Holiday cheer express

TRANSPORTATION CENTER -- Glowing with 30,000 colored holiday lights,

Metrolink’s Holiday Toy Express made two trips to Burbank this week to

kick off the fire department’s Spark of Love toy drive.

The train rolled into the Regional Intermodal Transportation Center

Wednesday and Friday nights with Santa and Mrs. Claus aboard. The local

stops included a 15-minute holiday show performed by a variety of warm

and fuzzy characters from a platform on the train.

The John Burroughs High School choir and band were also at the station

to perform a selection of holiday tunes for the crowd, including “We Wish

You a Merry Christmas.”

Burbank Fire Inspector Kelly Chulick was present both nights with

other members of the department to collect toys for the Spark of Love toy

drive.

Chulick said firefighters collected dozens of toys, including Barbie

dolls to Pokemon items. The toys will be donated to the Burbank Temporary

Aid Center to be distributed to needy children in the area.

The Spark of Love toy drive will continue through Dec. 22. Anyone who

would like to donate unwrapped new toys can drop them off at any Burbank

fire station; all three Burbank AMC Theatres; the Barnes & Noble

bookstore on San Fernando Boulevard; and all Sav-on Drugs and Subway

sandwich shops in Burbank.

For more information, call the Fire Department at 238-3473.