Officer and Board Installations and Award Presentations

You’ve heard me before talking about the process of getting this paper “put to bed” every week. Sometimes it can be grueling as writers hit deadlines and I edit what comes in. Thankfully, I have help in that regard – Wednesday nights you’ll find our offices at La Crescenta and Honolulu avenues pretty busy with proofreaders reviewing the stories, checking grammar, spelling and punctuation. As stories get approved, our designer (extraordinare) Steve Hernandez is busy placing them on the page, filling up the pages one by one. Meanwhile, the sales staff is checking over its ads, making sure none are dropped. It can be rather hectic, but there’s a positive energy generated from people united in a common goal.

Needless to say, Thursdays are pretty sacred around here. Good or bad, perfect or flawed, what’s done is done and that week’s issue is on the street.

Typically, Thursday is spent recovering the energies spent, but last Thursday afternoon I had the chance to celebrate some of the folks in the Crescenta Valley who focus on helping our local youth.

The occasion was the installation of the board and officers of the Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce and the distribution of money from the Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce Education Fund. Mary started the fund in 1990 with the idea of providing grants for educational programs or projects in Crescenta Valley. Since its inception, the fund has given away thousands of dollars to organizations like Prom Plus, the La Crescenta Elementary School and the Instrumental Music Dept. at Crescenta Valley High School.

Speaking on behalf of Prom Plus, I know how important Mary’s donations have been in making sure we are able to give Crescenta Valley High School seniors and their guests a post prom experience they’ll never forget.

To learn about the luncheon held last Thursday at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club, visit Mary O’Keefe’s story in Between Friends on page 15.

If you didn’t have the chance to attend the luncheon last week, consider attending the Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce  installation dinner next Thursday, Jan. 24. Not only will the evening see the installation of the board of directors for the Montrose-Verdugo City chamber, but it will also include the celebration of civic leaders who have made a difference in the community. These include business owners, law enforcement representatives and volunteers who strive to make the Crescenta Valley the very best it can be.

The dinner is at the Oakmont Country Club. To learn more, read Melinda Clarke’s article on page 22.

And while we’re talking about celebrating people, let’s talk about celebrating a whole town – the town of Montrose!

Montrose is turning 100 years old in 2013 and a centennial kickoff celebration is planned for the weekend of Feb. 22 that is worthy of the town itself. I’ve had the chance to eavesdrop on the Centennial Committee and have heard of some of the activities being planned and the only thing I’ll say is: Plan to be in town that weekend. You’ll have plenty to do.

  robin goldsworthy