Mixing fun with fundraising for students
Members of the Glendale Latino Assn. surprised their guests at a mixer on Wednesday at Massage Envy Spa by announcing the honorees of their upcoming Community Awards Luncheon.
“Woman of the Year” will be Susan Hunt, Glendale Educational Foundation executive; “Man of the Year”— Al Garcilazo, Glendale Adventist Medical Center chaplain; and “Business of the Year”— Massage Envy Spa owned by Helen McDonagh.
McDonagh, who is also the president of the Glendale Downtown Merchants’ Assn., basked in the glow of her honor and touted the importance of mixers to the association.
“These mixers are an investment in your business,” said McDonagh, who also stressed the importance of the mixer’s Brand Boulevard location that can be easily seen by passing drivers.
Playing hostesses at the reservation desk were association President Amy Navarette, Immediate Past President Mercy Velazquez and Secretary Nancy Guillen. Another past president, Martha Rivera, was enjoying a five-minute shoulder massage, courtesy of massage therapist Elliot Book. Caterer Michael Lingan from Dock Side Grill in West Covina laid out a beauteous buffet of finger food. Lingan also runs the food concession at the Alex Theatre.
The mixer’s $10 admission fee goes directly to the association’s GLA’s scholarship fund. The group raised $18,000 last year and gave scholarships to 24 Glendale students, several of which will be present at the association’s Community Awards Luncheon on Feb. 24.
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For 64 years, members of the Patrons Club of Glendale Community College have been raising money for student scholarships. The club has just concluded its “banner year,” according to Supt./President Dawn Lindsay, having raised $24,000.
That accomplishment was celebrated as was the installation of officers at Burbank’s Castaway Restaurant on Jan. 20. The ever-genial Dean of Student Affairs Paul Schlossman installed club officers. Schlossman is a triple threat. He holds down a demanding job at the college, is the Patrons advisor/installing officer and last November was one of the handsome “hunks” in tuxedo at the annual Patrons Club fashion show.
Some 60 patrons and guests watched the fast-paced installation of this year’s officers. The new board consists of President Betty Musacco and Recording Secretary Pat Beggs, both of whom were unable to attend the ceremony. Other officers are First Vice President Carolyn Payne, Second Vice President Marianne Jennings, Co-Third Vice Presidents Geri Costello and Shirley Wright, Treasurer Judy Gorham and Corresponding Secretary Margaret Hammond.
Besides Lindsay, college VIPs present included Supt./President emeritus John Davitt and wife Gael, Executive Vice President of Administrative Services Ron Nakasone, Vice President of Instruction Mary Mirch, Vice President of Student Services Rick Perez and Human Resources Associate Vice President Vicki Nicholson.
Overheard at the VIP table is that there’s a new Garfield campus student taking computer classes — 87-year-old Jim Sweeney, Lindsay’s father. Sweeney has also just moved into Glendale’s Scholl Canyon Estates. He made the permanent move from Maryland with a little help from daughter Dawn.
A table full of La Crescenta Woman’s Club members included Jennings, Donna Dieny, Ellie Pipes and Tamara Hughes. The club just began its centennial year and is planning a slew of birthday party activities.
After a lunch featuring Chinese chicken salad or salmon options, several had to head back to the college and continue working — all for the good of students, of course.
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The Sons of Norway, Edvard Grieg Lodge #74, has a new home. La Crescenta’s Lutheran Church of the Foothills was the new setting for the group’s monthly, cultural presentation and potluck dinner on Jan. 22. The theme was Norwegian Heritage Night and featured a large heritage map of Norway.
Many of the 35 members and their guests gathered around the map, pointing out the homelands of their ancestors. Longtime member Jo Ness found Nord Fjord, her father’s birthplace. Ness discussed her Norwegian roots, as did anyone else who wanted to take their turn in front of the microphone.
Glendale residents on hand included Dorothy Bakken, Shelly Baum, Tina Hartney, Cara Clove, Patricia Hamilton with mother Sally Hamilton. Mom Hamilton’s father was from Ovre Maudal in Gjesdal County, Norway.
Burbank residents included Eileen and Herbert Wirtz.
The evening ended with a potluck dinner full of Norwegian nibbles. A crowd-pleaser was Ness’s Heart-shaped waffles with lingonberry jam.
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Glendale resident Kristine Gunnell is looking forward to the birth of a Valentine’s Day baby girl. Her Glendale BFFs threw her a baby shower on Jan. 22, with plenty of time to spare.
Longtime community volunteer Judy Ritchie provided the home. Jezabel Weeks and 19-year-old daughter Kathleen Weeks provided the centerpiece full of rolled diapers; Jerry Shanklin provided the dips; and Anna Jump, with a little help from Ritchie, contributed toward the buffet of tea sandwiches, fruit, punch and cake. The guests, of course, offered gifts of the latest in baby clothes, baby-ware, baby equipment and lots of love.