Poor Grade by HJTA Once again, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association gave your representatives (and mine) a failing grade. Last fall, Assemblyman Chris Holden, Assemblywoman Laura Friedman and Senator Anthony Portantino voted for Assembly Constitutional Amendment 1 (ACA1), described by HJTA as “a direct attack on Proposition 13” (passed in 1978). If approved by voters […]
Spring Forward Throughout my lifetime, I’ve noticed that people follow a particular pattern during the period from November through January. I don’t know if it’s related to the changing seasons from fall to winter, the celebration of many holidays in succession or simply the winding down of the current year and preparing for the next. […]
Newspaper Front Page Stories – 1937 A selection of news stories from a particular day in 1937 provides a slice of life of the Crescenta Valley in the past. “Local man narrowly escapes death when attacked by dog.” James Barber, the proprietor of a laundry on Foothill Boulevard in La Cañada (across from today’s Memorial […]
A Time for Reflection Holidays come at the end of a long year. They are our collective reward for our work and everyday struggles. They’re the balm on our souls after 365 days of hard-fought victories and disappointing losses. I love the holiday season. No matter what you celebrate, or even if you don’t celebrate […]
Montrose Promotional Piece – 1925 Montrose started out with a bang in 1914 with a big free barbeque. Lots were sold, but the sales didn’t really take off. War in Europe was threatening economic stability so Montrose growth didn’t really accelerate until the war ended. The early ’20s brought phenomenal growth to Montrose, particularly in […]
Typically, parking lots will have posted speed limits. If you see any speed limit signs, make sure to follow them to avoid any tickets and to keep everyone safe. However, if you don’t notice any posted speed limits, the National Motorists Association recommends staying below 15 miles per hour at all times. With the possibility […]
Murder at the Gun Store Tony’s Sportsmen’s Den was a fixture in the 2700 block of Foothill Boulevard in the 1950s and ’60s. The valley was then populated by many sportsmen, young family men who hunted and fished locally. Tony’s supplied hunting rifles, handguns and ammo, along with a complete selection of fishing equipment, all […]
Reflecting on a Busy Year With the winter and the holiday season upon us, I would like to reflect on what has been a busy, productive and rewarding year for your Crescenta Valley Town Council in representing the community. The Streets and Roads Committee has been hard at work on several very important issues. The […]
I Can See Clearly Now Sometimes I feel like the Burgess Meredith character in the “Twilight Zone” television series. In the episode “Time Enough at Last,” Henry Bemis just wants to be alone, away from all distractions, to read his pile of books. When the end of the world comes and he is the […]
Jim Huntington came to La Cañada in about 1914. He paid $90 for a building to open a blacksmith business. (That building is now an appliance store at 1428 Foothill Blvd.) Huntington embarked on a career in metalwork that brought him nationwide fame. Huntington Iron Works’ products in the form of iron gates and fences […]