Richard Kontas –– Newsroom Manager
Former Editor-in-Chief and Action Sports Photographer.
Photos by Richard Kontas
Slideshows by Richard Kontas
Stories Written by Richard Kontas
Associated Students of Glendale College Host Welcome Back Barbeque – Slideshow Coverage
Richard Kontas, Staff Photographer
March 1, 2012
Filed under Top Stories
ASGCC put on their annual Welcome Back Barbeque on Feb. 23 attracting a large crowd of students. Kicking off the festivities was ASGCC President Suzanna Sargsyan. Among the many activities featured was a hot dog eating contest.The winner with 8.75 dogs devoured in five minutes was Fire Academy... (more...)
Architecture Student Projects Featured in Art Gallery
Richard Kontas, Staff Photographer
March 1, 2012
Filed under Online Exclusive, Top Stories
Architecture professor Paul Chiu presents the annual exhibition of student work from the architecture program. The projects encompass urban commercial design to residential design, and are presented in both 2-D and 3-D. Students whose work is featured are Sevan Barseghian, Erik Lieu, Ronald... (more...)
Post Rose Parade Float Viewing
Richard Kontas, Staff Photographer
January 18, 2012
Filed under Features, Top Stories
This years 123rd Rose Parade was followed by the Post Parade Float Viewing event. The Showcase of Floats was open on both the afternoon of the parade, from 1 to 5 p.m. and the following Tuesday Jan. 3 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. there is senior and disabled guest access on Tuesday from 7 to 9 a.m. This... (more...)
Red Bull. New Years. No Limits. Riders Jump into the Record Book
Richard Kontas, Staff Photographer
January 18, 2012
Filed under Sports
More than a year of intense planning and preparation all boiled down to less than 15 seconds of high (pun intended) drama. For extreme action sports stars Levi LaVallee and Robbie Maddison it was the proverbial moment of truth as they both flew well over 300 feet of water and rocks to land... (more...)
Oregon Marching Band Practices at GCC
Richard Kontas, Staff Photographer
January 18, 2012
Filed under Arts and Entertainment, Top Stories
The University of Oregon Marching Band (OMB) contracted with Glendale Community College to use Sartoris Field to practice on Dec. 29, 30 and 31. The purpose, to prepare for its appearance at the Rose Bowl, where they performed a pre-game set, the National Anthem and their main performance during... (more...)
Dance Performance 2011
Richard Kontas, Staff Photographer
January 18, 2012
Filed under Arts and Entertainment
One of Glendale College’s longest-running events, “Dance Performance (2011)” was held Dec. 9 through 11. It featured choreography and performances by students, alumni and faculty from the dance production and jazz performance skills classes and was directed by Dora Krannig and Lynn McMurrey. The... (more...)
Los Angeles Auto Show
Richard Kontas
January 15, 2012
Filed under Uncategorized
Featuring 21 World, and 27 North American premiers along with 13 concept cars, the LA Auto Show had something for everyone this year. Filling the los Angeles Convention Center from Nov. 18 to 27, tens of thousands of auto buffs and gear heads made their way through the event.
The Occupy the Bridge March on 11/17/11
Richard Kontas
November 22, 2011
Filed under News, Top Stories, Uncategorized
More than 1,000 people took to the streets of Downtown Los Angeles Thursday morning to march and demonstrate in protest, highlighting the need for good jobs, taxing the 1%, and rebuilding L.A. The “Occupy the Bridge” event was organized by GoodJobsLA.org, Occupy LA, and the SEIU... (more...)
Power Soccer Teams Return for the 2011 Glendale Invitational
Richard Kontas, El Vaquero Staff Photographer
November 15, 2011
Filed under Sports
GCC hosted the 2011 Glendale Invitational Tournament on Saturday and Sunday at the Verdugo Gym. Teams came from Santa Barbara, Hollister and two teams from Arizona, to compete against the two Glendale teams. Shown above, top photo, Glendale Rough Rider Benny Aviles no. 13, manuevers the ball... (more...)
Biltmore Hotel Walking Tour Slideshow
Richard Kontas
January 26, 2011
Filed under Entertainment
For anyone familiar with downtown Los Angeles and its wealth of incredible architecture, consider getting the “inside story” as provided on the L.A. Conservancy Walking Tours. var uslide_show_id = "56cf3482-e19a-4451-a9cf-6b6b575fa264";var slideshowwidth = "468";var linktext = "";... (more...)
Lady Vaqs Place Second, Men Sixth in SoCal Cross Country Championship
Richard Kontas
November 10, 2010
Filed under Sports
On beautiful day with temps in the 70s the Lady Vaqueros took second place, while the men placed sixth in the Southern California Cross Country Championship Finals held at East Mission Bay Park, San Diego on Nov. 6. On the downside the Glendale womens team which has dominated the SoCal Championships... (more...)
Vaqs Lose Nailbiter at West L.A.
Richard Kontas
October 27, 2010
Filed under Sports
In their second nailbiter in as many weeks the Vaquero football team lost with less than 3 seconds left when West LA came from behind to kick a field goal and take the win 26-24, last Saturday. var uslide_show_id = "d529583d-4c48-4a78-bb9e-fc300bf39389";var slideshowwidth = "468";var linktext... (more...)
2010 Scholarships and Awards Listing
Richard Kontas
July 8, 2010
Filed under News
In the annual event held at the Castaways Restaurant in Burbank, more than a hundred gathered for the 2010 Scholarships and Awards ceremony, on June 10. The event is sponsored by the Associated Students of Glendale Community College, GCC Scholarship Office and the Glendale College Foundation. For... (more...)
Art Gallery Show
Richard Kontas
July 8, 2010
Filed under Entertainment
Currently running through July 31 in the GCC Art Gallery (in the Library building)is “Doctor Zomb” a multi-media exhibition curated by Spencer Douglas. Featuring work by Meg Cranston, Ali Prosch, Cayetano Ferrer, Scoli Acosta, Amanda Ross-Ho, Gustavo Herrera, Olga Balema, Lia Trinka-Browner,... (more...)
Rose Bowl 4th of July Fireworks
Richard Kontas
July 8, 2010
Filed under Features
The Pasadena Rose Bowl hosted Southern California’s largest fireworks display for the 84th year on Sunday July 4. Approx. 60,000+ in attendance enjoyed the 28 minute event featuring over 3,000 aerial effects at a cost of about $250,000. This year parking and exiting afterwards was much... (more...)
test for pics
Richard Kontas
June 2, 2010
Filed under Features
Scholarships & Awards 2010 Adams, Ercil ... (more...)
Track and Field Headed for State Meet Next Weekend
Richard Kontas
May 19, 2010
Filed under Sports
After competing in the Southern California Championship Finals at Saddleback College last Saturday, a host of top men and women qualified for the State Championships Friday and Saturday in Antelope Valley. Samantha Bogatz, a sophomore sprinting sensation, was once again on top of her game... (more...)
Track and Field at Azusa Pacific
Richard Kontas
April 7, 2010
Filed under News
var uslide_show_id = "ed980cb9-b769-432a-81b7-14e92a650851";var slideshowwidth = "468";var linktext = ""; Slideshow Media Credit: Richard Kontas
Motorcycle ICE Racing Comes To Los Angeles
Richard Kontas
January 14, 2010
Filed under Features
So it’s that infamous and much reviled (by the rest of the world) ‘winter in Los Angeles’ (you know, when it rains for three days) and so itching for a motorsports fix if you will, I went carousing the internet for something to do on this particular day.it was a Friday morning... (more...)
Track & Field at Ventura 2/26/10
Richard Kontas
January 14, 2010
Filed under News
var uslide_show_id = "8e2982d4-22c5-4b48-aaca-b103943adcca";var slideshowwidth = "468";var linktext = "";
Student Protest Downtown Los Angeles
Richard Kontas
January 14, 2010
Filed under News
var uslide_show_id = "b1867b3b-b891-4e79-8e26-4981fd200499";var slideshowwidth = "468";var linktext = ""; Slide Show Media Credit: Peter Moyes
Speech & debate 2/20/2010
Richard Kontas
January 14, 2010
Filed under News
var uslide_show_id = "66226680-6bbd-4f0e-be6b-1527de36c9a2";var slideshowwidth = "468";var linktext = "";
Red Bull: New Years. No Limits!!
Richard Kontas
January 14, 2010
Filed under Features
On New Year’s Eve, extreme sports icon Travis Pastrana made history in Long Beach. Performing in front of an estimated 70,000 revelers, the four-time Rally America Champion and nine-time X Games Gold Medalist set a new world record at “Red Bull: New Year. No Limits.” At approximately... (more...)
Victorious Vaqueros!
Richard Kontas
November 11, 2009
Filed under Sports
The Glendale sports teams had one of their best weekends ever. The mens basketball team won the Vaquero Tip-off Tournament on Friday and Saturday. The womens soccer team beat L.A. Valley College 2-1 on Friday night. The football team found themselves back in the win column after defeating Moorpark... (more...)
Power Soccer – Rough Riders!!
Richard Kontas
December 10, 2008
Filed under Sports
var uslide_show_id = "b5d1e74d-b768-45a3-9adb-8bf5d3f7a3af";var slideshowwidth = "468";var linktext = "";
Vaqueros Dominate Santa Monica 90-73.
Richard Kontas
December 10, 2008
Filed under Sports
Saturday night the Vaqueros took Santa Monica to the cleaners, defeating them 90-73. var uslide_show_id = "834fed0d-bc47-4128-8ef9-3dc3d365f72b";var slideshowwidth = "468";var linktext = ""; Vaquero forward Josh Guillory led the offense with 25 points and 10 rebounds, followed by Markus Monroe... (more...)
Going Green With Goats
Richard Kontas
December 10, 2008
Filed under News
Test for slideshow… var uslide_show_id = "ecb4e335-a095-4471-ab10-4128be36b491";var slideshowwidth = "468";var linktext = "";Slideshow media Credit: Rich Kontas
Vaqueros Beat College of the Canyons Jan. 29
Richard Kontas
December 10, 2008
Filed under Sports
In an often close and seesaw battle against College of the Canyons, the Vaqueros maintained their lead to the end buzzer taking a 91-85 win back to the locker room, Jan. 29 at Glendale. var uslide_show_id = "e82e0510-718d-46ad-bf23-999979eceffa";var slideshowwidth = "468";var linktext = ""; Leading... (more...)
X Games Returns to Staples Center
Richard Kontas
August 22, 2008
Filed under Sports
X Games opening night once again delivered the “thrill of victory and the agony of defeat” with thrills, spills and history-making performances. Motocross star Kyle Loza made X Games history by becoming the first ever to win back-to-back gold medals in the Moto X Best Trick competition. This... (more...)
‘Highest Air’ Record on a Motorcycle Set During Red Bull Experiment
Richard Kontas
July 30, 2008
Filed under Sports
Motocross star Ronnie Renner performed “magic” in front of 20,000 fans on July 11 by jumping a record height of 59 feet and 2 inches on a motorcycle quarterpipe, at the world-famous Santa Monica Pier. var uslide_show_id = "2fdecc12-8de4-4d33-acf6-ffd84f607d90";var slideshowwidth... (more...)
82nd Annual Rose Bowl Fireworks Show
Richard Kontas
July 5, 2008
Filed under News
Thousands turned out for the 82nd annual Rose Bowl extravaganza which featured over 2,000 pounds of pyrotechnics and cost $250,000. The show is the largest in the state. var uslide_show_id = "b7e23eef-e16c-4d35-87d8-64d85fa3d37c";var slideshowwidth = "468";var linktext = "";Slideshow Media... (more...)
Alumni Inducted Into Athletic Hall of Fame
Richard Kontas
March 12, 2008
Filed under Sports
The J. Walter Smith Student Center overflowed with pride and a sense of accomplishment Saturday night as the seventh annual induction ceremony of the GCC Athletic Hall of Fame welcomed its newest set of inductees. Three alumni were honored as outstanding athletes with one inductee each in the... (more...)
Vaqueros Win A Classic Nail-Biter!
Richard Kontas
December 12, 2007
Filed under Sports
The Vaqueros got off to an early lead in the first period and seemed to be on their way to a sure fire blow-out. However, Santa Monica came back and tied mid-way through the second period and it came down to a classic nail biter as GCC ties it with 6.8 seconds on the clock and then goes on... (more...)
Enough Is Enough! It’s Time to Boycott Mobil Gasoline
Richard Kontas
December 12, 2007
Filed under Opinion
With gas prices steadily rising, now whenever I need gas I have to stop and do the math. Will I have enough money for food if I fill my tank? I drive a 1994 Toyota four-cylinder and it’s pretty good on gas (between 23 and 28 mpg), but since we’ve been forced to pay more than $3... (more...)
‘Love Ride’ Brings Bikers to Glendale for Charity Run
Richard Kontas
November 14, 2007
Filed under News
Love Ride 24 rolled out of Glendale last Sunday morning, hosting more than 10,000 bikers who gathered at Glendale Harley-Davidson as early as 6 a.m. to register for this year’s ride. Grand Marshall this year was TV celebrity and local gearhead Jay Leno, who also hosted the proceedings... (more...)
X Games 13 Invades LA’s Staples Center
Richard Kontas
July 24, 2007
Filed under Entertainment
The stage was set for both the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, as X Games 13 opened Aug. 2, to 17,174 fans at Los Angeles’ Staples Center. Featured events were Moto X Best Trick and Skateboard Big Air Finals. Tasting the thrill of victory at his first X Games appearance, Kyle... (more...)
Reward Now $60,000 in Brittani Idom Murder Case
Richard Kontas
July 24, 2007
Filed under News
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa signed a special emergency motion on Monday, authorizing a $50,000 reward for information leading to the identification, apprehension and conviction of the individuals responsible for the death of 18-year-old Brittani Idom, a Glendale College student. The... (more...)
Cheerleader’s Funeral Saturday
Richard Kontas
July 11, 2007
Filed under News
A funeral will be held Saturday for Brittani Janai Idom, 18, a Glendale College student and cheerleader who was killed in a driveby shooting Friday. The funeral will be at 9 a.m. Saturday at Lake Avenue Congregational Church, 303 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena. Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael... (more...)
Cheer Captain Killed Friday
Richard Kontas
July 9, 2007
Filed under News
Brittani Idom, 18, captain of the Glendale Community College cheer team, was reportedly shot and killed early Friday morning in the Lafayette Square area of Los Angeles. Idom had just completed her freshman year at Glendale, and had planned eventually to transfer to San Diego State University. A... (more...)
Conservative Club’s ‘Sponsor a Flag’ Event Raises Funds for the Troops
Richard Kontas
June 8, 2007
Filed under News
The GCC Conservative Club raised $619 by organizing a “Sponsor a Flag and Support Our Troops” event, held in Plaza Vaquero on May 29 thru 31. People were offered the opportunity to write a letter to the troops or to sponsor a flag. They also accepted donations and sold patriotic... (more...)
Collusion Rocks Plaza Vaquero
Richard Kontas
June 8, 2007
Filed under Entertainment
“Collusion” performed at Plaza Vaquero on Tuesday. The band consists of Xander Snyder (lead guitar), Layla Habahbeh (keyboards), Melanya Torosyan (lead singer), Emin Abdalian (drums), Michael Chitarians (bass), and Meher Vartoomian (guitar). Tha band will also be in concert June... (more...)
New Construction Site: Clock is Ticking!
Richard Kontas
May 18, 2007
Filed under Features
Although there are currently two major construction projects on campus, the Allied Health and Sciences building and the new parking structure with an elevator tower and pedestrian bridge, the big question on everyone’s mind is, “When can we use the parking structure?” Director... (more...)
Vandalism Targets Reserve Books in Library
Richard Kontas
May 4, 2007
Filed under News
Recent vandalism has struck the college library, targeting the reserve books and affecting those students who cannot afford to lose this valuable asset. This selection of assigned textbooks is updated every semester and represents over two-thirds of all textbooks being used on campus at any... (more...)
The Dirty Diamond Rocks the Plaza
Richard Kontas
April 13, 2007
Filed under Features
“The Dirty Diamond” performed at Vaquero Plaza on April 5. They played songs from their self-titled CD. The band consists of Narek Pogosyan (bass) Sam Babayan (vocals/ guitar), Adam S. (guitar/ back up vocals), Mike Schron (drums) and Hiuro (keyboards). You can check out the band... (more...)