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Blog archive

June 2025

May 2025

A Day to Celebrate, Connect, and Empower: Older Americans Month at Victory Park
05/30/2025

End of Life: You Do Have Choices!
05/30/2025

Get Moving, Pasadena Village: Walking Toward a Healthier, Happier You
05/30/2025

Music: A Universal Language
05/30/2025

Presidents Message
05/30/2025

The New Grammar Guardian of Pasadena Village
05/30/2025

Undue Influence: Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
05/30/2025

Village Within a Village
05/30/2025

What do we do now?
05/30/2025

Status - May 10, 2025
05/10/2025

A Tribute to Dad
05/05/2025

A Tribute to Mom
05/05/2025

A Board Director Perspective
05/02/2025

A Death Valley Adventure
05/02/2025

Ask an Architect
05/02/2025

Message from the President
05/02/2025

My 15-Minute City
05/02/2025

Neighboring Anew
05/02/2025

Scam Red Flags
05/02/2025

Sir Beckett, A Woman's Best Friend
05/02/2025

Volunteer Appreciation: Giving a New Level of Love and Caring
05/02/2025

April 2025

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

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

Engaging in Pasadena Village

By Jim Hendrick
Posted: 08/15/2024
Tags: jim hendrick

Pasadena Village fosters a vibrant community where members can grow, connect and engage. Some folks get involved in the Village because of a personal invitation. Katy Townsend, a new member, was introduced to the Village by her friend (Villager) Lora Harrington-Pride. "I went to a TGI Thursday at the George restaurant. It was a huge success to me," she recalls. 

 

Some people join after thorough research, while others seek to expand their social circles. Jane Hufnagel says, "I wanted to expand my circle of friends." For Norma Shammas, the Village provided a much-needed sense of community after relocating. "I moved from another state and was looking to get involved here. I wanted to be part of the community and not a spectator from the outside," she says.

 

Pasadena Village offers a plethora of engagement opportunities, with 84 events on the June calendar alone. Board member Jo Yeargin found personal fulfillment through activities like memoir writing, even achieving publication. "Participating in activities at the Village is rewarding, socially, intellectually, and culturally," echoes Norma Shammas. Katy Townsend appreciates the immediate sense of belonging, noting, "The conversations are remarkable."

 

Connections are often formed during these sponsored activities. Ed Mervine joined seeking social engagement. "I needed a sense of connection. I had plenty of mental stimulation, but far less social and civic engagement. Conversations with Barbara Madden and Paula Rao suggested the Village might fill my void," he explains. Jeff Gutstadt, chair of the Villager Engagement Team, emphasizes the value of volunteering and committee work. "Through volunteering and working on committees, I've made friends and enjoyed the company of caring people," he says.

 

Getting involved in Pasadena Village is straightforward. The event calendar is accessible online, although navigating the website may require some practice. However, the calendar is full of opportunities for personal growth. Each Villager is encouraged to explore the wealth of activities available and take advantage of all that Pasadena Village has to offer. 

 

Through its diverse activities and welcoming community, Pasadena Village stands as a testament to the power of engagement and the richness of shared experiences.

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