Photo: FLLewis/Media City G — Burbank Police unit
New developments in that series of residential burglaries in Burbank. Last Friday, Burbank Police announced the arrest of a suspect, 37-year-old Ericka Valladares of Los Angeles, and the recovery of some of the stolen items.
Hillside resident Yvonne Smith’s home was burglarized last December. She went down to the BPD headquarters a few days ago and “was delighted” that some of her possessions had been recovered; among them a kitchen clock, which had been in her late husband, Chuck Smith’s, family for years.
Smith says she does not know Valladares, who’s being held on $165, 000 bail. Burbank Police say the investigation is on-going — therefore, more arrests are possible.
Burbank Shame — Golf course over needy kids
Photo: FLLewis/Media City G — DeBell Golf Course and Club at 1500 East Walnut Avenue in Burbank
This Burbank City Council is really showing its true colors and priorities. Last week, the council-majority bailed out the city’s financially-struggling DeBell Golf Club with a package deal estimated at about two million big ones. This is the same bunch of council members who have rallied around cuts in city services and will most likely be slapping residents with higher rates in city fees very soon as well.
While this council-majority supports the fat cats who have time to putter around on the 18-hole DeBell course — it has turned its back on some underprivileged kids who desperately need a few thousand dollars to go to summer camp. I first reported on the plight of these local kids and the snub they got from the Burbank City Council in a City Buzz column earlier this month.
Here’s the update I got yesterday from Burbank Coordinating Council organizer, Janet Diel: “… we did hear from 2 lovely ladies who donated some money, enough to send one child to camp. One karate studio said they would donate a class for the kids, but one class will not fill the void. Another, Golden State Gymnastics, said she would donate spaces in her daycamp for some of the children, so I am trying to book them now. Otherwise, we are still over $2,000 overspent and more bills to come.”
I got an idea. Why not set up a summer camp for these much deserving kids at DeBell golf course? There’s not much business at the golf course right now — so that would not be a problem. Or, the council-majority could do what it should have done weeks ago, pay for these kids to go to camp somewhere else. Whatever the choice — it needs to be made soon.
B-Town weather heats up
Finally, you can ditch the jacket and umbrella. A warming trend is underway . We’ll still have the patchy morning clouds and fog — but the sun should break-out in the afternoons — with the high in the upper 70s — maybe even mid-80s. Summer is coming.
