Lunch

Seems like everyone is trying to save money these days. Going out to eat is one extravagance that might be getting cut out of your monthly budget. Might I suggest using your “eating out” money at lunch time instead of dinner? Great deals can be had in the noon to 3 p.m. time slot, and you still get to enjoy the pleasure of good food and nice service. One of the best deals I’ve come across lately is the lunch special at Olivia Restaurant in Burbank. For $6.99, you get a kebab right off the grill, two appetizers, rice or salad and pita bread, plus table service in unique surroundings.

Tax break could run into lunch money Regarding “Crisis may take meals off menu,” Thursday: A possible way to make up lost revenue is to have retired people from the area donate their time to tutor or help out as janitors, office staff, etc., in the schools and to have their “pay” be the “school tax” deleted from their tax bill. The school would have no “out of pocket” costs or reduced costs for those services, and the retired people would get a tax break.

BURBANK — The state is running out of cash to support free and reduced-price school meals as demand has increased with the recession — a reality that has prompted concerns even in prepared local districts, officials said. State Supt. Jack O’Connell announced the funding problem Tuesday, when he urged lawmakers to find more money to pay for the growing number of applicants for the meal program. “The unprecedented demand for school meals is yet another example of how the economic downturn is causing many families in California to turn to schools to feed their children and stretch their grocery dollars,” O’Connell said in a statement.

Fewer participants in Burbank Unified School District’s free and reduced lunch program is a major reason for recent staff cuts and an increase in food prices, school officials said. Enrollment in the program dropped 3% from last fiscal year and resulted in a lack of revenue for the district’s budget, said Lori Ordway- Peck, assistant superintendent of business services. Board members announced at their June 3 meeting that food prices would increase next year at district schools.

BURBANK — The Board of Education unanimously voted on Tuesday to increase food prices at Burbank Unified schools. The cost for breakfast will go up 25 cents at elementary and high schools, while the meal program will be eliminated at middle schools. Lunch prices will go up 50 cents at all district schools. The increase is a result of the district’s food services program losing $325,000 in revenue last year as well as the climbing costs of fuel. The higher price of crude oil has led to an increase in the cost of basic food items such as bread by about 80%, which forced the board to amend its meal program.

BURBANK — Nearly 70 of the area’s hungry and needy filled Burbank’s Emmanuel Church auditorium Saturday for a free lunch and an opportunity to stock up on toiletries, canned goods and clothes. The meal was provided by staff members and congregants of Emmanuel and is part of a rotation of Burbank churches that provide monthly Saturday lunches as part of the Lord’s Kitchen program. “Our goal is to serve the hungry and treat our guests like they are dining in a fine restaurant,” Executive Pastor Bob Drumond said.

BURBANK — Nearly 70 of the area’s hungry and needy filled Burbank’s Emmanuel Church auditorium Saturday for a free lunch and an opportunity to stock up on toiletries, canned gods and clothes. The meal was provided by staff members and congregants of Emmanuel and is part of a rotation of Burbank churches that provide monthly Saturday lunches as part of the Lord’s Kitchen program. “Our goal is to serve the hungry and treat our guests like they are dining in a fine restaurant,” Executive Pastor Bob Drumond said.