Popcorn

Seems Glendale's biggest (literally) foodie -- the 400-pound bear dubbed "Meatball" -- is getting just as much attention these days for his preferred diet of fast food and other treats as he his for his herculean back-and-forth journeys from Angeles National Forest to Glendale. He was lured into a trap by a state game warden Wednesday morning with the irresistible combination of a McDonald's Happy Meal, French fries, honey and bacon. And since being taken to a temporary refuge in San Diego County, has turned his nose up at just about everything -- including marshmallows!

It is astounding how many wildflowers I've seen on my weekly walks this spring in the Verdugos. However, I recently read that January, February and March were the driest in recorded history, yet surprisingly I have observed three or four kinds of lupine, three lovely phacelias, a profusion of popcorn flowers, windmill pinks, filaree, black sage and lots of other flowers. Certainly they weren't as robust as in a normal rainfall year, but still worth a look. But not deterred by the dryness, the litterers continue to rain down their drink bottles, medical cannabis bottles, tissues and other trash and garbage, including, the stupidest of all, cigarette butts.

MONTROSE — Thousands enjoyed frothy beer, warm bratwurst, freshly popped popcorn and live music Saturday along Honolulu Avenue during the annual Oktoberfest. Monrovia resident Pam Anderson started off the afternoon by snacking on some sweet popcorn and watching the crowd during what she said was destined to be a long night. Anderson attended last year’s rainy Oktoberfest, but she said she stayed for only a few hours. This year, she planned to meet some friends, drink ice-cold beers, eat a traditional German dinner, including sausages and sauerkraut, and cap off the night sometime near the event’s closing time at 11 p.m. “The food and the people mostly draw me out here,” she said.

It was the scene right out of a Hollywood movie. The airplane in the background ready to whisk her away to safety, the handsome hero who stays behind to fight on and the long, goodbye kiss that …. OK. I admit I get a little carried away after seeing a good movie. And to tell you the truth, even after eating a gallon or two of popcorn and way too many Gummy Bears at the AMC Theater in Burbank, my cousin Ron and I found ourselves hungry. Fortunately, we discovered the Golden Chicken Greek & Mediterranean Cuisine right next door.

LA CA—ADA FLINTRIDGE ? Fourth-grade science students at Paradise Canyon Elementary School took a walk on the wild side when they displayed the results of their science projects to fellow classmates and parents on Friday afternoon. Each of the weird and wonderful projects had a distinct flavor of their own and ranged from finding out which type of popcorn popped the most kernels to which soft drink helped marigolds to grow the tallest. Robert Hajek, fourth-grade science teacher, said the students had been limited by only their own imaginations when it came to developing a scientific hypothesis, identifying and controlling variables, conducting an experiment and then presenting their results at the school's Science Museum Walk.

It was fun for the whole family as Rosemont Middle School hosted its annual Family Fun Night on Friday, May 15 on the school campus. There was plenty to do for all ages at the event, with entertainment that included a moon bounce, a face-painter and a DJ. For hungry families, there was food to purchase, including small snacks such as a sno-cone or a bag of popcorn. For those with a sweet tooth, there was a bake sale on the east side of the school. The Jewel City Kiwanis filled the campus with the smell of cheeseburgers, hamburgers and French fries.

Bingo for Books tonight Cadette Girl Scout Troop 679 from Holy Redeemer is sponsoring Bingo for Books, part of its Silver Award project. The event is at 6:30 p.m. tonight in Healy Hall, 2411 Montrose Ave. in Montrose. The suggested donation is $5 per person, $15 per family of three or more and includes one bingo card for 15 games and a complimentary popcorn. Additional cards will be available for purchase as will food and beverages. The troop, which was established in 2001, is using the proceeds from the event to pay for shipping charges to send books to St. Joseph Freinademetz Parish School in Kenya, Africa.

Buck Wargo GLENDALE -- A fund-raiser to benefit victims of domestic violence will fill up a Glendale parking lot this weekend. REEL COWBOYS, a charity dedicated to preserving western films, will host the first Jamboree & Bazaar at Albertsons, 331 N. Glendale Ave., from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. There will be a pancake breakfast, yard sale, western art show with paintings, sculptures and petrigraphs. The entertainment will feature the Western Square Dance Assn.

Gretchen Hoffman The children's eyes widened, but not one of them pulled back in fear as April Forrest placed a boa constrictor across their arms at the Montrose Harvest Market on Sunday. "She's a red-tailed boa constrictor," said Forrest, an instructor with Wild Wonders Productions. "That means she likes to give hugs." The petting zoo doubled as an educational program teaching kids about everything from Cajun the crocodile to Minnie the opossum.