Weeds

RECORDS PURGED The City Council authorized the City Attorney?s Office to destroy records that are no longer needed. Documents marked for destruction include ?closed? civil and criminal litigation cases that were resolved through trial, settlement or other court action on or before Dec. 31, 2005. They also include parking citations that have been resolved and old assignment files that have remained stagnant for at least three years. The request conforms with the city?

I live in an apartment in Glendale that is managed by a big property management company. I have lived there for six years. For the first four years, there were no increases in rent, but in the past two years there have been increases. The management company refuses to invest in any nonvital improvements. The building needs paint, rebar shows through in several areas of the foundation and walkways, shrubs and trees die and are not replaced and areas to both sides of the building are so overgrown with ivy and weeds that debris drifts into the underground parking.

Buck Wargo CITY HALL -- Glendale has taken $34,000 out of its reserves to cover the cost of cleaning up a property that was littered with junk and overgrown vegetation. The city will be reimbursed by the estate of Nicholas and Jennie Ranells or a lien will be placed on the home at 1316 Jackson St. The city could recover costs, estimated at $22,000, when the property is sold. In October, Janelyn Ranells was sentenced to three years probation in Glendale Municipal Court and ordered to clean up the property and seek counseling for "pack rat" disorder.

Janine Marnien LA CRESCENTA -- The Crescenta Valley Town Council will tackle the visual quality -- or lack thereof -- of the La Crescenta portion of Foothill Boulevard at its May meeting. Richard Toyon, a former landscape architect and a longtime resident of La Crescenta, will make a presentation about the aesthetic problems on the boulevard and options for improving them. "The visuals of La Crescenta are severely lacking, and they're going downhill in a hurry," Toyon said.

BOY SCOUT IS THIRD SON TO BECOME EAGLE SCOUT Boy Scout Troop 288 held a Court Of Honor on June 1 for its newest Eagle Scout, Raffi Diradourian . Raffi is a senior at Clark Magnet High School and plans to attend Glendale Community College in the fall. Since becoming chartered under the Verdugo Hills Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 288 has had 27 Eagle Scouts achieve this rank. Eagle Scouts are not uncommon in the Diradourian family. Richard and Searvart Diradourian’s other two sons Haig and Vartan , also achieved the Eagle rank while in the Boy Scout program.

I read the article of the homes in disrepair with great interest ("Anonymous letters say fix it up or move out," Oct. 5). I, too, have driven up La Crescenta Avenue too many times to count, only to cringe each time I see these pig pens. It doesn't seem fair that the majority of us take pride in our homes, keep them clean and manicured, and there are a few who live in these conditions. I have concerns about the property values as well. Whereas I don't think it's quite fair to suggest they move elsewhere, I do feel that some community pressure to neaten up these homes is in order.

"I'm not as nervous as the first time." -- Glendale Mayor Rafi Manoukian, after he was selected by his council colleagues to be the city's next mayor. "It's tough to change mid-year. Most likely they haven't noticed the signs yet." -- La Canada Flintridge crossing guard Iris LeCheminant, on drivers disobeying no-left-turn signs recently installed near La Canada Elementary School in order to make drop-off and pick-up times smoother. "He didn't get any flack from the guys for that."

As surely as "Clapper" and "Chia Pet" commercials signal the arrival of the holiday season, indicators that spring is near begin popping up on front lawns all over Glendale. I refer to them as the "first signs" of change...not beautiful new blooms just showing their buds, but those very predictable "so and so for City Council" signs that sprout up everywhere like thirsty weeds begging for sunlight. One of my neighbors has so many of these election endorsements on his lawn, I'm convinced he said "yes" to every aide who rang his doorbell, regardless of who he was actually voting for. Not I!