Boy Scouts

The Delphi Academy's Boy Scout Troop 555 is once again wrapping gifts for shoppers from Dec. 13 to 24 at the Sport Chalet, 975 Foothill Bvd., La Cañada Flintridge. The schedule will be posted at Sport Chalet. This is Boy Scout Troop 555's ninth year helping the community and Sport Chalet, which offers the complimentary gift wrapping to Sport Chalet customers for a donation to Troop 555. The Scouts will wrap everything from the smallest gift to the largest items such as bicycles and ping-pong tables.

Mention Camp Bill Lane to local Boy Scouts of a certain age and you'll get smiles of recognition. The camp, established in the 1940s, hosted hundreds of local Scouts during the years of its existence. Bill Lane, an enthusiastic supporter of the Scouts, had done well as an oil investor. He lived on a large estate near Hill Drive in Eagle Rock and also owned several acres of olive trees near Big Tujunga Canyon in the Sunland-Tujunga area. Scouts had been camping in the area - on an informal basis - since the late 1930s.

Boy Scouts of America, Verdugo Hills Council recently celebrated 100 years of service with a Centennial Breakfast Celebration at Scholl Canyon Estates Retirement Community. Boy Scouts ranging from ages 12 to 88 were represented and cheered as they reviewed 100 years of service and dedication to teaching character in young boys. Some of those attending were Steve Smith , assistant Scout executive; Gerald Kam , Life Scout and resident at Scholl Canyon; Marty Silberstein, Scoutmaster and resident at Scholl Canyon; Keith Sorem , Iron Eyes Cody District Boy Scout chairman; Chief Ron De Pompa , Glendale Police chief; Joe Davenport , Verdugo Hills Boy Scout Council board member.

A Los Angeles Times database of so-called “perversion files” documenting alleged sexual abuse by Boy Scouts of America troop leaders have expanded to include more information on a handful of cases tied to the tri-city region. The files were obtained as a result of lawsuits against the Boy Scouts by alleged abuse victims or by media organizations. The Times' database provides a thorough picture of the widespread abuse allegations and how they were handled within the Boy Scouts of America between 1947 and January 2005, and reveals many incidents in which the organization failed to report the incidents to law enforcement officials in lieu of cover ups and quiet resignations.

With the Boy Scouts of America announcing Wednesday that it would delay a decision on whether to allow gay members and leaders, local representatives say they are in a holding pattern. Matt Bear, camp director and spokesman for the San Gabriel Valley Council, said that whichever decision the national executive board makes, that's the decision the council would support. “We're still sending kids to summer camp. We're still sending kids to the National Jamboree. Everything's still the same,” Bear said.

A 26-year-old former Boy Scout employee pleaded not guilty Friday to charges that he allegedly stole $28,820 from the organization's Verdugo Hills Council in Glendale. Donald Thurman, who worked part-time in the council's scout shop, faces five felony counts for identity theft, another five felony counts of forgery and a felony count of grand theft for stealing from the Boy Scouts of America, according to a Los Angeles County Superior Court criminal complaint. Rick Williamson, the local chapter's acting scout executive, said the council was “very disappointed” about the alleged theft, especially because of the ethics and values the Boy Scouts embody.

Of the roughly 5,000 men and women who were ousted from the Boy Scouts of America on suspicion of sexual abuse, several were tied to cases in the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena region, according to an L.A. Times database of “perversion files” released this week. The database of the organization's perversion files identifies as many as three abuse reports filed in Glendale, two in La Crescenta, one in Pasadena and one in Burbank, according to The Times. Those figures could change as more information is released in the coming months.

Joyce Rudolph For representing the values of Boy Scouting, radio talk show commentator Dennis Prager will be honored at the Good Turn Award Recognition Dinner on Oct. 16 at the Hilton Glendale. Prager will be presented with a bronze statue of a Scout helping a senior citizen cross the street, said Andrew Messer, executive director of the Boy Scouts of America Verdugo Hills Council. It's a figure the Boy Scouts have used since it began in the United States in 1910, depicting their motto, "Do a Good Turn Daily."

Perched more than 2,000 feet above Glendale and its surrounding cities on a crisp Saturday morning, Altadena resident Caleb Scott, 9, dug his shovel into the rocky soil. His first stab at the hillside made a small divot, but with the help of his father, Rod Scott, Caleb picked away until he stood before a hole that was at least two feet deep and another two feet wide ? a suitable hole for planting a seedling stone pine tree. Caleb was one of five Boy Scouts from Den 2, Pack 512 ?

In keeping with the tradition of teaching strong morals and good character, the local chapter of Boys Scouts of America recently combined a learning experience with an activity its members enjoy the most - hiking. About 75 Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Scout leaders and family members gathered at the Burbank First United Methodist Church to begin the fifth annual Verdugo Hills Council's 10 Commandments Hike on Jan. 26. Participants walked 2.2 miles, stopping to hear presentations by clergy on the 10 Commandments.

With the Boy Scouts of America announcing Wednesday that it would delay a decision on whether to allow gay members and leaders, local representatives say they are in a holding pattern. Matt Bear, camp director and spokesman for the San Gabriel Valley Council, said that whichever decision the national executive board makes, that's the decision the council would support. “We're still sending kids to summer camp. We're still sending kids to the National Jamboree. Everything's still the same,” Bear said.

A Los Angeles Times database of so-called “perversion files” documenting alleged sexual abuse by Boy Scouts of America troop leaders have expanded to include more information on a handful of cases tied to the tri-city region. The files were obtained as a result of lawsuits against the Boy Scouts by alleged abuse victims or by media organizations. The Times' database provides a thorough picture of the widespread abuse allegations and how they were handled within the Boy Scouts of America between 1947 and January 2005, and reveals many incidents in which the organization failed to report the incidents to law enforcement officials in lieu of cover ups and quiet resignations.

Mention Camp Bill Lane to local Boy Scouts of a certain age and you'll get smiles of recognition. The camp, established in the 1940s, hosted hundreds of local Scouts during the years of its existence. Bill Lane, an enthusiastic supporter of the Scouts, had done well as an oil investor. He lived on a large estate near Hill Drive in Eagle Rock and also owned several acres of olive trees near Big Tujunga Canyon in the Sunland-Tujunga area. Scouts had been camping in the area - on an informal basis - since the late 1930s.

A 26-year-old former Boy Scout employee pleaded not guilty Friday to charges that he allegedly stole $28,820 from the organization's Verdugo Hills Council in Glendale. Donald Thurman, who worked part-time in the council's scout shop, faces five felony counts for identity theft, another five felony counts of forgery and a felony count of grand theft for stealing from the Boy Scouts of America, according to a Los Angeles County Superior Court criminal complaint. Rick Williamson, the local chapter's acting scout executive, said the council was “very disappointed” about the alleged theft, especially because of the ethics and values the Boy Scouts embody.

Of the roughly 5,000 men and women who were ousted from the Boy Scouts of America on suspicion of sexual abuse, several were tied to cases in the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena region, according to an L.A. Times database of “perversion files” released this week. The database of the organization's perversion files identifies as many as three abuse reports filed in Glendale, two in La Crescenta, one in Pasadena and one in Burbank, according to The Times. Those figures could change as more information is released in the coming months.

John Bell loving husband, father and son, and owner of Bell's Window Cleaning passed away on July 15, 2012. He is survived by his wife, Lorena; his children Tanya, Eric, Anthony, Johnny, Justin, Jacob; his mother Janet; and his brothers. John is known for being a friend to all and his leadership in the Boy Scouts. He will be missed tremendously Services to be held July 28, 2012, at Utter McKinley Mortuary, at 2pm

Iron Eyes Cody, who became famous as the “Crying Indian” in a 1971 “Keep America Beautiful” commercial, was active in Glendale's Boy Scout program for many years. Cody became involved in Scouting activities when his son joined the Scouts. He taught the boys Indian crafts in his 'Moosehead Museum,' which he had assembled in his Atwater home, according to a 1951 Glendale News-Press article. Because of his work with the Scouts, he was named to the Order of the Arrow, a national award given to Scouts who best exemplify the scout oath and law in their daily lives.

Hometown Heroes were honored by the Verdugo Hills Council of the Boy Scouts of America on Wednesday, Dec. 7, a day that marked the 70th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Appropriately, veterans were among those honored at the Oakmont Country Club breakfast. Honored was Burbank Police Chief Scott LaChasse. LaChasse is the son of a World War II prisoner of war at Stalag Luft III. La Chasse's dad was his hero; his mom, his heroine. His mother, Dorothy, was LaChasse's Cub Scout troop leader.

With toy donations down this year, Glendale firefighters at Station 29 were more than elated Friday to accept gifts from local Boy Scouts for their annual Spark of Love Toy Drive. Dozens of Boy Scouts delivered toys to the fire station on Honolulu Avenue, hoping to help enlarge the Fire Department's cache of gifts that will be distributed to poor and low-income children in the community this holiday season. Firefighters are also looking to gather more toy donations this Sunday at Metrolink's annual Holiday Toy Express, which will make its stop in downtown Burbank at about 5 p.m. before heading to Glendale's train station at about 5:45 p.m. -- Veronica Rocha , Times Community News Twitter: @veronicarochaLA