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The scope of goals rattled off by City Council members on Thursday calls for a fairly long measuring stick, and we sincerely hope they don’t disappoint. It’s a paradox. On one hand, we want our elected leaders to be ambitious and have a vision. On the other hand, they only set themselves up for disappointment and shaking heads when they fail to meet their self-prescribed goals. The list of accomplishments the council hopes to achieve this coming fiscal year — from reprised pools at Verdugo and McCambridge parks, to a new zero-waste facility and improved traffic flow — would certainly pencil out to lasting political achievements in any environment, but during a recession of the decades, the significance would be amplified even more.

Gary Moskowitz HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- It wasn't quite as exciting as "old faithful" releasing its hourly burst of hot water at Yellowstone National Park. But on Monday, a water main near Thomas Jefferson Elementary School did succumb to the pressures of the intricate root system of an 80-foot tall, 3-foot wide pine tree on Cambridge Drive, causing an early release for Jefferson students. The water main was part of the network that serves the school and surrounding homes, said Fred Lantz, BWP assistant general manager for water.

Gary Moskowitz MAGNOLIA PARK -- The City Council voted in favor of granting $43,863 to the Burbank Unified School District Tuesday. An advisory committee from the Youth Endowment Services Fund recommended the proposal to the City Council, on the premise that funds would help accommodate unmet needs for youth-oriented facilities and Burbank youth. Jay Gudzin, assistant principal of athletics and activities at John Burroughs High School, said the district is happy to receive the funds, which will be spent on a new scoreboard at the school's Memorial Stadium.

From the cool, dim dens of jazz clubs to bright flower fields and a rock in the middle of an immense ocean, the winning paintings on display at the Burbank Art Assn. Spring Show transport viewers out of the Olive Avenue gallery. Since its formation in 1950, the Burbank Art Assn. has held annual spring and fall shows. This year, entries ran the gamut from watercolors, acrylics and oils to pencil and pastel. The categories represented include landscape, still life, marine and even a special category titled "Memories."

UNIVERSITY WOMEN HONOR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS Three Burbank High School seniors were honored at the Burbank University Women's Scholarship Tea on Thursday at Sweet Chari-Tea in Burbank. This year's recipients are Christina Chau , Rara Kang and Melissa Medina . All will be entering a university in the fall. Christina is still undecided where she will attend but intends to major in chemistry. Rara will attend UCLA and is interested in political science as is Melissa, who will attend UC Berkeley.

There's a tense time after one submits a design idea for Burbank's Rose Parade float, when the minutes and days tick by as the city's parade committee makes its decision. And even if the committee chooses your design and the elation of seeing your creation come to life sets in, there's another nail-biting period when the Pasadena Rose Parade Committee has to approve the design. Not that it happens too often, but that committee may reject the idea if it's too similar to that of another float.

Lillian Hughes reveres the written word, so much so that the fifth-grade Stevenson Elementary School student often spends the lunch hour hunkered down with pencil and paper. “She loves to write, she would rather write than do almost anything,” said her teacher, Ann Marie Golding. _____________ FOR THE RECORD: This article incorrectly spells Ann Marie Goulding's name. _______________ Now, 10-year-old Lillian is working with a team of Cartoon Network artists to bring her latest book, “Mr.

Upon entering the Burbank Creative Arts Center Gallery, an array of colorful 2D and 3D artworks decorate white walls. Pieces include collages, pencil sketches, oil pastels and drawings — all by students from kindergarten through 12th grade in the exhibition “Express Yourself.” Burbank Parks, Recreation and Community Services and the Fine Arts Federation hosted an awards ceremony for high school and elementary school students on Thursday and Friday evenings, respectively.

Laura Sturza MEDIA CITY CENTER -- The 800 former Kid's Spirit Fun Run participants won't be lacing up their sneakers for the annual event this summer, but in its place, families can enjoy a free, outdoor film series. In a move designed to reign in costs, City Council voted unanimously last week to move $9,500 of city funding from the Fun Run to the film series, which will be co-sponsored by the Media City Center and IKEA. "It's very expensive to facilitate runs," said Mike Flad, city director of Park, Recreation and Community Services.

The scraping sounds of shovels hitting the ground echoed across the playground at Washington Elementary School on Wednesday, as students dug through mounds of dirt to make room for new trees. About 550 students took part in Warner Bros. Studios sixth annual tree planting event. Studios staff plant trees at a different school site every year. And Warner Bros. Employee volunteers, geared with shovels and gloves, came to give the students a helping hand. "We've made a commitment to do this every year," said Shelley Billik, vice president of environmental initiatives at Warner Bros.