CASINO NIGHT KICKS OFF FIESTA DAYS

The La Cañada Flintridge Community Center’s annual Casino Night will again be the kick-off event for La Cañada Fiesta Days activities. Scheduled for Friday evening, May 23 at 6:30 p.m., the event will bring together more than 200 for a fun evening of Black Jack, Craps, Roulette, and a Texas Hold ’Em poker tournament. Guests will also have the opportunity to bid on prizes in both the silent auction and prize raffles.

Two tickets for the Kiwanis’ annual Gourmet Food & Wine Festival along with in-home wine tastings will be auctioned off.

Last year’s event sold out. Ticket information is at www.cclcf.org.

LCF TOURNAMENT OF ROSES ASSOC. OPEN HOUSE

The La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Assoc. is hosting an open house as part of the Fiesta Days celebration on Saturday, May 24 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The open house will give the community an opportunity to visit the construction site at 4524 Hampton Road in LCF. On display will be the chassis and the undersides of the float where the hydraulic lines and the mechanisms are for the moving parts on the float.

The float is bare bones, as last year’s dogs and dogcatcher have been removed.

Visitors will get a look at the line drawing of the 2015 float “To the Rescue” that features an undersea scene with a big shark and other sea creatures. Examples of dry floral coverings will be on display along with numerous color reference charts that are used in the selection of floral and dry materials.

Souvenir items will be available for sale at the popular Floatique. All are welcome.

NATIVE AMERICAN HEALING AND THE PLANTS OF THE ROSEMONT PRESERVE

Discover nature’s medicine cabinet right in our own backyard and enjoy a leisurely morning stroll at the Rosemont Preserve. Join us on Saturday, May 24 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. for a program on using Native American healing in daily life. Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences at USC, Dr. James Adams has studied healing with the Chumash Indians, and is an expert on herbal remedies, antioxidants and human drug metabolism. He is the co-author of “Healing with Medicinal Plants of the West.”

The Preserve is located at the north end of Rosemont Avenue, just past the chain link fence. As street parking is limited, park at Two Strike Park, 5107 Rosemont Ave., La Crescenta.

This event is free to the public for all ages, no reservations required. Sturdy shoes, long pants and a hat are recommended. Rain cancels event. Sorry, no pets please.

For further information, contact the Friends of the Rosemont Preserve at RosemontFriends@gmail.com.

MONTHLY READING SERIES

The Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga is holding its Monthly Reading Series on Sunday, May 25 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Bolton Hall Museum. Poets Sharon Hawley and Pete Justus will be feature at this event.

Hawley is a well-known poet in the foothills area and has read her poems at numerous venues. Justus is the founder and co-host of the Rapp Saloon in Santa Monica and has been writing poetry for over 30 years. He teaches European and American History at Westchester High School.

Free admission, open reading, light refreshments; $3 donation is appreciated. www.villagpoets.blogspot.com

Bolton Hall Museum, 10110 Commerce Ave, Tujunga, CA  91042

SPORTS INJURY LECTURE PLANNED AT USC VHH

As part of its community education program, USC Verdugo Hills Hospital will host a lecture on sports injuries and concussions featuring orthopaedic surgeon Loren Geller, M.D., and neurologist Grigor Harutunian, M.D., on Wednesday, May 28 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital.

The lecture, offered free to the public, is part of the hospital’s “Health Talk” community lecture series. Topics will include common sports injuries affecting adults and children and the latest treatment options, as well as examination and diagnosis of concussions and indications for emergency room evaluations.

The lecture will be held in the Council Room, located on the main (fourth) floor. Refreshments will be provided.

Reservations are required. To RSVP, log onto uscvhh.org/health-talk or call (818) 952-2213.

USC Verdugo Hills Hospital is located at 1812 Verdugo Blvd. in Glendale. Parking is available in the structure behind the hospital.

MEETING OF AFRICAN
VIOLET SOCIETY

The Montrose African Violet Society is having its next monthly meeting on Wednesday morning, May 28 at 10 a.m. at Descanso Gardens (Maple Room) in La Cañada Flintridge. Guests are always welcome to attend meetings.

For more information, telephone club president Luis at (323) 236-0104.

Descanso Gardens (Maple Room), 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge

FREE CAR SEAT INSTALLATION AND INSPECTION

Glendale Memorial Hospital and New Economics for Women are hosting a free car seat safety inspection and installation on Thursday, May 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Glendale Memorial Hospital parking lot at 215 W. Los Feliz Road in Glendale. Technicians will be on hand who are also trained to assist families with children that have special transportation needs. RSVP requested at (818) 502-2378.

REV. JESSE LEE PETERSON
AT RCF

The Republican Club of the Foothills (RCF) is hosting the Reverend Jesse Lee Peterson as the keynote speaker at its upcoming dinner meeting Thursday, May 29.

An outspoken critic of the so-called “black leadership” in America today, Peterson is both an engaging national talk show host and a riveting, straight forward conservative speaker. He spearheaded the national boycott of the NAACP, an organization he calls a tool of the “elite, socialist” elements of the Democrat party. He is the founder of the South Central L.A. Tea Party as well as two organizations dedicated to rebuilding the family.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. at the La Cañada Thursday Club in La Cañada.  Cost is $20 for members and $25 for non-members.

For additional information and to RSVP, call Joanie (818) 790-0014 or Mary (818) 952-7040.

La Cañada Thursday Club, 4440 Woodleigh Lane, La Cañada

STUNT ROAD TO PERFORM

All Star Bar and Grill on Saturday, May 31. Led by Glendale businessman and philanthropist Andy Roth, Stunt Road has repeatedly donated its services to auctions at non-profit events, and has volunteered performances for worthy causes. The band has also played Glendale’s famous annual Cruise Night event for five years. Roth is also a past-president of the Kiwanis Club of Glendale, which is the largest Kiwanis Club in the California-Nevada-Hawaii district.

Performing with Roth will be Dennis McKee on guitars and vocals, Pat Wilkins on bass and vocals, and Ed Eblen on drums.

There is no cover charge.

Leo’s is located at 2941 Honolulu Ave. in Montrose.

SONS OF NORWAY

The Sons of Norway Edvard Grieg Lodge is celebrating its 57th anniversary on May 31 with a catered Norwegian dinner of cold poached salmon, meatballs, herring, red potatoes, mashed rutabagas, cucumber salad, coleslaw dill rolls, dessert and beverage. The cost is $20 adults, $10 children.

Social hour is at 6 p.m. Reservations due by May 24; please call Margaret Shuler at (626) 303-6465 with questions.

Dinner held at the Fellowship Hall, Lutheran Church of the Foothills, 1700 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada.

ADA GATES PATTON PART OF SANTA ANITA MYSTIQUE AND FUN

The first U.S. licensed female farrier (equine hoof care specialist) Ada Gates is the honorary chair of the Santa Anita Mystique and Fun event benefitting Women At Work. The fundraiser takes place at Santa Anita Race Track on Saturday, May 31 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Participants will enjoy racing excitement, lunch buffet, free valet parking, hat contest, paddock tours, raffles prizes and much more including unique insights into Santa Anita legends by Gates.

Tickets are $90 for adults, $45 for children ages 7-16. Call (626) 796-6870. Also available at www.womenatwork.org.

SALON DE MUSIQUES FINAL CONCERT OF SEASON

The next presentation of Salon de Musiques is on June 1 featuring three masters: Ludwig Van Beethoven, Xaver Scharwenka with two USA premieres, and Frank Bridge.

Salon de Musiques will celebrate the last concert of its fourth season and will introduce its next and fifth season 2014-15 with more than eight USA premieres.

The performers are Searmi Park on violin, Antonio Lysy on cello, and Francois Chouchan on piano.

An informal Q&A with the artists will follow the performance and a gourmet buffet dinner provided by Patina with French champagne will be served.

Tickets are $39 for student, and $65 for the general public (includes dinner and drinks).

The performance takes place at 4 p.m. at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, fifth floor, 135 N. Grand Ave, Los Angeles.

EMPTY BOWLS BENEFIT
FAMILY PROMISE

An Empty Bowl event is taking place on Sunday, June 1 from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The lunch benefits Family Promise of the Verdugos www.Familypromiseverdugos.org and the local first time homeless families as they transition into independence.

Currently Family Promise of the Verdugos has 25 faith congregations in Burbank, Glendale, North Hollywood and Eagle Rock and community partners including the Burbank Community YMCA.

The Empty Bowl event is $35 a person that provides a choice of soup served in a handcrafted bowl that the guest will take home. It will be hosted at the Carlson Center, Glendale First United Methodist Church in Glendale. Sponsorships are also very much needed and appreciated.

Purchase tickets or make your donation online at http://familypromise.donordrive.com/event/EmptyBowl.

NOON CONCERTS OPEN
TO PUBLIC

Glendale Noon Concerts is a free admission concert series taking place every first and third Wednesday from 12:10 p.m. to12:40 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 June 4 and features the Los Angeles Horn Trio performing works by Edward Elgar and Lennox Berkeley.

First Baptist Church of Glendale, 209 N. Louise St., Glendale

LITTLE LANDERS PRESENTS ‘DERANGED L.A. CRIMES’

Little Landers Historical Society will host Los Angeles Police Museum archivist Joan Renner on June 14 at 1 p.m. for a look at the history of criminal activity in Los Angeles from the 1920s through the 1960s. The event takes place at Bolton Hall in Tujunga.

Renner is a writer, lecturer and social historian specializing in historic Los Angeles crime. She assisted in creating a Los Angeles Police Dept. exhibit based on the continuing investigation of the 1947 Black Dahlia murder and is editing a book of crime scene photos for the L.A. Police Museum.

This program is free and open to the public. Everyone is welcome.

Bolton Hall Museum, 10110 Commerce Ave., Tujunga

Parking is available at the Elks Lodge.

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

CALTECH-OCCIDENTAL CONCERT BAND TO PERFORM IN WALT DISNEY
CONCERT HALL

The Caltech – Occidental Concert Band, directed by William Bing, is going to perform in Walt Disney Concert Hall on June 18. This celebrated ensemble, which has performed in Carnegie Hall and the Great Wall, will perform as part of a concert of ensembles from around the world.

On the program will be the world premiere of a work for organ and concert band by the band’s multi-talented composer-in-residence, Dr. Leslie Deutsch. Also appearing on the program and conducting his own work will be world famous composer and conductor, Frank Ticheli. Paul Asimow, a professor of geology and geochemisty, will also guest conduct, and Kjerstin Williams, who received her PhD in robotics from Caltech, will be the vocal soloist singing songs composed by George Gershwin.

The concert begins at 7 p.m. at Disney Hall. Tickets go on sale around May 1, and will be available for $30 each at Ticketmaster or the box office at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

For more information, call (626) 395-3295 or visit bands.caltech.edu.

ARC PRESENTS FINE WINE, FOOD

The Glendale-Crescenta Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross sponsors an event that features a selection of wines, light appetizers, cheeses and fine chocolates. Fritz Coleman, popular Channel 4 weatherman, will make a guest appearance as well.

Tickets are $60 per person or $100 for two people. For information or to purchase, call 818-243-3121, ext. 0.

This annual fundraising event takes place on Thursday June 19 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Forest Lawn Glendale Museum, 1712 S. Glendale Ave., Glendale.

GLENDALE QUILT GUILD

The Glendale Quilt Guild presents featured speaker Diane Steele speaking on “Group Quilts: Round Robins, Block Exchanges & Challenges” on June 11. She will also present a workshop the following Saturday (June 14) on woven silhouettes.

The Glendale Quilt Guild meets the second Wednesday of each month at the First Congregational Church of Glendale, 2001 Cañada Blvd. in Glendale at 6:30 p.m. for social and 7 p.m. meeting. The cost is $5 for visitors and is free for members.

CVHS 50TH REUNION

The CVHS class of 1964 is celebrating its 50-year graduation with a reunion weekend June 20 – 22. The class was the second to graduate from CV and chose as its motto, “Second to None!” This class also took part in the selection of the school colors, school mascot and the alma mater. This special 50-year celebration includes a Friday night fun icebreaker evening on June 20 at the Montrose Bowl. On Saturday, June 21 a tour of the CV campus is planned. On Saturday night at the Angeles National Golf Club is a time for dinner, reminiscing and reconnecting. Sunday is picnic day at Crescenta Valley Park/Hindenburg Park at noon. Invitations to the picnic are extended to the classes of ’63, ’65, ’66 and ’67 as well.

For further information, contact Cindi Miller Anderson, cindianderson@hotmail.com or Sue Cox Keating, skeating61@me.com.

CPR CLASSES AT USC VHH

USC Verdugo Hills Hospital offers cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training classes to community members to help them learn this important skill.

Class will be held on June 28 from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The Heartsaver certification classes, which are part of the hospital’s family education program, provide instruction for CPR skills, including adult/child one-person rescue and choking maneuvers.

CPR classes are offered at USC-VHH, located at 1812 Verdugo Blvd. in Glendale 91208, in the Council Room (located on the fourth floor lobby).

The class fee is $60 per person (includes textbook).

Reservations are required. For more information or to register, call (818) 952-2272 or visit www.uscvhh.org.

THEN AND NOW EXHIBIT

Little Landers Historical Society announces the opening of a new temporary exhibit at Bolton Hall Museum. “Then and Now” features historic photos of places in the foothills community compared to photos of the same locations in more recent times. Little Landers member Craig Durst determined the exact location from which each old photo was taken and reproduced the same photo taking into account the time of year, time of day and weather conditions to duplicate each of the original pictures.

“Then and Now” will be available for viewing at Bolton Hall through October 2014.

Bolton Hall is open to the public on Tuesday and Sunday afternoons from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and entrance is free.

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

Bolton Hall Museum, 10110 Commerce Ave., Tujunga

S-T LIONS CLUB WATERMELON FESTIVAL

The 53rd Sunland-Tujunga Lions Club Watermelon Festival will be held again at Santa Anita Park. Every admission includes free watermelon slices and a free spin on the Watermelon Wheel for additional prizes…and every one’s a winner! The festival is on Saturday, July 19 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, July 20 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

  Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 children, $8 for seniors and active military personnel. Children under 2 are free. Presale discounts are available on the website. Parking is $4. For additional information visit www.lionswatermelonfestival.com or call (800) 955-1277. (Festival entrance is Gate #6 off the Colorado Lot on Colorado Place.)

Favorite activities include the watermelon eating and seed spitting contests, the watermelon bean bag toss and the return of the greased watermelon races. The Watermelon Pavilion will have hourly watermelon carving and cooking demonstrations. The new and improved watermelon-o-matic machine will dazzle as it slices the delicious fruit for the hungry festival-goers. The wearable art contest will have daily winners.

Santa Anita Race Track, 285 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia

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.

NEWS FROM FRIENDS OF THE SUNLAND-TUJUNGA BRANCH LIBRARY

The bookstore of the Friends of the Sunland-Tujunga branch of the library, which is located inside the library, is filled with used books on almost every subject. There are books on psychology, religion, self-help, cooking, classics and many more subjects. It is open during library hours (except evenings). Prices range from 10 cents to a few dollars. All books are donated.

All monies collected from the sale of these books support the Sunland-Tujunga Branch Library in purchasing new books, DVDs and equipment. The Friends also support programs for children and young adults as well as adults. It is a 501(c)3 organization, so donations are tax deductible. Arrangements can be made to pick-up large donations. Call the library at (818) 352-4481 to schedule a pick-up.

Sunland-Tujunga Branch Library, 7771 Foothill Blvd., Tujunga

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

REASTFEEDING 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 Canada.