McGinty's Gallery at the End of the World, 2745 North Lake Ave, holds its quarterly Art Bender group show this weekend (or, as they're calling it, Grüp Shö).
Featured artist is painterLynne McDaniel. The event schedule is:
Thurs., Sept. 2: Artist reception, 6-9 PM, music by Single Track
Fri, Sept. 3: First Friday Art Club Opening, 7 PM-1 AM, $5 cover, music by Wreck N Sow
Sat., Sept. 4: Potluck barbecue (bring a dish to share), starting around noon, music by Chop Chop.
Sun., Sept. 5: Brunch, music by HB3.
The Gallery will be open every day from noon to 6 PM.
Artwork by 5 Acres: The Boys & Girls Society of Los Angeles.
Opening Reception will be held Sat,, Sept. 4 from 4-6 PM. Work will remain on display for the month of September
The exhibit displays the work of students from 5 Acres, lead by Create Now volunteer Melissa Hogan. 5 Acres has served children and families since 1888 and works to prevent child abuse, and works with neglected children and families.
Create Now offers program areas that include art, music, writing, and performance. Youths learn to express themselves in a positive manner, and serves to be very therapeutic. The group meets weekly and focuses on different painters, their style and their place in history. This exhibit displays works completed by students during their August 2010 courses.
The Angeles Crest 100 mile Endurance Race started early Saturday morning in Wrightwood, and came to a glorious end at Loma Alta Park in Altadena on Sunday.
Spectators, support crew, and early finishers wait to cheer on the next runners.
Thomas Kuerton of Los Angeles by way of Germany savors his accomplishment.
Lorraine Gersitz (with pacer Jennifer Johnston, left) comes home to smiles and hugs. Gersitz (with friend Marisa Willment, left) ran the whole race in her green Crocs.
UPDATE: Lance Anderson tells us that two Altadena women finished the race -- Marisol Martinez and Diana Treister. Congrats to them both!
Our Trail Cam caught a bear coming up the canyon on lower Canyon Crest Road last Thursday night. We came back from vacation to find a trash can overturned and this startling video (usually all we see are skunks and the occasional fox or bobcat!)
The audience enjoyed a boatload of classic rock 'n' roll as the American Flyers took the stage Saturday night at the Sheriff's Support Group Summer Concert Series. To the delight of the crowd, the Flyers played favorites from rockers as disparate as Van Morrison, Carlos Santana, the Beatles, the Georgia Satellites, or the Marshall Tucker Band, as we see in the video of last night's performance:
Mark McAfee, CEO and founder of Organic Pastures Dairy, makes the case for raw milk at the "Milk: History, Politics, and Nutrition" forum, which oc-curd at the Community Center on Saturday afternoon.
Part of Altadena Heritage's "Heritage of Abundance" series, the talk was co-sponsored by the Arroyo Food Co-Op and RIPE Altadena.
Lisa Lewis writes that she will be having an Artists Fair at her home, 2883 Tanoble Dr., on Sun., Sept. 12, 2-5 PM. Open to the public, items for purchase include: belts and handmade buckles, mixed media collage, handmade jewelry, and photography by local Altadena photographer Jennifer Dakan! It's free admission and there will be door prizes. Bring a canned food item to be donated to Union Station Homeless Shelter in Pasadena and receive two tickets for a chance to win a door prize. For more info. contact lisalewis@sprintmail.com.
Altadena Baptist Church, 791 E. Calavaras St., is hosting two upcoming Sunday events:
The Community Picnic on the Lawn will be held Sept. 5. Music, inspiration and friendship at 11 AM. Free picnic lunch, games and prizes at noon.
Community Prayer Day will be held Sun., Sept. 12, also at 11 AM. We will pray for our community and our neighbors--you are welcome to bring your own requests and concerns for prayer. For more information: (626) 797-8970, altabapconnie@aol.com, www.altadenabaptist.org
Alta-troubadors Ian and Regina Whitcomb took part in the 83rd annual Rudolph Valentino Memorial at the Hollywood Forever cemetery Aug. 23, singing “There’s a New Star in Heaven Tonight” and “Sheik of Araby.” It's all on the "Hollywoodland" blog.
PSN's Brian Charles looks at PUSD's latest plan to keep the schools going: selling property. District HQ is on the chopping block (and as it's in the South Lake commercial district, it would have a better chance of selling, as if anyone wants to expand their business these days). Jackson Elementary is being considered as a replacement site for PUSD administration and board meetings. Meanwhile, Altadena town councilman Tecumseh Shackelford is reiterating the big "No" to a possible big box development on PUSD land near Muir High School. Read the whole thing.
Not for everybody, and for mature audiences only but it is amusing: we discovered this new Ozzy Osbourne video, shot largely at Mountain View Cemetery and the Mausoleum.
A year ago today, at about 3:30 PM, a person still unknown started the largest fire in Angeles National Forest history. It was not fully contained until Oct. 16, and was finally declared over after the rainy season began.
The Station Fire devastated 250 square miles of forest, endangered homes and communities, almost destroyed the historic observatories and critical broadcast towers on Mt. Wilson, and took the lives of two firefighters, Tedmund D. “Ted” Hall and Arnaldo “Arnie” Quinones.
But by Friday, Aug. 28, there was no escaping it. By Friday afternoon, we were devoting major coverage to it, going on into Friday evening, when two homes were ordered evacuated in the Meadows -- the first of the local evacuations.
The Station Fire in the hills behind the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Photo by Bill Westphal.
On Sat., Aug. 29, we were devoting full coverage to the Station Fire, and getting reports from readers in the neighborhoods, who were sending us real-time information. On Sunday, we removed moderation from comments, because things were happening too quickly and our readers were sending vast amounts of critical information about how the fire was affecting us. With disinterest from the broadcast media on local conditions (except largely for KPCC), Altadenablog quickly became the "go-to" site for fire information.
By Monday, Aug. 31, we were getting so much news and so many comments that it was upsetting our provider's blogging program and we had to split the entries into AM and PM.
By the morning of Sept. 1, altho' the battle for Mt. Wilson and other parts of the forest was still raging, things were calming down in Altadena as many evacuated residents returned home, albeit with the knowledge that they may have to flee again. In the evening report, at least things calmed down enough we could take a look at the bigger picture of community, and how it was working for us here.
Photos of Dawn Station by reader Tom Willard.
On Wed., Sept. 2, we were told that residents of north Altadena Dr. needed to prepare for possible evacuation --- but by the afternoon, authorities were backpedelling on that. Mt. Wilson continued to be in danger.
One year later, we're still living with the effects of the Station Fire. Vast areas of the forest are still closed, and will be for the foreseeable future. Any notice of forest fire draws wide interest, as witnessed in the one acre brushfire in Eaton Canyon earlier this month. A recent drive to Newcomb's Ranch showed us a mix of charred trees and riotously colored wildflowers.
But in this fire, we also showed that cantakerous, contrarian Altadena can also come together as a community in time of need. We wish we didn't have to learn that lesson the way we did -- but it was an important lesson to learn, and practice in the next disaster -- which IS coming!
It's the one year anniversary of the Station Fire, which was a pivotal time in the life of our community and this website.
During the course of the fire, we had many readers offering to support the work we do, as private citizens who were grateful for the information we provided. We were humbled and pleased to receive so much support, in terms of donations from you during our community's time of crisis.
People still ask how they can help support Altadenablog/Altadena Online, and there are several ways. One is to keep sending us your story ideas, news tips, pictures and video. One of the joys of doing this website is how many of you have embraced it as your own -- you are our field reporters, this has become a true community effort, and we are better for it.
Another is, if you run a local business, consider advertising with us. This is THE place to get your message to the Altadena market. We are locally owned and operated, do not get nor seek grant money, and operate totally out of pocket and what we get from our advertisers.
Another way -- which makes us very grateful -- is to hit the Paypal "tip jar" on the right-hand column. So many of you have contributed smaller amounts (and larger amounts) as you feel moved. Last year, your contributions enabled us to invest more in bandwidth and equipment (i.e. a better camera and video equipment), all going to improve our coverage. Your support makes us a better website, and we are grateful.
So please consider supporting your community website. We depend on you!
... you knew this was coming, didn't you? National Weather Service has posted an excessive heat warning again today, starting at 10 AM and going untl 9 PM. Predicted high is 103 degrees.
But fear not! Prediction for the weekend is in the mid-70's! We just have to survive that long ...
Fire safe: As we approach the one year anniversary of the Station Fire, the Insurance Information Network of California, the Calif. Dept. of Insurance, and the LA County Fire Dept. held a demonstration of fire protection measures and fire-safe landscaping over in the Meadows. The Insurance Institute has this press release of the event.
Bongs away: The LA County Dept. of Regional Planning is looking at an ordinance amendment to ban medical marijuana dispensaries throughout unincorporated Los Angeles County, including Altadena (darn! just when we wanted our ad section to look like the LA Weekly's!). Details are here. The hearing is scheduled for Sept. 22.
Property values: Some Realtors are getting in a uproar over the Arroyos & Foothill Conservancy's efforts to buy 21 acres of Rubio Canyon -- we ran into several RE sites linking to this Aug. 21 SGVT article about it (of course, we first wrote about it Aug 9.) The sites generally have a headline, "Hikes Trump SFRs (single family residential) in Altadena." As tho' we don't already have both,
The Altadena office of the California Highway Patrol will be doing a sobriety/driver license checkpoint on Friday, somewhere in the unincorporated area of east Pasadena, from 6 PM-2 AM, says CHP public information officer Ming-Yang Hsu.
Women's Right to Vote: Celebrate the 90th anniversary of women’s right to vote in a special celebration at the Altadena Library, 600 E. Mariposa St. on Thurs., Aug. 26, 6:30-9 PM. Light refreshments; have dinner before you come! Have fun with "guessing" who's who in Women's History; meet like-minded people; listen to powerful passionate women and learn how to say "No!" to those things that don't feel right. Speakers include Pauline Field, a mini-workshop on personal safety by Ellen Snortland, and remarks by Sherry Simpson Dean. Free.
Fri., Aug. 27
Beach Bus to Santa Monica, departures start at 9 AM.
Friday Summer Movie:Last Song with Miley Cyrus at the Altadena Public Library, rated PG, starts 3:30 PM. Free.
Sat., Aug.28
Beach Bus to Santa Monica, departures start at 9 AM.
Give a Pig a Pancake: Meet the star of Laura Numeroff's If You Give a Pig a Pancake at 11 AM at the Altadena Main Library, 600 E. Mariposa. Children will be treated to stories and have a chance to meet Pig (bring your cameras!)
Milk: History, Politics, and Nutrition,a free event from the "Altadena: Heritage of Abundance" series, at the Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Dr., from 2-4 PM. Light refreshments will be served, and Organic Pastures raw milk will be available for tasting. For more information, contact altadenaheritage@earthlink.net
Bulgarini Gelato Dinner & a Movie features Volver. Dinner will be
offered - by reservation only - for $13.00, which will include a pasta
dish, salad and a drink. Reservations may be made by Friday (the day
before the film) by email at catering@bulgarinigelato.com or by calling (626) 791-6174.
Dinner will be served at 7:45 PM. Film starts at 8:30, is free, and gelato will be available throughout.
A series of meetings to discuss whether to add the mountains encircling San Fernando, La
Crescenta, Santa Clarita, Simi and Conejo Valleys of Los Angeles and
Ventura counties to the National Park System will be
held from mid-September into October. Meetings will start Sept. 14, and include an Oct. 9 meeting at Davies Auditorium in Farnsworth Park. National Parks Traveler has more details.
Still 105 degrees predicted for today (altho' our reliable weather-watchers said it only got up to about 102-103 yesterday, practically balmy!) Plug your ears, here comes the National Weather Service:
..EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT WEDNESDAY...
AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT WEDNESDAY.
*
TEMPERATURE: HEAT INDEX READINGS...A MEASURE OF THE LEVEL OF DISCOMFORT
CAUSED BY THE COMBINATION OF HEAT AND HUMIDITY... ARE EXPECTED TO RISE
TO AROUND 105 WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY EVENING.
* IMPACTS: HEAT STROKE...HEAT EXHAUSTION...AND HEAT CRAMPS ARE POSSIBLE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
AN
EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING MEANS THAT A PROLONGED PERIOD OF DANGEROUSLY HOT
TEMPERATURES WILL OCCUR. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND
HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE TO CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT
ILLNESSES ARE LIKELY. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS...STAY IN AN
AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM...STAY OUT OF THE SUN... AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES
AND NEIGHBORS.
The closest cooling zones for seniors are:
Altadena Senior Center, 560 E. Mariposa, 8 AM-5 PM;
Pasadena Senior Center, 85 E. Holly, 8:30 AM-4:30 PM weekdays, 8:30-3 Sat;
The county also recommends checking in with your local library, which
is air conditioned and has plenty to read (and is next door to the
senior center at 600 E. Mariposa).
Ellen Snortland wants us to remind you that the celebration of the 90th anniversary of women's right to vote is coming up this Thursday at the Altadena Library, 600 E. Mariposa, from 6:30-9 PM.
"The Power of Peaceful Resistance and Women’s NO!” is now absolutely free. Details are here.
The annual Angeles Crest 100 Mile Endurance Run (AC100) will be held this weekend (8/28-29). Canceled last year after the Station Fire, the race organizers have received a Special Use Permit to conduct this year's race.
This
Ultra-Marathon begins Saturday morning in Wrightwood at 5 AM and
continues non-stop until the 2 PM cutoff time, Sunday, at the Finish
Line at the Loma Alta Park Equestrian Center here in Altadena.
In addition to the Start and Finish Line, there are 16 Checkpoints along the Race Course. Each checkpoint is staffed with volunteers that include Race Support Personnel to provide needed refreshments and nourishment to the runners, Medical Personnel to assess the physical and mental condition of the runners and provide aid if necessary and Communications Personnel to track the runners from one checkpoint to the next.
This is a grueling race and runners go to great lengths to condition themselves both physically as well as mentally. The course record of 17 hours, 35 minutes and 48 seconds was set by Jim O'Brien in 1989. Can you imagine running 100 miles through the mountains and valleys of the San Gabriels in just over 17 hours?
Read more about the AC100 at http://www.ac100.com . There,
you can also view live results during the race and this year the lead
and tail runner's progress will be posted via twitter on the
"AngelesCrest100" Twitter account.
As
in years past, I will be volunteering at the Sam Merrill checkpoint
providing radio communications for the health and safety of the runners. The
Sam Merrill Checkpoint is at the 89 Mile mark of the course and is
located near the site of the famous Mt. Lowe Tavern at the intersection
of the Mt. Lowe Motorway and the road to Inspiration Point.
The Sheriff's Support Group of Altadena concert this Saturday is The American Flyers, performing at 7 PM at Farnsworth Park Amphitheater.
The American Flyers came to be in the early 1990’s, born of players that had formed strong friendships in a number of different bands in the 1980’s. The Flyers have gone through numerous versions since that time with all members maintaining a strong fraternal bond with one another.The current line up includes founding members Phil Capuano (drums), and Van Nixholm (original bassist and current rhythm guitarist), Gene Diorio (lead guitar) from our second incarnation, and a new Brother, Dominic Amstutz (bass guitar).
As in the beginning, these guys play together because they enjoy the camaraderie they share and the music they make. The music they enjoy, mostly rock, blues, and country all has some personal attachment to one member or another, whether they be present players or not currently performing. Please enjoy our musical offerings, it’s from the heart. Partners, Brothers, and Friends.
The Pacific Horticulture Society invites you to join us on September 23-26 for an inspiring and thought-provoking symposium titled Gardening Under Mediterranean Skies: Style & Whimsy in the Sustainable Garden. The event is sponsored in association with the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden, the Association of Professional Landscape Designers Greater Los Angeles District, and the Mediterranean Garden Society. It is the eighth in our series of symposia that explore the challenges and delights of California’s mediterranean climate and showcase the wide range of garden possibilities in a low-water environment.
There is always room for fun and charm and joy in the garden, and this symposium will be a welcome break from the more serious-minded programs that are rarely focused on the lighthearted side of gardening in harmony with our climate. Nine engaging speakers will show you how to increase fun and style in your garden. Bus tours to nine exceptional private gardens will demonstrate how personal and artistic a garden can be without breaking the bank and while following sustainable garden practices. Yes – it can be done, and we’ll show you how!
This will be a three-day symposium, and attendees may come for some or all days. Each day starts at the L. A. County Arboretum with three dynamic speakers, followed by lunch on- site. Each afternoon buses will take you to visit three different gardens for a tour and talk by the designer and/or garden owner. The symposium will include plant vendors and book signings.
Three Altadena gardens will be featured: a garden of all California native plants owned by artists Andreas
Hessing and Karen Bonfigli.; the Folly Bowl, created by
artists Sue Dadd and James Griffith; and a very modern
design with a serene look owned by Randy Murphy and Brian Levitz.There will be bonus and optional activities on September 23, the day before the lectures and tours begin, and a twilight reception on September 24.
To celebrate the 35th year of publication of Pacific Horticulture magazine, the following special discounts will be offered:
$35 discount for anyone who attends for all 3 days
$35 discount for participants under age 35 who attend for at least 2 days
$35 discount for full-time students majoring in horticulturally-relevant fields who attend for at least 2 days
For questions or registration brochure contact: Susi Torre-Bueno, (760) 295-2173, symposium@pacifichorticulture.org
The heat continues, tomorrow and Wednesday, shouts the National Weather Service:
...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TUESDAY TO 8 PM PDT WEDNESDAY...
THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOS ANGELES/OXNARD HAS ISSUED AN EXCESSIVE
HEAT WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TUESDAY TO 8 PM PDT
WEDNESDAY. THE EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.
*
TEMPERATURE: HEAT INDEX READINGS...A MEASURE OF THE LEVEL OF DISCOMFORT
CAUSED BY THE COMBINATION OF HEAT AND HUMIDITY...ARE EXPECTED TO RISE TO
AROUND 105 EACH AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY EVENING ON TUESDAY AND
WEDNESDAY.
* IMPACTS: HEAT STROKE...HEAT EXHAUSTION...AND HEAT CRAMPS ARE POSSIBLE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
AN
EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH MEANS THAT A PROLONGED PERIOD OF HOT TEMPERATURES
IS POSSIBLE. THE HOT TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN
WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE POSSIBLE. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS...STAY IN AN
AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM...STAY OUT OF THE SUN...AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES
AND NEIGHBORS.
And the always-helpful Monica Hubbard reminds us that the county is sponsoring "cooling centers" for the elderly in this heat wave. The nearest ones are:
Altadena Senior Center, 560 E. Mariposa, 8 AM-5 PM;
Pasadena Senior Center, 85 E. Holly, 8:30 AM-4:30 PM weekdays, 8:30-3 Sat;
The county also recommends checking in with your local library, which is air conditioned and has plenty to read (and is next door to the senior center at 600 E. Mariposa).
by Devon Pettengill for Altadenablog/Altadena Online
Photo: Deputy Brad Reinford, who will help start the Altadena VIDA program, addresses attendees at the Altadena Community Center Thursday night.
Members of the LA County Sheriff's Department met with community leaders on Aug. 19 at the Altadena Community Center to introduce the Vital Intervention Directional Alternatives (VIDA) program, soon to be implemented in Altadena. The goal of the program is to intervene in the lives of youth who are at risk of becoming involved with criminal behavior.
Deputies from the VIDA explained that the 16-week course engages at-risk children ages 11 to 17 and their parents for ten hours each week in everything from group counseling to physical training drills designed to redirect anti-social behavior into socially acceptable behavior. The classes take place two times each year during the school semester, and deputies hope to have a first class in Altadena in Feb., 2011.
The VIDA course consists of a day-long class on Saturdays and one session during the week. Saturday courses often involve military style drills and physical training compliant with the President's Fitness Challenge. Students are also taken on "reality check" field trips to facilities such as the LA County Jail, California Youth Authority, California State Prison, the neonatal unit of a local hospital, and the Museum of Tolerance. Community service and educational and career tutoring are also part of the VIDA program.
Participants in VIDA can be referred by any number of people, including the court, probation officers, patrol deputies, detective bureaus, teachers, school administrators, or their own parents. The program does not accept those who have already been involved in violent crimes. The focus is on youth who are considered at medium to high risk of engaging in criminal behavior, with the goal of preventing them from entering into the system in the first place. Youth who have already had run ins with the law are also accepted, and first-time offenders may have the opportunity to avoid earning a criminal record on the condition of graduation from VIDA.
One of the keys to the program and its success is the involvement of students' parents or legal guardians. Enrollment in the program includes welfare inspections of the student's home and family counseling helps address parent-child communication and learned behaviors. Deputy sheriffs also attribute some of the programs success to the fact that the intervention takes place without having to remove a child form his or her familiar environment.
The program is run by deputies with help from volunteers from community-based organizations. Deputies in the VIDA program have received additional training as juvenile intervention instructors and child abuse investigators. The program tries to maintain a ratio of 15 students for every three deputies. This small ratio allows deputies to engage with students on an individual level. Despite a $75 enrollment fee to cover uniforms, drug testing fees, and educational tours, the VIDA program does not operate under a budget.
The success of the VIDA program among those who graduate is very high, with about 8 in 10 going on to become productive citizens, deputies said. This success rate is even more remarkable given that something as simple as a citation for possession of a lighter is considered recidivism by the VIDA program. Deputies in the VIDA program are devoted to the idea that at-risk children and their families matter, and a little change can go a long way.
More information about the VIDA program will be available soon at www.vida.la.
The only-in-Altadena Folly Bowl, the outdoor amphitheater at the home of Sue Dadd and James Griffith at 1601 E. Loma Alta, promises a Labor Day weekend of unusual artistry by artists in very different fields.
Long-time collaborators Carole Kim (live video) and Jesse Gilbert (designer/programmer) will be "stepping out" with Gilbert's new audio/visual interface, SPECTRAL, joined by different artists in performances on Sat., Sept. 4, and Sun., Sept. 5.
On Saturday, Eve Luckring will present poetry and short videos, with Anne Le Baron (harp) and Michael Dessen (trombone, electronics). On Sun., Kim, Gilbert, and Luckring will be joined by Motoko Honda (electronics) and Carmina Escobar (trombone, electronics).
Both performances start at 7:30 PM, $10 ($5 children). You are invited to bring your own picnic, refreshments, cushions or blankets, and all trash must leave the premises.
This hits close to home, and we don't like it: some bottom-feeder appropriated a bicycle owned by our regular correspondent Devon Pettengill, and she'd like it back:
My
bike was stolen from my yard sometime within the last few days. I'm
offering a $50 reward for it because even though it was a bit rusty, it
had some sentimental value. I attached a picture of the bike. It is a
modified Schwinn road bike from 1988, model name Voyageur. It's emerald
green with gold logos, has mountain bike handles, and a rack on the back
for a child seat. Anyone with information about the bike, or helpful
tips about where stolen bikes tend to show up, can call me at
626-807-9232.
... this morning at about 9 AM, before the library opened. According to the Crescenta Valley sheriff's station, an autistic person who had walked away from their care home entered the library, alarming the cleaning crew that was on duty. No crime committed, everything was resolved.
Yolande Carson and Kenia Lira from (Altadenablog sponsor) Scissors Paper Rock Salon spent Thursday
morning giving free haircuts and manicures at a "Back to School"
event for underprivileged school kids.
The annual event was held at
Santa Anita Racetrack and was sponsored by Foothill Unity Community
Center.
Carson said, "We had a great time and we encourage anyone to join us next
year and volunteer."
(Pictured: Yolande Carson tackles another haircut, while manicurist Kenia Lira prepares a young manicure client.)
Westminister Presbyterian Church at 1757 N. Lake in Borderdena is holding a children's art contest for pre-K to 12th grade, with a $100 grand prize.
In the
“Kids
are Smart Art Contest . . . If I could invent anything” . kids and teens submit their artwork depicting a great idea. This could be an actual invention, like a
game or robot, or a worthy idea like a cleaner Earth, or just for fun, like a
cool car. Whatever you love to draw, send it in.
There will be a $100 grand prize with
additional cash prizes in each age group. Plus, each and every entry will be
proudly displayed at an ice cream party on Sept. 26 (deadline for entries is Sept. 20). Entries can be
any style of art, and must be 8 ½ x 11 only. For complete rules and to download
an entry form, go to http://wpcpas.org/events.php
NPR recently had a feature on Naomi Hirahara and her Mas Arai series of mystery books. Mas Arai is one of the last of the Japanese gardeners, amateur sleuth, and based in Altadena!
The Women’s Organizations of Greater Pasadena have an open invitation to all women (and we're sure some men too!) to march around Pasadena City Hall on celebrate the passage of the 19th Amendment on Thurs., Aug. 26, 6-8 PM. Meet on Euclid Avenue side -- sashes will be provided, and there will be speeches, music, and food in the courtyard. Free to all.
The San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District says that they have retrieved West Nile Virus-positive dead birds from Covina, West Covina, and Glendora, so we still have a problem. Throughout the summer, remove all sources of standing water, report "green" inoperable pools or other sources of standing water to the District, wear mosquito repellent, and make sure your doors and windows are properly screened. Report dead birds to the WNV Hotline at 877-WNV-BIRD. The District can be reached at 626-814-9466 or on the web at www.sqvmosquito.org
Better getting this late than never, but tomorrow (Sat.) afternoon is the second annual Summer Parks Showcase from the county parks and recreation office.
At Farnsworth Park, there'll be a community barbecue starting at 2 PM, and a family concert starting at 6 PM.
This will be an occasion to look at the programs in all the parks, including Loma Alta Park and Charles White Park.
We had reports from several readers of police activity and helicopter overflight at around Lake and Mendocino Dr. about 2 AM this morning (Friday). The sheriff's station tells us that it was a call about a burglary in progress that turned out to be a false alarm.
Approximately 2 weeks ago, my daughter found a small dog running in
traffic at the ARCO gas station on Altadena Drive and New York. A
picture is attached. The dog is a mixed breed and black colored,
weighing approximately 15 lbs. We would like to find it's owner or a
home to avoid sending him to the pound (unfortunately we can't keep
him). Please call 626 318-4276 for more information.
If you're out on the upper arroyo today, Hometown Pasadena let us know that they're testing the next generation Mars rover, Athlete, in the arroyo today. Maybe you can see it bust a move:
Jane Brackman at the Altadena Historical Society shares this article on a notable home in Altadena's past:
Boulder Crest,
one of the grand homes of Altadena, was destroyed in the 1935 Las Flores
fire. Altadena Historical Society has a rare copy of a limited edition
booklet that the builder, Reinhardt J. Busch published about 1915,
proudly describing his Millard Canyon mountain lodge. We’re closed in
August, but please make plans to visit the Altadena Historical Society
archives anytime Monday or Tuesday between 9:00 am to 12:30 pm.
The Altadena Town Council honored the members of the HIllsides Ordinance Committee Tuesday night, and most managed to attend!
From left to right: Bernice Brunswick, Terry Huntsberger, Michele Zack, Sameer Etman, Nancy Steele, Ken Balder, Mark Goldschmidt, and Patricia Mulligan (committee chair).
Close your eyes and be transported to a time when human voices reigned supreme and the choir stood alone at the apex of western music.
Orchestras would come, but at the dawn of the Renaissance great composers wrote glorious masses that were meant to be sung - in remarkably resonant sacred settings.
The members of the Pasadena Master Chorale are thrilled once again to welcome friends, fans and families to THE GOLDEN AGE, a concert featuring exquisite selections from some of the most beautiful mass settings including the Pange Lingua Mass of Josquin and the Pope Marcellus Mass of Palestrina, as well as works by Byrd, Tallis, Weelkes and Monteverdi. This time, it's an intimate concert featuring 22 of PMC's 80 members singing a cappella - or unaccompanied - in our favorite acoustical venue.
Join us for another full immersion event at the delightful Altadena Community Church and make it a personal renaissance: leave the ear buds at home, close your eyes, open your imagination and lose yourself in gorgeous live music - the way it was meant to be heard.
Pasadena Master Chorale Presents The Golden Age October 2, 7:30 PM // October 3, 4:00 PM
Altadena Heritage, Arroyo Food Co-op, and RIPE Altadena will present a free event, Milk: History, Politics, and Nutrition on Sat., Aug. 28.
The event, part of the "Altadena: Heritage of Abundance" series, takes place at the Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Dr., from 2-4 PM.
Featured speaker will be Mark McAfee, CEO and founder of Organic Pastures Dairy. Mark is internationally recognized as an expert in raw milk production, and has spoken in over fifteen states and three countries on the subject. He invented the first -dietary supplements- made from fresh raw colostrum, and secured their certification from the FDA and DHS. Mark created and published the first international raw milk safety standards at www.rawusa.org.
Local historian Michele Zack will give a brief overview of Altadena's milk-producing past.
The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served, and Organic Pastures raw milk will be available for tasting. For more information, contact altadenaheritage@earthlink.net
Bulgarini Gelato's "Dinner and a Movie" isProfumo di Donna. An Italian Oscar-nominated
comedy/tragedy directed by Dino Risi and starring Vittorio Gassman. "An
army cadet accompanies an irascible, blind captain on a week-long trip
from Turin to Naples." Movie starts at 8:30, but Italian dinner is available at 7:45 for $13 (must make reservations by Friday - email at catering@bulgarinigelato.com or call (626) 791-6174).
Sheriff's Support Group Summer Concert Series is taking a break this weekend, and will return next Saturday.
Sun., Aug. 22
Clergy Council: Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca will be the speaker at the annual service of the Altadena Sheriff's Clergy Council at 3 PM at the Altadena Seventh Day Adventist Church, 2609 Lincoln Ave. Baca will speak on "Bridging the Gap Between Generations."
Actually, the cast of the upcoming show "Outlaw," which filmed some scenes on Boston on Aug. 17. Lars Momsen shares some of his pictures with us.
Actress Carly Pope getting primped in the makeup chair.
Pope (who plays an investigator) with actor Jesse Bradford (who plays a law clerk in the series).
It takes a lot of people to make a TV show come together.
"Outlaw" stars Jimmy Smits as a former Supreme Court justice. In his last TV series, he was the President. And in his last movie, he was the prince of the planet Alderaan! (Geek warning, shoulda let you know earlier).
The council swore in two re-elected members, Ruth Neilan Edwards and Alice Wessen, who were not at last month’s swearing-in ceremony; and made the following appointments: Chair Gino Sund; vice chair Edwards; corresponding secretary Jaime Bissner; treasurer Tecumseh Shackelford; Phil Barela, recording secretary.
Appointments: Councilman Ken Roberts was appointed to represent Altadena on the Pasadena Unified School District’s school consolidation committee, which will consider which schools to close due to budget shortfalls. Allan Wasserman agreed to represent the council on the West Altadena Project Area Committee.
The council gave out a plaque honoring the members of the Hillside ordinance committee for their work in drafting the Altdena Hillside Ordinance, recently approved by the count board of supervisors.
Sund said he had been looking into complaints from many residents about feral peafowl who lurk in some neighborhoods. According to Sund, the council considers them wildlife, so animal control will only pick up a dead or injured animal. Peafowl are not protected nor endangered, so, Sund said smilingly, “whatever you do will have to be done privately.” The Arcadia city website does have a pamphlet available on “living with peafowl.”
In public safety reports, Altadena Sheriff Capt. Steven McLean said that the station had made substantial progress in quelling the burglary wave: 42 suspects have been arrested since the beginning of the year, including two the day before. In May, there had been 39 residential burglaries reported; in june, 35; and for July, 13. “What I’ve witnessed in the last four months is as good a police work as I’ve seen in 30 years,” McLean said.
Officer Ming Hsu of the California Highway Patrol said that the there were an increasing problem with miniscooters on residential streets. Such vehicles are not street legal and do not conform to motor vehicle standards, Hsu said.
Following a lengthy discussion with county traffic engineers, the council voted to approve restriping north Lake Ave. from Altadena Drive to Loma Alta. Presently a four lane, it will become a two lane with a center turn lane to facilitate traffic safety.
The council also approved an upgrade of the existing cell phone antenna on the property of Altadena Methodist Church.
Frank Girardot, the crime guy and editor at Pasadena Star News, has another take on the metal scavengers -- he interviewed the "pilot" of the mothership, for starters. (Yes, it's the Whittier paper, but they're under the same ownership and this WILL appear in tomorrow's Star News).
As an aside, we think Girardot is making a big mistake by relying on Crimereports.com when he declares that only two residential theft reports were taken by the sheriffs in the past 30 days. Hello, Altadena burglary wave? Altadena Sheriff Capt. Steve McLean told the Altadena Town Council yesterday that that there were 12 burglaries during the month of July - and altho' the numbers are dropping down (there was only one reported last week), common sense tells you there have been more than two in thirty days. (Figures like this are why we learned early on that not everything makes it to Crimereports.com).
As ANOTHER aside, the earliest mention we can find of a "mothership" for metal scavengers was in this LA Times story from 1995.
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