Hillside

Laura Sturza City Council members agreed to snap up what they consider a bargain -- nearly three acres of hillside land at the end of Brace Canyon Road for less than $4,000. "We have a policy of looking at any property in the hillside area to buy it and preserve it as open space," Community Development Director Sue Georgino said. The council approved the purchase of the property from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy at its Tuesday meeting.

Ryan Carter Hikers on local hillsides have been joined by another recreational group, and they're none too happy about it. In the past two weeks, city ombudsman Bob Kramer and police have received complaints from residents about bow-and-arrow hunters in the Verdugo Mountains. "I don't think it's safe," said Cheryl Anglim, a Burbank resident and hiker. "There's too many people up on the roads for recreational purposes." As long as bow-and-arrow hunters are properly licensed and obey city laws, they are allowed to hunt in the hillside area, but that could change soon.

Laura Sturza Hillside residents are upset that a recent spate of development is robbing them of the views they treasure, but there is little they can do to stop it. "Homeowners association [members] are up in arms," said Wajid Hassan, vice president of the board of directors for a building of townhomes on Palm Avenue adjacent to a proposed five-story townhouse com- plex. "We are one of the few townhouses in the area with a view of the Verdugo hills."

Art in the Verdugo Mountains HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- The Nature's Artists Club begins at 11 a.m. today at Stough Canyon Nature Center. The club is open to people 10 and older interested in drawing, photographing, sculpting or painting in the peaceful and scenic Verdugo Mountains. "Oak trees and our sycamores are losing their leaves, but not a lot," Recreation Supervisor Carol Mercado said. "The oak tree is getting acorns, and the squirrels and scrub jays are going for the acorns."

Ryan Carter Hillside residents, angered at what they said has been incessant partying and trashing of their block during the last year, plan to show up en masse at Tuesday's City Council to air their grievances. "I've lived up here for 10 years, and we've always had a certain amount of kids coming up here to make out and drink, but in the last year, we've been discovered by a lot kids," resident Jef Norton said. Norton and other residents said that during the past year on Country Club Drive, a street that dead-ends in a cul-de-sac near a secluded canyon, has become a spot for careless outsiders, most of whom are teens.

HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- The Burbank High School Class of 2002 held its commencement exercises Friday evening in the rustic setting of the Starlight Bowl high above the city. High school sweethearts Mario Mohan, 18, and Nadia Bowman, 17, held hands as they walked up the hillside to take their places in the procession. The couple, who will both enter Pasadena City College in the fall, admitted they were scared. "On the drive up here, no one said anything," Mario said.

Ryan Carter HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- As local beachgoers hop in their cars and head toward the sand this summer, some slithery serpents from the hillside will also be looking to do a little sunbathing. Summer season is rattlesnake season. "This is the time of year when rattlesnakes start down from the hill looking for water," Burbank Animal Shelter Acting Supt. Claudia Madrid said. That means residents in the hillside district and hikers on local trails should beware of the snakes, and to leave them alone, Madrid said.

Amber Willard HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- A 17-year-old Burbank boy is facing charges that he punched and kicked his grandmother. The boy, who was arrested Tuesday after his grandmother told hospital officials about the incident, was taken to a juvenile hall in Sylmar. The 78-year-old woman, who lived with the boy and his parents in the 300 block of East Providencia Avenue, needed stitches above her eye following the beating. She told police she was sitting in a chair praying at the time of the attack Tuesday afternoon.

Laura Sturza HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- Sunset Canyon Drive homeowners are unhappy with the results of a traffic-diversion program they say has contributed to a traffic increase on their street. Representatives from the Sunset Canyon Citizen's Committee have asked City Council to reassess the diversion program, which is part of a broader Neighborhood Protection Plan. In addition, locals see the need for greater traffic controls since they said cars regularly speed over the posted limits.

Karen S. Kim HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- Burbank is trying to purchase about 3.5 acres of land up for auction next week in the hillside district where a debris basin -- a large pit of branches, rocks, dirt and mud -- now stands. A debris basin is used to collect excess rainwater that runs off the hillside during heavy rain. Burbank has dozens of debris basins throughout the hills, Public Works Director Bruce Feng said. "If we didn't have the debris basin, then the water would overflow the storm pipe," Feng said.