Blog archive
October 2024
Betty Kilby, A Family History
10/01/2024
Betty Kilby, A Family History
10/01/2024
Betty Kilby, A Family History
10/01/2024
September 2024
Connecting with Village Connections
09/30/2024
Betty Kilby, A Family History
09/27/2024
Reflection on Life
09/20/2024
Expanding the Possibilities
09/19/2024
Need a Ride? No Problem!
09/17/2024
Security When Aging (Especially If You Are Single)
09/17/2024
The Bridge Begins at Thanksgiving
09/17/2024
The Power of Collective Service: Putting the Village First
09/17/2024
Tino Melchor - A Mentor for Young Teens in the Making
09/17/2024
Village Party Bus Delivers FUN
09/17/2024
We Don’t Know What We Don’t Know: That’s Why We Have Educational Programs
09/17/2024
On Rereading Tolle by Ed Rinderle
09/10/2024
Autumn Leaves
09/09/2024
August 2024
1619 Wide Ranging Interests
08/19/2024
1619 Wide Ranging Interests
08/19/2024
First Anniversary
08/19/2024
Alexandra Leaving by Leonard Cohen
08/16/2024
Muse des Beaux Arts by W. H. Auden
08/16/2024
The God Abandons Antony by Constantinos P. Cavafy
08/16/2024
Ch – Ch – Ch –Changes
08/15/2024
Cultural Activities Team offers an ‘embarrassment of riches’
08/15/2024
Engaging in Pasadena Village
08/15/2024
Future Housing Options
08/15/2024
Message from the President
08/15/2024
There Are Authors Among Us
08/15/2024
Villagers Welcome New Members at the Tournament Park Picnic
08/15/2024
Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas
08/14/2024
A narrow Fellow in the Grass by Emily Dickinson
08/13/2024
Haikus
08/13/2024
One Art by Elizabeth Bishop
08/13/2024
Poem 20 by Pablo Neruda
08/13/2024
Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
08/13/2024
Trees by Joyce Kilmer
08/13/2024
July 2024
Alma Stokes, The Struggle in Pasadena
07/25/2024
A Poetry Gathering: Liberating Experiences Available
07/19/2024
Civil Rights Movement Series
07/19/2024
Happy Hours in Pasadena: A Villager’s Perspective
07/19/2024
Pasadena Village and the National Dialogue on Villages and Healthy Aging Research
07/19/2024
President's Message
07/19/2024
The Kern River Rafting Caper
07/19/2024
The Village Artists Group creates creative camaraderie
07/19/2024
An Example of Inherent Racism
07/14/2024
Current, Upcoming Events
07/04/2024
June 2024
No Real Recourse For Discrimination
06/30/2024
A Personal Statement of Strength and Well-Being
06/25/2024
Juneteenth Reflections
06/24/2024
Reflections on 2023-2025
06/21/2024
Reactions and Reflections Re: Juneteenth
06/19/2024
As Our Organization Grows, Villagers Recall Personal Highlights
06/17/2024
From the Outgoing President
06/17/2024
Letter from the Incoming President: Beginning Our ‘Lagniappe’ Year
06/17/2024
The Editorial Team Looks Back: Creating the Voice of the Village
06/17/2024
This Year's Resource Fair was the Most Successful Ever
06/17/2024
Telling the Whole Story
06/12/2024
Nashville
06/10/2024
May 2024
Emergency Preparedness: Are You Ready?
05/28/2024
Farewell from the 2023/24 Social Work Interns
05/28/2024
Gina on the Horizon
05/28/2024
Mark Your Calendars for the Healthy Aging Research California Virtual Summit
05/28/2024
Meet Our New Development Associate
05/28/2024
Putting the Strategic Plan into Practice
05/28/2024
Washington Park: Pasadena’s Rediscovered Gem
05/28/2024
Introducing Civil Rights Discussions
05/22/2024
Rumor of Humor #2416
05/14/2024
Rumor of Humor #2417
05/14/2024
Rumor of Humor #2417
05/14/2024
Rumor of Humor #2418
05/14/2024
Springtime Visitors
05/07/2024
Freezing for a Good Cause – Credit, That Is
05/02/2024
No Discussion Meeting on May 3rd
05/02/2024
An Apparently Normal Person Author Presentation and Book-signing
05/01/2024
Flintridge Center: Pasadena Village’s Neighbor That Changes Lives
05/01/2024
Pasadena Celebrates Older Americans Month 2024
05/01/2024
The 2024 Pasadena Village Volunteer Appreciation Lunch
05/01/2024
Woman of the Year: Katy Townsend
05/01/2024
April 2024
Rumor of Humor #2410
04/28/2024
Rumor of Humor #2411
04/28/2024
Rumor of Humor #2412
04/28/2024
Rumor of Humor #2413
04/28/2024
Rumor of Humor #2414
04/28/2024
Rumor of Humor #2415
04/28/2024
Rumor of Humor #2416
04/28/2024
Stimulated by "Caste"
04/22/2024
Tulsa reparations, Religion and Politics
04/09/2024
March 2024
Trumps War with Black Women
03/31/2024
Addressing The Needs of Older Adults Through Pasadena Village
03/25/2024
Coming Soon: More Resources for Older Americans, Online and in Person
03/25/2024
Community Building Locally and Nationally
03/25/2024
Preparing for the Future with Ready or Not
03/25/2024
Volunteering is at The Heart of the Village
03/25/2024
Women's Liberation: Then and Now
03/25/2024
Writing Memoirs Together
03/25/2024
Current Views on Current Events
03/20/2024
Unchained
03/18/2024
Rumr of Humor issue # 2409
03/10/2024
Blacks Portrayed by European Artists
03/03/2024
Rumor of Humor #2408
03/03/2024
February 2024
Caring for Ourselves and Each Other
02/27/2024
Doug Colliflower Honored
02/27/2024
Great Decisions Connects Us to the Worldwide Community
02/27/2024
Letter from the President
02/27/2024
Pasadena Village's Impact
02/27/2024
The Power of Touch
02/27/2024
Villages as a New Approach to Aging
02/27/2024
Addressing Gang Violence in Pasadena-Altadena
02/21/2024
Rumor of Humor Issue 2407
02/19/2024
Thank You For Caring.
02/12/2024
Rumor of Humor 2405
02/11/2024
Curve Balls
02/10/2024
Sylvan Lane
02/10/2024
Rumor of Humor 2404
02/09/2024
Larry Duplechan, Blacks in Film
02/03/2024
January 2024
Pasadena Village Joins Community Partners in Vaccination Campaign
01/29/2024
Rumor of Humor #2403
01/28/2024
Pasadena Village Joins Two Healthy Aging Resource Projects
01/25/2024
Decluttering: Do It Now
01/24/2024
Village Volunteers Contribute to the Huntington Magic
01/24/2024
Villagers Creating Community
01/24/2024
Villagers Reflect on Black History Month
01/24/2024
Walk With Ease, 2024
01/24/2024
Wide Ranging Discussion on Current Issues
01/22/2024
Wide Ranging Discussion on Current Issues
01/22/2024
Rumor of Humor # 2402
01/21/2024
Rumor of Humor # 2401
01/15/2024
Re- Entry Programs, a Personal Experience
01/08/2024
Village Party Bus Delivers FUN
By Karen BagnardPosted: 09/17/2024
Have you heard the buzz about the Party Bus (aka Pasadena Dial-A-Ride)? Villagers need to be on it!
Dial-A-Ride is a wonderful service provided by the City of Pasadena, serving Pasadena, Altadena and San Marino. It gives curb-to-curb transportation for seniors and anyone with a disability. The cost for this service is just 75 cents a ride, payable in cash or with a TAP card.
This service is essential to people like me who do not drive but it’s also a great option for those who still do drive. Dial-a-Ride will pick you up at your home and deliver you to your destination with no traffic hassles, parking issues or parking and gas expenses. The buses and vans are comfortable, spacious and air-conditioned. The drivers are always friendly and helpful.
As a way to introduce this great service to Villagers, I decided to call it the “Village Party Bus” and started scheduling outings to various places in the community where parking might be difficult.
After I discussed this idea with Dial-A-Ride officials, the Village Party Bus launched its maiden voyage to the Pasadena Casting Club Pancake Breakfast down at the Arroyo Casting Pond. There were eight Villagers on that trip and we all had a wonderful time, ate a great breakfast in the cozy club house and enjoyed the pond and surrounding area. Wayne April’s response to the trip was, “The party bus was fun. Traveling with a small group and not having to drive and find a place to park is a treat.”
We had done one other trip a few years ago to an art exhibit at the Armory Center for the Arts in Old Pasadena, and had at least a dozen riders. This was particularly efficient, as parking is always a challenge in Old Pasadena, especially on a Friday afternoon.
The Village Party Bus also provided transportation to the Annual Meeting, where parking was a bit sparse. We will use it again in situations like that, as it was a smooth operation.
We’ve made two trips to the Villa Parke Farmers’ Market, a small but charming open-air market with excellent vendors. And there will be more of those, as well as one to the PHS Saturday Farmer’s Market.
Last month seven Villagers rode the Party Bus to the Fall Preview Show for AnKara Designs on an old estate in Altadena. Parking is prohibited on weekends at the 2323 Pinecrest Drive address, so the Party Bus was perfect for curb-to-curb delivery. Valerie Jones, who visited the AnKara Spring Preview, said she took the Party Bus for its convenience. “The ride was comfortable and I enjoyed the company on the bus,” she said. Judy Packard, a new member, added, “It was fun and I met people I did not know.”
When you ride the Village Party Bus you not only have the benefit of avoiding driving and parking, but you have the festive atmosphere of fellow Villagers riding with you. Jeff Gutstadt said, “I found it comfortable and fun.”
Consider joining us for the next trip in October to visit Pasadena Museum of History’s exhibit, “Lights, Camera, Action.” This exhibit highlights Pasadena’s long relationship with the Hollywood movie industry.
In December we will make another trip to the AnKara Design Studio for their Holiday Sale, a wonderful way to shop for the holidays, enjoy light refreshments and be in a relaxed and festive atmosphere.
Our last planned trip to the Christmas Tree Lane Model Railroad Society was cancelled due to torrential rains but they will have another open house in December, and again in April.
When you register with Pasadena Dial-A-Ride, you can schedule your own trips and even bring friends and family with you. Trips need to be scheduled one to five days ahead and each trip has a 20-minute pick-up window. It’s perfect for visiting friends, joining in Village activities, dining out, shopping and going to movies and plays. For those who are not comfortable driving after dark, it’s a great option until 8:00 p.m. Valerie admitted she “hadn't thought about it” for that purpose.
The Village Party Bus is a party on wheels as well as inexpensive transportation instead of driving all the time. For some it’s a necessity and for others a pleasant alternative to driving. Norma Shammas had never taken Dial-A-Ride before the Village Party Bus. Here’s her response: “That ride felt very pleasant so I decided to register and take a ride on my own.” She added, “I have already told my non-Village friends about the Dial-A-Ride service and will spread the word whenever I can.”