Ailanthus – Tree of Heaven or Tree From Hell? The Ailanthus tree is becoming one of the most common growths found in La Crescenta. It comes up in vacant lots, along sidewalks and roadways, and is symbiotic with development as it prefers disturbed soil to sprout. Once you learn to recognize it, you begin to […]
We focus on prevention. But what if your child is engaging in risky behavior? Here’s a page from The Partnership at DrugFree.org. They’re the people who brought you the fried eggs, “This is your brain on drugs” ad. Visit www.drugfree.org/intervene to read more. Do you think — or know — that your child is using […]
Using Technology to Promote Civic Engagement Last month, dozens of local residents clambered into a virtual auditorium to ask me questions about the community, legislation, and even a few of my personal interests and perspectives. The event, billed as a “No-Traffic Town-Hall Chat,” inspired participation from residents throughout the district. I answered 27 questions during […]
The Future of Rockhaven Sanitarium Last week I wrote about the formation of the Friends of Rockhaven, a new and dynamic group that is preserving and celebrating the history of the 90-year-old sanitarium. As most of us know, the 3½ acre oak shaded piece of paradise located at 2713 Honolulu Ave. was purchased by the […]
Bye-Bye to the Beast, Part 2 Last week I wrote about selling our family’s beloved 1999 Chevy Suburban, aka: “The Beast.” To recap, the supersized SUV was simply too old, too big and too costly to keep on the road. Too bad. It’s not like we didn’t get more than our money’s worth from the […]
We were at a barbecue, segregated into two groups: six parents and six high school students. Parents discussed college, the professionalization of high school sports, and raising happy kids even though you’re pushing them to excel so they, like every father there, can attend an Ivy. According to my source, the teens talked about their […]
Chemtrail Alert [On Aug. 1], when I woke up and saw the weather outside of my La Cañada home, it looked like it was about to rain. I can’t ever remember weather like this at this time of year. Almost daily you see articles in the news or in magazines about the subject of “climate […]
Bye Bye to the Beast The last time we bought a new car was back in the Bronze Age. Or maybe it was 2002. Anyway, it was a long time ago when we bought the pickup truck I drive every day. It was even farther back in the annals of history when we bought my […]
Friends of Rockhaven Sanitarium “Get Committed to Rockhaven Sanitarium!” That’s the tongue-in-cheek motto of a new group in the Crescenta Valley dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history of the 90-year-old sanitarium. The Friends of Rockhaven are documenting its long history and giving tours of its empty halls and quiet grounds. Sanitariums were the founding […]
Watching Land Use in Crescenta Valley In 2009, a group of residents and business professionals joined the Glendale Planning Dept. staff and formed the North Glendale Community Plan Advisory Committee. Together the group created the North Glendale Community Plan (NGCP), the first since 1974. The vision as outlined in the plan states: “We value and […]