Altadena, CA

As some of you may be aware, I'm one of the Directors of the Christmas Tree Lane Association. We are constantly trying to find volunteers to help work on "The Lane" so that we can keep it from going dark in the coming years. Without community/volunteer help, Christmas Tree Lane would not survive.

Jason Tajima, of the County of Los Angeles, helps to put together the Altadena Community Resource Guide. If you've ever wondered what Altadena is all about...it's in there. The link for the guide is: http://ceo.lacounty.gov/OUAS/pdf/Community%20Connection/08/Altadena%2008%20Eng.pdf It may take a minute to download it, but, it's so worth the wait!

Oh, and don't forget to check out the next to the last page regarding Christmas Tree Lane! You'll see a picture I took of some of the girls from a service club with Pasadena High School - they're helping to put up the lights. And you'll see a picture of the Altadena Baptist Church Choir (I'm the tall one in the back on the right with the Santa hat on). If you've never been to a lighting ceremony...it is so worth it to go. Not only are there over 1,000 people who are in attendance, but, you'll really get sense of what "community" is all about.

Enjoy perusing over the guide. You'll be surprised at how much more is out there in our little "big" town of Altadena!

Can you believe it? Children aged 5-12 can read a book - to a dog - this Saturday at 11:00am. The event takes place at the Altadena Main Library on Mariposa and Santa Rosa in the children's section. The dogs will be provided by the Pasadena Humane Society's Home Companion Program. The event is called Barks and Books. What a fun way for your kids to donate a little time and attention to a stray dog while practicing their reading! This guarantees to be fun!!!!

The Altadena Historical Society will host Tea Time at the Rand McNally House on Sunday, June 8, 2008 from 4pm to 7pm.

The Rand/McNally House is one of the newest Nationally Registered Historic Place and is located at 654 E. Mariposa Street in Altadena (right across the street from the Altadena Library).

You will be able to tour the beautifully restored house and enjoy refreshments on the lawn.

Building historian Tim Gregory, who prepared the national registration application said, "The significance of the site is based on the importance of its original owner, the founder of the Rand-McNally Map Company; its eye-catching architechure by famed pioneer designer Fredrick Roehrig; and the role it played in attracting many of Altadena's early 'movers and shakers' to settle in the community."

Frank and Jo Dupuy have owned the McNally house for over 50 years.

For information call Jane Brackman at (626) 794-0700

Tickets are $10 each for Altadena Historical Society members, $12 for members of the public. For more information, go to: http://abacus-es.com/altadena/mcnally.htm

LA County Supervisor Michael Antonovich will hold an Altadena Community Meeting on Wed., May 28, from 8am to 9am at the Altadena Community Center located at 730 E. Altadena Dr. (just west of Lake Avenue if you've never been there).

On the agenda will be Marcia Mayeda, director of LA County Animal Control, as well as presentations from the Dept. of Public Works Traffic and Lighting Division and the summer parks program. For more information please call (626) 356-5407.

I can't wait to hear what plans are in the works for our fine community!

It's the perfect weather to sit back and relax and listen to the acoustic guitar sounds of Claude Bourbon.

Claude Bourbon will be performing at the Coffee Gallery in Altadena tonight at 8pm. Tickets are only $15.00.

After what I went through last week with traveling to the East Coast, attending a funeral, and not sleeping for almost 36 hours at one time, this is a welcoming treat!

For more information on Claude and other acts go to www.coffeegallery.com

http://www.myspace.com/claudebourbon