Community: Most grads ever tailgate before homecoming game
The Burbank Burroughs Alumni Assn. broke its attendance record during homecoming festivities on Friday night.
The numbers doubled from 50 to more than 100 guests attending the third annual tailgate event held in the school district parking lot prior to the crosstown-rival football game at Memorial Field, said Joanne Lento Miller, the association’s president.
A highlight of the night was a visit by former football players Paul Cameron from Burbank High and Don Foster from Burroughs, who played against each other in the first crosstown competition in 1949.
Booster club officials said that Burbank didn’t even have a suitable football field back in the day, so they had to play in Glendale. Both athletes went on to play at UCLA. Burbank High’s first homecoming queen, Mary Rupert, also stopped by.
“We were honored to have so many Burbank Unified School District officials attend,” Miller said.
School Supt. Matt Hill brought his family. School board representatives attending were President Charlene Tabet, Vice President Larry Applebaum, Clerk Steve Ferguson as well as members Armond Aghakhanian and Roberta Reynolds. Other school officials attending were Tom Kissinger, Sharon Cuseo, Anita Schackman and John Paramo.
Special guests included Burbank High School Principal Mike Bertram as well as former school board member and former Burbank High football coach Dave Kemp.
Before the coin toss, the alumni association and guests walked to Memorial Field to watch the game — some sitting in the designated alumni section.
Miller thanked her committee for putting on the special event. In addition to school board members Reynolds and Ferguson, committee members were district liaison Emilio Urioste, Kathy Lawrence, Kathie Brown, Kimberley Clark, Gil Tobon and Connie Barron Trimble.
Proceeds from ticket sales will be added to the scholarship fund benefiting high school seniors at graduation.
Council names new Scout executive
Welcome to Mark Kraus, who is the new Scout executive of the Boy Scouts of America, Verdugo Hills Council.
Kraus, 53, began his first day with the council on Nov. 2 at the Glendale headquarters. The council also serves Burbank, La Crescenta and surrounding areas.
He just came from the Lincoln Heritage Council in Louisville, Ky., where he has been since 2007. He started with Boy Scouts of America in 1990 in the Central Ohio Council in Columbus, Ohio, then moved to the Miami Valley Council in Dayton, Ohio. He left the Boy Scouts in 1997 and worked for various nonprofits for 10 years before coming to the Lincoln Heritage Council.
The first project he will oversee is the annual Scouting for Food Drive. Boy Scouts delivered empty paper bags to homes throughout the area last Saturday and will be back to collect them this Saturday with hopes that residents fill them with nonperishable items, such as canned meats, fish, soup, chili, stew, fruit and vegetables.
Boy Scouts will take them to food pantries at the Glendale and Burbank Salvation Army offices, Burbank Temporary Aid Center and Sue’s Garden of First Baptist Church in La Crescenta.
Paper bags were donated by Trader Joe’s. If you didn’t receive a bag, drop-off donations from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday at the Boy Scouts Verdugo Hills Council, 1325 Grandview Ave., Glendale.
Poker night benefits Burbank On Parade
The Burbank On Parade committee will hold its second annual Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament this Saturday at the Burbank Elks Lodge.
“We had a great time last year and are looking forward to doing it again,” said chair Cynde Bost. “This year, we are including bingo.”
Preregistration will begin at 6 p.m. and poker will start at 7. Tickets are $60 presale and $75 at the door, and there will be several buy-ins throughout the night, Bost said.
There will also be a 50/50 drawing, and people can purchase dinner items, such as hamburgers, hot dogs, French fries and drinks.
Guests are welcome to dress Western style with cowboy hats and boots.
Proceeds go to putting on Burbank On Parade, which is scheduled for April 23.
“Without doing these fundraisers, there wouldn’t be a parade,” Bost said. “Last year, the poker tournament was so successful, we decided to make it an annual tradition.”
For tickets, contact Bost at cyndebost@gmail.com.
Winners of Fall Exhibit announced
There is still time to check out the Burbank Art Assn.’s Fall Exhibit at the Creative Arts Center in George Izay Park.
The association is a nonprofit volunteer organization serving artists and the community since 1950. Members consist of artists at all stages from beginner to professional level.
Although painters of all types are in the majority, a variety of visual-art mediums and styles are represented. The purpose of the organization is to stimulate and encourage creative expression and provide a showcase for members’ talent.
The Fall Exhibit ends Thursday. Judging the entries were Kara Tome, an arts educator, curator and writer with more than 20 years of experience working in museums, and Shannon Currie Holmes, a professional curator, gallery operator and creative marketing specialist.
The winner of the Best of Show in the Honor Division is Salwa Wazir for “The Past and The Present”. Other winners in this division are: first place, Jane Mick for “Evening Blush”; second place, Johnathon Gallagher for “The Reef”; third place, Lisa August for “Cecil”; and honors, Joan Sandon for “Wild Horses”.
The Best of Show winner in the Open Division is Mina Ferrante for “Siblings”. Other winners in that division are: For Landscape/Seascape/Cityscape: first place, Pam McDonald for “Autumn in Vermont”; and honors, Carol Tensen for “San Gabriel No.1”; For Contemporary/Abstract: first place, Jennifer Turnbull for “Craig, Immortal”; and honors, Rick Karp for “Sept. 11, 2001 at 8:45 AM”.
More winners are: For Floral/Still Life/Textile: first place, Marie Stott for “Succulents II”; and honors, Maryellen Sand Bodell for “The Galaxy”; For Animals: first place, Susan Levin for “Reverie”; and honors, Rod Serranzana for “Kea Nani on Wheels”; For People: first place, Randall Williams for “The Crow”; second place, Jose Joseph for “Fisherman”; third place, J. Luis Romero for “Nube Azul”; and honors, Shelley Van Heusen for “Man With A Fish”.
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JOYCE RUDOLPH can be reached at rudolphjoyce10@gmail.com.