Business Bulletin: Retirement community to sponsor senior games

MonteCedro, a new planned retirement community in Altadena, will be the founding sponsor of the 20th Annual Pasadena Senior Games and will host the games’ opening ceremony on June 2.

The Pasadena Senior Games were launched in 1992 by the Pasadena Senior Center. This year, the three-week event will feature 27 events for competitors over 50, including swimming, shuffleboard and table tennis. The local competition will serve as a qualifying site for pickleball and shuffleboard in the 2013 Summer National Senior Games in Cleveland, Ohio.

“At MonteCedro, we believe that maintaining an active lifestyle will have positive effects on a person’s health and longevity,” Peggy Buchanan, MonteCedro’s marketing director, said in a statement. “By sponsoring the Pasadena Senior Games, we are promoting our mission of enriching the lives of seniors within the greater San Gabriel Valley.”

For more information about the Pasadena Senior Games, contact the Pasadena Senior Center’s Cynthia Rosedale at (626) 685-6724 or email cynthiar@pasadenaseniorcenter.org.

DPW to give away mulch

The Pasadena Department of Public Works is extending its free mulch giveaway through March 15 or while supplies last. The mulch is the product of the green waste collected by the city following the Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 windstorm. So far, Pasadena residents have picked up more than 72,000 pounds of green waste. Pasadena residents who want to pick up mulch may bring their shovels to Robinson Park, 1081 N. Fair Oaks Ave. from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day until March 15 or when supplies run out.

For more information, call (626) 744-4087.

Convention center renews food contract

The Pasadena Convention Center has renewed the contract of Connecticut-based Centerplate to provide food and hospitality services. Centerplate has partnered with the convention center for more than a decade. Centerplate provides event-based food and beverage services from black-tie banquets to quick-service food stalls. As part of the new contract, it will add a gourmet coffee location at the convention center, according to a Centerplate statement. Centerplate operates in more than 250 sports, entertainment and convention venues around the country.

Restaurants offer chance for free meal

Several local restaurants are providing locals with a chance for a free dinner or gift certificate as part of Pasadena Restaurant Week, which runs from March 4 to March 23. More than 40 restaurants are offering special menus or deals during the event, sponsored by the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce. To enter the giveaway or for more information, visit www.pasadenarestaurantweek.com.

State Farm to offer grants

State Farm insurance is offering 40 grants of $25,000 each to nonprofit agencies and communities seeking to make cities safer, stronger and better educated. Individuals and agencies may submit applications for State Farm’s Cause An Effect program by visiting the State Farm page on Facebook.

The 30-member State Farm Youth Advisory Board, composed of fulltime high school and college students, will help select the 100 finalists, with the final group of 40 chosen through an online voting process. For more information, visit the State Farm Facebook page or search #causeaneffect on Twitter.

American Express makes a move

After more than 50 years on Lake Avenue, American Express Travel and Financial Services has moved to a new space on East Colorado Boulevard. The office has more than 25 counselors with expertise on international travel and special-interest trips such as safaris and destination weddings.

The grand opening of the office at 599 East Colorado Blvd. will be held Thursday, March 8, at 5 p.m. For more information, call 626-449-2281, Ext. 82443.

-- Compiled by Bill Kisliuk, bill.kisliuk@latimes.com