Mountain View News Saturday, December 20, 2025 

Rose Parade 
Tickets for 
Fires Victims 

In the wake of the Eaton 
and Palisades fires, the 
Pasadena Tournament 
of Roses announced 
Wednesday a comprehensivecomplimentary ticket 
program designed to supportand uplift residents who wereaffected by the recent wildfires.
This initiative reflects the 
Association’s continued 
commitment to honoring thestrength, resilience and unitydemonstrated by impactedcommunities throughout theregion.

 “As our neighbors continuethe hard work of recovery, wewant to offer moments of joy,
connection and celebration 
during the New Year’s 
festivities,” said Mark Leavens,
President of the Pasadena 
Tournament of Roses 
Association. “These tickets are 
a small but heartfelt gesture ofsupport and solidarity.”

 Through a partnership 
with Sharp Seating, the 
Association’s official 
grandstand seating and 
ticket company, and supportfrom Alaska Airlines, the 
Association will provide morethan 1,000 tickets to the RoseParade presented by Honda tofire-impacted residents. Thesetickets will be distributed 
through local communitypartners, including AltadenaTown Council, Black FreedomFund, California CommunityFoundation, CommunityWomen Vital Voices, Eaton 
Fire Collaborative, Greater 
Los Angeles Education 
Foundation, Partnership forChildren, Youth & Families,
Pasadena CommunityCoalition, Pasadena 
Community Foundation and 
YMCA of Metropolitan LosAngeles. These communitypartners will work directlywith residents to allocate these 
tickets in the coming days.
Additional details regardingdistribution will be shared bythose partner organizations.

 In addition, the Tournamentof Roses is making a 
significant allocation of 
10,000 complimentary ticketsto Floatfest: A Rose Parade 
Showcase available directlyto residents impacted by theEaton and Palisades fires. 
Floatfest offers guests an 
up-close look at the floralmasterpieces of the Rose 
Parade—an opportunity to 
enjoy artistry, innovation andthe spirit of celebration attheir own pace.

 Complimentary tickets 
to Floatfest are available to 
residents regardless of thenature of their loss. Impactedresidents may request up 
to six tickets through theTournament’s official website,
and requests will be fulfilled 
on a first-come, first-servedbasis, subject to availability.

 The Association has also 
provided a limited numberof tickets to the Rose Bowl 
Game, Equestfest, Bandfestand Decorating Places to 
community partners. The 
Tournament’s goal is to ensurethat those most affected have 
an opportunity to take part innew year traditions that bringpeople together and reflect thespirit of hope and renewal.

 “As our community rebuilds,
we remain committed to liftingup the stories of resilience andoffering spaces where familiesand neighbors can gather,
reflect and celebrate,” addedLeavens.

 For more information 
on the complimentaryticket program, to requestFloatfest tickets or for a 
complete event schedule, visittournamentofroses.com. 

Groundbreaking for Central Library Retrofit


The City of Pasadena 
commemorated an importantstep in the Central LibrarySeismic Retrofit and Renovation 
Project with a groundbreakingceremony last week for thepreconstruction phase.

 Held December 12 in the 
parking lot of Pasadena 
Central Library, 150 peoplegathered for the event, whichfeatured remarks from Mayor 
Victor Gordo, District 3 
Councilmember Justin Jones,
Public Works Director Greg DeVinck and Library Director TimMcDonald. Speakers providedan update on the project andchecked out the ceremonial 
final book from Central 
Library, marking the symbolicstart to a 3-year-long project.
Attendees left with a keep-sakememento - a brick taken out of 
Central Library during selectivedemolition, stamped with thegroundbreaking date.

Phase 1A of the Central LibrarySeismic Retrofit and Renovation 
Project commenced on August18, 2025, marking the start of on-
site activities. This includes the 
controlled demolition of existingmechanical, electrical, and 
plumbing systems, completionof a Historic American BuildingsSurvey, removal, cataloging,
and off-site storage of historicfinish elements (e.g., millwork)
for future reinstallation, 
and hazardous materials 

abatement. Concurrently, Phase1 preconstruction services,
including constructability andvalue engineering reviews, arealso underway. As an integralinitial step in the process ofreopening Central Library, thisgroundbreaking highlights thevital progress made and theexciting milestones to come.

With support from the 
community and funding fromMeasure PL, this project willdeliver key improvements 
to Central Library keepingfiscal responsibility, historic 
preservation, and public benefitat the forefront of the plan. TheCity of Pasadena is committed 
to championing innovation 
rooted in legacy. This retrofitand renovation of a vital cultural 
pillar of the City, showcases thatdedication and the commitment 
to maintaining a thriving CivicCenter. Construction is on targetto be completed in 2028.

 “This library reflects who weare as a community,” remarkedMayor Gordo, “inclusive,
innovative and committed 
to ensuring generations of 
Pasadenans have a beautiful 
place to connect and read.” 
Emphasizing the importance of 
a library, Councilmember Jones 
remarked how the library is “oneof the great equalizers of ourcommunity,” providing space foreveryone in the community tocome together and learn.

 “Access to a place for the 

Council Approves New Planto Achieve Carbon-Free 
Electricity by the End of 2030 

The Pasadena City Councilunanimously approved the 
Optimized Strategic Plan (OSP),
Monday night, a forward-
looking framework that will 
guide Pasadena Water and 
Power (PWP) to meet the goalsof Resolution 9977, sourcing 100percent of Pasadena’s electricityfrom carbon-free resources bythe end of 2030 while optimizingfor affordability, rate equity, 
stability, and reliability of 
electricity while achieving thisgoal.

 “This is a defining momentfor Pasadena’s energy future.
The Optimized Strategic Planreflects our community’s valuesand our shared commitment 
to climate action,” said PWP 
General Manager David Reyes.
“We thank the City Council fortheir leadership and supportin adopting this plan, whichwill guide our decisions and 
ensure transparency as we 
move forward in achievingPasadena’s clean energy goals.
The OSP is the result of extensive 
collaboration, thoughtful 
analysis, and meaningfulcommunity engagement.”

 For more than a decade,
Pasadena has been a clean 
energy leader, consistentlyexceeding California’s renewableenergy mandates and advancing 
more proactive decarbonization 

pathways than required by the 
state. Building on this leadership,
the City Council unanimouslyapproved PWP’s 2023 PowerIntegrated Resource Plan (IRP)
in December 2023, reinforcingthe City’s commitment to cleanenergy resources. As part ofthat approval, the City Councildirected PWP to develop theOSP to operationalize the policygoals into clear, actionable steps.

The OSP highlights pathwaysand action plans to pursue 
Resolution 9977 goals, and 
associated key steps as well asfuture decision points to bestposition Pasadena to achievecarbon-free electricity while 
maintaining reliability and 
limiting customer cost impacts.
The plan emphasizes expandinglocal solar generation, investingin clean community-owned 
projects, and modernizinginfrastructure to support 
a resilient and sustainable 
energy future. Shaped by inputand coordination amongCity Council, staff, technicalexperts, and the community,
the OSP brings togetherpolicy coordination, technicalmodeling, fiscal responsibility, 
and stakeholder perspectivesinto a single implementation 
strategy.

 For additional information or 
to download a copy of the OSP 
visit PWPweb.com/OSP. 

community to gather is an 
important part of our mission,” 
remarked Tim McDonald,
Library Director, as he outlined avision of the library to come. “Weare committed to the democratic 
ideas of freedom and equality,
all members of the community 
-no matter their race, gender,
religion - will always have accessat the library.” Director of Public 
Works Greg De Vinck echoedthese sentiments as he offered a 
detailed overview of the project,
noting the major milestones 
achieved - a completed designphase and selection of the 
Construction Manager at Risk and 
signally an on-track projecttimeline.

 For more information visit: 
cityofpasadena.net. 

Roses Queen 
and Court 
at the 
Senior Center

 Fresh from their tour down 
Colorado Blvd and the Rose 
Bowl game on January 1st,
the Pasadena Tournament of 
Roses Queen and Royal Courtwill make their annual visit to 
the Pasadena Senior Center on 
Saturday, Jan. 3 at 1 pm.

 Arcadia High School seniorSerena Guo was selected as 
the 2026 Rose Queen by theTournament in October. The 
six members of the RoyalCourt are Riya Gupta, CaltechInstitute; Serena Guo, ArcadiaHigh School; Keiko Rakin,
Alhambra High School; OliviaHargrove, Pasadena CityCollege; Sophia Ren, ArcadiaHigh School; Naira Wadley,
John Muir High School; andLivia dePaula, Temple CityHigh School.

 The event is free for 
Pasadena Senior Center 
members and non-members,
and reservations are 
suggested. To register or 
for more information, visit:
pasadenaseniorcenter.org andclick on Special Events, or call626-795-4331. 

From their selection in 
October 2025 and throughout2026, the 2026 Rose Queenand Rose Court will attend 
numerous community and 
media functions, serving 
as ambassadors of the 
Tournament of Roses, the 
Pasadena community, and 
the greater Los Angeles area.
Each Rose Court member will 
receive a $7,500 educationalscholarship from the PasadenaTournament of Roses.

 As a donor-supportednonprofit, the center operateswithout any local, state orfederal funding and provides 
more services to older adults 
than any other organization inthe San Gabriel Valley. Hoursare Monday through Fridayfrom 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 
noon. 

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 
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Celebrate African Amerian 
Heritage Through Kwanzaa 

the Swahili language, one of the 
The Pasadena Alumnae Chapter most widely spoken languages 
of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, in Africa. The seven principles 
Inc. and the Pasadena Public which form its core were drawn 
Library invite the community from communitarian values 
to attend Pasadena’s 37th found throughout the African 
annual Kwanzaa celebration on continent. These principles are: 
Saturday, Dec. 27 from 11 a.m. Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia 
to 1 p.m. at La Pintoresca Branch (Self-Determination),
Library, 1355 N. Raymond Ave. Ujima (Collective Work and 
All are welcome to join together Responsibility), Ujamaa 
in celebrating African American (Cooperative Economics),
heritage and tradition. Enjoy Nia (Purpose), Kuumba 
music, storytelling and youth (Creativity), and Imani (Faith). 
presentations, including Kwanzaa gets its name from 
Bluesman Brother Yusef the Swahili phrase, “matunda 
and other special guests. ya kwanza” and is rooted in 
Refreshments will be provided first fruit celebrations which are 
following the program. found in cultures throughout 

Created in1966 byMaulanaRon Africa both in ancient and 
Karenga, Kwanzaa is an African modern times. It is celebrated 
American and Pan-African from Friday, Dec. 26 to 
holiday that celebrates history, Thursday, Jan. 1. 
values, family, community and Stay connected to the City of 
culture. The ideas and concepts Pasadena visit CityOfPasadena. 
of Kwanzaa are expressed in net. 

South Pasadena Opens Dr.
Beatriz Solis Memorial Park 

Los Angeles County SupervisorKathryn Barger joined the Cityof South Pasadena Wednesdayin celebrating the ribbon cuttingof Dr. Beatriz Solis Memorial 
Park, a new community spacehonoring the life and legacyof a longtime South Pasadena 
resident and nationally 
respected advocate for 
education, equity, and inclusion.

 The ribbon cutting ceremonytook place at the new park,
located at 2006 Berkshire 
Avenue. The event marked 
an important milestone for 
the community and the Cityof South Pasadena’s ongoinginvestment in parks and open 
space.

 “This beautiful new park isa lasting tribute to Dr. BeatrizSolis and the remarkable impactshe had on this communityand beyond,” said SupervisorKathryn Barger. “Her advocacyfor parks and open space helpedmake this project possible,
and I commend the City ofSouth Pasadena for investingin a space that will serve 
residents for generations. Thispartnership reflects what can beachieved when local and Countygovernments work together toimprove quality of life.”

 The City of South Pasadena 

supported the project byallocating $275,000 in MeasureA funds from the Los AngelesCounty Regional Park and OpenSpace District, demonstrating 
a strong commitment to 
expanding accessible, high-
quality public spaces.

 Los Angeles County Board 
of Supervisors Chair and First 
District Supervisor Hilda L.
Solis, who also attended the 
ceremony, reflected on the 
park’s significance and her 
sister’s enduring legacy.

 “My sister, Dr. Beatriz Solis,
devoted her life to ensuring 
that communities too often 
left behind had a voice and 
the resources to thrive,” saidLos Angeles County Board ofSupervisors Chair and FirstDistrict Supervisor Hilda L.
Solis. “She believed public 
spaces, like public health, 
should uplift people and 
bring them together. The Dr. 
Beatriz Solis Memorial Park 
reflects those values—offeringa place for healing, wellness,
and community connection. Iam deeply honored to see herlegacy live on in a space that willserve families for generations,
and I thank the City of SouthPasadena for helping make thismeaningful tribute a reality.”