In an email sent to a Glendale Organized Against Cell Towers representative, Sansone says the city will present the ordinance to the community and industry for review by mid-October, and will then accept and respond to comments and questions from the public. All are welcome to attend a series of community meetings scheduled by the city.

Glendale Organized Against Cell Towers encourages all Glendale residents to review the issues and the draft ordinance and participate in the process.

Dates, times and locations of the Wireless Draft Ordinance Community/Industry Review Meetings:

Wednesday, October 28, 2009, 6:30 p.m.
Pacific Park, 501 S. Pacific Avenue. (Sycamore Room, 2nd floor)

Monday, November 2, 2009, 6:30 p.m.
Brand Library, 1601 W. Mountain St.

Saturday, November 7, 2009, 11 a.m.
Sparr-Heights Community Center, 1613 Glencoe Way

Last week’s articles covered the Chinese premier’s criticism of U.S. financial policy at the Davos Economic Summit, taxpayers’ disappointment with the bank bailouts, the California budget crisis, the City of Glendale’s wish list for federal stimulus funds, and the LA Times confusion over the boundary between Atwater Village and Glendale.

My favorite from last week was Rewriting the Rulebook for 21st Century Capitalism, which is an optimistic but I hope accurate assessment of the new administration’s direction. Excerpts:

Obama is already setting a new historic course by reorienting the economy from private consumption to public investments directed at the great challenges of energy, climate, food production, water and biodiversity.
…Conservatives are aghast. The bail-out of the auto industry was hard enough to swallow. Government investments in infrastructure and research and development are viewed with scorn, compared with the tried and true (if disastrously failed) tax cuts of the Bush era.
…Public-private efforts to steer the economy to a safe technological harbour will be the order of the new era.
There is plenty of room for blunders, to be sure. Government activism can founder on the shoals of massive budget deficits, tax-cutting populism pushed by the right, politically motivated investments such as corn-based ethanol rather than science-based public investments, and more. Yet Obama is absolutely correct that we have no choice but to try.

• Respect
• Honesty
• Trustworthiness
• Loyalty
• Courtesy
• Self-Discipline
• Integrity
• Fairness
• Responsibility
• Cooperation
• Citizenship
• Compassion

Among the honorees were those in private industry, city employees, John Genna and Lt. Kim Lardie of the Glendale Police Department, and Craig Hammond and Kevin Lasota of the Glendale Fire Department. Arlene Vidor was honored for establishing the Glendale Historical Society and helping to create a formal process for establishing historic district designations in Glendale.

The 5th through 8th grade students honored at the ceremony had submitted the winning illustration of each trait (one for each month) for the project’s 2009 calendar, which was at the printer last week and will be ready soon.

Congratulations to all the winners, and thanks to the project board for promoting the value of character and ethics in our community and in our schools.

Glendale Healthy Kids and Homenetmen Glendale Ararat Chapter have each decided not to apply this year for community development block grants awarded through the city, with the belief that there are other charitable groups that have greater need for the funds right now.

Incumbents Joylene Wagner, Chuck Sambar, and Greg Krikorian have decided as a group to run for reelection for the three open board positions in the Glendale Unified School District, citing the district’s need for experience in dealing with projected cuts in education funding and the potential cost savings to the district if no other candidates decide to run.

The Glendale News Press has details (see the Paperweight section).

As a community, let’s be thankful there are civic groups that have established a strong and independent base for themselves, and think of greater community needs instead of trying to claim every dollar available.

As for the school board, it will certainly save them time and effort, while saving the district some money, if they run unopposed. But all stakeholders in the school district should continue to voice concerns to the board, as well as to state and federal politicians. Teacher union demands and increased expenditures per pupil haven’t improved the quality of education in this country. The Glendale school district has a good record, but much could be done to reallocate resources (as I discovered while reading Brian Crosby’s book).

Grandview Presbyterian Church
1130 Ruberta Avenue (cross street 5th Street)
Glendale, California 91201

Entrance Fee: $2.00, Children Free

The Mom’s Club Glendale West 3rd Annual Holiday Boutique will feature quality handmade items by artisans including toddler/children’s clothing, jewelry, hand-knitted clothing, stationery, gift baskets, fine art prints and artisan chocolates.

Proceeds go to Glendale Healthy Kids, The Child Share Program, and Hillsides-A Caring Place for Children.

Please attend and purchase some unique holiday gifts, support a local group, and get to know some Glendale neighbors and parents.

For further information, contact Tammi Relyea at (626) 222-1894 or at trelyea@charter.net