Latest news with #Altadena
The Guardian
16 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Wildfire destroyed a historically Black town. These artists won't let its legacy disappear
On the walls of the gallery, Keni 'Arts' Davis's watercolors show Altadena before and after the fires. There is a local hardware store, a beloved diner, the quirky local Bunny Museum, which held tens of thousands of rabbit-related items. Then, in gentle strokes of paint, there is the wreckage of each place: rubble, charred beams, burnt-out cars. Davis labels each of these images 'BFA', beauty from ashes. Those post-fire ruins are gone now, too: Altadena, a historic Black community in Los Angeles that lost nearly 10,000 structures, including more than 6,000 homes, in January's Eaton fire, is slowly being prepared for rebuilding. 'Now all the rubble is gone, and it's just flattened out,' said Dominique Clayton, the curator of Ode to 'Dena: Black Artistic Legacies of Altadena, a long-running exhibit at the California African American Museum. 'I'm so glad he painted the before and after. Now those buildings have been demolished.' Ode to 'Dena aims to capture the rich creative legacy of Altadena, a community that for decades nourished Black artists, performers, writers and activists, from Eldridge Cleaver and Sidney Poitier to Octavia Butler. The small town, nestled in the hills to the north of Los Angeles, offered Black families an early chance at homeownership in a region long defined by racial segregation and redlining. When neighborhoods that had offered Black families a chance to build generational wealth were reduced to ash in January's historic wildfires, it was a trauma that resonated far beyond the city. Locals immediately feared that the gentrification of Altadena would be accelerated by the destruction, and that the pre-fire community would be pushed out, longtime Black residents scattered, while the town was rebuilt for wealthier newcomers. But Altadena's close-knit community immediately rallied to prevent this double destruction, drawing on a wide range of allies and supporters. While Donald Trump chose not to visit fire survivors in Altadena, limiting his presidential tour to the destruction in the wealthier Pacific Palisades, organizations like the NAACP and BET Media raised funds, and multiple arts institutions, including Frieze LA, stepped up to document the effects of the fires and highlight the work of artists who had lost their homes and studios. The California African American Museum exhibit, which runs through October, is part of this broader effort. The show highlights not only the multiple generations of prominent Black visual artists with connections to Altadena, but also the deep connections among them. Several of the artists have multiple generations of their family in the show, including textile, performance and portraiture artist Kenturah Davis, whose father's watercolors and mother Mildred 'Peggy' Davis's quilt work are both included. The oldest artist on display, the assemblage artist and printmaker Betye Saar, is 98 years old. The youngest, Kenturah Davis's son Micah Zuri, is two years old. While many of the artists in the show, including Charles White, Kenturah Davis, Martine Syms, American Artist, and Saar and her daughter Alison Saar, are already well-known in the art world, others are just beginning to enter the industry, or have little connection to traditional galleries and museums. When she was assembling the show, Clayton said, 'every single one of the artists that I talked to, would talk about three or four other people that I'd never even heard of. That's how closely connected that they are, and how concerned and familial they are.' 'In the African American community, even in our loss, we're looking out for each other,' she added. Altadena resident Capt James Stovall V, for instance, is a 'brand-new emerging artist', Clayton said, whom Kenturah Davis met at an artists' residency in New Haven, Connecticut. Before she worked on the exhibit, Clayton had not been familiar with the work of La Monte Westmoreland, an older Altadena artist and longtime friend of artists John Outterbridge, the former director of the Watts Tower Art Center, and White, a nationally prominent African American artist. 'Now I see his work, I'm obsessed with it, and I see how much it's inspired by the work of his peers,' she said. 'They were all close friends and spent so much time together.' Another artist on display, Liz Crimzon, is a graphic designer at Nasa's Jet Propulsion Lab. Hiking in the Angeles national forest was a crucial part of daily life for many residents: January's wildfire started in Eaton Canyon, which had a popular hiking trail. Crimzon's nature photographs documented details of that landscape, which was also destroyed by the fire. Clayton said it was crucial to her that the Altadena exhibit include Black artists who were not yet famous or commercially successful. 'The Eaton fire didn't only affect the most celebrated artists – it affected everybody,' she said. More established artists were likely to have 'the means and resources to start over'. 'A lot of other artists don't have gallery representation. They don't have families with extra room to store all of their stuff. Those are the people I worry about.' When she was putting the exhibit together in early spring, Clayton said, many of the Altadena artists whose homes were standing after the fires were still living elsewhere. In the immediate aftermath of the devastation, gas lines and water lines had been shut off in parts of the community. A lot of artists 'were staying in other places'. Now, six months after the blaze, more people have returned to their homes, or to the land where their homes once stood, and are assessing how to continue. How safe the post-burn areas are is an unresolved question. 'Everyone is concerned about the air quality, the soil, the water,' Clayton said. But Altadena's creative community has also seen new growth after the fires: artists like Westmoreland have held solo shows of their remaining work, Clayton said. Old connections have also been strengthened. Betye Saar, now a prominent artist, had designed album covers for jazz musician Bennie Maupin in the 1970s. Maupin, who lost his home and instruments in the Altadena fire, reunited with Saar at the exhibition's first weekend, and they 'had a little jazz concert', Clayton said. Maupin started playing a flute he had been gifted after the fire, 'and Betye kicked her walker to the side and started dancing. … 'Fifty-something years later, to be in front of the same album, dancing and playing – it was like no time had passed.' 'Culture, especially minority culture, is at risk for erasure and loss,' Clayton said. 'We have to double down with cultural preservation.'
CBS News
2 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Altadena residents demand LA County waive rebuilding permit fees
Altadena residents are demanding that Los Angeles County officials waive the rebuilding permit fees that could cost Eaton Fire survivors upwards of $50,000. Freddy Sayegh, who started the neighborhood coalition, said many people who lost their homes can't afford to rebuild unless the county intervenes. Sayegh's family home on North Lake Avenue is one of the 9,418 buildings destroyed by the Eaton Fire, which is the second most destructive wildfire in California. "It's been horrendous," he said. "Every dollar is going to matter, especially in permits, fees and licensing, everything across the board. None of us have enough money to rebuild, nobody." Shawna Dawson Beer lost her entire neighborhood in west Altadena. She called on the county to waive permitting fees after LA Mayor Karen Bass took a similar step for the Palisades Fire zone. The executive order still requires approval from the city council. "We are a community of working-class people and historically underrepresented people," Beer said. "People are getting $40,000 and $50,000 base permit estimates and fees that they are supposed to cough up." Altadena and Pasadena residents will march outside Fair Oaks Burgers on Sunday to call on lawmakers to provide more financial support for rebuilding. "Those who stand in the way of rebuilding efforts should go and start finding a new profession," Sayegh said. "We will vote. We will not forget." The county said it is facing unprecedented financial challenges. Supervisor Kathryn Barger's office said they are working on plan that will be presented by the end of next week. She also plans to introduce a motion to defer permitting and inspection fees for like-for-like rebuilds as well as a funding strategy to waive fees. "I do appreciate the incredible work by Supervisor Barger," Sayegh said. "We want them waived, not deferred." The county said it received more than 600 applications to rebuild in the Eaton Fire area. It's only issued 15 permits as of Friday.
CBS News
3 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Limo company accused of scamming Eaton Fire victims on prom night
A special night meant to bring joy to students recovering from the Eaton Fire turned into a troubling case of betrayal after the limo service paid to take them to prom never showed up. "I tried to be forgiving and not have a vengeful spirit, but that doesn't mean you're not held accountable for what you do," mom Angie DiClaudio said. "Aside from being just like, a huge letdown ... This wasn't even our money. This was a nonprofit trying to help kids who lost their homes in a fire." The Virginia-based nonprofit Alice's Kids , with the help of actor Steve Carell, donated roughly $175,000 to treat 800 Altadena and Pasadena students to the full prom experience, including free tickets and limousine rides. It paid Shawn Lasley, the owner of Wize Guy Entertainment, $4,000 to take more than 20 students to their prom. However, parents scrambled to find a ride for their children when the night came. "Very nervous, horrified and disappointed," Alice's Kids spokesperson Hilary Riedemann said. "For him to not say anything and then to not show up, after not only we reached out to him but multiple parents did, to not show up was pretty atrocious." Parents like Carrie Meyers said Lasley blocked them when they tried to reach him. "The plan is we got to make this guy suffer," Meyers said. "He failed us. He ripped us off. Word has to get out." Luckily, parents called Ubers to make sure their teens still made it to prom. Despite the disappointment, everyone had a night to remember. "It's just like we build all this stuff up in our head," DiClaudio said. "We want it to be the perfect night. Oftentimes it isn't. It's OK. Sometimes the ones you don't expect to be are the best ones ever. CBS News Los Angeles reached out to Wize Guy Entertainment for comment but did not receive a response. Alice's Kids said they are in the process of taking legal action against the limo company.
Associated Press
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Altadena Author Sandra Guzman Launches Debut Novel The One Who Stayed
A heartfelt debut novel about love, identity, and healing by lifelong Altadena resident and Latina author Sandra Mabel Guzman. 'This story isn't about running away—it's about returning to the parts of yourself you buried to survive.'— Sandra Mabel Guzman ALTADENA, CA, UNITED STATES, May 27, 2025 / / -- Lifelong Altadena resident and Latina author Sandra Mabel Guzman has released her debut novel, The One Who Stayed, a gripping women's fiction story about love, loss, and choosing yourself. Drawing inspiration from her own emotional evolution in her 40s, Guzman invites readers into a deeply personal narrative that reflects the quiet strength of women rediscovering who they are—after giving so much to everyone else. The One Who Stayed follows a woman on the edge of emotional burnout as she wrestles with the expectations placed on her by culture, motherhood, and marriage. As she begins to unravel, she also begins to rebuild—one moment of truth at a time. 'This story isn't about running away,' says Guzman. 'It's about returning to the parts of yourself you buried to survive.' Sandra, a proud mother of three and full-time mortgage professional, has lived in Altadena her entire life. Her grandparents laid roots here, and now she's carrying on their legacy—one page at a time. Blending her Mexican heritage, life experiences, and emotional intelligence, Guzman brings an authentic voice to the women's fiction space. Already connecting with readers across California, The One Who Stayed has been praised for its relatable themes of reinvention, female strength, and the quiet bravery of starting over. The novel is available now on Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Purchase here: Follow Sandra on Instagram: @_sandra_mabel For media inquiries, email: [email protected] SANDRA Guzman Sandra Guzman +1 626-319-1871 email us here Visit us on social media: Bluesky Instagram Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
CNN
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Kermit the Frog's Advice to 2025 Grads - CNN 5 Good Things - Podcast on CNN Audio
Krista Bo 00:00:00 Hey there, if you're new here, welcome, happy to have you. And to our day ones, you know the drill. Five reasons to smile coming right up. Doug Ruch 00:00:09 Here's what I've learned on this mission: now I judge people by their heart. Krista Bo 00:00:13 'We'll meet the man on a cross-country kindness tour, using the time he has left for good. Plus, the Golden Girls reboot you probably weren't expecting, but it's one conservationists are cheering for. From CNN, I'm Krista Bo, and this is Five Good Things. Krista Bo 00:00:32 So back in March, the senior class at Marshall Fundamental High School in the Altadena, California area was called into the auditorium unexpectedly by their teachers. Tova Rosenbaum 00:00:41 They said there was a surprise and none of us knew anything about it. The teachers knew and they were like, it's going to be exciting. You're going to like it. And everyone's like, okay. So everyone went into it knowing there was something fun, but no one knew what it was. Steve Carrell Announcement 00:00:53 Attention all seniors! This is Steve Carrell with a very special announcement. I work with a wonderful charity based out of Virginia called Alice's Kids. And Alice's kids wanted me to let you know that they would be paying for all of your prom tickets. Krista Bo 00:01:16 'Seventeen-year-old Tova Rosenbaum said that was one of the first times since the LA wildfires that she saw her class light up with excitement. And she was stoked to see who delivered the message. Tova Rosenbaum 00:01:27 My senior quote actually was a Michael Scott quote. It was, "the only time I set the bar lowest for limbo." Like I love "The Office." And so especially with that in mind, seeing Steve Carell, it was amazing. Krista Bo 00:01:41 The nonprofit's offer stands for about 800 seniors across six high schools in the Altadena area, all of them impacted by the devastating Eaton wildfire in January. The group helps students in need across the country, paying for things like prom tickets, field trips, summer camps, and school supplies when money's tight. Ron Fitsimmons 00:02:00 And so now all those kids this weekend will be attending their prom for free. The whole thing will be in that neighborhood of about $175,000 and it's worth every dime. Krista Bo 00:02:12 That's Alice's Kids founder and executive director, Ron Fitsimmons. Ron Fitsimmons 00:02:16 We started getting offers of assistance from nail salons, limo services, a company in New Jersey that sent 200 new prom dresses to one of the high schools, so it just snowballed. Krista Bo 00:02:32 And for this group of seniors, those gestures couldn't have come at a better time. Alessandro Diclaudio 00:02:36 So we were, obviously we were displaced and we're living in an apartment now, but we really just have sought as a way to start anew. Krista Bo 00:02:45 '18-Year-old Alessandro Diclaudio says he's rocking a maroon velvet jacket and taking his girlfriend to the prom. Alessandro Diclaudio 00:02:52 I think they gave us a kind of sense of normality in all the chaos. We get to go to prom as normal teenagers and go and celebrate the end of our high school careers. Krista Bo 00:03:04 He's most excited for the mosh pits. And he'll see his classmate Tova tearing it up on the dance floor tonight too. She says this prom feels like a full circle moment, a joyful way to close a tough chapter. Tova Rosenbaum 00:03:15 It shows that no matter what happens, everyone can still come together and celebrate. It shows the true definition of resilience. And that's really, I think, the way that people heal, when they can celebrate through the hard times and spend time with people they love. Krista Bo 00:03:30 So not only is it prom season, it's that time of year for commencements, where words of wisdom get bestowed on the next generation at college campuses all across the country. And this year's speaker at the University of Maryland in College Park was a Muppet. Kermit the Frog 00:03:44 You're all here to listen to a frog in a very tiny cap and gown give a commencement speech on what's actually turned out to be a pretty beautiful evening. Krista Bo 00:03:57 'Quite possibly the most famous amphibian of all time, Kermit the Frog, got to address the class of 2025. And the Kermencement was all live-streamed by the university. Kermit the Frog 00:04:07 I am honored to share some words of wisdom about three things that are close to my heart. Finding your people, taking the leap, and making connections. Krista Bo 00:04:20 This was Kermit's first commencement speech in nearly 30 years. And how fitting that it took place at the school where the late Muppets creator Jim Henson got his degree. Kermit the Frog 00:04:29 'But it was Jim who taught me about finding your people. And if you're with your people, then you won't have to do it alone. Because life is not a solo act. So as you prepare to take this big leap into real life, rather than jumping over someone to get what you want, consider reaching out your hand and taking the leap side-by-side because life is better when we leap together. Krista Bo 00:05:00 He also encouraged students to stay connected, be kind, and keep in touch with your inner child. Kermit the Frog 00:05:05 Life's like a movie. Write your own ending. Keep believing. Keep pretending. You've all done just what you set out to do. And you're just getting started! Krista Bo 00:05:20 He told CNN's Sara Sidner earlier this week, those are the lyrics from a song in the Muppet Movie. Kermit the Frog 00:05:25 It's a reminder that that your life is in your hands and nobody can make you a success except you. Believing in others is easy, but it's believing in yourself and your dreams at that that's the real trick Doug Ruch 00:05:40 I'll go skydiving, I'll go Rocky Mountain climbing, 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fu Manchu. So that's, that's kind of what I decided I was going to do. And I haven't regretted it, you know. Krista Bo 00:05:54 'That's Doug Ruch. He's from San Antonio, Texas, and those lyrics from Tim McGraw's country hit, "Live Like You Were Dying," really resonate with him. The song is about choosing to make the most of life, even in the face of death, and that's exactly what Doug's been trying to do. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in early 2021. Then earlier this year, the 55-year-old said the cancer spread, advanced to stage four, and he was given about 12 to 18 months to live. Doug Ruch 00:06:21 I was shocked, I was sad for a minute, and I went home, I reflected for a few days, and I really thought about what I've done, what I could have done better. Krista Bo 00:06:34 The news was obviously devastating, but Doug says it didn't take him long to decide to use his last months to give back. Doug Ruch 00:06:43 First, it was just gonna be, let's go help the hurricane victims in North Carolina, help them rebuild. And then I got to thinking, I'm like, well, if I'm gonna help them, why don't I go to California and help the fire victims? And then the more I thought about it, I was like, well, If I'm going to do those two states and they're across the country from each other, why not try and do everything in between and make it an epic road trip and see states that I haven't seen. Krista Bo 00:07:06 'That idea turned into what he's calling the Dying to Serve Tour, where he aims to spend a few days in all 50 states and volunteer - at food pantries, senior centers, wherever he can. Doug Ruch 00:07:16 I'm not picky when I go to these organizations. I'm there to work. You know, the last one in Rapid City, South Dakota, I spent a couple hours making chicken wraps for a special fundraising event they were doing, and pasta salad and things like that. So, you know, when I get there, I'm just like, hey, where do you need me? Krista Bo 00:07:35 So far Doug has driven to 22 states, and he's doing it all by himself. Doug Ruch 00:07:39 I started in Dallas and then I went to Oklahoma, Wichita, Kansas, Pueblo, Colorado, Santa Fe, New Mexico. Krista Bo 00:07:47 And it's been funded almost entirely by donations collected through a GoFundMe campaign, where he's raised over $95,000 so far. And is hoping to raise more to cover lodging, travel, and food expenses. The link is in our show notes if you want to donate. He decided not to undergo any cancer treatment on the tour and says his energy goes up and down. Doug Ruch 00:08:07 I still feel cautiously optimistic that I can complete the other states. I mean, I truly believe that I will be here longer because of my mission. And I think these happy hormones that I'm feeling will hopefully keep me around longer and keep the cancer at bay. Maybe that's just me being optimistic, but you know, I'm six weeks in and I still pretty decent. Krista Bo 00:08:29 Next week, he plans to hit Grand Rapids, Michigan, and then Indianapolis. He hopes he can inspire the people he meets to live well for as long as they can. Doug Ruch 00:08:38 We all have different political beliefs. We have different religions. And at the end of the day, we're all just trying to live our lives. And I've met some people with fantastic hearts that I don't necessarily agree with, but I can agree to disagree. Now I judge people by their heart. Krista Bo 00:08:57 A mini pony escaped from a rescue farm in Pennsylvania, but where she ended up surprised everybody. On April Fool's Day of all days, Penny Parker from Horse Angels Rescue said a mini pony named April made a run for it. Penny Parker 00:09:12 She took off through the woods, over the river through the woods kind of thing, and she was gone. Krista Bo 00:09:17 'She galloped across Chester County, Pennsylvania, crossing roads and intersections like the mini-mayor had the right of way or something. Sergeant Ted Lewis from the Westtown East Goshen Police Department was on patrol at the time, and he said calls were flooding in about a horse on the loose. Sgt. Ted Lewis 00:09:33 Since we were kids, we were always told that if you're lost, go find a police officer. And it seems like that's exactly what she did. Krista Bo 00:09:41 Body cam footage shows April trotted right up the police station's driveway. And Sergeant Lewis said he was able to easily clip on a lead, which is like a leash for a horse. Sgt. Ted Lewis 00:09:50 Oh she was just a sweetheart. She was calm, friendly, was just leaning up against me and it was like we had been best friends for years. Krista Bo 00:10:00 Penny said the day before she ran away, the horse had just been brought into the rescue by her previous owners. Penny Parker 00:10:06 They were looking to rehome her because she had a growth on her face that was severely infected. Sgt. Ted Lewis 00:10:12 There was a concern that it may have been cancerous. Krista Bo 00:10:15 Sergeant Lewis went from not being much of a horse guy at all, to deciding to adopt her and pay for her surgery. Sgt. Ted Lewis 00:10:21 We know that the rescue needs every dime that they have available because they have a lot of horses with a lot of needs, so we wanted to kind of relieve that burden from the rescue. Penny Parker 00:10:34 To meet someone who saved this horse, found her, and then adopted her. It means the ultimate dream for any rescue. Krista Bo 00:10:43 Now she lives on the Lewis's Mini Farm with a new name, Miss Fanny, a new best friend, Oliver the alpaca, and a clean bill of health. Sgt. Ted Lewis 00:10:51 Something seems to have brought us together and just trotted right into my life. I'm not quite sure what the reason is, but she certainly made our lives better and we're just happier for it. Krista Bo 00:11:04 Up next, the Golden Girls are back with almost as much sass, but this time they come with shells and siblings. Krista Bo 00:11:11 'So a few weeks ago, we told you about Mommy and Abrazo, two nearly 100-year-old Galapagos tortoises who became first-time parents to four female hatchlings at the Philadelphia Zoo. So I'm here to report two adorable updates. Number one, the zoo's director of herpetology, Lauren Augustine, says the public has spoken and the baby girl tortoises have names. Lauren Augustine 00:11:33 And so we gave a couple categories of names, one of which was the Golden Girls, which was a fan favorite. And so our female tortoises are now named Dorothy, Sophia, Blanche, and Rose. Krista Bo 00:11:45 Number two, these golden girls with shells now have brothers. Lauren Augustine 00:11:48 We now have three male hatchlings that we are monitoring daily and that are doing wonderful. Krista Bo 00:11:55 These new hatchlings are the final eggs from mommy's first clutch, which were incubated at cooler temperatures to produce males. The girls are already on exhibit, and Lauren says they're surprisingly social. Lauren Augustine 00:12:06 They're like the size of your hand. They're very small and adorable, especially if you wanna see them right next to their parents who are 300 to 400 pounds. I would have guessed they would have been a lot more reclusive hiding under the cork bark that we provide them, but actually they're out, they're roaming around, they're basking, they're eating a lot. So they're very gregarious and very active in their habitat. Krista Bo 00:12:29 'And Mommy's living up to her name. Lauren said it's extremely rare for a tortoise to become a first time mom at 97-years-old. But what makes this even more remarkable is what it means for the critically endangered species. Lauren Augustine 00:12:41 And so Mommy being unrepresented and a wild hatched individual, she's considered a founder animal. So her genetics are extremely valuable. And so we're just so thrilled to be able to pass on Mommy's genetics as well as her story for her species. Krista Bo 00:12:58 All right, that's all for now. Join us tomorrow for the next edition of One Thing. Host David Rind speaks to a Medicaid recipient about what Trump's "big, beautiful bill" means for them. Krista Bo 00:13:09 Five Good Things is a production of CNN Audio. This episode was produced by Eryn Mathewson and me, Krista Bo. Our senior producers are Felicia Patinkin, Faiz Jamil, and Dan Bloom. Matt Dempsey is our production manager. Dan Dzula is our technical director, and Steve Lichteig is the executive producer of CNN Audio. We get support from Joey Salvia, Haley Thomas, Alex Manasseri, Robert Mathers, Jon Dianora, Leni Steinhardt, Jamus Andrest, Nichole Pesaru, and Lisa Namarow. And special thanks to Wendy Brundige. And thank you, especially, for listening. Take care. Till next time.
