2010 La Cañada Fiesta Days Parade
Posted on 31. May, 2010 by kchristieh in local news
I love this town, where:
- There are more people in the parade than watching it
- Participants finish the parade with one group, then drive back to the beginning of the route to ride with another
- Girl Scouts get to ride on fire trucks
- Preschoolers decorate their trikes/bikes/strollers, etc.
- I can walk up to the corner 10 minutes before the parade starts and get a perfect seat
- Local businesses hand out drinks and coupons
- A Rose Princess is scootering in front of the entry for a Mexican restaurant aptly-named “Los Gringos Locos”, which is towing a band called “Misplaced Priorities”
- Every year we get to see miniature trucks and Smokey the Bear
Check out these pictures and be happy. :)
Please and Flash to view this Flash video.Happy Memorial Day!!
Panera Bread coming to La Cañada!
Posted on 27. May, 2010 by kchristieh in local news
After years of rumors, there’s finally physical evidence that Panera Bread is moving into the Sport Chalet shopping center at the corner of Foothill Blvd. and Angeles Crest Highway. We can’t wait!
Here’s the sign that’s posted on the fence on Angeles Crest:
Does anyone know when it’s expected to open?
Missing Glendale woman found
Posted on 13. May, 2010 by kchristieh in local news
I found this flyer taped to a street sign in front of my house today. I haven’t blogged in awhile, since I owe so many things to clients and potential clients, but I thought this was worth posting.
It turns out that Nancy Salas entered at a store in Merced this morning and said she wanted to call 911. According to the KTLA.com,
A 22-year-old woman reported missing by her parents now says she was abducted at knife point and taken to Central California.
……
She told her parents she was going for her usual morning run up Chevy Chase Canyon.
When she didn’t return, her parents contacted police.
Salas had initially been been described as third-year UCLA student.
But as it turns out, Salas hadn’t been attending school in years.
“Our records show that she was a fourth-year sociology student last enrolled in 2008,” said UCLA spokesman Phil Hampton.
According to Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz, Salas had been deceiving her parents and her friends.
“There’s obviously a deception,” Lorenz said. “I don’t want to go so far as to call it a double life.”
Her mother and father had been planning a graduation party for her when she disappeared.
Lorenz also says Salas’ brother is being questioned.
How sad. But, thankfully, not worse. I was going to put the sign back after I blogged about it, but I guess I don’t need to now. That’s good.
Rice Krispies Treat symbolizes a new day for beleaguered city
Posted on 14. Mar, 2010 by kchristieh in food, local news
Once upon a time, a truck crashed. Then a bigger truck crashed. Then came fires. Then mudslides. Finally, the fair and gentle citizens of La Canada Flintridge gathered together to build a big, magical Rice Krispies Treat that would make all their troubles disappear. **POOF** Nothing bad ever happened again.
The End.
The stars of TLC's new "Mega Bites" reality series count down with the crowd that gathered at the Community Center of La Canada to unveil the World's Largest Rice Krispies Treat.
The crowd waited patiently to see the mega Rice Krispies Treat.
Finally! The Rice Krispies Treat was unveiled after many practice runs.
It weighed 10,460 lbs. The representative from the Guinness Book of World Records was on-hand to certify that it indeed beat the previous world record of about 3,500 lbs.
Everyone stood back when the sides came down. It smelled really good.
Volunteers desperately needed to build Rice Krispies Treat
Posted on 13. Mar, 2010 by kchristieh in food, local news
Help!!! The people building the World’s Largest Rice Krispie Treat at the Community Center of La Canada need more people to help them complete the task tonight! Head on over to the Community Center, and they’ll put you to work bagging marshmallows (my specialty), scooping butter, mixing ingredents, and more. All ages welcome. Be a part of La Canada history!
While you’re at it, you might make it onto the new reality tv show, “Mega Bites.” Woohoo! Learn more in my previous post.
See you at the carnival tomorrow, 1 pm – 4 pm.
San Gabriel Valley Bloggers Potluck 3/20
Posted on 24. Feb, 2010 by kchristieh in local news
All San Gabriel Valley* bloggers, families, fans and groupies are welcome to the 2nd Annual SGV Blogger’s Potluck at noon at Farnsworth Park in Altadena. We’ll meet rain or shine at the covered picnic area on the north end of the park. BBQ’s are available. To rsvp, call or email or . Hosted by Altadenablog, Altadenahiker, Altadena Above it All, Altadena Daily Photo and Open Mouth Insert Fork.
I love meeting great new people and catching up with the wonderful people I follow online in person, so I wouldn’t miss this! I hope to see you there!! Now to decide what yummy food to make…
* Hopefully we’ll see bloggers from Eagle Rock, La Canada, La Crescenta, Glendale, etc. there, too!
Let the merriment begin!
Gunslinger spotted at local Starbucks
Posted on 23. Feb, 2010 by kchristieh in local news, politics
Until last night, the only thing I feared when I entered my local Starbucks was that I’d order something that I’m allergic to. That was before a friend told me that when she was at the La Canada Starbucks yesterday, a man entered with a pistol in a holster strapped to his thigh. Here’s the email she sent to me:
I was at Starbucks on Gould today. A guy arrived shortly after I arrived with a pistol in a holster strapped to his thigh. He was wearing a blue jump suit with some type of helicopter insignia. I glanced at the insignia and it looked “made up” to me, sort of a pseudo uniform, but I’m not really sure of that. He was with two friends and they sat down outside.
I was with a friend who said, the guy might be reliable, but it looks like it would be easy to distract him and disarm him. What if some nut took the pistol? Then what? My friend also looked around the parking lot for an official vehicle. We didn’t see anything. Wow.
This is still bothering me, eleven hours later.
She emailed me because several days earlier, I’d emailed her a link to a petition from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence that encouraged people to ask Starbucks to prohibit guns on their premises. I’d been spurred to action by an editorial titled, “Who Can Relax This Way?” that I’d read in the New York Times. Here’s the email I had sent her:
Over the past few months, more and more gun owners have been gathering at restaurants and coffee shops like Starbucks with guns strapped to their hips, intimidating fellow patrons. They are testing open carry laws to see how far they can go. Businesses can legally create policies to prohibit guns from being carried in their establishments — and so far, Peet’s Coffee & Tea and California Pizza Kitchen have heeded customer concerns and barred open carrying.
But Starbucks is refusing to prohibit the “open carrying” of firearms in its stores, despite protests from loyal customers. Starbucks has declined to elaborate beyond this statement: “Starbucks supports the federal, state and local laws of the communities in which we do business.”
The practice of packing heat in places like Starbucks is intimidating and could be potentially dangerous to our families and communities — and it must be stopped at Starbucks.
I just signed a petition telling Starbucks to stand up for the safety of their customers and adopt a nationwide, gun-free policy in all Starbucks stores.
This is surreal. I can’t believe this is actually an issue. But it is, and I have no desire to see someone packing a gun the next time I take my sweet 7th grade small group to Starbucks.
Isn’t it ironic that someone can’t smoke in our Starbucks, but they can pack a gun?
Source: Los Angeles Times, Feb. 11, 2010
The Brady Campaign reports that California actually has some of the strictest gun laws in the country, although it scores poorly when it comes to gun shows. Wikipedia sums up California’s open carry gun laws the best:
Personal possession (i.e. carry) of a loaded firearm is prohibited in incorporated areas (such as inside city limits) or prohibited areas of unincorporated territory without a license to carry or other exemption provided for by law.[15] A license to carry “loaded and exposed” may be issued by a Police Chief or County Sheriff in a county with population of less than 200,000 persons at the last census.[16] No license or permit is required to openly carry a loaded firearm in unincorporated areas where discharge is not prohibited by local ordinance.
Despite these restrictions, there is no section of the California penal code that specifically prohibits open carry of an unloaded handgun (though possession may be restricted or prohibited in certain areas such as a State Park (CCR Title 14, Div.3, chap. 1, s 4313 (a), in a school zone (PC626.9) or federal properties like a Post Office or National Park (36 C.F.R. 2.4(a)).
Carrying a loaded magazine separate from the handgun is also not prohibited under the penal code (Subdivision (g) of California Penal Code 12031 defines what constitutes a loaded weapon).
Just because something’s legal, it doesn’t mean you should do it. When a private citizen carries a gun in public, we don’t know his intentions or whether he’s been trained to use the gun safely. When in danger, I’ll call 911, not the guy at the next table. In the editorial, “Message to Open Carry members: It’s time to put the guns away,” the Contra Costa Times pointed out that “the open carry of weapons could prompt all sorts of consequences never intended or considered by the person exercising his or her constitutional right.”
According to the Popehat blog, even the NRA doesn’t allow people to bring guns onto its premises.
Sign the petition and ask Starbucks to do the same. And, for extra measure, ask your elected officials to close up the gun show loophole.
La Cañadans needed for “Mega Bites” TV pilot
Posted on 23. Feb, 2010 by kchristieh in food, local news
Here’s a message from the Community Center of La Canada:
Do You Want To Be On TV? CASTING CALL
La Cañadans wanted for Pilot Episode of a new TLC television series “Mega Bites.”
The premise of the show is to partner with food scientists and engineers to create the “World’s Biggest” edible item and to get the community’s assistance in making the item in order to auction it off as part of a fundraiser. The Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge and our community is the subject of the pilot episode! We are proud that La Cañada has been selected, and are really excited about the filming and the opportunity to bring the community together.
CAMERAS WILL BE ROLLING
On March 11, 12, 13 the residents of La Cañada will be making the “Mega Bite” item out in our field. Cameras will be rolling as kids, teens, adults and seniors work together to create the “Mega Bite.” Are you wondering what the Mega Bite item for La Cañada is going to be? Chefs from our very own DISH restaurant will be working with the show’s food scientists to create…A GIANT KELLOGG’S RICE KRISPIE TREAT! This is so exciting!
THE GRAND “UNVEILING”
On Sunday March 14th from 1-4pm the Community Center will host a Carnival where the “Mega Bite” will be “revealed” for the community and the cameras. The Carnival will feature game booths, prizes, drawings, arts & crafts and food from Round Table Pizza, Jersey Miles Subs, and Los Gringos Locos.
BOOTH SPONSORS:
Carnival Booths will be sponsored by Sports Chalet, Doug Drummond, Dickson Podley Realtors, Plan-Spec Construction, Gilmore Bank, Flintridge Family Chiropractic, Inverse Logic, Dish, Jersey Mike’s Subs and Verdugo Hills Hospital.
NOW’S YOUR CHANCE TO BE ON TV! WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU:
We need “Cast Members” or Volunteers of all ages to participate in making the food item in 2 hours shifts on March 11, 12, and 13th. We also need volunteers ages 16 and up to work 2 hours shifts at the Carnival on Sunday March 14 from 12-5pm. Bring your friends, ask your social groups, employees, email your contact list…put the word out. We want 200+ people from all over the Community; Students, City Employees, PTA, Sports Teams, Girl and Boy Scouts. It’s time for La Cañada to shine for the whole country!
If you are interested in being “Cast” on the show please promptly email .
See you on TV!
Wendy Alane Smith and Megan Nordvedt
—————————————————-
Community Center of La Canada Flintridge
Event Coordinators / TLC “Mega Bites”
cell
Video footage of La Canada mudslides
Posted on 06. Feb, 2010 by kchristieh in local news
Yesterday’s weather forecast led me to believe that this storm would just bring light rain. Wrong! There was so much rain that at least 41 homes in or near La Canada have been damaged or destroyed, and 500 homes have been evacuated.
Check out this dramatic video of the mudslide traveling down Oceanview Blvd. in La Canada Flintridge. The video was taken by Amy Judd and is featured on NowPublic and .
Here’s a picture of Oceanview Blvd. from The Associated Press:
Rain is in the forecast for six of the next ten days. I wouldn’t count on it being light. I live far enough away from the mountains not to have to worry about mudslides, but judging by how super saturated our yard is and how much damage has already occurred, hopefully everyone’s taking this seriously.
710 Freeway Tunnel meeting
Posted on 21. Jan, 2010 by kchristieh in local news
Join local community members and leaders this Saturday in learning more about the proposed 710 freeway tunnel extension.
Personally, I’m against it, and am amazed that given our current budget crisis this is even being considered. Click here to see my first post on this issue.
Mud & flood disaster information from Carol Liu’s office
Posted on 20. Jan, 2010 by kchristieh in local news
Many thanks to Malia M. for having her supermom email me the following flyer from Carol Liu’s office. Click here to download the original pdf file.
Isn’t it weird how “mud” and “flood” rhyme? Do any of the linguists out there know if the two words are actually related?
Evacuation links & resources + a tiny art lesson
Posted on 20. Jan, 2010 by kchristieh in art, local news
Here are more evacuation links and resources, courtesy of Kelly M. at JPL:
Evacuation centers have been set up at La Cañada High School, the Glendale Civic Auditorium and the Sunland Recreation Center.
Website Resources for most current evacuation centers:
- LA County: http://fire.lacounty.gov/default.asp
- Red Cross: http://redcrossla.org/news/redcross-los-angeles-evacuation-centers
Animals:
- Animal Shelter Locations
- Also, the Pasadena Humane Society will be at La Cañada High School to receive and care for evacuated pets.
Helpful Websites and Resources:
- Guide for Flash Flood Preparation
- C.A.R.E. – Coordinated agency Recovery Effort – website includes evacuation areas and safety preparedness
- City of La Canada website
- City of Sierra Madre
Hotels Offering Discount Rates for Individual Evacuated:
Pasadena Courtyard by Marriott (king or double queen rooms)
$99/night
180 N. Fair Oak Avenue, Old Town Pasadena
Ask for the “Weather Evacuation Group Rate”
Burbank Residence Inn by Marriott (all suites with kitchen) $199/Wednesday, or $149/night (Thursday – Saturday)
321 S. First Street, Downtown Burbank
, or
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I’ve always loved Behind the Gare St. Lazare, the Henri Cartier-Bresson photo pictured above. When I studied in France, I purchased an oversized poster of it and actually schlepped it back home with me. Here’s what IconicPhotos says about it:
Gare St. Lazare has been portrayed by many artists (Monet, Manet, et al) but Henri Cartier-Bresson’s 1932 take on the station was totally different. Derrière la gare de Saint-Lazare is not a photo noted for its historicity, but it is a photo that represented the entire life’s works of Cartier-Bresson. Throughout his life, Cartier-Bresson had been a champion of the Decisive Moment, and a seeker of the unexplored–Derrière la gare de Saint-Lazare represents both, and defined his career.
However, Cartier-Bresson didn’t intend this to gain such an iconicity. ”There was a plank fence around some repairs behind the Gare St. Lazare and I was peeking through the space with my camera at my eye. This is what I saw. The space between the planks was not entirely wide enough for my lens, which is the reason the picture is cut off on the left.” Again he proved he was the right man at the right moment
Click to see a LEGO re-creation of the photo on Flickr. :)
La Canada, La Crescenta evacuation information posted
Posted on 20. Jan, 2010 by kchristieh in history, local news
It’s never a good sign when you see that the Red Cross has set up an evacuation shelter at your child’s school. Click here to see the official LA County Department of Public Works evacuation information page. It includes a link to a January 19th letter explaining evacuation details, and a link to a pdf that shows which addresses are being evacuated. La Canada addresses start on page 11.
My father called yesterday to see if we were doing well. He knew we were, because the mud would have to flow all the way down the mountain and fill up the huge, below ground level 210 Freeway to reach us. He just wanted an excuse to call, and was impressed that Al Roker was reporting for the Today show from our fair but beleaguered city. It’s like when he calls when there’s an earthquake: even though I’ve told him not to call unless it’s a 5.0 or above, he calls anyway.
The picture above shows debris that came down the mountain in the 1934 Montrose flood. It came from the (currently broken) Crescenta Valley Historical Society website. Click here to read more about that flood, and click here to see more pictures.
Best 2010 Rose Parade Moments
Posted on 01. Jan, 2010 by kchristieh in local news
Apart from the awesome hometown La Canada float, the best float in today’s Rose Parade included brave and talented bulldogs snowboarding down a long ramp. The crowd loved them, and we were incredibly jealous that when the parade stopped because another float broke, the bulldogs were two blocks away and not in front of us. It’s a travesty that this float didn’t win , but it won our hearts and that counts more.
Of course, we loved the La Canada Flintridge float, which featured an origami dragon. It perfectly fit the “Cut Above the Rest” theme, so it’s not surprising that it won the Fantasy Trophy.
The Jack in the Box float was very festive. Jack looked like he was hosting a big party, and we were all invited.
The Rose Court looked lovely, of course.
The Burbank Float stayed in front of our building for a long time while it appeared that experts were fixing another float that had broken down. At least the animated airplane was fun to see twist and turn.
The Honda Float was quite impressive.
I recognized the South Pasadena float from afar by the font they used for the word “Pharmacy.” It’s the same font used on the outside of the wonderful Fair Oaks Pharmacy. My kids love getting ice cream and other treats there.
The Los Angeles Unified School District Band enjoyed relaxing for awhile while another float was being repaired.
I bet that Kaiser Permanente carefully chose who would ride the carousel animals on this float.
Does anyone know why the American flag was upside down? You’d have to be on your back looking up at it for it to look correct.
The huge horse and tow trucks heralded the end of the parade…
But we all know the parade isn’t over until we see the John 3:16 guy.
Happy New Year!!
LCHS ranks 80th in U.S.
Posted on 10. Dec, 2009 by kchristieh in education, local news, startling statistics
Go Spartans! US News & World Report has ranked La Canada High School as #80 among U.S. public high schools. The rankings are based largely on test performance, especially the AP test. Unlike Newsweek’s rankings, the US News methodology gives weight to how schools performed on statewide assessments.
From what I can tell, the only California schools that aren’t a magnet school or a charter school that are ahead of LCHS are Gunn (Palo Alto, #67), Monte Vista (Cupertino, #70) and Piedmont (#73). San Marino, which was the only public non-magnet, non-charter school to beat La Canada on API scores, wasn’t on the top 100 list.
This is wonderful news. All schools on this list should be proud.
It bears mentioning, however, that Gunn High School has been in the news recently because four of its students have committed suicide in the past year. Is it a coincidence that this is happening at the top school? I don’t think so.
I was surprised to see that my alma mater, Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (NJ), is even less diverse than when I attended. I assumed that nearly all U.S. high schools are more diverse these days. When I attended RFH, I think about 4% of my class was Black. These days only 1.4% of the school is, and less than 1% of the school is Asian.
Links:
Take the flood and mudslide warnings seriously
Posted on 15. Nov, 2009 by kchristieh in history, local news
It’s not surprising that I missed Thursday night’s rainstorm; according to the Pasadena Star-News, the storm covered only a few blocks, but it dumped between 1″ – 2″ of rain in about 20 minutes sometime after 11 pm.
It served as a mudslide test run and a warning to people who live in the projected path of the post-fire mudslides. Mud flowed over barriers, and one man wound up with 5′ deep of mud in his backyard. A friend of mine who lives at the top of Palm Drive said the ground under her house shook when the water rushed by in the canyon below her house.
Here are some pictures I found online from the Montrose Flood of 1934. The Pickens Fire in Angeles Forest had burned 7,000 acres that fall, and torrential rains caused 20′ tall walls of water and mud to flow down the mountain. It killed over 100 people, and was memorialized in a Woody Guthrie song you can . Back in 1934, there weren’t the concrete basins to channel floods, and there were many more houses between the mountains and the valley. But still, these pictures are very sobering.
Montrose: In this view, the photographer is standing where Mayfield Ave used to be, looking down toward the intersection of Rosemont and Montrose. The flood had spread out at this point, creating a wide moonscape where houses and streets had been the night before.
Photo and caption: Historical Society of the Crescenta Valley.
Photo and caption: Historical Society of the Crescenta Valley.
Foothill Blvd. the morning after the huge flash flood of New Years Eve, 1934 was swept clean by the torrent of the night before. Right here, at the intersection of Foothill and Briggs is where Pickens Canyon crossed under the boulevard. Pickens Canyon was one of the main funnels through which poured tons mud and debris down from the San Gabriel Mountains onto the valley floor during that tragedy. It was at this point on the road that witnesses that night reported seeing a 20 foot high wall of water, rocks and mud blast across Foothill Blvd.
Photo and caption: Historical Society of the Crescenta Valley.
Shortly after Midnight on New Years Day of 1934, a sudden cloudburst in the San Gabriels sent a wall of water, mud and rocks crashing down Pickens Canyon. When it reached the American Legion Hall at Fairway and Rosemont, it punched through the back wall and filled the building, killing 12 local residents that had taken refuge there from the deluge. Here the Legion Hall, at what had been the intersection of Rosemont and Fairway, can be seen after the disaster, seemingly intact. In reality a portion of the back wall is gone and the interior is filled with debris. Rosemont has become a rockstrewn gully. Dirt stains on the walls of the building attest to the height of the mud flow.
Photo and caption: Historical Society of the Crescenta Valley.
The combination of late summer hillside fires, followed by a rainy winter has historically doomed foothill communities to mudslides. In 1933, November wildfires in the San Gabriels, chased up with a couple of weeks of heavy rain in late December, and topped off with a cloudburst on New Years Eve, caused massive mudslides in CV just after midnight. Scores of people died and hundreds of homes and businesses were destroyed. This is the view on New Years Day 1934 looking up Verdugo Road from Glencoe Way, looking toward Ocean View. A couple of feet of mud has obliterated the roadway, burying the car in the foreground past its axles. The line of telephone poles marks the center median of Verdugo Road.
Photo and caption: Historical Society of the Crescenta Valley.
The Pasadena Star News should have done its homework before they endorsed La Canada school board candidates
Posted on 30. Oct, 2009 by kchristieh in education, local news, politics, things that bug me
Today’s Pasadena Star News endorses the wrong school board candidates for the wrong reasons. They endorse the three incumbents: Scott Tracy, Joel Peterson, and Susan Boyd. While I agree with their assessment that the incumbents have done a good job in difficult financial times, they also support them because of the following:
The incumbents have fought drug and alcohol use at the high school, developed a new concentration on average teens as well as AP students and have kept class sizes low.
Did the Star-News actually get statistics that support this assertion? Because my impression, and that of the kids and local youth leaders I know, is that they’re wrong on all three counts.
Don’t get me wrong: I love the La Canada schools. I’m happy (and grateful) to send my kids to them, and I’ve put lots of energy and resources into them over the years. But they’re not perfect. And these three points are definitely weak ones. I’ve never heard of as many kids getting busted on and off campus for drug possession as I have this year, and some of the stories I’m hearing about local parties this year would give even the most liberal parent an ulcer. I don’t see much extra effort put into “average” teens, and am not even sure what this effort is supposed to be. This year’s class sizes appear to be either the same or bigger than in past years at the high school level.
The next time the Star-News makes an endorsement, they should do their homework and get the facts from the source instead of taking a candidate’s campaign claims at face value. For democracy to work, we need accurate information.
And yes, for the record, I’m the campaign manager they refer to. I strongly support Neal Millard, and believe that he’ll not only be a good steward of the district’s financial resources, but he’ll tap into his experience with charter and private schools to bring the best ideas from those worlds to our schools. I worked with Neal on the educational foundation board, and found him to be sharp, reliable, creative and diplomatic. Those qualities will allow him to work with teachers, parents and administrators to improve academics, explore new funding avenues, and improve existing programs. You can read more at www.nealmillard.com.
I like all three incumbents: they’re good, hard-working people. I applaud anyone who’s willing to do this tough job, especially these days. I think there’s room for improvement in our schools, however, and believe that Neal Millard brings our best chance for taking our schools to a higher level.
Ashes to ashes, and now to my house
Posted on 28. Oct, 2009 by kchristieh in animals, local news
Yesterday’s strong winds blew so much ash off the local mountains that the skies above La Canada looked like a storm was brewing. It’s good that there wasn’t a storm, as we’re not eager for the debris that is likely to flow down the canyons that were ravaged by the recent Station Fire, but it would be nice to have a little rain to wash away some of the ash that landed everywhere.
My dog wasn’t bothered by the ash. He just jumped right over it. Someday I’ll get a better action shot of him jumping like a gazelle. He does this every time he comes inside.
All of that blackness is ash and dust. It makes me wonder exactly what burned to cause it.
Map of expected debris flow from impending rains
Posted on 07. Oct, 2009 by kchristieh in environment, local news
The Greek, Hindu and Japanese systems of thought believe that there are five classical elements: Fire, Wind, Water, Earth and Aether. Our foothills have already had Fire, thankfully not accompanied by too much Wind, but we await the Water that will rain down and probably make the Earth flow in rivers of mud.
The Los Angeles Times blog has a posting titled Federal scientists say risk of mudslides from Station fire extremely high that shows a map of where the mud is likely to flow into our communities if it rains as much as forecasters expect. Unfortunately, the map isn’t at a high enough resolution to easily tell which streets will be impacted. I’ve overlaid it to a Google map to help see which streets in La Canada Flintridge are likely to be in the path of a mud flow.
Here’s the map from the LA Times blog:
Here’s a Google Map covering the same area:
Here’s an overlay of both maps with streets highlighted:
What can be done to prevent this? Simply put, either remove the debris before it flows down, block it once it gets here, or get out of the way. All would be quite difficult, given the terrain, the budget crunch, and the permanent structures in the way. Hopefully the County, the City, and homeowners will do what they can before the rains come.
“I’ve seen fire, and I’ll see rain. I’ll see muddy flows that I hope will find an end.” (apologies to James Taylor)
Deer forage for food in neighborhood untouched by fire
Posted on 12. Sep, 2009 by kchristieh in animals, local news
I saw these two deer up on Greenridge Dr. today. The doe was very protective of the fawn, so I wasn’t able to get as close as I wanted to. Deer have always wandered into the neighborhoods in this area, but I’d bet that they’ll be there more often now that their food supply in Angeles Forest has been burned out.
I think that deer are magnificent creatures. I haven’t seen any in our neighborhood, but my next door neighbor once saw one walking up the street. We’re a block from the 210 Freeway, so hopefully the deer turned around and went back into the mountains so it wouldn’t get hurt.
Maybe if deer ate my landscaping I wouldn’t like them so much. Same with bunnies. I admit that the peahens we had in our neighborhood last year were cool at first, but I tired of them rather quickly. Black widow spiders are exotic, but I don’t like having them in my yard.
Firefighters honored at La Canada High School assembly
Posted on 11. Sep, 2009 by kchristieh in education, inspirational people, local news
Most of today’s spirit assembly at La Canada was dedicated to introducing class mascots and cheering on sports teams. But when local firefighters made a surprise appearance, the students immediately gave them a standing ovation. I was so proud of them. They get it: these are true heroes.
Here’s a picture of the firefighters after they accepted school t-shirts from the songie squad as they listened to a short speech by the ASB president.
I was especially glad there was a way to honor firefighters on 9/11.
Giving thanks
Posted on 11. Sep, 2009 by kchristieh in local news, tv
This evening the citizens of La Canada Flintridge gathered to pose for a group picture which will accompany thank you cards which the city will send to each agency that sent personnel to fight the awful fire that burned here last week and is still burning in Angeles National Forest. I was so impressed by the outpouring of appreciation from so many people. This is a great place.
Many members of the media showed up. I made it to the 10 pm newscast on CBS2/KCAL9 here in Los Angeles.
I hope that next time I’m in the news it’s for something more upbeat. I can’t imagine the courage it takes to be a firefighter, or the pain the families of the fallen firefighters are feeling now.
Don’t forget: Meet at 9:00 am on Saturday, Sept. 12th at the Community Center of La Canada Flintridge to carpool to Dodger Stadium for a memorial service for Ted Hall and Arnie Quinones. Even if you didn’t know them personally, and most of us didn’t, it’s still meaningful to show how much our community appreciates the ultimate sacrifice they made for us.
Links:
- Pasadena Star News article: Residents near Station Fire thank firefighters, law enforcement
- CBS2/KCAL9 newscast
- Camera snaps ‘Thanks’ from La Cañada
One last fire shot, as seen from La Canada High School last Friday
Posted on 08. Sep, 2009 by kchristieh in local news
This photo of the fire in Angeles Forest was taken from the parking lot at La Canada High School last Friday, Sept. 4th around 4:30 pm, looking east towards Pasadena. If my kids had been willing to sit in the parking lot for awhile, I could have taken a fantastic time-lapse video of it. You could see the plume growing by the second. A half hour later, this was gone. I think it collapsed upon itself. FYI, the mountain is about 5,700 feet elevation at the point we’re viewing.
How you can show appreciation to the firefighters and other emergency workers
Posted on 04. Sep, 2009 by kchristieh in inspirational people, local news
I’m incredibly impressed by the eagerness of everyone in this community to express appreciation to the firefighters and other agencies who helped to save our homes and keep us safe. They risked their own health and safety to do so, and some of them have lost their homes, suffered injuries, or even lost their lives.
This morning I attended a meeting at La Canada City Hall to brainstorm ways in which the community can band together to show that it cares. More details will be forthcoming, but we’re eager to work together as a team to show the magnitude of our gratitude.
Please save the following dates and times. Please wear red, white and/or blue to each of them.
- Thurs., Sept. 10th at 5:30 pm: Picture at Memorial Park of as many citizens as possible to include with thank-you cards to every department and agency that helped.
- Sat., Sept. 12th at 9:00 am: Meet at the Community Center of La Canada parking lot to carpool to the memorial service at Dodger Stadium for LA County Firefighters Ted Hall and Arnie Quinones, who gave their lives fighting the fire.
Please note that all events and efforts described here are for anyone to attend, not just La Canadans. I don’t know what’s being organized in neighboring communities, but we’re all one when it comes to thanking these brave men and women.
Firefighting agencies expressed to Mayor Laura Olhasso that they would rather not have a party or picnic in their honor. After the fires are put out, they’d rather return home to spend much-appreciated time with their families. Therefore, the city will put its effort into raising funds to distribute to the fallen firefighters’ families, other firefighters who have lost their homes or been injured, the Wildland Firefighter Foundation, LA County Firefighters, and other agencies that have helped in this effort. Please check back to see more details about where how donations will be accepted.
I am in awe of people who put their lives on the line so that others may be saved. They should be honored as the heroes they truly are.
Firefighters show their spirit on 210 Freeway overpasses in La Canada & Pasadena
Posted on 04. Sep, 2009 by kchristieh in inspirational people, local news
I was very moved this morning to see that firefighters had parked their trucks on the overpasses to the 210 Foothill Freeway between La Canada and Pasadena. The most impressive was the bridge at the Angeles Crest Highway exit, where they’d hung an American flag on an extended ladder. At each overpass there was an American flag hanging, and firefighters standing at attention. I honked in support.
Here are some pictures. They’re not the highest quality, but they show the magnitude of this effort. Note that in the last one, taken in Pasadena, you can see the smoke from the fire in the background.
Memorial fund formed for fallen firefighters’ families
Posted on 02. Sep, 2009 by kchristieh in inspirational people, local news
Our whole community is deeply saddened by the ultimate sacrifice made by LA County Firefighters Ted Hall and Arnie Quinones as they battled the La Canada Station Fire on Sunday, August 30th. Both served in La Canada at one point, and leave behind families who miss them immensely, and in the case of Arnie Quinones, a first child yet to be born.
Donations are being accepted in their memory at:
F&A Federal Credit Union – “Memorial Fund”
Los Angeles 90030-9972
There have been three accounts opened to benefit the families of Captain Tedmund “Ted” Hall and Fire Fighter Specialist Arnaldo “Arnie” Quinones. Their untimely death on August 30, 2009 has been a shock for our Department. Following are the accounts:
Tedmund “Ted” Hall:
Account/Member Number 617171
Arnaldo “Arnie” Quinones:
Account/Member Number 617172
Combined Pool Contribution:
Account/Member Number 617170
Paint your car and tie a yellow ribbon to thank the firefighters and other emergency personnel
Posted on 31. Aug, 2009 by kchristieh in inspirational people, local news
Looking for a good way to thank the firefighters and other emergency personnel for all the hard work they’re doing? There’s a grassroots effort to spread the word that people should paint their cars with phrases such as “Thank you, firefighters!” or “Thanks for saving us from the fires!” My daughter and a friend painted my car last night:
They used “Go Team” glass markers that they purchased at Michaels. (Amy B. says they’re in Aisle 5 of the Glendale Michael’s.) If you don’t have glass markers, some people have said you can use shoe polish. Either way, hopefully it’ll encourage emergency personnel to see how much we appreciate all they’re doing. If you know Lisa S. in La Canada, you can stop by her house between 3 pm – 5 pm (“ish”) and her daughter and some friends will paint your car for you. Lisa is also collecting for the families of the firefighters who died and for the Pasadena Humane Society.
There’s also been talk of tying yellow ribbons around the trees on Foothill Blvd. to honor the two firefighters that sacrificed their lives in this fire. I spoke to Mayor Laura Olhasso, and she said that’s fine. Is there someone out there who can lead this effort?
The city is also trying to determine the best “big” way to thank the firefighters and other emergency personnel. Many are from out of state, and we don’t know when their job will be done, so it’s tough to plan. Stay tuned.
Again, many, many thanks to everyone who’s putting their life on the line for us. You’re truly heroic.
Another great fire info resource: LA Times Interactive Map
Posted on 31. Aug, 2009 by kchristieh in local news
The LA Times is updating an interactive map of the fire as it spreads from La Canada to La Crescenta, Tujunga, Altadena, Pasadena, Acton and…hopefully the list will stop there. You can zoom in and out, and click on an area to see the most updated information about it.
has also proven itself to be a great way to share/obtain information: Save a and see the constant updates.
Here are the other links I’ve found most useful:
- InciWeb: Incident Information System (regular updates with statistics)
- City of La Canada Flintridge (hourly updates)
- LA County Emergency Scanner (live audio feed of emergency personnel communications)
Update:
- AQMD Current Hourly Air Quality Data (map showing air quality in various parts of Southern California)
Grand jury testimony reveals why truck driver in La Canada accident was charged with murder
Posted on 30. Aug, 2009 by kchristieh in local news
Wow. This NBC news video explains why Marcos Costa, the driver of the truck that crashed into the Flintridge Bookstore in La Canada on April 1st, was charged with murder. An off-duty firefighter testified that he’d been behind Costa and smelled his burning brakes, so he’d flagged him down and warned him not to proceed. Costa did anyway, and wound up killing two people and injuring many others.
Pasadena Humane Society out of space – help needed!
Posted on 30. Aug, 2009 by kchristieh in animals, local news
Here’s a notice I was just forwarded regarding the Pasadena Humane Society. They’re overburdened with dogs that have been evacuated from the fires, as well as injured wild animals. Please let them know if you can help, and please forward this information.
From Mary Temple, adoption supervisor at Pasadena Humane Society:
Can any of you rescuers and animal lovers help PHS out by bringing crates to our shelter for the fire victims’ animals and rescue some of our animals? 361 S. Raymond Ave. Pasadena, CA 91105 The Pasadena Humane Society is the only licensed wildlife center in the 30 mile radius of the wildfires. They are rapidly taking in displaced injured wild animals, in addition to domestic animals livestock. The dogs and bunnies are outdoors in this horrible air quality there are dogs in the P2, P3, P4, P5 kennels facing west w/no shelter from the sun in the afternoon. Please please, if you can adopt or rescue please consider: http://pasadenahumane.org
By the way, the cute little dog on the right is named Dolby. He’s available for adoption at the Pasadena Humane Society. Doesn’t he look friendly?
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