Fresh Air

JERRY LANE This is a funny world we live in. We can classify our fellow humans by dividing them into various groups. And while all the categories we use will surely be valid, the one way of defining our fellow humans that appeals to me more than others is on their approach to change. We all know people who rush out to buy the newest things on the market. They have to be the first with the newest. It's out with the old as soon as they can do it. They can usually look back and tell you what they used to have that would be worth a fortune had they not trashed it years ago. And then there are those who fight every change, clinging to equipment for which they can no longer get parts or find workmen who know enough to repair them and whining about how wonderful things used to be. I've always heard that it's the nature of man, as he grows older, to protest against change -- particularly change for the better.

What's wrong with beautiful downtown Glendale? It was gratifying to read in the News-Press of Oct. 22 that The Alex Theatre is doing better financially by renting out the premises to TV programs and commercials, but I do have a small problem with that. I tuned in to Steve Harvey's lively variety program to see how it worked at The Alex, and was surprised to hear the announcer saying it came from The Alex Theatre in -- Los Angeles? If beautiful downtown Burbank could achieve fame by being given its own identity years ago on TV, why can't Glendale be acknowledged as a city separate from Los Angeles?

CITY HALL — After six months of public outreach, the city’s anti-smoking restrictions could benefit from some adjustments, city officials said Tuesday. Eliminating the warning given to violators and requiring signs in smoking prohibited areas were among early recommendations to the City Council Tuesday in order to assist the implementation of the relatively new law, which has started to show some cracks as city officials attempt to enforce it. Enforcing the new rules, which prohibit smoking on nearly all publicly accessible land in Glendale, among multifamily housing complexes and city visitors has also been challenge, Neighborhood Services Administrator Sam Engel said, as the city gets closer to the hard-enforcement phase of the ordinance.

A longtime anti-smoking advocate has filed a multimillion-dollar wrongful termination lawsuit against Glendale Adventist Medical Center, as well as three City Council members who he alleges used their political influence to get him fired. Steven Gallegos was terminated from his job as a tobacco outreach worker in October after he spoke out publicly against the City Council in fall 2012 for loosening smoking restrictions for restaurants with large outdoor seating areas. According to the lawsuit - filed the day before Christmas in Los Angeles County Superior Court - Gallegos is seeking more than $5 million each from the hospital, three Glendale Adventist officials and council members Ara Najarian, Laura Friedman and Rafi Manoukian.

CITY HALL — More than a year after citywide smoking regulations went into effect, the City Council tonight will consider several significant changes, including requiring apartment buildings to separate smoking and nonsmoking units. With more than a year of outreach complete, the council will also consider erasing a warning provision, which officials say has made enforcement difficult. Since the restrictions took effect in November 2008 with an emphasis on public education, hundreds of warnings have been given, with only 24 citations issued, leading many residents to push for stricter enforcement.

MONTROSE ? A Glendale man remained in intensive care at a local hospital Wednesday after neighbors and firefighters struggled to rescue him from his fiery home, which officials said had pack-rat conditions. Eric Guritz, whose family said he was dependent on others for care, suffered from serious smoke inhalation during Tuesday night?s fire and was taken to Verdugo Hills Hospital. Neighbor Neil Wilson saved Guritz?s life by pulling his head out of a window to access fresh air as smoke billowed out of his house, said his aunt, Eileen Bandy.

Walking and keeping CV clean I want to thank Jim Chase for the effort he makes in preparing his weekly column in the Valley Sun. Although I don’t always agree with him, I certainly look forward to reading his articles and acknowledge it must be a labor of love. I’d like to offer my two cents regarding his article about walking in La Cañada (“A short walk and a tall latte,” Jan. 9). I applaud the fact that he and his wife are out enjoying the fresh air. With the terrific climate we enjoy it’s almost shameful more people don’t take advantage of what we’ve got. About one year ago a committee was formed through the CV Town Council called “Crescenta Valley Clean and Green.

An easy meter is worth the dime What an idiotic, stupid idea, the new parking meters on Brand Boulevard (“Frenzied feeding of meters,” Dec. 6). I asked a young man to help me. He could not figure it out, then said, “Do your shopping in Burbank, like I do. They have the coin-operated meters.” Why weren’t the regular coin meters installed? Everyone knows how to drop a coin. MAURINE BLAKELY Glendale   City to be cheered for smoking grade Congratulations, Glendale!

City and ranch life collided for our family last month on a dude ranch tucked high away in the beautiful Colorado Rockies. While we have saddled up and brushed off our cowboy hats before, there was a special spirit coming from this ranch. And at the end of the week, we had all been reminded of simpler days. We dreamed new dreams, felt good about our world, and felt the peace offered up by the experience. At first glance we thought that good feeling may have come from the majestic mountains that were filled with aspens, pines and fresh air. Or perhaps it was the horseback riding in our chaps, boots and cowboy hats.

VALLEY GLEN — A clutch three-run, go-ahead home run by shortstop Ashley Messenger in the top of the seventh inning Thursday lifted the spirits of the entire Glendale Community College softball team. The euphoria was very short-lived, as it was the Vaqueros trudging downcast off the field just minutes later when Los Angeles Valley College third baseman Nicole Valentine swatted a three-run shot of her own. Valentine's walk-off home run propelled the Monarchs to an 8-7 victory, and completed a doubleheader sweep following Valley's 8-6 victory earlier in the afternoon.