Linda Lane-White

For many people who live in the Altadena, Pasadena area, their day begins with a walk around the Rose Bowl. After all, it's only 3.2 miles - a mere 5k! This Saturday, however, your walk may be a bit interrupted by a couple of events - so be prepared!

Cure Autism Run/Walk - 9am
A 5K run/walk to help end autism.
Sponsored by: Rose Bowl Event Location: 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena For information, call: 626-577-3100 Website: http://www.rosebowlstadium.com/

Pasadena Showcase House of Design - 9am
This year's Pasadena Showcase House of Design, which will be open from April 20 to May 18, is an elegant Spanish Colonial Revival estate designed by Henry Harwood Hewitt. One of La Canada-Flintridge's most distinguished historic homes, the estate was inspired and commissioned by Mr. and Mrs. George Hanson of Illinois . Mr. Hanson, a mining engineer, retained architect Henry Harwood Hewitt to build a replica of a Spanish castle with a Moorish design and sent him to Spain to study the architectural details.
Sponsored by: Pasadena Showcase House of Design Event Location: Parking, Rose Bowl Lot 1, 360 N. Arroyo, Pasadena Cost: $30.00 - $40.00 For information, call: 626-578-8500
Website: http://www.pasadenashowcase.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.

Every Wednesday, 8-11pm. The Robert Kyle Brazilian Trio at the Pasadena Arts Institute. Paseo Pasadena, 260 E Colorado Blvd. (Suite 206 on 2nd level in the Western Sector). www.robertkyle.com $10

Jan 11-Feb 17 Orson's Shadow. Pasadena Playhouse 39 S. El Molino, Pasadena 626/356-7529 or 626/792-8672 www.pasadenaplayhouse.org $25 to $65

Jan 19-Feb 9 Ray Bradbury's Invisible Boy. Fremont Centre Theatre 1000 Fremont Ave., South Pasadena 323/960-4451 or www.plays411.com/raybradbury $20 or $15/Seniors or $10/Students

Jan 18-20, 10am. Pasadena Bead and Design Show. Pasadena Hilton, 168 S. Los Robles. 580/274-1123 www.pasadenabeadanddesignshow.com $10

Jan 19, 9-3pm. Electronic Waste Collection Day. Pasadena Christian School. 1492 N Garfield, Pasadena 626/791-1214 or contact pwilliams@pasadenachristian.org

Jan 20, 8am. Doo Dah Parade Pancake Breakfast. Pasadena Senior Center 85 E Holly Street. 626/795-4331 www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org $6

Jan 20, 10:15am. Celebrating the Life of Martin Luther King, Jr. Includes gospel music and special readings. Celebrate Dr. King's life! St. James' Episcopal Church. 1325 Monterey Rd., South Pasadena 626/799-9194 www.sjcsp.org/music.html FREE

Jan 20, 11:30am. Pasadena's Doodah Parade. 30th Anniversary. East Holly Street and North Raymond Avenue in Old Pasadena. 626/205-4029 www.pasadenadoodahparade.info FREE

Jan 20, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration! California African American Museum. 600 State Drive, Los Angeles. Parking is at 39th and Figueroa. Program begins at 1:00. Parking is $6.00 but the event is FREE!

Jan 20-Feb 24, 4-6pm. Wine & Food Sunday. 6 week course. Heritage Wine Company 155 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena 626/844-9333 www.heritagewinecompany.com Reservations fill up fast! $300-full course/$60-class.

Jan 21, 9:30am. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration. Kidspace Children's Museum. 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena. 626/449-9144 www.kidspacemuseum.org Free with admission: $8.00; infants under 1 Free.

Jan 23, 11am. Pasadena Mega Job Fair. Pasadena Convention Center 300 E Green Street 626/379-7681 www.pasadenaexpos.com FREE

Jan 25, 9pm Mambo Combo performs at the Holly Street Bar & Grill.

Jan 26, 7:30am. Clockers' Corner "Breakfast with the Thoroughbreds". Includes buffet breakfast, tram tour, walking tour, silent auction, raffle and special activities for everyone. The Boys and Girls Club sponsors this event at Santa Anita Park, 285 W. Huntington Dr., Arcadia 626/449-9100 www.bgcpasadena.org $15/$10

Jan 27, 5pm. Martin Luther King, Jr. Festival Concert with Canterbury Choir, Coventry Choir and guest choirs. All Saints Church 132 N Euclid Ave., Pasadena 626/583-2725 www.allsaints-pas.org FREE

Feb 2, 8:30am. Musical Circus: You Sing, I Sing. Pasadena Symphony welcomes host: children's recording artist, songwriter and entertainer Greggy Dee with opera performers Tammy Jenkins and Daniel Montenegro. Pasadena Civic Auditorium, 300 E Green St., Pasadena 626/793-7172 www.pasadenasymphony.org FREE