Surrounded

[caption id="attachment_705" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Hoover defenders Gary Koshikaryan, Alan Palafox and Stephen Choi take down Burroughs' Kohl Adams on Thursday, October 8, 2009. (Roger Wilson/News-Press)"][/caption]

Helping Hand

[caption id="attachment_702" align="alignnone" width="416" caption="Reynaldo Fuentes, 18, shows a photo of his mother, who died suddenly at age 41 last month, at his home in Glendale on Thursday, October 8, 2009. Glendale Neighborhood Services Inspector Che Hill is helping the Fuentes children, six in total, with donations. (Raul Roa/News-Press)"][/caption]

St. Francis grad hits game-winning single for Dodgers playoff victory

Mark Loretta, a St. Francis High alum, hit the walk-off single to win game 2 of the National League Divisional Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the MLB playoffs. Loretta, who has served as a utility player for the Dodgers all season, came in in the bottom of the ninth to pinch hit in the pitchers spot with bases loaded and two outs. Loretta graduated from St. Francis in 1989.

Elizabeth Taylor Keeps on Tickin'—and Tweetin'

From E! Online: Elizabeth Taylor, who entered the hospital this week to get a "leaky valve" repaired, is doing great following the procedure, according to the two-time Oscar winner turned twittering fool. "Dear Friends, My heart procedure went off perfectly," she wrote this afternoon. "It's like having a brand new ticker. Thank you for your prayers and good wishes...I know they all helped. Love you, Elizabeth." The 77-year-old actress, whose last public appearance was at Michael Jackson's interment at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, Calif., has continued to shoot down the more dire reports about her supposedly declining health, including rumors that she has diabetes or was suicidal in the wake of Jackson's death. Read the full story here.

Flintridge voters turn down sewers

From the La Canada Valley Sun: A $40 million project that would bring low-pressure sewer systems to 680 households in three sections of the city south of Foothill Boulevard was turned down by voters who refused to form the necessary assessment district. The unofficial results released by City Hall Thursday afternoon showed 313 ballots totaling more than $18.5 million in assessments were cast against the proposed project, while 142 property owners, representing $8.1 million in assessments, were in favor of going forward. “The voters have spoken and made their choice,” said Mayor Pro Tem Don Voss, who added that the city’s goal all along has been to present the option and give property owners the opportunity to decide whether or not they wanted to form the assessment district and abandon on-site septic systems. For more, read here:

Medical marijuana dispensaries operating illegally and will be prosecuted, D.A. says

From the L.A. Times Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley said today that all the medical marijuana dispensaries in the county are operating illegally, and that "they are going to be prosecuted." There are hundreds of dispensaries throughout the county, including as many as 800 in the city of Los Angeles, according to the city attorney's office. They operate under a 1996 voter initiative that allowed marijuana to be used for medicial purposes, and a subsequent state law that provided for collective cultivation. Click here for full story. Related story: Issue of medical pot is on agenda

Attacker slashes student's throat in UCLA lab

From the L.A. Times A male student slashed the throat of a female student at a science lab at UCLA this afternoon, police said. The victim, whose name was not immediately released, was taken to UCLA-Reagan Medical Center in critical condition. The suspect was taken into custody by UCLA police, who have sealed off the area. Chick here for full story.

Celebrated Burbank deli owner dies at 77

[caption id="attachment_1290" align="alignright" width="252" caption="Thomas Huber and father, Otto, who founded Otto's Import Store and Delicatessen in Burbank. (Roger Wilson/The Leader)"][/caption] Otto Huber, the founder and 40-year owner of Otto's Import Store and Delicatessen, died of natural causes at his Burbank home. He was 77. Burbank Police Sgt. Robert Quesada confirmed Huber’s passing Thursday morning after officers found no signs of foul play at his home in the 400 block of N. Brighton St. Remembered by friends and family as a gregarious shopkeeper and devoted father, Huber was among the last remaining holdouts from a bygone era where family run businesses were the norm. Accordion in hand, Otto serenaded generations of residents, introducing them to European fare. Among his loyal customers were John Burroughs High School students, some of whom joined an online fan page called “OTTO'S DELI/BURBANK.” The Facebook group includes messages such as “And on the way home from Lincoln each day...” and “Daily lunch from '81-'84. Ham and cheese with extra mayo. I am not down that way often, but stop in every time I am.” Founded in 1969 by Huber and his wife, Irma, the deli began an old- fashioned corner grocery store. The Hubers then began to incorporate specialty foods for family and friends. In the late 1990s Huber officially ceded ownership of the popular market at 2320 W. Clark Ave. to his son, Thomas, who had returned to the business full-time after his mother died in 1993. “Where else can I spend 40 hours a week with my father?” Thomas Huber told the Leader in 2003. “Nowhere.”

Food for thought on the Glendale hunger strike

[caption id="attachment_756" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="(Raul Roa/News-Press)"][/caption] I didn't know what to expect yesterday when I headed out to cover a youth hunger strike  to protest protocols for talks between Turkey and Armenia. Hunger strikes were something I had always associated with monks in a far off time, so to hear that people around my age were taking one on intrigued me. Were they actually not eating anything? They had to be cheating right? Well, from my observations, they weren't. On the corner of Glenoaks Boulevard and Central Avenue near the Armenian Consulate, I talked to several of the 32 full-time strikers who will only consume water for 96 hours. No food for four days? I get hungry if I skip lunch! Regardless of your thoughts are on what they are protesting, it was inspiring to see a group of college-age students so passionate they were willing to put themselves through such physical pain. I sure couldn't go that long without food.

September's best blogs

Hello everyone. We launched our blogs in mid-July, and I've been pleasantly surprised at their popularity. I wanted to share the following page-view stats for September.

BLOG STATISTICS

• The 818 Now: 5,290
• Following the Leader: 4,000
• Jewel City Juice: 2,195
• PicBits: 1,847
• Going Overtime: 966
• Tasty Edits: 882
• It Shines for All: 319

TOP POSTS BY BLOG

• Following the Leader: Woman jumps to her death at Burbank Holiday Inn (527)
• Jewel City Juice: Tax refund check from California state bounces… (343)
• The 818 Now:FBI investigating Burbank PD (134)
• Tasty Edits: Suicide is far from painless (93)
• Going Overtime: Inside the Extra Point (35)
• It Shines for All:Firefighter’s widow gives birth to baby girl (25)
• PicBits: Dream(ing) on Brand – Part of Park(ing) Day L.A. 2009 (78)