(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Burbank High’s graduation was anticipated by many, but one had a special surprise when her brother Jorge came home from serving with the Marines, and without prior knowledge, presented the diploma to his younger sister Emily Chacon for a great reunion.  See some of the great Ross A. Benson pictures below of both the graduation exercise and the happy reunion.

Here is a list of the graduates from Burbank High School who graduated at the Starlight Bowl Friday, May 30

Rima Abdulaziz

George Abdulhai

Zomorroda Anton Abdullatif

Georgiy Abgaryan

Jasmine Abgaryan

Hanna Abi Samra

Jonathan Kourosh

Eric Anthony Agaverdyan

Anthony Aghajani

Cynthia Marina Aguillon

Samantha Rose Ainian

Roza Lilit Airapetian

Tracey Aivaz

Mona Akhiary

Armen Akopian

Martin Sarkis Akopian

Rosa Akskalyan

Karo Gary Aladjanian

Feba Mercy Alex

Adriana Jasmine Alvarez

Andrea Zarouhy Ambartsumyan

Teresa Nicole Amelotte

Tony Amirian

Bashar Ammari

Isaiah Christopher Amos-Nshimba

William Robert Andrews

Narbeh Andriasian

Patrick Andriasian

Arthur Haroutioun Anserlian

Anahit Antanyan

Jesus Antonio

Lorenzo Antonio

Natalie Antounian

Melvin Arakelian Khoygany

Armen Kourken Araradian

Matthew Thomas Armelin

Marietta I Armstone

Leslie Arreola Melgarejo

Alex Arutunyan

Edwin Arutyunyan

Margarita Noem Arzoumanian

Derrick Saco Asadoorian

Taylor Austin

Armen Avedikian

Henry Avetisian

Nestor Avila

Arman Aynaszyan

Arthur Arman Ayvazayan

Yohanes Ayvazi

Savanah Reada Ayyoub

Naira Babakhanian

Ani Babayan

Maria Crista Cabalquinto Baclagan

Derek Lee Baer

Dennis Baez

Jarrod Eli Bailey

Wyatt Anthony Baker

Elias Hovsep Balian

Kevin James Ballas

Austin James Barin

Noah Joseph Barney

Jasmine Jacqueline Barrera

Sabrinna Ashley Bates

Manashid Bedrousimasihi

Vartan Bekerian

Arthur Berberyan

Melissa Marie Bersteine

Sergio Andres Betancur

Ryan Christopher Bettencourt

Jad Bitar

Andrew Thomas Bogenschutz

Loosine Boghozian

Menooa Boghozian

Tatiana Elin Boghozian

Alexandra J Bonomo

Nouneh Boodaghian

Daisy Valeria Boring

Cody Malik Bosman

Daniel Abraham Bosnoyan

John William Bowman

Hayley Alexis Bradford

John Paul Brehm

Elizabeth Ann Briggs

Dakota Rae Briseno

Kaitlin Scott Brooks

Malone Antoinette Brooks

Oharjee Michael Brown

Reeve Robert Bruner

Angela Angie Brutyan

Arshak Artur Bukujian

Marwin Bunnag

Marissa Elizabeth Burke

Jessie Lyn Butera

Ani Mariam Byurat

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Rebecca Samantha Cachon

Natalia Maria Caddick

Brett Michael Camacho

Diego Alejandro Camilli

Raven Fredrick Panganiban Caraan

Daniel Timothy Carns

Martin David Caro

Alberto Eduardo Carrisoza

Taylor Brittane Carter

Silas Humberto Castaneda

Samantha Castro

Tiffany Limbo Cedeno

Emily Janeth Chacon

Yun Chul Chang

Sirada Chartwong

Anthony Chavez

Calvin Cheung

Deniz Childir

Ariana Raquel Chilingirian

Paul Cho

Christian Chong Gil Choe

Elliot Sung Jae Choe

Rachelle Slgee Choi

Anna Rita Chrchyan

Jenna Rose Chubin

Christopher Chun

James Heejae Chung

Katherine Anne Frances Cimini

Fatima Andrea Cisneros

Gary Zeferino Clements

Diana Isabel Cohen

Latreal Marquitas Compton

Emerald Belen Contreras

Austin Cook

Andrea Maria Cornejo

Bruno Leonel Costa Murta

Dakota Shawn Coughlan-O’Neil

Nicole Ann Cranmer

Kenard Paul Rosel Cruz

Sylvia Margret Cruz

Harmony Cearize Curtis

Matthew Sami Dabbas

Vardan George Dagstanyan

Fadi Dilan Dahoud

Matthew Brandon Daniel

Kathleen Mae Dario

Natalie Ann Dashjian

Talin Davdian

Jaelyn Christine Davenport

Taylor Brianne Davenport

Kiyanna RiAnn Davis

Mariam Davtyan

Emmanuelle James Anthony Debarge

Julia Deanna De Jesus Porras

Luke David De Simone

Matthew Jared De Vera

Luvina Grace Dean

Almira Kathleen Decena

Alejandra Carolina Del Rio

Megan Joy Delbarian

Alessia Della Catena

Shavigh Der Barseghian

Haibert Derzakarian

Paul Anthony Diaz

Nakota Louis DiFonzo

Armand Louis Di Franco

Emma Gail Dixon

Gabrielle Gwenda Dixon

Mary Monica Dolmadjian

Chloe Isabella Dos Santos

Iman Dost

Laura C Duarte

Daisy Tam Anh Duong

Georgi Dzneladze

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Victoria Lee Eccles

Gabriel Ellman

Michael Ellman

Richard Elmoyan

Ranah Samey Elzaiat

Mackenzie Maiko Emi

Ryan Eskandarian

Stephanie Espejo

Jaquelyn Estrada

Kimberly Alvizores Estrada

Silvia Elena Fagioli

David Faizi

Arsen Gevork Fermanyan

Sabrina Starr Fielder

Sahara Eve Von Fisher

George Carlos Foster

Michael Fowler-Starcher

Nais Freitas

Samuel Vahan Funjian

Dylan Di Forte Gabriel

Heidi Mirella Gaitan

Alicia Gallarzo

Cristal Sinali Galvez

Ashley Sayaka Serizawa Garber

Rebeka Alejandra Garces

Anthony Garcia

Daniel Alexander Garcia

Jennifer Garcia

Mary Ann Garcia

Pailak Gevojanyan

Elizabeth Anita Gevorkian

Lala Ghadimi

Emin Gharabagi

Meredy Gharabegi

Haik Gharapeti-Nercessian

Ervin Ghazarian

Sharis Ghazeri

Vanessa Ashley Ghoghas

Cintia Ghoorchian

Alexandra Gabrielle Gibbons

Edward Gibbons

Harmeet Singh Gill

Tristen Giron

Orbel Golanians

Brooke Ariella Goldman

Danial Golforoush

Louis Anthony Gomez

Jazmin Guadalupe Gonzalez

Jonathan Bryan Gonzalez

Myriam Aydee Gonzalez

Jacqueline Elizeth Gonzalez Lopez

Garrett Arthur Goodenough

Khatchik Christopher Gradjyan

John Paul Grasse

Camden Greenwood

Sage Dominiq Guardado

Clarissa Destiny Guerrero

Christian Gutierrez

Julia Noemi Gutierrez

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Najee T Hbeeb-D’Agostino

Sina Habibi Zad

Michelle Claudia Hacoobei

Alexandra Irene Hacopian

Martin Haghverdian

Sevak Haghverdian

Arman Hokobyan

Andranik Andy Hakopyan

Paris Quinn Hale

Ericka Eloise Hall

Troy Anthony Hall

Sang Yup Han

Andrew James Harkness

Varand Harounian

Amber Janice Hartman

Julieta Harutyunyan

Karine Harutyunyan

Julia Silvia Helo

Esmeralda Hernandez

Heiby Paul Hernandez

Oscar Herrera

Matthew Edward Higginbotham

Firas Saad Hikmat

Sean Elijah Holland

Aaron Alexander Chaffin Honda

Harry Serob Hovakimyan

Irina Hovhannisyan

Marina Hovhannisyan

Aram John Hovsepian

Angel Anitza Huezo Avendano

Martha Michelle Huezo Zepeda

Inessa Hunanian

Chloe Jean Hunter

Andres Anthony Hurtado

Awais Syed Mehdi Ibrahim

Alexander Joseph Ieraci

Daisy Ignacio

Narmela Kate Iranosian

Kari Feline Irwin

Tatevik Nazely Isagulyan

Caroline Ismailyan

Jorge Vache Israelian

David Ivazov

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Nick Nima Jalalizadeh

Emily Rose Jandris

Peter Jang

Lusine Janibekyan

George Jaradeh

Julian Jaramillo Montoya

Meryana Jarrah

Aaron Matthew Jimenez

Angela Francesca R Jimenez

Erik Alexander Juarez-Flores

Eric Lee Kambestad

Emily Sandra Kane

Ratiana Rita Karapet

Meri Karapulyan

Liya Karaseferyan

Anthony Thomas Kardosh

Mariah Raye Karp

Robert Karraker

Viktoria Ritta Kasaboglyan

Amanda Kasih

Garen Raffi Kasparian

Alin Katoromian

Alisa Kazanchyan

David Matthew Kennedy Quinones

Hagop Jack Keshishian

Arthur Aykazun Keshishyan

Karine Kary Keshishyan

Michael Martiros Keshishyan

Grigori Khachatryan

Hayk Khachatryan

Advan Khachik

Kristin Khajehmal

Miri Khalaf

Ryan Andy Khalaf

Alex Khalil

Alen Khazarian

Preny Kheshadorian

Teni Khodabakhshian

Brian WS Kim

Dong Jun Kim

Hyeong Chan Kim

Joon Hyung Kim

Sipan Kirakosian

Hakop Jack Kiramidzhyan

Clayton Kitnukul

Artur Kivranyan

Cheyenne Meline Jade Kizirian

Riley Kolus

Conrad Sebastian Korbol

Arven Kordijan

Vasilios Koutsos

Brianna Michelle Krejsa

Tyler William Kusumi

Maximilian H Laine

Roman Raul Larenas Lopez

Adrian Velasco Lazaro

Grant Hoai Le

Jaimie Grace Lee

Viktoria Ritta Kasaboglyan

Amanda Kasih

Garen Raffi Kasparian

Alin Katoromian

Alisa Kazanchyan

David Matthew Kennedy Quinones

Hagop Jack Keshishian

Arthur Aykazun Keshishyan

Karine Kary Keshishyan

Michael Martiros Keshishyan

Grigori Khachatryan

Hayk Khachatryan

Advan Khachik

Kristin Khajehmal

Miri Khalaf

Ryan Andy Khalaf

Alex Khalil

Alen Khazarian

Preny Kheshadorian

Teni Khodabakhshian

Brian WS Kim

Dong Jun Kim

Hyeong Chan Kim

Joon Hyung Kim

Sipan Kirakosian

Hakop Jack Kiramidzhyan

Clayton Kitnukul

Artur Kivranyan

Cheyenne Meline Jade Kizirian

Riley Kolus

Conrad Sebastian Korbol

Arven Kordijan

Vasilios Koutsos

Brianna Michelle Krejsa

Tyler William Kusumi

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Maximilian H Laine

Roman Raul Larenas Lopez

Adrian Velasco Lazaro

Grant Hoai Le

Jaimie Grace Lee

Jin Bo Lee

Joshua Lee

Michelle Lee

Tiffany Yvonne Lee

Zabrina Legarda

Daniel Nicholas Lewis

Adriana Limon

Ashley Lauren Linda

Kelly Lilibeth Lobos

Adriana Lopez

Kimberly Itzeth Lopez

Leonel Eduardo Lopez

Liliana Guadalupe Lopez

Arthur Joseph Reinhart Lorentz

Jordy Alan Lucas Martinez

Noah Alexander Lueneburg

Hasan Maaz

Joshua Dominic Padilla Macapagal

Ryan Philip Magowan

Paulina Magtesian

Renee Mahseregyan

Mackenzie Patrick Maisner

Araz Majnoonian

Azniv Makhserejyan

Majid Anthony Nehman Malek

Aansh Malik

Miles Mallier

Robert Alvaro Dy Malonzo

Solanj Mandani

Azannette Manjarrez

Luceen Manokian

Ghassan Saki Mansour

Jason Robert Mansour

Loida Ruth Mansourian

Naira Markaradi

Gabrielle Markari

Paulette Ingrid Markarian

Lilit Markosyan

Kevork Fadjiyevich Maronyan

Katrina Martin

Liliana Martinez

Richard Ashot Martirosian

Juliana Christine Marx

Suren Matevosyan

Taron Mayilyan

Celia Karina Mayorquin

Christopher Mazzi

Gakpe Albright Mc Kenzie

Samuel Patrick Mc Kinnon

Brian Francisco Medal

Jennifer Medina

Valerie Stephanie Medina

Christian Mikhael Medrano

Kevin Fernando Mejia Pelaez

Helen Melkonian

Veronica Mendoza

Manuel Geovanni Mezzetti

Robert Mheryan

Daniel Emil Michael

Mamuka Mikhelidze

Vana Minassian

Christopher Dylan Miranda

Destiny Noel Miranda

Zachary Thomas Miranda

Kyle Emin Mirzakhanian

Talin Mirzakhanian

Ashot Misakyan

Elizabeth Lisa Misirian

Christina Genev Mitilian

Anush Mkrtchyan

Arsen Vladimir Mkrtchyan

Davit Mkrtchyan

Giuseppe Modenesi Tambracc

Saamon Mohammadion

Nicholas Molina

Angela Grace Monahan

Brett Thomas Monji

Casey Khang Moore

Emmanuel Osvaldo Mora

Fabiola Nazhyra Mora

Crystal B Morales

Michelle Vicky Morales

Samantha Alecxa Morales

Ethan Abraham Moskowitz

Eva Mouradian

Monique Erica Mouradian

Arlette Movsesyan

Nicholas Mukelyan

Andrew William Munoz

Stephanie Johanna Murillo

Daniel Riley Murphy

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Jamie-Lynn Nakhokkong-Khim

Grigor Nargizyan

Reinier-Ann Montemayor Natividad

Dante Nazarian

Katherine Nazarian

Melany Nazarian

Evelyn Nazaryan

Jordan Patrick Nelsestuen

Joshua Hesu Nersissian

Damon Tran Nguyen

Anna Nikogosyan

Yvette S Niwa

Raquel Iliana Nylander

Raul Ochoa

Sabrina Aron Oganesyan

Timothy Song Oh

Dachineewan Naomi Oliver

Isabella O’Neill

Clyde Oquendo

Oscar Ornelas Valencia

Hayarpi Orujyan

Andranik Andy Ovakimyan

Jessica Ovsepian

Mary Ovsepyan

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Viktor Raheem Ramientos Pacis

Lauren Aurora Padilla

Camden David Palmisano

Ani P Papazyan

Gegham Papazyan

Julianna Papazyan

Ali Alizadeh Parhizkar

Do Won Park

Nathan Hyun Park

Viva Parsa

Adam Brandon Pasco

Tina Patatanyan

Karishma Haresh Patel

Khushbu Ajit Patel

Robert Barkev Payaslyan

Joseph Anthony Pendleton

Gabriel Jesus Perez

Gabriella Rose Perez

Diana Petrosyan

Mariam Petrosyan

Vanik Petrosyan

Sidne Siobhan Phillips

Natalie Rae Pickens

Shant Piramzyan

Danielle Skye Plascencia

Janet Nicole Pogosian

Dominik Posavec

Lennin Joel Prado

Margaret Alesander Prokopchik

Andres Pulgarin

Randy John Qafaiti

Sergio Quintanar

Teresa Analicia Quintanar

Justine Amanda Quinteros

Alyssa Ryana Quiogue

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Anna Alexandra Rafaelian

Cesar Raigoza

Jacqueline Ramirez

Daniel De Jesus Ramirez-Sosa

Chris A Ramos

Lucas Dominic Raposa

Fernando Resendiz

Faith Anne Respicio

Alejandra Reyes

Erika Xiomara Reyes

Ricardo Enrique Reyes

Minjoo Rho

Jose deJesus Rios

Andrea Vanessa Rivera

Marco Antonio Rivera Lopez

Alexander Trey Rodriguez

Brittany Alondra Rodriguez

Hector Alonso Rodriguez

Sandra Rodriguez

Sandy Rodriguez

Jezyka D Roldan

Daisy Romero

Karina Rosales

Tyler Bradley Rossum

Brooke Alysa Roth

Tiffany Ruiz-Murillo

Marisol Samantha Ruvalcaba

Natalie Safarian

Tristan Kevin Safarian

Kristine Sagryan

Izabella Sahakyan

Andre Joseph Sahdo

Syed Meeran Ghazi Sahel

Justin Saisirikul

Knarik Sakanyan

Karo Salatyan

Mark Nobleza Salgado

Jacob Jay Salomon

Marissa Viviana Samayoa

Briana Nicole Sanchez

Elizabeth Alicia Sanchez

Maria Laura Sanchez

Celso Alberto Sandoval- Martinez

Amanda C Santangelo

Sebastian Robert Santoro

Christopher Nathan Santos Casapao

Karapet Sarafyan

Hector Ivan Sarinana

Nyree Sarkessian

Sofia Karen Sarkisian

Daniel Sarkissian

Irene Henrietta Saroyan

Hayley Marie Scully

Gevork George Semerdzhyan

Rebecca Serrano

Joseph Michael Servin

Garegin Shahbazyan

Hayk Shahbazyan

Tatevik Shahinyan

Aram Shahnazaryan

Christopher Armand Shamirian

Sara Seroun Shamlyan

Amir J Sharomi

Sally Kelly Lydia Sheridan

Raymond Revel Shideler

Han Kyu Shin

Hee Soo Shin

Susan Christine Shirinian

Ian Leroy Shovestull

Eileen Sibrian

Athaliah Sigamoney

Melanie Sinaei

Johanna Joi So

Grigor Sogomonyan

Diana Rose Soibatian

Stephanie Jane Solomon

Harutioun Harry Stambulyan

Tristan Stern

Taryn T Stevenson

Trevor Edward Strang

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Amira Fayez Tadrous

Christina Tangikyan

Alexander Quinlan Tarandek

Mary Natalie Tashchyan

Emin Kevin Tatosi

Hakop Jack Taturyan

Bryan James Taylor

Cory Ziegler Taylor

Morgan Elise Tebbe

Annie Telalyan

Davit Artavazd Temurian

Katherine Fabiola Tenorio Ramos

Oribel Teramzian

Armine Ter-Barseghyan

Evita Tergalstian

Daniel Terrones

Gevork Sarkis Terzyan

Aram Tigranyan

Felicia Tomitsa

Jacey Kristine Tomlinson

Hovanes John Tonoyan

Sirarpi Topchyan

Taline Christine Torabian

Arman Emmanuel Torosian

John Torosyan

Keith Torrez

Juan Carlos Trancoso

Jessica Jeanne Travis

Bianca Ioana Trofin

Alejandro Francisco Turcios

Jennifer Udall

Aram A Ulloa

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Nicolette Caroline Vallejo

Andres Alfredo Vasquez

Jacqueline Arely Vazquez

Yenely Lilian Velasquez

Christian Joel Agoncillo Villacorta

Alaina Agnes Ma Blacano Villagran

Daniela Lissette Villalta Escobar

David Alejandro Villegas

Arman Virabyan

Juliana Lucia Vitagliano

Lalita Vongkavivathanakul

Suren Voskanyan

Christopher Baroma Walker

Bradley Mark Warme

Thomas Jong-soo Wee

Rebecca Ann Wehrer

Julie Marie Westbrook

Christopher Howard Westwood

Stephen Kalani Williams

Michael Wong

Mariah Suzanne Wood

Rachael Diane Woods

Cody Robert Wray

Morgan Joy Wray

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Justice Marshall Yanke

Gevorg Armen Yeghizaryan

Young Woong Yi

Hiu Tong Yip

Christine Amil Zagheb

Bianca Antonia Zakarian

Ani Zakevosyan

Jazzmin SaSel-Lum Zama

Kevin Joseph Zambrano

Christopher Zarco

Keren Adriana Zepeda

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

The post Burbank High Senior Class Now Ready For Their Futures appeared first on myBurbank.com.

By Dick Dornan
MyBurbank Sports Editor

Burroughs and Burbank officially concluded their respective baseball seasons with team banquets and the recognition of several of their best players. Each team had a trio of players that were selected All-League; four of whom return for the 2015 season.

After transferring from Las Vegas for his senior year, Cole Meyer proved to be the pitcher that Burroughs coach Craig Sherwood expected him to be. The right-handed sidearm pitcher dominated the Pacific League with several standout performances.

Burroughs hit the jackpot with Cole Meyer (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

In seven league contests consisting of 41 2/3 innings, Meyer went 3-2 with a .84 era. He struck out 44 batters and walked 14 while allowing only five earned runs.

Against crosstown rival Burbank, Meyer tossed 13 innings giving up zero runs, seven hits and striking out 16 in winning both head-to-head matchups against the Bulldogs. He was the difference between the Indians making the playoffs or the Bulldogs getting the nod.

His superb season efforts earned him first-team all-league honors.

“He’s been our number one guy all year and he did what a number one guy does. He goes out and battles,” Sherwood said.

Meyer finished the season 5-3 overall with a 1.17 era. He was the heart and soul for Burroughs which finished 14-14 and in fourth place (7-7) in the Pacific League.

Junior shortstop Max Haddad received second-team honors for the Indians. Haddad batted .308 while leading the team with 24 hits, 12 RBI’s and 10 runs scored. He also provided reliable leadership at shortstop after moving over from second base halfway through the season.

Roy Hirota earned honorable mention for JBHS after stepping up and becoming a defensive force behind home plate. The junior catcher managed a pitching staff that recorded a 2.85 era for the year.

Camden Palmisano was a steady influence at second base (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Burbank struggled to an 8-15 record this season, 5-9 in league, but provided a lot of promise for the future behind the multi-talented Cameron Briggs.

The junior shortstop earned first-team all-league honors after hitting .292 and leading the Bulldogs with 19 hits and 13 runs. Briggs also went 4-2 with two saves and a 3.50 era as a reliever.

Senior second baseman Camden Palmisano made second team after hitting .268 with nine RBIs. As a pitcher, Palmisano had a 1.59 era.

Promising freshman Danny Porras was named honorable mention after hitting a team-best .317 with nine RBIs.

The post Burroughs and Burbank Baseball Honor All-League Players appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Officials with the California High-Speed Rail Authority gave an overview of the project that will link San Francisco to Los Angeles by 2029, and discussed a possible station location in Burbank during an open house at the Holiday Inn Burbank Media Center on Wednesday night.

The authority will plan, design, build and operate the first high-speed rail system in the nation that will connect the major regions of the state and eventually extend to Sacramento and San Diego. As trains are capable of traveling more than 200 mph, the ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles will be made in under three hours.

Michelle Boehm, California High-Speed Rail Authority’s Southern California regional director, addresses those attending the Open House for the statewide rail modernization plan on Wednesday night at the Holiday Inn Burbank Media Center. (photo by Joyce Rudolph)

Officials predict that along with creating jobs during the building stage and operation, the project will strengthen the economy, provide a cleaner environment by getting automobiles off the road and save fuel and time for people traversing between Northern and Southern California. A high-speed rail system will also ease the burden on air traffic.

Now in the planning stages, the authority is holding open houses to inform the public of alignment alternatives and station locations for the Palmdale to Los Angeles Project Section and acquire feedback.

In Burbank, the proposed location for the high-speed rail station is near the Metrolink station set to begin construction this summer at Hollywood Way and San Fernando Boulevard, said Michelle Boehm, the authority’s Southern California regional director.

“This will maximize the rail-to-rail connectivity for the Valley and L.A. County as well as air-rail connectivity with the airport, which is something very important in California and something we have not always been successful at achieving,” she said.

The high-speed rail system will bring people to local tourist amenities, like the airport, Universal Studios Hollywood and entertainment and other businesses without driving into the city, Boehm said. In the future, the goal is to provide that connectivity to other forms of travel — walking, cycling, buses or other forms of rail to get people to a destination.

Another benefit will be a reduction in green house gas emissions, she added.

“If we’re taking people off the roadway — a single person driving a car somewhere — and we are putting them on very efficient electric high-speed rail, we’re reducing green house gas emissions for all of L.A. County and that’s critical for us now and for our future,” she said.

Michelle Boehm, left, Southern California regional director with the California High-Speed Rail Authority, talks with Burbank City Manager Mark Scott and Katherine Perez-Estolano, authority board member. (photo by Joyce Rudolph)

Burbank’s new City Manager Mark Scott was involved over the last 3 1/2 years in the high-speed rail project in Fresno — the starting point — while he was city manager there.

Having the high-speed rail station near Burbank Bob Hope Airport is the most logical location in all of L.A. County, he said, but Burbank officials are vested with the obligation to make sure that it gets done so it will work for Burbank and the surrounding area.

“We had a pretty good working relationship with them in Fresno, but we told them what we wanted, and they gave us money to study it and to do it right and I think we made some real good progress,” he said. “So if that’s what’s going to happen here, I want to make sure that they work with us. They need us every bit as much as we need them. There needs to be a partnership there where they help support our efforts to figure out how to do it right.”

Authority officials will be reporting their findings from the five May/June open houses — held in Burbank, Newhall, Palmdale, San Fernando and Los Angeles — to its board of directors in June, and plan to have another round of public meetings in early July or early August.

The post Possible Burbank Station Discussed at High Speed Rail Meeting appeared first on myBurbank.com.

The La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts is presenting a world-class performance of Les Miserables. The opening-night audience knew it from the first scene, roaring and thunder-clapping their approval of song after song, capping their adoration with a sustained standing ovation at show’s end.

Everyone was brilliant, from the headliners to the child actors. JEFF SKOWRON (Thenardier) and MEEGHAN HOLAWAY (Madame Thenardier) shine as comic villains. RANDALL DODGE (Inspector Javert), CASSANDRA MURPHY (Fantine), VALERIE ROSE CURIEL (Eponine), KIMBERLEY HESSLER (Cosette), NATHANIEL IRVIN (Marius) and ANTHONY FEDOROV (Enjolras) were incandescent.

Jeff Skowron and James Barbour star in the LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS/McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT production of LES MISERABLES, directed by Brian Kite and now playing at LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS. (Photo Courtesy Micheal Lamont)

JAMES BARBOUR (Jean Valjean) was a supernova. His magnificent voice fully captured each note and nuance of the heroic humanity of Jean Valjean.

Scene flowed into scene with a graceful economy, aided by a clever set design and precise lighting.

Fans of Les Miserables know that Jean Valjean is an ex-con who was imprisoned for stealing bread to feed his starving niece. After he’s released from prison, he finds that to be a parolee is to be a pariah. A merciful and compassionate Catholic bishop inspires Jean to shed his old identity and the despair that clings to it.  He embarks on a new life where he himself is benevolent.

But Inspector Javert has never given up searching for the now-escaped parolee, and he’s closing in on his quarry. He regards human law as sacred and its violation as unforgivable. He would find no irony in Anatole France’s observation, “The law in its majestic equality forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets and to steal bread.”

Like so many today, Javert focuses on the choosing and not the choices that give our lives a bruising and brings bitterness to our voices. It’s said that the longest sustained laughter in radio history was a Jack Benny bit where a criminal accosted him and demanded, ”Your money or your life!” Pause. “Well?” the criminal demanded. “I’m thinking,” Jack replied. Of course, its easier if your position in society allows you to choose between your money and their lives.

Before it became a musical, Les Miserables was a 19^th century novel by French author Victor Hugo.  As Stuart Fernie informs us (stuartfernie.org), many of the incidents in the novel came from real events. For example, “the incident involving Fantine and the Bourgeois is taken from a genuine incident witnessed by Hugo in which a young prostitute was to be summarily sentenced to six months’ imprisonment after striking a ‘gentleman’ in self defense. Hugo stepped in and explained the facts to the police, using his fame and position to help free her.” I guess it shouldn’t be surprising that it took a person who walked the talk to write one of the greatest novels about the human condition.

For many, Les Miserables has become a kind of secular sermon. But like with religious sermons, the warm feelings afterward can shrivel quicker than the book value of a new car leaving the showroom. The aristocratic women of pre-revolutionary Russia would weep over the fates of the characters in plays and operas, only to callously ignore the beggars between them and their carriages.

Les Miserables reminds me is that the greatest source of misery is not the machinations of corrupt elites but the lack of solidarity among the people. The abused become the abusers, shunning and banishing people hardly less fortunate than themselves. To rise above this tendency, as Jean Valjean did, is heroic. When enough people in the world beyond the stage do likewise, like those who risked life and limb marching for civil rights, real change happens.

Otherwise, all too few hold on to their courage and they must sadly say, as the rebel leader did in Les Miserables, “The people have not stirred. We are abandoned by people who still live in fear.”

Les Miserables will continue to inspire more love and less fear as long as there are performances as moving as those at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. Fellow Burbankers, plan having a meal nearby beforehand, and get ahead of the evening traffic. Then it’s only 30 or so fast miles: down the South 5 to Rosecrans, then along Rosecrans to La Mirada. It’s worth the trip. The La Mirada Theatre truly lives up to its Los Angeles Times billing as “one of the best Broadway-style houses in Southern California.”

LES MISERABLES continues through Sunday, June 22 at the LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, 14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada, CA 90638. Free, ample lot parking. Performance times are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets range from $20 to $70. Senior and student group discounts available. For tickets, please call (562) 944-9801 or (714) 994-6310 or buy online at www.lamiradatheatre.com. 

The Company of the LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS/McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT production of LES MISERABLES, directed by Brian Kite and now playing at LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS.
(Photo Courtesy Micheal Lamont)

The post Le Miz In La Mirada Has Audiences Leaping To Their Feet appeared first on myBurbank.com.

John Burroughs High School students performed “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ The Boat” from Guys and Dolls onstage at Hollywood’s Pantages Theatre Sunday evening, June 1, as part of the annual Jerry Herman Awards. The group performance featured soloist and Burroughs freshman Sully Zack as Nicely-Nicely Johnson.

The awards event recognizes talented high school musical theater productions from throughout the Los Angeles area. Burroughs students were one of only four high school groups selected to perform in front of well-known stage, screen and television personalities and a full audience.

Burroughs junior Sawyer Patterson (third from right) was recognized as a finalist for Best High School Actor at the Jerry Herman Awards. (Photo Courtesy of Michael Patterson)

Juniors Sawyer Patterson and Samantha Rubin were selected in advance of the awards show as contenders for the Best Leading Actor and Best Leading Actress awards. Rubin’s portrayal of Miss Adelaide from Guys and Dolls made it to the semi-finals in competition.

Patterson’s Nathan Detroit character earned him recognition as a finalist. He took second runner up and received a scholarship prize.

“It was the most amazing experience! Throughout the weekend, I worked with the nicest and most talented people I have ever met in my entire life,” said Patterson. “Being selected one of the top finalists came as a shock to me because of the massive amount of talent that I was surrounded by.”

“Performing on the Pantages stage in front of that many people was a true adrenaline rush and all I could think was just go for it and enjoy the moment,” he added. “I am so grateful for this opportunity and sincerely hope that I can be back next year.”

Burroughs High School performs “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ The Boat” from “Guys & Dolls” at the Pantages Theate. Sawyer Patterson as Nathan Detroit stands. (Photo Courtesy of Debbie Rubin)

“We thought performing onstage at the Pantages for a packed house was the best prize we would ever want,” commented Drama instructor Guy Myers. “Our students just beamed all day during the rehearsal, backstage getting ready in the dressing rooms and onstage during the performance.”

“The Jerry Herman Awards was truly an amazing experience! The actual auditions were very laid back and the judges could not have been more pleasant to work with,” Rubin also said. “Getting to meet all the other leading men and women was one of my favorite parts. We all became close very quickly. We all bonded over our stories of moments in shows where things went wrong.”

“Musical theater is always something I have wanted to do and being able to sing and dance on that stage was a dream come true,” she continued. “The Jerry Herman Awards really gave me a taste for what I want to do for the rest of my life and I’m so honored that I was able to partake in this amazing event!”

Miss Adelaide (Samantha Rubin) lets Nathan Detroit (Sawyer Patterson) know what’s on her mind in Burroughs’ “Guys and Dolls.” (Photo Courtesy of Kathy Flynn)

“Our dedicated students came in to rehearse the number on their first day of summer, which they had last performed back in February,” added Myers. “They were complete pros all day at the Jerry Herman Awards, and Mr. Jennings and I were extremely proud of them and the way they represented our school.”

The annual Burroughs musical is a collaboration between Drama, Choir and Instrumental Music departments at the high school. Guys and Dolls was the sixth such collaboration between the performing arts departments, directed by Myers with vocal music direction by Choir head Brendan Jennings. The 2015 musical at Burroughs is already scheduled for February 6, 7 and 8.

Almost all of the 37 high schools participating in the Jerry Herman Awards were performing arts-based high schools or performing arts magnet high schools. The Jerry Herman Awards are a local competition for the National High School Musical Theatre Awards held annually in a Broadway theater in New York City.

Burroughs’ “Guys and Dolls” from February 2014. (Photo Courtesy of Kathy Flynn)

The Jerry Herman Awards program was emceed by ABC’s entertainment reporter George Pennacchio. Guest presenters included Ben Vereen, Richard Chamberlain, Shirley Jones, Russ Tamblyn, Kevin Chamberlin and George Chakiris. Guest judges were Broadway director/producer John Bowab, Cathy Rigby, Nancy Dussault, Brad Ellis and Kay Cole. 

Visit the JBHS Drama Facebook page to see more backstage photos from the Jerry Herman Awards at the Pantages and to stay informed about future productions. Upcoming shows and additional information can also be found at jbhsdrama.com. Additional photos from past Burroughs High School theater productions can be found online at Wicked Goddess Photography.

The post Burroughs Students Perform At Pantages For Awards Show appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Burroughs Indians: 2014 Pacific League champions (Photo courtesy of Burroughs High School)

By Dick Dornan
MyBurbank Sports Editor

It was quite a year for the Burroughs and Burbank boys volleyball teams after they finished one-two in the Pacific League. The Indians won their fifth consecutive league title and advanced to the second round of the CIF Division II playoffs. The Bulldogs made the postseason for a second straight season after reviving a program that didn’t exist a few short years ago.

Together the two programs have raised the level of excellence to a new standard. Burroughs coach Joel Brinton and Burbank coach Patrick McMenamin represent two of the finest coaches at their respective schools.

Burroughs boys volleyball (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Recently the Pacific League announced the All-League recipients for boys volleyball. A total of 10 players were honored between the two programs.

Burroughs’ Nick Van Loo and Tristan Martin were named Co-Most Valuable Players while Jonathan Fuentes and Danny Casillas earned first-team honors. Dalton Burroughs and Ryan Van Loo made the second team and Max Chamberlain received honorable mention.

Nick Van Loo recorded 234 kills (tied for fourth most in a JBHS season), 60 aces (second most in a season), 27.5 blocks and had a season high of 21 kills against Glendale (fourth most ever in a single match).

Tristan Martin had 186 kills, made a whopping 97% of his serves (only six misses out of 213 attempts), 12 aces, 15.5 blocks, 114 digs and served as tri-captain of the team.

The powerful duo led the Indians to a 21-8 overall record and a perfect 12-0 mark in the Pacific League.

“To have both of these guys share the Player of the Year award is a testament to the balance that this team had. It is also speaks highly of the hard work and determination that this two have,” Brinton said. “Nick was honorable mention last year and Tristan did not make any part of the All-League team last year, and they both put in a ton of work and trusted their teammates and coaches and earned this honor.”

Other Indian stats included-

Jonathan Fuentes: 122 kills, 118 digs, 16 aces, 13 blocks, passed a 2.22 on the season

Danny Casillas: set new school record with 257 digs in the season, best passer at 2.4

Dalton Burroughs: 170 kills, led team in hitting % at .333, 10.5 blocks, 11 aces, tri-captain

Ryan Van Loo: 31 aces (tied for fifth most in a season), 34.5 blocks, set a new school record with 812 assists, 149 digs (2nd on the team), 46 kills, tri-captain

Max Chamberlain: 167 kills, 37 blocks, 5.5 blocks at Claremont (fourth most ever in a match), 13 aces on the year.

Burbank boys volleyball (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Burbank had an outstanding year finishing 16-6 overall and 9-3 in league. Leading the way was Joseph Servin who was selected first-team All-League. Willie Perryman earned second team honors and Paul Shim was named honorable mention.

Servin set a school-record with 185 kills in a season and had a .244 hitting percentage. He slammed a program-record 15 kills in one game versus Glendale back on April 4. He also had 101 digs, 28 assists, 15 aces and 12 blocks.

Perryman’s stats included 148 kills, .275 hitting percentage, team-best 81 blocks, 51 digs and 12 aces while Shim had a team-high 232 digs and 18 aces.

The post Burroughs and Burbank Boys Volleyball Recognize 10 All-League Players appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Thousands of spectators showed up with about 500 cars that jammed into the packed Empire Centers parking lot again this past Tuesday evening. Called Krispy Kreme Tuesdays, the event drove regular shoppers out of the lot early in the evening.

Burbank Police motor officers were present, monitoring the situation. The parking lot is private property and the officers patrolled the streets around the center bounded by Buena Vista and Victory Boulevard. The officers enforced traffic laws when they observed violations on the city streets.

It was determined that the crowd and the amount of cars outgrew the capacity of the parking lots and the motor officers then closed the surrounding streets. The Empire Center businesses closed at 9:00 p.m. and with all street entrances to the Center closed, many of the cars left.

Several hundred stayed behind and were seen revving engines and doing burn outs of their tires, causing smoke and the smell of rubber to fill the air.

Burbank Police were assisted by patrol officers from Glendale Police Department, along with an air unit from Pasadena Police.

The Burbank Police motor units stayed in the area until close to 11:00 p.m. At that time, only a few stragglers remained. Officers made sure the groups didn’t descend on other empty lots in  the area.

The post Krispy Kreme Tuesdays Car Show Takes Over Empire Center Again appeared first on myBurbank.com.

R.L. Stevenson Elementary held an awards ceremony recently to honor an Eagle Scout Candidate and his troop for helping with the remodel of the school garden. Vartan Matossian, Eagle Scout Candidate, and Boy Scout Troop #127 pitched in to help school volunteers with rebuilding the planting beds.

Several members of the Boy Scout troop and their leaders attended the event, along with many of the school’s garden volunteers. Other community leaders were present as well, showing their support for the garden program.

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Charlene Ishkhanian, who is a parent of two troop members and a Stevenson parent volunteer, initiated the project with the troop. Charlene worked with Vartan and Claire Torrey, Volunteer Garden Coordinator at Stevenson, to come up with the plan. Their dreams of a revitalized garden space were realized after many months of planning and hard work.

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Claire and Charlene presented a Certificate of Appreciation and a garden stepping stone to Vartan as thanks for his leadership on the project. Principal Debbie Ginnetti presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Scout Master Hovig Antabian on behalf of Troop #127 for their work on the project.

Ted Bunch of the Burbank Unified Board of Education also attended the party. He expressed enthusiasm about the garden remodel and thanked the parent volunteers, the troop members, and Principal Ginnetti for their service to the school. Several students also stood up to talk about the importance of the school garden.

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

The newly remodeled garden received a gift of two garden benches from Cartoon Network. Zita Lefebvre provided the benches on behalf of Cartoon Network, as well as seed packets for distribution to the attendees and the students.

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

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Burbank High School’s animation program celebrated the culmination of the school year at the Best Animated Shorts (BASH) showcase at Nickelodeon Animation Studios. The studio hosted students and their families, handed out certificates and everyone enjoyed a catered meal prepared by the BHS Culinary Arts program.

Approximately 70 students enrolled in the Beginning and Advanced Animation classes taught by Jonelle Pickett this past school year. The best student animated shorts were shown at the BASH event. Some of the student work was guided by a Nickelodeon mentor.

Nickelodeon’s Carson Smith, Burbank High School teacher Jonelle Pickett and BUSD’s Visual Arts Coordinator Peggy Flynn at BASH. (Photo By Lisa Paredes)

“We began the mentorship program this year and 10 students were paired with 10 Nickelodeon mentors, from a variety of shows and job descriptions, who helped students improve their animation from storyboard through to final animated product,” commented Pickett.

“All the animation classes also had guest speakers from Nickelodeon who taught techniques in animation-related fields such as backgrounds, character and prop design and color theory,” she added.

Nickelodeon mentor Allan Jacobsen (Animation Director, Dora and Friends) advised freshman Jacob Sugars as he created “Curry In A Hurry.” (Photo By Lisa Paredes)

The animation program at Burbank High School is supported through a partnership with Nickelodeon Animation Studios. Carson Smith, Nickelodeon Human Resources Manager, has developed the program with Pickett, after being connected by BUSD’s Visual Arts Coordinator Peggy Flynn.

Welcoming the students and families to BASH 2, Smith talked about one of the goals of the program is to let kids know a job in animation is a real job with a real paycheck. Of the 550 current employees at the Burbank campus, at least 300 are artists, he said.

Kendra Sazon, grade 10, smiles with mentor Jeffry Mazon (Background Painter, TMNT.) (Photo By Lisa Paredes)

Smith thanked Flynn and Pickett for their efforts to bring the animation program to Burbank students and lauded Pickett’s work, calling her the driving force behind the program.

One of the shorts shown was “Big Love” by Kendra Sazon, which also won first place in the L.A. County Student Media Festival held in May. Another of Sazon’s shorts, created with input from Nickelodeon mentor and background painter Jeffry Mazon, “Crane” was shown.

Several other shorts screened included “Clocked” by Evelyna Naziri, Sabrinna Bates’ “Toy Tank,” “Common Core” by Sebastian Schug, “Snow Day” by Elaine Morales and “Beaute Envoutante” by Gabriella Collins, Xochitl Torres, Jasmine Cooper and Emilia Escobedo.

“Kitty and Bunny” by Kitty Cimini, “The Nose” by Sergio Quintanar, Gor Gevorkyan and Andy Park, “Caffeine Romance” by Anye Kaverdian, “Paradise” by Marina Common, Veronica Cranston, Gabriel Ellman and Alberto Carrisoza and the hilarious “Curry In A Hurry” by Jacob Sugars were also presented.

Each student or group of students introduced their animated short and talked about their creative process and future plans.

“What I love about animating is that you can take something illogical and make it seem real,” said senior Gabriel Ellman.

Scene from “Clocked” by Evelyna Nazari. (Photo By Lisa Paredes)

The post BASH Celebrates Burbank High Student Short Films appeared first on myBurbank.com.

The Ghost of Gershwin has memorable music (WAYLAND PICKARD) Pickard) with snappy lyrics (LAURA MANNING and Pickard) that capture the lighthearted but heavy-talented spirit of 20’s and 30’s Broadway. Choreographer MICHELE BERNATH delivers impressive act openers and variety throughout (tap, jazz, even a dash of Celtic.) Somewhere up in that Great White Way in the sky, George and Ira are smiling in approval.

Present day: Gershwin-obsessed composer Grant (ANDREW BOURGEOIS) is several months behind on the rent of his Brooklyn apartment. (Good thing Cornelia (SUZY LONDON), his soft-heated super, is more interested in singing than evicting.) Grant doesn’t notice (at first) the fetching tile setter Mel (JEAN ATADEL), who caulks by day and cabarets by night. He’s still carrying a torch for Nessa (EMMA-JAYNE APPLEYARD), a tall glass of water who tap danced all over his heart then ditched him at the altar, only to marry his best friend and long-suffering business partner Dennis (GREGORY GUY GORDEN.)  And Dennis is steamed over Nyssa’s choreographer Wilfred (KYLE BARES), who seems all too ready to tango. Director JULES AARON successfully blends  “La Vie Boheme” with the screwball energy of a Preston Sturges comedy.

Now add a piano that can summon the ghost of George Gershwin (DANIEL LENCH.) And a very engaging Gershwin he is, ably adding to a spirited tradition that ranges from A Christmas Carol to Play It Again Sam. In life, George had allowed his musical genius to elbow aside serious relationships, something that had bothered him increasingly in his all-too-short life. (He died at 38.) Deader and wiser, he wants to help Grant find his authentic composing voice and a genuine love. (Hint: “A pretty girl is like a mel-o-dy.”)

The book (DOUG HAVERTY) has wonderful characters, compelling themes and a great set up. It just needs to connect with the songs more in the classic musical fashion, with the spoken dialogue building the emotional intensity until it must burst into song. But tweaks like this are an expected part of the refining process, one made much easier with such fine songs to connect to.

I’ll hazard an idea, fully aware that paring down the length of a musical is a huge challenge. What if Gershwin’s ghost reminisced about his earlier life, maybe just a memory or two triggered by his helping Grant. He hears his earlier self on the piano, playing yet another one of his tunes for an admiring audience, when his friend Oscar Levant quips, “George, if you had to do it all over, would you fall in love with yourself again?” What might the ghost of Gershwin answer to himself in reply?

The Ghost of Gershwin embodies the lessons that Grant will learn by the show’s end. It knows the difference between inspiration and imitation, and knows full well that melody and romance were made for each other.  Along with George and Ira, may a Broadway angel (or two) come to smile on this delightful homage musical.

The Ghost of Gershwin continues through June 22. Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sunday Matinees at 2 p.m. Running time is 1 hour, 50 minutes, with a 15-minute intermission. Go to Lonny Chapman Theatre, 10900 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood, 91601. Regular admission, $22; seniors or students, $17 and groups of 10 or more, $15. For tickets or information, please visit www.thegrouprep.com or call (818) 763-5990.

The post The Ghost Of Gershwin Offers A Spirited Performance appeared first on myBurbank.com.

A special ceremony took place at City Hall the other night welcoming the Special Olympics to Burbank (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Burbank to Open Doors as “Host Town” for the Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles 2015

Burbank announced that the community has been officially selected to participate in the Special Olympics World Games “Host Town” program from July 21 – 24, 2015. The city will provide culture, training and accommodations to international athletes in July 2015.

Before the Special Olympics World Games begin on July 25, 2015, more than 7,000 athletes from 177 countries will be welcomed to Southern California through the “Host Town” program. One hundred communities from San Luis Obispo to San Diego will have the honor of being selected as an official Host Town.

Pictured are Burbank Mayor Dr. David Gordon, Allen Wales Special Olympics World Games Global Messenger and Patrick McClelahan World Game President and CEO. ( Photo by Ross A. Benson)

The Host Town program is an exciting way for Southern California locals to open our doors and show the athletes and coaches from around the world our hospitality and our culture,” said Patrick McClenahan, president and chief executive officer of LA2015, the Games Organizing Committee. “This is an important part of the World Games experience and a truly meaningful way for different communities to be part of the Games and create lasting memories for our visiting athletes.”

As a Host Town, Burbank will take advantage of its unique reputation as the “Media Capital of the World” and its convenient proximity to Los Angeles to offer the athletes a variety of exciting events. Woodbury University will provide accommodations for the Special Olympics World Games athletes during their stay in Burbank.

The Host Town program has been an important element of Special Olympics World Games since 1995, and the experience has left a lasting impression on the local communities in Ireland, Japan, China, Greece, South Korea and the United States, all of which have previously organized Host Town programs as part of the Special Olympics World Games.

About the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games- with 7,000 athletes and 3,000 coaches representing 177 countries, along with 30,000 volunteers and an anticipated 500,000 spectators, the 2015 Special Olympics World Games – being staged in Los Angeles July 25 – August 2, 2015 – will be the largest sports-and-humanitarian event anywhere in the world in 2015, and the single biggest event in Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympic Games.

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

The post Burbank Selected as Host Town for Special Olympics in 2015 appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Cartoon Network held a rooftop picnic to thank employee volunteers for their ongoing service with organizations and schools in the Burbank and Los Angeles area on Wednesday, June 4. Director of Operations and Community Relations Zita Lefebvre highlighted some of the studio employees’ outreach including work with children in the community and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Representatives from some Cartoon Network partner organizations, such as Family Service Agency, the Stevenson Elementary Garden Club, Kids Community Dental Clinic, the Wildlife Learning Foundation, BCR A Place To Grow and Boys & Girls Club of Burbank attended the picnic as well.

Cartoon Network employee volunteers enjoy the annual thank-you picnic on the roof. (Photo By Lisa Paredes)

Lefebvre pointed out some of the art therapy images shared by Laurie Bleick, Executive Director of the Family Service Agency, a local organization providing help to people and families in crisis.

Tammy List, a Cartoon Network employee, also channels her passion for animals into ongoing service with the Wildlife Learning Foundation (WLF.) Based in Sylmar, the foundation runs a small animal sanctuary for rescued animals who cannot be released into the wild and visits schools and birthday parties to educate the public about wildlife conservation, she said.

On Turner Community Day, several Cartoon Network employees visited the WLF facility with much needed manpower, building a shed, painting and sprucing up the sanctuary.

Sherry DeLizia, Creative Arts Director at the Boys & Girls Club (BCG) talked about some ongoing programs for which Cartoon Network provides funds and volunteers. Cartoon Network’s relationship with BCG stretches back for over a decade, she said.

“They have been an amazing support,” DeLizia commented. “Their grants have enabled showcases and performances of dancing and acting classes. We have been able to buy costumes for performances and hire teachers from the Garri Dance Studio for the dance classes.”

Fresh vegetables, herbs and fruits from the Stevenson Elementary garden were shared at the Cartoon Network volunteer picnic. (Photo By Lisa Paredes)

Cartoon Network’s ongoing support of the Stevenson Elementary School Garden Club was greatly appreciated by garden representatives Claire Torrey and Charlene Ishkhanian. Lefebvre and the studio have donated a raised garden bed for special needs student access and have provided a picnic table, benches, trees, and seeds, said Torrey.

The studio has also connected the Stevenson Garden with local business partners such as Sheridan Gardens and Lowe’s for additional support and resources.

The post Cartoon Network Thanks Employee Volunteers For Ongoing Service appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Four music acts are slated to perform at BreadFest One, an all-ages rock festival aimed at teenagers, on Saturday, June 14, at Magnolia Park’s The Lighthouse. Broken Bread, Doma Carta and Helen of Troi bring their rock and roll sounds to the venue, with Sonny Blaze scheduled to open the concert.

Broken Bread performs at BreadFest One, Saturday, June 14, at The Lighthouse at Magnolia Park. (Photo Courtesy of Liz Barlak)

“This isn’t praise and worship music,” says Broken Bread keyboardist Steve Saracino, who also organized the event. “It’s rock and roll music for an everyday world.”

“Rock and roll has always been about the message – the message of social reform, of love, of living together – for me,” he adds.

“Christian rock refines that message even more towards peace and love. All of those things that have been made cliches are still important… living together as one and sharing our lives together as people who live on this planet.”

Doma Carta performs at BreadFest One, Saturday, June 14, at The Lighthouse at Magnolia Park. (Photo Courtesy of Andrea Judd)

The concert is free and open to all ages, although a $10 per person donation is suggested. A CD music sampler of the BreadFest bands will be given to those who make a donation of any amount.

Those who respond to Saracino with the number of expected attendees via email at popee1@aol.com in advance of the concert will also receive a reply email with a coupon for a free food item at the event.

“I still love rock and roll and this music still does it for me,” Saracino, who’s been playing in rock bands since 1964, says.

The Lighthouse at Magnolia Park is located at the United Methodist Church at 2828 W. Magnolia Boulevard. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and the event winds down around 10:00 p.m.

The post BreadFest One Set For Magnolia Park’s Lighthouse appeared first on myBurbank.com.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) plans to implement the closures listed below during the week of June 8-13, 2014, as part of the I-5 Empire Project in Burbank. Closures are subject to change.

Project Information: Information about the project is here.

Major construction operations for June 8-13: Paving the I-5 median between Burbank Boulevard and Cohasset Street; demolition of San Fernando and Victory Place undercrossings.

What to Expect: Residents may hear some construction noise, but it will not exceed levels permitted by state, federal and local regulations.

Closure Information: Closure information for this and other freeway projects is also available on the Caltrans website and the I-5 website.

Real-Time traffic Information: Visit quickmap.dot.ca.gov, go511.com, or call 5-1-1.

NORTHBOUND I-5 CLOSURES

Lanes

• Up to three lanes between Olive Ave. and Hollywood Way: 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Note: The most restrictive closures (i.e., the most lanes closed) will occur between midnight and 4 a.m.

Ramps

• Buena Vista Street on-ramp and off-ramp: 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

SOUTHBOUND I-5 CLOSURES

Lanes

• Up to three lanes between Hollywood Way and Olive Ave.: 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Note: The most restrictive closures (i.e., the most lanes closed) will occur between midnight and 4 a.m.

Ramps

• Westbound and eastbound Burbank Boulevard on-ramps: 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

• Buena Vista Street on-ramp and off-ramp: 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The post Caltrans Closures for the Empire Project in Burbank appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Hundreds of dancers performed two shows at the sold out Spring Fling 2014 held at the Burbank High School auditorium on Saturday, June 7. Presented by the City of Burbank’s Park, Recreation and Community Services department, the annual Spring Fling event is the culmination of months of performing arts classes.

Teachers Sandra Dixon, Hollie Lee, Susan McCourt, Amanda Green Richardson, Teri Richardson, Kristan Sauter, Shari Ward and Zahra Zuhair presented 35 acts ranging from classical ballet, tap and jazz to Spanish dance, bellydance, hula, contemporary dance, hip hop and more.

Young ballet dancers in “Capriccioso” at the Spring Fling. (Photo By Lisa Paredes)

Emceed by Jeff Hopkins, the 4:00 p.m. show included a special tribute to Michael Jackson’s music, threaded through the program, in numbers choreographed and taught by the Richardsons at winter and spring recreation classes.

A 10:00 a.m. show was also held for the younger students in the preschool and child performing arts programs.

The Spring Fling has been held annually for the past 42 years in Burbank.

Dancers from jazz version of “Do You Love Me” backstage. (Photo By Lisa Paredes)

The post Spring Fling 2014 Dance Show Fills Burbank Auditorium appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Burbank star James Williams is Washington State-bound in 2015 (Photo courtesy of James Williams twitter)

By Dick Dornan
MyBurbank Sports Editor

Summer football begins Monday for the Burbank High football team and no one is more revved up than senior tailback James Williams.

With talent oozing on every breathtaking move of his, Williams fulfilled a lifetime dream by being offered a division one scholarship. He then made it a reality when he verbally committed to Washington State University last month.

“When they (Washington State) told me they wanted to offer me a full scholarship I was very excited. I knew that my dream was coming true,” Williams said. “It took a lot of weight off my shoulders. Now I don’t have to worry about going to all these camps spending a lot of money. All I have to do now is worry about school, football and passing my SAT.”

James Williams

First-year Burbank head coach Richard Broussard has been smiling ear-to-ear seeing his prodigy reap the reward of hard work.

“James deserves it. He’s our hardest worker and our best player,” Broussard said. “If anyone deserves a scholarship offer and the opportunity to play college football, it’s him. He worked for it and he earned it. When you’re good and you work hard, good things happen to you.”

With one season left at Burbank, Williams has three goals left in mind: first, to win a league title. Second, to win the schools’ first-ever CIF championship. Third, to set the school single-season rushing record. All of these goals are within reach.

Burbank’s nemesis in the Pacific League recently has been Muir. The Mustangs have won back-to-back league titles during Williams’ time on the varsity.

A year ago the Bulldogs lost in the CIF Southeast Division semifinals to La Serna, 28-21, the eventual CIF champions. Burbank won a school record 10 games but didn’t have a healthy Williams for the tilt against the Lancers.

What might have been with a healthy James Williams we will never know?  We can only speculate.

The school records continue to pile up for James Williams (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

What we do know is that Williams has rushed for a school record 2,912 career rushing yards on 297 carries for a whopping 9.81 yards per carry in his two high school seasons. He ran for 1,443 yards in 2012 and 1,469 in 2013.

Ulises Ochoa currently has the single-season school record with 1,504 yards set in 2009.

Williams scored a single-season school record 22 rushing touchdowns last year and has hit pay dirt 39 times overall running the ball.

When taking into account all-purpose yardage, Williams set the single-season school record in 2013 with 2,307 yards. He has lit up the scoreboard 46 times in his two seasons.

Against Crescenta Valley last year, Williams ran wild for 278 yards, the most ever in a game in BHS history.

“I’m just glad I don’t have to play against him,” said Broussard. “He’s a freak of nature. He does some amazing things with the ball in his hands.”

Add it all up and Williams’ talent and sheer ability have resulted in five college offers thus far: Washington State, Arizona, California, San Diego State and Utah.

Washington State coach Mike Leach with James Williams last week (Photo courtesy of James Williams twitter)

This past weekend Williams visited Wazzou and hasn’t wavered in his commitment to the Cougars.

“Washington State’s running back gets the ball a lot more than anyone on the field. I can go there and catch, and run, block and do everything,” he said. “I’m trying to get as big and as fast I can before the season. I want to be ready for the Pac-12.”

Will the bitter cold of Pullman, Wash., in the Northwest be an issue?

“The cold won’t be anything because I’m from Ohio,” said the Ohio-born Williams.

The regular season begins August 29 at Ayala. Expect Broussard to give the ball to Williams more than he has ever before. A record-breaking season by Williams and possibly a championship season in one form or another by the Bulldogs will be at the forefront for 2014.

In the meantime, Williams’ commitment to WSU is an ongoing celebration for the Burbank family.

“It’s awesome and great for the school. The amount of exposure with a bunch of division one schools on campus has been great,” Broussard said. “We’ve never had this much traffic since I’ve been here. We are blessed to be over here at Burbank. We need to relish in it and appreciate it.”

The post Burbank’s James Williams Turns Football Dream into a Reality appeared first on myBurbank.com.

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

On Saturday, June 7, the Burbank Police Department Traffic Bureau conducted a DUI Checkpoint on Olive Avenue at Pass Avenue in the City of Burbank. A grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration funded the checkpoint.

The checkpoint was operational from 9:00 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., and resulted in the following actions:

• (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

  1297 vehicles passed through the checkpoint

• 1278 drivers were screened for signs of driving under the influence
• 26 drivers were detained for the administration of Standardized Field Sobriety Tests
• 3 drivers were arrested for driving under the influence
• 1 driver was arrested for an outstanding warrant
• 1 driver was arrested on a narcotic related charge
• 9 citations were issued to unlicensed drivers
• 3 citations were issued for driving with a suspended license
• 4 vehicles were impounded
• 19 warnings were issued

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

The purpose of this operation was to raise awareness about the dangers of driving under the influence, to serve as a deterrent to driving while impaired, and to reduce the number of persons killed or seriously injured in alcohol-related traffic collisions.

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

The post Five Arrested at Burbank Police DUI Checkpoint appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Charles Herbert Vincent will always be remembered as a Realtor, musician, giver of service, curious, even keeled, but most of all — he was true to his high school.

Known around town as “Herb”, the Burbank High School graduate passed away peacefully at his Burbank home on June 6. He was 86.

CHARLES H. “HERB” VINCENT
February 2, 1928 – June 6, 2014

He was born on Feb. 2, 1928, in Hamilton, Mont., to Frank and Flossie Vincent. He had one sister, Marge, and three brothers; Frank, Donald (who died at the age of two from measles) and Darryl. His father died when Herb was 8 years old and in 1939, at the age of 11, he moved to California so his older brother, Frank, could attend aviation school at the Curtis Wright Technical Institute in Glendale. Herb graduated from Burbank High School in 1946.

After graduation, Herb went to work for A.E. Peterson Manufacturing – (Peterson Baby Products) in Glendale. He worked for Arnie Peterson starting in the shipping department and working his way up to national sales representative.

He met his wife, Velma Boren, on a blind date in 1947, and they married on April 9, 1949, in Los Angeles.

Herb was called into active duty in 1951 with the Air National Guard in the Korean War. He served in the 562nd U.S. Air Force Band at Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Ga., and George Air Force Base in Victorville. He played the tuba in the marching band and string bass in the dance band and was eventually promoted to Staff Sergeant.

After the Korean War, he returned to A.E. Peterson Manufacturing. Arnie and Herb shared a long friendship and in their later years they enjoyed collecting and working on antique automobiles together. Herb often drove his Model T in local parades and chauffeured prestigious riders.

Arnie introduced Herb and Velma to Emmanuel Church in Burbank in 1954. Herb was a member of the choir, member of the deacon board and chairman of the church. Under Herb’s leadership, Emmanuel Church became affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America.

In the 1960s Herb decided he wanted to spend more time with family and less time on the road as a salesman. So, he earned his real estate license and his broker’s license and eventually became a manager for Paul, White Carnahan Realty in Burbank, the same company his mother, Flossie had worked for. In the 1970s Herb taught real estate licensing courses for the Burbank Unified School District Adult School.

In 1974 Herb and Velma opened Vincent Realty and he was elected president of the Burbank Board of Realtors.

Herb lived a life of service to others, his family said. In 1970, he joined the Burbank Noon Kiwanis Club and remained a member for 44 years until his death. He did everything from setting up chairs to writing the newsletter and leading as president.

He was a vital Kiwanis member and had a playful nature, said Burbank dentist Bruce Lilly, who is  the club’s president.

“Herb had perfect if not almost perfect attendance,” Lilly said. “He always sat at the same table, just to the right of the podium and I’m president this year, so he would say ‘Good meeting Bruce, good job’ or ‘Oops, you forgot to do this’. And then, I’d turn my back on him, and he’d steal my gavel.”

In the 1980s Herb served as a member and chairman of the Burbank Planning Commission for the city of Burbank.

He served many years on the Burbank Historical Museum board of directors and never missed a meeting, and was a dependable weekend volunteer, said museum founder Mary Jane Strickland.

“He was just fun to be around — a nice person. He was always even keeled and sweet natured,” she said.

“He used to see little posts sticking up around town and he couldn’t figure out what they were, I didn’t know what they were, and I think the city finally said they used to have some kind of a sign on them, but he was so curious, he was always trying to find out what was what.”

In 1974 Herb and Velma opened Vincent Realty and he was elected president of the Burbank Board of Realtors.

In the 1980s Herb served as a member and chairman of the Burbank Planning Commission for the City of Burbank.

After suffering cardiomyopathy for several years, Herb received a heart transplant on Nov. 12, 1993. This was in the early stages of organ transplantation. Herb was the 435th heart transplant recipient at UCLA and lived an additional 20 years with his new heart, his family said.

Always remembering his roots, Herb was involved in the Burbank High School Senior Bulldogs Foundation and was editor for 10 years of the Senior Bulldogs Newsletter.

He was the ultimate Bulldog, said foundation co-treasurer John Coyle.

For over ten years, Herb spent countless hours putting together the foundation’s newsletter every month, Coyle said. Since passing on this chore to junior members of the Senior Bulldog’s Foundation, the task of editing and producing the newsletter is a team effort and is now a by-monthly publication.

“Herb was one of those rare individuals dedicated to serving. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him,” Coyle said.

Herb had a pilot’s license and loved to fly airplanes, said his family. His flight log reveals that his last flight was when he took Velma up for a flight over the San Fernando Valley.

He is survived by three children, Karen, Bob and Glenda; six grandchildren, Joshua, Jacob, Jericho, Jennifer, Rhonda and John; and nine great-grandchildren, Tim, Joshua, Britney, Gabriel, Dartaniah, Hannah, Jonathan, Grace and Luke.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 14, at Emmanuel Church, 438 E. Harvard Road, Burbank.

Donations in memory of Herb Vincent can be made to Emmanuel Church or the Burbank Noon Kiwanis Club, care of Dave Harris, Kiwanis Club Secretary, 2106 Hilton Drive, Burbank, CA., 91504.

To share a memory of Herb with the family, e-mail velmavincent@gmail.com.

The post Long Time Resident Charles Herbert ‘Herb’ Vincent Dies appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Burbank Firefighters were called to assist nearby Glendale Firefighters at a house fire on Jessy Ave. early this morning.

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Firefighters from Station 15 along with Firefighters from Station 11 assisted Glendale Fire on the mutual aid. The single story residence was heavily damaged and its cause is still under investigation. There were no reported injuries and two pets were rescued from the blaze. The damage was listed as $500,000 to the structure and $100,000 to the contents.

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

The post Burbank Fire Department Assists Glendale Fire in Mutual Aid appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Burroughs boys track and field: 2014 Pacific League champions (Photo courtesy of Burroughs High School)

By Dick Dornan
MyBurbank Sports Editor

Burroughs’ pole vault star Matt Schwartz concluded a great career and an outstanding senior season by finishing seventh at the 2014 CIF State Track and Field Championships held at Buchanan High School in Clovis, Calif., last Saturday evening.

Schwartz cleared 15-6 in the State Finals but missed his three attempts at 16-0 in which he was attempting a personal best. The prior day at State Prelims, he skied to new heights with a vault of 15-9 that moved him into second place on the all-time pole vault list at Burroughs. More importantly, it qualified him to compete for a State title the next day.

Matt Schwartz

By soaring into seventh place out of 10 competitors in the entire State, Schwartz tallied two points for Burroughs on the official score sheet.

“Matt accomplished a lot this year. He was able to improve from 14-2 as a junior to 15-9 as a senior,” Burroughs coach John Peebles said. “Two of his goals this year were to make the State Finals and reach the No. 2 JBHS mark in the pole vault. He accomplished both.

“For Matt to find success in track and field at the State level is awesome because, in California, you have to be pretty gosh-darn-good to do that.”

His success at the CIF State Championships followed a great run at the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet and CIF Finals the previous two weeks.

On May 30 at Cerritos College, Schwartz placed eighth in the pole vault at the Masters Meet with a height of 15-2. He met the automatic California Track and Field State Meet qualifying mark to advance to the CIF State Championship meet on June 6 and June 7.

Matt Schwartz (bottom row, far left) had a phenomenal season for the Indians (Photo courtesy of Burroughs High School)

Schwartz became the first Burroughs track and field athlete to qualify for the CIF State meet since 2009 when Western Nelson ran in the 3,200.

At the CIF Finals on May 24 again at Cerritos College, the California-bound Schwartz cleared 15-3 to place fourth in Division I. As a result, the Indians scored five points in the meet.

He also set the Pacific League track and field finals meet record by vaulting 15-1 back on May 9 at Arcadia High School. Schwartz was an integral part of the Burroughs boys track and field team winning its first Pacific League title ever and first since 1997 as a member of the Foothill League.

“It was great to see how he improved throughout the year and hit his best mark of 15-9 at the State meet,” Peebles said. “Matt should be both happy and proud of all he was able to do this year.”

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