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Mountain View News Saturday, January 17, 2026


SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 2026

VOLUME 20 NO. 3VOLUME 20 NO. 3

Martin Luther 
King Jr. Day 
Closures & 
Reminders

Barger Announces $10K 
Reward Following Vandalism 
at Pasadena Jewish Temple 

 
Pasadena residents and 
businesses are reminded 
that City Hall and many 
City services will be closed 
Monday in observance of 
Martin Luther King Jr. Day. 

 City Council will not 
meet on Martin Luther 
King Jr. Day. City Council 
is scheduled to meet the 
following Monday. View 
upcoming meeting 
agendas. 

 Pasadena residents and 
businesses with power 
emergencies should call 
Pasadena Water and 
Power (PWP) at (626) 744-
4673. For water-related 
emergencies, call (626) 
744-4138. PWP’s Customer 
Service Call Center will be 
closed, but customers can 
access their accounts and 
make payments by phone 
at (626) 744-4005 or online 
at PWPweb.com. 

 The Municipal Services 
Payment Center, City 
Service Center, and Parking 
Office will be closed. The 
City of Pasadena WILL 
collect trash, recycling and 
yard waste on Monday. 
Collection will occur on the 
customers’ regular pickup 
day the entire week. 

 All parking meters will 
be free, and parking time 
limits will not be enforced; 
however, violations for 
overnight parking, red 
curb parking, “No Parking” 
zones, and blocking fire 
hydrants will be enforced. 
All regular enforcement 
resumes Tuesday. 

 The Permit Center will 
also be closed; however, 
some services will be 
available via Permit Center 
Online, where subtrade 
permits can be obtained, 
and plans for commercial 
tenant improvements (new 
submittals) and accessory 
dwelling units can be 
submitted. In-person 
operations will resume on 
Tuesday. 

 Pasadena Transit and 
Dial-A-Ride buses will 
operate on regular weekday 
schedules on Monday.

 Pasadena Public Library 
sites will be closed Sunday 
and Monday, Jan. 18 & 19, 
and will reopen Tuesday.

 Pasadena Fire and Police 
Departments will continue 
to provide patrol, jail, 
fire, paramedic, and all 
other emergency services. 
Residents are advised to 
always call 9-1-1 for life-
threatening emergencies. 
For all other non-
emergencies, call (626) 
744-4241. As always, “If 
You See Something, Say 
Something.” The Police 
Department’s records 
section will be closed 
Monday and will reopen 
Tuesday. 

 All parks will be open 
for picnics, fun, and 
play; however, no site 
reservations are being 
accepted for the holiday. 
Community and recreation 
centers will also be closed 
to the public. 

 The Pasadena Public 
Health Department 
(PPHD) will be closed 
Monday and will resume 
operations on Tuesday. 

 

 Los Angeles County 
Supervisor Kathryn Barger 
announced Tuesday that 
Los Angeles County is now 
offering a $10,000 reward 
for information leading to 
the arrest and conviction of 
the individual or individuals 
responsible for the recent 
vandalism at the Pasadena 
Jewish Temple and Center.

 During today’s Board 
of Supervisors meeting, 
Supervisor Barger read in 
a motion to establish the 
reward. The motion received 
unanimous approval, 
reflecting the Board’s shared 
commitment to ensuring 
accountability for acts that 
threaten public safety and 
target faith communities.

 “This was a deeply 
disturbing act targeting a 
Jewish community that is 
still working to heal and 
rebuild,” Barger said. “By 
establishing this reward, we 
are sending a clear message 
that intimidation will not 
be tolerated in Los Angeles 
County. I urge anyone with 
information—no matter how 
small it may seem—to come 
forward so those responsible 
can be held accountable. This 
community deserves answers 
and justice.”

 The Pasadena Jewish 
Temple and Center, which 
was destroyed during the 
Eaton Fire in January 2025, 
was further traumatized this 
past weekend by vandalism 
and antisemitic graffiti. The 
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s 
Department is leading 
the investigation and has 
confirmed it is being treated 
as a potential hate crime.

 Supervisor Barger has 
condemned the vandalism 
and pledged to closely 
monitor the investigation 
while standing ready 
to support both the 
affected community and 
law enforcement. The 
establishment of this reward 
builds on that commitment 
by encouraging members 
of the public to share 
information that could assist 
investigators.

 Anyone with information 
related to this crime is urged 
to contact the Los Angeles 
County Sheriff’s Department 
Altadena Station at (626) 
798-1131. Tips may also 
be provided directly to the 
Sheriff’s Department Major 
Crimes Bureau-Hate Crimes 
Task Force by contacting 
Detective Hodaya Doherty at 
hhdohert@lasd.org or calling 
the tip line at (562) 946-
7893. Information can also 
be submitted anonymously 
through the Los Angeles 
Regional Crime Stoppers 
Hotline at (800) 222-TIPS 
(8477).

TofR Announces 2027 theme 'Welcome'

 

 The Pasadena Tournament 
of Roses Association’s newly 
installed President Terry 
Madigan, announced Thursday 
night the 2027 theme, “Welcome.” 
The theme celebrates the simple 
joy of belonging—that feeling 
that you’re always welcome, no 
matter who or where you are. It’s 
the warmth of family—whether 
related or chosen, the love of 
good friends, and the welcoming 
embrace of community. 

 Madigan said the simple 
“Welcome’ was the first time 
the Parade has had a one word 
theme.

 Madigan (pictured left) made 
the announcement with his 
husband, Kevin Sommerfield 
(pictured right). 

 According to officials, 
professionally, Madigan is a 
Certified Personal Chef and 
owner of Just No Thyme, a 
personal chef service serving 
Pasadena and the San Gabriel 
Valley. Before turning his 
passion for cooking into a full-
time career, he had a career in 
marketing and communications.

 A sixth-generation Californian, 
Madigan grew up in the San 
Gabriel Valley. While attending 
South Pasadena High School, 
he twice drove the City of 
South Pasadena’s float in the 
Rose Parade, an experience 
that deepened his lifelong 
connection to the event. He 
earned a Bachelor of Arts 
degree in political science and 
journalism from the University 
of Southern California and 
later received a Diplôme in Le 
Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts 
from the California School of 
Culinary Arts.

 Madigan and Sommerfield 
resides in South Pasadena.

 

 

Backyard 
Composting 
Workshop 

CHEESEBURGER WEEK IS COMING 
— AND THE PASADENA HOOK STILL 
DELIVERS By Peter Dills

As we approach Cheeseburger Week, it’s worth reminding readers 
that Pasadena proudly lays claim to being the birthplace of the 
cheeseburger. With that in mind, I’ve been revisiting the local 
cheeseburger scene—some new, some under-the-radar, and some 
that have simply stood the test of time.

One place that clearly falls into that last category is The Hook.

I first wrote about The Hook nearly ten years ago, and here’s the good 
news: not much has changed—and that’s exactly why it still works. 
The burgers remain dependable, well-built, and most importantly, not 
sloppy. In a world of towering, overcomplicated burgers that require 
extra napkins and a strategy, The Hook keeps things refreshingly 
straightforward.

The Burgers

• The Classic Hook Burger – Juicy, balanced, and satisfying. 
The bun deserves special mention: soft, lightly toasted, and 
sturdy enough to hold everything together without stealing 
attention from the beef.
• The Aloha Burger – A fun variation that actually works. The 
sweetness plays nicely with the beef and cheese instead of 
overpowering them.


For the price, these burgers are right up there with the best of the 
best. You don’t walk away thinking corners were cut—or that your 
wallet took a hit.

Sides, Service & Setting

The sweet potato fries were shared at the table, hot and satisfying. Yes, 
they’re likely out of a bag—and that’s perfectly fine. Not everything 
needs to be reinvented if it’s done right.

We sat outside, which made for an easy, relaxed meal. I’m still doing 
Dry January, but my buddies hoisted a few beers, and it’s worth 
noting that the beer prices are reasonable—no sticker shock here.

Service is friendly without being fawning, a balance that’s harder to 
find than you’d think.

One More Thing

There’s plenty—and I mean plenty—of parking, an underrated but 
crucial detail in Pasadena.

Final Take

Ten years later, The Hook remains exactly what you want in a 
neighborhood burger spot: consistent, fairly priced, comfortable, 
and reliable. As Cheeseburger Week approaches and the debates 
heat up, this is one local cheeseburger that still deserves a seat at the 
table.

This place is a keeper. 3453 E Foothill Blvd.

Remember Eat Local, ask me how to help thechefknows@yahoo.com

 Director of Public Works, 
Greg de Vinck, announced 
that the department, 
in partnership with the 
Pasadena Public Library, 
will host a Backyard 
Composting Workshop 
Jan. 24 at the Hill Avenue 
Branch

 This introductory 
workshop, starting at 2 
p.m. will guide participants 
through the basics of 
turning everyday kitchen 
scraps and yard trimmings 
into nutrient-rich compost 
that can be used in gardens 
and landscapes throughout 
the community. Attendees 
will learn how to set up a 
compost bin, what materials 
to include, and how to 
maintain a healthy balance 
that supports natural 
decomposition.

 The workshop highlights 
how simple practices can 
make a big difference in 
reducing household waste 
while supporting Pasadena’s 
sustainability goals. The 
workshop also offers 
residents the opportunity 
to speak with Public Works 
staff and gain confidence in 
starting their own backyard 
composting system.

 As an added benefit, the first 
20 registered participants 
will receive a free backyard 
compost bin if they attend 
the workshop. Limit one bin 
per household; participants 
must be Pasadena residents 
to receive a bin. The bin 
measures 33”x33” when 
fully constructed and 
33”x18” when collapsed for 
transport.

 Registration is required 
and may be completed at bit.
ly/46JxMlJ or by calling 626 
744 7264. For accessibility 
information or to request 
an accommodation, contact 
CSC@CityofPasadena.net 
or 626 744 7311.

Pasadena Conservatory of 
Music Micro Mozart Concerts

 Through a special partnership 
with Pasadena Conservatory 
of Music (PCM), Pasadena 
Playhouse, will offer Micro 
Mozart concerts – a series of 
10-minute concerts featuring 
the music of Mozart before every 
performance of the Playhouse’s 
lavish revival of Peter Shaffer’s 
Amadeus directed by Tony 
Award-winner Darko Tresnjak 
(A Gentleman’s Guide to Love 
and Murder). 

 The Micro Mozart concerts 
will be presented free of charge 
in the restaurant space at the 
Playhouse 30 minutes before 
every performance of Amadeus. 
PCM’s student performers 
range in age from 9-15, and 
the concerts will feature 
instrumental soloists, as well as 
chamber ensembles.

 Amadeus stars Tony Award 
Winner Jefferson Mays (A 
Gentleman’s Guide to Love and 
Murder, I Am My Own Wife) 
as Salieri and Broadway’s Sam 
Clemmett (Harry Potter and the 
Cursed Child, Queen Charlotte: 
A Bridgerton Story) as Mozart. 

 Joining them are Tony Award 
Nominee Lauren Worsham 
(Broadway’s A Gentleman’s 
Guide to Love and Murder) as 
Constanze, Kenajuan Bentley 
(Currently recurring as Tim 
on AppleTV’s Shrinking) and 
others. In Amadeus, the stage is 
set for a riveting rivalry between 
two composers: Antonio Salieri, 
the court’s celebrated musician, 
and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

 Tickets and Ticket Package 
information are available at 
pasadenaplayhouse.org.