WAR OF THE ROSES: When the city...

WAR OF THE ROSES: When the city of L. A. laid down the diversity law to Pasadena’s Rose Parade chiefs, the lone holdout was Hal Bernson. The northwest Valley councilman cast the only vote against a measure yanking the city’s float in 1995 unless women and minorities get seats on the organization’s all-white-male executive committee (B1). . . . “There are other ways to handle it,” said Bernson, who favored negotiation.

NOT IN MAIL: Having paychecks deposited automatically is a great convenience of the computer age--until the transfer misses the electronic boat. Chatsworth-based Great Western Bank doesn’t know how many accounts were affected by such a glitch, but 2,000 callers wanted to know where their money was on the eve of a long holiday weekend. . . . The bank blamed the Federal Reserve . . . which blamed the bank.

NEW PILGRIMS: Thanksgiving’s uniquely American character gets a food transfusion from many lands as immigrants and their children modify the traditional turkey menu. Glendale’s Mina Shirvaniam (above) prepares an Armenian dish of grape leaves. . . . How others add touches of Mexico, the Punjab, Afghanistan, Russia and Central America is told in Focus (B2,B3).

DIAL-A-SCAM: The charges against a Los Angeles city firefighter describe a whole new scam to worry about. According to Van Nuys prosecutors, he set up a 900 number offering Fire Department facts, and on “inspection” visits to Valley businesses dialed that number himself from the business’s phone, making $5 a minute. . . . He faces 10 charges, plus a department investigation.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: So it’s the holidays, you’re doing fine, maybe even feeling a bit too self-satisfied. You say you want to reach out and help someone? . . . Check out the full page guide to volunteer and charity opportunities in View (E8).