A Good Friend

Originally published on DailyDevos.org  (for teens) Oct. 20, 2016Philippians 1:3-6 (NIV)     I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all ofyou, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospelfrom the first day until now, being confident of this, that he whobegan a good work…

A Stroll Through Historic Olvera Street

  Originally published in The Quarterly, Spring 2016 issue In the heart of historic Los Angeles, across from Union Station, lies a charming burst of colors, culture and cuisine. Olvera Street is one of the oldest streets in LA, a shoppers delight and a snapshot into history. This living museum is home to some of…

Leo Politi’s “Moy Moy” Celebrated

  Originally published 1.21.15 in “A Stone’s Throw” Column in the South Pasadena Review Last Thursday, dancing lions roamed the streets of South Pasadena, winding through the farmer’s market, blinking lit-up eyes, flapping wiggly ears and ushering a crowd into the community room of the public library. As the lively percussion band and lion dancers…

CERT Classes Empower People to Prepare for Emergencies

  Part 1 of 2: Published 9.24.15, South Pasadena Review When disaster strikes, it’s too late to prepare. And in California, an earthquake, a fire, a windstorm or even your car breaking down on the way to Vegas in 100-degree heat can turn into an emergency situation very quickly. We know this, and yet many,…

“Hollywood” Sign of the Times

The “Hollywood” Sign inspires dreamers, welcomes starry-eyed visitors, is a familiar friend to locals and has a life of its own with stardom and tragedy. For nearly a century, the Southern California icon represented in movies, TV shows, advertisements, books, music and more, has stood tall on Mount Lee, which is located in Griffith Park….

A Very Special Olympics

Originally published in “A Stone’s Throw” Column, South Pasadena Review 8.6.15 By Ann Suk Wang After the last note of the floor exercise played and the final pose held, a gymnast sprinted off, into an excited embrace with her coach. Together they almost fell over, twirling with joy as the athlete’s legs and arms wound…

Award-Winning Author, Gary Schmidt Visits SPMS

Originally published in “A Stone’s Throw” column in the South Pasadena Review 3/26/15 By Ann Suk Wang Many become excited when a movie star or a well-known musician is seen in person. Palms may become slightly damp and the heart may pound a little faster. The rush of recognition causes even the coolest fan to…