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.

Around this time of the year, a lot of us are thinking about the creepy-crawlers. It’s all part of the fun of  Halloween. On the serious side, there are careers where creepy creatures are part of daily operations.

Recently, CareerCast.com, a job search and career website, identified the nation’s creepiest careers.  ”Forensic Entomologist, who studies insects that invade a person’s dead body and decipher insect life cycles to determine the time and manner of death, is the creepiest career on our list,” according to Tony Lee, publisher, CareerCast.com. “These little bugs can even offer clues as to when and if a body part was moved after death and the types of injuries that may have occurred.” Lee is quoted in a PR Newswire release.

Other creepy jobs that made the list: Pest control specialist who must eliminate insects and rodents, reptologist who studies creatures with green scaly skin, and an arachnologist involved in the study of all sorts of spiders, ticks, and mites.

Photo courtesy Guest Blogger Jean Youn

 Tomorrow is a big holiday in Korea.

It is called Chu-Seok , and it is the Korean equivalent of America’s Thanksgiving.

In Korea, it is a five day long celebration.

During Chu-Seok, the first harvests of grains and fruits are prepared and it is day where Koreans give thanks to their ancestors. The seasons in Korea are similar to how it is in the Northeastern United States.

So in terms of the weather and seasons, it’s a little hard to prepare the first harvests.

Why do they do it so early?

In Korea, July and August is when they get their monsoon season, typhoons, and sometimes periods of drought. So when September comes around, the weather gets so much calmer and nicer, so it’s ideal for first harvests.

Still, it is a little too early for a full harvest.

However, considering that the summer months are so harsh, the fall season is welcomed because of its much calmer weather, which gives people reason to be thankful. That is why Chu-Seok is celebrated during this time.

Our American Thanksgiving is still another two months away, but there are always reasons to be thankful no matter what time of year it is.

So in the spirit of Korean Thanksgiving, Chu-Seok, I would like to give many thanks to all of my customers and readers.

I hope that this week will give you many 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.

Photo courtesy Guest Blogger Jean Youn

It is now September and it is Labor Day weekend.

It’s just about the end of summer and the beginning of fall.

Labor Day was meant for people who work. It is a way for people to be grateful for and find joy in their work by having a well deserved break from work.

You hear about a lot of people who are without and can’t find work these days. You also hear about self-employed people and/or small business owners like myself who get little to no business for periods of time. I have heard this about others and I have also personally experienced it myself.

On Labor Day weekend, I find myself thinking about work a lot.

It really isn’t just a means to put food on the table to survive.

In the book, “The Gospel of the Redman: A Way of Life,” Ernest Thompson Seton says that we should love our lives and that we should find all things in our life beautiful. The book also says to be happy in your personal strength and beauty.

Work certainly takes up a large portion of our daily lives. Don’t get me wrong, family and loved ones always come first, but it’s important to love what you do, especially when it takes up so much of your time. Also, it is the very fact that we work that allows us to enjoy a nice day off of work like Labor Day.

For me, if cleaning and pressing your clothing can help you find beauty and happiness in your life, I will be a happy this Labor Day.

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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 -- Chevron GM Food Mart at Buena Vista Street and Olive Avenue September 1, 2011

Okay, we’re not seeing self-serve regular for $2 a gallon — but under $4 a gallon is still a good buy. A short while ago, regular gasoline at the pump appeared to be headed for the $5 a gallon mark.

The national average for regular today is $3.6, according to triple A.  However, on Labor Day weekend last year the average price was $2.6 a gallon for regular.

The same trend can be seen on the state and local levels. The Auto Club reports the state average for regular today $3.9 a gallon — a year ago at this time, $3 a gallon. In the Los Angeles-Long Beach area (which includes Burbank) the average price for regular is $3.9 — a year ago it was $3 a gallon. Those numbers are the same for Orange County as well.

In these tough economic times, which seem to be getting tougher, consumers could really use a serious break on fuel prices. Perhaps $3 a gallon regular gas will make a comeback soon. I hope so. Drive safely and enjoy the holiday weekend.

Photo: White House blog -- A young girl saluted President Obama during the Independence Day celebration at the White House July 4, 2011

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama threw a big July 4th bash at the White House yesterday. The first couple celebrated the nation’s independence with more than 1,200 members of the military and their families.

During a meet and greet, the commander- in-chief of the U.S. military got a serious salute from a young girl — who just might be a soldier one day.

More on that big party, which included entertainment, a BBQ, and fireworks, on the White House blog today.

Happy Fourth of July!

Dodger Stadium festivities

The guys in blue kick-off a four game series against the New York  Mets tonight.  Also, fans will be treated to fireworks and tributes to our military. Gates at Dodger Stadium open at 3:40 p.m.

Fireworks and more at the Starlight Bowl

A July 4th tradition continues tonight at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank.  A spectacular fireworks show is planned along with entertainment and surprises. The U.S. Air Force is joining in on this “Salute to America.”  There are only 100 tickets left to this event, according to the Starlight Bowl website this morning. Tickets must be bought in advance — none will be sold at the door.

Burbank viewing parties

The Starlight Bowl fireworks are huge and can be seen for miles. Fireworks viewing parties are held in yards, on porches, and even in the streets throughout Burbank, especially in the hillside area. Watching these fireworks have become part of the July 4th celebration in many neighborhoods. And you don’t have to buy a ticket.

Fireworks illegal in Burbank

There are places in the SoCal where they allow you to set off your own fireworks — Burbank is not one of them.  The Burbank Police Department sent out a press release reminder recently stating: “… that it is illegal to manufacture, sell, possess, or discharge fireworks in the City of Burbank.”

The Burbank PD has patrol units out cracking down on fireworks violators. The public is asked to report violations by calling the Burbank Police at (818)  238-3000.

Keep your pets safe

All of this celebrating, particularly the fireworks, can really freak out dogs, cats, and other pets. On July 4th and the day after, animal shelters across the nation get the greatest number of reports of lost dogs and cats, according to a community alert from the Burbank PD.

It is recommended that you keep your pets indoors on Independence Day. Make sure the little critters are wearing proper identification. If by chance your animal becomes lost, call the Burbank Animal Shelter (818) 238-3340 and leave a message — and then follow-up in person to file an official lost pet report.

Burbank buzzing over that bonus pay report 

 For months the City Attorney’s Office, with the support of the  city council majority and City Manager Mike Flad, fought the release of this data.  The Los Angeles Times/Burbank Leader sued to get access to the information.  On May 20, 2011, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge ordered the city of Burbank to turn over the merit bonus data to the newspaper.

Last December, I joined the newspaper in requesting this bonus data  by delivering a written public records request to the City Attorney’s Office. I haven’t seen the report yet –  but others have studied it. The Semichorus blog had a report last Friday.  The Leader had a story about the merit pay for city employees on the same day and a more extensive report yesterday.

The Leader reports city employees have received $4 million in merit pay from 2007-2011.  Burbank Water and Power General Manager, Ron Davis, reportedly got $79,000 in bonuses during that period . You might remember, Davis and his executive crew at BWP got raises after city officials jacked up utility rates last summer. Davis is fleecing the taxpayers with the approval of the city council majority. Last year, Davis’ salary topped out at $263,028. 

By the way, not only did city officials squander thousands of taxpayer dollars on fighting the newspaper lawsuit – now the city of Burbank has to pay legal fees for the L.A. Times/Burbank Leader, which are at least $37,000. Could that money, along with those bonus millions, have been better spent? Oh yeah, on city services and programs that benefit the citizens of Burbank.

It’s Father’s Day.

Someone once said that the impression that children have of their fathers seems to change as they grow older.

According to them, the image of a father changes over time as follows:

4 years old — Dad can do anything.

7 years old —Dad really knows about lots of things.

8 years old — Who is higher, my dad or my teacher?

12 years old — Dad is ignorant of a lot of things.

14 years old — My father? There is a generation gap between him and me.

25 years old — Although I can understand my father… the older generation is past its prime.

30 years old — There is some truth in what you say, Father. But…

40 years old — Honey, let’s get my father’s opinion on this before we make a decision.

50 years old — My father was a respectable man.

60 years old — I would definitely go to him for advice if he were still alive.

What do you think?

There is an adage that many fathers hate to hear. It is the one that says, “The best way to teach children is to be a good example.”

Perhaps they hate to hear this because even though they try to help their kids lead good lives, giving them advice and telling them what to do, they have failed to live their own lives by that same advice and be a good model for their children. In this respect, they may feel sorry towards their children and have conflicting personal thoughts.

How about you?

Do you ever feel this way?

It’s Father’s Day.
If you are a father, I hope that on this day you will be able to relax and feel comfortable as a father.

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Helpful tips for your everyday life

Janie Barcus of Parsons, KS saves money on trash bags by reusing the plastic bags from the dry cleaners. She just ties a knot in the end where the hanger goes through, then uses the bag as a trash can liner.

“A couple of dry cleaning items per month adds up to a box of trash bags per year-for free!”

– From USA Weekend

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: Pete Souza/White House -- President Obama paused after placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA May 30, 2011

President Barack Obama:

“Our nation owes a debt to its fallen heroes that we can never fully repay.  But we can honor their sacrifice, and we must.  We must honor it in our own lives by holding their memories close to our hearts, and heeding the example they set.  And we must honor it as a nation by keeping our sacred trust with all who wear America’s uniform, and the families who love them; by never giving up the search for those who’ve gone missing under our country’s flag or are held as prisoners of war; by serving our patriots as well as they serve us — from the moment they enter the military, to the moment they leave it, to the moment they are laid to rest.”

More of Obama’s speech here on the White House Blog.

Enjoy the day, but remember those who gave their all for the red, white, and blue.

Bob Frutos plans to stay involved in city matters

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- A smiling Bob Frutos says thank you to his supporters for his city council campaign at Caminiti's Restaurant on West Burbank Boulevard in Burbank April 14, 2011

Bob Frutos lost on two fronts recently: a city council seat in a very tight race with Emily Gabel-Luddy and last week, the city council-majority (including Gabel-Luddy) refused to re-appoint him to the Burbank Police Commission.  Nevertheless, Frutos is still smiling and touting the need for change in Burbank.

Frutos provided some details for his sunny viewpoint  in answers to a couple of e-mail questions I sent him over the weekend:

1. Change was at the heart of your city council campaign. You still embraced change even when you were not re-appointed to the Burbank Police Commission this past week. Why do you feel change is so important for Burbank?

I proudly campaigned on positive change for Burbank in the recent election. I continue to believe that such change is a must for our community. Even though I now find myself officially off the Burbank Police Commission, I will continue to be interested and involved in public-safety matters, and always available to help the City Council or Commission in any way I can. In the final analysis, change is always important for people, for a city, for any society. It is through change and growth that we better ourselves and our community, and make a lasting positive difference in the lives of our friends and neighbors. I will continue to be a agent of change in Burbank.

2. What are your future plans? Will you get involved in Burbank city government/politics anytime soon?

I plan to be actively involved in the future and improvement of Burbank. I am thinking about trying again for the city council race in the March 2013, election. I feel I have much to contribute to the City I love and the people who make it such a fine place to live in, work, and raise families. I am always prepared to lend my expertise and experience to resolve any municipal problems, if called upon before that election. I am staying involved because this is my home, and I want to make a positive difference.

I’m hearing there are at least two other potential city council candidates waiting in the wings. More on that later.

More drama on the police commission

The city council replaced Frutos on the police commission with new arrival to the city, Richard Warmack, who has a lengthy law enforcement and military resume — but what does he know about Burbank, its problems, especially the police mess?

Police commissioners Hagop Hergelian and Nathan Rubinfeld were re-appointed. Also, the city council decided to delay the matter of whether to remove Police Commissioner, Jim Etter, until new member, Gabel-Luddy, could look at city council meeting videotapes from last fall.

Etter’s removal is being pushed by Vice-Mayor Dave Golonski and his friend, tenant or whatever, Brett Loutensock, who shows up at City Hall only to trash Etter.  Last Tuesday, the council gave the impression that Etter’s removal was being considered for a remark he made that was clearly in jest at a city council meeting last fall. The council members at the time did not get outraged by it.

 Oh, Council member Gary Bric made a similar type remark in jest at the same meeting – to make a point– during the discussion of the sidewalk controversy. No one is trying to boot him from the council because of it.

I’ll say it again, there’s a long running nasty feud between Golonski and the Etter family. Last Tuesday, Golonski claimed he saw Jim Etter in court. If that’s the case, I doubt it was because both had been called to serve on jury duty at the same time. I’m told it started with Etter’s brother Bob, who is deceased — but the feud lives on.

Since the council majority seems to be in the dark about the feud, which is well-known by long-time Burbankers, why not have their attorney investigative unit do a probe?  In a short time that unit  most likely would track down a ton of evidence of this feud.

Bottom line, Golonski has a conflict. He should not be allowed to vote on the Jim Etter matter. The city council-majority should have the courage to tell him so.

Police cases and lawsuits  

Ex-Burbank Police officer Omar Rodriguez’s state case of discrimination and retaliation was dismissed last Friday. Meanwhile, the powerful law firm, Brown, White, and Newhouse reportedly has taken on Rodriguez as a client and has filed a wrongful termination lawsuit in Federal court. Members of the firm include former AUSAs (Assistant U.S. Attorneys) and a retired Federal judge.

Memorial Day events at Valhalla Memorial Park

The long Memorial Day weekend is coming. On Friday, May 27, the Boy Scouts and Ventura Crew 201, along with the American Legion Post  150, plan to place 25 hundred flags on the graves of veterans, to kick-off the Memorial Day weekend events.

The flag laying will be at the Valhalla Memorial Park in the veterans section, 10621 Victory Boulevard, on the border of Burbank and North Hollywood, at 5 p.m.  There will be a ceremony as well. The public is invited.

On May 30, Memorial Day, there will be another ceremony to honor the nation’s war dead at Valhalla Memorial Park. Time: 10 a.m. This event is open to the public as well.

Don’t expect a sunny and warm Mother’s Day in Media City. The forecast is calling for drizzle, patchy clouds, and fog late tonight with more of the same dreary weather on Sunday. There’s a 20 percent change of rain, so it might be a good idea to take along an umbrella to those Mother’s Day events.

The high is expected to be around 60 tomorrow and it’s going to be a little breezy in the afternoon.