 7, Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess” April 4 and Torroba’s “Luisa Fernanda” on May 2. A free community concert will be performed June 27. All events are at 7 p.m.

Ask a librarian to direct you to the special collection of opera recordings and books.
No advance reservations are required – just show up! For more information, including parking details, call 744-4066, choose Option 7.

New Use for an Old Army Base

Eleven proposals for the reuse of the Desiderio Army Reserve Center were received by the September deadline.

In December, the Planning Commission settled on four semi-finalists – the Arroyo Center for Art & the Environment, Moule & Polyzoides Architects and Urbanists, Habitat for Humanity, and City of Pasadena Green Space, Recreation and Public Safety Center.

The commission asked the four semi-finalists to return with revised proposals that show more expanded community partnerships Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 6:15 p.m. at Pasadena Conference Center, 300 E. Green St. The commission will select one finalist, which will be considered by the city council Monday, Feb. 5, at 7:30 p.m. at Pasadena Senior Center, 85 E. Holly St. (the council will also review the other 10 proposals).
In April the city council will deliberate on a final plan based on the concepts in the final proposal. All meetings are free and open to the public.

For complete details on the Desiderio project, visit www.cityofpasadena.net and
click on Desiderio Army Reserve Center, email sdewolfe@cityofpasadena.net or
call 744-4650.

Map Leads Way Through Arroyo

The city’s parks and Natural Resources Division recently printed full-color maps with complete details on trails, bike routes, landmarks, streams and storm channels, plants and animals, recreational opportunities and the history of the 150-acre natural preservation area.

The lower Arroyo Seco features a natural park, fly casting pond, archery range, rubble walls, trails, a community center, memorial grove and several vista points.

In 2006 city staff and volunteers were hard at work making the area even more enticing. Trails were restored and relocated to make them safer, shade trees were planted, stone walls were uncovered, and steps and walls around the historic La Casita del Arroyo were restored. Soon plastic bag dispensers will be installed to encourage dog owners to clean up after their pets!

You can enter the area at Arroyo Boulevard and Norwood Street (between California Boulevard and Arbor Street). Parking is available in the lower Arroyo Seco and at La Casita del Arroyo, 177 S. Arroyo Blvd.

For a new map or more information, call 744-4321 or visit www.cityofpasadena.net (click on Arroyo Seco.)