Alice Sarkisian Wessen

Mud updates Tues Feb 9th 2010

These are coming from the county via Gino Sund of the Altadena Town Council
There are two below. Altadena Blog is posting updates (Thank You Tim!!!)

11:30AM, Tues Feb 9th
Latest update.

There is an unstable cold front heading West that has the potential for heavy to intense showers and thunderstorms starting around noon or before.

There is a high probability that a blockage will occur at Canyon Crest Road which will result in a road closure. There is no evacuation of the Meadows, and residents are advised to shelter in place. An unmanned Fire engine is stationed in the neighborhood with a crew prepared to hike in to operate the equipment if necessary.
========
Tuesday Morning
I just returned from surveying Altadena with Capitan Blow. As of now things look pretty good. Most catch basins are only partially filled and the work crews are continuing to clear the Canyon Crest bridge area. This clearing effort will continue as long as the weather allows. As of my briefing last night, the expectations were that today's rain fall will not be as bad as last Saturday but there is a possibility the an unanticipated rain cell may cause unexpected problems. Therefore, the County is preparing for the worst with its La Canada, La Crescenta and Acton evacuation plans. None planed in Altadena. There is another briefing update at 11:00 a.m. If there is any change, I will let you know.

Storm Watch

http://dpw.lacounty.gov/care/

The purpose of this email is to provide information made available to the Altadena area, as well as other areas of Los Angeles County affected by recent fires and the last two storm events.

The County of Los Angeles continues to work with all local, state and federal agencies, and continues to provide detailed information to key people in all of the affected areas.  Gino Sund, Chair of the Altadena Town Council is among those key people being briefed.

The Millard Campground is the only area currently evacuated.  No other evacuations have been announced for Altadena.

The only road closure continues to be Chaney Trail from the gate into the National Forest area.

There is a probability that Canyon Crest may experience additional disruptions from debris flows coming down Millard Creek.  As a result, the Fire Department has deployed a Fire Engine to be staged in The Meadows and the Sheriff's Station is on alert to assist.  There is no planned evacuation for The Meadows area at this time.

There are no anticipated additional road closures or evacuations for this storm event for Altadena.

You may find additional information on the website managed by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works.  Here's the link:

www.dpwcare. org

On that site, you can sign up for mud flow, debris flow, flood and road closure emergency notifications.  These notifications can be received through email or as a text message on your cell phone.

You'll note on their website that there is a list from which you may choose other notifications as well, including hazardous waste and e-waste roundups.

Stay safe!

Carolyn Seitz
via Alice Wessen

PUSD happenings

Courtesy of Altadena Women's Network

Want to let PUSD know what you think needs to be included in their strategic planning?  Attend one of the two remaining planning sessions and share your thoughts.  Wednesday, February 10, 6:30 p.m., Loma Alta

Park, 3330 North Lincoln Ave., Altadena; Thursday, February 11, 6:30
p.m., Villa-Parke Community Center, 363 East Villa Street, Pasadena.

~~~    Speaking of PUSD, the special election is coming up on May 4.  If you want to check to see if you're registered to vote, visit https://lavote.net/SECURED/VOTER_REG/ and fill out the search form.
And if you'd like to see budget numbers and the severe cuts PUSD has already made in the past few years, as well as projections for the future (which are pretty hard to do since we have no clue what the
Governor is going to come up with in his next budget revision) visit
http://pusdbudget.org/budget_information/ .

Access to Impact: Using Open Government to Create Change: Produced by League of Women Voters Pasadena Area to be held March 6 at Neighborhood Church.

 


Pete Peterson, executive director of Common Sense California, will be part of the morning.  Pete teaches public participation and citizen engagement at Pepperdine and brings a depth and breadth of experience in working with municipalities up and down the state to the panel.  You'll also recognize some other familiar names:  Larry Wilson (Pasadena Star-News), Jan Sanders (Pasadena Public Library), and Michele Beal Bagneris (Pasadena City Attorney).  They will be speaking about open government and access to information from their respective perspectives - media, libraries and city governments.

There will be a block of time devoted to small group discussions about local government and working together to hold our politicians and ourselves accountable for our shared future.

Access to Impact: Using Open Government to Create Change

A community forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters Pasadena Area

Saturday, March 6, 2010  8:30 a.m.-Noon

Neighborhood Church, 301 North Orange Grove Boulevard, Pasadena

Free parking. Morning refreshments. Translation.

 

RSVP 626-798-0965 or e-mail lwvpasocialpolicy@gmail.com

If you have any questions, please feel free to phone or e-mail me.  I look forward to seeing you and your constituents on March 6.
 
Best wishes,

Monica Hubbard
Director, Social Policy
League of Women Voters Pasadena Area

Flag this message Altadena Sheriff's Annual Holiday Toy Drive-need volunteers this Sat Dec 19th

Altadena Sheriff's Annual Holiday Toy Drive
Sgt Bartlett, Community Relations
626-798-1131

If you would like to help with this annual event to help others have a better Christmas, see below:

Saturday Dec 19th.
Would like folks there at the station by 6AM to help. The event starts at 7AM and goes to 11AM on Saturday December 19th, 2009.
For teens above the age of 12, the sheriffs will sign slips for earning community volunteer hours

I will be there...with a really big mug of coffee!
:-)
Alice

The LA County Sheriffs are looking for service minded volunteers to apply for their "Volunteers on Patrol Program".

 The LA County Sheriffs are looking for service minded volunteers to apply for their "Volunteers on Patrol Program".

It is a short training period. You will get driving courses in a squad car and learn radio codes and much more. The program needs you about 20 hours a month. If anyone out in the community is interested contact Sgt Bartlett and he can assist you (626-798-1131), or you can go online and fill out an application.
http://www.lasd.org/aboutlasd/volunteer/volunteer_info.html

http://www.lasd.org/online_form/volunteer/volunteer_application.html

MORE INFO:
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has long recognized the vast resources of experience and skills possessed by its’ county residents and the surrounding communities. The purpose of volunteers is to tap into these skills to help the Sheriff’s Department achieve its’ goals in an effective and cost-efficient manner. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department views this as a means to assist those that reside in Los Angeles County by providing a service to their community.
   Because the members of the Volunteer Program become additional eyes and ears for the Sheriff’s Department, as well as representatives of City and County administration, it is imperative that they maintain an image of professionalism at all times which parallels the professionalism of the Department. Volunteers appearance, demeanor, and professionalism must never be compromised while serving in this Program. Each volunteer has been hand picked with the highest confidence in their capabilities.
   Volunteer members are, in fact, Sheriff’s Department Civilian Volunteers. Therefore, the existing Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Civilian Volunteer Regulations and Guidelines shall be followed. Volunteers shall be aware that it is a privilege to be a civilian volunteer, not a right, and they serve at the discretion of the Sheriff.


    INDIVIDUAL REQUIREMENTS:        
· Must be 18 years of age or older.
· Must live or work within the community.
· Must not have been convicted of a felony crime.
· Must not have been convicted of certain misdemeanor crimes.
· Must have a valid California driver’s license (if licensed out of state, must obtain CDL within 10 days and prior to appointment.
· Must be emotionally stable.
· Must not be addicted to any legal or illegal substance including alcohol, or prescription drugs.
· Must not have any physical disability that would create a danger to the volunteer or others while completing tasks. Disabled volunteers could be utilized in specified and designated duties other than patrol.
· Provide a completed and signed application form.
· Subject to background or criminal history record check.
· Contribute a minimum of sixteen (16) hours per month.
· Attend scheduled, mandatory or emergency meetings.
______________________________________________________________

    VOP
RESPONSIBILITIES
& DUTIES:        
Volunteers On Patrol are community-spirited citizens of the community who provide a minimum of 16 hours of their time per month to assist the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department performing non-hazardous patrol duties. It’s participants are made up of working people, retirees, and men and women of all races with varied backgrounds.

Volunteers On Patrol can be identified by their white uniform shirt, navy blue trousers and gold on blue shoulder patch. Volunteers’ patrol in white vehicles identified as “Volunteers On Patrol” and bear the LASD emblem.

The Volunteers On Patrol have various responsibilities, primarily non-hazardous duties, which have traditionally been performed by patrol deputies. This program; therefore, allows patrol deputies to perform the more hazardous duties that they have been trained to do, thus helping the Department to better achieve its goal of serving the community.

Listed below are some examples of the duties that Volunteers On Patrol will be performing:

- Search for missing children
- Patrolling the community for criminal activity
- Patrolling the community for safety hazards
- Conducting school safety checks
- Conducting shopping mall checks
- Conducting residential vacation checks
- Conducting business checks
- Conducting park safety checks
- Patrolling for graffiti and property damage
- Performing fire watch
- Conducting traffic control
- Performing non-hazardous directed patrol assignments
- Assisting disabled persons
- Assisting at Sobriety check points
- Issuing disabled parking citations
- Fulfilling requests from city and county services
- Assisting L.A. Sheriff's Training Academy - Role-playing, when requested
- All volunteers work in teams of two in conspicuously identified vehicles supplied by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

______________________________________________________________
             
Please click here to fill out a Civilian Volunteer Recruitment form
http://www.lasd.org/online_form/volunteer/volunteer_application.html

Thank you,
LA County Sheriffs

Millard Creek overflows its banks

Millard Creek overflows its banks
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=yV-xYNlL8nQ& feature=email
From Lonnie the Millard campground host

Right after the Millard Creed cut loose after heavy rains.

 

From Lonnie: "mud and debris and boulders from station fire . at first was larger and more fierce, video was shot short time after it came crashing down all at one time . not sure but believe it was blocked / further upstream and dam broke . me and cabin owners evacuated . all made it out safely . one cabin back side facing burned steep mountain got house back half buried in mud"

This about one hour later, showing all the mud flowing down
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFM3Qy1KNrY&feature=email

 

 From Lonni: "mudflow this video taken about hour after other video part 1 ... shows danger of mud flows from rain after station fire burn into millard creek"

Courtesy Lonnie, Millard Campground Host

County offers mudflow information

County offers mudflow information

The County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works offers email
alerts for up to date mudflow forecasts. Sign-up to receive this and other e-Notifications. To start, click the link below to enter the e-Notify system and make sure to check the Debris and Mudflow
Forecast box under Alerts.
http://dpw.lacounty.gov/general/enotify/userPages/registration.aspx

Mudflow Forecast: Updated daily (PDF file)
http://ladpw.org/wrd/forecast/file/mud4cast.pdf

Debris and Mudflow Forecast: View the latest mudflow forecast,
including tips on mudflow protection and sandbag distribution locations
http://dpw.lacounty.gov/wrd/fire/

Department of Public Works: Flood
http://ladpw.org/wrd/Flood/index.cfm

Department of Public Works: Runoff information
http://ladpw.org/wrd/Runoff/index.cfm

Main page for Department of Public Works
http://dpw.lacounty.gov/

 

Altadena Arts Coalition Holiday Party Sat Dec. 12, 6PM-11PM

Altadena Arts Coalition

Holiday Party

Saturday Dec. 12, 2009

6:00PM-11:00PM

North Lake and Mariposa

 

Come join The Altadena Arts Coalition and your local merchants for a evening of sledding (YES REAL SNOW!), music, food, fun, and merriment after Altadena's Christmas Tree lane lighting ceremony! Raffle prizes!! Come enjoy this evening and meet your neighbors and merchants!!!


Art show at Gallery at the End of the World

Photography by Walt - Capture the World (photo exhibit)

Sledding Hill!!

Santa's coming to town!

Local Band

John O' Happy Days- Hot soup

Coffee Gallery- Coffee and Tea

Park Bench Deli- Tacos

Steve's Bike Shop- Hot Chocolate

Dip Me in Chocolate- Chocolate Treats!


More to be announced!

 

President Obama today helped launch a new campaign, “Educate to Innovate,” designed to energize and excite America’s students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

"President Obama today helped launch a new campaign, "Educate to Innovate," designed to
energize and excite America's students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics
(STEM). It builds on the President's pledge that he would use his position to help encourage
students to study and consider careers in science, engineering, technology, and innovation--
fields upon which America's future depends--and elevate those students from the middle to the
top of the pack worldwide."

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2009/11/23/next-generation-innovators