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Obituary | Dr. Jim Perkins

Dr. Jim Perkins

One of Glendale’s most prominent citizens throughout the 1950s, ’60s, ’70s and ’80s has died. Dr. Jim Perkins, a former Glendale dentist, a former mayor of Glendale and a past president of many civic organizations in Glendale from the Kiwanis Club to the Chamber of Commerce, and more, died just a few days before his 96th birthday in Pasadena, Ca., on October 10, 2020.
James was born in Casper, Wyoming, the 3rd child and oldest son of Ruth and Jim Perkins. The family later moved to Nebraska where Jim attended grade school and was a graduate of Hemingford High school in Nebraska in 1942. He then followed his sisters out to Los Angeles and attended LACC from 1942-43 before enlisting in the Navy and serving in the Pacific theater during WWII. After the war, Jim moved back to Nebraska and attended Doane College in Crete, Nebraska, and then the University of Colorado before getting the necessary credits to attend USC dental school in 1948. He married Sally Marie Sutherland, his wife of 70 years, in 1950 and anyone who knew them would agree that it was a 70-year fairy tale come true.

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Leininger Honored for Service to City

Photo by Mirjam Swanson / OUTLOOK
Longtime La Cañada Flintridge resident and educator Mike Leininger encouraged his audience to find ways to give back as he was recognized by the Noon Kiwanis Club as La Cañadan of the Year on Wednesday at Descanso Gardens’ Van de Kamp Hall.

Mike Leininger challenged the 110 people who came to lunch Wednesday, including grandsons Jeff and Johnny, to get involved in their community, citing a saying he learned as a coach at Bellflower High School: “What you do will speak so loudly,” he said, “I can’t hear a word you’re saying.”
Leininger’s actions since moving to La Cañada Flintridge 30 years ago this month with his family have spoken volumes. Several accounts were shared by fellow community leaders during the Noon Kiwanis Club of La Cañada’s annual La Cañadan of the Year recognition luncheon at Descanso Gardens’ Van de Kamp Hall.
For 26 years, Leininger was a member of the La Cañada Unified School District, moving up the ranks as a La Cañada High School assistant principal, principal and then as LCUSD assistant superintendent. He earned his doctorate of education from the University of La Verne during that span and was known for hosting homecoming float building sessions in his front yard.
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State of the City in LCF: Lower Crime Rate, High-Tech Improvements

Photo by Mirjam Swanson / OUTLOOK
In the annual State of the City address on Wednesday at Descanso Gardens’ Van de Kamp Hall, Mayor Michael Davitt previewed many of the projects ahead in La Cañada Flintridge, including a new online planning program that is expected to make the permitting process easier for residents.

At the annual State of the City address, Mayor Michael Davitt offered morsels of interest for just about everyone in the large lunchtime Kiwanis crowd Wednesday at Descanso Gardens’ Van de Kamp Hall.
Davitt boasted of the city’s low 7% commercial vacancy rate, its issuance of 55 film and photography requests (worth $28,475 to the city, he noted) and said 624 Summer Beach Bus riders rode from La Cañada Flintridge to Santa Monica in 2017. Continue reading “State of the City in LCF: Lower Crime Rate, High-Tech Improvements”

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Kiwanis Accepting Nominations for La Cañadan of the Year

Since the early 1950s, the Kiwanis Club has been recognizing an individual as La Cañadan of the Year. It will be selecting an outstanding citizen from the community to be honored. The public is asked to contribute to the process by nominating members of the community who have demonstrated strong evidence of “giving back” and exemplary commitment to the community. Longtime La Cañada Flintridge resident and community leader Don Voss was honored last year.
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