By Mary O’KEEFE

The Annual Prom Plus Boutique will be held on Nov. 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the St. Luke’s of the Mountains Episcopal Church.

“The Prom Plus Holiday Boutique is a fantastic event that has a lot of unique gifts for the winter holidays. I am always surprised at the variety of what’s offered,” said Charly Shelton. “I don’t know where they find these merchants but they’ve got some really interesting stuff. I sell signed comics and nerd stuff, but there’s also art, sculptures, a really great knitting booth with scarves and hats. A lot of beautiful jewelry, too. It’s different every year.”

In addition to being a reporter at CVW, Shelton is a vendor at the event along with the CVW designer Steve Hernandez. Shelton and Hernandez are the creators of www.True-Believer.net, the all-nerd comic book website.

Often newspapers will find an organization they call their own and, although CVW enjoys promoting all of the wonderful and worthy non-profits within the Crescenta Valley and nearby areas, Prom Plus is the one that lives in our hearts.

In 1991 a young Crescenta Valley High School senior was allowed to go to an after-prom party at an Anaheim hotel. It was unsupervised but this young woman, Berlyn Cosman, had been such a good student and had such a successful high school career that her parents thought it would be okay. During the night there was an argument with one of the attendees at the party and, according to witnesses, an argument with a boy Berlyn knew. At one point during the night, this young man returned with a gun and shot Berlyn while she slept. It was a time that tore into the heart of CV. The trial was difficult for many but while this was going on there was another section of the community that had gathered and decided this could not happen again.  This group of parents and community members knew that they may never stop all seniors from making dangerous choices on prom night but if they gave them a place to be after prom, maybe they could give them an opportunity to make another choice.

And so Prom Plus began. Since then the after-prom party has expanded and now includes more games and opportunities for CVHS seniors and their guests. The event is held after prom from midnight to 5 a.m. at the Crescenta-Cañada YMCA. There is a mechanical bull, zipline, bungee jump, bungee run, gyro and many other rides. There is also a full casino and an opportunity drawing. All of this is included in the price of the prom ticket or, for those who don’t go to prom, it is a $20 ticket paid at the door.

To do all of this not only takes an army of volunteers but funding. Throughout the year Prom Plus raises money for the $25,000 after-prom party at a variety of events; one of the biggest ones is the Prom Plus Boutique.

A great variety of vendors fills Sadler Hall and the courtyard at St. Luke’s of the Mountains, a church that is a strong supporter of Prom Plus. Every year seems to bring more vendors to the boutique.

There are over 20 vendors who have already signed up to join the boutique. Everyone is invited to do some early holiday shopping and help support Prom Plus.

In addition to the Prom Plus Boutique, Shadow Hills Presbyterian Church will host its Annual Treasure and Crafts Sale on Saturday, Nov. 19 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The handmade gifts, vintage and gently used “good stuff” make excellent teacher, neighbor and hostess gifts. There will be collectable plates, Barbie dolls, costume jewelry, china, glassware, etc. plus a lot of gently used Christmas decorations for sale. The handmade items made are by Shadow Hills’ “Church Ladies.” For more information call the church at (818) 353-2500 or email info@shadowhillschurch.org. Shadow Hills Presbyterian Church is located at 10158 Johanna Ave. in Sunland.

All are invited to the arts & crafts fair (including white elephant items) at Gethsemane Lutheran Church on Saturday, Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event will feature artwork from local artists, baked goods, fall and Christmas decorations, handmade jewelry, knit items, lotions ad soaps, potted succulents, pottery, quilts and more. Free parking (in back) and free admission and refreshments.

Gethsemane Lutheran Church is located at 2723 Orange Ave. in La Crescenta.

  Mary Okeefe