Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Legislation to Remove Abandoned Powerlines Advances After Deadly Eaton Fire

The bill, authored by Senator Sasha Renée Pérez, now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee after bipartisan support in the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee

A bill requiring the removal of abandoned and decommissioned powerlines, prompted by the deadly Eaton Fire in Altadena, cleared the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee last week with bipartisan support.

Senate Bill 742, authored by Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena), mandates investor-owned utilities to dismantle permanently abandoned lines and strengthens communication with local jurisdictions to improve emergency response and public safety.

“We will not give up on this issue. SB 742 is our continuing effort to prevent more deadly disasters like the Eaton Fire,” said Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena). “Investor-owned utility companies have failed to responsibly address abandoned lines, leaving them as potential safety threats in communities all over California.”

The Eaton Fire ignited Jan. 7 in Eaton Canyon, killing 19 people, burning 14,021 acres and destroying more than 9,000 structures.

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Century-Old Stained Glass at Altadena’s Mountain View Mausoleum Faces Critical Deterioration

The Pasadena Cemetery Association seeks $125,000 to restore Judson Studios windows that survived the Eaton Fire but show signs of imminent failure

The stained glass windows that have washed the marble corridors of Mountain View Mausoleum in colored light for more than a century are in danger of falling from their frames.

That is the finding of a recent assessment by Judson Studios, the Los Angeles artisans who created the windows when the mausoleum was built in 1923. The studio found many panels at critical risk: glass pieces loose or broken, support bars shifted, lead cracked, glazing putty dried and separated from the stone frames. The horizontal panels known as laylights, bearing the constant pull of gravity, are bowing and separating. Without restoration, the century-old artistry could fail.

The Pasadena Cemetery Association, which operates the Altadena landmark, has launched a $125,000 fundraising campaign to address the damage. The mausoleum—designed by Cecil E. Bryan, a former apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright—survived the Eaton Fire that destroyed more than 9,000 structures across Altadena last January,

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Pasadena Tournament of Roses Foundation Now Accepting Grant Applications

Applications will be accepted from January 20 through February 20.

The Pasadena Tournament of Roses® Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2026 grant program. Since its inception in 1983, the Foundation has invested over $5.8 million in more than 800 Pasadena-area organizations. The grant awards in 2025 totaled a little over $200,000, which funded 21 organizations in the San Gabriel Valley.

The grants supported new and ongoing programs benefiting children, teens, adults and seniors. From nonprofits offering animal therapy to special needs children, to organizations providing technical skills to underserved students and dance therapy for seniors diagnosed with Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis.

The 2026 grant cycle will be structured as follows — Tier 1: a one-year grant for $35,000, Tier 2: a one-year grant for $20,000 and Tier 3: several one-year grants, each up to $10,000. The Foundation requires applicants to include information on how their program will be delivered.

Eligible applicants are organizations with 501(c)(3) status,

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Adoptable Dogs Coming to Altadena Sheriff’s Station Friday

Pasadena Humane brings afternoon adoption event to the community

For Altadena residents thinking about adopting a dog, the dogs are coming to them.

Pasadena Humane, the nonprofit organization that provides animal control services for Altadena, will bring adoptable dogs to the Altadena Sheriff’s Station on Friday, January 24, for an “Adopt a Faithful Friend” event. The three-hour gathering, held from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in front of the station offers community members a chance to meet dogs and begin the adoption process without making the trip to Pasadena Humane’s main shelter on Raymond Avenue.

Pasadena Humane provides animal care and control services for 11 communities, including Altadena.

All adoptions through Pasadena Humane include spay or neuter surgery, microchipping, and age-appropriate vaccinations, according to the organization. New adopters also receive a complimentary wellness exam with a partner veterinarian.

The event falls during Pasadena Humane’s “Dog Days of Winter” promotion, which runs through January 25 and offers $26 adoption fees for dogs 6 months and older.

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Pasadena Library Asks Patrons: How Do You Use Your Library?

Statewide survey runs January 26-31 to capture patron experiences across California

For the parents who bring toddlers to storytime. For the job seekers updating resumes on library computers. For the students who need a quiet place to study. Pasadena Public Library wants to hear from all of you.

The library will be participating in “Every Story Counts,” a statewide California initiative asking patrons to describe how they use their local library.

The survey runs January 26-31 and the survey form will be available on the library’s homepage. For a system serving residents through 10 branch locations, the feedback could help shape how resources and services reach the community.

“The Pasadena Public Library staff work hard to provide our community with a wide range of programs and services,” Library Director Tim McDonald said in a statement. “We want to know more about not only how and why our community uses the library, but to hear from the community directly about their own library experiences.”

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Free Business Mentors Arrive in Altadena as Owners Navigate Post-Fire Recovery

SCORE event offers personalized guidance on financial recovery and growth nearly one year after the Eaton Fire

A lot of rules that help homeowners don’t apply to small businesses recovering from wildfires. Insurance laws that give families upfront payouts don’t cover the shop owner who lost equipment. Customers who fled the Eaton Fire haven’t all come back.

Nearly one year after the fire destroyed more than 9,400 structures in Altadena, small business owners are still navigating these gaps — and today, some free help is arriving.

SCORE, the nation’s largest network of volunteer business mentors, is hosting a drop-in resource event at Alta Design Works, 409 E. Woodbury Rd., from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event, called “Rebuilding Altadena,” offers fire-affected entrepreneurs personalized advice on financial recovery, business growth opportunities, and marketing from experienced business professionals, according to SCORE materials.

“A lot of rules for homeowners insurance don’t apply to businesses,” Daniel Harlow, an Altadena business owner whose office was destroyed in the fire,

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Report: $16,000 Contractor Equipment Theft Reported in Altadena Fire Rebuild Zone

Thieves stole $16,000 worth of equipment from contractors rebuilding an Altadena home damaged in the Eaton Fire, according to CBS Los Angeles.

The theft occurred at the Altadena residence of longtime community member Jim Osterling, whose property is located about half a mile from where the Eaton Fire ignited in Eaton Canyon.

The equipment belonged to contractors performing reconstruction work on his fire?damaged property, according to the CBS report.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Altadena Station told CBS the burglary may have been “a random crime of opportunity.”

Separately, the station also reported that Altadena recorded two residential burglary reports in December 2025, compared with 12 in December 2024.

Osterling told CBS that the theft involved more than one contractor vehicle.

“They broke into another truck right there,” he said. “That worker came out and saw them and chased them.”

He also said thieves have also targeted his neighbors’ construction sites.

Osterling condemned the thefts affecting reconstruction workers.

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Storyteller Brings Lunar New Year Magic to Altadena

Professional storyteller Barbara G. Wong celebrates Year of the Horse with free cultural program for children ages 6 and older

The Altadena Library District will welcome professional storyteller Barbara G. Wong on Thursday, January 29, for a free Lunar New Year celebration aimed at introducing local children to cultural traditions and the significance of the Year of the Horse.

“Storyteller Barbara G. Wong spins magical tales about dragons, ducks, a magic pot and more,” according to the official event description. “Learn about New Year customs and the lucky foods to eat to welcome the Year of the Horse!”

Wong brings substantial credentials to the program. She began her storytelling career as an Artist-in-the-Schools for the Hawaii State Department of Education and now performs “multicultural tales and personal stories with audiences of all ages in libraries, schools, museums, and festivals throughout southern California,” according to the district.

The event marks an important contribution to community programming as the Altadena Library District enters a significant transition period.

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Author Taleen Voskuni Brings ‘Our Ex’s Wedding’ to Vroman’s

Bay Area novelist joins multimedia journalist Nona Melkonian at Pasadena’s landmark bookstore for a free January 22 talk and signing

An Armenian American wedding planner, a smugly charming winery owner and what one reviewer calls “the record level of awkwardness” come to Pasadena when author Taleen Voskuni visits Vroman’s Bookstore to discuss and sign her new romantic comedy “Our Ex’s Wedding.” Kirkus Reviews calls the novel “Voskuni’s best yet” and praises it as “raucous and riveting.”

The free event, “Taleen Voskuni, in conversation with Nona Melkonian, discusses & signs ‘Our Ex’s Wedding,'” is set for Thursday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. at Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena. Voskuni will be joined by moderator Nona Melkonian, a multimedia journalist, red carpet host, event host and content creator who is her middle school friend and founder of Melkoni Media.

“Our Ex’s Wedding” is Voskuni’s third romantic comedy, following “Sorry, Bro” and “Lavash at First Sight.” Her debut earned starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews and Booklist,

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Don’t Just Endure Life. Love It Again.

Late January is a challenging time of year. The dark days, coupled with pressures of self-improvement and waning new year resolutions, can lead to feelings of failure or being “stuck” in life. Licensed Clinical Psychologist Dr. Shannon Clark, PhD, focuses on helping her clients love their lives again.

“Feeling stuck isn’t a failing,” says Dr. Clark. “It’s a call to dig deeper and understand what you need to feel joy again.”

Dr. Clark explains that when someone feels stuck, it takes an exhausting amount of endurance to get through the day, the week, and the year. While this feeling can strike anyone at any age, Dr. Clark finds it to be especially prevalent for millennials in their thirties and forties. It’s a unique stage in life where focus is shifting from checking boxes to wondering if those were even the right boxes to be checking. Whether it’s career stress, relationship challenges, growing families, or broader issues, those dealing with this feeling often suffer in silence and shame.