GAINS LUCKY NO. 7? New Burbank High...

GAINS

LUCKY NO. 7?

New Burbank High School Principal Bruce Osgood comes highly

regarded. So too, we’re pretty sure, did each of his six

predecessors.

Osgood, who was reassigned from John Muir Middle School to Burbank

High by the school district earlier this month, is the school’s

seventh principal in 10 years, according to Supt. Gregory Bowman.

Here’s hoping Osgood stays awhile and brings stability to a position

that could use some.

PROOF THAT PERSISTENCE PAYS

Hard work has paid off former Burbank High School baseball player

Freddy Sanchez. On Friday, the 1996 Foothill League Player of the

Year was called up by the Boston Red Sox. Sanchez, who was hitting

.391 for Boston’s triple A affiliate at Pawtucket, wasn’t even

drafted until the 30th round out of high school. Drafted again in

2000 by Boston out of Oklahoma City College, Sanchez has rocketed

through the team’s minor-league system. Further proof you don’t have

to be a can’t-miss prospect to make it to the big leagues.

LOSSES

IT SHOULD BE LAST CALL FOR GITANA

Gitana, the popular Magnolia Avenue nightclub, has unfortunately

become a hot spot for Burbank Police. Officers are spending entirely

way too much time responding to reports of fights, assaults and other

alcohol-fueled disturbances. The City Council is now taking a hard

look at whether the place is a public nuisance. Let’s see, 15 police

calls in October and November, including several large-scale fights.

Last month, more than 10 officers responded to a 50-person melee

outside the establishment, and one was injured when a man allegedly

resisted arrest. According to a Burbank planner, the city hasn’t

revoked a conditional-use permit in a decade. It’s time to do so

here. How long before someone is seriously injured or killed? The

council should seriously consider revoking the nightclub’s permit.

Burbank residents deserve better.

GRADS BIDDING ADIEU

Beginning today with Providence High School’s commencement

ceremony, about 1,200 high school seniors will graduate from Burbank

schools over the next two weeks and begin the next chapter in their

lives. While many will attend college, some will begin working full

time and raising families. Still, others leave and never return.

Burbank’s loss, in most cases, will be another community’s gain.