Commerce

For the past 80 years, the Burbank Chamber of Commerce has worked to promote local economic growth, prosperity and goodwill. It has done this by serving as a conduit between diverse Burbank-based businesses, local, state and federal government, the at-large community and outside entities in search of everything from business licensing and tax information, to hotel recommendations and tickets for "The Tonight Show. " The Chamber of Commerce staff, ambassadors, and members gathered at the West Magnolia Boulevard offices of Priority One Credit Union for their July After Hours Mixer this past Thursday evening.

The Burbank Chamber of Commerce has received numerous reports from local chambers across the country warning of two phony companies calling themselves the Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Federal Chamber of Commerce. Neither one is affiliated with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a spokesperson from the Burbank chamber said, and the two fraudulent organizations are suspected to be related. Their method is to call local businesses, verify contact information and subsequently mail an invoice for $389 without the business' prior knowledge or consent.

THURSDAY The Burbank Chamber of Commerce will have its Business Connection Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. at the Castaway at 1250 Harvard Road. Don Schilling of Don Schilling & Associates will be the featured speaker. For infor- mation, call (818) 846-3111. FEB. 17 Las Casistas Assisted Living will have a Burbank Chamber of Commerce new member ribbon cutting at 5:30 p.m. and an open house from 5 to 7 p.m. at 1645 N. Hollywood Way. For more information, call (818)

Former Pasadena Chamber of Commerce takes over as president of Burbank chamber.DOWNTOWN BURBANK -- Heading an organization with a large membership is nothing new for Rich Roche. As former chairman of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, Roche is bringing his experience to the helm of the Burbank chamber, where he hopes to make the organization a better advocate for businesses in the city. Roche took over as chamber president on Jan. 1 and is ready to set direction and goals to better serve the business community of the city.

Chamber needs items for silent auction BURBANK -- The Burbank Chamber of Commerce, along with NBC, The Walt Disney Company and Warner Bros., is asking businesses and the public to donate items for its fund-raiser. All donated gifts will be auctioned off at the "Red & White Ball" on Jan. 23 at the Universal Sheraton Hotel in Universal City. All contributions will be recognized in the silent auction catalog at the dinner and in the Burbank Business Journal.

Burbank resident Lin Bickelmann, founder and chief executive of Encore Artists Management, will receive the Talent Manager?s Assn. Manager of the Year award. The award is scheduled to be presented Sept. 19 by the Talent Manager?s Assn. at its sixth annual Seymour Heller Awards dinner. Bickelmann, a member of the Burbank Chamber of Commerce, founded Encore Artists Management in 1996. Encore is a professional talent management and production company that provides representation and career guidance to actors, directors, producers and writers.

TODAY Burbank Toastmasters, an organization dedicated to improving public speaking skills and confidence, will meet at noon at the Burbank Chamber of Commerce, 200 W. Magnolia Blvd. For more information, call (818) 566-7894. THURSDAY Make the most of the lunch hour by joining the Burbank Chamber of Commerce at its monthly Business Connection Luncheon. Networking starts at 11:30 a.m. and lunch is at noon at the Castaway, 1250 Harvard Road.

Dr. Richard Merkin, president and chief executive of Marina Del Rey-based Heritage Provider Network, has been honored by the Burbank Chamber of Commerce for his contribution to health care in Los Angeles County. Gary Olson, president and chief executive of the Burbank Chamber of Commerce, honored Merkin in recognition of his "outstanding contributions to the healthcare of the residents of Burbank and Los Angeles County." In 2009, Burbank-based Lakeside HealthCare was purchased by Heritage Provider Network, creating a medical group that will serve more than 600,000 patients, according to the company.

District should keep driver's ed Back in the late 1970s at Burroughs High School, one of the best classes to take was driver's education in 10th-grade summer school. What made it even better was that Mr. Grimes was our teacher. It makes me chuckle when I think of what he must have put up with in the local recreation parking lot. Starting, stopping, slamming on the brakes, trying to parallel park and laughing when it was someone else's turn. I remember the sweat on my palms when I had to sit in the driver's seat, while my patient teacher sat in the passenger seat.

For the past 80 years, the Burbank Chamber of Commerce has worked to promote local economic growth, prosperity and goodwill. It has done this by serving as a conduit between diverse Burbank-based businesses, local, state and federal government, the at-large community and outside entities in search of everything from business licensing and tax information, to hotel recommendations and tickets for "The Tonight Show. " The Chamber of Commerce staff, ambassadors, and members gathered at the West Magnolia Boulevard offices of Priority One Credit Union for their July After Hours Mixer this past Thursday evening.

Dr. Richard Merkin, president and chief executive of Marina Del Rey-based Heritage Provider Network, has been honored by the Burbank Chamber of Commerce for his contribution to health care in Los Angeles County. Gary Olson, president and chief executive of the Burbank Chamber of Commerce, honored Merkin in recognition of his "outstanding contributions to the healthcare of the residents of Burbank and Los Angeles County." In 2009, Burbank-based Lakeside HealthCare was purchased by Heritage Provider Network, creating a medical group that will serve more than 600,000 patients, according to the company.

AIRPORT DISTRICT — The Federal Aviation Administration announced Monday that it has rejected the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority’s application for flight curfews at Bob Hope Airport. The long-awaited decision deals a major blow to the thousands of residents who have fought for a nighttime noise curfew since the 1970s. The airport authority’s proposal — nine years and $7 million in the making — would have banned air traffic at Bob Hope Airport between 10 p.m. and 6:59 a.m., with exceptions for emergency flights and medical aircraft.

AIRPORT DISTRICT — The Federal Aviation Administration announced Monday that it has rejected the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority’s application for noise relief at Bob Hope Airport. The long-awaited decision deals a major blow to the thousands of residents who have fought for a nighttime noise curfew since the 1970s. The airport authority’s proposal — nine years and $7 million in the making — would have forbid air traffic at Bob Hope Airport between 10 p.m. and 6:59 a.m., with exceptions for emergency flights and medical aircraft.

BURBANK ? A two-month Writers Guild of America strike, which has severely altered the entertainment landscape and dented the local economy, could be over by next week, sources said Monday. Over the weekend, rumors swirled that the writers guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers were close to a deal. Neither side commented, preferring to abide by the press blackout during the informal meetings, but sources familiar with the negotiations said that progress was made and a resolution could be completed by Feb. 15. ?

BURBANK — A two-month Writers Guild of America strike, which has severely altered the entertainment landscape and dented the local economy, could be over by next week, sources said Monday. Over the weekend, rumors swirled that the writers guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers were close to a deal. Neither side commented, preferring to abide by the press blackout during the informal meetings, but sources familiar with the negotiations said that progress was made and a resolution could be completed by Feb. 15. “The consensus is that all the major roadblocks are out of the way,” said Gary Olson, president of the Burbank Chamber of Commerce.

Burbank resident Lin Bickelmann, founder and chief executive of Encore Artists Management, will receive the Talent Manager?s Assn. Manager of the Year award. The award is scheduled to be presented Sept. 19 by the Talent Manager?s Assn. at its sixth annual Seymour Heller Awards dinner. Bickelmann, a member of the Burbank Chamber of Commerce, founded Encore Artists Management in 1996. Encore is a professional talent management and production company that provides representation and career guidance to actors, directors, producers and writers.

Former Pasadena Chamber of Commerce takes over as president of Burbank chamber.DOWNTOWN BURBANK -- Heading an organization with a large membership is nothing new for Rich Roche. As former chairman of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, Roche is bringing his experience to the helm of the Burbank chamber, where he hopes to make the organization a better advocate for businesses in the city. Roche took over as chamber president on Jan. 1 and is ready to set direction and goals to better serve the business community of the city.

TODAY Burbank Toastmasters, an organization dedicated to improving public speaking skills and confidence, will meet at noon at the Burbank Chamber of Commerce, 200 W. Magnolia Blvd. For more information, call (818) 566-7894. THURSDAY Make the most of the lunch hour by joining the Burbank Chamber of Commerce at its monthly Business Connection Luncheon. Networking starts at 11:30 a.m. and lunch is at noon at the Castaway, 1250 Harvard Road.