Fish

Judy Seckler SAN RAFAEL -- Students from kindergarten through eighth grade lined up Wednesday for one of the more popular school events of the year at Incarnation School. At the Blessing of the Animals, children brought whatever pets they owned, including cats, dogs, fish, turtles, hamsters, birds and guinea pigs. The ceremony conducted by Father Paul Hruby took about 15 to 20 minutes. The event was scheduled to coincide with the Feast of St. Francis.

Susie Fowler Kenny Over the past few weeks the News-Press has been covering a story in our community regarding the Salvation Army's Lord's Kitchen program, which for many years has provided their facility to a cooperative of area churches and faith-based organizations for purposes of providing a hot meal to those who are on our streets or otherwise in the worst of impoverished circumstances. With the Salvation Army's implementation of an ID-required policy, which it subsequently rescinded, and now the impending move of the Lord's Kitchen, there has been a flurry of comment about our -- the churches and the city's -- responsibility to those who are what we call "the homeless."

What about all the fish-killin', water-guzzlin' trees? This could be bigger than Godzilla! The shadowy villains cast their death rays on sidewalks and slither down drains to choke the living daylights out of the fish in the seas! And they take all our water with them! How long has this been going on? Let's ask Charlie Tuna. Remember Charlie Tuna? He was the expert on everything, except credibility. "Hey Charlie, what's up with fish-killin', water-guzzlin' trees?"

Last night family members and classmates stepped into a world under the sea, watching as 60 first-, second- and third-graders transformed into schools of fish in the Richardson D. White Elementary School's production of "Go Fish." "Go Fish," by Hal Leonard, is the musical story of a unique group of fish, including a seven-legged octopus, a tuna that can't carry a tune and a blowfish with allergies, who meet a tiger shark who wants to be their friend. The moral in the end is, it's nice to be different.

A Glendale resident pleaded guilty Tuesday to three counts of importing a fish that could be harmful to domestic animals, as part of a plea agreement, an official from the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Sung Chul "Daniel" Rhee was arrested in May for importing and selling snakehead fish, which are dangerous because they hunt other fish and have no natural predators. The snakeheads are considered delicacies in Korean culture, and authorities believe Rhee sold more than $23,000 worth of snakeheads in 2002 and 2003.

When Christie Crahan's first-grade class at Verdugo Woodlands Elementary School succeeded in signing up for Glendale Public Library cards for each of its 19 students, the class was sent to the principal's office. But it's not what you think. The kids weren't being punished. Instead, Principal Janet Buhl treated them to a reading of "Finding Nemo: The Best Dad in the Sea," with help from her own cast of characters in the principal's aquarium -- an orange and white-striped clown fish, like the book's characters Nemo and Marlin, a blue damsel fish, like Marlin's friend Dory, a shrimp, like the character Jacques and a chocolate chip starfish, like the character Chocolate Chip.

Claudia Peschiutta WHO COULD ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE? Some wishes are a little easier to fulfill than others. Pilar Dizon, 5, was a little shy about talking to Santa Claus at the city's 15th annual tree lighting ceremony Monday even though she knew exactly what she wanted. "A fish that is slippery and he jumps when you put him on the ground," she said. "It's my favorite toy." Strange as it may sound, Dizon assured the reporter that she did not mean a live fish and that there is such a toy. WAITING FOR SANTA Sometimes it's Santa Claus that needs to be kept under wraps.

The Glendale Community College Alumni Assn. will hold its annual open house from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday in The Oaks restaurant in the Los Robles Building on campus. It is an opportunity to learn about the changes on campus, including construction projects, and find out about the activities of the alumni association. Refreshments will be served. Reservations are requested and may be made calling 240-1000, ext. 5446. EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT FISH "Everything You Wanted to Know About Fish But Were Afraid to Ask," will be presented on Tuesday as part of the Science Lecture Series.

?The Rocker? is a tidy little redemption comedy that starts slowly but eventually builds into a very funny film with more than a few laugh-out-loud moments. Although this production is a bit reminiscent of ?School of Rock,? a big hit for Jack Black a few years ago, ?The Rocker? offers a fresh look at a high school rock band theme and what just might happen if the breaks go the right way. Rainn Wilson, known currently for his role as the oddball Dwight in the TV sitcom hit ?The Office?

Mirjam Swanson GLENDALE -- For the past eight years, John Schachtner had been trying to catch a blue or black marlin. But to no avail -- at least not until July 27. So naturally, it was with that prospective catch in mind that Schachtner set off from shore in Billfighter that morning, the 31 Bertram boat owned by his family and used by the Hotel Palmas de Cortez during the October-through-March fishing season in...

If someone were to ask me what food I'd eat for the rest of my life if I could only eat one food, it would have to be fish tacos. I crave them at all hours of the day. So I embarked on a quest to find the best one in a 15-mile radius. I went to old haunts, new finds and friends' recommendations. Right off the bat I was confronted with the question “grilled or fried”? Grilled fish tacos have fewer calories and a nice smoky flavor. But deep-fried are more authentic, and if the batter and fish are good, nothing compares.

It appears Meatball - the 400-pound bear from Glendale that was taken to a sanctuary after several return trips from the forest - will remain a Californian. Since being lured into a trap with McDonald's and bacon, Meatball has been staying in a 15-by-20 foot cage at the Lions, Tigers, and Bears animal sanctuary in Alpine in east San Diego County. It was meant to be a holding spot until the bear could be transferred to a much larger sanctuary in Colorado, but state officials there blocked the plan.

Authorities said the foul smell reported by thousands of Southern California residents from Palm Springs to Ventura County was most likely caused by a fish die-off at the Salton Sea combined with strong winds overnight that pushed the smell into the Los Angeles area. Officials investigating stressed that they have not determined an official cause - and added they've never heard of the Salton Sea die-off smell spreading so far. But they say the sea is now the focus of the probe. The general manager of the Salton Sea Authority said he's not sure if the sea is the source of the foul odor, and is being inundated by telephone calls - including inquiries from the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

Salsa Grill, which opened last September in Burbank, is a keeper, whether you come for breakfast, lunch or dinner. I tried breakfast and then came back a week later for lunch. The fish tacos, served with rice and beans and only available on Fridays, were delicious. It had that fried-fish taste but not deep-fried, which sometimes leaves you with a taste of batter that overwhelms the fish. The lunch special was only $5, including drink. I also had an outstanding super burrito ($7.95)

Driven by post-Station-fire conditions, more bears are venturing into foothill neighborhoods in search of food, but officials told residents at a community meeting Thursday that human contact is rare. California Department of Fish and Game Lt. Marty Wall offered tips to two dozen residents who attended the forum organized by Assemblyman Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) after several bear sightings had been reported in the area. A La Cañada resident on Bonita Vista Drive said a black bear ate four of her backyard chickens.

La Cañada Flintridge City Manager Mark Alexander on Friday said he has asked state wildlife officials to expand their presence locally due to a large number of bear sightings in the area. The California black bear reportedly ate four backyard chickens last week at a home on Bonita Vista Drive and was photographed by a resident on Alta Canyada Road. “After speaking with representatives from the Department of Fish and Game, we advised them that there is community concern in regard to the bear, and we’re looking for ways the Department of Fish and game can be more proactive to try to resolve this problem,” Alexander said.

If you are searching for an eclectic fish menu, you would be hard pressed to find one more appealing than Fish Dish Grill Burbank. You can choose from fish and chips to fish tacos or fish burritos, fish salad entrees, fish dish bowls or 13 different charbroiled fish dinners. It is next door to the entrance of Bob Hope Airport in a newer strip mall that includes eight restaurants and not enough lunchtime parking. Fish Dish has a new menu that is not yet posted to its website. Fried clams are no longer on the menu.

We have Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and special days set aside to recognize grandparents, secretaries, mailmen, dog catchers, etc., but no Uncle’s Day. I’m lobbying for an Uncle’s Day, based on the four fascinating uncles who added adventure and laughter to my early life. Let’s start with my Uncle Danny. An IRA fugitive, he fled Ireland seeking refuge in the U.S. Upon meeting Uncle Dan, he would offer to display where he had been shot fleeing the British.

Fish taco aficionado Joseph Cordova has opened his second restaurant. The Best Fish Taco in Ensenada, which opened last week, complements his flagship restaurant-store at 1650 Hillhurst Ave. in Los Angeles. Hopefully, Cordova said, the Glendale store, at 604 W. Glenoaks Blvd., won?t be his last. He plans to open six more stores and four taco stands throughout Los Angeles in the coming months. Cordova got hooked on fish tacos while visiting Ensenada. He described the taco as ugly and made out of plywood.