GAINS ARGUE THIS We might already have...
GAINS
ARGUE THIS
We might already have more lawyers than we need, but it’s hard not
to root for Meredith Applegate and Cerita Bickelmann.
Meredith, a senior at Burbank High School, and Cerita, a junior at
John Burroughs High School, recently made names for themselves at the
2003 Los Angeles County Mock Trial competition.
Meredith, a three-year member of Law Dogs, her school’s mock trial
team, received the Alan I. Rothenberg Award as the Outstanding
Student Litigator at the competition. Perfect scores on her closing
arguments sealed the deal for Meredith, who admitted she likes the
“rush” that comes with court trials
Cerita, who joined her school’s mock trial team last year after
some prodding from a friend, was named the competition’s Outstanding
Pretrial Lawyer. Her role was to argue whether evidence should be
admitted. The experience, she said, has boosted her self-esteem and
helped prepare her for what to expect when she enters law school.
Congratulations to Meredith and Cerita, two exceptional young
women who think on their feet and cut the competition down to size.
Watch out, trial lawyers -- you’ve got some competition at your
heels.
FLOAT VOLUNTEERS
They’ve come to Burbank from across the street and across the
country to be a part of history. More than 500 volunteers, including
some from as far away as Florida and West Virginia, have worked to
bring the city’s Rose Parade float to life.
On Thursday, every one of them can sit back and watch with
satisfaction as “Moosic, Moosic, Moosic” rolls down Pasadena’s
Colorado Boulevard in the 115th Rose Parade.
Many of these folks are busy putting the finishing touches on the
city’s 69th parade entry, which will be towed from the float barn on
Lake Street to Pasadena tonight, accompanied by a police escort.
Entering a float is a long-standing tradition for the city of
Burbank, and speaks to the dedication of community members who return
year after year to make each entry beautiful.
Thank you to those selfless souls who work to make the city proud.
If you can’t support Burbank by working on the float, be sure to
cheer it on Thursday morning by attending the parade or watching it
on television. If you can’t do either, be sure to visit the parking
lot at George Izay Park starting Sunday, when the float will be on
display from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Wednesday.
LOSSES
BTAC DIRECTOR
It’s been more than six months since Burbank Temporary Aid Center
(BTAC) Executive Director Patricia Smola was canned for reasons that
remain unclear, and the organization’s board of directors has yet to
name a replacement.
Smola, widely credited with stabilizing center operations and
vastly improving fund-raising, was a popular director. Her dismissal
sparked criticism from friends and colleagues, including those who
donated time and money to the center on West Burbank Boulevard.
At least one volunteer terminated her relationship with the center
after seven years. The Rev. Larry Stamper of First United Methodist
Church, which donates an estimated $10,000 annually to the center,
raised concerns about the organization’s leadership.
In July, a BTAC board member called for President Jan Loporchio to
resign, saying public confidence hung in the balance. The request was
swept under the rug. At a board meeting in August, members learned
that cash donations were down, and the center was seeking to raise
$115,000 during the 2003-04 fiscal year.
Yet, despite countless setbacks, some of which haven’t been
mentioned here, a permanent replacement for Smola -- a former escrow
officer with a knack for fund-raising -- has not been hired.
The board of directors of the nonprofit organization, which helps
meet the short-term emergency needs of Burbank residents and relies
on donations, needs to immediately hire a long-term executive
director who can help restore the organization’s luster and get
fund-raising back on track.