Monday, February 22, 2016

Altadena Public Library Presents “The Secret of Marie” with Author Rebecca Bricker

Author Rebecca Bricker, a former Altadena resident, will present her historical novel The Secret of Marie, on Tuesday, April 26th at 7:00 p.m. in the Barbara J. Pearson Community Room of the Main Library.

An art-history mystery set in Monet’s Giverny, The Secret of Marie weaves a modern-day love story with the romantic tale of American Impressionist painter Theodore Robinson and his favorite model — a woman known only as Marie, who has perplexed art historians for years.

The presentation will include a slide show and tips for those interested in visiting Giverny. Rebecca also will share a significant discovery she made in a museum vault that sheds new light on the mysterious Marie.

Rebecca’s previous books are a memoir entitled Tales from Tavanti: An American Woman’s Mid-Life Adventure in Italy and a novel, Not a True Story. She currently lives in Florence, Italy.

The Altadena Library is located at 600 East Mariposa Street, Altadena. For more information please call (626) 798-0833.

Monday, February 22, 2016

Altadena Public Library Presents Family Legacy Workshop with Linda Weaver Clarke

Come join the Altadena Library District and Linda Weaver Clarke on Tuesday, April 5, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Barbara J. Pearson Community Room, for a fun and informative Family Legacy workshop!

It’s important to teach children their heritage. Each of us has a story from our ancestors or even our own story to tell. It’s up to us to write these experiences down. Learn the most important elements of writing your family history, autobiography, and develop your writing skills. Find out how to get your books published, edited, and ready for print. Help your ancestors come alive on paper. Make your family legacy something your children will be proud of.

Linda Weaver Clarke, lecturer and author, flies throughout the United States presenting her workshop to libraries. She has traveled to seventeen states and presented over 500 workshops. Mary Jo Gohlke, Adult Programming for Stockton Library, wrote: “Ms Clarke appeals to genealogists and aspiring authors. I was terribly impressed! The people were genuinely attuned to what she presents.

Monday, February 22, 2016

Altadena Public Library Presents “The Joy of Designing with Nature” with Lisa Novick

Please join Altadena Public Library for a lively look at how Lisa Novick turned her suburban yard into a vibrant native plant habitat, on Saturday, March 5th from 1-3 p.m in the Barbara J. Pearson Community Room of the Main Library. She will discuss the ins and outs of designing with native plants, and how to combine them with orchard trees or other edibles. She will share strategies and resources that will minimize the overwhelm of tackling your yard conversion. Come with your questions. Leave with possibilities.

After receiving a B.A. in philosophy from UCLA, Lisa Novick traveled a complex path that ultimately led her to working on behalf of the environment at the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers & Native Plants, where she is Director of Outreach and, formerly, K-12 Education. Lisa’s interest has always been in trying to bridge the gap between what is and what ought to be, particularly in issues of deep ecology. Over the years, she gained experience in fundraising,

Friday, February 19, 2016

Altadena Public Library Continues Second Saturday Series with Petrella in the Main Library

Saturday, March 12th at 6:30 p.m. in the Reading Court of the Main library, the Altadena Library District will continue its Second Saturday Series with the singer/songwriter Petrella, and her band ‘Mixed Influence’.

Imagine Tina Turner singing Country Music. Now, imagine a voice that goes beyond this by blending, soul, blues, country and R&B into a fresh, intuitive and well-written style of music…that is Petrella. With more than 25 years as a singer/songwriter and recording artist, Petrella’s style melds hints of Aretha Franklin, Patsy Cline, Macy Gray and – yes – Tina Turner into a beautiful, versatile sound all her own. Petrella, The First Lady of Country Soul, brings her blend of R&B, Blues, and Country with a Rock edge to the Altadena Public Library for their Second Saturday Music Series.

Discovered in California, this inventive new sound landed Petrella on the Cover of Cash Box magazine and produced 5 singles that landed in the top 100 on the Country Music Charts,

Friday, February 19, 2016

South Coast Air Quality Management District – Leaf Blower Exchange Program

SCAQMD sponsors an annual Leaf Blower Exchange Program that helps clean the air through the exchange of backpack leaf blowers. Commercial landscapers and gardeners operating within the South Coast Air Basin can exchange old, noisy, high-polluting backpack leaf blowers for new low-emission/low-noise backpack leaf blowers available at a discounted price.

The 2016 Leaf Blower Exchange Program will offer three STIHL models—the BR500 will be $200 with the trade-in of a used backpack blower. There will also be 2 battery-electric models—the BGA85, will be $200 with trade-in and the BGA100 which retails at $1,400 will be $600 with trade-in. School districts, college and local governments also are encouraged to take advantage of this year’s program. For additional information on trade-in options, please visit www.aqmd.gov/home/programs/community.

Since the Leaf Blower Exchange Program began in 2006, 12,000 old leaf blowers have been replaced, reducing 138,729 pounds of hydrocarbon and NOx emissions per year. The Program has also reduced smog-forming pollutants by 88,282 pounds per year in the Southland.

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Altadena’s Crime Blotter for the Week of Saturday, February 13th

Sunday, February 7th

8:59 AM – Lili Salazar, 18 years old of Compton was arrested in the 3400 block of Fair Oaks Avenue for a vehicle burglary.
11:30 PM – Glen Johnson, 50 years old of Altadena was arrested in the area of Fair Oaks Avenue and Woodbury Road for drunk in public.

Monday, February 8th

7:32 PM – Tanya Kirk, 56 years old of Altadena was arrested in the 500 block of Wapello Street for vehicle vandalism.

Tuesday, February 9th

No significant incidents to report.

Wednesday, February 10th

2:00 AM – Narada Austin, 34 years old of Altadena was arrested in the 200 block of E. Sacramento Street for domestic violence.
9:08 AM – Asani Thomas, 24 years old of Altadena was arrested in the 700 block of E. Pine Street for domestic violence.
12:30 PM – A vehicle burglary occurred at Eaton Canyon Park, 1750 N. Altadena Drive.

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

January Water Savings Improve to 25%

Water savings for the Foothill Municipal Water District service area ended at 25% for the month of January 2016, which improved from the 20% savings achieved in December 2015. FMWD supplies water to three major Altadena water companies.

The State is using calendar year 2013 as the benchmark for measuring water savings for water agencies throughout California. Compliance with the mandate is determined on a cumulative basis starting with June 1, 2015. Cumulative water savings for the District since the State-mandated reductions began is 29%.

As with other water providers in the State, some local agencies did not meet their State-mandated targets for the month of January. However on a cumulative basis, which accounts for all water savings achieved from June 2015 to December 2015, most agencies are on track in compliance. Below are the numbers for agencies within the FMWD service area:

*The State allows smaller agencies to choose between two days a week watering or 25% reduction.

“During the winter months,

Monday, February 15, 2016

Dr. Joy J. Moore to Speak at Altadena Baptist for Black History Celebration

The 32nd Annual Black History Celebration will be held at Altadena Baptist Church [ABC] in Altadena at 5:00 p.m. on February 21, 2016. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Prominent speakers join local artists and dignitaries for this celebration every February: last year nationally-known author Brenda Salter-McNeil spoke to a standing-room-only crowd. This year, Dr. Joy J. Moore of Fuller Theological Seminary will be the featured speaker. Director of Fuller’s Pannell Center for African American Church Studies, Moore has focused on cross-racial ministry in urban, rural, and suburban congregations. As a pastor, she has called local congregations to recognize their vocation of glorifying God as a peaceable community—practicing hope, hospitality, and honesty. Dr. Moore will speak on “The Harvest: From Roots to Fruit.”

“This is one of the ways we give back to the community every year,” said ABC’s co-pastor George Van Alstine. “With everything happening on the national stage, the Black History Celebration takes on new meaning: it is the Church’s responsibility to recognize the roots of the Christian faith in the black community,

Monday, February 15, 2016

Altadena Faces Imported Water Shutdown for Up to 17 Days

A Metropolitan Water District treatment plant upgrade coupled with local pipeline construction are behind the planned total shutdown of water imports into Altadena for up to at least 17 days beginning February 23.

With no additional outside water flowing in, Altadenans will have to rely completely upon water reservoirs and groundwater wells for the two-weeks plus period.

All the water agencies involved have asked residents to curtail their water use to ensure supplies last and taps don’t run dry.

For those customers served by Las Flores Water Company, Lincoln Avenue Water Company and Rubio Cañon Land and Water Association, the shutdown of imported water shipments from the Metropolitan Water District will last from February 23 through March 10.

For those served by Pasadena Water and Power, the shutdown will last from February 25 through March 10. The PWP customers are not affected by the Altadena pipeline construction shutdown extension which affects only customers of the Altadena water companies served by the Foothill Municipal Water District.

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Altadena Weather: Sunny. Windy. Warm. Repeat.

An upper high pressure ridge is expected to amplify and build into California Sunday night and will bring sunny and warm weather over Altadena Monday, but this comes with strong and gusty winds near the foothills that could create driving hazards through next Saturday.

Monday’s highs will be near 89 degrees with northeast winds at five to 15 miles per hours, becoming east southeast in the afternoon. A Hazardous Weather Outlook from the National Weather Service says winds could gust as high as 20 mph Monday afternoon, even up to 60 to 65 mph in the windier locations in the mountains and foothills.

Monday’s lows will be around 57.

Tuesday will be sunny and could be the warmest day of the week with a high near 90 in the valleys and interior areas of Los Angeles county, as the upper high gets to its strongest across the region. Calmer winds from the south and southwest prevail and lows will be around 59.