San Fernando Valley

Buck Wargo CITY HALL -- A study that should determine whether a proposed transit authority for the San Fernando Valley is feasible will be completed in four months. Russ Chisholm, a consultant, told members of the San Fernando Valley Transportation Zone interim authority that it will be a challenging to meet guidelines of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to take over operation of some of its bus lines. San Fernando Valley officials -- including council members from Glendale, Burbank, La Canada Flintridge and L.A. -- contend they can operate 27 bus routes at a cheaper cost than the MTA, and plow the savings back into more and better service.

Buck Wargo CITY HALL -- Three months after being named mayor by the Glendale City Council, Dave Weaver has been upstaged by his colleagues. Council members, acting as the Glendale Redevelopment Agency on Tuesday, rejected Weaver's bid to serve on the board of the Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley. Several weeks ago, Weaver named himself to the alliance board, replacing Councilman Sheldon Baker. Council members learned Tuesday that Weaver lacked the authority to make the appointment because Baker was appointed by the Redevelopment Agency in May 1999 to a term that expires in November 2002.

Fifteen-year-old Girl Scout Emily Menart, of Sunland Troop 1481, was awarded the Girl Scout Medal of Honor on March 22 for helping to save her father's life. Last November, Emily's father, Boris Menart, had a heart attack while they were driving, and Emily's quick action helped Boris receive crucial medical attention immediately. "Emily took decisive action on behalf of her father on Nov. 11, 2005. While her father was suffering crushing chest pain, she helped him navigate their way to the emergency room and calmly assisted him through the triage process, and then single-handedly completed all of the necessary insurance and medical paperwork required.

Buck Wargo CITY HALL -- Residents and businesses in the western San Fernando Valley know what area code they will have in the future. The question is when. The 747 area code would cover western section of the San Fernando Valley that includes Van Nuys, Canoga Park and Calabasas. In October, Glendale and Burbank helped fight off any changes to the 818 area code that includes those communities and La Canada Flintridge. The state Public Utilities Commissionadopted a plan calling for telephone numbers to be conserved to reduce the need for new area codes.

Singer Justin Bieber was in an auto accident Tuesday in the San Fernando Valley, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Officials said the crash occurred when a Honda Civic collided with Bieber's black Ferrari. The exact location and time of the accident were not immediately released. "No one was injured and there was no damage to either vehicle," the department said in a press release. The LAPD arrived and found the "paparazzi was at scene. " The extent of the damage to either car was not known.

Gretchen Hoffman The arguments in favor of Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley seceding from Los Angeles aren't strong enough in the eyes of the Armenian National Committee, causing the group's local leadership to come out strongly against secession. "We have worked very hard as a community to integrate ourselves into Los Angeles," said Ardashes Kassakhian, director of government relations for the Glendale-based Armenian National Committee Western Region.

The Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley recognized Clark Magnet High School on Wednesday, May 23, with a Steve Allen Excellence in Education Award at its annual Board of Directors meeting at the Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys. Every year the Economic Alliance recognizes outstanding K-12 students, institutions, schools and educators with the Steve Allen "Excellence in Education" award. Requirements to receive this recognition are that the recipient must have received National recognition during the school year.

The Little Landers Historical Society invites the public for an afternoon of journeying back in time to the Tongva Village of Asuksagne in Azusa when archaeologist Al Knight presents Recent Theories about the Indians of the San Fernando Valley. He will be making a presentation on Saturday, April 14 at 1 p.m. at the Bolton Hall Museum. Knight will present information on newly discovered parts of the village which are now being explored. He will also explore the recent theories about the origins of the Indians of the San Fernando Valley.

Hamlet Nalbandyan GLENDALE -- The Glendale Connie Mack and Mickey Mantle season gets into full swing today. The two baseball leagues featuring many local athletes will play their games at Stengel Field, the home site for Crescenta Valley High and Glendale Community College. The two leagues, which have games seven days a week, will run until late August, where the top one of two teams from each will be entered into the state playoffs. All games on weekdays start at 5 and 8 p.m., and times from weekend games vary.

Joshua Pelzer Glendale will join the city of Burbank and business interests throughout the San Fernando Valley in a strike force designed to deliver state-approved transportation projects throughout the region. The City Council appointed Mayor Frank Quintero to represent the city on the San Fernando Valley Transportation Strike Force Board of Directors and appropriate $50,000 annually for membership at its meeting Tuesday. The strike force is affiliated with the Valley's Economic Alliance, a partnership of public and private interests supported by entertainment giants NBC, Warner Bros.