altadenablog

Wilson: not ready to give up on Muir

PSN's Larry Wilson has a good story on the progress and lack of same at Muir High today.  More seniors are graduating (100 percent increase!), suspensions are up (which is good -- it means a lower tolerance for nonsense), the principal who swept out deadwood teachers wants to keep it up -- progress is slow, but signs are good.  And our friend Jon Ancona is a National Merit Scholar! Read it!

Pasadena shooting victim was at Altadena funeral

The Friday night shooting at the Atlantis nightclub in Pasadena took the life of David Crosby of Lancaster, who was 32 according to the police or 39 according to the coroner.  Crosby and others at the club had just attended the funeral of 24-year-old Darryl Stephens at an Altadena church.

Stephens himself committed suicide May 17.  At the time of his death, Stephens was a suspect in a shooting death in a May 5 shooting death in Rialto.  Stephens first got into the news last year when it came out that he was a registered sex offender with a GPS ankle bracelet who was playing on the Pasadena City College football team.

No suspects in the latest shooting, and nobody's talking.  KTLA's take, and PSN's (Brian Day).

June Land Use Committee meeting cancelled

--- they sent us an email:  the June 2 meeting is canceled, and they will meet again July 7 @ 7 PM in the community center.

Sustainable Altadena draws an abundant crowd

Attendees enjoy some home-grown produce at Altadena Heritage's "Heritage of Abundance" workshop at the Community Center this morning.  Besides all the backyard goodies, those attending heard speakers on a variety of topics on making Altadena a more sustainable place to live and were entertained by Ian Whitcomb on the piano.

Photo: Monica Hubbard

Blair seniors receive scholarships

Gary and Katheryn Wullschlager award Blair IB Magnet High School seniors Kyoko Harris and Jordan Mitchell with this year's Marion Lee Wullschlager Scholarships during a reception in their honor at the Community Center May 27.   The $500 scholarships, named for Gary Wullschlager's mother, go to deserving Altadena seniors.

Photo: Inger  Miller

Public review and comment period will open for Aveson expansion

PUSD will accept comments during the month of June on its Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration for Aveson Charter School.  Aveson plans on transitioning from a 500-seat school serving grades K-6 to a 475-seat school serving grades K-12 by 2012.

More details are in the document at left (we had some weird formatting glitches, but the info is still there). 

PUSD keeps a website of Aveson documents here.

Morning palate cleansers

A few things we discovered on the morning rounds:

• Hometown Pasadena offers a delightful plug for tomorrow's Altadena: Heritage of Abundance workshop.
• LIkewise PSN.
• And the bad news: Altadena led the pack in decline in home prices, a 42.2 percent drop down to $350,000.  Fortunately, we seem to be good at growing our own food ...
  

Recession story hits home

SGV Trib, with AP's help. does a story on the recession and picks on Karen's Hallmark for local color.

PUSD to close Nia

PSN's education reporter Caroline An reports that the PUSD board voted unanimously to deny renewal to Nia Educational Charter School. A review by an independent evaluator found that half of the teachers were not credentialed, teacher's aides were serving as instructors, children were not being engaged, and the school was operating without accreditation. About 100 students attend the school, which is at the former Edison Elementary campus in Altadena.

Last year, Rhythms of the Village Charter School, which operated at the same site, also closed for financial and academic reasons.

Weekendin'

Here's the lineup:

• "Hotel for Dogs" is the Friday Fun Flick at the Library, 3:30 PM
• Open mic night at Farnsworth Park, 7 PM Friday
• Also at 7 PM, reception for Joseph Dougherty, "While No One Was Looking," exhibit of photography, Altadena Junction.
• Altadena Heritage will hold its "Altadena: Heritage of Abundance" meeting, 9-11 AM Sat. at the Community Center.
• St. Elizabeth's Parish School car wash, 9 AM-1 PM Sun.
• And stretching the weekend out a bit,  Adrienne Barbeau will be speaking at the Altadena Main Library, starting at 7 PM Mon., June 1.

St. Elizabeth's 8th graders hold fundraising carwash Sun.

The St. Elizabeth Parish School eighth graders will hold a graduation fundraiser carwash this Sun., May 31, from 9 AM-1 PM at the school, 1840 N. Lake Ave. (enter the school yard on Woodbury).  Just $10 per car!

July 1 - Project: Altadena is a go!

Now is your chance to be an artist/photographer!  Only $20, and open until the 100 cameras run out!

The Altadena Arts Coalition is putting together "Project: Altadena," a photographic look at our town through the eyes of 100 photographers, all shooting starting on the same day, July 1, 2009.  The shots will be part of a show on Sept. 5.

Molly Tierney, that creative force at Photography by Walt, is spearheading the project, which will make 100 disposable cameras available that morning to capture life in Altadena.  (Shots can be made through the end of July). She sends us this note with more details:

Disposable camera?? I know, I know we live in a digital world these days, but put it aside for a day and get back to the basics. With a disposable camera you don't have the instant gratification that we get from technology so now you must plan out every shot!

FIRST 100 PARTICIPANTS!!

The only criteria is that you must live in Altadena.

Cameras will be available at Photography by Walt July 1st
I will open early on July 1st at 8:00 am

Normal Business hours are Tue-Fri 10:00-5:30 and Sat 10:00-4:00
(Sat studio may have on location appointments so you may call 626 797 7207)

Cost $20.00

Last day to drop off cameras is Friday July 31st

The show will be hosted in Altadena on Saturday September 5th in conjunction with other fine events from The Altadena Arts Coalition and the local businesses.

2700 Photos!!!

PASS IT ALONG...

questions? Photobywalt@yahoo.com

Molly Tierney
AAC

UPDATE:  Thursday's PSN has an article on the Coalition and the open house night May 15.

UPDATE 10:30 PM: Molly clarified some details, and they are reflected in the story above.

Horse goes missing at Hahamonga

Received this forwarded email from a reader -- maybe somebody knows something!

On Sunday, May 24th around noon, a group of riders from Sylmar parked their trailer in  Hahamongna Watershed  Park and rode up the trail. As they rode underneath the JPL footbridge one of the horses slipped and fell and the rider fell off. The horse then ran away. The riders went looking for the horse and asked people at RBR and within the park but no one had seen anything. The Pasadena Humane Society, a helicopter, many RBR members on foot and on horseback have searched but as of today, Wednesday, May 27th, the horse is still missing.

The horse is described as a younger buckskin mare named Lilly. She was fully tacked with saddle, bridle, breast collar, halter, etc. We are waiting on pictures to send out and will hopefully get those to you all this week. At this point it seems unlikely that she is still wandering out in the arroyo. It's quite probable that someone found her and either just doesn't know where or how to return her, or maybe isn't planning on doing so at all. Let's spread the word quickly and hopefully find Lilly soon!

Please pass this email on to anyone and everyone within the horse community!!

If you have any information please reply to this email or contact Lilly's owner, Leslie, at (818) 359-3947.

San Diego Reader looks at El Prieto Canyon

... in a nice article.  (It occurs to us that we've never been to El Prieto, and this article inspires us to go!)

Miller Hawkins named small business of the year for Dist. 44

Altadena-based Miller Hawkins Productions Event Coordinators was honored as "California Small Business of the Year" for District 44.   MHPevents principals Inger Miller and Jill Hawkins received this special recognition from  Assemblyman Anthony Portantino. This acknowledgement applauded a single district –based small business for exemplifying the contributions of the California’s 3.7 million small business owners to the California economy.

The award was announced May 26 at the annual California Small Business Day in Sacramento.

“We are honored to have been selected for this award; and we thank Assemblyman Anthony Portantino for this recognition. We are also grateful to all of our clients that allow us to do what we love,” said Miller and Hawkins.

“This is a special event when government, business, associations and community come together to honor the small business contributions of innovation, job creation and economic growth to the State of California,” said Betty Jo Toccoli, President of the California Small Business Association, on behalf of the two-dozen small business organizations hosting the event.

sent this way by Monica Hubbard, who's got to be two people.

UPDATE 5/29:  PSN has a nice piece on them as well.

Paradise is the b*****d child of Altadena and Sierra Madre

OK, maybe that's a little strong -- but it seems to be Larry Wilson's conclusion in today's PSN. 

Here's the nut graf (actually, two) for us:

Because if you take Altadena's upper Lake Avenue as one area that could have supported the sidewalk cafes and other pedestrian-oriented businesses that work on Baldwin in Sierra Madre, there's no denying the deleterious effect of the loud, speed-kills freeway that is Altadena Drive at Lake.

You might say Lake is too steep to support a lot of walking and shopping - but Baldwin has almost the same slope. It also has better shade trees - including a huge native sycamore on Baldwin's east side citizens stopped the city from chopping down. Though much smaller at around 10,000 souls compared with 40,000 for Altadena, it's always had a more vibrant business climate, perhaps because of its smallness, a tourist virtue, and fame in the hiking era.

We're wondering who says Lake is too steep to support a lot of walking and shopping.  Apparently they didn't drop by a couple of Fridays ago, when North Lake was abuzz with walkers, businesses, artists, music -- putting Sierra Madre (and Old Town Pasadena) to shame, at least for a night.

(We think he's right about the shade trees.  We even remember the old days of, say, February, when Pasadena had shade trees downtown).

And apparently the Sierra Madreans are really into sniping at each other online, which doesn't seem to happen in Altadena with the same virulency.  (The vast majority of comments we get are fair and thoughtful, but trust us, we don't print everything!)

Anyway, there's some things to think about.

Thx to Monica, otherwise we might've missed this!

Altadena couple tries civil disobedience in wake of Prop 8 decision

The LATimes blog has a short piece about civil disobedience actions outside of the East LA County recorder and registrars office today, as several gay couples demanded marriage licenses despite the state supreme court's decision.  Among them was Jeanne Cordova and Lynn Ballen of Altadena.

Remembering from on high

Chris "The Skywatcher" Considine tells us about the activity above yesterday morning:

As always on a Memorial Day, Altadena had its share of vintage aircraft flying overhead in
formation for the various activities around the area honoring our Veterans.

At 10:15am eight WWII warbirds flew over several times and a couple Air Force jets made a run
overhead, but the lack of visibility didn't allow any visual sightings, just the great low
rumble of most likely F-118's heading back over the mountains.

County sends default notice to Lincoln Crossing

Following up from our previous story from Councilmember Michele Zack, we just received a copy of a March 26 letter (pdf document) from Corde Carillo, acting executive director of the LA County Development Commission, to Lincoln Crossing developer Dorn Platz and the West Altadena Development Corporation (WAD-C), putting them in default of their agreements with the county and listing some rather alarming details: half a million owed in taxes, more than that in varioius liens and lawsuit judgements, as well as some rather interesting-sounding deeds of trust filed.  In last week's report from Zack, WAD-C is trying to sever ties with Dorn Platz and line up a more solvent partner, but the complex agreements and interrelationships involved may make that difficult.  More for the mix.

Next Beckett Hall outing Sun., June 18

The Becketts have announced the next activities in their lovely home:

Edward and I would like you to come be with us at 1051 E. Altadena Drive. 

It would be our joy to share the following two events with our neighbors.

 

June 28 - Sunday afternoon - see attached flyer.  Wonderful friends and wonderfully talented Darrell Lauer, tenor and Twyla Meyer, pianist.  Come enjoy Italian songs, Schubert Lieder, Mozart, English and Irish ballads in the intimacy of our living room.  Please RSVP.

 

October 24 - Saturday afternoon - save the date - Edward Beckett's Altadena studio show opens October 24 and closes November 6.  It will feature new prints, the most recent icons, paintings and photography by three significant artists, including Edward.

 

We're looking forward to seeing you.

Know that your friends are also welcome.

Warm regards, Sharon Bailey Beckett

626-791-7954 x11

Peace officer's memorial relay ends at Altadena Station

Sheriff Sgt. Marsha Williams passed on this news about the weekend's torch relay that ended at our own Station 7:

Just wanted to pass on information and a few photos of our Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department annual Peace Officer’s Memorial Torch Relay that culminates at Altadena Station each year.  The relay race begins at Sheriff’s Headquarters Bureau, Friday, May 22, 2009 at 9 AM, with runners who carry the lit torch to East Los Angeles station, where it is handed off to that station’s runners.  The relay continues until each Sheriff’s station in Los Angeles County has handed the torch to their runners, a total distance covering over 300 miles.  The relay ended today, Sunday, May 24, 2009 at 2:30 PM where Altadena Station personnel brought in the torch and conducted a memorial ceremony to honor peace officers who were killed in the line of duty in Los Angeles county during the past twelve months.     The runners were escorted into the station from Fair Oaks Avenue and Altadena Drive by sheriff’s patrol vehicles and Los Angeles County Fire Department vehicles with lights flashing.

The following officers were honored in the ceremony:
L.A. County Deputy Sheriff Juan A. Escalante, August 2, 2008
L. A. Police Dept. Officer Spree DeSha, September 12, 2008
L. A. County Deputy Randy Hamson, Oct 24, 2008
CHP Officer  Joseph  Sanders, December 15, 2008
Culver City Police Dept. Lieutenant Curtis A. Massey, January 28, 2009
L.A. County Deputy Sheriff David Larimer, Dec. 31, 1942  (Altadena Station’s only officer killed in the line of  duty, honored in 2009).

PIctured:  The Altadena station runners carry the torch from Crescenta Valley Station; the Altadena station runners; memorial service at the Altadena station.

Other 'Denas: Altadena Films

Just discovered this UK film company, which has nothing to do with Altadena but apparently like the name!

Altadena represent, yo!

West Seattle Blog emailed us to this video of comedian Seth Green showing us his Altadena crib and how to make good financial choices. (For what it's worth, we don't think "Scott Evil" actually lives there --the interior looks just a little to calculated and unlived-in -- but it's a funny piece).  We particularly like the part about the "pool filled with hose."

*****

Un-Broke: The Seth Green Cribs Edition - watch more funny videos

Town council race makes the Star-News

Front page today, PSN takes one of their occasional jaunts up Altadena way so Janette Williams can write a decent rundown of the town council election and context.  The print edition includes a list of candidates that looks suspiciously like this, which was typed by our very own fingers.  We're always glad to spare people effort.

We're back ...

... and there's a pile o' stuff in the inbox, which we will get to over time today!  Vacation was wonderful, but it's great to be back in Altadena. too, doing what we do.

A time to remember

This Memorial Day, fly your flag and remember those who served.  Supervisor Michael Antonovich's office tells us about events today at Arcadia County Park, 406 S. Santa Anita in Arcadia, starting at 10 AM:

The 12th Annual “Remembering Our Veterans and Their Families” event is a day-long tribute to our armed forces, and a presentation of free services to veterans and their families from numerous agencies, including County departments and governmental, independent and private agencies.  These organizations will provide an abundance of information and resources regarding health, employment, child support, legal services, etc. 

A special ceremony at 11:30 a.m. will include a presentation of colors, a 21 gun salute, playing of Taps, skydivers, flyovers by vintage World War II aircraft, and more.  There will also be a “Wall of Remembrance” for veterans (bring copies of photos of your loved ones to place on the wall), displays of military vehicles and equipment, a children’s area (face painting, arts and crafts, games and free popcorn), free tetanus vaccinations, free haircuts and manicures, food booths, live music, and more.  

For additional information, contact Cindy Duarte at (909) 394-2264 or (626) 967-1441.

Project: Altadena

The fabulous Molly Tierney at Photography by Walt has a project she's cooking up, and details are as follows:

The idea for Project: Altadena came to me after signing up for another project called "A Million Little Pictures."

More info at www.arthousecoop.com or http://www.arthousecoop.com/projects/amlp

I would like to have a bunch of people to take photos of the community how they see it or just maybe a one day of shooting around the town sort of thing. I would like some locals, friends, storeowners, and so on to take part. They will be given a disposable camera, and I will develop the film/prints. End result wall to wall coverings of 4x6 photographs depicting Altadena in all sorts of ways! Hopefully it will be ready for an upcoming show here in Altadena.

I think it could be really interesting!!!

If you want to take part: Let me know!

I ordered the cameras...I will have the cameras by June 1st. I have only so many to give away.
If a lot of people end up wanting to do it. Everyone might have to buy their own/develop, and we could come up with a drop off date?! I dont know. Its in the works.

Only Rule: You must live or work here in Altadena

Pass it along...

Contact Molly
photobywalt@yahoo.com or
facebook me

Outta here ...

We are off on our annual Memorial Day out-of-town trip.  We have a surprise or two waiting to be published over the weekend, but we personally won't even be near a computer.  Have a wonderful holiday, and we'll see you Tuesday.

Wine and Gelato? Of course!

... if it's Bulgarini Gelato!  Altadena's favorite better-than-ice-cream joint is going westside on us, and they send us this:

On May 30th, Il Moro Ristorante in Santa Monica is presenting a unique wine dinner featuring Bulgarini Gelato with each course. There will be two prix fixe menus available: a 5 course menu for $50 per person and a 7 course menu for $95 per person (please see link below for menu and details).

Dinner seating begins at 5:30p.m.

 http://www.bulgarinigelato.com/Harmonique_Menu.pdf

Reservations can be made by calling (310) 575-3530 Il Moro Ristorante 11400 West Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064 (Entrance & Valet Parking On Purdue Ave.)

Danny's Farm -- a great place to meet chicks

OK, you knew that was coming.  It's springtime, and a good time to contemplate which comes first ...  click the picture to enlarge.

"*#%$@!" at Photography by Walt

Yep, that's what they're calling it -- a display of Wendy Whitaker's oil paintings and drawings at Altadena's foremost photography studio, 2455 N. Lake, June 5-7.

Opening Reception is Fri., June 5, 7-11 PM, and the studio will be open 10 AM-4 PM on the weekend.

Memorial Day activities

Pasadena Weekly has a list of activities, celebrations, and such for Memorial Day including Saturday's Latin American Festival from noon-6 PM at Charles White Park.

2009 Bright Futures Scholars honored

On Sun., June 7, the Quality of Life Center will honor 100 graduating high academic achievers from Pasadena Unified high schools and middle schools at the annual Bright Futures Scholars Graduation and Awards Luncheon.  The luncheon will take place at the Pasadena Hilton Hotel Grand Ballroom from 1- 4 PM.

Seniors from all participating Pasadena Unified high schools will receive scholarships and all graduating scholars will receive special recognition.  Bright Futures Scholars must maintain a 3.0 and above grade point average.

For information or contributions please contact: The Quality of Life Center, Inc. at 626-798-5433.

Pictured: the 2009 Bright Futures Scholars and Community Advocates: (second row, right) Capt. Roosevelt Blow of the Altadena Sheriff's Station, (second row left) Phyllis E. Curry, General Manager Pasadena Power and Water, and (first row right) Lita Murray, Pasadena Lighting.

Daily photo goodness

Do check out our old buddy Petrea Burchard's Pasadena Daily Photo -- it's been Altadena week, as one of our fellow "12 best blogs in the San Gabriel Valley" shares her experience at last week's Lake Ave. open house festivities.

Problem: Maria. How to handle?

St. Elizabeth's Parish School, for the next two weekends, is presenting our personal favorite musical, "The Sound of Music."  Singable tunes, great characters, orphans, nuns, and Nazis -- it really doesn't come better.

Atlatl show 'em, the tossers

Christopher Nyerges, in the Pasadena Weekly, features Altadena attorney Roland Trevino, who is an expert atlatl thrower, an ancient weapon used all over the world.

Ian Whitcomb @ the Coffee Gallery Sun. 5/31

Got a note from Altadena's irrepressible Ian Whitcomb:

I shall be doing one of my shows at the intimate folksy Coffee Gallery on Sunday, May 31. Ace guitarist Fred Sokolow will be with me and there may be surprise guests. There will be the usual reminiscing and pontificating as well as songs both comic and sentimental. Ukie and Art Accordion will be with me, as well as My Magic Piano.  I know this is rather last minute-ish but ...
Do come!

TIME: SUNDAY, MAY 31 at 7pm
PLACE: THE COFFEE GALLERY BACKSTAGE,
2029 N. LAKE AVENUE
 ALTADENA CA 91001.
COST: $18.
RESERVATIONS: (626) 398 7917

San Francisco 8 speak out

The LA Watts Times runs a story on a recent meeting of the Pasadena ACLU, where Altadena residents Ray Boudreaux, 64, and Hank Jones, 70, recount their time with the Black Panthers.  The men are two of the "San Francisco 8," charged with the 1971 murder of San Francisco Police Sgt. John Young, a case that was reopened in 2007.

WAD-C to Dorn Platz: it's over. County: not so fast ...

It's one step forward, two steps back for Lincoln Crossing.

With the opening of a third anchor for the shopping center (Bank of America), the development is doing well -- but one of its partners is trying to get rid of another partner, which will imperil future planned development of the site.

Altadena town councilor Michele Zack, who has been all over the many lives of Lincoln Crossing, shares with us her report at Tuesday's town council meeting.

As an addendum, Crown City News will have a feature on Lincoln Crossing on June 1 on KPAS, Ch. 56.

Zack's report follows, after the jump.

Altadena trucker sues New Mexico officials

Found this one scanning the websites:  Independent trucker Curtis Blackwell of Altadena is suing the New Mexico Motor Transportation Division for selective stopping black truckers for inspections.  It's an interesting story.

Country club goes Hollywood

Stalkeriffic Lindsay Blake, looking for a place for her wedding, looks at the Altadena Town & Country Club thru a location scout's eyes.

Library unveils building plan

The Altadena Library District unveiled its preliminary plans for renovating its historic 1967 Boyd Georgi building at Tuesday's town council meeting -- and the solution is in the air.

Quite literally -- plans call for building an addition cantilevered over the parking lot, as well as "selective demolition" of part the existing structure, all of which will add about 17,500 sq. ft. to the existing 22,000 sq. ft. structure, and more that double the amount of reader seats.

The estimated construction and refit costs are $18 million,  or $19 million if photovoltaic cells are added.

According to library director Barbara Pearson, right now they need to develop a way to fund plan specs -- about a $1.8 million project -- but the target date for any renovations are "quite a ways down the road."  The library has applied for congressional funding and is beginning to look at a capital campaign.

At the Junction: "While No One Was Looking"

The Altadena Junction is proud to present the first exhibit of writer and filmmaker Joseph Dougherty's series of photographs that were taken While No One Was Looking.

Opening Reception Friday May 29 (7pm-10pm)
Saturday May 30 (7pm-10pm)
Sunday May 31 (1pm-4pm)

Joseph Dougherty received Drama Desk and Critics Outer Circle nominations for his play Digby produced at the Manhattan Theatre Club. He wrote the libretto for the Tony winning musical My Favorite Year presented at Lincoln Center. An Emmy and Humanitas Prize winner for his work on the groundbreaking series thirtysomething, he has written several movies for HBO including Cast a Deadly Spell, which was nominated for a Ray Bradbury Award by the Mystery Writers of America, and the remake of Attack of the Fifty-Foot Woman, starring Daryl Hannah and directed by Christopher Guest. He has contributed to several popular television series including Once and Again, Judging Amy, and Saving Grace. He’s the creator of Handwritten Theatre, a series of brief dramatic pieces originally composed in a small black notebook with a fountain pen and available for download at www.HandwrittenTheatre.blogspot.com. He is co-founder and regular contributor to Hot Valley Writers, an online literary quarterly (www.HotValleyWriters.com). His books, Comfort and Joi, Trunk Piece, and the published edition of the Handwritten Theatre plays are available at Amazon.com. While No One Was Looking is the first exhibition of his photographs.

Lookin' for a foreclosure? Look around Farnsworth Park

... or so says this article on a business and finance website we discovered. 

If you're the type of buyer who seeks a unique property and not a ranch style or bungalow in a subdivision of look-alikes, houses for sale in Altadena could be for you. Altadena offer an eclectic repertoire of period homes, many restored but still maintaining the original architectural integrity. Here you can find such amenities as mahogany walls, hardwoord floors, crystal chandeliers, and a 19th century porch awaiting your Bentwood rocker.

It then goes on to delineate where are the best neighborhoods, and recommends not going south of Marengo (a neat trick on a north/south street!).

Council approves candidate list, the election is on

The Altadena Town Council approved the list of ten candidates for eight seats last night.  The election is scheduled for Sat., June 6, from 9 AM-3 PM

Those running are:

• Census Tract 4601
  Phil Barela
  
• Census Tract 4602
  Herbert H. Simmons
  Bill Westphal
• Census Tract 4603.01
  Dennis E. Bridwell
  
• Census Tract 4603.02
  Kenneth Roberts (incumbent, appointed)
  
• Census Tract 4610
  Gene R. Campbell (incumbent)
• Census Tract 4611
  Gaurav Malhotra
  Cynthia Tilleman
• Census Tract 4612
  Jamie Bissner
• Census Tract 4613
  Lorie H. Judson (incumbent)

Election chair Robert Meyer said that polls will be in the following locations:

Dickson Podley Real Estate (1471  E. Altadena Dr.), Ralphs (2270 Lake Ave), Farnsworth Park (Lake & Mount Curve), the Main Library (600 E. Mariposa), Loma Alta Park (3330 Lincoln Ave.), Gordy's Garage (843 W. Woodbury), and S&J Automotive (corner Allen and New York).

Altadenablog's election page will be online soon!

Short takes from last night's Town Council meeting

• The Pasadena Water & Power Dept. put on a dog and pony show for their upcoming rate increase (many Altadena homes are served by PWP).  By July, 2009, they are looking for a 10% average system revenue increase, and will adopt water shortage pricing.  Basically, rates are going up, penalties for large users, water reserves are half or less than what they should be.  Everybody's going to be doing it.
• Sheriff Capt. Roosevelt Blow spoke the the recent rash of shootings on the west side, saying that the slaying of Jerrill Dulaney is now in the hands of the homicide bureau, and nobody's talking.  If anyone has seen anything suspicious, call the homicide bureau at 323-890-5500.
  
  Blow said that additional gang investigators were called in, as well as detectives who were off that day.  "Additional resources" will be coming in for an occasional saturation patrol.
• The council approved a conditional use permit for alcohol sales at the Lake Ave./Calavaras St. site, aka the WaMu Crater.  RiteAid (which will be moving its existing store to the new facility) and potential tenant Fresh & Easy plan to sell beer, wine, and spirits at the site.

Teresa Tudury @ Coffee Gallery Thurs. night

Local music maven Bill Burnett lets us know that he will be performing with Teresa Tudury at the Coffee Gallery Backstage tomorrow, 8 PM. 

Says Bill:

This is the show you don't want to miss.  Teresa Tudury is an astounding singer and songwriter who will knock your socks off --literally.  The floor is littered with socks after Teresa does a set. If you're not wearing socks, she'll knit you a pair and THEN knock them off.

But let's just let Bill tell you himself:

_______

________

BTW, Bill wanted to show off some of the local coverage he got on the Pete Seeger tribute earlier this month.

The Stalker stalks Farnsworth

Lindsay Blake, that Iamnotastalker gal who finds where everything is filmed, tackles Farnsworth Park today.  She easily demonstrates that the Davies building was NOT the scene of the finale of "Dirty Dancing," but does show it was a location for other films (notably the American Pie franchise). 

Lindsay also has a great December feature on Ronnie's Automotive, scene of over 200 productions.

Hey! There's an election today!

We haven't had one of those in almost six months!  Click on the LA County voter locater to find out where to exercise your franchise.

Lost dogs, found cats

Got an email from Taffany Lam:

Hello!

Love your blog -- so informative!  I've not seen lost/found dog postings on your site, but thought I'd give it a shot.  Just found these two little guys on Marathon Road and Marengo.

They are friendly -- one has a collar with expired tags and no contact information; the other is without a collar.  They are very friendly and we would rather not call the Baldwin Park Humane Society....

For more information, please call 626-398-9994 or 626-485-7062.

and they are cuties!

And in somewhat related news: one of the neighborhood cats (calico, no collar and no known ownership) has chosen our garage to birth five (count 'em, five) kittens.  No, we don't want to keep any. The kittens are still very young and feeding off Mom, but are grabbable when Mom's not around.  Mom is just nasty, and we'd rather not risk bites and scratches.  We have left unanswered messages with animal control, but we're looking for suggestions at Altadenablog World Headquarters as to how to handle this!