Mailbag: Residents shred the past

On the evening of Sept. 14, more than 200 families in the Crescenta/Cañada Valley area saw their outdated documents destroyed. More than a few senior citizens expressed their gratitude and relief to be rid of files dating back 30 years, old bank statements, tax returns and mortgage statements. Most were concerned that old records will fall into the hands of “identity thieves.”

SCORE of Greater Los Angeles, along with local chambers of commerce and Republic Services, offered the free document shredding as a community service. This is the 10th year the service has been offered in conjunction with the Tri-Chamber EXPO at the USC Verdugo Hills Hospital.

Pat Anderson, president and chief executive officer of the LCF Chamber, assisted by Bob O’Brien and myself, SCORE mentors and longtime La Cañada Flintridge residents, and five polite Junior Explorers from the Glendale Police Department, worked together to keep traffic flowing and things cool on a warm fall evening.

If you would like a copy of the IRS guidelines for keeping old records, email me with a request at dickmader@scorela.org.

Thanks to all. See you next September!

Richard Mader

La Cañada Flintridge