What’s Going On in Our Neighborhoods

On Friday, I attended the ribbon cutting of the new corral that the Angeles National Golf Club had installed for equestrians wanting to gallop over for a meal. It’s quite beautiful and spacious, easily able to accommodate 15 or more horses. Also at the ribbon cutting were fellow members of the Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce and it was nice to catch up with them. (To read more about the corral, read Jackie Houchin’s story on page 16).

Following the ribbon cutting, I joined fellow board members Rachel Seward and Warren Boehm and Warren’s wife Marilyn for dinner on the lawn at the golf club. The lawn was laid out with half a dozen tables and a buffet dinner of tri-tip arranged overlooking the golf course. With the sun setting, it was a beautiful scene and very relaxing.

As it was getting dark, the band in the meeting room adjacent to the lawn fired up. Not one to miss out on live music, Rachel and I headed in after bidding Marilyn and Warren good night.

The music was country and though not a genre I typically am drawn to, I couldn’t help but clap my hands and watch the dancers take to the floor. It became apparent that Rachel and I had wandered into the celebration of a local riding club. Thankfully, the group was very inviting and welcomed us two as we joined them on the dance floor to haltingly follow instructions for line dancing.

Though I’m still a disco diva at heart, I had a ball and want to extend my thanks to the riding club for allowing us to crash their affair.

__________________________

After taking part in the Kiwanis Incredible Duck Splash at Verdugo Park on Saturday with Prom Plus, I made my way to the corner of Ocean View and Honolulu around 7 p.m. for the launch of this year’s American Cancer Society’s Foothills Relay for Life.

The launch is an understated affair highlighted by one or two guest speakers and the arrangement of about two dozen lighted paper bags representing the extensive luminaria ceremony that is part of the 24-hour Relay for Life event.

Paula Warner, this year’s Foothills Relay for Life chairman, asked me to briefly speak on Saturday evening about how cancer has affected my life.

This is a personal subject – and a painful one as I’m sure you can understand. My mother, a devoted smoker, died of lung cancer that had metastasized to her brain. My father-in-law, who never smoked and rarely drank, died of renal cancer.

Recounting the journey of these two people that I loved was hard, but I hope that it was also inspirational and that someone who heard it will be moved to join the Foothills Relay for Life in May.

Check back regularly with the Crescenta Valley Weekly as we’ll keep you up to date with Relay news.

______________________

Finally, there have been some changes here in the foothill community.

This week the CV Drug & Alcohol Prevention Coalition announced that executive director David Marquez has moved on and Susan Dubin – one of the founding members of the organization when it first met in the downstairs of the high school – has stepped in to fill his shoes, at least temporarily.

Also, after much debate and a hearing downtown, it looks like Walgreens is getting permission to sell beer and wine.

So, you’ve got the CV Drug & Alcohol Prevention Coalition working to better restrict access to drugs and alcohol and Walgreens given permission to sell beer and wine.

Weird.

  robin goldsworthy