Saturday, May 2, 2009

100 days plus: President Obama & the H1N1 flu virus

  President Obama has a new challenge to deal in the next 100 days of his administration; a previously unknown flu virus, which has the potential to kill. Last Wednesday night, the president highlighted efforts being made to handle the two wars, the bad economy, and other problems inherited from the Bush years. The president said: “I am pleased with our progress, […]
Thursday, April 30, 2009

First Lady Michelle Obama makes People’s 2009 Most Beautiful List

Photo: Marc Hom from People website   Some fresh new faces in People’s 2009 Most Beautiful issue. There’s a sneak peek of some of the celebrities and famous folks selected on People’s website, among them First Lady Michelle Obama. Along with the photos, some candid comments as well. In the past 100 days, President Obama has been making his mark with policy […]
Saturday, April 25, 2009

First Lady Michelle Obama and the Queen of Jordan

  Photo: Samantha Appleton/White House   First Lady Michelle Obama had another chat with a queen a few days ago. Mrs. Obama held a get together with Jordan’s Queen Rania in the White House Yellow Oval Room on Thursday, April 23, 2009.  Also this week, Jordan’s King Abdullah met with President Obama.   Earlier this month, the first lady and the president had a meet and greet […]
Thursday, April 23, 2009

President Obama’s Earth Day challenge

Photo: Pete Souza/White House   President Barack Obama spent part of Earth Day in Newton, Iowa touring a wind tower production facility. In his Earth Day speech, the president described a major challenge facing our nation: “Now, the choice we face is not between saving our environment and saving our economy.  The choice we face is between prosperity and decline.  We can […]
Saturday, April 18, 2009

State Assemblyman Paul Krekorian campaigns for the upcoming special election

The Burbank Democratic Club threw a backyard BBQ bash with great eats and brew in a neighborhood near the Rancho District, last night. I’m a member and I joined 50 or so other folks for a fun club meeting and social gathering. However, there was a serious message about the state’s budget woes presented by local Assemblyman Paul Krekorian (D) 43rd District. Krekorian had the […]
Thursday, April 16, 2009

Day 86: President Obama travels south of the border to Mexico

Photos: Pete Souza/White House Today President Barack Obama visited Mexico. On his arrival, President Obama received a warm welcome from some of its citizens and Mexican President Felipe Calderon. During the welcoming ceremony, Obama made a pledge: “At a time when the Mexican government has so courageously taken on the drug cartels that have plagued both sides of the borders, it […]
Wednesday, April 15, 2009

A close finish in the Burbank City Council race

  Photo: FLLewis/A Writers Groove I dropped by Burbank City Hall last night to see the returns come in for the General Municipal Election. The only names on the ballot were the six candidates running for three seats on the powerful Burbank City Council. Around 10 p.m. when the numbers were in for all of the city’s 42 precincts and the winners elected, I felt like I’d just watched […]
Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Souvenirs from the White House Easter Egg Roll go on sale

Photo: Chuck Kennedy/White House   President Barack Obama and the first family enjoyed a White House tradition with thousands of families from 45 states yesterday. The Easter Egg Roll is a rite of spring event at the White House that dates back to 1878. The theme of this year’s event was “Let’s Go Play.” Tickets were required and had a time limit […]
Saturday, April 11, 2009

Burbank City Council race down to the wire

Photos: FLLewis/A Writers Groove The heated Burbank City Council race is headed for the finish line with the election this Tuesday, April 14. The campaign mailings have slowed down to a trickle. Still, the last minute push is underway for those voters who have not mailed or dropped off their ballots yet. Six candidates are spending thousands of dollars in hopes of collecting enough votes to […]
Friday, April 10, 2009

Planting the White House garden

Photo: The White House Blog Getting down and dirty. First Lady Michelle Obama and White House Chef Sam Kass gave some local Washington D.C. elementary students a hands on lesson in how to plant veggies in the new White House Kitchen Garden yesterday. The kids from Bancroft Elementary helped Mrs. Obama start the garden on the south lawn of the White House […]
Wednesday, April 8, 2009

The president’s surprise visit with our troops in Iraq

Photos: Pete Souza/White House                                                                                                                      President Barack Obama paid a surprise visit to Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq yesterday, before ending his eight-day foreign trip and returning to the White House early this morning. The president met with U.S. military commanders and Iraqi leaders for an update on the war situation. Then Obama got a wild and enthusiastic greeting from the troops, […]
Sunday, April 5, 2009

First Lady Michelle Obama tours Notre Dame Cathedral

White House photo/Lawrence Jackson   First Lady Michelle Obama joined the wives of the NATO Summit leaders in a tour of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Strasbourg, France yesterday. Built on the site of a Roman Temple in 1284, the Gothic Roman Catholic church is known for its remarkable architecture and details such as several stained glass windows and distinctive spire. Mrs. Obama is shown […]