Ymca

Gary Moskowitz NORTHEAST GLENDALE -- The YMCA of Glendale will present its second annual Armenian Fundraisiing Dinner next month. The dinner will be at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 3 at the YMCA of Glendale, 140 N. Louise St. Tickets for dinner are $35 each and a table of 10 is $350. Those who wish to participate but cannot attend the May 3 dinner can do so by purchasing a full-page advertisement in the dinner booklet for $100. The dinner is designed to celebrate the Armenian community's involvement with the YMCA and support of local youth.

Dozens of people lined up down Colorado Street early Monday morning for a chance at a free Christmas tree from the YMCA of Glendale's tree lot. The rush was sparked by a 102-tree giveaway organized in conjunction with local radio station KIIS-FM (102.7), said Craig Yaussi, financial development director for the YMCA of Glendale. "People started lining up about 7 a.m. when Ryan Seacrest announced the secret giveaway spot on the air," Yaussi said. "People started pulling over right away as they passed by on their way to work.

Alex Coolman NORTHEAST GLENDALE -- The YWCA's swimming pool, which was shut down for financial reasons in June, might reopen under the management of the YMCA in August under one scenario being discussed by the two organizations. Wayne Page, second vice president of the YWCA, said Wednesday the YMCA could assume "management of the sports and fitness areas" of the Lexington Avenue facility. The YWCA on June 17 shut down its pool for what officials said would be 30 days, citing cash flow problems associated with the high cost of heating the pool.

YMCA of Glendale hosts annual Fall Family Festival with games, information on organizations.GLENDALE -- On his fourth try tossing darts at large, cut-out Y shapes, Noubar Antonyan finally hit one and chose a yo-yo from the box of prizes. The 11-year-old Glendale resident had just finished playing in the YMCA of Glendale's basketball program when he and his mother, Marine Bosarian, came across the fourth annual family fall festival taking place in the YMCA's parking lot at Wilson and Louis streets.

Karen S. Kim GLENDALE -- Teens looking for a safe haven from gangs, abuse, drunk drivers or other kinds of crises will soon have 22 Glendale facilities to look to for refuge, thanks to the Project Safe Place program of the YMCA of Glendale. The program, which designates different city sites as Safe Place zones for teens in trouble, becomes operational Monday when its crisis hotline comes on line. Over the next two weeks, large yellow Project Safe Place signs will be going up at all 22 sites in Glendale, including the YMCA of Glendale, Star Ford, all Glendale fire stations and libraries, YWCA of Glendale and Verdugo Hills Medical Associates.

Alex Coolman NORTHWEST GLENDALE -- The YMCA of Glendale agreed Thursday to open its pool to swimmers left out of the water by the YWCA's 30-day closure of its pool, officials said. Craig Cerro, director of operations for the YMCA, confirmed that the North Louise Street facility will open its doors to YWCA members. "Some of their swim members will be coming over here," he said. "We're actually planning extra swim times to accommodate more people."

Joyce Rudolph PASADENA -- At least 20,000 families and youngsters will be given the gift of a life-changing experience at camp, thanks to 110 golfers. They braved smoldering heat and a few bees to raise $40,000 during the YMCA seventh annual golf invitational Friday at Brookside Country Club in Pasadena. "It is probably the biggest tournament yet with the most major sponsors we've ever had, which will help us send more kids to camp," said Craig Yaussi, YMCA financial development director.

In a nation where child obesity is on the rise, and more and more schools are losing the funds to provide fitness programs for their students, YMCAs across the nation have remained an important part of their respective communities. Ryan Nakota, the director of wellness at the YMCA of Glendale, acknowledges the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle, both mentally and physically. Nakota grew up in Hawaii, where he graduated from the University of Hawaii. He proceeded to become a fitness instructor there, teaching students ranging in age from 4 1/2 to 13. He coached baseball, soccer and girls’ softball before moving to Los Angeles in 1978.

Preschooler Ryan Gump knows how to pick out a pumpkin and was darting between piles of the orange fruits Wednesday to prove it. Asked how he got his sense for the fall favorites, the 4-year-old Sylmar resident explained, “Because I’m finding one,” before dashing to another pile on the dirt-covered lot at the corner of Brand Boulevard and Colorado Street. The YMCA of Glendale’s annual pumpkin patch has returned to the lot after a one-year relocation to accommodate for construction personnel for the Americana at Brand, said Craig Yaussi, director of properties and special events for the YMCA.

YMCA kicks off campaign YMCA of Glendale officials have kicked off the 2009 Pass It On Campaign, a fundraising effort to increase support for the scholarship fund. The fund covers the cost of programs for children and families who otherwise might not be able to afford YMCA programs such as child care, day camp and programs for at-risk youth. The YMCA?s goal is to raise $100,000, said Chief Executive John Thomas. The YMCA provides an opportunity for youngsters and adults to participate in programs such as day camp, child care, youth sports, water safety, before and after-school care and summer camp.

The next hip residential complex in Glendale may be stationed on YMCA property. The City Council, acting in its dual role as the Housing Authority, approved a plan to turn about one acre of land owned by the YMCA into an apartment complex focused on attracting arts and entertainment lovers. Glendale and YMCA officials plan to work together to attract a developer to build the facility at 140 N. Louise St. Those projects with arts components, such as a gallery, or a willingness to partner with the YMCA on joint programming are preferred.

The sound of thundering basketballs echoes throughout the Glendale YMCA's large gym every Saturday morning. Some 150 youngsters, ages 5 to 13, are members of the Junior Lakers League, a sports program that the YMCA is looking to expand. The YMCA hosted an all-star game and pizza party on Dec. 15 to reach out to the community and bring attention to the camaraderie and sports training it offers to the youth of Glendale, said Mineh Petrosian, assistant sports director of the league.

SOUTHEAST GLENDALE - The Glendale YMCA Quarterback Club, in its 70th year, meets Tuesdays at the Elk's Lodge. The following are odds and ends from the sixth meeting of the year. WARM APPLAUSE FOR POLICKY Hoover High Coach Andrew Policky stepped behind the podium during Tuesday's meeting to address his team's 37-8 Pacific League victory against Pasadena on Friday. Before Policky spoke, many of the club's members and several area coaches greeted him with an ovation.

A YMCA housing tenant was stabbed Monday morning during a dispute with a janitor inside the Louise Street building, officials said. The 47-year-old tenant and the 66-year-old janitor, who sustained blunt force trauma to his head, were taken to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, where they were treated for non-life-threatening injuries, Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said. Few details were released about the stabbing, but Lorenz confirmed both men were being detained as the investigation continued late Monday.

The YMCA of the Foothills is reaching across the world to boost the organization's message of fellowship and community. The local Y, which has facilities in La Cañada Flintridge and Tujunga, recently provided $20,000 for a YMCA in Spitak, Armenia. YMCA of the Foothills President Tyler Wright went to Spitak to consult with YMCA leaders there. Noting that local Armenian Americans make up the fasting growing groups of people that the YMCA serves in the region, Wright said in a statement that the organization's goal is to connect with “our global friends.” “Our desire is to be a diverse and inclusive voice in this community, making life-changing impact while also bridging any ethnic divides that may still exist,” he added.

Glendale's YMCA gained final approval from the City Council Tuesday night to run a program for at-risk youth that was on the budget chopping block this summer. The Police Activities League, operated by Glendale police, has served at-risk youth with after-school activities for about 15 years, but budget cuts at City Hall this year threatened its existence. “I think it's a great program for young kids to get busy after school,” said Councilman Rafi Manoukian. The city had been paying police officers overtime for the administrative and mentoring work, in which 14- to 18-year-old students participated in boxing or equestrian activities with officers.

With the future of a program that pairs at-risk youth with police mentors uncertain earlier this summer due to budget cuts, city officials and community leaders have settled on a new, cheaper alternative so that it can continue. For about 15 years, Glendale Police have run the Police Activities League, where 14- to 18-year-old students participated in boxing or equestrian activities with officers. But lack of funding put it on the chopping block a few months ago. “It was tenuous for a while,” said Sgt. John Gilkerson, head of the community policing unit.

A 37-year-old Glendale resident was charged Wednesday with using bolt cutters to steal at least three high-end bicycles from residential garages, police said. Ivan Saeedkhanian, who was convicted in 2005 for burglary, faces two felony counts of first-degree residential burglary in connection with stealing the bicycles, according to a Los Angeles County Superior Court criminal complaint. Saeedkhanian, who resides at the YMCA of Glendale living facility, was arrested Friday after detectives obtained a warrant to search his apartment and found two stolen Giant and Specialized bicycles in the living room, according to Glendale police reports.

"Oh, it's been a really long time since you've done a step class. " my muscles screamed to me loud and clear after an intense hour at the Burbank YMCA. I was seeing stars for sure. The next day it was quite the struggle to walk up any stairs but two days later, my body recovered and was ready for more. There's something about group exercise that makes it so much more enjoyable than just going on the elliptical machine in my perfectly adequate apartment gym. The truth is, I never do weights or crunches unless I'm in a class.

SOUTHEAST GLENDALE — The Glendale YMCA Quarterback Club, in its 68th year, meets Tuesday's at the Elk's Lodge. The following are odds and ends from the 11th and final meeting. COACHES HAND OUT AWARDS After more than four months of film sessions, practices and games, the four area high school football teams affiliated with the Glendale YMCA Quarterback Club handed out their respective team awards at Tuesday's event. St. Francis, which advanced to the CIF Southern Section Western Division playoffs, had a trio of players who were awarded plaques.