Assisteens wrap gifts for needy
On Sunday afternoon when many teenagers were hanging out at the mall, about 40 Assisteens from the Glendale Assistance League spent their time wrapping gifts for Glendale families in need at the league chapter house. The gifts, mostly clothing and toys, were decorated with layers of colorful wrapping paper, buttons and bows.
League mom Jo Ann Kenney helped the girls shop, league “Adopt a Family” Coordinator Diane Davies supervised her charges doing the wrapping and league Assisteens Co-coordinator Andrea Farestveit made sure the whole operation ran smoothly. Daughters Paige and Christina, wrappers extraordinaire, didn’t look as if they needed any help at all.
Three more Assisteens eschewing the mall were Sarah Magee, Lindsey Erstad and Samantha Lizer. They have been showing up for wrapping duty for four years.
“This is a great way to give back,” said Lizer.
All gifts were purchased with funds raised by the girls from various events, including the annual spring fashion show.
A couple of hours into the event, the cops showed up. They were there to collect the wrapped gifts from the wish lists of seven needy families chosen by the Glendale Police Department’s STAR program for at-risk youth. STAR Program Coordinator Maria Perez spelled out the acronym as Students Training as Role Models. Seventeen teenagers, 15 years old and above, are enrolled in STAR. Several of them will have a welcome surprise under the tree on Christmas.
+++
Glendale Beautiful’s members did themselves proud at the Holiday Luncheon on Dec. 7. A festively decorated Joe Bridges Clubhouse was filled with some 50 members and guests, all in a holiday mood and looking forward to their speaker—holiday ornament collector Barbara Canady.
Beautiful’s President Doyle Kutch welcomed his audience with holiday wishes. Member Lynda Burns offered an inspirational poem, “Sacred is the Morning.” Bill McKinley led the flag salute. McKinley is the manager of Section 1, Glendale Parks.
After a lunch catered by San Marino Catering, Canady spoke on collecting Christmas tree ornaments during her 35 years running the library at Glendale High School before she retired. At the luncheon, she displayed many of the ornaments that she used to decorate the school library every December. Her audience especially appreciated the history of her delicate German and Polish ornaments adorning a small tree.
Glendale residents were aplenty. Among them were Jim Reichgelt, chairman of the Committee for a Clean & Beautiful Glendale. Also present was Joyce Ayvazi, immediate past president of the same organization. She was accompanied by her ever lovin’ Joe. Another VIP was Doris Twedt, chairwoman of the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast Committee. Glendale Community College was well-represented by Patti Mack. Also enjoying the festivities were 104-year-old Gertrude Ness and daughter Jo Ness.
Glendale Beautiful members are looking forward to their Jan. 5 event recognizing the firefighters who keep our trees safe in Glendale.
+++
Project Renewment represents the first wave of retiring women from 1960s women’s libbers who worked outside the home at professional careers. Eight of them from the local chapter gathered Sunday for a potluck holiday brunch and Secret Santa gift exchange in the La Crescenta home of Margo Nenzell. Group facilitator and La Crescenta resident Eleanor Spaziano welcomed members, all dressed in their holiday best. They were Barbara Lester, Marnell Land, Molly Kennington, Phyllis Pahoundis and Sonia Thomas.
Project Renewment’s merry band of vital retirees meets on the third Thursday of each month.