Economy

KENNETH VILLAGE — It happens too often at Audrey Robles’ women’s boutique: one customer, two dresses and a lot of indecision. Although many shoppers regularly have trouble settling on purchases, new constraints added by tighter budgets and the contracting economy have forced consumers to put more thought into each item they buy. That means more debating between whether to buy a new dress for Thanksgiving or for Christmas, instead...

GLENDALE — A lack of funds, not a lack of love, doomed what would have been the 26th annual Love Ride. Organizers of one of the largest one-day motorcycle charity events in the world announced Thursday that it had been canceled due to poor ticket sales and other financial worries. “The numbers were scary dismal to where we thought, ‘Gee, this thing is going to bomb,’” said Oliver Shokouh, Love Ride founder and the owner of Glendale Harley-Davidson, which organizes the ride.

For Burbank resident Reynaldo Ramirez, Labor Day weekend is usually an excuse to get away. “Usually we go to the beach or the movies and spend the night somewhere else,” he said. But not this year. “We had no idea the economy would be so bad,” he said. Ramirez, a warehouse manager, instead opted for a low-key weekend, he said as he shopped for his wife’s birthday at Barnes and Noble in downtown Burbank on Monday. Later that night, his family would gather with family at his house for a small birthday celebration.

CITY HALL — Local social service nonprofits faced even greater demand this past year in light of the struggling economy, according to a year-end report from the city’s Community Development and Housing Department. All of the city’s Community Development Block Grant-funded social service programs came close to or exceeded their service goals, with several local nonprofits serving more clients than they had anticipated, according to the report. “What’s happening now is not just the youth or seniors that need services,” said Moises Carrillo, senior community development supervisor.

GLENDALE — With just two weeks until students head back to schools that will have to toil under the pressure of deep state budget cuts, teachers and parents say they remain uncertain how much they’ll have to pick up the slack in terms of classroom supplies. Foundations, parent volunteer organizations and teachers have historically supplemented classroom supplies, but with near unprecedented state funding cuts bearing down this year, their role may have to become more prominent.

NORTH HOLLYWOOD ? Experts are hoping for an economic jolt from a group of schmucks and a Chihuahua, among other players. The films ?Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2? and ?Dinner for Schmucks? were named Tuesday as two of 25 projects that will receive state tax breaks meant to curb the effects of ?runaway productions,? which could lead to an economic recovery in Glendale and Burbank. The California Film Commission selected the projects and will offer the incentives to 30 movie and television productions this year that opt to shoot within the state, instead of pursuing generous tax incentives to locate elsewhere.

Fifty-five Glendale Community College nursing students received pins Saturday afternoon, signifying the start of their careers in the medical profession. After more than two years of intense studying, drawing blood and needle poking, the students will be shifting roles as apprentice to nurse, working one-on-one with patients and doctors. The nursing students were pinned by their friends and family at Saturday’s ceremony at the Lanterman Auditorium. Nurses don’t graduate or get certificates — they get pinned, said Cynthia Dorroh, associate dean of health sciences.

CITY HALL — April revenue earnings for the city’s Civic Auditorium are up more than $50,000 from a month ago — lowering the auditorium’s projected year-end loss to about $350,000, city officials reported Wednesday. The increased revenue was attributed to a decision by the Parks, Recreation & Community Services Commission in February to streamline fees and reduce rates for nonprofit groups that use the historic venue. “That was the best thing we could have done,” said Brittney Bilotti, recreation and community services administrator.

CITY HALL — Revenue earnings for the city’s Civic Auditorium are down $52,527 compared to the same period last year, but a report to the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission on Wednesday indicated that reduced nonprofit rental rates were helping. The American Red Cross Glendale-Crescenta Valley Chapter booked blood drives for a full year at the facility, Community Services Administrator Brittney Bilotti said, adding that the nonprofit rates were helping to drive business toward the auditorium.