Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Pasadena-Altadena Links Inc. Holiday Affair Raises $20,000 for Scholarships

Recently the Pasadena-Altadena Chapter of the Links Inc. hosted their annual holiday gathering, “Holidays with the Links” in Paseo Colorado’s Noor Ballroom.

At the sold-out affair, over 250 guests enjoyed a lively cocktail reception, savory brunch fare, and greetings from Chapter President Yvonne Hill and Event Chair Mildred Dockery. Four Pasadena area community champions were honored: Lucille Bartlett, Chapter Charter Member of 53 years; Sylvia Wiggins, Alumnae Member of 48 years & long term co-chair of the chapter’s annual Senior Talent Show; Billy Mitchell, jazz musician and producer of various music programs for San Gabriel valley students, and PUSD’s 2016 Principal of the Year, Timothy Sippel, John Muir High School.

Guests from as far away as Dallas, TX to San Francisco, CA along with Pasadena natives marveled as Marissa Dodd, a previous Links Up for Success mentee & 2013 Scholar of Excellence chapter scholarship recipient, described her appreciation in being able to purchase her quarterly textbooks and the overall positive impact the chapter has had on her educational pursuits.

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Advisory: Barger Seeks to Double the Number of “Mental Evaluation Teams” and Develope a Mental Health “Triage Help Desk”

To help prevent use-of-force incidents and improve outcomes for individuals with mental health issues, the Board of Supervisors will vote on a motion by Supervisor Kathryn Barger to expand the utilization of Mental Evaluation Teams (MET teams) at their regular meeting Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at 9:30 a.m. at the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room (500 West Temple St., L.A.) MET teams consist of a mental health clinician paired with a law enforcement officer who respond to emergency calls involving psychiatric crisis or critical incidents and provide immediate assistance to those in need.

“Proactive engagement that includes a mental health expert will reduce confrontations, and provide access to treatment for individuals in crisis that may lead to a full recovery,” said Barger. “Expanding this vital program will also help law enforcement in its effort to avoid violent incidents, protect the public and save lives.”

Los Angeles County was the first in the nation to develop co-response teams as a pilot program in the early 1990s.

Friday, January 6, 2017

Altadena Chamber of Commerce Names 2016 Citizen and Business of the Year

A neighborhood activist and an organization that promotes and supports local artists were named as Citizen and Business of the Year for 2016 by the Altadena Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association.

Author Elliot M. Gold, co-founder of the Altadena Coalition of Neighborhood Associations (ACONA), was named Citizen of the Year for his lifetime of work bringing neighbors together. Business of the Year went to Open Studios Alta/Pasa/Dena, which hosts a twice-yearly tour of artist studios in Altadena and north Pasadena.

The winners will be honored at the Chamber’s Annual Awards and Installation Dinner on February 3, 2017, at the Altadena Town & Country Club.

Citizen of the Year: Elliot M. Gold: Good Neighbor

Elliot M. Gold has spent 45 years in Altadena building up his neighborhood — and the neighborhood is all of Altadena.

Gold, 72, was named 2016 Citizen of the Year as one of the founders of the Altadena Coalition Of Neighborhood Associations (ACONA),

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Altadena’s Crime Blotter for the Week of Saturday, December 31st

Sunday, December 25th

1:00 AM – Melody Mendez, 18 years old of Pasadena was arrested in the 500 block of W. Woodbury Road for possession of a controlled substance.
4:00 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 600 block of E. Calaveras Street. Suspect(s) entered the residence by shattering the rear glass door. Stolen: unknown.

Monday, December 28th

Boxing Day is celebrated.

Tuesday, December 27th

12:29 AM – A discharge of a firearm at an inhabited dwelling occurred in the 100 block of W. Manor Street. Investigation is on-going.
10:32 PM – A vehicle vandalism occurred in the area of Lake Avenue and Loma Alta Drive. Suspect(s) shattered the passenger window.

Wednesday, December 28th

11:51 AM – A residential burglary occurred in the 3100 block of Mesaloa Lane. Suspect(s) entered the residence by shattering the window. Stolen: gold Rolex men’s watch.
12:50 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 1900 block of Hill Avenue.

Saturday, December 31, 2016

Altadena Town Council Land Use Committee Meeting Agenda for January 3, 2017

Diane Marcussen, Chair, Altadena Town Council, has issued the agenda for the Land Use Committee meeting for January 3, 2017 meeting to be conducted at the Altadena Community Center, 730 East Altadena Drive, starting at 7:00 p.m.

A pdf version is available by clicking here.

1. CALL TO ORDER: Diane Marcussen

2. Pledge of Allegiance: LUC Committee Member

3. Roll Call – Pat Sutherlen

4. Approve Meeting Agenda(s) – January 3, 2017

5. Approve Minutes – October 4, 2016, December 2016

6. Chairman Report – Diane Marcussen

7. Presentation Only

7.1. CUP 2016-001849 – CUP to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages in each tenant space. Plans include the sale of alcohol for on-site consumption in the 6 restaurant spaces. The six restaurant spaces will have either Type-41 or Type-47 licenses. The applicant plans to include the sale of a full line of alcoholic beverages for off-site consumption (Type-21 ABC license) in the 1 small market tenant space.

Friday, December 30, 2016

Hiker Rescued Off Steep Mountain Side in Millard Canyon

At 1:20 p.m. Altadena Mountain Rescue Team was called for a hiker stranded on top of a waterfall in Eaton Canyon, in the Angeles National Forest. Rescue crews were not able to reach the stranded hiker via cellphone and crews started searching Eaton Canyon area. After approximately 20 minutes rescue crews were able to make contact with the hiker and it was determined the hiker was in Millard Canyon.

The hiker, 44 y/o male residing in Cerritos was on a return hike from a waterfall when he lost sight of the trail and became stranded on a steep hillside approximately 50′ off a trail.

Rescue crews set up ropes and lowered a rescuer to the stranded hiker and raise him to safety. The hiker was not injured and was able to hike out on his own. We were able to have the hiker out at 4:00pm before the sun set.

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Altadena’s Crime Blotter for the Week of Saturday, December 24th

Sunday, December 18th

12:01 AM – A petty theft from an unlocked vehicle occurred in the 1300 block of Skywood Circle. Stolen: battery charger, charging cords, shoes, vitamins and books.
3:20 AM – Omar Cabrera, 22 years old of Pasadena was arrested in the 3200 block of Dabney Avenue for possession of a controlled substance.
5:00 PM – A vehicle burglary occurred in the 2000 block of Meadowbrook Road. Suspect(s) entered the vehicle by shattering the window. Stolen: burgundy backpack, black Kindle and books.
10:00 PM – A vehicle vandalism occurred in the 200 block of E. Alta Loma Drive. Vehicle damage: scratches and dents.

Monday, December 19th

1:25 PM – A vehicle was reported stolen from the 300 block of Acacia Street. Vehicle described as a green 1997 Honda Accord. Vehicle was recovered on 12/20/2016 by LAPD Southwest Division.
8:11 PM – A battery occurred in the 20 block of E. Woodbury Road. As the victim was walking out of a business the suspect punched the victim in the face for unknown reasons.

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Altadena Library District Presents Poetry with Suzanne Lummis

Join Altadena Library for an engaging poetry workshop with poet Suzanne Lummis Saturday, February 4th at 1:00 p.m. at the Main Library.

As writer, poet and influential teacher with the UCLA Extension Writers program Suzanne Lummis is among the best-known figures in the Los Angeles literary community. Her poems have appeared in The Hudson Review, Antioch Review, Ploughshares, New Ohio Review, Plume, The American Journal of Poetry and The New Yorker. Her most recent collection, Open 24 Hours, won the Blue Lynx Poetry Prize and was published by Lynx House Press. Suzanne edited Wide Awake: Poets of Los Angeles and Beyond (Pacific Coast Poetry Series/Beyond Baroque Books), one The Los Angeles Times’ Ten Best Books of 2015. She is the director of The Los Angeles Poetry Festival, which produced nine city-wide festivals between 1989 and 2011, and now produces once major event a year.

Join the Altadena Main Library for Poetry with Suzanne Lummis: A workshop suitable for poets at all levels,

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Two Midday Rescues in the Mountains Above Altadena

Today at 12:46 p.m. the Altadena Mountain Rescue Team was activated for a motorcycle down call on the crest trail near Eaton Canyon, in the Angeles National Forest. Los Angeles County Fire Department Squad 11 had located the injured person on Mt. Wilson Truck Trail just north of the bridge. It was determined there was no motorcycle involved, rather the injured person was riding a mountain bike when he fell. The mountain biker, 22 y/o male residing in Glendale was complaining of right arm, back pain and was bleeding from his mouth. The mountain biker was transported to Huntington Memorial Hospital with Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics.

The trails are are very busy with hikers today, if you ride a mountain bike, please use caution with the heavy traffic on the trails. Pictured is LA Co. Fire Captain Aldana directing additional units.

At 2:50 pm another call for the Altadena Mountain Rescue Team. A hiker was reported missing hiker near Dawn Mine,

Monday, December 26, 2016

Altadena Store Gutted by Fire

A fire heavily damaged a discount store in Altadena Friday night, a report from the Los Angeles County Fire Department said.

The report said the fire on the commercial structure was first reported at Fair Oaks Avenue and Woodbury Road about 11:03 p.m. Firefighters arrived on scene a few minutes later and saw heavy smoke and fire inside the building.

The structure, located at 2211 N. Fair Oaks Avenue, was occupied by Joon’s Discount.

Responding units had to use cutting tools to gain access inside and saw nobody was inside.

The statement said the exact cause of the fire is unknown and investigation is continuing.

“Early signs show it does not appear to be suspicious circumstances,” the statement continued.

Fire, smoke and water damaged most of the contents of the store, the county fire department said, although an estimate of the cost of the damage was not available at the time.