818 Roundup: New faces of Glendale police and fire departments, helicopter noise, toy drive

Good morning, 818 readers. Temperatures for today, Friday, Dec. 20, are expected to hit lows of around 44 degrees and highs around 63.

Here are the top headlines in the 818 area code:

• Changing faces of the Glendale police department and fire department: Robert Castro was sworn in as the new police chief Thursday afternoon, replacing retired Police Chief Ron De Pompa. In a separate ceremony Thursday, Stuart Tom, formerly the building official for the City of Glendale, was sworn as the city’s newest fire marshal.

• An eight-year dream came true for 21-year-old La Cañada resident Kate Hansen, 21, with her selection to the U.S. Olympics luge team this week, two days after turning in the best performance of her career at the fifth Viessmann Luge World Cup in Park City, Utah. Hansen is a La Cañada High alumna who has been training for the past decade.

• If you’ve ever been disturbed by helicopter noise issues in the area, your concerns may be addressed soon. Today, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank), along with Reps. Brad Sherman, Henry Waxman, Tony Cardenas and Alan Lowenthal, wrote to the chairman and ranking member of the Transportation Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee urging them to include a provision in any final appropriations bill addressing helicopter noise issues in the skies over Los Angeles County.

• The Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station is seeking unwrapped, new toys and food to assist area families during the holidays. The station hopes to serve more than 100 needy families at an event on Dec. 21. Toys valued at $10 or more may be dropped off at the station, located at 4554 Briggs Ave. in La Crescenta.