Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Pasadena Unified and Teachers Union Reach Tentative Three-Year Agreement

Deal includes salary increases for child development teachers, expanded leave benefits despite District’s fiscal challenges

The Pasadena Unified School District announced Tuesday night it reached a tentative agreement with the United Teachers of Pasadena on May 23 that would establish a three-year contract through 2026-2027. The deal, which required member ratification and Board approval, concludes months of negotiations aimed at improving working conditions while managing budget constraints.

“The District is pleased to announce that tentative agreement has been reached on a number of articles, hence closing the 2024-25 negotiation season, pending member ratification and approval by the Board of Trustees,” District officials stated in a May 27 communication.

The agreement was reached during the parties’ 11th meeting, and encompasses changes to 11 articles in the collective bargaining agreement, including significant salary increases for child development teachers.

Ten-month child development teachers would receive a 6.91% increase, while twelve-month teachers would see a 14.9% raise, funded through Fund 12 federal dollars designated for child development programs.

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Fire Victims Awaiting Refunds Urged to Update Addresses with LA County Assessor

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The county Assessor’s Office is urging victims of the area’s wildfires Wednesday to update their mailing addresses to ensure they receive property tax refund checks, noting that some payments are being returned to the office as undeliverable.

According to the office, mailing addresses on record for many fire victims are invalid because they are for homes that were destroyed in the fires, and residents have not updated their information to provide their current location.

People can update their address with the assessor’s office online at assessor.lacounty.gov/homeowners/change-mailing-address.

“Getting relief into the hands of wildfire victims is a top priority for our office,” Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang said in a statement. “We understand how devastating these fires have been, and we are committed to making sure impacted property owners receive the support they’re entitled to. But we need their help in updating contact information so that relief can reach them without delay.”

Following the January fires,

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Local Congresswoman Co-Introduces Federal Bill to Aid Inmate Firefighters

Pasadena congresswoman’s legislation would provide career pathways for those who battled local wildfires

Rep. Judy Chu (D-Pasadena) announced Tuesday she has co-introduced federal legislation to help incarcerated firefighters transition to professional careers after their release.

The Fairness, Inclusion, Rehabilitation, and Expungement for Incarcerated Firefighters Act would provide $20 million annually for states to adopt safety and wage compliance measures. Chu, who represents Pasadena and Altadena, introduced the bill with Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove.

More than 1,000 inmates helped fight the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires that burned through Chu’s district earlier this year.

“The fire could’ve been worse,” Chu said during a Tuesday news conference at the L.A. City Stentorians office, an association for African American firefighters. “Our area is a very densely populated area, so even more damage could have been done. But it was stopped before it could burn more communities in my district, but they fought days on end to put out those fires.”

The legislation would fund job training,

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

DENA Home Market Recovery Event Set for Pasadena This Week

Summer festival and trade show aims to connect residents with resources and rebuilding help

Fire-affected residents from Altadena, Pasadena and Sierra Madre will gather Sunday for a community recovery event designed to provide resources, support and connection in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire.

The DENA Home Market will take place June 1 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Day One, located at 175 North Euclid Avenue in Pasadena. The event combines a summer festival with a trade show focused on rebuilding efforts.

The Summer Festival portion will run from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Day One Yard, at 175 North Euclid Avenue, featuring a free shopping boutique with clothing and essential goods, summer giveaways, financial assistance information and recovery resources. Entertainment will include live music, food trucks, a teen lounge, kids’ corner, Zen lounge and a content creator booth.

Running concurrently from 2 to 5 p.m. at All Saints Church, at 132 N. Euclid Ave., the Rebuild Trade Show will connect attendees with builders,

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Four Men Charged in Eaton Fire Looting Back in Court Wednesday

A judge will set a preliminary hearing date on Wednesday for four men charged with burglarizing an Altadena home and stealing an Emmy Award while residents fled the Eaton Fire in January.

Roy Sims, 18, Ryan Sims, 19, Naquan Dewey Reddix, 22, and Pierre Obannon, 19, face first-degree residential burglary charges for allegedly entering the evacuated home Jan. 8.

The hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. in Department D of the Pasadena Courthouse, 300 E. Walnut St.

Prosecutors allege the four men entered the home during mandatory evacuations and stole multiple items, including an Emmy Award belonging to the resident.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies arrested the suspects the same day.

The charges represent an escalation from the initial booking charges. Three of the defendants were initially booked on suspicion of grand theft during a state of emergency, while Obannon was booked on suspicion of second-degree burglary during a state of emergency.

“These crimes are appalling and represent a direct attack on our community during a time of unprecedented loss and vulnerability,”

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Fellowship Program Targets Young Black Artists Hit by Eaton Fire

A new fellowship will provide $1,500 stipends and professional training to eight young Black artists affected by January’s devastating Eaton Fire, organizers announced this week.

The Freedom Futures Collective, working with The Black Hive at the Movement for Black Lives, created the eight-week program for artists ages 18 to 26 in Los Angeles County who were directly affected by the blaze that destroyed large sections of Altadena.

“This summer fellowship program will center Black communities impacted by the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles, California with a targeted focus on historically Black neighborhoods in Altadena,” program documents show.

The Black Futures on Earth fellowship runs June 14 through August 7, requiring eight work hours weekly. Fellows will receive studio space, art materials and training on climate justice and community organizing while creating works for “The Soul of Altadena,” a traveling exhibition scheduled to open in spring 2026.

Priority goes to artists living in Altadena and Pasadena, though any Los Angeles County resident affected by the fire can apply.

Monday, May 26, 2025

Ceremony Will Pay Tribute to Hundreds of Civil War Veterans Buried at Altadena Cemetery

Annual event at Mountain View Cemetery draws residents to commemorate Union and Confederate soldiers who helped settle Southern California

The Pasadena Civil War Round Table will hold its annual Memorial Day ceremony today at 2:00 p.m. at Mountain View Cemetery in Altadena, honoring more than 600 Civil War veterans buried on the historic grounds.

The ceremony takes place at the cemetery located at 2400 North Fair Oaks Avenue, where both Union and Confederate soldiers are buried alongside notable figures, including Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman and Superman actor George Reeves.

“For many years, the Pasadena Civil War Round Table has held a Memorial Day Ceremony to commemorate the lives of the over 600 Civil War veterans, blue and gray, who are buried at Mountain View Cemetery,” the group said in its website announcement.

Civil War Round Table President Nick Smith will lead walking tours during the ceremony, while local historian and Civil War Round Table member Michele Zack will speak about the Brown Family graves.

Monday, May 26, 2025

Juneteenth Event in Pasadena to Support Fire-Affected Families, Promote Wellness and Community Healing

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

My TRIBE Rise will hold its annual Juneteenth event from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 14 at Metropolitan Baptist Church, 2283 N. Fair Oaks Ave.

Event organizers say they hope to foster resilience and healing following the devastating Eaton Canyon fire which destroyed large parts of the community, while celebrating Juneteenth through education, wellness, and local empowerment.

The gathering will focus on unity through community connections, healing practices, and support for families and students impacted by the blaze.

A centerpiece of the event is the My TRIBE Rise Academic Scholarship Program, which will distribute $50,000 in scholarships to Pasadena Unified School District high school seniors who were impacted by the fire. Eligible graduates, and students earning a GED, are encouraged to apply.

The celebration will also include peace and wellness programming, performances by local artists, resources for small businesses, and intergenerational connections that promote healing, healthy living, and community partnerships.

Monday, May 26, 2025

Lake Avenue Church Opens Registration for Summer Vacation Bible School

‘True North’ program aims to give children foundation in faith amid uncertain world

Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena is accepting registrations for its VBS (Vacation Bible School) 2025 program, a week-long summer camp designed to teach children about biblical principles and Christian faith.

The program, themed “True North: Trusting Jesus in a Wild World,” will run June 16-20 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. daily at the church’s Pasadena location.

According to a church announcement, the half-day camp aims to provide children with “a rock-solid foundation” by pointing them toward Jesus as their “unmovable, unshakable friend forever.” The program targets the challenge of helping young people navigate what organizers describe as “a world gone wild.”

VBS serves children ages 3 years old by June 1 through current fifth-graders as of spring 2025. The program combines music, skits, games, stories and activities to create what organizers call a comprehensive religious education experience.

“Through music, skits, games, stories and activities,

Saturday, May 24, 2025

Church Hosts Community Recovery Programs Following Eaton Fire

Pasadena congregation offers free youth restoration services and therapeutic music events for wildfire-affected residents

All Saints Church in Pasadena will host comprehensive community healing programs on Sunday, May 25, designed to support residents, both young and older, who are recovering from the devastating Eaton Fire.

The church’s Children, Youth and Families Ministry will offer a free Youth Restoration Day alongside therapeutic music programming to address ongoing community trauma and recovery needs.

“I see music as the common bond having potential to bring all people together in peace and harmony,” said two-time Grammy Award winner Ernie Watts, who will perform at the church’s Jazz Vespers that evening. “I believe music is God singing through us, an energy to be used for good.”

The Youth Restoration Day runs 1-4 p.m. in Regas House, providing free self-care services specifically for students in grades 5-12 who were affected by the Eaton Fire. Young people from throughout the Altadena and Pasadena communities can access professional hair styling and makeup services provided by Paul Mitchell School,