Flappers Comedy Club, East Magnolia Boulevard and North First Street, in Downtown Burbank will be the site of  a “healing through laughter” outreach event tomorrow hosted by Counseling4Kids.  Every May the organization “… celebrates the compassionate people who make a difference in the lives of Los Angeles County foster children by serving as foster parents, relative caregivers, advocates, volunteers, and the children themselves by throwing them a party.” By the way, May is National Foster Care Awareness Month.

The non-profit organization is hosting the event for foster kids, their parents, and the community — so the public is invited. The fun fest is from 11:30 a.m to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 19. Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased at the door.

Counseling4kids “provides effective mental health services to abused and neglected children and youth in the foster care system throughout Los Angeles County.” More information about the group at  www.counseling4kids.org

Photo: Whitehouse.gov -- President Obama delivered the commencement address at Barnard College in New York City May 14, 2012

President Barack Obama shared some of his experience and advice with the graduates at Barnard College, a women’s liberal arts college, in New York City earlier this week during a commencement ceremony. Barnard is affiliated with Columbia University, the president’s alma mater.

President Obama:

“My last piece of advice — this is simple, but perhaps most important:  Persevere.  Persevere.  Nothing worthwhile is easy.  No one of achievement has avoided failure — sometimes catastrophic failures.  But they keep at it.  They learn from mistakes.  They don’t quit.

You know, when I first arrived on this campus, it was with little money, fewer options.  But it was here that I tried to find my place in this world.  I knew I wanted to make a difference, but it was vague how in fact I’d go about it.  (Laughter.)  But I wanted to do my part to do my part to shape a better world.”

The full text of the president’s speech on the whitehouse.gov website.

The Disco Queen with the powerful voice, Donna Summer, reportedly passed away today, at the age of 63. The singer-songwriter and five-time Grammy winner, died in Florida after a long battle with cancer. It’s not a day that goes by that I don’t hear a Summer hit on the radio. She had a number of them — with hot rhythms and catchy lyrics like: “Last Dance,” “Hot Stuff,” “Bad Girls,” “Dim All The Lights,” “She Works Hard For Her Money,”  and my favorite, “Heaven Knows.”

More on the life and incredible talent of Donna Summer on the Los Angeles Times website.

On Monday, a Los Angeles County Superior Court jury ruled in favor of the city of Burbank in the discrimination/retaliation lawsuit trial of Burbank Police Officer Cindy Guillen-Gomez. In an article up on the Burbank Leader website, City Attorney Amy Albano is quoted as saying: “We believed that Ms. Guillen had not been discriminated against or retaliated against . We are pleased that the jury system worked for us in this case.” Wait, wait! It may be a little early for city officials to be high-fiving each other. I’m hearing an appeal is being seriously considered.

A well-connected source tells me the jurors were leaning toward ruling in Guillen-Gomez’s favor and giving her a six-figure award, however, the judge’s late decision to toss out most of the officer’s complaints tied their hands. Judges have been wrong, trial verdicts overturned — so this case may not be a closed book just yet.

In the past few months, the city has lost two of these BPD lawsuit cases and won one. Not a great score. The city has spent millions fighting these cases — reportedly as much as $3.4 million on Guillen-Gomez’s case alone. Also, the city has handed over millions for new programs, consultants, and changes in the BPD since a slew of  lawsuits were filed against the department beginning in 2009.  In the Leader article City Attorney Albano addresses this: ”It’s my understanding that the complaints happened before the changes with the current command staff.” You gotta wonder, if Guillen-Gomez’s case and the others were without merit, then why was it necessary to bring in Interim Police Chief Scott LaChasse and his team to make some sweeping and very expensive changes?

“Marvel’s The Avengers” has reached another milestone. Last Sunday, the superhero ensemble flick hit the $1 billion mark worldwide. It did so in only 19 days, according to Box Office Mojo. Meanwhile, “The Avengers” clobbered the competition in the domestic box office over the weekend, by holding onto the number one spot with a haul of $103 million.

Far behind in second place, “Dark Shadows” with a debut of $29.6 million. This is a  take-off on the Gothic TV soap opera, “Dark Shadows,” but despite having Tim Burton as the director and Johnny Depp as its star, the film stumbled. The word is this horror comedy has some funny moments yet fails  because of a disjointed script.

Meanwhile,  the romantic comedy, “Think Like a Man,” is continuing to pack them in at theaters. The movie earned $5.8 million, good enough for third. In a month, “Think Like a Man” has collected $81.4 million. “The  Hunger Games” took fourth with $4.5 million, and rounding out the top five in the weekend box office derby, “The Lucky One” with $4.1 million.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Burbank Police Officer Cindy Guillen-Gomez at Fire Service Day/National Police Week celebration in Burbank May 12, 2012

A Downtown Los Angeles jury is expected to continue deliberating today in the lawsuit trial of Burbank Police Officer Cindy Guillen-Gomez. This is the third trial in the past few months  involving allegations of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in the BPD brought by a current or former member of the force.

Guillen-Gomez’s trial got underway last week. Judge Joanne O’Donnell trimmed the allegations in the suit, originally filed back in May of 2009, to pregnancy discrimination and retaliation, and failure to prevent discrimination and retaliation. After spending the week in court, Guillen-Gomez was out representing the BPD at the Fire Service Day event in Downtown Burbank last Saturday (that’s where the photo with this post was shot). Guillen-Gomez has been the department’s community resources officer since February of 2011. In January of 2000, she became the first Hispanic female to be hired as a police officer by the BPD.

City of Burbank sued over Walmart store

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

The retail giant Walmart is moving  ahead with plans to occupy  the old Great Indoors site at the Empire Center. Recently, three local residents, Shanna Ingalsbee, Katherine Olson, and Yvette Ziraldo filed a lawsuit to attempt to stop the Walmart store from opening in Burbank, according to this article that appeared on the Burbank Leader website dated May 8, 2012. The article is well written and contains the basic facts, including the attorney filing the suit, Gideon Kracov, who represents the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local 770.

The group calling itself  Stop Walmart in Burbank sent out an announcement on Friday May 4 about this lawsuit and it said, “…we wanted to let everyone know the specifics of the case before it became public knowledge.” However, this announcement did not include the simple basic facts of the names of the persons filing the suit nor the attorney involved. I sent an e-mail requesting this information, but no one from the group responded. This is not the first time I have experienced a “no response”  from the Stop Walmart in Burbank  group to a request for additional information. Interesting.

Applications for two top Burbank city positions

Starting today, the Burbank City Council will be accepting applications for the next three weeks for the appointments of City Clerk and City Treasurer. In an odd twist that has fueled quite a bit of chatter in B-town, Margarita Campos resigned her position as City Clerk in a retirement letter dated March 5, 2012 and a few weeks later, in a similar retirement letter dated April 13, 2012, City Treasurer Donna Anderson resigned from her position. Campos will remain on the job until June 1, Anderson until July 7.

I received copies of both resignation letters from the City Attorney’s Office. Both letters were directed to City Manager Mike Flad. Anderson also copied a number of city officials and staff. Strangely, neither letter acknowledged the voters who elected Anderson and Campos to these important positions with six-figure salaries. Another curious twist of events in  Burbank politics.

UPDATE:

City of Burbank sent out a news release on these two positions just before noon today. Here’s the release.

05-14-12

BURBANK, Calif. – Burbank’s elected City Clerk and City Treasurer recently announced their retirements, effective June 1, 2012 and July 7, 2012, respectively. Pursuant to California Government Code § 36512, the City Council of the City of Burbank is accepting applications for appointments to the positions of City Clerk and City Treasurer. The appointments will complete the unexpired terms of the current incumbents, which run until May 2013. Pursuant to Charter Sections 800 and 810, applicants must have resided in the City of Burbank for at least 29 days prior to filing nomination papers or declaring their candidacy and must be a registered voter.

The City Clerk’s Office will accept applications for both positions during the three week period of  Monday, May 14, 2012 through Friday, June 1, 2012. The City Clerk’s Office will verify both Burbank residency and voting status for all individuals who submit applications by the closing date.  Applications and job information are available on the City’s website, BurbankUSA.com .

Candidates will have an opportunity to tape a three minute video to discuss their qualifications. This will be available for public viewing on the City’s website and The Burbank Channel. The Council is scheduled to make the appointments on Thursday, June 28, 2012.

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Photo: Terje "Terry" Canavarro/Freelance Photog -- Wildflowers in bloom in Wildwood Canyon Park in Burbank May 12, 2012

The wildflowers are breaking out in gorgeous colors in the Verdugo Hills of Wildwood Canyon Park here in Burbank.

Photo: Terje "Terry" Canavarro/Freelance Photog -- Bright wildflower in Wildwood Canyon Park in Burbank May 12, 2012

Freelance photographer Terje “Terry” Canavarro shot these photos yesterday afternoon along the trail in Wildwood Canyon Park.

Photo: Terje "Terry" Canavarro/Freelance Photog -- Yellow wildflower opens up in Wildwood Canyon Park in Burbank May 12, 2012

After the low clouds and morning fog burn off, it’s going to be sunny and warm on this Mother’s Day. The high is expected to reach into the low 80s. A great day to go out see the wildflowers, but beware of rattlesnakes.

Photo: Terje"Terry" Canavarro/Freelance Photog -- Rattlesnake in Wildwood Canyon Park in Burbank May 12, 2012

Rattlesnakes are California’s only venomous snakes and are not generally aggressive, but will strike when startled or provoked, according to the State Department of Fish and Game. Also, rattlesnakes are not confined to rural and mountain areas, they’ve been spotted on golf courses and even in local neighborhoods. Earlier this month, a boy was bitten by a rattler in the backyard of his home in Hidden Hills. So be careful out there.

Photo: Terje "Terry" Canavarro/Freelance Photog -- Close up of rattlesnake in Wildwood Canyon Park in Burbank May 12, 2012

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Firefighters demonstrated the technique for extricating victims trapped in vehicle accidents at Fire Service Day in Downtown Burbank May 12, 2012

Fire Service Day was celebrated in Downtown Burbank today with demonstrations, exhibits, displays, and special treats for the kids. In years past, a number of other agencies and groups have participated. This time around, the Burbank Fire Department partnered with only the Burbank Police Department and the California Highway Patrol — in conjunction with National Police Week.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Young potential firefighter is shown how to handle a hose in the kids' obstacle course at the Fire Service Day in Burbank May 12, 2012

Have you ever seen broken branches on a gusty day?

And then, have you seen a bird nest hanging on that branch?

Yes, that’s really amazing.

Though branches may be broken by strong wind, bird nests won’t be broken.

Jennifer Hudson file photo

Today a Chicago jury came back with a verdict in the murder trial involving the shooting deaths of three members of entertainer Jennifer Hudson’s family: her mother 57-year-old Darnell Donerson, brother 29-year-old Jason Hudson, and 7-year-old nephew, Julian King. The jury convicted the brother-in-law of the Oscar-winning actress on all counts. Thirty-one-year-old William Balfour faces a mandatory life in prison term.

The prosecution argued the motive for the killings, back in October of 2008, was jealousy after Jennifer’s sister Julia dumped Balfour and was seeking a divorce. The actress/singer attended every day of the two week trial. More on the verdict here on the Chicago Tribune website.