This cat walked up my driveway [Monday]  afternoon around 4pm. We are on Loma Alta near Canon. She appears young and also appears to have recently had kittens. No tags. Very friendly. Seems a bit thin. Never seen her around before.

She emailed us this morning that the cat is still around, so if it’s yours, you may want to check out the corner of Loma Alta and Canon.

• Huntin': The California Dept. of Fish and Game now has hunting licenses available for the 2012-2013 hunting season.  You can also submit an application for the big game hunting drawing, before midnight on June 2.  They're only doing online submissions this year, and beginning June 22, results will be available.   Just don't hunt near the Meadows,

Mountain View Cemetery will have a ceremony to honor veterans this coming Memorial Day, Mon, May 28.  Historian Nick Smith says in an email that the ceremony begins at 2 PM:

It will be near the middle of the cemetery, south of Founder’s Circle near the huge oak tree. That’s near one of the areas with several Union Army veterans buried together, in a group of plots bought by the local Grand Army of the Republic post.

There will be an "open house" to discuss the SR-710 study (i.e. the expansion of the 710 through South Pasadena to the 210) on Wed., May 30, from 6-8 PM at the Rose Bowl Stadium visitor's locker room, 1001 Rose Bowl Dr., Pasadena.

In this meeting, people will learn about the multi-modal alternative concepts under evaluation in the SR-710 Study process,

All graduating Latino Seniors received an invitation to attend this ceremony. You must R.S.V.P. to: 626-636-1905

The ceremony will identify each graduating Senior from each of the High Schools in Pasadena. There will be speakers, dignitaries and scholarships will be presented by various community and non-profit organizations.

At last week’s Altadena Town Council meeting, the Webster’s companies were honored by Los Angeles County for their long-time presence in and service to Altadena.  Webster’s Fine Stationers’ Scott and Lori Webster flank Joan Kearney Turner, who first worked for the Webster family in 1970.

• The Brits go Altadena vegan: The Guardian (UK) has a vegan recipe, polenta with wild mushroom, hazelnuts, and figs — by our own Joseph Shuldiner, manager of the (Altadenablog sponsor) Altadena Farmers Market.  Normally, we avoid vegan, but we may be willing to make an exception here.
• Ceramics sale: The Community Center of La Canada Flintridge will host its 2012 Spring Ceramics Sale on Friday, June 8 from 3- 9:00  PM.

Roger Clemm will conduct the workshop, to be held at the Pasadena Seventh Day Adventist Church, 1280 E. Washington Blvd., on Sun., June 3, starting at 3 PM.  Cost is $20, but (what’s NOT on the poster) is that they are requesting RSVPs to have the proper number of chairs and handouts available.  

Check the countdown timer in the left-hand column — we’re just one week away from the opening of the Altadena Farmers Market at Loma Alta Park.  The market will run from 3-7 PM next Wed., May 30, at 600 West Palm St. at Loma Alta Park, next to the Altadena Community Garden.

The market is managed by the Institute of Domestic Technology,

by TImothy Rutt

The city of Pasadena has scheduled three meetings about the environmental impact report for the planned construction of parking lots and soccer fields in Hahamongna Watershed, but local activists are riled about the timing and notification –or lack thereof — for a meeting this week that was cancelled.

from gloriana casey

Transition of the urban land
and Angeles National Park,
the HAHAMONGA lends its name,
unique in water part.

Our peopled Earth is growing fast,
Seven billion live today.
Our land and water—LIMITED,
neath population’s sway.

Park serves a mighty, mighty need
for populations wide;
for horses, bikes and hikers too
plus golfers,

The Children’s Department is looking to start a Lego Club this fall, and you can’t have a club without the bricks.  Please drop off your clean, gently-used Legos at the Children’s Library desk.  They will also take Duplos and Quattros.

One of the summer’s key celebrations, Altadena Heritage’s Golden Poppy Garden Awards and Fete, will be held on Father’s Day, Sun., June 17, from 3-6 PM.

The Golden Poppy Awards features wonderful food and drink, including this year a special Father’s Day keg from a local brewery.  A select group of Altadena gardeners will be recognized for their achievements in beautifying Altadena.

Our first annual Neighborhood Fair just ramped it up about three notches!  Joining us to celebrate the need for peace and justice worldwide is the internationally acclaimed band UnNamed Servant.

After 10 years, 4 studio albums, extensive touring in the United States and International tours in Africa, India and South East Asia, UnNamed Servant (www.unnamedservant.com) has defied expectations by consistently offering a show that is high energy and profound.

Reader SC wants to give a rooster a home:

I know that there are many backyard chicken enthusiasts in Altadena. I have an 18 month old Barred Rock Bantam rooster needing a home. I have had him since he was 3 months old; the neighbors have now decided they don't like him.

by Beige Luciano-Adams
Pasadena Sun 

Nature enthusiasts will have something to celebrate Memorial Day weekend, as  Angeles National Forest officials will open parts of the Big Tujunga watershed closed after the Station Fire devastated the area in 2009.

On Wednesday, U.S. Forest Service officials said they hope to get final approval of the plan on Thursday.

We are enjoying the holidays with the family this weekend, and posting will be accordingly light.

• The good, the bad …: Well, here’s something you don’t see every day:  there’s a cut out of Clint Eastwood as “The Man with No Name” sitting atop a hill near a hiking trail, but visible from the 2 Freeway west of Verdugo Hills Hospital.  Yes, it’s art.  Bill Kisliuk gives the deets for the Valley Sun.
• Buddha’s hand: Altadena backyard grower and RIPE Altadena member Marsha Fowler is featured in an LA Times feature about the Buddha’s hand citron,

St. Mark’s School parents are holding a benefit wine tasting on Sun. June 3, at the (Altadenablog sponsor) Altadena Ale & Wine House, with all proceeds to benefit the school’s annual fund.

The event runs from 3-6 PM, and features an evening of cameraderie as well as seven French wine tastings and hors d’oeuvres.

TIckets are $35 at the door, or $25 for early birds — contact Kelly Hoyko at 795-2317 or St.

The Altadena Town Council has set up an Altadena beautificaton committee — an idea with a long past.  Historian Michele Zack looks at the history — and future — of beautification in Altadena

by Michele Zack

Meetings of the Altadena Historical and Beautification Society (established in 1935) were truly a mixed bag. One May morning in 1939 at the home of Mrs. Harry P. Gibson on Braeburn Avenue a scholarly talk on Pasadena founders Dr.

…. and we are enjoying some family recreational activities, so posting will be light today!

Posting will remain light today as we enjoy some family time.  We'll be back up to speed tomorrow!

… to all those who have served, and especially those who have made the supreme sacrifice for our country, who we remember today.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
      Between the crosses, row on row,
   That mark our place; and in the sky
   The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
   Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

by Timothy Rutt

We just spent 72 glorious hours away from the computer, enjoying the sun and surf at Catalina Island Camps with the family, and not even checking in.  We love our work, but it was grounding and refreshing to spend some time away.  Expect many updates throughout the day as we catch up!

Our Sunday Pasadena Sun column is up, a look at tomorrow's farmers market and other happenings around town.

by Timothy Rutt

The Los Angeles County Fire Department says that — based on real-life-experience — the "triangle of life" method of earthquake survival doesn't work.

So to give us some ideas of what does work, the LAFD has released a booklet (available here in PDF form) about surviving earthquakes and other disasters.

MEMAH (Men Educating Men About Health) will have a “Get Healthy Pasadena” health fair this Saturday, June 2, at the Pasadena Senior Center and Memorial Park, 85 E. Holly St., Pasadena.

There will be free health screenings, food demonstrations, live music, and product vendors promoting health lifestyles,  

The event is free, and runs from 9 AM-5 PM.

Indy racing: Altadenans at the Indy 500? Why not?  PSN has a history of our locals in the great race, with a side trip to midget racing (no, they’re not racing midgets …)

King Mike I: Larry Wilson at PSN has a story about MIchael D. Antonovich making impolitic remarks about Dr. Lucy Jones and facing a primary opponent for the first time since,

Odyssey Charter School, 726 W. Altadena Dr., presents its middle school production of “Alice in Wonderland” in the orchard on Fri., June 8, and Sat, June 9.

While the show is free, there will be a tea party before the Friday show ($5) and Saturday’s show includes a vegetarian catered dinner ($10) by Large Marge Sustainables.  (Much of the food for the dinner is coming from the school gardens and chickens).

by Adolfo Flores
Pasadena Sun

A 55-year-old Pasadena man facing financial problems killed himself Tuesday evening in the parking lot of the Eaton Canyon Nature Center.

Authorities found him with a gun by his side, according to the Pasadena Police Department. Police officers responded to the site after the man called 911 at about 7 p.m.

It’s here — the long-awaited Altadena Farmers Market opens this afternoon at 3 PM at Loma Alta Park, near the Community Garden, at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Palm Street.

Sponsored by Altadena Heritage, the market has been featured at LAist, Grub Street,, Los Angeles Magazine, LA Times,

Pasadena’s own literary extravaganza, LitFest Pasadena, premieres Saturday at Central Park in Old Town Pasadena.  It won’t be shy of local literary talent, including quite a few Altadena residents.

Among them will be novelist and Altadena native Michelle Huneven, whose third novel, Blame,  was nominated for the National Book Critics Circle Award.  Huneven joins novelist Janet Fitch (White Oleander) in a joint interview about the writing life by Pasadena Star News editor and LitFest founder Larry Wilson.

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune website reports that a Golden Valley, Minn., police officer was cleared of all charges in the fatal shooting of an Altadena woman in Monnetonka.

Katherine Gordon, 58, of Altadena, was stopped by Officer Robert Zarrett who observed her driving on Interstate 394 at speeds exceeding 90 miles an hour.

by TImothy Rutt

The Altadena Town Council has released its draft agenda for the next meeting, Tues., May 15.  By the looks of things, the major item of interest will be the council's consideration of a new restaurant, to locate at 2535 E. Washington Blvd., which is looking for a liquor license.

My wife and I spotted a mountain lion near Mariposa Street and Olive Avenue tonight (May 9) around 10 PM in neighbor’s backyard. We first heard a low growl as it attacked a house cat and devoured it. We ran back inside but not sure where it headed afterwards.