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Mountain Views News Saturday, March 1, 2025

ArtNight 
Pasadena 
Free Events


Chris Holden Appointed 
New CEO of LA Fire Justice

 LA Fire Justice officials 
announced Wednesday 
that Chris Holden has been 
appointed as the new Chief 
Executive Officer. In that 
role, Holden will lead the 
organization’s community 
outreach efforts and oversee 
recovery initiatives for areas 
affected by the Eaton Fire they 
said.

 “When I saw the fire 
destroy the communities and 
neighborhoods of people I had 
gone to school with, families I’ve 
known my whole life, people I 
went to church with, I knew that 
the next chapter of my life had 
to be dedicated to rebuilding,” 
Holden said. “After meeting the 
LA Fire Justice Team, I realized 
they not only represented my 
values, but that this was the 
place that would allow me to 
have the most impact on my 
community.”

 As a California State 

 Assemblymember representing 
the 41st District which includes 
Altadena, Pasadena and 
Sierra Madre, Holden was the 
author of AB1054, landmark 
legislation that revamped utility 
regulations and established 
a wildfire fund to provide 
compensation to help victims 
rebuild. Enacted in response 
to the increasing incidence of 
catastrophic wildfires linked to 
utility equipment, its primary 
objectives are to enhance utility 
companies’ financial stability, 
ensure timely compensation for 
wildfire victims, and promote 
rigorous safety measures to 
mitigate future wildfire risks.

 “The work that Chris did to 
write and enact this legislation 
has been absolutely remarkable 
for the people of California, 
leading to the establishment of 
a wildfire fund that has already 
assisted thousands of victims in 
rebuilding their lives” said Trial 
Attorney Mikal Watts. “His 
foresight in recognizing future 
wildfire risks and the urgent 
need to provide resources to 
address them proved to be 
absolutely prescient.”

 Prior to his election to the 
Assembly, Holden served 
24 years as a Pasadena City 
Councilmember and Mayor. 
He was the youngest City 
Councilmember at age 28 
and only the second African 
American to serve as Mayor. 
While on the City Council, 
Mr. Holden served as a 
Commissioner and President 
of the Burbank-Glendale-
Pasadena Airport Authority 
and on the Pasadena Light Rail 
Alignment Task Force.

 Holden’s dedication to people 
has cemented his reputation as a 
public servant with unparalleled 
heart. “I’m making a personal 
promise to every community 
member that I will stand with 
them to help them rebuild after 
the fires, and that their safety, 
growth, and future matter.”

 “Chris’ 40-year career has 
embodied his slogan of 
Promises Made, Promises Kept,” 
said Attorney Doug Boxer. “The 
LA Fire Justice Team has proven 
its long-term commitment 
to working with fire victims 
in the Tubbs, Camp, Bobcat, 
and Lahaina Fires, and we are 
honored that he has entrusted 
our team to help his home 
community get the resources it 
needs to rebuild.”

 
ArtNight Pasadena is set 
to return on Friday, March 
14, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. 
Experience free admission 
to 19 world-class arts and 
cultural venues throughout 
the city.

 According to city officials, 
this spring, in recognition 
of the devastating wildfires, 
ArtNight looks toward 
the promise of spring with 
several exciting programs 
and performances to 
celebrate the healing power 
of the arts. Here are some 
highlights of the exciting 
offerings you can enjoy:

- Gamble House: Discover 
the intersection of sound 
and architecture with live 
performances by Lineage 
Performing Arts.

- Alkebu-lan Cultural 
Center: Experience live 
music and Caribbean 
painting.

 Muse/Ique: Enjoy Latin 
music and song at the Senior 
Center with Grammy 
nominated musicians.

- At the Pasadena Museum 
of History, explore “100 
Years—100 Images” 
celebrating the centennial 
of the Pasadena Society of 
Artists.

- Hear storytelling and 
spoken word at Parson’s 
Nose Theater where the 
Ampola Players invite 
you to “Beat Back the 
Night,” with stories and a 
special late-night work on 
resistance and resolution.

- The Jackie Robinson 
Community Center hosts a 
celebration of the arts in the 
Northwest -Community 
with music and artwork by 
Heather Hilliard Bonds.

Visit artWORKS Teen 
Center’s interwoven 
arts and screen-printing 
workshops.

- Join in the art activities 
and installations guided 
by teaching artists at the 
Armory Center for the 
Arts.

- Explore the immersive 
exhibit “Wired for Wonder: 
A Multisensory Maze” 
at Kidspace Children’s 
Museum.

- Student creativity is 
the focus at PUSD’s “No 
Boundaries 20,” which 
showcases diverse K-12 
student artwork at the 
Paseo.

- The Art Center College 
of Design will showcase 
three thought-provoking 
exhibitions, including 
“Dancing in the Dark.”

- Participate in art making 
at Remainders Creative 
Reuse for all-age crafts and 
a gallery exhibition.

- Celebrate the Year-of-
the-Snake at City Hall with 
spring themed-art activities 
and experience the 
Immortals Lion Dancers 
performance, roving 
among the crowd.

 This event is made 
possible in part by the 
City’s Arts and Culture 
Commission. Each venue 
will offer Braille versions of 
the ArtNight brochure, and 
many locations, including 
City Hall, will feature food 
trucks. 

 For a full list of 
participating venues visit 
ArtNightPasadena.org.

Colorado Street Bridge Party is Back

 Pasadena Heritage 
announced Thursday that 
their iconic Colorado Street 
Bridge Party is set to return 
Saturday, July 19, closing the 
bridge to traffic. The party 
will feature live music on 
multiple stages, a variety 
of local gourmet fare, kids 
activities, a display of vintage 
first responder vehicles and 
more. The Bridge Party will 
run from 6:00 p.m. to 11:30 
p.m.

 In 1913, the Colorado Street 
Bridge opened to the public 
and eventually became part 
of the new Route 66 winding 
from Chicago to LA. But in 
1977, the bridge was slated to 
be demolished until Pasadena 
Heritage saved it from the 
wrecking ball. In 1978, the 
victory was celebrated with 
a party on the Bridge, and 
Pasadena Heritage became a 
force in the community, and 
the bridge became their logo.

 Occurring every other year 
and last held in 2023, we 
are thrilled to be back on 
our bridge. Funds from the 
Bridge Party support historic 
preservation programs and 
advocacy throughout the city. 
Sponsorship opportunities 
are now open, and tickets 
will be available later this 
spring. If you are interested 
in sponsoring this iconic 
celebration for thousands of 
people, would like to learn 
more about purchasing a 
booth, or have a vintage 
emergency vehicle you 
would like to display, please 
get in touch with BP@
pasadenaheritage.org.

Full Street 
Closure 
California 
Boulevard 

Annual Arts Grants Program 
Applications Available Online

 Director of Public 
Works, Greg De Vinck, 
announced California 
Boulevard between 
Caltech South Campus 
Drive and Arden Road 
will be closed to all traffic 
today from 7:00 a.m. until 
4:00 p.m. for the first 
phase of the construction 
of a tower crane which 
will be located at 1200 
East California Boulevard. 
The crane construction 
will occur in two phases. 
The second phase will 
occur starting at 7:00 a.m. 
on Friday, March 14 and 
extend through 7:00 p.m. 
on Sunday, March 16. 
Once again, a full closure 
of California Boulevard 
between Caltech South 
Campus Drive and 
Arden Road will be 
required to complete this 
second phase of crane 
construction.

 Through traffic will 
not be permitted during 
the specified periods; 
however, the contractor, 
Pankow Builders, will 
ensure driveway access 
for local traffic within 
the closure area. Detour 
routes for the full street 
closure include Arden 
Road, Wilson Avenue, 
Del Mar Boulevard, and 
Hill Avenue. All affected 
properties, including 
Polytechnic School, have 
been previously notified 
of the closures by the 
contractor and provided 
contact information. 
Additionally, changeable 
message signs will be 
placed in advance of 
the closures to inform 
roadway users and direct 
them to alternate routes.

 Director of Planning and 
Community Development, 
Jennifer Paige, and the 
Cultural Affairs Division 
announced Thursday that 
applications for the City’s FY 
2025-2026 Annual Grants 
Program are available online. 
The deadline to submit 
applications is Monday, May 
12 by 11:59 p.m. (online).

 The Annual Grants 
Program supports creative 
life in Pasadena by providing 
funding to eligible local arts 
and culture organizations 
and artists for projects 
and programs that engage 
both local and regional 
audiences and PUSD 
students. Applicants may 
submit proposals in four 
categories: Arts & Culture 
I, II or III (based on annual 
organizational budget size), 
Arts Education, Festivals & 
Parades or Individual Artists 
projects. All applicants are 
required to meet guideline 
requirements and awards 
are based on Selection 
Panel recommendations. 
Eligibility requirements for 
organizational applicants 
include a Cultural Equity 
and Inclusion (“CEI”) 
Statement, Plan or Policy, 
based on annual budget size, 
in alignment with the LA 
County’s CEI Initiative.

 Each year, the Cultural 
Affairs Division offers a series 
of free technical assistance 
workshops for potential 
applicants to improve 
grant- writing skills and 
pose questions specifically 
related to the Annual Grants 
Program application process. 
Again, this year, all Pasadena-
based arts and cultural 
organizations are offered a 
CEI workshop to support 
their individual progress and 
to set future milestones. All 
workshops will be virtual.

 Attendance at a Technical 
Assistance/Grants Writing 
Workshop is mandatory 
for new applicants and is 
recommended for returning 
applicants (Virtual access 
information will be posted 
on the Grants Program 
page of the Cultural Affairs 
Division website). Technical 
Assistance virtual workshop 
schedule is:

Tuesday, March 18, 2025, 
from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Friday, March 28, 2025, from 
9:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

Saturday, April 26, 2025, from 
1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

 Cultural Equity and Inclusion 
Workshop for Pasadena-
based arts organizations: 
April 2025 (see website for 
updated information)

Funding for the Annual 
Grants Program is provided 
by the City of Pasadena to 
eligible Pasadena-based 
organizations and artists. 
For more information and a 
summary of current Grants 
Program funded events, visit: 
www.cityofpasadena.net/arts 
or contact Rochelle Branch, 
Cultural Affairs Division 
Manager, Planning and 
Community Development 
Department: (626) 744-7062.


Caltech Conversation with 
Eric Schmidt: AI Future(s)

 
The Subra Suresh Distinguished 
Lecture at Caltech is set to be 
presented by Dr. Eric Schmidt, 
former CEO and Chairman 
of Google, March 12, in 
conversation with Pietro Perona, 
the Allen E. Puckett Professor 
of Electrical Engineering at 
Caltech. 

 Schmidt is an accomplished 
technologist, entrepreneur, and 
philanthropist known for his 
pivotal role in the growth of 
Google as its CEO and chairman 
from 2001 to 2011, overseeing 
its transformation from a small 
startup to a global tech giant.

 He has written several 
acclaimed books, including his 
latest titled Genesis: Artificial 
Intelligence, Hope, and the 
Human Spirit (2024), co-
written with the late Dr. Henry 
Kissinger and Craig Mundie.

 The event will run from 4:30 
p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Ramo 
Auditorium located 1200 E 
California Blvd. This is a public 
lecture and no registration is 
required.

 For more information visit: 
sureshlecture.caltech.edu.


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