‘Honolulu’ chosen by La Cañada Flintridge One City One Book

From the La Cañada Valley Sun

[caption id="attachment_19942" align="alignleft" width="200" caption=""Honolulu" is the story of a Korean picture bride in 1914 Hawaii who works with other wives to form a new life for herself after she is disappointed in her husband."][/caption]

The La Cañada Flintridge One City One Book Committee on Tuesday announced it has chosen "Honolulu" by Alan Brennert for this year's communitywide reading program.

... Continue reading: 'Honolulu' chosen by One City One Book

$1 million expected for disaster relief

From the Glendale News-Press GLENDALE — More than $1 million will be distributed to La Cañada Flintridge and La Crescenta for repairs related to recent debris flows and winter storms, federal officials said. The projects in La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta and Glendale — made up mostly of debris removal, mud cleanup and repairs — make up a list of 350 similar tasks that federal and state emergency officials identified as requiring disaster relief funding due to storm damage in January and February. In La Cañada, where most of the most significant mud damage occurred off hillsides left barren by the Station fire, officials have been working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to determine which projects will be eligible for federal funding, said Edward G. Hitti, the city’s public works director. ... Continue Reading: $1 million expected for disaster relief

Farmer’s market is back in business

[caption id="attachment_16481" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Jinet Shahbazian, left, visits an accessory booth while Stephanie Lanza from John Joseph Designs shows her some accessories during the Kenneth Village farmer's market Saturday. (Cheryl A. Guerrero/News-Press)"][/caption] From the Glendale News-Press GLENDALE — After a one-year hiatus, the Kenneth Village farmer’s market returned Saturday, bringing residents and merchants together with organic produce, jewelry, pet adoptions, moon bounces and live music. The farmer’s market will be every Saturday, organizers said. Many businesses along Kenneth Road said sales have been strong lately, and the farmer’s market would draw customers. ... Continue Reading: Farmer’s market is back in business

Hunt on for La Cañada bank robbery suspect

Air and ground searches are underway in La Cañada Flintridge for a suspect who allegedly robbed the Bank of America at 537 Foothill Boulevard mid-morning on Monday. According to a business alert sent out by La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Pat Anderson, the suspect is male, Hispanic, in his late 30s, 5'10" and medium build. He was wearing a dark baseball cap with the letters NYPD on it, dark slacks and a long-sleeve, dark button-down shirt with thin white vertical stripes. Anderson said the suspect handed the teller a note saying he had a bomb with him.  He left the bank with $14,000 in cash, miscellaneous bills. Anyone with information about the crime or the suspect is asked to call the Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station at (818) 248-3464. Watch for updates.

Obama declares Station fire area federal disaster

[caption id="attachment_12867" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="A volunteer cleans up the destroyed home of Henry and Damaris Laguna on Manistee Drive in La Cañada Flintridge on Feb. 13. (Raul Roa/News-Press)"][/caption] President Obama declared the neighborhoods affected by the Station fire and subsequent debris flows a disaster area Monday, paving the way for federal assistance with cleanup efforts. The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced a federal disaster declaration for neighborhoods in the Station fire burn area that have been affected by recent debris flows. The declaration makes city, county and state agencies eligible for reimbursement for up to 75% of the costs incurred during mitigation and cleanup efforts that started Jan. 17. Damage assessments identified $59.1 million in eligible reimbursements from FEMA and another $33.3 million in reimbursements through the Federal Highway Administration, according to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office. ... Continue Reading: Obama declares federal disaster

Kiwanis Club coordinates help for debris flow victims

The Kiwanis Club of La Cañada is coordinating assistance efforts for victims of the ongoing rains and debris flows. Club members have been authorized to use city vehicles to shuttle volunteers up into the impacted hillside neighborhoods. Those in need of help and others who have time to volunteer are urged to e-mail or call City Hall at (818) 790-8880. Volunteer work is expected to take place Thursday after the storm and mandatory evacuations are lifted. According to Kiwanis volunteers who assisted homeowners in the Paradise Valley following Saturday's failure of the Mullally Debris Basin, those living in the area should remove all personal belongings from the bottom shelves of every cupboard, cabinet and closet. "Mud is relentless and will ruin everything it touches," said Wendy Alane Smith, who helped a Manistee Drive mudslide victim get her belongings out of her home on Monday. "Go through your house to get everything that is valuable to you up off the floor."

Evacuation orders issued in mudslide-prone areas

L.A. County authorities issued mandatory evacuation orders Monday night for more than 500 residences in areas in La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta and Acton. Residents have been ordered to leave their homes by 10 a.m. Tuesday. Click here for a complete list of addresses to be evacuated.

Rains cause ‘train wreck’ of destruction in La Cañada

Heavy rains that pounded La Cañada Flintridge in the early morning hours Saturday overwhelmed the Mullally Debris Basin in the Paradise Valley area, with the resulting mud and debris destroying homes on at least one street before flowing down Ocean View Boulevard and onto Foothill Boulevard. The protective cement K-rails installed last fall by the county in the wake of the Station fire were no match for the debris flows. Many were pushed out of place and no longer provided protection for homes. Vehicles parked in the neighborhood also took a hit, with up to 40 picked up by the flow and carried to various sites along Ocean View. No injuries have been reported, but Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel rescued at least one family, and search and rescue teams are on the scene to assist others who might need to be taken to safety. At least four homes on Manistee Drive sustained such massive damage that they may no longer be inhabitable, and at least two dozen others in the neighborhood were impacted by mudflows. “We know upper Ocean View and Manistee is pretty much a train wreck,” Mayor Laura Olhasso said Saturday morning. “Other areas of the city are not in great shape, but not bad.” ...Continue Reading

The Early Edition: Glendale News-Press

Sense of urgency Urgent-care facilities in Glendale and Burbank are trying to draw on the growing totals of patients who don’t have health insurance and end up pursuing routine treatments at already strained hospital emergency rooms. Chase ends at Americana DOWNTOWN — A man suspected of robbing a pregnant cashier at gunpoint evaded police in a getaway car and on foot for several hours Monday before he was finally caught hiding in a stairwell at the Americana at Brand. Firm suing the city CITY HALL — A cosmetics company is suing the city for losses allegedly incurred by eminent domain threats related to the multimillion-dollar Flower Street widening project. CV knocks off Muir LA CRESCENTA — In convincing fashion, the Crescenta Valley High girls’ basketball team accomplished two significant feats on Monday night. A Balcony View: Barking up the new trees Picture this. You wake up. You dress for work. You go out to get the paper. It’s a beautiful, crisp winter morning. You peruse the front page. And as you turn to go back inside, you discover two 7-foot-tall trees have been planted on your front lawn.

Throop confirmed president of Tournament of Roses Assn.

Jeffrey L. Throop of Sierra Madre was confirmed Thursday as the 2010-2011 president of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Assn. by the organization’s board of directors. He immediately announced his theme for the 122nd Rose Parade will be “Building Dreams, Friendships & Memories.” Throop, a native Pasadenan, is an executive with the George L. Throop company, a building supplies retailer and concrete producer. He has been an active volunteer member of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Assn. since 1974 and was elected to its executive committee in 2003. Throop is a past president of the Pasadena Jaycees, the Pasadena Salvation Army Advisory Board and the Pasadena Boys Club Council.