Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Search and Rescue Missions in Nearby Wilderness Areas Soar

Rescues in the canyons and mountains north of Altadena have risen dramatically so far this year and will mark a 50 percent increase over last year if stranded and injured hikers and animals continue to require emergency responses at the current rate.

“We’ve been getting at least one to two calls per week in 2016 alone,” said Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff Daniel Paige, Coordinator for the volunteer Altadena Mountain Rescue Team.

Emergency calls have resulted in 58 rescue missions for the team since January, Paige said. This number compares to 88 for all of 2015.

“It’s too early to tell if it’s a substantially high number of calls being only halfway through the year, but we are definitely busy,” said Paige.

The team has responded to two deaths so far this year. Last month, 57-year-old San Diego doctor died while piloting a single engine airplane which crashed and burned at the 4,000 foot elevation on the rugged cliffside of Brown Mountain.

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Summer Reading Program at Altadena Library for the Whole Family

Read–For the Win this summer with the Altadena Library starting June 14 and continuing for the next six weeks. The library will host a range of interesting free activities for Children, Teens, and Adults that encourage and support a love of reading. Participants also can win prizes for reaching their reading goals.

“We’ve a wonderful program planned for you – join us to discover all that our Library has to offer,” said Cassandra Stearns, Senior Librarian. “Our Summer Reading programs are for Teens and Adults, too!” Readers check-in, weekly, with their reading log for fun prizes such as free books and other items.

In addition to reading and giveaways, we are hosting weekly themed events, based on age, such as movies, games and presentations. For children, we will kick-off Summer Reading with a Wildlife Learning Center presentation with animals. For Teens, there will be an Anime-Drawing workshop, a Game Day and a Hike Meetup – to name a few. Two of the Adult presentations will be an Indie Authors Panel and NASA’s Juno Mission to Jupiter presented by JPL’s Theo Clarke.

Saturday, June 4, 2016

The 4th Annual Altadena Car Show to be Held at Farnsworth Park

Tim Smith’s, “American Freedom Fighter” a jet engine powered race car will be at the 4th annual Altadena Car Show.

The car show will start at 9:00 a.m. at Farnsworth Park in Altadena, 568 Mt. Curve Avenue. Featuring Law and Disorder playing live music, popcorn, face painting, snow cones, and vendor booths. There’s also grilling hot food served with ice cold drinks, fun for the whole family.

The Altadena car show is raising money to benefit the Sheriff’s Youth Explorer Program. “We hope you can come out next Saturday June 11th to support this fantastic cause.” Please call (626) 296-2105 for more information.

Thursday, June 2, 2016

Stratford School Hosts Commissioning Event for New Altadena Allen Campus

Stratford School, a Silicon Valley based, award-winning independent private school, recently recognized as a leader in Early Childhood STEM education by the White House, recently announced the opening of their new preschool through sixth grade Altadena Allen campus.

On Wednesday, June 8, at 10:00 a.m., Stratford will hold a commissioning ceremony to officially mark and celebrate the commencement of renovations at the new Altadena Allen campus. Local dignitaries, school officials, honored guests, founding families and their children, will be invited to place a hand on a tile creating a commemorative piece that symbolizes the little and big imprints of all in attendance, to be displayed when the campus opens in August.

Led by Judy Burbank, head of school, the first matriculating classes will consist of students in preschool through second grade.

Stratford provides an exceptional STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) education, where children are inspired to be creative problem-solvers, innovators, and leaders.

Immediately following the reception,

Thursday, June 2, 2016

Altadena’s Crime Blotter for the Week of Saturday, May 28th

Sunday, May 22nd

1:53 AM – A juvenile, 16 years old from San Bernardino was arrested in the 2200 block of El Sereno Avenue for being in possession of a firearm and criminal threats.

Monday, May 23rd

1:52 AM – Jeremy Sepulveda, 35 years old of Los Angeles was arrested in the area of Montana Street and Garfield Avenue for possession of marijuana.

6:45 PM – A residential vandalism occurred in the 700 block of E. Mariposa Street. The suspect shattered the front window. Suspect has been identified as the victim’s son.

Tuesday, May 24th

10:00 AM – A residential burglary occurred in the 1100 block of E. Palm Street. Suspect(s) entered the location via the patio door. Stolen: Craftsman drill, reciprocating saw, circular saw, and a PlayStation 3.

6:00 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 800 block of E. Sacramento Street. Suspect(s) entered the location via the unlocked front door.

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

LASD Homicide Det’s Seek Info in Altadena Shooting Death, Present $20K Reward from Board of Supervisors

On Thursday, October 30, 2014, Victim Christopher Walker was shot to death near the intersection of Fair Oaks Avenue and Calaveras Street, Altadena, while patronizing a local restaurant. About 4:30 p.m., as Christopher sat on the outdoor patio, a light-colored sedan drove up. A passenger got out of the car and fired a gun multiple times at the young man, striking him.

Christopher was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Christopher was just 29 years old at the time of his death. He grew up in Altadena and was working in Los Angeles. He moved to Arizona just after high school for work, but recently moved back to be closer to family and friends. Christopher was the eldest of three children. He left behind his mother, father and two sisters.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is offering a $20,000 reward in exchange for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of the suspect(s) responsible for the murder of Christopher Walker.

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

American Cancer Society Relay For Life to be Held in Farnsworth Park

The Relay For Life of Altadena invites all individuals who want to celebrate the lives of those who have faced cancer, remember loved ones lost, and cancer survivors who are fighting back against the disease to join its Relay For Life, scheduled for Saturday, June 4, 2016 in Altadena at Farnsworth Park on the Lower Baseball field. Opening Ceremonies begin at 9:00 a.m.

Relay For Life is a 12 Hour community celebration where individuals and teams take turns walking around a track relay style to raise funds to fight cancer. There is live entertainment throughout the day and into the evening.

At nightfall, participants will light hundreds of Luminaria around the track in a moving ceremony to honor cancer survivors as well as friends and family members lost to the disease. The American Cancer Society Relay For Life represents HOPE that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day cancer will be eliminated. 

Friday, May 27, 2016

Altadena Library Presents Los Angeles Area Indy Authors Panel

Altadena Library District will present an “Indie Authors Panel” consisting of five local writers on Tuesday, June 21 at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the Main library. Guest panelists will be discussing their work, their writing process, and their independent publishing journey. There will also be time set aside for questions from the audience and for panelists to sign copies of their work. The panelists for the presentation will include:

Dario Ciriello is a professional author and freelance editor. His nonfiction book, Aegean Dream, was a UK travel bestseller in 2012. His first novel, Sutherland’s Rules, was published in 2013, and was followed by Free Verse and Other Stories, a collection of short Science Fiction, and a suspense thriller novel titled Black Easter. Dario lives with his wife in the Los Angeles Area.

S.W. Lauden’s debut crime novel, Bad Citizen Corporation, was published by Rare Bird Books in 2015. The second Greg Salem novel, Grizzly Season, will be published in September 2016.

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Altadena’s Crime Blotter for the Week of Saturday, May 21st

Sunday, May 15th

12:30 PM – A petty theft occurred in the 2800 block of Lincoln Avenue. Stolen: tan Coach cross body bag, credit cards, phone charger, vehicle remote key and currency.

Monday, May 16th

4:13 PM – A vehicle was reported stolen from the 2200 block of Casitas Avenue. Vehicle described as a blue 1971 Chevrolet pick-up.
8:00 PM – A vehicle burglary occurred in the 300 block of W. Woodbury Road. Suspect(s) entered the vehicle via unknown means. Stolen: unknown.

Tuesday, May 17th

9:48 AM – A package theft occurred in the 1800 block of E. Altadena Drive. Possible suspect described as a male Hispanic wearing a blue Dodgers hat in a silver vehicle. Stolen: package containing glucose monitor.
11:14 AM – A residential burglary occurred in the 1300 block of New York Drive. Suspect Ivan Cortes-Ortega, 18 years old of Pasadena and a juvenile, 16 years old of Pasadena were taken into custody.

Monday, May 23, 2016

Unbound Productions Brings History Lit: A Festival of Timeless Stories to the Pasadena Museum of History

Wicked Lit creators stage works adapted from iconic 19th & 20th century authors as an immersive, fully-produced theatre event throughout the grounds of the Fenyes Mansion & Museum Exhibition Halls

Unbound Productions Executive Director Jonathan Josephson, Artistic Director Paul Millet, and Producing Artistic Director Jeff G. Rack have announced their newest immersive theatre event – HISTORY LIT: A Festival Of Timeless Stories (July 9-31, 2016) at the Pasadena Museum of History. Unlike it’s award-winning cousin Wicked Lit, HISTORY LIT will present stage adaptations of timeless literature that reflect history in creative ways (and not Gothic tales of classical horror).

HISTORY LIT 2016 will feature two of the three plays that were presented as a part of the first-ever HISTORY LIT production at PMH in 2012 – Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Two Pictures In One and Katherine Mansfield’s The Garden Party – and will also feature a third piece that is yet to be announced. The plays will be fully produced inside the Curtin House (a guest house on the grounds of the mansion),