Friday, February 17, 2017

Teen Tech Week at the Altadena Library

Local teens will be tuning in at the library as Altadena Library District celebrates the annual Teen Tech Week™ from March 6-11. They join thousands of other libraries and schools across the country who are celebrating this year’s theme, Be the Source of Change, to raise awareness about how Altadena Library District creates a space to extend teens’ learning beyond the classroom where they can explore, create, and share content.

Teen Tech Week is a national initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) aimed at teens, their parents, educators, and other concerned adults.

Kate Shumaker, Teen Librarian, feels that “Getting teens into libraries is essential. Offering gaming, access to computers, and online homework help is important, and letting them know that we can help educate them on how to use these resources will get them in the door. Once they’re in the door, we can show teens that with technology at the library, anything is possible.”

From maker spaces,

Monday, February 13, 2017

Supervisor Barger Seeks Full Risk Assessment of County Dams and Spillways in Light of Oroville Dam Emergency

At Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, Supervisor Kathryn Barger will introduce a motion directing county agencies to conduct a comprehensive investigation to determine any potential threats to public safety in the county’s system of dams, spillways and other water collection and diversion assets.

Barger, who represents the district with highest number of dams and other drainage facilities, said, “the Oroville situation reminds us of the need to proactively evaluate our county’s risk with regard to dams and other facilities which may be prone to failure from storms, earthquakes or other foreseeable events.”

Additionally, Barger’s motion will instruct the Department of Public Works to work with other county agencies as well as State and Federal partners to develop a list of priority infrastructure projects by district.

Monday, February 13, 2017

Injured Hikers Rescued

Two hikers who twisted their ankles while hiking at different locations in the area of Eaton Canyon were rescued by members of the Altadena Mountain Rescue Team (AMRT) and Los Angeles County rescuers Sunday afternoon.

A post on the Altadena Sheriff’s Station’s Facebook page said the team received the first call at about 2:15 p.m. about a 26-year-old woman who had an ankle injury as she hiked with a 28-year-old man on a dirt trail near Coyote Canyon.

The team couldn’t immediately determine the victim’s exact location because of poor cell phone reception, and the Los Angeles County Fire Department helped in the search.

About 30 minutes later, the AMRT members located the victim and found she had twisted her right ankle during the hike and could not walk out of the canyon. The team attended to her injury and then drove her and her companion to the Eaton Canyon Nature Center where they had parked their vehicle.
The victim said she would seek medical treatment at a later time.

Saturday, February 11, 2017

Pastor Tyrone Skinner to Speak at Altadena Baptist for Black History Celebration

The 33rd Annual Black History Celebration will be held at Altadena Baptist Church [ABC] in Altadena, California at 5:00 p.m. on February 19, 2017. All are welcome to attend.

Prominent speakers join local artists and dignitaries for this celebration every February: in 2015 nationally-known author Brenda Salter-McNeil spoke to a standing-room-only crowd. This year, Reverend Tyrone Skinner of Metropolitan Baptist Church in Altadena will be the featured speaker. He has served as an instructor for the National Baptist Convention with the Western Regional Youth Conference and Laymen’s Department, and holds positions on several non-profit boards. Reverend Skinner will speak on this year’s theme: “Still We Rise.”

“This is a pivotal time to be focusing on Black history,” said ABC’s co-pastor George Van Alstine. “We speak prophetically as a church, and that prophetic voice rises from the Black community in an empowered and beautiful way. Now is the time to embrace our history and our future together.”

The 33rd Annual Black History Celebration is an Altadena institution.

Friday, February 10, 2017

L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger Voices Concerns, Listens to Altadena Residents at Chamber Breakfast

Newly elected L.A. County 5th District Supervisor Kathryn Barger opened up to Altadena residents and business owners Thursday morning about her concerns, hopes and plans of action to help Altadena thrive.

The early morning “Power Breakfast” hosted by the Altadena Chamber was an opportunity not only for Barger to let residents get to know her better as a person and politician, but also for her to listen to what business owners had to say about what needs improvement and what’s working for the people of Altadena.

“It’s been a challenging couple of months,” Barger said. “With the new (Presidential) Administration coming in, there’s been a lot of reaction as it relates to the County and how we operate.”

Barger oversees a district that is more than two thousand square miles in area and includes portions of the San Gabriel, Pomona, San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys.

“I, and we, have challenges because I am an extension of everyone in this room.

Friday, February 10, 2017

Vanilla Bake Shop Opens New Location with Expanded Menu

Vanilla Bake Shop, well known for delicious bite size ‘cupcake babies’, layer cakes, and freshly baked desserts using only the highest quality
ingredients, is excited to announce the opening of its third location in Old Town Pasadena. A grand opening celebration highlighting the additional café menu options and coffee offerings. Door prizes, menu samples, balloon artist, kids face painter and DJ will take place at the new location this Saturday from 12-3 p.m. at 88 E. Colorado Blvd and is open to the public.

The new location will continue to offer the delicious baked goods the Vanilla Bake Shop has become well known for including cupcakes, cakes, small desserts, wedding cakes as well as an expanded café menu featuring Stumptown coffee & espresso, sandwiches, toast bar, doughnuts, and breakfast breads.

“The expanded menu is designed to meet the needs of anyone who is hungry, not just those looking for something sweet. We view the new location as optimal for an expanded menu due to the high level of consistent foot traffic throughout the day and into the evening,” commented Owner and Executive Pastry Chef Amy Berman and husband partner Jeremy Berman.

Thursday, February 9, 2017

Altadena’s Crime Blotter for the Week of Saturday, February 4th

Monday, January 30th

7:45 PM – A vehicle was reported stolen from the 500 block of W. Alberta Street. Vehicle described as a blue 2008 GMC Yukon. Vehicle was recovered on 2/1/17 by LAPD Southeast Division.
10:00 PM – A robbery occurred in the 2300 block of Lake Avenue. Suspect armed with a handgun contacted the victim as she was exiting her vehicle and demanded her belongings. Fearing for her safety, the victim handed over her purse and the suspect fled the area. Suspect described as a male Hispanic between 5 feet 1 inches and 5 feet 3 inches. Suspect was armed with a small black handgun. Stolen: gray and white tote bag containing a black wallet, credit cards and currency.

Tuesday, January 31st

7:00 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 400 block of E. Altadena Drive. Suspect(s) entered the residence by removing a window screen. Stolen: red safe, gold necklace, diamond ring and currency.

Wednesday through Friday February 1st-3rd

No significant incidents.

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Foothill Municipal Water District Opens K-12 Student Art Contest

Foothill Municipal Water District (Foothill MWD) is conducting its 6th annual K-12 student art contest with the theme of competition adhering to the phrase: “Water Is Life”. This is a fun, educational project that serves to inspire student creativity and the stewardship of precious water resources.

The contest is open to all K-12 students attending a school located within the Foothill MWD service area. This includes schools located within La Crescenta-Montrose, the City of La Cañada Flintridge, and Altadena.
All art entries for the 2017 “Water Is Life” Student Art Contest will be separated into three groups (Grades K-3, 4-6, and 7-12) prior to judging. The grand prize winning entry for each group will receive $100 for the student and a $50 gift card for the sponsoring teacher.

This event is co-sponsored by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) and all winning entries will be submitted to MWD for a second round of competition to be included in the 2018 “Water Is Life” Student Artwork Calendar.

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger Joins the Altadena Chamber for a Power Breakfast on Thursday

The Altadena Chamber of Commerce will be having Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger as Guest Speaker at its Power Breakfast on Thursday, February 9, at the Altadena Town and Country Club, located at 2290 Country Club Drive in Altadena.

Meredith Miller, Vice President of the Altadena Chamber, said in an email that Barger could share what are the current issues now being discussed at the County Board of Supervisors.

Barger will also introduce herself as the new LA County Supervisor to the Altadena community.

“This will be one of the most important Power Breakfast events of 2017,” Miller said. “We welcome Supervisor Barger to our community and look forward to hearing what is happening with the LA County Board of Supervisors and how we are impacted in Altadena. As you know, the Supervisors are slated to vote on the final version of Altadena CSD’s later this month, there will likely be a discussion at this event.”

The Altadena CSD (Community Standards District),

Monday, February 6, 2017

Dog Bites 2 Altadena Mountain Team Members as Injured Owner is Rescued

Two members of the Altadena Mountain Rescue Team (AMRT) were attacked by a dog whose owner the rescue team was trying to help after getting injured while hiking on the Sam Merrill Trail in the Angeles National Forest Saturday.

The first rescuer luckily had thick gloves on when the dog, a six-year-old Jindo, bit him on the right wrist so the bite did not injure him. The second team member wasn’t as lucky – the dog bit him in the right shoulder, breaking the skin.

Team members said the dog must have been trying to protect its owner, a 62-year-old Pasadena man who was injured when he stepped on uneven ground during the hike.

A post on the Altadena Sheriff’s Station’s Facebook page said the AMRT, composed mostly of Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department reserve deputies, was called for the rescue at about 12:13 p.m.

The rescue crew located the hiker on the Sam Merrill Trail about 1.5 mile north of Lake Avenue and Loma Alta Drive in Altadena,