Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Altadena’s Crime Blotter for the Week of Saturday, April 9th

Sunday, April 3rd

7:30 AM – A vehicle was reported stolen from the 2500 block of Lincoln Avenue. Vehicle: silver 2005 Kia Optima.
6:58 PM – A robbery occurred in the 1500 block of E. Altadena Drive. Suspect is known. Stolen: Vizio 39” flat screen television, LG cellphone, Samsung Galaxy 4 cellphone, brown wallet, currency.

Monday, April 4th

1:18 AM – A petty theft occurred in the 2500 block of El Molino Avenue. Suspect described as a male, Black, 25 – 30 years old. Stolen: blue men’s bicycle 3 speed.
6:00 AM – A residential burglary occurred in the 1400 block of N. Altadena Drive. Suspect(s) entered the storage cabinet via unknown means. Stolen: Toms drums, Ludwig snare drum, Yamaha snare drum, various accessories, padlock.
10:00 AM – A residential burglary occurred in the 1700 block of Mar Vista Avenue. Suspect(s) entered the residence via the unlocked rear door. Stolen: costume jewelry.
10:15 AM – Marlinna Estrada,

Saturday, April 9, 2016

Elline Lipkin Named Altadena Library Poet Laureate

The Altadena Library is pleased to announce the new Poet Laureate for the Altadena Library District, 2016-2018: Dr. Elline Lipkin. Her official inauguration will be on Saturday, April 30 at 1:00 p.m. at the 14th annual “Poetry and Cookies Reading Event” to be held at the Altadena Senior Center.

This free literary event also marks the launch of the Altadena Poetry Review: Anthology 2016 (formerly the Poetry & Cookies Anthology). The 2016 Anthology showcases 134 poems by 86 distinguished poets from Altadena, Pasadena, and the greater LA area. Poets published in the book, including Dr. Lipkin, will read their poems at this special event. The Anthology, and many books by the published poets, will be on display and will be for sale.

When told she was the Laureate Committee’s choice to be the library’s next poet laureate, Dr. Lipkin replied, “I am so grateful for this wonderful opportunity. Still, Thelma Reyna [the current Poet Laureate] is a hard act to follow. She accomplished so much during her tenure.

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,