Just got word from the Arroyo Seco Foundation that Saturday's Hahmongna Walkabout has been rescheduled due to probably rain on Saturday.

The new date is Sat., March 5, from 9 AM to noon.

A rainwater harvesting workshop sponsored by Foothill Municipal Water District, Glendale Water and Power, Pasadena Water and Power and Burbank Water and Power, will be held on Sat., March 12.  Participants will learn principles, practices and tips for water-harvesting earthworks and rain gardens.  

The workshop will be taught by inspiring speaker Brad Lancaster.  Brad Lancaster harvests rainwater,

Enter the Parent Doll, the brainchild of Altadena inventor and toymaker Brian Gibson.  The Parent Doll is exactly that —

The Parent Council of the Pasadena Waldorf School will be offering an open-to-the-public lecture/mini workshop by Simplicity Parenting author Kim John Payne on Fri., March 25 at Pasadena City College.  This will be Mr. Payne's only public Los Angeles appearance and he will be available to sign copies of his book at the event. 

The Altadena Community Garden send us:

Community member Ashley Ravestein has generously posted some items to give away. Check our "contact us" section to respond to Ashley if you are interested in any of the items:

100 ft of 8ft tall nylon fencing
50 ft of 2.5 ft tall chickenwire fencing
6 tomato cages
2 8ft nylon stakes (great for sunflowers)
8 iron T posts 8 ft in length
please contact me if you could use these items

Altadena Community Garden website is here.

In mid-December, we told you that the Eaton Canyon Nature Center Associates had made two $10,000 grants to the Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy. One was outright and the other was contingent on our raising another $10,000 in gifts and pledges.

Well, you matched the grant with donations and surpassed it with Foothills Society pledges.

A celebration of the 75th anniversary of the League of Women Voters Pasadena Area will be held March 6, 4- 6 PM at the Caltech Athenaeum, with music, food and drink and brief remarks by Congresswoman Judy Chu and Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard.  Admission is $75 and requires advance reservations available online at www.lwvpasadenaarea.org/celebrate or by calling 626-798-0965.

Pictured: deputies cordoned off the area around the AM-PM on Lake Ave. and New York Dr. Friday night

An unidentified  man was shot and died at the scene after fleeing a traffic stop and pulling out a handgun during a fight with a sheriff’s deputy, according to a statement from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Dept.

The incident occured at about 11:30 last night near the AM-PM on Lake Ave.

The 29th annual Black History Parade and Festival kicked off this morning from Charles White Park in Altadena and made its way down Fair Oaks to Robinson Park in Pasadena.  The skies cleared up long enough to make it a great time to be outside.  More pictures after the jump.

Loving husband and father, Tim Gripp, passed away on February 16, 2011. He was 59 years old. He is survived by his devoted wife, Pam, and their children, Erin, Brendan and Hayley. Tim is also survived by his father, Tom Gripp, Sr., his brothers, Tom, Jr. and Bob, sisters, Lenore Highet and Jane Clarke, as well as nieces and nephews, Todd, Ryan, Jenni, Callie and Andrew and his dog, Webster.

Tim was born in Pasadena,

Cost of the tickets is $5 per person, including pancakes, sausage, and hot & cold beverages.  

The classic Casablanca will start at 1 PM.  The Nicolas Cage film The Sorcerer’s Apprentice starts at 4 PM.  Intermission features “urban illusionist” Greg Riley with snacks, prizes, and fun. The evening ends with the vampiriffic  Twilight: Eclipse starting at 6:30 PM.

There will be martial arts demonstrations throughout the morning and an opportunity to see the range of classes they provide for all ages.

For more information, call 398-8853.

After learning that his father, the late Dr. George Hodel, had known Elizabeth Short, victim in the infamously unsolved “Black Dahlia” case, Steve Hodel, a homicide detective with the LAPD for almost 25 years, decided to investigate.  

His three year search resulted in the astonishing conclusion that his own father was the murderer as he describes in his book Black Dahlia Avenger: a Genius for Murder.  

Alice Wessen shares these great pictures of a young bobcat frolicking between rains in the Chaney Trail neighborhood Saturday morning: 

“He also made clear this was his territory.  I’m ok with that even if my dogs disagree.”

Cushon Bell of Altadena needs to garner 100 signatures this week to be recognized as a write-in candidate for the school board.  Bell is running for the Seat 2, held by incumbent Renatta Cooper, who until now has been running unopposed.

Pictured: Cushon Bell,

Reader Eric Wilson sent this picture of a gorgeous, clear Altadena morning after the storm (snow in the foothills!)  Bill Westphal also sent us some early morning pictures from the Weathercam, after the jump. 

MACH1, a therapeutic riding program for disabled children and adults, will hold its second annual 5K walk-a-thon at Hahamongna Watershed Park on Sun., March 13, 

According  MACH1's Kandace Proud, money from the walkathon will help pay for all costs associated with the program (horse care, instructors, barn fees, etc.)  

 (No horses at the walkathon,

There may still be tickets left to the Coffee Gallery's show tonight with John McEuen (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band for you old folks like us), who will be appearing with Matt Cartsonis and Craig Eastman, who has played with a boatload of acts over the years.  Showtime is 8 PM, admission is $20,

We seem to be doing a good job of it on our own and without a plan … but if you really want to be deliberate about it and kill your patch lawn, "Swan Song for the Lawn" with Larry Santoyo is a workshop that will be held  in Altadena Sat. and Sun.,

Special guest speaker is actor/producer Emil Pinnock (Beloved, Gridiron Gang).

There will also be an after-party at the Community Center, $5 admission before 9:30 PM, $7 after, with valid high school ID,

For more information,

• The Sheriff’s Support Group of Altadena has announced its final act  on Sept. 10 for the summer concert series: The Beach Toys (it’s a tribute band, and the tribute is rather obvious!)  Another grand finale for what promises to be another spectacular concert series, which Altadenablog is proud to co-sponsor this year.
• PSN reports that Stephen Bullock, 33, of Pomona, died of a gunshot wound to the head by a sheriff’s deputy in Friday night’s shooting on New York Dr.  

Real life Wednesday ended up being more overwhelming than we thought, so we have a big pile of stuff to get to today.  Updates all day long!

• Diaz resigns: At last night’s PUSD Candidate’s Forum, Supt. Edwin Diaz announced that he was resigning, effective Aug. 2.  PSN has details. Pasadena Weekly’s Andre Coleman has an interview here.
• Rubio acquisition: Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy exec director John R. Howell will be in Sacramento today.  The State Wildlife Conservation Board is expected to approve a $540K grant to allow the conservancy to buy the final 18 acres of Rubio Canyon land.

Mon., Feb. 14

Between 4:30 AM & 3:00 PM: A burglary from a trailer used as a residence occurred in the 100 block of E. Woodbury Road. Suspect(s) removed the lock and chain used to secure the front door. Loss: black ‘Acer’ Aspire 15” laptop.

Wed., Feb. 16

Between 8:45 PM & 7:00 AM, Thursday: A vehicle burglary occurred in the 1500 block of Sinaloa Avenue.

New stuff is always coming in, so check back frequently!

Thurs. Feb. 24

• PUSD’s African American History Bee, 5:30 PM at Eliot Middle School.

Fri., Feb. 25

• Movies in the Park goes from 1-8:30 PM at Farnsworth Park. The classic Casablanca will start at 1 PM.  The Nicolas Cage film The Sorcerer’s Apprentice starts at 4 PM.  Intermission features “urban illusionist”

For a great opportunity to join Altadena Heritage and honor local hero Ben McGinty, there will be a special gathering at the Altadena Ale & Wine House, 2329 N. Fair Oaks,  to celebrate his work in the arts in Altadena on March 3.  The event runs from 6-8 PM.

Get ready for a cold, wet weekend, says the National Weather Service:

Friday night, rain is predicted and snow showers are likely. Heavy rain, thunder, 90% chance of precipitation, and snow showers around 1500-1000 feet.  High is near 56 on Friday, and predicted low is 42 degrees.

Supervising regional planner Alex Garcia said that “right now, the problem is that they’re using required parking spaces.”  

  Recently-announced PUSD board Seat 2 write-in candidate Cushon Bell will represent the state of California at Parenting Magazine’s Mom Congress at Georgetown University in April.

Each year, Parenting chooses 51 outstanding “mom education advocates” — one from each state and Washington, D.C. — from essays submitted at Parenting.com to win an all-expense paid trip to attend the annual Mom Congress on Education and Learning conference at Georgetown University.

First, the bullet for the weekend:

• 1 to 3 inches of rain expected to fall
• No mud or debris flows predicted, but still potential at Canyon Crest Bridge and Milllard Creek.
• Chaney Trail gate and Millard Canyon Campground are closed.
• Snow levels  as low as 1,000 ft.

There will be a meeting to discuss the draft LA County Trails manual (available as pdf here: http://lacountytrailsmanual.com/) on Mon., Feb. 28, from 6-10 PM at the Birch Room of Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Dr., La Canada Flintridge. 

Marietta Kruells has sent around a message encouraging equestrians to attend,

Even though crime has been greatly reduced in the last eight months, we are still experiencing a problem with residential burglaries, vehicle burglaries and thefts from vehicles (items taken from unlocked cars).

We ask that residents remain vigilant.  Secure your homes and cars.  Do not leave valuables in your cars.  Report any suspicious behavior in your neighborhoods. 

Wed.,  Feb. 2

Between 8:10 AM – 5:35 PM – a residential burglary occurred in the 1600 block of N. Harding Avenue.    Suspect(s) entered the residence through the kitchen door.  Loss:  grey Dell laptop, grey Dynex 22” TV,  and a gold emerald ring. 

Thurs.,  Feb. 3

Between 12:00 AM &- 8:00 AM – a petty theft from an unlocked vehicle occurred in the 3200‐block of N.

The Christmas Tree Lane Association is putting out the call for all volunteers to gather this Saturday from 9 AM to noon to start the "Take Down."

Elizabeth Nelson of the Association says that Lane volunteers will gather every Saturday and Sunday along Santa Rosa to take the lights off the trees until the job is done:"