La Cañada History: Local man organizes drive to send used prosthetics to Haitian earthquake victims
Ten Years Ago
In response to news that a 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti in January 2010 had left at least 100,000 people dead, thousands homeless and a surge of injured Haitians in need of amputations, a local specialist whose office was at Verdugo Hills Hospital was seeking donations of used prosthetics to send to the shaken nation. Spencer Doty, owner/operator of Active Life Inc., founded in Glendale, said many components from discarded prostheses that he had in his office could also play a role in helping the new amputees. “We just thought, rather than having these things sitting in a closet, let’s try to do whatever we can to put them to use,” Doty said.
Twenty Years Ago
Mountain bike champions Brian Lopes and Tinker Juarez, sponsored by the Cannondale Bicycle Corp. were in La Cañada for a “Demo Day” at the old Sport Chalet on Foothill Boulevard at Beulah Drive (where Sprouts operates a store today). During their visit they took rides on the 2000 Cannondale models, signed autographs and posed for photos with fans.
Thirty Years Ago
After studying the matter, a fact-finding committee appointed by the La Cañada school board concluded that the community would likely support a parcel tax but that a campaign would be needed to fully inform voters about the operations of the schools and school district.
Forty Years Ago
A Chula Senda Lane home was burglarized, with the thieves getting away with a floor safe containing an estimated $30,000 in jewelry, cash and sterling silver items, about $93,900 in today’s dollars.
Fifty Years Ago
The Los Angeles Camellia Council staged a camellia show Feb. 28 to March 1, 1970 at Descanso Gardens, drawing enthusiasts from around the Southland to La Cañada’s botanical showplace.
Sixty Years Ago
A truck owned by Valley Cesspool Co. lost its brakes while traveling downhill on Angeles Crest Highway in La Cañada and collided with a car that had three occupants. Most seriously injured was a 63-year-old woman who was thrown from the car and sustained a skull fracture.
Compiled from the Valley Sun archives.
