Cheerleaders

Gary Moskowitz HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- The fear of getting booed off the stage during the talent show did not stop Armine Dabayan from stepping into the spotlight and giving the best performance she could. "I just try to have the best time when I go onstage. It's like watching a movie, but I'm in the movie," said Dabayan, 12, a seventh-grade student at John Muir Middle School. Dabayan, who sang her rendition of "Fallin"' by Alicia Keys, joined more than 20 other students who performed at Muir's talent show Wednesday evening in the school's auditorium.

Jackie Conley Middle school students kicked off the three-day weekend with a dance dedicated to love. More than 100 Luther Burbank Middle School students lined up outside the gymnasium after school let out Friday afternoon, eager to get inside for the Valentine's Day dance. "The good part about these dances is you actually get to ask a girl to go with you," said 11-year-old Stephen Flores. "But the bad part is when they reject you." Luther Burbank was one of three middle schools that celebrated Valentine's Day with dances, along with Muir and Jordan.

Jacqui Brown Frank Nay's 50-year love affair with the automobile might just be genetic. His father's membership in the horseless carriage club 'way back then' might have been the inspiration for Nay to become the president of the Burbank Road Kings in 1987, a position he has since retired from. The Road Kings have become notorious not only for their pristine, decked out hotrods and rat pack reputation, but also for their generous fundraising efforts.

SPORTS BRIEFS Girls' soccer team looking for players The SSV Burbank Soccer Club is looking for girls interested in playing competitive soccer. There is a team of players under 11 and a squad of players under 13. SSV Burbank is a member of the California Youth Soccer Assn. For more information, contact Alan Silvers at 848-7620. Linda Murphy volleyball camp Longtime Burroughs girls volleyball Coach Linda Murphy is conducting her annual camp next month.

Bits and pieces from the local sports scene: Vikings cheerleaders win competition : Although there were no titles won this season by the Burbank Vikings Youth Tackle Football program teams on the field, the organization had a cheerleading team that won a championship. The Senior squad performed its way to victory in the Pacific Youth Football League Cheerleading competition Sunday. Adding to the program's accomplishments, the Bantum and Junior squads took home second-place awards.

Karen S. Kim MEDIA DISTRICT NORTH -- Nikki Khoe, 7, wore a serious expression as she nimbly twisted her tiny, 3-foot-tall body into a back bend. From there, Khoe lifted her legs into the air and balanced for several seconds in a perfect handstand, her small but defined arm muscles taut with strain. "I like gymnastics," Khoe said. "Sometimes it hurts, but I like doing splits. They don't hurt at all." Khoe is a member of the Golden State Gymnastics Center, a nonprofit organization in Burbank run by volunteering parents of gymnasts in Burbank and Glendale.

I went to the school board meeting on July 19 because I knew there would be several people addressing the board regarding the John Burroughs High School Indian mascot. What happened is exactly what I thought would happen. Several Indians and other people spoke in favor of change, and several students and Burroughs graduates spoke in favor of keeping the Indian mascot. The side in favor of keeping the mascot felt that, in their hearts and with all honesty, they were honoring American Indians with this mascot.

MVP basketball camp scheduled Boys' and girls' basketball players who will be in fifth through eighth grade in September will get a chance to take part in the fifth annual MVP Summer Basketball Camp. The camp, sponsored by the Burbank Park, Recreation and Community Services Dept., will take place from 5:30-8:30 p.m. July 19-23 at Luther Burbank Middle School. The cost is $75 and the camp is limited to 65 athletes. The deadline to register is July 7. The event is run by longtime Park and Rec, Catholic Youth Organization and high school coach Mike Graceffo.

A young child in a gold-adorned white robe stood stage right bathed in a spotlight's glaring luminance. “And soon, the wise men came to the manger,” the haloed-tyke proclaimed. Pretty standard Christmas pageant stuff - until the angelic adolescent threw in a kicker: “…along with other assorted characters.” And assorted they were - from the traditional Gospel gathering of Mary, Joseph and a heavenly host of angels, to a Felliniesque flock that included Lady Gaga, Elton John, Abraham Lincoln, Las Vegas show girls, cheerleaders, cowpokes, hula dancers, Cap'n Crunch, Santa Claus, Bing Crosby, Charlie Brown and a “Star Wars” stormtrooper.

BURBANK — The line started a few minutes before cook-off and didn’t slow all morning. Hundreds of people wrapped around Tyerman’s Auto on Magnolia Boulevard and Beachwood Drive for the annual Kiwanis pancake breakfast. The event is expected to net Kiwanis, a global organization of volunteers, about $10,000, organizers said. “This is one of our big fundraisers,” said Bruce Varon, pancake chairmen and lead organizer. “This year we did it a little different.