By Brandon HENSLEY

The middle of summer doesn’t usually bring out the most robust audience for Crescenta Valley Town Council meetings, and the one on July 18 in the community room of the La Crescenta Library was no different. Nonetheless, those in attendance were updated on issues regarding LA County.

Representatives from LA County Public Works and Metro were at the Town Council meeting to provide information on the ongoing 210 Freeway sound wall project. Public Works reps said that they will have more information by the end of the month and would like to take the findings of the noise study to council and to the residents when everything is completed, but funding may turn out to be an obstacle.

County currently has about $9 million to fund the project, which will take place between Lowell and Pennsylvania avenues, and in both east and west directions, but it costs $15 million to build one mile of a wall. County said the sections of the 210 Freeway that first get walls are the parts of the neighborhood most in need of them, where houses are between 300 feet and 500 feet of the freeway.

To fully complete the project, Public Works would most likely need $45-$50 million, and it would take several years to finish. For more information, call Public Works at (818) 548-3945.

The beatification project at Two Strike County Park, which began earlier this year, will be finished sometime in August. The project involves adding native and drought-resistant trees and an improved irrigation system. It was also announced that the baseball field at the park will be getting renovations later this year, with Crescenta Sports Association paying for the infield renovations while the outfield and fencing will be contracted out by the City.

Christian Daly, field deputy for 5th District Supervisor Kathryn Barger, passed out copies of the letter Barger wrote to the LA County Board of Supervisors regarding the septic tank fee issue that has rankled some in the unincorporated area of LA County, including those in La Crescenta/Montrose. The motion requested by Barger, which sought to clear anyone who should not be paying extra fees on the matter, passed on Tuesday. (For more information regarding the letters, see the July 18 issue of the CV Weekly.)

Glendale Unified School District President Jennifer Freemon introduced new Superintendent Vivian Ekchian to Council. Ekchian comes to the district with 34 years of public school experience.

“Thank you for your kind reception. I don’t deserve it,” she said. “I hope over time I can prove that I am worthy of having this wonderful title.”

Ekchian said in the two weeks she had been on the job, she met with schools and community members and wanted to make sure “we raise our educational program to a world class program.”

American Legion Post 288 and VFW Post 1614 are holding their 8th Annual Community Bingo Night on Friday, Aug. 16 inside Healy Hall at Holy Redeemer Church, 2361 Del Mar Road in Montrose. Doors open at
5 p.m., and first game is 6:30 p.m. The entry fee is $20. An advertisement for the games, which includes a coupon for an extra card for the first game, can be found on page 19.

The next CV Town Council meeting is scheduled for Aug. 15 at 7 p.m. at the La Crescenta Library, 2809 Foothill Blvd.

  Brandon Hensley