altadenablog

Fertilizer scam still going on

Besides the guy who is either (1) a scam artist, or (2) the world's worst alarm salesman working the eastside, the President Streets newsgroup (Roosevelt/Harding/Coolidge & environs) report sightings of the fertilizer scam guys who were here earlier this spring.  They offer to fertilize your lawn on the spot for $5 a bag (of course the bags are about a quarter full), spread a lot of fertilizer on your lawn, and charge you and arm and leg for it.  They've been spotted cruising in their white van just over the past few days. Don't confront them, just call the sheriff!

Update on Altadena Dr. gun report

Busy day, but finally had a chance to call the sheriff's office -- the incident at Altadena Dr.. and Page (which is next to Boulder Rd.) was reported as somebody with a gun, and revealed to be kids with a toy gun.  Half a dozen units and chopper support?  We're scratchin' our heads on this one.

Campaign for Humane Farms Sunday event

Bev Huntsberger sent us this message:

Sunday, July 27, 2008 at 4:45 PM

At Marietta [Kruell]'s Place on West Mariposa St.

This year, California voters can reduce the suffering of farm animals cruelly confined in cages and crates so small that they are unable to turn around, or even extend their limbs. We are hosting a Vote Yes for Farm Animals party to help purchase TV ads urging Californians to vote YES!

 Please RSVP online - 

http://www.party2win.com/humanecalifornia/parties?e=campaignforhumanefarms&userid=x

 We will join a nationwide conference call with James Cromwell from the movie, Babe, Mike Markarian, Executive Vice President of The Humane Society of the U.S., Gene Baur, President and Co-founder of Farm Sanctuary, and Jennifer Fearing, Campaign Manager for Californians for Humane Farms will take place at 5:00 p.m. PDT.  This call will link the parties together with important up-to-the-minute news about the campaign and will give California voters a chance to help the campaign make sure that we secure a resounding victory for farm animals on November 4th.

Not sure yet if you can come? Just go to our Event Page, and choose "maybe" on the RSVP. That will help us with planning, while you check your schedule. Of course, you can also reply directly to me.

Looking forward to seeing you at our party!

E-waste roundup at Business Technology Center July 25

This in from the BTC:

The BTC will sponsor a community wide electronic waste round-up in the parking lot. Bring items from home, clean out offices & garages, and tell your friends. It is now mandatory that all electronic waste is collected and handled separately from other trash and hazardous waste.

Be a part of the solution and help the environment.
Friday, July 25, 2008
10AM to 2PM
2400 N Lincoln Ave
Altadena** CA 91001

        Contact Ingrid Goodman at 626.296.6302 or Ingrid.Goodman@lacdc.org

Items Accepted: TV's & Monitors, Computers, Cell Phones, VCR & DVD Players, Fax Machines, Phones & Systems, Printers, Stereos, Modems, PDA'S, Power Strips , Cables & more. Visit

www.californiarecycles.com

for a compete list of electronic recyclables and further details about recycling.

--

Anyone missing a dove?

..because Kristen Opdahl has found one:

Has anyone lost a white dove or pigeon?  This bird is in my backyard, on Loma Alta Drive, and is very friendly and tame,  but seems lost...he has no band or significant marking

Please call me @ 626-296-3663 to bring him home  ;)

Thanks

Kristan Opdahl

Suspicious salesman in Pinecrest area

Getting some chatter from the newsgroups, which started out with this message:

We just had a young man stop by our house at then end of Woodglen Lane and it was a little odd. First, he walked by two private driveway/no trespassing signs. Then when my husband asked him what he was doing, he said he had business at our uphill neighbors (he then rang doorbells to no avail). Then he denied selling anything but said it was advertising (is there a difference?). I asked for a card and some paperwork but he wouldn't provide any. He was asking a lot of questions about our house, who we were, etc. But when I asked for a contact number or his last name, he wouldn't give it to us.

In case you see him, he is caucasian, sandy blond/brown hair, beefy build. He had a white polo shirt with GE logo on one arm and a  siren logo on the other. I'm not sure what he was selling.

Maybe it's nothing, but it struck us as odd because we just couldn't get him to leave!

Other messages have come in: this guy has been spotted parked at Tanoble and Loma Alta, and knocked on a door at Pinecrest, offering an alarm system upgrade.  One of the neighbors said that the sheriffs have been notified, but he's not doing anything illegal.  He could just be a very bad salesman ... but he doesn't want to offer information about his business or contact info. Something to be aware of.

UPDATE 7/18 6 PM:  Getting a few other reports of this guy.  One homeowner found this website to contact GE Security to see if he's legit.  

But our independent research is showing that there are "security system" scams going on around the country.  One variation is talking to two salesmen, and as you're engaged with one, the other disappears for awhile -- because he's opening your drawers, etc. and grabbing what he can.  Or the salesman will sell you an overpriced system, promise you a free system or lock you into an expensive long-term contract, or promise a substantial rebate that never gets delivered.  Another variation is to charge a substantial amount for a system that gets installed quickly and shabbily -- sometimes within the hour.

Sometimes the scamsters will claim to be from legitimate security firms, like GE, so it always pays to be cautious.

Sheriffs out at Altadena Dr. and Boulder Rd.

About 10:15 tonight -- many sheriff's cars, and the copper chopper was orbiting around the neighborhood with spotlight on -- neighbor says it was a man with a gun at a halfway house, but details are a bit sketchy at the moment.

Altadena Mountain Rescue Team saves four at Eaton Canyon

PSN has photos of the rescue of four hikers from Eaton Canyon yesterday by the sheriff's department and the Altadena Mountain Rescue Team.

McGinty's Salon on Sunday

McGinty's Gallery at the End of the World, 2475 N. Lake Ave., will hold its monthly Sunday Salon from noon to dusk Sunday.  Browse and buy work by established and emerging artists in a range of media. Many of the artists will be on hand.

Admission is free.

For more information, call (626) 794-8779, or visit www.galleryattheendoftheworld.com

We just got a shout-out ...

... from the brand-spankin' new Biking in LA blog (of course, we've known BikingInLABlogger literally for decades).  And we've neglected to add him to the blogroll, an omission we need to correct pronto!

Also Crime Scene Blog twittered an A-blog story, albeit one about Altadena politics, not crime (and no, they are not interchangable).  So we're feeling much happier now, dragging ourselves out of this pit of despair we wallow in, normally.  Ah, validation.

A Royal Wonder in Altadena

Via Bill Westphal, these photos from his neighbor, Sarah Keever of Holly Slope Road.  Her horse, Cari, gave birth to a son, Royal Wonder, at 7:45 this morning.

(It's nice to see the OTHER end of the horse once in awhile!)

Filly and foal are doing fine.  Welcome to Altadena, Royal Wonder!

Amid protests, Altadena Town Council certifies election

The Altadena Town Council certified last month's election tonight, amid protests that there were multiple irregularities in the election process.

While complimenting and congratulating his election opponent, Alice Wessen, outgoing councilman Walter Olszewski read a letter urging investigation of 11 alleged irregularities during the election, including: candidates actively campaigning within 100 ft. of a polling place; people "wearing uniforms of a certain (unidentified) organization" actively campaigning while staffing polls; polls not requiring identification; polls closing early; inaccurate maps that resulted in a number of people voting outside of their census tract; and councilmembers Eugene Sund and Ken Balder determining polling locations and staffing in their tracts, which they were not to do.

Polling irregularities were also cited during public comments, after the vote was certified.  William Bowen, a neighbor of Olszewski's and in his census tract, said that he was originally assigned to the wrong census tract due to an inaccurate map.  After phone calls to other polling places, that was corrrected, but he wondered how many people cast votes in the wrong tract before it was corrected.

Likewise, Regina Grimes, another losing candidate, said that she had found suspicious signatures on the sign-in sheets, suspicious addresses, evidence of children voting, as well as the Farnsworth Park polling place running out of ballots.

There were also multiple wrestlings with Robert's Rules of Order during the council's election discussion, and disagreements as to whether Steve Haussler, a member of the ethics committee appointed by chairman George Lewis, could present a report of the committee's investigation into election irregularities.  Some members of the council thought that the ethics committee itself was irregular ("illegal," said Balder), and by majority vote decided not to hear Haussler's report.

Eventually, the majority of the council did vote to certify the election, but in the "new business" section decided that an investigation was in order by the new board, but the method seemed to be left up in the air.   The new board was seated (Lewis lost the election, but will maintain his chairmanship until the start of the next meeting), and a committee formed to select officers for the new council.

Update 7/16 8 PM:  PSN is running a story on the council meeting, and it looks like they have a copy of Haussler's report.

ATC chair calls for Balder, Lamb to resign; Lamb does

Also at tonight's Town Council meeting, outgoing chair George Lewis went out with a bang, calling for fellow councilmembers Ken Balder and Steve Lamb to resign from the council.

Lewis said that the council is "divided and fractured," and blamed that division on personal "hatred" between Balder and Lamb.  "The two of you should resign -- it is time for the two of you to step down, and say goodbye," Lewis said, to scattered applause.

Lamb left the meeting a short time later without announcement.  During the census tract reports, Lewis said that "Steve Lamb has resigned his seat on the Altadena Town Council ...  he has agreed, and I have spoken to him earlier  Steve has taken the high road and he accepts walking away at this time."

Lamb sent out a frequently-bitter email tonight, saying in part,

For nineteen miserable years I was insulted, lied to, lied about, harassed, and endured all manner of disgusting behavior by people who were quite frankly, not sane or stable enough to to be voted into membership in a sports car club, let alone represent a community ...

It is true that I was begged to run last year in spite of my desire not to do so. Lots of people wanted me to run. all of the people I have spoken to over the last three months about resigning has told me my work was too important for me to do so, but it was not important enough for them to take upon them some of the burden when I asked for help. This is a burden no person should have to bear decade after decade.

I look forward to what is left of my life as a private person. There are cars to restore, houses to build, Organic Architecture to advocate for, silent movies to be seen, and relatives to enjoy.

Town council odds & ends

A few observations from Tuesday's town council meeting:

• Election chair Laura Graham, reporting that it was a successful election, despite the efforts of some to taint it: "There is no excuse and there is nothing to be gained by this behavior ... what is most damaging is that it’s always been accepted ... We must demand a higher standard from our community leaders and ourselves."
• Outgoing councilman Bobby Thompson, looking very tired, during his census tract report: 'I’ve lost, but I’ve won-- I’m tired of the infighting, I’m tired of the business, Lincoln Crossing -- these allegations about the voter’s fraud embarrases me ...  to just solidify this election and do it the way we did it is wrong. "
• Steve Haussler, having just been denied the opportunity to speak as a member of the ethics committee, didn't even have time to leave the podium before he was asked to speak as co-chair of the Land Use Committee.  He mentioned that his co-chair left abruptly -- his co-chair, councilman Steve Lamb, had in fact just resigned, altho' that was not widely known at the moment.
• Disturbing trend:  councilmembers who tell Altadenablog he's biased and untrustworthy, then ask him to print something.

Giving the kids their own space

It's a trend! This SF Chronicle story talks about turning that spare room into a place no teen would dare leave.  Among the ones setting the trend:  Sandy Gillis and Tom Gammill of Altadena, who have turned their lower level into a music studio for their teens.

Hat tip: Monica Hubbard

Michael De La Torre on LA Time's homicide list

Michael Anthony De La Torre, 19, Altadena's latest homicide victim, has made the LA Time's Homicide blog. This list has a story on every homicide victim in LA County.

Evelyn Mosley is also listed in the blog.

Lines

If you go to Pasadena over the next few days, here's the geography:
1.  The long line in Old Town is trying to get the new Iphone.
2.  The long line at the Paseo is trying to get tickets to "Dark Knight."
3.  The long line on Lake is IndyMac depositors making withdrawals.

(The above picture is the police line for International Monetary Fund Protests at Washington, D.C. in 2002, because it's the only public domain line we could find quickly!)

Altadenablog sez: check it out

Just came across this new blog, Second Act in Altadena.  Altadenahiker just quit his (her?) LA Times job after 20 years, and is in the process of re-creation thru writing, hiking, running, and seeing.  There are only a handful of entries to date, but s/he has revealed him/herself as thoughtful and observant.  A-blog says check it out.

Chaney Trail: "we'll be back" or "Yi-Yi-Yi-Yi-Yi-Yi-Yi .."

Well, the folks at the barely-civilized Chaney Trail neighborhood are upset that the sheriff's department is not shutting the trail gate for the night in a timely manner, and they're looking for self-sufficient alternatives.

After deciding against the "head on a pike" alternative, they're discussing others.  Most popular alternatives to date:  1) Xena, Warrior Princess, or 2) a cyborg, preferably driving a Hummer.  (We could say something about after-hours visitors and hummers, but this is a family blog, so why even try?)

(Voodoo dolls and a real security guard have also been offered as alternatives, but what fun are they?)

Five Acres' art therapy

Whittier Daily News has a piece on Altadena's Five Acres program, using art as a way for the kids to get the healing they need.  Altadena artist Leigh Adams took on six kids, teaching them the art of mosaic for a project for Five Acres.

Help find Juju

Christen Buchanan has sent out an all hands bulletin to the newsgroups:

Lost Dog

sorry to bother you all with a personal issue, but we have lost our dog and are very worried. she is a rescue dog and is very scared and nervous & spooks easily.  her name is JuJu, she has acollar, she is medium size, mostly black with white chest, paws, and nose, she is about 12 years old.  if you see her, please let us know.

thank you,

~christen & mark
626-798-0329 - home
626-864-4810 - cell

Altadena Town Council, Tues. 7 PM

... at the Community Center.  Wear your helmet and waders for this one.

Altadena hosts Benbow family reunion

PSN has a heartwarming story -- no other way to describe it -- about the annual Benbow family reunion, held at Loma Alta Park over the weekend.  The Benbows can trace their family tree to slavery in the 1830's, and every year since 1937 they meet for a huge picnic.  This  year, in Altadena, next year -- in Anchorage? 

Flash flood warning (again)

Better to be safe than sorry, we guess.  National Weather Service has posted this for tonight:

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOS ANGELES/OXNARD HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS...THE ANTELOPE VALLEY...LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS EXCLUDING THE SANTA MONICA RANGE...LOS ANGELES COUNTY VALLEYS...AND THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY.

* THROUGH 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING

* SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL BRING THE POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING AND MUD AND DEBRIS FLOWS TO THE REGION.

* THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING OF CANYONS...ARROYOS AND LOW LYING AREAS ALONG WITH MUD AND DEBRIS FLOWS IN AND BELOW RECENT BURN AREAS WITHIN THE WATCH AREA.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.

Flash flood and thunderstorm warning (!?!?!?!)

Hard to believe, as it's 83 degrees out at six PM with no cloud in the sky, but hear it from the National Weather Service:

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OXNARD CA 440 PM PDT SAT JUL 12 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OXNARD HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR... EAST CENTRAL LOS ANGELES COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA...

* UNTIL 545 PM PDT

* AT 429 PM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 12 MILES EAST OF PEARBLOSSOM...OR ABOUT 25 MILES NORTH OF UPLAND...AND MOVING WEST AT 6 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR... PEARBLOSSOM BY 545 PM PDT...

THIS STORM WILL AFFECT TRAVELERS AND COMMUNITIES ALONG HIGHWAY 138. IN ADDITION TO LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS...CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. MOVE INDOORS IMMEDIATELY! LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES NUMBER ONE KILLERS.

And this:
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OXNARD HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR... EAST CENTRAL LOS ANGELES COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA INCLUDING THE EASTERN ANTELOPE VALLEY AND EASTERN SAN GABRIELS...

* UNTIL 600 PM PDT

* AT 423 PM PDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS THAT WILL LIKELY PRODUCE FLASH FLOODING ACROSS EAST CENTRAL LOS ANGELES COUNTY...AFFECTING EXTREME EASTERN ANTELOPE VALLEY ALONG HIGHWAYS 18 AND 138...AS WELL AS THE EASTERN SAN GABRIELS...INCLUDING THE COMMUNITIES OF BIG PINES...FALLING SPRINGS AND MOUNT BALDY. THESE STORMS WERE DRIFTING SLOWLY TO THE SOUTHWEST AND WILL LIKELY PRODUCE RAINFALL INTENSITIES OF ONE INCH PER HOUR.

IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNING AREA MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY. RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY.

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF FLOOD WATERS. ONLY A FEW INCHES OF RAPIDLY FLOWING WATER CAN QUICKLY CARRY AWAY YOUR VEHICLE.

A bleg for the Farnsworth concert tonight

Schedule won't allow us to attend the Sheriff's Support Group Farnsworth Park concert series tonight, but if anyone would like to share pictures with us and everyone else in the world, send 'em here!  Thank you!

You never know who -- or what -- will Twitter you

Twitter is a fairly new application, where you can enter what you're doing and where you're going into your computer or cell phone, and it sends a text to the people who are interested.  A-blog's movements are being followed by 11 people to date, including the Cassini-Huygens satellite (don't want it's cell phone bill), who sends us this photo album.

4 PM Update:  The wiredwomen and the noir Frank Girardot just added us to their Twitter list.  This is gettin' scary.  If Crime Scene blog is following us, we have to clean up our act  ...

Altadena NAACP offers scholarships to 2008 grads

Via this link to Pasadena Now, the Altadena NAACP is offering two scholarships of $1,000 each to 2008 grads who are planning to enter or already enrolled in college, community college, or trade school in the fall.  For an application, call 794-7999 or obtain it at the Altadena Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Dr.  Application deadline is Fri., Aug. 15,

Northern California fire pictures from space

Check out these breathtaking images from the NASA website, and hope they won't be taking similar pictures of us this season!

(courtesy an anonymous source).

It's dam rappellant, if you ask me ...

One more before bed:  Petrea at Pasadena Daily Photo blog has a sequence of the Altadena Mountain Rescue Team practicing their rappelling at the Devil's Gate dam.

20,000!

20,000 page views as of today.  Thank you for supporting Altadena's community newsblog!

Zorthian/Feynman panel at Armory Sunday

Panel Discussion on Jirayr Zorthian / Richard Feynman exhibition
at the  Armory Center for the Arts
Sunday, July 13, 2 p.m.

A panel discussion about the exhibition “Jirayr Zorthian / Richard Feynman: A Conversation in Art” will take place in the Caldwell Gallery at the Armory Center for the Arts Sunday, July 13, at 2 p.m. Panelists will include: Michelle Feynman, the authority on her father, Richard Feynman’s, art; Seyburn Zorthian, a respected practicing artist and an expert on the art of her father, Jirayr Zorthian; and Richard Davies, a physicist, painter, and close friend of both Richard Feynman and Jirayr Zorthian. Davies’ exhibition is also on view at the Armory. Jay Belloli, curator of the exhibition and Gallery Director at the Armory, will serve as moderator. Admission to the panel discussion is free.

The Zorthian /; Feynman exhibition will be on view through August 31, and documents one of the most famous and unusual artist and scientist friendships in the history of Southern California, that between artist and public personality Jirayr H. Zorthian and Caltech Nobel Laureate physicist Richard P. Feynman. A color-illustrated catalogue has been published by the Armory in connection with the exhibition. This exhibition is made possible by a generous grant from the Pasadena Art Alliance.

The Armory is located at 145 North Raymond Avenue, Pasadena, and the gallery is open Tuesday – Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Admission is free. The Armory is easily accessible from the Gold Line Memorial Park Station in Pasadena. For information about Armory exhibitions and events, the public may call 626.792.5101 x122, or visit the Armory website at www.armoryarts.org

County offers places to stay cool

As the temperature reaches the 100+ area, remember that LA County has established cooling centers to take the edge off the heat.

The nearest cooling centers are the Altadena Senior Center, 560 E. Mariposa, 798-4971, Mon.-Fri., 8:30 AM-4:30 PM, and the Pasadena Senior Center, 85 E. Holly St., 795-4331,  Mon-Fri 8:30-4:30, and Sat. 8:30 AM-3 PM. (Call ahead of time to make sure they're still open on a given day).  Otherwise, call 211.

Sgt. Yolanda Palomo of the Altadena Sheriff's Station has also sent the following advice for keeping cool:

 

If you plan to be outdoors, please take precautions to protect yourself from the sun and heat.

• Put on plenty of sun block and wear a wide brimmed hat or carry an umbrella.  

• Wear light, loose-fitting clothing.

• Drink water often, don’t wait until you are thirsty.

• Avoid unnecessary exertion.

• If you experience dizziness, fatigue, faintness, headaches, muscle cramps and increased thirst you need to relax in a cooler, shaded place and drink water or a sports drink. 

• More severe symptoms (such as disorientation, pale and clammy skin, a rapid and weak pulse, and/or fast and shallow breathing)  may indicate heat exhaustion or impending heat stroke.  Seek immediate medical attention.  

• If you are traveling on vacation or running errands around town, NEVER leave a senior, child or pet in a closed car or any vehicle since temperatures can quickly rise to life-threatening levels.

• If you know seniors who live alone or people whose immune and/or respiratory systems are not working properly, check on them regularly to make sure they are staying cool.  

• Offer assistance to “shut-ins” in your neighborhood.  Check on them frequently during hot weather.

Take a breather ...

We are spending today working on a video project (!) for A-blog, so there may not be updates until late.  In addition, we're slogging thru a whole bunch of paper re: the La Vina decision for an upcoming post.  And Typepad, our provider, is making "improvements," which usually means "slowdowns" (for example, we can't get into the comments section today -- don't worry, complaints have been sent).   Bear with us!

Sunday incident @ Pepper & Glen Canyon

Gotten from several sources: a jogger was accosted Sunday by a dark-haired, bearded man wearing a tank top who began swearing at her and gave chase.  She got away and called the sheriff's station, who sent a patrol out but found nothing.  Unknown if the guy lives in the neighborhood.  Be wary and cautious when you're out.

"The American Flyers" at Farnsworth concert series Sat.

The Sheriff's Support Group "Concerts in the Park" series at Farnsworth Park continues this Saturday at 7 PM with The American Flyers:

The American Flyers came to be in the early 1990’s, born of players who had formed strong friendships in a number of different bands in the 1980’s. The Flyers have gone through numerous versions since that time with all members maintaining a strong fraternal bond with one another.

The current line up includes founding members Phil Capuano (Drums), and Van Nixholm (original bassist and current rhythm guitarist), Rex Forman (Bass Guitar) from the band’s 3rd rendition, and Gene Diorio (Lead Guitar) from our 2nd incarnation and the guy with the greatest performance longevity in the band.

As in the beginning, these guys play together because they enjoy the camaraderie they share and the music they make. The music they enjoy, mostly rock, blues, and country, all has some personal attachment to one member or another, whether they are present players or not currently performing. Please enjoy their heartfelt musical offerings. Partners, brothers, and friends.

Altadena Crest Trail meeing 7 PM tonight

Altadena Crest Trail Restoration Working Group (ACTRWG -- how is that pronounced?) will be meeting today at the Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Dr.

Fourth fun

Writerdeb @ Altadena Above It All invites you to view her weekend's Rose Bowl fireworks pictures.

Monica Hubbard shares these shots of the Pepper Drive Independence Day Parade:

Scott Land Marionettes @ the Library this week.

Music, puppets, and all that good stuff -- it's the Scott Land Marionettes at the Altadena Main Library, 2 PM Tues. afternoon, and  at the Bob Lucas branch, 3 PM Thurs.

Coffee Gallery online!

The Coffee Gallery has a spiffy new website, and is inaugurating something cool tomorrow night at 7 PM!  Here's the announcement:

 

“WEBCAST LAUNCH PARTY”

with

IAN WHITCOMB & FRIENDS

at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena; reserv, 626-398-7917. Includes dinner. It’s an invitation (reservations required) to be a guest of The Coffee Gallery  and The Coffee Gallery Backstage’s new multicamera internet web video simulcast operators, and along the way, to help launch the new Coffee Gallery “front stage” website,

www.funkylittlecoffeehouse.com

. Mirror Image Sound Studios, in the same building, will host free tours of their facility. DINNER AND SHOW ARE FREE, with reservation, to help celebrate something that’s been in the works for a long time.

Bob Stane says:  I think "dinner" is a bit overstated as Larry Wines has not eaten for about a week and the usual snacks and beverages of our Open Houses takes on  exaggerated importance in his mind.  Larry has been known to sing for a Kosher hot dog, on a bun with no mustard.  An ugly thing to witness as he sang while eating.  Anyway, calories will be dispensed and a reservation is suggested.  Although there will be no admission charge, a small container will be there and we hope to collect a tiny amount of cash
for "gas money" for Ian and The Boys.  Think of it as a "rent party" but for petroleum.  A hint of things to come.

Phone For Reservations:  (626) 398-7917. 

"Roustgate"

We decided we needed some umbrella name for this kerfluffle that involve certain town councilmen, the sheriff's department, the Altadena Sheriff's Support Group, the Chamber Citizens of the Year, and now the Pederast Hilton, etc. and has caught Altadenablog in its toxic spray.  Since the precipitating event is the (unproven) accusation that the deputies are stopping people who shouldn't be stopped, we've decided to call it Roustgate.

So here's the latest:

Jamie Bissner weighs in in Sunday's PSN.

And Steve Lamb has finally taken our advice, and alerted us that he has posted his response to his critics in this blogpost. (We note with some satisfaction that he uses "Pederast Hilton," a term we coined).

(Our ban remains in place, however.)

Update 7/14: Steve's Lamb's original blogpost linked above has apparently been removed from the website.

Transparency Dept., or, the doorkeeper's lament

This post condenses a lot of what's been going on in the comments all weekend.  Many of you don't read the comments, and lately we can't blame you.  But because we believe in being open and up front in our processes, we're taking some time on the main page to explain what's going on.

We've studied and been inspired by Benedictine spirituality.  Benedictines are famous for their hospitality.  But every monastery has a brother who serves a doorkeeper.  The doorkeeper exists because not everybody who wants in should be let in.

Over the holiday weekend, while we were spending time with family, the doorkeeper was off the job. Several posts contained anonymous personal attacks against Town Councilman Steve Lamb.  We hereby apologize to him for that, and we will be scrubbing through the comments to remove any such attacks.  Personal attacks have no place on Altadenablog.

Second, Steve Lamb himself has been banned from submitting comments.  Not just for his last allowed comment, which was a doozy, but because of the increasingly-fevered emails to us that left the realm of  civilized discourse.  That old aphorism about pig-wrestling keep popping into our head and wouldn't leave.  The doorkeeper has been instructed not to let Mr. Lamb in until the season of Advent, at which time we will reconsider the ban. 

Third, because of all of this, we've had to reinstitute comment moderation.  So sorry.  As usual, the few will spoil it for the many.  But please keep commenting!

Monday, Monday ...

New week, fresh start. 

We've spent the holiday weekend in the bosom of the family and, except for putting out some brush fires (and you know what they are) we haven't been online enough to do regular news updates. That means there's lots to do, so expect updates throughout the day.