Community: Sorority women toast to the grape at benefit
Fans of wine and those just curious were mesmerized when a professional led a tasting during the 69th annual benefit luncheon sponsored by the Glendale Area Alumnae Panhellenic.
The event was titled “Of Wine & Wine Tasting.” Appropriately, a cheese plate embellished with grapes and a bevy of sparkling glasses graced each table in the main dining room of the Oakmont Country Club.
Paul Woolls, proprietor of Progeny Winery on Mount Veeder in Napa Valley, along with his assistant Maya Stodder and their staff, chose six wines for the group to try.
In her introduction of Woolls, Elaine Chapman, benefit chair, told how he became intrigued with the history of wine while attending college as he pursued his law degree and later took classes to broaden his knowledge of international and domestic wines. In 2006, he purchased a one-time cattle ranch and, with the first harvest in 2012, his Progeny Winery was born.
Woolls Ranch is planted with the traditional five Bordeaux varietals, along with classic red and white Rhône varietals.
Chapman presented Woolls with a beautiful boxed collection of corks.
Members helping with the event were Burbank resident Georgine Archer, Glendale residents Kim Westhoff, who is the organization’s president, Julie Weller and Deb Anne Orfalea, as well as Jerri Johnson, Lynne Graves, Janice Paul, Rachel Clugston, Teri Craft and Marta de Paula Cea.
The Glendale Area Alumnae Panhellenic is a nonprofit organization serving Glendale and surrounding areas with member volunteers from many of the 26 sororities recognized by the National Panhellenic Conference.
The benefit luncheon provides scholarships for area high school girls going to a four-year college or university and eligible college undergraduates who are members in good standing with one of the 26 Panhellenic sororities.
Four educators recognized at alumni mixer
The Burbank-Burroughs Alumni Assn. will recognize four past and present educators at its alumni mixer from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Once Upon a Page, 2527 W. Magnolia Blvd.
Those honored from Burroughs High School will be Marty Garrison, current physical education teacher and coach; and James Lloyd, retired assistant principal, teacher and coach.
From Burbank High School, those recognized will be Fred Cook, biology teacher and coach, and Diana Abasta, English teacher and president of the Burbank Teachers Assn.
The alumni mixer is an opportunity to visit, reconnect and salute these amazing teachers in an informal wine-and-cheese party setting.
A suggested $5 donation goes into the 2016 -17 scholarship fund. The alumni association has created these events to honor educators and raise funds for scholarships for current high school seniors.
Each year since the group’s inception, scholarships have been presented to two students at each high school. Alumni, students and families from both schools are invited to attend the mixer.
Historical Society presents talk on ‘Lost Burbank’
Michael McDaniel, author of “Lost Burbank,” will share stories about early life in his favorite town beginning at 2 p.m. on May 20 at the Gordon R. Howard Museum, next to the Creative Arts Center-Burbank.
The talk is presented by the Burbank Historical Society.
An example of what subjects McDaniel might cover is that before the arrival of Warner Bros. and Walt Disney, First National Pictures built its original studio lot on Olive Avenue in 1926.
Free parking is available behind George Izay Park in the lot off Clark Avenue. For more information, call (818) 841-6333.
JOYCE RUDOLPH can be reached at rudolphjoyce10@gmail.com.