In the land of Fire & Rain
See page 12
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FRIDAY • JANUARY 12, 2018
TELLING THE TRUTH FOR 13 YEARS!
VOLUME 14 • NUMBER 1
A Birthday Card From Alpha Structural Stages Renaissance on Foothill Blvd Congressman Schiff
Max Oliva and David Tourjé — as proud as can be! — with their wonderful project.
David DeMullé
is fast coming to fruition. For nearly 25 years the Slow down! Listen to old Security Pacific Bank the calm as a modern-day building has sat behind renaissance comes to its black covered sign at Foothill Blvd. The dream the intersection of Footof owner David Tourje’ hill Blvd. and Scoville by
Ave. Renters came and went, the building had many changes but nothing touched the massively solid structure of the bank building built of red see Alpha, page 6
I N S I D E : Federal Pot Policy Change Sparks
Waystation’s Late Christmas ................
2
Hula Classes ................ Tesla tests trucks in Tujunga ................
5 5
DEPARTMENTS Community Help ................... 2 Happenings in The Hills ......... 2 View from the Rock.............. 3 Social Security Matters ......... 4 Keller WIlliams Home Help.... 4 Chef Randy........................... 5 Crime Stats........................... 9 Take My Card..................... 11
Confusion, Crackdown Fears
Brian melley and Sadie Gurman by
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The buzz kill long dreaded in the marijuana industry came just days after California opened what is expected to be the world’s largest legal pot market. The Trump administration announced Thursday that it was ending an Obama-era policy to tread lightly on enforcing U.S. marijuana laws. The declaration renewed anxiety, confusion and uncertainty that has long shadowed the bright green leafy drug still forbidden under federal law but now legal in a majority of states as medicine and in a handful of those
for recreational purposes. “Everybody is super worried. My phone has been going off the hook,” said Terry Blevins, who runs a security firm and is part-owner of a marijuana distribution company in Southern California. “They are all, ‘What does this mean? ... Is the federal government going to come into California” to raid businesses? Officials wouldn’t say if federal prosecutors would target pot shops and legal growers, nor would they speculate on whether pot prosecutions would increase. The action by Attorney General Jeff Sessions was not unexpected given his longtime opposition
to pot, but comes at a heady time for the industry as retail pot sales rolled out New Year’s Day in California. In 2013, President Barack Obama’s attorney general advised prosecutors not to waste money targeting pot growers and sellers that
were abiding by state laws, but to go after flagrant violations such as trafficking across state lines or selling to minors. Under this policy, several states legalized recreational pot, growers and sellers had begun to drop their see Crackdown, page 8
OVER 200 DISTRIBUTION SITES IN THE FOOTHILLS AREA
2 — FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2018 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER
www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 14 • NUMBER 1
Community Help by Amelia
A Teacher’s Gift of Life by
Amelia Anderson
Wow, how inspiring! And a reason to include teachers with Charles Dickens at the top of my Christmas story list. Made me want to get out of bed and fight! I’d been AWOL under the covers for 13 days and 12 nights (without even a partridge in a pear tree) hacking a bronchial cough that rocked the walls of Verdugo Hills Emergency on Christmas Eve but couldn’t budge the interns into issuing me a Z pack so I wouldn’t have to return to blow pneumonia all over them on Christmas Day. In mourning as a woman bereft of losing her GP, I realized these people were inexperienced. I had the lungs and medical records to prove I had survived a yearly bout of bronchitis since I was four years old. The odds of recovery lower with age. I needed something stronger than Robitussin and aspirin. But they didn’t want to listen. Four took turns, spouting,”No flu; no bronchitis, no pneumonia.” “Here’s a list of doctors.” It took eleven days to get up the breath to call for appointment. “Can’t take in a new patient ‘till the end of the month.” Mostly men, they all used the same message. “Leave your name and number,” but there was no intent to call back. I felt trapped in a fascist society. Trump had tried to destroy Obamacare which would remove 25 million from healthcare. But the peo-
Fashion Show — Save The Date!
ple stopped him. Then he pulled a fast one, passing a tax cut bill before Christmas before anyone had a chance to read it. And attached were only fifteen million people he planned to cut off healthcare so he could confiscate their subsidy monies and give it to the rich as a ‘tax cut’, including himself. Why would he do that? Purportedly to ‘jump start’ the economy. But our unemployment figures are already low. No, it’s a ‘pay-back’ to Republican donors like the Koch brothers who really rule the roost (sorry, Putin). Political donations are now declared tax exempt, so they not only got their cake, but they can eat it, too. While the poor are defunded and deprived of health care, they are defrauded of life itself. Statistically, this is the equivalent of sentencing 186,000 people to death. Why aren’t people out marching in the streets? Well, because a goodly number of them, like myself, are sick. Or working their asses off trying to survive. And, hazily, we always think that will happen to someone else, not our selves. But, it’s happening to me, and I thought I had Medicare. Trump sent his goons into my doctor’s office because he wants to force Medicare recipients into HMO’s. Tighter control, lower costs. A nurse inspected my doctor’s records and had the nerve to tell him he owed $17,000 dollars see Gift, page 10
Amelia Anderson is a Homeless Advocate elected to both the SunlandTujunga Neighborhood Council and also to Mayor Garcetti’s Homeless Committee.
The Women Empowering Sunland-Tujunga (WEST) Committee is proud to present a TEA PARTY and FASHION SHOW! Saturday January 27 11 am until 2:30 North Valley City Hall 7747 Foothill Blvd Tujuga, CA 91042
Christmas is Late at Wildlife Waystation Happy 2018! Christmas is Late at Wildlife Waystation Every year, unsold trees from a local Christmas tree lot are donated to Wildlife Waystation. The animals absolutely love it. Thanks to our volunteers for organizing, hauling, preparing and placing the trees in the enclosures. As a non-profit organization, the Wildlife Waystation is dependent on donations, sponsors, bequests, members, and grants to raise the revenue necessary to care for all our animals. There are many ways to help: Sponsor An Animal Volunteer Become A Member Work Parties Wish Lists Donate Your Car - If you have a truck, call 818899-5201 Support Partners: iGive, Amazon Smile, Ralphs Member Card, Vons Club Card Acknowledgements Planned Giving: Bequests, Securities, Charitable Lead Trusts, Charitable Remainder Trusts, Life Insurance Policies and Real Estate Gifts Does your company have a gift matching program? Companies like Verizon, AT&T, American Express, Disney and more many will match your donation.
tion ~ a little bit every month adds up Donate Now to Support Wildlife Waystation Questions? Call us at 818-899-5201 Wildlife Waystation Set up a recurring dona- 14831 Little Tujunga
Canyon Road Sylmar, CA 91342 www.wildlifewaystation. org Wildlife Waystation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, non-profit organization. Federal ID: 95-3190812
VOLUME 14 • NUMBER 1 • www.thefoothillspaper.com
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
and people we know have lost their homes to the elements. You can really feel the pain. WELL! We survived another It’s tangible. It’s the missing chair one, well most of us that is. And at the holiday dinner table. It’s the you’ve read about it right here. I think about those people that want memories of times gone by. It’s a time of trying to feel the joy for to know about what is happening here. The ones that read all the lo- what we have that are drowned cal media and are concerned about by the tears of what we’ve lost. It creates a hole in your life that what they read. slowly fills with the passage of But my readers are different, time, but never completely. they want the REAL news, so if Everyone knows about pain, you want to read a soft, touchybut the pain from something that feely piece, you really should could have been avoided seems to read one of the other papers out be even deeper. Traffic accidents there. I, of course think that what here in Sunland-Tujunga are so I print is important and the fact that you’re still reading it after all damn incomprehensible that they can’t even be defined. AND NO these years makes you very speONE WANTS TO STOP THE cial people. PROBLEM! From before Christmas right Our latest disintegration of the up to today, we have really seen things happening here in our little family/community fabric is the community that no one could fore- “Social Media” that really just see. We’ve lost family and friends snuck up on us. Like a cancer developing and no one noticed, it
THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2018 — 3
has hit pretty hard and we haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of what it is going to do to us. I mean, like WHO EVER HEARD OF A PRESIDENT OF THE US TWEETING!?!?!? How banal is that? But it’s here and it’s not going away soon. But in the meantime we have to figure how to keep our family values and continue on helping each other. Social media really helped us out this last couple of weeks where people were able to communicate from their cellphones telling others where the emergencies were and where they can evacuate to and where the shelters for people and animals are. So it’s not all bad. We just have to keep things in the proper perspective. Like a weapon, social media can be good and bad at the same time. It just boils down to what YOU do with it. As a community, as a city, as a
V IEW
ROCK nation, we have got to become involved and once again be “our brother’s keeper.” Look around you and imagine one of those friends or family not being there next week. Let’s make an effort to be “just a little bit better – and make more people happy. Let’s make this year a better one and make a commitment to help make a change. A change that could start saving and changing lives. It’s possible that we might actually make a difference. I can’t do it alone, but as a team, as a community, we can make changes. And no, you can’t say , “It’s The Water!”
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 editor@thefoothillspaper.com STAFF ASSISTANT Dyan McManus WITH THANKS TO all our volunteers that make The Paper happen!
THE FOOTHILLS PAPER TheF o o t h illsPape r . C OM
P.O. Box 444 Tujunga CA 91043 818-951-0943
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Shawarma House is now serving Burgers, Fries & Pizza!
4 — FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2018 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER
Social Security Matters
Ask Rusty: Tis The Season For Reunions AMAC-Certified Social Security Advisor Russell Gloor by
DNA testing appears to have been a very popular activity this holiday season. A pair of 60 year olds in Hawaii, friends since they were in the sixth grade together, decided to take DNA tests. Alan Robinson who was adopted at an early age and Walter Macfarlane who never knew his father used a gene matching Web site to find clues as to their family histories. The friends turned out to be brothers separated at a very early age, reports the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC]. Meanwhile, 4,500 miles away
in Georgia 20-year-old Kieron Christian Graham who was adopted when he was just three months old took a similar DNA test and found out that a fellow student at Kennesaw State University, 29-year-old Vincent Ghant, were long-lost brothers. Oh, Christmas tree! A Christmas vacation in Rome may sound like a festive getaway. But, says the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC], this year the festivities have been marred by a scandal revolving around the Eternal City’s official Christmas tree. The tree was
www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 14 • NUMBER 1
Three Methods to Organize Your Home by Ed Castellanos www.superliked.com/profile/ed-castellanos
We all have some level of attachment to our things. However, many of us feel as though we’re drowning in stuff. Fortunately, there’s been a growing movement toward minimalism, and there are numerous methods that can help. Below are three decluttering philosophies to help you clear out and clean up your home and life.
Feng Shui The driving principle behind this Eastern philosophy is to create harmony and balance between an individual and his or her environment. Good feng shui invites prosperity and brings an overall sense of well-being into your space. From the front door to the bathroom, small changes to color, decor and furniture arrangement are be-
lieved to promote health, wealth, happiness and good energy. The KonMari Method Famed Japanese organizer Marie Kondo promises that you can drastisee Organize, page 10
Edgar Castellanos BRE# 01855534
LAHOMES247.com
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Movie Review: Pitch Perfect 3 Bob Garver
they’ll never perform again, until one of them When we last saw the suggests that they use see Reunions, page 10 a cappella group The her convenient military Bellas in “Pitch Perfect connections to go on a 2,” most of them were USO tour. Almost all graduating college and of them have too much the sky was the limit time on their hands, for their futures. But, so it’s off they go on a as we see in clips of a crazy adventure among documentary being made European bases. by the franchise’s oddly The Bellas need to be Bella-obsessed commen- at their best, because tary team (John Michael the most impressive act Higgins and Elizabeth on the tour gets a spot Banks), things aren’t opening for DJ Khaled, so sunshiny out in the which apparently is a real world. For example, ticket to superstardom. Beca (Anna Kendrick) Their main competition can’t stand her job as a is another female group music producer because called Evermoist. That the artists don’t like name alone should National Monument Bear’s Ears, a reminder of the beauty and disqualify them from history of our land currently under attack by the administration. being told that they’re not talented enough to performing on so much The Crescenta Valley NPS-USA. and became a produce their tracks as a street corner, but Sierra Club Group proprogram for educating themselves. Fat Amy according to this movie, gram for Tuesday. Febru- the next generation of en- (Rebel Wilson) isn’t they’re a force to be ary 13, at 7:30 pm, will vironmental defenders. doing so hot as an Amy reckoned with. It turns feature nature photogra She directs her introWinehouse impersonator out that DJ Khaled only pher/writer Bonnie duction to public lands, for all the reasons one wants one person, and Lavine’s “The Beauty of their management and would think that isn’t there’s a whirlpool of the Land” at the L.A. the importance of proa stable vocation. And tedious drama over County Public Library, tecting these lands and everyone else’s life is whether or not they’ll 2809 Foothill Boulevard, the present threats. similarly off-key. take the offer. in La Crescenta. The program follows The members think Because this movie is in Lavine shares her expe- news of conservation and they’re going to reunite desperate need of exciterience documenting the outings. This is a free for a one-night-only ment, Fat Amy reunites beauty of the public event and everyone is performance, but they’re with her estranged crimilands in America, Switwelcome. Refreshments really just being invited nal father (John Lithgow, zerland, Bulgaria and will be served. Please to a set by the current in- doing a pitiful Australian Nepal, a project that contact Wayne Fisher, carnation of The Bellas, accent). This leads to started as a traveling ex- program chair, at (818) led by the still-enrolled The Bellas being taken hibition dedicated to the 353-4181 for more infor- Emily (Hailee Steinfeld). hostage on a yacht, and 100th anniversary of mation. The group laments that the movie turns into a by
Sierra Club of LC Convenes in January
little action thriller for a while. I suppose I should be grateful for the break in the lame competition storyline, but the movie is out of its depth with the sudden genre shift. To be fair, we do get sausage links used as nunchucks, and that’s always good for a few seconds of amusement. The musical performances are at least competent. The movie opens on a desperate, daring take on Britney Spears’ “Toxic” and closes on an infectiously joyous version of George Michael’s “Freedom! ’90.” In between we get another of those bouncy riff-off sequences where The Bellas supposedly get humiliated by the see Pitch Perfect 3, page 9
VOLUME 14 • NUMBER 1 • www.thefoothillspaper.com
Breakfast Baby Dutch Babies
THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2018 — 5
Tesla Trucks in S-T
Auto manufacturers use Sunland-Tujunga as a test bet to test their vehicles. Here is a Tesla TRUCK on Foothill Blvd.
Ingredients: 4 large eggs Dutch baby pancakes, 1 cup milk 1 teaspoon sugar sometimes called Ger1/2 teaspoon kosher salt man pancakes or Dutch 1 cup flour puffs, are a hybrid of pancake, crepe, and pop- 1/4 cup butter (melted) 21 ounce can cherry pie over — all in one skillet. I like to pour the bat- filling (such as Duncan Hines) ter into a mini-muffin pan and serve them like Directions: popovers as opposed to Preheat oven to 425 puffy pancakes. degrees. Your friends and fam Pour (in this order) ily will smile when you bring these to the break- eggs, milk, sugar, salt, fast table. Think of each and flour into a blendmini-popover as a bite of er. Blend until smooth – sweet dessert after a sat- about 12 seconds. Scrape down sides of blender if isfying meal. necessary. Set aside. by
Chef Randy
Brush melted butter into each of the 24 cups in a mini-muffin baking pan. Fill cups to within ¼-inch of the rim of each cup. Place pan on the middle rack of the oven and bake for about 18 minutes, or until well browned. Remove from oven. Loosen the baby Dutch babies from the pan using a knife and small spoon. Make a cut in the top of each Dutch baby and place a small spoonful of cherry pie filling into the center (one cherry each plus filling). Serve immediately.
For additional recipes, see Chef Randy’s website at
valley-vegetarian.com
Hula Classes at La CañadaFlintridge Community Center
Hula for Beginners Tues 5:45 - 6:45 pm $50 for 5 weeks Class is geared towards adults and seniors looking to improve their mobility, strength, flexibility, and balance as well as bring their alluring, sexy-self back through hula dance fitness.
Intermediate and Advanced Hula Weds 12:15 - 1:15 pm $50 for 5 weeks Basic Hawaiian and slower Tahitian hip and hand movements integrated with low impact total body fitness. Contemporary Hawaiian dance routines change every session.
Seated Hula Classes Weds 10:30 - 11:15 am Thurs 9:30 - 10:15 am FREE 5 week session “Noho” in Hawaiian means “seated”. Everyone can benefit from chair exercise: those of you with disabilities, weight challenges, inflexibility, arthritis, knee injuries, wheelchair bound or who just cannot get on the floor for whatever reason will really love this class.
The Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge (CCLCF) is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization established in 1949. The CCLCF is a cornerstone of the Foothill Communities. We are a place for all to meet, grow, learn and thrive. CCLCF, 4469 Chevy Chase Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011 Phone: 818-790-4353 Email: office@cclcf.org
6 — FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2018 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER
www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 14 • NUMBER 1
Verdugo Hills Liquor Store 7119 Foothill Boulevard restoration of not only what used to be, but of brick and terrazzo floors. what it should have been. Nothing that is until Al- His renovation of the Security Pacific building pha Structural founder David Tourje’ decided to has a lot of significance to his family. His mother create a a building worthy of a new and revital- worked at Security Pacific Bank in its heyday and ized Foothill Blvd.. For decades, building owners shared her memories came and went, cosmetic with her son. As you walk through the emergchanges were made to ing building, you see the existing buildings like new raw wood constructhe Back Door Bakery, tion and the sand blasted The Ralphs Shopping red brick which gives the Center the new office observer the feeling of building across from being inside of an ArchiDenny’s in Tujunga. tectural Digest magazine. But none of them brought back the original Nothing has been left to chance. What David character of what had learned in his everyday once been a thriving structural retrofitting and business community creative analysis of how driven by the dreams of and where water flows at people who had pride in his retrofit job sites, he our town. has brought to his re-cre And why wouldn’t ation of the old bank someone like Tourje’ do building. something remarkable I first learned of Alpha with his building? His structural about the years company has been known for decades as the ago when my neighbor “go-to” place for seismic plugged up a “Blue Water Line” (an underground and hydro retrofitting in waterway that is part of the Foothills region. With an average workforce of the Foothills Aquifer) and the water changed its about 137 technicians, Alpha makes every job a flow path towards and
Alpha, from pg. 1
The “Old” Security Pacific Bank gets a face lift.
them. The same economy under our foundation. that tanked in the 90’s alTheir technicians came so slowed down the out examined the situagrowth of Alpha Struction and made recommendations on how to fix tural also caused the building complex that the situation. That’s they are moving into to when I learned about go into disrepair. foundations. For years, As I toured his new ofeveryone has talked about “earthquake retro- fices, I asked him: What fitting” but until my situ- makes him different than any other retro-fitter? ation made it personal, I His answer was classic. didn’t have the slightest “What sets us apart is clue of what it meant. that we are authorized to With anything that is engineer AND build. I new and revolutionary, have an art and design there are hardships. The background in addition economy was one of
to construction, thus from the beginning I was redesigning many of the plans that were handed to me to build. I finally brought it in house in the early ‘90s and never looked back.” And that’s where the term “Renaissance” comes in. Alpha Structural is bringing its creativity and its employees to Foothill Blvd. If you get a chance, drop on by their place at 8334 Foothill Boulevard in Sunland. It’s amazing.
THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2018 — 7
VOLUME 14 • NUMBER 1 • www.thefoothillspaper.com
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8 — FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2018 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER
governments, it will be one of the biggest derguard over fears of a elictions of duty I will federal crackdown and have witnessed,” said the business blossomed U.S. Rep. Don Young, into a sophisticated, R-Alaska. “Congress is multimillion-dollar the voice of the people industry feeding state and we have a duty to government programs do what is right by the with tax dollars. states.” Some sheriffs Sessions and some law in California welcomed enforcement officials the news, particularly in blame legalization for a the northern part of the number of problems, in- state where the majority cluding trafficking black of weed has been grown market weed. Authoriillegally for decades and ties are also concerned enforcement of laws about stoned drivers largely falls to rural and fear that widespread authorities with limited acceptance of the drug budgets. could increase its youth Yuba County Sheriff appeal. Advocates for Steve Durfor said he’s the drug that is classified hopeful Sessions’ actions in federal law in the signal a new willingness same category as heroin of federal authorities to have argued that it has help the impoverished medicinal qualities and region enforce marijuana causes less harm than laws. His department alcohol. They have said outside Sacramento has the government needs struggled to slow a large to focus on rampant and growing influx of opioid abuse and allow illegal operations setting a regulated marijuana up shop in the region. market that will reduce Officers destroyed a crime by eliminating the record 30,000 plants need for a black market. last year, surpassing the Pot proponents along previous record of 8,800 with some members plants destroyed in 2016. of Congress, includColorado’s U.S. attorney, ing Sessions’ fellow Bob Troyer, said his Republicans, roundly office won’t change its condemned the change approach to prosecution, in direction Thursday despite Sessions’ guidand said it was an intru- ance. sion upon the rights of Prosecutors there states whose voters had have always focused approved use of the drug. on marijuana crimes “If ... Congress allows that “create the greatest the Department (of safety threats” and will Justice) to crack down continue to be guided on individuals and state by that, he said. In
Crackdown, from pg. 1
www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 14 • NUMBER 1
Oregon, U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams said he would maintain the same level of enforcement and focus on unlicensed production of marijuana and smuggling out of state. Before the Obama administration put the policy in place, the feds sent shivers through the medical marijuana community by threatening landlords and operators with property seizure notices, resulting in many shops shutting down in cities where they were considered a nuisance. 12 shops were shut down in a 4 week period in Sunlnad-Tujunga. Federal prosecutors also sued and prosecuted some nonprofit dispensaries that were raking in money or dealing to people with no medical need, though the latter was hard to prove in a state like California, where regulations were loose at best. It was not clear how Thursday’s announcement might affect states where marijuana is legal for medical purposes. A congressional amendment blocks the Justice Department from interfering with medical marijuana programs in states where it is allowed. Justice officials said they would follow the law, but would not preclude the possibility of medical-marijuana related prosecutions. Sessions’ decision
Clear Your Clutter Inside and Out to Enhance Your Prosperity
In our overly materialistic society fraught with anxiety and stress, we have a tendency to overdo as a means to soothe and relax ourselves. Whether we over buy, over think, or over sign up for, this excess can lead to clutter! Whether it’s a mantel full of well-loved photos, an overflowing in-box, or a head full of great ideas, sometimes too much is just too much! The question is, “Does clutter hurt our business and our life, and does it impact our success?” According to our guest
speakers, Lisa Ystrom of Intentional Living Feng Shui, and Morgen Drasnin, Soulful Wealth Coach, the answer is a resounding “YES!” Together our presenters will share their expertise and offer new ways to think about, reduce, and get control over clutter – whether mental, physical, first place. Fun experienor virtual. tial activities will help us Our panelists will help embody clutter reduction. us wrap our heads around clutter – sharing what it is When: Tuesday, January and how it impedes our 23 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. effectiveness. They will Where: The Good Life offer ways to reduce or Academy, 18719 Calvert even prevent clutter in the Street in Tarzana, CA.
led to a skid in prices for marijuana-related stocks that had surged for weeks surrounding California pot sales. Officials denied the timing of the announcement was connected to California sales, which are projected to bring in $1 billion annually in tax revenue within several years. In addition to stock market losses, the change in policy in the short-term could chill investments in a burgeoning industry that will also see Canada and Massachusetts begin to allow recreational sales in July, experts said. However, many suggested that a large-scale crackdown was unlikely given the industry’s size. “Legal marijuana has become so entrenched in the U.S. — it’s a multibillion dollar industry,” said Don Morse, director of the Oregon Cannabis Business Council. “I don’t see the people who are behind this, people like myself, rolling over for the Justice Department.” Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said the state, which along with Colorado in 2012 were the first to allow retail pot
sales, would continue marijuana operations. “We should, in my book, not push the panic button on either your individual lives or your businesses,” Inslee said. At Harborside in Oakland, one of California’s largest shops, founder and CEO Steve DeAngelo said it was business as usual and he wanted to assure customers not to fear shopping there. “We’ve been targeted by the federal government before and we stand up and we fight for our rights,” DeAngelo said. “Six months from now if U.S. attorneys have not taken Jeff Sessions up on this crazy offer, then I think that it absolutely makes no difference to anybody.” Sadie Gurman reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Michael R. Blood in Los Angeles; Paul Elias in San Francisco; Terence Chea in Oakland; Becky Bohrer in Juneau; Andrew Selsky in Salem, Ore.; Sally Ho in Olympia, Wash.; and Nicholas Riccardi and Kathleen Foody in Denver; with AP Managing Editor David DeMulle’ in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
VOLUME 14 • NUMBER 1 • www.thefoothillspaper.com
THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2018 — 9
Sunland-Tujunga Crime Stats Theft 01/08/18 04:00 PM 6300 BLOCK OF HONOLULU AV Burglary 01/05/18 08:10 PM 9400 BLOCK OF GLORY AV Burglary 01/05/18 05:00 PM 9600 BLOCK OF CREEMORE DR Thef 01/04/18 05:50 AM 7600 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL Burglary 01/04/18 05:40 PM 10200 BLOCK OF MCBROOM S Burglary 01/03/18 08:50 PM 8100 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL Robbery 01/02/18 12:01 AM 8500 BLOCK OF FORSYTHE ST Thef 01/02/18 10:00 PM 7700 BLOCK OF FOOT-
Perfect Pitch 3, from pg. 4
Attention All Veterans, Sons, Daughters and Wives of Veterans
Come and Enjoy your local American Legion Post Help support Veterans and Veterans’ Causes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AMERICAN LEGION 2018 CASINO NIGHT EVENT! Feb. 17 at 6 PM: Tommie’s Famous Shrimp Boil Games Topside Casino 7 PM $25 prepaid • $30 at the door
other acts, but I think they hold their own. There’s a nice long performance of “Cheap Thrills,” which I mention because I’m a huge fan of Sia so of course I felt swept up. And those are just the standouts. The playlist does rely a little too much on hits from the past couple of years, which haven’t been great for pop music, but it never gets too bothersome. Arranging a cappella performances
HILL BL Thef 01/01/18 02:00 AM 6300 BLOCK OF LA REINA DR Robbery 01/01/18 06:45 PM 8800 BLOCK OF FENWICK ST Thef 01/01/18 06:00 PM 7600 BLOCK OF WYNGATE Theft 01/01/18 11:00 AM 00 BLOCK OF LA TUNA CANYON BL & FREEWAY
Theft 12/28/17 12:01 AM 10600 BLOCK OF HILLROSE CI Theft 12/27/17 09:30 AM 7500 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL Thef 12/20/17 04:00 PM 10700 BLOCK OF IRMA AV Thef 12/19/17 12:30 PM 6200 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL
Theft 12/31/17 02:00 AM 3100 BLOCK OF EVELYN ST
Thef 12/19/17 12:30 PM 6200 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL
Theft 12/30/17 12:15 PM 10300 BLOCK OF FLORALITA AV
*Remember, these incidents are what were reported by the LAPD.
like these seems like an impossible task, so even when it’s a song I don’t like, I at least respect the effort. “Pitch Perfect 3” is about 20% proficient performances and about 80% dumb antics that I suspect are mostly there to stretch the running time out to the 90-minute mark. The movie goes for enough gags that some of them are bound to land (Hana Mae Lee as the group’s quietest member is the movie’s secret weapon
as always), but it’s not at a ratio that makes the film particularly watchable. Come for the performances, stay for the performances, try not to get too bored with the rest of the movie. Grade: C“Pitch Perfect 3” is rated PG-13 for crude and sexual content, language and some action. Its running time is 93 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.
George Runner Responds to Governor Brown’s Budget
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Board of Equalization Vice Chair George Runner issued the following statement today in response to Governor Jerry Brown’s 2018-19 January budget proposal: “It’s a smart move by the governor to boost the state’s rainy day fund, since as he warns, the threat of a recession still
looms, and California is still very much vulnerable to boom-and-bust budgeting. “However, since members of his own party are suddenly and surprisingly concerned about taxpayers, it would be great if the governor would use the budget process to work with Republicans to
come up with ways to reduce the overall tax burden of California residents, which is very high. “The governor could start by refunding the money to Californians who paid the now suspended fire prevention fee, and by reconsidering the need for his catastrophic gas tax hike.”
10 — FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2018 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER
that an investigation is underway to find the “sap” who picked out the tree in the first place.
www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 14 • NUMBER 1
TX gathered her husband’s clothing and donated it to a local thrift shop run by Jewish Family Services but she apparently did not check the pockets of an old pea coat. But a worker in the
resale shop did and found four envelopes containing a total of $17,050 says the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC]. The store tracked down the woman who donated the clothing
and returned the money. She declined to be identified, but the widow said the cash would go a long way toward resolving financial problems she’s been having since her husband’s death.
Gift, from pg. 2
one last call to a doctor’s office after the evening and she would continue news at 6:05 pm. They to audit his records ie. all close at 5. So, I selecttell him what to do. He ed a lady doctor because severed his contract on they’re less predictable. the spot and told her he And “God’s Miracle” she would see her in court. answered herself ‘Evlyn So this is how I lost my Avanessian, MD’’, a doctor, at an inopportune UCLA graduate right cold weather time, which here in Tujunga within put me in a life threaten- crawling distance of my ing predicament. house. She invited me to But, cut back to last come to her office at 9, Thursday night, My spirit “If I wouldn’t mind waitwas so buoyed up by ing a bit” she purred in a teacher Donna Hoalilting voice. No probgland’s selfless action, lem, I was absolutely that I decided to make thrilled to sit there
amongst five men who had apparently already gotten a look at her and seemed as thrilled as I to wait. Her Sunland Medical Center is at 7709 Foothill Blvd. and the phone is (818) 296-9601. All insurance accepted. So, Doc. chin up. Maybe it is the water. But we’ve got a lot of good people doing good things in this community. I remember your gifting Pattee Colvin’s homeless with 800 pair pf socks in one year alone, and this year she hosted a won-
derful Family Holiday Celebration in the activity room of New Hope Community Church honoring underprivileged children and families. Even the STNC contributed to budget merriment. Save the morning of the 20th, 10 am to 12 pm, for Pat Kramer’s Crisis Management Conclave with Firemen and Police at City Hall 7747 Foothill Blvd. And a few nights later, on Tuesday the 23 at 6 pm, we’ll again convene at City Hall for the National
Homeless Count. “We need to show them they count. Will You?” Call me if you want to ride to Paul Kerkorian’s Homeless Town Hall on 1/18 at 6:30 pm, in Monarch Hall at LA Valley College on 5800 Fulton Ave. in Valley Glen. (747) 218-1070. Your homework for this week is to look up the definition of fascism. The funniest joke I read is Europeans calling Russians ‘baptized bears’ at the of last century. Maybe it’s the water.
of your possessions and lay them out categoricalcally improve your life by ly (clothes first and sentitidying up. In her book, mental pieces last). Then, “The Life-Changing Mag- you hold each item in your ic of Tidying Up: The Jap- hand and decide whether anese Art of Declutteror not it brings you joy. If ing and Organizing,” she it doesn’t, you let it go. explains a two-step approach. First, you take all The 90/90 Rule
(Minimalism) This home organization concept also relies on a two-part process. When implementing the 90/90 rule, assess each belonging based on two simple questions: Have I used it within the last 90 days, and will I use it in the
next 90 days? If not, it’s time to say goodbye. Ultimately, there’s no shortage of ways to declutter and simplify your life. The important thing is to be willing to let go of the items that no longer serve you and make way for new experiences.
Reunions, from pg. 4 christened with the nickname, “vecchio senza peli,” or, as we say here, “old baldy.” So hideous is the 72-foot, $59,000, needle-deficient spruce
Organize, from pg. 4
An act of kindness A needy, 78-year-old widow in Richardson,
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THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2018 — 11
VOLUME 14 • NUMBER 1 • www.thefoothillspaper.com
The paperback version will be coming out this next weekend. Just think: seven years of crime and corruption by people we know and love(?). People that have torn our community apart for their own personal gain. Where the bodies were found, where the bodies were moved to, where the bodies that weren’t even reported ended up. Police cover-ups (awaiting confirmation by our legal advisers on how much we can show and say.) Did you know that there were gangland hit squads attacking the homeless? Do you know how many homeless were killed and the area set afire to cover it up? Corruption is CD-7’s middle name. Read about how our council-members raped the system and what the NC did to stop it. Yes, boys & girls, “you can’t tell the players without the STARS!” ** Note, this is a larger version than the Kindle.” Rave reviews are flowing in from the mentally challenged demanding that the book be stopped. Not since the Pentagon Papers has there been a book like this!
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Nine Sen. Holly J. Mitchell Bills to Help Youths, Reform Criminal Justice Took Effect January 1
Protecting foster children and reforming the juvenile and criminal justice systems to put greater emphasis on prevention, rehabilitation and maintaining family cohesion are among the nine new laws by Sen. Holly J. Mitchell. The measures took effect Jan. 1 and are among Mitchell’s five biggest accomplishments of the past year, highlighted in an end-of-session recap: “Fighting to improve the quality of life for California children and young adults with my #EquityAndJustice package is a passion of mine,”
Mitchell said. “But among my other goals for the past legislative year are passing an historic $183 billion budget, eliminating implicit gender bias against women, helping the children of working class families thrive and standing up for what’s right.” Mitchell’s policy agenda for 2017 included the #EquityAndJustice package jointly sponsored with Sen. Ricardo Lara that focused on needed changes to California’s criminal justice system treat youth and young adults. Many of the bills in the
#EquityAndJustice package won bipartisan support in the California Legislature and were supported by hundreds of groups across the state that promote civil rights and juvenile justice reform. • SB 180 – Drug Sentence Enhancements • SB 190 – Ending Juvenile Fees • SB 355 - No Court Fees
for the Innocent Sen. Mitchell is chair of • SB 393 – Sealing of Ar- the Senate Budget and rest Records Fiscal Review Commit• SB 394 – Juveniles Life tee. A member of the Without the Possibility of Legislature for more than Parole six years, she represents • SB 395 – Miranda nearly 1 million residents Rights for Youth of Senate District 30, • SB 213 – Foster Place- which includes Culver ment City and much of L.A. • SB 323 – Clinics For more information, • SB 612 – Transitional visit Sen. Mitchell’s Web Housing Placement site at www.senate.ca. gov/Mitchell
12 — FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2018 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER
www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 14 • NUMBER 1
First The Fire, Now The Rain...
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