SHINDIG PLANNED FOR DESCANSO
“Boddy’s Big Backyard” takes place on Sept. 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Descanso Gardens. Inspired by the legendary parties that Descanso owner E. Manchester Boddy hosted in the 1930s and ‘40s, the Gardens’ Labor Day shindig starts off with a walk through the California garden at 10 a.m. Gather youngsters for a reading of “Teddy Bears’ Picnic” at 12:30 p.m. Music provided by the Mobile Homeboys from 1 to 3 p.m. Bring a picnic to the Main Lawn or purchase barbecue from 11:30 to 3 p.m. Admission: $8 for adults; $6 for seniors and students; $3 for children 5 to 12; and free for children 4 and younger.
Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge.

MOM’S CLUB HOLDING MEETING
Mom’s Club of the Foothills, a support group for stay-at-home mothers, will hold its monthly meeting Sept. 9 at 10 a.m.  Topic this month is Taming Tantrums and the speaker is Stephanie Blank from the Center for Non-Violent Parenting.  Visitors and children welcome.  Babysitting is available. Meeting held at St. Luke’s of the Mountains Church (no religious affiliation) at 2563 Foothill Blvd., La Crescenta.  For more info contact the club at foothillmommembership@hotmail.com or call (818) 306-5052.

E-WASTE COLLECTION COMING TO LCF
The Community Center of LCF, in conjunction with Tri Products, Inc. will host its third annual e-waste collection event on Sunday, Sept. 12, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the parking lot of the Community Center, located at 4469 Chevy Chase Drive. E-waste products being accepted include, but are not limited to: computers, monitors, laptops, printers, scanners, copiers, televisions, LCDs PC peripherals, VCR/DVD players, FAX machines, toner cartridges, power supplies, rechargeable batteries, cell/landline phones, home entertainment systems, small portable devices, and most electronic waste.  Refrigerators, washers, dryers, light bulbs, household batteries, oil, paint, hazardous waste, and all medical waste will not be included in this collection.
For more information about this recycling event, contact Tri Products, Inc. at (877) 866-0128 or visit www.ewaste4u.com. For information about programs, classes, and activities at the Community Center of LCF, call (818) 790-4353 or visit www.cclcf.org.

CV CHORAL ALUMS SOUGHT
Were you a member of a choral group at Crescenta Valley High School? Do you know someone who was? Do you miss the camaraderie and enjoyment that singing with others brings?
Since 1977, Shirley Nute has been directing the CVHS Alumni Chorale. The group, composed of CVHS choral alumni men and women, rehearse once a week on Wednesdays from 7:15 p.m. – 9:15 p.m., at the Glendale First United Methodist Church. The group performs for local civic groups and retirement homes in Pasadena, Glendale, La Crescenta, Montrose and Duarte during the holiday season and again in the late spring/early summer. The rehearsal season will begin on Sept.  15. After the holiday season performances the group will resume rehearsals in the middle of January 2011.
The Chorale provides an opportunity for individuals who enjoy singing in a group to come together, share the challenge of preparing music for performance and feel the thrill of bringing music to those who might not otherwise be able to enjoy the beauty of choral singing. Anyone interested in singing in the chorale can contact Shirley Nute at shirleyb2@earthlink.net.  She’ll be glad to answer any questions you might have.

MUSIC APPRECIATION CLASSES TO START
Dr. Ted Stern, professor of music at Glendale Community College, will again conduct off-campus music appreciation classes for adults in the community. This semester marks the beginning of the tenth consecutive year that these classes have been offered to musicians and non-musicians alike in the area. This semester will cover music of the 20th century from WW II onward.
Classes are held at the Crescenta Valley United Methodist Church located at 2700 Montrose Ave. in La Crescenta.  The classes begin Tuesday, Sept. 7 and are held each Tuesday from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., continuing through Dec. 14. The cost for the 15-week classes is $90. Everyone is welcome!  For more information call Dianne at (818) 248-8110 or (818) 445-2390.

WILHITE SCHEDULED FOR QUILT GUILD MEETING
Glendale Quilt Guild meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at the Glendale Central Library, 222 E. Harvard in Glendale. The next meeting will be held on Sept. 8 with the featured speaker Sharon Wilhite. Sharon will be giving a trunk show of her quilts and speaking on her techniques. Meetings are free to members. Fee for non-members is $5. For more information visit www.glendalequiltguild.org.

AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL HOSTING SEMINAR
Ameriprise Financial of Glendale is hosting a seminar on social security benefits that is open to the public. “Your Social Security and Medicare Benefits” includes a presentation by the Social Security Administration – Speakers Bureau, The Center for Health Care Rights. The event takes place on Thursday, Sept. 30 and begins with a reception at 5:30 p.m. at the Embassy Suites Hotel – Sapphire Room at 800 N. Central Ave. in Glendale. Seating is limited, so reservations are requested by Sept. 15. There is no cost to attend. Reserve a seat by calling (818) 549-1600.

SQUARE DANCE CLUB STARTING BEGINNERS CLASS
Sets in Step Square Dance Club is sponsoring a new beginners class on Thursday, Sept. 16. The dancing, called by professional caller Ron Durkee, will be from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the La Cañada Community Center.  The dress is casual, and the price is $6 per person.  To have a partner is suggested, but singles are welcome also. The Community Center is located at 4469 Chevy Chase Drive, La Cañada, off of Foothill.

HIGH SCHOOL REUNIONS
The Crescenta Valley High School class of 1970 is having its 40-year reunion on Saturday, Oct. 2 at 6:30 p.m. at the Altadena Town and Country Club. The cost is $119 until Sept. 1. Casual event on Friday, Oct. 1 at El Cholo Restaurant in Pasadena. Visit www.CVHS70.com for more details and registration form.

FALL FAMILY FESTIVAL
On Sept. 18, community families and friends are invited to a family festival in Sun Valley from 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. There will be games, prizes, raffles, free food and other attractions. It is sponsored by the Christian Reformed Churches at 10725 Penrose St. in Sun Valley.
For more information, call (818) 767-4488.

PATH ACHIEVE GLENDALE HOLDING GALA
On Saturday, Sept. 10 from 6 pm. to 10 p.m., PATH Achieve Glendale will host Casino Americana on the Green at The Americana at Brand. After a cocktail hour, guests will enjoy a three-course dinner catered by Trattoria Amici, dance to the sounds of The Martini Kings and play casino games. Prizes for casino winners include a one-night stay at The Americana, USC 40 yard-line football tickets and an iPad. Raffle prizes include a Disney Day of Fun for four, tickets to The Alex Theatre, an annual valet pass to The Americana at Brand as well as numerous other prizes from the stores located at The Americana. During the program segment of the evening, the S.H. Ho Foundation and the City of Glendale will be honored for their continued support of this program that serves over 1,200 homeless men, women and children in Glendale each year. Tickets are $150 per person and may be purchased by calling (818) 409-3334 or emailing event@achieveglendale.org.

ARTS CENTER HOSTING ART SALE & AUCTION
McGroarty Arts Center in Tujunga is hosting the Sunland- Tujunga Alliance and the Art Sale & Auction. The event will take place on Sunday, Sept. 19 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the main hall at the McGroarty Arts Center.
The art sale & auction will consist of over 50 pieces of varying shapes and sizes on display. Most of the pieces are professionally framed and are prices significantly lower than the appraised value. One individual has donated his entire art collection to benefit three organizations that serve the community of Sunland-Tujunga: Sunland- Tujunga Alliance, McGroarty Arts Center and Little Landers Historical Society. In addition, local artists are donating their own works to help raise needed funds to help keep these organizations functioning.
McGroarty Arts Center, 7570 McGroarty Terrace in Tujunga.

GENTLY USED COATS NEEDED
Elisa B., a womenswear store in Old Pasadena, has teamed up with the charity One Warm Coat to distribute clean, gently used coats to adults and children in need this winter.
The coat drive begins on Friday, Sept. 10 in conjunction with One Colorado’s Fashion’s Night Out celebration. Each donor will get a $25 gift certificate in exchange for the coat they drop off.  Coats will be accepted through Sunday, Sept.  19.
One Warm Coat started in 1992 and has since prompted collection drives throughout North America that have resulted in the distribution of more than one million coats. Coats donated through Elisa B. will be delivered to The Los Angeles Mission and Children of the Night.
Elisa B. is located in the One Colorado complex at 12 Douglas Alley, Old Pasadena. Call the store at (626) 792-4746 or visit elisab.com. For more information on One Warm Coat, visit onewarmcoat.org.

“WATER” ON LITTLE LANDERS AGENDA
On Sept. 11 at 1 p.m. the Little Landers Historical society will present the program “Water.” All are invited to this free program to learn about the Sunland/Shadow Hills/Tujunga connection to Los Angeles politics and the DWP in the 1900s through the 1920s. The program will also discuss the history of the water distribution systems in Sunland-Tujunga, the engineering challenges that were faced and how DWP reluctantly assumed responsibility for water service in the area in the 1950s. Guest speaker will be Lynn Lowry, a local resident and a third generation engineer in the foothills area.
Presented by the Little Landers Historical Society, Bolton Hall Museum, 10110 Commerce Ave. in Tujunga.

NOON CONCERTS OPEN TO PUBLIC
Glendale Noon Concerts are a free admission concert series taking place every first and third Wednesday from 12:10-12:40 p.m. in the newly restored chapel and sanctuary of the First Baptist Church of Glendale (downtown at Louise & Wilson, no religious affiliation). Adriana Zoppo will be performing on the viola d’amore on Sept. 15.

BABYSITTING CLASSES FOR KIDS BEING HELD
The Verdugo Hills Hospital BEGINNINGS Family Education Program offers babysitting classes designed for boys and girls between the ages of 11 and 15. The babysitting class is an interactive course that teaches participants valuable skills, including infant/child CPR, basic first aid, home/auto safety, accident prevention, telephone skills, safety tips, when to call 911, poison control, fire/earthquake plans and other helpful childcare advice. Upon completion of the course, participants will receive a babysitting course completion certificate.
Upcoming babysitting classes are being held on Sept. 25, Oct. 9, Nov. 20 and Dec. 11. Each class is a single, one-time class, held from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Classes are offered at VHH, located at 1812 Verdugo Blvd. in Glendale in the Council Room (located on the fourth floor).
Class fee is $35/person. Reservations are required. For more information or to register, call (818) 952-2272. For a list of additional classes offered by the Family Education Program, visit www.vhhospital.org.

RECEPTION BEING HELD
The Glendale Rose Float Association is presenting a wine and cheese reception on Sunday, Sept. 26, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Friendship Garden and Japanese Tea House in Glendale’s Brand Park. At the “Say Cheese … & Wine Tasting” reception, seats to ride on the float during the Rose Parade will be auctioned off and several raffles will be held. Tickets are $35 apiece, and the proceeds will be used to support “Say Cheese!”, Glendale’s entry in the 2011 Rose Parade.
Individuals wishing to purchase tickets can do so online at www.GlendaleRoseFloat.org, via phone at (818) 241-6039, or by mailing a check to: Say Cheese … & Wine, c/o Glendale Rose Float Association, P.O. Box 564, Glendale CA 91209-0564. The check should note that it is for reception tickets. Questions may be directed to tickets@GlendaleRoseFloat.org.
For more information about the Glendale Rose Float Association, see www.GlendaleRoseFloat.org.

POETS WELCOME
The Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga are sponsoring an open poetry reading on Sunday, Sept. 26 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Bolton Hall Museum, 10110 Commerce Ave., Tujunga. The featured poet for this event is Deborah Marlowe, a voice actor and local poet who resides in La Crescenta. New poets and seasoned poets are welcome! Admission is free. For more info contact dskiles@ca.rr.com or www.villagepoets.org

HOSPICE HELP NEEDED
Companion Hospice is now recruiting volunteers for its upcoming training program. Volunteers can become a needed friend to someone during the last part of their journey. Volunteers can also relieve tired caregivers for short periods of time or help with errands and shopping. Assignments will be in your geographical area. The goal is to promote quality of life and comfort measures.  Each applicant will receive 16 hours of orientation and training from a professional team. The training program will be held on four Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Oct. 9-30, located off the 210 Freeway – one block west of Rosemead Blvd., 320 N. Halstead St., Suite 100 in Pasadena. Office help, which does not require attendance to the patient Care Training Class, is also needed. To learn more call Cecelia Rudar, volunteer coordinator, at (877) 303-0692 or email ceceliar@companionhospice.com.

ART EXHIBIT TO CELEBRATE HEALING
“Healing from the Ashes” is an art exhibition where the  art objects are made from actual remnants of seven families’ homes destroyed by the Station Fire, the largest fire ever in Los Angeles County. This exhibition will open on Sunday, Oct. 3 at 8263 Foothill Blvd. from noon to 6:00 p.m. and will continue Wednesdays through Sundays until Oct. 21. The opening reception is from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. on Oct. 3.
Salvaged remnants were gathered with permission from the seven owners in Vogel Flats region in the Angeles Forest by local artist Ariyana Gibbon and volunteers. The aim of “Healing from the Ashes” is to bring members of the community that were directly impacted  by the fire together for both fundraising and healing; recognizing the loss; and supporting the futures of those who survived. Proceeds from the sale of the art will be donated to survivors whose ravaged uninsured homes were the very source from which the materials came. For more information call Ariyana Gibbon at (818) 445-1675.

  crescenta valley