Ice

Did you know that there are 192 million cell phones in the United States? And did you know that there were 6.3 million auto accidents in the United States last year, resulting in 42,643 deaths and nearly 2.9 million injuries? Moreover, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 900,000 emergency-room patients could not provide emergency contact information to medical personnel because injuries had rendered them incapacitated. Now, thanks to a new and innovative communication system called "ICE," emergency personnel can access this vital information using the injured person's cell phone.

From a vantage point in La Crescenta, Mt. Wilson looks clear of snow, but snow still covers the north face of the peak. It is this winter blanket that has kept the Montrose Search and Rescue Team members busy the last two weekends. “March 2 was an extremely busy day,” said Mike Leum, a longtime rescue team member. The team was first activated at noon on a call concerning a 20-year-old mountain biker with a broken leg. The cyclist was on the road near Red Box and Switzer Falls when he fell from his bike and injured his leg. The team responded at first with assistance from Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Air Five helicopter, but the wind was too strong for the chopper.

In late 1931, at the height of the Great Depression, Tom Follis' parents, Donald and Lucile, purchased a lot on Hollister Terrace in east Glenoaks Canyon, about 100 yards from Glenoaks Park. "My parents cleared weeds and brush in preparation for the construction of a custom house," recalled Follis, who now lives in Oxnard. "While burning piles of weeds, the smoke drifted over my dad and the next day he was covered with itching poison oak that had been hidden in the weeds. "A building contractor, Mr. Dutton, was hired and several months later our family moved into the lovely tile-roofed, Spanish-style, stucco house that was our home for many years.

The Glendale News-Press visited a kindergarten class at Holy Redeemer School and asked “What do you want to be when you grow up?”           “A veterinarian because I like animals.” Kayla Walker, 6 Glendale           “I would say a violinist because I just like playing instruments.” Jay Patriarca, 6 La Crescenta             “An ice skater because I like ice.” Marion Govednik, 6 Montrose           “A veterinarian because I like animals.

Marlene Hitt So much as been accomplished by volunteers. What is it that motivates them? Kiwanis get up in the dark on Easter morning, get dust on their vans, to drive worshipers to the cross. The Rotary members keep toiling to make that parade happen on the Fourth of July. Think of the work accomplished by the Lions, the Chamber of Commerce, Coordinating Council, churches, school groups and so many more. Mel Carlson is once again the informant of the day. In his manuscript, he has left us a whole chapter about the volunteering he did as a young boy. His words bring two things to mind: the joy of altruistic activities, and the heroes of the young Mel. Mel admitted that he was a loner and got tired of games.

When I looked out my window last Saturday afternoon, I couldn't believe what I saw. It had been dark and bleary with rain falling all day long. But this was different. This couldn't be right. This was hail. Here? In Montrose? Where I grew up, snow is pretty common. We all carry ice scrapers in our cars. We have snow days - built-in days off just in case the roads are too icy for school buses, the weather's too cold for the bus engines to work or the school bus drivers are snowed in and can't leave their houses.

Mary Lineberger dipped her paintbrush onto a palette and colored a cheery yellow sun wearing sunglasses. She also drew gray clouds approaching the sun’s rays. The 10-year-old was one of about 30 fifth-graders at Mountain Avenue Elementary School who worked with watercolors Wednesday to illustrate the water cycle. The assignment was part of their science lesson. “I’m going to draw mountains to the side and then draw clouds that are going to cover the sun and start precipitation,” Mary said.

Jerry Lane School hasn't been out very long, but the streets are unusually quiet. Where are all the kids who were just recently set free? The quiet is broken by a hot breeze blowing through the many trees on our street. Toward the end of the block I spot a young boy, plodding along, kicking a rock in front of him -- and my mind takes me back over the years. I walked through a field, sidestepping the small growing plants, kicking a stone in front of me. The day was a hot one and I was taking a shortcut to the big barn where we stored the winter ice that had been cut from the pond and stacked there, wrapped in canvas and packed in sawdust.

The Verdugo Hills Art Association will hold their first meeting of the new year on Friday, January 6 at 7:00 p.m. The location is the community room in the Citibank building, 2350 Honolulu Blvd. in Montrose. The meeting will feature a well known local artist, Angela Hernandez. Ms. Hernandez studied art at the Art Center School of Design and Chouinard's Art Institute. Her early art career included work as a graphic designer and fashion illustrator. Recently, Angela taught fashion illustration and model drawing at Otis School of Art and Design.

A 72-year-old Glendale ice cream vendor who was charged last year with child annoyance and sexual battery was arrested Tuesday after allegedly violating a court order that demanded he stay away from elementary, middle and high schools in Burbank, officials said. The man, Grigor Khachatryan, was arrested after a local parent reported seeing him around Luther Burbank Middle and Bret Harte Elementary schools in his ice cream truck at around 4 p.m., said Burbank Police Sgt. Darin Ryburn.

A stretch of Interstate 5 through the Grapevine remained closed Friday morning because of snow and ice on the roadway, the California Highway Patrol said. Traffic logs indicated both directions of the freeway were closed about 2 a.m. As of 5:15 a.m., the CHP said it was not clear when the roadway would reopen. [Updated 8:10 a.m.: A portion of Interstate 5 on the Grapevine was gradually opening to traffic Friday morning, more than five hours after it was closed because of winter weather.

A 30-year-old La Crescenta man was arrested Saturday after he allegedly exposed his genitals when he was asked to leave an ice cream shop, police said. Zandro Zapata told officers he was reportedly trying to “advertise” for Cold Stone Creamery located in the 3200 block of Foothill Boulevard, when he was asked to leave, according to Glendale police. The 27-year-old boyfriend of a Cold Stone employee heard the disturbance and followed Zapata as he exited the shop, police said.

Par•a•dise [par-uh-dahys, -dahyz] a state of supreme happiness; bliss. If there is a paradise, I imagine there will be ample parking and meters that never run out; no taxes, co-pays, high-premium health insurance or any need for guns. Everyone will get their own jet pack, too. And ice cream. Most definitely, there will be ice cream. Luckily, for those still searching for paradise, there is Paradis. Head up the hill into Montrose, hang a left on Honolulu and stroll until you see a human-sized ice cream cone on the sidewalk.

NORTHWEST GLENDALE - Maddie Corpuz is ready to provide a physical element for the Glendale High girls' water polo team. It's been a work in progress for Corpuz, but she doesn't mind the grind. “You have to be able to play physical and that's my style,” said Corpuz, who finished with three goals and played stellar defense to help visiting Glendale post a 16-2 Pacific League win against cross-town rival Hoover on Thursday afternoon. “Since the summer, I've been learning how to guard the other team's hole/set and it helps with my physical game and even on offense.” The Nitros also got another big performance from Biyouregh Boghozian, who finished with a team-high five goals to help Glendale improve to 7-7, 2-0 in league.

A robber on Sunday ordered ice cream before passing a note to a Cold Stone Creamery manager and making off with cash, police said. The manager was alone about 2:59 p.m. inside the creamery in the 3200 block of Foothill Boulevard when a man entered and put in his order, according to Glendale police. He then placed a note on the shop's counter demanding all the money, including change, inside the cash register. Reached by phone on Monday, the store manager said the man was “really matter of fact.” “I was like, 'Are you serious?

Call it a match made in Glendale. Ice Energy has moved into a new 25,000-square-foot facility in Glendale, a city whose utility has become one of the Colorado-based company's largest clients for systems that store energy for air conditioners overnight, when electricity is in less demand and cheaper. The facility, located in Glendale's industrial San Fernando Road corridor, is also centrally located to the firm's other top clients. “Glendale is kind of like the center of the map for us here in California,” said Mike Hopkins, executive vice president of Ice Energy.

PASADENA -- Before the crowd had time to hold its collective breath and watch helplessly as the visitors launched a potential dagger, Alaina Balian came up with a huge defensive stop that denied everyone the suspense. The junior center stuffed a three-point attempt as time expired, preserving the Armenian General Benevolent Union Vatche and Tamar High girls' basketball team's 39-38 win Monday over visiting Pilibos. The Spartans (13-4, 5-1 in league) survived a ragged shooting slump that washed away an opening-half lead, assuming control once again in the fourth quarter to remain atop the Westside League standings with two games remaining.

Taylor Swift's list of "green room" demands for her appearance Tuesday at Sephora read a little, well, granola -- literally. According to an itinerary for her appearance at the Americana at Brand, Sephora had to provide "chewy granola bars -- assorted flavors," low-fat Fig Newtons, large plastic cups and "clean ice," one case of room-temperature Smart water, a grande skinny caramel latte from Starbucks with one Sweet 'N Low, fresh fruit and...

Ice cream. Two words that bring a smile to your face, a tickle in your tummy and a cure for what ails you on a long, hot day. Though our kids get a summer break, the world and its trials don't. Now, in addition to camp, work, sports, cooking, cleaning, catering and cohabitating, we get an adhesive, smothering, smoggy heat for a couple months. But have some ice cream at the end of a blistering day, preferably after the little angels have been safely and securely duct-taped in bed, and the universe begins to spin on its axis once more.