Altadena Now is published daily and will host archives of Timothy Rutt's Altadena blog and his later Altadena Point sites.

Altadena Now encourages solicitation of events information, news items, announcements, photographs and videos.

Please email to: Editor@Altadena-Now.com

  • James Macpherson, Editor
  • Candice Merrill, Events
  • Megan Hole, Lifestyles
  • David Alvarado, Advertising
Archives Altadena Blog Altadena Archive

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

No-Burn Order Extended for Much of Southland Through Wednesday

No-Burn Order Extended for Much of Southland Through Wednesday

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The South Coast Air Quality Management District today extended a mandatory prohibition on indoor and outdoor wood burning in much of the Southland through tomorrow night due to a forecast of high air pollution in the area.

The residential wood-burning ban is in effect through at least 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. It affects all those in the South Coast Air Basin, including the non-desert portions of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties and all of Orange County.

The order does not apply to mountain communities above 3,000 feet, the Coachella Valley or the high desert. Homes that rely on wood as a sole source of heat, low-income households and those without natural gas service also are exempt from the requirement.

The no-burn rule prohibits burning wood as well as manufactured fire logs, such as those made from wax or paper. Gas and other non-wood burning fireplaces are not restricted, the SCAQMD said.

Fine particles in wood smoke,

Read More »

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

Case Of Two Convicted In Altadena Killing Sent Back To Los Angeles Court

Case Of Two Convicted In Altadena Killing Sent Back To Los Angeles Court

CITY NEWS SERVICE

A state appeals court panel Monday ordered the case of two men convicted of the 1999 killing of an Altadena woman, who was the aunt of one of the defendants, to be sent back to a Los Angeles judge.

The three-justice panel from California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal reversed Superior Court Judge Stephen A. Marcus’ order denying petitions by Nathan Sheard and his then-roommate, David Emanuel Talmadge, for re-sentencing under a new state law, and instructed the judge to “conduct further proceedings.”

The two were convicted in 2002 of first-degree murder for the April 1999 slaying of Sheard’s widowed 72-year-old aunt, Gertrude Mills. Jurors found true the special circumstance allegations of murder during the commission of a residential burglary and robbery against the two, who are serving sentences of life without the possibility of parole.

In a pair of rulings involving the two defendants, the appellate court panel noted that Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies found Mills in her bathtub,

Read More »

Monday, December 13, 2021

With COVID Surging, State Mandates Indoor Mask-Wearing Through Holiday Season

With COVID Surging, State Mandates Indoor Mask-Wearing Through Holiday Season

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Citing a sharp increase in COVID-19 infection rates since Thanksgiving, the state announced Monday that beginning Wednesday, mask-wearing will become mandatory in all indoor public settings across California regardless of vaccination status.

The mask mandate, mirroring a requirement already in effect in Los Angeles County and select other counties across the state, will remain in place until Jan. 15.

The state will also toughen the restriction for unvaccinated people who attend indoor “mega-events” of 1,000 people or more, requiring them to receive a negative COVID test within one day of the event if it’s a rapid antigen test or within two days for a PCR test. The current rules require a test within 72 hours of the event.

State officials will also recommend, but not require, that people who travel to California or return to the state after traveling be tested for COVID within three to five days.

California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr.

Read More »

Saturday, December 11, 2021

Loma Alta Park Gets ‘Winter Wonderland’ Treatment This Weekend

Loma Alta Park Gets ‘Winter Wonderland’ Treatment This Weekend

Los Angeles County’s Department of Parks and Recreation brings “Winter Wonderland” to Loma Alta Park in Altadena on Saturday, December 11, 4 to 8 p.m., with snow and a frosty good time with activities for all ages.

“Winter Wonderland” is part of the Department’s Parks After Dark Program and features a sled hill and snow play area, a visit by Santa, holiday crafts, filled holiday stockings for every child while supplies last, a hot cocoa station, food giveaways and more.

Other parks throughout the county have similar events scheduled through December.

About 40 tons of snow will be dumped at Loma Alta so kids can go sledding and enjoy other winter games throughout the day.

Activities are free and no registration is required.

For more information, visit https://parks.lacounty.gov/pad or call (626) 398-5451.

Loma Alta Park is at 3330 Lincoln Ave. in Altadena.

 

Read More »

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Suit Says County Supervisors Lack Authority to Discipline Unvaccinated Employees

Suit Says County Supervisors Lack Authority to Discipline Unvaccinated Employees

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The union representing Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies is asking a judge in to declare that the Board of Supervisors does not have legal authority to suspend or fire deputies for noncompliance with the county’s mandatory vaccination order.

The Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs sued Los Angeles County on Friday, also seeking an award of attorneys’ fees and costs associated with bringing the case to court. A representative for the county could not be immediately reached for comment on the Los Angeles Superior Court complaint.

On Aug. 4, the Board of Supervisors established a mandatory vaccination policy requiring all county employees, including those employed by the sheriff’s department, to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. The board maintains it has the legal authority to subject those failing to comply to disciplinary action, including being fired.

But according to the union’s suit, that disciplinary power rests exclusively with the sheriff and the current holder of that office,

Read More »

Saturday, December 4, 2021

1st LA County Patient With COVID-19 Omicron Variant in Isolation

1st LA County Patient With COVID-19 Omicron Variant in Isolation

CITY NEWS SERVICE

An unidentified Los Angeles County resident was in isolation, recovering from what was confirmed as the county’s first case of the COVID-19 Omicron variant originally detected in South Africa.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed the case late Thursday afternoon, saying the patient is a person who returned to Los Angeles after traveling to South Africa via London on Nov. 22. Health officials said the infection is “most likely travel-related.”

The unidentified person is a fully vaccinated adult who lives in Los Angeles County, health officials said. The person is in isolation, with symptoms that “are improving without medical care.” A “small number” of close contacts in the Los Angeles area have been identified, and so far all have tested negative for the virus and none are showing any symptoms, officials said.

The patient is the second known case of the variant in California. Authorities on Wednesday confirmed the first U.S.

Read More »

Thursday, December 2, 2021

LA County Confirms Case of COVID-19 Omicron Variant

LA County Confirms Case of COVID-19 Omicron Variant

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Los Angeles County health officials Thursday confirmed the county’s first case of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, which was first detected in South Africa and has now spread to about three dozen countries.

The patient is the second known case of the variant in California. Authorities on Wednesday confirmed the first U.S. case of the variant in a San Francisco resident. U.S. cases have also been confirmed in Minnesota and Colorado.

According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the local case is a person who returned to Los Angeles after traveling to South Africa via London on Nov. 22. Health officials said the infection is “most likely travel-related.”

The unidentified person is a fully vaccinated adult who lives in Los Angeles County, health officials said. The person is in isolation, with symptoms that “are improving without medical care.” A “small number” of close contacts in the Los Angeles area have been identified,

Read More »

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

LA County Seeks Landlords to Participate in Housing Voucher Program

LA County Seeks Landlords to Participate in Housing Voucher Program

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Property owners who partner with Los Angeles County to accept Emergency Housing Vouchers for their rental units are eligible for up to $5,000 for new contract inspection repairs and $2,500 as a signing bonus for each unit leased to a voucher participant, the L.A. County Development Authority announced Monday.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development allocated nearly 2,000 vouchers to the LACDA to assist families and people who are either experiencing homelessness, at risk of homelessness or were recently homeless. The vouchers can also be used by people fleeing domestic violence or human trafficking.

“This unprecedented global pandemic requires unprecedented actions to protect people experiencing homeless and other vulnerable populations,” said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda L. Solis.

“The additional monetary incentives being offered to property owners throughout the county to house Emergency Housing Voucher holders is a promising tool. I thank the Los Angeles County Development Authority for helping to lead innovative win-win solutions.”

Read More »

Monday, November 15, 2021

Height of Controversial Altadena Affordable Housing Project Could Be Reduced

Height of Controversial Altadena Affordable Housing Project Could Be Reduced

By ANDRÉ COLEMAN, Managing Director

According to LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, the developers of a controversial project in nearby Altadena recently indicated they are willing to make changes to a by-right affordable housing project.

Residents in Altadena have expressed concerns about the five-story affordable housing project at 2439-2445 Lincoln Ave., just north of the Pasadena border.

Because the project is a by-right project, it can override the majority of protocols set in place by Altadena’s Community Standards District (CSD), raising concerns that there are no controls in place to maintain development standards for residential and commercial areas.

On Monday, Barger told Pasadena Now that Affirmed Housing Group indicated they were willing to reduce the height of the proposed apartment building, changing it from a five-story, 96 unit edifice to a four-story building with 74 units.

“I strongly share concerns that this development project violates local height standards developed by community members to protect the character and feel of their community,”

Read More »

Monday, November 15, 2021

Altadena Small Businesses Could Receive Rent Relief From New Program

Altadena Small Businesses Could Receive Rent Relief From New Program

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Altadena small businesses that have fallen behind in their rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic are eligible for a $40,000 relief grant.

Supervisor Holly Mitchell hosted a virtual news conference Monday to announce the program, which is funded with federal coronavirus aid dollars.

“The Small Business Rent Relief cannot come soon enough for the countless businesses that have had to weather the costly and unpredictable impact of COVID-19. As Los Angeles County starts to recover, our employers have been left with crushing amounts of back rent due,” Mitchell said. “This will be just the first of many county projects targeting economic resiliency for our small employers.”

Eligible businesses must:

• have a brick-and-mortar business located in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County.
• have an annual average of nine or fewer full-time equivalent employees.
• have annual total gross revenues of no more than $1 million; and be able to demonstrate a gross revenue loss of at least 25% over a 12-month time frame falling at least in part within the period of the county’s COVID-19 Emergency Order that went into effect March 4,

Read More »
Page 18 of 138« First...10...1617181920...304050...Last »
x