Sen. Jack Scott, D-Pasadena, has a new $200,000 gig lined up once he terms out of office by the end of the year, the Associated Press reports.

SACRAMENTO -- State Sen. Jack Scott of Pasadena has been named the next chancellor of California's community colleges.
The Board of Governors for the 109-campus system voted unanimously for Scott on Thursday.

Scott, a Democrat and former teacher, is chairman of the Senate Education Committee. Before he was elected, he served as president of Pasadena City College for nearly a decade. The 74-year-old will be termed out of office at the end of the year. He says he is thrilled to take on the new role, where he will continue to push for more funding for education.

The chancellor's position pays nearly $200,000 a year and includes a state-paid car. Scott replaces interim Chancellor Diane Woodruff.

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 2:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Pasadena Star-News reporter Fred Ortega tells us that parking signs in Pasadena are confusing motorists. Apparently, the drivers get two-free hours of parking, but you can't tell that by reading the signs.

But signs noting that patrons need not pay for the first two hours are nowhere to be found.

"Of course it is confusing," said Flor Almaguer, who works at Dental Plus + Dental Group near Del Mar and Lake. "I've seen people drive up and right away go to the machines and pay."

Here are what some readers have said about it:

--- I have lived in Pasadena almost all my 52 years. I stopped going to Old Town because of the parking. Last weekend I saw this parking mess on South Lake. I guess Arcadia and Monrovia gets all my business now. Just who is driving all the customers out of Pasadena? ---

--- Good Idea !!!lets go to Arcadia where they want our business. ---

--- South Lake was family friendly, now it is a burden. The parking metering/posting/enforcement is going to truly hurt some of the smaller shops. The only patrons to the district will be those who can walk from the surrounding apartments & condo’s. OFF TO SANTA ANITA WE GO!! ----

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 11:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I grew up in Fremont, a city in the San Francisco Bay Area that falls between Oakland and San Jose. So did my dad, who grew up in a section of Fremont called Niles, which backs up to a canyon. I've heard plenty of stories from my dad of how the Bay Area changed since he was born, in 1955. An area that was once filled with orchards and undeveloped land is now lined with homes, traffic and industry.

Growing up in the Bay Area and being a reporter for the Bay Area newspapers, I was fascinated with its history, whether it was the ghost story of the White Witch in Niles Canyon, the once thriving and colorful community that lived in the salt marshes in Fremont, or the cult-like history out of Holy City in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

But yesterday, as I was reading "Thirst for Growth," a book that looks at the hisotry of water agencies in Southern California, it hit me: I know nothing about the San Gabriel Valley's past.

I report on the daily murders, crimes and local political upheavels, but I don't know what makes the San Gabriel Valley the way it is today. What are its legends? Are there ghost stories? How has the SGV changed over the years? What did your parents used to tell you about the area? What are the historical landmarks in the area that anyone who has lived here for more than 50 years should know about?

Its been almost two years since I moved here. I guess it's about time that I call it home.

(The photo is a picture of the SGV in 1900, taken from this Web site.)

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 10:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The Foothill Cities Blog continues to report its findings after reviewing the campaign statement finance records submitted by Pasadena's council members.

If their efforts are any indication of where blogging is heading in the future, at the very least we can rest assured knowing that someone is looking after the public's best interest. Although I am not so sure about their "Lindsay Lohan for Pomona City Manager" obsession.

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 7:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)