Los Angeles

"House Republican leaders have put off a vote on a controversial transportation bill, until after the Presidents Day holiday. Instead, the bill has been broken into smaller pieces, including one that would increase oil and gas drilling to help pay for bridges and roads. One congresswoman lost the fight to keep new drilling off the California coast. The problem is that federal gasoline taxes don’t raise enough money anymore to pay for the country’s transportation needs. To help make up the difference, House Republicans want to open up Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Reserve, expand drilling in the Gulf and sell new leases off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Democratic Congresswoman Lois Capps of Santa Barbara is sponsoring an amendment that would take California’s coast out of the equation. "This is not the appropriate place to expand drilling," she says. Republican Congressman "Doc" Hastings of Washington heads the Natural Resources Committee. On the House floor, he told his... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"In his proposed budget, President Barack Obama makes a major commitment to mass transit. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says there’s cash for Southern California projects — if Congress approves. The budget includes $50 million for the so-called "Subway to the Sea." It would help build the transit line under Wilshire Boulevard from Mid-City to the Veterans Administration complex in West L.A. There’s also $31 million for the Regional Connector. It would link the Gold, Blue and Expo light rail lines under downtown. This is the first year the federal government has offered what it calls “new start” funding for the two transit projects. But before the check arrives in the mail, Congress must approve the president's budget. Local officials are counting on the federal government to pick up about half the cost of both projects. Most of the rest of the funding would come from a local sales tax approved by the voters, plus some state funding." - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"We might as well face the facts: unless these storms bring Southern California some much-needed rain this week, most of the California desert isn't going to have a stunning spring wildflower display this year. This time last year a reasonably good bloom was just starting out in the hills surrounding the Coachella Valley, with desert lupines in bud and Canterbury bells (Phacelia) already showing their characteristic pale purple. The red tubular flowers of the shrub Chuparosa (Justicia californica) that favorite food plant of the desert's hummingbirds, offered a dark complement to the first few blooms of brittlebush (Encelia farinosa), which covered the hillsides in yellow daisies just three or four weeks later. This week the hills around Palm Springs are a lot more drab. Chuparosa is just about the only source of color in the lower elevations of Mount San Jacinto, aside from the purple of Costa's hummingbirds and the blue bellies of side-blotched lizards. Encelia is preparing to bloom... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

A couple of weeks ago, I was telling my kids how there won't be a big bloom in the desert this year unless we get some rain soon. One more week and it'll be a bust. - Anika

"Archaeologist Deanna Jones couldn't believe her eyes as she hunched over a shallow pit dug next to railroad tracks in front of the San Gabriel Mission. She was inside the recently excavated foundation of a long-gone adobe building that once stood in the mission's 40-acre Bishop's Garden, first cultivated in the early 1780s. As Jones scooped a trowel full of dirt from what had been the adobe floor, a silvery glint caught her attention. "It looked like a piece of scrap metal at first," said Jones, a 29-year-old Van Nuys resident who has worked four years as a professional archaeologist. "I rubbed it on my jeans and noticed the detail." With the crust of dirt wiped away, it was clear this was an old coin. A bit more polishing on Jones' pant leg revealed the image of a man's profile, the words "FERDIN VII" and "DEI GRATIA" (Latin for "by the grace of God") and a date: 1816. For a 30-member team of archaeologists studying the ground where a freight train trench will soon be dug, Jones'... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"With the Middle Class Scholarship, CSU and UC students will fill out the standard financial aid forms. All students with family incomes less than $150,000 that do not already have fees covered will receive a Middle Class Scholarship that slashes fees by 2/3. For the CSU, approximately 150,000 students will receive the Middle Class Scholarship and save over $4,000 per year. About 42,000 UC students will receive the Middle Class Scholarship and save up to $8,169 per year. Community Colleges will receive $150 million to expand affordability efforts. Local districts will have discretion to allocate the funds to best meet their individual needs, such as expanding the use of fee waivers or providing grants to cover the costs of books, transportation, or other educational expenses. Investing in California's students is an investment in our future. For every $1 we spend on higher education, the state gets a $3 return on its investment (www.cccco.edu). All Californians, including those from... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

I'd like to see more financial analysis of this proposal but I agree that public college tuition is ridiculous. The first responsibility of UC and CSU should be to provide undergraduate educations to the children of CA citizens. Other considerations should be secondary to this mandate. - Spidra Webster

"In September 1910, Porfirio Díaz, Mexico's longtime president, staged the Fiestas del Centenario, or Centennial Festivals, to mark the hundredth anniversary of Mexico's independence from Spain. Designed to showcase Mexico's development into a modern nation, the celebrations were held amid widespread social unrest. Only a few months later the revolutionary leader Francisco Madero issued his "Plan of San Luis Potosí", challenging Díaz's thirty-year virtual dictatorship and calling for countrywide insurrection to begin on November 20, 1910, the date now considered to be the start of the Mexican Revolution." - Anika from Bookmarklet

"Cops today were looking for the driver of a white car who might have fled after hitting Hollywood dance legend Zina Bethune near Griffith Park, leaving her for dead. Bethune, who was born Zina Feeley, is the founder of Theatre Bethune in L.A. She danced with the New York City Ballet under George Balanchine when she was only 14. She appeared in Martin Scorcese's Who's That Knocking at My Door in 1967. Police say she was driving her 2006 Lincoln Town Car and pulled over to ... ... render aid to an injured animal near Griffith Park. The Daily Mail reported it was a wounded possum. Feeley was killed after she was struck by at least two vehicles at 12:05 a.m. Sunday, according to the LAPD. She was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. It happened in the 6200 block of Forest Lawn Drive. According to a police statement, the 66-year-old ... View Larger Map ... was driving westbound on Forest Lawn Drive when she stopped and parked her 2006 Lincoln Towncar along the north shoulder of the... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

=O - Shevonne

"The Alhambra City Council will meet on Monday night at 7pm. Items on the consent agenda include moving forward on proposals for a master bike plan for the city of Alhambra, the completion of the $110,035 beautification projects for Valley Boulevard and Main Street, and new DVDs for the children's section of the library.  Also on the agenda is an ordinance that would add "economic development" to the Alhambra municipal code. This would enable the City to adopt many of the functions of the redevelopment agency which the state dissolved on February 1. Read the complete agenda below. You can also download the document or make it larger using the controls on the bottom." - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"Strong winds are expected to blow through Southern California on Monday, picking up in the afternoon and possibly making driving difficult, weather forecasters said. The strongest winds of 25 to 35 mph, with gusts of up to 50 mph, are expected in the Point Conception area of the coast and in the desert and mountain communities of California City, Tejon Pass, Ridgecrest and Edwards Air Force Base. A wind advisory issued by the National Weather Service for the Antelope Valley will be in effect from noon Monday to 3 a.m. Tuesday. Downtown Los Angeles could also see winds of 15 or 20 mph, with gusts exceeding 30 mph, according to Erik Pindrock, a meteorologist with Accuweather.com. A storm system moving through Northern California is expected to work through the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys by Monday, causing the high winds, he said. He warned drivers to be on the lookout for dangerous crosswinds and to refrain from throwing cigarette butts from cars to avoid starting wildfires.... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

We had strong winds today, but not that strong. - John (bird whisperer)

Luckily for me they're (a) not projected to be the worst in the SGV and (b) not projected to be as bad as December. - Spidra Webster

"LOS ANGELES - An telephone scam that's been coming and going for 30 years is back in L.A. County, where people are being tricked by jail inmates and others into forwarding incoming calls to a third phone number, transferring the costs to the victim. The sheriff's department issued a statement Sunday warning people not to fall for the venerable "star 72" scam. The ruse begins by the victim caller receiving a landline call from someone claiming to be a deputy. The imposter tells the victim that one of their family members is in jail or has been in an accident, according to a department statement. The crook then tells the victim to call a number that begins with the asterisk or star symbol, followed by 7 and 2 and then a 10-digit number - for example "*72-323-555-1212 " - to get information about their loved one's injuries. Once the victim caller uses the prefix "*72" to begin a telephone call, they have automatically forwarded their incoming calls to that phone number. That allows the... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"Any city would welcome the general and generous title of "Best City," and major U.S. cities constantly vie to be dubbed the best in something, including those lining the West Coast. San Francisco and Los Angeles, though both Californians, are very different cities on various levels, yet residents feel compelled to line them up next to each other for endless rounds of comparisons. One Angeleno, Josh Heller, says, "I've never completely understood why San Franciscans talk smack about Los Angeles." So he did a little digging, reflecting and blogging. You can read "Why San Francisco hates Los Angeles" in full here, but for your Saturday afternoon reading convenience, we sifted through his recent account of visiting San Francisco and selected a few of Heller's finest rivalry observations, which are pasted below. You can be brutally attacked (read: coyly judged) [by San Franciscans] for merely mentioning that you’re from Los Angeles. Last summer my girlfriend and I went to a cafe on... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"NEXT SHOW: February 11 + 12 // 11am – 5pm both days Where: The California Market Center (110 East Ninth Street, LA, CA 90079) Cost: $10 at the door (Kids 12 and under are free), 10% of ticket sales go to the local non-profit organization 826LA. Admission includes: • An exclusive UNIQUE key tag (each one is individually numbered!) made just for attendees of this 1st Annual ‘Local Love Show’! • Unlimited re-entry for both days + our printed Vendor Directory • Free drinks from our friends at The Naked Grape Wine, IZZE, Honest Tea, GT’s Kombucha, Dry Soda, and exclusive cocktails from Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur! • Free DIY workshops + crafts: Make a Matchbox Valentine with DIYFO! • Free photo booth portraits and a print at the Oh Snap Studios Photo Booth • Our curated cafe area so you can grab a coffee or enjoy lunch, snacks or a sweet treat The largest independent design show in the country, attendees get the rare chance to meet and shop directly from over 325 hand-selected designers... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

via Anika - Spidra Webster

"They aren't the kind of heroes usually honored during Black History Month. They didn't challenge Jim Crow laws or invent more ways to use peanuts. But they were pioneers 40 years ago in this city's first school integration campaign. SANDY BANKS Bio | E-mail | Recent columns ALSO White supremacists revive dream of a homeland in Northwest Smugglers allegedly used black drivers to avert suspicion at border Former Black Panther patches together purpose in Africa exile Sandy Banks: Not business as usual at L.A. Unified Gale Holland: 'Soul Train' a special snapshot of L.A. Ads by Google Jewish Assisted Living Traditional or contemporary living Tour today and enjoy a nosh on us! www.beverlyhillscarmel.com Rudy Pittman, now a teacher, was 14 when he took that first bus ride from Watts, one of seven kids, escorted by police, headed over the hill to Van Nuys' Birmingham High. It was 1972 and the Los Angeles Unified School District had been found guilty of intentionally segregating city... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"In a written release, Controller John Chiang called January’s revenues "disappointing on almost every front." Personal income and corporate tax each lagged by a combined $700 million, and only the state sales tax managed to exceeded the mark, coming in $42 million higher than expected. H.D. Palmer, deputy director for external affairs at the California Department of Finance, said that it was unclear why personal income’s lagging but that its "something we're watching." It could be that self-employed taxpayers underestimated what they owed the state in January and will pay more in April. Californians also may have delayed stock sales because of market conditions — or the governor’s team may have over-estimated capital gains income. If the trend continues, state lawmakers will be forced to close a larger deficit next year. California lawmakers won’t know why January revenues were low until the end of April, after they’ve counted all the tax returns. A spokesman for the legislative analyst says that given the uncertainty, lawmakers are likely to wait until May before making any major budget decisions." - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"SOUTH PASADENA, Calif. (KTLA) -- Police in South Pasadena are looking for a man they say sexually assaulted an 18-year-old woman early Wednesday morning as she slept in her bedroom. The unknown man woke the woman about 2:50 a.m. while she was asleep in her bed, according to a news release issued by the South Pasadena Police Department. A police investigation revealed that the man forced his way into the woman's home in the 600 block of Monterey Road." - Anika from Bookmarklet

"sleeping sex"? Really? I'd call that rape. - Katy S

Weird that there was this delay in SPPD getting the word out. - Spidra Webster

"MONROVIA - Gold Line Construction Authority officials have agreed to pay a commercial property owner $24 million for his land for a maintenance and operations yard required for the light rail extension to move forward, his attorneys said. The Metro Gold Line Foothill Construction Authority agreed Thursday to pay property owner George Brokate of Excalibur Holdings and his wife Diana $24 million for Brokate's 4.5 acres of commercial property on the southwest corner of Evergreen and Shamrock, said Christopher Sutton, one of Brokate's attorneys. The agreement will also settle four pending lawsuits Brokate filed against the Construction Authority and various other entities and two lawsuits filed by the Construction Authority against Brokate, Sutton said. "George was the rock of Gibraltar in this thing," Sutton said. "He was unwavering ... It wasn't about him getting money. It was drawing attention to what he thought was misconduct by the Gold Line." Construction Authority officials said... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

$24 million but "it wasn't about money" for him. Suuuuure. - Spidra Webster

"Start: 02/10/2012 6:00 pm End: 02/10/2012 8:00 pm The Streamliner Lounge at Orange Depot and Ruby's Diner 186 N. Atchison St. Orange, CA 92866 714.639.7829 Streamliner's is a railroad themed lounge located in Ruby's Diner, near the Santa Fe Depot Park in historic Old Towne Orange. If you love the romance of train travel, you are certain to be charmed by Streamliner's.  If you've never visited Old Towne Orange, you may want to arrive early so you can scour the town's antique shops for treasures.   Come straight from work or slip into something more Deco – either way, plan to join us for no-host cocktails on February 10th for an evening with like-minded people. Cocktails in Historic Places™ is open to members and non-members alike, and no reservations are required. Location The Streamliner Lounge 186 N. Atchison St. Orange" - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

:) - esther

"A regional Super Bowl ad for Michigan Senate candidate Pete Hoekstra garnered further disapproval Wednesday when Rep. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park), the first Chinese American woman elected to Congress, spoke out on CNN against the "violent hateful" ad. Chu is running for Congress in 2012 in the newly drawn 27th Congressional District that includes Altadena, South Pasadena, San Marino, Rosemead, Monterey Park, and San Gabriel, Glendora and parts of Monrovia and Claremont. The Super Bowl commercial depicts an Asian woman speaking in broken English and thanking Hoekstra’s opponent Debbie Stabenow—called Debbie SpenditNow in the ad—for spending so much and giving American jobs to Asians. See the full commercial attached to this article. "I was offended; I was stunned," Chu said on CNN. "This is meant to stereotype and meant to blame Chinese persons and Asian persons for stealing American jobs. The economy is in a downturn but there are lots of reasons for it and the ad basically blames... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"The bad news is that state funding for California libraries has been completely eliminated. There’s not really any good news about that except that it was expected. This past July, state library funding was sliced in half, and there was a trigger amendment attached to the budget that would eliminate state funding for public libraries at midyear if the state's revenue projections were not met. Needless to say, they weren’t. Now libraries in the Bay Area, as in the rest of the state, will lose funding for literacy programs, InterLibrary Loans, and miscellaneous expenses such as librarian training programs and books. Libraries in rural areas will be hit the hardest because they receive more state funding than libraries in larger cities with larger budgets. These cuts are not new. State funding for libraries has been dwindling for the past decade. The Public Library Fund, which provides direct state aid to public libraries for basic service, has never received its full appropriation from... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

Cliff, it's what Jerry did his first time around. - Georgie Bestie

"When a piece of Los Angeles history disappears, it's often lost forever - preserved only in our collective memory and in the region's photographic archives. But in some rare cases, that history is only hidden, preserved by accident for later generations to rediscover. Today, the façade of downtown's historic Clifton's Brookdale Cafeteria saw the light of day for the first time since the early 1960s, as explained at KCET Food. For decades, the building's art deco façade stood quietly behind a wall of aluminum grates - removed last night and replaced with a temporary tarp, which Clifton's owner Andrew Meieran shucked from the building this morning at a special ceremony hosted by the Los Angeles Conservancy and city council member Jose Huizar's Bringing Back Broadway initiative." - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"It was a big moment today for the face of a famous restaurant in Downtown Los Angeles. At a special unveiling ceremony, the historic original facade of Clifton's Brookdale Cafeteria was revealed for the first time since the 1950s. Today's uncovering represents a significant step forward for the ongoing restoration and modernization of the Cafeteria, which is under new ownership and will see not only a menu revamp, but find its interior space transformed for modern diners and drinkers. The facade, however, is not yet refurbished, as those looking forward to the big reveal were perhaps hoping--there's much work to be done! Last summer, new owner Andrew Meieran announced temporary weekly closures to accommodate some of the renovations. The cafeteria closed completely in September for an anticipated six-month stretch." - Anika from Bookmarklet

"Los Angeles is a bike town in waiting. All the elements are there: year-round fair weather, relative flatness, big wide streets, insane traffic delays, the need for exercise in a city that lacks public parks and spaces. Studies show that 50% of trips made by car are less than 3 miles long. We know that not all of those trips are to carry lumber and tons of groceries. They're mostly trips to the movies, to get coffee, dinner, the book store, school, concerts - how about a bike date with peanut butter n' jelly sandwiches in the park? So what gives, L.A.? Why won't you come out and play-ay? The reason is pretty obvious. Fear. Not many people feel safe mixing it up with the L.A. traffic. I don't blame them. Our streets seem to encourage a kind of bipolar disorder - motorists slowing and speeding only to stop at traffic jams and red lights. Hitting the gas, then hitting the brakes then hitting the gas. From a cyclist's perspective it just seems silly. If you consider the time a driver... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"With the city going broke you may be surprised to find out that Los Angeles is the proud owner of a million dollar yacht and it is about to undergo hundreds of thousands of dollars in renovations at taxpayer expense. As the head of the Port of Los Angeles raced down the hall, they tried to block our camera and dodged our questions, not wanting to talk about a yacht owned by the port, which is a city agency. But the mayor said that it is not what we think. “It’s not a yacht. It’s a boat,” Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said. But whatever you call it, the Angelena II is 73 feet long and worth about a million bucks — according to a boat broker we contacted — and it is all your money." - Anika from Bookmarklet

"The Angelena is now in drydock at the Port of L.A. and has not been out on the high seas since September. But over the next couple of months they will be spending close to three quarters of a million dollars on upgrades. The engines have been removed because they no longer meet California emissions standards. They will be replaced by low-emission hybrid motors. The port is using... more... - Anika

"Superintendent John Deasy will unveil the proposed LAUSD budget at today's board meeting with a shortfall greater than expected at $570 million. There are proposed cuts to early education programs, the academic decathlon, science centers, band, and adult education, according to a board staff member who was informed of the proposals Monday. "It's ugly. Absolutely awful unless we get some help," the board staff member said. "Everything that is good about education that keeps people in schools is going." The board staff member stressed that the details of the budget may have changed since they were informed, as it is a work in progress." - Anika from Bookmarklet

"Meanwhile in Sacramento, Governor Jerry Brown's budget threatens a possible $4.8 billion cut to K-12 education, which depends on whether voters approve an initive to raise taxes in November. If they don't, LAUSD may see their budget shortfall grow even higher mid-year." - Anika

If what I saw is any indication, "ugly" doesn't even begin to cover it. What would be wonderful is if all these people who claim to care about education, especially if they're currently unemployed, actually stepped up to fill in the gaps; lead the chorus, teach the arts, offer to help with the sciences. I know it won't happen--it's easier for them to complain--but it would be nice.... more... - Anika

"In Boyle Heights, Kris Fortin will be leading our local coverage efforts. Fortin has been freelance writing about the Latino community for the past four years at the Los Angeles Times, the former Café Magazine, and currently at Boyle Heights Beat and Mis Neighbors. After getting his bachelor’s degree in journalism and urban studies and planning, Fortin wedded the two areas through an internship at Planetizen and hopes to continue to delve deeper into urban issues through journalism. In South L.A., our lead writer is Sahra Sulaiman. Sulaiman is a documentary photographer and researcher who has been 99.5% car-free since buying a road bike and riding it across Spain on a dare in 1996. A well-travelled M.A. and A.B.D. in International Relations, she also is deeply invested in LA as a regular volunteer with at-risk teens in local-area high schools and is currently working on a year-long photography project documenting the difficult circumstances which many of them endure. She seeks to use... more... - Anika from Bookmarklet

"Learn to use a pressure canner and expand your range of home-preserved foods to include meats, soups, stews, sauces, chilis, and much more. Home-canned jams, jellies and pickles are great. We love canning jams, jellies and pickles (we make enough of them). However, all these goods are processed in a boiling water bath. If you are really serious about canning, then you need to learn how to use a pressure canner. With a pressure canner you are able to safely can vegetables, meats, soups, stews, sauces, chilis, and all sorts of deliciousness. Jams, jellies and pickles are wonderful flavor enhancers that add to a meal. Pressure canning lets you preserve the main course. In Pressure Canning for Beginners, you will learn about different types of pressure canners, pressure canner safety, safely canning low-acid foods, and how pressure canning can be used to feed your family. Participants will take one or more pressure canned items home with them as well as a receive a 10% discount on any... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

Bummer :( I'm the same -- with canning and pickling (except the refrigerator kind) I really prefer to have someone show me, and see them walk through the steps. - Jennifer Dittrich

"At today’s Metro Board meeting, agency CEO Art Leahy announced that pre-revenue testing for the Expo Line will begin this coming Monday. The testing is intended to simulate actual service with trains running on a regular schedule, but with no customers on board. Trains will be operating between the Expo Line terminus at 7th/Metro Center and the La Cienega/Jefferson station while work continues on the final station in Culver City. Although train testing has been ongoing since last spring, there will be a greater frequency of trains running on the Expo tracks at many hours of the day. It is important for pedestrians, motorists and cyclists to remain vigilant around Expo Line tracks and obey all warning signs and traffic signals. Safety is everybody’s job, people. No opening date for the Expo Line has been announced. I know many of you are eager for the line to open — so are we — and we’ll let you know as soon as there is something to report." - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"INDUSTRY - While cities across California are struggling to pay their bills in the wake of the demise of redevelopment agencies, Industry today will likely buy 30 acres of vacant canyon land in Orange County. The City Council at this morning's meeting will vote whether to pay $400,000 for a flag-shaped lot in a hilly, unincorporated area. "We already have all that land back there, and we thought this was a good deal," Mayor Dave Perez said, referring to the 3,000 acres the city owns in Tonner Canyon. "We're going to keep it open space, just like we've been doing with the rest of our property." The land is being sold by Jack R. Harding of Scottsdale, Ariz., according to city documents. The city since 2001 has been buying up land in the canyon - about 2,400 acres in Los Angeles County and 525 acres in Orange County. The 30 acres on today's agenda would be at the southern end of its property. As a crow flies, the flag-shaped lot is about a mile northeast of Brea Olinda High School. It... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"Congratulations, California. Although you've been dubbed The Golden State, seven of your cities made the top ten list for the worst cities to seek employment. After clicking through the jobless "winners," one thing is certain: Do not move to California's Central Valley. A recent study by U.S. News and World Report says seven of "The 10 Worst Cities for Finding a Job" are located here in California. "These cities have both high and sticky unemployment-jobless rates that are elevated and, given those high levels, have not fallen far over the last year," according to the report. Six of the seven cities are located in the Central Valley, including Merced, Fresno, Modesto, Stockton, Visalia-Porterville and Bakersfield-Delano. Let's take a look at how all six Central Valley cities ranked, along with their November 2011 unemployment rate percentages. #7: Bakersfield-Delano, CA; 13.4% #5: Visalia-Porterville, CA; 15% #4: Stockton, CA; 15.5% #3: Modesto, CA; 15.5% #2: Fresno, CA; 15.7% #1:... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

via Jason Toney - Spidra Webster

most of those are in a small patch mid state - SteVe C

"Ralphs Grocery Co. has come to the aid of Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach, donating $10,000 to the marching band to help cover the cost of four stolen tubas. Last week, company representatives attended a winter pep rally at the school and presented the band with an supersized ceremonial check, which will cover about a third of the overall cost of the expensive missing instruments. "The students were definitely happy," band director Joel Carlson said, adding in jest: "That would have been a lot of candy to sell." The appreciative marching band performed at the event - sans tubas, of course. "It was really noticeable at the pep rally - the bass voice was completely missing," Carlson said. "I've been hesitant to do gigs just because of that." The tuba burglars struck just after midnight in the wee hours of Jan. 3, when the school was on winter break. The heist - achieved by destroying the door to a band-room storage closet with what might have been a crowbar - was just one of... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet