VAN BLOEM SINGERS HOLDING AUDITIONS
Auditions are being held for the Van Bloem Singers, a volunteer singing group that has completed its 21st season having performed more than 800 shows. The group is looking for those interested in performing Broadway and contemporary music.

Being able to “sight read” is not necessary, but some performing experience is preferred. Men and women who are able to perform between noon and 3 p.m. on weekdays and on an occasional evening, Saturday or Sunday can apply. Rehearsals are Monday evenings from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Chapel of the Burbank Salvation  Army.

The Van Bloem Singers perform more than 30 shows each year for service clubs, volunteer organizations, retiree and church groups, senior residences and  health care facilities, however, singers need not make every performance.

If interested, call Elaine Paonessa, musical director, at (818) 845-6851.

Burbank Salvation Army, 300 E. Angeleno St. (corner of Angeleno and 3rd Street) in Burbank.

THE GAMBLE HOUSE OFFERS UNIQUE “UPSTAIRS-DOWNSTAIRS” TOURS
For three weeks only, the Gamble House will open the doors to its servants’ hall and rooms for the first time in its history. Visitors will be welcomed to the House from Thursday, Aug. 1 through Sunday, Aug.18 and will be able to see and experience the Gamble House from the perspective of those who lived and worked in the house. New information has recently come to light about the Gamble family and its servants, allowing The Gamble House to share more of the personal history of the House with visitors.

Advance purchase is not required but highly recommended as space is limited per tour and tours often sell out.

For more information, call (626) 793-3334, visit www.gamblehouse.org, or email Gamblehs@usc.edu.

The Gamble House, 4 Westmoreland Place, Pasadena

LEISURE CLUB PRESENTS “AN AFTERNOON OF PIPING”
The Leisure Club of La Cañada Flintridge presents “An Afternoon of Piping” with Prescindia McIntosh, an official piper for the British counsel general, on Friday, Aug. 2 at 1 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at the Lutheran Church of the Foothills. McIntosh has played for HRH Prince Andrew, Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Helen Mirren, in addition to being the official piper for several clans in Scotland and many Los Angeles-based businesses.

No reservations are necessary. Parking and refreshments are free!

Lutheran Church in the Foothills, 1700 Foothill Blvd, La Cañada Flintridge

TEXAS NOIR AUTHOR AT BOOKSTORE
George Wier will be giving a talk about Texas noir and signing his new mystery, “Long Fall from Heaven” on Saturday, Aug. 3 at 2 p.m. Is a killer born or made? The place to find out may be the seedy but exotic heart of Galveston, Tex. Cueball Boland and Micah Lanscomb, both ex-cops with troubled pasts, stumble into the path of a serial killer. The murderer leads them into the dark history of Galveston when the city was Texas’ Sin City.

Wier was a contributor to “Lone Star Noir” and has written several other mysteries. His signed trade paperback original may be ordered mail order for those who can’t make the event.

Mystery and Imagination & Bookfellows Bookshop, 238 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale

LOUIS JANE PRESENTS ‘SUMMER’S EDGE’
Louis Jane Studio presents “Summer’s Edge: Internal Explorations with the Natural World” opening on Sunday, Aug. 4 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.; exhibit is from Aug. 4-24 at Louis Jane in Pasadena. No charge to attend.

For more info, visit http://www.louisjane/events or call (626) 796-8333 or email style@louisjane.com.

Louis Jane Studio, 93 E. Union St., Pasadena

NOON CONCERTS OPEN TO PUBLIC
Glendale Noon Concerts is a free admission concert series taking place every first and third Wednesday from 12:10-12:40 p.m. in the restored chapel and sanctuary of the First Baptist Church of Glendale (downtown at Louise & Wilson, no religious affiliation).

The next concert is on Aug. 7 and features Violinist Nancy Roth who will perform works by Alfred Schnittke and William Grant Still with pianist Lorenzo Sanchez.

First Baptist Church of Glendale, 209 N. Louise St. (at Wilson)
in Glendale.

JEWEL CITY KNITTERS MEETING
JCK will hold its monthly meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 7 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Scholl Canyon Estates. Membership is free. Ongoing knit and crochet projects include lap blankets for nursing homes, chemo caps, baby things, socks, scarves and items for a Christmas fundraiser.

For more information, visit www.jewelcityknitters.com or email evelyn@evelynarts.com.

Scholl Canyon Estates, 1551 E. Chevy Chase Drive, Glendale

BOLTON HALL TO CELEBRATE 100th ANNIVERSARY OF DEDICATION
Little Landers Historical Society is holding an August celebration of the 100-year anniversary of the dedication of Bolton Hall.

In August 1913, the newly completed Little Landers Colony Clubhouse, known as Bolton Hall, was opened for community use and a dedication ceremony and grand opening party were held in honor of the event. On Aug. 10 at 4 p.m., Little Landers will rededicate Bolton Hall for community use for the next 100 years. All interested parties are invited.
This program is free and open to the public.

Additional information is available from Little Landers Historical Society, (818) 352-3420 or www.littlelandershistoricalsociety.org or email littlelanders@verizon.net.

Bolton Hall Museum, 10110 Commerce Ave., Tujunga

JEWEL CITY KNITTERS KNIT & CHAT
JCK will hold its monthly Knit & Chat on Saturday, Aug. 10 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Chevy Chase Library. Bring your knit and crochet projects and enjoy a relaxed session of needlework and conversation.

For more information, visit www.jewelcityknitters.com or email judy@judykits.com.

Chevy Chase Library, 3301 E. Chevy Chase Drive, Glendale.

DBSA OFFERS SUPPORT GROUP
Depression Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) has a support group meeting every Tuesday at Vallejo Drive Adventist Church in Glendale every Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. DBSA provides hope, help, and support through peer-based, recovery oriented empowering services, and resources when people need them and how they need to receive them.

For more information, call Wanda Sellers at (818) 352-4346, email dbsalosangelesne@yahoo.com or visit dbsalosangelesne.org.

Vallejo Drive Adventist Church, 300 Vallejo Dr., Room 106 in Glendale.

ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP OFFERED
Mountview Retirement Home sponsors a monthly free Alzheimer’s Support Group on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. The next group will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 13 at 7 p.m.

Mountview Retirement Home is located at 2640 Honolulu, Montrose and can be reached at (818) 248-6737. All are welcome.

S/T LIONS CLUB HOSTS 52ND WATERMELON FESTIVAL
The Sunland-Tujunga Lions Club will be hosting its 52nd annual Watermelon Festival Aug. 16-18 at its new location, the Pasadena Rose Bowl. The celebration features watermelon carving demonstrations, watermelon recipe contests, watermelon eating contests, seed spitting contests, and a wearable art contest, along with nightly prize drawings. The watermelon queen will be crowned along with her court.

Funds raised by the Watermelon Festival are used by the Sunland-Tujunga Lions Club to help support local youth and community activities, disaster relief, and to support health and vision conservation programs.

The festival will be held Friday, Aug. 16 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 17 and Aug. 18 from noon to 10 p.m.

Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children the day of the event. Advance sales are $8 for adults and $4 for children. Admission includes free watermelon slices and a free spin on the watermelon wheel for additional prizes and raffles tickets.

To learn more, visit www.lionswatermelonfestival.com, email stlwatermelon@gmail.com, or call (818) 353-4554.

The Rose Bowl, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena

DESI GEESTMAN FOUNDATION PRESENTS GOLF CLASSIC
The Desi Geestman Foundation presents the 30th Annual Golf Classic on Aug. 19 at the La Cañada Country Club. Lunch will be held at 11:30 a.m., with tee off at 1 p.m.

Awards and prizes will be presented immediately after the tournament.

This event is organized by the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Support Group with proceeds to benefit the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station. The golfer’s package includes green fees, cart, lunch, dinner, awards, tee prizes, and contest holes for only $200.

For more information, call Rick Dinger at (818) 248-4500.

La Cañada-Flintridge Country Club, 5500 N. Godbey Drive, La Cañada

MONTHLY POETRY READING SERIES
The Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga’s upcoming Monthly Poetry Reading Series is slated for Sunday, Aug. 24 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the McGroarty Arts Center in Tujunga. Two featured poets are Jessica Wilson and Jason Brain.

Wilson is the hostess and founder of Writers’ Row: Downtown L.A.’s Official Written Art Showcase, SoapBox Poets Open Mic, Writer Wednesdays, and the NoHo Salon. She teaches for California Poets in the Schools as a poet-teacher

Brain has been descriped as a “Los Angeles poet/spoken word artist, Jason Brain, delivers 100% inspiration, introspection, and intrepidation with his first book of poetry, “Mix Tape Collection: Original Poetry,” from Poetry In Motion Publishing House. A compilation of four Mix Tape chapbooks, the collection is an expression of maturation, love, discontent, and the divine. Jason’s unique voice speaks with age-old wisdom while embodying a modern passion rivalling his contemporaries…”

Light refreshments will be served.

For more information, visit http://www.villagepoets.blogspot.com.

McGroarty Arts Center, 7570 McGroarty Terrace, Tujunga

PASADENA HEART WALK COMING
The American Heart Association invites the community to the 2013 Pasadena Heart Walk at the Rose Bowl on Oct. 19. The annual 5K, sponsored nationally by Subway and Jenny Craig and locally by Union Bank and UCLA Health, aims to raise awareness and funds to fight heart disease and stroke while promoting healthy habits, such as walking, as a regular part of life. In addition to Pasadena, there will be Heart Walks in Antelope Valley, Pomona, Downtown L.A., Santa Clarita, Santa Monica and Long Beach. The overall goal in Greater Los Angeles is to raise $1.75 million.

There is no fee to participate. Walkers are eligible to receive a free Heart & Stroke Walk T-shirt when they raise $100 or more.

Visit www.GLACountyHeartWalk.org, email alisha.castro@heart.org or call (213) 291-7094 for more information.

Pasadena Rose Bowl, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena

TOPS OFFERS LOCAL MEETINGS
T.O.P.S. – Take Off Pounds Sensibly – is a self-accountability group meeting held every Monday. Weigh in is from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

An hour meeting follows in the education building of Center for Spiritual Living, 4845 Dunsmore (at Santa Carlotta). For more information, call and leave a message for T.O.P.S. at (818) 957-8442.

A meeting is also held in Sunland on Thursdays. Weigh-in is at 6:30 p.m.; meeting at 7 p.m. at New Hope Community Church, 10438 Oro Vista St., Sunland. Contact Jeanie Druebert at (818) 353-5015.

GLENDALE ONE TOASTMASTERS
Glendale One Toastmasters meets from 6:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays at Shakers Restaurant in Glendale. Toastmasters is a non-profit organization developing public speaking and leadership skills through practice and feedback in local clubs since 1924.

For more information, call (818) 314-4964.

Shakers Restaurant, 801 N. Central, Glendale

FREE DIABETES COMMUNITY EDUCATION CLASS
The Diabetes Care Center at Glendale Adventist Medical Center invites the community to a free diabetes community education class held every Tuesday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the hospital (Committee Room A).

Participants will learn more about living with diabetes – care and treatment, healthy eating strategies – the importance of blood glucose monitoring and AIC and tools for healthy life style to reduce the risk of complications.

For more information or to RSVP, call (818) 409-8100.

Glendale Adventist Medical Center (Committee Room A – Ground Floor), 1509 Wilson Terrace, Glendale

BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT GROUP AT Y
The Crescenta-Cañada Family YMCA, in partnership with the La Leche League, is hosting a monthly infant lactation and development support group to help support new mothers. This monthly group meets on the third Friday of each month from noon-1 p.m.  This group is free and open to the community and will answer all breastfeeding related questions that new mothers may have.

The Y is also offering a Mindful Parenting Course designed to help parents connect to their children and raise them to thrive. This course is adapted from the work of Dan Siegal, M.D and will focus on reducing daily stress while connecting with your child. The classes meet weekly on Tuesdays. The course is open to all and there is a fee to attend.

For more information, contact the Y at (818) 790-0123.

The Y is located at 1930 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada.