By Chris BLUME

Mark Pastrella, the deputy director of the L.A. County Flood Control, addressed the members of the CV Town Council and audience at the council’s monthly meeting held on Jan. 21. The main area of discussion centered on the area’s debris basins. In the Valley, rain basins caught 500,000 cubic yards of debris over the week when the area got seven inches of rain. Pastrella said that the department was proud to announce that since then the basins had all been cleared and prepped for the next rainstorm. He was also quick to warn residents, and particularly local youth, of the dangers of a debris basin, particularly in the days after a storm. He said that the mud in the basin, even when it appears dry, could act as quicksand and that even when basins are clean, all residents should stay out of them. He added that a lot of the water that was diverted during the storms and was redirected to replenish the watershed, though water conservation is still important.
A representative of the sheriffs department updated the council on the actions taken during the recent storms and the evacuations that resulted. He also reminded the council and audience of a drug surrender program at the Sheriff’s Station: people can leave prescription or illegal drugs in drop boxes with no questions asked. It was announced that census takers would be in the area knocking on people’s doors. It was advised that to avoid scams, one shouldn’t invite the census takers into the house or provide any personal information. The only information they need is the number of people living in the household. Lastly, on a positive note, it was announced that overall, crime in the area has been on the decline over the past two years.
Librarian Marta Wiggins of the newly opened La Crescenta Library spoke before the council concerning the programs offered by the new library. Among a myriad of new programs, she announced the Anime Club for Teens and the Going Green Hands-On Cooking Class taught by Zel Allen, the Nut Gourmet. The Town Council will be meeting next in the Library meeting room. The library held its soft opening during finals week, and Wiggins was pleased to say that the library was packed during this time with studying teens.
For more information about programs offered by the new library visit colapublib.org.