Transformer

Jackson Bell City officials say they have put an end to a string of power failures that caused large portions of the city to go dark four times in as many weeks. Rerouted high-voltage cables and a backup transformer set to be installed this weekend at Grayson power plant should keep the lights on without interruption, said Ramon Abueg, the city's electrical services administrator. "We believe that after we put in the transformer, everything should be back to normal circulation," Abueg said.

Mark R. Madler Glendale -- Along city streets early Sunday morning, a 100,000-pound electrical transformer was moved to a power plant as a replacement for a transformer damaged last month. Escorted by four Glendale Police motorcycle officers and monitored by staff from Glendale Water and Power, the trailer hauling the transformer crossed over into opposing lanes of traffic to avoid striking stoplights. "I saw people peeking out their windows just for curiosity," said Ramon Abueg, the city's electrical services administrator.

CITY HALL Power out, agents in Darkness, stolen signs and so-called undercover agents marked the week leading up to Glendale's April 5 municipal election. About a quarter of the city lost power for two hours Thursday due to a problem with a transformer at Grayson Power Plant. It was Glendale's third blackout in three weeks, and city officials believe the transformer is responsible for all three. The problems began March 8, when an animal got too close to the transformer and caught fire.

Jackson Bell Glendale Water and Power officials have been unable to pinpoint the cause of three power outages in recent weeks, but they hope replacing a damaged transformer will solve the problems that left about 20,000 customers in the dark this week. A backup transformer weighing more than 100,000 pounds will be shipped from the Tropico substation in downtown Glendale to the Grayson power plant early Sunday morning to replace a broken generator, said Ramon Abueg, the city's principal electrical engineer.

Transformer fire causes outage A transformer fire at Grayson Power Plant caused an 84-minute power outage early Tuesday, city officials said. The outage kept 16,000 Glendale Water and Power customers in the dark from 2:48 a.m. to 4:12 a.m. City spokesman Ritch Wells said an early investigation showed that the fire started after a small animal climbed onto bushes surrounding the transformer and was electrocuted. Golf tournament to benefit New Horizons New Horizons Family Center will benefit from the seventh annual Golf Tournament presented by Liborio Markets on Monday at the La Canada Country Club.

Following A Noise Within's celebrated collaboration with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Shakespeare's provocative comedy of power and passion, returns for an encore performance in A Noise Within's intimate home space. A Noise Within Artistic Co-Directors Geoff Elliott and Julia Rodriguez Elliott are building on the insights they gained while working with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Mendelssohn's composition inspired by Shakespeare's play at the Hollywood Bowl.

Scott Melesky Opponents of the Glendale Big League All-Star Softball team probably don't want any part of pitcher Meghann Muirhead this summer. Her 2-0 record and 0.00 earned-run average during the Little League Division 3 Tournament are just some of the reasons why. The left-hander has been able to put up impressive numbers thanks to a diverse array of pitches, which includes a biting curveball and a tricky change-up. But things didn't always seem this easy for the Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy senior.

JOYCE RUDOLPH A career in interior design was Maria Videla-Juniel's destiny. Her mother was interested in home decorating and subscribed to designer magazines that Videla-Juniel read as a teenager. Then, for her 17th birthday, she asked to have her room redecorated. "I got to choose all the paint, furniture, carpet and window treatments, but it didn't go with the rest of the house, which was traditional, and this was contemporary," said the Glendale resident.

48 HOURS Three companies have merged their expertise on a magical theater experience for the whole family titled "When Tigers Smoked Long Pipes," continuing at 8 tonight at The Victory Theatre Center in Burbank. The collaboration is between The Victory Theatre, The Lodestone Theatre Ensemble and The Orphans Theater Company. Angela Kang of Orphans Theater Company wrote the play, which is receiving its world premiere at The Victory. "When I wrote this play, I wrote it with adults in mind, but I wanted to bring my grandmother and young cousins to something that would appeal broadly to many age groups," she said.

Alex Smothers NORTHWEST GLENDALE--Temperatures reached as high as 105 degrees over the Labor Day weekend, and some residents had to weather the heat without air-conditioning, thanks to power outages in the area. A two-block area around Royal Avenue went without power Sunday and much of Monday after a transformer blew at the Grandview substation, according to Glendale Water and Power electric superintendent Larry Wolfe. Several dozen residents, businesses and homes were affected.