Old Marengo Park at Woodbury and Marengo will be dedicated as an Altadena Heritage Area thanks to the efforts of
the Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy being honored by Altadena Heritage. It’s just one worthy effort local groups are making to preserve open space in the foothills. The following is from the  Old Marengo Park release:

Located on the border of Pasadena and Altadena, the park is planted with native trees and plants to demonstrate how low-water gardening can succeed. In-ground catchment basins allow heavy rains to seep down quickly to
recharge groundwater, rather than flow into storm drains and into the ocean. As more landscapers utilize these features, drinking water is conserved, water quality at the beaches improves and heavy rains soak in and do more good.

Funding was provided by Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Neighborhood UU Church, Foothill Municipal Water District, and donations from many supporters.

The park was made possible by the work of many people, including area residents. Altadena Heritage recognizes not only the hard work AFC, but the work and donated services of many supporting partners like Mountain View Cemetery, Pasadena Water and Power, J. Harold Mitchell Co. of Altadena, Rain Bird Corporation, Mark Goldschmidt
Design, and PB Construction. Special thanks to L.A. County Supervisor Michael D Antonovich, Altadena Watershed Committee, and Altadena Heritage, along with former AFC board member Rick Carron, AFC board member Michelle Markman, and the tireless Watershed Committee chair Michele Zack who was instrumental in the success of
the park.

“It’s a small park, but it makes a big impact on the area,” said John Howell, AFC’s executive director. “We hope people will enjoy seeing how native plants can be used wonderfully in our gardens, and get ideas about capturing and saving water.”

For a more detailed history of the park, you can read AFC’s newsletter from 2008 here; http://www.arroyosfoothills.org/newsletters/afcnl2008_08.pdf

Since working on the park, AFC has also completed a major successful acquisition of 41 acres in Rubio Canyon, Altadena, and is working to preserve more open space in Pasadena, La Canada, La Crescenta, Altadena, and the neighboring foothills and arroyos.

To learn more or to donate, visit www.arroyosfoothills.org. You can also contact AFC executive director John Howell at 626-796-3004, or johnhowell@arroyosfoothills.org.

About the Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy

Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Founded in 2000
as Altadena Foothills Conservancy, its project area now encompasses the foothills and
communities of Pasadena, La Canada-Flintridge, Glendale and La Crescenta, along with
Altadena and adjacent areas.

AFC works to preserve natural open spaces, protecting scenic landscapes, native plants
and wildlife, streams and water, and trails and historic sites. It collaborates with property
owners, governments, land trusts, private donors and other stakeholders to acquire,
restore, protect and maintain these natural areas.

From: Arroyo Seco News <news@arroyoseco.org>
Date: Tuesday, March 1, 2011, 4:27 PM

WE WON!!!
The Los Angeles County Supervisors today approved a motion instructing the County Department of Public Works to conduct a full environmental impact report on the sediment management program at Devil’s Gate Dam and Hahamongna in the Arroyo Seco. The motion, introduced by Supervisor Mike Antonovich,  included a provision that Public Works staff report back to the Supervisors within 90 days on short-term measures that might be needed to ensure the functioning and safety of the dam. Supervisors Antonovich, Zaroslavsky and Ridley-Thomas supported the motion. Supervisors Molina and Knabe abstained.
Just a month ago, it seemed a foregone conclusion that the DPW would proceed without an environmental review on the basis of an Emergency Declaration. But then a storm of public concern about the 170,000 trucks and pollution and habitat destruction as well as the fallout from the destruction of the Arcadia Woodlands changed the whole picture.  The Save Hahamongna petition, which collected over 540 signatures in just a few weeks, focused the opposition tactically, and the Pasadena City Council waded in on Monday night with a resolution supporting Supervisor Antonovich’s motion.  At the Supervisors’ Meeting this morning, the County Counsel indicated that it was now the intent of DPW to pursue the project based on a maintenance exemption rather than an emergency declaration, but all the wiggling and persuasion of the Public Works managers was not convincing to the majority of the Supervisors.
Today’s victory is the first step in ensuring that Hahamongna and its nature as well as the local neighborhoods are protected. A very important step in the right direction!  We are sure that everyone, including the County, will come out winners from a better program that includes the evaluation of impacts and alternatives and fully involves the cities and stakeholders.
Congratulations to everyone involved.   Let’s party!
ASN

Tim Brick led the festivities which included awards to:

• The Hahamongna Bloggers for Best Advocacy (about 25 of us blogged on the same day to protest development plans in the Hahamongna Watershed Park) below JPL
• Foothill Municipal Water District for Greening the Arroyo–Agency
• Urban Semillas and Miguel Luna for Greening the Arroyo–Organization
• Arroyo Green Team, Audobon Center for Volunteers
• Nolan Pack and PCC Student Government for Citizen Activist
• Michael Cacciotti, mayor Pro-Tempore, City of South Pasadena (great remarks!)
• Highland Park resident Virginia Neely for a Special Award for her historical record-keeping and assistance to many
• Nicole Possert for Lifetime Achievement

 See my earlier post for the list of Hahamongna bloggers, and add to that Steve Scauzillo
http://templecitydailyphoto.blogspot.com/

Thanks for the great party! So nice to be recognized! And hats off to Petrea Burchard, Karin Bugge, and Barbara Ellis who hatched the united blogging idea.

While we all got certificates, Petrea’s in possession of the festive froggy award that glows in the dark! That should keep her hoppin. And thanks to new friend Robert for taking a slug of these photos.

Here are some pix. They’re also on flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/ohdebutaunt/

This weekend there are a lot of wonderful things happening around town. I’d hope to participate in the Gallery at the End of the World Altadena Artists Home Tour, but the time isn’t right. So go to the Gallery tonight and tour the houses this weekend! www.galleryattheendoftheworld.com.

On Sunday, attend the Altadena Heritage Golden Poppy Awards t see who has won for their sustainable/beautiful gardens. 4-6p.m. at 1101 Altadena Drive. $20 altadenaheritage@earthlink.net.

Ok, that’s it for now. My husband’s memorial is July 18 at Farnsworth Park where we were married, so I’ll write you after that!

Happy 4th!

The proposed new name is Arroyo Food Co-op. The next fete is September 5. Big community meeting coming up October 10.  Show your support and check out details at www.altadenawantsacoop.com. Wish I had more time to write a long story about this. More when I can.

August 29 is the date for the next Altadena Heritage event. Topic: Irrigation. Many say water availability is in danger and we need to do what we can to conserve. Find out what you can do.

Kazi, a first violist with the L.A. Opera, gave teaching tours of the property to dozens of eager students drooling over the packed avocado trees. I was sorry to learn she offs the poor squirrel who gets in her way, but we all have our own karma to deal with said my unusually understanding pal, who has been known to keep an orphaned baby squirrel warm in her bra until she could get it to a rescue center.  Farming is a sometimes brutal business.

I’d say about 100 Altadenans enjoyed the cooler early evening atmosphere, grateful the event was moved back from 4 p.m. when all would have wilted.

Four residents were chosen to receive the Golden Poppy Award, this year given to those with sustainable gardens. Chair Mark Goldschmidt explained the new criteria, which also resulted in an $11,000 grant from Edison to promote sustainability. Mark also presented the awards. I was unable to get all the names, but I’m attaching a number of photos. One couple, Jennifer and Ham, live just down the street from me. They’re the ones with the farm in their front yard that I’ve been meaning to visit. So now we’ve met. I’ll be getting down to see their yard up close very soon.

Patrick Reagan was out touting the benefits of having a co-op in Altadena. And in gardening spirit, bags of iris rhizomes were out for the sharing. Richard Davies promised a major event in late October at the Mosoleum, so stay tuned. Hoping it doesn’t involve the dead, being so near Halloween.

OUCH!

What are you doing to protect your pocketbook?

W

With kind permission, from notes from Carolyn Seitz per Alice Wesson

Condensed for the listserve
Note: Other listserves are b’ccd for their privacy
–Alice

Re: Status of the townhouse development that was
proposed for Fair Oaks between Ventura and Kellogg
Court.

While this project had wide ranging support from the
community and unanimous support from the Los Angeles
County Regional Planning Commission, negotiations
between the developer and the Cemetery Board broke
down and the cemetery made the decision not to sell
the property.

The developer had to withdraw their project.

The Cemetery Board has been approached by someone with
a new idea they’d like to develop on that property, at
least on the portion of the property that is between
Ventura and Mountain View.

A gentlemen, who has had a long history at the former
garden center  called Hortus, in Pasadena, wants to
develop a garden center on that property, similar in
character and feel to Hortus, but with a primary focus
on native and drought tolerant plants, the things that
thrive in our Mediterranean climate.

The property has 3 different zoning classifications -
C-3 which is major commercial along the Fair Oaks
street frontage, R-2 (multi-family) in the middle and
the western most portions are zoned R-1-7500, meaning
single family residential, 7,500 square feet minimum
lot area required.

Ultimately they’d like to have this garden center on
the entire parcel, but to do that would require a zone
change.  Their proposed is permitted on the C-3
portion of the property, but not on the R-2 or
R-1-7500 portions.

====

Will keep folks updated as developments evolve
-Alice