By Mary O’KEEFE

Friends of Rockhaven, a 501(c)(3) organization, is hosting a fundraiser to benefit the non-profit organization and fund maintenance of Rockhaven, located in the 2700 block of Honolulu Avenue. A wine tasting event at a La Crescenta residence will be held on Sunday, June 25 from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $40.

“Join us for a summer afternoon of wine tasting, appetizers and great company in the newly refurbished backyard of [Friends of Rockhaven] treasurer’s home in La Crescenta. Wine connoisseur Amanda Moe will guide us through five tastings of fine wines you can easily find and buy,” according to Friends of Rockhaven.

The address will be available for ticket buyers closer to the event date. For ticket information or for those with questions call (747) 688-0311.

Recently the Friends of Rockhaven filed a lawsuit against the City of Glendale as a “last resort” to get the City to maintain this historical property.

After 15 years, Friends of Rockhaven members felt enough time was given to the City to care for and maintain the site’s buildings, which have fallen into disrepair. The lawsuit also asks for an accounting of the funds that had been put aside for Rockhaven’s maintenance, said Joanna Linkchorst, president of Friends of Rockhaven, in a previous interview with CVW.

Prior to the filing members of the Rockhaven organization conducted tours of the former sanitarium and were meeting with City officials concerning maintenance of the property and buildings on it. Since the lawsuit was filed, however, the members of Friends of Rockhaven are no longer allowed on the property and dialogue between the organization and the City has halted.

The City claims it has been working on maintaining the Rockhaven site.

“The tarping of the buildings has been completed, as well as the roof replacement on the Pines Cottage building,” stated Bradley Calvert, director of Community Development for the City of Glendale.

But concerns surround the damage that has already been done to the buildings, most of which are on the historical registry, due to weather over the years including the most recent rains. Issues include the condition of the roofs, mold abatement and drainage.

New information on the condition of the property may not be available in the near future, but Friends of Rockhaven is hopeful that its members will soon be able to return to the historic property.