O Christmas Tree

Last night the colorful lights on the City Hall Christmas tree were turned on during a special holidy celebration.

The tree was put in place and decorated on Monday by the Public Works Department.


Yours truly served as MC last night.


The Pasadena City College Brass Quintet performed music of the season...


...much to the delight of residents and employees.


Mayor Bill Bogaard flipped the switch that turned on thousands of energy-saving LED lights donated by Pasadena Water and Power.


Many people brought toys and sports equipment to donate to the Spark of Love Toy Drive co-sponsored by the Pasadena Fire Department.


Pasadena firefighters loaded the gifts into a Pasadena Fire Department ambulance, which later transported the presents to a local fire station for wrapping and then distribution to needy infants, children and teens.


Thanks for coming, everybody!



Many thanks to the mighty Zack Stromberg of the Public Affairs Office for the photos.

Tree-lighting at City Hall

Here's what I love most about our Christmas tree-lighting event every year at Pasadena City Hall: Ours is not an uber fancy-schmancy department store type of tree. Instead, ours is traditional and folksy. The entire ceremony warms everyone's hearts.

Last night dozens of people gathered in the grand entrance for the occasion.


Expectant faces were everywhere we looked.


Robin Turrentine led the McKinley After-school Performing Choir. These children -- and their director -- are magnificent.

Mayor Bill Bogaard and I shared the MC responsibilities.


Some of our wonderful volunteers served up refreshments.


And then Mayor Bogaard flicked the switch that lit the tree.

Thanks to Manuel Galloway of our Public Works Department, a crew cleaned and polished the tile floor of City Hall's grand entrance for the event, and the lights are reflected beautifully as a result. (Another Public Works Department crew delivers the tree to City Hall every year, and still another decorates it.)


Happy holidays, everyone!

All photos were shot by the mighty Zack Stromberg of my Public Affairs Office staff.

The Season Has Officially Begun

Don't listen to the department stores that put out their Christmas trees and other holiday decorations before Halloween every year.

The season really, truly begins with the tree-lighting ceremony at Pasadena City Hall!

The festivities took place tonight at 5:30 p.m. in the grand entrance, where more than 100 people had gathered.

The event kicked off with the McKinley After-school Chorus under the direction of Robin Turrentine. They were just great!

Mayor Bill Bogaard is out of town, so Vice Mayor Steve Haderlein did the honors. He flipped the switch that turned the tree from plain...

...to brightly lit.
Hundreds and hundreds of LED lights were donated by Pasadena Water and Power. They use only 10% of the energy that incandescent tree lights use, and they don't put out any heat whatsoever.

A lot of people brought unwrapped gifts to put in the Pasadena Fire Department's Spark of Love boxes for needy children and teens.

Drive by some night when you're in the neighborhood. The tree, in all its glory, is spectacular!