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Wanted: Masked 'Scarecrow Bandit'

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Scarecrows are typically quiet and still, but that’s not the case when it comes to a masked bank robber dubbed the “Scarecrow Bandit” by authorities.

The FBI and the Carlsbad Police Department are searching for an unknown man who robbed a Chase Bank located at 7176 Avenida Encinas in Carlsbad Thursday while wearing a mask that resembled a scarecrow.

The mask, officials said, was made of some type of tan-colored cloth material – possibly burlap – and had the eye holes cut out.

Witnesses said the bandit entered the bank at around 6:10 p.m. He walked up to a teller’s window and made a verbal demand for cash. When another teller approached, the robber demanded money from that teller as well.

After getting cash from both tellers, the Scarecrow Bandit fled the bank. He was last seen running southbound on Avenida Encinas.

No weapon was seen or used in the heist and no one was injured, officials said.

The masked suspect is described as a white man in his mid-to-late 20s, approximately 5-foot-8, with a medium, athletic build. Besides the strange mask, he wore a gray, hooded, long-sleeved sweatshirt with dark horizontal stripes, dark gloves and tan, cargo-style pants during the robbery.

On Friday, the FBI released images of the Scarecrow Bandit captured on surveillance tape in hopes of tracking down more information from the public on the identity or whereabouts of the suspect. Anyone with information on this case should contact the FBI or Carlsbad police.
 



Photo Credit: FBI

No Winner for Mega Millions $353M

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There were no winners in Friday night's drawing for the $353 million Mega Millions jackpot.

The winning numbers were 7, 20, 40, 54 and 69, with a Mega Ball number 12.

The next drawing will be Tuesday, March 18 with an estimated jackpot of $400 million. 

That jackpot is the fifth largest jackpot prize in Mega Millions history, according to the lottery's website. The largest ever came in 2012, when three winning tickets shared the $656 million prize. In December, winning tickets in California and Georgia split the $648 million prize.

 



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Dramatic Rescue After NYC Explosion

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A delivery driver is asking for help locating a woman he helped rescue in the frantic aftermath of the building explosion in East Harlem Wednesday. 

"I want to see if she's OK," said Sam Carrasquillo.

Carrasquillo happened to be in the neighborhood when the buildings at Park Avenue and 116th Street collapsed. He immediately began shooting video on his cellphone, not quite sure what had just happened. 

"I just saw a disaster," he said. 

Nearby, rescuers tried to save someone trapped in a car. Carrasquillo saw an ambulette and looked inside. He found a woman who couldn't walk trapped inside, and the driver of the ambulette was nowhere in sight. 

"There was nobody with her at that moment," said Carrasquillo. 

Carrasquillo is seen on the video extending his hand, but the woman doesn't move. 

"Come on, come on," he says. "There's a fire." 

He told NBC 4 New York he tried talking to her, "but she was in another world. She couldn't believe what was going on at that moment. She was in shock."

As more rescuers arrive to help, the video ends. Carrasquillo said he's been told the woman is OK but he would like to meet her again.

 "I just want to give her a kiss and a hug because she reminds me of my grandmother," he said. "That's also why I did it." 

He also wants to know where the woman's caretakers were at that time. 

NBC 4 New York was unable to reach the operators of the ambulette Friday night. 

Man Kills Boss Over Pic

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Loved ones of "Jimmy the Greek Taverna" owner Dimitrios Karaloukas gathered to celebrate his life at the Glades Road restaurant he owned and loved Friday, one day after the man was fatally stabbed by an employee police said was angry about a photo.  

"He would just hang out, and just sprawl out. Had a nice personality. Just a very nice man -- the whole family," one person said. "We all, everywhere, feel terrible."

Tilus Lebrun, 36, was arrested Thursday evening after deputies say he fatally stabbed Karaloukas in a restaurant because the boss took a photo of him without his permission, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

He worked at Jimmy The Greek Taverna Restaurant in Boca Raton, where witnesses say he pulled out a knife and stabbed the restaurant’s 61-year-old owner. Officials say the owner was sitting down in the restaurant when he was attacked by Lebrun. He was stabbed three times on his left side and once in his back and later died of his injuries.

An unidentified male who was an employee at the restaurant was also attacked by Lebrun. The victim was stabbed numerous times and is undergoing lifesaving surgery at Delray Medical Center, authorities said.

Deputies found Lebrun near the restaurant outside wearing an apron and holding a large knife. He later told deputies, “I killed him because he took my photograph on March 2nd and posted it on the internet,” according to authorities.

Lebrun has been charged with first degree premeditated murder and murder while engaged in a certain felony offense.

He was being held without bond Friday. It is not known at this time if he has an attorney.

Boy's Cupcake Argument Goes Viral

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Three-year-old Mateo likes to argue. A lot.

When Mateo's mom Linda took a YouTube video of him arguing and arguing with her over cupcakes, it didn’t just get a few clicks, it went viral.

As of Tuesday, Linda and Mateo’s video had more than 3 million hits and 2,082 comments.

It was picked up by a number of sites and even featured on the Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Ellen also posted the video on her Facebook page, saying: “I want this little boy to come to my show immediately. I want to retain him as my lawyer.”

And Linda and Mateo – who are from San Jose, Calif. – are actually on their way to the Ellen Show.

“My 3-year-old must argue and debate everything,” Linda Beltran wrote on her YouTube page.

And she’s right. Mateo is a debating machine, unabashedly referring to his mom as “Linda” and “honey” in the video in order to prove a point about why he should have cupcakes for dinner.

When Linda asks Mateo why he asked his grandma for cupcakes even though she told him “no cupcakes,” Mateo tries to reason with her.

“You need to listen to me ‘cos I’m the mom,” Linda says. And then after a while: "I'm done arguing with you."

But Mateo keeps pleading his case: “Linda, listen, listen, listen … You are not listening to me.”

Linda has also posted other videos of Mateo on YouTube, including those of Mateo singing and making lunch.

According to RTM, Linda taught her son to use her first name for emergency purposes. And this time, the site said, the emergency turned out to be cupcakes.

Pa. Man Killed in Bahamas

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A Pennsylvania father and husband was murdered during a business trip to The Bahamas.

Carl Yerger, of Fleetwood, Pa., was stabbed multiple times near a resort in Bimini, a set of islands on the western edge of the archipelago, an officer with the Royal Bahamas Police Force confirmed to NBC10.com.

The 45-year-old’s body was found at 7 a.m. Friday morning and had multiple stab wounds, officials said. An official cause of death is pending an autopsy.

Co-owner of Custom Milling & Consulting in Fleetwood, Pa., Yerger was conducting business on the island when he was killed, his wife Rebecca Yerger told NBC10.com. The couple have two sons – Tate, 7, and 10-year-old Ty.

He also was the president of the Oley Valley Youth Sports League.

“He was unique, caring, ambitious, detailed, organized, courageous, a problem solver, and mediator,” the league’s board of directors wrote in a statement. “His efforts earned him the support and loyalty of both new and long-time volunteers and coaches.”

Investigators say they have taken four men into custody in relation to the crime, but no one has been charged.

Police also have not released an official motive, but believe it may have been a random act.

The death investigation is ongoing.


Contact Vince Lattanzio at 610.668.5532, vince.lattanzio@nbcuni.com or follow @VinceLattanzio on Twitter.



Photo Credit: Oley Valley Youth League

Amber Alert: Police Seek Family

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Police issued an Amber Alert Saturday for four children and their non-custodial parents after the children were taken by force from their grandmother's Los Angeles home Friday, officials said.

“I’m asking you to just do the right thing and bring the children in,” said Los Angeles Police Capt. Martin Baeza. “The reason that we’re reaching out to the public is that we’re concerned for the children's safety.”

The children were taken into protective custody by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and put into the care of their grandmother, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The children's parents took them from the grandmother's home in the 1400 block of Indian Street in Los Angeles' Boyle Heights neighborhood at 12:30 p.m. Friday, police said. Police said the parents may have a history of violent behavior. 

"The information that was provided to us by the grandmother was that the father is known to be violent with both all the children and the mother," LAPD Officer Sally Madera said.

The father, Enrique Felix, is described as a Hispanic man, 28 years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall with black hair and brown eyes. The mother, Rose Chaidez, is described as a Hispanic woman, 5 feet 2 inches tall with red hair and brown eyes.

The children were identified as 7-year-old Enrique Felix, 5-year-old Justin Felix and 1-year-old twins Veronica Felix and Janeth Felix.

They may be in a dark plum or gray Chrysler PT Cruiser with tinted windows, a missing a rear hub cap and a paper license plate with black letters, and no official state tag.

Anyone with information was urged to call 323-342-8900.
 

Boy Escapes Attempted Kidnapping

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A man tried to kidnap an 11-year-old boy in Queens, but fled when the child's father arrived, police said Saturday. 

The boy was waiting to be picked up after school Friday in Flushing when a man drove up and said, "Get in the car, I'll take you somewhere nice Upstate," police said. When the boy refused, police said the man got out of the car, grabbed the child's hands and tried to pull him inside the vehicle. 

That's when the boy's father arrived at the corner of Colden Street and 45th Avenue, police said, and the suspect fled in a dark blue four-dour sedan.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).



Photo Credit: NYPD

Teacher Launches Grammar Movement

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A Southern California teacher has launched a movement to help reduce the use of texting lingo by students as part of a month-long effort she calls the "gramMARCH Challenge."

"R u ready 4 da gramMARCH challenge? Save the d8 on ur calendar bc it will b n event u dnt wanna miss," a press release humorously stated.

The gramMARCH Challenge is a movement created by Heather Shotke, a middle school teacher who noticed that students were using abbreviated forms of language typically used on social media - LOLs, OMGs, emoticons - in their schoolwork as well.

"I am disappointed and appalled," Shotke said. "Kids are using 'text language' in their academic work and they think it is acceptable because that is how they are communicating with their friends on social media. It worries me that they cannot differentiate between a formal, school assignment and a text to a friend."

For the month of March, those taking on the gramMARCH challenge will write using proper grammar, full sentences and use entire words in text messaging, formal writing and all forms of written communication.

Muscatel Middle School in Rosemead and Rowland High School and Rowland Heights are some of the participating schools, according to Shotke’s Twitter feed.

The Pew Research Center’s Internet Project estimates that teens ages 14 to 17 send an average of 100 text messages a day.

"Anecdotally, it takes about 30 days for something to become a habit," Shotke said. "So, if we can get people to accept the gramMARCH Challenge and write with proper grammar in all communications – including texts, tweets, Kiks, Instagram captions and status updates on Facebook – for the month of March, we may be able to make the shift back to intelligent communication."

More information on the movement can be found on the gramMARCH website.



Photo Credit: gramMARCH.org

"Saint Pitty's Day" Promotes Pit Bull Adoption

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The San Diego Humane Society and SPCA hopes this St. Patrick’s Day will be lucky for more than just the Irish.

They want 50 of their pit bulls to find owners at the end of the rainbow.

Between March 15 and 17, the humane society is running a “Saint Pitt’s Day” special, where pit bulls and pit bull mixes can be adopted for $17.

That fee includes the spay/neuter surgery, microchip implant, preliminary vaccinations, a sample bag of dog food and adopter support for as long as the dog is alive.

Dr. Gary Weitzman, the president of the humane society, said pit bull breeds tend to stay in their care longer than other dogs.

“Every animal that’s adopted makes space for another animal who is in urgent need of care,” said Weitzman through a press release. “Adoption specials like this one help to find homes for these animals and bring attention to the issue of pit bull overpopulation in our community.”

Saint Pitty’s Day will be celebrated at the humane society’s San Diego campus at 5500 Gaines St., Oceanside Campus at 2905 San Luis Rey Rd., and the Adoption Center at Petco at 540 N. Second St. in El Cajon.



Photo Credit: San Diego Humane Society

200 Chickens Seized From Conn. Home

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A Plainville, Conn., couple could face criminal charges after authorities discovered nearly 200 diseased chickens packed into their home in what the Department of Agriculture called "one of the most extreme cases that you will see of this type of animal hoarding."

Authorities said the birds were cooped up in a house on North Washington Street. The animals were all infected with a highly contagious respiratory disease and were euthanized Friday.

“There was no threat to humans,” said Steven Jensen, of the state Department of Agriculture, “but the conditions in the house were so unsanitary that the house was quarantined and the homeowners were evicted.”

The homeowners, a husband and wife who are now staying with relatives, said raising chickens was their hobby. Authorities said the couple could be charged with animal neglect and abuse.

Although the house on North Washington Street has not been officially condemned, authorities expect it to be knocked down.

"The conditions inside the house were very unsanity," Jensen explained. "They were chickens living throughout the house, anywhere from chicks to mature in every room of the house.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Amber Alert: Police Seek Family

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 Police issued an Amber Alert early Saturday for four children and their non-custodial parents after the children were taken by force from their grandmother's Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, home Friday, officials said.

The alert was issued around 5 a.m.

“I’m asking you to just do the right thing and bring the children in,” said Los Angeles Police Capt. Martin Baeza. “The reason that we’re reaching out to the public is that we’re concerned for the children's safety.”

The children were taken into protective custody by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and put into the care of their grandmother, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The children's parents took them from the grandmother's home at 12:30 p.m. Friday, police said. Police said the parents may have a history of violent behavior. 

The father, Enrique Felix, is described as a Hispanic man, 28 years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall with black hair and brown eyes. The mother, Rose Chaidez, is described as a Hispanic woman, 5 feet 2 inches tall with red hair and brown eyes.

The children are two boys, 5 and 7 years old, and two 1-year-old twin girls. They were last seen in the 1400 block of Indian Street in Boyle Heights.

They may be in a dark plum PT Cruiser with tinted windows and a paper license plate with black letters, and no official state tag.

Anyone with information was urged to call 323-342-8900.
  

Prowler Got into Carlsbad Home: PD

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 Police are investigating a new report of a prowler inside a Carlsbad home Saturday.

A resident called 911 Saturday morning to initially report someone lurking outside their home near Sutter and Yosemite streets.

When Carlsbad Police officers arrived, officials said they determined that the prowler had gotten inside the house, but fled when the 911 call was made.

Police used their helicopter to search for the suspect, who is described as a white man in his late teens. However, after coming up empty handed, the search was called off around 2:30 p.m.

Nothing was taken from the home, and no one was injured inside.

This marks the third report of a prowler in the past week. 

Early Wednesday morning, police said a man broke into a Mira Mesa apartment to hover over a woman and her daughter as they slept. 

Some Kensington residents reported this week that a man scratched at a back door and was seen lurking around fences. 



Photo Credit: NBC 5 News

Unsolved Art Mystery Involves San Diego Artist's Signature

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Artist Sam Von Mayrhauser of Hartford, Connecticut has tried a bit of everything -- from paintings, drawings, realistic and abstract art.

His brother, Ben accidentally discovered three of his brother's older pieces for sale.

"I happened to drive by this consignment shop, and I saw a painting in the window that looked like my brother's painting," said Ben.

What Ben discovered inside of the shop was a shock.

"That's when I noticed the fake signature and the tag said ‘authentic mid-century Swedish Lillemor Bjork,’” said Ben.

The Von Mayrhauser brothers said they last saw those paintings when their parents were moving out of their Hartford home.

"Somehow I just let those go. I didn't see any value in them at the time," said Sam.

Their moving company brought some furnishings and those works of art -- including a mask self-portrait -- to a local auction house. Bidder number 204 bought the artwork for $110.

Bidder 204 was Sean Carr from Revival Home Fine Furnishings, a consignment store in Connecticut.

“When the auction actually happened, it sold for so little. We acquired it, took a chance to see if we could sell it," said Carr.

Carr said most of his business is consignment, but he buys about 10 percent of the furniture and artwork you'll see in his shop.

“We look and say, ‘What will our customers pay for something like this?’ It's normally between $400 and $1000," said Carr.

Sam's mask self-portrait was presented as a mid-century work of Lillemor Bjork.

In a photo you can see Sam, Ben and their mom standing next to the piece at his college art show in 2009. There's no signature in this shot, but in the shop, the piece bears Bjork's name.

Sam said a large portrait of a naked woman, priced at more than $1000, is his work as well, but NBC couldn't determine if there was a signature on it.

Sam said the third piece is a black and yellow abstract painting.

“Usually an artist will sign the front as part of the composition. In this case, these weren't actually finished pieces; they were schoolwork assignments. My initials were on the back,” said Sam.

"I have the guy take it off the wall with me, and not only does this have a fake signature -- on the back, it has a print out with a bio of the artist who supposedly painted it," Ben said.

Ben took a digital picture which shows Sam's handwrittten initials and a printout from the website 1stDibs.com. That website also shows another painting by artist Kenneth Joaquin, which sold for $4,900.

Revival Home was marketing Sam’s painting -- signed "Joaquin" -- both in the store and online for $1,995.

Kenneth Joaquin lives in San Diego and confirmed to NBC 7 the painting is not his.

"It just felt really strange to know that somebody would copy or do a painting or make a painting and copy my signature onto it. I just didn't understand why they'd even do that since I'm a living artist," Joaquin said.

However, Joaquin thinks he knows what happened.

"My art on 1st dibs, you know, go online and you can find it, and it's -- the prices are varied, you know $4000, $5000 and such,” said Joaquin. “So at that point, they probably saw that, you know, they could throw some scribble on a canvas and throw a signature on there and slide it by real quick. And probably nobody would notice."

Back in Connecticut, NBC interviewed Sean Carr one week after investigating. By that time, he says he'd thrown the three pieces away. NBC asked Carr who changed the signature, signing it Joaquin.

“ I, I, uh, I have no idea,” said Carr. “That's not something we did here. We acquired those. And they didn't sell, and we disposed of them, like we do."

"It wasn't the money because when my parents auctioned them off, “ Sam said. ”I got like $90, and now they're being sold for thousands. It's more just when you work, it's like your legacy. It represents who you are"

RJ Weston of Weston Auctions didn't want to speak on camera. He said he only made about $30 on the sale of the artwork, that he didn't forge any signatures and that he doesn't understand why anyone would take that risk.

"I'm not pointing fingers at anybody. I honestly don't know,” said Carr. “We had them here. We didn't sell them. We didn't manipulate any signatures. I think that's kind of what you're trying to ask me... um, they didn't sell.”

So the question of who changed the signatures on these works of art remains a mystery.

“If you've ever worked on honest day in your life, it's not a good feeling to see these people cashing in on someone else's name," said Sam.

NBC spoke with investigators on both the state and local levels in Connecticut. They say what happened may rise to the level of a criminal offense.

However, they say they would only investigate if someone filed a formal complaint, and Sam von Mayerhauser has chosen not to.

2 Injured in Chem Lab Fire

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Two students were injured in a small chemical reaction fire at a lab at California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) Friday night, school officials confirmed.

The chemical reaction, which caused a small fire, happened on campus in Room 206B and prompted a Hazmat investigation at the college.

According to school officials, three students were working with three unspecified substances in a physics lab when a chemical reaction caused the substances to ignite. Investigators say there was no blast or explosion, as initially reported, but rather a small fire that the students were able to put out using a nearby fire extinguisher.

Officials said one student sustained an injury to the right eye and was transported to Palomar Medical Center. Another student was treated at the scene, and a third was not harmed in the lab incident. The injured student was later released from the hospital.

School officials said the students were preparing rocket fuel for a model rocket demonstration related to Super STEM Saturday, a science event held at the CSUSM campus on Saturday. The free event – which officials confirmed will go on as planned – features dozens of interactive, hands-on science activities, according rocket launches, build-a-robot stations and model displays.

School officials said the students did have permission to be in the physics lab Friday night without supervision.

A risk management and safety team was called to the campus to evaluate the damage and clean-up needs of the laboratory. By 11 p.m., Hazmat crews had wrapped up their investigation and were clearing the campus.

The names of the students involved in this incident were not released. The physics lab where the incident occurred remained closed on Saturday.

CSUSM students say they understand the dangers of working with chemicals.

"You can have a premature fire, there are generally timing issues but rockets are really safe. They can be finicky but that just comes with patience -- how to deal with them,” said physics student Joy Lopez Cervera.

Meanwhile, school officials say this is the first time something like this has ever happened in the physics lab on campus. After this incident, the university says it plans to revise its protocols on students working in labs alone.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Local Teen Dances Again After Crash

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What a difference a year can make. No one knows this better than Taylor Cunningham, a San Diego teenager nearly killed in a violent car crash last St. Patrick's Day.

Friday, after months upon months of recovery, Taylor is gearing up to do something she thought she might never do again: dance.

On Saturday, Taylor's school, Cathedral Catholic High School, will hold its dance show.

Taylor will perform in the sold-out show, which will mark her first time dancing in front of a crowd since the accident that almost claimed her life and the lives of her family members.

On Mar. 17, 2013, Taylor, her mother and two sisters were driving home from the very same dance show she's preparing for now when their family car was struck head-on by a suspected drunk driver traveling the wrong way on State Route 52.

Moments before the impact, Taylor's mother, Alisa Cunningham, pushed her daughter's legs off the dashboard, saving not only Taylor’s legs but also her ability to dance.

Taylor, her mother and sisters, Jayden and Logan Cunningham, were all seriously injured in the horrific collision. The wrong-way driver, Matthew T. Leonardo, 30, was killed in the crash.

Taylor was in a coma for 17 days and spent a total of 75 days in the hospital. She suffered two broken wrists, a fractured pelvis, a broken right hip and traumatic brain injury.

The injury to the right side of her brain is still affecting the left side of her body. However, in the last 12 months, she’s made incredible progress.

So much so, that in this weekend's performance, Taylor is featured in three major dances.

One is her senior solo, which she isn’t actually dancing alone. Her best friend and biggest cheerleader, Tory Brown, will dance beside her during the entire performance.

The best friends say the dance represents their bond, which can never be broken, and everything Taylor has been through in the past year.

"The song, is our time in the hospital," Taylor told NBC 7. "This dance means everything -- I can't even put it into words."

"I think this dance shows our friendship can conquer anything," said Brown. "With each other, we're always going to be safe and sound."

With encouragement, determination and support, the Cunningham family has come a long way. Like Taylor, her mother and sisters have also recovered from their own injuries.

Alisa suffered broken ribs, a traumatic brain injury, a partially severed foot, smashed left hand and bruises. Logan sustained lung damage, a fractured coccyx, deep lacerations and a concussion in the crash, while Jayden suffered a fractured neck, fractured scapula, deep lacerations and a concussion.

Monday will mark the one-year anniversary of the accident that changed the the lives of the Cunninghams. The family wants to remind people to not drink and drive this St. Patrick’s Day weekend, no matter what, as that decision can have irrevocable consequences.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Chicagoan Plows Block for 35 Years

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Chicago winters are no walk in the park, that’s why city resident Albin Hoffman took it upon himself to make things easier for his neighbors.

For nearly 35 years Hoffman has been clearing snow from the sidewalks of his entire block in the 6600 block of South Karlov Avenue.

“He doesn’t really speak to a lot of folks, he doesn’t ask anybody, he just does it,” said neighbor Antonio Lopez. “He literally, every time it snows, is so consistent. He does the whole block and has been doing it for years and years.”

But on March 5, Hoffman’s snow blower broke beyond repairs and he wasn’t sure he’d be able to continue clearing the snow. So he decided to write a letter to his neighbors, encouraging them to enjoy clearing the snow as much as he did.

“I don’t know whether I will invest in a new machine, keeping in mind my age,” he wrote. “In the future, if I am no longer able to clear the snow, and you are shoveling, do it with a smile on your face, the way I did. After every snow cleaning I loved to look at the work done, with a smile and thought that our sidewalk and block was the cleanest in the whole city of Chicago.”

Area residents said Hoffman has made this seemingly unbearable winter that much more tolerable.

“It was just awesome. It like made me believe in people again,” Lopez said of the letter. “You just know that there’s people out there that really have that sense of community and it was a really bright spot since this winter’s been really tough on people.”

Lopez said that another resident even took over clearing snow on the block after heavy snow fell on the area Wednesday and Hoffman couldn’t clear it.

With the potential for more snow late Saturday, Lopez wasn’t sure if that resident would clear the walkways again, but said he’s confident someone will continue Hoffman’s tradition.

“There’s still people in Chicago that care for their neighbors,” he said. “I think somebody will take over. I don’t have a snow blower, but if I did I would do it.”

In his letter, Hoffman said he hoped that his neighbors would continue to keep the block cleared. He thanked area residents who chipped in to help him pay for gas and maintenance of the machine and said he was proud to help them out in the cold and snowy times.

“It was my pleasure to relieve elderly people of this hard work, and also working people, by letting them sleep or hug their lovely wives for another few minutes longer while I was cleaning snow.”

Hoffman also apologized for the “loud noise” during his early morning cleanings, but he continued to lighten his neighbors’ winter blues with one final sentence.

“Spring is around the corner, the snow will be gone, therefore keep smiling,” he wrote.



Photo Credit: Antonio Lopez

Broken Hydrant Floods Homes, Displaces 10

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 Ten people are temporarily without a place to stay after a broken fire hydrant flooded their homes Saturday evening.

Fire officials say a vehicle slammed into the hydrant at 17th and G streets in the East Village of San Diego around 5:50 p.m.

As the vehicle rested on top of the hydrant, water began gushing out and flooded the roadway. That stream made its way into six homes nearby.

The Red Cross is helping the ten displaced people find a place to stay for the night while the water is drained from their homes.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Padres Fans Swing (and Miss) for Season Tickets

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One thousand tried. None succeeded. And yet, for many, a childhood dream is fulfilled.

During Saturday’s first Swing for Your Seats event, San Diego Padres fans stepped up to the plate at Petco Park with hopes of hitting a home run.

“A lot of people come down to the ballpark and watch the players do it, and makes it look a little easier than it actually is,” said Sindi Schug, the Padres’ director of membership services.

With an MLB wooden bat between their hands and an MLB helmet on their heads, fans were given two 70 mph pitches from a pitching machine set up on the mound, but every person only got one swing.

If they hit one out of the park, they would run home with two Padres premiere club season tickets.

“I think that the chances are slim to none, but, you know, it’s just the opportunity to do this, and this is kind of like living a childhood dream,” said fan Ian Smith.

Although many kept their expectations low, the hitters wanted the ball to at least connect with the bat.

“It went pretty well. I mean, I made contact at least. I didn’t hit a home run, but I didn’t swing and miss,” said Tim Sherman.

Schug said one man hit a pitch to the warning track, but no one made it over the fence.

Still, most people walked away with a smile, vowing to do better next year and calling for this event to become a San Diego tradition.

“I hit the ball. I fouled it off, but my heart feels like it's going to explode out of my chest right now,” said another participant named David. “It was, like, surreal -- just lifelong dream come true.”

The Padres will show everyone how it’s really done at the sold-out season opener on March 30 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Man, 21, Killed in Carlsbad Crash

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A 21-year-old man was killed in a crash in Carlsbad early Saturday morning, officials confirmed.

According to the Carlsbad Police Department, the single-vehicle collision was reported to officers by a passerby just after 4 a.m. near the 2000-block of La Costa Avenue and El Camino Real.

When police and emergency crews arrived, they discovered a single victim inside the wreckage of a Toyota Camry. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

No others were injured in the crash. The victim’s name has not yet been released, but the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s office said the young man is a resident of San Marcos.

Authorities said the investigation into the crash is ongoing. The collision, as far as police know right now, was not witnessed by anyone and the vehicle was found just off the roadway with significant damage.

Anyone with information on this fatal accident should contact the Carlsbad Police Department,
 

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