Lake Elsinore

BURBANK — Thousands crammed into the Starlight Bowl for a set of Fourth of July performances and a fireworks spectacular Saturday funded by the city, even as it has struggled to cut costs during the recession. Children danced between picnic baskets and lawn chairs in the hill above the sold out venue, while grown-ups sipped wine and took in the sounds of the Burbank Philharmonic. As the three-hour event came to a close, the bowl’s lights were shut off and the crowd of more than 4,000 turned their gazes — and cameras — skyward for a $25,000 pyrotechnics show.

BURBANK — Thousands crammed into the Starlight Bowl for a set of Fourth of July performances and a fireworks spectacular Saturday funded by the city, even as it has struggled to cut costs during the recession. Children danced between picnic baskets and lawn chairs in the hill above the sold-out venue, while grown-ups sipped wine and took in the sounds of the Burbank Philharmonic. As the three-hour event came to a close, the bowl’s lights were shut off and the crowd of more than 4,000 turned their gazes — and cameras — skyward for a $25,000 pyrotechnics show.

Robert Blechl HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- While some were nursing hangovers and others were glued to their television sets watching the Tournament of Roses parade on New Year's Day, Douglas Beaton was taking in the first afternoon of 2000 from a different point of view. The Burbank resident, who will be 82 Monday, was 5,500 feet in the air. Beaton made the second skydive of his life above the arid terrain of Perris Valley, about 70 miles southeast of Los Angeles.

BURBANK ? There was a time when the Burroughs High girls' volleyball program was winning league championships and churning out top-notch players. Those successful teams helped the Indians garner their share of All-CIF Southern Section selections. Athletes like Debbie Penney, Many Ann Wagner, Tracy McCauley and Jennifer Wagner all earned All-CIF accolades. However, Burroughs has fallen on hard times the past few years, and the program endured a dry spell with CIF postseason awards.

Jeff Tully Burroughs High pitcher Brent Fekety would like nothing more than to stand on the mound at San Francisco's SBC Park, zero in on batter Barry Bonds, deliver a pitch and try to get one by the Giants' slugger. Although Fekety won't get a chance to face the prolific home-run hitter any time soon, he will get the opportunity to pitch in Bonds' home stadium, when the Indian hurler takes part in an event next week. Fekety, a senior, has been invited to compete in the 2004 Diamond King Elite World Series Monday through Wednesday at SBC Park.

BURBANK — Thousands crammed into the Starlight Bowl for a set of Fourth of July performances and a fireworks spectacular Saturday funded by the city, even as it has struggled to cut costs during the recession. Children danced between picnic baskets and lawn chairs in the hill above the sold-out venue, while grown-ups sipped wine and took in the sounds of the Burbank Philharmonic. As the three-hour event came to a close, the bowl’s lights were shut off and the crowd of more than 4,000 turned their gazes — and cameras — skyward for a $25,000 pyrotechnics show.

BURBANK — Thousands crammed into the Starlight Bowl for a set of Fourth of July performances and a fireworks spectacular Saturday funded by the city, even as it has struggled to cut costs during the recession. Children danced between picnic baskets and lawn chairs in the hill above the sold out venue, while grown-ups sipped wine and took in the sounds of the Burbank Philharmonic. As the three-hour event came to a close, the bowl’s lights were shut off and the crowd of more than 4,000 turned their gazes — and cameras — skyward for a $25,000 pyrotechnics show.