Verdugo Mountains

Jackie Conley As he made his way down a trail in Wildwood Canyon, 6-year-old James Lord stopped to admire several fallen pine cones. "Look at this one," James said as he shared with the rest of the group what he discovered. James was one of six children who participated Wednesday in Wilderness Adventures, a program offered by the city's Park, Recreation and Community Services Department. For James, the 3.5-mile hike was a chance for him to explore a different world.

The line at the Tony Roma's table extended out 10 feet, hands down the longest at Thursday night's second annual Taste of Burbank. And those hands would have been streaked with the barbecue sauce from the chicken legs and ribs being served by restaurant employees. Arleta resident Mike Shanto was among those who lined up for a sampling of Roma's fare. "I love the food and I love the city and the music," Shanto said. San Fernando Boulevard between Orange Grove Avenue and Magnolia Boulevard was closed down for the event.

Firefighters have a blaze that consumed 1,100 acres of brush over four days in the Verdugo Mountains, but not without some help from local businesses and nonprofits, who were called upon to help authorities as they worked around the clock fighting fire. "They're supplying food, sandwiches, anything we need all over the place," said Kirk Wishart, an engineer with Burbank Fire, adding that Wienerschnitzel even hauled a trailer to a firefighter camp to feed personnel.

Film fest coming to Woodbury The first Burbank International Film Festival will be from Sunday to March 29 at Woodbury University, 7500 Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank. There will be an opening night inauguration ceremony and filmmaker press night, film screenings and seminars featuring industry professionals. The closing ceremony and award show, on March 29, will feature a live performance of movie themes, composed by Academy Award- nominated film composer John Debney, as well as a live acoustic performance by multi-platinum vocalist Mark Slaughter (from the band Slaughter)

Los Angeles-based Champion Real Estate Company recently purchased a 62-unit apartment building in Burbank that features a penthouse with a private pool for more than $15.5 million, according to a commercial real estate services firm. The building, called Villa 600, is located at 600 E. Olive Ave. and includes another common area pool. The apartments were built by August Bacchetta in 1973 and were owned by his family until their recent sale, said Craig Stevens, a principal with Lee & Associates - L.A. North/Ventura Inc., who handled the sale along with Tyler Stevens, an associate.

Tim Willert BURBANK -- Gov. Gray Davis slashed nearly $600 million from the state budget this week, but he spared $80,000 in funding for two Burbank projects and another $15 million that could be used to develop parks in the city. Included in the $103-billion spending plan signed Thursday by Davis was $40,000 for Burbank's Childcare Demonstration Project, part of the new middle school project planned for the 200 blocks of North Fairview and North Ontario streets.

It was a little too close for comfort. But in the end, the fires that blackened local canyons and hillsides recently were beaten back by responders whose fight was as intense as the roaring flames that came so close to homes. This is a chance to say thanks to up to 1,400 firefighters from multiple agencies who spent four days last week battling the 1,100-acre blaze in the Verdugo Mountains. Surely, without their effort, homes would have been destroyed and perhaps severe injury would have followed.

Paul Clinton CIVIC CENTER -- For as long as he can remember, Terre Hirsch has spent his leisure hours in the Verdugo Mountains. "Those mountains, I've been tromping through them my whole life, since I was a little boy," Hirsch said. With that in mind, the City Council appointed Hirsch to the Santa Monica Mountains Advisory Committee on Jan. 11. Hirsch, who works for the the city's Community Development Department and sits on the Park and Recreation Board, fills a newly created slot on the committee, one of six established by a 1999 state Senate bill that opened the body to Burbank and five other cities.

Good morning, readers. Today is Saturday, June 30, 2012. Happy Orange Line expansion Day! You can now ride the line all the way to the Chatsworth Metrolink Station. What else is happening in the Valley? Most teenagers would create a personal online blog if they needed to release their frustrations. But Amit Dodani, 14, created a community website where anyone can submit a story they want to share . Teens and adults contribute to his site now, where they write about the challenges of being bullied, getting a divorce and overcoming health issues, among other topics.  Daily News Are you an amateur botanist who knows your way around the Verdugo Mountains?

Burbank is moving ahead with a $13-million project to build two new reservoirs at the base of the Verdugo Mountains that will expand Burbank's water storage capacity by 2.6 million gallons. The Burbank Water and Power project is needed to replace a 1928-era reservoir that doesn't meet current design standards and state public health criteria. It was emptied to allow contract bidders to review the structure. Need for significant maintenance of the reservoir, repair of the roof structure and leaks in the floor were found during routine inspection, according to a report to the City Council.