Keeping Safe During the Holidays

Earlier this week, the Glendale Police Dept. issued a press release stating that since January 2021, there have been a total of nine follow-home robberies in the City of Glendale that have been reported to the Glendale Police Dept. Through investigative work by the department’s Robbery/Homicide Unit, in partnership with the Verdugo Regional Crime Lab and other allied agencies, GPD has arrested and booked six individuals in connection with these robberies.

At the end of the press release, the GPD states that there are multiple outstanding suspects involved in these various follow-home robberies that are actively being pursued by the department’s Robbery/Homicide Unit. They then advise when driving home from any location to be aware of our surroundings. Watch to see if we are being followed by another vehicle and, if it appears we are, to call 9-1-1 immediately and proceed to the nearest police station. The Glendale Police Dept. is located at 131 N. Isabel St. in Glendale and the CV Sheriff’s Station is located at 4554 Briggs Ave. in La Crescenta.

I remember decades ago when an elderly friend of mine was coming home from a shopping trip. She had been followed and was attacked. I can’t remember if she got a concussion but I do remember her black eye and bruised face. And most of us are familiar with the Montrose woman who was followed home then shot and killed outside her apartment. So this problem is not new.

During this very busy holiday shopping season (there’s only one more shopping weekend), please be careful. We want to make sure everyone enjoys a blessed and safe Christmas.

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Unfortunately I missed the recognition banquet last Thursday hosted by the CV Chamber of Commerce. Held at the Elks Lodge in Glendale, the evening shined a spotlight on the contributions made to our community by several people. Many of the names, I’m sure, were familiar but there were some new ones to celebrate as well.

As I bragged earlier this month, our lead reporter Mary O’Keefe was the recipient of the prestigious Don Carpenter Award. Her family was on hand to offer congratulations and support her and the other awardees.

I offer congratulations to her and all of the awardees; we’re lucky to have them call the Crescenta Valley home.

To see some photos of Thursday’s event, check out page 19.

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Finally, congratulations to the members voted onto the Crescenta Valley Town Council. Justin Hager’s article on the front page of this week’s issue outlines the number of ballots cast and how many votes the candidates received.

Since the Council is an advisory board, some (erroneously) think that it has no power, carries no weight. That is far from the truth.

It was through the direction given by the Council that the power lines along Foothill Boulevard (in the unincorporated county portion) were put underground and that standards were put in place regarding the design of buildings along Foothill (in the unincorporated county portion). Without their input, the fifth district supervisor (currently Kathryn Barger) would have no idea what programs the area wants and needs and what problems and concerns its citizens have.

Being a part of the Town Council can be a thankless, time-consuming job – but it can also be a rewarding one. Thank you to the ones who stepped up to make a difference.