- Greece is the word: Visit Greece without driving too far at the 54th Annual Pasadena Greek Fest, Fri., Sept. 14-Sun., Sept. 16, at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. Fest hours are from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, and noon to 10 PM on Saturday and Sunday. The event, one of the oldest and largest of its kind in Los Angeles, costs $5 and children under 12 years free. Parking is $4 per car at the main entrance of Holly and Huntington Drive at Santa Anita Park. Highlights of the weekend festivities will include live Greek entertainment from the Olympians and other live performers. Planned are many exciting exhibits, including cooking demonstrations, live wine chat with wine makers from Greece, lectures about Greek history and culture, as well as the very popular Olympic Taverna Sports Bar & Cigar Lounge, authentic homemade Greek cuisine and pastries, Greek folk dancing by several award winning youth groups and an expanded Kid’s Fun Zone with rock climbing, carnival games, rides and prizes. For ticket information or to obtain additional information regarding the event, call 626-600-1OPA/626-600-10PA/626-600-1672 or visit the official website of the festival at www.pasadenagreekfest.org. Proceeds from the event benefit cultural, educational, and community outreach programs run by Saint Anthony Greek Orthodox Church in Pasadena. Event sponsors include Methodist Hospital, Mountain View Tires, AAA Auto Club, Santa Anita Park, Pasadena Star News, and NRS Media Group.
- Tomatomania: There's a few spaces left in Altadena Heritage's celebration of the tomato on Sun., Sept. 9 with Kazi Pitelka, 1-3 PM at the Altadena Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Dr. $5 for Altadena Heritage members, $10 for all others -- reserve and pay at altadenaheritage.com.
- You've got trail: PSN's Janette Williams writes on a court ruling that frees up the east trail around the La Vina development. Altadena trails advocate Marietta Kruells petitioned the court to insure that the trail would be restricted to hikers and equestrians, and not mountain bikes. Another chapter in the long and convuluted story of the La Vina development vs. trail users.
- Being poo-pular: James Figeroa of PSN has story, pictures, and video of a new project on Tim Dundon's property: a gate to keep his animals coralled and keep Dundon in the county's good graces. Dundon, aka Zeke the Shiek, Altadena's king of compost, was code-bombed earlier this summer because, well, he's Tim Dundon. Over the weekend, many of his friends gathered together to help make a one-of-a-kind gate for Dundon's Mountain View jungle, which hopefully will keep the neighbors and the county happy.
- Readers wanted! PUSD’s prekindergarten and kindergarten classrooms are looking for volunteers to read aloud to students. Children who are exposed to reading during their early years are more likely to read at or above grade level and being read to stimulates language and cognitive skills and increases vocabulary. A training for interested volunteers is scheduled Friday, September 7, 2012 from 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m in the Elbie J. Hickabottam Board Room, 351 S. Hudson Ave., Pasadena. Call (626) 396-3600 x88340. Refreshments will be provided by New Hope Christian Fellowship.
- Estate sale for the estate of longtime Altadena resident Virginia Lance will be Sat., Sept. 8, at 2919 N. Lake Ave., from 8 AM to 2 PM.
