Power Outage in The Meadows

UPDATE: ARound 5:00 p.m. power appears to be back on.

Edison states that power has been out since 8:40 this morning and will come back at 5:00 pm. Out for routine maintenance. Anyone get any notice? Seems AT&T did with their portable generator installed this morning.

New FireSafe Council Activities

Members of the Meadows Fire Safe Council are beginning to walk door-to-door in the Meadows to let you know about upcoming plans and obtain your input.

The Meadows does not have a grant this year for fuel reduction so residents are on their own to meet County requirements for fire inspection.  We do plan to ask for a grant for 2013 and we’d like to know residents' priorities for making the Meadows more fire safe.

In the meantime, the Council is planning two projects:

·        On Sunday, June 24 from 12:30 to 4 PM, we are having a community volunteer day where we are all going to work in the surrounding woods removing fire prone invasive plants that do not belong there. This is relatively easy work  and the whole family can participate.

·        Our next project is a neighborhood fire assessment, done by professional firefighters, that looks at potential fire hazards and suggests ways to correct them. This is voluntary and is just intended to give you information you can use to help protect your property. There is no cost or obligation and no one will require you to do anything. 

Call 626-578-0602 or email wmr83g@gmail.com and leave a message if you are interested in any of this or if you have any questions. We will call or email you back.

(Everyone is welcome to post comments to this blog, but please use the contact information above for any questions or requests of the Meadows FireSafe Council.)

Notice of Filming

Everyone in The Meadows should have received a Notice of Filming yesterday or today.

5/23 through 5/25 preparation and filming will occur at 4575 Risinghill. Parking from 4554 Risinghill north to the end of Risinghill is restricted on 5/23.

5/24 will be filming at 3720 Canyon Crest.

The welcome news is that this is the first time a film production company has actually complied with the notification requirements on file with the County.  Because we're only one road in and out, the entire Meadows has to be notified when filming in The Meadows or accessing Canyon Crest.

Art Break 2012 May 25

Solar Power Presentation?

I just attended an interesting presentation on solar power installation. 

This is a company that installs the panels for free on your house. You continue to buy power from Edison through tier two usage, but then buy power through the solar company at a fixed rate for the higher tiers and at a cost savings on your total electric bill.

If enough Meadows residents are interested, I can set up a presentation.

It looked interesting to me and a good fit for The Meadows.

Just send me an email or a reply with your contact information if interested.

Thanks,
Greg

Meadows Market Report May 2012

The real estate market in The Meadows is showings healthy signs so far in 2012.  For a quick analysis and look at recent sales and available properties, follow this link to dropbox.  (Give it a little time to open - it's in "the cloud"!)

Meadows Market Report May 2012

Property Tax Adjustments Start June 30

A couple of neighbors have asked me about getting their property taxes adjusted. It’s actually a pretty simple process and is available only between June 1 and November 30.
(This probably only applies to you if you bought your home in The Meadows between 1999 when the real estate boom started and 2008 when it ended. It could also apply if you had a major remodel during that time and your property taxes were adjusted.)

It’s called a “Decline-in-Value Review”. From the L.A. County Tax Assessor’s website, the instructions are:

“If the current market value of your property is less than its current assessed value, you may qualify for tax relief.  Call the Los Angeles County tax Assessor’s office at 213-974-3211 or 1-888-807-2111 toll free for additional information.

The Decline-in-Value Review Application, form RP-87, is available online from June 1 through November 30.”

I reviewed the sales in The Meadows since 1999 and it appears that some residents would be good candidates for this if they haven’t already done so.

It will require getting information on two comparable properties that recently sold.  You can see those on the Tax Assessor’s website or I’m happy to identify them for you.  We’ve had three strong sales so far this year which are helping with our values, but they are lower than those sales that occurred before 2009.

The tax assessor’s site is http://assessor.lacounty.gov

Click on Tax Savings Programs and then Decline of Property Values.

Let me know if I can help.

Property Insurance Options?

I've heard from a few neighbors that have CA FairPlan insurance that their premiums are going up due to "recent fires".

I also know that neighbors both on the canyon sides and up against brush have been able to get other insurance.

I got off FairPlan a few years ago and have a policy with Farmers. And my house backs up to brush.

Anyone want to share their insurance companies?

Hazardous Waste and E-Waste Roundup

Great time to clean out the garage, carport, shed, etc. of household hazardous waste and E-waste.

Saturday, May 26 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
252 West Mountain Ave. in Altadena
enter from Figueroa Drive

Messing with Mailboxes Continues

Two Meadows neighbors, one as recently as this morning, have reported that mail continues to be taken out of mailboxes.

This morning, one neighbor found mail from addresses on Gravelia, Risinghill and lower Canyon Crest.  The mail was postmarked from May 4 through May 7.

He also reported that he saw additional mail tossed down in the canyon off Canyon Crest but couldn't retrieve it.  The mail is being delivered back to the post office.

All incidents have been reported to the Sheriff and post office.

It's unknown what time of day this is happening, but since our mail is delivered in the afternoon, the thief must be coming sometime after that and into the evening.

It's suggested that we all keep a more diligent eye on the neighborhood in the evening hours and report any suspicious activity to the Sheriff and post office.

Also, neighbors may want to take their mail in earlier.

AHS May 14 Millard Canyon Talk

Even if you aren't an avid outdoors hiker, if you live near the San Gabriel Mountains you probably know of Millard Canyon. Covered by a canopy of at least nine species of native trees, habitat to countless birds and other wildlife, the canyon serves as a wildlife corridor for the large mammal species that live in the foothills.  Millard Creek is a year-round stream that  feeds the area as well.

There is a good possibility that 13 acres in the canyon, north of Canyon Crest Road, can be saved from development.  

Come to the May 14th  ALTADENA HISTORICAL SOCIETY program and hear author, historian and outdoor enthusiast Elizabeth Pomeroy speak about the past and future of our beloved canyon.  

In addition, Elizabeth and Conservancy president John Howell will invite you to take a hike on May 19 and personally experience this 13 acre parcel.  The hike will be led by experts in biology, geology, history or hydrology.  Learn how the Altadena Crest Trail will be extended through the well-publicized "La Vina gap.”

For more information, http://www.arroyosfoothills.org/millard/

Altadena Historical Society
Quarterly Meeting and Lecture
Historian and Author Elizabeth Pomeroy & Arroyo Foothills Conservancy Executive Director John Howell

The Past and Future of Millard Canyon
Monday, May 14, 2012, 7:30 PM
Altadena Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Drive, Altadena, CA 91001
Programs are free and open to the public

Hike Millard Canyon May 19

Meadows residents have been invited to a hike through Millard Canyon on May 19th.  The Arroyo & Foothills Conservancy has a bid in on purchasing the acreage.

Here's the announcement:

Hike Millard Canyon on May 19

Ten years ago the Arroyos & Foothills (AFC) made a run at saving 13 acres in beautiful lower Millard Canyon.  They teamed up with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and bid $50,000 more than its appraised value to try to buy it at auction. It was heartbreaking to lose to someone who wanted to build homes in the canyon.

Never again! Ten years later and we have another chance. The owner has offered AFC the property on favorable terms. Let's not let this land get away!

Come see this seldom-hiked canyon on Saturday, May 19. Choose from four hikes: 9:00, 10:30, 12:00 or 1:30.

The habitat is top notch; the stream runs year-round; trees cover the whole route.

Docents expert in biology, geology, history or hydrology will guide us. Learn how the Altadena Crest Trail will be extended through the ‘La Vina gap’.

Directions:

Meet at the Altadena Community Garden. Take the 210 north to the Lincoln Avenue turnoff and go north to the corner of Lincoln and Palm (3330 N. Lincoln Ave. Altadena). We’ll be shuttled to the Millard campground parking lot and then we’ll hike down the canyon to Canyon Crest Road. The route is less than a mile and a half long, but somewhat rugged. The hike itself will take 1-1/2 to 2 hours. We’ll be shuttled back to the Community Garden for refreshments and to learn about this opportunity to save this remarkable place.

Suggestions: 

Wear a long sleeve shirt and pants because there’s poison oak along parts of the route.

Wear sturdy hiking shoes because much of the route is with faint or no trail and there’s boulder hopping at several stream crossings.

Consider hiking poles for those crossings.

Rattlesnakes are beginning to come out – be alert.

This is not a hike for dogs.

Bring garden gloves if you’d like to remove a few invasive plants along the way.

For more info, go to http://www.arroyosfoothills.org/millard/