Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Altadena Calendar of Events is Now Live

Altadena Now’s “Calendar of Events” section debuts today, and we want to request that anyone hosting a local event to please send us events information for inclusion!

This Calendar will only contain information about events in Altadena or which are immediately Altadena-adjacent (like the Eaton Canyon Nature Center, which technically has a Pasadena address).

Please email your event’s information to editor@altadena-now.com.

Be certain to include a full profile of your event, including start time, full address of the venue, pricing details, a reference telephone number as well as reference website or Facebook page.

The Calendar section not only provides a chronological list of upcoming events, but also features an actual calendar where you can click specific dates.

Each event on the day listings is clickable for full specific information, so if you are interested in an event, be sure to click the event’s title to see the event detail page.

Monday, April 13, 2015

Phlunte’ Riddle Declares Candidacy for California State Senate District 25

Phlunte’ Riddle, a well-known former local law enforcement figure who is active locally as a businesswoman and community leader, today announced her candidacy for the California State Senate to replace Senator Carol Liu after her term expires.

Riddle is a Democrat.

“I’m running for the State Senate because we need a leader who has experience bringing people together to keep our communities safe, make investments in our schools, and create for opportunity for middle-class families,” Riddle said.

“I have spent my life serving our community and actively listening to the resident’s concerns. I will draw from my work as a public safety officer, businesswoman, and an educator to find solutions to the challenges facing California.

Riddle’s campaign team will be lead by Doug Herman of The Strategy Group, David Pruitt of David Pruitt Consulting, and David Binder of David Binder Research.

Riddle spent nearly 29 years rising through the ranks of the Pasadena Police Department. She broke barriers as the first woman to be permanently assigned as a gang/street narcotics officer,

Monday, April 13, 2015

Eaton Canyon Nature Center to Stage Spring Awakening Festival

As the first people on our beautiful continent knew, spring is the time of rebirth, renewal, and rejoicing. On Saturday, May 2, 2015, we at Eaton Canyon Nature Center, with some of our Native American friends, will celebrate Spring Awakening.

The festival will be open to the public at no charge from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eaton Canyon Nature Center is located at 1750 N. Altadena Drive, Pasadena 91107. This will be a celebration for all the family to enjoy.

Many native people celebrate the change of seasons with music and dance. In keeping with these traditions, we will host tribal drummers, musicians, dancers, and storytellers. Native artists and crafters will also join us to offer their wares for purchase, and other items will be raffled.

As we are the guardians of the Eaton Canyon Natural Area, this event will also celebrate the beauty that is found in our canyon. Presenters from local wildlife organizations will introduce us to some of our indigenous birds,

Monday, April 13, 2015

Father Reunited with Family, Who Were Trapped on Steep Hillside Above Las Flores Canyon

Sunday the Altadena Mountain Rescue Team , (AMRT) responded into Las Flores Canyon for the rescue of a mother and her two teenage children. At about 12:45 p.m. one of the stranded children was able to contact their father who called the Altadena Sheriff’s Station for help.

The Altadena Mountain Rescue Team hiked into the Las Flores Canyon and approximately 1/2 mile into the canyon, the rescue team could hear the family yelling.

AMRT continued searching and eventually saw the family was stranded on a very steep hillside, on loose crumbly rock. AMRT climbed up to the family and secured 100 feet of rope and lowered the family to safety.

All of the grateful hikers were uninjured, and happy to be on solid ground.

Los Angeles County Fire Department was standing-by at the base of the canyon, for any potential injuries.

Monday, April 13, 2015

Altadena Events Calendar Will Debut Tomorrow (Tuesday)

We are installing a dedicated Events Calendar for Altadena which will debut tomorrow (Tuesday, April 14).  The current calendar software should be debugged and operational by 4 a.m. tomorrow morning.  In the meantime, we apologize for this inconvenience but urge you to please submit events to: editor@altadena-now.com

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Woman Injured in Eaton Canyon Rescued by USAR Teams Last Evening

Pasadena Fire Department’s Urban Search and Rescue Teams rescued a woman who fell in Eaton Canyon and suffered lacerations to her knee and leg Saturday evening about 5:29 p.m.

Authorities said the injured woman was reported to be in the area south of the bridge at the canyon’s northern end.

Arriving units established an Incident Center at Pinecrest Drive.

A rescue team from USAR 32 entered the canyon at the trailhead at Pinecrest and hiked south as additional fire department personnel hiked north from the McCurdy Nature Center in the canyon’s southern end.

Thee rescue teams contact with the victim, provided care, and assisted the victim to the Pinecrest Drive trailhead. The victim was suffering a laceration which was treated by paramedics.

The victim transported herself to the hospital for further treatment.

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Bellisimo! Altadena Guild’s Home and Garden Tour Set for May 3

Enjoy a little taste of Italy and sip a cappuccino, listen to the music of a strolling accordionist and take in the beauty of magnificent homes and gardens within the original Sphinx Ranch area of northeastern Altadena during the Altadena Guild’s 64th Annual Home Tour on Sunday, May 3.

Home Tour 2015 Co-chairs Judy Bolenbaugh, Marie Darr, Julie Manning, Bobbie Miller say these homes and gardens are “nestled around the Midlothian and Glenview Terrace intersection” and “will delight you with their beauty and versatility.”

The event offers more than simply tours. Also in the lineup:

• Classic hot rod car show

• Fresh, homemade items for sale at the Bakery

• Refreshments, both food and beverage, at the renowned Altadini Bar

•  “One Wonderful Thing” venue with quality, gently-used items for sale

• An Opportunity Drawing to win a beautiful tour-inspired quilt

•  Plein Air Market with outside vendors to tantalize you with their wares

•  Art Gallery showing original art by Linda Salinas,

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Car Fleeing CHP Crashes on El Molino Just South of Altadena, Suspect Disappears Into the Night

The high-speed pursuit of a stolen vehicle on the Foothill 210 Freeway careened onto Pasadena city streets and up Lake Avenue to Altadena’s border Saturday night before ending with a crash — this time, with far less serious consequences than Friday night’s horrific Colorado Street bridge collision.

Pasadena Police Sergeant Carrillo said tonight’s pursuit took to Pasadena city streets at the 210’s Lake Avenue offramp about 8:30 p.m. where the suspect driving the stolen vehicle headed north at such a high rate of speed that pursuing CHP units lost the car and called off their pursuit in the area of North Lake Avenue at Washington Boulevard.

The stolen car continued to flee north towards Altadena.

“Based on what witnesses were able to tell us, the driver lost control and it looks like he may have hit the curb and flipped and come to a resting point overturned on the front lawn of [a] residence,” Carrillo said.

The residence is located in the 1400 block of North El Molino Avenue.

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Neighborhood Church to Sponsor Walk Marking Six Month Anniversary of Christopher Walker’s Murder at Fair Oaks Burger

The day before Halloween in 2014, Altadena-bred Christopher Walker, 26, was shot as he sat on the patio at Fair Oaks Burgers about 4:30 in the afternoon by a person who got out of a car, fired multiple times at him, then climbed back into the car and sped off on East Calaveras Street.

Walker was taken to Huntington Memorial Hospital, where he died.

As Walker’s family and friends prepare to mark the six month anniversary of his death (Altadena’s first homicide since 2012), his story is attracting attention as a revealing tale of the lure of gangs in our neighborhoods.

Annenberg Radio News released a program last week that focused on Walker, and on April 30, the Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church of Pasadena will host a memorial march which will be joined by community leaders and anti-gang experts.

For the details, we turn to Neighborhood Church’s Reverend Hannah Petrie:

“This past week has been a whirlwind of activity in preparation to get the word out about a meaningful,

Saturday, April 11, 2015

VIDA Program Youngsters, Sheriff’s Deputies and Altadena Mountain Rescue Hike to Echo Mountain Today

Story and Photography Courtesy Deputy Paige

Altadena station VIDA program youths and deputies, with help from the Altadena Mountain Rescue Team, led 22 kids into the Angeles National Forest today. The group hiked almost 6 miles from Altadena to Echo Mountain.

The students saw some amazing scenery this morning, and learned about hiking safey and basic first aid.

Vital Intervention and Directional Alternatives (VIDA) is a structured 16-week program for non-violent, at-risk youth between the ages of 11 and 17½. Through collaboration between the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, community-based organizations, volunteers, schools and families, the program teaches youth the value of effective decision-making and taking responsibility for their futures.

If you want more information visit: http://www.vida.la