The training is taught in 8 modules over four Saturdays (non-consecutive), the dates are: Saturday March 10 (9:00 AM to 4:30 PM), Saturday March 24 (9:30 AM to 4:30 PM), Saturday April 7 (9:30 AM to 4:30 PM) and Saturday April 14 (9:30 AM to 4:30 PM).  

Attendance at all 8 modules (4 days) is required to complete the class;

Rhythms of the Village Productions warms up before the 30th annual Black History Parade on Feb. 18, 2012, starting at Charles White Park in Altadena.

by Timothy Rutt

It was a perfect day for a parade with a cloudless sky, clear view to the mountains, and great weather — so it was a perfect day for the 30th annual Black History Parade, which started at Charles White Park this morning.

• Back to market: The EatWell Market will return to Camp Mariposa (Santa Rosa Ave. and Mariposa St.) on Sat., March 10, from 12-3 PM.  Market manager Aimee Silver says that, because of costs, there will be $2 admission per person (under 18 free), and membership is required (but it’s free).  Vendors have until Feb. 24 to to be accepted.  We’ll have more information from SIlver later in the week, but you can find out more details at eatwellmarket.com
• Lab adore: Good news: the two Labs who were found on Pepper Drive and taken in Feb..

The Cat Posse Rescue is holding a giant fundraiser/yardsale this coming Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 25 & 26. 

Renee Walker of the Rescue tells us:

We’ve got TONS of really nice stuff- LOTS of brand new packaged toys, furniture, crib (no mattress), garage door opener, new storage containers, electric stove top, fire place set, cool artsy stuff, household items, art work,

Accepted items include televisions, computer monitors, computers and parts, printers, cellphones, DVD players, VCRs, microwaves, ink cartridges, and much more.

Items not accepted include flourescent tubes, CFL lightbulbs, car batteries, paints and solvents, household appliances, or hazardous waste (check the flyer for details).

Our column is up in the Sunday Valley Sun: a compendium of what's been happening this week, but you're faithful readers, so you already know!

Altadenan Shirlee Smith is one of the featured “Local Heros” for KCET this month.  Smith, founder and president of Talk About Parenting with Shirlee Smith, Inc., is also a former columnist with the Pasadena Star-News, author of “They’re Your Kids, Not Your Friends,” and runs the website talkaboutparenting.org.  She also hosts the “Talk About Parenting” program on the Pasadena Community Network.  You can read KCET’s feature and watch the video right here.

The East Altadena Little League opens its season with a waffle breakfast and opening ceremonies this Sat., Feb. 25.

Waffle breakfast runs from 8 AM-8:45, followed by opening ceremonies.  Cost is $5 per person or $20 per family.

There will also be an opportunity drawing for an iPad 2, iPhone, and $150 cash.

Team pictures will also be taken that day.

The event will be at Donely Field,

… which means we're juggling school-free children today, so updates will be light!

by Timothy Rutt

We have relied on a police scanner at Altadenablog almost since the beginning.  Scanning the local police and fire radio frequencies has been part of the daily routine for us, and has been invaluable in a couple of cases to just find what later turned out to be important stories.

“Mothers and Fathers of INVENTION”

from gloriana casey

It’s February and the month,
BLACK HISTORY won’t slumber.
Start out to read and marvel too.
Like Stevie, it’s a WONDER!

My favorite five of inventors,
both new and older time,
 although, perhaps you’ve favorites too,
but these five—they are mine!

Dr.

by Adolfo Flores
Pasadena Sun

A Westlake Village man was sentenced Thursday to 21 years in prison for fatally shooting an instructor from Pasadena’s Art Center College of Design in 2010.

In November Steven Honma, 56, was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the death of Norman Schureman,

A second Altadena man was reported missing Friday.

According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Johnny Burton, 72, was last seen at his residence on the 2800 block of El Nido Drive at 11 AM on Thursday, Feb. 2.  A sheriff’s notification says Burton suffers from occasional forgetfulness and is easily confused.

Burton is described as a male African American, 5 ft. 10 in.,

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department, in a release Friday, said they are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing 27-year-old Altadena man.

Arsen Bayramyan lves on North Glenrose Avenue.  The sheriff’s department described him as mentally challenged and requiring medication. 

He was last seen leaving his residence on Friday, Feb. 3, at 8:30 AM. 

His family is very concerned and is also asking for the public’s assistance.

by Timothy Rutt

Save the date, everybody: it’s the fourth annual “Primavera in Altadena” San Gabriel Valley Blogger’s Spring Potluck on Sat., March 24.

Bloggers, blog-fans, spouses, significant others, children, and pets are all welcome to the annual get-together in scenic Farnsworth Park.

Bring a potluck dish to share, or practical items like dishes, utensils, water, etc.

As always, the event will be held on the covered picnic tables on Mt.

Our column  is up in the Sunday Valley Sun,  and it's an assortment of odds and ends in the past week.  

Altadena deputies arrested a 28 year old Altadena-based rock singer for assault with a deadly weapon after she reportedly struck a park employee with her car Friday afternoon in Eaton Canyon.

According to a release from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Arune Kavaliauskaite became hostile toward an Eaton Canyon employee after she was warned repeatedly to put her dog on a leash.  The sheriff’s report says that the employee,

by Timothy Rutt

The Coffee Gallery turned its backstage area into a rummage sale Saturday in one of several fundraisers pay for county permits.  The “Got Parking” rummage sale — earmarked for the Gallery’s parking variance ($8,000 or so) was pretty calm that morning.  The Backstage becomes a concert venue again for the next fundraiser, a concert on Feb. 8. More after the jump.

A reserve deputy was injured during a rescue of a hiker in Eaton Canyon Sunday.

A Whittier woman, age 38, was hiking with her family when she slipped off a rock and broke her ankle about 100 yards below the first flats, according to Lt. Marjorie Jacobs of Crescenta Valley sheriff’s station.   The victim was airlifted out by the Air 5 rescue helicopter and taken to a nearby hospital.

A rescue reserve deputy was on the ground,

• Next ACONA meeting: Save the date: Tues., March 27, from 7-8:30 PM at the Altadena Library.  Agenda to come.
• Charles White: Reader Doris Finch found an ad for the Swann Galleries in the most recent New Yorker, illustrated by a Charles White charcoal.  Swann holds regular auctions of African American fine art, and Altadena’s White has his art frequently represented.
• Umm … coffee!  The Institute of Domestic Technology will hold another class by Ian Riley of LAMILL to teach you how to roast your own coffee beans. 

… and what would be better than to watch the commercial starring Altadena's own Luigi (who is one of the two French bulldogs performing this role):

… although this was our favorite, for the Chevy Silverado (wonder if their TAILGATES survived?)

Important film rule to remember: Apocalypse is always gray ("Terminator: Salvation,"

This from Brian Charles, who writes for the Pasadena Star News and San Gabriel Valley Tribune.  The story is about how the Pasadena police department has switched to an encrypted digital radio system. thus rendering police scanners inoperative and supposedly deterring criminals (as well as the press, who rely on scanners for breaking news). 

• Dog days: Let’s stipulate that Arune Kavaliauskaite’s music isn’t really to our taste.  (Is this even considered singing?)  However, the LA Times has picked up the story of the singer’s alleged attempt to run over a park employee at Eaton Canyon, and includes  a link to a video where the car and dog in question have cameos.  The video seems to highlight above all else that she has a rockin’ body and wears skimpy clothing,

Reversing its earlier decision, deputies from the Altadena Sheriff’s Station will resume attending ACONA meetings and working with the organization.

“We’re going to attend ACONA meetings, it’s not a big deal,” said Altadena Sheriff Lt. Roosevelt Johnson. “It’s a forum for the community, and as a law enforcement organization we have an obligation to be there and listen to the concerns of the community.”

The sheriff’s station boycotted the last meeting of the Altadena Coalition of Neighborhood Associations because Kendall Brown continued to attend as a volunteer.

Cities, public agencies, and nonprofit organizations that partner with public agencies are eligible to compete for grants of up to $100,000.  Grant guidelines allow for trees to be planted in parks and public open spaces as well as in parkways along residential and commercial streets.

Starting Feb. 11,  special “conversation hearts” featuring instant savings will be hidden among the aisles of the gift department. Customers who purchase a minimum of $10 will qualify to “hunt” for one of these hearts – instant savings will be good towards that day’s purchase from the gift department.

We’ve gotten several reports about this guy Tuesday, and they all go something like this (thanks to reader Steve):

This afternoon a 35-40 year old white male, curly black hair, medium height and build, knocked at our door …. Wore an orange vest.

When my wife looked out the window he said “Edison, here to look at your power line.”

One of the two women who may be victims of a rental scam has been told to vacate her house by the end of the month, but there are still issues with water on their property.

Marjorie McNary said that she had been ordered by the court to vacate the house she’s living in by Feb. 29.  McNary,

Certified gardening classes for beginning and intermediate gardeners will be held again this spring at the Altadena Community Garden.

Master gardeners Jeri Huston and Randy Bayard will co-teach the UC VIctory Garden classes, held through the University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardener program.

Classes for beginners will be held March 24 and 31, and April 14 and 21.  Intermediate classes will be held April April 28 and May 5,

Altadenan Gene Stevenson will be among the community grand marshals for Pasadena’s 30th Annual Black History Parade and Festival, to be held Sat.,  Feb. 18.

Stevenson, former director of the Jackie Robinson Community Center, is one of the founders of the parade.  Other community marshals will be co-founders Carolyn Jones and Hamp Morris.  Joining them will be Brandilyn Amie, the Pasadena Community Access Corporation parade announcer,

The 2012 edition of the indispensable Altadena Connection is now available.

The county’s guide to services, events, and organizations in Altadena is being delivered in the mail right now, but is also available at the Altadena Main Library, 600 E. Mariposa St., the Bob Lucas Branch Library (when it re-opens), the Altadena Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Dr., the Altadena Senior Center, the Business Technology Center, the Altadena sheriff’s station at 780 E.