Sunday, May 31, 2009

Situation In Darfur

Burbank High Students Hope to Bring Attention to Situation in Darfur

On May 1 students from Burbank High School sign a 20-foot long poster petition as part of a campaign lead by BHS club "Paper Clips" who has dedicated a week to make the school and community aware of the Genocide in Darfur. Judy A. Bernstein, Volunteer mentor and Chair of the Advisory Committee of the San Diego International Rescue Committee and co-founder of IRC Lost Boys Education Fund spoke to a packed auditorium at the school.

Friday, May 29, 2009

POP ROCKS!

Burbank High School students put on a show that organizers liken to Hollywood.

By Zain Shauk- Burbank Leader
Published: May 26, 2009


BURBANK — Students sang and danced through a celebration of Burbank High School’s 40th anniversary pop show Sunday, performing on a jazzed-up stage that was worthy of Hollywood, organizers and students said.

Professional musicians and sound and lighting technicians, many of whom are former Burbank High students working in Hollywood, set the scene for the show, putting $2.5 million worth of equipment to work for the 176 performers, director Brett Carroll said. Carroll, who became the school’s choral director seven years ago, has elevated the program to national prominence, with several competitive teams dominating award ceremonies in recent years. That success has made the end-of-the-year pop shows increasingly important for students at the end of their high school performance careers, he said. It has also transformed the show into one loaded with technology and skill that is unheard of at most other Los Angeles-area high schools, regardless of their proximity to Hollywood, he said. “People don’t expect this kind of professionalism out of a high school production,” Carroll said. “We have as much lighting and more than some Broadway productions.

”The show featured five of the school’s choral groups performing their competitive routines, along with 13 acts from student groups with original music, said Terri Lapwing, co-president of the booster club for the school’s choral programs. More than 80 groups auditioned for the 13 slots in the show, which many students saw as a unique performance opportunity, Lapwing said. “It’s when all of our competitive choirs get to do it one more time for our city, and also our kids get to express themselves musically through individual acts,” she said.

Seniors Seychelle Gabriel and Matt Rosell relished the opportunity to belt out tunes on the Burbank High stage one final time. They both performed with school choirs and their own individual groups, as well as in the opening number, “We Built this City,” a Broadway-style act that incorporated every student performer, with some dancing and singing from the aisles in the audience and others taking on solos from a stage extension.

Performing in the show, particularly with independent student groups, was a special chance, the students said. “It’s our little time to shine,” Gabriel said. “Because it’s where we can try out our own individual acts and where we can show off our own individual talents. ”With the performance area washed in varying colors from an array of moving lights placed above, adjacent to and in front of the stage, students danced in shimmering dresses and matching outfits, sliding from side to side, swirling their arms and singing tunes, familiar and unfamiliar.

The atmosphere of the program was special and inspired former members of the show to come back, year after year, to help with the performance, said Harrison Lippman, a 2004 Burbank High graduate and a lighting designer for Production Resource Group, the world’s leading provider of lighting equipment. Lippman was operating a computerized lighting board identical to the ones used to run the Academy Awards and the Super Bowl, he said. It was donated for the show by his employer, along with the bulk of the stage equipment, he said.“This show is bigger than a lot of the television shows that I work on on a regular basis,” Lippman said of the equipment involved in running the show. That wasn’t always the case, Carroll said, but it made the show all the more special for students gracing the stage for the last time. “It wasn’t like this seven years ago,” he said.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Update On Larry Maxham Park

This is what Larry Maxam Park will look like. Photo by Cathy Nicholls Coyle, BHS 67.

As you know Pacific Park in Burbank over near Valhalla Cemetery was voted on by Burbank City Council to rename the park in honor of Cpl. Larry Leonard Maxam, the city's and a BHS alumni who was killed in action in vietnam and received the Medal of Honor. They talked about Larry and the naming of Pacific Park on Memorial Day. I talked to Micky Depalo BHS 64 who approched the city council said that instead of everything being ready by Memorial Day was postphoned as he needed to ask for more money. So the Flagpole and Plaque and marker should be ready sometime in the fall and then they will have a dedication ceremony at the actual memorial. Micky wants to spread the word as he would like as many BHS grads and people in the Burbank area to attend. They had a large poster of what the memorial will look like at the Memorial Day Ceremonies yesterday. I will keep everyone updated.

Emergency Loop

Got this from Pam Kirkwood who does the BHS Loop:

Hi Loopsters...
There has been a lot going on in Loopland and I am not certain just when I will be able to get another regular "Loop" out...Therefore, we wanted to be sure and let you know about a couple of important things.

We are very saddened to tell you that Pete Graziano '64 and his wife Laney lost their 40 year old son, David last week. It was very sudden and the cause of death has not been determined.
There will be a Memorial Service for David at the Spirit Works Church located at 260 N. Pass Ave. this coming Saturday, May 30th at 5PM. If you need to call the church the number is 818 848-4158
Our love and prayers certainly go out to the entire Graziano Family...

Also, we received an email from our classmate Gerry Altman '64 today telling us of the passing of our classmate and Gerry's dear friend, Steve Poggione '64...Here is Gerry's letter...
Pam and Jon, It is with deep regret and sadness that I must tell you that our classmate, Steve Poggione, passed away on Memorial Day. He lost his long battle with cancer. Danny Omer called me late yesterday to convey this news. It is ironic that he passed on Memorial Day, as he was a Viet Nam Vet. He would call me at least once a year around this holiday. He served his country bravely in Viet Nam , but had a difficult time adjusting when he returned. He sought help from the VA to receive benefits he so richly deserved, but had to fight them every step of the way. He finally got help after three years of various appeals. I loved Steve like a brother. He was a loyal friend who was a big part of my life. Although I rarely saw him the past few years, I always could call him and we would rarely skip a beat. He is now at peace. May his memory live in our hearts forever. Gerry Altman

We are not aware of any family or relatives of Steve's where condolences could be sent. However, Gerry Altman '64 and Dan Omer '64 were very close to Steve and I am sure would enjoy hearing from any of you who were Steve's friends...
rdomer@aol.com>,
galtman@finsvcs.com

On a happier note, please remember the 9th Annual BHS/JBHS Picnic that will be coming up on June 20th...

The Picnic Committee (of which we are members) could really use some donations for door prizes. Anyone who has a business who would like to donate an item or gift certificate can mail them to:
Pam Kirkwood
2112 W. Oak St.
Burbank, CA 91506

If you live in the area and have a donation that needs to be picked up, email me at
pamkirkwood@yahoo.com
We have a tax I.D. number that we will be happy to give you so that you can write your donation off.

We hope next time we meet on the "Loop" that we have much happier news...

Stay Tuned...

Love, Pam and Jon

‘THEIR DEDICATION WILL NOT BE FOR NAUGHT’:

Staff Sgt. Carvel Gay, with the California State Military Reserve, salutes during the presentation of the colors at the Glendale Memorial Day ceremony at the Glendale Veterans Memorial near City Hall. (Scott Smeltzer/News-Press)


Memorial Day events honor those who have fought for the United States of America.


By Christopher Cadelago-Glendale News Press

Published: Tuesday, May 26, 2009


GLENDALE — For hundreds of local residents who turned out to Memorial Day ceremonies across Glendale, Burbank and La Cañada Flintridge, the hours of tribute — complete with bagpipes, benedictions, names of fallen service members, patriotic hymns and roses — serve as an annual exercise in remembrance.


But for Liam McKenna, a second-grader at St. Finbar School, such an exercise takes place weekly.“Every Sunday, I take a marble from the ‘Iraq’ circle and put it in the ‘home’ pile,” said Liam, dressed from head to toe in Army fatigues and wearing his dad’s rank, Sgt. 1st Class. “I wear the uniform because it reminds me of my dad in Iraq. There’s 11 marbles left, 11 weeks left. ”McKenna joined hundreds of Burbank residents, soldiers and government officials at the city’s official ceremony where members of the Veterans Commemorative Committee read the names of nearly 300 local troops who died serving in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq while Boy Scouts placed roses atop the memorials. A musical prelude gave way to a flyover by the Condor Squadron.


In Glendale, Vietnam veteran Steve Malmberg browsed the Glendale Veterans Memorial, dedicated in 1997. Master of Ceremonies Larry Zarian welcomed the somber crowd to the corner of Isabel Street and East Broadway with opening remarks oozing with patriotism.“It makes me proud to not only be an American,” he said. “It makes me proud to be a citizen of Glendale.”Mayor Frank Quintero followed the color guard, flag salute and prisoner of war-missing in action memorial, presented by retired Lt. Col. Dave Worley, of the U.S. Air Force, with a reminder to employers, particularly in this dire economy, to hire veterans.“All over Memorial Day is about more than just hot dogs and having a great time,” he said. “Let’s continue to work with the veterans, and let’s keep the returning veterans in mind.


”The morning of reminiscence was also an opportunity to remember those who never returned from World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. To date, more than 4,900 U.S. troops have died while serving in the two countries, 537 of them from California, according to records kept by the Los Angeles Times.


The mounting casualties have caused Lt. Col. Raffi Najarian, a Glendale resident and dental officer in the California Air National Guard, to every day gaze in the mirror at 6:30 a.m. and ask himself the same question.“Why did I come home?” said Najarian, who in 2003 was named California National Guard Medical Officer of the Year and in 2004 was named California Air National Guard Field Grade Officer of the Year. “Why isn’t my name on that wall? Why is this name on the wall?”At times, the guilt nearly overcomes him, Najarian said, until he remembers all of those parents, spouses, children and friends who have lost loved ones in battle.“Their loss will not be in vain,” he said. “Their dedication will not be for naught.


”The Crescenta Valley High School Charismatics struck up its rendition of “America the Beautiful” before members of the high school’s Air Force Jr. ROTC program took part in the laying of the roses.


Residents in La Cañada Flintridge capped off a weekend of ceremonies, including a tribute at nearby Vietnam War Memorial in the Montrose Shopping Center, with the 34th Annual Fiesta Days Run. The event has become a prelude to tributes in downtown Glendale and at Forest Lawn-Glendale, where the 94th annual Memorial Day March began at the Little Church of the Flowers and proceeded to the burial site of a soldier who served in the Civil War.


The Burbank event was highlighted by a tribute to Cpl. Larry L. Maxam, of the U.S. Marine Corps, a recipient of the Medal of Honor who died fighting in Vietnam. The City Council last week approved plans to rename Pacific Park after Larry L. Maxam in the fall.


Rep. Adam Schiff discussed legislation he introduced this year paying tribute to the Japanese American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their service in World War II by awarding them the Congressional Gold Medal, and Assemblyman Paul Krekorian implored those in attendance to harness the can-do spirit of troops to move the country forward.Mayor Gary Bric spoke briefly about his brother, William H. Bric III, a Green Beret who died in 1968 in Vietnam. Bric held up a book about the war, saying he never had a chance to read it.“I had a chance,” he said. “I just can’t do it.”

Next In Line?

Burbank High's Greg Dotson, a junior, qualified for the CIF Southern Section finals in the boys' 800 meters. (Scott Smeltzer/The Leader)


Junior Greg Dotson looks to add his name to the list of all-time great Burbank runners when he takes part in the CIF 800 final

By Jeff Tully-Burbank Leader
Published: Friday, May 22, 2009


Greg Dotson realizes he is on the verge of joining a rare fraternity.As a runner at Burbank High, the junior is well aware of the history the school has in turning out successful distance and middle-distance athletes.Dotson is the latest distance running standout from Burbank, following in a long line of stars dating back to the 1960s with Rick Romero and Fred Ortega. Jeff Nelson, Lin Whatcott and John Musich led the way in the 1970s, Benny Cruz and Todd Lewis in the 1980s, Issac Turner in the 1990s and Kyle Ivie more recently. “It’s nice to be a part of that tradition,” said Dotson, who won the Pacific League championship in the boys’ 800 meters two weeks ago. “There have been some great runners here at Burbank. ”Dotson will be attempting to continue that tradition Saturday at the CIF Southern Section finals at Cerritos College.

The junior will be among an impressive group of athletes in the Division I 800 race that is scheduled to get underway at 4 p.m.A favorable result in the race would qualify Dotson for the Masters Meet on May 29 at the same venue. If he is fortunate to do well in that race, he would advance to the CIF-State Track and Field Championships June 5-6 at Veterans Memorial Stadium on the campus of Buchanan High in Clovis. The last Burbank athlete to advance to state competition was Ivie, who qualified for the 1,600 in 2003. Prior to that, it was Turner, who qualified for the 800 in 1993.

Dotson said he looks forward to today’s finals race, and has made advancing to the state meet his utmost priority this season.“That has been my goal — to make it to state,” he said. “I’m looking forward to [today’s] race. I just want to qualify and move on.”The junior was able to qualify for the finals after a fine effort May 16 at the Division I preliminaries at Trabuco Hills High. Dotson placed fourth in the 800 meters in 1 minute, 55.55 seconds, running to 400-meter splits of 57.1 and 58.4. He avenged a subpar performance in last season’s prelims, where he placed 14th in 1:57.60 and failed to qualify for the finals. He captured the Pacific League 800 title on May 8 by running a scalding 1:53.83. With that result, Dotson is No. 9 in the state in the event.

Mac Fleet of University City of the San Diego Section is the state leader with a 1:50.31. Burbank Coach Trevor Marca said he thinks Dotson has the ability, and the mental capacity, to keep improving the next few weeks and hopefully make it to state. “I think he’s clearly capable of improving on what he done so far, and he is definitely moving up,” said Marca, a former standout distance runner in his own right at Burbank.“We have been doing some sharpening workouts and I think Greg’s got some more room to improve.”Marca said along with the physical improvement, Dotson has gained some maturity in his approach, and the way he handles big races. “He has a lot more experience this year than he did last year in the prelims,” Marca said.

“In the CIF prelims last year he kind of went into it like a fish out of water and a little wet behind the ears, and got beat up a little bit. But now has more experience, and every race is going to make him a little bit better in meets that are going to have deep fields. ”Dotson didn’t grow up a distance runner. In fact, he played baseball since he was 4. But instead of gravitating toward the diamond when he arrived at Burbank, he instead became interested in cross-country.“I didn’t want to do [physical education] during the first two seasons of the year, so I decided to go out for cross-country,” he said. “I ended up liking it and I also ended up liking track. “Running was definitely different than what I was used to. I had really only played baseball, and running was something that I just wanted to stay with.

”Along with his success in track and field, Dotson has also been a steady contributor in cross-country.In last year’s Pacific League cross-country finals, Dotson placed ninth in 16:30. He also won the Burbank All-City Meet in 16:18.In the Division I CIF prelims in a shortened race at Mount San Antonio College, Dotson was 26th in 11:09.Although he said he enjoys cross-country, he is more comfortable with the shorter races in track. “The 1,600 is really the longest race I’m comfortable with in track,” he said. “But I prefer the 800.”With a wealth of history behind him, Dotson is ready to add his name to the long list of former Bulldogs standout runners. It is an accomplishment that means a great deal to him.“It means a lot to be part of that,” he said. “I just want to do my best.”

Thursday, May 21, 2009

BHS 1989 - 20th Reunion

Burbank High School Bulldogs ~ Class of 1989 ~is having it's 20 Year Reunion on Saturday, September 12, 2009 at the Castaway Luau Grounds 1250 E. Harvard Road, Burbank, CA 91501 818.848.6691, 6:00 p.m. ~ 11:00 p.m.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Tribe Sets Record In Win

BASEBALL: Burroughs defeats Burbank, 7-1, to finish second in league and notch program’s first 20-win season.
By Jeff Tully, Burbank Leader
Published: May 15, 2009


BURROUGHS HIGH — There was still a great deal to be decided Friday in the final day of Pacific League baseball play. A group of teams — including Burroughs High and Burbank — were still trying to nail down their final placement in the league standings. The Indians needed a win against their cross-town rival, and a little help from Crescenta Valley, to win a share of their first league championship in 12 years. Burroughs did its job, overcoming an early deficit to defeat Burbank, 7-1, on its home field. Unfortunately for the Indians, the Falcons lost to Arcadia, 6-4, extinguishing any chances of a league crown for the locals. In the final league scheme of things, Arcadia (21-4, 12-2 in league) wins the title outright, finishing one game ahead of Burroughs (20-7, 11-3).Burbank (11-10-1, 9-5) and Crescenta Valley (18-9, 9-5) finish tied for third place.

The Bulldogs will go into the postseason as the No. 3 team from the league after winning a coin flip with the Falcons. The 20 wins for Burroughs is significant, as this season’s team is the first group to win that many games. Although his squad didn’t win a share of the league title, Burroughs Coach Tom Crowther is happy with his team’s effort this season.“We have won a few league titles in the history of our program, but we have never won 20 games before, so that’s special,” he said. “We would have been happy with a title, but we have to tip our hats to Arcadia.

”Burroughs received a fine pitching performance from senior Kyle Hart. Hart (6-3) went the distance, striking out 11 in a 112-pitch effort. Burbank did get to Hart early, as Chris Mott powered a solo home run to left field in the top of the first inning to give the visitors an early lead.“We knew that a one-run lead wasn’t going to stick,” Burbank assistant coach Kelly Saunders said. “We had our share of hits, we just couldn’t string enough of them together.”Burroughs tied the score in the fourth inning when Nick Bozman singled home Ray Palafox, who reached base on a hit. Bozman led the Indians’ offensive charge, going two for four with a two-run home run and three runs batted in. Palafox was two for three with a walk and two runs scored. The bottom fell out for Burbank and starting pitcher McCauley Taylor in the fifth inning, when Burroughs brought 10 players to the plate and scored five runs. Bozman’s home run, a two-run double by Erik Suarez and an RBI-single by Hart did most of the damage. The Indians added a run in the sixth. Burbank received a fine effort from Greg Koll, who was two for three with a double. It was the Indians’ 18th straight win against their rival and the 36th in 38 games.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Burbank High Can't Get Pass CV

BASEBALL: Surging Falcons hand Bulldogs a Pacific League road setback, 7-5, in a game where tempers flair.

By Gabriel Rizk, Burbank Leader
Published: Tuesday, May 12, 2009

GLENDALE — Lest anyone had forgotten that the defending Pacific League champions weren’t out of the hunt just yet, the Crescenta Valley baseball team has been busy over the month of May reminding its competition that the chase for the league title is far from over.For Burbank, it is battling to stay in postseason contention in a league that has become extremely tight the last few weeks.Going back to the first of the month, the Falcons have strung together wins against the same three teams that sent them spiraling into a three-game skid and under .500 in league as of April 3.Wins over Burroughs, Pasadena and now the Bulldogs, 7-5, on Saturday night at Stengel Field, have catapulted Crescenta Valley back into the title mix.“This gives a chance,” Crescenta Valley Coach Phil Torres said. “Three weeks ago we were dead, everyone felt we were, and the kids have done a good job.”There was no love lost between the Falcons and Bulldogs on Saturday. Tensions simmered and came to a head following some physicality on a pickoff play at first base that ended the sixth inning.A Burbank player and at least two coaches, including head Coach Bob Hart, were ejected from the game after a heated exchange with the umpiring crew.But the game was far from over at that point, as the Bulldogs mounted a two-out rally in the seventh from down, 7-4.Shortstop Lonnie Kauppila, who played for Crescenta Valley last season before transferring to Burbank, singled on a high chopper to the left side of the infield and scored on an infield hit by David Goldberg.With runners on first and third and the go-ahead run at the plate, Falcons reliever Sean Elliott ended the game on a strikeout and preserved the win for starter Jake Lehne (four innings pitched, three earned runs, eight

strikeouts).“Everywhere, things got a little crazy [at the end],” said Elliott, who allowed just two hits over the last three innings. “I knew that one run that scored didn’t matter, even though [the Bulldogs] were acting like it was a walk off. I just wanted to close it out. It was a big win for Jake — he pitched really well.”Burbank scored the first run of the game in the first inning on a single to right field by Goldberg.Kauppila (three for four) put the Bulldogs ahead, 3-2, with a two-run home run in the top of the third inning. It was the junior’s 12th homer of the season.Crescenta Valley countered in the bottom of the fourth with a five-run rally, beginning when Edward Lee scored on an error to tie the game at 3.With one out, Elliott Surrey (two for four) singled in Zack Torres, Joe Sedano doubled, Troy Mulcahey singled in Surrey and Troy Prasertsit singled in Sedano, who was three for four with two doubles.Matt Ashby then singled to load the bases and the Falcons went up, 7-3, on a walk to Brandt Bowers.“Throughout the year, we haven’t been able to string hits together,” said Mulcahey, who went two for three with a double. “We just came to play and we got a lot of hits in a row. That’s our key.”Kauppila came up big again in the fifth inning, doubling in Taylor.Taylor and Goldberg were both two for four.The Bulldogs tied to rally in the seventh, as Goldberg delivered an RBI-single.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

BHS?JBHS ALUMNI PICNIC CAR SHOW!

Time again to start taking sign-ups for the 9th. Annual All Class Reunion Picnic and Car Show. It is happening on Sat. June 20th. at Johnny Carson Park on Bob Hope Drive, between Alameda and Riverside Dr. Just enter off of Bob Hope Drive and register with Karl and park in shade. Always be careful of others walking and drive slow.
The picnic is between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. We need cars to arrive by 10:45 a.m. to get them registered and parked. The registration cost is $20 per car. We need to have all send me the year and make of car, class it is to be put in if you have it, name of owner or owners, (need to be a graduate of Burbank or Burroughs High) Please state which school and year graduated. We need to have all cars put in a class before coming to the show. We fill out the windshield cards ahead so as to save time. Trophies for the 7 classes will be given out about 3 p.m.
The classes for the 7 trophies are: Modified pre-war, modified post-war, stock, sports/open, ladies choice, drivers pick, and best of show. The classification of hot rod would fall under modified pre-war.
Please pass the word around so other classmates will know about this.
Please e-mail your info to me
grossmand@aol.com or phone me at 818-841-0387. Thanks, Denny Grossman, Car Show volunteer.
Registered Entries
1. Karl and Marianne Grossman - Burroughs 57, Burbank 63 - 71 El Camino Modified post war

2. Lou & Judy Bartoletti - Burbank 58 57 Chevy Belair Hardtop Modified post war
3. Bill Hormuth - Burroughs 63 65 T-Bird Sports/open
4. Gerald Gaughen - Burroughs 55 55 DeSoto Stock
5. Darrell & Nancy Golnick - Burbank 60 55 Chevy Belair Modified post war
6. Bud and Joyce Nelson - Burbank 60, Burroughs 6032 Ford Roadster Modified pre-war

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Public Affairs Officer for Voice of America

Margaret E. Jaffie, 88, a retired public affairs officer for the Voice of America who conducted thousands of public tours of the international broadcasting operation during a 20-year tenure, died Feb. 12 at her home in Sun City Center, Fla., after having a heart attack while swimming. She was a former resident of the District.
Leading five or more tour groups a day through VOA's headquarters at 330 Independence Ave. SW, Mrs. Jaffie explained the broadcast network's mission and operations, answered countless questions and, in her words, "told America's story to the world."
Those to whom she gave tours included entertainer Pearl Bailey, an African king, the boxers Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard and U.S. service people who listened to VOA while stationed overseas.
They also included, on one occasion during the Cold War, two heavyset men with Russian accents who said they were from New York. They actually were journalists from Pravda, the official Soviet newspaper.
"They wrote that they visited the Voice of America and met a feisty old lady, wearing tennis shoes, who was spreading propaganda," Mrs. Jaffie recalled in a 2002 VOA interview.
Her tennis shoes were a way to cope with the long, uncarpeted corridors of the VOA building.
She also recalled a young man from Hungary who took her tour. "He said, 'I want you to know my uncle went to jail for listening to the Voice of America. That's why I'm here. I wanted to hear it, too.'
"I was thrilled," Mrs. Jaffie said.
In 1989, she received the Congressional Award for Exemplary Service to the Public. The citation read in part: "Mrs. Jaffie's pride and affection for VOA and its people are contagious. Visitors -- be they members of Congress, foreign diplomats or American high school students -- come away from her tours excited by what she has shown and told them."
She was born Margaret Elizabeth List in Scranton, N.D., and received a bachelor's degree in 1941 from St. Cloud State Teachers College (now St. Cloud State University) in Minnesota. After graduating, she moved to California, where she lived with an aunt and taught international relations and English at Burbank High School. (Future film star Debbie Reynolds was one of her students.) She also married a fellow teacher, Robert Jaffie.
A few years later, her husband joined the U.S. Information Agency Foreign Service, and in 1955, the couple began a 16-year odyssey that took them to India, Nepal, Pakistan and China. During their first overseas assignment in Calcutta, Mrs. Jaffie worked as a volunteer with Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity. She also volunteered teaching American English and American culture to young Indians.
The Jaffies moved back to Washington in 1972 because of Robert Jaffie's failing health. After his death in 1973, Mrs. Jaffie became a State Department escort officer, arranging itineraries and accompanying foreign officials, academics, journalists and other visitors on tours of the United States. She became a VOA tour guide the next year.
At her retirement ceremony 20 years later, her colleagues presented her with a pair of tennis shoes dipped in bronze.
In retirement, Ms. Jaffie lived in Falls Church and had a second home in Sun City Center, where she swam daily. She made frequent trips to Egypt and later Botswana to visit her daughter and also made several trips to New Delhi to visit old friends.
Survivors include her daughter, Nancy Jaffie of Springfield; and a sister.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Burbank Boys,Girls Take Down Burroughs In Pool

Burbank boys, girls take down Burroughs in pool
May 2009
SWIMMINGBurroughs vs. Burbank: The Bulldogs boys’ team captured eight of 11 events to win, 102-68, and the girls’ squad took the final event of the day to win, 88-62, Wednesday in a Pacific League meet at Burroughs.On the boys’ side, Burbank took the 200-meter medley relay behind Jun Hee Lee, Alex Lambert, Nate Jo and James Berman (1 minute, 49.47 seconds).Alex Hulett won the 200 freestyle (159.45) and the 500 freestyle (5:43.92), Lee took the 200 individual medley (2:14.39) and the 100 backstroke (1:00.22), Berman took the 50 freestyle (22.97) and the 100 freestyle (52.37) and Jo won the 100 butterfly.For the Burbank girls, April Hishinuma won the 200 freestyle (2:14.77) and the 100 backstroke (1:12.13), Courtney Jensen took the 500 freestyle (6:27.99) and the 400, and the freestyle relay of Sara Puranan, Jensen, Rachel Udall and Hishinuma also won (no time available).

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Gary Bric BHS 70 Becomes Burbank Mayor

Gary Bric becomes mayor

Reorganization ceremony includes welcoming Jess Talamantes to the dais and bidding Marsha Ramos a fond adieu.

By Christopher Cadelago
Published: Friday, May 1, 2009


CITY HALL — Gary Bric ascended to mayor of Burbank on Friday, with Councilwoman Anja Reinke taking his previously held seat as vice mayor.In a reorganization ceremony full of hearty welcomes to newly elected Councilman Jess Talamantes and tender farewells to outgoing Councilwoman Marsha Ramos, Bric, a restaurateur entering his third year in office, assumed the center seat on the dais before thanking a host of family, friends and business associates in the audience.“I do have a few comments, but I’ll try to keep them short. I do know we have a two-hour limitation on parking,” he said to laughter.But chuckles gave way to a sober realization that the budget season was upon City Hall. City leaders alluded to imminent challenges facing the city as the council prepares to adopt a budget. The city manager’s office has asked department heads to cut 5% from their draft budgets for the coming fiscal year in order to bridge a projected $7.2-million deficit in 2009-10. That figure could grow to $15 million by 2012-13.“We have a lot of work to do, and I am ready to move forward,” Bric said.He then took the gavel, newly engraved with his name, and asked for nominations for vice mayor. Despite some speculation that the title and responsibility would go to Councilman David Gordon, the second-most senior member, Councilmen Dave Golonski and Talamantes expressed early support for Reinke, who was quickly named to the post.“Some of the best people in this community are in this room right now,” she said. “And some of them are seated right here at this very dais.”Reinke thanked family and supporters before pledging to continue offering an ear to the community.“Everybody has special causes that they want to propel in this community, and that’s what’s great about having five different people up here because everybody has something different,” she said.The council, before changing leadership and welcoming Talamantes, hosted farewells to Golonski’s mayoral term and Ramos, who left the council after eight years to spend more time with her family and working at her business.City Manager Mike Flad presented Golonski with the customary plaque and photograph before reading from a list of accomplishments, including a continued push toward sustainability. The council last year pledged to put Burbank on a path to becoming a zero-waste city, conserving water, composting and buying green.“I just want to thank you personally, Dave,” Bric said. “I mean the last two years I’ve been like a little puppy dog walking behind Dave Golonski. He has taught me so much. I called to pick his brain, and what knowledge I have up here is because of [him].”Gordon, who has historically butted heads with Golonski, also offered flattering words.“Well, I can’t say ‘Goodbye, Mr. Golonski,’” Gordon said. “But I have to say a few things that I don’t think very many people realize. I started getting involved with community affairs back in the late ’80s, and I can remember very clearly an image on the wall of a younger Mayor Golonski.“He really did stimulate a lot of involvement in the community and actually was a model in the community,” he said. “I hope people in the community don’t confuse discussion of issues and divergence of opinions as meaning we can’t work together. It’s simply not true.”The city’s tribute to Ramos, complete with a 10-minute video montage, stretched over 10 single-spaced pages of accomplishments. Flad closed his remarks by calling her the heart, soul and moral compass of the city.“From the bottom of my heart, I hope you enjoy some time with your family and your business and go back to enjoying life,” Bric said. “I personally want to say thank you for everything you’ve ever done for this city.”Moved to tears, Ramos bid adieu to city staff and the council before welcoming Talamantes.“Wow, you guys are amazing,” she said. “It’s easy to go out there and talk about the city of Burbank because this community is great and the staff is what makes it happen. I look at Jess and I think, what more perfect — expect he’s not female — person for me to pass the torch to?”City Clerk Margarita Campos, City Treasurer Donna Anderson and Burbank Unified School District Board of Education incumbents Larry Applebaum and Debbie Kutka also took the oath of office Friday.