Looks like another flap between six Southern California cities (including LA, Glendale, Burbank and Pasadena) and Utah area cities over the Intermountain Power Project.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports the California cities, which take 75 percent its power, are blocking the construction of a third coal-fired generator to the 1,800 megawatt plant. They cite California state laws aimed at rolling back greenhouse gases, but the 23 Utah cities operating the power plant say they could use the extra juice.

Six California cities, concerned about global warming and greenhouse gas emissions, are refusing to allow a third coal-fired generating unit to be built at the Intermountain Power Project near Delta.

Their action promises to pit California's tough new environmental laws and the state's commitment to rolling back greenhouse emissions against the interests of thousands of Utah consumers who eventually may need the electricity that a third generating unit could provide.

The six California cities take 75 percent of the electricity generated at the IPP. As a result, their votes far outweigh those of the 23 Utah municipal members, which are represented by the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems, or UAMPS, and Rocky Mountain Power.

The whole matter could wind up in court, with the Utah municipalities and Rocky Mountain Power vowing to do whatever is necessary to clear the way for the new unit.

"We have no problem if they don't want to participate in building that unit," said spokesman Dave Eskelsen of Rocky Mountain Power, which takes 4 percent of the power produced by IPP and is interested in getting more to meet its customers' demands.

Rocky Mountain Power, however, considers it improper for those California cities - Los Angeles, Pasadena, Anaheim, Burbank, Glendale and Riverside - to block needed generating capacity in Utah to satisfy California's environmental laws.

You may recall last fall when Intermountain asked the six cities to renew their energy contracts until 2044 (the current contract expires 2027), but the Sierra Club pressure them to sit it out. All did except for Burbank, which unknowingly signed the renewal, and later managed to wiggle out of it after Intermountain agreed to extend the deadline until 2023.

Still, the Six Cities won't be cutting ties to the plant any time soon-- they lent $3.2 billion to construct the project and it has paid them back in cheap power at the cost of roughly 15 million tons in carbon-dioxide emissions per year.

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Looks like about-to-be-sworn-in-Wednesday Burbank Police Chief Tim Stehr will be joined by Springfield's finest. With 7-Eleven ending its Simpsons Kwik-E-Mart promotion and the stores reverting back to their boring ol' 24-hour convenient selves, they're donating the props to Children’s Miracle Network hospitals, some of which will auction them off for charity.

Except for the life-size Clancy Wiggum cut-out -- he's heading to the Burbank Police Department and will appear at community events.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 12:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

A 36-year-old Van Nuys man was arrested after a technician at a Burbank Best Buy store servicing his computer found child pornography on its hard drive, Los Angeles police said Monday.

Kenneth Chernow, 36, was arrested Thursday at his home in the 13500 block of Hart Street on suspicion of possessing child pornography after the Best Buy technician reported the discovery to authorities. He was released on $20,000 bail.

The LAPD’s Computer Crimes Unit conducted an analysis of the computer and confirmed the presence of several images of child pornography on the machine.

Police searched Chernow's home, which also turne dup more evidence. No victims have been identified. Anyone with information was asked to call LAPD Juvenile Division Carlos Monterroso at (213) 485-4220 or (877) 529-3855 evenings and weekends.

Meanwhile, two Valencia Best Buy Geek Squad members -- those house-call making service techs in the black-and-white VW Beetles -- have been suspended and the entire local operation is under investigation after a former employee accused his former co-workers of snooping in files in computers left for repairs, a company spokeswoman said. Daily News

Posted by Eugene Tong at 11:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

via the
News Press

A choir director at Incarnation Catholic Church was arrested Friday in Pasadena after he allegedly gave a 17-year-old parish boy alcohol and suggested "inappropriate sexual activity," according to Pasadena Police.

Russell Jackson, 46, of Pasadena, faces three misdemeanor charges stemming from the alleged July 1 incident. Those charges include child annoying, exhibiting harmful material to a minor and providing alcohol to a minor, said Janet Pope, spokeswoman for the Pasadena Police Department.

Jackson, who was also a music teacher for the Incarnation Catholic School, was fired from both jobs the day the incident was reported on July 6, said Tod Tamberg, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Archdiocese.

Jackson turned himself in Friday on advice from his attroney, and was cited and release. Arraignment is Aug. 16.

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Glendale Unified School District has agreed on a raise for members of its teachers union, wrapping up salary talks that lasted nearly a year, a union official said today.

The district and the Glendale Teachers Association, which represents 1,400 instructors, nurses and psychologists, reached a tentative agreement after a 20-hour negotiation session that went from Thursday to Friday morning, said Steven Field, the union’s bargaining chair.

Both sides have declined to discuss the terms of the multi-year contract until it is announced to the union’s membership, which has to approve the deal. It will be retroactive to the 2006-07 school year.

The teachers union has sought a 12.6 percent raise for the 2006-07 while the district has held firm at 5.1 percent. The district declared an impasse in March, which led to intervention by a state mediator.

In May, the district offered a two-year proposal -- 6.1 percent for the 2006-07 school year, then another 2.6 percent for 2007-08.

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Burbank Water and Power has a goal generating 33 percent of its electricity from "green" sources by 2017, compared to the 35 percent goal set by LADWP, according to story on green power from the Pasadena Star News.

The story actually looks at what Pasadena is doing to diversify its energy portfolio, but this tidbit from Fred Fletcher, BWP's assistant general manager, was rather eyepopping:

Public opinion polls showed a large number of Burbank residents would be willing to increase their energy bills by $15 a month in exchange for greener power, Fletcher said. The average bill for BWP customers is about $50.

Are we talking about same city where people often grouse about too much money going to City Hall? Burbank, I hardly knew ye...

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Grand View watcher Lisa Burks spotted this sign making the rounds outside the cemetery last weekend.

From what I could see, the grass continues to turn brown, with patches of weeds here and there. Many of the trees are turning brown, and one that I could see appeared to be completely dead.

The majority of the color inside Grand View these days comes from artificial flowers that have been left at previous city-sponsored limited visitations. Although, oddly enough, there are some brilliantly flowering vines growing near the front gates, indicating that there is still some life left in the old girl.

More photos at her flickr page.

Meanwhile, still no word from City Hall on when the twice-a-month visitations will resume, though a staffer I spoke with last week said it's looking like mid-August (at least September, according to the city's Web page today)-- officials have to decide whether to clear the hazardous dry growth themselves or hire a crew.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 11:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Rabbi Meyers became the first female rabbi to lead a congregation in the area when she took over Temple Sinai in Glendale in 1986. She died of bone cancer Thursday at her Los Angeles home, 10 weeks after she was diagnosed, according to the Times.

Here's a June 2001 Jewish Journal story about Meyers' departure from Temple Sinai to raise her two sons.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 09:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Let me say that early reports of a light crowd at the Galleria Target were GROSSLY exaggerated.

On the way to the overpriced churrascaria stand in the Galleria food court (and at the behest of my LAist-reading editors), I decided to dive into the three-story belly of a retail beast that has been a subject of obsession for LA's Web dwelling hipsters.

My first sight of the red bullseye -- 12:45 p.m. Friday -- were the shopping bags hulled by a group walking through the mall toward Mervyn's. Surely they couldn't be --gasp! -- Target shoppers!

After walking through one end of the mall to the other, I arrived at the Target's mall-side entrance -- there they were: clerks in red polo shirts, Starbucks, Pizza Hut and a row of check-out stands. At first glance -- a good crowd of 30-50 shoppers with moms, kids and downtown workers on their lunch break. It's the same scene upstairs and down, some pushing red shopping carts, others with a few sundries in hand.

All-in-all, a fair lunch-time crowd -- not quite as busy you'd expect in more established Targets as Burbank, Valencia or Pasadena, but not exactly empty either. The parking structure behind the building is about half-to-2/3rds full, with some folks opting to park in the sun (which I'm sure they wouldn't if the lot was empty).

Okay, so it's not exactly the weekend madness and traffic nightmare and meat market that is the West Hollywood Target, but hey, maybe after a few weeks?

Besides, those couple blocks of downtown Glendale are still a work-in-progress -- Rick Caruso's Americana won't open until next summer, which will definitely mess with the area's retail dynamic.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 01:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)|

Three-story Targets are all nice and good, but for Echo Park blogger Hexdous, it's all about Armenian beer at the Galleria food court.

The real story about the Glendale Galleria is the food court. Not talking about Pollo Campero here, I am talking about the fact that you can buy beer in the food court. What a concept, I know - but I don’t think most malls sell beer - do they?

Anyways, the International Grill sells kebabs, but they also have a fridge full of Erebuni beer from Armenia. So go there, knock back a few and then buy a bunch of stuff in the Apple store.

According to brewer Kotayk's Web site -- "It’s harmony in strength and flavour makes Erebuni the beer of choice."

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A tip from a source got me out of bed a whole hour earlier this morning for a trip to the Glendale courthouse, where celebri-tant Nicole Richie plans to plead guilty to her DUI charge from last year. But then I wasn't the only one to get the tip, with the rest of the Los Angeles media brigade kickin' it outside for the big arrival.

It's like the Oscars, but with the velvet rope replaced by the yellow police tape, and the court handlers were passing out little orange tickets in case the courtroom gets too packed and they have to raffle the seats, but it didn't come to that. And let's face it, it's Nicole Richie, not Paris Hilton.

Since I'm just a writer, I waited inside the building, away from the cameras. Richie arrived in a black SUV in the arm of her boyfriend, rocker Joel Madden (a proud Glendalian, just like The Game). The couple and their entourage cruised past sheriff's security and waited outside Glendale Superior Court Department 1 along with the media throng -- probably two-thirds credentialed broadcast and print crews, one-third curious onlookers and bloggers. One woman in a brown sweater-coat carried an In Touch magazine in a grocery bag into court -- what was her deal?

I sat two rows behind Richie -- just close enough to read the tattoo on the back of her neck. It says "Richie" -- in case she forgets her famous last name, I guess.

I'm not going into the acutal hearing -- you can read the whole story here -- but the thing was over within a half-hour. Meanwhile, reporters compared notes on what happened as Richie and her crew left the building. The shooters get agitated, but this time I was caught outside between the curb and her SUV.

The next thing I knew, dozens of photogs suddenly turned in my direction, pushing over each other to squeeze a few shots of the departure. That's where the elbow to the head came -- a slight bump that ejected me to the rear of the pack. No big deal -- we all gotta pay the bills, and I had to run over to the DA's news conference.

The TV folks peppered Deputy District Attorney Carolyn Lugo with their two obsessions -- whether Richie will do her four days in jail in the county slammer or in a nice city jail, where there's TV and Internet access; and what is the lesson to be learned here.

That one had me chuckling. Uh...I don't know, don't drive while high? But a fellow reporter turned to remind me of etiquette -- I was not supposed to laugh OUT LOUD -- don't want to hurt any feelings.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 10:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Now it's all speculation at this point -- the Galleria Target's only opened for a few days, but the crowd is looking a bit light for LAist Callie Miller's liking:

So we checked it out during prime evening shopping hours and could not believe that it was empty, empty, empty. We asked some questions. Are there more things here than at our own Target? New items you can't get at other Targets? More Libertine clothing? Whole new sections other Targets haven't even dreamed up yet? Nope, nope and nope. Just more space.

I don't know -- I would at least wait till after the weekend before unleashing the snark. How about the folks who have shopped there--any thoughts?

Posted by Eugene Tong at 06:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

On assignment this morning and updates will be sparse -- but here's a bit of Glendale-related history courtesy of LAObserved's Native Intelligence. (Note the post includes an artistic nude portait shot by Weston -- don't look if you know you'll be offedned...)

Legendary photographer Edward Weston is most often connected with Northern California. The modernist known for his mastery of form had a studio in Carmel and co-founded Group f/64 with Ansel Adams and others. Not as well known is that Weston began his career as a portrait photographer in the Los Angeles area.

Weston moved here from Illinois in 1906, settling in Tropico, now part of Glendale. He married his sister's best friend, Flora May Chandler. She became the mother of their four sons, and quietly suffered as he pursued affairs with exotic women in his circle such as Tina Modotti and Margrethe Mather.

This all comes as the Getty opens a Weston exhibit July 31.

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Two on smoking -- First comes word Disney will remove smoking from all films released under its own label (which isn't too difficult I guess -- when was the last time you see some one light-up in one of their family flicks?).

Also, the Burbank-based company will "discourage" smoking in films released under its Touchstone and Miramax arms. Now that's going to be tougher. YOU try telling Quentin Tarantino or Kevin Smith or some European auteur snuff out the butt in their films...

via Associated Press:

By GARY GENTILE, AP Business Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Walt Disney Co. will eliminate smoking from all its films released under its label and will discourage smoking in films released under its Touchstone and Miramax brands, the company said Wednesday.

Disney chief executive Robert Iger made the pledge in a letter to U.S. Rep. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass, chairman of the House Telecommunications and the Internet Subcommittee, who last month held a hearing in Washington, D.C., on the topic.

“The Walt Disney Co. shares your concern regarding deaths due to cigarette smoking,” Iger wrote.

Iger also said that a public service announcement will be included on any DVD of a film that includes smoking and that the company would encourage theater owners to show an anti-smoking message before screening films that depict characters lighting up.

Universal Pictures said it instituted a policy to reduce smoking in youth-oriented films in April, but did not announce it publicly until Wednesday.

The studio said it will include a health warning along with films that do include smoking.

“We believe it’s possible to do that while respecting filmmakers’ creative choices and we are committed to partnering with them in this effort,” Universal Studios chairman Ron Meyer said Wednesday.

In May, the Motion Picture Association of America said it would begin considering smoking as a factor in rating films.

Markey praised Disney’s decision.

“Now it’s time for other media companies to similarly kick the habit and follow Disney’s lead,” Markey said.

Meanwhile, Lynn Chase of the Smoker's Club, Inc. had this to say about the anti-smoking movement, which came via email...

Most people don't realize that the anti-tobacco "movement" is largely comprised of well paid lobbyists, who are funded by the punitive MSA (Master Settlement Agreement) tobacco taxes, and the huge (tax deductible!) 'charitable' contributions made by pharmaceutical companies who produce and sell nicotine replacement products. This is NOT a people's 'grass-root' movement, but a well orchestrated, corporate-led and government sanctioned scheme, which is designed to:

A) convince the public that "second hand" smoke is dangerous to bystanders (even though ETS has an actual "Relative Risk" akin to that of fluoridated water); and,

B) raise the discomfort level of smokers so high as to 'strong arm' them into quitting.

The resulting 'clean air' legislation sweeping this country has put thousands of small businesses out of existence (abridging the Constitutional right to 'private property' - i.e., their INCOMES - by dictating how and where their former patrons can use a LEGAL product).

Moreover, this modern day form of PROHIBITION has abridged the Constitutionally guranteed right of American citizens to decide for themselves where, with whom, and when they can 'assemble' with each other.

Now OUTdoor bans are becoming 'de riguer' in the "crispy state"? This should signal to anyone with a shred of common sense that the 'danger' of ETS exposure is not the real issue here. What's next? Lining us up
against a wall and shooting us?

I invite you to look at the other side of the coin before disseminating more 'anti-smoking' rhetoric in your pages.

Yours sincerely,

Lynn M. Chase
Verona, NJ
Member: http://www.smokersclubinc.com

Posted by Eugene Tong at 06:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

At least that's what the Burbank Tournament of Roses Association has in mind with their design for the 2008 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena. The Burbank City Council gave their nods yesterday, and it's now up to the group of local volunteers to build and decorate the thing. (Other towns, like the City of Glendale, has all the work contracted out to professionals...)

The Burbank association also is taking applications for an Oompah band to perform on the float, and some backup dancers.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 02:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

IHOP posts 37 percent rise in second-quarter earnings on sales growth

GLENDALE, Calif. (AP)— Pancake house operator IHOP Corp., which is acquiring casual dining chain Applebee’s International, said Wednesday its second-quarter profit rose 37 percent, helped by new franchise restaurant openings, same-store sales growth and cost controls.

Net income for the quarter ended June 30 rose to $14.1 million, or 82 cents per share, from $10.3 million, or 56 cents per share, a year ago.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial were looking for profit of just 59 cents per share.

Revenue climbed to $89.5 million from $85.1 million last year, above the $87.3 million analysts projected.

In early trading, IHOP shares rose 95 cents to $65.97.

Chairman and Chief Executive Julia A. Stewart said the company drove topline sales through new franchise restaurant openings and same-store sales growth, while moderating general and administrative expenses and continuing share repurchases.

For the three months ended June 30, systemwide same-store sales increased 2.5 percent, reflecting solid growth despite a continuing difficult consumer environment and increased competition for breakfast customers, the company said.

IHOP said it remains comfortable with existing guidance for 2007 as it relates to its IHOP business, but is suspending its fiscal 2007 profit outlook as current guidance doesn’t account for the effect of the Applebee’s acquisition on results.

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Since the Daily News couldn't spare a photographer this year to cover Cruise Night due to some soccer game featuring some guy name David Beckham, here are a few YouTube videos of the festivities. Enjoy.

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Finally a free morning to get our blog on...

• Along for the Ride columnist Sue Doyle rode out east early this week and visited some folks whose rides have more than 200,000 miles on the odometer

  GLENDALE - The upholstery on the driver's seat is in shreds. Masking tape patches a cracked taillight. And the odometer reads 223,626 miles.

  To some, it would definitely be time for a trade-in.

  But to Suren Rostonmyan, the 1986 Toyota pickup still has a lot of kick left. By staying on top of oil changes and continuing the TLC, he figures the reliable red truck could hit 300,000 miles without a hitch.

  Check out Suren's rig in the photo galleries to our right.

• Convictions in the 2004 beating death of 17-year-old William Maldonado -- a jury yesterday found William Torres, 24, Pedro Pena, 25, and Fredy Gudiel, 21 guilty of second-degree murder with a gang enhancement. Maldonado was riding his bike to his sister's house when the trio attacked him with baseball bats. Daily News

• Angry residents near Glendale High lashed out at the Glendale City Council last night about broken sprinkers and In-n-Out wrappers littered in their 'hood. They blame the campus' stadium, which holds too many events for their liking. News Press

  What do you guys think? Do they have to live with it since they did move next to a high school ? or do we blame the city and the school district? Me -- I blame society.

• Target at the Galleria -- "We're a normal Target." Good. News Press

  *The CurbedLA crowd marvels at the tri-level Vermaports inside the new Target store.

• The Times catches-up with the Burbank 7-Eleven turned Kwik-E-Mart. Since making the switch as part of a month-long marketing campaign for the Simpsons Movie, business has shot up 300 percent, and hot dog sales jumped from 800 to 3,000 a week.

• And finally, ain't no party like a Burbank party in which a couple of possibly uninvited guests blasted a few holes in the ceiling during a wedding reception Saturday night at Castaway restaurant. No injuries, no arrests and few are talking. Leader

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Gledale's self-appointed watchdog Barry Allen is hosting a series of discussions and workshops on being a pain-in-the-rear in City Hall...

Here's the skinny:

CONTACT: Barry Allen –818 243 1502
Vanguard -- POB 11202 -- Glendale CA 91226

Vanguard1@Charter.net

DATE: July/21/2007 Glendale California USA
HEADLINE: The Future of 101 Year Old Glendale
Summary: The City is 101 years old? What is its future?
Body: Through a series of nine 2-hour, small group meetings in Conference Room ‘A’ at the Glendale Central Library on Louise between Harvard and Colorado on July 25, 26 and 30, Vanguard, a community fiscal watchdog, will focus on the future of the 101-year-old city.

Vanguard Executive Director Barry Allen said, “Like most large cities, the residents suffer from a disconnect with the local government that dissolves into apathy demonstrated by a lack of involvement and engagement with the governmental process. Our guests will learn how to turn that apathy into advocacy; how to use the ‘Sunshine’ laws effectively and the possibility of living with an accountable, responsible and responsive government through grass roots involvement, engagement and advocacy.”

Vanguard started in 2003 as the need for community advocacy arose and has fulfilled that need through the use of the Open Government laws, publication of a widely distributed, weekly electronic newsletter and through successful interaction with Glendale City Officials.

Reservations are suggested, as the space is limited. Contact Barry Allen at 818 243 1502 or Vanguard1@charter.net.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 04:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

via Bob Hope Airport (bolding by yours truly...):

Airport Mounts Campaign to Make 11th Annual Airport Blood Drive Largest in City

WHAT: The Bob Hope Airport business community – including the airport, Burbank Airport Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, Yahoo!, several airlines, and companies within the Media Studios North campus are teaming up for a huge blood drive to benefit patients in hospitals throughout the San Fernando Valley – including Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank and Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills. The event is expected to be the largest blood drive in the history of the city of Burbank.

Participants will have great views of airplanes taking off from and landing on the runway as they donate blood in the Bob Hope Airport’s Skyroom. All participants will also be entered into drawings for several roundtrip airline tickets and hotel stays, courtesy of JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, US Airways and the Airport Marriott. Employees from Yahoo!, Technicolor, Central Staging, GMAC and many other businesses in the airport business community will be shuttled throughout the day between the Burbank Airport Marriott Hotel and Bob Hope Airport.

WHEN: Tuesday, July 24th & Wednesday, July 25th 2007 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
(Bulk of employees donating blood will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)

WHERE: Bob Hope Airport Skyroom, 2nd Floor, 2627 Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505

WHY: Southern California experiences blood shortages every year during the summer months as fewer people donate blood during these months due to vacations and summer recess at schools. The Providence Blood Donor Center works in collaboration with local businesses and community groups to gather blood products to meet the transfusion needs of patients throughout the San Fernando Valley.

Studies show that one person in the United States needs blood every two seconds. While only 5 percent of eligible donors in the United States donate their blood, this figure is even lower in Southern California where only 3 percent of eligible donors donate blood.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 02:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Simpsons-related stories just keep coming with the movie opening in a few days. Over the weekend, the San Jose Mercury News did a story about pro athletes who have appeared on the show -- some 40 over 18 seasons.

For a fat, bald, lazy nuclear safety inspector, Homer Simpson has enjoyed an astonishing athletic career.

He has bowled a perfect game, fought for the heavyweight title, played tennis with Andre Agassi, pinch hit for Darryl Strawberry, skateboarded with Tony Hawk, taught showboating to Tom Brady and talked soccer with Ronaldo.

All in all, a fairly ringing endorsement for the power of beer and doughnuts.

Starting Friday, Homer takes to the big screen as "The Simpsons Movie" hits theaters. There is no word about whether sports will be a plot element, but it seems a safe bet considering the show's history.

More than 40 athletes have provided guest voices over the 18 seasons of the animated TV series on Fox. And combining two of America's greatest loves - sports and "The Simpsons" - has been an ideal marriage.

The writer also talks to the animators at Glendale-based Rough Draft Studios (it's the storefront on Brand with the Futurama posters in the lobby, where groups of artists often take cigarette breaks by the door). They worked on the classic 3rd season ep Homer at Bat, and is doing some 3D animation for the upcoming movie.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 01:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Looks like the Unite Here folks will have someone new to tangle with in their quest to unionize Glendale Hilton workers...

via the Baltimore Business Journal

Hilton Hotels Corp. has appointed Linda Norman as the general manager for the Hilton Baltimore, a publicly financed convention headquarters hotel opening August 2008.

Norman will assume her new job as head of the 757-room hotel Aug. 13, 2008.

Currently general manager of the Hilton in Glendale, Calif., Norman was one of two finalists for the position. Norman and Thomas J. Thomas, resident manager of the Chicago Hilton, were interviewed by city officials last month during a Baltimore Development Corp. meeting.

A Duke University graduate, Norman was previously general manager of the Doubletree Guest Suites Tampa Bay in Tampa, Fla.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 07:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

GLENDALE - A man died early this morning when a woman backing out of a driveway hit him as he walked by, police said.

The man was killed at 1:15 a.m. in the 100 block of East Lomita Avenue near Brand Boulevard, police said. His name and age were not immediately available.

Police said the woman did not see the man, who died at the scene.

No arrests have been made, police said.

Last week, the Glendale Police presented a report on pedestrian safety before the City Council, which found the number of car-vs.-people collisions in Glendale to be steady the past couple years, but overall still lagging when compared to neighboring cities.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 07:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

In case you didn't hear Friday...

A Glendale man suspected of a hit-and-run crash that killed a 24-year-old Glendale woman was charged Friday with second-degree murder, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office announced. Ara Grigoryan, 21, was expected to answer to the charge in Pasadena Superior Court today, said Deputy District Attorney Robert Knowles. The D.A.'s office will ask that Grigoryan be held without bail.

Grigoryan is suspected of driving a black Mercedes-Benz on July 10 that struck and killed Elizabeth Sandoval as she was walking on Glendale Avenue near Windsor Road. The driver did not stop. The vehicle was found last Saturday near a Van Nuys body shop. Grigoryan was arrested in Mexico City this week by U.S. Marshals as he was allegedly going to take a flight to Europe and possibly his home country of Armenia, police said.

The Mexican government deemed him undesireable and turned him over to U.S. custody. If convicted, he's facing 15 years to life in prison, officials said.

Meanwhile, got a call from a reader who felt the fact that Elizabeth Sandoval was jaywalking when she was struck and killed should be emphasized more in the coverage. I mentioned that early in the coverage, but that detail dropped off when the story became that of an international manhunt for a hit-and-run driver.

The reader felt Sandoval's family should stop to consider that Elizabeth also broke the law, which resulted in her death. Any thoughts? It's one thing to jaywalk -- we all do it from time to time -- but did she deserve to be killed for it? Isn't a bigger crime for the driver -- who was speeding -- to hit her, then tried to escape responsibilty by fleeing the country?

I supposed it's all best left for the jury to grapple with when this gets to trial.

Earlier:
"Person of interest" in Glendale hit-n-run arrested in Mexico City
A break in the Glendale hit-and-run case?

Posted by Eugene Tong at 07:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)|

Catching up on the local news now having been on assignment this morning, and boy do we have a whopper!

I've heard this was happening from those in the know, but haven't been able to confirm it. Yes indeed, Glendale Fire Chief Chris Gray is leaving at the end of August after 21 years with the GFD, and will likely finish his career as Fire Chief in the city of San Rafael in Northern California.

But my question is this -- now that City Hall watchdog Barry Allen's nemesis has moved on, who is he going to kick around now?

*Update 6:44 p.m. -- Just caught up with Gray, who's already up north with his family to attend a City Council meeting there. His reasons for the move -- most of his family, including his children, have moved to the Bay Area, and the fire chief job held by John Montenero (also a former GFD chief) is opening up with his retirement.

"We have some special family circumstances that has required us to look closely at the future," he said. "That's the primary motivation."

Gray also said it was a "difficult" decision to leave Glendale, and only decided last Friday. "People who I have worked with for the last 21 years have been second-to-none. What won out ultimately is a decision based on family."

As for a sucessor, he'll be working with City Manager Jim Starbird to work that out in the coming month.

See the Glendale City Hall release below:

Glendale Fire Chief Christopher R. Gray, 50, has announced his retirement. Gray, Fire Chief since 2001, will leave the City at the end of August. He informed City Manager Jim Starbird that he has accepted an opportunity with the City of San Rafael, California, to serve as its new Fire Chief.

Starbird says Gray’s departure will be a loss for the City. “Chris is one of the most well respected Fire Chief’s in the country,” says Starbird. “In addition, his contributions to Glendale and to the City organization go way beyond his role as Fire Chief.” Starbird hired Gray in 2001 following the retirement of Chief Richard Hinz.

Chief Gray has spent just under 30 years in Fire Service. In addition to serving as Assistant Chief, he previously held the position of Battalion Chief with Glendale from 1986 to 1992. Prior to that time, he was employed as a Fire Captain, Engineer and Fire Fighter with the City of Pasadena. During his tenure with Pasadena, he also served as president of its Firefighters Association.

Gray noted in his retirement letter that this has been a difficult decision and one that is primarily based on family related circumstances. "In my professional opinion, the Glendale Fire Department is without equal,” says Gray. “I will always be proud of the exemplary manner in which our members have, and will, continue to serve the Glendale community."

The outgoing Fire Chief lists his coordinating role with the Verdugo Dispatch Center as one of his biggest accomplishments in Glendale. Verdugo currently services 11 cities in the San Fernando and San Gabriel Valley area.

He is married to his wife of 25 years, Cynthia, who will be leaving her post with the Glendale Unified School District. Starbird has yet to name a successor.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 06:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Robert Phipps, one of the local activists who helped shepherd the second-hand smoke control ordinance through Burbank City Council earlier this year, has a new proposal for our local officials -- past a resolution in support of troop withdrawal from Iraq.

But our council -- unlike those in West Hollywood or Santa Cruz -- wasn't in the mood to play. Only Mayor Marsha Ramos and Councilman David Golonski addressed Phipps' comments, and both said it was inappropriate for city councils to deal in federal issues.

Here's a copy of Phipps' remarks at Tuesday night's council meeting:

Mayor Ramos, members of the council, I’m Robert Phipps, a Burbank resident, and a grateful citizen of the United States.

Some of us have loved-ones in the military. Some have probably lost loved ones in the military.

Every member of the military is a hero. They, like our police officers, fire fighters, rescue workers, and others, have made it their job to keep the rest of us safe. They have agreed to put their lives on the line to protect our lives. They have said to the President, or other leaders, “We trust you to do what’s right for our country, and we will go into harm’s way whenever and wherever you say we must.”

But we have learned that sometimes our presidents lie to us. Presidents Johnson, Nixon, and now this President Bush have shown us that they will go to war for reasons of their own and then lie to us about those reasons.

I am not a hero, and I do not trust presidents, and I did not agree to sacrifice my loved ones to a folly.

We’re a smart people and we can learn from our mistakes. And I don’t think we want to wait ten years and lose 58,000 of our family members and friends like we did in Viet Nam before we finally decide to make a change. If someone is lost in the military, their family’s emotional survival demands, they believe the cause was noble. But in advance, I doubt there are many people in Burbank--even if they voted for Bush--who would willingly sacrifice a loved one for Bush’s … reason of the month. Bush will be gone in eighteen months. This war will soon end. But a lost love is gone forever, and the pain in the heart lasts forever.

Therefore, I ask you as the collective voice of all 105,000 people in our city, to pass and send a resolution to President Bush--with copies to Congress and the major news media--telling Bush that the people of Burbank are not willing to lose any family members or friends for his unnecessary and counterproductive war in Iraq, and to remove all our troops from there immediately.

Thank you.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 07:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

GLENDALE - Doug Dall can still recall his mission clearly when nine years ago he and several local educators reopened an underused middle school as a technology magnet high school.

"Glendale is really a hub for technical work," said Dall, principal of Clark Magnet High School. "We wanted to come up with a theme that would draw students to the program. We didn't want to gerrymander attendance in Glendale to force students to come here. We want students to come here on their own."

As the 1,200-student campus begins its 10th year in August, it also will have the distinction as one of nine high-achieving schools profiled last month by the U.S. Department of Education as a model of excellence despite circumstances.

"We're the best kept secret in Glendale," Dall said. "But nationally, we're recognized. We're really proud of that."

See dailynews.com for more.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 06:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

A late item:

A man who lit a bottle rocket inside his Glendale apartment and sparked a blaze post-Fourth of July that destroyed his building has pleaded no contest Tuesday to criminal charges.

Kevin Carpenter entered his plea to two felony counts of recklessly causing a fire to an inhabited structure, and was sentenced to one year in county jail and three years probation, said Jane Robison of the District Attorney’s Office.

Burbank Superior Court Judge Patrick Hegarty suspended a two-year state prison term that Carpenter, as long as he complies with the terms of his probation.

Carpenter was accused of lighting a bottle rocket around 2:45 a.m. July 5 in his apartment at 807 E. Chevy Chase Drive with the intention of throwing it into the street. But it exploded and burned him, according to Glendale fire Capt. Tom Propst.

It took 44 firefighters 13 minutes to knock down the fire, which caused $800,000 in damage to the building and $200,000 in damage to the contents, he said. Three units were destroyed and a fourth was heavily damaged.

Carpenter was treated for second-degree burns, according to Glendale police Sgt. Susan Hayn.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 06:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

via Glendale Police:

Today the Glendale Police Department has Ara Grigoryan in custody for his involvement in a hit and run accident that caused the death of Elizabeth Sandoval on July 10, 2007. With the assistance of State and Federal Authorities, we were able to locate Ara Grigoryan in Mexico City. We would specifically like to thank Immigration Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, United States Marshalls, and the Mexican Authorities for their assistance in this case.

We would like to take this moment and give you a chronological order of events that took place during our investigation regarding this case.

On July 10, 2007 at 9:45 pm, Glendale Police Officers responded to Glendale Avenue and Windsor Road, regarding a traffic collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian. Elizabeth Sandoval was pronounced at the scene. An investigation into the fatal hit and run accident began.

On July 11, 2007, traffic investigators were able to identify a location where the suspect vehicle might have been. Officers did not locate the vehicle in question; however, they were able to identify evidence that was left behind by the possible suspect.

On July 12, 2007, anonymous tips and more investigative work led us to identifying the vehicle and the person of interest who had been driving the vehicle in question.

On July 13, 2007, Glendale police investigators requested Mercedes Benz of America and ATX to activate the Global Positioning System to assist us in locating the suspect vehicle. After retrieving two court orders, our request still went unanswered. On July 14, 2007 at 7:00 am, the Los Angeles Police Department notified us that ATX had activated the GPS and the vehicle in question was located parked on a public street in the City of Van Nuys. There were obvious signs of fresh bodywork done to the front-end portion of the vehicle.

At the beginning of this week, we received information that a person matching the description of Ara Grigoryan was in custody in Mexico City. Today we have verified that Ara Grigoryan is in fact the person that was detained by the Mexican Authorities. With the assistance of the United States Marshall’s, Ara Grigoryan was transported back to the United States and released to the custody of the Glendale Police Department.

Our prayers again go out to the Sandoval Family and we hope this will give them some type of closer.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 01:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

via Associated Press

GLENDALE, Calif. - General Electric Co.'s energy investment unit acquired a 90 percent interest in the operator of the Scholl Canyon Landfill gas project in Glendale, Calif.

GE Energy Financial Services bought the operating partnership from Scholl Canyon Landfill Gas Corp., which will continue to manage the operations, for an undisclosed amount.

The project captures methane gas from decomposing landfill waste and transports it to Glendale's Grayson Power Plant, where the gas is used to generate electricity sufficient for 10,000 California homes. The project reduces 615,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

Since opening in 1963, the Scholl Canyon Landfill has accumulated 26 million tons of trash at a rate of 1,500 tons of trash per day.

The acquisition is part of GE Energy Financial's goal of investing $4 billion in renewable energy by 2010.

Shares of GE gained 59 cents to finish at $40.71. The stock reached a 52-week high of $40.95 earlier in trading.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 07:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

via City of Glendale...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 17, 2007

“My Hometown” Photo Contest DEADLINE EXTENDED!

The Committee for a Clean & Beautiful Glendale and Neighborhood Services invite residents of Glendale, Montrose and La Crescenta to enter the “My Hometown” Photo Contest. Photos should represent the photographer’s sense of pride for his/her hometown and must be taken in Glendale, Montrose or La Crescenta. Participants may submit photos in the “color” and/or “black & white” categories and only one 8”x10” entry will be accepted per category per person. Photos may not be submitted digitally.

Photographs must be received no later than Tuesday, July 24th at the Neighborhood Services Office at 141 N. Glendale Avenue, Room 114. All photo entries will be on exhibit at the Summer Night on the Plaza on Friday, July 27th from 6pm to 9pm. During this event, the public will be able to vote on their favorite photo in each category. The photo contest is a special tribute to the City’s beauty. Two winners will be announced at the event and will be presented with a crisp one hundred dollar bill. The winning photos will be on display at City Hall, in the City’s website and other venues.

Summer Night on the Plaza is a fundraiser benefiting the Committee for a Clean & Beautiful Glendale’s community beautification programs. It will be held in the City Hall Perkins Plaza and Atrium at 141 North Glendale Avenue, on Friday, July 27, 2007. Join us for an evening of live music, an eclectic array of silent auction items to bid on and complimentary hors d’oeuvres from area restaurants & bakeries (California Pizza Kitchen, Carousel, Minx, Olive Garden, Billy’s Deli, C&C Café, Flor de Café Bakery, Art’s Bakery, Starbucks, Nestle Ice Cream, & Mignon Chocolates), plus be the first to view and vote for your favorite photo contest entries. Adult tickets are $12.50 in advance and $15 at the entrance.

For more information about the “My Hometown” Photo Contest or Summer Night on the Plaza, contact Sandra Rodriguez at (818) 548-2877 or visit our website at www.ci.glendale.a.us/cdh/home_town.asp.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 07:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Daily News biz-maven Julia Scott delves into the IHOP-Applebees proposal...

GLENDALE -- IHOP said Monday that it would buy Applebee's for $2.1 billion in cash as part of a plan to revive the bar-and-grill chain.

The $25.50-per-share deal offers shareholders a small premium over the recent trading price of Applebee's stock. The stock rose to $24.91 on news of the deal.

IHOP stock rose almost 9 percent, to $61.24, after news of the acquisition broke.

IHOP chief Julia Stewart plans to sell nearly all of Applebee's company-owned restaurants to individual franchise owners to boost cash flow and stock prices, a strategy she used to help breathe new life into the pancake chain.

Of the 1,319 IHOP eateries across the globe, 99 percent are franchises. Nearly 75 percent of Applebee's 1,943 locations are franchises.

"We've been down this road before and successfully led a total business transformation," Stewart said during a conference call. "We plan to do it again with Applebee's."

Read the rest at dailynews.com

Posted by Eugene Tong at 10:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

*Update -- Check out the photos by DN Photographer Hans Gutknecht here. You won't regret it...

Also at Burbank Airport today -- more shameless Simpsons Movie marketing!

JetBlue Airways, The Official Airline of Springfield, Unveils First-Ever Specialty Aircraft in Celebration of The Simpsons Movie Release

WHAT: JetBlue Airways, recently named The Official Airline of Springfield, will christen its first-ever specialty aircraft “Woo-Hoo! JetBlue!” in celebration of The Simpsons Movie release.

WHO: *Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie Simpson

*The Simpsons Movie filmmakers and producer Denise Sirkot
*JetBlue crewmembers and executives

WHEN: Tuesday, July 17 11AM - 12 PM
*Please allow adequate time for parking and set up.

WHERE: Million Air Burbank
2800 N. Clybourn Ave Burbank, CA 91505

VISUALS: Plane christening with Buzz Cola from Kwik-E-Mart/7-Eleven
Life-sized, 3-D The Simpsons Movie couch theater display
Interior of aircraft (Airbus A320) will be available for media tours, featuring a continuous offering of Simpsons episodes on FOX Channel 41.

We may even have photos later...

Posted by Eugene Tong at 10:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

BURBANK -- Several hundred passengers were evacuated just before 8 a.m. this morning from Terminal A at Bob Hope Airport because someone entered the terminal gates before the person was properly screened.

The terminal was re-opened about a half hour later, and airport spokesman Victor Gill said the breach appeared to be accidental trespassing by a passenger. No word how many flights have been delayed. Daily News

Posted by Eugene Tong at 09:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

If you feel like wasting two hours you'll never get back, stop by the Glendale Famima!! at 134 N Brand Blvd for a flyer that will admit you and a friend to a special screening of Bachelor Party 2 at the Mann theaters at 128 N. Maryland, 7:30 p.m.

Yes -- this is indeed based on the 1984 Tom Hanks wild and crazy comedy "Bachelor Party". I couldn't believe it myself.

Though the description on the back of the flyer says it was actually called "The Bachelor" -- it's probably written by a PA who wasn't old enough to remember the golden age of American cinema that was the mid-1980s, a time when stupid sex comedies inspired by Animal House, Porky's, Meatballs and Revenge of the Nerds ruled the multiplex; a time before Tom Hanks became an icon for the greatest generation, when his best known works were the cross-dressing sitcomBosom Buddies and that Daryl Hannah mermaid flick Splash.

In fact, it goes to show you there's life after Joe Versus the Volcano.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 05:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

via Bob Hope Airport:

BURBANK, Calif. -- The Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority, owner and operator of Bob Hope Airport, today elected officers for a new one-year term from July 2007 through June 2008. Glendale Commissioner Bob Yousefian was elected president. Burbank Commissioner Bill Wiggins was elected vice president, and Pasadena Commissioner Frank Logan was chosen secretary. The Authority elects officers once a year at its first meeting in July.

Yousefian was appointed to the Airport Authority Commission in 2005 and is a current member of the Glendale City Council. Wiggins was appointed by the City of Burbank to the Authority in 2001 and served as secretary for the past year. Logan was appointed to the Authority in 2005 by the City of Pasadena.

The Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority is governed by a nine-member commission. Each of the three cities appoints three commissioners. In addition to the officers, the sitting commissioners are: Don Brown and Charles Lombardo of Burbank; Carl Povilaitis and Rafi Manoukian of Glendale; and Joyce Streator and Chris Holden of Pasadena.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 05:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

A dispatch from Eric Michael Cap, one of the activists who pushed the secondhand smoke control ordinance through the Burbank City Council back in March...

Here in Burbank we finally have “No Smoking” signs Downtown and the City is about to hire a “SHSCO Ambassador” to go business-to-business to educate folks such as Albertson’s, who don’t seem to know about it.

My family has had several positive smoke-free dining experiences at Market City Café & Pomodoro’s. Last night we were at The Fab Four Beatles show at the Starlight Bowl and before the show began they announced “there is no smoking” and there was a loud cheer from the audience.

No problems either in the amphitheatre or on the walk out to the parking lot. I feel like we’re making real progress on this and people are starting to “get it”. More and more cities are considering following in our footsteps and that’s encouraging. To quote my colleague Robert Phipps; “Smokers are a dying breed”. Cheers!

Posted by Eugene Tong at 04:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

The reaction so far to my story on the campaign to restrict public smoking in Glendale depends on which side you're on in the tobacco debate...

There's GGwinnie:

I have a reply for Eunice Kim.... how would she like to end up with lung cancer like my Mother. So Sad.. she weighed 76 lbs, couldnt eat or drink was in constant pain in spite of all the medicene she took. She sat up all night not able to sleep.. her inerest in llife was gone. she prayed to die.. SHE WAS A SWEET MOM AND GRANDMOTHER TO ALL MY CHILDREN. sHE IS SORELY MISSED TO THIS DAY... She would have loved to see her great grandchildren had she lived..I I miss her to this day... So Eunice, please dont smoke, live your life !!

And here's Rod Guilmette of Burbank, who has coined a collective name for tobacco regulators:

It would have seemed appropriate to mention that Steven Gallegos doesn't just work "with" the American Lung Association, but is under contract with them and with Glendale Adventist.

Using the terminology of Big Tobacco Control (a multi-billion dollar industry), he's a "paid shill."

As for smoking not being "American," 40 to 50 million American adults smoke.

Big Tobacco Control is addicted to smokers and smoking. Without large numbers of smokers paying huge excise taxes on tobacco products, tens of thousands in that industry (BTC) would be out of work. In addition, to cite just one of thousands of programs that have nothing to do with tobacco, funding for the national State Children's Health Insurance Program would have to be found elsewhere.

Whenever a state legislature considers banning the manufacture and sale of tobacco products in its state, Big Tobacco Control testifies against it. Why? From their own documented testimony: "It would decrease funding for their tobacco control efforts (no sales, no special excise taxes= no money for salaries).

Since Mr. Gallegos is a paid spokesperson for the American Lung Association and Glendale Adventist, can I assume these two organizations are now proposing that smokers cannot be true Americans? Did you check on that?

And between economic and emotional pleas, a caller who's against smoking also took time to attack immigration, which I guess is inevitable as the nation is still cycling through another wave of nativist fever (and especially so after our headline writers took time to hype-up the cultural angle).

As for the anti-smoking proponents, their petition has gotten 90 signatures as of 4 p.m.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 04:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)|

GLENDALE — A man has barricaded himself inside a house today in what appeared to be a botched burglary, police said.

The man, who appeared in his late 20s, is believed to be holed-up by himself in a home on the 1100 block of Avonoak Terrace, police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said. Police had arrived at the home at about 11 a.m., after its burglar alarm was triggered, and saw the man come out of the garage.

When he saw the officers, he ran back inside, Lorenz said.

There has been several daytime residential burglaries reported in the area, and investigators suspect the man may be the culprit, Lorenz said.

*Update 5:46 p.m. -- Police has arrested Jerome Wilson, 26, of Tujunga, after a five-hour stand-off. Daily News

Posted by Eugene Tong at 02:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

BURBANK - Two Burbank police officers who were in a pursuit Sunday were injured when the car they were in swerved to avoid hitting an oncoming car, jumped a curb, hit a tree, and a sign post before flipping, police said.

The incident began about 1:30 a.m. Sunday when the officers were chasing a suspected car thief when they crashed near Victory Place and Lake Street, said Burbank Police Lt. Brian Matthews. The unidentified officers were treated for minor injuries at a local hospital and released. More at Daily News.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 12:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

A balanced meal to start your week.

• They've snuffed out cigarettes in Calabasas, Santa Monica, Burbank and Beverly Hills — and now a group of local residents has started pressing for a public smoking ban in Glendale. Advocates behind the "No Butts Glendale" campaign have been pushing the City Council since June to consider outlawing smoking in parks, lines and within 25 feet of sidewalks and business entrances. Daily News
  See their online petition here.

• Glendale-based IHOP (that's International House of Pancakes, for those not hip with the lingo) announced today it has entered into a deal to acquire Applebee's International Inc., operator of Applebee's restaurants, for $25.50 per share in cash, or about $2.1 billion. The all-cash transaction, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2007, is subject the usual shareholders and regulatory approvals, of course.

• Lawyers in the Grand View Memorial Park civil suit will be doing some discovery Tuesday. News Press

• The Pasadena Star-News paid their repsects at slain Glendale College cheer captain Brittani Idom's memorial.
  

Posted by Eugene Tong at 12:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

GLENDALE _ Police located Saturday the Mercedes Benz sedan that struck down in the a 24-year-old woman earlier this week, while the hunt continued for a man believed to be involved with the fatal hit-and-run.

The black four-door S430 sedan with a California license plate of O7TT777 was found parked along the curb in Van Nuys after the car’s tracking system was activated, police spokesman John Balian said. Investigators were trying to turn up new leads at area auto repair shops.

Police said the driver of the black Mercedes struck and killed Elizabeth Sandoval at highway speeds while she crossed the street at Glendale Avenue near Windsor Road Tuesday night, then fled the scene.

On Friday, police complained an attorney for the German automaker had refused comply with a court order to activate the car’s global positioning system. But the device’s Texas-based manufacturer contacted Los Angeles Police with a location Saturday, Balian said.

Authorities were looking for Ara Grigoryan, 21, of Glendale, a “person of interest” who matches witness descriptions of the man behind the wheel. The car is registered to one of Grigoryan's relatives, but he has been cited for seven traffic violations over two years while driving the car, including failure to yield to pedestrians and three cases of speeding.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 06:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

GLENDALE - Police are looking for a man believed to be involved in a hit-and-run crash that killed a 24-year-old woman earlier this week, but their efforts were stymied Friday when an automaker refused to cooperate with investigators trying to locate the suspect’s car.

Police said Ara Grigoryan, 21, of Glendale is a “person of interest” who matches witnesses’ description of the man behind the wheel of the black Mercedes Benz-sedan that struck and killed Elizabeth Sandoval at Glendale Avenue near Windsor Road Tuesday.

The car is registered to one of Grigoryan’s relatives, but he has been cited for seven traffic violations over two years while driving the car, police spokesman John Balian said. They include failure to yield to pedestrians and three cases of speeding.

Police attempted to locate the car by requesting Mercedes Benz to activate the vehicle’s onboard tracking system.
Many recent model luxury cars are equipped with a global position system allowing authorities to locate them if they were stolen. Police presented two separate court orders Friday, but attorneys at the German automaker’s North American headquarters in New Jersey refused to comply.

A message left with Frank Berenz, an attorney representing Mercedes Benz, was not immediately returned.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 06:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Alan Freibaum -- the "Irreconciliable Differnces Bandit" pleaded not guilty to 31 felony robbery and other charges at his arraignment at Burbank Superior Court.

Freibaum, 55, is accused in 14 bank robberies, during which he made off with more than $44,000 between December 2006 and until his capture in June this year. He also faces charges of kidnapping a woman, first-degree residential robbery and first-degree burglary, which could result in a life sentence if convicted.

He's being held in lieu of $2 million bail. The next hearing is scheduled Aug. 8 at Pasadena Superior Court, Dept. E.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 01:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Enough blood and guts...here's a fun one spotlighting Beautiful Downtown Burbank from LAist' "Neighborhood Project."

According to poster Elise Thompson:

Beautiful downtown Burbank was the butt of many a Johnny Carson joke. Sometimes one does get the sense that Burbank is a little podunk town, caught in a time warp. It’s like living in Mayberry. People in the higher tax-brackets live in the hills, and around the The Equestrian Center. This post is going to focus on the flats, particularly around the neighborhood called "Magnolia Park" by Real Estate agents trying to make it look more attractive.

Besides great photos of "freakishly clean" streets and other local oddities, she also compiled a local barhopping guide.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 01:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Glendale Police is calling an 11 a.m. news conference to present a "person of interest" in the Elizabeth Sandoval hit-and-run case. Sandoval, 24, of Glendale was killed Tuesday night when a speeding black Mercedes-Benz sedan struck her at Glendale Avenue near Windsor Road. The vehicle was traveling at up to 60 mph on impact, and flung her about 75-100 feet. See Daily News story here.

*Update 10:54 a.m. via Glendale Police
The suspected vehicle is described as a 2003 black 4-door Mercedes-Benz S430, with a California license plate of O7TT777, and is believed to have sustained front-end damage. The person of interest in this incident is Ara Grigoryan of Glendale, who is described as a male Armenian, approximately 5’9 with black hair and brown eyes. The investigators have developed information that Mr. Grigoryan is related to the vehicle that we are seeking.

It is expected that Glendale City Council will approve allocations for a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the hit-and-run suspect. LA County Board of Supervisor Michael Antonovich will also be asking for an additional $10,000.00 reward to be provided by the County. The Glendale Police Department is urging any witnesses or other involved parties to come forward with any information that they may have.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the Glendale Police Department at (818)548-4840. They can also call the Glendale Crime Stoppers anonymous hotline at (818)507-7867.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 10:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

The basketball hoops are down and there was a fresh coat of paint on the benches at Brand Park on Thursday, just more than two weeks after a shooting there raised concerns about public safety. Residents said the b-ball court - in a remote corner of the park and far from the gaze of police patrols - is a magnet for illicit rendezvous - drug deals, vandalism and other crimes.

The park made headlines June 26 when someone shot at an occupied vehicle after a confrontation. No one was injured, and two men - Harutyun Abrahamyan, 21, of Pasadena, and Haroutioun Aivazian, 19, of Glendale - were arrested about a week later on suspicion of attempted murder.

Police have stepped up patrols. Meanwhile, spooked residents are demanding the city clean up the sprawling 31-acre park nestled at the base of the Verdugo Mountains, the former estate of Leslie C. Brand, one of the city's pioneers.

more at dailynews.com...

Posted by Eugene Tong at 10:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

On assignment this morning -- here's a quick update to fill the hours

A husband and wife from Glendale and two female accomplices from the San Fernando Valley were accused of running an adult day health care center out of a church community room, endangering senior citizens by having uncredentialed social workers conduct therapy and filing false claims to the state's Medi-Cal program, state officials said today.

Five felony counts, including false claims, grand theft, and subjecting seniors to great bodily injury have been filed against Simon and Vardui Rosi Dulbandzhyan, both of Glendale; Ani Ter-Gevorkyan, of North Hollywood; and Salphy Boyajian, of West Hills.

More at dailynews.com

Posted by Eugene Tong at 06:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Authorities have identified a 24-year-old Glendale woman who was killed by hit-and-run motorist while crossing the street.

Elizabeth Sandoval was struck down at about 9:40 p.m. by a black Mercedes Benz-sedan at Glendale Avenue near Windsor Road, police spokesman John Balian said. The vehicle was traveling at up to 60 mph when it struck Sandoval, and flung her about 75-100 feet. The speed limit at the intersection was 30 mph.

Sandoval was leaving an area convenience store with a friend, Balian said. Witnesses told police they were crossing the street against a red light, though one motorist had stopped for them before Sandoval was struck. Her companion was not injured.

Police believe the Mercedes was being driven by a man, and suffered major front-end damage. Television news footage showed the car’s front grill left at the scene. Anyone knowing more about the case was urged to call police at (818) 548-4818.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 02:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

As noted in my colleague-in-biz Julia Scott's Bargain Hunter blog, Target's Glendale Galleria store will open its doors July 24 for "Family & Friends," then heading into Grand Opening festivities Sunday, July 29.

When the news broke last year the red bullseye is heading into the hollowed-out anchor once home to Robinsons-May, I recalled a couple of haters say the Galleria is going downmarket with this new tenant. To you, I say stop the hate and relish the store that carries everything including a $46.89 Lobster Mold and a $679 espresso machine.

Target Opening Schedule:

Tuesday, July 24 – Family & Friends opening from 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Wednesday, July 25 – Soft opening
Sunday, July 29 – Grand opening for the public.

Target at Glendale Galleria Operating Hours
Monday – Saturday: 8:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sunday: 8:00 am – 9:00 pm

Posted by Eugene Tong at 01:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

It didn't take even an hour for Jason to post an item about the 24-year-old Glendale woman who was killed in a hit-and-run last night on the Daily News Web site that we get one reader lashing out at immigration and immigrant drivers.

Now I'm not going to repeat the post here -- here's the link if you're curious -- but the writer's argument seems to be based on the fact the car that hit the woman was a Mercedes Benz sedan. That's big leap in logic, but extreme nativism is rarely logical.

I usually expect this kind of talk AFTER police have an identified suspect in custody, but then it doesn't take much set off the anti-immigration crowd nowadays. I wonder what the commenter will say when he or she finds out the victim was Latina.

Maybe it's something against the Germans, those engineers of fine automotive products. We have to put a stop to German immigration! Who knows how many of teutonic scofflaws are living among us without proper papers?

Posted by Eugene Tong at 12:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

From the mouth of Burbank City Hall to your eyes...

Burbank Mayor Marsha Ramos is asking residents to take simple measures to save water.

“Water is our most precious resource and this year has seen the lowest recorded rainfall in Burbank in over one hundred years. It’s time for all of us to pitch in and make every drop count,” said Ms. Ramos.

This call for water conservation challenges every Burbank citizen to reduce their water use by 20 gallons daily. That amount may seem like a tremendous goal, but in reality it can be readily achieved by taking the following actions inside and outside homes:

Water Saving Action	Estimated Water Savings
Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks	20 gallons per minute
Use a self-closing nozzle for your hose instead of leaving the hose running when washing your car	20 gallons per minute
Turn off water when brushing teeth	2 gallons per minute
Fix leaky toilet	30 – 50 gallons per day
Replace older, inefficient clothes washers with Energy Star™ models (and get a cash rebate from Burbank Water and Power!)	20 – 30 gallons per load
Take a shorter shower	2.5 gallons per minute
Run the dishwasher only when full	2 – 4.5 gallons per load
Wash only full loads of clothes	15 – 50 gallons per load
Don’t over-water your lawn and plants!	15 – 25 gallons per minute
Water landscape only before 6 AM and after 8 PM to reduce water lost to evaporation	20 – 25 gallons per day
Adjust sprinklers to prevent overspray and runoff	15 – 25 gallons per day
Add 2” to 3” of mulch around trees and plants to reduce evaporation	20 – 30 gallons per day per 1,000 square feet

Average rainfall in Southern California is nearly 15 inches per year, but the rainfall for the 12 month period that ended June 30, 2007 just barely topped three inches, making this the driest year on record for our region.

This year, the City of Burbank foresees no need for drought condition measures, such as water rationing. However, another year of limited rainfall here coupled with reduced snow pack levels in the Northwest could trigger a need next year for measures beyond a voluntary call for conservation. For this reason, Mayor Ramos is urging residents to take action today to help ensure that a sufficient amount of water can be stored to meet our needs for next year.

For dozens more water-saving tips, information about cash rebates available from Burbank Water and Power for energy- and water-efficient appliances, and a link to a watering calculator that will direct you to the correct amount of irrigation needed for your lawn and plants (most of us over-water by 50%!), please visit www.BurbankWaterandPower.com. And, please remember to make every drop count!

Posted by Eugene Tong at 11:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

A memorial service for Brittani Idom, the 18-year-old Glendale College cheerleader who was shot and killed in Los Angeles last Friday is scheduled for Saturday July 14, 9 a.m. at Lake Avenue Congregational Church, 393 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena.

Viewing is scheduled Friday, July 13 between 2 p.m. - 7 p.m. at Woods - Valentine Mortuary at 1455 N. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena.

Donations and condolences can be sent to 1746 Morada Place, Altadena, CA 91001

Earlier: Teen's zest for life recalled

Posted by Eugene Tong at 11:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

GLENDALE -- Two banks were robbed Tuesday just 15 minutes apart, one by a man authorities have dubbed “The Zorro Bandit” and the other by a group who pulled off a well-organized heist, police said.

The first robbery occurred about 9:45 a.m. when three men wearing baseball caps and armed with handguns entered Bank of the West at 400 N. Glendale Blvd. Two of the men ordered the patrons and the tellers to lie down on the floor while the third man took money from teller stations and entered the vault, Glendale police spokesman John Balian said.

Outside, the trio joined an accomplice waiting in a gray Toyota with no license plates.

The other robbery was reported about 10 a.m. at Union Bank at 33 N. Brand Blvd. when a man armed with a handgun approached a teller demanding money.

The man is described as 5-feet-5 and 160 pounds and appeared in his mid-20s to early 30s.He had slick, greasy hair and wore a goatee — hence the Zorro nickname, Balian said. The FBI has linked him to at least five previous heists.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 10:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

A smorgasboard.

• A 24-year-old woman was killed in Glendale last night by a hit-and-run driver. The woman was hit by the car about 9:40 last night on Glendale Avenue near Windsor Road, said Glendale police Sgt. Dennis Smith. The victim was walking west across Glendale Avenue, about 50 feet south of Windsor Road, accompanied by another woman, when she was struck by a black Mercedes-Benz. Daily News CBS2 (video)

• The Times profiles Burbank's Autobooks-Aerobooks, which has been in business since 1951. It's collection of books, models and memorabillia for gearheads has drawn a celebrity clientele including Nicholas Case, Tim Allen and Jay Leno.

• Since gunfire errupted at Brand Park a couple weeks ago, frightened residents have been stroming the Glendale City Council pushing for more police patrols, security cameras and removal of the basketball hoops there, which they say draw unsavory elements. News Press

• Here's a tale involving unsuspecting travellers flying to Vegas from Burbank on Southwest, and rock god Tommy Lee. E! Online
  

Posted by Eugene Tong at 09:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Six people who allegedly skipped-out on paying an estimated $1 million in state taxes as construction contractors have pleaded not guilty today to multiple counts of felony tax evasion.

The six people, who resided in Burbank and Glendale, were arraigned in Los Angeles Superior Court, state Franchise Tax Board officials said. The next hearing is scheduled Sept. 5.

They include:

• Sarkis Ter Abelian, aka Mike Terabelian, 42, of Burbank and his wife, Alisa Oganyan, 32;
  
• Zohrab Mkhitarian, aka Rob Mikitarian, 39, of Burbank and his spouse, Marine Metspakyan, 31;
  
• Avetik Gyandzhyan, 37, of Glendale and his wife, Lilit Lusparyan, 27.

The defendants allegedly operated businesses providing plumbing, air conditioning, and electrical work, and operated companies under multiple names. Investigators said the companies failed to file state income tax returns for 2001-04, or filed returns claiming expenses were equaled to reported income.

The county District Attorney’s office, which began the investigation, also alleged the defendants of overcharging, billing for services not performed and for substandard work.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 06:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich has dished-out a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of 18-year-old Brittani Idom's killer. Idom attended Glendale College, and was captain of the cheerleading sqaud there.

Meanwhile, LA City Councilman Herb Wesson is waiting for his council to approve a $50,000 reward in the Idom case -- she was shot early Friday while driving in his Mid-City district.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 02:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

All-Star Tuesday.

• Glendale story of the day -- Brittani Idom had just finished her first year at Glendale College and was captain of the cheerleading squad there. But the life and promise held by this 18-year-old was severed last week in a senseless shooting. Daily News

• Grand View case moves another inch -- a judge yesterday allowed the city of Glendale to clean-up dried growth and other hazards, paving the way for the twice-a-month visiting hours to resume, though we're not sure when. News Press

• Glendale Water & Power wants to test drill for water near Dunsmore Elementary School to tap into the Verdugo groundwater basin. News Press

• Meanwhile in Burbank, theives are targeting fire hydrants for their bronze caps, which are fetching good prices, with metals and other building materials in high demand worldwide. "A phenomenon of three-dollars-a-pound scrap," Burbank Water and Power General Manager Ron Davis said.

• And a laser light show is no fireworks at the Starlight Bowl Fourth of July Spectacular Leader
  

Posted by Eugene Tong at 10:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

That's right -- you, who's looking for handouts at a cement median near Glenhurst or Glenfeliz. The good people of Atwater Village have their eye on you, and so does the LAPD...

Posted by Eugene Tong at 01:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Back in action...

• Burbank story of the day -- A chat with Tim Stehr, soon-to-be chief of the Burbank Police Department. He started out as a cadet right here, and now he's about to be running the place.

• Glendale Police has been busy -- they arrested Kevin Cunningham, 22, whose runaway fireworks lit-up an apartment building on Chevy Chase Dr. Then on Thursday, they arrested two men on suspicion of attempted murder for a shooting in Brand Park a couple weeks ago.

• If you only get your news from these Internets, the biggest news to come out of Burbank last week was the conversion of the 7-Eleven on Verdugo and Olive into a Kwik-E-Mart -- part of a big fantasy-intrusion-into-the-real-world marketing campaign for the upcoming Simpsons movie.

• Lisa Burks over at valleynews.com tries to make sense of the Grand View executor Tom Trimble's cemetery bail-out plan.
  

Posted by Eugene Tong at 10:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Call it an early start for the Fourth of July holiday for you office workers -- about 450 Burbank Water and Power customers around downtown are sweating it out right now due to a power outtage. BWP Assistant General Manager Greg Simay said the outage was reported just after 10:30 a.m. and affects 370 residences and 80 commerical offices and shops.

The boundaries are roughly between 3rd Street and the 5 freeway, as far north as Olive and south as Providencia.

No word yet what caused the short to the system, but it wasn't an overload due to summer heat, Simay said, though he suspects a runaway mylar balloon to be the culprit. He hopes to have power restored by 12:30 p.m.

A spot of news for an otherwise slow day so far...

Posted by Eugene Tong at 11:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|