Goodbye December and Happy New Year!

Now we welcome the New Year, full of new things. How the New Year will turn out is entirely up to you. The attitude you bring, the determination you have, the goals you set all will result in the type of year you will have. So let your attitude be positive, your determination be strong and may the Crescenta Valley/Montrose community be stronger as well.

As we encounter the second wave of winter storms, I want to remind everyone to be very careful and prepare. If you need sand or sandbags, please stop by Fire Station 63 on Ramsdell Avenue just north of Foothill Boulevard. They have both available.

I will continue to be in contact with Southern California Edison, Los Angeles County Public Works, CHP, Los Angeles County and the fire department and will relay any important messages regarding the storms and other issues affecting our community.

Please let me know if you or any of our community members need help so I can dispatch the right agency.

Be safe and be careful out there and stay dry.

The growing fentanyl crisis in our communities among youth and young adults is reaching record highs. Education is the best way to fight fentanyl overdoses and save lives. We should partner with parents, school districts, LA County Sheriff’s Dept. and LA County Public Health Dept. and encourage family counseling. The danger of fentanyl poisoning lurks in every community and it’s naïve to think it’s not present in our local schools. Parents, family members and the community at large need to know how to spot the signs of drug use, how to talk with youth to reach them effectively and empower families to keep their kids safe. Together we can put a stop to this crisis.

Los Angeles County Public Works has temporarily closed one lane in each direction on Foothill Boulevard between Glenwood Street and La Crescenta Avenue due to storm damages sustained to a storm drain that runs under Foothill Boulevard. LA County Public Works is monitoring the situation and will be working to complete repairs on the damaged storm drain as soon as possible. In the meantime, the two lanes will remain closed until further notice. Public Works will provide updates as more information becomes available on any additional impacts we can expect during repair work and anticipated reopening of the two lanes. If you have any questions on this matter, please visit dpw.lacounty.gov or call (800) 675-4357.

Crescenta Valley Town Council – Streets & Roads Committee is in continuous discussion with LA County Public Works, CHP and the school district regarding traffic issues surrounding our schools to increase safety for our students and residents.

Illegal dumping continues to be a huge problem in our community. It is also a huge safety and health concern for our community members. It is a disgrace to our community to dump trash wherever. I drive around daily and see mattresses, furniture and other items that have been left out for days. Take pride in your community! We are not a dumping ground. Residents in La Crescenta or La Cañada Flintridge who have bulky items that have been dropped at their residence or in their neighborhood can call (888) 838-6746 or download The Works iPhone or Android applications. Anyone who witnesses illegal dumping in the unincorporated portion of LA County can call (888) 838-6746. We are in this together.

As always, I look forward to seeing you at our general meeting – this month on Jan. 19 – starting at 7 p.m. in the Community Room of the La Crescenta Library, 2809 Foothill Blvd. Please contact CVTC at contact@thecvcouncil.com.

I end by wishing you, our beloved community, a very prosperous and Merry Christmas, happy holidays and a wonderful new year!

Harry Leon, President
Crescenta Valley Town Council