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TPing a nuisance or a joke or a crime?

By on Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Photo by FLLewis Some pranks never really die; they just get passed onto a new generation. TPing or toilet papering is one of those pranks that is repeatedly resurrected by neighborhood kids. If you are not familiar with the term or act, here’s a brief description: TPing is when a group of young marauders swoop down, usually at night, and drape a particular property with streams of toilet paper (white is the preferred color). TPing appears to be a suburb thing. I’ve never seen twisted toilet paper hanging from... Read More →

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A time to remember

By on Saturday, July 26, 2008

A man pauses to reflect near a gravesite during the March 30 public visitation at struggling Grand View Memorial Park cemetery in Glendale. This visitor is one of the lucky ones. He managed to find the grave marker or at least the general area he was looking for despite the thick layers of wild grasses, weeds, and debris. I have been to two recent visitations at this 124-year-old neighborhood cemetery. Each time, I have spotted eager and diligent visitors cleaning the gravesites, markers, and headstones. A job that should be handled... Read More →

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Community Calendar

By on Tuesday, July 22, 2008

“The Sounds of Summer” concert series in Burbank continues on Tuesday, August 12, with America’s Premier Doo-Wop Group, The Alley Cats. Bring a picnic, bring a blanket or a lawn chair for an evening of fun. The concert kicks off at 7 p.m. at the Northwest Branch Library, 3323 West Victory Blvd. Call 818-238-5640 for more information. Contributed by Louise Paziak, Publicity Maven for the Burbank Libraries.

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Murder Abroad

By on Friday, July 18, 2008

Mystery author Bruce Cook with a fan at a book signing. Love mysteries and exotic locales, then check out this event tomorrow, July 19, at the Buena Vista Branch Library in Burbank from 2-4 p.m. A panel of mystery authors will discuss their books, as well as the fun and problems of setting their plots and crime scenes in far away places. On the panel will be Eric Stone (Grave Imports), Aileen Baron (The Gold of Thrace), Patricia Wynn (The Motive from the Deed), Gay Toltl Kinman (Death... Read More →

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Coffee & Conversation

By on Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Photo courtesy Sheila Lowe Handwriting expert and book author Sheila Lowe will be joining a panel discussion title “A Slight Case of Murder,” on Saturday, August 2 in Burbank. This event is presented by Sisters in Crime/LA, a local mystery writers’ group. Lowe has parlayed 30 plus years of experience in the handwriting field into a very successful business with clients in the judicial system as well as private industry. Also, her background came in very handy when Lowe created a mystery novel series with a sleuth named... Read More →

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New anti-smoking campaign for some Hollywood movies

By on Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Movies aimed at the younger generation will soon carry anti-smoking public service announcements when they are released on DVD. The Los Angeles-based Entertainment Industry Foundation announced a new initiative to include the special PSAs on movies that have scenes of tobacco use and are rated G, PG, and PG-13. The PSAs will appear in the opening minutes of all new youth-friendly films released by Paramount, Sony Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, Universal, the Walt Disney Company, and Warner Bros. At the end of each thirty second anti-smoking PSA there will... Read More →

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Sign of confusion

By on Tuesday, July 15, 2008

  This hands free phone sign reminder for drivers may have caused some double takes. The sign near the border of Glendale and Burbank, on San Fernando Road at Spazier Avenue, had a misspelling in the first word the first time I spotted it. Check out the photo at the top taken the week of June 23. I took more snapshots of the same sign around July 8. It appears that later the second “h” in the first word had been changed to... Read More →

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Some MySpace users can’t connect

By on Thursday, July 10, 2008

There is a glitch on the popular social network MySpace today. I was talking with a counter clerk in the Central Burbank Library this afternoon and overheard a young man complain to another clerk that the computer he was using, “was broken.” The clerk calmly asked what website he was on. “MySpace,” the man replied. He was then told the site was having problems accepting user passwords. Apparently, the problem had been going on all day. In January 2008, the Los Angeles based MySpace reported more than 110 million monthly... Read More →

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Bargain prices at popular Burbank submarine sandwich shop

By on Saturday, July 5, 2008

The American flags were out at this neighborhood eatery during the long 4th of July weekend. Many local businesses closed up shop during the long holiday weekend: not Giamela’s in Burbank. When I asked the owner, Edward Giamela, if he ever takes off. “We’re never closed.” He declared with a straight face and then smiled. “That’s a lie. We’re closed four days: Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year’s.” Giamela continue to laugh and joke as he worked making sandwiches behind the counter with three male employees on the... Read More →

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A grand-slamming day at Wimbledon

By on Saturday, July 5, 2008

A grand-slamming day at Wimbledon for home girls Serena & Venus Google photo by Kirsty Wigglesworth Serena and Venus plot strategy during the women’s doubles competition at Wimbledon. Born in South Los Angeles, the two youngest Williams sisters were introduced to tennis at an early age by their father. At one point, the young girls would regularly practice on a court at a park plagued by gang activity in Compton. That was many years ago. The sisters have come along way since those days. Today, Venus won her... Read More →

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A day to celebrate freedom of choice

By on Friday, July 4, 2008

American flags are flying all over the country including here in Glendale today. On America’s Independence Day, I celebrate freedom of choice. I went for a walk through the Burbank hillside area. I passed a home being demolished by a construction team. A number of gardening crews were out mowing lawns and blowing leaves around. The car wash at Glen Oaks Boulevard and Santa Ana Avenue was doing a brisk business. Many of the residential streets were lined with vehicles and the driveways filled — apparently a lot... Read More →

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SAG contract expires tonight at 12:01 a.m.

By on Monday, June 30, 2008

The Screen Actors Guild and the Studio reps are really under the gun now, with the SAG union contract set to expire in a matter of hours. After a weekend of bargaining, both sides reportedly returned to the negotiating table for another round this morning at AMPTP headquarters in Sherman Oaks. This is the 42nd day of negotiations, which started back in mid-April. On the SAG website today instructions were given to the rank and file. “All members should continue to report to work and to audition for... Read More →

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Oil prices skyrocketing, no relief at the pumps

By on Friday, June 27, 2008

Our money pains at the gasoline stations are apparently going to get worse. Today, oil prices hit a new record of nearly 143 dollars a barrel. This bad news comes days before the July 4th holiday week when thousands hit the roads and highways. While out and driving in Burbank, I could not help noticing a number of brand new huge SUVs still sporting dealer plates. Those drivers must have received an incredible deal to ignore the cost of keeping an SUV fueled and rolling these days. I... Read More →

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Burbank Democratic Club endorses Barack Obama for President

By on Thursday, June 26, 2008

   I dropped by the backyard cookout of the Burbank Democratic Club this evening. A spirited group of about 20 ate BBQ, sipped beverages of their choice, and discussed the state of the country and the world. And oh yes, talked a lot about politics and the upcoming general election on Tuesday, November 4, 2008.   Club President Janet Reynolds called for a vote and got a unanimous endorsement for the presumptive presidential nominee for the Democratic Party, Senator Barack Obama. Also, the group threw its support behind a... Read More →

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Grand View cemetery to be open on Sunday, June 29, 2008

By on Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Visitors to the beleaguered Glendale cemetery on Sunday, May 25, 2008, line up at a table near the gate to get information and directions. They get assistance from volunteers including plaintiff’s attorney Paul Ayers and blogger Lisa Burks. The Grand View Memorial Park cemetery hours this Sunday are from noon to 4 p.m.. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Anthony Mohr signed an order on Tuesday, June 24, granting the public visitation on June 29, as well as two more on July 13 and July 27. I got... Read More →

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Long Beach Bayou Festival

By on Monday, June 23, 2008

Rainbow Lagoon Park in Long Beach / Google file photo Also, arriving by e-mail today, a report from South Bay activist and social diva, Dee Dee Brown about a big weekend event. “Yesterday I attended the Bayou Festival @ The Rainbow Lagoon Park in Long Beach with my husband and friends. The Bayou Festival had all the trappings of a New Orleans picnic. From the food to the traditional Zydeo music. ” “… we experienced the soulful sounds of Linda Hopkins, who belted out the Blues like no other.... Read More →

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