By Mary O’KEEFE

The courtyard at St. Luke’s of the Mountains Episcopal Church in La Crescenta was transformed into an outdoor jazz and cabaret venue on Saturday evening that highlighted the talents of local resident Janet S. Blake, not only as a songstress but also as a storyteller.

Blake engaged the audience with the story of her journey from New York to the West Coast film industry and to La Crescenta, where along the way she found the love of her life – and married him. With words and music, she wove a tapestry of a life full of adventure and love in “An Evening of Stories & Songs.”

The night was sponsored by the Crescenta Valley Fire Safe Council as a way to share information about the organization and as an outreach to the community about what its members do to help get local residents ready for any emergency.

“[CV Ready/CV Fire Safe Council] wanted to do an event for the community that was more geared toward something entertaining rather than the usual ‘Danger, danger, prepare’ message,” said council president Don Ross. “It was also intended to thank the community for its support since 2009 when we first started up the organization.”

Blake is a past member of the CV Fire Safe Council and agreed immediately when asked to perform.

As with most events in CV it took volunteers to help put everything together, beginning with Blake volunteering her time and Steve Pierce, Don Ross and Jean Maluccio, among others, lending their helping hands.

Prom Plus Club members from Crescenta Valley High School acted as waiters as they made their way through the audience with trays of appetizers. Professional sound and lighting by Sosound completed the ambience to create a night that won’t soon be forgotten.

  Mary Okeefe