Season of Parties … and Passings

Like many people, Steve and I have been invited to several holiday parties … and we’ve attended as many as possible! I’ve pulled out my holiday garb -green sweaters, red sweaters and those with holiday glitter. Glendale Arts, the CV Sheriff’s Station, Montrose Search & Rescue, the Crescenta Valley Meyer & Satig Der Ohanessian Youth Center holiday open house, the Salvation Army, Glendale Kiwanis Gala … we’ve been blessed to be invited to these events – and more! We’ve had the chance to see people we only see once or twice a year when we always promise to get together more often.

And let’s not forget the Montrose Christmas Parade – what a fun night! I’m so glad that CV Weekly was able to make our way down Honolulu Avenue.

This year I’ve had to curtail attendance to some of these events due to knee surgery that I had on Tuesday this week. In fact, as I write this from home on Wednesday I am rotating ice packs every 20 minutes. The surgery was nothing major – repair of a torn meniscus – but I couldn’t go to some of the parties I was hoping to attend.

Unfortunately, in addition to parties the season typically ushers in the passing of loved ones. On page 3 of this week’s issue, you can read a story written by Mary O’Keefe about the passing of a local treasure – Jean Maluccio. As I’ve written before, Jean was a dynamic engine who worked behind the scenes to ensure the success of many local events. She truly helped make the Crescenta Valley the ideal place it is to live.

A loss that our family suffered occurred on Thursday night. My mother-in-law Saralyn died with her family surrounding her in a hospital room in Los Angeles. She was 89 and not in the best of health. While I know that her death was, in many ways, a blessing – she no longer had to fight a body that didn’t want to cooperate – her absence will be felt throughout the Goldsworthy (and extended) family. Her children are working with the mortuary to make final arrangements and her obituary will be published in next week’s paper and will include service details.

While it is a season of celebration – Christmas and Hanukkah are fast approaching – for some it is also a season of loss. To those who are coping with  the sadder aspects of November and December, I wish you strength.

And to everyone I wish a healthy and happy holiday season.

Robin Goldsworthy is the publisher of the Crescenta Valley Weekly.
She can be reached at robin@cvweekly.com or
by calling (818) 248-2740.