A Fond Farewell – Exactly

Several years ago, when I was editor at the Crescenta Valley Sun, I was smart enough to realize what a talent there was in columnist Jim Chase. A lifelong resident of the Crescenta Valley, Jim had a unique – and seemingly endless – take on life in the foothills. When the Crescenta Valley Sun was closed and I decided to launch the Crescenta Valley Weekly, Jim said, “Sure!” when I asked him if he would write for my fledgling paper. For the last four and a half years with the CV Weekly, Jim has met the weekly deadline, offering his perspective on local – and sometimes broader – happenings.

Whether you loved him or hated him, Jim’s columns were sure to elicit a response (though too few of our readers shared them); no one seemed to be on the fence when it came to My Thoughts, Exactly.

But that seemingly endless supply of his thoughts on our valley actually does have an end and, sadly, this week’s column is that final column.

Rather than try and find someone who can fill his real estate on the Viewpoints page, I’ve decided to open up the space to community leaders. They will provide you with information that is pertinent to our community on the local, state and federal levels.

Beginning next week and continuing the first Thursday of each month, CV Town Council President Robbyn Battles will provide an overview of the events and projects that the council is undertaking. The town council is an advisory council for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and works closely with Supervisor Mike Antonovich. Recent projects the council has spearheaded include promoting the passage of a ban on longtime parking for big rig trucks and securing the ability to request crossing guards for the county’s middle schools.

The second Thursday of the month will find Viewpoints occupied by civic leader Sharon Ragavachary. Sharon is a former town council member, an active member of the Crescenta Valley Community Assn. and a co-author of the CSD – the Community Standards District – that was designed to “improve the appearance of the Foothill Boulevard commercial corridor through thoughtful design of pedestrian-friendly structures integrated with extensive landscaping,” according to the CV Town Council website.

Assemblymember Mike Gatto will be calling Viewpoints home on the third Thursday of the month. As assemblymember for California’s 43rd District, Gatto represents Atwater Village, Burbank, Glendale, Hollywood, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Los Feliz, Montrose and Silver Lake in the state legislature.

Finally, Congressman Adam Schiff, the U.S. Representative for California’s 28th congressional district, will be writing a piece for the Crescenta Valley Weekly the fourth Thursday of the month. He has served in Congress since 2001 and represents the 28th District, which includes Burbank, Glendale, Hollywood, Echo Park, Hollywood Hills, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Los Feliz, Pasadena, Silver Lake, Sunland, Tujunga and West Hollywood. He also sits on the House Appropriations Committee.

I’m excited to hear what these leaders in and for our community have to say and am delighted that they’ve carved out some time from their busy schedules to share their thoughts with Crescenta Valley Weekly readers.

And Jim – thanks for all you’ve given to the Crescenta Valley Weekly these past years. You’ve made this paper better for your weekly contributions and I cannot thank you enough.

I look forward to continuing to see you ’round town.

  robin goldsworthy