“Our Business is Your Business”

It’s that time of the year – time to recognize our exceptional Crescenta Valley businesses and citizens! Tonight, Thursday, at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club the CV Chamber will honor those who have improved the quality of life in our community. There are so many extraordinary people and businesses in this community that honoring just a few is a challenge. We are happy to acknowledge the ones who have risen to the top.

Man of the Year Mike Baldwin is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 1614 and was in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. Mike was a key participant in the reconstruction of the Two Strike Park War Memorial Wall.

I’ve had the personal pleasure of working with the Woman of the Year Mary O’Keefe at the Crescenta Valley Weekly. Mary has the biggest heart for the youth in our community! A few years ago, Mary realized that the kids in the community needed a place to safely hang out and, with the help of others, created the Fire House Youth Center.

Our Educator of the Year Dr. Cynthia Livingston has been an inspiration to her students for the past 35 years. After becoming assistant principal at Mark Keppel and then principal at Fremont Elementary, she is now in her fifth year as principal of Rosemont Middle School.

Student of the Year Daniel Ghazarian is a true success story! After years of struggle, he turned around his life and in the 11th grade earned all A’s and B’s in AP and honor courses while volunteering for many community causes.

Chris and Stephanie Mc Reynolds, owners of Business of the Year – Straw Hat Pizza opened the restaurant in April 2013 and Straw Hat on Foothill is the largest franchise in the chain. Their fundraisers have generated money for several organizations.

Organization of the Year Prom Plus was started as a grass roots effort 20 years ago as an alternative to unsupervised after-prom parties. We find it fitting that Prom Plus, which received the Organization of the Year 20 years ago, was named recipient again on its 20th anniversary.

I personally want to congratulate and exceptional Volunteer of the Year, John Giblin. John volunteers every week at the CV Chamber office and can be seen all around town donating his time at community events. Thank you, John, for all your help!

Beautification Award is being presented to the First Baptist Church of La Crescenta, which just celebrated its 50th anniversary with a beautiful new courtyard.

Congratulations to Vito Canella for being named the recipient of the Don Carpenter Award! Vito was one of the organizers of the Flag Week Committee and writes each year to our President to make sure Flag Week is recognized.

Congratulations to the following who serve our community: California Highway Patrol Officer Kenneth Enger, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept. Deputy William Fillpot, Glendale Police Dept. Officer Petros Kmbikyan and from Los Angeles County Fire Battalion Chief Ron Larriva.

“Using Social Media in your Business” is the topic of the CV Chamber business luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 23 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Glendale Community College Professional Development Center at 2340 Honolulu Ave. For more information, please contact the chamber office.

Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce is open Monday thru Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and is located at 3131 Foothill Blvd. ‘D’, La Crescenta. Give us a call at (818) 248-4957 and check out our website at www.crescentavalleychamber org.

  Lisa MITCHELL