Dia de Los Muertos: Even the dead are going virtual

Share: Día de Los Muertos (The Day of the Dead), an annual Mesoamerican holiday that celebrates the dead instead of mourning them, is being added to the list of events and holidays that are going virtual this year because of COVID-19. Although, there will be limited in-person events around LA County to help celebrate the holiday.  The holiday takes place every year Nov. 1 and 2 and is normally celebrated with parades, communal feasts and festivals. The tradition originated in Aztec culture and is celebrated …

Building a Suicide Bridge barrier won’t save anyone

Share: On Monday, Sept. 21, during the meeting of the Public Safety Committee of Pasadena, the city had approved the final mockups of suicide prevention barriers designed by Chatsworth-based Custom Design Iron Works, Inc to install barriers on Colorado Street Bridge to deter jumpers. Although installing barriers on Colorado Street Bridge can reduce the chance of suicide attempts, to truly prevent suicidal actions the focus should be on treatment for depression and mental health.  The installation of barriers has been a debate between preserving history …

Pasadena’s Coming Out Day: ‘We stand in solidarity’

Share: National coming out day was celebrated Oct. 11 for the LGBTQ community, and the City of Pasadena celebrated the day Oct. 13 via zoom with all members who wanted to join. Coming Out Day was celebrated for the LGBTQ community to safely come out to friends and family about being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, without feeling judged, hurt or threatened. “We stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ community and hope that our coming out day is a fun and positive experience for all,” said …

Protecting yourself from the horror of COVID this Halloween?

Share: Many families are anticipating a very different Halloween this year due to the impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic. To keep the people of Pasadena safe the city has released guidelines on how to celebrate safely.  In order for people to remain socially distant many of the traditional Halloween celebrations, such as trick or treating, are not recommended by the City of Pasadena.  A news release from the office of the Pasadena city manager tells residents which events they should avoid, which are not permitted …

Local Armenian-Americans call for recognition of disputed territory

Share: The conflict in the Artsakh region continues despite a Russia-negotiated cease-fire, and the local Armenian community is organizing to raise awareness of the dangerous escalation. On Sept. 27, the territorial dispute over the region of Artsakh, also known as Nagorno-Karabakh, ignited again when it was attacked by the military forces of Azerbaijan. Within the borders of Azerbaijan and adjacent to Armenia, Artsakh is an area of Indigenous Armenians that declared independence from Azerbaijan in December 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union.  Azerbaijan …

Spending continues at the Pasadena police department amid economic hardships

Share: Pasadena city council approved the spending of up to 80,000 dollars in the coming months for new automated license plate readers, or ALPRs. While the local community struggles with the effects of the Corona-virus pandemic and the wildfires that continue to burn in the area this new equipment should not be a necessity for the Pasadena police department to allocate funds towards. Public safety is a concern for most residents of Pasadena but a few new ALPRs should not be a priority of the …

Eddie Van Halen, Pasadena rock legend and PCC alum, dead at 65

Share: Hometown guitar hero and Pasadena City College Class of ’74 distinguished alum Eddie Van Halen has died at the age of 65 after a lengthy battle with cancer. News of the rock giant’s death broke early Tuesday afternoon in a social media announcement from Van Halen’s son, Wolfgang.  “I can’t believe I’m having to write this,” Wolfgang Van Halen said, “but my father, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, has lost his long and arduous battle with cancer this morning.” Van Halen was diagnosed with tongue …