altadenablog

Smash-and-grab at Cobb estate this PM

A reader writes:

I was just on Lake Ave. by the Cobb estate, and on my way to my car, I saw that the woman parked in front of me was talking to the police because her front seat passenger-side window had been smashed. She started her hike around the same time I did--around 1 p.m., and she told me she had left her purse on the front seat. She returned to her car around 2:30. She said she saw a couple of guys standing by the Cobb Estate gate. They didn't say hello when she greeted them, and once she saw what had happened to her car, she went looking around, and they had disappeared, so she thought they were probably lookouts. Her purse was stolen.

This robbery took place on the east side of Lake, maybe 6 or 7 car-lengths down from the Cobb Estate entrance.

Please remember what the sheriffs have been saying for months: don't leave anything of value out in the open (which includes a purse on your front seat).

A light day

Real life issues are calling, so things'll be light today -- will try to catch up tomorrow!

Tree down at Lincoln between Palm & Altadena Dr.

Got an email from Laura Monteros @ about 8:15 AM:

There is a tree down on the west side of Lincoln between Palm & Altadena, blocking the street.  There are folding signs blocking the southbound lane at Palm and northbound lane at Lincoln, but evidently the sheriff doesn't want any traffic through at all as I saw a deputy in a black and white run his lights and pull over someone who turned on Lincoln! Fortunately it wasn't me....

Quake 3:40 PM, located in Baja

Preliminary report on the quake is here.  Police/scanner traffic seems calm.  We felt it in our living room, but our wife and daughter in the kitchen felt nothing.

Altadena ACT-SO competition Sat.

ALTADENA ACT-SO 2010 COMPETITION
 
Competition: Sat. April 10, 2010 - from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00p.m.
The competition is open to the public, friends and  family are welcome.      
 

• Participants  competing in dance, music and music composition will be performing between 10:00 am and 12:30pm.  Please check in no later than 9:30
• Participants  competing in oratory, drama, film and entrepreneurship will perform/present between 12:30 and 4:00pm. 
• Visual arts will set up in the lobby area no later than 10:00 am.
• Participants competing in the humanities, essay, poetry and playwriting must bring six copies of their work to the Altadena Center by 12 noon, April 10.  You may email your work to me before April 10, and I will make the copies

Award Ceremony Sunday April 25, 2010 from 2:30p.m. to 5:30p.m.  Luncheon is served from 2:30 to 3:30; the disclosure of the Medalist will follow. 
 
ALL EVENTS ARE HELD AT
ALTADENA COMMUNITY CENTER
730 E. ALTADENA DR.
ALTADENA  CA

Baseball mania fundraiser at Farnsworth Park Sat.

Central Altadena Little League (CALL) will be holding its Baseball Mania and Picture Day Event on Sat., April 10 from 8 AM- 5 PM  at the lower field of Farnsworth Park in Altadena. This annual fundraiser will challenge Little Leaguers in friendly competition in areas of running, throwing and pitching while obtaining sponsorships for their efforts. The event will be highlighted by a homerun derby at 12:30 p.m. with the Major Little Leaguers, followed  by a softball game with  Junior/Major Players versus the Altadena Sherriff’s department at 2 PM.

This all day family fun event will include face painting, jumpers, popcorn, snow cones, and great food for everyone.  All community members and political dignitaries are encouraged to attend and support the youth of Altadena and the Altadena Sherriff’s department.

Farnsworth Park is located at the top of Lake Avenue at the corner of Lake Avenue and Concha Street in Altadena. For more information please visit www.centralaltadenalittleleague.org.

The Lord is risen indeed

Happy Easter, which is what we celebrate in our household (and Happy Passover, if that is what you celebrate, as well!  We're equal opportunity over here).

April's Library Fun Flick: "The Princess and the Frog" April 16

The Library's Friday Fun Flick for April is Disney's newest animated feature, "The Princess and the Frog."  First-class animation, spicy New Orleans music, and popcorn for free, who can turn it down?  April 16, 3:30 in the library Community Room, 600 E. Mariposa.

Sheriff's out and about today [UPDATED]

UPDATE: A copy of the flier is available here.

About 20 radio cars, a passel of sheriff deputies, and volunteers gathered in Charles White this morning to pass out fliers of theft and burglary prevention tips to west side neighborhoods.  Altadena Sheriff Capt. Steven McLean said that about 75 volunteers showed up to spread the word.  The sweep will go on until about 2 PM today.

It looked like a large operation deployed in Charles White Park.

About 20 radio cars were involved in the operation to help escort volunteers.

Deputy Kevin Olive briefs the volunteers.

Altadena Sheriff Capt. Steven McLean gives some words of encouragement.

Several groups of young people volunteered, including sheriff Explorers ...

... and young men from Mentoring & Partnership for Youth Development (MPYD).  MPYD founder and Altadena Town Councilman Tecumseh Shackelford is in the center.

Get crafty at the Library April 13

Bring the whole family to the Altadena Library on Tues., April 13, for a fun family craft night.  All ages welcome, starts at 6 PM at the Library Community Room, 600 E. Mariposa.

Poetry and Cookies at the Library April 10

A reminder: it's too late to submit, but not too late to enjoy the Altadena Library's 8th Annual Poetry & Cookies Program on Sat., April 10, 2-4 PM.  Readings, raffle, poetry books for sale, and the crowning of Altadena's new poet laureate!  An aesthete's delight at 600 E. Mariposa.

Alene Terzian named Altadena Poet Laureate

The Altadena Library is pleased to announce the new Poet Laureate for the Altadena Library District will be Alene Terzian.  Her official inauguration will be on Sat., April 10 at 2 PM at the library’s annual Friends sponsored program, Poetry and Cookies.  Her term will be from May 2010 through April 2012. Marcia Thompson, the library’s current laureate, will be there to pass the laurels.

 This event is free and will take place in the community room of the main Altadena Library located at 600 East Mariposa Street, Altadena. For more information please call 626 798 0833 or check the library’s website at http://altadenalibrary.org.

Altadena resident Alene Terzian received an M.A. and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing with an emphasis in Poetry.  Her first book, Deep as City’s Ache, explores the Lebanese Civil Conflict both environmentally and psychologically, emphasizing the humanistic elements of war.  She is currently working on her second collection while teaching English at College of the Canyons.  At College of the Canyons, she has spearheaded the literary magazine called cul-de-sac; volume three was newly released to the public, showcasing the fiction, poetry, photography, and artwork of the talented students at COC.  She also teaches creative writing, critical thinking, and literature courses; her goal is to expose students to fresh voices in the writing community.  Her poems have appeared in Media Cake, Lit Parlor/Lit Lounge, Literati Cocktail, Colorado Review, Poetic Diversity, The Armenian Poetry Project, Rhapsodomancy, In the Web, and Northridge Review.

 

 

Lock up! The burglars are still out there!

Just got a note from  Sgt. Dan Bartlett of Altadena Sheriff's Station:

Just a reminder to send out to everyone in your Neighborhood Watch Groups.  In the past two days we’ve had two burglaries of homes east side.  A home on Midwick was entered during the night through an unlocked door.  On Thursday a home on Midlothian was entered through an unlocked window.  Please remember to lock-up when you leave your home or go to bed.  Be Safe!  Set your alarm if you have one.  Report strange people who are walking, riding, or driving slowly through your neighborhood.  During school  hours report any juveniles walking around who look like they should be in school, but remember, April 5-9 is Spring Break so be extra vigilant!

We are winning.  Another burglar was arrested yesterday!

Sgt. Dan Bartlett

Altadena Station

Steven McLean starts today as Altadena sheriff captain

 

Today, Altadena Sheriff Station welcomes its new captain, Steven McLean.

A 30-year veteran of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Dept., McLean joined the station last fall and has been taking over the duties of now-retired Capt. Roosevelt Blow.  McLean already boasts the arrest of 11 theft suspects and a reduction of 56% in theft reports around town under his watch.

McLean credits the reduction and arrests to a modified strategy, as well as aggressive work by patrol deputies and detectives.

As captain, McLean says that his top three priorities are:

1. "Community relations, developing community partnerships."
2. "Reduce all crime."
3. "Enhance our service to the community."

Part of the community relations work includes the community walk on April 3, where deputies and volunteers will fan out into neighborhoods in west Altadena to share information on preventing thefts from homes and automobiles.

Another top priority for McLean is attacking the gang problem.  McLean says that gang crimes are significantly down -- "because so many gang leaders are in jail"-- but that's not enough.