The Valley Line: Getting ready for Red Nose Day
I stopped by Walgreens in La Crescenta the other day to buy a red nose so I could get my “silly” on. What is that, you might ask? Today, May 26, is Red Nose Day, a fundraiser to make a difference for kids who need our help the most. My red nose cost $1. All the funds raised through the sale of the red noses is earmarked to help lift kids out of poverty. In the past 25 years, Red Nose Day has raised more than $1 billion globally.
I first became aware of this special day when I was visiting friends in London back in the early ‘90s. We were sitting at the dinner table and everyone suddenly popped on their fake red noses. They explained to me what it was all about.
It was several years before the fundraiser hit our shores and Walgreens got on the bandwagon.
Tonight on NBC there will be a special star-studded broadcast with stand-up comedy performances, short films and music performances. Last year, more than 100 celebrities gave their support to Red Nose Day’s inaugural campaign here in the U.S.
I’ve also been inspired to wear this shiny red proboscis by all the TV ads that I’ve been seeing lately. I especially loved all the white dogs in the commercial with their red noses. I figured that my own white dog, Lola, would want to be part of the “in” crowd, so she has one too.
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The other night I went to the opening of Los Angeles Opera’s “La Boheme” and the cast party that followed.
Ahh, composer Giocomo Puccini’s work is so lyrical and beautiful. “La Boheme” is one of my favorite operas of all time — I can never get enough of it. I have seen it here on the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion stage several times but I had also seen it at the Opera Bastille in Paris and also from a royal box seat at Vienna, Austria’s magnificent opera house, the Staatsoper. (By the way, if you are planning to be in Vienna in November, you can see “La Boheme.”)
It was a full house the other night. Sitting next to me was a lovely young woman. She and her husband were there to celebrate her birthday. This was her first opera — what a way to celebrate. She said she was especially excited to see what she called the “real deal,” because she had seen the Broadway production of “Rent,” which of course is based on this opera.
The cast party, held in the Founders Circle Lounge, was especially lively. I met not only one “Mimi,” but two: Nino Machaidze, who sang the role that night, and Olga Busuioc, who sings the role on alternate nights.
Some of our local kids who participate in the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus were part of the cast. Singing in the joyful Christmas Eve scene were La Cañadans Anica Erickson, Soren Ryssdal, Finn Brakeley and Sydney Brakeley.
Local residents in the orchestra pit included Terry Cravens, Ryan Darke, Alvin Veeh, Heather Clark, Shawn Mann, Daniel Kelley and Jenny Kim.
Area Los Angeles Opera Chorus members in this production included Mark Beasom, Lisa Crave, Sara Campbell, Scott Levin and Sal Malaki. This beloved opera will run through June 12.
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Il Fornaio Restaurant in Pasadena was the setting for the recent Los Altos Auxiliary installation of new officers and the introduction of new members.
Los Altos raises funds for the children and adolescents who are in residential treatment at Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services’ Ed Nido campus in Altadena.
Special speaker at the meeting was Debbie Manners, president and chief executive of the treatment center at Hathaway-Sycamores and Family Services.
New members of the auxiliary introduced that day were Sandi Saeger, Allison Weir, Cynthia Bengtson-Budyzn, Lisa Dick and Darlene Larin.
Incoming officers installed were Kelly Williams, Diane Moldafsky, Susan Peterman, Betty Stanfill, Carol DeFond, Laurie Rodli, Cynthia Bengtson-Budyzn, Darlene Larin, Allison Weir, Julie McCarty, Melissa Oeschel, Gayle Penrod, Chris Goetz, Sandi Mellin, Karen Sellergren, Jennifer Herzer, Laura Campobasso, Lisa Dick, Andi Sica and Linda Yaussi.
Laura Campobasso, outgoing president, provided an overview of the Auxiliary’s accomplishments over the past year. In addition to hands-on activities; the Auxiliary raised funds that were used to enrich the lives of the youngsters who call Hathaway-Sycamores home. Highlights of the activities, projects and special treats funded by Los Altos include fulfilling the boys’ holiday wish lists and delivering homemade treats, sponsoring special spring and summer activities, a Christmas Day trip to Disneyland for residents and chaperones, gift cards and cupcakes for each child’s birthday, hosting the annual Halloween carnival, and providing a Thanksgiving Dinner for the boys and staff at El Nido.
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JANE NAPIER NEELY covers the La Cañada Flintridge social scene. Email her at jnvalleysun@aol.com.