Story by Charlotte Dekle Staff Writer Photo by Erin Lee Staff Photographer The City Council voted to approve a resolution to install an all-way stop sign at the intersection of Meridian Ave and Oak St. at its meeting on Wednesday, July 21. This resolution was part of a larger movement to implement all-way stop signs at three […]
Claire Kieffer-Wright: Committed to raising the bar
Story by Charlotte Dekle Staff Writer Photo courtesy of Claire Kieffer-Wright Contributor When SPHS alumna Claire Kieffer-Wright high jumps, she only has one goal in mind — to clear the bar. She applies this dogged determination to several other passions in her life, such as being a collegiate level volleyball player and even in her […]
The 2021 Arts Crawl: puppets, painters, and parrots
Story by Charlotte DekleStaff Writer Photos by Samantha ShiroishiStaff Photographer After a year bereft of art and music, the South Pasadena Arts Crawl was back in half-swing on Saturday, July 17th from 4 P.M. to 8 P.M. The free “al fresco” themed event featured an array of artisans, live music, and comedians. The Arts Crawl, […]
Activist groups file complaint against SPPD to California Attorney General
Story by Hanna BaeStaff Writer Photo by Ella JayasekeraContributor Activist groups Care First South Pasadena, the Anti-Racism Committee, and Black Lives Matter (BLM) South Pasadena filed a complaint with the California Attorney General to investigate the SPPD’s handling of hate crimes and biased policing on Friday, July 16. The 18-page complaint to California Attorney General […]
SPUSD to offer an in-person return to school for all students
Story by Alison WangStaff Writer Photo by Ella JayasekeraContributor SPUSD announced that they will offer a full, in-person return for all students on Aug. 12 in an email on Tuesday, July 13. Similar to guidelines during hybrid learning, students will be required to wear masks, regardless of coronavirus vaccination status. The district will continue following […]
Event preview: Guide to the 2021 Al Fresco Arts Crawl
Story by Eddie ZhouStaff Writer Photo courtesy of the South Pasadena Chamber of CommerceContributor The South Pasadena Arts Crawl will return for the first time since the Coronavirus pandemic, offering a free, al fresco community event on Saturday, July 17. Sponsored by the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, the event will feature art exhibitions and activities, […]
City Council denies approval of ordinance banning gas-powered leaf blowers
Story by Veronica KoutskyStaff Writer Photo courtesy of William KellyContributor The City Council voted not to approve an ordinance that would phase out the city-wide use of gasoline-powered leaf blowers at its meeting on Wednesday, Jul. 7. The ordinance would replace the gasoline-powered leaf blowers with quieter and emissions-free electric machines as a part of […]
Baseball finishes season with historic CIF playoff run
Story by Benjamin ReganStaff Writer Photos courtesy of Jaime GarciaContributor A historic season for the South Pasadena Tigers baseball team ended on Friday, June 11 with a 5-3 loss to Elsinore in the third round of CIF playoffs. Finishing with a 6-6 record in the Rio Hondo League, the Tigers reached CIF playoffs for the […]
Revisiting The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’s influence
Story by Charlotte DekleStaff Writer Illustration by Penny AboudGraphic Designer The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’s extravagant, ABBA-filled 1994 debut marked a monumental shift in both the film industry and queer culture with its refreshingly positive representation of gay and transgender people. The Stephan Elliot helmed film tells the story of drag queens […]
In the Heights explores the vibrant community of New York’s Washington Heights
Story by Eddie ZhouStaff Writer Illustration by Allison LeeStaff Illustrator The success of Hamilton propelled Lin-Manuel Miranda to superstardom, but it was his Tony Award winning 2008 musical In the Heights that propelled Miranda into the musical world. In the new film adaptation, directed by Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, Step Up), stunning visuals […]
John Eldred selected as new SPHS principal
Story by Raluca TudusciucStaff Writer Photo courtesy of John EldredContributor SPUSD announced the hire of new SPHS principal John Eldred in an email on Wednesday, June 30. Eldred’s hire comes after the retirement of former SPHS principal Janet Anderson in May. Eldred is a graduate of California State University, Northridge, and the former vice principal […]
Boys track earns second CIF title in SPHS track history
Story by Zoe SchlaakSports Editor Photos courtesy of Dylan Stewart, PrepCalTrack.comContributor The 2020-2021 boys track team won the Division 3 CIF Southern Section Championship title at the finals meet on Saturday, June 12, with help from key graduated seniors. With their 72 overall points, the boys team secured their first division title in SPHS history; […]
Rising Senior Nicholas Chau commits to dive for Yale University
Story by Eddie Zhou Staff Writer Photo courtesy of Ben FeriaContributor Rising Senior Nicholas Chau announced his verbal commitment to the likely letter process at Yale University via Instagram on Monday, June 7. The likely letter process allows schools who cannot offer athletic scholarships, such as Yale, to recruit athletes. Chau will compete in diving […]
Breaking the unspoken rule against voicing my opinions
Story by Kimberly HsuehSenior Staff Writer This has been an unsettling topic that has been on my mind since childhood: the love/hate relationship I have with my parents. One of the first rules my parents established was “don’t talk back.” No matter how invalid my parents’ arguments were, talking back meant receiving the silent treatment […]
SPHS celebrates the Class of 2021 at graduation ceremony
Story by Lilian ZhuWebmaster Photos by Sophie YeungPhoto Editor 358 seniors secured their diplomas during the graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 2. The graduating Class of 2021 celebrated the end of an unusual year together on the Roosevelt field. The ceremony opened with the national anthem, sung by senior Kayla Nielsen followed by senior class […]
Letter to the editor: race, class, and what SPUSD doesn’t want you to know about summer school
Story by John SrebalusContributor Illustration by Terry SongCo-Design Editor I’m not asking the South Pasadena Unified School District (SPUSD) to do anything it hasn’t already said it would do. Says Resolution 2019-2020-26, passed June 9, 2020, “Whereas, [SPUSD] desires to provide a safe school environment that allows all students equal access and opportunities in the […]