GLENDALE KIWANIS

The Kiwanis Club of Glendale next meets on Jan. 13. The speaker will be Andre Manukyan from Student Affairs at Glendale Community College.

Meetings are held on Friday at noon. The cost to attend, which includes lunch and program, is $20.

The Club meets Friday afternoons at the Elks Lodge, 120 E. Colorado St. in Glendale.

MEETING NEWS FROM AAUW

The Glendale Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) will meet for its Founders’ Day luncheon on Saturday, Jan. 14 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Oakmont Country Club, 3100 Country Club Drive, Glendale. To make a reservation, email Marilyn_Robinson@hotmail.com. The cost is $40, payable at the door by cash or check.

Speakers will be Sharon Siebert and Carol Holzgarfe of the Branch Support Group of AAUW California. Florence Chase will share the history of the branch’s first 75 years.

AAUW’s mission is to advance equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research. For information about membership, activities, and meetings, visit https://glendale-ca.aauw.net/.

INTRODUCTION TO REIKI WORKSHOP

The healing qualities of reiki will be presented by Mary Madill, reiki instructor, on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 2 p.m. 2 p.m. at UU Church of the Verdugo Hills, 4451 Dunsmore Ave. in La Crescenta.

Donations accepted.

RSVP to Meladillyut@gmail.com.

LOCAL AUTHORS HOLDING BOOK READING

Devon Nunnally and Biaina Alexanian, authors of the children’s book “There’s a Spider in my Bed,” will be having a book reading on Jan. 14 at 11 a.m. at Barnes & Noble in The Grove, 189 The Grove Drive in Los Angeles. The reading is free to attend.

For more information, email Twoauthors@simplypenned.com.

SMALL BUSINESS CRAFT FAIR

Mt. Olive Lutheran Church is hosting a family event and craft boutique on Saturday, Jan. 14 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Twenty vendors will be on-site selling unique and amazing gifts ranging from jewelry, books, clothing and more. There will also be yummy kettle corn and delicious Guatemalan food!

Mt. Olive Lutheran Church is located at 3561 Foothill Blvd. in La Crescenta.

FOUNDING FLINTRIDGE

“Founding Flintridge” on Jan. 14 tells the story of how California Senator Frank Flint established one of the local communities over 100 years ago. This entertaining and fact-filled film tells of the challenges Flint faced in developing the community named after him that was originally intended to be a suburb of Pasadena.

The speaker for this program John Newcombe, an independent filmmaker who holds a BA and MA in theatre and has been writing screenplays for over 20 years. In recent years, he has made a number of award-winning documentaries. He also makes promotional films and biographies.

This event is free and open to the public and everyone is welcome. It takes place at 1 p.m. at Bolton Hall Museum, Home of Little Landers Historical Society, 10110 Commerce Ave. in Tujunga.

Additional information is available by calling the Little Landers Historical Society, (818) 352-3420, visiting BoltonHall.org or by emailing llhs@boltonhall.org.

CRESCENTA VALLEY SIERRA CLUB PROGRAM

The California Senate recently mandated that residents recycle and redirect organic waste such as food scraps back into compost in an effort to reduce climate pollutants such as methane. Monica Campagna of the Glendale Environmental Coalition will talk about how she, as a Glendale resident, is dealing with this challenge. A committed environmentalist, she will also speak about other campaigns that she and the Coalition have been involved with such as clean energy and reducing plastics as well as greening and cooling the schools and playgrounds. The program is on Feb. 15; 7 p.m. is social, 7:30 p.m. is program. Meet in person or via Zoom in the meeting room of the La Crescenta Library, 2809 Foothill Blvd, La Crescenta. Park in the lot behind the library or on the street. Enter through the rear.

MEETING NEWS OF THE BURBANK AFRICAN VIOLET SOCIETY

The Burbank African Violet Society will be having its next club meeting on Thursday morning, Jan. 19 at 10 a.m. at The Little White Chapel Christian Church, 1711 N. Avon St. in Burbank. 

The program will be the installation of officers: Chris Hedberg, president; Luis Pineda, vice president; Pat Steen, secretary; and Connie Weir, treasurer. There will also be a learning lab and discussion on pH balance with members and guests bringing samples of their water to the meeting for testing. Questions and answers will follow. 

There are raffle and silent auction tables and refreshments are served and friendships are made. Guests are always welcome to attend the meetings. 

For more information, reference the website: www.Urbankafricanviolets.weebly.com or telephone (661) 940-3990.

INFORMATIONAL MEETING PLANNED FOR MODERN DEBUTANTE PROGRAM

Mothers (or fathers) of current high school sophomore girls who might be interested in the Les Fleurettes Debutante Program are invited to attend an informational meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the Thursday Club at 4440 Woodleigh Lane. Club leaders will explain the requirements for Club membership and Program participation.

The 16-month Program begins in the girls’ junior year of high school and continues through December of their senior year. Each participant must complete 10 hours each of community service, charitable activities, and cultural events. Personal development instruction is given at monthly group meetings and includes lessons in managing personal finances, nutrition (eating healthy in a college environment), public speaking, personal safety, stress management, personal correspondence, and much more!

The Program culminates with a beautiful, black-tie Ball held in late December where the program participants are presented as adults.

For more information, email Alison McQuay at alisonmcquay@gmail.com.

BOB MINTZER PERFORMING AT CALTECH

The Caltech Jazz Band, under the direction of Barb Catlin, presents the annual jazz guest artist concert featuring Grammy Award winning saxophonist and composer Bob Mintzer on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 8 p.m. in Beckman Auditorium. Tickets are $5 for students, seniors and faculty, $10 for general admission and can be purchased by calling the Caltech ticket office at (626) 395-4652. Parking is free.

Mintzer is an internationally celebrated jazz musician and the recipient of the Bowen H. Buzz and Barbara M. McCoy Endowed Chair in Jazz Studies program at USC Thornton School of Music. His longstanding membership in the fusion super group The Yellowjackets has earned him many Grammy Awards. Mintzer recently became the chief conductor of the WDR Big Band in Cologne, Germany and has written works for the National Symphony Orchestra and the Metropole Orchestra of the Netherlands, among others. As an instrumentalist/composer, Mintzer has worked with Art Blakey, Jaco Pastorius, Buddy Rich, Tito Puente, Randy Brecker, the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Big Band, The New York Philharmonic, Donald Fagen, James Taylor and countless others.

The concert is on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 8 p.m. in Caltech’s Beckman Auditorium.

BSA HOLDING RECOGNITION DINNER

The Verdugo Hills Council of Boy Scouts of America is holding its recognition dinner on Thursday, Feb. 2 at the Homenetmen Glendale Ararat Chapter Hall, 3347 N. San Fernando Road, Los Angeles at 6 pm. Many volunteers, community partners and organizations will be recognized. Among them is Steve Pierce who is receiving the North Star Award. It is the high-level award presented by councils on the behalf of the National Court of Honor for non-registered volunteers who have made a significant contribution to Scouting. Also being recognized is Carl Povilaitis. He will be presented with the William H. Spurgeon III Award, the highest recognition for individuals and organizations contributing significant leadership to the Exploring Program.  

To learn more, including purchasing a ticket ($65 per person), visit www vhcbsa.org/recognitionevent23.

MONA ANNOUNCES DISPLAY

The Museum of Neon Art display of “Leticia Maldonado: The Storytellers” continues through Feb. 11. This is the first solo museum exhibition for the artist. Maldonado challenges the conventions of sculpture as well as the constraints of the medium of neon through her multimedia works. In this exhibition, life-size sculptural forms made out of neon, Plexiglass, found objects and vintage technology speak to narratives that bind memory, intimacy and history.

The museum is located at 216 S. Brand Blvd. in Glendale. It is closed Monday and Tuesday; open Wednesday – Saturday from 10:45 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. and on Sunday from 10:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.

BINGO NIGHT PLANNED

On Saturday, Feb. 25 the Community Scholarship Foundation of La Cañada Flintridge (CSF) will host a community bingo night. The benefits will support the needs-based scholarships given annually to seniors attending high schools in La Cañada Flintridge and Crescenta Valley High School. In the past 59 years the organization has awarded over $1 million in scholarships.

Doors open and food available at 5 p.m.; bingo starts at 6 p.m. at Community Center of La Cañada, 4469 Chevy Chase Drive, La Cañada Flintridge. The cost is $50 per person and includes 10 bingo games and three Shamrock games; cash prizes ranging from $100 – $300 per game; hamburgers, all the fixins’, chips, beverages and dessert. Bring cash for extras (one dollar bills preferred) including 50/50 opportunities.

To purchase tickets, visit https://www.csflacanada.org/donate.

VHHS PLANS REUNION

“Team 74” is planning a 50th high school reunion in 2024. Friends and graduates of Verdugo Hills High School are invited to attend to trade stories of family, careers, adventures and anything else.

Currently Team 74 is in the planning phase of collecting names and numbers of classmates and putting together a database; emails from classmates can be received at clsof74reunion@yahoo.com. Information should include a mailing address, cell number and graduate’s name at graduation (if different than now).

A list of frequently asked questions will be provided to keep everyone updated as the reunion plans move forward. Those who belong to various VHHS groups will see redundant information to ensure all classmates are notified and have an opportunity to attend.

At this time the FB VHHS groups will be the reunion information outlet until a more focused site is created.