Pasadena, California Celebrating 52 years of community service Fall 2014 LAND USE / PLANNING EDUCATION OPEN SPACE / CONSERVATION NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY GOVERNMENT PARKS / RECREATION City, scientists search for elusive solution Pasadena’s urban forest threatened by tiny beetle By Justin Chapman fficials with the City of Pasadena, Charles Peretz, Pasadena’s Parks and Natural University of California at Riverside, Resources administrator, says the city is Othe Huntington Library and Botanical formulating a plan to inventory affected trees. Gardens and many others are studying a fungus-spewing pest that has already infected “We’re hoping in very short order to begin and could possibly kill nearly 30 species of working with volunteers to conduct an trees in Southern California. inventory in the Arroyo and other parts of the city,” said Peretz. “We hope to work Unfortunately, a solution has yet to materialize with the Arroyo Seco Foundation, and we’re to help combat the potentially devastating also investigating the possibility of using strain of the ambrosia beetle, which is smaller a consultant to inventory a portion of the than a sesame seed. urban forest, so we can get a full picture of the Polyphagous shot hole borer (Photo by G. impact of this pest and fungus.” The beetle Arakelian) Continued on page 13 It’s called the polyphagous shot hole borer. And while its origins and method of arrival in “If we can’t control them [the beetles], they are California are unknown, what is known is that For more information going to wipe out all our trees,” Akif Eskalen, the tiny grain-sized beetle drills a hole into a For more information about the poly- a plant pathologist at UC Riverside who has host tree and plants a fungus called Fusarium, phagous shot hole borer and Fusarium been studying the pest, told the LA Times. which can spread and kill the tree within two dieback, including the proper way to identify the pest, the best management to four years. Pasadena plans tree inventory practices for proper disposal of infected The beetle was first discovered at Whittier The City of Pasadena has been working wood and how to find other infected trees Narrows in 2003, although the connection with with UC Riverside and the Huntington to in the area: the tree-killing fungus wasn’t made until 2012. develop a list of reproductive host trees, which includes more than 30 species, from Visit the WPRA’s website at wpra.net Dozens of trees have already been infected in California sycamores to several types of oaks Call Pasadena’s Urban Forestry Pasadena and the surrounding area, including to avocado and mimosa trees. Customer Service Center at in the Arroyo Seco and the Huntington (626) 744-4321 Botanical Gardens. John Van de Kamp and his wife Andrea opened their San Rafael home corner of west Pasadena, from San Rafael Hills to Orange Grove to in August for a festive summer social for WPRA members. In this Linda Vista and all points between. For more, see pages 2 and 13. pool-side photo, WPRA president Geoffrey Baum delivers the official (Photo by Chuck Hudson) welcome to the assembly. Turnout exceeded 200 guests from every WPRA IN MOTION Why is everyone in our part of Pasadena so nice? By Geoffrey Baum $500,000+ project. The place looks great and it is I particularly liked the President, WPRA available for your next gathering! way neighbor Gene Detchemendy put it ot long ago, I came home from work The Storrier-Stearns Japanese Garden hosted when he wrote, “The and went for a walk with my 10-year- a reception to celebrate a milestone in its WPRA always makes old daughter, Amy, and our little restoration (see page 6). Another of west N me remember what black dog, Ruby. It was a warm and beautiful Pasadena’s special places, this historic garden Pasadena is all about.” summer evening, so lots of people were out. is now generally open to the public on the We headed up the street toward San Rafael last Sunday of each month. It features a Don’t want to miss Elementary School. After the second group 15-foot waterfall and a formal teahouse on next year’s Summer approximately an acre of land. We owe a debt of Social? Be sure to use of walkers stopped to chat, Amy turned Geoffrey Baum to me and asked, “Why is everyone in our gratitude to owners Jim and Connie Haddad for the envelope (enclosed neighborhood so nice?” (True story) their preservation efforts, and to the Garden’s within this issue) to renew your WPRA board of directors who are helping build a membership and be among the first to hear We are all very fortunate to call west Pasadena foundation for the future. about these and other special events. home. The tremendous spirit of community we share has been on display at a number of John Van de Kamp, a longtime member of the Finally, remember the three “C’s” events over the past few weeks. WPRA board of directors, and his wife Andrea (communication, collaboration and opened their San Rafael Avenue home in celebration) I mentioned in the last newsletter? Thanks to strong collaboration between City August for a festive summer social for WPRA With a dedicated (and all-volunteer) board officials, neighborhood volunteers and donors members (see page 13). Turnout exceeded (including the WPRA), we can enjoy the beautiful of directors, you can count on the WPRA our most optimistic projections. We counted for important and timely communication renovation (including a fabulous new kitchen) of about 200 guests from every corner of west the Casita del Arroyo (see page 14). Nearly 100 about issues facing west Pasadena, effective Pasadena, from San Rafael Hills to Orange collaboration with local officials, other neighbors and officials celebrated the grand re- Grove to Linda Vista and all points between. opening in July. Special credit goes to Tom Seifert community groups and concerned residents, Many commented how much they appreciated and as a result, we will join together in and the La Casita Foundation Board of Directors the invitation and chance to visit with their for enlisting public and private support for the celebration and appreciation for our friendly neighbors and make some new friends. neighborhood. About us 2014 – 2015 officers 2014 – 2015 board of directors President: Geoffrey Baum Justin Chapman ([email protected]) Ken Grobecker ([email protected]) Vice President: Sarah Gavit Land use, Planning ([email protected]) Kenyon Harbison The News is mailed each quarter to Treasurer: Blaine Cavena Joan Hearst nearly 8,000 homes in the 91105 and ([email protected]) 91103 ZIP codes and beyond. Chuck Hudson ([email protected]) Secretary: Robert Holmes Communications Editor: Chuck Hudson ([email protected] Jim Keatley ([email protected]), Mission: Founded in 1962, the West Audrey O’Kelley, past president Pasadena Residents’ Association is dedicated to P. O. Box 50252 maintaining the character of our community and Marilyn Randolph ([email protected]) Pasadena, CA 91115-0252 enhancing the quality of life in west Pasadena. Education The West Pasadena Residents’ Area: The WPRA service area is bounded on Catherine Stringer Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit the north by Colorado Boulevard, on the east by Priscilla Taylor public benefit corporation. Fair Oaks Avenue and on the south and west by the city limits. Michael Udell, past president The WPRA is grateful to Castle Press Funding: All WPRA activities are funded Bill Urban, past president for design and printing services. through membership dues and contributions. John Van de Kamp The WPRA receives no public funding and ________________________________ has no paid employees. Since the WPRA is a Fred Zepeda, past president Visit our website at wpra.net 501(c)(3) non-profit public benefit corporation, Linda Zinn ([email protected]) contributions and donations are fully deductible Membership, Open Space, & to the extent permitted by law. Conservation The News 2 Fall 2014 The News 3 Fall 2014 CITY IN MOTION From concept to master plan … with your help BRIEFS ‘Connecting Pasadena Plan’ Help us respond to SR-710 DEIR/DEIS By Audrey O’Kelley on October 25, will provide information Director, WPRA and seek foundational ideas on turning The WPRA is forming a team to respond concept into reality. The second workshop, on to the SR-710 Draft Environmental ecades ago Caltrans took valuable land November 8, will provide a draft master plan Impact Report DEIR) and Statement from the City of Pasadena and left us blueprint based on your ideas from the first (DEIS), which is planned for release Dwith the stunted, unsightly 710 stub. visioning workshop. in February 2015. We’re looking for A new citizen’s initiative, Connecting experts or research-oriented amateurs to Pasadena Plan (CPP), is looking for ideas One caveat: The CPP will be possible ONLY if review the following subject areas: legal, on how to transform this 25-foot deep ditch Caltrans and Metro do not build the currently NEPA/CEQA, construction, geology, into an area of beauty and value for our city. proposed tunnel. hydrology, transportation and traffic, air The goal is to develop a master plan for this What do you think? Should Pasadena depend quality, water quality and usage, noise/ “lost land” by creating a grand boulevard on Caltrans and Metro to forge the future of vibration, hazardous materials and to manage current and future traffic and this important swath of our city? Or should safety, global warming, human health, reestablishing the urban fabric through we take charge of our own city’s destiny? biological assessment, historic assets, creation of parks and buildings.