Shaking My Head in Wonder

I had to share with you a couple of things that have caused me to shake my head in disbelief.

Last week, as that issue was being put to bed (as we call it), the story came my way about the mother and daughter who hit and killed a pedestrian and then filed a false insurance claim. The pair ended up getting a mild sentence that included probation and a $300 fine. I thought the story was so important that, despite the paper being pretty much complete, I yanked a story out of the Business section and put it in there. Unconventional? Yes. But I thought getting the news out there – wherever I could fit it – was of the utmost importance. (It’s times like those that I value how often I hear that people read the Crescenta Valley Weekly “cover to cover” and I knew then that they would find the story even if it wasn’t in the “usual” place.)

So after Mary O’Keefe and I had a chance to chew on the story as we initially received it, we decided we needed to dig a little deeper to find out how this came about. Her findings are on page 7.

Another thing that I shook my head in disbelief – and, amid tears, still do – is the loss of one of the finest people I have ever met.

Brett Tyler was just shy of his 21st birthday when he died unexpectedly and suddenly while at college in late October. Brett was a Prom Plus Club member, a Boy Scout who completed his requirements for Eagle Scout but never had his court of honor, a kid who loved puns, the CV Weekly and who was kind and helpful. I got the news early on that Brett had died and consider it a privilege, with Mary O’Keefe and Todd Hessick, to work with Brett’s family in organizing a memorial for him that will take place on Nov. 25 at St. Luke’s of the Foothills’ Sadler Hall.

Mary and I sat with Brett’s family to get a full picture of this amazing young man, and she pulled together those observations on page 6. Please take a minute to learn more about who the world lost.

Brett, you are missed.