Prizes and fashions make up the magic

“Autumn Magic” were the appropriate words to describe this year’s Scholarship and Fashion Luncheon of the Patrons Club of Glendale Community College. Indeed, magic was woven into each activity in the plush Verdugo Ballroom of Burbank’s Castaway on Friday. A reception and silent auction began the afternoon. An annual favorite is brunch at Oakmont with Glady and Jack Kabateck. This year, college board member Vahe Peroomian donated two of his glistening black-and-white photographs to the auction.

Patrons Club President Judy Gorham welcomed her audience of several hundred college staff and supporters. College Supt./President Dawn Lindsay introduced event Chairwoman Marianne Jennings who, in turn, introduced college board of trustee members — President Tony Tartaglia, Vice President Anita Quinonez Gabrielian, Peroomian, Ann Ransford and clerk Armine Hacopian, the longest-serving member on the board. VIPs also present included city fathers Mayor Ara Najarian and City Councilman Dave Weaver, college Foundation President Ellyn Semler and college Supt./President emeritus John Davitt.

Opportunity and door prizes were sprinkled throughout the fashion show, featuring fashions by Holiday Hats & Gowns in Montrose and Men’s Wearhouse. The models were all moonlighting from their day jobs at the college. A standout was Lindsay, pirouetting with panache in an ensemble of fashionable winter white. Ending the show was Gertrude Ness who, at 104 years old, walked the runway escorted by Patrons Club advisor Paul Schlossman.

Proceeds will support student scholarships, almost $10,000 of which had already been raised.

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The fall season also brings out boutiques — all featuring Thanksgiving and Christmas gifts at bargain prices. Ceramic lovers look forward to the Clay Group Pottery Sale on the first Saturday in November of every year, rain or shine. Held under cloudy skies on the roomy Glendale patio of potter Judy Springborn, a steady flow of dozens of customers kept cash registers ringing. Springborn is developing a reputation for her whimsical totem figures for home gardens. She recently showed at the Los Angeles Arboretum for the Pacific Coast Horticultural Society. Her totems are now being sold at the Arboretum gift shop.

Artists present, besides Springborn, who are members of the Clay Group, were Claude Hulce, Gini Causton Keene, Jack Paul Miller, Barbara Rog and Frances Santistevan.

Several of these artists will join art students and teachers of Burbank’s Creative Arts Center in the 2010 Holiday Crafts Boutique from Dec. 3 to 16 at the arts center’s gallery, 1100 W. Clark Ave., Burbank.

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Artistic members of the Glendale Presbyterian Church didn’t want to be left out of the boutique business. Their first Arts & Crafts Faire and Bake Sale was held in the church’s cultural hall on Saturday. Customers were lined up to buy $1 opportunity tickets for a quilt sewn by Christine Watrous and her committee. The brown-toned quilt was valued at $350 and represented the Amish “Sunshine and Shadow” pattern. Each block showed a barn-raising setting. According to Watrous, the quilt took more than 30 hours to complete.

Watercolorist Katherine Aria was present between the boutique’s 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. hours. She painted customer portraits for minimum donations. Aria will donate 25% of her proceeds to the church. She also regularly donates her portraits to the church. One of her models at the boutique was Glendale resident Sonia Concua.

Funds raised at the boutique will go toward church improvements.