Intense performances by high school players bring home the sometimes deadly consequences of bullying.

By Brandon HENSLEY

It happens in cyberspace to the girl who logs on to chat. It happens to the girl who battles weight issues. It happens to the boy who is emotionally abused by his girlfriend, and it happens to so many others in countless other circumstances, sometimes producing fatal outcomes.

This past week, the Falcon Players Theater Group addressed the subject of bullying in their play “22% Fear,” which was held inside the CVHS MacDonald Auditorium last Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

The play is based on a survey taken at the school last spring that said 22% of students felt bullied or otherwise uncomfortable at school. Students anonymously submitted stories of their ordeals and drama teacher Brent Beerman wrote the script based on those experiences. The music was written by Kathi Chaplar.

Cast members dressed in dark clothing while portraying their versions of the students’ stories, including a boy who was kicked out of his home by his parents for telling them he was gay. Some parts were done in monologue form, while some were acted out.

The play went through a screening process for the faculty in late January, and the cast also performed shortened versions of it at school assemblies in preparation of the weekend performances.

Initially, Beerman wrote the script last summer and based some of it on his experience of being bullied as a kid. He took it to his cast, but they rejected it.

“It made sense, because it wasn’t their story. It was me telling their story,” he said in a discussion with the audience afterward on Saturday.

Beerman warned against taking the mindset that 78% percent of the kids surveyed felt safe. He said the 22% who felt uncomfortable is far too big a number at CV.

“Let’s pretend that a whole bunch of kids that took the survey didn’t take it seriously,” he said. “Let’s pretend it’s 10%. That’s still a lot of kids.”

At Saturday’s performance, family members of Ricky Huffines were in attendance. Huffines, a CVHS grad, and a friend were attacked by two men in Bullhead City, Ariz., in October 2010 after Huffines made a remark regarding one of the men’s shorts. This led them to believe Huffines was gay (Huffines was not). Huffines suffered severe head injuries and later died. He was 24. His attacker, John Floyd Castillo, was sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2011.

A letter Huffines’ sister Kerri Kinney wrote to CVHS teacher Jennifer Abrams last year was used as a central storytelling device in the play. Kinney wrote to Abrams in support of forming the school’s anti-harassment committee.

A tense moment of the show came when several cast members reenacted the attack, which included Jordan Van Treese, playing Castillo, slamming Demitri Camperos – who played Huffines – against a wall and kicking him repeatedly.

Kinney and her sister Erin Beach said they thought the scene and the play itself was done well.

“It was a good thing to bring awareness, but it was kind of like we were reliving it a little bit,” said Erin. “I wasn’t there [when the crime happened], so seeing them reenact it was emotional.”

“I read the script, so I was a little prepared but it was a lot more overwhelming than I expected,” said Kinney. “My heart was beating out of my chest, especially in the scene with Ricky. It was tearful for me.”

Members of the family all wore orange scarves to the play, scarves was part of Huffines’ signature style and orange was his favorite color. He was wearing  a scarf when he was attacked.

“I thought it was great,” Kinney said. “It was definitely something that we wanted to do to increase awareness and make something good out something terrible.”

Van Treese said he wanted to do the scene justice and give Ricky and his family proper respect.

“I was going to tone it down because I had originally made it more intense and hurtful,” he said. “I wanted to be as truthful with the choreography as I could. It was hard for me every night to go out there because I know that scene is one of the most intense scenes in the entire play and it impacts people.”

The Falcon Players will take “22% Fear” to Rosemont Middle School on Wednesday. Beerman said the script will not be changed in any way.

“We all agreed that it would be a very powerful message to start at an earlier age,” said Rosemont Principal Cynthia Livingston, who saw the play with CVHS faculty members. “The stories these students share in high school, it’s possible these issues started before they got to high school, even in elementary school.”

Livingston said her assistant principals meet with students two times a year to discuss expectation about proper student behavior, and the school works with BullySafeUSA, a national program founded in 2002.

The play will be held all day in the Rosemont cafeteria, and Livingston said there won’t be enough room for parents to attend, although they were encouraged to see the play at CVHS.

Van Treese said he expects the Rosemont students to be impacted.

“They look up to us so … I think they’re going to take it more seriously because these aren’t adults performing in front of them. These are people who are only a few years older than them.”

By Mary O’KEEFE

This morning, in the 4400 block of Ramsdell Avenue there will be several safety personnel responding to a fatal car accident. Those involved will be bloody and broken, some badly injured, some do not survive.

The accident is staged, a scenario played out for Crescenta Valley High School juniors and seniors as part of the Every 15 Minutes program sponsored by California Highway Patrol and supported by the CVHS PTSA.

The program begins in the morning with the Grim Reaper walking through the classrooms taking one student, prearranged, every 15 minutes. Those students will then be lined up along Ramsdell Avenue in front of the staged accident scene.

“The assembly will start right after snack, about 10:20 [a.m.],” said Mike Bertram, associate principal at CVHS.

At the beginning of the assembly, administrators will make a 911 call over the public announcement system.

Students will then gather on Ramsdell, just north of the gym, and watch the scene as it unfolds. Emergency responders including fire, sheriff and CHP will be on site. The accident will include smashed vehicles and [fake] bloodied victims.

Although students know the accident is staged – make-up artists add to the reality of the car crash victims – seeing friends involved and in pain is still emotional.

Emergency responders approach the accident like they would a real incident. Sirens are used and the firefighters use the Jaws of Life to free trapped victims. Ambulances, also with sirens, approach the accident as CHP officers assess the situation. Finally the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office van pulls up to the scene.

“It will hopefully get the kids thinking about making good choices,” said CHP Officer Kevin Denmon. “Like not to drink and drive. [High school kids] are too young to drink anyway. But also not to get in a car with someone who has been drinking.”

On Friday students will view a video that examines what happened to the victims and the person who drove drunk and caused the accident. A mock memorial is also staged in the high school auditorium for the accident fatalities.

The program is presented at CVHS every two years. In years past, those who came upon the scene and did not realize it was a staged accident have contacted local authorities. The CV Sheriff’s Station personnel are aware of the program and will field any phone calls that come in from concerned residents.

By Ted AYALA

Cities across the state wait with nervous expectation of what may occur in the wake of early inmate releases.

Last year Gov. Edmund G. “Jerry” Brown, Jr. signed AB 109. Known as a criminal justice realignment, the program is designed to relieve some of the state’s budget burden by reducing overcrowding in state prisons. The move has been controversial, with many groups attacking the program citing the potential dangers it may pose to citizens.

The Glendale City Council was no less concerned when they expressed their sentiments about the measure after attending a seminar in Santa Monica for the Independent Cities Association last weekend.

“To be perfectly honest, I was not taking this issue very seriously because I didn’t think anything was going to come of it,” said Councilman Rafi Manoukian. “But after attending the seminar I’m very concerned. [This] is a very serious issue.”

“The problems posed by realignment are daunting,” echoed Councilman Ara Najarian. “District Attorney Steve Cooley made a presentation indicating that current crime rates are at all time lows throughout the county. But because of this realignment ordering the state to release prisoners early on parole, this will cause, in [Cooley’s] opinion the greatest spike in crime that we’ve seen in the last 60 years. The thing that we will have to watch out for is there will be very many bad people – albeit [convicted of] non-sexual, non-violent, non-serious crimes – that will be out in the community, overwhelming the county’s probation officers. We really have to watch out and have a coordinated city plan.”

Councilman Dave Weaver expressed his worry that many of the “criminal element” return to the city of their origins to commit crimes again.

“They get back to their old trade because where are they going to get a job in this economy? So while our crime statistics are down this year, they will be up probably in the coming year,” he said.

Mayor Laura Friedman added her concerns.

“What really bothers me about this is … the idea that with this new plan people that have been sentenced to time for crimes aren’t going to have to serve that time. I think there is something fundamentally wrong about that. It’s unconscionable,” she said.

The Diversity of the Foothills – Celebrating or Grudgingly Acknowledging?

Recent articles by CV Weekly columnists Mike Lawler and Jim Chase have sparked discussion regarding diversity locally in the foothills as well as nationally.

Jim Chase, in an early 2012 column, railed against Sacramento saddling the state and its residents with an additional 700-plus laws, citing several. A majority were related to gay issues [“New Year, New Laws, Same Old Sacramento,” Jan. 5].

This column struck a chord with readers – some who agreed with his point of view and others accusing him – and by association the CV Weekly – with being bigoted. I had the chance to have a discussion (of sorts, via email) with a reader who questioned why CV Weekly “chose” to only air one voice when it comes to many controversial issues.

I thought I would take a moment and share my explanation.

Simply put, I cannot publish what is not submitted.

An important feature of the paper is the letters to the editor section in Viewpoints. This is the forum to engage in dialogue about issues relating to and affecting the foothills community including commenting on columns written. I welcome, encourage, urge folks to take a moment and jot down a note about something they’ve read that they either like or dislike. This is the best opportunity to offer diverse opinions on whatever affects the community.

Though I humbly accept the support of the community for launching this paper, I do not purport to agree with every opinion that our columnists offer. Nor should I. It is, after all, their opinion.

In addition to Jim Chase’s column, Mike Lawler generated a response to his column last week.

“Jewish Life in Old CV” prompted a letter from a reader who questions just how much has changed in CV since the olden days. You can read her thoughts on page 9.

And – again – I welcome your letters.

“And now comes the calm mild day, as still such days will come,  To call the squirrels and bee from out their winter home.”
~ William Cullen Bryant, American writer & editor of The New York Evening Post, 1794-1878

Phil saw his shadow – now what? This sleepy little groundhog in Punxsutawney, Pa. on Feb. 2 proclaimed in his 126th weather prediction ceremony six more weeks of winter. Does this mean the National Weather Service, The Weather Channel and Dallas Raines are no longer necessary in the field of meteorology? Absolutely not! Groundhogs haven’t made their way to the Crescenta Valley yet. Until they do, we must depend on the scientific world for our weather forecasting. Unless, of course, we can recruit our local California ground squirrels for the job. Just a thought…

This week started out (then quickly changed) on the warm side, with mild Santa Ana winds creating clear blue skies. Where is winter? Aside from the bare trees, indications of spring’s approach are evident. While outside last Saturday giving the yard a much needed soaking, I was entertained by squirrels chattering and racing up and down and across the utility lines and trees. And all the while, sparrows were staking out nesting locations under our eves.

Overseeing all this activity, with an appreciation only a Retriever can fully relish, was Abby.  Phil the groundhog on the east coast may say winter, but our local furry weather predictors (the ground squirrels) are saying spring. Hate to be a killjoy, but the calendar has March 20 for the first day of spring.

The reason calendars include Groundhog Day is anyone’s guess. Perhaps for fun, because otherwise it does not make much sense. The sun must be out to make a shadow and would be a sign of spring not more winter! The National Geographic Society studied the groundhog and the prediction. It was found to be accurate only one out of every three times. No matter; we can still enjoy the day and admire the passing of seasons.

Groundhog Day appears to have made its way to America with immigrants from England and Germany, where Christians recognized Candlemas – the midpoint between winter and spring. These sayings give credence: “If Candlemas Day be fair and bright, winter will have another flight. But if it be dark with clouds and rain, winter is gone and will not come again.” (Old English)

“A shepherd would rather a wolf enter a stable than a badger watch for a shadow in sunshine.” (German)

There was a 70% chance of rain on Tuesday of this week. Umbrellas eagerly awaited its arrival (as did Jim Chase, I imagine), the winds began to blow, and the first drops fell. Yes! The storm had arrived … and a few more drops … the storm left.

So goes the rainy season, thus far.

Warmer temperatures into the weekend and cooler ones to start the week are forecast, as offshore and onshore winds continue to dominate the weather. No umbrellas needed for at least 10 days.

Sue Kilpatrick is a
Crescenta Valley resident and  Official Skywarn Spotter for the  National Weather Service.
Reach her at
suelkilpatrick@gmail.com.

Relay For Life Captain
Meeting
The 12th Annual Foothills Relay For Life team captain meeting is Thursday, Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. at the office of J’s Maids, 3550 Foothill Blvd. in La Crescenta. This year’s event will be held on May 12-13 at Clark Magnet High School.

Please join us if you would like more information on forming a team in our 24-hour walk to fight cancer. Visit FoothillsRelayForLife.com for more information.

Trash Collection on Agenda
The County of L.A. Dept. of Public Works will be making a presentation at the Feb. 16 Crescenta Valley Town Council meeting to provide information regarding the proposed Non-exclusive Commercial Trash Collection Franchise project.

Paul Alva will conduct the presentation.

All are encouraged to attend.

CV Town Council meetings are held at the La Crescenta Public Library, 2809 Foothill Blvd. in La Crescenta.

Drivers Beware
A large number of California traffic tickets fines dramatically increased effective Jan. 6.
For example, those who do not stop at a red light will pay $436 in fines or those who pass a school bus with flashing red signals will be charged $616.

For a more complete list, visit www.cvweekly.com and click on News.

Stream Restoration Hike Postponed
A stream restoration hike planned at Deukmejian Wilderness Park on Saturday, Feb. 11 has been postponed.

Dukakis to Speak
On Saturday, Feb. 18 at 1 p.m., the Southern California Transit Advocates is presenting Michael Dukakis, former governor of Massachusetts and candidate for president of the United States, who will speak on The Future of Rail and Transit in America. This will be in the auditorium of Angelus Plaza, 255 S. Hill St. in downtown Los Angeles, on the fourth floor.

The event is free and open to the public.

After the speech there will be a period for questions and answers. Light refreshments will be served.

For further information, call (213) 388-2364.

Garfield Campus Hosting Open House
An open house will be held at the Glendale Community College Garfield Campus on Wednesday, Feb. 22 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Community members will be able to take campus tours and see firsthand the new building and other improvements and get information on classes and certificate programs. There will be refreshments and prizes as well.  Admission to the event is free and open to all.

For information on the programs offered at the Garfield campus go to www.glendale.edu/ce. For more on the open house see the YouTube video at http://youtu.be/fJWt2okGosU.

The Glendale Community College Garfield Campus is located at 1122 E. Garfield Ave., Glendale.

By Ted AYALA

The City of Glendale has drawn the line dividing coffee lovers in Montrose right down the middle of Ocean View Boulevard. According to a report released late last Thursday afternoon by the city, Glendale has approved the use of the property formerly occupied by Color Me Mine at 2884 Honolulu Ave. as the location for a new Starbucks Coffee location.

Starbucks currently has numerous locations within the vicinity of the Crescenta Valley area including two locations on Foothill Boulevard in La Crescenta and two in La Cañada in addition to kiosk style retail outlets in area supermarkets.

The new location has drawn controversy from local residents and businesses because its site is across the street from the Coffee Bean & Teal Leaf, whose representatives urged the Planning Hearing Committee earlier this month to deny approval to Starbucks.

“This isn’t about a bias against competition,” said Coffee Bean’s General Counsel Terry Mansky. “This is a massive global chain coming into a village atmosphere. This is Wall Street versus Main Street.”

Others pointed to a scarcity of parking space and concerns over traffic congestion.

Addressing these concerns, Planning Hearing Officer Laura Stotler noted in her report that the evidence provided by Starbucks countering these criticisms was “sufficient to demonstrate that the shared parking facilities will be adequate to serve the needs of the proposed use [by Starbucks].”

Nevertheless, the project also enjoyed wide support among many in the community that felt that a Starbucks could lure foot traffic into the Montrose Shopping Park.

Calls to the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s corporate offices were not returned while a manager at the Montrose location declined to comment on the issue.

Scott Trulik, president of the Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce and owner of Ocean View Investments just south of the incoming Starbucks, was cautious about the arrival of the new coffee house.

“We’re always happy to receive new businesses in the area,” he said. “But we still believe that parking, or the lack of it, and traffic will be issues the community will have to deal with.”

By Mary O’KEEFE

Los Angeles County Public Works has ordered the supplies and slated a June start date for construction on a flashing light crosswalk on Foothill Boulevard at Glenwood Avenue in La Crescenta.

The crosswalk will be similar to the one on Foothill Boulevard at Cloud Avenue, near OSH (Orchard Supply Hardware).

The construction may be completed by the end of the current school year but will definitely be completed in time for the following school year.

“I never thought I would get this excited over a crosswalk, but I am,” said  Robbyn Battles, Crescenta Valley Town Council member.

Battles has been raging a campaign for safe walkways for pedestrians ever since she was elected to the CVTC.

Community members can often see her, along with California Highway Patrol officers and public works representatives, standing on a busy and potentially dangerous corner. She has been able to work closely with the two agencies to get a new sidewalk near Monte Vista Elementary School, bushes cut and removed in the area to improve visibility and crosswalks constructed.

Foothill Boulevard at Glenwood Avenue has been of special interest because of the amount of traffic and the speed of the traffic along the roadway. At a recent visit to the area, Battles watched as a woman attempted to cross the street.

“She was screaming at the traffic as it [zoomed by],” she said.

On another occasion, while representatives were at the location they witnessed how difficult it was for students to cross as they walked home from school.

Natalia Acosta, a CVHS student, attempted to cross Foothill Boulevard with her friend, then had to pull back as cars drove quickly past them.

“I am afraid sometimes,” she said at the time. “I try to wait for a big break in the traffic but I have to get home … Sometimes the cars come all the way into the crosswalk. It’s like they don’t see me.”

Anish Saraiya, public works senior civil engineer, has worked closely with Battles on several projects. He has continued to look at other areas that have been brought to his attention with safety concerns.

They are also looking at some improvements on Rosemont Avenue near Rosemont Middle School.

Battles is working with other agencies to apply for a grant through Safe Routes to Schools.

For right now she is just excited that the lighted, flashing crosswalk has been approved and is moving forward.

By Jason KUROSU

The Crescenta Valley Town Council and Crescenta Valley High School are teaming up to form a tutoring program, which they hope will utilize members of the community to tutor elementary school age children.

Frank Beyt, a member of the Crescenta Valley Town Council and one of the chief organizers of the tutoring program, said, “We’re interested in organizing volunteers from the community to go to La Crescenta schools and help kids. We want to be there to help kids with particular needs. We don’t want to just help them complete a homework assignment, but also help them with any individual learning issues they might be having.”

As for what kind of people the program would want as tutors, Beyt had only a few specific qualifications he was looking for.

“We’re looking for someone who works well with children first and foremost and also someone who is dependable. If you can’t support that child on a regular basis, it doesn’t really do the child any good. We’re just looking for people who can come for one, two, five hours a week and who can come regularly.”

The program is already working with some schools, such as La Crescenta Elementary, as it is organized. Beyt emphasized that the program will be working closely with schools.

“We will be working with both the principals and the teachers. We’re there purely as a helping hand.”

According to printed information, “The CVTC tutoring program will start by offering tutoring to students at La Crescenta Elementary School during the school day and after school. Tutors are expected to work closely with the tutees’ teachers and principal Kim Bishop. Mrs. Bishop will also provide an orientation for the tutors. The CVTC Tutoring Program hopes that many residents will be able to participate to ensure success for the students and the program. Other schools in the valley are interested in the CVTC bringing this program to their campuses.”

Dennis Van Bremen is a member of the Crescenta Valley Town Council and is a retired counselor with Crescenta Valley High School. He spoke of integrating the GATE program into the tutoring program. To this end, the tutoring program would not only look for regular tutors, but also “individuals who could share their expertise.”

Van Bremen gave examples of these types of individuals, those who worked in scientific fields, such as former JPL employees and also musicians and artists, anybody who could share professional expertise.

Anyone interested in becoming a part of the program may contact Dennis Van Bremen at (818) 437-5026 or visit the CVTC website. La Crescenta Elementary Principal Kim Bishop will also be speaking about the program at the Feb. 16 CVTC meeting. Meetings are held regularly at the La Crescenta Public Library.

By Charly SHELTON

A Crescenta Valley original, Los Gringos Locos, has moved locations.

Bent Hansen, Los Gringos Locos owner, asked for the community’s help in moving two blocks down to the new location in the Plaza de La Cañada, sharing the complex with stores like Vons and T.J.Maxx.

From the original Los Gringos Locos location at 454 Foothill Blvd., guests picked up items such as salt shakers, sombreros, salsa dishes and cutlery. Then, in parade style, the procession filed along Foothill walking to the new restaurant at 631 Foothill Blvd. A mariachi band was at the front, along with the Los Gringos banner and the catering truck.

Hansen was very excited about a move that he felt was long overdue, being 16 years at the former location.

“The customers have been saying to us for about 15 years that our parking is too small, we need a bigger bar, I wish you had a patio,” said Hansen. “And we finally found a spot with all three of those things. We’ve got excellent parking, a fabulous patio, and the bar is just beautiful, so we listened to our customers and we gave them what they wanted.”

In addition to the patio, parking lot and bar, there are other new exciting offers at the new location.

“We have a private room that holds 40 people for private parties, private groups, presentations, meetings. It has its own separate A/V system where you can plug in and do your own presentation,” said Hansen. “Our take-out area is three times as big, so take out will be easy. You’ll be able to park in the parking lot fast, get your food, in and out quickly, and we’ll also be able to do fundraising dinners so groups can come in, contact us, we’ll be able to donate a percentage back because our restaurant is big enough that we can actually make it worthwhile for them.”

There will be grand opening activities all through the month of February, including new menu items, discounts, take out specials and more. The specials will be announced through the Los Gringos Locos email list, which can be found at losgringoslocos.com.