By Eric OWENS

Ocean View Books Etc, formerly Around the World Books of La Cañada, celebrated its grand opening Saturday, Oct. 2 on the same day as the 33rd Annual Montrose Oktoberfest. The bookstore is owned by Priscilla Luther-Heft and Rosemont Middle School science teacher Mike Heft.
After Luther-Heft cut the official golden ribbon, homemade chocolate chip cookies and drinks, provided by her mom Bina Luther of Eagle Rock, were offered to those in attendance.
Various authors came out to support the grand opening and to sign copies of their most recent works. Crescenta Valley Historical Society president Mike Lawler and Robert Newcombe signed their newest book, “The Crescenta Valley: Then and Now.”
Historian Mary Lou Pozzo entertained attendees with anecdotes of the Tujunga and Crescenta Valley regions as she signed her book, “Founding Sisters: Life Stories of Tujunga’s Early Women Pioneers of 1886-1926” and “Tombstone Tales from Verdugo Hills Cemetery.” Physicist Robert L. Piccioni, Phd. discussed and signed his two newest works, “Everyone’s Guide to Atoms, Einstein, and the Universe” and “Can Life Be Merely An Accident?”
Luther-Heft said that she is happy to be part of the Montrose community. “This is a great location and a great community. I’ve had many people stop in and say how happy they are to have a used bookstore in town again,” she said. “I plan on being here a good long time.”
In addition to the wide collection of about 50,000 mostly used books in the shop, customers viewed local art pieces, an exhibit from the Sunland-Tujunga Art Society that will be on display for another month, and plein air paintings by Sebastopal artist L.L. Box that will also be showcased through Thanksgiving. Other local artists will also be featured from time to time.
The “Etc” part of the store refers to its items for sale that include board games, trading cards, antique glassware and figurines, sheet music, maps, globes, vinyl records, books on tape and comic books that range in price from a dollar to three.
Autumn hours are Monday through Thursday from noon to 6 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Ocean View Books Etc is located at the corner of Honolulu Avenue and Ocean View Boulevard, just south of the Coffee Bean, at 3701 Ocean View Blvd. – Suite E.

  Crescenta, Oceanview