Blog archive
June 2023
Creative Aging
06/01/2023
May 2023
One Villager's Story
05/31/2023
Pasadena Area Literary Arts Center
05/31/2023
Pasadena Village Responds to Rainbow Flag Burning at Pasadena Buddhist Temple
05/31/2023
Plan Ahead - And Be Prepared
05/31/2023
Tuesday, May 23 Pasadena Celebrated Older Americans
05/31/2023
Rumor of Humor #15
05/28/2023
Reparations, Social Justice Activity
05/24/2023
Rumor of Humor #14
05/19/2023
Rumor of Humor #13
05/12/2023
Issue #12
05/09/2023
Science Monday - Review of Meeting on April 10, 2023
05/09/2023
Conversations Re African American Artists Before 1920
05/08/2023
Beyond the Village – Suzi and Phil Hoge
05/01/2023
Congratulations Wayne April! Honored at UNH
05/01/2023
Table Topics
05/01/2023
Volunteer Appreciation at the Village
05/01/2023
“ACCIDENTAL HOST—The Story of Rat Lungworm Disease”
05/01/2023
April 2023
Jumbo Joy
04/24/2023
Pasadenans Recent Experience With Racism
04/23/2023
Recent Events Reflecting Racism
04/23/2023
Fig and Goat Cheese Bruschetta
04/18/2023
Photography for Social Justice
04/11/2023
Issue #8
04/07/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - Catherine Deely
04/06/2023
Creative Writing in Older Adults
04/06/2023
Gifts of Love
04/06/2023
March 2023
Issue #7
03/31/2023
Issue #6
03/26/2023
Great Decisions update
03/14/2023
Dominion Lawsuit, South Africa and 710 Stub
03/08/2023
February 2023
2023 DEI Progress
02/27/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - Doug Colliflower
02/26/2023
CONVERSATIONS WITH ART
02/26/2023
GREAT DECISIONS
02/26/2023
OLDER ADULTS RESOURCE FAIR
02/26/2023
The Important, Influential Books in our Lives - Revisited
02/26/2023
History, Resolution of the 710 Freeway
02/19/2023
Eminent Domain, 710 Highway
02/13/2023
Bernard Garrett, 710 Freeway
02/06/2023
Men's Times Gatherings
02/03/2023
January 2023
Pasadena's Senior Commission
01/30/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - JIM HENDRICK
01/27/2023
GRATITUDE - IT'S GOOD FOR YOU!
01/27/2023
JEFF GUTSTADT - FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST
01/27/2023
Bernard Garrett, Incredible Black Entrepreneur
01/17/2023
What is the "Spirit Talk" Group About?
01/16/2023
Same Ol’ New Year, Brand New Me
01/12/2023
Review of 2022, Consideration of 2023
01/06/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - PATTI LA MARR
01/03/2023
FROM THE CHAIR
01/03/2023
WALK WITH EASE
01/03/2023
Pasadena's Senior Commission
By Katie BrandonPosted: 01/30/2023
It has been my honor to serve on the Senior Commission for the City of Pasadena over the past year. Most of my fellow members represent one of the City districts and liaison with their respective council members, but I am an agency representative just as Martha Celis is for Huntington Hospital’s Senior Care Network and Patricia Wright is for Salvation Army.
The Senior Commission advises the City Council on the needs of older adult residents throughout the city. The Commission has opportunities to connect the City Council to the concerns of its citizens, be aware of the resources available and identify gaps, and be part of the City’s commitment to meeting the needs of its residents.
Our work plan for 2022/23 has focused on Celebrating Older Americans Month, Community Engagement, and to update the resource list for older adults. Although Pasadena Village is currently focused on the Older Adult Resource Fair on February 15, I have been working with a sub-committee of the commission to plan a second fair Celebrating Older Americans Month on May 23 at McDonald Park. Other commissioners, including Village member Dave Folz, are working to update a comprehensive resource list, and also attend local events such as the South Pasadena Healthy Aging Fair, Pasadena Senior Center Monthly Health Fair, and our Ribbon Cutting with the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce.
In addition, guest speakers share information related to local seniors, usually at the request of a fellow commissioner. In August, Ali Everett, Accessibility Coordinator, Parks Recreation and Community Services Department (and wife of Village board member Nick Everett) presented on The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Requirements for Local Government. I learned how the City offers accommodations and modifications for those who need it. Pasadena’s Citizen Service Center is a one-stop shop (or call) to make requests and find out what is available through the city. Reach a friendly operator at 626-744-7311 or visit www.cityofpasadena.net/citizen-service-center/ As a nonprofit organization, we can do our best to make sure everyone can fully participate in what we offer, create a welcoming environment for those with different abilities, and respond to requests as much as we are able.
In October, Jon Hamblen, Parking Manager for the city’s Department of Transportation gave an overview of the parking division. The most enlightening part was to learn that those with a blue Disabled Person Parking Placard can park for free in City lots and at meters in Pasadena. If you are in a City garage where you pull a ticket when you enter, you can use the call button as you leave and let the attendant know you have a placard (or are transporting someone who has one). They will then let you exit without any cost. We will add information about this in our revised guidelines for our Transportation Team and remind riders to bring their parking placard with them!
In November, we heard from fellow commissioner Jane Haderlein, the Senior Vice President of Philanthropy and Public Relations, Huntington Health. It was incredible to hear how the Helen and Will Webster Heart & Vascular Center was saving lives, aided by its strategic location directly above the Emergency and Trama area where a high speed elevator transports patients straight there, reducing the amount of time before they can receive critical care in those moments when it matters most.
One of the challenges older adults face in Pasadena is reliable transportation, and although we have heard from Pasadena Dial-a-Ride last May, that is only one piece of the system that older adults who need rides can use. The Commission welcomes more public comment, and is looking to hear from older adults about their experiences with transportation in the coming months. We will create a new work plan in June and I anticipate transportation being one of the focus areas for the year to come.
The most rewarding part of being on the commission so far was working with the Miracle on 1st Street holiday assistance program to distribute donated turkeys to Pasadena older adults. We were able to bundle pies donated by Village board member Nancy Valentine to make some local older adults’ holiday celebrations even more festive and delicious.
My role on the commission has informed my work at Pasadena Village and my interactions with those who serve older adults both in the city and throughout the community. It is a rewarding way to serve the community and interesting to learn more. I hope our commission can be more of voice to City Council and a conduit to more older residents in the coming year. If you are interested in learning more about joining an advisory body or commission, visit www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/ If you would like to listen in to the Senior Commission meetings, or share your thoughts, our meetings are now in person at the Jackie Robinson Community Center, 1020 North Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91103. Information and the agenda are posted before each meeting at www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/senior-commission/