Toys

Jackson Bell There is more involved than the name Mommy & Me might suggest. The Burbank-based company, in fact, encourages playtime among children and anyone who watches over them -- including fathers, grandparents or other legal guardians. "Mommy & Me allows the primary caretaker, whomever that might be, and the child to get together and learn from each other while spending quality one-on-one time," company President Jane Pemberton said. Founded in 1989 by a child development specialist, Mommy & Me provides the tools and know-how for guardians to spend more time interacting with newborn to 5-year-old children through playtime.

Joyce Rudolph, Weekend GLENDALE -- Hot Rod Santa and his band of Merry Elves will arrive in a custom sleigh when the Road'ers sponsor their Toys for Tots Cruise-In from 6 to 9 tonight at Bob's Big Boy in Glendale. Spectators are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy to be added to the Toys for Tots barrel. Members from the U.S. Marine Corp will be in attendance to pick up the donations that will be given to needy children. Classic vehicles will be on display and judged for trophies.

A firetruck from Warner Bros. Studios made a stop at Milt and Edie's Drycleaners on Wednesday. But it wasn't for a fire or for laundry. It was for toys for needy children. Firefighters picked up toys that had been placed in large boxes outside the store. The toys will be given to the U.S. Marine Corps' Toys for Tots Program, a nonprofit organization that collects and distributes toys to underprivileged children. "Warner Bros. has always been somehow involved with Toys for Tots," said Dick Bellamy, a customer at Milt and Edie's Drycleaners.

--Jenna Bordelon BURBANK -- Local firefighters are hoping to start a fire in people's hearts with the "Spark of Love" toy drive for needy children. Just in time for the holidays, the Burbank Fire Department will collect new, unwrapped toys, sports equipment and clothes for kids around the city. More than 2,600 toys were gathered last year and fire inspector Kelly Chulick wants to top that this year. "You're not just giving something to make yourself feel good," he said.

Leslie Simmons TRANSPORTATION CENTER -- Santa and his elves will be on hand Wednesday at the Burbank train station to help light the Metrolink's Holiday Toy Express Train. The event is a kickoff for the train, which will make stops at 38 city stations throughout the Southland beginning Friday. Santa and his friends will be aboard the train, which is adorned with 30,000 colorful lights,. A 15-minute stage show is featured at each stop. Burbank firefighters will also be present both nights to collect toys for the Spark of Love toy drive.

In a holiday season marked by sharp reductions in toy donations as the number of families seeking assistance rose, the largest toy giveaway in the Glendale-Burbank area didn’t disappoint. The line outside New Horizons Family Center’s 15th annual toy drive, held Saturday at the organization’s youth center, snaked around the block as dozens of volunteers gave action figures, race cars and board games to more than 3,500 children. “I got exactly what I wanted,” said Ramon Sanchez, of Burbank, who took home a Razor kick scooter.

Lisa Dupuy "Accomplice," now playing at the beautiful Colony Theatre in Burbank, exemplifies the unique role live theater plays in the realm of modern entertainment. Television and film, while capable of telling a good story, cannot break through that fourth wall and toy with the viewer's mind the way a play can -- and "Accomplice" does so brilliantly. Cleverly directed by Simon Levy, the actors take us for a ride through a play within a play within a play, twisting the plot in wholly unexpected ways.

service clubsOne of the most difficult and heart-wrenching things a parent can go through this holiday season is not being able to provide gifts for their children. During this year's annual Santa's Room Toy Drive, however, more than 200 families will be able to experience the fun and excitement of tearing open holiday presents thanks to Burbank Temporary Aid Center (BTAC) and the help of service clubs such as the Burbank Jaycees. Also known as the Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Burbank Jaycees is a group dedicated to community improvement and personal betterment.

DAVID SILVA I'm spending a lot of my time these days dealing with the infinite complexities of a new relationship. This has forced me to look deep within myself for everything I know about communication and psychology, patience and trust. It's been a lot of work, but the rewards have been tremendous. I'm referring, of course, to my relationship with my girlfriend's dogs. Or more precisely, I'm referring to my two relationships with Sharon's dogs, because each presents its own unique challenges.

Gary Moskowitz TRANSPORTATION CENTER -- Burbank's Regional Intermodal Transportation Center will host a holiday celebration for Burbank residents next week. Festivities will be at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Burbank center, 201 N. Front St. Residents who attend are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy, which the Burbank Fire Department will then distribute to disadvantaged children in Burbank. Southland firefighters who assisted with recovery efforts in New York City will be special guests at the celebration, which will include musical performances, a holiday story telling, a live stage show with Santa Claus and his helpers and an appearance of Burbank's antique 1913 Moreland fire engine.