Pasadena Native Pens 2006
"One City, One Story" Selection

ut down whatever you've been reading. Beginning in March, you're sure to be poring through Kindred, the 2006 selection for Pasadena's "One City, One Story" program.
Created in 2002 by Pasadena Public Library, the communitywide celebration promotes the joy of reading while sparking conversations in neighborhoods, at libraries and large community events.
This year, for the first time, "One City, One Story" will feature a novel written by a Pasadena native - Octavia Estelle Butler. The daughter of a Pasadena shoe shiner and homemaker, the famed novelist attended Pasadena City College, Cal State L.A. and UCLA before becoming one of the most prominent African American science fiction writers in the nation. Butler has garnered countless honors including a MacArthur "genius" grant, science fiction's Nebula and Hugo awards and the PEN Center West Lifetime Achievement Award. She now lives in Washington.
Marking its 25th anniversary, Kindred tells the tale of Dana, a 26-year-old modern black woman who is snatched from her new husband and transported through time to the antebellum South. First called upon to save her drowning ancestor Rufus, the white son of a plantation owner, Dana is pulled back again and again, enduring the life of a 19th century slave and facing life or death dilemmas.
The novel is available for check-out at Pasadena Central Library and all branches and for purchase at local book stores, which have stocked up for this year's "One City, One Story" celebration. You'll also find Kindred in audio format at Central Library. Visit www.onecityonestory.com for a full list of book discussions, special events and activities citywide or to volunteer as a discussion leader.
For more information call 744-4066.

Meet the Author

Please note: We learned of the death of Octavia Butler shortly after we went to press with this edition of Pasadena In Focus. All of the scheduled One City, One Story events will continue in her memory.

Octavia Butler will lead a community dialogue on her work Friday, March 17, at 7:30 p.m. in the Forum Room at All Saints Church, 132 N. Euclid Ave. Don't miss this chance to meet a legend.

There are several opportunities to participate in small group discussions. Additional book discussions are set for:

Thursday, March 9, 2 p.m.
Hill Avenue Branch Library
55 S. Hill Ave.

Tuesday, March 14, 7 p.m.
Lamanda Park Branch Library
140 S. Altadena Dr.

Saturday, March 18, 10:30 a.m. Allendale Branch Library
1130 S. Marengo Ave.

Tuesday, March 21, 11 a.m.
Hastings Branch Library
3325 E. Orange Grove Blvd.

Tuesday, March 21, 6:30 p.m.
San Rafael Branch Library
1240 Nithsdale Rd.

Thursday, March 23, 7 p.m.
Central Library
285 E. Walnut St.

Sunday, March 26, 2:30 p.m.
La Pintoresca Branch Library
1355 N. Raymond Ave.

Monday, March 27, 2 p.m.
Lamanda Park Branch Library
140 S. Altadena Dr.

Wednesday, March 29, 6:30 p.m.
Hastings Branch Library
3325 E. Orange Grove Blvd.

Please Don’t Feed the Birds

We know they're persistent little critters, but please don't feed the pigeons! The Pasadena Public Health Department has issued a friendly reminder that it's unhealthy and illegal to leave bread crumbs, seeds and any food on city streets, sidewalks, parks and other public property with the intention of feeding birds. You can also be a good citizen by throwing out
leftovers or empty food containers in a closed trash bin.

There are good reasons for the rule:

• Feeding "people food" to pigeons makes them dependent on humans and more susceptible to disease and other health risks.

• Pigeons scare off other wild birds, eat up their food supply and carry viruses that can kill them.

• Food and seeds left behind by pigeons can attract rats, mice and other vermin that are notorious for spreading diseases.

• Pigeons are covered with disease-causing germs including salmonella, tuberculosis and ornithosis (which causes pneumonia-like symptoms.) Their droppings, dandruff, feathers and parasites are big sources of allergens that can cause breathing problems, skin rashes and other ailments in humans.

• Pigeon droppings, especially when wet, have been known to cause falls and other accidents. In addition, the unsightly droppings have a high acid content that can damage buildings, decorative paving, benches and more. Nest droppings and feathers can block gutters and rainwater pipes, causing flooding and water damage.

For more information or for help with a pigeon problem, call 744-6004.

Shining a Spotlight on Local Heroes

Pasadena's hometown heroes will be honored at two special galas this spring. The Pasadena Police Activities League (PAL) honors local businesses, community groups and citizens for their outstanding contributions to Pasadena's youths. The 5th annual Golden Badge Awards dinner Thursday, March 30, at the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel will begin with a reception at 6 p.m. followed by a gala dinner and a live auction at 7 p.m. The fund-raising event benefits PAL, a program founded in 1997 that has paired more than 1,200 children and teens with Pasadena police officers for athletic, arts and after-school programs. Aimed at cutting juvenile crime, PAL fosters strong values, teamwork, honesty and respect. For reservations or more information call (818) 787-8742.

Mark your calendar for the 35th annual Police & Citizens Award Luncheon on Thursday, May 18, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., also at the Ritz-Carlton, where the Pasadena Police Department will recognize heroes who have shown extraordinary bravery, creativity, commitment to service and dedication to the public good. Outstanding police employees and Pasadena citizens will be honored. For your $40 ticket, call 744-4551.

Protecting the Next Generation

Keeping our children safe is a top priority for the Pasadena Police Department and two special programs helping to do the job.

Project ChildSafe
The Police Department has teamed up with Project ChildSafe to provide Pasadena residents with free firearms safety kits with gun locks. Unsecured guns that aren't stored properly are a common cause of accidents among children and young adults. To ward off tragedy, the kits include important safety tips for parents and caregivers plus a cable-style lock that fits most handguns, rifles and shotguns. You can pick one up from the Community Services front desk at police headquarters, 207 N. Garfield Ave., Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Kids Safety Academy
Give your children the confidence and skills they need to protect themselves during the free Kids Safety Academy planned for Saturday mornings starting in June. Designed for children ages 6 to 11 and their parents, the seven-week program will cover a range of topics from emergency preparedness to water safety. Sponsored by the Pasadena Police Foundation, classes will be led by experts from the Police Department, Fire Department, Public Health Department, Public Works Department recycling office, Eaton Canyon Nature Center, Rose Bowl Aquatics Center and L.A. County District Attorney's Office. Applications are being accepted now and space is limited.

For more information about these important programs, call 744-4551.

map

For just 50¢, zip through town on a Pasadena ARTS bus without worrying about parking or the cost of gas. Children under 5 are free; youths, seniors ages 60 and older and disabled riders are just 25¢. Buses on seven routes now serve every area of the community, whisking you off to work, school, appointments, shopping, theaters, Metro Gold Line stations and more. Maps and schedules are available on the buses and at 117 E. Colorado Blvd., all city libraries, Pasadena and Altadena senior centers, major Pasadena hotels, Pasadena Convention and Visitors Bureau, Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, Armory Center for the Arts, PCC, JPL, Caltech and other major employment centers. For more information call 398-8973 or visit www.cityofpasadena.net/trans (click on Transit Operations).

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