Burbank Adult School offers many programs I...

Burbank Adult School offers many programs

I am writing in response to the Sept. 1 article “Making playtime a

business.” I applaud Jane Pemberton and her associates for creating a

way for parents (or grandparents and caregivers) to learn to play

with their children. Studies have shown that the first few years of

life are so important for mental and physical development.

Another wonderful alternative here in town is the Burbank Parent

Education Program. This program is a part of the Burbank Adult School

and was established more than 40 years ago. The classes are designed

for families with children from birth to school age (elementary

school). The class topics vary with the age of the child. There are

even classes for families with two or more children younger than 5.

These classes provide social stimulation for the children as well as

the adults.

The parents (or grandparents and caregivers) are the students and

they learn and share parenting skills useful for their age of a

child. Examples include children and their parents sleeping through

the night, potty training, the “terrible 2s,” preparing for

kindergarten and many, many more topics.

The Burbank Parent Education Council supports the schools (similar

to a PTA). It offers various age-appropriate events throughout the

year. For example, our toddler-friendly Halloween carnival is called

the Boo Bash. It is intended as a fun, not “scary” event. The games

are designed so that the young children can succeed. We also

participate in several community service projects such as the Burbank

Coordinating Council’s Holiday Basket Program.

I have been attending the program for the past nine years. My four

children love the program as well. I believe it has better prepared

my children for elementary school as well as life in general. The

program has given me innumerable insight into raising positive,

responsible children who will become good global citizens.

If you are interested in this program. please contact the Burbank

Adult School at 558-4611. The school is located at 3811 W. Allan Ave.

Classes are just beginning now for the fall semester.

CAROL BRIGGS

President, Burbank Parent

Education Council

Building limits come too late for some

I am pleased that the Burbank City Council is finally taking the

preliminary steps to address the problem of “mansionization” in our

neighborhoods.

Unfortunately, these steps come too late to save our family’s

hillside home from being devalued by a 6,600-square-foot monstrosity

that is being built behind us. (The new owners completely tore down a

1,400-square-foot home that used to be there.)

When finished, this new giant box will be 32 feet high and

completely block out our view of the city that we have enjoyed for

the past 26 years. I feel that something is being stolen from me as

surely as if someone had robbed me at gunpoint.

SUSAN SHAW

Burbank

Mansions a threat to cozy neighborhoods

Charlotte Hopwood has my sympathy in regard to the grandiose

estate that’s being built next to her property. (“Dream retirement

turns into mansion-sized nightmare,” Sept. 1 Leader.) The city says

the deadline on that type of construction was after the owners’ plans

were approved by the city of Burbank. Are people going to get their

money back from an investment like that in a modest neighborhood?

Fortunately, this hasn’t happened on my street. Nobody can afford

it. The credo seems to be with some people in regard to modern

buildings, bigger is better.

Our city has height restrictions on office buildings and

residences, but that’s not the point. Why do people want to build

palaces on modest streets?

There’s nothing like a small cozy house located on a modest cozy

street.

WESLEY GREENE

Burbank

Burbank residents must have last say on airport

It is absolutely imperative that the people of this city have a

vote on what is done to the airport.

Let’s put away the laws and codes and statistics and all the

mumbo-jumbo for a moment and look at that situation practically. City

councils and airport authorities in Glendale and Pasadena might want

a bigger airport. That might be good for their cities and their

businesses. The problem is that the airport isn’t in Glendale or

Pasadena -- it’s here in Burbank. The only voice that should have any

say on what happens to the airport is the voice of Burbank’s

citizens.

We live here. We live in the flight path. We live with the noise.

We live with the pollutants. We live with the airport. Not the

entertainment industry or people flying in from Des Moines to see

“The Tonight Show,” not salespeople on a layover from Dallas to San

Francisco -- it’s us.

If an expansion is made or even a possibility of expansion is

proposed, we, the citizens of this city, have the right to say yes or

no. Ultimately, we are the ones who have to live with the outcome and

the consequences. No one else. That’s why its a decision that can

only be made by us, all of us.

JESSE L. BYERS

Burbank

Measure B protection

is a no-brainer

Regarding your question as to whether Burbank voters should have

the right to vote on the proposed agreement with the airport, the

answer is a resounding yes.

The City Council told us that Measure B was the ultimate

protection against airport expansion in that it gave the voters the

final say on any relocated or expanded airport terminal project. The

proposed acquisition of Star Park by the airport absolutely fits

within the definition of an expanded airport terminal project.

Eighty percent of Burbank voters voted for Measure B. It looks

pretty simple to me, City Council elections will be coming up early

next year and three of the present members will have to stand for

reelection. The 80% of Burbank voters who voted for Measure B should

vote against any incumbent who votes not to invoke Measure B in this

current agreement debacle.

RON VANDERFORD

Burbank