Reaching Out
To the grieving community: I remember how we came together after Berlyn Cosman’s death and created Prom Plus. We came together after the Valley View murders to talk at a meeting at Descanso Gardens and to make this community even stronger through tragedy.

As I reflect on how students treat each other, I see a parallel to adult relations as well. The only difference is adults are more secure, have more self-esteem and could care less if someone doesn’t like them. However think about it – we can all reflect on how we treat others.

Do we click together with our friends and not let others in, not go out of our way to greet someone we don’t know? Do we even notice if someone is alone or are we just too busy taking care of our business? If there is nothing in it for me, why should I reach out of my comfort zone to welcome a stranger? Are we friendly with everyone who lives on our street, goes to our club or church?

Adults as well as children need to know they are loved by others.  Say “hi” to a stranger today and everyday.  We can all make this “The Community That Cares.”

Danette Erickson
La Crescenta

Reflecting on Community Loss
This past week our Crescenta Valley community suffered a huge loss of innocence with the tragic death of one of our students.

Most of us did not know Drew Ferarro. But the heartfelt loss we shared with news of his death was community wide. He was one of our kids.

It is likely we will never know what went wrong. But our efforts to reach out to our children must continue. Let’s make sure each of them knows they are truly loved and we care.

Steve Pierce
La Crescenta

Courtesy is Two-Way Street
I am glad to see that another lighted crosswalk is coming to our area [“Flashing Crosswalk Coming to Foothill and Glenwood,” Feb. 9].

I too have seen many people blast by pedestrians as they try and cross the street. But I have noticed something else, too. A lot of the students – not all – will meander across the street with no hustle at all. In fact, their meandering is a lot slower that a normal walking pace. Some are more in to their iPods than the traffic they are threading through. I have two very arthritic knees and I can walk across the street faster than they do. I know because I have done it.

Some look you square in the eye as if saying that they dare you to hit them. My worst spot is the northwest corner of Foothill and Rosemont when school lets out. I have had students run in front of me when I am turning right that were not in range when I first saw them and they have the “Do Not Cross” signal. A horn toot usually gets me the hand signal for ill will.

I suggest that these students study their physics a little better. I remember what I was told when was young: “Son, you can be right, but you will be dead right.” Crosswalk safety is a two-way deal. It requires courtesy and patience by both the motorists and the pedestrians.

Tom Suter
La Crescenta

Disapproves of Rev’s Response
I read Rev. [Griem’s] response to a question and was blown, mowed down by his response to a concerned driver. I quote: “Gods laws get broken every single day and not just by ignorant pagans but by folks like you and me who believe in God and read his Bible.”

Of course that means atheists, Wicca and God knows what else. Does it include Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Mormons, etc.? Does Rev. G think that because others do not read “his Bible” they do not have moral ethical religious beliefs? Perhaps not meant that way, but I read that comment as self rightous, patronizing and demeaning to other religions.

How unChristian!

Barbara Poland
La Crescenta

Salutes Jim
Just for the record, I love all of Jim Chase’s articles, even the one about the new California Laws. His is the first article I read when the Crescenta Valley Weekly newspaper arrives.

Keep up the good work, Jim; you have lots of fans and you make this an enjoyable newspaper.

Star DeRose
La Crescenta

Countdown To Relay
I’m Chuck. I was born and raised in Glendale. After living in Colorado and New England I settled in La Crescenta, met the love of my life, and we raised four children. Three of them were on their own when we got involved in our youngest son’s high school athletics and became aware of the strong sense of community our little valley offers. We saw it in our schools and parents, the merchants who run shops along Honolulu and businesses on Foothill, and the local newspapers. You get it. The people and places that make the Crescenta Valley a great place to live.

We learned about the American Cancer Society Foothills Relay for Life, a unique community event, in 2002 when a family member was diagnosed with cancer. We attended in 2003, formed a team in 2004, and have been part of the Relay family since.

Now I have cancer. But this morning I woke up on the right side of the dirt, so today is a good day.

The 2012 Foothills Relay for Life will take place at Clark Magnet High School, 4747 New York, from 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 12 through 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 13. There will be live music and games all day, the luminary ceremony on Saturday evening followed by late movies for kids and grownups. And there will be food morning, noon and night. It’s a 24-hour party.

Since our event is voluntary, 97% of what we raise goes to the American Cancer Society. About 20% of what we give the ACS covers expenses. It takes money to raise money. The rest goes to research grants and patient programs. We hope one day it won’t be necessary to raise money to overcome cancer. But we’re not there yet. You can get involved by logging on to our website, foothillsrelayforlife.com, and joining a team. Or visit our booth at the Montrose Harvest Market.

All of us have been touched by cancer. So it’s up to all of us to do something about it. Please join us May 12 and May 13. Twenty-four hours you’ll never forget.

Chuck Boone
La Crescenta

Unnecessary Pollution
Imagine sitting down with your coffee, about to crack that newspaper open and enjoy a picturesque morning. You notice a few people jogging, and more of the elderly walking, some walking their dogs and others trying to get their coffee before that commute to work. Suddenly, you notice a giant cloud of dust concocted of fingernail trimmings, animal waste mixed with leaves and other decomposing matter approaching you. As you look carefully, you see a tiny object, almost like a human figure.

Wait! It is a human! He’s causing this chaos with an extended tube coming out of the side of his backpack. Yes, I’m talking about the leaf-blowers.

Are they getting louder? Why are they still around? The operation of one leaf blower over one hour is the equivalent of 17 cars producing emissions over one hour. The Air Resources Board (ARB), in a recent Orange County study, calculated a 2.11-ton daily injection of combustion pollutants in the air contributed by leaf blowers. And that’s just Orange County!

Furthermore, the use of leaf blowers is prohibited within 500 feet of a residence. Yet everyday one of my neighbor’s gardeners is playing tag with the dust recently accreted by the other gardeners’ leaf blowers. One was actually using a leaf blower, fighting the wind, during the powerful Santa Ana winds we recently experienced.

Some argue that the alternatives are expensive and would create more work for the gardeners. Electric blowers do exist, and so do rakes and brooms. Using those tools would actually eliminate the trash instead of transporting it to another location, only to be rediscovered in your driveway the following day. It might seem as an expensive alternative now, however causing unnecessary pollutants can drill a greater hole in your wallet, trying to pay for the expensive consequent medicine.

We must commend our legislation to continue to enforce such laws in attempts to maintain a healthy environment for everyone.

For more information about the harms of leaf blowers, visit http://www.zapla.org.

Now, imagine governmental vehicles operated electrically….

Hovannes Dongelyan
La Crescenta