altadenablog

On the street where you live

The Altadena Chamber of Commerce is still offering old street signs for sale -- a great gift for you or some Altadenan (or former Altadenan) you know.  Details are on the graphic.

Conservancy: executive director opening, short deadline for water parcel tax exclusion

We got this email from Arroyo & Foothills Conservancy president Nancy Steele:

First, AFC is looking to hire an Executive Director. Please consider if you or someone you know would be right for the position, which is attached. We hope to have someone on board this spring so that we can better accomplish your charge to us to preserve our beautiful wild open spaces.

The second item is for you if you own land and get your water from one of the mutual water companies which is a member of Foothill Municipal Water District. FMWD is proposing to hold an election for a parcel tax to fund  infrastructure improvements and new projects to improve our water supply reliability. I will leave it to you to decide how you want to vote in this election; the AFC has no position. If you own vacant land and do not intend ever to develop it in the next thirty years, however, you should be aware that FMWD is offering the opportunity to apply for an exclusion from the parcel tax. There is a short deadline, and you would need to apply this weekend. To find out how to apply for the exemption and if you qualify, go to http://www.fmwd.com/. I would also note that if you do not intend to develop your vacant land, you might want to talk to me or another AFC Board member about a conservation easement, donation, or sale of your land.

Blogging for fun and (maybe!) profit at the Library March 20

Find out how and why YOU can blog!  Learn tips and tools from a master blogger on how to set up, gather material and grab attention for your blog.  Be known as an expert and leader in your field.  Enjoy yourself!

Experienced blogger, teacher, and full-time freelance journalist Anne Louise Bannon, will present a lively workshop that will answer such questions as “What is blogging?” “Why do it?”  “How do I create content?” and “How can I make it pay!” Check her out at www.yourfamilyviewer.com, www.oddballgrape.com and www.whitehouserhapsody.com.  This free program will be held at the main Altadena Library on Saturday, March 20, at 2:00 p.m.  For more information: 626 798-0833 or www.altadenalibrary.org.

(And if you're ALREADY blogging, join us for the San Gabriel Valley Blogger's Potluck at Farnsworth Park at noon!)

Soroptimists offers service opportunities

Would you like to join a group of local business and professional women who volunteer their talents and energy to improve the lives of women and girls, both locally and internationally?  Soroptimist International of Altadena/Pasadena may be worth considering.  If you would like to attend one of our meetings or would like more information about us, please contact JoAnn Maisterra, Membership Chair:  joann.irene@gmail.com, or 626 622-8410

Weekendin'

busy, busy, busy!

Friday, March 5

• The Altadena Library Community Room presents photographic works by The Aperture Society of Los Angeles: “From the Land to the City: Seven Perspectives.” Opening Reception will be held  from 5-9pm.  The Aperture Society of Los Angeles is a non-profit group dedicated to furthering the practice of Fine Art Photography and is open to every to join. This is the Society’s first member show and includes the following Artists: Kim St. Dennis, Chris Dwan, Pam Elliott, Steven Heuer, Merrian Lucando, Carla Semola, and Kimberly Kirven.
• Art Bender Weekend at the Gallery at the End of the World continues with First Friday Art Club from 7 PM - 1 AM ($5 cover), with an album release party for HB3, Studies for Traps & Piccolo.

Saturday, March 6

• Central Altadena Little League Pancake Breakfast and opening ceremonies, 9-11 AM at Farnsworth Park.  Plates are $5 each or $18 for four.
• Christ the Shepherd Lutheran Church's chili cookoff starts at 6 PM at 185 W. Altadena Dr.  Tickets are $10 for ages 12 and up and $5 for children under 12.
• Art Bender Weekend at the Gallery at the End of the World continues with potluck barbecue, 12-6 PM. Music by Single Trak.

Sunday, March 6

• Art Bender Weekend concludes at the Gallery at the End of the World with Sunday brunch, starting at 12.

Missing hikers in Eaton Canyon now (6:30 PM)

... which is why there's so much helicopter activity on the east side.

Per scanner, 34 year old man fell, hurt shoulder, and is unable to walk.  Rescue now underway.

Take the Altadena Home Art Studio Tour Weekend June 25-27

Ben McGinty of the Gallery at the End of the World, 2475 N. Lake, is announcing the first annual self-guided tour of Altadena home studios on the weekend of June 25-27.

The event will kick off  Friday evening June 25 at the Gallery with the opening of the silent auction show which will be available for bidding through the weekend.  The Friday event runs from 6-11 PM.

On Sat., June 26, the gallery will open at 9 AM for the sale of tickets and viewing and bidding on the silent auction.  Artists studios will open by 9:30 AM, and all events close at 6 PM.  TIckets are $8, and will include a map to the participating artists' studios.

On Sun., June 27, the Gallery will open and tours will resume at 9 AM.  Studios will close at 3 PM, which will be the start of the closing event at the Gallery.  The silent auction will close at 5 PM, at which time the highest bidders can purchased the art.

The fee for participating artists is $35 to be listed on the map and promotion of the event, and a donation of a piece of art for the fundraiser benefit silent auction.  The only prerequisite is that the public can access your studio easily and your studio is within the town of Altadena. Deadline for participating is May 23.

UPDATE:  Shoulda put this in!  Phone 626 794 4888, email altaartistshst@gmail.com for more information and to get started.

Christ the Shepherd Chili Cook-Off this Sat.

Back by popular demand, Christ the Shepherd Lutheran Church's Chili Cook-Off.  Hosted by the Youth of the Pasadena Area Lutheran Parish (Christ the Shepherd-Altadena, Trinity Lutheran-Pasadena, Hill Avenue Grace Lutheran-Pasadena, and Messiah Lutheran-Pasadena) and the world-famous CTS "Chili Mentors."  Saturday March 6th, 6-8 p.m. at 185 West Altadena Drive, Altadena.   Tickets are $10 for ages 12 and up and $5 for children under 12.  Proceeds to benefit Pasadena Area Lutheran Parish Youth Programs.

Sheriff's issue theft advisory

Carolyn Seitz of the sheriff's Community Advisory Committee is passing on this notice from the Altadena Sheriff's Station:

Altadena continues to experience a high number of burglaries and thefts from vehicles.

You are your own best defense.

Please do not leave your vehicle without checking to make sure that there are no cell phones, MP3 players, GPS devices, Bluetooth devices, expensive sun glasses, wallets, handbags, computers, PDA's, satchels, backpacks, briefcases, currency or coins visible, and do not walk away from your vehicle without confirming that you've locked the door to at least slow down the person who wants what you've left visible in your vehicle.

Every day people are calling the Sheriff's Station asking to make a report because they've now been victims themselves.

Please encourage everyone you know to park vehicles in garages and to lock up - out of sight - any and everything that will give criminals a reason to open the door or to smash your windows to take the gifts you've left for them.

Your vehicles aren't safe even if they're parked in your driveway.

These criminals span all age groups from teens to older adults and if you find yourself still saying to yourself that it won't happen to you, guess again . . .

Want to talk to people who have been victims?  They also thought it couldn't happen to them.

LOCK IT OR LOSE IT!

Stay vigilant.  Make sure you protect yourself and your family.

Central Altadena Little League pancake breakfast Sat.

Central Altadena Little League (CALL) will be holding a pancake breakfast on Sat., March 6 from 9-11 AM. at the upper picnic area of Farnsworth Park in Altadena. This annual fundraiser will kick off the 2010 Baseball season and is open to the public. The CALL Opening Ceremonies will be held immediately following the Breakfast at the Amphitheater, which are also open to the public.

Breakfast plates are $5.00 each or $18.00 for four plates and can be purchased on the day of the event. Breakfast includes pancakes, sausage and a beverage.  Proceeds will supplement payment of the County Parks and Recreation permit fee's which has increased to $15,000 this year.

Farnsworth Park is located at the top of Lake Avenue in Altadena and the picnic area can be found at the southwest corner of Lake Avenue and Mount Curve in Altadena. For more information, or if you would like to register your child for Little League baseball, please visit www.centralaltadenalittleleague.org.

Altadena Heritage's windows workshop Thurs.

Don't forget (we won't!) that Altadena Heritage's next "Heritage of Abundance" workshop will be Thurs., March 4 at the Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Dr.  starting at 6:30 PM. "Windows and Doors: Preserve, Don't Replace" is free for members of Altadena Heritage, and $5 suggested donation for non-members.

Found dogs at Windsor

More dogs found!:

My husband and I found two beautiful and friendly dogs running loose up Windsor, several blocks south of Mountain View, today at around 4:00pm.  They were running in the middle of street and could have easily been hit.  They were chasing a bicyclist who seemed pretty nervous when we asked if these were his dogs (they were not), so we pulled over and corralled them. 

The mama dog had a chain collar with a broken black strap attached, but the male puppy had nothing.  They clearly were together, and both were extremely friendly and sweet. 

We couldn't take them home (we have cats), and not knowing what else to do, we dropped them off at the Sheriff's station on Altadena.  They station was kind enough to hold onto them until animal control could come pick them up.  I will post this information elsewhere as well, but as an avid reader of your wonderful blog, I have seen happy endings in Critterdena and am hopeful your readers may know where they belong.  These are the best pics we could take with my husband's phone. 

 

I hope they come from a good home.  I still shudder when I recall what another reader said about dog fighting rings in the area.  For what it's worth, they seemed pretty loved and I hope they get back to their (good) home safe and sound.

 

Thank you!

Susan & Adam Streets

Touch of old Ireland at the Library March 9

Bring the family to the Altadena Library at 7 PM March 9, as the Gypsy Folk Ensemble holds an old-fashioned Irish Ceilidh (KAY-lee).

Wear something green or blue (blue?) and watch the jigs, reels, and hornpipes as they take you back to the Emerald Isle. Admission is free, and it's at the LIbrary Community Room, 600 E. Mariposa.

E-waste roundup at Friendship Baptist Church March 20

We're always getting inquiries as to the next e-waste roundup.  Friendship Baptist Church at 80 W. Dayton in Pasadena will hold one on Sat., March 20, 9-3 PM.  All the details are in the graphic.

(Us, we're looking for someone who will accept our growing collection of dead 4-ft fluorescent tubes!)

County offers online emergency preparedness guide

In coordination with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the CEO's Office of Emergency Management has just completed a comprehensive guide to emergency preparedness intended to help the residents of Los Angeles County better prepare for, respond to and recover from the disasters that affect our region. 

The Emergency Survival Guide has information and tips to prepare for fires, floods, earthquakes, pandemic flu, terrorism, extreme weather and tsunamis.  

The Emergency Survival Guide includes pages where residents can record their household emergency plans including out-of-state contacts, evacuation gathering points, and the location of utility shut-offs.

The Emergency Survival Guide includes checklists for gathering emergency supplies that will help you, your family and your pets survive and recover after a major disaster.

The Emergency Survival Guide is 100-full color pages and is available only online at this time.  A Spanish language version of the Guide will be available later this year.  

Download your copy of the Emergency Survival Guide at www.lacoa.org (http://www.lacoa.org/ ). 

If you have any questions about the Emergency Survival Guide, contact
Jeanne O' Donnell at (323) 980-2227.

Jeanne O'Donnell
Los Angeles County
Office of Emergency Management
Office (323) 980-2227

Edward Beckett's art interprets Pasadena Conservatory concert

Altadena artist Edward Beckett will be involved with the Pasadena Conservatory of Music's "Mansions & Music" on the stunning campus of Sacred Heart [Girl's] Academy in Flintridge (behind JPL) on Sun., March 14, at 3 PM.
 
Pianist Mark Robson will play a 2-hour piece of modern piano music (including intermission) by the French composer, Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992), Vingt Regards Sur L'Enfant-Jesus.
 
Beckett's wife Sharon Bailey Beckett tells us: "Edward's symbolic expressionist art work will reflect or interpret the music being performed.  The music has 20 movements and Edward has created a drawing for each movement, along with a magnificent painting that is thirteen feet wide.  Edward will also be giving a small talk."

Lauded by the Los Angeles Times as a pianist with “one of the great techniques” and “an inquiring mind,” Mark Robson has created a career which expresses his diverse interests as soloist, chamber artist, composer, and conductor. He has been on the music staff of the Los Angeles Opera since January of 1991, working as an assistant conductor and coach, and has been a musical assistant at the Salzburg and Spoleto (Italy) festivals. Robson’s music has been programmed on concerts in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Barcelona, and Paris.
 
Tickets are $75 per person and proceeds benefit the Pasadena Conservatory of Music.  Seating is limited.  Reservations are required.  626.683.3355  www.pasadenaconservatory.org
 

 
 
 

Neighborhood Watch conference a big success [UPDATED]

 ... says the invaluable Bill Westphal about Saturday's confab at Loma Alta Park:

About 70 people attended the Altadena Neighborhood Watch Conference hosted by the Altadena Sheriff's Station Community Advisory Committee. 

Several speakers including Frank Girardot from the Pasadena Star News and Congressman Adam Schiff were on hand and several informative panel discussions provided people with great information on Neighborhood Watch and related items.

(Pictured: PSN's cops & courts guy -- and now editor -- Frank Girardot).

UPDATE, 8 PM:  Frank's own story about the conference appears here.