altadenablog

Canyon Crest to open soon

Got this message from town council chairman Gino Sund at roughly 4 PM:

This latest I have is that the road will be open to one way traffic is a couple of hours.  Trails are being installed to divert the water.  Emergency use is currently allowed at this time.

Laura Monteros at the Examiner has some more pictures and interviews, and check out Greg Stanton's Meadows blog for more pictures and on-the-scene updates.

UPDATE: Canyon Crest washed out, Meadows cut off

Thanks to our Meadows readers and the omnipresent Bill Westphal for sharing the what's going on. (Bill took the picture this morning of the collapsed pavement and the car in the middle of it to your left).

Our readers tell us that there was a massive debris flow coming down the creek that not only washed out the hairpin turn at Canyon Crest, but collapsed the pavement as well -- so for the duration, there appears to be no way into or out of the Meadows.

First, the rain.  As Bill tells us:

That was a huge Storm Cell that passed over just after 7am.  I measured 4.84" per hour Rainfall Rate.  Total Rain so far is .51" yesterday and 2.52" today since Midnight.

Second, reader Bob Reid tells us:

This was a huge debris flow that roared down the canyon, not just a clog at the harpin. It shook the house it was so loud, trees and boulders just went streaming by across the street in canyon on lower Canyon Crest.

(Photo: Jane & Todd Szabo)

UPDATE:  Debbi Swanson Patrick has some interviews on her blog here.

More photos after the jump.

San Gabriel Valley Blogger's Potluck: Primavera in Altadena II

Well, the Mighty Bloggers of Altadena (us, Deb Swanson Patrick of Altadena Above It All and Altadena Daily Photo; Susan Carrier of Open Mouth Insert Fork, Cancer Banter, and The Orange Cat; and Karin Bugge, the legendary Altadenahiker) didn't learn their lesson last spring, so once again this year we will be hosting the spring potluck for the bloggers of the San Gabriel Valley at Farnsworth Park on March 20. Open to all bloggers, families, fans, and groupies, the food and company are always first rate.  Hope to see you there!

Ian Whitcomb turns 'em on

Fun for a Friday: Hometown Pasadena interviews Altadena fixture Ian Whitcomb, who says of his adopted hometown: "It’s a lawless place of eccentrics, layabouts, blowhards and gangs. There aren’t enough Jews."  No comment from this quarter on any of that!  But we note that Whitcomb joins a crowd of people in Hometown's "Creative Types" section that hail from the high 'Dena.

Flash flood watch today

From the all-caps National Weather Service:

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE RECENT BURN AREAS...

THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR

* THE RECENT BURN AREAS IN VENTURA AND LOS ANGELES COUNTIES.

* THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON

* RAINFALL RATES COULD EXCEED ONE HALF INCH PER HOUR AT TIMES TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY...ESPECIALLY ACROSS SOUTH FACING SLOPES AND NEAR THUNDERSTORMS. THIS WILL BRING THE POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING AND DEBRIS FLOWS IN AND DOWNSTREAM OF THE BURN AREAS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

RESIDENTS IN OR BELOW THE RECENT BURN AREAS ARE URGED TO TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THEIR PROPERTY. PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD REMAIN ALERT AND FOLLOW DIRECTIONS OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS OFFICIALS.

"In The Name of Love": V-Day benefit for Haiti @ Coffee Gallery

Celebrate Valentines Day At The Coffee Gallery

IN THE NAME OF LOVE: A BENEFIT FOR THE PEOPLE OF HAITI

FEATURING
JULIE SANDOVAL, Comedian
RIUA AKINSHEGUN, Writer/Performer
AND
HOBERLEIGH PHREIGH Performing
"Over The Caesar Salad" By SARA HUNTER
FINN CARTER and LESLIE PERRY In
"The Muse" By Leslie Perry
With
LAURA VEGA, MC


SUNDAY FEBRUARY 14th at 3:30 p.m.
Coffee Gallery Backstage
2029 North Lake Ave.
Altadena, CA 91001

Free, But Donations Accepted

For more info call 626.398-7917

Start Mardi Gras early at Sacred Heart Church Feb. 13

Laissez les bon temps rouler! (let the good times roll!)

Sacred Heart Church, 2889 N. Lincoln Ave in Altadena, is celebrating Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) New Orleans-style with a fabulous party on Sat., Feb. 13, from 7 to 11 PM.

The festivities include traditional N'awlins specialties, free beads, a live DJ, dancing, The Second Line and a costume contest. A no-host bar will also be available, serving wine and beer.

Tickets cost $15 per person, $25 per couple. Contact Edwina Clay at 626-794-7814 to purchase or for more information.

Have a Snort this weekend!

Local author/actor/activist Ellen Snortland is performing at the Actor's Repertory 3rd Annual Solo Festival in Burbank, and now it's crunch time.  She tells us:

My show, "Now That She's Gone" is in the finals this weekend ... If I get the most audience members, I will win a two week run. I need a run so I can get reviewed, invite casting directors, meet my pension and health benefits min., etc. Anyway, I need all the help I can get! Plus, it's a great show.

Last minute! Get your tickets now!
“NOW THAT SHE'S GONE: Unraveling The Mystery Of My Mother”
Written & Performed By: Ellen Snortland
Now That She’s Gone is a play that explores Ellen Snortland’s often hilarious, irreverent and sometimes torturous relationship with her Norwegian-American mother. Now That She’s Gone has been described as a Lily Tomlin / Garrison Keillor / Eve Ensler hybrid… passionate, poignant and funny in turns. A memoir piece with Eleanor Roosevelt, sex, drugs and lutefisk, the play and performance has received rave reviews and standing ovations in California, New York, and Washington, D.C.
Actors Repertory 3rd Annual Solo Festival
2811 W. Magnolia
Burbank, CA 91505
Admission: $15
Cheap! Two for one!
A Double-header With One Seating:
Saturday, February 6, 8:00p.m.
“OBLIGED: A one woman wedding show you’re obligated to attend”
Written and Performed By: Megan Grano
“NOW THAT SHE'S GONE: Unraveling The Mystery Of My Mother”
Written & Performed By: Ellen Snortland
Purchase tickets by visiting
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/93945
or calling 1-800-838-3006
For more info, visit www.theactorsrepertory.com

Short takes

• On the down Lowe in San Marino: The Crowell Library in San Marino will feature Michael A. Patris, founder of the Mt. Lowe Preservationist Society, who will give a talk about Prof. TSC Lowe and his railway on March 2 at 7 PM.
• But what about the T-shirts? PUSD has quietly put an end to former town councilman Herbert Simmons' student and teacher of the month awards.  His Altadenans website has some details.

Welcome Altadenablog sponsor: scissors/paper/rock salon & boutique

scissors/paper/rock, Yolande Carson’s salon and boutique at 1864 N. Allen, strives to be a place to be stylish and a place to relax.

“We like it to be intimate, so the clients get one-on-one treatment, like it’s their place,” she said.  “A place to go to go to the refrigerator and get a drink, a place to relax.”

Carson has been in the hair styling business for 25 years, but she and her husband followed parallel careers as musicians -- they met each other playing in bands, and moved up to the Pasadena area to be closer to family.  She says she worked in big salons and spas, but never wanted her own, until she  decided that “I kind of wanted arenas for music, and to do my thing.”

That idea became scissors/paper/rock, a place for “shopping, fashion, and music,” Carson said.  In addition to hair styling and beauty services, the store sells fashion jewelry and hosts trunk shows and hair and makeup seminars.

Besides the funky but serene decor, music is a big part of scissor/paper/rock’s experience -- jazz or Sinatra are always on the sound system, and every summer she holds an acoustic music concert series at the salon.

The staff includes hair stylist Rickelle Howard, who has spent 17 years in styling in the area and specializes in black hair care; manicurist Tracy Vuong; and assistant Celeste Oliverez.  The salon plans to add skin care and waxing services in the near future.

scissors/paper/rock has been in business for ten years, the last four at the Allen location .  The salon is also expanding into the storefront next door by mid-February.



Carson also believes in giving back to the community: every Christmas the salon holds a fundraiser for URDC Human Services, a nonprofit program for women and children in Pasadena trying to conquor substance abuse.  Every Mother’s Day, they hold a beauty day with makeovers for URDC clients.

As for the name?  The “scissors” comes from the hairstyling, the “rock” comes from the funky chunky jewelry -- but “paper?”  “We’re still working on it!” Carson said.

Pictured: Yolande Carson, left, and RIckelle Howard.

More found animals [UPDATE]

UPDATE:  Tiny is home, thanks to our compadre Karin the Altadenahiker!  Check the comments for the full dish!

Two more before we call it a day:

From Joell:

A dog was found on Sacramento St close to El Molino Ave today with a black collar and no home.  A neighbor brought him to me to see if I could find the owner of this incredibly cute and friendly little dog.  I have attached 2 photos of him.  He looks very well loved and taken care of.  Can you help?
My number is 310-850-2029.

And: our first rabbit!:

This bunny has been spotted around the Altadena Dr. / Olive Avenue area, specifically at the corner of Olive and Palm this past week. 
The bunny is black and white, it looks like a Dutch breed.  I am sure this is someone's pet.

Email: gmills78@gmail.com  if you know who's pet this is.

For rent: garage, starred in "Transformers"

Thanks to an alert reader who spotted this on Craig's List:  Ronnie's Automotive is up for lease.

Book tour: Michele Zack @ Pasadena Museum of History Feb. 16

If you've missed her previous talks at Vroman's or the Altadena Community Center, local historian Michele Zack will be talking and signing books at the Pasadena Museum of History on Feb 16, featuring her new book, Southern California Story: Seeking the Better Life in Sierra Madre. Details are here.

Altadena congregations respond for Haiti relief

Laura Monteros has done a fine job of legwork, checking out what local houses of worship are doing to provide relief to the people of Haiti.  We recommend her piece in the Examiner to give you some ideas of where to provide assistance.

Education Spectrum & Caltech discuss autism/Asperger research

Altadena=based Education Spectrum and Caltech invite you to an informative overview of Caltech's Autism and Asperger Syndrome Research Program. Ralph Adolphs, Ph.D., Bren Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience will describe fascinating studies of the cognitive and emotional aspects of adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Laurie Stephens, Ph.D., Clinical Director of Education Spectrum, will then join Dr. Adolphs for a dynamic discussion about eye contact, brain function, and practical data.

The event will be held Sat. Feb. 27, at Broad Center Auditorium, Room 100 on the Caltech campus.  Check in is at 3:45 PM, and the program runs from 4-5:30.   There is no entrance charge, but seating is limited. The presentation is open to the community and especially geared for parents, caregivers and professionals.

"Coffee Talk" with PUSD's Tom and Bob Feb. 10 @ Webster Elementary

Join us for Coffee with PUSD Board President Tom Selinske and Board Member Bob Harrison!

Come enjoy a warm cup of coffee and get to know our PUSD Leadership 

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

9:30-11 AM

Daniel Webster Elementary Auditorium 2101 E. Washington Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91104

• Learn more about the budget crisis facing the district   
  
• Plans to close the shortfall
  
• Potential impacts on educational programs   
  
• Share your ideas on ways we can improve all our schools  

Bring your friends and neighbors!  Sponsored by Daniel Webster PTA

Register now for pre-SAT test at the library

Don't forget: there's still time to register for a free practice SAT test at the Altadena Library Feb.20 -- you must pre-register to participate.  The library will also have a workshop revealing results and SAT strategies on Tues., March 2.