THE FOOTHILLS PAPER - NOVEMBER 13, 2015 by David DeMulle'

COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS TAKE BACK THE BIG-T!

FREE

FRIDAY • NOVEMBER 13, 2015

TELLING THE TRUTH FOR OVER 11 YEARS!

VOLUME 11 • NUMBER 23

Community Declares War on Free Hip Hop Dopers, Trash and Arundo! Classes for Kids Story and photos by David DeMullé

The crisis finally came to a head with homeless vagrants defecating, setting fires in the Big Tujunga wash, fighting and passing out on Oro Vista in Sunland, but that was only the tip of the iceberg. When they began to threaten the residents of Riverwood Ranch and the shoppers in the town malls — not to mention leaving a woman’s body to rot in the sun — the writing was on the wall: THE VAGRANTS HAD TO BE RELOCATED! Two local residents, Art Miner and Brian Schneider, put the word out to the community using social media. They subsequently

INSIDE: California‘s Wild Fires ................

American Legion Haunted House Photos! ................

Foothills Fires ............

DEPARTMENTS What Folks Are Doing........... 2 My Two Cents....................... 2 View from the Rock.............. 3 Letters and Perspectives........ 3 Chef Randy........................... 5 Pets Page............................. 6 S-T Crime Stats................... 10 Take My Card..................... 11

The Santa Monica Mountain Conservancy started their cleanup of the wild area below the Arizona Bridge leading into Riverwood Ranch. received more than a 1,000 responses. The time was now to clean out the rubbish and non-native plants in the Big Tujunga Wash, and remove anyone that was illegally on private property. Law enforcement agencies

were consulted, the Bureau of Land Management, the Santa Monica Mountain Conservancy, the Mountain Recreation & Conservation Authority and the Angeles National Forest were notified see Clean-up, page 12

Cheryl Griffith leads the kidz in hip-hopping! by Joan

Robinson

There is always excitement in the air as kids react enthusiastically to their hip hop dance classes held every Tuesday at the Sunland Recreation Center. Twenty five young people display genuine dance talent when they were perform in unison to hip hop routines

by the end of each class. The energy of their professional instructor spreads through the entire class as they dance, dance and dance the hour away. The class is open to all kids who “Just Wanna Dance.” They move, they sway, they kick, they play, they dance to see Hip hop, page 10

Homeless Person Gives LAPD a Hand Unclaimed hand marks third possible homicide in four weeks in the Sunland-Tujunga area by

David DeMullé

Investigators were looking for more body parts above Sunland-Tujunga early Monday afternoon, a day after camper Joey Washburn discovered a human hand in the “Green Hill” area of the Big Tujunga Canyon. The Foothills Paper responded to a caller from the Chapel of the Hills and went to Oro Vista Place to look at what was reported to be a human hand. The LAPD and the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department arrived on scene and after everybody looked at the hand, covered it with a piece of plastic and declared the area to be a crime scene. “I looked down and there it

was: a hand, a skeletal hand,” Washburn said. “The backside of the hand was laying up. I could see the fingernails, and I went ‘That’s a hand.’ It was white, and some of the skin was still on it.” Lt. Fred Corral of the L.A. County Coroner’s office made the determination that it was in fact human. As the day went on, more investigators arrived and searched the lower part of the wash. The discovery was just weeks after the body of Julia Moniz was found near a homeless camp in the same area under suspicious circumstances. The hand is the third incident in four weeks during which the coroner visited S-T to retrieve human remains.

Mummified hand found in the Big-T

All these stories and more can be seen at:

http://facebook.com/thefoothillspaper

MORE EXPANDED COVERAGE AND DISTRIBUTION SITES

2 — FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

La Crescenta Woman’s Club‘s ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES

www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 11 • NUMBER 23

The La Crescenta Woman’s Club is proudly presenting their annual ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES event. The event will be on Saturday, November 14, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. The admission is FREE and will be packed with ven-

find out if grandpa’s old watch or picture is really a treasure or just a wonderful remembrance. The clubhouse is located at 4004 La Crescenta Avenue. If you are interested in renting a space to display and sell some items or want to schedule an

...during...

appraisal time, please contact Debbie at (818) 957-1951. The La Crescenta Woman’s Club is a volunteer-non profit 501(C)3 organization that supports the community through scholarships and other philanthropic donations.

...after

photos: Dyan McManus

Before...

dors selling their antique items and collectibles. Anyone who has an item or items at home that they would like to have appraised by Crown City Antiques can bring them in and for $5.00 each can find out the value. This is a great way to

Sometimes you just get so tired of seeing something bad that you just block it out. A homeless, mentally challenged person named Mary was living beneath this bush on the corner of McVine and Foothill. One morning while she was gone, TFP members took the opportunity to clean up the rubbish and garbage strewn around the area. When she later returned, she decided to move up to the corner of Tujunga Canyon and Foothill where it is quieter.

My Two Cents In Sickness and Health On my wedding day, when I vowed to love my husband in sickness and health, I didn’t give it much thought. Over the span of our 31 year marriage, I’ve had time to give it some thought… and have concluded when it comes to being sick, there is a double standard. At the onset of a cold, with a scratchy throat making its debut, my husband is most interesting. He’ll rub his throat and tie a scarf around it to ward off a sudden chill. I don’t think there’s cause for concern since it’s August and 100 degrees outside. Then he buys enough cough drops that some become Halloween treats and come Christmas stocking-stuffers. Next comes the headache and fever accompanied with a thermometer and a blanket (that matches the scarf) thrown over the shoulders. When the sneezing starts, his suffering becomes loud

and somewhat annoying to family members trying to watch television. Luckily for us, this is when he takes to bed where he keeps the thermometer in his mouth like an all-day sucker. In bed, my husband is surrounded by his medicine bottles (arranged alphabetically) and a magical force shield that the kids can’t penetrate. Kids do not wake him from a deep slumber to ask if he’s cooking dinner or if they should starve to death. Kids don’t wake him to sign a report card and tell him the F he thinks he sees may be from the delusions he’s suffering owing to his high fever. Kids don’t spill juice behind the refrigerator and leave it for the ants to lick up because he claimed he was “too sick” to move the fridge and clean it up. Kids don’t take a picture of him in bed and use it for the

off

On selected items.

Order your FRESH free-range Turkey now! We have Free Range Turkeys all year long!

818-248-3068

see Sickness, page 9

Cindy Argiento is a freelance columnist. To check out her book and laugh along at her other works, go to cindyargiento.com. She may be contacted via cargiento@aol.com.

For the absolute best steak, get Harmony Farms’

Australian “Kobe-style” Wagyu Beef!

THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015 — 3

VOLUME 11 • NUMBER 23 • www.thefoothillspaper.com

The last couple of weeks marked a milestone in the annals of Sunland-Tujunga. A small group of neighbors, residents and volunteers did what city hall just kept shuffling under the carpet. Brian Schneider and Art Miner duplicated the statement “WE’RE MAD AS HELL AND WE’RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANY MORE!” and brought the community together to take back the Big Tujunga Wash. I guess with the finding of two dead women and a severed hand within four weeks was enough to drive the message home. The homeless/campers living in the Big-T were a danger to themselves and everyone around them. As long as they had a safe refuge that they could operate out of with impunity, it was not going to stop.

The rest of us business- and homeowners were forced to sit back and watch people being aggressively panhandled — or in some instances, physically attacked. Even I got so complacent about seeing a monthly brush fire in the wash that I just became inured to them. But the breaking point came when the body count started mounting. That got my attention. And I began to support the grassroots movement to move the campers out of the wash. We were no longer dealing with the benign and peaceful homeless that we grew up with but the more clever thieves and drug traffickers that moved freely through the underbrush, the wild arundo, and the scrub oak — effectively hiding their illegal activities from even the LAPD’s “eye in the sky.” For

years, the wash was its own eco-system with rules and a loose code of behavior for the people living there. But that all changed about four years ago and we were no longer dealing with our “neighbors” that went off the grid. Transients brought drugs and disease with them and they could hide among the drunks and mentally challenged. The peaceful attitude of river wash living was destroyed with the death of Billy Oskins and now Julia Moniz. DEATH MAKES IT REAL. Like we tried to do in Vietnam with defoliation, the community activists used the law which declared that the wash was a fire danger, along environmentalists who had found that the non-native plants were destroying the riverbed, as a tool to solve this problem.

VIEW

ROCK A small group of concerned citizens did what city hall, with its millions of dollars wouldn’t do: make the Big-T and its riverway safe for families and the native plants and animals. And now it can be said: YES - It Was The Water! Editors Note: The Big-T wash cleanup continues this weekend, if you’d like to participate please contact The Foothills Paper.

The Foothills Letters & Perspectives THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

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

When it Comes to Wildfires, California is Ground Zero by

Toni G. Atkins

This year, wildfires in California have consumed thousands of acres of land, destroyed more than 1,900 homes and led to the tragic loss of eight lives. Over that short time period, the state has spent almost $360 million trying to put out wildfires, including the Rocky, Butte and Valley fires that ravaged Northern California communities. California has stepped up to the plate; we’ve deployed 5,875 firefighters from across the state and we’ve suppressed 307,435 acres of burning land. And we’ll continue to move families safely away if they’re in danger. But we need our federal partners to do more. Today, the U.S. Forest Service spends more than half of its annual budget on fire suppression, compared to just 16 percent in 1995. The dramatic increase in fire suppression spending means that spending on fire prevention has precipitously declined. For those of us charged with balancing the state budget, we know that the declining federal investment in prevention means increased frequency, severity and cost

of future wildfires. That’s why in August I authored a resolution at the National Conference of State Legislatures to support federal policy changes that free up new investments in wildfire prevention activities, such as the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act. The resolution was adopted unanimously with strong bipartisan support and will allow the conference to advocate on behalf of these important policy changes, throwing the weight of all 50 state LAFD firefighters close in on a Tujunga wildfire. legislatures behind it. Archaic budgeting at the after year, federal agencies federal level makes new inand Congress neglect much vestments in fire prevention difficult. But California Con- needed investments in fire gressional leaders, including prevention. While wildfire season is Sen. Dianne Feinstein and winding down, wildfires are Rep. Ken Calvert, are workexpected to continue burning ing to reform the system by stronger and longer due to supporting the bipartisan climate change. Wildfire Disaster Funding Congress must act now. Act. Speaker of the Assembly Every day, firefighters risk With fires continuing to Toni G. Atkins burn across the west, federal their lives to stop the spread of disastrous wildfires, Act and ensure that there is land management agencies while states and the federal sufficient funding for the are running out of money. government struggle to find suppression and prevention Just last month, the Forest funding to fight bigger and of wildfires. Service had to transfer more dangerous wildfires. $250 million from non-fire We owe it to the brave men Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) suppression programs just and women on the fire is assembly speaker to ensure that burning fires lines — and the families beand represents the could be put out. This ing displaced — to pass the 78th Assembly District. makes sense in the short Wildfire Disaster Funding term; but by doing this year

4 — FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 11 • NUMBER 23

Attention All Veterans,

Sons, Daughters and Wives of Veterans

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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saturday, November 14, 8 p.m.

Karaoke Night

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

Sunday, November 15

Pie Order Deadline ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

November 16

Monday Football Night ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Saturday, November 21, 7 p.m.

SAL Turkey Dinner with Heller Highwater Band

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

November 23

Monday Football Night ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

November 30

Monday Football Night ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

The American Legion Post 337 had its second annual free Halloween Haunted House, and it brought in neighbors from near and far. More than 60 people showed up in the first couple hours. Boy Scout troop 315 created and ran the haunted house and you could hear the screams out on the street!

Josey’s New Discount Outlet Store in Sunland Josey’s Discount Outlet Store offers a unique shopping experience for all their customers. They have many different types of clothes, shoes, jewelry, watches, children’s items and fun products. From new clothing and accessories, to everyday Proud Owner of Josey’s Discount Outlet fashions, household items, furniture and antiques. This is the “One Stop Store” The telephone number is (818) merchandise. So I decided to open up an outlet store where 951-1506. where you’ll be sure to find people could take advantage Here is what she has to say, something you’ll love at this of a local store with no long in her own words: new location in Sunland, CA. distances to travel to get After 30 years in food Their merchandise is sorted GREAT DEALS on QUALITY service management, which and displayed by Josey who goods. I enjoyed immensely and knows where everything is, My new passion is to make that was my passion to train and which makes it an easy my customers happy and give shopping experience for regu- people and see them succeed them one on one customer as successful employees and lar customers, treasure hunters, service. We are giving everymanagers, I decided to do tourists and gift-seekers. one a 20 percent discount on something different. As I With the coming holidays, all of their purchases with looked around the Sunland/ you should check out their the exception of anything Tujunga area, I realized that selection of accessories and that is already 99 cents. Our there were no outlet type gifts at really great prices. business hours are 11 a.m. to stores that gave the residents Their quality cannot be beat! 7 p.m. of our area the opportunity The store is located at 8459 -Josey to get good deals on quality Foothill Boulevard in Sunland.

THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015 — 5

VOLUME 11 • NUMBER 23 • www.thefoothillspaper.com

Killer Strawberry Shortcake by

Chef Randy

This is a decadent, wickedly good and totally fresh dessert. It features a buttery shortcake, fresh cream, fresh strawberries and a secret “soak” borrowed from a recipe I found online. I also borrow the pairing of sweettart Grenadine syrup with the field-to-table fresh strawberries from a recipe given to me many moons ago. This is one of the tastiest strawberry shortcakes you’ll ever experience. For my Ojai Valley friends: think traditional strawberry shortcake on steroids. Shortcake Ingredients: 3 cups cake flour 1 teaspoon baking powder Pinch of salt 1 cup butter (room temp) 2 cups coconut sugar ½ teaspoon vanilla 4 large eggs ¾ cup milk Soak Ingredients: 1 cup whole milk ½ cup sweetened condensed milk ½ cup coconut milk ½ teaspoon vanilla extract Filling and Frosting Ingredients: 1½ cups seedless strawberry jam (divided) 2½ cups heavy cream 1 tablespoon sugar 1 quart fresh sliced strawberries

Artfully

Pomegranate Reduction Ingredients: 8 ounces Grenadine Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a 9x9x2-inch baking or casserole dish with cooking spray. It’s important cut-side up. Slowly pour that it be 2” to 2½“ high. half the “soak” over the top In a large bowl, combine of the bottom layer allowthe butter and sugar and whisk until creamy and thor- ing it to soak into the cake. oughly mixed. Add the eggs, After the liquid has soaked in, spread half the jam over milk and vanilla. Stir to the top of the layer and covcombine. Set aside. er with a layer of strawber In a separate bowl comries. Place the other layer, bine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir to combine. bottom-side up, on top of the first layer and slowly pour Set aside. the remaining soaking liquid Add the flour mixture to the butter/sugar mixture. Stir over the top. After the liquid has soaked in, spread the until the flour is completeremaining jam over the top ly incorporated. Pour into layer and cover with another the prepared pan and place layer of strawberries. in the oven. Bake for 45 to Whip the cream to soft 50 minutes or until a knife peaks, add the sugar, and inserted in the center of the then whip to stiff peaks. cake comes out clean. Remove from the oven and Frost the cake all over with the whipped cream. Decoallow to cool about 20 minutes in the pan. Carefully re- rate the top with the strawmove from the pan and allow berries. Carefully cover and to cool completely on a bak- keep refrigerated until ready to serve. ing rack. While the shortcake is bak- To make the reduction, pour the Grenadine into a ing, stir together the “soak” ingredients (milk through va- small pot. Bring to a boil nilla extract) in a large bowl. over high heat. Keep boiling (watch it carefully) until Be sure to stir the cocothe juice is reduced by about nut milk before adding. Set half. Remove the pomegranaside. ate reduction from heat, pour Once the cake has cooled, into a cup and set aside to use a large knife to slice the cool until ready to use. cake in half horizontally. To serve, drizzle the rePlace the top layer of cake on a rimmed baking sheet, see Shortcake, page 9

For additional recipes, see Chef Randy’s website at

valley-vegetarian.com

SPEAKING

Art in The Making Artists all over this country have storehouses full of work and nowhere to sell it. When you paint every day, as I do, this becomes a problem. I’ve taken to removing canvases from stretchers and storing them for a time until things get better. What I feel everyone seems to be missing is, galleries don’t sell “great “work, they sell what sells. Contemporary art is the big mover and shaker today. Much of the art today has no context. At the turn of the 19th century, when America was expanding west, landscape became king. People had never seen the land being newly discovery and were enthralled. Also, America was expanding and trying to find its identity and uniqueness as a new nation. Some were getting rich quick in manufacturing, industry, railroads. They had money to burn, especially without taxes to pay. These movers and shakers wanted to show their wealth by building huge homes and fill them with furniture and art. At first they bought European art or classical art because there was virtually no “American” art. American artists even trained in Europe. You couldn’t get arrested as an artist without having studied in Europe. When they returned they painted this new land. The landscapes they painted then had context: a reason, so to speak, for being painted. This continued through the thirties and forties. Things changed in the fifties after the WWII. Prosperi-

ty made more wealth for average citizens and our attention shifted to commercial goods and other diversions; movies became the big thing, and photography developed and took a big chunk out of art making. Galleries now sold photos of landscapes for much less. Art became an item for the rich and not the common man. And they already had all the “good” art. So art had to become “common,” down-toearth, made less well by lesser artists or artists with questionable training. Artists no longer had to acquire a European pedigree. Anyone could paint with a few lessons and the prices were made more affordable. To make this already long story shorter, art made today has less worth and is made lesser by the fact that many buyers think anyone can do it. There still is good work, wellpainted art, but art today has little context. It is painted to fill a gap in one’s life, a diversion from retirement, a release from the routine of work or the children. Today, it’s fun to paint regardless of quality or meaning. The idea of art has lost its seriousness, its meaning. We fill canvases and have galleries sell things that no one really has any connection to. We make pretty pictures for no apparent reason. And we wonder why no one will pay good money for it. More and more people attempt it. Art is now an industry. Why art sells and who sells it and to whom it gets sold, has little to do with skill, ability, knowledge, quality or even pedigree any longer.

It’s Time to Place Your Holiday Ad for the Christmas Issue Deadline is November 27

6 — FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 11 • NUMBER 23

Haggen’s Pharmacy Customer: Contact Arianna Pharmacy for an easy transfer of your prescriptions

to avoid any interruption in receiving your medications.

THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015 — 7

VOLUME 11 • NUMBER 23 • www.thefoothillspaper.com

Foothills Pet Page photo: Dyan McManus

Duck Killed With Darts Wildlife in S-T!

Day Street deer.

photo: Dyan McManus

Heron Spotted at Bandito Park

Please notify LAPD if you see someone harming the ducks!

A heron that normally stays in the Big-T checks out Bandito Park in Tujunga.

Arianna Pharmacy: The Best Meds And Service For The Montrose Area

When Arianna Medical Pharmacy first opened its doors in December of 2010, its mission was to bring good old traditional pharmacy service and environment back to the community. Often times our customers shared that they had to endure extended wait time to get their medications filled at other pharmacies. Or, if there was an issue with their insurance coverage they were either referred back to the insurance company or the prescribing physician. At Arianna Medical Pharmacy we believe in fast, friendly, and efficient service and that is the reason why we introduced 10 minutes or less prescription fill time. As a concierge pharmacy, we’ll also call the insurance company or the prescribing physician if there is an issue with the medication coverage. We are excited to announce that after 5 years existence and with the support of

the community we have expanded our operation. We carry most generic and brand medications in stock, offer full line of durable medical equipment, and administer pharmacy of choice by Flu and Shingles vaccinations. working hard and ensuring And for those rare and hard to that you have a pleasant find medications, often times experience. Visit us at 3600 N. we can order and get them to Verdugo Road or go to www. you by the next business day. Ariannapharmacy.com for an At Arianna Pharmacy, overview of our products and we truly strive to be your services.

8 — FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

Life is Good by

Jim Laris

Sometimes don’t you feel almost guilty when everything just seems to work out right? Man, I have been on a roll here lately. Yeah, the last 69 years have been awesome. OK, that’s probably a little too macro (and sappy) to be believable. Let’s get down to the micro. For the last week or two, everything I do is golden. It all started when I got a parking ticket over on South Lake Avenue when I went to the Souplantation for lunch. I park my car. I pay the parking fee at the meter with my credit card. I put the salad and muffins and bread and cookies on the tray. I eat the muffins and bread and cookies and dump the salad. I go back out to the car and there is a ticket on my windshield. Sumbitch. (No, that’s not the happy part.) I decide to fight the ticket, so I write this heart-breaking letter to the city of Pasadena, sincerely informing them that I did indeed pay the ticket and I had used my credit card and the meter showed me a big OK after I slid it and I thought I was a good citizen.

I told them there was no way I would cheat them and not pay, and I mentioned that maybe I was an orphan, and that they shouldn’t worry that I was the only person to get polio since 1973, and that I was an LA Kings fan. Well, in a couple of days I received a short letter informing me that I did not have to pay the ticket. I, of course, yelled, “Yes,” to the gods and did an end zone dance that would have made Terrell Owens pee in his pants. Was my luck changing? Yes, it was. I go down to serve jury duty and they sadly informed me that my services were no longer needed. I told them that they were the second governmental entity in two days that had done right by me and I asked if it was appropriate for me to kiss someone. Maybe a young intern who had just celebrated her 18th birthday. They suggested I send them a note. On the way home from the courthouse I stopped for gas and as I was filling up I see a promotion to get a $50 Dining Card if you buy 100 gallons of gas. I say, “Sheeeit,

www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 11 • NUMBER 23

Big Fella, you gonna buy est thing I have ever said, 100 gallons of gas anyway, “Which font?” And Marge huh?” So when I get home I just looked at me cooler than go on the Internet and sign Tony Soprano talking to a up for a Mobil Exxon card fish and said, “Futura.” and in a few days they send And you know what? The me the card, and they also play was actually good! I send me a $50 Dining Card couldn’t believe it. I enjoyed ahead of time. And they say a play about a font. I was I will receive a second $50 all set to fake liking it, but I Dining Card after I buy the didn’t have to pretend. My 100 gallons of gas. Yes, that luck had just gotten a second sound you just heard was wind, baby. And then we me clicking my heels. Life went to La Luna Negra on is good. Maybe Randy NewGreen Street and ate these man wants to go to Sizzler incredible sinful shrimp tapas with me. and carnita tapas and bacon So now, as long as I am on pork tapas and had margarithe Internet, I decide to go tas and dipped bread into this into my American Airlines oily olive stuff. Pinch me. account to see about my up The next day, after squeezcoming trip to Cabo, and they ing the residual oil out of my have this little note asking cheeks, I decided to press me if I would like to print my my luck and tried to install boarding pass right now and that new Apple TV box. You save time at the airport. How know, that little attachment can one guy be so lucky. This where you can now stream is America. TV shows and movies and I go out to the kitchen to music and photos to your TV tell Marge about my good set. My record with installfortune and she tells me that ing things is similar to the on Friday night we are going record of the French army in to a play and having dinner. warfare. But with my recent (OK, my luck had to run out streak of good things happensometime.) I said what is the ing, I went ahead. play about, Peachy Lips? She And — hold on to your said, “About a font.” And shorts, Aunt Bessie — I did then I said maybe the dumbit! I hooked the HDTV cable

Jim Laris is Jim Laris. to the TV, I hooked up audio wires, I put in Wi-Fi codes, I figured out the remote, I got a FLICKR account, I uploaded my photos, I did it all. And it worked! I am one happy bandito, baby. Getting ready to go to Cabo tomorrow and maybe toss back a few Cabo Wabo Tequilas and toast my run of good luck. Damn, I just hope this little streak makes it past the head-lopping-off part in Mexico. Ole! Jim can be contacted at jimlaris@mac.com

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818-541-1666

THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015 — 9

VOLUME 11 • NUMBER 23 • www.thefoothillspaper.com

Mary Ross Bryan Ferril October 22, 1935 - October 15, 2015

Mary Ross Bryan Ferril was born in Louisville, Alabama to George Wesley Bryan and Mary Rosser Johns Bryan. Mary is survived by two younger brothers, Johns Wesley and Gregory Alan, who filled Mary’s youth with fun and adventure. Mary was always thankful to have had the opportunity to receive a Christian education at both Culter Academy and Biola University in Los Angeles. She had no idea in the 4th grade that her classmate, William Ferril, would become her husband when they were both 19. Bill and Mary were married on April

3, 1955 and they were blessed with three children: William Bryan, Michael James, and Joanne. In 1960, Bill and Mary moved from the South Bay to La Crescenta, where they lived together for 55 years. Mary received her Associate Arts degree from Glendale Community College. She was an elementary school teacher, a piano teacher, and she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School at La Crescenta First Baptist Church for many years. Mary and Bill were a very happy team; ever grateful for the wonderful families

Everybody reads The Paper!

Sickness, from pg. 2 Christmas family photo with the caption, “You think your holidays are ugly?” When my husband emerges from his death cave, he’s greeted with a parade,

Shortcake, from pg. 5 duction onto a chilled dessert plate. Cut a 3x3-inch square of cake and carefully

and communities in which they were raised, they made it a priority to contribute to their own and surrounding communities in a variety of ways. Mary was endlessly loving and compassionate and in 1975 her family welcomed their daughter Joanne’s friend, Diane, into their home. Diane, her husband Sam Balisy, and their sons, Jordan and Ian, have all been a part of the Ferril family for many years. Seven wonderful grandchildren also survive Mary: David, Billy, Hayes, Marissa, Daniel, Connor, and McKen-

na. Treasured sisters-in-law, daughters-in-law, extended family, friends, and neighbors enriched Mary’s life and have given invaluable support to the family through the toughest of times. A celebration of Mary’s life will be held on Saturday November 21, 2015, at La Crescenta First Baptist Church at 12:00 noon; reception to follow in the Fellowship Hall. The address is: 4441 La Crescenta Avenue; La Crescenta, CA 91214. The church phone number is: 818-249-5832. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary’s name to:

Mary Ross Bryan Ferril The Salvation Army P.O. Box 10818 Glendale, CA 91209-3818

THIS WEEK IS THE FOOTHILLS PAPER BIRTHDAY. WE ARE 11 YEARS OLD TODAY! For our birthday, I got the Rover new wheels and tires. We’ve just kept on going while the North Valley Reporter, The Voice of the Village and The Foothill Star all came and went. ENJOY; WE SURE DID.

marching band and confetti cannons. Me? I’m greeted with a list of groceries needed. On my way out the door, I grab my husband’s scarf — which is covered in confetti — in case there’s a sudden chill. place it in the middle of the plate. Try not to drool as you serve each piece. There will be more than enough for the cook!

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

10 — FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

Theft 10/17/15. 08:00 PM. 00 BLOCK OF GLENOAKS BL AND LANARK Burglary 10/18/15. 12:00 PM. 3100 BLOCK OF ALTURA AVE LA CRESCENTA Theft 10/22/15. 06:00 PM. 8000 BLOCK OF WHEATLAND AV Assault 10/25/15. 02:30 AM. 7600 BLOCK OF DAY ST Theft 10/26/15. 07:00 PM. 7100 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL Theft 10/25/15. 04:30 PM. 10800 BLOCK OF ROYCROFT ST Burglary 10/25/15. 03:30 PM. 8400 BLOCK OF GLENOAKS BL

Theft 10/26/15. 08:30 PM. 7800 BLOCK OF SHADYSPRING DR Theft 10/27/15. 12:40 PM. 10200 BLOCK OF PINEWOOD AV Theft 10/27/15. 08:40 AM. 00 BLOCK OF GLENOAKS BL AND COHASSET ST

Theft 10/28/15. 10:00 PM. 10100 BLOCK OF GOLDEN OAKS AV Theft 10/28/15. 04:00 PM. 6200 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL G Theft 10/29/15. 10:00 AM. 8500 BLOCK OF OUTLAND VIEW DR Theft 10/30/15. 02:00 AM. 7800 BLOCK OF HILLROSE ST Theft 10/30/15. 07:30 PM. 10100 BLOCK OF LEONA AV Theft 10/31/15. 08:00 PM. 10800 BLOCK OF DELIBAN AV Theft 10/31/15. 09:30 PM. 10600 BLOCK OF PINEWOOD AV Theft 10/31/15. 04:20 PM. 8200 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL Theft 11/01/15. 03:00 PM. 8600 BLOCK OF SUNLAND BL Theft 11/01/15. 11:30 PM. 8500 BLOCK OF SUNLAND BL Theft 11/01/15. 09:30 AM. 11700 BLOCK OF OSBORNE ST Assault 11/01/15. 12:45 AM. 10400 BLOCK OF ELDORA AV

Theft 10/27/15. 02:16 PM. 10700 BLOCK OF FLORALITA AV

Theft 11/02/15. 09:00 AM. 7500 BLOCK OF GLENOAKS BL

Theft 10/27/15. 07:00 PM. 10500 BLOCK OF LEOLANG AV

Theft 11/05/15 05:00 PM 00 BLOCK OF FENWICK ST AND SHERMAN GROVE AV

Theft 10/27/15. 09:45 PM. 10400 BLOCK OF FAIRGROVE AV Burglary 10/27/15. 03:55 AM. 10800 BLOCK OF LA TUNA CANYON RD Theft 10/27/15. 09:00 PM. 10200 BLOCK OF ARMINTA ST Theft 10/27/15. 08:00 PM.

Theft 11/06/15 07:50 PM 6500 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL Assault 11/08/15 02:30 AM 10100 BLOCK OF SAMOA AV Theft 11/09/15 11:56 AM 2600 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BLVD

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she took a step.” The goals for the future could well include adult classes as they transition from hip hop into the Latin and ballroom dances. The Sunland Recreation Center’s floor is large and there are three instructors. In the meantime, the kids are learning a hip hop/ salsa routine to perform at the Sunland Rec Center’s Holiday Party on December 17 and, if they transition to partnership dancing, the troupe will compete at the Desert High Classic each March in Palmdale. The classes are held every Tuesday at 6 p.m., courtesy of the Sunland Recreation Center which sponsors the program. Registration is still encouraged at the Center which is open from 9:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Tell your friends about this great program and help spread the word. Stay tuned for future plans by checking in with the Rec Center, (818) 352-5282 or by calling Joan Robinson at (818) 951-1516.

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Theft 10/25/15. 12:10 AM. 8000 BLOCK OF GROVE ST

11400 BLOCK OF RUGGIERO AV

Theft 10/17/15. 07:00 PM. 00 BLOCK OF GLENOAKS BL AND LANARK ST

daughters became dancers. They became self-confident. great music, led by instructor, Their self-esteem soared. One Cheryl Griffith, a seasoned daughter successfully fought dance professional who has her depression caused by the taught dancing for many divorce. The other lost the years. “We especially want weight she just could not get to encourage boys as there rid of. So this is my way of are always more girls than paying back — or is it paying boys in dance classes,” says it forward?” Cheryl. “If only the boys could Joan is joined in this endeavrealize how popular they can or by her close friend, Rachel become with girls, they’d all Seward, whose family owns rush to sign up. And we’d like Seward Real Estate and Fito encourage teenagers away nancial in Shadow Hills. “Our from phones, texting, video main goal is to get Sunland games, and television — none dancing and keep ballroom of which affords them exercise dancing going.” says Rachel. or improves social skills!” “Everyone loves watching The class was dreamed up Dancing with the Stars and So by her mother, Joan Robinson, You Think You Can Dance?, a resident of Sunland since but we feel people need to 1991. “I moved here after a gain the benefits from actually divorce which left me to bring dancing themselves. It is great up two daughters without exercise. It is a form of socialthe benefit of child support,” izing and communication Joan explained. “Cheryl and unlike any other sport.” Rachel Deanne just wanted to dance loves dancing so much that but I had no funds available. she knows, after an evening The Dance House in La of dancing, she can’t walk Crescenta saw their potential the next day. “She reminds and made me a two-for-one me of The Little Mermaid,” offer I could not refuse. I says Joan, “who stoically and found the money and both my bravely risked pain every time

Hip hop, from pg. 1

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VOLUME 11 • NUMBER 23 • www.thefoothillspaper.com

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12 — FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

Clean-up, from pg. 1 of their intentions of having about 100 concerned citizens help clean out the private property section of the wash. Asking for donations on the Internet gained them enough money to hire bulldozers and rent roll-offs to remove the trash. Requests for help from Councilman Felipe Fuentes, however, fell on deaf ears. He was too busy evicting the neighborhood council from its offices in the North Valley City Hall. Nevertheless, the neighbors went ahead and posted warning signs, asked for L.A. Family Housing to come and talk with the homeless, and began their operation of clearing out the brush and materials that

www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 11 • NUMBER 23

posed a fire danger. In two phases, the operation cleared out 80 percent of the wash and removed tons of garbage, trash and non-native plants. During the clean-up, the volunteers found drugs, dangerous chemicals and signs of illegal activity. The cleanup will continue this weekend.

Major drug hoard found in the Big-T camp!

Fires Rage Again in Foothills Since the end of October, a series of nighttime fires have kept the LAFD busy. The first fire was Thursday, October 29. It occurred just below Riverwood Ranch in the Big-T, where a mound of brush and homeless trash that had been bulldozed the previous week caught fire. Reports of vandalism in the new housing development on Oro Vista were attributed to a group of homeless people who had been apparently displaced by the bulldozers that destroyed their camps. The Riverwood Ranch fire took 12 firefighters from Station 74 approximately 20 minutes to put out and an

The fire at Riverwood Ranch was started by persons unknown. additional two hours to quell the possible hot-spots. The next fire was on

Sunday, November 1 at the Wildwood Picnic Area just above Vogel Flats. It required

Firefighters used water-dropping helicopters and mutual assistant teams to contain and put out the Wildwood Picnic Area fire. more than 50 firefighters working over than an hour to put it out.

Both fires started at night and remain under investigation.

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