Thursday, January 1, 2026

Altadena Literacy Program Marks 37 Years of Free English Classes

Community initiative continues volunteer-led language instruction at renovated library

For 37 years, the “Let’s Read Altadena” program has quietly transformed lives just north of Pasadena. This January marks another session of the community literacy initiative.

The program has helped thousands of immigrants and non-native speakers master English. Free classes meet Monday through Thursday at Bob Lucas Memorial Library. They continue a nearly four-decade tradition of volunteer-led language instruction.

The program costs participants nothing. But it opens countless opportunities.

Classes run from 10:30 a.m. to noon four days a week. They’re designed for beginning English learners in small, casual group sessions.

The program operates at the library’s location at 2659 Lincoln Avenue in Altadena. The facility recently completed a major expansion in August 2025 after 16 months of renovations.

The expansion added over 1,000 square feet – approximately 50 percent more space. New features include a dedicated literacy center with learning rooms and classroom space.

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Altadena Library Turns to Culinary Program for Fire Recovery

Monthly spice kits offer unconventional approach to trauma healing in community rebuilding after Eaton Fire

While fire-affected communities typically focus on mental health counseling and housing assistance, the Altadena Library District is taking a different path to trauma recovery: teaching residents to cook with exotic spices. 

Starting Jan. 2, the Bob Lucas Memorial Library will distribute monthly spice kits as part of a five-month program library officials designed to be accessible, joyful and community-building during a year of continued healing. 

The Spice Club runs through May 2026. Each month features a different spice with samples and two recipe cards. January’s featured ingredient is sumac, a tangy Middle Eastern spice with lemony tartness. 

The program launches seven months after the library’s grand reopening. The facility survived the January 2025 Eaton Fire despite wooden construction, prompting community investment in a $4.5 million renovation funded by Measure Z, a 2020 local bond measure. 

Adults 18 and older can pick up free kits during regular business hours at the Bob Lucas Memorial Library and Literacy Center,

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Violent TikTok Challenge Has Homeowners Reaching for Guns

Southern California police warn teens arrested nationwide as prank damages property, triggers self-defense fears

A dangerous TikTok challenge sweeping Southern California has teenagers violently kicking residential doors, prompting police warnings and frightening homeowners into grabbing firearms.

The viral dare represents a violent twist on ding-dong ditch. Participants bang on or kick doors hard enough to damage them, then post videos online.

Murrieta police initially investigated the incidents as attempted burglaries. They later discovered the vandalisms were linked to social media.

“It might look like harmless internet fun, but it’s really vandalism that can escalate into criminal charges, injuries, or worse,” Murrieta police said in a report by The Press-Enterprise[a].

Teens have been arrested in Florida, Washington state, Texas, New Jersey and Illinois, the report said. Orange County authorities have also taken vandalism reports.

The challenge puts participants at serious risk. Residents don’t know the intentions of someone violently striking their door.

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Altadena Sheriff’s Station Launches Program to Protect Rebuilding Homes

Deputies to monitor construction sites after request from property owners

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has launched a program aimed at protecting homes under reconstruction in Altadena, asking residents to register their construction sites for increased patrol monitoring.

The Altadena Station’s Construction Check Program seeks to deter theft of building materials by having deputies monitor registered properties more closely. Property owners currently rebuilding are asked to provide their address, phone number and construction company information.

“The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department-Altadena Station is committed to working hand-in-hand with our community to deter and prevent crime,” the station said in a social media post announcing the initiative.

Residents should indicate whether construction is active and provide the construction company’s name and phone number when registering. The information will allow deputies to identify legitimate activity at construction sites.

The program relies on community participation beyond just registration. Station officials emphasized the “See Something, Say Something” approach, encouraging vigilance from all residents.

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Rain Pours Down as 137th Rose Parade Steps Off on Colorado Boulevard

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Spectators brave heavy showers as Pasadena’s signature New Year’s Day tradition gets underway

The 137th Rose Parade is now rolling down Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena under heavy rain that has just eased slightly, marking the first time in 20 years that the beloved New Year’s Day tradition has stepped off in wet weather.

Despite the downpour, spirits remain high among spectators, many of whom braved overnight showers to camp along the route and secure prime viewing spots. The rain, courtesy of a storm system that moved over the area Wednesday, was forecast by the National Weather Service with near 100% certainty and is expected to continue into the afternoon.

For people planning to watch the procession in person, ponchos were an essential wardrobe addition, since umbrellas are not permitted along the route during the parade  for fear of blocking the view of other spectators.

Rain has not fallen on the parade since 2006,

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Cal Poly’s Float Wins 2026 Rose Parade Sweepstakes Trophy as Tournament of Roses Announces Awards

The Pasadena Tournament of Roses announced 23 official float award recipients Wednesday for the 137th Rose Parade presented by Honda, highlighting the event’s deep local ties and longstanding role as one of Pasadena’s signature traditions. The announcement came in a Tournament of Roses statement released minutes before 7 a.m. on Jan. 1.

Cal Poly Universities received the 2026 Sweepstakes Trophy, the parade’s top honor, recognizing the most beautiful entry based on float design, floral presentation and entertainment. According to the Tournament of Roses, it marks the first Sweepstakes win for Cal Poly Universities and the seventh time a self-built float has earned the award since the category was established in 1924.

Judges Doris Hardoon, Cathy Hillen-Rulloda and Chaz Perea evaluated each float during decorating-stage sessions before the parade. Their scoring considered creative design, floral craftsmanship, artistic merit, computerized animation, thematic interpretation, floral and color presentation, and dramatic impact. The judges’ scores determined the trophy recipients.

Award-winning floats will be accompanied in the parade by banners carried by members of the Tournament of Roses Troop,

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Rose Bowl Flea Market Returns: A 57-Year Legacy of Treasure Hunting Draws Celebrities and Collectors Worldwide

Pasadena’s most famous monthly marketplace opens its gates Sunday, January 11, drawing 20,000 buyers and 2,500 vendors to the Rose Bowl Stadium for what has become the largest flea market in California and one of the largest in the United States. The event opens at 5 a.m. and runs until 4:30 p.m., earning the distinction of being called the “Flea Market of the Stars” for over 50 years and recognized by the Travel Channel as one of the ten best flea markets in the world.

The market’s story began November 10, 1968, when entrepreneurs R.G. Canning and Bill Tunnell launched the first event with approximately 200 vendors and 12,000 visitors. The City of Pasadena, seeking year-round income from the Rose Bowl, found in Tunnell and Canning the ideal partners. Tunnell explained the venue’s appeal: “an ideal spot for a flea market because of the large parking lot and the enclosed area for the booths.”

The market now attracts celebrities including Angelina Jolie, Cameron Diaz,

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Altadena Marks One Year Since Eaton Fire’s Devastation with Dual Commemorative Vigils

Community gathers to honor 19 victims and affirm commitment to recovery one year after the fire devastated the landscape

On January 7, the Eaton Fire tore through Altadena’s foothills, killing 19 people and forever reshaping the community’s landscape. One year later, residents will gather at two locations to honor those lost and affirm their commitment to recovery.

The Community Coalition for Altadena Recovery will host a community commemoration at 5 p.m. in the Grocery Outlet parking lot, featuring music, remembrances, and light refreshments, open to all “rain or shine.” A second vigil is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the corner of N. Lake Avenue and E. Loma Alta Drive, sponsored by Kinfolk Helping Hands and Connect 2 Rise Inc. The 7 p.m. event will feature a children’s choir, performances by the Benn Family (known from “America’s Got Talent”), and community speakers.

The Altadena Grocery Outlet, which sustained only minor exterior scorching, has become a symbol of resilience. After reopening in February,

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Rain Prompts Tarp Over Rose Bowl Field as Pasadena Braces for Wet Quarterfinal

With steady rain settling over Pasadena ahead of Thursday’s College Football Playoff quarterfinal, the Rose Bowl field was covered by a tarp Wednesday as stadium crews worked to protect the turf from worsening weather, according to AL.com..

An ESPN camera shot showed the tarp stretched across the historic field. The wet conditions continued throughout the day across the Pasadena area.

Alabama and Indiana, scheduled to meet Thursday in the Rose Bowl, adjusted their preparations as rain intensified. The Crimson Tide held their Wednesday walkthrough indoors at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, AL.com reported.

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer acknowledged earlier Wednesday that weather could influence the matchup.

“I think you just gotta see what it is in the moment,” DeBoer said during a joint press conference with Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, according to AL.com. . “I know it could be heavy at times, I don’t know, it could be light. You just have to adjust. We haven’t played a lot in those elements this season.”

DeBoer said the team has practiced with wet footballs to prepare for potential rain but emphasized that adaptability would be key.

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Forecasters Agree: Rain to Soak Rose Parade; Clearing Expected for Rose Bowl Game

Heaviest rain could occur right at 8 a.m., as the Parade steps off

Spectators and participants of the 137th Rose Parade will likely face a morning of heavy, persistent rain, with the most intense downpours expected to coincide directly with the parade’s 8 a.m. start, according to a consensus of national and local weather forecasts.

Conditions are expected to improve by the afternoon, with only a slight chance of showers for the 1 p.m. kickoff of the Rose Bowl Game.

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch and a Flood Advisory for the Pasadena area, warning of the potential for localized flooding, particularly in recent Eaton Fire burn areas, as the significant storm moves through Southern California.

Forecasters predict total rainfall between 0.75 and 1.25 inches in Pasadena for the day.

For the duration of the Rose Parade, from 8 a.m. to approximately 11 a.m., the chance of rain is 100%, according to multiple forecasting services including the National Weather Service and The Weather Channel.