There is nothing going on in my life other than Oktoberfest this week. Oh yeah: Happy Birthday, son. We’ll have to celebrate after Saturday.

How many times do I dot the ‘i’s and cross the ‘t’s? It’s making me crazy. There are so many small details to attend to. I’m lucky I work with a great bunch of board of directors and have an assistant (Rose) who really know exactly what they’re doing. I just passed my two-year anniversary with the Chamber and Oktoberfest still scares me. I want it to be perfect or as close to it as possible. The buzz in the community has been mixed, so this 32nd Annual Oktoberfest I hope will keep them talking for months afterwards.

OKTOBERFEST Sponsors really contribute to a successful event and here they are: Major sponsors are: Montrose Travel, Glendale News Press, La Cañada Valley Sun, ACE Beverage, La Cañada Outlook. Platinum sponsor: Sparr Heights District Business Association. Gold sponsor: J’s Maintenance & Maid Service and Crescenta Valley Weekly. Silver sponsors: Andy’s Transfer & Storage, Pasadena Magazine, Glendale Harley Davidson, Keller Williams. Supporter: Jenkins Properties Management, Southern California Edison, Frank’s Vacuum & Sewing, Tender Treasures, Escrow for You and S.I.G. Property Management. There is still time to get in, so contact our office.

Avoid the lines and purchase your dinner tickets early over at Schreiner’s Fine Sausages located at 3417 Ocean View Blvd. in Glendale. Regularly $10, now on sale for $8.50 (such a deal…).

Thank you to Chamber member Citibank for hosting our Oktoberfest kick off mixer for us. We so appreciate their support. Patty and her staff really know how to throw a party.

Please join us on the following dates:

Saturday, Oktoberfest 3 – Have you told anyone? I met a man at church on Sunday who lives in La Crescenta and asked him if he was coming to Oktoberfest. He said he’s never heard of it. I couldn’t believe it! Spread the word even if it’s locally because believe it or not some haven’t heard. The event opens at noon and goes until 11:00 p.m. For a complete schedule of events for the day check out our website, www.montrsoechamber.org; don’t forget to come by the information booth and say hello.

Tuesday, October 6 –  Glendale Business Super Mixer at Oakmont Country Club, 3100 Country Club Drive in Glendale. Hosted by the following organizations: Armenian American Chamber of Commerce, Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Glendale Merchants Assoc., Glendale Chamber of Commerce, Glendale Latino Assoc., Kenneth Village Merchants Assoc., and us – the Montrose – Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce. This is a great networking opportunity and the cost is only $15, so come check it out.

The Chamber is located at 3516 N. Verdugo Road in Glendale and can be reached by telephone at (818) 249-7171 or by e-mail mvcc@montrosechamber.org.

Chamber members: Do you have something about your business you would like advertised…free? If you would like to take advantage of this benefit, call me for details.

The Chamber is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday and is closed on Friday.

Please help the small business owner stay in business…SHOP MONTROSE!

Marian E. Jocz is the executive director of Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce.