In brief

Taking care of the trees on Foothill Boulevard
On Saturday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., community members will be watering and caring for trees along Foothill Blvd. (both north and south sides) from Briggs to Lowell avenues. This is a community project and is not part of any organization. Volunteers from the Crescenta Valley Town Council’s Adopt a Tree program will be on hand to share their gardening skills. Allied Waste will be picking up the debris and the Department of Public Works of Los Angeles County will bring their watering trucks to help during the day.
Anyone who would like to volunteer is invited to bring their gloves, clippers and simple gardening tools and meet at St. Luke’s of the Mountains at 8 a.m.

It’s Montrose Christmas Parade time – almost
The 34th Annual Montrose Christmas Parade is Saturday, Dec. 4.
Those wishing to participate in any capacity can visit the website for information www.montrosechristmasparade.com. Parade entry forms are also on the website. Information is also available by calling (818) 259-5195.

Grand Opening for Ocean View Books Etc.
Ocean View Books Etc. at 3701 Ocean View Blvd. will be celebrating its grand opening on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The bookstore mostly deals in second hand books but also has some new books available as well.
For its celebration the owner has invited three authors to sign their latest books. At 11 a.m. Mike Lawler, president of the Historical Society of Crescenta Valley and local author will be signing the book he co-authored with Robert Newcombe, “The (Then and Now) Crescenta Valley.” At noon, Mary Lou Pozzo will be signing two of her books, “Founding Sister” stories of Tujunga’s early women pioneers, and “Tombstone Tales,” stories from Verdugo Hills Cemetery. At 1 p.m. Robert Piccioni, Ph.D will sign his two books, “Everyone’s Guide to Atoms, Einstein, and the Universe” and “Can Life Be Merely an Accident?”
There will also be an art exhibit by the Sunland-Tujunga Art Society and plein air art by Northern California artist Laura Box.

FLU SHOTS COMING TO VHH
Verdugo Hills Hospital (VHH) is offering free flu immunizations to residents 55 years of age and older on Friday, Oct. 29, from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the hospital’s Council Room (located on the 4th floor lobby). Flu shots will be administered on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.
The flu shots are also available to adults and children who are under a doctor’s care for long-term health or lung problems; anyone who has been admitted to a hospital within the past year for treatment of kidney disease, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, anemia or severe asthma; and anyone who has a type of cancer of immunological disorder, which lowers the body’s normal resistance to infections.
People who have a serious allergic reaction to eggs should not be vaccinated because the vaccine is made in eggs. For more information, call the VHH flu hotline at (818) 949-4003.

VHAA HOSTS GUEST ARTIST
Well-known portrait artist Vadim Zang will be the guest at the next demonstration event for the Verdugo Hills Art Association on Friday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. at La Crescenta Presbyterian Church. Those arriving early will have the chance to buy a chance in the evening’s raffle. The prize is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be Zang’s model for the evening.
Zang is an art instructor for the Academy of Figurative Art (LAAFA). For more information about his classes and workshops call (818) 708-9232 or visit www.laafa.org. For more information on the Verdugo Hills Art Association visit www.verdugoarts.com.
La Crescenta Presbyterian is located at 2902 Montrose Ave. in La Crescenta.
Public Notice of Proposed Increase in Water Rates/Charges
A public meeting is scheduled for Oct. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at Crescenta Valley Water District, 2700 Foothill Blvd.  CVWD Board of Directors is considering a staff recommendation for a proposed change in water rates and charges. CVWD listed the cost of purchased water from Foothill Municipal Water District as a separate line item on customer bills in 2010.  In 2011,the purchased water cost will be adjusted from $1.55 per unit to $1.90 per unit (one unit =1,000 gallons).  Water service charge proposed increase from $24.88 per two months to $30 per month for a typical residential water meter.