Feelings

A group of second graders at Verdugo Woodlands Elementary School could barely stay in their seats Wednesday as they waited to try on a 30-pound fire-resistant turnout coat and a helmet. Firefighter David Flynn and his wife visited Lisa Haug's second-grade class for a question-and-answer session with fascinated students. He arrived carrying all of his protective gear — fire-resistant turnout coat, helmet, oxygen tank and gas mask. After the question-and answer period, all 20 children got to try on the firefighter's coat and helmet.

Up-and-coming Burbank filmmaker Kurt Kuenne has re-created the romantic musical comedy by incorporating black and white film stock with an original gospel-Dixieland score. But the filmmaking process for “Validation” has been equal parts inventiveness and turn of good luck, he said. Kuenne’s short film was selected to compete at the Los Angeles Shorts Festival and will be shown at 7:45 p.m. Sept. 8 at the AMC Burbank Town Center 6. It will showcase Kuenne’s new spin on old elements of romance and comedy in his film about a parking attendant who validates parking tickets, gives real-life validation and falls in love with a girl who can’t smile.

PASADENA — The reaction of Flintridge Prep's players after hearing news that teammate William Dixon's set clinched the victory in their league opener spoke volumes. The Rebels had been struggling coming into Prep League boys' tennis play, making Friday afternoon's match with Pasadena's Poly crucial not only for the team's sliding win-loss record, but for salvaging confidence levels, as well. "It's very important to get this win," said Rebels Coach Ron Catano after the 12-6 win over the Panthers at Pasadena City College.

LA CRESCENTA — From firsthand experience, the Crescenta Valley High girls' soccer team should have known as well as anyone that there's no security in a two-goal lead against Burbank. If they had forgotten coming into Friday's Pacific League rematch at Crescenta Valley, the Falcons got a harsh reminder in a 2-2 tie that was entirely reminiscent of the teams' first meeting on Dec. 15 at Burbank, which also saw the Bulldogs score two unanswered goals to steal a 2-2 draw. "It was exactly the same, except [this time]

Black leather and blue denim dominated south Glendale on Sunday morning as 1,000 Harley-Davidson enthusiasts rumbled to the starting point of the annual Love Ride. After the recession forced a one-year hiatus in 2009, founder Oliver Shokouh, owner of Harley-Davidson of Glendale, was back leading the event he founded in 1984 to support charity and celebrate the riding life. "Last year we hit a snag, but everyone else did, too," Shokouh told a crowd as riders registered at tents outside his San Fernando Road shop and admired the souped-up Harleys parked on nearby streets.

GLENDALE — After winning its second straight playoff tournament, there wasn't a feeling of complete satisfaction from the members of the Crescenta Valley Junior All-Star softball team. While their pitching and defense carried them through the District 16 and Section 2 tournaments, Crescenta Valley Coach Will Thayer would like to see the lineup get up to speed. Crescenta Valley will get that opportunity when it participates in the Southern California State Tournament. Crescenta Valley, which won the Section 2 Tournament on Tuesday with a 6-0 victory against San Marino at Monte Vista Little League Fields in Lancaster, will face the Section 9 representative Reid Park of Riverside in an opening-round game at 9 a.m. Saturday at Ribbons Little League Field in Victorville.

Re: The March 30 front page photo, “Glendale Narrows gets a trail” of the new Bette Davis Park bridle trail fence, there's a back story on impacts to the Rancho's Garden Street, homes across from this Los Angeles park near Glendale Riverwalk trailhead, horse amenities, and to Rancho Avenue homeowners. The L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks just completed year-long irrigation system upgrades in the park's two sections that have long benefited from robust border resident stewardship, neighborhood watch and trash pickup.

Buck Wargo THORNYCROFT -- Not everyone is happy with the city's plans for a new park in southern Glendale. The Glendale City Council and Redevelopment Agency approved spending $700,000 Tuesday to buy four lots and relocate tenants in three homes at the northwest corner of Cedar and Harvard streets. The proposal came under attack from Clement Tam who owns an apartment building next to the proposed half-acre mini-park. Suzanne McKay, a member of the Glendale Historical Society, also opposes demolishing nearly 100-year-old homes.

Darleene Barrientos It'll be a reunion of sorts. Bart Simpson is supposed to be there, Captain Hook is scheduled to make an appearance and so is Grandmother Fa from Disney's Mulan -- along with their humans. The voices behind these well-known and beloved American cartoon characters will get together tonight at the Glendale Public Library in honor of their teacher and mentor, the late Daws Butler, whose voice gave life to Hanna-Barbera characters like Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound and Elroy Jetson.

Veronica Bagaturian has two passions in life: teaching and singing. The 71-year-old Glendale resident is retired from the teaching profession, but she still spends time singing whenever she can. Bagaturian started teaching English to children and adults in her native Iran before the Iranian Revolution. For 10 years, she taught in the classroom, and during her time off, she sang in choirs as a hobby. Bagaturian’s talent went beyond singing. She also took ballet lessons as a child but preferred singing to dancing.