Realty office coordinates Thank a Soldier day

Employees of Keller Williams Realty offices in Burbank, Glendale and La Cañada Flintridge are enlisting in an effort to send donations to military personnel serving our country abroad.

The public is asked to bring donations such as personal-care items and snacks — DVDs, beef jerky, phone cards, toothbrushes and other such items — to the Thank a Soldier Barbecue and Care Box Assembly day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 3 at the Keller Williams Realty office parking lot in Burbank, 401 S. First St. In return, the public is invited to a free lunch with live entertainment and family activities.

This is the second time the company has produced the event. Last year 100 boxes were sent to soldiers. This year, the goal is 300 boxes or more, said Teri Covarrubias, Market Center administrator for Keller Williams in Burbank.

“We want the public to come and be our guests and enjoy the event and bring their children and families and listen to the entertainment we are going to have, and bring donations for the boxes,” she said.

There will be live bands and soloists, and an artist drawing guests’ portraits. For kids, there will be face-painting, a bounce house and balloon animals. There will be hamburgers, hot dogs and soft drinks. Parking will be available in a lot across the street. Guests will be able to write letters to soldiers thanking them for their service.

Burbank Veterans Committee members are going to be helping to pack the boxes, said that group’s chairman, Mickey DePalo. The city of Burbank will be shipping the boxes over the next couple of months, he added.

For a complete list of suggested items to donate, go to www.facebook.com/KWpowerofone.

Troop recruiting at open houses

Boy Scout Troop 204 is looking for new youth and adult members. Two open houses are planned to introduce prospective members to the program during the troop’s meetings at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22 and 29 at the First Christian Church, 221 S. Sixth St., Burbank. Youth members must be at least 11 years old or have completed the fifth grade.

The Boy Scouts of America aims to help boys build character, learn responsibilities of citizenship, and develop personal fitness and survival skills. Activities include camping, backpacking and cycling.

Troop 204 is the oldest Boy Scout troop in the Verdugo Hills Council. It has been sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Burbank since 1924.

For more information, contact Scoutmaster Eduardo Barbosa at (661) 670-8838.

Woman shares challenge with cancer

As October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a free screening of Episode One of the new web series “Kick Cancer in the Can with Diane” will be hosted by the Burbank Community YMCA and YMCA member Diane Weisman.

The screening will be at noon on Oct. 22 in the Ray Sence Room on the first floor at the YMCA, 321 E. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank.

Weisman shares information about her own journey with cancer. She is hoping those who have been diagnosed with cancer, their caregivers, family members and friends and cancer survivors will attend.

For reservations, contact Jodi@burbankymca.org or call (818) 845-8551, ext. 229. Reservations are encouraged but not required. Free onsite childcare will be provided. There will be give-aways and refreshments.

Resident will celebrate 100th birthday

Hazel Francis Armstrong is marking her centennial birthday with a party on Saturday at the Burbank home of her daughter, Gwen Sanden. She was born in 1912 in Waukegan, Ill., the eldest of five children.

She was married in 1932 to Milton Armstrong in North Dakota and moved to California in 1935. She has lived in Burbank most of her life. She is a longtime member of the Burbank Foursquare Church, where she volunteered in many capacities, including heading up the food pantry.

Her husband passed away in 1972 and she never remarried. At that time, she became employed by Bob’s Big Boy restaurant in the order department, which was in the main commissary, at that time located in Glendale. She retired when the department relocated to Los Angeles.

She has four daughters, Marjorie Joy Johnson of Arkansas, Joanne Pollock of Arizona, Dorothy Thornton of Palm Springs (formerly Glendale), and Gwen Sanden of Burbank. She has 18 grandchildren, 47 great-grandchildren and 34 great-great-grandchildren.

Film Advisory Board given honor

Janet Stokes, chief executive officer of the Film Advisory Board, based in Burbank, appeared before members of the Los Angeles City Council to receive the Los Angeles Certificate of Commendation.

The award was presented on Sept. 18 by Councilwoman Jan Perry and the Ninth Council District. It honors Stokes’ dedication to continuing the board’s mission, put in place by founder Elayne Blythe in 1975, promoting quality family and children’s entertainment, educational material and other products.

In her announcement, Perry lauded the time and effort the Film Advisory Board spends grading films with its rating system.

The board has been commended by independent producers for introducing the first rating system that added descriptive content with each rating category letter.

The Film Advisory Board honors remarkable people in entertainment, educators, authors, philanthropists, those who perform humanitarian and animal good works and promote products that add to the enrichment families appreciate, Stokes said.

JOYCE RUDOLPH can be contacted at rudolphjoyce10@gmail.com.