Theatre Americana at Farnsworth Park

Beautiful Bella

This event was not too well attended, but the performance did indeed go on.  Read about it on altadenablog.

And if you are in need of a dog or cat, you can't do better than to contact Kathy Hart at Lifeline for Pets at (626) 676-9505. Bella, picutred here, is a one-year-old chihuahua mix who would make a great pet for a family.  She comes with a crate, dog house, outdoor enclosure, preventative meds, and food and toys. Her foster parents are moving and need to find a loving home for her. She is up-to-date on shots and is neutered.

Tuskegee Airman Oliver Goodall post office

There seems to be some confusion as to which post office will be named after Tuskegee Airman Oliver Goodall. I spoke with Maureen Shanahan in Adam Schiff's Washington office today to find out.  You can, too, if you read my article "Tuskegee Airman Oliver Goodall post office: Altadena is off the map".

Loma Alta Park Community Gardens welcomes neighbors to a barbecue

Mike Antonovich & Loma Alta Park manager Penny Daniels on new bench donated by the supervisor.

After a morning hike in the Arroyo Seco with a church group on Saturday, I swung by Loma Alta Park to cover the Community Garden picnic for Altadena Patch.  The neighborhood was invited to the barbecue. I really didn't expected much, since the garden had not shown much inclination to be involved in the community in the 20+ years we've lived here.

Boy, was I surprised!  I couldn't find a parking space, so I just drove on home and walked the half mile back.  There were lots of booths, most of them from community resource and civic groups.  Two of my utility providers were there--Lincoln Avenue Water and Athens Services--and L.A. County public services, organizations that provide health care, folks setting up neighborhood groups.  There were a few vendors, but they had to be certified to participate since it was on county land.

Supervisor/L.A. County Mayor Mike Antonovich was there, and he remembered me from a previous story I had covered.  No wonder he keeps getting reelected!  He and his field deputy Sussy Nemer provide great service for Altadena.

And the folks at the Community Garden?  They were great!  I picked up some info on gardening, and with the Golden Poppy seeds Lincoln Avenue provided (at least I think it was them--they were in the bottom of my bag), I will get going on renewing the plantings in my front yard.  Well, after the weeds are cleaned up, anyway....

Exclusive! 360 degree view of Pasadena’s 125th birthday cake

Yessiree!  I was the only news photographer allowed in the tent prior to the unveiling of Pasadena's 125th birthday cake on Saturday! I was truly honored. 

I got a 360-degree video, which you can see in my Examiner Tournament of Roses column, and a few stills.  I had to work around eight or ten chefs in a tent barely big enough to hold the cake, so I apologize for the blurry photo.

The cake was delicious!

Flinridge Prep graduation, June 5, 2011

 

Members of the Flintridge Preparatory Class of 2011 shared their experiences and future plans with me in five videos posted on La Cañada Patch.  I also spoke with an instructor who graduated from Prep in 2004 and Vassar in 2008.  The ceremony was held at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on a wet evening. This panorama is taken from the steps looking north to Paseo Colorado.

Covering two high school graduations (see St. Francis, below) brought me back to the four graduations I attended at John Muir HS as my four kids commenced their adult lives.

I apologize for the quality and size of the photo.  Blogger's resizing options don't seem to be working today!

And yet more on Pasadena's 125 years....

Sketch of the cake for the 125th birthday of Pasadena

Pasadena Museum of History is a truly amazing organization. With a small staff, lots of dedication and energy, and countless volunteers this non-profit is putting on a huge birthday celebration.

The usual list of summer events for the City of Pasadena will tie into the quasquicentennial birthday theme,

“Destination Pasadena: Celebrating 125 Years of Service and Hospitality.”  

Word of the day: quasquicentennial: 125 years

I hope to run into you at some of these events!

Happy Birthday Pasadena! Kick of the summer with a big birthday bash

Happy Birthday Pasadena! Celebrate the quasquicentennial all summer long