The 818 Now

From The Los Angeles Times:

Four months after L.A. County Fire Capt. Tedmund Hall and Spc. Arnaldo Quinones died during the massive Station Fire, new details of the tragedy have emerged, along with unsettling questions of how and why the crews were allowed to stay in harm’s way, and whether commanders failed to grasp in time the danger the camp faced.

A Times investigation of the incident found:

–A U.S. Forest Service e-mail written shortly after the deaths addresses the hazards of the fire and refers to the loss of “two people who stayed too long.” The e-mail was obtained by The Times along with other records that show that the camp crews were not formally assigned to the Station operation and thus might have been excluded from the commanders’ broader strategy of defending critical structures in the forest while ensuring the safety of firefighters. The battle against the fire was managed jointly by the county and the U.S. Forest Service.

–The unusual disconnect between the camp and those leading the attack on the biggest fire in county history is evident in dispatch logs that reveal scant contact between the Mt. Gleason crews and the command center. Experts say that violates long-established firefighting protocols that require all agencies to work together on major blazes in the forest, maintaining good communications with each other and sharing information about fire behavior, weather conditions and escape routes.

–The Station fire logs contain no calls to evacuate the camp or any effort to send help as the flames raced toward it. And daily government summaries of the firefight do not list the camp, a cluster of converted military buildings, among the many properties that commanders considered imperiled.

Read Paul Pringle’s full story here.

Creative Commons

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will offer free rides on all bus and rail lines on New Year’s Eve for residents celebrating the start of ’10 throughout Los Angeles County. 

No fares will be charged starting 9 p.m. Thursday through 2 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 1, according to the MTA.

In recent months, the Glendale City Council as well as the city’s Glendale Water & Power commission have discussed the brewing water crisis facing the state.

In addition to the growing water shortage, crumbling levies at the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay Delta could result in a major disaster for much of the state, state officials have said.

Although the delta is hundreds of miles north of Glendale, city officials say its reliability and ecosystem issues trickle down in a big way to affect a significant portion of the city’s water supply.

If you are interested in learning more about the water issues facing the state, there was a special report on last night’s “60 Minutes” program on CBS. Click here to watch.

The Glendale Rose Float Assn. today announced the riders for the city’s entry into the 2010 Rose Parade.

The float, titled “America’s Pride,” will be entered in the parade’s patriotic floats category and features a 22-foot bald eagle.

The riders will include:

• Sergeant E-5, Donnie C. Hunter, recipient of the Bronze Star-“V” Device for Valor
• Glendale Police Officer, Alex Paul Sze
• Glendale Fire Captain, Carlos Guerrero
• Educator, Sandy Welte
• Medical professional, Ricardo Ordonez
• Eagle Scout Greg Sagherian

Amanda Twombly, Samantha Harrison, Hayley Harrison and Lauren Welte will also ride on the float.

For the past four years, I have overwhelmingly relied on my cell phone as I have decided against paying for a land line.

It look’s like I’m not alone.

According to the latest Nielsen Convergence Audit, an annual survey of more than 30,000 Americans, more than 20% of American households reported they rely entirely on cell phones — a 5% increase from 2006.

In recent years, cell phone providers have pointed to the increasing amount of cell phone-only households when petitioning city for cell tower installations — an increasingly controversial topic.

Glendale is currently in the midst of crafting a stricter policy for reviewing those applications after a T-Mobile application for a site in a residential area caused controversy last year.

Other stats from the report include:

• About 15% of U.S. households use smart phones.
• About 15% of households use prepaid phones instead of signing a contract.

In today’s News-Press, there was a full-page ad promoting a church service to be held this weekend in Glendale.

At the podium, pastor Melissa Scott, the widow of a widely popular televangelist Dr. Gene Scott and the head pastor at University Cathedral in downtown L.A.

Perhaps more than a minister, a recent article about Melissa in Marie Claire chronicled her alleged past as a porn star named “Barbie Bridges.” (In the article, she denies ever having acted in adult films.)

To see her for yourself, the service is set for 7 p.m. Sunday at the Faith Center at 1615 S. Glendale Ave.

Glendale officials last week announced the city’s Commission on the Status of Women is seeking local students to apply for their annual $1,000 scholarship, called the 2010 Gem of Glendale Award.

Here’s more from the city press release:

One outstanding high school senior will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship during the Sixth Annual Jewels of Glendale event on March 11, at the Glendale Hilton Hotel.

 The Gem of Glendale Award is a scholarship that will be awarded to one outstanding student (male or female) who is engaged in community service that reflects the core values and mission of the Commission on the Status of Women. The community service should include work involving women and/or girls in areas such as: homelessness, health, leadership, and financial literacy. Educators and organizations are encouraged to nominate eligible students for this scholarship. The deadline to submit applications is Jan. 20.

The nomination packet and more information can be found at the City of Glendale website. Interested parties may also call 818-548-4844 or email women@ci.glendale.ca.us for more information. 

For more information on the Gem of Glendale Award or sponsorship opportunities for the Sixth Annual Jewels of Glendale event, please contact Christine Baboomian at 818-548-4844 or women@ci.glendale.ca.us.  

You may remember that a few months ago we ran a story about a count being conducted of pedestrians and bicyclists at a number of city intersections.

Well the results are in.

Some of the highlights:

• The intersection at Sonora Avenue and Flower Street had the highest total number of cyclists for all of the time periods recorded in the count.
• The highest total number of pedestrians was counted at Brand and Broadway for all three count periods.
• Intersections on the Riverdale/Maple Physical Project Corridor saw mid-range numbers of pedestrians and bicyclists for all three time periods.

I’ll be taking a more in-depth look at the results in next week’s News-Press.

Have you fallen behind on mailing your holiday cards?

The U.S. Postal Service announced this week that it will extend service for last-minute mailings. Postal workers will be collecting mail in the Los Angeles area on Sunday, Dec. 20. Twenty-nine post offices in los Angeles County will be open for business as well, including:

• Burbank branch at 2140 N. Hollywood Way
• Glendale Branch at 313 E. Broadway
• La Crescenta branch at 3300 Foothill Blvd.

Postal Service officials recommend that all holiday gifts sent Priority Mail should be sent on or before Dec. 21 to meet a Christmas delivery.

Postal Service employees, including those in Glendale and Burbank, also spread holiday cheer today when a caravan of USPS trucks delivered about 3,500 presents to foster children in Chatsworth.

In response to a pedestrian who was struck and killed Nov. 23 by a Amtrak train at the Doran Street crossing, Glendale City Councilman Ara Najarian Tuesday night formally called for a discussion on closing the at-grade crossing. 

Najarian said the crossing at the Glendale-Los Angeles border is a dangerous intersection, and moved to agendize a motion to place renewed pressure on the California Public Utilities Commission to close the crossing.

“I think it’s important at this point to move the ball a little bit forward to close Doran,” he said.

On Nov. 23, a woman was killed when she was struck by an Amtrak train after stumbling onto the train tracks at Doran Street and San Fernando Road, officials said.

Mayor Frank Quintero and Councilman John Drayman also expressed support for the closure, which has experienced some push back from Los Angeles officials in the past.

The Pelanconi Estates Homeowners Assn. also recently called on state officials to close the crossing.

Glendale city officials today announced the cancellation of a ribbon cutting ceremony  to celebrate the completed Chevy Chase Reservoir and Pump Station.

With heavy rains in the forecast, the ceremony originally scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 10 will be postponed to an undetermined future date.

The ceremony will herald the completion of the massive project that began with the demolition of the original 90-year-old reservoir last year.

City engineers determined that the reservoir, built in the 1920s, needed to be replaced because cracks in the concrete had significantly compromised the structure’s integrity, especially after the 1994 Northridge earthquake.

A Los Angeles County Fire official told the L.A. Times that parts of La Cañada Flintridge could be evacuated in coming hours.  

From the article:

L.A. County Fire Department Inspector Matt Levesque said the greatest area of concern for mudslides is La Canada Flintridge, along Ocean View Boulevard.

“There could be some mandatory evacuations in the next couple of hours,” Levesque said shortly after 10 a.m.

If fire officials order evacuations, La Cañada High School will serve as the evacuation center, according to an update posted on the city’s website earlier this morning.

Officials urge residents to heed any evacuation orders.

As I was watching the local NBC morning show and noticed some discrepancies in the rain coverage.

While the tagline on the screen said the news crew was broadcasting from La Cañada Flintridge, the K-rails in the background were marked “City of Glendale.”

Now maybe the good people in Glendale generously donated barriers to La Cañada. But I’m guessing, the people interviewed were actually north Glendale residents.

I heard similar complaints about TV news coverage during the Station Fire. What do you think?

In a weather statement released early this morning, the National Weather Service warned significant rainfall could trigger mudslides in the hillside communities left barren by the Station Fire.

Residents and Glendale and Los Angeles County officials have been bracing for potential mudslides since last week when National Weather Service official first began predicting the storm.

The greatest threat of heavy participation will be  late Monday morning through early Monday evening, according to the National Weather Service. Rain rates are expected to be between one quarter and one third of an inch per hour, but there will be a potential for brief heavy showers.

To read the whole weather alert, click here.

Officials: Supt. is leaving

WEST BURBANK — Little more than six months after taking over as the Burbank Unified School District’s superintendent, Kevin Jolly is expected to announce his resignation in a statement Monday, officials said.

City to hear antenna concerns

HILLSIDE — Opponents of a proposed T-Mobile wireless antenna at Brace Canyon Park plan to take their case to the City Council and Planning Board on Tuesday.

Chief candidates culled to 3

CITY HALL — A final announcement on Burbank’s interim police chief is expected next week after a panel interviewed the candidates Thursday and narrowed the pool of candidates from six to three, officials said.

Declawing on agenda

CITY HALL — After weeks of political wrangling and testimony, the City Council is slated to vote Tuesday on whether to immediately ban pet declawing.

31 named all-league

BURBANK — There were a wealth of fine accomplishments turned in this past season by the three area football teams — Burroughs, Burbank and Bellarmine-Jefferson highs.

2009-10 GIRLS’ WATER POLO SEASON PREVIEW:

BURBANK — With both teams making the postseason a year ago; it was a successful year for the Burbank High and Burroughs girls’ water polo teams.

Small Wonders: Be happy in any celebration

Let me say something that may deeply offend many of you; something so insidious and filled with controversy it has the power to tear apart a community and collapse our economy.

The hills have eyes

A video camera is installed by city of Glendale communications technician Steve Fokarski at Quail Canyon Debris Basin in La Crescenta on Friday. The basin will be monitored remotely when hard rains come down during this winter season. (Raul Roa/News-Press)

GLENDALE — A rainstorm is expected to roll in Sunday night and continue through the early part of the week, causing hillside residents and officials to brace for what could be the biggest test yet for mudslide preparations.

Council settling in after fine 

CITY HALL — Days after state officials unsealed a $9,000 settlement agreement with Councilman Dave Weaver detailing campaign finance and reporting violations in 2005, his colleagues appeared ready to move on.

Candidates culled to 3

BURBANK CITY HALL — A final announcement on Burbank’s interim police chief is expected next week after a panel interviewed the candidates Thursday and narrowed the pool of candidates from six to three, officials said.

Officials: Burbank supt. leaving

BURBANK — Little more than six months after taking over as the Burbank Unified School District’s superintendent, Kevin Jolly is expected to announce his resignation in a statement Monday, officials said.

Wildcats go cold

BURBANK — For most of the night, the Renaissance Academy basketball team seemed destined to make another appearance in the championship game of the annual Bulldog Tip-Off Classic.

Senior leads way for CV

LA CRESCENTA — There were times during Friday night’s Falcon Classic pool-play contest when Crescenta Valley High standout Cassie Pappas wasn’t a factor at all.

Small wonders: be happy in education

Let me say something that may deeply offend many of you; something so insidious and filled with controversy it has the power to tear apart a community and collapse our economy.

The city's Municipal Services Building (Alex Collins/ News Press).

In an unofficial poll of Los Angeles Conservancy members and their favorite examples of 1960s architecture, Glendale’s own Municipal Services Building at City Hall ranked in the Top 10.

Glendale came in tenth with 68 votes, while the iconic futuristic LAX theme building won in a landslide with 236 votes, according to the conservancy’s website.

Other favorites included Pasadena’s Norton Simon Museum and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s downtown building.

Known for its stilt-like, top heavy stance at that looms over the corner of Broadway and Glendale Avenue, the Municipal Services Building houses various city departments and recently went through a multi-million dollar seismic retrofit.

The seismic upgrade got an unexpected test last summer when it sailed through a magnitude 5.4 earthquake centered in Chino Hills.
In a city known for its quiet, prim suburbs, city officials said the recognition was a welcome surprise.

“A lot of people don’t realize that Glendale has a great collection of modern architecture,” said Jay Platt, the city’s historic preservation planner. “[The Municipal Services Building] is definitely one of our best and it’s great to be recognized by getting voted into the Top 10 civic buildings in the entire county. Hopefully this will encourage people to look a little deeper to discover some of our more hidden modern gems.”

The poll was a part of the Los Angeles Conservancy’s “The 60’s turn fifty” celebration, which celebrates examples of the decade’s architecture throughout the Los Angeles area.

To check out the results and see a slideshow, click here.

Last week, our public safety reporter Veronica Rocha wrote several articles about a woman who lost her life when she was struck by an Amtrak train after stumbling onto the train tracks at Doran Street and San Fernando Road.

In response to the accident, the Pelanconi Estates Homeowner’s Assn. has renewed calls for the closure of the at grade crossing near the Glendale and Los Angeles border.

Below is a section of a letter from HOA President Patrick Masihi:

An Amtrak train struck and killed a woman at the Doran Ave. at grade crossing on the border of Glendale and Los Angeles on Monday. The Pelanconi Estates HOA has always maintained that at grade crossings are dangerous, but sadly L.A. Council representative, City of Glendale representatives and CPUC have failed to close the Doran Ave at grade crossing, which is located less than 100 feet from a propane gas facility.

City officials today announced Glendale Water & Power’s new “Citizen Notification System,” which will alert those who sign up with important  information before, during and after emergencies, such as fires and floods and will provide updates on evacuations and road closures.

Glendale Water & Power customers must enroll in the system to receive the notifications. Residents can choose to receive the messages via home phone, cell phone, e-mail, text message and other options.

Glendale Water & Power General Manager Glenn Steiger in a statement urged residents to sign up for the system, especially in light of projected mudslides this winter.

“Our new Citizen Notification System will help deliver critical information and guidance on how to stay safe and out of harm’s way during natural disasters, emergencies and other crises,” he said. “The success of this important public safety program depends on individual participation, so we urge all Glendale residents and businesses to register today.”

Customers can also opt-in to receive notification about civic events through the system.

A vehicle lies on its side inside the 210 Freeway tunnel in La Canada after being involved in a fatal traffic accident Sunday afternoon. (Michael J. Arvizu/Valley Sun)

Fiery Crash Shuts Down 210 in LCF

A fiery collision between two vehicles on the westbound 210 (Foothill) Freeway in La Canada Flintridge Sunday afternoon shut down traffic in both directions for nearly an hour.

Disputed tennis court to remain

Members of the La Cañada Flintridge City Council reluctantly declined at their meeting last week to take further action on a disputed tennis court located on a 2-acre property on Alta Canyada Road that neighbors argue was illegally constructed.

La Cañada falls in CIF-SS finals

La Cañada girls’ volleyball team fell behind early to Elsinore in the CIF Southern Section Division II-A finals and was never able to rebound after losing the first two games, 19-25, 13-25, 25-22, 20-25.

Spartans shut out in CIF

Cerritos, CA – The La Cañada High football playoff run stalled almost as quickly as it started, as the Spartans suffered a 45-0 loss to Olympic League champion Cerritos Valley Christian in the first round of CIF Southern Section playoff action at Crusader Field on Friday night.

Piece of Mind:
Father reflects on anniversary of son’s death

Dean Wullenwaber of Lewiston, Idaho, who in the summer of 1963 co-wrote the La Cañada High School alma mater, carries a different song in his heart today.

Hello Kitty tea was puurfect

It is a well-established fact that girls and Hello Kitty just go together. That would explain the dozens of smiles that were found in front of La Cañada Books and Toys on Saturday afternoon, where the store hosted a Hello Kitty tea event.