Wired Women 9-29-2024
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.
~ Leo Buscaglia
“Deep gratitude to all who go beyond ‘thoughts and prayers’ to act on behalf of those who suffer. True hope, muscular hope, is not an attitude but an action, and it does not matter how small the action is. Multiply small acts of hope by the millions, and we have the start of a transformed world.”
~ Parker J. Palmer
“Integrity is choosing courage over comfort. It’s choosing what is right over what is fun, fast, or easy. It’s choosing to practice your values rather than simply professing them.”
~ Brené Brown
::: The Red Cross is accepting donations for all those impacted by Hurricane Helene. You can make your donation here. If you’d like to donate to other organizations that are helping, Charity Navigator has posted a list here.
::: The September/October edition of Pasadena In Focus is available online here. Among other things, this issue provides information about the local ballot measures.
::: The Arboretum’s October calendar is filled with lots of great activities, as usual. Check it out.
::: The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra’s Chamber Series, curated by Concertmaster and Director of Chamber Music Margaret Batjer, launches on Sunday, September 29, at 4:00 p.m. in The Huntington’s Rothenberg Hall with two keyboard works from the Romantic era: Schumann’s Piano Quartet in E-flat major, and Schubert’s Piano Quintet in A major, “Trout.” For information about additional works to be performed, the performers, and to purchase tickets, go here.
::: Immerse yourself in the serene beauty of The Huntington’s Rose Garden and enjoy enchanting classical music on Monday, September 30, from 1-3 p.m. In collaboration with the Pasadena Conservatory of Music, The Huntington presents these Music in the Rose Garden performances featuring a rotating set of solo and duo performers on various instruments, including violin, cello, and guitar. Don’t miss the unique opportunity to wander through the breathtaking Rose Garden while listening to live music. For more information call 626-405-2100 or click here.
::: On Monday, September 30 at 5:30 p.m. there will be a cocktail reception in support of the United Democratic Headquarters Pasadena. For more information view the flyer or click here. To RSVP send email to infoandrsvpeventssocal@gmail.com.
::: Parents of preschool-aged children will have an opportunity to attend the Pasadena Education Network’s (PEN) popular "Choosing an Elementary School" program on Monday, September 30, at 7:00 p.m. Dr. Jennifer Miyake-Trapp, Associate Professor of Education at Pepperdine University’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology and a Pasadena Unified School District parent, will provide parents with valuable information about what to look for when evaluating an elementary school. She’ll explain how family values along with insights from school visits and parent perspectives can contribute to a thoughtful, well-informed decision. The presentation will be followed by an opportunity for attendees to meet and chat with current Pasadena Unified parents. For more information call 866-216-7334 or click here.
::: Tuesday Musicale of Pasadena will present its first free concert of the season at the First Baptist Church in Altadena on Tuesday, October 1, at 12:30 p.m. For concert details click here.
::: Altadena Poets Laureate present The World Stage Poetry Reading on Tuesday, October 1, from 6-8 p.m. in the community room at the Altadena Library. Founded in 1989, the World Stage is an educational and performance art space in Leimert Park Village, the heart of Los Angeles’ African American cultural community. For more information call 626-798-0833 or click here.
::: California Clean Air Day is Wednesday, October 2. Meet Altadena school students and parents on the front lawn of the Altadena Library, Loma Alta Park, Seventh Day Adventist Center or Farnsworth Park to walk or bike to nearby schools. Not sure if your school is participating? Contact your school’s PTSA. October 2 is also Free Ride Day on all Metro trains and buses in honor of California Clean Air Day!
::: Chantry Flats will reopen on Wednesday, October 2 at 6 a.m. More details are here.
::: On Wednesday, October 2, from 4-5 p.m. join the celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month at the Altadena Library with Danza Azteca Xochipilli, an Aztec dance group presenting an afternoon of dancing and education about Mexican culture and language. This family-friendly event is open to all. Please expect to participate in this enriching cultural event. For more information call 626-798-0833 or click here.
::: Pasadena’s Jewish community will celebrate Rosh Hashanah from sundown on Wednesday, October 2 to nightfall on Friday, October 4 and all residents are invited to join in the observance. The holiday, marking the start of the Jewish year 5785 and considered the birthday of the universe in Jewish tradition, emphasizes universal messages of renewal, reflection, and community harmony. Pasadena Now has more information here including how to contact Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center and Chabad of Pasadena.
::: A Household Hazardous Waste and EWaste drive-through event will take place on Saturday, October 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 252 W Mountain View St. in Altadena. Help protect our environment by bringing your household hazardous waste, including used needles, paints, household cleaners, old computers, microwaves, and television sets. This event is open to all LA County residents. For more information including what you CAN and CANNOT bring, please visit this website.
::: The 26th Annual Pasadena Latino Heritage Parade and Festival will take place on Saturday, October 5, from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. This event is sponsored by the City of Pasadena Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department and the Pasadena Latino Heritage Parade and Festival Committee. The parade begins at the intersection of Los Robles Avenue and Buckeye Street; then heads south on Los Robles Avenue and culminates in front of City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave. Immediately following the parade, the festival will feature live entertainment, educational booths, free activities for children, and food available for purchase. For more information, please call at (626) 744-6530 or click here.
::: Join the Friends of the Altadena Library for a used book sale on Saturday, October 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Only Friends of the Library are able to shop from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, but you can become a member on-site for $10. The sale is open to all from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thousands of books, DVDs, and more will be available for purchase. For more information call 626-798-0833 or click here.
::: Pasadena and neighboring communities are often touted as inclusive and progressive, which obscures historic and current struggles with racism, segregation, and systemic exclusion. On Saturday, October 5 from 12:30-2:30 p.m. come to the Altadena Library to hear stories of struggle and success from your neighbors who have lived to overcome these barriers designed to keep people separate and marginalized. Learn the history of the African-American community in Pasadena/Altadena and how it has been affected by Jim Crow laws, redlining of neighborhoods, and other forms of intentional bias. Featured speakers include Danny Parker, Marco White, Adan Williams, Alma Stokes, and Brian Biery. Presented by the Altadena Library and Standing Up for Racial Justice: Altadena. For more information call 626-798-0833 or click here.
::: The next Mariposa Junction Night Market will take place on Saturday, October 5, from 5-9 p.m. Explore a diverse array of vendors offering unique goods, mouthwatering prepared foods, sip at the beer and wine garden and groove to the rhythm of live music under the stars. Click here to view the flyer.
::: Knox Presbyterian Church of Pasadena invites community members to its annual BBQ & Bluegrass celebration on Saturday, October 5, at 5 p.m. on the Knox campus in Pasadena. Enjoy lively bluegrass music from the True Blue Bluegrass Band, plus mouth-watering, specialty smoked meats (vegan and gluten-free options will be available). Participate in the pie-making contest, play Bingo, and enjoy being in community with Pasadena neighbors. To purchase tickets for the event, go here. Tickets are $15/person and $30/family. First-time visitors, college students, and grad students can attend for free with RSVP.
::: Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena annual Black Tie & Burgers returns on Saturday, October 5, at 6:00 p.m. This year’s event, “Through the Blue Doors,” pays tribute to two late Club leaders while supporting programs for children and teens. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
::: Salastina Chamber Music presents two concerts featuring the music of Johannes Brahms on Saturday, October 5, both in Barrett Hall at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music. The 3:30 p.m. performance features the B Major Piano Trio and the epic E Flat Major Trio for Piano, Violin, and Horn. The 7:30 p.m. performance includes the C Major and C Minor Piano Trios and the Trio for Piano, Clarinet, and Cello. More information and ticket ordering here.
::: Melodia Mariposa has presented 15 free concerts for our Altadena community in 2024 and has great plans for more in 2025. On Sunday October 6 from 3-6 p.m. they’re holding a fundraiser at a private home in Altadena. The all female, alternative folk trio Jems will be performing and attendees will be able to enjoy great food and wine from Beckmen Vineyards while meeting founder, Irina Voloshina and enjoying a musical auction and raffle. Tickets are $50 and are available here. The online auction is live now and you can start bidding here.
::: A new regulation taking effect Monday, October 7 impacts property owners with short term rentals in unincorporated communities of LA County. Owners must register their rentals and pay an annual fee. Learn more here.
::: This fall, voters in PUSD Trustee districts 2, 4 and 6 will have the opportunity to elect school board members. Seats 2 and 6 are contested races, each with an incumbent and one challenger. To learn more about these candidates, their priorities, and how they would approach their work on the Board, join PEN and the PUSD parent groups for a candidate forum on Monday, October 7 from 7-8:30 p.m. More information is on the flyer.
::: The League of Women Voters, Pasadena Area will be presenting an impartial summary of the pros and cons of ten state-wide ballot propositions on Thursday, October 10 from 10 a.m. to noon at Blinn House, 160 N Oakland. Parking is on N. Madison Ave. in the lot behind Blinn House. The propositions cover a broad range of topics, including schools, environment, housing, minimum wage, and medical care. Refreshments will be served, and donations are encouraged but not required. Register here.
::: Carnegie Observatories are holding an open house on Sunday, October 13 from 2-5 p.m. Get the details and reserve your spot here.
::: The 2024 ATC Elections will be held on Saturday, November 9, with early voting on Tuesday, November 5th. Candidate applications are available on the Altadena Election website and on the Town Council website, and are due no later than October 11 at 5:00p.m.
::: Victoria Williams sends word that the Black Education Expo, which she founded, will be held on Saturday, October 12 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E Green Street. This free Expo aims to educate, inspire and inform K-12 students age 5-18 and their families. Open to all, this collaborative event serves as a one-stop hub for educational resources, informative workshops, and a celebration of historically marginalized communities, with an emphasis on culturally relevant resources. There will be PUSD & AAPC parent engagement workshops, PCC transfer/dual enrollment workshop, UC admissions prep, plus workshops on financial literacy, resources for neuro divergent families, mental health resources, scholarships. The kids zone will feature arts and crafts, storytime and face painting. The Expo hall will include 50+exhibitors, a dynamic teen zone, and informative parent workshops, and will offer giveaways including tech and books. For more information, view the website. To register, go here. To volunteer at the expo, sign up here.
::: The Altadena Town Council Education Committee, in partnership with Neighbors Building a Better Altadena (NBBA), is hosting the only Altadena-specific information session on PUSD's Measures R + EE and Trustee Area 2 candidate forum on Wednesday, October 16 at 6 p.m. at the Altadena Community Center. This is a local opportunity to hear directly from PUSD Superintendent Blanco on the measures, and from the two candidates, Jennifer Hall Lee and Juan Carlos Perez, running for PUSD School Board, Area 2. For more information on PUSD Board Trustee geographic areas go here.
::: California State Treasurer Fiona Ma will present her "State of the Economy" address on Thursday, October 17 from 8-9:30 a.m., hosted by the Altadena Chamber of Commerce. To get the link, RSVP via the Chamber’s website.
::: Back in 2020 we voters passed Pasadena Unified School District’s Measure O. To get caught up on how the Measure O funds are being used, read this Measure O update. On November 5 we will have another opportunity to support our community’s children and the schools they attend by passing Measure EE and R. Read about these two measures here.
::: Applications for the 2025 class of Leadership Pasadena are being accepted now through November 1. If you are interested in becoming more engaged in the Pasadena community, you can read more about this organization here.
::: Free Covid19 tests are now being mailed. Place your order for your 4 free Covid 19 tests here.
::: Just got the fall e-mail I was waiting for. Bulgarini Gelato, which is about waaaaay more than sweet treats, has their pumpkin gnocchi with sage butter back on the menu. Trader Joe’s has their pumpkin gnocchi back in the frozen food section. And if you’re in the mood for fixing a quick snack, here’s any easy recipe for Pecan Pie Bark.
::: Jobs
. Union Station Homeless Services seeks a Chief Development and Communications Officer
. CyberCoders seeks an Executive Administrative Assistant
. Caltech Office of Technology Transfer and Corporate Partnerships seeks a Licensing and Finance Coordinator
. Caltech Center for Inclusion and Diversity seeks an Operations Manager; and a Programming and Operations Coordinator
. Ronald McDonald House Pasadena seeks a Community Engagement Coordinator
. Door of Hope seeks an Associate Director of Marketing, Student Advocate, Transitional Housing-Case Manager, Homelessness Prevention-Case Manager, and a Housing Navigator
. Cancer Support Community seeks an Operations Manager
. Kidspace Children’s Museum seeks a Guest Service Associate
. Pasadena First Congregational Church UCC seeks an Office Associate
. Pasadena Village seeks a Villager and Volunteer Coordinator
. Southern California Public Radio seeks a Part-Time, Associate Producer, Social Media, LAist
. Cal State LA seeks an Executive Director of External Affairs and University Relations
. Art Center seeks an AVP, Communications and Media Relations
. Mayfield Junior School seeks an Enrollment Officer
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Dear Readers,
Just four more weekends until Election Day. Please do what you can to help combat the voter suppression efforts in swing states and help GOTV. Here in LA County, the Registrar has posted resources to help you plan your vote. It’s here.
A friend sent me some quotations Friday and this one by Barbara Glanz really resonated: “People are far more important than any other thing in your life. No hobby, interest, book, work is going to be as important to you as the people you spend time with as you get older.”
Thanks for spending some of your time reading Wired Women.
~ Monica