ON THE TOWN:
The La Crescenta Woman’s Club annual fashion show fundraiser is the best bargain in town. This year’s event, held on Saturday with the theme “Passport to Fashion,” was no exception.
For a $25 luncheon ticket, members and guests were treated to their own mini “cruise” from the comfort of their own La Crescenta Clubhouse. Fashion Show Chairwoman Jackie Palmer dreamed up the nautical theme after her 24 years costuming shows on cruise ships, notably Cuinard’s Queen Elizabeth 2.
Sally Benson, decorations chairwoman, carried out Palmer’s theme by transforming the clubhouse stage into the deck of the “cruise ship S.S. La Crescenta.” On “shore,” were piles of luggage donated by members. On the “gang plank” were colorful live auction baskets of goodies and get-away packages. Volunteer auctioneer Dea McCrory deftly fielded the live bids. A silent auction, door prizes and opportunity drawings, all of which represented some 150 items, preceded lunch catered by the La Crescenta Woman’s Club Juniors and served by the Crescenta Valley High School Key Club.
If that wasn’t enough for your $25 meal ticket, a fashion show with fashions from Draper’s & Damon’s was presented with store representative Carolyn Robinson as commentator. Woman’s Club member models with moxie were Becki Jones, Tamara Hughes, Carol Jones, Berta van der Geuten, Barbara Edwards, Marilyn Wright, Dawna Berger and Julia Lendt.
The more than 100 La Crescenta Woman’s Club members present included President Rita Evan, Membership chairwoman Carol Benedetti, Historian Ellie Pipes, members Sharon Benoit and Carol Huntwork and prospective member Jan Behrans. Husband helpers included “wine stewards” Jeff Palmer and Frank Virgallito and model escort Dick Huntwork.
Three members of the La Crescenta Valley Town Council who didn’t want to miss their “cruise” were Krista Smiley, Grace Andrus and Danette Erickson. At the end of the busy afternoon, happy auction winners were ready to tote home their booty. Carol Huntwork shared the Little Black Dress Wine Basket with guest Pat Junker. For a mere $140, Karen Bynum treated herself and mom Sally Benson to two VIP tickets to the “Ellen DeGeneres Show.” A portion of the proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society and the Glendale YWCA Domestic Violence Program. Last year’s fashion show raised $8,000.
The Orchid Society of Southern California had its annual orchid sale and auction in Burbank on Saturday. More than 75 orchid lovers from Glendale, Burbank and the surrounding communities were at the First Christian Church to buy some 200 orchids. Glendale resident and Orchid Society board member Harry Atighi planned to bid on the Solana but someone else was a little faster with their bid.
Glendale resident and one of the afternoon’s auctioneers was Doug Overstreet who is an American Orchid Society judge and assistant editor of Orchid Digest. Orchid Society President Krystine Chaparro oversaw the three-hour auction. The society is expected to earn about $4,000 to help support the monthly speakers, plant tables, picnics and bus trips. The society meets the second Monday night each month at the First Christian Church in Burbank.
Several enterprising Brownies of Troop 1226 set up shop on Saturday including Karina Guzman, Lauren Mendoza, Katie Bolin, Arielle Guzman and Brianna Bolin.
Although Lauren dressed just like a brown “Thin Mint,” there were none to be had. Thin mints sell out quickly. Get them while you still can.
“Fiddler on the Roof” ended its run at Glendale Community College on Sunday. The leads were played by Kevin Blackley of La Crescents as Tevya, Beatrice Casini of Glendale as his patient wife, Golde, and Glendale Community College Theater Arts major Mary Claire Garcia as their eldest daughter, Tzeitel.
“Starring” in the audience were college Superintendent/President Audrey Levy, retired Superintendent/President John Davitt, his wife, Gael, and good friend and college donor Wanda Bistagne.
RUTH SOWBY may be reached at ruthsowby@msn.com.