San Gabriel Valley

The San Gabriel Valley Junior All American Football Conference honored four former La Cañada Gladiator football players and two former cheerleaders with $1,000 scholarships at ceremonies on May 17. The scholarship program, which is unique among youth sports, was founded in 1972. Since that date, the program has awarded more that $218,750 to more than 250 college-bound students. To be considered for a scholarship, the graduating high school student must have participated in the conference as either a player or cheerleader for at least two seasons.

GLENDALE — Instead of competing in the Babe Ruth Southern California State Tournament, the San Gabriel Valley Babe Ruth 16-18 squad played three practice games against California collegiate teams. It's those three games that have prepared San Gabriel Valley, coached by Crescenta Valley High baseball Coach Phil Torres and featuring several local players, for the Pacific Southwest Regional Tournament in Modesto. While Torres and San Gabriel Valley would have preferred participating in the state tournament — which has been held at Arcadia High in recent years but wasn't this year because a field permit couldn't be obtained — the three games will have to do. "You always want to play games and play in the state tournament," said Torres, whose team will begin the seven-team, double-elimination Pacific Southwest Tournament against a team from Central California at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Modesto Christian High.

Strong winds and subfreezing temperatures are expected in inland and mountain areas across Southern California on Thursday in the wake of a winter storm that dumped snow and rain on the region. Temperatures are expected to range from the upper 20s to low 30s from interior valleys in San Luis Obispo County to the Antelope, San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys in Los Angeles County, according to the National Weather Service. The frigid temperatures are a result of a cold, dry air mass.

When voters go to the polls this November, a great deal of focus will be on the presidential choices, but there are some very important propositions and measures that will also be on the ballot that need an equal amount of scrutiny. One of those important measures is Measure R, a 30-year tax plan that will generate $40 billion for traffic congestion relief projects in Los Angeles County. L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the L.A. County Metropolitan Transportation Authority are proponents of the bill.

Just one year ago this month, Californians made a landmark decision to elect Arnold Schwarzenegger as our governor in the historic recall election. Since then, California has recaptured optimism and pride in our state and our future. More than 120,000 new jobs have been created in California, with 41,700 of them in the San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire. Under the leadership of Gov. Schwarzenegger, California has gotten its fiscal house into shape with a responsible budget without raising taxes.

Deputies from the Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station are still looking for more residents to serve as donors at a blood drive. While the station will not cancel today's drive due to lack of donors, at least 40 people are needed to raise an adequate amount of blood to warrant the presence of the nurses from Huntington Memorial Hospital who actually take the blood. So far, 24 people have signed up. The drive is from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the station, 4554 Briggs Ave. Donations go to the Huntington Memorial Hospital's trauma center, the only such center in the San Gabriel Valley.

The Arroyo Singers, a woman's choral group that has provided vocal entertainment in the San Gabriel Valley since 1961, will present their annual spring concert on Sunday, June 3 at 4 p.m. Directed by James Reitzell, the program includes vocal works from 15 countries, from an American folk song, to a Zulu chant. Traditional melodies from France, Spain, Italy, and Russia offer songs of the joy of spring; lilting melodies from China and the Pacific Islands provide a worldwide musical tour ranging in time from Purcell and Mozart.

COLLEGE ASSOCIATION Trustees are scheduled to vote on a resolution supporting the formation of the San Gabriel/Foothills Assn. of Colleges. Approval of the resolution would also make the college a member of the association. Six community colleges in the San Gabriel Valley and Foothills region determined that they have similar student populations, issues, opportunities and challenges. Citrus, Chaffey, Glendale, Mt. San Antonio, Pasadena and Rio Hondo community colleges have proposed to form the association of colleges to educate and inform elected officials, to impact legislation, to share information among districts, to coordinate programs and to combine efforts on issues of common interests, a Glendale Community College document said.

The Housing Authority of the city of Glendale and San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity will break ground today on four new affordable homes at 401-411 S. Pacific Ave. Building the project will cost about $1.3 million. The Housing Authority will provide $804,000 in local affordable housing funds for the project, according to reports. Four low-income, Glendale families have been selected to live in the homes when completed. The two-story homes are 1,100 to 1,200 square feet, each with three bedrooms, one and one-half baths, a living room, dining room, private patio and an attached garage.

SGV Team Wins Ruth Game The San Gabriel Valley 16-18-year-old team blanked a team from Greater Fairfield County, 10-0, in Babe Ruth World Series second chance bracket play in Newark, Ohio last Sunday. Page A19 LAFC Wins San Diego Tournament Winning all four games, the Los Angeles Futbol Club's Boys Under 16 Team captured first place medals in the Alliance Soccer Club's San Diego Summer Challenge last weekend in Temecula. Page A19 CV Softball All-Stars Eliminated From Regionals Although they didn't play a game, the Crescenta Valley Major Softball All-Stars were eliminated from Western Regional Tournament play when Gilroy defeated Panaca in another contest.