GLENDALE, California – On June 1, Glendale Water & Power (GWP) will increase its income eligibility guidelines for three of its low-income programs. The guidelines will match those approved by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for utilities and the Gas Company’s CARE Program for 2007-2008.

Currently GWP has three low-income programs available to customers: Helping Hand, Senior Care and Cool Care. In order for customers to be eligible for participation in these programs, they must:

- Meet the income eligibility guidelines (below)
- Provide the total income for all wage earners living in the home
- Provide proof of low-income status to qualify

The following income guidelines are updated annually.

Income Eligibility Guidelines - Effective June 1, 2007 – May 31, 2008

GWP’s Helping Hand program provides a one-time electrical payment or deposit assistance up to $150 for customers experiencing a temporary financial emergency and cannot pay their deposit or GWP bill. The Cool Care refrigerator replacement program offers low-income customers that have a 10-year old (or older) working refrigerator, a new ENERGY STAR® refrigerator for $100. The Senior Care Program offers a monthly electric bill discount of $12.00 to low-income seniors age 62 or older or low-income customers age 55 or older on medical retirement or with permanent disabilities that prevent employment.

For information on all low-income and general residential programs, customers are encouraged to call GWP customer service at (818) 548-3300 or visit www.GlendaleWaterAndPower.com.

Over 100 light poles on South Brand Boulevard between Colorado Street and San Fernando Road are scheduled to be painted beginning May 30. The project is expected to be completed prior to July 30.

The poles will be painted during the hours of 10 pm and 6 am in an effort to avoid taking up parking spaces along Brand Boulevard. Sidewalks in the area will be temporarily closed while painting is occurring.

The City of Burbank has announced the cancellation of the aerial fireworks display slated for the Independence Day celebration at the Starlight Bowl on July 4th.

Burbank City Manager Mary Alvord announced, “We’re sorry to do this, but the fireworks present a huge safety concern. The show will still go on; it will just be minus the fireworks this year.”

Given the extreme drought conditions currently plaguing Southern California, the Burbank Fire Department does not believe that it is safe this year to conduct the fireworks show.

“This year’s extreme drought followed by early high temperatures has made the hillside vegetation highly flammable. The aerial fireworks would present too great a risk and we are committed to assuring everyone’s safety,” said Fire Chief Tracy Pansini.

The July 4th entertainment at the Starlight Bowl will still include the Burbank Philharmonic Orchestra playing pops and patriotic music. Classic rock will be performed The Answer. The Jokesters will entertain throughout the evening. Other special entertainment is being planned.

“We’re working on securing a patriotic tribute to replace the fireworks. I am sure the audience will leave feeling patriotic and uplifted,” said Park, Recreation and Community Services Director Eric Hansen.

Ticket prices for the July 4th celebration will be the same as the upcoming concerts during the summer season: $8 for Adults, $5 Senior (60 +) and $5 Children (3-12).

Tickets go on sale June 4th at the three recreation centers – McCambridge, Verdugo and Olive – as well as the Administrative Services Building, 301 E. Olive Avenue, Suite 300.

For more information, please call (818) 525-3721 or visit www.StarlightBowl.com

Glendale, California – The Glendale Beeline transit service in cooperation with the Salvation Army will begin providing a “Safe Place” for youth in crisis. A commencement event will be held at 11:00am on Thursday, May 31, at Roosevelt Middle School located at 222 East Acacia Avenue, Glendale.

Safe Place is a national youth outreach program providing immediate help and supportive resources for all young people (ages 10-17) in crisis. Through a network of sites sustained by qualified agencies, trained volunteers and businesses, the program educates young people about the dangers of running away or trying to resolve difficult, threatening situations on their own.

The Beeline buses will provide mobile Safe Place sites throughout Glendale. When a youth needs assistance, they merely inform the bus driver. The driver will follow a preset protocol and counselors at the Salvation Army, which administers the program in Glendale, will be notified. The youth will be dropped off at an arranged stop to meet an awaiting trained counselor.

“We are very pleased not only to provide transportation for many of Glendale’s kids but also crisis assistance,” said Jano Baghdanian, Glendale’s Traffic & Transportation Administrator. “It is reassuring that a young person boarding a Beeline bus can tap into a network of community resources and trained counselors.”

A “Safe Place” will be available for youth onboard 35 buses on all of the Beeline routes. Throughout the year, the Beeline carries an estimated 2.3 million passengers who will have an opportunity to learn of Safe Place and share information with those in need. For additional information please call 548-3960.

GLENDALE, CA -- The Glendale Youth Orchestra, under the batons of conductor Brad Keimach and assistant conductor Michael Armstrong (in his Alex Theatre debut), will present the final concert of its eighteenth season at 7:30 PM on Tuesday night, June 5th at the historic Alex Theatre in Glendale.

The concert will feature six soloists from the ranks of the orchestra – each playing a movement from a concerto. Carol Joe will perform the Ibert Flute Concerto, Jerry Joo will play the Haydn Cello Concerto, Andrew Marlin performs the Vivaldi Bassoon Concerto, Zachary Price will play the Dittersdorf Double Bass Concerto, Amira Polack will perform the Strauss Horn Concerto, and Jon Lusher will perform the Strauss Horn Concerto. In addition the orchestra will perform Mozart’s Overture to “The Marriage of Figaro”, and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 1.

Tickets are $9.50 and may be purchased from the Alex Theatre Box Office. Students and seniors, and groups of ten or more, may purchase tickets for $6.00 each. Call 818-243-ALEX, or visit www.alextheatre.org. The concert will be preceded by a silent auction in the courtyard of the Alex Theatre to benefit the orchestra.

Formed in 1989 by a group of Glendale music lovers and school teachers, the Glendale Youth Orchestra now attracts talented young musicians in the 6th grade through college from all over Los Angeles, and the San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys. Auditions for membership in the orchestra are on going, and may be arranged by calling the Glendale Youth Orchestra at 818-321-3083. For more information visit www.glendale-online.com/gyo.

The aerial speed enforcement program began approximately a year and a half ago. On May 31, 2007, at 10:00 a.m., the Glendale Police Department will be holding a press conference at The Glendale/Burbank Air Support Unit, located at Bob Hope Airport, 7540 Wheatland Avenue Sun Valley, Ca. 91352 (818-504-0191). Chief Randy G. Adams, along with Glendale Police Management, will discuss the program at the news conference.

The program stemmed from numerous citizen complaints about cars speeding, cars racing, and the number of traffic collisions where unsafe speed was a factor. The Glendale Police Department had utilized a variety of traditional measures, including saturation type patrol and special enforcement details in an attempt to address the issue. Several miles of roadway have been determined to be a problem with excessive speeds by motorists. Given the number of areas of concern within the City of Glendale and the limited amount of resources, the Glendale Police Department Air Support Unit was identified as another possible means by which to further address the issue.

The program has been modeled after a program currently used by the California Highway Patrol. The California Highway Patrol program has been in place for more than 30 years. “Fly alongs” were conducted with California Highway Patrol personnel during their regular patrol flights to obtain operational experience. Training was conducted by our personnel in visually estimating the speed of cars on the ground from the helicopter and establishing the ground speed of the helicopter through the utilization of ground targets.

The department identified several areas within the City of Glendale where aerial speed enforcement could be utilized. The area of West Glenoaks Boulevard was selected to be first area where the City will begin using the helicopter to conduct aerial speed enforcement. The roadways have been surveyed by the Glendale Public Works Department and have placed aerial targets on the roadway. Signs have been posted advising drivers that speed is enforced by aircraft. Additional areas of the City will be incorporated as the program evolves.