Teacher’s Court Date Rescheduled

On Wednesday, Glendale Unified School District teacher Christian Axelgard was in court where his lawyer requested and received a new court date of May 3. Axelgard has been charged with “the crime of child molesting violation” and child annoying. 

According to Glendale police spokesman Sgt. Dan Suttles, the teacher is accused of taking photos with his cellphone of girls under the age of 18. The photos were not taken by a hidden camera but were taken in classrooms or at sporting events. The investigation began in late 2018; Axelgard turned himself into authorities in January 2019. GUSD placed the teacher on administrative leave.

“The teacher has remained on administrative leave and away from the schools while law enforcement completes its investigation and the District conducts its own review,” stated GUSD.

Axelgard pled not guilty to the charges on March 1.

Boy Dies from Injuries After Jumping from Americana Structure

The 17-year-old Los Angeles boy who on Tuesday jumped from the seventh floor of the parking structure at the Americana on Brand has died due to his injuries.

Glendale police received a call on Tuesday at 2:39 p.m. concerning an apparent suicide that included another person with injuries. The boy had jumped from the structure and landed on a man who was on the sidewalk below the structure. The man, in his 40s, was with his two young children. The 17-year-old was transported to a hospital in critical condition. The pedestrian was transported with moderate, non-life threatening injuries. His children were not physically injured.

The boy succumbed to his injuries a few hours after arriving at the hospital.

La Crescenta Library Book Sale

The Friends of La Crescenta Library will be holding its April book sale in the meeting room at the La Crescenta Library. A “members only” presale takes place on Friday, April 5 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. (may join at the door) and the public is invited on Saturday, April 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Find a great deal and support the library at the same time.

La Crescenta Library, 2809 Foothill Blvd., La Crescenta

Rosemont Preserve Open Gate Afternoon

An “open gate” event is taking place at the Rosemont Preserve on Sunday morning, April 7. This is a chance for residents to visit the Preserve and wander the trail at their own pace and enjoy the tranquil setting, the wildlife and the natural beauty. Photographers: bring your camera to capture the morning light. Citizen scientists: bring your iNaturalist app to add to the wildlife sightings!

The gate will be open from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., and Friends of the Rosemont Preserve Committee members will be available to answer questions and present this community resource.

The Preserve is located at the north end of Rosemont Avenue, just past the chain link fence. As street parking is limited, please park at Two Strike Park, 5107 Rosemont Ave. Those planning on walking the trails should wear sturdy shoes. 

This event is free to the public and suitable for all ages; no reservations required. Rain cancels. Sorry, no pets please. 

For further information, contact the Friends of the Rosemont Preserve at RosemontFriends@gmail.com.

Acclaimed Author Gives Reading at GCC

The Los Angeles Writers Reading Series at Glendale Community College presents a reading by National Book Award winning poet Robin Coste Lewis on Monday, April 8 at 12:20 p.m. in the Student Center. A short Q&A will follow.

Lewis is the author of “Voyage of the Sable Venus” (2015), which earned her the National Book Award for poetry. Her work has appeared in various journals and anthologies. She earned her MFA from NYU’s Creative Writing Program where she was a Goldwater fellow in poetry. She also earned a MTS degree in Sanskrit and comparative religious literature from Harvard Divinity School.

The ongoing Los Angeles Writers Reading Series is coordinated by GCC English instructor Claire Phillips to celebrate local writers and to give students access to literary events where they can meet and talk with authors who wrote some of the material used in their English classes. 

For additional information, call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5606. The event is free and open to the public. The college is located at 1500 N. Verdugo Road in Glendale.

Preparing for Disaster

A free community disaster preparedness forum is being held on Thursday, April 11 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the La Crescenta Library community room. Among the topics covered will be how organizations and businesses can prepare for a major emergency. The forum is suitable for all types of businesses and organizations.

The La Crescenta Library community room is located upstairs at 2809 Foothill Blvd.

Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) Workshops & Survey

Glendale Water & Power is preparing an Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and public input is sought through its IRP survey and community workshops. The collected opinions and comments during the IRP process will be presented to the Glendale City Council and the next steps will be determined regarding the city’s energy future. Complete the survey at http://tinyurl.com/y3xye9rr or attend one of the upcoming IRP community workshops. To see a list of workshops, visit the city website at http://tinyurl.com/y2c9672b.