Friday, April 12, 2024

Altadena’s Bob Lucas Memorial Library in Altadena Closed for Major Renovation; Book Sale Planned Friday, Saturday

In a bid to enhance its services and offerings, the Altadena Library District has temporarily closed the Bob Lucas Memorial Library at 2659 Lincoln Ave. and is gearing up for an extensive renovation and expansion project set to transform the branch’s facilities.

Normal operations at the library temporarily ceased on Wednesday, April 10, marking the beginning of a transformative journey for this vital community hub.

A major renovation and expansion project is set to begin this month, with a $4.5 million investment made possible after Altadena residents passed  Measure Z in 2020.

The project will ensure that this community branch library continues to educate, connect, and inspire future generations of Altadena, a statement by the Altadena Library District said.

To kick off the undertaking, the Friends of the Altadena Library are hosting a book sale extravaganza at the Bob Lucas Library on Friday and Saturday, April 12 and 13, starting at 10 a.m. The sale will include a diverse array of items including used books,

Friday, April 12, 2024

Altadena Town Council to Discuss Bus Shelter Replacement at April Meeting

The Altadena Town Council announced it will hold its monthly meeting on April 16, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. at the Altadena Community Center. The meeting will be open to the public and streamed live on the Pasadena Media YouTube channel.

According to the Council’s agenda posted, the meeting will begin with a flag salute led by Faye Haslett, a student from Muir High School. Recording Secretary Pat Sutherlen will then take a roll call, and Vice Chair Nic Arnzen will approve the meeting agenda.

Council Chair Victoria Knapp, Vice Chair Nic Arnzen, Recording Secretary Pat Sutherlen, Treasurer Chris O’Malley, and Corresponding Secretary Dorothy Wong will deliver officer reports. 

The Council will also vote on approving the minutes from the March 19, 2024 meeting.

Public safety reports will be provided by representatives from the Altadena Sheriff’s Station, California Highway Patrol, and L.A. County Fire Department. 

Community reports will follow, with updates from Parks and Recreation,

Sunday, April 7, 2024

Altadena Guild Celebrates 72 Years of Philanthropy with 71st Annual Home & Garden Tour

STAFF REPORT

The Altadena Guild of Huntington Memorial Hospital is celebrating its 72nd anniversary this year, marking a rich history of fundraising and community support that has generated over $3 million for local healthcare initiatives. As part of its ongoing commitment, the Guild is set to host its 71st Annual Home & Garden Tour on May 5.

The tour will feature one of Altadena’s quaintest neighborhoods, known for its diverse architectural styles by renowned architects.

The charming Meadowbrook neighborhood is named after the brook that once flowed through the meadow where the homes at 1930 and 1942 Meadowbrook Road now stand. At one point in time, the area was known for its citrus, vines, and berries.

As the Meadowbrook neighborhood developed between 1922 and 1947, renowned architects showcased a variety of architectural styles.

Glover and Kauth designed a Spanish Colonial Revival home with a backyard created by Frank Lloyd Wright Jr., which will serve as this year’s Home Tour Café.

Friday, March 29, 2024

Survey: Blacks, Latinos in LA County Face Disproportionate Health Outcomes

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Black and Latinx residents of Los Angeles County experience poorer health outcomes compared to other racial and ethnic groups due to disparities in access to care, availability of healthy foods, housing and economic security, according to the Los Angeles County Health Survey, released Thursday.

The L.A. County Department of Public Health’s first post-pandemic health study collected information from 9,372 adults and 7,391 children.

“The 2023 LA County Health Survey findings confront us with the stark realities of how historical inequities continue to shape the health and well-being of our communities, especially among our Black and Latinx residents,” DPH Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement. “These disparities are the result of deeply ingrained systemic injustices and policies that have, for too long, marginalized communities, affecting access to care and resources needed for good health.”

According to the survey, Black adults in L.A. County were found to experience higher instances of hypertension, asthma, obesity,

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

$12 Million Settlement Reached Over LA County PACE Loan Program

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Los Angeles County and a private lender will pay a total of $12 million to resolve a pair of lawsuits alleging that a program designed to help homeowners install clean-energy products left many participants with payments they could not afford, making them vulnerable to foreclosure, attorneys announced Tuesday.

Public Counsel, which represented plaintiffs in the suits, a pair of private lending companies that worked with the county on the Property Assessed Clean Energy, or PACE, loan program targeted homeowners the companies should have known would be unable to afford the payments, while the county allegedly failed to provide adequate safeguards to protect loan recipients.

“PACE should have been a good program that enabled homeowners to upgrade their homes with renewable energy,” Ghirlandi Guidetti, a lead attorney on the case from Public Counsel, said in a statement. “Instead it turned into a nightmare for too many families. This settlement should help make that right.”

Settlement funds will be made available to anyone who received a county-sponsored PACE loan between March 2015 and March 2018 and had a lien recorded against their property.

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

LA County Gasoline Prices Rise 11th Time in 12 Days

By STEVEN HERBERT, City News Service

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County rose Tuesday to its highest amount since Nov. 21, increasing eight-tenths of a cent to $5.046, rising for the 11th time in 12 days.

The average price has risen 11.6 cents over the past 12 days, including a half-cent Monday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It rose three consecutive days, dropped one-tenth of a cent March 18 and resumed increasing last Tuesday.

The average price is 8.2 cents more than a week ago, 24.9 cents higher than one month ago and 19.5 cents greater than one year ago. It has dropped $1.448 since rising to a record $6.494 on Oct. 5, 2022.

The national average price changed by one-tenth of a cent for the third consecutive day following an 11-day streak of increases totaling 14 cents, dropping one-tenth of a cent to $3.533.

Friday, March 22, 2024

Average LA County Gas Price Tops $5 a Gallon for First Time Since Nov. 26

By STEVEN HERBERT, City News Service

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County topped $5 for the first time since Nov. 26 Friday, increasing 1.8 cents to $5.009, rising for the seventh time in eight days.

The average price has risen 7.9 cents over the past eight days, including 1.6 cents Thursday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It rose three consecutive days, dropped one-tenth of a cent Monday and resumed increasing Tuesday.

The average price is 6.8 cents more than week ago, 21.2 cents higher than one month ago and 14.8 cents greater than one year ago. It has dropped $1.485 since rising to a record $6.494 on Oct. 5, 2022.

“Gas prices are likely to continue trending upward this spring as in prior years,” said Doug Shupe, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s corporate communications manager.

The national average price rose for the 10th consecutive day,

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

With Bus Fleet Failing, LA County Seeks Alternatives for Transporting Inmates

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Citing persistent mechanical problems with the existing bus fleet, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday called for a report on potential alternative methods of transporting jail inmates to and from court hearings, medical appointments and state prisons.

According to Supervisor Hilda Solis’ office, the sheriff’s department has not received any new inmate-transport buses since 2018, leaving it with a current operational fleet of between five and 11 in the L.A. Basin area, where 64 are actually needed. Only six out of nine buses are operating in the North County area, and only six of nine are operating for state prison transfers.

Solis’ office noted that it also costs between $1.2 million and $1.6 million a year to maintain the aging buses.

The shortage of buses at one point left 33% of inmates who were scheduled to appear in court unable to do so because of the lack of transportation, according to a Superior Court estimate cited by Solis’

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

LA County Board of Supervisors Expected to OK Rules for Short-Term Rentals

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is scheduled Tuesday to give final approval to regulations for operating on short- term rentals in unincorporated areas.

Under the new rules, hosts with Airbnb or Vacation Rentals By Owner, VRBO, would be required to register and pay a fee of $914 on an annual basis.

The county rules would also restrict short-term rentals to a host’s primary residence — prohibiting the use of accessory dwelling units, rent- restricted primary residences and vacation rentals for short-term rental use.

Additionally, the regulations place restrictions on the number of guests, length of stay and types of events for short-term rentals. Companies like Airbnb and VRBO would be required to comply with the new regulations, and establish an enforcement and appeals process for customers who fail to abide by the new rules.

The board tentatively approved the regulations in February.

The move came as a result of board action taken on March 19,

Thursday, March 14, 2024

California Weakens Plan For Mandatory Cutbacks In Urban Water Use, Yielding To Criticism

By RACHEL BECKER, CALMATTERS

Facing criticism over their ambitious plan to curb urban water use, California’s regulators today weakened the proposed rules — giving water providers more years and flexibility to comply.

Cities and urban water districts welcome the changes to the state’s draft conservation rules, which they said would have been too costly for ratepayers, estimated at $13.5 billion, and too difficult to achieve.

But environmentalists are dismayed by the revisions, which they said won’t save enough water to weather shortages as climate change continues to squeeze supplies.

“It’s really looking like this is a ‘do nothing’ regulation,” said Tracy Quinn, CEO and president of Heal the Bay, a Los Angeles County environmental group. “The updated standards are weak, and the regulation includes semi-truck sized loopholes that make it too easy for water suppliers to shirk their obligation to use water more efficiently.”

Mandated by a package of laws enacted in 2018,