Monday, September 29, 2025

Harabedian to Deliver Sacramento Report at Pasadena Rotary Luncheon

Assemblymember set to address legislative updates and community priorities for the 41st District at open-to-the-public event

Assemblymember John Harabedian will speak at the Pasadena Rotary on Wednesday, October 1, presenting his annual Sacramento Report at the club’s weekly luncheon. The event aims to update the public on legislative progress in Sacramento while fostering community engagement across the 41st District, which spans in Pasadena, Altadena, Sierra Madre, La Verne, Upland and Rancho Cucamonga.

“All are welcome to come and hear the Sacramento Report from Assemblymember John Harabedian at Pasadena Rotary on Wednesday, October 1 from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.,” the announcement noted, highlighting the open nature of the session and the importance of community dialogue.

Harabedian was born and raised in Sierra Madre and began his public service as a Sierra Madre Councilmember in 2012, was re-elected in 2016, and served twice as mayor. During his tenure he championed innovative policies to protect the environment, conserve resources and expand municipal services. He led Sierra Madre’s groundbreaking solar energy initiative,

Monday, September 29, 2025

County Supervisors Prepare to Publicly Review Fire Response Failures

Board of Supervisors will examine report on evacuation missteps during deadly January wildfires

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will examine an independent report Tuesday that found significant weaknesses in alert and evacuation systems during January’s deadly wildfires.

The McChrystal Group review examined the county’s response to the Eaton and Palisades fires that killed 31 people and destroyed more than 16,000 properties. The fires hit Altadena, Pacific Palisades and parts of Los Angeles, Pasadena, Sierra Madre and Malibu.

The after-action report found no single failure point in the county’s warning and evacuation efforts. Instead, it identified multiple problems including outdated policies, inconsistent practices and communication gaps.

Hurricane-force winds on Jan. 7 grounded all firefighting aircraft and caused power outages. The conditions also prevented nighttime aerial surveillance during the critical early hours.

“While frontline responders acted decisively and, in many cases, heroically, in the face of extraordinary conditions, the events underscored the need for clearer policies, stronger training,

Monday, September 29, 2025

Six Pasadena Public Schools Receive State Recognition for Behavioral Programs

District earns platinum, gold and silver awards from California coalition

Six schools in the Pasadena Unified School District earned statewide recognition from the California PBIS Coalition for their behavioral intervention programs.

John Muir Early College Magnet received the highest platinum award. Three schools earned gold recognition: Madison Elementary School, Blair High School and Rose City High School.

Two schools received silver awards: Altadena Arts Magnet and Sierra Madre Elementary School.

The California PBIS Coalition recognizes schools that create supportive learning environments through positive behavioral practices.

PBIS stands for Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports. The framework helps schools promote social, emotional and behavioral practices based on research evidence.

Schools use multiple tiers of intervention to create safe and equitable environments for students and communities across California.

The California PBIS Coalition operates through regional technical assistance centers in Southern, Central and Northern California. These centers work with the national Center on PBIS.

The coalition provides training for school teams and coaching for district implementation.

Sunday, September 28, 2025

Altadena Residents to Share Conservation Success Story at Sept. 29 Event

Local environmental advocates will present a community-led conservation success story Monday evening at the Altadena Community Center, detailing how grassroots organizing halted a proposed sports complex and influenced Los Angeles County land use policy.

The event, titled “Stewards of the Land,” is hosted by AltadenaWILD and scheduled for Sept. 29 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The community center is located at 730 E. Altadena Drive.

According to a statement from the nonprofit, the presentation will outline how residents opposed a sports development along Chaney Trail and helped shape the West San Gabriel Valley Area Plan, which now guides growth away from fire-prone zones and protects ecological resources.

Michael D. Bicay, AltadenaWILD president and astrophysicist, and Kristen Ochoa, president of the Chaney Trail Corridor, will describe how trail cameras and ecological surveys have documented post-fire regrowth and wildlife migration. Their findings contributed to the withdrawal of Polytechnic School’s application to build athletic facilities on 13 acres of the 80-acre Nuccio’s Nurseries site.

The property lies within a state-designated Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone and borders the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.

Sunday, September 28, 2025

Locals Turn To Each Other To Build Back Stronger

Pasadena nonprofit Day One brings together families for skill-sharing, bike repair, and sustainable rebuilding strategies at Sunday event

When the Eaton Fire swept through Altadena and Pasadena communities in January, it didn’t just destroy homes—it transformed how local organizations think about disaster recovery. Sunday, Day One will host a community brunch that puts fire survivors themselves in charge of designing solutions for rebuilding stronger and more sustainably.

The Resiliency Studio Brunch, running from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on September 28, at Day One’s lawn facility at 175 N. Euclid Ave. in Pasadena, offers fire-impacted families hands-on workshops in sustainable living skills.

The free, family-friendly event features five workshop stations including bike repair, composting, clean cooking demonstrations, rain gardens, and wildlife-friendly landscaping, along with birdhouse building activities and seedling distribution through Crop Swap LA.

A panel discussion on sustainable rebuilding practices and Zone Zero policy will complement the hands-on activities.

“The Resiliency Studio vision actually started out of having a hub where folks can learn about sustainability,”

Sunday, September 28, 2025

Eaton Fire Survivors to Connect with Rebuilding Experts at Victory Park Fair

Two community groups host their second resource event on Sunday as recovery efforts gain some momentum eight months after devastating Eaton Fire

Scores of Altadena residents affected by January’s devastating Eaton Fire are expected to gather today at Victory Park in Pasadena for “Rebuild Fair: Take 2,” connecting homeowners with architects, contractors, insurers and financial advisors. The event, running from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., aims to help families navigate the complex rebuilding process as the community works to recover from the epic disaster.

Rebuild Fair: Take 2 will give fire survivors and homeowners a chance to connect with experts and get answers about construction, insurance, permitting and financing, says event organizers Rebuild Altadena and Action Altadena, two community-based groups formed to assist homeowners after the fire.

The fair comes at an important moment in Altadena’s recovery. The pace of rebuilding has faced challenges.

Today’s event at Victory Park, located at 2575 Paloma Street, features one-on-one consultations with architects and engineers familiar with local building codes.

Sunday, September 28, 2025

How Bad Is California’s Housing Shortage? It Depends On Who’s Doing The Counting

By Ben Christopher, CALMATTERS

Imagine you’ve finally taken your car to the mechanic to investigate that mysterious warning light that’s been flashing on your dashboard for the past week and a half.

The mechanic informs you that your car’s brake fluid is too low. Dangerously low. Your brake fluid supply, he says, has reached “crisis” levels, which sounds both scary and very expensive.

Naturally, you would prefer that your car have a non-critical amount of brake fluid. “How much more do I need?” you ask.

“A quart,” the mechanic responds. “No, actually, three quarts. Or maybe seven gallons — but only routed to your rear brakes. Actually, let’s settle on half an ounce.”

Such is the situation with California’s housing shortage.

For nearly a decade now, the Legislature has been churning out bills, Attorney General Rob Bonta has been filing lawsuits and Gov. Gavin Newsom has been revamping agencies, dashing off executive orders and quoting Ezra Klein with the explicit goal of easing the state’s chronic undersupply of places to live.

Saturday, September 27, 2025

Pasadena League Day With State Sen. Pérez Will Spotlight Immigration Enforcement Response

State Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez will headline the League of Women Voters Pasadena Area’s League Day on Saturday, Sept. 27, addressing how California is responding to aggressive immigration enforcement and what local residents can do to support affected communities.

The event, titled League Day, September 2025 – Responding to Immigration Enforcement, will run from 10 a.m. to noon at the Blinn House, 160 N. Oakland Ave., Pasadena. Parking is accessible via Madison Avenue.

According to the League, the program will explore three central questions:

• How can we respond to aggressive immigration enforcement when it is happening nearby?
• How is our local and state government dealing with the difficult issue of immigration enforcement?
• What are some ways that we, as League Members, can help affected immigrants?

Pérez, who chairs the Senate Education Committee and previously served as mayor of Alhambra, will discuss SB98, a bill she authored to protect schools and families during immigration enforcement actions. She is the youngest member of the California State Senate and has been active in passing legislation aimed at safeguarding constituents.

Saturday, September 27, 2025

Altadena Fire Failures to Be Reviewed by L.A. County Supervisors Tuesday Following Release of After-Action Report

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will review findings Tuesday from a county-commissioned report detailing emergency alert and evacuation failures during January’s Eaton and Palisades wildfires, which killed 31 people and destroyed more than 16,000 properties across Altadena, Pacific Palisades and nearby communities.

The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration in downtown Los Angeles. The report will be discussed as a set item at 9:45 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room.

The “Independent After-Action Report,” released Thursday by the Board and authored by the McChrystal Group, found that outdated policies, staffing shortages and fragmented communication protocols hindered emergency response. In Altadena, nighttime fire conditions, limited situational awareness tools and power outages contributed to chaotic evacuations and left many residents with little or no warning.

The report identified no single point of failure but cited systemic vulnerabilities, including unclear evacuation authority and incomplete alert messaging. Some Altadena residents evacuated based on neighbor warnings rather than official guidance,

Saturday, September 27, 2025

Huntington Health Launches Free Flu Shot Clinics Across Pasadena, Altadena, San Marino and South Pasadena

As the 2025–2026 flu season begins, Huntington Health is urging Pasadena residents and neighbors throughout the San Gabriel Valley to take proactive steps to protect themselves and their families by offering a series of free, walk-in flu vaccination clinics across the region.

The clinics are open to the public and will operate on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations or appointments are needed, and insurance isn’t required. Vaccines will be administered to individuals who meet the following criteria: no moderate or severe acute illness (with or without fever), no severe allergy to the influenza vaccine, and no history of Guillain-Barré syndrome. Children ages 9 to 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to provide consent.

A standard-dose vaccine will be provided; high-dose vaccines recommended for individuals 65 and older will not be available. Supplies are limited at each site.

Clinic dates and locations include:

• Sept. 25, 9–11 a.m.: South Pasadena Senior Center, 1102 Oxley St., South Pasadena
• Sept.