4th Annual Salsa Contest on Saturday, September 25!

You’re invited to the Burbank Library’s 4th Annual Salsa Contest & Potluck!

It will be held this Saturday, September 25, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Enter your best salsa recipe or just come by to try the salsas and cast your vote. Salsas will be judged for flavor and spice quality in 3 categories: mild, medium, and hot. A prize will be awarded to the top salsa in each category! We will also have crafts and activities for children. Please help us spread the word!

The contest rules are available here.

Statement from Walla Walla County Rural Library District (Sept 2)

On Tuesday, August 31, the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin published a Letter to the Editor regarding the Walla Walla County Rural Library District (RLD) and our partnership with the Walla Walla Public Library (WWPL). Unfortunately, the letter contained several inaccuracies, and we’d like to correct them here.

• First, the RLD has a service contract with the City of Walla Walla that is in effect through the end of 2010, and we would like to continue contracting with the City going forward. In fact, we are currently in negotiations with the City to continue providing library services to County residents in 2011 and 2012.
• Second, it is true that we intend to open a storefront library in 2011. However, we view that library as an additional location for all WALNET* library cardholders to receive library services. It would not be a replacement for services offered by Walla Walla Public Library, but a complement to those services. It has been the long-standing mission of the RLD to open additional libraries throughout the County, and this particular project has been under discussion for several years.
• Third, we cannot imagine any circumstances that would require County residents to pay $135 (or any fee whatsoever) to use the WWPL. If for some reason the City of Walla Walla decides that it no longer wants to contract with the RLD, we would plan to pay for non-resident WALNET library cards for County residents who are interested in obtaining them.
• Fourth, we would like to make available to the public a letter that the RLD sent to the City of Walla Walla in May 2010 outlining our position, and providing some important background on the formation of WALNET.

We are grateful to those residents of Walla Walla County who have taken the time to contact us about this matter, to offer suggestions, and to learn more about it. We encourage others to do the same.

* WALNET is a long-term partnership between the RLD, the WWPL, and the Walla Walla Community College Library to share library resources across the County. The contract establishing the WALNET consortium is separate from the contract between the RLD and WWPL for library services to County residents.

End-of-summer luau at the library!

The Burbank Library will be hosting a luau on Saturday, August 21, to celebrate the end of the summer and to acknowledge everyone who participated in our Summer Reading Program!

The event will run from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m. and it should be a lot of fun, so please spread the word. Here’s the line-up of entertainment and activities:

• 3:00 — Water games! (Kids, wear your swimsuits!)
• 3:30-5:00 — Chalk art, fun with bubbles, face painting, and volleyball!
• 4:30 — Tug-of-war!
• 5:00 — Dinner (potluck and Hawaiian chicken from Wing Stop in Richland)
• 5:00-6:30 — Live music by local musicians!
• 6:30-7:00 — Hula dancers! (a group of dancers will perform several traditional dances)
• 7:00 — Announcement of Summer Reading Program grand prize winners and door prizes!

This timeline may change as we add new activities. All ages welcome. Please call or visit the library to sign-up to bring a dish to the potluck dinner.

Thanks to the Friends of the Burbank Library for their generous support of this event.

Scenes from Shasta’s birthday party

Last Friday, the Burbank Library celebrated the 4th birthday of our favorite Great Dane, Shasta — the star of our popular Read to Shasta! program for kids. Approximately 60 people (and exactly 4 dogs) attended the party, and everyone had a great time.

We made crafts, played games, hunted for dog treats, watched the dogs perform tricks, sang to Shasta, and ate cake. Also — and this is particularly important to us at the library — many children read stories to the dogs and every child took home a free book.

We’d like to thank the Tri-City Herald for publishing a short article about the event, and to newspapers from as far away as Bellingham and Tacoma for picking up the story online. (Who can resist a story about a birthday party for a dog, after all?) Thanks also to Shasta’s dog friends Bodie, Lacey, and Shreq (and their owners, of course) and to everyone who attended the event.

And finally, thanks to Shasta and her owner Krystal Ellingson for their continued support of the library, reading, and the children of Burbank. We hope you had a great birthday, Shasta!

Several more photos are available at the link below.

Several dogs will attend Shasta’s birthday party tomorrow!

The Tri-City Herald published this short article about Shasta’s upcoming birthday party here at the Burbank Library. The party is tomorrow — Friday, May 14, at 3 p.m.

Several dogs will be attending (in addition to the guest of honor, of course!), including: Tahoe (Great Dane), Bodie (Border Collie & Golden Retriever mix), Lacey (Welsh Corgi), possibly Jasper (Brazilian Mastiff), and maybe more! They are all trained therapy dogs and they are great with children.

(NOTE: Unfortunately, dogs that are not trained therapy dogs cannot attend.)

For more information about this event, please see our previous post. We hope to see you there!

John Umbarger named 2010 Tri-Citian of the Year!

Congratulations to Burbank’s own John Umbarger who was named 2010 Tri-Citian of the Year!

The Tri-City Herald’s coverage of Friday’s award ceremony is here. The Herald’s editorial (entitled: “A humble man wins Tri-Citian of the Year”) is here. The photo below (taken by the Herald’s Kai-Huei Yau) accompanied the article and was captioned: “John Umbarger celebrates with his wife, Kathy, after being named the 2010 Tri-Citian of the Year during a ceremony Friday at the Red Lion Inn in Pasco.”

Update: John Umbarger also wrote a Letter to the Editor (which was published in the May 4 edition of the Tri-City Herald) about the three community hospitals in the Tri-Cities. Read it here.

Burbank man born 5-5-55 turning 55

From the Tri-City Herald / May 3, 2010

BURBANK MAN BORN 5-5-55 TURNING 55
By Loretto J. Hulse, Herald food writer

BURBANK — Even if you don’t know him well, it’s easy to remember Ron Hackett’s birthdate. That’s because the Burbank man — who turns 55 on Wednesday — was born on 5-5-55. Which brings him a lot of surprised looks.

Read the full article here. (It’s a bit of a mystery why this was written by a Herald food writer, since there’s no mention of food.) The uncredited photo below accompanied the article.

Now available: downloadable audiobooks!

On May 1st, the Burbank Library will begin offering free downloadable audiobooks (aka: e-audiobooks) through a subscription service called NetLibrary.

You can listen to these e‐audiobooks on your computer or through a compatible portable listening device, like an iPod or an MP3 player. Over 2900 titles are currently available for children, teens, and adults (in both English and Spanish), and at least 30 titles will be added each month.

Given the many variables involved (different computer operating systems, different portable devices, etc.), NetLibrary can be a little tricky to use at first. Fortunately, the Washington State Library has compiled some useful instructions. And NetLibrary itself offers a toll-free help line: 1-800-848-5800.

To get started, visit our website and click on “Create a NetLibrary Account”. Then click on “Create a Free Account” in the top right-hand corner and follow the instructions. After you’ve created your account, you may access NetLibrary directly at netlibrary.com.

If you have any questions, please call us at 509-545-6549. Happy downloading and happy listening!

Community meeting about re-development of Cargill Pond

The Port of Walla Walla recently sent out a letter inviting the Burbank community to a May 6 meeting to discuss the re-development of Cargill Pond. It reads:

The Port of Walla Walla along with a group of interested citizens have expressed a preliminary interest in re-developing Cargill Pond. The goal is to revitalize this area into a vibrant, attractive park which preserves its existing uses and adds additional recreational opportunities for the Burbank community.

The Port has hired a landscape architect to develop initial design concepts for community input. We hope you can attend this meeting to help answer two important questions:

* Does the Burbank Community have an interest in seeing Cargill Pond re-developed?
* If yes, what design elements and uses are most important to you?

The meeting will be held on Thursday, May 6, 2010, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Walla Walla County Fire District 5, 460 W. Humorist Road, in Burbank. For more information, contact Jim Kuntz of the Port at 509-525-3100 or jk [at] portwallawalla [dot] com.

News briefs through April 2010

Here’s a digest of Burbank and Wallula news items from April:

• The Tri-City Herald listed a Wallula Gap hike on May 1, beginning at 10 a.m. “Join Bob Fortman for a hike on the Kennewick side of the Columbia River to Wallula Gap. Native plants, especially grasses and Ice Age Flood features are extensive near the Gap. The hike will take about five hours. Bring water and lunch. For more information, call 509-948-3999.” [April 10]
• The Herald reported that “three teens and two women are facing possible felony charges in connection with two recent Richland burglaries. Richland police arrested a 14-year-old Burbank boy after identifying him as a suspect in an April 5 burglary in the 1300 block of Stevens Drive. He also is a suspect in a burglary the same day in the 700 block of Symons Street.” [April 13]
• The Herald reported: “Ben Harris wants people to experience the Columbia and Snake rivers in a new way: on a luxury houseboat provided by his Burbank-based company River Ranch Houseboats.” [April 20]
• The Herald reported: “A man was injured when his pickup was hit from behind by a car on Highway 12 near Humorist Road in Burbank around 6:15 p.m. Wednesday. The driver of the truck, whose name was not released, was taken to Lourdes Medical Center in Pasco with neck and back injuries that weren’t life threatening, said Mike Wickstrom, fire chief of Walla Walla Fire District 5.” [April 22]
• KNDU posted a story (with video) about how the Columbia-Burbank School District won the grand prize in a Top Chef-like culinary competition among four area school districts. The goal of the contest was to expose the chefs to different, healthier cooking methods, different types of food, and team building exercises. [April 27]

The photo below (taken by Bob Brawdy) accompanied the April 20 Herald article and was captioned: “River Ranch Houseboats is displaying one of its rental boats at Tim Bush Motors in Richland adjacent to Interstate 182. The houseboat is 59 feet long and 16 feet wide and features flat-screen TVs, granite countertops, barbecue grills and designer furnishings.”

Library events for May & June 2010

Hello, Burbank! We’ve got some great events lined up for the next couple of months. The highlights are below, and our complete calendar of events is here.

• Mother’s Day Crafts — Friday & Saturday, May 7 & 8
  Drop by and make a craft for Mom. She really deserves it, you know. [Audience: children & dads]
• SHASTA’S BIRTHDAY PARTY! — Friday, May 14, at 3 p.m.
  Local Great Dane Shasta, the star of our Read to Shasta! program, will be turning 4! The party will include appearances by some of Shasta’s dog friends, crafts, music, free books, and cake. RSVPs are encouraged but drop-ins are welcome. No presents are necessary. [Audience: young children]
• SUMMER READING KICK-OFF PARTY! — Wednesday, June 16, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  Come by to register for our Summer Reading Program, and stay for the great books, music, and fun activities. Also, ice cream will be served — while supplies last! [Audience: children & families]
• TEEN NIGHT! — Thursday, June 17, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
  Featuring a bonfire, hot chocolate, s’mores, and more. [Audience: teens]
• Father’s Day Crafts — Friday & Saturday, June 18 & 19
  Drop by and make a craft for Dad. He really deserves it too. [Audience: children & moms]

A more detailed summer calendar (covering mid-June through August) will be available soon, so stay tuned. See you at the library!

You’re invited to Shasta’s birthday party!

The Burbank Library will be hosting a birthday party for local Great Dane Shasta on Friday, May 14, at 3 p.m.

Click here for your official invitation (pdf).

Shasta (pictured at right), the star of the our popular Read to Shasta! program, will be turning 4. The party will include appearances by some of Shasta’s dog friends, crafts, music, free books, and cake. RSVPs are encouraged but drop-ins are welcome. No presents are necessary.

For more information or to RSVP, call the library at 509-545-6549, email us at burbank [at] wwrurallibrary [dot] com, or add a comment.

Shasta’s third birthday party was a blast! See coverage of last year’s event here. Tahoe, who was just a puppy last year, will be back again this year — and now he’s bigger than Shasta and still growing!

Please spread the word about this event. We hope to see you there!

Poetry contest winners 2010!

Congratulations to the winners of the 3rd annual Burbank Library Poetry Contest! And many thanks to all those who submitted their poems.

Thanks also to the Friends of the Burbank Community Library, Crazy Mary’s, Burbank Mercantile, and the Castilleja Bakery for their support of this contest.

The winning poems in the kindergarten to 3rd grade category were:

• Plum Tree by Haley Ryckman – 1st prize
• Oh Puffin by BM – 2nd prize
• My Pizza by IG – 3rd prize

The winning poems in the 4th to 8th grade category were:

• Do Tigers Cry? by Matt Boulds – 1st prize
• No Matter What by Megan Headley – 2nd prize
• Learning from the Past by Bonnie Reyes – 3rd prize

The winning poem in the 9th to 12th grade category was:

• Temptations by MP – 1st prize

The winning poems in the adult category were:

• Rain Falling by Robert Crater – 1st prize
• The Railroad Carman by Don Ohman Sr. – 2nd prize
• Generations by Eunice Worden – 3rd prize

Burbank man helps residents escape burning apartment complex

From the Tri-City Herald / March 31, 2010

RESIDENTS ESCAPE BURNING KENNEWICK APARTMENT COMPLEX
By Paula Horton, Herald staff writer

Tim Elias didn’t think twice about running into a burning Kennewick apartment complex Tuesday morning to wake up the residents and get them to safety. The 45-year-old Burbank man was driving on Edison Street past the two-story brick building about a block south of Clearwater Avenue around 8:45 a.m. when he saw an upstairs window break and flames shoot out.

Another passer-by also spotted the smoke and flames from the building at 19 S. Edison St. and both men rushed inside to tell the residents the building was on fire.

“We just went in. It was crazy,” Elias said. “Just as we were hitting the door (to the apartment that was on fire) the couple were coming out.” … Elias said the couple in the upstairs unit said there was a family of four living in a downstairs unit, so he and the other passer-by pounded on their door and helped two adults and two young kids get out.

“They were still sleeping,” Elias said. “We were just beating and beating on the door and were just about ready to kick it in when they answered it. … Smoke, it was everywhere. There was probably about 3 feet of smoke. We all crouched down and went out.” The rescuers also went around back and saw a cat inside, so they broke a window and saved it, Elias said.

Read the full article here. The photo below (taken by Paul T. Erickson) accompanied the article.

Recent obituaries & death notices

Here’s a digest of recent Burbank obituaries & death notices:

• Frank Jesse Aranda, 68, of Burbank, died Feb. 22 at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland. He was born in Bridger, Mont., and lived in Burbank for 32 years. He was a truck driver for the Teamsters at Hanford. Einan’s Funeral Home, Richland, is in charge of arrangements. [February 24]
• Robert Frank Bohlman, 83, of Burbank, died March 9 in Pasco. He was born in Kansas City, Mo., and lived in the Tri-Cities for six years. He was a retired engineer. Mueller’s Greenlee Funeral Home, Pasco, is in charge of arrangements. [March 11]
• James Robert Shea, 78, died March 11 at home in Burbank. He was born in Bogalusa, La., and lived in Burbank for six months. He was a retired project manager. Einan’s Funeral Home, Richland, is in charge of arrangements. [March 13]
• Norma Freeman, 81, of Pasco, died March 15 in Burbank. She was born in Scandia, Kan., and lived in the Tri-Cities for 55 years. She was a retired head cook at Pasco High School. Mueller’s Greenlee Funeral Home, Pasco, is in charge of arrangements. [March 17]
• Judy Ann Lampson, 68, of Burbank, died March 23 in Pasco. She was born in Red Oak, Iowa, and lived in the Tri-Cities since 1997. She was a retired truck dispatcher for Service Transport Inc. Mueller’s Greenlee Funeral Home, Pasco, is in charge of arrangements. [March 25]
• Tracy William Osterhout, 52, of Burbank, died April 11 at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland. He was born in Oahu, Hawaii, and lived in the Tri-City area for 22 years. He was a rural route mail carrier in Finley. Einan’s Funeral Home, Richland, is in charge of arrangements. [April 13]
• And here’s another article about Mr. Osterhout in the Herald. [April 15]
• John Peter Henricks, 90, of Burbank Heights, died April 13 at his home in Burbank. He was born in The Dalles, Ore., and lived in Burbank Heights since 1951. He was a retired farmer. Life Tributes Cremation Center, Kennewick, is in charge of arrangements. [April 15]

Update:

• Alice E. Larson, 81, died on April 15, 2010. … Alice graduated from Columbia High School in Burbank, Washington in 1945. She told family she was valedictorian of her high school class, cheerleader and homecoming queen, all true. Then she told them the rest of the story: she was in a class of five, and she was the only girl. She married Duane R. Larson on January 2, 1948; and, after a stint at WSU for Duane to graduate on the GI Bill, she lived in Kennewick for nearly the rest of her life. … [April 20]
• Kirby G. Whyte went to be with his son and his Lord on March 26, 2010. He spent a few years in Seattle, Sultan and Cashmere before settling in Wallula where he lived for about 40 years. He worked as a diesel mechanic until he retired. … [April 28]

On this day (in Burbank & Wallula)

The Tri-City Herald occasionally runs an old news brief from Burbank or Wallula in its “On this day” feature. They’re interesting little bits and they give you some flavor of the era in which they appeared. Here are a few recent examples:

• On this day: Mar. 14, 1968
  A former Burbank Heights housewife, Mrs. Joe J. Flink, now of Hermiston, is due to receive a mink coat from the Art Linkletter House Party TV show. Mrs. Flink had written a postcard to the show, but moved to Hermiston before her name was called on the air. Neighbors are trying to locate her.
• On this day: April 8, 1899
  Ed. Mace, a section hand on the W.C.R.R., a few days ago stooped down to pick up a shoe in the sand and found the whole body of a man buried in the sand in Wallula. All kinds of stories were immediately circulated about the gruesome find, the leading one being that the man probably fell from a train and crawled away from the track and died.
• On this day: April 14, 1916
  Two new automobiles have recently been added to the number already in Burbank. E. M. Chandler has a new 50 horsepower 6-cylinder Studebaker roadster, and M. P. Brislawn, water superintendent, has a new Ford run-about.

Book giveaway for teens at rural libraries

From the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin / April 12, 2010

BOOK GIVEAWAY FOR TEENS TUESDAY AT RURAL LIBRARIES  [subscription required]

Copies of a Sherman Alexie’s book, “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” will be given free to teenagers at all Walla Walla County Rural Library District branch libraries Tuesday. Alexie, a Northwest poet and prize-winning novelist, will speak at 7 p.m. Thursday at Whitman College’s Cordiner Hall.

Punkey Adams, rural library district executive director, said 200 copies were made available through the district’s partnership with First Book National Book Bank in Washington, D.C.

Rural Library District libraries are located in Burbank, Prescott, Touchet and Vista Hermosa. The giveaway will continue until all copies are done, Adams said.

News briefs through March 2010

Here’s a digest of Burbank and Wallula news items from March:

• The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin reported [subscription required]: “Boise Inc. has started a two-year harvest of the remaining trees from the 1,900-acre property it sold to the Port of Walla Walla in 2007, prompting Port officials to consider how to best utilize the land in the unknown period of time before an economic development project emerges.” [March 3]
• Authors of the book Weird Washington share stories about Wallula in this Herald story. [March 4]
• The Union-Bulletin reported [subscription required] that Prescott resident Jim Romine, currently a sheriff’s captain and commander of the Corrections Division, will run for Walla Walla County Sheriff. The UB notes: “His career has included serving as resident deputy in Burbank from 1979 to 1992.” [March 8]
• The Union-Bulletin reported [subscription required] that a man, Douglas H. Brown, “accused of growing more than 200 marijuana plants and possessing other drugs at his Burbank residence last spring pleaded guilty Monday afternoon to three felonies and was sentenced to more than two years in prison.” The Tri-City Herald’s coverage is here. [March 8]
• The Union-Bulletin reported [subscription required]: “A small bee might be a big issue in U.S. Highway 12′s future. Alfalfa seed growers who depend on alkali bees to pollinate their crops are worried that the new route for the highway will threaten the bees’ survivability and, in turn, one of the area’s most valuable commodities.” [March 11]
• The Tri-City Herald reported that “a replacement part for an aging turbine at Ice Harbor Lock and Dam could serve as a prototype of a new turbine design that federal managers hope provides safer passage for fish.” [March 17]
• The Herald reported that “Railex is planning to open a new freight terminal in the Southeast that could add one or two more trains per week from its facility in Wallula to a location either in Florida or Georgia and back.” [March 21]
• The Herald reported that a Burbank woman, Tammy Mora, “was sentenced to 15 days in jail for trying to buy two packs of cigarettes with a $5 bill doctored to look like a $50.” [March 27]
• The UB reported [subscription required] that a Milton-Freewater man, William Hunt, died Saturday after a one-car crash on U.S. Highway 12, near Humorist Road in Burbank. [March 29]

Congratulations to Burbank’s Crystal Apple Award winners!

From the Tri-City Herald / March 19, 2010

EDUCATORS HONORED AT CRYSTAL APPLE AWARDS
By Sara Schilling, Herald staff writer

PASCO — John Umbarger started the Crystal Apple Awards more than a decade ago to honor teachers for their hard work, not to get honored himself. But that’s exactly what happened Thursday, when the longtime Tri-Cities education advocate was one of two recipients of the Special Achievement Award during the Crystal Apple ceremony at Columbia Basin College in Pasco.

Mr. Umbarger was also recognized by the Tri-City Herald Editorial Board on March 26.

From the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin / March 18, 2010

COLUMBIA HIGH TEACHER WINS REGIONAL HONOR  [subscription required]
By Maria P. Gonzalez of the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin

BURBANK — A Columbia High School math teacher will be among the recipients of this year’s 12th annual Crystal Apple Awards being held tonight in Pasco. Carin Waters, who has taught in the Columbia School District for eight years, was selected to receive this year’s award. …

Waters teaches algebra, geometry, trigonometry and calculus as part of her duties. She has also served as advisor to the junior class and has helped coach the girls’ basketball teams.

“Carin handles all of these responsibilities with an ease and an unruffled calm that is inspiring,” wrote Superintendent Lou Gates in his recommendation. “Mrs. Waters displays a deep dedication to the content areas she covers as well as a clear love for the students she serves. Though clearly demanding, she provides her students ample support in reaching the expectations she places on them and they deeply respect her.”

The photo below (taken by Richard Dickin) accompanied the Herald article and was captioned: “John Umbarger, left, who started the Crystal Apple Awards more than 10 years ago, and Jean Lane, far right, superintendent of the Richland School District, congratulate one another on Thursday evening after they each won a Special Achievement Award during the Crystal Apple ceremony at Columbia Basin College in Pasco. The Crystal Apple awards started in 1999 as a way to reward teachers for excellence. This year, 11 Mid-Columbia educators were honored. Mike Miller, Pasco school supporter, stands between them.”

Poetry contest and poetry slam!

Enter the 3rd annual Burbank Library Poetry Contest! The entry deadline is April 12th. We will award prizes for the top three poems in each of the following categories: Kindergarten to 3rd grade, 4th to 8th grade, 9th to 12th grade, and adult. Entry forms are available here or at the library. (Forms are available in both English and Spanish.)

Our 6th annual Poetry Slam will be held on Thursday, April 15th, from 5 to 7 p.m. Attendees are invited to read their original or favorite poems. The winners of the poetry contest will be announced, and there will be activities for children, door prizes, and refreshments.

Both the contest and the poetry slam are sponsored by the Friends of the Burbank Community Library.

If you’re looking for inspiration, you can read last year’s winning poems here. Or come by the library and check out a few books of poetry. Now get writing, Burbank!

Late Update: The April 13 edition of the Tri-City Herald contained this small article about our poetry event. And the April 14 edition of the Union-Bulletin contained this small article [subscription required].