ART AT L.A. POLICE DEPARTMENT'S TOPANGA STATION

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY      2012

Like most of us, I seldom visit a police station unless there is some sort of trouble going on. But, the Director of The Museum's Tours and Adventures Program, Richard Hilton has trained me to pay attention of art and architecture in public places. So, recently when making a police report, I took time to really look at the San Fernando Valley's new Los Angele's Police Department's Topanga Station. The next time you are in Canoga Park, of if you live there, There are tons of free parking, a really handsome building to see, and an amazing amount of Valley history spread out in bronze plaques at the main entrance.

 Topanga Station of the Los Angeles Police Department

 It's not "if" we will have another earthquake in the San Fernando Valley, it's "when" we'll have one. Earthquake preparedness if part of Valley life.

More folks would use their sun screen if they knew that Canoga Park is at the same latitude as Oran, Algeria and Cairo, Egypt.

 Canoga Park Citrus Lables

Shadow Ranch still serves the San Fernando Valley. Today it is no longer the western headquarters of Valley wheat production but produces strong young bodies through the excellent programs of the Los Angeles Recreation and Parks programs.

 

Lt. DAVE STORAKER PAERTICIPATES IN MUSEUM'S NARRATING LIVES - ORAL HISTORIES OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY  2011                            Northridge100

       The Museum of the San Fernando Valley's permanent commitment to the gathering of oral histories in the great San Fernando Valley, recognizes that many and varied careers interact to make our communities work. Our lives are enriched by police officers who take time from their personal lives to coach Little League baseball teams, business people who support public arts, teachers who serve on Neighborhood Councils and many, many more.

      To The Museum Community's good fortune, Lieutenant Dave Storaker, the Commanding Officer of the Los Angeles Police Department's Topanga Area Detective Division agreed to be interviewed for The Museum's Narrating Lives - Oral Histories of the San Fernando Valley. From a school boy in Granada Hills to the Commander of Detectives in the Topanga Division, Dave's stories are a vital part of our Valley's history.

Topanga Detectives Patch - Gift to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Lieutenant Dave Storaker 2011.  (click on image to enlarge)