Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Seven Green Tips for Celebrating Earth Day

Tips courtesy of Waste Management

Earth Day is just around the corner and people everywhere are becoming more and more conscious of how their actions are impacting the planet. So just in time for the 45th anniversary of the global observance of sustainability on April 22, Waste Management of Southern California is sharing seven easy-to-implement ideas to reduce your environmental footprint every day.

“As the largest recycler in North America, we are committed to the environment and we are asking community members to join in our efforts to conserve natural resources,” said Eloisa Orozco, spokesperson for Waste Management of Southern California. “This year, we’re inviting community members across Southern California to make this Earth Day the best ever by implementing some of our top tips to help reduce their carbon footprint and make a big impact.”

Residents can help make the Earth a cleaner, greener place by implementing these suggestions on a regular basis:

•Reduce your shower time: California is in the middle of one the worst droughts in recent history and residents of the state have been mandated by Governor Jerry Brown to reduce water consumption by 25 percent in addition to other measures.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Altadena Sheriff’s Station Crime Blotter for the Week of April 12, 2015

Sunday, April 12th

2:30 AM – William Badboy was arrested for domestic violence in the 600 block of E. Palm St.

2:34 AM – Michelle Reynolds was arrested for domestic violence in the 1800 block of Oakwood St.

Monday, April 13th

7:30 PM – Erick Castillo was arrested for domestic violence in the 1500 block of Oxford Av.

Tuesday, April 14th

No significant incidents to report

Wednesday, April 15th

8:34 AM – A vehicle was reported stolen from the 1800 block of N. Hill Av.  Loss: silver 2003 Toyota Tacoma.  *Vehicle is still outstanding*

9:29 AM – Porfirio Guerrero was arrested in the 2700 block of Fair Oaks Av. for possession of ammunition by a felon, violation of probation, and drug paraphernalia.

Thursday, April 16th

5:58 PM – Natalie Gonzalez was arrested in the area of Figueroa Dr.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Deputy Recounts a Busy Weekend for Altadena Volunteers

Deputy Dan Paige recaps a busy weekend as blue skies and warm weather increasingly lure hikers into the local foothills:

“A busy weekend for Altadena Search and Rescue Team.

“On Saturday 04/18/15 at 10:00 a.m., Altadena Mountain Rescue Team responded into Coyote Canyon, in the Angeles National Forest, for a report of a hiker stranded in a steep canyon. The stranded hiker was able to use their cell phone to call the Altadena Station and request help. The rescue team was able to reach the hiker after approximately 45 minutes, the hiker was not injured. Rescue crews used over 500 feet of rope to lower the hiker to safety.

“The hiker was following a trail up the canyon, when she lost sight of the trail. Hoping the trail would soon become visible again, she decided to continue, however, the ground below her became so loose and crumbly, and she could not go any further. The hiker, female 42 years old,

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Altadena Town Council Meets Tonight at 7 p.m.

The Altadena Town Council meets tonight at 7 p.m. at the Altadena Community Center, 730 East Altadena Drive as a regularly scheduled monthly meeting. The public is invited.

The agenda is re-published below.

The Council meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month. The Town Council’s Executive Committee is composed of Diane Marcussen (Chair), Okorie Ezieme (Vice Chair), Damon Hobdy (Recording Secretary), Amy Cienfuegos (Treasurer) and William Malone (Secretary). Additionally, the Land Use Committee of the Town Council meets the first Tuesday of each month. The Executive Committee of the Town Council meets the second Tuesday of each month.

Tonight’s agenda appears below and may be viewed as a pdf here.

1. CALL TO ORDER
1.1. Pledge of Allegiance _____________________ Councilmember
1.2. Roll Call _____________________________ Recording Secretary, Damon Hobdy
1.3. Approve April 21, 2015 meeting Agenda

2. OFFICERS’ REPORTS
2.1. Chairman ____________________________ Diane Marcussen
2.2. Vice Chairman ________________________ Okorie Ezieme
2.3.

Monday, April 20, 2015

Free May Events at the Pasadena Senior Center

There is something for everyone in May at the Pasadena Senior Center, 85 E. Holly St. All events listed are free.

You do not have to be a member to attend. Some events require advance reservations as noted.

iPad Basics – Fridays, May 1 and 15 and June 5 and 19, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. If you’re new to an iPad and its functions, you’ll become well-versed in touchscreen capabilities, navigating the device and learning the basics of Internet browsing and searching. iPads will be provided for in-class use, or bring your own.

Friday Movie Matinees– Fridays, May 1, 8 and 15, at 1 p.m. Great films captivate us with imaginary worlds brought to life. May 1: Diana(2013, PG-13) starring Naomi Watts and Naveen Andrews. May 8: The Imitation Game (2014, PG-13) starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightly. May 15: Annie (2014, PG) starring Quvenzhané Wallis and Jamie Foxx.

Cardmaking Workshop – Monday,

Monday, April 20, 2015

Altadena Mountain Rescue Team Helps with Saturday Rescue: “Hiker Hanging From Cliff”

With thanks to Deputy Dan Paige

As law enforcement types will undoubtedly tell you, calls for service often turn out to be very different from what they think they are getting into in, going in.

That’s exactly what happened Saturday about 3:15 p.m. when Altadena Search and Rescue crews were activated by Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team to assist in the rescue of a hiker hanging from a cliff in the area of Upper Winter Creek Trail in the Angeles National Forest, Deputy Dan Paige said.

The Altadena team was scouring the Mt. Wilson Toll road near the Upper Winter Creek Trail when they located a three adult hikers, one man and two women.

It turns out the trio were the same people who earlier had been reported as a single person hanging from a cliff. The male hiker apparently was hiking when he stepped on the loose dirt, the trail gave way and the hiker fell,

Monday, April 20, 2015

Deb Halberstadt Named Altadena Sheriff’s Station “Volunteer of the Year”

The very active and community involved Deb Halberstadt was named the Altadena Sheriff’s Station “Volunteer of the Year” and presented by Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell at a Friday ceremony honoring Sheriff’s Department volunteers.

Department officials said that Halberstadt is among volunteers “who have been an inspiration to the community.”

Each year the volunteer coordinator at the Altadena Station nominates one local volunteer based on their leadership, accountability, “can do” attitude, professionalism, compassion and respect for diversity.

Halberstadt is an Altadena photographer and videographer who has owned and operated HalfCity Productions since 1989.  She is well known for being active in various community groups and contributed photography to Altadena Point.

Monday, April 20, 2015

Dr. Rajen Vurdien Reportedly Selected as PCC’s New Superintendent-­President

Dr. Rajen Vurdien, president of Fullerton College, has reportedly been selected to become Pasadena City College’s 15th superintendent-­president at a Sunday afternoon meeting of  the Pasadena Area Community College District Board of Trustees.

The decision comes after three finalists were selected to fill the position vacated by Dr. Mark Rocha. The trio were given the opportunity to meet with students and faculty is a series of forums over recent weeks.

Dr. Vurdien was chosen over Patricia Hsieh, president of San Diego Miramar College, and  Dr. Robert Miller, interim superintendent-president of PCC.

Next, an employment contract will be negotiated with Vurdien and his retention will be ratified.

Vurdien was appointed president of Fullerton College in May of 2010. Prior to that post, he served as vice president of Instruction at Saddleback College. In the 1980s, Vurdien worked for the United Nations Development Program, where he was positioned in China and led the U.N. language programs. He earned a Master of Education and Doctor of Philosophy in Psychological Studies in Education at Temple University.

Monday, April 20, 2015

Pasadena Museum of History Opens Civil War and Thaddeus Lowe Exhibits

BY LAURA BERTHOLD MONTEROS

There’s always something new to learn at the Pasadena Museum of History. One thing is that the amputation kit on view in “When Johnny Came Marching West,” an exhibit marking the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War, really wasn’t an instrument of torture. Another is that a famous character in a classic children’s book may have been modeled after Altadenan Thaddeus Lowe.

Elliott Codding, a captain in the 71st Pennsylvania Company B reenactment unit, said that amputees were pretty well knocked out with chloroform, and losing a limb was preferable to gangrene. The kit was only one of many artifacts on display at the preview of the exhibitions on Saturday evening. Entertainment for the VIP reception was provided by Silver Mountain String Band playing period tunes and Assemblyman Chris Holden was on hand to present certificates to the curators.

The exhibit, curated by historian Nick Smith and PMH board member Janet Kadin, focuses on the men and women who lived in Pasadena or moved to the area after the Civil War,

Monday, April 20, 2015

Older Americans Month in May Brings “Book-to-Action” Series at Altadena Library

The community is invited to the Altadena Library’s Book-to-Action series of events, featuring Grandma Gatewood’s Walk by Ben Montgomery, to be held during Older Americans Month in May at the Altadena Main Library and the Altadena Senior Center.

Grandma Gatewood, as the reporters called her, became the first woman to hike the entire Appalachian Trail alone, as well as the first person—man or woman—to walk it twice and three times. Her vocal criticism of the lousy, difficult stretches led to bolstered maintenance, and very likely saved the trail from extinction. Join the Altadena Library in celebrating the older Americans in our own local community by reading Grandma Gatewood’s Walk and engaging in community service work.

The Book-to-Action program is a variation on the traditional library book group—it offers participants not only the opportunity to collectively read and discuss a book and meet a book author, but also to put their newfound knowledge into action by engaging in a community service project or activity related to the book’s topic.