By Isiah REYES

Glendale Community Police Officer Abe Chung was on hand at the Montrose Shopping Park Assn. board meeting Thursday morning to discuss the possibility of greater police presence in Montrose after two robberies were reported in the past month.

The board wanted more police to be present in the city to dissuade robbers from believing that Montrose is a place that can be easily targeted for committing crimes.

Glendale City Councilwoman Paula Devine said the bikes that the Glendale Police Dept. would use to patrol Montrose are mostly used in the Glendale parks for marijuana and drug busts. But Devine said someone from the Montrose area donated a $10,000 grant that was to be used specifically for the police in the area. The money has been allocated for the use of bike patrol in the area by the Glendale Police Dept.

The MSPA board also talked about other events that recently took place in the area. Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce executive director  Melinda Clarke and President Pat Longo discussed the success of the July 27 Montrose Brewfest. One of the concerns brought up by the board was the issue of the limited number of trash bins that were available at the event. Because it was a first time event, the chamber reps said they were still learning and would be better prepared next year. About 700 tickets were sold for that event.

Another event discussed was the Montrose Art Walk that is also hosted by the MVCOC. The MSPA board said that merchants who sell jewelry items at gift stores along Honolulu Avenue had an issue with jewelry sellers present at the Art Walk because they were selling similar items, essentially competing against them. Clarke said it is something the chamber would look into.

Tom Lorenz, Glendale’s director of Communication and Community Relations,  gave a thorough presentation to the board on how to use social networking to help promote their businesses in Montrose.  Lorenz stressed that it was important for businesses to promote themselves whether it is through Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.