Mails

JUNE CASAGRANDE To someone who writes for a newspaper, there's nothing more flattering or rewarding than receiving mail from readers. It lets us writers know that we're providing something of service to readers and, even more flattering, that it's appreciated. So naturally, a writer acknowledges letters thoroughly, enthusiastically and promptly. Unless, of course, the writer is an idiot. Every week I'm lucky enough to receive a handful of e-mails from people in Newport-Mesa and the Glendale-La Crescenta area (even though I'm not really sure how this column managed to show up in the Glendale News-Press)

EXHIBITIONS LA CA--ADA Eric Polchows - Penelope's Café, Books & Gallery presents a photography exhibit by Eric Polchows through July 31 at 1029 Foothill Blvd. in La Cañada. The gallery is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday; and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call 790-4386. Thomas/Sears - Vicki D. Thomas will exhibit her watercolors, "Visions of Nature" at the Art Gallery at Descanso Gardens now through to July 1. Her selection will include her favorite florals, landscapes, fairies, gardens and children at play.

Josh Kleinbaum Internal e-mails from General Growth Properties about its mall in Manchester, Conn., and a proposed center in neighboring South Windsor suggest a pattern of anti-competitive behavior by the Chicago-based firm. The Connecticut case, in which General Growth is fighting the development of Evergreen Walk, is remarkably similar to the company's opposition to the Americana at Brand, a proposed center in downtown Glendale adjacent to the General Growth-owned Glendale Galleria.

Josh Kleinbaum Continuing a large-scale campaign to prevent the city from developing Rick Caruso's Town Center proposal, the owner of the Glendale Galleria sent a four-page flier to 50,000 residents this week, pushing its alternative proposal. The flier, sent by General Growth Properties, had four main criticisms of Caruso's proposal for a 15.5-acre residential and commercial campus in downtown Glendale. According to the flier, the project closes Harvard and Orange streets to vehicular traffic; includes billboards; allows for parking charges; and is a questionable financial deal for the city.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies have arrested another person suspected of stealing mail from homes in La Canada Flintridge. Earle Mousaw, 29, of Truckee was arrested about 10 a.m. Sunday on suspicion of felony mail theft, identity theft and possession of narcotics paraphernalia in the 1000 block of Foothill Boulevard. A store owner called the Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station that morning to report suspicious activity from a man parked near his property.

Darleene Barrientos First thing each morning, Holly Angle checks her e-mail and watches television for news about the Kirkuk Air Base in Iraq, about 150 miles north of Baghdad. The Glendale resident is not as concerned about the goings-on at the former Iraqi military facility as she is about her 20-year-old son, Joel, an Army specialist assigned to the base. Joel Angle, a 2001 Clark Magnet High School graduate, is a member of the Army's 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, and has spent about a month at the base, where he works as a radio operator and driver for the battalion commander.

Robert Chacon A routine traffic stop by Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies early Wednesday resulted in the recovery of stolen mail and the arrest of two men who might be part of a mail-theft ring, authorities said. Deputies arrested Louis Vilchez, 31, of Glendale, on suspicion of possessing stolen property and driving with a suspended license, and Krista Beerman, 27, of Simi Valley, on suspicion of credit card theft and possession of narcotics, Det. Sgt. Victor Ibarra said.