Surgery sidelines Swinney for season

Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy senior swimmer Briana Swinney will miss the rest of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery on March 3, Tologs Coach Steve Bergen said Monday.

While Swinney is expected to recover fully and resume her career at San Jose State next year, the surgery brings a stellar high school career to a premature end. Swinney burst onto the scene as a freshman to help the Tologs finish second in the 2007 CIF Southern Section Division II finals and was a part of two CIF title winning relay teams at that race.

With none of the four members on those relay teams an upperclassman, it was viewed as the beginning of surge for Sacred Heart swimming. Swinney would return as a sophomore to help the Tologs place third in Division II and helped the 200-yard medley relay team return to the CIF finals as a junior when Sacred Heart made the challenging jump to Division I.

This season, the Tologs were looking forward to seeing Swinney and fellow seniors Andrea Kropp and Madeline Talt try to lead the team to one more CIF run in Division I.

Crescenta Valley High baseball alumni game set to take place

The Crescenta Valley High alumni baseball contest will take place at 5 p.m. March 27 at Stengel Field in Glendale.

Batting practice will begin at 3:30 p.m.

For more information, contact Crescenta Valley High baseball Coach Phil Torres.

Local foreclosure rates lower than state, nation

La Crescenta continues to lead the region in foreclosure filings, although local figures in February improved more than those of the state and nation, dropping 14%, according to a report released Thursday.

In February, there were a total of 357 notices of default, auction sales, foreclosure sales or bank repossessions in Glendale, Burbank, La Cañada Flintridge and La Crescenta, according to a local analysis from real estate tracking firm RealtyTrac.

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La Cañada Community Center attempts to build largest Rice Krispie for TV show

The Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge will attempt to build the world’s largest Rice Krispie treat this week.

The event will be filmed as the pilot for a new television program on TLC, called Mega Bites, with the treats being sold on Sunday as part of a fundraiser.

“The Center has to get $100,000 every year [through fundraisers and grants],” said La Crescenta resident Wendy Alane Smith, whose two children have attended classes and camps at the center. They have to do everything they can to keep it open.”

“The show came about by Beyond Productions,” said TLC Director of Productions Eric Black. “They do ‘Mythbusters’ for Discovery Channel. They were fascinated by large food stunts that pop up every once in a while.”

… Continue Reading: Carnival to launch TV show

Tologs off to regional final

Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy’s soccer team defeated Desert Christian, 4-0, in the semifinals of the CIF Southern California Division III Regional Championships on Wednesday at the Glendale Sports Complex.

Katie Johnson and Breeana Koemans had two goals each to lead the Tologs into Friday’s final at Warren High in Downey, where they will play either Francis Parker or Central Valley Christian.

PHOTOS: La Cañada PTA honors volunteers

Awards were handed out Tuesday night to volunteers from throughout La Cañada Flintridge schools by the PTA at La Cañada High School.

La Cañada Elementary Very Special Person award recipient Shirley Roberts chats with La Cañada Elementary principal Elissa Deangelo after the La Cañada PTA Founders Day on Tuesday, March 9. (Raul Roa/News-Press)

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La Cañada PTA endorses legislation to protect minors drinking underage

The La Cañada High School PTA has endorsed legislation introduced last month by State Assemblyman Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada) designed to encourage teens to call for help in emergency situations.

The bill, AB1999, would protect a minor from criminal prosecution if he dials 9-1-1 and remains with a friend during a medical crisis. The bill is tailored for situations that may arise as a result of underage drinking.

It will be referred to the Public Safety Committee in the coming weeks; it has met no opposition thus far.

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Supreme Court to hear JPL background check case

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Monday to hear arguments in a case involving employee background checks at Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

The Supreme Court justices will review an injunction issued by the 9th Circuit Court in January 2008 that barred NASA/JPL from requiring “low-risk” employees —those who do not handle classified material — to submit to extensive background investigations.

In an appeal filed by the Obama administration, U.S. Solicitor General Elena Kagan argued that the injunction would have broad implications for how the federal government vets its employees. … Continue Reading

Obama declares Station fire area federal disaster

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)

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

Two area teams receive CIF rankings

A pair of local teams are ranked in the latest CIF Southern Section polls, released Monday.

The Flintridge Prep boys’ volleyball team remains ranked third in Division V behind Salesian and St. Margaret’s.

Preseason polls in baseball and softball were unveiled Monday, as well.

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