I-210 News,

In this month’s update on Interstate 210 developments, there is news of a lane shift on the westbound section. According to Caltrans, “Beginning Wednesday, May 3 … Caltrans will make temporary lane changes along the westbound Foothill Freeway (I-210) between Berkshire Place and Ocean View Boulevard. Construction crews will restripe and shift lanes towards the median. Both eastbound and westbound inner shoulders will be used as traffic lanes. The eastbound inner shoulder will become a temporary bypass lane for westbound traffic. A concrete barrier will separate the eastbound traffic and the westbound bypass lane for the safety of motorists. Two outer lanes (near the ramps) on westbound I-210 will close as crews begin to replace the pavement along the freeway. This bypass lane allows all traffic lanes on westbound I-210 to remain open while work is underway, which will be in effect through winter 2017.” As always, you are advised to “Be Work Zone Alert.”

In disappointing education-related news, on May 3 the members of the Los Angeles County Committee on School District Organization voted to transfer the Sagebrush territory from Glendale Unified School District to La Cañada Unified School District. The vote went against the Committee’s own staff recommendation, which rightly determined that Mountain Avenue Elementary School would be deeply impacted should the transfer be approved. While the fight is not over and this was a preliminary vote, the next step is a California Environmental Quality Act review to assess the environmental impact of a transfer, which could take up to a year. The petition then returns to the Committee for another vote following additional findings. An appeal is a possibility. In 1992, the same Committee also approved a transfer, but it was successfully appealed to the California State Board of Education. I expect GUSD to consider all its options for the benefit of its students and of our community.

In happier news, I am delighted to announce the selection of nine winners of the Town Council Scholarships for 2017. All are from Crescenta Valley High School (since no students from other high schools who live in La Crescenta and Montrose applied) and they are (in alphabetical order): Joanne Dena Blood, Jacqueline (Jackie) Dall, Narek Galstyan, Paige Kenyon, Teny Khachadourian, Owen Spencer Lunt, Abby Sheklow, Jessy Shelton and Andrew Traber.

Congratulations to them all!

Please join the Town Council general meeting if you are available on May 18 at 7 p.m. in the community room of the La Crescenta Library at 2809 Foothill Blvd, La Crescenta, where winners will be honored and will each receive $500.

A host of donors, too many to name individually here, were instrumental in our ability to give as many scholarships as we did, and as much as could be afforded per scholarship winner. In all, $1,550 was received for scholarships from donations.

In our continuing series of thanks, the Crescenta Valley’s 6th Annual Prayer Breakfast was a success with 220 attendees. I am particularly grateful to Community Life Church-First Baptist, where the prayer breakfast was held, and the countless volunteers and donors, among them Super King, Forest Lawn, and Byblos, for their generous donations. Guests were regaled by the CVHS Charismatics, keynote speaker Christie Frandsen and Hiza Yoo’s Korean Dance Institute.

In more somber news, in commemoration of April 24, Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, a Town Council proclamation to remember and commemorate the Armenian Genocide was presented to Armenian National Committee of America- Crescenta Valley Chapter and the community. Let us remember and say “Never again” to genocide.

Finally, hundreds of community members enjoyed the annual Hometown Country Fair on April 29. Among the town councilmembers present were Aram Ordubegian (working the grills), Sophal Ear (with his four little ones), and yours truly.

See you at the Town Council’s general meeting on May 18 at 7 p.m. in the community room of the La Crescenta Library.

Harry Leon is the President of the Crescenta Valley Town Council.