Martin Luther King Jr. (January 15, 1929 -- April 4, 1968)
“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.’ ”
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I Have a Dream, 1963.
Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Hundreds of holiday baskets, boxes, and bags lined the walls outside the auditorium at George Washington Elementary school in Burbank December 16, 2011
More than 555 Burbank families are enjoying some holiday cheer, thanks to this year’s very successful Holiday Basket Program sponsored by the Burbank Coordinating Council. The deliveries, by volunteers, began officially on December 17 and were completed a few days ago.
Four hundred of the families were adopted by local Churches, school PTAs, service organizations, studios, businesses, individuals, and city offices ..” according to the Holiday Basket Committee co-chair, Janet Diel.
Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Burbank City Councilman Dave Golonski among the volunteers who come back year after year to help create and deliver holiday baskets to needy families December 16, 2011
The holiday baskets, boxes, and over-sized bags were stuffed with donated new clothes, games, toys, food, gift cards, movie DVDs and much more. Each gift container was filled with items that reflected the needs of a specific family.
Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Former newspaper reporter Joyce Rudolph pitched in to help assemble holiday baskets at George Washington Elementary school December 16, 2011
Donations came Warner Bros, Disney, Universal Studios, Ralphs, Vons, Ikea, and many small businesses, local shops, and individuals.
Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Volunteers worked meticulously putting together holiday baskets for 155 unadopted families at George Washington Elementary school in Burbank December 16, 2011
The volunteers included city officials, community activists, Girl Scout troops, and local residents who took time out from their own holiday activities to lend a helping hand.
Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- The driving force behind the Holiday Basket Program, Janet Diel, fielded cell phone calls at George Washington Elementary school December 16, 2011
Speaking on behalf of the Holiday Basket Committee, Diel said:”It took hundreds/ thousands of people to donate money, gifts, food, and time to make this project a success. We are grateful to all who participated and thank you so much for making a huge difference in so many lives.”
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy, would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know-w-w-w
That your baby boy, would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
That your baby boy, has come to make you new?
And this child that you delivered will soon deliver you
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy, will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy, will calm the storm with his hand?
Did you know
That your baby boy, has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby you kissed the face of God?
Oh, Mary did you know
The blind will see
The deaf will hear
The dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
And the praises of the Lamb
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy, is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy, will one day rule the nations?
Did you know
That your baby boy, is Heaven’s perfect Lamb?
The sleeping child you’re holding is the great I am
Performed by Clay Aiken
Song lyrics by Mark Lowry (1984), music Buddy Greene
We’re coming down to the wire for Christmas — with just a few more shopping days to the big holiday. Counseling4Kids, a mental health program, is collecting gifts for over 500 children in foster care and is still in need of donations.
“Oftentimes children in foster care receive very little during the holidays. Foster parents often have several children in their home at one time, and it can be very challenging for them to purchase gifts for all of them given limited foster care stipends. Providing a gift is one way we can help a child in foster care feel loved at a very difficult time of year,” states Dr. Marianne Callahan, clinical director at Counseling4Kids, in a news release.
Counseling4Kids is a non-profit that provides mental health services to abused and neglected children and youth in the foster care system in Burbank, the San Fernando Valley, and throughout Los Angeles County. Those wanting to brighten the holiday season for one or more of these foster children, can drop off new and unwrapped gifts or money to purchase gifts at the Counseling4Kids local office 601 South Glenoaks Boulevard, Suite 200, Burbank 91502. The collection will continue through the entire month of December. For more information contact community liaison, Rebekah Miller at (818) 441-7800 ext.121 or rebekah@counseling4kids.org.
Photo courtesy Guest Blogger Jean Youn
You’ve probably noticed a lot of holiday decorations being up lately. When I close up shop to head home, I see many beautiful decorations and lights all over the place. Some of you probably decorated your houses with holiday cheer as well. There are also probably others of you who don’t decorate or celebrate at all.
You can put many different meanings into decorations. You might feel thanks and joy as you prepare and lay out your decorations. Though, others might just see all the decorations as a bit excessive — so they might not like decorations at all.
However, there is no wrong or right in any of these cases. Whether you put up holiday decorations or not, I hope that all your hearts are beautifully decorated.
I hope that your hearts are decorated with everything you are thankful for about this past year and all the people that helped you along the way. I also hope your hearts are decorated with the love and appreciation for your family as they’ve experienced all the good things and bad things of this year with you. These are the kinds of decorations that can never be too excessive.
I would like to express my thanks and gratitude for everyone who sought after our services throughout this past year.
I hope your week will be decorated with many things to be joyful about.
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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 courtesy Guest Blogger Jean Youn
Have you ever been to the top of any mountains?
Korea is a very small country in land area, but it has many mountains. About 70% of the land is covered with mountains. Most of them are not very high though. Anyone could climb to the top of them.
When you’re at the top of these mountains, if you yell something, you would be able to hear echoes.
Whatever you say, the mountains will echo back to you. If you yell, “I’m tired and beat!” they will echo back “I’m tired and beat!” If you yell, “I’m so happy!” the mountains will echo back “I’m so happy!”
It is the holiday season. We have to get all our cards and gifts ready.
Like the way it is very tiring to climb up mountains, sometimes buying and packaging gifts and writing cards can be tedious and unpleasant.
However, just like the way the air is cool, crisp, and refreshing at the top of the mountain, and the feeling you get when you yell at the top of your lungs when you’re up there, it is gratifying to see the happy look on the faces of your family and friends when they open the gifts and cards you got for them.
Whenever you do good things for others, the good things will echo back to you like the way your voice echoes in the mountains.
Have a wonderful week and I hope that you get into the spirit of giving!
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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: FLLewis/Media City G -- Garden Guru Emilio "Elmo" Telles
Shopping for a fresh cut Christmas tree should be a fun and analytical experience. The first two things to look for is (obviously) shape and gaping holes between the branches. A little bit of gap is okay, because when you hang the ornaments the weight will help bring the branches down.
What about the old story about pulling the branches to see if any needles pull off? If some needles come off and are green, you’re okay. It’s when they are brown and it’s still two weeks until the 25th – choose another tree. The most important thing to make sure the trees are positioned in a tree stand with a water bowl combination at the lot.
A lot of times I get customers that want a second cut so the tree is “fresh”. The problem with that is that when the salesman makes another cut, by the time you get it home the cut will “self seal” and you’ll have a dry tree soon. If the bowls are filled up every day at the tree lot, the cut tree should easily last you until after Christmas.
The real trick, is to check the tree once in the morning and once again when you get home from work, or the evening. Cut trees are thirsty. Keep the trees in your home in a place away from the heater drafts.
A very important thing is after the holiday, look up a local tree recycling center. There should be one close to you. They shred Christmas trees up for mulch and you can use it for your gardens in the spring!
I take the bus to work and nothing looks worse than old Christmas trees littering the streets. Sometimes when I’m walking, I have had to jump over some of the dumped trees!
Any questions feel free to write/post a comment here.
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Emilio “Elmo” Telles is a garden expert at Armstrong Garden Center 5816 San Fernando Road, Glendale 91202.
A live theater production of the Christmas play, “Table of the Heart,” is set to open tomorrow, December 10, at the Media City Church 269 East Providencia Avenue in the Media City.
The production is written and directed by Tatum Shank. The play tells the story of the tragedy and triumph of the Carmichael family who move from Los Angeles to Seattle and quickly are faced with heartbreaking circumstances that they must overcome. The theme, forgiveness leads to healing.
Producer, Jennifer Shank, says this is an exclusive two week run of “Table of the Heart.” Performances are Saturdays, December 10 and 17 at 8 p.m. and Sundays, December 11 and 18 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 in advance and $8 at the door. For more information and special ticket deals go here or call (818) 842-2186.
The final numbers are in! Burbank YMCA’s Thanksgiving Turkey Trot event, on November 24, 2011, was a huge runaway success, according to officials. Here’s the news release with details, sent out yesterday by Burbank Y’s Susan Sebastian.
The Burbank Community YMCA Turkey Trot Has a Fast Start
(Burbank, CA, December) – The second annual Burbank Community YMCA Turkey Trot took place on Thanksgiving morning. Over 1,400 runners arrived very early to perfect “running weather” to start their Thanksgiving holiday off on a healthy note.
The diverse crowd was made up of elite runners, first time runners, families and kids, several dressed in turkey hats and as pilgrims all taking part in the 10K, 5K or Kids Fun Run. As Third Street filled with runners for the start of the race, CEO, JC Holt remarked, “This is just fantastic. The Y wanted to create a healthy event for the community to take part in. Seeing this kind of turn out means we’re on the right track.”
Before the runners took their mark, an announcement was made that Servicemen in Afghanistan from Burbank had ordered shirts from the event and were running overseas to be part of this new community tradition. As Bobbi Cranston sang the national anthem and Mayor Jess Talamantes made an opening statement the emotional crowd cheered our local servicemen and the anticipation of the race’s start.
For Financial Development Director, Philip Di Nova seeing the race begin was the culmination of months of planning. Said Di Nova, “We anticipated signing up around 1,200 runners and walkers since it was our second year, but to reach over 1,400 participants is remarkable. I credit the Burbank community for supporting us and the race community in general. It’s a great follow up to last year.”
In addition to a record number of runners, the Turkey Trot was fortunate to have well over 100 volunteers donate their time on a holiday morning. Said Holt, “Burbank is famous for its philanthropic spirit and today is just one more example of this great community rallying behind a worthwhile cause.” Funds from the Turkey Trot will benefit the Burbank Community YMCA’s Financial Assistance program which enables all people to join the Y, regardless of an inability to pay for membership.
Sponsors for the Turkey Trot included the Cusumano Real Estate Group and Downtown Burbank Business Partners, along with 25 other companies and organizations.
Crossing the finish line first, after completing the 10K run were Jacques Salberg and Liliana Hernandez. The 5K winners included: Michael Thatcher and Sascha Scott. The highest finishing Y Members were Ethan Moskowitz who finished 6th overall in the 10K and Miossi Haviland who finished 26th overall in the 5K.
The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Across the U.S., 2,687 Ys engage 21 million men, women and children – regardless of age, income or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. Anchored in more than 10,000 communities, the Y has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change.
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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.
Photo: Chuck Kennedy/White House -- President Obama pardoned two turkeys at the White House today. Only one, Liberty, made an appearance at the event. The other, Peace, skipped the photos. November 23, 2011
President Obama carried on a Thanksgiving tradition today by pardoning two big turkeys. Liberty was on hand for the National Thanksgiving Turkey Pardoning ceremony – Peace was a no show for some reason.
Joining the president were daughters Malia and Sasha and the National Turkey Federation Chairman, Richard Huisinga.
The two 19-week old turkeys tip the scales at 45 pounds each and were raised by a group of students in Minnesota.
President Obama:
“Now, I’m told that in order to prepare Liberty and Peace for their big day, the students exposed them to loud noises and flash bulbs so that they’d be ready to face the White House press corps. This is actually true. They also received the most important part of their media training, which involves learning how to gobble without really saying anything.
So Liberty is ready for his turn in the spotlight. And after he finishes a round of cable hits and a few Sunday shows, he’s going to retire to a life of leisure at Mount Vernon — the same place where George Washington spent his golden years.”
The president’s complete remarks are here on the White House website.
Photo courtesy Guest Blogger Jean Youn
Thanksgiving is just around the corner. There are countless things that we feel that we lack and want but there also a countless number of things to be thankful for. Of those things family is what’s most important and what we are most thankful for.
Family is what I am most thankful for but what allows my family and me to live day in and day out is actually you my customer.
When I think about all of the blessings I have received over the years, none of those things would be possible without my customers.
So many things that I am thankful for and so many of the things that I put my hope in, they would not be possible without my customers, and for that I am very thankful during this season of Thanksgiving.
As often as we regularly use the words “thank you,” it seems that those words seem to pale in significance to the gratitude I have toward my customers.
Please enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with your families and if the table cloth gets dirty during your Thanksgiving dinner, you can always bring them to us to be cleaned.
As a token of sincere gratitude and thanks, if you bring your table cloth in on Friday the 25th, we will clean it for free.
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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.
President Barack Obama placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery today in honor of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. In his remarks after the ceremony, President Obama expressed thanks to all veterans — on this Veterans Day — for their service, sacrifice, and accomplishments.
President Barack Obama:
Here, where our heroes come to rest, we come to show our gratitude. A few moments ago, I laid a wreath to pay tribute to all who have given their lives to our country. For even though this is a day we rightly honor America’s veterans, we gather today in solemn respect -– mindful that we are guests here; mindful that we share this hallowed space with a family’s moment of quiet grief; mindful that many veterans not far from here are tracing their fingers over black granite for friends who never came home –- and expect us to do all we can to bring every missing American service member home to their families.
To all our nation’s veterans: Whether you fought in Salerno or Samarra, Khe Sanh or the Korengal, you are part of an unbroken chain of men and women who have served this country with honor and distinction. On behalf of a proud and grateful nation, we thank you.
Full text of the president’s remarks here on the whitehouse.gov website.
Photo courtesy Guest Blogger Jean Youn
I want to share a story with you. A long time ago, an old man sat underneath the shade of a tree near the entrance of a village. A traveler walked toward the village and noticed the old man.
He asked him, “How are the people in this village?” The old man asked the traveler, “How are the people in the village you’re from?” The traveler replied, “The people in the village that I’m from are no good and I don’t like being around them. They weren’t the kind of people I want to live around.” The old man then said, “The people in this town are the same way.”
A few days later, another traveler came walking toward the town and noticed the same old man sitting under the shade. He asked the old man, “How are the people of this village?” The old man asked the traveler the same question he asked the other traveler.
The traveler replied, “The village that I’m from is great! The people are nice and a overall pleasure to be around. I love living there.” The old man then replied, “The people in this town are the same way.”
November is the month of Thanksgiving.
I would like to thank each and every one of my customers for being the kind of people I want to be around.
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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.
Be safe, watch out for those trick or treaters, and have a scary good time.
Photo courtesy Guest Blogger Jean Youn
Tomorrow is the last day of October and it is also Halloween!
Do you celebrate Halloween? Some people do and others don’t, and that’s ok. People hold different kinds of customs and traditions based on their culture and beliefs.
Families like mine that consist of first and second generation immigrants often find it necessary to mix the customs and cultures of both their native land and of the United States. Sometimes we clash with our children due to different customs and values. This reminds me of the film, “Fiddler on the Roof.”
In that case, the customs of the parents had to give way to the customs of the children. Throughout the passage of time, traditions and customs often change.
Only 10 years ago it was customary to wear suits to work and dress up for church. Nowadays it’s common for people to go to work and church dressed casually. That change in particular caused the dry cleaning industry to take a bit of a hit with a decrease in business, but what can you do? We come to work dressed casually too.
Customs and traditions change, but there are still some things that never change. The goodness of love and being thankful will always be there no matter what.
We are going into the month of November.
I hope that this month would be full of love and reasons to be thankful.
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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.
