“The students will live with Burbank host families during their twelve day stay, improving their English skills, learning about daily life in the United States, and experiencing Burbank hospitality. A full itinerary has been set to introduce them to local sights and attractions, such as a tour of Warner Bros. Studio, Universal Studios, a visit the San Fernando Mission and a tour of UCLA. The Incheon delegation will also visit the June 29 Burbank City Council meeting, tour the City of Burbank, and enjoy celebrating the 4th of July, Burbank style.

“Next summer, the Burbank Sister City Committee is anticipating sending Burbank students to visit Incheon Metropolitan City as part of their ongoing cultural exchange program. It will also be the 50th anniversary of the Sister City relationship between Burbank and Incheon.

“The Burbank Sister City Committee is a non-profit organization composed of community volunteers, dedicated to fulfilling the Committee’s mission of promoting communication, goodwill, and cultural awareness between the City of Burbank and its Designated Sister Cities. Burbank has four Sister Cities: Solna, Sweden (1960); Incheon, Korea (1961); Gaborone, Botswana (1975); and Ota, Japan (1984).” (City of Burbank)

If you had to come up with a list of your favorite Burbank spots for the students to visit, which spots would they be and why?

Photo Courtesy of Arvind Balaraman and FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The Deets:

• Gates open at 5:30 p.m.
• Entertainment from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
• Fireworks – 9:00 p.m
• Tickets: $12-$22 ($8-$18 Seniors over 60/disabled; Free for children 2 and under)
• Entertainment includes the Burbank Philharmonic and Stone Soul

Click here for tickets.

About The Burbank Philharmonic

Comprised of the finest professional musicians in Southern California, the Burbank Philharmonic Orchestra boasts gifted artists from Burbank, Pasadena, Glendale, and the greater Los Angeles area, many from an exciting pool of talent that performs regularly as studio musicians in recording sessions and on major motion picture soundtrack. The Orchestra also draws members from around the world.

About Stone Soul

Stone Soul brings you the best Classic Soul & Motown, presented with the passion, artistry and skill that the original performers brought to the stage. Hit songs from James Brown, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Otis Redding and many more are sure to please people of all ages. Stone Soul’s electric live performances have been called on to support legendary artists such as Stevie Wonder, The O’Jays, Diana Ross and BB King& Once you hear and see them you’ll swear you are part of a real, live sixties go-go! So get on the good foot and see for yourself why Stone Soul is Southern California’s Premier Classic Soul & Motown band!

Visit StarlightBowl.com for more information on their summer concert series.

Photo Courtesy of the Starlight Bowl

“On TUESDAY, JUNE 8 at 6:30 P.M., Burbank teens (6th through 12th grades) are invited to the very first TEEN COFFEEHOUSE and OPEN MIC NIGHT at the Buena Vista Library!

“We are hoping, of course, that many of you will come to PERFORM. If you would like to, please email or call Melissa at 818 238-5589 and SIGN UP. We need your NAME, your PHONE NUMBER, and your TALENT (i.e., sing/play guitar, share poetry, do magic tricks or stand-up comedy, etc.). Call or email right away! Get on the performers’ roster!

“BUT—if you’re bashful, you can still come be the AUDIENCE!!! Dress up, if you like, in beatnik style, and join us for coffee drinks and other refreshments while you are dazzled by the bravura of your talented peers!

Peter Frankman from Burroughs High School will be our guest emcee.” (Burbank Library Blog)

There are a lot of other events for teens happening this summer at Buena Vista Library. Check out what else is on the calendar:

Make Waves! Teen Summer Reading Program

The reading program takes place June 8 – July 23,^, 2010. Sign ups started this week. Entertainment! Contests! Prizes! Read to Win! Come in to any Burbank Library and sign up for summer fun.

Catch the Writing Wave Workshop

Wednesday, July 7, 3:00-5:30 p.m. A great workshop for aspiring or accomplished teen writers! Call 818 238-5589 to sign up. Located at the Buena Vista Branch Library Storytime Room.

Other Things to Remember:

• There will be DRAWINGS FOR PRIZES at all programs.
• For every book you read and enter into your READING LOG, you get a ticket for weekly prize drawings. Win Jamba Juice, Wahoo’s, and Sees Candy gift cards, AMC movie tickets and more!
• For every BOOK REVIEW you write, you get an additional ticket for those drawings…and the books you review may be included in “Burbank Teens’ Favorite Reads” book lists!
• Don’t forget to enter the OCEAN TRIVIA CONTEST—prizes for the top five participants with the correct answers!

Click here to learn more about the library’s summer activities for teens.

Photo Courtesy of Healing Dream and FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The “How To Be a Better Pet Parent” class is taught by:

• Pet first-aid expert, Denise Fleck
• Veterinarian, Dr. Liz Koskenmaki
• Obedience Trainer, Cyndy Wood

Topics to be discussed:

• Ways to keep your pets active
• Joint care prevention, injuries & stem cell therapy
• Animal massage
• Summer hazzards including first-aid for snake bites, bee stings and heat stroke
• Special guest speakers: Pam Holt, Buddha Dog Animal Massage and The Volunteers of the Burbank Animal Shelter.

Click here for the PDF version.

In other pet news, the Pasadena Human Society is offering two classes for kids this summer, July 12 – 16. Hometown Pasadena reports:

“These are great opportunities for animal-loving kids to learn, earn community service hours, and explore a possible career in animal care. The younger kids have a morning session and the older kids, an afternoon session; they’ll spend the week working with animals, learning how they communicate, doing craft projects and helping out. There’s a $100 charge for materials, and kids get 15 to 20 hours credit for community service.”

The first workshop is for 10- 12- year-olds, and the second workshop is for 13- to 14-year-olds. Both workshops take place 361 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. For more information or to download an application, visit www.pasadenahumane.org.

If you know of any other local animal events or classes, please send the info our way!

Photo of Sam Courtesy of Me

“The Burbank Tennis Center looks and feels like a desert country club, from the pinkish stucco exterior to the ring of palm trees to the sunbaked mountain backdrop (those are the Verdugos you’re seeing). A sunken tennis stadium next to the large café offers an outlet for those who like to put their prowess on display. The two clay courts and ten other hard courts have nicely shaded viewing areas (a welcome respite—it can get hot) and tournament-style scorecards, so everyone knows who’s really winning.  » 249 E. Amherst Dr., Burbank, 818-843-4105.” (Los Angeles Magazine)

About Burbank Tennis Center

The Burbank Tennis Center opened October 1, 1997, and boasts a state of the art facility for every level of play. Just blocks away from all types of dining, the AMC theatres and the “Burbank Village.” Play yards, tot-lots, BBQ areas, swimming pool, gym and basketball facility are available adjacent to the Center. Home to NBC, Disney, and Warner Bros. Studios, the Burbank Tennis Center is the latest addition to Burbank’s phenomenal growth and popularity.

I just might have to dust off my racquet and go play some tennis!

Hey, speaking of L.A. Magazine, can someone please tell them to send my subscription already? I got it as a gift for Christmas and after two issues they stopped sending it to me, saying I owe them $6 and change.  The friends who got it for me called them to get things squared away and still nothing. L.A. Magazine, I love you. Don’t let me down!

Photo Courtesy of Carlos Porto and FreeDigitalPhotos.net

“I am deeply honored to serve as Mayor of such a wonderful community,” says Reinke. “Burbank has a rich history and I look forward to celebrating our successes together in the coming year as we mark Burbank’s Centennial in 2011.”

Mayor Anja Reinke is a champion of community. She brings more than 30 years of experience as a Burbank citizen to the council. Over the years, she has worked with the Burbank Boulevard Merchants Association, Mayor’s Youth Task Force, Magnolia Park Community Advisory Committee, Domestic Violence Task Force, Environmental Oversight Committee, Traffic Infrastructure and Cultural Arts Committees. She currently serves as council liaison to the Burbank Police Commission.

Mayor Reinke is owner of the Law Offices of Anja Reinke and AMR Real Estate Services. She earned her B.A. in Music (Voice Performance) from California State University at Los Angeles and her Juris Doctor degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. She is married to her husband Charles and they have two daughters.

Also at last week’s meeting, Council Member Jess Talamantes was elected Vice Mayor. He worked as a Burbank firefighter for 32 years before being elected to council in 2009.

Vice Mayor Talamantes has served on numerous committees including the Jordan Middle School/Burbank High/John Burroughs High Oversight Committee, Traffic Infrastructure Subcommittee, Youth Task Force and as liaison to the Valley Economic Alliance. He is past chair of the Park, Recreation, and Community Services Board and Youth Endowment Services Fund Committee. Vice Mayor Talamantes is currently serving on the L.A. County Commission on Local Governmental Services.

Each year, the Mayor and Vice-Mayor are chosen from among the five Burbank council members and rotate on an annual basis.

Photo Courtesy of The City of Burbank

• Email a photo of you, someone or something ‘Caught Reading ’
• beginning May 1 and ending on May 31
• with our Burbank Library Card in the photo
• and a description of the photo: Who, What, When and Where

Email your photo to bbyrne@ci.burbank.ca.us.

All the photos will be posted on the Burbank Library blog and on Flickr. Post a Comment and Vote for your favorite photo. Winner will receive a Dark Delicacies Gift Certificate.

About Get Caught Reading Month

Get Caught Reading is a nationwide campaign to remind people of all ages how much fun it is to read. May is Get Caught Reading month, but the campaign is promoted throughout the year. Get Caught Reading is supported by the Association of American Publishers (AAP). Launched in 1999, “Get Caught Reading” is the brainchild of former Congresswoman Pat Schroeder, President and Chief Executive Officer of AAP, the industry association representing book publishers. She saw the opportunity to spread the word about the joys of reading through an industry-supported literacy campaign.

Because of research indicating that early language experience actually stimulates a child’s brain to grow and that reading to children gives them a huge advantage when they start school, we hope to encourage people of all ages to enjoy books and magazines and to share that pleasure with the young children in their lives.

For more information, visit their website at www.getcaughtreading.org.

Photo Courtesy of Healing Dream and FreeDigitalPhotos.net

“The lightweight chassis will house two fuel cell modules and lithium titanate batteries. The on board storage tanks provide hydrogen to the fuel cells which produce electricity to energize the batteries that power the bus.” (Fuel Cell Today)

So how does this all work exactly? What is fuel cell technology? For those of you who have no idea about the science behind all this (like myself), check out the alternative fuel section on How Stuff Works. There’s loads of info that can explain it better than I can.

From Burbank Leader:

“The California Air Resources Board and state Energy Commission awarded the city $1.37 million to fund the roughly $1.7-million program. Burbank operates a hydrogen station and a stable of converted gas-to hydrogen Toyota Prius models, City Manager Mike Flad said.

“’Growing up in Burbank I can remember more days than not Stage 2 and Stage 3 smog alerts during the summers, and you would swim or play basketball and your lungs would burn and your eyes would burn,’ Flad said. ‘It is such a great day when we are tackling not only air quality, but tackling traffic and then forging ahead with new innovation in the investment in hydrogen.’”

To read the full article, click here.

Congrats to Burbank for contributing toward the bigger goal of better air quality. Here’s hoping it only gets better from here.

Photo Courtesy of The City of Burbank

“I HEART Mom” is the name of the returning online essay contest. Between now and May 9, you can submit your story in 250 words or less at www.ihop.com about why you HEART your mom and think she deserves a special meal at IHOP. Five winners will each receive a $100 IHOP gift card.

“We are happy to give our guests the chance to celebrate moms for all they do with the return of our fun and creative “I HEART Mom” contest,” said Carolyn O’Keefe, IHOP’s senior vice president, marketing. “With a wide variety of craveable breakfast, lunch and dinner items available any time of day, IHOP offers families the chance to connect with mom and give her the attention she deserves with great food and great service.” (MarketWatch)

Complete IHOP “I HEART Mom” contest rules can be found at www.ihop.com. Entries can be submitted online beginning 12:01 a.m. PT April 26, 2010. The Contest ends at 11:59 p.m. PT on May 9, 2010. Entries will be judged on three factors: entertainment, originality and emotional impact. Winners will be notified by phone, postal mail and/or email on or about May 22, 2010.

By the way, even IHOP has a Facebook page now. Check ‘em out at www.facebook.com/ihop.

The Burbank IHOP is located at 913 N San Fernando Blvd.

Vintage IHOP Photo Courtesy of Facebook

A is for Adjust Your Thermostat

B is for Both Sides of the Paper are Usable

C is for Cruise Control: To Save You Gas

D is for Diaper With a Conscience

E is for Eat Organic

F is for Fly With an E-Ticket

G is for Go Vegetarian Once a Week

H is for Hang Dry

I is for Invest in Your Own Coffee Cup

J is for Junk Mail – Cut it Out of Your Life

K is for Keep Your Fireplace Damper Closed

L is for Local: The Way To Go

M is for Make a Bag And Use It

N is for Newspapers – Recycle and Consider Alternatives

O is for Old Cell Phones Need a New Life

P is for Plastic BottlesQ is for Q-Tips

R is for Recycle Glass

S is for Shower Instead of Baths

T is for Turn Off Computers at Night

U is for Use Fewer Paper Napkins

V is for VacationsW is for Wash in Cold Water

X is for X Out Your Phone Book

Y is for Your Enemy is Greenwashing

Z is for Zero Waste from the City of Burbank

To read details on each of the above reminders and find out more about staying green, check out the Burbank Library Green Pages or Care2.org.

And speaking of the City of Burbank, check out these environmentally-friendly events going on this Saturday, April 24th:

• Downtown Burbank Arts Festival — Look for the Earth Day “green zone”
• 9:00 a.m., Wildwood Canyon clean-up, Bring gloves and trash bags if you can. Wildwood Canyon Park, 818-238-3900.
• Verdugo Mountain Photo Contest entries on display, Stough Canyon Nature Center , 818-238-3900.

Photo Courtesy of The City of Burbank