Dinner

Joyce Rudolph The competition was stiff during the first Tennis Ball dinner dance. But no one was near a court. Instead, a superb array of silent auction gifts kept guests running back and forth to the bidding sheets during the fundraiser for the Family Service Agency, now known as Families First in Burbank. City Manager Mary Alvord was mistress of ceremonies and welcomed the more than 200 guests to the Oct. 8 event at The Castaway. A steak-and-salmon dinner was served and dance music was provided by the band Orange Colored Sky. Mayor Marsha Ramos presented Kermit Floyd, president of the board of directors, with a Mayor's Commendation for his financial guidance of the agency.

How many of us plod home after a long day's work, or a long day of anything, for that matter, stand in front of the refrigerator in a fog-like stupor and hope something will jump out at us that's easy and quick to prepare? Like many other working people, when I come home from a full day, the last thing I want to do is worry about creating some fabulous dinner in a short amount of time. Enter Dream Dinners. Founded in 2002 by two working mothers in Washington, their mission was to bring the family meals back around the dinner table with the least amount of effort.

DOWNTOWN — Hundreds of people braved the cold and a downpour Wednesday as they stood in line to get a hot plate of turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy at the Burbank Salvation Army’s annual Thanksgiving dinner. Burbank resident Maria Nelson, 79, rode the bus and walked in the rain from her senior home to get a portion of Thanksgiving trimmings. Her clothes were soaking, and she stuffed her shoes with paper towels. Nelson was first in line for the dinner. But while her trip to the organization’s facility at 300 E. Angeleno Ave. was challenging, she said she didn’t mind because she was with her friends from the senior home, and knew she would be eating a delicious meal.

Laura Sturza BURBANK -- Nearly 100 homebound senior adults had a complete, hot Thanksgiving dinner delivered to their home Thursday by Boy Scouts and other community volunteers. The McShane family has been volunteering with the program for four years. Carol McShane, 44, said she sees the deliveries as "a real education," because her 15-year-old son, J.P., doesn't have the opportunity to interact with older people very much. J.P. is a scout with Burbank Troop 209. "We see a part of our community that otherwise remains hidden," she said.

Robert Blechl AIRPORT DISTRICT -- The California Rangers Regiment, Post I and II, will hold its 56th annual Awards Dinner and Regimental Ball Feb. 26 at the Burbank Hilton. Doors open at 7 p.m. and dinner starts at 7:20 p.m. Beginning at 8:30 p.m. awards, promotions, and scholarship recipients will be announced, and the 2000 Miss California Ranger will be named. The California Rangers is composed of boy and girls 9 to 17. It is designed to foster responsibility, character, discipline, leadership and initiative through military drill maneuvers on horseback.

DOWNTOWN — Hundreds of people braved the cold and a downpour of rain Wednesday as they stood in line to get a hot plate of turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy at the Burbank Salvation Army’s annual Thanksgiving dinner. Burbank resident Maria Nelson, 79, rode the bus and walked in rain from her senior home to get a portion of Thanksgiving trimming. Her clothes were soaking, and she stuffed her shoes with paper towels because water had entered them. Nelson was first in line for the dinner.

The Providence St. Joseph Medical Center Guild will have its annual Fall Dinner Dance, "Autumn Gala," on Oct. 15 at Lakeside Golf Club. Honored guest is Dr. Raul Mena, who has treated cancer patients from all over the world at Providence St Joseph Medical Center for 24 years and is also involved in cancer research. Music will be provided by Victor Cisneros Orchestra and entertainment by Dale Gonyea. Proceeds go to the guild's $1 million pledge for the Roy and Patricia Disney Cancer Center.

BURBANK ? Adam Durigh, a 25-year-old laid-off trucker from Nebraska, had never been in a shelter before going to the Burbank National Guard Armory a week ago. Having made the hard choice to house his 1-year-old son with the father of his ex-wife, Durigh came to the shelter out of desperation and pragmatism. ?There just wasn?t enough room at my father-in-law?s,? he said Monday night, as guests at the shelter prepared to eat a steak dinner Union Rescue Mission prepared for the holidays.

Rosette Gonzales Drama instructor Brooks Gardner called "curtain" and Maria Markarian took two steps onto the stage before tripping. "Hold," Gardner said. "That's why we want to be practicing in the shoes we're wearing in the show." Monday was the first "run-through" rehearsal for Burbank High School's spring play, "The Man Who Came to Dinner." Theater Department students recited their lines with professional ease, but the rehearsal allowed them to iron out a few last-minute kinks before the show opens at 7 p.m. Thursday.