…. which means we're operating at reduced capacity here, while we enjoy some time with the children — and trying to stay out of the heat!

The Altadena Coalition of Neighborhood Associations (ACONA) will hold its next meeting on Tue., Oct. 9, at a new location: the Altadena Senior Center, 560 E. Mariposa St..

The agenda is still being firmed up, but Sheriff Capt. John S. Benedict is scheduled to appear, and expect something about Walmart.  The meeting will run from 7-8:30 PM.

Rocking & captivating … Sgt. Pepper performs music by the Beatles and other British Invasion artists at festivals, concerts in the park, corporate events, private school fundraisers, wedding  receptions, colleges & night clubs. Although Sgt. Pepper focuses on Beatles and other British rock &

Bring a potluck dish to share and prepare to enjoy hot dogs and hamburgers grilled up by Altadena sheriff’s deputies and volunteers.  There will be many information and resource booths available,

10:31 PM PDT:  Planetfest attendees at the Pasadena Convention Center learn that the Mars Rover Curiosity had safely landed. Cheering crowd of 2,000, with live video from mission control at the Jet Propulsion Lab in the background. An overflow crowd of 1,000 watched in the Civic Auditorium next door. Video by Laura Monteros.

Seven minutes of terror, 14 minutes of jubilation: a night to remember at Planetfest

by Laura Monteros

Seven minutes of terror: seven minutes between the time the Mars Science Lab capsule entered the Mars atmosphere and the MSL team at JPL learned whether the rover Curiosity had safely landed.

from Southern California Edison

With high temperatures forecast in many parts of Southern California today and throughout the week, Southern California Edison (SCE) is urging customers to conserve power. 

SCE anticipates having sufficient resources to meet forecast electricity demand. But with energy use rising during extreme heat conditions, conservation can provide an added reserve should an unexpected power emergency occur,

by Timothy Rutt

The Altadena Chamber of Commerce is trying to clear out its stock of old street signs (which it accumulated when the gereric county signs were replaced with Altadena-specific signs). They're at the rather incredible price of $10 each, so it's cheap decoration for your home or office.

The list of available street signs is now up on the Altadena Chamber page: http://www.altadenachamber.org/news/altadena-street-signs/.

… a stray rooster’s taken up residence in our yard. He showed up about two weeks ago and has been free-ranging about, getting fat on bugs, and pooping a really impressive amount. I’ve come to enjoy having him around (my daughter named him Jerry), but those sunrise wake-up calls are starting to wear us out. Particularly in the last three days,

Hitting some deadlines on two projects today — and the kids are out of school, AND it's going to be realllllly hot — so entries will be light!

• Walmart: One thing about Walmart:  it’s apparently pretty easy to hack their information, according to this CNN article.
• Shuttle’s last trip:  A couple of months ago, the big news in LA involved transporting a large rock to the art museum. This fall, they’ll be moving the shuttle Endeavor to its new home at the California Science Center, and that’ll be a show, too. 
• You didn’t win that:  Got a press release from Supv.

Sgt. Debra Herman of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Dept. said that a man died Wednesday night after falling from the cliff at the first waterfall at Eaton Canyon.

Herman said that responders were called at 6:11 PM.  Medics from the Los Angeles County Fire Department prounounced the man dead at the scene.

The cliff around the waterfall has been the site of several rescues,

by Timothy Rutt

The super-hot weather this week  has caused the California Independent System Operator to issue a Flex Alert today, asking all power customers to reduce their usage through Sunday.

The alert was called at 9:09 AM today, according to a release from Southern California Edison,

Instead of one store, all of the retail stores are involved:

• Sidewalk Café HTS
• Puebla Tacos
• Suite 11 LA
• Los Robles Produce Market

It's this week's Altadena Junction, in the Pasadena Sun, featuring a blanket you can't buy at Walmart.

On Tues., July 24, award-winning juggler David Cousin’s comedy show will have audience involvement, interaction, and music perfectly suited to delight all ages.  Cousin will perform at 2 PM at the Altadena Main Library, 600 E. Mariposa St. , and at 4 PM at the Bob Lucas Branch Library, 2659 N. Lincoln Ave. 

by Timothy Rutt

Well, summer school is out, and PUSD doesn't start up for a month — so we're dealing with the kids pretty constantly starting this week.  Because we want to give them an enjoyable summer and have a few adventures together,  the website is going on "simmer" for awhile — the important stuff will be there,

Rescue crew deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department had a workout July 13, with three helicopter rescues in a little over an hour.

It all started at 1 PM on July 13, with the rescue of a man at Eaton Falls (our original story and video here).  The victim had fallen 80 feet and landed on the canyon floor, sustaining moderate trauma injuries.  

Electric violinist Susie Hansen plays fiery Latin Jazz and Salsa, creating music that brings audiences to their feet, dancing in the aisles. Susie and her Los Angeles-based band have been acclaimed by many critics, such as Phil Elwood from the San Francisco Examiner who describes them this way: “It’s a sizzling,

We found a lost dog 7/22/12. It was running up Dominion Avenue corner,  cross street. Washington and Allen. We took her to the Pasadena Humane Society phone 626-792-7151. Hope you can post this picture and she can be reunited with her owners. 

Unbound Productions, which puts together the Wicked Lit plays during the Halloween season at the Mountain View Cemetery and Mausoleum, is hosting a fundraising poker tournament and gathering on Sat. Aug. 18 at 6 PM. 

They promise a “fun-filled evening at Mountain View Mausoleum to support Wicked Lit.”  Events include the poker tournament (limited to 50 players, prizes for the top eight);

Ding dong — the Bard of Avon’s calling, as Shakespeare by the Sea returns to Altadena with “Two Gentlemen of Verona.”

The San Pedro-based theater troupe, which presents Shakespearean plays around southern California during the summer, performs the comedy at 7 PM on Sun., Aug. 5, at the Farnsworth Park amphitheater.

Thwarted lovers, heroines in disguise,

from gloriana casey

The Squirrel’s  council spoke today,
about the dearth of trees:
Those winds of change blew down our homes
we’re begging of you please!

A mighty wind blew all away!
We ask for your help true.
For we in truth did plant the trees;
they’re your enjoyment too.

Now some do think the acorn is
the father to the tree.

Vector ecologists from from the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District (GLACVCD) report that six additional mosquito samples and two more dead birds collected in the District this summer have tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV).

Please refer to the charts below for a breakdown of the West Nile virus activity confirmed this past week. 

The mystery helicopter issue — mulitiple flights per day have been going over the hills from Chantry Flat to Millard Canyon — seems to be solved.

We were forwarded an email from Graham Breakwell of the US Forest Service, who explains what's going on with all the chopper activity —