Ryan Carter

A local congressman is part of a bipartisan group of House and Senate lawmakers who on Tuesday announced the creation of an anti-piracy caucus to combat the theft of American intellectual property. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Glendale) will join Senators Gordon Smith (R-Ore.), Joe Biden (D-Del.) and Rep. Bob Goodlate (R-Va.) to chair the caucus. The caucus will support Congress' efforts to deal with piracy and bolster the Bush Administration's efforts to obtain strong intellectual property protections.

A resolution commemorating April 24 as California Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 to 1923 passed the Assembly on Thursday and is on its way to the governor's desk to be signed. The bill passed through the Senate on Monday. The bill commemorates April 24 as a day to remember the genocide of 1915 to 1923, when 1.5 million Armenians were said to be murdered by the Ottoman Empire. Today, according to Dario Frommer (D-Glendale), 500,000 Armenians and Americans of Armenian descent live in California, with 70,000 living in Frommer's district.

Genocide recognition bill moves through senate to assembly GLENDALE -- A state senate resolution to memorialize the Armenian Genocide passed the state Senate unanimously. Sen. Jack Scott (D-Glendale) was a principal co-author of the legislation, which goes to the Assembly today. Assemblyman Dario Frommer (D-Glendale) also plans to support the bill, which will be introduced today in the Assembly. The bill recognizes April 24 of this year as the "California Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923."

Community organizations and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Glendale) are planning a Military Families Appreciation Day on Sunday. The event is scheduled to be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Glendale National Guard Armory, 220 E. Colorado St. The program begins at 11 a.m. with entertainment by the Bob Hope/Hollywood United Service Organizations. It concludes with a free hot dog barbecue. Displays will include a Bradley Fighting Vehicle and other military machines, weaponry and equipment.

A fund-raiser dinner for Habitat For Humanity, Armenia, will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the The Brandview Collection, 109 E. Harvard St. The San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity will host the event, which will be attended by Glendale City Councilman Rafi Manoukian and other dignitaries. Armenia chapter President Vartan Toumayan and other representatives from Armenia will be honored guests. The fund-raiser supports the building of low-cost homes for the needy in Armenia, the same role the local chapter has here.

A bill introduced by a local legislator that would prohibit state agencies, school districts and public colleges from purchasing or leasing 15-passenger vans passed the Assembly Transportation Committee. The bill was introduced by Assemblywoman Carol Liu (D-La Canada Flintridge) in response to studies that have determined the vehicles have not been properly tested, and have a tendency to roll over, according to a Liu news release. The bill would also require the agencies and school districts that already own vans to limit the operation of the vehicles to persons holding a valid commercial driver's license with a passenger-vehicle endorsement, Liu said.

Scholars, local representatives and clergy will converge on the Civic Auditorium on Thursday in an event to commemorate the Armenian Genocide. Vahakn Dadrian, a scholar on the genocide, will speak, along with local dignitaries. The free event will be from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the auditorium, 1401 N. Verdugo Road. The event will also include the film, "Winds of Passion," produced by Michael Hagopian, and poet Alicia Ghiragossian. An Armenian Genocide photography exhibit will also be featured on the auditorium's lower level.

Montrose Travel was recognized recently by the Los Angeles Business Journal as a top family-owned business. The agency won the San Fernando Valley Business Journal's 2003 Family-Owned Business Award. The award, sponsored by Cal State Northridge and the Journal, is given to top family--owned businesses, agency spokesman Jeff Ruffolo said. Criteria included years in business, growth and community involvement, he said. It ranked 12th and was the only travel agency in the top 20, Ruffolo said.

Coffee, tea time coming to Honolulu MONTROSE -- A New Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is scheduled to open in Montrose in early June, company representatives said. The 1,900-foot facility will open at the corner of Ocean View Boulevard and Honolulu Avenue. The Montrose location will be a flagship spot in the region, officials said. The store will open with a Quiznos' Sub shop. Foundation receives grant requests in April GLENDALE -- April was a busy month for the Glendale Community Foundation.

Manoukian to speak to Realtors tonight SOUTHEAST GLENDALE -- City Councilman Rafi Manoukian is the guest speaker tonight at the Armenian American Real Estate Assn.'s September meeting. Hors d'oeuvres and refreshments will be served at the meeting, which begins at 6 p.m. at Brandview Collection, 109 E. Harvard St. For more information, call 542-6699. Josh Kleinbaum Frommer bills headed to Senate floor GLENDALE -- Three bills from a local legislator that seek reforms in the health-care industry are headed to the floor of the state Senate.