Troop 555 wraps up another year of volunteering

Free holiday gift-wrapping services by teenagers representing a variety of organizations have become increasingly popular. One organization is unique because its youth members have been wrapping gifts for the same store for almost 10 years.

Four stalwart Boy Scouts from the Delphi Academy-sponsored Troup 555 spent 12 hours on Thursday wrapping at Sport Chalet in La Cañada Flintridge. Their Scout leader is Sean Burke, who is Outdoor Chairman. These kids pull in $500 a day in customer donations. And that’s wrapping on Black Friday and two weeks before Christmas. According to Burke, the donation money will go toward a 15-day summer trip for the Scouts without having to empty their parents’ wallets. Some $7,500 in wrapping money will take as many Scouts as can fit into a large van to the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Mt. Rushmore, to name only a few of the sites they will visit.

Those putting in the muscle were Burke’s son, Duggan Burke, 13; Andy Fisher-Shin, 11, Spencer Allen, 16; and Colton Evans,16, who has volunteered for wrapping duty for six years straight. These kids wrap anything from trampolines and a free-standing basketball hoop to bikes and punching bags. The Scouts also accumulate community service hours for their efforts in Scouts and in their high schools—more and more necessary for college admittance.

“Is there a Boy Scout badge for gift-wrapping,” Evans said was the question he’s asked most often. Unfortunately, there is not, or these Scouts would have already reached the rank of Eagle.

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Leave it to the Glendale Chamber of Commerce to meet and greet just a few days before Christmas. Some 50 members and guests met Wednesday at Panera Restaurant in Glendale. Business cards and season’s greetings were exchanged in abundance.

Chamber membership Development Chairman John Hande handled emcee duties while Chamber Executive Vice President Judee Kendall presided with aplomb. New member and attorney Azad “AJ” Jingozian is learning the ropes fast. He’s already networking with potential clients from chamber ranks.

In fact, when Kendall took the mike she announced that the chamber looks no further than its own membership to supply services and goods to each other. One member who’s known for getting business and supporting other chamber businesses through his Halo Branded Services is Stephen Ropfogel. Bill Geist, of Event Power Associates, provides assistance for chamber events. Massage Envy’s Helen McDonagh regularly donates to Glendale charities through her company’s services. This holiday season, McDonagh is donating 20% of every $100 spent in gift cards to the charity of the customer’s choice.

Local restaurants are also well-supported through chamber events. The next mixer will be held at Carousel Restaurant on Jan. 19.

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There was a first this Christmas weekend at the Alex Theatre. The Alex Film Society presented a matinee and evening performance of the first Cartoon Hall of Fame on Sunday. As part of “The Greatest Cartoons Ever,” a new print of a rare two-reel Popeye cartoon from 1936 was shown for the first time. Also included was a rare 35mm print of “Superman” from 1941. Non-Superman fans were able to enjoy Betty Boop’s “Snow White” released in 1933 by Paramount and Warner Bros.’ 1950-released “The Rabbit of Seville,” starring Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd.

“Three Little Pigs” (1933, Disney) had some mature members of the audience weeping to hear the cartoon’s signature song, “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf”—a happy memory from childhood.

Glendale cartoon fans included Sarah and John Sumner, daughter Gunnar, 2, and son Kaden, 4 months old. Another family from Glendale was represented by dad Daniel Kupresan and daughters Sydney, 10, and Jordan, 10.

Next for the Film Society is “The Goonies” on Feb. 5.

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Newlyweds Aubrey and Bryce Sheffield were welcomed at the Glendale home of the groom’s parents Linda and Matthew Sheffield by family, friends and neighbors. On Dec. 20, the couple enjoyed being the center of attention.

The first of the new year will find them hard at their studies at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.