Crime report recap

[caption id="attachment_651" align="alignright" width="320" caption="Police and Fire Building (City of Burbank)"][/caption] The following were taken from reports filed at the Burbank Police Department: North 6th Street: Burbank police arrested a 27-year-old Los Angeles man for attempted residential burglary. A woman called the police when she saw a male suspect climbing over the balconies of an apartment complex in the 100 block of North 6th Street. Police found Jason Grayson hiding on a second floor balcony. Grayson said he had been chased by a group of people and hid in the balcony because he was scared.  He could not provide any description of the individuals. He then told officers he was on parole for burglary. In the investigation, police discovered that Grayson had an outstanding burglary warrant for his arrest. Officers also discovered evidence that led them to Grayson was engaged in a burglary attempt. He was booked in police jail and a parole hold was placed on him. Buena Vista Street: A 47-year-old North Hills man was robbed of his money by two men after being released from the hospital.  The victim was walking to a nearby bus bench when two suspects approached him from behind on bicycles. One of the suspects brandished a knife and ordered him to give him his money.  The victim took the cash out of his wallet and handed it over to the suspect. The suspects then rode off northbound on Buena Vista Street  toward Olive Avenue. Both bikes were of the 18-speed variety. The first suspect was described as an 18-year-old Latino man, 5 feet 11, 175 pounds, thin build, shaved head, wearing a white tank top and navy blue shorts. The second was a 19-year-old Latino man, 6 feet, 190 pounds, muscular build, short buzzed hair and wearing a white t-shirt. Sarah Street: Officers responded to the 4300 block of Sarah Street regarding a man wishing to shoot himself with a shotgun. Police heard the racking sound of a shotgun coming from inside the man’s apartment. Police surrounded the apartment and called the man. After about 10 minutes of speaking with the man, he came out and surrendered to police. The man told police we was distraught over losing his job and was having financial difficulties. The shotgun was recovered from inside the apartment.  The victim was transported to a local hospital and held for a 72- hour psychiatric evaluation. North Buena Vista Street: Police on Thursday arrested two Los Angeles men for attempting to break into a vehicle in the 1500 block of North Buena Vista Street. Khalii Calhoun, 29, of Los Angeles and Keith Fulbright, 27, or Carson, were jailed after police located evidence that led them to believe the suspects were engaged in auto burglary activity. East Harvard Road: Police on Friday arrested a 15-year-old Burbank boy for allegedly attacking an 18-year-old resident with a baseball bat in the 500 block of East Harvard Road. The victim suffered a laceration to his head. The two parties had gotten into an argument over the payment of an iPod. The boy was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and was detained at the Sylmar Juvenile Detention Center. The victim was treated at the scene by paramedics. He refused transport to the hospital. North Victory Boulevard: Two Latino men on Friday entered the liquor store at 515 N. Victory Blvd., posed as customers, pointed a handgun at the clerk and demands cash from the register. The clerk opened the register and one of the suspects reached over the counter and took cash.  They took off on foot. The first suspect is described as being between  the ages of 25 and 30, 5 feet 4, 155 pounds, short dark hair and wearing a white t-shirt. The second is described as being between the ages of 25 and 30, 5 feet 9, 180 pounds short dark hair and wearing a white t-shirt. West Olive Avenue: Two Latino men on Saturday entered the liquor store at 3117 W. Olive Ave., selected a few items, pointed a handgun at the clerk and demanded money from the register The clerk handed over cash from the register. One suspect left from the rear of the store and the other suspect left from the front. The first suspect is described as being between  the ages of 25 and 30, 5 feet 5, 120 pounds, slicked black hair, goatee and wearing a dark shirt and dark pants. The second is described as being between the ages of 25 and 28, 5 feet 9, 160 pounds short black hair, clean shaven, wearing a white t-shirt, blue jeans and white shoes. Residential Burglaries 2223 Scott Rd.: Aug. 10. Loss: None. Suspects: Black man, wearing a blue long sleeved shirt. 1601 W. Victory Blvd.: Burbank, Ca. Aug. 8 to Aug. 10. Loss: HP computer, Bose amplifier, television remote control. Suspects: None observed. 346 ½ W. Alameda Ave.: Aug. 12. Loss: None. Suspects: None observed. 321 W. Alameda Ave.: Aug. 14. Loss: Vizio TV, TV stand, two 17-inch chrome rims. Suspects: None observed.

Cars are the real stars of the show

It's hard to tell who's more excited about the new Picture Car Museum that can be seen on the Warner Bros. Studio VIP Studio Tour-- the public or the folks who give the tours. Danny Kahn, director of the tour, loves to watch the reactions of people as they walk through the door and light up upon seeing recognizable cars from their favorite TV shows and movies. Some of those not mentioned in our printed story in today's Leader are the Shag Jag from "Austin Powers Goldmember," Nerd Herd Car from "Chuck," and the hover copter from "AI: Artificial Intelligence." Kahn has several favorites but at the top of the list is the Gran Torino from Clint Eastwood's film of the same name. The car itself represents so well Eastwood's character, Kahn said, with its green and lime color scheme that mimicks Army fatigues. Eastwood plays a retired soldier. Another of Kahn's favorites is the Batmobile from Tim Burton's "Batman" in 1989 that Michael Keaton drove. "It's hard to have this exhibit and not be able to drive these cars," Kahn said. Kahn also wishes they could start up the engines because the sound is so awesome. Tour guide Brad Taylor is also enamored by the collection. "The cars are as important as the actors are and sometimes more so," Taylor said. The car museum is right next door to the working garage where they maintain all the studio vehicles, Taylor adds. He gets the chance to talk to some of the mechanics who have worked on the cars over the years, he said. They tell him stories about the actors and the vehicles from way back in the 1970s and the 1980s, like on the "Dukes of Hazzard."

Nestle's dough back on shelves after investigation

Glendale-based Nestle USA has reintroduced its Tollhouse refrigerated cookie dough to the market after a two month recall related to an E. Coli investigation. [caption id="attachment_370" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Creative Commons"][/caption] The company’s new dough packaging includes the warning “Do not consume raw cookie dough,” to turn dough enthusiasts off from getting to the eating before the baking of the tasty treats. Nestle’s Danville, Va. plant was at the center of the investigation by the Food and Drug Administration, which suspected that consumption of raw cookie dough had caused the outbreak that resulted in dozens of illnesses. Inspectors had, in prior years, reported seeing abnormal conditions involving some dirty utensils, insect sightings and water dripping into a “liquid egg receiving bay” at the Danville plant, but when asked to voluntarily submit additional documentation to the FDA, Nestle refused. The company, however, has insisted that it met all of the FDA’s requests. It also voluntarily recalled its dough and the FDA has since concluded its investigation of the plant. Nestle also added the warning to its dough packaging as a result of the FDA’s suggestions. Read more from the company’s press release.

Parenthood gave Sakonju new perspective

Crescenta Valley High's Jan Sakonju, who was named Coach of the Year for 2008-09, recently became the father of twins, an experi- ence he said altered his perspective on coaching during a run to the CIF Southern Section Division VI championship with the boys' water polo team and a best-ever seventh place finish in CIF Division II with the boys' swimming team. “During [water polo] playoffs, I knew my wife was pregnant and I think that also kind of changed my coaching style and outlook on coaching and it kind of gave me a different focus,” Sakonju said. “Now that that the two twins are here, it’s definitely changed my life. “I think guys looked at me as a father figure at times, but when you actually are a father I think that changes everything [as far as] the role you play and how they look at you.”

SUV strikes two in crosswalk

[caption id="attachment_862" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Glendale Police officers investigate the scene of a pedestrian accident at the corner of Broadway and Pacific Ave. on Tuesday, August 18, 2009. (Roger Wilson/News-Press)"][/caption] A middle-aged husband and wife walking southbound on Pacific Avenue were struck by a black Mercedez-Benz SUV being driven westbound on Broadway about 4 p.m., police said. The victims, who were in a crosswalk, sustained minor injures and were transferred to Glendale Adventist Medical Center, said Glendale Police Dept. Sgt. Tigran Topadzhikyan. He said driver of the SUV a 24-year-old female.  Police are continuing to investigate. - Michael Arvizu

Earthquake hits three miles north of La Cañada

A 2.9 magnitude quake with an epicenter three miles north of La Cañada struck the area today at 3:58 p.m., according to the United States Geological Survey office in Pasadena. The quake was small, but close to the surface. “The preliminary depth is shallow, that explains why it was felt,” said USGS Scientist Susan Hough. People from North Hollywood to Monrovia reported feeling the quake. Read more here.

Local students make gains in standardized tests

From the Glendale News-Press & Burbank Leader: [caption id="attachment_852" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Creative Commons"][/caption] DOWNTOWN — Students in Glendale and Burbank made historic gains in standardized test scores for 2009, according to data released Tuesday by the California Department of Education. More students met the state’s proficiency marks than ever before for almost every testing category, according to the reports. Some grade levels made striking double-digit gains in some areas, particularly in the fourth grade. About 75% of Burbank Unified School District fourth-graders scored at or above the state’s proficiency rating for English and language arts, up from 66% in 2008 and 60% the year before. Glendale Unified School District fourth graders also jumped to 75% proficiency in the same category, up from 65% in 2008 and 2007. Overall proficiency rates are up in all categories, as they should be, educators said, but the rate of improvement exhibited by local students is reinforcement that administrators are getting it right, they said. “The improvement is just remarkable and really attributed to the hard work of the principals and the teachers,” Glendale Unified Supt. Michael Escalante said. About 64% of Glendale Unified students scored proficient or better in English and language arts, up from 59.6% in 2008 and 58% the year before. Proficiency in science also rose, to about 65% in Glendale schools, up from 62% last year and 53% in 2007. Math scores, totaled for the second through seventh grades, were also at historic highs, with about 61% of students meeting the proficiency mark, up from 58% in 2008 and 57% the year before. Check for updates here.

Officials: Jackson to be buried at Forest Lawn Glendale

From the News-Press: [caption id="attachment_845" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="A pair of ABC news vans are parked near the entrance of the Forest Lawn Memorial Park- Glendale Tuesday August 18, 2009. (Alex Collins/ News-Press)"][/caption] GLENDALE — Michael Jackson is scheduled to be buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Glendale Aug. 26, city officials said Tuesday. Earlier media reports had speculated that the Jackson family had chosen the famed cemetery’s Hollywood Hills location, but Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz confirmed that the late pop star would be interred at the South Glendale Avenue Forest Lawn. The cemetery is in the process of applying the needed permits to shut down surrounding streets, and so the cost of the operation is unknown, he said. But given the fall out the Los Angeles Police Department received regarding the cost to manager Jackson’s public memorial at the Staples Center earlier this summer, city officials said they would be monitoring the permitting process to make sure all expenses were appropriately covered. Media have already descended on the South Glendale Avenue entrance, officials said. Updates here.

Beer tasting next Wednesday

If you're a little thirsty on Aug. 26 evening, La Canada's Le Petit Vendome is hosting a beer tasting of "Bad A** Beers." The beer tasting is a seminar, about an hour and a half to two hours long. Owner Lynn Tran and a special beermaster guest pick the beers to be tasted and provide brief insights into the beer brewer's history and the qualities of the beer that make it special. A specialist in fine beers, Le Petit Vendome has been hosting beer tastings for nearly three years.  Signing up for it is tough, it fills up quickly, but it's worth it.  The shop also hosts wine tastings three times a month. For more information, call Petit Vendome at (818) 952-4084

VHMCare cuts staff to cope with reduced funding

From the News-Press: [caption id="attachment_847" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Sarineh Iranossian is seen working at her desk while many of the other cubicles remain unoccupied Tuesday August 18, 2009. (Alex Collins/ News-Press)"][/caption] SOUTHEAST GLENDALE — Struggling under the weight of deep state funding cuts, the city’s primary mental health clinic, VMHCare, has been forced to lay off 16 people, or more than 10% of its staff, administrators said. If the funding cuts continue, administrators said the agency may even be forced to close its doors. More here.