First off, on behalf of the Crescenta Valley Town Council and the residents of our unincorporated area of Los Angeles County here in La Crescenta and Montrose, I want to thank the LA County Fire Dept. and the Dept. of Public Works for their work on managing the effects of the rains. They are responding to every disaster that arises and our basins are clean. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

It’s been a challenging time for all our rain-drenched residents; we needed the rains and we are now well beyond last year’s totals as of the end of January. I guess it proves the adage “Be careful what you wish for!” Every additional rain we get is just extra. As I was reading on a social media platform this week: “Rainfall totals for the year beginning Oct. 1, 2018 are above average and well above the previous year … Downtown Los Angeles has seen 12.40 inches so far, with the average 7.5 inches and only 1.89 inches the previous year by this date. The Sierra snowpack is 115-120% of normal.” And we’ve still got nine more months to go before October 2019!

Now, on to something that bothers every resident of our community. Let me remind everybody in our town that illegal dumping is a violation of LA County ordinance. For the removal of bulk material, you can contact the Dept. of Public Works. The easiest way to do this is by downloading the LA County App called “The Works” that lets you take a picture of the dumped items then upload it and send it. I use it for potholes around streets, but it works for illegal dumping, too.

Another reminder that you cannot block any right of way/street (per county rule) or you will be cited!

Mind you this is not for those of us who want to legally dispose of our bulky refuse. Burrtec, our area’s waste management company, lets you contact them to schedule bulky item pick-up via their customer service department: San Gabriel Valley Area, 1017 W. Gladstone St., Azusa; voice number is (800) 325-941, fax number is (626) 932-1578 or visit bws@burrtec.com. And yes, they do offer annual bulky pick-up dates, so keep an eye open later this year for your paper bill that will contain a flyer about this. The pick-up date depends on which day of the week your trash is picked up.

At this month’s general meeting, we will have a presentation from the Clean Power Alliance that concerns Southern California Edison. We will also get an update on the Sagebrush territory transfer from GUSD. See you on Thursday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. at the La Crescenta Library community room, 2809 Foothill Blvd., La Crescenta.

Let me close by congratulating our returning and newly-elected officers of the Town Council: Vice President Mike Claessens; Treasurer Desiree Portillo Rabinov; Recording Secretary Daniel Kim; and last (but not least) Corresponding Secretary Sophal Ear.

Harry Leon is President of the Crescenta Valley Town Council