10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 Years Ago

Ten Years Ago ...

Verdugo Hills Hospital launched a capital effort themed "Reaching New Heights," an aggressive $8.6 million campaign to refurbish then existing facilities and to upgrade or acquire diagnostic equipment.

Twenty Years Ago ...

Climaxing a two-month undercover investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dept., five students were arrested at Crescenta Valley High School on Nov. 21, 1985 on suspicion of selling drugs. A sixth student was also held but ultimately released for lack of evidence. The two females and four male students were taken into custody from their classrooms and charged with selling drugs after an undercover detective purchased small amounts of marijuana on the school grounds.

Thirty Years Ago ...

The Big Tujunga Fire was still sweeping through the foothills during Thanksgiving week in 1975. The fire, thought to have started at Hidden Springs on a Saturday, by the following Monday had burned 11 homes in the upper La Crescenta area to the ground and damaged 18 others. One of the heaviest hit areas was Briggs Terrace in Goss Canyon. By early that Monday morning, Crescenta Valley High School had been turned into an evacuation center and its 500 person capacity soon reached. All Glendale and Los Angeles schools north of Foothill Boulevard were closed, giving students an unexpected day off.

Forty Years Ago ...

The Assistance League of Glendale was planning its 19th annual Toyon Ball for Dec. 3, 1964. The event, named for the native California toyon berry, would be held at the Verdugo Club. Music for dancing would be provided by Sydney Zaid and his orchestra.

Fifty Years Ago ...

A basement furnace in the parish house of St. Luke's of the Mountains Episcopal Church was blamed for a fire that caused $2,000 in damages to the property. Destroyed was equipment stored in the basement by the church sea scout ship.

-- Compiled by Carol Cormaci