New operator for Burbank Recycle Center

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Burbank Recycle Center 500 South Flower Street Burbank

After heated debate at its meeting Tuesday, December 6, the Burbank City Council voted to assign the operating agreement for the controversial  Burbank Recycle Center to Burrtec Waste Industries. The vote was 4-1 with Councilman, Dr. David Gordon, strongly opposing the arrangement.

The operation of the Burbank Recycle Center has been under scrutiny for some time and most recently when city officials decided to drop private contractor, Burbank  Recycling, Inc (BRI).  BRI is facing allegations from the state for allegedly cashing in out-of-state beverage containers under the California recycling plan. It was BRI that requested Burrtec take over it’s contract with the Burbank Recycle Center – that produced a lot of questions and suspicions among some Burbankers.

The council majority appeared to be swayed by the staff report, which suggested it would be cheaper to hook up with Burrtec rather than to go out for bids. Hopefully, the council’s decision will improve public confidence in the Burbank Recycle Center and not make a bad situation worse.

Anti-Walmart protesters plan new action

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Stop Walmart in Burbank protesters out front of the site of a planned Walmart at 1301 North victory Place in Burbank October 19, 2011

The “Stop Walmart in Burbank” group is gearing up for an appearance at the city council meeting next Tuesday, December 13.  Walmart moving into Burbank is pretty much a done deal. However, this group is still determined to make city officials “… feel the pressure…” from “… their constituents…” who are against the giant retailer opening a store in the Empire Center.

Wind storm clean-up: It’s a wrap

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- A pile of tree limbs on East Providencia Avenue in Burbank December 1, 2011

The clean-up following last week’s powerful wind storm was a huge effort. Cheers for residents, Burbank city crews, and Burbank PD.

Funeral services will be held this Saturday, December 3, at Forest Lawn Glendale for long time Burbank community volunteer, Dan Linegar, according to a press release put out today by the Burbank Temporary Aid Center. Linegar passed away last Sunday.

Linegar was a long time BTAC volunteer and Board of Directors member, as well as the founder of the successful Burbank “Relay for Life” event.

“Dan was always the dream sort of board member, not one who just shows up for an occasional board meeting, and isn’t heard from otherwise,” said Barbara Howell, BTAC’s Executive Director, in the press release. “We have a very involved board at BTAC, but he was always especially one to raise his hand and volunteer to put in more time, to work on more projects, and to fill in where he was needed.”

Here’s the entire release, which includes a tribute to Linegar’s community service and details on the funeral arrangements.

“DAN LINEGAR SERVICES”

November 30, 2011

Burbank – Services will be held Saturday morning for Dan Linegar, a longtime member of the Board of Directors of the Burbank Temporary Aid Center.  Dan died Sunday, November 27.

Dan, a Burbank resident since 1991, had been a longtime volunteer with BTAC when he was elected to the Board of Directors in 2004.  By then he was already closely associated with BTAC’s “Santa’s Room” project, a program providing Christmas gifts to the children of Burbank’s homeless, poor and working poor.

“Santa’s Room” began as a few shelves in a shed behind BTAC’s previous headquarters building, or in similar locations around town in earlier years, where a handful of used toys – mostly stuffed animals cleaned and repaired by volunteers – were arranged for clients to select one as a gift for each of their children.

Under Dan’s guidance, especially once he became the official Chairman of the project in 2004, Santa’s Room grew to take up its own building space on a short-term basis each year, offering only new, donated toys to hundreds of children each year.  Last year the program distributed more than 7,000 toys to children in the city who otherwise would have received little or nothing.

Will Rogers, Co-Chair of the 2011 Santa’s Room project said, “Dan took the lead in charming landlords for the enormous space we require each year for 10 weeks, he created partnerships like the one we’ve enjoyed for years with the fire department’s “Spark of Love” program to obtain some of our toys, and he spent countless hours assembling gift packages for families, and leading volunteers.  Everyone associated with Santa’s Room in any way always has their path smoothed thanks to Dan’s sterling reputation and tireless efforts.”

“Dan was always the dream sort of board member, not one who just shows up for an occasional board meeting, and isn’t heard from otherwise,” said Barbara Howell, BTAC’s Executive Director.  “We have a very involved board at BTAC, but he was always especially one to raise his hand and volunteer to put in more time, to work on more projects, and to fill in where he was needed.”

“Better than that,” Howell said, “Dan was an exceptionally sweet, kind and thoughtful man.”

In addition to chairing “Santa’s Room” for six years, Dan also served for one term as BTAC’s Treasurer, and on the Operations Committee, and the Budget and Finance Committee.

Linegar’s charitable efforts went well beyond his service to BTAC.  He founded Burbank’s successful “Relay for Life,” an annual fundraising event for the American Cancer Society that is made up of local efforts across the country, and he became Chairman for the local American Cancer Society in 2004.  He also participated in “Builds” for “Habitat for Humanity,” and in the Revlon Walk/Run events, a fundraising effort to fight women’s cancers.

Dan grew up in Estes Park, Colorado, and received his Masters in Business from Colorado State University.  He worked in the mortgage industry.

Dan is survived by Victoria Sands, whom he once described as his “VERY significant other” when explaining how much work she put in helping him with Santa’s Room projects.  Dan also leaves behind his sister, Carol Smid, a daughter and son-in-law, Angela and Steve Macgregor, and one granddaughter, Brenna Macgregor.

Funeral Services for Dan will take place Saturday, Dec. 3 at Forest Lawn Glendale at 8:30am at the Wee Kirk o’ The Heather. A reception to which all friends and fellow volunteers are invited will follow at 2960 N. Myers, Burbank,CA.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Burbank’s “Relay for Life,” or to the Burbank Temporary Aid Center.

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The reboot of local news, video, and features website, Burbanknbeyond.com is  out to shake up the Media City and grab a bigger chunk of the online audience. There is probably more Burbank news, sports, and events on BurbanknBeyond than any other website. Now B-and-B is even better.

The new look of Burbanknbeyond debuted a few weeks ago with numerous upgrades, better organization of stories, and a much more readable front page. Executive Editor and driving force behind the site, Craig Sherwood, says more tweaks and improvements are on the way.

Here’s a Q&A with Sherwood about the site, where it started and where he wants to take it.

1. BurbanknBeyond has a dramatic new look, what are some of the major changes and why did you feel they were necessary?

When I started BurbankNBeyond back in April of 2010, I had a limited amount of experience as a website designer.  My goal at that time was to try and provide Burbank with a daily news source since all there existed was a twice weekly newspaper with a limited website and a bi-weekly paper with no web presence.  I found after about a year that the idea was working, but the website I had created was not able to keep up with or reflect the constant changes and updates.  I looked around at different media outlets and found most used a WordPress template, so I decided to go in that direction.  I taught the media department at Crespi High School for nine years and had some extremely talented students who went on to college and studied web design, so I turned to Matthew Majcher and started working out the new design.  What I was looking for was a fast paced layout, but something that would also archive past stories so that they were easy to find.  I thought it was very important to incorporate social media so people could interact as well as having areas where people could leave comments.  I had to also incorporate our videos since we are the only full content Burbank media outlet that offers video which hopefully makes us unique.  Bottom line was we had to redesign if we wanted to be a player.

2. In terms of readership, BurbanknBeyond has seen considerable growth, right?

Our growth has been amazing once the word started spreading.  I have the site hosted with Go Daddy and they send out a daily report of hits and locations.  In July of 2010 we were at about 5,000 hits a day and by July, 2011 we were averaging about 20,000 a day.  Once we launched the new design, we are now averaging about 35,000 a day with 3 different days we have exceeded 50,000.  What is interesting is that about 60% are from Burbank, 20% from Glendale and North Hollywood/Toluca Lake, and the rest all over the United States.

3. Is it part of your plan to actively challenge The Burbank Leader for the position as the main local news source in Burbank?

I would love to challenge the Burbank Leader as the main news source for Burbank but it is just not possible, yet.  Let’s face it, the Leader is part of the L.A. Times, and as much as Leader people will deny it, they do have resources from the Times that go into their local coverage.

 At what we do, I think my staff does beat the Leader for daily news, since we are all located and live in Burbank.  We know the City and the people.

I am also currently working to find some more people who can write a City Hall beat, school beat, and a couple of other areas that I have ideas about but can’t discuss because if I do it will give someone else that idea.  Right now I know most people come to us first when there is a big accident or fire or big event in the City, once I can get the editorial content daily I know that we will be a player.  I know the issues and the stories that people in Burbank want to know about, I just don’t have the resources to get the information out yet.  There are 100′s of untold stories in this city.  Hopefully things will start changing with this new design.

4. If there is something else you would like to add, go ahead.

I think the news business has no idea what the future holds.  Everyone is convinced that on-line is the future yet trying to find the revenue that will support it is tricky.  With that said, I think local news will always be the key and people will always seek out what is going on in their neighborhood that affect their daily lives.

Hopefully this new design will attract advertisers and once that happens I have no doubt that BurbankNBeyond will become the first choice for people in Burbank.

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Craig Sherwood writes a column for BurbanknBeyond, “Thoughts From The Bullpen.” You can check it out here.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- The future site of a Walmart 1301 North Victory Place in the Empire Center Burbank

 Burbank is getting a Walmart with dirt cheap prices, questionable labor practices, and the retailer’s notorious Black Friday culture. Last month at the Empire Center, the future home of Burbank’s Walmart, the giant retailer held a promotional event boasting about the benefits its store will bring to the community. However, Burbank residents must realize that the retailer’s massive advertising campaigns, concerned mainly with profits, are going to attract some of those crazed Black Friday shoppers to the new Walmart in B-town.

Violence erupted at several Walmarts across the country yesterday and Thanksgiving night. One of the ugliest incidents occurred at the store in Porter Ranch. In a Los Angeles Times report, witnesses described a scene of chaos, mayhem, and a pepper spray attack by a woman police say was “competitive shopping.” 

The discount king did not release an official comment about the violence, but in a Times’ article Walmart spokesman, Greg Rossiter, referred to it as “… a few unfortunate incidents.” A brush-off to a Black Friday company culture that has fueled violence, which has resulted in injuries and one tragic death.

Three years ago, in an exclusive report, I wrote about this Black Friday culture and the first hand experiences of a former Walmart employee. In part 1, the ex-employee described how he was almost trampled by out of control Black Friday shoppers and in part 2, he recounts a disturbing incident where an announcement by a Walmart manager sent an anxious Black Friday crowd into a frenzy.

By the way, did you hear Bloomingdale’s is opening a store in nearby Glendale? And Burbank is getting a Walmart — wonderful.

More car thefts and burglaries in Burbank

In the latest crime report from Burbank Police Officer Joshua Kendrick, only a handful of residential and business burglaries are listed for the past couple of weeks, the bad news — a lot of vehicle thefts and break-ins.

The report, released yesterday, mentioned some 21 vehicle crimes — all happened between November 11 and 21, 2011. During that time, thieves made-off with electronics, work tools, money, 3rd row seats, tailgates, and assorted other items. We’re heading into the holiday season when criminals hit store and shopping center parking lots with gusto. What can you do to minimize your chances of becoming a victim? Keep those packages and gifts out of sight and remember to lock your vehicle!

Update on the smart meter controversy

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Burbank Action member Kiku Lani Iwata spoke out in opposition to the smart meters at the Burbank City Council meeting November 15, 2011

Some local residents opposed to the smart meters are planning to meet after Thanksgiving to discuss their victory at the Tuesday, November 15 Burbank City Council meeting and to plot their next move.

At the November 15 city council meeting, a number of residents from Burbank and Glendale spoke about what they say are hazards, illnesses, and privacy violations associated with the smart meters. These new devices are being installed at homes, apartment buildings, and businesses throughout the Media City in a smart grid project estimated at $60 million. The new meters reportedly will relay user data to a central utility site. That’s right, meter readers will become obsolete.

In the past, the city council majority has pretty much ignored the complaints of residents and accepted Burbank Water and Power officials’ assessment that the smart meters pose no health risks or privacy invasion.  However, Councilman Dr. David Gordon wasn’t so quick to reject the claims of residents and called for a first step report on an opt out program for the smart meters.

After the testimony of residents on November 15, the Burbank City Council voted unanimously to move forward with a second step report, which would research options to the new smart meters.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Burbank Water and Power General Manager Ron Davis took notes during the testimony of residents opposed to the smart meters at the Burbank City Council meeting November 15, 2011

Thanksgiving benefit at Flappers Comedy Club

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Flappers Comedy Club at the corner of Magnolia Boulevard and First Street in Burbank

The Burbank City Council has declared November “Burbank Temporary Aid Center” month. BTAC is involved in a number of food drives, services, and events to help the working poor, seniors and the homeless in B-town.

Tonight a dinner and show for BTAC is being hosted at Flappers Comedy Club in Burbank. Tickets for the fundraiser are $25 each.  The event starts at 8 p.m.

Photo: BurbankAction.com -- Folks from the audience stepped to the microphone to ask questions of a guest panel of experts at the So Cal Smart Meter Public Forum in Glendale November 10, 2011

Coming off a successful public forum in Glendale, local smart meter opponents are turning their attention to tonight’s Burbank City Council meeting. Last Thursday, the Southern California Smart Meter Public Forum at the Glendale Moose Lodge drew 175-200 people, according to one of the organizers and Burbank resident, Kiku Lani Iwata. Also, Iwata is a member of  Burbank Action,  a group that has been very vocal in its opposition to the smart meters.

Burbank Leader column, Ron Kaye, emceed the event which included a panel of guest speakers: health expert Cindy Sage, consumer advocate Mindy Spatt, and author Orlean Koehle. In his column last Sunday, Kaye shared his impressions of the event and the smart meter controversy. Also, a good article about the public forum appeared on the LA Weekly site.

Tonight, the Burbank City Council is set to consider a first step report on a smart meter alternative program. Councilman David Gordon requested the report back in September after hearing complaints about the smart meters. As of October 12, 2011, around 70 thousand of the devices, which are designed to relay user data  to a main utility center, have been installed in the Media City according to  Burbank officials. Installation has been delayed for some who have vigorously opposed the smart meters — due to health and privacy concerns. However at this point, there is no alternative plan in place for those who opted out of the smart meter expansion in Burbank.

The confusion surrounding the 84th Academy Awards ceremony has cleared and the big event appears to be back on track today. Late yesterday, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced entertainer Billy Crystal would be hosting next February’s Oscar telecast. Here’s the official press release.

Beverly Hills, CA (November 10, 2011)– Producers Brian Grazer and Don Mischer have announced that Billy Crystal will serve as host for the 84th Academy Awards. “I’m thrilled to welcome Billy back to the Oscar® stage,” said Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Tom Sherak. “He’s a comic legend and Oscar icon, and it feels good to have him back where he belongs.”

Commented Grazer, “Like so many others, I’ve been eager to see Billy host again. It’s very gratifying that he agreed to do it with Don and me at the helm.”

Said Mischer, “With Billy, we’re moving forward with one of the greatest hosts in Oscar history. His return to the Oscars® is, in a sense, a celebration.”

This will mark Crystal’s ninth time as host. Only Bob Hope has hosted more Academy Awards presentations, with 19 ceremonies between 1940 and 1978. Crystal last hosted the Academy Awards in 2004.

“Some of the best moments of my career have happened on the Oscar stage. I am thrilled to be back there. Actually, I am doing this so that the young woman in my pharmacy will stop asking me my name when I pick up my prescriptions,” said Crystal.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, 2012, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar® presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.

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The Oscar telecast is the biggest event in Hollywood. The 84th Academy Awards ceremony is not until next February, but there is already plenty of real life drama surrounding it. The spark in a firestorm of controversy was lit over the weekend by movie director Brett Ratner who made an anti-gay slur and resigned on Monday as the producer of the upcoming Oscar broadcast because of it. The Los Angeles Times website has the back story on that here.

Ratner decision to step aside prompted actor/comedian Eddie Murphy to bow out as Oscar host. In a statement released by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences today, Murphy said,”… I was truly looking forward to being a part of the show that our production team and writers were just starting to develop, but I’m sure that the new production team and host will do an equally great job.”

Late today, The Academy announced Oscar winning producer Brian Grazer would be taking over as the producer of the prestigious award show: “”Brian Grazer is a renowned filmmaker who over the past 25 years has produced a diverse and extraordinary body of work,” said Academy President Tom Sherak. “He will certainly bring his tremendous talent, creativity and relationships to the Oscars…”

“It’s very gratifying to be part of a show that honors excellence in the medium to which I have devoted so much of my career,” said Grazer in that announcement. In 2001, Grazer won a Best Picture Oscar for “A Beautiful Mind.” His numerous film credits include “Apollo 13,” “Kindergarten Cop,” “8 Mile,” and current projects “Tower Heist,” and “J.Edgar.” This will be his first time as producer of the Oscar telecast. The Academy Awards will be televised live on February 26, 2012 in more than 200 countries around the world.

Burbank police are confirming today that it was indeed a mountain lion that took a stroll through a property in the hillside area yesterday afternoon. A resident in the 1200 block of Verdugo Spring lane told police a big cat boldly walked up the front driveway “… around the house, and into the back yard.”  The cat disappeared up a slope in the rear of the home, but not before the fast thinking resident got some photos.

An animal control officer examined those pictures and confirmed it was “… a mountain lion.” This is the most recent in a series of mountain lion sightings in Burbank.  Two were reported here on Media City Groove back in August.

Burbank Police sent out a community alert today about the latest mountain lion appearance. It included some precautions, some obvious, some not so, from the Department of Fish and Game.

• Do not feed deer; it is illegal in California and it will attract mountain lions. 
• Trim brush to reduce hiding places for mountain lions.
• Don’t allow pets outside when mountain lions are most active—dawn, dusk, and at night.
• Bring pet food inside to avoid attracting raccoons, opossums, and other potential mountain lion prey.
• Do not leave small children or pets outside unattended.
• Install motion-sensitive lighting around the house.
• Do not hike, bike, or jog alone.
• Avoid hiking or jogging when mountain lions are most active—dawn, dusk, and at night.
• Do not approach a mountain lion.
• If you encounter a mountain lion, do not run; instead, face the animal, make noise and try to look bigger by waving your arms; throw rocks or other objects. Pick up small children.
• If attacked, fight back.
• If a mountain lion attacks a person, immediately call 911.

If you happen to spot a mountain lion the Burbank Police Department wants to hear about it. Contact them at (818) 238-3000 or for more information regarding mountain lions call (818) 238-3290.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Garden Guru Emilio "Elmo" Telles

I have customers coming in saying that it’s time to over-seed their Bermuda and St. Augustine grass while it’s “calendar” wise for them to go dormant (= “go to sleep, and get brownish”).

The thing is with us here in the valley having a very short dormant period, I would watch the weather and when it says we will be cooling down soon, that’s when you want to over seed with the Annual rye seed. The annual ry is a cool-season temporary grass that is a cool season grass that will die out when next warm spring will start dying out when the dormant grasses will start greening up.

Halloween week is my traditional time to do your last lawn feeding on dormant winter grasses. Not only will it give your lawns a last pre-dormant boost, but it will also shorten the dormant period!

Mow the lawn first, so the seed comes in contact with the soil better then top it with bags of seed cover. If you like the smell of steer manure have at it, BUT using a product like E.E. Stone’s Top Coat is a better idea. The problem with steer manure is after using it after several seasons, your soil will have a high salt content due to the corralled steer’s diet which utilize those salt-lick wheels. The Top Coat has only about 10% steer and a finer grade compost to cover the seed.

Keep the lawn well watered, but don’t wash away the seed off the curb! Wait until the new grass is ready and up to height for the first mowing before you mow. Otherwise a mowing while the seed is young, it will yank the young sprouts out of the ground.

Here’s the bottom line, if you want your lawn green over our short winters, go for it. Still, I have plenty of customers that go out of town and could care less and save money paying their gardeners a bit less during the holidays.

My wife hates the dormant look, and her gardener loves the $80 extra to do the lawn. Good thing I don’t have to pay!

Any questions feel free to post them here!

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Emilio “Elmo” Telles is a garden expert at Armstrong Garden Center  5816 San Fernando Road, Glendale  91202.

Some Burbank residents are stepping up their battle against the controversial smart meters, which are designed to relay usage data to a utility center.  They call themselves “Burbank Action.” There is growing concern about charges the smart meters invade the privacy of residents, cause illnesses, and result in higher utility rates. The California Public Utilities Commission is looking into the issue.

Burbank Action is one of several groups sponsoring the forum for Southland residents at the Glendale Moose Lodge 357 Arden Avenue Glendale 91203 next Thursday, November 10 at 7 p.m.  The Burbank Action blog explains the forum this way: “Glendale, Burbank, Los Angeles and Orange County residents have organized this event so that residents throughout Southern California can  listen, learn and ask questions about the dangers of smart meters to our families.”

Forum guest speakers include Mindy Spatt, communications director of The Utility Reform Network (a utility watchdog group), Orlean Koehle author of “Just Say No to Big Brother’s Smart Meters,” and Cindy Sage, a health expert who has reportedlydone field studies that show smart meters can exceed FCC public safety standards.

Meanwhile, Burbank Water and Power is completing an aggressive plan to install smart meters throughout Media City at an estimated cost of $60 million. Despite complaints and objections from some residents, Burbank Action says BWP has “…only a temporary delay list that expires soon, and has not produced any options (for those residents on that list).”

A huge sigh of relief in the Southland today. Frank McCourt, the embattled owner of the Dodgers, has agreed to sell the team. Bill Shaikin over at the Los Angeles Times broke the story on Monday evening that a plan was in the works between McCourt and Major League Baseball.

An agreement was reached late yesterday. The team will be auctioned off  with the approval of  U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The sell-off will include Dodger Stadium and the surrounding parking lots. McCourt reportedly bought this package deal for $421 million in 2004. It’s expected to sell this time for “… two to three times as much.”  More on the deal and possible bidders for the team on the L.A. Times website here.

Photo: Volunteers dig in to spread soil mixture in one of the vegetable beds at the new community garden adjacent to the Burbank Community Day School at 223 East Santa Anita Avenue in Burbank October 29, 2011

Volunteers used people power and creativity to get a new community garden planted in Burbank yesterday.  The garden is the love project of Principal Chris Krohn and her students at Burbank Community Day School at 223 East Santa Anita Avenue. The students, grades 7 - 12, are at risk kids looking for a second chance. Krohn says it all started last year with a small garden she described as “an eyesore.”  The students came up with five plans to turn the tiny garden and the surrounding weeds into a productive community garden. They got help refining their plans from Taryn Foster and Olwyn Kingery from the UCLA Extension Landscape Architecture Department.  

Master gardener and member of the Sustainable Burbank Commission, Sharon Springer, signed on as a volunteer last year. Springer says the garden is a learning experience, which will produce food for the school’s pet tortoise, Kobe,  and vegetables and fruits for the students to take home to their families. They’ll get to “… see the results of their work.”

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Kobe, the pet tortoise at the Burbank Community Day School October 29, 2011

Other volunteers included seniors from the next door Artists Colony and the LA Conservation Corps, which planted 15 trees and installed the irrigation system.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Some LA Conservation Corps volunteers, in the green hats, helped out in the council circle, which will serve as an outdoor classroom in the community garden October 29, 2011

About 30 members, friends, and families of the Warner Bros. Impact Giving Program volunteered as well.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Volunteers from the Warner Bros. Impact Giving Program pitched in to help plant a community garden for the Burbank Day School at 223 East Santa Anita Avenue in Burbank October 29, 2011

Principal Krohn was thrilled with the donations received for the project and the volunteers whose efforts made the garden a reality: “Nice to see the community wants to get involved with our kids.”

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Stop Walmart in Burbank protesters and TV news vans outside the site of the former Great Indoors building in the Empire Center In Burbank October 18, 2011

“This is far from over”  — that’s the new battle cry from the Stop Walmart in Burbank group, following last Tuesday’s controversial community open house by Walmart. Instead of the public forum most folks were anticipating, Walmart offered up a promotional event stocked with tables, charts, PR materials, and smiling Walmart executives.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Visitors at the Walmart merchandise and features table at the company's community open house in Burbank October 18, 2011

 The focus –the new Burbank Walmart and how Walmart REALLY is a good neighbor.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Plans for the Walmart at 1301 North Victory Place in Burbank

The Walmart crew swarmed a ground floor section of the old Great Indoors building delivering the company line to residents, the media, and anyone else who dropped by. I had a chat with Walmart director of public affairs, Javier Angulo. He gushed about Walmart’s intention to hire 300 employees for its Burbank store. Angulo says the plan is for the new Walmart to open “… summer of 2012.”

At this event, considerable pressure was put on residents to sign cards in support of  the valley’s newest Walmart. In media reports, Walmart spokesman, Steven Testivo, claimed more than 200 residents signed those cards, however, he admitted most were interested in getting a job rather than shopping at the store.

Meanwhile, the Stop Walmart in Burbank group has slammed Testivo for allegedly flip-flopping on the structure of the event.

Team Stop Walmart in Burbank’s official statement:

“Steven Restivo went on record in the Burbank Leader to say that we would be given a public forum (http://www.burbankleader.com/news/tn-blr-0917-walmart,0,3256113.story). That was not a public forum Mr. Restivo. You haven’t even opened your doors and already you are lying to Burbank residents. We shouldn’t be surprised at what they did as its par for the course, but it was still a slap in the face to Burbank residents that have legitimate questions who didn’t get any answers. I have heard that they plan to show up to City Council in November, which I think is another strategical move. We need a meeting where Walmart is the only agenda on the list. And we only want Walmart representatives that have answers to our questions to show up. This is far from over.”

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Stop Walmart in Burbank protesters out front of the site of a planned Walmart at 1301 North victory Place in Burbank October 18, 2011

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- The former site of The Great Indoors at 1301 North Victory Place in the Empire Center Burbank

The long anticipated community meeting with the Walmart is today at 5 p.m. The big retailer is hosting what it calls a “community open house”  at the former site of The Great Indoors, where it intends to open a new Walmart. So what are the plans for this one-stop shopping store?  The Walmart honchos are supposed to reveal those plans at the meeting this evening and answer residents’ questions about the impact their new store will have on the Empire Center and the general area.

Recently, Walmart has been circulating a PR flyer touting the benefits of the store in the community. On the flyer, claims of good paying jobs, career opportunities, competitive benefits, support for our military, education, and a pledge of $2 billion to help end hunger. Also, Walmart says it generates over $500,000 per year in sales tax revenue…” and this can fund “…vital services like police and fire protection.”  Oh, keep in mind, the new store is not just for Burbank. It will attract Walmart shoppers from all over to the Empire Center, which is already burden with traffic and congestion problems.

The opposition includes the well organized ”Stop Walmart in Burbank.”  A fundraiser at the local Flappers Comedy Club last Thursday, reportedly raised $800 for its war chest. The group plans to use the donations to increase awareness with flyers, lawn signs, and buttons. No doubt, this group and others against the opening of a Walmart in Burbank will be out in force at the meeting. It should be interesting.

This pro-Walmart flyer was e-mailed to me last night.  It’s a slick piece of promotion from the nation’s largest retailer.  As expected, Walmart is  trying to rally support for its upcoming “community open house” at the old location of the Great Indoors, in the Empire Center, Monday, October 17, at 5 p.m. This location is the designated site of a new Walmart.

Meanwhile, the “No Walmart in Burbank “group is holding a fundraiser this evening at the Flappers ComedyClub in Downtown Burbank starting at 8 p.m.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Flappers Comedy Club at the corner of Magnolia Boulevard and First Street in Burbank

An evening of comedy and fun is planned. The “suggested donation” is $12. And all proceeds reportedly will be”…used to help stop Walmart.”

So the battle is on between supporters and opponents of Walmart. The open house next Monday is shaping up to be quite a showdown.

Fans and air conditioners were working overtime today as a heat wave sent temperatures soaring in the Southland. Here in Burbank, the high today — 99. At 9 p.m tonight — it was 82. Tomorrow is expected to be even hotter . The good news, cooler temps are expected to arrive by the weekend.

Photo courtesy Guest Blogger Jean Youn

It seems that some of my customers really like geese.
I noticed that some of them like goose designs on their shirts or pants.

Today I would like to share with you a story about geese.
In Korea, there is a title called ‘goose dad.’ This isn’t talking about the leader in a flock of geese flying in V formation.

It’s a title given to dads who send their children and wives to the United States or Canada so the children can learn English. The goose dads stays back in Korea to make money to send to his family. They only see their families about once or twice a year. This why they are goose dads, because they fly back and forth like geese do when they migrate between seasons.

However, I don’t think that’s a proper title for these dads.

Geese are migratory birds, yes. However, when they travel long distances, they don’t travel alone, they travel in groups.

No matter how difficult circumstances are, I think it is of the utmost importance for families to stay together, kind of like how geese stay together when they travel.

I hope that even though some people might be physically away from family and loved ones, I hope that each and every one of us would be together with those we love in spirit.

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Jean Youn is the owner of Value Village Cleaners at 912 West Glenoaks Boulevard in Glendale 91202. For details on services, coupons and more, check out the Value Village Cleaners website here.

No Wal-Mart forces take the fight to City Hall

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- The former site of The Great Indoors at 1301 North Victory Place in the Empire Center Burbank

 In the past few days, a number of media reports have come out about Wal-Mart finally fessing up to plans to move into the site once occupied by The Great Indoors, at the Empire Center over on North Victory Place. Wal-Mart owns the site now — but anti-Wal-Mart forces in B-town aren’t giving up the fight just yet.

The No Wal-Mart on Facebook group has organized a rally for today, on the steps of Burbank City Hall at 5:30 p.m. The small but vocal group is being joined by the politically savvy Burbank Democratic Club, which has urged its members to support the rally and speak out against Wal-Mart at the city council meeting at 6 p.m.

At last Tuesday’s city council meeting, Deputy City Manager Joy Forbes revealed Wal-Mart executives “… want to do a community forum… ” at the site sometime in mid-to-late-October. Well, the site is more appropriate for a P.R. event than a community forum to hear the concerns of  residents.

Clearly, these Wal-Mart suits aren’t really taking the community very seriously. They’re reportedly considering options like including a restaurant or nail salon in that 120,000 square foot building. Hey, there are already plenty of restaurants in the Empire Center and a lot of nail salons in Burbank. I guess the Wal-Mart bigwigs do not need to be very creative, when most of their customers only care about how many cheap products they can stuff into a shopping cart. That location at the Empire Center needs some imagination. Wal-Mart needs to add something different to the mix of  restaurants and retail.  However, that kind of  progressive thinking may be beyond the comprehension of the Wal-Mart executives.

A new Burbank Police Commissioner

The city council majority snubbed former Chair of the Burbank Police Commission, Bob Frutos, once again last Tuesday. Right after Frutos lost a close run-off for a city council seat against Emily Gabel-Luddy — the CCM refused to re-appoint him to his seat on the police commission.

Recently, Frutos tossed his hat in the ring for the commission seat vacated by Jim Etter, who moved on to the Los Angeles County Fish and Game Commission. Frutos got only two votes, Dr. David Gordon and Gary Bric. The CCM voted for former Paramount executive, Tom Bruehl, who has been kicking around in local political circles for a while.

But the CCM is not rid of Frutos just yet. A few weeks back, each council member made an appointment to the Citizens’ Charter Committee. This group will decide if changes are necessary for the city charter, which could open the door for a charter review committee to be set up.

Here’s how the appointments went down: Dr. Gordon named Bob Frutos, Gary Bric — Jackie Waltman, Emily Gabel-Luddy — Carolyn Jackson, Dave Golonski — Lee Wochner, and Mayor Jess Talamantes appointed Victor Georgino.

It has been rumored about for weeks now.  Then, late today the official announcement came from Burbank City Hall in the form of a news release — naming the replacement for retiring Burbank City Attorney, Dennis Barlow. She is Amy Albano who is now the city attorney out in Thousand Oaks.

Photo: City of Burbank -- Amy Albano new Burbank City Attorney

Next Tuesday, the city council will consider appointing Albano to the position — but at this point, that’s merely a formality.  It’s a done deal.

Here’s the news release from Public Information Officer, Keith Sterling:

Burbank City Council to Consider Appointment of New City Attorney

Item on September 20th Agenda

BURBANK, Calif. (September 15, 2011) – After an extensive and competitive recruitment process, Amy Albano has been identified as the Burbank City Council’s lead candidate for the position of City Attorney.  Albano currently serves as City Attorney for the City of Thousand Oaks, California.

“Amy brings 20 years of municipal law experience to Burbank,” says Mayor Jess Talamantes.  “The council is very impressed with her knowledge and understanding of complex legal issues and believes she will be a great addition to our community and the executive team.”

Albano was selected after a nationwide search and thorough interviews with three panels comprised of law professionals, community leaders and city executives.  Albano joined the City of Thousand Oaks in 2005 as City Attorney after spending 14 years in the City Attorney’s Office at the City of Ventura.  She is an honor graduate of Albany Law School of Union University and received her undergraduate degree from State College of New York Plattsburg.  Albano is the immediate past president of the League of California Cities City Attorneys’ Department.

“I am honored to be considered for this opportunity,” says Albano.  “Burbank is a world-renowned community and this position will allow me the potential for tremendous professional growth.”  Albano intends to live in Burbank and become an integral member of the community.

The City Council will vote on the appointment at the meeting of September 20th and, if approved, Albano is expected to begin duties next month.  The City Attorney and City Manager are appointed positions, reporting directly to the City Council.

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