Highlighting our Community Recognition Award Winners

Trader Joe’s, Harriet Hammons and the Vons Shopping Center at Indian Springs are award winners.

The Montrose-Verdugo City area had many changes in the year 2011, and the Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce is going to honor just a few of the people and organizations that brought positive change to the community. At our 2012 installation dinner on Thursday, Jan. 26, we will be honoring those businesses and people that helped bring the change. I want to tell you why they we chose three of our award winners.

Our Beautification Award goes to a business that demonstrates an extraordinary improvement to the appearance of the community. I think we could all agree that the new Trader Joe’s in Montrose does just that. Trader Joe’s built their new store on a spot that had been a vacant parking lot for years and was not very appealing. Not only did the store upgrade that spot, it also brought more traffic to the west end of Honolulu Avenue and helped the businesses there. Thank you, Trader Joe’s, for making Montrose even more “beautiful” than it was before.

Our Community Endearment Award goes to a special individual who has shown great care for the community through service and dedication. Harriet Hammons, a substitute teacher for the LAUSD, is a part of so many organizations in the entire Crescenta Valley area including the Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce, the La Cañada Chamber of Commerce and assists Boy Scout Troops #308 and #317. Harriet is not only a part of many organizations but she has been a part of them for many years. She tirelessly gives of her time and energy and shows how much she cares for the area through all of the organizations she serves.

Our Community Enhancement Award goes to an individual, business or organization that has proven an asset to the community by improving the image and stature of the area. The Indian Springs Shopping Center at 2033 N. Verdugo Road is the site of the Vons and CVS Pharmacy upgrades by owners Bradley Howard, Cynthia Howard & Ted J. Greene was our choice this year. The new site was designed with a “mountain community” feel in mind and used greens and browns to help it blend into the community and its landscape. The property is still under renovation and added three additional retail spaces. Thank you, Howard and Greene of Burbank.

Our installation dinner is scheduled for Jan. 25 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Angeles National Golf Course, 9401 Foothill Blvd. in Sunland. Portions of the proceeds from this event go to our Anita Peet Geyer Scholarship Fund.

If you would like to attend, you can pay by Visa, MasterCard, Amex or check payable to: MVCCC, 3516 N. Verdugo Road, Glendale, CA 91208.

We hope to see you there.

The Montrose Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce wishes you a prosperous 2012.

  melinda clarke