Opportunities

Teens from Crescenta Valley High and several private high schools strolled around the La Cañada High School campus one afternoon last week looking for opportunities to serve their community and for employment. The second annual Many Opportunities for Volunteering and Employment event drew numerous teens who went from booth to booth exploring opportunities in community service like Crescenta-Cañada YMCA camp councilor to T-ball coaches at the Roger Barkley Community Center. They also visited booths for teen employment.

With the recent outburst of anti-Armenian letters, I have come to believe that us Armenians are not American enough for the Americans. Living in the United States for 12 years of my 18 years of life has made me an American in my eyes. I honor the Constitution, the American flag, and the laws of the United States just like any other American, yet just because I was not born on certain soil makes me an outsider in a country of outsiders. I actually feel that, without immigrants, America would be doomed because immigrants keep the American dream alive.

It can always be something wonderful when a team trails in a game, then comes from behind in the middle of it and takes the victory. This is the case of coach Jason Perez and his Crescenta Valley Falcons girls basketball team, who took the lead late in the second period at went on to defeat the Burbank Bulldogs, 43-39, last Friday night at Crescenta Valley. "We played a really good defense and we played really hard. Our pressure is really going to get to teams," commented Perez after the game.

Holy Family High School student Tracy-Jane Fajota, of Tujunga, has been selected for The National Society of High School Scholars. Fajota was recognized for superior academic achievement last month by the NSHSS. The organization encourages members of the organization to apply their unique talents, visions and potential for the betterment of themselves and the world. "Our vision is to build a dynamic international organization that connects members with meaningful content, resources and opportunities," NSHSS President James Lewis said in a prepared statement.

BURBANK — The Burbank High and Glendale girls’ soccer teams were trying to bounce back from recent setbacks when they met Friday for a Pacific League match. Both were hoping to erase losing streaks, as the Bulldogs had dropped four straight and the Nitros were winless on the season, including three league matches. Although Glendale played tough defense at times, it didn’t create enough scoring opportunities. In contrast, Burbank manufactured a great deal of opportunities, as it rolled to a 3-0 victory at Luther Burbank Middle School.

NORTHEAST GLENDALE - Throughout most of Thursday's 80-minute Liberty League girls' soccer match between Glendale Adventist Academy and Providence High, Providence enjoyed a major territorial advantage. It also had a significant edge in scoring opportunities. However, the Pioneers couldn't reap the benefit and saw the Cougars take advantage of one of their few chances. Daniece Poblete scored on a rebound off a corner kick in the first half and goalkeeper Victoria Osby made 12 saves to propel Glendale Adventist to a 1-0 victory against Providence at the Glendale Sports Complex.

LA CRESCENTA — With the many scoring opportunities the Crescenta Valley boys’ soccer team had throughout its Pacific League opener against Burroughs, the Falcons should have enjoyed a commanding lead. However, despite the wealth of chances, Crescenta Valley was embattled in a scoreless tie in the waning moments of Wednesday’s contest. The Indians were able to dodge bullet after bullet, as they managed to keep the Falcons off the board for 76 minutes. Crescenta Valley was finally able to break the deadlock with three minutes remaining, scoring on a fluke goal, to earn a 1-0 league win at home.

Children at the New Horizons Family Center could hardly contain their excitement Oct. 8 when executives from The Walt Disney Co. came to paint a mural on the wall around the center's play yard. The children politely asked if they could get up close to watch their favorite characters come to life in vivid colors. Even Disney CEO Michael Eisner grabbed a brush and helped with the process coordinated by Disney VoluntEARS. This dedicated group provides opportunities for Disney employees to contribute their personal time to community endeavors while furthering the traditions and ideals of The Walt Disney Company, according to the group's mission statement.

NORTHWEST GLENDALE — The boys’ soccer teams from Burbank High and Hoover had separate motivations heading into their match Monday. Well into the second half of Pacific League play, the Bulldogs were trying to remain among the elite squads in the league, as well as keep their hopes for a championship alive. The Tornadoes, on the other hand, needed a win to put themselves within striking distance of the league leaders. Despite a hard-fought, physical battle that yielded a ton of scoring chances, just a goal ended up separating the teams.

NORTHWEST GLENDALE — A second-half shutout was an encouraging sign for the Hoover High girls' soccer team, but a lack of scoring turned out to be the downfall. The Tornadoes were unable to get their offense in gear, as they fell at home to Arcadia, 2-0, on Wednesday in a Pacific League matchup. "Or defense played well," said Hoover Coach Julie Testin. "We really stepped it up in the second half." The solid defensive effort in the final 40 minutes turned out to be too little too late for the Tornadoes.

LA CRESCENTA - A few minutes after the Crescenta Valley High softball team suffered a 3-1 Pacific League home loss against Arcadia on Thursday, Crescenta Valley Coach Mark Stamford didn't want to know how many runners the Falcons left on base. Seconds later, Samford inquired about the total number of runners stranded - eight. PHOTOS: Crescenta Valley vs. Arcadia softball   "The big stat [is] how many runners we left on base," said Samford, whose team could have locked up sole possession of second place behind Burbank in league with a victory Thursday as Burroughs lost to the first-place Bulldogs.

With $25 and some luck, you could win two seats on Glendale's 100 t h Tournament of Roses Parade float. The city is selling raffle tickets to raise money to build the float and is asking for a minimum donation of $25 for the chance to wave to thousands of spectators standing along the Pasadena parade route on New Year's Day. With little money to pay for floats in recent years, city officials have relied on residents and corporate...

For most of the past month, the members of the Glendale Community College men's golf team have been making the practice rounds while putting up with the chilly temperatures. Virtually none of the Vaqueros have locked up a top-six spot in the starting lineup. It's a message that's been delivered by GCC Coach Greg Osbourne. “Every single one of these guys has the capability to break 80 and I like that,” said Osbourne, whose team will begin its season Monday in the Bakersfield College Tournament at Bakersfield Country Club.

NORTHEAST GLENDALE - Alertness and patience went a long way for Kaelin King. In a six-minute span, the Flintridge Prep girls' soccer player showed she could use those two characteristics to rally her team to victory Wednesday. King collected one goal and one assist in the second half to help rally Flintridge Prep to a 2-1 nonleague home victory against South Pasadena at the Glendale Sports Complex. “It's a time where you have to get it together,” said King, who helped Flintridge Prep improve to 5-1-1.

SOUTH PASADENA - Given the type of tough competition the Crescenta Valley High girls' water polo team has played en route to a 10-1 record this season, the Falcons found themselves in an alien position Tuesday afternoon. Crescenta Valley scored five of the first six goals versus host South Pasadena in nonleague play and enjoyed a rare breather en route to an 18-3 victory over the short-handed Tigers. "Hey, this was a game just like any other," Falcons Coach Brent Danna said. "This is about making good passes, getting up on your legs and you always have to get ready to play your opponent, regardless of who it is. " Under the best of circumstances, the Division IV fifth-ranked Tigers (3-5)

LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE - On the doorstep of adulation, riding a tidal wave of momentum, it all slipped away for St. Francis High's football team in gut-wrenching fashion. With just over one minute remaining, the Golden Knights trailed Monrovia by four points, but a clutch Jared Lebowitz fourth-down conversion pass to John Carroll put St. Francis on the Wildcats' one-yard line with time, opportunity and the momentum to go ahead and likely claim victory. But the ensuing play saw a quarterback sneak fumbled into the air before coming to rest on the ground in the grasp of Monrovia, leading to a 17-13 victory for the Wildcats and a bitter loss for the host Knights on Friday night at Friedman Field.

SOUTHEAST GLENDALE - The Glendale YMCA Quarterback Club, in its 70th year, meets Tuesdays at the Elk's Lodge. The following are odds and ends from the third meeting of the year. PACIFIC LEAGUE TEAMS TURN THE PAGE It was a forgettable week for the club's three Pacific League members, as all three were nearly shut out in their league openers. Only Hoover managed to put points on the board, but its one touchdown came late in its 48-7 Thursday night loss to Burbank, while Glendale and Crescenta Valley failed to score on Friday night in 35-0 and 36-0 losses against Pasadena and Muir, respectively.

The nonprofit that manages the Alex Theatre plans to form a task force in the coming months to deal with the impending loss of more than $400,000 a year from the city of Glendale - the result of the state slashing redevelopment powers and possibly taking ownership of the historic venue. The task force will be made up of Glendale Arts board members, staff members and local residents, said Elissa Glickman, who after serving as interim chief executive of the nonprofit that runs the Alex Theatre, was recently given the permanent job. At the first-ever “State of the Alex” presentation to board members on Tuesday, Glickman said the task force will study three areas - fundraising potential, income opportunities, such as rental rates, and operations, including staff costs - and then make recommendations, Glickman said.

LA CRESCENTA - Whether they placed first or last, there was a smile on every face of the 300 athletes that traveled from all over Southern California to Crescenta Valley High Saturday to compete in the CV CAN Games, a Special Olympics qualifying event. Olympic gold medalist and the third annual CV CAN Games Master of Ceremonies Rafer Johnson, who helped found the Special Olympics in California in 1969, said the most important thing about Saturday was giving the athletes the opportunity to compete.