THE FOOTHILLS PAPER - JANUARY 29, 2016 by David DeMulle'

They do more than write tickets!

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FRIDAY • JANUARY 29, 2016

TELLING THE TRUTH FOR OVER 11 YEARS!

Masked Gunman Robs Crow’s Nest by

VOLUME 12 • NUMBER 3

First Fatality of 2016

David DeMullé

The Crow’s Nest was robbed Sunday January 17 at approximately 11 p.m. It showed up in the “spotcrime” database as a robbery. Supposedly, one masked gun person with a gun entered wearing a pullover cap and robbed the cash register and two patrons. Very little information has been released as the LAPD is seeking witnesses that may have been driving by at the time of the incident. What was of interest is that The Foothills Paper was alerted to the robbery by a reader that in Canada who relayed it. Here is the text:

Firefighters and paramedics cut open the minivan. The Crow’s Nest. “Hey Bob, Heather just told me that the Crows Nest got robbed at gunpoint and all the customers got robbed inside. Have you heard anything???” “Hi Doc, Just got an email from A**e and one of her friends said the Crow’s Nest was robbed at gun point.

She is up visiting her Mom in Canada so can you fill me in on a few details? Her house is all locked up but no one is there so she is a little concerned. Bob” Sunland-Tujunga has gone international — and not in a good way.

David DeMullé

The first automobile fatality of the year was Monday, January 18 at about 9:30 a.m. Simon Asatryan was going West on La Tuna Canyon Rd. when he swerved to the right hitting his brakes only once before he hit the curb, skidded across the dirt

berm then the guard fence which launched his vehicle more than 40 feet across the concrete wash, hitting the other side and dropping into the wash itself. Asatryan was killed instantly. No one knows why he swerved or how fast he was going. Please: slow down and live!

I N S I D E : VHHS Student Makes Free tax income prep ................

The Revenant movie review ................

CNNS hosts “school day” for parents ................

DEPARTMENTS

News from Your Clinic........... 2 View from the Rock.............. 3 Chef Randy........................... 5 Pets Page............................. 7 Jim Laris............................... 8 S-T Crime Stats................... 10 Take My Card..................... 11

Runner-up in VOD

Verdugo Hills High School senior Taylor M. Hanes attended the California Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Ladies Auxiliary annual midwinter Voice of Democracy (VOD) banquet in the California Ballroom on January 22 at the Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza in Sacramento. Taylor, a Sunland resident, was the winner of the 2015-16 VOD essay-audio competition for the Fourth District VFW of California, composed of El Monte, Pico Rivera, Wilmington, Sierra Madre, Inglewood, Lomita, Compton, Long Beach, Apple Valley, among many other Los Angeles County VFW posts. She attended the banquet with 13 other district winners from

7222 Foothill Blvd. Tujunga, CA 91042 IN THE COMMERCE CENTER

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Taylor M. Hanes around the state of California. It was the final step before the national level competition moves forward and will be held in Washington D.C.

WINTER SPECIAL

see Runner-up, page 9

All these stories and more can be seen at:

http://facebook.com/thefoothillspaper

OVER 200 DISTRIBUTION SITES IN THE FOOTHILLS AREA

2 — FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2016 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 12 • NUMBER 3

News From Your Clinic by

Sam Samalin, PA-C

Flue Season is here: Starting now and for the next month, chances are highest your cold symptoms will turn out to be flu. And many of you are at the clinic, with that painful cough for a week. There’s not much to be done once you already have it. Many want antibiotics, but they don’t help unless you have come down with pneumonia whichflu can cause especially among the elderly, children, diabetics or COPD patients and for them flu can be life-threatening. There are two ways to prevent the pain and sickness of it for the next six weeks. One is to come to the clinic as soon as you are catching something like a cold; you may just have a sore throat and feel tired. There is flu medicine but it only works the first two days you have the illness. Taken early, it can lessen the worst of the complications and pain. But there is no substitute for a flu

Dr. Sam. shot. And no—you cannot get the flu from a flu shot, no matter how many rumors you hear. Even now, getting a shot at the clinic is still the best way to protect yourself and everyone around you who may not be able to survive flu if you give it to them. So I hope you come to the clinic for a flu shot before flu gives you a painful cough and you are so exhausted that you come to the clinic for an antibiotic. At that point, it probably won’t help you, and it won’t save the vulnerable people around you although it may lessen the effects.

Tujunga Student Named to Dean’s List at Lehigh University Sidney Ro. of Tujunga, CA, was named to the Dean’s List at Lehigh University in the fall 2015 semester. This status is granted to students who earned a scholastic average of 3.6 or better while carrying at least 12 hours of regularly graded courses. For 149 years, Lehigh University (lehigh.edu) has combined outstanding academic and learning opportunities with leadership in fostering innovative research. The institution is among the nation’s most selective, highly ranked private research universities. Lehigh’s four colleges - College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business and Economics, College

of Education and the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science - provide opportunities to 7,000 students to discover and grow in a learning community that promotes interdisciplinary programs with real-world experience. •••

Sunland Student Named to President’s List at SAU Angela Gaignard, from Sunland, earned a spot on the Fall 2015 President’s List at Southern Arkansas University. Gaignard, a senior, is an Athletic Training major. She was one of 275 students named to the fall President’s List. To qualify, a student must earn a 4.0 GPA for the semester. Southern Arkansas Universi-

ty is fastest growing and most affordable university in Arkansas. SAU was also named the sixth most affordable small college in the U.S. by Bestvalueschools.com. Although SAU maintains low cost to students, quality and student success are still the top priorities. According to the U.S. Department of Education, SAU has the highest return on investment among all Arkansas universities. SAU has repeatedly surpassed enrollment records in part because of its comprehensive list of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, which includes exciting new offerings like the B.F.A. in Music Theatre, Engineering, Computer Game and Animation Design, Business Entrepreneurship, and Wildlife and Marine Biology. To find out more about SAU, visit www.SAUmag.edu. •••

Free Income Tax Preparation Beginning February 3, and continuing through April 15, residents can receive free income tax preparation from AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, a tax-exempt charity of AARP. Membership in AARP is not required. Free income tax preparation will be provided on Wednesdays and Fridays at La Crescenta County Library, 2809 Foothill Boulevard (corner of La Crescenta Avenue). Enter from the upper level parking lot. The hours are Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.Taxpayers will be helped on a “first-come, first-served” basis; advanced reservations are not available. The mission of AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is to provide high quality free income tax assistance and tax form preparation to low- and moderate-income taxpayers, with special attention to those age 60 and older. As a practical matter, however, very few taxpayers are turned away if their return is within the scope of services established by AARP Foundation. Taxpayers should bring with them: • Last year’s tax returns

• Social Security Cards for you, your spouse (if filing a joint return) and all eligible dependents • Picture identification for you and your spouse (if filing a joint return) issued by a government agency • Income related documents: SSA 1099, 1099R, W2, Unemployment Compensation statements, and other 1099 forms showing interest, dividends, and other income • If you purchased health insurance (“Obamacare”) in 2015 through Covered CA, you will receive a new tax form – Form 1095-A – which provides information required for your tax return. This form will show your eligibility for coverage as well as help determine your entitlement to a new Premium Tax Credit. It should be mailed to you by January 31, 2015. o You will not receive Form 1095-A if you did not purchase health insurance through Covered CA, or you were enrolled in Medicare, or you were covered by an employer-sponsored health care plan, including retirees. • Expense related documents: forms showing federal and state income taxes paid, see Tax prep page 9

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THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2016 — 3

VOLUME 12 • NUMBER 3 • www.thefoothillspaper.com

Today’s word is “Boondoggle.” Simply stated, it is “an expensive program that is a waste of money, esp. one using public money.” (Cambridge on-line dictionary) And that brings us to the upcoming neighborhood council elections. From the moment that the Cleghorn machine found that they could no longer run, the boondoggle started. I guess if you call no publication of the candidate filing dates a mistake, you’re oblivious to the idea of narrowing the field of eligible candidates down to almost nothing as a ploy of keeping the good ol’ boys and girls in power. Then we have first VP candidate Nina Royal passing out “Vote for me” flyers 2 weeks before the filing date. Now that’s not illegal, but it is unethical. And if nothing else, Ms. Royal is

unethical. Hell, I don’t mind her passing herself off as an “editorpublisher” of a non-existent newspaper, but I really do not like her jumping into the election fray before anyone else. Now don’t get me wrong: I don’t dislike the STNC — I just don’t like how it’s been run for the past six years. Insider deals, minor corruption, flat-out lies, and pissing off our councilman. And that’s just for starters. I can’t point out anything of any value that our council has actually done to help the community. OK, so yes, they bailed out the Rotary and Chamber of Commerce who ran out of money, and we do need the 4th of July events to keep our citizens happy. There is nothing else that brings them together here now that we lost the Watermelon Festival. Oh, did I mention that most of the council board are also in-

volved with the chamber? Hmm, well maybe next time. This is a great little community that is having growing pains because we don’t have any real leadership, at least none that can’t be bought for a two-bit certificate of appreciation. The real workers here are those who you see out on the streets doing clean-up or beautification. And they don’t get any help from the officers. I don’t understand why they just don’t put down their shovels and their paint brushes and rebel. Maybe it’s because the Cleghorn machine is too slimy and underhanded? Yes, boys and girls, this is going to be an interesting election. New power groups have risen and are going to make a run for it. There’s nothing I can say about them until they actually file their papers, at which time I’ll bring out the facts behind their candidacy. I’m actually looking

VIEW

ROCK forward to seeing what they have to say, and the promises they are going to make. You may have received your belated candidacy notice in the mail; are you going to run out and sign up? Think about it, can you really make a difference? But if you drink enough of the water…

The Foothills Letters & Perspectives Goffin’ Around in The Foothills THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

is published bi-weekly. All contents are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. All submissions to this newspaper become property of THE FOOTHILLS PAPER and may not be republished in whole or in part. The opinions expressed by contributing writers do not necessarily express the views of the publisher nor staff of this newspaper. TFP is available free of charge. No person may, without prior written permission from TFP, take more than one copy of each edition (stated value: $1). Only authorized TFP distributors may distribute THE FOOTHILLS PAPER. THE FOOTHILLS PAPER is a non-profit newspaper produced by the OSS-Spectrum group.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR/PUBLISHER Dr. David DeMullé

editor@thefoothillspaper.com TECHNICAL EDITOR Randall Fleming ftp@thepaper.ws STAFF ASSISTANT Dyan McManus 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, I was thinking about the old days: Does anyone remember Lyman B. Goff? I don’t, but I do remember the Cigar Store Indian outside his shop. Lucy Colville (Record Ledger 1962) writes to wish Mr. Goff a happy 88th birthday. Goff earned his fame by being the man who considered himself the friend of everyone who walked along the street. He would sit outside the Trading Post, his home and real estate business, at 8405 Foothill Blvd in Sunland, greeting folks and, he said, kidding the girls. After speaking to Jean Doe and Irene Munroe I learned that The Trading Post was the place where Mr. Goff, with the men of the community, gathered to sit outside on the wooden porch to visit. Sometimes Goff would go to visit Mary Lee Eberhardt across the boulevard at the library where they would disappear to the back for gossip and a smoke. Children would sometimes go into the trading post for penny candy, but the place was mostly for the men who sat outside smoking their pipes. Mr. Goff considered himself “a bum” and was known for saying that “loafing is the best business there is”. Once the owner of a real estate business, this personable bachelor retired with the sole aim of occupying his bench on Foothill where he, a true people per-

son, was the one to welcome everyone who passed by. In so doing, he earned the title “Living Landmark of Sunland”. Lyman Goff and his brother had come to Sunland in 1932 when they bought the building which became The Old Trading Post. Many groups used the area in the front of the place for rummage sales. During the 1920s the inventory was largely cigarettes and tobacco, a tough business later during WWII when rationing was in effect. Another famous old timer,

Jimmy Smith, would often set up his organ outside the building and play for people going by. Jimmy wrote the Tujunga Song, putting Tujunga on the map for Kiwanis Club members statewide. The store, next to where Jack-In The Box is now, had that Cigar Store Indian out front, a delight to the children who would ride by on their bikes and maybe stop in to buy candy. Before Jack in the Box that spot was a vacant lot where Irene’s mother would drop off her husband at the

bus stop to get to work in Los Angeles, then pick him up later. From the car, Irene could watch the men biding time on the old wooden bench or watch Mr. Goff who was such a character with his long beard and loafing ways. It is possible that the Trading Post went out of business when Foothill was widened in 1954, but, well, does anyone know?

•••

AMERICAN LEGION POST 377

BJR, Sunland

4 — FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2016 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 12 • NUMBER 3

Movie Review: The Revenant Attention All Veterans,

Sons, Daughters and Wives of Veterans

Come and Enjoy your local American Legion Post Help support Veterans and Veterans’ Causes

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

Sunday, February 7

(No Post Breakfast this month only)

Post Meetings: 12 noon, Auxiliary 12:30, Sons • 1 p.m., Legion 3:30 Super Bowl ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wed., February 10, 7 pm Auxiliary District Meeting & Dinner Post 377

3:30 Super Bowl ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Are you man enough for this “Fru-Fru” drink?

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

American Legion Post 377

10039 Pinewood Avenue, 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

Bob Garver

Last week I wrote that “The Hateful Eight” was “quite possibly the best film of 2015.” I made sure to say “quite possibly” because I considered it the best at the time, but there were still some major contenders left to see. This past week, I knocked out some of those major contenders, and while I’m not completely ready to call it a year (and even then I know I’ll never get to everything), I can say with a bit more confidence that “The Revenant” is quite possibly the best movie of 2015. The film is the latest labor of love from director Alejandro Gonzáles Iñárritu. His last film, “Birdman,” was “quite possibly” the best film of 2014 and definitely the Best Picture Oscar winner. This film trades the relative comfort of the modern Broadway theater for the blistering wilderness of South Dakota in the early 1800s. Like “Birdman,” the film features a number of especially long takes that make the setting and situations seem inescapable. This style doesn’t make the film more “enjoyable” per se, but the obvious difficulty and dedication do not go unnoticed. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Hugh Glass, guide for an illfated fur-trapping expedition. Within minutes of the film’s opening, the trapping party is attacked by Arikara Indians and its number is cut by more than half. Among the survivors

are Glass, his half-Pawnee son Hawk (Forrest Goodluck) and embittered trapper Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy). Things go from bad to worse (to put it mildly) when Glass is mauled within an inch of his life by a grizzly bear. Fitzgerald agrees to stay with Glass and Hawk to keep Glass alive as long as possible and give him a proper burial if necessary. He botches the task horribly. He nearly kills Glass out of mere convenience, kills the previously-healthy Hawk out of panic, and brushes some dirt on Glass and calls it a

proper burial. Glass pulls himself out of the poor excuse for a grave and vows revenge on the escaped Fitzgerald. Not every aspect of the revenge journey makes sense, but think of how confusing it must be for the disoriented Glass. The key word with the DiCaprio performance, which will probably win him an Oscar, is “pained.” Hugh Glass suffers in this movie, most of all during the bear attack. The brutal sequence was already one of legend before the film even opened, and while cersee Revenant, page 9

Marian Eugenia Cheeseman Nov., 26, 1927 - Jan. 24, 2016 Marian Eugenia Cheeseman was born in Pittsburg, KS. She was daughter to Emma Irene and Marion Eugene Cheeseman, and sister to her brother Fred. She moved to Tujunga in 1957 to build a family with her husband Edward J. Boitz Sr. She worked as a grocery clerk and bookkeeper for Vons and a local credit union. She sang in the Southern California Verdugo Hills Chorus, was active in the Sunland-Tujunga Women’s Club, and with two church friends, taught the Good News Club at Mountain View Elementary. In the 1980’s, Marian, her son Joe, and dear friend Luther built her home, a geodesic dome, in the hills of Tujunga. She was always busy helping others. She was an animal lover and gave generously to many needy causes. She is survived by her children, Joe, Karen, and Roxanne; grandchildren, Jesse, Jennifer, and Harley; great-granddaughters, Madison, and arriving in April, Charisma. Everybody loved Marian, she was a light to everyone. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Sat., January 30 at Community Christian Church, 10193 Tujunga Canyon Blvd, Tujunga.

THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2016 — 5

VOLUME 12 • NUMBER 3 • www.thefoothillspaper.com

Fresh Pico de Gallo

CCNS Hosts “School Day” For Working Parents

Darling Ducklings make picture frames at one table and handprints at another table with help from their parents. For families of students at Crescenta-Cañada Coopera tive Nursery School (CCNS), typically one parent works regularly on school activities such as assisting the teachers in the classroom a few times a month and meeting with other parents on committees to manage the school, while another parent goes to a job to support the household. In honor of the parents who do not get a chance to participate regularly at the school, CCNS held a special event on Saturday, January 23, to give these working parents a chance to experience a school day with their child. Working parents and their children were warmly welcomed to school by Mrs. Michelle Reilly, director and teacher at CCNS. Busy Bears (4-year-olds) and Darling Ducklings (3-year-olds), arrived at school and happily showed their working parents the playground where they play on a regular school day. The children enjoyed a snack and then were off to the classrooms, where they were happy to show the parents their favorite toys and activities. Looking around the classroom one could see parents and children playing dress-

up, as well as with blocks, toy castles, toy trucks and toy trains. After playtime, students and parents sang songs and danced and a great time was had by all. Next, parents and students worked on a number of projects together, including planting flowers to take home in a pot that the students had painted earlier during the school week, making picture frames to hold photos of the parents and children taken during the day, and making a keepsake with overlapping handprints of the parent with their child. After all of the projects were completed, students and parents sat down and listened to a special story read by the teacher before going home. The event was a great way to give the working parents a glimpse in to the types of activities that their children enjoy during a normal day at school. Everyone left with smiles on their faces. On Monday after the parent event, the students went back to school and the working parents went back to their jobs with fresh memories of the fun that their children can enjoy on a typical school day at CCNS. Some of the picture frames and keepsakes made

Photo 2: Darling Ducklings make picture frames at one table and handprints at another table with help from their working parents.

Chef Randy

Pico de Gallo [PEE-koh day GI-yoh] means “rooster’s beak” in Spanish. Tradition says that this dish was so named because it was once eaten with the thumb and finger, an action that resembles a rooster’s pecking beak. I like to eat it with tor-

tilla chips. You might use it as a fresh salsa with breakfast burritos, tacos, omelets or frittatas. Ingredients: 5 – 6 medium tomatoes (diced) 1 medium white onion (diced) ¼ cup fresh cilantro (chopped fine)

2 jalapeno chilies (seeded and chopped fine) 1 clove garlic (peeled and minced) 2 tablespoons lime juice Salt to taste Directions: Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl, stir and enjoy.

For additional recipes, see Chef Randy’s website at

valley-vegetarian.com

SIX days before the end of the filing date, the STNC finally sends out candidate notices.

see CCNS, page 9

6 — FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2016 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

WE ARE HERE WHEN YOU NEED US MOST

(818) 352-8333 7204 Foothill Blvd. Tujunga

www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 12 • NUMBER 3

X-RAYS LABs PEDIATRICS EKG B-12 DOT Clinica Medica Abierto 7 Dais De La Semana De 8AM A 8PM

Meet Sam, your family care specialist Shawarma House is now serving Burgers, Fries & Pizza!

THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2016 — 7

VOLUME 12 • NUMBER 3 • www.thefoothillspaper.com

Foothills Pet Page Retail Therapy For You And Rover For many pet lovers, bringing a furry friend along on a shopping trip would be the perfect way to spend a day. While many big-name chain stores do have a “service dogs only” policy, you may be surprised to know that a number of them will in fact allow you to shop with your Shih-Tzu or browse with your bulldog. Please keep in mind that many of these stores only welcome pets on a limited basis. In some cases, the decision to allow pets is left to individual store managers. This means that while one chain location may welcome your pooch, another may have a no-pets policy. In other cases, a stand-alone chain location may allow pets, while a mall location may have to comply with that mall’s no-pets policy. Rules and policies change all the time from store to store and from location to location. It’s important to contact any store you plan to visit with your pet to ensure that they will in fact allow him in — even if you have brought him into that store before. Out of respect to the establishment and its patrons, any time your pet visits a store,

he should be leashed and under your control at all times. Some stores ask that pets ride in shopping carts and be kept securely and tightly leashed, and some ask that they be contained in a carrier. Make sure you are aware of the store’s specific policies before visiting. Pet Stores Perhaps not surprisingly, both Petco and PetSmart celebrate their doggie clientele, and leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome throughout each store at every location. Some locations even offer doggie day care for shoppers. Department Stores Several department store chains around the country have been known to welcome pets. Banana Republic is notably dog friendly, with some locations offering treats to canine visitors. The Gap and Old Navy, which are owned by the same company as Banana Republic, have also been known to allow dogs. Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue, TJ Maxx and Marshall’s allow dogs in at least some of their locations,

and Nordstrom has welcomed pooches through its doors for over 20 years. Bed Bath and Beyond goes above and beyond at some of its locations by not only allowing pets, but providing specialty dog carts for them to ride in. Home Improvement Stores Lowe’s Home Improvement and Home Depot are both well-known for allowing pets - however, the degree to which pets are welcome varies widely from location to location. It’s important to check with each individual store before bringing your dog with you to help you select your lumber or bathroom fixtures. see Pet-friendly, page 9

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8 — FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2016 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 12 • NUMBER 3

I Got Your Friendly Right Here! notby Jim Laris

Dayton, just got kicked out of the American Legion hall You know, I try to be for something I think she friendly. I really do. I am not called “non-wife fondling.” quite as much of a pissy turd The next woman gets to as I make myself out to be the checker and they start in this here column. (See, I chatting. Nothing quite added the “here” in that last as chat-worthy as Johnny sentence to show off my Dayton’s sexploits, but they folksy, friendly side.) do give the gossip tidbits the The reason I am bringing necessary time to fully flesh up all this friendly stuff them out. I am just kind of is that I am now taking a standing there, acting like I much needed break from my think this friendly shit is OK, stressful retirement so I can and it’s getting harder and vacation up in Oregon for a harder to fake it. month, and it’s a state law to After five full minutes be friendly up here. I mean of staring at my four to tell you, everybody is non-moving items on the friendly. It’s a little eerie. But conveyor belt, I give them I am trying my best to adapt my LA hurry-up cough. I to this foreign environment, cough a few times. Cough. and if it doesn’t kill me, I Ahem. Cough. They both should be friendlier when I glance at me. I know they come back to LA. want to tell me to take a You notice it right away. Menthol Luden’s and insert I go into a Fred Myers it in a body opening that is grocery and everything-elsenot my mouth, but they just ever-manufactured store smile at me. The bitches. and the checker is talking Finally, the lady hands the to someone a few people up checker a copy of the latest the line from me. She knows National Enquirer, and says, the woman. The woman is “Jeez, that Al Gore would be in her 60s. The checker went quite a load, wouldn’t he?” to elementary school with And the checker says, “Looks her. Yes, I now know that like a little global squirming their old schoolmate, Johnny going on.” I crack just the

beginning of a smile at these bookstore owner walks me to remarks and they look at me the book section I need and again. I apologize for listenpersonally wipes the dust off ing in on them with a lame the row of books I will look hands-up sissy gesture. at. The frame-store owner I get to the checker and sells me the cheaper picture say, “Hi.” She says, “Can’t frame because he thinks it talk now. I have customers will work better for me. behind you.” And a couple of days ago I probably shouldn’t have I had a guy come out to give told you that first anecdote me a bid for a fence I’m first, because the people are building for my dog, Archie Jim Laris is Jim Laris. generally just friendly, and the Airedale. And this guy they don’t usually say mean was so nice I thought he had they will eventually find things to us potential Luden’s the wrong house. He was out I’m not really all that users. Like I was in a restaunicer than Pat Boone, baby. friendly and then I will be rant and the waitress came He called me “sir” so many rejected and continue on with over and said, “What’ll it be, times I thought I had been my lonely, unfulfilled, tragic darlin’?” And I said, “Did promoted to corporal. And walk-through life. you call me darlin’, darlin’?” then the next day, I go out So I tentatively said And she adjusted her apron, on the dock to just walk something to the fence guy and said, “Why, yes, darlin’, around and I notice a guy about his choosing me to go I did call you darlin’, darlin’” standing there with a rod and fishing with. I said, “Do you (I was going to say, “But reel and I look at him like really want to go fishing with you never even called me by I sort of know him, but I’m me?” And he kind of looked my name” but I knew she puzzled and he finally says, at me like that was a bit too wouldn’t get the reference. “Yeah, it’s me, the fence guy! touchy-feely, and said, “Yeah, Neither will you. So that’s Wanna go fishing?” sure, you look like a good why I didn’t say it.) “It’s me, the fence guy. guy.” And I smiled my manly Everybody is friendly. Wanna go fishing?” hug-smile and he continued. They take time with you. I don’t know about you, “And my buddies are all They appear to maybe even but I don’t think I would working today. And, by the like you. They have faking have heard that in LA. It’s way, you think, maybe you sincerity down to a science. just too damn friendly for could buy the bait?” The gas station attendant city slicker talk. But I do fills up my tank and tells me have mixed emotions on all Jim can be contacted at about the salmon run. The this friendly stuff. I know jimlaris@mac.com

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THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2016 — 9

VOLUME 12 • NUMBER 3 • www.thefoothillspaper.com

Runner-up, from pg. 1 Taylor was named first runner-up for the 2015-16 VOD competition in California. A senior at Verdugo Hills High School in Tajunga, California, Taylor began her journey in 9th grade when she was placed in the Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program and entered the VOD competition each year as part of the curriculum. Taylor is the Battalion Commander for Verdugo Hills High School as well as the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) JROTC Deputy Colonel, where she serves as secondin-command of all 5,000+ LAUSD JROTC cadets enrolled in the highly motivational program. Previously, through the LAUSD JROTC program, Taylor had submitted several essays for the VOD competition beginning her freshman year. She did well within the JROTC level competition placing 2nd in 2012-13 and 1st in 2013-14. This year however she took 1st place again on the JROTC level, then she was selected by her local VFW post #1961 and fi-

Revenant, from pg. 4 tain rumors about the scene are untrue, it remains both grizzly and grisly. Parts of Glass get exposed that are best left inside the body. Also, as in a lot of survival movies, Glass has to perform a crude, winceinducing operation on himself. Glass has to try and talk, drink, and breathe with a severely torn-up throat, and making all those discordant noises couldn’t have been easy or pleasant for Leo, especially over multiple takes. And then of course there is the discomfort aspect, the pain that goes along with dragging himself around the unforgiving terrain and being affected by every inch of the journey. The only thing working in his favor is that the water and snow somehow always look clean enough to drink. “The Revenant” is an ex-

CNNS, from pg. 5 at school ended up making their way to workplaces where they continued to bring smiles to the faces of the working parents of CCNS. The Crescenta-Cañada Cooperative Nursery School has been teaching and caring for preschool aged children for over 55 years. The goal of

nally the District Four Los Angeles County VFW to represent in the Sacramento VOD state competition. One first-place winner from each state competes to win one of 54 national awards totaling a minimum of $106,000.00. The first-place winner from each state also wins an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. The national first-place winner wins a $30,000.00 scholarship and other awards. Each year, nearly 40,000 high school students from across the country enter the competition. While the national first-place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship, other national scholarships range from $1,000 to $16,000 for contestants and runner-ups. Total awards and scholarships are estimated to be more than two million dollars. The VOD program, established in 1947, is open to students in grades 9-12 who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or home study program in the U.S. and its territories. Entries and guidelines for the 2016-2017 season can be downloaded at www.vfw.org or picked up at your local VFW post. tremely violent movie, but it has a tasteful attitude about its violence. It feels like the characters are suffering a sort of natural consequence of living in this harsh environment, even when they’re performing acts of violence on each other. With “The Hateful Eight,” which approaches over-thetop violence with near-glee, I am willing to let some viewers off the hook. If it doesn’t seem like your kind of movie, it probably isn’t. Here I feel the need to push a little harder. I encourage adults, at their discretion, to breech their comfort zones and see this beautiful, harrowing, mesmerizing film. “The Revenant” is rated R for strong frontier combat and violence including gory images, a sexual assault, language and brief nudity. Its running time is 156 minutes. Contact Robert Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu. CCNS is to provide rich experiences and opportunities for children to develop sound relationships with their peers while providing a nurturing environment where children can develop good feelings about themselves, their abilities, and the world around them. For more information about CCNS, check out ccnsonline.com or the CCNS Facebook page.

Tax prep, from pg. 2 1098 forms, summaries of medical, dental, prescription drug expenses, contributions to charities, vehicle tax statements, property taxes and home mortgage interest, and any business expenses. Receipts for expenses need to be in reasonable order and legible. • Brokerage statements or

Pet-friendly, from pg. 7 Local Stores Many local chains or mom-and-pop stores work to develop personal relationships with their clientele. They also tend to have a lot of discretion and autonomy when it comes to whether or not they will allow pets in their establishments. Call ahead to your favorite local retailer. They may surprise you by saying your pet is welcome, especially if he’s small enough to fit in a carrier or shopping cart. Craft Stores Michael’s Craft Store has a reputation for being dog

other documentation showing the cost basis (purchase price) and date purchased for all securities or property sold or transferred during the tax year • A blank check with your name printed on it, if you want direct deposit or debit for any refund or balance due • If you received a pension or annuity from a former employer, please bring the

date you began receiving these payments

friendly. While not every location may welcome your pooch, some of them will allow him to ride in the cart as you browse.

not well-known, but also not surprising.

Outdoor Stores Tractor Supply Company, a well-known agricultural and farming supply store, welcomes leashed, friendly dogs at most of its locations — but that’s what you might expect from a store that supports pet adoptions and holds an annual Pet Appreciation Week. Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s (both of which are hunting, fishing and allaround outdoor authorities) also allow pets at many of their locations — a fact that’s

You can find other AARP Foundation Tax-Aide locations in the area at www.aarp.org/ applications/VMISLocator/ searchTaxAideLocations. action. Owing to the library’s annual book sale, taxes will not be prepared on April 6 and 8.

About TripsWithPets.com TripsWithPets.com is the premier online pet friendly travel guide, providing online reservations at more than 30,000 pet friendly hotels and accommodations across the United States and Canada. When planning a trip, pet parents go to TripsWithPets. com for detailed, up-to-date information on hotel pet policies and pet amenities. TripsWithPets.com also features airline and car rental pet policies, pet friendly activities, a user-friendly search-by-route option, as well as pet travel gear.

10 — FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2016 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

Crime Stats Robbery 01/11/16 04:00 AM 00 BLOCK OF FENWICK ST AND SUNLAND BL

Theft 01/16/16 08:00 PM 7700 BLOCK OF MCGROARTY ST Details

Theft 01/11/16 09:00 AM 7000 BLOCK OF GREELEY ST

Robbery 01/17/16 10:50 PM 7200 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL

Theft 01/11/16 04:15 AM 4900 BLOCK OF VICWOOD AVE

Theft 01/18/16 04:00 PM 10300 BLOCK OF SCOVILLE AV

9_Foothills Paper 10x15_5_El Niño_fullBleed_Ad_CMYK_Dec292015GH.pdf

Burglary 01/19/16 12:45 PM 8900 BLOCK OF HILLROSE ST Theft 01/20/16 02:15 AM 6800 BLOCK OF VALMONT ST

Theft 01/14/16 03:50 PM 10400 BLOCK OF SUNLAND BL

Theft 01/20/16 11:00 PM 9400 BLOCK OF CREEMORE DR

Theft 01/14/16 01:30 PM 9400 BLOCK OF WENTWORTH ST

Theft 01/20/16 10:00 PM 10600 BLOCK OF HILLHAVEN AV

Theft 01/14/16 08:30 PM 10200 BLOCK OF HILLHAVEN AV

Assault 01/21/16 11:30 PM6800 BLOCK OF VALMONT ST

Theft 01/15/16 07:30 PM 10200 BLOCK OF TUJUNGA CANYON BL

Theft 01/21/16 11:30 PM 10400 BLOCK OF MCVINE AV

Theft 01/16/16 04:00 PM 8100 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL

Burglary 01/23/16 06:15 AM 8500 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL

www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 12 • NUMBER 3

11:45 AM

10 Ways to Weather El Niño

Theft 01/12/16 07:00 PM 10600 BLOCK OF FITZROY AV

1/5/16

Be Prepared, Stay Informed

Theft 01/11/16 04:50 AM 10800 BLOCK OF ELDORA AV

CMY

1. Create an emergency kit, today! If you’ve already got an emergency kit prepared, check it regularly.

and the ocean, which can all rapidly swell and become extremely dangerous. NO PLACE outside is safe when lightning is in the area!

2. Check your car. Make sure your car’s tires have good tread and that your windshield wipers work well. Your headlights should always be on in the rain!

7. Have Emergency Alerts sent to your mobile phone and email. Register at lacounty.gov/emergency, or simply search “Alert LA County” on the web.

3. Check your house. Clear your outdoor drains and gutters of any leaves, dirt or debris. Secure trash, recycling bins and any other items that have the potential of blowing or floating away. Have weakened trees inspected by an arborist.

8. Download “The Works,” LA County’s FREE app for iPhone and Android, to report storm-related problems.

4. Got flood insurance? Consider purchasing flood insurance. Keep in mind, most flood policies have a 30-day waiting period. 5. Use sandbags. Sandbags can be utilized to help protect your home and property before a storm.

9. Prevent stormwater pollution. Rain washes everything into storm drains that lead to our rivers and ocean. Secure household hazardous waste with tight-fitting lids and store these items in covered areas. 10. Capture rainwater. Prepare your landscaped areas to capture and retain more water by using compost. Collect rain that falls on your roof by installing rain barrels.

6. Don’t risk your life. During significant storm events, avoid waterways, flood control channels

Create an emergency kit including the following items: • Food and water to last three days to a week.

• Cash and important documents • Clothing and sturdy shoes

Don’t forget the pets.

• Tools (wrench, duct tape, ﬁre extinguisher,

• First aid kit • Flashlights (and extra batteries)

sturdy gloves, whistle) • Sanitation and hygiene supplies

• Radio (and extra batteries) • Medications (over-the-counter and prescription)

Gatto Announces DRONE Act of 2016 that if a drone hurts someone Assemblyman Mike Gator damages property, the victo announced a comprehentim can be compensated, and sive solution to the challenges is akin to the auto-insurance that drones pose, The Drone requirements under existing Registration/Omnibus Neglilaw. gence-prevention Enactment • Mandate that drones of a cer(DRONE) Act of 2016. The tain size, and equipped with act would: GPS capability, feature auto• Require registration of, and matic shut-off technology that tiny physical or electronic liwould activate if approaching cense plates for, drones. All efforts to hold owners respon- an airport. This technology already exists, and is critical to sible (for example, for interprotecting commercial pasfering with firefighting efsenger flights. forts) require this. • Implement various other pro• Require inexpensive ($1, or visions designed to enhance so) insurance policies sold at responsibility and mitigate the point-of-sale, much like risk. CRV is collected for bottles and cans. This will ensure

“If cars have license plates and insurance, drones should have the equivalent, so they can be properly identified, and owners can be held financially responsible, whenever injuries, interference, or property damage occurs.” Last year showed that the nation’s laws must adapt to the reality that hundreds of thousands of plastic and metal vehicles will be overhead in the years to come. Several fires across the state worsened when drone sightings grounded firefighting aircraft. A drone operator in West Hollywood fled the scene after flying a drone into power lines, causing a power outage. And a drone fell from the sky in Pasadena, onto a mother pushing a baby carriage. “One could imagine the au-

to industry balking at the idea Mike Gatto is the Chairof registration requirements man of the Utilities & Comat the turn-of-the-century, but merce Committee and the the industry survived,” exlongest-serving current memplained Gatto. “As technology ber of the State Assembly. He evolves, so must our laws in represents California’s 43rd order to protect our citizenry. Assembly District, which inThis is a sensible measure that cludes Los Angeles, Glendale will increase public safety and and Burbank. For more inencourage responsible use of formation, please visit www. drones in California.” asm.ca.gov/gatto.

THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2016 — 11

VOLUME 12 • NUMBER 3 • www.thefoothillspaper.com

SEE OUR NEW ADDRESS BELOW! 7035 Foothill Blvd., Tujunga CA 91042

photos: Gene Diaz

Hummer Driver Arrested for DUI

Is there any reason to drink and drive? With Uber and Lyft at your beck and call you can drink all you want and still make it home safely. This young lady was driving so erratically that the LAFD ambulance pulled her Hummer over on Summitrose and Mt. Gleason. They then called for police backup with a matron to do the DUI tests; she failed.

8459 Foothill Blvd. Sunland CA

(818) 577-5548

12 — FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2016 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 12 • NUMBER 3

They Do More Than Write Tickets The LAPD is a part of our life make some quick decisions to whether we know it or not. We calm the situation down withsee them at events, driving down out anyone getting hurt (or more the roads, giving tickets, confront- hurt). You can’t take everyone ing the homeless, and we count to jail to cool them off. From the on them to help us if we were bur- moment he/she first knocks on gled or a victim of a crime. They the door, the officer has to be reare so much a part of our lives ally in tune to what is happenthat we think that we know what ing and not get personally inthey do in their daily lives. volved, yet make fair discussions. Now I’m not an expert on law Our officers have so many difenforcement, but I work with ferent types of incidents that they them almost every day as a jourhave to cover every day that it is nalist and every day I learn more almost impossible to call them about them as I go about my job. out. And they do it pretty well. Everything from thefts, bar fights, Not only do they take care of the drugs, DUI; traffic tickets & acci- “bad guys” and handle traffic, but dents; and homeless encounters. most of the time they’re “flowing That seems to sum it up, but with the tide” and helping smooth here in Sunland-Tujunga, the ma- out that undercurrent of turmoil jority of the calls are for domestic in our town that pits the haves disturbances. There are so maagainst the have-nots. It’s a fine ny domestic violence calls that I line and they have to navigate it never even cover them. I asked carefully. After all, everyone has a few officers I know how they their individual rights, and our handle these. No officer can be LAPD are to insure that no one really prepared for this. An ofviolates them. So think about ficer that should have a PhD. In that the next time you see one go psychology. Nothing is ever cut by in their police cruiser, they’re and dry, and the officer has to doing the best they can – for you.