Members of the newly formed Korean American Federation of North Los Angeles joined CV Town Council and Chamber of Commerce members and school board candidates in the monthly cleanup of the La Crescenta Avenue offramp.

New officers installed and one long time member resigns from council.

By Mary O’KEEFE

A new president will bang the gavel for the first time calling the Crescenta Valley Town Council monthly meeting to order on Jan. 21. Cheryl Davis will preside over seven general councilmembers including newly elected Todd Thornbury as well as alternate Charles Beatty and two newly elected alternates Kim Mattersteig and Silvana Casalegno. There is likely to be another change to the council’s make up as current member Grace Andrus announced in December she would be resigning.

Andrus made her announcement at the end of the December meeting citing work issues as the reason she is stepping down. As she told the council and the audience of her decision she gave some parting advice to the council reminding them to look at all sides of an issue and to keep up the hard work that former councilmembers began.

“Our council is large. With 12 members it is huge,” she said. Andrus suggested the council think about reducing the number of elected members and allowing others to serve on a volunteer status.

“It has been a pleasure working with all of you,” she added.

Davis was voted in as president of the council at the December meeting. She has served on the board for over two years and has worked closely with parting president Steve Pierce. “I think she is a great choice,” Pierce said of his replacement.

Before winning the president’s seat Davis had served as the council’s recording secretary. She is also the treasurer of CV DOGS, a group of community volunteers that is working to establish a dog park in Crescenta Valley. Davis is a strong supporter of Girl Scouts and has helped local troops with various Bronze and Gold award projects.

Davis said she had seen the council grow under Pierce’s leadership and wants to continue that growth to help the community.

One of Davis’ first acts was to accept Andrus’ letter of resignation that was submitted on Dec. 23.

The first alternate Kim Mattersteig will therefore serve the remainder of Andrus’ term, which ends in 2010. Charles Beatty, the second alternate, will move to first, Davis said. She will appoint a third alternate for the council to vote on at the January meeting.

Steve Goldsworthy, who was elected in 2008, won the votes at the December meeting to be appointed as vice president. Danette Erickson was voted as the recording secretary, Robbyn Battles is the new corresponding secretary and Dennis van Bremen was voted in for another term as treasurer.

The next community meeting of the CV Town Council will be at 7 p.m. on Jan. 21 at the Rosemont Middle School cafeteria. The public is invited to attend the meeting and share concerns during public comments. Supervisor Michael Antonovich is currently scheduled to attend. If the council approves Davis’ choice for third alternate the supervisor will administer the oath of office.
The new La Crescenta librarian Marta Wiggins is also scheduled to be introduced at the meeting.

CRESCENTA VALLEY

WEEKLY

THE FOOTHILLS COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

VOL. 1, NO. 16

DECEMBER 17, 2009

By Mary O’Keefe

CV Town Council president Steve Pierce, with two other council members, will end their terms of service tonight.

The Crescenta Valley Town Coun­cil will conduct its monthly meet­ing at 7 p.m. tonight, Thursday, Dec. 17 in the cafeteria at Rose­mont Middle School. During the meeting the council will install three recently elected regular council members and three alter­nate members.

The council will also be saying goodbye to former members Liz Arnold and Joyce Lauterback and to president Steve Pierce who is leaving the council after four and a half years.

“It is interesting. When I first got on the council, not much was going on. We would have an oc­casional fundraiser,” Pierce re­flected.

Not known for sitting still, Pierce was equated to the Ener­gizer Bunny when he was recent­ly awarded Man of the Year by the Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce.

“We changed the council,” he said. “I guess I became an activ­ist.”

The council is an elected body and acts in an advisory capacity to the L.A. County board of su­pervisors. During Pierce’s tenure the council has gained in power and respect. Pierce said that the town council is lucky that it has the ear of Los Angeles Supervisor Michael Antonovich. “We have a county body [L.A. County board of supervisors] that listens to what we request and makes sure things happen. That is the real value of the council,” he said. The council works closely with the supervi­sor’s office on issues that concern the unincoprated area of Los Angeles County.

An example of the council pushing for what it feels the community needs includes large projects like the new La Crescenta Library and smaller projects that have big implications like a four-way stop at Briggs and Mountain ave­nues. A traffic study found there was not significant traffic to warrant the signs. The corner is the entrance to Moun­tain Avenue Elementary School and the council did not agree with the study and contacted Antonovich’s office. The four signs are now up and have made driv­ing and walking to Mountain Avenue safer. The council’s “Don’t take no for an answer” attitude was also exhibited at several streets near other schools where safety routes and better traffic signage have since been installed.

“We found that if you don’t go through the proper channels and assume some­thing is going to be done, it won’t be,” Pierce said.

Other organizations have the ability to contact the supervisor’s office and re­quest something for the community but Pierce said because the council is an elected body the response is different.

“Each organization in the community has different levels of power but I think the town council is at the lead,” he said.

Antonovich was complimentary of Pierce and his contributions for the last several years. “As [president] of the Crescenta Valley Town Council, Steve has been an effective leader for the com­munity. I appreciated his hard work rep­resenting our residents, working with our office and his participation at meet­ings of the board of supervisors. I wish him continued success in the future,” the supervisor said.

Some of the power behind the council in the last four years has been Pierce’s seemingly never-ending energy. He can be seen at almost every organization and event including Crescenta Valley Park Senior’s Garden, Movie Night at Two Strike Park and sandbag filling.

Cheryl Davis has served on the council with Pierce for the last two years.

“Peo­ple said that during the fires they saw his little Mini Cooper [vehicle] driving all over town,” she said of Pierce’s con­stant presence.

Pierce could also be seen through the smoke cleaning the freeway entrance at La Crescenta Avenue, an­other project.

Davis said people might not be aware of all that Pierce has done and does in Crescenta Valley.

“He was one of the forc­es behind saving the CV Fireworks. He also took over the Montrose Parade a few years ago when it looked like it was going to end.”

She praised his leadership before and after the Station Fire.

“He brought everyone together for the county flood control meeting. Every agency was there and about 150 to 200 people showed up. Every question was answered that night and people were given phone numbers to contact for help,” she said.

Pierce said he was pulling back on his volunteer work to spend time with his family adding, “But I will still be around.” He is looking forward to not having to attend every executive and council meeting.

“I was in meetings four times a week. I am not going to miss that. What I am going to miss is getting things accomplished. I am going to be sad leaving,” Pierce said.

It may be a bumpy road ahead for travelers of the 2600 block of Orange Avenue as the Crescenta Valley Town Council ponders recommending the installation of speed bumps in front of Monte Vista Elementary School.

The speed bumps were the major topic of discussion at the most recent CV Town Council meeting held on Thursday evening, Aug. 20. Residents living near the school expressed their desire to have the speed bumps installed as a deterrent to what has been described as rapid, and sometimes reckless, driving by parents dropping their children off for school.

“Maniacs driving their children down the wrong side of the street,” was how Michelle Profeta, who lives on the nearby corner of Cecilville and Orange avenues, described what she has observed over the last several years. She is a proponent of the speed bumps and asked the council to consider having them installed on Cecilville as well as Orange Avenue. Councilmembers Steve Goldsworthy and Robbyn Battles are spearheading the councilʼs effort of finding the best method to create a safer environment for both pedestrian and vehicular traffic at Monte Vista.

Though the bumps are not the only method being considered, Goldsworthy stated that he felt the bumps offered the “most impact potential” of increasing safety at the school. Battles reported that for the first few weeks of the school year, California Highway Patrol will also have a “heavy presence” near the school to inform and enforce. Pat McLeod,another Orange Avenue resident, noted that the street is a “speedway” at night, too, and praised the presence of CHP.

“When CHP is out there itʼs glory hallelujah day!” she said. CHP Officer Andre Primeaux attended the meeting and seemed pleased at the positive response given to the news that CHP will be on hand, however he cautioned those in the audience. He said that many times it was residents losing their patience trying to get out of their driveway in the mornings that were also guilty of creating unsafe situations. Primeaux reminded the audience that citations would be issued regardless of who the offender was. Battles also said that the creation of an alternate “drop zone” for Monte Vista students was being established next week at nearby Two Strike Park on Rosemont Avenue. She is seeking assistance from parents to help man the zone.

Once the school year begins, a traffic survey will be initiated to solicit the opinions of residents.

Monte Vista Principal Susan Hoge said the school was eager to help with the problem. “We are working to communicate and educate our kids and parents,” she said.

At the meeting, the town council also recognized members of the department of public works and members of the Crescenta Valley Water District. “They are watching over our water quality and generously donated land for the Welcome to La Crescenta sign,” said Town Council President Steve Pierce. “It was a great pleasure to work with them.”

Anyone driving down Foothill Boulevard can’t help but notice the construction progress of the La Crescenta Library.

“It is very close to completion. They are putting the book shelves in now,” said Steve Pierce, president of the Crescenta Valley Town Council.

When construction began about a year ago, the date of completion was September 2009. Construction will most likely be completed within the next two months but the official opening will probably be in January 2010. This allows more time to make certain every last detail has been taken care of, Pierce said.

“They want to make it perfect. We don’t know who the new librarian will be yet and we may not know that until the end of the year,” he added.

In the meantime construction and landscaping will continue and the lights will stay on overnight to deter looting.

“That is on the construction company’s dime and part of the Los Angeles County contract for the building,” Pierce said.

The La Crescenta Library was first opened in the fall of 1914. Through the years it had been moved around Crescenta Valley until it settled at its longtime home at 4521 La Crescenta Ave., according to the county library’s website.

Another site that is being watched closely along Foothill Boulevard is Walgreens that is expected to have its grand opening ceremony at the end of September or first of October, Pierce said.

“Walgreens has really stepped up to the plate and used native rock around the base of the building. Several community members had requested that addition and Walgreens stepped up,” he said.

The long battle for a dog park in Crescenta Valley appears to be making some progress as well.

“We will probably be finalizing the dog at Crescenta Valley Park,” Pierce said.

The area being considered is near the Honolulu and Dunsmore avenues entrance nestled north of the parking lot toward the flood channel, Pierce said. He is part of a committee that has been investigating the need and a possible location for the dog park.

“That is what our group has recommended,” he said.

There have been some bids taken for the development of the park and are considered reasonable by Pierce.

A dog park is a fenced in area where dog owners can allow their pets to roam free from the leash. It has been discussed at several venues throughout the community including at the CV Town Council. Pierce said that the majority of people he has heard from are in favor of a dog park but the logistics and cost had to be considered before moving forward.

“This area is a little on the small side but it will work,” he said of the area that is being considered.

A public meeting will be scheduled in the future for Crescenta Valley Park neighbors and community members to share their opinions.

As of press time, on the agenda of the the town council’s Sept. 17 meeting are Glendale Unified School District administrators, They will be on hand to answer any concerns for the upcoming year and how budget cuts may be affecting district schools. Meetings had been held at the Crescenta Valley High School but due to construction at the school, meetings will now be held at 7 p.m. at the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station, 4554 Briggs Ave. The public is welcomed and encouraged to attend.

Photos by Charly Shelton

Board gives final blessing on standards ordinance

Anyone under the impression that the 10 year fight to adopt design review standards for Foothill Boulevard was surprised to see the issue back before the board of supervisors Tuesday.

The board voted to approve the revised ordinance with the new standards, reflecting the actions taken at a downtown public hearing in April.

Sharon Raghavachary, godmother of the new standards district, took time out from preparing for possible fire evacuation to explain that this week’s action was a formality, handled as a consent calendar item. None of the usual lineup of supporters showed up to speak on the issue.

The deign standards, launched by a committee of the Town Council, are an attempt to improve the look of new projects added in the county portion of Foothill Boulevard.

After one final vote next week, the standards will be fully in place and ready for revisions if any are proposed.

Advisory meeting rescheduled

The North Glendale Community Plan Advisory Committee meeting has been rescheduled for Sept. 14 due to the fire. It will be held at the Sparr Heights Community Center, 1613 Glencoe Way at 5:30 p.m. Questions concerning the cancellation can be directed to Laura Stotler of the Glendale Planning Department at (818) 548-2140.

Pancakes, Pancakes, Pancakes

Crescenta Valley High School and the Crescenta Valley Town Council are preparing for the second annual pancake breakfast. Tickets are being sold by CVTC members as well as non profit organizations that share in the proceeds. The town council is encouraging groups in the community to help with ticket sales by offering 50% of each ticket sold to the selling organization. The remaining 50% will go toward the Council’s scholarship fund. The pancake breakfast is from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 10 at Crescenta Valley High School. Tickets are $5 each. For information contact Councilmember Frank Beyt at (818) 957-0246 or e-mail Beyt@att.net.

Town Council Election

Crescenta Valley Town Council candidate applications will be available online at the council’s website www.cvcouncil.org beginning on Sept. 8. Applications will be available at the Sept. 17 council meeting at 7 p.m. at the CV Sheriff’s Station, 4554 Briggs Ave.