Featured Articles from the Burbank Leader

Burbank utility customers are in for another round of bill hikes this July, with electric and water rates slated to jump 1.75% and 4.75%, respectively, officials said. State mandates to increase renewable energy use, which is more costly, are driving the electric bill hikes, said Ron Davis, general manager of Burbank Water and Power. For ratepayers, that means a 550 kilowatt-hour monthly electric bill would go up $1.53 to $90.24 as the utility continues to wean its dependence on coal and beef up its renewable energy profile.

The Colony Theatre in Burbank continues its fight for survival due to serious financial shortfalls, but you'd never know it from the venerable mid-sized venue's fine season-ender, "Falling for Make Believe. " This world premiere musical by Mark Saltzman, developed by the Colony, delves into the troubled life of lyricist Lorenz Hart through actual events, deft fictional constructs and a feast of glorious Rodgers and Hart songs. The musical opens in 1943, on the day of Hart's New York funeral.

Record high temperatures were reached across Southern California on Monday as the region baked in summer-like weather. Bob Hope Airport in Burbank topped out at 103 degrees, breaking a 100-degree record for the day that had stood since 1976, the  National Weather Service  said. Lancaster recorded 98, topping by one degree the record set in 1996. In Ventura County, Camarillo recorded a high of 86. That broke an 83-degree record set in 1996, according to the Weather Service.

Two women suspected of loitering with the intent to commit prostitution were arrested at a Burbank hotel Thursday night after officers reportedly discovered incriminating text messages, condoms and oils in their possession, police said. At 10:10 p.m., police noticed a 35-year-old Sacramento woman, Shaneese Day, sitting in a parked car outside the Ramada Inn, located on the 2900 block of San Fernando Boulevard, said Burbank Police Lt. Eddie Ruiz. Upon approaching Day, police smelled - and later recovered - a small amount of what appeared to be marijuana, according to police reports.

A 30-year-old North Hollywood woman who allegedly forged prescription slips to snag drugs from Magnolia Pharmacy in Burbank was arrested Thursday, police said. Aline Ghirard allegedly presented three forged prescriptions at the pharmacy, located at 2211 West Magnolia Blvd., on Tuesday in an effort to get more than 20 prescription pills, said Burbank Police Sgt. Darin Ryburn. Burbank police served a search warrant at her home Thursday, which led them to other items indicating fraud, including pill bottles, Ryburn said.

Our reporters are hard at work nailing down the details of the deliciously ridiculous "Shift It" music video-slash-auto commercial-slash-Internet meme, but I couldn't let another second go by without embedding the video on our sites. For those as-yet-unaware, the video is an ad for Arlen's Transmission, near the corner of Burbank and Edison boulevards, starring its owner, Gorgen Zargarian, in a Persian-style music and dance routine. In a world that can sometimes seem a bit unfair, harsh or cruel, it's refreshing to see such a piece of sublime, and joyous, weirdness.

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.

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 Burbank gun store cited for violating weapon registration laws is closing this month, but new owners hope to relaunch the business. While the current owners of Gun World on Magnolia Boulevard declined to comment, a sheet of paper taped to the door tells the company's side of the story: "Because of the even stricter gun laws which have made operating our businesses next to impossible, Gun World has decided to close its doors. " Its last gun sale was Aug. 21. The sign said the store will stay open to sell accessories through Sept.

Members of the Burbank City Council this week decided not to give themselves raises after one councilman had a last-minute change of heart. On Tuesday, three of the five council members voted to give themselves a 5% raise, but just a few hours later, Councilman Gary Bric asked to change his vote. “This isn't about economics for us, it's our heart and desire to serve,” Bric said. Councilmen David Gordon and Bob Frutos, along with Bric, had originally voted for the raise, which would have boosted their pay by $54 a month.

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.