Ryan Carter

Ryan Carter Police say they are not expecting traffic problems but will monitor a protest today in front of Disney Studios at 500 S. Buena Vista Street. Protest organizers expect about 200 people to show up to protest alleged disparaging words made toward the Catholic religion on the ABC television show "Politically Incorrect." The Catholic group, called The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property, took offense to words spoken by television personality Jimmy Kimmel during a March episode of the show, hosted by Bill Maher.

Ryan Carter HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- State insurance fraud investigators have arrested a 41-year-old Burbank man on suspicion of insurance fraud and filing a false police report. Steve Vlaszof, a Burbank auto body mechanic, allegedly reported $35,000 worth of items stolen from his home in the 500 block of Eton Drive, said Daniel Deglauve, criminal investigator in the California Department of Insurance's Fraud Division. In 1999, Vlaszof reported that items including expensive jewelry, camera equipment and computer hardware had been stolen from his home, said Sgt. Bill Taylor of the Burbank Police Department.

The Burbank Fire Department delivered thousands of toys and stuffed animals to children at the Grossman Burn Center this week. The donations came Tuesday on a flatbed truck, a battalion chief's truck and a Burbank fire engine, center nurse and spokeswoman Elaine Shortall said. The items came from an anonymous donor and the effort was organized by the department. Bill Jensen, a former Glendale firefighter who was badly burned in the 1997 Malibu Canyon Fire, joined Burbank firefighters to present the gifts.

Ryan Carter AIRPORT DISTRICT -- A 62-year-old Agoura man was arrested Thursday on suspicion of grabbing an airport security screener as she patted him down. The 20-year-old screener, who was performing a routine screening, asked if he would consent to hand search. He did, Burbank Police Sgt. John Dilibert said. But as she patted him down from his backside, he lifted his arms behind him, grabbed her and pulled her toward his waist, Dilibert said.

Ryan Carter BURBANK -- A 42-year-old Burbank man was arrested Sunday on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly going on a rampage with a tire iron, police said. Apparently, the man had threatened his family early in the day, telling them he was going to shoot them, Burbank Police Sgt. Bill Taylor said. The man had allegedly been drinking and became angered over a family disagreement. He began smashing a telephone, table and door with a tire iron in a home in the 2700 block of North Lamer Street, Taylor said.

Ryan Carter MEDIA DISTRICT NORTH -- Two men wearing scarves over their faces stole more than $45,000 from a bank inside of supermarket. The men entered the Ralph's supermarket, 2600 W. Victory Blvd., Monday and demanded money from a clerk at the Downey Savings and Loan inside, Burbank Police Sgt. Bill Taylor said. One of the men kept reaching for his waistband as if he was preparing to pull out a gun, but no gun was seen, Taylor said. No one was injured in the incident, which occurred shortly after noon.

Ryan Carter MAGNOLIA PARK -- A 24-year-old Burbank transient was arrested on suspicion of trespassing after residents of a home found him setting up camp in their backyard. Leonel Gomez was found hiding in a corner of the yard Tuesday in the 400 block of North Glenwood Place, Burbank Police Sgt. Bill Taylor said. A 28-year-old resident of the home said he was alerted to the intruder after hearing a dog bark and glass shattering in a nearby alley, Taylor said.

Ryan Carter BURBANK -- Police conducted roving DUI patrols throughout the city over the Cinco de Mayo weekend and nabbed several people on various driving offenses. Police handed out 54 hazardous driving citations during Saturday's patrol, designed to reduce injuries and property damage from alcohol-related collisions, Burbank Police Sgt. Ron Caruso said. Along with the citations, three people were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, one person was arrested for being drunk in public, another was arrested for providing false information to a police officer and for having a warrant for driving on a suspended license.

Ryan Carter MEDIA DISTRICT WEST -- Cardinal Roger Mahony was resting in good condition at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center after being admitted because of a blood clot in his lung, officials said. Mahony went to the hospital Sunday evening, where he received treatment, said Tod Tamberg, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Mahony will stay in the hospital for several days for continuing treatment, Tamberg said. Mahony has a history of clotting.

Ryan Carter BURBANK -- Police are searching for someone who stole several American flags this week and vandalized others. On Wednesday and Thursday, police received at least six complaints of thefts and at least one report from a witness who saw someone take a flag from a front yard and tear it up, Burbank Police Lt. Kevin Krafft said. Many of the reports came from neighborhoods above Glenoaks Boulevard, between Olive Avenue and the Glendale border, Krafft said.

GLENDALE — Gordon Tomaske, publisher of the Glendale News-Press, Burbank Leader, La Canada Valley Sun and Crescenta Valley Sun, has been promoted to director of operations for the Los Angeles Times’ targeted media division a little more than a year after he took over in March 2007 as the third publisher in as many years. The targeted media division oversees Times Community News, of which the Leader is a part. Together with its sister publications, the Glendale News-Press, La Cañada Valley Sun and Crescenta Valley Sun, the Leader will be placed under the more direct purview of Times Community News General Manager Tom Johnson, who is based in Costa Mesa.

Ryan Carter The beauty in a Pasadena car showroom didn't come from the lines of a fancy Jaguar or Porsche. It came from all over Asia, and Glendale. Beautiful women representing countries from throughout the Asia mingled with about 90 guests, snacked on truffles and salad and listened to jazz Saturday in the Rusnak Jaguar showroom in Pasadena. Silva Yesayan of Glendale is Miss Armenia. The Glendale Community College student won the event's "Miss Rusnak Jaguar Queen for the Day" award.

Leadership Burbank appoints members BURBANK -- A mix of business and other community members have been appointed to Leadership Burbank. The nonprofit organization grooms up-and-coming civic leaders through leadership programs. New board members are Sister Lucille Dean, Providence High School's principal; Michael Cusumano, president of Burbank Development Inc.; Bill Wiggins, chairman of Automation Plating Corp.; and Peter McGrath, senior citizen representative on the board at the Joslyn Adult Center.

Ryan Carter Angel was a 37-inch-tall blond bombshell, but she had flat feet, and with her gold-glittered white gown and angel wings she looked a little bit too much the goody two-shoes. Then came her makeover. Now she's 42-inch-tall Gothic Alice, with platform boots, black hair and striped stockings. It is amazing what some artistic flair and some plastic clay can do. Gothic Alice's body is a Barbie doll -- a "My Size Barbie," to be exact.

Membership mixer at Colony MEDIA CITY CENTER -- A business mixer will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 27 at The Colony Theatre Co., 555 N. 3rd St. The Burbank Chamber of Commerce will sponsor the mixer. It will include catering by Chipotle. Cost is $10 for members, $15 for those thinking of joining the chamber. For more information, call 846-3111. SCORE focuses on protecting ideas GLENDALE -- Promoting and protecting an invention will be the topic of a workshop from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. May 12 in the conference room of the Service Corps of Retired Executives, 330 N. Brand Blvd.

Ryan Carter Clancyna Atkins has made a living off making people attractive. And as she brings her beauty and wedding salon business -- Image III -- into its third year on Burbank Boulevard, she has also focused on making the street and its businesses more attractive. Atkins led the creation of the Burbank Boulevard Merchants Assn., an organization of businesses from Victory Boulevard to Hollywood Way. "When I moved in, the positive thing I saw was there was traffic on the boulevard," Atkins said.

Ryan Carter Traci Lewis' business is taking off again after being grounded for a while. Lewis recently opened her Relax Spa & Beauty Lounge salon at 1022 N. Hollywood Way. For Lewis, the new business is a culmination of a childhood dream, months of frustration in failed business plans and some timely and creative small business loans. Now, Lewis and her small staff offer facials, massages, and Lewis's own line of beauty products. She smiled wide as she reflected on how she wound up in Burbank.

Ryan Carter Office space on the city's south side has been filling up faster this year than last year, but elsewhere, offices are empty. "It's bumping along," said Rob Erickson, director at Cushman & Wakefield, a real estate service firm that brokers deals in the area and released a recent survey of vacancies. "There's a lot of deals out there, but they are not getting signed quickly." The overall vacancy rate from January to March for the 15 office buildings in the Media District -- the southern part of the city closest to the Ventura (134)

Former Enron exec to speak at seminar MEDIA DISTRICT NORTH -- A former Enron executive will speak about fraud May 19 at Woodbury University. Lynn Brewer, author of "House of Cards: Confessions of an Enron Executive," will share insights about the corporate culture. Brewer will join other experts in exploring business ethics and fraud prevention in an all-day seminar on the subject of fraud. The event will go from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with a breakfast at the university, 7500 Glenoaks Blvd.

Ryan Carter A workers' compensation reform bill signed Monday by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger might be a tough sell to some local businesses. But many agree that the bill signals reform for a bloated system that hurts business. "It's a great step in the right direction," said Gary Olson, president of the Burbank Chamber of Commerce. "It's not going to be a panacea, but it is supposed to help streamline the system and provide cost relief to employers.