Representatives from Burbank Unified School District, Family Service Agency and the Burbank Police Department joined BUSD Superintendent Dr. Matt Hill along with three High School students for a Parent Forum on Student Mental Health on Thursday evening at Burbank Adult School.

(Photo by © Ross A Benson)

The auditorium was full to capacity as the panel shared a variety of resources that are available to parents and children in the Burbank community to help deal with mental health challenges ranging from stress and anxiety to depression and cyberbullying.

(Photo by © Ross A Benson)

Dr. Hill shared that out of 3300 High School students who responded to a recent School Climate Survey, 50% said that they are often or always stressed and 75% think they or their friends need support. Audience members praised the candor of student panelists Merra Varma (BHS `18) and rising JBHS seniors Nicole Rojas and Valeria Palma, who are launching a C.A.R.E. program at their school to help connect students to support systems. As Dr. Hill noted, “If we create this space and the environment for our students to be engaged in these conversations, they will rise up and advocate with us and partner with us.”

The panelists offered a holistic view of the counseling available to students through the High School Wellness Centers, the BUSD’s Special Education and Psychological Services, BPD’s Mental Health Evaluation Team (MHET), the District’s Mental Health and Wellness Master Plan, school counselors and through Family Service Agency on Burbank Blvd. The goal is to bridge the gap between children and parents and the many services available to help support families that are struggling and to educate about mental wellness and prevention. Parents and the Public are invited to continue the conversation at an Open House at the JBHS Wellness Center on Monday, June 4 from 6-8pm. The entrance is on Keystone Avenue just south of the school Auditorium.
            To view the live stream of the Forum https://www.burbankusd.org/

            For more information on BUSD’s Wellness Programs and Services https://www.burbankusd.org/ District/Department/9516- Wellness-

The post Mental Health Forum Very Informative For Parents and Students Alike. appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Elevator speech  

Local governments should make voting as convenient as possible.  At least at the local level, when more people vote they get greater accountability from their elected officials.

That’s why we urge you to vote for Measure V and Measure Y on June 5.  They will increase voter participation by mandating that local election in even-numbered years when larger percentages of the voting public are turning out to choose governors and presidents.

Some details    

Many more voters go to the polls to elect a governor or president than to elect a council or school board member.  For example, 33,106 Burbank residents voted in the November 2004 Presidential Election. That was nearly two-thirds (more precisely, 63.8%) of Burbank’s registered voters (51,893 at the time.) But in the “off-years,” when candidates vie for seats on the City Council or School Board, voter participation plummets to between 15% and 20%.  If a particular issue rules the voters the percentage may climb to 25% or 30% as it did in the 1980’s when high rise development and airport noise policies were hotly contested.

Otherwise, local elections tend to be decided by “core voters,” according to Burbank City Clerk Zizette Mullins, “who’ve been in Burbank many years, seniors especially.”  But Mullins goes on to say, “Younger families who have just moved here are also wanting to make a difference in Burbank.”  That’s understandable. Families have a big stake in their children’s education and in the safety and quality of their neighborhoods.

Even if their numbers are small, why not let the residents who care enough to vote to be the ones to call the shots?  If the nonvoters complain about the outcome, they have only themselves to blame.  It’s a tempting position to take, especially if we’re frustrated by voter apathy.

Except that local governments are supposed to be serving all their constituents: not just on paper, but in reality.  Private companies want to make it as easy as possible for their customers to provide feedback about their products and services, so as not to be blindsided into bankruptcy.  Having only 15% to 20% of your customers satisfied doesn’t cut it.

But can’t local governments get away with having a sullen public as long as they don’t bother to vote? Not for long. People and businesses don’t just vote in the booth; they vote with their feet.  The golden taxpaying geese can fly away.  And sometimes the hoi polloi suddenly mount recalls or field opposition candidates that seem to come out of nowhere. That’s what happens—and has happened–to officials who were only paying attention to a narrow sliver of their constituencies.

Trouble is, voting with your feet can be very life-disrupting.  Far better to hold elected officials’ feet to the fire.  In Burbank, it’s not all that hard to buttonhole a council or school board member; this isn’t LA.  And most local elected officials have many friends and neighbors in the community: they want to look good to their peers the way high school quarterbacks want to look good to their classmates.  We’re not talking about distant bureaucrats.  These people have skin in the game.

So it’s in everyone’s interest to make it easy for a Burbank resident to vote for local candidates and issues.  And the logical way to do it is to make local elections coincide with statewide and national elections.  That’s why the State legislature enacted the “California Voter Participation Rights Act” that mandates local elections in even-numbered years if there has been a significant drop in voter participation in odd-numbered years when local elections have been traditionally held.

And that’s why both the City Council and the School Board support these measures as well.

One wrinkle: Burbank is a Charter City with its own election procedures written into the Charter.  An argument can be made that therefore the State legislature can’t mandate even-numbered year elections, notwithstanding the contrary legal opinion of the State‘s Attorney General.  But our own City Attorney could simply take the position that Burbank’s support of even-numbered year elections is without prejudice to its status as a Charter City. 

Another argument for Measures V and Y:  A Charter City does give its voters a greater freedom to enact measures without a by-your-leave from the State legislature.   Local control is good if the locals are truly in control.  In the case of the Charter City of Bell some years back, the local council was passing outrageous fees because on the one hand, the State legislature had no power to prohibit them; and on the other hand, the voter participation was extremely low.  So having a Charter City is great when you have an active citizenry.  It’s an invitation to corruption when you don’t.

So please vote for Measure V and Measure Y on June 5.

The post Vote For Measure V and Measure Y appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Warner Bros. Entertainment has announced high school seniors Jacob Brain, Isabella Curtis, Erik Gomez, Darren Kim, and Tobias Romero as the 2018 Reach Honorship recipients.   

Darren Kim

Through its Reach program, Warner Bros. awards internship and scholarship packages, known as Honorships, to five graduating high school seniors passionate about the business of entertainment annually. As part of these Honorships, students are each awarded $5,000 scholarships and the opportunity to complete four paid summer internships at Warner Bros., beginning with the summer immediately following their high school graduation. Additionally, the scholars are paired with a different executive mentor each summer and provided additional networking opportunities with entertainment industry professionals. Successful Reach program graduates are eligible to apply for full-time positions at the company after completing their degrees.      

“Each summer, our Honorship recipients embark on a multi-year, in-depth internship working in the entertainment industry,” said Mary-Elizabeth Michaels, Director, Community Affairs, Warner Bros. Entertainment. “With unparalleled access, skill-building, and first-hand experience learning about various businesses at Warner Bros., the Reach program gives these students early exposure to a corporate setting and the ability to generate a network of professional contacts for their post-college careers.”

Isabella Curtis

This year’s Burbank Reach Honorships, created specifically for residents of the Studio’s longtime hometown, were awarded to Burbank High School graduates Isabella Curtis and Darren Kim. Curtis is will pursue a business administration degree at UC Irvine this fall, while Kim is headed to UCLA to major in statistics.

Erik Gomez and Tobias Romero have received this year’s Los Angeles County Reach Honorships. Gomez, graduating from Felicitas & Gonzalo Mendez High School, will be a communications major with a minor in theatre at Dickinson College in the fall. Following his graduation from Santa Monica High School, Romero will matriculate to NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts to study film and television production.

Additionally, Jacob Brain has won the Warner Bros. Animation/Hanna-Barbera Reach Honorship. A graduate of Skyline High School in Salt Lake City, Utah, Brain was selected among a highly competitive field of applicants from across the United States to earn this year’s Animation Honorship, and he plans to study entertainment arts and engineering this fall at the University of Utah.

To learn more about the Reach program, please visit www.wbgood.com/goodnews/community-affairs/reach/.

The post Two Burbank High Students Awarded REACH Scholarships/Internships appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Note: All suspects arrested are presumed innocent until found guilty by a court of law. The following are official public records being redistributed by myBurbank.com Inc. and is protected by constitutional, publishing, and other legal rights. These official records were collected in 2018. The person(s) named in these listings have only been arrested on suspicion of the crime indicated and are presumed innocent.

myBurbank.com will be glad upon to redact your name upon request. Please click HERE.  You MUST include your name as it appears and the exact date that it appeared. Give us 1 to 5 days to redact.

June 1st
Armen Minassian, 31 of Tujunga
2:40 p.m. 201 E. Magnolia Blvd.
Assault and battery

Marcelo Menagaete, 25 of Winnetka
5:00 p.m. Walmart
Petty theft

Claudio Alejandro Melendez, 25 of Tujunga
4:00 p.m. 1067 E. Angeleno Ave.
Possession of drug paraphernalia, controlled substance

Claudia Zaragoza Sandoval, 45 of Panorama City
6:20 p.m. Buena Vista and Chandler
Possession of drug paraphernalia, drunk in public

Ona Glen Rhodes, 29 of Burbank
7:15 p.m. Olive and San Fernando
Trespassing

Lauren Estevenin, 37 of North Hollywood
8:00 p.m. Parish and Victory
Theft, petty theft, possession of meth, controlled substance, drug paraphernalia

William James Tebbe, 52 of Burbank
8:10 p.m. Magnolia and Orchard
DUI

Randy Lagrone, 42 of Rancho Cucamunga
9:45 p.m. 246 W. Verdugo Ave.
Driving with a suspended license, without a license

Carlos Alberto Gomezromero, 21 of Van Nuys
10:50 p.m. 2627 Hollywood Way
Trespassing

Ruben Martinez Jr., 33 of Canyon Country
11:40 p.m. Hollywood Way and Vanowen
Drunk in public

June 2nd

Simon Grant Meyer, 27 of North Hollywood

3:00 a.m. Valley and Jeffries

Possession of drugs for sale, controlled substance, drug paraphernalia, driving without a license

Jordan Ryan Castro, 25 of Burbank

3:30 a.m. Buena Vista and San Fernando

DUI of drugs, reckless driving

Jose Andres Moreno, 25 of North Hollywood

9:10 a.m. Victory and Brighton

Petty theft, receiving stolen property, possession of drug paraphernalia

Sergio Rocha, 20 of North Hollywood

9:30 a.m. Van Nuys LAPD

Possession of drug paraphernalia

Masai Williams Jr., 26 of North Hollywood

10:10 a.m. SJMC

Court violation

Marcus Alexander Castle, 26 of Burbank

10:20 a.m. 677 N. Victory Blvd.

Possession of drug paraphernalia

Silvia Sagherian, 51 of Los Angeles

4:45 p.m. Empire and Lincoln

Possession of meth, drug paraphernalia

Matthew Hayden Sannicholas, 32 of West Hills

6:45 p.m. 1301 N. Victory Pl.

Petty theft

Shawn Alleen May, 50 of Burbank

8:05 p.m. 320 N. Beachwood Dr.

DUI, driving with a suspended license

Austin Jay Cook, 33 of North Miami Beach

9:09 p.m. Oak and Hollywood Way

DUI

John Wesley Phaire II, 33 of Burbank

4:40 p.m. Empire and Brighton

Theft, possession of meth, drug paraphernalia, baton

The post June, 2018 Arrest Reports appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Brian Miller Chairman of Board FSA, Laurie Bleick Director FSA and Senator Anthony Portantino.

When California State Senator Anthony Portantino honored Burbank’s Family Service Agency as 2018 Non-Profit of the Year at the State Capitol on Wednesday, June 6, it was both in recognition for the exceptional work the 65-year-old Agency does in his district and it was personal. While the Senator has long known the importance of mental health care and has been an advocate for funding, it wasn’t until his own family was deeply touched by the tragedy that he became a sounding board for the cause.

Eight years ago, when Portantino was serving in the State Assembly, his beloved older brother Michael committed suicide at age 52. The owner of the Gay and Lesbian Times, the largest gay newspaper in Southern California, Michael was a civil rights icon whom Portantino lovingly refers to as “the Harvey Milk of San Diego.”

Michael Portantino came out to his mother, Barbara, when he was 16 and was so tenderly accepted by her, that many of the family’s conservative Italian relatives and friends became gay-friendly. That experience left a powerful impression of unconditional love on younger brother Anthony, who was in his mid-20s when he discovered his mother had known about his brother’s sexual identity for years. “She was just so accepting and didn’t treat him any differently,” says Portantino, “The rest of the family just followed her lead.”

Barbara Portantino inspired her sons to become activists. She once accompanied Michael to the Capitol Mall in Washington during the 2000 LGBT Millennial March and took the stage to support his lifelong quest to achieve equal rights for all Americans.

Senator Anthony Portatino taking a tour of the art room at FSA. ( Photo by Ross A Benson)

“My mom influenced all her children to stand up for what we believe in,” said Portantino, “She had a homespun confidence about her for a traditional stay-at-home widow. Coming from a very large Italian American Family, we had such a diverse array of relatives that we gained unique insight into people. My mother made sure that we knew some of the important lessons from relatives who faced abuse, mental health issues, and even sexual violence.”

When their mother Barbara died three years later, Portantino wrote her obituary and shared her support for his brother and advocacy for LGBT issues. “Much like my brother, my mother went on to have an impact on people even after her death,” says Portantino, “I was at a party and a husband and wife each came up to me separately and said they were inspired to be more accepting of their gay son after reading about my mom’s openness and uncanny ability to see the best in all people.”

Portantino has sought ways to turn his family’s tragic loss into something constructive. “People felt comfortable talking about mental health and suicide once I joined ‘the club’,” Portantino explains, “I try to appropriately share my brother’s story so people feel free about sharing their own family’s situation.”

Because of his life experiences, as a child who lost his father when he was eleven, as a family member of a suicide victim and as someone who has advocated for gay rights alongside a gay family member, Senator Portantino endeavors to carry on his brother’s work for LGBTQ rights, for mental health care in general and for suicide prevention specifically.

To that end, he authored a bill, SB 972, that will require the suicide prevention hotline be printed on all seventh grade through college California student IDs. The bill has passed the State Senate and is awaiting a vote in the State Assembly.

The problem is that we don’t talk about suicide and mental health enough and then we only talk about it after the tragedy,” says Portantino, “We react but we don’t prevent.”

That is why Portantino says he wants to bring more awareness to the work that Family Service Agency does in Burbank, “Mental health care is important to work and we need to bring it out of the shadows.”

Senator Anthony Portatino in front of Family Service Agency. ( Photo by Ross A Benson)

FSA’s Executive Director, Laurie Bleick, is one of the reasons the agency’s outreach has grown and Portantino is happy to acknowledge her efforts and that of her team on the Senate floor. “This is an issue for which Laurie and I share a kindred spirit, though I’m not in the trenches like FSA staff dealing with people on a direct basis,” says the Senator, “It is a mission that I care about, and if you spend even a few minutes with Laurie, you can see how passionate she is about her work.”

When Bleick came to FSA in 1991, there were 79 clinical clients and none were children. Today FSA serves thousands of children and families every year, delivering nearly $5 million in services for a budget of around $1.4 million.

“FSA has answers but not all of the answers,” says Bleick, “It is part of something that is so much bigger than any one institution. This has to be community work and we are grateful that Senator Portantino sees value in our piece of the mosaic, and is helping to draw attention to the need for legislative and local government support of mental health care and prevention.”

For 24 hour support, contact FSA at 818-845-7671 or reach out to the TEEN LINE at 818-333-6239. In case of immediate crisis, the Burbank Mental Health Evaluation Team can be reached at 818-238-3391. Or contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline  https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ (800) 273-TALK (8255) 1-888-628-9454 (En Espanol) 

The post Senator Anthony Portantino Honors Family Service Agency As Non-Profit of the Year on Senate Floor appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Louise (Watson) Roberts, 98, passed away peacefully at home at 9:10 pm on Tuesday, June 5th, 2018.  She lived for 68 years in the same home on Pass Avenue in Burbank with her husband Joe Roberts, WWII veteran and long-time Burbank Optician. Louise is survived by daughter Jill Roberts, son Robb Roberts and daughter-in-law Barbara Roberts.  

Louise (Watson) Roberts

Services will be held on Monday, June 18th, 2018 at 11am at Magnolia Park Methodist Church in Burbank with interment to follow at 1pm at Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park & Mortuary in North Hollywood.  

Louise Watson (Roberts) was born on November 22, 1919, she was always the brightest light in the room.  Her smile was captured in the “Our Gang” comedies and other films of the 1920’s and 30’s. “I was the fourth ring around the bath tub” Louise would say, as the the fourth of nine children, born just yards from the Mack Sennett Studios in Edendale, California. (The birthplace of Hollywood).   The whole family appeared over 1000 silent and sound movies until the 1940’s. Louise was present when The Watson family received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999.  

Louise Watson was a cheerleader and studied theater in high school and college and in 1943 she married her childhood-sweetheart, Joe Roberts.  Joe lost his leg in the Pacific during WWII and after returning home, he and Louise bought their home on Pass Avenue in Burbank.  

Louise Roberts gave a lifetime of service in Burbank.  She served for years in the PTA, as a manager of a Burbank pony-tail league team and a Sunday school teacher at Magnolia Park Methodist Church.  Louise was a 50 year member of the Native Daughters of the Golden West.  She taught English as a second language, worked for the Valley College book store, and served as secretary for her brother’s photographic businesses and then for husband Joe for 30 years at Joe Roberts Optical in Burbank.

In later life she was “Aunt Louise” to the thousands of young lives she touched as Jr. High and High School youth director and as she assisted in daughter Jill’s pre-school classes for years in Burbank.  

“Firecracker” describes Louise best – always loving, always fun, caring and uplifting.  She was “lit” from within with God’s love and that love shown brightly on all she came in contact with. 

The post Obituary: Louise (Watson) Roberts appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Toro Sushi Poke House has been operating for years on San Fernando Boulvard in Downtown Burbank, and providing tasty, quality plates for just as long, from when it was known just as Toro Sushi. Highlighting this stalwart of sushi and poke in Burbank is way overdue.

Open seven days a week, Toro Sushi Poke House continues its tradition as a solid option for a healthy bite to eat. We often enjoy the poke bowls and sushi rolls both in the restaurant and for takeout.

Toro Sushi Poke House Tuna Poke Bowl. (Photo By Lisa Paredes)

Poke Bowls come in three sizes – with one, two or three servings of protein (fish and tofu offered). Choose your base from white or brown rice, salad mix and more. After selecting your sauce, choose up to four add-ins, some like avocado or kim chi incur an extra charge.

The poke bowls and sushi rolls don’t break the bank and are still good quality, fresh fish – basically, some of the best raw fish we’ve found in Burbank.

Service is friendly and attentive. Toro has gone through some changes in ownership and decor recently, but we are still pleased with the restaurant.

Soft Shell Crab Roll. (Photo By Lisa Paredes)

However, they haven’t allowed public bathroom access recently, which is a huge issue for those dining in. They send you to Fantasia or Fuddruckers across the street. So, wash your hands before sitting down or you’ll be walking again to use facilities. We used to be able to use the tiny, and somewhat dingy, bathroom in the back through the kitchen but on recent visits it has been “broken.”

All in all, Toro Sushi and Poke House rates a solid On The Marquee with us. Once you’re prepared for the possibility of no bathroom access, the restaurant remains a favorite for quality fresh sushi and poke, whether you dine in or take out.

Restaurant/Bar Info: Toro Sushi Poke House is located at 144 N San Fernando Blvd, Burbank, CA 91502. (818) 238-9568​. Toro Sushi Poke House is open Sunday through Thursday 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

myBurbank Ratings:
Tops In Town (Outstanding)
On The Marquee (Really Good)
Could Use A Rewrite (Average or Slightly Below)
Don’t Quit Your Day Job (Poor)

The post Toro Sushi Poke House Continues Tradition Of Fresh, Quality Fish appeared first on myBurbank.com.

The Burbank Unified School District recognized the Music Is Instrumental campaign at the Burbank Board of Education meeting on Thursday, June 7, and lauded the work of its many supporters, which helped the campaign exceed its first-year goal.

Headed by Peggy Flynn, Arts and Career Technical Education Coordinator for BUSD, the Music Is Instrumental campaign and final concert utilized efforts from those in the Burbank and greater Los Angeles community to raise approximately $127,000 during the 2017-18 school year.

Since October 2017, Music Is Instrumental has been working to raise 1.2 million dollars, at a pace of $120,000 per year over 10 years, to repair and replace musical instruments used by students at the District’s three middle schools and two high schools.

Burbank Unified All District Symphonic Orchestra and Choir and professional mentors from Musicians at Play Foundation amazed the audience at Burbank’s Wolfson Auditorium for the Music Is Instrumental fund-raising concert. (Photo By Ross Benson)

The campaign culminated in a powerful performance on Friday, May 11, combining the efforts of Burbank Unified’s vocal and instrumental high school music groups and their professional musician mentors from the Musicians At Play Foundation.

The performance set a standard for future collaborations between the high school students and their mentors.

“Between ticket sales, donations and auction items, the event by itself raised approximately $13,000,” explained Cindy Pease, Managing Director of Musicians at Play Foundation. “Some of that was donations made to directly purchase instruments.”

Michael Hastings, Peggy Flynn, April Williams, Don Williams, Roberta Reynolds, Matt Hill, Trena Pitchford, Linda Walmsley, Tom Vice and Cindy Pease. (Photo Courtesy Burbank Unified School District)

“Don and April [Williams, of Musicians At Play] spent many hours recruiting the musicians and coordinating the schedules, auditions and getting the music donated,” Pease added.

“With BUSD, MAP is establishing protocols and a working model to perpetuate this program in order to establish ongoing performances and to create sustainable revenue for music education in schools. This would include vocal programs and more training for middle schools that feed into high school.”

“Peggy Flynn from BUSD worked tirelessly to make this happen as she works nonstop to build career training programs in the arts to also include theater tech, film and animation,” Pease also said. “This partnership prepare students for careers in the entertainment industry which is a big part of the Burbank community.”

L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger presents a check for $25,000 for the Music Is Instrumental campaign to Burbank Board of Education President Dr. Roberta Reynolds and Burbank Unified Superintendent Dr. Matt Hill. (Photo Courtesy Burbank Unified School District)

L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger donated $25,000 to the Music Is Instrumental campaign, which was also supported by the L.A. County Arts Commission and the Burbank Arts For All Foundation.

The 1000 for $100 Committee, led by teacher Linda Walmsley and local businessmen Michael Hastings and Michael Cusumano, raised a large amount of money through direct donations.

“I am once again in awe of the support we receive from our community for the arts,” commented Superintendent Dr. Matt Hill. “This campaign has shown the power of individuals working together to support our students.”

With a new school year beginning in a few short months, the Music Is Instrumental campaign is focused on the future and resetting anew for 2018-19.

Conductor Anthony Parnther leads the BUSD All District Orchestra in a rousing performance of music from film and television. (Photo By Ross Benson)

The post Music Is Instrumental Campaign Exceeds First-Year Goal appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Zion National Park is deservedly one of the most visited national parks in the country, racking up 4.5 million visitors in 2017. With sweeping vistas and colorful rocks, a sightseeing shuttle and both accessible and extremely challenging trails, Zion has something for everyone.

Only the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, with 11.3 million visitors, and Grand Canyon National Park, with 6.3 million, drew more visitors in 2017 than Zion. Yosemite National Park was close behind with 4.34 million.

All these people have caused some changes to how the National Park system handles visitors. Zion allows no private vehicles past Canyon Junction; all visitors are required to walk or ride the free shuttle to traverse the length of the valley floor.

The valley floor of Zion National Park, seen from the Angel’s Landing Trail. (Photo By Lisa Paredes)

Even with the shuttle system, wait times to get on the shuttle can take up to an hour, two hours or more on weekends and holidays.

Home to Angel’s Landing and The Narrows, Zion offers some extremely challenging outdoor experiences. These popular hikes are also being considered for a permit system. Angel’s Landing, in particular, can be frustrating and very dangerous to navigate the chain portion of the trail with the high number of people traversing the cliff.

The dramatic scenery of Zion is understandably a huge draw. The rock formations show differently colored layers of rock. The Virgin River, which cuts through the rocks along the valley floor, provides a vital water source for the flora and fauna.

Entry to The Narrows at the end of Riverside Walk. (Photo By Lisa Paredes)

And, fauna are everywhere, including mule deer, wild turkeys, coyotes and desert big horn sheep, in addition to the ubiquitous squirrels, chipmunks and smaller creatures.

Zion is approximately a seven-hour drive through Las Vegas from Burbank. While the Zion Lodge in the park tends to be full up, there are plenty of hotels in the adjacent town of Springdale, which are also served by a free shuttle bus to the Visitor Center.

Restaurants in the town are okay. Some are pretty good for being out in the country. Utah law requires the serving of food with alcoholic beverages for restaurants, so if you’re going to knock back a cold one, you’ll be required to purchase food as well. Bars are very few and very far between.

We really enjoyed the food at Casa de Amigos (solid, tasty Mexican) and Zion Pizza & Noodle (excellent pizzas.) The Red Rock Grill at Zion Lodge and the Zion Brewing Company near the Visitor Center were also pretty good although they offered a similar menu.

The red dust of The Watchman trail. (Photo By Lisa Paredes)

More information on Zion National Park can be found here. Currently, standard vehicle entry fees, good for seven days, are $35 for a private vehicle, $30 per motorcycle or $20 per person. Various group fees are also available.

National Park officials recently announced they would be instituting a visitor reservation system for Zion in the future, but more details on the change are still forthcoming. So Get Out Of Town, Burbank, and visit someplace new, like the spectacular sandstone canyons of Zion National Park.

Editor’s Note: While there’s always a lot going on in Burbank, myBurbank’s “Get Out Of Town!” highlights some of our favorite activities and events outside the town borders.

The post Get Out Of Town!: Zion National Park appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Being glued to a television set for a month every four years for the FIFA World Cup is something lifelong Burbank resident and local realtor Daniel Madariaga has done his entire life.

Madariaga, along with his brothers Claudio, Giancarlo and father Nino, live drink, eat and sleep soccer.

Daniel Madariaga with his son Leonardo, who is now 4, during happier times when the U.S. National Team was winning in soccer.

But this summer will be much different. For once, they will have nobody to cheer for.

The Madariagas have made a tradition of cheering for the United States, along with Chile, Nino’s birth nation and Italy, the birth nation of their late mother, Maria.

But then the unthinkable happened. On October 10, the United States was stunned on the last CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) qualifier last October by Trinidad and Tobago.

If that wasn’t enough, on the same day Chile went from being what appeared to be on safe ground to not qualifying following a 3-0 loss to Brazil as well as a number of other unexpected scenarios. In the end, Chile ended up tied with Peru on points for fifth in South America,  but had a goal differential that was that not as favorable as the Peruvians.

This was the same U.S. team that easily won the CONCACAF qualification group for the 2014 World Cup.

“I remember it was almost impossible for the U.S. to get knocked out. All they had to do was tie or defeat a team that was last place in the group and had been playing terribly,” Madariaga said of Trinidad and Tobago. “As I watched the game, and time was running out on the U.S., I was shocked, angry, and disappointed all at the same time. We did pretty well in the last World Cup, and now we will not even be participating this time?”

While he was focusing on the U.S. game, his dad was also keeping up on Chile, the defending South American champions.  This was also the same Chilean squad that defeated Mexico 7-0 at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara in 2016 to eliminate the Mexicans from Copa America, a game that the Madariagas drove up to see.

“At first I thought he was kidding. I thought he was just upset that they lost their last game,” Madariaga said when he learned of Chile’s fate through his father. “But sadly, they too were out. How could they just come off a major tournament win and have some of the best players in the world and be completely out of the tournament? This was not only a disappointment for me and my family but also for the world. The world wanted to see Chile in the tournament. Everyone loves their attack-first mentality and the excitement they bring. It’s a shame.”

The nightmare for Madariaga wasn’t over.  Italy did not secure automatic qualification after finishing second to Spain in group play.

But it moved on to a playoff against Sweden, which it lost 1-0 over the course of two games in November.

It was the first time since 1954 that Italy, a four –time winner of the World Cup, had failed to qualify.

“As soon as I heard Italy was out, my first thought was that something shady must be going on. It’s impossible that another soccer powerhouse had been eliminated,” said Madariaga, who works for his family-owned Contempo Realtors on Alameda Ave. “Maybe there was another FIFA corruption scandal taking place before our eyes, and Italy was caught up in it. There was no way they could actually be eliminated.”

One thing that disappoints Madariaga is that he won’t be able to show his enthusiasm for the event with his young son Leonardo.

“Seeing my enthusiasm for this World Cup would have propelled him into these next four years of very important soccer development,” he said. “Now we will have to wait four more years to show him the true love we have for our countries and teams.”

Seemingly out of luck, Madariaga has found a team to cheer for through his wife Julia.

“My wife is part Peruvian, so I guess that will be my team this year,” he said.

If anyone is winning out on Daniel Madariaga’s bad luck with the 2018 World Cup it might his clients as he will have more time to show properties and giving tips to those selling them homes, as he has created a series of videos on Youtube that he posts to his social media accounts. including  Twitter and Instagram.

The post Shut Out for World Cup appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Once, a year or so ago I was watching a History Channel presentation on cities in the U. S. and to my surprise they spoke of BURBANK!

At the end of the segment however they stated that the city was named after Luther Burbank the famous botanist!

WHAT!!!

I was totally flabbergasted that a channel with History in its name made such a huge research blunder. Given that a quick internet search turns up so many links about our town, it seems to me that they never attempted to fact check such an import piece of history.

So I was thinking that we needed to clear this up once and for all on this Flashback Friday. The City of Burbank California (there are a number of other cities with the same name, ie. Burbank, Ohio) was named after a man named Dr. David Burbank.

Dr. Burbank was a dentist and came to California and settled for a time in San Francisco and opened up a dental practice on Montgomery Street. There is even a picture of the building with his sign in 1855.

He then decided to do a little prospecting and ended up(1866) with a large ranch where Warner Brothers back lot is today. He owned most of the property that would become the major part of Burbank today (9,200 acres).

On this ranch he raised sheep and alfalfa. For reasons unknown he gave up farming his property and rented the land to other local farmers. In 1886 Dr Burbank sold his land to the Providencia Land, Water and Development Co.

One year later on May 1,1887 the city of Burbank was formed. It would not be until 1911 that the City incorporated.

Dr. Burbank took his money from the sale of his property to downtown Los Angeles and built a beautiful theater that promised first rate stage productions. Alas Dr. Burbank died on January 21, 1895.

His legacy was to have given his name to our town and that it has blossomed into a wonderful community with a long a storied history which we continue to discuss here on myBurbank.com and the Website Burbankia and many books that are written about this place we call home.

Below are the many faces of Dr. Burbank. Left to right, His official city Portrait, His Prospecting days, His Wedding portrait, On an Expedition with family and friends.

NOW AVAILABLE!!

Get your Copy of Lost Burbank Now!
Slowly fading with the city’s ever-changing landscape, the places and people of Burbank’s past tell a vibrant story. Before the arrival of Warner Bros. and Walt Disney, First National Pictures built  its original studio lot on Olive Ave in 1926. For over sixty years, Lockheed Aircraft Company produced some of the nation’s best airplanes where the massive Empire Shopping Center now stands. Heavyweight champion James Jeffries turned his Burbank ranch home and barn into a beloved landmark and boxing venue. Inventor Joseph Wesley Fawkes’s scheme to build a monorail to Los Angeles became a local laughingstock.  Diehard Burbankers Wes Clark and Michael McDaniel collect these and many more forgotten local stories where they can finally be found.

and their new book, Growing Up in Burbank, just out!!

The post FLASHBACK FRIDAY: Will The Real “Burbank” Please Stand Up! appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Burbank Police responded to a citizen call of a suspect spray-painting graffiti on a business in the 1100 block of West Magnolia Boulevard Wednesday afternoon, June 13.

When the first unit arrived on scene, the suspect took off running. With the aid of the Burbank air unit and several ground units they stopped the suspect a block away from the graffiti location. They also stopped a female companion of the suspect on the same block.

According to  Burbank Police Lieutenant Claudio Losacco, the police booked the alleged suspect, Eric Bailleaux, 22 years old of Sun Valley, for felony (graffiti) vandalism. When stopped by police, the suspect had in his possession vandalism tools. He was also booked for obstructing the police and possession of Alprazolam.

The female companion, 19-year-old Maria Guzman of North Hollywood, was detained and cited for possession of an open container of alcohol.

The post Burbank Police Arrest Felony Graffiti Suspect Caught in the Act appeared first on myBurbank.com.

(Photo by © Ross A Benson)

Burbank Police responded to a reported restraining order violation around 10:23 Friday night in the 1500 BLK of Niagara Street. When the first officers arrived they heard shots being fired from the rear yard.

They approached the house and found three individuals inside the home those same officers also saw a fire was started in the front living room. They assisted the individuals out of the house after breaking a window. The officers confirmed with the people they brought out that shots had been fired, and the suspect was still in the area.

Assisting the ground units was the Burbank Air Support helicopter and they observed a suspect fleeing the rear yard. A perimeter was set up and additional resources were requested. Burbank Police SWAT team along with K-9’s from Burbank and Glendale were deployed and  Pasadena and the City of San Fernando assisted with maintaining the perimeter where the suspect could have fled.

(Photo by © Ross A Benson)

The Burbank Fire Department was called and with the protection of police officers with shotguns worked on extinguishing the house fire that was now consuming the whole house.

Once Burbank Fire had a majority of the fire knocked down they retreated to a safe zone until officers could locate the suspect.

At approximately 3:15 am the next morning officers with the aid of several K-9’s located the suspect hiding in a rear yard in the 1400 Blk of Catalina Street. The suspect did not comply with directions from police and K9’s were deployed. The suspect was taken into custody after being bit on his arm. He was transported to a local hospital to be treated prior to being arrested and booked.

During the incident, no shots were fired by any police officer, and Burbank Fire Department returned to the house to extinguish any remaining fire.

Burbank Police Detectives along with a Fire Investigator will remain on scene through the day continuing their investigations. 

(Photo by © Ross A Benson)

The streets of Burbank were protected by Burbank Airport Police along with officers from the City of Pasadena, they answered routine calls that continued to come into the police dispatch center including some alarm calls and a traffic accident involving a drunk driver.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Burbank Police Detective Bureau at 818-238-3210. If you wish to remain anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS
(8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 MOBILE APP” or by using the website
www.LACrimeStoppers.org. 

This story will be updated following a midday Press Conference.

The post Burbank Police Officers Checking on a Restraining Order Arrive to Shots Being Fired appeared first on myBurbank.com.

The woody smell of cooking barbecue mingled with the smell of fresh hot muffins and new jars of food glimmered on shelves, while construction workers finish the final touches to Burbank’s first Whole Foods Market, opening Wednesday.

“The Burbank community has been waiting for Whole Foods to open [a store] for a number of years,” said Store Manager Dave Aebersold a long time Whole Foods Market employee.

Whole Food Store Team Leader Dave Aebersold. (Photo by © Ross A Benson)

The new market is busily readying itself for its grand opening.  The voluminous store, 42,000 square feet, has an overwhelming variety of produce, food, drink and even a restaurant and bar.  In addition to the standard market fare: milk, eggs, bread, there are specialty food sections with names like Grab-and-Go and Summer Party Hits.

Love for Local is the produce section which will offer a bounty from over 400 local growers in California including Bakersfield and Santa Barbara, and Whole Foods always try to purchase organic. 

“We try to get micro-local, so we deal with folks like Weiser Farms that is in Tehachapi. That’s one of our big suppliers,” Aebersold said. 

Whole Foods will offer a variety of products in vegan, glucose-free, and non-GMO selections. 

“One of the great things at Whole Foods Markets is we tag, so you can see if it’s organic if it’s local, or if it is gluten-free,”  said Aebersold.  “It’s just to help a lot of our shoppers who have diet or nutritional needs. 

(Photo by © Ross A Benson)

There will be a dizzying array of foods from local producers such as honey from Thousand Oaks, olive oil from Santa Margarita, and chocolate from San Diego.  Summer Party Hits, the cheese section, has more than 600 types of cheeses, and then liquor department has 1,200 types of wine and spirits including 471 different beers.  In-house made pork and salmon sausages, and smoked and barbecued meats will also be available.

For shoppers who would rather eat out than eat at home, take away meals are available from the Grab and Go section.  Four different hot food bars will be offering seasonal food with various selections such as Greek or Peruvian.  Guests will also be able to choose from the pizza, salad, sandwich, and taco food stations.  Guest will also be able to purchase from a vegan food bar. 

The newest Burbank bar and restaurant will be Whole Foods’ Stage 71. The in-store restaurant and bar, with outdoor seating and a wide view of the Media District, will serve customers everything from burgers, tacos, chicken wings and even vegan sushi.  They can also watch a game on one of the several large flat screen TVs.   

“Obviously being right across from the studios, there is going to be a huge clientele for lunch and dinner,” said Aeversold. 

(Photo by © Ross A Benson)

Happy hour will be every day from 3-6 pm.

Amazon Prime costumers will want to take advantage of 10 percent discounts.  Prime customers can use the Amazon site or the Whole Foods app to order and have it delivered within two hours.  There will also be special product sales for Prime customers only. 

The Whole Foods Market will have 250 employees including several local Burbank workers.

Grand Opening will be Wednesday, June 20 at 9 am and store hours after that will be 7 am to 10 pm daily. Whole Foods is located at 3401 W. Olive and has a massive parking down below the soon-to-be-finished Taleria project including many stalls with electric charging capabilities.

Check out the gallery of pictures click on any pictures to enlarge it.

The post Whole Foods Market Burbank Opens Wednesday appeared first on myBurbank.com.

UPDATED  at 7:30 PM

Per Sgt Derek Green of the Burbank Police, he reports earlier this evening the suspect from this morning’s stabbing at Burger King has passed away as a result of his injuries he sustained during his attack of an elderly victim inside the restaurant.

The suspect has since been identified as James Rey Richard Kagaoan, a 36-year-old transient with the last reported address in Sun Valley. The victim is recovering and expected to survive.

####

On Tuesday, June 19 at 11:03 a.m., Burbank Police responded to a call regarding an assault with a deadly weapon in progress at Burger King, located at 545 N. Victory Blvd. When police officers arrived on the scene, they found two men with stab wounds.

Photo By: Edward Tovmassian

After detectives began their investigation, they learned that an elderly man and two acquaintances had been seated in the fast food restaurant when a male suspect came inside with a knife and stabbed the victim. While the victim was being stabbed, another patron intervened and started to struggle with the suspect. During the struggle, the suspect suffered multiple stab wounds.

The suspect was transported to Providence St. Joseph Medical Center with possible life-threatening injuries.

The victim who received injuries considered to be minor and not life-threatening was also taken to a local trauma center.

The patron who struggled with the suspect did not receive any injuries and was not emitted to a hospital.

At the moment, this attack appears to be random and unprovoked.

Witnesses believe the suspect may be homeless and mentally unstable.

The Burbank Police Department is still investigating the incident, anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Burbank Police Department Investigations Division, at (818) 238-3210.

The post Stabbing at Burger King, Patron Takes Down Suspect UPDATED appeared first on myBurbank.com.

A Burbank neighborhood was named one of the top ten “Nicest Places” in the country by Reader’s Digest this week as announced on “Good Morning America.” Ashley Erikson, who lives on North Evergreen Street and is a local community organizer, saw the contest a few weeks ago online and decided to nominate her neighborhood.

The neighbors of North Evergreen have a private Facebook group of a few hundred people living along the 1400-1900 blocks of North Maple, Pass, Evergreen, Rose and Valley. The admins of the group, Rachel Diana, and Erin Viera-Orr, created the page in order to connect neighbors, build a stronger community and to improve the quality of life for those who live on or directly nearby North Evergreen Street. 

Erikson nominated the group on the Reader’s Digest website and contributed multiple stories of kindness and community including sharing produce and fresh eggs between neighbors, holding community events for the kids, spending holidays together, lending a helping hand, volunteering on each other’s projects, raising their kids together and loving each other as a family would.

Reader’s Digest called them “a local sustainable neighborhood in the heart of the media capital of the world.”

As a top 10 finalist, North Evergreen Street will be featured in the November issue of Reader’s Digest, with the first place finisher featured on the cover. The neighborhood is now rallying forces to vote North Evergreen into first place, which will also include a feature on “Good Morning America.”  Individuals can vote once per day until July 7 when voting closes.

The neighbors are very excited about this opportunity and the media coverage it has brought to their neighborhood.

Erikson says,“It is just my way to say thank you to all my neighbors for being so loving and giving.  I wanted to them to know how much I appreciated them and that what we have on Evergreen is special.”

You can read all of North Evergreen’s stories of niceness here: https://www.rd.com/ nicestplaces/north-evergreen- st-los-angeles-ca/

The post Burbank Neighborhood Named One Of Top Ten “Nicest Places” appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Whole Foods has finally opened its doors here in Burbank and our Mickie Shaw grabbed her video camera and wanted to give you a quick tour of what you are in for.

Also, our photographer, Ross A. Benson, was on hand at the opening and has some great pictures to show!

The post Take a Video Tour of the New Whole Foods Store in Burbank appeared first on myBurbank.com.

The Ugly Mug Coffee House and The Palm Coffee Bar have both opened recently in Burbank. For those looking for an alternative to the large coffee chains, these two new Burbank coffee shops add some mom-and-pop flavor to the area.

The Palm and The Ugly Mug join our favorites Simply Coffee, Blvd Cafecito, Basecamp and High Horse Dinette, Acai Jungle Cafe, Romancing the Bean and SOTTA as purveyors of artisanal coffee and tea in Burbank.

The Ugly Mug Coffee House serves fresh pastries and Gaviña coffee at their Burbank Boulevard shop. (Photo By Lisa Paredes)

The Ugly Mug, opened by longtime local residents Steve and Emily Nalbantian, is located at 3112 W. Burbank Boulevard. They serve Gaviña family coffee, teas by Art of Tea and a few other specialty drinks. The espresso drinks come out super hot, so beware of that first sip!

The shop offers a limited menu of fresh pastries, including muffins, scones and croissants, along with some pre-packaged breakfast items and treats. There’s plenty of tables and chairs inside and out.

The Palm Coffee Bar, owned by Joanna and Ben Milliken, opened their doors at 2922 W. Magnolia Boulevard in March. The shop serves Equator coffee, Mighty Leaf tea and pastries from Sugarbloom Bakery.

(Photo By Lisa Paredes)

While I prefer Blvd Cafecito‘s Intelligentsia coffee for its flavor, I’m also curious to try their cafe con leche and other Cuban-style drinks. The shop is a tiny place, located at 3210 W. Magnolia Boulevard, with just a few small seats inside and out. Perfect for grabbing a quick pick-me-up while strolling Magnolia Park.

Blvd Cafecito’s limited offerings of pastries (muffins, scones and croissants) are delicious, though. Chilled yogurt parfaits and bottled drinks are also available. The shop plans to open Blvd Tacos next door in the near future.

Simply Coffee upgraded their outdoor seating area over a year ago, to make it more comfortable, shady and relaxing. With plenty of seating inside and out, a selection of breakfast sandwiches, boxed salads and more, in addition to freshly baked pastries, Simply Coffee positively hums during opening hours.

The shop brews Stumptown coffee and is located at 940 N. Lima Street, just south of Magnolia Boulevard.

Blvd Cafecito serves Intelligentsia coffee and Cuban-style drinks in Magnolia Park. (Photo By Lisa Paredes)

Two all-time favorites around town are Basecamp, at 1221 W. Riverside Drive, and Romancing the Bean, located at 3413 W. Magnolia Boulevard. I enjoy their coffees and teas, and the wider menu from which to order breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Acai Jungle Cafe is another favorite for food and smoothies. They brew Bulletproof and Art of Tea coffee and teas and are known for their coffee and matcha green tea shakes. SOTTA is also recently new on the scene and does some terrific coffees and teas.

As the newest Burbank coffee shop, The Ugly Mug adds its own special style to the City of Burbank. They are open Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

CORRECTION: This article has been updated on 6/30/18 to note that The Ugly Mug Coffee House in Burbank is not a franchise of the boutique coffee chain Ugly Mug Coffee.

The post New Burbank Coffee Shops Add Eclectic Options appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Monterey High School recently held their graduation ceremonies.  Here is a complete list of the graduates provided by Monterey Principal, Ann Brooks

Photography by Edward Tovmassian

Photo By: Edward Tovmassian

Jennifer Aguilar

Tayari Akili

Sean Allison

Emily Amela

Anthony Amigon

Logan Anderson Evans

Adam Ayon

Shanelle Azri

Shake Berberian

Deana Buttress

Julian Caire

Yvette Canela

Alejandra Cano

Maritza Castaneda

Isabel Castaneda Meza

Samantha Chavez

Kimberly Chavez Alfaro

Nicholas Cowan

Hudson Dooley

Savannah Dowthwaite

Dalton Feroze

Jack Fisher

Alexa Foxx

Andre Gadimyan

John Garcia

Aileen Garcia Martinez

Emily Groom

Kady Guerrero

Samuel Guzman

Fadi Haroun

Aren Hendley

Damon Housholder

Christiano James

Austin Johnson

Mitchell Kupchik

Kevin Lopez Lozano

Quetzanxel Maldonado

Garrett Meehan

Joel Micioni

Begoia Morgande

Rita Musoyan

Julieta Ogando

Photo By: Edward Tovmassian

Michael Quinonez

Paloma Ramos

Christian Rawls

Inteous Richards

Chadric Richardson

Stella Rodriguez

Natasha Rogers

William Rosales

Priscilla Salamanca

Raul Sarabia

Clayton Savage

Ian Scott

Atrianis Sosa

Zyon Stinson

Miguel Vera

Dante Vignali

Khyree Williams

Jason Wilson

Bradly Zavala-Gonzalez

Photo By: Edward Tovmassian

The post Monterey High School Holds Graduation Ceremonies appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Over the past three weeks, Burbank Police have received a total of 25 reports regarding “smash and grab” burglaries in parked cars in the lots of local restaurants.

The most recent car break-in occurred at Talleyrand on Monday, June 25 at 7:30 p.m. After the suspect broke into one car, they attempted to break into another. When someone approached the suspect, they fled on foot.

Several auto burglaries have occurred on the west side of Burbank, at Olive and Verdugo, Pass and Oak, and Riverside and Evergreen, as well as Coffee Commissary located at 3121 W. Olive Ave.

Most of the burglaries have occurred in the parking lots of commercial businesses open to the public, such as various Starbucks locations including those located at 347 N. Pass Ave., 113 E. Alameda Ave., 1010 W. Alameda Ave., 1520 W. Olive Ave., and 4207 Riverside Dr.

The burglaries have taken place during the morning, daytime, and early evening hours.

Items stolen are said to have been visible from the car windows and include electronics, laptops, cell phones, and tools.

Detectives on the case have discovered similar incidents are also occurring in Central and Northern California.

At the moment, several leads are being investigated.

The post Crime Wave of “Smash and Grab” Auto Burglaries appeared first on myBurbank.com.