Friday, April 8, 2016

Altadena Man Accused of Firebombing Store With Two Victims Inside Ordered to Stand Trial

An Altadena man who allegedly led authorities on a 3-hour car chase and later allegedly firebombed a Pasadena water store with two people inside the building in 2015 was ordered to stand trial for the seven charges against him on Thursday.

Karnik Kendirian, 48, is accused of attempted murder and arson after allegedly using gasoline to deliberately set fire to SoCal Water in the 1600 block of East Washington Blvd. on November 20, 2015, officials said.

Kendirian’s arraignment is scheduled for April 22, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County District Attorney said.

Authorities allege that Kendirian broke a plate glass window, threw a gasoline can inside the business and then ignited the gasoline at about 1:20 a.m.

The business has an attached residence. The two people inside the living quarters were able to escape the explosive flames before they were injured, authorities said.

Kendirian is accused of attempted murder and arson in this incident.

At the time of the firebombing,

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Naomi Hirahara Speaks on Japanese-American Experience at Altadena Historical Society

The star of author Naomi Hirahara’s series of award-winning mystery books, Mas Arai, is a Japanese gardener living in post-World War II Altadena.

Now, Ms. Hirahara will speak on her childhood years in Altadena and the experiences of Japanese-Americans in 20th century Los Angeles, at 7:30 p.m. Monday April 25 at the Altadena Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Drive.

The free, illustrated program, open to the public, is sponsored by the Altadena Historical Society.

“Altadena had a small community of Japanese immigrants and their families, with a church and at least one business, in the pre- and post-war years,” said Jane Brackman, Ph.D., president of the Historical Society.

“Ms. Hirahara has woven her experiences and memories of those years into her books, and we are honored and delighted that she will share them with everyone on April 25,” Brackman said.

Hirahara is the author of five books in the Mas Arai series, with the sixth–”Sayonara Slam”–due out in May.

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Pasadena-Altadena Community Endowment Fund Seventh Annual Luncheon and Fashion Show Scholarship Benefit

PACEF Board of Directors plan Hat-ti-tude & Diamonds luncheon and fashion show.

The Pasadena-Altadena Community Endowment Fund (PACEF) is having its Seventh Annual Scholarship Luncheon and Fashion Show. Join PACEF on Saturday, April 16, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the Pasadena Hilton Hotel. Tickets are $85/per person.

This year’s theme is Hat-ti-tude & Diamonds. The 2016 Benefit Co-Chairs, Yolanda Oliver and Nell Hollomand have planned a fabulously fun event with a delicious luncheon, exotic hats and accessories, engaging models, music, shopping and lots of camaraderie. Expect to see fashionable and distinctive hats and fascinators of all sizes and styles worn by the guests at this gathering. All guests who wear hats or fascinators will be eligible for special door prizes.

Taking center stage at the event will be a dynamic fashion show featuring classic fashions from MACY’s at South Lake Avenue, Chico’s at Paseo Colorado and WestLove LTD by Diane Shelton. The models are: Char Bland, Lolita Lopez, Ruthie Hopkins,

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Altadena’s Crime Blotter for the Week of Saturday, April 2nd

Sunday, March 27th

No significant incidents.

Monday, March 28th

10:40 AM – A package theft occurred in the 400 block of E. Altadena Drive. Stolen: box containing books.
1:59 PM – A juvenile was arrested in the 2200 block of N. Lincoln Avenue for strong-arm robbery. Stolen: alcohol.

Tuesday, March 29th

5:50 PM – A petty theft from an unlocked vehicle occurred in the 1200 block of E. Woodbury Road. Stolen: Metro express lanes transponder.
7:24 PM – Oscar Villimil, 24 years old of Altadena was arrested in the 80 block of E. Montana Street for battery on a peace officer.
8:30 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 1500 block of E. Altadena Drive. Suspect possibly a roommate. Stolen: construction tools, currency.
10:38 PM – Joyce Hart-Leon, 53 years old of Altadena was arrested in the 4500 block of El Prieto Road for domestic battery.
11:59 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 300 block of Acacia Street.

Monday, April 4, 2016

Jane “Desdy” Kellogg Baggott, 90, Owner of Altadena Stables Has Passed Away

[Editor’s note:  This story originally reported an incorrect birthdate for Desdy Kellogg. We offer our sincerest apologies to the family. That date has now been corrected.]

Jane “Desdy” Kellogg Baggott, owner of Altadena Stables, has passed away. She was 90.

On April 1, an entry on Altadena Stables’ Facebook page announced her passing on March 31, 2016.

“A sad day for Altadena Stables, Desdy Kellogg-Baggott, passed yesterday,” the post said. “Her compassion for others, incredible horsemanship, and artist skills, will be missed and never forgotten.”

Desdy Kellogg Baggott was born as Jane Catherine Jackson in La Jolla, California on November 6, 1926, to William and Helen Jackson. She once said of La Jolla, “I was born there so long ago that the most controversial issue in town was whether or not to remove the horse watering trough from the center of Girard Avenue.”

Janell Gruss, barn manager at Altadena Stables, said Desdy Baggott has been an accomplished horse woman most of her life.

Friday, April 1, 2016

Rise of Hikers in Springtime Leads to Increase in Stranded Hikers

Springtime is here.

Just ask Sgt. Tom Crosswhite of the sheriff’s Altadena station.

According to Crosswhite, an indication of the seasonal change is an uptake in hikers stranded above the mountains in Altadena.

“We get about three a week,’’ he said. “They go hiking, get to a higher elevation, become disoriented and sometimes dehydrated. They underestimate the terrain and they us call for help. We get a lot of people this time of year, and into the summer.”

Such was the case of four hikers who became lost in the area of Tom Sloan Ridge above Altadena on Thursday.

One of the stranded hikers called into the sheriff’s Altadena station about 4:25 p.m. Thursday to report that they were stranded and dehydrated due to having little water, Crosswhite said.

“They were stranded at a higher elevation,” he said.

A sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team, about an hour later, was able to located the hikers and a helicopter took them to lower elevation at Farnsworth Park.

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Altadena’s Crime Blotter for the Week of Saturday, March 26th

Sunday, March 20th

12:25 PM – Rhonda Hopkins, 24 years old of Altadena was arrested in the 2100 block of El Sereno Avenue for residential burglary, receiving stolen property, and theft of utility services.
4:10 PM – A petty theft occurred in the 1300 block of N. Altadena Drive. Suspect(s) stole a cellphone that was left in the restroom. Stolen: black Samsung Galaxy Note 4.

Tuesday, March 22nd

1:00 AM – A burglary from a storage shed occurred in the 1900 block of E. Washington Boulevard. Suspect(s) entered the shed via unknown means. Stolen: gray suitcase, baby clothing, documents.
8:45 AM – A vehicle was reported stolen from the 100 block of E. Las Flores Drive. Vehicle stolen: gold 2004 Honda Accord 4 door.
11:25 PM – Kevin Berry, 37 years old of Altadena was arrested in the 1700 block of N. Holliston Avenue for domestic violence.

Wednesday, March 23rd

9:50 PM – Edwin Muniz,

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Collaborative Group Holds Parent, Teacher Forum to Discuss School District Issues

Collaborate PASadena — the “A” is for “Altadena” — continued its ongoing dialogue with local parents Tuesday evening at McKinley Elementary with its “Parent Voice Workshop.”

Collaborate PASadena is a school-city-community work plan aimed at streamlining and bettering services for children and families in Altadena, Sierra Madre and Pasadena.

The event was the first in a series of free parent engagement forums which are designed to deepen connections between parents and to provide them with ideas, relationships and avenues to help them to better navigate the challenges of parenting.

According to Mercy Santoro, Associate Superintendent of the Pasadena Unified School District, the evening was designed to “engage parents to help improve their own skills and abilities to lead parents’ organizations and groups.”

“Tonight,” she continued, “is centered around the district’s understanding of key issues from parents that will help the Pasadena School District better service its students.”

The plan was born as the School/City/Community Work Plan in 2013,

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Altadena Public Library Continues Its Latino American Grant Award Programming with a Grand Finale Celebration: Celebrating Roots, A Latino Cultural Arts Festival

On Saturday, May 14th from Noon to 8:00 p.m. the Altadena Library District will conclude its Latino American Grant award programming with a day-long festival. This Grand Finale Celebration is themed:  “Celebrating Roots”.

Altadena Library will host a Latino Cultural Arts Festival featuring:

Booths: 30+ Latino artists’ booths plus additional booths for non-profits that support the Latino Community.

MC for the day: Mezzo-soprano Suzanna Guzman, Associate Artist of the Los Angeles Music Center Opera, she performs as a principal artist with many of the world’s finest companies including the Metropolitan Opera, Kennedy Center Opera, Washington Opera, Seattle Opera, the Grand Théâtre in Geneva, and at the Edinburgh Festival. 2012 Hispanic Scholarship Foundation’s “Mentor of the Year Award”, 2012 Spirit of California Award from the California State Latino Legislative Caucus, 2013 Mexican American Foundation’s Woman of the Year.

Music: José-Luis Orozco (Grammy Nominated) & musicians from the band Quetzal (Grammy Winning) will present a children/family music program. Two 45-minute sets.

Storyteller: Born and raised in East Los Angeles,

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

County Officials Will Act to Allay Residents Fears About 5-Mile Pipeline to be Dug Through Altadena

[Editor’s note: This article originally misstated the address for the Altadena Community Center. The correct address is 730 E. Altadena Drive, Altadena. ]

Los Angeles County officials are expected during a Tuesday evening public meeting at the Altadena Community Center to answer questions and address the concerns of Altadena residents about a planned 2018 construction of a five-mile long pipeline intended to bring much-needed water to local communities.

Officials will explain during today’s 7:30 p.m. meeting at the center, at 730 E. Altadena Drive, that the Stormwater Flood Management Project will divert excess flows from Devil’s Gate Dam and Reservoir to the Eaton Wash Spreading Grounds refilling an aquifer used by several local communities — including but not limited to Altadena — as a water supply source.

And, as of now, any environmental or aesthetic impact to the community is unclear, according to Keith Lilley of the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works’ Water Resources Division.