Join us for the 1st Annual YMCA of the Foothills Life Walk for Safe & Healthy Youth Life Skills this Saturday at 10 a.m. Walkers start at either La Cañada City Hall (1327 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada Flintridge) or the Verdugo Hills YMCA (6840 Foothill Blvd., Tujunga) and walk to Rosemont Middle School (4725 Rosemont Ave., La Crescenta) for a fair beginning at 10:45 a.m. A highlight for students in grades nine to 12, including those home-schooled, is a drawing for a free car! Registration is required at either the La Cañada Y (1930 Foothill Blvd.) or the Tujunga Y. Students 17 and younger need a parent or guardian’s approval. YMCA chaplain Mark Yeager said teen suicides were the catalyst for this event. Suicide prevention and proving ways to help at-risk youth are its goals. Life Walk is co-sponsored by CV Alliance and Star Mazda Glendale.

Here are some indicators that teens are contemplating, or even planning, suicide from www.teensuicide.us:

• Actually says, “I’m thinking of committing suicide” or “I want to kill myself” or “I wish I could die.” Other verbal hints that could indicate suicidal thoughts or plans include such phrases as: “I want you to know something, in case something happens to me,” or “I won’t trouble you anymore.”

• Begins giving away favorite belongings or promising them to friends and family members.

• Throws away important possessions.

• Shows signs of extreme cheerfulness following periods of depression.

• Creates suicide notes.

• Expresses bizarre or unsettling thoughts on occasion.

Learn these signs. Use them to talk with your child. It is better to act than to regret. Sadly, teen suicide is not unique to our community. Let’s show the young people of CV that we care about them, that we’re here to help, and that while we respect what they’re going through, we know from experience that it gets better.

See you on Saturday!

Results of the Oct. 26, DEA Prescription Drug Take Back: we collected 17 boxes of medicines – that’s three more than last time! With your help, between 650 – 700 pounds of unused, unwanted and potentially dangerous drugs are out of our homes. Until April’s Take Back, use the boxes at the Sheriff’s station to anonymously deposit these medicines and needles.