By Nicole MOORE

An appeal to fellow Montrose business owners by Montrose Shopping Park Assn. president Andre Ordubegian kicked off the monthly MSPA meeting.

“Participation of all the merchants in the [Montrose Shopping Park] is vital. We need to know one another in the community so we can help each other and we can know how to make Montrose better and better,” said Ordubegian.

The meeting was held on Thursday morning, Feb. 2, and also touched on concerns about the vacated Rocky Cola property in the 2200 block of Honolulu Avenue. The restaurant was shuttered in December 2012. Since that time no new tenant has taken possession of the building and neighboring businesses have reported health concerns over the lack of upkeep of the property. The Rocky Cola Café’s property owner has recently been contacted, as well as the City of Glendale, in regard to the matter.

Lt. Oscar Rodriguez of the Glendale Police Dept. took the podium to share that a commercial burglary occurred at Kebab Daddy at 3701 Ocean View Blvd. on Jan. 13. At 3 a.m. two hooded male suspects used crowbars to pry open the door then proceeded to take a total of $2,700 out of two registers and an unlocked safe at the business.

“These criminals are [transients] and not from the area. [Crimes] like this do invite other criminals to the area,” warned Lt. Rodriguez.

Additionally, “cartoon graffiti art” was located on Market Street. The graffiti hotline was called to report the incident and the Glendale Police Dept. has been notified.

Calvin “Kaipo” Chock, president of the Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce, discussed a variety of plans for the upcoming Hometown Country Fair planned for April 29 at Crescenta Valley Park. In years prior the CV Chamber of Commerce has hosted a festive carnival as part of the day’s festivities. However, Chock stated there is a possibility the carnival might be replaced with an art and craft fair accompanied by food trucks and booths representing local businesses and organizations.

“We need to brainstorm [about] something that would draw the community together,” he said. “There is too much of a division between our communities. We need to come together as one big happy family.”

Chock also mentioned the reduced involvement of parent volunteers for Crescenta Valley High School’s Prom Plus. Chock, who is a parent volunteer for the organization, said he hopes the activity level of parents will increase so the grassroots effort, 23 years in the making, can continue as a vibrant contributor to the Crescenta Valley.

Looking ahead, on Saturday, Feb. 11, the Montrose Shopping Park will be celebrating Valentine’s Day. From 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. a Charlie Chaplin impersonator will be handing out long stemmed roses on Ocean View Boulevard and Honolulu Avenue.

The next Montrose Shopping Park Assn. meeting will be on March 2 at Glendale Community College PDC, 2340 Honolulu Ave., at 8 a.m. Meetings are open to the public.

  Nicole MOORE