Avalon News

Admission: Free; boat tours are $19.50; $17.50 for seniors; $14.75 for children.

TODAY Catalina Island Flying Fish Festival Celebrate the gilled gliders with flying fish exhibits, sand sculptures and 50-minute fish-viewing boat tours .

With a cold splash, the 100 pounds of bulky equipment that steals agility on land becomes weightless, buoyant even.

Finding the differences between the two Democratic candidates for the 54th Assembly District can require a fine-tooth comb.

A helicopter crashed in rainy weather Saturday morning on Santa Catalina Island , killing three people and injuring three others, authorities said.

Seven people were questioned Thursday morning after a Los Angeles County Sheriff's helicopter made an unscheduled landing after being shot at twice.

A report by an environmental group lists Avalon Harbor Beach on Catalina Island as the most polluted beach in California. Just two Northern California beaches were named among the state's worst.

The Heal the Bay organization also says in its annual "Beach Report Card" Wednesday that Los Angeles County had the worst overall beach water quality in the state for the third year in a row.

Campbell Cove State Park Beach in Sonoma County was the only Bay Area beach to make the list - coming in an number 8.

“It really did take off and did well.”

Dan Jones likes telling his Taco Bell employees that he began his 43-year career with the company at 19, earning $1.30 an hour as a crew member like them. via Press-Telegram

Ride high with a hotel special that combines an overnight stay with an unlimited one-day pass for the new solar-powered Ferris wheel and other rides at Santa Monica Pier. via Los Angeles Times

“Everyone who wants to see the plants coming back is going to have a real treat.”

Carlos de la Rosa, chief conservation officer for the Catalina Island Conservancy, surveys encouraging sprouting around the base of a fire-blackened toyon tree, as island poppies blanket the nearby earth. via Daily Breeze

“Being a registered nurse, I understand the importance of high air quality”

Candidates for the 54th state Assembly District faced off for the first time Monday night in a forum at Veterans Park in Long Beach sponsored by the Wrigley Association. via Daily Breeze

Sample ballots have been sent out and vote-by-mail voting will begin Monday as the clock ticks down to the June 3 primary election. via Press-Telegram

“HEALING VS. HURTING: A PLAY ABOUT CARING”

TODAY 2008-09 KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION, 1 to 6 p.m., Cesar E. Chavez School, 490 El Camino Real, Greenfield. via Thecalifornian.com

Catalina Island is off the coast of southern California in the vicinity of Los Angeles. via Associated Content

“It would be inappropriate to discuss the tactics used, since this is still being investigated”

This portrait of Aziz James, also known as 'Almighty Aziz,' was taken earlier this year for a Mercury News feature on emerging South Bay hip-hop artists. via San Jose Mercury News

It's perfect for a day trip or an extension of your Southern California vacation... Where: Catalina Island Why: Pretty beaches, a lively beach culture, clear coastal waters, and lots of mountains and canyons ... via Fodor's

“The business community wants to see stability and teamwork”

Carson Mayor Jim Dear touted local businesses in his annual State of the City address Thursday and turned over much of the presentation to video clips featuring developers and small-business owners. via Daily Breeze

Spin FRIDAY Club Red @ Circus Disco Superstar house/electro DJ Keoki comes to Red's 7th annual Halloween bash to spin high energy hits for his legions of fans. via Los Angeles Times

The U.S. Coast Guard on Friday warned boaters to be aware of high winds and seas expected to last through early next week from Point Conception to the Orange County coast. via Daily Breeze

“The beneficiaries are the community organizations themselves”

Did you ever watch Fantasy Island and wish you could just fly away from it all? "Look, Boss!," Tattoo would say, "Da plane! Da plane!" Someone will make their fantasy come true this Saturday, Oct. via Crestline Courier-News