Pasadena tree lighting and Heritage Square meeting

Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard will lead the official tree-lighting ceremony and holiday celebration Tuesday, Dec. 8, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the grand entrance of Pasadena City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave.

The McKinley After-School Performing Choir under the direction of Robin Turrentine will sing songs of the season; refreshments will be served.

Bogaard will flip the switch that turns on the lights of the 20-foot Washington Noble Fir. The lights, donated by Pasadena Water and Power, are energy-saving, light-emitting diodes (LED) that use about 90 percent less energy than incandescent tree lights and do not produce any heat. The tree will also be decorated with large, colorful ornaments.

Everyone is invited to bring new, unwrapped toys, sporting equipment or gift cards and place them in Spark of Love Toy Drive boxes provided by the Pasadena Fire Department. The gifts will be distributed to needy children and teens.

For more information call (626) 744-4755.
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The Heritage Square Request For Proposals Working Group will host a community meeting on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 10 a.m. in the auditorium at Jackie Robinson Center, 1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave. in Pasadena.

Discussion topics include an activities update, proposed demolition of the vacant church building, and presentation and discussion of conceptual plans prepared by the architectural consultant.

The working group, comprised of community members and city staff, was formed to prepare an RFP for the development of the first phase of the Heritage Square site at 19 E. Orange Grove Blvd. and north to 790 N. Fair Oaks Ave.

Once written, the RFP will be reviewed by the Northwest Commission, Fair Oaks Project Area Committee and Pasadena City Council.

Heritage Square is a 2.88-acre site owned by the Pasadena Community Development Commission. As proposed, development of the site would occur in two phases, with the first phase to consist primarily of an affordable rental-housing complex for very-low-income seniors and a second phase consisting of a commercial component.

To receive alerts about future community meetings and other Heritage Square updates, email jwong@cityofpasadena.net or call (626) 744-8316.