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.

We’re in a heat wave! Yesterday the thermometer shot up to 108 in Burbank. At 11 p.m. last night, it was still a very warm 81. More extreme temps are expected in B-town through the weekend. The blistering heat prompted Burbank officials to open a cooling center late Friday. Here’s the media release.

BURBANK, Calif. (August 26, 2011) – With high temperatures expected over the next several days, the City of Burbank is establishing a designated cooling center on Saturday and Sunday.

The Buena Vista Library (300 N. Buena Vista Street) will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.

Residents are encouraged to visit the center and seek relief from the heat.

For more information on summertime safety and precautions in the extreme heat, visit http://www.burbankusa.com/

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Another hot one in Burbank and the rest of the Southland today. The temperatures are expected to soar into the mid-90s — even the triple digits by this afternoon in B-town.

Before noon the mercury had reached 93 here.  Also, we will get some partly cloudy skies at times with a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms.  And we got high humidity!

A large ridge of high pressure reportedly is bring sizzling temperatures to our area through the weekend. Also, an excessive heat watch is in effect for Burbank, Universal City, Pasadena and several other nearby cities through Saturday.

An excessive heat watch means a prolonged period of hot temperatures is expected. The weather service has issued a warning that hot temperatures and high humidity will combine to create a dangerous situation, in which heat illnesses can occur. Southlanders are advised to drink plenty of fluids, stay indoors under air-conditioning when possible, and check up on the elderly and shut-ins.

Photo courtesy Guest Blogger Jean Youn

When I turn on the news on television, it seems like there’s a lot more bad news than good news.

Whether we’re talking about the debt problem we’re having in the US or the riots in England and other problems in Europe, Asia, and Africa, it seems like there’s a lot more bad things going on than there is good.

Even if it’s not big news that makes the headlines, it also seems like in our regular ever day lives, that bad things that happen seem more significant than the good things. Then we look in the mirror to notice the frown lines and what looks to be an upset or angry face.

An English psychologist named Robert Holden suggested that the best way to deal with these kinds of things is through laughter therapy.

Young children are said to laugh about 600 times a day. Adults only laugh 6 times a day. However, with some effort, even an adult can learn to laugh as often as a child does.

According to Dr. Holden, laughing helps decrease stress and is beneficial to your health. A minute of laughing has the health benefits of 10 minutes of aerobic exercise, like bicycling.

It isn’t possible to live through life with absolutely no bad experiences. Everyone goes through some period of negativity.

However, it is important to be able to laugh.

It is good to laugh, it’s proven to be good for your health.

I will make an effort to have laughter in cleaning your clothing.

I hope that this week will be full of laughter for you.

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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. 

Photo: Lawrence Jackson/White House -- A red ribbon for World AIDS Day is displayed on the North Portico of the White House, November 30, 2010

World AIDS Day is being observed around the world today. A White House event is planned for this afternoon, to remember the victims, stress awareness, and to gauge what is needed in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the U.S. and internationally.

World AIDS Day was established by the World Health Organization in 1988.

Two candidates jump into the Burbank City Council race

As of  last Friday morning, two eager candidates, both with experience in city government, are off and running for two seats on the Burbank City Council. The first to sign up on the candidate’s list on Monday, November first, the first official day of the nomination period , Planning Board Vice-Chair,  Emily Gabel-Luddy.

 Burbank Police Commission Chair, Bob Frutos, signed up on the same day right behind Gabel-Luddy. Both Frutos and Gabel-Luddy took home nomination papers, which require the signatures of 50 registered voters supporting their candidacy.

I’ve heard about other contenders preparing for the city council race, too. So expect to see more names mentioned here, on this blog,  as the deadline for pulling and returning nomination papers to the City Clerk’s office nears. The deadline is Monday, November 29, 2010 at 5 p.m.

The Primary Nomination Election is February 22, 2011, followed by the General Municipal Election on April 12, 2011.

For a countdown to the February election check the far right column of this blog.

Controversial bike lane in Burbank gets a reprieve

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- A cyclist rolls along in the bike lane on Verdugo Avenue in May of 2010

A hot issue that gets folks in the Media City riled up almost as much as the Burbank Police mess — is the bike lane along a stretch of Verdugo Avenue. This bike lane has a passionate group of haters as well as a peddle-power group that loves it. 

At last Tuesday’s city council meeting, a number of cycling enthusiasts turned out to encourage council members to make the bike lane permanent. The six month project was up for review. Despite the vocal support, council members decided they did not have enough data to fairly access the project, so they voted unanimously for a six-month extension for it.

The vote came as a surprise to the bike lane supporters as well as opponents like Ken Fesperman. A long time Burbank resident, Fesperman lives on a side street near Verdugo Avenue. Fesperman says the outrage over the bike lane from his neighbors and others he knows, prompted him to circulate a petition to have it removed. That’s when he ran into trouble.

Last month, Fesperman was collecting signatures for his petition at the Buena Vista Library when a cyclist confronted him. Fesperman says he was assaulted during the altercation and it left a scar on his face. Fesperman filed a police report, but the incident dampened his spirit for community involvement. However, Fesperman did turn in his petition to city hall, which he says had 330 signatures of folks wanting Verdugo Avenue re-striped back the way it was — two traffic lanes in each direction.  There is now one lane in each direction with a yellow turn section in the middle, from Hollywood Way to Olive Avenue.

Fesperman complains the change never should have been made without informing residents on the side streets. He says that since the bike lane went in, more motorists are zipping down his street –sometimes at “..55 to 60.. ” miles per hour in a zone where children frequently play in the area. “You’re creating more traffic,” Fesperman insists. He believes a powerful few are pushing the bike lane project. “I heard it’s a special interest group. Handful of the city insiders…”

 Maybe that’s why the city survey found little traffic change on Verdugo Avenue  –the overflow is pouring into the side streets. Another survey, with a wider scope, should be done.

Another problem is the alarming number of  bicyclists who ignore traffic rules. The violators got a scolding from outspoken activist, Eden Rosen, at last Tuesday’s council meeting. I’ve seen it myself. Bicyclists blowing through red lights and stop signs,  or riding two or three abreast with a line of traffic behind them.  Even cops I know complain about these arrogant cyclists who don’t follow the rules of the road. Oh, and we’re not talking about school children — most often — the culprits are adults.

In the coming months, city officials have opportunities to work on easing the traffic problems around Verdugo Avenue and to address other concerns of nearby residents. Oh, it wouldn’t hurt to pass out some of those bike safety pamphlets to the cyclists. I hear they have a good supply of the pamphlets over at the Burbank PD.

First flu case confirmed in Los Angeles County

It’s that time of year again. Los Angeles County has its first confirmed case of the seasonal flu. It’s the influenza strain A H3N2, which is rolling across the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This year’s flu vaccine will protect against that strain and two others, including H1N1.

In a press release, Los Angeles County Health Official, Jonathan E. Fielding, declared now is an excellent time to get that flu shot: “We cannot predict how severe or how mild a flu season will be. Flu is a serious illness and should be treated as such. Ample vaccine is already available in LA County in a variety of locations, including pharmacies, supermarkets, community clinics and doctor’s offices.”

Last Friday, I stopped in at the CVS Pharmacy on Hollywood Way and got my flu shot. It was a breeze. Only a few people were waiting, including a mother and her two young children, so the process did not take long. The cost around $30 and they accept most insurance plans. For information on free flu shots at single day vaccination clinics and or at Public Health Centers go here. Flu shots are now recommended for everyone six months and older.

A blazing hot day on tap for the Media city today. At 10 a.m., it’s already 80 degrees in Burbank. The weather forecast is for a high in the mid-to-upper 90s!  Yes, we’re deep off into fall, but we’re getting another reminder of what a gorgeous summer day feels like in the Southland.

I was out before nine this morning and saw a lot of folks pounding the pavement in the Burbank hillside area, getting their exercise before the temperature rises into the scorching zone. Wise move.

More hot and sunny weather is heading our way tomorrow as well, with a cooling trend expected to kick in by the weekend.

A scary Halloween statistic  is out about traffic accidents in California involving pedestrians. Allstate Insurance Company reportedly conducted a review of claims involving pedestrians over the past three years in the state  and discovered a dramatic increase in October accidents around trick or treat time.

The insurer revealed in a PR Newswire release that its figures show the number of people hit by cars in California jumps 25 percent on Halloween as compared to the rest of October. 

Allstate is offering up three Halloween tips and two include texting!

Don’t Text and Walk

Children and parents should focus on traffic and not texting when trick-or-treating. Keep your eyes up and have an adult or an older, responsible youth supervise children. Plan and discuss the route trick-or-treaters intend to follow.

Don’t Text and Drive

Focus on the road, not your cell phone. Neighborhoods that don’t normally have pedestrian or bicycle traffic may experience an increase in activity on Halloween. Children are excited and may forget to stop, look, and listen before crossing the street.

Don’t Drink and Drive

If you are attending a Halloween party, designate a driver. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reminds revelers that no costume can conceal a drunk driver.

Despite the startling statistic for Halloween, Allstate says December 10 is the most dangerous day of the year for Californians on foot near traffic.

Halloween is in the air. I’m seeing bats, vampires, ghouls, and other night creatures lurking around my Burbank neighborhood. Adults as well as kids are gearing up for the haunting night of October 31. While you’re preparing to get your “spook on” the Food and Drug Administration has a few guidelines to keep in mind.

Today the FDA released its “Lucky 13″ tips for a safe and fun Halloween. The agency warns the wrong choices could haunt you long after all that trick-or-treat candy has been eaten or given away. One of the big concerns is decorative contact lenses that give the wearer “cat like eyes” or make the eyes appear to glow in the dark, or change eye color.

“What troubles us is when they are bought and used without a valid prescription, without the involvement of a qualified eye care professional, or without appropriate follow-up care. This can lead to significant risks of eye injuries, including blindness,” according to FDA eye expert, Dr. Bernard Lepri.

Some of the other tips include, make sure costumes are fire-retardant, and it’s best to wear makeup and hats rather than mask, which can obscure your vision. For the full list of “Lucky 13″ safety tips go to the FDA website. Also, these guidelines have the approval of the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Photo: Hiroko Masuike/Getty Images/Mrs-O.org --First Lady Michelle Obama toured a New York herb garden with local school children and some First Ladies from various countries September 24, 2010

Catching up on some of the activities of First Lady and Health Advocate, Michelle Obama.  Mrs-O, a website dedicated to the first lady’s fashion, style, and special interests, is a faithful follower of almost everything Michelle. Also there’s a ton of comments, from some of the thousands of Michelle fans, on the two-year-old site. I’m a Michelle follower and an occasional visitor to Mrs-O.

In the photo above, Mrs. Obama toured an herb garden with a group of curious school children, last Thursday, September 24. Several First Ladies, from a number of countries, joined the tour at the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in Pocantico Hills, New York.   

The tour included a farm-to-the-table-lunch – part of Mrs. Obama’s healthy eating program.

Also in the Mrs-O post, a description of who and what the first lady was wearing — down to her “silver pointed toe flats.”  Mrs. Obama is no Lady Gaga, however, she has many admirers of her fashion taste and sensible style.

UPDATED: 5:53 p.m.

The city of Burbank sent out an e-mail a short while ago announcing the Buena Vista Library, at 300 North Buena Vista Street, will be opened until 8 p.m. this evening due to the extreme heat.

You know, it’s still going to be hot at that time. To really provide residents with a cool place to relax, the library should stay open until at least 10 p.m. For more information here’s the library’s phone number: (818) 238-5620

The calendar says it should be fall, but this weekend, the Southland is baking in summer-like heat. Yesterday afternoon, when it was over 100 here in Burbank, I had to run some errands. Instead of the usual crowds at the post office, bank, and Trader Joe’s on Alameda Avenue – I found only a few brave souls willing to suffer through the heat.

The temps hovered in the 90s and 80s through much of Saturday evening.  Things cooled off to the low 70s after midnight, however by 9 a.m. the temperature was up to 86 and rising.

The forecast is for a high of at least 105 in the Media City today. A benefit to all this heat — I ‘ve noticed increased activity by butterflies and bees in my flower garden. A lovely sight.

Another member of the Schwarzenegger family is gearing up for a publicity blitz. Katherine Schwarzenegger is the 20-year-old daughter of Actor/Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and former TV Journalist/Author, Maria Shriver.

The USC student is set to go on a promotional tour in the next few weeks for her first book, “Rock What You’ve Got: Secrets to Loving Your Inner and Outer Beauty from Someone Who’s Been there and Back.” Schwarzenegger says her own struggles with self-worth and  body image prompted her to write a book to inspire young girls.

“You don’t have to look like you’re on a billboard to feel beautiful. I really wanted to correct girls’ perception of that.” Schwarzenegger said in a PR Newswire press release.  

Also, the book is about growing up with famous parents and relatives –the Kennedy family. Schwarzenegger says that at home, her father is more of a food watchdog than her mother. She says that when Arnold the movie star was preparing for a movie role, he would tear through the house, trashing all the ice cream and junk food.

According to the Barnes & Noble website, the busy Southland college junior also blogs about body image and self-esteem for the ABC Family show “Huge.”

Katherine Schwarzenegger’s book, “Rock What You’ve Got,” goes on sale next Tuesday, September 14.

Photo: Samantha Appleton/White House --First Lady Michelle Obama participates in a "Let's Move" event in New Orleans, Wednesday, September 8, 2010

First Lady Michelle Obama really got involved in the launch of a “Let’s Move” event with current and former members of the National Football League in New Orleans yesterday. During an exercise, Mrs. Obama surprised some by taking the pigskin and running with it! Among those showing their support, Ex-NFL Coach Tony Dungy and Former Tennessee Titans Running Back, Eddie George (27).

The heat is on in the Media City. The temperature hit a sweltering 100 this afternoon. I spent some time running Saturday errands and getting the car washed today. I did not linger. As quickly as possible, I was back inside the house with the air conditioning blasting and the fan blowing.  At 5 p.m., Burbank still baking in 90 degree temps.

The forecast is for at least 80s through Monday, Labor Day. However, the temperatures could creep up into the triple digits in B-City and other parts of the San Fernando Valley. So don’t think about the utility bill — be health smart and do what you need to do to stay cool.

The heat is on in the Southland. At 9 p.m. last night,  it was 80 degrees in Burbank.  It’s going to be seriously hot today, with 80s along the beach, upper 90s in Los Angeles, and over a 100 in Burbank and some valley areas. There’s a good chance we could see some temperature records broken today.

The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for today through tomorrow for the Southland. The NWS advisory says: “ The combination of the very hot temperatures and slightly increased humidities is expected to produce dangerously high heat index readings for Tuesday through Wednesday evening.”  This means heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and heat cramps are possible.

Folks are being reminded to take simply precautions like drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned rooms, stay out of the sun if you can, and check on shut-in relatives and neighbors.

Three designated cooling center locations are posted on the Burbank city website. The hours and phone numbers for the Joslyn Adult Center, Buena Vista Library, and the Central Library are on the site as well. Click here for more information.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Landmark Warner Bros. tower in Burbank

Yes, things are changing here. Media City Groove is the new name. Many of the elements of A Writer’s Groove will remain, while new ones are going to be added. Stay tuned. 

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- A happy shopper bags some bargains at the popular Burbank Farmers' Market held on Saturday mornings in the city hall parking lot at Third Street and Orange Grove Avenue.

Photo: Chuck Kennedy/White House  — Hundreds of chefs from around the country gathered on the south lawn of the White House for a “Let’s Move” event on June 4, 2010

 First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” program has expanded to include hundreds of chefs from communities all across the nation. Chefs from 37 states assembled at the White House on Friday, June 4, 2010 to support “Chefs Move to Schools” phase of the first lady’s program.

“Let’s Move” is aimed at fighting childhood obesity. The chefs will be paired with schools in their local communities to work with students, parents, school nutritionists and administrators. Mrs. Obama explained it this way: “And together, you’ll be helping students learn where food comes from, and develop healthy habits. You’ll be elevating the role of food in our schools, and working to create healthy meals on a budget…You can make a salad bar fun — now, that’s something — and delicious. You can teach kids to cook something that tastes good and is good for them; and share your passion for food in a way that’s truly contagious.”

Food Diva/Author/Cookware Designer/TV Chef, Rachael Ray, posted a story on the White House Blog today about the program and her own experience called “Cooking as a Way of Life.” Ray says: “Understanding what good nutrition means and the basics of cooking are some of the most important tools kids need for the rest of their lives. Knowing how to put together a good, nutritious meal really improves the quality of one’s life.” More of Ray’s post here, which includes a video clip, too.

Photo: Pete Souza/White House — President Barack Obama uses one of 22 pens to sign that huge health care reform bill into law on Tuesday, March 23, 2010

A lot of Americans are asking, what’s in that mega-overhaul of the health care system?  First, there are some provisions that kick in this year, others become effective later on. Details and links on the White House blog here.

Official White House Photo/Chuck Kennedy — President Obama makes a point to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) during the Bipartisan Health Reform meeting at Blair House on Thursday, February 25, 2010.

First Ladies meet & chat

Official White House Photo/ Samantha Appleton — First Lady Michelle Obama chats with Mrs. Margarita Zavala de Calderon, the First Lady of Mexico, in the Yellow Oval Room of the White House on Thursday, February 25, 2010.

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — A shot of the Burbank hills from South Sunset Canyon Drive

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Three road warriors work out in the Burbank hills

Photos: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove –Flowers in bloom in Burbank

Enjoy it while you can. This spring-like weather in the Southland will soon be history. While it was another sizzler in Burbank today with the temperature hovering pretty close to 80, tomorrow a cooling trend begins and by Friday, cloudy skies and a chance of rain. Get ready to dig out the coats, jackets, and yes, umbrellas.