Bear Tracking

Just keeping everyone aware of the bear!

Seen early Saturday morning at 1:00 a.m. rummaging through the trash at a house on Risinghill closer to Canyon Crest. The neighbor made loud noises and the bear took off.

So, since we have a permanent resident here in The Meadows, some suggestions:

• Secure your trash cans
• Don't put food in the trash until the morning of trash day.  Or freeze it to be put in the trash the night before.  That takes the smell away.
• Bring in pet food at night.

From what I learned from a Park Ranger in Yosemite, bears track with their noses. It's all about taking the scent away so that we and the bear are safe.

UPDATED: Mountain Lion in The Meadows

UPDATE from neighbor who saw the mountain lion:

"saw him while driving home Tuesday at around 11pm. He ran across Canyon Crest and stopped in the front yard of a house about half way between Aralia and Gravelia on the west side of the street. I backed up to get a better look at him, he was BIG and didn't budge."





I'm trying to get more information on this and will update when I do.


A neighbor driving home to the cul-de-sac at the top of Canyon Crest saw a mountin lion around the corner where Canyon Crest, Risinghill and Cloverhill meet.

I think this happened last night.

Will update with more information as I get it.

Opportunity to Shred on Aug. 6

Besides a great community event, here's an opportunity to shred documents for free. 
 
At the Neighborhood Watch meeting yesterday, the Sheriff said we could bring as much to shred as you can fit in your car.
 
Good time to get rid of old documents.
 
Here's the notice:
 

 

Bear Aware Update

Another sighting reported to me this evening.

On this past Saturday night at 10:30, the bear entered the property of a house on the east side of Risinghill.  Sounds like the same bear - just under 200 lbs., looks young, paw to top of head about four feet.

He walked around the house and property and then headed down into Millard Canyon.

Past posts have been about the bear at Aralia and Canyon Crest on garbage night going through the cans and on the El Prieto Trail in the morning.

Suggestions for us as residents:

• Don't push trash out until the morning of trash day.
• Keep trash cans in a garage if you have one.
• Freeze food garbage to eliminate the odor
• Don't put pet food outside

Bears use their nose to find food and that's their main interest.

Any other tips I can share?

Be safe. Be bear aware.

Lots of Tree Trimming Today and Tomorrow

Tree trimmers are in The Meadows today and tomorrow.

It appears they are contracted by County and are working on the trees closest to the street as County has jurisdiction over those.  And mostly the palms.

FYI - this is not work being contracted by The Meadows FireSafe Council.

Thanks for the Garden Funds

Thanks to many of the neighbors who contributed to the Meadows Garden Maintenance Fund.

We've raised $226!!

That will keep the garden looking fantastic for at least the next year.

Opossum PI

Caught this really cute, young opossum staring into my kitchen window tonight.  I wasn't cooking anything of interest, so have to think he was just checking out the real estate!

Bear in The Meadows

From a neighbor on Aralia:

"I just wanted to give you a heads up that there is a bear in town.  I live on the south end of Aralia, near where it meets Canyon Crest and at about 1:15 AM this (Monday) morning, I heard a crash out front, so I went to the window with a flashlight.  Across the street was a bear eating from my neighbors trash cans.  He was dark brown or black, and looked to be a on the young side, but I'm not positive.  Figured I'd give you a heads up, and I will speak to the Sheriff tomorrow to see if there is anything that can be done."

I Have the Best Gardener

I have the best gardener.

Jose and crew showed up at 6:00 this evening to replace some sod that had died. Unexpected! And not per my request.

He goes above and beyond any expectations to satisfy his clients.

If you need a great gardener, call Jose at (323) 434-1442

Garden Fundraising

We're doing great only a couple of weeks into raising funds for the maintenance at the Welcome to The Meadows sign.

Neighbors have donated $131 to date.

If we can get to $250 that would take us through the next two years.

So, if you'd like to donate, please give $5 OR LESS and drop it off to me.  Checks can be payable to Greg Stanton.

Just drop it in my mailbox at 4416 El Prieto.

I track all of it and pay Darla each quarter.

Thanks so much!

Meadows Garden Fundraising

Several years ago, we raised money to pay for the maintenance and watering of the gardens around the “Welcome to The Meadows” sign. Those funds are almost gone.


It costs approximately $24-50 per quarter (depending on the season) to pay for the water and occasional hiring of help to weed and trim. Please know that Darla, the property owner, often performs the maintenance on her own without ever asking for compensation. I’m sure she’d welcome some help from other neighbors.

To replenish the funds and ensure that we have a wonderful entry to the neighborhood, please consider donating a small amount. I’m suggesting $5 or LESS. If enough people contribute, it will last a couple of years. If inclined, please send or drop off the money to me, Greg Stanton, at 4416 El Prieto Rd. Make checks payable to me. I keep track of the funds and reimburse Darla on a quarterly basis.

L.A. County Alerts

For anyone interested, this is a service from L.A. County that sends emails and texts of emergency notifications.  I'm signed up and will pass any pressing notices to this blog.

Over the past year, the notices have primarily been about road closures, flood warnings and child alerts. I think it's worth receiving should we have a major disruption.

This is different from The Meadows alert system.

From the Sheriff: Please pass this on to everyone you know - we currently have approximately 800 residents signed up to receive Nixle messages.


To receive detailed, up-to-date information directly from Los Angeles County via e-mail and/or text, register for "Nixle" alerts at

http://www.Nixle.com and register for "LASD - Altadena, Los Angeles County Sheriff" and “LASD – HQ Newsroom (SHB), Los Angeles County Sheriff”

or

text your zip code to 888777 to receive text alerts only.

Standard text messaging rates may apply, depending on your calling plan.

Raising Funds to Help

This has been posted on several blogs.  From our Sherrif liaison, Carolyn"
 
On Thursday, an Altadena family suffered the loss of their child, a beautiful 3 year old girl named Katherine, in a tragic accident.


It is devastating for them and it was for the Altadena Sheriff's Deputies and Captain McLean who arrived on the scene shortly after the accident occurred.

This family does not have the means to pay for a funeral for their daughter and Captain McLean, the leadership team at the Altadena Station and the Deputies are asking for your help.

You can help in one of three ways:

• Drop money off at the Altadena Sheriff's Station and tell the person at the desk it is for the fund for Katherine.
• Go to the car wash being planned for Saturday, July 2 at 11 am at the Carl's Jr., 790 North Lake Avenue in Pasadena
• Go to Wells Fargo Bank and make a deposit to the fund for Katherine's funeral. Here is the info: "Katherine Lopez Donation" Acct #73-21253424

Any help will be gratefully appreciated by this family.

Ray's Rain Report

Ray's Annual Rain Report:

My annual rain report for 2010-2011, as measured here at approximately 1670' elevation:

Total rainfall: 37.10"

The wettest month was December, when we had 16.70", 14.4" of which fell in a 6-day-long "Pineapple Express".

Total rainfall for the previous year (2009-2010) was 29.35"


Thanks Ray!