The Top 10 Stories Of 2009

The Bob Hope curfew garnered support from Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena city officials, as well as Reps. Howard Berman (D-Valley Village), Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) and Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks).

Sherman announced legislation to allow Bob Hope and Van Nuys airports to implement mandatory nighttime curfews after years of battles between San Fernando Valley homeowners who maintained that a curfew at Bob Hope would shift flights to Van Nuys Airport, increasing their noise problem.

The Part 161 Study indicated ways to reduce nighttime noise, such as to designate a specific runway, work with traffic control to maintain proper altitude, update the airport’s noise monitoring system and build a “hush-house” for maintenance engine run-ups. A new planned noise study would serve as the basis for future grants from the FAA and define which areas are eligible for noise-abatement upgrades. The program has provided $80 million to insulate 1,642 structures since 1997.

4: Golonski tops votes, Gordon squeezes in

Newcomer Jess Talamantes, buttressed by key endorsements from eight former mayors, joined incumbents Dave Golonski and David Gordon as the winners of three seats on the Burbank City Council.

Gordon survived a see-saw battle with 28-year-old Kimberly Jo, coming out 212 votes ahead in the end.

A fifth term for Golonski and second term for Gordon were at stake April 14.

A retired fire captain who spent 32 years in the department, Talamantes pledged to retain the city’s workforce, preserve and improve crumbling infrastructure and maintain fiscal stability.

Golonski, bolstered by a three-month precinct-walking regimen and personal relationships forged during his 16 years in office, drew support from large swaths of the city, including Magnolia Park, Toluca Lake and the Hillside. He took 14 of 42 precincts on his way to securing a first-place finish.

The 53,612 eligible voters cast 11,889 ballots, up from 10,990 in the primary. The results guaranteed another four years of the bitter, yet evolving, rivalry between Golonski and Gordon. The two incumbents have repeatedly locked heads on the dais.

5: Pair in homicide had unpaid debts

A 49-year-old woman was fatally shot in February after she answered a knock at her door, authorities said.

Officers found Jasmine Voskanian outside her home in the 4200 block of West Jacaranda Avenue about 12:30 a.m Feb. 25.

She was shot once and pronounced dead at the scene.