Los Angeles Dodgers

GLENDALE - Tracey Weber may be a full-grown adult, but he felt like a little kid when he met Los Angeles Dodgers starting first baseman Adrián González Friday afternoon. “I couldn't believe it, I was tongue tied,” said Weber, the assistant director of Tobinworld, a school for autistic and special needs children in Glendale. It was an exciting day for Dodger fans of all ages when Tobinworld played host to 15 Dodgers players and manager Don Mattingly for nearly two hours Friday.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Glendale Public Library will reward children who read "just for fun" in the Library's 60th annual Summer Reading Program. All children through eighth grade who read eight books and redeem their reading log at the Glendale Public Library were to receive one free ticket to the Dodgers vs. Nationals game tonight (Friday, June 30.) "The Los Angeles Dodgers have been the staple of Southern California baseball for more than 47 years and during that time the Dodgers have established themselves as major contributors to the greater Los Angeles community," Howard Sunkin, SVP, Public Affairs, said in a prepared statement.

Joe Torre resigned his executive position at Major League Baseball on Wednesday to join with Los Angeles developer Rick Caruso in bidding to buy the Dodgers. "I have great confidence in Rick Caruso's unique qualifications and his ability to lead a successful bid for the Los Angeles Dodgers," Torre said in a statement. "In Rick I found a partner who understands consumers and fully appreciates that the Dodgers are a treasured L.A. institution. Since moving to Los Angeles, I have seen firsthand Rick's dedication to business and people in Los Angeles.

Richard Lyneis October 25, 1939 - February 11, 2012   A native of Kasota, Minnesota, Richard “Dick” Gerald Lyneis was a longtime resident of Burbank, where he passed away at 72, surrounded by his family. He was a 1957 graduate of Burbank High School. He was a member of the Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 105, a longstanding member and trustee of the Burbank Elks Lodge and a member of the Burbank High Senior Bulldogs.     In his later years, Dick's greatest love was spending time with his grandchildren, making sure never to miss their sporting events.

GLENDALE — The following are updates on area Major League Baseball players .   Mark Loretta (St. Francis High, 1989) Los Angeles Dodgers infielder: Loretta, a two time All-Star, delivered one of the biggest hits of the season for the Dodgers on Saturday night en route to helping Los Angeles win the National League West Division championship. He came through with a pinch-hit two-run single to begin a five-run seventh inning in the Dodgers’ 5-0 home win against the Colorado Rockies that clinched the division title.

Former Mayor Honored Former Glendale Mayor Ginger Bremberg was honored this week with the renaming of the city's Integrated Waste Management Center in her honor. Bremberg was a state leader in recycling efforts. Winter Wonderland Presented The Glendale Parks and Recreation Department will sponsor a Winter Wonderland event Feb. 11 at Brand Park, 1601 W. Mountain St. beginning at 10 a.m. Sixty tons of man-made snow, entertainment and refreshments will be offered. Grandstand Work Planned Glendale is seeking a $250,000 grant to design a project to renovate the grandstands at Casey Stengel Field, named in honor of the late baseball legend and Glendale resident.

Charles Rich There seemed to be a National League theme that Kris Krise noticed. For the past several days, the former Crescenta Valley High star pitcher had spoken on the phone with the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres and Pittsburgh Pirates about possibly being drafted. Then the Los Angeles Dodgers had the last word. The Dodgers selected the 6-foot-5 Krise in the 12th round as the 376th overall pick in the Major League Baseball First-Year Draft on Tuesday.

GLENDALE — It proved to be well worth the wait for Robert Malone. Standing in line for nearly two and ½ hours, the 36-year-old, decked out in the jersey of Los Angeles Dodgers great Fernando Valenzuela, could do nothing but smile after meeting two of his favorite team's players. Malone was the first of over 200 autograph seekers to have his baseball signed by Dodgers left fielder Luis Gonzalez and third baseman Wilson Betemit during "Dodger Dad for a Day" on Saturday afternoon at Macy's Glendale.

A couple of years ago I wrote a line that brought some interesting feedback. It was from an article all about heroes, specifically the lack of them in our current society. It went something like this: “We erect statues of our heroes and carve their faces into mountains only to find, upon closer examination, that they all had feet of clay.” Some suggested that there still are heroes among us, and we just need to refine our search, or perhaps change our definition. I tend to agree.

When I retired five years ago after a career as a rather maverick newspaperman bristling at the restraints of corporate journalism, I vowed to speak what was in my heart and to say “yes” to just about everything. Being a yes-man instead of a naysayer has worked out wonderfully for the most part, but it has also gotten me into some awkward situations as it did when Leslie Dutton - the woman behind the Full Disclosure Network's public access video investigative reporting - asked me to play the role of George Washington in full costume at her annual fundraising event this President's Day weekend.

GLENDALE - Tracey Weber may be a full-grown adult, but he felt like a little kid when he met Los Angeles Dodgers starting first baseman Adrián González Friday afternoon. “I couldn't believe it, I was tongue tied,” said Weber, the assistant director of Tobinworld, a school for autistic and special needs children in Glendale. It was an exciting day for Dodger fans of all ages when Tobinworld played host to 15 Dodgers players and manager Don Mattingly for nearly two hours Friday.

Dear Frank, It pains me to write this. Last year I wrote to you, pleading with you to give us back our Los Angeles Dodgers and show yourself out of town. On behalf of all Angelenos who bleed Dodger blue, I implored you to do what you knew in your money-loving, American Express Black Card, bankrupt heart was best, and make a few hundred million dollars for yourself and your ex-wife by selling our team. And this week, you did it.* So here's the hard part. (deep breath)

Richard LyneisOctober 25, 1939 ¿February 11, 2012A native of Kasota, Minnesota, Richard “Dick” Gerald Lyneis was a longtime resident of Burbank, where he passed away at 72, surrounded by his family. He was a 1957 graduate of Burbank High School. He was a member of the Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 105, a longstanding member and trustee of the Burbank Elks Lodge and a member of the Burbank High Senior Bulldogs. In his later years, Dick's greatest love was spending time with his grandchildren, making sure never to miss their sporting events.

Joe Torre resigned his executive position at Major League Baseball on Wednesday to join with Los Angeles developer Rick Caruso in bidding to buy the Dodgers. "I have great confidence in Rick Caruso's unique qualifications and his ability to lead a successful bid for the Los Angeles Dodgers," Torre said in a statement. "In Rick I found a partner who understands consumers and fully appreciates that the Dodgers are a treasured L.A. institution. Since moving to Los Angeles, I have seen firsthand Rick's dedication to business and people in Los Angeles.

Editor's Note: Numerous instances of plagiarism have been discovered in Dan Kimber's “Education Matters” column, which ran in the News- Press from September 2003 to September 2011. In those columns where plagiarism has been found, a For the Record specifying the details will be appended to the piece. I was 9 years old when the Dodgers moved from Brooklyn to L.A. in 1958. The day that my dad took my brothers and me to see them play a game at the Coliseum was a moment that will live in my memory forever.

GLENDALE — The Los Angeles Dodgers released their 25-man postseason roster on Wednesday morning and both Mark Loretta and Juan Castro were on it. Castro, a Glendale resident, and Loretta, a St. Francis graduate, are both utility infielders for the club. According to mlb.com, Loretta edged out Doug Mientkiewicz for the final position player spot. Neither was in the Game One starting lineup, as the Dodgers (95-67), the National League West Division champions, were set to open the National League Division Series against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals (91-61)

GLENDALE — The following are updates on area Major League Baseball players .   Mark Loretta (St. Francis High, 1989) Los Angeles Dodgers infielder: Loretta, a two time All-Star, delivered one of the biggest hits of the season for the Dodgers on Saturday night en route to helping Los Angeles win the National League West Division championship. He came through with a pinch-hit two-run single to begin a five-run seventh inning in the Dodgers’ 5-0 home win against the Colorado Rockies that clinched the division title.

A couple of years ago I wrote a line that brought some interesting feedback. It was from an article all about heroes, specifically the lack of them in our current society. It went something like this: “We erect statues of our heroes and carve their faces into mountains only to find, upon closer examination, that they all had feet of clay.” Some suggested that there still are heroes among us, and we just need to refine our search, or perhaps change our definition. I tend to agree.