SANDBAGGING IN LA CRESCENTA

Neighbors got a leg up on the coming winter storms by filling about 1,000 sandbags in about 2 hours at Dunsmore Park in La Crescenta on Saturday, October 3, 2009. [caption id="attachment_673" align="alignnone" width="501" caption="Wendy Hart of La Crescenta helps her community get a leg up on the coming rains by filling up sandbags at Dunsmore Park in La Crescenta on Saturday, October 3, 2009. About 30 people helped fill about 1,000 sandbags in less than 2 hours. (Raul Roa/News-Press)"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_674" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="About 30 people helped fill about 1,000 sandbags in less than 2 hours at Dunsmore Park in La Crescenta on Saturday, October 3, 2009. (Raul Roa/News-Press)"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_675" align="alignnone" width="415" caption="Regular community volunteer Sean Metz, 7 of Montrose, helps his community prepare for the coming rains by filling up sandbags at Dunsmore Park in La Crescenta on Saturday, October 3, 2009. About 30 people helped fill about 1,000 sandbags in less than 2 hours. (Raul Roa/News-Press)"][/caption]

OKTOBERFEST IN MONTROSE

32nd Annual Oktoberfest in Montrose on Honolulu Avenue, Sautrday, October 3, 2009. [caption id="attachment_663" align="alignnone" width="430" caption="Jana Wunderlich, from Dickson Podley Realtors, waits for beer orders during the 32nd Annual Oktoberfest on Honolulu Ave. in Montrose on Saturday, October 3, 2009. Raul Roa/News-Press)"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_664" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Danielle Opremcak, 23 of Studio City, left, and April Russell, 33 of Pasadena, enjoy a drink during the 32nd Annual Oktoberfest on Honolulu Ave. in Montrose on Saturday, October 3, 2009. Raul Roa/News-Press)"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_665" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Crowds during the 32nd Annual Oktoberfest on Honolulu Ave. in Montrose on Saturday, October 3, 2009. Raul Roa/News-Press)"][/caption]

[Video] Station fire time lapse – very cool

Via YouTube (willieworks) [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qqxjO5nr8k]

[Video] Glendale Metrolink Station

Via YouTube (singwith) [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-pinXqjJEg]

The Early Edition – Burbank Leader

[caption id="attachment_1231" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Surrounded by high-powered officials and area leaders, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks to a packed room at the Los Angeles Union Station during press conference to announce a push for stimulus funding for California's proposed high-speed rail system, in Los Angeles, on Friday. The rail system would pass through Glendale and Burbank. Karen Bass, speaker of the California State Assembly, is at left and Eric Garcetti, L.A. City council president, is at right.(Raul Roa/News-Press)"][/caption] State submits bid for new rails DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, state Assembly Speaker Karen Bass and other political and business leaders on Friday hailed California’s historic bid for $4.7 billion for a high-speed- train network. FBI probes claims of excessive police force CITY CENTER — A Los Angeles County sheriff’s investigation into an alleged assault by a member of the Burbank Police Department will be turned over to county prosecutors by month’s end, authorities said Friday. Henry’s opens up BURBANK — Hundreds of shoppers crowded a parking lot Wednesday for the grand opening of natural grocer Henry’s Farmers Market, two years after residents effectively blocked a Whole Foods Market from moving into the city. Education bill is up to governor BURBANK — One of the state’s top education officials has endorsed a bill that, if passed, will represent another step toward making California eligible for $4.3 billion of competitive federal stimulus money. Big win for Burbank GLENDALE — GLENDALE — Although it only led by two points at halftime, the Burbank High football team felt it had found the right approach to beating host Crescenta Valley on Friday night at Moyse Field. Indians beat champs MEMORIAL FIELD — With the game tied in the final seconds and his team driving for the potential winning score, Burroughs High placekicker Michael Solano was hoping his offense would take care of business against Muir. SMALL WONDERS: A-List needs bubble burst In my near 20 years in the entertainment industry I’ve seen the bubble of self-importance in which A-List Hollywood resides. This has been only a minor personal annoyance for me. But with the recent uproar over Roman Polanski’s arrest, I can’t keep quiet.

The Early Edition – Glendale News-Press

[caption id="attachment_688" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="John Levin, third from left, was on a Montrose Search and Rescue Team that helped find former Glendale Mayor Sheldon Baker’s lost dog in 2006. Levin is accused of killing his wife and dog."][/caption] Suspect in slaying was on local rescue team GLENDALE — A 45-year-old Glendale man charged with killing his wife and dog was once an active volunteer member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department-affiliated Montrose Search and Rescue Team. Police to implement new command areas GLENDALE — A new policing strategy that will divide the city into four command areas is scheduled to take effect Oct. 11, police officials said. California submits bid for high-speed trains DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, state Assembly Speaker Karen Bass and other political and business leaders on Friday hailed California’s historic bid for $4.7 billion for a high-speed-train network. Three officer jobs saved GLENDALE — Three Glendale police officers who were scheduled to be laid off Wednesday will keep their jobs after three other members of the department either retired or transferred, the police chief said. Falcons upended, 42-14 SOUTHEAST GLENDALE — Although it only led by two points at halftime, the Burbank High football team felt it had found the right approach to beating host Crescenta Valley on Friday night at Moyse Field. Knights rout Rio Mesa LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE — Shortly after last season concluded, Justin Posthuma found himself seeking advice. SMALL WONDERS: A-List needs bubble burst I’ve worked in the entertainment industry for almost 20 years. And in that time I’ve seen the bubble of self-importance in which A-List Hollywood resides. This has been only a minor personal annoyance for me. But with the recent uproar over Roman Polanski’s arrest, I can’t keep quiet.

More details on the 2007 Porto's robbery

I've read a number of blog posts, comments and emails regarding the 2007 robbery of the Burbank Porto's, and its connection to the current FBI probe of the Burbank Police Department. Those comments, essentially, asked why in the world the Burbank Leader failed to cover this take-over style robbery at the city's most popular bakery? Since I've only been editor of the paper since April of this year, I have no answer. However, we did print details of the Porto's incident in today's paper. Here's an excerpt:

[...] The FBI investigation involves at least two incidents — the Aug. 23, 2007, arrest of Rene Escarsega; and the Dec. 28, 2007, robbery of Porto’s Bakery. Details as to each of the officers’ involvement have not been made public. In addition, details of Escarsega’s Aug. 23 arrest were not immediately available. In the Porto’s case, officers responded about 8:23 p.m. after six suspects entered the bakery at 3614 W. Magnolia Blvd. after hours and committed a takeover-style robbery, Burbank police Sgt. Thor Merich said. The suspects allegedly bound the hands of 13 employees with zip ties, struck one with a handgun and kicked another before forcing an assistant manager to go upstairs where two safes were kept. He was then forced to remove a large amount of cash, Merich said. A police investigation revealed that the suspects were MS-13 gang members, and that the robbery was an inside job, Merich said. Eight of the 10 suspects were charged with kidnapping, robbery and false imprisonment. After internal Police Department reviews of the Porto’s robbery, city records from 2008 show that an outside investigator was brought in as part of a departmentwide use-of-force audit. Stehr called in the Sheriff’s Department in April 2009 to investigate at least two allegations of police misconduct, he said. [...]

The full story can be read here.