By Mary O’Keefe

On Tuesday Congressman David Dreier toured the La Crescenta Library with members of the CV Town Council, past and present, and librarian Marta Wiggins.

The congressman brought about $1.3 million of federal funds to the table for the library construction.

“I remember when Danette [Erickson] first came to us with the proposal for the library,” said Alisa Do, with Dreier’s office.

In 2002, Erickson, who is a member with both the CVTC and Friends of the Library, went to Dreier’s Washington, D.C. office to ask for support.

“We sat down and she walked me through the whole proposal,” Do said.

“This was never just about a library,” Erickson said. “It was about a community meeting place, the center of our community.”

Erickson explained that La Crescenta needed a central point where kids could come after school and organizations could hold meetings. Dreier immediately supported the idea and got the funds through the annual appropriations process.

“At the time there was money available for construction,” Dreier said.

Wiggins led Dreier though the new facility that was full of patrons. The library opened its doors to the public in mid-January, with its grand opening on Jan. 29. Since then there has been a non-stop stream of children and adults taking advantage of the computers, comfortable chairs and, of course, shelves of books.

“Since our opening we have [signed up] more than 2,000 new members,” Wiggins said.

“That was double what you expected, wasn’t it?” Dreier asked.

Wiggins also underestimated the volunteer spirit of La Crescenta.

“I first called for volunteers to help fill the shelves. I thought I would get about 20 people. I prepared for 40 and 72 showed up,” Wiggins said.

Both adults and children continue to sign up. Wiggins is now going through the application process for those volunteers.

Dreier said he was impressed with the advanced technology including self-check out, the wireless capabilities and the number of computers available.

Dreier viewed the medallion set in the center of the library floor donated by the Historical Society of Crescenta Valley, the stained glass windows and the murals.

“Libraries like this are important to communities. We need to make sure the United States is competitive in the global market. The best way to do that is through education. It is important to our security and our economic future,” Dreier said.

Here is the week in review podcast for February 4th, 2010.  We decided to dedicate a whole podcast episode to the La Crescenta Library official opening.  Hope you enjoy.

To view on the web, click here.

To view and download on iTunes, click here.

SUBSTANCE PREVENTION
MEETING TONIGHT

The CV Drug and Alcohol Prevention Coalition meeting will be tonight, Thursday, Jan. 28 at 7:00 p.m. at Crescenta Valley High School in the school library. The public is invited to attend.

CV ARTS COUNCIL PRESENTS BAROQUE BASH

The Crescenta Valley Arts Council is holding its third annual music “bash” Friday, Jan. 29 at 7:30 p.m. at the La Crescenta Presbyterian Church. This year’s “Baroque Bash” will feature local professional musicians of L.A. Philharmonic and L.A. Chamber Orchestra fame, as well as GUSD music teachers Matthew Schick, Rod Yonkers and Karen Hayhurst and accomplished local students. Recommended ages 10 and up. Donation is $5. For more information visit cvartscouncil.org.

AREA FUNDING APPROVED

The L.A. County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 19 approved funding of $150,000 for a recreational trail in La Crescenta.

The trail, 1/3 of a mile in length, will begin at 2700 Orange Avenue and extend along the Eagle Canyon Flood Control Channel toward the northwest boundary of Two Strike Park. The project will include signage, fencing and gates to close off access when safety issues occur. The trail will end in the residential area along Rosemont and Pine Glen. Total cost is estimated at $530,000.

The total amount approved involved nearly $2 million in trail funds for the 5th Supervisorial District, including $125,000 for work in Cherry Canyon, $123,472 toward the Catalina Verdugo Trail in the San Rafael Hills and $150,000 for the Annandale Canyon Trail access project.

In addition, the board of supervisors approved added funding for a project to improve Crescenta Valley Park. The added money, $92,000, will help pay for the replacement of a restroom building. The overall project, funded at $246,000, involved reroofing of the recreation building, installation of new picnic tables, barbeques and drinking fountains, and other building refurbishments.

The restroom, with a total cost of $213,600, will involve purchase and installation of a prefabricated structure and will be completed by April of this year.

GWP HOLDING CELEBRATION

Glendale Water & Power (GWP) invites all Glendale residents to its free 100th anniversary community expo – with interactive exhibits, children’s activities, refreshments and more – on Saturday, Jan. 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Parcher Plaza on the Glendale City Hall campus (behind City Hall, 613 E. Broadway). All exhibits, demonstrations and food areas will be tented in case of rain. Free parking will be available in the Civic Center lot at 141 N. Glendale Ave. (entrance on Wilson Avenue).

The event marks 100 years of GWP’s service in Glendale. To encourage energy efficiency, GWP will give the first 100 customers in attendance a free string of LED energy-saving lights. To qualify, attendees must present a GWP utility bill or a driver’s license showing a Glendale address. There is a limit of one per family.

Several librarians, Adopt A Shelf and wi-fi are all components that will make this library a “hub of the community.”

By Mary O’KEEFE

The new La Crescenta Library is scheduled to have its grand opening on Jan. 29 and volunteers and library staff have been busily working for several weeks to prepare for the building’s debut.

“I am thrilled. I can hardly wait to start booking meetings there. It will be the center of town, the hub of the community,” said Danette Erickson, Crescenta Valley Town Councilmember and a member of the Library Committee.

The librarian manager Marta Wiggins has been meeting with the Friends of the Library, the Historical Society of Crescenta Valley and other community organizations in preparation for the opening.

“This is the first new facility I have opened and in fact that is one of the reasons I applied for the position,” Wiggins said.

She has worked in small and large facilities but likes the open space of the new La Crescenta facility. The library has many open areas and plenty of places for visitors to sit quietly to read. The building is also wired for the Internet.

“We have 10 computers for adult [use] and 10 for children,” Wiggins said.

In older buildings, like the former La Crescenta Library, there were only two Internet outlets that computer users had to plug into.

“That is just how older buildings are, but here you can bring in your laptop and use the wi-fi,” she added.

There will be a librarian for each segment of user: children, teens and adults. Wiggins said the professional staff would be able to focus on what the community needs and wants.

A community room will be able to house local meetings and Wiggins hopes it will be a central meeting place for many organizations.

The library has been a long time coming for Crescenta Valley residents. For almost 10 years Erickson has been a part of the push for a new library.

She remembered that in 2001 Supervisor Michael Antonovich had approached her at an installation meeting of the CV Town Council. He had been made aware of a request for a new facility from the Friends of the Library.

Due to a great librarian, Vicky Guagliardo and a user-friendly community, the old library was one of the most used in the system but ranked near the bottom in size and facilities, Erickson said.

“It has been a long time coming and a lot of hard work,” said Tony Bell, Antonovich spokesman.

The supervisor formed a library committee and together with other members of the community looked at several plans. The designs went back to the drawing board several times before the final plan was approved.

“It was a collaborative effort,” Bell said of those who worked on making the library a reality.

The library has already sparked interest throughout the community and Wiggins is learning about the area one volunteer at a time.

“We put a call out for volunteers. I expected about 24, I planned for 40 and over 70 showed up,” she said.

In the days that followed over 100 more applications from volunteers came in. Wiggins is going through those applications now and will be contacting those that applied.

“We will need technical volunteers to help with computers, and greeters to help direct visitors to the library.  We will also have Adopt A Shelf where volunteers will help keep that area of the library organized and clean,” she said.

The public is invited to an unofficial opening on Jan. 16. Wiggins said this would be a time when her staff can see what works and what other programs may be needed. The grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 29.

County and community officials will be present and visitors will be allowed to tour the facility. Later in the evening the Historical Society of Crescenta Valley will unveil the historical plaque they have dedicated to the history of the area.

“The plaque is of three individuals that represent the three ages of humanity. Toy Purina was a shaman from a local [Native American tribe], Don Jose Verdugo and Dr. Benjamin Briggs,” said Mike Lawler, president of the historical society.

Descendents of all three historical individuals are scheduled to be present at the plaque unveiling.

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