2017 brings a lot of changes. Our little valley will have new representatives at many levels. Brandon Lee joins the CV Town Council bringing the perspective of our younger residents. We have a new LA County Supervisor, Kathryn Barger. Both are serving in public office for the first time although Ms. Barger has worked in former Supervisor Antonovich’s office for several years. Anthony Portantino, a former mayor and city council member of La Cañada Flintridge and a veteran of the state assembly, now represents us in the California Senate. Laura Friedman, who served nearly eight years on the Glendale City Council, has moved up to the state assembly. They and all other public officials will need a lot of community support and help to deal with a number of difficult issues.

I hope many New Year’s resolutions included volunteering. All non-profits need more participation. Whatever cause interests you, there’s a group that would welcome your contributions. For example, the Historical Society of the Crescenta Valley needs someone to operate the computer projector for its monthly presentations. Glendale Community Services and Parks has a webpage devoted to volunteer opportunities, http://tinyurl.com/gpj3ctv. You’ll not only gain the satisfaction of being part of the solution, you’ll meet some wonderful people.

Old timers should invite new neighbors to join the organizations they love so they don’t go the way of the Crescenta-Cañada Rotary Club, which recently folded after 76 years due to declining membership.

Societal needs are only getting greater. The increasing number of homeless on our streets is just one example. Nobody wants to be taxed more to meet those needs. We have to find a way to recruit the younger generations and new immigrants to help.

We’re still absorbing the results of the November election but it’s time to start gathering data on upcoming municipal races. La Cañada Flintridge will hold an election for two city council seats on March 7. Incumbents Jon Curtis and Dave Spence will be faced by at least one challenger.

Los Angeles City Council District 7 includes Sunland-Tujunga and is an open seat since Felipe Fuentes resigned to become a lobbyist. Twenty hopefuls have filed to run in the March 7 primary. Glendale’s election is on April 4. Incumbent council members Ara Najarian and Zareh Sinanyan will be up for reelection and the city council vacancy created by Ms. Friedman’s election to the assembly will be filled. Glendale city clerk and treasurer will also be on the ballot. The nomination period for all candidates is Jan. 5-26.

For the first time, the elections for Glendale Unified School District board of education and Glendale Community College board of trustees will be by districts. Neither Crescenta Valley district, A in the case of GUSD and 1 for GCC, is up for election this year so we will continue to be represented by the at-large board members finishing their four-year terms.

Although we won’t be voting in the board elections we can contribute to the discussion. Personally, I’d like to see GUSD tackle one of the biggest problems in the area: poor driving. High school driver education and training has fallen by the wayside due to lack of funding and increased academic requirements. I think we should find a way to bring it back. Young drivers aren’t the only ones doing dangerous things while on our roads but they are involved in many collisions. It’s in our best interest to reduce the accidents that raise our insurance rates. It seems to me the car dealers in the area should support this effort.

The next Crescenta Valley Community Association meeting will be Jan. 26 starting at 7 p.m. in the community room at the La Crescenta Library, 2809 Foothill Blvd. Park in the upper lot accessed from La Crescenta Avenue. Our meeting will be preceded by the annual Far North Glendale Homeowners group meeting at 6:30 p.m. If you live north of Honolulu Avenue between Pennsylvania and Lowell avenues, please join us to help chart the course for the next year. All Crescenta Valley residents and stakeholders are welcome at the 7 p.m. CVCA meeting.