officials said."We pushed the system to the extreme We're fighting a wildfire with urban water systems," Janisse Quinones chief executive of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power told a press conference.Pacific Palisades relies on three tanks that hold about a million gallons (3.78 million liters) each and the demand for water to fight fires at lower elevations was making it difficult to refill water tanks at higher elevations all three of those tanks and all 114 reservoirs throughout the city were refilled Quinones said in a later press conference.A wildfire ripped through an upscale coastal area of Los Angeles overnight with Hollywood celebrities among those evacuating by car and on foot.The fires struck at an especially vulnerable time for Southern California which has not seen significant rainfall for months.Then came the powerful Santa Ana winds bringing dry desert air from the east toward the coastal mountains fanning wildfires while blowing over the hilltops and down through the canyons.President Joe Biden joined California Governor Gavin Newsom at a Santa Monica fire station to get a briefing on firefighting efforts.In his final days as president before handing off to President-elect Donald Trump on Jan Biden canceled an upcoming trip to Italy in order to focus on directing the federal response to the fires the White House said.Reporting by Rollo Ross Jorge Garcia and Mike Blake in Los Angeles; Additional reporting by Daniel Trotta Kanishka Singh and Kanjyik Ghosh; Writing by Joseph Ax and Daniel Trotta; Editing by Mary Milliken Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved by | Jul 12 a senior lab technician in the Department of Art and Design suggests a way to pose professor Phil Robinson (next to Dratwick) by his two paintings on display at Sundance Cafe Jeff Sippel (second from right) and Michael Behle (far right) all have art on display inside the recently opened Sundance Café located at 8418 Natural Bridge Road When Breakaway Café, a longtime institution in the Normandy/Bel-Nor neighborhood if the building was able to be resurrected A 60-year native of Bel-Nor, Kirkpatrick is passionate about the neighborhood – his parents moved to the area in 1961 and lived in four houses over the years, and he and his sister still live in the area. He wanted to make sure there would still be a neighborhood place for community members, including students, faculty and staff at the nearby University of Missouri–St. Louis Kirkpatrick lost his mother just a few months later but he made good on his promise with the opening of Sundance Café a few weeks ago Over the course of a year and three months Kirkpatrick and co-owners Darren Woodford and Jason Cusick brought the much-loved restaurant space back to life “Between the city investment and our investment and we’re getting tremendous support from the local residents – people in St Ann’s Parish and all of the immediate communities: Bel-Nor Sundance Cafe is open for lunch and dinner during the week, as well as breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays, and also serves beer and wine. Woodford and Cusick own multiple locations of Rich’s Famous Burgers in Steelville and the menu at Sundance takes many cues from Rich’s The signature smashed-style burger is made with a proprietary grind of ground beef and brisket and the restaurant also offers a version made with an Impossible Foods patty The restaurant will soon add three different pastas to the menu as well poses between two of his acrylic paintings “Mom X” and “Hero X,” both on display at Sundance Café The works immediately stand out against Sundance’s simple white walls and Kirkpatrick says they’ve already attracted the attention of diners who enjoy looking at all the artwork and reading about how the works were created Sundance will rotate the artwork about twice a year focusing on works from students in the program who helped arrange the collaboration with Kirkpatrick said it is a unique opportunity for students to find an outlet for their works to be exposed to a broader audience “Part of what makes art become art is for it to leave the studio of the artist and go into the public sphere,” he said “For them to have an opportunity to be a part of that is really rewarding and affirming I’m thinking about a student who was reading about art history and some early artists of the Cubist period and their work being exhibited in a café in Paris and here’s their work being exhibited in a café in middle America It just draws parallels where they can see themselves as a part of a long tradition.” Sundance Café is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m Students from more than 20 colleges and universities across the Midwest attended the conference April 26-27 at the UMSL Science Complex Brown spent three days in the nation’s capital participating in policy training touring the National Mall and the White House and speaking with politicians such as Sen More than 50 students participated in the annual symposium and shared research on topics ranging from biology and chemistry to history and music University Marketing and CommunicationsUniversity of Missouri–St Penney Building/Conference Center1 University Blvd.St News and Media RelationsUMSL Experts Guide Office Number: (314) 516-5000Admissions Toll-Free: 1-888-GO-2-UMSL Log in | Designed by UMSL Web and Digital Communications Design / On The Market Louis area is noted for its historically significant neighborhoods but there’s one with which many locals are unfamiliar Nestled on 140 acres a mile northwest of the city of St Pasadena Hills is listed on the National Register of Historic Places Developed in 1928 and primarily designed by town planner and landscape architect Roland H it’s one of the oldest neighborhoods in St This tight-knit city of about 1,100 residents boasts a range of architectural styles inspired by European influences including Craftsman and the Prairie School The grand introduction to these homes is the striking Gothic Revival entrance tower it’s the tallest neighborhood monument in the metro area Louis Design+Home newsletter to explore the latest stories from the local interior design “Pasadena Hills was the last planned community in the area before the Depression,” says Jim Schulte the city’s building commissioner and a member of its Historic Preservation Commission “They adapted the architecture to the surrounding landscape A lot of the homes are on ravines and winding roads and many roads are named after cities in England.” Residents tend to use such words as “community” and “diverse” when describing the neighborhood Pasadena Hills is an inviting place for people from all walks of life is involved in the work required to preserve the area’s history and beauty.  John Warren purchased a Tudor Revival in Pasadena Hills with his husband “Everyone assumes it’s farther away than it actually is It’s 12 minutes from downtown Clayton “The diversity is an ideal situation for what every neighborhood should be: Everyone gets along Warren’s love of the neighborhood prompted him to start the @pasadenahills Instagram feed, where he regularly posts photos of its unique homes and landscaping.  David Hoffman, who has lived in the neighborhood since 1989, volunteers in one of its two garden clubs, helping to maintain the island and median gardens around the city. When he was looking for a home to purchase, he researched areas with historic properties before deciding on Pasadena Hills.  “It was the kind of architecture I liked, with a small-community feel and the convenience of the city,” he says. “It was the best value for the quality of property that I found, and I looked everywhere.” Mayor Kevin Quinlisk grew up in Pasadena Hills and returned to the area with his wife and four children in 2012. The family bought a house just a few blocks away from Quinlisk’s childhood home. Recently, Quinlisk says, he’s seen an influx of families with young children moving to the area. “It’s just a wonderful community to raise your children,” he says. “It’s always been this way.” This article was originally published in Design STL‘s May/June 2018 issue. Listen Here Listen Here Listen Here Listen Here DESIGN+HOME NEWSLETTER Subscribe to the St. Louis Design+Home newsletter to explore the latest stories from the local interior design, fashion, and retail scene. Start your mornings with a fresh take on the day’s top local news from Sarah Fenske and Ryan Krull. No spam, you can unsubscribe anytime you want. Our award-winning content brings readers revealing profiles Start your mornings with a fresh take on the day’s top local news   This aerial drone view shows the Mirada Lagoon on June 3 The Mirada and the Epperson lagoons are part of the Connected City which Pasco residents say has failed to deliver on promised amenities [ LUIS SANTANA | Times (2023) ]By John C 18WESLEY CHAPEL — Residents of the Connected City the state-authorized pilot program that promised innovation and limited urban sprawl with lots of open spaces That includes a large district park. That park, however, and some other once-promised recreational and cultural amenities now appear unlikely, as plans to rezone a parcel of land to build a mixed-use project that will include apartments were approved by the county’s planning commission. After a nearly three-hour discussion Jan. 9 that at one point appeared headed in the residents’ favor, commission members Christopher Poole, Derek Pontiltz, Chris Williams and Jon Moody voted — somewhat begrudgingly — 4-3 in favor of the rezoning of the Tall Timbers project. Jaime Girardi, Matthew Munz and chairperson Charles Grey opposed the rezoning of the property. If approved by the Board of County Commissioners, the project would pave the way for 380 multifamily dwelling units — 216 apartments and 164 townhomes — and 180,000 square feet of nonresidential uses and associated infrastructure on approximately 38 acres. However, county commissioners will be getting another issue to wrangle with: whether or not to impose a one-year moratorium on development in the Connected City. Moody made that motion, which passed 6-1, after being unsatisfied with answers from county planners on how something promised in the project’s comprehensive plan was not delivered. “I think we need a year pause for somebody to go back and fix the land development code,” Moody said. “I think the public has legitimate concerns. We’ve got this whole issue of district parks and trails that were supposed to be there, and ... there needs to be some clarity.” The motion is focused on prohibiting any new rezonings and site plan approvals, which the County Commission will now have to take up. The Tall Timbers property is in the Connected City’s Community Hub Special Planning Area. More than a dozen residents attended the planning commission meeting Jan. 9, many speaking about their concerns about the apartments being built in the community hub when the comprehensive plan states only single-family, cottage- and garden-style homes and townhouses were allowed. Apartments were supposed to be limited to the business and urban core zones. Residents also raised concerns about potential flooding, as the parcel contains four wetlands. The community hub is also supposed to include a “large district park, smaller parks and recreational areas that are associated with schools, and (King) Lake.” The rezoning plan for one of the last available parcels of developable land in the community hub includes none of those. Moody took up the fight for Connected City residents. He agreed that the mixed-use development being proposed does not “support recreational uses, cultural destinations and educational facilities” or neighborhood centers. Subscribe to our free DayStarter newsletter You’re all signed up!Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started. “What’s cultural about a mixed-use building and a parking lot?” he said. He agreed that residents were sold a “pretty picture” that was not delivered. County planners leaned on the concept that the Connected City was designed to be a “flexible” development, and that a proposed library in the Promenade Center of the Watergrass master-planned unit development would serve as a cultural amenity, while a new “super district park” being planned for the nearby Village of Pasadena Hills development was close enough to serve the entire area. Michael Pultorak, a resident and moderator for the Pasco Connected City Residents Group on Facebook, has led the effort to hold developers accountable for what they promised in the Connected City. He said the exclusion of parks for the area is just one of many problems he has with the location of the Tall Timbers project. “I’m smelling another bait and switch,” he told the commission. Pultorak made the case that the rezoning proposal failed on a number of counts. Apartments aren’t supposed to be built in the community hub, and flooding is a major concern. He showed pictures of recent flooding in the area with geographic information system maps to support his argument, and described how nearby Lakeside Estates already has flooding issues. The roads, he added, are unable to handle the additional traffic, and he stressed that the damage to conservation in the area would be significant. “When I left on Monday morning to meet with staff, I drove past this property and there was a bald eagle in a tree,” Pultorak said. “That told me we’re fighting the right fight. And this is ridiculous at this point.” Pultorak also complained about the lack of parks, since they were emphasized in the comprehensive plan. “A neighborhood swing set inside a townhouse community is not parks for the master plan,” he said. “The community hub is the center point of the entire Connected City and is supposed to have parks, recreation and a place people want to live. Every rezoning project so far has turned into another subdivision with a play set for the people that live in it.” Many of the promised, more-publicized amenities have also fallen short, he added. “There are no amenities,” he said. “The community cannot get to King Lake. We have two fancy swimming pools (the Epperson and Mirada lagoons) that have turned into pay-to-play operations where the developer is taking the money from it. … There’s not a single park, there is not a single recreational area. “We’ve got to have some space to be a community,” he said. “That’s the very definition of every one of these districts, to have parks and have a healthier lifestyle.” Pultorak’s comments were met with loud applause from those attending the meeting. County Attorney David Goldstein, Moody and others on the commission appeared sympathetic to the residents’ complaints. Leaving the promise of parks in the master plan, with no intention of building them, was a perplexing oversight, Goldstein said. “Why didn’t we go in and fix this reference that says there’s going to be a large district park in the community hub zone, if that was never the parks department’s or planning department’s intent?” Goldstein said. “Because it’s a legitimate point.” Nectorios Pittos, director of Planning Services, said he did not have an answer, venturing that the district park reference was “aspirational” and that the development of the Village of Pasadena Hills district park would cover that reference. Goldstein said the county has a master plan for parks and is in fact “funneling” all the money in this area to the Village of Pasadena Hills super park. Some of the Connected City roadway money, he added, even went to build a road to the super park. “It just seems like at that point we should have said that’s not happening anymore in Connected City. Let’s take it out of the plan.” Goldstein said it was probably too late for a park in the community hub at this point, and that the comprehensive plan needed to be changed. Moody, however, said that instead of “changing the documents to make it all better now,” why not give the residents their park? Goldstein said there wasn’t any money for a park, though if the county wanted to jump through a number of formidable hoops — including raising impact fees or redirecting money for other parks to the Connected City — it could make it happen. Grey agreed with Moody that somehow giving the Connected City a park was the best solution to correct the county’s oversight, although the planning commission doesn’t have that authority. “I’m never in favor of promising something and not delivering it,” he said. “You know, the bait-and-switch routine is never a good look. I think in some fashion, it’s incumbent upon the county to come up with an idea or a way to resolve this issue. … We have to pay for our sins in some way to make it right. Now, I feel like it’s not right.” After more than an hour of focus on the lack of a park for the Connected City, David Engel, the county’s planning and economic development director, said the county is working on a plan for a park in the Connected City. “I didn’t want to bring it up today, because the cart would be ahead of the horse, but we are having internal leadership discussions on providing a park for this area,” he said. “I don’t have any official capacity to make an announcement, but I don’t want the public nor the planning commission to think that we’re just sitting on our hands. We are working on something right now.” When it came time for a motion to vote on the Tall Timbers project, no one on the commission immediately stepped forward. However, in the end, it was Moody who motioned for a vote on the rezoning, and Grey, who seconded it, that pushed it to a vote. “What I see is a special planning area, referring to the Connected City, that got done on a piece by piece-by-piece basis, rather than a regionalized planning exercise,” he said. “And in the overall scheme of things, I think the mark was missed. “All that being said, when it comes to this case, I find no reason to deny it just because the goals of Connected City have not been achieved. I don’t think it’s this applicant’s fault that those goals haven’t been achieved.” but there are some Missouri places who have better performing public schools than others I was genuinely surprised to see some well-known Missouri cities that suddenly are ranked among the 70 worst in the state when it comes to their school performance Since the school year is about to begin this month in most Missouri places, I decided to query the database at USA.com to see which towns/cities have the best and worst-rated public schools Nearly all of these Missouri towns only received 1-star out of 5 when it comes to their schools Something to keep in mind is these are ratings for the entire city and not specific school districts meaning there may be some good and some bad in many of these places It's also important to note that this is based purely on ratings and not grades or test metrics it's stunning to see so many Missouri towns with 1-star rated public schools Gallery Credit: Abandoned Central via YouTube Not everyone gets a trophy, but there are some Missouri places who have better performing public schools than others. I was genuinely surprised to see some well-known Missouri cities that suddenly are ranked among the 70 worst in the state when it comes to their school performance.\nRead More Since the school year is about to begin this month in most Missouri places, I decided to query the database at USA.com to see which towns/cities have the best and worst-rated public schools The Eaton fire has burned 10,600 acres and prompted evacuations in the area west of the Eaton Canyon Golf Course Officials also told people living on these streets to evacuate immediately: Kinneloa Canyon Road Grand Oaks Avenue and areas east of Altadena Drive north of New York Drive and west of Sierra Madre Villa Avenue Pasadena ordered mandatory evacuations “for the area north of New York Drive please take all necessary items with you to be prepared to leave for an extended period of time.” Pasadena spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said authorities want residents in the path of the Eaton Canyon fire to heed warnings She said the strong winds have prompted officials to suspend air coverage leaving firefighters on the ground to protect homes and save lives Firefighters were trying to evacuate several people from a convalescent home near Washington Boulevard and Altadena Drive Derderian said the strong winds and intensity of the fire are reminiscent of the fires in the 1990s, including the 1993 Kinneloa fire, which destroyed 196 buildings in Altadena. Residents less than three miles away from the Eaton Canyon fire could see orange flames and smell fire from inside their homes. Just before they received a mandatory evacuation order, they inched their way down from Altadena as firetrucks raced past them, navigating their way without traffic lights affected by power outage. Those who have lived in the area for decades and experienced the last major fire in the Pasadena area said they’d never experienced anything like this. One woman said it took about 30 minutes to get 10 blocks as people were “desperately trying to get out.” All schools will be closed Wednesday in the Pasadena Unified School District because of the fire. Several other school districts including Alhambra, Glendale, Burbank, San Marino and South Pasadena are also closing. A separate fire in Pasadena, the Bert Fire, had expanded to three acres just before 10 p.m. Tuesday night, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.The fire is in east Pasadena, near San Gabriel and several miles from the blazing Eaton fire. The blaze comes amid intense winds that sparked a destructive fire in Pacific Palisades on Tuesday. Fire officials say the winds are expected to intensify overnight. Ruben Vives is a general assignment reporter for the Los Angeles Times. A native of Guatemala, he got his start in journalism by writing for The Times’ Homicide Report in 2007. He helped uncover the financial corruption in the city of Bell that led to criminal charges against eight city officials. The 2010 investigative series won the Pulitzer Prize for public service and other prestigious awards. Colleen Shalby is a reporter for the Los Angeles Times. She has covered education, the pandemic, the vaccine rollout and breaking news throughout California. She was part of the team that was a 2020 Pulitzer Prize finalist for coverage of a dive-boat fire off the Santa Barbara coast. Shalby grew up in Southern California and graduated from George Washington University. She previously worked for PBS NewsHour and joined The Times in 2015. Julia Wick is a political reporter at the Los Angeles Times. She and her colleagues won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize in breaking news for reporting on a leaked audio recording that upended Los Angeles politics. She was also part of the team that was a 2022 Pulitzer Prize finalist for work covering a fatal shooting on the set of the film “Rust.” Before joining the Times, Wick was the editor in chief of LAist. Sports Climate & Environment California Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map Pasadena firefighters responded to 12 separate fires within a 50-minute period Wednesday as gusty conditions complicated firefighting efforts across the city and neighboring South Pasadena and one traffic collision requiring expanded response according to Fire Department dispatch records Two of the vegetation fires were confirmed as significant incidents with one located in the 2100 block of Canyon Close Road in Pasadena and another in the 1500 block of Santa Teresa in South Pasadena Both required multiple fire units for response The residential structure fires occurred near Asbury Drive and Sinaloa Avenue and at North Martelo Avenue and Casa Grande Street drawing substantial firefighting resources to both locations Additional outside fires were reported at major intersections including North San Gabriel Boulevard and East Colorado Boulevard and North Hill Avenue and East Washington Boulevard The rapid succession of incidents within a concentrated time frame tested the Department’s resource allocation capabilities with multiple units dispatched across the coverage area Exact causes of the fires were not immediately available though windy conditions were noted as a complicating factor in the firefighting efforts More » The ‘Humming-Byrd’ House: A Mid-Century Storybook Ranch Surrounded by Nature Pasadena Now has been published daily since April 2004 and is among the very oldest continuously operated community news websites in the U.S Pasadena Now strives to publish a full spectrum of news and information articles in service to the entire community The publication will remain free to readers and will not erect paywalls Copyright © 2025. Pasadena Now | Terms of - Service | Privacy Policy | CA Notice of Collection RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds offer another way to get Pasadena Now content Subscribe to our feeds to get the latest headlines summaries and links back to full articles – formatted for your favorite feed reader and updated throughout the day This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Located in Pasadena Hills, a neighborhood listed in the National Register of Historic Places, this 2,832 square-feet home has much to offer. In 2018, we selected this updated Tudor Revival our 2018 list of 10 most beautiful homes in St. Louis The 1929-built home’s architectural detail is what gives this home so much charm. The living area features rich hardwood flooring arched entryways leading to a dining/sitting area, and a large stone fireplace.  The blue butler’s pantry has a wet bar along with extra storage space Walk through the pantry to the formal dining room which enchants with wallpaper nodding to the historical design style of the home.  The master bedroom is located on the first floor with two additional bedrooms upstairs. On the way upstairs stained glass lets in soft light on the landing The backyard has recently been landscaped into a zen-like area with a fountain and an outdoor sitting area.  The Address: 4228 Roland The Agent: Ted Wight, Dielmann Sotheby’s International Realty, 314-312-1449 Start your mornings with a fresh take on the day’s top local news from Sarah Fenske and Ryan Krull 2023As Pasco County considers tripling its impact fees on new construction to pay for parks in the coming months there has been no shortage of ideas on what should be the top spending priorities During a meeting earlier this month with county commissioners and leaders of East Pasco cities talk turned to the need for one popular amenity — a public pool accessible to residents without an expensive entry fee one in Hudson and the other in Land O’ Lakes Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe said the need for recreation on the county’s east side might be served well by a regional park on U.S 301 north of his town and south of Dade City there is great interest in a swimming pool ensuring that people can swim is important He agreed that it was time to talk about swimming opportunities on the east side of the county especially since Pasco is Florida’s Sports Coast One location officials discussed was the Villages of Pasadena Hills a 22,000-acre planning district south of the cities of San Antonio and St Plans for a “super park” in that community are in the planning stages The hope is that a community center would be a key part of that plan The swimming pool idea could also be a good reason to partner with the Pasco County School District since swim teams use existing pools around the county Another possible pool location discussed was Lacoochee which is undergoing a business development surge Wiley said he was glad to hear that the commissioners and city officials were interested in the topic. Several months ago, he brought the County Commission a plan to raise park impact fees, the fees paid on new construction to fund expanded infrastructure, from $892 to $3,450. The increase got a preliminary OK by commissioners. Parks and recreation lost significant funding during the great recession in 2008 and has been underfunded ever since, said Commissioner Kathryn Starkey. Among the casualties was the one county-run public pool in Zephyrhills, the Hercules Aquatic Center. Starkey voted against the concept of higher park impact fees, but she said she still supports increased park funding, possibly from adding a small tax on everyone’s tax bill. Recently, commissioners have been deluged with calls from parents with children who play soccer clamoring for more fields. Because collecting enough from the new impact fees to fund major projects would take time, Wiley said he hopes that the county would be willing to issue bonds to get funds quicker for the most pressing park needs. Commission Chairperson Jack Mariano suggested that since pools are expensive, tourist tax money could be used if large aquatic facilities were built to also accommodate competitive swimming. During the joint meeting, city officials also told county commissioners that they wanted to work together on a variety of projects from roads and utilities to setting higher development standards for housing. They also were interested in partnering with Pasco County code enforcement, especially to improve the look of entry points into the cities. Barbara BehrendtPasco County Reporter The California Department of Education (CDE) recently announced that Marengo and Monterey Hills Elementary Schools have been selected for the 2025 California Distinguished Schools Program “This honor recognizes the hard work and dedication of the students and parents at Marengo and Monterey Hills Elementary Schools,” said Superintendent Geoff Yantz “These schools are being celebrated for offering exceptional educational opportunities that encourage students to engage and excel.” The CDE uses multiple measures to identify eligible schools based on their performance on the state indicators as specified on the California School Dashboard Schools were selected by analyzing data reported through the 2024 Dashboard with a focus on demonstrating excellence and growth in academic achievement and ensuring a positive school climate Congratulations to Marengo Principal Noelle Fong and Assistant Principal Whitney Worster and Monterey Hills Principal Jessica Zavala and Assistant Principal Michael Mora Monterey Hills Elementary School, 1624 Via Del Rey, South Pasadena, (626) 441-5860 or visit monterey.spusd.net Marengo Elementary School, 1400 Marengo Ave., South Pasadena, (626) 441-5850 or visit https://marengo.spusd.net/ About South Pasadena Unified School District Established in 1886, the South Pasadena Unified School District (SPUSD) serves approximately 4,800 students within five schools including three elementary schools one middle school and one comprehensive high school in South Pasadena SPUSD has earned a reputation for providing high quality public education attracting families who value challenging academic programs and outstanding teachers Consistently recognized for superior performance The District draws vital support from parents and community members through the South Pasadena Educational Foundation For more information, contact: South Pasadena Unified School District, Office of the Superintendent, scarroll@spusd.net Learn more about the Pasadena area's finest private schools F | F | 5-Day Forecast °F Now | Forecast Exclusively listed by Teresa Fuller of Compass this infinitely special Spanish Colonial Revival home in the San Rafael Hills of Pasadena is rustic yet elegant refined yet warm and all of the complex contradictions that make this architecture irresistible Sited on the south-facing side of Cherry Drive with views of the Poppy Peak Historic District and beyond this home transports its visitors to a relaxed a classic red clay barrel tile roof with curved rafter tails and recessed entry define the exterior of this 1933-built property Follow the brick walkway to the front porch flanked by Arbutus and Bottlebrush trees and open the ‘Julia Morgan blue’ front door to reveal a spectacular Magnesite floor inside Molded into harmonious octagonal and Saltillo brick patterns with hand painted Spanish tile details the entry floor and ironwork set the artisan tone Vaulted beamed ceilings define public spaces here: in the entry and in the living room: a cathedral ceiling lined with tongue and groove paneling Featuring a rustic decorative brick fireplace with iron-front wood storage vault the living room boasts casement picture windows to the front both the living and dining rooms are light-filled with peg-in-groove hardwood floors and velvety white plaster walls the dining room offers access to a private balcony with southern tree top views…and to the north find an exquisite kitchen with Adriatic blue lacquered cabinetry Like the arched casement window above the hammered copper sink opens to the side yard; this home offers great flow and many opportunities to commune in the public spaces Two bathrooms are updated with artful fixtures and finishes while retaining character: from the sweet built-in cabinet in the 3/4 bath to the collage of aqua and blue tile in the full bath sitting terrace under a grove of astonishing Euphorbia cactus a shady turf side garden and a spa for unobstructed star gazing Located central to everything and near treasured local spots here is the opportunity to live with architecture and history To view the listing click here XHTML: You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong> Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — With just five months before their performance at the iconicTournament of Roses parade in Pasadena the Pebble Hills HS band is entering the 2024-25 school year eager to represent the Borderland on a national stage Earlier this year,the Pebble Hills High School band announced that they will travel to Pasadena CA to perform at the iconic Tournament of Roses Parade an annual tradition alongside the famed Rose Bowl football game on Jan as Pebble Hills will be the first band to represent El Paso in the parade's nearly 135-year history the roughly 300-member Spartan Band beat out a global competition solidifying their place among just 20 groups representing high schools and universities from the U.S. "We're just blessed that we get to represent our community and so it's just a big deal for us," said Pebble Hills Band Director Max Sierra preparation for the main event goes beyond mere band practice and requires a good amount of conditioning to keep pace with the five-mile parade route RELATED:Pebble Hills high school band hosts fundraiser for 2025 Tournament of Roses performance "This past Friday we actually did our first March-A-Thon which was five miles and so we're just really excited about this whole thing," said Sierra the band is also deep in its fundraising and donation drive efforts Sierra said they've teamed up with the tour group that's helping coordinate the trip to offer a raffle that includes a Caribbean cruise grand prize the El Paso Chihuahuas also invited the band to sell tickets for a game they will perform at in late August with the profits from those ticket sales going to their travel fund the students are just really enthusiastic about hitting the ground running as a new school year starts and with the promise of such a significant moment for both the school and El Paso on the horizon "[The students] are excited about this whole season," said Sierra "We started a couple weeks ago and the attendance has been real good and so every day I'll mention the Rose Parade and get them working we're going to be on national television Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox. Located in the San Rafael Hills, Pasadena’s Alta San Rafael housing tract was developed from 1924 to 1930 by renowned landscape architecture firm Olmsted Brothers. An early example of a planned community with design restrictions intended to preserve the neighborhood’s overall architectural character, Alta San Rafael’s homes were built in the Spanish/Mediterranean Revival style by such illustrious architects as Roland Coate, Myron Hunt, Wallace Neff, Gordon Kaufmann, Reginald Johnson, and Paul R. Williams, who designed this elegant villa as a spec house for the development in 1929. Measuring 5,392 square feet, per its listing, the three-story residence has three bedrooms, three baths, a step-down living room, a formal dining room, and an office, along with private servant’s/guest quarters containing its own living room, bedroom, den, kitchenette, and bath. The home is also blessed with a bounty of swoon-worthy original features, including coffered ceilings, hardwood floors, wrought-iron grilles, stained glass, French doors, ornate woodwork, and colorful ceramic tile. Last sold in 2007 for $1.62 million, the .7-acre hillside property is now listed with the extremely specific asking price of $2,188,888, while HOA dues are an even $400 per month. Design LIFE IN A DOWNTOWN WEST LOFT, JUST BEYOND CITYPARK Soccer wasn’t the selling point when Ahmad Willis moved into the Lofts at the HUPP, located two blocks from CITYPARK in Downtown West. “I didn’t know how to feel about the soccer stadium at first,” says Willis, who had never watched a soccer game. After going to a match, however, he had a new perspective. “I had a really good time. I enjoyed being around the fans—St. Louis has an incredible fan base.” The structure that houses the lofts was built in 1919, a century before the soccer stadium was constructed. After Screaming Eagle Development put a contract on it in 2017, the historic building reopened as the Lofts at the HUPP in 2021. “The finishes and layouts are very loft-style,” says Keeley Properties vice president of marketing Maggie St. Geme. “There are a ton of amenity spaces.” The property features large storefront windows and onsite parking. For Willis, it’s a larger sense of community that he’s come to embrace: “It’s a nice place to be if you plan on moving downtown.” EXPERT INSIGHTS FROM FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER NEIL SALSICH Neil Salsich, the 34-year-old local musician who appeared on Season 23 of The Voice, recently took another major leap as a first-time homebuyer. “My life has improved so much since I bought this house,” Salsich says of his home in South City. The neighborhood borders Cherokee Street. “I love walking to my favorite bars and restaurants on Cherokee. It’s spunky, plucky, and not fancy—but still pretty rich.” Yet first-time homebuyers such as Salsich are a shrinking group. This year, the first-time buyers’ share of the real estate market has dropped more than 15 percent, which some experts attribute to rising prices and higher interest rates. Then there’s the emotional experience of buying a home for the first time. “It was terrifying,” says Salsich. “I was scared up until the last minute.” The musician says committing to the house felt overwhelming. That said, he’s glad he did. “I was freaked out, but I had the total support and experience of my parents.” The singer has some advice for other first-time homebuyers. “There’s never a right time to buy a house,” says Salsich. “Don’t wait for the right time or wait for something perfect.” He acknowledges that there’s always going to be some trepidation, and first-time homebuyers also need to be judicious. “Don’t just buy the first thing you see,” he says. The professionals echo Salsich’s thoughts, especially when investing in an especially sought-after property. “If a first-time buyer is going to be going quite a bit over the asking price, make sure it’s somewhere that you’ll want to be for at least five to seven years,” says Trevor Olwig, a realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. Olwig’s advice for first-time homebuyers is to ask: Does this house make sense for me right now? For Salsich, it was the perfect fit. “I had intel that it was going on the market, and it was down to the studs,” he says. Because of the house’s condition, he says, it was hard to envision what it would be like to live there, but he likes that his house is old on the outside and new on the inside. “If you can,” he says, “buy a house that has old bones and new guts.” Olwig suggests to clients, “It’s OK to buy something that’s not the HGTV-perfect house but one that you can put some sweat equity into.” Olwig and his wife purchased a 100-year-old house, for instance, and completely redid it. He notes that he’s the exception, though. “Ninety percent of first-time home buyers don’t want to buy a fixer-upper.” The singer is also a proponent of talking to neighbors. “You’ve got to engage with your street,” he says. “Don’t just park in your garage and ignore your neighbors.” On the whole, Salsich says, the experience of buying a home is worth it. “You’ve just got to take the plunge,” he says. HOW A NATIONWIDE SEARCH LED TO ST. LOUIS Her search led to three cities: Memphis, Nashville, and St. Louis. Memphis didn’t have the economic criteria that she wanted, she says, and Phelps felt that Nashville had a “Las Vegas strip” appeal that “wasn’t my vibe.” Phelps had visited St. Louis twice before the pandemic, and during that period found a trustworthy realtor whose husband was on the police force. “He was going to make sure the location was safe, and she was going to make sure it was up to snuff,” she says. Phelps bought a home in Tower Grove South even before seeing it in person and moved here 18 months ago. She quickly found ways to get involved in the community. During her first week, Phelps attended the chapter meeting for the United Nations Association, an organization she was involved with in California. She also started a hiking club and joined the board of the Climate Reality Project. “I think it’s really easy to make connections here,” she says. St. Louis has also surprised Phelps in some ways. As a vegetarian, she was heartened to find so many restaurant options. She also appreciates the robust arts community. “I can go to any museum for free,” she says, “and the arts are definitely a passion of mine.” “I have no ties in St. Louis outside of just finding it on a map…but I’ve found friends,” she says. “This is the Midwest, and everybody is so friendly, welcoming, and helpful.” FOR MANY FAMILIES, HOME IS WHERE MULTIPLE GENERATIONS LIVE TOGETHER. Harold Mountain never envisioned living in a multigenerational home. But for almost four years, he and his wife, Rachel, have been living with their four adult children and granddaughter in O’Fallon, Illinois. The couple also helps care for their aging parents out of state. Living with a grandchild also took some adjustment. “It’s a little bit trying to make sure that you’re not over-parenting,” says Mountain. On the other hand, Isabel has an abundance of support while living with grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Days off from school often involve trips to the zoo with her grandma or uncle. “We all tend to chip in and help watch her,” says Mountain. And when she has special events at school, everyone wants to show up. “You could say she’s the favorite around the house,” says Mountain, who considers being able to see his granddaughter every day the greatest joy of multigenerational living. “I come home every day and get to ask her what she learned and if she made any friends.” LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES, PASADENA HILLS BOASTS SOME OF THE REGION’S MOST ORNATE AND ARCH-ITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT HOMES. That’s a common sentiment in Pasadena Hills, the planned community in North County that boasts some of the most ornate and architecturally significant homes in the region. Houses designed in Tudor, French Eclectic, and Colonial Revival styles, among others, dot the neighborhood’s 140 acres of well-groomed rolling countryside. A commitment to preservation permeates every part of the neighborhood, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. “Everybody asks, ‘What is the secret here?’” says Marie Penkake, a chairperson of the Pasadena Hills Historic Preservation Commission. “I think the secret is the desire to see the historic aspects of the neighborhood continue. It’s wonderful.” “Everybody asks, ‘What is the secret here?’ I think the secret is the desire to see the historic aspects of the neighborhood continue. It’s wonderful.” It takes patience and a commitment to detail for a neighborhood like this to maintain its charm. Moving into a neighborhood such as Pasadena Hills requires brushing up on statutes and ordinances. For example, Avery says, there are rules about the kinds of pipes that can be used, the styles of outdoor fencing, and the shades of color on a home’s exterior. “Living here comes with responsibilities,” Monica says. “You’re supposed to maintain the historic nature of the neighborhood, given that it’s on the National Register of Historic Places.” Penkake, who’s lived in Pasadena Hills for the past 20 years, says it’s rare for a home to last more than two months on the market. When a home in the neighborhood goes up for sale, it’s a given that someone will want it. “I love our community,” Monica says. “I love Pasadena Hills.” THE DELMAR DIVINE BRINGS ST. LOUISANS TOGETHER IN A PLACE WHERE RESIDENTS CAN WORK, PLAY, AND STAY. There’s another way that Idleburg believes the Delmar Divine is bridging gaps: offering market-rate housing in an area where subsidized housing is common. “I actually want to stay in the house,” Idleburg says. “My grandma will tell you, ‘He won’t sit still.’ Being here—even though we’re on Delmar—it gets real quiet. The tranquility is awesome.” The comfort he feels extends beyond his front door. As both a resident and nonprofit tenant, Idleburg is making the most of the building’s intended uses. Downstairs, he leases space for his organization, the Cabanne District Community Development Corp., which is working to bring affordable and low-energy housing to the West End. “I love Mrs. Clark for doing this,” Idleburg says, “and creating a space for the community to come in and have any and every thing in a safe and healthy environment.” A LOOK AT THE LATEST IN ST. LOUIS REAL ESTATE The national narrative is that the real estate market is down. “This is the year of disappointment,” Jonathan J. Miller, the president of New York–based Miller Samuel Real Estate Appraisers and Consultants told The New York Times this spring. “The sellers aren’t going to get their 2021 prices, and buyers aren’t going to get a substantial savings on the price. Everyone is in the same boat.” St. Louis city and county, though, appear to be in a sunnier situation. “We all thought things would slow in 2023, but it feels just like the spring market of 2021,” says Trevor Olwig, a realtor at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. For a range of neighborhoods and price points, he’s seeing multiple offers over asking price. He shared some observations about interest rates and areas to watch. “We thought interest rates would affect the number of buyers,” Olwig adds, “but that’s not the case.” Many St. Louis buyers are still ready to buy despite rising interest rates, he says. “The initial shock value of interest rates going from 3 percent to 5 percent to 6 percent and all the way up to 7 percent hasn’t deterred buyers.” (Other Midwest cities are also reporting this trend, according to U.S. News & World Report.) Although inventory did rise in early 2023, there is still less inventory than in prior years because many people don’t want to leave homes that they refinanced during historic 3 percent interest rates. Olwig believes that trend may continue. Olwig says many buyers are more flexible than in the past, but school district remains an important factor. “A lot of buyers search by school district,” he says. In St. Louis County, he says, Webster Groves, Kirkwood, and Ladue are attractive to many buyers. “Most first-time home buyers are looking to Webster or Kirkwood for a house because you get a great neighborhood vibe there, but it still feels like a city, and you can walk everywhere.” He adds that Richmond Heights is another area where many first-time homebuyers flock. “As far as city neighborhoods, the Central West End is always strong,” he adds, noting that St. Louis Hills and Lindenwood Park continue to be popular as well. “Tower Grove and the Shaw neighborhood have been very strong,” he says, “and so is Lafayette Square.” “The St. Charles market is very hot and active,” Haggerty adds. Olwig echoes this sentiment: “All markets, including St. Charles, South and North County, and Metro East are very healthy. We’re seeing an active market at every price point due to a low inventory and a surplus of buyers.” Both Haggerty and Olwig are optimistic about the future of the St. Louis real estate market. “I’m very encouraged by the strength of the St. Louis market, especially as it continues to rise and be a great investment,” Haggerty says. “I’m excited about the possibilities available to buyers and sellers as we move through the year.” “The market continues to be robust,” Olwig notes. “There’s such high demand, and I believe it will continue to be a strong seller’s market for the rest of the year.” Median sales price for homes in St. Louis City and County, a nearly 5 percent increase from March ’22 to April ’23 Median sales price for condos and townhouses in St. Louis City and County, a 7 percent increase from March ’22 to April ’23 Average days on market for a house in St. Louis City and County, up from 30 days from March ’22 to April ’23 Average days on market for a condo or townhouse in St. Louis City and County, up year-over-year from 35 days Median sales price for homes in St. Charles County, as of March ’23, a nearly 5 percent increase from the previous year Median sales price for condos and townhouses in St. Charles County, as of March ’23, a 5.5 percent year-over-year decrease Average days on market for a house in St. Charles County, as of March ’23, a 106 percent year-over-year increase Average home price in Metro East, as of November 2022, a year-over-year increase of 5 percent Average days on market for a house in Metro East, as of November 2022, down from 62 days the previous November SOURCE: MARIS, St. Louis REALTORS, St. Charles REALTORS, Southwestern Illinois Board of REALTORS HOW A SENIOR LIVING FACILITY BROUGHT A MOTHER AND SON CLOSER TOGETHER Rosie Coplin Dahlberg and her son, Mark Coplin, lived 100 miles apart for years. Then, last August, Coplin finally asked, “Mom, have you ever thought about moving back to For now, Rosie’s two-bedroom apartment suits her well. She has a sizeable walk-in closet in her bedroom, a large dining area, and a spacious kitchen with gleaming white marble countertops. “The only thing is, I’m not cooking much because the food here is really good,” Rosie says. Most of all, she loves the view from her balcony and side windows. In the near distance, Rosie can see an old gravel road. She likes watching people walk and drive by—signs of life, or “hustle and bustle,” as she calls it. Watching water bubble from an ornate fountain nearby brings her a similar sense of calm. “I was blessed with this pretty view that I can enjoy,” Rosie says. And in the few months since her move, Rosie has discovered another perk to the location: “Sometimes my son stops by and surprises me on his way home from work.” COTTLEVILLE IS QUICKLY GROWING WHILE KEEPING A “SMALL-TOWN FEEL.” When Frankie Martin’s Garden opened in Cottleville last summer, there was at least one amenity that stood out from other metro area food truck gardens: a parking lot for golf carts. Among those residents is Nathan Tormala, a St. Charles County highway construction manager who built a home in Cottleville. Tormala says Cottleville still has a “small-town feel,” despite its steadily increasing population. Ronkoski estimates that Cottleville Trails, one of the city’s newest residential developments—replete with five lakes, a community beach, walking trails, a community pool and pool house, community pavilion and firepit, and children’s play areas—will increase the city’s population by about 500. Scott J. Drachnik, president and CEO of the Economic Development Council of St. Charles County, says, “The city leaders have a balanced approach to growth.” AT FIENUP FARMS, THE OUTDOORS IS NEAR RETAIL. A decade after the passing of Wilbur G. Fienup, past president of the R.C. Can Co. (inventor of the pop-open biscuit can), a burgeoning community has popped up on his former family farm. Situated minutes from Chesterfield Valley’s bustling commercial area, Fienup Farms encompasses 223 single-family home sites, a 26-acre lake, a community garden, trails, children’s play areas, pickleball courts, a fire pit, and more. It was in part the outdoor conveniences that attracted Raymond and Brenda Chiu to Fienup Farms. “The amenities are amazing,” says Brenda. The development’s design also “helps you to get to know your neighbors,” adds Raymond. Such characteristics were all part of the development’s master plan. “We love that this community promotes a healthy lifestyle and grand, general sense of community with the incredible onsite amenities,” says John F. Eilermann Jr., CEO and chairman of McBride Homes, which was among five area homebuilders that contributed to the development, including Claymont Development, Consort Homes, Prestige Custom Homes, and Fischer & Frichtel. When planning their home, the Chius incorporated a 16-foot kitchen island to provide enough room for Raymond, an avid cook, and Brenda, an avid baker. For their multicar garage, they worked with builders to ensure enough electrical power to accommodate charging electric and hybrid cars. The description’s also apt for Fienup Farms itself. Says Brenda Chiu, “We love it here.” A BELLEVILLE COUPLE CRAFTS THEIR DREAM HOME WITH A DIY APPROACH. Local artist Ashlee Satterthwaite and her partner, Eric Pochek, had been on the hunt for a new home for three years, and they were getting tired. There were potential winners over the course of their long search, but none of them were quite right. Some they lost out on; others seemed to give them signs that they weren’t the one—like a current owner coming out to yell at the couple when they drove up. Fresh coats of paint and new flooring in darker colors have brought some sleek touches to Satterthwaite and Pochek’s Belleville home, and snake plants are now flourishing in those built-in planters in the kitchen. Dated ’90s-style light fixtures have been replaced with modern, brassy chandeliers. There is still work to be done, but Satterthwaite says the space already feels like home: “The payoff is getting to that place where you feel more at home than you ever have.” THE 100 ABOVE THE PARK BUILDING OFFERS A NEW OPTION IN ST. LOUIS’ MOST COSMOPOLITAN COMMUNITY. David Cox still recalls the first time he saw the rendering of the modern 100 Above the Park luxury apartments, rising up over Forest Park in the Central West End. Designed by acclaimed architect Jeanne Gang, the 36-story building’s “scalloped façade and leaf-shaped plan” is unlike anything else amid the St. Louis skyline. Cox, who first moved to the area in 2005 as a civil service attorney at Scott Air Force Base and later opened his own practice, says the building made an impact on him, and when he was in the market for a new place, it jumped to mind as an option. Before construction was completed, Cox took a tour and was especially impressed with the space’s expansive windows. With floor-to-ceiling windows in every direction, the building gives residents a front-row seat to the city’s ever-changing landscape, from downtown to Forest Park. “Floor-to-ceiling glass is precisely angled to maximize natural light and sweeping panoramic views,” explains Greg Guttman, Mac Properties’ chief marketing officer. “It’s four seasons of changing artwork inside your home.” “Floor-to-ceiling glass is precisely angled to maximize natural light and sweeping panoramic views,” explains Greg Guttman, Mac Properties’ chief marketing officer. “It’s four seasons of changing artwork inside your home.” Cox eventually chose an east-facing view, looking out toward downtown. “I really like the intrigue of having an urban environment,” says Cox. “I can look out my window and see what’s going on… It’s just a different way of viewing the world.” Each month, the building also hosts events where tenants can connect. “They get local vendors like restaurants to come in and cater, so we can get to know a bit more about them,” says Cox. “I now have some very close friends as a result of these events.” Cox feels he’s found an ideal place to live. “I always had my heart set on it,” Cox says. “I am super happy where I’m at.” There was no equivocating in 2004 when Penny for Pasco supporters detailed how the sales tax proceeds would be spent: schools, transportation, public safety and environmental lands. No money for parks. No money for recreation. Commissioners added a new category, economic development, eight years later when voters overwhelmingly renewed the tax for another decade. The clarity, however, is about to disappear. Pasco County is considering a convoluted plan to acquire two parcels totaling 146 acres for a park through its Environmental Lands Acquisition and Management Program, financed by the Penny or Pasco. The property, 76 acres owned by Dairy Farm Corp. and Massey Partners Ltd. and an abutting 70 acres owned by Evans Properties Inc., is off Prospect Road in east-central Pasco in the massive planning area designated as Villages of Pasadena Hills. The two parcels proposed for the ELAMP list are earmarked for passive recreation and are the second phase of the park purchase. The county acquired nearly 95 acres in 2012 for about $2.8 million. That was done with money borrowed from park impact fee accounts — money paid buy new homebuyers outside of Pasadena Hills. Contractually, the money must be repaid. The park land costs are supposed to be covered by the impact fees and surcharges on new homes within Pasadena Hills, except the development hasn't happened yet. It remains 22,000 acres of largely agricultural land south of State Road 52 between Curley Road and U.S. 301. But a deadline to close the acquisition is approaching. The county's option to buy the second phase of the park land expires Dec. 17, and commissioners are turning to Penny for Pasco to seal the deal. The proposal calls for the county to obtain the land through ELAMP and then pay back the environmental program when the park fees and surcharges start accumulating in Pasadena Hills. In other words, the land bank actually is acting as a bank. The county chose this route after it was unable to obtain an extension of its purchase option. Evans Properties agreed, but Dairy Farm Corp. and Massey Partners Ltd., controlled by the Andrew Pittman family, declined to move the December date, said David Goldstein, chief assistant county attorney. Absent the extension, the county did have an ace in the hole. The 2012 contract allows the county to pay for the park land by charging assessments on future development entitlements assigned to the landowners in the Pasadena Hills district. It's logical public policy. Make the landowners, who ultimately benefit from a super park near their developments, pay for it. But, nobody played that ace card. If the county had, Evans Properties would get stuck with part of the bill to buy its own land because it previously obtained zoning to develop its property. Dairy Farm and Massey Partners hold no such entitlements and would escape the assessment burden. You could look at this in more ways than one. The county is holding up its end of the deal to acquire park land for future residents in what is anticipated to be a high-growth region. And the $30,000-per-acre price could be construed as a bargain because the park land had been presumed to cost $50,000 an acre, according to the financial plan for the Villages of Pasadena Hills. The county also can argue that the environmental land buys stand on their own merits. The parcels were nominated properly, then evaluated by the environmental lands acquisition committee, which recommended their purchase. And the money will be repaid. Or, a skeptic might say the county is closing on a real estate deal prematurely, using money borrowed from Penny for Pasco — which certainly stretches the definition of its intended purpose — instead of charging assessments to the beneficiaries. Incidentally, Dairy Farm Corp., Massey Partners Ltd. and Evans Properties have contributed to the current or previous political campaigns of all five county commissioners. With no discussion, a unanimous board approved adding the parcels to the ELAMP acquisition list on Oct. 10. It didn't go unnoticed. "It does concern me anytime you take money and use it in a way that is hard for the public to understand,'' Ray Gadd, deputy school superintendent and one of the architects of the successful Penny for Pasco campaign in 2004, told the Tampa Bay Times. Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, who was outside the boardroom during the vote, said afterward she thought the per-acre price was too generous and that the county should charge the assessments to finance the final phase of the park land purchase. That $2 million deal for 68 acres doesn't have to close until 2027. Commissioners also should contemplate the political implications of this proposal. It comes as the county embarks on an $85,000 public education campaign asking residents how to finance more than $149 million worth of expanded and improved parks outlined in a 2015 master plan. They may have just undermined that effort. It's going to be kind of tough to explain to the public that you don't have money for new parks when you just borrowed $4.4 million from Penny for Pasco to buy land for a park. C.T. BowenHillsborough County Reporter  As reported last year by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) "The Odyssey Outpatient Network's expansion into California addresses the growing demand and treatment gap for evidence-based clinical care in the region," said Richard Clark "We are proud to provide accessible mental health treatment to the residents of the San Fernando Valley region and become part of their vibrant community." The new clinic provides group-based therapy with individual psychotherapy Board-certified psychiatrists oversee treatment Each client's treatment is supported by close collaboration with providers in the community to maintain a smooth transition to lower levels of care as clients complete their program The Woodland Hills clinic provides psychiatric care for adults of all genders (18 years or older) experiencing mental health conditions The clinic offers multiple levels of care including a partial hospitalization program (PHP) and an intensive outpatient program (IOP) To learn more, visit the Pasadena Villa Outpatient—Woodland Hills web page Media Contact:Vicki SmithChief Marketing Officervickis@odysseybh.com615-864-8145 This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com Recently painted to compliment its true beauty This 4 Bed 4 Bath SFR is nestled atop the coveted hills of South Pasadena area known as Altos De Monterey Designed by renowned architect Ming Yang Yeh this home is a must see This spacious split level home features multi level decks showcasing stunning hillside views excellent for entertaining or just watching an unforgettable sunset Don’t miss the beautiful lower backyard garden perfect for a picnic or just have quiet time with nature This home is proudly sited in the award winning South Pasadena School District The new lucky owner will also enjoy the convenience of the desired surrounding areas Don’t miss this opportunity as they don’t come by too often Come see this rare masterpiece and you will feel like you’re home For a Virtual Tour of the property, visit my.flexmls.com/TonyPerez3/search/shared_links/7FDvJ/listings/20220328221431183949000000  One of the debates that has raged for at least ten years in our area has been over the boundaries of the community we love — Wesley Chapel.  included only the communities within zip codes 33543 The mail delivery of all three of those zip codes is still handled by the Zephyrhills Post Office even though most of Wesley Chapel is 20-30 minutes (or more) from it Our version of Wesley Chapel now includes more than 33,000 homes our editorial researcher and current Realtor (with Florida Executive Realty in Tampa Palms) Joel Provenzano who previously was a transportation engineer with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) says that the zip code map on this page isn’t the only way to determine the boundaries of Wesley Chapel.  Joel was put smack-dab in the middle of this controversy ten years ago when he was responsible for placing a road sign that said simply “Wesley Chapel” on the east side of Wesley Chapel Blvd. The problem was that since the zip code of the land upon which the sign sat was in Lutz’s 33559 zip code (as is everything west of I-75 on both sides of S.R our friends from Lutz basically insisted that FDOT remove the sign — which today no longer sits at that location Joel says that although the zip code in that area says Lutz Census Bureau’s list of Census Designated Places (CDPs) includes portions of both Lutz and Land O’Lakes within its Wesley Chapel boundaries (see map there also are portions within zip codes 33543 which is what I always have called “Wesley Chapel proper,” that aren’t included in the Census Bureau’s Wesley Chapel CDP the population within the boundaries of the Wesley Chapel CDP was only about 60,000 people because of the communities that are and are not included in the CDP boundaries one person’s Wesley Chapel is another person’s Lutz and vice-versa Although the name “Wesley Chapel” seemed relatively new to those of us whose families haven’t lived in this area since before “The Chap” became one of the fastest-growing communities in the U.S. according to the super-interesting book Images of America: Wesley Chapel by historian Madonna Jervis Wise the name “Wesley Chapel” actually dates back to before the Civil War and much of the land that today is known as Wesley Chapel was at one time owned by a land trust headed by none other than the financier John D Although it became more commonly known as “Wesley,” as shown on the map below from 1917 Wesley Chapel was a small community located due west of Zephyrhills and east of the adjacent town of Godwin It extended south basically to the Pasco/Hillsborough county line where it met up with the community of Branchton or what we more commonly refer to as New Tampa today most of the area west of what is now called Old Pasco Rd likely wasn’t considered part of the original town of Wesley Chapel as the property owned by four families — the Boyett(e) Godwin and Kersey families (see marker signs below) — only encompassed the area between Old Pasco Rd the county line to the south (when all of what is now Pasco County was considered to be part of Hernando County) “Over Pass Rd.” to the north and Handcart Rd to the east were included in the homesteads of those families several other ranch/farming families ended up buying up most of the land the Rockefeller-Weyerhauser Trust owned including 15,000 acres purchased by James Barney Porter it wasn’t until former publishing magnate Tom Dempsey purchased (around 1979) a few hundred acres on the south side of S.R nothing more than a two-lane country road that connected New Port Richey on the west side to Zephyrhills on the east side) to develop into Saddlebrook Resort (which opened in 1981) that anyone other than those ranching old timers really used the name Wesley or Wesley Chapel at all The only other part of Wesley Chapel already developed before Saddlebrook was Williamsburg a small community with still fewer than 300 single-family homes that was originally intended (in the 1970s) to be a retirement community to be called “Levittown Florida,” after developer Abraham Leviitt who developed the original (and much larger) Levittown on Long Island as other portions of the former ranch lands in Wesley Chapel began developing (beginning with Meadow Pointe in the early 1990s) the name Wesley Chapel still didn’t really catch on the first shopping center built in Meadow Pointe was called “The Shoppes at New Tampa,” as the developers tried to capitalize on the more-developed and better-known community located south of the county line The shopping center’s name was changed to “The Shoppes at New Tampa of Wesley Chapel,” as people who lived in the newly burgeoning community north of the county line resented being referred to as “New Tampa.”  the reason there’s even a story to tell here is primarily because the developers and the businesses located within those developments had different goals than the people who already lived in those areas.  The greatest example of this had to do with the long-awaited construction of the Cypress Creek Town Center the mall and all of the businesses that have popped up around it have Lutz zip codes even though those businesses often referred to themselves (and still do) as being located in Wesley Chapel This problem was definitely exacerbated by the fact that not only did many of the people who lived in the more rural Lutz not want their community to become part of the sprawl they saw happening in Wesley Chapel there also were two chambers of commerce serving that area — the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber (which was renamed and rebranded as the North Tampa Bay Chamber in 2018) and the Central Pasco Chamber (which was renamed the Greater Pasco Chamber The Central Pasco Chamber fought along side the long-term residents of Lutz to not only prevent anything located in a Lutz zip code from being considered part of Wesley Chapel they also resented that what had long been referred to as “Old C.R and that the sign saying “Wesley Chapel” had been placed on property with a Lutz zip code.  according to both our editorial researcher Joel Provenzano who worked for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) at that time and Hope Kennedy — who was the president and CEO of the former Wesley Chapel Chamber who now holds the same titles with the NTBC — neither of them had anything to do with the sign being placed at that location.  “FDOT put the sign where it was on Wesley Chapel Blvd Census Bureau said that everything east of Old 54/Wesley Chapel Blvd. was part of the Wesley Chapel Census Designated Place (or CDP),” Joel says the Census Bureau never recognized that the community of Lutz which was historically only part of Hillsborough County as even extending north of the Pasco County line The Pasco portions of Lutz are part of the Central Pasco CCD just as the people who lived in Wesley Chapel didn’t want to be part of New Tampa the people of the Pasco-based portions of Lutz did not want to be thought of as Wesley Chapel the county or the State of Florida thought about it.  Hope says she remembers when the Central Pasco Chamber tried to not only get the name “Wesley Chapel Blvd.” removed from the roadway that currently provides some of the zip code boundaries between Lutz extension that one day will extend to the Pasco-Hillsborough county line (as we reported in the Feb 2016 edition of the Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News) with new developments already planned in that area (that we plan to update you about in a future issue).  The Central Pasco Chamber and Lutz community also fought against a plan for Wesley Chapel to incorporate as its own city that never gained enough traction to be brought before the Pasco Board of County Commissioners (BCC) Hope says that part of the reason that idea failed was because neither side could get the county to come to an agreement as to what areas the boundaries of the “City of Wesley Chapel” should include.  Hope also says that she was told that the Census Bureau tries to use “natural” boundaries whenever possible to create census tracts but even that methodology failed when it came to establishing the Wesley Chapel CDP Cypress Creek runs from south of where I-75 meets the Pasco-Hillsborough county line to the north and slightly to the west of Wesley Chapel Blvd if Cypress Creek was used to establish the Wesley Chapel CDP boundaries instead of in the Central Pasco CCD (see map) also not within the boundaries of the Wesley Chapel CDR are Chapel Crossings and New River Township/Avalon Park Wesley Chapel we had no idea why these Wesley Chapel communities are not included in the Wesley Chapel CDP.  We also were surprised that other communities located north of S.R are considered by the Census Bureau to be part of the Pasadena Hills CDP I always thought of Pasadena Hills as being more of a Zephyrhills-area development with most of the CDP located east of Handcart Rd./Eiland Blvd. and had no idea that Watergrass was considered part of it even though Watergrass does extend all the way east to Handcart.  The exclusion of these large-scale developments from the Wesley Chapel CDP boundaries explains why the Census Bureau believes there are so many fewer residents — 60,000 compared with our zip code count of just over 90,000 in 33543 What it unfortunately doesn’t clarify is where the boundaries of Wesley Chapel really are or should be I admit that this article has been something of an exercise in futility even though it definitely has been an extremely interesting one — at least to yours truly.  You must be logged in to post a comment Monterey Hills Elementary School (MHS) 4th graders recently raised and donated $9,010 to the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service which has assisted immigrants and refugees for more than 80 years The donation will help with the relocation of Afghan refugees who escaped their country for safety and were brought to the United States The MHS 4th grade tradition of fundraising for causes began in 2015 when students wanted to assist after the earthquake in Nepal. Determined to raise as much money as possible, these students devised a plan to raffle a large mineral specimen as well as sell small minerals to the entire school body. To view a short video clip of this year’s raffle presentation, please visit: https://youtu.be/wA5VZFWsVCE funds have been donated to send Balinese girls to high school support programs to end worldwide hunger and poverty MHS 4th graders have raised and donated approximately $45,000 to various charities These donations would not have been possible without the support of the South Pasadena community and friends who demonstrate compassion and generosity Monterey Hills Elementary School, 1624 Via Del Rey, South Pasadena, (626) 441-5860 or visit monterey.spusd.net Established in 1886, the South Pasadena Unified School District (SPUSD) serves approximately 4,800 students within five schools including three elementary schools SPUSD has earned a reputation of providing high quality public education For more information, contact: South Pasadena Unified School District, Office of the Superintendent at scarroll@spusd.net Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin is set to lead a virtual community meeting Monday at 6 p.m in which he will unveil an evacuation plan for residents living in West Pasadena’s Arroyo area San Rafael Hills in the event of a wildfire who has led the Pasadena Fire Department for 10 months is from Sacramento and remembers the lessons learned from the 1991 Oakland Hills firestorm that killed 25 and destroyed 2,843 single-family homes “Part of the issues that made Oakland Hills so devastating was the up-sloping terrain and poor access and egress,” Augustin told Pasadena Now that was one of the very first things I noticed about the Arroyo area,” he said The topography and road system were similar to the Oakland Hills “We’ve been in severe drought conditions and severe extreme fire danger over the past few years It really was a top priority once I realized that there was not an evacuation route for that area,” Augustin said Augustin said he is not aware of any previous evacuation planning by the Fire dept for the Arroyo area community and the hills that rise above the Rose Bowl to the west “That was the impetus of why we’ve been working so hard on that plan,” he said in-depth review of that specific area with fire modeling so that we can provide very useful information that those residents will hopefully never need to use My team and I believe it’s imperative that we have a plan in place if there is such an incident.” Deputy Chief Tim Sell and city Press Information Officer Lisa Derderian will assist with the presentation The event will be online at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88364239693 and will be recorded for future viewing More » This is a developing story. For the latest local updates, head to LAist.com. Also, sign up for NPR's breaking news alerts The latest on the response | What's been lost | The forecast | How to stay safe Here's what we know so far about the patchwork of wildfires blazing across Los Angeles and check back throughout the day for updates As first responders battle multiple wildfires in Los Angeles County authorities are urging residents to heed evacuation orders and be patient The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed Thursday night that it had received notification of 10 fire-related deaths All cases were pending identification and notification of next of kin the Medical Examiner said identification may take several weeks LA County Sheriff Robert Luna cautioned that the number of fatalities was expected to rise as investigators work their way into damaged areas The Palisades and Eaton fires are the largest of the fires currently blazing across the county with the two of them having burned more than 33,000 combined acres since they began on Tuesday Photos: Los Angeles wildfires threaten lives, homes and cultural landmarks The Hurst and Lidia fires — the only two to reach any percentage of containment (10% and 40% which ignited in the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday night "Historic winds and extensive drought have created a perfect storm that has driven people from their homes, have taken people's homes and have taken people's lives," LA Mayor Karen Bass said at a Thursday morning news conference "This is absolutely an unprecedented historic firestorm During a White House briefing with staff Thursday afternoon President Biden said he was making federal resources available and that he had approved additional funding to help California battle the "worst fires to ever hit Los Angeles The new funding will cover 100% of the cost for hazardous materials removal first responder salaries and measures to protect life for 180 days which provides federal funding to affected residents by way of "grants for temporary housing and home repairs low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster." Authorities lifted evacuation orders for the Sunset Fire on Thursday morning Evacuation orders are impacting nearly 180,000 people in the county and another nearly 200,000 individuals are under evacuation warnings "A lot of the stories of heroic actions by our deputy sheriffs a lot of them are taking place for people who did not choose to evacuate putting their own lives at risk," Luna added because it's not only your life you're putting in danger." Luna said some of the affected areas "looked like a bomb was dropped on them," and canines will search the area for remains when it is safe to do so Other officials at the briefing described the firestorm — fueled by unusually strong Santa Ana winds — as "unprecedented" and the scenes as "apocalyptic." Preliminary reports suggest the Palisades Fire alone has damaged or destroyed "thousands" of structures the Palisades Fire is one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles," Crowley added Authorities said a downturn in wind speeds — expected to be temporary — had enabled firefighters to start air operations on Tuesday night making early progress against the Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills and what's being called the Sunswept Fire in Studio City "While we are still facing significant threats I am hopeful that the tide is turning," said Kathryn Barger chair of the LA County Board of Supervisors said crews used ground and air tactics to stop the progress of the 43-acre Sunset Fire and are now working to put out spot fires and keep the wind from spreading additional embers They were also able to fully contain the 30-acre Woodley Fire that started Wednesday and will continue monitoring the area for flare-ups Firefighters are still trying to get a handle on the Palisades Fire where wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour pose an extra challenge Crowley advised residents to stay informed be prepared to evacuate and stay away from impacted areas to allow first responders to carry out their duties Conditions are difficult for those able to stay home 15,000 Malibu residents faced gas shut-offs and the Sunset Mesa community was under a boil water advisory for at least 48 hours if there is any residence in your area that is burned to the ground and you are still there you should just go ahead and boil water," said Mark Pestrella Pestrella said the first priority is restoring utilities like sewers which is difficult because of the number of downed trees and other debris He warned that people should not touch debris or try to remove it themselves Authorities are also warning those who might be trying to take advantage of the situation by looting or committing burglary They say 20 people have been arrested for looting so far said that it is a misdemeanor for people to be in an evacuation zone without authorization and that he will direct members of the Sheriff's Department to start enforcing that rule a message that LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman echoed if you want to engage in these internet scams where you're going to take advantage of people who are going to be seeking insurance and government benefits you will be prosecuted and you will be punished to the full extent of the law," he said Later Thursday he said about 400 members of the California National Guard will be deployed as soon as Thursday night to "assist with traffic control and critical infrastructure protection" and prevent looting in fire-hit areas of Pasadena Luna said authorities plan to impose a curfew from 6 p.m which may go into effect Thursday or Friday night California Gov. Gavin Newsom said more than 7,500 personnel are responding to the fires across local, state and federal agencies. They are using helicopters, water tenders, air tankers and dozers to fight the fires. Four firefighters were injured as of Wednesday night, according to authorities The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power said some 135,226 customers were without power at 9 p.m Los Feliz and Highland Park among the communities most affected The department also issued an unsafe water alert warning residents of ZIP code 90272 to use only boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking and cooking until further notice "due to low water pressure in the water distribution system stemming from high water usage to respond to the Pacific Palisades wildfire." As of 6PM the Boil Water Notice only applies to the Pacific Palisades 90272 zip code and adjacent communities north of San Vincente Blvd. More info: https://t.co/Feqkyqeg8j pic.twitter.com/9kRwBRP64I is urging residents to conserve water as much as possible and she said police are assisting in handling evacuation traffic redirect traffic and expand access for LAFD vehicles to respond to the growing fire," she said on X Bass returned Wednesday from a delegation trip to Ghana and rebuffed criticisms that she should have returned sooner She said she took the fastest way home and was in contact with authorities during her return trip Asked about potential missteps on Thursday Bass stressed that her top priority is saving lives and homes "Rest assured when that is done … we will absolutely do an evaluation to look at what worked and what didn't work and to correct or hold accountable anybody All schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District are closed Thursday, and some LA County school districts have already announced plans to remain closed Friday complex situations that present unsafe conditions for our school communities," the district said Two LA elementary schools were destroyed in the fire and the Pasadena Unified School District has closed all its schools for the rest of the week Damage appears to be extensive, with Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone estimating Wednesday that over 1,000 structures had been destroyed The buildings impacted so far include homes LA landmarks including the historic Topanga Ranch Motel, Will Rogers' ranch house, the Bunny Museum and Altadena Hardware have been destroyed by flames, according to a tracker from LAist as were beloved restaurants Fox's and Reel Inn Religious sites like the Altadena Community Church Masjid Al-Taqwa and the Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center have also been lost Cheryl Heuton and her husband left their home in Pasadena with just toothbrushes laptops and old stuffed animals that belonged to their children when they were younger "We just finished cleaning up from the Rose Parade of all things "We had the big thing that showed off how wonderful life is here followed immediately by something showing off how awful life can be." "Sitting with my family, watching the news, and seeing our home in Malibu burn to the ground on live TV is something no one should ever have to experience," Hilton wrote on Instagram The fires have had an impact on the sports world too. The NFL is moving Monday's Minnesota Vikings-LA Rams game from Inglewood to the Arizona Cardinals' home stadium in Glendale The NBA announced the postponement of Thursday night's game between the Charlotte Hornets and LA Lakers "Our prayers remain with those affected by the unimaginable devastation caused by the wildfires." A day earlier the NHL postponed a game between the LA Kings and Calgary Flames at the same venue The National Weather Service extended its red flag warning through 6 p.m PT Friday for portions of LA and Ventura counties "Gusty winds and very dry conditions will continue to fuel fire starts and existing fires," it said Eaton and Hurst fires already burning in the area The NWS is forecasting widespread wind gusts of 35 to 55 mph and extremely low humidity, a combination conducive to fueling flames Winds have gradually weakened since their peak earlier Wednesday, when the NWS recorded speeds as high as 90 mph in Henninger Flats and 89 mph at Saddle Peak This week's wildfires have been fueled by Santa Ana winds — dry "The typical strengths of these winds are on the order of, say, 30 to 60 miles per hour when they occur, a couple times a year," Ariel Cohen, chief meteorologist for the NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard, told NPR's Morning Edition we get a much stronger Santa Ana wind event like what we had over the past 24 to 36 hours in which case we ended up with a widespread life-threatening and destructive windstorm." A wind advisory will remain in effect until at least 2 p.m. PT on Friday. The NWS advises residents to stay at least 100 feet away from downed power lines and call 911 The California Newsroom is following the extreme weather from across the region. Click through to LAist's coverage for the latest Become an NPR sponsor Nestled in the San Rafael Hills west of the Arroyo Seco, this elegant Pasadena home sits on a tree-filled 5,512-square-foot lot with an abundance of outdoor space the house has two bedrooms and two bathrooms spread across 1,400 square feet of living space Interior features include lovely hardwood floors A fireplace is tucked into the wall of the open living room and a small sun room sits alongside the dining area The master bedroom has an en-suite bathroom and a walk-in closet The home’s main level opens out to a large partially covered wooden deck that looks out across the treetops and includes space for outdoor dining A lower level deck provides access to a small studio with a built-in work table The enclosed backyard includes an additional patio space and terraced gardens Located at 260 Sycamore Glen, the house is asking $899,000 low-water landscaping built for the future At the top of a roller-coaster hill in Highland Park enjoy two spectacular views — of the Pasadena hills to the east and of the meandering expanse of native plants succulents and vegetables in a backyard that once was nothing but dirt and junk cars their backyard boasts a deck rimmed with pots of colorful succulents and wide water-permeable paths of flagstone and river pebbles lined with fragrant plantings of California native trees and flowering shrubs a potted lemon tree and a few red-blooming Australian grevilleas and South African leucadendron left over from the early days of their landscaping journey “because the hummingbirds love them so much,” Zamora said But almost everything else in the backyard along with the terraced planters out front and the parkway a passion inspired by the Theodore Payne Foundation’s Native Plant Garden Tour in 2015 when the couple saw what beautiful gardens others had created from native perennials An oasis of welcoming serenity in the backyard of Raul Rojas and Thomas Zamora’s Highland Park home “That started us on our journey of ‘Frankensteining’ our landscape,” Zamora said “The tours helped us get ideas for what elements we thought would look great in our yard They winged it so well that their home is now a regular part of Theodore Payne’s Native Plant Garden Tour, being held on April 13 and 14 this year. (Tickets are sold out online, but at publication time were still available for purchase in person at the foundation’s office in Sun Valley, Tuesdays through Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for $55 (children under 16 are free). Lifestyle Here are the best retail native plant nurseries in Southern California to help you create a habitat for birds and pollinators in your yard or even on a patio. The couple’s garden is alive with bees, hummingbirds and other pollinators, and there are chairs and even a flower-shaded bench for visitors to sit and admire the view. The space exudes serenity and invites wanderers —and is clearly a labor of love for both Zamora and Rojas. “Every Sunday is garden day and we enjoy the process,” Rojas said. “It’s a place for exercise and meditation ... our happy place. And who does the weeding? Us!” On their tidy potting bench, a butter knife rests in a pot, at the ready to tackle any unwanted sprouts. “The best weeding tool is a butter knife,” Rojas says confidentially. “My grandma taught me that; you just jab the knife in at the base of the root and pull the weed up by pinching it between two fingers.” It all looks perfect, down to the beautiful tangle of poppies and other native wildflowers in the narrow strip of parkway. But the process offered plenty of challenges, Zamora and Rojas said. “We’ve learned a lot along the way,” Rojas said. but their potent scents are the biggest draw of all Gardening experts share the most fragrant native plants Both men are California natives whose families enjoyed gardening and being outdoors but they grew up around more traditional plants like roses his parents kept him busy pulling weeds as a child an art department coordinator for TV shows like “No Good Deed,” bought the 1923 bungalow in 2009 the smallish backyard was filled with hard dirt and three junk cars which thankfully were removed before he moved in in 2010 he focused more on the interior of the house and dabbled at planting just a few flower beds outside He said his focus then was on showy drought-tolerant plants like statice and Pride of Madeira a fast-growing perennial with giant purple blooms native to the Portuguese island of Madeira A leucadendron “Jester” from South Africa grows against a neighbor’s garage wall The leucadendron is a holdover from Zamora’s earliest landscaping attempts kept because it’s so popular with the hummingbirds “I didn’t realize these plants are invasive along the central coast,” he said “I was just planting things because they looked pretty and I knew they would grow because I’d seen them in other places.” He added the leucadendron and grevillea for their showstopping But he also planted a white sage (Salvia apiana) because he admired the silvery green foliage of one of Southern California’s most famous indigenous plants during a local hike “It was one of the best decisions we ever made,” Zamora said. But once they started adding native plants in earnest, the challenges started. They amended their heavy clay soil with compost and other additives, something you would normally do to plant traditional landscape ornamentals and food. But after many of the new plants died, they learned their yard had mostly heavy, slow-draining clay soil, and that native plants prefer well-draining native soils over enriched garden plots. Matt Smith is a widower and amateur botanist whose grief and passion are fueling a quest some might call quixotic — to photograph every plant native to Los Angeles County “I learned that from one of Theodore Payne’s ‘Right Plant, Right Place’ classes that teaches you what plants do best in your situation,” Zamora said. “And I also used Calscape to find out if the plants I’m interested in will tolerate clay soils That’s how we figured out a plan for adding plants we would love to have but don’t have a place where they will work.” A San Clemente Island bushmallow loaded with pink blooms was planted from a one-gallon container and now grows exuberantly along the east fence of Raul Rojas and Thomas Zamora’s backyard They grow plants that don’t like clay in pots such as the super-sweet smelling woolly bluecurls (Trichostema lanatum) near their side door; once established along with a very happy San Clemente Island bushmallow (Malacothamnus clementinus) that has grown from a one-gallon container to a massive shrub covered with blooms along their east fence Initially they added two raised beds for vegetables but eventually removed one to create more space for paths and native plantings Adding pebble walkways helped solve problems with runoff and standing water in the backyard “We do not have a bioswale [to capture rainwater until it drains into the soil] — I wish I had known about those when I was doing the walks,” Zamora said “But I leveled the area so the water doesn’t pool now and the rocks seem to help hold water so it doesn’t run off; it just seeps into the ground through the pavers.” Succulents in colorful pots line the deck, front porch and potting bench at the home of Raul Rojas and Thomas Zamora. Another helpful resource has been regular visits to the California Botanic Garden in Claremont the state’s largest botanic garden devoted entirely to native plants “It’s a peaceful place and very inspiring to see plants in their habitat,” Zamora said “We went there lots during the pandemic because it was such a great place to walk around.” They’re also regular customers of Hardy Californians, a pop-up native plant nursery in Sierra Madre even volunteered there during the Hollywood actors’ strike in 2023 and came away an even bigger convert to the versatility and beauty of native plants Go with what looks good to you and what appeals to you.” “Plants will surprise you by their ability or inability to thrive Don’t be discouraged by what others perceive as failure Those make ‘plant victories’ all the better.” Do research and/or take classes. The Theodore Payne Foundation and Calscape offer resources. “Our neighbors have been very positive,” Rojas said. “We got little signs for all the plants because people on neighborhood walks always ask us what we’ve planted, and what we recommend for a specific situation.” A large ficus tree in the parkway outside their front door has died, probably because of damage when the street was dug up for water-pipe repairs. It’s a city-owned tree, Zamora said, so a city crew will have to remove it, “but we’re definitely going to talk to them about replacing it with something native.” Over the years, they’ve gotten much more sanguine about the circle of life in their garden. “We’ve learned that gardening is a process and some plants do better than others,” Rojas said. “We used to get so upset — ‘OMG, this died!’ — but at this point, it’s more like, ‘Oh, this didn’t like that location.’ Now we see it as just a new planting opportunity.” Dania Maxwell is a staff photographer at the Los Angeles Times. Before joining the newsroom in 2018, she worked in Colombia, South America and at the Naples Daily News in Florida. Her work has been awarded an Emmy, POYi, Sigma Delta Chi and Edward R. Murrow. Maxwell received a master’s degree in visual communication from Ohio University and a bachelor of arts from Sarah Lawrence College. Travel & Experiences much of a home’s allure is in the details: a winding stone walkway landscaping that heightens the architectural style of the house the homeowner plays the largest role of all we’re pretty certain you’ll agree that the following 10 properties—from 10 neighborhoods throughout the city and the county—merit a place in our annual portfolio of St Also, check out our interview with Meghan Putnam, the photographer behind the winning entry in our Most Beautiful Homes photo contest Landscape designer: unknown; Baxter Gardens updated the landscaping in 1996 Significant stats: 3,173 square feet on 3⁄4-acre lot; 4 bedrooms Why we chose it: This 1929 Country French–style home sits on a large corner lot facing Carondelet Park charming all who pass by with its striking architectural features including an enormous central turret that’s straight out of a fairytale castle an intricate brick-and-stone façade The arches to the left of the entry enclose a shady screened porch that was used for sleeping in the days before air conditioning tends to the rosebushes that line the stone wall in front as well as her lush backyard garden She and her husband love to sit on the welcoming front porch or walk their dogs in the park “Between the view of the park and sitting in the back yard it’s almost like being in the country,” he says Significant Stats: Approximately 6,000 square feet; 6 bedrooms 5 working fireplaces (plus 3 nonfunctional ones) Why we chose it: This stately traditional Italianate home was built in 1868 for James Johnson Lindley have continued to preserve and enhance its original details They’ve carefully painted each of the lines between the finely cut ashlar masonry on the façade to make it pop Four different styles of windows grace the front including five arched beauties that mirror the shape of the ornate front door The owners recently enlisted West County Gardens to level the sloped front yard and create a paved entry between the home’s two sets of original limestone steps “We had just come back from Paris and stayed in the old Haussmann area where everyone had these wonderful small entry courtyards so that’s what I wanted to go for,” one owner says The varied colors of the courtyard’s stones pick up the colors of the paint and the natural slate of the mansard roof Significant stats: 2,832 square feet; 3 bedrooms Why we love it: John Warren and his partner were looking for a house in a historic neighborhood They searched all the usual hot spots—the CWE City—when a friend reminded them about Pasadena Hills the North County neighborhood that’s listed in the National Register of Historic Places ‘Why not take a look?’” Warren was taken by this home’s many details in particular the archway at the entry and the beamed ceiling in the living room “I think the neighborhood looks a little like Claverach Park,” says Warren The builders used a bricklaying method known as “drunken brick,” an intentionally uneven placement of bricks that contributes to the home’s historic aesthetic The neighborhood—with its verdant medians and a board of trustees dedicated solely to the maintenance of its public spaces—makes life in Pasadena Hills a superb experience Landscape designer: Annette Smith of Blooming Decorator Significant stats: 6,400 square feet; 5 bedrooms Why we chose it: Known as The Charles Avery House this stunning Queen Anne was built in 1892 as only the second home in the idyllic Webster Park neighborhood of Webster Groves Richly layered landscaping designed with the input of the owner surrounds the inviting wraparound porch Charming original dormer windows peek out over the vast lawn from the third story One of the owners recalls falling in love with the house after attending a party there and says she kept her eye on it but when she heard that they might be moving she jumped on it before it even hit the market “It just had a feeling of family from the very beginning and that was what drew us in,” she says the owners have built an addition on the back opening it up on the side where it was once screened in “We enjoy sitting on the front porch having coffee in the morning and reading the paper,” one says.  Architect: Bill Bowersox with Ittner & Bowersox Significant stats: 3,200 square feet; 4 bedrooms searched a long time for a plot of land with a bluff view the couple built a contemporary-style home with views of the outdoors from every room “I have always felt very comfortable in this house even if it’s contemporary in its corners and lines,” says one owner you feel like you’re a part of nature free and unbound by anything.” The setting dictated the choice of building materials: a combination of glass A side deck with an extended roof was added a few years after the home was completed in 1981 trapped fish are an easy target for birds of prey wild turkeys and dozens of deer looking for corn after the harvest.” Recently architect Bill Bowersox attended a party at the house—it had been years since his last  visit “Even today I found it to be timeless,” he says.  Significant stats: 7,800 square feet; 5 bedrooms Why we love it: The beauty of this home doesn’t stop at the elegant slate roof are all the “little treasures” throughout such as the quarter-sawn wood in the first-floor foyer the fancy plaster work in the music room (think rosebuds and vines intertwined on the ceiling) and the built-in bookcases in the second-floor sitting area who lived there until he died at the age of 102 “We fell in love with the house,” says Melissa ‘What’s the reason for this space?’” says Bob referring to areas around the house that were never intended to serve as actual rooms “‘A big round table?’ The reason is just to exist It’s just there to make you feel good as you transition from one room to another Landscape designer: Steffie Littlefield of Garden Heights Nursery; homeowner Sheryl and Mike Simoncic set their sights on this house asking whether they might be interested in selling it “We lived one street away but loved this neighborhood,” says Sheryl It was the perfect storm,” adds Mike an English Tudor painted a stark white with dark-brown trim The couple repainted the exterior a natural shade and added a balcony to give the façade more dimension The English garden in the front yard provides colorful blooms all season long the Simoncics built a carport—a practical addition that makes the house look slightly larger while maintaining a balance with the home’s west-side slope Significant stats: 5,000 square feet; 5 bedrooms It was constructed in 1886 by Greek immigrant and successful local businessman Jannopoulo who designed and built it in the shape of a Greek cross to honor his culture leaving only the 18-inch stone foundation and checkered marble tile porch floor Jannopoulo rebuilt the house in 1926 around an octagonal reception area open to a rotunda Greek key designs appear throughout the home Four large Ionic columns mark the exterior with the front door and windows set back into a half-octagon painted the house a rich gray-green to better highlight the bright-white columns and trim “We love how the front of the home impresses you with its grandeur while welcoming you in under the two-story columns and covered porch,” one of the owners says “We’ve spent many quiet nights relaxing on the porch with a glass of wine or cigar while looking out at the beautiful century-old trees of the neighborhood.” Significant stats: 2,500 square feet; 3 bedrooms Why we love it: When Jeff Joffray purchased the home out of foreclosure he decided to take it back to its original glory “It was a real eyesore,” he says recalling the combination redbrick–and–yellow stucco exterior and the worn green awnings above the windows A thicket of overgrown bushes and trees ruled the property obscuring the view into the neighboring yard But that’s all in the past now: Much about this house—which was originally built in 1937 for the Rothschild family—is new the wrought-iron balcony above the front door and 64 rosebushes planted throughout the property “I enjoy being outside,” says Joffray who spent part of his childhood in Australia “People stop me in the grocery store and ask if I’m that same guy who’s always working in the yard.” Landscape designer: unknown; Connie McNutt currently designing and maintaining Significant stats: 3,022 square feet on a 3⁄4-acre lot; 4 bedrooms Why we chose it: Every inch of this 1927 Italian Renaissance Revival home in Clayton’s historic Claverach Park neighborhood captivates the eye From the spiral terra cotta columns and arches over the French doors to the leaded glass windows in an array of colors and the intricate stonework surrounding the entry The owners recently hired Atek Masonry to reconstruct the winding multicolor walkway with the original stones The homeowner was smitten as soon as she set foot in the house with her real estate agent two years ago “I love the house because it’s full of surprising detail,” she says “I’m so grateful that generations of owners have respected the unique style of the house and have maintained so many of its original features.” 2017 Most Beautiful Homes 2016 Most Beautiful Homes 2015 Most Beautiful Homes St. Louis Magazine is the smart, sophisticated guide to your city. Our award-winning content brings readers revealing profiles, discerning dining and cultural guides, in-depth features, informed commentary, and authoritative best-of lists. Start your mornings with a fresh take on the day’s top local news, with the St. Louis Daily, from Sarah Fenske and Ryan Krull. Copyright 2025 SLM Media Group. All rights reserved. Print About 45 minutes before dusk 27-year-old Jonathan Gonzalez drove up the inclines of South Pasadena’s Monterey Hills community in a dark-blue pickup truck He approached the house of a client and headed to the backyard Gonzalez inspected a 10-by-10 metallic cage he’d placed the previous week and eyed his catch: a bright blue green and turquoise peacock — a squawking Fabergé egg with wings from a neighborhood where the population numbers over 100 with the backing of aggrieved Monterey Hills residents agreed to the entire population’s relocation from the city limits to private ranches and estates throughout California The duty of capturing the birds was bestowed on one trapper: Gonzalez was the culmination of several City Council meetings a petition drive and updates and opinions from citizens The story was first reported by the South Pasadena Review This hilly neighborhood is just the latest where Southern California’s battle over peafowl the broader classification of peacocks (male) Fights over their acceptance have erupted into illegal fowl shootings from the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 2014 to Ventura County on Halloween loud early-morning screeches compared to a howling infant and damage to vehicles and homes “Peafowl walk along our block from time to time and I don’t ever see them causing any nuisance,” said Feliza Castellanos a 41-year-old caterer who moved to South Pasadena two years ago “They are beautiful birds; I don’t see why they want to round them up and get rid of them.” 70-year-old Ron Reyes finished washing his home’s outdoor wheelchair ramp “There is just poop all over this ramp and I have to clean it so my son doesn’t track that crap into the house,” said Reyes not to mention peacocks have destroyed my garden.” keeps a low profile whenever he’s in town for a peafowl pickup “It’s never an easy choice but this is what South Pasadena wanted,” he said with low visibility and little notice to avoid attention of neighbors who do not approve of this process.” the birds are eventually resettled to private farms ranches and open spaces in California that already have a bird population — usually chickens and other peafowl — and are at least 100 acres in size The estates and owner identities are kept confidential for safety reasons “A name was once given out and that person ended up getting harassed by local residents and others who don’t understand our work,” Gonzalez said Famed businessman and hotelier Elias J. “Lucky” Baldwin first imported the birds from India to his ranch in Arcadia, now known as the Arboretum, in the late 1870s, said Arboretum Chief Executive Richard Schulhof. The park is the mecca for San Gabriel Valley peafowl and boasts a population of at least 100 birds. Schulhof said, however, that Baldwin was not the lone importer, and his researchers found other vendors, including publisher William Niles, who advertised the sale of peafowl dating back to 1885. Their feathery displays adorn and agitate a swath of the San Gabriel Valley but peacocks may soon face the wrath of the Board of Supervisors a retired Los Angeles Unified principal and Monterey Hills resident since 1967 says peafowls have dropped down from the 50-foot pine tree near her garage in the “middle of the night” and startled her awake She said they’ve eaten many of her hydrangea plants and she recently purchased a $50 tarp to cover her gazebo but they belong in the zoo or in other towns around here just not South Pasadena,” Johnson-Griffin said At the intersection of Flores De Oro and Via Del Rey chicks and peacocks — crossed and remained in the middle of the street for minutes which left drivers and bicyclists to brake swerve and slow down on a recent afternoon who has removed peafowl from various Los Angeles County communities said he’s never seen as dense a flock in as small an area Pasadena Humane conducted a three-day census in September that found that the peafowl population rocketed to 102 Pasadena Humane Communications Manager Kevin McManus couldn’t offer a reason for their growth but noted that the abundance of pine trees and lack of predators made Monterey Hills attractive for peafowl Gonzalez believes the birds may have benefited from the pandemic shutdown A lack of traffic on city streets provided the travelers “incentive to move” from peafowl-rich communities such as Arcadia and Pasadena into South Pasadena is also a path toward quick population growth Peafowl obstruct traffic on Via Del Rey near the home of Shlomo Nitzani Nitzani collected 250 signatures from residents living in the Altos de Monterey section of South Pasadena who were tired of peafowls and wanted them gone The City Council agreed to remove all birds within city limits (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times) Whatever the reason for the birds’ explosion 79-year-old Monterey Hills resident Shlomo Nitzani said their removal was necessary “There’s too many of them here and they’re not just destroying property Nitzani moved to South Pasadena in 1976 and said he didn’t frequently see peafowl until 2010 when his wife Ellen occasionally fed them crackers he’s grown tired of the near-daily summer 3 a.m screeching serenades from peacocks right outside his bedroom window Nitzani’s black 2015 Toyota Camry is riddled with dents and the $30,000 he invested to landscape his front lawn is ruined by brown spots from lounging peafowl Walks for the former physical education instructor who has had two knee replacement surgeries included hobbling around dozens of white-and-black peafowl feces clumps in his walkway and along adjacent city streets California When Rani Ghanem sees an opportunity for Internet stardom a fed-up Nitzani knocked on neighborhood doors with a petition calling on the City Council to oust the birds Nitzani said that most in the Monterey Hills community signed in favor of removal but that there were also a “few bleeding hearts.” One such neighbor told The Times she was afraid to share her name for fear of retaliation from pro-removal hawks Nitzani collected more than 250 signatures which were presented to the City Council at a July meeting during a public comment section that was overwhelmingly pro-relocation the City Council hosted an open forum split among backers of removal and detractors shared her frustration with the amount of peafowl feces in her backyard The mother of three said her 2-year-old son ate a piece of guano a few years back while playing near the family swing set So, I’m writing a story about peafowl in South Pasadena and…I think they know. While I was on the phone, they made their presence known. 🦚🦚🦚 pic.twitter.com/QvoSsxLKia told The Times she “wouldn’t have bought a home in South Pasadena had I been told about the peafowl situation.” Monterey Hills Elementary School fourth-grader Estelle Mazza submitted a handwritten letter to express her support for the birds “Seeing the peafowl and their babies makes me feel happy and ready for the day,” she wrote the 10-year-old said she’ll see two or three peafowl on a typical walk to school and believes they make South Pasadena special “When I travel to different places like Texas and Wyoming said there are around three to five peafowl on campus on any given school day They prefer to hang out near the kindergarten playground Narro said the increase in birds has custodians cleaning up more feces around campus The peafowl are also “prolific jaywalkers” that cause “traffic jams” during the morning rush hour whose school considered changing its mascot from Roadrunners to Peacocks five years ago “I sympathize with those who see peafowl as a nuisance,” she said “but I also empathize with our neighbors and children who would be saddened with their removal.” the fate of Monterey Hills’ peafowl was sealed South Pasadena Mayor Pro Tem Jon Primuth said the ordinance was as important as the peafowl removal. A peafowl perches atop a house on Via Del Rey near the home of Shlomo Nitzani on Dec 14. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times) “Residents are losing their patience with each other and those who continue to feed the wild peafowl,” Primuth said. “They think they’re doing a good deed, but what they’re actually doing is welcoming noise and feces and physical destruction.” Where South Pasadena differs from other localities is its goal of eliminating rather than reducing the peafowl population, through “trapping and humane relocation.” South Pasadena budgeted $25,500, or $250 per bird, for the process that continues through April. Gonzalez, the trapper, has found volunteers from Monterey Hills willing to allow the placement of cages in their backyard. Inside each trap, peanut butter and corn are placed along with water to entice the peafowl. Once captured, the bird would be hauled away within 24 hours by Gonzalez. On Dec. 20, Monterey Hills resident Craig Parks noticed a difference on his morning walk. Normally the 53-year-old content executive spots multiple peafowl on rounds near his home. This time, however, he didn’t see one. “I’m decidedly pro-peacock because outside of some traffic, they don’t cause much harm,” Parks said. “They, in fact, make South Pasadena special. I guess things are going to be a little more drab around here.” Andrew J. Campa is a member of the Fast Break team at the Los Angeles Times, having previously covered the Eastside and San Gabriel Valley. Before, he worked at several medium and small daily newspapers and has covered education, sports and general news. He’s a proud University of Alabama (#RollTide), Cal State Fullerton and Pasadena City College alumnus. 2019DADE CITY — There is nothing grand about Grande Oaks "We are proud of this plan,'' lawyer Barbara Wilhite said about the development proposal more than four years in the making The dichotomy of opinions came last week before the Pasco County Commission in Dade City Wilhite represents the Iafrate family which wants to turn 175 acres of rolling pasture into Grande Oakes, a development of 600 homes and 400,000-square-feet of commercial activity immediately east of the St. Leo town boundary. The proposed stores and offices are to be clustered in a town center a quarter-mile south of the intersection of State Road 52 and Prospect Road The vicinity is ripe for growth because of the looming multi-lane construction and rerouting of State Road 52, directly through the Iafrete property The Pasco County Commission approved the rezoning for the proposed Grande Oaks project on Nov the Iafrates considered annexing the land into the town a strategy that was dropped a half-dozen years ago as the town dealt with the separate issue of contraction by the Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club county officials expressed concern at the time about the Iafrates’ push for annexation into the town Leo didn’t have the wherewithal to provide adequate planning infrastructure and services for the development The concern now comes from the town about scenic vistas topography and intensive development failing to account for the rolling hills of east Pasco town officials last week did not oppose amending the county comprehensive land plan to allow the development centered on rezoning the agricultural land They contend the lack of visual protections for neighboring property owners violated the comprehensive plan that the commission had just amended We don’t think the transitions are appropriate or adequate,'' said Town Attorney Patricia Petruff The county should require the property owner to provide better transitions between rural St including larger buffers and enhanced landscaping Wilhite and the project’s land planner, Matt Armstrong of Stantec, said the development would be less dense than what is allowed in the Village of Pasadena Hills, the largely undeveloped 22,000-acre planning district south and east of the Iafrate land. The Grande Oaks project would include larger-than-required buffers that will be deeded as a homeowners’ association parcel. And Armstrong said that existing mature oak and pine trees would provide a visual screen. Still, Petroff repeated the same fears town officials offered during a May public hearing before the appointed Pasco Planning Commission — that the development could make St. Leo resemble Clermont in Lake County where hilltop citrus groves gave way to homes and commercial development along U.S. Highway 27 and State Road 50. ''It just looks like little Chiclets on a hill because every piece of vegetation has been taken down'' and replaced by housing, said Petroff. Commissioners, however, weren’t convinced and voted 4-0, with Commissioner Mike Wells absent, to approve the rezoning. Commissioner Mike Moore said the town should have completed the annexation if it wanted to control growth on the property. And Commissioner Kathryn Starkey said the SaintLeo University campus meant intensive development already exists within the town. "We’ve been consistent with our opposition,'' St. Leo Mayor Richard Christmas said afterward, "and they’ve been pretty consistent with railroading the opposition.''