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Photo: FLLewis / Media City G -- Kaili Larssen Burbank mother/ Boys & Girls Clubs of Burbank & Greater East Valley fundraiser at Handy Market in Burbank May 7, 2016

Shout out to a Burbank mom on Mother’s Day

By Fronnie Lewis on Sunday, May 8, 2016

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms, especially working mothers like Burbank resident, Kaili Larssen. Yesterday, Larssen was sitting out in the chilly morning under threatening skies in front of Handy Market 2514 West Magnolia Boulevard in Burbank. While some moms were being honored with pampering treatments like a trip to the day spa, or preparing for special engagements with family and friends, or just taking it easy, Larssen was trying to raise funds for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Burbank & Greater East Valley. Larssen didn’t mind the... Read More →

Tags: books, Boys & Girls Clubs of Burbank & Greater East Valley, Burbank, holidays, Mother's Day, Shout-outs and Call-outs

Photo: FLLewis / Media City G -- Some of the Holiday Baskets delivered to needy families in Burbank December 12, 2015

550 Holiday Baskets delivered, more than 100 bikes needed

By Fronnie Lewis on Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Around 550 families are enjoying some holiday cheer thanks to a huge effort by hundreds of volunteers in Burbank. Last Saturday from a staging area at George Washington Elementary School over on North Lincoln Street, weeks of food collection and donations culminated with the delivered of Holiday Baskets to eligible families with children. Earlier this week at the Burbank City Council meeting, Janet Diel, president of the Burbank Coordinating Council, updated the community on the annual program. Most of the baskets, which are actually groups of bags, packages, boxes,... Read More →

Tags: bicycles, Burbank, Burbank City Council, Burbank Coordinating Council, Christmas, Holiday Basket Program, volunteers

red and gray bicycle

Bikes urgently needed for Burbank Holiday Basket Program

By Fronnie Lewis on Monday, December 7, 2015

An urgent call went out in Burbank today for 150 bicycles for some hopeful kids. Former Burbank City Council member/volunteer, Dave Golonski, made the plea at today’s Burbank Coordinating Council meeting/luncheon at the Little White Chapel on North Avon Street here in B-town. During an update on the annual Holiday Basket Program, Golonski announced the BCC had received requests for 150 bicycles from parents unable to make this Christmas wish come true for their children. Golonski admitted “…we didn’t expect that kind of response.” So... Read More →

Tags: bicycles, Burbank, Burbank Coordinating Council, donations, Holiday Basket Program

Food Drive graphic

Holiday Baskets food drive in Burbank tomorrow

By Fronnie Lewis on Friday, December 4, 2015

The annual Holiday Basket Program in Burbank is heading into its final week, with a major citywide food drive tomorrow, December 5. Volunteers will be outside local grocery stores asking for food donations from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Last year over 550 needy families, including more than 2,300 individuals, received holiday gifts of mostly food, clothing, and toys from the program, according to the Burbank Coordinating Council. The organization has been the lead on the program since 1946. The aim is to share some of... Read More →

Tags: Burbank, Burbank Coordinating Council, food drive, grocery stores, Holiday Basket Program

Summer Music Soiree poster

“Summer Music Soiree” event in Burbank

By Fronnie Lewis on Sunday, July 26, 2015

A group of talented young musicians are putting on a special event for the community tomorrow night. “Summer Music Soiree” features classical music performed by Burroughs High School sophomore, Maya Paredes and freshman, Ella Jennings, Jordan Middle schooler, Eyen Paredes, and a few of their friends. The concert is free, but organizers are hoping to raise funds to benefit music education in Burbank via the nonprofit group Education Through Music – LA, with a raffle and suggested donation. The concert will be at the First Presbyterian Church at 521 East Olive... Read More →

Tags: Burbank, music, performers, students

Web Buzz: Starbucks hacked, Rihanna’s deal, and more

By Fronnie Lewis on Thursday, May 14, 2015

The Web is buzzing with reports that Starbucks has been hacked. Some U.S. customers are saying they’ve been ripped off hundreds of dollars and are blaming a Starbucks mobile app. Apparently, hackers have been able to gain access to victim’s reward cards. However, Starbucks is denying its app is the source of the hack. Details at CNBC, Starbucks ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos is in hot water for not disclosing a hefty donation to the Clintons’ charitable foundation. Stephanopoulos is now apologizing for... Read More →

Tags: ABC News, entertainers, George Stephanopoulos, indictments, jackpot.s, lottery, Mega Millions, Rihanna, Starbucks, supermodel, Web Buzz

Selma movie poster

Students offered free tickets to see Oscar-nominated “Selma”

By Fronnie Lewis on Wednesday, January 28, 2015

A movement offering more than 300, 000 free tickets to the Oscar-nominated film, “Selma,” is sweeping the country. The first of its kind program started in New York City with some African American business leaders creating a fund to send 27,000 students to see the critically acclaimed drama. The demand was so great that the fund grew to support 75,000 students.Then, the fund seriously ballooned as the movement spread to cities like Boston, Washington, D.C., Nashville, New Orleans, Dallas, Chicago, San Francisco and now the Los Angeles-Long Beach area,... Read More →

Tags: Burbank, Hollywood studios, movies, Oscars, Paramount, Southland, students, theaters, tickets

Photo: FLLewis / Media City G -- Burbank Coordinating Council accepts donations of gifts and check for $3,249 from Bob Hope Airport Holiday Charity Committee in Burbank December 1, 2014 . (l-r) Janet Diel, president Burbank Coordinating Council, Sherri Himelstein, Lucy Burghdorf, Rachael Warecki

Burbank Holiday Baskets Program gets major donation

By Fronnie Lewis on Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Preparations are in full swing for the annual Holiday Baskets program, which provides gifts for low-income families with children in Burbank schools. The program got a huge boost from the Bob Hope Airport Holiday Charity Committee at the Burbank Coordinating Council December first meeting last Monday. Several members of the committee, Sherri Himelstein, Lucy Burghdorf, and Rachael Warecki, showed up to donate gifts and a check for $3, 249. Burbank Coordinating Council is continuing a tradition that has been going strong for 60 years. The council partners with organizations, churches, and... Read More →

Tags: Burbank Coordinating Council, donations, Holiday Baskets Program, holidays

military clip art

Baskin-Robbins honors U.S. military with special ice cream flavor

By Fronnie Lewis on Friday, November 7, 2014

Those scoop happy folks at Baskin-Robbins are celebrating the U.S. military community all month-long with their November flavor of the month, First Class Camouflage, according to a news release. This new flavor is a combination of chocolate, salty caramel, and cake-flavored ice creams. You can order the new flavored scoops the usual way in a cup or on a cone, or you can go for a camouflage waffle cone or waffle bowl, which are decorated green, brown, and tan. If you want to really load up... Read More →

Tags: Baskin-Robbins, deals, holidays, ice cream, Veterans Day

"Ladies Night Out" September 26, 2014 poster

Last “Ladies Night Out” of 2014 in Burbank tonight

By Fronnie Lewis on Friday, September 26, 2014

“Ladies Night Out” in Burbank’s Magnolia Park tonight and the theme is “Superhero September.” Come as your favorite super hero and enter the contest at the UME Credit Union at 3000 West Magnolia Boulevard. Also, they’re going to be honoring the charity superheroes — groups and organizations that help others and give back to the community. Many of the stores along this trendy boulevard of vintage shops, unique stores, and eateries have teamed up with their favorite charities. Here are some of them from a short list... Read More →

Tags: Burbank, Ladies Night Out, Magnolia Park

Burbank Fire Chief Tom Lenahan takes the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Burbank Fire Chief Tom Lenahan takes the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

By Fronnie Lewis on Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Burbank Vice-Mayor, Bob Frutos, issued the now famous ALS Ice Bucket Challenge to Burbank Fire Chief Tom Lenahan who accepted! Chief Lenahan embraced the challenge to help in the fight against Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which attacks the nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. It’s also known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.” Chief Lenahan took the ice buckets up in Wildwood Canyon Park last Monday, August 25, while drawing attention to the drought. See it here.

Tags: ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, Burbank, Burbank Fire Chief Tom Lenahan, Burbank Fire Department, Wildwood Canyon Park

Photo: Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers -- Yasiel Puig gave advice on selecting a baseball glove to a group of kids from Boyle Heights on a shopping spree at Sports Authority in Burbank June 14, 2014

Dodger star Yasiel Puig takes a busload of kids shopping in Burbank

By Fronnie Lewis on Sunday, June 15, 2014

The Sports Authority teamed up with Dodger star, Yasiel Puig, for a special event yesterday. It was a shopping spree to benefit the Lou Costello Recreation Center in Boyle Heights. Earlier this month, Puig took photos with fans to collect donations for the event. The shopping spree fund was sweetened by the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and the Wasserman Foundation. They matched the donations collected by Puig. On Saturday, around 80 kids from the recreation center were bused to the Sports Authority to take part in the... Read More →

Tags: Boyle Heights, Burbank, children, Los Angeles Dodgers, Media City, shopping spree

Burbank Police “Tip A Cop” event at Claim Jumper

By Fronnie Lewis on Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Burbank Police “Tip A Cop” event at Claim Jumper in the Media City on Thursday. Burbank police personnel will be on hand at the restaurant to act as celebrity waiters and their tips will go to the Special Olympics. “Tip-A-Cop events are one of the main fundraisers for the Law Enforcement Torch Run, which is one of the largest fundraising arms of Special Olympics,” according to the organization’s website. Also, the tips will support sports training and competition for people with developmental... Read More →

Tags: Burbank Police Department, fundraisers, restaurants, Special Olympics

coffee mug "Cowboy Reun" by Ron Howard

Director Ron Howard designs doodle mugs

By Fronnie Lewis on Saturday, March 22, 2014

Academy Award winning director, Ron Howard, is showing his artistic side in a new way. Howard has designed a collection of colorful mugs to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, which are for sale on Amazon.com . The art work for “Cowboy Rerun,” “Bar Scene, “Dragon Fly,” and “Highway USA” began as doodles Howard does while on the phone. On Amazon, he described the process: “I scribble three random lines on the back of a production memo card and then while concentrating on my conversation,... Read More →

Tags: Amazon, art, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, directors, dishes, movies, Oscars

"Terminator" movie poster

Arnold Schwarzenegger does the “Terminator” for a good cause

By Fronnie Lewis on Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Who can forget the destruction and mayhem, the former California governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, generated in the “Terminator” movies. If the idea, of hanging out with the cigar-smoking star — rolling around the Southland in a tank — and crushing things –gets your motor running — then this contest is for you. All it takes to enter is a $10 donation to Schwarzenegger ‘s charity, After- School- All- Stars. Not only do you get to hang out with the actor on his home turf for a day, but... Read More →

Tags: actors, contests, entertainers, movies

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Some of the gift bags and boxes being checked by volunteers at George Washington Elementar y School Burbank December 13, 2013

Photo Gallery: Holiday Basket Program gears up for delivery Saturday

By Fronnie Lewis on Saturday, December 14, 2013

Today is the big delivery day for the annual Holiday Basket Program — designed to provide some holiday cheer for hundreds of needy families with school age children in Burbank. A team of diligent volunteers and organizers worked for several hours late yesterday, building and stocking baskets for 600 families in the auditorium at George Washington Elementary School on North Lincoln Street in Burbank. The baskets are really colorful boxes and bags stuffed with things like personal items, clothes, toys, DVDs …etc. Food will be added to each... Read More →

Tags: Burbank, Holiday Basket Program, holidays, volunteers

Food Drive graphic

“Holiday Basket Program” food drive this Saturday: volunteers needed

By Fronnie Lewis on Thursday, December 5, 2013

It’s that time of year again. The annual “Holiday Basket Program” is in full swing and volunteers are needed to help provide a little of the Christmas cheer to some low-income families with school age children in Burbank. The Burbank Coordinating Council is the lead organizer and it gets assistance from “… churches, PTAs, studios, individuals, businesses, clubs, city offices, and the Burbank Temporary Aid Center..” according to the council’s website. At the council’s monthly meeting last Monday, long- time program supporter/ex-mayor of Burbank, Dave Golonski, gave... Read More →

Tags: Burbank Coordinating Council, food drive, Holiday Basket Program, holidays

Thanksgiving turkey clip art

Big turkey giveaway at Dodger Stadium today

By Fronnie Lewis on Thursday, November 21, 2013

A big turkey giveaway at Dodger Stadium today. Turkeys, fixings and reusable canvas bags will be handed out to “… 2,100 pre-selected not for profit community organizations who will in turn distribute them to families in need,” according to a news release from the Dodger organization. Dodger alumni “Sweet” Lou Johnson, Bobby Castillo, Matt Luke and Al Downing will be there to help with the ninth annual Community Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway. Joining the Los Angeles Dodgers in this special program, Ralphs, Food 4 Less and Golden State Water... Read More →

Tags: food giveaway, Los Angeles Dodgers, Thanksgiving

Carrie Underwood photo from www.carrieunderwoodofficial.com

Carrie Underwood donates $1 million for victims of tornadoes and other disasters

By Fronnie Lewis on Saturday, May 25, 2013

The damage estimate for a series of deadly tornadoes that barreled through the central part of the U.S. over the past few days is somewhere between $2 and $5 billion, according to a CNN report. Yes, that’s billion with a “b.” Already folks are extending a helping hand, from the regular Joe and Jane on the street to celebrities like country hit maker and “American Idol” 2005 winner, Carrie Underwood. Underwood has donated $1 million from her recent “Blown Away Tour” to the Red Cross for disaster relief... Read More →

Tags: celebrities, disasters, entertainers, Red Cross, singers, television, tornadoes

Donate to a good cause and get your script read by a Hollywood insider

By Fronnie Lewis on Friday, May 17, 2013

A great campaign with heart and a rare chance for talented screenwriters — some of them right here in the Media City. I’m talking about a twofer Hollywood style. Here’s how it works. Make a contribution to the American Heart Association and get your script read by Daniel Vang — a manager at one of Tinseltown’s top production and management firms, Benderspink. Screenwriter, Joe Nienalt, is helping out in the campaign to raise money for a Heart Walk coming up this October. Past campaigns have opened some important... Read More →

Tags: American Heart Association, Benderspink, Hollywood, management firms, screenwriters