🌱 Patch AM: How 25 new homes could reshape post-fire Altadena in one year

Good day Altadena! We're here again with what you need to know today. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How 25 new homes could reshape post-fire Altadena in one year
• How one Altadena teen searched for meaning in the Eaton Fire’s ashes
• How Rose Parade organizers stepped up for fire-hit Altadena neighbors

Today's riddle: What two things can you never eat for breakfast? . 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Monday: Windy with plenty of sunshine, with a high of 68 and low of 53 degrees.
• Tuesday: Windy with plenty of sunshine, temps: high: 70, low: 56.
• Wednesday: A couple of afternoon showers, with a high of 62 and low of 54 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. From Craftsman style to modern and minimalist, a year into post-fire rebuild a vision emerges (pasadenastarnews.com) — Altadena residents rebuilding after the Eaton and Palisades fires now have several new paths to getting back home, from relocated historic houses to modular units and pre-approved architectural plans. Local efforts like the Foothill Catalog Foundation and Altadena Builds Back Foundation are funding and designing dozens of replacement homes, aiming to preserve Altadena’s character while speeding up recovery for long‑time neighbors.
   

2. 2025: The images that stayed with us (lpm.org) — Altadena appears in a powerful photo vignette of 17-year-old Taylor Williams sifting through her teacup collection in the ruins of her family’s home after the January Eaton Fire. Her story is part of a national NPR photo roundup capturing 2025’s most memorable, human-centered moments across the country, from protests and floods to community vigils and cultural traditions.
   

3. A ‘Very Different Role': How the Eaton Fire Transformed Pasadena's Celebrated Tournament of Roses (pasadenanow.com) — After the Eaton Fire devastated parts of Altadena, the Tournament of Roses shifted from parade planning to hands-on disaster relief, helping local fire victims with essentials and support. The group has coordinated donations, school library rebuilding funds, and complimentary event tickets, tying its 2026 “Magic in Teamwork” theme directly to recovery in Altadena and nearby communities.
   

4. One Year After the LA Fires, Just 13% of Damaged Homes Have a Rebuilding Permit (planetizen.com) — Altadena homeowners rebuilding after January’s wildfires are seeing slow but measurable progress, with only about 12–13% of damaged homes securing rebuild permits so far. County processing times and staffing shortages are slowing things down, though Altadena recently saw its first post-fire home receive a certificate of occupancy.
   

📸 Around Altadena

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Altadena

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Friday January 2

• Ice House Comedy: Laugh Bombs
  Ice House Comedy Club , 24 N Mentor Ave , Pasadena
  9:30 pm

Saturday January 3

• 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

📣 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

Monday December 29

• Baby & Toddler Storytime
  El Sereno Branch Library
  10:30 am

Tuesday December 30

• Winter Camp
  City of Arcadia Recreation Department , 375 Campus Drive , Arcadia
  5:00 am
• Planetarium: Solar Quest
  Live Oak Library - Meeting Room
  4:00 pm
• Arcadia Offices Closed for New Year's Eve
  City of Arcadia , 240 W Huntington Dr , Arcadia
  9:00 pm

Wednesday December 31

• Noon Year's Eve (Monrovia)
  Library Park , 321 S Myrtle Ave , Monrovia
  10:00 am
• Naloxone (Narcan) and Fentanyl Test Strip Clinic
  El Monte Library , 3224 Tyler Ave , El Monte
  12:00 pm
• Naloxone and Fentanyl Test Strip Clinic - In-Person Program
  Temple City Library , 5939 Golden West Ave , Temple City
  12:00 pm
• Computer Classes
  Harbor City - Harbor Gateway Branch Library
  3:00 pm
• Bring the Family & Ring in 2026 EARLY at D&B
  Dave & Buster's Arcadia - Santa Anita , 400 S Baldwin Ave Suite 930-U , Arcadia
  4:00 pm

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:

• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
• LA Fire Justice — (626) 684-3315
  Holding Southern California Edison Accountable

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

• All clear after gas leak in Castaic, California.
  9:59PM on Dec 27: The "shelter in place" order has been lifted, per the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Ridge Route Road from north of the… (Nextdoor )

• MonteCedro posted a job opening for Dishwasher 1 (PT, PM shift) holidays & Wknds in Altadena. Apply here.
• Merry Maids posted a job opening for House Cleaner 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: Lunch and dinner. (From Norine S.)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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