STAFF REPORT New club seeks to recruit at least 20 charter members and will meet Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m. The newly formed Altadena Community Toastmasters Club is launching a series of weekly meetings starting April 24 aimed at building leadership and public speaking skills. The meetings will be held Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m. in a hybrid format, with in-person attendance at the Altadena Community Center and virtual participation available through Zoom. According to Sue Dekany, the initiative’s contact person, the club needs at least 20 people to officially charter. “It might take a ..read more

A 73-year-old woman diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease was reported missing after being last seen in Altadena Wednesday. Donna Louise Bertiger was last seen in the 1700 block of Alta Wood Drive, two blocks north of Altadena Drive, around 1 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Deputies described Bertiger as a 5-foot-6-inch tall white woman weighing 110 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing blue jeans and blue shoes. Anyone with information regarding Bertiger’s whereabouts was urged to call the Sheriff ..read more

Detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are urgently seeking public assistance in locating 11-year-old Mia Moreno, who has been reported missing. Moreno was last seen on April 11th at 7:30 a.m., in the 700 block of Mountain View Street in Altadena. The circumstances of her disappearance remain unclear. The Altadena Sheriff’s Station is spearheading the investigation and is urging anyone with information about Mia’s whereabouts to come forward. The department is particularly interested in speaking with anyone who may have seen or had contact with Moreno around the time of h ..read more

In a bid to enhance its services and offerings, the Altadena Library District has temporarily closed the Bob Lucas Memorial Library at 2659 Lincoln Ave. and is gearing up for an extensive renovation and expansion project set to transform the branch’s facilities. Normal operations at the library temporarily ceased on Wednesday, April 10, marking the beginning of a transformative journey for this vital community hub. A major renovation and expansion project is set to begin this month, with a $4.5 million investment made possible after Altadena residents passed  Measure Z in 2020 ..read more

The Altadena Town Council announced it will hold its monthly meeting on April 16, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. at the Altadena Community Center. The meeting will be open to the public and streamed live on the Pasadena Media YouTube channel. According to the Council’s agenda posted, the meeting will begin with a flag salute led by Faye Haslett, a student from Muir High School. Recording Secretary Pat Sutherlen will then take a roll call, and Vice Chair Nic Arnzen will approve the meeting agenda. Council Chair Victoria Knapp, Vice Chair Nic Arnzen, Recording Secretary Pat Sutherlen, Treasurer Chris O’Mal ..read more

CITY NEWS SERVICE Black and Latinx residents of Los Angeles County experience poorer health outcomes compared to other racial and ethnic groups due to disparities in access to care, availability of healthy foods, housing and economic security, according to the Los Angeles County Health Survey, released Thursday. The L.A. County Department of Public Health’s first post-pandemic health study collected information from 9,372 adults and 7,391 children. “The 2023 LA County Health Survey findings confront us with the stark realities of how historical inequities continue to shape the health and well ..read more

By STEVEN HERBERT, City News Service The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County rose Tuesday to its highest amount since Nov. 21, increasing eight-tenths of a cent to $5.046, rising for the 11th time in 12 days. The average price has risen 11.6 cents over the past 12 days, including a half-cent Monday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It rose three consecutive days, dropped one-tenth of a cent March 18 and resumed increasing last Tuesday. The average price is 8.2 cents more than a week ago, 24.9 cents higher than one ..read more

By STEVEN HERBERT, City News Service The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County topped $5 for the first time since Nov. 26 Friday, increasing 1.8 cents to $5.009, rising for the seventh time in eight days. The average price has risen 7.9 cents over the past eight days, including 1.6 cents Thursday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It rose three consecutive days, dropped one-tenth of a cent Monday and resumed increasing Tuesday. The average price is 6.8 cents more than week ago, 21.2 cents higher than one month ago and ..read more

CITY NEWS SERVICE Citing persistent mechanical problems with the existing bus fleet, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday called for a report on potential alternative methods of transporting jail inmates to and from court hearings, medical appointments and state prisons. According to Supervisor Hilda Solis’ office, the sheriff’s department has not received any new inmate-transport buses since 2018, leaving it with a current operational fleet of between five and 11 in the L.A. Basin area, where 64 are actually needed. Only six out of nine buses are operating in the North County ..read more

CITY NEWS SERVICE The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is scheduled Tuesday to give final approval to regulations for operating on short- term rentals in unincorporated areas. Under the new rules, hosts with Airbnb or Vacation Rentals By Owner, VRBO, would be required to register and pay a fee of $914 on an annual basis. The county rules would also restrict short-term rentals to a host’s primary residence — prohibiting the use of accessory dwelling units, rent- restricted primary residences and vacation rentals for short-term rental use. Additionally, the regulations place restrictions ..read more