Category: Pasadena

The Pasadena-Foothills Association of Realtors Charitable Foundation will host “The Blind Tiger” wine tasting and auction Thursday, June 22, at the Cellar at 26 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena.
The 26th annual event will include a series of activities, including a silent auction and wine toss, followed by a live auction later in the evening. Wine, champagne and hors d’oeuvres will be served throughout.
Attendees are encouraged to come dressed in the “Roaring Twenties”-themed apparel, inspired by “The Great Gatsby.”
Sponsorships are sought, with some levels receiving complimentary wine-tasting tickets. For more information, contact Roberta Dominguez at (626) 382-9759.
“The more support we receive from our Realtors, their clients and the community, the more funds we raise each year, allows us to donate to our local charities and give more scholarships,” said Deborah Maxson, PFAR Charitable Foundation chair.
In 2016, the PFAR Charitable Foundation raised almost $100,000, which was distributed to more than 15 charities in the San Gabriel Valley.
Tickets are $75 and are available at pfar.org or by calling Michele at (626) 893-1682. All proceeds will be donated to local charities.

Altadena Library’s grand reopening, Summer Reading Program kickoff and 50th anniversary celebration will be held on Saturday, June 10, from 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m.
Being touted as the library’s “biggest event” of the year, it has been officially titled “Growing Up ’Dena.”
This celebration will feature performances for all ages, including Mad Science, Antics, CHROMA, lead vocalist of Santana, Andy Vargas and Souleros, and the Satisfaction Band.
For more information about the main stage lineup and activities throughout the day, visit altadenalibrary.org.

Laughter is the best medicine. At Cancer Support Community Pasadena, 50 members recently enjoyed an evening of love and laughter, courtesy of comedian Jason Love, who is passionate about bringing free comedy to cancer support communities. Joining Love on stage were comics Andy Hendrickson and Don McMillan, who share Love’s philosophy on the importance of laughter in reducing stress in people facing cancer.
After losing a dear friend to cancer, Love founded a nonprofit called Love & Laughter, which brings standup comedy to cancer support communities throughout the country. “If you could only see how the audience is transformed over the course of an hour,” Love said. “They leave the room in a different body. And that’s kind of the point. You could feel the joy in the room at CSCP.” (For more information, visit jasonlove.com.)
Founded in 1990, Cancer Support Community Pasadena is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing support groups, educational workshops and stress management classes to individuals impacted by cancer. All programs are offered free to cancer patients and their families and friends/caregivers.

Pasadena resident and NBC4 anchor Colleen Williams will host her 22nd annual Charity Golf Tournament to benefit Casa Treatment Center on Monday, June 19, at San Gabriel Country Club. Over the years, the event has raised more than $1 million for Pasadena-based Casa, which provides women struggling with addiction the opportunity to transform their lives.
Leah Rodemich, Casa’s executive director, expressed the organization’s appreciation for Williams’ support through the years. “We are so grateful for the many years of service that Colleen and her family have given to Casa,” Rodemich said. “As a result of their efforts, we have raised more than $1 million, which has enabled us to provide affordable residential, outpatient, day treatment and sober living services to hundreds of women each year.”
An award-winning journalist for three decades, Williams has received numerous industry honors, including multiple Emmy and Golden Mike awards.
Casa (former Casa de las Amigas) was founded in 1967 and was one of the first treatment centers in the country to focus on women. “Casa has been on the forefront of providing professionally supervised alcohol and drug treatment and has been ahead of the curve in providing those services specifically to address the unique needs of women,” a Casa spokesperson said.

Golf tournament registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and the event culminates with a dinner and live auction. Tournament sponsorships are available starting at $2,500. To register online, visit casatreatmentcenter.org. For further information, contact Ava Alexandar at (626) 792-2770.

The board of directors of the Pasadena Museum of California Art recently announced the appointment of Susana Smith Bautista as executive director of the museum, beginning the position this week.
Born and raised in Pasadena, Bautista is an expert on museums, digital technology, the arts and strategic communication. Bautista brings with her a wealth of experience in the museum world, curating exhibitions and creating educational programming and digital media and communication. She is committed to the Pasadena-area community, having served on the city of Pasadena Arts and Culture Commission, the advisory board of Southwest Chamber Music, the board of trustees of Westridge School and the board of directors of Clazzical Notes.
“The board of directors is thrilled to have Susana take the helm of the PMCA,” says PMCA Chairman of the Board Jim Crawford. “She has a proven track record in the art, museum and nonprofit fields. Her specialized focus on museum studies; digital technology and communication; and Latino, Chicano, and Asian art will ensure that the full, diverse scope of California art as well as modern media communication continue to be at the forefront of the PMCA’s programming. With someone as committed to California art as well as to the Pasadena and Los Angeles communities, we are certain that with Susana as executive director, the museum will continue to thrive and be a significant and essential voice within and beyond Los Angeles.”
Continue reading “PMCA Appoints New Executive Director”

CHALK Preschool and My Gym Children’s Fitness Center continue their strategic partnership, which is designed to serve the growing needs of the innovative Southern California-based preschool — and to parents and their children. The partnership brands the education centers as CHALK Preschool Energized by My Gym to its locations operating in Manhattan Beach, Venice and Westwood. In addition, it creates the infrastructure for expansion of additional locations in communities across California.
The newest CHALK Preschool will host a meet-and-greet open house at the school (700 E. Green St.) on Tuesday, June 20 from 5-7 p.m. The event will be an opportunity for families to meet the staff and find out more about the program. There will be free play in the My Gym classroom and the outdoor playground will be open to the children. Refreshments will be available.
Continue reading “CHALK Preschool’s Open House is June 20”

For parents seeking a high-quality education for their children in the Altadena and Pasadena area, Alma Fuerte Public School might be the answer.
The new public charter school in Altadena will open its doors in August 2017 at Pasadena Unified School District’s Edison Elementary campus located at 119 E. Palm St. Students entering transitional kindergarten through 2nd grade are currently being enrolled.
The free public charter school was founded by a team of Pasadena parents, educational leaders and entrepreneurs, including Pasadena resident Anne Lee, founding director of operations and a former education attorney with two school-age children. The founding team also includes Academic Director Marina Carrasco-Burge, a former instructional leader and curriculum specialist for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles with several years of classroom teaching experience. Alma Fuerte Public School received its charter authorization from the Los Angeles County Board of Education in 2016.
“We are excited to bring a new, innovative elementary school to the Pasadena and Altadena community,” said Lee, who spent many years as a lawyer fighting for the rights of families to have access to a high-quality education. “Alma Fuerte’s focus on hands-on projects, entrepreneurship and personalized learning is unique in the area and a response to increasing demand from local parents for a new public school choice.”
Last year, Alma Fuerte received a prestigious Invent Grant from the NewSchools Venture Fund, the only school in Los Angeles County to receive the award that year. It will ultimately serve transitional kindergarten to 8th grade.
Additional information about Alma Fuerte Public School may be found at almafuerteps.org and facebook.com/almafuerteps.