Homicide detectives are on the scene in northeast Altadena following the discovery of a man’s body with a gunshot wound this morning.

According to the LA Sheriff’s Department, a man was found along a horse trail in the neighborhood of 3800 Canon Boulevard at 8:10 AM this morning.  Initial reports described the man as in his 20’s, suffering a gunshot wound to the head.

Welcome to the Hotel Transylvania, Dracula’s lavish five-stake resort, where monsters and their families can life it up, free from meddling from the human world.  Needless to say, that won’t last long.

Rated PG, and 91 minutes long, admission is free.  The Altadena Main Library is at 600 E. Mariposa St. 

But you still have time today to transport yourself over to 370 Ventura Street for The Geek’s Garage Sale!  Myra promises board games, DVDs, furniture, clothing, toys, housewares, Magic the Gathering cards, etc.  Romulan Ginger Ale will be available! Try your hand at Tribble Croquet!

That’s today, Sunday, from until 3 PM.

• Holden joins SM Conservancy board: Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena) has been appointed to the Governing Board of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.  The announcement was made by Assembly Speaker John Perez.  “The Conservancy has helped preserve urban parks and wilderness access throughout Southern California and especially in the foothills region of the 41st Assembly District,” said Assemblymember Holden. “I look forward to working in partnership with local governments and private landowners to protect and preserve the natural treasures of the San Gabriel foothills.”
• Packin’

The Altadena Chamber of Commerce is looking for feedback from local businesses as part of the revision process for the Altadena Community Standards District.

The CSD, last revised in 1986, is being updated by a committee of the Altadena Town Council.  The chamber is interested in comments from local businesses as to the current standards and how they can be improved.

We are pleased to announce that the 2013-2014 Annual Grants Program Application and Guidelines
http ://www.ci.pasadena.ca.us/Arts/Grant_Programs/> are now available online.

All applications are due to the Cultural Affairs Division office by 5:00 pm on Wednesday, May 15.

The Annual Grants Program provides opportunities for local arts and culture organizations and individual artists to reach the Pasadena community through interesting,

Altadena customers of Las Flores Water Company are being asked cut back on water use from Feb. 18 through March 1.  Altadena residents who are supplied by the City of Pasadena are being asked to restrict water use from Feb. 21 through Feb. 28.

The Foothill Municipal Water District, which supplies Las Flores, is beginning upgrades that are scheduled to end March 1.  

The Altadena Sheriff’s Station is reporting that there is a rescue currently underway before 9 PM)  in Eaton Canyon.

Rescuers from the Altadena Mountain Rescue Team, assisted by Sierra Madre Search & Rescue,  made voice contact with a mother and son stranded in the dark near the first waterfall of Eaton Canyon. According to the station, search and rescue deputies reached the victims around 8:15 PM —

from the City of Pasadena

Pasadena City Clerk Mark Jomsky reminds the public that Tuesday, February 19 is the deadline to register to vote in the March 5, 2013 City Council and Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Primary Nominating Election. 

Eligible individuals wishing to participate in the March 5 election for City Council Districts 3,

from gloriana casey

A lost cat then is found again,
and neighbors, they do laugh.
For Shuggie is a courtyard cat,
so cute, yet also daft!

For curiosity is said
to be cats’ nemesis.
But neighbors make the difference then,
when kitty cat is missed.

Behold the hero,

• Date with the Candidates:The Pasadena Sun is running a feature on the candidates who are running for Pasadena Unified School District Board and Pasadena City Council, and is also making endorsements here.
• Poems by the sea: Douglas Kearney, a poet who grew up in Altadena, will be reading from his work at the Annenberg Community Beach House on February 25 at 6:30 PM along with Amy Gerstler and Brynn Saito.

 Altadena’s Walmart Neighborhood Market will open for business on Friday, March 1, according to a Walmart spokeswoman.

Rachel Wall, Walmart’s senior manager of community affairs,  said that it would be a “celebration weekend, opening the store to the Altadena community,” with product giveaways and sample for customers.  

Wall said the store will host a grand-opening celebration at 7:30 AM on Friday, March 1. Store associates and local dignitaries will participate in a brief ceremony,

by Tiffany Kelly
Pasadena Sun

Caltech President Jean-Lou Chameau will leave his position at the end of the school year to head up a science and tech-focused university in Saudi Arabia, the institute announced Tuesday.

Chameau, who will be leading King Abdullah University of Science and Technology,

Free County workshop on composting and smart gardening techniques, such as water conservation.  No reservation needed.  Beginners workshop teaches you backyard/worm composting, and water-wise gardening.  Advanced workshops teaches organic gardening and pest control and landscaping.  www.smartgardening.com

Beginners Workshops:                                           

March 9, 2013
9:30 am—11:00 am
Eaton Canyon Nature Center 
1750 N. Altadena Dr, Pasadena                           

May 11,

by Timothy Rutt

The Altadena Sheriff Station has distributed an information flyer in light of the uptick in local vehicle burglaries.

Full flyer after the jump.

Reader Cate says she's got some free dirt for you — about 25 cubic yards, in fact:

I'm re-landscaping my front yard.  With the water shortage this week, my plans are delayed, so I can afford the time it takes for people to haul bits away at a time. 

The Institude of Domestic Technology will devote a day to the fine art of coffeemaking Sunday, Feb. 24, with local master micro-roaster Daniel Kent at the Zane Grey Estate.

The all-day package includes a morning spent learning how to roast your coffee beans, followed by an afternoon workshop in coffee extraction.  All day package is $190, afternoon workshop alone is $95.

Instructor Kent is the proprietor of Plow &

“MICHELE  ZACK—CITIZEN”

from gloriana casey

Her words —- written like Earth’s tapestry

Incite our minds—connections will remain.

Surely tales of life’s synchronicity

These history tales rekindle land’s refrain.

Ordinary lives become part of us

Reflecting value in what’s passed a pace.

• 20th century campaigning in the 21st:  PSN’s James Figueroa also tries to pull a story out of the unexciting Altadena candidate’s forum and scores a winner: candidates Kim Kenne and Hermond Dead Cooper have almost zero web presence for their campaign in the social media age.
• Super Sunday: The Altadena Ale & Wine House is holding a potluck Superbowl party starting at 3 PM Sunday — bring something to share!  The pub is at 2329 N.

by Timothy Rutt

The Altadena Town Council Land Use Committee has released a revised agenda for Tuesday night's meeting, which includes a ten minute presentation on the "Lake and Calavaras Project."

The empty lot at Lake Avenue and Calavaras street has been subject to much recent speculation as a possible site for a second Walmart Neighborhood Market in Altadena.