TRUMP APPOINTS EDITOR NINA ROYAL AS PRESS RELATIONS CZAR!
FREE
FRIDAY • MARCH 31, 2017
TELLING THE TRUTH FOR 12 YEARS!
VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 7
One Accident Leads to Arson Possible Another in Nassau Fire In Pinewood Fire by
David DeMullé
It was a slow night as news nights go and I was sitting back watching the “Trump Debacle” when the call came in for a structure fire at the intersection of Nassau and Hillrose. I notified our IRP team and no one was close enough to cover it. So I went. The fire was still burning on the composition roof and firefighters were cutting open the attic area to check for live fire. Neighbors said that the owner and workers were applying a sealant to the exposed wood decor when an accident required that they take the injured worker to the hospital. The sealant and rags
Firefighters at an early morning fire at Pinewood and Foothill Blvd. A fire that ran up the side of this residence at the intersection of Nassau and Hillrose ignited the eves and roof. A neighbor said that spontaneous combustion set fire to the structure. were left on the deck and the conditions were right for an ignition of the fumes. The LAFD arrived within 5 min-
utes and working on both the deck and the roof, were able to stop the fire with minimal damage to the structure.
by
David DeMullé
The calls started coming in around 4 a.m. from a homeless individual and then from residents of Greeley Street reporting that they saw men running down the street. Fire
companies, 24, 74 and 77 and a LAFD helicopter arrived at the scene within eight minutes and began laying down heavy streams of water. The structure was totally destroyed. Arson investigators were still on the scene four hours later.
I N S I D E : James Dean Lives! Saddles For Soldiers
Fund Raiser a Success
LAPD Arrests Two in Gun Safe Burglary
................ Stolen Taco
2
Truck Recovered by LAPD
................
Legion Auxiliary President Kathy Anthony presents fund-raising check to Scout Post 315.
4
DEPARTMENTS Community Help.................... 2 View from the Rock.............. 3 Movie Review...................... 4 Chef Randy........................... 5 Legion Post Calendar............. 7 Foothills Happenings............. 8 Crime Stats........................... 9 Take My Card..................... 11
Muralist Nerses Avdyan, his daughter Jessica and his painting partner John H. Ponce put the finishing touches on their mural of James Dean this last weekend. What started as a dream of cleaning up buildings along
Foothill Boulevard finally took form, and the mural is done. Nerses is now planning on re-creating Michelangelo’s “Creation” on another building wall near Tujunga Canyon Boulevard. Culture is coming to S-T in a big way.
Two weeks ago, more than 100 people turned out to show their support for Saddles for Soldiers. The successful spaghetti fundraiser featured Boy Scouts cooking for the crowd. Kathy Anthony and Post Chaplain Bud Fales presented Scout Rick Henry with a check for $500 to be used by Legion Scout Troop 315. A check was also presented to Johnnie Higginson, who runs the Saddles for Soldiers program at his Shadow Hills Ranch.
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2 — FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER
www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 7
Community Help Are The Guns Really “Safe” by Amelia
If They Were Stolen?
Civics 101: Mission College: Here We Come! by
Amelia Anderson
“Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf, the big bad wolf? Not we!” Donald Trump has proven to be nothing but a big bag of wind. Yes, he huffed and he puffed to blow the house down, but the Republican-majority House of Representatives, his own party, wouldn’t bend to help pass his Obamacare-substitute Republican health care bill, supposedly eight years in the making, even when he threatened to fund their opponents in upcoming elections. So, our rookie President lost his first major bill in Congress — a resounding defeat. Obama’s Affordable Care Act still stands as the health care law of the land. This humiliation will weaken the efficacy of Trump’s future attempts at passing legislation. Along with multiple on-going investigations, it leaves him vulnerable to possible impeachment. Am I happy? No, I’m shocked! As Obama said, “We all want our President to succeed.” I never thought I would hear in my lifetime a news host say on NBC that our President is the laziest, most ignorant and most incompetent President we have ever had in the history of the United States. So, what’s up? Well, we have a reality-show President, and each day is a chapter in civics class, “the study of the rights and duties of citizens.” Mission College, here we come! On April 10, they’re offering two civics classes geared toward citizenship starting, providing tools of knowledge to use as ammunition to survive this administration. To begin, the Republican health care act was not wellcrafted, based on tax credits to purchase health care on the open market rather than subsidies. The lower 30 percent of our population teeters below the poverty line. They don’t have money to pay taxes, so no use for tax credits. Nobody
said Obamacare was perfect, but it was debated a full year before enactment and included coverage for an additional 20 million citizens who had previously been uninsured. Not endorsed by the American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association, or the AARP, the Republican bill was further exposed by cost projection at the GAO to potentially leave 25 million citizens uninsured by the year 2025. Trump trapped himself into a bind. Promising jobs to become a populist President, he now had to face a conservative right wing congress to pass the boast of his campaign promise. He de-funded Planned Parenthood to curry favor. It was not enough; he should have sought Democratic help. At the last minute, men in suits — no women in sight — slashed the vulnerable citizens: no money for maternity issues, mental health, drug addiction or drugs. Outrageous! Women comprise 51 percent of our population, and we bear all the children. So, the issue is this: is health care a right or an entitlement? We told Trump our needs. Women went to Washington the day after the inauguration to march, and it was the largest gathering ever to assemble in our capitol. The resistance was copied throughout major cities of the United States and heard around the world. “Can Trump not hear?” asked Angela Merkel when she requested he shake her hand. Or is he too busy cutting the budget of HUD by 30 percent, which will again affect the lower 30 percent of our population who depend on Section Eight subsidies for housing and could increase our national homeless count by 100,000-plus people. He’s cutting the School Lunch Program and Meals on Wheels for Seniors while contemplating a $3 billion tax cut for the top rich two percent. It’s been a civics lesson on wheels. And that’s why our see Civics, page 4
Amelia Anderson is a Homeless Advocate elected to both the SunlandTujunga Neighborhood Council and also to Mayor Garcetti’s Homeless Committee.
Officer checks out shotgun that was recovered when burglars stashed the gun safe under a parked boat. Last Tuesday, March 7, a couple of inept burglars broke into a house on Day street in Tujunga, stealing a heavy gun safe and other items. Pushing the safe up Day Street and then down Plainview into a driveway that they thought was an ally way where they could load it into their SUV, it quickly became apparent that it wouldn’t fit.
This is what the boats owner saw when he went to park his car. LAPD arrived within five minutes.
They then pushed the heavily loaded safe into the apartment garage and tried to hide it behind a parked boat. When the tenant arrived home from work, he noticed the strange SUV and two people standing by his boat. When they saw him, they ran off, but not before Mike Alvarado called the police, who arrived within five minutes. The police officers then
began asking neighbors if there had been a burglary and found the owner of the gun safe. The police had him open it up to show that it was really his. They then ran the license plate of the abandoned SUV, and while they were waiting for the results, spotted the two burglars and arrested them. Another typical day in Tujunga.
North America’s Largest Ideal Org Premieres in The S.F. Valley On Sunday, March 19, Richard and Sue Stewart of S-T, along with 5,000 other Scientologists, gathered to witness the largest Ideal Church of Scientology in North America come to life. It was a ceremony befitting the size, scope and substance of the Valley’s new home itself, from a medley of classic film scores evoking the golden days of cinema, to the “V for Valley” anthem written and arranged especially for the occasion. The facility spans 95,000 square-feet upon four acres, just blocks from the NoHo Arts District and is poised to engage community change makers across the region. “Today, we dedicate a Church of Scientology for this Valley of Dreams,” said David Miscavige, ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion. “As the San Fernando Valley is diverse, so too, is our help. And so, we welcome those from her myriad cultures, ethnicities and of any economic standing. In that respect, this Church perfectly reflects the Creed of Scientology, ‘That all men of whatever race, color or creed were created with equal rights...and that the souls of
More than 5,000 people, including residents of the NE Valley, attended the opening ceremony. men have the rights of men.’” ing with Study Technology, to helping tens of thousands The Valley Church is a of local youth take a pledge most expansive addition to to be drug-free. And so, this Scientology’s expanding universe of Ideal Churches, now grand opening now gives the numbering 19 in the Western Valley’s humanitarian outreach a permanent platform. United States alone and 57 Bringing that commitment internationally. “Ideal” is the to light were representatives standard set by Scientology of the San Fernando Valley Founder L. Ron Hubbard so on hand to welcome the that every Church could be a Church: Deputy Chief Robert perfect expression of the religion’s principles and practic- Green of the Los Angeles Poes. They have created a 1,000 lice Department, Valley Bureau; Deputy Chief, Trevor seat auditorium that the Richmond of the Los Angechurch is making available les Fire Department, Valley for community events. Bureau; Ms. Nellie Barrien For the Valley congregatos, Los Angeles Education tion, that impact extends Program Director; and Bishfrom helping a migrant child bridge the gap in her schoolsee Scientology, page 11
THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017 — 3
VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 7 • www.thefoothillspaper.com
Well, boys and girls, it’s that time again, and again. Elections are coming and so are the photoops. It seems like every day, someone is having a get-together at some one’s restaurant — not to actually meet people, but to get people in group photos showing how wonderful they are. Yup, politics are boiled down to how many people can relate to the candidate, AND, how many people can relate to the candidates’ followers. That’s politics in a nutshell. That isn’t really bad, but it does skew the curve on who is really getting the votes. At the CD-7 primary, there were 19 candidates that really could do something wonderful for SunlandTujunga and its neighbors. Now it’s boiled down to two. What I enjoy the most is watching how the party lines form, break, and reform, sort of like stirring up an ant hill. What concerns me are the friendships that are broken-up because of these politicians. It starts
off with stealing a candidate’s signs, and escalates to calling each other names, and then gets to friends shunning each other. It’s almost as bad as our presidential election was. (There are still some families that won’t forgive each other for whom they voted.) Don’t forget the Facebook toads that write nasty things and then quickly block people who don’t agree with them. Take a moment to ponder this: if everyone looks at this as a game, then it’s OK. Where else can you get to kiss up to politicians, eat free food, and act like you’re all part of an AA program? This is the Sunland-Tujunga that is having growing pains. Our elected officials are supposed to be the midwives in this process. We can be swayed, however, and we can be screwed. Look at our last CD-7 rep. He started out great, then he ran into the STNC board and the Chamber of Commerce; it was downhill from there. Now don’t
get me wrong, he actually did some good for us until we tried to tell him what to do, arrogant bastards that we are. In a month, we are going to elect either a man or a woman, an Armenian or a Mexican. We will see how the demographics run. In any event, it will be as interesting as watching a version of “SunlandTujunga’s Got Talent.” I can only wish them both well as their respective king-makers try to cajole and sway the voters. What’s really fun to watch is how the “machine” is standing in the shadows waiting to see who has the best chance of winning. Why not? You can’t kiss up to both candidates without making enemies. I’m looking forward to seeing how the machine manipulates Nina Royal, the wanna-be editor of the North Valley Reporter, into something tangible. With the publication of her first hard copy newspaper in four years, she now can say that she really is an EDITOR. Let’s ignore
VIEW
ROCK the fact that almost everything was canned public service announcements. She was funded by someone — and it wasn’t the candidate’s camp. There are a lot of rumors flying (alternate facts?) around about who’s really behind it. As for me, I’ll just say, “It’s not over until the fat lady sings!” If that sounds garbled, maybe it’s the water! April Fools.
The Foothills Letters & P erspectives Dying to Know All About You 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
Dear Editor, I’ve been away for a couple of years and was going through my boxes of stuff and I found some of your old papers (2009) It made me think: How do you get all those wreck pictures? Do you cause them? And what happens to the people in the pictures? I never read what happened to them or their families. Do you ever do a follow-up? And speaking of that, what ever happened to Ed Lee McMahon? The guy that was shot dead on Sunland Boulevard a couple of years ago. There were so many rumors about him being shot by
SENIOR EDITOR Randall Fleming ftp@thepaper.ws
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
see Letters, page 11
Seven steps for home security while on vacation
editor@thefoothillspaper.com
STAFF ASSISTANT Dyan McManus
an undercover policeman, a drug deal gone bad, or a jealous boyfriend? How come we never heard what happened? Or did you write it up and I missed it? And another question. What is going on with you and the Chamber of Commerce? I thought you were all good friends. I saw the Foothills Paper Facebook page with a write up about Cindy Cleghorn and then it was gone. And then it was back. Could you do an article on what they are really achieving and who the main players are? I’m making up for a couple of years of not knowing what was happening here. Even my wife likes the articles that you upload. Thanks for the breaking news sec-
by Ed Castellanos www.superliked.com/profile/ed-castellanos Warmer temperatures, budding trees and blooming flowers are all lovely parts of spring, but what you really look forward to is the start of vacation planning season! Deciding where to go and what to see, making arrangements and planning your wardrobe are all exciting aspects of summer vacation planning.
But before you pack up to leave on your getaway, be sure to take care of the most important asset you’ll be leaving at home: your home itself. “Before going away on vacation, homeowners do a lot of things to prepare for the security and safety of their home while away, including stopping the mail, powering down elec-
tronics and turning off water and gas,” says Emily Lewicki, brand manager with Coleman Heating and Air Conditioning. “Additionally, it is important to keep in mind that a home’s temperature needs to be monitored, which can easily be done by using a programmable thermostat.” While you’re savoring the
fun of your vacation planning, here are seven steps you also should take to prepare your home to remain secure while you’re away: 1. Stop the mail. Home safety experts agree: a stuffed mailbox is a sign of an empty home. The United States Postsee Security, page 4
Edgar Castellanos BRE# 01855534
LAHOMES247.com
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4 — FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER
Security, from pg. 3 al Service allows you to request a vacation hold on your mail up to 30 days before your departure date. Go to holdmail. usps.com to see if this service is available in your area. You should also put newspaper and package delivery on hold, too, as uncollected newspapers or parcels in front of your house could also alert others that you’re not home. 2. Turn off water and gas. If a water or gas leak occurs while you’re not there to address it, the emergency could cause significant damage to your home. You can reduce risks by turning off water flow to appliances like the clothes washer. To conserve energy and money, you can also turn off the gas flow to your water heater. 3. Adjust the thermostat. You don’t need to spend money to heat or cool your home to a comfortable level when you’re not there to enjoy it. Turn down the thermostat, but don’t turn your HVAC system completely off. Extreme temperatures can harm your home and its contents. A programmable thermostat can take care of temperature adjustments for you while you’re away. If you don’t already have a programmable thermostat, consider installing a model like Coleman’s Hx(TM) thermostat. The touch-screen interface makes it easy to program the system, plus a free downloadable app allows you to control the thermostat from your smartphone, no matter where you travel. Just be sure to leave your internet connection active at home so your thermostat can communicate with the app while you’re away.
4. Put lights on timers or sensors. A well-lit home looks lived in and is less appealing to burglars. Put outside lights on sensors so they’ll turn on when the sun goes down. Use timers to turn interior lights on and off at appropriate times. 5. Prep your kitchen. Go through the refrigerator and pantry and throw away any food that could go bad while you’re away. No one wants to come home to smelly, spoiled food. Empty the trash and arrange for a neighbor to put the trash at the curb on your scheduled pickup day. Unplug all small appliances like the coffee maker, toaster ovens, food processors, etc. 6. Power down electronic devices. Items like computers, TVs and phone chargers all draw power while plugged in, even if they’re not switched on. Turn off and unplug electronic devices to reduce power usage in the house and protect electronics from power surges while you’re away. 7. Secure the garage. This is especially important if your home has an attached garage with direct access into your home. Most garage doors have a simple bolt lock that can be engaged from inside to prevent the door from being raised. Remember to also lock the door from the garage into your house. Everyone looks forward to vacation. With some simple prep, you can ensure your home stays secure while you’re away. To learn more about home heating and airconditioning, visit the Web site, www.colemanac.com, or follow us on Twitter: @ColemanHVAC.
You can be miles away and still be able to check out your house and security system by computer.
Civics, from pg. 2 health care still stands — for today. As citizens of a democracy, we have to be vigilant. Watch, talk, write, march. Trump plans to de-fund PBS radio, our number one government station for information, as well as the arts. Don’t let him
get away with all this. Watch tax code restructuring in which he holds a vested interest. If he wins, he’ll be into your Social Security next. Be sure to apply online to Los Angeles Mission College, www.lamission.edu/sunland for course information. Remember, education is the key to democracy!
www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 7
Taco Truck Owners Give Back for LAPD Recovery
The owners of Epic Tacos, Sandra and Edgra Ruiz, delivered free dinners to officers at the LAPD’s Foothill station at 6 p.m. as the shift changed and the hungry officers emerged from the station. by
David DeMullé
A family whose catering truck was stolen and involved in a police pursuit showed their gratitude by making dinner for the officers who tracked down the van last month and captured the suspect. The Epic Tacos food truck drove up to the back of the LAPD Foothill Division parking lot and started passing out anything the police officers wanted. It all started while Epic
Tacos employees were loading the taco truck on Feb. 28 and someone jumped in the driver’s seat and took off. “Next thing you know, I hear somebody jump in the van,” said Epic Tacos co-owner Edgar Ruiz. The owner immediately called the police. “Big letters – Epic Tacos on the side. You can’t miss it. You shouldn’t be able to miss it. Knucklehead.” Officers chased the stolen van from Pacoima to Granada Hills where the sus-
pect ditched the van and as he tried to escape LAPD took the suspect, Jorge Gutierrez, into custody within the hour. Although the taco van was damaged by the suspect during the pursuit, the catering company eventually got their van back. But the owners said “it’s lot better than not having it back at all.” “I couldn’t believe it was happening to us,” said Sandra Ruiz. “It was a brand new van that was on its first see Taco Truck, page 11
Movie Review: Power Rangers by
Bob Garver
Last week I reviewed “Beauty and the Beast,” which was based on a beloved classic from my childhood. This week’s film is “Power Rangers,” which is also based on a property I was obsessed with as a kid. The difference is that while I’ve held a consistently high opinion of “Beauty and the Beast” throughout my life, it took me only a few years to see “Power Rangers” for the glorified toy commercial that it was. So I had a different set of standards going into each film: “Beauty and the Beast” had to live up to one of the greatest animated films of all time; and “Power Rangers” had to rise above one of the laziest cash grabs of my generation. It’s no wonder that I like the latter film slightly more. The film opens with a bit of backstory about how ancient warrior Zordon (Bryan Cranston) banished the evil Rita Repulsa (Elizabeth Banks) to the middle of the Earth. We’re then introduced to our main characters. They’re more flawed than their goody-goody TV show equivalents. Three of them
even meet in Saturday detention, and in case the “Breakfast Club” allusions weren’t obvious enough, one of them is there because an explosive went off in his locker. Jason (Dacre Montgomery) is a screw-up who ruined his future with a botched prank. Billy (RJ Cyler) suffers from a spectrum disorder which makes him a frequent target for bullies. Kimberly (Naomi Scott, who bears a striking resemblance to original actress Amy Jo Johnson) is a bully herself, having used social media to humiliate a classmate. Zack (Ludi Lin) is a sleazy voyeur with a heart of gold for his sick mother. Trini (Becky G) is a loner whose family moves around a lot, plus she feels burdened with an additional secret. The chemistry and development
of the main characters is the movie at its best. The teens find some mysterious crystals in a quarry and develop superpowers. They return to the quarry and find themselves trapped in a hightech command center. There they meet the robot Alpha 5 (Bill Hader) and a reanimated version of Zordon. For some reason, he chooses to project his essence onto one of those screens that’s made up of thousands of little pins that create an approximate version of whatever is pressing up against them. Good for him finding a Spencer Gifts that deep in the Earth’s crust. He tells them that they have the ability to morph into the Power Rangers and they can use an arsenal of weapons and robots to defeat Rita. see Power Rangers, page 11
THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017 — 5
VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 7 • www.thefoothillspaper.com
Twice-Baked Potatoes, Mexican Style
by
Chef Randy
This is a hearty side dish stuffed into one tasty shell. Think of these as twice -baked potatoes with a nice little kick! They are healthy, easy to prepare, and both vegetarian and gluten-free. What could be better? As with my Twice-Baked Potatoes With a Twist, these may be made ahead of time and refrigerated until ready to bake. Ingredients: 4 large russet potatoes 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil ¾ cup vegetarian, gluten-free refried beans (such as Old El Paso) 1 teaspoon cumin seeds 1 tablespoon gluten-free ketchup (such as Heinz) ¾ cup gluten-free salsa (such as Pace Chunky Medium) 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese (shredded) Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 1 cup Crema Mexicana (for garnish) 2 green onions (sliced thin for garnish)
Directions: Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Pierce potatoes in several spots with a fork. Rub oil over potatoes and place directly on rack. Bake for 45 minutes or until very tender. Transfer potatoes from oven to a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes. Cut off the top quarter of the potato using a serrated knife. Using a spoon, scoop out potato, leaving a 1/4-inchthick shell; transfer scooped potato to a large bowl. Set scooped out shell aside. Repeat with remaining potatoes. Mash potatoes in bowl until On Saturday, March 4, Boy smooth. Mix in beans, cumScouts from the Tujunga in seeds, catsup, salsa and American Legion Post 377 cheese. Season with salt, and went out to clean up Sunland pepper to taste. Park and the Veterans’ Spoon potato mixture inMemorial. It was while they to prepared shells. At this were cleaning up around the point, shells may be covered memorial that Scout Master and refrigerated for up to one day if desired. Place shells on Dan Kellgreen (sp) saw that parchment lined baking sheet. someone had spray painted graffiti over the monument, Bake at 375 degrees for 30 defacing the names embossed to 35 minutes or until heated in the bronze plaque. Bonnie through. Corwin was stupefied by To serve, garnish each powhat this Pacoima-based tato with ¼-cup cream and a gangbanger wanna-be had sprinkle of greens onions. done and suggested to Kellgreen that he contact Doc of the local newspaper. Doc arrived, surveyed the situation and went and purchased the graffiti-removal
For additional recipes, see Chef Randy’s website at
valley-vegetarian.com Get yours while they’re hot! A new cookbook, Ojai Valley Gluten-Free Cookbook, by Ojai chef and author Randy Graham is now available for purchase. All of the 87 recipes in this book are glutenfree and vegetarian. In addition, 45 of the recipes are not only gluten-free but also vegan and are denoted as such in the table of contents. The Ojai Valley Gluten-Free Cookbook is available online at Amazon.com. For more info, see Chef Randy’s website at Valley-Vegetarian. com or contact him at rgraham33@mac.com for signed copies.
Verdugo Hills Liquor Store
7119 Foothill Blvd.
Veterans Memorial Cleanup by Boy Scouts
Doc cleaning up the memorial with help from scout Joshua Duarte. chemicals. The memorial is now back to its pristine state. Photos of the gang tagging have
been sent to veterans’ groups throughout the valley soliciting help in identifying the vandal(s).
6 — FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2017 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER
www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 5
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THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2017 — 7
VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 5 • www.thefoothillspaper.com
American Legion Post 377 Helps Disabled American Veterans Attention All Veterans, Sons, Daughters and Wives of Veterans
Come and Enjoy your local American Legion Post Help support Veterans and Veterans’ Causes
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Are you man enough for this “Fru-Fru” drink?
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For Hall Rental, call Commander Dan at (818) 521-1137
Legion Auxiliary members Joan Slater and Wendy Freeman with Post Chaplain Bud Fales present a check to Johnny Higginson at his Shadow Hills Equestrian Center where the Saddles for Soldiers program is operated. The Saddles For Soldiers (SFS) non-profit is an integral part of the Shadow Hills/La Cañada community. It has provided treatment for symptoms of PTSD and TBI for America’s service members. SFS is also providing costfree therapy and transitional housing to any and all veterans regardless of the time in which they served to this country. The Shadow Hills Equestrian Center is the host for Sad-
dles For Soldiers and is a PATH-accredited premier facility, one of only two in the greater L.A. area. One disabled American Veteran that benefited from the program is Casey L. Gray. He said, “I am a 100-percent disabled Veteran and I have had the honor of being assisted by Saddles For Soldiers with my own personal struggles with TBI. I can tell you that Johnny Higginson, the founder of the program, has really done a
great service to this country and to our service men and women with his dedication and patriotism. Saddles For Soldiers runs on donations and is only funded by events like the Equestrian Center’s BBQ. They have partnered with Harmony Farms to provide 100-percent, grass-fed beef for the BBQ and we look forward to the community’s support of not only our veterans, but the businesses of OUR community.”
8 — FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER
www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 7
The Foothills Community P age
Social Synergy at Sunland Elementary School by lejandro
Magallanes
On Thursday, March 23, Sunland Elementary successfully hosted their first Community Open House. The turnout was good. After all, the school’s marketing committee, made up mostly of teachers, personally handed out invitations to this event, making connections with the business owners of the community. And why were they making such a huge effort to bring people into Sunland Elementary? It’s because the school is passionate about their vision of education, and part of that vision is to reach out to the entire community. Principal Eddie Carrillo explained to his guests, “Our kids are going to learn English. They’re going to learn math. That’s a given. But here at Sunland Elementary, we are taking it a step further.” The school, which hosts the Sunland Gifted/Highly Gifted/High Ability Magnet, has programs such as orchestra,
Glendale Noon Concerts On Wednesday, April 5, from 12:10 until 12:40 p.m., the Free Admission Glendale Noon Concerts will feature pianist Brendan White performing Frederic Chopin’s 24 Preludes, Op.28, at the Sanctuary of Glendale City Church, 610 E. California Ave. (at Isabel St), Glendale, CA 91206. For more info, email glendalesda@ gmail.com or call (818) 244- 7241. •••
The Cobb Family Estate Bolton Hall Museum and Little Landers Historical Society’s April Second Saturday program is about Altadena’s historic Cobb family estate. The pioneering Cobb family’s home was built
academic chess and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math). Many of the schools in LAUSD’s Northeast Valley are making similar advancements to their curriculum, but one major aspect that sets Sunland Elementary apart is their focus on social-emotional development within the entire school. Psychiatric Social Worker Linda Good-Hart explained: “People often overlook the psychological health of the children. We need to provide the emotional support that these children need to prepare them for this everchanging world we live in.” Sunland Elementary offers MindUP, a classroom-based, social-emotional learning program designed to enhance children’s pro-social behaviors: helping, sharing and cooperating. MindUp reaches every classroom with daily breathing exercises that help the students focus, allowing them to work together in a
in 1918 and passed through several owners’ hands, including the Marx Brothers before being rescued from demolition in the early 1970s by local high school students. Our speaker for this program is Altadena resident and historian Pam Wright, who will walk us through the history and possible hauntings of this unique home. Sat., April 8, 1 p.m., Bolton Hall Museum, 10110 Commerce Avenue, Tujunga, CA 91042 Parking is available a few doors uphill at the Elks Lodge. All are welcome to attend and entrance is free. Suggested donation is $3. Additional information is available from Little Landers Historical Society, (818) 3523420 or www.littlelandershistoricalsociety.org or E-mail littlelanders@ verizon.net. •••
cohesive environment. At the open house, the faculty presented their PALS Program: Preschool for All Learners. This program educates preschool children with special needs, teaching young ones to learn through various modalities. This gives all children an opportunity to reach their full potential. Fifth-grade Magnet teacher Susie Hoard said, “In the current work environment, employers do not want to know ‘What were your grades? Can you pass a test?’ They want to know, ‘Can you collaborate with others to solve problems?’” Sunland Elementary’s advancements in social-emotional development appear to be having a powerful influence on students, as evidenced by a short documentary presented in a Magnet class. A Sunland Elementary third-grader’s work with local homeless people was truly impressive. On his own accord, this boy raised money
from recycled trash, went shopping with his parents for food and then distributed the food, putting him face-toface with the homeless he had set out to help. How’s that for social development? Sunland Elementary’s social development is also long lasting. This month, a former student of Sunland Elementary returned to the school to convert an entire classroom into a Makerspace, a space where students can build things, expand imagination, challenge themselves and be creative. The former student, Christopher Coomber, is a
Boy Scout who is creating the space to earn his Eagle Scout badge. He stated that he has fond memories of his elementary years at Sunland and wants to give back to his school. The open house tour showed other areas where Sunland Elementary shines. A Science Lab, an Art Studio and a Computer Lab with Apple computers available to all students were highlights of the tour. The school also has partnerships with JPL and CSUN, who provide professional development for teachsee School, page11
Natural History Museum’s First Fridays Join the Natural History Museum for its next edition of First Fridays on April 7. This year’s First Fridays is “Serving Up Science: The Dish On Food” where top researchers, prestigious food writers, and farm and garden experts will discuss food evolution and the science behind it. If we are what we eat, then we are everything – find out how our meals tell stories of lifestyle, culture, and surprising science. Discover the Museum after hours with tours, discussions, cocktails, and live musical performances. Be sure to bring your appetites for knowledge! 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90007. Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily. •••
NOTICE TO CONSUMERS: The Compassionate Use Act of 1996 ensures that seriously ill Californians have the right to obtain and use cannabis for medical purposes where medical use is deemed appropriate and has been recommended by a physician who has determined that the person’s health would benefit from the use of medical cannabis. Recommendations must come from an attending physician as defined in Section 11362.7 of the Health and Safety Code. Cannabis is a Schedule I drug according to the federal Controlled Substances Act. Activity related to cannabis use is subject to federal prosecution, regardless of the protections provided by state law.
WE DO SMOG CHECK, BRAKE & LIGHT INSPECTION, ENGINE DIAGNOSIS AND ELECTRICAL.
THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017 — 9
VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 7 • www.thefoothillspaper.com
Crime Stats Theft 03/23/17 04:30 PM 8500 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL
Theft 03/13/17 01:24 AM 7500 BLOCK OF MCGROARTY TR
Burglary 03/21/17 02:00 AM 8400 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL
Theft 03/13/17 01:24 AM 7500 BLOCK OF MCGROARTY ST
Theft 03/21/17 02:30 PM 9000 BLOCK OF LA TUNA CANYON RD
Theft 03/13/17 01:44 PM 2800 BLOCK OF FAIRMOUNT AVE
Theft 03/19/17 01:00 AM 10400 BLOCK OF SCOVILLE AV
Theft 03/12/17 08:00 PM 10700 BLOCK OF HELENDALE AV
Theft 03/18/17 02:00 AM 11000 BLOCK OF WESCOTT AV
Assault 03/12/17 08:00 PM 10000 BLOCK OF MOUNTAIR AV
Assault 03/17/17 09:15 PM 7400 BLOCK OF HILLROSE ST
Theft 03/12/17 09:30 PM 10200 BLOCK OF SILVERTON AV
Assault 03/17/17 09:15 PM 7400 BLOCK OF HILLROSE ST
Theft 03/12/17 03:00 PM 11000 BLOCK OF WHITEGATE AV
Theft 03/16/17 03:45 AM 8300 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL
Theft 03/11/17 03:00 PM 7000 BLOCK OF GREELEY ST
Theft 03/15/17 06:00 PM 7100 BLOCK OF SAINT ESTABAN ST
Theft 03/10/17 05:00 AM 10500 BLOCK OF WOODWARD AV
Theft 03/14/17 10:15 PM 6900 BLOCK OF VALMONT ST
Theft 03/09/17 10:30 PM 9400 BLOCK OF CARLYNN PL
Neighborhood Watch Meeting Report, March 21 by Jon von
Gunten
ID’d the perp. Stolen loot in his car clinched it. Another On Tuesday, March 21, at 6 suspect remains at large. p.m., Senior Lead Officer Ca- - A man with a machete who loca and Neighborhood Prose- advanced on officers was cutor Mark Ross led the Sun- Tasered and arrested. land-Tujunga Neighborhood - A person is in jail for vandalWatch meeting. There were izing NVCH. 24 residents in attendance. - Sunland only accounted for 11 percent of all Foothill Div. THE GOOD NEWS! property crimes, and Tujunga - Contrary to Facebook rumors, for 13 percent. Violent crimes no recent murders occurred are 10 percent of total crimes. on Commerce Avenue. - Homeless people are usually - Property crimes should compliant and leave NVCH plummet thanks to a crucial when officers ask. Then they arrest. Since a particular pergo...where? son was incarcerated two - Two crimes involved homeweeks ago, property crimes less persons: 1 victim, 1 crimhave dropped to nearly zero. inal. - A home robbery initially netted a gun safe and other items. Many thefts from vehicles The safe and guns were recov- are avoidable by not carelessered intact. Home video cams ly leaving valuables visible in
your car! Hide it. Lock it. Keep it. Please tell your kids and forgetful friends! PROP 64: OUTDOOR POT-SMOKERS ENDANGER KIDS! Two moms from widely separated towns reported neighbors’ outdoor potsmoking (in nearby porch or yard) releases marijuana smoke widely into yards. Logically, this condition must exist throughout L.A. Children can’t safely play outside. Moms must negotiate with pot-smokers — if tokers will negotiate — when kids may play in their own yards. Prop 64 pot-promoters left this loophole. Now, children see Nabe Watch, page 10
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editor@thefoothillspaper.com
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10 — FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER
- LAPD also has specially trained DREs (Drug Recogniare at risk for: tion Experts) who must deter- Contact highs from secondmine which drug the impaired hand pot smoke; person has used; - Being introduced to pot with- - Typically these just need a out parental input; call to LAPD Dispatch at - Hearing their first talk about 877-ASK-LAPD; cannabis from a confirmed - Important: Since these teams toker; are specialized and few, wait- Habituating kids to pot use ing for their arrival may delay (the way tobacco companies handling. Keep calling if the accustom kids to tobacco by offender persists. Escalate to “harmless products”); 911 if person endangers other - Triggering marijuana allerpeople, property or himself. gies in some (Google “You Can Be Deathly Allergic to TRESPASSING! Weed” in TheDailyBeast. California state law on trescom); passing is fuzzy and unhelp- These dangers also exist in ful, so L.A. passed its own apartments where units often laws. Civil liberties require share ventilation systems. exactly worded signage to notify people to not trespass. It’s still illegal ($100 infrac- This isn’t a “paint-it-yourself” tion) to smoke pot in public, project. Buy the correct signs but not outdoors in private with the correct wording. yards and porches. I emailed our councilperson WHY TO ALWAYS CALL pro tem, Herb Wesson, on LAPD ON MINOR STUFF this topic in time for him to One mom’s complaints bring it up at the March 22 about rowdy youngsters on city council meeting on pot her street yielded an arrest use and misuse, but I haven’t owing to priors. Given offiheard back. cers’ commitments to higher priorities, arrival may lag. HANDLING THE Mention any realistic dangers UNSTABLE AT LARGE associated with the event. Two teams deal with potentially mentally unstable people: Always remember: if you see - The county’s “PET” (Psychi- something, say something! atric Emergency Teams) dispatch only clinicians, so must sometimes call in law enJon von Gunten ia the Sunforcement; land-Tujunga Neighborhood - City of L.A.’s SMARTs (Sys- Council Rep to LAPD Neightem-Wide Mental Assessment borhood Watch. He may be Response Teams) send a clini- reached via email at: cian and an LAPD officer; jonvgstnc@hotmail.com.
Nabe Watch, from pg. 9
R.I.P.
Matthew Frank “SLOstringer”: A public memorial has been organized for Matthew Frank, who many in the community knew as SLOStringer, a man whose breaking news coverage highlighted the work of local first responders. The memorial ride and candlelight vigil is being planned for April 5, according to the Facebook event page, “Matthew Frank SLOStringer Memorial Ride and Vigil.” “Unfortunately, I had to drive by the vehicle that was being towed out. Of course I had no idea who was involved in that. I’ve known Matthew and the family for 20 years,” said a close family friend, Neil McClain. Frank died Tuesday morning in a single-vehicle crash on Highway 101. His family says he was on his way to cover a house fire in Atascadero at the time. Now his family and friends wish Frank to be remembered as a dear friend to the first responder communities. “He was someone who would bend over backward to help you out. It didn’t matter if he knew you for 10 years or just met you the other day,” explained Frank’s close friend, Brett Everling. Community members and law enforcement agencies have taken to social media to thank him for what he did for the community. “He never wanted any credit, any recognition, he wanted to see the people out there doing the jobs that were thankless, he wanted to see them being thanked,” said Everling. The memorial ride will start at Frank’s SikMoto shop in San Luis Obispo. The page states details are still being worked out, but they plan to leave at 5:30 on April 5 and ride to an undetermined location where a candlelight vigil will take place. “Everyone who worked with Matt on the scene and behind the scenes that would like to be a part of it, we’d like to get them out there,” said Everling. Organizers say everyone is welcome to come and “pay tribute to Matthew and his many contributions to our world.” A go fund me account for the “Matthew Frank Memorial fund” has been set up and had raised more than $10,000 as of Thursday afternoon.
www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 7
Bocanegra’s Bill to Increase Safety at Railroad Crossings
The Assembly Transportation Committee approved legislation by Assemblymember Raul Bocanegra (D-Pacoima) to improve safety at railroad crossing for pedestrians and motorists, and prevent accidents from occurring. Under California law, motorists must only observe railroad crossing safety arms and warnings when a train is approaching or crossing the intersection. However, the law is unclear on whether or not motorists must come to a stop at a safe distance from the tracks when large, on-
track railroad equipment approaches and crosses the intersection. AB 695 would require safety arms to lower and vehicles to stop whenever railroad equipment passes through a crossing. “It is alarming to see the number of railroad crossing accidents and fatalities in our state. Something must be done to protect motorists, pedestrians, and workers from being hurt,” said Assemblymember Bocanegra. “AB 695 might not change the world, but it could save a life.” According to the Federal
Railroad Administration Office of Safety Analysis, 161 train-related fatalities occurred in California in 2016, leading the nation once again. Last year, the Bay Area saw eight train-related accidents over the course of just one week. “We need to improve safety at our rail crossings because too many people are unnecessarily getting hurt or killed,” added Assemblymember Bocanegra. “This bill is a good step in reducing the amount of train-related car accidents in California.”
Raul Bocanegra is the Democratic Majority Whip in the California State Assembly. He represents the 39th Assembly District, which includes the Los Angeles communities of Arleta, Granada Hills, Lakeview Terrace, Mission Hills, North Hollywood, Pacoima, Shadow Hills, Sun Valley, Sunland-Tujunga, Sylmar and the City of San Fernando.
THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017 — 11
VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 7 • www.thefoothillspaper.com
Letters, from pg. 3 tion, no one else seems to care about reporting things that happen here in SunlandTujunga. Why do you? Just wondering.
Taco Truck, from pg. 4 day out.” In gratitude for the officers quick response and return of their van, Sandra and Edgar Ruiz wanted to give back to the officers who got their van
Power Rangers, from pg. 4 There’s just one problem, they can’t morph. They have to learn a lesson first, and it’s frustrating that the film makes us wait so long for us to see the new line of action figures, I mean, for the heroes to reach their full
School, from pg. 8 ers, in order to prepare students for mastery of the New Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The school will also be ADA-compliant (Americans with Disabilities Act) within the upcoming year, receiving constructive renovations such as wheelchair ramps and an elevator.
I can’t seem to find your paper on a regular basis, where can I get one? Keep up the good work, your paper makes me laugh. Billy G. •••
Is this the way you want to be remembered? Slow Down and live.
back by serving them tacos free of charge. “It just blows me away,” said Sgt. Frank Alferez of the LAPD. “We’re just doing our job. It’s just a humbling experience for them to be here.”
Scientology, from pg. 2 op Franklin Harris, Executive Member of the Los Angeles County Clergy Council. Deputy Chief Green began the ceremony by saying “Together, we’ve reached at-risk
kids and adults with vital intervention and education before they become victims or suspects. And now, we have changed the course of over 25,000 lives across the Valley.” He further highlighted the Church’s example in unit-
ing an interfaith crusade in the region. “Let’s face it, whether you’re Jewish, Catholic, Christian or Scientologist, we’re all here to make a better community and improve the outcome of each other’s lives.
potential. The action is exactly what you’d expect from a big-budget “Power Rangers” movie: sleek enough to not look cheap, but missing the heart that gave the TV series a sort of cheesy appeal. One of my favorite things about the show was the creativity
that went into the monster du jour, and here that spot is wasted on a goopy CGI version of Goldar. Curiously, the fight between him and the Rangers’ Megazord is over before we can really soak in either of them. Once the special effects take over, “Power Rangers”
is as brainless as ever. But there’s some decent human work being done here, at least when the script isn’t forcing the characters to spout one-liners or engage in tired team-building. It’s a step up from the TV show, which isn’t much of a compliment, but probably one the
movie will be happy to take. Two Stars out of Five. “Power Rangers” is rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action, violence and destruction, language and for some crude humor. Its running time is 124 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.
So what was the goal of the night? It was to reach out to the community and welcome them right back into the school. Who does Sunland Elementary welcome? You. The community. They welcome families who are looking for a new school for their child. They welcome families who drive 20 minutes through traffic to take their kids to a pri-
vate school, when they have a Gifted / Highly Gifted / HighAchieving Magnet school right in their backyard. They welcome businesses who want to thrive in our community and would like to work with our families. Within this synergistic relationship between school and community, Sunland-Tujunga and the school will both win.
The community donates their time and effort to the school, and in return, the school educates socially conscious, young adults with a greater respect for the community that helped raise them. Principal Carrillo emphasized, “We want to nurture well-rounded students. We want to give our students 21st century skills they need to
succeed in this ever-changing world.” There will be another Sunland Elementary Open House on Thursday, April 6, from 5 until 6:30 p.m. This open house will address parents of local preschoolers who plan to enter Transitional Kinder and Kindergarten programs. Sunland Elementary School welcomes you.
12 — FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER
www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 7
Safe Streets Town Hall North Valley City Hall 7747 Foothill Blvd Tujunga, CA 91042
Saturday, April 1, 2017 - 10:00a Tired of reading about another traffic fatality on Foothill? Want to make it home safe and sound tonight? _________________________________ Engineers from the LADOT, Valley Traffic Division, and the Safe Streets committee will be presenting on the Vision Zero program, our Foothill survey situation, proposed engineering changes on Foothill, and an anti-speeding education campaign.