EDITORIAL
(4 Gains, 3 losses - art options w/SHINING, HANCE and DUPREE)
GAINS
SHINING BRIGHT
Kudos to all who took park in the Burbank Civic Pride Committee’s 17th
annual Holiday Decorating Contest. The results were, and remain, a sight
to behold.
Special congratulations go to Gayle and Allan Cottriel and Trevor
Rush, the sweepstakes winners in the residential and youth categories
respectively.
The Cottriel’s home at 2931 Olney Place is Christmas eye candy at its
best. With what appear to be thousands of colored and white lights, a
convention of snowmen on the lawn and frolicking reindeer to boot, the
Cottriel’s home is a veritable beacon of holiday cheer.
Fourteen-year-old Trevor took top honors in the youth category with an
eclectic display at his house at 824 Bethany Road. Trevor’s creation
includes a colorfully-illuminated sleigh resting on the roof and an
entire Christmas village scene in front. For good measure, he added a
brightly lit ‘2000” across the center of his lawn.
In all, more than 50 residents took part in the holiday decorating
contest this year. Most of those should remain in full splendor into
2000.
75 YEARS OF SERVICE
Just about the only thing missing was the Village People as more than
400 supporters turned out at the Burbank Airport Hilton to help the
Burbank YMCA celebrate 75 years in the city.
The dinner, which served as a fund-raiser for the YMCA, noted the
history of the agency and of Burbank as well. Founded in a one-room
building in 1924, the YMCA now serves 28,000 people yearly in Burbank.
Guests at the dinner viewed a video documenting noteworthy events of the
20th Century at home and abroad and received a program chronicling the
history of the club in Burbank.
“Our YMCA has been such an integral part of this community,”
Councilman David Laurell said. ‘There is no other organization that
reaches out like the Y does on a regular basis.”
A CUT ABOVE
David Starr Jordan Middle School teacher Linnea Hance was named an
Educator of the Year by the California League of Middle Schools.
Hance, who has been teaching seventh- and- eighth-grade English at
Jordan for five years, received the award despite her relatively short
career. Nine other honorees all had at least 25 years of teaching
experience.
Jordan principal Margaret Kljunak said she nominated Hance for the
honor because of her strong leadership skills.
“Linnea is one of those people who will step in when there is a need.
It doesn’t matter how full her plate is, she will do the job and do it
well,” Kljunak said.
RINGING THE BELL
In another bit of good news for Burbank Unified, the district’s Parent
and Literacy Seminars program was awarded a Golden Bell by the California
School Board Association. The Golden Bell awards spotlight positive
trends in public education by focusing on success stories in local
districts.
The Burbank program consists of a five-week seminar in which parents
are encouraged to get involved in the children’s reading and literacy
assignments. They work with a literary resource teacher who offers
pointers on how they can be assist their kids with their schoolwork.
“It’s very beneficial for parents,” said Andrea Canady, the director
of elementary education for Burbank Unified. “They feel they have a much
better understanding of literacy and reading assignments.”
LOSSES
CAMPUS TENSIONS
Responding to the first such incidents this school year, Burbank High
School officials have been acting to alleviate ill will between different
groups of students that led to pushing, shoving and groups of kids
roaming the campus in an aggressive posture.
Although school officials have remained silent on the ethnic makeup of
the groups involved, students confirm that the problems were mostly
between Armenians and other white students. The problems continued even
after a school-wide meeting was held in an attempt to alleviate ethnic
tensions, school officials acknowledged.
As a result of the disturbances, Principal John Hutak wasted little
time in cracking the proverbial whip. Two students were suspended and
administrators introduced new rules barring large groups of students from
gathering outside of class. Students who violate the rules will be
videotaped and disciplined.
It’s unfortunate to see the district reduced to restricting the rights
of all students to keep tabs on the few who are acting up. However, it
would be even worse though if the district were to ignore the obvious
tensions that exist on its campuses.
VETERAN TEACHER DIES
Lois Dupree had been retired from Burbank Unified for some time when
she died last week at the age of 84. But Dupree was anything but
forgotten in the district where she worked for 33 years as an elementary
school teacher.
In addition to her teaching career, the longtime Burbank resident was
actively involved in local events through her membership in a long list
of community service clubs and charitable organizations. A partial roster
of her affiliations includes the Woman’s Club of Burbank, Daughters of
the American Revolution and the Providence St. Joseph Medical Center
Foundation. She was also a skillful bridge player and enjoyed growing
roses.
“Her philosophy was do what you think, don’t worry about what other
people think, do what you think is important,” said her daughter,
Kathleen Dupree. “She was always a teacher.”
LEAVING A BAD TASTE
Two days after being closed down by inspectors from the Los Angles
County Health Department for a rat infestation, the owners of Bobby
McGee’s restaurant announced they were shutting the joint for good. Based
on what the inspectors had to say, that might not be such a bad thing.
“Not only was a live rat found on the premises... but numerous
droppings were found in the food, equipment and on the floors, said Mike
Spear, county health department director.
At its best, Bobby McGee’s was a fun night out, with a festive
atmosphere and the wait staff dressed in theatrical costumes. Too often
though - as has been documented in this newspaper - the restaurant was
the site of drunken fights, underage drinking and generally obnoxious
behavior.
Apparently, it wasn’t too clean either.