Friday, April 10, 2015

Eliot Arts Magnet grand re-opening April 30

Eliot Arts Magnet received a federal grant in October 2013 to transform Charles W. Eliot Middle School into a premier arts magnet. In the past year, dedicated teachers and staff have repurposed facilities to host new art spaces, built lasting partnerships with renowned arts organizations, and undergone intensive training in the arts. Thanks to voter approved Measure TT, Eliot’s auditorium has also undergone extensive modernization which will be completed this month.

Eliot Arts Magnet is ready to reveal these exciting changes to the community during its Grand Re-Opening on Thursday, April 30 at 5:00 P.M. This event will celebrate the school’s transformation in becoming an arts magnet with the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the newly-refurbished, state-of-the-art auditorium and the naming of the student art gallery after renowned local artist Charles White.

The Grand Re-opening celebration on Thursday, April 30 will include an address from Dr. Brian McDonald, Superintendent of PUSD, and Lori Touloumian, Interim Principal of Eliot Arts Magnet. There will also be recognition of local artist honoree,

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Friday, April 10, 2015

Library starts “Book-to-Action” series in May

Get into the Act!

The community is invited to the Altadena Library’s Book-to-Action series of events, featuringGrandma 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.

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Friday, April 10, 2015

Open Studios returns on June 6-7

This summer’s Open Studios event will take place Friday, June 5-through Sunday, June 7, at artist studio’s all over Altadena and parts of Pasadena.

The event opens with a silent auction on Friday June 5, from 7-10 PM at Gallery McGinty.  The Art tour runs the following Saturday and Sunday.

Information and updates are available via The Open Studios Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/AltaOpSt Their website is at: http://openstudios.gallery/Read More »

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Looking at “Altadena’s Urban Forests” on April 16

Altadena Heritage Presents Altadena’s Urban Forests

Thursday, April 16, 7 to 9 pm

Altadena’s Heritage of Abundance includes its trees, from native California scrub oaks, sycamores and certain palms to the eucalyptus, silk, carob and fruit trees introduced later … and don’t forget our mile-long stretch of giant deodars known as Christmas Tree Lane!

Come to the Altadena Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Drive, on Thursday, April 16, to hear from two experts about what we all can do to help preserve and revitalize this precious heritage.

Don Hodel is an environmental horticulturist for the University of California Cooperative Extension, Los Angeles County. His presentation will focus on:

the beauty and benefits of trees in urban areas;
drought-tolerant, sustainable, low-maintenance landscaping techniques; and
how to select trees that are suitable for Altadena’s climate, along with tips for planting, irrigation, feeding and mulching.
Frank McDonough is the botanical information consultant for the L.A. County Arboretum and Botanic Garden.

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Thursday, April 9, 2015

Radio days at Neighborhood Church April 24-25

What do we hear after each and every Radio Play? “That was so much fun, I wish I’d asked my uncle/aunt/mom/grandpa to come see it!” Now’s your chance to do so. Laugh, cry and sing along with Radio Review Best Hits! (1955). Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25, Neighborhood UU Church of Pasadena’s Sanctuary, 301 N. Orange Grove Blvd at Walnut.

Come early! Open seating. Reception at 6:30pm; curtain at 7pm. Dress up in 40s or 50s clothes and hats! Free childcare if you sign up with Kat Roberts KRoberts@neighborhooduu.org before 1 pm on April 19th.

Ned Racine’s Radio Review Best Hits! (1955) is the 6th installment and the best yet! Parodies of radio plays, real funny commercials and tunes from 1955.

Tickets on sale On April 5, 12 and 19th on Neighborhood Church’s patio or email Lee atlee.brainerd@gmail.com. CHEAP! Adults, $8; Students, $5; Family Cap, $20–not recommended for children under 8 or thereabouts.

Stars 30 über-talented actors and musicians among Neighborhood Church members and friends.

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Thursday, April 9, 2015

“Poetry & Cookies” at Senior Center April 25

Building on the foundations created in the past 12 years in the “Poetry & Cookies” programs of the Altadena Library District, the annual Poetry & Cookies Anthology has been revamped with a new title, new format, and a broader base of published poets. Now called the Altadena Poetry Review: Anthology 2015 in this debut year, the anthology will be released to the public this month.

Most of the published poets will participate in the “13th Annual Poetry & Cookies Reading Event” to be held on Saturday, April 25 from 2-4:00 p.m. at the Altadena Senior Center. The reading, free to the public, is a community tradition that formally kicks off the release of the annual anthology. Although the anthology itself has been renamed, the community reading event, which annually brings together poetry lovers from across the region, maintains its name in recognition of its literary tradition.

The Altadena Poetry Review: Anthology 2015 will be on sale at this event. Poets who wish to do so will be available for autographing their poems in purchased books if requested to do so.

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Thursday, April 9, 2015

The Pasadena-Altadena Links To Present Community Art Showcase “Master of The Arts”

On Sunday April 19, 2015 The Pasadena-Altadena Chapter of the Links Incorporated will present their annual art exhibition, “Master of The Arts” at The Art Center College of Design, Pasadena Hillside Campus from 2 pm – 5 pm.

This art showcase will highlight the creative talents of a diverse group of visual artists and authors. Featured artist include: Mark Greenfield; Tony Scott; Jeffery Stephenson; Anthony Taylor; D. Shannon Young; Stan Bruce; Kay Lee; Kathy Huante; Escott El; Tomeeka Pitre; Teresa Tolliver; California African American Museum. Also showcased will be the Jewelry of Rumae Gemstones and LMG Studios as well the works of local authors Darrell D. Miller and Jervey Tervalon.

In addition, an art contest is open to PUSD students for submission until April 15, 2015 and will be judged by community members.  Students may submit photography, multimedia, ceramics, graphic design etc. of their choice for judging. One lucky student will be awarded a $250 prize for showcasing his or her creative endeavors. 

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Wednesday, April 8, 2015

MonteCedro two-thirds done, looking for December opening

MonteCedro is on track to open for business in December, and is already 90% sold, representatives told the Altadena Chamber of Commerce.

At the Chamber’s regular monthly meeting Tuesday, April 8, 2015, MonteCedro Executive Director David Weidert said that they hope to add 100 jobs to the local economy once the retirement community is running.

The Episcopal Communities & Services-owned retirement development is 66 percent complete, Weidart said.  The development is looking to get a temporary certificate of occupancy in November to open the building to staff, and looking for full certification in December to allow residents to move in.

The current MonteCedro brochure says that residents will enjoy a bar, a bistro, and a fine dining restaurant, “Marcell’s” (which sounds a lot like the “Marcell Inn,” a notorious speakeasy during Prohibition that operated near the site of the current Community Garden).

There will also be a fitness center with personal trainers, a spa, and swimming pool.

While 186 of the apartments will be for independent living seniors,

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Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Cinco de Mayo at the Pasadena Senior Center May 3

Olé! A Cinco de Mayo fiesta will be celebrated on Tres de Mayo – Sunday, May 3 – from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Pasadena Senior Center, 85 E. Holly St.
Festive decorations will fill the Scott Pavilion and Ballet Folklorico Xotziquetzalli in colorful costumes will perform traditional dances. Guests will dine on chicken and beef tacos, rice, beans, chips and salsa as well as sangria and other beverages.

The cost is only $5 for members and $7 for non-members of all ages. Prepaid reservations are due at the welcome desk by Thursday, April 30.

For more information visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org or call (626) 795-4331.

Founded in 1959, the Pasadena Senior Center is an independent, nonprofit organization that offers recreational, educational, wellness and social services to people ages 50 and over in a friendly environment. Services are also provided for frail, low-income and homebound seniors.

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Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Altadena in the 1940’s — a look back

Richard Bale remembers that in the 1940s it wasn’t uncommon to see horses and cows pastured on the west side of Altadena, and chickens and pigs in people’s yards.

Some remaining orange groves stretched for blocks.

He also remembers a few small factories that helped supply America’s World War II effort.  A school classmate’s Fair Oaks Avenue home had been turned into machine shop that spit out precision parts for Lockheed 24 hours a day.

“My friend’s house reeked of cutting oil and machine coolant,” he recalls.

Bale, 83, will describe Altadena in the 1940s at the 7:30 p.m. Monday April 27 quarterly meeting of the Altadena Historical Society.  The meeting, free and open to the public, will be at the Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Drive.

Bale moved to Altadena with his mother and sister, from Montreal, Canada, in 1939.  He attended Altadena Elementary, Eliot Junior High and John Muir High School before being drafted into the Korean War in1951.

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