Preparedness

In a city threatened by fires, mudslides and earthquakes, it has been five years since returning teachers in the Burbank Unified School District have undergone training in the proper disaster procedures. Growing concern over recent fires and floods has school officials looking in to creating a refresher course for its teachers. "You lose it if you don't use it," said Marlene Burton, the disaster preparedness coordinator for the school district. "Things definitely start to get fuzzy after a few years."

Store to hold seminar on earthquake safety The Home Depot at 1200 Flower St. in Burbank will host a free earthquake safety event from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday titled ?Just be Ready. Prepare Together.? Attendees will learn how to prevent household items from shifting and breaking as well as how to keep families safe when there is an earthquake. Attendees will also learn how to put together an emergency preparedness kit. Water, food, cash, important documents, clothes, flashlight, first-aid kit, medicine, a radio, toiletries and tools are suggested to be part of the kit. Los Angeles County fire officials and a Burbank fire representative will attend.

Gary Moskowitz GLENDALE -- Assemblyman Dario Frommer (D-Burbank) will host a special town hall meeting on terrorism and emergency preparedness on Wednesday. The meeting is open to the public and will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Glendale Fire Station No. 21, 421 Oak St. in Glendale. The meeting will include information on what state, local cities and schools are doing to prepare for and prevent future terrorist attacks. Frommer and other community leaders will listen to concerns from area residents.

Gary Moskowitz BURBANK -- The Burbank Unified School District will be honored at the 22nd annual Golden Bell Awards, given by the California School Boards Assn. next month. The district is being awarded for its Secretaries Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills Curriculum, which was designed to include career preparedness skills while meeting curriculum standards. The curriculum includes standards, activities and lessons that define what students will know and be able to do upon completion of their education.

Ryan Carter GLENDALE -- Assemblyman Dario Frommer (D-Burbank) will hold a Town Hall Meeting on Terrorism and Emergency Preparedness in Glendale on Nov. 28. The meeting will include information about what local cities and schools are doing to prepare for and prevent future terrorist attacks. A group of panelists from agencies such as the Burbank police and fire departments, National Guard, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Glendale police and fire departments, Burbank and Glendale schools and the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority will be on hand to answer questions.

Karen S. Kim HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- Changing up its usual monthly business luncheon, the Burbank Chamber of Commerce is inviting the community to attend a security and preparedness luncheon Thursday. A panel will discuss issues regarding how Burbank is prepared to handle a disaster situation. Burbank Fire Capt. Ron Barone, Burbank Police Capt. Edward Skvarna, Fred Lantz of Burbank Water and Power, Connie Lackey of the school board and Providence St. Joseph Medical Center and John Kirk, security expert for The Gas Company, will serve as panelists.

Sandy Dennis was recently named the 2001 Citizen of the Year by the Burbank Assn. of Realtors. This year's event marked the 48th year the association has bestowed the honor. Dennis is only the fourth member of the association to receive the honor. Dennis was born in Burbank and graduated from Burroughs High School. A Realtor with Century 21 Paul and Associates, Dennis is married to Donald and they have one son, Michael. She has been a volunteer with the Girl Scouts, PTA, Cub Scouts and a member of the Foothill Civitan Club, among others.

Josh Goldstein NORTHWEST DISTRICT -- Burbank's emergency personnel want residents to take the shakiness out of disaster preparation. In recognition of Earthquake Preparedness Month, the Burbank Fire Department will host a free family earthquake information seminar at 7 p.m. April 18 at the fire training center, 1845 N. Ontario St. Rich Baenen, Burbank's emergency services coordinator, will go over the basics of...

Chamber hosts business lunch The Burbank Chamber of Commerce hosts its monthly business connection lunch starting at 11:30 a.m. Thursday. Burbank Fire Department Disaster Preparedness Coordinator Rich Baenen will be the featured speaker. The luncheon takes place at The Castaway Restaurant, 1250 Harvard Road. The cost is $22 for chamber members and $27 for prospective members. For more information, contact the chamber at (818) 846-3111. Make-up artist helps patients Entertainment industry make-up and hair stylist Maurice Stein is lending his expertise to help burn victims and patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Ryan Carter With fog and fire machines blowing, organized chaos reigned at an NBC studio lot that was the site of a drill to test the ability of volunteers dealing with a terrorist attack. Community Disaster Volunteers drill frequently, but Saturday was the first time they drilled for small bomb detonations at public places in Burbank. The group of volunteers set up in a lot at NBC studios for the drill, which featured mock explosions set off by terrorists at a mall and a crowded school gym. The volunteers, who are trained through the Fire Department's Community Disaster Preparedness unit, usually train for what to do in case of fires and earthquakes.