❤️ In this issue of Pasadena Spotlight 

🌤️ Pasadena, CA Weather

🚔 Pasadena City Disputes Officer's Racial Discrimination Claims in Recent Statement

🍎 New Law Calls for Broadened Cursive Instruction in Pasadena Schools

🌹 Pasadena's 2024 Rose Parade to be Graced by Grand Marshal Audra McDonald

🧠 Non-Invasive Brain-Machine Interfaces: Pasadena's Caltech Makes Strides with Functional Ultrasound

🌱 Eco-friendly Gift Wrapping: Pasadena Library's New Initiative

⭐️ Support Local Business

😃 Viral Meme

🗓️ Upcoming Local Events

⛽️ NEW “Affordable“ Gas Prices - BEST Cheapest Gas in Pasadena

Good morning Pasadena Spotlight community! Here's your local weather forecast for Saturday, December 2.

Pasadena is set for a clear and sunny day, starting off with a crisp morning in the upper 40s.

It warms up to a pleasant mid-60s by the afternoon with the sun shining brightly all day.

The wind remains gentle throughout, adding a slight cooling effect. As the sun sets, the temperature cools down to the mid-50s under partly cloudy skies.

Dress in layers for the cool early morning, switch to lighter attire as the sun warms up the day, and consider a light jacket for the evening as temperatures drop.

Enjoy your day in Pasadena!

PS: Enjoying our friendly weather report? 👆 Click the share button above and share it with your friends and family :)

Pasadena City Disputes Officer's Racial Discrimination Claims in Recent Statement

Officer Taisyn Crutchfield of the Pasadena Police Department has filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against her employer, alleging systematic racism within the department.

The lawsuit stems from a January incident involving a fatal police shooting of an African-American man and an alleged inappropriate conduct by a fellow officer.

Instead of support, Crutchfield reported coming across derogatory language from her colleague and was relieved of her duties.

The city of Pasadena, in a statement on December 1, labeled Crutchfield's accounts of the incident as 'inaccurate' and plans to vigorously contest the lawsuit.

Despite the ongoing legal battle, Crutchfield has returned to her position within the police department.

Visit the city’s website for the official statement.

New Law Calls for Broadened Cursive Instruction in Pasadena Schools

Following the signing into law of California Assembly Bill 446, the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) is developing a strategy to integrate cursive handwriting instruction into its curriculum for grades one through six.

The law aims to ensure students can read and write in cursive, a skill vital for understanding historical documents.

PUSD Board members have expressed their support for the law, emphasizing the benefits of cursive writing, including improved information retention and the development of fine motor skills.

We Want To Spotlight Your Business

Would you like us to spotlight your local business in front of thousands of Pasadena area residents in an upcoming issue of Pasadena Spotlight & on our social media?



We ❤️ Local Businesses!



We know our community is brimming with businesses that fascinating stories and big hearts.



If you’re a local business owner making waves, crafting unique experiences, or simply putting a smile on our faces, we want to chat with you!



“Pasadena Spotlight” is eager to shine a light on the unsung heroes of our town.

Let’s collaborate and let the community know what makes your business special. 

Send us a message, and let’s celebrate the spirit of Pasadena together

👇 Select an option below:

✅ Own a local business? Apply to be featured.

❤️ Love a local business? Nominate them.

Pasadena's 2024 Rose Parade to be Graced by Grand Marshal Audra McDonald

Versatile artist Audra McDonald has been officially named the Grand Marshal for the 2024 Rose Parade by the President of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses®, Alex Aghajanian.

The theme for the parade, 'Celebrating a World of Music', resonates with McDonald's illustrious career in theater, music, and television.

Her achievements include a record-breaking six Tony Awards, two Grammy Awards, an Emmy, and the National Medal of Arts.

She has also been recognized as one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people. McDonald's diverse talent has seen her excel in Broadway performances, television series, and films.

Non-Invasive Brain-Machine Interfaces: Pasadena's Caltech Makes Strides with Functional Ultrasound

Scientists from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena have made a significant breakthrough in the field of Brain-Machine Interfaces (BMIs).

They have developed a less invasive method to read brain activity using functional ultrasound (fUS).

This technology could potentially enable people with paralysis to control prosthetic devices with their thoughts.

The researchers used fUS to measure brain activity from non-human primates and translated the data using machine learning to control a computer cursor.

The next step for the team is to study the performance of BMIs based on ultrasound technology in humans and to further refine the fUS technology for three-dimensional imaging.

Eco-friendly Gift Wrapping:
Pasadena Library's New Initiative

In an attempt to address the environmental issues associated with traditional gift wrapping, Pasadena's Public Library is pioneering a sustainable gift-wrapping initiative.

Non-recyclable wrapping paper is widely used during the festive season, and the library is set on promoting alternative, creative, and eco-friendly wrapping techniques.

The kickoff event, scheduled for Monday, December 4 at 5 p.m. at the Hastings Branch, aims to prove that adopting sustainable practices doesn't mean compromising on the holiday cheer.

Interested parties are encouraged to reach out to the library for accessibility information and requests.

A 72-hour advance notice is preferred for ensuring availability. To participate in the event, individuals can sign up on the Pasadena Public Library's website.

This holiday season, let's adopt sustainable gift-wrapping techniques and contribute to a greener planet.

Share Your Holiday Spirit 🎄✨ 

if you've completed your Christmas decoration and would like to showcase your festive spirit, we invite you to share a picture of your decoration with us!

We plan to feature some of the submissions in upcoming issues. Feel free to spread the holiday cheer by sharing a glimpse of your festive setup.

Share your holiday spirit with us here!

Upcoming Local Events

Saturday, December 2

A Christmas Carol (Early Bird) - 2:00 p.m.

Artes Vocales Presents Tango with the Globe - 2:00 p.m.

Brella Holidayfest Curriculum Open House - 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Winter Night - A Choral Performance - 2:00 p.m.

Holiday Kick-Off Party with KCRW DJ Novena Carmel - 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Lecture: The Buddha's Compassion and the Garden of Eden - 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Holiday Look In Home Tour - 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Teddy Bear Tea - 10:00 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.

Sunday, December 3

Sage X Sow-A-Heart Farm Stand - 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Holiday Look In Home Tour - 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Teddy Bear Tea - 10:00 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.

Winter Frolic - All day event

Autumn Blooms: A Fall Ikebana Celebration - 11:00 a.m.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our recent poll, "How do you feel about the current gas prices in Pasadena?"

The results revealed that 85.71% of respondents find the prices too expensive and consider it a burden, while the remaining voters expressed that they are a bit high but manageable.

One of our valued subscribers shared, "I have been spending $80 to fill my tank for several months, and it's only a 15-gallon tank for a Toyota Celica. Outrageous."

As we continually strive to enhance our newsletter, we're considering adding a new section called "Affordable” Gas Prices in Pasadena.

This section will feature Gasbuddy's top most affordable gas stations in Pasadena at the time of composing each issue of Pasadena Spotlight.

While prices may fluctuate, and the data is user-generated, we believe it provides a comprehensive overview of gas prices across the city, benefiting our readers.

See this issue’s example:

We value your feedback. Please share your thoughts on this addition, and let us know how you like it. We are open to making adjustments based on your input. Thanks! 👇