Celebrating 90 years of the Oakmont Country Club and Highlighting 2013 Community Awards Winners

I hope you will be joining the Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce for our 2013 Board Installation and Community Awards Dinner on Jan. 24 at the Oakmont Country Club. I am excited to have our event at this spectacular location, just below Montrose in Glendale, which is celebrating its 90-year anniversary.

The dream that was the Oakmont Country Club started in the early 1920s by William S. Sparr who played a key role in the development of Oakmont along with Frank Lanterman and FP Newport. These three entrepreneurs, having owned much of the Crescenta-Cañada valley between them, knew the land was worth more than the citrus trees they were growing on it. They began to look for means to help finance the country club and, with the help of the Glendale Chamber of Commerce, they formed an investment committee and drew up the articles of incorporation on Sept. 28, 1922. The plan was to use this premier golf course as a way to lure wealthy Easterners to the area and increase the visibility of the City of Glendale. It worked and it continues to be a beautiful addition to the Sparr Heights area and Oakmont Woods. Over the past 90 years, the Oakmont Country Club has undergone major renovations, survived a flood, a fire and a World War and has always found a way to reinvent itself. The chamber is grateful that Oakmont’s mission has remained the same as it was back in the early 20s: to offer its members and their guests a premier golf, dining and social experience in a family-friendly environment, and we hope it continues for many years to come.

I would also like to highlight a few of our community award winners. Our Business of Year Award is going to the Clothing Market in Montrose that celebrated its two-year anniversary in December. Owners Sebu and Maral Chatoyan are great community supporters and gave to many local organizations last year like Relay for Life, Prom Plus, the Two-Strike War Memorial and the Armenian Sisters Academy. They also have supported the local churches and schools in the area.

“We live in the area and know the community,” Sebu said. “We knew this is where we wanted to have our store.”

Our Business Person of the Year is Pat Longo of Andy’s Transfer and Storage that is celebrating 90 years of service to Montrose. Pat Longo has been the general manager of the company since 2006 and has continued the charitable nature of Andy’s Transfer and Storage as a large supporter to many local organizations and events in the area. Pat is beginning a four-year commitment to the California Moving and Storage Association and will eventually be chairman of the association. Under Pat’s leadership, Andy’s has won two Customer Quality Awards and helped the company achieve a 30% increase in sales from 2011 to 2012.

Tickets to the installation dinner can be purchased at the Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce office by calling (818) 249-7171. You can also mail a check to MVCCC, 3516 N. Verdugo Road, Glendale, CA 91208. Price is $50 per person.

Upcoming Events
Installation and Community Recognition Awards on Thursday, Jan. 24 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Oakmont Country Club, 3100 Country Club Dr., Glendale.

“Montrose: Images of America” on Monday, Jan. 21. A pictorial history book of Montrose by local historian Robert Newcombe is available for purchase. You can buy it at the chamber or any of our local bookstores.

Centennial February business mixer on Wednesday, Feb. 6 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Al’s Deli, 2332 Honolulu Ave., Montrose. Celebrating 60 years in business.

Montrose Centennial Celebration on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 23-24 in the 2200, 2300 and 2400 blocks of Honolulu Avenue.

  melinda clarke