Thank you to Mickie’s Zoo for the following info:

“Due to swimming’s popularity this time of year, parents are encouraged to register their families early for the first session of swim lessons offered by the city of Pasadena…

“Swim lessons for groups or individuals will be offered through the Pasadena Human Services and Recreation Department from June 28 to August 13.

The first session includes five 45-minute classes Mondays through Fridays and is based on the American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim safety program designed for ages 4 to 18.”

Here are some other upcoming summer events:

Saturday, June 26 – Bench Press Competition @ Villa-Parke

Monday, June 28 – City Summer Swim Program Begins

July 2010 – Parks & Recreation Month

July 1 to 30 – Senior Day Camp @ JRCC

Tuesday, July 6 – City Summer Day Camp Program Begins

July 13 to August 30 – Senior Day Camp @ Villa-Parke

August 2010 – Youth Month

Saturday, August 14 – Pasadena IDOL @ Brookside Park

Saturday, September 18 – Fiestas Patrias @ Villa-Parke

About Pasadena Human Services and Recreation

The Human Services and Recreation Department invites you to join programs and activities which serve people of all ages and abilities and can provide you with an opportunity to enhance your life by meeting new friends and neighbors, exploring the arts, learning about community services, developing skills and so much more! Visit their website for more information.

Have a safe and happy summer!

Photo Courtesy of Arvind Balaraman and FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Awards will be given out at the 11th Annual Women in Business Legislative Update & Awards Luncheon, which takes place at the Pasadena Hilton Hotel on Friday, July 16, 2010. The Women in Business Awards honor local women whose exceptional abilities have contributed to the economic vitality and diversity of the 21st Senate and 44th Assembly District.

Nominees must live or work in one of two specific legislative districts: Senate Distrist 21 or Assembly District 44. You can verify the eligibility of a nominee at http://192.234.213.69/lmapsearch/framepage.asp. Click here to download the nomination form.

Check out the list of winners and nominees from last year’s awards.

As I was gathering info for this post, I found a meet-up group dedicated to gathering Pasadena’s businesswomen together. The Women’s City Club of Pasadena is a place where successful women professionals are ready to support each other in their endeavors.

“This a group of professional women within the Women’s City Club of Pasadena, the proud owners of the beautiful historic Blinn House. Since 1945, the club has been a place for women to socialize, discuss professional endeavors in a social environment, and contribute to charity.

“We meet every 3rd Tuesday of every month for a business networking lunch. We post different business supporting meetups as they are created at the club.

“Join us and get a feel for what our club membership is all about. Membership is not a guarantee.” (Pasadena Professional Women  -WCC)

Click her for more info.

Yay, women! I love seeing women supporting each other like this. Only good can come from it. Nice work, ladies.

Photo Courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The answer is no. I just stumbled upon PleaseRobMe.com, a website urging people to be just a little bit smarter when it comes to offering up information on your whereabouts. They list real people’s Twitter, Facebook, and Foursquare updates as “Recently Empty Homes”. They’re not really encouraging people to rob houses, of course, but the site does make it quite obvious that we need to ask ourselves if we want strangers to know we’re not home.

PleaseRobMe.com’s “Why” section of the site describes the danger in Foursquare quite well:

Don’t get us wrong, we love the whole location-aware thing. The information is very interesting and can be used to create some pretty awesome applications. However, the way in which people are stimulated to participate in sharing this information, is less awesome. Services like Foursquare allow you to fulfill some primeval urge to colonize the planet. A part of that is letting everyone know you own that specific spot. You get to tell where you are and if you’re there first, it’s yours. O, and of course there’s badges.

The danger is publicly telling people where you are. This is because it leaves one place you’re definitely not… home. So here we are; on one end we’re leaving lights on when we’re going on a holiday, and on the other we’re telling everybody on the internet we’re not home. It gets even worse if you have “friends” who want to colonize your house. That means they have to enter your address, to tell everyone where they are. Your address.. on the internet.. Now you know what to do when people reach for their phone as soon as they enter your home. That’s right, slap them across the face.

Well said! To my friends who have told me I “ruined the game” by reminding them there is some danger in letting the world know where you are and where you’re not—I’m just looking out for you. Play it safe, people.

Photo Courtesy of Salvatore Vuono and FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Here’s the scoop:

“Are YOU passionate about the arts? Hear about the only M.A in Arts Management program available in California! Claremont Graduate University invites you to a brown bag lunch at:

Western Justice Center 55 South Grand Avenue Pasadena, CA 91105

Wednesday, December 9th 2009 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm

Laura Zucker, Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Arts Commission and Director of the Arts Management program will speak about this academic opportunity, which includes a new Executive M.A. in Arts Management, a unique new program for mid-to-high level executives in the nonprofit and philanthropic arts and cultural sectors. Critical Issues Facing the Arts in California (The James Irvine Foundation) found that the majority of current leaders of nonprofit cultural institutions have no formal management training. Learning on the job does not substitute for sustained, up-to-date professional management education and entrepreneurial skill development. The world of the visual and performing arts has no shortage of talented, creative artists; what it needs are skilled, perceptive ethical leaders to help organizations adapt in an increasingly competitive and diverse world. Please join us we’ll provide drinks and cookies. RSVP to diana.luna@cgu.edu or call 909.607.9109.”

For more info about the program, visit www.cgu.edu/am.

About the Pasadena Arts Council

The Pasadena Arts Council is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization that provides resources, programs and services to artists, arts and cultural organizations, audiences, young people and visitors to Pasadena. The agency offers an independent voice for promoting a vibrant cultural community by facilitating, empowering and advocating for the arts.

Photo Courtesy of Claremont Graduate University

Pasadena is full of great places to walk and ways to get involved with easy, low-cost paths to fitness. Research shows that those who walk with a group are often more successful in meeting their own fitness goals. Walking is the most beneficial, all-purpose physical activity for most of us. It treats the body with great respect, and does not place excessive stress on the joints. Walking enhances physical, social, spiritual, and emotional health. Best of all, walking can be done by just about everyone, anytime, and anywhere.

Do you represent a relatively small, or informal, group of walkers? Up & Moving Pasadena is here to have your walking group in action by the end of the day. They recommend you set a three-month goal for your group. Research shows that habits are best established after a two to four month period. Up & Moving Pasadena is designed to let you and your group set your own goals. They will give your group t-shirts when you reach your goal. Click here for more info on how to register your group.

Up & Moving Pasadena is a community-wide effort to support fitness for health in greater Pasadena. We provide support and incentives for groups to create walking programs. Up & Moving Pasadena is a collaborative effort between City of Pasadena departments, Pasadena Unified School District, local business, and non-profit organizations.

For more walking tips and other information, visit www.upandmoving.org.

Image Courtesy of Up & Moving Pasadena

What you will find at the Green Fair:

• Free Guest Admission!
• Lots of free parking
• Showcasing Green Products, Services and Non-Profit Organizations
• Connecting People with Organizations, Businesses and Each Other
• Tips and Demonstrations for Every Budget
• Delicious Healthy Food and Local Musicians
• Lots of Free and Fun and Activities for Kids
• Over 2,000 guests!
• Lost of green vendors
• More than 20 non-profits

The Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church first put on the Green Fair last January, and they’re excited for the improvements being made to the upcoming October fair.

“Note that with the help of Waste Less Living we will be minimizing all food related waste by serving beverages  in compostable cups, using compostable paper products, capturing food waste and recycling what can’t go to the high heat compost facility.  We think the kids (and adults too) will enjoy the Healthy Snacks we’ve searched for.   We’ll be offering tips for Halloween snacks here on the website so keep checking.”

The church has formed an active committee whose goal is to find ways of progressing towards a more sustainable, environmentally sound future. “Our various efforts include conducting water and energy surveys, reducing consumption of resources, environmental education for youth and adults, communal composting, support of local environmental projects benefitting lower income communities, official recognition as a ‘Green Sanctuary,’ and more. Our efforts were profiled in ‘The Conduit,’ the Pasadena Water & Power business newsletter. We also received formal recognition for water conservation from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.”

If you’re interested in being a vendor, call Nancy Busacca Vendor Coordinator at 626-227-7116. Peggy Painton, NonProfit Coordinator, can be reached through the same number. For more information, visit www.neighborhoodgreenfair.com.

Photo Courtesy of Neighborhood Green Fair

Make A Mark

Activities for the event will include:

• Motivational speaker Jennifer Curtet
• A fashion show presented by Plum Denim and Jellypop Shoes
• Workshops on skin care (by Han’s Beauty), health, nutrition and active lifestyle
• Arts and crafts workshops: floral arrangement from Fleuretica, sewing by The Sewing Studio
• A panel discussion that helps mothers build positive relationships with their daughters
• An array of exhibitor booths

Event details:

• October 10, 2009, 10:30am-3pm
• Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green St., Pasadena, CA 91101
• Tickets are $20/person and will include small bites and beverages from Huntington Catering
• A percentage of proceeds will benefit Pajama Program and Hearts 4 Africa.

Make a Mark is a campaign which strives to educate tweens between the ages of 9-14 about body image and self-esteem and help mothers build positive relationships with their daughters. The campaign will educate girls how to build their self-confidence, and more importantly, how to become strong women. Girls come in all shapes, sizes different backgrounds, and upbringings. Their purpose is to bring them together in safe and fun environment in which they can begin the process of self-discovery.

A large part of the campaign focuses on the mother-daughter relationship. Special focus is placed on working with growing girls and their mothers, who are the strongest role models and one of the many factors that can help inspire girls to build confidence. Mothers are encouraged to become aware of their influence as a role model and guide their daughters to develop the best potential for self-sufficiency.

Make A Mark encourage girls to dream big and live large – to carve their own path to success, no matter where they came from and what they want to achieve.

To purchase tickets, please visit www.mark-it.org

Image Courtesy of Make A Mark

The history behind Green Drinks:

“In 1989, at a pub called the Slug and Lettuce in Northern London, Edwin Datschefski was sitting with his green design colleagues, Yorick Benjamin and Paul Scott, when he noticed an enviro-minded acquaintance at a nearby table. As it turned out, the friend was sitting with a few of his own eco-conscious mates, so they pulled some tables together. And so a movement was born.

“The concept evolved into Green Drinks and now it’s global. In 2001, Datschefski created an official Web site, and it has since spread across the world. See www.greendrinks.org for the latest city count and a list of countries. Each city has an organizer who arranges meetings in bars and restaurants (often with organic or vegetarian food), relays information via email, and facilitates discussions.

“There are lots of benefits to green drinks; they are hard to quantify, but when you have seen people come and make new links and learn and argue and set up new schemes and get new jobs etc, it is a good feeling.”

Southern California already has Green Drink chapters in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Woodland Hills, and Thousand Oaks. Pasadena and South Bay have just been added to the mix. Mark your calendars for the second Wednesday of every month, and have drinks with new friends who share your love for going green.

Click here for details upcoming Pasadena Green Drinks events.

Photo Courtesy of L.A. Green Drinks Blog

Vinita’s Beauty & Threading Studio

The salon has a great location just outside the Paseo Colorado mall (next to MAC cosmetics store) couple of blocks east of Old Town Pasadena. The mall has ample of parking space in the basement.

Like the other four stores, the new one is also a full service salon.

As the salons have grown over the years, it has evolved into a family business. Owners Vinod and Vinita Vineet are helped by sons Vibhor and Vipul and daughter-in-law Aanchal.

Vinod Vineet, President of the company, said the new store was set up for the convenience to Viinita’s clients in the Pasadena area and neighboring cities many of whom were traveling long distances to avail of the salon’s services.

“We are glad that they now have a salon close at hand,” Vinod said, adding “Extensive marketing and advertising goes in to ensure a successful grand opening. As they say, well begun is half done! We had an action plan and managed to execute it perfectly.”

Vinita’s in Pasadena is located at 356 E Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA – 91101.

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market

Nearly 60 of the 170 wines offered at Fresh & Easy are exclusive to the company with the majority of these retailing for less than $10. The company has now won over 80 awards for these exclusive wines, which are blended with the help of a Master of Wine.

“We are honored to have received these awards from such prestigious competitions,” said Karen Fletcher, category manager of wine and beer for Fresh & Easy. “Having strong relationships with our wineries helps us create high-quality wines that can be offered at incredible prices.”

Nearly 4,000 wines from around the globe competed in the 2009 Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition earlier this month. Fresh & Easy’s wines won three gold, eight silver and two bronze medals. The company’s popular New Zealand Pinot Noir took home the gold along with the La Parra Loca Tempranillo Shiraz.

The San Francisco International Wine Competition is one of the largest, most influential wine competitions in America. A panel of nationally recognized wine experts judged the competition and awarded Fresh & Easy’s wines 16 medals. The company took home one gold, two silver, and 11 bronze medals in addition to its double-gold award winning Rene Florancy Premier Cru Champagne and Montcadi Rose Cava.

Since opening the first Fresh & Easy store a year and a half ago, the wine and beer range has been very popular among customers. Based on customer feedback, 25 new wines, exclusive to Fresh & Easy, are being introduced over the summer to offer even more choices.

The Pasadena Fresh & Easy opens on July 15th, just in time to try out their award-winning wines for ourselves.