PAST Events

April 26 – Mural Unveiling

Philip Leonard and his team at Writing on the Walls produced this beautiful mural from Susan Ciccarelli’s concept. Sponsored by the Business Improvement District, it was unveiled on April 26th with a keynote speech by LA City Councilmember John Lee, followed by a reception at the VFW.

 May 15 – Celebration Kick off at Granada Elementary School

A happy and wonderful Granada Hills Centennial Celebration Kick Off at Granada Elementary School! 

The excited gathering was filled with over 100 Granada Hills Elementary 3rd and 4th Grades Students  in a one hour “Pep Rally” and Official Birthday Cake Cutting. The Historical symbolic location of Granada Elementary School was chosen as it was the first Public School ever built in the Founded 1926 Community of the Township of  “GRANADA” and its proud distinction in the same original namesake of this campus was the perfect setting to launch our current one-Year anniversary milestone tribute to the entire community of Granada Hills that will culminate next April 2026. 

The “Birthday Kick Off” was  designed to be an intimate Celebration with representatives and Presidents of many of our Granada Hills civic service clubs and local dignitaries including keynote speaker Councilmember John Lee, Granada Hills Rotary Club’s Thuy Trifunovic ,  S.O.L.I.D.President Dianne Kartiala, our former city councilman Greig Smith and wife Chris, Granada Hills Chamber of Commerce Representatives Tina Grigorian, Larry Fleck, Granada Hills Centennial Committee Steering Committee Members, David Beauvais, Richard Fisk, Natalie Khooda and Bonnie Bursk, Granada Hills Citizen of The Year Emilie Koster, LAPD Captain Devonshire Divisional Kathleen Burns, and Officers John Parker and Gregory Andrachick .

In addition, in attendance was Alenjandra Moscovo CD-12 Representative to Granada Hills and Field Deputy Sean Regan representing Congressman Brad Sherman.

Also representing LAUSD were Superintendent North Region Dr David Baca and LAUSD Board President Scott Schermelson with remarks also shared by Interim Principal of Granada Elementary Dr. Denise Pratt, representing School Principal Dr. Tatiana Duran. 

The Granada Hills Community Centennial Kick Off was designed to be a tribute to the first Century of Granada Hills, however, as Councilmember John Lee best expressed to the assembled young students, it was also a tribute “to all of them as future citizens in the next hundred years!” 

Special Recognition Certificates were presented to three retiring teachers– Mark Ellis, Patricia Ellis, and Shelly Tenen – at Granada Elementary School for several decades of devoted service. So wonderful to have their classroom students to help honor their accomplishments.

LAPD Officers / Devonshire Division Officers John Parker and Gregory Andrachick  received Special City of LA Recognition Proclamations in Service to the entire Community of Granada Hills presented by Captain Kathleen Burns. An additional surprise presentation was given to Captain Burns by Councilmember John Lee.

Band Music was provided by nearby Porter Middle School which were terrific and lent a great atmosphere of fun and celebration.

The finale of the one-hour gathering with an official first cake slice by Councilman Lee and an official students “countdown” was his announcement of a generous monetary gift presented by CD-12 to Granada Elementary School. Assembled students, event guests, LAUSD, Granada Elementary administration and PTA erupted in huge applause and excitement!!!!!!

Finally, my deep appreciation to Centennial Committee Member Natalie Khooda and the Granada Elementary School Administration for all of their collective many months efforts in today’s “Slice of Granada Hills Mayberry” and truly a rousing fun collective gathering to set the pace of many Centennial Calendar Events and opportunities ahead to Celebrate “The Valley’s Most Neighborly Town” !         – John Ciccarelli