Rains on the way in Los Angeles amid mudslide fears

From the Los Angeles Times:

Lower temperatures with a chance of drizzle are on tap this weekend for Southern California, with the first significant rains of the season predicted for next week.

The National Weather Service says low clouds and a chance of drizzle are forecast for today.

A rainstorm is expected to arrive Tuesday and remain through Wednesday. The rain is not expected to be strong, but officials were on edge because of the possibility of mudslides in areas burned in the recent fires.

The U.S. Geological Service this week issued a report saying mudslides and mudflows are highly likely in the foothill communities hit by the Station fire. The report said 12 hours of modest but sustained rains could cause mudflows that go as far south as Foothill Boulevard in La Cañada Flintridge.

Officials are also concerned about areas burned in the Sheep fire near Wrightwood.

Glendale P.D. K-9 Demonstration

Glendale Police officers and were out at Verdugo Park Saturday meeting with the community and putting on a show.

With a large crowd watching, Glendale Police Department office Jake Postajian acts as the agitator and "Marlin" the K9 shows how to take down a suspect during the Glendale K-9s in the Park event at Verdugo Park in Glendale on Saturday, October 10, 2009. The all-day event sponsored by the Glendale Police Department included G.P.D. K-9 demonstrations, low-cost pet vaccinations, pet adoptions, seminars and many other activities for pets and their owners. (Raul Roa/News-Press)

Flu Vaccines at Stevenson Elementary School

For a photo gallery, click the photo below.

Makena Kane, 9 of Burbank, is all smiles as she gets a flu shot from Platinum Healthcare's April Mueller outside Stevenson Elementary School in Burbank on Saturday, October 10, 2009. Kane's mother, Denise Kane, holds her hand. The flu vaccines, 70 injections and 10 nose sprays, were made available through the Stevenson Elementary School PTA in partnership with Flu Busters and Novartis Vaccines. (Raul Roa/Leader)

RESIDENTS TOUR DEUKMEJIAN WILDERNESS PARK

Area residents got a first-hand look at the devastation at Deukmejian Wilderness Park in Glendale and learned what the city is doing to curtail mud flows in the coming rainy season.  For a photo gallery, click on the photo.

Area residents take a tour of Deukmejian Wilderness Park, the first time since the recent Station Fire, in Glendale on Saturday October 10, 2009. Residents learned what the city is doing to curtail mud flows in the coming rainy season. (Raul Roa/News-Press)

Burbank police, feds arrest resident with explosive device

From the Burbank Leader:

Federal authorities joined police Friday to arrest a Burbank resident in posession of an explosive device, police said early Saturday.

Offiials arrested the man near the intersection of Scott Road and East Avenue at about 6 p.m, said Lt. Eric Rosoff of the Burbank Police Department.

No further details on the arrest were yet available, said Rosoff, who would not confirm an earlier police report that federal authorities were involved.

Earlier today, Burbank officers said that agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted in the arrest.

Check back for updates on this developing story.

Arroyo beats La Cañada

From the Pasadena Star-News:

LA CAÑADA – It didn’t matter what the La Cañada High School football team did. In the end, Arroyo had an answer for everything.

Knights running back Mikey Vasquez was too much to handle, rushing for 187 yards on 24 carries and scoring three touchdowns to lead his team to a 31-27 victory Friday night in nonleague action.

Arroyo (3-2) had a big second quarter to jump ahead to stay.

Click here to read the full story.

Homeowners having trouble finding mudslide insurance

From the Los Angeles Times:

Charred slopes in the foothills towering above William Johnson’s La Cañada Flintridge home are now a mudslide in the making after being burned by recent wildfires.

But getting insurance has been impossible for him and many of his neighbors, he said, as winter rains loom.

Johnson, 54, said he called three providers, each of whom said they would not issue insurance for his area.

“While I’m trying to get protection, they don’t want to deal with their losses, and they’re trying to maximize their profits,” he said.

Southland homeowners at a high risk for mudslides say they are finding few options for complete coverage.

Stand-alone mudslide policies are rare, so some residents are buying flood policies on top of fire and earthquake plans, hoping that at least one will accept mudslide damage claims.

Click here to read the full story.

Young chess players make their moves in Glendale

From the Los Angeles Times:

Every Friday night, a group of noisy youngsters shuffles through a side door at First Baptist Church of Glendale. They laugh, shove and talk over one another as they enter a large, brightly lighted room with three long tables.

Inside, silver-haired Armen Ambartsoumian waits for them to settle down so the session can begin. Ambartsoumian, an international chess master who is determined to groom Glendale’s next generation of elite players, demands their focus. This can be a chore when dealing with more than two dozen kids ages 5 to 18.

Once the players unpack their black-and-white boards and chess pieces, Ambartsoumian instructs them to pair up and play. Then he paces the aisles between the tables, one hand on his hip, the other pointing out mistakes.

Click here to read the full story.

Conservative Episcopalians prepare for their exodus

From the Los Angeles Times:

The Rev. Rob Holman will preach a final service Sunday before the congregation moves to Glendale. St. Luke’s left the national Episcopal Church over theological differences, including ordination of a gay bishop. (Spencer Weiner/Los Angeles Times / October 9, 2009)