MYSTERY WRITERS AT FLINTRIDGE BOOKSTORE AND COFFEEHOUSE

Tonight, Thursday, March 3, from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Flintridge Bookstore and Coffeehouse will highlight 13 of Southern California’s best mystery writers. These authors all belong to Sisters in Crime. They have volunteered to come to celebrate the opening of the store’s new location and support independent bookstores.

Featured will be Dianne Emley, Sheila Lowe, Avery Aames, Denise Hamilton, Kate Thornton, Linda O. Johnston, Dianne Dixon, Jeri Westerson, Kate Carlisle, Mike Mallory, Pam Ripling, Kwei Quarty and Aileen Baron. There will be a questionnaire with 13 questions – one from each of the books – and the person with the most correct answers gets a prize.

This will be a night of great conversation, great insights and great fun.

For more information, call (818) 790-0717. Flintridge Bookstore and Coffeehouse is located at 1010 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada Flintridge at the intersection of Foothill Boulevard and the Angeles Crest Highway. Parking is in the rear of the store.

CASINO NIGHT 2011

McGroarty Arts Center presents Casino Night 2011.  This gala event will be held Saturday evening March 5 at 6 p.m.  In addition to a stunning view of the Verdugo Hills from the center’s terrace, the evening’s festivities will include true casino style gaming with roulette, blackjack, and craps plus food, drinks, a silent auction, raffle, music and door prizes.

Since the occasion of this art center benefit falls on the week of Fat Tuesday, the theme of the night will be a New Orleans style Mardi Gras. The catered food will be Cajun spicy and the beads will be flying, so mark your calendar.  Costumes are not required, but masks are strongly suggested so don’t worry about your anonymity.  What happens at McGroarty Arts Center… stays at McGroarty Arts Center.

Pre-sale tickets $35, $40 at the door.  Admission includes casual dinner, drink and $500 in gambling chips. One hundred percent of proceeds benefit the McGroarty Arts Center.

The MAC is located at 7570 McGroarty Terrace, Tujunga. For further details, (818) 352-5285.

LEISURE CLUB HOSTING GUIDE DOG PRESENTATION

The Leisure Club of La Cañada Flintridge has gone to the dogs … The Guide Dogs of America, that is.

On March 4 at 1 p.m. Judy Reilly and her puppy Milo will address the Leisure Club of La Cañada Flintridge and describe how guide dogs are selected, trained and paired with visually impaired individuals.

The public is invited to this event being held at the Crescenta-Cañada YMCA. Parking is free and so are the refreshments !

Crescenta-Cañada YMCA, Multi Purpose Room, 1930 Foothill Blvd. in La Cañada

KANYA BUGREYEV at STEPHANIE’S ART GALLERY

Russian Impressionist Kanya Bugreyev is currently on exhibit at Stephanie’s Art Gallery through March 31. She is known for her use of bold strong brush strokes, vivid colors and transparent shadows. Over the past four decades, studying, teaching and painting she has developed her own unique impression of the relationship between color, light and nature.

Open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Stephanie’s Art Gallery & Custom Framing, 466 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada

ALLEN TO MAKE ENCORE APPEARANCE

In his second appearance, Glendale city activist Barry Allen will address Encore members on his “State of the City” at Glendale Community College on Saturday, March 5 at 10 a.m.

He is no stranger to city council members, the city manager and city staff as he reminds them that there are certain serious issues to focus on and resolve. Publisher of a growing weekly online publication Vanguard, Allen delves into controversial issues facing Glendale officials.

The afternoon program begins at 1 p.m. and features Kathy Hickman who will be speaking on travel adventures to national parks and exotic locales including Kenya and Cape Town.

The Encore speaker series is held in the Life Skills building located at the far eastern edge of the Glendale College campus entering at the newly installed signal on Mountain Street.

Visitors are welcome.

CAMELLIA SHOWS COMING TO DESCANSO

Local camellia societies have two shows planned in coming weeks at Descanso Gardens. The public is invited to submit flowers for judging during the bloom placement portion of the shows. Entrance to camellia shows is free with Gardens admission.

The Pacific Camellia Society Late Bloomers Show will be held Saturday and Sunday, March 12-13. Bloom placement is 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, followed by judging. The show is open to the public from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturdy and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Find details at www.pacificcamellias.org.

Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge.

BABYSITTING CLASSES OFFERED AT VHH

The Verdugo Hills Hospital Beginnings Family Education Program offers babysitting classes designed for boys and girls between the ages of 11 and 15. The babysitting class is an interactive course that teaches participants valuable skills, including infant/child CPR, basic first aid, home/auto safety, accident prevention, telephone skills, safety tips, when to call 911, poison control, fire/earthquake plans and other helpful childcare advice. Upon completion of the course, participants will receive a babysitting course completion certificate.

Upcoming babysitting classes are held on March 19, April 30 and May 21. Each class is a single, one-time class, held from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Class fee is $35/person. Reservations are required. For more information or to register, call (818) 952-2272. For a list of additional classes offered by the Family Education Program, visit www.vhhospital.org.

Classes are offered at VHH, located at 1812 Verdugo Blvd. in Glendale in the Council Room (located on the fourth floor).

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