Daily Archives: May 11, 2012

Burroughs Beats Burbank, Both Teams Make Playoffs

Leave a reply

Senior pitcher Luis Pereya saved the best outing of his high school career for his final regular season game.

Perhaps it was the electrifying atomosphere of the Burbank-Burroughs rivalry, or playing against a group of kids he had known most of his life. Or maybe it was knowing that he could eliminate that same group from a shot at the Pacific League championship.

Burroughs pitcher Luis Pereya went the distance vs Burbank High in a 2-0 win. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Most importantly, a win would save his Indians from having to play a one game play-in game against Pasadena tomorrow morning for the final automatic spot in the CIF Southern Section playoffs and would clinch a trip to the postseason for Burroughs.

If Pereya is being honest the answer was “D. All of the Above.”

Pereya delivered a three-hit, complete game shutout and struck out nine as the Indians topped the Bulldogs, 2-0, in a Pacific League game at Burbank, Friday May 11.

“I’m proud of him, but really I am proud of all the guys for stepping up in a big game,” coach Kiel Holmes said after seeing his team clinch a playoff spot in his first season as a varsity coach. With the win Burroughs finishes fourth in league at 12-13 overall and 9-5 in Pacific play.

Photo By Ross A. Benson

Burbank, who needed a win against the Indians and a Arcadia win over Crescenta Valley to earn a share of the league title, got neither and finished in a second place tie at 10-4 with the Apaches. CV reclaimed the league title, beating Arcadia 7-0 on May 11 as well.

It is a huge step forward for both local programs after the Indians and Bulldogs missed the playoffs last season. It is a crushing finish for Arcadia who was 10-0 and heading to a fourth straight league title before dropping its final four games. The Apaches had a 41-game winstreak in league snapped by Burbank on Tuesday, May 1 and then fell to Burroughs seven days later.

Pereya’s efforts outshined another fine effort from Burbank southpaw Daniel Starkand, who threw seven innings and surrendered the two runs on seven hits. He threw 93 pitches including 65 for strikes and allowed  only a pair of runs in the third inning.

Burbank High's Daniel Starkand pitching vs Burroughs. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

The Indians Ryan Gordon doubled just below the scoreboard in right-centerfield to lead off the inning and scored on a Chris Davies single. Brian Pozos was walked with the bases loaded to score the other run for Burroughs when Starkand had a rare moment wildness.

The senior entered the contest with a streak of 46 consecutive scoreless innings and cruised through the first two innings before surrendering the runs in the third.

Burbank had only three hits in the game, all singles by Ian McKinnon, Ricky Perez and Angel Roman — Roman and Perez were one-time Indians before transferring to Burbank.

Both teams will find out who they draw in the opening wild card round of the playoffs by lunch time Monday, May 14. Given the relatively weak showing of the league in recent playoffs, there is a strong probability both teams will be on the road Tuesday.

 

Police Searching Verdugo Mountains For Critical Missing Person

Leave a reply

Have you seen this man?

Police are conducting a search for a “citical missing person” who may have walked up into the Verdugo Mountains, as concern grows for his safety.

According to the Burbank Police Department, the unidentified 35 year-old man was last seen in his residence in the 1700 block of Scott Rd. on Thursday evening.  He was reported missing this morning shortly after 7 a.m.  An initial investigation revealed that he is despondent and possibly suicidal.  A handgun is missing from his residence.  They believe he may be on foot somewhere in the mountains above the city.

The unidentified man is described as White, 6 feet tall, 160 lbs., with brown eyes and receding brown hair.  He wears prescription glasses.  What he was wearing when he went missing is unknown.  Police are only concerned for the man’s well being.  There is no indication that he is, or has been, involved in any criminal activity.

Law enforcement personnel are actively searching for the man in the hillside area, so they are asking that the public remain clear of the area to facilitate the ongoing search efforts.  If you have any information about the man’s whereabouts, please call the Burbank Police Department at 818-238-3000.

Schiff Introduces Legislation to Protect Facebook Passwords from Prospective Employers

Leave a reply

This week, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) helped introduce the Password Protection Act Of 2012, legislation aimed at curbing the growing practice of employers requiring prospective or current employees to provide access to password-protected accounts as a condition for employment. According to news reports across the country, this is a cause of great concern especially among students set to graduate college this month. Schiff introduced the bill with eleven other co-sponsors led by Reps. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Ed Perlmutter (D-CO).
“This common sense legislation would prevent employers from mandating that job applicants or current employees disclose confidential passwords to their social networks, like Facebook. Someone’s personal page should be just that – personal,”said Schiff. “These online pages are a modern version of the diary, and people should be free to share their digital diaries or keep them completely private – as they choose. But job applicants should not be required to turn over their passwords and have their privacy violated in order to secure employment. Especially in this tough economic environment, we should be removing impediments for job seekers, not creating them.

 

“Earlier this year, I was proud to support an amendment that would have accomplished these goals as well, but it was unfortunately voted down on the House floor. I will continue to support privacy protections like this one.”

 

Recent news reports have highlighted a disturbing increase in the number of employers asking prospective employees to hand over usernames and passwords to their personal accounts on websites like Facebook. Some job applicants are even being asked during interviews to log into these websites and allow interviewers to browse the applicant’s profile, acquaintances, and other information. Others are being asked to provide passwords on job applications.

 

The Password Protection Act of 2012 enhances current law to prohibit employers from compelling or coercing employees into providing access to their private accounts:

 

  • Prohibits an employer from forcing prospective or current employees to provide access to their own private account as a condition of employment.

 

  • Prohibits employers from discriminating or retaliating against a prospective or current employee because that employee refuses to provide access to a password-protected account.

 

  • The Password Protection Act only prohibits adverse employment related actions as a consequence of an employee’s failure to provide access to their own private accounts. It preserves the rights of employers to:

 

o   Permit social networking within the office on a voluntary basis.

o   Set policies for employer-operated computer systems.

o   Hold employees accountable for stealing data from their employers.

o   Employers that violate the Password Protection Act may face financial penalties.

Arts Commission Unveils It’s New Website

Leave a reply

The Burbank Cultural Arts Commission unveils its website Burbankarts.com on Wednesday evening at Woodbury University. The commission’s chairman says the new site is interactive, features more than 50 arts venues and will be of special help to out-of-town visitors.

 

By Joyce Rudolph
BurbankNBeyond

 

Burbank now has a website that is all entertainment all the time.

Photo By Deborah Dodge

Arts enthusiasts joined the city’s Cultural Arts Commission to launch the commission’s yearlong project Burbankarts.com on Wednesday evening in the Fletcher Jones Foundation Auditorium at Woodbury University.

“This is the culmination of the commission’s vision for an interactive arts website to promote the arts in Burbank, said Lynda Willner, commission chairman. “The web designer, the Pickle Group, translated it perfectly. ”

The website will encourage a closer collaboration among artists and their audiences, and will promote every form of creativity and imagination, Willner added.

The site lists more than 50 cultural venues for dance, media, literature, music, theater, visual arts and museum exhibitions, as well as the various prominent arts groups in Burbank, Willner said.

There is also Dining Plus page that lists restaurants that are tied to entertainment like music, dinner theater or comedy~like Flapper’s. In addition, the calendar helps anybody visiting Burbank find out what’s going on and where.

Photo By Deborah Dodge

“It is really a vibrant and robust arts website,” Willner said. “It’s also colorful and draws you in and makes the user want to know more.”

It lists information on arts education programs and allows art-lovers to post events or sign up for the Cultural Arts e-newsletter.

Emily Gabel-Luddy said the new website will be a tremendous asset to those seeking entertainment venues in a community that is the media capital of the world.

“The website is a portal to our community’s theaters, museums, exhibits, performances, recitals and festivals, ” she said. “Lynda Willner’s quote was perfect. She said ‘the presence of a thriving arts community is fundamental to our humanity.’ ”

And the arts, especially live theater, provides a brief escape from the stress of life, Gabel-Luddy added.

“It transports us from the present to a different world. It’s like a mental vacation,” she said.

Motorcycle Accident Has Motorcycle Trying to Leave Scene of Accident

Leave a reply

Burbank Paramedics check out this male that was riding his motorcycle and crashed at Lima and the bike ended up at Hollywood Way. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Burbank Police and Fire units received a call around 11 pm Thursday night of a motorcycle accident involving a motorcycle.  Upon arriving at scene, they were unable at first to find any problems and started to patrol the area.  They then came across a man down with a slight leg injury who had reported that he had been on a motorcycle.  After a further search of the area, the motorcycle was then found two blocks farther down the street with the only damage being a broken mirror when the bike fell over.  The man was treated for minor injuries and did not say how he and the motorcycle had parted ways.

This motorcycle went riderless for over 1000 feet or 2 city blocks. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Overturned Car on Glenoaks Snarls Rush Hour Traffic

Leave a reply

A car traveling down Glenoaks veered off to the side and hit another parked vehicle, overturning during late rush hour traffic Thursday night.  The accident occurred in front of the Burbank High football field with many in the area.  The driver of the car was able to exit the vehicle and was uninjured and it is unclear why the driver was distracted and lost control of the car – Burbank police are investigating.

Burbank Police investigate this overturned auto accident that occurred on Glenoaks Blvd. & Fairmount, leaving no one injured no even with a scratch. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Golonski Starts Out Year With Annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast

Leave a reply

Religious and service groups combine to bring 37th annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast to community. Mayor Dave Golonski thanks those attending for keeping the city of Burbank strong, healthy and vibrant.  Former pro-football quarterback Jay Schroeder tells audience to find their God-given ability and use it!

 

By Joyce Rudolph
BurbankNBeyond

 

Mayor Dave Golonski thanked those attending Thursday’s 37th Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast for continuing to share their talents and service with their community, and making Burbank a great place to live.

This year the annual breakfast drew more than 300 people to Pickwick Gardens Conference Center.

In his welcome speech, Golonski said while he was introducing someone to emcee Ross Purdy, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, he called Purdy one of the people who makes our community strong, healthy and vibrant. But Golonski realized that that was a common trait of everyone in the room.

“We have a whole lot of people helping pray for our kids, our schools, our city, our churches and it takes everybody pulling together to make that happen and that’s the key that makes Burbank great, we’re not perfect but we try hard, and for that I want to thank you,” he said.

Golonski then gave the Scripture reading from Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV).

Speaking at this years Mayor's Prayer Breakfast is Jay Schroeder former NFL football player as Pastor Ross Purdy & Mayor Dave Golonski listen in. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Guest speaker Jay Schroeder, a resident of Burbank and head football coach at Village Christian School, talked about his baseball and football career and life challenges after that career. He was the quarterback for the Washington Redskins and Los Angeles Raiders. He also was drafted third overall by the Toronto Bluejays and the 1979 major league baseball draft. While playing minor league baseball he was quarterback for UCLA. He threw what is known as the immaculate reception to Freeman McNeil and UCLA went on to beat USC in 1998.

“You are looking at a guy athletically who did things nobody else did,” Schroeder said.  “I tell you that with a lot of humility.. the good Lord gave me the ability to throw things.”

He asked the audience to look inside themselves to find that God-given talent and use it.

Former Burbank Mayor Jess Talamantes a big NFL fan came prepared with his own football to get autographed by Jay Schroeder. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

The breakfast is a team effort and this year chairman Darrell Taylor was assisted by his father Glenn Taylor, who serves as treasurer; and Bill Bertrand, E. Paul Brodsky, David Carletta, Debbie Kukta, Patrick Patterson, Ross Purdy, Carole Stavert, Herb Vincent, Joe Volpi and Jim Woodburn.

Sponsoring club presidents were Terry Scott, Optimist; Glenn Taylor, Masters Men; Harvey Branman, Noon Kiwanis; Jonathan Taylor, Noon Rotary; and Rodney Gregson, Sunrise Rotary.

Special acknowledgement was made to the Chamber of Commerce for ticket sales; Pickwick Banquet Center and the Stavert Family; and Patterson Graphics for design and printing needs.

Also contributing were Wade Mikels, pastor of Village Church, providing the invocation; Burbank High School Key Club, leading the flag salute; John Muir Middle School choir, led by director Margo Miller, singing special music; Tom Konjoyan, Village Schools headmaster; and JC Holt, providing the benediction.

The annual breakfast is modeled after the Presidential Prayer

Breakfast that has been held each year since 1952 in Washington, D.C.

Special music was provided by John Muir Middle School Choir under the Direction of Margo Miller. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)