Let's Hear it for the Women!

Business Life Magazine is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a Sept. 22 "Women Extraordinaire 1990-2010" gala at the Glendale Hilton Hotel.

Why does this matter to Pasadena?

Because among the 20 women they're honoring from throughout the Glendale/Burbank/Pasadena area are former Mayor Katie Nack (in memoriam), shown at the top of this post; Assistant City Manager Julie Gutierrez...


...and Pasadena Water and Power General Manager Phyllis Currie.


John Krikorian, publisher of Business Life, said this about all of the honorees: "They led the way for others and selflessly gave of themselves, with passion, to support their communities through service organizations, business and government."

Other Pasadena women to be honored include Gerda Govine, Jaylene Moseley, Marsha Rood, Ruthie Hopkins, Nell Hollmand, Aleen Boladian, Stacie Olivares Howard and Juanita West-Tillman.

Find more information about the event here.

Mystery History -- Solved

Kevin Brechner wins with his 11:47 a.m. Wednesday guess "It is a shot of a city council meeting discussion between Issac Richards and Rick Cole."

In the photo above, a raging fire on May 26, 1992, in Centennial Square in front of Pasadena City Hall is reduced to white smoke by the quick thinking of three Pasadena Fire Department engine companies, which also provided paramedic services during the unfortunate event.

During the Pasadena City Council meeting that evening, Councilman Isaac Richard...


...and Mayor Rick Cole...


...had a disagreement over which of the two was more compassionate toward code-violating constituents in their districts (1 and 2 respectively).

The regaled each other and the audience with example after example of their righteousness.

Isaac insisted he was more compassionate, having looked the other way when a herd of cats used their matted whiskers to dial 9-1-1 so they could be rescued from their owner, a serious hoarder who had lost her sense of smell, not to mention her hair.



Unwilling to accept defeat, Rick tearfully told how he completely ignored one neighbor's complaints about another neighbor's high fence in Bungalow Heaven. Rick insisted he ignored it in the public interest: After all, the house wasn't even a Craftsman.



The one-upsmanship continued for hours.

Isaac and Rick kept their composure as long as they could but finally the heat of their anger filled the council chamber with thick smoke.

First the fire marshal cleared the room...


...then the sergeant at arms ordered everyone down to the street.


Everybody chose sides and the fists began to fly.


This behavior proved too much for Katie Nack, the only female on the council, whose delicate sensibilities could take no more.


So she transformed into her alter ego and ended the chaos for good by body-slamming Isaac Richard and cold-cocking Rick Cole.


I was there that night, people. I was forever changed.


OK, fine -- April Fools!!! I'll have the true Mystery History reveal tomorrow.

Many thanks to Larry Wilson for the photo of Isaac Richard.