Letter

GLENDALE — A former Armenian consul, three Glendale residents and a substance abuse counselor have been arrested for allegedly selling immigration letters to undocumented convicted felons, including murderers and rapists, that allowed them to stay in the United States and avoid deportation. The defendants — former Armenian consul Norair Ghalumian, 52, of Burbank; and Glendale residents Hakop Hovanesyan, 54; Margarita Mkrtchyan, 41; Elvis Madatyan, 47; and Valencia resident Oganes Nardos, 36 — were named in four separate criminal complaints for obstructing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement proceedings, federal officials said.

GLENDALE — Crescenta Valley High graduate and former Major League Baseball pitcher Jim Parque confessed to using human growth hormone in a written statement released by the Chicago Sun-Times on Thursday. The former Falcons standout was named in the Mitchell Report in 2007, but denied any use of performance-enhancing drugs at that point. Roughly two years later, however, he elected to clear the air. “I’m Jim Parque, former major-league pitcher, and I took human growth hormone,” he began in his letter to the Sun-Times.

Here?s a mixture of feedback and follow-up that I think you might find informative, or at least interesting. ?Most recently I heard from people about my last column concerning my student, Miguel. I was most touched by a letter from Paula Devine, who chairs the Glendale Commission on the Status of Women. The commission has a fabulous summer program for young Glendale girls ages 13 to 18 (low to moderate income) called Camp Rosie. The next session starts Aug. 3 and goes through Aug. 21 at Pacific Edison Community Center.

This is in response to Nat Read?s nonsensical comments and diatribe (?710 tunnel would benefit Glendale,? June 6). To suggest that the proposed 710 tunnel would reduce traffic on the 2, 5 and 134 freeways (how did he forget to mention the 210?) is highly insulting to the average person?s intelligence. The 710 tunnel would be a nightmare and definitely have a significant negative impact on residents in Glendale, La Crescenta, La Cañada and South Pasadena. Read, as the chairman of the 710 Coalition, is ad infinitum spinning his propaganda.

Dear Sirs: The Crescenta Valley Town Council is strongly opposed to the 710 Tunnel Project and the technical study, which is underway. While the first letter, sent May 17, 2007, has not had a response, let us be clear in this correspondence. As elected representatives of the unincorporated area in La Crescenta, we have recently held a public meeting in which there was strong opposition to the 710 Tunnel Project. We request that our opposition be acknowledged and filed along with other Foothill Communities.

Opposition to the proposed 710 freeway extension tunnel was the primary discussion at last week’s Crescenta Valley Town Council executive committee meeting. This following last month’s presentation by Caltrans officials at the Town Council meeting, regarding the recently conducted SR-710 Tunnel Technical Study. The study already has cost nearly $4 million for drilling, sound tests and community outreach, including the Crescenta Valley presentation and similar presentations in other nearby cities expected to be affected by the additional noise and traffic if the tunnel is built.

First-graders dressed up as cows, cats, pigs, chicks, a fox and a hen gave three audiences a lesson on community during performances Thursday of “The Little Red Hen” at Monte Vista Elementary School. The musical performance taught students that in order to share in the benefits of an endeavor, they have to lend a helping hand, said Joan Shoff, visual and performing arts coordinator for the Glendale Unified School District. First-grade teachers Pamela Smith and Shirley Sycamore organized the performance.

We, the undersigned, wish to take issue with our union president Allen Freemon’s disparaging comments about board member Chuck Sambar (“Board member’s absence is inexcusable,” Community Commentary, Thursday). In discussing this at our respective school sites, it should be noted that many fellow teachers feel the same. Freemon has fought hard for our benefits, but his tactics and his tone are often counterproductive. His unwarranted attack on Sambar, charging that he is suddenly seeking notoriety in advance of the upcoming elections, is a case in point.