Burbank

The Colony Theatre in Burbank continues its fight for survival due to serious financial shortfalls, but you'd never know it from the venerable mid-sized venue's fine season-ender, "Falling for Make Believe. " This world premiere musical by Mark Saltzman, developed by the Colony, delves into the troubled life of lyricist Lorenz Hart through actual events, deft fictional constructs and a feast of glorious Rodgers and Hart songs. The musical opens in 1943, on the day of Hart's New York funeral.

WOODLAND HILLS - Clamoring for the toughest competition he could find in his hopeful journey back into the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Jared “The Jackhammer” Papazian found a worthy foe in Brandon “The No. 1 Contender” Bender. On Saturday night at the Warner Center Marriott in Woodland Hills, Papazian's trip back to the big stage took a hit, as he was submitted in the first round by Bender in the main event of the National Fight Alliance MMA's Valley Invasion 3. Papazian, one of four fighters who train at Burbank Gracie Barra who competed on the card, was submitted via rear-naked choke in 2:01 of the opening round of the featherweight tilt.

BURBANK - A jubilant group of Burbank High baseball team met pitcher Ricky Perez on the mound shortly after he recorded a strikeout that secured a 4-1 victory against rival Burroughs on Friday. With the win, the Bulldogs clinched a share of the Pacific League title - the program's first since 1991. With equally high stakes in the other dugout, a disappointed Indians' squad saw their league-title hopes squandered, despite matching the Bulldogs' will in a well-played game at Burroughs.

Burbank officials this week proposed cutting roughly 2% - or $2.5 million - from the city's $149-million General Fund budget, which pays for most public services. The proposal also addresses soaring employee pension costs by allocating $9 million to help pay down the city's $252-million unfunded pension liability. Each $1 million the city pays now toward its unfunded liability - the shortfall when comparing the obligation to employees and retirees to the value of the city's assets held with the California Public Employees' Retirement System - amounts to $80,000 a year in General Fund savings, officials said.

Burbank utility customers are in for another round of bill hikes this July, with electric and water rates slated to jump 1.75% and 4.75%, respectively, officials said. State mandates to increase renewable energy use, which is more costly, are driving the electric bill hikes, said Ron Davis, general manager of Burbank Water and Power. For ratepayers, that means a 550 kilowatt-hour monthly electric bill would go up $1.53 to $90.24 as the utility continues to wean its dependence on coal and beef up its renewable energy profile.

Curious about how fires were fought 100 years ago, when the Burbank Fire Department was founded?  Head out to the department's family-friendly Fire Service Day on Saturday and find out. The event will be chock-full of activities and demonstrations - both vintage and contemporary - as the department celebrates its centennial year.  The firefighters' mascot, Lil' Squirt, will host a vehicle extrication, kid's obstacle course and CPR demonstrations....

BURBANK - Having wrapped up the Pacific League championship last week, the Burbank High softball team could have afforded a loss in its season finale Thursday. However, the Bulldogs had plenty to play for. Along with the chance to finish the league undefeated, the Bulldogs were also trying to hold on to their No. 2 ranking in CIF Southern Section Division III. There was also a little motivation to beat their cross-town rival Burroughs. Behind a fine pitching performance, as well as a solid outing at the plate, from sophomore Caitlyn Brooks, who tossed a one-hitter, Burbank was able to complete its perfect Pacific League campaign with a 9-0 victory against the Indians at Olive Park.

A judge on Wednesday denied Burbank's request to throw out a lawsuit filed by a former police officer who claims he was fired in retaliation for exposing alleged misconduct by his colleagues. The attorney for former officer Pete Allen hailed the judge's decision, calling the city's motion an “attempt to stall and delay justice.” City officials say they plan to appeal the ruling. Allen claims he was fired in retaliation for exposing alleged officer misconduct during an investigation into a robbery at Porto's Bakery in 2007.

BOYS' VOLLEYBALL El Segundo d. Burbank, 25-17, 25-21, 25-12 : The Bulldogs had a lead in the second game of their CIF Southern Section Division II first-round playoff match Tuesday on the road, but couldn't hold on, suffering a three-game sweep. After losing the first game, the Bulldogs (11-16) were ahead, 20-16, only to see the Eagles (16-3) go on a 7-0 run to take control of the second. "That was the point that really hurt us, being up and then them coming back," Burbank Coach Patrick McMenamin said.

Burbank city officials say they may sue over being forced to turn over millions of dollars to the state as a result of closing down local redevelopment operations. Per the California Department of Finance's request, Burbank cut a $24.3-million check to Los Angeles County on Friday as part of the dissolution of local redevelopment. But $10.5 million of that - which includes part of the debt reimbursement to the city from the redevelopment agency - was turned over under protest, which means the city could sue in the future to get it back, officials said.