August is a historically hot month for La Cañada

Ten Years Ago

Preliminary design plans were presented to the La Cañada Flintridge Parks and Recreation Commission for a new park to be built at a former Caltrans park-and-ride lot on Foothill Boulevard, adjacent to the entrance to the 2 (Glendale) Freeway. Due to its proximity to the freeway, a transportation theme was selected for the recreational area. It was estimated the project would be completed by the summer of 2003.

Twenty Years Ago

Nine straight days of triple-digit heat were experienced in La Cañada Flintridge in August 1992, with the mercury rising to 108 degrees on two of those days.

Thirty Years Ago

Returning to her home off of Angeles Crest Highway shortly after noon one Wednesday in August 1982, a woman discovered a burglary in progress. On seeing her, the thief, with pieces of the victim’s jewelry in his hand, allegedly said, “Get out of the way or I’ll kill you.” Then he walked calmly out the front door. At least $3,800 in jewelry items were taken.

Forty Years Ago

A community beautification project called for the planting of 215 crape myrtle trees on Foothill Boulevard between Hampton and Alta Canyada roads. The county agreed to plant the trees provided property owners or their tenants would agree to water them. The plantings were expected to start in October 1972.

Fifty Years Ago

Robert G. La Bastie was named executive chef for the newly completed La Cañada Country Club. La Bastie came to La Cañada after serving nine years as the chef at the Valley Hunt Club in Pasadena.

Before that, he was a chef at the Santa Barbara Biltmore.

Sixty Years Ago

For the cover of the Valley Sun, photographer George Anderson captured an August afternoon shot of 4-year-old Bill Blundell seated in his family’s car and finishing off a Popsicle under the watchful and perhaps envious eyes of his sister, Lynn, 5, and their pet dog, Kelly.