About 100 seniors, supporters, and caregivers listen to a panel at the Smarter Seniors Forum workshop at the Altadena Senior Center on Friday.  Resources were available on elder care and issues of financial fraud as it affects seniors.

The Altadena Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year, Carolyn Seitz, poses with leaders of Mentoring and Partnership for Youth Development at Friday’s annual Chamber dinner.  The Altadena chamber introduced its new board, its new president Inger Miller, and honored Seitz for her community involvement.  We’ve been promised more pictures (Bill Westphal and Debbi Swanson Patrick were out in force), and we’ll get them up later.

UPDATE: More pictures after the jump.

View Critter map 2011 in a larger map

Per the newsgroups, spotted in a back yard Saturday night with the housecat in its jaws.

My two cats were chased by two dogs on Wed., Jan 26.  One escaped up a tree and was rescued but the other is still missing. 

Her name is Mindy.  She is completely black, with a blue collar.  She doesn’t readily approach people.  But if you have seen her, please let me know.  I live at the top of Lake Ave,, just below the Cobb Estate. 

• Danny’s Farm rises again: Cathy Gott emails us that Danny’s Farm ain’t dead yet — while they are settling into their new digs at the Almansor Center in South Pasadena (and Channel 7 is expected to come by today), they are looking at a location in Agoura — and their annual spring fundraiser event will be chaired by none other than Alec Baldwin!
• The Boys and Girls’ Aid Society of Los Angeles County, aka Five Acres,

Jan. 26 parole sweep: the joint operation with Pasadena PD, Glendale PD,  California Highway Patrol, and the Dept. of Corrections Probation division checked 66 locations, leading to 12 arrests and the seizure of four firearms.

Jan. 27 drugs and gun bust: David Catchings, 52, was arrested for illegal possession of an assault weapon and possession of marijuana for sale in a joint operation of the Pasadena Police Dept.

• Can’t park your car in the garage because it’s full of boxes?
• Take ten minutes or more to find your keys every morning?
• Ever purchase something only to later find that you already have it?
• Do you own a stack of magazines that date back six months or more?

If you’ve answered “yes” to any of the questions above, you might need to call on dClutterfly for help!

Neighbors,

There have been a number of questions on the proposed trash contract, so here is a note on what I have learned.

I have just gone over the details of the Athens contract that is to be presented to the Supervisors at the end of February,

Wed., Jan. 19

1:00 PM – a petty theft occurred in the 200 block of West Calaveras Street.  The items were stolen from the front porch of the residence after being delivered via UPS.  Loss:  black Samsung 22” flat screen and silver TV wall mount. 

Wed., Jan. 26

Between 11:45 AM and 9:10 AM,

It's a First Day of February shout-out to the Altadena Online Sponsor Team:

A Chair in the Garden Salon
Altadena Ale & Wine House
Altadenans for Quality Education
Baietti-Seyffert Realtors
Dhari Thein Real Estate
Friends of the Altadena Library
Home Shoot Home
Judy Rubin Real Estate*
Mike Gibson Service Center
Photography by Walt
St.

• Altadena photog Ibarionex Perello is interviewed in Smartpress.com about building a portfolio, going pro, and the joys of film vs. digital.
• Athens Services (which is in line to be Altadena’s trash hauler) has a YouTube promotional video explaining their operation and how they do materials handling and recycling in their City of Industry facility, and composting in Victorville.
• Via Gary Altadena,  Hahamongna wildlife photog Dennis Callet offers one two three photos of a peregrine falcon atop what looks like a power pole,

St. Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church, 1879 N. Lake Ave., will hold a “Bundle Sunday” for the St. Vincent de Paul Society this Sun., Feb. 6, from 9 AM-1 PM in the church parking lot.

Bring your useable clothing, household items, and small appliances in good condition.  Proceeds of the sales will benefit people in the community who are in need.  To donate large items, appliances, or furniture, call the St. Vincent de Paul Truck Pick-Up Line at 800-974-3571.

Crimestoppers is a program that works with the community, law enforcement, and the media to solve crimes. (A pamphlet is available here).

People with knowledge of crimes that have occured can call, text, or log into the Crimestoppers website and provide crime tip information.  The tipster's identity is always encrypted and a private code is assigned to the tipster.

Help The Cat Posse Rescue in its mission to save cats.   Renee Walker writes:

The Cat Posse is a group of individuals devoted to rescuing and rehabilitating unwanted and abused cats in Southern California. We educate the community about the importance of spaying and neutering, and believe that all animals deserve dignity and kindness as we work toward the day when all public shelters will be "no kill".

Sponsored by Invest in PUSD Kids and the League of Women Voters, PUSD school board candidates will speak from 6:30-7:45, and Pasadena city council candidates from 8-9:30 PM.  Free child care available (ages 4 and above) with RSVP.  Click graphic for more details.

The Knights of  Columbus at St. Elizabeth Church are holding their annual used book sale this Sat,, Feb. 5 from 9 -2 in the St. Elizabeth school hall at 1840 N. Lake Ave., across from the church.

Since Altadena residents Jim and Paula Orlandini took over ownership of the store in July, there’s been a frenzy of painting, rearranging, remodeling, and restocking, but without sacrificing the small town hardware store look.  

Manager Jimmy Orlandini says that the grand opening will have free balloons for the kids as well as free popcorn,

The Pasadena Master Chorale will celebrate Valentine’s Day with two performances at the Altadena Community Church, 943 E. Altadena Drive: Sat., Feb. 12, at 7 PM, and Sun., Feb. 13, at 4 PM. 

The concert will feature “music of passion” by Eric Whitacre, Maurice Durufle, Samuel Barber, Morten Lauridsen, Vasil Oswald, Master Chorale conductor Jeffrey Bernstein, and others.  

Tickets are normally $20 each, but if you order TODAY,

Central Altadena Little League (CALL) in conjunction with the Marshall High School Baseball Program will host a Baseball Camp on Sat., Feb. 5 from 10 AM – 4 PM at the Farnsworth Park Upper Baseball diamond.  

This Camp will work on Baseball Fundamentals.  Emphasis will be on throwing mechanics, defensive drills and baseball conditioning. 

• Altadenans for Quality Education are still seeking an audit for the rejected petition signatures, but Chief Petitioner Bruce Wasson has updated some other information about their quest for an Altadena school district (including refining their message a bit with a Top 5 Reasons and Top 3 Priorities.).  It’s all over here on their website.
• Your Altadenablog publisher will be one of the speakers at a KPCC/Society of Professional Journalists’

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program is an all-risk, all-hazard training. This valuable course is designed to help you protect yourself, your family, your neighbors and your neighborhood in an emergency situation.

CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens may initially be on their own and their actions can make a difference.

From 5-9 PM, gourmet food truck fans can partake of at least four varieties of delicious fare while chatting and visiting with their friends, family and neighbors. Banking on the popularity of trendy food trucks,

Arroyo Time Bank's Gloria Putnam emails us:

Join us this Sat., Feb. 5  at 7 PM for a casual potluck style meet and greet with Time Banks USA founder Dr. Edgar S. Cahn at the Zane Grey Estate.

Bring a dish and/or a bottle of wine and earn a time dollar!

The Altadena Chamber of Commerce has issued a new round of discount coupons for local merchants.  Check out their offerings on our new Coupons page.

Keep checking back as there’s always new stock coming in ….

Fri., Feb. 4

• Weekly peace vigil, 4-4:30 PM, Altadena Community Church, 943 E. Altadena Dr.
• Music and variety open mic night, Coffee Gallery, 2029 N. Lake, starting at 8 PM.

Sat., Feb. 5

• Cat Posse Rescue Yard Sale/fundraiser, 8 AM-4 PM  at 782 W.

The mission of Aveson AAPC is to honor and embrace the identity and experiences of African-American families,

The League of Women Voters Pasadena Area (LWVPA) invites you to share in their seventy-fifth anniversary celebration on Sunday, March 6, from 4 pm to 6 pm at the California Institute of Technology's Athenaeum. Food, live music and entertainment will be provided including guest speaker, Congresswoman Judy Chu.

Born out of the suffragist movement just 17 years after Carrie Chapman Catt laid the cornerstone of the National League of Women Voters in 1920,

Save Hahamongna, a campaign of the Arroyo Seco Foundation and other organizations,  is holding a “walkabout” of the site on Sat., Feb. 19.

The free escorted walking tour will give a good look at the habitat, wildlife, birds, and water resources of the area and talk about new threats the watershed (300-400 trucks a day comes to mind).

Tours will leave every half hour from 9 AM-10:30 AM, and take about two and a half hours.  

Going from 11 AM to 5 PM, the picnic brings together bloggers, friends, families, and blogfans in one of the great events of the year!  

Various personal things occupied us all day Monday, so today is a grand round of catching up.  Expect new stuff throughout the day.