OPEN HOUSE AND FREE DOCUMENT SHREDDING

The Income Tax Store in La Crescenta is holding an open house on Saturday, Dec. 6 from noon to 3 p.m. to show its appreciation for their many loyal customers. Complimentary food and beverages. Bring your documents for free shredding and learn new tax information for 2015 as well. All are invited. For more information, call (818) 957-5356.

The Income Tax Store, 3795 La Crescenta Ave., Suite 100 (corner of Honolulu Avenue).

BIRD TALK ON THE RIVERWALK

On Saturday, Dec. 6, there will be a bird watching tour and photography opportunity on the Los Angeles River at the Glendale Narrows Riverwalk. The morning starts at 7 a.m. and participants will spend a couple of hours walking and talking about birds with Raul Roa, photojournalist and bird watcher.

Please bring binoculars, bird books and cameras. Limited space, so RSVP at (818) 548-3795 to reserve a place.

Meet at 300 Paula Street in Glendale at the corner of Garden Street.

Hosted by City of Glendale Community Services & Parks.

ANNUAL LUNCHEON BENEFITS NON-PROFITS

The Philoptochos of St. Anthony Greek Orthodox Church in Pasadena is hosting its 45th annual Christmas benefit luncheon, “Here We Come a-Caroling,” on Saturday, Dec. 6 at The Langham Huntington Hotel in Pasadena.

Proceeds will benefit the Pantry at Friends In Deed that serves supplemental food to 200 low-income and homeless households in Pasadena each week, the Bad Weather Shelter that provides shelter for homeless individuals and families during the winter season, and other charities.

The benefit begins at 10:30 a.m. and features a Christmas boutique and a Santa’s Kitchen. The program will continue with a fashion show and conclude with the grand awards drawing featuring a seven-day cruise, weekend getaways and much more.

Tickets are $85 per person for adults and $60 for children 12 and under. For reservations and more information, contact Leah Pastis at (626) 285-8286 or Athena Dallas at athenad2015@gmail.com.

‘THE WONDERS OF WINTER’ CONCERT BY TOWNE SINGERS

Towne Singers is having a holiday musical celebration on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 5 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Pasadena. “The Wonders Of Winter” concert will feature a blend of traditional, contemporary and familiar music that will appeal to all kids from 1 to 92. The evening includes a visit by Santa Claus.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children 3 to 10 presale; at the door are $25 and $12. Group rates for groups of 10 or more. For more information, email townesingers87@gmail.com or call (818) 275-4117 or visit www.townesingers.org.

United Methodist Church of Pasadena is located at 500 E. Colorado Blvd.

LCWC HOSTS BREAKFAST WITH SANTA

The junior section of the La Crescenta Woman’s Club is hosting Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. The cost is $10 per person that includes breakfast, a photo with Santa and a small gift for each child. There will be crafts for the children and lots of holiday cheer.

The event is located at 4004 La Crescenta Ave., La Crescenta. For tickets or information, please contact Dawna at (818) 957-6939. Tickets can also be purchased online at lacrescentawomansclub.org/juniorsection.htm.

SALON DE MUSIQUES NEXT PRESENTATION

The next presentation of Salon de Musiques chamber music concert series is on Dec. 7 and features four composers, including three USA premieres: Mikhail Gnesin, Jean Cras, Maurice Ravel and Arnold Bax. It will be introduced by musicologist Julius Reder Carlson and the concert performed by world-renowned artists Angela Wiegand (flute), Marcia Dickstein (harp), Jessica Guideri and Erik Arvinder (violins), Rob Brophy (viola) and John Walz (cello).

An informal Q&A with the artists will follow the performance and a gourmet buffet dinner provided by Patina with French champagne will be served.

Tickets are $39 for student, and $75 for general admission (includes dinner and drinks).

The performance takes place at 4 p.m. at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, fifth floor, 135 N. Grand Ave, Los Angeles.

VENDORS WANTED

Our Lady of Lourdes is having its Annual Pancake Breakfast w/Santa & Holiday Craft Faire on Sunday, Dec. 7 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Come show and sell your wares, handmade, new/used, manufactured; $25 per table/discount if you bring your own. Canopy sites are $35 (canopy not provided). Vendor keeps all proceeds.

Our Lady of Lourdes auditorium is located at 7324 Apperson St. at the corner of Tujunga Canyon. Door prizes throughout the morning and grand opportunity drawing; prizes to be announced.

Contact Kathy Koch (818) 425-0503 (phone or text) for tickets and tables or more information (no voicemail) or email kate61644@aol.com or kkoch@accuratetelecom.com.

S-T HOLDING ART AUCTION

The Sunland-Tujunga Art Association will be hosting a holiday art auction on Thursday, Dec. 11 at the Center for Spiritual Living in La Crescenta.

There will be a potluck dinner followed by the auction.

The Center for Spiritual Living is located at 4845 Dunsmore Ave. in La Crescenta.

CCLCF HOLDING CERAMICS SALE

The ceramic artists at the Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge are glazing and firing thousands of pieces for the upcoming holiday ceramics sale on Dec.12-14. Nearly 75 local artists will have ceramic art on sale for the largest ceramics show in the foothills communities.

The sale opens with a reception with refreshments at the community center on Friday, Dec.12 between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. The sale continues on Saturday, Dec. 13 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 14 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge, 4469 Chevy Chase Drive, La Cañada

SONS OF NORWAY

Julebord celebration for Christmas is on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 6:30 p.m. with the Sons of Norway Edvard Grieg Lodge. There will be a special program with traditional Norwegian and American Christmas carols, smorbrod potluck; everyone welcome – family, friends and children.

Meeting at the Lutheran Church of the Foothills Fellowship Hall, 1700 Foothill Blvd. in La Cañada. Call Cara Clove for more information at  (818) 279-7371.

LITTLE LANDERS ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY

Little Landers announces the return of The Randy Van Horne Singers for the Bolton Hall holiday program on Dec. 13 at 1 p.m. at Bolton Hall Museum. The program features performances by Franny McCartney of Sunland-Tujunga and the space age pop music sound of the Randy Van Horne Singers. Visitors will join in for Christmas carols and the Little Landers Holiday gift drawing. Refreshments are served after the program and some recipes from the Little Landers Cookbook will be featured.

This program is free and open to the public. Everyone is welcome.

Parking is available a few doors uphill at the Elks Lodge. Additional information is available from Little Landers Historical Society, (818) 352-3420 or www.littlelandershistoricalsociety.org or email littlelanders@verizon.net.

Bolton Hall Museum, 10110 Commerce Ave., Tujunga

HOOVER TOUR OF HOMES

Tickets are now on sale for the 57th annual Hoover Tour of Homes on Saturday, Dec.13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit www.itsmyseat.com/HooverPTA.

Guests will tour four stunning homes, festively decorated for the holidays, and enjoy live performances from the Hoover High School choir, orchestra and jazz band. Hoover students will also serve as tour guides, providing a bit of family history and interesting historical facts about each home. It’s a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season!

Tickets are $25 through midnight on Dec. 6 and $30 after Dec. 6.Tickets available online or at Art’s Meat Market & Village Deli, 1404 W. Kenneth Road in Kenneth Village. Cash or checks only when purchasing at Art’s. On the day of the tour, tickets will be available for purchase at Art’s and at the two homes designated as starting locations. All purchases are final; tour will be held rain or shine.

LEARN FARSI AT THE YMCA

The Y is offering Farsi language class every Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Crescenta Cañada YMCA.

The purpose of this class is to further Iranian (Persian) language and culture for all ethnic groups. Students will learn basic reading, writing and speaking skills for the Farsi language. This is for all levels and all ages.

For more information, visit www.ymcafoothills.org or call (818) 790-0123.

Crescenta Cañada YMCA, 1930 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada

PROUTY OFFERS CONCERT

The Second Saturday Series presents organist Kristin Holton Prouty on Jan. 10 at 4 p.m. at Glendale City Seventh-day Adventist Church. Prouty is director of worship and music at Victory Lutheran Church, and has performed and competed throughout Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Mexico, and the United States.

This concert will include compositions from Buxtehude, Mendelssohn and Franck. A reception will be held following the concert to meet the artist. Freewill donations are received at the door.

For more information, visit www.glendalecitychurch.org or call (818) 244-7241.

Glendale City Seventh-day Adventist Church, 610 E. California Ave., Glendale

FOOTHILLS PRO GROUP

The Foothills Professional Group meets every Wednesday morning from 7:45 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Leon Lounge and Café. The group provides a structured and supportive system of giving and receiving business. It does so by providing an environment in which participants develop personal relationships with many other qualified business professionals. By establishing this “formal” relationship with other people, you may have the opportunity to substantially increase your business.

The cost is $15, which includes breakfast.

Leon Lounge and Café is located at 2519 Cañada Blvd., Glendale.

FREE WORKSHOPS FOR CHILDREN

The Church of Scientology – Mission of the Foothills is hosting free workshops for children on how to make good choices in life. It gives a clear-cut guide to making good choices and finding the way to happiness. The booklet “How to Make Good Choices,” based on the book “The Way to Happiness,” will be used.

This workshop is for children 6 to 11 years old. It is on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to noon. Snacks served.

Call to reserve seat (818) 957-1500.

Church of Scientology – Mission of the Foothills, 2254 Honolulu Ave., Montrose

BLOOMIN’ SQUARES SQUARE DANCE CLASS

Bloomin’ Squares square dance classes are on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at the Sunland-Tujunga Municipal Building.

Sessions are open to everyone, no partner required, LGBTQ* and friends.

For those who think of square dancing, images may arise of hillbillies stomping around in a barn shouting “do-si-do,” blue-haired ladies in silly dresses, and horrible times spent in gym classes in grammar or high school listening to fiddle music while a bored gym teacher read out of a book.

The Bloomin’ Squares square dancing program is nothing like that! There’s no dancing in a barn or wearing silly clothes, and members dance to pop, rock and country music! Casual comfortable clothing is encouraged. Only $6 a class.

Bring a snack to share if you’d like! For more information, call (818) 945-1189.

Sunland-Tujunga Municipal Building, 7747 Foothill Blvd., Tujunga

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 supports 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

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 a healthy lifestyle 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 lactation and infant 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 Canada.