Pasadena-based mystery writer Naomi Hirahara will discuss how she created her latest historical novel, Clark and Division, featuring a Japanese American family who has been released to Chicago from Manzanar during World War II. A former editor of The Rafu Shimpo newspaper, she has written and edited several nonfiction books and a dozen of mysteries, including the Mas Arai series. Clark and Division has been selected one of Barnes & Noble’s 10 best mysteries in 2021 and is on the shortlist of literary awards in both California and Chicago. Pasadena Village’s Cultural Activities and Inclusivity Committees invite you to this presentation which will include both historic and present-day photographs of Chicago as well as a discussion of her writing process for this novel. For more information, see her website, www.naomihirahara.com. Use this link to purchase the book: Clark and Division. This event is sponsored by Lagerlof, LLP.

Meet Ron Stoffers, one of the Village's newest Board members, who will introduce himself, share what a Fiduciary is, and how they can be critical advocates for older adults. Ron joined the Board of Directors, the governing body of the Village, as a non-member volunteer to share his expertise and experience to help the Village grow. A Fiduciary might someday impact your life, so be sure to attend and hear about the role Fiduciaries play in the affairs of older adults. Plenty of time for Q&A following his presentation.

What happens when a joke is expanded into a short story?
Village volunteer Mady Schutzman will read from her recent book, On the Heels of a Prophet, and discuss her complicated relationship with humor, from her childhood of humiliation amidst a family of Borscht Belt comedians to her current deep appreciation for the logic and power of jokes. Creative Connections is coordinated by Pasadena Village's Cultural Activities Committee and spotlights the creative endeavors of members as well as artists, authors, and other creatives in our community. This will be a hybrid presentation; limited in-person seating available at the Village Office.

Pasadena Village, an independent nonprofit that connects older adults with each other and the resources they need to continue to live independent, vibrant lives in our community, invites you to celebrate National Villages Day with free coffee and refreshments, raffle prizes, and brief remarks at 11 am to honor the occasion.

Pasadena Village's 1619 Project Discussion Group invites you to join guest speaker Adrian Panton, Pasadena Museum of History volunteer and researcher, for an illustrated talk on the rich and complex history of African-Americans in Pasadena. Utilizing historic photos from the Museum’s Archives, many provided by families of early African-American residents, Panton will highlight individuals, families, and historic events related to Black history in the Crown City.

Pasadena Village's 1619 Project Discussion Group meets twice a month and was inspired by the New York Times issue dated August 2019. This is a safe place to talk about the history of racism in America, to understand its origins and its residual impact. The group explores the ideas presented in the magazine in a free ranging discussion of race in America, but does not follow the curriculum offered by The New York Times.

Learn where to start when writing your memoirs during this presentation with memoir ghost-writer Pat Kramer. Pat helps people to record significant personal and family memories, and is offering this free presentation, along with further follow-up with her for a fee, if desired. Family histories are enlightening, and shared stories can bring relatives closer together. Don't let those memories disappear. Write them down now and create a legacy that lives on!

What's a trusted contact? Do you need one on your team? 

Managing your finances can be stressful. As we age, that stress can grow with the realization that, someday, we may need more help. Building a financial team, whether it is professionals, family, or friends, can be crucial to protecting yourself, your assets, and your peace of mind. In this talk, Erica White, partner at Clifford Swan Investment Counselors, will share approaches and pitfalls to building a financial village that have worked well for her older clients.

In the late 1970s, several young girls were raped and murdered as a crime wave swept California. Michael Dee Mattson was convicted of the crimes and sentenced to death. In 1982, Jim Potts—an idealistic African American law student—was recruited by one of his professors to assist in writing a death penalty appeal on behalf of Mattson. In “Defending A Serial Killer: The Right to Counsel,” Potts, a local author, and lawyer, revisits the legal, moral, and ethical dilemmas faced when he discovered a loophole in the case that could potentially free the convicted killer to walk again. Pasadena Village’s Cultural Activities Committee invites you to join Potts for a conversation about the right to counsel and how it can be a struggle for those who work with the US judicial system. Use this link to purchase Defending a Serial Killer at Vroman's Bookstore.

Join the Cultural Activities Committee to hear Kathy Gallegos, owner and founder of Avenue 50 Studios, who will identify individuals who are currently defining Chicano Art. The presentation that will build from significant, and at times insignificant, world events that influenced the development of a new art form known as Chicano Art. Gallegos will explore a few of the most important art organizations rising from the racial justice struggles of the 1960s and 70s. Understanding world events lays the foundation to an understanding of those artists who were at the forefront of the struggle for a Chicano identity and can give context for the continuing struggles of contemporary Chicano artists.

For every free COVID-19 vaccine that Pasadena Public Health Department administers on Thursday, September 9 at Pasadena Buddhist Temple, Home Instead Senior Care Pasadena will donate $100 to Pasadena Village, up to $10,000! Join Pasadena Village and Home Instead Pasadena between 9 to 11 am on Thursday, September 9 to get your free first or second dose of Moderna, Pfizer, or Johnson & Johnson.

Sign up online at MyTurn.ca.gov or call Home Instead Pasadena at 626-486-0800

Join Dermatology Certified Nurse Practitioner Chelsea Abad, MSN, AGPCNP-BC, CEN from City of Hope Medical Center for an introduction to skin cancer and what you can do to be safe in the sun. Nurse Practitioner Abad will discuss the risk factors that may apply to you or your loved ones, and explain the common types of skin cancer, how you can look out for them, and what treatments are available. Pasadena Village's Educational Programs Committee invites you to attend, be informed, and bring your questions at this free interactive Zoom presentation.