Sport Chalet

Karen S. Kim Sport Chalet founder Norbert Olberz is planning for the future. The 77-year-old La Canada Flintridge resident has announced he will allow executives of Sport Chalet to buy his shares of the company after his death. "I think it's great foresight on Nobert's and his wife, Irene's, part to have a plan for Sport Chalet when that day comes," Chief Executive Officer Craig Levra said Tuesday. According to Olberz's decision, the Olberz Family Trust, which owns two-thirds of Sport Chalet's shares, will allow Sport Option LLC to buy them out. Sport Option LLC is a company owned by five Sport Chalet executives.

WHERE AM I? District officials recently celebrated the nearly completed construction and modernization efforts at Crescenta Valley High School, a project with a price tag of more than $45 million. Glendale High School co-principal Mike Livingston, who started teaching at CV High in 1973 and later became an administrator at the school, is excited about returning to the new campus to assume the role of co-principal after the new year. But Livingston, who will replace retiring co-principal Gary Talbert, is not so sure about the new digs.

Gretchen Hoffman It took 20 years and spurred the development of the city's Downtown Village Specific Plan, but the employees of Sport Chalet's corporate headquarters are finally housed under one roof. City officials and Sport Chalet executives held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday at the corporate offices at 839 Houseman St. Almost 100 employees from seven offices scattered through the city -- including some homes -- moved into their new digs Oct. 7. Sport Chalet executives say the consolidation will facilitate interaction between the various divisions of the company.

Janine Marnien A traffic barrier is still going up at Houseman Street at Lillian Court, and neighbors in the Downtown Village couldn't be more pleased. The Planning Commission voted 4-1 at its meeting Tuesday to deny a request by Sports Chalet and La Canada Properties to amend a condition requiring a barrier be built, a move resident Alan Rudisill said would benefit the quality of life for the 29 residences in the surrounding area. "The barrier would alleviate traffic from Foothill Boulevard by turning it up Commonwealth, Houseman and Angeles Crest," he said.

Marshall Allen A traditional farmers' market will come to the city in March, the La Canada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Assn. announced Tuesday. The market will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays in the parking lot adjacent to the east of Taylor's Prime Steaks restaurant at 901 Foothill Blvd. The market will be launched by the chamber in conjunction with CA Certified Farmer's Markets Inc. Both Taylor's owner Bruce Taylor and Norbert Olberz, owner of Sport Chalet, which is also in the future market's vicinity, are supportive of the project, chamber Executive Directory Schuyler Sprowles said.

Marshall Allen Sport Chalet corporate employees are excited to move into their new offices, where they will have room to breathe and hopefully see an increase in productivity, CEO Craig Levra said. "It will make us a lot more productive and efficient because all the different operating groups that have to work closely with each other will now be adjacent to one another," Levra said. The company's more than 100 corporate employees are now spread among eight buildings along Foothill Boulevard.

Marshall Allen LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE -- In the Chafin family, Memorial Day is becoming synonymous with race day, as Chris and Michelle Chafin look forward to competing in the third annual Los Angeles Foothills Soap Box Derby. The Chafins, who live in La Canada Flintridge, will be competing in the race for the second time on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27. Chris, 12, races in the Super Stock class; Michelle, 9, in the Stock class. In a race determined by gravity, classes depend on the participants weight and size.

Gretchen Hoffman LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE -- The Kiwanis Club of La Canada is calling all racers for the third annual Los Angeles Foothills Soap Box Derby on May 27. The all-day event, which is open to children 9 to 16, will be held on "Michigan Hill" on Foothill Boulevard between Daleridge and Viro roads in La Canada Flintridge. "It's the best hill that we could find," said Sharon Benoit, a spokeswoman for the event. "It goes straight down." "All a kid needs is a hill, a car and gravity -- the wind takes them down the hill," she added.

Gretchen Hoffman LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE -- The start of construction on Sport Chalet headquarters and progress on city sewer districts top the list of city accomplishments, according to an annual report by La Canada Flintridge City Manager Jerry Fulwood. It was a "challenging and productive" year for city employees, according to the report, which was presented at the La Canada Flintridge City Council meeting on Monday. It was a year of changes for both city staff and City Council, from the televising of council meetings to an increased focus on emergency preparedness.