Community Chatter

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Burbank City Manager proposes dumping merit pay for some employees

Major development involving Burbank’s controversial practice of merit pay for some employees. In the last fiscal year of 2009-2010, the city reportedly paid out an estimated $1 million in bonuses, during these hard economic times of cutbacks and reduced city services. The Burbank City Attorney’s Office is fighting a lawsuit to get details on those bonuses filed last January by The Burbank Leader/The […]
Thursday, May 12, 2011

ShowBiz Bits: Ashton Kutcher to replace Charlie Sheen on “Two And a Half Men”

Some breaking news in Hollywood. Ashton Kutcher has finalized a deal to replace the temperamental Charlie Sheen on the hit CBS TV sitcom, “Two and a Half Men,” according to deadline.com  For a while, British actor, Hugh Grant, was the front runner for the job, but that plan did not work out. Deadline.com has more on this story and the behind the […]
Tuesday, May 10, 2011

City Buzz: Emily Gabel-Luddy, dirty politics, and the BPD cases

After a week, some folks are still finding the audacious snub, oh wait, let’s call it what it is, discriminatory selection process of the vice-mayor by four members of the Burbank City Council — a stomach turner. Those that had hoped for an independent female voice on the council got blindsided by Emily Gabel-Luddy who came out publicly as the new member of this “good-old-boys-club” at the […]
Monday, May 9, 2011

Final box office numbers: “Jumping the Broom” performs even better than first reported

The final numbers for the weekend box office are out today and again the small budget romantic comedy, “Jumping the Broom,” stole a little of the thunder from the blockbuster, “Thor.” Yesterday, “Jumping the Broom” surprised a lot of folks by beating expectation with an estimated debut of $13.7 million.  Today that debut got even better.  Actual numbers show “Jumping the Broom,” earned $15.2 […]
Sunday, May 8, 2011

It’s all over for the Lakers! Dallas sweeps L.A.

Photo: Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times — A dejected Kobe Bryant leaves the American Airlines Arena after the Lakers are eliminated from the playoffs in Dallas May 08, 2011 An embarrassment for the Lakers today. They got swept from the playoff by the Mavericks in a 122-to-86 rout at American Airlines Arena in Dallas. A disappointing career finisher for coach Phil Jackson. […]
Sunday, May 8, 2011

“Thor” thunders to the top of the box office

“Thor” hammered the competition into submission at the box office this weekend. The superhero action flick debuted with an estimated $66 million to become the number one film in the country. “Thor” is based on the Marvel comic book hero who is punished for his arrogance by being banished from his mythical homeland of Asgard and sent to Earth. The cast includes Natalie Portman […]
Friday, May 6, 2011

Burbank Police issue a Chandler Bike Path warning

Late today, Burbank Police issued a warning about a predator who’s stalking women on the Chandler Bike Path. The suspect targets women — walking or jogging — during the morning hours on that path, which is a popular place for exercise enthuses.  There have been three separate incidents of women being accosted by the suspect in the past month, according […]
Wednesday, May 4, 2011

The recount: Second recount request withdrawn

Another major setback for the recount supporters. Late yesterday, Judy Alter of the election watchdog group, Protect California Ballots, notified Burbank City Clerk, Margarita Campos, that the second recount request for the city council run-off of April 12, 2011 was being withdrawn. If you’re keeping score, that’s two wins for the city insiders and zip for the concerned citizens of Burbank […]
Wednesday, May 4, 2011

California players win Mega Millions money

Several Mega Millions players who bought tickets in California for last night’s draw — are really glad they did. Today they’re probably dancing around singing  the line, “money, money, money, money, mon-ey,” from that  O’Jays’ hit, “For the Love of Money” (1973). The winner of the $51 million jackpot bought the lucky ticket at Stuarts Oak Street Mobil, 2 Oak […]