Kate Bartlett holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She practiced business and securities law before embarking on a new chapter devoted to exploring and enjoying the arts in their many forms. Kate lives in Pasadena, where she enjoys reading, writing, hiking, and long morning walks.

South Pasadenan Margaret Prietto is a retired LAUSD teacher and middle school administrator with multiple academic degrees. Her interests include reading, long walks, Inca culture, hiking in the Andes (her father was born in Peru), and writing stories about, and with, her large family.

Award-winning writer Scott Phelps teaches physics and astronomy at the University of La Verne and Mt. San Antonio College and tutors math and science throughout the region. He served as an elected member of the Pasadena Unified School District Board of Trustees from 2005 to 2022. Scott lives in northwest Pasadena with his wife, Lisa, and their three cats. Both of their children attended PUSD high schools.

Award-nominated writer Garrett Rowlan has been writing for most of his life. A passionate film enthusiast and advocate for social justice, he is also a retired substitute teacher with LAUSD. He has published approximately 60 short stories and essays, as well as three novels, and is preparing to release a fourth.

Kathabela Wilson is a local poet/writer/artist and musician. Her Poets Salon has become an international respected must read in the poetry world. She's the creator and host of the Pasadena-based group, “Poets on Site.”

Carol Germain is a theatre lover and a resident of Pasadena for more than 30 years. She loves to spread the word about theater and being an audience matchmaker. Carol enjoys the blues and her favorite holiday is Halloween.

Natalia Rose Giovanni is the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Hollywood’s Rotation Theatre Company. She is involved in various aspects of theatre, from performing and music direction to playwriting. 

Marilyn Fuss is a former teacher who spends time appreciating the Southland, hoping to preserve the Constitution, and occasionally writing.

Toti O'Brien is the Italian Accordionist with the Irish Last Name. She was born in Rome then moved to Los Angeles, where she makes a living as a self-employed artist, performing musician and professional dancer. Her work has most recently appeared in Independent Noise, Soundings East, Random Sample, and The Capra Review.

Glenn Storm is a local entertainment professional. He has been an animator for feature film, a designer of computer games and an artist in various media. He holds a master's degree in film from CalArts. He can be seen strolling Caltech during alumni week seminar day and loves to talk about story and character.

Sean McMorris has a BA in Political Science from Columbia University and an MA in International Affairs from George Washington University.

Award-winning cartoonist Marc Ratner is an animation artist and professor of animation. He journals for survival and sanity, occasionally illustrating his entries. Marc holds a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and completed graduate studies in Film/Video at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). He has several independent animation projects in development.

Our Events Coordinator, Melanie Hooks, embraces every opportunity to immerse herself in and celebrate the diverse artistry of the world. She's a seasoned writer whose work reflects the depth of her experiences.

Brian Biery is a Pasadena-based writer and photographer who strives to capture the complexities, contradictions, and beauty of the world through his writing and camera lens.

Matt Hormann is a lifelong Pasadena resident and  a graduate of the L.A. County High School for the Arts (LACHSA) and Cal State University Northridge, where he received his B.A. in English. He’s a history nerd with a knack for investigative journalism and social justice. Matt has given several lectures on local history and was honored by the City of South Pasadena for his 2016 presentation, “The Darkest Night—The Destruction and Rebirth of Pasadena’s Chinatown.” Matt enjoys reading, hiking, and spending time with his cats, Ruby and Ruffles.

Felita, an Altadena resident, works in Marketing and Public Relations for Marshall Fundamental Secondary School in Pasadena. She received her Bachelors of Arts in Communications from Cal State Los Angeles. Felita just published her first children’s book, Peacrocodilly.

Rena Kurlander is a resident of the San Gabriel Valley. She enjoys writing, music, dance and knitting.

Jean Sudbury is a musician, poet, writer, yogini, gardener, and nature lover. In addition to music, she enjoys covering stories about life in Sierra Madre. She practices her violin, viola, mandolin, mandola, melodica, and accordion every chance she gets.

Ethan Elkind directs the climate program at UC Berkeley Law, with a joint appointment at UCLA Law. His areas of focus include land use, transportation, electric vehicles, energy storage, and renewable energy. Ethan's book “Railtown” is published by the University of California Press.

Janine is passionate about environmental issues and transparency within local and federal governments. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Cal State Los Angeles. She's also a graphic designer, tech savvy, a hockey mom, and loves to dabble in social media.

Jesus Carrillo is a Systems Architect with 15 years of experience in the IT industry, specializing in guiding startups through technology planning and implementation. Outside of work, he enjoys advocating for nature conservation, social justice, and the advancement of science and technology.

Tomo Furuta is a graduate of USC, where he earned bachelor's degrees in Applied and Computational Mathematics, Economics, and Data Science, as well as a master's degree in Applied Data Science. He is passionate about volleyball, music, movies, mathematics, and exploring anything that piques his interest.

Jonathan Ong is a graduate of USC, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering and Computer Science and a Master of Science in Computer Engineering. A resident of Pasadena and a PUSD graduate, Jonathan is passionate about swimming, social justice, and preserving the environment.

We can only reveal a few details about the identity of our food critic so we can provide you with an unbiased and honest review. She has been around food — quality food — all her life and has impeccable taste as evidenced by her own fabulous cooking. She visits restaurants and eateries with no bias or expectation. The day our critic’s identity is accidentally or intentionally revealed will be the sad day we part ways. In the meantime, her pen name is Julia McWilliams, a nod to her favorite aunt and a famous idol chef.

Ann Harris Hunnewell was a proud grandmother who lived in Monrovia. She grew up as the miller’s daughter and went on to work as a grain tester, teacher, and editor. A masterful copy editor and proofreader, she contributed her talents to Colorado Boulevard Newspaper and other non-profits. Ann held two M.A. degrees, in English and in Math/Psychology, from the University of Michigan. She passed away in June 2025. She will be deeply missed.

Chris Wood was an adjunct instructor of English. He held master’s degrees from California Institute of the Arts, Marshall University, and Florida State University. He enjoyed reading and writing poetry in addition to writing articles pertaining to the movie industry and its aspects. Chris passed away in July 2020. He will be missed.

Robin Southworth was a blogger, tweeter, and Pinterest-pinner. She was also an experienced knitter who never met a knitting pattern she couldn't futz with for the better. She held an MFA from CalArts and a BA from Sacramento State University. Robin passed away in May 2023. She will be missed.