Basketball Court

A shuttered basketball court at Brand Park that was once a magnet for loitering, illegal smoking and fighting -- including a 2007 drive-by shooting -- may be reincarnated as a calmer recreational retreat: a tai chi garden. The basketball court and a small parking lot on 12,000 square feet of Brand Park have been closed since 2007 as vandalism there got uncontrollable, but even though the court has no hoops, vandals continue to hang around. It was the site of a stabbing in 2011, according to a city report.

BRAND PARK — On June 26, a teenage boy pointed a gun at a car where his ex-girlfriend and another boy sat near the basketball court in Brand Park. He fired several rounds, and neighbors reported hearing the blasts from several miles away. Shock swept through the community, and eight months later, Glendale city officials and security personnel convened a meeting in the park to address neighbors’ concerns about what city staff can do to make the park safer. More than 50 residents, some of whom live close to the park, filled the Brand Studios, a room that usually houses art classes and gallery openings.

Charles Rich Their emotions spilled from the tennis court to a basketball court after one of the stranger endings to a tennis match. The boys' tennis players from Glendale and Crescenta Valley didn't plan on playing a game of two-on-two after host CV completed a 10-8 Pacific League victory Thursday. The emotional flashpoint came during a six-minute discussion between two coaches and four doubles players on a nearby basketball court over a point-scoring system during the match's most important moment.

SOUTHEAST GLENDALE — Proposed construction of a new basketball court at Carr Park has some neighbors worried about an increase in crime in the area. Neighbor Norbert Style, accompanied by other residents of the area, addressed the council during Tuesday's City Council meeting on their concerns. "I'm here to talk about Carr Park and [ask] how the mayor can help save the park from the violence that goes on … the drug abuse, the fights, the graffiti and vandalism, the noise pollution and the drug selling," Style told the council.

CITY HALL ? The historic Civic Auditorium could host indoor basketball games under a proposal meant to attract more users to the revenue-starved city facility. Built in 1938, the Civic Auditorium is a 25,000-square-foot multilevel facility that the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department rents out for meetings, performances and other events. But the facility has long struggled to attract enough business to break even, losing about $350,000 last year alone. This year, the auditorium has continued to struggle financially despite a slew of revised rental rates and marketing efforts aimed at turning it into a potential money maker for the city.

CITY HALL — The historic Civic Auditorium could host indoor basketball games under a proposal meant to attract more users to the revenue-starved city facility. Built in 1938, the Civic Auditorium is a 25,000-square-foot multi-level facility that the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department rents out for meetings, performances and other events. But the facility has long struggled to attract enough business to even break even, losing about $350,000 last year alone.

The St. Francis High Athletic Hall of Fame grew to 88 members Friday when five Golden Knights were inducted in a ceremony held during St. Francis' home football game against West Ranch. James Todhunter, Robert Vilven, Lou De Vita and brothers Michael and Steve Miller were all inducted as part of St. Francis' 2011 Hall of Fame class in a halftime ceremony Friday, before the Golden Knights prevailed, 35-0. Todhunter, a 1961 St. Francis graduate, excelled on both the baseball field and basketball court.

Charles Rich NORTHEAST GLENDALE -- Basketballs have been replaced by construction tools. The echo from a ball bouncing off the hardwood or backboard doesn't permeate throughout the gymnasium. Power drills, sledgehammers and the voices of construction workers now inhabit the building that's housed numerous athletic events. When most of the Glendale Community College students return from their summer vacations, they'll find that the college's gymnasium underwent a major facelift to the tune of $1.6 million.

It didn't take long for Garrett Ohara to realize Robert Cartwright was going to be something special on Flintridge Prep's basketball court. The Rebels boys' basketball coach first saw Cartwright, who was first a student in his junior high math class, display his skills on the court about four years ago on a school trip when a group of kids started playing basketball during free time. “I went, 'Oh my goodness, this kid is going to be special,'“ Ohara said of Cartwright, who was a seventh grader at the time.

It didn't take long for Garrett Ohara to realize Robert Cartwright was going to be something special on Flintridge Prep's basketball court. The Rebels boys' basketball coach first saw Cartwright, who was first a student in his junior high math class, display his skills on the court about four years ago on a school trip when a group of kids started playing basketball during free time. “I went, 'Oh my goodness, this kid is going to be special,'“ Ohara said of Cartwright, who was a seventh grader at the time.

A shuttered basketball court at Brand Park that was once a magnet for loitering, illegal smoking and fighting -- including a 2007 drive-by shooting -- may be reincarnated as a calmer recreational retreat: a tai chi garden. The basketball court and a small parking lot on 12,000 square feet of Brand Park have been closed since 2007 as vandalism there got uncontrollable, but even though the court has no hoops, vandals continue to hang around. It was the site of a stabbing in 2011, according to a city report.

The St. Francis High Athletic Hall of Fame grew to 88 members Friday when five Golden Knights were inducted in a ceremony held during St. Francis' home football game against West Ranch. James Todhunter, Robert Vilven, Lou De Vita and brothers Michael and Steve Miller were all inducted as part of St. Francis' 2011 Hall of Fame class in a halftime ceremony Friday, before the Golden Knights prevailed, 35-0. Todhunter, a 1961 St. Francis graduate, excelled on both the baseball field and basketball court.

GLENDALE — A year ago, he was on the basketball court at Hoover High, directing the Tornadoes and managing his way through the Pacific League. A year later, Martik Ghookasian is still donning his dress shirt and pants that he was accustomed to wearing at Hoover, but he's pacing another court. It's still a basketball court, and it's still in Glendale, but instead of being concerned about high school girls' basketball players, Ghookasian is supervising athletes at the Homenetmen Glendale Ararat Chapter's basketball Developmental League.

SOUTHWEST GLENDALE — The start to Tuesday evening's Horizon League girls' basketball contest was hardly picturesque. But for all the chaos and, frankly, ugliness, as Holy Family was concerned, the first quarter was plenty effective. The Gaels used their full-court press, the overall play of Gayle Lachica and the hot hand of Gaby Diaz to jump out to an early lead and never looked back on their way to a 55-32 league victory over visiting Sacred Heart of Jesus at the Pacific Park Community Center.

CRESCENTA VALLEY — Eighth-grader Tyler Sikora was remembered and celebrated by families, teachers, students, administrators and community members for his friendliness and humor during a candlelight vigil Friday night at Crescenta Valley High School. Tyler, 15, died Thursday night after a basketball game with his brother, a Crescenta Valley High senior, and their friends. During a break, he collapsed. “He loved being with his older brother; he worshiped him,” said Tyler’s father, Tim Sikora.

CITY HALL ? The historic Civic Auditorium could host indoor basketball games under a proposal meant to attract more users to the revenue-starved city facility. Built in 1938, the Civic Auditorium is a 25,000-square-foot multilevel facility that the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department rents out for meetings, performances and other events. But the facility has long struggled to attract enough business to break even, losing about $350,000 last year alone. This year, the auditorium has continued to struggle financially despite a slew of revised rental rates and marketing efforts aimed at turning it into a potential money maker for the city.

CITY HALL — The historic Civic Auditorium could host indoor basketball games under a proposal meant to attract more users to the revenue-starved city facility. Built in 1938, the Civic Auditorium is a 25,000-square-foot multi-level facility that the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department rents out for meetings, performances and other events. But the facility has long struggled to attract enough business to even break even, losing about $350,000 last year alone.

A Glendale man, stabbed on the basketball courts in Brand Park on Tuesday afternoon, is expected to recover from his injuries at a local hospital, police said. Police arrested a 35-year-old suspect at his apartment in the 1000 block of Winchester Street. He was booked on suspicion of attempted murder and is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail at Glendale city jail. The victim, who was not identified, was taken to a hospital by a friend, police said. An investigation is ongoing, but police said the two men knew each other.

In past years, an unassuming cluster of skateboarders varying in age would file into Verdugo Skate Park for what they and organizers characterized as often uninspired tournaments. But Sunday, even with the weather gloomy and skaters banished to the basketball courts while their beloved park undergoes a face-lift, dozens were satisfied with the decision to trade sleeping in for the prospect of collecting ribbons and trophies. More than 50 skaters throughout the day kick-flipped their way through team SKATE, a high-jump, flatland freestyle and flatland battle, said park manager Adam Porte.