Photo: Mark Scott courtesy City of Fresno website

Burbank has a new city manager. It happened tonight during a closed door session of the Burbank City Council. Council members selected Mark Scott, presently the city manager up in Fresno. Scott reportedly has held that position since April of 2010.

The announcement came in a news release from City Hall a short while ago. The release touted Scott’s resume: “Mr. Scott has extensive city management experience including 20 years with the City of Beverly Hills, 14 of which were as City Manager. He has also served as City Manager for the cities of Spartanburg, South Carolina and Culver City, California. In addition, Mr. Scott has a Master’s of Business Administration from Stanford University and is a 35-year member of the International City Management Association (ICMA).”

The city council set to discuss Scott’s contract at the next council meeting, June 25. Scott is set to replace Interium City Manager, Ken Pulskamp, in about six weeks, on August first.

“Man of Steel” may not have thrilled a lot of the reviewers, but the new superhero flick is getting a lot of love from movie fans. In its debut last weekend, “Man of Steel,” shot right into the record books with the best June opening ever and the second best first weekend of 2013, right behind “Iron Man 3.”

“Man of Steel” grabbed the number spot with $116.6 million from Friday to Sunday. If you add in Thursday screens, the haul goes up to $128.6 million. A pretty super performance. Box Office Mojo has more on the numbers and why Warner Bros’ reboot of the superman franchise connected with movie audiences.

Sony Pictures made a big announcement  today about one of its biggest franchises, Spider-Man. Last year, “The Amazing Spider-Man” earned more than $750 million worldwide. A sequel is in  production in New York right now and is due out next May.

A news release from Sony Pictures revealed the dates for two more sequels in June 2016 and May 2018. Details on Deadline.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G — Fun time in the new activity pool at the Verdugo Recreation Center 3201 West Verdugo Avenue Burbank June 14, 2013

Splish splash! A fun place to be in the coming hot days of summer, the new activity pool at the Verdugo Recreation Center 3201 West Verdugo Avenue in Burbank. It opened last Saturday. Even during June gloom, the pool is drawing a crowd. Details on pool time and fees here.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G — Hundreds of Burbank City Federal Credit Union members lined up on Magnolia Boulevard to get free In-N-Out burgers in Burbank June 14, 2013

The Burbank City Federal Credit Union provided a free lunch to hundreds of its members between 11-and 2 p.m.today. Folks lined up in front of the building to get one of those juicy In-N-Out burgers, chips, and a drink.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G — Burbank City Federal Credit Union 1800 West Magnolia Boulevard Burbank June 14, 2013

I spoke with two members of the credit union marketing team, Eric Foster and Joanna Tomlinson, about the event. Tomlinson told me the In-N-Out truck would provide a thousand burgers. However, there are at least 15,000 credit union members. Tomlinson looked around and smiled: “I hope they all don’t show up today.”

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G — Burbank City Federal Credit Union members were treated to free In-N-Out burgers today in Burbank June 14, 2013

I’m told the burger-giveaway, which has been going on for 10 years, is to show member appreciation and to celebrate the credit union’s anniversary. This is the financial institution’s 73rd year. I’m a member of the credit union, but I could not stay for the burger-feast. Oh well, next year.

The new Superman movie lands in U.S. theaters tomorrow and it’s the hottest ticket this weekend. “Man of Steel” advance ticket sells were soaring high — in the number one spot — as of last Tuesday at Fandango, the popular movie site on the web.

The publicity has been incredible. Movie posters and billboards for the comic-book-wonder -turned-big-screen-superstar are all over the Media City and the rest of the Southland.

The new superhero flick is opening in 4,200 plus theaters nationwide. There’s no doubt, “Man of Steel” will open in  the number one slot — the question is how many millions will it make? More on the opening of “Man of Steel” on Deadline. Also, here’s what one reviewer has to say about the film.

Ex-Beatle, Ringo Starr, will soon be a published children’s author. The rocker has snagged a deal with Simon & Schuster to turn his 1968 tune, “Octopus’s Garden” into an illustrated children’s book, according to a PR Newswire release. The song appeared on the Beatles album, “Abbey Road” (1969).

The way the story goes, Starr composed the song while cruising on actor, Peter Seller’s yacht. Apparently the boat captain gave the Beatle drummer a lesson on how the octopus trawls the sea bed searching for shiny stones and objects to arrange in front of its cave in sort of a garden.

Worldwide publication of the book, “Octopus’s Garden,” will include a CD and a previously unreleased track from Starr. It’s due out in North America January of 2014.

The Internet is buzzing about  the 67th Annual Tony Awards kicking butt in the ratings last night. The celebration of Broadway’s best drew 7.24 million viewers, up 20 percent over last year.

“Kinky Boots,” the musical filled with drag queens and big dreams, danced away with the largest haul — six Tonys — including best score for 1980′s rocker, Cyndi Lauper, her first. What’s next, “Kinky Boots” on the big screen?

Also, acclaimed actress, Cicely Tyson, picked up her first Tony last night for best performance by a leading actress in play, for “The Trip to Bountiful.” Meanwhile actor, Neil Patrick Harris, is getting raves for his hosting of the show. Should Harris be getting a call to host the next Academy Awards broadcast?

More on the Tonys 2013 here.

UPDATED: Sunday, June 9, 2013 3:38 p.m. 

A fifth shooting spree victim has died bringing the total to six dead. Details here.

The FBI has joined the investigation into that deadly shooting rampage in the Southland coastal community of Santa Monica yesterday. Five people were killed including the alleged gunman, who apparently died as the result of a shootout with law enforcement on the Santa Monica College campus.

The Los Angeles Times has more details on the shooting spree as well as the chilling interview with a woman who says a gunman forced her to drive him through the streets of Santa Monica to the college campus.

Meanwhile, a notice on the Santa Monica College website gives details on counseling services for employees and students today and tomorrow.

Donuts or Doughnuts. However you want to spell it — today’s a good day to have one or two or whatever. It’s National Donut Day and places like Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donuts are handing out freebies!

The forever teenyboppers, Archie, Veronica, and Betty are apparently headed to the big screen. Warner Bros. has worked out a movie deal with Archie Comics, according to an exclusive report on Deadline.com.

Comic books are fertile territory for films and the superhero flicks have made millions at the box office. It will be interesting to see what kind of spin the producers put on Archie and his friends from Riverdale to attract the number of moviegoers needed for a film to be a hit and not a miss.

Photo: FLLewis/ Media City G — Burbank Police Chief Scott LaChasse took the oath of office on the steps of Burbank Police and Fire Headquarters from Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey June 4, 2013

Finally, it’s a done deal. Under overcast skies and before a large crowd on the steps of Burbank Police and Fire Headquarters, 200 North Third Street, Police Chief Scott LaChasse was sworn in by Los Angeles County District Attorney, Jackie Lacey. The swearing-in ceremony was attended by local residents, city employees, dignitaries, officials and law enforcement personnel from throughout the state.

As the MC, author James Ellroy, kept the ceremony upbeat and light with his humorous quips.

Photo: FLLewis/ Media City G — A humorous remark from author James Ellroy gets a smile from Burbank Police Chief Scott LaChasse at Burbank Police and Fire Headquarters June 4, 2013

Ellroy is a successful crime fiction writer of novels like The Black Dahlia (1987) and  L.A. Confidential (1990), which was turned into a highly-acclaimed film that won two 1997 Academy Awards. Ellroy was one of many friends of the chief who came out for the ceremony.

LaChasse was teased for looking like a Hollywood casting type police chief in his dark sunglasses and swigging on bottled water. But it was his experience as a tough cop, good communicator, and strong leader with a vision that took him from being hired as Interim Police Chief in 2010 to taking the oath of office as Burbank’s permanent police chief today.

Photo: FLLewis/ Media City G — After taking the oath of office, Burbank Police Scott LaChasse is greeted with a hug from Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey and applause from the audience June 4, 2013

Several speakers praised LaChasse for facing down the tough “challenges” in the Burbank P.D. over the past three years and getting the department back on the right track. Many of those challenges were brought on by what has become known as the Burbank Police Mess: scandal, allegations of wrongdoing, and lawsuits. The Burbank P.D. is moving on.

The Burbank City Council and City Attorney’s Office need to stop pretending nothing happened and admit mistakes were made, settle the lawsuits, and clear the names of any officers falsely caught up in the mess.  Then we all can move on.

Moviegoers are still hot for the fast cars and action of “Fast & Furious 6.” The sequel held onto the number spot at the domestic box office over the weekend leaving two new films eating its dust.

“Fast & Furious 6″ earned an estimated $34.5 million pushing its two week domestic total to around $170 million. In second, the new magic heist film, “Now You See Me” with about $28 million, and in third, the Will and Jaden Smith sci-fi flick, “After Earth” with around $27 million.

The big story is the failure of the Smith father and son film to create a blockbuster opening in the U.S. Has Will Smith lost his crown as the biggest movie star in the world? More on Smith and the serious money business at the box office on Forbes.

Photo:FLLewis/Media City G — New pool at the Verdugo Rrecreation Center 3201 West Verdugo Avenue in Burbank May 31, 2013

Pool time is coming to the Verdugo Recreation Center at Verdugo Avenue and California Street in Burbank. The pool was shutdown in 2008 and completely rebuilt. The new bigger and better pool “… features a 50-meter pool which can be configured for lap swimming or recreational use. One-meter and three-meter diving boards are available for use during recreational swim times., ” according to a city news release.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G — New activity pool at the Verdugo Recreation Center 3201 West Verdugo Avenue Burbank May 31, 2013

During the renovations, an activity pool was added — complete with water slides, climbing surfaces and more for kids and the young at heart. Both pools are set to open next Saturday, June 8. Want to learn to swim? How’s about taking a pool fitness class.

For details on all the new aquatics programs at Verdugo and McCambridge Recreation Centers,  fees, requirements, and rules go to the City of Burbank website here.

More severe weather in parts of the U.S. today. Yesterday, Oklahoma got slammed by deadly tornadoes again.  Five twisters rolled through the state, killing at least 9 people in the state and injuring more than 70 others.

Back on May 20, a massive tornado, the most powerful EF5, ripped through Moore, Oklahoma — killing two dozen and causing incredible damage. Details on CNN.

Disneyland employee/soft drink vendor, 22-year-old Christian Barnes, reportedly pleaded not guilty to possessing a destructive device in a public place. Barnes was arraigned in Orange County Superior Court yesterday and is due back in court next Friday, June 7, for a pretrial hearing.

During the court proceeding on Thursday prosecutors revealed, Barnes is the suspect in not one but two  dry-ice explosions in the Anaheim theme park near the Toontown attraction last Tuesday. Barnes is now being held on $500,000 bail. Details from Reuters.

Meanwhile, a post on the Disney Blog is asking the tough question about whether this incident means there’s a need for better training and screening of employees at Disneyland.

Is this the face of a movie star? Well, some Hollywood producers think so. Grumpy Cat, as she is known, has landed a movie deal for a Garfield-like flick, according to Deadline. Grumpy Cat, who’s real name is Tartar Sauce, is an Internet star. The feline has more than 900,000 likes on her Facebook page. Also, the sour-faced critter has received a lot of media attention and awards.

Don’t think Grumpy Cat will make it on the big screen? Well, the first Garfield film, “Garfield: The Movie” opened with a domestic box office of $22 million and went on to make $75 million in the U.S., and more than double that worldwide. That was back in 2004!  Meow.

Apparently the project is on the fast track at New Line. More on the story here.

A Disney employee reportedly is being held on a $1 million dollars bail today in connection with that dry-ice explosion near Mickey’s Toontown attraction, in the Disneyland theme park in Anaheim late yesterday.

The dry-ice was apparently inside a bottle, which was tossed into a trash can. The blast was described as being small — no damages nor injuries. However the area was evacuated, but visitors were allowed back in after the initial investigation was completed last night.

Today there are reports that Christian Barnes, a 22-year-old vendor at the park, was arrested in connection with the incident. More on Deadline.

Box office bonanza

“Fast & Furious 6 ” burned rubber all over the competition Memorial Day weekend. Not a whole lot of new moves in this sequel, but moviegoers did not care. They love this franchise.

“Fast &  Furious 6″  took in $120 million for its debut in the U.S. The top six films helped generate more than $300 million at the domestic box office, beating the previous record for a Memorial Day weekend.

No surprise, “Fast & Furious 7″ is in the works. More here on the weekend’s big films and major box office haul.

Singer Rick Springfield gets book deal

Rick Springfield is now a singer/author. Springfield has been kicking around for a while, but is best known for his 1980′s pop hit, “Jessie’s Girl.” Now comes word he has sold his first novel, “Magnificent Vibration,” to Simon & Schuster and it’s due out next May. More details on Galleycat.

NBC’s tornado victims relief concert

NBC is set to air “Healing in the Heartland: Relief Benefit Concert” tomorrow night. The event is organized by country star/”The Voice” judge, Blake Shelton. Now another judge from that TV show has joined the line-up, Usher.

The concert will be broadcast live from Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City. Tickets “… went on sale Saturday morning and sold out in under five minutes,” according to a news release from NBC. More details on Deadline.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G — Stars and stripes flying on Memorial Day weekend at a home at Keystone Street and Clark Avenue in Burbank May 25, 2013

The stars and stripes are flying. Some folks had their flags out over the weekend. It’s one simple, but poignant way to remember the fallen — those who died fighting for or in service to our country.

As we enjoy the grilling, the shopping, the fun in the sun this Memorial Day in Burbank and elsewhere, Americans should take a moment to give thanks for their sacrifice. Freedom comes at a high price. Ours has been paid for by some brave men and women. Let’s not forget.

President Obama: “Every time a threat has risen, Americans have risen to meet it.  And because of that courage – that willingness to fight, and even die – America endures.” Read the full text of the president’s weekly address: Giving thanks to our Fallen Heroes this Memorial Day here.