Friday, August 15, 2025

Dena Community Will Unite to Support Students at Annual Welcome Back Day

The event will bring together families, educators, and neighbors to show students they are not alone

Community members will gather at John Muir High School on Monday, August 18, for the annual Dena Community Welcome Back Day, a celebration aimed at uplifting students as they return to school following months of hardship.

The event, hosted by Brandon Lamar, founder of Project Passion, and Pasadena City Councilmember Tyron Hampton, begins at 8:30 a.m. at 1905 Lincoln Ave. Organizers say the gathering is more than a traditional back-to-school welcome—it’s a collective affirmation of hope, unity, and support.

“This year’s Welcome Back Day is more than just the start of a new school year; it’s a celebration of resilience, unity, and support,” Lamar said. “Our students need to see that their community believes in them—especially after everything we’ve been through. Welcome Back Day is about more than first-day smiles; it’s about letting our young people know they are valued, supported, and never alone.”

The community has endured significant challenges over the past seven months,

Friday, August 15, 2025

How Safe is the Soil?

By EDDIE RIVERA

Residents demand soil testing and action at town hall

More than 200 Altadena residents gathered in a meeting room at the Salvation Army Tabernacle Thursday with a mix of worry, exhaustion, and resolve. A Soil Testing Town Hall, organized by the LA Fire Justice law group, drew an array of environmental experts, scientists, and advocates — including consumer advocate Erin Brockovich — to confront an unsettling question lingering since January’s devastating fires: What toxins remain in the soil where we live, play, and rebuild?

In April, federal funds for soil testing were dramatically reduced, forcing the County Board of Supervisors to provide $3 million to pay for soil testing in the Altadena burn areas.

Joshua West, a professor of earth sciences and environmental studies at USC, whose own home burned in January, described the launch of a community-led testing initiative called Clean to offer free soil analysis, particularly for residents in the Eaton Fire burn area.

Friday, August 15, 2025

Senator Pérez Demands Trump Administration Halt Immigration Raids After Monrovia Fatality

The lawmaker says the raids violate a federal court order and have led to deadly consequences

State Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena) is calling on the Trump administration to immediately stop immigration raids in Los Angeles County following Thursday’s death of a man during an enforcement action in Monrovia.

The man was reportedly killed on the 210 Freeway after fleeing into traffic during a raid.

Pérez, who represents communities including Pasadena and Altadena, condemned the incident as part of “President Trump’s terror campaign,” and urged federal compliance with a court order barring such operations.

“President Trump’s terror campaign has taken another life,” Pérez said in a statement Thursday. “My heart goes out to the family of the man killed today on the 210 freeway in my district. There is such incredible fear in our immigrant communities, so much so that people will run into freeway traffic out of fear when all they want is a chance to support their family and seek the American Dream.”

Pérez spotlighted that the raids violate a federal court order issued by the U.S.

Friday, August 15, 2025

Clearing the Last Lot

By EDDIE RIVERA

Final Eaton Fire Property Cleared, Marking a Milestone for Altadena’s Recovery

With empty, open lots in every direction, and the hulks of destroyed businesses still just blocks away, community leaders, elected officials, and recovery workers gathered on Fair Oaks Avenue Thursday to mark a symbolic end to one of the most grueling chapters in Altadena’s, indeed the state’s, history: the beginning of debris removal at the last private property cleared under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Eaton Fire recovery mission.

The site, reduced to ash and twisted metal, was once the family home of the late artist John Outerbridge, a towering figure in the West Coast Black Arts Movement.

His daughter, Tammy Outerbridge, stood before the assembled crowd to explain why her family had asked to be last.

“It’s not random that I am the last house in Altadena to be cleared,” she said. “We needed time to look for items related to my father’s arts legacy.

Friday, August 15, 2025

Altadena’s Bob Lucas Memorial Library Reopens Saturday After Major Renovation

Community celebrates library’s expansion and renewed commitment to literacy; librarians “hustle” to prepare

The Bob Lucas Memorial Library will reopen on Saturday, August 16, marking the completion of a $4.5 million renovation that significantly expands the facility’s capabilities.

The library, located at 2659 Lincoln Avenue in Altadena, emerges from a 16-month transformation that adds approximately 1,000 square feet of space and introduces new community-focused amenities.

“We are hustling this week as we prep for the reopening of our branch, the Bob Lucas Memorial Library and Literacy Center on Saturday, Aug. 16,” the Altadena Library District announced.

The renovation, funded by Measure Z—which was approved by 72.35% of registered district voters in November 2020—has dramatically improved the library’s infrastructure.

The project includes a dedicated children’s area, a new literacy center with classroom and tutoring rooms, upgraded electrical and mechanical systems, and an outdoor reading garden.

The facility is now fully accessible to all Altadena residents.

Friday, August 15, 2025

Eaton Fire Survivors Continue to Target Multiple Insurers Over Alleged Bad Faith and Underinsurance

By ANDRÉ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

A growing wave of lawsuits by Eaton Fire survivors is targeting some of the nation’s largest insurance companies, with plaintiffs alleging that insurers withheld payments, denied legitimate claims, or left them severely underinsured after the Jan. 7 wildfire devastated parts of Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre.

“Insurance companies know they have the upper hand in dealing with policyholders,” said Eric Ratinoff, California wildfire insurance attorney on his website. “They delay payments, and sometimes they flat-out refuse to pay. All of these tactics are illegal in California.”

The fire, one of California’s most destructive conflagrations in modern history, burned 14,021 acres in and around Altadena — making it the second?most destructive wildfire in state history.

It destroyed 9,418 structures and damaged 1,073 more, killing 19 people. Over 100,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes.

Damages from the fire are estimated at nearly $27.5 million, leaving homeowners scrambling to file insurance claims.

But in many cases,

Thursday, August 14, 2025

PUSD Marks New School Year with ‘Rising Together’ Celebration

By EDDIE RIVERA

More than 1.900 teachers, staff, and administrators focus on wellness and recovery

The Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) opened the 2025–26 school year Wednesday welcoming back 1,900 teachers, administrators, and classified employees with a morning of reflection, celebration, and resolve at Pasadena High School. Under the banner “2025 Welcome Back: The Power of Us: Rising Together,” the event served as both a rallying cry for educators and a tribute to the resilience of a community still grappling with the aftershocks of January’s Eaton Fire.

Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Blanco led the program, which blended stories of perseverance with public recognition of those who helped guide the district through one of its most difficult years. 

“Every role, every person in this room matters to the success of PUSD,” Blanco told the assembled staff, community leaders, and partners. “Tonight is about celebrating the strength we have found in one another — and finding the tools to keep moving forward.”

Merlyna Valentine,

Thursday, August 14, 2025

Free Golf Clinic Announced for Families Displaced by Eaton Fire

Event offers equipment, financial literacy, and healing through golf in Pasadena

First Tee — Greater Pasadena will host a free family golf clinic to support families affected by the Eaton Fire, which destroyed more than 9,000 buildings and displaced hundreds.

The “Eaton Fire Family Day,” presented by East West Bank, takes place Saturday, August 23, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Brookside Golf Club, 1133 Rosemont Avenue in Pasadena. Families will receive golf equipment, apparel, access to First Tee programs, and financial literacy education. Raffle prizes will be available to those attending the financial session.

“This generous donation means everything to our youth. Beyond the financial help, it sends a powerful message: that their community believes in them and is here to support them through tough times,” said Mark Fritz, director of programs and operations for First Tee — Greater Pasadena.

The clinic is part of a recovery effort following the January 7 blaze that destroyed First Tee’s Altadena facility and $30,000 in equipment.

Thursday, August 14, 2025

Soil Contamination Town Hall to Feature Erin Brockovich and UCLA, USC Experts in Pasadena

The event will explore post-fire soil health and community action strategies

A coalition including a local law firm will host a town hall Thursday evening to address soil contamination in Altadena following the Eaton Fire, featuring consumer advocate Erin Brockovich and experts from UCLA and USC.

“This is about empowering communities to understand what’s in their soil and what they can do about it,” said Brockovich, who has firsthand experience with wildfire evacuations. “We fight every day to right corporate wrongdoing against innocent victims.”

Speakers will present recent soil testing results, explain contamination risks, and offer practical steps for residents. The program includes interactive Q&A, case studies from affected neighborhoods, and guidance on community mobilization.

Panelists include:

• Joshua West, professor of Earth Sciences and Environmental Studies, University of Southern California.
• Aradhna Tripati, professor and director of UCLA’s Center for Diverse Leadership in Science.
• Christine Lenches-Hinkel, founder of 301 Organics and post-fire soil restoration specialist.

Thursday, August 14, 2025

LA Sheriff’s Department to Host Public Meeting on Military Equipment Use

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will hold a virtual public meeting Aug. 26 to present its 2024 Annual Report on military equipment.

The online meeting runs from 5 to 6 p.m. Community members can ask questions about the department’s acquisition, funding and use of military equipment.

Assembly Bill 481 requires the annual community meeting. Under the law, all law enforcement agencies are mandated to obtain approval from governing bodies before funding, acquiring or using military equipment.

The sheriff’s department must hold the meeting within 30 days of publicly releasing its annual military equipment report.

AB 481 defines military equipment broadly. It includes unmanned aerial vehicles, armored personnel carriers and mine-resistant vehicles.

The definition covers high mobility vehicles like Humvees with breaching apparatus attached. Tracked armored vehicles and weaponized aircraft also qualify as military equipment.

Specialized weapons fall under the definition too. These include firearms over .50 caliber, assault weapons and explosive projectiles.

Less-lethal equipment is also covered.