GAINS
HOLIDAY DONATIONS
With Christmas came a flurry of holiday gift-giving. For some, it
meant shopping for loved ones and gifts piled high under the
Christmas tree. For others, those presents came only because of the
thought- fulness of residents and community groups, as well as city
employees and local stores.
Families like Rosemary Rodriguez's opened their doors to find
Whole Foods and Glendale Police workers with boxes of presents and
food for them -- donated by others in the Glendale community. It was
a delight for her six children, who had been told they would not have
a Christmas this year because their mother had been laid off from her
job in a factory.
The city employees' association in La Canada Flintridge also
helped a local family, this one with 11 children. Current and former
workers pitched in, donating school supplies, toys, super- market
gift certificates and clothing. The association also donated $1,500
to local charities.
Citibank, which came under fire from some residents for not
putting a lighted tree atop its building on North Brand Boulevard as
had been done in the past, opted to use that money to make donations
to local groups, as well as thousands of gifts for the Toys for Tots
program.
But do not forget that local charities need help year-round, not
just during the holidays. Keep the Christmas spirit throughout the
year.
FLOAT VOLUNTEERS
Glendale and La Canada Flintridge residents will be up late the
next several nights, not waiting for the sound of reindeer on the
roof, but cutting and pasting roses.
Volunteers are busy putting the final touches on the cities' Rose
Parade floats, which will roll through the streets of Pasadena on
Thursday. Entering floats are long-stand- ing traditions for each
city and speak to the dedication of the citizens of each community
who return year after year to make each entry beautiful.
Thank you to those selfless souls who work to make each city
proud. If you can't support Glendale and La Canada Flintridge by
working on the floats, cheer them on Thursday morning either at the
parade or by watching it at home on television.
LOSS
WAR MEMORIALS
As American soldiers continue to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan and
protect American interests around the world, we are reminded that
those men and women are more than images on television and in
newspapers. Dozens of residents have shipped out since the terrorist
attacks of Sept. 11, and while some have returned home, others have
not.
