PUBLIC SAFETY
A 56-year-old Glendale man pleaded not guilty Tuesday on charges of smuggling pricey vacuums to Iran in violation of international and U.S. sanctions, officials said.
Jiraiir Avanessian is accused, along with two other Iranian men, of violating a trade embargo and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act for smuggling vacuum and pump equipment via a free-trade zone in the United Arab Emirates, according to an indictment.
In addition, he is accused of laundering more than $500,000 from the scheme, using international money transfers to his U.S. bank account.
EDUCATION
What began as a few parents and police officers promoting drug and alcohol awareness has continued growing and is poised to become a permanent force in the foothills.
The group, the Crescenta Valley Drug and Alcohol Prevention Coalition, has seen more families come forward while it applies for federal grants to expand substance-free programs.
The coalition was awarded a state grant that provides staff support for developing expanded community programs and support services.
Members are beginning to corral data and ideas for a federal grant of $125,000, due in March.
Twenty-four students have been expelled from Crescenta Valley High School, and another 57 have been suspended, for drug- and alcohol-related behavior in the last two years. In September, there were 876 drug arrests in Glendale, an increase of 245 from the year prior, Glendale Unified School District officials said.
As the U.S. prepares to expand its aid in Haiti, students across Glendale and Burbank are gearing up for donation drives during the next two weeks.
Nearly every school in Glendale and Burbank Unified school districts will be donating goods to one or several charities involved in the relief effort.
Former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton have said money is the most sorely needed commodity, and students from Clark Magnet High School in La Crescenta will send every penny donated to UNICEF’s Haiti relief fund, the U.S. Fund.
Families donated about $1,400 in two days. The speed of the donations surprised Ellen Armitstead, the advisor to the school’s Key Club and a math teacher.
Clark, a math and technology magnet school, also has additional relief information on its website. Principal Doug Dall also put out an all-call message to families highlighting the school’s drive.
