altadenablog

Curb-painting scam may be going on, but it's not what you think ...

by Timothy Rutt

Many if not most Altadena houses received a notice in the past week that a company was coming by to paint curb numbers and would return later to solicit a donation.  This isn't terribly unusual around these parts.

But one of our readers told us that someone appears to be riding its coattails to scam homeowners.

Our reader told us that, a few hours after his curb number was painted, a teenage Latino boy ("I don't think he was 18 years old") came to the door Monday at dusk asking for donations and extra money to add a sports team logo or other emblem next to the number.  Our reader says that "he did have in hand all the stuff that a normal company would," such a pictures of decals and the like.

Our reader wrote out a $20 check to the young man at the door, who said make it to "CAS." 

Then, he says, he called the county-certified company today and they said they had not started collecting any donations yet.  They said that  the young man at the door was actually stealing the donations.

(A check made out to "CAS" can easily be turned into "CASH").

The sheriff's department has been notified, our reader said, who described the boy's vehicle as a teal green "Geo Metro thingie."

Don't forget: the Altadena Sheriff's Station number is 798-1131.

 

Two Altadena gardens are in this weekend's Payne Native Plant Garden tour

The Ninth Annual Theodore Payne Native Plant Garden Tour is a two-day self-guided journey through 37 Los Angeles-area home gardens that celebrate the beauty of California native plants, smart landscape practices and the natural heritage of our region. More than 1,000 are expected to attend.

 

Tickets are $25 person. Tickets can be purchased by visiting  http://bit.ly/TheodorePayneGardenTour or calling (818) 768-1802.  The tour runs from 10 AM -5 PM.

 

Attendees from last year’s tour gave it high marks: 66% of all attendees said they were more favorable to natives as a result of the tour, 70% said they were very likely to attend this year’s tour and 88% said they would recommend the tour.

 

Approximately one third of this year’s gardens are new to the tour. The tour includes home gardens in cities and communities throughout the Los Angeles Basin, including Acton, Altadena, Arcadia, Atwater Village, Brentwood,Burbank, Culver City, Eagle Rock, Glendale,.Highland Park, La Cañada Flintridge, Lakewood, Long Beach, Los Feliz, Mar Vista, Monrovia, Oxford Square, Pasadena, Redondo Beach, Santa Monica, Shadow Hills, Sherman Oaks, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, Torrance, Venice and  Westchester.

 

Major sponsors include the G2 Gallery in Venice, Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District and the Metropolitan Water District. 

Pictured: two of the Altadena gardens that will be part of the tour:  Top,  the DelFosse-Gounley garden, and bottom, the Hessing-Bonfigli garden.

Death and taxes ....

... or at least PUSD vacation and taxes!  Entries will be light today!

Polynesian Dance at Sue B. deadline extended to April 9

The Sue B. Dance Studio at 2525 N. Lake Ave. is offering eight weeks of Polynesian Cultural Dance classes on Wednesday afternoons starting April 11.  Registration has been extended to April 9.

Instructor: Lynnanne Hanson-Miller will hold sessions for ages 6-9 and 10-13.  Fee is $75 per student, with a $20 sibling discount.

For more info. & to pre-register by April 9, please send an email to : dancecommunity@earthlink.net 

 

Found (but not approachable!) dog on east Alameda

Camille sends this picture:

This adorable little dog has been hanging around the housing complex at the 800 block of east Alameda St. in Altadena since April 1st.  It's shy and stand offish.  The neighbors have been feeding it but the dog is not approachable yet.  The dog will not come into a house.  The neighbors are afraid that it may go out on Lake Ave or worst yet get eaten by the coyotes.  Does anyone know whose dog this is?  It's wearing a collar but there are no tags or identification.

 

Lost dog [UPDATE: not lost, just out ...]

Keep your eyes peeled for this lost dog:

We lost our dog today 4/2 in the area of Alameda and Lake, We last saw him running northbound on Lake from Alameda. Dog is an 8 month old Australian shepherd white furry coat with black and brown spots on back and around eyes. He is very friendly and playful. If found please contact Jennifer or Michelle at 818-744-2333 or 310-890-8960

UPDATE: He came home during the night, so all is well.

Juvenile arrested in Monday evening burglary

by Timothy Rutt

A 14-year-old is in custody following a burglary call Monday afternoon.

Lt. Angela Shepherd of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office said that a call came in at 5:33 PM about a burglary on Sacramento St.  The suspected burglar got away, and deputies set up a containment area around the neighborhood.  The juvenile was captured thereafter.

Deputies were still in the neighborhood investigating as of 7:30 PM tonight.

 

Here's the online forum the county isn't running -- what are YOUR ideas for Altadena's future?

by Timothy Rutt

This coming Wednesday at 7 PM at the Loma Alta Park gym, Altadenans will gather in the first of three "visioning sessions" as the county prepares to revise the Community Standards District.

The CSD will affect future development of businesses and residences in Altadena -- what's allowed, what isn't, what direction do we want to go.

Do we want a peaceful bedroom community?  Do we want a thriving commercial center?  Do we want two centers -- east side and west side?  Do we want a "destination" restaurant or not?  What are we going to do about parking, and signage? And is our "anonymous phone caller"  version of code enforcement worth keeping -- and if not, what will replace it? 

We know not everybody can make it to Wednesday's meeting.  And, unfortunately, the consultants running the meetings haven't made provision for an online forum or survey to float ideas.  But that doesn't mean we can't have one anyway-- so we'll have it right now!

If you can't make the meeting,  here's your chance to tell everyone what you think.  And if you CAN make it, here's a chance to run a trial balloon of your ideas and see what kind of support it gets.  This forum is all yours.  What do you want to see in Altadena's future?

UPDATE:  Mina Brown from RBF Consulting, which is the county's consultant in this visioning process, tells us they're reading this (see comments) -- so this is the place to make your voice heard!

Luke and Colleen Welsh named outstanding Catholic community leaders

Altadenans Luke and Colleen Welsh were named "Outstanding Community Leaders"  by Catholic Charities, San Gabriel Valley Region.

The Welshes  attend St. Philip the Apostle Church in Pasadena.  Their children attended St. Philip the Apostle School, St. Francis High School, Loyola High School, and one is currently a senior at Flintridge Sacred heart Academy.  Luke Welsh is president of Washington Iron Works, based in Gardena.

The Welshes have been leaders in the local Catholic community for a long time:  they have co-chaired the Fall Festival at St. Philip the Apostle Church, served as president of the PTO (Colleen) and president of the St. Philip the Apostle School Board (Luke).  They were involved in the St. Philip the Apostle "Building On Our Faith" capital campaign leadership committee which built Holy Angel Hall and renovated the existing school. 

At St. Francis High School (Luke is an alum from the class of 1982), they were parents of Keenan Welsh, now a 3rd Class Cadet at the Air Force Academy. Colleen chaired Mini POSH, homecoming, spring brunch, alumni weekend and served as president of the Mother's Guild. 

At Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, their daughter, Nora, is a graduating senior. Colleen was active in the Parents Guild and has chaired the FSHA GALA twice, this year being the school's 80th anniversary. 

Their friend and "Catholic Charities regional board member Michael Seymour says: "Colleen and Luke believe they receive way more than they give.  They are truly humbled by those they are privileged to work with and pray God grants them the grace, wisdom and courage to continue helping others. "

ADDED 4/3: The annual Catholic Charities "Volunteer Recognition Dinner" will be held at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello on May 7.  For information on how to purchase tickets or place an ad to honor the Welshes, contact Mary Romero, Catholic Charities Regional Director at (323) 266-3130 or via email at MRomero@ccharities.org.

 

 

Altadena achievers: Martin, Dirks, Perry

• Altadena pro golfer Mo Martin was seven over par at the Kraft Nabisco Championship this weekend at Rancho Mirage, tied for 70th place and winning $4,195 at the LPGA's first major championship of the year.
• Melissa Dirks was one of 1,371 students who were named to Biola University's Fall 2011 Dean's List for academic excellence.  Biola students are placed on the Dean's List to honor those with a grade point average of 3.6 or higher while enrolled in twelve of more credit units and whose cumulative grade point average is at least a 3.2. This past fall, 33 percent of Biola students achieved this academic goal.
• Michael Perry, a sophomore at UCLA, currently has the highest GPA of any student-athlete at UCLA.  A music major in violin performance, Perry is also a long jumper with a record of 23 ft., 6 ins., and practices violin four hours a day.  See the video:  http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/michael-perry-jumps-to-it-231175.aspx

 

Strange encounter on Mendocino Sunday

Reader Michelle reports this odd encounter Sunday:

Well they're at it again!  We live in the 500 Block of E. Mendocino.  This morning, around 11ish,  a woman dressed in jeans and rain boots, frantically rang our doorbell and pounded on the door yelling, "delivery, delivery!"  She then moved from the front door down the walkway to the garage and repeated the above yelling and pounding.  My mom  was home, but did not respond.  Our cats scattered as this woman, either white or Latino w/ dyed blond hair then came back to front door and started all over again!.

We have an extremely long driveway, and even though my mom did not see the woman walk down the driveway, she got in her car and drove around trying to see where the woman went, if there was a waiting vehicle or what.

My mom then came home and called the Sheriff Dept. Their advice is to call them WHEN this was happening, not after.  I told my mom the same thing, and that she should not have left the home, in case they bonked her on the head and then had keys AND access to the house.

It's a strange world out there -- keep yourself safe!

"The Vanishing of the Bees" at Eaton Canyon Wednesday

 

from the Sierra Club

The April 4 meeting of the Pasadena Group of the Sierra Club will feature "Vanishing of the Bees", a film about the mysterious disappearance of honeybees around the world. The agricultural, ecological, and economic implications are examined in this expertly researched and skillfully crafted documentary narrated by Ellen Page.

 

Co-director/producer/investigative journalist Maryam Henein will join us after the film to provide the latest scientific information on the phenomenon known as Colony Collapse Disorder, which scientists warn could disrupt pollination of crops that provide food for millions of people throughout the world.

 

The meeting, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 7:30 pm Wednesday at Eaton Canyon Nature Center, 1750 N. Altadena Drive. A social hour beginning at 7 p.m. precedes the program. For further information, phone (626) 791-7660 or visit the Group's website at www.angeles.sierrraclub.org/pasadena.

 

Pasadena PD looking for two missing teens

The Pasadena Police Department is seeking information on two missing juveniles, both last seen Saturday, March 31, 2012 in the city of Pasadena.

Missing; Alexa Cana, female Hispanic, 12 years old, 5'3" tall, 110 lbs, wearing a blue shirt, purple jacket, black tennis shoes. Also missing; Joshua Vasquez, male Hispanic, 12 years old, 5'3", 100 lbs, wearing a gray sweater, black jeans, white tennis shoes.

Please contact the Pasadena Police or a local law enforcement if you have information regarding the missing juveniles.

It's one of those weeks ...

We're trying to catch up on taxes AND it's PUSD spring break this week, so it's gonna be hard!  Entries will be light!

 

April sponsor shout-out!

A first of the month shout-out to members of our sponsor team:  fine LOCAL businesses that support us and that we support:

Altadena Ale & Wine House

Altadena Solar

Arroyo Pacific Academy

Baietti-Seyffert/Podley Properties

Curves Altadena

Dhari Thein Real Estate

Friends of the Altadena Library

Greg Stanton/Teles Properties

Judy Rubin Architectural & Previews Specialist

Rancho Bar

Scissors Paper Rock Salon

Webster's Community Pharmacy

Webster's Fine Stationers

Thank you to our sponsors for continuing to support Altadena's ONLY locally-produced news website and Altadena's Business of the Year.

Remember that we only run ads from local businesses and organizations (Altadena/Pasadena/La Canada and environs).  We'd love to have YOU join our sponsor team, some of the most distinguished businesses in Altadena.  Write to us at altadenablog@gmail.com or call 626-791-5327.

 

Found poodle mix Sunday night

No matter what happens in town, there are always dogs to be put back home.  Reader Joiline says:

Found at 200 block of East Mariposa at 8 PM  Sunday evening April 1, a small female black and white poodle-mix with pink collar with a particular type of food item displayed on it, no tag.  Contact joimama@gmail.com or richard@rgnlaw.com with the correct food item on collar to claim your sad friend.

Altadena standoff ends with suspect found dead

by Timothy Rutt 

Shaun Rangel, 40, who sheriffs say barricaded himself in his house Sunday after shooting his mother, was found dead about 8:15 tonight. 

Lt. Duane D. Allen of the Altadena Sheriff's Station said that the SWAT team had entered the home on the 3200 block of North Lincoln Avenue and found Rangel's body.  

Allen said that there was no official indication how he died, and homicide detectives have been called in, but it is likely that Rangel killed himself.

Allen said that Rangel started the standoff after shooting his mother in an incident that was called in at 3:29 this afternoon.  

Rangel's mother's injuries were not life-threatening, Allen said.

Allen said that law enforcement officials never communicated with Rangel after he barricaded himself inside the house, so it was uncertain exactly when he died.

UPDATE:  An official release from the Sheriff's Department says that Rangel died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

 

 

Social media looks at Altadena barricade

Since everybody's Facebooking and Tweeting, we thought we'd bring a curated look at what Altadenans are talking about with the barricaded suspect on Lincoln Avenue tonight, after the jump.

BREAKING: Barricaded suspect on North Lincoln [UPDATED]

Sheriff vehicles line up Lincoln Avenue, north from about Deverian.

by Timothy Rutt

From the LA County Sheriff's Department, sent at 5 PM:

A Special Weapons and Tactics Team from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Special Enforcement Bureau, is responding to the 3200 block of North Lincoln Avenue, Altadena, regarding a barricaded suspect. 

The suspect shot and injured a female adult at the location and then barricaded himself in the residence armed with a long rifle. The suspect is believed to have several other weapons inside residence. 

The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Her condition is unknown at this time. 

There is no further information available at this time. 

More on this as it develops.

UPDATE 6:30: Just returned from the site -- LIncoln Avenue is blocked from about north of Deverian.  Loma Alta Park has been cleared and is sealed off.  A sheriff's deputy we talked to said he was dispatched from the East LA station, so they're bringing in reinforcements from all over.

Terri Perry, who identified herself as a resident of the neighborhood, said the situation had been going on since at least 2:30 this afternoon, when she was trying to get back home and was turned away by what deputies described to her as a shooting.

We also received a tweet from Mike Parker of the Sheriff's Department that SWAT was deployed about 3:29 this afternoon.

We have pictures after the jump

UPDATE 7 PM: Altadena sheriff's spokesman says things are status quo -- suspect is still holding on in the building.

UPDATE 9 PM: Suspect was found dead in the home by SWAT team about 8:15 PM tonight.  Details here.

Altadena Junction: vision and re-vision

Our weekly column at the Pasadena Sun is up (now on Page 5 in print), about what's upcoming this week: visioning process, Arroyo Pacific hearing, Barbara Bigby, Bennie Maupin, bicycles, and Easter eggs.

 

Altadena Guild of Huntington Hospital tours Midlothian neighborhood May 6

On Sunday, May 6, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., the Altadena Guild of Huntington Memorial Hospital will host its 61st Annual Home Tour. The walking tour, located in thebeautiful heart of Midlothian Drive at the intersection of Midwick Drive, will feature four unique Altadena homes, two of which were built in 1930. The theme this year, “The Heart of Midlothian ~ Home Is Where the Heart Is,” is also in celebration of the 60th anniversary of theHuntington Medical Research Institute.

In 1878, Englishman William Allen purchased a 502 acre tract of land bordering Eaton Canyon and extending westward to Allen Avenue, east to what is now North Altadena Drive and south to New York Drive. The property, which the new owners called Sphinx Ranch, originally contained a 50 acre vineyard and a small commercial winery. Development of the area began in1920.

The residents of these lovely homes, which include a Monterey Colonial, a Monterey Spanish Revival by architect Wallace Neff, a Georgian Colonial Revival and a single story Contemporary, graciously agreed to open their homes for the Guild’s annual fundraiser. Spectacular flower arrangements by Guild members will be featured in each home. Complimentary dessert and beverage will be served at The Tea Garden in one of the gardens on tour. Vendors will display unique fine art, jewelry and pottery, along with homemade baked goods available for purchase at The Bakery. Refreshments and sandwiches will also be available at The Altadini Bar. Music will be provided by a number of local artists including members of the Pasadena Scots, Crown City Springs and the Scottish Fiddlers.

Founded in 1952, the Altadena Guild of HMH has partnered with the Huntington Memorial Hospital and the Huntington Medical Research Institute (HMRI) to provide philanthropic support for them. The guild donates to the hospital scholarship fund, the Appearance Center at the Huntington Memorial Hospital Cancer Center, as well as to their main beneficiary whichis HMRI. Today HMRI has nine research programs that are directed to the development of new advances in the diagnosis and treatment of breast, colon, and prostate cancer, stroke, heart disease, epilepsy, profound deafness, liver diseases, migraine headache, sleep apnea and brain diseases including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. The scientists and physicians have applied new knowledge and technology to make tomorrow’s medicine better than the best we have today.

Cost of tickets for the Home Tour is $25 in advance and $35 on the day of the tour. The tickets can be purchased at local businesses in Altadena including Altadena Hardware on Mariposa a tLake Ave., Webster’s Pharmacy at 2450 North Lake Ave. or at the Huntington Hospital Gift Shop at 100 W. California Blvd. in Pasadena. For more information and to buy tickets online visit the Altadena Guild of HMH website at www.altadenaguild.org or call (626) 304-4678.

St. Elizabeth Parish Fiesta is coming April 27-29

The annual St. Elizabeth Parish Fiesta will be held April 27, 28, and 29 at St. Elizabeth Parish Church on 1879 North Lake Avenue in Altadena. This is a public event and everyone is invited!

The Fiesta features carnival mechanical rides for all ages, a beer garden, a wide variety of international food, games, live entertainment, prizes, an opportunity drawing, a special equestrian show, a bake sale, and garage sale. The Fiesta is a family event with fun events for all ages!

The Fiesta hours this year are:

Friday April 27, 6-10 PM

Saturday April 28, 12 Noon - 10 PM

Sunday April 29, 11 AM-  8 PM 

For more information contact the St. Elizabeth Parish at 626-797-1167 or email info@saintelizabethchurch.org. Also see the attached flyer which may be used if desired on your Web site.

 

Juni Fisher at Altadena Stables April 15

The Western Music Association's Entertainer of the Year Juni Fisher will highlight at an afternoon outdoor matinee concert next Sunday, April 15, at Altadena Stables.  3064 Ridgeview Dr.  

Big Hat Promotions presents Fisher onstage in the equine arena "to take you on a musical trail ride throught the West."

"Juni Fisher's luminous intensity ignites her writing and her performances", says one journalist. "At the heart of her unique and complex artistry is her ability to bring alive what become unforgettable characters and images, stunning stories that often carry a deep and compassionate reflection of the human spirit."  

Light refreshments served at noon, performance begins promptly at 1 PM. $20.00 per person cash donation requested. Reservations a must. Email us at big.hat@sbcglobal.net to RSVP and reserve a seat. Or visit bighatonline.com for more information.

 

Creative Arts Group garden tour April 22

Creative Arts Group in Sierra Madre (where several Altadena artists practice their craft) will hold its annual Art of the Garden event on Sunday, April 22, from 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Cost: $25 in advance, or $30 on the day of the tour.

Visit four beautiful gardens. Get ideas for your own garden. Between garden visits, stop by the Creative Arts Group facility and enjoy refreshments and browse the art gallery. Bring family and friends for a festive day of Art of the Garden!

The Montoya Garden exhibits a fusion of Mediterranean and Southern California influences and unfolds into a series of terraces and courts designed as a backdrop for outdoor living. The entry courtyard to the Iaffaidano Garden features a 17^th century-inspired French Provincial Town Center Fountain. Browse garden rooms set amid Italian cypress, olive trees, and beds of lavender and salvia. At the Courtney Garden guests will discover outdoor living spaces on several levels, raised vegetable beds, orchard, and pigeonneir. The Nash Garden features Mediterranean-climate perennials, shrubs, herbs, native grapes, and two tapestry panels of Mediterranean flowers, herbs, and succulents that replace former lawns.

To purchase tickets, call Creative Arts Group at 626.355.8350 or stop by CAG, 108 N. Baldwin Avenue, Sierra Madre, CA 91024