From the desk of the publisher

By Robin GOLDSWORTHY

This time of the year always seems to be rather harried, especially if you have school-aged children. As parents, you’re either pushing for the completion of year-end projects or reminding them of their SATs. But I’ve had a chance to enjoy being a grown up around town.
On Monday, May 10 I had the opportunity to speak at the Verdugo Hills chapter of the Professional Business Woman’s Association. The national association is comprised of professionals, business owners and aspiring business women. Before starting the Crescenta Valley Weekly, I had the opportunity to attend several of the Verdugo Hills lunch meetings held at La Cabanita Restaurant the second Monday of the month. The meetings are not only a great place to network with other professional women, but there is always an interesting speaker who offers insight into her particular industry.
It was my pleasure to be May’s guest speaker. I was asked to talk to the ladies about starting up the newspaper – the challenges, the rewards, the mechanics of launching an endeavor of this magnitude.
I recounted my history of living in the Crescenta Valley beginning in the early 1980s as a (very young) bride who started a cable television company – Crescenta Valley Cable – with my husband, of selling the company and growing our family, and my progression from a green reporter with the Crescenta Valley Sun to its editor until the Sun’s closure in July.
The VHPBWA members were gracious and made me feel very welcome. I look forward to visiting with them again soon.
Last Friday Todd Hunt invited me to the Glendale Kiwanis weekly lunch at the Elks Lodge on Colorado in Glendale.
I’ve attended many Kiwanis lunches. My friends Toni and Vince Espinoza, Vic Legerton and Holly Huerkins are all members of the Glendale Kiwanis. What a fun bunch! Amid the ribbing and joking however is a serious organization dedicated to kids.
On Friday I attended the luncheon not only to fill my stomach, but my coffers as well – actually not mine, but those of Crescenta Valley High School’s Prom Plus Committee. The Kiwanis gave a donation of several hundred dollars to Prom Plus and it was my honor to accept it.
I had the chance to talk a little about what Prom Plus is all about. Prom Plus is an after prom event held at the Crescenta-Cañada YMCA for CVHS seniors and their guests. This parent organization raises over $20,000 every year for the event. We have plenty for the kids to do: there’s a rock climbing wall, mechanical bull, casino, karaoke, and on and on. For the kids who attend prom there’s no cost to go to Prom Plus; it’s included in the cost of the prom ticket. For those who only want to attend Prom Plus, they can come to the Y after midnight and pay $20. We’re able to do this because of the generosity of civic leaders and organizations like the Kiwanis. Knowing how tight finances are, we are very appreciative of their donation and are grateful for their partnership.
Wrapping up the week, on Saturday morning I grabbed my walking shoes and sleeping bag and headed over to Clark Magnet High School for the 24-hour Relay For Life.
For years I hadn’t been able to participate in this event because it butted up against Prom Plus, which is always the last weekend in May. However, as a reporter, I covered Relay For Life and it was then that I learned what a huge undertaking the event is and how worthwhile. This was the first year that Prom Plus had a team participate and our team was a mix of adults and kids. I am so proud of the dedication our kids showed in making sure that someone from our team was on the track for the entire 24 hours.
And this is just a sampling of what went on around town. To find out more of the many things happening in the Crescenta Valley, read Mary O’Keefe’s story on page 3. Typical of Mary, she could be found at just about every one of them.

Robin Goldsworthy is the publisher of the Crescenta Valley Weekly. She can be  reached at robin@cvweekly.com  or (818) 248-2740.