Guest Column:January Update From the Crescenta Valley Town Council

It is my honor to have been elected by my fellow Councilmembers to serve as the president of the Crescenta Valley Town Council this year. We have twelve members (nine regular and three alternate) that are willing to donate multiple volunteer hours for the unincorporated areas of Montrose and La Crescenta.

Events that the Council is currently working on include moving our monthly public meetings to a larger room to accommodate our constituents. On Feb. 15, our first meeting was held at Crescenta Valley High School's Career Center located at 2900 Community Avenue. Scheduled for that meeting was a presentation of the proposed 710 freeway tunnel by Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Additionally, the Council is working on making the public meetings more concise.

Also new to our Feb. 15 meeting was the addition of a student council representative from C.V. High School. Meeting the needs of our teens is important to us and we would like to hear from the future generation.

On Thursday, Feb. 22, the Council is having a Meet The Town Council fundraising dinner at Dominick's Restaurant & Pizza at 2948 Foothill Blvd. We hope to have candidates seeking seats on the Glendale City Council join us as well.

Spring will bring monthly events to our valley along with our meetings held the third Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. March 31 will be the Annual Arbor Day celebration at Two Strike Park. April will be the ground breaking ceremony at the La Crescenta Library property. In May we will be giving out scholarships for senior high school students. To make a donation to our scholarship program, please contact the scholarship chair, Councilmember Danette Erickson, by calling the Council phone number 248-9387. Also in May will be the dedication of the New Spot Park at Briggs and Foothill.

Currently in progress, the Council is setting up a community calendar for our website — www.yourtowncouncil.org. Any organization interested in being considered for inclusion on this calendar should contact the Council's public relations chair, Councilmember Robert Thomas at robertthomas4cvtc@sbcglobal.net.

At the Feb. 1 executive meeting, the Council identified goals we intend to pursue this year. At the top of the list was to identify areas in the community that could use some "life." These small plots of property that lay barren would be good areas for Spot Parks. As the Council pursues this goal, we encourage residents to contact us with areas they would like to see improved. Councilmember Frank Beyt is taking these suggestions and he can be e-mailed at beyt@att.net.

Other items the Council identified include safe paths to school, bike paths, music concerts at Two Strike Park, and a dog park at Crescenta Valley Park.

Mostly, this 2007 Council wants to hear from the public. Please send us your concerns, questions, and comments.