Michael Hastings

'Tis the season for friends and family to come a-calling and mistletoeing, to exchange gifts and holiday greetings, to host parties and other sundry fa-la-la-laing. Keeping with that tradition, the Cusumano Real Estate Group hosted their annual holiday soiree at Another Broken Egg Café this past week. Always well-attended by the Burbank governmental and business communities along with longtime Cusumano friends and associates, guests were welcomed to the downtown eatery by hosts, the company's principals Chuck, Roger and Michael Cusumano, and hostesses, Roger's wife, Evelyn, and Michael's wife, Caroline.

It's enough to make a grown man or woman cry. The Restore our Airport Rights Initiative (ROAR) was thrown a blow below the belt when it was rejected by the Burbank City Clerk. The disqualification was based on a technicality, "The group did not adequately identify its supporters." This is not Burbank's first controversy on the legality of petitions. Let me refresh your memory. In his final bid for reelection, Councilman Michael Hastings submitted petitions signed, "under the penalty of perjury", that he had "witnessed the signing of the signatures."

Mark R. Madler The union representing Burbank Police officers has kicked off a drive to raise money for a museum linked with a national memorial to officers killed in the line of duty. The first donation of $10,000 was given Friday from Crown Realty & Development Corp., owner of the Burbank Town Center mall, formerly known as the Media City Center Mall. The Burbank Police Officers Assn. has targeted $100,000 as its goal by next summer, said its president, Officer Mike Parrinello.

Joyce Rudolph Officials believe they made more than $20,000 at Saturday's concert starring Josh Kelley at the Starlight Bowl and say they already have other fundraisers in the works. There were 2,300 tickets sold, and between 1,500 and 2,000 people attended, said Michael Hastings, chairman of the Burbank Priority In Education Foundation. "We know we will probably net, all funds going directly to the schools, north of $20,000 after bills are paid," he said.

Jackson Bell Michael Hastings is one of those residents who want to help Burbank schools cope with financial insecurity. Hastings, a former Burbank mayor, is organizing a select group of parents, community members and former students intent on seeing students and teachers prosper. The group, which numbers about 40, recently attended the inaugural meeting of the Burbank Priority in Education Foundation, an organization created to raise additional funds and materials for classrooms affected by state and local budget cuts.

A flurry of fundraising took place in Burbank this past weekend as supporters of the Foothill Civitan Club of Burbank, The Boys & Girls Club of Burbank and Providence High School convened for their annual galas. The Foothill Civitan Club of Burbank presented its 26th annual luncheon and fashion show under the theme of “Fly Away, Fly Away Home” in the Mountain View Room of The Castaway. Co-Chaired by Karen Hubbard and Jenice McGlynn , the afternoon’s main event was presided over by mistress of ceremonies Beverlee Broggie and highlighted fashions provided by Annie’s Scandal of Montrose.

On behalf of my stellar city of Burbank/BUSD Fields Renovation Committee, and our “Celebrate Gratitude” Campaign, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Walt Disney Co. for their generous contribution of $50,000 to fund a new, state-of-the-art scoreboard for the soon-to-be rebuilt John Burroughs High School Memorial Field Stadium. Joan McCarthy, their dynamic and very involved director of community relations, presented the check to the Burbank Unified School District Board of Education Aug. 20. Following her remarks, the school board was quick to recognize the continued efforts and support of the Walt Disney Co. in our community, and how grateful we all are for their constant involvement on all levels in our schools.

Josh Kleinbaum When Michael Hastings called the Hope family in New York late one night this week, he was not concerned about waking them. Sure, it was late, even later back East, and the Hopes had a busy week ahead -- Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade would honor their father, Bob, the late entertainer from Toluca Lake. But they wanted to know. Was it official? Was Burbank- Glendale-Pasadena Airport now known as Bob Hope Airport? "They didn't care what hour, they wanted to know," said Hastings, the former Burbank mayor who represents the Hope family.

Mark R. Madler The NBC Studios were never in "beautiful downtown Burbank," but that never stopped Tonight Show host Johnny Carson's good-natured ribbing of the city from where he broadcast. Carson died Sunday at his home in Malibu. He was 79. When Carson stepped down as the king of late-night talk shows in 1992, the city did its part to recognize how he brought Burbank to the world by renaming a park next to the studios in his honor. "That's why we name things for people," said Michael Hastings, who was mayor at the time of the park dedication in April 1992.

A year after breaking ground on a $12-million overhaul of Memorial Field, Burbank Unified is preparing to dedicate the athletic facility. District officials have issued an open invitation for the Feb. 25 ribbon-cutting ceremony at Burroughs High School, while also continuing to solicit donations for the ongoing maintenance of the field. Community members who wish to have their name inscribed on one of five donor walls at the site in time for the event must contribute at least $500 by Jan. 30, officials said.

'Tis the season for friends and family to come a-calling and mistletoeing, to exchange gifts and holiday greetings, to host parties and other sundry fa-la-la-laing. Keeping with that tradition, the Cusumano Real Estate Group hosted their annual holiday soiree at Another Broken Egg Café this past week. Always well-attended by the Burbank governmental and business communities along with longtime Cusumano friends and associates, guests were welcomed to the downtown eatery by hosts, the company's principals Chuck, Roger and Michael Cusumano, and hostesses, Roger's wife, Evelyn, and Michael's wife, Caroline.

More than a decade of planning and fundraising came to a head Monday as elected officials and community leaders crowded John Burroughs High School Memorial Field to break ground on a long-awaited $12-million renovation of the site. "It is a wonderful feeling, especially for the school district and the community who have worked on this for such a long time," said Burbank Unified Supt. Stan Carrizosa. The renovation of Memorial Field is the third in an $18.5-million, three-phase capital improvement project designed to modernize decrepit athletic facilities at Jordan Middle School, and Burbank and Burroughs high schools.

The Catholic Community of St. Finbar Church presented its 2009 Harvester of Faith Awards to Los Angeles Police Department Chaplain the Rev. Michael McCullough Michael McCullough and Burbank Mayor Gary Bric at the seventh annual Harvest Ball on Friday. Staged at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, this yearly event raises funds for the St. Finbar Parish School that opened in 1945 under the administration of the Sisters of Providence. A highlight of the Harvest Ball is the recognition of Harvesters of Faith ?

On behalf of my stellar city of Burbank/BUSD Fields Renovation Committee, and our “Celebrate Gratitude” Campaign, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Walt Disney Co. for their generous contribution of $50,000 to fund a new, state-of-the-art scoreboard for the soon-to-be rebuilt John Burroughs High School Memorial Field Stadium. Joan McCarthy, their dynamic and very involved director of community relations, presented the check to the Burbank Unified School District Board of Education Aug. 20. Following her remarks, the school board was quick to recognize the continued efforts and support of the Walt Disney Co. in our community, and how grateful we all are for their constant involvement on all levels in our schools.

The Burbank-bred band BlueLight takes seriously the saying, “The band that plays together, stays together.” Two of the core members of the rock band, Michael Hastings and Dennis O’Donnell, are coming together for a fourth time to perform O’Donnell’s original songs on July 20 at the Starlight Bowl. They will open for California Transit Authority. BlueLight adds a hometown feeling to the Starlight Bowl season, said Garth Nelson, former deputy director of Recreation Services for Burbank Park, Recreation and Community Services, who left the post Tuesday.