Altadena’s California Highway Patrol commander S.R. Strull says the local office is looking for senior volunteers.

CHP’s Senior Volunteer Program is looking for seniors  who want to be part of “the largest internationally accredited law enforcement agency whose mission is to provide safety, service, and security to the citizens of California.”  

In a release, Strull says that “Our volunteers have also enhanced traffic safety and service in the surrounding communities by performing tasks that support the goals of the CHP.

Altadena Heritage will present Part II of its look at the urban treescape with  a discussion on “Managing the Urban Forest” with Frank McDonough.

McDonough, from the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden, will discuss the Dec. 1 windstorm and what to do to prevent similar tree loss in future winds. 

The presentation starts at 7 PM on Thurs.,

This is a fun and educational project that serves to inspire student creativity while considering the stewardship of our precious water resources.  Students and Teachers may visit our website at www.fmwd.com (click on “Art Contest”) for additional contest information including detailed information on prizes and examples of past submitted art entries.

• Bar Altadena?  Nope, has nothing to do with the bears:  there’s a sparsely-populated Facebook page up for Bar Altadena, Stephen Rudicel and Gloria Putnam’s planned new restaurant/café.  It will be located at 2477 N. Lake Ave., the site of the late lamented Gallery at the End of the World, so we know the location has good ju-ju.  It’ll be fun to watch this grow. And to see what hoops the county will have them jump through.  

She says she has one black tonenail.  If she’s yours, call Megan at 626 756-6998.

From Angeles Forest Highway and Angeles Crest Highway (Highway 2) are closed to Aliso Canyon; Angeles Forest Highway and Angeles Crest Highway (Highway 2) at Big Tujunga Canyon Road, till further notice.

Congressman Adam Schiff today honored eleven Outstanding Women of the Year from the 29th Congressional District in a luncheon in Pasadena, including two from Altadena.

Zoning and planning consultant and uber-volunteer Carolyn Ingram Seitz and author/performer/activist Ellen Snortland were both honored for their contributions to the community in the luncheon.

Schiff also entered each of the women’s tributes in the Congressional Record.

by Timothy Rutt

A lightning strike and a gas leak may have been the cause of a housefire this afternoon in west Altadena.

According to county fire inspector Quvondo Johnson, firefighters were called at 1:19 this afternoon to a housefire on the 900 block of West Kent Street.

If you're driving in the area of the Rose Bowl Sunday, the City of Pasadena has sent out a traffic warning for the area:

The "Walk for MS", which will attract about 8,000 participants, will run from 8 AM-noon on the rose Bowl loop.  

St. Sophia's Easter Picnic will utilize Brookside Park and attract about 2,000 participants. 

The Altadena Sheriffs Station is investigating two drive-by shootings in the past two days, where there were no injuries, and at this point no suspects.

According to Sgt. Debra Herman of the Crescenta Valley Sheriffs station,  the first incident was reported at 4:51 AM Thursday, April 12, on the 600 block of W. Altadena Drive.  Herman said several shots were fired at the residence, but there were no injuries and there is no suspect at this time.

Our column is up at the Sunday Valley Sun: the farmer's market, coyotes, Poetry & Cookies, and a few frank opinions about the Altadena flag.

Pictured: a char mark on the curb at Windsor Avenue and Kent Street, where a man’s body was found ablaze Sunday morning.

by Timothy Rutt

Sheriff’s investigators are looking into the death of a man whose body was found ablaze on the 2600 block of Windsor Avenue on Sunday morning.

According to Deputy Lillian Peck of the Los Angeles County Sheriff Headquarters Bureau,

by TImothy Rutt

Western singer Juni Fisher entertained enthusiasts at the Altadena Stables Sunday afternoon.  Bob and Marie Mann’s Big Hat Promotions, which brings cowboy and western singers to the Altadena area,  held the first concert of the season at the stable’s arena, which added some ambiance (and the proper, uh, atmosphere!) to classic American music.  More pictures after the jump.

by Timothy Rutt

It was a bad day for finding dead bodies Sunday.

In addition to the man who was torched in Altadena Sunday morning, a hiker found a badly-decomposed body in heavy brush at Hahamongna Watershed Park that afternoon, according to Phlunte Riddle of the Pasadena Police Department.

The April meeting of the Altadena Town Council starts at 7 PM Tues., April 17, at the Altadena Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Dr.

The agenda includes updates on the Altadena Farmers Market and the MonteCedro retirement community.

Altadenablog welcomes its new member of the sponsor team, Altadena Energy & Solar.

From left: Elizabeth Bowman, Altadena Heritage president Mark Goldschmidt, Altadena Farmers Market manager Joseph Shuldiner, and Al Evans of County Parks and Recreation announce the opening of the market at the Altadena Town Council meeting April 17.

by TImothy Rutt

“Altadena is the new Brooklyn.”

That was the confident message brought by Joseph Shuldiner, manager of the Altadena Farmers Market,

by TImothy Rutt

Eric Pierce, chair of the Altadena Town Council election committee, revealed the dates and process for this year's town council election, which was approved by the council without much discussion.

Councilmembers serve two-year terms, and so half the council is up for election any given year. 

• The Town Council members will meet with the consultants for the Altadena “visioning process” on Tues., May 22 at the Community Center.
• The California Highway Patrol will install children’s car seats (or insure yours is installed correctly) at the Altadena office on Wednesdays, by appointment only, (626) 296-8100
• Sheriff Capt. John Benedict in his first council meeting said that he hit the ground running (standoff,

by TImothy Rutt

MonteCedro, the planned retirement community that will take over the site of the former Scripps Home, is moving closer to construction with a scaled-down plan, and plans to restore the one remaining structure on the site.

Martha Tamburrano, president and CEO of Episcopal Communities and Services, the new name of the organization that owns the site,

We've added a couple of things on the webpage to keep you up to date.  As always, we appreciate your feedback:

• Town Council Election Page:  On the upper navigation bar, we've added a page for the upcoming Town Council election, which we will keep updated as information comes in.

If you’re a preparedness type, you know that ham radios may be the best form of communication in times of disaster.  

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is offering classes for deputies, Volunteers on Patrol, and the general public to prepare you for the FCC examination to qualify for a Technician Class Amatuer Radio License on Fri,

There’s still space left for Altadena Heritage’s “Heritage of Abundance” presentation on “Managing the Urban Forest” with Frank McDonough of the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden.

Learn about what the 2011 Big Wind did to local trees,a d how to prevent similar tree loss in the future.

Admission is free for members of Altadena Heritage,

Earth Day at Aveson: Aveson Charter School invites the community to celebrate Earth Day at their campus on 1919 E. Pinecrest from 10 AM-2 PM.  Confirmed participants include:

• Eugene Cooke
• Wasteless Living
• Michael Greiner Music
• Label GMO
• RIPE
• Greywater Corps
• Institute of Domestic Technology
• Arroyo Time Bank
• Arroyo Food Coop
• Nirvana Day Spa
• NELA-North East LA Transition
• Papua Coffee/Food Alchemy
• BECAUSE WE CAN-BECAUSE WE CARE
• Karen Aenlle’s Jewelry by Design
• Steve’s Bikes

Altadena Flag Day: Starting at 1 PM,

by TImothy Rutt

After a hard-fought effort to locate a satellite campus in Altadena, the Arroyo Pacific Academy has thrown in the towel.

The school let an April 18 deadline pass to appeal to the county Board of Supervisors.  In March,

by Timothy Rutt

Following up on this week's warning about the dangers of climbing in Eaton Canyon,  LA County has released a video public service announcement and a flyer to warn the public to be cautious in the area.

The Altadena Town Council honored local businesses during this week’s meeting.

Above, councilmen Brent Musson (on the left) and Tecumseh Shackelford (on the right) from CT 4610 honor Super King Market as an outstanding business from their census tract.  Manager Vartan Gulasarian received a plaque from council chair Sandra Thomas.

Also, Ray Serafin of the Pasadena Sheraton hotel and Laura Gray from the Pasadena Hilton accepted a commemoration from Dr.

Southern California Public Radio will host Altadenablog media partner the Pasadena Sun for an election forum Wednesday, May 9, featuring the five candidates running for the 41st Assembly District on the June 5 ballot. The event will also feature a panel of experts on Pasadena’s Measure A.

The event is free and open to the public.

He is a two year old German Shepherd Mix with 1 flopped ear and very sweet.  Walked into my home at 3000 block of  Olive Avenue between Altadena Dr. & Palm Street on Wed.,  4/18/12 about 5 PM. No collar and no microchip.  Can contact Maureen at 626-240-9312 or 626-405-1777.

After being rained out in March, LitFest Pasadena’s inaugural festival has been rescheduled for Sat., May 12 at Pasadena’s Central Park, 275 S. Raymond Ave.  Admission is free.

Everything (and more!) that was planned for the rained-out event will be part of the May event: a celebratory day of readings and panel discussions featuring well-known local and California authors,

Rose West, Altadena Curves franchise owner says, “Our members have generous hearts.  So, it’s no surprise to me that they rallied behind the food drive.”  She explains,

• The latest update on the Sunday’s burned body is that the victim had been bound.  Coroners are using dental X-rays to try to determine the identity of the man, designated John Doe 60. Thomas Curwen a the LA TImes has details
• Sid Gally’s weekly historical piece in PSN looks at Prof. Lowe and his gas-making business.