The La Pintoresca Teen Education Center partnered with the La Pintoresca Branch Library to bring Chocolate Storytime to this year’s Tree Lighting. The event was produced by the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department, with the Pasadena Public Library proudly hosting this annual celebration. Thank you to Elizabeth Luna, Annmarie Kolakowski, La Toya Andrews, Tisha Washington, and everyone from the Teen Education Center and La Pintoresca Branch Library for making Chocolate Storytime’s participation possible. Recognition is also extended to new librarian Christina Glass for capturing photographs from the evening.

The 23rd Annual La Pintoresca Tree Lighting Ceremony took place during a season of reflection, as many families continue to navigate loss, change, and recovery. In a year when homes, belongings, and long-held traditions have been disrupted, the gathering became a reminder that care and connection still live in our shared spaces. Surrounded by festive decorations and familiar faces, La Pintoresca offered both comfort and community, and the simple act of being together.

As part of the evening’s celebration, families gathered for Chocolate Storytime, our long-running community program. It was a moment rooted in togetherness, remembrance, and hope.

Before we began, I shared how special it felt to be back at our beloved La Pintoresca and expressed my excitement that this year marked our 11th year of Chocolate Storytime. My daughter was just seven years old when Chocolate Storytime began and has been a constant ever since. As she grew older, she stepped into the role of Arts Director, supporting creative activities and mentoring younger children. This evening, she made sure to come by to help pass out chocolates and enjoy the celebration, grateful to be home on Christmas break from college and happy to return to a space that has grown alongside her. I also shared that after COVID, the program changed from being held monthly to being presented by invitation for special occasions, which made returning to La Pintoresca in this season, following the fire, especially meaningful.

I acknowledged those who have been part of Chocolate Storytime from the very beginning, especially Ms. Lupita (Maria Barajas), leader of Léeme un Cuento, whose guidance and steady presence helped shape the heart of this work. She taught me how to read a book aloud in a way that truly invites children into the story, using Pickin’ Peas by Margaret Read MacDonald, illustrated by Pat Cummings, as a teaching tool. As she has done for the past 11 years, Ms. Lupita gathered a beautiful selection of books for me to choose from and, for this special occasion, display in the front for families to check out.

It was also wonderful to see Mr. Carlos Perez, who has been part of Chocolate Storytime from the beginning and who used to help set up the chairs, rug, and backdrop, and assist with cleanup afterward — still there this evening, quietly supporting the space for children and families.

The book selected for this evening was The Gift of Words by Peter H. Reynolds, chosen intentionally. Many families have lost heirloom decorations they had placed on their trees for years, and the idea of a word tree felt like a gentle alternative. It offered permission to find a new holiday tradition, not as a replacement for what was lost, but as a way to gather meaningfully in the midst of change.

The book was purchased from the children’s section at Vroman’s in Pasadena, a longtime mainstay from when my daughter was little. Returning there was heavenly, as it always is. Sitting on the bench where I once brought her for storytime brought everything full circle and made the choice of this book feel especially right.

The Gift of Words, written and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds, follows Jerome, a word collector, as he discovers that words themselves can be gifts. Reynolds reminds readers that “the best gift that we can give each other is kind words,” and that “the world needs a lot of love, and each of us can add that light and love with our words.” Through Jerome, the story shows how words can encourage not only one person, but an entire community. The heart of the book is about people coming together, gathering around one another, and using powerful, positive words to help make the world a better place.

The guest reader for the evening was Dr. Tara Gomez-Hampton, who brought the story to life engaging the children through thoughtful questions, open conversation, allowing space for reflection. She led with gentle insight and care, creating a welcoming space where children felt seen, heard, and valued.

This moment also created a meaningful bridge between Chocolate Storytime’s past and present. I was reminded of our February 2018 Chocolate Storytime, when Bill Gould, who at the time was a program officer at First 5 Los Angeles, a lecturer at USC’s School of Social Work, and one of the founding leaders of San Rafael Elementary’s African American Parent Council, read The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds. In the years since, Bill and his family have been among those who experienced the loss of their home in the Eaton fire. That reality made the return to Jerome’s story in 2025 especially meaningful. A story first shared in 2018 about collecting words returned in a moment when many families were grieving the loss of irreplaceable belongings, heirlooms, financial stability, and pieces of family history.

While words alone cannot replace what has been lost or carry the full weight of that kind of grief, The Gift of Words offered a way to gather honestly and to affirm that care and connection still matter. What began with The Word Collector came full circle, not as a solution to loss, but as a shared act of presence.

After Chocolate Storytime, the John Muir Ensemble, led by Ms. Cassandra Franklin, filled the space with angelic a cappella singing, their voices rich, smooth, and confident. The performance then unfolded into something more upbeat as the students sang and danced in paired partners to the holiday pop cult classic “Holiday Road” by Lindsey Buckingham, a song that brought smiles and recognition throughout the room. The blend of harmony, movement, and connection between the students made the performance feel alive and special, turning a familiar song into a shared holiday experience. Fun Fact: “Holiday Road” comes from one of my all-time favorite holiday films. Written and performed by Lindsey Buckingham, guitarist and singer of Fleetwood Mac, the song was originally created for the 1983 film National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and has since become one of his most recognizable and beloved works.

Ms. Franklin shared that the John Muir music program has a full and exciting season ahead and encouraged the community to continue supporting the students. Upcoming events include the Eaton Fire Review on January 7th at John Muir High School, the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration at John Muir, a February concert, the All-District Concert, the Spring Concert, and the school’s upcoming musical. For more information about performances, events, and the incredible work of these students, the community is encouraged to follow @johnmuirmusic on Instagram.

The arrival of Santa Claus, along with Youth Ambassadors and dedicated volunteers, brought smiles and excitement to children and families. The evening concluded with the official tree lighting, led by Councilmember Tyron Hampton, who helped the community mark the beginning of the holiday season alongside his family.

The celebration also included face painting and holiday arts and crafts. Face painting was provided by the Armory Center for the Arts, offering a no-mess option for children, while the Huntington hosted a pressed-flower craft and generously provided free passes to families.

Warm, soulful Christmas music flowed throughout the evening thanks to a kind and gracious brotha from the Teen Center, who is also a talented DJ in his spare time. He supported the sound throughout the program, curated a joyful soundtrack that included the Jackson Five’s “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” and made sure the microphone was set up just right for those of us seated on the traditional Santa bench, a familiar fixture that returns year after year. Tamales and champurrado were shared, the lights outside and decorations inside were beautiful, and the atmosphere reflected care, generosity, and welcome.

Using funds generously provided by my mother, Barbara Lindsey, I selected The Gift of Words so that our Girl Scout Troop could donate the book to La Pintoresca Library after the program. In addition, The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore, illustrated by Lauren Semmer (Clarion Books, 2025), was also purchased with the same donated funds. Although it was not read during the program, it is also being donated to the library on behalf of my mother, continuing our tradition of placing new books into the hands of the community.

This year’s La Pintoresca Tree Lighting was more than a celebration. It was a reminder that in times of change and recovery, words, stories, and community can still help light the way forward.