By Robin Goldsworthy

The Crescenta Valley is in a state of discovery this month. Many of our local elementary schools plus Rosemont Middle School, Crescenta Valley and Clark Magnet high schools held their annual Founders Day celebrations this month.

According to its website, each year in February, PTA honors the three organization founders as well as past and present PTA leaders. Part of the goal is to raise the awareness of its members and the community by highlighting achievements, activities, projects and goals. The PTA typically recognizes local individuals and organizations with the presentation of awards that can include Honorary Service Awards, Continuing Service Award, Golden Oak Service Award and Very Special Person Award.

As I have bragged more than once, Crescenta Valley Weekly received an Honorary Service Award at last Thursday’s ceremony at CVHS.

Sitting at our table in the Falcon Café I was awestruck by the fellow awardees. Sharon Hales, a true civic leader who is a driving force behind the Crescenta Valley Arts Council and the efforts to save the Verdugo Hills Golf Course, is the mother of (gulp) five children. In her brief and humble acceptance speech she noted that we parents have a responsibility to be good stewards to our community and in so doing will be delivering a message to our children to do likewise.

Dep. Scott Shinagawa, school resource officer for both CVHS and Rosemont, has a heart for children and especially for those who are having a tough time. He was instrumental in the creation of the Bridges program. The outreach program targets at risk kids in the area to help enforce the importance of staying in school.

Vickie Bouldin is a teacher and coach at CVHS. She has been working with students for years and helps with the cheer squads. The number of children that she has touched because of her dedication and drive is countless.

How privileged we are here to be numbered with these folks.

Further south, on Honolulu Avenue, around 75 people gathered at Honolulu and Market Street for the annual Founders Day celebration early Sunday afternoon. I had the honor of presenting Steve Zurn, director for the city of Glendale Department of Public Works, with a Community Service Award.

Several businesses and individuals were honored on Sunday and as their accomplishments were detailed, my awareness was renewed at what a special place we live in and how fortunate I am.

Another example of how giving our community is also occurred over the weekend.

As has been mentioned previously in the Crescenta Valley Weekly, donations are being collected for the family of Joo Lee, the local man who was killed by a hit and run driver on New Year’s Day. Some of the service clubs at CV High School have coordinated donation drives outside local markets for the family. Over the weekend, some of the students were outside a supermarket when a gentleman stopped by with an envelope for the family. The kids thanked him as he walked away and then idly opened the envelope to add the donation to the money already collected.

I’m sure you can imagine their amazement when they saw a cashier’s check for $1,000. They were flabbergasted and immediately called their parents to come and collect the money.

A thousand dollars. From one donor.

I have to admit that when I heard I welled up.

  crescenta valley, founders day, ptsa