THE FOOTHILLS PAPER - JANUARY 1, 2016

HAPPY NEW YEAR! FREE

FRIDAY • JANUARY 1, 2016

TELLING THE TRUTH FOR OVER 11 YEARS!

VOLUME 12 • NUMBER 1

CD-7’s Felipe Fuentes Takes a Stand interview by

David DeMullé

CD-7 Councilman Felipe Fuentes has faced many issues here in Sunland-Tujunga and he faced them with direction and conviction. As a result, he had to take a stand regarding the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council’s (STNC) carte blanche, free office space and apparent refusal to address the burgeoning homeless problem.

The councilman elected to bring in agencies that can actually accomplish what Mayor Garcetti asked all councilmembers to do: create a workable program to address Los Angeles’ homeless situation.

The STNC was first given the space at North Valley City Hall by then-City Council-

INSIDE:

“News from Your Clinic” NEW COLUMN

by Dr. Samalin ................

2

L.A. County Firemen: More than just firefighters ............

12

DEPARTMENTS What Folks Are Doing........... 2 My Two Cents....................... 2 View from the Rock.............. 3 Letters and Perspectives........ 3 Chef Randy........................... 5 Pets Page............................. 7 Jim *aris............................... 8 S-T Crime Stats................... 10 Take My Card..................... 11

member Wendy Greuel. Since then, STNC members got used to having their meetings in the Auditorium and in the “Logistics Managers” office. Mainly because it was convenient and had a lot of parking space.

Last November, STNC members arrived at a board meeting to find that they had been given a notice to leave.

They had been ousted to make room for the Los Angeles Conservation Corps and L.A. Family Housing (LAFH), two agencies that needed a central location to set up their programs for local benefit.

With the new tenants, Fuentes will be able to create a plan to help work with the homeless. He has done so in Pacoima and Sylmar.

Another problem that needs to be addressed in conjunction

with the homeless situation is the care of our seniors during the coming El Niño cold and rains.

SAFETY CONCERNS We asked him how he was going to address that.

Fuentes responded: “This winter we have already seen harsh conditions-frigid temperatures and hollowing winds.

El Niño rains have added another challenging element.

Recently, the city council approved additional funds Councilman Fuentes signing a community service award. for winter shelters throughout the city to ensure our neediest plan to utilize city facilities as call the winter shelter hotline community members receive additional shelters during this at 800-548-6047. The LAHSA shelter from our wet and cold time. It’s critical we maximize emergency response team may weather. our resources so we don’t put be reached at 213-224-6581.

“Currently, the city’s ourselves in a position to turn “Meanwhile, residents Department of Recreation folks away when they need looking to secure their homes and Parks is working with help. during the upcoming rains the Emergency Preparedness see Fuentes, page 9 Division and EMD to launch a “Community members may

Earthquake in Devore Reminds L.A. Residents to Prep for Earthquakes The recent 4.4 magnitude earthquake in Devore reminds us that a catastrophic earthquake could occur at a moment’s notice. The L.A. County region is vulnerable to large-scale earthquakes.

The L.A. County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) wants to remind all County residents to take the necessary steps to prepare for earthquakes. The following are some preparedness tips on what to do during an earthquake: When you are in public places, be aware of your surroundings and identify your

safe spaces.

If you experience shaking, the recommended actions are to drop under a piece of furniture. Hold on to the piece of furniture’s leg to keep it from shifting or uncovering you until the shaking completely stops. Learn more at www.DropCoverHoldOn. org.

Do not run out of buildings during an earthquake as most people are injured by falling debris during the shaking.

If you experience shaking and are in a wheelchair, lock your wheels, and cover your head and neck area with a

pillow or some type of object that will deflect the debris.

To receive emergency notifications, register your cellular telephone and landlines at Alert LA County, via http://lacounty.gov/ emergency/alert-la.

For more information on how to prepare for earthquakes and other hazards and threats, OEM has available the following emergency preparedness programs: L.A. County Emergency Survival Guide: http://lacoa. org Specific Needs Awareness

Planning: https://snap. lacounty.gov ·Emergency Survival Program: www.espfocus.org L.A. county residents, renters and business owners — including persons with disabilities and others with access and functional needs — may call 211 LA County for emergency preparedness information, and other referral services. The toll-free 2-1-1 number is available 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

211 LA County services can also be accessed by visiting http://211la.org.

All these stories and more can be seen at:

http://facebook.com/thefoothillspaper

MORE EXPANDED COVERAGE AND DISTRIBUTION SITES

2 — FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 12 • NUMBER 1

News From Your Clinic by

Sam Samalin, PA-C

Stomach flu or Norovirus: Vomiting and diarrhea, lasts a few days. The only defense is washing your hands with soap and water, hand lotions won’t work. You catch the virus by touching your face, your eyes, your mouth, which people constantly do, so the more frequently you wash your hands the lower your risk.

The virus effects range from nausea or diarrhea to vomiting that won’t stop and abdominal pain.

People who have stomach problems such as heartburn are more at risk of severe symptoms, so stop by the clinic for a stomach tune up even if you’re ok. Treatment of the virus ranges from a nausea medicine shot and heartburn medicine to IV fluids. Heartburn is one of those

Dr. Sam Samalin. medical conditions I see that the medical system neglects.

It is a serious condition and is curable.

Other neglected and curable/controllable conditions are diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and tobacco. I’ll be discussing those in future “News From Your Clinic” columns.

My Two Cents

Size Does Matter Since it was raining, I decided to use the pharmacy drive-thru rather than running into the store to get my medicine. Because I’m vertically challenged, using a drive-thru presents challenges for me that it doesn’t to taller people — such as my husband.

I pull up as close as possible, unbuckle my seat belt, roll down my window, and then hoist half my body out the window to reach the sliding drawer. (I’m thinking of getting a selfie-stick to make the drive-thru experience hassle-free.) My husband needs to extend only his arm.

I envy the man.

My height (or lack thereof) was a major factor in shopping for a couch. My husband and I sat on many couches before I found the perfect one for me: one that allowed my feet to touch the floor when I sat back. Sitting on a couch with my feet

swinging aimlessly in midair is like a toddler in a booster seat. My husband, however, doesn’t have to be sitting on doll house-size furniture for his feet to reach the floor. I envy the man.

My height also makes getting out of a car a challenge.

I must first scoot over to the very edge of the seat and then extend my leg (otherwise it just dangles) for it to make contact with the ground.

My husband, in one fluid and quick motion, extends his leg, lets his foot hit the ground and he’s up and out. I envy the man.

Sharing an umbrella with my husband used to be a challenge. The man would get hit in the head if the umbrella was at my height or he crouched to half his size to walk with me. So he decided that in order to avoid future discomfort, he would

Cindy Argiento is a freelance columnist.

She may be contacted via cargiento@aol.com.

10

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THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 — 3

VOLUME 12 • NUMBER 1 • www.thefoothillspaper.com

After 11 years of publication, you’d think that I’d have learned something and quit. Oh, well — I guess I’m not old enough to understand how certain groups could continue year after year taking advantage of our community. There will be another sandbagged neighborhood council election in a couple of months with candidates making promises that they have no intentions of keeping.

But it will be different in one sense: we have a city councilman that recognizes that the STNC is mostly a bag of wind filled with self-important people. The Cleghorn machine might actually come to an end this year, but I wouldn’t put money on it. Cindy and her minion, Mark (and don’t forget her personal hitman, Barrett), will continue to operate in the background quietly destroying our community with their avarice and lies. Remember the fraudulent “Best of SunlandTujunga Awards” where Mark Seigel stole the ballots and then Cindy “misplaced them”? Or the machinations

that allowed STNC board member Cindy (who owns C&M Printing) to obtain printing contracts from the neighborhood councils in the district?

The list goes on.

And how about the Voice of the Village and the North Valley Reporter that certain other miscreants put together to destroy The Paper? What do you have when no one reads your newspaper? Toilet paper for the homeless.

Look, I’m not the best, and sometimes it’s a struggle to put out a newspaper with only volunteers — but you don’t see me bankrupting the Chamber of Commerce on a vendetta.

Speaking of the Chamber of Commerce: they held their secret election and then held their secret officers election last month. Nothing has changed, no one is talking about the $20,000 that was “disappeared” from their treasury. Now they have no money to fund their programs — but then again, no one really cares.

“Join the chamber and die” may as

VIE W

ROCK well be that organization’s motto.

But look at it this way: 2016 is a new year. It holds the potential for a lot of greatness to happen. It all depends on you, the citizens of our town, to make the changes that are necessary to re-create a real community. Nothing is ever worth anything without hard work. Look at what one small segment of our community accomplished by getting the BigT cleaned up. Sunland-Tujunga is

populated by individuals that work together to make things happen.

Unfortunately for us, the mob mentality sometime takes over a civic group and turns it against the community. This year we have a nononsense councilman that is sharp enough to see through the BS. It’s time we start supporting him and make our community something to be proud of. And NO, you can’t say, “It’s the water.”

The Foothills Letters & Perspectives THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

is published bi-weekly. All contents are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. All submissions to this newspaper become property of THE FOOTHILLS PAPER and may not be republished in whole or in part. The opinions expressed by contributing writers do not necessarily express the views of the publisher nor staff of this newspaper. TFP is available free of charge. No person may, without prior written permission from TFP, take more than one copy of each edition (stated value: $1).

Only authorized TFP distributors may distribute THE FOOTHILLS PAPER. THE FOOTHILLS PAPER is a non-profit newspaper produced by the OSS-Spectrum group.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR/PUBLISHER Dr. David DeMullé

editor@thefoothillspaper.com TECHNICAL EDITOR Randall Fleming ftp@thepaper.ws STAFF ASSISTANT Dyan McManus WITH THANKS TO The ILS Foundation for Their Support

THE FOOTHILLS PAPER TheFoothillsPaper.COM P.O. Box 444, Tujunga CA 91043 818-951-0943

L.A. Press Club Press Photographers Association of Greater Los Angeles International Combat Camera Association

An Open Letter to CHSRA’s Closed Meetings Dear Chairman Richard, Board Members and Project Staff, We sent the attached letter to you in early December and have had zero response.

Chairman Richard, as indicated in a past communication, we are also writing to you as our Board representative until such time as a board member is appointed to represent our portion of Southern California on the CHSRA board.

To be clear, we are seeking action and accountability, not a written response or terse letter from anyone associated with CHSRA as we are stakeholders, taxpayers and impacted communities, and you are public servants.

There are several very serious issues outlined in our communication that warrant action by CHSRA. Some have said in jest we should feel fortunate NOT to have received PTE letters this Christmas Eve as was the case in 2014 (Dan Richard, that’s why your defense of staff rings so hollow as there was never an apology or amends made for that mistake just a year ago, nor the additional mistake of introducing the East Corridor routes at a meeting in Santa Clarita on December 2 rather than face to face in

our communities). It’s clear the missed timelines, budget pressures and rising public opposition to your project is making the Authority take shortcuts, cut corners and make even more mistakes.

As stated when we transmitted the attached communication to you on the one year anniversary of the East Corridor routes, CHSRA has done, and continues to do, our communities wrong. We will not roll over, we will not cut CHSRA slack and we will not allow CHSRA to run rampant through our communities, lives and public lands.

Your organization contin-

ues to make grievous errors against our communities and we demand our issues be dealt with publicly and transparently. First and foremost, surface alignments must be eliminated as was planned and communicated to our County Supervisor’s office back in May 2015. For the others, please refer to the attached letter.

We again call for an open, public meeting in January, in the San Fernando Valley, facilitated by our local elected officials where CHSRA is reviewed on its record versus the points raised in our letter.

We look forward to your

action and to restoring peace and a sense of normalcy to our suffering communities.

On behalf of the SAFE Coalition, all the community leaders represented at our December 2 Anniversary meeting and the residents impacted by the poorly conceived Palmdale to Burbank route alternatives, we look forward to and expect far greater performance from CHSRA in 2016.

Dave DePinto, President, Shadow Hills Property Owners Assn.

Member, SAFE Coalition •••

S-T Neighborhood Council elections are coming! Will it change anything?

4 — FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 12 • NUMBER 1

Nicholas McGegan to Conduct Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto With Sean Chen

Attention All Veterans,

Sons, Daughters and Wives of Veterans

Come and Enjoy your local American Legion Post Help support Veterans and Veterans’ Causes

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Saturday, January 9 Karaoke Night 8 p.m.

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Sunday, January 10

Post Breakfast 10 a.m. - Noon

Bacon, ham, eggs, pancakes, French toast

Post Meetings: 12 noon, Auxiliary 12:30, Sons • 1 p.m., Legion ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Saturday, January 16 Birthday Dinner/Dance

Dinner by Tom Smoker and Doug Slater/ Papa Stew Band ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Special Drink Every Sunday $3.25 Served with A Light Lunch

Fun time with Geno Ferone & Suzy Mullin ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Monday Night Football

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

American Legion Post 377

10039 Pinewood Avenue, Tujunga

(818) 353-9856 Events open to the Public

Canteen Hours - 7 days a week, 2- 10 p.m.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For Hall Rental, call Commander Dan at

(818) 521-1137

Start your New Year off right with the Pasadena Symphony and Principal Guest Conductor Nicholas McGegan as he delivers Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5, the “Emperor, on January 9th at Ambassador Auditorium. “One of the finest baroque conductors of his generation” (London Independent), two-time Grammy nominee McGegan is increasingly recognized for his probing and revelatory explorations of music of all periods.

McGegan is sure to infuse the program with his jovial spirit, having been celebrated as “in fact the sunniest conductor in classical music!” by the Los Angeles Times. Don’t miss the expert master of Classical interpretations as he applies his historical performance practice and deeply personal interpretation to Beethoven’s beloved fifth and final piano concerto.

For McGegan’s highly anticipated return, pianist Sean Chen will bring to life Beethoven’s sublime, beautiful, and exuberant piano concerto. Hailed as a charismatic rising star with “an exceptional ability to connect with an audience combined with an easy virtuosity” (Huffington Post), 27-year-old Chen earned third prize in the 2013 Van Cliburn competition winner, and was recently named a 2015 fellow by the prestigious Leonore Annenberg Fellowship Fund for the Performing Arts. A prodigious talent, he regularly appears with orchestras in the US and around the

Sean Chen at the piano. world and has earned accolades for his “alluring, colorfully shaded renditions “(New York Times). A native of Oak Park, CA, Chen returns to his Southern California roots for this exclusive engagement.

The concert’s program is purely classical with Sergei Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony and Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony accompanying Beethoven’s “Emperor”.

Prokofiev’s only Classical symphony is the Modern Russian composers throw back to the Classical masters.

The overall Classical style of the Symphony makes it easy to forget it is a twentiethcentury creation. Schubert wrote his Unfinished Symphony at a time when the young composer was in awe of Beethoven and harbored an almost naïve desire to emulate him. Scholars suggest that one possible reason for Schubert’s inability to complete the piece was his realization that he was unable to live up to such lofty standards.

The Pasadena Symphony

provides a socially vibrant experience specially designed for the music lover, the social butterfly or a date night out, and the inner epicurean in us all. Enjoy a drink or a bite in the luxurious Sierra Auto Symphony Lounge, yet another addition to the delightful and elegant concert experience the Pasadena Symphony offers. A posh setting at Ambassador Auditorium’s beautiful outdoor plaza, the lounge offers specialized menus for each concert by Claud & Co for both lunch and dinner, a full bar and fine wines by Michero Family Wines, plus music before the concert and during intermission.

Performances on January 9 take place at both 2 and 8 p.m. and are accompanied by pre-concert discussions with Nicholas McGegan one hour before curtain. The Ambassador Auditorium is located at 131 South St. John Avenue in Pasadena. Ticket prices start at $35 and may be purchased online at www.pasadenasymphony-pops.org or by calling (626) 793-7172.

7222 Foothill Blvd. Tujunga, CA 91042 IN THE COMMERCE CENTER

(818) 353-7676

Frootopia is now serving fresh-brewed coffee!

Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

WINTER SPECIAL: get a free 12-oz. hot coffee with your frozen yogurt purchase!

THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 — 5

VOLUME 12 • NUMBER 1 • www.thefoothillspaper.com

Portobello Wellington Appetizers — New Year’s Version by

Artfully

Chef Randy

Are you looking for an amazing appetizer to add to your New Year’s celebration table? Look no further.

The pairing of Portobello mushroom earthiness with fresh winter kale and the creamy goodness of Stilton cheese will delight both family and friends. Serve with a sparkling wine and this is a combination that can’t be beat.

Here’s an added bonus: these puff pastry appetizers can be made ahead of time and kept refrigerated until ready to bake.

Ingredients: 4 medium Portobello mushrooms 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 bunch fresh red chard (ribs trimmed, leaves cut into ribbons) 1 clove garlic (minced) 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice Salt and pepper to taste 4 ounces Stilton cheese (sliced) 1 package puff pastry sheets 1 large egg (beaten) 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Remove the stalks from the mushrooms and brush off the tops. Heat two tablespoons of the oil in a large frying pan

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The Gallery System

on medium heat and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden and cooked through.

Remove the mushrooms from the pan and set the pan and the mushrooms aside.

Clean chard leaves under running cold water. Hold the stem of one leaf in your hand and grasping the leafy part with your other hand, tear the rib away from the stem. Discard stems and cut leaves into ¼-inch ribbons.

Place the pan back on the stove and add the other two tablespoons oil. Add the garlic and cook on medium-high heat for one minute. Add the chard to the pan, and then cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, add lemon, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.

Roll the pastry out to ⅛-inch thickness. Cut out 8

circles about 4 inches in diameter (depending upon the size of the mushrooms).

Place 4 pastry circles on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.

Top each circle with a quarter of the chard. Top the chard with a slice of cheese, then a mushroom, smooth-side up, and top the mushroom with another slice of cheese. Brush the border to each circle with egg, then gently stretch one of the four remaining circles over the cheese and press the edges together with a fork.

Repeat 3 more times.

Brush the tops with egg wash and sprinkle thyme leaves on top. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden. Remove from oven and cool on a rack for 5 minutes before serving. Serve with a side of gravy if desired.

For additional recipes, see Chef Randy’s website at

valley-vegetarian.com

I’ve always felt that you suspect in others what you yourself are guilty of. If you are a liar and a cheat, you suspect everyone to be a liar and a cheat. If you are deceitful, you expect everyone you deal with will be deceitful. It makes perfect common sense to me. All any artist wants from a gallery is to be genuinely treated with fairness. I don’t know of one artist who has said to me that their only reason for seeking a gallery was to cheat them. Once, artist’s needed galleries to show their work. This is changing and the suspicion from galleries is that artists are out to cheat them of their “deserved rewards.” Where is it written that any galley should take a higher percentage of the sale?

I understand a gallery has overhead. But so do artists.

Actually the artist’s investment is greater than the galleries investment. Both have rent/mortgage, phone, utilities. I won’t list the costs artists pay in fees, shipping, and transportation. Paint and supply costs alone have skyrocketed with more people painting. Material costs balance out in the end. But, emotional cost is greater for the artist.

It’s the artist that is on the line, not the gallery.

The nature of the gallery system is that galleries believe they are entitled to more because they have availability to “money people”, which entitles them to a greater share of the profits. But without artwork to sell, there would be no need for patrons. Galleries

are an invention of those who believed they could sell artwork which would give artists freedom to paint. But gallery owners use this as an opportunity to tip the scales. Traditionally, artists are notoriously bad with business or were just not adept at business or busy making art to conduct business. So galleries started setting the rules, in their favor, and sowed the seeds for their eventual diminished importance. Artists also were too willing to agree to “the gallery system”. Today, artists have website, galleries have become suspicious and mistrustful that artists will make their own sales. AND, in all fairness, some artists are probably thinking of ways around the gallery. When I was a child, my mother taught me to be true and honest and treat everyone fairly. When I became an adult, she told me a different story. I am reminded of her teaching and she, with a clear voice said, “the advice I gave was for when you were a child”. Today artists have alternatives and they are exercising them more. In the end what galleries have to realize is there are more potential buyers surfing the net than are visiting physical galleries. Buyers also know they can get a better price without paying for gallery overhead.

As a post script, galleries still exist today and will in the future. Some are run honestly.

Do your research when choosing your gallery. It’s your artwork. Take pride in it and don’t sell it short.

6 — FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 12 • NUMBER 1

Meet Sam, your family care specialist Shawarma House is now serving Burgers, Fries & Pizza!

THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 — 7

VOLUME 12 • NUMBER 1 • www.thefoothillspaper.com

Foothills Pet Page Keep Your Pets Safe Sharon Miller Art Demonstration This Holiday Season For many of us, our pets are a part of our families. Make sure they stay safe during all of the holiday festivities with these helpful tips.

Create a quiet space for pets. The holidays area chaotic time, especially when it’s your turn to host the annual party. Set up a private space for your pets to allow them to relax when they need a break, especially if the}”re skinish or anxious by nature.

Keep food out of reach.

Although most dogs and cats will happily eat scraps from the table, there are many foods they shouldn’t eat.

Other items such as turkey bones. wrappers, etc. also pose a choking hazard for your furry friends.

Clean spills right away. If an ornament or decoration happens to break. be sure to sweep up the pieces right away so that your pets don’t

Sharon Miller will be performing a free art demonstration on Saturday, January 14 at the Sunland-Tujunga Art cut themselves on any broken Association which is located glass or shards. at the La Cresenta Spirtual Rethink your decor. Hooks, Center on at 4845 Dunsmore tinsel and glass items can Avenue in La Cresenta. The be dangerous for curious even will be held from at 7 pets, especially if swallowed. p.m. until 9 p.m.

Additionally, candles may There will be a raffle burn animals and create a drawing of one of Miller’s fire hazard. Keep these items paintings as well. up high or avoid using them On the following Saturday, all together. she will be holding a work Avoid toxic plants. shop at the Sunland Library Although popular this time of or the Spiritual Center. The year, plants like lilies, holly charge is $20 per member and and mistletoe are highly $30 for non members. toxic to animals if ingested.

To find out which venue at Even poinsettias are known which the demonstration will to cause some irritation if be held, please call Nancy swallowed or exposed to the Bearce at (818) 736-7492. skin. Avoid purchasing these This number may also be used plants and be sure to inspect to reserve a seat at the event. bouquets given to you by guests to ensure your pets stay safe.

Watch your tree water. Tree water is tempting for many dogs and cats who want to see Safe, page 9

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8 — FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

Talking to Myself

by Jim

Laris

OK, I talk to myself. And not only that. I answer myself.

You may ask why I talk to myself. And I may answer, because my self is the only one that will talk to me. Can you hear that little slurping sound? That is the sound of all the shrinks in Pasadena licking their lips.

And not only do I talk to and answer myself, I talk to the imaginary people I have conversations with and answer them, too. Let me give you a recent example. I go into my favorite coffee place the other day, and I am carrying a container of yogurt with me. As I am going up to the counter to order my coffee, I say to myself, “Self, is it OK that you are carrying a little container of yogurt that you have not purchased here, because they don’t offer any little yogurt containers?”

But then I think the manager will see me and he will say, “Uh, excuse me, yogurt carrier, but do you think, maybe, you could buy something from us since you are in our store and we are a small business trying to survive in this suck econo-

my, and we are providing you with a comfortable and safe place, cleaner than your house, to drink your coffee and lead a nice middle-class life?”

And I say to either him or myself, I can’t quite figure out whom, “Well, what if I just bought a cup of coffee and I wasn’t carrying a cup of yogurt with me, would I then be considered a responsible patron?” The answer remains a mystery because, obviously, the manager has never even heard my imaginary question and I myself do not know what the answer is, although I lean toward being on the side of myself.

So I get my coffee and I go to my table and sit down. I take my yogurt in one hand and I notice that the top of the yogurt container has a little secondary container of nuts attached to the top of the main yogurt container. Are you with me? (I would talk to you more about this, but I don’t want that many people in on the conversation with myself.)

So I take the nuts container off, and I notice that there is a tinfoil lid on the yogurt container. And that there is a little tinfoil flap on the tinfoil

lid that you have to pull up to gain full yogurt access.

So, of course, I pull up on the flap, and I hear this little spritzy sound and a glob of strawberry yogurt squirts out and lands on my shirt. It kind of startles me. (I startle easily.)

And I lean my head back to look at it, and I notice the guy next to me looking at my yogurt glob on my shirt. And then he notices me noticing him, and he looks away like he hasn’t really seen my yogurt glob. And then I quickly talk to myself and wonder if I should acknowledge somehow that I know he saw my yogurt glob, and tell him that I’m usually a person whose shirts don’t have yogurt stains on them, and that this was just a one-time act of sloppy and careless flap-lifting. Or maybe I should just tell him to just buzz the hell off, or maybe even walk over and smear some uneaten strawberry yogurt all over his Dockers. I talk myself quickly out of that last option. Because I am a sane, civil human being? No. Because he’s bigger than I am.

So now I am sitting there with a yogurt glob on my shirt and a flap full of yogurt on the

www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 12 • NUMBER 1

underside of its lid. So I ask myself if I should lick the lid.

And, of course, my self says I should. So I lick the lid, and then place it licked-side-down on one of my napkins. And I can’t help myself, but I glance over to see if my favorite yogurt-glob observer has seen me lid licking. Thank God he hasn’t; that saves me one imaginary conversation.

So then I grab the little container of nuts, which has its own little flap on it. But this damn flap is too small for me to get my semi-fat fingers to pull on, and I have to use my teeth. But before I use my teeth, I ask myself, “Self, should I use my teeth? Self, is using teeth to pull nut flaps off a yogurt lid in a public place OK?” And apparently my self has given me the OK, because I start using my teeth like a pirate.

So now I empty my little packet of nuts into my strawberry yogurt, and I am all set to thoroughly mix my nuts, which are on top of my yogurt, deep into the yogurt beneath the nuts, and then finally eat my evenly distributed nut yogurt and drink my coffee and lead a relatively happy life.

Jim Laris is Jim Laris.

But then I realize something — I do not have a spoon. No frigging spoon. My head drops to my chest, just missing the yogurt glob.

I sigh a long, audible sigh.

I ask myself if I think the manager would give me a spoon to eat snuck-in yogurt not purchased in his store. I answer myself that he would probably use a phrase that had “over my dead small-business owner’s body” in it.

So I ask myself if you can eat nut-filled yogurt with one of those little coffee-stirrer piece-of-crap thin wooden dealies. My self said, “No, but if you use two of them together, it should work pretty well, Dummy Butt-Face.”

Well, my self was right. It did work well. But why would my self call me “Dummy ButtFace?”

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VOLUME 12 • NUMBER 1 • www.thefoothillspaper.com

“LAFH and LAHSA centers, emergency shelters, Fuentes, from pg. 1 provide critical services to safe havens, transitional may receive sandbags and our homeless population. and permanent housing, and sand at the following locations Because of their expertise and prevention, along with the in the district: Fire Station 24 knowledge, they will be able necessary supportive services (Shadow Hills/ Sunland) on to bring the necessary tools to designed to provide the tools 9411 Wentworth Street, (818) begin addressing homelessand skills required to attain a 756-8624 or Fire Station 74 ness in the San Fernando stable housing environment.

(Sunland/Tujunga), on 7747 Valley,” said Councilmember `Additionally, Councilmember Foothill Boulevard, (818) Fuentes.

Fuentes saw a need to provide 756-8674 (CD-7 field office).

“L.A. Family Housing has long pathways to success for our “More information may be been involved in the efforts youth while beautifying found at www.lafd.org/news/ to end homelessness in the and greening the District. lafd-provides-sandbagsSunland-Tujunga community,” “Through service projects for homeowners-1. said John Horn, Vice-President our school-aged youth and “Shovels are inside the fire of Programs, LAFH. “Our at-risk young adults, LACC stations. Once the stock of presence on an ongoing basis will help keep our streets bags or dirt (at selected stawill help us increase the level clean and green,” said the tions) is low or out, the station of services we can provide and Councilmember. will call the bureau to replenwill allow us to better respond “This partnership mutually ish. Community members to service needs.” benefits Los Angeles and the should alert their respective Fuentes made clear his surrounding communities stations if sand and bags are concern for the problem of as well as the Corps,” says out. This is a valid concern for homelessness in S-T: “By Wendy Butts, Chief Executive the entire district. That’s why partnering with these service Officer for the Los Angeles I will continue to work with providers, we are responding Conservation Corps. “By LAFD to get briefed during to the growing need for serworking on conservation the rains.” vices for chronically homeless service projects, our Corps With El Niño getting closer individuals. Tackling this city- members will receive valuwith its projected large rainfall, wide issue cannot and must able work experience and (we) are coordinating with not wait, therefore providing marketable job skills that the different agencies and space was necessary to better owners of private property in serve the area.” and around the Big Tujunga LAFH provides various Canyon, to make sure that all resources such as outreach safety concerns are addressed. and assessment, housing Informed sources state that location and placement, case the water level in the Big Tumanagement, job training and junga Canyon wash could rise employment services, child to three or four feet. Anyone care and tutoring, continuing living in the wash would be in education services, financial grave danger. literacy, onsite primary and behavioral health care and more.

MANY PROBLEMS They are our Coordinated TO ADDRESS Entry Service (CES) provider Since taking office more in the County’s largest Service than two years ago, FuenPlanning Area (SPA). tes has made it a priority to LAHSA’s mission is to partner with social services support, create and sustain agencies to provide resources solutions to homelessness in to address quality of life Los Angeles County by proissues such as graffiti, trash viding leadership, advocacy, and homelessness in our planning, and management of neighborhoods. program funding along with Over the years, he’s met LAFH. Through both orgawith community organizations nizations, funding, program that have discussed these design, outcomes assessment concerns — which is why and technical assistance is he has provided space at the provided to more than 100 Sunland-Tujunga Neighbornon-profit partner agencies hood City Hall, a city-owned that assist homeless persons property, to (LAFH), Los achieve independence and staAngeles Homeless Services bility in permanent housing.

Authority (LAHSA), and Los Their partner agencies proAngeles Conservation Corps vide a continuum of programs (LACC). ranging from outreach, access

Size, from pg. 2 no longer share my umbrella.

As I watched him run ahead (twice as fast as my

Safe, from pg. 7 quench their thirst. However, it can cause intestinal problems. If your heart is set on having a real tree, buy a smaller one and put it somewhere out of reach or

coffee-table length legs could take me) and getting pelted with freezing rain, I thought, I don’t envy the man.

surround it with a dog fence.

Keep small items out of reach. Small items such as gifts, trinkets, confetti or balloons pose a choking hazard for many animals. Put them up high and instruct your guests to do the same.

THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 — 9

will open countless doors for them once they leave our program. Residents, though, will notice a marked shift in their neighborhood. The areas in which we work will be greener, and streets and alleys will be cleaner and safer to navigate, which in turn improves residents’ quality of life and will create a sense of pride in their community.”

Also, the organization will maintain the Howard Finn Community Garden to allow access to healthful foods as well as to educate our residents about healthy living.

Fuentes added, “I’m excited about this new time in Council District Seven.

There will be an open house early next year after all of the tenants move in. Community members will have the opportunity to welcome and meet representatives from each of the organizations.” `“The end goal is to ensure EVERYONE in our communities is safe and receives

the services they need and deserve,” he said. `“Additionally, I want to reiterate that community members, time and time again, have called the council office, voicing their strong concerns about homelessness in the area. It’s why I sought to bring the service providers into the North Valley City Hall who WILL BE directly addressing our local challenges. As you know, the entire city is dealing with homelessness.

In Sunland-Tujunga, it’s no different. The community will not be a magnet, and over time folks will see we are helping deal with the issues we are facing in the district. `Another major concern, in which our council office heard numerous times, is illegal dumping. LACC will be addressing many of those concerns. Our youth will be doing a number of service projects, in fact, I believe the newest group of corps will be starting soon, in the area.”

10 — FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

Crime Stats

Theft 12/23/15 12:30 AM 7000 BLOCK OF SHADYGROVE ST Theft 12/22/15 06:30 PM 10400 BLOCK OF SAMOA AV Theft 12/23/15 12:53 PM 5500 BLOCK OF PINE GLEN RD Assault 12/10/15 08:00 AM 10400 BLOCK OF QUILL AV Theft 12/21/15 06:55 PM 6300 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL Burglary 12/21/15 01:38 AM 7100 BLOCK OF SAINT ESTABAN ST Theft 12/21/15 04:00 AM 8400 BLOCK OF GRENOBLE ST Theft 12/16/15 08:00 PM 9700 BLOCK OF CABANAS AV Theft 12/19/15 11:00 PM 10100 BLOCK OF MATHER AV Theft 12/19/15 03:55 AM 8300 BLOCK OF KYLE ST Theft 12/19/15 04:10 PM 00 BLOCK OF WENTWORTH ST AND FOOTHILL BL

Theft 12/16/15 07:00 PM 9700 BLOCK OF CABANAS AV Theft 12/16/15 06:30 PM 9800 BLOCK OF CABANAS AV Theft 12/09/15 06:30 PM 10100 BLOCK OF COMMERCE AV Theft 12/14/15 11:30 PM 00

Theft 12/14/15 03:40 AM 10400 BLOCK OF HILLHAVEN AV Theft 12/14/15 05:00 PM 10100 BLOCK OF PARR AV Theft 12/13/15 09:00 PM 10500 BLOCK OF SHERMAN GROVE AV Theft 12/06/15 04:00 PM 10600 BLOCK OF FRANLIE DR Assault 12/14/15 03:10 PM CONOVER ST & FOOTHILL BLVD Theft 12/10/15 05:00 PM 10700 BLOCK OF BIG BEND AV Robbery 12/11/15 09:57 AM 6800 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL Burglary 12/07/15 07:00 AM 8200 BLOCK OF MCGROARTY ST Theft 12/10/15 09:17 AM 6600 BLOCK OF ELMHURST DR Assault 12/10/15 04:00 PM 7700 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL Theft 12/04/15 09:00 AM 7700 BLOCK OF LE BERTHON ST Theft 12/08/15 04:00 PM 10300 BLOCK OF NASSAU AV Theft 12/08/15 01:00 PM 7600 BLOCK OF THOUSAND OAKS DR Theft 12/09/15 12:00 PM 10600 BLOCK OF PLAINVIEW AV Theft 12/05/15 04:00 AM 10400 BLOCK OF MCVINE AV Theft 12/01/15 11:00 AM 9500 BLOCK OF CONOVER ST Theft 12/24/15 04:00 PM 10400 BLOCK OF SUNLAND BL

Rain and wind caused this tree to fall. by

David DeMullé

I hope this does not happen to you, but if it does, here is how you can save your trees (...and you might want to take preventative action on any trees that are leaning now).

By the way, if the tree falls over, cut it up for firewood it cannot be saved. These instructions only apply to trees that are over 20 feet high.

You can do the periodic maintenance yourself or you can call a qualified tree management company such as Apers Tree Service.

1. Check your trees periodically to make sure that the roots have not begun to grow above the ground. If you feel that the dirt surrounding the tree is soft, you will need to stabilize the tree (stop it from leaning). The best way to do this is by propping it up. Anything long enough and strong enough will do. Your local friendly engineering work-

shop will make you up a Y of the large branches that is shaped prop, or you can use a causing the tree to lean. This stout bit of timber (cut down reduces the weight that is floor or roof joist from a skip, causing the tree to lean. You 3”x 3” fence post, something can do another the year after like that). An Acrow prop and so on. This winter or next would be the best if you can spring, prune the side AWAY get one; they are incredibly from where the tree is leaning strong and capable of being and prune it HARD. made longer or shorter while It sounds bad, but it will in position. cause new growth on the Ideally you want to give the “good” side which will help prop a foundation, so it does stop it falling over. not drive into the soil under 3. As a minimum, the tree the weight of the tree. Obvishould stabilise and more root ously a concrete footing is will form away from the dibest, but a paving slab will rection it is leaning which do the job, even a large rock. will anchor it. If it is relativeThe prop needs to be as close ly small, you can gradually to right angles to the trunk of force it upright as the tree rethe tree as possible and held shapes. Keep on pushing it up really tightly by the foundaand in a few years it will be tion. Concrete does this all by vertical. itself. For anything else jam the prop in by hitting its base Trees are a beautiful additowards the bottom of the tree tion to your property providso it slides across and then ing shade in the summer and gets stuck on the foundation. a buffer against wind and rain 2. Ideally in winter (but if in the winter. You owe it to the tree is leaning badly do it yourself to keep them healthy now) completely cut out one and secure.

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Theft 12/18/15 06:30 AM 10800 BLOCK OF ELDORA AV

Theft 12/14/15 08:00 PM 10100 BLOCK OF LEONA AV

vic

Theft 12/16/15 10:30 AM 6300 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL

BLOCK OF HILLHAVEN CT AND VALMONT AV

r

Theft 12/23/15 05:30 PM 00 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL AND MOUNT GLEASON AV

Protect Those Beautiful Trees

Ape

Theft 12/20/15 07:00 PM 11100 BLOCK OF PROVENCE LN

www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 12 • NUMBER 1

E-MAIL: ats52914@gmail.com

(818) 232-1177 Call or Text

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THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 — 11

VOLUME 12 • NUMBER 1 • www.thefoothillspaper.com

7035 Foothill Blvd., Tujunga CA 91042

Tailor - Alterations

Christmas tree recycling at Sunland Park. Get rid of your tree after Christmas or when it becomes dry.

Dried-out trees are a dangerous fire hazard and should not be left in the home or placed outside. To recycle your Christmas tree, please remove all tinsel, decorations and the stand. Cut the tree in half and place it in your L.A. City Sanitation green clippings container. If it does not fit, set it next to the green container curbside. Additionally, L.A. Sanitation operates 27 tree drop-off locations. Drop-off bins will be available from December 14 until January 18. Remember: flocked trees cannot be recycled. Cut and place them in the black container. For locations, visit www.lacitysan.org/tree-recycle.html.

8421 Foothill Blvd.

Store: (818) 353-5416

Sunland, CA 91040

Cell: (818) 645-2430

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12 — FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 12 • NUMBER 1

They Do More Than Fight Fires! by

David DeMullé

If you ask residents of Sunland-Tujunga which they fear most: becoming a victim of crime or having their home catch fire? Chances are they will cite crime as their main concern, and by a large margin. Is it any wonder then that the city’s public safety funding priorities favor the police department over the fire department?

Over these past 11 years, we have seen the ranks of the fire department rise and fall and with it goes the amount of emergency medical personnel. We have seen all the fire trucks racing up and down Foothill Boulevard and wondered why it was necessary for all those vehicles to respond to an accident or injury. It’s because of the need for manpower that might be needed at the scene.

Until they actually arrive at the scene, the fire company really doesn’t know what they are going to find, and it would not be good for them to have to call back to the station for additional manpower or specialized equipment. And they have to be there as quickly as possible.

Over the past five years, budget constraints and hiring moratoriums have depleted the ranks of both the fire and police departments. Our politicians have to walk a very narrow line in meeting public needs. And let’s not forget that the number one priority of the city is PUBLIC SAFETY. Public safety means the fast and efficient deployment of emergency medical services. If you or a loved one is having a heart attack

or stroke and 911 is called, more than any other time in your life you need help from city government. So maybe we should rephrase the question to “what are the probabilities that you will need (1) a paramedic, or (2) a police officer?” The answers will probably be BOTH. In a previous analysis of the types of calls the fire department makes, it was estimated that in 85% of the time the runs were for emergency medical. Only one-in-five were for fire suppression.

Firefighters are a proud lot.

And justifiably so. When it comes to public safety, they are like the Marines storming a beachhead: always standing ready to go in harm’s way. At one fire briefing I attended, the chief said, “Where else in the world when people are running out of a flaming building do you find people running INTO the building? It’s a great life, and a fun job. Think safe.”

It is understandable that their pride comes from fighting fires. They are not content to simply contain fires from spreading to other structures. They attack fires, and in so doing they invite greater personal risk than most people ever know or should reasonably expect.

We have brush fires and wild fires that our local fire stations respond to, they respond to traffic accidents and medical incidents, they respond to shootings and stabbings, they respond to lost or injured hikers.

These are the very same people that you see standing on the corner soliciting funds for the “Fill A Boot” charity.

These are our local heroes.

Bring the gift card above to Classy Jewelers before January 7, 2016 and receive $100 off any jewelry purchase of $250 or more. We look forward to seeing you soon.

8325-D Foothill Boulevard, Sunland CA 91040 • (818) 352-2380