Foothill Boulevard

News of a planned bike lane for a portion of Foothill Boulevard was more than just a pleasant surprise for the community: It was the first concrete commitment for such badly needed infrastructure. Glendale has been working for months to quantify its severe lack of bike-friendly infrastructure and hammer out a plan to address it, and so the announcement from Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich’s office that a bike plan’s coming for Foothill Boulevard is welcome big first step, especially if it’s extended through county lines and into the city.

LA CRESCENTA — Foothill Boulevard will soon get outfitted with new bike lanes, which will make the road safer and friendlier for cyclists, officials said. The bike lanes will be added on Foothill from Pennsylvania to Briggs avenues when county crews work on re-striping and repaving the road as part of the Complete Streets project, said Paul Novak, planning deputy for Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich. His office is also working with Glendale officials to extend the bike lanes into the city’s jurisdiction, he said.

SUNLAND — An outgoing Town Council president and long-awaited library were among the honorees Thursday at the Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce’s recognition banquet. The annual event honors Crescenta Valley residents, businesses, organizations and law enforcement personnel who have improved the area’s quality of life in the past year. Community members packed a banquet hall Thursday evening at the Angeles National Golf Course and Country Club to congratulate the awardees.

LA CRESCENTA — Residents of all ages spanned Foothill Boulevard Saturday morning picking up cigarettes and pulling weeds as part of community clean up day. “It’s dirty work, but if it helps the environment, then it’s worth it,” said 14-year-old Hailey James, who, with several friends from her Girl Scout troop, filled trash bags with cigarette butts and other litter. The event was one of several community beautification efforts that more than 200 volunteers took part in for the 16th annual Foothill Community Clean Up, in conjunction with national Make A Difference Day. Make a Difference Day is an annual event sponsored by USA Weekend and the Points of Light Foundation to encourage local neighborhood service projects.

On the subject of Trader Joe’s and Carl Davidson’s letter (“We have enough Trader Joe’s,” Sept. 19), specifically referencing Cordon’s Market, which he claims has been in Verdugo City since the 1940s, I am not sure what local history he has been living. Cordon’s has not been at this location since the 1940s. In the more than 50 years I have lived in the Crescenta Valley, what is today Cordon’s has been a variety of markets including “Phil’s Market,” “Country Cousin Market,” “Apple’s Market,” etc. No one is selling Cordon’s Market short.

LA CRESCENTA — More empty store fronts have emerged on Foothill Boulevard than at any time over the last decade, with at least 20 vacancies on the 13-block commercial stretch between Briggs Avenue and Moore Street, merchants say. While some merchants blame slumping consumer demand for bringing about the demise of businesses in the corridor, even shops that seemed productive have suddenly shut down and moved out, prompting questions about...

MONTROSE — The newly formed North Glendale Community Plan Advisory Committee, a collection of 34 stakeholders, is scheduled to meet tonight as part of an ongoing quest to find a vision for Sparr Heights and the north annex. The meeting at the Montrose-Crescenta Branch Library is the second in a string public gatherings beginning this month and lasting through early November, before recommendations touching on long-running contentious matters are brought to the Planning Commission and later the City Council, said Laura Stotler, principal planner with the city.

NORTH GLENDALE — Area stakeholders with competing viewpoints came together Monday for a frank discussion on the future for development in the North Glendale annex of the Crescenta Valley. The 34-person North Glendale Community Plan Advisory Committee, made up of a variety of residents, commissioners, business owners and other stakeholders, is charged with formulating recommendations — especially regarding the most contentious issues — for the Planning Commission, and ultimately the City Council.