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.

Saturday, November 22, 2025

Report: County Fire Department Will Hire Independent Investigator to Examine Altadena Evacuation Delay

The Los Angeles County Fire Department will hire an independent investigator to examine a reported three-hour delay in issuing evacuation orders to West Altadena residents during the Jan. 7 Eaton Fire, Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone said Friday, according to the Pasadena Star-News.

Many residents reported that they, in fact, never received any evacuation notifications.

Friday evening, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger said she approves the effort to launch an independent review.

“I fully support launching an independent investigation into evacuation orders in West Altadena. The Fire Safety Research Institution Timeline Report has brought more data to light that warrants action,” Barger said in an email. “I will continue championing transparency and accountability. Altadena residents deserve nothing less.”

The report Barger referred to is a state-commissioned report released earlier this week that raised questions about the timeline of alerts issued as the fire spread through Altadena and Pasadena neighborhoods.

Released Thursday by the Underwriters Laboratories Fire Safety Research Institute it documents how the Palisades and Eaton blazes rapidly escalated into “urban conflagrations,” but local officials said the immediate priority is investigating the evacuation timeline in Altadena.

Saturday, November 22, 2025

Altadena Tree Restoration Effort Confronts Critical Funding Gap

Volunteers plant thousands of saplings, but long-term sustainability requires resources grassroots enthusiasm alone cannot provide

The saplings go into the ground quickly. Volunteers arrive with enthusiasm. But as Altadena works to restore 70% of its lost tree canopy, community organizers face a sobering reality: planting trees is the easy part.

Sustaining them requires money, coordination and years of commitment.

Organizations like the California State University, Northridge (CSUN) Urban Forestry Project are racing against time. They must raise $50,000 by Dec. 1 to continue their restoration work. The deadline underscores a fundamental challenge facing the community’s regreening efforts.

Grassroots passion alone cannot rebuild an urban forest.

“We need the trees for the heat, we need the trees for the protection they provide from the fire,” says Claire Robinson, founder of Altadena nonprofit Amigos de los Rios. “We need [trees] for the sense of history and place.”

Robinson knows the stakes personally. The Eaton Fire destroyed both her organization’s building and her home.

Saturday, November 22, 2025

Pasadena Rep. Judy Chu Leads Call for ICE Accountability After Detainee Deaths

Congresswoman Judy Chu, D?Pasadena, joined Rep. Dave Min, D?Irvine, in spearheading a congressional letter Friday demanding answers from Homeland Security officials about medical care for immigrants in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, following the death of a Costa Mesa man while detained at the agency’s Adelanto processing center.

The letter, signed by 43 other members of Congress including Southland representatives Robert Garcia, Maxine Waters, Lou Correa and Mike Levin, cited the Oct. 23 death of 56?year?old Gabriel Garcia?Aviles. Lawmakers said his death came just a month after another detainee, Ismael Ayala?Uribe, died Sept. 22 at Adelanto after reportedly being denied medical treatment.

“These deaths raise serious questions about ICE’s ability to comply with basic detention standards, medical care protocols, and notification requirements, and underscore a pattern of gross negligence that demands immediate accountability,” the letter stated.

ICE officials, in a Nov. 3 statement, said Garcia?Aviles was arrested Oct. 15 and admitted the same day to Victory Valley Global Medical Center in Victorville after showing suspected alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Saturday, November 22, 2025

Altadena Bridge Damaged in Eaton Fire Reopens

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The Lincoln Avenue Bridge, which has been closed in Altadena since May due to concerns about damage originally suffered in the Eaton Fire, has reopened with a temporary structure, county Supervisor Kathryn Barger announced Friday.

Lincoln Avenue between Altadena Drive and Palm Street was closed in May when inspectors noted new cracking and other damage on the bridge. The bridge had already been given a 7-ton weight restriction after the Eaton Fire in January, but the new damage necessitated the closure so repairs can be made.

According to Barger, a temporary bridge has now been completed, allowing the reopening of the roadway.

“I am pleased to see our community’s bridge reopened,” Barger said in a statement. “Lincoln Avenue Bridge is a key connector along the Lincoln Avenue corridor. Reopening it means Altadena residents will have easier access to Loma Alta Park and nearby neighborhoods. It’s a big deal.”

The county Department of Public Works will soon begin working on a permanent bridge replacement.

Friday, November 21, 2025

Supervisor Barger Leads $60 Million Push to Rebuild Altadena’s Fire-Damaged Parks

STAFF REPORT

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger announced that more than $60 million has been secured to rebuild Altadena’s fire-damaged parks following the Eaton Fire.

The announcement was delivered inside the renovated Loma Alta Park gymnasium, where Barger was joined by Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation Director Norma E. García-González, community partners and residents. Large renderings of Eaton Canyon Natural Area, Farnsworth Park and Charles White Park illustrated the county’s long-term recovery plans.

Barger emphasized that while the county has reached a major funding milestone, the $60 million secured represents only about one-third of the more than $190 million needed to fully restore all impacted park spaces. She called upon philanthropic, nonprofit and private-sector partners to join the effort.

“Altadena’s parks are the heart of this community, so securing strong partnerships is essential for the thousands of displaced Eaton Fire survivors eager to reconnect,” Barger said. “From little league games at Farnsworth Park to cultural festivals at Charles White Park to hiking in Eaton Canyon,