As the Orange Line busway nears its first anniversary, transit officials already envision how to build on its success. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority board on Sept. 28 directed staff to contract out for environmental and engineering studies to extend the line north on Canoga Avenue to the Metrolink station in Chatsworth and possibly as far as the Ronald Reagan (118) Freeway. The 60-foot Metro Liners began running east-west along the 14-mile route through the center of the San Fernando Valley from North Hollywood to Woodland Hills with much fanfare on Oct. 29, 2005. The Valley has hit the jackpot with the success of the $324 million dedicated bus route, said Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky. “It’s an inexpensive but very high class way to move people,” said Yaroslavsky, who also serves on the county Metropolitan Transportation Authority board. “It’s a pleasant ride; it’s a scenic ride most of the way.” The most recent rider numbers from the MTA show 19,531 average weekday boardings for August. Transit officials expect the number to go up as returning students use the bus to get to the community colleges and high schools along the route. In its first full month of operation the Orange Line had 16,360 average weekday boardings. In May, the line attracted its highest monthly total of 21,828 average weekday boardings, a number the MTA hadn’t expected until 2020. “One thing that strong ridership ensures is the service level is going to get better and not worse,” said Bart Reed, executive director of The Transit Coalition. “That bodes well for the San Fernando Valley.” Justin Yarnell, administrative assistant at The Center for the Living and Learning, said that employees at the Van Nuys not-for-profit agency have been encouraged to use the Orange Line. So far, more than half of the 22 workers there use the line, Yarnell said. “We focused on those who needed it because they did not have their own transportation,” he added. The busway has not been without its problems, at least initially. Collisions between buses and cars took place that resulted in minor injuries to passengers and drivers. To increase safety, the buses slowed down at all intersections and photo enforcement cameras were installed at key intersections. The bus line is now among the safest operated by the MTA, Yaroslavsky said. But one weakness pointed out by Reed was the lack of connections to other bus routes crossing the Orange Line. Current service is not always available when it is needed by riders, particularly in early morning and evening hours and on weekends, Reed said. “That is not acceptable to employers,” Reed added. Yaroslavsky said improvements could be made to other bus lines, especially on the Van Nuys Boulevard corridor, but the Orange Line is still a boon for the people who live in the area. SAN FERNANDO VALLEY Calabasas Speak: Eloqui, a Calabasas-based public speaking training and consulting organization, has published a book to help those who are shy, nervous or just hoping to hone their public speaking skills. “The Speaker Survival Guide: 101 Eloqui Tips for Successful Public Speaking,” condenses the training offered by the company and covers such subjects as more effective internal communications, pitching business and handling media interviews. Northridge Care: Northridge Hospital Medical Center is one of a growing number of medical facilities to offer the families of patients a free webpage they can update to keep friends of loved one apprised of a patient’s condition. Called CarePages, the free service allows families to post contact information and visiting hours as well, and it allows viewers to post comments on a patient’s message board and send e-mails. Pacoima Language: Providence Health System has launched a new program to reach out to Latino seniors in need. Called “Familias Ayudando Familias,” the program features 28 Spanish-speaking volunteers and counselors who go out into the community and offer assistance to senior citizens. This can include driving seniors to doctor’s appointments, completing yard work, reading letters or even grocery shopping. The project, funded through a grant from the California Endowment, operates out of the Guardian Angel Church in Pacoima. The Providence Health System San Fernando Valley Service Area includes Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank and Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills. For more information or to volunteer, call (818) 953-4445. Encino Festival: The 19th Annual Taste of Encino was held on Oct. 8 sponsored by the Encino Chamber of Commerce. Several restaurants showcased both ethnic and American food amid events such as an arts and crafts fair, four stages of entertainment and a business and home expo. A portion of the proceeds benefit area schools and community betterment projects. Sherman Oaks Award: Leigh S. Leshner, a solo practitioner in Sherman Oaks, has been awarded the Beverly Hills Bar Association Barristers Lawrence J. Blake award. Leshner, who was formerly an independent producer, primarily practices in the areas of transactional entertainment and business law. She is a BHBA Barrister board member, a member of the group’s Entertainment Law section executive committee and chairperson of the Vintage Boutique, an annual fundraiser. CONEJO VALLEY Agoura Hills Sweep: Don’t call the city of Agoura Hills star struck. The city has a policy of removing signs on public streets, and it doesn’t make ex-ceptions, even when the offender is a television show. When “Clean House,” a reality show from E Entertainment’s Style Network, that streamlines pack rat families by clearing out their clutter and selling it at a yard sale, put up signs to advertise the sale to the neighborhood, the city of Agoura Hills removed them. It was standard operating procedure for the city, which in August alone took down 170 yard sale signs placed on public right of ways. “The city instituted the policy a few years ago because things were starting to get out of hand,” said Mike Kamino, director of planning and community development for Agoura Hills. But the move was surprising enough to the show’s producers and stars that the cast members, led by host Niecy Nash with “yard-sale diva” Trish Suhr, John Eric Bentley and Matt Iseman, who oversee renovation efforts, and interior designer Mark Brunetz made mention of it on the episode. Kamino took the city’s dubious five minutes of fame in stride. “I guess we’d rather be famous for that than something else,” he said. SANTA CLARITA VALLEY Santa Clarita Wild: The Santa Clarita chapter of the Junior Chamber of Commerce traveled to Washington, D.C., last month to lobby for support of legislation protecting local lands and rivers. Jaycees Michael Grenetz, Anjanette Butler, Jenny Ketchepaw, Ian Swift and Michael Cruz met with U.S. Rep. Buck McKeon and senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein. The trip was sponsored by the California Wild Heritage Campaign. Title: Glendale-based American Coast Title opened a Santa Clarita escrow division Sept. 26. The new outlet, at 28494 Westinghouse Place, offers real estate title insurance and escrow services. Privately-owned American Coast Title was founded in 1988. It is underwritten by Houston-based Stewart Title Co. Valencia Wine: The second annual Loose Goose Wine Festival was slated Oct. 5-8 at Bridgeport Park. The main event included tastings from 100 vineyards from as near as the Sonoma and Napa valleys and as far as South Africa. The event also featured exhibits, booths, a golf tournament and seminars on pairing the correct wine with meals. The festival brings in more than 2,500 people. Stevenson Ranch Branching Out: Lockheed Federal Credit Union opened its third Santa Clarita Valley location here on Sept. 25. “The opening of this branch goes a long way toward our strategic goal of providing members access to multiple branches in and around their work and home,” said Dave Styler, president and CEO of LFCU. The branch will offer home and auto loans, commercial real estate loans, checking and money market accounts along with other services. Membership in the credit union is open to anyone who lives or works in the Santa Clarita Valley.
