Duarte Ca

The day after a man and woman were found shot in a parking lot at the City of Hope National Medical Center, investigators said Wednesday that they believed the victims were a Monrovia fire captain who shot and killed his wife, then committed suicide. Los Angeles County sheriff's investigators theorized that Fernando Rodriguez, 41, arranged to meet his wife, Katherine, 33, in the parking lot of the Duarte hospital in an effort to resolve ongoing marital difficulties, Sheriff's Capt.

The mountains that rise above their Duarte home have served as both backdrop and recurring character in the lives of John and Martha Jansen. On clear nights, John takes to the ridges with his telescope and amateur astronomy guides. Martha finds quiet inspiration for her oil paintings in the panoramic view of the peaks. In summers past, the couple often took their six children on treks in search of the famed 80-foot, three-tiered waterfalls hidden in the mountains' ravines. A few years ago, one of their sons hiked up a trail with his girlfriend to show her the "marry me" poster atop his parents' roof.

Some would argue, as Gertrude Stein famously did about Oakland, that "there is no there there" in Duarte. But they would be ignoring the many pleased-as-punch residents, who are happy to call Duarte home and enjoy living the outdoors life in the shadow of the rugged San Gabriel Mountains. Beginnings The Gabrielino Indians first inhabited the land that in 1841 was granted by the governor of Alta California to Andrew Duarte, a former corporal in the Mexican military.

Nita Norgard was popping popcorn in the kitchen of her Duarte Mesa home, the buttery fragrance wafting out through the backdoor left ajar, through the open garage into the forested areas beyond. Still, she was surprised to find a 2-year-old bear sniffing around the front room when she turned around. Norgard screamed, and the bear bolted, said her husband, Bill Norgard. "Probably scared him just as much," he said jokingly. The Norgards' close encounter with a bear six months ago is one of many incidents that have led Duarte city officials to look for ways to keep bears from ripping into residents' garbage cans.

The mountains that rise above their Duarte home have served as both backdrop and recurring character in the lives of John and Martha Jansen. On clear nights, John takes to the ridges with his telescope and amateur astronomy guides. Martha finds quiet inspiration for her oil paintings in the panoramic view of the peaks. In summers past, the couple often took their six children on treks in search of the famed 80-foot, three-tiered waterfalls hidden in the mountains' ravines. A few years ago, one of their sons hiked up a trail with his girlfriend to show her the "marry me" poster atop his parents' roof.

A man and a woman died Tuesday as a result of a shooting in the parking lot of the City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, authorities said. The victims were found about 1:40 p.m., but detectives with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau said the sequence of events leading up to the incident was unclear in the early stages of the investigation. The woman was found dead in the hospital parking lot closest to the San Gabriel River Freeway, which is adjacent to the complex.

The house, a three-bedroom cream-colored residence on a peaceful street, even had yellow and red roses waving merrily from the front lawn. And while the backyard was cramped, there was a nectarine tree, a red swing set and a small gazebo. This is it, Channise Davy thought. Home.

Visiting from the Rocky Mountain village of Paonia, Colo., Karley Young was ready for a night in the big city. "I've got three this time," Young said, checking the labels on the movie videocassettes she was carrying. "I've got 'Always,' 'In Country' and 'Steel Magnolias.' They look pretty interesting." Young was hoping to avoid another empty night in Duarte, where she is visiting the community's famous attraction: the City of Hope National Medical Center.

Gloria rolls out the appetizer buffet at 3 p.m., and the regulars serenade her to the tune of Van Morrison: Gloooooria . . . G-L-O-R-I-A . . . Gloooooooooria . . . After a few stiff drinks, Jeff will do his peacock imitation. Rick takes a 10-minute catnap every now and again at the bar. And about 5 p.m., Bonnie and "Clyde" show up, sit at their table by the fireplace and order the Paul Bunyan steak, medium rare.

Relatives of a 21-year-old Marine who died in the war in Iraq said Wednesday that they were thrilled the post office in Duarte would be named in honor of their son. "I'm so happy and so proud," said Martha Flores, the mother of Lance Cpl. Francisco A. Martinez Flores. Flores was killed near Nasiriyah in Iraq on March 25. He was posthumously granted U.S. citizenship. A bill to rename the post office was signed into law by President Bush on Veterans Day.

The house, a three-bedroom cream-colored residence on a peaceful street, even had yellow and red roses waving merrily from the front lawn. And while the backyard was cramped, there was a nectarine tree, a red swing set and a small gazebo. This is it, Channise Davy thought. Home.

A West Covina engineer was killed Wednesday when he fell down a deep hole at a Duarte building site and was not discovered until workers returned after lunch and continued their digging. The victim was declared dead before his body was recovered from the hole, authorities said. A family spokesman identified him as Arthur Guadalupe Velasquez, 63. Los Angeles County Fire Capt.

Some would argue, as Gertrude Stein famously did about Oakland, that "there is no there there" in Duarte. But they would be ignoring the many pleased-as-punch residents, who are happy to call Duarte home and enjoy living the outdoors life in the shadow of the rugged San Gabriel Mountains. Beginnings The Gabrielino Indians first inhabited the land that in 1841 was granted by the governor of Alta California to Andrew Duarte, a former corporal in the Mexican military.

The day after a man and woman were found shot in a parking lot at the City of Hope National Medical Center, investigators said Wednesday that they believed the victims were a Monrovia fire captain who shot and killed his wife, then committed suicide. Los Angeles County sheriff's investigators theorized that Fernando Rodriguez, 41, arranged to meet his wife, Katherine, 33, in the parking lot of the Duarte hospital in an effort to resolve ongoing marital difficulties, Sheriff's Capt.

A man and a woman died Tuesday as a result of a shooting in the parking lot of the City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, authorities said. The victims were found about 1:40 p.m., but detectives with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau said the sequence of events leading up to the incident was unclear in the early stages of the investigation. The woman was found dead in the hospital parking lot closest to the San Gabriel River Freeway, which is adjacent to the complex.

A 34-year-old man who kept Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies at bay for 16 hours was finally forced out of his apartment by a police dog late Saturday, authorities said Sunday. Albert Fernandez was suspected of threatening his wife with a gun, prompting sheriff's deputies to evacuate the neighborhood in the 900 block of Mount Olive Drive. After hours of unsuccessful communication, a struggle with the police dog finally extricated the suspect about 11 p.m.

A research scientist at the City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte has been charged with making death threats against his supervisor and two colleagues. Thomas William Balon, 49, allegedly told a fellow scientist on Nov. 1 that he was planning to kill the three men, authorities said. Los Angeles County deputies arrested him Nov. 19 at the medical center, said Sheriff's Det. Darren Williams. City of Hope then obtained a temporary restraining order against Balon.

A 34-year-old man who kept Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies at bay for 16 hours was finally forced out of his apartment by a police dog late Saturday, authorities said Sunday. Albert Fernandez was suspected of threatening his wife with a gun, prompting sheriff's deputies to evacuate the neighborhood in the 900 block of Mount Olive Drive. After hours of unsuccessful communication, a struggle with the police dog finally extricated the suspect about 11 p.m.

A man suspected of threatening his wife with a gun kept Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies at bay for most of Saturday and forced the evacuation of a neighborhood, authorities said. The suspect, Albert Hernandez, was holed up in his apartment in the 900 block of Mount Olive Drive, authorities said. The woman, who had obtained a restraining order against Hernandez, escaped after being tied up and called deputies about 7:30 a.m.

Except for 210 Freeway traffic, Duarte is mostly a quiet, small town full of hardworking families, grassy parks, equestrian trails and neighborhoods of citrus trees and post-World War II houses nestled at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. The community, which has a low crime rate, was where Murray M. Smith Sr., a Vietnam veteran, and his wife, Wanda, bought a small house in 1984. And it was where, in the 900 block of Lewiston Street, Smith Sr.