Montrose Patch Celebrates One Year Anniversary!

It feels like a milestone. Montrose Patch celebrates one year of serving the Montrose and La Crescenta community, bringing breaking news and inviting locals to connect. 

The site launched last year, under the leadership of Local Editor Cassandra Morris. Since then, tons of locals have responded to Montrose Patch with hundreds of comments, feedback and a whole lot of support. 

On Friday, Montrose Patch celebrated its first birthday at with more than 50 people, including  and her husband Guillaume Lemoine; bloggers , , , , and ; and co-owners, and sisters, and Carole Brookshire.

Thank you to the readers who follow Patch - we couldn't cover this busy town without you. Keep asking us questions, share news from your neighborhood and help us make the site a great community tool. Start following us on Facebook or Twitter.

Here's a look at some of the stories and issues that defined Montrose and La Crescenta this past year: 

Montrose Patch brought you breaking news coverage as the winds picked up through Montrose and La Crescenta. In more than 20 articles, we kept you updated by the hour, showed you exclusive and . We continue reporting on recovery throughout the foothills.

Antique Vendors from the Sunday Harvest Market Remain

, asking locals to support the Theives Market, whose future was - at that time - in jeopardy. The Thieves Market is the group of antique, crafts vendors at the Sunday Harvest Market. Montrose Patch covered the , and the .  

Thousands Came to Celebrate the Holidays in Montrose

Whether it was the , or Montrose Patch kept you clued in to the celebrations in town and the wanted you to know about.

In May, the body of Adrine Arzumanyan was dumped along the Foothill (210) Freeway in La Crescenta. Arzumanyan's cousin, 28-year-old Aram Sarukhanyan, is the main suspect, and faces charges including, one count each of murder and brandishing a firearm at a person in a motor vehicle. Sarukhanyan could face more than 50 years to life in prison. His next court date is Jan. 12, following several mental health evaluations. 

The owner of Honolulu Jewelery was pistol-whipped by a man posing as a FedEx employee with a package. Police continue looking for information about the suspect. This was the first armed robbery known to police in the shopping park, according to Glendale Police Department.

Paul Crowder, who was convicted of the second-degree murder of Crescenta Valley High School student Berlyn Cosman, was eligible for parole until Governor Jerry Brown revoked his parole in November. Cosman was shot dead at an after-prom party in Anaheim. 

People were really excited about Trader Joe's coming to Montrose - and I mean really excited. They waited at the doors before opening and sampled food all day from the grocery store. 

Residents told Crescenta Valley Town Council that they support the Arroyos and Foothills Conservancy. . The group needs financial support from the community,  and the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors before it can be purchased. 

Burglars in Sparr Heights Send Police on Suspect Search, Lockdown

, stole the items they could, then ran through several backyards and tried to get rid of bags of jewelery in the 3400 block of Las Palmas Avenue. Both suspects were arrested and jailed. 

Nothing is settled yet, but Starbucks is applying for two Glendale permits, including a parking reduction and condition of use permit that would categorize the location at 2284 Honolulu Ave. as a fast food restaurant, Tim Foy, Assistant Director of Community Planning Department, told Patch. , however, . .

The family of Joo Lee, who ran a pool cleaning business in the Crescenta Valley, wants to know who struck and killed him on New Year's Day in 2010. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors renewed a $10,000 reward for any information leading to the person who killed Lee, .

Lee was crossing the 3000 block of Montrose Avenue, near Ramsdell Avenue, about 7:15 p.m. on Jan. 1, 2010, when he was hit by a vehicle, possibly an SUV, and thrown about 70 feet, according to City News Service.