The majestic San Gabriels to the north and the blue-green Verdugos to the south of the Crescenta Valley create only the geographic setting for a closely knit community.  It is the many caring individuals who make it a reality.

CHEER A SENIOR

Senior Pen Pal Site Award winning site created by Flintridge Preparatory School students Kelly and John Thomas. You don't have to be a senior to visit and send a note to cheer an elderly person.

An organization is forming to remove billboard blight from Sunland-Tujunga.  Its first aim is to seek voluntary compliance.  If that does not work, they will solicit the City Council to remove or regulate the size of advertising billboards.  Contact  Dan

The Sunland-Tujunga Rotary Club is the sole organization that puts on the local Fourth of July parade every year.  Last year they co-chaired the street parade with the Chamber and will do the same this year with the Merchants Association.  They also work and donate to the Halloween event at the Sunland Rec. Center and donate to the Little League the Kwanis put on for the kids.  All this is done by an organization of fewer than 20 members!  Please join them for breakfast at Sunland's Coco's any Wednesday morning at 7:00 am and consider joining their community service efforts.

The  Friends of the Sunland-Tujunga Branch Library do all kinds of activities to help support our library and to encourage a love of the written word among the children of our community.  See their webpage.

As soon as the Historical Society of Bolton Hall in Tujunga finishes one exhibition, lecture, or social affair, another one is on the burner.  Help is much needed to keep this going.  Pres., Historical Society

The McGroarty Arts Center has put Tujunga on the map, yet severe financial cut-backs have almost closed this center that offers classes, exhibitions, and many other cultural activities.  The Center especially needs someone with experience writing grants, but could use almost any kind of help as well.  352-5285

A USC employee who lives in Tujunga is collecting donations of new children's books or books in good shape as they are desperately needed to benefit 92nd Street School's Read-A-Thon.  92nd Street is located in the Watts area of Los Angeles and serves an extremely low socio-economic area.  Her department at USC is very involved with this project.  Contact  Pat .

Grandparents and Books is a busy group of loving seniors at the Sunland-Tujunga library who read to kids and let kids read to them.  Though you'll be dubbed the likes of Grandma Mary or Grandpa John, you don't have to be a biological grandparent.  The kids are crazy about them.  You'll never be able to do grocery shopping anonymously anymore.  Library: 352-4481   To join a training workshop, call Maureen Wade (213) 228-7487

A community member with cystic fibrosis is seeking others with this genetic lung disease to start an e-mail correspondence for research, discussion (organ transplants, medication, treatments, etc.) and support.  He is 29 and awaiting double lung and liver transplants. Contact  Dennis.

 Organ Donation Each day about 57 people receive an organ transplant, but another 13 people on the waiting list die because not enough organs are available.  It's very easy to sign up as an organ donor. This U.S. government donor awareness site has information as well as a card you can download, print, sign, and carry with you.  Be sure to discuss this with your family because even with a signed card, your family will be asked to give consent before a donation can occur.

The Skidettes could use your help in preparing lunch bag meals that are picked up and brought to the homeless in downtown LA's skid row.  The Skidettes work Saturday mornings at 8:30 in the hall kitchen at St. Bede's Church at the northeast corner of Foothill and Crown Pkwy. in La Cañada.  790-5155

Matt Maxon  is a forest service volunteer who needs assistance clearing and maintaining the Stone Canyon Trail that goes from Wildwood picnic in the Big Tujunga Canyon up to Mount Lukens, the highest point in the City of Los Angeles which also overlooks the Crescenta Valley.   Help is needed clearing brush and reconstructing trails.  This is both hard work and great fun for rugged individuals. See his wonderful before and after photos and get more information at: Stone Canyon Trail

If you have a writing bug and love your community, please send short articles of local interest.  VOL's homepage really needs a variety of local voices.  VOL Webmaster