Work Ethic

Sociologist Max Weber first advanced the idea of a Protestant work ethic in 1914. A recent study suggests that not only does this ethic exist, it can make the effects of unemployment worse for Protestants than for non-Protestants. The Dutch survey, which used data from 150,000 people in 82 countries traditionally identified as Protestant - including the U.S., U.K., South Africa, Germany and others - found that while unemployment has a negative effect on everyone, it affects Protestants more, up to 40% more in some cases.

Early mornings and baseball. In the simplest of summaries, that is how best to describe Dustin Emmons' summer. Recently graduated from Crescenta Valley High, the youngster is bound for UC Riverside. But the summer days before he departs have hardly been spent soaking in all that his future will offer and looking back fondly on what the past has been. No, instead, Emmons has put on display the same work ethic and love for the game of baseball that translated into a phenomenal senior season and convinced the editors and sports writers of the Glendale News-Press, Burbank Leader and La Cañada Valley Sun to unanimously vote him All-Area Baseball Player of the Year.

LA CRESCENTA -- Crescenta Valley High girls' tennis Coach Tom Gossard knows all about Katy Nikolova. He knows she has the talent and work ethic required to be a top high school player. He also knows the 14-year-old Bulgarian is primed to make an impact for Coach Paul McNiff's Burbank High program. Nikolova has already made a difference for the Bulldogs. She swept her three sets Tuesday, helping Burbank defeat the Falcons, 13-5, on at CV. It marked the first time the Bulldogs have defeated CV since 1998, a year before the Falcons started their streak of five consecutive Pacific League championships.

Tim Willert MEDIA DISTRICT NORTH -- Burbank High School senior Karla Menjivar didn't give acting a shot until her junior year, but she's come a long way since. Karla, 17, has reached the semifinals of the Emerging Young Artist Awards, sponsored by the California Alliance for Arts Education. She is one of 13 budding thespians taking a shot at a $20,000 college scholarship. "Honestly, I need money to go to college, and I thought it was an interesting chance for me to display my acting skills," she said this week.

Western Nelson is the first to admit that he might not have put as much effort as he should have into his cross-country training prior to his senior season. Although he earned a spot on the varsity team as a sophomore and junior, he said he didn’t have the complete focus it takes to be among the elite runners in the Southern Section. However, this year, he has been able to channel his energy and concentrate a lot more on his running. That has translated into a successful senior season for Nelson.

TullyWith a competitive drive and an all-out style, Providence's Vanessa Amran has the Pioneers eyeing a league title Providence High girls' basketball Coach Andrew Bencze admits he has had to get after Vanessa Amran more than a few times the past three seasons. While some Pioneers players have endured the coach's wrath for things like lackluster play, not hustling and lack of desire, Amran has warranted attention for a different reason. With an impeccable work ethic, Amran has an innate ability that doesn't allow her to do anything on the court at half-speed.

BURBANK — The Burbank Police Department announced the promotion of five officers Wednesday. The promotions follow the Aug. 1 appointment of new Police Chief Tim Stehr. Bill Taylor, a former captain, has been promoted to deputy chief, and former Lt. Pat Lynch will now assume the role of captain. Other recent promotions include: Darin Ryburn to lieutenant; Tony DeSantis to sergeant; and John Pfrommer to detective. Hired by the department 23 years ago, Taylor has experienced all walks of professional police life.

Gary Moskowitz SUNLAND -- Sound editor Alan Murray has been up for an Oscar three times.So as he, his wife and daughter attend the big event this year, he plans to keep his cool and enjoy the evening no matter what. But he'd really like to win this time around. The 46-year-old Murray, a Sunland resident, was nominated for his sound work on the Clint Eastwood film, "Space Cowboys," but has made three previous trips to the Academy Awards for his sound editing work on "Ladyhawke," "Lethal Weapon 2" and "Eraser."

When Erin Ashby arrived upon the Crescenta Valley High softball diamond as a freshman, she was a complement to an already star-studded and established cast of Falcons that included the likes of Baillie Kirker, Lainey DePompa, Ashleigh Viers-Gordillo, Stephanie Ziemann and Alyssa Sovereign. But after a senior season in which she stood out just as she did during her sophomore and junior campaigns, it's quite clear that Ashby has left a mark on the program and the area all her own. "She showed what you can do by working hard and she started out with a good work ethic and kept it," says Falcons Coach Dan Berry.

Ryan Carter As Burbank Assistant Police Chief Bob Heins cleaned out his office, he came across relics that illustrate his long career -- a series of nameplates reading "Capt. Heins," "Lt. Heins" and down the line. As he packed, he had second thoughts about leaving a career he carved for 45 years and five months. "I'd rather still be working," he said. "But it's time." On Dec. 30, Heins, 67, will turn in his badge and standard-issue .40 caliber semiautomatic handgun, ending his career as the longest tenured police officer in the city's history.

Sociologist Max Weber first advanced the idea of a Protestant work ethic in 1914. A recent study suggests that not only does this ethic exist, it can make the effects of unemployment worse for Protestants than for non-Protestants. The Dutch survey, which used data from 150,000 people in 82 countries traditionally identified as Protestant - including the U.S., U.K., South Africa, Germany and others - found that while unemployment has a negative effect on everyone, it affects Protestants more, up to 40% more in some cases.

When Erin Ashby arrived upon the Crescenta Valley High softball diamond as a freshman, she was a complement to an already star-studded and established cast of Falcons that included the likes of Baillie Kirker, Lainey DePompa, Ashleigh Viers-Gordillo, Stephanie Ziemann and Alyssa Sovereign. But after a senior season in which she stood out just as she did during her sophomore and junior campaigns, it's quite clear that Ashby has left a mark on the program and the area all her own. "She showed what you can do by working hard and she started out with a good work ethic and kept it," says Falcons Coach Dan Berry.

When asked what he learned during the four-week John Burroughs High School Summer Performance Workshop, Matt Coffey had a ready response. “How to dance, because I could not,” said the 14-year-old, who traveled from Ohio to participate. On Friday night, he had the opportunity to put his newfound moves on display, performing in the culminating show with five dozen other participants. Now a decade old, the summer workshop is sponsored by Burroughs' celebrated show choir and affords students the opportunity to improve their singing and dancing skills under the tutelage of teachers and alumni, many of them professional performers.

After four years of hard work, hours spent in the gym perfecting her game and hundreds of games, Lisha Elsenbach's high school career came to a close last month. During her tenure on the hardwood with the Burroughs High girls' basketball program, the senior set records, helped elevate the team to heights it hadn't experienced in decades and set an example of what can be accomplished with determination and a great deal of effort. With the relentless grind of competing and practicing almost year-round for the past four years, Elsenbach is entitled to her share of down time before she heads off for four years in college.

Western Nelson is the first to admit that he might not have put as much effort as he should have into his cross-country training prior to his senior season. Although he earned a spot on the varsity team as a sophomore and junior, he said he didn’t have the complete focus it takes to be among the elite runners in the Southern Section. However, this year, he has been able to channel his energy and concentrate a lot more on his running. That has translated into a successful senior season for Nelson.

BURBANK — The Burbank Police Department announced the promotion of five officers Wednesday. The promotions follow the Aug. 1 appointment of new Police Chief Tim Stehr. Bill Taylor, a former captain, has been promoted to deputy chief, and former Lt. Pat Lynch will now assume the role of captain. Other recent promotions include: Darin Ryburn to lieutenant; Tony DeSantis to sergeant; and John Pfrommer to detective. Hired by the department 23 years ago, Taylor has experienced all walks of professional police life.

Early mornings and baseball. In the simplest of summaries, that is how best to describe Dustin Emmons' summer. Recently graduated from Crescenta Valley High, the youngster is bound for UC Riverside. But the summer days before he departs have hardly been spent soaking in all that his future will offer and looking back fondly on what the past has been. No, instead, Emmons has put on display the same work ethic and love for the game of baseball that translated into a phenomenal senior season and convinced the editors and sports writers of the Glendale News-Press, Burbank Leader and La Cañada Valley Sun to unanimously vote him All-Area Baseball Player of the Year.

Eben Britton was out with his girlfriend this week when the two decided to stop for some dinner at a restaurant near the University of Arizona campus. "The restaurant was very crowded, so we decided to eat in the bar area because it would be quicker," said Britton, a Burroughs High graduate and redshirt freshman football player for the Wildcats "When we sat down, the bartender kept looking at me and giving me funny looks. He kept on doing that through our entire meal. I told my girlfriend 'What's wrong with that guy looking at me like that?

When Abe Lee returns to classes at La Cañada High in September, he will have put a hectic summer behind him. And if he's required to write one of those how-I-spent-my-summer-vacation essays, he could sum it up in one word: golfing. Lee's participation in the sport didn't end in the spring, when he finished his junior season with the Spartan boys' team. Instead, he spent the weeks since school let out perfecting his game and spending a lot of time practicing and playing in tournaments.

TullyWith a competitive drive and an all-out style, Providence's Vanessa Amran has the Pioneers eyeing a league title Providence High girls' basketball Coach Andrew Bencze admits he has had to get after Vanessa Amran more than a few times the past three seasons. While some Pioneers players have endured the coach's wrath for things like lackluster play, not hustling and lack of desire, Amran has warranted attention for a different reason. With an impeccable work ethic, Amran has an innate ability that doesn't allow her to do anything on the court at half-speed.