Monday, May 31, 2010

Memorial Day 2010

On this Memorial Day 2010, we remember and honor our fallen American servicemen and women.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Noah Loock will not get jail time!

Son will not get jail time


Burbank man pleads no contest to battery in death of his father.


By Christopher Cadelago, Burbank Leader
May 29, 2010

DOWNTOWN — A 20-year-old man charged in connection with the 2008 death of his father will not face jail time after pleading this week to lesser charges. Noah Loock, of Burbank, pleaded no contest Tuesday in Pasadena Superior Court to one count of misdemeanor battery stemming from a fight with his father,


Timothy Loock, an assistant football coach at Burbank High School. Noah Loock was sentenced to eight days in jail, but will not spend additional time behind bars based on credit for time served, prosecutors said. The deal specifies that he spend three years on probation, complete 120 hours of community service and attend anger management classes.


His attorney, Lewis Romero, said the father and son were in a struggle that got out of hand. Neither wanted to hurt the other and no one used deadly force, Romero said. "Noah had a legal right to self-defense after being assaulted by his father, whom he loved," Romero said. "How much should a child who is now a man take? This just happened to be the day where Noah said, "I am not going to take this anymore."


Immediate family and several of Timothy Loock's friends and co-workers wrote letters on Noah's behalf. And while Deputy Dist. Atty. Rusty Moore called the outcome a "fair resolution," one family member said it amounted to little more than a slap on the wrist.


Noah Loock had faced one felony count of involuntary manslaughter. "Am I happy with it? Yes and no," said Kathy Loock, Timothy's sister. "I would have liked to see a harsher penalty. I have seen people get jail terms for less serious crimes. However, at least now Noah will be forced to face some consequences for the events of Nov. 29, [2008]."


The incident occurred shortly before 2 p.m. when police responded to a reported fight between father and son at their home in the 1800 block of North Avon Street. Timothy Loock, 48, was rendered unconscious after the altercation and taken to Providence St. Joseph Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, police said. Investigators said the pair had gotten into a argument after Noah Loock, then 18, took a family car against his father's wishes. Timothy Loock ended the argument when he literally kicked his son out the front door of the house, according to testimony at a preliminary hearing. Noah Loock went around the back of the home to retrieve his keys and wallet when he was confronted by his father.The two got into a pushing match, and Noah Loock responded to his father's punches by throwing the final blow, according to the testimony.


He was taken into custody, booked on suspicion of murder and spent three days in jail. He would later spend another day in jail following his second arrest. The Los Angeles County district attorney's office filed charges after the Los Angeles County coroner ruled the cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head and neck. An expert analysis prepared for the defense concluded that the findings were "incomplete and fatally flawed.


" Kathy Loock sought to clarify that as an attorney, she believes in the judicial system, and I "trusted the district attorney's office and Russell Moore did what they thought was right."


Timothy Loock, an all-league wide receiver for the class of 1978 at Burbank High School, went on to coach receivers and defensive backs. He worked in the entertainment industry as a post-production editor for nearly 30 years, most recently at Technicolor Creative Services in Hollywood.


Noah Loock, a 2008 graduate of Burroughs High School, recently completed his first year on a scholarship at the San Francisco Art Institute. Described as a talented artist, the family gathered around Noah Loock, unwilling to lose another one of its members over what many perceived to be a tragic accident. The legal process has been excruciating for all involved, family members said. Timothy's brothers, Joel and Paul Loock, described a deeply religious family.


"Noah is my godson, and he's my brother Paul's godson, and we always protect our own," Joel Loock said. "We were brought up in a very close environment, and we always stand by each other, especially during tragic events. "We're not happy with the decision. What we're happy about is at least this can come to an end."

Burbank High School 2010 Graduation

Burbank High School: 'This is it' for 670 students
By Max Zimbert, Burbank Leader
May 29, 2010

Ani Vertanous and Sabina Agazarian said they've been friends since middle school, but walking up the hill to the Starlight Bowl for their Burbank High School commencement Friday, they started yelling.They weren't going to be sitting next to one another for the ceremony, but they said that didn't take away from their sense of accomplishment, relief and joy."It feels amazing," Vertanous said. "It's the end, and I accomplished everything."The two will be going to Pasadena City College next year, representing two stories among the almost 670 graduating seniors who became alumni Friday night.

"Senior year was the best year," said Tyler Wells, who'll be enrolling at Glendale Community College. His family flew in from the Bay Area. For his mother, Fran Wells, reflecting on her son's accomplishments and growth in the last four years almost made her cry, she said."I'm so proud and excited for him," she said. "And he's going to be around, and we're happy to have him."

While Tyler Wells will be in the neighborhood next year, the commencement theme "This Is It" rang true for many others who'll be moving far from home, like Aaron Frank."In ninth grade we had a speaker who said, 'No regrets,'" said the incoming Syracuse University freshman. "I pushed myself and made sure I never regretted any decisions I make.

"Same with Sophie Irwin, who'll be going to college in Alabama. Her father, Steve, said he's gotten accustomed to not seeing Sophie much."This year, we barely saw her," he said. "She'll be back on major holidays. We have a small house, the extra elbow room might be nice."

Baseball teammates Sam Levitt and Lonnie Kauppila said that with several graduating seniors, the lineup is likely to enter a rebuilding phase. Kauppila will be playing baseball at Stanford University next year, while Levitt enrolls at UCLA."I'll see him when he's in town [playing UCLA]," Levitt said. "It hasn't hit me yet. I'm looking forward to the future, but I'm trying to remember everything that happened during high school."

Clad in blue caps and gowns, students milled around the grass behind the bowl's seats, taking pictures and celebrating their final moments in Burbank Unified. "They are so close with one another and friendly, and just really nice kids," said Carolyn Grogan, an English teacher.

For Daniel Flores, one of the student speakers, it was a moment he wasn't sure he'd see. Freshman year was his low point, he said. The next year, he transferred to Monterrey High School, made up 127 credits and returned to Burbank High, giving up horseplay for career goals."The message is, no matter who you are or what you want to do, you can do it," he said.

"This is a very special moment for me right now."That's what "This Is It" was all about, said Mary Beth Medina, the school's student board member and a graduation speaker."This expression depends on every senior here," she said in her address. "It's not what you say, it's about what you do . . . We made it through. Now, welcome to your future."

Friday, May 28, 2010

Burbank High 2010 Graduation Tonight!

Burbank High School 2010 Graduation will be held tonight, May 28, 2010 at the Starlight Bowl , 5:00 p.m.

Congratulations to our 2010 graduation speakers: Daniel Flores, Mary Beth Medina and Katlen Abuata!

Congratulations to our 2010 Graduates!

Way To Go!

Go Bulldogs!

Friday, May 21, 2010

Bulldogs fall short in Girl's Softball

SOFTBALL: Burbank loses in wild-card playoff game against Pioneer Valley.

By Jeff Tully, Burbank Leader
Published: May 18, 2010

MCCAMBRIDGE PARK — It was apparent early on in the playoff game between Burbank High and Pioneer Valley that it wasn’t going to be a pitchers’ duel.

It was also evident that the winner was going to have to outlast their opponent in a slugfest.

Although the Bulldogs battled their way back several times in Tuesday’s CIF Southern Section Division III wild-card game, they fell just short, losing 10-9, in a game at McCambridge Park.

The loss ends the season for the Bulldogs (17-10), which tied for second place in the Pacific League and went into the playoffs as the No. 3 seed from the league.

Burbank pitchers Kristi Hale, who started, and Chrystal Diaz had trouble stifling the Panthers’ batters.

“Our pitching was inconsistent, and that was something that really hurt us,” Burbank Coach Nicole Drabecki said. “When your pitchers are having problems, that puts a lot of pressure on your defense.”

The Bulldogs pitchers gave up 12 hits and nine walks.

On offense, Burbank received some solid performances. Senior shortstop Kassy Uchida, who is headed to Utah State, was three for four with three runs scored, senior Megan Schafer was three for four with a triple, a double and five runs batted in and senior Alyssa Meredith celebrated her 18th birthday by going three for three with two RBI and two runs scored. READ FULL STORY

Monday, May 17, 2010

Elvin Hutchison, Pro Football Player, BHS Coach

Elvin Clarence Hutchison was born October 14, 1912, in Guthrie Center, Iowa. He graduated from Red Oak High School in Red Oak, Iowa and went on to Whittier College, where he was known as the "Red Oak Express" on the football team before graduating in 1937. Elvin was inducted into the Whittier College Athletic Hall of Fame. Hutchison later earned a Master's in Education from the University of Southern California in 1948.

Following his collegiate football career, Hutchison played professionally as a halfback for the Detroit Lions in 1939, and as a wingback for the Los Angeles Bulldogs of the Pacific Coast Professional Football League from 1939 to 1946. He coached football at Burbank High School in 1947.
Hutchison officiated in the NFL from 1952 through 1959, and in the American Football League for its entire existence, from 1960 through 1969.
In 1959, Hutchison was named principal of Kaiser Junior High School in Costa Mesa, California.

Hutchison married Lois Evelyn Walters in May 1943.
Elvin Hutchison died on May 24, 2001. He is buried in the Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, California.

Former player has football in his blood - Costa Mesan spent 20 years in NFL
The Orange County Register - Thursday, October 15, 1992 Author: Bob Buttitta ; The Orange County Register

Elvin Hutchison 's professional football career started in an era when helmets had no face masks and athletes played offense AND defense. By the time he was through, football stadiums were covered with domes and artificial turf was common. Hutchison , who turned 80 Wednesday, spent 20 years as a National Football League player and game official. "I saw an awful lot of changes," said Hutchison , a Costa Mesa resident known as "The Red Oak Express" in his playing days. "I feel very fortunate to have been able to be involved in pro football. "The game today is far different than when I played. Whether it's better or not, I'm not sure."

Hutchison 's pro career started in 1938 with the Los Angeles Bulldogs, in an earlier American Football League, which served as a springboard to the NFL. "We had a lot of guys just out of college who were looking to get a chance and we had guys who had been in the NFL and were looking to get back," said Hutchison , a former 5-foot-11, 195-pound
back. "I had just graduated from Whittier College and still wanted to play football. "Playing semi-pro football gave me that opportunity. It was a lot of fun and the caliber of play was pretty good."

In 1939, Elmer "Gus" Henderson, Hutchison 's coach with the Bulldogs, went to the Detroit Lions. He brought several players to Detroit, including Hutchison , then 26. The Lions, after a fast start, closed at 6-5. "Detroit was a great place to play," Hutchison said. "We used the old single-wing formation. I did some running and some passing. "Getting the chance to play against guys like Whizzer White was a thrill. I only made about $100 a game, but none of us played for the money. We played for the love of the game." When the seasons were over, Hutchison returned to Seal Beach, where he taught elementary school.

"I was lucky, the principal allowed me to miss the first half of the school year," he said. "I'd return in January and start teaching." After the 1941 season, Hutchison joined the Navy. Although military service ended his NFL career, Hutchison said he never regretted being part of the war effort.

He rejoined the Bulldogs of the old Pacific Coast Football League for the 1946 season and was with the Hollywood Bears in '48. He taught school during the week and played on weekends. When he could no longer play, Hutchison became a referee, starting on the high school and college levels. In 1953, he was hired as a head linesman by the NFL. He worked NFL games for seven years until moving to the new American Football League in 1960.

"I worked the first games ever in the Astrodome, San Diego's Jack Murphy Stadium and Denver's Mile High Stadium," Hutchison said. "Being a referee is a tough job, but it was a lot of fun. I got to see a lot of the country and watch some great players."

One of Hutchison 's most memorable encounters involved George Halas of the Chicago Bears. Hutchison made a call against the Bears that Halas didn't like. As Hutchison took his place on the sideline, Halas started yelling. "He started to verbally abuse me, so I threw a flag on him for unsportsmanlike conduct," Hutchison said. "We marched it off and Halas yells, `Ref, you stink!' "I marched off another 15 yards, and I looked over to him and said, `How do I smell from here?' He got the point that he had better keep quiet."

Hutchison ended refereeing after the 1970 season; he retired from teaching in 1974. These days, he spends his time golfing, going to the health club and watching football on television. "I see how much these guys are making to play and I kind of wish I was playing now," Hutchison said. "But overall, I look back over the last 80 years and I wouldn't change much. "Other than a divorce, I'm happy with the way things worked out. I've been lucky enough to do two things I loved, play football and teach."

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Howard Katz, BHS 1959 runs for office

Howard Katz Candidate for Congress
Democrat, California's 49th

Congressional District

I was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1941, and moved with my family to Los Angeles, California, in 1942. I started grammar school at the Wilshire Crest Elementary on Olympic Boulevard in Los Angeles. In 1951, I moved to Burbank, California, where I finished grammar school, attended Luther Burbank Junior High School, and then Burbank High School, from where I graduated in 1959. I began university at the University of Southern California (USC) in 1959. I transferred to California State University Northridge (CSUN) in 1960 and graduated from there in 1963 with a degree in History and Anthropology. I did graduate work in Anthropology at Cornell University after graduating from CSUN.

I started working for IBM as a Systems Engineer Trainee in 1963 and retired from IBM as a Senior Program Manager after 30 years in 1993. After I retired from IBM, I worked as a Management Consultant for a Dallas, Texas, consulting company, worked as a Consulting Practice Manager for Oracle Corporation at several locations in the US, returned to work as a Senior Project Director for a Dallas consulting company, worked as Director of Development for 24 Hour Fitness in Carlsbad, California, and finished my working career as a substitute teacher in Perris, Murrieta, and Temecula, California.

I have lived and worked in several locations in the US, Venezuela, Japan, and Europe. I've traveled extensively in the US and abroad, including: Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Mongolia,
Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad/Tobago, and Venezuela.

My wife Kathy and I have been married for 47 years. We have two children, Travis and Heather. Travis is married, has four children, and lives in Dallas. Heather is single and lives in New York City. For most of our married life, Kathy and I have been avid horse people. We currently have three horses at our ranch in the Temecula Wine Country. We have taken our horses to many locations in the Western United States to camp and ride, including: Sequoia National Forest (California), Pecos National Wilderness (New Mexico), Big Bend National Park (Texas), Point Reyes National Seashore (California), Death Valley National Park (California), Canyon de Chilly National Monument (Arizona), Cleveland National Forest (California), Anza Borrego Desert State Park (California), and the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve (California).

We are growing Japanese black pines, coastal redwoods, piƱon pines, and giant sequoias on our ranch. Besides the trees we are growing, we have planted over 200 other trees on our ranch. We believe that trees provide habitat for birds and other animals and substantially helps air quality.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Leadership Burbank restores "B"

In recognition of the city of Burbank's Centennial in 2011, the 2010 Class of Leadership Burbank restored the mountainside "B" on April 24 and 25 that has adorned the city since the 1920s.

The site was prepped and cleared with the help of volunteers so that two tons of materials, including white vinyl panels, reinforcing bar, weed cloth and stakes, could be airlifted to the site.

For more information, visit www.leadershipburbank.org.

Leadership Burbank is a community based organization that offers a nine month leadership training program for people who live or work in the city.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Burbank & Burroughs Alumni Football Game Photos

Below is some photos I took of the First Annual Burbank & Burroughs Alumni Football (Flag) Game held last Saturday at Burbank High School football field. A great time was had by all!
















Don Melton - BHS 1965












Team Photo







Monday, May 10, 2010

Burbank High School 2010 Graduation

Burbank High School 2010 Graduation will be held on May 28, 2010 at the Starlight Bowl , 5:00 p.m.


Congratulations to our 2010 graduation speakers: Daniel Flores, Mary Beth Medina and Katlen Abuata!

Congratulations to our 2010 Graduates! Way To Go!

Go Bulldogs!


Friday, May 7, 2010

Burbank & Burroughs Alumni Football Game This Sat.


Just a reminder that the Burbank and Burroughs Alumni Football Game is this coming Saturday, Mother's Day May 8th from 5pm to 9pm at the Burbank High Football field.


Below is a small list of some of the players and the years they graduated from Burbank High that have signed up to play.

Don Melton - 1965

Auggie Garcia - 1978

Keith Knoop - 1981

Sean Cyphers - 1990

Hector Valencia - 1993

David Machuca - 2002

Steve Winn - 2005

Robert Linda - 2007

Eric Blatz - 2008

Kevin Hunter - 2009

Cody Cardenaz - 2009

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Dogs earn rivalry sweep in swimming!

SWIMMING: Depth helps Burbank defeat Burroughs in both boys and girls in league meet.

By Jeff Tully
Published: Friday, April 30, 2010


BURBANK HIGH — Before the start of the season, Burbank High swim Coach Adam Wright said that depth would be a huge benefit for his teams.With a fine turnout, the large numbers has allowed the coach to fill races, move athletes around in various events and create some friendly competition for his Bulldogs.

It was that depth that helped the Bulldogs earn a Pacific League sweep Wednesday against cross-town rival Burroughs at Burbank High. In the boys’ portion of the event, Burbank earned a 110-60 victory. In the girls’ portion, however, things were a little closer, as the Bulldogs downed the Indians, 97-69.

Burbank completed the sweep by winning the junior varsity boys, 121-32, and the junior varsity girls, 104-50.“I think for the seniors, they haven’t been able to sweep Burroughs since they were freshmen,” Wright said. “They really wanted to win this one today.”Wright said that depth has been a key for his squads all season.“I look at the numbers over at Burroughs and I think we probably have double the numbers that they have,” Wright said. “This season we just don’t have a lot of numbers, but we have swimmers who have experience. That has helped us a lot.

Burroughs Coach Danny Garcia said his team was anticipating a tough challenge from Burbank. He also added that his swimmers looked to be prepared prior to the meet.“I’ve never seen my team more focused then they [were against Burbank],” Garcia said. “They weren’t goofing around at all and they were ready and focused going in. They just wanted to beat somebody in a blue cap.”

In girls’ competition, Burbank received a fine effort from junior April Hishinuma. Along with winning the 200-yard freestyle in 2 minutes, 14.83 seconds, she also took the 100 backstroke (1:11.02) and teamed up with Rachael Ross, Andrea Kunza and Danielle Reid to win the 400 freestyle relay (4:07.64). READ FULL STORY

Sunday, May 2, 2010

In Memory Steve Lovett, BHS 1978

From Lisa Lovett BHS 1976 on the death of of her brother.

For those of you who have not heard, my brother, Steve Lovett, BHS 1978 passed away Thursday evening April 15, 2010 of a heart attack at his home in Burbank. I will be having a memorial for him in a few weeks. Thank you everyone for all of your love and support. I am in NYC with family and my dear friend, Gina Leslie. Steven turned 50 years old January 26, 2010.

A friend and fellow classmate Paul J. Salerno, Rest in peace Steve Lovett BHS class of 78. Such a wonderful man and gifted musician. You will be sorely missed my brother.