It’s Friday, Jan. 4.
Do you know where your New Year’s resolutions are?
Alice McIntosh two years ago resolved to fulfill a lifetime dream to be a writer and began working with a neighbor who is, herself, a writer.
A week or so ago, I received a copy of a story Alice had written called “Kitty and Boo!”
She’s now working on a series of children’s books.
Alice is 85 years old.
“All my life, I have wanted to be a writer but never had the talent,” she told me.
“I’ve never taken a writing class because I didn’t want to be embarrassed.”
Alice is someone with resolve — or better yet — someone who follows her bliss.
She also shows that you are never too old — or too young — to make your resolutions come true.
Alice is the owner of The Red Shoes dancewear store at 1018 Mission St. She used to teach tap dancing, and still takes a ballet class two days a week. Another resolution she’s made is to build on a tap dance for exercise video she has made, but she’s not sure her knee will take that kind of energy anymore.
But at least she’s out there trying.
That’s what this week’s column is all about: Thinking about some passion or goal you’d like to try in 2024.
It sounds better if you call it a “wish list” rather than a resolution, which sounds much grimmer to me.
So anyway, here are some items that you might want to put on your wish list.
VOTE
This is a presidential election year. It’s also the year to vote for a U.S. senator to replace the late Dianne Feinstein. We’ll be voting on U.S. representatives, state races, and in November, city councilmembers in districts 1, 2, and 3, according to the city clerk.
Here are some important dates to remember:
Feb. 20 is the last day to register to vote.
The primary election in California is March 5. The top two vote-getters for the open U.S. Senate seat move on to the general election, which is Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Work for a candidate or cause you believe in.
JOIN A GROUP
If you are a youngster, think about joining the scouts. Where else can you achieve a goal and get a merit badge for it, while also making friends and helping make improvements in the community?
All the Cub Scout packs in South Pasadena are open to boys and girls. Troop 7-G is the only existing girl troop for Scouts BSA.
Women Involved in South Pasadena Political Action promotes accountability and transparency in city government.
The South Pasadena Educational Foundation supports the city’s schools.
The Friends of The South Pasadena Library, which helps fund the library, is currently holding a membership drive. Go to its web page at friendsofsopaslibrary.org. If you are a teenager, volunteer to help with the library’s summer reading program or serve on the teen advisory board.
Join the Senior Center; call (626) 403-7360 for details.
There are many civic clubs in town: Kiwanis, Oneonta, Woman’s Club.
Join an organization that promotes diversity such as the Vecinos, which celebrates Latino heritage; and the Chinese-American club. You don’t have to be Latino or Asian to be a member.
Volunteer at the church of your choice.
LEARN SOMETHING NEW
Join the Senior Center and look at all the classes it has available — for example, languages, watercolor painting and yoga. Go to the community services section of the city website and click on senior services.
Take award-winning author and the city poet laureate Ron Koertge’s four-class course on poetry writing, which begins Jan 24 from 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. in the community room of the library. Registration is required. Go to Southpasadenaca.gov/register.
Now’s the time to get back to the land. The South Pasadena Library is starting a program in late January, where library card owners can “check out” seeds at a decorated “catalogue” located close to the reference desk. Obviously, you are not required to return the seeds.
Or, go help out at the Arroyo Nature Park. You can go to a link to Friends of the Arroyo Nature Park or South Pasadena Beautiful on Facebook.
Learn to ride a horse. There are two horse stables that offer lessons. One is San Pascual Stables and the other is the Arroyo Seco Stables.
Learn a language. You can become a member of the Senior Center and sign up for lessons. Library subscribers can also take advantage of a language learning app called Mango Languages at the library (courtesy of the Friends of the Library). The Friends also fund Lil’ Pim, which is the youngsters’ version for language learning.
Get some culture in your life. Subscribe to the Restoration Concert series, which is sponsored by the Friends of the Library and features outstanding artists performing Sunday afternoon classical music concerts through the fall, winter and spring.
Go to the Pasadena Symphony or the L.A. Phil. See their websites for concert dates and details.
The library has a new online resource called “ProQuest Performing Arts, Alexander Street Collection.” This is a diverse collection of music, dance and theater content from instruction to performance. Leading content providers include the National Theater, Royal Shakespeare Company and Broadway on Demand. Library subscribers can click on “My Collections” in the top right of the online site to browse all the collections available.
Go to a performance at the Fremont Theatre.
Attend a concert or play at the South Pasadena Middle or High schools.
PLACES TO GO
Drive up Orange Grove and visit the Norton Simon Art Museum or tour the Gamble House in Pasadena.
The South Pasadena Historical Museum, located on Meridian Street, is currently open on Thursdays during the Farmers Market.
Go to Tiger Bingo. If you haven’t experienced this South Pasadena tradition, go. It’s on Saturday nights and early games begin at 5:30 p.m. Just don’t sit in anyone’s “lucky seat.”
Go to a South Pasadena High School athletic competition. Look at the high school calendar for times and places.
Help design, construct and/or decorate the South Pasadena Rose Parade float.
MAKE A FRIEND, Be Well
Reach out to someone who is feeling isolated. Former Mayor Jon Primuth mentioned this in his recent State of the City message.
Have you noticed how many of your friends or colleagues are getting either the flu or COVID? Get a COVID vaccine if you haven’t done so already, and get a flu and RSV shot.
WHAT’S GOING ON?
On my list of resolutions is to keep track of what is happening in the city.
What are the next steps in the plan to improve travel on Fremont Street, Huntington Drive and Fair Oaks Avenue?
What’s going to happen to the old Board of Education building?
Will the state’s new density requirements be implemented in the coming year, and will sales be completed for people living in homes previously owned by Caltrans? What’s going to happen this year about low-income housing?
Who will move into the spot vacated by Vons on Fair Oaks Avenue?
Watch this spot for details.
Make sure you follow the new trash collection procedures, which have already been announced.
I’d like to see — as a continuation of showcasing diversity — some continued progress on discussions to put a sign or artwork near South Pasadena’s oldest building, the Adobe Flores, on Foothill Street.
The most important one is to wish my family, my friends, my colleagues at the Review, and everyone in South Pasadena, a happy and healthy new year.
First published in the January 5 print issue of the South Pasadena Review.
