Mailbag: A new Arts Center and candidate shoutouts
With great joy, I share the exciting news that Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy celebrated the grand opening of our new Arts Center April 27 through 30. Nearly 20 years in the making, the Arts Center is a dream come true, made possible by the support of our entire community: our dedicated faculty and staff, the leadership of our board of directors, and the incredible generosity of our donors. Our appreciation also goes to our neighbors and friends in the city of La Cañada Flintridge as well as the members of the City Council and city staff. We are grateful to each of you!
Over the last 15 months, our 60-year-old auditorium was transformed into the modern Arts Center, featuring a beautiful theater, state-of-the-art sound and lighting, spacious ceramics studio, and elegant art gallery. Our team worked tirelessly to ensure that this space would reflect the historic charm of our campus and meet today’s curricular needs.
The Arts Center will take your breath away, but I know you will agree with me that the true beauty of this space is the young women who fill it with heart and soul, grace and grit, and talent and determination! The 2016 Dance Concert was our inaugural performance, and when the lights dimmed, the students took the stage, and the audience erupted in applause, I could not have been prouder! Our students are always at the center of all we do at FSHA, and now they have a facility that appropriately nurtures and showcases their remarkable talent. I hope you will join us at an upcoming production!
This year, we celebrate FSHA’s 85th anniversary year. We honor the people and events that shaped who we are today, and we look to the future with great excitement. We are proud to be a part of the tradition and history of the city of La Cañada Flintridge, and we invite you to join us in celebrating 85 years of educating young women for a life of faith, integrity, and truth at our Gala at the Langham in Pasadena on May 14. Visit www.fsha.org/gala for details.
On behalf of the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose, and the Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy Board of Directors, faculty and staff, and student body, I thank you for your support!
Sister Carolyn McCormack, O.P. President
Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy
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Portantino’s work speaks for itself
In about a week absentee ballots will be out for the June 7 Primary. After you make your presidential choice please focus closer to home and remember to vote for our very own Anthony Portantino for state Senate.
Anthony understands our community because he’s part of our community and he’s been working on our behalf for about two decades. Back when I was the PTA Council president, the LCHS traffic on Oak Grove Drive was untenable as there were no drop-off zones in front of the school, no traffic signal and no drop-offs allowed in Hahamongna Park. JPL employees and the high school traffic had to compete for space on Oak Grove with no cutouts, access or signals. It was a gridlocked nightmare.
I took the issue to Anthony’s dining room with an aerial photo of the high school and we came up with the current traffic plan. Anthony took it to the City Council and made it happen. Anthony personally negotiated with the city of Pasadena for the Hahamongna drop-off, the city funded the road and fence opening for the Park and then installed the traffic light and built the two cutout zones in front of the school. Imagine how long it took to drop-off your child without these accommodations?
Please remember to keep Anthony working for our community and vote for him when you receive your ballot.
Penny Ledbetter
La Cañada Flintridge
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Blumenfeld has an independent voice
I have always admired Andrew Blumenfeld’s work for our community, and especially for our kids. He demonstrated his leadership skills at a very young age winning a seat on the La Cañada Unified School Board and serving as its president.
As a local business owner and a member of City Council, it is both important and highly personal to me that we elect someone who knows our community and understands how the Legislature impacts our local community and economy.
Absentee ballots arrive in your mailbox in less than a week, so I wanted to share with you why I am supporting Andrew Blumenfeld for state Assembly, and ask that you join me.
The notion of “local control” isn’t just a nice phrase. When our Legislature is deferential to local decision-makers such as city councils, school boards, civic leaders, business leaders, etc., we get innovative solutions that best meet local needs. When our Legislature imposes one-size-fits-all mandates, it rarely solves anything, and always creates heavy burdens that strain our communities, our schools and our economy.
Andrew Blumenfeld represents a refreshingly independent voice that Sacramento sorely needs. He has built a grass-roots campaign and a recent poll has him tied for first place. Someone who pursues such an independent path to Sacramento isn’t “supposed” to get there but he is well on his way and with our support, he will prove to be a strong advocate for us.
When your ballot arrives, please join me in supporting Andrew Blumenfeld for state Assembly, the candidate that will put our community’s needs ahead of ideology.
Terry Walker
La Cañada Flintridge