Suit Against Disney Over Burbank Contaminated Groundwater

Judge allows suit against Disney to move forward

Desert Sun Wire services • April 19, 2010
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A judge said today he was inclined to allow two lawsuits that allege The Walt Disney Co. for decades contaminated groundwater with toxic chemicals to move forward.

One of the cases was filed in March 2009 by Burbank homeowner Dennis Jackson and his two children, Matthew and Jennifer Jackson. They allege Disney has dumped wastewater contaminated with hexavalent chromium from its on-site cooling systems since 1998 and that the pollutants caused the death of Louise Jackson, wife of Dennis and mother of Matthew and Jennifer.

The second complaint was a nuisance suit filed in January by another Burbank resident, Lorraine Baptist.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Rolf M. Treu issued a tentative ruling Friday stating that after three revisions, the Jackson suit contains enough details explaining why the family did not file its lawsuit sooner. Disney attorneys maintain the Jacksons knew of their claims by January 2007 and that most of them, including those for nuisance, negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress, are now barred by the statute of limitations.

The Baptist complaint was challenged on similar grounds. After hearing arguments from attorneys today, Treu he said he was taking the cases under submission and would issue a final ruling later.

In their complaint, the Jacksons explain they did not know that Disney allegedly dumped the chemicals into their neighborhood until February 2009, a month after the watchdog group Environmental World Watch Inc. concluded an investigation and obtained the information from the company.

Other plaintiffs have filed similar claims against Disney. According to the various complaints, contaminated runoff flowed down the centerline of Parkside Avenue, toward Parish Place and across Riverside Drive into the Polliwog, an 11-acre parcel next to the studio's Imagineering facilities.

Disney for years has dumped vast amounts of cancer-causing chromium 6, air cooling water chemicals and other various toxic waste materials, according to the lawsuits.

Disney attorneys have denied any wrongdoing on the part of the company.

Environmental World Watch, a Delaware corporation with offices in North Hollywood, was hired by the Burbank Rancho Home Owners Assn. in February 2006 to investigate the proposed construction of a sewer line in the area.

EWW tested the Polliwog parcel, which is part of Burbank but is owned by Los Angeles, in its challenge to a tentative environmental impact report. Agency officials said they found “significant quantities” of chromium 6, according to the lawsuits.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Bruckner

Yesterday, Mr. Les Bruckner, former BHS Coach and Teacher celebrated his 92nd birthday!

Son Scott (BHS '66) sent this great photo of his folks. Thanks Scott!



Here are few other photos of Mr. Bruckner...










Back Row: Ray Turner (Tennis), Maurice Wiley (JV Football), Pete Peterson (B Basketball), Les Bruckner (Varsity Football), Roy Lockwood (Varsity Basketball). Front Row: Ray Trainer (Rifle Team), Bob Brewer (B Football), Don McMurry (Track & Cross Country), Richard "Dick" Minasian (Baseball & Athletic Director).

Parade Winners

Burbank on Parade winners

Published: Last Updated Friday, April 16, 2010 10:06 PM PDT
Burbank Leader
source

Winners have been announced for Burbank on Parade:

Bands: Middle School Band: first place, Clifton Middle School; Drum Major: first place, Clifton Middle School; Majorette: first place, Clifton Middle School; Drill Team, first place, Clifton Middle School; second place, Rialto Middle School; Auxiliary: first place, Clifton Middle School; second place, Rialto Middle School; Drill Team Youth, first place, Toluca Lake Drill Team; Sweepstakes, Rialto Middle School; Host Band and Presentation of Awards John Burroughs High School.

Novelties: Dancing Gymnastic Unit, first place, Media City Ballet; second place, Ballet Folklorico Mexico Azteca; and third place, Jordan Cheer Team; Civic Novelty: BCR “a place to grow” “Under the Big Top,” first place; second place, Burbank Philharmonic; and third place, Burbank Civic Pride Committee; Commercial Novelty: first place, Keller Williams Realty; second place, Best in Green Solutions; and third place, Ultimate Tae Kwon Do; Marching Unit Novelty: first place, Carousel of Clowns; second place, Masonic Family-Shriners.

Floats: Commercial Float: first place, Forerunner Fire Prevention; second place, Burbank Assn. of Realtors; Civic Float: first place, the Reel Cowboys; second place, Burbank Tournament of Roses; third place, Native Daughters of the Golden West; Youth Group Float, first place, Girl Scouts.

Equestrian: Fancy Parade Horse Open, first place and Sweepstakes Individual: Phantom’s Music of the Knight; Sweepstakes Group: War Horse Foundation; Fancy Parade Horse Open: second place, Academy of the Dancing Horses; Fancy Western Lady Open: first place, More Than One Trick Pony-Nori Anne Walla; second place, Laurie Carpenter; Hitch Drawn Vehicle Open: first place, Maryann Jorgenson; second place, David Hoch;

More are: Parade Horse Open: first place, More Than One Trick Pony – BC Cameron; second place, Carol Coon; third place, More Than One Trick Pony – Victoria Scarffe; Parade Theme Costume: first place, More than One Trick Pony- Karol Carleton; second place, More Than One Trick Pony, Caitlin Steimle; and third place, More Than One Trick Pony-Pamela Allen; Silver Mounted Open: first place, Page Williams; second place, Rancho Riders-Jay Geisenheimer; Western Historical Group: first place, The Wild Bill Buffalo Show.

More are: Working Western Lady Open: first place, Rancho Riders-Erica Balsam; Andalusian Lady Open: first place, Spectacular! Spectacular!- Lori Stoll; Arabian Lady Open: first place, Spectacular! Spectacular!, Amy Savarese; Friesian Lady Open: first place, Spectacular! Spectacular!, Monica Muehlhause-Horn; Shire Lady Open: first place, Spectacular! Spectacular!, Ami Curtis; Mounted Color Bearers: first place, San Fernando Rangers; Commemorative Cavalry, first place, War Horse Foundation; Plain Western Open, first place, More Than One Trick Pony, Vicki Mullins; Hitch Drawn Mini Novelty, first place, Rancho Riders-Susie Gimmell; English Open, first place, More than One Trick Pony-Debra May.

Fishing Article on Andrew Larsen, Son of Diana Ziegler Larsen '67

Andrew Larsen, son of BHS '67 grad Diana Ziegler Larsen, is a fishing guide and an article just came out about him!

Here is Andrew's website: kingmefishing.com

A Day in the Life of a Fishing Guide

By Dwight Caswell

I leave Highway 30 at Knappa and take ever-smaller roads toward Aldrich Point. Mist is rising and light rain falling; overhead there are geese, ducks, and a bald eagle. I am experiencing nature; I have a warm, cozy feeling. Then I get out of the car. It is cold and damp because it is 6:30 on a March morning. I grab my thermos of coffee and walk to the dock. I am going fishing for the tastiest fish of all, spring Chinook. Andrew Larsen is already there. He’s my fishing guide, owner and half the crew of http://www.kingmefishing.com/.

The other crewmember is also there, Larsen’s chocolate lab, Jagr. Larsen is well over six feet, broad shoulders, and handsome enough to have appeared on the cover of a Harlequin Romance novel. I am not making this up. He won the viewer’s choice award on a reality show called “Mr. Romance.” Only three clients will be going out this morning, because two women from Portland cancelled. They thought it might be too cold. One of the complications of a guide’s life, I guess, but what did they expect? The rest of us — Neila Wisniewski Getz and Gabe Hunt, from Montana, and myself — are wearing so many layers that we could model for the American Obesity Society.



Larsen fires up the jet engine and we head upriver. Larsen is using the oldest fish finding technique: “I’m looking for anyone netting fish.” Trouble is, nobody is catching fish this morning. Nobody. About three miles up the main stem Larsen finds water that looks promising. “There’s A water and there’s B water,” he says, “My job is to keep us on the A water as much as possible.”

Time to bait up. Larsen demonstrates, as he will all day, the proper way to secure herring to hook. “It has to spin in the water in order to attract fish.” He squirts the herring with a blend of scents and sprays it with WD-40. “Salmon hunt by sensing oil, and they seem to like WD-40.” Makes you wonder about salmon.

After forty minutes or so Larsen decides to head farther upriver. “Especially with spring Chinook, you gotta be there when the bite is on.” Maybe he’s letting us know we might be disappointed, but we knew it was early in the run. “We get two fish,” Larsen says, “it’ll be a good day.”



Again we wait. I drink more coffee. We get into the snacks. Larsen is able to simultaneously carry on several conversations, keep Jagr from eating the herring, and watch our rods. If he sees the telltale vibration that indicates the bait is dragging, he calls it to our attention, or reels the line in himself. It is such a casual yet masterful display I ask him how long he’s been doing this.

“I knew I wanted to be a fishing guide in seventh grade. After high school I worked in sporting goods stores, then charter boats; I finally saved enough to buy my first boat.” Larsen has been guiding for nine year, which speaks well for his skills. Guides live or die on word of mouth. “I’ve put some time and money into the internet and sports shows, but when it comes down to it, it’s clients recommending you.”

Gabe gets a bite, but it’s a fleeting thing. He reels in to find half his herring gone. We go farther upriver until we are off Puget Island. We anchor and Larsen switches us over to lures, again coated with scent and WD-40. Small oil slicks form where the lures hit the water. Larsen gets a phone call. “We did good yesterday,” he says, “but nothing today.” There’s a pause. “Almost up to Wauna.”



“Another guide,” Larsen explains. I want to know if guides trade information. “It depends. If he calls at the end of the day to tell you he got fish, he’s just boasting. If he calls you when he gets his first bite, then he’s helping. Those are the guys I’ll call.” The salmon don’t like lures any better than they liked herring. We decide to pack it in.

We’re almost back when Larsen considers another spot, but doesn’t like the look of the water. I ask him what makes the difference between the professional and the amateur. “Personal dedication” he says. “You have to have a knack, and then you have to raise fishing to an art form. And you have to have confidence.” “We came up empty,” I remind him. “It happens to everybody. But I know I’m going to catch fish tomorrow.”

Maybe some of that confidence is rubbing off on me. As I walk back to my car I realize that I had a good day. I’m ready to go out again. I’m confident. After all, as every fisherman will tell you, “they call it fishin’, they don’t call it catchin’.

Nancy Jennings Webb (BHS '64) Died Yesterday

April 15, 2010
Cathy,
Nancy Jennings Webb BHS '64 passed away yesterday, in Frisco, Texas, after a long battle of many years with breast cancer. Below is the letter we received from her husband and also fellow class member, Rev. John Webb...Pam

Dear Loved Ones,

Nancy went home to be with Jesus at 2:40pm this afternoon. I had the great privilege of holding her close as she made the transition from the pain of this life to God's marvelous place prepared for those that love the Lord. She is now with the Lord, without pain and suffering. I cherish the 43 1/2 years I had the privilege of sharing with the most wonderful woman in all the world. She cherished all of you, and prayed without ceasing for the needs of each of you when she became aware of those needs. I pray that her legacy of loving her Savior and others will live on in each of you.

On behalf of my family, we thank you for your thoughts and prayers over the months and years. Those prayers meant so much to Nancy, my family, and me. We will have a memorial service some time next week, and we will keep you posted as to the day and time. Please spread the word to any you might think of that loved my precious wife. I love you all very much.

Much Love,

The Webb Family

John, Carrie and Tim, Jonathan, David and Kellis, and our 9 grandchildren

Burdette Houser (BHS '66) 1947-2010

Received the following email just now...

Hi All,
Just got this from Jennifer Dale Schatz '66...

Burdette was one of the "Good Guys"...God Bless Him...

Herb, will you please add his name to the Senior Bulldog News Memorial List? (Also, please remove him from the mailing list)

Richard Crescitelli, will you please add Burdette Houser BHS '66 to our BHS Memorial List? Thanks so much...

Pam

Afternoon Ladies,

Sorry to have to report this but, Dennis Roy just called to say that Burdette passed away last night. As of now there are no plans for a service or memorial.

After seeing him for the past few weeks it really was a blessing. He still gave me that smile and asked about our girls. He was quite a guy. I had the pleasure of knowing him since elementary school and Howard worked with him on the BHS “Chain Gang” while our girls were in school.

God bless you our friend.

Jennifer (Dale) Schatz

PREVIOUS POST ON BURDETTE

Carhops!

As a former Toluca Lake Bob's Big Boy Carhop, I had to post this fun video I stumbled across today.

Nancy Bridgestock Steichmann's (BHS '67) aunt Kay was the manager, so we both got jobs there in the late 60's - wild times indeed!

Next Burbank on Parade, why not have Carhops rollerskating holding trays of food?


source



BHS Display for Centennial


THE FIRST CARHOPS







Carol Sundstrum (BHS '69) was also a carhop.

Carol (Brown) Baker


Carol Brown Baker (BHS '67) wrote, "Wow, that was a long time ago. If my memory is correct it was sometime between 67/68. I went to school in Europe for the summer of 67 and sometime after I returned I got a job at the Toluca Lake Bob's."

Who else??