Living with Native Wildlife Presentation

Hi, it's MaryEllen, your friendly local wildlife rehabilitator.

I've had some people ask me about the possibility of me doing a presentation on living successfully with our native wildlife, which I would be pleased to do, if there is enough interest. It would probably be held at the park or the community center.

Could anyone who would be interested in attending please drop me an email (the link is on the right side of this blog) and let me know? That way I can gauge if there is enough interest and what size venue I might need. Thanks very much!

Education Forum

ALTADENA NAACP And ALTADENA TOWN COUNCIL SPONSOR Education Forum
• Meet candidates for PUSD (Board of Education Seats)
• Hear the presentations of candidates
• Ask questions
• Be informed

When: February 28, 2009
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Where: Altadena Community Center 730 East Altadena Drive

For additional information, please contact:“Tony” Stewart – (626) 798-2033 or Gino Sund – (626) 794-9609

Millard Canyon Conservation

Hi Gang!
Well it's that time again--time for another Volunteer Canyon Clean-up Day! This coming Saturday, February 28.
As usual, we will meet at my driveway (3617 Canyon Crest Rd. Altadena, 91001) at 9am sharp, take a short hike into the canyon, uproot as many of those nasty invasive, non-native plants as we can in 4 hours, then hike back out of the canyon feeling satisfied that we have done something positive for the environment.

At the risk of being redundant, I'll mention again that you will need sturdy hiking shoes/boots, long pants (and bring a long sleeve shirt). Tools, gloves, water and snacks will be provided--we just want your bodies.

Please come and help.

If you have any questions or discussion, contact me at (626) 398-6471 or email: vht@att.net.

Thanks,
Mike Hickman

Abandoned, Missing Dogs?

Hi my fellow Neighbors,

It's Day Ryan from the top of Rising Hill Road. This morning as I was walking my dog on the upper El Prieto Trail, I saw three...yes THREE dogs off leash however, no human in site. They were roaming back and forth on the trail as well as deep in the brush and still no human/owner was around.

I am sending this not as a warning, yet as a plea for assistance. I am extremely worried...not only for the dogs however, I am worried that they DO have an owner who may have hiked and could be missing/injured. Maybe I watch too much tv however, it is possible.

I called the Sheriff's department and unfortunately there was nothing that could be done. Marina (who resides near Theo) called Animal Control and they informed her that they couldn't come due to the location and suggested that the dogs be caught and they would then come. The dogs are extremely fearful so I don't know how that is going to work.

I am just asking that those of you who take your usual hikes up there, just look out for them, notice their activity and if you are able to catch them please call the Animal Control Department immediately.

The dogs are definitely not strays, two of them (Golden Lab mixes) have on a purple collar and the other a shepherd mix (brindle in color with a white tip on its tail) has no collar. They appear clean and healthy so again they are not strays and did/do belong to someone.

Thank you so much for whatever assistance you can offer!

DAY

Attention All Meadows Artists

A quick note to "Tim". We need an email for you for neighbors to respond.

Tim wrote the following:
"I have noticed that there are a number of people with artistic talent in The Meadows. There is a sale called "Art on Palm" which has enjoyed a lot of success over the years and I believe we can get together a group who are able to put on a sale of our own.

My question is: Are there other Meadows artists or friends of The Meadows residents who have an interest in starting a "Meadows Artist's Sale"? Let me know in an email.

Tim

Resources in The Meadows

With so much talent in The Meadows and times as they are, I've added a "Resources in The Meadows" category in the right hand margin. I'll list services provided by our residents that may be of interest to others.

If you'd like to be listed, please send me a short blurb about the service you provide and contact info. I'll post an article to the blog and then add to the Resources column.

My only criteria is that you live in The Meadows and the service is legitimate.

PC Tech & Consultant in The Meadows

Lots of talent in The Meadows. Here's a notice from one of our residents regarding PC services he provides:

"My name is Christopher Williams, I live on El Prieto Road, and I wanted to let the neighborhood know that competent computer support is nearby if they need it.

Most of the support work that I do includes making recommendations about hardware and/or software upgrades, installing and configuring hardware and software, removing spyware and viruses, setting up wired and wireless networks, etc.

I also providing tutoring services for Word, Excel, Powerpoint, e-mail, web browsing and research techniques, multi-media file creation and management, and a wide variety of other applications.

The majority of my clients are residential and small business customers. I'm qualified to manage larger corporate networks also.

I believe in providing excellent customer service with an absolute guarantee of satisfaction and I have great local references for anyone who needs them.

Also, having managed teams of DSL and cable high speed Internet installers in the past, I am very respectful of people's personal space and sensibilities when working in homes and offices.

My primary service area includes the San Gabriel Valley, San Fernando Valley, and Los Angeles, but I'm available to work anywhere in the greater Los Angeles area as needed. I operate on a very flexible schedule, and am willing to provide 24/7 tech support with reasonable notice."

Thanks,
Christopher Williams
cell (510) 773-2786
cwcompost@gmail.com

Slow Down on Canyon Crest

This comment came into the blog. I'm assuming the writer is referring to the stop signs at Risinghill/Cloverhill and Canyon Crest:

"I live up in the cul-de-sac on Canyon Crest. I have had some problems with people turning on to Canyon Crest without stopping at the stop sign and looking up the road to see if cars are coming down the street. This morning a navy-blue VW did this and also sped down the road at speed greater than 50 MPH. This has happened many times before by many others and I fear this is an accident ready to happen. There are children on this street and their lives are more precious than the need to run a stop sign or speed to some important location. Please stop at stop signs, please look both ways at the intersections, and please SLOW DOWN. "

Inside Information

I haven't published this info on the blog before, but thought that many of you may be interested in a new listing here in The Meadows. An exceptional property on Canyon Dell with incredible view of both the West exposure and the an Gabriel Mountains.

This 3 bedroom , 3 bath home has an incredible layout and overlooks the Upper Arroyo and El Prieto Canyons. And, it's about 1900 sq. ft. with a pool and wonderful decks overlooking the canyon.

We're going to be on the market at the end of this week, but wanted all of you to see it first.

It's offered at $725,000.

Let me know if you want to see this house.

Thanks,
Greg

Winter Wonderland

Great pic from Canyon Crest.

Thanks Tina!

Draft Altadena Hillside Ordinance

Everyone should have received a notice from the County this past week regarding a meeting to review a draft of the Altadena Hillside Ordinance that is being proposed. It outlines efforts to protect the view of the San Gabriel Mountains and balance any new hillside construction in Altadena.

The meeting is on Wednesday, February 18, 7 p.m. at the Altadena Community Center.

A link to the proposed draft is here: http://planning.lacounty.gov/ord/draft

Sad News for Meadows Residents

Our neighbor, Henry C. Porter, recently died. His family asked that we notify residents in The Meadows. Henry Porter had been a resident of the Meadows for over 30 years. He lived on Gravelia. He loved to travel and stayed fit by walking and riding his bike.

Henry C. Porter's Homegoing Service ---viewing will be held on Friday, 02/13/09 from 6pm-8pm at Hillside Chapel.

Funeral service and location: Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009 at 1:00pm
Rose Hills Memorial Park and Mortuary
Hillside Chapel (enter through Gate 17)
3888 Workman Mill Road
Whittier, CA 90601
(562) 699-0921

Repast: TBA

Any questions or concern, please contact Daughters Shelly Clark (562)375-5483 and Shontia Porter-Scott (213) 200-3003

Altadena Connection

The "Altadena Connection 2009" (Community Resource Guide from L.A. County) was recently delivered to residents in The Meadows via US Mail.

A pdf version has been posted on the Altadena TownCouncil website. There is a link from the Home Page to download the pdf. Its a big file (4MB) but a very nice publication.

http://altadenatowncouncil.org/index.html

Food Co-Op

In other parts of the country, food cooperative stores are quite common but they’re rare in Southern California.

Co-op benefits include greater access to local, organic and sustainable products; less driving to distant health food stores; more information about the food we eat; a greater sense of community.

A group of interested people is researching what it will take to open such a community grocery business in the Altadena area. They can use your help in shaping how such a store would operate here.

They’ve just launched a web site to bring others into the process.
Please visit it at:
http://www.altadenawantsacoop.com/

More Trash Talk

Neighbors,

Sorry to bother you with more trash talk, but we are still tweaking the list of service to be offered in the proposed trash hauling contract. There is some confusion over the issue of back yard pick up and scooter service. We will be getting clarification of what that service will be and what the proposed surcharge should be for that service. However, Public Works needs some help in determining what the proposed cost should be.

To help in that process Public Works has asked for some information from us on what we are now paying for back yard scooter service. It is not a simple question of asking the current haulers since there seems not to be a single answer. When Council was investigating the trash issue, residents reported to us many differing monthly prices, in one case two residents next door to each other with identical service from the same company reported different monthly prices.

If you currently get back yard pick up service, would you help us and let me know your current monthly or quarterly cost for that service. Also, we are particularly interested in where you live. We are trying to see if there is a price difference between the narrow foothill streets like Stonehill and Zane Grey and other areas with less challenging streets.

I, for example, currently get back yard scooter service from Allied, live on Morslay Rd. (a regular street) and my last invoice was for $156.74 for the quarter.

If you don't want to respond in public you can email me directly at esund@charter. net or 794-9609.

Thanks for your help

Gino