CANOGA PARK'S MRS. CONGENIALITY IS FINALLY RELINQUISHING CROWN; VALLEY WAITRESS TO SERVE HER LAST FREE SMILE.

Byline: Dennis McCarthy 

``I'm going to miss this corner.'' - Laurie Pomeroy.

The corner is at Sherman Way and Remmet Avenue in Canoga Park, inside Henri's Restaurant where Laurie Pomeroy has been pouring coffee, taking orders and handing out free smiles for more than 25 years.

Since back when Henri's was Pearl's Restaurant, and there was a Mrs. Canoga Park contest in town, but no West Hills.

``I wound up winning the Mrs. Congeniality award in 1970, and still hold the title because that was the last year of the contest,'' Laurie laughs Thursday, saying goodbye to her steady customers as she gets ready to retire and move to Camarillo to be near family.

If ever a crown fit the winner, this is the one, say her longtime customers like Bob Bulman.

``You can walk in Henri's down in the dumps, and she'll have you walking out after breakfast or lunch with a smile on your face,'' Bulman says. ``She's that kind of woman.''

The kind who turned her customers over the years into friends and neighbors. The kind who would slip food to someone with an empty stomach, and wallet.

The kind who worked day and night keeping Henri's open in the aftermath of the Northridge Earthquake - serving hot food and condolence to customers who had no home to go home to anymore.

People like her. The earthquake destroyed her home only a few blocks away from the restaurant, and she had to move into a one-bedroom apartment for two years, Laurie says.

The kind of woman who could talk a customer out of suicide, and then find him help. The kind who would give him a hug when he came back weeks later to thank her.

Canoga Park's Mrs. Congeniality of 1970 - Laurie Pomeroy. Finally relinquishing her crown in 1997.

``My theme has always been if somebody doesn't have a smile, give them mine,'' she says. ``It's a big part of being a good waitress, to have a built-in sense of caring.

``You take care of people efficiently, and at the same time be a friend. I've seen families come and go, been here for births and deaths. It's been like an old-fashioned general store around here.

``I'm going to miss this corner,'' Laurie Pomeroy says.

And her longtime friends and customers are going to miss her smile.

For the past couple of years, Mary Burgwald of Granada Hills says she's been meaning to do something about that old bracelet her son, Peter, found while hiking on the rocks of Chatsworth Park back in 1995.

``It's been lying around my kitchen, and I feel terrible for not doing anything until now,'' Mary says. ``But maybe it's not too late, and we'll get lucky.''

It's a long shot, but this bracelet obviously has some strong memories behind it, so here goes. Sometimes the stories that develop from lost-and-found items are some of the most poignant.

On the front of the bracelet is a pair of Air Force wings with the date 7-4-42. On the back is written, ``Love, Bob.''

``July 4th, I just know it has to mean something dear to somebody, and it would be wonderful to give it back to them,'' Mary says.

Yeah, it would, and find out the story behind that bracelet.

If there's one thing we never run short of in this city, it's scams. Here's the latest one being perpetrated against seniors, according to Officer Ron Gould of the LAPD Gray Squad.

``All of the LAPD's Valley community police stations are receiving reports from seniors who have been victimized by home invasion thieves,'' Gould says.

The scam goes like this. Someone will knock on your door and say they used to live in the neighborhood, or played with your children growing up.

``They will come up with some believable story to try and make you think that you should remember them. They want you to feel bad that you do not remember them so they can con you into letting them into your house.

``After they get in, if the person is alone he or she may ask to use the bathroom, get a drink of water or come up with some excuse to be by themselves,'' Gould says.

``If there are two or more people, they will separate, and one will distract you while the other person steals your property.''

The way you beat the scam is not to let them into your house in the first place, Gould says.

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PHOTO Laurie Pomeroy is leaving her waitress job at Henri's Restaurant after 38 years.

Tom Mendoza/Daily News