guest column:Busy summer in store

While many people in Montrose and La Crescenta have been enjoying family vacations and time off of school, the Crescenta Valley Town Council has been busy at work serving this community. Below is what we have been doing during June and July.

Our youths and seniors co-chairs, Councilmembers Cleven and Erickson, honored local Eagle Scouts and Gold Girl Scouts at their ceremonies. Councilmember Pierce also attended a ceremony in which two local youths, Rosetta Ragusa and Brendan Luckey, were honored by Congressman David Dreier for their many hours of volunteer work.

Councilmember Smiley nominated Richard Carroll and John Richarson as “Neighbor of the Month” for taking time away from their families to clean graffiti at CV High School on a Saturday. Sally Benson was also honored as “Neighbor of the Month” for her help with the Council’s silent auction, which was held on July 4th at the CV Fireworks Association event on Prospect Avenue and at La Crescenta Elementary School. Kudos to Fundraising Chair Pierce and the entire fundraising committee for a most successful event!

The Council honored Brigham and Michelle Taylor with the “Beautification Award” for the remodel of their lovely Craftsman style home on Kemper Avenue in La Crescenta. They did a wonderful job of keeping and enhancing the Craftsman elements.

Another home recognized by the Council is on Los Amigos Street in La Crescenta and belongs to Dianne Thompson. Ms. Thompson received the Honored Historic Home Award. This was the very first award of this type given. I brought the idea for the Honored Historic Home Award forward to the Council as a way to confirm with the residents of our community that our Council truly appreciates the historic homes and to recognize these important community assets.

One of the most exciting events was the groundbreaking for the new La Crescenta Library on June 28. Much community time went into working on planning details with the County and the Council was pleased to see this project move forward in a major way. Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich spoke at the library groundbreaking ceremony. The Council made its largest donation ever for the art work that will be inlaid in the floor of the entry area for the library. This Medallion is being commissioned by the Historical Society of Crescenta Valley. The existing library should be vacated around Sept. 15, and is scheduled to re-open in September of 2009.