Installation Dinner and Community Recognition Awards

This past year has been a good one for the Montrose community. We have so many organizations and individuals we need to thank – so many in fact that we are giving away two special recognition awards and one award that is not given annually but only for a special purpose. That is award is called “In the Line of Duty.” The brainchild of Glendale Police Officer Joe Allen, this award is given in “recognition of a moment of exemplary performance of duties by a peace officer to benefit the citizens of the Montrose-Verdugo City and Crescenta Valley areas.” This year the award goes to the officers and deputies who were involved in the high-speed chase along Foothill Boulevard on the morning of Halloween – which we all agree is a “moment of exemplary performance.” That situation could have quickly escalated into a major tragedy if not handled properly. Thanks to CHP Officers Robert Maldonado, Christopher Cassidy, Thomas Miller, Ernie Amaya, Sheriff Deputy Jeff Garcia and Reserve Sheriff Deputy Deanna Hammerlie, disaster was averted. Thank you for helping keep our city safe!

Our special recognition awards are going to two individuals who have both been long time supporters of Montrose and the Crescenta Valley. They are Chris Waldheim and John Ehret. Chris Waldheim, owner of J’s Maintenance in La Crescenta, has tirelessly helped the Montrose Chamber of Commerce with its annual Oktoberfest by being the food captain for the event, a large task in and of itself, and then by cleaning the streets and returning them back to normal in less than 12 hours! We are renaming our Oktoberfest Volunteer of the Year Award the Chris Waldheim Oktoberfest Volunteer of the Year Award so he and his family will be immortalized with the chamber, just like Frank Roberts, for his extraordinary contribution to our annual event.

John Ehret is our other Special Recognition Award winner. John has served this community for over 35 years in many different ways. One of the greatest contributions he made was to help found the Crescenta Valley Sheriff Support Group 30 years ago. The Crescenta Valley Sheriff Support Group helps maintain the important connection between our community and the Sheriff’s Department. The members support many important programs in the area and help raise funds to pay for specialized equipment and other programs necessary for operations at the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station. After 30 years with the Sheriff’s Support Group, John is retiring. We wanted to take this opportunity to thank him for his dedication and service to our community. Please join us as we celebrate these people and the rest of our 2013 award winners.

There is still time to RSVP to our installation dinner. Please contact us today to reserve your space. The dinner is on Thursday, Jan. 23 at Oakmont Country Club at 6 p.m. Tickets for the installation and community awards dinner cost $50 per person in advance or $60 at the door. To attend you can mail your payment to: MVCC, 3516 N. Verdugo Road, Glendale, CA 91208, contact the office at
mvcc@montrosechamber.org or call us at (818) 249-7171.

The  Oakmont Country Club is located at 3100 Country Club Drive, Glendale 91208.

The February mixer is on Wednesday, Feb. 12 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at CVI Insurance, 3156 Foothill Blvd., Suite A, La Crescenta. Celebrating 45 years in business!

  melinda clarke