altadenablog

Altadena pastor arrested -- OK, maybe not ...

The PSN society page today talks about the faux "arrest" of Pastor George Van Alstine of Altadena Baptist Church.  It's all in fun, part of the annual fundraiser for the Altadena Christian Children's Center.  Here's the details.

Get bowled over at Xiem Clay Center studio sale Fri-Sat

The Xiem (pronounced "sim") Clay Center will have their annual studio sale this Friday (6-9 PM) and Sat. (10:30 AM-4:30 PM).  Some of the featured works include the large bowls of Altadena artists Heather Morrow and Philip Hacker.  (Heather says there will be a free "make and take" project at their booth for you to create).  The Xiem Clay Center is at 1563 N. Lake.

Pictured: one of Philip Hacker's large bowls.

Library announces May family events

All kinds of goodies this month at the Altadena Libray, 600 E. Mariposa:

Magician/Juggler Bruce Block

Tues, May 12, 7 PM  (Altadena Library Community Room)
Two time America’s Got Talent finalist combines magic, juggling & his world famous live talking rabbit into a family friendly program.

First 5 California's Family Resource Express

Wed., May 13, 11 AM-12 PM  (Altadena Library Parking Lot)

The Family Resource Express will visit the library to distribute free and low-cost resources and services, including grocery coupons and free mini cookbooks with recipes for healthy affordable meals. Free oral health screenings as well as weight and BMI readings will also be available courtesy of Community Health Alliance of Pasadena. While parents learn about these resources, kids can play and participate in fun interactive educational games that are designed for children under age 5.

Friday Fun Flick: Hotel For Dogs (Rated PG)

Fri., May 29, 3:30 PM

Based on Lois Duncan’s novel, the story revolves around two orphaned teenagers who decide to turn an abandoned building into a safe haven for stray dogs.

SUPER Saturday Family Storytime

Sat., May 30, 10 AM (Altadena Library Community Room)

Join us for stories, songs, and fingerplays followed by a Scholastic film adaptation of an award-winning, classic children’s picture book. Film screen times range from 5-15 minutes. Appropriate for children ages 2-8 years and their families.

Barks & Books

Sat., May 30, 11 AM

Children ages 5-12 are invited to visit the library to read to Pearl. Pearl is a sweet, loveable standard poodle from the Pasadena Humane Society’s Home Companion Program. This reading enrichment program makes reading fun, boosts confidence and encourages respectful, humane treatment for all animals.

 

Stand and be counted: Rotary food drive for Union Station Sat. @ Ronnie's

 Jacque Foreman of the Altadena Rotary sends us a reminder of their upcoming event at Ronnie's Automotive, 2012 N. Lake, on Saturday:

Bring a canned or packaged food donation for Union Station between 11:30 AM-2 PM and get a free American flag with stand!  Click on the graphic for more details!

More on Lake-Calavaras/WaMu site project

Reproducing below some copies of the notice to the neighbors dated March 24 about the old WaMu property on Lake, including an architectural sketch.  Click to enlarge.

Bruce Block's magic and comedy @ the Library May 12

Next Tues., the Altadena Library, 600 E. Mariposa, will present the magic and comedy of Bruce Block, starting at 7 PM. 

Holder of the world record for balancing cigar boxes on his chin (213!), Block has appeared on "The Tonight Show," "The Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon," "Comedy Central," and many other programs, and as Capt. Pete in the "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers." 

A two-time finalist at "America's Got Talent," Bruce combines magic, juggling, and his world famous live talking rabbit into a family-friendly program.

NAACP at 100

PSN has an editorial on the NAACP's centenary.  Worth noting because it touches on local history and Altadena has a very strong chapter still.

History of La Vina

Sid Gally's Monday column for PSN looks at the history of La Vina, which started as a tuberculosis sanitarium (kind of the swine flu of its day).  Apparently, after its closure as a sanitarium it was briefly considered for the site of a prison.  Today, it's a gated community -- draw your own conclusions!

Goin' back to Philly

Jazzmen Jimmy and Albert "Tootie" Heath earn a story about their upcoming concert in their hometown of Philadelphia ("Tootie" lives in Altadena now, as this previous story attests).

On the road with Parkinson's

B. John Hale of Altadena writes a story for the LA Times about the occasional funny side of life with Parkinson's disease.

Land use committee hearing on WaMu property Tues. night

This note from town council chair Gino Sund -- finally, some activity on the old WaMu property:

Attached is the Agenda for the Land Use Committee meeting scheduled for May 5, 2009.  There will be a public hearing on the proposed new development located at 2246 N. Lake Ave.  This is the old WalMu site.  The development is expected to be a two story 51,000 sqft commercial structure.  The developer is requesting two Conditional Use Permits to allow alcohol sales by two proposed tenants,  Rite-Aide Pharmacy and Fresh and Easy Market.

 

The Land Use Committee meets at the community center, 730 E. Altadena Drive, 7 PM.

Library teen program: Kiss your mom!

Teens & tweens:  Mother's Day is coming up and you haven't done anything yet for She Who Gave You Life?  Well, the Altadena Library has the answer for you!  Click the graphic to enlarge!

Altadena Guild home tour May 3

Yes, we're late with this information (someone needs to TELL US things sometimes!) but the Altadena Guild of Huntington Memorial Hospital is running their annual home tour Sunday afternoon with the theme "Bonnie Brae Burn."  (One of our friends, Scottish musician and fellow McLellan clan brother David Key, tells us he will be entertaining in full kilt for the event).  Hit the link -- there may still be time to go!

Altadena architectural walk (actually, a drive!)

Our friends at Hometown Pasadena have devoted some space to "architectural walks" around the area, gatherings of fine homes and places. Today , they take on Altadena, with the caveat (all too true!) that you can't really walk to all our fine houses and buildings unless you've got iron legs and lots of time -- a car is necessary! 

And they're missing some fine places, too -- Mountain View Mausoleum, Balian mansion, the Lloyd Wright house that looks like a glass ship's prow, the Altadena main library and Noyes school come to mind.  Lots of interesting places behind fences, as well, such as the Zane Grey mansion, Theosophical Society, and several mansions. (They should have really asked us first!)

Youth acting workshops at Farnsworth Park

Found this on The Meadows' neighborhood page, and thought it worth repeating:

The Altadena Arts Council (TAAC), in conjunction with the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, will be sponsoring an "Acting Workshop for Youth", which will be held at Farnsworth Park, corner of North Lake Avenue and East Mountain Curve. The workshop will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays, 3:00 pm - 5:00 p.m. The first six-week session begins on Monday, May 11th and ends on Wednesday, June 17th. The workshop is open to all youth 9-14 years of age and costs $10.00 per class. Advanced registration is advised. For further information, please contact Mary Ann Stevenson at 626.797.5798 or via E-mail at maswrites@att.net .

If you scroll down, you can see that the Meadows' blog reprinted our original story about the Altadena Arts Coalition's Lake Ave. Business District Open House without permission or attribution!  But we forgive 'em 'cause they usually do a good job!