altadenablog

More details on Wednesday night's stolen car report

by Timothy Rutt

A Pasadena man was arrested after a deputies ran a license plate check and discovered he was in a stolen vehicle.

Alexander Carlos, 22, of  Pasadena, was arrested Wednesday night on charges of receiving stolen property and driving a vehicle without the owner's consent, according ot Lt. Michael White of the Altadena Sheriff's Station.  Carlos was taken to the jail at the Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station.

According to White,  deputies stopped the gray 1997 Honda Civic at the 700 block of East Pine St. after receiving a report on a stolen vehicle at about 10:30 PM Wednesday night..  Two companions in the car with Carlos were released and not charged, White said.

 

Caltech ranked "best in the world"

by Tiffany Kelly
Pasadena Sun

For the second year in a row, Caltech has been ranked the best university in the world by the British magazine Times Higher Education. 

Harvard dominated the top spot on the magazine's World University Rankings from 2004 to 2010. But Caltech raised to the top in 2011 and held onto its title again this year.

The magazine ranks universities based on a number of factors, including research, teaching, citations and international outlook. The Pasadena institute also received high marks in subjects such as engineering, technology and physical sciences. 

More at the Pasadena Sun.

Locals seek to sack Rose Bowl plans

By Joe Piasecki
Pasadena Sun

Traffic, noise, environmental damage and the displacement of Arroyo Seco runners and hikers topped a laundry list of concerns voiced during a Tuesday hearing about plans for the Rose Bowl to temporarily host professional football games.

The stadium could be ready to accommodate NFL games as early as next fall, but Rose Bowl officials have yet to discuss proposals with the league, team owners or developers planning Farmers Field in downtown Los Angeles, said Rose Bowl General Manager Darryl Dunn.

For professional football to come to the Rose Bowl, Pasadena City Council members must waive restrictions on the number of large events at the stadium after approving an environmental study of the proposal.

Monday is the deadline for the public to weigh in on a draft of the study. The city has so far received 20 emails, 10 letters and 62 verbal comments at public meetings, said city spokesman William Boyer.

More at the Pasadena Sun.

 

MPYD summer camp: the mission of making young men

Members of Mentoring Partnership for Youth Development held their annual summer camp in August. Photos by Phillip Holland.

by Phillip Holland
MPYD 

 

As the summer came to a close and the school year began, the young men of Mentoring and Partnership for Youth Development (MPYD) reminisced on the activities at the 8th Annual MPYD Cardinal Paint Summer Camp on Aug. 13-17, 2012. The camp took place at the Oakbridge Camp facility in beautiful Ramona, California, on the foothills of the Laguna Mountains about 29 miles from San Diego.       

 

Trying out the zipline at MPYD summer camp.

MPYD took 40 young men ranging from the ages of 13-18 on a camping trip they won’t soon forget. The four day, three night trip was full of activities such as: an Olympic basketball tournament, high-rise rope course, Olympic style swimming tournament, football, team building, “Building Real Men” workshops,  and bonding time with mentors.    

 

This year’s campers were greeted with a welcomed treat: MPYD was sent off in prayer by Rev. Tyrone Skinner from Metropolitan Baptist Church before they boarded an air conditioned charter bus. This was all thanks to the generous support in part with funds received from: Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, Pasadena Tournament of Roses ® Foundation, Cardinal Paint, Vons Foundation, Sharp Seating Company, Carolyn Ingram-Seitz, Peter LeSourd and Bernardean Broadous.        

The MPYD Summer Camp came to a close with The Talking Stick Discussion, a time that allows the campers and staff to share a few words about their challenges and decisions they made at the summer camp. “Don’t take your parents for granted, because one day they won’t be here” is a quote from one of the heartfelt stories shared at camp from a student who just lost his mother.

 

MPYD members try out the ropes course.

The phrase that summed up camp is “I can’t wait to come back next year!”  These memorable four days will forever be etched into these young men’s minds. It was a positive time reminding them that there are people who care and with the support of MPYD they will become Real Men.

 

MPYD would like to thank all of our volunteer mentors, community partners and board members who give their time and services to change the lives of our young men. So far we have 54 community men willing to mentor students.  These volunteers consist of members from Metropolitan Baptist Church, Friendship Baptist Church, First A.M.E. Church, Morningside Baptist church, and Abundant Harvest Christian Center.

We are grateful for their support, but we are in need of more volunteers. Our goal is to have 75 mentors, so every MPYD student can have a personal mentor. It’s up to the MPYD and the community to make sure this happens. If you would like to become a mentor please contact Tecumseh Shackelford  shackelford@mpyd.org or (626)840-0925.

Deputies checking out stolen car, Lake/Pine

Deputies found "a stolen car with a bunch of people in it," according to the Altadena Sheriff's Station, around Lake and Pine, 10:30 PM tonight.  We're going to check it out ....

UPDATE 11 PM: And we've returned -- the tow truck is there, lots of units, and we'll see what they say in the morning.

Found dog, now at Baldwin Park animal shelter [Going home]

Altadenablog reporter Erika McCarden sends us:

I found a lost Husky on Grandeur and Mariposa [Wednesday]  around 6 PM. He's about three years old. very sweet, trained. He had tags, a rabies license and a collar, however the phone#/city were listed in Blythe, and was disconnected. I took him to Baldwin Park Animal Shelter. I really hope someone claims him. He's so sweet - tag says his name is Bo. His owner's name is also listed on the tag. I'm attaching a few pics  took in case the owner or anyone recognizes him, and will now know where to find him.

 UPDATE: Check the comments -- Bo is going home.

LitFest offers "WitFest" on Oct. 25 in Old Town Pasadena

Author and NPR commentator Sandra Tsing Loh will moderate the very first "WitFest" -- where LA-area authors vie for top scores in a war of words -- on Oct. 25 at the Castle Green in Old Town Pasadena.

The competition promises to be filled with snappy questions and clever repartee." according to the press release.  "Wine and passed hors d’oeuvres will be provided. The creation of the inaugural Pasadena Prizes in Poetry and Prose, awarded to local high school students to encourage literary arts, will be announced."

Panelists will be:mezzo-soprano Suzanna Guzman, host of KCET’s “Open Call”; David Kipen, KPCC literary critic and founder of the lending library Libros Schmibros; mystery writer Gary Phillips; KPCC host and LA Times columnist Patt Morrison; and Nat Read, public relations practitioner, author and stand-up comic. Special guest is Pulitzer Prize-winning food critic Jonathan Gold.

The event is a fundraiser for LitFest Pasadena, scheduled for May 11, 2013.  LitFest is a free day of literary panel discussions, readings, theater performances, exhibitors, live music, children's activities and more.  

Ticket prices are $75 each or two for $125; patron levels range from $250 to $5,000. Tickets may be purchased at www.litfestpasadena.org; checks should be made out to Pasadena Arts Council, with LitFest Pasadena in the memo field, and mailed to LitFest Pasadena, P.O. Box 93184, Pasadena CA 91109. Tickets are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

For more information visit www.litfestpasadena.org or e-mail info@litfestpasadena.org.

Ed Note: WitFest corrected its press release to say that Jonathan Gold is a special guest, not a panelist.  That has been corrected in the story.

Alta-poet Khadija Anderson releases "History of Butoh"

by Timothy Rutt

Altadena poet Khadija Anderson will have a book release event for her first book of poetry, "History of Butoh," on Saturday, Oct. 20, at Billy's Coffee Shop, 114 W. 5th St. in downtown Los Angeles, starting at 8 PM.

Besides Anderson's poetry, there will be Butoh performances by Yuki Hayashi & Todd Ivers; music by Flynn Joffray; and art by Melora Walters.

Pumpkin patch at Camp Mariposa this weekend

by Timothy Rutt

 

Camp Mariposa pumpkins in 2009.

The Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles (Altadena/Pasadena/Sierra Madre area) will hold their annual Pumpkin Patch this weekend at Camp Mariposa, 615 E. Mariposa Ave.

 

Running from 9 AM-4 PM on Sat., Oct. 6, and Sun., Oct. 7, the event includes games, crafts, and activities for the entire family.

 

Political parties line up debate parties

 

Bipartisan yard in Altadena, © Deb Halberstadt, Half City Productions

by Timothy Rutt

So now it starts in earnest with weekly debates, and the political parties are lining up their debating parties.

On the blue side, United Democratic Headquarters is holding a debate watch party during every presidential/VP debate.  Each one starts an hour before the event,  but you must reserve your spot here (tonight's is sold out).  Democratic headquarters is at 519 Lake Ave. in Pasadena.

On the red side, there's no reservations required to show up for the debate parties at Republican Headquarters, 2306 E. Colorado Blvd.  in Pasadena.. Festivities start at 5:30 PM each debate night, and include pizza, soft drinks, snacks, and no-host wine selection.

Lost dog in custody at Sheriff Station [Update: gone home!]

Altadena Sheriff Station crime analyst Virginia Cordova rescued this puppy this morning in the neighborhood of Fair Oaks and Woodbury Road.  It has a chip, registered to the Burbank Animal Shelter, and no indication yet as to who the owner is.  If you can help get this doggie home, call Cordova on her direct line at (626) 296-2110.

UPDATE 2 PM: The owner has been located, and the dog is home now.

 

PEN sponsors program on Props. 30 & 38 Oct. 11

from the Pasadena Education Network

Pasadena Education Network (PEN), Invest in PUSD Kids (IIPK), and the Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF) are co-sponsoring a free non-partisan* informational program to help voters who support public education better understand their options on the California ballot this November.

“The Education Voter: How voting for Propositions 30 or 38 (or both) can impact California’s Public Schools”, will take place on Thursday, October 11, 7:30-9 PM at All Saints Church (Sweetland Hall), 132 N. Euclid Ave. in Pasadena. The program is free and open to the public.

Presenters will include representatives from the League of Women Voters, which endorses Proposition 30, the PTA, which endorses Proposition 38, and Educate Our State, which advocates a “Yes” vote on both measures.

Featured presenter Kimberly Tso, a writer and economics educator, will give the audience a closer look at the two tax proposals, teaching some basic tax vocabulary and concepts while using Propositions 30 and 38 as examples to illustrate how progressive taxes can be used to support public education. Tso, who has a Masters of Public Policy from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, will facilitate a brief audience exercise in which participants can practice responding to common statements made about tax proposals for education, and get more comfortable explaining their own stance on the two propositions.

“My personal mission is to provide people from all walks of life with the tools they need to participate in economic policy decisions,” says Tso, whose “women, economics and values” blog reflects her experience as a founding board member and lead trainer of Just Economics - a collective of women activists, organizers, ethicists and economists that works to make economics accessible, engaging and empowering.

“The intent of this program is to help participants understand the competing arguments* and make their own informed decisions,” says PEN Board President Chris Brandow. “PEN’s bylaws prevent us taking a position on statewide ballot initiatives, but our mission is all about helping parents make well-informed choices.”

Participants will have an opportunity to discuss the exercise and ask questions of Tso and the other presenters.

“We cannot afford to have voters who care about education stay away from the polls because the choices are too confusing,” says Invest in PUSD Kids Board President Steve Cole. “Supporters of public education are concerned about what could happen to our schools if our votes are split and neither Prop. 30 or 38 pass in November. But it’s hard to sort out the campaign rhetoric and figure out what we as parents can do to prevent this happening.”

PEF President George Brumder agrees. “There is a huge amount at stake in this election.  We all want to make informed decisions on November 6th, and this program will help us do that.”

(* Ed. note:  we note that, while the gathering calls itself nonpartisan, there are no speakers scheduled to oppose the tax increases.)

Barn cleanout sale this weekend

Dale L. LaCasella will be having "The Great Barn Cleanout Sale!" this coming weekend:    

20+ years of collections,  BOOKS -BOOKS-BOOKS, vintage and one  of a kind items, kitchen and yard items.  and much, much more! 

OCT 5-6-7  8:00 AM TO 3:00 PM... SUNDAY IS BARGAIN DAY!

DON'T MISS THIS. COME EARLY -COME OFTEN!

 

357 E. ALTADENA DRIVE, ALTADENA

(H)626-398-6551 /(C)626-487-8342

New state law shuts down Tiny Tots program at Loma Alta Park

by Laura Monteros

For the past few years, Loma Alta Park director Penny Daniels has cobbled together a program that provides low-cost all-day preschool for children in the Altadena community, and according to parent Maya Estrada, the community has supported the effort.  The Tiny Tots have taken field trips to the Altadena Community Garden, a volunteer taught baby yoga, and community members have donated time and supplies, she said.

The Tiny Tots reflect the diversity of Altadena, something that Maggie Salgado, who has overseen the Tiny Tots program for the past four years, is enthusiastic about.  “There’s a great variety,” she said.  “Asian-American, Indian-American, African-American, Caucasian, Latino.  

“It’s wonderful to see the ethnicity of the kids. They get along, they play well together.  This year is the first year that we’ve had these different races of kids, my first year to have so many races.  Just to see these kids, how well the embrace other races—it’s wonderful.”

Eric and Isaac Peltzer. Photo by Laura Monteros.

New law will end program
The program is going to end on Oct. 12, and the culprit is a law enacted by the State Assembly, AB 1991.  

For the parents of 3 1/2 year-old Isaac Peltzer, the situation is disheartening, but it is not quite as crucial as it is for some.  Dad Eric Peltzer said that it will be very hard for single moms on a limited income.  

“We’re more fortunate than most people because we both work at home,” he told Altadenablog. “Proper childcare is very expensive.  Any kind of structure is helpful.  I don’t need all day, but if you’re working, you need something that’s all day.”

Estrada said her 4-year-old daughter Jordan has been coming since she was potty-trained.  “It has helped her socially, and she’s come out ahead of most preschoolers.  She can write her name.”

The reason for ending the program is the way it’s put together.  It’s really three separate programs, one funded by a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and the other two by parent fees, Salgado said.  

 

Missing deaf cat, Meadowbrook

Reader K.C. writes:

My sweet pure white cat with bright blue eyes and medium length hair, who is DEAF, wandered away ...  Somehow he must have gotten a taste for adventure and sneaked out.  He is very pretty and quite unusual looking.  I am concerned that someone might have thought he was a stray.  We have several cats and two dogs and love our animals.  Teddy was not wearing a tag because he is not supposed to be outside!  He lives on Meadowbrook between Sinaloa and Allen.  Timmy is his red-headed brother who IS tagged and who  everyone blocks away knows and loves.  My cell no is 626 398 3423.  

Morning jolt: mostly out of town today!

• ACONA next week: Don't forget:  the next meeting of the Altadena Coalition of Neighborhood Associations will be at 7 PM at a new location, the Altadena Senior Center, 540 E. Mariposa St. (next door to the library, the usual venue).  Capt. John S. Benedict of the Altadena Sheriff Station and Javier Angulo, of Walmart Neighborhood Market will be on hand to answer questions.
• Job Fair Wednesday: Foothill Workforce Investment Board will have a career expo tomorrow, Wed., Oct. 3, from 10 AM-1 PM at 1207 E. Green St., Pasadena.  The job fair is free and open to the public, and candidates of all ages, experience levels, and industries are encouraged to attend.  Please com prepared with resumes and dress professionally.  For more information, contact 626-796-JOBS.
• Craft Week: Local ceramic artist Heather Morrow is one of the participants in the 2012 Clay Festival and Gift Show at LA County Arboretum on Oct. 13-14.  Celebrating American Craft Week (Oct. 5-14), it's a chance to celebrate and acquire some one-of-a-kind artworks and the American craft tradition.  For more information about the Clay Festival and Gift Show, please contact Heather Morrow at (818) 257-0338.
• Art Night Pasadena: Continuing the out-of-town news, ArtNight Pasadena takes place on Fri., Oct. 12, from 6-10 PM at various locations in Pasadena's Old Town, Playhouse, and Civic Center neighborhoods. It's a free event, and there'll be food trucks!  For more information, check out http://www.artnightpasadena.org/

 

Fire department responds to structure fire Monday morning

by Timothy Rutt

At this hour (1 PM), firefighters are still mopping up a structure fire that was reported this morning at 1834 N. Sierra Bonita Ave. in Altadena.

According to a spokesman from the Los Angeles County Fire Department, a tree fire was reported at the location at 10:52 AM this morning.  When firefighters arrived  two minutes later, they found two trees and the attic of the home were on fire.

The fire was knocked down at 11:14 AM, and the department spokesman said there were no injuries. Cause of the fire is still unknown at this time.

Happy fifth birthday to us, and thank-you to the sponsor team

It's October (where is the year going?) and we give a shout-out to our sponsor team, which helps bring Altadenablog to you every day:

Altadena Ale & Wine House

Arroyo Food Co-op

Baietti-Seyffert/Podley Properties

California Bohemian Leather (the holidays are coming, and it's a good time to order custom leather products!)

The Coffee Gallery

Curves Altadena

Dhari Thein Real Estate

Dr. Barkman

Friends of the Altadena Library

Hugo Arteaga Graphic Design (new!)

Judy Rubin Architectural & Previews Specialist

Rancho Bar

Scissors Paper Rock Salon

Webster's Community Pharmacy

Webster's Fine Stationers

Altadenablog is the best place to advertise your local business to your local audience.  We've been bringing Altadena the news for five years now, and we're not going to change our focus in January like the out-of-town website will.  We also promise: your ad, on every page, every time, exclusively with other Altadena-area businesses.  Nobody else offers that. 

And if advertising isn't in the cards for you, but you'd still like to support Altadena's only locally-owned and -operated news website, we've opened the  The Altadena Wall of Awesome!  Anybody who buys an entirely-voluntary subscription (which gets you nothing extra, by the way!) gets our eternal gratitude and your name on the Wall for a year! (You can be anonymous, too -- just tell us!)  (If anybody asks, we recommend $50/year -- that's less than $1/week, or 14 cents a day, but all contributions are gratefully received!)  Your contributions will largely go to improving our coverage by providing improved rates to our freelancers and some planned upgrades in the website.  

October 2012 marks the end of our fifth year serving Altadena, with almost 2 million pageviews to date.  Thank you for your support, and we look forward to growing together!

The contribution button is here, and the Wall of Awesome is here.