South Pasadena's 132nd Birthday

From the City of South Pasadena:

Join us in a celebration of South Pasadena's 132nd birthday with a trio of authors who are devoted local historians and collectors, Sunday, March 15, 2020 from 2:00-5:00 p.m. in the Library Community Room, 1115 El Centro Street, South Pasadena, California, 91030.

Distinguished authors Glen Duncan, Rick Thomas and Chip Jacobs will share their perspectives on South Pasadena's fascinating history and their thoughts on why South Pasadena has been and continues to be one of Southern California's most charming and friendly cities. Books will be available for purchase and signing will take place after the presentation.

The event will conclude with a special Mills Act workshop led by architectural historian and South Pasadena Preservation Foundation (SPPF) board member Marina Khrustaleva, giving attendees an opportunity to learn about this incentive program that provides property tax relief for owners who restore eligible historic buildings. Khrustaleva will also present information about SPPF’s Centennial Plaque program, which allows owners of homes 100+ years old to commemorate that milestone with an attractive bronze plaque.

This free program has been organized by the South Pasadena Preservation Foundation (SPPF) and the South Pasadena Public Library. Refreshments will be provided by the Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library.

Program:

2:00-3:30 p.m. – Author presentations and Q&A

3:30-4:00 p.m. – Book Signing

4:00-5:00 p.m. – Mills Act Workshop and SPPF Centennial Plaque Program information

About the Authors

Known near and far as "Mr. Route 66", Glen Duncan has authored Route 66 in California, a volume in Arcadia Publishing’s popular Images of America series. He served with distinction on the City’s Cultural Heritage Commission for 16 years and is an Emeritus Board Member of the South Pasadena Preservation Foundation. Duncan earned a Certificate in Historic Preservation from Los Angeles Trade Technical College in 2000 and has played a key role in preserving and facilitating restoration of three National Register properties in South Pasadena: The Oaklawn Bridge, El Centro Drive-In Market, and the Smith & Williams Building. He resides in South Pasadena’s landmark Mabel Packer House.

Rick Thomas is the former museum curator and vice-chair of education for the South Pasadena Preservation Foundation and has also served on the South Pasadena Natural Resources Commission, helping to maintain a strict policy protecting the city’s great old-growth trees. Using touchstone photographs from his own collection—one of the San Gabriel Valley’s largest accumulations of historical images and artifacts—as well as national, state, and local historical archives, Thomas provides a window to his city’s past and an understanding of why its preservation is so important. He has written South Pasadena, The Arroyo Seco, South Pasadena's Ostrich Farm, and South Pasadena's Raymond Hotel, all of which are available from Arcadia Publishing.

Chip Jacobs, an award winning journalist who has written for the Los Angeles Business Journal, the Los Angeles Times, the Daily News of Los Angeles, L.A. Weekly, The New York Times, CNN, Bloomberg View, the Pasadena Weekly, the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, and newgeography.com, has also authored several nonfiction books. His most recent book is his debut novel Arroyo, which tells the parallel stories of a young inventor and his clairvoyant dog while exploring the history, mystery and grandeur of Pasadena’s Colorado Street Bridge.

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The South Pasadena Public Library is located at 1100 Oxley Street, South Pasadena, California, 91030. The Library Community Room address is 1115 El Centro Street. Free parking is available after 12:00 p.m. in the Mission-Meridian Parking Garage at 805 Meridian Avenue, adjacent to the Gold Line Station. Library information can be found on the Library’s website: www.southpasadenaca.gov/library, Facebook page: www.facebook.com/southpasadenalibrary, or by phone: 626-403-7350 and email: library@southpasadenaca.gov.

ADA Reasonable Accommodation Requests: Upon request made no later than four (4) business days before public events event, the City will provide a reasonable accommodation for a qualified person with a disability to have equal access to the event. Please contact the City’s ADA Coordinator and Human Resources Manager at (626) 403-7312 or fill out the City’s request form available at www.southpasadenaca.gov and email the form to Human Resources at HR@southpasadenaca.gov.

This press release was produced by the City of South Pasadena. The views expressed here are the author’s own.