Mystery History

Where are we? And what's happening?

The first person to guess correctly will win a fabulous prize!

I'll have the full scoop on Thursday.

My Blog's a Source on Wikipedia!

Patrick Peter Early, an editor on Wikipedia, notified me last Thursday via Facebook that one of my blog postings has been cited as a source for a Wikipedia article about late Pasadena Mayor Horace Dobbins.

To my knowledge, this is the first time my humble little site has been used as a source on that huge mighty site.

Looking for Something to Do?

Saturday, July 31, at 11 a.m. – Deb Swartz of Old Town Cooking School will show you how to make simple summer salad suppers at San Rafael Branch Library, 1240 Nithsdale Rd. You’ll even get samples to enjoy and recipes to take home! 744-7270.


Sunday, Aug. 1 -- Pasadena ARTS Bus service changes begin today, including elimination of Sunday service.


Monday, Aug. 2, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. – Calling all teens! Learn how to calculate your net worth, create a budget and establish a financial portfolio at Pasadena Central Library, 285 E. Walnut St. Parents are welcome, too. 744-4766.


Tuesday, Aug. 3, from 1 to 3 p.m. – Registered nurses from Huntington Hospital will present the first workshop in a six-week series titled “Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions” designed for individuals with chronic illness and/or their caregivers at San Rafael Branch Library, 1240 Nithsdale Rd. Registration is required: 744-7270.


Tuesday, Aug. 3, from 6 to 9 p.m. – It’s National Night Out hosted by the Pasadena Police Department! Come on over to Jefferson Park (Villa Street at Hamilton Avenue) for BBQ by Pasadena firefighters (from 7 p.m. until the food’s gone), face painting, games and plenty of fun. 744-7650.


Wednesday, Aug. 4, at 7:30 a.m. – Walk around the Rose Bowl Loop with Mayor Bill Bogaard!


Wednesday, Aug. 4, at 1 p.m. – This week’s film in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Pasadena Central Library is “All Roads Lead Home” (2008, PG) starring Peter Coyote, Peter Boyle and Vivien Cardone in the story of Belle, a 12-year-old girl whose father struggles to raise her after the death of his wife/her mother, and the puppy who changes Belle’s life and the lives of those who love her.


Wednesday, Aug. 4, at 7:30 p.m. – It’s City of Pasadena Night at the Staples Center as the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks take on the Chicago Sky. VIP floor seats for Pasadena residents, employees, their families and friends are just $17.50!


Thursday, Aug. 5, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Teens are invited to compete in a Monopoly tournament at Pasadena Central Library. Stay out of jail and test your skills – Boardwalk and Park Place await! Two 90-minute rounds will be played, and lunch and snacks will be provided. Registration is required: 744-4766.


Saturday, Aug. 7, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – City Councilman Chris Holden hosts his annual District 3 block party including refreshments, live entertainment, raffles, information booths, hands-only CPR training and food barbecued by Pasadena firefighters. You don’t have to be a resident of District 3 to attend.


Tuesday, Aug. 10, at 6:30 p.m. – What are you looking for in Pasadena’s next planning director? Attend a community meeting in the Council Chamber (S249) at Pasadena City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave., and give the city manager your opinion.


Through Aug. 15 -- Check out ongoing summer reading programs for children and teens, including plenty of free events and activities!

Find more community events (and add your own) here.

Mystery History -- Solved

Thursday 11:30 a.m. UPDATE to the post below: I'll be the first one to admit when I've erred. Liz's (Pasadena Adjacent) 11:02 Tuesday guess "The completion of the bridge at Devils Gate dam (before it was a dam)" was close enough, so she wins this week's fabulous prize. And so maybe I won't go so easy on you next week!

* * * * * * * * * *

How can it be that I stumped everybody two weeks in a row?

I figured that with Hahamongna being in the news lately, it would be fun to post another photo from the 1890s outing to Devil's Gate that I featured in a prior Mystery History won by Bellis last year.

What the group was looking up toward is lost to the ages. A hawk? Someone atop a canyon wall?

One man brought a fishing pole all the way up there, which I love.

Click on the "prior Mystery History" link above for more history of Devil's Gate.

Just as I did the last time I stumped everyone two weeks in a row, I promise to go easy on you next week!

Mystery History

Where are we? And what's happening?

The first person to guess correctly will win a fabulous prize!

I'll have the full scoop on Thursday.

Your City at Work

Last Wednesday I began taping a new edition of "Your City at Work," a series on KPAS that has me following a city employee out of the office and into the field.

Past editions have featured a public health nurse, motorcycle cop, code compliance officer, arborist and other employees who don't spend all their time behind a desk.

This latest edition, which will air after some additional taping and editing are completed, features Jesse Reyes (in orange shirt below), a water troubleshooter with Pasadena Water and Power.


The camera crew is Davide Colleone, left, and Michele Maglionico. Linda Centell of the Public Affairs Office is the director.

What's a water troubleshooter? You'll have to tune in to find out! When the program's ready to roll, I'll let everyone know the schedule. All KPAS programming can be seen via streaming video on the Internet as well.

In the top photo I'm doing a little intro for the show in front of the Chapman Wellhead near PWP's water meter shop. The color coordination was coincidental!

The photos were shot by Linda Centell.

Looking for Something to Do?

Wednesday, July 28, at 1 p.m. – This week’s film in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Pasadena Central Library, 285 E. Walnut St., is “The Wizard of Oz” (G, 1939) starring Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr and Jack Haley. 744-4066.


Thursday, July 29 -- This is the deadline for applying for the Pasadena Neighborhood Leadership Institute sponsored by the Neighborhood Connections Office of the Human Services and Recreation Department. You’ll learn skills for civic participation in Pasadena. Find more information and applications information and applications here.


Tuesday, Aug. 3, from 1 to 3 p.m. -- Registered nurses from Huntington Hospital will present the six-week workshop Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions at San Rafael Branch Library, 1240 Nithsdale Rd. Learn how to take control of ongoing health conditions on a daily basis: manage stress, eat healthier, create an exercise program, communicate better with your physician and live a happier, healthier life. To register, call 744-7270.


Thursday, Aug. 3, from 6 to 9 p.m. – The Pasadena Police Department hosts National Night Out with a special community event at Jefferson Park (Villa Street at Hamilton Avenue). Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy fun, games and food! 744-7650.


Wednesday, Aug. 4, at 7:30 a.m. – Walk around the 3.3-mile Rose Bowl Loop with Mayor Bill Bogaard and officials from Kaiser Permanente corporate headquarters . Meet at Gate A.


Wednesday, Aug. 4, at 7:30 p.m. – It’s City of Pasadena night as the L.A. Sparks play against the Chicago Sky at the Staples Center! Reserved floor seats are only $17.50. 796-7164, ext. 12.


Saturday, Aug. 7, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – The District 3 block party on Jackson Street between Los Robles and El Molino will include refreshments, live entertainment, raffles, information booths sponsored by the City of Pasadena and local non-profits, hands-only CPR training, and food barbecued by Pasadena firefighters.


Through Aug. 15 -- Check out ongoing summer reading programs for children and teens, including plenty of free events and activities!

All events listed above are free unless otherwise noted; all phone numbers are in the (626) area code.

Find more community events (and add your own) here.