The Valley Line: Residents open up their home for Hillsides event
Gina and Rod Guerra opened up their 1927 Paul Williams-designed La Cañada Flintridge home for a recent Hillsides donor party.
The Guerras warmly welcomed guests alongside Annette Ermshar, benefit chair for the Feb. 27 gala benefit that will be held at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.
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Ermshar, a passionate music lover, planned an exceptional evening for party guests by inviting Lyndon Johnston Taylor, principal second violinist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, to play three musical selections, accompanied by pianist Jeong-Ah Ryu.
It was a breathtaking performance in a beautiful setting. In comments before the performance, Taylor, who attended the Juilliard School in New York, said that he was thrilled to be playing two Fritz Kreisler pieces that were written to be played in an intimate setting just as they were that evening. He also played “Nocturne in C# Minor” by Chopin-Milstein.
Guests were served an array of savory passed hors d’oeuvres prepared by chefs from Pasadena’s Bistro 45, owned by Deborah and Robert Simon, who were last year’s gala chairs.
The party hosts provided wines from their private collection. Jacob Maarse Florists donated flowers for the evening.
Hillsides upcoming gala, “Symphony of Dreams,” is the largest fundraiser of the year and will feature many unique musical highlights.
Ermshar is a Pasadena-based clinical psychologist who specializes in neuropsychology and forensic psychology. She is active in the local music community and an accomplished pianist and vocalist.
KNBC television newscaster Fritz Coleman will be the master of ceremonies at the Feb. 27 gala.
Some of the local residents attending the donor party included Dr. Henri Ford and his wife Donna, Dee and Mark Martinez, Dr. Steve Nishibayashi and Mary Dee Hacker.
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As we’ve seen so dramatically — and seemingly endlessly — on the national scene, 2016 is a political year. And locally we have some seats to be decided, including one in the state Assembly representing our area that will soon be vacated by Mike Gatto. Forums and meet-and-greets are underway, and last week just such party was held in La Cañada to introduce candidate Andrew Blumenfeld to invited guests. The hosts were Brent and Marion Kuszyk.
Brent Kuszyk and Blumenfeld have a common interest — public education. Kuszyk is a new member of the La Cañada school board, having been seated at the end of last year when Blumenfeld left the local board to seek state office.
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JANE NAPIER NEELY covers the La Cañada Flintridge social scene. Email her at jnvalleysun@aol.com with news of your special event.