Altadena, CA

ROSES AND ROSE, BEAUTIFUL ROSES.

Altadena has beautiful views of the San Gabriel Mountains, and now, the roses are breathtaking.

Now that spring is here and summer coming along, I have seen so many beautiful flowers, especially roses in many homes. As I drive along Altadena Drive, up Marengo Avenue, I encounters these magnificent roses.

Other great locations to check out the blooming flowers are the Huntington Library and the Descanso Gardens.

Go Enjoy the Colors!

The Mt. Wilson Bicycling Association will hold its 19th Annual Fundraising Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, April 27th. It starts with a 7am ride then breakfast from 8 to 10am at the Cobb Estate located at Loma Alta Drive and Lake Avenue in Altadena. The suggested donation is only $12.

The fundraiser benefits their Save the Trails campaign and will feature guests Keith Bontrager and Gary Fisher.

For more information go to www.mwba.org

If you don't think your old bones can make it hiking up a 3 mile mountain trail and then hiking back down the 3 miles then now is your only chance this year to take your car almost all the way up to Echo Mountain in the hills of Altadena.

After driving to the Cape of Good Hope, there will be a 1 mile hike down the railway grade to Echo Mountain where you will be able to see remnants of the Echo Mountain House and Chalet hotels, the power plant, tennis courts, observatory, zoo, section house, cable house and incline.

On Saturday, April 26, 2008 at 7:30am, bring a picnic lunch and plenty of water and meet at the north end of Lake Avenue in Altadena. Carpooling will be organized. The event should end at around 1:00. Call Brian at 562-868-8919.

On Monday, April 28, 2008 from 7pm to 9pm the Altadena Historical Society will hold its Spring General Meeting and the speaker will be John Smatlak, a Railroad Historian.

Mr. Smatlak will have a presentation on the history of the five major railroads and transit companies that served Southern California. It's a great opportunity to learn more about Altadena's own Mount Lowe Railway and its place in Los Angeles' rail system.

It's free and open to the public!

This is Christmas Tree Lane in 1959.

As some of you may know, I'm one of the Directors on the Board of the Christmas Tree Lane Association. Every 2nd Wednesday of the month we meet at the Altadena Library on Santa Rosa and Mariposa. We have 12 Board Members and only a few volunteers from the community who come and help throughout the year. There are no "owners" of Christmas Tree Lane and the County of Los Angeles has nothing to do with keeping the Lane lit throughout the year. Everything is accomplished through volunteer efforts.

Christmas Tree Lane is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is designated as California Historical Landmark No. 990. After 87 years of tree lighting, Christmas Tree Lane is in danger of becoming extinct. The lack of volunteers and non-interest from the community has brought this question to the table of the current board members.

At the last board meeting, there weren't even enough members to get a general vote on a particular item. Doesn't anyone care?

Though there are over 500 members who donate money during the years, physical help is needed throughout the year to put up, take down and test lights and help plan the lighting ceremony. This year it took us over 2 months (on weekends only) to take down the lights and test the bulbs. If we had more volunteers, we would have had more time to plan and discuss a Winter Festival, but, now that has gone on the back burner because we're just trying to figure out ways to get more help to keep Christmas Tree Lane alive.

How YOU can help NOW:

1) Beginning on May 31, 2008 at 9am we will be clearing the brush surrounding the trees. Free donuts and coffee in the morning and a free hearty lunch is served at 12:00 at a home down the street. It's a good workout. JUST SHOW UP!!!!! Bring the whole family!

2) High School service clubs, Rotary, Kiwanis, etc. are all perfect organizations that can help.

3) Visit www.christmastreelane.net or call (626) 403-1123. You can even call me on my cell at (626) 786-1231 and I'll be more than happy to assist you with your questions or concerns.

Here's a picture of some of the volunteers at my house having lunch after working on the Lane! I'm the one wearing the baseball cap and Christmas Tree Lane T-Shirt. Steve, our Treasurer is standing next to our President, Maureen, on the right and most of the volunteers came to us from Pasadena High School.