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Mountain Views News Saturday, September 13, 2025

Public Health 
Reminds 
to Avoid 
Contact 

With Bats


Tournament Announces Rose 
Parade Float Awards Judges

 
Pasadena Public Health 
Department (PPHD) 
announced Thursday that 
they received a report of a bat 
infected with rabies near the 
intersection of S. San Rafael 
Ave. and Nithsdale Rd. 

 Officials said human rabies 
cases have not been reported, 
and the overall risk to the 
public remains low. The 
PPHD urges the public to 
exercise caution around bats, 
especially during the summer 
and early fall months, when 
rabid bats are most commonly 
identified in Los Angeles 
County.

 “This is the first bat to 
test positive for rabies in 
Pasadena in 2025,” said 
Manuel Carmona, Director of 
Public Health. “Community 
members are encouraged 
to avoid contact with and 
immediately report injured, 
ill, or dead bats.”

To help ensure public safety 
and reduce potential rabies 
exposure:

- Never handle bats with bare 
hands

- Report any injured, ill, or 
dead bats to local animal 
control or public health 
authorities

 “Any contact by humans or 
pets with a rabid bat is a very 
serious health concern,” said 
Dr. Parveen Kaur, Acting 
Health Officer. “Rabies is a 
life-threatening disease that 
requires timely preventive 
medical treatment. To reduce 
risk, all contact with bats and 
other wild animals should be 
strictly avoided. Rabies can be 
transmitted through a bite or 
even a scratch from the tooth 
of an infected animal, posing 
a risk to both humans and 
animals. If skin contact with 
a bat occurs, wash the area 
immediately with soap and 
water and seek medical care.”

 If you see a dead or dying 
bat on the ground, contact 
Pasadena Humane to collect 
the bat for rabies testing, 
by calling (626) 792-7151. 
Animal bites should be 
discussed with your medical 
provider as soon as possible. 
If pets are affected, contact an 
emergency veterinarian. For 
more information on rabies, 
visit: cdc.gov/rabies/.

Doris Hardoon

Chaz Perea

Cathy Hillen-Rulloda

 As preparations for the 137th 
Rose Parade hit full stride, 
the Pasadena Tournament 
of Roses is announced 
Thursday the selection of 
Chaz Perea, Doris Hardoon, 
and Cathy Hillen-Rulloda as 
the distinguished judges for 
the 2026 Float Awards. 

 Each of these esteemed judges 
brings a unique perspective, 
whether in horticulture and 
sustainability, global creative 
leadership or innovative floral 
artistry. Their combined 
expertise will ensure that the 
2026 floats are evaluated with 
artistry, technical mastery 
and alignment with the 
parade’s theme, “The Magic 
in Teamwork.”

 “The 2026 Float Judges 
bring extraordinary depth 
and vision to the float 
judging process. Each of 
them has made a remarkable 
impact in their field, and now 
they bring that perspective 
to the Rose Parade,” said 
Mark Leavens, Tournament 
of Roses President. “We’re 
honored to welcome such 
inspiring leaders whose 
insights will help us celebrate 
the passion, precision and 
purpose behind every float.”

 Each year, the judging 
panel selects 24 float awards, 
highlighting excellence in 
categories such as Float 
Design, Floral Presentation 
and Entertainment Value. 
The pinnacle of the awards 
is the coveted Sweepstakes 
Trophy, presented to 
the most beautiful entry 
encompassing float design, 
floral presentation and 
entertainment.

2026 Rose Parade Float 
Judges:

 -Chaz Perea Ph.D. – 
Landscape Manager at 
Dodger Stadium and 
horticulture professor at Mt. 
San Antonio College, known 
for leading sustainable design 
efforts that transformed 
Dodger Stadium into the first 
U.S. sports venue accredited 
as a botanic garden.

 -Doris Hardoon – Disney 
Legend and former Executive 
Creative Director/Producer 
at Walt Disney Imagineering, 
with a career spanning four 
decades shaping projects 
worldwide including EPCOT 
and Shanghai Disney Resort.

 -Cathy Hillen-Rulloda, 
AAF, AIFD, PFCI – Award-
winning floral designer, 
educator, and Consultant 
at the Southern California 
School of Floral Design. Her 
work has appeared at events 
from the 1984 Olympics to 
industry showcases across 
North America and Asia, 
and she returns to the 
Rose Parade on the 50th 
anniversary of her first march 
down Colorado Boulevard.

 For complete biographies of 
the 2026 Float Judges, please 
visit: tournamentofroses.
com/2026-float-judges.

 The 137th Rose Parade 
presented by Honda will 
officially begin at 8:00 a.m. 
PST, captivating millions of 
viewers as America’s New 
Year Celebration kicks off in 
unforgettable style.

 
The Rose Bowl Aquatics Center 
(RBAC) is set to stage Olympic 
diving, in partnership with 
LA28, after the Los Angeles City 
Council Wednesday approved 
LA28’s proposal to relocate 
Diving to Pasadena.

 According to city officials, this 
historic decision brings another 
Olympic sport back to Pasadena, 
underscoring the RBAC’s 
standing as a world-class facility. 
Built from the legacy of the 1984 
Games, the RBAC has become a 
hub for water safety, competitive 
aquatics, and community 
wellness.

 “The City of Pasadena looks 
forward to working with LA 
28 and the Rose Bowl Aquatics 
Center to bring the best of 
Olympic diving to Pasadena,” 
said Pasadena Mayor Victor 
Gordo. “We value the unique 
opportunity this presents for 
bringing energy, meaningful 
economic opportunities, and 
pride to our entire city. This is a 
tremendous win for Pasadena, 
our businesses, our residents, 
and the visitors who will come 
to Pasadena from across the 
globe for the 2028 Olympic and 
Paralympic Games. 

 Gordo continued, “Together 
with our partners at LA28 and 
the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center, 
we look forward to initiating the 
planning process for bringing 
Olympic diving to Pasadena. 
Though the perfect dive 
minimizes splash, the natural 
beauty of Pasadena’s Rose Bowl 
Aquatic Center will make the 
biggest splash Olympic diving 
has ever seen.”

 Each year, RBAC serves 
thousands of children, families, 
and athletes through swim 
lessons, competitive training, 
therapy programs, and wellness 
initiatives. Hosting Olympic 
Diving will not only showcase 
Pasadena on the global stage but 
also highlight RBAC’s continued 
commitment to excellence in 
aquatics.

 “We are thrilled to welcome 
the Olympics back to Pasadena,” 
said Melanie Sauer, Executive 
Director of the Rose Bowl 
Aquatics Center. “The RBAC 
was born from the enduring 
impact of the 1984 Games, built 
with funds left over from that 
historic moment. Hosting the 
Olympic Diving competition 
in 2028 brings things full circle 
and will inspire a new generation 
of kids and families in our 
community. We are grateful to 
the City of Pasadena and LA28 
for their partnership and vision 
in making this possible.”

 More details regarding 
schedules, ticketing, and 
community engagement 
opportunities will be shared as 
the Games approach officials 
said.

 Photo RBAC by D.Lee/MVNews

Rose Bowl 
Aquatics 
Center to 
Stage Diving 
for the 2028 
Olympics

IN MEMORIAM 
NINA 
CHOMSKY

 With the sudden and tragic 
passing of Nina Chomsky, 
Pasadena has lost one of 
its greatest community 
champions.

 An attorney with a brilliant 
mind and unmatched tenacity, 
Nina devoted much of her life 
to protecting and improving 
Pasadena. She worried deeply 
about the Arroyo and the 
Rose Bowl, often voicing 
concerns about how increased 
use might affect surrounding 
historic neighborhoods. She 
frequently collaborated with 
Pasadena Heritage to develop 
arguments and craft language 
on critical preservation 
issues—including the 
decades-long 710 Freeway 
battle, the General Plan, the 
Civic Center, and many more. 
She was an expert on CEQA 
law and shared her knowledge 
generously, most recently 
decrying CEQA’s continual 
weakening by state legislators.

 Nina gave freely of her 
time and legal expertise 
to countless causes and 
organizations. As long-time 
president of the Linda Vista 
Annandale Association 
(LVAA), she kept the 
neighborhood group vibrant 
and effective for decades, 
and she recently joined the 
board of the West Pasadena 
Residents’ Association. She 
played a vital role in assisting 
the former Pasadena Women’s 
City Club, establishing its 
nonprofit foundation to 
support fundraising and later 
guiding the organization 
through the transition that 
led to the transfer of the Blinn 
House to Pasadena Heritage. 
She also served on several 
City commissions, including 
Planning, Design, and the 
Northwest Commission.

 There was no more passionate 
defender of Pasadena than 
Nina Chomsky. Clear and 
direct, fearless and bold, 
she combined dedication 
with deep knowledge and 
an unwavering love for her 
city. Her voice, wisdom, and 
passion will be profoundly 
missed.

 Written by Pasadena Heritage

Fall Masters Series at the 
Pasadena Senior Center

 Emmy-nominated 
documentarian and author 
Steven C. Smith will present 
a lively look at some of 
Hollywood’s greatest behind-
the-scenes stories in this fall’s 
three-part Masters Series, 
‘Behind the Scenes: The Films 
and Filmmakers that Changed 
Hollywood,’ beginning on 
Tuesday, September 23 and 
running consecutive Tuesdays 
through October 7 from 2 p.m. to 
4 p.m. via Zoom at the Pasadena 
Senior Center.

 To attend all three lectures, 
tuition is only $45 for members 
and $54 for non-members. 
The lectures are presented via 
Zoom link, and recordings will 
be available to all who register. 
Register at pasadenaseniorcenter.
org, then go to Lectures & 
Classes, then Masters Series, or 
call (626) 795-4332. Interested in 
coming to the Pasadena Senior 
Center to watch a livestream of 
the Zoom presentation? Contact 
PSC for more information.

The three-part Master Series 
presentation with Steven C. 
Smith includes:

Tuesday. September 23: 
Hollywood on Hollywood

 Hollywood loves to show 
itself onscreen. We’ll see how 
filmmakers have dramatized 
moviemaking, in ways both 
affectionate (‘Singin’ in the Rain’) 
and searing (‘Sunset Boulevard.’). 
We’ll also discover how real-life 
scandals, and changing times, 
influenced the ways Hollywood 
held a mirror to itself.

Tuesday, September 30: When 
Movies Go Wrong

 Occasionally, Hollywood’s 
smooth factory system goes 
off the rails. We’ll celebrate 
two notorious examples. First: 
1967’s ‘Valley of the Dolls,’ a 
camp classic intended to be 
Judy Garland’s comeback. Then, 
1963’s ‘Cleopatra,’ infamous for 
the affair of Elizabeth Taylor 
and Richard Burton (even the 
Vatican condemned it!), and an 
out-of-control production cost.

Tuesday, October 7: The 
Ultimate Theatre: When 
Movies’ Greatest Directors 
Went to War.

 Discover how WWII changed 
the lives of five of Hollywood’s 
top directors: John Ford (‘The 
Grapes of Wrath’), William 
Wyler (‘Wuthering Heights’), 
John Huston (‘The Maltese 
Falcon’), George Stevens 
(‘Shane’), and Frank Capra. We’ll 
see how WWII inspired them to 
make post-war classics like ‘The 
Best Years of Our Live’s and ‘It’s a 
Wonderful Life.’

 Steven C. Smith is an award-
winning author and four-time 
Emmy-nominated producer. 
Steven’s over-200 documentaries 
on film history include 
collaborations with Steven 
Spielberg, George Lucas, Martin 
Scorsese, Stephen Sondheim, 
Julie Andrews, Cicely Tyson, 
Harrison Ford, and Sidney 
Poitier. He has lectured at 
the Library of Congress, the 
American Film Institute, the 
Academy Museum of Motion 
Pictures and other venues. 
The author of biographies of 
composers Bernard Herrmann 
and Max Steiner, his latest book 
is Hitchcock and Herrmann: The 
Friendship and Film Scores That 
Changed Cinema.

 To learn more visit: 
pasadenaseniorcenter.org or call 
626-795-4331.

Altadena Market Provides 
Free Goods for Fire Victims

 The Altadena Farmers’ 
Community Market 
announced they have 
transitioned from a 
traditional community 
marketplace into an 
emergency nonprofit 
produce distribution effort. 
They no longer sells produce. 
Instead, they provides free, 
farm-fresh goods to fire-
impacted residents through 
a verified voucher system. To 
receive free produce, visit the 
Altadena Farmers Market 
website and register for a 
voucher. Once registered, 
bring your voucher to Fair 
Oaks Burger on Saturday 
between 9 a.m. and noon.

 For more information 
and to register visit: 
altadenafarmersmarket.com/
register.


One Colorado 
‘Fall Rodeo: 
Boots, Bites & 
Western Beats’

 One Colorado, in the heart of 
Old Pasadena, invites guests 
to saddle up for “Fall Rodeo: 
Boots, Bites and Western 
Beats,” a high-spirited 
Western-themed celebration 
taking place Saturday, 
September 27 from 4 p.m. to 8 
p.m. in the Courtyard. 

 The festivities include 
live country music by The 
Doohickeys, Western-
style bites from top local 
restaurants like Salt & Straw 
and Champion’s Curry, and 
signature cocktails from Sushi 
Roku’s full-service bar (21+ 
only). Guests will also receive 
a personalized bandana, enjoy 
cowboy yard games, and snap 
unlimited digital photos in 
the themed photo booth. 
Tickets, which are available 
now via Eventbrite, are $10 
per person and include access 
to all activities. One Colorado 
is located 41 Hugus Alley. 
The event will be held in the 
courtyard

 For more information visit: 
onecolorado.com.


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