By Mary O’KEEFE

On Thursday night, the Crescenta Valley Town Council members shared their appreciation for Cynthia Livingston after she retired as principal of Rosemont Middle School. The council members were joined by Kaipo Chock, president of the CV Chamber of Commerce, and representatives from the offices of Senator Anthony Portantino, Assemblymember Laura Friedman, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger and the Armenian Parents Club and students. Livingston retired Friday after 28 years working at Glendale Unified School District, the last seven as Rosemont’s principal.

Livingston said that Rosemont was a place where she felt at home.

“I found my people,” she said. “I treasure and love every single one of them.”

She was given certificates of appreciation from the various representatives and a medal for her service from the Armenian Parents Club.

Then California Highway Patrol Officer Ryan Bejar shared information about the CHP Explorers program.

The CHP Altadena office is presently looking for new Explorers, Bejar told CVW.  The program is similar to those at the Glendale Police Dept. and Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station. The CHP program is designed for young men and women from 15 to 21 years old.

“[It allows participants] to develop skills and knowledge needed to serve the people of California through discipline and a commitment to serving their community. Explorers assist the CHP both in office and out in the field,” Bejar said. “The experiences they obtain will be directly applicable to a future in law enforcement while building relationships with other Explorers in the community they serve and within the CHP.”

Explorer participants will attend community service events, staff DUI checkpoints, participate in ride-alongs in the field and compete in Explorer competitions, according to Bejar.

Participants in the program will receive physical fitness, medical, organizational and clerical training. For information or to join the Explorers’ program, contact Officer Ryan Bejar at the Altadena office, (626) 296-8100.

Bejar also spoke about distracted driving and reminded drivers that it is against the law to hold a cellphone while driving, regardless if it is on speaker mode.  

An audience member asked if it were all right to use the phone while holding it if the vehicle is stopped.

Bejar replied that drivers can check messages, call or text if they first pull over to the side of the road and the car is in park; however, it is not all right while at a stop sign or traffic light.

 “This is what we call the red light prayer,” he joked. Drivers stop at a red light and their heads nod down as if in prayer, but they are usually just checking their cellphone.

AB 1785 was signed into law and went into effect on Jan. 1. It prohibits drivers from operating a motor vehicle while holding and operating a handheld cellphone or other wireless communication device. If drivers use a cellphone while driving, the phone must be mounted on a vehicle’s windshield or on the vehicle’s dashboard or center console in a “manner that does not hinder the driver’s view of the road,” according to the Dept. of Motor Vehicles’ website.

Bejar also reminded the audience of another law that went into effect this year. Child Safety Seats, AB 53, requires drivers to secure a child who is younger than 2 years old properly in an appropriate rear-facing child passenger seat, unless the child weighs 40 or more pounds or is more than three feet, four inches tall, according to DMV.

However, the issue that received the most reaction at the CVTC meeting was raised when Caltrans (California Dept. of Transportation) representatives took the podium.

Karina Vargas, Caltrans spokeswoman, gave an update on the construction – or pavement rehabilitation – of the Foothill (210) Freeway.

One lane of the eastbound 210 Freeway is closed between Ocean View Boulevard and Lincoln Avenue in Altadena for replacement of damaged pavement. This closure began on April 17. Beginning on May 3, both the eastbound and westbound inner shoulders between Berkshire Place and Ocean View Boulevard were used as regular traffic lanes. The two outer lanes of the westbound 210 will close, but the bypass lane will allow all westbound traffic lanes to remain open while work continues. On July 17, the Angeles Crest Highway on-ramp closed long-term and is not expected to reopen until Sept. 1.

Next, beginning on July 31, which is a delay by a week of the original schedule, Ocean View Boulevard off-ramp will close long-term and is not planned to be reopened until Sept. 15, Vargas said.

Vargas said that Caltrans will also be upgrading the lighting to LED bulbs in local freeway tunnels.

Caltrans is upgrading the drainage system – something that concerned audience members, especially in regards to the Ocean View Boulevard exits.

 “Crews have lost 121 working days,” said Reza Fateh, project manager. “That’s about five months lost to weather, like heavy storms.”

Despite the lost days, Fateh said that the progress of the work is “satisfactory.” The rehab is set to be completed in summer 2018.

Many in the audience shared their concerns about the entrance onto the 210 Freeway at several locations. Some of the merging lanes are shorter due to the construction. Vargas, Fateh and project engineer Andy Liao all took notes of the concerns.

Those who shared their concerns focused on the westbound Ocean View Boulevard on-ramp and the Angeles Crest Highway on-ramp merger onto the 210 Freeway westbound.

“It’s a blind merge,” said one audience member.

Another issue brought to Caltrans’ attention by CVTC Vice President Michael Claessens was the eastbound entrance onto the 210 from the La Crescenta Avenue entrance. Traffic merges onto the freeway that flows into the southbound Glendale (2) Freeway but, for traffic traveling to Pasadena, drivers must quickly cross three lanes to stay on the 210.

Vargas said that there were cones at these areas.

“People roll over the cones,” responded President Harry Leon.

There were other questions concerning drivers speeding and not paying attention to traffic signage. Vargas said that CHP does have patrol units in the area during construction; however, there was a question as to whether there were enough units available for the length of the construction.

Fateh took notes of all the issues brought to his attention by the CVTC and audience and said that he would relate the concerns to the construction company working on the 210 rehabilitation project.

Another issue which the audience was reminded was the receipt of the Dark Skies survey sent out by the Dept. of Public Works and the Land Use Committee. The survey is being used as an outreach to the public concerning the issue of exterior lighting along neighborhood streets in the La Crescenta area. The next LUC meeting will be on Aug. 3 at the La Crescenta Library’s Community Room at 6:30 p.m. Residents are to turn in the survey by midnight on Aug. 7. The survey can be mailed to Los Angeles County Dept. of Regional Planning, 320 W. Temple St., 13th Floor, Room 1360, LA, California 90012, or residents can photograph or scan their survey response and email it to csainz@planning.lacounty.gov. Please write “Survey” in the subject line.

Completed surveys can also be submitted at the La Crescenta Library at 2809 Foothill Blvd. and placed in the “Survey Box” at the front desk, or they can be left at the LA County Sheriff’s Dept./Crescenta Valley Station at 4554 Briggs Ave. in La Crescenta.

  Mary Okeefe