On the Town: Off to the races for La Crescenta Woman’s club, Tasting Bee
The La Crescenta Woman’s Club ladies donned their chapeaux for their second annual Night at the Races.
On Saturday President Carol Huntwork welcomed her 60-plus members and guests to the “racetrack” at the clubhouse. But before bets were placed with $1 poker chips, dinner of pulled chicken, coleslaw and dessert came first. An adult beverage or two kept spirits high.
Jill of all trades and member-auctioneer Dea McCrory got the action going by auctioning off the small wooden horses on loan from the Elks Club. Horse number three went to Huntwork for $70. If her horse won, she would split the pot with the club. That’s how the club made money from the evening.
Resplendent in the Red Hat Ladies’ purple and red, La Crescenta residents Nita Pearson and Lynne Roberto lifted the giant, plush dice for a quick photo. Barbara Hunt from San Gabriel brought up the rear.
Winning chips were turned into tickets that could be dropped into the sack representing goodies of the winner’s choice. Turf Club gift certificates were favorites. Since gambling is not allowed in a non-gambling venue, club ladies kept everything on the up and up.
Event chairwoman Deanna Alfeld from Santa Clarita was race-caller extraordinaire. Alfeld has been a club member for 25 years and is a past president.
Several hundred dollars in proceeds from the $20 admissions and chips bought are earmarked for the club’s philanthropies.
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Almost as eagerly awaited as the Girl Scout cookie sale is the Tasting Bee put on by local Girl Scout troops. On Sunday, troops from Crescenta Valley/Glendale Service Units brought Crock-Pots and warmers to Glendale’s Pacific Community Center. They filled them with food from many countries.
The Italian Booth was the go-to booth. Parmesan tortellini was served in small cups by mustachioed girl chefs. The lines were several people deep. Each customer held a strip of red tickets (12 tickets for $5 was the deal of the day). The tortellini took two tickets.
The Mexican booth was also buzzing. Scouts from Troop 3471 were stirring vats of horchata water. Wielding the spoons were Jinara Vasquez, 8, and Sophia Lightfoot, 7. Her mom, troop leader Linda Lightfoot, supervised.
The Tasting Bee is held in honor of World Thinking Day 2013, giving girls a chance to celebrate international friendships.
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RUTH SOWBY may be reached at ruthasowby@gmail.com.