Griffith Park

Los Angeles city crews on Friday were working to clean up debris and some 400 downed trees in shuttered Griffith Park, many of which had fallen on Roosevelt Municipal Golf Course. They said the park would likely be open by sunrise Saturday. Officials said two other parks in Northeast L.A. -- Ernest E. Debs and Elysian Park -- also had damage including hundreds of downed trees but were not closed. Other parks across the city were mostly spared, they said. "If this kind of damage had occurred throughout every park in the city, we'd really be in trouble," said Kevin Regan of the parks department.

Ryan Carter BURBANK -- A dog walk to benefit the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles will be from 8 a.m. to noon Oct. 6 in Griffith Park. The 5th annual Pedigree Great L.A. Dog Walk will feature a 5-kilometer dog walk followed by an award ceremony at 10 a.m. to present the National Dog Award to a winning pooch. Activities will include an agility course, live bands, animal information booths, free snacks and sponsor booths.

BURBANK — All four local high school cross-country programs have been forced to make changes this season — and the campaign hasn’t even started yet. In one way or another, Burroughs, Burbank, Bellarmine-Jefferson and Providence have been affected by the fires that ravished Griffith Park in May. The fire that scorched more than 817 acres burned many of the trails in the park. Unfortunately, it also burnt areas around two cross-country courses that are used by the Indians, Bulldogs and Guards.

Heading to Griffith Park through an equestrian tunnel under the Ventura (134) Freeway, horse riders emerge to see an unusual sight: huge yellow earth movers chomping into 15 acres of dirt between the freeway and the park. Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is deep into building underground reservoirs that will hold 110 million gallons of water and help eliminate the city’s reliance on open-air reservoirs, including Silver Lake. When complete, the two side-by-side Headworks reservoirs will be hidden beneath an open-space recreation area along Forest Lawn Drive near the intersection with Zoo Drive.

Joyce Rudolph GRIFFITH PARK -- A combined class reunion picnic for John Burroughs and Burbank high school alumni, teachers and staff begins at noon today at Griffith Park near the carousel. Bob's Big Boy in Toluca Lake is offering a special deal for take-out orders. With the purchase of any food item, receive a free soft drink (one per person) by mentioning you are an alumni member of JBHS or BHS. Participants are asked to bring blankets, food, refreshments and picnic supplies.

Accused arsonist pleads not guilty A Glendale transient pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to four counts of arson in connection with starting a five-acre fire Saturday at Griffith Park. Gary Allen Lintz, 43, was arrested and charged with arson after he was identified as a person of interest in the blaze. His bail amount was increased from $75,000 to $350,000 during an arraignment hearing in a Los Angeles Superior Court. Lintz is set to appear Sept. 8 for a preliminary hearing in the same court.

Amber Willard GRIFFITH PARK -- For many residents, spring brings with it spring cleaning. For the Friends of the Los Angeles River, it means clearing trash from the river bottom and surrounding areas. "Every little bit helps keep the trash from getting to the beaches and into the ocean," said Jill Hill, spokeswoman for the group, which is sponsoring the half-day cleanup today. Residents are asked to don work gloves, old clothes and sturdy shoes this morning to help pull everything from plastic bags to shopping carts from the river area around Bette Davis Picnic Area in Griffith Park.

Molly Shore GRIFFITH PARK -- Margaret Kerry, the alter ego of Disney's animated Tinker Bell, will be a special guest at Walt Disney's Barn in Griffith Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. When Walt Disney searched for a nimble actor to film live action work for the tiny Tinker Bell, Kerry won the role. Joining Kerry will be David Pacheco, an animator and art book author with The Walt Disney Company for more than 20 years. Pacheco will draw a sketch of Tinker Bell for guests, and at 1 p.m. Kerry will perform a reading from "Peter Pan."

Jeff Tully GRIFFITH PARK -- Burroughs High's Shaughn Crawford and Steve Lim and Danny Barber of Burbank did their best at the Foothill League finals at Griffith Park. However, the players from Santa Clarita proved to be tough opponents Friday, as none of the locals were able to qualify for CIF Southern Section individual play. Leading the way was league most valuable Brandon Christianson from Valencia, who earned a spot in the individuals with a 69.8 stroke season average.

Toon Disney looks for "animated kids" GRIFFITH PARK -- Toon Disney and Dish Network invite children to a free Sunday event that includes contests, prizes and interactive games. Children 4 to 14 can show their most animated side in a screen test. The winner of the test will tour Walt Disney Studios and meet with Disney animators who will animate the child to appear in a cartoon. A chance for children to try their hand at animating and a game pavilion will also be featured activities.

GRIFFITH PARK - It was a sea of Burbank High royal blue and white Wednesday in the 22nd annual Burbank All-City Cross-Country Meet. The Bulldogs boys' and girls' teams dominated the competition at Griffith Park, besting cross-town rival Burroughs in both races. The Burbank boys - ranked No. 5 in CIF Southern Section Division I - finished with 20 points, besting the Indians (41), Providence (92) and Bellarmine-Jefferson (104). In the girls' competition, Burbank was first with 16 points and was followed by Burroughs (42)

Burbank resident Gordon Lee Sherwood died peacefully Jan. 31 at Sherman Oaks Hospital in Los Angeles with friends at his side. He was 100. A longtime advertising executive, he was well known for his involvement in live steam railways. As his 100th birthday last year, Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge declared March 22 “Gordon Sherwood Day” for his work in forming the Los Angeles Live Steamers in Griffith Park. Gordon was born March 22, 1911, on Bunker Hill in Los Angeles to Lee and Addie Sherwood.

Los Angeles city crews on Friday were working to clean up debris and some 400 downed trees in shuttered Griffith Park, many of which had fallen on Roosevelt Municipal Golf Course. They said the park would likely be open by sunrise Saturday. Officials said two other parks in Northeast L.A. -- Ernest E. Debs and Elysian Park -- also had damage including hundreds of downed trees but were not closed. Other parks across the city were mostly spared, they said. "If this kind of damage had occurred throughout every park in the city, we'd really be in trouble," said Kevin Regan of the parks department.

Heading to Griffith Park through an equestrian tunnel under the Ventura (134) Freeway, horse riders emerge to see an unusual sight: huge yellow earth movers chomping into 15 acres of dirt between the freeway and the park. Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is deep into building underground reservoirs that will hold 110 million gallons of water and help eliminate the city’s reliance on open-air reservoirs, including Silver Lake. When complete, the two side-by-side Headworks reservoirs will be hidden beneath an open-space recreation area along Forest Lawn Drive near the intersection with Zoo Drive.

GRIFFITH PARK — Much of the 20th All-City Cross-Country Meet went exactly as expected. Burroughs High junior Anthony Monroy easily won the boys' race, while his Burbank counterpart, senior McKenzie Paul, was dominating in winning the girls' race Thursday at Griffith Park. However, there was a surprise in the contest, which also featured Bellarmine-Jefferson, Providence and Village Christian. The Indians boys' team came into the first race of the season with five returning runners from last year's group that qualified for the CIF Southern Section Division I preliminaries.

BASEBALL Providence 19, Liberty Christian 9 : The Pioneers breezed to an easy nonleague victory Thursday at Pote Field in Griffith Park. It was the second straight win for Providence (2-3). Devin Pugliese, Anthony Galvan and Arman Krapoyan each had three hits for the Pioneers. The game went seven innings and was not halted despite the Pioneers meeting the 10-run mercy rule standard. Providence 3, L.A. Lutheran 1 : The Pioneers recorded their first win of the season Wednesday in the nonleague game at Pote Field in Griffith Park.

LOS ANGELES — Playing against a winless Providence High baseball team that suffered two mercy-rule defeats in two games, some might have thought that Bellarmine-Jefferson would have an easy time with the Pioneers. However, the Guards were still reeling from the loss of leadoff hitter Phillip Diaz, who broke his ankle in practice Thursday. Although it had to move some players around, Bell-Jeff was able to focus enough to earn a 3-1 nonleague win Friday at Pote Field in Griffith Park.

Meghan Fuelling, soph., La Cañada Took second at the Rio Hondo League finals in 19:36 at CV Park to help the Spartans’ league title effort. Finished the year with a 19:08 at Mt. SAC in the CIF prelims. Ran well at the Staub Invitational at CV Park, as well, taking third in Division II race in 19:41.33 to lead the Spartans’ second-place effort.   Monique Martinez, senior, Burroughs Was the Indians top runner throughout the year.

BURBANK — Hundreds of shoppers crowded a parking lot Wednesday for the grand opening of natural grocer Henry’s Farmers Market, two years after residents effectively blocked a Whole Foods Market from moving into the city. The first customers walked through the doors at 9 a.m., after waiting in line for more than 16 hours in anticipation of free groceries. Each of the first 200 shoppers at the store got a reusable shopping bag filled with $75 worth of snacks, fruits, vitamins and other items, said Aimee Della Bitta, a marketing manager for Irvine-based Henry’s.