The Coundown Has Begun

The ban on outdoor watering begins next week!

From March 18 to 27, the F.E. Weymouth Water Treatment Plant in LaVerne will undergo a seismic retrofit, during which a major MWD water pipeline through the San Gabriel Valley that supplies about 40 percent of Pasadena's imported water will be shut down.

Everyone in Pasadena will be prohibited from doing any outdoor watering, with very few exceptions.

Beginning this Friday and through March 17, give your gardens and shrubs as much water as you like so they'll be well-saturated during the March 18 to 27 shutdown, then cover flower beds with mulch to prevent the soil from drying out.


If you have a gardener, be sure that person is aware of the watering restrictions! You don't want your gardener to unknowingly put you at risk of a citation and fine.

If you have a sprinkler system, be sure to set the timer so it's turned off from March 18 to 27.

If you don't have a sprinkler system, that doesn't mean you're off the hook! All methods of outdoor watering with city tap water, including by hand, hose, drip, manual and automatic sprinklers, will be strictly prohibited during the shutdown, at all times.

See more information, including tips and answers to frequently asked questions, here.

Ten days will pass quickly, I promise!

Oh, and don't go saying the shutdown isn't necessary since we've had a lot of rain lately. A few inches of rain has done little for our natural supply of water in Pasadena and certainly has nothing to do with 40 percent of our water supply from an outside source.

I'm just sayin'...

Mystery History -- Solved!

Nobody got it exactly right, but Bellis was the first person to name one person in the photo correctly with her 7:55 a.m. Tuesday guess "Mulholland and co. planning to buy up Hahamongna to bring water to LA? (after meeting fierce resistance from the Indiana colony, they headed up to Owens Valley)" so I'm giving her this week's fabulous prize.

Left to right in the 1931 photo above are Franklin E. Weymouth, William Mulholland and W.P Whitsett, and they're actually in the desert*. These three visionaries were responsible for bringing water from northern and central areas of the state to Southern California -- an intricate, expensive and bold move. They predicted that the future growth of Southern California -- Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties -- would be tied directly to the capacity to import water from somewhere else.

And they were absolutely right.

Weymouth had been the chief construction engineer with the U.S. Reclamation Service (now called the Bureau of Reclamation) when he joined the team that conceived of the California Aqueduct. He was the first general manager and chief engineer of Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) from 1929 to 1941.

Mulholland was a self-taught engineer who had been responsible for the Los Angeles Aqueduct in 1913, which brought water from the Owens Valley to L.A.

Whitsett served on the board of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and was MWD's first chairman of the board from 1930 to 1947.

Today the California Aqueduct, managed by the California Department of Water Resources, is a series of canals, tunnels and pipelines that transport water from Northern and Central California to Southern California.


What's the significance of this week's Mystery History?

MWD is preparing for a seismic upgrade of its F.E. Weymouth Water Treatment Plant in La Verne (below).


From March 18 to 27 (and possibly longer), Pasadena’s water supply will be cut by 40 percent due to the temporary shutdown of a major regional water pipeline served by the treatment plant.

That's where you come in.


You won't be allowed to do any outdoor watering (with some exceptions) during that 10-day period, so here are some answers to frequently asked questions.

There will be a 7:30 p.m. public hearing at the Pasadena City Council meeting this coming Monday to declare a Level 4 water shortage emergency. The agenda will be posted here by tonight and you'll be able to attend the meeting in person or watch it live on KPAS (channel 3 on Charter in Pasadena and 99 on U-Verse) or via streaming video here (click on the KPAS logo)

We're all in this together!

*First time ever a Mystery History photo was not shot in Pasadena, but this was for a good cause.


Many thanks to MWD and Pasadena Water and Power.

Mystery History -- Solved!

Last week I promised to go easier on you, and this week I did! So much so that Dianne nailed it right off the bat with her 10:13 a.m. Tuesday guess "That's my Jack Parsons in the Arroyo getting ready to do the test."

In the photo above, John Whiteside "Jack" Parsons stands in the upper Arroyo Seco on Nov. 15, 1936, with an experimental rocket motor.

Here's a photo of one of the motor tests on Nov. 28, 1936:


Parsons was born to wealth and privilege in Pasadena. From an early age he was a gifted chemist, self-taught explosives expert and had an obsession with the occult.

Parsons teamed up with aeronautical engineer Frank Malina and machinist Ed Forman to test a rocket motor they had thrown together from spare engine parts. After several unsuccessful attempts over the course of four days, the oxygen line unexpectedly ignited and started shooting fire, and the rest is history. Jet Propulsion Laboratory credits these early rocket motors as eventually evolving into the tools of spacecraft.

JPL has a nice little video on its website about these early days.

Here's a photo of Parsons (front right), Forman (back right) and Malina (third from left) along with students Rudolph Schott (far left) and Apollo Milton Olin Smith.



Theodore von Karman credited Jack Parsons's work in solid fuel research with making Polaris and Minuteman possible.

Parsons was only 38 years old on June 17, 1952, when an experiment in his home laboratory went bad and the whole place blew up. He died a few hours later.

Here's an L.A. Times photo showing a Pasadena police officer examining the post-blast rubble.



Rocket fuel from early testing seeped into some City of Pasadena water wells over several years, causing some of them to be closed off. In March 2009, Pasadena Water and Power began construction of the Monk Hill Groundwater Treatment Plant at the Windsor Reservoir near JPL. The new plant will remove perchlorate and volatile organic compounds from four deep wells in that area. It's a collaboration between the City of Pasadena and NASA, and is scheduled for completion this coming fall, when it will be able to treat 7,000 gallons of groundwater per minute, meet all regulatory stands and restore another source of safe drinking water to Pasadena.

Many thanks to JPL for the historic photos.

Jones Reservoir

If you haven't been to Hamilton Park, it's in the Upper Hastings Ranch area, generally bounded by Cartwright Street to the north, Sierra Madre Boulevard to the south, Pepperhill Road to the east and Crestview Drive to the west. The back side of the park is across the street from PazNaz.

If you have been to Hamilton Park, do you know it sits atop a reservoir? Yes, Jones Reservoir is doing its thing, with the help of our talented Pasadena Water and Power crews, below the surface.

Here's the pumping station:


Pasadena Water and Power has 12 active wells that feed natural groundwater into 18 reservoirs throughout the community that also receive some purchased water from Metropolitan Water District.

Jones Reservoir holds about 50 million gallons -- the largest capacity of all Pasadena's reservoirs (Lida Reservoir is the smallest). The blended water (natural groundwater and MWD water) is disinfected and then distributed to customers through a pipeline network of 478 miles of mains throughout the city.


Beside the walkway near the park entrance on Cartwright, there is a memorial to A.L. Hamilton -- a bronze plaque on a cast concrete base:

In honor of
A.L. Hamilton
Superintendent of Pasadena City Schools
1907-1911
Chairman of the Commission, City of Pasadena
1915-1921
Presented June 11, 1960
By
Pasadena Pioneer Association
And
Pasadena Historical Society

Here's Chairman Hamilton's photo from the Hall of Mayors:


Ben Wideman did a nice post about Hamilton Park recently.

I've been doing an occasional series of blog posts about monuments and memorials in Pasadena. Here are the others I've posted to date.

The photo of Hamilton Park and the memorial plaque were shot by the mighty Zack Stromberg of the Public Affairs Office. Many thanks to Brad Boman of PWP for the photo of the pumping station.

Looking for Something to Do?

Here are highlights of upcoming events sponsored by the City of Pasadena. All events are free.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 29

* 6 p.m. -- What's in store for the Hahamongna Watershed Park Annex? During the Hahamongna Watershed Park Advisory Committee meeting at La Casita del Arroyo, 177 S. Arroyo Blvd., there will be an update on the Sunset Overlook project plus an update and consideration of recommendations on adoption of the park master plan amendment for the annex. (626) 744-4321.

* 6:30 p.m. – As part of our General Plan update, help map out the most important qualities and characteristics of Pasadena and define the community’s most pressing issues during a workshop at Boys & Girls Clubs of Pasadena, 3230 E. Del Mar Blvd. (626) 744-4009.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 30

* 1 p.m. – This week’s film in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Pasadena Central Library, 285 E. Walnut St., is “A Beautiful Mind” about Nobel Prize-winner John Forbes Nash’s experiences with schizophrenia. (626) 744-4066.

* 6:30 p.m. – “Streets, Traffic and Transit” is the topic of a panel discussion followed by plenty of audience Q&A at PCC’s Community Education Center, 3035 E. Foothill Blvd. as part of our General Plan update. Speakers are Ellen Greenberg, an expert in smart mobility, sustainable streets and transit-oriented development; and Philip Erickson, president of Community Design + Architecture and a planner, urban designer and architect with special expertise in city streets. (626) 744-4009.

THURSDAY, OCT. 1

* 6:30 p.m. – How can Pasadena’s bikeway system be improved? Bring your best ideas to a meeting at Jackie Robinson Center, 1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave. (626) 744-7254.

* 7 p.m. – All seven Pasadena City Council members will host discussions in their respective districts about future priorities for Pasadena as part of our General Plan update. The first will be hosted by City Councilman Terry Tornek for District 7 residents at Hamilton Elementary School, 2089 Rose Villa St. (626) 744-4009.

SATURDAY, OCT. 3

11 a.m. – The Latino Heritage Parade will begin on Los Robles Avenue at Howard Street, head south to Washington Boulevard, then west to a jamaica/community fair at La Pintoresca Park with free arts and crafts, entertainment, exhibits and food until 4 p.m. Wave to City of Pasadena officials in the parade and stop by the City of Pasadena booths at the jamaica! (626) 791-7421.

SUNDAY, OCT. 4

5 p.m. – Join Pasadena City Councilman Terry Tornek for a walk through District 7. Meet at the Assistance League’s Craft Fair Gift Shop, 820 E. California Blvd. Parking is available in the lot at the shop and on Hudson Avenue. The walk, which will begin promptly at 5:15 p.m., will highlight scenic Arden Road and the Caltech campus, followed by a raffle and refreshments. For more information visit www.upandmoving.org or call District 7 Field Representative Pamela Thyret at (626) 744-4737.

TUESDAY, OCT. 6

* 3 p.m. – From parks to community centers, the City of Pasadena has plans for making structural improvements to public places so people with disabilities can use them safely and conveniently. Learn more at a community meeting hosted by the Accessibility and Disability Commission in the Grand Conference Room (basement room 038) at Pasadena City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave. (626) 744-4762.

* 6:30 p.m. – Pasadena City Councilman Steve Haderlein will host a District 4 workshop about future priorities for Pasadena at the historic Stuart Pharmaceutical Building, 3660 E. Foothill Blvd., as part of our General Plan update. (626) 744-4009.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 7

* 7:30 a.m. – Join Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard, Fire Chief Dennis Downs and Pasadena Forward’s Executive Director Israel Estrada for a walk around the 3.3-mile Rose Bowl Loop. Meet at Gate A at the Rose Bowl Stadium. (626) 831-2980.

* 6:30 p.m. – Pasadena City Councilwoman Jacque Robinson will host a District 1 workshop about future priorities for Pasadena at the Rose Bowl Press Box, 1001 Rose Bowl Dr., as part of our General Plan update. (626) 744-4009.

FRIDAY, OCT. 9

* 6 to 10 p.m. – More than a dozen of our community’s finest institutions will open their doors for free during ArtNight Pasadena. Complimentary curb-to-curb shuttles will whisk you from one venue to the next. Be sure to stop by Pasadena Central Library, where the Crown City Chamber Players will perform classical hits. www.artnightpasadena.org. (626) 744-7887.

SATURDAY, OCT. 10

* 8 to 11:30 a.m. – Are you ready to go solar at your home? Price reductions, a 30 percent federal tax credit and hefty rebates from Pasadena Water and Power make it easier than ever! Learn more at a workshop at the Salvation Army, 960 E. Walnut St., including a comprehensive overview of incentives, how to choose an installer, and more. Reservations are required. (626) 744-6970.

THROUGH OCT. 10

Register for after-school homework help, tutoring and recreation on school days through May 28 for kids in first through eighth grades at Robinson Park Center, 1085 N. Fair Oaks Ave. (626) 744-7501.

THROUGH OCT. 12

Have you taken one or more MoveAbout Tours yet as we prepare for the General Plan update? Download a guidebook or pick one up at Pasadena Central Library, Pasadena City Hall and other locations. Be sure to include your feedback and return your booklets no later than Monday, Oct. 12. The General Plan is the blueprint for our community's future, so let your voice be heard! (626) 744-4009.

Many thanks to Latina Heritage for use of the parade photo.

NASA's Green Initiatives

Merrilee Fellows and I were long overdue for a get-together over breakfast to catch up with each other's professional and personal goings-on.

We did just that last week at my favorite spot for breakfast meetings: Ventanas Restaurant at the Westin Hotel.


Merrilee is NASA's manager for community involvement for environmental remediation.

I have known Merrilee for years, ever since outreach regarding treatment of some city-owned wells near JPL was added to her many responsibilities at NASA.

Not to mention the fact that Merrilee is a member of the sterling Pasadena Follies alumni!

She caught me up on the "green" initiatives she is working on from an outreach perspective.

It's exciting to know that the water treatment work NASA is conducting at our wells is given equal importance to bringing solar power to the John F. Kennedy Space Center!

You can learn more about NASA's green initiatives here.

And you can learn more about Merrilee here.

Looking for Something to Do?

Here's a listing of free events sponsored by the City of Pasadena the week of March 30.


Monday, March 30
6 p.m. -- The third in a series of public workshops about revisions to Pasadena’s tree protection ordinance will focus on the regulation of trees on private property.
(626) 744-4342.

Wednesday, April 1
* 7:30 a.m. – Get the kinks out on a morning walk around the Rose Bowl Loop with Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard and special guest Michael Ross, CEO of Pasadena Center Operating Company. Meet at Gate A.
(626) 831-2980.
* 1 p.m. – This week’s free film in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Pasadena Central Library, 285 E. Walnut St., is “27 Dresses” starring Katherine Heigl as Jane, a young woman who has served as a bridesmaid 27 times and now questions whether she should stand at her sister’s side as her sibling marries the man Jane secretly loves.
(626) 744-4066.

Thursday, April 2
6:30 p.m. – Pasadena City Councilwoman Margaret McAustin will host a District 2 meeting about the city budget for Fiscal Year 2010 (July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010) with special guest City Manager Michael Beck at Longfellow Elementary School, 1065 E. Washington Blvd.
(626) 744-4742.


Friday, April 3, through Sunday, April 5
Celebrate with us as we mark the grand opening of the newly expanded Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green St. On Friday at noon we’ll have the official ribbon-cutting ceremony; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. you’ll get free admission and parking for the Home Show and Real Estate Expo with distinctive vendors, cooking demonstrations and much more; Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. the Home Show and Real Estate Expo continues; and also on Sunday it’s our annual One City, One Story author visit (see specific OCOS events below).
(626) 795-9311


Saturday, April 4
9 a.m. to noon – Discover the best choices for Pasadena’s dry climate at the Trees and Shrubs Workshop sponsored by Pasadena Water and Power at the Salvation Army Pasadena Tabernacle, 960 E. Walnut St. Learn effective ways to prune, water and develop healthy root systems. Reserve your spot at www.cityofpasadena.net/savewater.
(626) 744-6970.


"The Hummingbird's Daughter"

As this year's One City, One Story community reading celebration draws to a close, don't miss these final events!

Sit in on a book discussion, watch professional chefs whip up some Mexican fare, learn from an expert about one of the book's themes and meet the author!

Saturday, March 28
* 10:30 a.m. – Attend a book discussion about “The Hummingbird’s Daughter” at Allendale Branch Library, 1130 S. Marengo Ave.
(626) 744-7260.
* 11 a.m. -- Chefs from Old town Cooking School will present Mexican cooking techniques (and samples!) at San Rafael Branch Library, 1240 Nithsdale Rd.
(626) 744-7270.

Tuesday, March 31
2 p.m. – Attend a book discussion about “The Hummingbird’s Daughter” at Hill Avenue Branch Library, 55 S. Hill Ave.
(626) 744-7264.

Wednesday, April 1
6:30 p.m. – Attend a book discussion about “The Hummingbird’s Daughter” at Hastings Branch Library, 3325 E. Orange Grove Blvd.
(626) 744-7262.

Friday, April 3
11 a.m. – Learn about the religious aspects of The Hummingbird’s Daughter during a presentation by Dr. Juan Martinez in Payton Hall at Fuller Theological Seminary, 135 N. Oakland Ave., followed by a book discussion. The event will be offered in Spanish at 2 p.m.
(626) 744-4066.

Sunday, April 5
3 to 5 p.m. – Luis Urrea, author of “The Hummingbird’s Daughter,” will speak at Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green St., about his experiences researching and writing the book and will answer questions from the audience. Free parking!
(626) 744-4066 or (626) 795-9311

There's No Time Like the Present

Most people these days remember to turn off sprinkler systems during the rainy season, an important way to conserve water.

But do you know that even during the rainy season, you still may be wasting more water than you think?

This is the perfect time of year for doing simple maintenance checks to make sure you're saving every drop possible (and saving on your water bill).

Here are some things to check for in your home.

Aerators -- Most faucets are equipped with aerators that mix air and water for a smoother flow. Cleaning your aerators once a year removes mineral and debris buildup. To check it out, (1) unscrew the aerator, (2) lay the parts on the counter in the order in which you removed them or make a sketch of their order so you can put them back correctly, (3) rinse each part with water and clean all screen holes with a toothbrush or toothpick. To remove hard water scale, soak the parts in vinegar or lime dissolver, then rinse with water before putting them back together. If a part is worn, replace it or install a new aerator.

Toilets -- So you think your toilet doesn’t leak? You may have to think again. Try this simple test to help detect the most common cause of toilet leaks: Put some food coloring in the tank and then leave for 15 minutes. When you return, look in the toilet bowl. If the water in the bowl is the same color as the dye, it’s time for a new flapper! After installing the flapper or calling a plumber to do it for you, run the dye test again to ensure that your toilet is not still leaking. If the leak persists, you may have to replace the entire flush valve.

Refrigerators -- Water lines for cold water dispensers and ice makers are usually connected from under the sink to the back of the refrigerator. These lines often run behind or under kitchen cabinets or walls. Since water lines are not in full view, leaks can often go undetected until they become big and expensive, potentially damaging other appliances, cabinets, walls and floors. So check for leaks or call a plumbing or refrigeration expert to do this important job for you.

For more information go here or call the PWP AnswerLine at 744-6970.

Solar Power is Heating Up!

About 100 solar photovoltaic installations are up and running in Pasadena's residential neighborhoods and nearly 100 are in the works!

Savvy homeowners locked in the PWP’s 2008 solar rebate rate before the end of year so they could have a little more time to plan their 2009 solar projects.

The 2009 residential rebates are a bit lower -- $3.15 per watt -- but are still among the most generous in the nation. (That's the beauty of having a community-owned utility like PWP!)

The current 2009 rebate rates won't last long, so lock them in now if you're planning for solar in your home in the near future. Permit fee waivers and a new 30% federal tax credit are also available for a limited time.

A free workshop for customers of Pasadena Water and Power is scheduled for Thursday, January 29, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Salvation Army Pasadena Tabernacle, 960 E. Walnut St.

Learn more about our solar program here.

Let's get the "star power" rising in Pasadena!

No, Really -- They're Free!

We have received many expressions of thanks from Pasadena residents for the free energy-saving light bulbs mailed to every household last summer.

Others have asked what gives with the coupon that was enclosed: "$75 in free bulbs? There must be a catch..."

But I happily repeat: The additional compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) are absolutely free. No tax, no shipping, no handling.

We've done the math, and this community will come out way ahead in energy cost savings and carbon emission reductions if every household switches to CFLs.

If you're a residential customer of Pasadena Water and Power, you have until the end of January to take advantage of the free CFL offer. Go here to order online or call (866) 807-1544.