| Dear Friends,
This week, we announced an exciting step forward in our rebuilding efforts.
Each one of the County parks in Altadena was impacted by the Eaton Fire, and these vital spaces for community gathering and recreation have been sorely missed. That’s why our County Department of Parks and Recreation has committed to reopening Loma Alta Park in May! Thanks to a $2.4 million donation from the FireAid L.A. concert in partnership with the Annenberg Foundation, we’ll be able to build a brand new playground for youth. Typically, a new playground of this caliber takes 18 months, but we’re fast tracking it so it opens in just two months.
Additionally, funding from the Dodgers Foundation will provide two amazing Dodgers Dreamfields for baseball, and support from the Clippers will refurbish the gym and sponsor a Junior Clippers program. The park will also house a satellite senior center, satellite library, and after-school, youth, and teen programs. Excitingly, the park will also play host to the community’s favorite outdoor summer concerts put on by the Altadena Rotary! Additionally, my office allocated funding to create gathering spaces with adirondack chairs and trees that will make way for respite and rejuvenation.
This is such an exciting, sorely-needed, and well-deserved investment in our Altadena community. If you’d like to get involved, Parks is inviting volunteers to plant trees, landscape, and paint murals every Saturday in April. Sign up here to volunteer. Thank you for doing your part!
Best wishes,
Kathryn Barger
Chair of the Board
Supervisor, Fifth District
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| Meet Blue, a fun-loving, affectionate, and loyal three-year-old German Shepherd. If you’d like to open your heart and home to a new pet, consider adopting him from the Palmdale Animal Care Center, which is open for drop-ins Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Adoption Promotion
If cats are more your style, March Meowness is here! All month long, you can take home a feline MVP (Most Valuable Pet) for just $14. Adoption fees for all cats and kittens are reduced to that price for the entire month of March. |
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| I joined U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner for a tour of Altadena this week. During his visit, he announced that HUD is extending foreclosure relief for residents impacted by the wildfires. I am wholeheartedly committed to advocating for Altadena’s needs at every level of government to ensure our residents get the support and funds they need to rebuild. |
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| We begin all of our Board of Supervisors meetings with an innovation from a local faith leader. It was a pleasure to invite Reverend Cassie McCarty, Director of Mission Integration at Dignity Health Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center, to kick off the meeting this week. In her role, she leads spiritual care services, equity initiatives, bioethics, healthcare advocacy, the human trafficking response task force, and community health initiatives. She is also a respected speaker about the importance of improving the quality of spiritual care in healthcare. McCarty is an Altadena native, graduate of Fuller Seminary, and spiritual director trained at the Spiritual Growth Center of the Los Angeles Roman Catholic Archdiocese. During her invocation, she spoke about the importance of collaboration, compassion, and commitment to our communities. I’m grateful for her dedication to serving others and for her encouraging words on Tuesday! |
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| Our recovery website has a new interactive graphic that demystifies the debris removal process so you know what to expect from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Head to the link below to learn about the safety protocols in place and verify what will be removed and what won’t. |
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| In Altadena, renters and residents whose structures are still standing have unique needs and questions. I’m hosting a special meeting for these groups on Monday, March 10 at 5 p.m. to equip you with the information you deserve during the recovery process. |
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| If you need to restore your fire-damaged art and heirlooms, the L.A. County Department of Arts and Culture is here to help. On Sunday, March 16 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Department will be at the Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena offering FREE services to the community, including assessing your recovered artworks and belongings, cleaning and repairing objects damaged by soot and ash, assisting with removing the smell of smoke from small objects, and providing custom archival boxes for safe storage. If you have any questions, email artrecoveryla@gmail.com, and click the link below to sign up.
Here are the items you can bring to receive care:
- Artworks
- Photographs and Photo Albums
- Stuffed Animals and Toys
- Collectibles
- Ceramics
- Jewelry
- Textiles
- And other cherished belongings that survived the fire
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| Next week, on Monday, March 10 at 4 p.m., I’ll have another meeting for all residents impacted by the Eaton Fire to have our subject matter experts share updates and answer questions. Be sure to submit questions by Sunday, March 9 at 1 p.m. to ensure they’re received and included. |
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| After the devastating fires we experienced in January, it’s important that all of our communities are wildfire ready. The San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments is hosting three workshops to garner the community’s input to inform their Community Wildfire Protection Plan, which will help the region prevent, prepare, respond, and recover from wildfires. I encourage residents across the San Gabriel Valley to tune in to share your experiences, concerns, and suggestions.
Tuesday, March 11, 5 to 7 p.m.
Arcadia Public Library
Wednesday, March 19, 5 to 7 p.m.
La Verne City Council Chambers
Wednesday, March 26, 5 to 7 p.m.
Virtual |
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| Need help navigating the insurance process? The State Department of Insurance is hosting a workshop on Saturday, March 15 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at John Muir High School in Pasadena. Schedule an appointment for free confidential help by calling (800) 927-4357. |
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| Restaurants Care is supporting businesses and workers affected by the wildfires. If you work in the restaurant industry, or want to donate, check out the links below to get connected. In the last month, they’ve distributed more than $570,000 to more than 570 people! |
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