Monday, November 30, 2009

Happy Birthday Charlotte (Ryan) Mearn

May you have a fantastic day!



Sharon (Ryan) Martin (Charlotte's twin 1949-2007), Rebecca Sorenson and Charlotte


Here's a wonderful photo from Facebook!

Friday, November 27, 2009

More November Birthdays!

Happy Birthday, Karen (Lundigan) Panich!




And Happy Birthday, Neal Hershenson!



SAY CHEESE! Here's Neal in our Ceralbus who was voted Best Smile along with Kathleen Bryan.


May you both have a have a great day and a great year!

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Sixtieth to Ron Panich!



Happy Birthday, Ron! Hope it's a good one.

1968 - Ron on the Dating Game!


CLICK HERE to see Ron and Karen's lovely home and see a clip of Ron when he was on the Dating Game.

2007 - The Class of '67 Reunion Picnic

Don Ray, Neal Hershenson, Ron Panich and Karen (Lundigan) Panich

And to EVERYONE reading this, may you each have a wonderful Thanksgiving today with family and friends as we take the time to thank the Lord for all His many blessings!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

The Work of BHS Alumni Tim Burton at MoMA

An exhibition featuring the artwork of Burbank High alumni Tim Burton, the man behind films such as Beetle Juice, Edward Scissorhands, and The Nightmare Before Christmas, will run from November 22nd through April 26th at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.


Tim with partner, actress Helena Bonham Carter (source)




From Wikipedia:
Timothy William "Tim" Burton (born August 25, 1958) is an American film director, producer, writer and artist. He is famed for his dark and quirky films, such as Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands and The Nightmare Before Christmas, which he co-wrote and produced. He is also famous for being the director of several popular blockbusters including Batman, Batman Returns, Sleepy Hollow, Planet of the Apes, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Since directing his first feature (Pee-wee's Big Adventure) in 1985, he has gone on to direct and produce numerous films, many of which have won Academy Awards. He frequently works with close friend Johnny Depp, musician Danny Elfman and partner Helena Bonham Carter. Burton's most recent film was 2007's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, which won the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy. His most recent production is the Shane Acker animated sci-fi fantasy 9, a co-production with Timur Bekmambetov. His next film Alice in Wonderland is due for release March 5, 2010.

From classmate Wes Clark's website



Tim's first movie was in 1984 Frankenweenie

Tim Burton Retrospective: An Interview with Curator Ron Magliozzi




CONGRATULATIONS TIM!

Comparing the 2009 and 1972 Football Games

The Big Game lacks the pageantry of years ago



The818Now
November 18, 2009
source
By Joyce Rudolph

Standing on Memorial Field Friday night watching The Big Game with my classmates and former Burbank High School football stars, we reminisced about the last time we were all together in the stadium. We couldn’t help but notice the lack of excitement and revelry we remember from that great 1972 season.

Leo Orange, Mick Flavin, Bruce Smentek, Frank Baldino, Fred Hodges and Mario Perez from the championship team of 1972 were huddled on the right side of the field near the goal post. They were excited about the upcoming transformation of the football stadium and several said after 66 years, it’s definitely time for a facelift.

But we all couldn’t help but notice the lack of songs we remember the band used to play throughout the game to get the guys fired up. Gone were ”Go, go go, go you Mighty Bulldogs,” “Fight for Burbank” and “Budweiser” to name a beloved few.

And, when the band went out onto the field, there were no baton or flag twirlers or drill team members galantly marching behind them in snappy royal blue uniforms and dazzling white pomm-pomms. And the cheerleaders pomm-pomms are barely larger than the girls’ hands now. They didn’t even bring them to cheer the guys on at the end of the field when a touchdown was scored.

Probably the most astonishing change was the band not playing the school’s song “Hail Burbank High School.” Instead, the football team did a choreographed hiphop-inspired drill with chanting.
Sadly, this isn’t the pageantry I remember.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Happy Birthday, Donna (Luce) Neitman!



Today is YOUR DAY, Donna, and may it be full of joy, love and peace!!!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Happy Big Six OHHHH to Pat Fligg!







Pat along with Ken Powers, Tim Thomas and John Ferguson were honored at Burbank High's Centennial last year!

Monday, November 16, 2009

Thanksgiving... Dave LeSueur Style!

Thanks Dave - lol!!



The True Meaning of Thanksgiving
by David LeSueur
view profile
view other postings from David LeSueur
Article Contributed on: 11/16/2009 3:51:12 PM
source

Every year about this time I like to remind my family of the True Meaning of Thanksgiving. No, I am not talking about the Pilgrims and the Indians in the 17 th Century. Rather, I am talking about a housewife and a milkman in Burbank, California in the 1960s.

Thanksgiving in Southern California does not feel like a Fall holiday. The temperature is more likely to be in the 80s than in the 50s. But I spent my childhood there and can attest that we had the same traditions as the rest of the country. For example, the day always began with my brothers and father sitting in front of the TV to watch the Lions play the Packers. When we were really young, after watching the game, we would put on our plastic football helmets and shoulder pads. Then we would throw the football around pretending we were Bill Wade and Jon Arnett and Del Shofner.

At some point we were old enough to play actual football games with other kids in the neighborhood. The street was our playing field and one year someone even painted little yard markers in it.The curb on either side was the out-of-bounds line, which meant the field was pretty narrow. Sometimes there was a car parked in the street and that made for some interesting play calls (Bill, you go down and out to the left, run around the blue car, jump over the bicycle, then go long - I'll fake it to you).

Mom's Thanksgiving Day was the same every year. She would get up at 4 am to put the turkey in the oven. She would go back to bed for a couple of hours, then get up again to start baking rolls, peeling potatoes and making the rest of the Thanksgiving meal. We usually ate at 3 or 4 in the afternoon, and then Mom and Dad and the other adults cleaned up the leftovers and did the dishes.

I never heard her complain about Thanksgiving. She genuinely liked cooking and all of the related work - except getting up at 4 a.m. "Can't you get someone else to get up and get the turkey started?" one of her friends asked. So one year she came up with a plan. She would prepare the turkey the night before, place it in the oven and set the oven to the right temperature. This was before oven timers so she still needed someone to get up and turn the oven on - a simple, but important task. We grew up watching Father Knows Best and Leave It To Beaver, so it is not surprising that she asked for help from the most dependable man she knew - our milkman.

There were four children in our family and we drank a lot of milk, so having a milkman was a necessary luxury. And our relationship with this particular milkman was such that he had a key to the house. Each Monday and Thursday, he came to the house early in the morning while we were all sleeping.He unlocked the door, brought the milk into the house, opened the refrigerator and put the milk inside. Since he was inside our kitchen at the right time of day, Mom thought he would be happy to help her on Thanksgiving morning. Mom wrote a note for him that said "Please turn on the oven. The temperature is already set." So that special Thanksgiving, Mom got to sleep in.

Over the years we have enhanced the story. The milkman didn't just turn the oven on, he got the turkey out of the refrigerator and placed it in the oven. In fact, he made the dressing and stuffed the turkey. And then he came back after dinner and helped us do the dishes!

This year I am thinking about having our grandchildren reenact the Festival of the Milkman. Matthew can dress up in white suit and a white hat and be the milkman. Trevor, Ryan and Sarah can pretend to sleep while the milkman walks up to the house with our milk, reaches into his pocket to get our key and then notices the note on the door. He reads it, unlocks the door and enters our house. He opens the refrigerator and places the milk inside.He walks past the kitchen table to the oven and dramatically turns it on. He leaves our house. Then our family wakes up to the wonderful smell of turkey. They come to the kitchen and are surprised to find the turkey cooking. The kids jump up and down with joy. Mom cries. It is a miracle.

The Thanksgiving Program will also give us a chance to explain to our grandchildren how dangerous it was to be a milkman. They drove in trucks with no seatbelts. They carried milk to each house (in breakable glass bottles) without wearing safety goggles or a helmet. They had no GPS to prevent them from getting lost, no cell phone to call for help in case of trouble.

It's amazing milkmen lived as long as they did.

David LeSueur lives with his wife Mary in Littleton, Colorado. Their milkman, who comes twice a week, does not have a key to their house.

Happy BD to Ray Pearson!



Via Facebook, found another BHS alumni who hit 60 today. Hope it's a good one, Ray!

Saturday, November 14, 2009

"Bubank wins over Burroughs in the battle for burbank" Twitter

Congrats Bulldogs!!!


twitter source

November 14, 2009 UPDATE

Burbank fights its way past Burroughs
By Mark Dittmer Special to the Daily News
Updated: 11/14/2009 12:26:51 AM PST
source

PREP FOOTBALL: Bethany, Seidler help Burbank lock up Pacific No. 1 seed.

After a hit like the one Sam Bethany absorbed as he crossed the goal line for Burbank High's first touchdown Friday night, taking the rest of the night off would be understandable.

Instead, he came back on the very next offensive series, using a diving catch to set up his second touchdown, giving Burbank the lead and the momentum going into halftime of what would be a 28-21 victory over its intra-city rivalry showdown against Burroughs High.

The victory secured a tie for first in the Pacific League, and guarantees Burbank goes in as the No. 1-seeded team.

On a night of bit hits, it was Burbank High linebacker Ryan Seidler who delivered the game's final one, sacking Burroughs quarterback Lucas Yanez in the final minute on fourth down to set off bedlam on the Burbank sideline as the Bulldogs celebrated their first win over the Indians since 2004.

"I'm just pretty shocked," said Seidler. "After I made that tackle, I didn't know what to think. I was going out of mind. I'm still out there."

There was plenty of time left for the momentum to change after Bethany's early heroics, and it did - the Indians recaptured it at times in the second half with a couple of big plays.

First, they tied it up when Justin Mayorga picked up a Colman fumble (on a botched handoff intended for Ulises Ochoa) and ran it into the end zone from 20 yards out to tie the game at 14 in the third quarter.

It happened again in the final seconds of the third quarter, when Burroughs running back Dalton Williams took one to the house. It was easy to overlook Williams' speed as he spent most of the game grinding out short gains in between tackles, but there was no mistaking it when he burst free on a sweep left for a 79-yard touchdown score that put Burroughs ahead 21-20.

But in each case, the Burbank offense responded. This was in large part thanks to Ochoa, a fast back in his own right.

Ochoa broke free for a 44-yard run after the Mayorga score that helped set up Burbank's third touchdown minutes later.

And it was also thanks to Bulldog wide receiver Jackson Diamond, whom Colman could seemingly always find when he needed a receiver - including on many plays where Colman seemed like he would be wrapped up for a loss; on many other plays when the Bulldogs (8-2, 6-1) needed a first down; and on two-point conversions (the receiver caught passes to score two of them).

"I'm so happy for everbody. This is something we've all dreamed of and worked toward since last season." Colman said.

Meanwhile, Seidler and the Bulldog defense held Burroughs (8-2, 6-1) to all of 11 yards passing, leaving Williams and the Indians running game attempting to win the game by themselves.

They almost managed it. Getting the ball back down 28-21 with 1:45 left to play, Williams carried four final times for 32 yards to advance past midfield - he finished with 217 yards on 29 carries. But when the Indians took to the air after that with less than a minute remaining, they were no more successful than they had been in the game's previous 47 minutes.

Burbank's first touchdown came on a 4th-and-goal option play on the Burroughs 1. Burbank quarterback Adam Colman made the toss to Bethany at the last possible minute, and the running back took a vicious hit from the Indians' Daniel Atlas as he crossed the goal line.

Atlas forced a fumble, but it came an instant after Bethany had crossed.

It was 7-6 Burroughs, after a missed Burbank PAT try.

The ensuing Burroughs drive went three-and-out and gave Burbank a chance to run its own two-minute drill. After a pass interference penalty put the ball near midfield, Colman threw a bomb down the left sideline that resulted in Bethany's driving catch and a 38-yard gain.

Three plays later, Colman found Bethany in the end zone on another fourth-and-goal play, this time on a pass in the left flat for a 7-yard touchdown score. A two-point conversion made it 14-7 Burbank at the half.

The Bulldogs bounced back after falling behind 7-0 to the Indians, who scored on the game's first possession.

--- end ---

Read and see more here

Burbank Beats Burroughs 28-21 Win Pacific League Title

Last champs enjoy victory

Teams share league title

Teams have a field day

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Burbank school site - Newsletter - Veterans Day and Big Game

Received this BHS Website Newsletter today...



Hello!

Veterans Day 2009
Thank you to all of the Burbank High Alumni who have served and are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Burbank High School is proud of you and we appreciate your sacrifice.

Big Game 2009
If you are in town please come out to the Big Game on Friday night, November 13 at 7:30 pm. Burbank (7-2, 5-1) will face Burroughs (7-2, 6-0) for the Pacific League Championship. Both teams are ranked in the top ten of the CIF Southeast Division. Burbank High's last league championship was in 1972, and this will be the final Big Game played at the old Memorial Field before it is torn down and rebuilt. Get there early as a sellout is expected. Go Bulldogs!

Centennial Book - Last Chance Online
Thank you to all who have ordered the special edition Centennial book. We will no longer be able to offer the book online for purchase with a credit card after December 31, 2009. Don't miss this opportunity to own a beautiful piece of BHS history. The book makes a wonderful holiday gift. Order today and have it shipped or pick up at BHS. (Books will still be available after December 31 for purchase at school or with a check).

Web site: http://www.burbankhigh100.com/
Phone: 818-558-4700 x57808
Fax: 818-845-6122
E-mail:
records@burbankhigh100.com

Remembering Our Veterans



And Looking for Peace...

http://www.veteransforpeace.org/

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Ken Moore 1949 - 2009

Just received this shocking and sad email from Don Ray. Thank you Don.



Our friend, Ken Moore, '67, died yesterday.

I received the sad news today that Ken Moore, class of '67, died yesterday, November 9, 2009, in Texas. His wife, Sandy, send me the following e-mail:

Don,

It is with much sadness that I tell you that Ken passed away yesterday. He had be very ill for a long time and I believe his heart stopped it fight. You were his long time friend and I believe he would have wanted me to tell you.

Sandy Moore

Sandy sent me the e-mail from Ken's e-mail account: Ken Moore [manvelken@sbcglobal.net]

Those of us who attended Joaquin Miller, John Muir and Burbank High remember Ken as a big, tall boy with a gentle heart of gold. I must tell you that Ken sent me hundreds of e-mails of encouragement and inspiration. He served in the military as an assistant to the chaplain. He last worked as a dispatcher for the trucking firm in Texas that he had driven for for many years.

We last saw each other about two or three years ago when he and Sandy came to California to visit family members.

When I'm back in my office, I'll send along a photo of him that I took when we enjoyed a breakfast at Hometown Buffet.

Don (Ripley) Ray '67

donray@donray.com
tel: (818) 237-3728

--- end ---

PREVIOUS POST June 12, 2009
My Memories of a really brave friend..... by Ken Moore '67

--- end ---

November 30, 2009 UPDATE

Today received from Ken's wife Sandy, the program from Ken's service which I scanned to post here:



 

FIND A GRAVE Link

 

The SF Choral Society Present Holiday Concert Dec 5 & 6

Thanks to Phil Prinz for the headsup on this event and if you are in the SF area, come hear Phil sing next month!



The SF Choral Society and I Present a Magnificat Holiday Concert!

Dear Friends, Colleagues and Family,

What better way to kick off the holiday season than immersing yourself in Johann Sebastian Bach’s choral/orchestral masterpieces Magnificat and The Christmas Oratorios (Parts IV-VI) in a sublime setting with gorgeous acoustics?

My fellow choristers, four magnificent soloists and the Jubilate Orchestra guarantee a stirring performance to put you in the holiday mood!

When: Saturday, December 5 at 8:00 p.m. & Sunday, December 6 at 7:30 p.m.

Where: St. Paul ’s Church, 221 Valley Street (at Church), San Francisco

Tickets: $30 (best); $27 (very good); $18 (obstructed view), $2 Discount Seniors/Students
Tickets available through City Box Office:
http://www.cityboxoffice.com/default.asp?SearchText=oratorio&Go.x=14&Go.y=9&Go=Go
(415) 392-4400

Getting There:
Parking available at the church for early arrivals;
SF MUNI’s J car takes you there on Saturday;
24 Divisadero on either day.

Come early and enjoy a relaxing pre-concert dinner in one of Noe Valley's many restaurants .

For more about us, visit The San Francisco Choral Society homepage: http://www.sfchoral.org/

See you there!




From the 1967 Ceralbus yearbook

Happy Birthday, Joan (Ely) Lambo



Another BHS Class '67 alumni hits the BIG DAY - hope it's a great one, Joan!

Monday, November 9, 2009

Remember 'Little Darlin' by the Diamonds?

Thanks Linda (Barickman) Lee for this walk down memory lane - the Diamonds are still sparkling!

The Diamonds
What a handsome bunch of oldies.

2004

source

1950's

source

Life-Long Friends Celebrate

Received this great pic and email from Shari (Goodstein) Epstein. Look how beautiful everyone is - thanks so much, Shari!



Hi Cathy,

Another group got together on October 17, 2009. Silly as always we were celebrating us all turning 60. We all put together a little pot luck dinner and talked for ever.

Top left to right is Patty Thomas, Shari Goodstein, Mindy Green, Patty Daily, Sari Mutal. Then sitting down left to right is Nancy Green and Kathy Kale.

Next time your down maybe we can plan to get a larger group of us together.

Kindest Regards,

Shari

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Happy Belated Birthday, Ron Stein

Received the following email update and pics from Ron today. Thanks Ron and SURF'S UP!!!



Hi Cathy,

Thank you so much for keeping me in the loop. I so look forward to our newsletters. Sounds like everyone is pretty content with their lives even though we are all getting older.

I turned 60 on 10/24, my son & Whittnee thru a party for Jackie & me (we combined our 35th wedding anniversary, her 55th b'day and my 60th). We had a margarita machine, Taco man & live band......lots of ZZ TOP, LYNARD SKYNARD, JIMI HENDRIX, STEVIE RAY VAUGHN & you know.........our music.

Our grandson Braedan turns 1 year old on the 19th of this month.

Brandan & I leave this Saturday for another industry convention in Atlantic City. ESS is up for another award, we'll let you know how that turns out.

When the waves are good, we surf...... sometimes 3 to 4 times a week. We usually go to Ventura, but this year we have surfed up & down the California coast. I did surf earlier this year in Haultuco, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua & Costa Rica.

We hope everyone has a healthy & happy holiday season.

Best wishes,

2007 Limousine Operator of the Year
Ron Stein
President
Exclusive Sedan Service
Office (818) 765-7311 / Fax (818) 765-0183
12580 Saticoy St
North Hollywood, Ca 91605
TCP#4938-P
http://www.exclusivesedan.com/
ron@exclusivesedan.com


This was a shot of me surfing Ventura in Feb. 2008:








This is Brandan, same day Feb. 2008:











Father and Son

Burbank Police Sgt. Neil Gunn Sr 1959-2009

We have been following reports on the tragic October 29th death of Burbank Police Sgt. Neil Gunn Sr and have posted (link) various articles and information.

Included is video of this past Tuesday City Council Meeting in which Councilman David Gordon asked to put Police Chief Stehr on administrative leave. Mayor Bric and the other councilmen/woman did not agree and this sparked concern and outrage by others in attendance.


Sgt. Neil Gunn Sr.
Photo courtesy the Gunn family

Today is the funeral.

Service
Thursday, November 5, 2009, 1100 hours
Shepherd of the Hills Church, 19700 Rinaldi Street, Porter Ranch

Interment
Thursday, November 5, 2009, 1300 hours
Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles
“Enduring Faith,” Section #59





May the Lord Jesus Christ give grace and comfort to the Gunn family during this tragic and painful time.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Barbara Bullock

Thanks Barbara for the email and for the photo of your beautiful family! I've added you to our monthly newsletter.



Burbank H.S. 1967

Cathy

Your website is amazing! Thank you for all your hard work. I ran across your website while trying to locate Lynne Wacker. I was at BHS only my senior year but made many friends and have very fond memories of our class and my graduating year.

I've been married and divorced but have three fabulous children (adults now). I went back to my maiden name of Bullock. A great deal has transpired over the years for all of us and although it was great to see familiar faces on your site, I was sad to see the names/photos from our class that have passed away.

Again, thank you for being a link for all of us. Please let me know what I need to do to sign up for the newsletter. It would be great to make a reunion one year.
Below is a 2 year old Christmas photo of my daughter-in-law, son, myself, and oldest daughter.

God bless you and your family,
Barbara