Cars, comedy make cash for causes

The all-day roar of classic cars transitioned into the roar of evening laughter on Sunday as two respective events were staged to raise funds for various local charities and the John Burroughs High School Football program.

The day began as the Burbank Road Kings roared into Johnny Carson Park to present their 21st annual Picnic in the Park and Car Show. To rev up the event, Gino Gaudio sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" as the U.S. and California flags were unfurled by Boy Scout Troop 50.

With the event then dutifully underway, Tony Wade headed up a pancake breakfast before taking to the grill for a lunch of burgers and hot dogs with the help of his wife, Donna, and supporters and members of Kiwanis For Fun and the Burbank Kiwanis Aktion Club including Jan Loporchio, Steve, Joe and Danny Harris and Ricky Hernandez.

Along with the food and fun of perusing more than 650 various makes, models and years of hot rods and custom and factory muscle cars, the day's events also included numerous vendor booths, drawings, and a silent auction.

Co-chaired by Don Baldaseroni and Frank Nay, Sunday's picnic and car show was also made possible by the organization's officers, President Chuck Hanson, Vice President Rick Kalisz, Secretary Chuck Stein, Treasurer Lou Bartoletti and Sergeant-At-Arms Jim Gascoigne. Other members of both the Road Kings and the Road Queens whose work assisted in making the day a success were Ginny Metz, Ginny Hanson, Don and Marsha Mueller, Diane and Nick Sketfu, Rochelle Binkle, Joe Hinneman, Sue Baldaseroni, Mary Nay, Karl Grossman and Roseand Roger Nevrel.

All proceeds from this annual event are donated to the numerous charities the Road Kings have embraced including Burbank High School's Auto Shop Program, the Burbank Fire and Police Museum, the Burbank Historical Society, Burbank Parks, Recreation and Community Services programs, the Burbank Temporary Aid Center, the Burbank Boys and Girls Club, Tierra Del Sol, Joslyn Adult Center, the Burbank Summer Youth Work Program, and the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life.

Just as the last of the classic cars roared out of Carson Park, the roar of laugher heated up as the John Burroughs High School Arrowhead Boosters staged their second annual Comedy Night in the school's auditorium.

The brainchild of event co-chairs, Arrowhead Booster Vice President Dorina Tilton and comedian Mark Eddie, more than 450 supporters of the school's football program enjoyed a dinner provided my Santoro's Submarine Sandwiches and the comedic stylings of some of today's hottest comedians.

Combining numerous appearances in nationwide comedy clubs and on Comedy Central, "The Late Show With David Letterman," Sirius-XM Radio and "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno," Sunday's lineup was headlined by Eddy, who was joined by comedians Drake Witham, Diane Nichols and Collin Moulton. Among the notables in attendance for Sunday's comedy fundraiser were Arrowhead Boosters President Mark Stevens, Burroughs Indians Head Coach Keith Knoop and many of his players including Eli Peppmuller, Tyler Tilton, Tadeo Zuniga, Steven Boza, Garrett Schiavelle. Others whose work made for a successful evening included volunteers Shari McDonald, Sonnie Monslave, Dorina Tilton, Cozette Kenehan and Cheryl Stevens.