John Paciorek will never forget Sept. 29, 1963. The warm Sunday afternoon marked the final day of the Major League Baseball regular season and the Houston Colt .45s were not going to make the playoffs. At the time, Paciorek was an 18-year-old prospect in the present-day Astros organization who had been called up for this one game as part of the team’s plan to briefly showcase its young talent. Right on cue, Paciorek wowed the home crowd during his debut, reaching base all five times against the New York Mets. Continue reading “Clairbourn to Honor Mr. 1.000 With Batting Cage”
Kennedy’s Jewelry: Hope ‘By Your Side’
It had been more than a decade since Jennifer Kennedy survived breast cancer, but last fall she found herself back in another chemotherapy center. She was not dealing with a recurrence. This was worse. The same disease had now afflicted her mother, who was finishing up a round of treatment when Kennedy noticed a sickly young woman in the waiting room. Four hours later, the woman was still sitting there alone. Continue reading “Kennedy’s Jewelry: Hope ‘By Your Side’”
A Rosy Welcome in the Arroyo
Visitors to the Rose Bowl will now receive a visual welcome before they reach the stadium as new signage was unveiled at the campus’ entryway earlier this month.
With several dignitaries gathered in the afternoon sun, the concrete sign sitting atop an aesthetically appropriate Arroyo stone foundation and featuring maroon lettering made its first public appearance. Continue reading “A Rosy Welcome in the Arroyo”
Pasadena Woman Relishes Second Chance at Life
It wasn’t Melissa Ziebell’s first time running a half marathon. She was an active athlete at the time, someone who also enjoyed kickboxing and CrossFit. In her mind, this was simply training for a full marathon. As Ziebell headed into the last mile of the Paris Half Marathon in March 2015, the current Pasadena resident readied for her photo finish as an overhead camera was about to capture a souvenir snapshot. Then she looked down. There would be no picture. Continue reading “Pasadena Woman Relishes Second Chance at Life”
PCC Named Finalist for Prestigious Aspen Prize
For millions of Americans, community colleges represent a vital pathway toward better opportunities such as continued higher education and well-paying jobs. Pasadena City College was recently heralded as a national leader among these institutions, receiving designation as one of 10 finalists for the 2017 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. Widely recognized as the country’s premier honor for high achievement in community colleges, the Aspen Prize will award $1 million next March to the winning college and up to four other finalists. Continue reading “PCC Named Finalist for Prestigious Aspen Prize”
Keeping Pace With Iron Mom
With two miles of swimming, 112 miles of cycling, 26 miles of running and just 17 hours to complete the gauntlet, an Ironman triathlon is considered to be one of the most difficult sporting events in the world. But don’t bother telling Nancy Ko, who is currently training for her first Ironman this November. The San Marino resident has never let daunting challenges faze her. Continue reading “Keeping Pace With Iron Mom”
Claire’s Baseball Evolution Spans a Half-Century
As the Major League Baseball season heads into its home stretch with the playoffs fast approaching, fans of the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers are hoping for a return to championship glory. It has been nearly three decades since the team last appeared in the World Series. Continue reading “Claire’s Baseball Evolution Spans a Half-Century”
Flintridge Sacred Heart Receives Challenge Grant
Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy recently received a major boost in its ongoing effort to build a curriculum and environment that meets the ever-changing standards of a 21st-century world. The all-girls college prep school has been awarded a $50,000 challenge grant by the Edward E. Ford Foundation that will support the research and development of an Innovation Lab — an on-campus hub specifically designed to foster collaboration, design thinking and project-based learning. Continue reading “Flintridge Sacred Heart Receives Challenge Grant”
Seeking Stronger Footing for Pacific Asia Museum
Passersby along Los Robles Avenue between Union Street and Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena may not notice anything too different about the façade of the USC Pacific Asia Museum located on that busy city block. From the outside, the historical mansion built in the style of a Chinese palace stands out much as it has for the past 92 years since its construction. But stroll through its arched entryway guarded by stone dragons and it quickly becomes clear that the facility is an active construction site. Continue reading “Seeking Stronger Footing for Pacific Asia Museum”
Local Students ‘Shop With a Cop’
Customers at Target on Colorado Boulevard may have noticed several Pasadena Police officers strolling the aisles during a recent Friday afternoon. The concentrated presence of local law enforcement did not inspire panic inside the popular retail chain, but rather smiles. Accompanying each officer was a Pasadena Unified School District student as part of the “Shop With a Cop” event, which provided area youth with money to spend on back-to-school clothes and supplies as well as an opportunity to befriend the police. Continue reading “Local Students ‘Shop With a Cop’”