CONGRATULATIONS

BURBANK HIGH SCHOOL CHEER WINS COMPETITION

The Burbank High School cheer squad, made up of 20 girls, traveled to Anaheim March 28 and 29 with hopes of qualifying for the finals in the 2009 USA National Cheer competition.

Not only did they qualify, but they took first place. This is the first time Burbank High School has won the event.

This year’s cheer squad members are Madison Blakey, Lacey Cabrera, Erine Robles, Cristina Robbins, Alyssa Stage, Erika Alarcon, Elyssa Alarcon, Cassie Wright, Becca Wright, Moriah Heizer, Rachel Lampert, Hayley Taylor, Danielle Pendleton, Michelle Fager, Sophie Irwin, Jane Davis, Paige Laurent, Devin Rhodriquez, Candice Abrignani and Ashley Sarquiz.

“The girls had worked very hard this year, with a real commitment to excellence,” said Coach Heather Riscen. “Everyone was focused on just doing their best.”

This year’s Nationals had teams competing from Canada, Utah, Washington, Oregon and all of California. ?

ASSOCIATION CELEBRATES PREMIERE OF FILM

The Fragile X Assn. of Southern California will host the Los Angeles premiere of the documentary “Living with Fragile X” at 6 p.m. today at the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre, 4800 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles.

Burbank resident Mary Seward’s son Tim was diagnosed 15 years ago with Fragile X, and that led to Seward starting the association, she said.

Tim is a sophomore in a special day class at Burbank High School. Seward has worked with Tim to ease the social anxiety that comes with the syndrome, she said, to give him the confidence to go to school dances and football games.

“Now he’s is usually the first one out on the dance floor — that’s what they tell us,” she said. “He has a great life.”

The association has helped to raise the funds to produce this documentary, Seward said.

Film producers will next try to take it to PBS and Discovery Channel to see if they will give it a TV screening.

Tickets are $40 and proceeds go to helping children and families affected by Fragile X Syndrome in Southern California. For more information go to www.fraxsocal.org or e-mail info@fraxsocal.org.

Fragile X Syndrome is the most common cause of inherited mental impairment and the leading known cause of autism.