5 Things You Need to Know: Hahamongna Walkabout, New Library Art Display

1) Dozens attended a forum for the upcoming Pasadena Unified school board elections Wednesday evening, but unfortunately not all the candidates were present, and only candidates from one of the two contested races were part of the discussion.  Fortunately, there will be another forum, this one in Altadena, on February 10.  The event will take place at Five Acres (760 Mountain View St., Altadena 91001), and is sponsored by Five Acres and the Altadena Town Council

2) Anthony Portantino, Altadena's representative in the the state assembly, to the California Film Commission,  which handles permit requests for filming at state-owned facilities and land.  Portantino has an extensive background in film and television production. He wrote and produced a 1987 film called Time of Tears, which IMDB.com depicted as a child's struggle with death, and an old man's belief in the magic of youth.

3) According to Laurie Garrett of the Pasadena Audubon Society, about 60 people showed up to a on forming on environmental coalition to handle opposition to a and other local environmental concerns.  The structure of that coalition is still not in place, Garrett wrote in an email, but the group hopes to launch a blog where people can stay up to date on important issues and to communicate with each other.  There is also an event in the works to raise awareness on the Hahamongna plan called the Hahamongna Walkabout.  It will take place February 19.

4) Arcadia's mayor when he asked the Focus on the Family group to speak at the city's annual mayor's breakfast.  Several speakers at Arcadia's council meeting this week showed up to oppose the move, and described the group as being anti-gay.

5) The Altadena Library is displaying the works of photographer Janet Dandridge for the month of February.   From the library's description on her work: "Dandridge, a Los Angeles-based artist who began her photography career at age 9 with a point-and-shoot camera documenting the happenings in her community.   Janet is adept with fine art, portraiture, abstracts, and photojournalism; and continues to build upon collections that focus on social-political ideals that not only affect her immediate community, but the world.  This exhibit showcases a mixture of some of her earlier portraiture and abstracts."