FOOTBALL PREVIEW

BELL-JEFF VS. ST. GENEVIEVE

WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday.

WHERE: Memorial Field (Burroughs High).

RECORDS: The Guards are 4-2; the Valiants are 6-0.

LAST WEEK: Bell-Jeff defeated Silver Valley, 36-24; St. Genevieve defeated Frazier Mountain, 50-39.

OUTLOOK: This is likely the most important game of the season for Bell-Jeff. The contest could also determine the Santa Fe League champion, as the Valiants won the title last season and the Guards finished second. Bell-Jeff will be taking on a team that has yet to experience defeat this season. Looking at the results from the teams’ common opponents this season, it appears the Guards are in for a tough battle. Both squads have faced Malibu and Frazier Mountain in nonleague games earlier in the year. While the Guards lost to the Sharks, 20-18, and the Falcons, 52-14, the Valiants earned 43-26 and 50-30 victories against the same squads. St. Genevieve has had by far the most potent offense in the league during the first six games. The team has outscored its opponents, 262-111, and averages 43.6 points a game. In contrast, the Guards have scored an average of 29.3 points a game. The Valiants have a fine athlete in senior Chris Navarro. As a quarterback, Navarro has completed 46 of 72 passes for 668 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions. Not only can the Valiants pass the ball, but they also have a solid running game behind Navarro, who operates the option to perfection. He has gained 901 yards in 76 carries and has an eye-popping 21 touchdowns. Bell-Jeff’s biggest offensive weapon is junior wide receiver Micah Shirley. Shirley has 39 catches for 588 yards and eight touchdowns. Teammate Kevin Yuenyonskul has 17 catches for 356 yards and five touchdowns. The Guards have gotten a great effort this season from senior linebacker Alex Davidians. Going into Friday’s game, Davidians was fourth in the state in tackles with 89, according to maxpreps.com.

SOMETHING INTERESTING: The Valiants are ranked No. 3 in the CIF Southern Section Northeast Division and the Guards are ranked No. 7 in the same division.

Credit: Creative Commons

The city, anticipating heavy rains across the region, has allocated 25 sandbags per resident. The sandbags can be picked up weekdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 124 S. Lake St.

Residents need to bring proof of business or residency in Burbank, such as a utility bill or driver’s license.

If the office is closed and there is an active rainstorm, sandbags may be left at the front gates. Hours may be extended in emergency situations.

Jim Smiley, 12, unloads sandbags as the rain comes down at his home on Maurice Drive south of Manzanita Street in La Crescenta on Tuesday. (Raul Roa/News-Press)

Burn area braces itself for debris
LA CRESCENTA — Foothill residents raced to fill sandbags and construct mud deflectors Tuesday evening as rain poured steadily against hillsides blackened by the Station fire.

Saving water little by little
DOWNTOWN — Before embarking on an Alaskan cruise, Fred Baldino took the early-morning rains to mean that his lawn could go the week without water. So the 87-year-old did what city officials for years have been instructing: He shut off his water.

Explosive material leads to arrest
BURBANK — A 30-year-old resident is being held in Burbank jail after a routine traffic stop Friday in which officers allegedly found materials that could be used to make explosive devices, police said.

Man sentenced to 65 years to life for attack
A 30-year-old Burbank man was sentenced last Wednesday to serve 65 years to life for attempting to shoot a Glendale man he thought he belonged to a rival gang.

Burbank wins OT thriller
MEMORIAL FIELD — When his Burbank High football team scored a touchdown in the second overtime to pull to within one point of defending Pacific League champion Muir, Bulldogs’ Coach Hector Valencia decided his team had had enough.

Their place of honor
From a coach, to athletes to a city official and alumna who has helped support the school’s stadium renovation project, the honorees ran the gambit Thursday as the latest class was inducted into the Burroughs Athletic Hall of Fame.

EVERYONE’S BUSINESS: Excited about energy
On Saturday I went to Burbank Water and Power’s Energy Fair in front of their Magnolia Boulevard plant. After I finally got there, I was impressed with much of what I saw.

While researching his legacy for Wednesday’s edition of the Leader, Huber’s family sent me a local newspaper article by correspondent James Danelli. The April 25, 1990, story from the Burbank Leader is attached below:

Otto’s Delicatessen

Pickle or polka, you’ll find it here

By James Danelli,  Correspondent

Accepting an assignment to write about guy named Otto, owner and operator of Otto’s Import and Delicatessen, this reporter for one was a little skeptical.

After all, who would have thought that being inside his store s like taking a trip to Hungary, of that Otto himself would whip it some polkas on his computerized accordion, or that his beautiful wife, Irma, would make me an “Otto Special” – a sandwich where the meat is piled as high as the hospitality?

Otto bought the property, located at the corner of Clark and Brighton in Burbank, some 20 years ago. At the time it was just a regular corner grocery store. That was before his Hungarian friends asked him to carry different specialty foods and meats that are important to many Hungarian dishes.

There’s antique cookware and Hungarian books and records stacked along the crowded aisles a decorum not at all keeping with the “Play the California Lottery” banner nearby.

In the midst of it all sits a display case filled with beautiful Hungarian porcelain figurines.

Turning to the deli case, that’s where the real lunchtime connoisseur will head. Scrumptious cleats from Europe fill the olfactory senses.

Much of Otto’s business comes from the nearby Media District and John Burroughs High School, just

couple blocks away.

Otto self-acclaimed, wise-cracking Hungarian, Otto tells how he met and married Irma.

Otto was a manager-of a general store in Hungary, selling music instruments, when my Irma came came in,” he said. “I told my business colleague in the store that she would be my wife. He didn’t believe me. Then, I visited her home in Igal, Hungary, and we played accordions together.

“When I asked her to marry me, the revolution in Hungary broke out. She stayed as I fled for Austria with just the clothes I had on. In Austria, I played my accordion in various taverns to make money.”

“I arrived in Pennsylvania, and then moved to California in 1960, opening up an ice cream business,” Otto continued. “I played a polka at each stop and business boomed.  “Irma waited nine years for me to return, as the Communists kept her there. In 1965, I returned to Hungary, married Irma, and re-turned home six months later.”

Otto and Irma have a son, Thomas, a senior majoring in business at Cal State University Northridge; and two daughters, Anita and Erika. Anita is a student at USC and also works as a paramedic during the summer. Erika attends the sixth grade at Stevenson Elementary School in Burbank.

As the interview continued, Otto then played some tunes on his accordion, opening with the “Anniversary Waltz.”   He followed with “Bring Out the Barrels,” until Irma corrected him.  “It’s Roll Out the Barrels,” she said.

As Irma blushed, Otto asked his audience of a few customers, “Does everyone love music?” A customer answered, “Yes, please play us another polka!”

Just a typical day at Otto’s!

The wounds were likely from dog bites, according to animal control.

The dog was transported to the Burbank Animal Shelter where it was euthanized. The case is currently being investigated.

In an unrelated story, officers this morning were called to the CVS at 511 N. Hollywood Way after receiving reports that a man was naked and bleeding.

The 21-year-old North Hollywood man, who had cut himself by breaking a glass window, was transported to an area hospital for psychiatric evaluation.

Casey Barbello carries the ball for Burroughs High (Roger Wilson/The Leader).

FOOTBALL PREVIEWS

BURROUGHS VS. PASADENA

WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday.

WHERE: Memorial Field (Burroughs High).

RECORDS: The Indians are 3-2, 2-0 in the Pacific League; the Bulldogs are 3-2, 2-0.

LAST WEEK: Burroughs defeated Hoover, 45-7; Pasadena defeated Arcadia, 19-14.

OUTLOOK: Heading into the game, the Indians trail just Pasadena, 73-80, for fewest points allowed by Pacific League teams this season. The Bulldogs might be a tough team to figure out. Although Pasadena barely beat a weak Hoover team, 21-13, it also defeated Long Beach Jordan, 19-13, and lost to a good program in Saugus, 17-7. The two teams, along with Burbank, are the only undefeated squads left in league.

SOMETHING INTERESTING: The Indians didn’t crack the CIF Southern Section Southeast Division poll this week, but the team is listed as “others.”

BURBANK VS. GLENDALE

WHEN: 7 p.m. today.

WHERE: Memorial Field (Burroughs High).

RECORDS: The Bulldogs are 4-1, 2-0 in the Pacific League; the Nitros are 1-4, 0-2. 

LAST WEEK: Burbank defeated Muir, 29-28, in the two overtimes; Glendale lost to Crescenta Valley, 56-14.

OUTLOOK: The Bulldogs have to be sky-high after a huge win last week against the defending champions. Burbank will take on a Nitros’ team that averages just 14.4 points a game, while the Bulldogs average 31.4 a game. Glendale’s only win of the season came against South Pasadena, 28-21. Burbank is coming off consecutive games in which they defeated last year’s league champion (Muir) and runner-up (Crescenta Valley).

SOMETHING INTERESTING: The Bulldogs moved up this week in the CIF Southern Section Southeast Division poll, as they hold down the No. 5 spot.

Credit: Creative Commons

Here’s a newsroom secret for you: Throw a cute pooch on the front page and you’re bound to get readers’ attention (Check out, Working like a police dog, an event put on by the Police Department’s K9).

Editors know it. And so do the folks at the library.

As part of its series of hosted events, the Buena Vista Library at 7 p.m. Thursday will offer “How to be a Better Pet Parent.”

Attendees can meet adoptable pets, learn tips on choosing the appropriate pet for their home, obedience training and socialization, proper nutrition, medical care and exercise, and how to prepare for the unexpected.

Now run along. I think hear your dog pulling the stuffing out of the couch.

The Jetsetter Getaway Package, available through November, includes a three-night stay at Wynn or Encore and roundtrip transportation via in a 50-seat jet from Bob Hope or John Wayne airports.

Packages from Burbank start at $780, per person, double occupancy, and $1,193, per person, single occupancy, including taxes and fees.

Perhaps this will help Bob Hope bring its passenger numbers up.

Students walk on a red carpet as they arrive to Luther Burbank Middle School on Friday. The students were treated to a red-carpet greeting along with music by teachers, staff and parents after the school improved 24 points from last year in statewide testing. (Raul Roa/The Leader)

A red carpet day
Students danced, posed and strutted their way down a red carpet in front of Luther Burbank Middle School on Friday to celebrate their recent progress on pivotal statewide tests.

Former officer’s lawsuit dismissed
An invasion of privacy and defamation lawsuit filed against the city by a former Burbank police detective was dismissed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Market may brave more losses
Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Markets will go forward with plans to open a store here, the company confirmed Wednesday, a day after it announced dismal financial projections.

Falling branches spell rising complaints
Marina Manukian pulled her Infiniti G35 into a curbside parking space across the street from her Andover Drive home just 10 minutes before a large tree limb came crashing down.

SMALL WONDERS: Trying to weather storm of distress
The only thing better than Vin Scully on a summer night when everyone is still playing is Vin Scully on an October night when only a few are left.

CV is just too tough
Upending defending Pacific League champion Crescenta Valley High won’t be an easy task for any of the other teams looking to make a run at the league title, as Burbank found out on Tuesday at Crescenta Valley.

Strong start helps Burbank win, 13-5
With what looked like a match of teams that were relatively evenly matched, Burbank High and Glendale came into Tuesday’s contest with identical Pacific League records.