Altadena Heritage addresses its mission to raise awareness of our foothill community’s rich architectural, environmental, and cultural heritage by recognizing places that make Altadena unique. This work includes periodically designating sites and whole neighborhoods as Altadena Heritage Areas through our AHA! Program, annually celebrating gardens that give to the beauty of our streets in the Golden Poppy Awards and Garden Party, and holding other special programs that give members access to special places in our community.
Tree Giveaway 2022
For the third year in a row, forty trees were given away to Altadenans eager to beautify their properties,
Owen Brown Plaque Unveiling
A magnificent plaque was unveiled honoring Owen Brown
Our Urban Ecosystem
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 Chair
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...
Wildlife Immigrants
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 Highlands
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 Watts
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...
Coyote
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 Giveaway
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.
Raccoon
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...