by Mark Goldschmidt – Our mountain backdrop has changed little, but 150 years ago paleo-Altadena was virtually barren of trees, only seasonal grasses, chaparral and poppies covered the gravelly outwash. Then wells were dug and water was channeled from

Letter from the ChairVal ZavalaHello All, I am honored and excited to become the Chair of Altadena Heritage, taking the reins from Sharon Sand who served AH so well as chair for six years. Her leadership and dedication were remarkable, and we are grateful for some...

Mark Goldschmidt – Some native wildlife species have found ways to make their lives in our patchy “natural” environment of yards, streets, and open spaces. Skunks, coyotes, raccoons, and blue jays thrive here. But non-native wildlife species

Hunting the HighlandsBy Michele Zack Careening on a jubilant bender through Los Angeles’s muddy streets at Christmas, 1873, Southern-minded Dr. John Griffin chortled that he’d finally got the best of those “Damn Yankees!” Anyone in earshot, including journalist...

The Animal Healer – An Interview with Cleo WattsBy Val Zavala Behind a modest home on Altadena Drive is another smaller home with some unusual occupants. Two people, 11 squirrels, four parrots, a full-grown raccoon, two baby opossum and a couple very friendly...

CoyoteBy Mark Goldschmidt In the lore of many Native American peoples, Coyote has been around from the beginning: he was there at creation, he is a link to the other world. Coyote is “the Tricky One.” He is bad, but he’s also good, he’s always changing, no one likes...

Tree GiveawayMembers of the Altadena Heritage Tree Committee joyfully giving away another 40 trees to help cool Altadena, third year in a row. From the right: Anne Chomyn, Lisa Wintner, Janet Castro, Michele Zack, Mark Goldschmidt, and Val Zavala.

RaccoonFamous for their raffish black “masks” and ringed tails, raccoons are native in most of North America. They have adapted well to suburban environments throughout the US. Unlike the coyotes we spot regularly, their nocturnal habits make raccoons less...

Ursus americanus californiensisby Val Zavala It’s ironic that the only grizzly bear in California is on our state flag. There have been no grizzly bears in California for a century, the last was shot in 1922 in Tulare County. It is the black bear that has made itself...

New and DowntownRobot Coffee on North Lincoln south of Altadena Drive is a breakfast and lunch cafe with patio seating in the back. Proprietor Justin Pinchot is a former AH board member whose long road to gaining county permits has been documented in these pages. His...

Owen Brown Plaque Unveiling at Mountain ViewThe Owen Brown Gravesite Committee* wants everyone to know that a magnificent plaque honoring Owen Brown (son of abolitionist John Brown, whose failed raid at Harpers Ferry VA in 1859 was a spark setting off the Civil War)...