THE FOOTHILLS PAPER - MAY 12, 2017 by David DeMulle'

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! FREE

TELLING THE TRUTH FOR 12 YEARS!

VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 10

CWC Sings to Brazen Burglar A Full House Bungles Break-in A resident was inside her home on Monday when a man broke into her house on the 11300 block of Alethea. After a drawn out gun battle, the intruder was shot and killed by LAPD SWAT officers. The intruder, who may have lived in a homeless camp down the hill from Rim CanHome owner and neighbor talk with police while intruder shoots yon, had broken into the occuup house. pied house while the resident was sleeping. He confronted ing which she related the inci- at her about cookies, and of her but she escaped and called dent as told to her. course, it scared the life out of 911. her because she had just woke “She [the homeowner] told During the standoff, the res- me that she had awoken by up. And she went back into ident and her neighbor were her bedroom, but the door did hearing something, like a interviewed by LAPD detecmuffled sound,” Johnson said. not have a lock. So she then tives. The neighbor, Rosie escaped out of one of the back “And she went out and she Johnson, was also interviewed saw this man in her house. windows.” by a CBS-2 video crew durAnd he mumbled something see Break-in, page 8

SPOTLIGHT:

Foothill Wellness

................

Villa Terraza’s

MOTHER’S DAY

................ Safe Streets

............

DEPARTMENTS Community Help.................... 2 View from the Rock.............. 3 Letters................................. 3 Social Security Matters.......... 4 Movie Review...................... 4 Chef Randy........................... 5 Legion Post Calendar............. 9 Crime Stats........................... 9 Take My Card..................... 11

Concert 2017 Scholarship winners: Elizabeth Queen, Niko Murakami and Kali Hardwick. On Sunday, April 30, the California Women’s Chorus, Inc. (CWC) presented their 48th annual public concert at the Glendale Hilton Hotel, Glendale. Members of the ten CWC choruses in California came together to share their talent and to entertain in

the hotel grand ballroom which rapidly filled to capacity. Local choruses Verdugo Hills Women’s Chorus and Burbank Singers, both of which entertain independently in their own communities, joined together to sing at the see CWC, page 4

Passing of The Laurels 2017

On Sunday, April 23, at the McGroarty Arts Center a celebration of poetry took place: the ninth such event in 18 years. The local poetry and cultural community participated in the Passing of the Laurels 2017 Ceremony, with Elsa S. Frausto, the Eighth Poet Laureate (20142017) passing the laurel wreath and the poets’ heart to Pamela Shea, the Ninth Poet Laureate of Sunland Tujunga, selected to serve in this voluntary and prestigious post for the years 2017-2019. The Passing of the Laurels ceremony consists of crowning the new Poet Laureate with a “laurel” wreath - in our case it is a wreath of olive branches: olive for peace and for the oil of inspirationwisdom-anointing. After placing the new wreath’s on Shea’s head, Frausto gave

photo: Maja Trochimczyk

INSIDE:

photo: Hans Zima

FRIDAY • MAY 12, 2017

Elsa Frausto presents the Laurel to Poet Pamela Shea. her the golden heart locket that contains dried leaves from all the past wreaths of all the past Poets Laureate. This locket has been passed on from one poet to the next since 1999 in an unbroken tradition. The name of the new Poet Laureate is then engraved on the plaque with all the poets’ names and kept at the McGroarty Arts Center.

GET THE DAILY NEWS BY JOINING THE FOOTHILLS INSIDER! Write to: editor@thepaper.ws

2 — FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2017 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 10

Community Help Harassment Begging by Amelia

S-T Neighborhood Council Funds by

Amelia Anderson

I wish to file a complaint against Krystee Clark and the STNC Budget Committee for a Brown Act violation on the evening of May 3rd, 2017 for the denial of my request to agendize Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council Funds to promote STNC outreach at the WOW-JAM Festival on July 1st. My overview states, “Money to purchase water and chips that can be branded with an STNC logo pasted on” – A free festival for families to enjoy sun and fun, music and food in the mountain air at Sunland Park. As benefits, I proposed STNC “operate a card table booth to explain how the STNC operates, while handing out water and chips, cards or flyers to invite people to attend meetings and participate in projects.” The funding requested was $500 for labeled water, chips and flyers. No sponsorship was requested. This is the third year of the festival and the cost has been shared by a coalition of 20 churches. Past attendance has been 2,000 to 3,000 folks. This is an excellent opportunity to reach out to a new group of people. I offered to publish articles, raffle a prize, and collect signatures of those who may even run for office. Krystee attacked me as though I had asked for the $40,000 tab. Then she insisted I was asking for a $500 co-sponsorship. She wouldn’t read my proposal, let alone out loud, and I didn’t have copies. Then she misinterpreted the City of L.A.’s “separation of church and state,” denying my proposal flat-out, never mind asking others to present their opinion or agendizing it according to the Brown Act so the rest of the board and townspeople could hear. I was shocked at such rude

treatment, dictatorial at best, and not in compliance with a presidential position, nor the interests of any neighborhood council. As I understand, city money is to be used in support of outreach to the various entities and groups that comprise community, to better bind them together in the solution of common problems. It is not to exclude or discriminate. Finally, Krystee relented that an STNC table could be set up, “only to hand out paper – no money, no water!” This scenario occurred against a backdrop of hushed voices lamenting that $20,000 was too much to spend by the end of June even if they couldn’t shut down the 4th of July fireworks, so it was likely the bank balance would revert back to the city. Hastily they plunged in, making up expenditures – for us! Expensive nameplates, Tshirts for the board and high school students, and a $2,000 party in June “to acknowledge outstanding people!” Never mind no formal requests were filled out. Special dispensation. “Agendize now and give us ‘till Friday to get paper work in,” they pled. This was my first request for funds, because there was no help or training to do so, deterring myself and others. I hosted homeless functions every other month without asking for funds because It was apparent no board members had any interest in the homeless issue nor in helping me solve the number one issue of Mayor Garcetti and our city. In other words, no board member ever showed up. May I remind you this is not a popularity contest? City funds are to be used for the needs of the greater community, not for personal interests or pets of the board or for parties. To rectify this situation, I see STNC, page 10

Amelia Anderson is a Homeless Advocate elected to both the SunlandTujunga Neighborhood Council and also to Mayor Garcetti’s Homeless Committee.

In the United States by

Dr. Glenn Mollette

My wife and I visited New York City a couple of days recently. We were walking through Times Square and masses of people on a Saturday night after a show when someone called out to us for money. “Will you please give me a couple of dollars I am hungry,” came the first plea. I barely heard this out of my right ear, as we were moving forward with the crowds. I hadn’t really noticed this guy as I was trying to watch where we were going, not trip on someone or the sidewalk while trying to enjoy the lights and sounds of Times Square. People begging for money have become a common sight in America. I see it in Cincinnati, Nashville, Washington, D.C., Chi-

cago, Baltimore, Seattle, Portland and, well, you get the picture.Begging is everywhere in America to some extent. There is no American that can hand money to every beggar they pass on the street. My wife and I try on occasions to help people. We’ve seen mothers with their babies on the street begging. We’ve seen families on the street begging. We’ve seen Veterans on the street begging. We have passed people and then gone back with a few dollars if we had it to give. Last Saturday night, I was more attuned to walking with my wife and trying to enjoy a brief NYC visit. For some reason this beggar in NYC tuned in on me when I did not turn my head and look at

him or respond. He moved toward me, got in my face and yelled at me, “You are a S.O.B. and I hope that you choke on your food tonight.” I looked at him for just a moment. He was a very angry man obviously from the Middle East. I don’t know if he was from Syria, Yemen or who knows but definitely Middle East. My wife and I moved forward. I wasn’t scared but it’s irritating to be accosted for money when someone is calling my mother the B word. I was happy that I had not given that man a penny. I understand that people get desperate and hungry. I understand poverty is rampant in this nation. I understand people are victims of unfortunate circumstances. I do see Begging, page 10

Spotlight on Business

Foothill Wellness Center A tradition of excellence

With 10 years of service to the foothill medical marijuana patient community, Foothill Wellness has built a reputation for being all about helpfulness. Whether it is guiding members to the right remedies or giving back to the community through a charitable cause, Foothill Wellness is here to help. The Foothill Wellness facility may be small, but the cozy size does not stop it from housing an in-depth inventory. Foothill carries enough products to offer something for everybody in the community. When wellness goals are communicated, it is up to

the Foothill team to work together to find the exact product to support those needs. Things are done a little differently at Foothill Wellness Center. Instead of employing a staff of bud-tenders, a staff of eager-to-assist Wellness Advisers help bring patients closer to their wellness goals. The Foothill team creates an environment that enhances communication, raises awareness, and develops medical marijuana patients into educated members of the Southern California medical cannabis community. In a desire to bring more legitimacy to the cannabis in-

dustry and as part of its patient-centered approach, Foothill Wellness strives for continuous improvement. Foothill Wellness warmly invites each of its members to give feedback and make suggestions. Loved em’? Let em’ know. Thought they could do better? Let em’ know! Foothill Wellness Center proudly serves the Foothill Communities and bridges the San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys. All roads lead to Foothill, because wellness starts here! Foothill Wellness, 7132 Foothill Blvd; www.foothillwellnesscenter.com.

THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2017 — 3

VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 10 • www.thefoothillspaper.com

My good friend David Hernandez called it out in a Facebook posting when he said, “Final two weekends before the May 16 runoff election. Mail boxes will be full of Political Mailers. Remember that no matter how slick they appear, 75% is an untruth, exaggeration or misinformation attempting to get you not to vote for someone or to get you to vote for the candidate they are supporting. Begin by looking at who paid for the mailer. Association is a good measure of who these candidates will be beholding to.” Even I am surprised about the amount of lies and accusations flowing like an overrun toilet. And the people who are lapping it up as gospel don’t even notice the smell. Yup, boys and girls, this is really going to be an interesting election.

Last edition I made the comment, “You’re not voting for the candidate, you’re voting for the supporters.” And that’s where the lines get blurred. There’s all these good people that are really fighting for their candidate, and then there are the lowlife’s that jump on the bandwagon to scrabble for any political crumbs. So it really diminishes even that idea that you can vote for the supporters. THANK GOD FOR THE FACEBOOK HATE SITES. It really is fun to surf them and see what the supporters are saying about the OTHER candidate. And they know that after it is all over, the best group of liars will have won. And that’s the problem. Maybe we should look back at what we did to our last councilman. Who knows? Maybe he wasn’t such a bad guy after all. May he just got tired of

all the local crap and decided it wasn’t worth it? Now that is a thought to explore. We have this great little community that has been ravaged by a few groups of spoilers that have sold their souls for a wall full of Certificates of Commendation. I can only say that maybe we deserve what we got. And this election for CD7 councilperson is no different. It started off so nicely with everyone being friends. And then as the months went “buy,” the candidates started flinging crap at each other. AND NO ONE SAID STOP! I just received another pile of oversized glossy flyers in the mail that have the disclaimer “Paid for by Residents for Better Public Service supporting …… This advertisement was not authorized by a City candidate or committee controlled by a candidate for

VIEW

ROCK this office.” Wow! That means that the candidate paid their money and set the dogs of politics loose. And they have no responsibility for what is said. Maybe in the future we won’t even have real candidates, just cyber promoters. I wish both candidates the best of luck, and hope that we as a community aren’t left lapping up that brown water!

The Foothills Letters & P erspectives

Bullets Cause Road Closure THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

is published bi-weekly. All content is 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 nonprofit newspaper produced by the OSS-Spectrum group.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR/PUBLISHER Dr. David DeMullé

Dear Editor, The Monday house break-in and eventual shooting the took place just off the Rim Canyon/Mt.Gleason intersection was obviously very unfortunate. The homeowner’s home was severely damaged by the bullets, tear gas, etc. The reportedly homeless man who died in the shooting, possibly even by airborne LAPD snipers (as reported in the L.A. Times on 5/10/17), was also very unfortunate. I passed through the Mt.Gleason/Rim Canyon area on Monday at about 1:30 p.m. and witnessed the large LAPD copter with the snipers sitting on the skids

of the helicopter as it swooped down into the ravine. But the eventual closure of Big Tujunga Canyon Road was probably uncalled for. So many people were impacted by this closure. Couldn’t the police have coordinated a single lane pass through lane with radio communications at both ends? The shooting event had long been over, yet the entire road was closed. There was even a serious rear-end crash near the Oro Vista hill up to the Riverwoods sub-division, adjacent to the LAPD road closure. Obviously there are many issues to investigate in a shooting event like this, but the needs of the public should be addressed as well. David Cook

WITH THANKS TO The ILS Foundation for Their Support

THE FOOTHILLS PAPER TheFoothillsPaper.COM P.O. Box 444, Tujunga CA 91043 818-951-0943

L.A. Press Club Press Photographers Association of Greater Los Angeles International Combat Camera Association

Dear Editor, Recently I had an interesting conversation with my neighbor that angered me to the point of writing this letter. I greeted her and asked how she was doing. She told me that she was all right, but her day could have been better. “I was kicked out of a dog groomers today,” she said. I laughed and wanted to know what she had done. It sounded ridiculous. I was shocked and disturbed by the story that would follow. My neighbor left her dog at a local dog groomer to be trimmed and bathed. After several hours she had not heard from the groomers about

her dog. She then called them to see if they had finished with her dog yet. The person she talked to could not locate her file and also asked if the dog had a collar (which had been with the dog). My neighbor found this unprofessional of the business to just lose information for a client after going to them for years now. The conversation ended with the other person saying “Come get your dog.” My neighbor got there and the person started yelling at her and told her to just take her dog and never come back. The person continued by accusing her of being kicked out of other dog grooming businesses, which is false. They also stated that they could get 10 better see Letters, page 9

Help Sell Your Home For More Five green home improvements

editor@thefoothillspaper.com SENIOR EDITOR Randall Fleming ftp@thepaper.ws

Groomers have gone to the dogs

by Ed Castellanos

Demand remains high for energy-efficient, eco-friendly home features, according to a survey by the National Association of Home Builders. The majority of builders now put energy-efficient windows, heating and cooling systems, thermostats and appliances in their construction. If you’re selling your home and hope to compete with new con-

struction - as well as set your house apart from other resales making green improvements could significantly pay off. “Updating your home with green features can attract more buyers and even increase your home’s sale price,” says Geoff Lewis, president of RE/MAX, LLC. “Buyers are not only looking for cosmetic upgrades, they

www.superliked.com/profile/ed-castellanos fessional expertise but can result also want improvements that will help save them money for as in even bigger payoffs. Here are five popular green long as they live in the home.” home improvements that could Some green projects you can help boost your home’s resale easily accomplish yourself, like value, and save you money until replacing less efficient light you’re ready to sell: bulbs with compact fluorescent • Windows: Replacing older light bulbs or LEDs throughout windows with ENERGY STARthe house, or installing a programmable thermostat. Other rated high-efficiency windows improvements may require prosee Home Value, page 11 Edgar Castellanos BRE# 01855534

LAHOMES247.com

661-510-5762

4 — FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2017 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

Social Security Matters

Ask Rusty: Unmarried Couple AMAC-Certified Social Security Advisor Russell Gloor by

Dear Rusty: A couple I am friends with has lived together for over 45 years. Unfortunately, he died last week and she is unsure about what happens to his Social Security benefits now that he has passed away. She’s also not sure about her own status since they were never legally married. This woman is understandably distraught and I’m trying to help her get through this difficult time. Can you help? Signed: A Friend helping a friend Dear Wondering: You are, indeed, a good friend for helping in her time of need. Here’s what you need to know: His benefits cease immediately upon his death, and Social Security should be given timely notification of his passing. Typically, this is done by the funeral home if they have been given the deceased’s Social Security number, but can also be done by another trusted individual. His benefits for the month in which he died are not payable to his survivor. For example, if he died in March the benefit received in April must be returned. If a check is received, return it (and any future checks) without cashing. If his benefits were paid by direct deposit, notify the bank to return the payment, as well as any future payments. If any of the decedent’s after-death benefits are not returned, they will eventually come after them. Even though this couple was not legally married, she may be entitled to survivor’s benefits if she can prove to Social Security that they were in a marriage-like relationship and the state in which they resided recognizes common law marriage (state laws on common law marriage vary, and Social Security rules state that the common law marriage must have been established in a state that permits it). Proving this should start with submission to Social Security of Form SSA-754-F4 by the wife, and of Form SSA-753 by affidavits, who can be

blood relatives or friends (both forms available at ssa. gov). Survivor’s benefits are somewhat age-dependent, but given the length of this couple’s relationship it’s safe to assume that when he died they were both at least at their full retirement age as defined by Social Security. Thus, in addition to the $255 lump-sum death benefit, as his widow she would be entitled to 100% of the benefit that he was receiving. If she is already collecting Social Security benefits based upon her own work record, and her survivor’s benefit from his work record would be higher, she will get the higher amount. After obtaining the forms online and completing them, they should be taken to her local Social Security office, which can guide her through the rest of the process to prove her marriage and entitlement for survivor’s benefits. She can find her local office, including location and hours of operation, at www. ssa.gov/locator. These things should be done as soon as possible to make sure she gets the benefits due her quickly. To submit a request, contact the Foundation at info@amacfoundation.com. 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. To submit a request, contact the Foundation at info@amacfoundation.org.

www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 10

audition earlier this year and were ready and eager to show Saturday night banquet. Their their talents to a welcoming performance of “Rainbow audience. Kali Hardwick Connection”, from the Mupsang “Je Suis Encore Tout pet Movie and “Hallelujah” Etourdie” (Manon) and “I by Leonard Cohen, arranged Am In Need of Music”(Ben by Roger Emerson, were well Moore). She will be honored received by the CWC singers by Bob Cole Conservatory at the banquet. of Music as Outstanding CWC member choruses Graduate of the College of work throughout the year to Arts when she graduates this prepare for the annual concert month and will begin her and their hard work paid off. graduate studies at the Royal Naomi Sumitani, guest acAcademy of Music in London companist, Jeff Segal, drums, this fall. Niko Murakami Kirk Palsma, bass and Rob performed “Frere! Voyez… Schaer, trumpet provided the Du Gai Soleil” (Werther) and perfect accompaniment for “I Could Have Danced all the 170 member chorus, led Night” (Lerner and Loewe). by Guest Director Lauren, Niko is a sophomore and it is Buckley Schaer. The audience her second year with the Bob showed their appreciation for Cole Conservatory of Music the musicians and the singers at California State University numerous times during the Long Beach. She studies two hour concert with standclassical voice with Shigemi ing ovations. Emcee John Matsumoto. Elizabeth Queen Musker kept the audience ensang “Les Oiseaux Dan La tertained with his comments Charmille (Offenbach) and and great sense of humor. the very lively “The Girl in Three students were chosen 14G” Jeanine Tesori. She is to perform at the concert by a coloratura soprano who

CWC, from pg. 1

lives locally and currently studies with Gail Gordon. Elizabeth will reprise the role of Konigan de Nacht at the Berlin Opera Academy in Berlin, Germany. All three singers were rewarded with thunderous applause and a $2,000 scholarship to be used to further their music careers. The 48th annual CWC convention and concert is now over and the Verdugo Hills Women’s Chorus and Burbank Singers will enjoy a summer break and be back at rehearsals in September. Suzy Duff (VHWC) and Diana Tyson (Burbank) are to be applauded for their skills as co-chairs. In September it will be time to rehearse Christmas music then take a look at the music selected for the 49th CWC concert April 2108. Any woman who enjoys singing and would like to be a part of the CWC concert is asked to go online www. cwchorus.com for further information. There’s always room for one more singer!

Reach 7,000 viewers per week. Advertise on our Facebook site.

E-mail Doc for details!

Movie Review: Fate of The Furious

Bob Garver

For over a decade, you knew exactly what you were getting with a “Fast & Furious” movie. You went to see one of these movies, you got fast cars, gratuitous shots of women, dumb one-liners, ruminations on family during the slow parts, and completely implausible action sequences. The movies were fun if you were in the right mood and grating if you weren’t, but they never aspired to be anything more. Then things changed with “Furious 7” in 2015. Star Paul Walker died unexpectedly in a car crash, and although he had already filmed most of his scenes, the film needed to be handled with the utmost care and sensitivity. And it delivered perfectly. The final moments of that film were so beautiful that they took the franchise to a level never before thought possible. Now comes “The Fate of the Furious” to put it right back on the level it was before. Maybe even a little lower. Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) is on his honeymoon with wife Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) when he’s recruit-

ed for a black ops mission by his old-enemy-turned-friend Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson). He gathers his family, which also includes Roman (Tyrese Gibson), Tej (Ludacris), and Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel). The family pulls off a heist with relative smoothness, but then Dom does the unthinkable and turns on his family. He puts the deadly device du jour in the hands of cyber-terrorist Cipher (Charlize Theron), who has another member of his family in danger. He works for her now, and stealing the device was just the first job of many. It’s up to the rest of the family to stop Cipher without knowing why Dom is standing in their way. They get help from old friend Mr. Nobody (Kurt Russell) and his young protégé (Scott Eastwood), who I have to assume is Mr. Nobody’s son because unconditional love is the only reason I can think of for Mr. Nobody putting up with the unlikeable little dunce. That team still isn’t big enough, so they have to call in Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham), sworn enemy of the family. Like Hobbs, he goes from an enemy to a friend in the course of this

movie. It’s hard to buy that he’s earning a place in the family considering he killed one of its members a few movies back. On the other hand, we get to root for Jason Statham! That brings me to the action sequences. Dom dragraces a junker car backwards while on fire (the car, not him). Hobbs and Shaw fight off prison guards and inmates to get their hands on each other. The family has to contend with a zombie attack. Shaw dispatches some henchmen on an airplane. see Furious, page 11

THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2017 — 5

VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 10 • www.thefoothillspaper.com

Samosa Appetizers

Verdugo Hills Liquor Store

7119 Foothill Blvd.

Chef Randy

What makes my samosa recipe unique? My version is vegan and instead of deep fried, it is baked. In addition, it has an amazing combination of flavors. Give these bite-sized appetizers a try! Ingredients: 1 large potato (scrubbed – not peeled yet) 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 small onion (chopped fine) 1/2 jalapeño pepper (remove seeds – chop fine) 2 teaspoons fresh ginger (grated 1 clove garlic (minced) 1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds

1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 plum tomato (seeded and chopped fine) 1/4 cup frozen green peas 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro (chopped) 1/4 cup vegetable stock (if needed) 1 (17 ¼ -ounce) package frozen puff pastry sheets (thawed)

The Angeles National Forest Fire Lookout Association (ANFFLA) is recruiting volunteers to staff the last remaining fire lookout on the Angeles National Forest for the 2017 season. Volunteers are also needed to staff the highly-visited Chilao Visitor Center. Lookout volunteers help to protect the forest and local mountain communities against Directions: the threat of fire, as well as in Preheat oven to 400 degrees. terpret the natural and cultural Boil potato in the skin for history of the fire lookout pro8 - 10 minutes. It is important gram and surrounding area. see Samosa, page 11 The ANFFLA is currently looking for volunteers to staff the Slide Mountain lookout, which is accessible via a 2-1/2 mile hike. Volunteers are also needed to per-

For additional recipes, see Chef Randy’s website at

valley-vegetarian.com Get yours while they’re hot! A new cookbook, Ojai Valley Gluten-Free Cookbook, by Ojai chef and author Randy Graham is now available for purchase. All of the 87 recipes in this book are glutenfree 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 online 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.

Fire Lookout Program Offers Training For New Volunteers form lookout duties at Vetter Mountain Peak. Lookouts are responsible for scanning for signs of smoke or fire and keeping aware of current fire conditions, all while being surrounding by nature’s beauty. The ANFFLA also assists in staffing the Chilao Visitor Center and seeks volunteers for this effort. All volunteers will serve as historical interpreters for the fire lookout system. Volunteers are required to commit 8-1/2 hours per month between May and November. New volunteers will be required to attend 12 hours of training sessions to include a program orientation, modules in interpretation and natural

history, and operations training. Additional 8-hour field training sessions will also be provided for lookouts and visitor center volunteers. New volunteers will be required to attend one of the orientation sessions scheduled for Saturday, May 6 at 10 a.m. and Thursday, May 11 at 6:30 p.m. These sessions will be held at the Forest Service’s Headquarters Office in Arcadia, CA at 701 N. Santa Anita Avenue. Additional information and training dates can be found at the Angeles National Forest Fire Lookout Association Web site at anffla.org. Please contact Pam Morey (909) 225-1025 or pammorey@ fs.fed.us to RSVP.

6 — FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2017 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 10

2824 FOOTHILL BLVD. LA CRESCENTA, CA 91214

off

On selected items.

Come check out one of the largest selections of wild game meat!

Fresh Free Range

Harmony Farms Turkeys available for your dinner parties—all sizes

818-248-3068

For the absolute best steak, get Harmony Farms’

Australian “Kobe-style” Wagyu Beef!

Shawarma House is now serving Burgers, Fries & Pizza! 6.99 CHICKEN SHAWARMA

Mon-Thurs., 10am-10pm Fri & Sat, 10am-12am | Sun 10am-10pm

8515 Foothill Blvd. Sunland, CA 91040 www.TheShawarmaHouse.com with minimum

FREE DELIVERY order of $15 CATERING AVAILABLE

Brduj

8.99

Kotlet

7.99

Mediterranean

7.99

Beef Lule Kabob

7.99

PORK SHAWARMA

7.99

Chicken Lule

7.99

Beef Kabob

8.99

Chicken Kabob

8.99

Pork Kabob

9.99

Supas Yogurt Soup

Pork Ribs

9.99

Lentil Soup

Ikibir

10.99

Beef Shawarma Plate

818-352-7777 • 818-352-1111

Your choice of bread: Pita Wrap, Lavash Wrap or French Roll

8.99

Served with Hummus, Salad, a choice of Rice or French Fries and Pita Bread or Lavash Bread

FOR CATERING & EVENTS! CALL TO LEARN MORE

Served with Hummus, Grilled Green Pepper and Tomato, choice of Rice or French Fries and Pita Bread or Lavash Bread

BEEF SHAWARMA

Shawarma Plates

SHAWARMA ON WHEELS

Sandwiches

BBQ Plates

Shawarma Wraps

8.99

Pork Shawarma Plate

8.99

Chicken Shawarma Plate

7.99

Falafel Plate

SPECIALS

8.99

Soup

Lamb Chops

12.99

Combo Plate

14.99

Shawarma Pizza choice of chicken or beef

6.99

Half Chicken with hummus, pita and rice

5.99

Roasted Chicken

Kabob Wrap choice of chicken or beef

3.99

Whole Chicken

7.99

Small Large

Salads

2.99

4.59

2.99

4.59

Small Large Tabbouleh 3.99

5.99

House Salad

2.99

4.99

Greek Salad

2.99

4.99

Yogurt Tsatsik

2.99

4.99

THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2017 — 7

VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 10 • www.thefoothillspaper.com

VILLA TERRAZA would like to thank you for your patronage and to let you know that we are open for breakfast every day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

We would also like to invite you for Mother’s Day. We will be open for BRUNCH from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and for DINNER from 3 to 9 p.m. Please make your reservations today!

(818) 875-4051 Once again,

Thank You!

If you have jewelry for sale, DON’T scrap them! I will pay top dollar for 8K, 9K, 10K, 14K, Gold Jewelry, Designer Jewelry, Sterling Silver Jewelry, Scrap Gold, Broken Gold, Gold & Silver Coins, Diamond Jewelry. Simple and easy process:

1 2 3 4

You come in. We test your jewelry. We weigh your jewelry. We pay you CASH on the spot.

GOLDFINGER’S JEWELRY 8220 FOOTHILL BLVD. #11 SUNLAND, CA 91040

(818) 523-6969 8 AM to 5 PM (Mon-Fri) 9 AM to 2 PM SATURDAY

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.

8 — FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2017 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 10

Bolton Hall Museum and Little Landers Historical Society Present Our guest speaker for this interesting program is Mark Rozelle, author of the recently published book Beside the LA River. Mark's family purchased a 114 acre farm in 1886 along the Los Angeles River between present day Compton and Downey. Mark's book tells the dramatic story of his pioneer great-grandparents who farmed land that had never been tilled, faced a terrible drought, and raised seven children in a tiny house. They dug the deepest artesian well in Los Angeles history to that date and became successful and affluent. Then they faced a dramatic reversal from the fury of the Los Angeles River, the depression and the Long Beach earthquake. The family left behind over 150 historic photos that appear in the book and will be part of Mark's presentation. Mark will relate interesting historical insights about Los Angeles and do a reading of one of the most dramatic events in his book. His book can be purchased the day of the program for $20. Former Rams General Manager and NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle is the grandson of the pioneers Mark will highlight during this presentation. Mark grew up in Southern California and attended UCLA. He recently sold the commercial mortgage company he founded and is now happily retired. Please join us and learn more about the great history of Los Angeles!

Everyone is Welcome — Free Admission (Suggested donation: $3 per person)

Light refreshments served after the program www.

Little Landers Historical Society.org

Break-in, from pg. 1 The stand-off lasted for more than six hours and had multiple exchanges of gunfire. The Paper first learned about the stand-off when residents on Mt. Gleason started calling into the office at about 9:15 a.m.; we were on scene by 9:35. More than 20 police vehicles lined the road and two helicopters flew circles overhead. The LAPD had responded to a “hot prowler” call from the house on the 11300 block of Alethea Drive just before 9 a.m., according to Officer Aareon Jefferson of the LAPD’s Media Relations Section. When the LAPD arrived, they used a bullhorn to tell the intruder to “Come out with your hands up!” He refused to come out. The resident told the LAPD that there were many guns in the house, prompting the officers to call for a SWAT backup. Police tried for several hours to get the suspect to surrender while a steady stream of LAPD officers, detectives and armored vehicles arrived on scene. There were so many vehicles coming up Alethea that the onelane road was backed up all the way down to Mt. Gleason. By 3 p.m., more than 70 police vehicles and 90 LAPD officers were on scene. With officers watching and news helicopters overhead, the intruder stepped outside and fired a gun several times at the officers, with at least one officer returning fire. The barricade lasted another four hours with more and more police and fire vehicles staging at Rim Canyon. One irate

homeowner whose drive was blocked by vehicles, came out and demanded that the LAPD and others “get off of his property.” All the vehicles were peacefully moved. As the tactical clocked ticked, the suspect would come outside, fire a weapon and return inside. LAPD officers and SWAT threw smoke grenades towards the house to disorient him, and then resorted to shooting tear gas grenades into the house causing the LAFD to go on alert for the possibility of the house catching fire. Around 3 p.m., the suspect was seen coming out of the cloud of smoke at the rear of the house and was shot by a SWAT officer on the roof. His body rolled down the hill about 75 feet and laid motionless until a K-9 team approached him. He was handcuffed and reported deceased at about 3:15 p.m., six hours after the incident began. Non-essential personnel were released and police vehicles from as far away as Burbank began their trip home. The coroner had not yet released the man’s name and as of 7:30 p.m., parts of Mt. Gleason and Oro Vista to Alpine Village was closed as the investigation continued.

“Wall-Buster” grenade guns ready for use.

Saturday, May 13th, 2017 1:00 PM Bolton Hall Museum

10110 Commerce Avenue in Tujunga Corner of Commerce Avenue & Valmont Street

Parking available uphill at the Elks Lodge

WE DO SMOG CHECK, BRAKE & LIGHT INSPECTION, ENGINE DIAGNOSIS AND ELECTRICAL.

THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2017 — 9

VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 10 • www.thefoothillspaper.com

Rose Lata

August 7, 1918-March 18, 2017 Raised in Erie, PA, Rose was one of nine children born to Walter Rawa and Theodora Kowalkowski. In 1939, Rose married Louis Lata and began a family: Jerome, Darlene and Terrance. The young family moved from Erie to Southern CA in 1952. After many adventures, Rose and Louis retired and returned to Southern CA. They became key figures in raising their grandchildren, Elizabeth and Jonatha, who attended school at Our Lady Of Lourdes, Tujunga. Both Rose and Louis became very involved in supporting the school and parish. Rose was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2010; in June 2016 with liver cancer. She died quietly and peacefully at home. Rose is survived by daughter Darlene (husband Myron Ferdig); son Terrance (wife Celia); grandchildren Jonathan Lata and Elizabeth Buell; great-grandchildren Alyssa and Kamryn Buell; sister Helen Rawa; daughter-in-law Grace Lata, many nieces and nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews. Her husband, Louis (2/15/2016) and son Jerome (6/26/2016) preceded her in death. Rose is interred next to her husband in Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, CA.

Donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Assn., 225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601.

R.I.P.

Michael Lee Reynolds September 26, 1953 March 13, 2017 Foothills resident Michael Lee Reynolds is predeceased by his parents William and Hope Reynolds, his brother Bill and sister Jackie. Mike enjoyed the roadways as a big rig owner/ operator, avid Harley Davidson enthusiast and bicycle rider. He loved animals — especially Red, his pet chicken who passed two days later. He is survived by his sons, Christopher and Patrick, nephews, Roy and Earl Cole, and nieces Marie Cole Gol and Laura Acree. Celebrate Mike’s life with his friends and neighbors.

Saturday, April 22, 2017 12 - 3 p.m. at Elks Lodge 1013 Commerce Ave., Tujunga

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

Sunland-Tujunga Crime Stats Theft 05/04/17 02:55 AM 10400 BLOCK OF PINYON AV Theft 05/04/17 03:00 PM 7700 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL Burglary 05/04/17 09:30 AM 11000 BLOCK OF TUJUNGA CANYON BL Theft 05/04/17 04:10 PM 7900 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL Burglary 05/04/17 07:40 PM 8200 BLOCK OF FENWICK ST Theft 05/03/17 11:30 PM 7100 BLOCK OF APPERSON ST Theft 05/03/17 09:00 PM 10400 BLOCK OF SCOVILLE Burglary 05/01/17 03:00 PM 8400 BLOCK OF FENWICK ST

Theft 04/29/17 01:50 AM 9400 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL

Theft 04/28/17 10:00 PM 9500 BLOCK OF VIA VENEZIA

Theft 04/29/17 05:00 PM 10000 BLOCK OF COVERT AV

Theft 04/27/17 07:30 PM 10500 BLOCK OF PINEWOOD AV

Theft 04/28/17 04:00 PM 10900 BLOCK OF FLORALITA AV

Theft 04/27/17 08:45 AM 9400 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL

Theft 04/29/17 01:12 PM 6600 BLOCK OF ELMHURST DR

Theft 04/26/17 06:00 PM 10000 BLOCK OF SAMOA AV

Theft 04/28/17 07:00 PM 00 BLOCK OF PALI AND FOOTHILL BL Burglary 04/28/17 04:00 PM 10900 BLOCK OF FLORALITA AV Theft 04/28/17 02:30 AM 2800 BLOCK OF COMMUNITY AVE

Theft 04/26/17 07:30 AM 8700 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL Theft 04/24/17 03:00 PM 10400 BLOCK OF COMMERCE AV Assault 04/23/17 09:45 AM 8200 BLOCK OF GROVE ST Theft 04/22/17 04:00 PM 10600 BLOCK OF PLAINVIEW AV

Letters, from pg. 2 customers to take her place, which was uncalled for. Raising your tone is one thing, but attacked a person’s character is verbal abuse and unjustified in any situation. On the surface, hearing this story it is easy to dismiss it. What makes it disturbing is that a person like this is working with pets on a regular basis. My neighbor’s dog was caught in the middle of this. After this the dog was cowering on the car ride home and ran to hide when she got in the door. On top of it all, the groomer did not even provide adequate service. The hair and nails of the dog had been cut way too short. We should not allow rude, unprofessional people who can’t provide adequate service to have access to our innocent pets. I think that any pet owner should look into where they are taking their pets. I found the reviews on the website Yelp.com to be quite useful. This incident leaves me wondering what is going on at this place. I don’t like to drop names but let’s just say that the dog was not wagging its tail when they left this establishment. A Concerned Neighbor •••

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?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

American Legion Post 377

10039 Pinewood Ave., Tujunga

(818) 353-9856 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

10 — FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2017 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 10

Begging, from pg. 2

For nearly 100 years, the American Legion Auxiliary has distributed the memorial poppy to remind Americans that millions sacrificed their lives and health to keep our nation free. During WW1, the poppy flourished on the battlefields of Flanders Field among the shelled buildings and bomb-scarred landscape. Like the blood that was shed there, its brilliant red bloom became a sign of hope and renewal. For those who would never leave and those who had given their lives, it is a perpetual memorial to their bravery. Memorial poppy contributions are devoted entirely to rehabilitation and assistance for Veterans and their families. On behalf of those Veterans, thank you for caring and your donation. America Legion Auxiliary, Sunland Tujunga Post

Please send your donation to help our Vets today!

(Make checks payable: to: America Legion Auxiliary- 377)

Mail to:

Chairwoman Evie Calvin 3718 Paraiso Way La Crescenta CA 91214-1044 NOEL COLLINS’ GOLD COAST GOLD SWINGIN’ BIG BAND WILL BE PERFORMING AGAIN AT THE

SUNLAND-TUJUNGA ELKS LODGE 10137 COMMERCE AVENUE, Tujunga, CA 91042

SUNDAY, JUNE 4

THIS EVENT IS A SPECIAL POST MOTHER’S DAY, PRE-FATHER’S DAY “PARENTS APPRECIATION DAY” GCG CONCERT/DANCE MUSIC FROM 2:15 TO 4:00 p.m. INTRODUCING LEXIE COLLINS, OUR NEW VOCALIST ADMISSION: $2O PER PERSON, $15 for SENIOR CITIZENS ICE-CREAM SUNDAES CAN BE PURCHASED FROM 1 p.m. ON NO-HOST BAR COME ONE COME ALL AND BRING YOUR PARENTS & FRIENDS AMPLE PARKING IN REAR OF LODGE

TO CONTACT GOLD COAST GOLD SWINGIN’ BIG BAND

noeljazzcollins@verizon.net

818-353-0059

www.goldcoastgold.com

believe we should help people and I’ve tried throughout my life to always be involved in charitable projects. I don’t feel sorry for people who feel they are entitled to harass, accost and literally try to rob people. Thieves and robbers who break into people’s houses rationalize that they need stuff and however they can get it is justifiable in their minds. What I am seeing more and more in America’s cities is what I’ve seen in Africa, Turkey and other foreign countries, which is harassment, begging and pleading. Our tour group was warned about leaving the ancient city of Ephesus in Turkey back in 2005. Our guide told us the people would beg vehemently for anything you have. Do not even make eye contact with them we were told. Sure enough it was a mob who did everything but try to take our

STNC, from pg. 2 submit a second request for council funds to be agendized for the STNC May 10 meeting. The purpose of these funds is for STNC outreach

wallet and purses. They literally got in our faces and begged, pled and cried for anything we might give them. I’ve seen this same demeanor in other parts of the world. More and more of these people are coming to America and more of them will end up on our streets and prowling our neighborhoods. Taking a carefree, delightful stroll down Michigan Ave in Chicago, a leisurely walk through Times Square or most any major American city has changed. We’ve always had the poor and needy. However, we are now facing a different attitude and in reality a frightening mentality that does not mind getting in your face to get some of your money or whatever else they feel possessed to try to take. Finally, everywhere I go in America people are working from every nationality around the world. From hotels, to restaurants, to taxi drivers to vendor people are

working and I can’t understand anything they say. They do seem to work hard and seem to be happy to be in America. I am happy for these people if they are legal, but I do wish I could understand what they are saying. If you run into a guy in Times Square calling you a S.O.B. and wishing for you to choke on your food please do what I did not have the presence of mind to do. Remember, hindsight is always 20/20. Tell him about all the Internationals working all over America. Tell him he can work a real job to. If he doesn’t want to do that to please do us all a favor and go back to where he came from. Glenn Mollette is a syndicated columnist and author of eleven books. He is read in all fifty states. Visit www. glennmollette.com or contact him at GMollette@aol.com. Like his facebook page at www.facebook.com/glennmollette.

at the July 1 WOW JAM Festival. I contend my paperwork was proper, timely and correct; while the response was improper and unfair. This is a complaint that I should not have been refused.

I am prepared to file a grievance. P.S. Save your postage for party invitations to me. I deal with life and death on the street, and that’s where this money should be going.

THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2017 — 11

VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 10 • www.thefoothillspaper.com

Sunland-Tujunga Bike Lanes Rebuttal by

Seth C. Walsh

The bike lanes in our neighborhood are a welcome addition for the safety of cyclists that have a right to share the road. Cyclists are killed with regularity in our metro area because of driver inattention or poorly designed roadways to accommodate cyclists. Mr. Tomlinson might be ignorant to the fact that many people bike to work and that number is growing. People choose to bike commute for good reasons: a healthy lifestyle choice, savings on gas expenses, reduction in traffic, cleaner air. I applaud Sunland -Tujunga for this forward thinking change to the roadways in our community.

Furious, from pg. 4 And there’s a pursuit through the Russian tundra where there’s no shortage of bad guys to absorb every weapon that hasn’t been used yet. (I thought the entire convoy got blown up like five times, but they keep coming back for more punishment.) The

Samosa, from pg. 5 not to overcook the potato or the consistency will be mushy. Drain liquid, wash under cool water and when potato is cool to the touch, peel and dice into ½-inch cubes.

Home Value, from pg. 3 could lower your annual energy bill as much as 12 percent, according to the U.S. Dept. of Energy. What’s more, ENERGY STAR-rated windows may qualify for a tax credit of 10 percent off the cost of the windows. • Insulation: Most homes in the U.S. don’t have enough insulation, according to energystar.gov. Adding insulation and sealing air leaks could reduce annual energy bills by 10 percent. At the time of resale, adding fiberglass insulation in the attic could recoup 107 percent of the cost, according to Remodeling Magazine’s

zombie attack is my favorite, but it’s all ridiculous fun. “The Fate of the Furious” has exactly what you’d expect in terms of comedy and action from a “Fast & Furious” movie, but it also has flaws in character motivation and development, which I’m sorry to say is also what one would expect from

a bone-headed action movie. Shaw is forgiven too easily, the Eastwood character is accepted too easily, Dom uncharacteristically lets Cipher yank him around for too long, the movie doesn’t know what it wants to do with the family outside of Dom, and everyone was so happy to get Theron as the

villain that they forgot to give her anything interesting to say or do. Add to that an unwise follow-up line about the Walker character that undermines the final scene of both this movie and the last one, and you’ve got a disappointing “Fast & Furious” movie. I expected so much more after “Furious 7.”

Two Stars out of Five.

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil. Add onion and cook until soft, about 3-4 minutes, then add jalapeño, ginger, garlic, coriander seeds, curry powder, cumin, allspice, cinnamon, salt and freshly ground

black pepper. Cook about 2-3 minutes. Stir in the potatoes, plum tomato, peas, and cilantro and cook another minute. If the filling seems too thick, add a tablespoon or two of vegetable stock. Remove from the heat and let cool.

On a lightly floured surface, unroll both sheets of dough. Cut each sheet into 9 squares, so you have 18 total squares to fill. Spoon 1 teaspoon of the potato filling onto the middle of each rectangle and fold

up, bringing the four points up to each other, then pinching at the seams to form a small pyramid and transfer to a baking sheet. Bake 18-20 minutes or until golden brown. Makes 18 servings

Cost vs. Value report. • Front door: It’s a key part of your home’s curb appeal and the last exterior feature homebuyers see before entering your house. Replacing an older, wooden door with an energy-efficient, secure steel door recoups more than 90 percent of its cost when you sell your home, according to the Cost vs. Value report. • Landscaping: With warm weather approaching, it’s a great time to think about landscaping that has green value as well as cosmetic appeal. Adding trees in addition to flowers can provide shade that will help keep the home’s interior cooler in summer

months. In fact, according to the National Association of Landscape professionals, planting five shade trees can return up to 100 percent of the project cost when you sell your home. • Water: Most water heaters last about 10 years, so if your home is older, a new water heater could be a big selling point. A tankless water heater could be even more appealing. They only heat water when it’s needed rather than consume energy to hold gallons of water at a set temperature for hours. ENERGY STAR says a tankless water heater could save you up to $1,800 over its usable life - which is twice as

long as the lifespan of traditional tank water heaters. When you’re thinking of selling your home, you’ll probably invest a lot of time and energy into staging. Consider saving some additional budget for energy-efficient home improvements

that may help boost your home’s value. A knowledgeable real estate agent can advise you on which green home improvements can get you the biggest return on investment. Visit www. remax.com to find a real estate agent near you.

“The Fate of the Furious” is rated PG-13 for prolonged sequences of action and destruction, suggestive content, and language. Its running time is 136 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

12 — FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2017 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 10

The Foothills Community P age

“Hit & Run” STNC Meeting Safe Streets Runs Into Unsafe Council Members by

Alejandro Magallanes

The Safe Streets Committee held their monthly meeting this last Saturday to discuss the next “E” in the Vision Zero plan: Education. Safe Streets has been allocated funds to begin outreach on traffic safety within our community. Our own committee member, Lori Apthorp, has lent her talents to create Safe Street banners, bus bench ads and logos. We are hoping her work — along with the Vision Zero campaign ads — will be seen around town in the next month. The Safe Streets Committee also had a visit from a speeding advocate. Aaron Schwartzbart, President of Motor Gospel Ministries, is a former illegal street racer who as a youth endangered his life and the lives of others. That all changed the day he was born again in Christ. He now dedicates his life to racing on the track and teaching our youths how to be responsible behind the wheel. “Most of these street racers don’t even know what they’re doing,” Aaron explained. “Just like I didn’t. So we invite them out to the track and humiliate them. They learn pretty fast that there’s a lot that goes into racing.” Aaron works with LAPD to get racers off the streets and onto the track before they fall into trouble with the law. He has also reached out to car dealerships like Galpin Ford and Rydell Dodge to encourage racing on the track. “Dodge is a big promoter of the Fast and the Furious movies, so I thought, why can’t they promote racing for us.” The dealerships agreed. With the sale of a 707 horsepower Dodge Challenger Hellcat, Rydell Dodge gives an invite to a local track, where they can race Motor Gospel Ministry drivers and learn about how to manage their speed on the streets. Aaron also contributed to our Safe Streets education campaign at this meeting, explaining his view on how to deliver traffic education to a community of arrogant street racers. He believes it’s a difficult thing to do, but there are still ways to reach out to them. We were grateful to see that even a former street racer could share a vision of hope in traffic safety. Lastly, committee chair Eve Sinclair brought up an issue with which the Safe Streets committee might be able to help. She mentioned the James Dean mural on the side of Wreck & Mended Auto Body in Tujunga. The artist/shop owner is having a problem with locals who reported his mural to city officials that are now claiming his mural hinges on being an advertisement because there is a painting of a car in the mural and his business is auto body repair shop. It was never meant to be an advertisement. The car

The regular crowd at the STNC meeting. by

Proposed art work for Safe Streets. pictured is a painting of the car in which James Dean crashed and died. The shop owner now plans on adding the words “Speed Kills” to the mural in order to maintain accord with all authorities involved. Eve brought up the idea that we as a committee could write a letter to the city authorities in support of the mural adjustment. It was at this time that a woman in attendance, Cindy Cleghorn, warned Mrs. Sinclair that she was meddling in issues with which she had no concern. “It’s not your purview,” Cleghorn said. The committee and attendees dug deeper into the matter, recognizing that this committee is about street safety and the artist’s message is also about street safety. Cleghorn said that the issue of the mural had nothing to do with this committee, or even Foothill Boulevard for that matter. Sinclair reminded Cleghorn that the auto body shop is in fact on Foothill Boulevard, our High Injury Network street, and the message the artist is sending complements the message we are trying to project with our education campaign. “So, in fact, it is our purview,” Eve replied. “No. It is not,” again said Cleghorn. I think that a James Dean mural reading “Speed Kills” on the side of a Foothill Boulevard business in Tujunga and which overlooks the results of traffic collisions every day is not hard to pair with the Safe Streets Committee. But even after explaining how similar our purpose is and how we could work together to support one another, we were met with a warning and hostility from a former councilmember. It is becoming easier to see that there are some people in our community who want to restrict progress for their own means. What their means and desires are, we have no idea. I can only guess that if their desires were progressive, they wouldn’t have to behave so deviously.

Alejandro Magallanes

Street changes were made to Foothill Blvd this last month. New bike lanes were striped. Traffic bollards were installed. A lane of traffic was taken away. People became uncivil on Facebook. An emergency STNC meeting was held. Tempers flared. Accusations were made. I guess you could say that for the Safe Streets Committee, April was a noisy month. As a member of the Safe Streets Committee, I stood at the podium of the emergency STNC meeting and was asked by council members if our committee was responsible for the Foothill Blvd lane changes. When I replied “No,” a different council member asked me the same question. After my third reply, I realized this emergency meeting wasn’t really about solving traffic problems. This was about finding someone to blame. Most of the blame went to the chair of the Safe Streets Committee, Eve Sinclair. One woman stood up, saying that Eve was behind all the lane changes, working in cahoots with LADOT. Another woman explained how she was once a member of the committee, but she had to leave because Eve had gone awry. Unbelievably, another woman stood up and claimed that Eve had called her a murderer. “Is that true?” a fellow committee member asked me. “You have to ask?” I retorted. What was happening? When did these traffic changes become all about Eve Sinclair? The Safe Streets committee has been working toward productive traffic changes for months. All of a sudden, we get a new audience of people, many who had never attended a Safe Streets meeting, directing their anger at Sinclair. Something wasn’t right. This all seemed too personal. But why? We are in the final heat of a CD7 candidate run-off. Two individuals are fighting to represent our community at city hall. Sinclair is a proud supporter of Monica Rodriguez, who is the North Valley favorite but not necessarily a favorite amongst the STNC. Was this one reason why some people were attacking her? A few audience members did stand up and connect Sinclair with Monica Rodriguez and Eric

Garcetti, accusing Sinclair of fulfilling the “mayor’s agenda” by changing our streets. Was this what some of the yelling was about? And then there was the woman who stood up at the podium, reading Safe Streets Facebook posts, explaining how Sinclair’s use of words proved that she was working with LADOT behind the council’s back. These accusations were far-fetched, and I think everyone in the room felt that. What was obvious was that this woman really did not like Eve Sinclair, and everyone in the room definitely felt that. I asked a fellow attendee who she was. They explained, “That’s Lydia Grant, the former neighborhood commissioner. Eve is the current neighborhood commissioner. Eve has her job now.” Another personal attack? It sure felt like it. Finally, we were two hours into the meeting when Mark Seigel, former president of the STNC, stood up to talk. He began with some advice on outreach, which I immediately noted. Then, mustering up his best authoritative tone, he shouted that the Safe Streets committee had “gone rogue” under the recklessness of Eve Sinclair. What I am writing about here might sound silly, considering that citizens, including former STNC councilmembers, would use the neighborhood council as a platform to attack a woman with whom they had a personal gripe, but I have to say, this was the feeling in the room. The clincher for me was when a woman in the audience leaned over to her friend and whispered, “It sounds like they’re all just jealous of Eve, because she’s getting things done and no one else does.” Out of all of the Safe Streets meetings I attended in the last nine months, this STNC emergency meeting contributed to our community’s traffic issues the least. It was sophomoric. I’ve sat with Vision Zero engineers, traffic police, neighboring councils, and the widow of a cyclist who was killed. All of these people have spent their time and effort to help our community with our dangerous streets. It’s a shame to realize that some individuals who relish their long-time stature within our neighborhood politics bring the least service to our deadly traffic plight.