On The Town:

With a simple little sweep of the second hand, 2008 slipped into the ages this past week. As the clock struck 12, we closed out a roller-coaster year that took us from the depths of a devastating financial plunge to the heights of hopes embodied by a vibrant new president.

For Burbank Mayor Dave Golonski, his wife, Barbara Sykes, and their son, Russell Tamillo, the year ended with Burbank’s first family being bestowed with new titles — grandpa, grandma and uncle. The mayor’s newborn grandson, Grant Russell Lowery, arrived home just in time for the celebration of the new year. Latest reports say that Grant’s parents, Randi and Nathan Lowery, have kicked off 2009 with lots of love and very little sleep.

While the current mayor was enjoying his new title, a former mayor was living up to the one she has earned over the past two decades as New Year’s Eve party hostess extraordinaire. Mary Lou Howard, the first woman to serve as the city’s mayor, continued her tradition of welcoming in the new year at her festively decorated hillside home.

Bob Hope Airport Commissioner Don Brown was enlisted to pour celebratory libations for the evening’s guests that included Vice Mayor Gary Bric and his wife, Shelly; Burbank Water and Power General Manager Ron Davis and his wife, Cheryl; former Burbank Fire Chief Mike Davis and his wife, JoAnn; former Mayor Stacey Murphy; Jon Howard; Jack O’Neill; Kathleen Lindblom; Stephanie Davis; Bruce Redmann; Joanie Herron; Josie and Dick Kowatch; and Ron and Pat Tanous.

As this new year begins, filmmakers are busy forming teams for the 2009 Burbank-based 168 Film Project.

A worldwide competition, the 168 Film Project gives production teams one week to produce an 11-minute movie based on a randomly selected Bible verse that will be screened, judged and honored at an early-April film festival.

Founded seven years ago by John Ware as a training ground for filmmakers, the goal of the organization has been to reduce barriers and create opportunities for both professional and novice filmmakers.

The organizers of the event had their first of five introductory mixers on Monday at Burbank’s Media City Church.

Headlining the kickoff event was Mark Clayman, who was the executive producer of Will Smith’s film, “The Pursuit of Happyness,” and is currently working on an adaptation project with Oscar-winning producer David Friendly.

Among the 100-plus filmmakers and actors on hand were Burbank producer Mary Burkin; Jeff Bartsch; David Claxton; Stephen Sanders; Peter Robinson; Sharon O’Leary-Martin; and Laureen Trutillo.

For more information on the 168 Film Project, call Karen Wescott at (818) 557-8507 or e-mail her at karen@168project.com.

 DAVID LAURELL can be contacted at dlaurell@aol.com or (818) 563-1007.