Featured Articles from the Glendale News-Press

Bethune Theatredanse is celebrating the company’s 30th anniversary in a new city with a tip of the hat to nature. “Silent Roar” was inspired by the marine environmental artist who goes by one name, Wyland, said Artistic Director Zina Bethune, who wrote, directed and choreographed the production coming Feb. 5 to 7 to Glendale Community College Theatre. The performance relays the plight of whales as they travel from Alaska to Baja California with the help of original music, graphics, film and other digital elements, she said.

The juried winter art show at Silvana Gallery in Glendale comprises mostly paintings categorized as landscape, figurative, still life and contemporary, and some very nice sculpture entries, which are inventive and skillfully executed. The painting categories are a little bit weak as far as variety within, but each category has a couple of paintings that stand out because of the willingness of the artists to push the edge of average. Vahe Yeremyan's landscape entry titled "Dreamy Trees" is uniquely composed with a zoomed-in perspective of tree trunks and branches that form a veil through which the viewer sees a cold wintry sky. The cool atmosphere is offset by the warm browns and grays of the woods, and green of the residual foliage.

As Clark Magnet High School readied to open its doors in September 1998, Principal Doug Dall knew he would have to work efficiently to turn the experiment into something with staying power. “When the idea was broached to have Clark Magnet come online, there was a lot of doubt about whether it would succeed or not,” Dall said. “In fact, a lot of things we did from a design standpoint was to design it as a general comprehensive high school. The idea was, should it fail, to gerrymander the [high school]

Experts say the ongoing response by Glendale Unified officials to the suicide last week at Crescenta Valley High School will be critical in preventing a repeat event. Students with a history of mental illness or past suicide attempts are most vulnerable to the so-called suicide contagion, a phenomenon in which one suicide triggers another, they added. “One of the things we worry about with both shootings and suicide is that it will spread,” said Ron Astor, a researcher at USC and an expert in bullying, school violence and crisis intervention.

Grievance counselors are reportedly converging on Crescenta Valley High after a student fell to his death near the administration building, according to school sources and witness reports. The fall was reportedly witnessed by dozens of students, but district officials have so far declined to comment on the incident. ____ FOR THE RECORD: An earlier version of this story identified the student as female. ___ Officials have ordered an evacuation to get students off the campus and home early, said Glendale Unified spokesman Steven Fasher, who declined to elaborate.

Music was blasting from speakers hooked up to Mihran Kirakosyan’s laptop as kids ran laps around Matador Dance Studio, where the motto is, “You will never truly grow until you dance.” It was the beginning of Kirakosyan’s hip-hop class for kids ages 5 to 12. After they ran a few laps, Kirakosyan’s warm-up routine would have them stretch and complete reps of sit-ups, push-ups and jumping jacks. Then it was time to dance. With all their eyes on Kirakosyan, the kids followed his steps to his count with no music at all. “It’s simple counts, no counts in between, so they can put steps and choreography into music.

The black clothing worn by students and staff members reflected the mood at Crescenta Valley High School on Tuesday, the first day back on campus since a 15-year-old student jumped to his death from a three-story building during lunch period on Friday. “I am not the person to wear black,” said Corey Timpson, 17, as she headed to her first class. “I try to avoid it, actually, but today I wore it in respect for the loss.” Many students said they were still in shock. “[School officials]

After several shake-ups last year at the Montrose Harvest Market, more are coming. The market's craft and collectibles section is getting a new name and a new organizer. And all vendors will have to pay higher fees. The tweaks come after the Sunday farmers market underwent several changes last year to address violations issued by the Los Angeles County Agriculture Commissioner and Department of Public Health, as well as the fallout from an ongoing Glendale police embezzlement investigation involving former Councilman John Drayman.

A 51-year-old Glendale man was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of attempted murder and is slated to be arraigned in court Thursday after police said he tried to gouge an 82-year-old man's eyes out for no apparent reason. Benyamin Yengibaryan was taken into custody about 8 a.m. on Central Avenue and Windsor Road after witnesses heard him threatening to kill the injured man as he violently kicked, punched and tried to poke his eyes out, police said. “It appeared to be a random act of violence,” Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said.

Except for a small memorial outside the main entrance Saturday morning, there was no other sign that a student died the day before at Crescenta Valley High School. A framed photograph of 15-year-old sophomore Drew Ferraro was placed on a bench outside the campus on Community Avenue, surrounded by flowers and still-lit candles from the night before.  "RIP Drew, You will be missed. May you rest in peace... " read a hand-written note placed inside a bundle of red and white carnations.  On Friday afternoon, Ferraro reportedly jumped off a 3-story building at the high school in an apparent suicide.  Glendale Unified Supt.

Don Cuco, a well-known Mexican restaurant on Brand Boulevard adjacent to the Alex Theatre, has closed for good, taking many people by surprise. Owner Blanca Salazar said she made the decision to close the restaurant, located at 214 N. Brand Blvd., after a dwindling lunch crowd, parking issues and a spike in corn prices became too much in the end. The prominent Mexican restaurant had been losing $20,000 to $30,000 a month, she added. “I could not cover my overhead,” she said.

It's not every day that students get a lesson on the light bulb from the man who invented it, but that was the scene at Thomas Edison Elementary School Friday where fourth-grade student Maggie Dobroyan stood with carbonized cotton thread and a blinking bulb strung between her hands. “It is a lot of hard work and sweat, and if you are willing to do the hard work and sweat in pursuit of your ideas, you are going to succeed,” Edison, played by historic actor Peter Small, told Maggie and her classmates.

The Hollywood Pasta Company in Burbank, opened last year by chef and caterer Kurt Ehrlich, doesn't look exactly glam from the outside - its small storefront façade sandwiched on Burbank Boulevard between an alley-like parking lot and a liquor store. Inside, burgundy walls and elegant but crowded seating bring the tone up several notches. Each time we've been, our party has been seated at a window. At lunch seating, two of us were put in the corner, at the end of a long table and bench that could have accommodated at least four more.