AROUND L.A.

District's green program honored

The Los Angeles Community College District was honored by the Clinton Climate Initiative this week for its green building program.

LACCD is part of a pilot program with the initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by upgrading campus buildings without using capital budgets or increasing monthly operating expenses.

"Being honored by President Clinton's organization is a great validation of our commitment to sustainability and leaving the world better than we found it," said Marshall Drummond, LACCD's chancellor.

The LACCD is one of over 400 colleges and universities that signed a partnership with the CCI to dramatically accelerate and support efforts to reach climate neutrality.

LACCD's board has directed that all new buildings at least half-funded with Proposition A/AA bond money be built to standards developed by the U.S. Green Buildings Council. The district is also creating a sustainable development curriculum that integrates sustainability and education at each of the nine colleges.

Three forests set to reopen

Three national forests closed for the past two weeks because of wildfires were to be reopened Thursday, officials said.

Authorities warn that extreme fire risk remains, but much of the Angeles, Los Padres and San Bernardino national forests will be open once again to the public.

Officials looked at the forest land as well as the current fire activity and determined they were safe to open again. In the Angeles National Forest, areas burned during the Ranch and Buckweed fires will remain closed so vegetation can grow.

Barker tapped to lead parade

Legendary television host Bob Barker was named Thursday the grand marshal of the 2007 Hollywood Santa Parade.

The parade will be Sunday, Nov. 25, at 5 p.m., starting at Hollywood Boulevard and Orange Drive.

The 83-year-old Barker won a handful of Emmy Awards during a 50-year television career that included 35 years as host of CBS's "The Price is Right." He taped his last show in June.

"When I first got to Los Angeles in 1950, my wife and I walked down here and watched our first Hollywood parade. For me now to have a star on Hollywood Boulevard and be the grand marshal of Hollywood's Santa Parade is a real thrill," Barker said.

In addition to Barker, the parade will feature the cast of Disney's "High School Musical," Shawn and Marlon Wayans, Dick Van Patten, Casey Kasem, Mickey Rooney, Rip Taylor and Jack Jones.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce announced in March that rising costs and deflated revenues had brought an end to the annual parade after 75 editions. But the Los Angeles City Council decided last month to throw its financial weight behind the effort and ensure that a procession will indeed be held in Hollywood after all.

-- Staff and Wire Services