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Mountain Views News Saturday, January 25, 2025

Black History 
Parade 
Cancelled

City Prepares for Rain Following Eaton Fire

Metro Offering Free Rides to 
LA County Wildfire Victims

 
In the aftermath of the Eaton 
Fire, which recently impacted 
the Pasadena and Altadena 
foothill area, the City of 
Pasadena urged residents Friday, 
impacted by the fire, to take 
precautions as the region faces a 
forecast of potential rainfall this 
weekend. With the burn scar 
area more susceptible to debris 
flows, flooding, and erosion, 
preparedness and safety are 
critical to protecting lives and 
property they said.

Prepare Your Property:

Residents in and around the 
burn area should take immediate 
action to mitigate potential 
impacts:

Sandbags: Free pre-filled 
sandbags and self-serve sand 
and sandbags are available 
today, Wednesday, January 22, 
at the following locations for 
Pasadena residents impacted 
while supplies last. 10 sandbags 
per resident with proof of 
residency. No contractors 
permitted. PLEASE check the 
City website with latest updates 
on distribution (CityofPasadena.
net)

Robinson Park (south parking 
lot), 1081 N. Fair Oaks, 8 a.m.-5 
p.m., except on Saturday, January 
25, due to a special event.

Victory Park (parking lot along 
Altadena Dr.), 2575 Paloma St, 8 
a.m.- 5 p.m.

The following fire stations will 
have a nominal supply of self-
serve sand and sandbags:

Fire Station 37, 3430 E. Foothill 
Blvd., 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Fire Station 38, 1150 Linda Vista 
Ave., 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Debris Flow Barriers: Consider 
installing protective barriers to 
redirect water and debris away 
from structures.

Gutter and Drain Maintenance: 
Clear debris from gutters, 
downspouts, and storm drains 
to improve water flow.

Safety First:

Rainfall in burn areas can result 
in sudden and unpredictable 
hazards. Follow these safety tips:

 Use caution around any downed 
or dangling wires or poles. If 
you see a downed wire, always 
assume it is live. Never approach 
or touch any wire that is down 
or dangling and immediately 
report it by calling 9-1-1. For 
Power Emergencies, call (626) 
744-4138.

Avoid Flood-Prone Areas: Do 
not attempt to cross flooded 
roads, trails, or streams. “Turn 
Around, Don’t Drown.”

Evacuation Information: 
If officials issue evacuation 
warnings or orders, residents 
are encouraged to know the 
difference.

Evacuation Warning: This is 
a notice to residents that they 
should prepare to evacuate due 
to a potential or anticipated 
threat.

Evacuation Order: This is 
a directive for residents to 
immediately evacuate due to 
an imminent threat to life and 
safety.

Emergency go bags: Ensure your 
emergency go bag is stocked with 
essentials, including flashlights, 
batteries, water, non-perishable 
food, and medications, 
important documents. For more 
information, visit Ready.gov/Kit.

City Efforts:

The City of Pasadena is actively 
working to minimize risks by:

Clearing storm drains and 
culverts in affected areas.

Deploying crews to monitor 
conditions and respond to 
emergencies.

Providing resources and 
information to the community.

 For more information visit: 
CityOfPasadena.net.

 
Black History Festival 
set for February 
15 with a focus on 
recovery 

 The Black History Parade 
& Festival Planning 
Committee and the City 
of Pasadena announced 
Wednesday that they have 
canceled the Black History 
Parade due to the impact 
from the Eaton Fire on 
the community. The 2025 
Black History Festival will 
still happen on Saturday, 
February 15, from 10 a.m. 
to 3 p.m. at Robinson Park, 
1081 N. Fair Oaks Ave. 

 According to organizers, 
this year’s Black History 
Festival will focus on 
recovery within the 
community amidst the 
ongoing tragedy caused by 
the Eaton Fire. “Bringing 
together various resources 
to support our community 
in this unprecedented 
time of need, as well as 
providing a bit of joy is what 
the committee hopes to 
provide,” said Pixie Boyden, 
Co-chair of the Black 
History Parade & Festival 
Planning Committee. 
“The Altadena/Pasadena 
community is stronger than 
the current circumstances 
it finds itself and while 
it will take time to heal 
from this unbelievable 
tragedy, the Black History 
Planning Committee hopes 
to support its progress 
towards healing.” 

 Performers previously 
registered in the parade will 
have the opportunity to 
perform at Robinson Park 
between 10 a.m. and 11:30 
a.m., with festival activities 
to follow until 3 p.m. All 
festival activities will be free 
and include entertainment, 
family-friendly activities, 
and community resources. 

 “Out of respect to our 
various car/bike clubs in 
the city, the annual car 
show has been postponed 
as many members have 
suffered damaged and/
or destruction of their 
classic cars,” organizers 
said. “The Black History 
Parade & Festival Planning 
Committee and the City of 
Pasadena hope to continue 
the tradition in future 
celebrations.”

 They also said that vendors 
are encouraged to apply 
but the sale of items will 
not be permitted this year. 
The Committee is seeking 
vendors that offer public 
assistance or other services 
free of charge to support 
the community needs. 
Food will be available to 
the community but not 
sold; food vendors who 
choose to help address 
food insecurity within our 
community and generously 
distribute food may register. 
Vendor applications are 
encouraged to apply via the 
CivicRec system available 
at CityOfPasadena.net/
Reserve under the “Special 
Events” tab. 

 

 Metro announced they 
are modifying the eligibility 
requirements for their 
reduced fare programs by 
offering free unlimited rides 
for 90 days and additional 
free rides for three months to 
LA County wildfire victims, 
with fare collection resuming 
on January 27.

 After Jan. 27 additional 
County wildfire victims can 
get 20 free rides each month 
for three months, with the 
option of continuing to 
participate in the future. Full 
details are available at: metro.
net/fireresponse. 

 “Our thoughts are with 
everyone who has been 
affected and we hope this 
will make it easier to access 
essential resources, recover 
and rebuild,” they said.

 Metro is also inviting 
the public to join Metro 
leadership during a 
Telephone Town Hall 
event Fed. 4 to discuss the 
upcoming Fiscal Year 2026 
Budget. The meeting will 
start at 6 p.m. There will 
be opportunities to ask 
questions live, and to learn 
more about updates and 
progress on safety, cleaning, 
and service. Participation 
will help shape the FY26 
Budget. There will be pre-
registering by calling on the 
day of the event or submit a 
written question or comment 
in advance at: tthm.
wufoo.com/forms/metro-
telephone-town-hall-signup.

 Telephone Town Hall 
on Metro's Budget 
February 4.

Pasadena Homeless Count 
New Feb. Date Announced 

Cultural 
Thursday 

at the Senior 
Center

 The City of Pasadena 
Housing Department, in 
collaboration with the 
Pasadena Partnership to End 
Homelessness, announced 
a rescheduled dates for 
the 2025 Point-in-Time 
Homeless Count.

 Postponed from its original 
January dates due to the 
Eaton Fire, the Homeless 
Count will now take place on 
the evening of Wednesday, 
February 19 and the morning 
of Thursday, February 20. In 
addition, a supplementary 
count focusing on 
Transitional Aged Youth 
(TAY) aged 18-24, will be 
conducted on the afternoon 
of Wednesday, February 19.

 The safety and well-being of 
Homeless Count volunteers 
remains a top priority. To that 
end, Housing Department 
staff are working closely with 
the Pasadena Public Health, 
Police, and Fire Departments 
to implement comprehensive 
safety measures for all 
participants.

 “In the midst of our current 
disaster, I’m so encouraged 
by the outpouring of love and 
support for our community, 
which I know will continue 
to spill over to our neighbors 
experiencing homelessness 
during the annual homeless 
count. Though postponed, 
we will still be ready to 
conduct the survey and share 
our cold weather kits with 
neighbors in need,” said Dan 
Davidson, Homeless Count 
Coordinator.

 For more information, please 
visit PasadenaPartnership.
org or contact Dan Davidson 
and Erika Fay Gottfredson 
at homelesscountpasadena@
gmail.com.

 
African-American classical 
compositions will be explored 
and their significance in 
American and world culture 
shared when soprano opera 
singer Marlaina Owens 
presents “African Americans 
in Classical Music,” a special 
Cultural Thursday event at 
the Pasadena Senior Center 
on Feb. 6 at 2 p.m.

 A professionally-trained 
opera singer who has 
toured and performed all 
over the world, Owens 
has a special passion for 
African-American classical 
compositions and is driven 
by a desire to champion 
these works. She strives to 
bring them to light, as they 
have historically garnered 
less praise than than their 
classical contemporaries 
have.

 Described as a “velvet-
voiced soprano”, Marlaina 
Owens, a native of Los 
Angeles, has concertized 
throughout Austria, France, 
Germany, and the United 
States. She has also added 
“2022-23 Fulbright Scholar” 
to an already extensive set of 
professional arts experiences. 
A singer since she was young, 
Owens received her Master of 
Fine Arts in Voice from UCI 
in 2019, and her bachelor’s 
degree in Vocal Performance 
from Loyola Marymount 
University in 2016. 

 The event is free for Pasadena 
Senior Center members, and 
$5 for nonmembers and 
reservations are suggested. 
To register or for more 
information, visit 

 pasadenaseniorcenter.org 
and click on Special Events, 
or call 626-795-4331.

Guidelines for Swimming Pools 
Impacted By Smoke And Ash

 The City of Pasadena issued the following guidelines Friday for the 
maintenance of pools impacted by smoke, ash, or fire damage. “Do 
not use the pool until the steps are completed.”

 Restoring Water Clarity and Chemistry: Follow the eight steps 
below to restore water clarity and chemistry in pools with working 
recirculation systems, electricity, and access to safe water. For pools 
in the area of the Do Not Drink Order, do not use tap water to refill 
the pool until the Order is lifted.

1. Skim water surface with a pool net and clean out skimmer baskets 
to remove all debris.

2. Brush the sides and the bottom of pool to loosen contaminants. 
Vacuum pool.

3. Backwash and clean the filter(s). Discharge wastewater into a 
municipal sewer only. Backwashing into the storm drain system 
(driveways, gutters, streets, storm drains) is prohibited by law.

4. Repeat steps 1-3 if necessary after cleaning the filters.

5. Check the pH value and adjust to between 7.2 and 8.0.

6. Check free chlorine level and adjust to minimum of 2.0 ppm.

7. Check the filter pressure and flow meter to ensure the recirculation 
system is functioning.

8. Reopen pool to bathers only when the drain cover in the deep end 
is visible, pH levels are within 7.2 to 8.0, and the free chlorine is at a 
minimum of 2.0 ppm.

A pool service company may be contracted to clean the pool. 
Check for their business license and experience. Pool companies are 
prohibited from discharging backwash to the storm drain system.

Deck Cleaning: Clean the pool deck and dispose of debris into the 
trash. Do not hose down the deck to storm drains. Minimize dust 
and ashes from becoming airborne by misting the deck. Then, use a 
stiff brush or broom to sweep up and discard. A mop and bucket can 
also be used for cleanup. Draining Pools:

Draining pools is generally not recommended. If you must drain the 
pool, contact the Department of Public Works’ Street Maintenance 
and Integrated Waste Management Division for guidance by calling 
(626) 744-7311. In general, pool water must be dechlorinated to 0.0 
ppm chlorine and have a pH value between 7.2 and 8.0 if it is drained.

Mosquito Breeding: Pools with standing water can breed mosquitoes. 
During power outages you may need to maintain chlorine manually 
until the recirculation system is restored. For assistance with a pool 
that is breeding mosquitoes contact the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito 
and Vector Control District at (626) 814-9466.


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com