Realtor finds peace in the wild

Maria Muriello describes herself as a steadfast person, with an uncanny love for fishing and family.

She has spent all her life in the Crescenta-Cañada valley, except for her few months in Italy as a college student studying abroad and a short stint in Chicago.

Muriello met her husband, Joseph, in Italy. He was also studying there. The two lived in Chicago for four years, but they wanted to establish themselves in California and raise their three daughters — Sara, Monica and Anna — where Maria was raised.

As a real estate agent with Ellis Realty in La Crescenta, she calls La Crescenta, Montrose, La Cañada Flintridge, Tujunga, Sunland and Glendale her “stomping grounds.”

Reporter Nicole Charky spent time with Muriello and asked her a few questions.

What do you like best about this region?

This is one of the most beautiful, picturesque places I’ve ever seen. When you drive on the 210 [Freeway] going east, coming west or down the 2 [Freeway], it has to be one of the most unbelievable pictures — and it’s constantly in my head. We have so many trees, and the housing stock in La Crescenta is almost as diverse as the people who live here.

Have you seen this diversity in your work?

I’ve been a member of this community and an active Realtor for over 20 years. There have been a lot of changes. I think that it’s nothing that isn’t welcome. It’s all welcome.

Has living in La Crescenta helped you discover your hobbies?

Because of where we live, we have a little cabin in Angeles Crest. It’s very remote and hybrid. It’s my relief. I have a little archery set up there on hay bale with big targets on it.

Because of where we live, I can practice archery at the archery range at the Arroyo Seco Roving Archers. My husband and I are both members. It’s something I have to concentrate on, and I kind of let my mind go, because my job pulls me in so many different directions with so many weird hours.

Do you have other activities?

You have to be super strong for archery, and the way I got the strength was from yoga. I needed strength to pull the bow, because I use a 40-pound bow. What happened was Joseph bought me a bow not knowing it was so heavy, but instead of buying a new bow I said, ‘No, let me just build up my strength,’ so I started going to Yoga Grounds in La Crescenta.

What is the best way to unwind?

I love to fish, more than I love archery and yoga. It’s my passion, because I’m unreachable. It’s also like when you were a kid [at the carnival], and remember how they would have a fishing pole, you throw the line over a piece of cardboard and they clip on a little prize at the end? That is what it’s like. What am I going to get at the end of my line?

Yoga has not only helped me with my archery, but it’s helped me pull up my gigantic striped Marlin.

My husband and I go fishing in Baja a couple of times a year. It’s not only beautiful and quiet, but the fishing is the best — all catch and release. I do not keep anything I fish. In fact, I hate fish. I don’t eat fish.

Do you have a fishing technique?

I’m very competitive. I seem to have great luck catching fish. I always fish at the bow, port side.