🌱 Patch AM: What Pasadena’s 100% carbon-free electricity plan means for your power bill

Hello Pasadena! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• What Pasadena’s 100% carbon-free electricity plan means for your power bill
• Why Pasadena Public Library just earned national “Top Innovator” status
• How is Pasadena’s Jewish community rebuilding after the Eaton fire?

Also on today's calendar: Christmas Carols Unplugged - An Evening of Reflection and Music @ Trinity Lutheran Church and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What did one astronaut stranded on the moon say to another? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Friday: Mostly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 72 and low of 51 degrees.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny, temps: high: 67, low: 51.
• Sunday: Clouds and sun, with a high of 69 and low of 51 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Pasadena City Council Greenlights Plan to Achieve 100% Carbon-Free Electricity by 2030 (coloradoboulevard.net) — Pasadena City Council has unanimously approved a new Optimized Strategic Plan that commits Pasadena Water and Power to delivering 100% carbon-free electricity by the end of 2030. The roadmap emphasizes reliability, affordability, and equity while expanding local solar, community-owned clean energy, and modernized infrastructure, with ongoing community engagement promised as the plan rolls out.
   

2. Urban Libraries Council (ULC) Announces 2025 Innovations Award Winners (infodocket.com) — Pasadena residents can take pride that Pasadena Public Library has been named a 2025 Top Innovator by the Urban Libraries Council, standing alongside leading library systems nationwide. The recognition highlights creative, impactful programs developed here, and readers can explore videos showcasing each winning library’s work and how Pasadena’s approach is being noticed across North America.
   

3. Pasadena Jewish Temple's new rabbi on leading a historic congregation recovering from the Eaton fire (dailynews.com) — Pasadena-area Jews are getting to know Rabbi Joshua Ratner, the new senior rabbi of Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center, as he helps the historic congregation regroup after the devastating Eaton fire. While services are temporarily held in Arcadia and Sierra Madre, Ratner is emphasizing resilience, community ties, and a vision for a dynamic new spiritual home for Pasadena’s Jewish community.
   

4. Caltech's Aerospace Department to receive $50 million gift from trustee couple (pasadenastarnews.com) — Caltech in Pasadena is receiving a $50 million gift from trustees Lynn Booth and Kent Kresa to endow and rename its aerospace department, strengthening a cornerstone of the city’s scientific community. The funding will support cutting-edge research, from drones and robotics to space technologies, further cementing Pasadena’s role in global aerospace innovation.
   

5. Iowans honored in California for organ donation contributions (kcci.com) — Pasadena will again be in the national spotlight as the 2026 Rose Parade features a Donate Life float honoring two Iowans for their organ donation impact. The float, rolling down Colorado Boulevard on New Year’s Day, highlights living and deceased donors while also pointing viewers toward mental health and suicide prevention resources.
   

📸 Around Pasadena

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 Pasadena

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★ Featured events ★

Saturday December 20

• Christmas Carols Unplugged - An Evening of Reflection and Music @ Trinity Lutheran Church
  Trinity Lutheran Church, 2949 Alamo St, Simi Valley
  6:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Friday December 19

• Friday Pasadena Paint Nite with Boozy Pigments
  Hilton Pasadena , 168 S Los Robles Ave , Pasadena
  7:30 pm
• Bleep Comedy at Ice House Comedy Club - California Room
  The Ice House , 24 N Mentor Ave , Pasadena
  7:45 pm

Saturday December 20

• ArtCenter Fall 2025 Gard Show
  Pasadena Convention Center , 300 E Green St , Pasadena
  12:00 pm
• Ice House Comedy: Deez Nutz
  The Ice House , 24 N Mentor Ave , Pasadena
  4:30 pm
• A Christmas Carol
  A Noise Within Theatre , 3352 E Foothill Blvd , Pasadena
  7:00 pm
• The Shindig Show at Ice House Comedy Club
  The Ice House , 24 N Mentor Ave , Pasadena
  9:00 pm

Sunday December 21

• Blue Christmas: The Longest Night
  Trinity Lutheran Church , 997 E Walnut St , Pasadena
  7:00 pm
• Sunday Pasadena Paint Nite with Boozy Pigments
  Hilton Pasadena , 168 S Los Robles Ave , Pasadena
  7:00 pm

Wednesday December 24

• Christmas Eve Festival Communion Service
  Trinity Lutheran Church , 997 E Walnut St , Pasadena
  7:00 pm

Thursday December 25

• The Nativity of Our Lord
  Trinity Lutheran Church , 997 E Walnut St , Pasadena
  10:00 am

Friday December 26

• Understanding Home Care Through Service Squad's Online Workshop
  https://www.callservicesquad.com/
  9:00 pm

📣 Pasadena Shout Outs!

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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 Pasadena PatchAM possible:

• LA Fire Justice — (626) 684-3315
  Holding Southern California Edison Accountable
• Authentic Kratom is Open for Traditional Kratom Sale — (323) 854-7791
  Come and Enjoy a 20% Discount at our Hollywood Store

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Mugsy has been deaf his whole life!
  He is only 1.5 years old and he was misunderstood because no one realized he was deaf! He’s been sitting in a crate for two months now waiting for… (Nextdoor Foothill Rosemead)
• Really impressed with Pasadena Humane.
  This year I fell in love.... with my first adult cat, and so, decided it was time to give back and volunteer! Attached is a photo from my first day,… (Nextdoor Madison Heights Pasadena)

• Pacific Oaks College posted a job opening for Associate Teacher in Pasadena. Apply here.
• PetSmart, Inc. posted a job opening for Retail Sales Associate Part Time in Pasadena. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Pasadena here.

Ok Pasadena! 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 don’t think you know the gravity of this situation.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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