DRAWING CONTEST LAUNCHED
Do you love to draw? WAW Entertainment is holding a book illustration contest open to children, teens and young adult from ages 5 to 19. To enter, submit a sample drawing to wawentertainment@yahoo.com or mail an entry to 6924 Shadygrove St., Tujunga, CA 91042. Be sure to include name, age, email and phone number. Local artists Linda Magarian and Gloria Beyer will review all artwork. The winner will be chosen to illustrate the children’s book, “My Parents Got Divorced But I Still Turned Out Okay!” The book will be submitted to publishers in December.

The second runner up will receive a $50 gift certificate.

Entries should be based on this sentence: “My parents got divorced, but they still love me anyways.”

For additional information, call (818) 203-6080 or email wawentertainment@yahoo.com.

Deadline for submissions is Nov. 30.

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

NEWS FROM JCK
    
JCK will hold its monthly Charity Knit & Crochet on Saturday, Sept. 14 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Chevy Chase Library. Enjoy a relaxed afternoon of knit, crochet, and conversation. For more information, visit www.jewelcityknitters.com or email judy@judykits.com.

Chevy Chase Library is located at 3301 E. Chevy Chase Drive in Glendale.

POP UP! CONCERTS COMING TO GLENDALE
Glendale Arts announces POP UP!, a free outdoor concert series in downtown Glendale. It will take place in the Glendale City Center Plaza (101 N. Brand Blvd.) from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. every Thursday night in Sept. (5, 12, 19 and 26).

Each concert will highlight a different musical style such as jazz, indie, pop, blues, folk and classical. Pop Up! will also feature food from BJ’s Brew Pub, California Pizza Kitchen, Olive Garden and Islands, all of which are located in the Glendale City Center.

You can find more information on Pop Up! at  www.glendalearts.org or facebook.com/GlendaleArtsCA.

A RARE VISIT WITH CLEOPATRA VII
Cleopatra ruled the Land of the Nile for 21 years with her legendary allure, alliances, liaisons and political intrigue.

Descended from Alexander the Great, her friends and enemies were the ancient worlds’ most famous players – Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, Octavian Augustus Caesar.

Hear how she entertained them on her golden barge with purple sails, charmed or defied them, and changed the fate of her beloved Alexandria and Egypt forever.

Please join the Leisure Club for this presentation at 1 p.m. on Sept. 6 in the Fellowship Hall at the Lutheran Church of the Foothills, 1700 Foothill Blvd.,

La Cañada/Flintridge.

No reservations are necessary and parking and refreshments are free.

KNOWLTON TO ADDRESS SIERRA CLUB
The Crescenta Valley Sierra Club presents Gary Knowlton’s, “Oak in the California Landscape,” on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the La Crescenta Library.

Knowlton will discuss the role of oak trees as a keystone species and its symbiotic relationships, and the oaks’ unique evolutionary durability to withstand the valley’s semi-desert chaparral climate. He will discuss management techniques to help the oaks develop into the grand tree they are capable of becoming. The care of mature oaks to protect them from early decline will also be included.

The program follows news of conservation and outings. Refreshments will be served. This is a free event and everyone is invited. Please contact Wayne Fisher at (818) 353-4181 for further information.

La Crescenta Library is located at 2809 Foothill Blvd. in La Crescenta. Please enter from La Crescenta Avenue for the meeting place and parking.

ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT AT MOUNTVIEW
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 Sept. 10 at Mountview Retirement Home. All are welcome.

Mountview Retirement Home is located at 2640 Honolulu Ave., Montrose. Call (818) 248-6737 for more information.

GUESS WHO’S BACK?  
Nine chances to meet new friends. Nine opportunities to dine at fabulous homes. Nine ways to support Glendale Healthy Kids.

For nearly 20 years, Glendale Healthy Kids has connected children to healthcare and provided preventative healthcare education classes in the schools. Children without insurance, and those that are underinsured have been helped by Glendale Healthy Kids and more than 250 volunteer healthcare professionals.

On Sept. 14 and Sept. 15 and Sept. 28 and Sept. 29, supporters can attend a dinner or two at more than nine different homes. The cost is $100 and covers everything – food, drink, entertainment and fun. Please visit the GHK website www.glendalehealthykids.org for further information or call (818) 548-7931.

LITTLE LANDERS PRESENTS ‘SEW CRANKY’
On Sept. 14, the Little Landers Historical Society presents Sew Cranky at 1 p.m. in Bolton Hall.

Sew Cranky will bring history to life as they take us through the invention of the sewing machine in the early 1800s – from the artful mechanics to the influence on society. The domestic, political, and business impacts and significant changes this invention brought to America and Europe will be explored. A large selection of original, hand-cranked machines from the late 1800s through 1940 will be displayed. After the presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to sew on one of these unique machines. Easy to operate, hand-cranked sewing machines are “green” as well.

This is a free presentation.

Bolton Hall is located at 10110 Commerce Ave. in Tujunga.

USTA YOUTH TENNIS PROGRAM SIGN-UPS
Sign ups for the USTA seven-week youth tennis program for kids ages

4 to 10 begins Sept. 16. Classes will be held after school at various locations. To learn more and to sign up, visit www.youthtennissocal.org.

The cost is all-inclusive: $99 for children from 4 to 7 years old and $125 for children from 8 to 10 years old. Program participants will receive a tennis racket, T-shirt and a trophy upon completion of the program, which will be celebrated at a USTA play day on Nov. 3.

Local event locations are the Burbank Tennis Club, 1515 Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank and Arroyo Seco Racquet Club at 920 Lohman Lane in South Pasadena.

For more information, contact Chris Boyer at (626) 229-9991, ext. 11.

‘FLAIR FOR FASHION’ LUNCHEON AND FASHION SHOW
“A Flair For Fashion” luncheon and fashion show will be presented by the Pasadena Women’s Connection on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 11:30 a.m. at the Women’s City Club of Pasadena. Draper’s and Damon’s will feature a fall fashion show highlighting fashions for women from 20 to 90 years old.

Motivational speaker Dr. Dianne Swella will talk about how she overcame grief after the loss of her children.

Luncheon and program tickets are $23. For reservations, call Darlene at (818) 353-2212 or Carole at (818) 790-1907 or email caroleln@aol.com.

Women’s City Club of Pasadena, 160 North Oakland Ave., Pasadena

GREEK FEST COMING TO PASADENA
Southern California’s preeminent Greek Festival, the 55th Annual Pasadena Greek Fest, takes place on Friday-Sunday, Sept. 20-22, at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia.

Greek Fest hours are from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 20; noon to 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21; and on Sunday, Sept. 22 from noon to 10 p.m. The event is priced at $5 for adults and children under 12 years are free. Parking is $4 per car at the main entrance of Holly and Huntington Drive at Santa Anita Park.

Highlights of the weekend festivities will include a free live concert Saturday night with Greek vocalist Diamantis Dionysiou. Throughout the weekend, there will be performances by The Olympians and other live performers. Planned are many exciting exhibits, including cooking demonstrations, wine tasting, lectures about Greek history and culture, as well as the very popular Olympic Taverna Sports Bar & Cigar Lounge, authentic homemade Greek cuisine and pastries, Greek folk dancing by several award winning youth groups and an expanded Kids’ Fun Zone with rock climbing, carnival games, rides and prizes.

The Pasadena Greek Fest is an annual event, hosted by Saint Anthony Greek Orthodox Church in Pasadena. The event brings together thousands of visitors from the Greater Los Angeles area to a weekend pageantry celebrating all things Greek. Proceeds benefit cultural, educational, and community outreach programs run by St. Anthony Greek Orthodox Church.

For ticket information or to obtain additional information regarding the event, call (626) 600-1672 or visit www.pasadenagreekfest.org.

Santa Anita Racetrack is located at 285 W. Huntington Drive in Arcadia.

HEALTH SCREENING, INFO AND FINANCIAL TIPS
Free health screenings, heart-health information and financial planning tips will be available at the San Gabriel Health and Wellness Expo on Sept. 28.

The American Heart Association and Union Bank will host this Health and Wellness Expo at Union Bank’s San Gabriel Branch on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Participants will receive complimentary blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol screenings, have the opportunity to consult one-on-one with a cardiologist or registered nurse and learn about cardiovascular disease and the seven simple steps to a longer, healthier life. Participants will also walk away with tips on financial planning, including budgeting and saving.

Union Bank San Gabriel Branch is located at 401 E. Valley Blvd. in San Gabriel.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD NATIONAL COLLECTION WEEK
Impact a child’s life with a simple shoebox gift. Fill a shoebox with school supplies, toys, necessity items and a note of encouragement for a child overseas suffering due to disaster, disease, war, terrorism, famine or poverty. Local drop-off location is at First Baptist Church at La Crescenta, 4441 La Crescenta Ave, La Crescenta, and drop off dates are Nov. 18-25.

For more information, visit www.samaritanspurse.org or email akenney@samaritan.org or phone (714) 432-7030.

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.

ATTENTION MUSIC LOVERS
Dr. Ted Stern, professor of Music at Glendale Community College, is conducting off-campus music appreciation classes for adults in the community. This ongoing series is for musicians and non-musicians alike. This semester will cover the topic “An In-Depth Look at Six Composers – Lully,Vivaldi, Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Ravel, Khachaturian.”

Classes begin Tuesday, Sept. 10, and are held each Tuesday from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. continuing through Dec. 10.

The cost for the 14-week series of classes is $100. Everyone is welcome!

For more information, call Dianne at (818) 445-6088.

Classes will be held at the Crescenta Valley United Methodist Church cultural hall at 2700 Montrose Ave., Montrose.

ALIVE AND RUNNING – 5K WALK/RUN FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION PLANNED
Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services is holding its 15th annual Alive & Running 5K Walk/Run for Suicide Prevention on Sunday, Sept. 22. The run is kicking off at 8 a.m. in Westchester, just north of LAX, at West 88th Street and La Tijera Boulevard. More than 2,000 runners, walkers, spectators and volunteers from all over Southern California will join together at Alive & Running to raise awareness and funding for services.

Proceeds from Alive and Running will directly benefit Didi Hirsch’s Suicide Prevention Center that provides critical services to people who are contemplating suicide and those affected by the suicide of loved ones through a 24-hour English/Spanish crisis line.

Sign up to register and be part a team or donate to a friend’s fundraising campaign. Registration fee for the 5K is $30; after Sept. 18, the fee is $35 (a tax deductible donation). A free “Kiddie-K” (1K) will also be held following the start of the 5K.

For more information or to sign up, visit www.aliveandrunning.org or email AliveandRunning@DidiHirsch.org.

CHARITY FASHION SHOW
The non-profit Croatian American Women’s Club is hosting a fashion show charity event on Oct. 5 in San Pedro to benefit Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women & Children, a program of Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, Inc. The club was formed in 2011 to support worthwhile causes in Southern California while preserving the rich Croatian culture, traditions and values.

Tickets to the event (which include lunch) are $60 for adults and $30 for juniors (17 and under) and may be purchased directly from CAWC’s website www.croatianamericanwomensclub.org.

ANN ROMNEY AT FLINTRIDGE BOOKS
On Wednesday, Oct. 9 Ann Romney, wife of presidential candidate Mitt Romney, will be at the Flintridge Bookstore from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for a booksigning of

“The Romney Family Table: Sharing Home-Cooked Recipes & Favorite Traditions.”

In the book, she shares a unique blend of heartwarming (and often humorous) stories, homegrown traditions, and hearty recipes that have brought her family together for more than 40 years.

Flintridge Bookstore and Coffeehouse is located at 1010 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada Flintridge, at the intersection of Foothill Boulevard and Angeles Crest Highway. For more information, call (818) 790-0717.

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

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.

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.