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Julie Sandoval at the Coffee Gallery, 2029 N. Lake, is making an offer:
Come take over the kitchen of The Coffee Gallery. This is an exciting opportunity to take over the kitchen for a day or so , on a monthly basis. It's open to catering companies, culinary school graduates and personal chefs. We feel this will be a win/win situation for everyone involved. Catering companies and chefs will have the opportunity to promote themselves and expand their client list, while Coffee Gallery patrons get a well-deserved break from my cooking. For more information please call the shop between 1-5 PM, (626) 398-7917, to make an appointment.
Who’s going to be “Chef of the Day” at The Coffee Gallery?
by Timothy Rutt
Pasadena Unified students return to school today, so please drive carefully.
It's the most wonderful time of the year at our house, and that means the website will be getting out of summer mode and ramping up -- which means a lot of catch-up over the next few days. Stay tuned!
by Timothy Rutt
The Altadena Town Council's Planning committee is scheduled to look at a conditional use permit for the Arroyo Pacific Academy, 183 E. Palm St.
The Academy runs a private school in Arcadia. Academy president Philip Clarke purchased the Palm St. property in October 2010 for use as a second campus. The property, the former Bienvenidos Children's Center, later housed the Sahag Mesrob Armenian Christian School, which was closed by the county for operating without permits.
The Sahag Mesrob incident prodded the creation of the Palm St. Area Resident's Association, which has consistently opposed putting a school on the property.
The Land Use Committee will meet on Tues., Sept. 6, at the Altadena Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Dr., at 7 PM.
The Altadena Library Community Room Presents: Contemporary & Urban Landscapes, a photographic exhibit featuring Los Angeles based artists Janet E. Dandridge, Annie Fourguette, Nicole Fournier, Michael E. Stern, and Tina Wallin.
This exhibit addresses the artist’s interpretation of a city or neighborhoods physical or social characteristics through a traditional, abstract, figurative or conceptual method.
The Opening Reception will be held Saturday, Sept. 10, from 5-9 PM, in the Library’s Community Room at 600 East Mariposa Street, Altadena, CA 91001. The work will remain on display for the month of September.
For questions or information regarding Art Exhibits::
Contact: Tina Wallin
Phone: 626-798-0833 (x118)
Fax: 626-798-5351
Email: twallin@altadenalibrary.org
The Altadena Main Library is at 600 E. Mariposa St.
by Timothy Rutt
The Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing at its regular Sept. 6 meeting as it mulls over three maps that will change supervisorial district boundaries.
All three maps keep Altadena in District 5 under Michael Antonovich, but the decision on new boundaries is by no means final. Previous draft maps have placed Altadena in District 1 (Molina), or split it between Districts 1 and 5.
The hearing will be held next Tues., Sept. 6, at 10 AM at the Board Hearing Room, 500 West Temple St., Los Angeles.
Maps and other information is available at http://redistricting.lacounty.gov/
Fixed Molina's district number!
Altadena artist Kathleen Swaydan will be one of the featured creators of "small works of art" at the the "Small Wonders" exhibition at the Towns Burr Gallery, 3609 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank.
An artist's reception will be held Sat., Sept. 10, from 5-8 PM. The show contines through Sept. 20.
by Jason Wells
Pasadena Sun
Three men reported missing in the Angeles National Forest overnight Monday were found uninjured at about 8:35 AM Tuesday, authorities said.
The men were reported missing about 11 PM. Monday, prompting an overnight search by crews from the Montrose and Sierra Madre search and rescue teams. A Los Angeles County sheriff's helicopter was also used to aid in the search effort.
Sheriff's Montrose Search and Rescue Team member Steve Goldsworthy said the men were found uninjured in the Devil's Canyon area of Angeles National Forest.
Two women and three men were arrested and one was shot with a taser during a disturbance at the intersection of East Sacramento St. and Raymond Lane Monday night.
According to Altadena Sheriff Lt. Roosevelt Johnson, deputies were called to the intersection at 11:14 PM last night on a gang disturbance and loud music call. According to Johnson, the deputies called for backup after being surrounded by about 50-60 people who were "partying in the street." Scanner reports said that Pasadena police and deputies from the Temple City sheriff's station came in as reinforcements.
A male, Diondri Mills, 19, was shot with a taser in the confrontation and taken to the hospital to remove the taser darts, which Johnson said was standard procedure. In addition to Mills, two other men, DeShawn Hayes, 18, and Anthony Jackson, 27, were also arrested, as were two women, Briana Triplett, 20, and Dominiqe Zavala, 22. All were charged with inciting a riot, Johnson said.
Susanna Dadd and James Griffith's Folly Bowl will present a one-of-a-kind rubber instrument revue on Sat., Sept. 10.
First of all, special guest and opening act, performing for LA for the first time, is the incredible Stan Wood, playing his own instrument - The Vibraband. Stan is 70 years old and lives in Portland OR and here he is in action:
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Wood will be followed by the Unpopable Trio: Addi on Balloon Bass, Matt Margucci on Cornet, Lap Steel Guitar, Accordion and more, and Danny Frankel on Drums and Bongos.
And it will all be at the Folly Bowl, starting at 8 PM. $10 donation suggested.
The Folly Bowl is at 1601 East Loma Alta Dr., parking on Loma Alta, bring your own refreshments (picnic, wine, etc.) and pack them out!
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by Timothy Rutt
Firefighters were called to a house fire at 2919 North Lake Ave. at 10:45 Sunday night. An 87-year-old female resident was hospitalized for mild distress due to smoke inhalation, and her caregiver was treated for first degree burns on her wrist, according to LA County Fire spokesman Matt Levesque.
According to the fire report, a company of five engines, a fire truck and paramedic squad found the house aflame. Even though there was concern about the nearby houses, it was quickly put out and no other homes were harmed.
The house was judged uninhabitable, Levesque said, and residents declined Red Cross assistance.
The cause was accidental, Levesque said, with combustables near the bed ignited from smoking. The resident had a history of heavy smoking, according to Levesque.
Besides loss to the structure, about $30,000 in contents were also destroyed, Levesque said.
This story was rewritten to incorporate more complete information as it became available.
While Mars rovers garner a steady stream of public attention, scientists from NASA and Jet Propulsion Laboratory have set their sights back on the moon, preparing for the launch of a new project next month.
The Gravitational Recovery and Interior Laboratory project aims to fill in the blanks on the formation of the moon by sending two satellites to measure the varying levels of gravitational pull on the moon’s mountainous dark side.
“The moon only shows us one side,” said Sami Asmar, deputy project scientist for the GRAIL program. “We’ve only seen pictures of the far side, which looks very different, and has been puzzling scientists for decades. … This will open up Pandora’s Box of scientific treasure.”
On Thursday NASA and JPL officials announced the launch window for the two GRAIL satellites begins Sept. 8 and will last for 42 days. It will take between three and four months for the craft to reach their destination, then a couple of months for the two to get in sync, and then three months to gather data.
The Tumbling Tumbleweeds brought old-time cowboy music in three-part harmony to the Sheriff Support Group Concert Series Saturday night. The Tumbleweeds sang old favorites on the Farnsworth Park stage, from Gene Autry and Roy Rogers to new songs that sounded like the old songs. More pictures after the jump.
Continue reading "The Tumbling Tumbleweeds return us to those thrilling days of yesteryear" »
Pictured: Bill Westphal's stunning picture of the Station Fire in the hills above the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
by Timothy Rutt
On Aug. 26, 2009, we had our first entry that something smoky was going on in the hills above La Canada Flintridge. The following day, Aug. 27, 2009, some homes in the Meadows were evacuated, crews were warning La Vina and Millard Canyon residents to get out, and we were now in for our week of hell called the Station Fire.
By Aug. 28, Altadenablog became all-fire-all-the-time, as homes in those neighborhoods as well as Florecita, Chaney Trail, and many others north of Loma Alta Drive were being evacuated. We didn't fully stand down until Sept. 5, when Mt. Wilson was under control.
You can return to those thrillling days of yesteryear at our August and September '09 archives.
But we always take this time to thank our readers, who helped make Altadenablog our community lifeline in this crisis. More than anything else, it cemented for us that a community of informed residents is a mighty good thing, and what a great privilege and responsibility it is to serve Altadena. More than ever, we love this work, and we love Altadena.
More pictures after the jump.
What do you remember about the Station Fire? Comment away!
Temps predicted to be over 100 degrees again today, with some "monsoonal moisture" in the mix. Stay cool today! National Weather Service shouts:
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO EXCEED 100 DEGREES OVER MANY VALLEY AND LOWER MOUNTAIN LOCATIONS AS A DOMINANT HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM REMAINS OVER THE SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES. SUNDAY HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE THE HOTTEST DAY OVER SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA AS THE RIDGE PEAKS IN INTENSITY. ADDITIONAL SUNSHINE WILL HELP TO BOOST TEMPERATURES AGAIN ON SATURDAY...WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR DANGEROUS HEAT INDEX VALUES ESPECIALLY OVER PORTIONS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.
HEAT INDEX IS A MEASURE OF HOW HOT IT REALLY FEELS. THE HIGHEST HEAT INDEX VALUES ON SATURDAY ARE EXPECTED OVER THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY VALLEYS AND MOUNTAINS... WHERE VALUES BETWEEN 100 AND 105 WILL BE POSSIBLE. SUCH HIGH HEAT INDEX VALUES MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO REMAIN COOL... AND POSES A POTENTIALLY FATAL RISK FOR HEAT ILLNESS AND FATIGUE...ESPECIALLY FOR THE HOMELESS...ELDERLY...AND PEOPLE WORKING OUTDOORS.
THE BEACHES WILL REMAIN A SOURCE OF RELIEF... WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES MAINLY IN THE 70S... EXCEPT 60S ALONG THE CENTRAL COAST.
SOME LINGERING MONSOONAL MOISTURE AND A WEAK DISTURBANCE MOVING INTO THE AREA WILL ALSO HELP TO BRING A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT AND SATURDAY TO SAN LUIS OBISPO AND SANTA BARBARA COUNTIES... AS WELL AS TO THE MOUNTAINS OF VENTURA AND LOS ANGELES COUNTIES AND FOR THE ANTELOPE VALLEY. ANY THUNDERSTORMS THAT DEVELOP ON SATURDAY MAY BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS... GUSTY WINDS... SMALL HAIL AND DANGEROUS CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTING.
A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORM WILL CONTINUE ON SUNDAY FOR THE LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS AND ANTELOPE VALLEY. DRY SOUTHWEST FLOW IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE AREA FOR MONDAY... WITH NO SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED. DURING THIS PROLONGED HEAT EVENT...PEOPLE PLANNING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES SHOULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE HOT TEMPERATURES AND ADJUST THEIR ACTIVITIES ACCORDINGLY. NEVER LEAVE CHILDREN...THE ELDERLY... OR PETS IN ENCLOSED AUTOMOBILES EVEN FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. EVEN IF THE WINDOWS ARE PARTIALLY OPEN... TEMPERATURES CAN QUICKLY RISE TO LIFE-THREATENING LEVELS.
Local public schools and Pasadena City College could face a combined $9 million in budget cuts come January if state finances fail to improve over the next three months.
Cuts to K-12 schools in the area would likely result in districts draining reserves, sending out layoff notices and shortening the school year.
The budget Gov. Jerry Brown signed in June projected that the economy would improve as the year wore on, and that the state would receive $4 billion more than originally anticipated in tax revenues.
If those predictions fell $2 billion or more short, lawmakers agreed to make nearly $1.8 billion in cuts to K-12 budgets and reduce funding for community colleges by $72 million. Revenue came in nearly $540 million below projections in July, according to the state controller’s office.
Street pole banners hung throughout major streets will promote Northwest Pasadena’s amenities under the “heart and soul of Pasadena” slogan.
The orange and blue banners, designed by an ad hoc committee of the area’s leaders, staff and an advertising agency, are part of an initial phase to promote the diversity of Northwest Pasadena, the city said in a statement.
The flags have four different designs, highlighting the area’s shopping, dining, recreation and culture. All of them feature a grid design of Northwest Pasadena's main streets, the city's rose logo and the Rose Bowl Stadium.
Pictured: Street pole banners are touting Northwest Pasadena as the heart and soul of Pasadena. (Photo courtesy of the City of Pasadena)
The East Coast has earthquakes and Hurricane Irene to worry about -- while we have excessive heat through the weekend with the possibility of thunderstorms that could ignite brush, followed by flooding. Nobody's telling when the rain of frogs will occur. National Weather Service shouts:
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO EXCEED 100 DEGREES OVER MANY VALLEY AND LOWER MOUNTAIN LOCATIONS AS A DOMINANT HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM REMAINS OVER THE SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES. SUNDAY HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE THE HOTTEST AS THE RIDGE PEAKS IN INTENSITY.
A SOUTHERLY FLOW ALOFT WILL MOISTEN THE AIR MASS TODAY AND INCREASE HUMIDITIES OVER THE AREA. THIS WILL COMBINE WITH THE HOT AMBIENT TEMPERATURES TO CREATE MORE HUMID CONDITIONS AND POSSIBLY PRODUCE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS HEAT INDEX VALUES. HEAT INDEX IS A MEASURE OF HOW HOT IT REALLY FEELS. THE HIGHEST HEAT INDEX VALUES ARE EXPECTED OVER THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY VALLEYS AND MOUNTAINS... WHERE VALUES BETWEEN 100 AND 107 ARE POSSIBLE. SUCH HIGH HEAT INDEX VALUES MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO REMAIN COOL... AND POSES A POTENTIALLY FATAL RISK FOR HEAT ILLNESS AND FATIGUE...ESPECIALLY FOR THE HOMELESS...ELDERLY...AND PEOPLE WORKING OUTDOORS.
Continue reading "Excessive heat predicted for the weekend, maybe thunderstorms" »
Keep checking back as more stuff is added ...
Thurs., Aug. 25
Fri., Aug. 26
Sat., Aug. 27
Sun., Aug. 28
The Folly Bowl, 1601 E. Loma Alta Dr., presents an evening of short plays by Sharon Yablon with music by Thomas Chan on Sat., Aug. 27, starting at 7 PM.
Featured performers are Adrian A. Cruz, Jacqueline Wright, Eugene Butler, and Michael Bonnabel.
Admission to the Folly Bowl is free, but donations are accepted. Bring a picnic, but pack everything out.
Marcus Jones, 38, a lifelong Altadena resident and Muir High School graduate, passed away suddenly on Aug. 16 due to complications from heart surgery. Marcus was a well-known and much loved member of the community and an avid athlete both at Muir and Loma Alta Park. He leaves behind his mother, Sheila Jones, who lost her other son to violence in 2003; Marcus was her only remaining child.
Mrs. Jones lives on her Social Security and has no insurance to assist with burial costs. A fundraiser has been organized to collect funds to help the family cover funeral expenses. Members of the community are asked to drive through the Christ the Shepherd Church parking lot, corner of Glenrose and Altadena Drive, between 4 and 9 PM TODAY (Thursday, Aug. 25) and drop off a few dollars on their way home from work or school. For more information, please contact LaTanya Anthony at 626.529.6581
Blue-eyed young male Husky found at Loma Alta Park. Black collar, no tags. Please call Amanda at 213-700-3520 if this is your dog.
Farnsworth Park's Movie in the Park for August is the animated "Clone Wars". Movie starts at 8:30 PM in the Farnsworth Park amphitheater, and admission is free.
Another lost cat:
LOST - young male cat, approx. 2 1/2 years old, white with black spots. Last seen Saturday night on August 20. Lives on West Loma Alta, near the park. Contact: Elizabeth (626)375-3414.
by Elliot Gold
Upside-Down T Neighborhood Assn.
The Upside-Down-T Neighborhood Association named Kendall Brown, 19, "Best Neighbor on the Block for 2011." The award has been given out annually by the “T” for the past decade. This is the first time in the Association’s history to give the award to a neighbor who was a teen.
Kendall Brown with his "Best Neighbor on the Block" award. Photo by Elliot Gold.
Kendall, who grew up on West Palm Street, was recognized for continuous contributions to the Palm St.-La Corona neighborhood, especially those made during this year. The most significant was his coming to the rescue of a grown young man who had fled a group home this spring, and then got lost on La Corona, which is a cul-de-sac.
While others in the neighborhood came out in an attempt to restrain the young man, upon seeing him, Kendall simply walked up to him and asked one question: “Do you like to play basketball?” The youth stopped running, turned around and replied “yes.”
“Well then, why don’t you join me in a game of basketball?”
Kendall then proceeded to take the youth to the bottom of the T (where La Corona meets Palm Street), where the Neighborhood Association has a basketball hoop on the curb. He handed the youth a basketball, giving him a chance to take some shots into the hoop. When the youth missed, instead of taking the next shot himself, Kendall said, “Let’s move closer to the hoop,” a move which not only got the young man to make better shots, but distracted him while other neighbors located the workers at the care facility who came over and were amazed to find the young man calmed down, not agitated nor needing to be restrained.
Kendall has not only focused on lost youth who find their way into the neighborhood, but lost animals as well, recently rescuing two lost puppies, keeping them in his backyard until he was able to locate the owners.
Continue reading "Looking after the lost makes Kendall Brown neighbor of the year at the "T"" »
A bad time to own a vehicle -- they've been stolen, ransacked, and vandalized in this report, along with a Sunday assault with multiple arrests. Blotter provided by Lt. Joseph Dempsey, Altadena Sheriff Station.
Fri., Aug 12
Between 7:30 AM and 1:30 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 1800 block of N. Lake Avenue. Suspect(s) entered the residence via the unlocked front window. Loss: silver Olympus digital camera, yellow Kodak digital camera, and misc. credit cards.
Sat., Aug. 13
12:23 AM – A vehicle burglary occurred in the 200 block of W. Las Flores Avenue. Suspect(s) entered the vehicle by shattering the driver’s side window. Loss: black/gray Garmin Nuvi 20SI GPS.
Mon., Aug. 15
Between 9:30 AM and 10:00 AM, Thursday – A residential burglary occurred in the 3400 block of Lilac Canyon Lane. Suspect(s) entered the residence via the second floor window. Loss: silver Sony 40” LCD TV, black Apple iMac 24’ computer and misc. currency.
Wed., Aug. 17
Between 8:00 PM and 6:00 AM, Thursday – A vehicle was reported stolen from the 900 block of Dolores Drive. The vehicle was recovered by Pasadena Police Department on 8/18/2011.
Thur., Aug. 18
1:20 AM – A vehicle vandalism occurred in the 3300 block of Tonia Av.
2:38 AM – A vehicle vandalism occurred in the 400 block of E. Athens St.
3:20 AM – A vehicle vandalism and petty theft from an unlocked vehicle occurred in the 3300 block of Vossberg Street. Loss: multicolored cosmetic bag and misc. coins.
Between 8:00 PM and 7:30 AM, Friday – A vehicle vandalism occurred in the 2000 block of Galbreth Road.
Fri., Aug. 19
Between 12:30 AM and 5:30 AM – A vehicle was reported stolen from the 600 block of Neldome Street.
Between 2:00 AM and 9:00 AM – A vehicle vandalism occurred in the 2100 blk of N. Marengo Avenue.
Sat., Aug. 20
Between 6:00 PM and 3:19 AM – A vehicle was reported stolen from the 1000 block of E. Palm Street. Vehicle was recovered by Pasadena Police Department.
Between 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM – A petty theft occurred in the 2600 block of McNally Avenue. Loss: green Poulan gas powered weed trimmer, silver Sony home am/fm stereo, silver Panasonic home stereo speakers, silver Toshiba dvd player.
Sun., Aug. 21
2:10 AM – An assault with a deadly weapon (hands, feet) occurred at Woodbury Road. and Glenrose Avenue. The witness heard commotion to the front of his residence and observed a group of male suspects assaulting a male victim. The witness attempted to intervene and the males began to assault the witness/victim. Deputies responded to the area and took (3) suspects into custody.
A bad few days to own a vehicles -- stolen vehicles, ransacked vehicles and vandalism dominate the blotter, along with a Sunday assault with multiple arrests.
The Foothill Municipal Water District is looking for someone to fill a vacancy on its Board of Directors.
According to a notice from the water district, the appointment is scheduled for consideration at the board of director's monthly meeting on Sept. 19, 2011 at 3 PM at the conference room of district headquarters, 4536 Hampton Road, La Canada Flintridge.
Candidates should send a one page statement of qualifications to serve before Sept. 7, 2011. The statement may be hand-delivered or mailed to Foothill Municipal Water District, 4536 Hampton Rd., La Canada Flintridge 91011. Interviews for those chosen will be on Tues., Sept. 13.
The position is to fill the vacancy for the seat for Division 1 of the water district, formerly held by Robert J. Gomperz.
For more information, contact Nina Jazmadarian at the water district at 818-790-4036 between 8:30 AM-4:30 PM. weekdays.
by Timothy Rutt
The Altadena Sheriff's Station is asking for increased vigilance following a wave of four burglaries Monday.
According to Det. Lt. Joseph Dempsey at the station, all burglaries involved forced entry during daytime hours. Locations of the burglaries are:
2000 block of E. Crary Street
1400 block of Coolidge Avenue
1700 block of Roosevelt Avenue
2300 block of Sinaloa Avenue
The sheriff's station is reminding residents to lock doors and windows and set alarms, and look out for your neighbors.
by Timothy Rutt
The Altadena Arts Council presented a "Friend of the Arts" award to the Webster family for hosting the "ARTBreak 2011 Community Arts Festival” in June.
The festival almost didn't happen, according to arts council director Mary Ann Stevenson. They were in the process of planning the 2011 ARTBreak when a major sponsor withdrew, putting the event -- which usually takes place at Farnsworth Park -- in danger.
Several days after the bad news, a council member saw a vacant store at the Webster's complex at 2450 N. Lake Ave. and called the owners to see if they'd agree to house the event, which was now conceived as an art exhibition. The Websters agreed, and and the vacant store was transformed into the Temporary Gallery@Websters, including construction of temporary, gleaming white walls for mounting the many works of art of Pasadena Unified School District students. Instead of the two weeks use requested by the Council, they were give full use of the space for an entire month rent-free, including utilities, according to an Arts Council press release.
Pictured: left to right, Juanita DeVaughn, Arts Council board member, Arts Council executive director Mary Ann Stevenson, and Gary Webster, who was honored along with his father, William Webster.
