The Valley Line: Descanso Gardens hosting summer music events; Hathaway-Sycamores supporters get sweet

Our nation turned another year older this past weekend. If you gauge how many years old we are from when the colonials stated their Declaration of Independence from Britain in 1776, then we are 239 years old.

According to a quick search on the Internet it was actually July 2, 1776 when Congress secretly voted for independence but the document was not published until two days later on July 4. The first public reading of the Declaration of Independence was on July 8, 1776. Yet the colonial delegates didn’t begin to sign the declaration until Aug. 2, 1776.

The first description of how Independence Day would be celebrated was in a letter from John Adams to his wife Abigail on July 3, 1776 where he described the celebration as being “pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations” throughout the United States.

Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, both signers of the Declaration, died on July 4, 1826 within hours of each other, 50 years after the historic document was published.

Hope you enjoyed your celebrations on the Fourth; I certainly did here in La Cañada, with good friends of many years.

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Nearly 80 people gathered on a lovely summer eve in the rose garden at Descanso Gardens to enjoy refreshments, gypsy-infused jazz and good companionship at a party to talk about the several music events at the Gardens this season.

Patina Restaurant Group prepared tasty tidbits to sample and mint juleps to sip while folks watched the dusk fall over the landscape.

The “New West Guitar Group” performed the music and it was a lovely addition to the evening.

Among some of the local residents attending the party were Gene and Mindy Stein, Hope Tschopik Schneider, Katie Poole, Rich Atwater, Margaret Checca, Georgianna Erskine, Leslie Zasa, Joani Bartoli-Porto and Carmen Porto, Gene Wilcott and Gracella Gibbs, Sue Beatty and Laura Olhasso.

David Brown, executive officer for Descanso and Juliann Rooke, the chief operation officer, were on hand to greet guests.

The Descanso summer music is in full swing and is being attended by hundreds of folks who bring their chairs, picnic dinners and good spirits to hear various musical artists on the main lawn. “Music on the Main Jazz” series is on Thursday nights and the World Rhythms Global music is on Tuesday nights. The festivities begin at 6 p.m. and last until about 7:30 p.m.

I especially love the jazz series and usually make sure that nothing will interfere with this event. It is a great place to catch up on community news because you see all your neighbors!

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Hathaway-Sycamores supporters gathered at Sugarfina in Pasadena for sweets and sips in support of Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services.

The evening of candy and wine tasting (wine provided courtesy of Ventana Vineyards) raised funds for crucial program services provided by the Pasadena-based mental health and welfare agency.

The guests were loving this beautiful high-style candy boutique with pretty bento boxes filled with candies that perhaps you have never thought of before, like honey-infused heart-shaped jelly beans, chili-laced truffles, Guinness-infused marshmallows, or champagne-flavored gummy bears and oh so much more.

“We are so very pleased to be able to partner with local businesses like Sugarfina and Ventana Vineyards, not only in the raising of funds, but in raising awareness of the critical mission of Hathaway-Sycamores,” said Debbie Manners, chief executive of the agency. There to greet guests too was Rob Myers, executive vice president of development and Tina Ohanessian, manager of the store.

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JANE NAPIER NEELY covers the La Cañada Flintridge social scene. Email her at jnvalleysun@yahoo.com with news of your special event.