By Joe Piasecki
Pasadena Sun

Addressing hundreds of Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientists on Thursday, Rep.Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) vowed to wage political war against proposed NASA cuts that could slash jobs and cripple JPL's efforts to explore Mars.

JPL stands to lose millions of dollars and possibly hundreds of workers under President Obama's plan to cut more than $300 million from NASA's 2013 planetary science budget.

by Timothy Rutt

PJ Johnson shared with us some pictures of Friday night’s Poetry & Art Slam at Altadena Elementary School.  The slam, in honor of Black History Month, brought together young poets and artists from all over the Pasadena Unified School District.  Above,  one young man performs his tribute to inventor Lewis Latimer.

Above,

Yes, the Ralphs grocery store on Lake near Mendocino is the place you want to go if you’d like to flash back to a 1970’s grocery store.  But why would you want to do that? Harsh fluorescent lighting, no amenities like a deli or coffee cart, possibly the worst carts in the San Gabriel Valley outside of a Big Lots.  That’s not even talking about the selection.

Audience favorite Lisa Haley and the Zydekats will return to the Sheriff Support Group of Altadena’s 2012 Summer Concert Series.

by TImothy Rutt

The Sheriff Support Group of Altadena (SSGA) is getting ready for summer, with the Farnsworth Park Summer Concert Series filling out nicely with musical favorites for all ages.

Producer Robert Klomburg confirmed the return of the Irish Volunteers and Lisa Haley and the Zydekats to Farnsworth Park,

by Timothy Rutt

7:25 PM: If you're on the east side of about Mendocino and Highland, the sheriff's station says that copter is looking for some burglars from the air.  We're monitoring the situation …

7:35 PM: Per scanner, location appears to be Beverly Way.

7:40: seems to be over now.

“Something There Is That Doesn’t Love A Hole”

from gloriana casey

WaMu, WaMu, you left a Hole,
Lake and Calaveras!
A Hole, a Hole, like empty eye;
Us —it does embarrass!

YES! Something doesn’t love a hole
within the human mind.
It wants to plant a thing right in,

Our weekly column for the Sunday Valley Sun says that the dog days have come early — a lot of dog news last week!

Even thought we categorize Valentine’s Day as a Day of Enforced, Joytm, we’re not that much of a Scrooge to say it shouldn’t be enjoyed.  Here are a few things going on in town:

The Altadena Ale & Wine House,  2329 N. Fair Oaks Ave.,  will have a special Valentine’s Day dinner on Tuesday, with a catered menu from Susann Edmonds of Jabberwocky, Inc., paired with great wines.  

forcibly so — it's a day off from PUSD and we have two kids with lots of homework to deal with today, so entries will be light — back up to speed tomorrow!

” The ANATOMY of a Valentine”

from gloriana casey

Dear Altadena Valentines,
I’d like to send my heart,
but maybe just for this year’s fun
I’ll pledge a different part!

There’s the lovely epiglottis,
directing air and food.
Or, the hammer, anvil, stirrup,
to ring out Love’s sweet mood.

by Bill Kisliuk
Pasadena Sun

Unsatisfied with Southern California Edison’s response to the fall windstorm, Assemblyman Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) has introduced a measure requiring utilities to meet regularly with local and county officials and to update emergency management plans.

The bill, AB 1650, requires utilities to meet with the local agencies in the areas they serve every two years.

• Stradford joins industry board: Dan Stradford, CEO of Action Duct Cleaning in Altadena, is now on the board of directors of the trade group National Air Duct Cleaners Assn., which sets standards for hygienic duct cleaning.  He is also the lead author of NADCA’s position paper on the use of chemicals in HVAC systems and will present the paper at the organizations’s international gathering in Puerto Rico next month.
• Priceless prize: PSN has an article on Altadena’s David Talbot,

Tarnie Fulloon is offering a teleseminar tonight on "Three Steps to Releasing the Stress & Obstacles that are holding you back":

A FREE one hour BodyFreedom™ Experience Teleseminar with Tarnie Fulloon.

Wedn.y, Feb 15, 5:30 – 6:30 PM.

REGISTER FOR FREE HERE

It all starts Friday at 3:30 PM at the Altadena Main Library, 600 E. Mariposa St..

All this and more is available at the Altadena Historical Society, which is open  Monday and Tuesday from 9 AM-12 PM and Friday by appointment.  This society is at the Altadena Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Dr., phone 626 797-8016.

County inspectors are now after new prey: unpermitted news racks lining Lake Avenue.

Sussy Nemer, field deputy for Supv. Michael D. Antonovich, said that news racks along sidewalks need to have permits, and there are a slew of racks that haven’t gone through the process along Lake Avenue.

As part of the permit process, the county’s public works department looks at things like placement on the sidewalk,

from gloriana casey

There stands the lonely Sentinel,
with ticket on its face.,
For UN-PERMITTED news rack stands,
inspectors give no grace!

Read it and weep, newspaper racks,
for busted now you’ll be.
The rules? Chapter 16.24,
from our L.A. County.

Where will you go, oh newsy ones?
You’re cornered now by feet.

Fri., Feb. 17

Friday Fun Flick: “Treasure Buddies,” rated G, is the free family movie (with popcorn and drink) at the Altadena Main Library, 600 E. Mariposa St. , 3:30 PM.

Coffee Gallery: backstage, “Merchants of Moonshine” (country/Americana), $15, 8 PM.  Reservations:  (626) 798-6236 or email: bstane@earthlink.net

Sat.,

It's windy today (but you know that)  The National Weather Service says strong west to northwest Santa Anas are expected today through this afternoon.  A high wind warning is in effect until 2 PM today, with gusts strongest in passes and canyons, possibly as high as 60 MPH.

UPDATE 11:40 AM: Carolyn Seitz passes this information along:

The National Weather Service/National Oceanic &

The tour will start with a look at Nuccio’s Nursery, followed by a tour of the be running a mini-tour in your area on Sunday, February 26.  We plan to start the day with a tour of Nuccio’s Nursery, head over to a nearby private garden, and end with a potluck picnic at Farnsworth Park.

Tours are $15 for members,

by Timothy Rutt

… and if you don't know, a "bleg" is a blog, begging.

Tuesday, Feb. 21 is Shrove Tuesday/Mardis Gras.  If your church, business, or organization is having a special event you'd like everyone to know about that day or evening, drop us a line at altadenablog@gmail.com.

And we're also compiling a list of Lenten and Easter events for the coming weeks,

by Adolfo Flores
Pasadena Sun

Legislation that would protect children in military-style boot camps and increase state oversight was introduced by two Pasadena-area legislators in Sacramento Wednesday.

The bill, SB 1089, authored by State Sen. Carol Liu (D-La Cañada Flintridge) and Assemblyman Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) comes after the release of two videos depicting drill instructors forcing children to drink water to the point of vomiting,

The mighty Steve Scauzillo at PSN reports about a decision from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that says visitors to the national forest don't have to pay a fee — could it mean the end of the Adventure Pass? (Please?)  While we're chewing through the decision,  check out Scauzillo's story.

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon will make its way through Pasadena streets on Sun., Feb. 19, and that means some street closures to be aware of.  The 134 ramps onto and off of Orange Grove Boulevard will also be closed during the event.  The run will benefit research for children with mitochondrial functional disorders.  Click on the graphic for more details.

Consultants to Los Angeles county planners will hold a series of community meetings this spring to get the public’s take on a new community standards plan for Altadena.

RBF Consulting, the county’s outside consultant, is also planning to meet with groups  such as the chamber of commerce and the town council, according to Sussy Nemer, field deputy for Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich.  Nemer said that the county recently had its first scoping meeting with RBF,

by Timothy Rutt

Have reports from several neighborhood newsgroups about young people knocking on doors at night, claiming to be neighbors and/or claiming to know neighbors and requesting some unspecified help.  (We've had a couple of reports of young men, and one of a young woman).  They will want you to come outside or request to come into your house.