Community: Noon Lions unveil winning entries in Peace Poster Contest
It took three weeks for Angel Quinonez to complete his peace poster featuring flags of 195 countries surrounded by a heart.
The Jordan Middle School student put a lot of thought into the idea and researched each flag, he said, because he wanted to do something different than anyone else.
Angel was one of four middle school students recognized earlier this month by the Burbank Noon Lions Club for winning the first level of the Lions Clubs International Peace Poster Contest.
The contest is for youth ages 11 to 13. Posters are judged on originality, artistic merit and expression of theme.
Winners received $25 and a certificate from the Burbank Noon Lions Club and certificates from city and state officials during an afternoon ceremony at the Burbank Central Library. All four posters move to the next level of competition.
Ivette Silva illustrated her wish to see everyone get along. Her poster shows people either shaking hands or talking to each other. The 12-year-old’s entry was submitted by the Boys & Girls Club of Burbank and the Greater East Valley
“Right now, there is a lot of violence happening, and what I was hoping for was for everyone to come together in peace and welcome everybody as guests into our state and home and name them as our friends, not our enemies,” she said.
The design created by Madison Gomez, a 12-year-old from John Muir Middle School, was inspired by nature.
“It calms me and brings me peace,” she said.
Madison drew a tree with three roots depicting a peace symbol. A dove flies around it and all are framed by a rainbow.
Luther Burbank Middle School student Lillian Raesler said she wanted to illustrate happiness. Her poster shows hands reaching up with fingers posed in peace signs and the heart sign. A ribbon of flags from different countries is threaded around a world globe.
“I think in a peaceful world everyone will be happy,” she said.
This is the 30th annual competition, said Noon Lions Treasurer Bud Alleman, who was assisted by Marva Murphy, project chair and the club’s secretary.
The top award is $5,000 and a trip to a special awards event.
There were 37 posters submitted to the contest. The remaining 33 entries are on display through December in the hallway just outside the second-floor children’s library.
Veterans committee chair honored by Boy Scouts
Burbank resident and Vietnam veteran Mickey DePalo, along with three other community leaders, will be honored during the annual Hometown Heroes Dinner presented by the Verdugo Hills Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
The event will be on Dec. 7 at the La Cañada Country Club. DePalo served in the Army as a military policeman. He has served as the chairman of the city of Burbank Veterans Committee for 29 years.
Also being honored will be Robin Goldsworthy, publisher of the Crescenta Valley Weekly, Glendale police officer Michele Gonzalez and retired Lt. Col. David Worley of the U.S. Air Force who is the administrator for the Crescenta Valley High School’s Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program.
Tickets are $60. Reservation deadline is Dec. 4. To purchase tickets or become a sponsor, call (818) 243-6282, Ext. 114, or email Dede.Mueller@Scouting.org.
Angel Tree project secures gifts for children
Salvation Army volunteers start collecting gifts on Monday for local children through the Angel Tree Project at the Burbank Town Center.
The public can choose a cardboard angel stating a child’s age and wish list from the donation tree on the mall’s third floor by the Burlington store. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m every day until the final day, Dec. 20, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Recipients are selected through social-service programs and other organizations.
Volunteers are needed to greet the donors and collect the gifts, which are due by Dec. 20. Volunteers are assigned two-hour shifts between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.
To volunteer, call Elaine Paonessa at (818) 845-6851.
JOYCE RUDOLPH can be reached at rudolphjoyce10@gmail.com.