altadenablog

Going to be late ...

Family activities mean we're going to have a late start today.  Apologies -- new stuff (including the weekend calendar) will be up later today.

Nominations open for Chamber's Citizen of the Year

Altadena’s next CITIZEN OF THE YEAR could be someone you know. Since 1945 the Outstanding Citizen of the Year award has been presented annually by the Altadena Chamber of Commerce to those who have contributed significantly through the years to the betterment of the Altadena Community. The first Outstanding Citizen Award was given by the Altadena Chamber of Commerce in honor of the late Mr. W. B. Taylor, veteran newspaper reporter for the Pasadena Star-News. Since that date, the award has been given annually in recognition of faithful, untiring interest and service in community activities.

Citizens are nominated each year via a nomination letter or form. The public is invited to nominate an ideal citizen with the following information: community participation, volunteerism, contributions and character.

Click on the graphic for the full nomination form.

Mid-week open thread: what's missing?

Let's help out the newbies: what Altadena story needs to be told, but isn't?

Dear Moon: the wedding's off

The "Purple Wedding to the Moon" has been eclipsed.

The "eco-sexual Purple Wedding to the Moon," an event by performance artists Annie Sprinkle and Beth Stephens scheduled for Oct. 23 at Farnsworth Park amphitheater, has been cancelled by LA County.

According to Savitri Durkee, one of the producers, they were notified on Friday that the LA County Dept. of Parks and Recreation had cancelled the event, citing safety concerns from law enforcement.

Durkee said that Parks and Recreation Deputy Director Kathleen Ritner called Sprinkle to inform her that the rental contract had been cancelled.  "[Less] than two weeks, to go, and they told Annie they were canceling because they had received this call from the LA County Sheriff -- there was no opportunity to hire any more security, we'd hired the number of security they told us to hire."

Sources at Parks and Recreation told Altadenablog that the amphitheater contract had been for a "wedding," which usually has a limited number of invited guests.  After reading a press release about the event in Altadenablog, county officials became concerned because it was more an "event" than a wedding, and rather than going to a limited number of guests, the invitations went out to the world through websites.  After the sheriff's department raised concerns about safety and crowds at the event, the Parks Department consulted with County Counsel and revoked the contract.

Durkee said, "I would say that it was talked through extensively, and Annie and Beth were considering it a wedding -- they announced it the way couples announce the wedding these days.  They were totally up front about what the event was, and that it was a wedding." 

According to a press release from the producers, "While drafting their contract Sprinkle and Stephens told the rental office they were expecting around 400 people at the wedding, at least 100 of them performers and artists helping them create the wedding. They hired the recommended number of security guards and proceeded to mail 120 hand made invitations, and also posted the wedding announcement on various social sites and alerted interested media.  After commentary about the wedding appeared on the popular local “Altadena Blog,” Sprinkle received a call from Ritner, who cited security concerns by unnamed Los Angeles county law enforcement personnel."

(Please note that our story consisted of the press release issued by the organizers, reproduced without comment and with only one non-family friendly word omitted).

A park official, who refused to comment on the record, said that the Altadenablog story raised several concerns in the county, including lack of notification to the neighbors of the event, and the "adults only" nature of an event in a public park.

Sprinkle and Stephens have been "married" several times, Durkee said, without incident and without drawing large crowds.  "this is not the kind of event that everybody goes to," Durkee said.

"It seems fairly obvious that there must have been some kind of complaint," and Durkee says that it was it was likely because it was a lesbian wedding.

"This is just outright discriminatory - had it been an outright wedding of John and Susan from Pasadena -- we would at the very least have been offered a negotiation ... We understand we're pushing boundaries, we're artists, but the state isn't allowed to [cancel] that based on content."

The press advisory issued by the producers says that, because free events are held at the park and advertised widely through the internet and print, and the venue can handle more than that expected, "Sprinkle, Stephens, and their wedding co-creators believe that the cancellation is in direct response to the gender of the brides, and the environmental activist themes of their vows."

The press release says further that the couple does not plan to cancel the wedding, but have requested that the county rescind the cancellation.  In the event the cancellation stays, they are currently looking for another venue. The couple is also considering filing suit against the county.

ADDENDUM: Annie Sprinkle responded to our email, which included the following:

I will say, we take our weddings very seriously.  For us they are as real weddings as anyone else's weddings.

So I didn't see a reason to get an event contract.

We have done 8 weddings.  One a legal wedding in Canada.

They have all been free, except for the legal one! Which was part of a theater festival.

The most folks we ever had was 350.  So there was no reason to believe we'd have more than 400.

And I was prepared, if we got a feeling more would come if, for example, there was an LA Times article, to get more guards and to let the park know.

All the weddings are well documented on loveartlab.org.

They are unusual perhaps, but that's because we love experimental art. Our weddings reflect our personalities and eco-politics.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery

The Altadena Patch is scheduled to go live today.  We welcome local editor Dan Abendschein, a fine journalist and former Pasadena Star-News reporter, to our town to lend a fresh perspective on things Altadena.

Patch is a subsidiary of New York-based AOL, which is launching about 500 plug-and-play local sites this year -- each one looking like the other, yet each one promising to reflect its unique community. 

What do we like about it?  For one thing, each site promises to have a directory of local businesses, a valuable service to have available online (and so tedious to compile that we wouldn't want to do it ourselves!) For another, it gives talented people a chance to work -- AOL is hiring more journalists than anyone else right now.  We have friends who have already had pieces appear in the local versions of Patch, and we want them to be paid and want their work to be widely read.  That's a win.

What don't we like?  To pay for this, AOL has targeted small local businesses as a source of revenue, and has deployed an ad sales staff in each community to feed the AOL maw.  Personally, we don't think that Altadena businesses shipping their advertising dollars to New York helps our struggling local economy -- one of the reasons why we turned down Patch's offer to run the local site.

There are other reasons: unlike Patch, we answer solely to you, our readers, and not to a regional editor or a corporate suit.  As a locally-owned community website, we most highly value the relationship we have with our readers, who are also our neighbors, and who are now so much more than ever our eyes in the field. Ultimately, we have a different philosophy than Patch about what a local news site should be like and what constitutes "local," and that is reflected in how we do what we do.

That said -- imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.  We started this website in part because, after living here for several years, we found Altadena was continually neglected or short-shrifted in local news coverage and there was no central place to find out what was happening in government, the library, the arts, or the churches and other community organizations.  There were also wonderful people here who needed to be lifted up, stories that needed to be told, and dark places that needed light.  That's why we started this website, and why we've been going strong for three years -- and if someone outside finally takes notice of this unique place we call home, then we've succeeded in our efforts.

 

Sheriff arrest controversy: looking at both sides

Crown City News' Tami DeVine does a fine job taking on the recent controversies about the arrests of young black men in Altadena. Sheriff Capt. Steven McLean explains law enforcement's position in Part One, and Pasadena Journal publisher and local attorney Joe C. Hopkins gives a rather uninhibited airing of his charges (yes, that means language warning) in Part Two.

PUSD offers after-school resource fair Friday

The Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) will host an After-School Resource Fair to inform families about free academic tutoring and enrichment programs available under the federal Supplemental Educational Services (SES) program.

Free tutoring and enrichment is available for qualified students who attend Altadena Elementary, Loma Alta Elementary, Jackson Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, Madison Elementary, San Rafael Elementary and Washington Middle School.  Students who attend these schools and are enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program may be eligible.

 

Families are invited to the fair to register for SES and to learn about free homework, academic and enrichment assistance.

 

Please contact the SES office at (626) 396-3600, ext. 88471 or cboykin@pusd.us for more information.

 

 

            Subject:          PUSD After-School Resource Fair

 

            Date/Time:     Fri., Oct. 15, 3-7 PM

 

            Location:        PUSD Education Center – North Parking Lot

                                    351 S. Hudson Ave.

                                    Pasadena, CA

Crime log: Oct. 4-11, 2010

Mon., Oct. 4
Between 10 PM and 9 AM Wed: two thefts from unlocked vehicles occurred on the 2200 block of Midwick Dr.   Loss: black Dewalt drill, black Bosch nail gun, black Bosch saw, and black Craftsman nail gun.

Thurs., Oct. 7
Between 12:45 PM and 2:10 PM: a residential burglary occured on the 1600 block of Loma Alta Dr.  Suspect(s) entered the location by shattering the window of the rear door.  Loss: white MacBook 13" laptop, white iMac 21 in. computer, and silver MacBook Pro 15 in. laptop.

Fri., Oct. 8
Between 6:45 AM and 3:30 PM: a residential burglary occurred on the 1100 block of Meadowbrook St.  Suspect(s) entered the location by cutting the screen of the rear door.  Loss: black Sony Playstation 3, black Sony PSP, black Apple iPod, and coin jar containing $300 in misc. currency.

6:18 PM: a commercial burglary occurred at Kragen Auto Parts, 737 E. Altadena Dr.  A male, African American, 20 years, blue shirt and dark shorts, was observed retrieving a portable generator from the shelf, and leaving the lcoation without attempting to pay for the item.  The witness followed the suspect out of the store and observed him entering a green Cadillac Seville, 4 door, partial plate ***T157, driven by an African American male.  Vehicle last seen driving southbound on Lake Ave.  Loss: red and blue All-Power portable generator, 1000 watts.

Between 3 PM and 6 PM Sat.: a petty theft from an unlocked vehicle occurred on the 2300 block of Glenrose Ave.  No suspect description available.  Loss: insurance card and vehicle registration.

Sun., Oct. 10
Between 3 PM and 4PM: a bicycle theft occurred on the 2500 block of La Fiesta Ave.  The bicycle was left unsecured leaning against the fence belonging to the victim's residence.  Loss: yellow and black GMC Denali, 18 speed adult bike.

Mon., Oct. 11
8 AM: Deputies responded to the 2700 block of N. Fair Oaks Ave. regarding fireworks being ignited under passing vehicles.  Upon their arrival, two brown cylinders with the fuse intact were observed in the roadway.  Arson & Explosives Bureau responded to the location and determined that the fireworks were illegal.  Deputies contacted two males at a residence which matched the description provided by a witness.  After further investigation, the two males were arrested for possession of illegal fireworks.  No damages were reported.

Morning jolt: the Ph.D. stands for "phire doctor"

• PSN's Brian Charles takes a look at the process of Altadena schools hiving off from PUSD.  It will be long, complicated, and colored by the the district's tendency to shutter Altadena schools (like the three chosen to close down in the present go-round).
• While we're looking at today's PSN, former Altadena son Larry Wilson listens to Rev. George Van Alstine's research on the crazy Rev. Fred "God Hates Fags" Phelps (turns out he got his start on the Muir campus!) , and shares a memorable quote from Alta novelist Jervey Tervalon.
• Altadenans are always too cool for the room: Stacy Wang at Whittier Daily News looks at Altadenan Rachel Smith, 30.  Smith is the founder and president of Firescaping (www.firescaping.org), which offers resources to protect property from wildfires, and was asked to join a committee to develop professional wildland firefighter standards.  She's working on a doctorate in environmental science, policy, and management; she's a fellow with the Robert & Patricia Switzer foundation -- and oh, yes, she's an EMT, a smokejumper, and a hotshot.  A Ph.D who gets down & dirty with an axe and shovel?  Where else would she live?

Monthly gathering for the midlife journey

Leah Leddy, who hosts a weekly nondenominational silent meditation, is offering a monthly gathering to support the midlife journey. It starts this Sun., Oct. 17, and continues the third Sunday of every month.  For more information:

www.simpleordinarypresence.com/Monthly.html 

Team OBA readies for Long Beach Marathon/Half Marathon

Team Outward Bound Adventures poses for their final group run.  Pictured: back row,  Charles Thomas, OBA executive director; Otis Robson (white headband); LaAnna Vickers (white cap); Steve Bucksbaum, OBA Board Chair' and Grete Soorumaa. Front row:  Angel Robson (pink headband), OBA Board member; Gwenn Smith (black cap), OBA Board member; Joyce Foster, Jacquelyn Erb and Hillary Wagner (black sweater).

Camille Dudley writes:

Ten of the 19 members of TEAM OBA met at the Rose Bowl Saturday morning for their final group run before the big day.  Members of TEAM OBA are running in the Long Beach Marathon/Half Marathon on Sun., Oct. 17 to raise funds to support the work that Outward Bound Adventures (OBA) does for urban and at-risk youth.  OBA is a Pasadena-based youth organization has been providing meaningful nature-based education that promotes positive self-development, environmental responsibility, and outdoor career exposure for at-risk and urban youth for almost 50 years.  For more information:  www.obainc.org

 

Morning jolt

• Rep. Adam Schiff is convening  a congressional panel today to investigate the Station Fire, at the Chambers Court of Appeals Building, 125 S. Grand Ave., Pasadena.  It starts at 9 AM and will go on until about noon. His panel will supplement a separate investigation by the General Accounting Office called for by Schiff.
• Also on today's calendar: the interfaith "Daniel Pearl Harmony for Humanity" interfaith concert, 11 AM at the Weizmann Day School, 1434 N. Altadena Dr., Pasadena.  St. Mark's School in Altadena will participate.
• From the Kansas City Star (!) comes an article on the recently-chosen Rose Princesses.  Among them: Altadena resident Tenaya Miyoko Senzaki, 17, who attends Pasadena High School.  The Rose Queen will be announced Oct. 19.
• Get your talent on: this Sat., Oct. 16, starting at 9 AM, auditions are open for the We've Got the Beat Talent Show and Contest at the Library, 600 E. Mariposa.  Culminating a week of Teen Read week activities, the talent show itself will be Oct. 22.
• Speaking of the library, it's one week until the "Read Like a Writer" workshop with Alta-novelist Michelle Huneven.  The workshop starts at 7 PM Oct. 19, but Michelle would like to you have a couple of works under your belt before then -- details in our earllier story here.

 

Mask and charm necklace workshops at Kat Scrap Studio

Alta-artist Heather Morrow is leading two workshops at Kat Scrap Studio, 2455 N. Lake Ave.:

“Behind the Mask,” Sat., Oct. 16, 2-4 PM

Just in time for Halloween, in this Creative Souls Workshop you will be decoupaging and embellishing a mask. Artist Heather Morrow will guide you to create a work of art, inspired by your own vision. Each participant will be provided with the necessary supplies; however, you are welcome to bring any objects or embellishments to add to your work (or share).

[$25 - includes materials]

“Charming Charm Necklace," Thurs., Oct. 21 6:30 - 7:30 PM

Have you always wanted to learn how to make jewelry? Artist Heather Morrow will guide you to create a charming charm pendant, inspired by your own vision. You will then put it on a chain to wear proudly, because you made it. Each participant will be provided with the necessary supplies; however you are welcome to bring any objects or embellishments to add to your work (or share). Jewelry pliers are recommended but not required.

[$35 - includes materials]

Update on fireworks seizure

The LA County Sheriff's have put out a press release on the seizure of fireworks Monday morning:

Altadena Sheriff's Station deputies responded to the intersection of Fair Oaks Avenue and Mariposa Street, Altadena, regarding a "Fireworks / Juvenile Disturbance" call. They saw the suspects place three long objects, which were tied together, in one of the turn lanes and attempt to light them. The deputies arrived before the objects were ignited and any vehicles drove over them. The area was blocked-off and the suspects were detained.

An Arson/Explosives Detail investigator responded to the intersection and determined the objects were pyrotechnic mortar rounds. These objects are highly dangerous fireworks considered to be explosives and can cause harm when used inappropriately.

Further investigation led detectives to locate additional pyrotechnic mortar rounds at the residence of one of the suspects. Approximately 50 explosives were seized, rendered safe and transported out of the area.

Still no word as to if these are tied to the explosions reported in the neighborhood the midnight before.  Reader "P" sent us a working link to the KTLA report.

Trail Restoration Working Group meeting ..

Altadena Crest Trail Restoration Working Group (ACTRWG) meets tonight at 7 PM at the Altadena Community Center, 730 East Altadena Dr.

Chamber mixer @ Health Advantage Oct. 26

The Altadena Chamber of Commerce's monthly mixer will be Oct. 26, 5:30-7:30 PM at Health Advantage, 1450 N. Lake Ave. in Pasadena (park in rear off Rio Grande).  Host is Gina Haber.

Fireworks stash closes down Fair Oaks & Mariposa [UPDATED]

Writing at 11:45 AM, Thanks to several readers who alerted us to this ... the intersection of Fair Oaks and Mariposa was closed down by the sheriffs this morning after deputies responded to calls of fireworks at the location.

According to the watch commander at La Crescenta station, apparently some teens got hold of illegal fireworks, tied them together, and were planning to fire them off at the intersection, but were stopped before it got underway.  Deputies blocked the intersection and arson investigators are on the scene to ensure that the objects are just fireworks.  No evacuations were ordered in the vicinity, which should be back to normal shortly.

UPDATE: This KTLA report says deputies found a home nearby with a large stash of fireworks, and detained two suspects.  Readers reported to us hearing loud explosions in the area around Fair Oaks north of Loma Alta around midnight last night, so there's speculation that it may all be related.

UPDATE: The KTLA link has gone squirrely, but we'll try to get it fixed.

Fox paradox

Jane Brackman, Ph.D. (aka Dr. Barkman), whom we now name the Official Altadenablog Canid Correspondant, has some thoughts to share on the red fox sighted on Craig this weekend:

Generally, foxes and coyotes don’t share the same territory, so it’s interesting that someone spotted a fox near Craig and Midwick, home to many wiley coyotes. It could be a fox who strayed from his home (perhaps at a higher altitude) and ended up on Craig.  On the other hand it might be a result of the increasing population of mountain lions. 

In other words, cougars and foxes come into conflict in the same ecosystem.  That's also true in singles bars.

UPDATE:  Further explication from Dr. Barkman:

What it all means is:  cougars and foxes are compatible (in singles bars as well) because they don't share the same food sources. Coyotes and cougars compete for the same meals.  Big cats kill coyotes.  Coyotes kill little cats.  Life is like a circle...ever spinning ever turning...

This "circle of life" stuff is more acceptable the higher up on the food chain you are ...

Monthly drumming circle starts Tues. at Altadena Community Church

All are invited to join the Drumming Circle meeting monthly at the Altadena Community Church - United Church of Christ, 943 East Altadena Dr. (next to the Chevron Station). 

The group is loosely led by Virginia White, vocalist and member of the Jubilee Singers.  Bring your own hand drum or other percussive instrument (e.g., tambourines, gourd rattles) or use one of Virginia's instruments. 

The Drumming Circle meets in Heicher Hall, just off the upper level parking lot, on the second Tuesday of the month, 7:30 - 8:30 pm.  Call the church (626/798-1185) for further information.  Next get-together: this Tuesday, October 12th.  Free.

Pictured: Akafuji Daiko drumming group at Farnsworth Park, July 29, 2010

Monday open thread: school daze

What do you think of PUSD's decision to close three Altadena elementary schools and move Norma Coombs Alternative to the Burbank campus?  Sound off in the comments!

You just can't beat Teen Read Week Oct. 16-22 @ the Library

The Altadena Library has a full slate of events to mark Teen Read Week.

On Oct. 16 at 9 AM, auditions will be held for the "We Got the Beat" talent show to be held Friday. 

On Mon., Oct. 18, teens can play "Beat the Odds," a game show, starting at 3:30 PM.

On Wed., Oct. 20, it's "Film Beat" with a music-themed film, also starting at 3:30.

And on Fri., Oct. 22 at 5:30, it all wraps up with the talent show, "We Got the Beat."

The Altadena Main Library is at 600 E. Mariposa.

Five Acres shoe and clothing drive ends Oct. 15

Just a reminder that we're in the last stretch of Five Acres' clothing and shoe drive.  They're looking for unwanted clothing and shoes of any size and condition, which will be used by a recycler as part of their job development program for disabled young adults, training them in the areas of sorting, reusing, fixing, repurposing and organizing so that they can get jobs in thrift stores.

NOTE: No items will be re-used by children and families served by Five Acres.

Drop off areas are:

• 760 W Mountain View Street, Altadena
• 301 E Arrow Hwy Suite 101, San Dimas
• 4401 Santa Anita Ave., El Monte
• 1495 N Lake Ave., Pasadena
• 2055 N Lincoln Ave, Pasadena

Three Altadena schools slated for closure

Loma Alta, Jackson, and Burbank elementary schools -- all in Altadena -- were recommended for closure by the Pasadena Unified School District consolidation committee Saturday.

However, there's an asterisk:  according to committee vice chair Ken Roberts, the recommendation to close Burbank was with the contingency that the property be used to house Norma Coombs Alternative School, now located in Pasadena.

What that would mean, Roberts said, is that Burbank would close as a "neighborhood" school and the K-5 Norma Coombs program -- a "choice" school --would be moved to the Burbank building at 2046 N. Allen.  The advantage is that the Burbank school has the ability to take on the Nora Coombs students and still leave enough space to absorb the number of students who attend Burbank as a "neighborhood" school.

Burbank also has a proper cafeteria and auditorium and other facilities that Norma Coombs' present building does not, Roberts said, and many residents of Altadena and the west side of the district already attend Norma Coombs.  In addition, there was a feeling in the committee that they didn't want to "decimate Altadena."

Library's free Friday Fun Flick: "How to Tame Your Dragon"

 
This Friday's Fun Flick at the Altadena Library is How to Train your Dragon, rated PG.  Vikings vs. dragons, with free admission and popcorn, starts at 3:30 in the community room at the library, 600 E. Mariposa.

'tis the season for lights up!

Gary Altadena captures these sights of the first day of work transforming Santa Rosa into Christmas Tree Lane.

Morning jolt: Noiron leaves, Quaye makes claim

• Inland News Today reports that Judy Noiron, supervisor of the Angeles National Forest during the Station Fire (and lighting rod for criticism of her handling of the fire), will be laterally moving to become supervisor of the San Bernardino National Forest.  Noiron was supervisor of the Angeles for ten years.
• Beverly Quaye of Altadena has filed a $2 million claim against the city of Santa Cruz in the death of her son.  21-year-old Benjamin Quaye, a student at UC Santa Cruz, fell and struck his head while intoxicated near the train tracks.  Quay claims that the police department should have followed him on foot to insure his safety after he was ejected from a local bar. J.M. Brown at the Santa Cruz Sentinel has the details.
• The never-annoying Steve Bass reports that the helicopter and sheriff scramble at Midwick Saturday afternoon ended up amounting to nothing -- the stranger found skulking in a backyard was a substitute pool guy, unknown to the owner.  But credit the deputies for a quick response in this case.

 

Critterdena: Eastside bobcat and fox

Two critter sightings on Friday of interest:

One from reader Brett Hunter who said:

[Friday] a friend and I spotted a bobcat on Mendocino Lane between Allen and Midlothian.  We actually watched it jump a wall to get into my neighbor's yard.  By the way...It was spotted at 11 AM.  Walkers and animal owners beware.

And another sighting on Friday, from the newsgroups, of a red fox on Craig just south of Midwick. 

 

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View Critter Map 2010 in a larger map

Don Benito carnival looking for sponsors

Don Benito School is having its annual Autumn Carnival on Sun., Oct. 24 from 12-5 PM, and they are in need of sponsors for carnival booths.  A business or family can sponsor a booth and receive appropriate credit.  Individuals or businesses can also make a monetary contribution toward the event itself or a booth.  They're also looking for donations of needed supplies or goods.  For more information or to make a donation, contact Monique Davalos [PHONE NO. REMOVED BY REQUEST 5-2-11] moniquedavalos@gmail.com.

 

A week in Altadena ...

Friday:  Webster's Fine Stationers, Anton Anderson MC's a great workshop on digital networking.

Sunday: Mother Betsy Hooper-Rosebrook blesses Boo the dog  at the Blessing of the Animals service at St. Mark's Episcopal Church on Sunday.

Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday: RAIN (thanks to reader Steve Gerow for the photo).

 

Thursday: Children's librarian Cassandra Stearns reads Ezra Jack Keats' A Snowy Day at Read for the Record at the Altadena Main Library.

Morning jolt: children, dogs, and plants

A few things that have come through the virtual transom:

• Hathaway-Sycamores held a fundraiser evening Sept. 30, awarding its first two "Celebrating Children" awards to the Southern California Gas Co. and Pasadena residents Annette and Michael Madden. The Gas Co. has a 25 year tradition of cooking a pancake breakfast and purchasing presents for youngsters in residential treatment at its Altadena campus.  The Sempra Employee Giving Network and Sempra Energy Foundation have made numerous improvements to the campus, and helped fund a computer lab at its resource center in Highland Park.  The Maddens have been involved in Hathaway-Sycamores for many years, including board service and fundraisers.  The awards event raised over $60,000 for mental health and other support services that Hathaway-Sycamores provides for children and families in urgent need.
• The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is to vote Tuesday to approve the development of a dog park in Crescenta Valley, the first one of its kind in the county system.  The 1.5 acre dog park will be located in the northwest section of the Crescenta Valley Park and will feature separate areas and entrances for small and large dogs, as well as water faucets and "hose-off" areas (we have a dog, we can only imagine!)
• The Theodore Payne Foundation in Sun Valley will start its annual Fall Festival and Plant Sale today and going through Oct. 16.  Discounts to members only today and tomorrow, and discounts for everyone on  Oct. 15-16.  The Foundation is also offering classes on native plant maintenance, design, Chumash healing plants, and more.  Check it out at http://www.theodorepayne.org/

Bad check writing season is at hand

... and the Los Angeles County District Attorney is letting us know. Click on the graphic for a list of ways to counter the seasonal wave of bad checks.

Altadena Weekend

Thurs., Oct. 7

• It's Read for the Record Day as Ezra Jack Keats' children's classic, The Snowy Day, will be read all over the nation today.  Locally, reading locations and times will be at the Altadena Library, 600 E. Mariposa (11 AM & 4:30 PM); The Bob Lucas Branch Library, 2659 Lincoln Ave (4 PM);  and Perry's Joint Ice Cream & Sandwich Shop, 2051 Lincoln Ave. (10:30 & 4 PM).

Fri., Oct. 8

To come

Sat., Oct. 9

• Christmas Tree Lane lights up begins, 9 AM-noon on Santa Rosa.
• "Transform Your Writing" with Dorothy Randall Gray: Gray returns to the Altadena Library with an inspiring, participatory workshop to charge up your writing. 2-4 PM at the Altadena Library, 600 E. Mariposa.

Sun., Oct. 10

• Bluegrass jam at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, starts at 12:30 PM.
• Sukyo Mahikari Center for Spiritual Development sponsors an Eco-fest in their parking lot from 2-6 PM, 860 E. Mariposa Ave. The Eco-Fest will offer activities of interest for everyone, including children. Activities will include origami with recycled newspaper as well as planting organic seeds in biodegradable peat pots. The Eco-Fest will also include information booths, demonstrations, short talks and displays.

Crime Log

Mon., Sept. 27

Between 6 PM and 9:10 AM: a commercial burglary occured on the 700 block of W. Woodbury Rd. (Pasadena Unified School District).  Suspect(s) entered the location by prying the door.  Loss; white Apple MacBook and seven gray Dell laptops.

Tues. Sept. 28

Between 6:30 AM and 3:35 PM: a residential burglary occured in the 2800 block of Glenrose Ave.  Suspect(s) entered the location by removing the window screen.  Suspect(s) ransacked the location and exited via the rear door.  Loss: silver Sony digital recorder, black iPod, and various jewelry items.

Thurs., Sept. 30

Between 11:30 AM and 12:57 PM: a residential burglary occured in the 2600 block of Boulder Avenue.  Suspects entered the location via the open bedroom window.  Suspects described as two male African Americans: #1 tall thin build, wearing a blue top, blue shorts, and pink and light green gloves; #2 tall thin build, wearing white shorts.  Loss: silver 7 in. chain link bracelet, Tag Hauer stainless steel blue face watch, and a black with gray screen and black attached pen "in-Motion" PC tablet.

2:18 PM: a residential burglary occurred on the 2200 block of Winrock Avenue.  Suspects entered the location by shattering the glass door.   It was later determined that this burglary was committed by the same suspects who burglarized the residence on the 2600 block of Boulder Avenue.

Fri., Oct. 1

Betwen 9 AM and 4 PM: a residential burglary occured on the 1700 block of Hill Avenue.  Suspect(s) entered the location via the unlocked rear door and ransacked the home.  Loss: white gold diamong ring and $3,505 in US currency.

Sat., Oct. 2

1:05 AM: a theft from an unlocked vehicle occured in the 2600 block of Highview Ave.  Suspect described as male, African American, 6 ft., 180 lbs., wearing a light gray hooded sweatshirt and dark color sweatpants.  Loss: black Apple iPod.

The benefits of planned giving @ Senior Center Oct. 28

Join Kimberley Valentine, Planned Giving Director at the Huntington Library, as she discusses how planned gifts can save on your taxes and provide resources that create extraordinary opportunities for the future of the organization of your choice.

This program, co-sponsored by the Friends of the Library and the Senior Center, will be held on Thurs., Oct. 28, 1:30 PM at the Altadena Senior Center, at 560 E. Mariposa Street (just west of the main library).

"The Ian Whitcomb Show" premieres Sun. on XM

Alta-troubador Ian Whitcomb starts a new show on the satellite network XM on Sunday on Music Summit (XM Channel 24).  Says Premiere Radio Network:

Airing Sunday mornings from 9 - 10 a.m. ET on Music Summit (XM Channel 24), The Ian Whitcomb Show features an eclectic and exciting mix of American and British popular songs ranging from Tin Pan Alley Ragtime, through 1920s crooners and dance bands, to 1950's rock 'n' roll. This music-intensive program also features Whitcomb's fascinating stories behind the music, the circumstances surrounding their composition and their noteworthy instrumentations.

For what it's worth, Whitcomb joins Premiere Network's other hosts -- everyone from Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck to Randi Rhodes and our personal favorite, George Noory. 

MOMS club is having a Halloween open house

The MOMS Club of Altadena is having an open house Wed., October 13, from 10 AM-12 PM.

Prospective members can mingle with other moms, learn about the MOMS Club organization, and more.  We'll have a few opportunity drawings as well. (Featuring prizes from  Kidspace and Goldstar).

MOMS Club is an international non-profit organization that supports mothers who have chosen to leave their paid careers for a new career: staying at home to raise their children.  Our chapter currently has just over 50 members and offers many activities for moms and kids each month.  We serve moms who live in Altadena. 

Please contact Courtney Scrabeck, Membership Vice President at altadenamomsclub@gmail.com for the location of the event and further details.

Ibarionex Perello, candidly

Altadena photog Ibarionex Perello is featured in Micki Mills' PSN column this week, as his podcast, "The Candid Frame," celebrates its 100th episode.  Takeaway quote: "It's such a fun and joyous thing to do, to make pictures and to share them with people." We see that Ibarionex subscribes to the "overkill" school of photography we follow, i.e., lots and lots of exposures to pick out the best one (but we're sure his throwaways are better than our keepers!).  It's a great read about one of Altadena's most creative people.

Intuitive Movement Jam Masquerade Ball Oct. 30

Jean-Paul at Monday's nights Intuitive Movement Jam at Farnsworth Park is holding an intriguing Halloween event:

 

On the night before Halloween, you are all invited to Farnsworth Davies Theater for a special dance and movement event called, "Yourself in Another Life Masquerade Ball"

That evening, Oct 30th, you are invited to come dressed as yourself in another life, and throughout the night transform into, and then leave as yourself. DJ’d music waves with live music accentuation will accompany your journey. There will be an intermission of delectable desserts served midway through the evening. :-)

When: Saturday Oct 30th, 7pm - 11pm
Where: Farnsworth Davies Theater, 567 E Mount Curve Ave in Altadena, with its big stone fireplace, high beam ceilings, cast iron chandeliers, and balconies looking over Los Angeles.  
Cost: $20 includes entrance and desserts
RSVP to reserve your spot recommended, and advanced payment requested, but neither is required. Please email jp@IMJam.net to RSVP and for a PayPal invoice. Ages 18-108

Please join us and invite your friends! :-)

Jean-Paul

Furious parents attend PUSD consolidation meeting

PSN's Brian Charles covers Monday night's meeting at Eliot Middle School about potential school closures.  Loma Alta looms large on the chopping block, as does Burbank  and Jackson.  Added into the mix is the potential closure of high-ranking Norma Coombs Elementary, and Altadena Schools' efforts to create a breakaway district.  Needless to say, some parents -- including Altadena parents, who have already seen Noyes, Audobon, and Edison school buildings in Altadena close as public elementary schools -- are not happy.  A good overview of the issues and passions.

Outward Bound Adventures yard sale Oct. 16

Camille Dudley writes us:

Just wanted to remind you that the Fundraiser Yard Sale for Outward Bound Adventures is on the 16th of this month and we welcome any gently used items that you would like to donate to OBA for sale.  All proceeds from the sale are to benefit the many programs run by OBA.  So far we have a good collection of items both new and used but we always welcome more ... Thank you.

 

Camille 

P. S. For more information on OBA (Outward Bound Adventures) please visit www.obainc.org

Click on the graphic for more information.  The yard sale will be at 872 Alameda St., Altadena, from 9 AM-3 PM.

Morning Jolt: presidents and parks

• Larry J. Moore, DDS, MS, of Altadena assumed the presidency of the American Association of Oral and Mixillofacial Surgeons during the association's annual meeting in Chicago last week.  Moore has a private practice in Chino Hills and lectures in the residency program at King/Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. 
• Don't forget that the Forest Service and National Park Service are holding a meeting tonight,  Oct., 6, from 7-9 PM to get public input about a potential new national park for the Rim of the Valley Corredor.  The meeting will be at Farnsworth Park's Davies Building.  For more information, go here.

Sheriffs respond to response complaints

Carolyn Seitz, who is working with the Altadena Sheriff's Station, recently sent this out to the newsgroups regarding the auto vandalism wave Sept. 26:

Greetings to you all and thank you again for being willing to communicate with me so I could provide useful information to the Sheriff's Department about several incidents of tagging reported on your vehicles.

I apologize for the delay in responding.  Most of you are aware that the Altadena Sheriff's Station is currently undergoing renovation and as a result, calls to the Altadena Station are being answered at the Crescenta Valley Station.  As a result, it took longer than normal to be able to isolate the phone calls you made to the Sheriff's Department so the Captain and his leadership team could listen to them.

Captain McLean is extending his apologies for what may well have been a failure of some Sheriff's Department personnel to respond timely to your calls for service, in particular on the morning of September 26th.  The response for some of you may not have been what you expected and it wasn't what the Captain expects.

He has taken corrective action.  A memo was prepared and distributed describing the incident you reported and a reminder to the deputies that it is the expectation of the Captain and his Leadership Team that all Altadena residents should be treated by Station personnel in the same way they would want their families to be treated if a similar incident occurred in their own neighborhoods.  We all expect a courteous response and timely action to be taken.

In addition, they are formulating a mandatory training for all Altadena Station personnel and that training will take place shortly.

Open thread: mid-week kvetch

We love living in Altadena -- but we have some pet peeves, too.  What are yours?

Conservancy acquires Rubio parcel, seeks donations for more

The Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy shares this good news:

Dear AFC Friend,

You did it! With your help, and with a big boost from the office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, we bought the first of the remaining private parcels in historic Rubio Canyon today.

Thanks to you, we are now closer to completing the preservation of the entire canyon, located in the foothills above Altadena. As you know, we acquired 20 acres in the canyon in 2009, and the owner offered us the remaining 21 acres earlier this year, in two parcels - the ~3 acre parcel, which we bought today, was to have been turned into a five home development. With the land we acquired today – the land that was most vulnerable to development – we have only 18 acres to go.

To complete this purchase, we plan to rely primarily on grants, but we need to raise about $50,000 from you, our supporters, by the end of the year to push us over the top – allowing us to save the land for substantially less than the appraised value.

This is a goal we can reach, though it will take all of us to get there. I personally have doubled my contribution to AFC, and I hope you will consider increasing your contribution before the end of 2010.

Visit www.arroyosfoothills.org to make an online donation or send a check to: Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy / P.O. Box 3 / Altadena, CA 91003-0003.

Thanks for all your help. And congratulations on reaching this milestone!

Nancy Steele

President, Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy

UPDATE: Nancy Steele sent out the following addendum:

[W]e need to give proper thanks to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority which awarded the funds that allowed us to purchase this land, in a deal that involves MRCA and SMMC working together with us. The details are a bit complex, but the results are not - we purchased the land at a steep discount because the agencies were able to work quickly, cutting through paperwork in record time. It has been an amazing collaboration. I also need to call out our new [Executive Director], John Howell, who has worked tirelessly to get this done and meet the deadline. Working together, we can do it!

More on "eco-sexual" performance art at Farnsworth Oct. 23

Sometimes, we get a press release through the virtual transom that we just have to present without comment.  We received this from Alan Zorthian, who said it was originally planned as an event for the family ranch, but it got too big.  We also frankly had a hard time finding a publicity photo we could use for this event (Ms. Sprinkle has an arm tattoo that we will not put up).   Here we go:

PRESS RELEASE, October 2, 2010

http://www.loveartlab.org/

ECOSEXUALS GATHER TOGETHER FOR A PURPLE WEDDING TO THE MOON & AN ECOSEX SYMPOSIUM HONEYMOON

LOS ANGELES, CA.-- Hundreds of “ecosexual” artists, academics, famous sex workers, and environmental activists are heading to Los Angeles for a Purple Wedding to the Moon, the brainchild of artist-brides, Annie Sprinkle and Elizabeth Stephens. This will be their sixth large-scale, ecology inspired wedding. “The environment has always been our creative partner, as in ‘ashes to ashes, dust to dust,’ says Elizabeth Stephens, an art professor at the University of California in Santa Cruz, whose personal roots lie in West Virginia where mountaintop removal mining runs rampant. “In a twist on the traditional marriage vows, each of our eco-themed weddings is an invitation for people to ‘promise to love, honor, and cherish the Earth, Sky, Sea and Moon until death brings us closer together forever’.” Annie Sprinkle, Ph.D., a porn star turned eco-sexologist emphasizes the fecundity of the earth; she links fertility and imagination. “We aim to make the environmental movement a little more sexy, fun and diverse through art.”

Purple Wedding to the Moon will be held at Farnsworth Park’s outdoor amphitheater in Altadina [sic], Los Angeles, on October 23rd, the night of the full moon.

http://www.loveartlab.org.

It's all about the pumpkins at Camp Mariposa this weekend

The Girl Scouts will be holding their annual Pumpkin Patch (need to find another name for that!) fundraiser this weekend, Sat. Oct. 9 and Sun., Oct. 10, from 9 AM-4 PM at Camp Mariposa, 651 E. Mariposa (across from the Altadena Library).

The general public is welcome (rain or shine) to participate in games, crafts, and activities for the entire family.

Don't forget to wear your best costume for the costume contest, and bring canned food to donate to the Door of Hope.

 

 

 

 

Facebook, Linked-in, Twitter, food, wine, & Webster's

We couldn't do this better ourselves, so why try?  Petrea @ Pasadena Daily Photo has a report on the wonderful social networking gathering at (Altadenablog sponsor) Webster's Fine Stationers on Friday night.  Lots of great people, great information, great food by Amy's Patio Cafe and El Patron and wine-tasting with the Oddball Grape bunch. (We personally followed up with a visit to the opening at McGinty's Gallery at the End of the World).  Fridays in Altadena don't get much better. 

Loma Alta Elementary on the block in school consolidation

Loma Alta Elementary School is a "more likely" candidate for closure, Jackson is safer, and relocating Norma Coombs Alternative School to Jackson or Burbank Elementary are all possibilities in a school consolidation plan, according to a PUSD committee member.


Altadena Town Councilman Ken Roberts, vice-chair of PUSD's School Consolidation Study Committee, sent out a report following Saturday's public meeting at McKinley School.

According to Roberts, Loma Alta "was identified by the Committee as a more likely candidate for consolidation."  If Loma Alta was closed, it could also serve an alternative use such as an early childhood education center, which could include outside groups.

If Loma Alta were closed, it would join three other Altadena schools that PUSD has closed in recent years: Noyes, Edison, and Audobon.  Each of the school buildings have since housed charter schools: Noyes houses Aveson, Audobon houses Odyssey, and Edison has housed two charter schools that have failed and is presently a resource center.

According to Roberts, Roosevelt is less likely to be consolidated, and the committee was narrowly split between recommending Field or Jackson to be spared.

There was also a suggestion that all dual language immersion programs would be located at San Rafael.

While the committee's work is being fast-tracked -- they must make a recommendation to the superintendent, who is scheduled to bring it up at a November school board meeting -- they are still squeezing in time for public comments.  Tonight, Oct. 4, there will be a community meeting with the committee members starting at 6:30 PM at Eliot Middle School. There will be another meeting for public comment at 6 PM Friday at Wilson Middle School.

Library board and users talk about plans, renovations, costs

by Laura Berthold Monteros
for Altadenablog/Altadena Online

Lynn Walker was highly motivated to attend Saturday's meeting to talk about renovations to the main Altadena Library.  She had to go around to a side door to enter the community room in her motorized wheelchair, and she spoke using a combination of speech and a type pad.

“I’ve lived in Altadena 32 years,” she said.  “I’ve raised three children.  I’m in the profession of a special ed teacher.”  The children she taught were moderately to severely disabled. 

Now, she said, she sees it from the other side -- her disability, ALS, is recent.  She expressed how frustrating and time-consuming it is to have to ask for doors to be unlocked. She said, “I love our library.  I want access for everyone—even wheelchairs.”

Photo: Lynn Walker is flanked by Altadena Library Association trustee David Datz and board president Dale LaCasella.

The library patron exemplifies how the Altadena Library District board of trustees is between a rock and a hard place.

The rock is the 1967 mid-century modern library building designed by Boyd Georgi and the desire to maintain its integrity and beauty.

The hard place is the necessity of meeting ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements, which will take space and could force the library to cut its collection by one-third and cut space for children unless square footage is added.

Morning jolt: hikers and Scandals and schools, oh my!

• Four teenagers in Eaton Canyon apparently got too drunk to get themselves out of the park Saturday night, says PSN.  It required the Altadena Search & Rescue Team to take them out. 
• Now David Rothman at The Solomon Scandals blog looks at LA Weekly looking at us looking at AOL. (This "WalMart" thing we started seems to have legs).  Rothman calls us "a mix of seri­ous civic report­ing, crime news and chatty neigh­bor­hood items."  That's about right (arts coverage, too!)
• Don't forget that TONIGHT the PUSD's School Consolidation Study Committee will be meeting and taking public comment at Eliot Middle School, 2184 N. Lake, 6:30-8:30 PM.  The committee is tasked with recommending three schools for closure.