Linda Lane-White

If you live in Altadena, you know that any time you have a lost dog or cat or if there's a barking dog that's been neglected - what ever the reason...you need to contact the Animal Shelter. But, since Altadena is an unincorporated area, you have to go to the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control (LACDACC).

If you call information, you're given a telephone number where you're put on hold...indefinitely if it's the weekend. Or you have to drive 20 miles to go to the Baldwin Park Shelter.

If you don't have to go the the shelter and only want to contact someone at the shelter regarding a matter in Altadena, I'm happy to inform you that Deputy Villegas of the LACDACC is the man to contact should you need anything. He can be reached at (626) 290-3635. He patrols Altadena and that is his direct line.

In a few months, the LACDACC will have a mobile unit that will come to Altadena to perform microchip implants (which are free) and the mobile unit will soon be available for community outreach with spaying and neutering services. In the mean time, they've opened up a new low cost clinic in Baldwin Park. More information on their services can be found at: http://animalcare.lacounty.gov/

It's that time again - time to relax under a tree, spend time with friends and enjoy a free concert in the park.

Farnsworth Park is located at 568 E. Mount Curve Avenue in Altadena. Just take the 210 freeway, get off at Lake Avenue and travel all the way to the top of Lake. You can't miss it!

The Farnsworth Park Amphitheatre has had new seats installed and they're just ready to have you sit in them to enjoy some music on a Saturday night. Who needs to go to a movie or a jazz club when you can enjoy free entertainment right in your own back yard?

Beginning on June 14th at 7:00 pm be entertained by Elliott Caine, a jazz trumpeter.

On Saturday, June 21, the Juneteenth Music Festival kicks off at 12:00. There will be jazz, zydeco, blues and gospel music to enjoy throughout the day. For more information on this event, call 626-798-6335 - Anhalika, the park supervisor can answer your questions.

On Saturday, June, 28th at 7:00pm, prepare to be entertained by Altadena's own big band, the Downbeat Express.

For more information on the park and the concerts, go to http://www.altadenasheriffs.org/frames/ssgaframeset.html

I look forward to bumping into you at these events! Enjoy!!!!

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!

According to results released Wednesday for the state's main method of measuring how individual schools are performing, John Muir High School and Altadena Elementary School (my alma maters) received the lowest possible ranking on the Academic Performance Index.

It was such a sad day to see this happen. After all, I didn't turn out so bad. But, what a difference 30 years can make. Is it the upbringing of kids these days? Or maybe parents are so busy trying to make a living that they forget about their children's academics. Or maybe it's all the after school activities that they keep their children involved in. Who's to know and how do you find out how this happened?

Both schools received a ranking of 1 on the API, which scores school achievement on a scale of 1 to 10.

Muir actually dropped from 601 in 2006 to 569 in 2007. Eliot Middle School (also my alma mater) scored among the bottom third in the state.

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!!!!