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.

Friday, February 12, 2016

Altadena Town Council Issues Agenda for February 16, 2016

Diane Marcussen, Chair, Altadena Town Council has issued the agenda for the Council’s February 16, 2016 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

1.1. Pledge of Allegiance ___________________________ Councilmember
1.2. Roll Call _____________________________________ Recording Secretary, Damon Hobdy
1.3. Approve February 16, 2015 meeting Agenda

2. OFFICERS’ REPORTS

2.1. Chairman ____________________________________ Diane Marcussen
2.2. Vice Chairman ________________________________ Okorie Ezieme
2.3. Recording Secretary ___________________________ Damon Hobdy
2.3.1. Approve January 19, 2015 Meeting Minutes
2.4. Treasurer ____________________________________ Patricia Sutherlen
2.5. Corresponding Secretary _______________________ Billy Malone

3. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS

3.1. California Highway Patrol _______________________ Officer Mike Ulloa
3.2. Altadena Sheriff’s Station ______________________ Lt. Phil Marquez
3.3. Cert ________________________________________
3.4. County Fire __________________________________ Stephanie English

4. SPECIAL PRESENTATION

4.1.

Friday, February 5, 2016

Altadena’s Crime Blotter for the Week of Saturday, January 30th

Sunday, January 24th

10:00 AM – A residential burglary occurred in the 400 block of W. Altadena Drive. The suspect(s) entered the residence by shattering the rear window. Property Stolen: Santa Cruz acoustic guitar, gray guitar case, Apple laptop, credit cards. On-going investigation.
3:00 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 1900 block of Harding Avenue. The suspect(s) entered the residence by prying the rear door. Property Stolen: silver MacBook Pro, silver iPhone 6S.
6:09 PM – A robbery occurred at Baja Ranch Market, 2515 Fair Oaks Avenue. The suspect was described as a male, 35 years, 5’5” – 5’6”, 130 – 140 lbs. Property Stolen: beer.
7:00 PM – A petty theft from a vehicle occurred in the 1200 block of Boston Street. Property Stolen: black bumper hitch cover.
9:15 PM – Iberville Beard, 31 years old of Altadena was arrested in the 500 block of W. Figueroa Street for a court order violation.
11:51 PM – Erlyn Ramirez,

Friday, February 5, 2016

MonteCedro Senior Living Community Facility Holds Grand Opening

Story and Photography by ANI MIKAELIAN

The 186-apartment unit MonteCedro senior living community complex celebrated its grand opening Thursday in Altadena.

“We are so excited to be here and to be of service to this community,” MonteCedro’s Executive Director, David Weidert, said. “We are looking forward to being your partner, your patron, your volunteers, and most specially your neighbors.”

Built and operated by Episcopal Communities & Services (ECS), the facility, located at 2212 N. El Molino Avenue, is touted as a “luxury Life Plan Community situated on an idyllic eight-acre site in the foothills of Altadena.”

About 250 people are already signed up into move into the community by the end of 2016, ECS said. Eighty-six of the apartments are already occupied.

The grand opening kicked off with the Jack Lantz Big Band playing a wide collection of classics including “Moon River” and “Orange Colored Sky.”

“This building is much more than concrete and steel,” ECS President and Chief Executive Officer James Rothrock told the gathering.

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Five Acres Announces Transitional Shelter Care (TSC) – A Pilot Program at the Residential Treatment Center in Altadena

Effective March 1, Five Acres will expand services by launching a new Transitional Shelter Care (TSC) program on their residential campus in Altadena.

This pilot program, administered through the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services, will provide short-term care; up to 72 hours in most cases – for youngsters who are experiencing the trauma of being removed from their families, or who have suffered a placement disruption.

Five Acres’ program will serve girls age 6-14, with a priority to siblings to help keep them together. The girls will stay in the newly renovated TSC cottage, which can accommodate up to 15 residents at a time. Dedicated staff will provide direct care, crisis services, therapeutic interaction, supervision, and comfort during this difficult time in the lives of these young girls. Because children will only be with us for a short time, we anticipate serving hundreds of additional youngsters each year through this unique program.

There are approximately 20,000 boys and girls in Los Angeles County Foster Care,