Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Altadena Community Toastmasters Club Launches Weekly Meetings to Build Leadership and Public Speaking Skills

STAFF REPORT

New club seeks to recruit at least 20 charter members and will meet Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m.

The newly formed Altadena Community Toastmasters Club is launching a series of weekly meetings starting April 24 aimed at building leadership and public speaking skills. The meetings will be held Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m. in a hybrid format, with in-person attendance at the Altadena Community Center and virtual participation available through Zoom.

According to Sue Dekany, the initiative’s contact person, the club needs at least 20 people to officially charter. “It might take a couple of weeks to get there. We plan to meet weekly at the Community Center,” Dekany said.

The club’s flyer, distributed around town and on Nextdoor, touts the benefits of joining, including crafting stories, receiving feedback, and connecting with the community. It also highlights the opportunity to become a charter member and guarantees “fun and connection” along with prepared and impromptu speaking practice.

Monday, April 22, 2024

LA County Proposes $45.4 Billion Budget for Fiscal Year 2024-25

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Noting slower-than-average growth in revenues and the winding down of some federal and state funding, Los Angeles County’s CEO released a $45.4 billion budget proposal for 2024-25 Monday, a decrease of $1.4 million from the 2023-24 fiscal year, which ends June 30.

While the proposed budget is lower than the current fiscal year, Fesia Davenport, county CEO, assured that the spending plan will maintain the county’s priorities, such as efforts to address housing and homelessness, promote mental health services, bolsters public safety, and ensure other county services. The proposal would also add 835 new positions — more than half of them in the Department of Mental Health — for a total of 116,159 budgeted positions in the county workforce.

“This recommended budget represents a balanced plan for the county’s future in the face of multiple uncertainties,” Davenport said during an online briefing Monday morning. “It invests our limited discretionary resources in the board’s highest priority programs,

Saturday, April 20, 2024

LA County Unemployment Rate Unchanged in March

Los Angeles County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 5.4% in March, the same rate as February, according to figures released Friday by the state Employment Development Department.

The 5.4% rate was above the rate of 4.9% rate from March 2023.

The March 2024 unemployment rate in Orange County, where seasonally adjusted rates were not immediately available, was 3.9%, down from 4.2% in February.

Statewide, California’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.3% in March, the same rate as February but above the 4.5% rate in March 2023, the EDD reported. The comparable estimates for the nation were 3.8% in March, 3.9% in February and 3.5% a year ago.

Total non-farm employment in Los Angeles County increased by 14,900 jobs between February and March to reach more than 4.56 million.

The private education and health services sectors led the way by adding 8,400 jobs.

Friday, April 19, 2024

Bach to Basics with Free Tunes at Altadena Church

STAFF REPORT

The Mt. Lowe Chamber Players are set to deliver an engaging chamber music concert featuring Johann Sebastian Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 on Sunday, May 5, at 3:00 p.m. The event will be held at the Altadena Community Church, located at 943 East Altadena Drive, Altadena, with both admission and parking free of charge.

Johann Sebastian Bach, an influential composer of the Baroque period, created the Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, notable for its pioneering use of the harpsichord as a solo instrument. This particular performance will highlight a reproduction harpsichord crafted by Curtis Berak, a distinguished harpsichord builder from Los Angeles.

The concert will feature Ian Pritchard, a skilled harpsichordist from Tesserae Baroque, along with Larry Kaplan on flute and Agnes Gottschewski on violin. Supporting them will be Michael Siess on violin, Kate Vincent on viola, Tina Soule on cello, and Steve Edelman on bass. The ensemble will also perform selected works by Mendelssohn and Mozart,

Thursday, April 18, 2024

Authorities Seek Public Help Locating 73-Year-Old Woman With Alzheimer’s

A 73-year-old woman diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease was reported missing after being last seen in Altadena Wednesday.

Donna Louise Bertiger was last seen in the 1700 block of Alta Wood Drive, two blocks north of Altadena Drive, around 1 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputies described Bertiger as a 5-foot-6-inch tall white woman weighing 110 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing blue jeans and blue shoes.

Anyone with information regarding Bertiger’s whereabouts was urged to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau Missing Persons Detail at 323-890-5500. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

UCLA Survey: Dissatisfaction Remains High for LA County Residents

Concerns over the high cost of living pushed the satisfaction of Los Angeles County residents back to its lowest-ever level, with renters feeling especially pessimistic about their futures, according to a new UCLA survey released Wednesday.

The latest edition of the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs’ quality of life index reveals that despite the sunshine, beaches and excellent tacos, living in Los Angeles is essentially a downer for respondents.

The cost of living remains a primary concern as people worry about losing their homes or feeding their families. Many residents said homelessness in their area has gotten worse over the past year, with only 10% saying it has gotten better. Just 20% are more hopeful than they were last year that the homelessness situation in Los Angeles County will improve.

The survey measures county residents’ satisfaction levels in nine categories. The overall rating fell two points from last year to 53 on a scale from 10 to 100, marking the second time in three years it fell below the survey’s 55 midpoint since the index launched in 2016.

Friday, April 12, 2024

Sheriff’s Deputies Seek Missing Girl

Detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are urgently seeking public assistance in locating 11-year-old Mia Moreno, who has been reported missing.

Moreno was last seen on April 11th at 7:30 a.m., in the 700 block of Mountain View Street in Altadena. The circumstances of her disappearance remain unclear.

The Altadena Sheriff’s Station is spearheading the investigation and is urging anyone with information about Mia’s whereabouts to come forward. The department is particularly interested in speaking with anyone who may have seen or had contact with Moreno around the time of her disappearance.

For those who prefer to provide information anonymously, they can call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477). Alternatively, information can be submitted via smartphone by downloading the “P3Tips” Mobile APP on Google Play or the Apple App Store, or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org

Friday, April 12, 2024

Altadena’s Bob Lucas Memorial Library in Altadena Closed for Major Renovation; Book Sale Planned Friday, Saturday

In a bid to enhance its services and offerings, the Altadena Library District has temporarily closed the Bob Lucas Memorial Library at 2659 Lincoln Ave. and is gearing up for an extensive renovation and expansion project set to transform the branch’s facilities.

Normal operations at the library temporarily ceased on Wednesday, April 10, marking the beginning of a transformative journey for this vital community hub.

A major renovation and expansion project is set to begin this month, with a $4.5 million investment made possible after Altadena residents passed  Measure Z in 2020.

The project will ensure that this community branch library continues to educate, connect, and inspire future generations of Altadena, a statement by the Altadena Library District said.

To kick off the undertaking, the Friends of the Altadena Library are hosting a book sale extravaganza at the Bob Lucas Library on Friday and Saturday, April 12 and 13, starting at 10 a.m. The sale will include a diverse array of items including used books,

Friday, April 12, 2024

Altadena Town Council to Discuss Bus Shelter Replacement at April Meeting

The Altadena Town Council announced it will hold its monthly meeting on April 16, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. at the Altadena Community Center. The meeting will be open to the public and streamed live on the Pasadena Media YouTube channel.

According to the Council’s agenda posted, the meeting will begin with a flag salute led by Faye Haslett, a student from Muir High School. Recording Secretary Pat Sutherlen will then take a roll call, and Vice Chair Nic Arnzen will approve the meeting agenda.

Council Chair Victoria Knapp, Vice Chair Nic Arnzen, Recording Secretary Pat Sutherlen, Treasurer Chris O’Malley, and Corresponding Secretary Dorothy Wong will deliver officer reports. 

The Council will also vote on approving the minutes from the March 19, 2024 meeting.

Public safety reports will be provided by representatives from the Altadena Sheriff’s Station, California Highway Patrol, and L.A. County Fire Department. 

Community reports will follow, with updates from Parks and Recreation,

Sunday, April 7, 2024

Altadena Guild Celebrates 72 Years of Philanthropy with 71st Annual Home & Garden Tour

STAFF REPORT

The Altadena Guild of Huntington Memorial Hospital is celebrating its 72nd anniversary this year, marking a rich history of fundraising and community support that has generated over $3 million for local healthcare initiatives. As part of its ongoing commitment, the Guild is set to host its 71st Annual Home & Garden Tour on May 5.

The tour will feature one of Altadena’s quaintest neighborhoods, known for its diverse architectural styles by renowned architects.

The charming Meadowbrook neighborhood is named after the brook that once flowed through the meadow where the homes at 1930 and 1942 Meadowbrook Road now stand. At one point in time, the area was known for its citrus, vines, and berries.

As the Meadowbrook neighborhood developed between 1922 and 1947, renowned architects showcased a variety of architectural styles.

Glover and Kauth designed a Spanish Colonial Revival home with a backyard created by Frank Lloyd Wright Jr., which will serve as this year’s Home Tour Café.