Arroyo Seco

Darleene Barrientos Instead of an hour of lecture or lab, students in the Arroyo Seco Fire Academy can expect to spend at least eight hours Saturdays and Sundays practicing firefighting techniques -- after spending more than 40 hours at their respective "day" jobs. The Glendale Community College program is the only one of its kind in the Southern California area, catering to older students who might already have another career, said Gerald Gardener, the academy's chief administrator and one of its instructors.

The Rose Bowl should operate more like Yankee Stadium or the Heineken brewery, according to a report issued this week by a private urban planning group. Experts from the Urban Land Institute, a research institute specializing in responsible land use, called on Pasadena officials to preserve the nature of the Arroyo Seco and offset the costs of a current Rose Bowl renovation by offering stadium tours, creating merchandise and charging for parking at the stadium, even when no official event is taking place.

Ten Years Ago ? A hot air balloon demonstration featuring a balloon as tall as a six-story building was impressive to all the youngsters witnessing it as First Baptist Church at La Crescenta launched its 1997 Vacation Bible School themed "Sonrise Balloon Adventure." Twenty Years Ago ? Uniform Reserve Lt. Les Van Orden of Montrose was presented with retirement credentials by Sheriff Sherman Block following a career in the Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Reserves that spanned 37 years.

Karen S. Kim GLENDALE -- Local elected officials, community members, environmental group representatives and nature lovers turned out Thursday morning to support federal legislation that would preserve open space in the area. Introduced by U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Glendale) earlier this month, the legislation would initiate a study of the expansion of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area to include the the Rim of the Valley Corridor -- the mountains above San Fernando, Crescenta, Santa Clarita, Simi and Conejo valleys and the Arroyo Seco.

  Art + Bike = Art Night Ride — Tonight, Oct. 12, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Cyclists and art lovers alike will enjoy this relaxing and intriguing bike tour of Pasadena’s vast collection of art galleries and museums, many of which are open for free during ArtNight. All that is required for the ArtNight Ride is a bicycle, helmet and an adventurous spirit. Highlights of this pedal-powered art tour include stops at Armory Center for the Arts, Castle Green, Pasadena City College, Pasadena Museum of California Art. ArtNight Ride is a fun social event that is open to all skill levels.

As I stood one Saturday morning on the 7th green at Verdugo Hills Golf Course, watching golfers golfing, lizards sunning, bunnies playing and hawks flying, I wondered what it must have been like there before the Foothill (210) Freeway went through. The calming quiet on the top of the hill was amazing. From that vantage point, you can also see the hikers and bicyclists on the fire roads across the freeway heading into the Verdugo Mountains — what a nice way to spend a morning.

In some respects, fielding has become a lost art of sorts on the baseball diamond. With an increasing emphasis of the game placed on offense and more offense, the steady and even stunning plays supplied in the field are often overlooked. However, the importance of making all those plays is not lost on Kris Kauppila, who, with his glove, has often turned the spectacular into routine. The Crescenta Valley High shortstop is a throwback of sorts, a kid who savors his time spent in the field as much, if not more, than stepping up to the plate.

Michael J. Arvizu Point to a lawn or a plot of land close by. Now imagine that your family's survival depended on the cultivation and preservation of that lawn or plot of land. Would you think twice about dumping on it or letting toxic chemicals ruin the soil? Naturalist Christopher Nyerges hopes so. Nyerges' exhibit, along with the presentations of more than 30 fine arts venues across the city of Pasadena, will participate in the "Tenderland Festival," opening Saturday.

ARCADIA ? Products of Crescenta Valley and St. Francis high figured prominently in the outcome of Wednesday's Babe Ruth Pacific Southwest 16-18 Regional Tournament opener. Former Falcon Kam Krise was aided by a key home run from former Golden Knight Matt Quintero in wrapping up a 6-0 victory against Castro Valley at Arcadia High. With Krise on the hill, Castro Valley was held scoreless for six innings. It was still a tightrope walk for the right-hander through five of those, as Quintero's blast in the third and Krise's own run-scoring single in the fourth were the only runs Arroyo Seco produced in that span.