Carnival

In its season’s first family concert presentation — French composer Camille Saint-Saëns’ celebrated “Carnival of the Animals” at the Alex Theatre in Glendale — the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra proved that not only can music soothe the savage beast, it can engage a youngster’s enthusiasm so completely, you wonder why public schools leave it off the curriculum menu in the first place. Part of the orchestra’s regular season, three family concerts are presented each year in an effort, spokeswoman Nicolette Atkins said, to “make music as accessible as possible to children.

Molly Shore AIRPORT DISTRICT -- A carnival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at Providencia Elementary School ushers in the start of the summer season. Traditional carnival games, face painting, button making, temporary tattoos and spin art will keep children amused. Hot dogs, hamburgers, cotton candy, snow cones and drinks will appease hungry appetites. To win gift baskets, tickets -- at 50 cents apiece -- can be put in the container next to the basket of choice.

Food and fun will abound at the Miller Elementary School carnival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today. Money raised by the school's booster club, Team Jaguar, the PTA and teachers will help pay for fifth-graders to attend the annual outdoor science school at Lake Arrowhead in the spring. Carnival games will include "Tag a Jag" -- throwing a ball at a stuffed jaguar -- and fishing for prizes at the fishing hole and duck pond. Children can have their face painted, and a clown will entertain the crowd.

Maya Kukes SOUTH SAN FERNANDO DISTRICT -- A trip to anywhere in the world is just one of the items up for bid at a silent auction fund-raiser for First Lutheran Church and School today. The event includes a carnival with games like basketball and ring toss. A quarter will gain admission to a "bounce house." Food, including hot dogs, hamburgers, lemon bars, brownies, cookies and cakes will be for sale. Children can also participate in arts and crafts projects and have their faces painted.

Amber Willard Carnival comes to Miller Elementary HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- Parents might have to bail their children out of jail Saturday if they go to the Joaquin Miller Elementary School carnival, but the money will be split between the participating classrooms and the school's booster club. The jail will be one of several booths at the carnival, which starts at 11 a.m. on the playground. Other entertainment includes face painting and a dunk tank.

Gary Moskowitz BURBANK VILLAGE -- Several thousand Burbank residents attended the Burbank International Children's Film Festival carnival Saturday and Sunday in the Burbank Village. Chris Shoemaker, executive director of the annual film festival, said the carnival was a chance for Burbank families to come together and celebrate the community they call home. "It was marvelous, because families came and spent time together," Shoemaker said. "At one point, I looked out and saw a kiddie train ride full of mothers and children, all of different ethnic backgrounds, and it was beautiful."

Paul Clinton MEDIA DISTRICT WEST -- Warner Bros. opened one of its back lots Sunday to children from Southland charities and community groups for carnival games, food and rides. Children from three Burbank groups -- Boys and Girls Club of Burbank, YMCA of Burbank and Burbank Outreach Center -- were among those tossing softballs at milk bottles, wolfing down hot dogs and frolicking with Bugs Bunny. There was even a Ferris wheel. Studio chairman and CEO Barry Meyer said he was pleased with the carnival's success.

Assembly OKs naming of freeway BURBANK -- Assembly members voted unanimously Thursday to dedicate a portion of the Golden State (5) Freeway for fallen Burbank Police Officer Matthew Pavelka. The bill, introduced in January by Assemblymen Dario Frommer (D-Burbank) and Keith Richman (R-La Crescenta), renames the freeway between West Burbank Boulevard and Hollywood Way "Burbank Police Officer Matthew Pavelka Memorial Freeway." Pavelka, 26, was killed Nov. 15 during a shootout outside the Ramada Inn at 2900 N. San Fernando Blvd.

As I type this, the clock is slowly ticking toward the first Tournament of Roses Parade of the new decade. Around this time, 100 years ago, the parade had no theme (and wouldn?t have one until 1918, with the theme of ?Patriotism?). The grand marshals of the 1910 parade were Dr. Francis F. Rowland and professor Charles F. Holder, both founders of the Tournament of Roses Parade. Rowland is the only person with the distinction of having been grand marshal seven times, according to the Tournament of Roses organization.

As you read this column, Brazilians and visitors to the South American country are celebrating the festival of Carnival. An annual Brazilian celebration that ushers in Lent, Carnival begins 40 days before Easter and includes spectacular parades and musical events. While 6,000 miles separate Brazil from Burbank, that distance evaporated Saturday as the Providence St. Joseph Medical Center Guild presented its annual spring fundraiser under the theme “Destination Brazil.” Festivities, emceed by longtime Los Angeles broadcast journalist and anchorman Harold Greene , were at the Universal Sheraton.

Burbank students spent a day experiencing the different cultures they have been studying in social sciences and heightening their awareness of diversity. More than 500 students at John Muir Middle School participated in “Around the World,” Friday’s event promoting cultural awareness. “We’re trying to give the kids an authentic educational experience,” said Barry Sarna, a social sciences teacher at Muir. “Around the World” is a seventh-grade event that started almost 10 years ago, Sarna added.

In its season’s first family concert presentation — French composer Camille Saint-Saëns’ celebrated “Carnival of the Animals” at the Alex Theatre in Glendale — the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra proved that not only can music soothe the savage beast, it can engage a youngster’s enthusiasm so completely, you wonder why public schools leave it off the curriculum menu in the first place. Part of the orchestra’s regular season, three family concerts are presented each year in an effort, spokeswoman Nicolette Atkins said, to “make music as accessible as possible to children.

As I type this, the clock is slowly ticking toward the first Tournament of Roses Parade of the new decade. Around this time, 100 years ago, the parade had no theme (and wouldn?t have one until 1918, with the theme of ?Patriotism?). The grand marshals of the 1910 parade were Dr. Francis F. Rowland and professor Charles F. Holder, both founders of the Tournament of Roses Parade. Rowland is the only person with the distinction of having been grand marshal seven times, according to the Tournament of Roses organization.

As you read this column, Brazilians and visitors to the South American country are celebrating the festival of Carnival. An annual Brazilian celebration that ushers in Lent, Carnival begins 40 days before Easter and includes spectacular parades and musical events. While 6,000 miles separate Brazil from Burbank, that distance evaporated Saturday as the Providence St. Joseph Medical Center Guild presented its annual spring fundraiser under the theme “Destination Brazil.” Festivities, emceed by longtime Los Angeles broadcast journalist and anchorman Harold Greene , were at the Universal Sheraton.

In a quaint backyard near Chandler Boulevard, a helmet-clad executioner clutched a bloody ax as he loomed over a guillotine. Inside the house, the scenes were just as grizzly: a man strapped to an execution chair, a large coffin, scattered body parts on the ground and a dismembered head floating in a fish tank. But the blood and gore was all in good fun, part of a haunted house that Burbank residents Todd Ryan and Kevin Mulligan, aka The Executioner, built to give a sightseers a Halloween scare free of charge.

Assembly OKs naming of freeway BURBANK -- Assembly members voted unanimously Thursday to dedicate a portion of the Golden State (5) Freeway for fallen Burbank Police Officer Matthew Pavelka. The bill, introduced in January by Assemblymen Dario Frommer (D-Burbank) and Keith Richman (R-La Crescenta), renames the freeway between West Burbank Boulevard and Hollywood Way "Burbank Police Officer Matthew Pavelka Memorial Freeway." Pavelka, 26, was killed Nov. 15 during a shootout outside the Ramada Inn at 2900 N. San Fernando Blvd.

Food and fun will abound at the Miller Elementary School carnival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today. Money raised by the school's booster club, Team Jaguar, the PTA and teachers will help pay for fifth-graders to attend the annual outdoor science school at Lake Arrowhead in the spring. Carnival games will include "Tag a Jag" -- throwing a ball at a stuffed jaguar -- and fishing for prizes at the fishing hole and duck pond. Children can have their face painted, and a clown will entertain the crowd.

Amber Willard Carnival comes to Miller Elementary HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- Parents might have to bail their children out of jail Saturday if they go to the Joaquin Miller Elementary School carnival, but the money will be split between the participating classrooms and the school's booster club. The jail will be one of several booths at the carnival, which starts at 11 a.m. on the playground. Other entertainment includes face painting and a dunk tank.

Molly Shore AIRPORT DISTRICT -- A carnival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at Providencia Elementary School ushers in the start of the summer season. Traditional carnival games, face painting, button making, temporary tattoos and spin art will keep children amused. Hot dogs, hamburgers, cotton candy, snow cones and drinks will appease hungry appetites. To win gift baskets, tickets -- at 50 cents apiece -- can be put in the container next to the basket of choice.

Maya Kukes SOUTH SAN FERNANDO DISTRICT -- A trip to anywhere in the world is just one of the items up for bid at a silent auction fund-raiser for First Lutheran Church and School today. The event includes a carnival with games like basketball and ring toss. A quarter will gain admission to a "bounce house." Food, including hot dogs, hamburgers, lemon bars, brownies, cookies and cakes will be for sale. Children can also participate in arts and crafts projects and have their faces painted.