On the Town: Latino group honors community leaders

Members of the Glendale Latino Assn. make any event a party. The tone of their annual Community Awards Luncheon was fun with just the right amount of earnestness. On Thursday more than 200 members and guests gathered at the Oakmont Country Club to honor community leaders.

Glendale Mayor Frank Quintero offered greetings from the city. Quintero is the founder and past president of the Glendale Latino Assn. His remarks were followed by the introduction of VIP’s by Past President Mercy Velazquez. All members of the Glendale Unified school board were out in force — Mary Boger, Greg Krikorian, Nayiri Nahabedian, Joylene Wagner and Christine Walter. Representing the Glendale Community College Board of Trustees was Anita Quinonez-Gabrielian, also a member of the association.

Now it was time for business. The 2013 association officers were installed by the Hon. Gus Gomez of the Los Angeles Superior Court Judge. Missing due to illness was new association president Nancy Guillen.

The heart of the program was the recognition of the 2013 honorees. Woman of the Year Robin Goldsworthy was presented with a crystal plaque by last year’s Woman of the Year, Denise Miller. Goldsworthy is the owner and publisher of the Crescenta Valley Weekly.

Man of the Year Glendale Police Chief Ron De Pompa was given his crystal plaque by the 2012 Man of the Year Glendale Community College Police Chief Gary Montecuollo. As a Gold Sponsor for today’s luncheon, Chief Montecuollo also contributed $1,000 toward association student scholarships.

Applauding the loudest for De Pompa was mother Rosemary De Pompa. As mother of six, mom said the kids gave her plenty of gray hairs. But this afternoon the gray hairs were all on Chief Ron’s head. “I’m seven years past retirement,” he said. “I’ll retire when I’ve had three bad days in a row. Thanks to a good team I haven’t had three bad days in a row.”

Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center was named 2013 Business of the Year. Glendale Memorial is a 334-bed acute care hospital, serving the community for 85 years plus.

Members of the Glendale Latino Assn. have awarded more than $17,500 in scholarships to students in the Glendale Unified School District and Glendale Community College. Applications for the 2013 scholarship awards are due March 15.

For a good time, call Denise Miller. As Chairwoman of the Glendale Commission on the Status of Women, Miller was responsible for the Commission’s allocation of $1,600 in tickets to woman military vets for the rollicking “Menopause, the Musical” at the Alex Theatre. On Feb. 27, the last night of production (out of two evening performances), just about every seat was filled with community supporters, Glendale YWCA board members and members of the Commission.

The Glendale YWCA provided a three-day program of workshops run by the Sunergos Co. Twenty-seven female military veterans participated in the program focusing on their transition back into their communities. Sponsors from the Glendale community helped fund the program.

But for tonight, the vets’ orders were to have fun. And fun they had as members of the audience joined the cast onstage to kick up their heels in a conga line. Commission member Paula Devine was right there in the middle. “Tonight is an affirmation to women that we are not alone in the menopause conundrum,” said Devine.

According to YWCA’s Senior Director of Community Services Lisa Raggio, the workshop program was suggested to her by Lindsey Sin, Deputy Secretary of Woman Veterans’ Affairs. Raggio helped put the icing on the cake in providing, with the help of the Commission, the evening’s “gift of fun and laughter.”

Two vets taking advantage of the program and musical were Lt. Col. G. Patricia Jackson-Kelly. Currently, Jackson-Kelly is the coordinator of the American Legion’s Women Veterans Outreach in Los Angeles. She was joined by Karen Weaver, Job Developer with the U.S. Army Veterans Initiative in Long Beach.

For one night only, all hot flashes were left on stage.

RUTH SOWBY may be reached at ruthasowby@gmail.com.