I’m Just Sayin’:

Editor’s note: This space, previously occupied by Gary Huerta, will now be the home of Sharon Raghavachary, who had a monthly spot on the Forum page as a guest columnist. Raghavachary’s long history of service in the Crescenta Valley will suit her well as she opines on the issues facing the area.

Meanwhile, Huerta, who has recently moved deeper into Glendale proper, will assume a new column assignment commenting on city issues Tuesdays.

There are two very exciting events happening Friday in the Crescenta Valley.

The first is the grand opening celebration of the long-awaited La Crescenta library. As a member of the Crescenta Valley Town Council’s Foothill Design Committee and Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich’s Library Committee, I attended dozens of meetings with county representatives over the past nine years. Early on we heard the word “No” more times than I care to remember — no money and no land.

Thank goodness for the tenacity of the Crescenta Valley Town Council. Member Danette Erickson in 2003 visited Washington D.C. and made a presentation to Congressman David Drier, who later secured about $1.43 million in federal funding for the library land acquisition and construction.

This money was the jump start needed to get the ball rolling and in 2005, Antonovich created the Library Committee made up of representatives from local civic groups, who worked directly with the architects and county officials to get a design that reflects the local heritage and style, right down to the native rock unearthed during the excavation and now used to adorn the walls of the front courtyard.

When you visit the new library, take note of the work done by local artists that’s an important part of the beautiful interior. Three murals painted by Evan LeGrande Wilson grace the walls of the adult and children’s sections, while the front door is surrounded by stained-glass panels of local landmarks created by RD Gibbs and Co.

In the foyer is a bronze plaque commissioned by the Historical Society of the Crescenta Valley and cast by Bill and Geri Gould. The plaque depicts three important people in the Valley’s history — Toypurina, a Tongva Indian shaman, Don Jose Verdugo, holder of the Spanish land grant, and Dr. Benjamin Briggs, founder of La Crescenta.