Burbank City Hall

Head of Building and Safety named Former Burbank City Manager Robert ?Bud? Ovrom, deputy mayor for economic development in Los Angeles, will take the helm at the Department of Building and Safety, officials said Tuesday. The appointment is part of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa?s reshuffling of top Cabinet advisors and must be confirmed by the Los Angeles City Council. Ovrom replaces Andrew Adelman, a former Crescenta Valley town councilman who stepped down as general manager in September amid allegations that he raped a woman at his apartment.

Robert Shaffer BURBANK -- Mirroring the polite campaigns waged so far in two state races, candidates from the 43rd Assembly and 21st state Senate districts answered questions Thursday and avoided criticizing their opponents in a televised forum at Burbank City Hall. The candidates stayed on theme: Those with records trumpeted them, those without records talked about what they would like to do in the state Legislature. Assemblyman Scott Wildman (D-Burbank)

Here are some of the items the Burbank Unified School District Board will discuss on Thursday: MODERNIZATION PROJECTS The board will review the remaining funding for the modernization of Luther Burbank Middle School, Monterey High School and William McKinley and Providencia elementary schools. WHAT TO EXPECT No action will be taken since this is an informational report. BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE The district will report to the board concerning the Bond Oversight Committee's roles and responsibilities on the current state of modernization.

Irma Lemus Burbank Post Offices will be open regular hours Friday -- 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. -- and closed Saturday in observance of New Year's Day. Burbank City Hall will be closed Friday and will reopen Monday. Burbank libraries will be closed Friday and Saturday in observance of the holiday and will reopen Sunday. The Burbank Police and Fire departments will remain open throughout the holiday. Hourly updates on Y2K effects in the city of Burbank will be available New Year's Eve and New Year's day at: Burbank Cable television channel 6 BAM Burbank AM radio 1620 City of Burbank Y2K information line, (800)

FARMERS MARKET HAS NEW HOME ON ORANGE GROVE The Burbank Certified Farmers' Market is now located at the corner of Orange Grove Avenue and Third Street, directly behind the Burbank City Hall. Parking is available in the public parking areas adjacent and across from the market. Every Saturday morning from 8 a.m. to noon, rain or shine, 30 California farmers sell their fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, plants, herbs, nuts, eggs, bakery goods, fresh berries and more. Part of the proceeds from the market help the Providence St. Joseph Foundation provide services to people who cannot afford medical care.

Paul Clinton CIVIC CENTER -- Hailed by state Sen. Adam Schiff as a "boundless optimist," longtime Burbank Leader, Foothill Leader and Glendale News-Press columnist Bob Young Sr. was honored during a brief but heartfelt ceremony at Burbank City Hall. Schiff (D-Burbank) presented Young with a state Senate resolution honoring his service to Burbank, Glendale and the foothill communities at Tuesday's City Council meeting. Young, who laid down his pen in November after 17 years of reporting good deeds, also received a commendation from the City Council.

Project breaks ground Thursday SOUTH SAN FERNANDO DISTRICT -- Residential development builder the Olson Company has announced plans for its Village Walk neighborhood project, coming this spring. Village Walk will be a project of three distinctive buildings containing an array of townhomes, lofts and flat designs ranging from 955 to 1,924 square feet at the corner of Angeleno Avenue and San Fernando Boulevard. The company has developed similar neighborhoods throughout the state.

ON THE AGENDA The following items will be discussed at Thursday's school board meeting.   ENGLISH LEARNING PROGRAMS The board will consider approving a grant that will fund an 18-month project that will measure the effect volunteer instructors and mentors on lower-level English as a Second Language students at the Burbank Adult School. The district would request the grant from ProLiteracy America, the U.S. division of ProLiteracy Worldwide, a nonprofit international literacy organization that sponsors educational programs that help adults acquire literacy skills.

Karen S. Kim CIVIC CENTER -- After 40 years imprisoned behind a lowered ceiling in the City Council chambers, four freedoms were themselves finally freed Friday. "The Four Freedoms," a mural by Hugo Ballin, has decorated the wall behind the City Council dais since Burbank City Hall was built in 1943. The top portion of the mural depicts four figures representing four freedoms -- freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from want and freedom from fear -- while the bottom depicts numerous figures surrounding the feet of the freedoms.