Wildwood Canyon

We take hushed steps toward our target, but the pebbly asphalt of the Wildwood Canyon road adds a crunch to our steps that gives us away. It's that easy to lose your mojo. The towhee, once safely stooping for a drink from the runoff from a morning sprinkler shower, flicks his head to spy us with a bright, blood-red eye. Then he's back in the brush to wait out these possible predators: me, my wife and our guide, Nick Wilhelm. But we're just here to watch the little guy. His black head and white-and-black banded wings cover a stout orange breast, reminding me of a robin.

--Lolita Harper HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- Kids can satisfy their sweet tooth while exploring nature in Wildwood Canyon Sunday during the Candy Cane Lane Hike, presented by the Burbank Docents. A docent will lead hikers on the moderately difficult trek through the trails of Wildwood Canyon, which will be littered with candy canes for the kids to collect. The free hike lasts about 90 minutes, requiring hikers to bring water and wear shoes with good tread.

A single-alarm brush fire broke out Sunday at Wildwood Park in Wildwood Canyon, near the location of a brush fire in October. Burbank and Glendale firefighters responded to the one-acre fire about 10:06 a.m., and had the flames fully contained by 3:24 p.m., according to Burbank Fire Marshal Dave Starr. Five engines and a battalion chief responded to the fire, the cause of which is still under investigation but appears to be suspicious, Starr said. The blaze took more than five hours to contain because firefighters had to shuttle water up the hillside, Starr said.

Gary Moskowitz HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- Even slithery, scaly, slimy creatures are important -- and fascinating -- to trail guide Mike McHorney. McHorney, 60, now in his sixth year as a recreation leader with the Burbank Park, Recreation and Community Services Department, led a small group of about 10 Burbank residents on a short hike into Wildwood Canyon on Sunday, where hikers were treated to a plethora of knowledge on animals and plant life indigenous to the canyon.

As an animal lover and Burbank resident, I want to commend our dedicated Animal Control Department. While enjoying Wildwood Canyon earlier this month, my husband and I were informed by fellow hikers that a domestic rabbit had been abandoned at the trail head. We contacted the Burbank Police Department and Animal Control arrived on the scene within minutes. Upon miraculously catching this very scared white Angora rabbit, the animal control officer took the rabbit to safety at the Burbank Animal Shelter.

Hillside hiking trails need repairs due to brush fire -- just months after a similar fix following rains.HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- The smell of smoke lingered in Wildwood Canyon, where the blackened twisted trunks of small trees poked through the gray and black soil of the slopes. Just three months ago Roger Bell and his work crews were in the canyon repairing hiking trails damaged by last winter's rain. On Thursday morning he returned to assess the damage from a four-day brush fire.

MEETING AT 6:30 P.M. TUESDAY CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS -- 275 E. OLIVE AVE. Major items: Continuation of discussion related to proposed emergency ordinance that would temporarily restrict the development of certain types of multi family homes. Report of the Burbank- Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority meeting. Request to send a letter to the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control protesting an alcohol license for Gitana restaurant and nightclub.

Laura Sturza HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- People who want to get outside and enjoy the day of the year with the least amount of sunlight, can join in today's Stough Canyon Nature Center's winter- solstice hike. Traditionally, the winter solstice is a time for celebration in many cultures, considered a pivot point from which the light will grow stronger and brighter. The hike up Wildwood Canyon, led by a member of the nature center staff, leaves from the parking lot at 11 a.m. and lasts about 1.5 hours.

As a show of appreciation to the Burbank Fire Department, local residents this week donated $1,500 to the Children's Burn Foundation in Sherman Oaks. The donation was collected from 29 residents living between the 600 to 1200 blocks of Country Club Drive. In October, Burbank firefighters contained an 80-acre brush fire in Wildwood Canyon, protecting nearby homes on Country Club Drive. "We wanted to congratulate them for saving the Verdugo Hills," said Doris Vick, a Country Club Drive resident who presented the check to Fire Chief Mike Davis.

Jackson Bell Although a fire that broke out in the Verdugo Mountains this week was fully contained, Burbank Fire Department officials have closed Wildwood Canyon through Sunday as a precautionary measure. The fire started about 3:45 p.m. Tuesday near a catch basin around Country Club Drive and spread into the canyon near De Bell Municipal Golf Course. The blaze, which burned 80 acres instead of 150 acres as initially reported by fire officials, was contained Wednesday.

As an animal lover and Burbank resident, I want to commend our dedicated Animal Control Department. While enjoying Wildwood Canyon earlier this month, my husband and I were informed by fellow hikers that a domestic rabbit had been abandoned at the trail head. We contacted the Burbank Police Department and Animal Control arrived on the scene within minutes. Upon miraculously catching this very scared white Angora rabbit, the animal control officer took the rabbit to safety at the Burbank Animal Shelter.

We take hushed steps toward our target, but the pebbly asphalt of the Wildwood Canyon road adds a crunch to our steps that gives us away. It's that easy to lose your mojo. The towhee, once safely stooping for a drink from the runoff from a morning sprinkler shower, flicks his head to spy us with a bright, blood-red eye. Then he's back in the brush to wait out these possible predators: me, my wife and our guide, Nick Wilhelm. But we're just here to watch the little guy. His black head and white-and-black banded wings cover a stout orange breast, reminding me of a robin.

On a recent Saturday afternoon, I found myself at the bottom of the ugliest, meanest trail in Burbank: Wildwood Canyon. Now, Donna, my wife, has done this trail on several occasions, coming back each time smiling and exhausted. I had always demurred, finding some reason to not peel myself away from the latest rerun of "Family Guy. " But not this time. It was bad, friends. Bad. The trail is closer to mountain climbing than to a peaceful stroll amongst the scrub brush and coyotes.

The following were taken from reports filed at the Burbank Police Department: ? ?1000 block of Cypress Avenue: A woman reported Thursday that someone had broken into her Chevy Suburban and stole an IPod, baseball bat and Bluetooth headset. ?400 block of Beachwood Drive: A man reported that someone had broken into his home and stolen more than $100 Thursday. ?2600 block of Hollywood Way: A Van Nuys man was arrested on suspicion of identity theft Thursday at Bob Hope Airport.

Burbank Certified Farmers Market is 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., rain or shine, every week at Orange Grove Avenue and Third Street. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Providence St. Joseph Foundation. Electronic Benefit Transfer Golden State Advantage Cards are accepted. For more information, call (818) 845-6851. ? The city of Burbank presents Fire Service Day in downtown Burbank from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Orange Grove Avenue and Third Street. Fire Service Day features the Burbank Fire and Police departments, Burbank Water and Power, live demonstrations, entertainment, displays, Lil?

City estimates heavy cost for repairs to Wildwood Canyon from damage due to Monday's heavy rains.HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- The city could be looking at a $1-million price tag to repair Wildwood Canyon following mudslides into the park area from heavy rainstorms on Monday. The park -- an area of mostly hiking trails and picnic tables operated by the Park, Recreation and Community Services Department -- will remain closed until further notice and could remain off limits for several months.

City crews clear debris and mudslides caused by Monday's torrential rain; roads still closed.HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- Raging thunderstorms pounded the area Monday, causing a mudslide in Burbank, knocking out power to nearly 20,000 homes in Glendale and the Foothills and flooding freeways. The mudslide on Country Club Drive was three feet high in places and had come off the hillside with enough force to shear off a fire hydrant and move automobiles. "Fortunately no lives were lost," said Burbank Fire Marshal Dave Starr.

Hillside hiking trails need repairs due to brush fire -- just months after a similar fix following rains.HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- The smell of smoke lingered in Wildwood Canyon, where the blackened twisted trunks of small trees poked through the gray and black soil of the slopes. Just three months ago Roger Bell and his work crews were in the canyon repairing hiking trails damaged by last winter's rain. On Thursday morning he returned to assess the damage from a four-day brush fire.

Mark R. Madler No more daybreak city parking lot calisthenics for Tina Castaldi and her Killer Boot Camp. The City Council on Tuesday unanimously upheld a denial prohibiting Castaldi from running her exercise program at a city park parking lot in the early-morning hours. Castaldi, operator of Castaldi's Killer Boot Camp, had sought council approval for a commercial-use permit after she was turned down by the Park, Recreation and Community Service Department.

Stop early-morning din in neighborhood Please support the decision of the city of Burbank Park, Recreation and Community Services Department in denying the application for commercial use of the Wildwood Canyon parking lot and roads around Debell Golf Course between 5 and 6:30 a.m., Monday through Friday. Residents in the surrounding area do not need any more disruptions to their peace and quiet, especially in the early-morning hours. Already we have to contend with disruptions to the peace and quiet of our residential neighborhood brought on by the traffic going to and from the golf course during the day and the traffic from the Castaways Restaurant during the day and evening.