Each Box Tells a Story for Villa Gardens Resident

Posted on December 29, 2020

She has collected them from all over the world. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, designs and materials. She bought some for a few dollars and others are priceless. But to be sure, every decorative box Villa Gardens resident Herrad Marrs has collected, evokes special memories. "Each box in my collection has sentimental value, not so much monetary value," Herrad said. Each box evokes a treasured memory for Herrad of the time and place it was acquired. "I'm often asked if I …

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From the Vote to the Float and Beyond

Posted on August 21, 2020

Villa Gardens Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of Women's Suffrage It was New Year's Day, 2020 when I realized what it felt like to be a part of history. I looked out at a sea of white hats and long white dresses on Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, marching in the wake of our spectacular Rose Bowl float, Lady Liberty, rising like beacon above us. This year, 2020, marks the 100th anniversary of American Women winning the right to vote. Women from every state of the U.S. came together to celebr…

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Professional Trainer Kim Williams Helps Residents Stay Fit at Villa Gardens

Posted on June 30, 2020

One of the first people new residents meet when they move to Villa Gardens is Kim Williams, the community's director of fitness and aquatics. Upon their request, Kim connects with residents, offering them a full fitness assessment as well as making recommendations for classes and equipment. Villa's fitness center, or as residents call it, Solarium Gym, recently underwent a complete renovation and boasts state-of-the-art exercise equipment, including resident favorite, the CyberCycle, a r…

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Nan Johnson Continues to Blaze New Trails at Villa Gardens

Posted on November 16, 2019

There are some moments that change everything. For Nan Johnson that moment was in 1955, when the dean of a prestigious law school, to which she was considering applying, told her, "You do understand you won't be arguing any cases. You will do the briefs and the men will argue the cases." Since that time, Nan has been an advocate for social change. She was the first woman to serve as Majority Leader of Monroe County, New York legislature and went on to become an associate professor of pol…

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