Altadena Now is published daily and will host archives of Timothy Rutt's Altadena blog and his later Altadena Point sites.

Altadena Now encourages solicitation of events information, news items, announcements, photographs and videos.

Please email to: Editor@Altadena-Now.com

  • James Macpherson, Editor
  • Candice Merrill, Events
  • Megan Hole, Lifestyles
  • David Alvarado, Advertising
Archives Altadena Blog Altadena Archive

Thursday, August 3, 2023

Add a REAL ID to Your Back-to-School Checklist

Add a REAL ID to Your Back-to-School Checklist

STAFF REPORT

About 16.2 million Californians now have a REAL ID – an increase of 165,613 from the previous month – according to California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) data.

School bells will soon be ringing and there is much to do to get ready. Before all the shopping and lunch packing starts, head to your nearest DMV office to get a REAL ID driver’s license or identification card. There is no need to wait for the federal enforcement date of May 7, 2025, that requires a REAL ID or other federally approved document to board flights within the United States and access secure federal facilities. Doing it now means one less thing to worry about in 2025 if you want to use your driver’s license or ID card to fly around the country.

“Once the school supplies and new shoes are bought, take a minute for yourself and get your REAL ID. It’s never been easier,” said DMV Director Steve Gordon.

Read More »

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Supervisor Barger Leads Way in Re-Election Campaign, Raising Over $700,000

Supervisor Barger Leads Way in Re-Election Campaign, Raising Over $700,000

Tuesday, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger announced she has raised $715,000 for her 2024 re-election campaign for Fifth District County Supervisor — outpacing all other candidates.

The announcement comes at the mid-year reporting deadline.

“I truly appreciate the support I have received across the board from our Fifth District community,” said Supervisor Barger. “Many of my supporters do not regularly give to political campaigns, which makes reaching this amount at this time all the more special. I am very grateful that so many of our neighbors have invested in our campaign.”

Supervisor Barger has raised $650,000 of her funds from within Los Angeles County. A majority of her support was from individual donors, not special interests or political action committees. She also currently has the most cash on hand of any candidate, with $650,000.

“I have committed my three-decade-long county career to working with all stakeholders including business, labor, Republicans and Democrats alike. The support I have received reflects that commitment,” said Supervisor Barger.

Read More »

Thursday, July 27, 2023

L.A.County Property Assessment Reaches Nearly $2 Trillion

L.A.County Property Assessment Reaches Nearly $2 Trillion

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Confirming an earlier forecast, this year’s assessment of property values in Los Angeles County rose by 6% over last year, reaching nearly $2 trillion, county Assessor Jeff Prang announced Thursday.

According to the Assessor’s Office, the total assessment came in at a record $1.997 trillion, translating to roughly $20 billion in property tax dollars that will fund “vital public services such as public education, first responders and health care workers, as well as other county services.”

The Assessor’s Office noted that the housing market overall has cooled since 2021, but median residential prices still reached a record high of more than $900,000 before falling to $865,000 in June.

“To say this has been a challenging couple of years is an understatement,” Prang said in a statement. “Our analysis does indicate property value growth at this time and that’s certainly good news for property owners and for local governments, which depend on property taxes to fund public services.

Read More »

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

L.A. County Board Backs Striking Hollywood Workers, Looks to Help Impacted Businesses

L.A. County Board Backs Striking Hollywood Workers, Looks to Help Impacted Businesses

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors formally threw its support behind striking Hollywood writers and actors Tuesday, voting to send a letter urging studios to return to the bargaining table while also agreeing to explore efforts to support small businesses being impacted by the work stoppages.

“The people who power Los Angeles are on strike and deserve a fair deal,” Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said in a statement after the vote. “Instead of returning to the negotiating table, the (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers’) strategy is to inflict pain, causing people to lose their housing and livelihoods, with the futures of small businesses also on the line.

“While billionaires continue ruthless games, L.A. County will stand in solidarity with the actors, writers, and workers without whom this industry would not exist, and in support of the small businesses that fuel entertainment operations and productions. We can all reduce the impacts of the ongoing entertainment strike by supporting small, local businesses.”

Under a motion introduced by Horvath and Supervisor Hilda Solis,

Read More »

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

New L.A. County Landmark Designated in Altadena

New L.A. County Landmark Designated in Altadena

STAFF REPORT

Iconic 116-year-old Craftsman-style Pearson House to be preserved in perpetuity

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted today to designate the Pearson House, located at 931 New York Drive in Altadena, as a Los Angeles County Historic Landmark. The 116-year-old home is a two-story single-family residence that was built in 1907.

“The Pearson House is not just a house – it is a representation of the rich architectural heritage of Altadena,” stated Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “By designating it as a Los Angeles County Landmark, we will make sure this beautiful home remains protected and preserved for generations to come.”

The designation of the Pearson House as a County Landmark aligns with work underway at the County to preserve and celebrate the architectural and cultural heritage and identities of unincorporated communities.

More information about the property, along with a copy of the resolution approved by the Board of Supervisors, is available here.

Read More »

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

L.A. County Supervisors Approve New Design Standards for Residential and Mixed-Use Construction Projects in Unincorporated Communities

L.A. County Supervisors Approve New Design Standards for Residential and Mixed-Use Construction Projects in Unincorporated Communities

During Tuesday’s Public Hearing meeting, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to approve a new ordinance that will implement design standards for residential and mixed-use construction projects across all 42 of the County’s unincorporated communities.

The affected areas include Altadena and portions of East Pasadena that are unincorporated, such as Chapman Woods.

The design standards, presented by Los Angeles County’s Department of Regional Planning, provide an objective menu of options for developers’ use that support compatibility with the various architectural styles that are present throughout the County.

“I appreciate the work that has gone into crafting this ordinance,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger.

“The state is continually eroding local government’s control and nowhere is that more evident than in the construction of ‘by-right’ housing projects. These projects will move forward whether or not they have local community support due to changes in state laws and cannot be opposed by the County. These new design standards will at least provide some guidance up front so that construction projects don’t completely go rogue.”

The standards are organized into seven categories,

Read More »

Thursday, July 13, 2023

LA County Adopts Countywide Racial Equity Strategic Plan

LA County Adopts Countywide Racial Equity Strategic Plan

Comprehensive plan addresses racism and creates a roadmap for a more equitable, inclusive, and just LA County

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (Board) has unanimously adopted a groundbreaking Countywide Racial Equity Strategic Plan with five strategic goals intended to measurably improve the lives of residents and communities throughout Los Angeles County (County).

The Board, acting on a motion by Supervisors Mitchell and Solis, declared its commitment to fostering meaningful and lasting change through the adoption of the Countywide Racial Equity Strategic Plan. Developed by the Chief Executive Office’s Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative, it outlines dozens of strategic goals and initiatives aimed to address structural racism. Co-created with residents, community-based organizations, civic leaders, philanthropic organizations, academic partners, and public/private agencies, the plan presents a 10-year roadmap to foster a more equitable and inclusive County where all residents are healthy, experience justice, and thrive.

The creation of the Countywide Racial Equity Strategic Plan was a directive of the Board when a motion was unanimously adopted on July 21,

Read More »

Tuesday, July 11, 2023

Former Altadena Native and Manson Follower Van Houton Released From Prison

Former Altadena Native and Manson Follower Van Houton Released From Prison

STAFF REPORT

Former Charles Manson follower Leslie Van Houten was released from a California prison on Tuesday.

Van Houten, now 73, was serving a potential life prison sentence for taking part in the infamous murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca in their Los Feliz home more than 50 years ago as part of the Charles Manson family.

The former Monrovia High School cheerleader — who was 19 at the time – did not participate in the Manson family’s killings of pregnant actress Sharon Tate and four others in a Benedict Canyon mansion the night before.

Van Houten was born in Altadena and was a homecoming princess at Monrovia High School in 1966.

Van Houten was originally paroled earlier this year. In the 2-1 ruling by the panel from California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal, Associate Justice Helen I. Bendix wrote, “Van Houten has shown extraordinary rehabilitative efforts, insight, remorse, realistic parole plans, support from family and friends, favorable institutional reports,

Read More »

Tuesday, July 11, 2023

L.A. County Board Backs Barger’s Motion Supporting Congressional Bill To Expand and Preserve the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument

L.A. County Board Backs Barger’s Motion Supporting Congressional Bill To Expand and Preserve the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument

Tuesday, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors unanimously backed a Supervisor Kathryn Barger motion in support of a congressional bill by Congresswoman Judy Chu to expand and preserve the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.

The bill, called the San Gabriel Mountains Protection Act, aims to expand the borders of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument to include the western Angeles National Forest and designate over 30,000 acres of protected wilderness and 45.5 miles of protected rivers in Southern California.

Supervisor Kathryn Barger issued a statement saying, “The San Gabriel Mountains are an asset in the Fifth District that merit permanent protection so that the public can continue to connect with nature and access the respite it offers us all. In my district alone, the Public Lands Act would expand the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument by over 100,000 acres – a big feat.”

Senator Alex Padilla, Congresswoman Judy Chu, Congressman Tony Cardenas, Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo, and L.A. County Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn Barger joined Native American leaders at an event held at foot of the San Gabriel Mountains in Eaton Canyon on Monday June 26 to call on President Joe Biden to add 109,000 acres of public lands to the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.

Read More »

Tuesday, July 11, 2023

Construction Begins on $56 Million Final Phase of MonteCedro Senior Living Community in Altadena

Construction Begins on $56 Million Final Phase of MonteCedro Senior Living Community in Altadena

STAFF REPORT

Construction has begun on the final phase of Episcopal Communities & Services’ MonteCedro senior living community in Altadena. The $56 million second phase project, being constructed by C.W. Driver Companies, will add 40 independent living apartments and a new terrace restaurant to the existing community, completing the campus master plan.

The new villa-style buildings will be two and three stories in height, with two of the structures positioned over a below-grade parking garage podium level. The area will also include a gathering space for casual events, BBQs, and a putting green for full-campus use on the plaza between the two villa buildings.

Positioned at the center of the four villas will be an event lawn for programs and entertainment, with a new pet park and resident gardens at the south end of the property.

“We are excited to help Episcopal Communities & Services answer their rising resident demand with the addition of four new residential buildings,” said John Kately,

Read More »
Page 5 of 137« First...34567...102030...Last »
x