BEACHCOMBER KATE’S UKULELE JAM AT JAVA BREW
The public is invited to Java Brew Coffee House on Oct. 19 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for an informal ukulele jam on the patio. Bring your ukulele, or if you don’t yet have one, come and learn all about this fun, easy instrument! Singers and spectators are always welcome and much appreciated.
We will be playing on the partially shaded patio, so please dress accordingly.
This event is free to the public, all ages, no reservations required.
Java Brew is located at 2418 Honolulu Ave. in Montrose.

PING-PONG TOURNAMENT AT THE YMCA
The Crescenta-Cañada Family YMCA is hosting a ping-pong tournament on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. to bring people together for healthy living. The tournament is open to people of all ages and abilities. There will be a separate kid’s tournament for those 14 and under.
The cost to register is $10 for Y members and $20 for participants. The deadline to register is Tuesday, Oct.15. The top three finishers will receive a trophy.
For more information on the tournament, contact Craig Strazzeri at Cstrazzeri@ymcafoothills.org or call (818) 790-0123.

PRESENTATIONS AT GCC
The Glendale Community College Geography Dept. is sponsoring a presentation and book signing by John Perlin, author of “Let It Shine – the 6000-year Story of Solar Energy,” on Oct. 21 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the college Student Center (SC). This event is open to the public.
Free copies of  “Let It Shine – the 6000 year story of Solar Energy” are available for Glendale area educators. Additional copies are available for $20.
Then on Thursday, Oct. 24, from 12:20 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., the public is invited to explore
the forces that direct consumers in the shopping center.
Glendale Community College is located at 1500 N. Verdugo Road in Glendale.

AFRICAN VIOLET SOCIETY PLANS MEETING
The Montrose African Violet Society is having its next monthly meeting on Wednesday morning, Oct. 23 at 10 a.m. at Descanso Gardens Birch Room. Joan Wood will speak about horticulture displays for an African violet show. Guests are always welcome to attend meetings.
For more information, telephone our club president Luis at (818) 508-1937.
Descanso Gardens is located at1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge.

BARRALES GUEST OF REPUBLICAN CLUB
The Republican Club of the Foothills hosts speaker Ruben Barrales at its next meeting on Thursday, Oct. 31 at the La Cañada Thursday Club. Barrales will be speaking on “Growing the Party.” Doors open at 6 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 prepaid/$25 at the door.
RSVP to Joanie at (818) 790-0014 or Mary at (818) 952-7040.

POKER TOURNAMENT BENEFITS BOYS & GIRLS CLUB
The Boys & Girls Club of Burbank and GEV is having its Annual Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament and Bingo event on Friday, Oct. 25 at 6:30 p.m. at New Woody’s at Woodbury University.
The poker tournament will be limited to 150 entries and the grand prize for the poker tournament is a $1,500 entry into the 2014 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas!
For more information, contact shannawarrenbgc@aol.com or Melissa at melissaprocanik@bgcburbank.org.

APRYL SKIES, SEAN HILL FEATURED POETS
The next meeting of the reading series of the Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga’s is Sunday, Oct. 27 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Bolton Hall Museum. Featured poets are Apryl Skies and Sean Hill. Poets are welcome to bring their own poetry and sign-up for the open reading. Light refreshments will be served; a $3 donation is appreciated. http://www.villagepoets.blogspot.com
Bolton Hall Museum, 10110 Commerce Ave., Tujunga

MEET AND GREET ‘MAYHEM’ AUTHORS
“Murder & Mayhem in the Crescenta Valley” authors Gary Keyes and Mike Lawler will have a meet and greet on Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. at the Lanterman House, 4420 Encinas Drive, La Cañada; on Monday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. with the Crescenta Valley Historical Society at the La Crescenta Center for Spiritual Living, 4845 Dunsmore Ave., La Crescenta and on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. at the Glendale Central Library, 222 E Harvard St., Glendale.
The pleasant neighborhoods of the Crescenta Valley offer no hint of the many violent and heinous crimes that have occurred between the San Gabriel and Verdugo Mountains. Come meet the authors who tell the stories that few share about the dark side of the Crescenta Valley.

LCWC PLANS WESTERN ROUND-UP
The La Crescenta Woman’s Club Western Round-Up is on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. at the clubhouse.
Old fashioned dinner, music and dancing plus prizes for best costumes. Opportunity drawing, too.
The cost is $20 single/$35 couple. Reservations required by Oct. 19. Call Carol Benedetti at (818) 248-6624.
The clubhouse is located at 4004 La Crescenta Ave. in La Crescenta.

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.

GLA HOLDING MIXER
Glendale Latino Association will be holding its October mixer on Wednesday, Oct. 30 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at FRIDA (at the Americana) located at 750 Americana Way, Glendale. Admission is $10 for members and $15 for non-members. Contributions benefit the annual scholarship fund for GUSD and GCC students.
All are welcome for an evening of networking and fun!
P.S. Costumes are encouraged but not mandatory.

COLEMAN TO EMCEE ARC COMEDY SHOW
The Glendale-Crescenta Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross presents the 22nd Annual Fritz Coleman Comedy Show at the Glendale Centre Theatre on Sunday Nov. 3 at 7 p.m.
Coleman, popular Channel 4 weatherman and gifted stand-up comedian, has recruited a team of his talented comedy colleagues for an evening of fun and laughter, all to benefit the Glendale-Crescenta Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross.
Open seating tickets are $25 per person; reserved seating VIP tickets, which include dinner at nearby Phoenicia Restaurant before the show, are $70 per person or $120 for two people.
Tickets are available from the chapter by calling (818) 243-3121, ext. 0. They can also be purchased online at http://american.redcross.org/GlendaleComedy.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available. For details, email Ronald.farina@redcross.org.
Glendale Centre Theatre, 324 N. Orange, Glendale

TOWNE SINGERS PREP FOR HOLIDAY SEASON
Set aside Sunday, Dec. 8 at 4:30 p.m. for the Towne Singers holiday production of “Yuletide! The Towne Singers Bring You Harmony for the Holidays” at First United Methodist Church in Pasadena.
The 2013 holiday season brings many changes to the Towne Singers. The Towne Singers is now an organization supported, in part, by the Los Angeles County board of supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission. Lance Merrill is the organization’s new conductor for the 2013 holiday season. Maria Wietrzynska is the new accompanist for the Towne Singers. Both bring a wealth of experience that will delight the holiday audience.
To learn more, contact Loretta Umland at townesigners@gmail.com.

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.

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

HUNTINGTON HOSPITAL PARTNERS WITH THE CCLCF
Huntington Hospital has developed a partnership with the Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge to offer health and safety classes for the residents in La Cañada Flintridge and the surrounding the Foothill communities.
On Oct. 19 and Oct. 26 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Huntington Hospital’s ER nurse manager and La Cañada resident Karen Knudsen and her team will lead two free community classes for CPR training. This non-certification class will give individuals hands-on experience with a CPR mannequin. In a short time participants will know the basics to hands-only CPR that could save a life.
Community Center of LCF is located at 4469 Chevy Chase Drive
in La Cañada Flintridge.

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