Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Altadena Community Unites for Resource Workshop Event as Grocery Outlet Heralds Reopening

By EDDIE RIVERA

Residents of Altadena gathered Monday for a community event that brought together resources, celebrated the upcoming reopening of a beloved grocery store, and provided food and entertainment for families and children.

Organized by Altadenans Freddy Sayegh and Pastor BJ King, the Altadena Coalition event, which reportedly drew an estimated one thousand people, aimed to offer both immediate relief and a long-term vision for a community hurting from the disastrous Eaton Fire.

The Small Business Administration (SBA), the American Red Cross, and numerous other organizations, continued to provide resources and information to families still recovering from the week-long fire.

At the same time, it provided a much-needed reprieve, Sayegh noted, featuring food from Little Caesar’s Love Kitchen, entertainment, and a celebration of the grand re-opening of the Grocery Outlet Market.

“We just felt that these kids needed a break — and the parents needed a break,” he said. “We wanted to create a nice opportunity for the families to meet with SBA,

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Crackdown On Power-Guzzling Data Centers May Soon Come Online In California

By KHARI JOHNSON, CALMATTERS

California residents now pay the highest price for electricity in the continental U.S., state analysts reported last month. Costs have been driven in part by levies to prevent and insure against wildfires, but the analysts anticipate a less conspicuous source of pressure on power bills going forward: growing electricity demand from data centers.

Tucked away in nondescript buildings, data centers store and transmit the contents of the internet. At least one is involved every time you watch a TikTok video or shop on Amazon. But in recent years, artificial intelligence, and especially new general purpose systems like ChatGPT, has caused server farms to multiply.

That means more power plants to build and more transmission lines to run, leaving state regulators increasingly concerned that the general public will be on the hook for Big Tech’s electricity binge.

In response, California lawmakers have in recent weeks proposed bills to ensure that electricity customers don’t pay for the infrastructure that utility companies build to serve data centers — and to encourage more energy efficiency or use of clean energy on the part of the tech companies,

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Three Altadena Water Companies Face “Significant Damage” Following Wildfires

Agencies work to restore drinking water and fire suppression capabilities as state coordinates recovery

Three mutual water agencies serving the Altadena area – Rubio, Lincoln, and Los Flores Water Companies – sustained significant infrastructure damage during January’s Eaton Fire, County officials said during Monday’s Altadena community meeting.

The damage affects the companies’ drinking water supply and fire suppression capabilities are affected.

“We’ve had formal discussions with all three mutual water Districts and have come to learn that they have significant damage to their systems,” reported Mark Pestrella, Director of Los Angeles County Public Works during the meeting.

“Currently they are assessing those systems and they are governed by the State of California. [The] State Water Board has been notified and the State Water Board is working with all three agencies to understand what it will take to get them back up and running.”

The restoration of both drinking water and fire suppression systems is clearly critical for home occupancy in affected areas being repopulated.

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Average LA County Gas Price Rises to Highest Amount Since Last June

By STEVEN HERBERT, City News Service

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County rose Tuesday for the 23rd time in 24 days, increasing six-tenths of a cent to $4.785, its highest amount since June 28.

The average price has risen 29.4 cents over the past 24 days, including three-tenths of a cent Monday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It rose a half-cent Jan. 26 and four-tenths of a cent Jan. 27, dropped four-tenths of a cent Jan. 28 and resumed increasing Jan. 29.

The average price is 10.4 cents more than one week ago and 29.2 cents higher than one month ago, but 2.2 cents less than one year ago. It has dropped $1.709 since rising to a record $6.494 on Oct. 5, 2022.

The national average price was unchanged, remaining at $3.161, after rising six of the previous eight days, increasing 2.5 cents. It is 2 cents more than one week ago and 4.1 cents higher than one month ago but 11.8 cents less than one year ago.

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Army Corps Launches Interactive Map to Track Wildfire Cleanup Progress

Residents can monitor debris removal progress in real-time across affected neighborhoods

The United States Army Corps of Engineers has unveiled a new digital tool to help Los Angeles County residents track wildfire debris removal operations in their communities. The Phase 2 Debris Removal Viewer, now available at the top of the Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District Wildfire Debris Removal Mission page, provides real-time updates on cleanup efforts through a color-coded mapping system that displays the status of affected properties.

“Transparency and timely information are critical as we work to safely and quickly remove wildfire debris,” said Col. Eric Swenson, Commander of the United States Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles Wildfires Recovery Field Office. “This new viewer gives residents a clear picture of where their property stands in the Phase 2 process, reinforcing our commitment to keeping the community informed every step of the way.”

The interactive map identifies three categories of properties: parcels submitted by Los Angeles County for Phase 2 debris removal,

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Webster’s Community Pharmacy Reopens in Altadena

By EDDIE RIVERA

Webster’s Community Pharmacy, an Altadena landmark since 1926, reopened Monday at its new Chase Plaza location following a closure triggered by the Eaton Fire in January and then by regulatory and infrastructure hurdles.

“Today is the first day we could physically open up after all the remediation and things we had to deal with,” owner Meredith Miller said. “Up until about a week ago, we didn’t have water. We had to wait for that.”

The business escaped the widespread destruction that affected many neighboring establishments. During the initial reopening phase, the pharmacy department will be fully operational, filling prescriptions and offering local delivery services.

“We’re a pharmacy first,” said Miller as customers returned to the 2333 Lake Avenue location. “Our team will be available to answer any questions and arrange for prescriptions to be delivered locally,” Miller said.

The pharmacy has served the Altadena community for nearly a century.

Like all others in California,

Monday, February 17, 2025

LA Mayor Bass Admits Ghana Trip Prior to Wildfires Was a Mistake

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is addressing her trip to Africa during the historic windstorm that preceded January’s deadly Los Angeles wildfires, admitting for the first time that she now views it as a mistake.

“Yeah, absolutely, there is no question about that,” Bass told NBC4’s Conan Nolan in an interview Friday when asked directly if the trip was a mistake.

Bass was heavily criticized for being out of the country when the fires broke out Jan. 7, 2025. She was in Ghana as part of a four-member U.S. delegation sent by President Joe Biden to attend the inauguration of John Dramani Mahama as that nation’s president.

The Eaton Fire decimated parts of Altadena.

Bass returned to Los Angeles the day after the fires erupted, but City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, acting as Mayor, had to sign the proclamation of a local emergency issued by Bass.

Forecasters had warned of dangerous fire weather conditions in the days leading up to Jan.

Monday, February 17, 2025

Los Angeles County to Prioritize Housing Vouchers for Wildfire Victims

Officials take emergency action to aid displaced families below 50 percent of area median income

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously last week to approve a motion allocating 50 federal housing vouchers to residents displaced by the devastating January wildfires.

The emergency housing initiative, introduced as a motion by Board Chair Kathryn Barger and Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, specifically targets families earning less than half of the area’s median income.

The Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA) will amend its Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan to distribute the assistance, commonly known as Section 8, to eligible residents on a first-come, first-served basis.

“Many of the residents affected by these wildfires were renters who now face immense challenges securing a new home,” Barger said in a statement on Monday. “These vouchers will serve as a critical lifeline for displaced families struggling to create stability for their children and households.”

Supervisor Horvath highlighted the urgency of the situation,

Monday, February 17, 2025

Massive Multi-Agency Effort Underway To Clear Millions of Tons of Eaton Fire Debris By Truck

Federal, state, county and local authorities coordinate unprecedented cleanup of 4.5 million tons of hazardous materials from Eaton and Palisade fires

Large dump trucks will roll in a continuous convoy today from Altadena and parts of Pasadena to regional landfills as a coordinated response to the Eaton Fire debris removal ramps up.

The cleanup operation, estimated to involve a total of 4.5 million tons of debris from both the Eaton and Palisades fires—ten times the volume from the 2023 Maui wildfires—represents one of the largest coordinated disaster recovery efforts in recent history.

Pasadena announced three major haul routes for debris removal: West of Lake Ave: Woodbury Road to Arroyo Blvd to I-210 on/off ramps; East of Lake Ave and west of Eaton Canyon Golf Course: New York Drive to Sierra Madre Villa Ave to Rosemead Blvd to I-210 on/off ramps; and East of Eaton Canyon Golf Course: Michillinda Ave to I-210 on/off ramps.

Trucks hauling debris from the burn areas will utilize local streets until they reach the haul route,

Monday, February 17, 2025

Historic Webster’s Community Pharmacy, Spared By Eaton Fire Flames, Reopens

STAFF REPORT

Landmark institution reopens doors Monday

Webster’s Community Pharmacy, an Altadena landmark since 1926, reopens its doors today at its new Chase Plaza location at 2333 Lake Avenue after its closure since early January caused by the Eaton Fire.

Unlike so many Altadena businesses, Webster’s was fortunate to have survived the destruction all around it.

“Exciting news! Webster’s Community Pharmacy in Altadena will re-open its doors on Monday, February 17, at 9:00 a.m.,” announced co-owner Meredith Miller.

“During the first phase of our re-opening, the Pharmacy will be fully operational,” Miller explained. “We will be able to process and fill all your prescriptions, and our team will be available to answer any questions you may have and arrange for your prescriptions to be delivered locally.”

To welcome customers, the pharmacy is offering free coffee and donuts during the reopening.

Founded by Frank Webster, the pharmacy played a historic role in the community,