ON THE TOWN:
Fourth of July weekend got underway early as the Burbank Senior Arts Colony presented “Music Under the Stars” as a prelude to the holiday festivities.
Thursday evening saw hundreds of residents and guests gather on the Grand Patio of the East Verdugo Avenue arts complex to enjoy a musical walk down the lane of memories.
The Betti Vincent Quartet featuring Jeff Margraf and Corky Merrill backed up the evening’s headlining vocalists, Diane Vincent, Jackie Love, Joseph Caro and Sally Connors, who treated the assemblage to standards such as the 1933 hit “Paper Moon,” Doris Day’s “Sentimental Journey,” a sultry version of “Blue Moon” and Irving Berlin’s “Steppin’ Out With My Baby” from the 1948 musical “Easter Parade.”
Diane Vincent, who along with being an accomplished singer is also a Lucille Ball impersonator and comedienne in her own right, donned a feather boa and brought down the house with a convincing Betty Boop version of “I Wanna Be Loved By You.”
The sweet sounds of the evening were made even sweeter thanks to Zakhary Baker of Belmont Village Assisted Living of Burbank who provided a festive Fourth of July-themed dessert buffet. Among the attendees were Maureen Kellen-Taylor, who serves as the vice president of EngAGE — The Art of Active Aging, Karmin Murcelo, Paula Horowitz, Jan Hale and Carla Putnik.
The following day, as Burbankers filed in to the Starlight Bowl to celebrate the nation’s 232nd birthday, former Burbank Mayor Mary Lou Howard opened the doors to her beautiful hillside home for her annual Fourth of July barbecue.
Howard’s Independence Day celebrations have become a long-standing tradition that is always well attended by the who’s who of Burbank, including city employees, business leaders, board and commission members and elected officials.
Among those who enjoyed this year’s barbecue that was topped off with the fireworks show from the nearby Starlight Bowl were Burbank Mayor Dave Golonski, his wife Barbara Sykes and their son John Golonski, and Councilman Gary Bric and his wife Shelly. Also on hand was former Mayor Bill Wiggins and his wife, Marilyn, just back from visiting family in Indiana; airport commissioners Don Brown and Charlie Lombardo, former Burbank Fire Chief Mike Davis and his wife, JoAnn, Burbank Water and Power General Manager Ron Davis and his wife, Cheryl, and City Clerk Margarita Campos and her husband, Vince.
Others who celebrated the nation’s independence with Mary Lou were her daughter Jackie Hamilton and son Jon Howard, Joe and Joy Valento, Dick and Josie Kowatch, Max Andrews, Julie Brown, Brett Loutensock, Jack O’Neill, Ernie Burger, Jack and Barbara Wildermuth, Bruce Redmann, Mike Brown, Kent and Heather Vest, Bob and Lee Paysinger, Cam and Kim Brown, Richard and Rilla Raad, Marcia Baroda, Ron and Candy Horowitz, Tom and Linda Jamentz, Don and Jeanette Boles, Cheryl Callahan and Ned Price.
DAVID LAURELL can be contacted at dlaurell@aol.com or (818) 563-1007.
