Odds and ends

As readers of the Pasadena Weekly know, there have been more than a few monumental changes made to their favorite paper over the past few weeks.

Beginning on June 19, nearly a year’s worth of hard work came to fruition with the launch of the newly designed PW. We’ve heard nothing but good things so far, and we’re pretty pleased knowing that today the Ol’ P-Dub is more jam-packed than ever with functional information that people both need and want to know, and in the end can probably put to good use.

As is often said by the folks who compile our voluminous calendar, dining, film, theater and everything-in-between listings, if people can’t find a good time in this town on any given day or night, they are either unable to read or they just aren’t trying.

With nearly a dozen new items and more than a half-dozen new columns and writers, that has probably never been truer than it is right now.

This week, as you’ve probably already noticed, we’ve moved into another stage of our plan for change, this time reducing the paper’s physical dimensions, shrinking the overall package from 11x13.75 inches to 11 x 12.5 inches.

It doesn’t seem like much, but with newsprint up by 30 percent that little bit of shaving will surely save an awful lot of money — and a lot of paper. 

But the really good news is the reduction in size does not automatically mean a cutback in content, as is so often the case when publications physically downsize their products.

In fact, our new faster format consisting of already shorter but punchier stories allows us to put in even more information each week.

Actually, those who were around at the turn of the century probably remember when the LA Times owned the Weekly as part of its Times Community News division.

We were the same size back then for a short while. And while some short-term adjustments needed to be made during that period, nothing was lost in the transition. Nor will it be now.

Look who’s talking
We were faced with something of a conundrum this week: We had heard lots of stuff relating to the death of Dave Richter, the retired Pasadena cop whose body was found under a freeway overpass in Irwindale, the apparent victim of suicide.

But it appears Richter’s death wasn’t a suicide, and now Sheriff’s Department homicide detectives have taken over the investigation into exactly how he died.

As you’ll see in André Coleman’s story on page 9, lots of people had lots to say about Dave Richter.
So what was our problem? No one wanted their names used.

Their apprehension at being identified was totally understandable given the nature of the discussion and the consequences of exposure — possibly blowing a chance to catch Richter’s killer, if in fact Richter was murdered.

Unfortunately, we cannot tell you who told us the things you’ll read about in André’s story. Just believe us when we say they would not be quoted without our highest respect, solid records for honesty and — most importantly — firsthand, rock-solid information about the investigation.

Whistling ambassador
Finally, we feel it is altogether fitting and proper to give a big shout out — or should that be a whistle out? — to Carole Anne Kaufman, who last weekend won the international whistling title in Japan.
The Monrovia resident is now the World’s Greatest Whistler after winning the 2008 title of Women’s International Whistling Grande Champion in Tokyo.

As she wrote to PW reporter Lizzie Hedrick, whistling abroad made her feel like the ambassador of a constantly growing musical genre.

“I am so excited and proud to represent American whistlers. The San Gabriel Valley is now an epicenter for world-class musical whistling,” Kaufman wrote to Liz. “It is a thrill to be a part of musical history.”

We’re also pretty darned thrilled about the whole thing.
Congratulations, Carole Anne.