HATE CRIMES AGAINST HOMELESS INCREASE IN TUJUNGA! See page ??
FREE
FRIDAY • MAY 30, 2014
INSIDE:
True Grit: Paving Tujunga’s Streets .................
THE PAPER WITH AN ATTITUDE!
S-T Legion Shows Hometown Pride
3
VOLUME 10 • NUMBER 11
It’s Wildfire Time Again!
Charles Miller .................
3
In My Corner at Pasadena Playhouse
2
Face-Painting .................
4
Rocky Ridge Rescue .................
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Voter Guide ................. Violence Against the Homeless .................
6 7
Wrecks of the Week .................
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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
It’s wildfire time again as wildfires ravage the Southland Legionnaire Thomas P. Smoker holds mic for Miss SunlandTujunga Giselle Tohom as she reads her Memorial Day poem. By Bonnie Corwin The American Legion Post 377 hosted the annual Memorial Day service at Sunland Park remembering the men and women who died while serving in our country’s armed forces, and to reflect and encourage people to give something back to their
country–our country whose military personnel have sacrificed and provided us a great amount of freedom and opportunity. Tom Smoker, honorary mayor, officiated the service, while Kelly O’Brien- Callirgos sang several of our country’s best see Memorial, page 8
Saddles for Soldiers photo: Harmony Photography
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Johnny Higginson, Founder, Program Director and Instructor at Saddles for Soldiers; Disabled American Veteran Supporter David “Doc” DeMullé and Mark Badagliacca, EVP & CFO at Paramount Pictures. Paramount Pictures, a unit of pated in the all-day event at local schools and community Viacom Inc. mobilized more nonprofit organizations across than 1,400 employees in 15 the city. One team chose Sadcountries around the world on dles for Soldiers a non-profit orMay 16 in a day of community ganization in Sunland as their service to celebrate its 19th annual Viacommunity Day. Viaproject. community Day, named after “With Viacommunity Day, Paramount’s parent company Paramount gets an opportunity Viacom, is a company-wide efevery year to give back and fort that deploys thousands of share our resources with the volunteers each year to serve in people who need it most in our areas where Viacom has operacommunity,” said Brad Grey, tions. In Los Angeles alone, Chairman and Chief Executive nearly 800 employees particisee Soldiers, page 8
By David “Doc” DeMulle with assistance from
Capt. Phil Dominguez
Part 2 of 2 parts It is suggested that your firesafety planning includes a 30-foot “green-belt” zone of selected drought- and fire resistant vegetation with an irrigation system. Outside of that immediate area, brush control is essential. It is best to start with an early spring cut-back of brush, grass and weeds. While the brush is generally slow to grow back, the weeds and grass will require another cutting in late summer. And throughout the summer and fall, it is important to control the weeds, remove plant litter and periodically prune trees and shrubs to keep the plants healthy and minimize the accumulation of fuel. In general, smaller plants often produce the best growth. Diversity in plant selection is better than planting only a few types. Spreading shrubs and trees are easier to establish and reduce long-term weed problems. Deep irrigation practices encourage deep root growth. Trees are particularly valuable on steep hillsides if they are planted at least 200 feet from any structure and near to the bottom of the slope. However, selection of plants is dictated by your individual circumstances, such as the severity of slope along the hillside near your home, and its proximity to
the residence. Succulent plants are fire and drought resistant. But they have shallow roots, which make them poor candidates for hillsides. Indeed, shallow-rooted plants should not be used as cover on steep slopes, unless they are interspersed at 10 foot intervals with taller shrubs and 20-foot intervals with trees. Non-woody plants, such as Periwinkle, Gazania, African Daisy and Ajuga are good choices for fire-resistant ground cover. They are also drought resistant and can be planted on moderate slopes of 30-60 degrees. They grow fairly deep roots, which can prevent soil erosion. Low growing shrubs with thick leathery leaves, like Dwarf Coyote Brush, English and Algerian Ivy and Rockrose, have deep root systems, making them ideal for erosion control on steep slopes. But they require frequent irrigation for the first year or two, until they become well stabilized. These ground covers are easily maintained at a height of 18-24 inches. Lantana, Valley Oak, Verbena, White Alder, Wild Strawberry, Wooly Yarrow, Wooly Thyme, Yellow Trailing Ice Plant. In selecting plantings as part of a Vegetation Management Plan, many residents choose to use California native plants. The vegetative ecosystem present on most of the watershed in Los Angeles County is chaparral. Native plants are highly efficient see Wildfires, page 12
2 — FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER
www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 10 • NUMBER 11
In My Corner at Pasadena Playhouse
PASADENA—Joe Orrach, U.S. Air Force Welterweight Champ-turned-tap dancer, was discovered by Gregory Hines and has appeared on stage and television with Joan Baez, Bob Hope, the Smothers Brothers, Michael Davis, Liliane Montevecchi, Bill Irwin, David Shiner, Melissa Manchester, and the Cookie Monster. He’s appeared in Woody Allen’s Everyone Says I Love You and in the long running Teatro ZinZanni in San Francisco. The Pasadena Playhouse is collaborating with Orrach to bring his skills and insight as a communicative performer to support the underserved in the Pasadena community. In his community workshops, Orrach focuses on how to communicate using both words and body language to share thoughts and feelings – as well as learning to read and learn about others by observing their body language and non-verbal cues. He has created exercises that improve public speaking by using the speaker’s unique rhythms to best enhance personality and presence and best serve and communicate the authenticity of messages. Orrach also demonstrates his techniques, using scenes and sequences from his show IN MY CORNER, written by Lizbeth Hasse and directed by Jeremiah Chechik. In My Corner will play a special engagement on Saturday, May 31 at 8 p.m. at the newly refurbished Carrie Hamilton Theatre at The Pasadena Playhouse. Orrach’s community outreach in Pasadena this month includes the Advancement Project Urban Peace Academy’s Leadership Instruction Development and the IMPACT Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center. Director Chechik said, “Orrach has created a very powerful, emotionally charged piece that taps into universal themes of fathers and sons. What’s so extraordinary is the way that dynamic creeps up on you because it’s played out in such an entertaining way.” Elizabeth Doran, the Executive Director of The Pasadena Playhouse said, “We have
been looking for the ideal way to re-open the Carrie Hamilton Theatre after renovating it into a new and intimate black box theatre…we are very happy to be showcasing Joe Orrach and his engaging and dynamic play, In My Corner.” With In My Corner, Orrach has put together a high-powered evening of drama, music and movement. The show tells the autobiographical tale of a Puerto Rican/Italian kid growing up in a family dominated by a violent ex-boxer father. His coming-of-age story is one in which he makes his way out of chaos and violence through his discovery of dance. Orrach’s fast-paced narrative riffs shift seamlessly into boxing sequences and driving tap numbers, accompanied by the music of a jazz ensemble. This moving and transformative work delivers a powerful punch guaranteed to leave audiences breathless. Most recently seen in L.A. at the Odyssey Theater in October 2013, The Los Angeles Post called Orrach “an electrifying bundle of pure, smoking energy.” Broadway World said, “Orrach’s ease with his body and athletic movements make his work seem effortless and so engrossing I could have watched him dance all night!” The Planet said, “A great solo show, with a great performer giving his all.” In My Corner is made possible in part by funding from Dance Creation to Performance funded by The James Irvine Foundation and administered by Dance/USA. In My Corner plays a special engagement at The Carrie Hamilton Theatre at The Pasadena Playhouse (39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101) on Saturday, May 31, at 8 p.m. All tickets are $30.00 and are available by calling The Pasadena Playhouse at 626-356-7529 or by visiting The Pasadena Playhouse Box Office, Tuesday–Sunday from 1-6 p.m. during non-performance dates. On performance dates, the Box Office is open Tuesday–Saturday from 1–8 p.m. and 1– 7 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, visit www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.
Free Glendale Noon Concerts
piccolo by MISHKAR NUNEZMEJIA and FREDERICK LESEMANN
Crescenta Valley Sierra Club
FREE ADMISSION GLENDALE NOON CONCERTS Every FIRST & THIRD WEDNESDAY at 12:10-12:40 pm On Wednesday JUNE 4 at 12:10-12:40 pm: LOS ANGELES HORN TRIO Edward ELGAR Salut d’amour for violin & piano Lennox BERKELEY Horn Trio, Op.44 (1944) STEVEN DURNIN - French horn JACQUELINE SUZUKI - violin SUSAN SVRCEK - piano http://losangeleshorntrio. blogspot.com
AUGUST 6: Voice Recital MICHAL DAWSON CONNOR - bass-baritone TWYLA MEYER - piano
The Crescenta Valley Sierra Club will feature Terri Sodershrom’s, “The Lion’s Roar,” on Tuesday June 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the Los Angeles County Public Library 2809 Foothill Boulevard, La Crescenta. (Please enter on La Crescenta Avenue for the meeting place and parking.) Terri Sodershrom is a docent at the Los Angeles County Zoo. She brings her knowledge and experience to give us a close-up look into the mouth of the lion and the lion’s roar. Our program begins following news of Conservation and Outings. This event is free and everyone is welcome. Refreshments will be served. Please contact Wayne Fisher, Program Chair at 818 353-4181 for further information. •••
The Sanctuary at FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF GLENDALE, 209 N. Louise St. (at Wilson), Glendale CA 91206 (818) 242 2113 Map & venue info http://fbcglendale.net/ More info: email matt.andrews@fbcglendale.net JUNE 18: SUZUKI-LoGIUDICE DUO James MacMillan A Different World (1995) Cesar Franck Sonata for violin & piano in A major JACQUELINE SUZUKI - violin ROSA LoGIUDICE - piano JULY 2: Improvisations BILLY CHILDS - piano MAKSIM VELICHKIN - cello JULY 16: KATHY MARSH Solo Recital: Works for solo flute and solo
CONCERT UPDATES: http://www.glendalenoonconcerts.blogspot.com/ •••
Emily Rawlings on Dean’s List at George Fox U NEWBERG, OR (05/22/2014) (readMedia)—Emily Rawlings, a biology major from Shadow Hills, earned dean’s list recognition at George Fox University after earning a grade point average of 3.5 or higher during the 2014 spring semester. Rawlings is academically considered a sophomore based on the number of credits earned. George Fox University is ranked by Forbes among the top Christian universities in the country and is a Christian college classified by U.S. News & World Report as a first-tier regional university. More than 3,700 students attend classes on the university’s campus in Newberg, Ore., and at teaching centers in Portland, Salem and Redmond, Ore. George Fox offers bachelor’s degrees in more than 40 majors, degree-completion programs for working adults, six seminary degrees, and 11 master’s and doctoral degrees. •••
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When Legionnaires and their families get together, it’s an instant party. We have a real community here!
I can’t remember their names, but their relatives name is on the Memorial Wall there in Sunland Park. They represent FOUR generations of family there for the Memorial Day Celebration.
THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014 — 3
VOLUME 10 • NUMBER 11 • www.thefoothillspaper.com
We had our annual American Legion Memorial Day service at Sunland Park this past weekend, and nearly 200 people showed up to give their respect to our fallen servicemen and women. People were solemn and people were happy seeing those still alive. And the bell rang for our fallen warriors. Things are really different now, and yet still the same. Just the names and places are different, the people are still the same. I was talking to one vet that had recently been in Afghanistan and Iraq. It’s hard to remember that we’ve been there since 1974. Forty years and nothing really has changed. Oh wait, let’s see, the Al Qaeda were our allies then. The Shah and Saddam Hussein were fighting the Russians for us and we weren’t there, or at least some of us weren’t there. Just like we weren’t in Cambodia and, and, and...
But people still died on both sides of the fence. It’s funny in a macabre sense: we taught our enemies how to conduct unconventional warfare against us—and with devastating results. We now have more returning veterans that were injured and maimed by IEDs than in the entire Vietnam war. And our ex-friends are using our own equipment to do it. What’s wrong with that picture? I’m an observer. And I used to wonder what is really going on. In Vietnam, we had Haliburton, Vinnell, Boeing, Bell and other “TechReps” providing services that really weren’t needed, so why were they there? Now in Iraq and Afghanistan we have the same names, the same companies, the same players. A lot of years ago when I was playing politics as Legislative Liaison for the state colleges, I met Willis Edwards (who later became a major player in the NAACP). He
gave me a parchment document with a red ribbon around it. He said with a smile, “Don’t open this until you think you’re really in over your head.” A couple of years later, in Iran, I opened it up. It said “They are playing a game. I see the game they’re playing. If I let them know that I see the game, they will punish me. So I must continue playing the game of NOT seeing the game.” And here I am, 40 years later, in Sunland-Tujunga, watching them play the game. Unfortunately, the players haven’t a clue of how they are destroying our community. Let’s ring the bell for those we’ve lost here in Sunland-Tujunga: Ding – the Easter Carnival. Ding – The Watermelon Festival. Ding – the Commerce Street Party. Ding – The S-T Farmers Market. Ding – The 4th of July Parade with EVERYBODY being involved.
VIEW
ROCK Ding – National Night Out where we celebrated our real local heroes. Ding – the Annual Community Police Awards Dinner. Ding – A real Chamber of Commerce. As John Donne once penned “…and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee.” And this time boys and girls, it’s not the Water!
Foothills Perspectives THE FOOTHILLS PAPER
is published bi-weekly. All contents are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. All submissions to this newspaper become property of THE FOOTHILLS PAPER and may not be republished in whole or in part. The opinions expressed by contributing writers do not necessarily express the views of the publisher nor staff of this newspaper. TFP is available free of charge. No person may, without prior written permission from TFP, take more than one copy of each edition (stated value: $1). Only authorized TFP distributors may distribute THE FOOTHILLS PAPER. THE FOOTHILLS PAPER has terminated its Non-Profit status so that it can more effectively address political and social problems within our community! EXECUTIVE EDITOR/PUBLISHER Dr. David DeMullé editor@thefoothillspaper.com PRODUCTION and DESIGN Randall Fleming ftp@thepaper.ws WITH THANKS TO The ILS Foundation for Their Support
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True Grit: Cutting and Paving Tujunga’s Early Streets By Charles E. Miller Dated March 19, 1988 Mud bogged down the farmer’s lumber wagon and sunbaked ruts occasionally loosened the wheel rims on the local horse carts before her streets were paved. Tujunga’s early rock studded streets had some bumpy problems. When developer MJ.V. Hartranft laid out early rock studded roads and avenues laborers had to grub out the greasewood and wild cherry. Then the “chaingang”, a surveyor team of three with transit and line,who had been measuring surrounding acreages, moved
in to grid the town. They staked out the lots. When he and his first salesman, George Buck, sold town lots from an office near Tujunga Canyon Place and Foothill, then Michigan Avenue, business lots on Commerce boasted generous 25 foot frontages. Wider residential lots on San Ysidro { Samoa }and Manana { Valmont } offered prospects driven up from “ the city “in Ed Forester’s 1908 Cadillac “ bus”, a chance to buy cheap and settle down. After all, Tujunga—which in Shoshone means” Place of the old woman”—offered clean air baked dry of moisture within
Part of an old Tujunga road the kiln of Siter Elsie’s (Mt. Lukens’) slopes. A German named Gottlieb Fischer “put through the streets,” according
to Leslie Buck, longtime resident of this semi-rural, terraced mountain town. Commerce— see True Grit, page 11
Charles E. Miller, Ph.D. By Charlene GarciaLockhart One of the first things I discovered about Charles Miller is that he would like to share with you is that he is , “ an old man not an old timer”. Charles moved here from Palo Alto. Miller is indeed a scholar. He attended many schools and graduated from Stanford University. Miller wrote for the Record Ledger when it was still in existence. Many of you remember that local paper with news and sterling articles written with a certain down-home, folksy feel. That’s what our Miller brings to Sunland-Tujunga. Many
folksy tales of what happened here at our infamous “Rock.” Miller moved here in the early eighties. After meeting people he discovered that he enjoyed hearing what he called the “soft news. He had attended U.C.L.A. at night for three years for a degree in journalism. He also has a Masters and a Doctorate. He was class of 1947 from Stanford. Miller did not want to say much about this amazing education. I dragged it out of him. I think he deserves bragging rights. Miller has written fifty books on history of SunlandTujunga, prose, poetry, and his last book was on politics. One year he bought a motor-
One of our typical turn-of-the-century S-T stone houses. “Rock Solid!” bike from Joe Carnes. Joe owned the bike shop on Foothill as you all remember. Joe Carnes sold him a bike that he felt free on. Back then you didn’t have to wear helmets.
Miller states that he liked to feel the wind rush by his face. Now that’s a biker. Yep, it was a 175-CC Honda moped. People remember them as motorsee Miller, page 8
4 — FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER
www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 10 • NUMBER 11
Face Painting Makes More Than a Great Impression at Your Party
Recycled-Water Bill Clears Assembly Most homeowners want cheaper water bills. If provided the infrastructure, they’d gladly use recycled water to wash cars and irrigate lawns. Many cities have vast reservoirs of recycled water. If provided a market, they’d gladly allow the water to be used for more than just landscaping medians. Droughtscorched California moved one step closer to a sensible marriage of these interests, passing Assembly Bill (AB) 2282 in the Assembly by a vote of 66-0. The ground breaking legislation by Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) would require the state to adopt building standards for recycled water in newly constructed commercial and residential buildings to integrate recycled water into the water-supply portfolio. “The drought is a reminder that we need to make the best use of our limited water resources,” noted Gatto. “Recycled water is cleaner than most of the water in our natural aquifers. It’s wasteful and inefficient to dump this water into the ocean when we could use it
for productive purposes.” It is expected that providing this new source will reduce water bills for many. Gatto’s bill specifically protects homeowners and businesses by requiring state agencies to consider the cost of various recycled-water infrastructure and determine which methods will provide the greatest cost savings for consumers. AB 2282 continues Gatto’s legislative efforts to address important water-policy issues. In 2011, the legislature passed Gatto’s AB 849, which fostered the use of graywater technology, and in 2012, the legislature passed Gatto’s bill AB 2230, requiring all new carwashes to use 60% recycled water by 2014. In 2012 and 2013, Gatto authored legislation to create CalConserve, a revolving loan fund for efficiency retrofits. “Single-family homes use about 60% of their water outside. If people could water their lawns and wash their cars with recycled water, there would be much more water available for drinking and growing food,” said Gatto.
Kids love having their faces painted. Everything from a simple design on the cheek at a birthday party to a full facial for Halloween is a lot of fun. When there are a handful of kids at a small get-together, having someone do a few designs on the kid’s cheeks works well but when you have an event such as a large birthday party, community picnic or family reunion, hiring a professional face painter is the best way to go. Face painting itself is not a hard thing to do. Doing it safely, quickly and with great results is what a professional can offer. Unfortunately many people look at the expense and decide that they can do it themselves or ask someone they know who can draw to do it for them. Unfortunately, that can turn out to be a disaster. When your guests look back at some photos, will they see a big mess on their kid’s or a nice design? What To Do With The Kids® polled a number of face painting professionals from across the United States and Canada and asked them what people should know when booking a professional face painter for
their event. The full report can be found at www.whattodowiththekids.com but a few things to consider are: Price: Hiring someone based on the lowest price is not always the best choice. The artists: Face painters are artists who work on a moving canvas and the better ones will be able to do great work in a short period of time. Ask about their training and their experience. Paint: Professional face painters only use FDA safetyrated paints that lessen the
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chance of skin reactions. Some amateurs may even use house paint. What type of artwork can they do: Have they done this before or for the first time? What equipment is supplied: Do they have everything including a table and chairs? You’ll have to consider what ages the kids are, where the face painting will take place and how long do they need to make everyone happy. Professional face painters want to contribute to the sucsee Facepainting, page 11
THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014 — 5
VOLUME 10 • NUMBER 11 • www.thefoothillspaper.com
Orange-Fennel Salad
Artfully
By Chef Randy Fennel is a wonderful, versatile vegetable that is used widely in Italian, French, and Mediterranean cooking. At times, I even substitute the fennel bulb for onions in my recipes (see my Potato-Fennel Bake). Unlike onions, I like to eat slices of the mild fennel bulb raw. This recipe features raw fennel bulb. Each bite is juicy, sweet and floral. Aromatic arugula provides the perfect base for the sweet oranges and fresh fennel. It is perfect for a fall or wintertime brunch for four. Ingredients: 3 large fennel bulbs 1 tablespoon Orange Muscat Champagne vinegar 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste 5 medium navel oranges Arugula Directions: Trim the ends of each fennel
SPEAKING
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Picassogrande bulb. Cut into quarters and remove the core from each quarter. Slice thinly (crosswise). Set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together vinegar and oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside. Slice off both ends of each orange and peel. Halve orange from top to bottom and thinly
slice each half crosswise. Transfer oranges, along with any juices that have accumulated on work surface, to bowl with dressing. Add fennel and lightly toss to combine. Place a handful of arugula on a chilled salad plate. Add orange-fennel mixture on top of the arugula and serve immediately.
See Chef Randy’s food blog for more recipes at
http://valley-vegetarian.com
Local Stores Install Grocery Cart Locks
The stores are waking up to the fact that their carts are walking away and it costs money to get them back again. Smart and Final has installed “Locking Wheels” on their grocery carts to keep them from leaving the parking lot. Simple idea, simple solution to lost carts.
I used to believe Picasso was a genius and that may still be so. But I now believe he was more a genius in promotion than in making art. No doubt, he had great facility to achieve “the new”. True also was the fact that he could paint, especially when you look at his early works. But I’ve come to understand that he might have been only one of many in a period of avant guard experimentation who was just, dare I say it, run of the mill as artists go. Many other artists of his period were better painters, more dexterous, more inventive. But none had his genius for flamboyance and novelty, save for maybe Salvador Dali. I try and put his work into perspective and see why everyone was so enamored. The answer I come up with today is because then, the art world and critics couldn’t pin him down. They couldn’t pigeonhole his efforts into one neat package. And just when they thought they could, Shazam! He was off doing something completely new and different. It need not be said, but Picasso was an innovator. He constantly challenged the status quo. Giving Picasso the credit he is due, he did invent new art forms and was an artist who expressed himself freely, no matter how self-aggrandizing he was. He himself said “the more confusing my work, the better they liked it.” He could “spit on the ground and someone would capitalize on it”—his own words. Picasso would have a tough time in
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today’s world. Today being eclectic in style actually puts galleries and buyers off. They want a “style” that is guaranteed; a style that will exist and maintain for an extended period to safeguard their expensive purchases. If an artist today varies content and style, the public gets confused. As do the galleries attempting to sell the work. Changing styles and genre is like the latest iPod or camera device. Good today but obsolete tomorrow. Maybe Picasso, being so prolific and inventive, was a forerunner in the world we now find ourselves. Newer, faster, better. Out with the old and in with the new. The point I am trying to make is he was so eclectic, always coming up with new ways of creating art that possibly his work never had time to –mature or develop into a style with continued relevance—apart from what galleries and “experts” attributed to it. Much of the modern art of that period and subsequent periods seems to need a lengthy explanation attached so the public knows and understand what the art work means. Picasso was truly a man of his time and he was expert at exploiting it. Pictures of him in what could only be considered diapers contributed to his fame. His womanizing; multiple mistresses contributed to the myth of being a famous artist. Being a genius is always applied to the other sciences. Causing controversy for your art takes a kind of genius.
Life Imitates Art!
SHOCKING! When driving up to the McDonald’s order window, there was a picture of our beloved rock cairns made out of McNuggets.
6 — FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER
June 3 Primary Voter Recommendations
www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 10 • NUMBER 11
Rocky Ridge Rescue
I’ll begin with newly certified Write-in Candidates: State Board of Equalization, Office No. 3 G. Rick Marshall Republican, Conservative and Principled 39th Assembly District Mike Boyd Tea Party Republican 28th Congressional District Sam Youssef Liberty Republican Lieutenant. Governor: Ron Nehring Secretary of State: Pete Peterson Controller: Ashley Swearengin or David Evans, (who spoke for us in 2010) Treasurer: Greg Conlon Attorney General: Phil Wyman Insurance Commissioner: Ted Gaines Superintendent of Public Instruction: Lydia Gutierrez Board of Equalization, District 1: George Runner Board of Equalization, District 3: G. Rick Marshall (Write-In) Board of Equalization, Dictrict Dist 4: Diane Harkey U.S. Congress 8th Paul Cook U.S. Congress 12th John Dennis U.S Congress 25th Steve Stokes U.S. Congress 27th Jack Orswell U.S. Congress 29th William Leader U.S. Congress 30th Mark Reed U.S. Congress 32nd Arturo Alas U.S. Congress 36th Brian Nestande U.S. Congress 38th Ben Campos U.S. Congress 39th Ed Royce U.S. Congress 43rd: John Wood, Jr., is the only Republican but I do not know him. U.S. Congress 44th: Matthew Munson is the only Republican but I do not know him. Los Angeles Sheriff: Bob Olmsted or Todd Rodgers Los Angeles Assessor: John Morris Ballot Measures (thank you Barbara Stone) PROPOSITION 41 For many years, California voters have approved bonds to provide home loan assistance to California veterans. Because the vets repay those loans, there has been no net cost to taxpayers. This year, the Legislature reduced the amount of bond money that could be used for loans to vets by $600 million ($500 million remain). They are now asking voters instead to approve a new $600 million general obligation bond to fund affordable multifamily housing for low income and homeless veterans. The home loan program has paid for itself. This will not. The Legislative Analyst Office estimates the cost of these bonds at $50 million annually for 15 years. Thirty million dollars may be used for administrative expenses. I believe this is money to which the state should not be committing, and I admit I resent the reset from loans for home mortgages to another low income housing project. Recommendation: NO PROPOSITION 42 This is part of the continuing rape of local governments by the state. If passed, it will amend the state constitution to relieve the state of the obligation to pay cities and other entities for costs stemming from state mandated laws regarding access to local government information. Currently, the state has to reimburse for costs they require, though recently they have been dead beats and not paid for the millions of dollars they have required to be spent on printing, staff time, etc. The Legislative Analyst Office estimates an impact of tens of millions of dollars on cities, counties, etc. and even more tens of millions in the future as the Legislature is free to impose requirements without having to pay for them. It is part of a massive shift of resources from local government to the state. Recommendation: NO, NO, NO L.A. County Supervisor J. Gomez
Rocky Ridge Rescue volunteers make the difference in animal rescue. At a recent Rocky Ridge Rescue visit, it became apparent that this place was growing in rescue population. Now housing about 13 horses, a number of chickens, roosters, bulldogs, ducks, peacocks, a
pig, donkeys and goats, it was decided to help their cause by asking for your donations of hay, chicken & duck food, goat food, dog food, cat food, bedding, fencing, water troughs, kiddy pools, veterinarian fees,
farrier fees, and whatever else they need to keep the ranch healthy and running. Volunteers are needed as well as funds. For more information and/or to donate go to: RockyRidgeRescue.org.
Just three of the many animals that Liz (Inset) has rescued. The Rocky Ridge Rescue can always use more volunteers.
Congratulations, Carol!
Carol Compton, one of our avid readers graduated Wed. from the Glendale Community College Continuing Ed Program with a certificate of General Office Clerk I. Lots of hard work, taking care of a husband and children, but still pushing through. Congratulations Carol!
THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014 — 7
VOLUME 10 • NUMBER 11 • www.thefoothillspaper.com
WreckS O Ff T H E W E E K
Violence Against Homeless People on the Rise
Slow down and live...
The driver of this black SUV threw eggs at homeless people in Tujunga. By David “Doc” DeMullé
It was reported that the pickup truck crossed the center divider hitting the car. Both drivers were helicoptered to local hospitals.
This pickup was hit at the corner of Sunland and Foothill Boulevard by a hit-and-run driver—who just happened to leave his front bumper and license plate at the scene.
Distracted driving and high speed caused this car to go airborne sending its driver to the hospital.
Just because the light is green............
There were way too many accidents to cover here; visit
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With new homeless moving into our community, there is also an increase of violence between them and by the S-T Vigilantes. What used to be an understanding among the street homeless (those who park their belongings on the sidewalks) and the shop owners, has now turned into outright confrontations. Confrontations that the LAPD is unable to stop or control. With a skewed census showing a local population of 65,000 and a politically correct “Homeless Survey” that only made the councilmember and the LAPD look like fools, the homeless have cobbled together a way of living that has made them “socially visible” on Foothill Blvd., and an overt threat of fire stupidity in the Big Tujunga Canyon. In the not too distant past, those who chose to live in the relatively safe camps that populated the wash knew how to maintain their camps without danger of setting it on fire. The newcomers don’t have that idea. In one incident, the LAFD rolled on a smoke call in the Big T only to find two women drying their clothes over an open fire. A couple of weeks ago, a fire was ignited near LeBerthon and the golf course. The cause was determined to be a careless cigarette in a homeless camp. Civilians mustered together by Realtor Tomi Lynn Bowling have taken it upon themselves to photograph the homeless as they go about their business. To them, it seemed like fun until the homeless started getting into confrontations with them. “There is no one more stupid than a self righteous person with a camera” stated Denis a homeless person, “like it’s going to protect them?” One such vigilante drives a black SUV and as of recent times, has begun to taunt the homeless groups and in one event began to throw eggs at one homeless person and his dogs. One of the tactics that Hitler used against the Jews was to de-humanize them, and this is what is happening with these self-righteous groups. The homeless are being targeted because of their situation and the fact that most won’t fight back. One homeless person named Pattie and her kitten were sprayed with wasp spray as they sat on the porch near McDonald’s. Three homeless family members had their carts overturned by a person that lives just above Foothill near Tujunga Canyon Pl. The LAPD is trying it’s best to accommodate those homeless that truly
are trying to do the right thing, but with the proliferation of so-called Homeless Committees and “secret homeless assessment groups” formed by our councilmember that doesn’t care one way or the other, but wants to make some people feel important, nothing substantial is going to happen. What is of major concern to the Homeless advocacy groups is the increasing number of violent attacks on the homeless that for the most part are going unreported. The problem that the LAPD is facing is that it is hard to determine if the reported increase in violence is due to an increase of attacks or the increase of reported crimes against the homeless. Local citizens are routinely barred from participating in the Civilian Police Advisory Board (CPAB) because a select group of individuals hold the Captains ear. Political incest in Sunland-Tuijunga is doing more damage and creating more harm to our community than the LAPD wants anyone to know. Claiming a shortage of manpower, the senior officers find it easy to turn a blind eye to what is actually happening to the homeless population, while the street officers deal with it on a daily (and unreported) basis. “Many people are simply afraid of the homeless, or maybe more specifically, people are afraid of what they perceive the homeless population to be,” Amy Donley writes. “The most visible homeless are sometimes easily recognizable due to such negative attributes as being dirty, smelling of alcohol or carting a multitude of belongings, they cannot easily blend in with people around them.” The problem we have here is not really about how community members trat the homeless, but all the laws that have been enacted which criminalize homeless activities such as sleeping outdoors, pan handeling, loitering etc. These laws give the vigilante a rationale for their actions. Not too long ago, the Cleghorn machine with their hitman Joseph Barrett were on a mission to destroy every “Safe Haven Camp” in Sunland-Tujunga. Now they are denying that they are reaping the consequence of the local homeless living in front of our local businesses. Anger and frustration against the homeless is driving our community to extremes. Unless the LAPD and our local government work together (transparently) to remedy this situation, more people on both sides are going to get injured. There could be an outright rebellion on the part of the homeless. After all, they have nothing to lose.
8 — FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER
Soldiers, from pg 1 Officer of Paramount Pictures. “As families, schools and nonprofit institutions continue to face economic hardships, we are incredibly grateful to be able to participate in a volunteer initiative that makes such a powerful impact on a global scale.” Employees from all divisions of Para-
Memorial, from pg 1 loved patriotic melodies. Boy Scout Troop Number 315 presented colors. A solemn and moving moment of silence, prayer and playing of Taps by Kelly honored her father, Patrick Daniel O’Brien, an Air Force Veteran of the Vietnam War, who sadly passed away on April 5, 2014. Chaplain Paul Tangburn remembered those who had fallen for our freedom in prayer and called each name individually while ringing the bell. There were almost 200 people in attendance, ages ranging from the very elderly to babies, including one family of four generations. Many people have the opportunity to visit cemeteries and memorials; howev-
Miller, from pg 2 bikes. Miller drove that moped to San Francico and back. Miller says that he built the first float in the Fourth of July parade. He borrowed a truck, borrowed hay, had pretty girls dress in gingham dresses, threw on a potbelly stove and drove down Foothill. This First float excludes Daisy the Clown strapped to a blue V.W. hood. Miller realized that he wanted to write about things like the steam whistle that would make dogs howl, and that a young boy that would throw newspapers from his horse. Calling back to yesteryear he joined Bolton Hall and was an interim director there. His articles included stories about the people, the good people of Sunland-Tujunga. How many of you remember Yahoo comics that was located on Foothill? The owners named the store Yahoo because the area was Indian and that sounded Indian. Wonder if Yahoo knows that? It was a fun filled store with comics, and coin operated games, posters, buttons and baseball cards. It was located at 7102 Foothill Blvd. The owners were the Shipey’s. Now that I have the baby boomers interested, we can move on to some very much older tales. True Grit, The Cutting and Paving of Sunland-Tujunga’s Streets is one of Millers stories and describes the way that S-T came to be. Mr. M.V. Hartranft was an early developer and after he had Sunland-Tujunga surveyed, he began to lay out the land plots. His first salesman, George Buck sold the lots from Tujunga Canyon Place and Michigan Ave.. Michigan Avenue was Foothill Blvd back then. Business lots on Com-
mount Pictures participated in a variety of activities, including planting a garden at Saddles for Soldiers, a facility that offers equestrian therapy to veterans with PTSD; building wheelchair-friendly desks at a school attended by students with physical challenges; serving meals to residents of a women’s homeless shelter; and improving the bioswale at the Los Angeles Zoo. er, in lieu of this at Two Strikes Park, there were crosses placed around the recently restored Veterans Memorial commemorating the different wars throughout our country’s history. Here, locally, a flag was placed on each cross in the following of the tradition that many volunteers throughout the country, place an American flag on each grave in national cemeteries. After the service, The American Legion Post 377 held a hot dog barbecue prepared by the Boy Scout Troop, complete with potato salad, baked beans and dessert at the legion hall. There were about 75+ in attendance and everyone enjoyed the barbecue. Several of the S-T local leaders showed their support, attending both events. merce had twenty five foot frontages. Wider lots were offered up in the residential areas, on San Ysidro (now Samoa) and Manana (now Valmont). The year was 1908. Some sources offer that Tujunga is a Shoshone name, meaning place of the old woman; others say it is Tongvan. The first street that was to be widened and paved was Commerce, which at that time was called Sunset. Their thought was that the road had to be wide enough so that a team of oxen could turn around. The main work was done by East Indian Hindus. They would water down the decomposed gravel with a mule driven wagon. The purpose was to settle down the granite. They gathered most of the decomposed granite from a site on Hillhaven. The decomposed granite covered the streets. The streets were never oiled. The City of L.A. took over in 1926 and pretty much helped as much as they help now, the streets remained as is for awhile. Curbs were then added after the fact. If you drive around the area you can still spot the original stone houses. The stone houses were meant to last forever, and they have, unless the owner is crazy and redoes the house, they will be here longer than the last cockroach will. The houses rarely need an air conditioner because if they have trees around them, they remain cool in the summer. Wetting the rocks with the hose will keep them even cooler. In older times a lot of the families had to keep a fire burning to keep warm. The rock houses have withstood earthquakes and floods. They are charming looking and remind us that Tujunga is strong and they call us “The Rock.”
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www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 10 • NUMBER 11
Biking with Your Dog When you think about the activities that you can do with your dog, your list might look like this: walk, run, play fetch. With such a short list, you probably cycle through these pretty quickly. Why not shake things up a bit and introduce your dog to something new? Spring and summer are wonderful times to ride your bike and the best part is that your dog can come with you. It’s the perfect way to bond and reconnect with your pooch and enjoy that fresh spring air together. Can Any Dog Bike? It makes sense that a healthy dog that’s used to walking, running, or hiking is a great candidate for a bike mate. But what if your dog is small and doesn’t need much exercise? Don’t worry! There are a few different ways that will allow your dog to join you so you don’t have to leave that wagging tail and adorable little face behind. Bike Leash - For an active, healthy dog, a bike leash is your answer. Bike leashes hook on the side of a bike and attach to your dog’s padded harness so she’s running right along side of you. It’s designed to control your dog in case she pulls in a different direction and ensures the safety of both dog and rider. NEVER bring your dog on a regular leash that will leave you with just one hand on the handle bars and
the other holding your dog’s leash. This can be extremely dangerous. Bike leashes were designed to free your hands so you can drive the bike properly. Riders & Baskets - For your small dog that doesn’t really need much exercise, you can still bond with them on a bicycling trip by using a pet rider or a basket. Baskets attached to the front handle bars and have a harness or strap that keeps your furry passenger hooked safely and secured. Riders also work the same way, although these can be attached to the front or back of a bike and also include a safety harness. Start Small Once you’ve determined the best way to bring your dog along, it’s time to get her acclimated to being with the bike. Show her how you are attaching the leash to your bicycle or set her in the rider to get her used to it. For the initial few outings, just walk your bike. When she starts to become comfortable, hop on the bike and go slowly at first. Plan on just going around the block the first time, followed by one or two more blocks as she adjusts to this new activity. This is also a good time to make sure that your dog is properly secured to the bike so there aren’t any mishaps. If the biking is going well and she’s see Pet Trips, page 11
Attention All Veterans, Sons, Daughters and Wives of Veterans Come & Enjoy your Local American Legion Post
Help support Veterans & Veterans’ Causes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ American Legion Post 377 10039 Pinewood Ave., Tujunga
(818) 353-9856
Events open to the Public
Saturday, June 14, 2 p.m. Flag Ceremony Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Potato Salad and chips for $6 Saturday, June 14, 1 p.m. Boy Scout Car Wash $5 Wash • $10 Wash & Vacuum Saturday, June 21st • Birthday Dinner with the Working Stiffz Band Canteen Hours - 7 days a week, 2- 10 p.m.
For Hall Rental, call Commander Dan 818 521-1127
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THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014 — 9
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www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 10 • NUMBER 11
True Grit, from pg 3
Finicky or Just Darn Spoiled? Is there something wrong when your dog doesn’t wolf down his food? When you think about how wolves in the wild eat, there’s typically not a lot of hesitation before they dive in and devour their kill. After all, that’s how they survive. And a lot of people say that a good appetite is a sign of a healthy dog. Obviously our dog pets are domesticated and rely on us to feed them, so they do not necessarily have a reason to wolf down their food. There are eat slower pet dishes, which I use with my dog, and it is said to help prevent Dog Bloat. And there’s another whole group of dogs that has become finicky because of their owners’ unintended actions. Is your dog a picky eater? Sometimes it’s a personality trait that dogs have their entire lives, and sometimes it’s a relatively new development. Before I give you some pointers on how to help “fix” your finicky dog, I’m going to ask you to put on your P.I. hat and look at a few things first: 1. Be sure there are no underlying medical issues. Consult your veterinarian about your dog’s picky behavior, especially if there is vomiting and/or diarrhea or any other signs of illness present, weight loss, or if the problem has developed suddenly. 2. Check out the food you’re feeding your pet. Is it high quality and nutritious? Does it contain wholesome protein sources instead of cheap non-nutritive fillers? It’s only natural for a dog to reject inferior food. (It would be like a human eating very lowgrade microwave dinners for every meal—eventually they’ll get sick of it.) 3. Do you rotate foods? Many veterinarians recommend feeding only one type of food. Changing your pet’s food can create a finicky appetite when he thinks there may be something tastier coming if he doesn’t eat. New foods can also cause stomach upset and diarrhea which can discourage eating. 4. Is there anything affecting his appetite for meals? Is your dog stealing food from another pet or trash can? Could a family member be slipping him extra treats or table scraps between meals? Anything that cuts down on his appetite at dinner time can affect whether he eats his regular food. Surprisingly, how you respond to your dog’s finicky eating habits can either help make them or break them. What do YOU do when your pet refuses to eat? If you do what a lot of pet owners innocently do pet her, coax her, even try to hand feed her—you’re rewarding your dog with positive reinforcement. Think about it: if your dog gets all that extra, loving attention for NOT eating, imagine what she’s likely to do the next time you feed her! I suggest you try this instead the next time your pet won’t eat: Place the food in your dog’s bowl and walk away. When your dog is hungry, her body will drive her to eat. You can always try buying “the Finicky Feeder” bowl, found online, designed to make the dog work through their bowl to the very bottom, where a treat is left. Still, as a pet sitter, I’ll be the first to admit that there are situations where this may not be the best approach. These include times when your dog needs to consume a special diet that’s less than appetizing, your dog is growing older and is losing his sense of taste, and when your dog is ill, undergoing therapy, or recovering from surgery and needs to eat for health reasons.. ••• 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.
then named Sunset—was the first street improved. The thought that it was it should be wide, like certain streets in Salt Lake City, Utah. Like the turnaround space for a team of Mormon oxen, Tujunga should accommodate a team of mules and a wagon. Gottlieb “probably did grade a few streets earlier” then when he, Buck, arrived in 1913. But, he says, the main work was done by East Indian Hindus, turbans and all. That was characteristic of their headgear. “They were camped just west of my granddad’s real estate office { Marnice and Foothill}. Course he owned the land and let them camp there. Tents, I don’t recall. But they had their mules, their wagons and their grading equipment. They’d bring all that there at night. That was their headquarters, might say. They worked at least several teams. “The wagons they hauled the decomposed granite i- the floor of the wagons were two-by-fours. And at the tail end of the wagon, they were carved out to make handles. And then they could lift them up and their gravel or dirt would sift downas their way of dumping the load. Fischer may have graded out Sunset Boulevard. That I don’t remember. “At the time I’m telling you about, they were putting on this decomposed gravel. They had their mule-drawn graders. One man drives the team, the other man stands back on a platform, raising and lowering the grading blade. And pitting it at an angle, whatever they
wanted to do with it. Buck is not certain if the Indians used “fresnos”, or scoops, to move piles of rock and sand. However, they did employ a water wagon to wet down the dust. Drawn by mules the tank had sprinklers on the back for settling the new “pavement.” “There was water up this end of town. Granddad had water piped into his place. He lived on St. Esteban. That was his home place-one acre. The top filler hole to this water wagon was about twenty inches across. A pipe with a gooseneck filled the tank each day. It was likely that this phase of the day’s road work began down on St. Esteban, because a site for the quarried decomposed granite was nearby. According to Thomas Theobald who lived in Tujunga as a boy, about 1920, much of the decomposed granite from Tujunga’s expanding town came from a site or sites along Hillhaven. The decomposed stone covered the new streets; Buck says they were never oiled. But many of them “remained long after the city {Los Angeles} took over after the incorporation of Tujunga in 1926. In fact, the impression is that the city did very little compared to Tujunga’s residents in town street construction and maintenance, Curbs and sidewalks appeared after that date. Col. Chancellor Livingston, who came to Tujunga in 1910, depicts the town as practically roadless. A horse and wagon trail followed Tujunga Canyon along the wash. From Sunland, a road climbed eastward over
today’s Valmont, joined Foothill [then Michigan Avenue}, contoured past the Begue ranch house and vineyards and on into Glendale. Another road – and these were just wagon trails-traveled down into Sun Valley {Roscoe} then. While still another trail led past the Wentworth rock and gravel quarry, crossed the ‘r5iver’, or wash and then on to San Fernando. One local wagon trail skirted Sunland Park. Tujunga’s first official streets, one might say were laid out and graded around Bolton Hall. Developer M.V. Hartranft did the planning. He had also brought in a three man survey team who had just surveyed both sides of the Mt. Gleason road, dividing the land into 5-15 acre parcels. Livingston says that the acreage was surveyed first and then town lots. Gottlieb Fischer cut these early streets. So too, did Livingston’s father who owned two mules. The road builders used “stone’ boats’ sleds packed with rocks to tamp down the red dirt and they also employed huge ‘weighted drags’ to level and smooth the surface. Hartranft hired extra hands to clear the brush. And when the rocks had been thrown aside and boulders levered from the road bed, the workers spread ‘red dirt’, then decomposed granite, 6to smooth the surface. Even so, “everything was bumpy as hell,” says Livingston. The rocks in the road blew out the tires on the old 1906 Buick “bus” every two or three days. And those split rims required tire irons that were a bear of a job.
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VOLUME 10 • NUMBER 11 • www.thefoothillspaper.com
Facepainting, from pg 4 cess of your event and will ask you questions and they may make some suggestions that will make your event even better since in most cases, they have attended more of these types of events than you have. Having a professional face
Pet Trips, from pg 8 not afraid or stressed out, you can then begin lengthening your bike trips and moving along at a more appropriate pace. Safety First There are some things to keep in mind when you have your dog with you on the bike so that you both have a safe and enjoyable experience. Whenever possible, use bike trails or roads that are less busy. If this isn’t a nearby option, use a bike rack and drive the two of you to a nearby park or trail. Avoid extraordinary heat. In the warm summer months, reserve biking outings for early mornings or early evenings before it is getting dark. Bring a small pack of necessary items, including water, treats, a cell phone, and your
painter working their artistic magic on the kids will bring an extra feeling of excitement to your event. What To Do With The Kids® has recently created a directory of professional face painters for adults on our website along with directories of clowns, magicians, entertainers and balloon professionals.
Visit the website at www. whattodowiththekids.com to see for yourself. Afterall, What To Do With The Kids® is the website that adults go to when they want to know what to do with their kids. For more information contact Brian Presley at brian@ whattodowiththekids.com
vet’s number just in case of an emergency. Make sure that your dog has all of his tags and other identification. Just you and your dog on the open road with the wind at your backs and the sunshine on your faces is a healthy and fun way to bond with your dog. Dogs are always overjoyed to be going anywhere with their humans, so finding new ways to spend time together (like biking) is bound to bring the two of you even closer together. Show your best friend just how much you love her and hop on that bike!
safe while traveling. The website features a directory of pet friendly hotels and accommodations across the United States and Canada, as well as airline & car rental pet policies; pet friendly restaurants, beaches, and events; a userfriendly route search option; pet travel tips; pet travel supplies; and other pet travel resources.
About TripsWithPets.com TripsWithPets.com is the no. 1 online resource for pet travel. Named best pet travel site by Consumer Reports, TripsWithPets.com’s mission is to offer resources that ensure pets are welcome, happy, and
About the Author Kim Salerno is the President & Founder of TripsWithPets.com. She founded the pet travel site in 2003 and is an expert in the field of pet travel. Her popular web site features pet-friendly hotels and accommodations across the U.S. and Canada along with other helpful pet travel resources. Her mission is to ensure that pets are welcome, happy and safe in their travels.
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Burglary 05/02/14 08:00 PM 6900 BLOCK OF SAINT ESTABAN ST
Theft 05/17/14 07:30 PM 00 BLOCK OF BIG TUJUNGA AND ORO VISTA Details
Theft 05/08/14 09:20 PM 7700 BLOCK OF APPERSON ST
Theft 05/17/14 12:00 PM 10000 BLOCK OF PLAINVIEW AV
Theft 05/10/14 01:00 PM 6700 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL Theft 05/12/14 05:00 PM 8600 BLOCK OF FORSYTHE ST Burglary 05/13/14 11:00 PM 7600 BLOCK OF KYLE ST Theft 05/14/14 11:10 AM 00 BLOCK OF SUNLAND PARK AND SUNLAND Theft 05/14/14 07:10 PM 10400 BLOCK OF SUNLAND BL Theft 05/16/14 09:45 PM 6500 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL Theft 05/16/14 09:45 PM 6500 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL Theft 05/17/14 07:30 PM 00 BLOCK OF BIG TUJUNGA AND ORO VISTA Details Theft 05/17/14 09:15 AM 10400 BLOCK OF SHERMAN GROVE AV
Theft 05/17/14 09:15 AM 10400 BLOCK OF SHERMAN GROVE AV Theft 05/19/14 08:00 PM 10300 BLOCK OF SHERMAN GROVE AV Theft 05/19/14 08:30 PM 8700 BLOCK OF APPERSON ST Theft 05/19/14 11:30 PM 10600 BLOCK OF MOUNT GLEASON AV Theft 05/20/14 12:01 AM 00 BLOCK OF PINEWOOD AV AND VALMONT ST Theft 05/21/14 05:00 PM 10000 BLOCK OF PLAINVIEW AV Theft 05/22/14 08:00 PM 10600 BLOCK OF RUSSETT AV Robbery 05/24/14 08:50 PM 7800 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL
What’s wrong with being what we’ve always been? “Showplace of the Chaparral.” Or maybe a new motto: “Tomorrow starts today!” We aren’t and never will be a “GATEWAY!”
12 — FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER
Wildfires, from pg 1
materials.
at controlling erosion and protecting watersheds. The deep root systems of these plants help stabilize slopes and allow them to thrive in the dry Mediterranean climate of Southern California. Additionally, the native vegetation eliminates the problems of establishing new landscape, blends into the surrounding environment and is adapted to fire. Most chaparral plants will respond to fire by sprouting new growth or producing abundant seed. For many residents, the beauty of the natural brush is one reason they have chosen to live in the hillside area. Warning: If you plan to undergo an extensive Vegetation-Modification Project on your hillside, you should seek geological, engineering and landscaping advice from professionals. Drastic fuel reduction can lead to slope instability.
Fire Safety Construction Tips • Build your home at least 30 feet from property lines • Use fire resistant building materials • Use ignition resistant siding and decking • Enclose the underside of balconies, eaves, and aboveground decks with fire-resistant materials • Install ember resistant eaves and wall vents • Use dual-panel or triple-panel windows • Limit the size and number of windows that face large areas of hazardous vegetation • Ensure that electric service lines, fuse boxes and circuit breakers are installed and main-
Roofing Materials Highly flammable roofing materials increase your risk of residential fire damage. Burning embers, carried by the wind, may fall onto your roof. Your roof may provide fuel to transform a single ember into a blazing fire. The most dangerous materials are wood shingles and shakes. While wood may be treated with chemicals to diminish fire risk, such treatment provides dubious protection. Weather severely diminishes the effectiveness of chemical protection over time. If you have wood shingles or shake tiles, you should consider replacing your roof immediately. Composition shingles are the most common roofing materials in our area, and throughout the country. They come in a variety of colors, weights and textures. The central core is comprised of cellulose fibers or fiberglass, coated with asphalt on both sides, and topped with a protective mineral aggregate. While this type of roofing material can withstand severe fire exposure, prolonged exposure will eventually cause them to burn. Also, make sure that your tiles have been graded as “Class A” by the Underwriter’s Laboratories, which assigns grades A-C based on fire-protection qualities. Some composite shingles provide less protection, as indicated by “B” and “C” UL grades. The UL grade should be on the original packaging materials. Clay and concrete tiles are more expensive than composite shingles, but they combine aesthetic beauty with fireproof features. Unlike composite shingles, they virtually never wear out. Wooden eaves pose a special risk. Eaves extending beyond exterior walls can trap firebrands, allowing them to start fires on the underside of your roof. As a result, eaves should be boxed or enclosed with fire resistant materials, and all eave vents should be covered with 1/4-inch wire
tained according to code • Do not install locked or electric driveway gates. They impair emergency response • Do not seek side-yard building variances for build-outs that will impair ready access to your backyard. Easy backyard access may be essential for emergency response • Install metal chimney spark arrestors to prevent sparks and other burning material from escaping out of the chimney, and inspect at least once a year. When the dry Santa Ana winds are blowing, fire danger increases in very high fire hazard severity zones like Mandeville Canyon. At these times, the Los Angeles Fire Department (“LAFD”) goes on “Red Alert” and patrols to inspect the area; they have vehicles towed that are parked in front of fire hydrants or are illegally parked because emergency vehicles may need access in case of a fire. The Fire Department needs our help to report any hazardous condition that could cause a wildfire. Brush Clearance Works! During the Station Fire, one Riverwood Ranch resident watched the fire burn right up to the metal fence around her house, after already burning through the cleared area outside her fence. She recognized that, because the brush had been cleared, the flames burned with reduced intensity, enabling firefighters to stop it before it reached her home. She told The Foothills Paper that the Brush Clearance probably saved her
www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 10 • NUMBER 11
home. • Vegetation was the largest single factor in whether a house burned. Almost nineteen of twenty-two houses destroyed in Vogel Flats had flammable vegetation within 30 feet, and twothirds had flammable vegetation within 10 feet. • Exterior wood also played a large part in the destruction. Los Angeles city and county inspectors said more than 75% of the homes that were destroyed had wood siding and flammable roofing. • Composition roofs, a type generally considered more resistant to fire than wood, proved vulnerable. These roofs, made of layered tar paper or tar-based shingles, were on nearly 90% of the burned houses. By contrast,
houses with tile or other ceramic roofs accounted for fewer than 20% of the burned homes. Fire experts say ceramic roofs substantially reduced risk. Richard Montague, a consultant who prepares fire management plans for housing developments, told The Paper that, although any house, no matter how well-built, could succumb to 100-foot flames, the lesson is that “30-foot clearance and a good roof” results in “a 95% chance of survival.” Brush Clearance Look at the Sayer Fire where a potentially devastating brush fire was kept from destroying homes before firefighters arrived on the scene. Brush clearance created a zone of protected or defensible space that allowed firefighters to enter the residential area safely,
move to the outer perimeter, away from the homes, to contain the brush fire. Brush containment saved the lives and homes of Sylmar residents. In one fire after another in the Southern California area, residents and firefighters sing the same tune: Brush Clearance Programs are the key to success in saving lives and property. Shelter In Place “Shelter In Place” means to stay inside your home rather than evacuate the area. In areas of limited ingress and egress, like Mandeville Canyon, evacuation may be an option well before a firestorm has arrived in the area. But last minute evacuations, occurring while a fire is bearing down on the Canyon, are not safe. The last place you want to be is in a car stuck on Tujunga Canyon Road as a fire sweeps the area. And by placing your own life at risk, you also jeopardize other lives, since vehicles on the road make it more difficult for firefighters to do their job. If a wildfire is in the area, and you are not urged or ordered to evacuate by the authorities, you should assume that “Shelter In Place” is the appropriate response. Things to do when sheltering in place: Dress appropriately. Wear long sleeves, sturdy shoes and have dust masks available. A first-aid kit, flashlight, cell phone (which may or may not work during a fire emergency) and water are essential. Keep the family together in the house. Houses can get very hot during a firestorm, but unless ignited, you are likely to remain safe, especially if you are in compliance with Brush Clearance Rules. Close windows and doors in-
cluding garage doors. But leave your curtains drawn and your lights on. It can get very dark during a fire, even in the daytime. And this will signal fire department personnel that you are inside the residence. Move all flammable materials that are outside your home into the house or garage and out of the yard. This includes outdoor furnishings. Make sure that your address is clearly painted on the curb for identification purposes. Fill your trash cans with water ahead of the firestorm’s arrival. Firefighters will use these resources if needed. If you have a pool, a pool pump with sufficient hose to cover your property can be extremely effective. Place ladders in your garage to access the roof, check for embers, and mop up small fires and embers on your property after the fire passes. Roof sprinklers are not helpful and they reduce the necessary water pressure in the mains. Fire retardant foam such as the “Barricade” system works well as a fire retardant, although the foam might stain or be difficult to remove later. Don’t take refuge in your swimming pool the fire causes a vacuum and you could suffocate. Remember: If you are going to evacuate your home, you must leave before the road is congested with fire trucks and fire hoses. Cars are less safe than a house because they offer far less shelter and also because your car has gasoline in the tank, an obvious danger. Sources: Information provided in this issue came from materials supplied by the Los Angeles Fire Department, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Los Angeles County Department of Forester and Fire Warden.