TUJUNGA RAINS - 35 YEARS AGO See page 12
FREE
FRIDAY • MARCH 7, 2014
THE PAPER WITH AN ATTITUDE!
VOLUME 10 • NUMBER 5
Three Candidates Who Will Stand Up to the City ................. 2 INSIDE: VHWC to sing in Riverside
Superscooper contract news .................
2
Philip Charles Bonk obituary ................. Where’s George? ................. Mailander .................
2 4 5
Meet the STNC candidates! .................
6
Where did S-T CoC go wrong? .................
8
Fashion show .................
8
Local dog for Hero Dog 2014 .................
8
DEPARTMENTS What Folks Are Doing........... 2 View from the Rock.............. 3 Letters and Perspectives........ 3 Chef Randy........................... 5 Artfully Speaking.................. 5 Take My Card....................... 9 Auntie Gail’s Pet Corner...... 10
David “Doc” DeMullé
Bonnie Corwin
Brenda Fortune
David “Doc” DeMullé for STNC President
Bonnie Corwin for Treasurer
The community is broken and we need to fix it. The executive board has been running our community for over 10 years. They act as if Sunland-Tujunga is theirs to do what they want with. Cronyism, insider dealings and kissing up to the City has destroyed our town. Secret meetings, homelessness, traffic deaths and wasted money is their legacy. I am asking all my fellow veterans to help me clean up the community. Our veteran’s memorial is a mess. We have no community pride. We have lost our
My name is Brenda Fortune and I am I want to take an active role in the seeking the position of 2nd VP Outreach growth and improvement of Sunlandon the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Tujunga. I’m excited to offer my work Council. I am a long-time resident and experience and talents to help the area have broad experience working as an adequately plan for the challenges of activist and volunteer in the community. future growth within our current Los I have taken an active role in addressAngeles budget. ing the needs of Sunland-Tujunga, and I served as Treasurer for Sage Passage, have been honored to hold several coma non-profit organization dedicated to munity leadership roles through the years. helping women of domestic abuse. I assisted the national Red Cross in their ac- I am a devoted and engaged stakeholder. I believe that our Neighborhood Council counting department after the Northridge gives voice to the diverse layers of Earthquake. I enjoy community service constituency that is: and knowing that I have made a differ• Sunland-Tujunga Little Landers ence.
see DeMullé, page 11
Brenda Fortune for 2nd VP Outreach
see Corwin, page 11
see Fortune, page 11
Shen Yun Dances into L.A. in March
The Shen Yun World Tour, which has four companies visiting five continents in 2014, is returning to Downtown Los Angeles’ Nokia Theater March 2223 for four spectacular performances. Shen Yun’s performances share the sophisticated artistry and traditional values that are the result of 5,000 years of Chinese culture and history with fantastic danc-
ers who spin and flip through the air. The stunning performances feature some of the world’s most talented dancers trained in classical Chinese dance. Classical Chinese dance has formed its own extensive and independent dance system, which contains influences from
see Shen Yun, page 8
2 — FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2014 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER
www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 10 • NUMBER 5
VHWC to Perform at Annual Concert Kara Vadman Gets Dean’s Award at Colgate University
Getting ready for a road trip. The Verdugo Hills Women’s Chorus (VHWC), who perform for civic groups, churches, senior facilities and other venues in the Foothill Community, are heading to Riverside on Saturday March 8 to rehearse for the California Women’s Chorus, Inc. (CWC) 45th annual scholarship concert. Sharon Schlarb, director and Suzy Duff, president, will head up the group of women who are eager to sing with almost 175 other members of CWC. The VHWC now has an active membership of 35, most of whom will attend the rehearsal. Members of Serra Naders and Sweet Harmony from San Diego, Lakewood/ Long Beach Choral Belles, New Century Singers of Whittier and the Burbank Singers will also attend. Diana Tyson, accompanist for the VHWC, doubles as director and accompanist for the Burbank Singers. Also attending the southern area rehearsal will be the Harbor Singers and Santa Barbara Treble Clef. Coordinating the Area Rehearsal, as well as the three day convention and the public concert on May 4, will be three members of the Riverside Mis-
sion Belles, Sandy Tarmo, Connie Lynch and Catherine Greer, co-chairs. The Southern Area Rehearsal will be held at the Magnolia Presbyterian Church 7200 Magnolia Ave., Riverside CA 92506. The doors will open at 7:30 a.m. with enough time to register for rehearsal, greet old friends and meet new ones. Breakfast items, coordinated by Suzy Dunn of the Verdugo Hills Women’s Chorus, will be served until 8:45 a.m. Sandy Tarmo, director for the Riverside Mission Belles advises everyone be in place and ready to sing at 9:00 a.m. Rehearsal will conclude at 1:00 p.m. with solo auditions being held after the group rehearsal. This will be the first opportunity for most of the singers to meet guest director Melva Morrison, current vocal music director at Jurupa Valley High School where she has been teaching since the school opened 25 years ago. Melva has been accompanist and associate director of the Inland Master Chorale for the past 33 years. This is a lady dedicated see Chorus, page 10
Superscooper Contract Extended Through March 15
To ensure that the Los Angeles County Fire Department is prepared to tackle any type of major fire incident, Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich announced that the lease contract for two CL-415 Super Scooper firefighting aircraft from the Government of Quebec has been extended through March 15. “Although Los Angeles County is expected to receive some significant rainfall later this week, our region is still in a drought and fire danger remains high,” said Supervi-
sor Michael D. Antonovich. “In addition to County Fire’s own aerial fleet, the Super Scoopers are powerful tools to protect life and property.” Capable of carrying up to 1,620 gallons of water, Super Scoopers can also scoop water from a lake in only 12 seconds, be airborne in as little as five minutes and fly three hours before refueling. At the direction of Supervisor Antonovich, the Los Angeles County Fire Department began leasing the Super Scoopers from the Government of Quebec in 1994.
The Dean’s award was given in the fall academic year HAMILTON, NY (02/24/2014) (readMedia)-- Kara Vadman is a recipient of the Dean’s Award for academic excellence during the fall 2013 term at Colgate University. Vadman is a graduate of Reseda High School, and lives in Sunland, CA. To be eligible for the Dean’s Award, a Colgate student must achieve higher than a 3.30 average while enrolled in at least four courses.
Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095 TICKETS/INFORMATION: Tickets start at $25. to order tickets, please call 213 622 7001, or visit www.laco.org. (Discounts for groups of 12 or more, seniors 65+ and college students, if available; also available for college students is the $25 “Campus to Concert Hall All Access Pass” – good for all seven of LACO’s Orchestral Series concerts, Discover Beethoven’s Eroica and for all three Westside Connections concerts) TICKETS/INFORMATION: 213 622 7001 × 1 or visit www.laco.org. CONCERT PRELUDES: 7 p.m. (Alex Theatre) 6 p.m. (Royce Hall) One hour before curtain, preconcert talks provide insights into the music and artists. Free for ticket holders.
was trained for 14 years in Chumash Indian healing. He will present the basics of California Indian healing including the uses of several common California plants. White sage, sagebrush, mugwort, black sage, yerba santa and others, will be discussed. Adams will explain how to make medicines from these plants and how to use them in our healthcare and discussing the pharmacology and safety issues. Books will also be available to teach you how to use California plant medicines. Our program follows news of Conservation and Outings. This is a free event and open to everyone. Refreshments will be served. For more information, please call Wayne Fisher, Program Chair, at 818 3534181.
The Crescenta Valley Sierra Club Group will feature, Professor Jim Adams of the USC School of Pharmacy, presenting The Basics of California Indian Plant Healing, Tuesday evening, March 11 at 7:30pm at the Los Angeles County Public Library, 2809 Foothill Boulevard, La Crescenta, California. (Please enter from La Crescenta Avenue for the meeting room and parking.) Professor Adams has a PhD degree in Pharmacology having trained Medical and Graduate students for over 26 years, and
more graded semester hours during a semester in residence at ASU with a GPA of 3.50 or higher are eligible for the Dean’s List. A notation regarding Dean’s List achievement appears on the unofficial transcript. The following local students were named to Dean’s List at Arizona State University: Berenice Martinez of Sunland, CA (91040) Joseph Palaski of Sunland, CA (91040) Joseph Stratton of shadow hills, CA (91040)
L.A. Chamber OrArizona State U chestra Performs Anna Clyne Debut Crescenta Valley Announces Fall Sierra Club Fea- 2013 Dean’s List “Mendelssohn, Anna Clyne, Bach & Schubert” AZ—Undergradutures Prof. Adams ateTEMPE, James Feddeck, conductor students who earn 12 or Jaime Laredo, violin Jennifer Koh, violin PROGRAM: MENDELSSOHN “The Fair Melusina” Overture ANNA CLYNE Prince of Clouds (West Coast premiere) BACH Concerto in D minor for Two Violins, BWV 1043 SCHUBERT Symphony No. 3 in D major WHEN/WHERE Saturday, March 22, 2014, 8 p.m. at the Alex Theatre, Glendale, 216 North Brand Boulevard, Glendale CA 91203 Sunday, March 23 at 7 p.m. Royce Hall, UCLA, 340 Royce
PHILIP CHARLES BONK Dec. 26, 1948 -Feb. 16, 2014 Philip Charles Bonk passed away at his home in Shadow Hills, CA on Sunday, February 16 at the age of 65. Bonk was a Sunland resident for over 40 years. Phil was born in Glendale, CA on December 26, 1948. He is survived by his wife Beatrice Bonk, his daughters Teresa Schachtel and Kara Bonk and his grandchildren Zander Schachtel and Kaylee Bonk. Services was held on Friday, February 28 at Forrest Lawn in Glendale at 1:00 p.m. Phil was a wonderful man who cared deeply about everyone and wanted his family to be happy. He will be greatly missed.
THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2014 — 3
VOLUME 10 • NUMBER 5 • www.thefoothillspaper.com
Damn I hate epiphanies. They pop out of nowhere and sometimes show you reality. I was at the Candidate Mingle on Monday night and had a wonderful time. Sort of like a kid in a candy shop. Where do you start first? I got a chance to talk to the other candidates and sift through their ideas. Some were pretty good, some were scary and some were just a re-hash of the old party line. What was apparent is that when people live the lie for nearly a decade, they become the lie. Yes, they are really sure that they are right and that everybody else is wrong. I think what actually shocked me, was the waste of local resources, the actual stakeholders that were out there showing that they want to do something important for our community I had the good fortune to talk with Miss Fortune about a few of the issues. It became really apparent that she believes in what she is saying. It doesn’t really matter that she really doesn’t
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know the truth. She really does believe the lie(s) espoused by the Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club, the Lions Club, and of course, our own grand dame, Cindy Cleghorn. Sunland-Tujunga like all communities has its problems. Unfortunately, our problems stem from a relatively small group of people that really feel that “the end justifies the means.” And that is what divides us. The big lie is what holds them together. Unfortunately, the big lie doesn’t take into consideration the problems of our “local” homeless and the disintegration of programs for our youth. We no longer have civic pride. Almost everything we do here is second-rate. We can’t police our streets, we can’t put up banners that acknowledge our local heroes, we put out trash cans on corners and can’t get them collected. There was a time when our councilmen worked with our community instead of against it. A woman named Claudia be-
After Mark Seigel unlawfully removed 250 “Best of Sunland-Tujunga” ballots from the logistics managers office. Cindy Cleghorn and Tomi Lyn Bowling then “inadvertently-misplaced them.” This was the beginning of the lie, cheat & steal tactics of the STNC executive board. The ballots have never been found. These are the people that want you to vote for them in this coming election.
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lieves that certain “civic leaders” want the town to become blighted so that they can make money on their properties. I watched as the Cleghorn machine used Joe Barrett to drive community activists like Elaine Brown, Terre Hauke, Charlotte Liu, Julianne Morrisette, Michele Saffron, Marylou Pozzo and dozens of other activists out of town. We have a land use committee that is supposed to protect us from societal decay, yet our streets look like a scene from a third world country. We have become a drug abuser community and the ambulances roll almost hourly. What I never could understand is the manner in which our “civic leaders” couldn’t stick with one lie. They just kept getting more convoluted. Vehemence is a great word and used correctly, it describes the Cleghorn machine. What she could not do on her own, she had her hitman Joe do for her. And then fall back and hide in the shadows. We the community have been
RO RC K OC K sold out for a doughnut and a certificate, and the City just continues to play its pawns here. And they are all good people in their own eyes, as they metaphorically rape and pillage our community. This coming Saturday will be the moment of truth. Either the populous raises up and says “NO MORE!” or we will continue our steady decline. It’s up to you the stakeholder to take back our town, or there will be no town worth saving. And yes boys and girls, it is the Water.
4 — FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2014 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER
www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 10 • NUMBER 5
Where’s George? By Michelle Pickering
So You’ve Inherited A Vegetarian at Lassens Natural Food Stores
Chef Randy’s new cookbook,
So You’ve Inherited A Vegetarian . . . Now What?
is now at Lassens Natural Food Stores.
Dear Friends: I am pleased to announce that seven of the Lassens Natural Food stores will now be carrying my new cookbook, So You’ve Inherited A Vegetarian . . . Now What? Here are the locations where you can find it: Ventura Santa Barbara Bakersfield Santa Maria Thousand Oaks Simi Valley Fresnon.
For additional information, see Randy’s website: http://valley-vegetarian.com
Since August 2007 and for many years, I would see a warm and familiar face at the Star Hand Wash on Sunland Boulevard. His name was George. Always smiling and ready to help, George went out of his way to accommodate every customer’s car wash needs. He was the definition of “customer service,” and his goal was to make sure every customer had a good experience, great service, and to NEVER lose a customer for any reason. George would treat you like you were a family member. He would never forget you, so you would always receive a warm welcome every time you saw him. He would oversee all operations to ensure the best possible service, and you didn’t have to have a fancy car to be treated like you were a VIP. Even if you were a little short on cash, it was no problem. You would still get top notch service, and any extras you usually paid more for. Besides his old-school charm, his warm professionalism, and the extra effort he took to make you feel like you were deserving of the best service possible,
This is our George. Happy Saint Patty’s Day wherever you are. George could relate to and communicate with everyone. He spoke more languages than I can even memorize: English, Armenian, Russian, Arabic, French, Spanish, Iranian, Turkish, and probably many more. He said he had a gift, and he used his gift to make you feel comfortable and appreciated. He also performed all the functions of the daily business at the car wash: ticket writer, cashier, driver, and ended up doing much of the manager’s duties as well, as the manager at the time did not speak English was unable to understand the customers. So when I went in for my reg-
ular car wash and didn’t see George, it was more than strange. George worked seven days a week, and some days I’d see him there before the car wash opened and well beyond closing time. George did not take a lunch break. He was extremely dedicated, and took such pride in his work and such good care of each and every customer that we had assumed he was the owner or manager. So when he disappeared one day and didn’t return, besides the trauma induced by the drastic change in service and personnel, I was actually worried. The see George, page 11
THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2014 — 5
VOLUME 10 • NUMBER 5 • www.thefoothillspaper.com
Baked Potato Soup
Artfully
By Chef Randy
I was asked the other day what could be done with leftover baked potatoes. My response was soup! Yes, soup. Imagine all the flavors associated with baked potatoes as you dip your spoon into a warm, comfort-food bowl of soup. This quick and easy soup is hearty and, perhaps best of all, a great way to use left over baked potatoes. Although it makes a boatload of soup, don’t worry about leftovers. It tastes even better the next day after the flavors have blended. Just reheat on medium heat and serve with a fresh garnish of chopped green onions, and a dollop of sour cream. Ingredients: 2/3 cup butter 2/3 cup all-purpose flour 5 cups whole milk 2 cups vegetable broth 4 large baked potatoes (peeled and cubed) 4 green onions (chopped) 1 ¼ cups shredded Longhorn cheese 1 cup sour cream 1 teaspoon salt
SPEAKING
b
1 teaspoon ground black pepper Directions: In a large stock pot, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour until smooth. Gradually stir in milk and broth whisking constantly until thickened. Stir in potatoes and onions. While stirring, bring to a soft
boil then reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer for 10 - 12 minutes. Mix in cheese, sour cream, salt, and pepper. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until cheese is melted. Garnish with additional chopped green onions and a dollop of sour cream.
http://valley-vegetarian.com
Opinion
From the Outside Looking In! You are having elections in Sunland-Tujunga in a week. You are urged to vote even if you don’t feel a mastery of the issues. Most of us who have contributed to shaping the spirit of this particular patch of scorched Facebook earth feel that the community has not benefited by its present set of civic community officers, who have been nearly the same for a decade. And most of us feel that your community’s decline over the past decade has been far more acute than L.A.’s in general. Though there are many troubles with L.A. that have amplified over the past decade, there have also been many cultural and some economic consolations elsewhere that your own community has not experienced. In nearly all other bedroom communities in L.A., for instance, real estate values have more than doubled in the past decade. There is more money around for the rest of L.A. than there was in 2004, and lots of residential communities but especially commercial strips have been able to gussy up
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Women vs. Men in Art, part II
See Chef Randy’s food blog for more recipes at
By Joseph Mailander
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and fix themselves. In the rest of L.A. we have seen a stabilizing number of homeless and dwindling numbers of at risk youth. In the rest of L.A. we have seen much rehabilitation of park land and adding to its acreage. This hasn’t happened in S-T, however, none of it. Instead, you’ve lost a source of civic pride, the Watermelon Festival. You’ve become more of a homeless magnet. You were deliberately annexed into a Latino-majority district in which you persistently receive the very short end of the stick in with regards to civic largesse. You’ve looked on powerlessly at your top own commercial strip as it has become more and more blighted even as the edge cities down the road have drawn even more business away from you. I’ve been looking into Sunland-Tujunga as an outsider but intensely over the past three years. I’ve looked at nearly every single City contract involving SunlandTujunga and looked at the operations of the Chamber of Commerce too. I know they’ve both done utterly miserable jobs making your
Joseph Mailander community better. Worse, when posed the simplest of questions, your present leadership at the Chamber and the NC have instead attacked, sometimes blindly and often viciously. (And regarding “outside” observers, Americans were far more charitable and hospitable to Tocqueville I must say). There is much to fix in Sunland-Tujunga but your civic leadership is instead most interested in lending a hand to the rest of the City, even while denouncing normal political opposition in your own community with a vehemence we just don’t see elsewhere. see Vote, page 11
Up to that point in history women had been forced to stay in the shadows, so to speak, of their successful husbands. Many women could not garner the support from what was essentially a male dominated field. Many factors contributed to women being allowed more freedoms. The women’s suffrage movement caused many changes not only with respect to women in general but to women being accepted in the art world. Women like Lucy Stone, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony along with many others further championed changes for women. Creating art, along with many other endeavors were no longer looked upon as only a world where men dominated. Today much has changed. Women are playing an active role in every field and are being accepted as the authorities they are. If women were allowed all the same advantages as men, they would have been more prevalent in art from the Renaissance to modern day. There isn’t proof to support this idea but it is commonly assumed that cave drawings found throughout the world were made my men. Knowing the contribution historically made by women, I find this a bit incredulous to believe. It may never be proven, but could it be possible, just possible, men and women painted side by side in those caves. One could even go so far to assume that since the “home” was the domain of the women that indeed all cave painting might have been executed by women. We will never know. There may have been many
more women in art than we will ever realize but unfortunately, since recorded history, at least, many were subjugated to the fringes and not given the due credit and/or notoriety for their contribution. I concede there are differences between us and women may have more aptitude in some areas and are superior to men. No argument. As for Art, I honestly can’t see that women don’t have as much vision as do men in relating our world through paint. They certainly show they have the wherewithal to commit to being an artist, with all that may entail. Many throughout history have made huge sacrifices for art, women and humanity as a whole – Mary Cassatt, Annie Louise Swynnerton, Berthe Morisot and Lilla Cabot Perry, Georgia O’Keefe to name just a few made contributions to art that are getting the recognition they deserve. These women prevailed through severe adversity, prejudice and opposition. Only now, seen through eyes opened through experience, tolerance and understanding are we realizing the artistic contributions women have made to art. By no stretch of the imagination do woman share parity. I am not sure how this separation started, but our world would not be possible were it not for the contributions made equally by the men and women who have come before. True, many worked in the shadows while some saw their accomplishment reach the light of day. For every one there are thousands more still going unsung.
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6 — FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2014 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER
www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 10 • NUMBER 5
Jim Moore, Area 3 Representative Not the well-known Tujunga contractor Jim Moore, this Jim Moore is a design engineer for 18 years at Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) a leading US Center for robotic exploration of the solar system. He lives with his lovely wife Frances and daughter Rochelle for 12 years in Tujunga. Jim says, “I am running for a board seat because I want to work for a more peaceful, prosperous community. Jim would like to see the old Kmart turned into a community center, a place where young, old and in between can come and meet one another and build new relationships. Jim believes that a future project such as this one could pay its way eventually and bring in jobs by having a few retail shops and possibly an auto repair station. The huge parking lot could conceivably be rented once a month to a swap meet organizer with off street parking, to keep the neighbors happy. Just a few ideas he heard and liked are to rent space affordably or free to various community event organizers. It could also have a food bank for those truly in need, a place to get counseling or for
Jim Moore kids to play computer learning games. Jim knows at least 50 people from different churches, faith based organizations and JPL who might volunteer their time to the center. He would like to write or help write a grant proposal to kick off the project. To this end, Jim would like to serve on a committee such as the land use or building and safety committee and again reiterates with his own words, “I would like to help grow a more peaceful and prosperous community.” Jim anticipates and invites the community to support and cast their vote on March 8, 2014. Jim wants to hear your ideas and he may be contacted via email with any ideas at jdmoore555@hotmail.com.
Gail Carlson, Area 2 Representative Hello friends, I am Gail Carlson, known as “Auntie Gail” for my small business of pet sitting here since 2008. I want your Vote as Area 2 Representative for the STNC. I have owned a home in Tujunga for the last 20 years and I am a native of L.A., CA. I am running for the Representative position for Region 2 because I want to be an advocate for our community. I have great experience running a business and have managed twelve people who reported to me in corporate America. I vow to work for improving the safety on Foothill Blvd. where 12 people died last year from car accidents! Foothill is not a freeway! I want our children to be safe in their schools and in the local parks from the numerous sex offenders who have moved to our area. I am commited to the “beautification” program for Foothill and Commerce St. We need more L.A. City dollars spent here to
Chamber of Commerce: What Happened? By Al Timins In 1962, I settled here. The town Sunland and a city in Utah were noted for having the best clean air. There was a facility on McGroarty St., Sunland, named Sunair for asthmatics. As funding ran out the facility was forced to terminate. Those years we had community-minded volunteers: Short, Henry, Miller, McGregor, Brenner, Timins, Sauer, Drane, Anderson, Healy, Monaci, Nelson, Adams, Jesensky, Carrnes, Slater, Klaus, Wollard, Pres. of City Bank, Sanford, Bellusi and Councilman Louis Nowell also Mayor Tom Bradley were helpful to our causes. In those years, we had numerous activities. The March of Dimes Parade, Old Timers Days, Fourth of July Parade, Bicentennial events, clam bakes, Floating Casinos, Monte Carlo nites, Sweetheart dances, barbeques, picnics, Dignitaries and Dinners at the Elks Lodge and Stirlings Restaurant. All proceeds from these events were divided among the Chamber and service clubs, etc. We as a group decided to form an improvement assosciation. We formed a California Corporation to get things done.
Doc and Al Timins When it was my turn as president, Attorney Gloria Allred was to install me. She called and spoke to my daughter and said she had a commitment in Colorado and referred U.S. Representative Bobbi Fielder. The installation was at the Elk’s Lodge. Attendance was 209 including officials. Guess who did the steaks? Now I got things rolling. We got K-Mart, McDonalds and Jack in the Box to settle here. Felhaber-Houk Park, we erected welcome columns at Lowell and Foothill Blvd. across from the park. We placed a time capsule in the park, refurbished the
Hospitality Room for Verdugo High, and designed the Sunland-Tujunga logo. We applied for a grant to refurbish Foothill Boulevard. We invited Mayor Yorty, Police Chiefs Parks and Gates to have dinner at the Elks Lodge. Our group had YMCA built, entered fair at Devonshire Downs, had a three-day country western event at Hansen Dam. We turned the logo and corporate documents over to the Chamber. Now it is a disgrace to see Sunland-Tujunga deteriorate, property values decline, empty see Timins, page 8
The Foothills Paper’s STNC Recommendations President – David “Doc” DeMullé Second Vice-President - Brenda Fortune Treasurer - Bonnie Corwin
Gail Carlson entice real businesses to our area and to make people want to shop and live here! We need to expand our neighborhood watch volunteers. I have come into hundreds of local families homes here to care for their beloved pets and homes as a trusted, extended family member. Please vote for me on 3-814 for Region 2 Rep. if you want me to bring my fresh passion into the STNC. Thank You!
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Stakeholder Group Reps: Eight (8) allowed Patrick Daniel O-Brien-Veterans Dana Stange l-Animal Issues Rosie N. Ter-Matevosyan -Immigrants Julie Cuddihy - School John Laue - Environment Sergio E. Soto – Masonic Region 1 Representatives: Pat Kramer Jorge A. Martinez Region 2 Representatives: Gail Carlson Arno Akobyan Region 3 Representatives: Jim Moore David Barron Region 4 Representatives: Charlie A. Bradley Maureen A. O’Byrne
VOLUME 10 • NUMBER 5 • www.thefoothillspaper.com
WreckS O Ff T H E W E E K
THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2014 — 7
Three-day closure of 7-11
Slow down and live...
Funny thing about this one: when the driver saw me, he had his passenger drive it to a body shop a block away. Foothill & McVine.
In a surprise inspection Friday morning, three 7-11 stores were examined and the one at Tujunga Canyon and Foothill Blvd. was cited and closed for “Vermin Infestation.” The other two passed and retained their “A” certification.
Going off the road is one thing, but having to wade to solid ground is another. And it was raining.
A FedEx truck pulling tandem trailers jack knifed into the railing at the Lowell off-ramp causing a traffic tie-up for eight hours while they tried to remove it from the hillside.
Playing in the water is one thing, but running a stop sign could be deadly. Samoa and St. Esteban.
There were way too many accidents to cover here; visit
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8 — FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2014 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER
La Crescenta Woman’s Club Hosts Annual Fashion Show
www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 10 • NUMBER 5
S-T Bloodhound Nominated for 2014 Hero Dog Award Community can help by voting on Facebook
Lovely ladies host “Step Into Spring” It’s that time of year again! The La Crescenta Woman’s Club is hosting their annual fashion show. The theme this year is STEP INTO SPRING. This is their largest fundraiser of the year. A portion of the proceeds will go to benefit THE FIREHOUSE, a local teen youth center and SADDLES FOR SOLDIERS, a therapeutic equine program for Veterans. The fashions this year are presented by TALBOTS and are beautiful and affordable. There will be a silent auction, a live auction and an opportunity drawing. There will be a delightful lunch and
dessert served to all. This fun event will be on Saturday, March 15 at 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. It will be at the Woman’s Clubhouse, located at 4004 La Crescenta Ave., La Crescenta. Tickets are available for $40.00 per person. For more information, please contact Cindy at (818) 3892266 for reservation and information. The La Crescenta Woman’s Club is a non-profit organization that raises funds to support local needs in the community including scholarships benefiting the schools in the surrounding communities.
Public Comments Regarding State Funds for OHV Area
A public comment period is set for March 4 to April 7 about an Angeles National Forest grant request to the state of California for $410,000 to help manage the forest’s Off-Highway Vehicle program. The forest’s draft application to the state Department of Parks and Recreation will be posted at www.ohv.parks.ca.gov on March 4. The funding request, an annual procedure, will help augment the
current Forest Service budget. Public comments can be sent via email to: OHVinfo@parks.ca.gov and rkidd@ fs.fed.us. The application focuses on facilities, operation and maintenance and law enforcement. Those without internet access may request a mailed copy of the application by calling the forest’s Santa Clara/Mojave Rivers Ranger District at (661) 2692808, ext. 224.
Suspect Draws 21 LAPD Cars, Nine K-9 Units, one Helicopter
STEAL A CAR-GET CHASED-ESCAPE AGAIN! It started out as a nice day in S-T until we noticed a helicopter flying over Wentworth. Four hours later, they still hadn’t caught the perp and we rolled on another “Horse Rider Down” at Orcas Park. It was a slow, exciting day as we worked with a lot of the cops we knew. I met a lot of people who said they’re going to vote for us.
The American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards™ were created to celebrate the remarkable bond between dogs and people. The AHAHDA starts off its 2014 national competition to search out and recognize America’s Hero Dogs, who unconditionally avail themselves to us in so many important ways. Glory, a local Bloodhound owned by Landa Coldiron, has been nominated this year and needs your votes. She is six years old and unique in that she is the only Bloodhound in the State of California Certified to find lost pets. She has helped bring closure to hundreds of families in either locating the pet or finding remains. One of her recent searches involved finding a lost Pekinese, Goldie. Goldie belonged to a couple in their 90’s that were in a private care home. One day, a neighbor decided to take Goldie to work miles away in an industrial area of Orange County, without the permission of the family! Goldie darted from the work place and was lost. After NINE days, despite heroic efforts from the family, there had been no leads. The couple was grief stricken and the husband lay dying sure he would never see his beloved Pekinese again. Glory was called in to search. She took scent from Goldie’s bed and immediately led around several buildings, across a street and up to a large outdoor manufacturing warehouse, specializing in huge slabs of marble. It took several hours for us to gain permission to enter. No workers at the warehouse
Timins, from pg 6 stores, shops and buildings. Why are all those other communities surviving with businesses? I being a successful businessman can answer that! We have had a defunct chamber for many years. The officers and staff are supposed to bring business into the area and support them. The only revenue income is Monte Carlo night mixers. I am not pointing to any one individual. It is time for a clean slate and get Sunland-Tujunga thriving again. Ten years ago the City of LA initiated local neighborhood councils. Funded
Glory has been nominated for the 2014 Hero Dog Award. had seen the Pekinese. When we were finally granted permission to search, Glory continued working steadily through the large outdoor area. After one half hour she stopped and alerted on several pallets. We looked under the pallet and there was Goldie! Goldie was reunited that day with her owners. Later in the month, the husband died peacefully holding Goldie knowing she was safe. You can vote for Glory at www.Herodogawards.org/ contestants/?nominee=73639276 or go to Google and type in: Hero Dog Glory and click on her link from there to vote. with $50,000 they held meetings from 7 to 9 p.m. and many times ran over. My view is that this is a waste of taxpayers’ money. It has been 10 years. What has the council done to improve businesses, homeless, housing and environment? Many come to have their pizza and then leave. And the attendance has dropped off. As I say, I am not pointing to any one. There are a few on the council that should resign. Otherwise, we are back to nowhere. Vote March 8, there is a nice slate that want your vote. I’m concerned about our community and the track that it is on.
8459 Foothill Blvd. Sunland, CA
VOLUME 10 • NUMBER 5 • www.thefoothillspaper.com
THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2014 — 9
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www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 10 • NUMBER 5
Chorus, from pg 2
Making the Connection In this immense universe, we live here among many on our blue planet. Over seven billion humans live here, each with a unique handprint along with their own personality and spirit. Sometimes we may feel like insignificant grains of sand or falling leaves off a tree, a feather blowing in the wind. This is when we turn to our domesticated pets for affection and recognition. One of the roles I play “here” is a pet nanny, dog walker, caretaker, playmate, and guardian of pets. Not Dr. Doolittle, but I would like to think that maybe I am one of his distant relatives. Yet as I write now, at my feet are my dog and a client’s dog, napping from a vigorous walk we had earlier today. I cannot deny that I get bonded and attached to these dogs and cats. It’s like they are an extension of my own pet family. Connecting with animals, like a Dr. Doolittle, is for many of us less complicated than with humans. When the pet or my clients pet gets ill or old and passes away, I am often there to help, right up to the end. “Life is short” they say, it “flies when you are having fun.” Sometimes we just need something to make us feel good, and I have the story for you from a woman reader of Auntie Gail’s Pet Corner: “My 18-month-old son, Adam, called from the front porch.”Look, Mama! Doggie!” I dropped what I was doing and stuck my head out the door. Brandy, our next-door neighbor’s 11-year-old Golden Retriever, was over again. “Scat!” I said, scooping up Adam and brushing the dog hair off his Tshirt and shorts. Brandy’s owner had died about a month earlier. The woman’s family emptied the house, and a real estate agent stuck a For Sale sign in the front yard. But the family had overlooked the old Golden. For weeks she’d been sniffing around the neighborhood, living on scraps and handouts. Brandy loped off and I stayed out on the porch with Adam. The phone rang. And I took the call. When I came back out Adam and the dog were gone. I looked everywhere, and finally called the police. The police combed my neighborhood. My beloved son was missing and I was horrified of what had happened to him. Amid the sirens and commotion of voices, I heard a faint sound in the distance. It was a dog barking. A friend and I followed the barking to a wooden cliff overlooking a creek. There we found my son, against the trunk of a tree, fast asleep. Brandy had pressed herself against him so that he would not or could not fall into the stream. I picked up Adam and leaned down to pet Brandy. I thanked the police and brought a safe and sound Adam home along with Brandy too. She hesitated for a moment on our doorstep till I said, “Come on, girl, this is your home now.” Once she saw that she was really welcome Brandy eased herself onto an old throw rug in the hallway, as if she knew this was her spot. Her eyes closed, her breathing deepened. She had done an incredible thing and I wondered if she knew it. She may have saved my sons life. She had certainly touched my life in a way that no other animal ever had.” My message here is: Our lives are touched and improved by caring for our pets. Don’t be afraid to start over again with a new addition to your life after the passing of a beloved pet. They just might save you someday, or keep you or a loved one safe and sound, in the bosom of your family. Auntie Gail is a certified veterinarian assistant and has a Pet Sitting and Dog walking service in the Foothills. She can be contacted at: 818-605-9675 or at www.auntiegailspetsitting. com ••• Auntie Gail has a B.A. in Philosophy, is a certified veterinarian assistant and has a pet-sitting and dog-walking service in the area. She can be reached for appointments at 818-6059675 or her Web site: www.auntiegailspetsitting.com.
to music. Accompanying the combined choruses will be William Brakemeyer who began studying piano at age 5. He has been organist at First United Methodist church in Redlands for over 20 years and currently leads the Asbury Octet. He sings with the Master Chorale and Raincross Chorale and is often called upon to accompa-
Shen Yun, from pg 1 five centuries of dynasties, religions, and ethnic groups. Its main components are form, bearing, dance techniques, and high-flying tumbling techniques. Acting is also an important element, due to classical Chinese dance’s use of meaning to drive the body into motion, a component that adds another intriguing layer to the difficult and rigorous dance form. Many Hollywood films have combined martial arts and Chi-
ny soloists and ensembles in the community. The Verdugo Hills Women’s Chorus look forward to this rehearsal as a chance to sing with women from choruses throughout southern California who gather together each year to present the public scholarship concert, this year being on May 4 at the Riverside Convention Center 3637 Fifth St. in Riverside. The Verdugo Hills Women’s
Chorus has welcomed several new members to the chorus this year and there is always room for more. If you are interested in singing, there are no auditions required. Please Contact Sharon Schlarb 626 4035622 or Arlene Massimino 818 624-1111 and be prepared to come and sing on Monday mornings. You, too, could be part of the CWC convention and public scholarship concert next year.
nese dance movement in films, and while the two art forms share many similarities, they are distinctly different. Though martial arts (wushu) influenced the original form of classical Chinese dance with its own unique movements, techniques, and gravity-defying flips, it is the way in which the movements are performed that separates the art forms to this day. Bearing, a technique used to express specific inner emotions through form, is one of the major differences between martial arts and classical Chinese
dance. It is the ability to put their bodies into motion with inner feelings that allows Shen Yun’s dancers to illustrate stories from different ethnic groups, while also displaying the varying ethnic group’s distinct qualities. Shen Yun’s can’t-miss performances are taking place Saturday, March 22 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 23 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live in Los Angeles. To purchase tickets, please visit www.LAspectacular.com.
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VOLUME 10 • NUMBER 5 • www.thefoothillspaper.com
DeMullé, from pg 1
Corwin, from pg 1
Fortune, from pg 1
Watermelon Festival. Our Easter Carnival, 4th of July Parade and Fireworks are in jeopardy. Our kids have no place safe to hang out. Our service clubs only take care of themselves. Our Chamber of Commerce drives business out of town. It’s time to take back our community.
I am a bookkeeping and tax strategist consultant with knowledge and experience in auditing, financial analysis and business management. I would appreciate your vote for me, Bonnie Corwin, to serve as Treasurer on the SunlandTujunga Neighborhood Council.
Historical Society – Ways and Means VP • S-T/Shadow Hills Community Fund – Board of Directors • S-T Lions Club – Director of Development Special Events • Sunland-Tujunga Rotary Club – Current Past President • STNC – Past VP Outreach/ Region Representative
George, from pg 4
When I inquired, a few employees would say he was on vacation, but when he never returned, foul play was an obvious possibility. After months of my regular car wash and still no sign of George, I eventually found out that the place was under new ownership, and that he had been let go by the new owners in February 2013. Not altogether surprising in our ever changing, volatile times. The Star Hand Wash is still the best in the area, and my regular stop every other week.
I still receive great service, and it’s the perfect place to sit down and read the current issue of The Paper. But I will probably feel sadly reminiscent of my old friend George for years to come, who made me a regular customer with his warm, neighborly smile, and VIP treatment. I imagine he is running another car wash somewhere, and we wish him the very best. Wherever he is, there are happy customers with clean cars. Thanks again, George!
question burned in my mind and kept me awake several nights: WHERE IS GEORGE? I followed up on this enigma. If I asked the employees, or the person I decided must be the new owner, they would tell me they never had a George there, and they didn’t know who I was referring to. WHAT?! I gave him a Christmas present. He always hugged me when we saw each other. He was MY GEORGE.
CD-7 Fuentes is a Flop When It Comes to Homeless and Crime! Sunland-Tujunga
Crime Stats Theft 02/24/14 10:30 PM 10100 BLOCK OF HILLHAVEN AV Theft 02/24/14 08:00 PM 6200 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL Assault 02/24/14 07:00 PM 8600 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL
The past six months especially have seen the community slowly waking up to the fact that your own civic leadership has not held city hall in nearly enough contempt for what it has done to your community. I don’t know if that’s because they lack esteem or that they simply are too gullible, not savvy enough to know when a politician is glad-handling them. Certainly the fact that you have had four council members in five years has only created less opportunity for the city to feel that it needs to bother fixing
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Theft 02/27/14 07:00 PM 6500 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL Burglary 02/27/14 07:45 AM 6900 BLOCK OF SAINT ESTABAN ST Burglary 02/27/14 11:00 AM 7400 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL
Burglary 02/25/14 06:30 Burglary 03/01/14 01:50 AM 10600 BLOCK OF SHERMAN GROVE AV AM 6900 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL Theft 02/25/14 06:30 Theft 03/02/14 04:40 PM 00 BLOCK OF PM 10200 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL AND SUNLAND BL SHERMAN GROVE Vote, from pg 5
Come check out one of the largest selections of wild game meat!
Theft 02/27/14 05:30 AM 7100 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL
your community at all. The most important thing is that you all need to vote next Saturday. It’s not my job to tell you who to vote for, but it’s your job to learn as much as you can about what your neighborhood council has and has not done for your community. As you can see merely by clicking around on this and other message boards, your community obviously needs considerable fixing. You don’t have lots of other professional and paraprofessional organizations around to turn to as alternatives. You need to vote and to tell your friends to.
12 — FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2014 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER
www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 10 • NUMBER 5
Tujunga Rains 35 Years Ago Wind-driven torrential rains drenched the Sunland-Tujunga area thirty-five years ago last week. The rains hit Sunland-Tujunga causing boulders and tons of rocks to roll down the hillsides with devastating results. Riverwood Ranch with its 50+ homes were cut off from civilization. One man was missing and never found. Two homes were destroyed and four others were heavily damaged by the mud and boulders. The Oro Vista bridge washed out stranding residents who relied on airlifted food and supplies to survive. The LAFD stationed a five-man crew at the home of Eli Wallace, president of the Riverwood Ranch Association. In order to relieve pressure on the Big Tujunga Canyon Dam, engineers opened the floodgates allowing the water to escape into the wash. The unexpected torrents washed out several roads and cut access to some 50 homes in the Riverwood Ranch area. Most of the 140 residents were at work when the road damage occurred. Red Cross volunteers set up an evacuation center at the Mt. Gleason Middle School.
Archival photos from The Foothills Paper