PALMDALE – Six-year-old Nathaniel Martinez was on a mission Friday morning. He leaned against the rails, stretched his arms out as far as they would go, and thrust his Palmdale souvenir magazine at every athlete that crossed his path. “Autograph!” he demanded. Martinez was one of hundreds of area residents and cycling fans from...
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LANCASTER – The Lancaster Neighborhood Vitalization Commission (LNVC) and the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station will team up to host a Town Hall Meeting for residents of the El Dorado neighborhood and surrounding area on Thursday, May 24, from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m., at El Dorado Elementary School, located at 361 East Pondera in Lancaster. Captain...
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LANCASTER – The Teamsters Local 848 has voted to approve a new contract with Veolia Transportation. Saturday’s vote of 44 to 33 means the threat of a strike by bus drivers is over. The new five-year contract will be retroactive to January 1, 2012. “We are pleased that the contract has been approved and...
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LANCASTER – Onlookers on The BLVD around 3:30 p.m. Saturday were treated to a dance performance courtesy of Antelope Valley Belly Dance. The local group showed off a variety of belly-dance moves as part of a worldwide “Shimmy Mob” to celebrated World Belly Dance Day. Locally, the event was also to bring awareness to...
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LANCASTER – The Antelope Valley Belly Dancers will join thousands of dancers around the world for the 2nd Annual “Shimmy Mob” this Saturday. Similar to a flash mob, the Shimmy Mob will involve groups of belly dancers appearing at various locations around the world and breaking into choreographed hip-shaking routines. However, unlike flash mobs,...
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PALMDALE – The Stage 6 start of the Amgen Tour of Palmdale coming to Marie Kerr Park on Friday, May 18 will not begin until Palmdale resident Becky Stafford fires the official starting gun as part of Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer® initiative. Stafford is a two-time cancer survivor, beating both breast and uterine cancer....
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LANCASTER – The recent surge in murders and burglaries in Lancaster has left many residents wondering what is happening and who is responsible. Some have pointed fingers at the parolees being released early into Lancaster due to the state prison realignment that began in early October. Not so, says the city’s Criminal Justice Analyst...
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PALMDALE – Palmdale resident William Martel was the grand prize winner in the City of Palmdale’s Amgen Tour of California VIP prize package for two in celebration of the race coming to Palmdale on Friday, May 18. Martel won VIP hospitality passes at the Stage 6 Start at Marie Kerr Park, seats in an...
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* LANCASTER – Hundreds of residents came out this past weekend for the grand opening of Lancaster’s new Museum of Art and History (MOAH). The nearly 20,000 square foot museum features five galleries, a store, and a unique rooftop patio offering a view of The BLVD. MOAH’s grand opening was free and open to...
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ANTELOPE VALLEY – By 11 p.m. Tuesday night, a fast moving brush fire that burned through 126 acres in the Acton area was 100% contained, officials announced. One mobile home, one outbuilding, two vehicles and two storage containers were burned in the blaze, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The brush fire...
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PALMDALE – If you have always wanted to mentor an Antelope Valley youth, but didn’t know where to go, then the mentor recruitment event next Friday was created with you in mind. The YouthBuild Mentoring Partnership recruitment will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, May 18, at the Antelope Valley...
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LANCASTER – Service provider Veolia Transportation announced Tuesday that the company has reached a tentative agreement with drivers who operate service for Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA). Teamsters Local 848 members will vote on the agreement on Saturday, May 12, 2012. If approved, there will be no threat of a strike. The two sides...
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LANCASTER – In honor of Older Americans month, the Lancaster Animal Care Center will participate in a month long adoption promotion, aimed towards senior citizens and senior pets. The promotion, Super Senior May: Never Too Old to Play, runs through May 31, 2012. To encourage community seniors to adopt, the shelter will waive the...
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PALMDALE – With the best poker hand of the morning, Shanty Acevedo won first place in the 30 mile “Tour de Palmdale” bike ride/poker fun run held Saturday, May 5 in celebration of the Amgen Tour of California coming to Palmdale on May 18. Sixty-five riders participated in the run ride, which began at...
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ANTELOPE VALLEY – A 57-year-old Palmdale woman was one of two drivers killed Sunday morning after a head-on collision on the 14 Freeway, according to the California Highway Patrol. Carolyn A. Ormston died at the Antelope Valley Hospital after the two-car crash. The other driver, a 39-year-old man from San Jacinto, died at the...
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PALMDALE – April 29th marked the 20th anniversary of the Los Angeles Riots, six days of racially-charged violence, looting and fire that ignited when a jury acquitted four police officers in the videotaped beating of black motorist Rodney King. From April 29 to May 4, 1992, thousands stormed the streets of South Central Los...
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LANCASTER – Family, friends and military personnel gathered at the Center for Spiritual Living Friday to honor and remember the 30-year-old veteran who was murdered in Lancaster last month. Nathen Crocket Taylor was a former Sergeant in the U.S. Army. His eight years of service included three tours of duty, twice to Iraq and...
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LANCASTER – Officials were making final preparations Thursday for the grand opening of Lancaster’s new Museum of Art and History (MOAH). “We’re putting labels on all the artwork, touching up painting and cleaning,” said Curator Andi Campognone. “We’re super close.” On Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. the City of Lancaster will host...
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PALMDALE – The City of Palmdale recognized its finest in public safety at the Palmdale City Council Meeting Wednesday. Awards were presented to LASD Deputy George Oriel, Firefighter Specialist Rudy Sanchez, City of Palmdale Parking Enforcement Supervisor Dulce Gomez, and Parking Enforcement Officer Mathew McClanahan. CHP Officer Jonathan Yochim was recognized but unable to...
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LANCASTER – The criminal case against David Grajeda, the 26-year-old man charged with disrupting a public meeting based on his actions at a Lancaster Criminal Justice Commission meeting, ended Wednesday morning when both sides agreed to a resolution in the case. The misdemeanor charge against Grajeda for disrupting a public meeting was dismissed; in...
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PALMDALE – The family of a 32-year-old man shot dead by deputies in his garage last October, has filed a wrongful death and civil rights lawsuit against the County of Los Angeles. Goldberg and Gage, the Woodland Hills law firm that represents the family of Darrell Logan Jr., filed the civil lawsuit in Los...
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LANCASTER – Driving to his second day of work at Antelope Valley Harley Davidson, 19-year-old Zac Lutz was involved in a motorcycle accident. Zac was driving north on 45th Street West the morning of April 24, heading toward Quartz Hill Road, when a woman in ’99 Dodge pickup truck u-turned in front of him,...
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ANTELOPE VALLEY – A school bus carrying 38 students was struck by a truck and then crashed into a wooden fence, injuring the bus driver and seven students, according to a news report from the California Highway Patrol report. The collision happened around 7:45 a.m. Monday, April 30, near 170th Street East and Avenue...
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LANCASTER – About a dozen leaders from various segments of the Antelope Valley community gathered Saturday afternoon at the Agape Church for a Community Roundtable. Organizer and community activist, Abdul Majeed Askia, said the purpose of the roundtable was for various community leaders to pool their knowledge and resources together to tackle the most...
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PALMDALE – The City of Palmdale has about 30 open spots left for volunteers to help out as the Amgen Tour of California spins into Palmdale on Friday, May 18. “We’ve had a great response by the community so far,” said Community Program Supervisor Trish Jones. “Typically, we get a rush of volunteer applications...
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ANTELOPE VALLEY – Residents have a chance to safely get rid of old or unused medications tomorrow. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Lancaster and Palmdale Stations will be taking part in the 4th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, April 28, 2012. If...
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LANCASTER – Starting Thursday, May 3, the BLVD Farmers’ Market will switch to its summer hours of 3 to 8 p.m. The BLVD Farmers’ Market is held year-round on Thursdays in downtown Lancaster, along The BLVD between Date Avenue and Fig Avenue. It currently includes more than 25 vendors, with the intention of expanding...
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PALMDALE – Local artists have until Monday, April 30 to take their creative energies and turn old bicycle rims into pieces of art for the City of Palmdale’s “Spokes of Art” contest, held in conjunction with the Amgen Tour of California (ATOC) coming to Palmdale on Friday, May 18. Entry forms are available at...
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PALMDALE – Approximately 60 residents, merchants and elected officials welcomed new Palmdale City Manager Dave Childs recently during a reception hosted by the League of Women Voters Antelope Valley at the Larry Chimbole Cultural Center. Childs spoke to the crowd, offering a brief biography of his career in planning and public administration since 1972....
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PALMDALE – Residents have until Monday, April 30 to drop off their gently used pet items and blankets at the City’s Palmdale Oasis Recreation Center. Donations will be given to the Lancaster Animal Care Shelter. The Palmdale Oasis Park Center is located at 3850 East Avenue S. Donations may be made Mondays through Fridays,...
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Construction zones with traffic flow restrictions within the City of Lancaster through May 5, 2012. Lancaster BLVD will be closed on Saturday, April 28th between Date and Fig from approximately 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm for a “Take Back the Night” march to promote awareness of domestic violence and abuse. Members of the public...
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PALMDALE GENERAL ROAD CONSTRUCTION 4/30/12 – 5/06/12: Intersection of 50th West & Avenue N-8 and intersection of 55th West & Avenue N. Intermittent lane closures for traffic signal installation. Avenue S/47th East to 57th East. Lane closures and detours for street widening (City’s PN 557 Avenue S improvements.) Sierra Highway Barrel Springs Road to...
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LANCASTER – The Antelope Valley Transit Authority has been given a reprieve from the threat of a strike, according to a news release issued by AVTA Wednesday afternoon. The Teamsters Local 848 has agreed to delay a work stoppage until after bargaining units meet on May 7. Union Representative Eric Tate met with the...
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LANCASTER – The Antelope Valley Transit Authority is in the process of developing a contingency plan should the Teamsters Local 848 decide to strike. Efforts are currently underway to obtain substitute coach operators who are presently providing transit service in other areas. AVTA has been assured by its contractor, Veolia Transportation, that all Commuter...
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LANCASTER – Council members Sandra Johnson and Ken Mann were sworn in to office by city clerk Geri Bryan at Tuesday night’s city council Meeting. Johnson, who was the top vote getter in the April 10 election in her first bid for office, said she’s looking forward to getting right to work for the...
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LANCASTER – Two years ago, an Antelope Valley family of 11 was in dire straits. The mother was a pregnant fugitive on the run with a substance abuse problem, and the father was fresh out of prison struggling to care for nine children on his own. The children, ages one to 15, were eventually...
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LANCASTER – The City of Lancaster continues to receive accolades for its downtown revitalization efforts. The City was presented with the California Redevelopment Association Award of Excellence for “The BLVD Transformation Project,” at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. Lancaster was selected from among California’s more than 400 redevelopment agencies for the annual award, which...
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LANCASTER – Veolia Transportation’s unionized work force issued a 72-hour notice to Veolia cancelling the day-to-day contract agreement that has been in place since April 1, 2012. Veolia Transportation is the operations contractor for the Antelope Valley Transit Authority. It is unclear whether this means the Teamsters intend to strike. If this is the...
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LANCASTER – Thousands of people descended on Lancaster City Park Saturday for the 21st Annual California Poppy Festival. The festival grounds, which covered 35 acres, offered more than 400 vendors, four stages of live entertainment, a children’s carnival, exotic animal encounters, a classic car show, a farmers markets, the Taste of Lancaster and more....
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LANCASTER – Tomorrow, hundreds will walk together to create a world free of multiple sclerosis. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Walk MS will kick off at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, April 28 at Lancaster Marketplace, located at 44950 Valley Central Way in Lancaster. The event is rallying point for the MS movement – a day...
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LANCASTER – The National Healthcare Volunteer Week is celebrated this year during the week of April 15 – 21. This is a time when healthcare organizations all over the country take time to recognize the volunteers who give so much of their time and talents, free of charge. Antelope Valley Hospital (AVH) will recognize...
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LANCASTER – More than 25,000 pounds of electronic waste and nearly 1500 gallons of used oil were collected this past weekend at the City of Lancaster’s Electronic Waste and Used Oil Recycling Event, which was held at the City Maintenance yard. The goal of this event was to raise awareness and reduce illegal dumping...
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LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has reached a settlement agreement with the group Californians Aware in a lawsuit alleging the Board violated the Ralph M. Brown Act in a series of closed session meetings in September 2011, discussing AB 109 with officials from the State of California. A press...
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LANCASTER – Another BLVD project, headed up by Insite Development’s Scott Ehrlich, is on the way. This one will be constructed on the corner of Date Avenue and The Blvd — on the grounds of the former Woolworth’s store. InSite developers joined city officials Tuesday for a press conference to announce details of the...
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QUARTZ HILL– Cancer survivors, caregivers, family members and supporters took to Quartz Hill High School’s track this weekend for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of Lancaster. The 24-hour event took place from 9 a.m. on Saturday to 9 a.m. on Sunday and included 110 teams from organizations around the Antelope Valley –...
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LOS ANGELES – Awards and recognition continue to pour in for the Lancaster residents who saved a deputy from being attacked on the side of the road this past January. Gale Smith, Mario Barrera, and Tyson Ray Beers received Courageous Citizen Awards Friday from Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley. Courageous Citizen Awards are...
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LANCASTER – Are you a resident or business owner in the Lancaster Station service area who is concerned about public safety in your community? If so, then you may want to add your name to the list of residents being considered for the Lancaster Station’s Community Advisory Committee, slated to be in place by...
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LANCASTER – Lancaster Station Captain Bob Jonsen and Sgt. Theresa Dawson held an open and candid conversation with about a dozen residents Thursday morning as part of ‘Coffee with the Captain,’ an event aimed at bridging the gap between the Lancaster Station and the community. Some residents brought specific problems to the captain’s attention,...
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LANCASTER – Live shark shows and ziplining are just two of the new attractions attendees can expect when the Poppy Festival bursts into bloom next week. The 21st Annual California Poppy Festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on April 21 and 22 at Lancaster City Park, located at 43011 10th Street...
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LANCASTER – Lancaster Station Commander, Captain Bob Jonsen, is inviting you to join him this Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., at The Bandstand coffee house, located at 706 W Lancaster Blvd. in Lancaster. Captain Jonsen will be available for any questions you may have concerning public safety in Lancaster and will also...
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LANCASTER – Jambalaya, red beans and rice, and seafood gumbo are just some of the entrees on the menu at Brittany’s on the Boulevard, a new restaurant on The BLVD specializing in Cajun/Creole cuisine. “It’s all Louisiana,” said head chef Anthony Grove. “We’re offering Cajun cuisine in a nice easy going atmosphere.” Monday several...
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LANCASTER – Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris reacted strongly to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor’s recent approval of a policy that allows homeless probationers and parolees to qualify for government-subsidized housing and cuts the criminal history review period for drug-related and violent crimes from three to two years. The policy changes are...
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LANCASTER – In honor of National Donate Life Month in April, Antelope Valley Hospital is calling on members of the community to consider the benefits of organ donation and join the California Donor Registry. “There are over 112,000 people on the national waiting list on a regular basis, and over 20,000 in California alone,”...
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PALMDALE – City of Palmdale officials have announced that Assistant City Manager Laurie Lile has accepted the position of City Manager for the City of Monrovia, effective the end of April. “I am excited for the new challenges and responsibilities, but a bit sad to leave my friends and coworkers in Palmdale,” Lile said. “It...
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LANCASTER – Students, parents, teachers, and art enthusiasts gathered at Lancaster City Hall Thursday evening for an artist reception to kick off the 27th Annual Antelope Valley Unified High School District Art Show. Now in its 27th year, the art show encourages and supports the artistic experimentation and expression of student artists from schools...
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LANCASTER – By not announcing which lawsuits are being discussed in closed sessions, taking action on items not on the agenda, and convening council meetings without a quorum, the Lancaster City Council is flagrantly violating California’s open meeting law, alleges a complaint filed against the City of Lancaster this week. The complaint, which claims...
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ANTELOPE VALLEY – A woman who spent the night on a snow covered hillside after her truck plunged 350 feet down the side of an embankment, met the team who helped saved her life Wednesday, according to a news release by the Sheriff’s Headquarters Bureau. Reserve Deputies Jason Johnson, Cyndy Moyneur, and Robert Sheedy...
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LANCASTER – Five people were injured, included two deputies, when an Antelope Valley Transit Authority bus collided with a sheriff’s patrol unit and then crashed into the side of an ice cream shop Wednesday night. The collision occurred around 8 p.m., Wednesday in the intersection of Avenue I and Division Street in Lancaster, on...
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LANCASTER – Lancaster City Hall was alive with color Wednesday. Colorful knitted spider webs covered hedges, flamboyant scarves and sweaters wrapped around tree trunks, crocheted lollipops and God’s eyes hung from branches, and vibrant pom poms sprouted out of potted plants. The decorative flair was added by 18 art students from R. Rex Parris...
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LANCASTER – The City of Lancaster Tuesday welcomed Sassy Couture, a women’s clothing and accessories boutique, to The BLVD. The store showcases chic, trendy items from sweaters and tunics to semi-formal wear, especially popular for special events such as Vegas trips and cruises. “The BLVD was created with independently-owned establishments like Sassy Couture in...
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LANCASTER – At age 44, University of Antelope Valley Culinary student John Delgado will tell you he still feels young at heart. It’s a good thing, because he’s about to spend six months at the Happiest Place on Earth. As John nears completion of his Certificate in Culinary Arts, he and his family prepare...
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LANCASTER – The 27th annual Antelope Valley Union High School District Student Art Exhibition will display at Lancaster City Hall from April 5 – May 20, 2012. The exhibition will open with a free public reception from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, April 5, with more than $1,000 in cash awards presented to student...
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ANTELOPE VALLEY – The suicide rates in the Antelope Valley are the highest in Los Angeles (LA) County at a percentage of 11.4, according to the LA County Department of Public Health. Judy Cooperberg, executive director of Mental Health America (MHA) in the Antelope Valley, said there are a number of factors that contribute...
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PALMDALE – Palmdale residents gathered Thursday evening to discuss problems the youth face in the community during the first “Commitment to Youth” meeting. “The end goal for this is Palmdale is looking for a youth master plan to come out of this,” said Trisha Jones, community programs supervisor for the city of Palmdale. Jones...
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PALMDALE – Palmdale Sheriff Station is seeking the public’s help in combating a rising trend in Burglaries and Thefts in their patrol area. Detectives and Crime Analysts have identified a slight rise in the year to date number of thefts, burglaries, and auto thefts compared to this time last year. In reviewing the cases...
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LANCASTER – Hundreds of people, young and old, marched through Lancaster Thursday wearing hoodies in memory of the unarmed Florida teen who was shot to death last month. “I’m here because of Trayvon,” said eight-year-old Cunnisha Moten, attending the march with her grandmother, Brenda Cochran. “I’ve been in Martin Luther King marches, a few...
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PALMDALE – The City of Palmdale’s South Antelope Valley Emergency Services (SAVES) food and shelter program is celebrating the City’s 50th anniversary by launching its “50,000 Pounds @ 50” campaign. “We’re partnering with organizations and residents in our community to help us raise 50,000 pounds of food this year to help us assist families...
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LANCASTER – Nearly 200 gathered in front of e-Chaps Computer and More Wednesday evening to celebrate the life of Reed Keith, the beloved Lancaster business owner murdered during a robbery at his store on March 23. Attendees lit candles, embraced and cried quietly as family members, close friends, customers and even those who didn’t...
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PALMDALE – Deputy Raymundo Wilson, Community Service Officer Walter Andrew, and Sheriff’s Explorer Nicholas Hicks have been recommended for the Sheriff’s Department Life Saving Award for rescuing a man who was pinned underneath his vehicle on March 21. Officials say the quick, decisive and heroic actions of the trio prevented potentially serious internal injuries...
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LANCASTER – Area residents are expected to don hoodie sweatshirts tomorrow in a community rally and march in remembrance of the unarmed Florida teen shot to death last month. The “Hoodie March for Solidarity Against Stereotypes in Remembrance of Trayvon Martin” will kick off at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 29, at the Lancaster Metrolink...
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LANCASTER – At the Lancaster City Council meeting Tuesday, Quartz Hill High School senior Hayden Zimmerman, a three time individual wrestling Golden League Champion, was presented with the Mayor’s Athlete of the Month Award by Mayor R. Rex Parris. Zimmerman has helped lead his team to three Golden League team championships at Quartz Hill...
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LANCASTER – Family members and friends will be holding a candlelight vigil for Reed Keith, the Lancaster business owner murdered during a robbery of his computer store on March 23. The vigil will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 28, in front of e-Chaps Computers and More, located at 2007 W. Avenue K...
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LANCASTER – Lancaster HEAL Zone Partnership partners Tuesday announced the launch of their HEAL (Healthy Eating Active Living) Zone Community Action Plan to encourage healthy eating and active living in the City of Lancaster. The Lancaster HEAL Zone Partnership is a recipient of a $300,000 grant, as part of a larger Kaiser Permanente investment...
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A 56-year-old woman was rescued this morning after her pickup truck plunged 300 feet down the side of a snow-covered embankment in the Angeles National Forest Sunday night. Authorities have not released the victim’s name, but she has been identified by other media outlets as Tracy Granger. Granger was reportedly driving from Pasadena to...
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LANCASTER – The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors are strongly encouraging residents countywide to participate in the 11th Annual César Chávez Community Service Week by volunteering at county public libraries, local food banks, and homeless shelters. This year’s César Chávez Community Service Week takes place from March 26 through March 30. “César Chávez...
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LOS ANGELES COUNTY — The Antelope Valley Line Infrastructure Improvement Strategic Plan was unanimously approved by the MTA Board of Directors Thursday. The improvements would provide seamless rail service between the Antelope Valley and San Diego, and a Metrolink Station at the Bob Hope Airport, according to a press release issued by MTA First...
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LANCASTER — The Lancaster Neighborhood Vitalization Commission would like to hear from you. The Commission will hold a public meeting Thursday, March 29 from 2 to 6 p.m. to hear directly from citizens and social service providers regarding the support services being provided to Lancaster residents. The meeting will be held in the Lancaster...
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PALMDALE – Dozens of children converged on the Marie Kerr Park Recreation Center Thursday for the Tiny Tots Twinkling Stars second annual Spring Fling. “It’s just a fun way to introduce spring,” said Program Leader and Tiny Tots teacher, Cynthia Nesmith. “The kids get to play games, they’re all winning prizes, they’ve already done...
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PALMDALE – The spotlight on the AV Idol stage will be even bigger than usual this year as one of the nine winners will also be selected to sing the National Anthem at the 2012 AMGEN Tour of California Palmdale stage start on May 18 at Marie Kerr Park. The Amgen Tour of California,...
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LANCASTER – The City of Lancaster’s Museum of Art and History (MOAH) will open to the public on Saturday, May 5, 2012. ”The MOAH opening has been anticipated with great excitement,” said Mayor R. Rex Parris. “It marks a new era for the City of Lancaster, providing the public with another spectacular venue where...
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PALMDALE – The City of Palmdale is inviting residents of all ages to join in a facilitated discussion entitled, “Commitment to Youth” on Thursday, March 29 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Larry Chimbole Cultural Center, located at 38250 Sierra Highway in Palmdale. The event is being hosted by the City of Palmdale...
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PALMDALE – For months, Jennifer Williams, Emani Stanford, Alexis Hithe and Sarah Grace Durham gave up their weekends and spent working lunches boning up on African American culture, accomplishments and history. Their hard work and discipline paid off Saturday, when the four SOAR High School seniors clinched victory for a second time at the...
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LANCASTER – Former LA Lakers All-Stars A.C. Green and Norm Nixon made a special trip to the Antelope Valley Saturday to sign autographs, pose for pictures, answer questions, and play some one-on-one with a couple of lucky fans. The former NBA players were the highlight of the second annual “Healthcare Basketball Follies,” a three-on-three...
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ANTELOPE VALLEY – A 17-year-old girl was allegedly intoxicated Friday night when she crashed her car into a guard rail, killing her 17-year-old passenger, according to a report from the California Highway Patrol. The single vehicle crash occurred around 10 p.m., Friday on Sierra Highway, south of Pearblossom Highway (between Palmdale and Acton). According...
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LANCASTER/PALMDALE – Everybody may be Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, but nobody should drive drunk after celebrating Ireland’s patron saint this Saturday, March 17, warns the California Highway Patrol. The Avoid the 100 – Los Angeles County DUI Campaign will be deploying additional officers on overtime this weekend, supporting routine traffic and patrol officers...
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LANCASTER – The Second District State Court of Appeal Thursday reversed a decision rendered in 2010 by the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, which had upheld the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) prepared for The Commons at Quartz Hill shopping center, to be located at 60th Street West and Avenue L in the City...
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PALMDALE – Captain Bobby Denham formally introduced the Palmdale Station’s new Community Advisory Committee Thursday. Its members are Chris Johnson, Kamal Al Khatib, Art Furtado, V. Jesse Smith, Lilia Galindo, Sandy Corrales-Eneix, Emmett Murrell, and Bishop Henry Hearns. The newly formed eight-member committee will work to enhance the communication and trust between the Palmdale...
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LANCASTER – The Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles has discriminated against non-African Americans looking to participate in the Section 8 program, has engaged in discriminatory racial steering practices, and has failed to enforce the terms of the Section 8 program it administers. This is what the City of Lancaster alleges, according...
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LANCASTER – This Thursday, March 15, the City of Lancaster will present the “Enhanced BLVD Farmers’ Market,” kicking off the spring season of Farmers’ Markets. The Enhanced Farmers’ Market will bring a new crop of vendors to the weekly event, along with live music and activities. “One of the main benefits of the Farmers’...
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LANCASTER – In honor of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness month in March, Antelope Valley Hospital (AVH) is hosting a free colorectal cancer screening and information session from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday, March 19 at 44105 15th Street West (the corner of Avenue J-5 and 15th Street West), on the 4th floor, in...
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LANCASTER – John E. Allen; Ryan Clark; George Delgado; Chris D. Leon; Joseph Lopez; Matthew Ramsey, Marvin R. Sprayberry III; Ian Wesley Stewart; and Allan Walker. Having made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, these nine men are memorialized on banners along the length of The Blvd. A crowd of about 200 gathered at...
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LANCASTER – Westside Union School District’s Joe Walker Middle School is now accepting applications for the STEALTH Academy, a program centered on Science, Technology, Engineering and Learning Through Humanities. The program will begin at Joe Walker in the fall of 2012. An Open House meeting will be hosted from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Thursday,...
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PALMDALE – The South Valley WorkSource Center (SVWSC) has partnered with Schneider National for a special recruitment to fill 35 truck driver positions. The recruitment will be held Tuesday, March 13, at the SVWSC, located at 38510 Sierra Highway in Palmdale. An orientation with Schneider National will be held from 10 a.m. to 11...
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PALMDALE – Assembly candidate and Palmdale councilman Tom Lackey announced Monday he has signed the “Taxpayer Protection Pledge,” a vow to oppose any efforts to increase taxes. Since it’s inception in 1986, the Americans for Tax Reform’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge has served as a tool to hold candidates accountable for their position on taxes....
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LANCASTER – More than 300 friends, family members and coworkers came out Saturday to say their final goodbyes to Beau Josh Owen Fluker and Jeffrey Gilstrap, the two Walmart employees who lost their lives in a car crash on Feb. 26. The joint memorial service was held at Grace Chapel in Lancaster. “We’re not...
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LANCASTER – The City of Lancaster will host a “Hometown Heroes Tribute” at 11 a.m., Tuesday, March 13 at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center, located at 750 W Lancaster Blvd. The event is being held in conjunction with the City’s BLVD Banner Program. Launched in the winter of 2010, the BLVD Banner Program is...
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PALMDALE – The Palmdale Chamber of Commerce’s monthly magazine Vantage has been awarded first place by the Western Association of Chamber Executives (W.A.C.E.) The magazine was selected first in its class among chambers with fewer than 1,000 members in the western states. Every aspect of the publication was reviewed, including: member information, headlines and...
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LANCASTER – The Vacation Watch Program, speeding in school zones, and neighborhood crime mapping were just a few of several issues brought up at the first monthly “Coffee with a Deputy” meeting, which took place Thursday morning. The program is designed to create a comfortable atmosphere where community members can meet with deputies from...
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WOODLAND HILLS – The families of Darrell Logan Jr. and Christian Cobian are two of several claimants seeking unspecified damages from Los Angeles County in connection with alleged incidents of excessive force and racially-motivated abuse on the part of the Sheriff’s Department. “We’re talking about brutal beatings that were on video, and we’re talking...
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LANCASTER – The Linda Verde Wellness Home held its grand opening Wednesday morning in Lancaster. “It’s for the people in the neighborhood,” said Elizabeth Brubaker, director of Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization. “They educate people, they have counseling, they have services for people who have just had children…there’s just a ton of services, anything you...
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LANCASTER – In a written statement Wednesday Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris announced he was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Read his statement below: “Last week, my doctors notified me that I am suffering an aggressive but very treatable form of prostate cancer. During a routine checkup, my PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels were found...
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LOS ANGELES– As The AV Times reported last month, grandmother of six and local pastor, Rev. Dr. Gale Smith, jumped out of her car and ran to help a female deputy who was in the struggle of her life with a carjacking suspect on the side of the road. (Read more here.) Tuesday, Smith...
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LANCASTER – Antelope Valley Hospital (AVH) will host a Town Hall Meeting on Thursday to update the community on the hospital’s progress and future plans. Edward Mirzabegian, AVH Chief Executive Officer, will discuss expansion and renovation plans, improved customer service, new procedures and future goals for the hospital. The audience will have an opportunity...
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LANCASTER – A Hispanic man who was killed in an alley six weeks ago by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies was shot at least four times, according to a copy of the autopsy report obtained by The AV Times. Christian Cobian, 26, suffered a potentially fatal gunshot wound to the right side of the...
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PALMDALE – Mental Health America (MHA) and Palmdale City Council will present City Commendations next week to California Highway Patrol Officer Michael Talbot and Sergeant John Rush of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Crisis Negotiations Team for their heroic efforts in suicide prevention. Officer Talbot and Sgt. Rush persuaded an Antelope Valley resident...
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LANCASTER – Over 20 members of the community read to the children of West Wind Elementary Friday in honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday and National Read Across America Day. “I like the opportunity to hear people from a variety of professions,” said Janine Simi, a teacher at West Wind Elementary, “(who) not only read...
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LANCASTER – Nicholas Brian Harper, the 23-year-old man accused of killing his roommate was to be arraigned in court Thursday. However, during his brief court appearance, Harper did not enter a plea and his case was postponed to April instead. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Steven Ogden agreed to continue the matter to April...
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PALMDALE – Planned Parenthood has recognized the needs of the Antelope Valley by building a health center in Palmdale. The health center, which opened Nov. 30, 2011 and has already served more than 800 people, held an open-house Thursday. Planned Parenthood CEO and President Sue Dunlap said she was proud to have a health...
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PALMDALE – Construction is underway for Dos Caminos School set to be complete August 2012 in Palmdale. The school will provide a dual immersion education program for up to 480 students, said Dos Caminos School Principal Marlene Calcines. “We are absolutely ecstatic that we’ve opened another dual immersion program,” Calcines said. The dual immersion...
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LANCASTER – A suspected drunk driver involved in an early morning crash Sunday that killed two Walmart employees is facing eight felony counts, including two counts of second degree murder, according to court records. Tommie Lee Cole, 24, appeared briefly in an Antelope Valley courtroom Tuesday before Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Steven Ogden...
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PALMDALE – Deputies and passers-by helped pull an accident victim out of the chilly waters of the California Aqueduct to safety Tuesday morning. The woman said her vehicle rolled into the aqueduct and filled quickly with icy water, and she was able to escape through a passenger window that had shattered before the vehicle...
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LANCASTER – Candles, flowers and handwritten notes marked the spot where Beau Josh Owen Fluker, 26, and Jeffrey Gilstrap, 23 lost their lives in a car crash early Sunday morning. A note with pictures of both men read: “R.I.P. Beau Fluker & Jeffrey. You are at a better place now.” Excerpts from a full...
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LANCASTER – Residents who follow Lancaster City Council meetings may know David Grajeda, the outspoken council critic who was arrested and jailed for his behavior at City Hall. Less familiar is his older brother, Isaac Grajeda, a music teacher, writer and musician. However, this may change if the elder Grajeda realizes his goal of...
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LANCASTER – The duo behind the advice website “Everyone is Gay” dropped by the Antelope Valley College campus Saturday and delivered an engaging performance that combined humor and serious discussion to raise awareness on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ) issues. Bursting out from behind a projection screen, Kristin Russo and Dannielle Owens-Reid...
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PALMDALE – After nearly eight years in development, construction is underway for the Palmdale Transit Village, an apartment and townhome community that will provide affordable housing close to major modes of transportation. “This will bring us the type of development I think is the future of Southern California,” said Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford. Several...
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LANCASTER – Six candidates running for city, county and state offices outlined their platforms Wednesday to a crowd of about 60. Hosted by the Democratic Club of the High Desert (DCHD), the event was billed as a Question and Answer Forum to allow candidates to introduce themselves to Antelope Valley residents. Candidates were given...
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LANCASTER – Fans at the Los Angeles SLAM home game Sunday were treated to a special halftime performance by Dazzler Cheer. Proud parents with cameras in hand rushed to the sidelines as more than 100 cheerleaders rushed the court. Girls as young as three-years-old kept pace with teenagers in an athletic routine that included...
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PALMDALE – The Palmdale Aerospace Academy (TPAA) is currently receiving student applications for the 2012-13 school year. Parents and guardians of students currently enrolled in grades 6, 7 and 8 are encouraged to apply. Applications are available online at: www.palmdalesd.org/tpaa. Hard copies of the application are available at schools within the Palmdale School District....
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LANCASTER – Two architectural planners for the Kaiser Permanente Antelope Valley Medical Center will speak about the new project at the Business Outlook Conference from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 24. The Antelope Valley Board of Trade is hosting the region’s premier business event at the Poppy Pavilion on the AV...
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PALMDALE – The weather was bad, forcing the ceremony indoors and the crowd was sparse because many students thought they were too cool to take part; still the show went on for those students who chose to take a stand Wednesday evening. Each student in the small group bravely took the microphone and recited...
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MOJAVE – The first successful free flight of a new rocket-powered vertical landing demonstrator occurred recently at Mojave Air and Space Port. The flight used a new flight control system concept that will enable future demonstrations of landing technologies needed for exploration of planets and moons, as well as near-Earth objects, like asteroids. NASA’s...
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LANCASTER – More than two dozen local students Wednesday got some hands on experience on how city government works, thanks to Lancaster’s Youth in Government program. Now in its 22nd year, the program is much more than the typical shadow-a-government-official-for-the-day program. “It really prepares our kids to be engaged in government, to be responsible...
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LANCASTER – Lancaster was profiled Wednesday as part of the ongoing “Strong Cities | Strong State” campaign highlighting local government success stories across California. “Strong Cities | Strong State” is a project of the League of California Cities and the California City Management Foundation (CCMF). “Cities play an integral role in the daily lives...
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LANCASTER – The Lancaster City Council Tuesday approved an agreement with Organic Energy Corporation to develop a facility in Lancaster that would convert city garbage into various forms of renewable energy. The proposed material recovery and conversion facility (MFR) would use state-of-the-art technologies to convert unrecyclable solid waste into useful products, such as green...
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PALMDALE – Palmdale Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Stacia Nemeth will resign from her position when her contract expires on April 4, 2012 due to family obligations. “I have truly enjoyed the time I have spent leading the chamber and the wonderful business people I have met over the past two years. I...
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LANCASTER – A 23-year-old man previously arrested on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter for the shooting death of his roommate on Feb. 7, was released from custody today and then re-arrested for murder. Nicholas Harper had been in custody since 4:25 a.m. on Feb. 8, when he was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter for the...
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LANCASTER – In an ongoing effort to promote change and awareness of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer issues through humor and honesty, The OUT Project and the SOAR Gay/Straight Alliance are offering a free presentation of “Everyone Is Gay.” The program will be held from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Cafeteria...
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PALMDALE – Local creative artist, Juan Roberts, has been nominated for a 2012 NAACP Image Award under the category of Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional. Roberts was nominated for his work as the cover designer of the book “Too Important to Fail: Saving America’s Boys,” which was authored by Tavis Smiley. “This was completely...
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LANCASTER – At 10:30 p.m. tonight, Lancaster’s Del Sur middle school will be featured in the nationally broadcast PBS premiere of Not In Our Town – Class Actions, a documentary which profiles students and community members who are creating change in the wake of racism, anti-Semitism, and the traumatic consequences of bullying. The half-hour...
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LANCASTER – The City Council will vote Tuesday on an agreement with Ecolution, an advanced solid waste separation and renewable energy developer, for the development of a Materials Recovery and Conversion Facility (MRF) in the City of Lancaster. “The City of Lancaster stands to be the first Net-Zero City in America,” says Mayor R....
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PALMDALE – Several family members wept openly Friday evening, as Clemmie Graves recalled the last moments she spent with her son. “He was squeezing my hand, and I was saying ‘just breathe for me baby, breathe for me,’” Graves recalled through tears. “I said, ‘come on God, please don’t take my son from me!’”...
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LANCASTER – If you have attended, or watched on television, any Lancaster city council meetings in the past year, then you may recognize Michael Rives as the man who addresses the city council multiple times at each meeting. “I’ve attended every meeting and I’ve spoken at every meeting for the last year or year...
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LANCASTER – Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris gave the annual State of the City address at a luncheon hosted by the Antelope Valley Chamber of Commerce Wednesday. He addressed Lancaster’s challenges – one in particular — before highlighting the city’s economic growth and strides in health, wellness, education, and solar energy. “The biggest threat...
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PALMDALE – The City of Palmdale’s South Antelope Valley Emergency Services (SAVES) food and shelter program received a generous donation of $10,000 from Yard House restaurants as part of the Round It Up America® program. The check was presented Thursday by Yard House General Manager Gil Vance and accepted by SAVES Coordinator Patricia Morales, and Palmdale...
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LANCASTER – The Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) is joining forces this week with transit agencies nationwide expressing strong opposition to provisions in House bill H.R. 3864, the federal American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Financing Act. The bill would eliminate dedicated federal fuel taxes for public transit and create long-term uncertainty for public transportation...
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LANCASTER – Several wiped away tears as 10-year-old Stephany Cobian spoke of the deputy-involved shooting on Jan. 21 that claimed the life of her big brother Christian Cobian, 26. “I don’t understand why the police had to shoot him just because he was riding a bike without a light,” Stephany Cobian said. “If I...
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LANCASTER – At a press conference Wednesday, local civil rights activists joined family members in calling for elected officials to create a civilian oversight board to look into the recent deputy-involved shootings of Darrell Logan Jr., Christian Cobian and Donald Handy. However, Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris says such an entity is not needed...
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- PALMDALE – The City of Palmdale announced Wednesday the route participants will take from Palmdale in the 2012 Amgen Tour of California, the largest cycling event in America. The Palmdale stretch starting May 18 is the sixth stage of the overall race, and goes from Palmdale to Big Bear. “The Amgen officials really...
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PALMDALE – A 21-year-old Hispanic man was shot and killed Tuesday night at the Parkwood Patio apartment complex in the 38000 block of 20th street east in Palmdale. The man has been identified as James Fitzgerald McElroy, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office. Deputies have arrested the man’s roommate Nicholas Harper, 23,...
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LANCASTER – On Tuesday, Jan. 31, a grandmother of six was the first person to come to the aid of a female deputy who was being attacked on the side of the road on Avenue M in Lancaster. Sheriff’s officials say the 63-year-old woman’s actions quite possibly saved the deputy’s life. Ironically, Rev. Dr....
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PALMDALE – The Board of Directors of The Palmdale Aerospace Academy announced at their Jan. 30, 2012 Board meeting the appointment of the Headmaster. Dr. Laura Herman, currently the Principal of Highland High School was chosen for the position. “We’re very pleased and excited to have someone with Laura’s experience and enthusiasm for this...
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LANCASTER – David Grajeda, the man accused of interfering with a pubic meeting based on his actions at a Lancaster Criminal Justice Commission meeting, was scheduled to begin trial Monday at the Antelope Valley courthouse, but his case was continued to March. His recently appointed defense attorney, David Harris, asked for more time to...
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LANCASTER – Boxing Legend Sugar Ray Leonard will replace NBA Basketball Star Earvin “Magic” Johnson as the keynoter for the Business Outlook Conference because Johnson cancelled due to the NBA rescheduling the all star game and his contractual obligations with ESPN. The Antelope Valley Board of Trade’s 40th annual conference is slated for 7:30...
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LANCASTER – An eight-year-old boy living in a malnutrition center had a distended stomach, off colored skin and weighed only 19 pounds. Six months after getting food from Feed My Starving Children, Omar gained 54 pounds, and his stomach and skin color are returning to normal. Because of a year-long fundraiser in the Antelope...
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Updated: 2/3/12 at 5:30 p.m. Read the Final Court Order here. LANCASTER – The City of Lancaster, Antelope Valley Chevrolet, and Sierra Toyota are free from a lawsuit filed against them in 2010 by the City of Palmdale, regarding the opening of the new Antelope Valley Chevrolet dealership in Lancaster. This according to a news...
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LANCASTER – City of Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris reacted strongly to the City of Palmdale’s decision to enter into a settlement agreement in the Section 8 discrimination lawsuit involving both cities. Parris issued the following statement Friday: “I am extremely disappointed with the actions and comments made by the City of Palmdale regarding their recent...
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PALMDALE – The Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) estimates three hundred bus passengers were affected by a bomb threat which closed the Palmdale Transportation Center Thursday. The center was shut down 4:47 p.m. just as commuter buses began arriving in Palmdale from Los Angeles. AVTA officials responded by transporting passengers to the recreation center...
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PALMDALE – The City of Palmdale has reached a settlement agreement in the lawsuit brought forward by the NAACP and The Community Action League, which claims Black and Latino families using Section 8 housing vouchers in Lancaster and Palmdale were victims of constant, unbearable harassment at the hands of housing authority investigators, sheriff’s deputies...
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PALMDALE – The Palmdale City Council has selected David Childs as the new City Manager for the City of Palmdale. Childs, who has served as an Assistant County Manager for Washoe County, Nevada since October of 2006, was selected through a nationwide recruiting process with the firm Peckham & McKenney that began in August...
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Updated: 2/3/12 at 6:30 p.m. The 68-year-old man shot dead by deputies Wednesday night is Donald Handy, according to his live-in girlfriend of eight years, Phyllis Pearson, 49. LANCASTER – A 68-year-old White man wielding a sword was shot and killed by deputies Wednesday night in Lancaster, according to Lieutenant Mary Leef of the Sheriff’s...
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