Splash of Color

[caption id="attachment_1963" align="alignnone" width="630" caption="Glendale Park and Recreation employee Henry Ortiz cleans the fountain in front of the Brand Library on Monday, October 18, 2009. (Roger Wilson/News-Press)"][/caption]

Eye On the Ball

[caption id="attachment_1959" align="alignnone" width="630" caption="Crescenta Valley's Erin LeVoir returns the ball during a match against Glendale on Monday, October 18, 2009. (Roger Wilson/News-Press)"][/caption]

Looking Ahead in Sports

What are the big games and events during the week ahead in Glendale-area sports ... It looks to be a monumental week in girls' volleyball, cross-country and football. On Tuesday, Crescenta Valley's girls' volleyball team hosts Burroughs in a match with postseason and Pacific League positioning at stake. Holy Family's volleyball team hosts Horizon League-power Alverno in a big showdown at 5 p.m. at Pacific Park. And finally, at 6:30 p.m., Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy travels to face arch-nemesis Harvard-Westlake. Also on Tuesday in cross-country action at Crescenta Valley Park, Flintridge Sacred Heart and St. Francis take part in a Mission League tri-meet, in which Harvard-Westlake is involved. Harvard and St. Francis are likely to duel it out for second in league, while reigning champion Sacred Heart finds its most formidable opposition in Harvard. Friday and Saturday will see the best of the best in cross-country travel to Mt. SAC. Also on Friday, Hoover hosts Burbank on the gridiron and St. Francis travels to face perennial power Loyola. Saturday's gridiron action sees Flintridge Prep host archrival Pasadena Poly, while Glendale Community College welcomes juggernaut Bakersfield.

Spartans crush Monrovia

From the La Cañada Valley Sun: La Cañada boys’ water polo is on a hot streak as they beat Monrovia 17-1 on Monday, their fourth straight victory in Rio Hondo league play. La Cañada (6-17, 4-0 in league) has beaten the other three teams of the Rio Hondo, including a 11-10 overtime win against South Pasadena. The Spartans scored nine unanswered goals in the second half. “This was one of the better games they’ve played [this season],” said Spartans Head Coach German Lopez. “They were being aggressive, they were pushing the [counter-attack]. We haven’t done that against South Pasadena or Temple City.” For more, read here

Love Ride still on, sort of

From the Glendale News-Press: GLENDALE — The official ride may have been canceled, but the love’s apparently still there. While poor ticket sales and anemic corporate sponsorships may have killed what would have been the 26th annual Love Ride fundraiser, organizers at Glendale Harley-Davidson have made plans to accommodate what could be hundreds of bikers who turn up Saturday anyway, officials said. Allstate Insurance Co. has announced it will donate $10,000 to the Love Ride alternative, which city officials said would include three days of events in which bikers could drop in and still donate to the cause. Full story here.

Update: Citibank robber threatened tellers

From the Glendale News-Press: LA CRESCENTA — A man who threatened two Citibank tellers Monday morning walked away from the Foothill Boulevard branch with about $5,000, sheriff’s officials said. The man entered the bank on the 2600 block of Foothill Boulevard at 10:40 a.m., approached the first teller and threatened to shoot her, said Lourdes Arocho, an FBI spokeswoman. He had his hand in his pocket as to simulate a weapon, she said. The man then passed the first teller a note, that stated, “If you don’t want anybody to get hurt, empty your bottom drawer,” Arocho said. The man demanded the second teller open the bank vault and told her, “I don’t want to hurt anyone.” Full story here.

Bronchitis and Obama – politics and health collide in the emergency room

A healthy 25-year-old, I have paid little attention to the recent debate about the overhaul of the national healthcare system. A public option, prescription drug costs, nurse shortage, Senator Olympia Snowe? I was sure they would have it worked out well before I needed to a make a visit to the doctor. Last week, however, a scratchy throat turned into a serious cough, which developed into a nasty cold and by Saturday I was having trouble breathing. A recent L.A Times Co. hire, I am still waiting on my insurance coverage to come through and thus was faced with the dilemna experienced by so many millions of Americans. Should I avoid the doctor (and the bill) and continue to self medicate with whatever I could buy at CVS, and possibly put my health at risk? Or should I visit an emergency room and pay for all the fees out of pocket. I chose option number two, and despite having to sit in a waiting room at Kaiser Permanente on Sunset Boulevard for two hours on Saturday night, I am glad I did. The diagnosis was bronchitis and ear infections in both ears. I haven't received the bill for the visit yet, but I know it won't be cheap. The doctor prescribed a strong antibiotic and a medicated inhaler, which cost me over $100. Throw in a chest X-ray (needed to rule out pnuemonia), and I am guessing I will be eating Ramen noodles for the next month or so. One thing is for sure, next time President Barack Obama speaks about national health care coverage, I will be listening with rapt attention.

Kenneth Village farmers market canceled

From the Glendale News-Press: [caption id="attachment_1931" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Fruit line the shelves in the Kenneth Village Meat and Product Market on Monday, October 18, 2009. (Roger Wilson/News-Press)"][/caption] KENNETH VILLAGE — Organizers decided last week to cancel the farmers market here for the rest of the year, but the move may have come too late for one faltering merchant who had opposed the weekly event from the outset. Sarkis Militonyan, owner of the Kenneth Village Meat and Product Market, had initially opposed the decision to open a farmers market on the one-block commercial strip, arguing it would undercut his business. Now, the damage has been done, he said. The grocer has lost 90% of his business in the three months since the farmers market started, he said, and has fallen behind on his rent. Click here to read the full story.

Shooter was local tow-truck driver, friends say

From the La Cañada Valley Sun: Colleagues and friends of the man involved in the alleged murder-suicide in La Cañada identified him Monday as Aaron Welch, an auto mechanic, tow-truck driver and longtime La Crescenta resident. The bodies of Welch and 39-year-old Genny Herrera, were discovered by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies in the front room of an apartment in the 4500 block of Lasheart Drive shortly after 11a.m. Friday. A handgun was found on the floor near the bodies. Homicide detective Steve Lankford said it appeared the man fatally shot Herrera, and then fatally shot himself. Deputies were on site within minutes of the shooting, Lankford said. What relationship, if any, existed between Welch and Herrera is unclear. Herrera’s sister-in-law, Gabriela Herrera, who was at the apartment on Monday packing up personal items, said she knew nothing about the alleged shooter. Jacci Present, who operates Crescenta Valley Tow in La Crescenta, said she employed Welch on and off for 10 years. Present said she received a phone call from the sheriff’s department early Friday afternoon notifying her of the incident and asking for personal contact information. For more, read here

Judge grants injunction against Los Angeles pot dispensary ban

From the Los Angeles Times: A Superior Court judge concluded today that Los Angeles' moratorium on new medical marijuana dispensaries is invalid and granted a preliminary injunction against enforcement of the ban sought by a dispensary that had sued the city. Judge James C. Chalfant determined that the city failed to follow state law when it extended its initial moratorium. "The city cannot rely on an expired ordinance," he said. Green Oasis and a number of other medical marijuana collectives sued the city last month, challenging its efforts to control the dispensaries. The lawsuit argued that the City Council violated state law when it extended the ban until mid-March and that it is unconstitutionally vague. Click here for the full story.