by Timothy Rutt

… and we’re going to stop right now.  The Altadena Ale & Wine House held its second annual Limerick Festival Friday night, where the poetic form may be strict, but some lines get crossed anyway.  Host Mimi Chen (from 100.3, “The Sound”) hosted the benefit for City of Hope.  Here, Chen prepares to take a spin on the Wheel of Limerick to find out what gets read next.  

from the Pasadena Sun

The Tournament of Roses Foundation is now accepting grant applications from charitable organizations based in Alhambra, Altadena, Arcadia, La Cañada Flintridge, Monrovia, Pasadena, San Gabriel, San Marino, Sierra Madre and South Pasadena. Grants will be considered in the following categories: performing and visual arts;

Coyotes continue to be a big problem in our area.  A few weeks ago, while my daughter was (at night) walking from the kitchen door outside to the garage, she did not realize that our little Yorkie had slipped out until she heard a scream out front and ran down the driveway as our Yorkie ran past her being chased by two large coyotes.

by Timothy Rutt

Our column is up at the Valley Sun — who knew the holidays were so close at hand?

It's an Altadena kind of day in the California section of today's LA Times:

• Ricardo Lopez has a piece about beleaguered "Sgt. Mac" McFarland and his boot camp woes, taking a side trip into the troubles of "Sarge" Keith Gibbs;
• Teresa Watanabe looks at the Educate Our State training in Los Angeles this weekend,

A revised community general plan, street lighting improvements, and a presentation about the planned “bike boulevard” through Altadena are all on the docket at tomorrow’s Altadena Town Council meeting.

The council is also planning on recognizing all Neighborhood Watch groups for their contributions to the town.

The Altadena Town Council meets Tuesday at 7 PM at the Altadena Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Dr.

Father Greg Boyle, executive director of Homeboy Industries preaches Sunday at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Altadena.  Homeboy Industries helps gang-involved and at-risk youth through education, training, and job training.  Homeboy also runs a variety of businesses, from printing plants through catering to teach job skills to gang-involved youth.  Boyle talked about his experiences serving in hard-core gang areas, and the triumphs and tragedies of his work.

Altadena photographer Ibarionex Perello, whom we’ve featured in these pages, is holding a three hour photography workshop, an accessible and hands-on approach to understand and master the fundamentals of photography, and help beginning and intermediate photographers to see and use light.

You can register for his “Digital DSLR Boot Camp” through his Candid Frame website page — normally $129, it includes coupon codes that will save you $50,

• Sid Gally’s history piece in PSN this week is about TSC Lowe’s Echo Mountain House, and its ignomious fall 111 years ago.
• The Book Lover at the Wall Street Journal has some good links and resources for people who use libraries (as opposed to buying books outright), and gives some love to Michelle Huneven’s “Blame.”

from gloriana casey

In New York Harbor, there she stands,
Statue of Liberty.
And yet– on Pasadena streets,
COLOSSUS new, you’ll see.

FORK IN THE ROAD–this public art,
homage to language true.
Both literal and figurative!
What friendship fine can do!

Bob Starnes now has a monument
for humor so exact.
Cemented for posterity
from friends in loving act.

This full-day, hands-on workshop will prepare you to start making your own artisinal bread, pickles, jam and mustards from scratch. Your d.i.y. ambassadors/instructors will be some of the city’s finest food crafters. The workshop includes four, 1-hour foodcrafting sessions a catered lunch and continental breakfast. 

As you know, the Sheriff’s Department does an annual food and toy drive.  

Because the economy is still having an adverse impact on many Altadena families, we are planning to provide food and toys for 250 families this year.  Last year we served 200.

Our efforts rely on the generosity of the community and Altadena has historically been very generous.

Here are some options for donating:

• You can drop off non-perishable food or toys at the Altadena Sheriff’s Station,

The New Guide Baptist Church, 2162 N. Summit Ave., (corner Summit and Woodbury) is hosting a "Neighborhood Resource and Opportunity Fair" today, from 10 AM-2 PM.

The fair will provide resources and referrals for tattoo removal, job skills development, health screenings and testing, GED or high school completion, substance abuse services, educational and vocational training,

… and we'll try to get some stuff up later tonight, and there'll be lots more tomorow!

Altadena Sheriff's Deputy James Matsuoka emails us that a "a full grown mountain lion" was spotted around dusk tonight (Wed., Nov. 16) in the area of Chaney Trail and Alzada road.  Anyone walking their dog alone near dawn or dusk need to be extra careful and walk in groups.  He also says that "pet owners who normally leave their dogs and/or cats out after dark may want to bring them inside for their safety."

The Pasadena Panther Gremlins are 8-10 year olds, and 80 percent of them are from Altadena.

They will play the East LA Bobcats for the San Gabriel Valley Junior All American Football Conference Championship this Sat., Nov. 19, at 10 AM at Mountain View High School,  2900 Parkway Dr.

• Power: Gloria Feldt writes about women and power, and her latest blog entry is a good one for that: the writing/ fighting/ acting/ baking Altadena powerhouse Ellen Snortland.
• Foodcrafters:   the L.A. County Master Food Preservers program is holding a fundraiser Dec. 4 at the Homegirl Cafe in Chinatown: “Gifts for the Holidays.” An afternoon of foodcrafting: food ornaments, liqueurs, gourmet mustards, and more will be demonstrated, and there are refreshments, too.  Cost is $45,

Fri., Nov. 4

Between 5:00 PM and 3:30 PM, Saturday – A residential burglary occurred in the 600 block of W. Altadena Drive. Suspect(s) entered the residence via the unlocked front door. Loss: black/gold Chanel shoulder bag, brown/black Gucci handbag, brown/tan Louis Vuitton satchel, brown/tan Louis Vuitton medium handbag,

Reader Sloane Mann in the Meadows says there will be filming for "The Mentalist" on their property, so getting through Canyon Crest may be a challenge at times — fair warning!

by Timothy Rutt

There was steady attendence at Wednesday’s resource fair, with many agencies and organizations that work with people who are trying to get past a troubled life.

The event was co-sponsored by the Altadena Sheriff’s Station Clergy Council.  The event was held at 2161 N. Summit Ave., at Woodbury Road, a building that is shared by four churches: Zion Star Missionary Baptist Church,

Pictured: the not-entirely-serious Tim Dundon flag

by Timothy Rutt

There’s still time to vote for a flag for Altadena, but you’d better move quickly.

Town council chair Sandra Thomas said at Tuesday’s meeting that voting would end at midnight Friday, Nov. 18, and the results would be sent to the town council Saturday morning.  You can see all 13 serious candidates and vote for your favorite at the town council website.

by Joe Piasecki
Pasadena Sun

A team of John Muir High School students who built and raced an award-winning solar-powered boat visited Jet Propulsion Laboratory on Monday to talk shop with scientists and engineers.

by Bill Kisliuk
Pasadena Sun

The criminal case against the operator of a Pasadena boot camp for at-risk youth was delayed for at least a month at a brief hearing Wednesday.

Kelvin McFarland of Family First Growth Camp, who faces kidnapping and other charges related to his dealings with a juvenile client and her family earlier this year,

The Altadena Community Garden is holding a community meeting about plants that aren’t even IN the garden.

The “Community Garden Corner Revitalization Project” will redesign and reinvigorate the plants in front of the actual garden at the corner of Palm Street and Lincoln Avenue.  The meeting will be at the Loma Alta Park Community Center, 3330 N. Lincoln Ave., at 6 PM on Tues., Dec. 6.

Thurs., Nov. 17

• Twi-Hards: Do you know your Twilight trivia?  Come to the Altadena Library at 4 PM, test your knowledge, and see how you sparkle.  The program, especially for teens ages 12-17, has some awesome prizes for winners.  Altadena Main Library, 600 E. Mariposa St.
• Year-end tax information and mixer:  The Altadena Chamber of Commerce presents CPA and small business specialist W.

by Timothy Rutt

Christopher Mikuni of Altadena rubs elbows with Rose Queen Drew Washington, center, and Princess Sarah Zuno at the Club 21 Walkathon Sunday at Central Park in Pasadena.  The members of the 2012 Rose Court made one of their first appearances Sunday morning at the fundraiser for Club 21, a resource center for people with Down Syndrome and their families.

Following a meeting where residents complained about sheriff’s deputies and dispatchers’ poor responses to service calls, an ACONA volunteer was placed under arrest by deputies who were waiting for him in the parking lot of the Altadena Main Library.

A deputy on the scene said that Kendall Brown, 19, was under arrest for grand theft auto.  Elliot Gold, one of the organizers of ACONA,

Attention birders, railroad enthusiasts and serious hikers: AFC's final docent-led hikes of the season may be right up your alley.

Paul Ayers will lead two adventurous hikes along newly restored trails to the east ridge of Rubio Canyon, Kathi Ellsworth will conduct a birding hike, and engineer John Harrigan will explain the technical workings of the Mt.

They keep promising gusts, but we don't see 'em. Nevetheless, the National Weather Service shouts a red flag warning to the San Gabriel Valley:

THE RED FLAG WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT THIS EVENING.  * WINDS… NORTHEAST WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS EVENING…WITH LOCAL GUSTS TO 35 MPH IN THE HILLS.

Save the date: the deputies of the Altadena Sheriff’s Station will be raising money for a good cause on Wed., Nov. 30, with a “Tip-a-Cop” event at Wokcano Restaurant, 33 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena.  

Officers will be serving, and your tips will go toward the station’s charitable giving campaign.

by Joe Piasecki
Pasadena Sun

Pasadena’s city prosecutor has filed a misdemeanor battery charge against John Muir High School football coach Ken Howard for his role in a Sept. 28 scuffle with a 15-year-old student.

Howard will be arraigned Dec. 1 for “battery on a school ground,” City Prosecutor Connie Orozco stated in an email Wednesday.

Ana Hernandez, Eddy, Assistant Professor of Multicultural/ Multilingual Education at California State University San Marcos, will speak. Spanish translation available.

First Church of the Nazarene, Pasadena, Gilmore Hall, 3700 East Sierra Madre Blvd., Pasadena.

Contacts:apodaca.ana@pusd.us, 

• Birder question:  got an inquiry from a reader: “[Tuesday] about 2:00 PM a VERY LARGE bird cruised Reposa Lane at rooftop level.  It was mostly white and I took it for an owl but it was much larger.”  Any ideas out there?
• PIO retires: Our media partner Pasadena Sun reports that our friend, Pasadena Public Information Officer Ann Erdman, is retiring March 30.  She suffered a serious health setback awhile back,

by David Rutherford
John Muir Alumni Association

An author, a producer, a journalist, a Tournament of Roses Association board member, a police commander and a recently retired track-and-field coach have been selected for induction to the John Muir High School Hall of Fame.

A ceremony honoring the inductees will be held on campus at 3 PM Saturday,Nov.

After a quiet period, the county enforcers have raised their heads again.  Chris Larson at the Rancho Bar, 2485 N. Lake Ave. (Altadenablog sponsor team member) tells us they got a violation notice from the county czoning czars: