We’re supposed to kill them with love — not automobiles!
See “Fatality,” below
FREE
FRIDAY • MARCH 17, 2017
TELLING THE TRUTH FOR 12 YEARS!
It’s No Joke! Safe Streets Town Hall Slated For April 1 by
Alejandro Magallanes
Traffic Fatality on Wentworth
photo: Dyan McManus
On Wednesday, March 8, Eve Sinclair, chair of the Sunland-Tujunga Safe Streets Committee, stood before the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council to present the work that our group has been committed to for the last eight months. She explained to the council and visitors that we will be having a Safe Streets Town Hall Safe Streets member Lori Apthort shows her banner design meeting on Saturday, April 1 for placement on Foothill Blvd. at 10 a.m. and LAPD Traffic Division Traffic is an important top- Zero is financially invested and well at work on these better understand and enforce ic in our neighborhood. Our changes already. Your input our streets. After the finanresidents are realizing that will help. cial crisis of 2008, the city now is the time to add help First, know the facts. Los made necessary restraints to ful information that will the budget — which included mold our streets into the safer Angeles street surveys help the Los Angeles Department putting off our invaluable changes that we will be seesee Speed Limits, page 9 of Transportation (LADOT) ing in the near future. Vision
VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 6
INSIDE: Social Security
Italy Had Michelangelo — S-T Has Nerses Avedyan!
Police and ambulance at Marybell cross-walk traffic fatality. by
David DeMullé
Another needless death occurred Monday night at about 5:45 p.m. A 52-year-old transient woman was reportedly crossing the street at
the Marybell and Wentworth crosswalk when she was struck by a luxury car and killed. Witnesses stated that they thought that she was crossing with the warning see Fatality, page 9
McGroarty Development Detailed at NV City Hall
matters matter!
................ Swingin’ big band music!
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4 8
Bootique Fun!
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DEPARTMENTS Foothills Happenings............. 2 Community Help.................... 2 View from the Rock.............. 3 The Credit Score.................... 3 Movie Review...................... 4 Legion Post Calendar............. 4 Chef Randy........................... 5 Crime Stats......................... 10 Take My Card..................... 11
Developer Albert Davityan explains how the property will be divided and how the trees will be protected. by
Artist Nerses paints from a scaffold. Sunland-Tujunga is getting its drab, lifeless building walls decorated. The murals have been coming for years now, but the “machine” always got them shut down before anyone could enjoy them. But that appears to be changing now with the help of Sonia Tatulian and her artist friends. It was only a couple of years ago that Lito of Joselito’s Mexican restaurant commis-
sioned muralist “CC” to paint a mural commemorating El Dio Del Muerto (the day of the dead) on the side of his building. It lasted three months before Lito was ordered to remove it. A large “Buffalo Society” mural was put on the old Arigoto building on Foothill back in 2015. It lasted nearly three months before the graffiti busters see Murals, page 12
David DeMullé
The NVCH auditorium was filled with people last week when Albert Davityan made his presentation of his development project at 8100-8160 Mc Groarty St. in Tujunga. Questions were presented by Chair Cindy Cleghorn, the board and members of the audience. Many were there to find out what was going to happen to the 90 Oak trees on the property.
Davityan was very personable and brought with him a battery of maps to show people the scope and depth of the project. He was able to fully describe the quantity and condition of the trees on the proposed development property. He explained that almost 50 of the trees in question were either dead or dying, and the remaining trees were going to be protected and spaced around the property. see Development, page 11
GET THE DAILY NEWS BY JOINING THE FOOTHILLS INSIDER! Write to: editor@thepaper.ws
2 — FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER
www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 6
Community Help by Amelia
Health Care For All! by
Amelia Anderson
You are invited to Sylmar’s Homeless Connect Day, Thursday, March 16, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at El Cariso Park. Take the 210 West and exit Hubbard. Turn right and go up past the second signal on the right. LAHSA funds regionally, services for physical and mental health, detoxification, jobs and housing. Food and backpacks will be available. Sixty-five attended our connect day last month on February 16. The big day is April 8 when Medical Mission Mobile Health Care units will adventure up the hill to Chapel of the Hills located at 11120 Oro Vista. There will be free medical, dental and optical services provided from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to low-
income families and individuals. These items and services are compliments of the charity, Making It Happen, which is headed up by Pattee Colvin. “Looking to provide when there’s a need,” Colvin produced two dates each of the last two years, serving 95 locals each day. This year she’s scheduling three. The other two dates are September 9 and November 11. You gotta see this woman move; she’s a one-woman band. She’s got her own grant from Mr. Dilbeck in La Crescenta.It’s fitting since their folks jump our borders. It’s also timely since Trump’s new “health plan” will leave his base supporters high and dry. On a final note for this week, it’s Doctor’s Week. be sure to send a note of thanks to your physician!
Amelia Anderson is a Homeless Advocate elected to both the SunlandTujunga Neighborhood Council and also to Mayor Garcetti’s Homeless Committee.
Pasadena Symphony in March: Mendelssohn, Schubert & Mozart Principal Guest Conductor Nicholas McGegan returns to lead the Pasadena Symphony at Ambassador Auditorium on Saturday, March 18 with Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony, Schubert’s Overture in the Italian Style and Mozart’s Turkish Violin Concerto No. 5 with performances at 2 and 8 p.m. The concerts take place at Ambassador Auditorium, 131 S. St. John Avenue in Pasadena. Tickets may be purchased online at PasadenaSymphonyPops.org or by calling (626) 793-7172. •••
Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce Events Day at the Races Sunday, March 19, 11 a.m., Santa Anita Race Track, Top o’ the Stretch (Includes 9 exciting thoroughbred races, parking and fresh BBQ lunch!) $25 (or $15 for kids 17 and under.) Benefits the CV Sheriff Support Group and the CV and Montrose Chambers. •••
borhood. Those who use poison bait to control rats and ground squirrels, take the chance of also poisoning pets and local animals which might eat the poisoned vermin. The Barn Owl Boxes are both an effective method of enticing Barn Owls to your property, but the purchase of them also provides funds to the Audubon Society. For more information, you can contact Dana Stangel through Facebook or the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council.
Barn Owl Box Dana Stangel the Animal Affairs rep of the STNC made a presentation promoting the “Barn Owl Box” (pictured at right) as an ecologically sound way of controlling vermin and rodents in the neigh-
Got vermin next door? Give them the bird!
A Noise Within Hosts Eugene O’Neill’s “Ah, Wilderness!” Connecticut. The plot deals with the teenaged middle son, Richard, and his coming of age in sweet days of early twentieth-century America. Inspired by the play’s many musical references and moments, Robman adds period songs to the staging and sound design. “Our production opens with the whole family gathered around the piano singing a lilting ballad from the period. In the days before movies and television or even radio, families often entertained themselves by playing musical instruments and singing – and this togetherness underscores the warmth and congeniality of the Miller family and the play itself.” Robman points out that “the play pokes gentle fun at all the kids who repeat to their parents what they’ve been reading as if it had never been heard before. It’s no mistake that the setting is the eve
of July 4; it’s a play about independence. Richard spouts classical poetry and radical political ideology throughout much of the play, borrowing other people’s voices to challenge his elders and to rebel like many 17-year-olds do.” “But at the end of the play, by virtue of making a lot of mistakes and growing up a bit, Richard is in a position to find his own voice; to, in effect, declare his ‘independence.’ He learns that you don’t have to alienate yourself from the people around you to be ‘independent,’ that you can still be your own person while immersed in the love of your family.” A Noise Within is located Emily Goss at 3352 E. Foothill Blvd. in in “Ah, Wilderness!” at A Pasadena, CA 91107 Noise Within. Tickets and information may be found at the Web site, hour before performance www.anoisewithin.org or by $20.00 calling (626) 356-3100 ext. 1. Groups of 10 or more Single Tickets start at $25 -- adults from $25/ticket; Student Rush with ID, one students from $18/ticket. photo: Daniel Reichert
A Noise Within (ANW), the always wished he had,” said acclaimed classical repertory Director Steven Robman. theatre, presents the sixth “So, he took his difficult real production of their 25th life and transformed it into Anniversary Season, Eugene the lighter Ah, Wilderness!. O’Neill’s Ah, Wilderness!, Though you can see the directed by Steven Robman, outlines and composites of performing through May 20, the more troubled characters 2017 (press opening is March that appear in his other 11). Robman’s work for the plays, Ah, Wilderness! is a theatre includes the premieres side of O’Neill that many of Wendy Wasserstein’s Unpeople don’t know about or common Women and Others aren’t used to. It’s his only and Isn’t It Romantic, D. L. full-length comedy. When Coburn’s The Gin Game, and audiences more familiar with Ron Hutchinson’s Moonlight Long Day’s Journey into and Magnolias. Night or The Iceman Cometh A rare departure from the watch this play, they’ll be playwright’s darker oeuvre, surprised and pleased to see this comedy is unabashedly that Eugene O’Neill can write nestled in the innocent days jokes and can give them a fun of turn-of-the-twentiethexperience in the theatre.” century America. Set on July Ah, Wilderness!, subtitled 4, 1906, it is a gentle, loving, “A Nostalgic Comedy of the and optimistic study of a Ancient Days when Youth deeply bonded family as they was Young, and Right was navigate the youthful indisRight, and Life was a Wicked cretions of their wayward son. Opportunity,” focuses on “O’Neill said that he wrote the educated middle-class this play about the family he Miller family of New London,
THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017 — 3
VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 6 • www.thefoothillspaper.com
This local election was unlike any that I’ve ever seen. Now that may be good, or it means that my memory really is failing. In the past 12 years of running The Foothills Paper, there have been four attempts to create another “good news” paper that would put us out of business. None of them caused us any problems because we actually told the truth about what was going on in our little town. And we did something that the other media didn’t. We learned our lessons, and we tried to share those lessons with the community. One of those lessons was rallying the community to fight Home Depot. The machine claimed that they started the N2HD event, but in reality it was Nina Royal who came up with the idea and drug Wendy Greuel into the fray. Four hundred people were ready to drop everything to
march and picket the old K-Mart site. And enemies worked as friends against a common enemy. Then came the homeless. Some said that it was an invasion, but in reality, it was just the good ‘ol boys and girls that wanted to party round the clock and not be accountable to anyone. Once again, the community got together, created a Food Pantry, created a homeless connection day, got our elected government to take a stand and attempt to do something that would work for everyone. And then the final blow to our sovereignty came when we decided to go against all good logic and fight the Snowball Project. People with absolutely no sense of reality put up signs saying “Save the golf course!” Now you have to ask yourself, What does that really mean? Did that mean that they were going to reach into their own pockets and buy the
property from the developers? Nope, it just meant that they would let someone else buy their signs, maybe 20-30 people would actually protest, and the rest would pat themselves on their backs and say, “What a wonderful job we’re doing.” And of course, it all went to hell. People forgot what the failures came from. People forgot that it takes more than signs and magnificent statements proclaiming that they were going to prevail because we were a “tight little community.” Of course not. Yup, they forgot. And that is sort of what happened in this last election. People forgot how to rally together to elect ONE council representative of the people. But what the hell, everyone had fun, nothing got accomplished, the two top runners stayed the two top runners, and
VIEW
ROCK worst of all, ALMOST NO ONE CAME OUT TO VOTE! There are some really interesting things going on to sway the voters this run-off election. Pay attention, because it’s going to affect your way of life for the next eight years. And even though the drought is gone, you can still say, “It was the water!”
Pasadena Symphony presents Rachel Barton Pine and Nicholas McGeegan 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 is a non-profit newspaper produced by the OSS-Spectrum group.
EXECUTIVE EDITOR/PUBLISHER Dr. David DeMullé
editor@thefoothillspaper.com
Principal Guest Conductor Nicholas McGegan returns to lead the Pasadena Symphony at Ambassador Auditorium on Saturday March 18th with a European tour of musical masterpieces featuring Felix Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony, inspired by the picturesque and romantic landscapes of the north along with Schubert’s Overture in the Italian Style. Virtuoso violinist Rachel Barton Pine will transport you to the exotic with Mozart’s Turkish Violin Concerto No. 5 with performances at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. The Washington Post describes Rachel Barton Pine as “An exciting, boundarydefying performer – Pine dis-
plays a power and confidence that puts her in the top echelon.” This concert marks Pine’s debut with the Pasadena Symphony. Heralded as a leading interpreter of the great classical masterworks, international concert violinist Rachel thrills audiences with her dazzling technique, lustrous tone and emotional honesty. With an infectious joy in music-making and a passion for connecting historical research to performance, Pine transforms audiences’ experiences of classical music. Her informed historical approach to musical interpretations makes a perfect pairing with Nicholas McGegan’s brand
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THE FOOTHILLS PAPER TheFoothillsPaper.COM P.O. Box 444, Tujunga CA 91043 818-951-0943
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Auditorium’s beautiful outdoor plaza, the lounge offers uniquely prepared menus from Claud &Co for both lunch and dinner, a full bar and fine wines by Michero Family Wines, plus music before the concert and during intermission. All Symphony Classics concerts take place at Ambassador Auditorium, 131 S. St. John Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105 with matinee and evening performances at 2:00pm and 8:00pm. Subscription packages start at $99; regular individually priced tickets start at $35 and may be purchased online at pasadenasymphony-pops.org or by calling (626) 793-7172.
Urban Agriculture
SENIOR EDITOR Randall Fleming ftp@thepaper.ws STAFF ASSISTANT Dyan McManus
as the definitive interpreter of the Baroque and Classical style. The Pasadena Symphony provides a quintessential experience combining great music with a festive social atmosphere. To learn more about the music join us for Insights – a free pre-concert dialogue with Nicholas McGegan, which begins one hour prior to each performance. Patrons who plan to arrive early can also enjoy a drink or a dinner in the lively Sierra Auto Symphony Lounge, yet another addition to the carefree and elegant concert experience the Pasadena Symphony offers. A posh setting at Ambassador
by Ed Castellanos www.superliked.com/profile/ed-castellanos From backyard and rooftop gardens to community plots in parks and vacant lots, urban agriculture has become a nationwide movement, and more homeowners have taken an interest in producing their own food. For many urban homesteaders, it stems from a desire to know where their food comes from and live
more sustainably. Are you interested in participating? These three smallscale projects are great places to start. Raising Backyard Chickens Chickens provide a relatively inexpensive, low-maintenance way to feed your family, plus they act as
complimentary fertilizer and chemical-free pest control. Before you buy baby chicks, make sure you research and follow local laws, city ordinances and homeowner association rules. Take Up Beekeeping In the 1940s, America had five million beehives, and to-
day, roughly half of those remain. A growing awareness of this drastic decline has led to an increase in urban beekeeping, to the tune of approximately 120,000 backyard beekeepers. Becoming a beekeeper starts with a lot of research, followed by choosing the right equipsee Urban Agra, page 9
Edgar Castellanos BRE# 01855534 LAHOMES247.com
4 — FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER
www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 6
Boy Scout Troop 315 Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser
Social Security Matters Ask Rusty - Restricted Application AMAC-Certified Social Security Advisor Russell Gloor by
Dear Rusty: I am 66 years of age and have not yet claimed Social Security because I want to wait until I’m 70 and get the higher benefit. My wife, who is 68, is already collecting her benefits having started when she reached her full retirement age. One of my friends said that he had filed something called a Restricted Application a few years ago and was collecting spousal benefits now, but when I called my local Social Security office they said that the Restricted Application was no longer available. It just irks me that my friend can do this but I can’t. Have the rules actually changed? Signed: Unhappy about changing rules. Dear Unhappy: We get this question fairly often now since The Bipartisan Budget Act was signed into law in October of 2015. Under the old rules, if a person first filed for benefits on or after their full retirement age (FRA) and their spouse was already collecting benefits, they could file a Restricted Application for Spousal Benefits Only. That enabled a person whose
partner was already collecting benefits to receive spousal benefits only, while allowing their own retirement benefit to accumulate Delayed Retirement Credits (DRCs). DRCs accumulate up to age 70 when the filer can then collect up to 132 percent of their primary insurance amount, (or PIA their benefit from their own work record at full retirement age). The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 broadened a rule called “deemed filing,” which states that whenever anyone applies for Social Security benefits they are deemed to be filing for all benefits they are entitled to, e.g., both their own retirement benefits and spousal benefits. The old rule said “deemed filing” applied only to those applying for benefits before their FRA; the new law broadened that rule to include all beneficiaries, effectively eliminating the Restricted Application for spousal benefits only. But there is an important exception, which applies to you. The new law broadening the “deemed filing” rule provided an exception for anyone who turned 62 years of age by the end of 2015 (actually by January 1, 2016 since they consider anyone born on see Dear Rusty, page 9
Attention All Veterans, Sons, Daughters and Wives of Veterans
Come and Enjoy your local American Legion Post Help support Veterans and Veterans’ Causes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Are you man enough for this “Fru-Fru” drink?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SADDLES FOR SOLDIERS March 18
6:30 DINNER • 7:00 BAND, 4 NO MORE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
American Legion Post 377
10039 Pinewood Ave., Tujunga
(8 1 8 ) 3 5 3 - 9 8 5 6 Events open to the public
Canteen Hours - 7 days a week, 2- 10 p.m.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For Hall Rental, call Commander Dan at (818) 521-1137
To benefit:
Saddles for Soldiers is a program designed specifically by the Shadow Hills Riding Club to assist United States Veterans and their families cope with the traumas and stresses of returning from combat, long term depression, reestablishing life skills and readjustment into civilian life through the use of horses.
Hosted by Sunland/Tujunga American Legion Post 377
10039 Pinewood Ave Tujunga, CA
Reach 7,000 viewers per week. Advertise on our Facebook site.
E-mail Doc for details!
Movie Review: Logan by
Bob Garver
After 17 years, Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart are saying goodbye to the “X-Men” roles of Wolverine and Professor Charles Xavier, respectively. And I truly believe that this is it for them. At first I was skeptical. “Even if both characters die, they can do some hocuspocus resurrection.” “The franchise is non-linear, so they can come back for some in-between films.” Those are both valid theories, but they don’t take into account that “Logan” is such a perfect end note that I don’t see the actors treating it as anything other than a grand finale. The film takes place a while after “Days of Future Past.” Apparently the happy ending of that one was short-lived. Logan (a moniker, though not the given name, of Wolverine) is the last survivor of the X-Men after an unspecified catastrophe caused by an unhinged Xavier years before (which brings to mind “Manchester by the Sea,” of all things). He and remaining mutant Caliban (Stephen Merchant) take care of the
aged professor at a discreet location in Mexico, while he makes a paltry living as a limo driver and spends his money on painkillers, as his Adamantium-based immor-
tality is starting to wear off. Things are disrupted when Logan is tasked with taking a young girl named Laura (Dafne Keen) to a safe zone see Logan, page 5
THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017 — 5
VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 6 • www.thefoothillspaper.com
Performance ApplicaStuffed Tomatoes With Avocado and Fresh Mozzarella tions Open for Annual by
L.A. County Celebration
Chef Randy
Avocados may be high in total fat but did you know they are low in saturated fat and are loaded with essential vitamins and minerals such as potassium, vitamin E, B vitamins and folic acid? Now that you know, buy fresh California and pair them with fresh grown tomatoes and marinated fresh Mozzarella. Perfect for a light lunch or as a salad alternative at dinner time. Here’s my recipe for enjoying avocados, fresh Mozzarella and garden grown tomatoes. Main Ingredients: 2 ripe avocados (peeled, pitted and cubed) 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice 4 large tomatoes 8 ounces fresh Mozzarella cheese balls (cherry size) 4 slices wedges of fresh lemon
Marinade Ingredients: ½ teaspoon fennel seeds 1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil 2 teaspoons grapeseed oil grated zest of 1 lemon 15 basil leaves (chopped) 1 clove garlic (minced) ½ teaspoon sea salt
Fresh ground black pepper Directions: Peel avocados and remove pits. Cut into ½-inch cubes and combine with lemon juice in a small mixing bowl. Set aside. Cut a thin slice from the top of each tomato and gently see Mozza-Cado, page 9
For additional recipes, see Chef Randy’s website at
valley-vegetarian.com
Get yours while they’re hot!
A new cookbook, Ojai Valley GlutenFree Cookbook, by Ojai chef and author Randy Graham is now available for purchase. All of the 87 recipes in this book are gluten-free and vegetarian. In addition, 45 of the recipes are not only gluten-free but also vegan and are denoted as such in the table of contents. The Ojai Valley Gluten-Free Cookbook is available on-line at Amazon.com. For more info, see Chef Randy’s website at Valley-Vegetarian.com or contact him at rgraham33@mac.com for signed copies.
The Los Angeles County Arts Commission seeks LA County-based youth and adult community and professional choirs, music ensembles, folk and traditional artists and dance companies to perform in the 58th Annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration on December 24. Interested artists are required to submit an electronic application, which is accessible at lacountyarts. org/opportunities/holidaycelebration-performers. The deadline to apply is Wed., August 2 at 5 p.m. The L.A. County Holiday Celebration is a free public event that honors the spirit
of many cultures and holiday traditions through music, song and dance. The event takes place every December 24 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at The Music Center in downtown Los Angeles. The stage production is also broadcast live on public television. All performing groups are paid. Proposed programming should be suitably themed for a multi-cultural holiday production. For more information, please visit lacountyarts.org, email publicevents@arts. lacounty.gov or call (323) 856-5793.
Logan, from pg. 4
era of gratuitous violence and needless profanity in comic book movies going for lazy shock value, but this film isn’t lazy about anything. It’s no surprise by now that Logan uses salty language (remember his “First Class” cameo?) and Charles sounds like it’s been part of his vocabulary this whole time. As for the violence, the main character’s most notable attribute is that he has huge knives coming out of his knuckles. How was he anything but R-rated in the first place? “Logan” falters a bit around the 75%-95% mark when we’re suddenly introduced to a bunch of undeveloped new characters and the film has to rely on its less-than-impressive conflict with the villains. But what led up to it was acting at its finest and what comes after it is… heartbreaking. Tears and X-Men shouldn’t go together, but it’ll come as no surprise, as the film has already defied what you can expect from a comic book movie. I was never really onboard with that 11th-hour Oscar campaign for “Deadpool,” but if the studio does that with “Logan,” it might be onto something.
in Canada. Evil cyborg Donald Pierce (Boyd Holbrook) wants to find the girl first; he works for villainous mutant-harnesser Dr. Zander Rice (Richard E. Grant), who has a Wolverine clone in his arsenal. The villains are actually the weakest thing about this movie; Pierce is foiled at almost every turn, Rice is too non-threatening, and the Wolverine clone is the kind of “met his match” gimmick that’s been done to death in this franchise. Pierce and his men lay siege to the compound containing Xavier, so Logan is forced to take him on the journey with Laura. It sounds crazy that the ending to “X-Men” as we know it is a Wolverine/Professor X/ child road trip movie, but it’s pulled off magnificently. There’s a stop at a casino and a stop with a farming family, and along the way, the trio has great chemistry. The smaller scale really helps us understand these characters better than we ever have before (that is except for Laura, who we’re just meeting for the first time, but Keen more than holds her own with the veterans). This is the first time I’ve been able to fully appreciate them as human beings and not as live-action versions of toys and cartoons. Speaking of the characters not seeming like toys and cartoons, this is not a movie for kids. It’s rated R, and not just because of one or two choice scenes like that idiotic “Killing Joke” movie. It’s much more akin to say, “Deadpool.” I was worried about that film kicking off an
Three and a Half Stars out of Five. “Logan” is rated R for strong brutal violence and language throughout, and for brief nudity. Its running time is 137 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.
6 — FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2017 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER
www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 5
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VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 5 • www.thefoothillspaper.com
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Wesson “Oils” The Gears!
City maintenance workers Jon Ashley and Omar Arevalos make it look easy! With years of neglect, the neighbors on Hillhaven Ave. were driving a obstacle course of potholes and washboard pavement and damaging their cars and bikes. The downward slope of Hillhaven Ave was created decades ago with the vision that “grey water” would go out of the homes and down the street. What the city did not realize is that as laundry detergents became more effective, they would cause
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the asphalt to disintegrate leaving ruts in the road. Considered to be one of “The Safest Streets in Tujunga” because burglars and hotrodders wouldn’t attempt to drive on the street. City Council President and interim CD-7 councilman Herb Wesson heard the cries for help and “oiled the city’s gears” and got the street repaired. Now that’s pretty good. Thanks, Herb!
8 — FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER
www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 6
The Foothills Community P age
LAUSD Candidate Forum for Board District 6 On Wednesday evening, March 8, students from local public high schools led and moderated a Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) candidate forum for Board District 6 to raise the student voice on education issues and to encourage voter participation. A crowd of nearly 200 people gathered Wednesday night at L.A. Mission College to hear candidates for the school district during the last of three forums for this election cycle. The event was organized jointly by the United Way of Greater Los Angeles, the Pat Brown Institute of Public Affairs at Cal State L.A. and L.A. Youth Vote. The forum provided an opportunity for the community to learn about the various school board candidates and their ideas for solving challenges faced by the second largest school district in the country. This LAUSD race is important because the district’s
seven-member board oversees an $8.4 billion annual budget for more than half a million students in 785
schools. LAUSD is the second-largest What is the largest school district in the United States. (The New
York City Department of Education is the nation’s largest.) For more information visit
United Way’s 2017 LAUSD Candidate Forums web page at: www.unitedwayla.org/ lausd-candidate-forums
ST. PATRICKS DAY GALA DINNER-DANCE FRIDAY, MARCH 17 Sunland-Tujunga Elks Lodge, 10137 Commerce Avenue with Dance Music 8-11 provided by: p
.m.
NOTICE TO CONSUMERS: The Compassionate Use Act of 1996 ensures that seriously ill Californians have the right to obtain and use cannabis for medical purposes where medical use is deemed appropriate and has been recommended by a physician who has determined that the person’s health would benefit from the use of medical cannabis. Recommendations must come from an attending physician as defined in Section 11362.7 of the Health and Safety Code. Cannabis is a Schedule I drug according to the federal Controlled Substances Act. Activity related to cannabis use is subject to federal prosecution, regardless of the protections provided by state law.
NOEL COLLINS’ GOLD COAST GOLD SWINGIN’ BIG BAND corn beef and cabbage dinner served 6:30-7:30 p.m.
dinner & dance: $3O per person • no-host bar
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Come one - come all and bring your friends! ample parking in rear of lodge
WE DO SMOG CHECK, BRAKE & LIGHT INSPECTION, ENGINE DIAGNOSIS AND ELECTRICAL.
THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017 — 9
VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 6 • www.thefoothillspaper.com
and our neighbors. I say, no more. No more unnecessary traffic deaths. On Saturday, March 11, the Safe Streets committee held its monthly meeting at North Valley City Hall. We were blessed to have guests from the Foothill Trails District Neighborhood Council, Laurie Thoms and Alisa Clairet, discuss their concerns with
their stretch of Foothill Blvd. running through Lake View Terrace. Their neighborhood is a horse-riding community that is currently frustrated with cars racing on Foothill Blvd. at speeds topping 100mph. They welcome Vision Zero’s lane changes and Safe Streets is making sure that their voices are heard. Have your voices heard.
Attend our Safe Streets Town Hall meeting on April 1 at 10 a.m. Follow us on Facebook at Sunland-Tujunga Safe Streets for information leading up to the date, such as info on special guests, Vision Zero basics and our own Sunland-Tujunga traffic questionnaire. We look forward to seeing you there!
work record and receive about 132 percent of your primary insurance amount. Further, at that time your wife who is already collecting benefits would be entitled to switch from her own benefit to a spousal benefit equal to half of your PIA, if that amount was higher than her own benefit. So you can see how, if you are still entitled to use it, the Restricted Application works well as a strategy for maximizing benefits. Used typically, the lower earning spouse files for retirement benefits first and the higher earning spouse files a restricted application for spousal benefits only. This
allows the high-earning spouse’s benefit to grow as indicated, which would be especially important for your wife’s survivor’s benefits, should that be the case. So it would appear that whoever you spoke with at the Social Security office was not aware of the exception I’ve cited above, which is why we always recommend you seek a second opinion when dealing with the Social Security Administration. Because you turned 62 before the end of 2015, you are definitely entitled to file a restricted application for spousal benefits only and allow your personal benefit to grow. If
you don’t get that answer from someone in the Social Security office, ask to speak to a supervisor, or supervisors, until you find someone who knows about the exception. If you apply online, be sure to expressly state in your application that you are filing a “Restricted Application for Spousal Benefits Only.” The information presented in this article is intended for general information purposes only. The opinions and interpretations expressed in this article are the viewpoints of the AMAC Foundation’s Social Security Advisory staff, trained and accredited under the National Social Security
Advisors program of the National Social Security Association, LLC (NSSA). NSSA, the AMAC Foundation, and the Foundation’s Social Security Advisors are not affiliated with or endorsed by the United States Government, the Social Security Administration, or any other state government. Furthermore, the AMAC Foundation and its staff do not provide legal or accounting services. The Foundation welcomes questions from readers regarding Social Security issues.
pulp and add to the avocado mixture tossing well to combine. Set aside. To prepare the marinade, scatter fennel seeds in a small frying pan. Heat on medium-heat until they be-
gin to pop. Remove the seeds from the stove and transfer to a mortar and pestle. Add the oregano and crush roughly. Place this mixture in a bowl and add the balance of marinade ingredients (olive oil to
black pepper). Mix in Mozzarella balls and allow to marinate for approximately 15 minutes at room temperature. Combine avocado/tomato mixture with marinated Moz-
zarella balls. Spoon equal portions of this mixture into each tomato. Serve with a lemon wedge on the side. Tip: Serve at room temperature for best flavor.
lights flashing. There is some confusion as to exactly what happened.
One witness stated that the victim was walking in the crosswalk when the speeding car came up on her. Supposedly, the car swerved into the
crosswalk as the victim tried to jump out of the way and instead, jumped into the path of the auto. The woman driving a 2015 Tesla stopped and
tried to render aid but didn’t know how. The LAPD are investigating the accident. The coroner’s office is trying to locate next of kin.
If anyone knows the victim, please call Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter at (213) 343-0783 and refer to case #2081.
Urban Agra, from pg. 3
pollination and reproduction.
ment and bees. Don’t want to care for an entire colony? Plant native flower and weed varieties that help encourage bee
Gardening and Canning Whether it’s a large plot or a small section, a personal garden gives you control. Plus,
you can preserve fresh fruits and vegetables via the canning process. While many homesteaders use yields from their garden, others buy extra produce in its peak season.
Canning veggies and fruits is a family-friendly activity that lets you enjoy seasonal produce all year long. Though urban homesteading may seem intimidating at
first, it’s easier to start small. The projects above can help minimize your impact on the environment and allow you to take part in your own food production.
street surveys. As a result, Los Angeles street surveys expired over the next seven years. Without updated street surveys, LAPD traffic enforcement disappeared. Without LAPD traffic enforcement, drivers slowly realized that they could speed to where they wanted to go without the regulation of the police. Enter Vision Zero, a Los Angeles citywide effort to create safer streets for our pedestrians. Begun in 2015, the program aims for zero traffic deaths by 2025. Foothill Boulevard, which runs through Tujunga, Sunland and Lake View Terrace, is one of the main streets in all of L.A. that is getting major attention. This resulted in our town receiving a long awaited street survey. Our street survey shows that over 85% of our town’s residents are speeding. A percentage that high might translate into a speed limit increase of 5 mph in all zones through Foothill Blvd. Before that happens, engineers from Vision Zero will be making
Ask Rusty, from pg. 4 the first of the month to be eligible for benefits in the previous month). Since you are now 66 and were born before 1954, you qualify for that exception and are therefore entitled to file a Restricted Application for Spousal Benefits Only, collect only spousal benefits based on your wife’s work record, and at the same time let your personal benefit from your own work record earn Delayed Retirement Credits. You can continue to earn DRCs up to the time you reach 70 years of age, at which time you can file for benefits on your own
Mozza-cado, from pg. 5 squeeze the seeds out. Use a sharp paring knife to scoop out the remaining pulp. Reserve tomato pulp discarding any white core. Chop the
Fatality, from pg. 1
photo: Dyan McManus
physical changes to Foothill Blvd. in an attempt to slow down drivers, making them more aware of pedestrians, thereby avoiding traffic collisions and deaths. Some of these engineering changes include newly painted lanes and “continental” pedestrian crossings, installation of traffic delineators and speed bumps, and a lane reduction flowing through Lake View Terrace. After these physical changes, our speed survey will be shot by radar once again, and the resulting data from that survey will let us know if we do need a speed increase. There will be no increases until then. Your input at our Safe Streets Town Hall on April 1 is incredibly detrimental to the success of our streets. Our recent STNC meeting showed that we are all in accord. We do not want a speed increase. It was amazing to see all personalities, egos and town feuds diffuse, if only temporarily, for a unified love of our neighbors. Because when we have a traffic death in the foothills, that is exactly who dies. It is our family members, our friends,
Speed Limits, from pg. 1
Members of the Safe Streets Committee listen to the proposed street signage that might be placed on Foothill Boulevard as reminders to SLOW DOWN!
To submit a request, contact the Foundation at info@amacfoundation.com.
10 — FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER
Crime Stats Assault 03/12/17 10:00 AM 10400 BLOCK OF MOUNT GLEASON AV
Theft 03/05/17 05:30 PM 7800 BLOCK OF BECKETT ST
Theft 03/11/17 12:00 PM 7200 BLOCK OF APPERSON ST
Theft 03/05/17 11:30 AM 7800 BLOCK OF WENTWORTH ST
Theft 03/10/17 05:00 AM 10500 BLOCK OF WOODWARD AV
Theft 03/05/17 02:00 AM 00 BLOCK OF APPERSON ST AND MOUNTAIR AV
Theft 03/10/17 10:00 AM 9800 BLOCK OF EDMORE PL Assault 03/10/17 11:10 PM 00 BLOCK OF GLENOAKS AND DORA Theft 03/10/17 10:40 PM 11300 BLOCK OF SUNBURST ST Theft 03/09/17 10:30 PM 9400 BLOCK OF CARLYNN PL Theft 03/09/17 09:00 PM 10200 BLOCK OF COMMERCE AV Theft 03/09/17 06:00 PM 10200 BLOCK OF COMMERCE AV Assault 03/08/17 01:45 PM 10400 BLOCK OF ELDORA AV Robbery 03/08/17 04:45 PM 11000 BLOCK OF NASSAU AV Robbery 03/06/17 08:50 AM 6200 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL Theft 03/04/17 08:00 PM 10000 BLOCK OF SAMOA AV Burglary 03/08/17 06:15 AM 7000 BLOCK OF DAY ST Theft 03/08/17 08:30 PM 10800 BLOCK OF WESCOTT AV Theft 03/07/17 02:48 PM 7700 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL Theft 03/07/17 01:30 AM 10000 BLOCK OF PLAINVIEW AV
Theft 03/05/17 08:00 PM 10500 BLOCK OF SAMOA AV Theft 03/05/17 01:15 PM 6300 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL Theft 03/03/17 11:10 AM 7000 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL Theft 03/02/17 11:00 PM 8000 BLOCK OF FENWICK ST Burglary 03/01/17 12:00 PM 6400 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL Theft 03/01/17 05:15 PM 10300 BLOCK OF HAINES CANYON AV Theft 02/28/17 01:30 AM 10200 BLOCK OF TUJUNGA CYN BL Theft 02/28/17 10:00 PM 10200 BLOCK OF COMMERCE AV Theft 02/28/17 01:30 AM 3000 BLOCK OF ALTURA AVE Theft 02/27/17 01:00 AM 6600 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL Burglary 02/26/17 04:30 PM 8000 BLOCK OF WENTWORTH ST Burglary 02/28/17 11:40 AM 4800 BLOCK OF CASTLE RD Theft 02/26/17 10:30 AM 00 BLOCK OF MCVINE AND GRAYSTONE Theft 02/22/17 09:20 AM 10200 BLOCK OF SUNLAND BL
www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 6
Film Tax Credit a Box Office Boon For CA Jobs
The California Film Commission announced the second round of recipients for feature films and independent projects, bringing back jobs and revenue to California as promised under AB 1839, the California Film and Television Job Retention and Promotion Act. Assemblymember Raul Bocanegra (D-Pacoima) and former Assemblymember Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) authored the legislation in 2014, and 2015 marked the first year of credit distribution. “We are now in year two of AB 1839, and the numbers are looking good for job creation and the local economy,” said Assemblymember Bocanegra. “In-state spending and salaries for below-theline workers are up exponen-
tially, illustrating that our legislation is working as intended.” In total, 22 film projects have been selected for year two of AB 1839, including 14 feature films and 8 independent projects. The California Film Commission estimates that the 22 productions will generate $800 million in instate spending, including $300 million in wages for below-the-line crew. Furthermore, a report last year credits the program with $2.8 billion in in-direct spending, $1.1 billion in below-the-line wages, and more than 15,000 behind-the-camera jobs. “Before I introduced AB 1839, constituents in my district told me that they were tired of their jobs fleeing the state and being separated
from their families for months at a time,” added Assemblymember Bocanegra. “Now, I’m hearing stories about families staying together and parents being able to attend their children’s graduations and birthday parties. People are happy to be working again at home in California, which is where this signature industry belongs.” Raul Bocanegra is the Democratic Majority Whip in the California State Assembly. He represents the 39th Assembly District, a region which includes the Los Angeles communities of Arleta, Granada Hills, Lakeview Terrace, Mission Hills, North Hollywood, Pacoima, Shadow Hills, Sun Valley and Sunland-Tujunga.
THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017 — 11
Development, from pg. 1 What was nice to hear from a developer was his statement on how long the Davityan family has been in Sunland-Tujunga and what they have done to improve the community. Davityan said that they opened their first family business Auto Body shop in 1982 in Tujunga and that is still being run by his oldest brother. They then opened Romance Flowers in 1990 in Tujunga. Five years later, in 1995, they opened the Cafe Romance (also in Tujunga) and it’s now doing business as Leo’s pizza. Davityan is a partner with his brother Dave Davityan and they have have been developing custom homes in Sunland/ Tujunga since 2003. The projects that they’ve completed are on Hillrose St. in Sunland, Tinker Ave., Irma Ave., Langmuir Ave.,
Apperson St. and Creemore Drive. With obvious pride in his voice, he said “We love what we do and our goal is to build quality homes with affordable prices.” Here are questions that were asked and his answers: 1. With 19 acres to play with, why did you decide to only build 10 homes? A. This is the best layout for this property, because it would leave lots of open space in between homes and it won’t give you the feeling of a track home development. 2. What are the sizes (approximately) of each house and it’s lot? A. We are still in early stage of the subdivision, we’re not certain yet. 3. Do you have a map of the project in PDF format?
A. Yes I have a map for this project on PDF format if anyone wants to view it. 4. Did your geologist tell you about the water table near Mc Groarty Rd that is only 4’ down? A. I don’t know the answer to this question, I’m sure if there is one, it will be in soils and geology report.
school, this is Canyon View Academy and it is apx. 2379 sq. ft
8. A question was posed by board member Liliana Sanchez: “Could it be different types of architecture?” And “How many houses can be seen from the road?” A. You will only see 6 homes from McGroarty, but they will all have different architectural 5. When is construction slated design. to begin, and end? A. We are anticipating to start 9. What is the average price beginning of 2019 and end in of the properties when put up 2021. for sale? A. That will be determined 6. Is it going to be a “gated” when we get close to finishing community? and based on market value. A. Not sure yet. 10. You mentioned that you 7. Is the SMART school part were going to “donate” 9 of your project? You said that acres to the Santa Monica it was going to be converted Conservancy, have you actuback to being a residence. ally gotten confirmation that How big is it? they would accept them? A. This is not the SMART A. No it’s too early to know,
but even if they don’t we would still keep it undeveloped. 11. How high up Mt. McGroarty does your project go? Will it connect with the White Bird Property? A. The highest home will only be 100 ft above my existing home and it will be approximately 1000 feet North from Ridgeline - Fire Road. 12. All development projects have to have an ingress and egress, where will yours be? A. One will be McVine and McGroarty and the other one will be east corner of the property, where there is an existing driveway already. Although some heated words were thrown about, the meeting went very well and Ms. Cleghorn ran it with the expertise gained from years of being an STNC officer.
photo: Dyan McManus
VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 6 • www.thefoothillspaper.com
12 — FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER
www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 6
Sunland Crafters Hold “Bootique”
Murals, from pg. 1
SWEET CHERRIE’S DINER Only the finest, freshest ingredients are used to create the ultimate OMELET.
Our CLUB SANDWICH is sliced turkey, crisp bacon, lettuce, tomatoes and mayo on three slices of lightly toasted bread.
BREAKFAST SERVED ALL DAY
Dine-in / Take-out / Catering for any occasion
THE BEST OMELETS IN TOWN! Waffles, Charbroiled burgers
Our CHARBROILED BURGER is rich, high-quality beef, lettuce, cheese, pickles, anyway you want it for every mouth-watering bite.
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK: M-F: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Sat 7 a.m. -5 p.m. • Sun 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.
(818) 353-0465 8236 Foothill Blvd., Sunland
painted over it. Jump ahead to 2016 and we have the Sunland Fight Club mural painted on the ordinary looking brick wall of the building. The machine nearly got it painted over, but with help of Tatulian and Arnie Abramyan it was saved and is still there. Then a mural was painted on Commerce Ave. depicting the “Tree of Life” and an Armenian theme. Once again, the machine attempted to have it removed. They failed because the Armenian community rose up and with their SunlandTujunga neighbors showed solidarity for community art. And now we have artists Nerses Avdyan, his daughter Jessica and fellow artist John Ponce doing a mural commemorating the life of James Dean on the side of his auto repair shop. The face of SunlandTujunga is changing for the better.
The intense mural on the side of Joselito’s.
Community rallies in support of the SFC
The Tree of Life Mural on Commerce