The Social Whirl: June 18, 2015

On May 19^th the Shakespeare Club of Pasadena held their 61^st Annual Scholarship Luncheon to honor four exceptional graduating seniors from high schools in the Pasadena Unified School District. The four deserving graduates were presented with scholarships in the amount of $2,000 to help with their continued education next year.

The program of the day was monologue presented by graduate Mariella Diab D’Avirro, a Blair High School recipient. It was a passionate letter written as an appeal to Pathos, in response to Steven Lewis’s speech “AIDS has a Woman’s Face.” Following the monologue, each of the recipients addressed the group and spoke a little about themselves and their plans for the future. Mariella will be attending Drew University in New Jersey and will be studying International and Women’s Studies; she plans to Major in Political Science and someday join the United Nations. From John Marshall High School, Julio Urrutia was selected. He has been tutoring at Madison Elementary and will be studying at Cal State LA where he plans to major in Communications and Human Relations. The student selected from John Muir High School was Cecilia Valle. This young lady will be furthering her education at UC Irvine and will be majoring in Engineering. She has a passion for reading and writing and has worked on and greatly expanded the school’s newspaper, The Blazer. Tiffany Balbuena was selected from the graduates at Pasadena High School. She is an advocate for “Day 1—Events for Youth” as well as a representative for Animal Rights and Rescue. She plans to attend Cal Poly Pomona to study Animal Studies and then on to the Veterinary School. Upon conclusion of the graduate’s presentation, Elizabeth Pomeroy, PUSD Board President was introduced. She also offered her congratulations and words of encouragement to the graduates.

This marks the 61^st year that the Shakespeare Club has awarded scholarships. They are made possible by the hard work of the Shakespeare Club’s Philanthropy and Benefit/Drama Departments. In March the Benefit/Drama Committee presented Nunsense: the Mega Musical and the Philanthropy Department held their annual Fashion Show with an Afternoon Tea in April. The proceeds from these events fund the scholarship fund. Each Christmas the Club donates toys and clothing to needy children and raises monies for worthy non-profit organizations year-round.

Local Girls are off to Tech Trek Science and Math Camp

Ten middle-school girls from local school districts are looking forward to a week at Tech Trek Science and Math Camp on the Whittier College campus. The girls will spend the week of June 14-20 exploring STEM courses and possible futures in STEM careers—-Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. The Whittier Camp is sponsored by the Arcadia Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) as a Special Project of AAUW-California. This is the fifteenth year that AAUW-Arcadia has sponsored the camp.

The goal of Tech Trek Camp is to help young women entering the eighth grade in the fall to develop interest, excitement and self-confidence in the fields of math and science—in the hope that they will continue to take more classes in those fields and go on to related careers. Representing Arcadia are Sally Ho and Brigitte Lee. El Monte City Schools has participants Kate Munoz, Fatima Esparza, Natalie Acosta, Nikki Ha, Laura Perez and Leslie Salvadore. Temple City is represented by Hsuan-Ai (Charity) Lin. Monrovia is sending Randi Rochelle.

To support programs like Tech Trek or to learn more about the American Association of University Women (AAUW) please contact Tech Trek Coordinator Phyllis Howard at (626) 359-3525.

Ann and Jerry Durgerian Honored at Salvation Army Annual Awards Luncheon

On June 9^th the Arcadia husband and wife team of Ann and Jerry Durgerian were presented with the prestigious “Others” Award at the beautiful Pasadena Tabernacle on Walnut Street. This was the 50^th “Other” presentation and the venue was packed.

The Durgerians reflect the meaning of the award–generous, involved, supporting, outgoing, helpful and caring. They owned the Carousel Children’s Store in Pasadena for 40 years. Always donating to numerous charitable groups, however, their main thrust has been the Salvation Army.

I was deeply impressed with the event. The information presented was a shock as to the great numbers of those needing shelter and food in our area every night! Their Senior Housing, Recovery, and Disaster programs are amazing beyond words.

Bill Kelso, a Monrovia resident, did a splendid job of introducing the honorees. Lt. Colonel Doug Riley, Divisional Commander, held the audience in his hand with his account of the organizations far reaching help for 127 years.

The Durgerians received presentations from Pasadena and Arcadia, County, State Assembly, State Senate and the U.S. Congress. I extend my congratulations to Ann and Jerry and to the Salvation Army.

Arcadia Chamber Mixer at Historic Elks Lodge June 23^rd

The Arcadia Chamber of Commerce will help celebrate the Arcadia Elk Lodge group’s long history and benevolence in the community and nearly 20 years as a Chamber member with a Business Mixer on Tuesday June 23^rd from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event will be hosted by the Elks at their historic Lodge building at 27 W. Huntington Drive where guests will enjoy live music by Len Mendoza on the guitar playing the ‘70s and ‘80s, food, drink and dancing.

Bingo, Friday night dinners, and other programs by the Elks and other groups are hosted at its iconic building that features a large kitchen, a lounge with a bar, big screen TVs, a stage for small bands and soon a digital projector and screen. The Lodge also offers a large ballroom with a performance stage that is big enough to entertain hundreds of people.

Nearly 90 years after the American fraternal order and social club The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks was founded in 1868, Arcadia attorney Jim Helms, who would later become Mayor of Arcadia, founded the Arcadia Elks Lodge #2025 nearly 60 years ago in July 1957. As far back as World War I, a swimming pool on the same property by Anita Baldwin and the community provided relief for the soldiers of the United States Balloon School at Ross Field nearly a century ago in 1918-19 on the land that later became Los Angeles County’s Arcadia Park and Santa Anita Golf Course, right across the street from the Elks Lodge today.

Downtown Arcadia Patriotic Festival and Street Fair July 3

On June 2^nd the Arcadia City Council unanimously approved the new weekly event that has been in Monrovia for 23 years to now be staged from 5-9 p.m. on Fridays in Arcadia on First Avenue from Huntington Drive north past Wheeler Avenue to near Santa Clara Street by 24 Hour Fitness.

Arcadia Unified Hosting Arcadia Innovation Summit

A unique opportunity for Southern California educators is coming to Arcadia on June 24^th. The Arcadia Unified School District is hosting the first Arcadia Innovation Summit, which will be free of charge and open to all. The mission of the summit is to explore and share innovative practices in education.

Sessions will focus on three main areas: the Google Ecosystem (using Chrome books, Google Apps for Education and Third Party Applications), teaching in a 1:1 classroom, and other innovative teaching practices like Genius Hour and Makerspace.

For more information contact Ryan Foran, AUSD Public Information Officer: rforan@ausd.net, work (626) 8210-6664, cell (626) 802-7602.

Matt Denny’s Gets Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence

When selecting Certificate of Excellence winners, TripAdvisor takes into account the quality, quantity and most recent reviews and opinions submitted by travelers on TripAdvisor over a 12-month period as well as a business’s tenure and ranking on the Popularity Index on the site..

Matt Denny’s Ale House Restaurant has been a very popular venue located in Arcadia since 1999 and is one of the local favorites. With its extensive menu, private library room, large patio beer garden, and 15 flat screen TVs with all the major sports programming channels, this is a great place for a business lunch or dinner, birthday party, office party, or sports team party.

“Receiving the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence is a very gratifying feeling for the entire team here at Matt Denny’s Ale House,” said Matt McSweeny, Owner and Manager.

View the Matt Denny’s Ale House website at www.mattdennys.com or contact them by phone at (626) 462-0250. Walk-ins are welcome.