Montrose

A vinyl-sticker depiction of President Obama has appeared on a wall in Montrose in the style as the world-renowned, yet secretive, graffiti street artist Banksy. The vinyl-sticker — on a concrete wall on Ocean View Boulevard near Foothill Boulevard and the 210 Freeway — depicts the president at a podium giving a speech with the words “That’s right, ladies…” A photo of the poster has been making the rounds through the blogosphere ever since Perez Hilton, included it on his website Wednesday night.

Learn about the past of your favorite shopping area on the Montrose Walking Tour on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 11 a.m. John Drayman will narrate as we stroll by the historic shops along Honolulu. John is the unofficial historian for Montrose and gives a fascinating and humorous look at the evolution of the quaint little town that has become one of the jewels of the Crescenta Valley. We'll meet in front of White's Art Gallery at 2414 Honolulu Ave. and take an easy, two-block walk ending at the new restaurant area of the 2200 block (just in time for lunch)

Last Sunday about 125 people of all ages got a taste of Montrose. And, with every taste came a safer prom night for Crescenta Valley High School as proceeds of the inaugural 'Taste of Montrose' event will benefit Prom Plus, an alternative, safe, all-night party following the prom. "This Taste of Montrose is excellent," said Glendale resident Layla Bettar. "The restaurants' food is excellent." Bettar said she's a fan of tasting events because it gives her a quick opportunity to learn about what the community has to offer.

For small businesses looking to broaden their customer base, events like Sunday’s Taste of Montrose have helped boost sales during the prolonged recession. La Cañada Flintridge-based Food Art Catering & Events had relied on word of mouth for five years, which co-owner Sharon Giragosian said had worked out great for the business. “But this year, unfortunately, we found the need to start advertising,” she said. When she and her husband found out two weeks ago about the food-tasting event, they got on board in hopes of expanding their clientele, Giragosian said.

A Montrose woman lost her life in a traffic accident on La Tuna Canyon Road Tuesday morning. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, around 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday a silver Jeep crossed the double yellow line in the 9300 block of La Tuna Canyon into the path of a dark colored Saturn driven by Michelle Wincentsen, 31, of Montrose. "Wincentsen was unconscious when paramedics pulled her from the wreckage. They worked on her but pronounced her dead at the scene," said an LAPD spokesperson.

The following crime reports for La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose and Glendale were taken from the log at the Glendale Police Department and provided by the Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station. Monday, Dec. 4 Frank Smith, 38, a transient, was arrested on suspicion of burglary in the 2600 block of Foothill Boulevard in La Crescenta. Person(s) unknown damaged plastic planters, sprinklers, air ducts and drain grates at Gethsemane Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in La Crescenta.

A suspected prowler is on the loose in La Cañada Flintridge, authorities say. A man reportedly knocked at a woman's window in the middle of the night Wednesday, the third such incident in the area in the last two days, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Sgt. Debra Herman of the Crescenta Valley Sheriff's station said that a resident on the 600 block of Chatham Place reported that around 1 a.m. Wednesday she heard knocking on her window, and then saw a tall, dark figure running away.

After more than 30 years, Pepe's Mexican Food restaurant has left La Cañada. The family-owned business has been at 927 Foothill Blvd. since 1971 and has become a family favorite. "We had people come in on a date, then see them married and watch their kids grow," said Victor Bugarin, son of Pepe's owner, Bernardino Bugarin. The restaurant closed due to the development of the La Cañada Town Center.. The official ground-breaking ceremony for the center is scheduled for late February or early March.

In November 1933, the Pickens Canyon Fire tore through 7,000 acres in the San Gabriel Mountains. Sound familiar? On Jan. 1, 1934, after a week of constant, heavy rain, a flash flood roared down Pickens Canyon, through parts of present-day La Cañada, La Crescenta and Montrose. Unlike our mudflows this week, back in 1934, the walls of water were 20-feet high. The debris pushed down into the town of Montrose. Giant boulders crashed into houses. Hundreds of people went missing. Their bodies were never found.

La Cañada Flintridge March 12 Possession of drug paraphernalia: Verdugo Boulevard at the Glendale (2) Freeway, 12:45 p.m. A 41-year-old Glendale man was arrested on suspicion of possessing a meth pipe. March 13-14 Residential burglary: 5100 block of Gould Ave., before 6:30 a.m. on March 14. Air compressors and tools worth more than $3,000 stolen from house undergoing a remodel. March 15 Mail theft: 2100 block of La Cañada Crest Drive, 3:50 p.m. A suspect stole mail and damaged the mailbox's lock.

La Cañada Flintridge Feb. 1-15 Petty theft: 400 block of Starlight Crest Drive. Driver's license stolen from letter in mailbox. March 9 Petty theft: 4463 Oak Grove Drive, 3:50 p.m. Leather jacket and sweater stolen from unlocked vehicle at La Cañada High School. March 9 Drug possession: 1000 block of Foothill Blvd., 5:30 p.m. A 26-year-old Tujunga woman and a 26-year-old Los Angeles man who allegedly possessed cocaine, ecstasy and hashish were arrested.

La Cañada Flintridge Feb. 19-26 Vandalism and petty theft: 5000 block of Louise Drive, between 9 a.m. Feb. 19 and 10 a.m. Feb. 26. Charter Communications reported that a cable equipment box had been broken into and batteries valued at $540 taken. Damage to the box totaled $130. Feb. 25 Burglary: 5400 block of Burning Tree Drive, between 7 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Cash totaling $4,000, a PlayStation 3 valued at $300, and a Coach leather purse valued at $300 were reported stolen.

La Cañada Flintridge Feb. 11 Petty theft and identity theft: 1200 block of Foothill Boulevard, between 8:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. Purse, wallet stolen from car parked at Lighted Window Preschool. Bank/credit cards used to withdraw money and make unauthorized purchases. Feb. 15 and 16 Grand theft: 5500 block of Rockland Place before 11 a.m. on Feb. 16. Welder stolen from car parked in front of residence. Owner not sure if vehicle had been left locked. Feb. 18 and 19 Vandalism: 3000 block of Foothill Boulevard, before noon on Feb. 19. Plastic emergency sign broken off on apartment complex.

La Cañada Flintridge Feb. 10 to 11 Petty theft: 5000 block of Walmar Avenue, between 4 p.m. on Feb. 10 and 11 a.m. on Feb. 11. Tom Tom GPS device stolen from unlocked vehicle. Feb. 11 Theft: 5000 block of Commonwealth Avenue, before 2 p.m. Leather jacket, iPod Touch stolen from unlocked vehicle. Feb. 8 to 15 Burglary: 4200 block of Oakwood Avenue, before 8:20 a.m. on Feb. 15. Miscellaneous gold jewelry stolen, worth a total of $25,000. Kitchen window damaged.

La Cañada Flintridge Feb. 2 Residential burglary: 1000 block of Lavender Lane, between 5 p.m. on Feb. 1 and 7:30 a.m. on Feb. 2. Front door shattered, kitchen knife lying on front porch. No property reported missing. Feb. 3 Grand theft: 1100 block of Lavender Lane, 7:30 a.m. Ring with large purple stone and an Omega watch stolen from estate sale. A man described as a Persian male wearing a blue running jacket and dark pants was seen driving away from the scene in a white van. Feb. 5 Petty theft: 1200 block of Homewood Lane, between 1 and 7 a.m. Toolbox containing car accessories stolen from unlocked vehicle.

Fiona Bayliss' Montrose boutique is stuffed with holiday items, antiques and hard-to-find pieces of furniture, but for the first time in decades Bayliss is not there to sell them. On Nov. 29, Bayliss died in her sleep at her La Crescenta home, according to friends. The longtime Montrose shop owner was 93. “There isn't anything negative to say about her,” said Larry Moss, a friend of Bayliss' for 50 years. “She was a very positive, caring, generous person who was full of life.

A suspected prowler is on the loose in La Cañada Flintridge, authorities say. A man reportedly knocked at a woman's window in the middle of the night Wednesday, the third such incident in the area in the last two days, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Sgt. Debra Herman of the Crescenta Valley Sheriff's station said that a resident on the 600 block of Chatham Place reported that around 1 a.m. Wednesday she heard knocking on her window, and then saw a tall, dark figure running away.

While searching for a missing 33-year-old Bakersfield hiker in the Angeles National Forest Friday, Montrose Search and Rescue members found and resuscitated a drowning toddler, according to the Crescenta Valley Sheriff's office. At around 5 p.m., the search team found a girl, 1 and a half years old, face down in a pool of water near the picnic area. Reserve deputies Michael Leum and Janet Henderson aided the girl, along with her mother. The girl was flown to Northridge Hospital to receive treatment, where she was released around midnight, said Sgt. Cynthia Gonzales of the Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station.

Two men who slipped and fell into the water below Switzer Falls at around 5:30 p.m. on Sunday escaped relatively unscathed, officials said. Mike Leum, of the Montrose Search and Rescue, said his team responded to what could have been a far more serious incident. "It initially came out as two males over the falls, which obviously was potentially a very traumatic mission," he said. "But once we got on scene...it was more of a slip and a slide down a slope into the river.