Glad to Hear from Drayman
It has been too long since we’ve heard John Drayman’s excellent perspective on our foundations as a community (“Going, going, gone … a town is born,” Letters, March 8).

“Promised land” is right, and my feeling exactly when I discovered here the interconnectedness of a small town, nestled in nature’s beauty, yet with easy to reach art house movies and a Nordstrom’s.

So duh and a big forehead slap that we missed the 99th but thanks to John and the CV Weekly we have no excuse not to all come together to create a Feb. 22, 2013 centennial celebration worthy of our paradise.

Roberta Medford
Montrose

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 am. on Saturday, May 12 through 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 13. There will be live music and games all day, the Luminary Ceremony 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 13. Twenty-four hours you’ll never forget.

Chuck Boone
La Crescenta