First, some shameless self-promotion: The Los Angeles County of Public Health let me illustrate a couple of activity books, which have just been printed. Their plan is to have them distributed at local schools and health fairs. So, if you’re unsure about how to wash your hands, keep an eye out. You can download a pdf of the books from the county’s website.

South Pasadena Patch launches today at 12:30 p.m. If you haven’t heard, Patch is AOL’s hyper-local news initiative, which has been getting mixed reviews. LA Weekly recently published a story headlined “Patch, the WalMart of News?” that looks at the endeavor. On the one hand, it’s providing a much-needed source of news for (upper income) neighborhoods that have been neglected. On the other, Patch is strutting into neighborhoods with $50 million in startup cash and threatening to quash established sites. As an example, they’re planning to launch in Altadena, which already has the excellent altadenablog. Not that South Pasadena is Altadena. This town really lacks an online news source. Of the regularly updated sites, there’s the South Pasadena Review, which refuses to believe the Internet is anything more than a fad; there’s Glimpses of South Pasadena, who will be contributing to South Pasadena Patch; and there’s me. And let’s face it: I have a sporadically updated blog that doesn’t look for advertisers. Not much of a threat.

I chose to not take part in the South Pasadena Patch. But I also choose to not compete with it. It’s not really a big deal. I’m happy to get to spend more time with the laptop closed. This little blog has been here for two years now. And really, I never talked about it or promoted it. In spite of my best efforts, the readership has grown exponentially. I’m proud of that. And I’m comfortable letting someone else do it for a while. In a perfect world, the voice of South Pasadena wouldn’t be owned by AOL. But I expect it’ll be better than anything we’ve had so far.

Thanks for the emails. Thanks for the comments. Thanks for reading.

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Love is a beautiful thing. Last week there was the local couple who broke into a travel agency and stole a bunch of personal info. Today we learn about another couple. Via the SPPD:

On 10-1-10, at about 0317 hours, Elliot Luis Bin, 41, Los Angeles, drove to a Chevron Gas Station (1400 Mission Street, South Pasadena, CA) and was seen prying open a gas pump door by the cashier. Officers were called and detained Bin and later found the skimming device attached to the gas pump’s credit card reader. Bin was also in possession of a counterfeit credit card. A search of the skimming device revealed no data on it.

A search warrant at Bin’s residence revealed numerous counterfeit credit cards and the discovery of marijuana cultivation in the garage. Bin’s girlfriend, Leslyet Gispert Gispert, 31, Los Angeles, was later arrested for possession of fraudulent credit cards.

Any information, please contact Detectives at 626-403-7280

Maybe he didn’t realize the gas station was next door to the police. Here’s the full pdf if you’re interested. Full police report after the jump. Read more »

After a really long wait, Mix n’ Munch Cereal and Grilled Cheese Cafe started their soft opening yesterday, and it’ll continue for a week. The hours are 10ish to 3ish. They say they’re aiming for a grand opening on Oct. 16. And the menu? As Seth Meyers once said, “Every one of your products sounds like a wish a genie granted at a Phish concert.” Let’s use the “Rock and Roll Cereal Bowl” as an example. It includes Captain Crunch, Fruit Loops, blueberries, rainbow sprinkles and circus animal cookies. And then there’s “The Cookie Bowl,” with Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Cookie Crisp, Golden Grahams and crushed Oreos. Grilled cheese creations include “The Apple Munster” and “The Mix n’ Munch Cristo.” You can also order your own cereal and grilled cheese creations. Drink options are pretty limited … coffee, tea, milk and water. Post-soft opening hours after the jump. Read more »

Today’s police report marks the first with Police Chief Joe Payne’s name at the top. A 65-year-old woman exits the Gold Line and a juvenile throws her into the bushes and starts beating on her. They catch the kid, but that doesn’t make it any less disturbing. Full report after the jump. Read more »

Still on the road. So, without preamble, the police report is after the jump.

Read more »

Because I think they warrant it, I’m reposting a couple of comments from recent posts. I’m turning off the comments for this one, but feel free to go back and have your say at the originals, found here and here. I should have done this sooner, but I’m on the road, helping my step-daughter get settled at college. Hence the now overdue Cruz’n for Roses reference in Mr. Ten’s piece. At any rate, it’s still relevant, and I appreciate them both taking the time to chime in. It starts after the jump. Read more »

Like the Star-News, I’ve been reticent to publish rumors about the South Pas City Council. Even though I posted in February that Dan Watson’s departure was tied to a move to make Joe Payne chief of police. But with the council’s recent Brown Act missteps, it’s fair to say that a number of residents echo this Star-News editorial: “Community concerns about the whole process deserve to be addressed by City Hall.”

If any council members want to set the record straight, drop me a line (the link is over on the left) and I’d be happy to yield the floor and give you your own post.

The sixth annual Cruz’n for Roses Hot Rod and Classic Car Show takes place this weekend. “Over 400 classic cars will show off their stuff. Mission Street will be filled with the very best hot rods and classic cars — all to raise funds for the oldest self-built float in the Tournament of Roses.” Admission is free. It’ll be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mission. The South Pasadena Police and Fire Open House also takes place. After the jump, a tentative list of events. Read more »

Maybe it’s just semantics, but I’m unsure how a vehicle is stolen when it doesn’t sound like it’s, well, stolen. Full police report after the jump. Read more »

The Star-News said it was probably gonna happen, and I heard the City Council announced it tonight: Joe Payne replaces Dan Watson as chief of the South Pasadena Police Department.