“Say what you mean, but don’t be mean”
I am a mother, grandmother, and a very happy homeowner in beautiful La Crescenta.

As our community unites together, may we always pray for Drew Ferraro, his family, his friends, his great teachers and wonderful CVHS. Perhaps we can tell our children to remember to always reach out for help and guidance, share your feelings with someone you can trust, someone who has experienced the same deep pain, and someone who believes in you.

God is always there for us at anytime, anyplace, and will never leave us! And will guide us if we just ask. This reminds me of Billy “8 years old,” who would say mean things. Every time Billy would say something mean, his dad would take him to the back fence where he had Billy pound a nail into the fence. He would explain how wrong it was to say cruel things.

Time went by and 20 nails later, Billy realized how wrong this was.

His dad had Billy pull out all the nails from the fence and said, “Billy, the holes still remain.”

“Say what you mean, but don’t be mean.” This is not only for young people but for adults, too. There is always something kind and nice you can tell someone.

Try it!

Patricia Faieta
La Crescenta

‘Campaigns’ for Her ‘Y’
When I think of the YMCA of the Foothills, I think of my place to unwind, to invigorate my muscles and release the worries and stresses of the day, a place where I can fade into a few chapters of a crime thriller, while burning away those delicious calories, a place that encourages me to take care of my body and mind.

When I think of the Y, I think of the theme song lyrics from the ’80s iconic show “Cheers”*. The song starts like this:

Making your way in the world today takes everything you got.
Taking a break from all your worries sure would help a lot.
Wouldn’t you like to get away?
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name

And they’re always glad you came….

That’s how I feel about the YMCA of the Foothills, a place where you can get away (even if it’s just for an hour), a place where the staff knows your name (especially if you’re a regular like me), and they’re always glad you came (there’s always someone at the front desk to greet and welcome you). A place where familiar faces wave or nod a hello. A friendly place.

This year my husband and I will be celebrating our 10th year of membership at the Y. I feel very fortunate to have a place in my community where I can do “my thing” and feel good about the results.

Since 2008, I’ve campaigned for the Annual Community Support Campaign “Dial a Friend.” As a strong believer in the Y, I look forward to being a part of the 2012 campaign and sharing the Y’s mission: “To improve and enhance the quality of life for everyone we serve.”

Maria Marin, Volunteer Campaign Chair

We Build People Annual Campaign