Downtown Burbank

TODAY The Stough Canyon Nature Center is hosting a moderate fitness hike at 6:30 p.m. starting at the nature center, 2300 Walnut Ave., Burbank. For more information, call (818) 238-5440. ? The Glendale Parks Recreation and Community Services Department will have a Cuban Salsa night featuring the band Charangoa from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the north end of Verdugo Park, 1621 Cañada Blvd., Glendale. Guests should bring a picnic dinner, folding chairs or blankets for seating.

Send DATEBOOK items to Burbank Leader, 221 N. Brand Blvd., 2nd Floor, Glendale, CA 91203 or fax to (818) 241-1975. Submissions must be received two weeks before publication. ? TODAY Starlight Bowl will offer an evening of music, patriotism and fireworks from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.starlightbowl.com. ? THURSDAY Downtown Burbank Free Summer Concert series starts today and continues every Thursday night thereafter in July and August on the AMC Walkway at Palm Avenue and San Fernando Boulevard in Downtown Burbank.

Burbank, like every other American city, is an ever-changing place. Some changes are great — like the revitalization of Downtown Burbank, while some we mourn — like the loss of those great chile rellenos at El Chiquito and the late night jazz and nightcaps at Chadney’s. One other thing that has stood the test of time in our city is the camaraderie and charitable contributions of the Road Kings of Burbank. Established in 1952 as a racing club, the Road Kings membership has included some of drag racing’s most famous such as Don Prudhomme, Tommy Ivo, Ken Safford, George Sakora, Owen Engle, Denny Cross, Nick Sfetsku, Joel Embick, Ed Drugmond, Bill Loven, Don “The Beachcoomer” Johnson and Frank Ney. As they have done for the past two decades, the Road Kings of Burbank rolled into Johnny Carson Park for their 20th annual Picnic and Car Show on Sunday.

DOWNTOWN — Burbank and Glendale unified school district officials reacted with cautious optimism Monday to an announcement that they’d be receiving a combined $11 million in federal stimulus money, citing the ongoing fiscal crisis in Sacramento as a major impediment. The money — about $4 million for Burbank Unified and $7 million for Glendale Unified — can be used freely for general-fund expenditures and is in addition to the combined total of about $16.1 million the districts will receive for designated purposes, according to the California Department of Education.

DOWNTOWN — Burbank and Glendale unified school district officials expect to lose tens of millions of dollars over the next three years and may be faced with the prospect of making layoffs, but neither district has pursued a track for cutting costs that Los Angeles Unified officials planned to approve Tuesday. The Los Angeles Unified School District has offered early-retirement incentives, commonly referred to as “golden handshakes,” to its teachers and planned to extend the same offer to non-teaching employees in an effort to encourage older, higher-salaried workers to vacate their positions and save the district money.

ON THE AGENDA The following items will be discussed at Tuesday?s Burbank City Council meeting: ? The City Council on Tuesday is slated to consider appointing 16 residents to the Child Care Committee, a group charged with responding to individual child care concerns and issues around Burbank. The nominees include retired educators and members of the Burbank YMCA. WHAT TO EXPECT The 16 applicants are expected to be assigned to the post, which lasts one year.

Great food, live entertainment and perfect weather made for another successful Taste of Downtown Burbank on Thursday evening. It was a win-win situation for everyone involved. More than 2,000 people sampled delectable cuisine from the top dining establishments in the downtown area. Thirty-plus restaurants flaunted their best dishes. And proceeds made from ticket sales will allow the Burbank Community YMCA to provide scholarships for memberships and other programs for those in need.