Ten Years Ago
Cancer robbed 12-year-old Desi Geestman of her life on Jan. 10, 1999, but not before she realized her dream of riding on a float in the Rose Parade on Jan. 1 of that year. The young La Crescenta resident succumbed to neurobastoma at City of Hope in Duarte. The family has since set up a successful foundation in Desi’s name to raise funds to improve the quality of life for pediatric cancer patients.
Twenty Years Ago
It was reported the nativity scene displayed on the south lawn of Holy Redeemer Church during the previous Christmas season was stolen sometime on New Year’s Eve. Included in the theft were a donkey, a cow, three lambs, a shepherd and the infant Jesus. Following up on an anonymous tip, the baby figure was recovered from Montrose Community Park, although its arms had been removed.
