Here is a sampling of things to do in the San Gabriel Valley and Whittier, May 19-26.

Raging Waters celebrates its 40th season on May 20, with the debut of “Bombs Away,” its newest 300-foot plunge ride. Riders can choose from two drop tubes to either fly straight down at 26 feet per second or loop around to splashdown. The largest water park in California will also offer its Father’s Day Flop on June 18 and an all-new Pirates Day Treasure Hunt in September. Season passes start at $99. For more information, ragingwaters.com/buy-tickets/tickets

Forest Lawn Museum – Glendale: New: “Grand Views: The Immersive World of Panoramas,” through Sept. 10. The exhibit is in partnership with the Velaslavasay Panorama in Los Angeles (www.panoramaonview.org). Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Free admission. Location, 1712 S. Glendale Ave. forestlawn.com/events/grand-views/

An Evening with David Sedaris: Purchase presale tickets for the author’s talk, to be held at 8 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. The general sale begins at 10 a.m. May 19. The one-night-only event follows the release of Sedaris’ newest book “Happy Go Lucky.” For more information, go to visitpasadena.com and click on “Pasadena Events.”

Los Angeles County Fair: The fair’s theme this year is “Spring into Fair,” through May 29. Admission is available online now for discount. Hours: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Thursday-Sunday and Memorial Day (May 29). Admission online $15/$18/$21 (depending on date); ages 60 and older and ages 6-12 admission online $10/$12 (depending on date). Admission at the gate $30; $15 ages 60 and older and ages 6-12. Parking in advance online $17; $22 at the gate. Also, Fairplex is a cashless venue. Some concessionaires and vendors may accept cash, but credit or debit card is preferred. Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona. www.lacountyfair.com

Covina Woman’s Club’s Bunco Afternoon: Join the fun at 2 p.m. May 19. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. Admission $20. Tickets will be sold at the door but come early to ensure a seat. Finger foods and drinks will be served after the games. Clubhouse, 128 S. San Jose Ave. (off of Badillo Street), Covina. covinawomansclub.org

Car show: Ruby’s Cruise car show starring American Streetrodders happens at 5 p.m. Fridays, through October. 10109 Whittwood Drive, Whittier. Come for food, family fun, trophies and prizes. Location, 10109 Whittwood Drive, Whittier. For more information,  SoCalCarCulture.com. Flyer: bit.ly/44MQ9D8

Vroman’s Bookstore: Holly Goldberg Sloan discusses her novel “Pieces of Blue,” 7 p.m. May 19. Local Author Day: Clarence Irwin (“The Fourth Canton: Adventures of the Rhett Family and Co.”), Anthony J. Mohr (“Every Other Weekend – Coming of Age with Two Different Dads”) and Melina Maria Morry (“The Manhattan Mishap”) discuss their books, 4 p.m. May 21. Héctor Tobar discusses “Our Migrant Souls: A Meditation on Race and the Meanings and Myths of ‘Latino,’” 7 p.m. May 22. Louise Penny signs “A World of Curiosities,” 4 p.m. May 23. Joe Ide discusses “Fixit – An IQ Novel,” 7 p.m. May 24. T.J. Newman discusses “Drowning: The Rescue of Flight 1421,” 7 p.m. May 31. Location, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 626-449-5320. vromans.com

The Dance and the Railroad: The play by David Henry Hwang, set in 1867, follows two Chinese artists and their fellow railroad workers as they hold a strike to protest inhuman conditions suffered by Chinese laborers in the American West, opening night, 8 p.m. May 19. Show runs 8 p.m.  May 20; 2 p.m. May 21 and 7 p.m. May 22. Tickets are pay-what-you-choose with options, $30 or $50. A Noise Within, 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. 626-356-3100. anoisewithin.org/noise-now. www.anoisewithin.org/play/dance-and-the-railroad

Wheel fun time: The Los Angeles Invitational features three gravel ride options kicking off at 7:30 a.m. May 20 and followed by the sixth annual bike/car show and swap meet, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 21. The Cub House, 2510 Mission St., San Marino. 626-755-3003. losangelesinvitational.com

Farmers market at Mount San Antonio College Farm fresh everything is available, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. May 20 at Parking Lot B, 1100 N. Grand Ave., Walnut. Aside from fruits and vegetables, find all kinds of nuts, breads, desserts, snacks, juices and ready-to-eat dishes such as dumplings. Vendors also sell handmade items and plants. 909-869-0701. Email: info@regionalchambersgv.com. Regional Chamber of Commerce – San Gabriel Valley: bit.ly/3WK4ZFj. www.facebook.com/MTSacFarmersMarket

West Covina Farmers Market: Shop for in-season fruits and vegetables, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. May 20 (and also on most Saturdays). The market also offers prepared foods and artisan crafts. EBT is accepted. Location, 195 Glendora Ave., West Covina. For more information, email: Fmlcevendor@gmail.com. Check here for updates: www.facebook.com/westcovinafarmersmarket

Handcraft heaven: Artazan, a springtime market inspired by the Arts & Crafts movement, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. May 20 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 21. Check out more than 200 exhibits, artist demos, food and live music. The exhibits celebrate handmade artisanship. Admission $8 online; $10 at the door; admission is good for both days. Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green St. Artazan.com

Repair Café: A free, all-purpose repair party, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. May 20. Learn how fix household appliances. Bring your torn jeans, dull knife or faulty lamp. Arrive early to ensure your item is looked at. Bring your own replacement parts (no replacement parts for items will be available. This event will be indoors. There will also be plant-sharing and a free market. Park across the library at 120 Artsakh Ave. The library validates for three hours parking. Glendale Central Library, 222 E. Harvard St., Glendale. For questions, 818-548-2021 or email at LibraryInfo@GlendaleCA.gov. Details, and to see what can’t be repaired: bit.ly/44NRSIs

Renaissance Pleasure Faire: Immerse yourself in the time of Queen Elizabeth I’s reign and have some fun with cosplay of the time period, speaking the lingo, shopping in the marketplace, listening to music and laughing at performances, May 20-21. Fun dress code: period “faire” costume (optional). Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Admission $42; $21 ages 5-12; $225 season pass. There is a mandatory entry fee $12 to the Santa Fe Dam Recreation area. Parking is free, first-come, first served; VIP parking $25 (must be purchased in advance online). Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, 15501 E. Arrow Highway, Irwindale. 626-969-4750. renfair.com/socal

Glendora Genealogical Society: Penny Walters, speaking on Zoom from England, gives a talk at the society’s next meeting, noon May 20. Walters discusses ethical dilemmas in genealogy and considering ethical issues with empathy and diplomacy. For more information and to get the Zoom link, email lorman1237@gmail.com or call 909-592-4030.

Crown City Symphony: The program includes Pelleas et Melisande Suite by Faure, L’Arlesienne Suite by Bizet and Concertina for Flute by Chaminade, with flute soloist Debbie MacMurray, 2 p.m. May 20. Free admission. First Baptist Church, 75 N. Marengo Ave., Pasadena. 626-797-1994.

Third@First Concert Series: Women composers are in the spotlight for “Joy of Chamber Music,” 4 p.m. May 20. The program includes Clara Schumann’s Piano Trio in G Minor and Amy Beach’s Piano Quintet in F-sharp Minor. Free admission. First United Methodist Church of Pasadena, 500 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. thirdatfirst.org

Storied science: TechLit, Caltech’s creative writing club, invites the public to an author reading and Q&A at 7 p.m. May 20. Delve into “Inner Space and Outer Thoughts: Speculative Fiction from Caltech and JPL Authors,” the group’s first science fiction anthology. Award-winning alumni and sci-fi legends S. B. Divya, Larry Niven and David Brin will read and Caltech and JPL research scientists will talk about the science behind their stories. Free admission, but make a reservation on the Eventbrite link. Caltech’s Beckman Auditorium, 332 S. Michigan Ave., Pasadena. bit.ly/Caltech-reading-tickets

Life in the Past Lane: “Museums of the Arroyo Day” returns, noon to 5 p.m. May 21. MOTA is the one day that five museums in Los Angeles and Pasadena open their doors to show off great architecture, historical discoveries, family fun and entertainment. Free shuttles will connect the museums: Gamble House; Heritage Square; Los Angeles Police Museum; Lummis Home and Garden;  Pasadena Museum of History. The best plan would be to pick no more than three museums to visit. For more information, visit MuseumsOfTheArroyo.com

Civil War talk: The Pasadena Civil War Round Table presents a talk by author Mark Cannon at its next meeting,7:15 p.m. May 23. Cannon discusses his book “Lincoln’s Scout: The Diary of Horatio Cooke, Soldier, Spy, Escape Artist.” Free admission/donations appreciated. Enter the parking lot at the driveway at 165 N. Madison Ave. (second driveway south of Walnut Street). Use rear door entrance to the Blinn House, 160 N. Oakland Ave., Pasadena. For more information, PasadenaCWRT.org

Music on Main: The city of El Monte brings music to its farmers market, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 25 with 4 The People. Main Street between Santa Anita and Tyler avenues, El Monte.  For more information, 626-580-2200. ci.el-monte.ca.us

Water safety fundraiser: The award-winning Rose Bowl Aquatics Center hosts “Water Safety for All,” a fundraiser featuring a paella-themed cocktail reception and documentary screening of “Drowning in Silence” on May 25. Tickets $100; $75 ages 55 and older. Reservations required. Garland Auditorium on the grounds of Polytechnic School, 1070 Cornell Road, Pasadena. Tickets: rosebowlaquatics.org/water-safety-for-all. See May 4 posting on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheRBAC/

Save the theater dates: Whittier Community Theatre is back at the newly refurbished Whittier Center Theatre. Celebrate 100 years with a new season, including “The Importance of Being Earnest (A Wilde New Musical)” opening in September. “The Ghost Train” follows in November, Neil Simon’s “California Suite” in February and “Moon Over Buffalo” in May. For more information about the plays and tickets, 562-696-0600. www.whittiercommunitytheatre.org

Ongoing

Pasadena Showcase House of Design: The 58th showcase highlights the talents of 32 interior and exterior designers who have transformed the Stewart House, a 1933 Pasadena colonial estate designed by Marston & Maybury. The estate is open for tours through May 21. Explore more than 30 design spaces and check out 20 boutique shops vendors, two restaurants, a wine bar and more than two-acres of gardens. Tour hours: 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Friday; 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Tour tickets are by a timed entry: $40 (1:30-4 p.m.); $50 (9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.); $35 (“Happy Hour,” 4 p.m. to closing). Parking and shuttles depart from Santa Anita Race Track, Gate 6 Lot on Colorado Place. Proceeds from the tours of the house go to fund three music programs. For more information, pasadenashowcase.org

Pasadena Tournament of Roses House: The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association offers free guided tours, 2 p.m. Thursdays through Aug. 31. The Tournament House tours reveals little-known facts and trivia and also includes the Wrigley Gardens. Explore the house that has served as headquarters for the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game. Reservations are required for the hour-long tours. For groups of 10 or more, call 626-449-4100 or email membership@tournamentofroses.com. Book a tour here: tournamentofroses.com/house-tours

Book a castle visit: Rubel Castle is an elaborate folk-art medieval castle in the foothills of Glendora, with five-story tall towers solidly built out of junk and river rocks by the late Michael Rubel and his friends. The castle offers eight scheduled tours each month. Tours are two hours long. Admission is $20 for adults; $10 ages 8-18. The property is not Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible; see website for details. Rubel Castle, 844 N. Live Oak Ave., Glendora. Glendora Historical Society voicemail, 626-963-0419. rubeltours.org

Descanso Gardens: Ongoing special art exhibit: “Shiki: The Four Seasons in Japanese Art,” in the Sturt Haaga Gallery and runs through May 21. Gardens hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. The gallery is open, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission $15; $11 ages 65 and older and student with valid ID; $5 ages 5-12. Location, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintidge. 818-949-4200. descansogardens.org

Kidspace Children’s Museum: The 27th annual “Butterfly Season” at the museum is open with children’s activities including going on a big safari, playing dress-up, viewing live caterpillars, moths and honeybees, through May 14. Also, learn from “Los Trompos,” an interactive art installation that honors the monarch butterfly’s cultural and ecological ties to Mexico. Tickets are by time and date: $14.95 ages 1-61; $12.95 ages 62 and older (purchase here: bit.ly/3mJOFoh). Location, 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena. 626-449-9144. kidspacemuseum.org

Los Angeles Arboretum and Botanic Garden: Hours: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. daily. Purchase tickets online and in advance. Admission $15; $11 ages 62 and older and students with ID; $5 ages 5-12. Due to construction of a new visitor entrance, entrance is temporarily at the south parking lot and north of Ayres Hall. The arboretum is at 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. 626-821-3222. arboretum.org

Monrovia Historical Museum: Explore the museum, 1-4 p.m. Thursday and Sunday. Docent-led tours are available. Free admission/donation. The museum is at 742 E. Lemon Ave., Monrovia. 626-357-9537. monroviahistoricalmuseum.org

Norton Simon Museum: Ongoing special exhibits: “Saint Sebastian: Anatomy of a Sculpture,” learn about the 15th-century Italian painted sculpture from the Norton Simon collections, through July 3. “All Consuming: Art and the Essence of Food,” through Aug. 14. An online exhibit: “Representing Women: Gender and Portraiture in 17th Century Europe” (view here bit.ly/3zLRR9p). Hours: noon-5 p.m. Monday and Thursday-Sunday. Admission $15; $12 ages 62 and older; free for ages 18 and younger and students with a valid ID. Location, 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 626-449-6840. nortonsimon.org

USC Pacific Asia Museum: Ongoing special exhibit: “Global Asias: Contemporary Asian and Asian American Art — From the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation,” through June 25. Also, explore the Sunkal Ceramics Gallery and the specific galleries for art of South and Southeast Asia, China, Himalaya, Pacific Island, Japan, Korea and Silk Road. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. Admission is by advance timed purchase, $10; $7 ages 65 and older and students with valid ID; free for ages 17 and under. Also, free admission from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursdays and on the second Sunday of the month. 46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena. 626-787-2680. pacificasiamuseum.usc.edu

Whittier Museum: Exhibits on aspects of Whittier history including agriculture and Quaker settlers. Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 1-4 p.m. Saturday. Free admission/donations. Location, 6755 Newlin Ave., Whittier. 562-945-3871. Email: info@whittiermuseum.org. whittiermuseum.org/visit

Send calendar items to Anissa V. Rivera at sgvncalendar@gmail.com. Please send items at least three weeks before the event. Please list phone, email and/or website for additional information.

Here is a sampling of things to do in the San Gabriel Valley and Whittier, May 12-19.

There are as many activities to do on Sunday, Mother’s Day, as there are kinds of moms. Whether you go for brunch, a hike or the theater, here’s hoping this holiday make all the mothers of the San Gabriel Valley happy.

Jazz on Hill: Returns after three years with a celebration of Roy McCurdy at 10 a.m. for a history class, 4 p.m. for a master class, and 7 p.m. concert on May 12. Free admission. Reservations required: pasadenaconservatory.org/event/jazz-on-hill-2. Pasadena Conservatory of Music, 100 N. Hill Ave., Pasadena. 626-683-3355. pasadenaconservatory.org

Los Angeles County Fair: The fair’s theme this year is “Spring into Fair,” through May 29. Admission is available online now for discount. Hours: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Thursday-Sunday and Memorial Day on May 29. Admission online $15/$18/$21 (depending on date); ages 60 and older and ages 6-12 admission online $10/$12 (depending on date). Admission at the gate $30; $15 ages 60 and older and ages 6-12. Parking in advance online $17; $22 at the gate. Also, Fairplex is a cashless venue. Some concessionaires and vendors may accept cash, but credit or debit card is preferred. Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona. www.lacountyfair.com

Car show: Ruby’s Cruise car show starring American Streetrodders happens at 5 p.m. Fridays, through October. 10109 Whittwood Drive, Whittier. Come for food, family fun, trophies and prizes. Location, 10109 Whittwood Drive, Whittier. For more information,  SoCalCarCulture.com. Flyer: bit.ly/44MQ9D8

Open house: Discover young artists at Glendora Art Academy’s open house, 7 p.m. May 12. Pick up students’ work and enjoy light refreshments. Free admission. First Christian Church of Glendora, 300 N. Glendora Ave. 626-335-2240. Email: fccgfaa@gmail.com.

Farmers market at Mount San Antonio College: Farm fresh everything is available, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. May 13 at Parking Lot B, 1100 N. Grand Ave., Walnut. Aside from fruits and vegetables, find all kinds of nuts, breads, desserts, snacks, juices and ready-to-eat dishes such as dumplings. Vendors also sell handmade items and plants. 909-869-0701. Email: info@regionalchambersgv.com. Regional Chamber of Commerce – San Gabriel Valley: bit.ly/3WK4ZFj. www.facebook.com/MTSacFarmersMarket

Whittier’s Founders Day Community Picnic: The Whittier Historical Society and city of Whittier present the picnic, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. May 13. The event includes living history performers, live music, vintage car display, crafts, lawn games, a slam poetry contest and vendors. There will also be a beard and mustache competition. The city of Whittier was incorporated in 1898 and was named in honor of the Quaker poet, John Greenleaf Whittier. Fun dress code: 1890s period attire. Central Park, 6532 Friends Ave., Whittier. 562-945-3871. Details: bit.ly/42daz6Z

West Covina Farmers Market: Shop for in-season fruits and vegetables, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. May 13 (and also on most Saturdays). The market also offers prepared foods and artisan crafts. EBT is accepted. Location, 195 Glendora Ave., West Covina. For more information, email: Fmlcevendor@gmail.com. Check here for updates: www.facebook.com/westcovinafarmersmarket

San Gabriel Fire Department’s Fire Service Day: Event includes tours, mock firefighting demonstrations, paramedics demonstrations and fire safety information, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. May 13. Station 51, 1303 S. Del Mar Ave., San Gabriel. SanGabrielCity.com

Renaissance Pleasure Faire: Immerse yourself in the time of Queen Elizabeth I’s reign and have some fun with cosplay of the time period, speaking the lingo, shopping in the marketplace, listening to music and laughing at performances, Saturday-Sunday, May 13-14 and 20-21. Fun dress code: period “faire” costume (optional). Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Admission $42; $21 ages 5-12; $225 season pass. There is a mandatory entry fee $12 to the Santa Fe Dam Recreation area. Parking is free, first-come, first served; VIP parking $25 (must be purchased in advance online). Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, 15501 E. Arrow Highway, Irwindale. 626-969-4750. renfair.com/socal

Community expo: The Shops at Montebello host a community expo, “Peace, Love and Good Vibes,” with games for children, live performances, demos and raffles, noon-4 p.m. May 13. Shoppers may receive coupons, freebies and samples. Event is “mall-wide” at 2134 Montebello Town Center Drive. montebellochamber.org/expo

Noise Now: A Noise Within and TheatreWorkers Project present “Unmasked,” an interactive theater piece written and performed by 11 members of Cal State Los Angeles’ Project Rebound, at 4 and 7 p.m. May 13. Admission is pay-what-you-choose among these price options: $5, $15 and $25. Location, 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. 626-356-3100. anoisewithin.org/noise-now

Rose Bowl Flea Market: Find what you’ve been searching for or discover a new collectible, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. May 14. Admission $12; ages 11 and younger are free with an adult; $20 for early admission between 5 and 8:45 a.m. (purchase all admissions online). The flea market is held on the second Sunday of the month. Location, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena. 626-577-3100. rgcshows.com/rose-bowl

Forest Lawn Museum – Glendale: May 14: “Grand Views: The Immersive World of Panoramas,” through Sept. 10. The exhibit is in partnership with the Velaslavasay Panorama in Los Angeles (www.panoramaonview.org). Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Free admission. Location, 1712 S. Glendale Ave. forestlawn.com/events/grand-views/

Mount Wilson Observatory’s Concerts in the Dome: The Lounge Art Ensemble of Peter Erskine on drums, Bob Sheppard on saxophone and Darek Oles on bass takes the stage, so to speak, within the 100-inch dome at 3 and 5 p.m. May 14. Tickets $55. Notes on attending the concerts: Access to the dome performance level is by a 53-step staircase. Mount Wilson Observatory is a mile high in elevation so the air is noticeably thinner. There is no ADA-compliant access. No children ages 12 and younger are permitted. Angeles Crest Highway (CA Highway 2) from the 210 Freeway at La Cañada Flintridge (use the map here: www.mtwilson.edu/1map). For more information, mtwilson.edu. Details and purchase tickets: www.mtwilson.edu/events/sunday-afternoon-concert-in-the-dome-may-14-tbd/

Camerata Pacifica: Sopranista Samuel Mariño makes his United States debut performance, 7:30 p.m. May 16. Tickets $68. Rothenberg Hall at the Huntington, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. 626-405-2100. huntington.org. Details and to purchase tickets: huntington.org/event/camerata-pacifica-sopranista-samuel-marino

Vroman’s Bookstore: Erica Baurmeister discusses her novel “No Two Persons,” 7 p.m. May 15. Dean King discusses “Guardians of the Valley: John Muir and the Friendship that Saved Yosemite,” 7 p.m. May 16. Connie Wang discusses “Oh My Mother! A Memoir in Nine Adventures,” 7 p.m. May 17. Andrew McCarthy discusses “Walking with Sam: A Father, A Son and Five Hundred Miles Across Spain,” 7 p.m. May 18. Holly Goldberg Sloan discusses her novel “Pieces of Blue,” 7 p.m. May 19. Location, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 626-449-5320. vromans.com

An Evening with David Sedaris: Purchase presale tickets for the author’s talk, to be held at 8 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium: use offer code “David” to access the presale price through 10 p.m. May 18. The general sale begins at 10 a.m. May 19. The one-night-only event follows the release of Sedaris’ newest book “Happy Go Lucky.” For more information, go to visitpasadena.com and click on “Pasadena Events.”

The Dance and the Railroad: The play by David Henry Hwang, set in 1867, follows two Chinese artists and their fellow railroad workers as they hold a strike to protest inhuman conditions suffered by Chinese laborers in the American West, opens 8 p.m. May 19. Show runs 8 p.m.  May 20; 2 p.m. May 21 and 7 p.m. May 22. Tickets are pay-what-you-choose with options, $30 or $50. A Noise Within, 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. 626-356-3100. anoisewithin.org/noise-now. www.anoisewithin.org/play/dance-and-the-railroad

Repair Café: A free, all-purpose repair party, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. May 20. Learn how fix household appliances. Bring your torn jeans, dull knife or faulty lamp. Arrive early to ensure your item is looked at. Bring your own replacement parts (no replacement parts for items will be available. This event will be indoors. There will also be plant-sharing and a free market. Park across the library at 120 Artsakh Ave. The library validates for three hours parking. Glendale Central Library, 222 E. Harvard St., Glendale. For questions, 818-548-2021 or email at LibraryInfo@GlendaleCA.gov. Details, and to see what can’t be repaired: bit.ly/44NRSIs

Glendora Genealogical Society: Penny Walters, speaking on Zoom from England, gives a talk at the society’s next meeting, noon May 20. Walters discusses ethical dilemmas in genealogy and considering ethical issues with empathy and diplomacy. For more information and to get the Zoom link, email lorman1237@gmail.com or call 909-592-4030.

Third@First Concert Series: Women composers are in the spotlight for “Joy of Chamber Music,” 4 p.m. May 20. The program includes Clara Schumann’s Piano Trio in G Minor and Amy Beach’s Piano Quintet in F-sharp Minor. Free admission. First United Methodist Church of Pasadena, 500 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. thirdatfirst.org

Civil War talk: The Pasadena Civil War Round Table presents a talk by author Mark Cannon at its next meeting,7:15 p.m. May 23. Cannon discusses his book “Lincoln’s Scout: The Diary of Horatio Cooke, Soldier, Spy, Escape Artist.” Free admission/donations appreciated. Enter the parking lot at the driveway at 165 N. Madison Ave. (second driveway south of Walnut Street). Use rear door entrance to the Blinn House, 160 N. Oakland Ave., Pasadena. For more information, PasadenaCWRT.org

Music on Main: The city of El Monte brings music to its farmers market, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 25 with 4 The People. Main Street between Santa Anita and Tyler avenues, El Monte.  For more information, 626-580-2200. ci.el-monte.ca.us

Ongoing

Pasadena Showcase House of Design: The 58th showcase highlights the talents of 32 interior and exterior designers who have transformed the Stewart House, a 1933 Pasadena colonial estate designed by Marston & Maybury. The estate is open for tours through May 21. Explore more than 30 design spaces and check out 20 boutique shops vendors, two restaurants, a wine bar and more than two-acres of gardens. Tour hours: 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Friday; 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Tour tickets are by a timed entry: $40 (1:30-4 p.m.); $50 (9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.); $35 (“Happy Hour,” 4 p.m. to closing). Parking and shuttles depart from Santa Anita Race Track, Gate 6 Lot on Colorado Place. Proceeds from the tours of the house go to fund three music programs. For more information, pasadenashowcase.org

Pasadena Tournament of Roses House: The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association offers free guided tours, 2 p.m. Thursdays through Aug. 31. The Tournament House tours reveals little-known facts and trivia and also includes the Wrigley Gardens. Explore the house that has served as headquarters for the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game. Reservations are required for the hour-long tours. For groups of 10 or more, call 626-449-4100 or email membership@tournamentofroses.com. Book a tour here: tournamentofroses.com/house-tours

Book a castle visit: Rubel Castle is an elaborate folk-art medieval castle in the foothills of Glendora, with five-story tall towers solidly built out of junk and river rocks by the late Michael Rubel and his friends. The castle offers eight scheduled tours each month. Tours are two hours long. Admission is $20 for adults; $10 ages 8-18. The property is not Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible; see website for details. Rubel Castle, 844 N. Live Oak Ave., Glendora. Glendora Historical Society voicemail, 626-963-0419. rubeltours.org

Descanso Gardens: Ongoing special art exhibit: “Shiki: The Four Seasons in Japanese Art,” in the Sturt Haaga Gallery and runs through May 21. Gardens hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. The gallery is open, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission $15; $11 ages 65 and older and student with valid ID; $5 ages 5-12. Location, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintidge. 818-949-4200. descansogardens.org

Kidspace Children’s Museum: The 27th annual “Butterfly Season” at the museum is open with children’s activities including going on a big safari, playing dress-up, viewing live caterpillars, moths and honeybees, through May 14. Also, learn from “Los Trompos,” an interactive art installation that honors the monarch butterfly’s cultural and ecological ties to Mexico. Tickets are by time and date: $14.95 ages 1-61; $12.95 ages 62 and older (purchase here: bit.ly/3mJOFoh). Location, 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena. 626-449-9144. kidspacemuseum.org

Los Angeles Arboretum and Botanic Garden: Hours: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. daily. Purchase tickets online and in advance. Admission $15; $11 ages 62 and older and students with ID; $5 ages 5-12. Due to construction of a new visitor entrance, entrance is temporarily at the south parking lot and north of Ayres Hall. The arboretum is at 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. 626-821-3222. arboretum.org

Monrovia Historical Museum: Explore the museum, 1-4 p.m. Thursday and Sunday. Docent-led tours are available. Free admission/donation. The museum is at 742 E. Lemon Ave., Monrovia. 626-357-9537. monroviahistoricalmuseum.org

Norton Simon Museum: Ongoing special exhibits: “Saint Sebastian: Anatomy of a Sculpture,” learn about the 15th-century Italian painted sculpture from the Norton Simon collections, through July 3. “All Consuming: Art and the Essence of Food,” through Aug. 14. An online exhibit: “Representing Women: Gender and Portraiture in 17th Century Europe” (view here bit.ly/3zLRR9p). Hours: noon-5 p.m. Monday and Thursday-Sunday. Admission $15; $12 ages 62 and older; free for ages 18 and younger and students with a valid ID. Location, 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 626-449-6840. nortonsimon.org

USC Pacific Asia Museum: Ongoing special exhibit: “Global Asias: Contemporary Asian and Asian American Art — From the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation,” through June 25. Also, explore the Sunkal Ceramics Gallery and the specific galleries for art of South and Southeast Asia, China, Himalaya, Pacific Island, Japan, Korea and Silk Road. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. Admission is by advance timed purchase, $10; $7 ages 65 and older and students with valid ID; free for ages 17 and under. Also, free admission from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursdays and on the second Sunday of the month. 46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena. 626-787-2680. pacificasiamuseum.usc.edu

Whittier Museum: Exhibits on aspects of Whittier history including agriculture and Quaker settlers. Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 1-4 p.m. Saturday. Free admission/donations. Location, 6755 Newlin Ave., Whittier. 562-945-3871. Email: info@whittiermuseum.org. whittiermuseum.org/visit

Send calendar items to Anissa V. Rivera at sgvncalendar@gmail.com. Please send items at least three weeks before the event. Please list phone, email and/or website for additional information.

Heritage Hall is the building that will serve as an entry point into the new and improved Hilmer Lodge Stadium and the home to the Kinesiology, Athletics and Dance Division offices.

“It really did motivate me a lot this year knowing that the school put so much time, effort and money into this,” said second year basketball player and nursing student, Elle Yick, “It definitely did motivate me and I feel like I did get more prepared for my games and my practices.”

Yick added that the spacious new facilities allow her to practice for longer and with more flexibility. This ease of access has made her feel stronger as she works toward earning an athletics scholarship to transfer into private nursing program.

Officials boasted that the 110,000-square-foot facility is equipped with “state of the art” equipment for aquatics, a gymnasium and a wellness center. Additionally, the new facilities are designed to ensure compliance with the regulations of college athletics and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“I’m just so fulfilled and so excited to see the students, our faculty and staff in the spaces that their programs so richly deserve — these are immense and successful programs,” said Joe Jennum, Dean of Kinesiology, Athletics & Dance and Director of Athletics, “Now we have facilities that match what these students and coaches and staff have been doing for many years.

The Mt. SAC Athletics Program teams, known as the “Mounties,” include 23 intercollegiate sports: men’s baseball, basketball, women’s beach volleyball, cross country, men’s football, golf, soccer, women’s softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, women’s volleyball, water polo and men’s wrestling. Alumni Bob Seagren is an Olympic gold medalist in track and field for the pole vault and other athletes have gone on to the NFL, MLB and MMA.

Despite the roster, Jennum said that in his last 27 years working at Mt. SAC, he has promoted the need for upgraded facilities. He noted that the old facility was more than 30 years old with outdated equipment and only provided 1000 square feet of space.

As the request kept being passed over, he thought he’d never see the much needed upgrades happen. It wasn’t until 2018 that both state funding and Measure GO —  $750 million education bond, which would cost approximately 2.5 cents per $100 of assessed property value — made the facility a reality.

He added that the new facility opens up the opportunity to host local, regional and statewide championships and tournaments.

The building’s design was contracted to Saiful Bouquet Structural Engineers but Marc Ruh told the crowd that the Mt. SAC community were welcomed to participate in the design process.

“That fact alone has helped to make this a facility that truly meets the needs of our students and community,” he said.

The additions also include the Douglas W. Smith Museum of Mt. SAC Athletics — a 2,200-square-foot interactive exhibit and artifacts space to educate visitors on Mt. SAC Athletics history. Within this new space, the Don and Sandi Ruh Family Education Center will serve as classroom as well as part event space with multi-purpose room to teach students, conduct athletic clinics, hold team banquets and host campus and community events.

Now that the Kinesiology and Athletics Complex is complete, Gymnasium Building 3, Exercise Science/Wellness Center 27A, Pool 27B, and Physical Education Center 27C will be removed at a date yet to be determined.

“Even for the other sports programs that get to use this facility — I just know that there’s going to be even more history that’s going to be made,” Yick said.

The college’s Board of Trustees announced the selection on Friday, April 7, with plans to appoint her during the board’s regular meeting on April 12.

She will assume her new role on July 1, running an institution that serves about 50,000 annually.

Garcia’s selection follows community input and feedback from Mt. SAC students, faculty and staff in a process that started last year.

“It is with great pleasure that we welcome Dr. Garcia to Mt. SAC as its 10th president, its first female president in 50 years, and its first president of color,” stated Gary Chow, Mt. SAC Board of Trustees president. “Dr. Garcia has demonstrated she is committed to the transformative power of higher education, and the Board is confident she will provide excellent, inclusive, and student-focused leadership at Mt. SAC.”

Garcia earned a doctorate of education in Educational Leadership from San Diego State University, a master’s degree in Educational Counseling from National University, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration from San Diego State University and an associate’s degree from Imperial Valley College.

“I am ecstatic at the opportunity to lead Mt. SAC and I am grateful the Board has entrusted me to serve as the next president,” Garcia said. “I am looking forward to working with the college’s teams and especially to serving students. That’s why I do what I do.”

Garcia’s most recent post has been as president and superintendent of College of the Desert, a post she began in August 2021.  Before that, she served the same role for Imperial Valley College. She was the first woman to lead the college. I

For 21 years there, according to Mt. SAC, she secured over $16 million toward the college and also served as vice president of student services, acting vice president of Academic Services and special projects coordinator overseeing career education programs.

She was also responsible for developing and coordinating a $5.8 million California Career Pathways Trust Grant, “Salud y Seguridad para la Comunidad Project,” which enabled Imperial Valley College to create Peace Officer Standards and Training Level One.

She also serves on several boards and task forces, including the California Association of Latino Community College Trustees and Administrators and Community College League of California Affordability

Garcia is poised to replace Bill Scroggins, who has led Mt. SAC for 12 years and who retiring at the end of June.

Scroggins took office in 2011, as the ninth president and CEO of Mt. SAC.

The college grew rapidly from there. It expanded academic offerings, working with industry to ensure graduates were prepared by more than six dozen new programs. There’s even a drone piloting and social justice program.

Student services also grew, such as its Equity Center and Veterans Resource Center.

Officials have touted Scroggins’ leadership guiding the college through its years-long recovery from the Great Recession as well as through the pandemic.

“I raise the flags in memory of my best friend, Robin Pearce, and all the other veterans that didn’t come home,” Jensen said. “Some gave some, some gave it all, but everybody did their part.”

The daily ritual is cathartic for Jensen, who said he spent 23 years internalizing his emotions after coming home from Vietnam, where he was a combat pilot with Attack Squadron 82 aboard the USS Coral Sea aircraft carrier.

It took him decades, he said, to learn “there is a life.” He now proudly puts his Navy service out there, and with therapy, he’s realized his time in the Vietnam War is “nothing to be ashamed of.”

The 80-year-old flew 113 combat missions over Laos, South Vietnam and North Vietnam in 1969 and 1970 after joining the Navy Reserves and then going into active duty for 11 years, he said. “When I came back to San Francisco, they said don’t wear your uniform if you go ashore. I came home to my country, and they didn’t give a (expletive) for me defending their freedom.”

“I self-isolated,” he added. “No one understood what happened with me. I carried the war’s expense with me and had no place to dump it.”

Now, nearing the 50th anniversary on Wednesday, March 29, of the last American troops withdrawing from the Vietnam War, Jensen and other veterans look back across the decades and reflect on what the divisive war meant to them personally and to their country.

More than 3 million Americans served in Vietnam – 58,000 died and 150,000 were wounded – and today, more than 1,500 are still listed as missing.

A lack of respect at home for many of those returning caused them to hide their pain by, as Jensen called it, “bunkering up.” Few discussed their service with family and friends. Instead, they tried to get on with life, many going quickly back to jobs they had before the war or to college without the benefits of the GI Bill that helped servicemembers who followed them. It would take decades for many to ask for help.

“For the vast majority of Vietnam veterans, I believe they made the transition back to civilian life in productive, fulfilling ways,” said Gregory Daddis,  a retired Army colonel who is now director of the Center for War and Society and the USS Midway Chair in Modern U.S. Military History at San Diego State University. “Still, I think many continue to wrestle with reconciling the past, asking whether their sacrifices in Southeast Asia were worth the costs in blood and treasure.”

Wayne Yost, an Army sergeant in the 199th Light Infantry Brigade, still can’t reconcile the sacrifices with the war he called a “waste, a war we should have never gotten involved with.

“It was such a waste of human, military and civilians there,” he said. “I carry that animosity even today, for wars such as Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, where lives and American treasure are sacrificed with no chance of a positive outcome.”

Daddis, who has studied the history of the Vietnam War, agreed and said there is much to learn from Vietnam.

“There are a number of perspectives we can gain,” he said. “That armed forces cannot solve all political problems abroad. That outsiders cannot always settle local issues over national identity and political communities. And that there are limits to what US military power can achieve overseas.

“Even after our incursions into Iraq and Afghanistan, I’m not sure we’ve thought deeply enough about these issues and what they mean for the future of how we employ military force abroad,” he added.

Remembering those lost in Vietnam is the memorial in Washington, D.C., now the most visited among the war monuments on the National Mall. Its shiny black granite lists the names of service members who died or are still missing.

It took Jensen three tries to get the strength to visit and look for his best friend’s name.

“The first two trips, I just couldn’t do it,” he said, adding that he was a commercial pilot for Western Airlines and had been on a layover in D.C. “It was so much emotion. Then, I thought, this is the last time this month I’ll be here. I found his name and had a long conversation with him. I went back to my room, wrote a really long letter, and told him how much I missed him and all that had happened since I last saw him.”

Yost, too, found a lot of meaning at the wall because the names of five of his friends are inscribed there, he said.

Yost spent most of his time in the jungles of Vietnam helping small units of South Vietnamese Army Special Forces seek out North Vietnamese fighters.

“We’d be flown into an area, call in support troops, the artillery, or a gunship, and then we were supposed to get out of there,” said Yost, a Dana Point resident who served from 1967 to 1969 and lived in villages with the South Vietnamese while on missions. “Whenever they were in trouble and needed special help,” about five to eight American soldiers would help out.

Yost, 76, who was in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive, the largest battle of the war, recalled a specific mission where he and his unit helped find North Vietnamese that still makes him laugh today about how it managed to work out.

They were in a rice field, hiding among the paddies and waiting for air support. Yost said he removed his helmet and put it on the tip of his rifle to draw enemy fire so the pilot could pin the enemy down quicker.

Instead, the North Vietnamese “launched a rocket-propelled grenade, and another soldier and I flew into the air,” he said of the impact of the blast. “Just as that happened, the pilot was able to attack the enemy position and illuminate them, and we were just laughing hysterically.”

But that laughter didn’t continue when Yost came back to the states, he said.

“I was a jokester and I came back sedate,” he said. “The experience of war, seeing people wounded and killed … I carry those memories.”

The negative response at home only made it worse.

“For 50 years, I suppressed all the different feelings raging in my brain and soul,” Yost said. “I never discussed anything with my family or my wife and kids. Six years ago, those feelings came out, and I was having nightmares and flashbacks, and I knew something was wrong.”

Yost joined a Vietnam veterans group at the South Orange County Veterans Center in Mission Viejo.

“We’re still in counseling six years later,” he said.

Yost said he also gets some solace from helping younger veterans who may have served in Iraq and Afghanistan navigate the services available through the Veterans Administration. As former commander of the Dana Point Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9934, and now senior vice commander of 15 VFW posts in the region, he’s organized bi-monthly clinics, which have helped 6,300 veterans get benefits and have “never had a claim denied.”

“It’s been wonderful therapy,” he said. “Every time someone comes in and says ‘Thanks, guys, I just got my disability.’ It’s great knowing we were able to help, so they don’t feel alone and have someone to hold on to.”

Kolin Williams, who chairs the VETS program at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, said many of the programs that benefit more recent veterans come on the backs of the Vietnam veterans.

“The Veterans Administration was not able to handle what they brought back,” Williams said. “And, they were also the last folks to walk into a VA and ask for mental health adjustments. They hid it and went back to their families and went to work. Veteran centers now are a response to that.”

The thinking was, Williams said, “Let’s put these centers into communities and see if veterans respond.”

The evolution in public sentiment also made a huge difference in veterans seeking help, Williams said. After the Gulf War, 9/11, Iraq and Afghanistan, “there was a ton of support for returning veterans,” he said, adding that at first, many of the Vietnam veterans resented that, wondering why they didn’t get a similar response.

“That resentment was misplaced,” Williams said. “Because by shining the light on these service members, it de-stigmatized the whole conversation about mental health. It was being encouraged, ‘Go get support.’ The Vietnam veterans noticed that and appreciated the services.”

In addition to getting help with post-traumatic stress, Vietnam veterans are registering for service disabilities because of exposure to Agent Orange, a chemical herbicide used between 1961 and 1971 to kill vegetation in Vietnam for tactical warfare. The exposure has led to cancers and heart conditions for tens of thousands of veterans.

Frank Marcello, a 1st Air Calvary Division sergeant, knows a thing or two about Agent Orange. During his service between 1966 and 1967, the Purple Heart decorated soldier, who was part of a reconnaissance unit, spent most of his time in the central highlands of Vietnam. He was always the point man, he said, leading his squad, and during his time served there, “never had a soldier die.”

“We’d hump for 10 to 15 miles and do ambushes,” he said of his squad of eight. “The chopper would pick us up, drop us off again, and pick us up. I did over 125 air assaults. We were always on the go. Landing zones were all over the place and were cleared with Agent Orange.”

Marcello, 79, of Walnut, is receiving 100% disability benefits because of his exposure and, like Jensen and Yost, has been diagnosed with PTSD. For 25 years, he said, he woke up with nightmares and cold and hot sweats.

“I’d be hollering and wake up my wife,” he said, adding that he went to the VA for help but “they didn’t have anything that worked.” So, like a good cavalry soldier, he gutted it out and dealt with it, he said.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in U.S. political history and later a master’s degree and an MBA. He credits God, along with his “cool and calm” demeanor, with helping him have the grit to make it through the last half-century.

Like the others, he didn’t speak of his service publicly and never mentioned it to college classmates or friends.

“In all the other wars, people were treated with respect, but we couldn’t speak about it because we were in Vietnam,” he said.

More recently though, Marcello said he has had a different experience. He was among a group of veterans invited to the Hoag Classic at the Newport Beach Country Club. Marcello attended wearing fatigues and his stack of medals, including the Purple Heart.

“I had 200 people coming up to me,” he said, choking up with emotion. “I had men shaking my hand, and women would hug me. At a Fourth of July parade in Catalina, I wore my medals and everyone, grandmothers, little kids and men and women, they all cheered for me. Now, no matter what, I go to parades and universities and people are wanting to talk to me.”

“I’m reliving what should have happened,” he said of this newer support he wished he and other veterans deserved.  “I wear the medals with pride for the guys who died.”

Here is a sampling of things to do in the San Gabriel Valley and Whittier areas, Feb. 10-17.

J. Keith van Straaten and Helen Hong welcome comedy writer and actor Bruce Vilanch and comedian Josefina López to a live, in-person recording of “Go Fact Yourself,” the podcast that quizzes celebrities on what they know and love. Super-secret special experts try to stump guests, too. The recording is set from 7-8:30 p.m. Feb. 11. Register for free for general admission or reserve a guaranteed seat for $15. Bring your proof of Covid vaccination. Crawford Family Forum, 474 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. For more information, laist.com/events/go-fact-yourself-live-feb11

California International Antiquarian Book Fair: The 55th fair has more than 150 booksellers from around the world selling rare books, children’s, modern first editions, as well as autographs, ephemera and maps, 3-8 p.m. Feb. 10; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Feb. 11; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 12. There will also be special collection exhibits including “What the Hell Is Ukulele Literature?” Admission $25 Feb. 10 (good for all three days); $15 on Feb. 11; $10 on Feb. 12. Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green St., Pasadena. abaa.org/cabookfair and www.facebook.com/ABAARareBooks/

Fudge time: Order the famous Santa Teresita’s fudge in time for Valentine’s Day. The Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles are selling 8 oz. chocolate fudge for $10. Quantity is limited. Orders will be available for pickup at Santa Teresita, 819 Buena Vista St., Duarte, on Feb 10 or Monday, Feb. 13. Get your sweets at santa-teresita.org/fudge. For more information, 626-408-7810 or email development@santateresitainc.com. santa-teresita.org

Norton Simon Museum: Feb. 10: “Saint Sebastian: Anatomy of a Sculpture,” learn about the 15th-century Italian painted sculpture from the Norton Simon collections, through July 3. Ongoing special exhibit: “Ink, Paper, Stone: Six Women Artists and the Language of Lithography,” through Feb. 13. Also, an online exhibit: “Representing Women: Gender and Portraiture in 17th Century Europe” (view here bit.ly/3zLRR9p). Hours: noon-5 p.m. Monday and Thursday-Sunday. Admission $15; $12 ages 62 and older; free for ages 18 and younger and students with a valid ID. Location, 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 626-449-6840. nortonsimon.org

I Hate Hamlet: Who do you think will show up when you rent John Barrymore’s apartment? Find out in the play by Paul Rudnick and directed by Rodney Scott. Catch the final performance at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10. Studio Theater at Mount San Antonio College, (Building 2 on the southwest side of campus on the corner of Grand Avenue and San Jose Hills Road), 11 N. Grand Ave., Walnut. Tickets $16; $12 ages 55 and up and also, non-Mount SAC students with valid ID: tickets.mtsac.edu. 909-468-4050.

Vroman’s Bookstore: Phil Stamper discusses his young adult book “After Glow,” 7 p.m. Feb. 10. Charmaine Wilkerson discusses “Black Cake,” 7 p.m. Feb. 13. Johnny Compton discusses “The Spite House,” 7 p.m. Feb. 15. Liz Climo discusses her children’s book “I’m So Happy You’re Here,” 6 p.m. Feb. 16. Walter Mosely discusses “Every Man a King,” 7 p.m. Feb. 21. Tara Ison discusses her novel “At the Hour Between Dog and Wolf,” 7 p.m. Feb. 24. Location, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 626-449-5320. vromans.com

Much Ado About Nothing: A Noise Within presents William Shakespeare’s hilarious and profound rom-com, as directed by Guillermo Cienfuegos. Preview, 8 p.m. Feb. 10. Opening night, 8 p.m. Feb. 11. Show runs 2 p.m. Feb. 12; 8 p.m. Feb. 17; 2 and 8 p.m. Feb. 19; 2 p.m. Feb. 19; and dates through March 12. A pre-performance symposium with Miranda Johnson-Haddad is set for Feb. 8 and is included in the ticket price. Check the website for ticket prices. A Noise Within, 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. 626-356-3100. anoisewithin.org

Covina Woman’s Club: The club welcomes Jacquise Edmonds, a lifestyle coach, to its next meeting on Feb. 13. Edmonds will talk about “Trinity Inspiration,” a personal growth and development service she designed to “equip those of faith with the practical tools they need for a life full of purpose, passion, power and prosperity.” Her talk will be at 1 p.m. The meeting begins at 11 a.m. with a social time, followed by the club’s monthly business meeting, 11:30 a.m., and lunch from Bashful Butler. Reservations required. Location, 128 S. San Jose Ave., Covina. 626-967-1963 or email covinawomansclubinfo@gmail.com. covinawomansclub.org

Duarte Farmers Market: Open, 4-7:30 p.m. Feb. 15 and other Wednesdays. Southeast corner of the Santa Teresita Assisted Living parking lot, 819 Buena Vista St., Duarte. 626-357-3333. Details: bit.ly/3YrKbDR

Hoops challenge: Who will get bragging rights when Duarte deputies face off with students at Monrovia and Duarte schools? Find out at the Valentine’s Basketball Tournament, 4-6 p.m. Feb. 16. Mary Wilcox Youth Center, 843 E. Olive Ave., Monrovia. For more information, call Aida Torres at 626-359-5671 or email A2Torres@lasd.org. Details: bit.ly/3Jpu05Q

Black History Month – Pasadena: The city of Pasadena commemorates Black History Month by offering a month-long series of programs from Pasadena Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department, Pasadena Public Library, Pasadena Black History Committee, and the Friends of the Pasadena Public Library. There will be in-person and virtual programs, events and activities for all ages. All programs and events are free.

Events include

• “Celebrating Diversity through Photography,” exhibit, Feb. 10-28 at the Hastings Branch Library, 3325 E. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena.
• An online tour of Pasadena landmarks and spots impacted by Black Pasadenans at cityofpasadena.net/parks-and-rec
• Check with the Alkebu-lan Cultural Center for its programs, including a genealogy workshop, Capoeira lecture, performances, book talks and an arts festival. For more information, 626-807-4006. Location, 1425 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena.
• The 41st Annual Black History Parade and Festival —  with the theme “Celebrating Our Excellence, the Legacy of Councilmember John J. Kennedy,” is Southern California’s largest and longest-running Black History parade, 10 a.m. Feb. 18. The parade includes bands, drill and drum teams, community organizations and dignitaries. Sportscaster Jim Hill is the grand marshal. Parade route: Fair Oaks Avenue at Mountain View Street, on Fair Oaks to Robinson Park, 1081 N. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena. Following the parade, a festival features live bands, community booths, dance performances, guest speakers and food for purchase, noon-4 p.m. 626-744-7300. Details: bit.ly/3iSYen3
• Pasadena Public Library celebrates Black History Month with a variety of programs and activities for all ages that honor the cultures and contributions of Black Americans. Details, www.pasadenapubliclibrary.net

For more information on other Black History Month events in Pasadena, 626-744-7311. Details: bit.ly/3H5DvEk

Pasadena Senior Center: Classes include chair yoga, 11 a.m. Feb. 14, on Zoom (register from the link: bit.ly/3YoWy4d); “What’s New at the Metro?” at 10 a.m. Feb. 16, also on Zoom (register from the link: bit.ly/3YoWIsl). At the center, a health fair and fresh produce distribution, 9-11 a.m. Feb. 17. A one-year membership is $45. Location, 85 E. Holly St., Pasadena. For more information, 626-795-4331. Register in advance for the online classes or call. www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org

West Covina Centennial: The city turns 100-years-old and celebrates with a three-day spring festival with a carnival, Feb. 17-19. One-day unlimited ride wristbands are available for presale online; presale ends on Feb. 16. Unlimited rides wristbands will be $40 on site. Purchase wristbands on Eventbrite: bit.ly/3ji6IUQ. Event location, South Glendora Avenue in downtown West Covina.

Also, an anniversary dinner is set for 6  p.m. Feb. 16. Tickets are $50 per person or $450 for a table of 10. Proceeds benefit the West Covina Community Services Foundation that supports social programs and events in the city. Reserve a spot by emailing westcovinarec@westcovina.org. Payment information will be sent after a reservation is confirmed. The dinner reservation deadline is Feb. 10. West Covina Sportsplex, 2100 S. Azusa Ave. westcovina.org

Jockeys vs. Angels: Sidelined for the past two winters due to Covid-19, Santa Anita’s 53rd annual charity basketball game versus Holy Angels School returns at 7 p.m. Feb. 16. Hall of Fame jockeys Laffit Pincay Jr., Gary Stevens, Kent Desormeaux, Victor Espinoza, Mike Smith and John Velazquez will sign posters and other memorabilia at 6:30 p.m. Admission $5. Proceeds benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund and Holy Angels Athletics. Buy tickets at the door or online at Jockey.givesmart.com. La Salle High School, 3880 E. Sierra Madre Blvd., Pasadena. 626-447-6312. Details: www.holyangelsarcadia.net/apps/news/article/1720603

Barbie Malibu Truck Tour: Making a stop, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Feb. 18. Check out the new limited edition ’70s-inspired Barbie merchandise. Plaza West Covina, 112 Plaza Drive, West Covina (by DXL and Gold’s Gym). Follow #BarbieTruckTour on Instagram and Facebook. shop.mattel.com/pages/barbie-truck-tour. Details for the West Covina stop: bit.ly/3wXEySa

AlienCon: Lectures and panel discussions on unexplained mysteries and marketplace, 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. March 4 and 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. March 5. Autographs and photo opportunities are an extra fee (see the schedule). Schedule: www.thealiencon.com/schedule/#/schedule/byHour. Admission $65 for one-day pass; $120 Weekend pass; $349 Cosmic Pass (see the website for details and other passes). Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green St. www.thealiencon.com

Ongoing

Dinos Alive Exhibit – An Immersive Experience: For all ages who love finding out about dinosaurs. The experience runs various times and dates: February 10-12; 16-20; 23-26; dates through May. Timed tickets are required. Admission $20 and up. 1345 N. Montebello Blvd., Montebello. dinosalivelosangeles.com

Stranger Things – The Experience: The 45-minute immersion in all things based on the iconic Netflix show. Dates: Feb. 10-12; 15-19; 22-26; dates in March. Unlock your power in the Hawkins Lab, enjoy an 80s-style medley of locations and fan-favorite moments, including photo ops, food and drink, and interact with performers. If you’ve still got that MTV jacket and shoulder pads, dress like it’s the 80s. Minimum recommended age: 13. Tickets $39 on Wednesday-Thursday in February; other dates start at $49. Location, 1345 N. Montebello Blvd., Montebello. strangerthings-experience.com/los-angeles/#faqs; feverup.com

Book a castle visit: Rubel Castle is an elaborate folk-art medieval castle in the foothills of Glendora, with five-story tall towers solidly built out of junk and river rocks by the late Michael Rubel and his friends. The castle offers eight scheduled tours each month. Tours are two hours long. Admission is $20 for adults; $10 ages 8-18. The property is not ADA accessible; see website for details. Rubel Castle, 844 N. Live Oak Ave., Glendora. Glendora Historical Society voicemail, 626-963-0419. rubeltours.org

Hoffmitz Milke Center for Typography at ArtCenter College of Design: Celebrate Poland’s rich heritage of graphic communication in “Polski Projekt.” The exhibition represents the history of poster and type design emerging from a society with strong sociopolitical disruptions, a cultural dependence on national traditions and a slow pace of economic and commercial growth. Free admission. The exhibit runs through Feb. 28. ArtCenter College of Design, 950 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. For more information, 626-396-2200. artcenter.edu. Details on the exhibit: bit.ly/3Vh3XRv

Duarte Historical Museum: The Monrovia-Duarte Black Alumni Association display a Black History Month exhibit, “What Is Your Life’s Blueprint? through February. Hours: 1-3 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of the month, and 1-4 p.m. Saturdays. Admission is free/donation. Encanto Park, 777 Encanto Parkway. 626-357-9419. www.ranchodeduarte.org

Monrovia Historical Museum: Explore the museum, 1-4 p.m. Thursday and Sunday. Docent-led tours are available. Free admission/donation. The museum is at 742 E. Lemon Ave., Monrovia. 626-357-9537. monroviahistoricalmuseum.org

Peter and Merle Mullin Gallery – ArtCenter: “Victor Estrada: Purple Mexican,” through Feb. 26. Estrada’s more than 30-year career in abstract art inspired by the cultural landscape of Los Angeles and the Southwest. Free admission. Gallery hours: noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday, at ArtCenter, 1111 S. Arroyo Parkway, Pasadena. ArtCenter, South Campus, 1111 S. Arroyo Parkway, Pasadena. 626-396-2200. Email: exhibitions@artcenter.edu. Gallery details: bit.ly/3ESJeho. Exhibit details: bit.ly/3yQQWou

USC Pacific Asia Museum: Explore the Sunkal Ceramics Gallery and the specific galleries for art of South and Southeast Asia, China, Himalaya, Pacific Island, Japan, Korea and Silk Road. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. Admission is by advance timed purchase, $10; $7 ages 65 and older and students with valid ID; free for ages 17 and under. Also, free admission from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursdays and on the second Sunday of the month. 46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena. 626-787-2680. pacificasiamuseum.usc.edu

Send calendar items to Anissa V. Rivera at sgvncalendar@gmail.com. Please send items at least three weeks before the event. Please list phone, email and/or website for additional information.

Barragan was a beloved figure at the Walnut campus, as a note from school administrators amplified this week, announcing the memorial.

“We woke up, we came to work at Mt. SAC and for many of us, our lives were permanently changed,” said the email, from Audrey Yamagata-Noji, vice president, student services, and from Malia Flood, dean, ACCESS and Wellness.

It went on: “We are all full of so many emotions. Ralph was our friend, our buddy, our ray of sunshine. He came to work with a smile on his face every day – bringing joy and positivity to everyone with whom he interacted.”

In announcing the memorial, and a pending on vigil on Friday, leaders described Barragan as much more than an employee who’s job it was to transport disabled students.

“He was their friend, their mentor, their encourager,” administrators said. “To colleagues, he was always around to be supportive, to smile, to wave, to stop to show you pictures of his family, to remember something about you, to take an interest in you and your life.”

The memorial began on Monday, at the west end of the Student Services Center (9B). It is an area of the campus where Barragan would park and board his passengers on the tram transport. Officials invited the campus community to write a note or just come by to remember Barragan.

Many in the community at Mt. SAC were devastated by Barragan’s death.

A former tram driver at the college, 38-year-old James Edward Milliken Jr. of Diamond Bar, was charged Monday in the attack.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office also charged in connection with the allegation that he used two weapons, a car and a knife, to commit the crime on Thursday, Dec. 1.

Milliken struck 63-year-old Rafael Barragan Jr. of Pomona with a car outside Building 9A, Sheriff’s detectives said. Barragan died there. Milliken remained at the scene and was detained.

Administrator said the impact of the loss on staff at the campus’s ACCESS center has  been “overwhelming.”

Employees have been given the option to return to work “when comfortable doing so” while also remaining open to students who need assistance with accessibility to and around campus — a role that Barragan served in as a tram driver.

At 3  p.m. Friday, in the Student Services Center (building 9B, first floor), there will be a brief memorial to honor Barragan.

Officials called it a chance to take part in “Ralphie’s Fan Club.”

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office also charged 38-year-old James Edward Milliken Jr. of Diamond Bar in connection with the allegation that he used two weapons, a car and a knife, to commit the crime on Thursday, Dec. 1.

Milliken struck 63-year-old Rafael Barragan Jr. of Pomona with a car outside Building 9A, Sheriff’s detectives said. Barragan died there. Milliken remained at the scene and was detained.

Milliken was scheduled for a Monday arraignment at Pomona Superior Court, but it was continued until Tuesday, according to a court official.

The victim and the suspect worked as tram drivers for disabled students at the college located at 1100 N. Grand Ave. in Walnut. Milliken was a part-time driver from Oct. 13, 2016 to Sept. 23, 2021. College officials said he resigned.

In an Oct. 5, 2021 Facebook post, Milliken claimed his co-workers treated him unfairly, made racist comments, spread rumors about him and commented on his hair. He named Barragan and alleged Barragan threatened him on multiple occasions and convinced others to harass him.

However, detectives have not revealed a motive for the killing.

Mt. SAC president William Scroggins described Barragan as gracious, popular and respected.

Barragan came to work with a smile on his face every day and brought joy and positivity to everyone he interacted, she said.

“Ralph did so much more than transport ACCESS students – he was their friend, their mentor, their encourager. To colleagues, he was always around to be supportive, to smile, to wave, to stop to show you pictures of his family, to remember something about you, to take an interest in you and your life,” Yamagata-Noji said.

A campus memorial was set up for Barragan at the west end of the Student Services Center at Mt. SAC. It is the area of the campus where Barragan would park and board his passengers on the tram, she said.

The college will also host a memorial service to honor Barragan’s legacy at 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, on the first floor of the Student Services Center.

–Staff writer Nathaniel Percy contributed to this report.

Editor’s note: The publication time of this article has been corrected.

• 

  On Dec. 1, 2022, Sheriff’s detectives arrested a former Mt. San Antonio College tram driver on suspicion of killing another tram driver on campus. The suspect, 38-year-old James Milliken, was driving the car that struck 63-year-old Rafael Barragan Jr. near one of the school buildings on Dec. 1, 2022. (Photo courtesy of Mt. San Antonio College)

• 

  On Dec. 1, 2022, Sheriff’s detectives arrested a former Mt. San Antonio College tram driver on suspicion of killing another tram driver on campus. The suspect, 38-year-old James Milliken, was driving the car that struck 63-year-old Rafael Barragan Jr. near one of the school buildings on Dec. 1, 2022. (Photo courtesy of Mt. San Antonio College)

A Marine veteran and former tram driver at Mt. San Antonio College faces charges for hitting and killing an ex-coworker with a car on campus.

James Milliken, 38, was arrested on suspicion of murder on Thursday, the same day the victim was hit, Sheriff’s Lt. Patricia Thomas said. Investigators are still working out the possible motive. She didn’t release his city of residence.

The victim, identified by the coroner’s office as 63-year-old Rafael Barragan Jr., died of sharp and blunt force injuries, according to the coroner’s office. Mt. SAC officials identified him as Ralph Barragan from Pomona.

Both Milliken and Barragan worked as tram drivers for disabled students at the college located at 1100 N. Grand Ave. in Walnut.

“James was a former college employee, working as a part-time driver for the ACCESS department from October 2016 until he resigned in September 2021. Out of respect for Ralph and his family, as well as to support the criminal investigation, we are unable to share additional details,”  Bill Scroggins, Mt. San Antonio College’s president, said.

“Losing Ralph has been heartbreaking for our campus community. The circumstances of his passing are additionally painful,” Scroggins said. “Many of you may have strong feelings regarding the tragedy. We want to assure you that we are doing all things possible to provide support and assistance at this time.”

A memorial to Barragan will be set up Dec. 5 at the west end of the Student Services Center, he said.

Milliken also had attended the college as a student. He first enrolled the summer of 2010 and last attended spring of 2018. He was in good academic standing, said Jill Dolan, spokeswoman for the college.

Milliken was born in 1984 in Blytheville, Arkansas and joined the Marine Corps after high school graduation, according to his biography on the college website. He served in Iraq in mid-2004 and 2005 and received awards.

“I was part of the main effort in November 2004 during Operation Al Fajr, the retaking of the city of Fallujah. Before the assault commenced, the operation was known as Operation Phantom Fury,”  he wrote. “3rd Battalion, 1st Marines was part of the composition of RCT 1. RCT 1 was partly responsible for clearing the infamous Jolan District, among others. Alongside RCT 7, four Marine battalions (including 1/3, 1/8, and 3/5) and various US Army units reclaimed the city of Fallujah from unrest.”

At the the time the biography was written, he was attending the University of La Verne for a bachelor’s degree in sociology.

Milliken remained in custody Friday at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles on a $2 million bail.

A 63-year-old employee at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut died after a driver hit the pedestrian on campus Thursday morning, Dec. 1.

The preliminary investigation showed it was an intentional act, sheriff’s Lt. Patricia Thomas said.

The driver, who had not been arrested, was injured and admitted to a local hospital, she said. Thomas didn’t know the extent of his injuries.

The Sheriff’s Department received a call around 7:30 a.m. and deputies found the injured man unresponsive. He died at the scene.

The coroner’s office had not yet publicly identified him but college officials did.

“It is with deep sorrow that I share with the Mt. San Antonio College community that we have lost one of our campus’s shining lights: Ralph Barragan,” Mt. SAC president William T. Scroggins said in a statement.

Barragan was struck by a car outside Building 9A, he said.

“This is as tragic a situation as we can imagine on our campus. Our hearts and sincere condolences go out to Ralph’s family and countless friends,” Scroggins said.

“This a heartbreaking time for the entire campus community. A death on our campus and among our Mt. SAC family affects us all deeply,” he said.

Before Mt. SAC, Scroggins said, Barragan worked for 23 years as a bus driver for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. In 2007, he began working as a tram driver for ACCESS (a disabled students program), he added.

“He was responsible for transporting students with disabilities to all parts of the college. Ralph was highly visible on campus, gracious, popular and respected,” Scroggins said.

Audrey Yamagata-Noji, vice president of Student Services, hired Barragan.

“Everyone knew Ralph. He was always smiling, greeting staff and students by their names, and befriending everyone he met. We are shocked and saddened by his passing. He will be missed, but never forgotten,” Yamagata-Noji said.

The ACCESS Office was closed Thursday and will remain closed Friday. ACCESS phone lines are still being answered and alternate drivers are providing students continued support, Scroggins said.

He said counseling and support services are available:

• The Student Health Center offers short-term mental health counseling to current students. Students can call 909 274-4400 and press option 2 or go to one of the clinics in Building 67B or 9E for assistance.
• The Employee Counseling Center provides short-term counseling to Mt. SAC employees. Call 909- 274-6211 or email employeecounselingcenter@mtsac.edu.
• Student Health also put together information about grief and loss as well as tips for coping with trauma as a resource for the campus.

Detectives asked that anyone with information about the collision call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tipsters can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or at lacrimestoppers.org.