Arroyo Monthly July 2022

July 2022

Fine living in the greater Pasadena area

STRIVING FOR

Excellence

SCHWEITZER LAW PARTNERS SPECIALIZES IN ALL AREAS OF FAMILY LAW, ESTATE PLANNING

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VOLUME 17 | NUMBER 07 | JULY 2022

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20 06 Striving for Excellence

Schweitzer Law Partners specializes in all areas of family law and estate planning —By Kamala Kirk

12 Fighting for Workers

Scott B. Solis speaks for the injured —By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

16 Advocating for Others

Patrick Baghdaserians is dedicated to family law —By Kamala Kirk

21 Juneteenth

Pasadena Divine Nine celebrates —By Luke Netzley

22 Vroman’s Live

Bookstore boasts stellar lineup for July —By Arroyo Staff

25 ‘All We Need is Music’

Valerie June honored to be part of Palomino —By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

26 Living the Dream

Jake Shears is ‘alarmed’ and excited about ‘Kinky Boots’ —By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

28 Happiness Haven

Transforming a home into a positive space will enhance mental health —By Kamala Kirk

31 Saying Farewell

Sarafian to be honored later this summer —By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

DEPARTMENTS 20

CULINARY CUPBOARD Brandy peach panna cotta is invigorating

arroyo

fine living in the greater pasadena area

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Christina Fuoco-Karasinski DEPUTY EDITOR: Luke Netzley ART DIRECTOR Stephanie Torres CONTRIBUTORS Bliss Bowen, Emily Chavez, Connor Dziawura, Jordan Houston, Kamala Kirk PHOTOGRAPHERS Luis Chavez, Chris Mortenson ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Lisa Chase, Catherine Holloway, Michael Lamb OFFICE MANAGER Ann Turrietta

TIMES MEDIA GROUP PRESIDENT Steve Strickbine V.P. OF OPERATIONS Michael Hiatt ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Zac Reynolds CONTACT US EDITORIAL christina@timespublications.com PHONE (626) 584-1500 FAX (626) 795-0149 MAILING ADDRESS PO Box 1349, South Pasadena, CA 91031 ArroyoMonthly.com ©2022 Times Media Group All rights reserved.

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F E AT U R E

Striving for

Excellence

Schweitzer Law Partners specializes in all areas of family law and estate planning ver the past 20 years, Schweitzer Law Partners in Pasadena has continued to strive for excellence and make a difference in the lives of countless clients and their families. The firm was founded in 2003

by Donald Schweitzer, a certified family law specialist with more than two decades of trial experience.

Prior to pursuing a career in law, Schweitzer worked as a police officer for more than 10 years in the Santa Ana Police Department, where he served as a gang homicide detective and member of Special Weapons and Tactics Unit (SWAT), in addition to working on various narcotics assignments.

“I loved being in the courtroom with the deputy district attorneys, and I really looked up to the young prosecutors I was working with,” Schweitzer says. “I loved being a cop, but I decided to take the leap and went to law school.”

After graduating from Southwestern University Law School and passing the bar, Schweitzer spent eight years working for the Orange County district attorney’s office, eventually becoming a senior trial attorney. During his time at the district attorney’s office, Schweitzer worked in numerous units, including family support, municipal court and felony filing, and has handled every type of case ranging from child support and DUIs to homicides, among others. He also successfully tried over 70 cases with a 95% conviction rate.

“When I left the DA’s office, I decided that I wanted to start my own law practice, but not as a solo practitioner,” Schweitzer says. “I dreamt of building an excellent law firm with excellent people. I tried to bring in the best of all my experiences with the organizations I’ve worked for. Along with my wife, Maria, who is the firm’s business manager, we created a culture with the help of partners, and we are dedicated and committed to helping people with difficult problems. We make meaningful differences in their lives while striving for excellence in all aspects of our work. Our culture is one where we work as a team, and we put a lot of emphasis on making our clients happy. Our team members are like family: Everyone supports each other.”

Schweitzer has dedicated the better part of the last two decades to building an excellent work culture and team, which consists of paralegals, staff and attorneys who are strong litigators with extensive courtroom experience. Two key members of the team are Casey Marticorena, a certified family law specialist, and Alexandra Smyser, a certified probate and estate planning specialist.

“When I was 30, I lost both of my parents suddenly,” says Smyser, who prior to her legal career worked in the entertainment industry for 10 years. “I decided to attend law school in order to help other people going through an experience similar to what I went through. I love working with generations of families and helping people carry out their legacies. Every family is different, continued on page 8

Chris Mortenson/Staff photographer

O

By Kamala Kirk

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and it’s exciting to be able to help them problem-solve the various issues that come up in each situation, as well as helping them to evolve and understand things like the distribution of digital assets and cryptocurrency. There are lots of exciting changes, and each generation has new things they need to plan for.”

During law school, Smyser interned for the Honorable Dean D. Pregerson of the U.S. District Court. After graduating magna cum laude from Southwestern Law School, she joined Schweitzer Law Partners, where she specializes in trusts, wills, probates, general and limited conservatorships, and special needs trusts. Her areas of expertise also include same-sex couples estate planning and planning for the elderly, as well as those with special needs.

“We have a strong emphasis on trial advocacy and courtroom presentation,” Smyser says. “We like to hire attorneys who are comfortable in the courtroom and comfortable being mentored by partners as they move up on their own. We place great importance on improving those skills, mentoring others and being proactive in their development so that we can always be a strong and powerful firm in the courtroom.”

After completing Southwestern Law School, Marticorena went into family law at Schweitzer Law Partners. She represents clients facing complex legal issues including division of property, child custody and support, domestic violence and civil harassment restraining orders, among others.

“My background is in psychology, which is extremely beneficial in the practice of law because it involves understanding people and family dynamics,” Marticorena says. “It also requires understanding how to approach a family or an individual versus how to present in front of a judge.”

Schweitzer Law Partners specializes in all aspects of family law and estate planning, as well as trust and probate law.

“There are many different types of issues that the family court has jurisdiction over, ranging from child support and custody to parentage and domestic violence cases,” Marticorena says. “We handle all of those types of cases under the umbrella of family law. What I love about working as a family law attorney is that every single day is different. I like that it requires knowledge in so many different areas. The practice is never boring. It’s always very challenging, and I have to constantly wear different hats and use different skills. You can’t be a good family law attorney and stagnant in your career; you have to continue to learn and grow.”

Ten years ago, Schweitzer Law Partners also brought in its estate planning practice.

“There is a strong need for our clients to have immediate access to somebody who can help them with their estate planning before, during and after their divorces,” Schweitzer says. “I’m proud of the fact that clients are well taken care of and we give them the very best. We also play an extremely big part in helping with domestic violence cases. When I was a cop, I responded to hundreds of those cases, and we possess the trial skills to be able to deal with these very complex matters. It requires a great deal of preparation and advanced skills in order to properly represent these people.”

Smyser adds, “For a lot of clients, we’re their family’s law firm. A lot of people don’t have a reason to talk to an attorney unless they’re going through a death or divorce, and it can be intimidating.

We offer our clients a well-rounded experience.”

One thing that sets Schweitzer Law Partners apart is its strong value system and commitment to ethics with a heavy emphasis on teamwork.

“We handle our cases in a professional manner, and we don’t violate our duties as officers of the court,” Schweitzer says. “Sometimes there are opposing counsels out there that play the game a little differently than we do, but we maintain our reputation as a very straightforward and highly ethical law firm. Now that we’ve spent over 20 years bringing in the right people who are extremely talented, I can say without a doubt that continued on page 10

Chris Mortenson/Staff photographer

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our culture is one where we strive for excellence while maintaining a warm and collegial atmosphere. We’re not afraid to innovate and also recognize that we’re always getting better. We are really committed to being the best law firm that we can be.”

Mentoring employees and supporting team members during the various stages of their careers also plays a big role in the firm’s overall success.

“Our firm expects our associate attorneys to advance their careers.

They’re not people who sit behind lead attorneys and take orders,” Schweitzer points out. “We help them develop into real family law attorneys to the extent that they’re expected to become certified specialists within a certain timeframe. Casey, Alexandra and I are all certified specialists, and that’s a mark of commitment to high performance and excellent representation of our clients. We have made more specialists in this law firm than most law firms that exist in our area’s practice.”

“A lot of our employees start out as interns or law students,” Marticorena says. “I started out as a law clerk, became an associate attorney and am now a partner. The strong emphasis on that level of mentorship is part of the reason why we have people that have been here for more than a decade. We also value education, and we have a continuing legal education department and train our attorneys so they can stay up to date on the most recent cases and changes in the law. We meet on a weekly basis to discuss new things that we’ve learned and to provide different thoughts on various legal issues, which is very beneficial for our clients.”

Community service is also very important at the firm, which is involved with numerous organizations. Every team member is provided with the support and resources needed to become ambassadors in the community.

“We want to be a responsible company that contributes to the community,” Schweitzer says. “We support many different organizations including the Foothill Unity Center, chamber of commerce, Pasadena City College and Pasadena Bar Association. Currently, Alexandra sits on that as a trustee, Casey was on it for three years, and I’m the former bar president. I’m also the incoming president of the Pasadena City College Foundation and will be leading the Pasadena Chamber as chair. Another one of our associates is part of the LA County Bar Association Barristers Group. We want to have a purpose and stand for something. We encourage our team to get out there and contribute to the community and the city of Pasadena. It’s such a vibrant community, and it’s one of the best places to work and live.”

Smyser adds, “We also encourage and support all of our associates to be members of the community, too. Each person participates in bar associations and numerous community boards, and we give them the space to be able to do that so they can go out there and be great ambassadors in the community.”

Currently, the firm is busy planning for the upcoming celebration of its 20-year anniversary next March.

“We’re extremely excited to be celebrating this huge milestone,” Schweitzer says. “We count each year as a milestone. We had a big celebration for our 10-year anniversary and are looking forward to our 20th. What I really enjoy about private family law is that we’re dedicated and committed to helping people with the most difficult problems in their lives. There’s no better feeling than running into a client in the community after they’re done with a difficult life experience that we’ve helped them get through and seeing how happy they are. I don’t know of any other area of law that challenges attorneys as much as family law does. We empathize with our clients, and we work really hard to make their lives better. It’s a big responsibility, but we love to challenge ourselves, and it’s a special type of person that is dedicated to this type of law.”

Schweitzer Law Partners 201 S. Lake Avenue, Suite 800, Pasadena 626-683-8113 pasadenalawoffice.com

Chris Mortenson/Staff photographer

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F E AT U R E

Fighting for

Workers Scott B. Solis speaks for the injured

I

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

njured workers need an advocate, and that is the foundation of the Law Offices of Scott B. Solis.

“There are real people behind the cases, and that thought is paramount in the handling of any case,” Solis says.

“I think that always keeps me concerned, particularly because the workers’ comp system is so failed. Injured workers do need someone to speak up for them.”

He founded the Law Offices of Scott B. Solis in 1995, after spending more than six years as an associate attorney in workers’ compensation for a firm representing employers and insurance companies.

Solis says he believes this work for the “other side” helped form his knowledge base, which has been instrumental in making his firm successful.

At his firm, Scott B. Solis is joined by office administrator Janet Mangandi, left, and her niece, paralegal Veronica A. Calderon.

Chris Mortenson/Staff photographer

continued on page 14

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Scott B. Solis founded his legal practice in 1995.

The work ethic started young. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and political science from Rice University; a Master of Arts in Teaching (English) from Brown University; and a Juris Degree, cum laude, in 1987 from Santa Clara University School of Law. “I worked for just under a year in criminal defense and switched to workers’ comp defense,” he says.

Although Solis has also been admitted to the bars of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maine and Washington, he only practices in California.

He’s certified by the California Lawyers Association as a specialist in workers’ compensation. Solis says his clients are well served by him.

“Most attorneys who dabble in it, frankly, aren’t very good,” he says.

“Injured workers do benefit from attorneys who have experience, in terms of helping them get the medical care that’s appropriate, and all the financial benefits they’re entitled to.”

Solis is especially concerned about underreported injuries like hypertension, strokes — “things that can be aggravated or accelerated by stress, either physical or mental.”

“For the same reason, a lot of deaths go unreported as industrial,” he adds.

At his firm, Solis is joined by office administrator Janet Mangandi and her niece, paralegal Veronica A. Calderon.

When Solis sends an introductory letter to clients, he ends it with a dose of reality.

“No matter how good a job I may do for them, the workers’ comp case will never make them whole, in the medical sense and the financial sense,” he says.

“Studies have been done about what happens to injured workers through their lives after they’re injured. The pittance that they get out of the workers comp system is inadequate for most injured workers.”

Chris Mortenson/Staff photographer

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Law Offices of Scott B. Solis 135 S. Jackson Street, Suite 103, Glendale 818-246-6300 ScottSolisLaw.com

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F E AT U R E

Advocating for Others

Patrick Baghdaserians is dedicated to family law rom a young age, Patrick Baghdaserians was interested in advocacy, whether it was standing up for himself or his peers. Born in postwar Iran, he and his family fled to the United States in the 1980s in pursuit of a better life. His parents’ community involvement and strong work ethic had a big impact on Baghdaserians when he was growing up and influenced him throughout his life to give back and help others.

“I was originally a biomedical student at Loyola Marymount University, but I realized soon thereafter within my first year of undergraduate study that what I was interested in was really on the side of advocacy, from various political issues to standing up for human rights,” Baghdaserians says. “I switched my major to political science, which ultimately led to my career in law.

It has always been my desire to be an advocate, to help others and to stand up for what I believe in.”

While attending LMU, Baghdaserians met Daniel Leonetti, who later become his partner at Baghdaserians Law Group.

After graduating from LMU, Baghdaserians attended Southwestern Law School, where he had the distinct honor of working as a full-time legal intern for renowned federal judge the Honorable Robert M. Takasugi.

While serving the federal court, Baghdaserians was involved in and witnessed many federal trials and hearings.

“Judge Takasugi, who passed away in 2009, was a federal judge for more than 30 years and stationed in Downtown Los Angeles at the federal courthouse on Spring Street,” Baghdaserians says.

“He was the first Japanese American to ever be appointed to the federal bench by a U.S. president. As a first-generation continued on page 18

Patrick Baghdaserians loves how his work in family law allows him to “go to court and advocate for others.”

Patrick Baghdaserian/Submitted

F

By Kamala Kirk

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continued from page 16

American, he had a lot of things to overcome in his life and his background was similar to mine. To this day, when anyone asks me who my favorite teacher was when I was growing up, I always say Judge Takasugi. I learned so much from him, not only about how to handle the legal process but also about humanity, because I observed him delve into those issues on a daily basis. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my career.”

After graduating from Southwestern in 2007, Baghdaserians went into family law. In 2019, he founded Baghdaserians Law Group, which has offices in Pasadena and Beverly Hills.

“Family law is such a melting pot, which is what really drew me to it,” Baghdaserians says. “It provides the opportunity to be a litigator, a mediator and to go to court. Being able to go to court and advocate for others is something I’ve always wanted to do in my life, and it turns out I’m really good at it. When it comes to family law, we’re not dealing with large corporations. We’re dealing with human beings and children, and I get to make a positive impact on people’s lives every day.”

In 2014, Baghdaserians became a state bar-certified specialist in family law, making him one of the youngest family law specialists in California.

“It usually takes most people 10 to 15 years to become a state-certified specialist, but I achieved it in less than 6 years,” Baghdaserians says.

“It’s an extremely difficult process because you not only have to pass the examination, but you have to complete a certain number of trials and you have to negotiate a certain number of cases to resolution as a first- year lawyer. It was a combination of my academic and boots-on-the-ground experience that have led to my success as a family law litigator.”

Baghdaserians Law Group helps clients in all areas of family lawrelated matters, including child and spousal support, domestic violence and divorce, among others. In addition to Baghdaserians and Leonetti,

their team consists of top attorneys, paralegals and legal assistants who work hard to help their clients achieve success.

“I’m extremely aggressive and passionate about my clients, and I hate to lose,” Baghdaserians says. “I handle cases up and down the coast, and we have some of the brightest minds and best family law judges working in LA County. It’s very important when hiring a lawyer that they have experience and understanding of various judicial officers. Our firm specializes in all types of family law cases, we’re not scared of litigating, and we don’t let our clients throw their money away. We also have a very supportive collegiate atmosphere and positive work environment. We don’t tolerate negativity, bullying or aiming. What we have is the perfect combination of individuals who share one common goal, which is to make sure that our clients get the best representation they possibly can.”

Being involved and giving back to the community is also extremely important to Baghdaserians and his firm. He supports the Armenian Educational Foundation and provided funding to help the organization complete the renovation of the No. 4 Artik School in Armenia.

In the last few years, he has served as president of the alumni board of directors at Southwestern Law School and as a board of trustee member that runs the entire law school.

“In my role as president of the board, I was able to establish a legal program called the Domestic Violence Advocacy Initiative that helps raise funds to provide financial stipends for lawyers to work pro bono and help victims of domestic violence,” Baghdaserians says. “We also partner with various legal aid organizations such as LevittQuinn Family Law Center.”

A longtime resident of the La Cañada area where he grew up and now lives with his family, Baghdaserians chose to open his law practice in Pasadena for several reasons.

“I love Pasadena because it has both an Old World and East Coast vibe to it,” says Baghdaserians, who graduated from St. Francis High School.

“It’s at the forefront of academia and is home to a wonderful arts, culture and sports scene that contribute to a very high-quality of life.

My wife and I are patrons of the arts, and we love spending time at various museums and cultural institutions like The Huntington Library.

Pasadena also has a fantastic police department that does a great job to ensure we’re all safe and we don’t have a lot of the problems that other parts of LA are dealing with.”

Having worked for almost two decades as an attorney, Baghdaserians looks forward to continuing to serve his clients and the community for many years to come.

“I love advocacy, going to court and protecting my clients,” Baghdaserians says. “I love advocating on behalf of people who can’t advocate for themselves. That’s the real role of a lawyer — whether you’re in family law, personal injury law or criminal law, it doesn’t matter. At the end of the day, we are advocates. Advocacy is what drew me to a career in the legal industry. It drew me to family law. It’s the reason I love what I do.”

Baghdaserians Law Group 790 E. Colorado Boulevard, Suite 360, Pasadena 626-460-9525 baglawgroup.com

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CULINARY CUPBOARD

Brandy peach panna cotta is invigorating

By Emily Chavez

P

anna cotta is a hot summer staple dessert that is decadent, refreshing and easy to make ahead — especially on sweltering July days.

These can be made in the morning using just the stovetop so the kitchen doesn’t heat up from the oven. But, in the afternoon, they can be enjoyed for an invigorating, creamy afternoon dessert.

And let’s not overlook the “wow factor” of the panna cotta’s perfect layers and individual portions, which are sure to impress your family and guests. A soft base is topped with a brandy and peach layer that creates not only distinctive layers visually but also a contrast of flavors that play off each other with the warming vanilla and brandy, refreshing peach, and cool and velvety texture.

BRANDY PEACH PANNA COTTA ACTIVE TIME: 1 HOUR | TOTAL TIME: 3 HOURS YIELDS 4 SERVINGS.

INGREDIENTS 1 VANILLA BEAN POD, SCRAPED 3/4 CUP WHOLE MILK 1 1/4 CUP HEAVY CREAM 1 PACKAGE UNFLAVORED GELATIN 1 TABLESPOON BROWN SUGAR 3 TABLESPOONS GRANULATED SUGAR

3 FIRM WHITE PEACHES, CORED AND SLICED 1 CUP WATER 1/2 CUP HONEY 1/4 OF A LEMON, JUICED 1 CUP BRANDY A COUPLE PINCHES OF SALT

BLOOM THE GELATIN BY SPRINKLING IT OVER THE MILK AND SETTING IT ASIDE. DO NOT STIR. BRING HEAVY CREAM, BOTH SUGARS AND A PINCH OF SALT TO A SIMMER. DO NOT ALLOW IT TO BOIL. ONCE SIMMERING, REMOVE FROM HEAT AND WHISK IN THE GELATIN, THE MILK MIXTURE AND THE VANILLA BEAN SEEDS. LET THIS PANNA COTTA MIXTURE COOL FOR 10 MINUTES BEFORE DIVIDING EVENLY INTO 4 RAMEKINS OR SIMILAR-SIZED GLASSES AND CHILL IN THE REFRIGERATOR FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS TO SET. WHILE THE PANNA COTTA IS FIRMING UP, PLACE THE PEACHES, WATER, HONEY, LEMON JUICE, BRANDY AND A PINCH OF SALT IN A SMALL PAN. BRING TO A SIMMER AND COOK ON LOW HEAT UNTIL THE PEACHES ARE TENDER, ABOUT 30 MINUTES. STIR OCCASIONALLY SO NOTHING BURNS OR STICKS TO THE BOTTOM. REMOVE FROM HEAT AND LET COOL FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES. CHECK THAT THE PANNA COTTA IS FIRM BY LIGHTLY TOUCHING THE TOP OR JIGGLING EACH DISH. ONCE THE PANNA COTTA IS FIRM, FAN OUT THE PEACHES ON TOP AND LADLE THE REMAINING POACHING LIQUID OVER THE TOP. SERVE IMMEDIATELY OR CHILL UP TO 24 HOURS.

Luis Chavez/ Staff photographer

INSTRUCTIONS

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P H OTO PAG E

Dr. Khandi Reid, Bibliana Bovery, Neani Cobb-Phillips, Trudy Aldridge, Jackie Reid and Katherine Hunter-Blyden are alumni of Zeta Phi Beta, founded at Howard University in 1920.

Author Shawn Brown-Brumfield’s book “The Purpose Driven School” highlights methods to better reform schools.

Juneteenth Pasadena Divine Nine celebrates

By Luke Netzley

Kieth D. Johnson, Dr. Ryeal Simms, chapter President Dr. Stephen Rice, and Ron Carter represented the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity at its booth during the Juneteenth celebration.

Chris Mortenson/Staff Photographer

I

n celebration of Juneteenth, which commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, members of the Pasadena Divine Nine fraternities and sororities held a Greek Picnic on June 19 at Victory Park.

“Traditionally, our chapter has held our walk and picnic on Father’s Day, and Juneteenth falls on the same day as Father’s Day this year,” says Larry Quishenberry, basileus (president) of the Zeta Tau chapter of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. “I thought it would be a great opportunity to invite the other members of the Divine Nine to join us for the walk and expand our celebration. The invitation was well received by all, and here we are.”

The Juneteenth celebration brought together the nine historically Black Greek letter organizations that make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Collectively, these organizations are referred to as “The Divine Nine” and include the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, Omega Psi Phi fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta sorority, Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, Zeta Phi Beta sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho sorority and Iota Phi Theta fraternity.

The picnic featured music, food for sale from Rodney’s Ribs food truck, a health walk, and booths by Black-owned businesses and Black authors. The Pasadena Police Department, Pasadena Fire Department and Pasadena Department of Public Health were also present for a meet and greet.

Courtney Truley hosted her first pop-up stand for her essential oil brand Truley Organics.

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CALENDAR

Vroman’s

Live

Bookstore boasts stellar lineup for July

T

By Arroyo Staff

he bookstore Vroman’s is hosting virtual and in-person programs throughout July. Register through vromansbookstore. com. Anyone with questions is asked to contact email@ vromansbookstore.com. Vroman’s Virtual events will be presented through Crowdcast.

John Vercher and Chris L. Terry discuss “After the Lights Go Out” 6 p.m. Thursday, July 7 Xavier “Scarecrow” Wallace, a biracial MMA fighter on the wrong side of 30, is facing the fight of his life. Wallace can no longer deny he is losing his battle with chronic traumatic encephalopathy or pugilistic dementia. Through the fog of memory loss, migraines and paranoia, Wallace does his best to stay in shape by training at the Philadelphia gym owned by Shot, a retired champion boxer to whom Wallace owes an unpayable debt.

Wallace makes ends meet while he waits for the call that will reinstate him after a year suspension by teaching youth classes at Shot’s gym and living rent free in the house of his white father, whom Wallace was forced to commit to a nursing home. The progress of father Sam’s end-stage Alzheimer’s has revealed his latent racism, and Wallace finally gains insight into why his Black mother left the family years ago.

Wallace is offered a chance at redemption: a last-minute, highprofile comeback fight. If he can get himself back in the game, he’ll be able to clear his name and begin to pay Shot.

To register, visit crowdcast.io/e/john-vercher-in.

Ned Beauman and Joshua Cohen discuss “Venomous Lumpsucker” 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 13 Soon, thousands of species are going extinct every year and an entire industry has sprung up around their extinctions to help preserve the remnants. For example, biobanks secure archives of DNA samples from which lost organisms might someday be resurrected. But one day, a mysterious cyberattack hits every biobank, wiping out the last traces of the perished species.

Karin Resaint and Mark Halyard are concerned with one species in particular: the venomous lumpsucker, the most intelligent fish on the planet. Resaint is an animal cognition scientist consumed with grief over what humans have done to nature, and Halyard is an executive from the extinction industry complicit in the mining operation that destroyed the lumpsucker’s last known habitat.

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Across the dystopian landscapes of the 2030s, Resaint and Halyard hunt for a surviving lumpsucker. The further they go, the deeper they’re drawn into the mystery of the attack on the biobanks.

To register, visit crowdcast.io/e/ned-beauman-in.

In-person events Vroman’s in-person events are no longer ticketed but are free and open to the public. Masks are strongly encouraged for those attending Vroman’s events.

All in-person events will be held at Vroman’s located at 695 E. Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, unless noted otherwise. For more information, call vromansbookstore.com.

Dave Lopez presents “It’s a Great Life if You Don’t Weaken: Family, Faith, and 48 Years on Television” 7 p.m. Friday, July 8 For nearly 50 years, Dave Lopez covered every major story in the southland and was a nightly presence in LA living rooms on KCBS Channel 2. He garnered Emmys, accolades and thousands of fans along the way.

One of the first Hispanic reporters on a major station, Lopez’s inaugural report on Channel 2 in 1977 concerned an apartment fire that nearly ended in tragedy because none of the firefighters on scene spoke Spanish. Lopez was personally breaking barriers decades before Mexican lives officially “mattered,” a success he credits entirely to his upbringing.

In this nostalgic look back, Lopez recalls the values instilled by his hardworking father, a man he worshipped and feared in equal measures. When Lopez lost his beloved wife and mother and his invincible father fell apart, Lopez finally lost his unflagging optimism and was forced to begin again just as the entire world of news was undergoing a change.

Delia E. Racines presents “Trust as the Core of Instructional Leadership” 7 p.m. Monday, July 11 Be visible and approachable, unpack necessary conversations with care, and build capacity based on strengths. Author Delia E. Racines offers these powerful protocols and more to support instructional leaders in building a community of trust in which positive change can occur.

continued on page 24 07.22 | ARROYO | 23

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ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE

Since 1998 Times Media Group has been a locally owned news and entertainment media company. Fast forward to today and TMG is now one of the largest print and digital media companies in the Southwest. With this level of growth and expansion we need to add to our multi-media sales team.

Times Media Group is seeking an experienced advertising account executive.

This is an excellent opportunity for a highly motivated and experienced advertising sales professional. TMG has grown significantly as a result of its great professional team, and its well-known print and digital media platforms, including the Pasadena Weekly and Arroyo Magazine.

WHAT WE NEED Two years of outside advertising sales experience is preferred. A good candidate for this position is financially motivated, possesses exceptional organizational skills and is ready to embrace a real opportunity to work on a quality team.

An ideal candidate will be familiar with the San Gabriel Valley area including Pasadena, Alhambra, Altadena, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena and the surrounding areas.

We are seeking an individual who can sell solutions not just ads, who appreciates straight-talk, and is hardworking, motivated, and values working in a positive team environment.

WHAT WE OFFER + Base Pay + Commission + Health Benefits + 401(k) + Paid Vacations and Holidays If, based on the requirements, you are a qualified candidate and would like to join a quality team and get on with your future, respond with your resume and a cover letter outlining why you believe you are a good fit for the position. We are currently scheduling interviews.

Times Media Group offers a positive work environment, great product line and a significant opportunity for income growth.

Times Media Group: Times Media Group is a digital and print media company that operates in the Phoenix, Tucson, San Diego and Los Angeles markets. It serves a wide variety of demographic audiences and communities.

E-mail Resumes & Cover Letter to: Zac@timespublications.com

continued from page 23

Michael Bourne and Edan Lepucki discuss “Blithedale Canyon” 7 p.m. Thursday, July 14 Trent Wolfer has blown it, in every possible way, over and over.

Fresh out of rehab, he’s back in his hometown working a dead-end job at a fast-food joint where he cuts out on his breaks to sneak airplane bottles of alcohol, when he looks up from his register one day to see Suze Randall.

Randall, his closest friend from high school, is now a radiant blonde single mother of two.

Set in a small, sun-drenched Northern California town, “Blithedale Canyon” asks whether a man who has spent his whole life screwing up can stop long enough to avoid destroying a woman he loves.

Sarah James and Julie Claiborne Johnson discuss “The Women with Two Shadows” 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 26 Lillian Kaufman hasn’t heard from her twin sister since Eleanor left for a mysterious job at an Army base somewhere in Tennessee. After an unexpected phone call, Lillian learns that Eleanor is missing, and she takes a train from New York down to Oak Ridge to clear up the matter. It turns out the only way into Oak Ridge is to assume Eleanor’s identity, which Lillian plans to do swiftly and perfectly.

But Eleanor has vanished without a trace — and she’s not the only one.

How do you find someone in a town so dangerous it doesn’t officially exist, when technically you don’t exist either? Lillian is thrust into the epicenter of the gravest scientific undertaking of all time, with no idea whom she can trust, and the more she pretends to be Eleanor, the more she loses her grip on herself.

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A R T S A N D C U LT U R E

‘All We Need is Music’

Valerie June honored to be part of Palomino Festival

S

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

inger-songwriter Valerie June is looking forward to the July 9 Palomino Festival because, after all, “all we need is music, live music.”

“The quarantine wasn’t too bad,” she says. “I’m a loner. It was just me and my plants. I was in Tennessee for half, New York for the rest of it.”

She honed her musical skills during the pandemic to fulfill her need for music. All of this will be reflected in her Palomino set.

“I try to leave everyone levitating out the doors or off the stage,” June says.

“It’s very uplifting, and hopefully fans feel deep emotions — like joyful — and use that joy as a positive form of activism.”

She says her “joyful” shows are exactly what fans — and the world — need these days.

“I really feel like so many artists are trying to do that and put that energy out there,” she says.

“Every day we’re faced with more drama, and all of us are tired of it. How do we create more joy and gentleness in our day? We’re figuring it out. I don’t have the answers.”

The Grammy-nominated singer is set to release “Under Cover,” an eight-song covers collection, on Friday, Aug. 26.

“Under Cover” features interpretations of Frank Ocean’s “Godspeed,” Joe South’s “Don’t It Make You Want to Go Home,” Gillian Welch’s “Look At Miss Ohio,” and Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds’ “Into My Arms.”

The EP also includes two tracks that appeared on June’s (digital only) “The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers” deluxe edition: John Lennon’s “Imagine” and Nick Drake’s “Pink Moon.”

Rounding out the track list are a rendition of Bob Dylan’s “Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here with You” (previously available as an Amazon Original exclusive) and June’s previously released reading of Mazzy Star’s “Fade Into You.” “I didn’t think it was possible for me to even release one album,” she says. “The whole experience of being who I am now and doing what I’m doing is a dream fulfilled. It’s an example of how to manifest a dream. At this level, it’s quite something. I say to myself, ‘Where do I want to go from here?’ I try to live in a dream state all the time. Dreams are never totally fulfilled. There’s always another dream to fulfill.”

She’ll perform some of these songs at Palomino, an event she’s excited about.

“The whole lineup is amazing,” she says. “Charley Crockett, I haven’t seen him live yet. I haven’t seen Kacey Musgraves, and she’s been huge for years. Being in the same space as Willie Nelson is great. I haven’t seen him perform for a long time. It’s a really nice event. I’m honored to be invited.”

Renata Raks/Submitted

Palomino Festival WHEN: Noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 9 WHERE: Brookside at the Rose Bowl, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena COST: General admission starts at $179 plus fees, while VIP passes are $399 plus fees INFO: palominopasadena.com

Singer-songwriter Valerie June will infuse her Palomino set with the lessons and musical skills she learned during the pandemic.

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A R T S A N D C U LT U R E

Scissor Sisters front man Jake Shears is playing Charlie Price in the production of “Kinky Boots” at the Hollywood Bowl.

Living the

Dream

Jake Shears is ‘alarmed’ and excited about ‘Kinky Boots’ ackstage at a London Pet Shop Boys show this spring, Scissor Sisters front man Jake Shears is — admittedly — grousing about something.

Then, his friend from the PSB, Chris Lowe, set him straight.

“He said to me, ‘You need to stop and look at all the stuff you’re doing,’” Shears recalls. “‘This is stuff that anybody would dream of.’ I try to remember that a lot.”

This month, he’ll continue his Broadway dream by playing Charlie Price in the production of “Kinky Boots” at the Hollywood Bowl from Friday, July 8, to Sunday, July 10.

“I’m still a little bit alarmed — but excited,” the effervescent Shears says with a laugh via Zoom from his London home.

“I heard they were doing it, and I was just praying that they would call and ask me to do it. I wanted to do it again.”

Couple that with Shears’ desire to perform at the Hollywood Bowl, and it’s his perfect storm.

“I’ve never performed at the Hollywood Bowl before,” Shears says.

“It’s always been a massive dream of mine. I love playing big

places. I love playing big festivals. I love playing big stages. I love playing big rooms. I feel like the Hollywood Bowl is one of the classic big, big stages.”

Inspired by a true story, “Kinky Boots” will be the 21st annual LA Phil and Hollywood Bowl-produced, fully staged Broadway musical to be presented at the historic venue. It tells the story of an unlikely friendship.

Factory owner Charlie is struggling to save his business, and the fabulous Lola has a wildly exciting idea that just might do the trick.

Shears will be joined in the musical by the likes of Wayne Brady (Lola), Kelly Marie Tran (Lauren), Mark Ballas (Harry), Marissa Jared Winokur (Pat), Jim J. Bullock (George) and Jennifer Perry (Trish).

“Believe it or not, they’re going to be the first stilettos I’ll ever have worn. My feet are so big, I’ve never seen a pair that would actually fit me,” he said in 2018.

“Kinky Boots” won six 2013 Tony Awards including best musical, with its Tony-winning music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper, uplifting book by four-time Tony winner Harvey Fierstein, and direction and Tony-winning choreography by original director-choreographer Jerry Mitchell.

Kinky Boots/Submitted

B

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

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The conductor and musical director is two-time Tony and Grammy winner Stephen Oremus, the original music supervisor, arranger and orchestrator of “Kinky Boots,” for which he won the Tony for best orchestrations. “Kinky Boots” also won the Grammy for best musical theater album.

Broadway debut Shears made his Broadway debut in “Kinky Boots” in 2018. He says performing on The Great White Way fulfilled his dream “tenfold.”

“I didn’t know if I could do it or not, but I definitely wanted to try,” he says about his “Kinky Boots” debut.

“The opportunity to go on and star in a Broadway show was super exciting. I love musicals. I love making them. I knew that to be in a musical like ‘Kinky Boots’ would be experiencing a full machine — something that’s built with all these moving parts. Going into a show like that is like stepping into a well-oiled machine. I love writing musicals. My second musical is going into production this fall.”

He wrote the music for the 2011 stage musical “Tales of the City.”

Shears’ second production begins this fall at the Almeida Theatre in London — an as-of-yet unnamed musical he has written with Elton John about Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker.

“I’m not musical expert,” he says.

“I love it, and I think I’m pretty good at it. I don’t have any big knowledge of musicals. I just have a passion for it.

“To step into that machine of ‘Kinky Boots’ and see the inner workings of a super successful show like that was really eye opening to me. I learned so much about musicals in general. That was one of the biggest gifts I got from it.”

Known for his flamboyant stage presence, Shears enjoys every moment onstage and jumps at any chance to do so.

“Doing eight shows a week on Broadway, five-show weekends, you finish Sunday night having lived part of your life in front of an audience,” Shears says.

“This ‘Kinky Boots’ character, Charlie Price, is onstage for most of the show. When I finished a weekend like that, I lived most of my life on a stage. It’s a weird feeling but a really cool one, too. It was some of the hardest work I ever did. It just brought me so much joy. Being asked to be back in it is exciting. It’s three nights at a venue. That’s been one of my biggest dreams to play ever. I never thought I would be in a show like this ever. There’s no way I was going to pass this up.”

Arizona boy Shears was raised in Mesa, Arizona, and returns occasionally to visit friends and family.

“I came out at (age) 15 at Mountain View High School in, like, 1993,” he says. “I had a lot of fun experiences in Arizona growing up around that time. I was in and out of the Phoenix area. I did spend quite a bit of time there.”

Concerts in the desert shaped Shears’ music sensibility — especially in the early 1990s when alt and Brit pop were all the rage.

“It was a major place for everyone to play,” he says about metropolitan Phoenix. “All the great alternative bands and Brit bands played there. My first concert was Siouxsie and the Banshees at the Mesa Amphitheater when I was 12.

“The number of concerts, the number of bands I saw there, it just completely shaped my taste and made me want to make music.”

“Kinky Boots” WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday, July 8, and Saturday, July 9; and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, July 10 WHERE: Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Avenue, Los Angeles COST: Ticket prices vary INFO: 323-850-2000, hollywoodbowl.com 07.22 | ARROYO | 27

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DESIGN

Happiness

Haven

Transforming a home into a positive space will enhance mental health

E

By Kamala Kirk

nvironment plays an important role in contributing to mental and physical health, and a home can be designed to have a positive impact on your life. Being happy is essential to well-being, and with many of us working remotely and spending more time at home these days, it’s crucial that one’s surroundings reflect the things that bring them joy.

“Updating your space is a simple way to living a happy life and having a better mental state,” says interior designer Amy Peltier of Amy Peltier Interior Design & Home in San Marino. “Your home is the place you come back to wind down after a crazy day; it’s your ultimate sanctuary.”

Meditative murals A mural can do a lot for a space and can be incorporated just about anywhere, including ceilings. Interior designer Allison Knizek of Los Angeles-based Allison Knizek Design shares that some of her favorite places to add murals include dining rooms, bathroom walls and accent bedroom walls.

“A mural can take you on a mental vacation,” Knizek says. “Washing a wall with a scene from a tropical destination is the best way to take your mind to faraway lands. Murals are attention drawing and stare-worthy. I

Erika Bierman Photography/Submitted

Designer Allison Knizek says adding a tropical, botanical, or flora and faunathemed mural to a space helps create a relaxing ambiance that instantly transport the viewer on a mental vacation.

Mood enhancement According to Peltier, one way to transform your home into a happy space is to switch out your pillows with vivid colors and happy patterns — anything that is bright, fresh and cheerful.

“Adding color is an instant mood booster and helps set the tone of your space,” Peltier says. “And playing around with your accessories and creating symmetry in the room will overall help the room feel more balanced.”

Peltier also suggests swapping out all the photos in your picture frames with updated pictures. Examples include photos taken on family trips and other life moments with special meaning.

“This creates a positive effect and overall happiness reflecting on your joyful memories,” Peltier says.

Smell also plays a big part in feeling the vibe of the space, which Peltier says can be done by using fresh flowers, plants, candles or even diffusers — anything to give a sensory experience.

“It enhances your mood but also promotes a feeling of calmness and reduces stress,” Peltier says.

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just love sitting and contemplating all the details of a mood-evoking mural in a dining room.”

When it comes to design and imagery, Knizek says she gravitates to tropical scenes, specifically with birds and leaves. “These motifs have been traditional threads in murals for centuries and yet today, paired with the right furniture, look totally modern.”

Knizek uses two types of murals — a wallpaper mural (such as the blue parrots from Ananbô Paris) that is installed by the roll by a professional paper hanger, or a hand-painted mural. Knizek hires Tina Crandall from The Art of Tina Crandall to hand-paint all of her murals, but depending on one’s skills, it can also be a DIY project.

“Murals are a great way to define a space in a home where one space flows into another,” Knizek says. “When a kitchen, breakfast area or dining area is adjacent to another room with no dividing walls, a mural with distinct borders can ‘carve out’ a visual room.”

Incorporating mindfulness “Home meditative spaces are becoming increasingly popular for incorporating calm, rejuvenation and recovery into daily life,” says Sarah Barnard, a leading LA-based designer of personalized, sustainable spaces that support mental, physical and emotional well-being. “While there are many benefits to having an isolated space devoted to meditation, using similar design considerations throughout other home areas can extend meditative practices and calming experiences.”

An unusual approach that Barnard says is gaining popularity is removing or limiting mirrors in the home. Not only can removing mirrors help with mindfulness as sensations of washing one’s face or brushing one’s teeth will become more apparent without the visual distraction of a mirror, but windows can provide a calming alternative and a routine connection to nature.

“Limiting mirror use can also offer a more experiential link to dressing, focusing on appealing patterns and textures, the sensation of wearing the clothing, and the emotional response to apparel,” Barnard says. “A new approach to daily routines may require a less automatic experience, leading to a mindful morning.”

Tactile elements throughout the home can also encourage mindfulness, from plush rugs underfoot and textured tiles to cool stone surfaces that draw attention to the experience of surrounding materials.

“Engaging with textures can encourage grounding and a present mindset, especially when abutting contrasting textures,” Barnard says. “Temperature can also support a thoughtful material relationship, with heated tile flooring drawing attention to the contact of feet against the surface.”

While many can benefit from reducing clutter, Barnard points out there are areas of the home where maintaining a minimal space can be challenging or inconvenient. To combat stress, prioritize areas of visual

Marisa Vitale/Submitted

continued on page 30

Incorporating windows in a household can provide a calming alternative to mirrors, according to designer Ashley Barnard.

Designer Ashley Barnard recommends prioritizing areas of visual focus to avoid clutter and combat stress.

To transform a home into the ultimate sanctuary, interior designer Amy Peltier recommends switching out pillows with vivid colors and happy patterns because color is an instant mood booster.

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continued from page 29

focus, whether drawing attention to a large window view or work of art to create a center of peace and encourage other visual elements to recede into the background.

“Keeping items behind drawers or doors can help minimize visual noise, particularly if using the material in contrast to the room’s focal point,” Barnard says. “If using a blue work of art as the room’s centerpiece, using neutral or warmer hues in other areas of the room can make the blues of the artwork stand out, drawing the eye to that location. If focusing on the outdoor views, using deeper colors or black metals to frame windows can create a strong visual statement that draws the eye toward the views.”

This home’s original, restored, leaded glass patterned windows cast a prismatic glow as they catch and reflect the light.

Amy Peltier Interior Design & Home peltierinteriors.com Allison Knizek Design allisonknizekdesign.com This peaceful and serene music room is a restful space to take in some fresh air and focus.

Sarah Barnard Design sarahbarnard.com

Steven Dewall/Submitted

A decorative neuron-inspired pendant light illuminates this primary bathroom vanity as a soothing, stone faucet handle contributes to a conscious daily ritual.

Battling anxiety with conscious design “As many of us have increased our time spent at home, designing spaces to encourage emotional and physical support and security can help manage feelings of uncertainty,” Barnard says. “When things are unpredictable, designing to support feelings of preparedness can help manage feelings of instability.”

One shift Barnard has seen is a desire for homes to function independently, with homes designed to meet base needs. Creating sustainable energy sources through solar, offering built-in water purification systems, wood-burning stoves, and additional opportunities and spaces for ample food and supply storage can support a sense of security and preparedness.

“In addition to offering comfort, these items can also be helpful in daily life to reduce overall energy costs and consumption, and create improved opportunities for socializing,” Barnard says. “An outdoor woodburning stove can offer an entertaining space for summer cookouts. At the same time, additional food and beverage storage create spaces for snacking throughout the home, ideal for larger layouts where the kitchens are distant from bedrooms.”

Barnard adds that once base needs and feelings of safety have been met, it’s important that homes surround us with a sense of beauty and joy to support our emotional happiness and well-being.

“Using healthy, natural materials, artwork and personal items of value that spark happiness can help combat stress and anxiety,” Barnard says.

“Beauty is also a valuable tool to encourage mindfulness, creating opportunities to slow down and appreciate our surroundings through sensory experiences.”

Another crucial design element when designing with anxiety in mind is a connection to nature. Barnard says biophilic design has been celebrated for its effects on mood and happiness, and anecdotally harmony with nature has been considered beneficial for mental and physical health for some time.

“Prioritizing views of nature and natural plant patterns and themes in design can help support a connection that inspires a sense of calm and well-being,” Barnard says.

“In addition to its emotionally supportive benefits, a reference to nature can help create an expansive point of view, offering opportunities to zoom out and take on a fresh perspective. Feeling connected to your surroundings, whether that’s plant life, wildlife or your neighbors, can add in preventing feelings of isolation and encourage recognition of self as part of a larger community.”

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SPORTS

Saying

Farewell Sarafian to be honored later this summer

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

Chris Mortenson/Staff photographer

A

fter 40 years with Pilgrim School in Los Angeles, coach Mike Sarafian recently said farewell to his students and staff.

To celebrate his retirement, the school gave him a folder filled with personal notes from the students about their time with Sarafian. The staff will honor his career and retirement from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20.

“There were some tears,” he says with a laugh about his last day. “There were kids just randomly coming up and hugging me. It was just very humbling and very special.”

In a statement, the head of school, Patricia Kong, calls Sarafian “one of the most beloved faculty members.”

“His warmth, passion for all things sports, and dedication to Pilgrim has enriched each and every community member’s experience for decades, whether it be in our hallways, on the field or traveling to away games with his teams,” she writes.

Kong adds that Sarafian’s mark on Pilgrim goes past the sports programs he nurtured throughout the years, but reaches into every corner of the school.

“Whether it’s at morning drop-off or at an after school practice, Coach’s booming voice and positive energy puts a smile on everyone’s face and inspires excitement in our students.

“He is one of the first people our visiting alumni seek out, and someone they mention time and time again while reflecting on their time here. It always amazes me how, despite teaching hundreds of students since 1982, coach Sarafian never fails to remember a former student, their accomplishments, and even the accomplishments of their family members. While it is hard to imagine not seeing Coach on campus every day, the memories he has helped create here have ensured that he is an integral part of our Pilgrim history.”

Sarafian hails from Pasadena and moved to Monrovia when he was 5. He is a graduate of Monrovia High School and Citrus College in Glendora.

Sports are in Sarafian’s blood, as he played sports in college. Upon graduation, he accepted a job as a student teacher working as a reading specialist at Azusa Unified School District. He helped with the freshman football team, among other squads, and volunteer coached at Monrovia High School.

“It was nice to start getting paid to do something you love,” says Sarafian, who started at Pilgrim School in August 1982.

Staying passionate wasn’t difficult. continued on page 32

Longtime teacher and coach Mike Sarafian recently retired from Pilgrim School in Los Angeles.

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“Spending time to teach and coach kids has always been a passion of mine,” he says.

“I never got tired of it. I’m still not really tired of it. I just got to the point where I wanted to spend more time with my family.”

However, he always spent time with his family.

His wife, Cheryl, worked at Pilgrim School for about 19 years in a variety of roles, including assistant to the head of school. Their children were educated there.

“We all drove in together and drove home,” he says. “How cool is that? Our grandson — who will be a senior this year — went there, too. But this will be more time than I normally spend with them, which will be nice.”

Pilgrim School is a well-established Los Angeles independent school centered around the growth and development of the students’ minds, bodies and spirits.

It provides the necessary resources to encourage and support students in their exploration of all subjects and artistic expressions while fostering a distinct culture of community.

“We pride ourselves on being one of the best private schools in Los Angeles that cultivates curious and engaged learners with strong values and ethos,” Kong says.

“With around 400 students and 60 faculty members, Pilgrim’s small size also allows for a cohesive effort among faculty, staff and administration to know and advocate on behalf of each and every student. Our ultimate goal is to shape our learners into holistic, empathetic, successful and resilient young people.”

During his time with Pilgrim, Sarafian coached a plethora of sports.

“I’ve continued coaching football and took over the head position when our athletic director left,” says Sarafian, who will travel in his retirement, too.”

Sarafian spent the next four decades teaching all grade levels, from preschool to 12th grade. Teaching and coaching were just as educational for him as the students.

“I learned so much about coaching from our previous athletic director, Gene Hicks, who taught me everything I know about basketball.

“I owe so much to him. I owe so much to the athletic director who introduced me to Pilgrim School. We hit it off right away. Everything fell into place. I owe a lot to a lot of people. I didn’t invest the wheels, but what I learned from them…”

Although not as regimented as the school position, Sarafian has set up a “schedule” for home.

“I’m going to wake up without the alarm clock,” he says with a laugh.

“The second thing I’m going to do is go out with my wife — I don’t know what we’re going to do — on a Sunday night and have a dinner and a movie, and not worry about getting home at a decent time.”

Mike Sarafian is looking forward to Sunday night dates with his wife, Cheryl.

Chris Mortenson/Staff photographer

continued from page 31

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