SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER  2003

To Honor and Remember

LIST OF SEPTEMBER 11 MEMORIAL ACTIVITIES in Pasadena is being compiled. Send an email to aerdman@ci.pasadena.ca.us or call the city’s Public Affairs Office at 744-4755 for updates.

A Veterans Day commemoration Tuesday, Nov. 11, in front of Pasadena City Hall will include drills by Junior ROTC units from local high schools, a flyover of vintage aircraft, Taps and more. Specific details will be included in the November/ December edition of Pasadena In Focus.

Terrorism and bioterrorism preparedness and response efforts are as important now as ever. For current threat levels and answers to frequently asked questions visit www.ci.pasadena.ca.us and click on Emergency Preparedness or call 744-4000 for a packet of information.

Recycling and Bulky Item Pick-up for Apartment Renters

WHAT’S AN EARTH-CONSCIOUS APARTMENT DWELLER TO DO? Recycling trucks hired by the city don’t stop at complexes with more than four units, but here are a few ideas to help you recycle just the same:

• Talk to your landlord about developing a recycling program through your private trash hauler.

• Take your recyclables to the recycling center at Caltech, in the parking lot on Lura Street off Wilson and Michigan avenues.

• Take your recyclables to a buy-back center found at many supermarkets.

• Drop off household hazardous waste, including paint, cleaners and more, at a special roundup sponsored by Los Angeles County. For a schedule, go to www.888cleanla.com or call (888) 253-2652.

• Take your large, bulky trash items, including mattresses, refrigerators and furniture, to a recycling center specializing in oversized trash. Call 744-4721 for nearby locations.

The Keys to Buying Your Home

STOP DREAMING ABOUT A HOME OF YOUR OWN AND MAKE IT HAPPEN! Learn all you need to know at the free First Time Home Buyers Seminar on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 9 a.m. to noon in the Council Chambers, room 247 at City Hall. Another seminar, entirely in Spanish, will be offered Saturday, Oct. 25, at the same time and place. Both are sponsored by Pasadena-Foothills Association of Realtors and the city of Pasadena.

You’ll learn about down-payment requirements, how to qualify for assistance programs and cut your closing costs, what “in escrow” means and much more. Lenders and realtors will be on hand to answer questions.

Seating is very limited so call (800) 925-2721 to reserve a spot or call the city’s Housing and Community Development Division at 744-8317 for details on homebuyer assistance programs.

Brush Away Fire Hazards

IT ONLY TAKES ONE SPARK AND A SUMMER BREEZE to start a full-fledged brush fire. Here’s what residents in Pasadena’s hillside areas need to know:

• When landscaping, select materials and plants that help contain - not fuel - fires

• Keep branches away from power lines

• Clear a 10-foot area around propane tanks and barbeques

• Stack firewood at least 100 feet away and uphill from your home

• Prune tree branches and shrubs within 15 feet of stovepipe or chimney outlets

• Routinely clear roof and gutters

• Have a garden hose long enough to reach any area of your home

• Report hazardous conditions that could cause a fire

• Install and check smoke detectors on each level of your home

• Buy and know how to use an all-purpose fire extinguisher

• Inspect chimneys at least twice a year

• Plan several escape routes away from your home

• Know your neighbors and their special needs during an evacuation

• Assemble a portable disaster supply kit for every member of your family

• Keep important documents in a fire-resistant, waterproof container

For additional tips or to report hazardous conditions, call the Pasadena Fire Department’s disaster preparedness coordinator at 744-7276.