Group to honor community servants

Karen S. Kim

GLENDALE -- Councilman Gus Gomez and Glendale Unified School District

Assistant Supt. Alice Petrossian will receive awards Thursday for

community service, courtesy of the Armenian National Committee’s Glendale

chapter.

“We wanted to present one award to an Armenian-American woman that

really gave her service and efforts to helping education within the

Glendale Unified School District, and to Gus Gomez for his stance on

issues of the Armenian-American community, especially during his tenure

as mayor,” said Artin Manoukian, chairman of the Glendale chapter.

Gomez endured a barrage of criticism while he served as mayor after

ordering that the American flag be lowered to half-staff in April 2001 in

recognition of the Armenian Genocide. The move sparked an effort to

recall Gomez that ultimately fizzled.

But Manoukian said the decision to honor Gomez included more than the

former mayor’s decision to lower the flag.

“He’s a good servant to the community, not only to the

Armenian-American community, but to the whole city of Glendale,”

Manoukian said.

The organization will also honor youth activist Elen Asatryan with the

“Hai Tahd Youth Award” on Thursday for her contributions to Glendale’s

Armenian community. Asatryan, who will head to UCLA in the fall, has

volunteered much of her time to local community activities and election

campaigns, Manoukian said.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: ANC Glendale banquet

WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday

WHERE: Chattanooga Banquet Hall, 811 E. Colorado St.

INFO: Tickets and further information, call 243-3444.