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VOL. 25, NO. 39
Pasadena Tournament of Roses selects Royal Court princesses; LeVar Burton named grand marshal for 2022 Rose Parade Terry MILLER tmiller@beaconmedianews.com
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he pandemic of 2020 took its toll on every aspect of life in Pasadena and the world. The Rose Parade, among every other major event in the world, was cancelled for the first time in modern memory dimming the hopes of young women who vie for the coveted Rose Queen title. While logistically the Rose Parade next year will be a bit different due to the ongoing pandemic, it remains to be seen exactly what these changes will look like and how they could affect the 2022 New Year’s Day tradition. “With the current mandate in place, effective Oct. 7, 2021, proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to attending is required,” according to Sharp Seating, the event’s official grandstand seating company. While children 12 years old and younger will be exempt,
Ava Feldman (left) and Mackenzie Street react moments after they were announced part of the sevenmember 2022 Royal Court. | Photo by Terry Miller / Beacon Media News
masks will be required “for all events, regardless of vaccination status.”
However, on Monday, the Royal Court finalists appeared on the south steps of Tournament House
replete with face masks ready to hear they may be part of the Rose Court. Soon, the 37 finalists would be
down to the seven members of the Royal Court for 2022. Anticipation grew as nervous teenagers hoped to
hear Tournament of Roses President Bob Miller open the envelope and read their name. The seven members named were: • Jeannine Brigs of John Marshall Fundamental High School; • Nadia Chung of La Cañada High School; • Ava Feldman of South Pasadena High School; • Abigail Griffith of Pasadena High School; • Swetha Somasundaram of Arcadia High School; • McKenzie Street of Flintridge Sacred Heart; and • Jaeda Walden of La Canada High School. Members of the 2022 Royal Court will serve as ambassadors of the Tournament of Roses, the Pasadena community, and the greater Los Angeles area, and will each receive a $7,500 educational scholarship. “The Rose Queen and Royal Court are iconic traditions, See Rose Parade page 3
Latina entrepreneurs create community while keeping in touch with their roots Rebekah Ludman becksludman@gmail.com
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or many Latina business owners, it’s essential to keep their culture close to them and to stay in touch with their roots. Erika Guerrero, owner of
Boots and Wicks in Westlake, says she has found little ways to keep in touch with her roots in her business. She started making candles as a way to make some extra money to pay for a vet bill during the pandemic for her dog Boots.
And embracing her Latino culture helped Guerrero when starting her business. “Your people will gravitate toward you, and they will be proud of you, and they will be happy to support you,” she said. While Guerrero devel-
oped her business and explored different types of candles to make, she thought about a candle that could illustrate her roots. “There’s one specific candle that’s truly dear to my heart—I have a coffee candle,” she said. “It is
coffee scented, but it is topped with coffee grounds. The coffee grounds come all the way from a small town in Mexico where my family is from.” Guerrero’s family has a coffee business where they turn coffee beans into the
coffee grounds in a small town in Jalisco, Mexico. Her family sends her the coffee grounds that she uses for her candle. She makes this candle See Latina entrepreneurs page 6