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Blog archive

March 2025

About Senior Solutions
03/28/2025

Building a Bridge With Journey House, A Home Base for Former Foster Youth
03/28/2025

Come for the Knitting, Stay for the Conversation... and the Cookies
03/28/2025

Creating Safe and Smart Spaces with Home Technology
03/28/2025

Finding Joy in My Role on The Pasadena Village Board
03/28/2025

I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up!
03/28/2025

Managing Anxiety
03/28/2025

Message from Our President: Keeping Pasadena Village Strong Together
03/28/2025

My Favorite Easter Gift
03/28/2025

The Hidden History of Black Women in WWII
03/28/2025

Urinary Tract Infection – Watch Out!
03/28/2025

Volunteer Coordinator and Blade-Runner
03/28/2025

Continuing Commitment to Combating Racism
03/26/2025

Status - March 20, 2025
03/20/2025

Goodbye and Keep Cold by Robert Frost
03/13/2025

What The Living Do by Marie Howe
03/13/2025

Racism is Not Genetic
03/11/2025

Bill Gould, The First
03/07/2025

THIS IS A CHAPTER, NOT MY WHOLE STORY
03/07/2025

Dramatic Flair: Villagers Share their Digital Art
03/03/2025

Empowering Senior LGBTQ+ Caregivers
03/03/2025

A Life Never Anticipated
03/02/2025

Eaton Fire Changes Life
03/02/2025

February 2025

Commemorating Black History Month 2025
02/28/2025

Transportation at the Pasadena Village
02/28/2025

A Look at Proposition 19
02/27/2025

Behind the Scenes: Understanding the Pasadena Village Board and Its Role
02/27/2025

Beyond and Within the Village: The Power of One
02/27/2025

Celebrating Black Voices
02/27/2025

Creatively Supporting Our Village Community
02/27/2025

Decluttering: More Than The Name Implies
02/27/2025

Hidden Gems of Forest Lawn Museum
02/27/2025

LA River Walk
02/27/2025

Message from the President
02/27/2025

Phoenix Rising
02/27/2025

1619 Conversations with West African Art
02/25/2025

The Party Line
02/24/2025

Bluebird by Charles Bukowski
02/17/2025

Dreams by Langston Hughes
02/17/2025

Haiku - Four by Fritzie
02/17/2025

Haikus - Nine by Virginia
02/17/2025

Wind and Fire
02/17/2025

Partnerships Amplify Relief Efforts
02/07/2025

Another Community Giving Back
02/05/2025

Diary of Disaster Response
02/05/2025

Eaton Fire: A Community United in Loss and Recovery
02/05/2025

Healing Powers of Creative Energy
02/05/2025

Living the Mission
02/05/2025

Message from the President: Honoring Black History Month
02/05/2025

Surviving and Thriving: Elder Health Considerations After the Fires
02/05/2025

Treasure Hunting in The Ashes
02/05/2025

Villager's Stories
02/05/2025

A Beginning of Healing
02/03/2025

Hectic Evacuation From Eaton Canyon Fire
02/02/2025

Hurricanes and Fires are Different Monsters
02/02/2025

January 2025

Village Party Bus Delivers FUN

By Karen Bagnard
Posted: 09/17/2024
Tags: small group gatherings, karen bagnard, newsletter october 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.”  

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