Flower Shop

MONTROSE — Indian Springs Shopping Center, which houses a Vons grocery store, kicked off a transformation effort this week, just as Trader Joe’s begins negotiations for a nearby location. Plans for the Vons and shopping center renovations have been in the works for years and were not connected to interest in the area from Trader Joe’s, said Brad Howard, real estate manager for Green Howard, which manages the center. But Montrose residents have long complained of a lack of good grocery alternatives in the area, which prompted a city campaign to court Trader Joe’s in the first place, city officials have said.

Linda LaZar Astronauts and movie stars were my heroes as a child. I saw them as brave and amazing. Those are impressive occupations, but now my admiration seems to reach toward the direction of business people and entrepreneurs -- people who dare to take a chance and journey outside the box, against the odds. I especially admire those who begin their journey without a dollar to their name. Armen Markosian, owner of Fantasy Flowers & Gifts, started his journey outside the box in 1993, when he arrived in Glendale at 24 unable to speak a word of English.

DOWNTOWN — Flower shops saw a steep drop in business for Valentine’s Day, which is typically the biggest sales day of the year for the sellers. The decline in activity at the start of 2010 was a letdown for store managers, who hoped for a rebound from a dismal sales year in 2009, which was the worst in memory, they said. Unfortunately, business did not improve on the holiday, dropping by at least 30% at most stores from a year ago, managers said. “It’s worse than last year,” said Jason Lee, a manager at Conroy’s Flowers on Glendale Avenue.

A new flower shop has opened in the same Corona del Mar location where a longtime florist once did business. For more than two decades, the corner of East Coast Highway and Jasmine Avenue was home to Joe Porto's Flowerman shop. In June, Porto closed Flowerman, clearing the way for a new floral venture, KW Creative Designs. The new store is owned by Mark Kimmel and Robert Wood. At their shop, customers can still buy flowers, but they can also shop for jewelry and art objects such as colorful blown glass.

Two men were being sought Wednesday by Glendale Police, who believe they robbed a flower shop owner at gunpoint. One man allegedly entered Casa Blanca Florist & Gift at 815 S. Central Ave. about 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, asking to buy a dozen roses and a balloon. A second man followed him in and demanded the store's money at gunpoint, according to police reports. After emptying the cash register into a plastic bag and grabbing the owner's purse from a back room, the men ordered her into a storage room, police said.

A chance to take the family to see a favorite Broadway musical with adult performers for only $20 a ticket is being offered on the first and second weekends of February at La Cañada's own Lanterman Auditorium at 4490 Cornishon Ave., La Canada, on the corner of Foothill Boulevard and Cornishon across from See's Candy. Performances are Friday, Feb. 3, 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 4., 8 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 5 matinee at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11 matinee at 2 p.m. and also an evening performance at 8 p.m. Opportunity prizes, including one from the popular Pampered Chef collection will be offered from "Eliza's Flower Shop" in the Lanterman Auditorium lobby.

Tim Willert LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE -- Sheriff's deputies spent Wednesday investigating a bizarre traffic accident in which a driver lost control of his car, sideswiped another vehicle and crashed into a mail truck before hitting a curb and overturning on a Foothill Boulevard sidewalk. The driver of the car, identified Wednesday by authorities as 54-year-old Allan Coren, was traveling east on Foothill near Verdugo Road at about 4:45 p.m. Tuesday when he sideswiped a parked SUV, Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Sgt. Walt Wylie said.

The following incidents were taken from sheriff's reports. LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE 400 block of Knight Way: A man told deputies someone entered his unlocked garage and stole tools and an English horse saddle June 24. 5600 block of Burning Tree Drive: A woman told deputies someone stole jewelry and a handgun from her home June 25. 4100 block of Dover Road: A man told deputies someone broke through a...