COMMUNITY
May 19, 2012
Konrad Ludwig grew up in La Cañada Flintridge and as a teenager, enlisted in the Army. Ludwig saw combat during the American troop surge in a hotly contested part of Baghdad known as Sadr City. In August, Ludwig expects to publish his combat memoir, “Stryker: The Siege of Sadr City,” and is using the online fundraising tool Kickstarter to help cover publishing costs. He answered questions from the La Cañada Valley Sun via email. Sun: What prompted you to enlist in the military?
NEWS
By Joe Piasecki, The Valley Sun | November 11, 2010
Of all the words bandied about during the recent election season, very few were about American military service members now coming home from combat in the Middle East. So to mark today's Veterans Day observances this year, La Cañada Flintridge veterans are calling on their neighbors to bring their youngest brothers and sisters in arms back into the public conversation. "If you don't know anyone in the service, you tend to be oblivious to the wars," said George Kritzman, a veteran of World War II and the Korean War who has lived in La Cañada Flintridge for 38 years.
NEWS
By Seth Amitin | December 3, 2009
After watching ABC’s “World News” one night, La Cañadan Kris Heck took note of their “Person of the Week,” a woman named Robin Schmidt, a flight attendant who asked the passengers to sign a notebook with positive thoughts to send to troops abroad. “I was inspired by her story and actually reached out to Robin to ask her what I could do,” Heck said in an e-mail. Ever since, Heck has been actively collecting cards—holiday, get well, thinking of you—and is now asking any and all La Cañadans to submit cards for Christmas to send to troops.
NEWS
January 10, 2008
Recently, students from La Cañada Elementary School?s sixth grade class wrote holiday messages to be sent to service men and woman in Iraq. The cards were designed, printed and donated by local merchant Prinefex. A few samples: ? Dear Army dudes, Thank you for fighting for our country. You?re good at your job. Despite hard conditions, keep going. Have a happy holiday season. ? Merry Christmas and a happy 2008. Thank your for fighting for U.S. Fight on, dudes!
NEWS
By Mary O’Keefe | August 16, 2007
Former Ambassador Joe Wilson, a career diplomat primarily known in connection with a probe into who in the White House exposed his wife as an agent for the Central Intelligence Agency, will be in La Cañada Flintridge next month. Wilson will serve as guest speaker at the Sept. 30 luncheon hosted by the La Cañada Flintridge Democratic Club. Wilson was a United States diplomat from 1976 to 1998 for both Democratic and Republican administrations. He served at posts throughout African and served as ambassador to Gabon in West Africa.
NEWS
By Elaine La Marr | May 24, 2007
Once again at this year's Memorial Day Service, to be held at the Memorial Park bandstand at 9 a.m. Monday, May 28, citizens of La Cañada Flintridge will be called to honor another one of their own, fallen in time of war, as the name of Spc. Carla J. Stewart, US Army is dedicated and placed on a plaque that honors those who have lost their lives in Iraq. Her name will join those of 1st Lt. Todd J. Bryant, US Army and 2nd Lt. James P. Blecksmith, USMC. Participants will also honor those who have lost their lives in battle in service of their country during WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam, as well as those who have served and survived.
NEWS
May 3, 2007
Letters to the Editor 'No' to Bump-outs Explain it to me, please. I enthusiastically invite the city council to explain the obstruction being built on the corner of Foothill and Rinetti. This "bump-out" forces all bicycles into the traffic lane and into great danger. Why would the city want to eliminate the areas where a bicycle commuter can ride? Will the city be liable if a cyclist is injured? Is the council aware that many people in La Cañada are avid cyclists, and a significant number actually commute by bicycle whenever weather permits?
NEWS
By Mary O'Keefe | April 5, 2007
LA CRESCENTA — This year's Annual Arbor Day event, held last Saturday at Two Strike Memorial Park, was a poignant celebration. Those in attendance were painfully reminded of the ultimate sacrifice a local family made, having lost their son who was serving in Iraq. Hosted by Crescenta Valley Town Council and the L.A. County Department of Parks and Recreation, the day's focus was on Nick Steinbacher, a resident of La Crescenta who had been in Iraq only a short time when the vehicle he was traveling in was hit by a road side bomb on December 10, 2006, ending his life at the age of 22. Although somber in presentation, the day was a time not just to mourn the loss of a community hero but to celebrate this young man's love of life, dedication to his country and the honor that he has brought, not only to his family but to his hometown.
NEWS
By Mary O'Keefe | February 8, 2007
Army Specialist Carla J. Stewart, 37, died in Tallil, Iraq Sunday, Jan. 28, when the vehicle she was traveling in rolled over. Stewart was a former La Cañada High School student. Her family used to live in La Cañada where she also attended a private elementary school. . "She spent most of her high school years there, then we moved to Glendale," Stewart's mother, Emmy Aprahamian, said. Stewart took ballet in the area and was very passionate about everything she attempted, her mother recalled.