Featured Articles from the Burbank Leader

Burbank officials have proposed axing the city's primary election, a move they say would save roughly $72,000 a year, but would also require voter approval. Critics called the proposal "short-sighted," but election experts said it may actually bring more voters to the polls. POLL: Shoudl Burbank axe its primary election? Burbank is one of just about 15 cities in the state that has more than one election, according to a city report. Neighboring cities Glendale, Pasadena and La Cañada-Flintridge are among the more than 460 cities in California with just one. The last time in Burbank that the primary results differed, in terms of top vote-getters, from those of the general election was in 1989, when the second top-vote getter in the primary won the treasurer seat in the general election, according to Deputy City Clerk Susan Domen.

Home prices in Burbank continued to surge last month, with sharp price increases since February as a severely limited number of homes for sale has created fierce competition among buyers, according to the latest real estate report. The median price for a single-family home rose roughly 19% from $502,500 in April 2012 to $600,000 last month, according to statistics compiled by Realtor Eric Benz with Dilbeck Real Estate in Burbank. The median price for a condominium also increased, from $317,000 a year ago to $350,000 last month, a 10% increase.

Omnicare - a business that provides pharmaceutical services to long-term care institutions - will close its Burbank facility next month. Company spokesman Ed Loyd said Omnicare's Burbank facility, located at 7565 San Fernando Road, will shut its doors on May 23. The Cincinnati-based company manages hundreds of facilities across the country, providing pharmaceutical services to long-term care facilities such as nursing homes. Its specialty is geriatric care. The move isn't a sign that Omnicare's operations are declining in the Burbank area, but rather that it's taking advantage of the company's technological investment in its Canoga Park location, according to Loyd.

For families with autistic children, the stress and anxiety of air travel is a unique challenge - which is why JetBlue is partnering with Bob Hope Airport in Burbank to give those families a chance for an air-travel dress rehearsal. JetBlue's Wings For Autism program is coming to the West Coast for the first time and it hold a trial run from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the airport. PHOTOS: Wings for Autism comes to California for first time at Bob Hope Airport The program, which was started in Boston three years ago, allows families with autistic children to practice air travel, from checking in and security screenings to boarding a plane and meeting pilots and the flight crew.

As I begin my term as mayor, I want to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues on the council for giving me the honor to serve our community in this role. While I feel a sense of both pride and humility, my strongest feeling is a sense of urgency. Twelve months is not a long time and there is much to be done as we tackle the important issues ahead. Burbank's reputation as "Media Capital of the World" was built by creativity, skill and innovation on a solid foundation of good management and sound fiscal policy.

As the clock’s hands inched closer to 7 p.m. on Friday evening, photographer Cynthia Alarcon’s eyes darted around the Burbank Creative Arts Center giving everything a final visual nod of approval. In just moments the doors of the gallery would open to unveil her “One Woman’s Journey” exhibit that photographically documents her travels and experiences over the past two decades. The reception, staged to celebrate the opening of Alarcon’s retrospective, was not just a beginning, but also a culmination of a 20-year journey and a yearlong period of reflection.

Finding a quality left-handed relief pitcher is a rare commodity in major league baseball these days. Thus, former Burroughs High baseball star Mike Magnante has enjoyed success and a fine career as a pitcher for 10 years with four major-league clubs. Late Tuesday, Magnante, 37, was designated for assignment by the Oakland Athletics, just days before he was due to be eligible to receive his major-league pension. Players must have at least 10 years of major-league service to earn a pension.

A 49-year-old Burbank man was arrested after his neighbors caught him slashing their car tires on camera, police said. The man, Garry Keshishyan, was arrested on suspicion of felony vandalism after security footage allegedly showed him slashing tires on two cars parked outside the victims' home in the 800 block of South Bel Aire Drive shortly after noon, according to Burbank Police Lt. Eddie Ruiz. It wasn't the first time the victims, both 32 years old, had their tires slashed, police said.

Joyce Rudolph The competition was stiff during the first Tennis Ball dinner dance. But no one was near a court. Instead, a superb array of silent auction gifts kept guests running back and forth to the bidding sheets during the fundraiser for the Family Service Agency, now known as Families First in Burbank. City Manager Mary Alvord was mistress of ceremonies and welcomed the more than 200 guests to the Oct. 8 event at The Castaway. A steak-and-salmon dinner was served and dance music was provided by the band Orange Colored Sky. Mayor Marsha Ramos presented Kermit Floyd, president of the board of directors, with a Mayor's Commendation for his financial guidance of the agency.

In response to the three articles in the Leader regarding the shooting of a dog by Officer Anthony Valento, it is unfortunate that the Leader must resort to innuendo-laden articles to sell newspapers. While the shooting of the animal was, indeed, unfortunate, the portrayal of the animal as a friendly family pet and "hero" belies the fact the animal exited the owner's house and bolted across the front lawn onto the sidewalk, mere feet from where Officer Valento was standing on the parkway.

Rudy Droguett has risked his life for the love of his art. The artist, who is in his 70s, has traveled to Africa twice to take pictures of wild animals, which he later uses as subjects in his scratchboard etchings. He's come close to losing his life, he said. During one trip to Kenya, the vehicle he was riding in had a flat tire. There was a lion lying under a tree nearby watching the entourage. Not wanting to miss the opportunity, Droguett got out of the vehicle to take a picture.

There was some controversy involving one the local boys' tennis entries in Thursday's CIF Southern Section Individual Tournament at the University of Redlands. The No. 1 doubles team from Burroughs High, senior Michael Whelan and junior Calvin Fox, were supposed to arrive at the venue at 10 a.m. to begin their competition. But the duo was a no-show. Burroughs Coach Roy Bernhardt said the pair had to default after Whelan wasn't able to attend because of a function at the school.

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has set the trial date for the man accused of stabbing a Burbank resident at his home in February 2008. Jorge Ernesto Villalobos is accused of stabbing Glen Giles, 47, at his home in the 3000 block of Joaquin Drive. Giles' body was discovered Feb. 24, 2008, on a neighbor's doorstep across the street. Villalobos remains at Men's Central Jail in Los Angeles in lieu of $1.02-million bail.