altadenablog

Imagine -- reading the news on your TV screen! Over a phone line!

Per our story below, we're looking forward to this future!

Lost hiker phones for help

Checking the scanner @9:45 tonight -- Pasadena PD chopper is on its way to Lake & Alta Loma area to assist the sheriffs -- there's a lost hiker in the canyon tonight.  According to the deputy on the scanner, the hiker phoned it in.  Chopper doesn't have night vision equipment, so unsure if it'll be helpful.  Search and rescue operation underway.  We'll keep monitoring the situation.

Ballad of the ink-stained wretches, or 75,000

Way back when we were in college, one of the professors said that the newspaper would go out of business shortly because people would start reading text on their TV.  (And he meant actual, big living room TV's -- something of the sort was going on in France).  We didn't think so, because our favorite venue for reading the morning news was over breakfast at a diner counter, and still is.

Of course, that was before the TV shrank to the size of a book, added a keyboard, and ran on batteries, --- like the one we're working on now.  We can read this at a diner.  That's one of the reasons we canceled our LA Times subscription awhile ago (well that, and the lack of local news, and raging bias).  If they did publish something of interest, we could read it online.

These are tough times for print media.  The LA Times has just laid off yet another batch of editorial staff, as well as raising its per copy rate from 50 cents to 75 cents (less paper for more money during a recession!  That's the kind of change we can believe in!)  Also comes news that MediaNews Group, which among many other papers owns the Pasadena Star News and San Gabriel Valley Tribune, will furlough some employees over the next month (this is on the heels of layoffs last year).

We DO think that there'll always be journalism -- it's just that the delivery model will change.  It will be on the computer you're reading right now, or on one of the new netbooks, a barebones laptop that retails for as low as $200, or something like a Kindle.  Your front door step will become paper-free in a few months or years.

We've spent a lot of online time talking to some longtime friends, who run what we think is the nation's best local newsblog.  They're now in the position where they get to sit on panels and offer advice, which they've done a few times this week already.  And they''ve been getting overtures from the local big papers to form partnerships of various kinds.

We suppose this ramble is: people still need news, especially local news.  But local news is of little interest to the big papers, who are trying to boost circulation and therefore ad revenues.  Altadena news won't increase circulation like another Calendar feature on the anorexic starlet of the moment.  But we -- the citizens, the residents -- still need to know what's going on in town.  Fortunately, now a journalist can do it without also investing in a printing plant and fleet of trucks.  Fortunately, here in the time of the internet, the buy-in is very small. One could conceivably do this blog for free -- just use a public library computer and get a free blog from Blogger or Google or WordPress.  (We're old and spoiled, tho', so we've invested in a little more equipment!)

Anyway, this is a roundabout way of saying that we will pass 75,000 page views today.  We think that says something about the people of this town, and what they need and what they support.  We're pleased and humbled that we can provide it to you.  Thank you for supporting Altadena's community newsblog.

(BTW, tonight we re-upped with the LA Times.  They offered us a year Th-Sun for $26.  That's right -- $26 FOR A YEAR!  They're obviously desperate to build up circulation. It will cost more than that for Allied to haul it away!)

PUSD to get $21 million stimulus

Pasadena Star-News' website has a story up about today's meeting at Eliot Middle School between Rep. Adam Schiff and representatives of local school districts.  PUSD could receive up to $21 million from the federal stimulus plan.

Restaurants band together for Hathaway-Sycamores benefit

On Wednesday, February 18, numerous Pasadena area restaurants, along with several new downtown LA restaurants that have joined the list this year including Café Pinot, Patina, and Nick & Stef’s Steakhouse, are participating in “Dinners from the Heart,” the annual community-wide Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services fund raiser. Open to the public, the community is invited to enjoy outstanding meals at top-rated restaurants while, at the same time, help to raise funds for the over 9,000 children and families served by the Pasadena-headquartered agency every year. 

The event is being organized by Junior Circle (formerly Altadena Junior Circle) members Sheila Rossi of South Pasadena and Tricia Ferrante of Altadena, and Reneé LaBran, a Hathaway-Sycamores board member and La Canada resident. They are joined by Bob Smith and Gregg Smith, who co-own six participating restaurants – the newly-opened Spitfire Saloon, Smitty’s Grill, Arroyo Chop House, Parkway Grill, Crocodile Café, and Vibrato -- as Dinners from the Heart honorary chairs.

This event, which has raised $425,000 since its inception in 1991, is made possible by the generosity of the participating restaurants who have agreed to donate meals to patrons who make advance reservations by calling Hathaway-Sycamores' reservation line at (626) 685-2124.  Dinners range from $50 to $150 per person.

Participating restaurants include: Arroyo Chop House, Beckham Grill, Bistro 45, Bistro de la Gare, Café Pinot, Café Santorini, Central Park, Crocodile Café, DISH, El Cholo, Five Crowns, Gale's Restaurant, Green Street Restaurant, Green Street Tavern, J. J. Steak House, Julienne Fine Foods, The Kitchen for Exploring Foods, Lawry’s The Prime Rib, Mi Piace, Maison Akira, Marston’s, McCormick & Schmick’s, Nick & Stef’s, Steakhouse, Panda Inn, Parkway Grill, Patina Restaurant, redwhite+bluezz, Saladang Song, Smittys’ Grill, Spitfire Saloon, Tam O’Shanter Inn, Twin Palms, Vibrato, and 561 Restaurant, with more still being added.  

Additional restaurants may be available; please check when placing your reservation. Prices are per person and include wine. Additional alcoholic beverages, tax and gratuity are the responsibility of each patron. Please do not contact restaurants directly. For additional information, please contact:  Andi Sica, Hathaway-Sycamores’ Director of Community Relations & Special Events (626) 395-7100 ext. 2516.

www.hathaway-sycamores.org

Left to right- Junior Circle members: Nancy Perez (President of Junior Circle), Mimi Carter, Vicki Thompson, Sandra Crawford, Tricia Ferrante - Dinners from the Heart co-chair, Gayana Borian of Mi Piace, one of the participating restaurants, Sheila Rossi - Dinners from the Heart co-chair, Andi Sica, Hathaway-Sycamores’ Director of Community Relations & Special Events, Miho Tyszka, Christina Mendoza, Karen Kikkawa, Holly Roca

Photo credit: Orly Olivier

Coyote mix on the loose? Chupacabra? or your dog?

Laura Cheung sends a note to the Neighbors listserv about an unusual animal in her neighborhood:

I've seen this stray dog around Mendocino Lane three times in the last month.  My husband and I saw it several times last weekend.  It seems quite wild and runs away when it sees anyone.  It's small, probably under 20 pounds and it kind of looks like it could be part coyote (if that's possible).  Has anyone else seen it or does anyone know if it belongs to someone?

 

Altadena food co-op website up

Just got a message from Patrick Reagan, one of the ringleaders of the Altadena co-op movement:

Progress has been happening to bring a food co-op store to the Altadena area!  Some of us feel we need more local, organic and sustainable products up here plus a food co-op is a wonderful addition to a community’s way of life.

We’re pleased to announce that our web site is up.  It can be found at:
  http://www.altadenawantsacoop.com/

We plan on using this as a means to publish the results of our research and hope that this serves as a community meeting place to discuss ideas related to our effort.  Please see the “What’s a co-op?” page to learn more about the history and benefits of this form of business if the concept is a little new to you.

Please check out the blog entries and forum topics.  Register to add comments and questions as they come to you.
We need your help to make this happen!  Please join us!


Thanks again,
The Founding Team

We have been continually impressed with the effort this group has made, getting people together, researching best practices, etc. The website is attractive and easy to maneuver around.  Check it out!

Sahag Mesrob still open

There was to be hearing in Superior Court this week regarding the Sahag Mesrob Armenian Christian School -- the county was applying for an injunction to shut down the unpermitted 250-student school on Palm St. immediately.  It's still in operation, or at least was as of yesterday when we checked.

We've had a lot of inquiries about what's up, and we're trying to pin it down.  We know that the Tuesday court hearing was postponed.  One of our sources says that the school has filed in federal court, asking it to take jurisdiction of the matter.  We've been getting a lot of inquiries about this, and all we can say is we're trying to track down something of substance (and we don't have a flunky we can send to the courthouse to look through papers!).  If you've got anything substantial, give us a call and we'll share it.

UPDATE:  Another source, who has been in contact with zoning enforcement, tell us:

It appears that the school's attorneys are trying to get it removed to the Federal Courts.

County Counsel is looking into whether the school filed the required paper work to actually send the case to federal court.  County Counsel is trying to bring the case back to Superior Court arguing that the federal court doesn't  have jurisdiction ... If County Counsel is successful in getting  the case back to Superior Court, it means there won't be a court hearing until 30-45 days.

One little piggy, two little piggy ...

Cathy Gott from Danny's Farm gives us the latest from one of our favorite kid venues (Olivia the pig just had her babies -- check it out!).  Click image to enlarge.

Get in gear down Echo Mtn.

We found a slightly-nauseating video of a mountain bike ride downhill from the ruins of  Prof. Lowe's giant gears on Echo Mountain.  We didn't know it was a "super-secret" trail, tho, as we've been on it multiple times, and even the authors say there are scads of hikers on it.  Oh well ...

News on La Vina. Owen Brown gravesite access

Save the Altadena Trails (STAT) sent the following to their newsgroup: the La Vina homeowners have filed an appeal, and issues involving access to the trail going to the Owen Brown gravesite, after the jump:

Drive-by in Angeles?

An unfortunate co-incidence with the story below -- but PSN's crime guy Frank Giradot shares a story about a drive-by shooting at Angeles National Forest Sunday. 

Angeles National Forest job fair Jan. 31

Just got this from US Forest Service:

Work for the Great Outdoors!
Angeles National Forest to hold job fair in San Fernando Jan. 31

ARCADIA, Calif., Jan. 27, 2009 — The Angeles National Forest will host a job fair to recruit men and women for exciting and rewarding careers in wildland firefighting and forest management on Saturday, January 31, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at its Los Angeles River Ranger District office in San Fernando, Calif.

The office is located in Little Tujunga Canyon at 12371 Little Tujunga Canyon Road, San Fernando, 91342. Take the Osborne Street exit off the 210 freeway.

Recruitment and outreach specialists and forest employees will be on hand to discuss current vacancies and career opportunities in the Angeles National Forest and its parent agency, the U.S. Forest Service. The Forest Service offers employment in a vast array of fields ranging from A to Z — from accounting to zoology.

Forest recruiters and staff will discuss available careers, the application process and the various employment programs offered, including full-time employment, seasonal jobs and student internships.

Job fair visitors are encouraged to bring a resume.

For more information on available fire positions in national forests in California visit http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/fire/jobs/. For more information on available Forest Service positions nationwide in all career fields visit http://www.fs.fed.us/fsjobs/.

The Forest Service uses AVUE Digital Services, https://www.avuedigitalservices.com/, for its online application process.

Hail -- yes!

About 11:30 Sunday night, with a clap of thunder, the rain turned to hail.  Here's a picture of the sidewalk of Altadenablog World Headquarters right now -- enough pea-size hail that it looks like snowfall.

UPDATE 11:50: Isaac Garcia has added backyard hail pictures.

UPDATE 8:30 1/26: Lots of local blogs mentioning the weather, including Uncle Mel, and Willie the Korn, who also has pictures.

Carol Momsen and Nancy Rothwell sent us some pictures, too,  and more updates, after the jump.

Hardcore going to the pokey, preparing oral arguments (stop it!)

Altadena's Paul Little, aka Max Hardcore, tells XBIZ News (which is just text, but surfing to the site may redflag your boss if you choose to read it at work) that he's planning to surrender to authorities in downtown LA on Thursday.  Little was convicted of obscenity charges last fall, and will serve a 46 month sentence.  He's preparing an appeal.

We got yer sports right here

• A horse named "Blue Exit"  came from last to win the Altadena Purse (worth $64,000) at Santa Anita on Thursday.  He paid out less that $15, tho', and we have no idea why it's called the Altadena Purse.
• Beacon Media News reports that Demitri Camperos of Altadena placed first at the Huntington Beach Pokémon Trading Card Game  (TCG) City Championships. (They're still playing Pokemon?  Then there's hope for our pog collection ...)
• And there's this month's Altadena Chamber mixer, at the golf course ...

Going to the dogs

OK, a rare personal indulgence: a public service announcement for one of our favorite causes, Canine Companions for Independence, has just come out starring our redheaded Spawn #3, her friend Angelica, and the greatest speech pathologist in the world, Amy Johnson of Cornerstone Speech & Language in South Pas.  And Sylvie, too, of course!   Check it out.

Crime Log: Jan. 1-19, 2009

Belated happy new year from the Crime Log:

Jan. 2: Man arrested for possession of cocaine base as Casitas Ave. and Mountain St.; male and female adults were assaulted with firearms at 2790 Tola Ave. (possibly a gang crime); and two men and a woman were assaulted with a firearm in another possible gang crime at 710 W. Loma Alta Drive.

Jan. 4: Man arrested for domestic violence at 2868 N. Lincoln Ave.

Jan. 9: A woman arrested for domestic violence at 1354 N. Grand Oaks Ave; and a male juvenile was arrested for a 2008 robbery that occurred at 2331 N. Lincoln.

Jan. 10: A man arrested at Loma Alta Dr. and Monterosa Dr. for taking a vehicle without the owner's consent and possession of burglary tools; a man was arrested at Lincoln Ave. and Woodbury Rd. for possession of marijuana for sale.  Meanwhile, on El Sereno that day: a shooting was reported at an inhabited dwelling on the 2200 block of El Sereno (suspects unknown, possibly gang-related); and a man was arrested at 2267 El Sereno for being a fugitive from justice.

Jan. 14: Man arrested for possession for sale of cocaine base at 2260 N. Lincoln,

Jan. 16: 710 W. Loma Alta Dr., a man arrested for assault with a deadly weapons for one of the Jan. 2 shootings.

Jan 18: Man arrested fro commercial burglary at 2615 N. Fair Oaks Ave.

Jan. 19: Mariposa St. and Fair Oaks Ave., man arrested for receiving stolen property.

“The Altadena Station crime log is published for the purpose of providing the community with a sampling of reported crimes within the Altadena Station jurisdiction.  This report does not include all criminal activity occurring within the parameters of this report.  The objective of this report is to enhance community awareness and assist its members in taking proactive steps towards ensuring their safety and the safety of others within the community.”

Library hosts Kate Thornton short story workshop Feb. 7 2 PM

This presentation will include where to find ideas for stories, how to structure, and where and how to market them.  Kate Thornton, who has published over 100 mystery and science fiction stories, is an active member of Sisters in Crime, an international organization dedicated to supporting authors (both men and women) in their writing pursuits in the mystery and crime genres.

This will be the second in a series of workshops for writers which will take place during Feb., March, and April 2009.

Makinto journeys through black music at the Library Feb. 10

The Altadena Library will feature Makinto in a musical, educational and historical journey through African and African American music! In this animated and interactive show, Makinto explains the history of blacks in America through the evolution of black music. Makinto is an international recording artist, fluent in 5 languages, and has performed for Pope John Paul II and Nelson Mandela. In 2002 he was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations agency WAFUNIF. Tuesday, February 10th, 7:00pm, Community Room.

 Born to a Liberian mother and a German father, MAKINTO (George Friebe-Makinto) was soon interested in integrating both sides of this cultural heritage into his music. He studied classical music in Germany, traditional and modern African music in various African countries. MAKINTO further studied American and other forms of black music, including Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Latin American and Brazilian music, while living successively in Germany, the US, Liberia, Spain, Canary Islands, Ivory Coast and France. His natural curiosity, his interest in other cultures and music made him travel through over 60 countries.

Hearing set for Sahag Mesrob restraining order

We received a comment from town council chair Gino Sund that deserves a front page placement re: Sahag Mesrob and the hearing on the restraining order, requiring the school to vacate:

The court hearing is scheduled for Tuesday January 27th at 8:30 a.m. in the North East District (Pasadena)  of Superior Court, Department P.

Gino Sund

Barden to be a Dolphin?

The Miami Dolphins are sniffing around Cal Poly wide receiver Ramses Barden of Altadena.  Palm Beach Post has the deets.

Brownout?

We are in the midst of a brownout here on the campus of Altadenablog World Headquarters.  All of our energy-eating appliances aren't moving, but the CFLs are doing fine, as is our internet connection
 (which require little power).  Edison says nothing's wrong, but we just told 'em something is.  The folks across the street seem to have no lights at all.

UPDATE 8:50 PM: We're still in brownout conditions at World Headquarters in east Altadena.  We were out in the field to check on a fire call (it was nothing) when ALL the lights went out. They were restored about 8:30, but brownout conditions still exist (and we are going to MISS the season premiere of LOST!)

Sheriff's station says it was a blown transformer.  There's an Edison crew working  about 2200 block of Holliston.

Meantime: we've received text messages from one correspondent, who says traffic signals were out on many streets east of Lake. About 8:37 PM, he/she texts that "Power just went out completely between Lake & Marengo north of Altadena Drive."

Scanner says that power is out at Fire Station 11, on Mariposa.  We just drove past it, and the emergency lights seem to be on inside.

UPDATE 8:58: We're back on full power now.

UPDATE 1/22 9 AM:  Our census tract councilman Gino Sund sent out the following:

Neighbors,

 

I just hung up from talking with Dave Ford our Edison community representative.  Edison is currently upgrading the service to Altadena, the construction going on near Altadena Dr. and NY Dr.  A second major circuit is being installed to help prevent brown outs and black outs.  The crew was working on the project last night and when they switched the power from one line to the other a mechanical connector "blew" and thus the power failure.  Apparently this was a freak event and when the second circuit is completed we should have a much reduced chance of black outs and brown outs.   

 

BTW, there were around 6,000 customers affected last night.

 

Altadena teens arrested in car burglary

From PSN, Tremaine Sanders, 18, and a 17-year-old juvenile were arrested Tuesday and charged with grand theft for stealing a purse from a car on Deodar Circle in Pasadena.  Details are here.

Altadena Town Council highlights

It may take longer to write about last night's meeting than the meeting itself.  Let's see:

• Chair Gino Sund announced that the county has filed suit against Sahag Mesrob Armenian Christian School, asking it to vacate its unpermitted Palm St. campus.  The county has filed for a restraining order, and there will be a court hearing in Pasadena on Monday at 8:30.  If the restraining order is granted, the school must vacate immediately.  If not, the lawsuit goes forward, and it could take a year or more to resolve.
• The council approved two proclamations: one honoring Sara Carnahan for her years of service (Carnahan is the Altadena Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year); and declaring February "Scholars Month" in honor of the Bright Futures Scholars.
• Sheriff Capt. Roosevelt Blow said there had been three shootings so far this year, all gang-related: Jan 2 , a male and female were shot near the tennis courts at the 700 block of Loma Alta drive.  Joseph Nichols Earl, 23, was taken into custody Jan. 16 in Pasadena on that shooting.  Also Jan. 2, a 20-year-old male was shot in the leg on Tola Ave. Investigators found out about this shooting when they were at the hospital interviewing victims of the previous shooting and the victim was brought in.  Blow said that investigators were at a "stalemate" in the latter shooting, as no one -- including the victim and neighbors -- is cooperating.
  
  On Jan. 10, at about 6:45 PM, deputies received a call about shots fired at the 2200 block of  El Sereno.  A motorcycle and another vehicle were found to be damaged by gunshots. Two suspects denied involvement, but deputies did gunshot residue test on them and evidence was sent to the crime lab.  One of the suspects was taken into custody on out-of-state felony robbery warrant. 
  
  Blow also said that an annual report of Altadena station activities would be available soon.
• In response to concerns about the recent round of door-ro-door solicitors in town, Blow said to contact the Altadena station if they seem suspicious.  If dissatisfied with the response, ask to talk to Lt. Shiela Sanchez.
• Barbara Pearson of the Altadena Library said that Shirlee Smith was appointed to a vacant library board seat.  The board will also look at final plans for the library renovation at their meeting, Monday at 5 PM at the main library community room.  Plans are available at the library website.
• Councilmember Ruth Neilan Edwards said that an election committee was recently formed (consisting of three members of the council, three from the community, and an appointee from the councll chairman).  The committee will review all election rules and make recommendations to the board before the 2009 elections.

Things that make you go hmmm ...

We have a Google Alert that flags us when there's any new mention of Altadena on the internet, and a good chunk of the mentions aren't that useful.  This wedding story was flagged because one of the groomsmen was from Altadena, and it's not the type of story we'd normally put in.  But the picture arrested our attention, and we had to read on. 

We're not sure what to think about the bride wielding a sword at the wedding.  We wouldn't have risked it, ourselves.  Well, maybe at the wedding -- but certainly not now.  And definitely not with our first marriage.

Inauguration fete makes town council meeting short & sweet ...

.. about 50 minutes (!) to be exact.  The rationale behind it, according to chair Gino Sund, was that many council members were going to inauguration parties this evening, so if anything was to be done, it needed to be done quickly. (Town council member Dr. Sandra Thomas was actually in DC for the main event).

We'll file a rundown of the meeting tomorrow (nothing too urgent), but thought we'd point out some other Altadena connections to today's festivities:

Larry Wilson quotes former Altadenan D.G. Fulford in a an article we picked up from the SGV Trib; and Salon gets a quote from Glendar Haskins, who was freezing herself in DC today.

Standefor fined $8.6 million, over 12 years in prison

PSN reports today that Jeanetta M. Standefor, 40, of Altadena, who operated Accelerated Funding Group (AFG), got a hefty fine and prison sentence for defrauding investors in a Ponzi scheme.  Details are here.

6:30 PM: LA Times just posted a more detailed article (hat tip: Bo Astrup)

Spanish translators now available at Jan. 27 Parenting Forum

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dept., Altadena Station, and the Altadena Sheriff's Community Advisory Committee (CAC) have announced that translation services will be available at the Parenting Forum on Jan. 27 at the Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Dr., 7-9 PM.

The Forum will help provide parenting information and identify resources available in the Altadena community. 

In addition to a presentation by LASD’S Special Victims Bureau, there will be a panel consisting of parents and children in the PUSD.  Guests include Shirlee Smith, author of “About Parenting,” Mr. Elliot Gold,  representatives from Pasadena Unified School District, “Parent Project,” and “National Alliance on Mental Illness” will be present to discuss issues facing today’s families.  Hope to see you there! 

For additional information, contact Altadena Sheriff Station’s Community Relations office, at (626) 296-2103.

Central Altadena Little League extending signups

Central Altadena Little League (CALL) will be extending sign ups and tryouts for its 2009 Baseball Season to Sat., January 24 and 31. Sign-ups and tryouts will be held at the lower baseball diamond at Farnsworth Park, Altadena (corner of Lake Ave. & Concha St.) from 9:00 AM to 1 PM. Tryouts are required for team placement for all players except for those in T-Ball.

 

Boys and girls ages 5 through 16, living in the Central Altadena boundary are encourage to sign-up on one of these days. Games are held at Farnsworth Park, and the season runs from March to mid-June. Children will learn baseball skills, help gain overall fitness and learn the importance of good sportsmanship, while having a good time.

 

New players must bring proof of their age (birth certificate) and address (utility bill).

 

For more information, please visit our web site at www.centralaltadenalittleleague.org.

50% chance of rain tomorrow

Yep, the 80 degree days seem to be behind us for awhile, National Weather Service says.

(Hey, we were told the oceans were going to recede ...)

Celebrate the day

 The United States of America is the greatest nation in the world for many reasons, not least of which is that we always have a peaceful transition of power.  No matter how one voted, we can take pride that here, the candidates make their case and the people make their choice and nobody gets imprisoned or executed for it.  

We say thank you to outgoing President Bush, and offer welcome and support to our incoming president, Barack Obama.  We also take pride in the unique historic nature of today's events, and offer it as another example of our nation's greatness.  One dream, anyway, is achieved.

This is the official Presidential portrait, taken by Pete Souza, Obama's official White House photographer (who also worked at the Reagan White House).  It is the first official Presidential portrait taken by digital camera (Canon 5D Mk II, our camera of lust at the moment, State & Lake take note!).

Also: SGVTrib's Ryan Carter interviews Altadenan Dolores Hickambottom, who is attending the inauguration.

UPDATE 9:30 AM: He's not even off the podium, and President O. has issued his first proclamation, declaring this a National Day of Renewal and Reconciliation.   And there's a blog!

Barks and books at the Library Sat.

On Sat., Jan. 24 at 11:00 AM, children ages 5-12 are invited to visit the library to read to Pearl, a loveable dog from the Pasadena Humane Society. This reading enrichment program makes reading fun, boosts confidence and encourages respectful humane treatment of all animals.

"Igor" on Library's Fun Flick Friday

"Igor" brings us a new twist on the classic mad scientist/monster genre. Igor is a hunchbacked lab assistant who has big dreams of becoming a mad scientist himself and winning the first place prize at the annual Evil Science fair in this animated comedy. Friday, January 23 from 3:30 to 5:00 PM. (Rated PG; 87 mins.) at the Main Library, 600 E. Mariposa.

Pen your family history with style at the Library Feb. 6

The Friends of the Altadena Library District will be offering a free program, “Family Legacy,” on Fri., Feb. 6 at 7 PM.  In this workshop, award-winning author Linda Weaver Clarke will describe her secrets of making ancestors come alive on paper by turning family history into a variety of written formats in both fiction and non-fiction. 

Everyone has stories of themselves or ancestors that might be considered their family legacy.  These stories need to be written down for children and generations to come.   Clarke has toured the United States extensively with this exciting program which will appeal to both genealogists and aspiring authors.

Family Legacy is the first in a series of workshops for writers which will take place during the months of February, March, and April of this year.  All presentations will be held at the Altadena Library Community Room, 600 East Mariposa Street, in Altadena. For more information please call 626-798-0833 and ask for Reference or visit the library’s website at www.altadenalibrary.org.

NWPC holds Darr celebration/fundraiser Jan. 20

The National Women's Political Caucus (NWPC), Greater Pasadena, will be holding an inauguration celebration mixer and fundraiser for Altadenan Terri Darr, a candidate for PUSD school board, on Tues., Jan. 20,  5-9 PM.  The event will be held at the Pasadena Jazz Institute, Paseo Colorado, 260 E. Colorado Blvd. 2nd Floor, Pasadena, CA 91101.

Featured entertainment will be  Latin Jazz Ensemble "Ben Conga" and saxophonist Larry Davis.

Admission is $20 (all proceeds will support Terri Darr for Pasadena School Board)

Parking is available in three structures: Paseo Colorado Subterranean Garage, Marengo Avenue Parking Structure and Los Robles Parking Structure.

Altadena Town Council, Tues., Jan. 20

... 7 PM at the Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Dr.

Not everybody can be there.  LA Times' Sandy Banks says that  PSN columnist Shirlee Smith, for example, is going to some kind of bash in Washington that day ...

UPDATE 1/17 10 PM: Agenda after the jump, and check out Susan C's comment.

American Cancer Society seeing volunteers & teams for Relay for Life

The American Cancer Society is looking for volunteers and teams for the first ever Relay For Life in Altadena on June 6 –7 at Farnsworth Park.
        Relay For Life is a fun-filled, overnight event that mobilizes communities throughout the country to celebrate survivors (anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer), remember loved ones and raise money for the fight against cancer.
        “Relay For Life is an awareness raiser about the progress against cancer as much as it is a fundraiser,” said Sarah Eagle, Relay For Life Manager for the American Cancer Society. “Individuals who are willing to give their time and energy to this exciting event, as a volunteer or participant, have made a commitment to fight back against this disease and let the community know that you can beat cancer.”
        Teams of eight to 15 members gather with tents and sleeping bags to participate in the largest fundraising walk in the nation. Relay For Life brings together friends, families, businesses, hospitals, schools, churches – people from all walks of life. Teams seek sponsorship prior to the Relay, all with the goal of eliminating cancer.
        Volunteers are needed to organize and recruit teams, seek community support, coordinate logistics, find refreshments and prizes, plan entertainment, and lend their support in any way.
        If you would like to volunteer on the Relay For Life committee, or serve as a team captain, contact Sarah Eagle (626) 372 9456 or  sarah.eagle@cancer.org  or visit  www.relayforlife.org/altadenaca
        The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. Founded in 1913 and with national headquarters in Atlanta, the Society has 13 regional Divisions and local offices in 3,400 communities, involving millions of volunteers across the United States. For more information, call 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org

Serious gelato

The Serious Eats blog goes to LA Times food critic S. Irene Virbila for the best food in LA.  She leaves LA to find the best ice cream, which is actually here in Altadena.  You have to guess where (OK, it's not much of a guess!)  Do read the comments -- apparently the best Chinese food in LA is in a closed restaurant in Alhambra ...

"Songs to the Divine Mother" benefit concert Jan. 31

Sruti House Concert, Altadena, Sat., Jan. 31,  7:30 PM.

"Songs to the Divine Mother: East and West World and Classical Sacred Music" with The Mahadevi Ensemble offering songs to The Goddess, featuring composer/singer - Lalita Lily Diamond, vocals, tamboura and guitar, Lee Ann Edwards, flute, Peter Jacobson, cello, Dave Lewis, percussion and Cappella Maria with songs to Mary, featuring Sharmila Guha and vocalists from the Los Angeles Master Chorale.

Event is a benefit for the documentary "Poto Mitan, Haitian Women: Pillars of the Global Economy."  For reservations, please email sharmila@sharmilaguha.com or contact Sandra Jackson at 310 614-9601.  Admission is  $20.00.  More information at www.sharmilaguha.com, www.mahasound.com and www.potomitan.org

Hey, you guys ... as seen on TV

Check out KTLA (Channel 5) morning news tomorrow to see Altadena's premiere foodie Susan Carrier plugging "Mutts for Marrow," her Doo-Dah parade marching group.  The Mutts are trying to raise awareness of the need for minorities and multiracials to get on bone marrow registries.  She threatens to wear a dogbone tiara.

And also Friday, on the Today Show, there's supposed to be a segment about the revival of the 1970s program "The Electric Company."  The new Company will start Monday on PBS stations around the country.  We only mention it because Altadenablog's younger brother is in charge of the show's special effects, animation, and interstitials. 

Tenants tossed, have nowhere to go

Andre Coleman of PWeekly follows up on his story of the tenants of the apartments on North Raymond.   Twenty of the families have moved out as part of a settlement agreement -- agreement to include that landlord Ahmad Nowaid would not report their evictions to credit agencies.  Nowaid claimed that the tenants were not paying their rent -- the tenants claimed they were withholding their rent due to  mice, insects, and plumbing problems that weren't being addressed.  Nowaid plans to subdivide the cottage apartments and charge the same rent for each unit as he's getting now for a complete cottage.  (No word on if he strokes his mustache when he speaks, too.)

KABC feature on cold case billboard

KABC has a feature on their website about the billboard at Lincoln and Woodbury looking for info on the 2004 murder of Floyd Anthony Lofton on that corner.  The board of supervisors has authorized a $10,000 reward in the case, and billboard space was donated by Clear Channel.  Lofton left behind three young sons.  (No idea what Jim's Burgers thinks of the sign ID'ing them as a murder location).

Altadena represent, yo!

OK, we're a middle aged dad-type guy who grew up in the 60's  and 70's, plays jazz piano and folk/classical guitar and doesn't understand modern music.  Be that as it may, "Evidence" is looking for people to appear in a music video to be shot in Altadena tomorrow.  You need to be dressed in funeral clothes.  The article with the details is here. We haven't a clue who any of these people in the article are.

Rocket man

"Capt. Bob" Redman puts on a show at the Altadena Library this evening, highlighting the history of space exploration in "Rockets and Robots."  There was a pretty full house of kids and parents for the event.

Aussie tech makes its pitch

Via SGV Tribune, six Australian technology firms made their pitch to venture capitalists and other interested investors at the Business Technology Center this week.

Sheriff & Pasadena police setting up perimeter

Scanner traffic now (5:20 PM) says Pasadena police and sheriff are setting up a permiter around Lincoln, Alberta, Canada, and Crosby to catch a guy. Perp is black, 20's, male, shaved head or short Afro, gray hoodie and black jeans -- no details on what he did, but possibly armed.

Update 5:21: he's continuing southbound.  Several units involved, including PPD chopper and K9.

Year of the Cat

The Orange Cat is a must-see website and newsletter for San Gabriel Valley parents.  It was very exciting to read (via her Facebook) that it has been purchased by Altadena's own Susan Carrier!  We look forward to the Cat's next life from Altadena.

Lock your doors -- criminal opportunists are around

Just got word that a car on the 1400 block of E. Loma Alta was stripped of valuable goods (cellphone and videocam) on Saturday night.  It was left unlocked in the driveway, and less than an hour after the driver went inside, someone else was making calls on their cellphone.

UPDATE 5 PM 1/13:  More rifling thru cars, this time on Sunny Oaks Circle, according to a newsgroup post.  Apparently there's also a run on GPS systems that people received for the holidays and mounted in the car.

NASA releases JPL water cleanup report

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory has released a report for 2008 on efforts to clean up chemicals from the groundwater along the site.  Some of the groundwater affects wells from Lincoln Ave. Water, which serves Altadena, and Pasadena Water and Power.  (Click images to enlarge).  There's also a website, http://jplwater.nasa.gov/, that updates cleanup progress.

(thx to Alice Wessen)