Thursday, July 9, 2015

Demand for MWD Turf Rebate Program Exhausts Supplies, Program Closes

Facing unprecedented public demand for incentives to transform the region’s landscapes, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California announced today it will be closing its turf rebate program to new applications later this week because available funding has been fully allocated.

Metropolitan’s $450 million conservation program, the largest of its kind in the nation, will focus remaining available funds on rebates for water-saving devices and a multi-media outreach campaign to promote greater water conservation in homes, gardens and communities throughout the Southland. The district will also maintain a waiting list of interested turf rebate applicants in the event that some of the approved projects do not move forward with their planned landscape changes.

“We knew that the popularity of the turf program would exhaust the available funds at some point, but even we didn’t predict just how popular turf rebates would become,” said Metropolitan General Manager Jeffrey Kightlinger. “Metropolitan is proud to have accelerated the movement by hundreds of thousands of Southern Californians to embrace a new outdoor aesthetic and lock in water savings permanently.”

Last December,

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Thursday, July 9, 2015

Altadena Public Library Receives “Latino Americans: 500 Years of History” Grant

The Altadena Public Library has been selected to receive a competitive Latino Americans: 500 Years of History grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the American Library Association (ALA).

As one of 203 grant recipients selected from across the country, Altadena Public Library will receive a cash grant of $3,000 to hold public programming — such as public film screenings, discussion groups, oral history initiatives, local history exhibitions, multi-media projects or performances — about Latino history and culture.

The library will also receive the six-part, NEH-supported documentary film “Latino Americans,” created for PBS in 2013 by the WETA public television station. The award-winning series chronicles the history of Latinos in the United States from the 16th century to present day. (Learn more about the series at www.pbs.org/latino-americans/en/.)

The Latino Americans funding will enable the Altadena Library to present a film and lecture series with scholars including Roberta Martinez and Dr. Francisco Balderrama, special presentations in partnership with Altadena Heritage and Altadena Historical Society and a Latino Festival in April highlighting local Latino culture.

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Wednesday, July 8, 2015

California Highway Patrol Says 2 Were Killed, 229 Arrested for DUI in Los Angeles County Over Fourth of July

Twenty-six people were killed in vehicle collisions throughout the state of California within the 78-hour Maximum Enforcement Period over the Independence Day weekend, when the California Highway Patrol deployed the maximum number of personnel to assure safe travel for those going to and coming from Fourth of July events.

CHP reported the sad statistic in a press release summarizing the number of traffic incidents and violations last weekend throughout the state.

The report said CHP made 930 driving-under-the-influence arrests statewide during the Maximum Enforcement Period. Within Los Angeles county, two people were killed in collisions and 229 arrests were made.

All available CHP officers were deployed during the period to focus enforcement on occupant restraints, speed violations, and those driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The maximum deployment also assured prompt response to any incident that may have caused a hazard or traffic delay.

“Our mission is to reduce roadway deaths to zero,” the CHP said in a press release.

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Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Board of Supervisors Adopts Recommendations Supported by Antonovich

The Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted the recommendations of the Interim Chief Executive Officer on a motion by Mayor Michael D. Antonovich and Supervisor Sheila Kuehl to enhance the efficiency of the governance structure and end the failed 2007 interim structure.  The Board also directed the CEO to report back to the Board in 90 days with additional changes to governance to further enhance operations.

“Today’s action will improve the Board’s ability to address emerging priorities and ensure effective service delivery with increased collaboration on vital county issues.” said Mayor Antonovich.  “The previous costly and bureaucratic interim governance structure was bloated and hindered the ability to provide coordinated services to emancipated youth, veterans, the mentally ill and other vial services.”

In February, the Board unanimously approved a motion by Mayor Antonovich and Supervisor Kuehl that directed the CEO to provide flexibility, transparency and accountability to the County governance structure.  The new structure provides Board interaction with departments and improves decision-making by creating ad hoc units in the Chief Executive Office dedicated to accomplishing Board priorities.

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Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Child Bitten by Rattlesnake at Day Camp in Hahamongna Park

A young girl of less than 10 years of age was bitten by a rattlesnake at a day camp in Hahamongna Park Mondays afternoon shortly about 3:15 p.m. and is expected to “recover fully.”

Pasadena Fire Department spokesperson Lisa Derderian said the day camp’s counselors called 911 immediately and handled the situation well. Paramedics arrived on scene within minutes.

“She was transported to a local hospital and is in a stable condition and expected to make a full recovery,” Derderian said. “The camp personnel handled it just as they should. They’re a reputable organization that had been there for years.”

Derderian said she believes the snake itself was captured.

Recent hot, dry weather has resulted in an increase rattlesnake sightings.

Derderian urged residents to be careful when outdoors.

“It’s a misconception that people assume that they’re going to hear the rattle and in majority of cases, you might not hear a rattle,” she said.

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Monday, July 6, 2015

One Alarm Garage Fire Damages Two Cars

A one alarm fire today brought 23 firefighters to a blazing garage containing two cars.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department was dispatched to a house fire at 12:06 this afternoon in the 3000 block of North Lincoln Avenue, Fire Inspector Randall Wright said.

Arriving firefighters found a one story, three car detached garage with smoke and fire showing.

Knockdown came quickly, Wright said, by 12:22 p.m.

A search by fire crews found no victims. The crews remained on scene for some time “trying to make sure there are no hotspots and trying to make sure to salvage items for the homeowner,” Wright said.

Two vehicles  and some storage sheds were damaged, Wright said, in addition to the garage structure itself.

 

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Monday, July 6, 2015

The California Highway Patrol Opens 4-Day Online Application Process

The California Highway Patrol has opened its application period for prospective cadets who will train at the CHP Academy and in two years could count themselves among “California’s finest.”

Applicants are warned beforehand that the current application period lasts just four days only, starting today and lasting until 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 9.

The very first step in applying to be a CHP officer is to go online and create an account on the CHP application site – www.chp.ca.gov/chp-careers. There is no other way.

The entire application process used to take up to two years up cadet appointment, but CHP says changes have been made to lessen the time and make it six to 12 months.

To qualify for paid training as a CHP Academy cadet, an applicant has to go through atesting and evaluation process mandated by state law and the California State Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). The process is composed of seven steps – application acceptance,

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Monday, July 6, 2015

Altadena Town Council Land Use Committee’s July Meeting Has Been Cancelled

Diane Marcussen, Chair of the Altadena Town Council, said today in an email that the July Land Use Committee meeting has been cancelled. After polling the entire committee for action items, Marcussen reports, “it has been determined that we have no items that are ready for presentation or for voting this month.” “I expect that there may be several items for action at the August meeting,” Marcussen said.

 

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Sunday, July 5, 2015

Altadena Sheriff’s Deputies, Responding to Call for Help from Fellow Deputies, Hit and Overturn Civilian Car

Two Altadena Sheriffs deputies driving in an unmarked car with red lights and siren engaged responding to a call for help from other deputies collided with a civilian car, overturning it and trapping two people, authorities said.

The incident started at 9:39 p.m. Saturday after deputies faced off against a large uncooperative crowd, reported Los Angeles Sheriffs Deputy Dan Paige.

The deputies issued a call for backup and mutual aid. Pasadena police units responded, as did other Altadena Sheriffs units.

One of the responding Sheriffs units collided with a white Ford Escape at the intersection of Woodbury Road and Fair Oaks Avenue. The Ford was carrying two male adult and one female adult passengers, Paige said.

The force of the collision caused the Ford to overturn onto its side.

Paige said that one of the rear passengers was able to crawl out the rear hatchback, but the front driver and passenger were held in place with their seatbelts.

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Saturday, July 4, 2015

Altadena Sheriff’s Recover Stolen Car, Arrest 7 Suspects

Photograph courtesy Deputy Dan Paige

On Friday night at about 6:30 p.m. Altadena Deputies Abdulfattah and Villareal were on patrol when they spotted a stolen car in the southwest area of Altadena.

The deputies followed the car a short distance, into nearby city of Pasadena.

The deputies saw six or seven persons in the car, backup was requested, and the car was pulled over at Washington Boulevard and Forest Ave.

After several other deputies and Pasadena Police arrived, a total of seven persons were taken into custody without incident.

The car was reported stolen four days ago in San Marino.

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