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MPYD celebrates "Season of Service"

from Mentoring and Partnership for Youth Development

The Christmas and New Year’s holidays were a season of service for members of Mentoring and Partnership for Youth Development (MPYD), the young men’s mentoring program based at John Muir High School. MPYD students spent the Saturday before Christmas handing out gifts during the Altadena Sheriff Station’s annual holiday food and toy drive, held at the Altadena Community Center. New Year’s Day found MPYD students gathering in the pre-dawn darkness to usher Rose Parade spectators into several parking lots managed by Sharp Seating, the official grandstand provider for the Tournament of Roses.  

“Public service and employment readiness are important goals of our program,” said MPYD chairman Tecumseh Shackelford. “The Sheriff’s Department toy drive and Sharp Seating parking are annual projects that reinforce those goals. And our guys just love to participate!”  

Mentoring & Partnership for Youth Development is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting character development and academic success among at-risk male teens in the Pasadena/Altadena area.  For more information call (626) 396-5600, ext 82010 or visit www.MPYD.org or www.Facebook.com/MPYDfriend  

 Pictures after the jump.

Affordable Care Act forum at Robinson Center Jan. 14

by Timothy Rutt

The Pasadena Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority will hold a forum on the Affordable Care Act on Tuesday, Jan 19, at the Jackie Robinson Community Center.

Speakers include Pasadena Public Health Director Dr. Eric Walsh, Alice Benjamin from AARP, Whitney Harrison (Outreach Coordinator, Young and Healthy) and Debra Ward-Samad (senior consultant, DMW consulting).

Come with your questions and concerns.  Enrollment specialists will be on site to answer questions and make appointments for registration.  This event is free and open to the public.

The Jackie Robinson Community Center is at 1020 N. Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena. The forum starts at 6:30 PM.

Waldorf School helps those in need during the holidays

from the Pasadena Waldorf School

 

Members of the Pasadena Waldorf community help those in need during the holiday season.

As an annual holiday service tradition, the  seventh and eighth of Pasadena Waldorf School once again partnered with the organizations Door of Hope, a Pasadena-based non-profit that provides transitional housing for homeless families and children, and St. James Community Food Locker, whose annual Christmas market gives families in need an opportunity to provide gifts for their loved ones during the holiday season.

 

This year, the students added Five Acres, the 125-year-old children’s charity and advocacy organization, which provided a wish list directly from children in need. Over $2,200 worth of toys were donated to Five Acres, Door of Hope and the St. James Food Locker. Before Thanksgiving, over $1700 was raised for Union Station to provide much-needed funding for their Thanksgiving feast for local homeless people in the Pasadena area.

Pasadena Waldorf School, founded in 1979, offers an inspired education to students from Early Childhood (Parent-Child, Preschool, and Kindergarten) through Grade Eleven (and grade twelve in 2015-2016). With ninety years of experience and over 1000 schools worldwide, Waldorf education is one of the world’s fastest growing independent school movements.

Harvard Glee Club to highlight Jan. 17 Altadena concert

 

The Harvard Glee Club performs with the young men of the Los Angeles Children's Chorus on Jan. 17 in Altadena.

The Los Angeles Children’s Chorus (LACC) begins the New Year with a bang when its Young Men’s Ensemble (YME), conducted by Dr. Steven Kronauer, is featured in a joint performance with the acclaimed Harvard Glee Club, America's oldest collegiate choir, under the director of Andrew Clark, at Altadena Community Church on Friday, January 17, 2014, 7:30 PM.  The choirs perform individually and jointly in a concert presented by the Pasadena Master Chorale.

The Harvard Glee Club, widely considered to be the top collegiate men’s choir in America, has twice performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, appeared at the Vatican under the baton of alumnus Leonard Bernstein, and has sung with the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony and the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, among other ensembles.  In addition to Bernstein, the Harvard Glee Club, founded in 1858, counts many prominent Americans among the ranks of its alumni, including composers Virgil Thomson, Irving Fine, John Harbison and Elliott Carter – a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner.  Non-musical alumni include Theodore Roosevelt; Franklin Roosevelt; and former Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun.

LACC’s Young Men’s Ensemble, one of only a few in the country to serve young male vocalists with changing voices, is designed for boys who wish to pursue singing and the choral arts throughout middle and high school. It offers quality vocal and choral training along with essential tools needed to bridge the gap between treble and young men’s choral singing.   Established in 2009, YME features a specially tailored musicianship course and individualized vocal coaching sessions that adhere to LACC’s exceptionally high standards and rigor.  Among numerous highlights, YME has toured to Germany, Austria and Italy and performed with the esteemed University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club.

For tickets ($20) and information, please call (626) 793-4231 or visit www.pasadenamasterchorale.org.  The Altadena Community Church is located at 943 E. Altadena Drive, Altadena, CA 91001.

 

Animal control to offer low cost vaccinations and licensing

by Timothy Rutt

The Baldwin Park Animal Care Center will hold low-cost Sunday clinics in January and February where pets can be vaccinated, microchipped and licensed.  The clinics will be held from 10 AM-3 PM on Jan. 12 and 16, and Feb. 9 and 23.

The Baldwin Park Animal Care Center is at 4275 North Elton Street, Baldwin Park.

 

 

ACONA, CERT meetings highlight this week

by Timothy Rutt

Two short-but-sweet important public safety meetings this week:

Tuesday night, Jan. 7, ACONA will look at traffic and parking issues in Altadena.  Speakers scheduled include Thomas Miller and Xavier Bejar of the California Highway Patrol and Tommy Muttaraid from the Traffic and Lighting Division of LA County, as well as deputies from the Altadena Sheriff Station.  ACONA will meet at from 7-8:30 PM at the Altadena Main Library, 600 E. Mariposa Street .

Altadena CERT will hold the first in a bi-monthly series of presentations on disaster preparedness on Thursday, Jan. 9.  The topic will be preparing disaster preparedness kits for your home, office, automobile ... and pets!  The presentation will be from 7-8 PM at the Altadena Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Dr.

Both meetings are free and open to the public.

Altadena teen stabbed; Altadena man killed by train in South Pasadena

Catching up on news from other sources in the past few days:

• An Altadena teen was stabbed on the Pasadena side of Fair Oaks and Woodbury Jan. 2. Pasadena Star News has the details here.
• A 57-year-old Altadena man was struck and killed by the Gold Line train at Monterey and Pasadena in South Pasadena.  PSN has details.

 

 

Breaking: coyote pack spotted on west side, bring your pets indoors

by Timothy Rutt

Just received a note from one of our correspondants that a pack of coyotes (unknown number so far) have been spotted in the Fair Oaks/Loma Alta/Taos area about 8 AM this morning.  Pull in your pets!

Breaking: rescued hikers landing at Farnsworth Park

by TImothy Rutt

Per the scanner at 7:30 PM, there will be a helicopter landing at Farnsworth Park soon -- three hikers rescued from Eaton Canyon, not many more details yet.

UPDATE:  Lt. Brian Fitch of the Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station said that it's a familiar story: three teenage hikers who were stuck on Acrophobia Ridge with no way down, dialed 911.  No injuries apparent, Fitch said, but they will be evaluated upon landing.

 

 

Elizabeth Butterfield is Library's January artist

Elizabeth Butterfield is Altadena Main Library's artist for January.

A mixed-media artist, Butterfield uses a variety of materials with handmade papers and her own personal photography.

The exhibit will be at the Community Room of the Altadena Main Library, 600 E. Mariposa Street .

 

Supervisors to consider Henninger Flats' water systems improvements

by Timothy Rutt

The LA Couny Board of Supervisors is scheduled to consider a $1.8 million plan to replace and improve the potable water and wastewater treatment systems at Henninger Flats.

According to the Jan. 7 meeting agenda, the board is scheduled to approve replacing the aging potable water system at the site with an entirely new one to comply with curent codes and help meet the future needs of the fire district  In addition, the plan will make improvements to the three on-site wastewater treatment systems, revise the pipe distribution syste, and repair the irrigation water reservoir.

 

County to extend Devil's Gate comment period to Jan. 21

from the LA County Dept. of Public Works

Due to the high volume of content in the Devil’s Gate Reservoir Sediment Removal and Management Project Draft EIR and requests for additional time to review the document, we will now be accepting comments for an additional 15 days, 90 days in total, through Tuesday, January 21, 2014.

If you have not done so already, comments emailed to reservoircleanouts@dpw.lacounty.gov, mailed, or faxed to LA County Public Works will be included in the official Response to Comments Log that will be attached to the Final EIR.    

Please check out the project website at http://www.LASedimentManagement.com/DevilsGate

 

Central Altadena Little League tryouts next two Saturdays

Central Altadena Little League will conduct tryouts January 4 and January 11 from 9AM -1PM at Farnsworth Park.  Come out , sign up and tryout for the 2014 season.

 

Altadena Sheriff's Station launches new VIDA academy

from the Altadena Sheriff's Station

Altadena Sheriff's Station will be starting up another Los Angeles County Sheriff Department V.I.D.A (Vital Intervention Directional Alternatives) academy beginning February 12, 2014. V.I.D.A. is a 16 week intervention program designed for at risk youth between the ages of 11 and 17½. 

The V.I.D.A. academy is designed to teach and guide youth to make good decisions. Overseen by law enforcement personnel, the V.I.D.A. academy focuses on several areas, including healthy living, academic and vocational achievement, truancy reduction, increased literacy, workforce preparation, improving parental relationships, and preventing substance abuse. We also perform home and school visits randomly throughout the week. Key components of this program are: Intake night (where the program and expectations are laid out to the parents and students), and the Saturday program (8:00AM-4:00PM) which includes physical training, close order drill, life skills classes, field trips and service projects. There are also counseling nights for students and their parents, which are held on Wednesdays 7:00PM-9:00PM. 

Rose Parade, from the inside

 

Deputy Greg Gabriel stands in front of the Shriners float just before the parade.

Deputy Greg Gabriel of the Altadena Sheriff Station has another gig:  he's the driver for the Shriner's Hospital for Children Rose Parade float.  He shared these pictures with us:

 

Here are some pictures of the Rose Parade from the inside looking out.  A different perspective on the parade.  Long two days (and a cold night), but lots of fun.  No power steering, seat belts, or GPS.  Just a small view port and a pink line down Colorado Boulevard to follow.  My third year driving.  Look forward to 2015.

Our float (won the "Tournament Volunteer's Trophy" for best floral design of parade theme under 35 feet in length.  Third year in a row the Shrine float has won an honor.

More after the jump. 

Pizza of Venice grand opening Friday night

by Timothy Rutt

Fresh off an enthusiastic review in the LA Weekly, Pizza of Venice will be throwing a Grand Opening Party tonight, starting at 9 PM.

DJ T Lion will be spinning, there will be food, and fun in promised.  Pizza of Venice is at 2545 N. Fair Oaks Avenue.

 

CHP announces changes to the law in 2014

from the California Highway Patrol

With the New Year just around the corner, the California Highway Patrol is reminding motorists of several new laws or changes to existing law that goes into effect in 2014. The following are summaries of some transportation-related laws that, unless otherwise stated, go into effect on January 1, 2014.

AMBER Alert: Expansion (AB 535, Quirk): This law requires law enforcement to request activation of the AMBER Alerts after receiving a report that a child has been taken abducted by anyone, including a custodial parent or guardian, who may cause serious bodily injury or death to the child.

Bicycles: Passing Distance (AB 1371, Bradford): This law prohibits motorists from passing a bicycle with less than three feet between any part of the vehicle and any part of the bicycle or driver. When three feet is not possible, the motor vehicle must slow to a reasonable and prudent speed and only pass when no danger is present to the bicyclist. Failing to do so can incur a fine, regardless of a collision or not. This law will go into effect September 16, 2014.

Weather Eye: put your (rain) dancing shoes on

Altadena rainfall totals by season (July-June) from 2003-2014

 

by Bill Westphal 

I started getting interested in weather after moving to Altadena.  I was fascinated by the difference in conditions here in Altadena compared to Pasadena and Los Angeles.  It always seemed like we had more rain, more wind and different temperatures.  So, I purchased some weather station equipment and started paying more attention to forecasts and conditions. I have been recording weather data in Altadena for 10 years now. 

Of particular interest to us here in Southern California is the rainfall. We usually get more along the foothills than Pasadena and Los Angeles. So far this season, we have had only 1.66” of measurable rainfall at my station. (The “Season” that the National Weather Service uses is July 1 to June 30). My average for an entire season is 22.5”. The chart above shows rainfall totals for each season.

This season is on track to be the second driest that I have recorded. Long range forecasts and predictions vary. Farmer’s Almanac predicted the 2013-2014 season to be cold and wet, but we have certainly not seen that yet.  And we are not experiencing an extreme El Nino or La Nina this year which makes long term predictions more difficult.

Other parts of the country are currently experiencing bitter cold conditions while we are enjoying this warm sunny weather. I’m hoping we get a lot more rain (in manageable doses of course). You should be too. So, do a little Rain Dance. We need the rain.

Community correspondent Bill Westphal runs the Altadena Weather Cam and Critter Cam. With interests ranging from weather to photography to radio to being a sheriff volunteer, he was Altadena's Citizen of the Year for 2011.

Plans underway to collect funds for Coffee Gallery window repair

by Timothy Rutt

The Coffee Gallery's window was vandalized Dec. 29, 2013.

A former Altadena town councilman's corporation is collecting funds to repair the Coffee Gallery's broken window, even as the owner of the business is working with her landlord and insurance company to repair the vandalism.

One of the front windows at the Coffee Gallery,  2029 N. Lake Avenue, was reportedly broken by a man with a hammer as the business was opening Sunday, Dec. 29.  The man also reportedly shouted a racial ephithet as he ran from the scene.  

Coffee Gallery owner Julie Sandoval said in an email that "Right now I have no idea how much the CG needs to cover the cost. I paid to have it boarded up and will hopefully work out something with the landlord. I am more upset and saddened by the words that were said by the person throwing the hammer."  Sandoval wrote that she has paid $458 for the board-up, and was going to get estimates and see what the landlord wanted to do after the New Year's holiday.

"Coffee with the Captain" Jan. 14 at the Coffee Gallery

by Timothy Rutt

The Altadena Sheriff Station will hold a "Coffee with the Captain" event at the Coffee Gallery, 2029 N. Lake Avenue, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, from 10-11:30 AM.

Sheriff Capt. John Benedict and members of his staff will be available to meet and address questions and concerns that anyone may have.

 

ACONA looks at traffic and parking at Jan. 7 meeting

The Altadena Coalition of Neighborhood Associations next meeting will be Tuesday, Jan. 7, from 7-8:30 PM.

Traffic and parking will be the main topics, with scheduled guests to include Thomas Miller and Xavier Bejar ofthe California Highway Patrol and Tommy Muttaraid from the Traffic and Lighting Division of LA County, as well as deputies from the Altadena Sheriff Station.

The meeting will be held at the Altadena Main Library, 600 E. Mariposa Street, in the Barbara Pearson Community Room.

 

Comments on Devil's Gate EIR due Monday, Jan. 6

by Timothy Rutt

The LA County Department of Public Works has sent out a reminder that formal comments on the Devil's Gate Dam sediment removal project are due by Monday, Jan. 6:

If you haven’t done so already, please email your comments to reservoircleanouts@dpw.lacounty.gov. Note that only comments emailed to reservoircleanouts@dpw.lacounty.gov, mailed, or faxed to LA County Public Works will be included in the official Response to Comments Log that will be attached to the Final EIR.    

Also, please note the project website was updated in early December to facilitate your review of the Draft EIR. A new page for the Project Alternatives Overview and additional Resources such as the overlays on the Hahamongna Watershed Park Master Plan have been posted. 

Please check out the project website at http://www.LASedimentManagement.com/DevilsGate

 

 

Waldorf School schedules open house Jan. 11

from the Pasadena Waldorf School

Pasadena Waldorf School will host its final open house of the 2013-14 academic year. On January 11, presentations will be offered on both the lower school campus and the separate high school campus. Visitors will experience the unique, meaningful and inspired Waldorf approach first-hand through demonstrations by the teachers of Pasadena Waldorf School.

The Open House schedule is as follows:
9:00 AM. for the lower school (toddler through grade 8), 209 East Mariposa, Altadena, CA  91001

1:00 PM for the high school, 1539 East Howard Street, Pasadena, CA  91104

No reservations are required.  The lower school campus will provide free childcare for children age 5 and older during the morning open house. Prospective high school students are encouraged to attend the high school open house along with their parents.

 

Thunderbirds are go!

 

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Chris Considine (The Skywatcher) shared these exclusive photos of the Thunderbirds flying over the  Rose Parade this morning.

Happy New Year 2014 open thread

Happy Altadena New Year!

What do YOU want to see happen in 2014?  Or what are you AFRAID will happen in 2014?  Comment away!

Top Altadena stories of 2013

 

 Old Spock vs. New Spock in a round of golf at the Altadena Town & Country Club

by Timothy Rutt

The old year is over, and so long (and maybe good riddance) to it, but there was a lot going on in Altadena in 2013.  Here’s a look at some of the most significant happenings last year.

Poetry Corner: the year that was

"2013----The Year That Was"

from gloriana casey

2013-----the year that was;
it had such lows and highs.
Some trivia to make us smile,
plus spy game's big surprise!

A  JANUARY meteor!
The Ural Mountains rocked!
470 kilotons;
for Nature can't be mocked!

The happiest discoverer,
 Huell Howser---- gone from Earth.
A man who found joy everywhere;
philosophy of mirth!

Crime blotter: St. Francis is missing

The final crime blotter of 2013, brought to you by the Altadena Sheriff Station.

Sunday, December 22

Between 4:00 PM and 8:00 (Monday) – A petty theft from an unlocked vehicle occurred in the 2500 block of Holliston Av.  Loss:  white Apple headphones, black Blue Ant Bluetooth. 

Monday, December 23

2:37 AM – A residential vandalism occurred in the 3100 block of Thurin Av.  ***Suspect possibly known***

Between 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM (Wednesday) – A petty theft occurred in the 2100 block of Mar Vista Avenue.  Loss:  St. Francis statue.

Tuesday, December 24

Between 10:00 AM and midnight – A package theft occurred in the 100 block of Marathon Road.  Loss:  iPod.