Mailbag: Snakes, a part of nature
Last week in Cherry Canyon, walking my dogs, I heard shouting near the entrance to Liz’s Loop. Then the shouting stopped. A few minutes later, I encountered an agitated-looking man. I asked him what had happened.
“I was trying to stop a man from killing a snake,” he said. “The snake was about 2 feet long. The man was beating it with a stick and throwing dirt on it. He could have walked around it — there was more than enough room on the road — or pushed it into the brush with the stick, but he was beating it to death instead.”
“Thanks for trying to stop him,” I said.
“He was walking a pug,” said the man.
I continued my walk, feeling such sadness at the killing of the snake and, in general, the harm people do to Cherry Canyon. It is a nature preserve. It is home to plant, insect and animal species we have mostly driven out of the rest of La Cañada. We need healthy, functioning food webs and ecosystems in our midst for our own survival. Southern California is a biodiversity hotspot — rich in native plant, insect and animal species highly threatened by human activity.
Please, to maintain the integrity of Cherry Canyon, do not use the preserve if you are unprepared to resolve peacefully an encounter with a snake or other wildlife, ride your bike on established trails, refrain from widening existing ones, clean up after your dog, smoke elsewhere, and take your trash with you.
Also, please hike with Mayor Jon Curtis on Saturday, Oct. 22, at 9:30 a.m. to celebrate Cherry Canyon, a jewel in our midst that needs protection and respect.
Lisa Novick
La Cañada Flintridge
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Class reunion gratitude
I would like to publicly extend gratitude and thanks to Joani Bartoli-Porto for the fabulous 50th reunion for the La Cañada High School Class of 1966. I did not graduate or grow up in La Cañada, but have lived here with my husband, John Williams, since 1976. Earl and Winnie Williams moved here to Baptiste Way in 1946 and raised Vicky and John here. John came back to raise our four children, Kellie Klein (class of ’92), Johnny, Taylor and Dodge Williams.
Joani spent endless hours of preparation contacting everyone, arranging events for Friday evening, Saturday at the Thursday Club and Sunday at Memorial Park. Her dedication and passion made it all possible. The roots went deep with many also having attended the grammar schools. I even heard talk of Mr. and Mrs. Gollatz and the cotillion classes they held at the Thursday Club.
I was able to visit with old friends and make new ones. Two foreign exchange students came with their wives from Belgium and Spain. Joanie had made posters with pictures from the previous years: 10th, 20th, 30th, 40th and 45th! And even a memorial board in tribute to those we had lost. Ralph Rollins had spearheaded this with her for many years until his death a few years ago. We all had name tags with picture of graduate and spouses.
We welcomed everyone to our home for a barbecue of John’s famous ribs, chicken and shrimp on Saturday prior to Thursday Club and even a few filled up our extra beds! My son caught some great pictures, including the reenactment of the football team!
We have been so blessed to raise our kids here and my daughter is raising hers here. My son will be moving up, probably next year, to do the same with his two since our family insurance agency is presently located in La Crescenta.
Thanks to Joanie and her husband Carmen Porto, and helpers Susan Gregory and Bill Chapman for providing us with such fabulous memories. My adult kids were so impressed with the loyalty and camaraderie that has been maintained for 50 years.
With gratitude,
Peggy Williams
La Cañada Flintridge
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Endorsing Portantino
On. Nov. 8, I’m casting my vote for my friend Anthony Portantino for state Senate. Anthony is our former mayor, is active in our public schools and is involved in many community-based organizations.
Like many of us, Anthony and Ellen Portantino are raising their family here because of our great public schools and our terrific quality of life. We have the opportunity to elect someone to state government who is familiar with issues that are important to us and our community and we should seize it.
Please join me in sending your support to a longtime friend of our community by voting for Anthony.
Deborah Weirick
La Cañada Flintridge