Salsa, scholarships go together
The Glendale Latino Assn. celebrated the academic accomplishments of Glendale high school students, accompanied by scrambled eggs and salsa at the Hilton Glendale. President Amy Navarrete welcomed her audience of some 80 supporters to the association’s annual Scholarship Awards Breakfast on Thursday. Glendale City Councilman Frank Quintero offered greetings from the city. Quintero remarked that his family was one of three families that started the association in 1992. Today, it has more than 150 active members.
Party planners extraordinaire but all business at the podium, Nararrete and Immediate Past President Mercy Velazquez awarded 24 students with $18,000 in scholarships, surpassing last year’s total by $3,000.
The grateful scholarship recipients were Francesca Valencia from Clark Magnet High School; Christina Galvan, Daniella Vargas, Vanessa Fonseca, Juliana Kim and TaniaSalmeron from Crescenta Valley High School; Gabriela Rodriguez, Cynthia Garcia, Marco Marquez, Magaly Perez and Stephanie Estrada from Glendale High School. Melissa Franco and Taleen Guzman represented Holy Family High School.
Hoover High School presented the largest contingent of scholarship award winners with Nicole Martinez, Jose Ruiz, Claudia Carrillo, Jordan Montejano, Analilia Rodriguez, Timothy Vallejo, Jaqueline, Jessica Ruvalcaba, Sara Ortiz-Cubras, John Rivera and Katherine Brauwer.
VIPs at the breakfast included Glendale Unified School District Supt. Michael Escalante, incoming Supt. Richard Sheehan, Glendale Community College Supt. Dawn Lindsay, school board President Greg Krikorian and school board member Joylene Wagner. The association’s “Man of the Year,” Damon’s Steakhouse owner Patrick Campbell, also put in a welcome appearance.
Elissa Glickman, representing Glendale Arts, presented an art scholarship to budding photographer Christina Galvan. Galvan, a student at Crescenta Valley High School, has a grade-point average of 3.69.
The Glendale Latino Assn. brings together businesses and professionals and promotes activities that improve education.
Proceeds from events and mixers benefit the association’s Annual Scholarship Fund.
The girls from the new film “Sex and the City 2” had nothing on the girls attending “Girls Night Out” at the Americana at Brand on Thursday. The agenda included watching the film, exclusive shopping offers, an ‘80s dance party with DJ Richard Blade, a live performance by ‘80s cover band Neurotic City and cocktail specials at Americana restaurants.
Sisters and Glendale residents Fleur Sirakian and Loreta Sirakian were among the first to check in. Found sipping wine and checking out the handbags at Kate Spade were La Crescenta gal pals Lorena Cardenas, Genae Compagna, Liz Alfonso and Carmen del Castillo. While the hubbies watched the kids, the girls partied with souvenir martini glasses and Americana coupons.
It was standing room only at Crumb. The cupcake boutique was already sold out of the popular vanilla cupcakes topped by coconut slivers. Red velvet cupcakes would just have to do. Milk and coffee flowed to accompany the confections.
Vera Bradley was also a favorite spot as shoppers swarmed the 25% off rack of microfiber purses.
Even the younger girls got into the act. Twelve-year-old Cassie Squires was spotted on the Green, walking Xyrus, an 11-week-old male pug. Also putting the puppy through its paces was Squires’ friend and Xyrus’ owner Charlene Invencion.
The vote was unanimous — “Girls Night Out” was the place to be.
Silver Lake residents Roberta Cysne Sowby and Anson Sowby, formerly of Glendale, celebrated a Memorial Day weekend birthday on Sunday (May 30) at En Sushi. Roberta blew out the candle on her tiramisu birthday cake with a little help from husband Anson.