We Love Netflix

Try Netflix.com We love it so much we dumped our cable, have no satellite, no TiVo, nothing else (except broadband of course). Just Netflix. We have 5 DVDs out from our cue of hundreds of DVDs we are interested in. When we finish watching one, we put it back in the prepaid mailer and stick it in our mailbox. As soon as they get it back, they send out a fresh one. If you click on the link, you will get a free trial. Netflix is way better than Blockbuster or Target because it has far more titles and a "Friends" feature that lets you see what your friends like and recommend DVDs to them too. When you sign up, make sure you get on our friends list.

Altadena Web Links

Bauer2000.com
Great place for gifts
Created by local talent

The Underground Arts Society
Featuring monthly gallery openings with local artists
Located at 2473 N. Lake Ave (Accross from Webster's)

TheOrangeCat.org
Calendar, Advice & Tips for Busy Families
in the San Gabriel Valley

PasadenaKids.com
Calendar listings for kids

AltadenaMeadows.com
A neighborhood website serving the far northwest parts of Altadena

Altadena Foothills Conservancy
The Altadena Foothills Conservancy was founded to preserve and restore open, undeveloped land and associated trails and historic structures in the foothills of Altadena.

Eaton Canyon Nature Center
Unfortunately bad web design, but useful information :)

Altadena Town Council
The Altadena Town Council is a forum instituted by the citizens of unincorporated Altadena to present a unified voice to Los Angeles County Supervisor (5th Supervisorial District) and County government. Its sixteen representatives and eight alternates are elected by the residents of each of eight respective census tracts.

Altadena Mountain Rescue
The Altadena Mountain Rescue Team is one of the oldest search and rescue organizations. Staffed by reserve deputies (all volunteer), it's goals are saving lives through mountain rescue and safety education. Headquartered at the Altadena Sheriff's Station, the team is operational 24 hours each day, 365 days every year.

Farnsworth Park Concert Schedule
In the amphitheater Farnsworth Park
Lake Avenue at Mount Curve in beautiful Altadena
All performances begin at 7 p.m.
(Note: not all evenings are Saturday)

Altadena Library
Special events as well as information services including online databases and the "Ask Now" service. Ask questions and get answers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This reference service is staffed by California Librarians

Jet Propulsion Laboratory Kids
"Welcome to the Space Place!
Come on in and check out our games, animations, projects, and fun facts about Earth, space and technology."

Stonehill Fire Fighters

More pictures here

Stonehill Drive is at high risk of fire. Our proximity to the National Forest puts us in the path of seasonal wildfires. 1993 was the last major fire in the area. It claimed many houses in the immediate vicinity. There were no houses lost on Stonehill Drive, due to the coordinated efforts of the residents. Dr. Dan Gollnick, who lives at the very top of the street has installed a fully equipped fire house on his property. Dr. Gollnick played a major roll in the fire fighting effort of 1993, but he did not do it alone. If you have not had a tour of the fire house, please contact him to arrange one. When the next fire comes, you will be glad you did.

How To Protect Your Home

There are basic measures that you should take on your property. The following was written by Bruce Keene of the National Parks Service

Though people can never fully protect their homes and adjacent wildlands against wildfires, you can take steps to reduce the risk.

For example:

* Remove combustible vegetation from the vicinity of any structure. Thin out continuous tree and brush cover and remove dead limbs, fallen trees, leaves, twigs and evergreen tree cones within 30 feet of the structure to create a " safety zone of low fuel density all around the home" (NFPA). Likewise, prune trees branches to 10 feet above the ground and remove leaves and twigs from beneath trees, in the yard, on roofs, patios and landscaped shrubs.

* Limit the number and density of landscaped vegetation and do not use highly flammable landscaping near structures. Maintain a greenbelt or noncombustible zone around the home; avoid using bark or wood chip mulch in the safety zone.

* Stack firewood uphill at least 15 feet from a house. Fire risks increase when wooden decks, patios and woodpiles are placed close to structures or when flammable materials are stored near structures.

* Be aware that roofs and walls made of untreated flammable materials such as wood shanks and shingles pose a significant fire threat. Wind­carried embers or the intense heat from a nearby fire can ignite such fuel sources. Fire does not need to "burn over" a structure for it to catch fire.

* Clean roof and gutters. Remove pine needles and leaves to eliminate fuel sources.

* Prepare for water shortages. Lack of piped water to protect against fire is a major problem in wildland/urban interface settings. To protect a structure, develop an external water supply, such as a small pond, well or pool, for fighting fires. Publications such as Planning for Water Supply and Distribution in the Wildland/Urban Interface (see references in this section) provide valuable information for preparation of homes and protection systems in the event of wildland fire.

* Choose home location wisely. Building structures in canyons and on slopes increases the chances that those homes will be destroyed by wildfire. Canyons and slopes serve to channel fires up in elevation, similar to the way chimneys channel fireplace emissions. When upland slopes and canyons are selected for home sites, downhill or lower elevation areas should be clear of excess fuel, to add an additional element of protection. If a home is on the crest of a steep hill, thin the fuel sources at least 100 feet below the crest.

* Mow tall grass and keep it to a maximum height of two inches within the home safety zone. Avoid tall grass around driveways, areas susceptible to ignition by automobile exhaust systems.

* Inspect and clean chimneys regularly. Equip chimneys for woodburning heating units with spark arresters.

* Avoid all outdoor burning to decrease the likelihood of fire ignition near a home structure.

* Prevent mishaps with outdoor cooking grills by carefully maintaining the grill and using caution during grill use.

* Have the right tools. Equip home with smoke detectors. Keep these tools in good working order and store hi an easily accessible area of the house.

Source: National Parks Service

Other Links:
HomeFirefightingSystems.com
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

Stripes on Loma Alta: News Flash

It looks like our phone calls paid off. I called Mr. Ashburn to thank him for being so responsive and getting the stripes installed, and he told me that the leafleting campaign definitely made a big impact. He said with the dozens of calls he received from the community in favor and with no one calling with opposition, he had a very easy time getting it approved.

Stripes On Loma Alta

The Problem

Hey... We've all been there. With Loma Alta being such a nice wide road, it is easy to swing wide and try to catch that flat spot just right. The thing is, we are all lucky that no-one has gotten very badly hurt. One of our neighbors recently escaped with his life at this intersection after he had to ditch his motorcycle and slid under a truck that was Dip Dodging. Thank God he slid under the truck behind the rear wheels and was able to walk away.


A Dip Dodger at the intersection of Loma Alta and Stonehill Drive


Tell-tale tire marks from a Dip Dodger

The Solution
Last year I attended an LA County Community meeting and met the Traffic Engineer, Pat Ashburn, who is responsible for roads in our area. At that time, I submitted drawings suggesting the addition of a "curb lane" to protect the many pedestrians, joggers, dog-walkers, cyclists and other motorists from "Dip Dodgers". Since this could be done simply with white stripes and perhaps some "Bots Dots" at intersections, it would be an extremely cost effective way to dramatically improve our safety and quality of life in this neighborhood. Last year he agreed.

I have recently been in touch with Mr. Ashburn, as have one or two other neighbors. He still concurs that this is a good idea and that indeed this would be a perfect time to add white stripes to delineate "curb lanes" for the length of Loma Alta from Noyes School to the new Rubio Canyon Bridge. This 1 mile stretch of road is already a major pedestrian corridor. Please make your voice heard by calling Pat Ashburn and telling him your concerns about safety. Let him know what you think about adding two white stripes to the existing striping plan. The more people her hears from, the more likely it is that something will get done about it.

Call Pat Ashburn
Traffic Engineering
LA County Dept of Public Works
(Direct Line) 626.300.4739


PS: download the pdf Flyer that was distributed in mailboxes here (1.1MB)