altadenablog

Getting rid of that tree

LA County Dept. of Public Works has sent out the following for options of disposing of your Christmas tree:

2008-2009 CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING INFORMATION

Residents throughout Los Angeles County can once again conveniently recycle their Christmas trees this year. Most areas provide curbside recycling while others offer drop-off sites where the trees can be recycled.  
 
To view Christmas tree recycling information go to www.888cleanla.com and select one of the following:

Unincorporated Communities
Incorporated Cities
Please call Los Angeles County's Environmental Hotline at 1(888)CLEAN LA between 7AM and 5PM, Monday through Thursday, should you have additional questions about tree recycling programs in the Garbage Disposal Districts or unincorporated communities or if you have general questions about the environmental programs offered in Los Angeles County.

For information on how you can reduce your waste this holiday season, visit our Helpful Holiday Hints for Waste Reduction page.
 
Sponsored by the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works
Environmental Programs Division
900 S. Fremont Ave, 3rd Floor Annex
Alhambra, CA 91803-1331
Call toll free at 1(888)CLEAN LA

... and a happy New Year!

New Year's Eve runs a certain enmity with us -- we call it a Day of Enforced Joy.  It's like Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, or Mother and Father's Day -- it is a holiday neither national nor religious, really, it's just an excuse to buy Stuff and listen to fascist imprecations that we Must! Have! A! Good! Time!

Now that we're quite beyond the bloom of youth, we're putting the kids to bed early and spending the evening with TV, a martini, and the police scanner.  Good times.  But some of you may want more than that.

And fortunately, Coffee Gallery has it for you.  Bob Stane has sent a rambling letter, gist of which is: Coffee Gallery Backstage is open from 7 PM-1 AM.  Admission: free.  Music, dancing.  Bring a potluck dish to share.  Park on Lake only!  For more information, email Julie Sandoval: bohemianjoe@gmail.com.

1 PM P.S.  Bulgarini Gelato is doing roasted chestnuts tomorrow and Friday.  Buy some chestnuts, get a free cappucino, can't beat it!

From British invader to ukelele king: a natural history of Whitcomb

Altadena's inimitable Ian Whitcomb is profiled in this month's Arroyo magazine.  For us, the money quote:

“The best of the old songs are the best of Western music, because they have the basics of music: melody, harmony and rhythm,” Whitcomb says. “Those songs are the culmination of 400 years of Western civilization. And in this age of looping and rapping — really just circular rhythms and changing textures — they’re far more interesting to me.”

Deodar-izers

This Christmas display on the 900 block of Morada says "We wish you a snarky Christmas and a fresh New Year!"

The Master-mind of Mars

 Altadenan and JPL's former chief Mars scientist Dan McCleese is interviewed in this PSN story.  McCleese is one of those appearing on Tuesday's Nova, about the search for life on Mars.

Image is captured from an abortive attempt by Disney to animate Edgar Rice Burrough's Mars novels.  Rumor has it Pixar will tackle it again in 2012 ...

The pick-up artist

A blogger calling himself Octopus Grigori reflects on creeping age and basketball on the courts at the Lincoln Crossing 24 Hour Fitness.

Marrow is the way for "mutts"

That amazing Altadenan  Susan Carrier has been rockin' the freelance articles over the past few months.  Her latest, an opinion piece for PSN, gives us the needed message that potential bone marrow donors are always needed, but donors for multiracial "mutts" are particularly in short supply.  Registration is fast and easy (you don't even need to give blood!), and you can start by contacting www.asianmarrow.org

Danny's Farm says "thank you!"

Cathy Gott of Danny's Farm sends us a list of the people who've contributed so much to their wonderful, kid-friendly animal farm in the city (click image so see it even bigger).  Our children love it, and we love their emphasis on special needs kids.  Thanks to all who help this wonderful program happen!

Mapping the universe

Sign of the TImes (sott.net) has a profile of freelance scientist Dr. Robert Gaskell, who uses the mighty banks of computers in his Altadena home to map planets and asteroids. 

Library design camp scheduled for Jan. 10

The next design camp for the Altadena Library renovations will be Sat., Jan. 10.  Details in the flyer.

Merry Christmas

... which is what we say in our household.  Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Year, and Blessed Solstice as well, if that is your custom.  Blogging will be light or nonexistent today.

About 12 years ago, we were looking for a creche -- we never had one growing up, and felt that we needed one.  Because we are also cheap, we finally found one in the after-Christmas sale at the Folk Tree Gallery in Pasadena for half off -- a simple set of painted terra cotta from Peru.  We liked it very much, so we bought it, they boxed it, and we took it home.

But as we unpacked the box, we found out that we had a passenger -- a broken, terra cotta cow, in a  totally different style.  It had a broken-off horn and a leg was just barely hanging on -- obviously from another set, broken and put in the box in the back room to be thrown away later, but instead they used the box to pack my set and didn't notice the cow already in it.

This was my first nativity set, and I had a problem.  What do you do with a broken, non-matching piece?  Throw it away?  Maybe -- but there's a protocol for getting rid of worn out American flags -- maybe there's some kind of protocol for broken creche pieces?  I had no idea.  I set up the nativity set, and put the broken cow in the back until I could figure out what to do with her.

Well, for several years I just packed her and forgot about her until the next year.  Sometimes she was put in the back of the display, where her non-matching brokenness wouldn't distract too much.  Sometimes i just left her in the box as I brought out the other pieces ... but I never threw her away.

Over time, tho', she has moved more to the front of the display, and now I like to put her nearest the Christ Child, despite the fact that she's broken and doesn't match the other pieces.  She reminds me of ... well, me.  That just means she needs to be there -- in fact, she's the one the whole event is for. 

The picture is of a Flemish painting by an unknown artist, c. 1515, "Adoration of the Christ Child," which is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.  Several years ago, psychiatrist Andrew Levitas and geneticist Cheryl Reid made a discovery: the angel closest to Mary, and possibly one of the shepherds in the back, bore facial evidence of Down Syndrome.  They conjectured that the artist used models with Down Syndrome fully three centuries before the condition was identified by Dr. Langdon Down.

And the artist didn't call attention to it -- in fact, they're representing beings (shepherds and angels) who are meant to be there.  Imperfect and somewhat damaged, as we all are, but also welcomed to the Nativity.

Thanks to that broken cow -- and that painting -- we take Christmas a lot more seriously now.

So Merry Christmas!!

"... and they followed the star where e'er it went ..."

Bill You-Know-Who lets us know that the Star of Palawoo has been shining the past few nights.  Check out this link for the history, check the Weathercam tonight for pictures if you can't see it live.  If you're at Santa Rosa (Christmas Tree Lane), look toward the mountains.

Pictured: a 2006 view of the Star of Palawoo from the Weathercam

Housekeeping notes re: comments

We're having problems managing comments within Typepad, our provider.  They've started a new comments system with a lot of hype, and the only change we can see is that comments are signed at the beginning, not the end, and they have a floofy pastel icon attached for no discernible reason we can see. We're trying to disable it, but they've notified us that comments under the new system may disappear.  We don't like that, either, 'cause some of them were pretty good, so we're trying to work around it.  Be patient with us!

Go Christmas tree, go Christmas tree ...

If you're like us, the joy of having a Christmas tree in the living room transforms into the pain of having a Christmas tree in the living room pretty quickly.  LA County's Department of Public Works has released the pick-up schedule for Altadena's trees (click on the graphic to see it larger), so when it's time to go, it's time to go!

Junior Circle makes the holidays brighter at Hathaway-Sycamores

Suzanne Turpin of Mahan & Nash Public Relations sends us this holiday cheer story:

Every holiday season members of Junior Circle visit the boys who live at Hathaway-Sycamores' Child and Family Services' residential treatment center in Altadena, and lead them in Christmas carols. This year a group of 11 women caroled with the boys, ages 9-18, brought homemade cookies, and presented each boy with a wrapped holiday gift, courtesy of Pasadena-based eHobbies.com. This caroling activity is a long-standing tradition of Junior Circle and Hathaway-Sycamores.  The Junior Circle members, who live in Pasadena, Altadena and South Pasadena, visit the boys all year long, and bring each boy a birthday cake, and plan special activities such as race-car nights, marshmallow structure building and bingo.  Hathaway-Sycamores’ residential treatment center is a therapeutic home away from home where abused, abandoned and troubled boys receive nurturing, healing therapeutic mental health services.  

Photo id: Junior Circle members: (front) Vicki Thompson; (back l-r) Myrna Ling, Nancy Perez (Junior Circle president), Christina Mendoza, Tricia Ferrante, Mary Ditt, Sandee Hiyake, Karen Kikkawa, Sandra Crawford.

Photo courtesy of Hathaway-Sycamores.

Jerome Dean -- come on down!

Courtesy of the Contra Costa Times (couldn't find the link in the Star News) comes word that Altadenan Jerome Dean will have a close encounter with Drew Carey on The Price is Right on Christmas Eve.  Janette Williams explicates:

"We can't tell you whether your newly minted hometown `celebrity' will take home the showcase," the press release coyly revealed, "but nobody leaves THE PRICE IS RIGHT without a great prize ... and a really fun chat with host Drew Carey."

Threat or promise?  We'll find out tomorrow!

Chestnuts roasting -- Italian style -- NOW!

We're running late, but we got this notice from Bulgarini Gelato:

We will be roasting chestnuts on an open fire this Saturday, 12/20/08, from 4pm to 8pm. These chestnuts are from Avellino, a small mountain town in Italy, 50 km east of Mt. Vesuvio.

Come in, buy some chestnuts and get a complimentary cappuccino.

Buon Natale!!!

Bulgarini Gelato

Balian on video

The travel blog LA Sunset has some YouTube videos of the Balian mansion for your viewing pleasure.

Victorian dauncing not daunting for the daring

One of these days we're going to perfect our Victorian steampunk adventurer costume and convince Mrs. Altadenablog to dress in a complimentary manner.  And then we're going to the Social Daunce Irregulars ball in Pasadena.  Practices, however, are held at Farnsworth Park, and maybe we better start there ...

New teen books at the library

Heather Firchow's ALD Teen Scene blog highlights the latest young adult books to hit the Altadena Library (but no boy wizards, and no hunky vampires!)

Altadenan sentenced in tax and weapons charges

From a New Zealand website (!) comes a story about Guy Richard Moore, of Altadena, who was sentenced by United States District Judge George H. Wu to spend a year and a day in federal prison and was ordered to pay restitution of $400,000 to the Internal Revenue Service and a fine of $6,000.  The multiple charges on Moore's rap sheet include tax evasion, drugs, and weapons -- a lot of weapons.  LawFuel has the details.

Forest Service safety tips: "know before you go" in the snow

Got this notice from the US Forest Service, about keeping safe if you want to go to the snow:

Arcadia, Calif. – Winter conditions have set in throughout the upper elevations of the San Gabriel Mountains, luring city dwellers to experience the snow firsthand. While some desert areas have received relatively little rainfall, the high country of the Angeles National Forest has received over 25 inches of snow since Sunday. As a result, the Fire Danger is able to be lowered 2 levels from “Very High” to “Moderate” effective Friday, Dec. 19, 2008.

The “Moderate” fire danger level is the second in a six-level, graduated fire danger rating system. A variety of factors determine the level, including the moisture in vegetation, weather conditions and nationwide firefighting equipment and personnel needs.

Arroyo council honors Michele Zack

Planning a major update later today (last Saturday before the holiday -- uber-busy, as are you, probably), but this rates first post of the day:

The Council of Arroyo Seco Organizations honored Altadena's own Michele Zack during their 2008 Arroyo Verde Awards.  PSN's Steve Scauzillo says:

Zack has been a tireless advocate for cleaning up the arroyo and serves on the Town Council's Watershed Committee. She also knows alot about the origins of water and development in Altadena, Pasadena and Sierra Madre. She's the author of the highly praised book on the history of Altadena called "Altadena: Between Wilderness and City" and wrote the story for the 15-minute docudrama "Eaton's Water."

I'm glad to see CASO giving credit where credit is due.

Indeed!

Deputies dispatched to break up party

... and what a party -- scanner says about 200 people are disturbing the peace @ Loma Alta & Lincoln, they've just dispatched deputies and the chopper to break it up ...

A little dusting

The weathered Bill Westphal (who contributed this morning's look at snow-covered Mt. Wilson) tells us that his home weather station recorded 2.01 inches of precip in the past few stormy days.  We think we can safely say the 90 degree days are finally over.

Suicide victim found in Eaton Canyon

The body of a man apparently in his 30's was found in Eaton Canyon this morning, dead by a single gunshot to the head.  A note was found and the sheriffs are calling it a suicide.  PSN has the sketchy details.

Town council odds & ends

Random bits from last night's meeting:

Sheriff: The council welcomed Lt. Sheila Sanchez, a new service area lieutenant who will mediate and handle community issues and problems and address service complaints.

Electricity:  Dave Ford of Southern California Edison explained electrical service upgrades that will be made in the Altadena service area over the next few years, and also said they would be working with the Christmas Tree Lane association to replace the bulbs with LED lights.

St. Elizabeth's cell tower:  while county planners have approved the cell tower on the St. Elizabeth's property, residents are appealing the decision to the county supervisors.  A letter from the previous council to the planners, opposing the cell tower, somehow never got there.  The council approved sending another letter, stating its opposition to the cell tower, to the supervisors and planning commission.

Visit with Santa & toy giveaway @ Loma Alta Park Fri.

Just what it says, at Loma Alta Park gym, 3330 N. Lincoln Ave.  Chrismas caroling, refreshments and candy canes, and more -- sponsored by the California Highway Patrol- Altadena Branch, Operation Feed the Streets, The Breakfast Club West, and The Ivy League.

"... and Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again ..."

The LA County Dept. of Parks and Recreation will be holding a holiday camp at Loma Alta Park, Dec. 19-Jan 12, to give the little ones (ages 3-12) something to do besides drive you crazy.  Camp is Mon-Fri., 7:30 AM-6 PM, and cost is $45/week (closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, of course).  Activities include cooking, arts & crafts, hiking, games, sports, movies, field trips, and computer time.  For more information, contact Mister, Porsha, or Penny at 794-8811 or 398-5451.

Christmas Eve of Destruction

Who could resist writing that headline?  Not us. Yes, it's the return of Barry McGuire and ex-Byrd John York trying to remember the 1960's at the Coffee Gallery Backstage for Fri-Sat. concerts (Friday is sold out already, and Saturday is getting there).  Call (626) 398-7917 for reservations.

Pictures of the season

Writerdeb @ Altadena Above It All has pictures of the Altadena Heritage bash at Beckett Hall and the lighting ceremony at Christmas Tree Lane.  (Remember: if you don't read Deb's blog and this one, you don't know Altadena!)

High-tech patrol car gives deputies a Tuesday morning two-fer

Last month, the Altadena sheriff's deputies got the latest in high-tech policing: a license plate reader in one of their patrol cars that can read plates and alert officers if there's anything suspicious (such as a a car owned by a fugitive, a stolen car, etc.)

That was the car that rolled to the report of a burglary at 2656 Glenrose at about 8 AM Tuesday morning.  According to Sheriff Capt. Roosevelt Blow, deputies found two young male Hispanic men outside a garage unloading what was found to be 15 kilos of marijuana into a concealed storage space inside a van.

The men fled the scene, but a third man found inside the garage, Antonio Gaeta, was arrested and charged wih possession of marijuana for sale.

As the deputies were processing the crime scene, a passing car triggered the license plate reader alarm.  Deputies pursued and took into custody two female juveniles driving that car, which had been reported stolen in Sierra Madre the day before.  Sierra Madre police are handling that case.

Town council opts for single trash service

The Altadena town council told the county to go ahead and pursue an exclusive trash collection contract, ending the semi-exclusive arrangement now in operation.

What this means is, starting next fall, a single trash collection provider will service most Altadena homes, ending the semi-exclusive arrangement between Allied and Athens that now exists.  According to the county, whoever wins the contract will be expected to provide services such as e-waste collection, periodic bulk trash collection, and discounts for seniors and the disabled.

Most residents will have their existing trash cans replaced by five 96-gallon rolling containers -- one for trash, two for green waste, and two for recycling.  More containers will incur an extra $5 per month charge.  The containers can be automatically picked up and emptied by newer model trash trucks.  Smaller containers will also be offered for smaller households.

Grace Andrus, mayor of the Crescenta Valley town council, told the Altadena council that her community had been operating on an exclusive contract for three years with Allied Waste.  Previously, she said, the town council and the county had no control over the multiple trash carriers, and received lots of complaints.  Now, the council -- and the county -- can hold a provider accountable, and as a result, complaints have dropped, she said. 

Individual homes can opt out of the contract, but only if they can prove that they are hauling out trash themselves or are recycling 100 percent of their refuse.  Households that use dumpsters can continue to contract with whoever they wish.

Councilmembers said that they received numerous comments from their constituents about the trash service, most agreeing with an exclusive franchise.

One bone of contention was the recommended rate for scooter service -- a "scooter" being a smaller truck that collects trash in neighborhoods with winding, narrow roads, such as Chaney Trail.  Households that used a scooter service would pay 50% more per month than the standard rate, which caused concern to some council members.

Virginia Maloles of the Los Angeles County Public Works Dept. said that it would probably take four months to solicit and review bids, and another six months to start the franchise.

The Altadena franchise area as drawn up by the county also includes Kinneloa Mesa, a private community of 38 homes southeast of Altadena.

Let it snow -- for real, this time!

National Weather Service warns that combination rain and snow may fall overnight as low as the 1,500 foot level, which covers the higher, mountainous parts of Altadena. (Get your camera ready to take "remember when this happened?" pictures to amuse your children).  Odds are good for heavy rain, wind, and cold temperatures tonight and tomorrow -- those with livestock and sensitive plants are warned to get 'em inside or keep 'em covered overnight.

(Pictured: Mt. Wilson Towercam at 3:30 this afternoon)

Bright Futures Scholars: don't forget your Friday service project!

We like Dr. Sandra Thomas' no-nonsense messages to the Bright Futures Scholars in her charge, after the jump:

We are Marshall!

Eric Mulfinger, an Altadena resident and teacher and parent at Marshall Fundamental Secondary School in the Altadena-adjacant part of Pasadena tells us that the school received a silver award on US News & World Report's list of the best high schools in the country.  Marshall joins such chi-chi company as San Marino HS and South Pasadena HS among the local winners, so congratulations to the staff and students at Marshall!

Sara Carnahan named 2008 Citizen of the Year

Sara Carnahan, who has been active in numerous Altadena organizations over the years, has been named Citizen of the Year by the Altadena Chamber of Commerce.

You can find all the details where we did --in the press release in today's  Pasadena Star News. 

(Sure glad we waited for our promised copy!  Our Chamber membership is really paying off!)

UPDATE 9:30 AM:  The chamber has called, appropriate contrition demonstrated, all is forgiven!

Fun flick Friday: Kung Fu Panda Dec. 19

This recent kid-friendly film will be screening at the Altadeda Public Library at 3:30 PM  (Rated PG; 92 min.) The library'll provide the popcorn!

Tests for 2010 census positions coming up

'Tis the season, when Caesar Augustus had a census and declared that all the world should be taxed.  The more things change, the more they stay the same.

So the Altadena Library will be hosting tests for positions with the 2010 Census from Jan. through April of next year.  The attached flyer has all the dates and particulars.  You do not have to travel on donkeyback to get there.

Barden named to FCS Camp All-American Team

Altadenan Rameses Barden, a wide receiver at Cal Poly, was named to the Walter Camp Football Foundation FCS All-America team for the second year in a row.  Barden, who graduated this weekend, is now in training for potential bowl games and is preparing for the NFL draft in April.

Altadena's spirit of the season

KNBC's web page has a nice piece (but no pictures or video) on Christmas Tree Lane, worth checking out!

My greenbacks are red: Altadena's socialist millionnairess

Sid Gally's Pasadena history feature in today's PSN looks at "If This Be Treason: A Foolish Guide to Pasadena" by Sanford Conn and Datlis C. Smith Jr., a 1929 tome that sounds part John Birch, part snarky comment.  Mentioned in the article is Kate Crane Gartz, a Chicago steel heiress who came to live in Altadena and spent her life sponsoring lefty causes.  A list of her books are here, and she's in the Internet Movie Database as a producer for producing Segei Eisenstein's Mexican Fantasy, among other documentary works in the 1930's.

Graphic:  Gartz's 1945 Christmas message.  Click to enlarge.

Altadena man injured in SUV crash

PSN's Brian Day reports that an unidentified 42-year-old Altadena man was injured after he was pinned under an SUV in a crash at Lake Ave. and Orange Grove in Pasadena.  Details here.

Sheriff's Support Group website is bright, shiny, and new

We've had two Sheriff's Support Group websites in our Comprehensive Links page since we've started, one "good" and one "not-so-good."  Well, we have to change our description, because "not-so-good" has been spiffed up considerably, with up-to-date information, a membership form, clergy council data, even (gasp!) our precious Crime Log!

Credit for the improvements goes to ... wait for it ... wait for it ....

Bill Westphal!

If Altadena has a superhero, it is he.  We're thinking of making him his own category in the cloud.  Can he fly, too?

Well, maybe you can't be too RICH ....

The fabulous Susan Carrier has a piece in the LA Times about her monumental weight loss, due to health problems, and the conflicts (both internal and external) that one faces.  Eat, Susan, eat!

Holiday boutique this weekend

Heather Firchow alerts us to this event happening this weekend by some local artisans (i.e. her sister and mother!)

Lights on! It's Christmas!

The Balian mansion -- one of Altadena's cherished holiday traditions -- just fired up the lights tonight.  Sometime during the season, go by the intersection of Mendocino and Allen and see one of the best Christmas lighting displays in the country!

Weekendin'

Saturday:

Nia Educational Charter School, 119 W. Palm St., will hold a Christmas/Kwanzaa bazaar, 8AM-4PM.  The bazaar will feature local vendors showcasing their wares. The event will also include a yard sale, with the proceeds going to the school for needed supplies. For more information, call (626) 798-7900.

Christmas Tree Lane lighting, Santa Rosa and Mariposa (Altadena Main Library).  Festivities start 5 PM.  Click on the graphic for details!

Crime Log: Nov. 27-Dec, 9, 2008

Lots of arrests for drinking and drugging mean the holidays have started in this period's Crime Log:

Mutual support thru cancer becomes Wellness Community fundraiser

Didn't have a chance to get this in earlier, but yesterday's PSN has a feature on Rosey Bell and Altadenan Vicki Laidig McCuish, who have developed a friendship rooted on supporting each other through bouts of cancer.  Their 2004 "high tea" to celebrate their success has evolved into a major holiday fundraiser for The Wellness Community.