The Valley Line: Heat doesn’t stop local social calendar
I’ve been listening to Vin Scully broadcasting Dodger games since “Da Bums from Brooklyn” came to Los Angeles in 1958.
We would go to the games in Dodger Stadium carrying our little transistor radios, which we would practically glue to our ears so we wouldn’t miss Scully calling the game, even though we were watching it live. He made each play, good or bad, seem more alive. For 67 years he has been a baseball broadcasting rock star.
Oh, how I’m going to miss his voice now that he has retired. There is nobody that can do it better than Vin!
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In a letter to his fans he wrote, “You were simply always there for me, I have always felt that I needed you more than you needed me and that holds true to this very day.”
It just ain’t gonna be the same without you Vin — enjoy your well-earned retirement!
Even though it was 100-plus degrees outside I did manage to muster up enough creative energy to make the outside of my house look like autumn by hanging swags of colorful leaves on the wrought iron gate, placing a big, fat pumpkin on the front wall and putting autumn leaf wreaths at both the front and back doors. I’m ready, Mother Nature, so bring on some cool, brisk autumn weather!
These are busy, busy times on the social calendar for community folks.
Fred and Linda (Taix) Paccone opened up their lovely La Cañada home in late September for a Country-Western-themed party sponsored by the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Support Group to raise funds for our own CV Sheriff’s mobile command post.
R.C. Drake of Privateer Productions used his artistic skills to produce a backyard ranch décor that even included a rustic “saloon” where folks could sidle up to the bar for liquid refreshment.
There were more than 100 guests who got the memo about wearing their best cowboy/cowgirl duds. There were Stetsons and boots aplenty, not to mention some beautiful turquoise jewelry.
The very honored guests of the night were L.A. County Sheriff Jim McDonnell and his wife Kathy. Welcoming the McDonnells to the Paccone home were Fred and Linda as well as Captain Bill Song of the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station.
It was a truly fun evening with Mike Perry and his band providing fabulous tunes for listening as well as dancing. In fact, there was a little something for everyone — a special bourbon-tasting booth presented by Remedy Liquor, cigar sampling provided by JMG International Inc. and mouth-watering vittles prepared by Dearmore BBQ Catering.
The event committee included Linda Taix-Paccone, Bobbi Parker, Lisa Dutton, Jo Loomis, Lynda Bayly, Deputy Alex Covian and Deputy Eric Matejka. Jana Wunderlich generously provided the valet parking.
Serving on the station’s support group board of directors are LCF City Councilman Michael Davitt, Rick Dinger, Lisa Dutton, Rich Harris, Jo Loomis, City Councilman Leonard Pieroni, Pete Smith, Jose Troncoso, Alex Woo and Chris Dunbar.
Yee-haw! A good time was had by all.
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In spite of the 101-degree heat in Pasadena on Sept. 26, golfers teed off at the beautiful Annandale Golf Course for the fundraising Five Acres Golf Classic.
Five Acres is an agency that promotes safety and well being and permanency for children and their families.
The agency’s 29th annual golf classic and dinner drew more than 200 guests. Over those 29 years, about $3.8 million has been raised.
The evening’s event of cocktails and dinner at the venerable Annandale clubhouse was themed “Five Acres Golf Classic & the Old School Cool Lounge” and it carried the ambiance of the 1960s “Rat Pack” embodied by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop.
Signature drinks of chilled martinis, dirty and otherwise, were poured during the cocktail hour when guests bid on silent auction items that were registered digitally.
Guests were seated for dinner on the shaded lawn area just outside clubhouse where they dined on an iceberg wedge salad with applewood smoked bacon, tomato and red onion with a blue cheese dressing. The entree was a baked Champagne chicken with artichokes, mushrooms and Champagne sauce served with orzo pasta. Dessert was either a petite banana cream tart or chocolate cream tart.
When guests entered “the lounge” they were greeted by Five Acres chief executive Chanel Boutakidis and her husband, Ioakim Boutakidis.
Party goers were entertained by award-winning jazz artist Janiva Magness, who also spoke about her experience as being adopted and the work that Five Acres does for families.
It was a successful fund-raising event for Five Acres and an enjoyable golf tourney and following dinner and award ceremony.
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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.
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Organizations: LCF Educational Foundation to host wine auction on Oct. 15