By Brandon HENSLEY

During its meeting on Feb. 20, the Crescenta Valley Town Council welcomed back Steve Goldsworthy as he educated members and the audience on the spread of the Aedes mosquito throughout the Southland.

Goldsworthy, who was there representing the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District, said that local residents must beware of this species, which has migrated from Australia, and that the biggest step to prevent them from laying eggs is to get rid of standing water around the home.

The Aedes, which come in three varieties and have now adapted to survive in Southern California, only travel about 100 feet during their several-week lifespan. The mosquitos stay close to the ground and are small enough so people can’t see them.

The females, who Goldsworthy said “bite all day and night,” lay eggs in standing water. It is a top priority to get rid of standing water after rains, he advised, noting also that people should check for water, including rainwater, in saucers that are underneath pots.

“A [bottle] cap full of standing water is all they want to [lay] their eggs,” Goldsworthy said. “If we don’t take care of our fountains, our ponds, our pools, we’re going to attract mosquitos.”

While it’s important to keep an eye on standing water after rains, it’s also important to note that warmer weather will be on its way and, as Goldsworthy said, “If it’s drier and warmer, we’re probably going to get mosquitos.”

Another item on the agenda concerned a task force report on safe street legislation from District 43 State Assemblymember Laura Friedman. At the meeting, representative Blake Dellinger handed out the Feb.7 press release from her office that detailed Friedman’s “Zero Traffic Fatalities Task Force,” which sought to “reduce traffic-related injuries, fatalities, and speed across the state.”

Because of what she perceives as discouraging findings from the task force, Friedman has introduced Assembly Bill 2121, which would put many recommendations of the task force into law. Dellinger said the task force disagrees with how cities decide on speed limits.

“The main methodology for how [cities] measure speeds on streets is how fast 85% of the cars go on those roads,” he said. “Cities and localities are forced [by the State] to raise their speeds [on those roads] … What’s happened is streets are getting more dangerous because municipalities don’t have any other choice but to raise the speed limit because everybody’s driving fast.”

“There’s never been research to prove this is a good idea,” he added.

If the bill passes, it would “create a pathway for California’s cities to promote safer travel and work to reduce traffic collisions,” the press release stated. AB 2121 will face its first test in Assembly in April.

Crescenta Valley’s 9th Annual Prayer Breakfast will be held Saturday, March 7 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at St. Luke’s of the Mountains Episcopal Church, 2563 Foothill Blvd. The keynote speaker will be Crescenta Valley High School principal Dr. Linda Junge. Doors open at 8 a.m. The breakfast will include performances by CVHS Charismatics. For more information, contact Jo Ann Stupikas at (818) 269-3295.

The next CV Town Council meeting is scheduled for March 19 at 7 p.m. at the La Crescenta Library Community Room, 2809 Foothill Blvd.

  Brandon Hensley