Magnolia Park

The installation of new officers and directors of the Magnolia Park Optimist Club for the 2010-11 year was held on Sept. 16 at the Elks club. Former Lt. Gov. Jim Lloyd first retired the outgoing officers — President Terry Scott , and board members, Ernine Larson, Vonda Neundorf, Tony Magnante, Kent Warner, Bill Bertrand and Jesse Fox . Outgoing President, Terry Scott was greatly complimented as he met all his goals, including increased...

DOWNTOWN — In a year marked by sluggish sales and a depressed job market, the city’s two main business districts still attracted new ventures into empty storefronts, according to a year-end report. The Downtown Burbank and Magnolia Park partnerships continued to serve as drivers in the city’s quest to promote economic development, particularly as holiday shopping figures fell again this winter. Fourth-quarter receipts in 2009 were down 12.5% compared with the same period in 2008, but officials said several factors, including refunds of taxes paid over multiyear periods, skewed the data.

Armin Reyes needed some tire work for his bicycle. A line had formed around the bike tune-up area along the Chandler Bikeway. Because of the waiting, Reyes suspected his family had ridden into Magnolia Park. “They’re probably off for cookies or ice cream,” he said. “[Or] the scavenger hunt, the free grub, Porto’s.” By Saturday evening, between 400 and 600 bike riders had rolled through Magnolia Park on the Egg-Cellent Magnolia Bicycle Tour, a bike ride and scavenger hunt, with free bike tune-ups and safety tips.

Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo had hoped for years to get married, but as they watched anti-same-sex marriage campaign material proliferate in their Burbank community, the obstacles facing them became clear. More than a dozen “Yes on 8” signs — supporting the 2008 initiative that would define marriage as a union between a man and a woman — cropped up in one neighbor’s yard as the election approached. “It was a slap in the face every time you left for work, and it was a slap in the face every time you came home,” Katami said.

Magnolia Park business owners and nearby residents are no doubt breathing a sigh of relief today on news that the U.S. Postal Service reached an 11th-hour lease agreement for their branch office there. The Postal Service had been planning on closing the branch at 3810 W. Magnolia Blvd. this week, but that was before it reached an agreement with the landlord that would keep what community members called an office “from the olden days” at the site, if not temporarily.

I don’t know what’s up with the Magnolia Park Developers, but as a longtime pedestrian on the boulevard in the area, it has taken an unforgivable amount of time to get more exciting and varied stores and eateries in the area. Sadly, Magnolia Park has never been built up to its full potential. There are only a handful of stores when there could be many more. A couple of more antique stores would be nice. On Sundays, many stores appear to be closed, and those that are open, I can easily count on one hand, give or take one or two. I am sad, disgusted and fed up with businesses failing to thrive here, and a couple of residents I spoke to say they even got mailers asking what kinds of businesses they would like to see in the area.

Magnolia Park merchants are as busy as elves, trimming their windows with garland and twinkling lights and baking goodies to share Friday night during the Holiday in the Park. The more than 20-year tradition is an open house for area businesses and the kickoff for the holiday shopping season. It is coordinated by the Magnolia Park Partnership, a group of property owners in the business district. There will be live entertainment every half-hour during the event from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. on a stage on Magnolia Boulevard and Lima Street, said Gail Stewart, business district manager for the Magnolia Park Partnership.