Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Altadena Library District Presents A Night of Wine Tasting and LA Wine History with Author of the New Book, Los Angeles Wine, Stuart Byles and The Altadena Ale and Wine House

Friday, November 20th, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., the Altadena Library will host in its main library, author of the new book, Los Angeles Wine , Stuart Byles, who will discuss the wine history of Los Angeles and by extension, southern California.

The San Gabriel valley and Altadena/Pasadena play a significant role in that history. This is a fascinating study of a little known facet of our local history, especially of its beginnings in the late 18th century with the Hispanic settlers and rancheros. Mr. Byles will be bringing copies of his books for signing and purchase.

This exciting event will include tastings of seven Spanish wines. It was the Spanish that brought European wine making grapes to the New World. And it was from those Spanish settlers that the winemaking traditions of California (Baja and Alta) came from.

The Altadena Ale & Wine House, which will be providing the wines, is located in the diverse, eclectic community of Altadena.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

4-H Club to be Organized in Altadena, First Meeting is Tonight

4-H is coming to the foothills! Tuesday, October 20 will be the first, organizational meeting for a new 4-H Club, to be based in Altadena. The meeting will be held at the Main Altadena Library Barbara J. Pearson Community Room, beginning at 6:45 p.m.

Altadena residents Lynette Wiebe and Meredith McKenzie have been working over the past few months getting the foundation ready for this boys and girls club to open its doors.

“I am one of those many Altadenans who loves her garden, her chickens and her children,” states Wiebe on why she wanted to start a 4-H Club here. “My husband and I moved up here in 2013 and dove right in to the urban agriculture thing. And our kids love it too!” But it isn’t always obvious how to connect families and interests.

That’s where 4-H comes in. Started in the American Midwest in the early 20th century, 4-H touts itself as “the nation’s largest youth-development organization.”

Although many urbanites haven’t heard of 4-H,

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Altadena Library Holds ‘Read for the Record’ Event on Thursday

The Altadena Library District is joining the nationwide Read for the Record literacy awareness event on Thursday, October 22nd, a global campaign which generates public support for high-quality early learning by mobilizing millions of children and adults to take part in what is said to be the world’s largest shared reading experience.

During the event, readers throughout the country will try to set a new world record for the most number of people reading the same book on the same day.

Read for the Record is now on its 10th year and has been organized by Jumpstart, an organization that conducts a national supplemental program that leverages the power of community and adult-child relationships to build the key language and literacy skills children need to take on the world.

On Thursday, anyone can take part in any of the multiple readings of “Not Norman,” by Kelly Bennett at the Altadena Main Library, and join the record-setting event. Readings will take place every hour on the hour from 11 a.m.

Sunday, October 18, 2015

“Art on Palm” Fills Wildwood with Works of Art

Saturday morning in Wildwood Park, under a canopy of ancient oaks, forty-two artists came out to exhibit and sell their work, which included a lamp made out of cooper and brass, with hawk feet for legs.

The hawk-legged lamp was the work of artist Evan Chambers. Another one of his lamps had octopus tentacles. Chambers is from Pasadena and his work can be found at the Gold Bug in Old Town Pasadena.

“Art on Palm is an art show that began in a friend’s backyard,” said Catherine Cowles, one of the organizers for the event. “We gathered play buddies together and we put on a show and people came!” she added enthusiastically.

The show featured works of ceramics, collage, glass, jewelry, woodworking, textiles and the Bull Fish blues band. All in a “casual, calm setting,” according to artist Ovie Cowles, whose exhibition was the Leaf Motif. Ovie Cowles is also Catherine Cowles husband and together they created Leaf Motif, which offers a range of home decor products,

Friday, October 16, 2015

Altadena Town Council Issues Agenda for October 20, 2015

Diane Marcussen, Chair, Altadena Town Council has issued the agenda for the Council’s October 20, 2015 meeting to be conducted at the Altadena Community Center, 730 East Altadena Drive, starting at 7:00 p.m.

A pdf version is available by clicking here.

1. CALL TO ORDER

1.1. Pledge of Allegiance Councilmember
1.2. Roll Call Recording Secretary, Damon Hobdy
1.3. Approve October 20, 2015 meeting Agenda

2. OFFICERS’ REPORTS

2.1. Chairman Diane Marcussen
2.2. Vice Chairman Okorie Ezieme
2.3. Recording Secretary Damon Hobdy
2.3.1 Approve September 15, 2015 Meeting Minutes
2.4. Treasurer Patricia Sutherlen
2.5. Corresponding Secretary Billy Malone

3. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS

3.1. California Highway Patrol Officer Cooper
3.2. Altadena Sheriffs Station Lt. Rob Lewis 3.2.1. Introduction of Captain Stuckey Captain Chris Reed
3.3. Cert Karen Gibson 3.4. County Fire Stephanie English

4. SPECIAL PRESENTATION

4.1. Assemblymember Chris Holden will meet with the community to give his yearly update of activities and accomplishments in the California Assembly

5.

Friday, October 16, 2015

“Latino Americans: 500 Years of History” Continues Saturday with Dr. Francisco Balderrama and “Empire of Dreams” Screening

Saturday, October 17th from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Barbara J. Pearson Community Room of the Main library, Altadena Library District continues its Latino American Grant award programming with a six-part, NEH-supported documentary film, “Latino Americans.” Created for PBS in 2013 by the WETA public television station, the award-winning series chronicles the history of Latinos in the United States from the 16th century to present day.

With special guest Dr. Francisco Balderrama, Professor of History and Chicano Studies at Cal State University, Los Angeles, Dr. Balderrama will open the program by speaking about the repatriation issue and will lead audience discussion and answer questions following the screening. Co-author of History of Betrayal, Balderrama recounts the forced “repatriation” of Mexican origin residents during the 1930s.

Episode II: Empire of Dreams (1880-1942) chronicles the widespread immigration to the U.S. from Latin countries, beginning with a small group from Cuba and then larger one from Mexico. Fleeing chaos and violence in their home country,

Friday, October 16, 2015

Altadena Public Library Presents Conversations with the Waterman, A Staged Reading By Writer-Director Mimi Seton

On Wednesday, October 21st at 8:00 p.m., the Altadena Library District presents Conversations With The Waterman. Directed by Mimi Seton, the play is an unusual spring-autumn love story that crosses barriers of age, race, and class. Set at the beginning of the Iraq war, a young Latino truck driver develops a life-changing relationship with a Hollywood actress and activist.

This staged reading, directed by writer-director, Mimi Seton, will star multi-award-winning actress, Laurie O’Brien who first took L.A. by storm with her stunning performance in Mary Barnes. She will be working alongside Latino actors, Hugo Medina and Melinna Theatrina, a company member from the world-famous Theatro Campesino, founded by Luis Valdez.

This program is free to the public, no reservations are required.

Mimi Seton is a multi-award winning writer-composer-director who has taught Theatre Arts at the University of Paris and Trinity College Dublin. Called a “New Theatre Visionary” by the L.A. Weekly, multi-award-winning theatre artist, Mimi Seton, is known for her lyrical sensibility and dark sense of humor.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Local Photographer Brian Goodman to Exhibit at ART SAN DIEGO Art Show

Local Altadena photographer Brian Goodman will be exhibiting his artwork at ART SAN DIEGO Contemporary Art Show from Thursday through Sunday, November 5th to 8th, 2015, at the Balboa Park Activity Center, 2145 Park Boulevard in San Diego.

Goodman, born in Los Angeles in 1957, has been taking pictures for over 47 years. He studied Photography at El Camino College and Otis/Parsons School of Art and Design in California, and at the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, in Jerusalem, Israel, focusing on fine art photography and photojournalism.

In 1982, Goodman expanded his skills into the field of commercial photography, and opened his first professional photo studio in 1987, eventually incorporating his growing business as Public Works Productions, Inc., in Altadena.

Even while working in the commercial arts, Goodman continued to develop his personal repertoire of fine art photographs. His images have spanned the globe, capturing stirring landscapes, intriguing characters, and thought-provoking studies. Always fascinated with the juxtaposition of light and color,

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

MonteCedro Welcomes Applicants to Job Fair

Applications for employment will be accepted during several job fairs scheduled in October and November for MonteCedro, a new nonprofit continuing care retirement community expected to welcome its first residents in December 2015.

The senior living community is looking for individuals with great customer service skills and experience working with older adults or in a hospitality setting. Positions available include administrative and clerical, life enrichment activities, residential health services, environmental services and dining services.

Job fairs are scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the following locations:

• Friday, Oct. 16, Altadena Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Dr., Altadena
• Wednesday, Oct. 21, California State University, 5151 State University Dr., Los Angeles
• Wednesday, Nov. 4, Rose City Church, 1801 E. Del Mar Blvd., Pasadena. Note: This job fair ends at 1:30 p.m.

MonteCedro is part of the Episcopal Communities & Services family of organizations and provides employees with a wealth of opportunities to enhance the lives of its residents.

Monday, October 12, 2015

Mount Wilson Observatory Under the Lens at Altadena Historical Society Program

 
Christopher Purcell Presents Free Program Monday Oct. 26
 

The history of the world-famous Mount Wilson Observatory will be given at 7:30 p.m. Monday Oct. 26 at the Altadena Historical Society by retired aerospace engineer Christopher Purcell, from the Mount Wilson Institute.

The program will be at the Altadena Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Drive, and is free and open to the public.

Founded by astronomer George Ellery Hale in 1904 with funding by the Carnegie Institution, the celestial observatory is located on top of 5,710-foot-high Mount Wilson, above Altadena in the San Gabriel Mountains.

It was at the Mount Wilson Observatory that famous astronomer Edwin Hubble was able to prove that the universe extends beyond the Milky Way Galaxy, and to the subsequent view that the universe is actually expanding.

Chris Purcell spent nearly 40 years in the aerospace industry, much of it related to spacecraft launch, trajectory analysis, and orbital control. He has a bachelor’s degree in astrophysics from UCLA and a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from USC.