altadenablog

Lincoln Xing minority partner gets an earful

Lincoln Crossing minority partner (20%) Ray Carlisle got an earful from his tenants at Monday's county meeting regarding the troubled project.  Leaks and flooding, sewage odors, and a rent increase with a cherry on top.  Bad news is plentiful -- Bessie's Daughter's Soulful Tacos, an Altadenablog favorite, is shutting down, at least temporarily, because of the odor problem, and Farm Fresh is suing Dorn Platz, the 80% partner, over rent increases.  Oh, yes, and Acacia St. has to be torn up because the sewer line failed inspection.  According to the story, Carlisle seemed reasonable -- after all, he's got a lot invested in this, and he wants it to succeed -- but Supv. Antonovich's rep says that the Dorn Platz problems don't rise to the level of "significant misdeeds" that would cause the county to take it over.  Pasadena Now has all the deets.

Fair Oaks stretch to get $400,000 facelift

Received today from Supv. Antonovich's press office:

To upgrade Altadena’s Fair Oaks Avenue, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved $400,000 in Economic Development Funds to provide facade improvement services to commercial buildings, announced Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich who initiated the request.

Alta/Pasa Community Improvement Center will provide the upgrade to commercial buildings along Fair Oaks Boulevard between Altadena Drive and West Woodbury Road in the unincorporated community of Altadena. The County also recently allocated funding to add trees and landscaping adjacent to sidewalks along Fair Oaks Avenue. This work is currently underway.

Gang activity in 2007

Some data gleaned from the Altadena Sheriff's Station 2007 year-end report ...

2007 crime stats released

An early taste from tonight's sheriff's department community meeting: the Altadena Sheriff's Station's Part I crime trends:

Part I Crime       2006        2007      Difference                % change

Homicide               0            1               1                            100
Rape                     9            6               -3                        -33.3
Robbery                27          35                8                          29.6
Aggravated
Assault                    127        157                30                       23.6
Burglary                284            236            -48                       -16.9
Theft                    277            277                0                            0
Grand Theft
    Auto                90                127                37                     41.1
Arson                    7                    5                -                     -28.6

Total                    821            844                23                       2.8

(yes, we haven't mastered tables yet)

Rain gone away -- for now!

You wouldn't know we were in a drought, judging from the past few days.  Bill Westphal, Altadena's weather eye, gives us the following readings from his home station:

Rainfall for the past 7 days is as follows:

 

23	January	1.06
24	January	1.42
25	January	1.46
26	January	0.71
27	January	2.24
28	January	0.79
	TOTAL	7.68

 

Thats an average of 1.28" per day for the 7 day period.  If you count the 8" of rain earlier in the month, we've averaged  .56" per day so far for January.

 

Total Rainfall so far for this season (July - June) at my station has been 21.34"

Forecast for the rest of the week is clear or partly cloudy, and no precip in view. 

Scripps Home controversy

Debbi Swanson Patrick's fine Altadena Above It All blog has some great pictures and information on the Scripps Home's temporary closure.  (Altadenablog has a friend, a resident of the home, who's a little honked off about having to move to the Kensington for several years.)  Deb's blog has a press release about the plan, and some pictures of Saturday's (approved!) looting of the gardens.

Suspicious (?) black van on Boulder Road

This message has been making the rounds of newsgroups:

One of my neighbors on Boulder Rd. called me last night to report that her daughter had observed a black van parked in front of their house yesterday with the occupants remaining inside for "a couple of hours". She went outside to get their license plate number at which time they drove off.

 

Since I've been a volunteer with the Altadena Sheriff's Dept. in the past she thought I should be aware of this suspicious behavior. I told her it would be best to let the Sheriff's Dept. know about the van in case anyone else has already reported it or if anyone reports about it in the future. I told her I'd email everyone in this email network so that more people throughout East Altadena would be aware of this vehicle. The plate number is: 8B41778.

 

A lemon or lemonade?

Another recent   PSN article on Lincoln Crossing airs out the differences between those (including county planning commission members) who call the project a "lemon," and those (including Supv. Antonovich) who say it's merely growing pains.

Sheriff's Newsletter ...

.. is out for January 2008.  Of special note:

• The Altadena sheriff's station helped out 250 families in the Altadena/Pasadena area with food and toys in its Christmas toy drive.
• Sheriff's "State of Altadena" community meeting tomorrow, 7 p.m. at the Community Center, 780 E. Altadena Dr.

Owen Brown's body ...

... like his father's, lies a-moulderin'.  But PSN has a good story about Save the Altadena Trail's MLK day clearing of the trail to Owen Brown's gravesite at Little Round Top. 

And also please note for clarity Michele Zack's significant corrections to Owen's history.

Cougar! Cougar! Cougar!

The JPL Cougar has been much in the news and the newsgroup discussions around town.  First, the picture by Matthew Dickie and related story finally hit the high, mighty, and newsroom-gutted LA Times.  Even tho' the reporter said it was a large cat, consensus from those in the know say it was probably an adolescent, and not that big at all.  And while the occasional pet is snatched, more people kill cougars than cougars kill people.  And sightings are not all that rare -- but pictures are, and that's the story right there.

Major updates coming!

We've been off-line for awhile as we've been debugging the new technology.  Thanks for your patience!  Major updates coming, including coverage of tomorrow's community meeting with the Sheriff's Department.  It's just that Altadenablog's been a PC guy for over 20 years, and we have a bit of a learning curve since we moved to the MacBook Pro!

We're No. 1 -- in forclosures!

This article from a real estate website  and this from the LA Times point out that Altadena is a leading community in home foreclosures.   Don't know what that means long-term, but it ain't good!

2500!

A-blog has met a new benchmark in pageviews -- thank you one and all!  We promise there'll be much more to come.

But for the next few days, Altadenablog will be taking a break from new entries as we do some upgrades around here (i.e. moving from a 7 year old Dell that orignally ran Windows ME to a brand spankin' new Macbook Pro).  This will allow us to get the news to you faster and better, and opens the door to some new blog features (i.e. video).  So stay tuned, and we'll see you back here soon!

Flash flood watch tonight

With the promise of heavy rains tonight and possibly through the week, we look forward to the National Weather Service delivering a flash flood watch to the area, to wit:

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR THE BURN AREAS...

THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR

* THE BURN AREAS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

* FROM 1 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE TONIGHT

* MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN WITH POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE RAINFALL RATES OF ONE HALF INCH TO ONE INCH PER HOUR ACROSS THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT...WITH THE HEAVIEST RATES EXPECTED ACROSS SOUTH FACING MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS. THIS COULD LEAD TO SIGNIFICANT FLASH FLOODING AND THE POSSIBILITY OF DEBRIS FLOWS IN AND BELOW THE RECENT BURN AREAS.

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

PERSONS LIVING IN OR BELOW THE WATCH AREA SHOULD REMAIN ALERT AND FOLLOW DIRECTIONS OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS OFFICIALS. EVACUATIONS SHOULD BEGIN IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT WAITING FOR INSTRUCTIONS IF HEAVY FLOWS OF WATER OR MUD AND DEBRIS ARE OBSERVED. YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.

So let's be careful out there!

Man lying on Altadena Dr. killed by van

The LA Times has the story of Francisco Carbajal, 64. who was killed on Altadena Drive near Crestford last night at about 8 p.m.  According to the Times, Carbajal was lying or had just fallen on the street when he was run over by a Chevy Astro van.  The driver of the van, a 42-year-old Altadena man, was not charged.  The coroner will determine if alcohol was involved.

Teens freak out in "haunted forest"

A kandy-colored teenage freakout at the Cobb Estate.  What more can we say?  This on property that was owned by the Marx Brothers?

Beverly Drive shooting -- in 1947

The 1947 Project (or what an LA website would look like in 1947) profiles the shooting that year of George Ehret by his friend Nicholas Tuck (some friend!).  The shooting took place at 1795 Beverly Drive 61 years ago Tuesday.

Poetry and Cookies April 19

Next to prose and cheesecake, (or guns and roses), we love poetry and cookies -- and where better to celebrate both than our own Altadena Library, which sends us this:

ALTADENA LIBRARY DISTRICT ACCEPTING POEMS FROM ALTADENA POETS FOR POETRY AND COOKIES

EVENT DEADLINE FEBRUARY 15, 2008

The Altadena Library will host its sixth annual Poetry & Cookies celebration on Sat., April 19, at 2 p.m.  This event will feature the crowning of the library’s Poet Laureate for May 2008 through April 2010. Those attending will have the chance to meet and hear poets from Altadena and the surrounding area read their poetry.  There will also be a drawing for two poetry baskets filled with items that poets or poetry lovers might enjoy. 

Poets who would like to be a part of the program and be included in the library’s annual poetry publication, are asked to submit poems single spaced in the body of the email along with a short bio to pdutton@altadenalibrary.org by February 15, 2008.   

Up to 78 lines not more than 50 spaces in length may be printed in the 2008 edition of Poetry and Cookies. Since children may be in the audience submissions should be family rated. Generally poets have about five minutes to read. Open mike readers are limited to one poem. Following the program there will be a poet’s corner on the patio, where poets may sell their poetry books.  The main library is located at 600 East Mariposa Street, Altadena.  For more information visit the library’s website at www.altadenalibrary.org or call the Reference Desk at 626-798-0833. 

It's the arts!

Two items have crossed our desk:

1.  20 seconds of cell phone video in front of the Coffee Gallery (altho' it doesn't seem to be working).
2.  Pasadena Daily Photo shows that our alleys are prettier than most front streets. Altho' we can also show you some really ugly alleys around here ...

Cougar spotted near JPL

Several sources sent us this picture, taken by a Jet Propulsion Laboratory employee looking down the Arroyo Seco from the bridge from the JPL East parking lot to the campus.  A cougar in broad daylight, where runners and equestrians usually play.  Eeek!  Altho' cougars rarely attack humans or horses.  If you see it, just try not to look edible ...

1/28 Note: credit where credit is due: photo by Matthew Dickie.

STAT marks MLK day at Owen Brown gravesite

Save the Altadena Trails sends us this:

As we have done for the last two years, Save the Altadena Trails (STAT) will host an event at Little Round Top, the burial site of Owen Brown, on Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 21, 2008, from 9:00 a.m.-12 noon. This year's event will be a little different because the main focus will be creating a new, safer trail to the top of Little Round Top. You can come to work on the trail, stop by and chat, or just go to the top of Little Round Top, commune with the spirits and admire the view. Paul Ayers, who designed the new trail, will lead the work party.

Sentences handed down in Nov. crime spree

It's juvie camp for some of the four teenage girls who went on a half hour robbery jag Nov. 27 of last year.  The three girls -- two age 16 and one 14 -- were sentenced to juvenile probation camp for nine months.  A 16-year-old Altadena girl was sentenced to six months at juvenile probation camp.  Two adult cohorts (and by "adult" we mean 18 and 19) were sentenced to a year in jail in December.  PSN has the deets.

Severe wind warning now in effect

Well, our peaceful weather day is over, and it's time to batten the hatches ...  National Weather Service says:

..HIGH WIND WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM PST THURSDAY...

THE HIGH WIND WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM PST THURSDAY. THE WIND ADVISORY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

AREAS OF NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE TO 25 TO 40 MPH THROUGH THIS EVENING...PEAKING TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING WITH DAMAGING GUSTS TO AROUND 65 MPH. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE BELOW PASSES AND CANYONS OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY...INCLUDING PORTER RANCH...CHATSWORTH AND GRANADA HILLS. THESE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO WEAKEN THURSDAY AFTERNOON...BUT MAY REMAIN ABOVE ADVISORY LEVELS THROUGH SATURDAY.

A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH OR GUSTS OF 58 MPH OR MORE CAN LEAD TO PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Wind advisory upgraded

Just got word from National Weather Service that we've been upgraded from "high wind advisory" to "high wind warning."  So what's new?

A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH OR GUSTS OF 58 MPH OR MORE CAN LEAD TO PROPERTY DAMAGE.

So, again, batten the hatches.  Altho' there's still not a breeze outside as we write this!

For better or verse -- library seeking poet laureate

The Altadena Public Library is accepting nominations for its Poet Laureate award. The crowning of the Laureate will take place on April 19 at the library’s annual Poetry & Cookies celebration. If you are a poet or know of a poet in the area, please send an application to Altadena Library District, Attention Poet Laureate Selection Committee, 600 East Mariposa Street, Altadena, CA 91001 or email to pdutton@altadenalibrary.org by February 22, 2008

Pimp my bookcart! Feb. 5

We would normally never use the words "pimp" and "public library" in one sentence, but what's a mutha to do? 

The Altadena Library's Teen Advisory Committee is sponsoring a "Pimp My Bookcart" competition -- they say, "Help us transform our bookcarts from drab to fab!"  Two teams will compete to design the winning cart on Tues., Feb. 5, 4-6 p.m.  Supplies are provided -- sign up at the main library reference desk or call 798-8338.  All teens are welcome!

High wind advisory today

From the National Weather Service:

...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PST THIS EVENING... ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 3 PM PST THURSDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOS ANGELES/OXNARD HAS ISSUED A HIGH WIND WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 3 PM PST THURSDAY. THE HIGH WIND WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. A WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PST THIS EVENING.

NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS WILL INCREASE TODAY... WITH WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH POSSIBLE BY NOON. EVEN STRONGER WINDS ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT AND THURSDAY MORNING...WITH WIND GUSTS EXCEEDING 65 MPH. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE BELOW PASSES AND CANYONS OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY... INCLUDING PORTER RANCH...CHATSWORTH AND GRANADA HILLS.

So prepare to batten the hatches, but it seems pretty calm this morning.

Lewis steps down as town council chair

Altadena town councilman George Lewis stepped down as chair of the governing body -- at least temporarily -- following tonight's meeting at the Altadena Community Center.  Lewis was arrested Dec. 15 on suspicion of felony spousal abuse.  In a statement obtained by Altadenablog, Lewis said:

At this time an investigation is ... underway regarding this personal matter.  Because it is under investigation I can not discuss nor elaborate, except to say, I am waiting for this to be resolved by the investigating authorities in a short time.

In order to avoid any potential conflict of interest, or appearance of favoritism, I have been informed that this matter has been turned over to the Internal Criminal Investigation Bureau of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and will not be handled by our local station.

I am confident that when this investigation is complete I will be cleared of this charge.  But because I do not want a personal matter to become a distraction to the Town Council or to the community, [as] of the adjournment of this meeting, I will recuse myself from duties as Town Council Chairman until this matter has been resolved.  I will continue to meet my duties as representative of census tract 4612.

Our council Vice Chair Susan Goldman will act as chair in the interim.  I'd like to thank the council and the community for their fairness in withholding judgment when they don't have all the facts, and for their continuing support.  I have faith in the fairness of our judicial system and fully expect that justice will prevail, and my good name [be] restored.

Respectfully,
George Lewis

Cal Poly's Barden opts for school over NFL

Altadena native Rameses Barden told the NFL advisory committee that, rather than be a projected fifth-round draft pick right now, he's going to take his senior year at Cal Poly SLO.  The wide receiver says he wants to continue on the football team and join the track team to increase his speed. The SLO Tribune has the deets.

Cops catch prowler: may have ended monkey business

The Pasadena police department arrested an Altadena man for prowling Monday morning, and suggest he may be responsible for a string of burglaries in the southeast section of that city.

Gary Hart, 44, of Altadena, was caught after a merry backyard chase that involved K-9 units and a helicopter.  He is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday.

(If you're old, and especially from Colorado like Altadenablog, you may remember Sen. Gary Hart, whose presidential hopes were dashed when somebody took a picture of him holding a toothsome young lady not his wife aboard a ship named "Monkey Business."  Or you may not.  Doesn't appear to be the same Gary Hart.)

Electrical upgrades and animal control on supes' agenda

This note from Lori L. Paul to some of the Altadena trail newsgroups highlights some concerns that will come up at the meeting with LA County Supervisor Mike Antonovich, Thurs., Jan. 17, 9-10:30 a.m. at the community center:

Coyote Alert

Life in the foothills has its good points and bad.  Good: Altaldenablog having coffee this morning and listening to an owl hooting in a nearby tree.  Bad: coyotes!

Monica Hubbard reports that a pack of five coyotes were seen leaving her yard on Pepper Drive Sunday night.  As Pepper is hardly in the deep woods, it makes sense to keep a watch on your pets and bring them in at night.

Shaping up the 'hood

PSN has an article about the positive effect that Magic Johnson 24-hour Fitness has had on the Lincoln/Woodbury area.  The fitness center anchors the Lincoln Crossing development, and is very busy, also drawing traffic to the other businesses in the center.

A black eye for the neighborhood I

Pasadena Weekly takes a few inches out of its outcall massage advertising to run another chapter in the saga of Irsie Henry vs. the neighbors.  An arrest warrant was issued for Henry Jan. 3 after he failed to appear in court to determine if he'd violated a restraining order.  According to the Weekly, Henry, 44, a black former LAPD officer, has a history of problems with mixed race couples in his Laurel Street neighborhood.

A black eye for the neighborhood II

Rapper "Taboo" of the Black Eyed Peas just plunked down $2.2 million for a six-bedroom home in Altadena.

Altadenablog is an old guy who freely admits he has no idea who Taboo is (Black Eyed Peas -- that's the group with the Duchess of York in it, yes?) 
 

Bishop Juan Arzube dies

Retired Los Angeles Auxiliary Roman Catholic Bishop Juan A. Arzube, 89, among the country's first Hispanic bishops ordained in the post-Vatican II era, died Dec. 25 in Los Angeles.  The second Hispanic bishop ordained in the U.S.,  he lived in residence at Sacred Heart Church, Altadena, after retirement before moving to Nazareth House in West Los Angeles in 2002.  A native of Ecuador, before becoming a priest, Bp. Arzube did voice-over dubbing work in film and cartoons for Warner Bros. and Disney -- he was the Spanish voice of Peter Lorre and of the fox in "Song of the South."  Tidings Online has a nice obit.

1/12 addendum:  The LA Times has an obit, too -- it omits Arzube's Altadena connection, but includes something Tidings left out: the bishop's membership in the LA Diocese's "we're paying a settlement but not admitting any wrongdoing" club.

Charges dropped in SF cop killer case

SFGate reports that conspiracy charges were dropped against four of the "San Francisco Eight" on Thursday   Ray Boudreaux and Henry Watson Jones, both of Altadena, were among the defendants who had conspiracy charges dropped in the murder of SF police sergeant John Young in 1971.  The prosecutor said that the charges were dropped because the statute of limitations on the conspiracy charges had run out; however, the murder charge is still going forward.  Details here.

Altadena Town Council spruces up

Our very interesting Town Council (see a few examples below) has recently spiffied up its webpage.  Lots of useful community links, too (altho' pointedly not to this blog).  And their links are not as comprehensive as you'll find to the right and left.

NOTE:  Typepad seems to have trouble loading today, so we apologize if it's been hard to get to Altadenablog earlier.

Millard and La Vina at odds for 80 years

Sid Gally in Tuesdays PSN says that the woes between the trail users and La Vina have been going on for a long time -- in fact, ever since La Vina was a tuberculosis sanitarium:

"Canyon Owners Seek Access to Cabins" was the headline of a column in the Pasadena Star-News of May 11, 1928.     

The 80-year-old complaint of restricted access to Millard's Canyon reads like something in the news today ...

Gally quotes a letter from Miss Elma Holloway, the resident of a cabin in Millard Canyon:

"I am one of a group of 35 cabin owners in Millard's Canyon, about three miles north of Pasadena. Our cabins are all on ground leased from the government.

"At the time I purchased my lease, about six years ago, there was a good road and wide, smooth trail from the rim of the canyon to the top of the ridge.

"There were 30 cabins in constant use, all kept and owned by refined people who love the out-of-doors. This trail, which crossed the La Vina Sanitarium grounds, had been used for many years as a highway. The trail is a long distance from the sanitarium and is not even within sight of it.

"About two years ago the officials of La Vina, an institution which was placed there long after the cabins had been built in the canyons, set guards at the entrance of their property and refused to allow anyone to pass."

Miss Holloway, in her letter, also described how La Vina had diverted water from the canyon and its falls to a private pipeline, causing trees to die and wildlife to disappear.

The cabin owners were denied access to this water until they went to court and were given permission to pipe water to their cabins.    

Of course, access to trails near La Vina remain a bone of contention (and the subject of lawsuits) to this day!

Crime at the Altadena Library Feb. 2

No, crime writers, silly!  Sue Colasurdo of the Altadena Library sends us this:

The Friends of the Altadena Library are sponsoring a Saturday afternoon program featuring two hard-hitting crime writers: Pamela Samuels-Young and Gary Phillips. The "Grisham With a Female Twist & L.A. Noir" free event will be held on Sat., February 2 from 2-4 p.m. in the Altadena Library Community Room, 600 E. Mariposa St.

Pamela Samuels-Young, author of  In Firm Pursuit, is a corporate lawyer who has created an African American lead character who is anything but stereotypical; and Gary Phillips whose dark tales delve into the heart and soul of the mean streets of Los Angeles, is currently featured in the much publicized anthology, Los Angeles Noir. The program will be moderated by Gayle Bartos-Pool, a former private detective, mystery writer, and director of the speakers bureau for Sisters in Crime, Los Angeles.

The authors’ books will  also be offered for sale with part of the proceeds going to the Friends of the Library.  To find out more call (626)798-0833 or visit the library’s website at http://www.altadenalibrary.org.

After the deluge

Altadena's weather maven Bill Westphal sends us this record of the weekend's rainfall:

4.06 " Friday
1.54" Saturday
2.32" Sunday
0. 08" Monday
8.00" even for the four days.

Less than expected according to the forecasts, but it was still a significant amount of rain and we here in Altadena did not see any serious problems.  I have only heard about the small mudslide in the Chaney Trail area.

The news is reporting that we are above normal for "Los Angeles."  That's good news.  I've had 13.62" here since the beginning of the "season" (July 01).

 

2000!

Crossed our 2000th pageview threshold today!  Thank you!

Sorry!

Altadenablogs's personal life intrudes (sick kid, no groceries, etc.)  Lots of stuff happening, tho', so check back later today for updates!

I can see your house from here

An interesting use of Microsoft Virtual Earth --- see how entire Altadena neighborhoods developed in an animated timeline over a map.  It's strangely addictive ...

90210 or 91001?

Lindsay Blake's iamnotastalker has a good piece for those of you who followed the saga of the Walsh family on "Beverly Hills 90210."  The Walshes house -- and Dylan's house -- were nowhere NEAR Beverly Hills.   Instead -- gosh! -- they're not far from Altadenablog World Headquarters, on the 1600 block of Altadena Drive.

A little bit of nature appreciation

One of the better local blogs, West Coast GrrlieBlather, has some cool pictures of the rain-swollen water coursing down Millard Canyon.

Help wanted for Muir cleanup day Jan. 13

The Pasadena-Altadena Block-by-Block Coalition is looking for volunteers to help out Sun., Jan. 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help clean up the area around Muir High.  San Gabriel Valley Tribune  says:

With city officials' help, group members plan to dispose of trash and other debris that lines the Lincoln Avenue sidewalks from the freeway to Wyoming Street. They might also place mulch in the dirt beds of trees lining the walkways.

And this word from Altadena Town Councilman Bobby Thompson, whose district is just north of Muir:

"It's like a gateway to Altadena from the freeway," he said of Lincoln Avenue. "Hopefully as people leave the freeway they can see a progression of cleanliness."

For information on volunteering for this great community event, call (626) 794-3953, or just show up at Muir.

Junior golfer sessions to start

We know it's a little hard to think of going golfing when the animals are traveling down the street in pairs, looking for the big boat ... but LA County is nonetheless up for a game with your little putters:

The County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation will kick off its Junior Golf Program on Monday, January 7, 2008.  The Junior Golf Program will offer free golf lessons to youth ages 4 – 18 at a total of twelve participating Los Angeles County golf courses.

Celebrating its sixth year of introducing youth to the game of golf, the County of Los Angeles Junior Golf Program offers youth an opportunity to practice and learn the game of golf from professional instructors.  Each one-week Junior Golf session will take place every day from 3:45 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  The County of Los Angeles Junior Golf Program will offer free lessons at the locations and dates below.  Junior Golfers can enroll by calling the listed contacts.

With rains come flood watch

Here we go again: chances of rain Friday are estimated at 60%, and National Weather Service has started a flash flood watch: 

..FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING FOR THE RECENT BURN AREAS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOS ANGELES/OXNARD HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR THE RECENT BURN AREAS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY IN   SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA.

* FROM FRIDAY EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING

* RAINFALL RATES BETWEEN ONE HALF AND ONE INCH PER HOUR WILL BE POSSIBLE AT TIMES DURING THE STORM...WITH THE HIGHEST RATES EXPECTED ON SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST FACING MOUNTAIN AND FOOTHILL LOCATIONS. THESE ANTICIPATED RAINFALL RATES WILL POSE A THREAT FOR SIGNIFICANT FLASH FLOODING AND DEBRIS FLOWS IN THE RECENT BURN AREAS.

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

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS...ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO LIVE IN OR BELOW THE RECENTLY BURNED 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. EVACUATIONS SHOULD BEGIN IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT WAITING FOR INSTRUCTIONS IF HEAVY FLOWS OF WATER OR MUD ARE OBSERVED.