THE FOOTHILLS PAPER - NOVEMBER 27, 2015

NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED! See below

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FRIDAY • NOVEMBER 27, 2015

TELLING THE TRUTH FOR OVER 11 YEARS!

VOLUME 11 • NUMBER 24

Clean-up of Big-T Causes Homeless to Leave

The Good...

...The Bad...

...and The Ugly!

Art Miner and Brian Schneider.

EPA guy Dana Cole.

Felipe Fuentes flees the scene!

David DeMullé

“down and dirty” in the Big-T. There have been dis What started as just a few coordinated attempts over people talking about the trash the years to clean out the in the Big Tujunga wash wash, but it took the finding ballooned into a groundswell of a decomposing body, a of over 150 local residents mummified hand and more pitching in and getting than 8 fires in the past 3 by

INSIDE: STNC Neighborhood Watch Report ................

Denny’s Break-in ................

Art Via Art ................

months to activate the locals to take matters into their own hands and physically remove the danger to the native habitat and the residents of Riverwood Ranch.

For the past 2 months, a few concerned citizens such

as Kurt Koesler took the first step and did preliminary cleanups in and around the Big-T. It was a good attempt, but the scope and magnitude was so large, that their efforts were only a Band-Aid on a festering wound.

It was these initial efforts that moved the arundo aside like a curtain and exposed the hidden camps hidden within. For years, law enforcement, DWP security and the Santa Monica Mountain see Clean-up, page 9

The Community Feeding The Community

4 5 6

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 S-T Crime Stats................... 10 Take My Card..................... 11

Sunland-Tujunga residents volunteer to serve a Thanksgiving meal to their limited income neighbors. by

David DeMullé

Last Sunday, more than 250 local residents, homeless and just plain good folks were feted with an incredible array of Thanksgiving foods. The foods were prepared and

served by members of the Chapel of The Hills, Sunland Neighborhood, Community Christian and New Hope churches.

Community church members stood behind the tables ladling out the turkey, mashed

potatoes, yams and bread to the line of people that stretched around the block.

Pattee Colvin, director of this activity, was there to greet the people who enjoyed the warm weather and came to the Compassion Ministry Community

Dinner Service, as well as partake of the great food.

For those that couldn’t travel to the church, “take out” boxes were delivered by volunteers. This is a great case of people doing the right thing for their neighbors.

All these stories and more can be seen at:

http://facebook.com/thefoothillspaper

MORE EXPANDED COVERAGE AND DISTRIBUTION SITES

2 — FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 11 • NUMBER 24

La Cañada Congregational Church Chancel Choir presents

A Baroque Christmas Concert Vivaldi’s “Magnificat” and

J.S. Bach’s Cantata 140 “Sleepers, Wake!”

Soloists and Orchestra: Mariana Ramirez (soprano), Christina Thomas (mezzo) Russell Smith (tenor), Matthew Lewis (bass) Joseph Klice, accompanist

Harold Daugherty, conductor

Sunday, December 6, 4 p.m.

La Cañada Congregational Church 1200 Foothill Boulevard La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011

818-790-1185

My Two Cents

Cuffing Season As the days grow darker and colder, people stay in more and socialize less. The desire for homebody’s to have a companion to settle in and cuddle with for winter has given birth to “Cuffing Season.” Cuffing Season is when you have a seasonal partner from October to about February.

Since Cuffing Season spans the entire holiday season it makes going to Aunt Alice’s for Thanksgiving less stressful for the single person. The single niece won’t dread having Aunt Alice ask, “Are you dating? Why aren’t you dating?” The pressure to answer unwanted, personal questions is removed when you show up with your seasonal partner.

Now, Aunt Alice can concern herself with her dry, cooked turkey, rather than your dry dating spell.

I fear if one of you falls for the other and the love’s unrequited things can get hairy

and become a case of Fatal Attraction. I’d advise a signed contract to avoid messy endings. Let your partner know from the beginning they’re as expendable as holly on the tree.

During this short, whirlwind, crazy, mad-capped romance I’d advise the two lovebirds not to exchange gifts—especially expensive ones. Why drain the bank account when you won’t get a return on your investment?

Makes no sense. A pair of nice, wooly socks makes sense. They’ll last the season (cuffing and holiday,) and when they get a hole, you can toss them along with your partner whose time was up.

I’d also advise no posting on Facebook because six months later you’ll change you’re status back to single. But, if you want to make a Facebook friend jealous, go for it.

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We have Free Range Turkeys all year long!

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see Cuffing, page 9

Cindy Argiento is a freelance columnist. To check out her book and laugh along at her other works, go to cindyargiento.com. She may be contacted via cargiento@aol.com.

For the absolute best steak, get Harmony Farms’

Australian “Kobe-style” Wagyu Beef!

THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015 — 3

VOLUME 11 • NUMBER 24 • www.thefoothillspaper.com

I would never have believed it if I hadn’t seen it firsthand. The local citizens took over and did something that was cost effective and remedied a major problem in the Big Tujunga Wash that has been growing for the past five years. And of course, “No good deed goes unpunished!”

Now don’t get me wrong. I’ve had to deal with pompous asses on the STNC for years, but NEVER have I seen an elected official go out of his way to destroy a city community organization that works to help the community.

First, Fuentes evicted everyone from the North Valley City Hall.

Then to make sure that the Neighborhood Council could never come back, he informed them that he was going to open the auditorium as a homeless emergency shelter.

AND THEN when a totally non-city related group of local

residents did a cleanup of the Big-T where drugs and the activities of the mentally challenged were a daily occurrence, he quickly reacted and brought in a federal agency to fine and possibly imprison them.

What a sorry excuse for a human being we have in Felipe Fuentes. And WE elected him.

Maybe if he wasn’t so busy kissing everyone’s ass in his future attempt to run for mayor, he could stop playing Attila the Hun and work with us.

And that’s only MAYBE. I think that we have finally seen what happens when someone who has the power, actually uses it against the people who voted him in. And it’s not a good sight.

And then we have the chamber of commerce. Oh well, I just had a flashback about the story of Sodom & Gomorrah. Hummmmm...I think I see a parallel here. Could

V IE W

R OCK Fuentes be our God of Destruction?

And here we have the word MAYBE again. This could be our chance to re-invent the neighborhood council and the bankrupt chamber. And MAYBE we could actually have them work for the betterment of our community instead of tearing it apart.

MAYBE Fuentes did us a favor. So instead of crying about

what we’ve lost, now could be the time to re-build our community and bring back the fun things we did before. Remember the Watermelon Festival, The Easter Carnival, the Old-Fashioned Days? We had fun then. The next couple of months will show if we really can make something wonderful out of our town. If not, well we can always say, “It Was The Water!”

The Foothills Letters & Perspectives

S-T Tooth and Nail 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

Dear Editor, Hi, My family lives in the area and has been going to Sunland Family dentistry for a while but as of today we will never return.

I am fed up with the rude service by the staff! We really like the two female dentists but the staff are horrible! They don’t greet customers as they walk in and when they talk to people they are always rude!

I’ve sat in the waiting room listening to the girls at the front desk answering phones and also have experienced it myself that they talk down to people and make them feel stupid.

One customer simply asked where the female hygienist was and the male hygienist got all offended and loud saying she doesn’t want me and she doesn’t want a Latin person. She never said that and she even came out of the room and said that she was just asking where she was and didn’t mind who cleaned her teeth.

I was just yelled at today by the hygienist when I didn’t realize she was talking to me so I said I didn’t know you were talking to me, then she stared me down and then continued to talk very rudely to me. The nice dentists are not worth dealing with their staff.

I’ve seen other posts on your page about people’s opinions so I decided to send you a message and see if my expe-

rience could be heard because this staff needs to change.

•••

Thank you, Tracee V.

Message from the Editor To the communities of Sunland-Tujunga, Shadow Hills, La Crescenta and Lake View Terrace. It’s a new year coming and things have changed.

Now with the demise of the The Voice of the Village and the North Valley Reporter, the Foothills Paper and staff would like to invite EVERYONE from our community to participate and support our local news source, the Foothills Paper. All opinions are welcomed. Please join us by volunteering, writing, submitting photos, submit your upcoming events, school news, church news, even donations and advertisements, anything you can contribute will be welcomed. We will also be restarting our classified ads section in 2016.

4 — FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 11 • NUMBER 24

LAPD Neighborhood Prosecutor Addresses Neighborhood Watch Local crimes drop 50% after Big-T Wash cleanup. Will the trend persist?

Attention All Veterans,

Sons, Daughters and Wives of Veterans

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

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

November 30 Monday Football Night ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

December 12, 8 p.m.

Auxiliary Tree Trimming Party Pot Luck, Karaoke ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

December 19 Traditional Ham Dinner

by Robert Young Working Stiffz Farewell Performance ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thursday, December 31 New Year’s Eve Dinner by Robert Young band TBD ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

by Jon von

Gunten

ter and easy-ups for shade. spond to a call once it’s in STNC Representative to Another two roll-offs of exour system.” If officers don’t LAPD Neighborhood Watch tremely offensive human bio- clear a call from their notichazard await a government or es, it remains and can escalate More than 30 residents atprofessional team. Our clean- to management. GPS units in tended the rescheduled Neigh- up was extensively docupatrol cars guarantee officers borhood Watch meeting Mon- mented by local newspapers, have actually arrived on the day night, November 16, at social media and Los Angeles scene when they clear it. To North Valley City Hall. LAPD Times. follow up on your report, you Foothill Division’s Neighbor- Many transients returned to need an “Incident Number.” hood Prosecutor, attorney Su- the wash and new indigents Get one two days after your san J. Chung, ably stepped in continue to arrive. LAPD or report by calling LAPD. when illness sidelined schedRangers on ATVs will now Contreras apologized that uled speaker, Tujunga’s new help deter squatters. low staffing may cause lowpermanent Senior Lead Offipriority crimes to take as long cer (SLO), Gloria Caloca.

Evicting homeless from as eight hours to receive a car.

Attorney Chung and Sunprivate property To get higher levels of police land’s SLO Cesar Contreras New laws make removcoverage, call and accurategave updates and answered ing transients and their bely report any significant crime. questions about the recent Tulongings from public properVerify the report is logged injunga Wash cleanups, the legal ty more complex, but getting to their system. The more we do’s and don’ts of dealing with LAPD help to remove them call in honest and clear crime criminals among the homefrom private property takes reports, the more we show less, street racers, and a variety three simple—if not always LA City purse-strings that we of other problems. She offers speedy—steps: need more police coverage. help in the legal side law en1. The property owner or manforcement. Reach her at: susan. ager (not just a concerned res- Besides LAPD, jean.chung@lacity.org But re- ident) must verbally notify the who ya gonna call? port crimes directly to LAPD. homeless (preferably a few Residents cited longstand Proposition 47 was again times) that they’re trespassing ing drug houses or apartments blamed for neutering the legal on private property and tell in their neighborhoods. If a system’s efforts to rehabilitate them clearly to leave. (Where criminal is clever enough to addicts. Reduced or no jail ownership is complex, legal avoid police observation, they terms for drug possession— trespassing notices may be can often dodge apprehension. even minor drug sales— needed.)

Chung suggested callsnatched away a legal “crowing Building & Safety (dibar” judges previously used to 2. If no results, owner/manag- al 311) to sic an inspector on force addicts into rehab. er calls LAPD stating s/he has the property. Multiple propnotified the vagrants but got erty violations probably exFifty percent drop in crime no results, and asks LAPD for ist and safety inspectors’ cifollows Wash cleanup! eviction. tations have legal teeth to Following cleanups, SLO enforce cleanup. She said that, Contreras said LAPD were 3. LAPD arrive and eject the in extreme cases, the city can surprised to note a 50 percent intruders, usually without inbegin a legal process called drop in local crime from 15/ cident. “abatement” which—if nonweek down to seven. The opcompliance is extreme and posite had been predicted due If you see homeless campongoing—can even force sale to expectations that criminals ing behind stores, gas stations, of the property. among the homeless would malls, in parking lots, etc., A resident suggested calling wander the community. notify the owner/manager and City Public Health, as crim To avoid confrontations tell them they must notify the inal residents likely disreand encourage homeless safe- transients to leave. Then, if no gard hygiene laws. However, ty during El Niño storms, joy, summon LAPD. put your own safety first! Ask LAPD and Rangers evicted A homeless encampment both agencies if and how your transients from private propin Kagel Canyon exemplified name might be dangerously erty in the Wash before volcomplexity. It covered three shared with the perpetrators unteers entered to clean up. properties with complex prior their attorneys!

LADWP’s Lt. Jiménez was vate and federal ownerships.

We look forward to meetlauded for his responsiveness. Such situations take longer to ing Tujunga’s new permanent Reports say friends and relaresolve, as all owners must be SLO Gloria Caloca at infortives picked up many evicted located and advised how to mal get-togethers and our Dehomeless. Some elected to go participate. cember Neighborhood Watch into shelters.

Transients are a rampant, meeting. Officer Contreras Four days of cleanups incitywide problem that spills knows Officer Caloca from volved nearly 250 local volinto areas of expensive real her previous work at Footunteers—some for a day, estate such as Sherman Oaks hill Division and Juvenile Disome all four days—and hun- and Pacific Palisades. Please vision. He describes her as dreds of private donations remember that not all home“hard-working, dedicated and of money and refreshments. less are criminals and just be- organized.”

The property owner donated ing homeless is not a crime.

We look forward to welheavily for large skip loadcoming LAPD Officer Gloers and roll-offs. AssemblyDoes LAPD respond ria Caloca at our December woman Patty Lopez financed to every call?

Neighborhood Watch meeting. two of eight roll-offs. STNC SLO Contreras asserts, “It’s (Officer Gloria, please take provided chairs, tables, waimpossible for us not to relots of vitamin C!)

THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015 — 5

VOLUME 11 • NUMBER 24 • www.thefoothillspaper.com

Fresh Lima Bean Soup

Artfully

SPEAKING

b

y

R

i

c

k

R

Innovation

I hope this doesn’t make me sound like a know-it-all, but for the first time I feel I am ahead of the curve with being

by Chef Randy 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin economical and efficient.

Ingredients: 1 teaspoon salt When I started painting I used Lima beans are good for 1 pound fresh lima beans Pinch cayenne to purchase ready-made canus. In addition to providing (shelled) Fresh ground pepper to taste vas a great deal and also canslow burning complex carbo- 1 quart vegetable broth ¼ cup fresh parsley (minced vas boards. I also would work hydrates, lima beans can in2 cups water for garnish) on wood veneer or quarter crease your energy by helping 1 tablespoon Better Than inch plywood. For any new to replenish your iron stores.

Bouillon Vegetable Base Directions: artist this is cost effective esA cup of lima beans contains 2 large carrots (diced) Cut stems from cauliflower 24.9% of the daily value for 2 thin slices fresh ginger root and break into florets. Add all pecially since much of what this important mineral. (peeled) ingredients to a large soup pot. was created in those early days was going to turn out Here’s a vegan soup that 2 celery sticks (chopped) Bring to a boil and then retakes advantage of the fresh- 1 small cauliflower duce to a simmer. Simmer for badly and be thrown away or chalked up to experimental shelled lima beans that can 2 bay leaves 60 -70 minutes. Remove the and a learning process. still be found at the Farm1 teaspoon fresh thyme ginger slices and bay leaves After many years of workers’ Market. Get them before leaves before serving. Garnish with ing and growing and experithey’re not in season any1 - 2 tablespoons olive oil parsley and serve with fresh menting, I realized that the more!

1/2 teaspoon turmeric bread from the oven. manufactured canvases For additional recipes, see Chef Randy’s website at weren’t holding up to time.

They showed signs of rot and deterioration. The canvas boards were doing okay but were not very professional for me. So I started buying primed canvas on rolls. I also purchased the stretchers to attach the canvas in more exacting sizes and started preparing and used my own canvases. I would gesso them twice making sure to paint over the edges to get the supLAPD were called Sunday morning to investigate an attempted break-in of the vacant Denny’s port I wanted, and then toned restaurant on Foothill Boulevard. The perps fled the scene leaving behind a hammer them a light brown to match and pry-bar. Although they did open one door, the other remained solid. my pallet and give an undertone to the work I was going to paint. The benefit of this is that the surface of the canvas is exactly as I would like it to be every time. I also re-use them, sanding if necessary and re-gessoing and re-toning them—sometimes several times. I would stack the fresh canvases in a corner and use

valley-vegetarian.com

Denny’s Break-in on Foothill

o

t

a

n

t

e

as needed.

Now, with the economy in shambles and money very tight, I feel what started out as trying to be more professional (in my opinion) turns out to be very economical to say the least. I not only prepare my own canvas, this has also turned out to be a proficient way to work as well as being cost effective. It also has proven to be very economical because you can get many more canvases from a seven foot roll than you can with buying prepared canvases. I should also mention the therapeutic value of keeping busy on non-productive day.

I prep 15 to 20 canvases every month as needed.

The other innovative idea I had was to buy paint in very large caulking gun size tubes online, and not buy paint in those exorbitantly priced four-ounce tubes, which I would go through in two to three paintings. I work in a heavy impasto and the extra paint application can run into money. These large size tubes hold the equivalent of seven to eight smaller four ounce tubes.

Added to this I am creating works of art on smaller sized canvases which are much easier to sell. I continue to create and exhibit larger works along with the smaller works and every once in a while a large painting sells.

So this is my way of being innovative in a down economy. I wish everyone good luck and try and see the cup as half-full.

6 — FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 11 • NUMBER 24

Art Via Art on Foothill Boulevard

There is a new art form on Foothill Boulevard and it really stands out. Created by “Art” of Art Via Art Studio for the Sunland Fighting Club, the mural depicts MMA legends Ronda Rousey and Floyd Mayweather.

Josey’s Discount Outlet Grand Opening: Food and Fun!

Josey’s A to Z Discount Shop in Sunland had its grand opening last Saturday with fun foods and gifts for the kids.

With Christmas coming soon, this is a good place to stock up on gifts.

THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015 — 7

VOLUME 11 • NUMBER 24 • www.thefoothillspaper.com

Foothills Pet Page Expert Tips For Preventing and Treating Tick Bites If you think ticks are a tions and topical treatments concern only in the deep for dogs. woods, it’s time to think again. Quick action can make a big Partially due to migrating deer difference. For the majority of populations, ticks are now tick-borne diseases, you have abundant in suburban and 24 hours to find and remove city backyards—and they’re an attached tick before it spreading disease. transmits an infection, ac “Tick-borne illness is the cording to the University of fastest-growing infectious Rhode Island Tick Encounter disease concern in the U.S.,” Resource Center. says Dan Wolff, wildlife You can use the thin-sided conservation specialist, tick tip to remove small ticks by expert. “To protect both the grasping the tick as close to people and the pets you love, the skin surface as possible it’s important to take prevenand pulling upward with tive steps and know what to even pressure. Use the slotted do if a tick bite occurs.” scoop on the other side to Living with two sons and remove larger ticks on pets two dogs in Eastern Masby placing the slot against sachusetts — an area with a the skin and lifting it off with high tick population — Wolff steady pressure. is no stranger to the dangers After removing the of ticks. He takes these steps tick from a person or pet, when heading outdoors with thoroughly clean the bite area his family: and your hands with rubbing Protect your furry family alcohol, an iodine scrub, or members by asking your vet soap and water. If fever or about proper vaccination rash develop within several and treatment for pets. For weeks of removing the tick, example, there are immuniza- visit a doctor.

Hollywood’s Junkyard Cats by

Karen Perdue

The landmark U-Pick Parts in Sun Valley will be closing its doors on December 31.

The junkyard has been in business since 1962 and a prime location for Hollywood film makers. This location has also become home to 30 cats. Amongst the TV props, filming and collectibles live the Hollywood’s Junkyard Cats.

Once the salvage yard is closed, there will be no place for them to go. This has become their safe haven, safe from the busy streets that surrounds them. The vast salvage yard inventory will be reduced to nothing. No longer will there be shelter of any kind to stay out of the elements which promises to be severe with El Nino headed our way.

All of the cats have been trapped, neutered, and returned (TNR). Beth Eilers of Tujunga saw these gorgeous cats in the junkyard and started to feed and provide fresh water when she learned a prior caretaker of the cats was not able to continue to

do so. Beth saw to it that all the cats received TNR and medical care through FixNation.

These cats can be seen on their Facebook site, “Hollywood’s Junkyard Cats.” A testimonial about the rewards of adopting a cat in dire need is featured. Kristi Schneider and Beth Eilers have joined together to find homes for them. All will be bathed, microchipped, vaccinated and ready to go. Ten are ready and waiting now. The

more outdoor-freedom loving cats can be added to a colony under the right circumstances.

Ideally, they should be adopted out in pairs as most have become best friends with another.

U-Pick Parts has agreed to give access to Kristi and Beth to relocate the cats but asks that potential adopters contact Kristi directly. Her number is (818) 480-8149.

Can you help these cats by adopting, fostering, relocating, or with donations?

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8 — FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 11 • NUMBER 24

Looking Back On It Jim Laris

some dummy coming the is some guy’s enraged voice wrong way down my parking yelling, “Sonny, you just You know what sound lane, and I wrenched my bought yourself a Dodge!” you don’t want to hear? The back trying to give him the Well, although I was pleased sound of silence? No. You finger while eating my Look that anyone would call me can’t hear that anyway. The bar. Very, very painful. Then “sonny,” I really didn’t want sound of senility. That’s the I put the car into reverse, to buy his Dodge. It was all sound you don’t want to hear. looked out to my right and dented up.

I may have heard it the saw no cars, and started to I asked him, “Where did other day. I was tired of all back out of my parking spot. you come from?” And he the damn beauty and scenic Then I heard the sound — said, “I was born right here stuff up here in Oregon, so that sickening sound of metal in Brookings, dammit.” (I I went to a Rite-Aid to do hitting metal — and I knew I thought to myself, this some ordinary shopping, and had either backed into a car would be a good time to I purchased some necessities or hit a chubby pedestrian play a little poker, if this guy — wine, beer, ale, hard liquor, wearing a suit of armor. only had a full deck.) I said, malt liquor and Peanut Yes, Virginia, I had backed “No, I mean where did your M&Ms. into a car. Are you happy, car come from, other than And life was good. I Virginia? And that sound of Detroit?” sauntered — yes, sauntered metal going into metal is just He said he had just turned — out to the car and placed so damn jarring. It just jars after that dummy came my purchases on the seat and you into reality. And I’ve through going the wrong unwrapped a Look candy always tried to avoid reality. way. And I told him that is bar I forgot to mention I had But that metal-ass sound probably why I didn’t see purchased because I hadn’t of metal running into other him. But I inquired as to had one for 37 years. And I innocent metal just got to me. why he didn’t honk at me if took the first bite of that dark It was just so damn real. he saw me backing out. He Look bar chocolate and that I dropped my head to enquired as to my parentage. white gooey, chewy center my chest in senior citizen It turned out to be a short and it brought back childresignation and was irritated conversation. hood memories of overeating that I had to leave my Look We exchanged information. and precursors to Type 2 bar with one bite out of it I gave him my name and Diabetes. Life was good. in the car while I faced the address and insurance details.

Then I started the car. I metal music. I get out of the He gave me the remaining looked to my left and saw car and the first thing I hear piece of his mind. As I was by

driving off, I told him to call me if he had any questions. I don’t think he heard me. He was stretched out over his car and had both arms fully extended like he was trying to contact some demon god and was pounding both of his palms down onto his hood. It was pretty loud. And he may have caused more damage to his car than I did.

When I got back to my hovel, I called my insurance agent. I told her I had lost control of my car and had driven through an orphanage and would she like to speak to one of the surviving nuns?

I kid my State Farm agents.

She asked me if I got the other party’s driver’s license number. No. Did he have insurance? I don’t know. Is your head hooked on to your neck? Lemme check.

She asked me if anyone was injured. I said no. She said that was good. I said to tell that to the four people who were killed. She said I shouldn’t joke about car accidents and suggested I switch to GEICO. I said I would, but I don’t like lizards. She

Jim Laris is Jim Laris. said that it wasn’t a lizard. I said yes it was.

After listening to a series of rather heart-breaking sighs, I asked her if there was anything else she needed from me. She thought for a few seconds and said, “What have you learned from all this?”

Hell, I don’t know. “To finish your Look bar before backing up?”

Jim can be contacted at jimlaris@mac.com

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THE FOOTHILLS PAPER • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015 — 9

VOLUME 11 • NUMBER 24 • www.thefoothillspaper.com

For more than 40 years, Clean-up, from pg. 1 the local residents and the Conservancy were at a loss homeless campers lived in as to how to solve the trash a cautious relationship. But and the homeless problems in the past five years, the that caused such mess. wash became home to drug “It was more like opening traffickers, burglars, and a door to someone’s home people who wished to live only to find that it was the “off the grid.” It all came to home of a hoarder,” said one a head when people started of the people cleaning the disappearing within the wash. wash. Many of the volunteers The homeless both on the asked that their names not be streets and the wash began mentioned. to see their friends dying. In Wearing masks and gloves the past two months, three donated by local stores and people who were part of the

said one STNC member.

Bonnie Corwin, a volunteer for Assemblywoman Patty Lopez, didn’t mind our quoting her: “It’s all Jibber-Jabber when he says that yes it is a problem that he is trying to address.”

It is an interesting note that Patty Lopez was right there to help the volunteers with donations of roll-off dumpsters and moral support.

Fuentes never even showed up for one of his infamous photo-ops.

Just some of the pills, syringes and drugs found in the camps.

To this writer, the amount of partial clean-ups conducted government vehicles parked the wash that the volunteers on the landing with a newsover the years only emboldhad worked on. The attack gathering helicopter flying ened the campers to expand against the volunteers by our overhead. their mode of living. Every local government was on.

Identified were the year when the rains come, Someone high in the city Corps of Engineers, Water the call goes out for rescuing orchestrated the call that campers that did not clear out Protection Agency, DWP, prompted the alphabet soup of the wash. Fuentes talks out LAPD, SMMC officers and a of federal agencies to restrange-looking guy from the spond after years of systemic of his lower orifice when he EPA, Dana Cole. According states “the primary objective neglect. Someone with power to reliable sources, Cole told is always the safety of the had to have called in the Art Miner, “I’m going to get wash inhabitants.” news chopper, the EPA, the you fined and put in jail for But when it is all said Watershed Protection agency A media helicopter with sophisticated camera gear. destroying the wash!” and done, you have to ask and the LAPD to make the Protected by two armed yourselves WHERE are the site inspection. Could it guards, Cole walked around shops, the volunteers began a homeless scene were killed campers going to go? And have been CD-7 Councilman methodical trek through the under questionable circumthe partial answer is “in your the wash making notes (and Fuentes who was throwing arundo, telling any camper stances. his weight around and who they saw that the cleanup The campers were able to only showed up undercover had begun and the bulldozers continue their lifestyle in the after the agencies were done? were close behind. wash because of the many The wash is almost cleaned More than 70 camps were conflicting rules and regulaof the arundo that was taking notified and the great exodus tions of the many agencies over the waterways and crebegan as the foliage became that had portions of the Big-T ating a flood hazard when El decimated by the heavy as their responsibilities.

Nino arrives. AND IT WAS equipment and the shovel Residents and the S-T ON PRIVATE PROPERTY! wielding volunteers. As Neighborhood Council pleadFuentes had his feelings each camp was discovered, ed with CD-7 councilman hurt by a group of residents the unseen trash, fire pits Felipe Fuentes to no avail. doing something that he and narcotics paraphernalia The LAPD were tangled couldn’t—or wouldn’t—do. became exposed. up in constantly changing He didn’t care that in this “The stench was unbearrules of engagement. The latest clean-up, nine campers EPA Investigator and his 2 bodyguards. able,” said another volunteer crime rates increased and accepted Section-8 vouchers as he carried out one of the because of different ways and have moved out of the five-gallon containers that of interpreting the reporting wash. Where did the other without a map) and made had been used as a toilet. But criteria, many crimes were backyard.”

70 go? Look around you arbitrary statements about the surprise of the day was not reported correctly.

Everything went well and as you drive down Foothill what was destroyed—on the when they found a 30-foot Clean-up coordinator Brian the atmosphere was more Boulevard. private property portion of motor home hidden within Schneider and resident of like a mid-west barn raising the arundo.

Riverwood Ranch stated “In with the volunteers braving The clean-up proceeded the Tujunga Wash, ‘homeless’ the dust, dirt, bio-hazards without problems other than is another way of saying and the smells coming from having to watch where you ‘people who are breaking into the campsites as they worked, stepped or stuck your hand our cars, breaking into our doing something helpful for because of the amount of homes and openly selling the community. syringes and needles lying drugs.’ I’m not safe in my After the cleanup was near around the campsites and own neighborhood.” completion, someone (who is trails.

When local residents apparently well-connected) Even the volunteers who would call Fuentes’ field called the Environmental arrived bright and early to office or in some cases, his Protection Agency (EPA) clean out the non-native Pacoima headquarters, his and complained that the plants had no idea of the office would tell the callers volunteers had destroyed the magnitude of their work until that city laws prohibited him Big-T eco-system and that the bulldozers started uproot- from displacing the homeless the directors of the clean-up ing the arundo and scrub oak from Sunland-Tujunga streets should be prosecuted. that was a major fire danger and the Big-T. Foothills Paper staff arrived Typical load of trash surrounding the individual camps. to the community.

“Possibly he misspoke,” on scene to see the mass of

Cuffing, from pg. 2 The thing about Cuffing Season that baffles me is it runs parallel with football season. Aren’t all men

watching football on Sunday?

Isn’t football season when most wives become ‘football widows’? So, this leads me to wonder if a man’s looking for a partner this time of year: 1)

is it safe to assume he doesn’t watch football and 2) will he be unavailable Sundays?

Women know their husbands want to sit and watch football, not sit and gaze into their

eyes. Come Christmas day when your cuffing partner’s team is playing, the same time that family dinner is, will he go with you or stay home?

Your choice to kick him,

along with the dead tree to the curb was a smart one. The warm, wooly socks he gave provide more warmth than he did and will commit 100% for the entire season.

10 — FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

Theft 11/17/15 05:30 PM 10400 BLOCK OF PLAINVIEW AV Theft 11/21/15 03:45 AM 4600 BLOCK OF HUME AVE Theft 11/12/15 12:30 AM 4500 BLOCK OF RAMSDELL AVE Burglary 11/19/15 09:30 AM 7300 BLOCK OF ALPINE WY Theft 11/13/15 04:00 PM 9600 BLOCK OF SALUDA AV Burglary 11/18/15 02:05 AM 8000 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL Theft 11/17/15 07:45 PM 8300 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL Theft 11/18/15 06:00 PM 11000 BLOCK OF TUJUNGA CANYON BL Theft 11/17/15 11:00 PM 8200 BLOCK OF KYLE ST

Theft 11/16/15 07:00 PM 7000 BLOCK OF ESTEPA DR Robbery 11/15/15 10:00 PM 8200 BLOCK OF OSWEGO ST Theft 11/16/15 11:00 PM 8000 BLOCK OF GROVE ST Theft 11/14/15 06:00

Burglary 11/14/15 07:30 PM 8500 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL Theft 11/10/15 10:15 PM 8600 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL Theft 11/10/15 10:00 PM 6900 BLOCK OF DAY ST Theft 11/11/15 12:00 PM 6400 BLOCK OF ALTAGRACIA DR Theft 11/12/15 05:30 PM 7100 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL BL Burglary 11/12/15 10:00 AM 10200 BLOCK OF ORO VISTA AV Burglary 11/06/15 05:00 PM 9300 BLOCK OF HILLROSE ST Theft 11/14/15 04:00 AM 9600 BLOCK OF TUJUNGA CANYON BL Theft 11/08/15 08:00 PM 7800 BLOCK OF APPERSON ST Assault 11/09/15 12:01 AM 10100 BLOCK OF WOODWARD AV Theft 11/20/15 08:00 AM00 BLOCK OF VALMONT AND MOUNTAIR Theft 11/20/15 08:00 AM00 BLOCK OF VALMONT AND MOUNTAIR Theft 11/21/15 10:30 AM 8800 BLOCK OF WHEATLAND AV

This story is written to inform those that live in the Sunland/Tujunga Foothill areas of the Services of the Meals on Wheels program. Valley Interfaith Council Meals on Wheels program is a fee-based service. There are on occasions when sponsorship is available to those who cannot afford the cost of a meal. As you read this story, it is in hopes that more donated sponsorships which are tax deductible, will be acquired through this office, so that I may further help those in need just as this Sunland/ Tujunga sponsorship recipient is today. Sadly, his sponsorship will end on December 31.

It was an ordinary morning in the first week of September 2015 when the call came from a young lady; she was inquiring information for Meals on Wheels for her Father who lives in Sunland/Tujunga. She had a slight trembling of sadness in her voice, she had been crying, she was tired and at her wits end of searching for an organization that would provide meals to her father.

Apparently she contacted 411 Information several times, and they continually gave her the wrong information. Listening to her questions regarding the Meals on Wheels service, I explained to her the nutritional benefits of our meals and what the cost would be. There was a silence on her part. I heard a sigh. She said but my Dad

can’t afford the cost. He is 50 years old, on Dialysis, and has a multitude of other health issues. To say the least he is low income.

I myself then thought how many times I get phone calls just like this one. In conversation with her, I felt through the phone her despair, I told her to let me see what I can do about the situation. I would get back to her. I thought I have to make this work for her father. So I calculated how many days of sponsorship I could provide him and what the cost would be. While her father is not a Senior, and still young, his once very active life has ended, now being on Dialysis and struggling with other health issues.

Recently the Meals on Wheels office was awarded a donation for sponsorship, this young lady’s father might fit the requirements of sponsorship. So I called and scheduled an appointment to meet with her and her father in their home, to establish an evaluation for the requirements of sponsorship. Upon arrival I was greeted with enthusiasm from her, and a little Chihuahua dog. As we sat on the couch and talked of her father and his ailments, I observed dust covered memorabilia of cross country bike riding and other outdoor sports, I thought this must have been his sports at one time. He called out from the bedroom to his Daughter. He had just had Dialysis treatment the day before and was very weak. He in-

sisted to come and sit with us.

He wanted to meet with me and thank me for the visit; he was in hopes of acquiring the sponsorship.

As he emerged from the bedroom I could see is was a very tall, thin weak man, 6’4’’. Dialysis and other health ailments had caught up with him. He had the tail tale sighs of Dialysis on his left arm, upon his face, a pale gaunt stare, slow in his movements. As his daughter sat next to me, while in conversation with her father across the room, her eyes began to tear up; she explained that he has been having a more than usual difficult time and that he was bleeding more. As I concluded my visit, his ex-wife came running into the house with apologies for being late, her car broke down just down the street, was on its last leg.

She had been running all the way to the house. Upon my exodus I was hugged and proclaimed an Angle, no I replied, I care. I do what I can.

As I was going thru the front door, I was greeted by the family cat, very friendly. Apparently the family pets help to comfort him.

Thank you for reading.

Should the reader(s) like to become a donated sponsor, please contact the Valley Interfaith Council Meals on Wheels office at: 818-9985350, ask for the Outreach Coordinator, Eugena Olds.

Or visit our web site at VICLA.ORG. for more information. Donated sponsorships are greatly needed and appreciated.

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