Monday, November 24, 2025

First United Methodist Church in Pasadena announces Advent and Christmas Events

First United Methodist Church Pasadena will host a series of Advent and Christmas events in December, including concerts, family programs and worship services, according to a press release from the church. All events are free to attend.

The season begins Dec. 7 with the Alternative Christmas Market, held from 11 a.m. to noon in Fellowship Hall following worship. The event offers attendees the chance to support charitable organizations as gifts for loved ones. Partner groups include FUMC’s Food Pantry, Union Station Homeless Services, Door of Hope, Friends in Deed, San Gabriel Habitat for Humanity, Learning Works Charter School, Give Ye Them to Eat and Friends of Padhar Schools. Donors may receive gift cards to present to family or friends in recognition of contributions made in their honor.

On Dec. 13, the church will present “Brunch in Bethlehem” from 10 a.m. to noon. The interactive program invites participants to “walk through Bethlehem” and learn the story of Jesus’s birth through vignettes, games, crafts and costumed storytellers.

Monday, November 24, 2025

LA Galaxy, City National Bank Donate $30,000 to Support Pasadena, Altadena and La Cañada Youth Soccer Families Affected by Fires

The LA Galaxy announced that City National Bank, the team’s official bank and wealth management partner, has donated $30,000 to support AYSO Region 13, the American Youth Soccer Organization chapter serving Pasadena, Altadena and La Cañada, after the communities were dramatically affected by this year’s Los Angeles-area fires.

The contribution, detailed in a press release from the team, includes $25,000 in LA Galaxy tickets for local youth players and their families to attend matches throughout the season, along with $5,000 in soccer equipment to replace gear lost in the fires. The donation comes during the season of giving as families prepare for the holidays and is part of City National’s broader wildfire recovery efforts across Southern California.

“We’re incredibly proud to stand alongside our partner City National Bank in supporting AYSO Region 13, an area that was ravaged by the fires earlier this year,” said Tom Braun, LA Galaxy president and chief operating officer.

AYSO Region 13 serves over 3,000 children year-round and has operated for more than 50 years on a volunteer-run,

Monday, November 24, 2025

Altadena’s Mariposa Junction Rises Again at Saturday Reopening

By EDDIE RIVERA

In a sign of resilience after January’s devastating Eaton Fire, five Altadena businesses reopened Saturday morning along Lake Avenue

On Saturday morning, a stretch of Lake Avenue that had stood silent and charred, reopened to laughter, music, and the low, happy hum of neighbors greeting one another again. The “Rising Together” celebration at Mariposa Junction marked the return of five shops on one of the commercial blocks hardest hit by the Eaton Fire of January 7 — a blast of flame so furious it reduced a 1924 masonry building to rubble and displaced residents and businesses for months. Numerous stores,  businesses, and homes nearby had been obliterated by the fire’s intensity.

For many, the reopening was less a ribbon-cutting than a reunion.

Just inside the revived Gallery at the End of the World, Vanessa Meier stood behind a small display of earrings, purse charms and repurposed beads — her first sales table, her first event,

Monday, November 24, 2025

Swalwell Makes First Campaign Stop in Fire-Ravaged Altadena After Governor Bid Announcement

The congressman pledged support for wildfire survivors and spotlighted affordability and recovery issues during his visit

Rep. Eric Swalwell visited Altadena on Friday for his first campaign stop after announcing his candidacy for California governor, pledging support for wildfire survivors and vowing to fight for affordability and recovery in the state.

Swalwell, 45, toured neighborhoods devastated by January’s Eaton Fire, met with first responders and community members, and held a news conference with Altadena Town Council leaders.

The visit came less than 48 hours after his televised announcement.

“My heart beats with Altadena, and I will be a governor that always fights for Altadena,” Swalwell said. He added, “People are scared and prices are high, and I have been a fighter, a protector for this state in Congress.”

Swalwell enters a crowded 2026 gubernatorial field that includes Katie Porter, Xavier Becerra, Antonio Villaraigosa, Betty Yee, Tom Steyer, Tony Thurmond, and Republicans Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton. Polls show 44 percent of voters undecided.

Monday, November 24, 2025

Altadena Small Business Market Set for Nov. 29 at Mariposa Junction

The Altadena Chamber of Commerce announced it will host the Altadena Small Business Market at Mariposa Junction on Saturday, Nov. 29, from noon to 4 p.m. The event is intended to support local businesses recovering from recent wildfires and economic challenges.

The market will take place between Lake Avenue and El Molina Street and will feature local vendors, food offerings and live entertainment. According to the Chamber, the initiative is designed to drive foot traffic, foster community engagement and bolster economic recovery following the fires.

Mariposa Junction was selected as the site to highlight Altadena’s business history and revival. A mural of the Mount Lowe Railway, displayed on the façade of a local business and depicting what remains after the devastating wildfire, will serve as a backdrop for the event.

Chamber President Judy Matthews said in a statement that the market is “more than just a market; it’s a testament to the resilience and spirit of Altadena.”

The Chamber noted that many businesses are still recovering from the impacts of the COVID?19 pandemic and recent natural disasters.

Monday, November 24, 2025

Altadena Chamber Seeks Nominations for 2025 Citizen, Business Awards

Community members invited to recognize outstanding service and leadership; deadline set for December 1

The Altadena Chamber of Commerce is inviting residents and local business leaders to nominate candidates for the 2025 Citizen and Business of the Year awards. The program honors individuals and enterprises that have shown outstanding service and made a positive impact in Altadena.

Nominees for Citizen of the Year must be residents who have significantly contributed to the community through sustained volunteer work and good character. Public service employees—including those in clergy, law enforcement, public relations, or politics—must demonstrate involvement that goes beyond their job responsibilities. Chamber Board members are not eligible.

Nominees for Business of the Year must be members in good standing with the Chamber, have promoted other Altadena businesses along with their own, and contributed to the business community through volunteer efforts. Businesses associated with Chamber Board members are ineligible.

The submission deadline for nominations is December 1 at 5 p.m.

Monday, November 24, 2025

Pasadena’s Union Station Homeless Services Serves 800 Households With Thanksgiving Meal Boxes

Union Station Homeless Services reported serving 800 households with Thanksgiving meal boxes during the first day of its Dinner in the Park program, according to a statement from the organization. The total marks an increase of 300 households compared to last year.

The nonprofit said the effort was made possible through community support and event sponsors. Prepared meals will be offered on Nov. 26 at the Union Station Adult Center, located at 412 S. Raymond Ave. in Pasadena.

On Wednesday, Nov. 26, individuals and families can drive up between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. or dine in between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the Adult Center. According to the organization, participants need only check in before receiving a warm meal to take home or enjoy at communal tables.

Union Station Homeless Services emphasized that the meals are available to everyone, regardless of whether they are clients or program participants. The group also noted in its statement that food insecurity is on the rise and asked community members to consider donating to help provide meals through the holidays.

Monday, November 24, 2025

Guest Opinion | School Board Trustee Scott Harden | The Next Chapter of PUSD: Embracing Opportunity Through District Transformation

Scott Harden is a member of the PUSD Board of Education, but is speaking solely as an individual member of the Board.

This December marks my one year anniversary as the newest member of the Pasadena Unified Board of Education. As we know, a lot has happened in that time. We’ve experienced unspeakable tragedy in the wake of the Eaton Fires. We’ve had to relocate many of our students to temporary spaces and new norms. We’ve faced incredible disruption and threats from our government. And as of this last Thursday night, we’ve had to make incredibly impactful and painful cuts to our operating budget in service of a Fiscal Stabilization Plan which will satisfy the immediate requirements of the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) and keep governance control of the District firmly in our hands.

To be sure, the Board’s collective action should not be the end of this story but rather the preface to the beginning of a new chapter for PUSD.

Saturday, November 22, 2025

Altadena Fire Survivors Lead Holiday Ornament Drive; Gamble House Bookstore Collecting Through Dec. 6

The Gamble House Bookstore is serving as a collection site for Ornaments for Altadena, a relief effort providing holiday decorations to survivors of the January 2025 Eaton Fire. The drive, organized by Altadena fire survivors Ana Medina-Whirledge and Emily Viglietta, is accepting ornaments, stars, menorahs and kinaras through Saturday, Dec. 6, according to the nonprofit.

Medina-Whirledge, who lost her home in the fire, and Viglietta, a fellow Eaton Fire survivor, launched the initiative in late September to help neighbors facing their first holiday season without cherished decorations.

“I’ve got texts from my friends saying all I feel when I think about the holidays this year is dread,” Viglietta told CBS News Los Angeles in October. Medina-Whirledge said the effort has already brought “joy and community” to survivors who had been dreading the season.

According to the Gamble House Bookstore, menorahs and ornaments bought specifically for donation to the program qualify for a 20 percent discount when the code “altadena” is used at checkout.

Saturday, November 22, 2025

New Report Reveals How SoCal Fires Became “Urban Conflagrations,” Causing 32 Fatalities

A new report on the devastating January 2025 Southern California wildfires, which led to 32 confirmed fatalities, concludes that the blazes rapidly transformed from typical wildland events into fast-moving “urban conflagrations” fueled by homes and vehicles. The Southern California Fires Timeline Report, released on Thursday, November 20 by the Underwriters Laboratories Fire Safety Research Institute (ULRI), provides a detailed timeline of the fires that burned between January 7-31, with a focus on the Eaton Fire that ravaged parts of Altadena and Pasadena.

The report serves as the foundation for Phase Two, the Southern California Fires Incident Analysis Report. The analysis in the second report will look to understand pre-existing conditions in the fire areas, the influence of the built environment on fire behavior, first responders’ actions, and emergency response agencies’ capabilities for addressing urban conflagrations.

The second report will also include detailed recommendations to improve emergency preparedness and response and will be available for implementation by the State of California, local officials, and communities.