Crescenta Valley High School

Nearly 150 athletes with disabilities competed for medals Saturday at the second annual Crescenta Valley Committed to Athletic Needs’ Special Olympics. Athletes from Glendale, La Crescenta, Burbank and the Santa Clarita Valley descended on Crescenta Valley High School’s Susan Osborne field to show off their skills in Bocce ball, running, jumping and walking. “Let the games begin,” announced Laura Mayo, the Tri-Valley Special Olympics organization’s regional director.

When Crescenta Valley High School instituted a voluntary student drug testing program, a district first, for some it was a sign of innovation and progress in addressing a festering problem, but for others, like student Wayne Park, the distinction was dubious. The 18-year-old high school senior signed up for anonymous testing, but only because he said he has nothing to prove. He doesn’t use drugs, and said most of his peers don’t either. “I personally hate the drug issue, and it embarrasses me for the school,” Park said.

When Crescenta Valley High School instituted a voluntary student drug testing program, a district first, for some it was a sign of innovation and progress in addressing a festering problem, but for others, like student Wayne Park, the distinction was dubious. The 18-year-old high school senior signed up for anonymous testing, but only because he said he has nothing to prove. He doesn’t use drugs, and said most of his peers don’t either. “I personally hate the drug issue, and it embarrasses me for the school,” Park said.

LA CRESCENTA — Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station officials confirmed community concerns Thursday night that drug activity has been increasing in the past five years. While drug activity has increased in the Crescenta Valley, sheriff’s station Capt. Dave Silversparre said at the Crescenta Valley Drug & Alcohol Prevention Coalition meeting that the issue is not rampant. “If it was out of control in the La Crescenta area, I think we would have seen an increase in calls for service,” he said.

Tae Yoo, 22, emigrated from South Korea to America with his father, mother and sister more than a dozen years ago. The former La Crescenta resident dreams of being successful in making films, writing a book, and even running for a congressional or city council position, he said. “This may sound cheesy, but the ultimate goal is to achieve the American dream, since I am a foreigner,” said Yoo, who lives in Sunland. At Cal State Northridge, Yoo is majoring in screenwriting and history, with a minor in religious studies.

The La Crescenta Woman’s Club has been cultivating community for nearly a century. Founded in 1911, the club is gearing up to celebrate its 100th birthday next year. The theme of the party is “A century of friendship and service,” said next year’s co-presidents, Carol Huntwork and Genny Bundick. Over the years the club has fostered camaraderie among its members, who said they consider themselves family. Second Vice President of Membership Dea McCrory still has friends from when she joined the club in 1957.

Crescenta Valley High School is a natural Ground Zero for parents, teachers, coaches and other adult trustees to at once gauge the drug-use problem in the area and address it. And so a voluntary drug testing program — in which students agree to take random drug tests, with results sent directly to parents — is the sort of innovative response, and activist role, that government rarely gets right. In this regard, Glendale Unified should be commended. Now, the ball is squarely in the court of parents.

I would like to thank retired Glendale Police Lt. Don Meredith for expressing the opinions that I totally agree with (“Drayman way off on bunny outburst,” April 2). As a pedestrian in south Glendale, I appreciate any effort to increase the safety in the area. I would also like to comment on the use of the bunny costume. In a sting using a regular decoy, the 20 or so people cited are educated. By using the bunny-costumed decoy you get a front-page story in the newspaper informing many more people.

CRESCENTA VALLEY— About 16% of Crescenta Valley High School students have enrolled in a voluntary drug testing program, which could expand into other Glendale Unified School District campuses, officials said. The program was announced in December as part of a communitywide push to keep drugs out of the La Crescenta school, and to facilitate conversations between families and their children. Of the 2,946 notices sent out, 1,444 were returned. Of those, 473 students chose to sign up for the testing program.

Region 88 registration AYSO Region 88 will be holding its 2010-2011 fall registration from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Clark Magnet School, 4747 New York Ave., La Crescenta. For pre-registration and all questions concerning registration, go to www.ayso88.org/reg. Soccer club tryouts set Tryouts will be held for the Crescenta Valley Soccer Club under-12 boys’ team from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays through April at Crescenta Valley High School, 2900 Community Drive, La Crescenta.