The Joy and the Disconnect

I’ve shared with you (more than once) the satisfaction I’ve received over the years since I started the Crescenta Valley Weekly back in 2009. This satisfaction is not just from the awards garnered (though that is very gratifying), but also from hearing repeatedly from readers how much they enjoy the CV Weekly, how they can’t wait to get their hands on each Thursday’s issue to read it “cover to cover.” That does my soul good knowing that the hard work we put into the CV Weekly is recognized and appreciated.

Over the years the paper has received numerous awards including business of the year. I am so humbled to let you know that Supervisor Michael Antonovich from the L.A. Board of Supervisors in celebration of Women’s History Month has chosen me as his woman of the year. The notice I received reads, in part, “The Los Angeles County Commission for Women and the Board of Supervisors will proudly honor women of the community for their exceptional work in women’s rights at the 31st Annual ‘Women of the Year’ Awards and Scholarship Luncheon to be held on Monday, March 14.

“As Supervisor of the Fifth District, Mayor Antonovich has the opportunity to select one woman from his district who he feel deserves this honor.”

What a fantastic honor given the size of the fifth district and how many people Supervisor Antonovich could have chosen! I look forward to the March 14 luncheon.

One issue that keeps gnawing at me is the disconnect between those who read the paper and those who advertise in the paper. You would think that they would be one in and the same but, sadly, that doesn’t seem to be the case. For example, I’ll be talking to a business owner at a function who says how much he/she loves the paper. Yet they don’t advertise. Huh?

I’m reminded of when the Crescenta Valley Sun was closed in 2009, which prompted me to start the CV Weekly. One of the sales people was relaying a conversation she had with a business owner who was so upset that the Sun had closed, he couldn’t understand how this could have happened.

“Did you advertise?” she asked. The business owner stammered that no he never did.

As evidenced by the closing of the CV Sun and the downsizing of the Glendale NewsPress, the success of a paper is determined by a unique partnership between the writers, the readers and the advertisers. At CV Weekly, our writers work hard to put together an excellent product week after week. Our readers have embraced that product and sing its praises. Our longtime advertisers like Merle Norman Cosmetics and J’s Maintenance get what we do and what we offer and have been with us since day one. My challenge is to engage those who see a value in the paper but haven’t made the commitment to financially support it. I ask, “Why not?” and invite you to come aboard. This is a privately owned, privately funded paper – no deep pockets here – and we’ve got a spot for you.

  robin goldsworthy