Block Party

BURBANK — Hundreds of students and their parents received free school supplies, dental treatments and haircuts Saturday at Earthwalk Park as part of the city’s annual Peyton-Grismer Back-to-School Celebration. Neighboring streets filled with residents and their cars well before the 10:30 a.m. kickoff as organizers unloaded 480 backpacks and binders, face paint, dental equipment and beauty supplies. Organized through the Community Development Department’s Connect with Your Community initiative, the annual block party events draw from area nonprofits and service clubs such as the Kids’ Community Dental Clinic, Boys & Girls Club and Burbank Noon Lions, with the goal of engaging residents and inspiring leadership within the five focus neighborhoods, said Community Resources Coordinator Gaby Flores.

Burbank’s city services and performing arts schools were put on parade Saturday afternoon for Assemblyman Paul Krekorian’s Burbank Community Block Party. Hundreds of people passed through San Fernando Boulevard between Olive and Angeleno avenues collecting free pens, leaflets, booklets, stickers, food and snow cones at the event. The street was lined with booths sponsored by the city along with some businesses. “The city has so much, and I am always amazed,” said Diana Abasta, former Burbank Teachers Assn.

Neighbors and law enforcement gathered at 18 block parties to help Burbank "strike out crime" on Tuesday evening for National Night Out. At the city-sponsored block party at Keystone Street along the Chandler Bikeway, neighbors enjoyed snow cones while children had their faces painted, threw a round in a bullpen or snapped a picture with the white Target dog at the company's booth. Residents could also hop on a police motorcycle or climb through a SWAT team truck. "This is all about improving communication and cooperation in the community," Mayor Anja Reinke said onstage.

Jackson Bell Actor Kevin Bacon and a host of other celebrities will usher in AMC's new 16-screen theater Wednesday night with a fund-raiser and grand opening celebration that is expected to draw between 3,000 and 4,000 guests. A film tribute to Bacon and block party will introduce the 4,200-seat megaplex at 125 E. Palm Ave. to those who pay $25 each for the experience, Downtown Manager Gail Stewart said. "This will be the place to be," Stewart said.

Ron Piasecki came home one night to a disturbing sight. A burglar was moments away from stealing valuable possessions from his neighbor’s home. After police came and successfully apprehended the suspect, Piasecki was determined to find a way to express his gratitude. So he decided to host a block party to celebrate National Night Out, an event held for the past 25 years across the United States on the first Tuesday of August. Sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, the program gathers community members, police officers and other city officials to promote involvement in crime prevention activities, according to the association’s website.

I wanted to thank the Leader for compiling a detailed list of our city's gadflies. I think it's very interesting that each of them truly believe they are representing the citizens of this fair city. Ironically, at our recent block party, the discussion turned to these less-than-stellar citizens. It was a unanimous vote that none of these gadflies represented the population in the slightest degree. In fact, not one resident at this party would even offer the slightest defense for any of them.

Tim Willert BURBANK -- Kevin Landrum and Janet Berry were officially welcomed to the neighborhood Sunday. With a block party. "I'm not used to this kind of hospitality," said Berry, who moved with Landrum to Grinnell Drive in May from a neighborhood near Burbank Airport. "Nobody knows anybody where I moved from. It's a nice change." For 40 years, residents in the 600 and 700 blocks of Grinnell Drive threw small backyard parties to get acquainted with their new neighbors.

Jackson Bell After 18 months spent constructing the new AMC Entertainment Village, builders got the chance to show their craftsmanship to family and friends Tuesday night. About 300 construction workers and guests were in attendance for "Cast and Crew," the completion party thrown by AMC featuring complimentary popcorn, soda, screenings of "Daddy Day Care," and a first glimpse of the 16-screen megaplex. "This is a thank-you to all the workers for their hard work on the project for the last year-and-a-half," said Doug Jaquay, the project's developer.

Last weekend, my wife Donna and I schlepped up and down our street, informing neighbors we didn't know that weather had forced us to postpone a party most weren't aware we were throwing. It was somewhat awkward. Sunday, the scheduled day of the party, was crisp and cool, a beautiful fall day. In fact, the day felt more fall-like than I've seen in a long time. As the day's forecast included thunderstorms and a 90% chance of rain, we decided to call the whole thing off. Rain would have forced everyone to crowd eye-to-elbow inside, made the barbecue a rather tricky endeavor, and would have generally made the time less than fun. But instead of precipitation, we got partly cloudy; instead of Storm Watch 2010, we got sunshine and the need for SPF 50. Crap.

Last weekend, my wife Donna and I schlepped up and down our street, informing neighbors we didn't know that weather had forced us to postpone a party most weren't aware we were throwing. It was somewhat awkward. Sunday, the scheduled day of the party, was crisp and cool, a beautiful fall day. In fact, the day felt more fall-like than I've seen in a long time. As the day's forecast included thunderstorms and a 90% chance of rain, we decided to call the whole thing off. Rain would have forced everyone to crowd eye-to-elbow inside, made the barbecue a rather tricky endeavor, and would have generally made the time less than fun. But instead of precipitation, we got partly cloudy; instead of Storm Watch 2010, we got sunshine and the need for SPF 50. Crap.

Neighbors and law enforcement gathered at 18 block parties to help Burbank "strike out crime" on Tuesday evening for National Night Out. At the city-sponsored block party at Keystone Street along the Chandler Bikeway, neighbors enjoyed snow cones while children had their faces painted, threw a round in a bullpen or snapped a picture with the white Target dog at the company's booth. Residents could also hop on a police motorcycle or climb through a SWAT team truck. "This is all about improving communication and cooperation in the community," Mayor Anja Reinke said onstage.

BURBANK — Hundreds of students and their parents received free school supplies, dental treatments and haircuts Saturday at Earthwalk Park as part of the city’s annual Peyton-Grismer Back-to-School Celebration. Neighboring streets filled with residents and their cars well before the 10:30 a.m. kickoff as organizers unloaded 480 backpacks and binders, face paint, dental equipment and beauty supplies. Organized through the Community Development Department’s Connect with Your Community initiative, the annual block party events draw from area nonprofits and service clubs such as the Kids’ Community Dental Clinic, Boys & Girls Club and Burbank Noon Lions, with the goal of engaging residents and inspiring leadership within the five focus neighborhoods, said Community Resources Coordinator Gaby Flores.

Ron Piasecki came home one night to a disturbing sight. A burglar was moments away from stealing valuable possessions from his neighbor’s home. After police came and successfully apprehended the suspect, Piasecki was determined to find a way to express his gratitude. So he decided to host a block party to celebrate National Night Out, an event held for the past 25 years across the United States on the first Tuesday of August. Sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, the program gathers community members, police officers and other city officials to promote involvement in crime prevention activities, according to the association’s website.

Burbank’s city services and performing arts schools were put on parade Saturday afternoon for Assemblyman Paul Krekorian’s Burbank Community Block Party. Hundreds of people passed through San Fernando Boulevard between Olive and Angeleno avenues collecting free pens, leaflets, booklets, stickers, food and snow cones at the event. The street was lined with booths sponsored by the city along with some businesses. “The city has so much, and I am always amazed,” said Diana Abasta, former Burbank Teachers Assn.

Assemblyman Paul Krekorian, whose district includes Glendale and Burbank, will host the Burbank Community Block Party from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday along San Fernando Boulevard between Olive and Angeleno avenues in Burbank. Co-sponsored by the city of Burbank and Burbank Boys and Girls Club, the event will feature more than 70 organizations and 80 informational booths representing the state of California and a variety of nonprofits, Krekorian’s office said. “It’s been an annual tradition for the Assembly member in our area to bring together the people and organizations that make Burbank such a great place to live and to work,” said Krekorian, who will host the event for the first time this year.

Lorie Osborn tapped her foot to the beat of the classic rock tune "Mustang Sally" played by local band Bandana Blue as Assemblyman Dario Frommer sang background vocals while wearing a Hawaiian shirt, jeans and tennis shoes. It was part of the fifth annual Burbank Behind The Scenes Block Party hosted by Frommer, a Democrat who represents Burbank, and visited by more than 1,000 people Saturday at Johnny Carson Park. "It was a free event and I liked the booths and the health fair and there was a lot of free stuff," said Osborn, who proudly wore an "I Love Burbank" pin in her shirt.

MEMORIAL FIELD -- Burroughs High defender Tony Banuelos Jr. could not have picked a better time to notch his first blocked field goal attempt. It occurred with two seconds remaining in the Indians' nonleague football game Friday against previously unbeaten Chaminade, ensuring a 14-13 Burroughs victory. It also occurred with just a few days remaining before the junior's father, Sgt. Tony Banuelos Sr. of the U.S. Army, is set to return to active duty in Iraq.