The sun is going to be roasting Burbank again today. I made the mistake of going to the Downtown Post Office on East Olive Avenue at around 4:15 yesterday afternoon. If you thought it was sticky hot outside — well, it was more so inside that historic old building without air conditioning!!!

Postal workers and customers were sweating in what felt like an oven. There were some fans going behind the counter — so the employees had it a little bit better than those us stuck standing out front in line for 20 or 30 minutes.

Today the high is expected to be somewhere between 92 and a 101 in B-town.  Oh, and according to the forecast,  the high temps will hover in the mid-80s- to-the-90s for the rest of the week.  Stay cool and chill out when you can.

If you love the heat, the July 4th holiday weekend forecast is going to make you very happy. The temperatures are  predicted to rise up into the mid-90s here in Burbank over the next few days. Summer is here.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Burbank Police unit

New developments in that series of residential burglaries in Burbank.  Last Friday, Burbank Police announced the arrest of a suspect, 37-year-old Ericka Valladares of Los Angeles, and the recovery of some of the stolen items.

Hillside resident Yvonne Smith’s home was burglarized last December. She went down to the BPD headquarters a few days ago and “was delighted” that some of her possessions had been recovered; among them a kitchen clock, which had been in her late husband, Chuck Smith’s, family for years.

Smith says she does not know Valladares, who’s being held on $165, 000 bail. Burbank  Police say the investigation is on-going — therefore, more arrests are possible.

Burbank Shame — Golf course over needy kids

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- DeBell Golf Course and Club at 1500 East Walnut Avenue in Burbank

 This Burbank City Council is really showing its true colors and priorities. Last week, the council-majority bailed out the city’s financially-struggling DeBell Golf Club with a package deal estimated at about two million big ones. This is the same bunch of council members who have rallied around cuts in city services and will most likely be slapping residents with higher rates in city fees very soon as well.

While this council-majority supports the fat cats who have time to putter around on the 18-hole DeBell course — it has turned its back on some underprivileged kids who desperately need a few thousand dollars to go to summer camp. I first reported on the plight of these local kids and the snub they got from the Burbank City Council in a City Buzz column earlier this month.

Here’s the update I got yesterday from Burbank Coordinating Council organizer, Janet Diel: “… we did hear from 2 lovely ladies who donated some money, enough to send one child to camp. One karate studio said they would donate a class for the kids, but one class will not fill the void. Another, Golden State Gymnastics, said she would donate spaces in her daycamp for some of the children, so I am trying to book them now. Otherwise, we are still over $2,000 overspent and more bills to come.”

I got an idea. Why not set up a summer camp for these much deserving kids at DeBell golf course? There’s not much business at the golf course right now –  so that would not be a problem. Or, the council-majority could do what it should have done weeks ago, pay for these kids to go to camp somewhere else. Whatever the choice — it needs to be made soon.

B-Town weather heats up

Finally, you can ditch the jacket and umbrella. A warming trend is underway .  We’ll  still have the  patchy morning clouds  and fog  — but the sun should break-out in the afternoons — with the high in the upper 70s — maybe even mid-80s. Summer is coming.

Weather alert !!  The infamous SoCal June gloom of cloudy skies with light mist, which seems more like light rain –is going to hang around through at least the weekend. Along with the overcast skies, temperatures will be on the cool side — the highs in the upper 60s — maybe even 70 or so in B-town. The good news — we’ll probably get some sunshine and an uptick  in the temperature during the afternoon.

Actually, the weather really isn’t a concern for me. I’m glad it’s the weekend  — a time to chill out and forget the hassles and stresses of a very long week.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Woman takes a stroll through the hillside area of Burbank March 2011

 If you’re planning to go outside for some exercise or garden work or whatever this weekend, best to do it on Saturday. We’ll get less sun and more patchy clouds tomorrow, and by evening a chance of that drizzle — or light rain.

More drizzle , low clouds, and fog in the forecast for Sunday through Tuesday. Mild temperatures with highs in the 60s and 70s, too.  Great weather for the growing things here in the Media City.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Burbank in bloom 2011

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Burbank in bloom 2011

It doesn’t look nor feel very spring-like in B-town today. The high will creep up from the 50s to only the mid-60′s. The forecast is for rain off and on today — through tomorrow. We’ve got cloudy skies and windy conditions as well. Oh, yes the sun will make a few appearance, but keep that umbrella handy.

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.

UPDATE:  At 11 a.m. it was 82 in Burbank.

Get out the sunglasses. It’s going to be sunny and hot in B-town. Yesterday, the thermometer reached 86. Today it could soar to 90!  The winds should die down and the skies will be clear.  A hot Tuesday in May. A hint of what’s coming in the summer.

The heat is on in Burbank today. The temps have been creeping up since Monday. Yesterday’s high was 82.  Today the high is expected to reach 90 degrees! Like yesterday it will be breezy at times — but mostly just hot and sunny.

Some dramatic swings in the weather lately. On Easter Sunday, we got light April showers in the morning and cool temps most of the day. Now, we’re dealing with high temps and windy conditions. Despite all the changes, the plants and flowers seem to be thriving well in this capricious spring.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Burbank in bloom spring 2011

A chance of rain tonight and on Easter Sunday. We had mostly cloud skies with some periods of sunshine today in the Media City. There’s a 20 percent chance of rain tonight and on Sunday.

 You’ll have to dress warmly on Easter with the high expected only in the upper 60s — maybe  low 70s. Go ahead, wear an Easter hat, but you might want to take along an umbrella for some cloudy skies that could let loose with some light showers.

HAPPY EASTER!!!

Hot temperatures and tons of sunshine in Burbank today. Bring it on!  No rain this weekend just plenty of gorgeous this-is-why-we-live in Southern California weather. At around 9 a.m. this morning, it was already 73 degrees in B-town. The high is expected to reach into the 90s. The weather forecast includes the possibility of some winds, 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. 

Tomorrow, the temps should drop down into the 80s. Over all, a terrific SoCal get-out-and-do-it weekend.

What a difference a week makes. Today B-town is sizzling with the high expected to reach into the 90s.  At 11 a.m. here in Burbank it was already 82 degrees.  Last Thursday, we were getting dumped on by another cold rainstorm.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Magnolia Boulevard bridge over the 5 freeway in Burbank. For a while a section of the right eastbound lane had to be closed due to work by a repair crew. March 22, 2011

On Tuesday, March 22, Burbank city and Los Angeles County crews were scrambling to complete projects and repairs ahead of another approaching rainstorm. One of the repair jobs was on the Magnolia Boulevard bridge near the eastbound lanes.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Los Angeles County workers repaired damage on Magnolia Boulevard bridge March 22, 2011

The county crew did some cement work and painting on the railing. Burbank Public Works Director, Bonnie Teaford, says the county handles this type of repair: “… we contract with them for bridge inspections and repairs since we don’t have in-house capabilities for that.”

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Los Angeles County crew at work on a section of the Magnolia Boulevard bridge March 22, 2011

The weather watchers are predicting another sunny day tomorrow –with a high in the 80s. However, cloudy skies and  a 20 percent chance of rain are in the forecast for the weekend.

Tree talk in B-town

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- A tree lined street in the hillside area of Burbank

Burbank is one of only two communities in the state designated as a Tree City USA recipient by the National Arbor Day Foundation. The other is Sacramento. It’s the 34th consecutive year Burbank has received the honor. “This national recognition acknowledges Burbank’s commitment to its community forest,” according to a news release sent out last week by City Hall. 

The city has proclaimed March as Arbor Month. Last Wednesday, at the Arbor Day ceremony in Miller School park a symbolic tree was planted “.. as a living testimonial of everyone’s commitment to the beautification of the City of Burbank through the planting and maintenance of all trees throughout the City.” the release says.

A second Arbor Month ceremony was held on Thursday, March, 24 as part of the Plant-a Tree ceremony. The program reportedly has received $1,500 from donors and that money will go toward planting new trees in McCambridge Park.  This reforesting effort is necessary at the park because so many trees were lost in the recent rainstorms. This brings up a couple of issues.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Two aging stone pine trees on Bethany Road between Glenoaks Boulevard and Third Street in Burbank

Two giant stone pine trees remain in the center of a stretch of Bethany Road. On Sunday, March 20, in the middle of a vicious storm, a third old pine, in the same area, toppled into an apartment building.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Workmen survey the damage to an apartment balcony caused by a toppled tree on Bethany Road in Burbank March 22, 2011

A parked truck was damaged, along with a section of manager Ben Cantu’s balcony at the Bethany Towers Apartments. Cantu thinks at least one of the nearby giant pine trees is  on the brink of collapse. And he could be right. Officials should not wait until the older trees get knocked down in a storm to replace them. For safety and practical reasons, it makes more sense to gradually take out the old trees and replant new ones. Less change to the environment, while ensuring big shady trees will be here in Burbank for future generations to appreciate.

I’ve heard many of the city trees aren’t trimmed as often as they should be due to budget restrictions. Also, as reported in this blog  back on March 16, some of our healthy big trees  are in danger of being chopped down because of root problems in the sewer lines.

Maintenance is just as important as planting trees. Preserving the trees we have in the city should be a high priority permanent item in the budget.  

Spring has finally sprung

Bees and hummingbirds are buzzing the gardens, yards, and fields of the Media City. Spring is finally here. It’s beginning to feel like springtime as well. The high today around 75.  Tomorrow, the temperature will top out in the 80s.  Thursday’s  high could reach 90 in Burbank!!!

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Plants and flowers bloom on a hillside in Burbank March 2011

More rain overnight in Burbank and a 30 percent chance of shower activity today. March 2011 has turned out to be a pretty wet month for the Southland. The relentless storms have battered the roads and frayed the nerves of commuters — but left the local hillsides green and the flowers and plants blooming in Burbank. And that’s a lovely sight to see.

Photo: David Cantu/freelance photographer -- Last Sunday's storm was too much for a massive stone pine tree which fell onto an apartment building on Bethany Road in Burbank March 21, 2011

The first in yet another series of storms is rolling through Burbank this evening, increasing the concerns that more trees will topple. Several trees were knocked down by last weekend’s treacherous storm, one of the casualties, a graceful giant at Third Street and Bethany Road.

Photo: David Cantu/freelance photographer -- A downed tree on Bethany Road damaged an apartment building and a parked truck March 20,2011

The building manager, Ben Cantu, says the huge stone pine took the fall at about 4:45 p.m., last Sunday, March 20. Cantu believes the storm was only partly to blame: “… one of the most beautiful trees in Burbank fell victim to high winds and top heavy growth.”

Cantu, whose first floor balcony was damaged,  says that when the tree smashed into the Bethany Towers: “It shook the entire building so much that tenants believed that an earthquake had occurred.” One apartment dweller, Tammy Folkes, reportedly called a friend across town to see if “she had felt the quake.”

Photo: David Cantu/freelance photographer -- A section of that downed tree on Bethany Road in Burbank crushed a parked truck March 21, 2011

Tenant, Dean Benavidez, got whacked twice by the fallen tree. It crushed his truck. Benavidez reportedly was “mostly upset that he had just bought new tires for his work truck.” Also, the toppled tree cracked one of the windows in Benavidez’s apartment — that was the easiest repair job of several that needed to be done.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- On Monday forestry crews chopped the fallen pine tree into a ton of heavy logs, which were carted away leaving behind a huge stump and some smaller wood pieces March 22, 2011

On Monday, forestry crews removed most of that huge tree from the street. Tuesday, a construction crew began the clean-up and repair work on the  damaged  apartment balcony.  

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Construction workers demolished a section of an apartment balcony damaged by a fallen tree on Bethany Road March 22, 2011

Also, on Tuesday afternoon gas company workers came by to fix a leak — also, blamed on the collapsed tree. Cantu says the Burbank Fire Department turned off the gas to the line linked to the stoves in the apartment building on Sunday. So for two days, tenants were not able to cook in their units.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Worker for the gas company repaired a gas line damaged by a fallen tree on Bethany Road in Burbank March 22, 2011

Traffic is back to normal along that section of Bethany Road, between Glenoaks Boulevard and Third Street. There will most likely be some delays later on when the big tree stump is removed. Jan Bartolo of Park, Recreation and Community Services, says that will probably happen sometime in the next month.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- All that remains of a fallen giant stone pine tree is a big stump and a few scattered wood pieces on Bethany Road in Burbank March 22, 2011

Bartolo explained the stone pine that collapsed “… was an older tree, however the severity of the storm played an important role in its failure.” Should residents be concerned about the other giant trees in that section of Bethany Road? Bartolo says the city is keeping a close watch on those trees: ”While it is impossible to predict tree failures, we have taken every necessary precaution with our Certified Arborist inspections performed on the trees since the storm to assess their current condition.  At this time, our arborists feel that the trees are in stable condition with a good root structure and at this time no expectation of any other failures are anticipated.”

After morning showers, the sun came out in Burbank today. Don’t get fooled and ditch that umbrella, the vicious storm system that beat the heck out of the Southland yesterday – is not done yet.

There’s a 20 percent chance of  more rain today — and thunderstorms that could produce hail! It will be breezy, but not like the strong winds we got yesterday. The high will reach only in the 50s here in the Media City.  The weather picture is improving — slowly.

Burbank and the rest of the Southland is getting hammered by a major storm system this afternoon. The rain is coming down in sheets. Powerful winds are whipping through the area.

The National Weather Service says rain is falling at a quarter to a half an inch an hour and that could increase to an inch per hour by nightfall. The NWS has issued a flood advisory for small streams and roadways. Also, there is the chance of mud and rock slides on roadways as well.

A flash flood watch remains in effect for the nearby station fire burn areas, where the potential for flooding and debris flows are a serious concern.

A lot rain falling in Burbank this morning. Just before 9 a.m. lightning flashed across the sky, followed by rumbling thunder in B-town. The calendar says it’s the first day of spring. It still feels like winter. This Pacific storm is pounding the entire Southland and is expected to continue the assault through tonight.

This storm is packing winds 15-to-30 mph with some gusts reaching 45 mph. Also, it’s cold outside. The high in the Media City — only in the 50s.  The weather is pretty nasty out there, so drive with extra care.

As predicted, light rain began falling in Burbank early this morning. This late winter storm arrives with a full payload — some bouts of heavy rain, cold temps, and breezy conditions. Weather watchers are saying this storm will linger in the Southland – probably for several days. So get out the umbrellas, jackets, and boots again.

National weather service graphic -- Tsunami warning red, advisory orange, watch yellow, and information only green March 11, 2011

In the aftermath of that massive 8.9 earthquake in Japan, a Tsunami is rolling across the Pacific today. Waves have hit Hawaii and are now splashing up on the coast of Southern California. The Los Angeles Times website has extensive coverage — including photos and video.