San Dimas

We were amazed that Leslee Komaiko found a place in the East San Gabriel Valley worthy of mention -- Coco Palm ["Holiday Cheer," Dec. 8]. We have never eaten there, though a Cuban friend tells us the food is good. We will give it a try. Claremont and other communities in this part of the San Gabriel Valley also have some restaurants worthy of mention. While we hope that Komaiko didn't experience any ill effects from her journey or go through the traffic hell we did last night in Hollywood, we hope that she will make more of an effort to include our restaurants.

Five teenage boys and one staff member at a juvenile probation camp suffered minor injuries during an hourlong disturbance at the San Dimas facility Saturday night, a camp spokesman said. About 7:30 p.m., youths at the basketball and volleyball courts and the sports field area got into a confrontation, said Ken Kondo, a spokesman for the Glenn Rockey probation camp. The disturbance moved into the dormitory, the school and the staff's quarters, where they broke windows, chairs, tables and doors.

We look forward to articles written by Lili Singer. On May 5, Lili exceeded herself with a story on hummingbird gardens ["Yards Abuzz With Tiny Travelers"]. We will keep the article on file in order to encourage and to provide sustenance for our tiny travelers. John and Marjorie Francis San Dimas Letters are subject to editing. Please include phone number for verification.

Re "In Brothers, Two Faces of the Iraq Insurgency," May 19: This article completely overlooks the pain caused by the Iraqi insurgents to our American soldiers and their families. Buried within the story is the comment that one of the terrorist brothers had orchestrated the suicide attack on a U.S. base that killed 22 U.S. and Iraqi troops and civilian contractors. The Times' never-ending quest to report both sides of a story is misdirected when it comes to this war, in which America is fighting terrorism.

Artists and longtime friends Janet Payne and Martha Longenecker took a road trip to Arizona with their husbands back in the 1940s to visit architect Frank Lloyd Wright's landmark home known as Taliesin West. After they returned from their driving trip through the Southwest, Longenecker's husband, John, a contractor, built this San Dimas house in 1947 for the Paynes in the Wright tradition, using natural materials to echo the landscape and waxing the wood to lend a softness to the interior.

I enjoyed Shari Oshry's letter [Letters, March 24]. It is very difficult for us single women to meet single guys in Los Angeles. A year ago I signed up with one of those agencies who do a background check. They made it sound like nothing else I've tried worked, and they could do better (for more money). I have tried for a year through their website to meet guys and finally talked to a jerk who seemed to think all the women are gold diggers. Now I feel like I wasted my money and my time with this great rip-off.

I welcome "Bickering, Bloodsport of Siblings" [March 17] as an eye-opener to what happens in homes throughout America. I believe expert Charlotte Brantley is referring to amicable discussions and reasonable arguments. Yet I have witnessed horrible behavior that Brantley seems to believe is healthy and serves to prepare children for friendly marital relationships. Perhaps she has overlooked the vulgar language used. If children are allowed to offend and disrespect each other, they are in essence training to overpower others by belittling, ridiculing and bullying.

This year, Shawn Boaz decided, would be different. Though he had improved as a wrestler and football player during his first three years at San Dimas, a persistent, nagging voice inside his head told him he wasn't getting the most out of his ability, and he didn't want to be the guy asking "what if?" for the rest of his life. So Boaz promised himself that no matter what, he would not slack off during his senior year. His commitment to hard work and dedication has paid off.

San Dimas is a comfortable, modern suburb that holds tight to its Western roots. Along with the tract homes and strip malls, this San Gabriel Valley city offers a rodeo, horse trails and plenty of open space. Mysterious moniker The area was known as Mud Springs and served as a watering spot for animals when explorer Jedediah Strong Smith passed through in 1826. But the name San Dimas had taken hold by the time a town started developing in the 1870s. San Dimas is a Spanish version of St.

The story of a mother and her infant son plucked from raging flood waters after an inflatable rescue raft capsized took a turn Tuesday, with a firefighter blaming the woman for the accident. Television footage showed Erica Henderson struggling to keep her 8-week-old son's tiny head above water as the two were swept down San Dimas Creek after the raft, piloted by a firefighter, flipped in the roiling water on Monday.