Hopefuls

Robert Blechl BURBANK -- Local church leaders may have different views about whether Easter in the year 2000 carries special significance for worshipers, but they agree on one thing: the observance of Jesus Christ's resurrection will be on of the most important spiritual days of the year for their congregants. Father Ron Raab of St. Francis Xavier Church said Easter lay at the core of all Christian denominations. "Many people think Christmas is the most important feast of the Christian faith, but it's not," Raab said.

Robert Blechl TOLUCA LAKE -- It was worth a look. "Someone grabbed a cat, took it into their apartment and called me there to look at it," said Ruth Downes. "It was a natural lead." But it wasn't Garfield. Downes lost Garfield, her cat of 12 years, when he wandered away from the Oakwood Apartments on Barham Boulevard April 25. She has since posted a $10,000 reward for his return and spent every day searching for him. An article that appeared in Saturday's Leader has prompted three phone calls of support, Downes said.

Laura Sturza In advocating protections for the state's air, Todd Campbell is accustomed to working to make life better for people in his community. The City Council candidate and policy director for the Coalition for Clean Air wants to put his experience to use to maintain and improve services in the city where he was raised. "I'm third generation Burbank," Campbell said. "My grandmother worked for the city for 26 years, and retired as secretary to City Manager Joe Baker."

Jeff Tully At the 24th annual Clovis Invitational, the Burbank High boys' cross-country team was hoping it wasn't the last time it would be able to run on the Woodward Park course in Fresno. That's because the CIF-State Cross-Country Championships will be held at the same spot Nov. 30. As well as the Bulldogs ran in Saturday's invitational, they just might have a shot at returning to the event they qualified for in 2000. In the boys' Championship race, Burbank finished 16th with a cumulative team time of 84 minutes 36 seconds on the three-mile course.

Jeff Tully BURBANK -- Last year at this time, Providence High boys' volleyball Coach Andrew Bencze was in London studying for his master's degree. In his absence, the Pioneers put together a fine playoff run, advancing to the CIF Southern Section Division V quarterfinals, losing to eventual champion -- and No. 1-ranked -- San Juan Capistrano St. Margaret's, 17-15, 15-11, 15-9. Now Bencze is back, and ready to keep the Pioneer success rolling. "It's been nice to get back into it," Bencze said.

PROVIDENCE HIGH — The Bellarmine-Jefferson High boys' volleyball team was hoping to make a positive statement with its play in the 14th annual Providence Tournament. Playing against a tough Cathedral team, the Guards were determined to make a point in a first-round match Thursday. Although Bell-Jeff likely accomplished its goal, it would have preferred to have done so with a victory. The Guards fought back from a one-game deficit and pushed the Phantoms to the brink in the deciding game, only to fall in a 25-19, 18-25, 15-13, opening-season loss in the match at Providence High.

MEMORIAL FIELD — A three-game skid that had bogged down the Burroughs High football team’s season earlier this year is a distant memory now, both for the Indians themselves and for any team unfortunate enough to get in their way. The resurgent Indians continued their recent winning ways, dominating Glendale, 54-13, on Thursday night to clinch a postseason berth for the third straight season. The blowout win was Burroughs’ fourth in a row, a span in which the Indians have won by an average margin of 40.5 points, and it ensured the team a fourth-place finish in league at worst.

CITY HALL — Bob Hope’s enduring legacy shone through the council Tuesday night as Burbank’s governing body unanimously approved revised plans for a center dedicated to the former entertainer. The Bob Hope Centre, to be built on a triangular parcel of land across the street from NBC and bounded by Olive Avenue, Alameda Avenue and Lima Street, will feature more than 100,000 square feet of office space, nearly 300 parking spaces and a park where a museum and theater were once planned.

AIRPORT DISTRICT — Passenger and cargo revenues are down this spring by as much as 40% at Bob Hope Airport. Passenger revenues from January to April for United Airlines have declined by nearly 42%, and US Airways is down 20%, according to an airport report released Monday at the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority. During the same time period, Federal Express and United Parcel Service cargo revenues each dropped 36%. Cargo revenues are down because more people are e-mailing documents, Airport Authority President Charles Lombardo said.