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Kidspace Museum Celebrates 40 Years

Kidspace Children’s Museum
Photos by Christian Leonard / OUTLOOK
Anima Murade, 6, experienced firsthand Kidspace Children’s Museum’s recent bubble week, part of the “40 Days of Fun!” program held to celebrate the non-profit’s 40th anniversary.

By Christian Leonard
The Outlook

When Anne McCurdy first took her children to Kidspace about 35 years ago, the Pasadena children’s museum was located in the McKinley School gym. It was a fun experience — McCurdy recalled that her youngsters’ curiosity was piqued by an ant farm — but the museum’s power to fascinate was somewhat affected by its size, a mere 13,500 square feet.
This summer, Anne and daughter Kelly McCurdy returned to Kidspace at an eventful time for the institution that strives to entertain while it educates. Just as Kelly has grown up — she watched her own daughters spend a recent morning in the museum courtyard, chasing bubbles — so, too, has the museum. Continue reading “Kidspace Museum Celebrates 40 Years”

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PCDA Helps Nurture Children Who Have Feeding Challenges

By Christian Leonard
The Outlook

Tellis King
Photos by Christian Leonard / OUTLOOK
Though Tellis King’s Down syndrome and dysphagia have resulted in his having trouble drinking thin liquids, he enjoys mixing applesauce and pureed berries to create a more agreeable concoction.

Tellis King, 5, wanted Julie Miller to sing.
She’d already crooned the familiar tune a few minutes earlier, but Miller didn’t protest. Tellis watched as Miller swirled her plastic spoon in the concoction they’d prepared together — pureed strawberries and blueberries with applesauce — and whispered the simple melody:
“Stirring, stirring, stirring the applesauce. Round and round and round and round, now it’s time to eat.”
Miller, of Professional Child Development Associates, lifted her spoon to her mouth, watching Tellis to see if he would emulate her movements. After sticking out his tongue and stirring the mixture some more, he did. Applesauce is a favorite food of his — he asked about it while he and Miller were pureeing the fruits.
And finding the right consistency of such nourishment is a matter of no small impact for a child like Tellis. The little boy, who has Down syndrome, has trouble swallowing liquids, especially thin liquids. Continue reading “PCDA Helps Nurture Children Who Have Feeding Challenges”

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School Year Nears, So LCF Skate Park Will Change Hours

skate park
Photo by Christian Leonard / OUTLOOK
The La Cañada Flintridge Skate Park, tucked away near the local school district office, offers a place for skaters to practice their skills, but relatively few people seem to use the facility.

By Christian Leonard
The Outlook

A local skate park near the La Cañada Unified School District office has sat somewhat empty this summer, despite efforts to increase traffic with expanded summer hours, but city officials say the spot is still a valuable place for kids to socialize and learn skateboarding basics.
And with classes starting up again soon, it can serve again as a convenient after-school recreation site. Continue reading “School Year Nears, So LCF Skate Park Will Change Hours”

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Local Swimmer Earns Two All-American Honors

Tristan Lin
Tristan Lin

The National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association recently released its list of All-American high school athletes and it included a San Marino High School graduate.
Tristan Lin made the list and recorded among the top 100 high school swimming times in two categories. The Titan received NISCA All-American honors in the 200-yard individual medley and 100-yard breaststroke.
“In his four years on the varsity team, Tristan was extremely dedicated and really determined,” said SMHS boys’ swimming coach Casey Holcomb. “I know that from freshman year, he had his sights on the school record for the breaststroke. Continue reading “Local Swimmer Earns Two All-American Honors”

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Obituary: Thomas Gorecki

Thomas Gorecki
Thomas Gorecki

Thomas “Tom” Gorecki passed away peacefully in his sleep on Monday, April 8, at age 50. A resident of Burlington, Connecticut, Tom graduated in 1986 from La Cañada High School, where he excelled in basketball among other sports.
After high school, Tom enlisted in the Navy, later moving to Connecticut, where he worked as an emergency medical technician and then as a licensed practical nurse, and started a family. At 32, he suffered a severe back injury at work that changed the course of his life and eventually led to many surgeries, numerous health issues and eventually paralysis. The injury may have robbed him of his health at a young age, but he also found numerous moments of joy with his family, friends and caretakers, and in his faith in the intervening years. Continue reading “Obituary: Thomas Gorecki”

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LCPC Parent Ed Donates to Local Nonprofit

La Cañada Presbyterian Church’s Parent Education Board members
Photo courtesy LCPC
La Cañada Presbyterian Church’s Parent Education Board members who helped raise funds for Door of Hope include Dorothy Chen, Stephanie Ferguson, Maggie Mason, Ashley Barrett, Angela Shepherd-Isagholian, Daniela Kim, Barbara Stratte, Lynne Graves, Betsy Farhat, Darby Pearson and Charlotte Miller.

By Amanda Baughman
Special to The Outlook

A Pasadena organization was the recipient of a gift from the La Cañada Presbyterian Church’s Parent Education Program. LCPC’s volunteer board donated 10% of its anniversary fundraising proceeds, $4,619 in total, to Door of Hope, a local nonprofit organization serving homeless families.
Parent Education board chair Maggie Mason represented the board during a tour of Door of Hope. “Our Parent Ed board is excited and humbled to be able to support such a wonderful organization that is serving our homeless brothers and sisters,” she said. Continue reading “LCPC Parent Ed Donates to Local Nonprofit”

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Gladiators Have Just Cause to Sit Out Season

⬛ Guest Columnist

Kevin Lacey
Kevin Lacey

By Kevin Lacey
Special to The Outlook

La Cañada Gladiators Junior All American Football has been fielding teams in this community since the mid-1960s. We have decided, however, that there will be no Junior All American football in 2019. We think our community needs to know why we took this route and our intentions for 2020. We have discussed our decision and the rationale behind it with the city and the La Cañada Sports Coalition, and are happy to report they are in full support. Continue reading “Gladiators Have Just Cause to Sit Out Season”

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Singer and Lyricist Roddy Finds a Voice All Her Own

Claire Roddy
Photos by Christian Leonard / Outlook at the Echo, Los Angeles
Claire Roddy, creator of Dol Ikara, performed recently at the Echo. She is preparing for the release of her first EP.

By Christian Leonard
The Outlook

The first time Dol Ikara played live, it was under a full moon — a bit of timing that seemed more than coincidental for an act rooted in mysticism.
Inside the trendy, dimly lit music venue the Echo in Los Angeles, several dozen people shouted over the rumble of voices to make themselves heard by their friends. After the opening band had finished, some people mingled in front of the stage, eager to be as close to the next performer as possible. On the edge of the crowd, band members who had recently finished their set murmured apologies as they ran their equipment to the exit, where cool night air offered a reprieve from the cramped club. Continue reading “Singer and Lyricist Roddy Finds a Voice All Her Own”

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Obituary: Warren Gannon

Warren Gannon
Warren Gannon

Warren Gannon passed away peacefully at home on July 21 in San Jose with his wife of 52 years by his side. He was 92.
Warren was a devoted husband to Beverly and father to David and Patrick, loving father-in-law to Kristin and Tammy, and was beloved by his grandsons Tucker and Cole. Warren is also survived by his loving sister Margaret, sister-in-law Barbara and many nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly.
Warren was born on Nov. 18, 1926, in Cleveland to Joseph and Floy Gannon. He attended South Pasadena High School, where he was senior class president. Continue reading “Obituary: Warren Gannon”

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Parent Ed Honors Erskine, Young Families at Year-End Celebration

Chris Erskine (third from left), Jack Erskine and George Young
Photo courtesy Dorothy Chen
Chris Erskine (third from left), Jack Erskine and George Young were honored by La Cañada Presbyterian Church’s Parent Education program during a recent celebration. They are pictured with (from left) Nancy Stoner, Parent Ed director Anne Bierling and Lynne Graves (far right).

By Amanda Baughman
Special to The Outlook

La Cañada Presbyterian Church’s Parent Education Program recently had its annual Year-End Celebration at Ashley Barrett’s home, wrapping up its 40th anniversary year. In addition to showing gratitude to the program’s 44 team members, the event honored the Young and Erskine families for the memorials they donated to Parent Ed over the past year. Continue reading “Parent Ed Honors Erskine, Young Families at Year-End Celebration”