Community: Zonta Club names Lefebvre its Burbank Woman of the Year
Zita Lefebvre is retired but continues to give time to local charities that she formed a forever bond with while working at Cartoon Network. At the top of that list are Burbank Family Service Agency, Boys & Girls Club and the Stevenson Elementary School student garden.
For her deep commitment to so many charities in town, the Zonta Club of Burbank Area has named her its 2015 Burbank Woman of the Year and will honor her during an awards luncheon on Nov. 7 at Lakeside Country Club. The event will begin at 11:30 a.m. with a silent auction.
For the Family Service Agency, Lefebvre served on the board and was president for three years. She recently graduated from a “Master Gardener’s” program and with that knowledge, she became a volunteer and helped build a gardening project for the students of Stevenson Elementary.
She introduced the students to composting through the Burbank Recycling Center’s programs. To raise funds for Stevenson’s garden, Lefebvre organized a farmer’s market at Cartoon Network, where employees can purchase fresh and organic vegetables grown by the students.
She is now part of the Burbank School Garden Foundation, and hopes to establish a garden in every school in Burbank to teach students healthy eating habits and instill a love of gardening.
The Woman of the Year project recognizes female leaders who give back to the Burbank community, said Zonta President Brittany Vaughan.
“I joined Zonta five years ago, and I’ve been recommending Zita for the honor since I joined,” said Vaughan, who is director of operations for the Boys & Girls Club of Burbank and Greater East Valley. “Zita has always been a champion of all the nonprofits in the city.”
To purchase tickets, donate to the silent auction or become a sponsor of the 2015 Burbank Woman of the Year event, visit ZontaBurbank.org. No tickets will be sold at the door.
Zonta is an international organization empowering members through service and advocacy.
Burbank High Class of 1975 reunites
It was three days of partying for members of Burbank High’s Class of 1975.
Classmates got reacquainted during several events from Oct. 16 to 18. The fun kicked off Friday morning with golf at DeBell Golf Club and Bob’s Big Boy and the popular car show held there every week. That was followed by wine tasting at D’Argenzio’s, then Cosmic Bowling at Pickwick Lanes.
The main event — dinner and dancing — was Saturday night at the Pickwick Gardens and the farewell Sunday brunch was at DeBell’s Canyon Grille.
We caught up with the group during the social hour at Pickwick Gardens. Susan Pena MacCaskey and her committee of Lori Qualls Mahaffey, Kevin Parkes and Debbie Davis Wise kept things moving smoothly.
Several classmates reminiscing were Charlene “Chas” Groden Wilson, Toni Jeanette, Karen Hall, Mick Malouf and Debra Brooks Centurion.
Wilson remembered that in high school she liked to wear Levi’s and Dittos jeans with a Hawaiian shirt and Puka shell necklace.
Hall said the guys told them the night before that they liked when they wore hip-hugger pants with wide white belt or hot pants.
Familiar faces were Lila Vick Schob, Waneen Cormier Post-Marks, Dave Boido, Anita Glance, Carol Forrand Tallakson, Mimi Slawoff Mendelson and Bruce Lilly with his wife, Leslie, who graduated the same year but from Granada Hills High School. A special guest who attended was former teacher Clyde Richards.
Alumni group has third annual tailgate event
All classes from both public high schools will get a chance to relive the good old days during the Burbank-Burroughs Alumni Assn. tailgate event just before the homecoming football game on Nov. 6 in the school district office parking lot at Olive Avenue and Parish Place.
There will be a taco bar, soda and water as well as live music beginning at 5 p.m., and then the group will walk over to Memorial Field at 7:15 p.m. and sit together in a reserved area on the home side.
Admission is $20 for meal and game or $10 for game only. Reservations can be made by calling Joanne Lento Miller, alumni president, at (818) 846-8910. The deadline is Nov. 2.
College Patrons Club raising scholarships
The Patrons Club of Glendale Community College/GC Foundation, Inc., will have its annual luncheon and fashion show beginning at 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 6 at the Castaway restaurant.
Proceeds go toward scholarships and grants-in-aid. The Patrons awarded more than $22,000 to students last year.
Fashions will be from Holiday Hats and Gowns of Montrose. There will be a drawing for $1,000 as well as live and silent auctions. Tickets are $55 and reservations can be made by calling Judy Gorham at (818) 243-3590 by Monday.
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JOYCE RUDOLPH can be reached at rudolphjoyce10@gmail.com.