Last year’s massive Station fire and the threat of debris flows prompted residents to rely on each other to get through those challenging incidents, she said.
Mattersteig said it was fitting that this year’s theme for the annual event was to honor the entire community for its numerous acts of volunteerism.
The Crescenta Valley is community that sticks together, said former town council member Steve Pierce.
“That’s what is really unique about our community,” he said. “You don’t have a lot of people who are looking for recognition. They just get it done.”
Volunteers helped Librarian Marta Wiggins put hundreds of thousands of items on the new La Crescenta Library shelves before it opened its doors to the community.
“Getting a new library has been a daunting task,” she told residents. “But with all your community support, it has been a very doable task.”
When Wiggins realized that she would need help putting away books, she said she called out for help from volunteers, expecting about 20.
But she said 82 residents showed up on an orientation day, prepared to help.
Volunteers ended putting in about 200 hours at the library, Wiggins said.
“I am so pleased to say we were able to finish our duty in five days earlier than I anticipated,” she said.
While the duties to get the library open on time have wrapped up, Wiggins said she has received about 50 applications from people who are still interested in helping out.
Residents and volunteers who attended the ceremony were treated to music from members of the Monte Vista Primary Grades Chorus, who sang “In the Sing Song Sycamore Tree,” and “Chickory Chick.”
Those in attendance heard speeches from resident and reporter Mary O’Keefe, Los Angeles County Board Supervisor Michael Antonovich and John Wicker, chief deputy director of the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation.
Some local vendors gave out free ground covering and other groups had activities for children, including smearing peanut butter and bird seeds on a pine cone to act as a bird feeder.
“These are all people in the community that have volunteered and giving themselves in one way or another, so that premise behind all of our participants,” Mattersteig said of the vendors.
