Citizens Police Academy Week Three -- Disaster Preparedness and Community Services

Lisa Derderian, emergency management coordinator and public information officer for the Pasadena Fire Department, was one of the presenters at the Citizens Police Academy class last Thursday.

She said she missed me so much in my capacity as the Pasadena PIO that she wanted to present me with my very own fire helmet.

Of course, this means I have to flash back to the nasty, bitter, bloody rivalry we once had.

So once again (as if we would ever tire of it!) here are the photos of Lisa in her Fire PIO hat and me in my makeshift City PIO hat that was born* out of my pure, unbridled jealousy:

Who had the better PIO helmet? I'll let you be the judge!

And now, back to our class.

Lisa explained everything that should be placed in our emergency kits for disaster preparedness and gave us additional tips for what to expect immediately after a major earthquake.

At home I have one of the red backpacks you see on the podium.

After Lisa's presentation, Sgt. Bobby Lomeli (left) and Officer Christian Allen of the Pasadena Police Department explained some of the programs of the Neighborhood Services Unit of the Community Services Section. 

One of those programs is the Police Activities League (PAL), which provides positive alternatives to children and teens ages 9 to 17, including mentoring, tutoring, recreation and field trips. 

The annual Golden Badge Awards, which helps fund the PAL program, is coming up May 17, so please (please!) buy a ticket or make a donation. 

Among the many other programs of the Neighborhood Services Unit are the Junior Public Safety Academy for kids who want to become police officers and firefighters someday; the Summer Leadership Conference for middle school students who are emerging leaders; the Kids Safety Academy that teaches children everything from stranger danger to bicycle safety... 

...and the Youth Accountability Board that helps first-time offenders reflect on their actions and move toward a pathway of success by making amends and attending counseling with their families.

Officers and other staff in the Neighborhood Services Unit also make presentations to the nearly 500 Neighborhood Watch groups in Pasadena, conduct voluntary property inspections to look for telltale signs that could attract burglars, organize Pasadena's annual National Night Out, make presentations at schools throughout Pasadena and so much more.

Speaking of schools, Lt. Edward Calatayud (right), who heads up the Community Services Section, spoke to our class about the Safe Schools Team.

Funded by PUSD, the Safe Schools Team consists of one sergeant and six officers of the Pasadena Police Department (including Officer Sahak Nersesyan on the left) who maintain a safe and secure environment for students in high schools and middle schools in Pasadena. The team combines community outreach with prevention, intervention and enforcement while establishing relationships with students and creating partnerships with school administrators.   

As the Pasadena PIO for 21 years, I spent my fair share of time at the Pasadena Police Department and at PD events and incidents. I learned a lot over the course of those two decades but I certainly don't know it all. I'm finding there's so much more to take in!

I feel so fortunate to be in the Citizens Police Academy. Our next class is tomorrow night and I'll blog about in the next few days.

* The mighty Zack Stromberg created my PIO hat at my request. 

I took the photos from last week's class. Many thanks to Pasadena Star-News, Zack Stromberg and Pasadena Police Foundation for the others.

Mystery History

Where are we? And what's happening?

The first person to guess correctly will win lunch with me –– I'll buy yours and you'll buy mine.

Remember, leave your brief guess as a comment on this blog post but don't try to give the entire back story (that's my job).

I'll have the full scoop on Thursday.

Free Events in Northwest Arkansas Feb. 15 to 28

This is for my sister Charlou, who said in a comment to my Facebook post about upcoming free events in Pasadena, "Can you do one for Northwest Arkansas?" She and her husband live in Bella Vista.

So here you go, Sis...I'm only doing this because you're older than I am and I know you might beat me up if I don't humor you! But just this once. (By the way, my sis has a fabulous sister!)

Looking for stress relief? Try coloring! Color My World is an adult class Saturday, Feb. 15, from 3 to 4 p.m. at Bella Vista Public Library. Crayons are provided. Come every Friday!  

Learn all the ins and outs of Facebook, Twitter and other social media during a workshop Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 10 a.m. in the Rotary Conference Room at Bentonville Public Library.

Knit one, pearl two...the Knitting Club meets Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 2 p.m. at Bella Vista Public Library. This growing group is open to people of all ages and levels of expertise. Get to know new people and enjoy some hot tea. Knitting Club meets twice a month at the library.

The Mystery Book Club at Bella Vista Public Library meets Wednesday, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m. Call the library to find out what the latest book title is. Mystery Book Club meets once a month.

You've heard of children's story hours, but where's the story hour for adults? At Bella Vista Public Library Thursday, Feb. 20, from 3 to 4 p.m. Dr. Ginger Hamilton will read a short story or two while you enjoy a cup of tea and delicious cookies. Adult Story Hour is scheduled once a month.

Pickin' on the Square isn't outdoors at the Bentonville Square during winter months. It's inside the Downtown Activity Center Fridays, Feb. 21 and 28, from 5 to 11 p.m. The weekly gathering of musicians from around the region attracts music lovers to enjoy a variety of styles including bluegrass, country and blues. They'll continue performing indoors until the weather is warmer.

"Art from the Earth: A Pottery Exhibition" has been at the Rogers Historical Museum since October and runs through Thursday, Feb. 22. The exhibition features prehistoric ceremonial pots, 19th century functional crocks, 20th century art pottery and more examples of the wide range of pottery used and sometimes made in Arkansas over the centuries. 

The Eureka Gras Nite Parade Saturday, Feb. 22, at 6 p.m. is just one of the New Orleans-style Mardi Gras events through March 4 in Eureka Springs.

Word War, an audience-judged competition among singers, comics and poets, will be part of the line-up at Last Saturday Fayetteville Saturday, Feb. 22, at 7 p.m. at the Fayetteville Underground Art Gallery.

The Ozark Mountains British Brass Band will perform British and Celtic music Sunday, Feb. 23, at 3 p.m. at First Church of the Nazarene in Rogers. 

E.C. Roe, son of Brooklyn Dodgers Pitcher Elwin Charles "Preacher" Roe, (right in the photo above with Pee Wee Reese and Jackie Robinson) will tell stories about his dad's career and will have items on display for Baseball: The Way It Was Wednesday, Feb. 26, from 3 to 4 p.m. at Bella Vista Public Library. 

Candy Lee and the Sweets will perform as part of the "Unplugged" concert series at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Friday, Feb. 28, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the south entrance lobby. Lee is the 2011 Northwest Arkansas Music Award winner for best female singer/songwriter. While the event is free, you must reserve tickets here (and they're going fast!)

E. Fay Jones, co-architect of the Mildred E. Cooper Memorial Chapel in Bella Vista, was mentored by Frank Lloyd Wright. Set on a hilltop in the woods, the magnificent wood-and-steel structure features more than 4,460 square feet of glass windows that bring light, shadows and each season into the space, which is open to the public every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round.


Many thanks to Susie Miller's Musings, Vandelay Design, The Homemade Mama, Bella Vista Public Library, Summit Daily, Downtown Bentonville, Eureka Springs Mardi Gras, Last Night Fayetteville, Ozark Mountains British Brass Band, New York Times, Tuned In and Our Life on Wheels for the photos.

Looking for Something to Do? Free Events Feb. 15 to 22

Here are my top picks of events for adults, teens and children scheduled from Feb. 15 to 22.

All events are free, so take a look –– and don't you dare tell me there's nothing to do in Pasadena!

Mulch season has begun! Garden-fresh mulch is available to Pasadena residents while supplies last at the southeast corner of the parking lot at Victory Park from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m  The first load was delivered yesterday by the Public Works Department's Parks and Natural Resources Division, and the mulch will be replenished once a month through October. Bring your own shovels, containers, gloves and eye protection. 

Pasadena's 32nd annual Black History Parade and Festival is Saturday, Feb. 15, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. beginning at Charles White Park in Altadena and ending with the festival at Robinson Park in Pasadena. Be sure to note the street closures.

Get your hands dirty creating three-foot-high earth sculptures Saturday, Feb. 15, from 11 a.m to 1 p.m. at Side Street Projects. Dirt, straw bales and turf grass will be provided for this workshop, part of the Sculpting Social Landscapes public art project. 

Random Acts of Music, featuring classical musicians from the Pasadena Symphony & Pops in unlikely places, will be at Allendale Branch Library Wednesday, Feb. 19, from 3 to 5 p.m. Be sure to interact and engage with the musicians! 

Inspired by centuries-old tradition, The Huntington's Chinese garden Liu Fang Yuan combines the scenic beauty of nature with the arts and culture of China. Dr. James Folsom, director of The Huntington's botanical gardens, will preview the newest expansion of the garden Wednesday, Feb. 19, at 3:30 p.m. at Hill Avenue Branch Library as part of the Pasadena Grows: Community Seed Library education series.

The Mother/Daughter Book Club for girls 11 and older and their moms will meet Wednesday, Feb. 19, at 7 p.m. on the west patio at Pasadena Central Library to discuss "Smile" by Raina Telgemeier. 

JPL presents a new documentary titled "The Stuff of Dreams" that will be screened Wednesday, Feb. 19, at 7:30 p.m. at Caltech's Beckman Auditorium (#91 on this map).  The film describes the challenge mission managers and JPL faced in developing and launching the twin Voyager spacecraft and operating them during encounters with Jupiter and Saturn. 

Readers of all ages are invited to discover exciting ways to enjoy eBooks and more when the Digital Bookmobile comes to Pasadena Central Library Thursday, Feb. 20, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the rear parking lot. This isn't your grandmother's bookmobile; it's a 74-foot, high-tech tractor trailer! Bring your own device or explore those on display.

How should you and your child handle cyber bullying? Eric Sahakian, director of child welfare for the Pasadena Unified School District, will be at Hastings Branch Library Thursday, Feb. 20, at 7 p.m. to explain what you can do to help your child avoid this pitfall of the digital age.

Join the celebration Saturday, Feb. 22, from 1 to 3 p.m. when Hastings Branch Library celebrates its 55th birthday. There will be cake, balloon sculptures and plenty of fun! The eighth and last branch library to be founded, Hastings Branch Library opened its doors on Feb. 17, 1959, and completed the City of Pasadena's plan for bringing library service within one mile of every home in the community.

Many thanks to Gardener's Supply Company, Mommy Poppins, Raina Telgemeier, Pasadena Public Library, Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, Pasadena Symphony & Pops, Petrea Burchard, Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Photo File Cornwall for the photos.

Mystery History -- Solved!

A few of my readers ventured guesses as to the "where are we?" question but nobody correctly guessed "what's happening?" in the two-part Mystery History question.

In the January 1947 photo above, Fuller Theological Seminary founder Charles E. Fuller (second from left) and some members of the founding faculty and board of trustees look over the grounds of the then-five-acre Cravens Estate on "Millionaires Row." The others are Harold Ockenga (far left), Everett Harrison, Harold Lindsell, Wilbur Smith, Arnold Grunigen and Carl Henry.

A long view of the estate:

The founding of Fuller Theological Seminary resulted from the dreams of two well-known evangelical leaders: Charles E. Fuller, a famous radio evangelist, and Harold John Ockenga, pastor of Boston's Park Street Church. The two old friends shared a passion for evangelism and mission. 

And with their collective academic achievements, their intent was to reform fundamentalism from its separatist and sometimes anti-intellectual stance. Fuller said he hoped the seminary would become" a Caltech of the evangelical world."

The son of a prosperous orange grower, Charles Fuller had been best known for his weekly nationwide broadcasts on the Old Fashioned Revival Hour. Once a week from 1937 to 1968 on more than 600 radio stations, 20 million people tuned in for the live broadcasts, first from the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium and then a Hollywood recording studio. The broadcasts included Fuller's evangelical messages as well as what many considered the finest gospel quartet and chorus on radio.

As a result of announcements he made on the Old Time Revival Hour, 39 students enrolled in Fuller Theological Seminary the first year. 

A resident of San Marino, Charles Fuller had successfully bid on the Cravens Estate property in 1947 with funding from his family's Fuller Evangelistic Foundation. On the day of the sale, no other bidders materialized so the estate was his for $145,000. His goal was to have some necessary work done over the spring and summer on the 32-room mansion and open a seminary in the fall of that year.

But the divine intervention he was hanging his hat on stopped there. In June 1947 the City of Pasadena denied a proposal to convert another mansion in the area into a hotel. He was told there was little hope, as a result of the commission's precedent-setting decision, of converting a residence into a school.

But he pressed on anyway with the conversion of some of the mansion's rooms into classrooms, hoping against hope that a holy hand would intervene. 

By September 1947 faculty began to arrive and Wilbur Smith had his 14,000-volume library shipped there. 

On Monday, Sept. 27, registration took place at the estate, with qualifying exams and some classes taking place Sept. 28. 

Then the fire marshal arrived on the scene.

He ordered that the mansion could be used for faculty offices, the seminary library and student dormitories, but it would be illegal for it to be used as a school.

Thanks to Charles Fuller's friendship with Dr. James Henry Hutchins, pastor of Lake Avenue Church two miles away, arrangements were made quickly for the seminary classes to move the church's Sunday school building. The students began their studies there the next day and classes remained there for six years while the student population grew to 250. Many of the seminarians rode bikes across town every day from the Cravens Estate to Lake Avenue Church.  

One student wrote many years later: "We members of that first class will never quite forget the incongruity of of hearing Carl Henry's insights into the theory of religious knowledge while sitting on kindergarten chairs taking notes." Within a few days of that first class, adult-size furnishings were delivered to the Sunday School building. 

The opening convocation for the Fuller Theological Seminary took place at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.on Oct. 1, 1947, with a speech given by Ockenga, the seminary's first president. 

The Fuller Women's Auxiliary was formed with Charles Fuller's daughter-in-law Ruth at the helm. Here she is (left) with Mrs. Richard Curley (wife of the seminary's business manager) and Mrs. John McGill at the gates of the Cravens Estate (their first names are not on the photo): 

In 1953 the seminary moved to the present location of its main Pasadena campus on Oakland Avenue two blocks east of Pasadena City Hall.

That same year Charles Fuller and his wife, Grace Payton Fuller, broke ground for Payton Hall, the new administration building.

Here Payton Hall is under construction as, left to right, Ockenga, Dean Harold Lindsell, Fuller and James Henry Hutchins discuss plans for the administration building. 

In 1963 the McAlister Library was completed and joined to Payton Hall by a colonnade of arches:

Payton Hall today:

Fuller sits in the midst of several beautiful, historical homes, some of which serve as campus offices. Others are residences for seminary students.

This one houses the Office of Student Affairs and a student lounge.

In 1973 Fuller Theological Seminary opened its first regional campuses in other cities for the training of lay persons in the context of local churches. Since 1979 regional campus programs have been in place in California, Washington, Colorado, Arizona and Texas.

Today, Fuller Theological Seminary spans more than 13 acres of classrooms, offices, residential areas, community spaces and parking, and many Pasadenans, whether seminary students or not, enjoy walking through the Arol Burns Mall that runs through the center of the campus.

Its newest building is the 47,000-square-foot David Allan Hubbard Library, completed in 2009 with an environmentally sustainable design:

See more campus images here.

In the 67 years since its founding, Fuller Theological Seminary has grown to a current enrollment of 4,500 students coming from 70 countries and more than 100 denominations. From the single Bachelor of Divinity offered at its inception, Fuller now offers 18 master's and doctoral degree programs. More than 35,000 Fuller alumni minister in churches and communities across the globe.

I want to give a shout-out to Ben Wideman, who came here from Virginia to study at Fuller. His daily The Sky is Big in Pasadena blog was very popular as he updated us on the happenings at the seminary and his student life there. He was part of our blogging community and always came to our blogger picnics and other events that keep us local bloggers connected beyond cyberspace.

Ben graduated in 2011. This post of his was sad for all of us and yet we were so happy for Ben and his family. They were off to Harleysville, Pennsylvania, where Ben is the associate pastor of youth and young adults at Salford Mennonite Church. Now we stay connected on Facebook.

Many thanks to Fuller Theological Seminary and George M. Marsden for the photos.

Mystery History

Where are we? And what's happening?

The first person to guess correctly will win lunch with me –– I'll buy yours and you'll buy mine.

Remember, leave your brief guess as a comment on this blog post but don't try to give the entire back story (that's my job).

I'll have the full scoop on Thursday.

Citizens Police Academy Week Two -- Police Department Volunteers

We had our second Citizens Police Academy class last Thursday and learned all about the work performed by dozens upon dozens of community volunteers who assist with Pasadena Police Department operations.

The riders in the photo above are members of the Mounted Volunteers Unit that patrols the Arroyo Seco to report everything from suspicious activity to hikers in need of medical assistance. Police cars cannot navigate into many areas of the arroyo, including hillsides, the streambed, etc. The mounted volunteers bear the cost of their own horses and all the boarding and care this entails. Each of them carries a radio that keeps them connected to the Dispatch Center and sworn patrol officers. Be sure to thank them when you see them down there!

Each Pasadena Police Department volunteer goes through intensive training in his or her specific area of interest and is required to put in a mandatory minimum number of hours each month.

Having more than 100 active volunteers in a police department for a city of less than 140,000 people is unheard of anywhere else. They perform vital functions, taking a big load off sworn police officers who otherwise would be torn in 10 different directions at once. Each volunteer unit is supervised by a sworn officer or detective, depending on the nature of the work.

Take, for instance, volunteers in the Missing Persons Unit. The minute an officer or detective receives a call from a concerned family member, group home or anyone else and completes initial paperwork, each case is handed over to a volunteer (such as the one in the above photo) who makes the phone calls to anyone and everyone who may be able to provide a lead. This sometimes requires hours and days and sometimes weeks, but these dedicated volunteers stay on each case until it can be closed.

Volunteers in the Identity Theft Unit spend all the necessary time required for what is often painstaking, detailed investigations to solve these cases. In the event (God forbid) you find yourself a victim of identity theft, you can trust that you'll be in good hands.

Rev. Robert "Father Bob" Gaestel, rector of the Church of the Angels , is one of many volunteer chaplains for the Pasadena Police Department. He spoke to us Thursday about the role of the chaplains, including accompanying police officers to assist with notification of deaths and suicides, assisting with victims, witnesses and others in crisis situations and so much more.

For a three-day period that includes New Year's Day, Pasadena Police Department volunteers work in the Parade Watch program, talking to people in parked RVs about the importance of reporting any suspicious activity to police immediately. The volunteers also inform them about the specifics of the overnight parking ordinance for streets within one block of the Rose Parade route (for example, RVs are subject to search) and placing a Parade Watch decal on the lower left window of each RV. The cooperation of the public in helping with security efforts is part of what makes the Rose Parade a safe event.

And volunteers help out at Pasadena Police Department special events, such as this heliport open house in 2011. That's police volunteer David Kilgore next to me when I was the Pasadena PIO.

There are volunteer opportunities in at least a dozen additional units and offices.


I took the photo of Father Bob. Many thanks to the Pasadena Police Department, San Gabriel Valley Tribune and Altadena Blog for the other photos.