Just The Facts, Ma’am

I would say I am a bit of an information junkie. Not that I need to have quick information at my fingertips for life’s typical questions. I don’t. Sometimes I actually prefer to just wonder about things, like we used to do before phones became more than a calling device.

But I am curious about the world around me and have become an observer of people. I like to know what is going on in my neighborhood whether good or bad. I like to read the newspaper and find interesting things to do or see photos of folks around town contributing in some way. It doesn’t matter if I know them or not. I like to chat with people about what they are doing and where they may be headed. It’s getting harder to talk about politics or religion but I welcome those discussions to try to understand different points of view and to learn.

I also like to watch the news. I spend a lot of time dialing around, watching stories unfold from different angles. Did they catch the killer? Did the celebrity really do that? Did the politician resign? All fascinating stuff.

I love to hear about local history. I recently attended a presentation by the Historical Society of the Crescenta Valley and learned that during WWII Disney and Warner employees were tasked with creating chicken wire molds and netting that looked like village scenes to disguise aviation sites from attack. The photos that were shown were amazingly deceptive.

I also like to share what I know with other people. As a steering committee member of the Crescenta Valley Community Association, I regularly send out information about upcoming community meetings or proposed projects that may spark controversy. The recipient can then decide if they want to attend the meeting, get involved or disregard what I have sent.

The project that concerns me the most right now is California High-Speed Rail that will significantly impact our entire region for years to come. I spent time this week poring through the environmental documents and writing letters. The deadline to comment on the Palmdale to Burbank section of the project is today, Dec. 1 at 5 p.m. More at hsr.ca.gov.

I like to look around Facebook to see what my friends are up to, especially those who live far away. I have a group of high school chums that keep in touch and share stories. It’s fun to see all the grandkids. I also enjoy the clever life hacks and funny animal videos. Labrador retriever pool parties are the best.

One information-sharing trend that I really don’t like is the mean-spirited exchanges on social media in the local community groups. I am dumbfounded when I see this happen. Don’t get me wrong; I am a staunch supporter of freedom of speech and I would never call for any kind of content censorship. However, I think free speech should be used for creative ideas not for hurtful words. It’s not that hard to be kind and, after everything we have been through together, it’s time for a little respect.

A recent interaction between our own Robin Goldsworthy and a group of folks on the social platform, Nextdoor, revealed some bad apples in our midst. As editor of CV Weekly, Robin provided some information about a non-criminal death in the community but did not have specific details. She posted what she knew to give a heads-up about law enforcement activity in the area. What followed were rude attacks about her lack of information that were completely unnecessary – but sadly commonplace. Thankfully, other participants deflected the comments and appreciated her effort.

I can’t wait to see you all at the Montrose Christmas parade this Saturday, Dec. 3 at 6:10 p.m. I will be the one with a big smile on my face, clapping and cheering.