Israel

Woman's Club honors students as good citizens Julia Larsen, president of the Burbank Woman's Club, presented 20 Good Citizenship awards to middle-school students at a luncheon at Genio's Restaurant. Sixth-graders Alexis Garcia, Annie Green, Marley Marra and Kayla Reyes; seventh-graders Roxana Alonso and Alica Seta; and eighth-graders Alexandria Aguilera and Jennifer Israel from David Starr Jordan Middle School were honored. Sixth-graders Olivia Blomberg and Valery Vasquez; seventh-grader Esther Chung; and eighth-grader Mary Beth Medina from John Muir Middle School were honored.

A s Israel remembers its victories over Arab armies 40 years ago this month in the Six-Day War, peace is fragile and at times doesn't seem to exist in the region. And recent fighting between Hamas and Fatah, in Israel's Gaza Strip — land Israel gained in the war — has reportedly put a dent in some hopes that Palestinians and Israelis can ever live side-by-side, given Hamas' call for the destruction of Israel. What are your thoughts on the prospects for peace in this region?

Surrounded by his players and members of the cheerleading squad, Burroughs High School Head Football Coach Keith Knoop looked out over a sea of classic cars covering the grass of Johnny Carson Park during last week's John Burroughs High School Annual Car Show. “This is the 25th anniversary of this event, which is one of our biggest fundraisers of the year,” said Knoop. “It's always a tremendous event and our football program would simply be non-existent if it wasn't for what the Arrowhead Club does to support us.” While the John Burroughs High School Booster Arrowhead Club works all year long to ensure the funding that keeps the Indians on the field of Memorial Stadium, they gear-up and go into overdrive for their annual car show.

Molly Shore MAGNOLIA PARK -- Walt Disney Elementary School resembled a miniature United Nations Tuesday night when children and adults joined in the school's 11th annual Multicultural Night. The event is the school's largest during the year, Principal Linda Reksten said. The event celebrates the diversity of world cultures as participants show up in ethnic costumes and families bring foods of their native lands for a giant potluck dinner. Music teacher Robyn Kreisberg directed the entertainment portion of the evening.

Ryan Carter BURBANK -- Whether it be in a local service or discussion group, local Jews are talking about the escalating conflict and violence in the Middle East. Many support Israel's actions, but divergent views have gone into the dialogue. "They are killing each other with weapons we supply," said Burbank Temple Emanu El Rabbi Paula Reimers, also the president of the Burbank Ministerial Assn. "I don't support anybody who wants to encourage suicide bombings, but on the other hand I don't believe this invasion was the way to solve that problem."

BOYS' SOCCER Burroughs 1, Harvard-Westlake 0: The visiting Indians improved to 4-3-1 on Friday with a nonleague victory against the Wolverines. Burroughs scored the lone goal in the 50th minute when Justin Zepeda found the back of the net on an assist from James Cullen after a throw-in. Indian goalkeeper Tony Castro made seven saves in recording the shutout. BOYS' BASKETBALL Burbank freshmen 51, San Marino freshmen 33: The Bulldogs won the third-place game Friday in the San Marino Tournament.

Laura Sturza Rabbi Paula Reimers and her former Temple Emanu El congregants are not unique in ending their relationship because of ideological differences. But in her case, Reimers did not welcome the change. Her last day was July 31, when her contract ended. "I loved that congregation," Reimers said. "I served for seven years, and I really cared about them." As a result of Reimers having spoken against human-rights violations in Israel and elsewhere, members of the temple's board of directors let her know she should "stay away from politics," Temple President Rachel Robbins said.

BURBANK -- Before donning their caps and gowns, students across California now face one last test before they can go. Burbank students are by no means unfamiliar with the California High School Exit Exam, although it has not been a requirement for students until this year. "The current 12th-graders have all had numerous opportunities to take it in 10th grade," said Joel Shapiro, the assistant superintendent of instructional services for the Burbank Unified School District.

Ghosts recently filled Glendale?s famed Alex Theatre as Musical Theatre Guild presented a staged reading of ?High Spirits,? the 1964 musical version of Noel Coward?s urbane comedy ?Blithe Spirit.? Under the expert tutelage of director Richard Israel, this company of 11, touting regional and Broadway credits galore, presented an amazing, one-night-only evening of entertainment. Headlining the list of earthly beings in this chamber musical were Damon Kirsche and Teri Bibb as mystery writer Charles Condimine and his second wife, Ruth.

Maya Kukes NORTHWEST DISTRICT -- Nineteen-year-old Diana Gutierrez was just a few credits shy of graduating from high school in Mexico when her mother fell ill with terminal cancer. She left school to help care for her. J.J. Hernandez, 33, finished high school in Mexico, but the credits did not transfer to a diploma in the U.S. He went to Fairfax High School in Hollywood for about a year but dropped out in 1991. It just wasn't the right time, he said.