Larry Zarian

GLENDALE— City Councilman John Drayman announced Thursday on the "Larry Zarian Show" that he plans to run for reelection next year. A longtime Glendale resident, Drayman lobbied and led a campaign to purchase the historic Rockhaven Sanitarium in Montrose. He said he has been an advocate for arts and entertainment, like the Museum of Neon Art, helping to further develop downtown Glendale. He highlighted his efforts to boost transparency and accountability in the appointments and design and review processes.

DOWNTOWN — A spokesman for the governor’s office on Thursday said there were no plans to reconsider the removal of former Glendale Mayor Larry Zarian from a powerful transportation commission. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on May 21 dropped Zarian after the former chairman of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority voted against a plan to allow private companies a larger stake in a Northern California freeway construction project. Zarian, a Republican, served more than four years on the California Transportation Commission.

Representatives for Republican Assembly candidate Sunder Ramani are arguing that his opponent is dodging opportunities to participate in debates ahead of the June 8 runoff election to represent Glendale, Burbank and parts of Los Angeles. Ramani participated alone in a televised town hall Sunday hosted by the Armenian National Committee on Horizon Armenian Television. Democrat Mike Gatto did not attend the event at the Horizon studio in Hollywood because of a scheduling conflict, according to his campaign.

DOWNTOWN — Civic and business leaders and champions of local nonprofits had dinner under the stars Saturday at the Americana at Brand as part of a fundraiser for PATH Achieve Glendale, the chapter’s first large-scale benefit since opening its doors to the homeless three years ago. More than 4,000 homeless people have transformed their lives during that time by receiving from the organization emergency, transitional and permanent housing...

GLENDALE — Despite City Councilman Ara Najarian’s early public opposition to the proposed underground extension of the Long Beach (710) Freeway, state officials are stressing that it’s too early to pass judgment. Concerns about increased traffic, noise, pollution and other potential effects of the proposed tunnel connecting the 710 and Foothill (210) freeways in Pasadena may already be here, but it’s too early let them affect the consideration of the project at such a nascent stage, said Doug Failing, director of California Department of Transportation’s local District 7. All potential negative impacts would be addressed in an environmental study, which has not yet been created, he added.

The joint was jumpin? on Saturday night at the clubhouse and it wasn?t Fats Waller doing it, it was John Carro John Carro , playing a mean Elvis Presley. The gals at the La Crescenta Woman?s Club sure know how to pick talent. And their ?Viva Fiesta Night? was no exception. Who cares if their metaphors were mixed ? Elvis songs in the midst of Mexican serapes, sombreros and sangria ? the evening was a blast! At this rate, these gals will easily have the money raised to restore their clubhouse in time for their 100th anniversary in two years.

Joumana had about as much success keeping her two young children from ripping into their pile of wrapped Christmas gifts Tuesday at the YWCA Glendale as she did holding back her tears. Her family was one of three beneficiaries adopted by the Glendale Kiwanis as part of the organization’s annual gift drive for single mothers who, after leaving their abusive boyfriends or husbands, find themselves dependent on the YWCA’s domestic violence shelters. Nearly all the women funneled through the YWCA Women’s Service Center have left abusive situations with little more than a suitcase, and so rebuilding starts from ground zero.

The Glendale City Council Tuesday adjourned in memory of Dale Drayman, mother of the mayor, who died last Thursday of lingering medical problems. Drayman told his colleagues, “My mother was 95 and ½, as she would insist on my saying.” She was born in 1913 in Maryland, and trained as a nurse. In 1950, she and her husband Jay moved to the Crescenta Valley. The mayor said his mother was active in local groups, including PTAs, as she raised several children. She actively supported the political career of former mayor Larry Zarian.

Zarian planning to host police chief Glendale Police Chief Randy Adams will discuss the city?s current crime landscape Thursday when he appears live on Larry Zarian?s show. Adams will go into the issues behind Glendale?s relatively low crime statistics, while at the same time address the city?s persistently high rate of pedestrian-related traffic accidents, including a handful of recent hit-and-run incidents. Glendale Police have launched several programs over the past few months to temper notorious speeding corridors throughout the city, while at the same time crack down on jaywalkers.