Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How a 2025 wildfire reshaped life and loss in Altadena
Make time for The GRUNGE who stole X-Mas Live Show and Holiday Dance party on the Altadena Patch calendar

Hello again Altadena! We’re bringing you the latest town highlights. Don’t miss out, keep going! ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- How a 2025 wildfire reshaped life and loss in Altadena
- Could your Eaton Fire poem earn a $1,000 scholarship?
- Could new relief still help Altadena residents hit by recent fires?
Also on today's calendar: Materialism 008: Veils of Code and 2 more events.
Find out what's happening in Altadenafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Find out what's happening in Altadenafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Saturday: Cool with clouds and sun, with a high of 58 and low of 43 degrees.
- Sunday: Sunny and remaining cool, temps: high: 61, low: 49.
- Monday: Windy with plenty of sunshine, with a high of 65 and low of 47 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. The OBSERVER's 2025 ‘Gone But Not Forgotten' (sacobserver.com) — A devastating January wildfire in Altadena claimed 19 lives and destroyed more than 10,000 homes and businesses in the community, including many long-held Black family properties. The broader piece is a year-end remembrance of notable people nationwide who died in 2025, from musicians and athletes to local Sacramento leaders, placing Altadena’s loss within a year of widespread tragedy.
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2. San Gabriel Valley Phoenix Poets Announces Unique Scholarship for Student Poets Affected by the Eaton Fire (coloradoboulevard.net) — Student poets affected by the Eaton Fire can now apply for a new San Gabriel Valley Phoenix Poets scholarship, with submissions due April 1, 2026. The program, inspired in part by the San Gabriel Mountains as seen from Altadena, offers cash prizes and possible publication in a healing-focused anthology. Local students from middle school through college are encouraged to share their experiences.
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3. 25 good things that happened in Southern California in 2025 (pasadenastarnews.com) — A year-end roundup of 25 positive Southern California stories briefly notes that residents who lost homes in the Altadena fires may still see tax and mortgage relief programs. The piece ranges from sports wins and tourism gains to infrastructure, AI-driven productivity, and entertainment highlights across the region.
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4. Why your holiday gift returns might go to a landfill and what you can do about it (channel3000.com) — Altadena appears here in an Associated Press photo caption showing damage from January’s Eaton Fire, which threatened homes and a senior center in town. The broader story explains how holiday gift returns often end up in landfills, why retailers sometimes discard cheaper items, and what shoppers can do to cut waste, from faster returns to in‑store drop‑offs and better sizing choices.
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📸 Around Altadena
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Altadena
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- The GRUNGE who stole X-Mas Live Show and Holiday Dance party
The Mixx, 443 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena
8:00 pm
Saturday December 27
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Materialism 008: Veils of Code
Old Towne Pub , 66 N Fair Oaks Ave , Pasadena
6:00 pm - Ice House Comedy: Laugh Bombs
Ice House Comedy Club , 24 N Mentor Ave , Pasadena
9:30 pm - Ice House Comedy: The Twin New Year Show (chinese show)
Ice House Comedy Club , 24 N Mentor Ave , Pasadena
7:30 pm - Ice House Comedy: The Twin New Year Show (English Show)
Ice House Comedy Club , 24 N Mentor Ave , Pasadena
9:30 pm
Sunday December 28
Friday January 2
Saturday January 3
📣 Altadena Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Knitting and Crochet Club
Harbor City - Harbor Gateway Branch Library
1:00 pm - PowerHouse Comedy
HAHA Comedy Club , 4712 Lankershim Blvd , North Hollywood
7:00 pm - Live Jazz Brunch at Visionarium — Saturday, December 27th!
1020 Mission St , South Pasadena
8:00 pm - Jiggles & Giggles Comedy Cabaret- 12/27/25
Animal Bar , 12655 Ventura Blvd , Studio City
8:30 pm - Debbie Wileman: JUDY GARLAND: WE NEED A LITTLE CHRISTMAS
El Portal Restaurant , 695 E Green St , Pasadena
7:00 pm - Computer Classes
Harbor Gateway Branch Library Harbor City -
3:00 pm - Ice House Comedy: Laugh Bombs
Ice House Comedy Club , 24 N Mentor Ave , Pasadena
9:30 pm
Saturday December 27
Sunday December 28
Wednesday December 31
Friday January 2
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Altadena PatchAM possible:
- LA Fire Justice — (626) 684-3315
Holding Southern California Edison Accountable - Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- UPDATED: Thousands of Kids Get a Visit from The Big Guy in Red on Christmas Eve!
UPDATE: For those who've never experienced OpSanta themselves, I've swapped in a pic from Getty Images staff photographer Mario Tama, who accompanied… (Nextdoor Janes Village) - My Christmas wish is that someone did find and rescue our cats.
We would like to know if anyone saw them. If they have become beloved family members of another household we would like to know they are alive and… (Nextdoor Central Altadena)
- Tender Greens posted a job opening for Prep Cook in Pasadena. Apply here.
- Target posted a job opening for General Merchandise, Closing, Fulfillment (T0883) in Pasadena. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Altadena here.
Ok Altadena! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I have no idea. I didn’t even know sheep could knit.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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