THE GAMBLE HOUSE OFFERS UNIQUE “UPSTAIRS-DOWNSTAIRS” TOURS
For three weeks only, the Gamble House will open the doors to its servants’ hall and rooms for the first time in its history. Visitors will be welcomed to the House from through Sunday, Aug.18 and will be able to see and experience the Gamble House from the perspective of those who lived and worked in the house. New information has recently come to light about the Gamble family and its servants, allowing The Gamble House to share more of the personal history of the House with visitors.

Advance purchase is not required but highly recommended as space is limited per tour and tours often sell out.

For more information, call (626) 793-3334, visit www.gamblehouse.org, or email Gamblehs@usc.edu.

The Gamble House, 4 Westmoreland Place, Pasadena



JEWEL CITY KNITTERS KNIT & CHAT
JCK will hold its monthly Knit & Chat on Saturday, Aug. 10 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Chevy Chase Library. Bring your knit and crochet projects and enjoy a relaxed session of needlework and conversation.

For more information, visit www.jewelcityknitters.com or email judy@judykits.com.

Chevy Chase Library, 3301 E. Chevy Chase Drive, Glendale.

DBSA OFFERS SUPPORT GROUP
Depression Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) has a support group meeting every Tuesday at Vallejo Drive Adventist Church in Glendale every Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. DBSA provides hope, help, and support through peer-based, recovery oriented empowering services, and resources when people need them and how they need to receive them.

For more information, call Wanda Sellers at (818) 352-4346, email dbsalosangelesne@yahoo.com or visit dbsalosangelesne.org.

Vallejo Drive Adventist Church, 300 Vallejo Dr., Room 106 in Glendale.

ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP OFFERED
Mountview Retirement Home sponsors a monthly free Alzheimer’s Support Group on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. The next group will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 13 at 7 p.m.

Mountview Retirement Home is located at 2640 Honolulu, Montrose and can be reached at (818) 248-6737. All are welcome.

GAMC, ASTER HOLD NETWORKING MIXER
An exclusive networking reception is being hosted by the Live Well Senior Program at Glendale Adventist Medical Center in partnership with the Assisting Seniors Through Enhanced Resources (ASTER). This interactive mixer will offer local businesses an opportunity to get acquainted with community leaders, business owners, community physicians and other professionals who provide services or products to the local senior community.

The mixer is at GAMC on Aug.14 between 5 p.m. and 7p.m. at the GAMC West Tower lobby. Refreshments will be provided and parking will be validated. Please be sure to bring plenty of business cards or other materials to share with others!

A short program will begin at approximately 5:45 p.m. that includes remarks by the Glendale city manager, city council and the CEO of GAMC pertaining to seniors in the community. Also, ASTER organizer Robbyn Battles will present news on how ASTER wants to promote local business.

Please RSVP to Denise Miller at (818) 409-8354 or millerd2@ah.org.

Glendale Adventist Medical Center, 1509 Wilson Terrace, Glendale

‘CREATING A SUCCESSFUL RELATIONSHIP’ SEMINAR
The Church of Scientology, Mission of the Foothills will be hosting a free seminar called “Love-Trust-Communication-Happiness: What a Relationship ‘Should’ be Based On.” It will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. in the church building.

The seminar will provide the skills to build a strong, trusting relationship that lasts. It is geared towards new or long-term partners, and is open to the community.

For more information, call (818) 957-1500.

Church of Scientology, Mission of the Foothills is located at 2254 Honolulu Ave., Montrose. Entrance is in the rear of the building.

FREE INNOVATIVE FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS
Transamerica Financial Group is hosting an informative, no obligation educational seminar Wednesday, Aug. 14 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 17 from 10 a.m. to noon. They will be giving strategies on how to get out of debt, increasing cash flow, creating emergency and college funds, and setting up for retirement.

Seating is limited; call to reserve a seat (818) 481-8161 and ask for Jackie.

The seminar is being held at 135 W. Magnolia Blvd., 3rd floor in Burbank.

S/T LIONS CLUB HOSTS 52ND WATERMELON FESTIVAL
The Sunland-Tujunga Lions Club will be hosting its 52nd annual Watermelon Festival Aug. 16-18 at its new location, the Pasadena Rose Bowl. The celebration features watermelon carving demonstrations, watermelon recipe contests, watermelon eating contests, seed spitting contests, and a wearable art contest, along with nightly prize drawings. The watermelon queen will be crowned along with her court.

Funds raised by the Watermelon Festival are used by the Sunland-Tujunga Lions Club to help support local youth and community activities, disaster relief, and to support health and vision conservation programs.

The festival will be held Friday, Aug. 16 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 17 and Aug. 18 from noon to 10 p.m.

Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children the day of the event. Advance sales are $8 for adults and $4 for children. Admission includes free watermelon slices and a free spin on the watermelon wheel for additional prizes and raffles tickets.

To learn more, visit www.lionswatermelonfestival.com, email stlwatermelon@gmail.com, or call (818) 353-4554.

The Rose Bowl, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena

DESI GEESTMAN FOUNDATION PRESENTS GOLF CLASSIC
The Desi Geestman Foundation presents the 30th Annual Golf Classic on Aug. 19 at the La Cañada Country Club. Lunch will be held at 11:30 a.m., with tee off at 1 p.m.

Awards and prizes will be presented immediately after the tournament.

This event is organized by the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Support Group with proceeds to benefit the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station. The golfer’s package includes green fees, cart, lunch, dinner, awards, tee prizes, and contest holes for only $200.

For more information, call Rick Dinger at (818) 248-4500.

La Cañada-Flintridge Country Club, 5500 N. Godbey Drive, La Cañada

CHILI COOK-OFF AND CLASSIC CAR SHOW
Lake Avenue Church will hold its third annual Chili Cook-off and Classic Car Show on Aug. 23 at 6 p.m. in its west parking lot. Local car clubs will showcase classic and antique cars, and there will be chili, hamburgers, hot dogs, and a bounce house for children. All this will be accompanied by the classic rock sounds of The International Super Stars of Rock. Last year’s event drew 350 people.

Judging more than 20 chili entries will be an actual judge, Lance Ito, along with Robin Salzer, owner of Robin’s Woodfire BBQ and Grill, and Samson Francois, executive chef of the Pasadena University Club.

For more information, contact Rich Kasten at carnight@richkasten.com.

Lake Avenue Church, 393 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena

MONTHLY POETRY READING SERIES
The Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga’s upcoming Monthly Poetry Reading Series is slated for Sunday, Aug. 24 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the McGroarty Arts Center in Tujunga. Two featured poets are Jessica Wilson and Jason Brain.

Wilson is the hostess and founder of Writers’ Row: Downtown L.A.’s Official Written Art Showcase, SoapBox Poets Open Mic, Writer Wednesdays, and the NoHo Salon. She teaches for California Poets in the Schools as a poet-teacher

Brain has been descriped as a “Los Angeles poet/spoken word artist, Jason Brain, delivers 100% inspiration, introspection, and intrepidation with his first book of poetry, “Mix Tape Collection: Original Poetry,” from Poetry In Motion Publishing House. A compilation of four Mix Tape chapbooks, the collection is an expression of maturation, love, discontent, and the divine. Jason’s unique voice speaks with age-old wisdom while embodying a modern passion rivalling his contemporaries…”

Light refreshments will be served.

For more information, visit http://www.villagepoets.blogspot.com.

McGroarty Arts Center, 7570 McGroarty Terrace, Tujunga

ALIVE AND RUNNING – 5K WALK/RUN FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION PLANNED
Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services is holding its 15th annual Alive & Running 5K Walk/Run for Suicide Prevention on Sunday, Sept. 22. The run is kicking off at 8 a.m. in Westchester, just north of LAX, at West 88th Street and La Tijera Boulevard. More than 2,000 runners, walkers, spectators and volunteers from all over Southern California will join together at Alive & Running to raise awareness and funding for services.

Proceeds from Alive and Running will directly benefit Didi Hirsch’s Suicide Prevention Center that provides critical services to people who are contemplating suicide and those affected by the suicide of loved ones through a 24-hour English/Spanish crisis line.

Sign up to register and be part a team or donate to a friend’s fundraising campaign. Registration fee for the 5K is $30; after Sept. 18, the fee is $35 (a tax deductible donation). A free “Kiddie-K” (1K) will also be held following the start of the 5K.

For more information or to sign up, visit www.aliveandrunning.org or email AliveandRunning@DidiHirsch.org.

PASADENA HEART WALK COMING
The American Heart Association invites the community to the 2013 Pasadena Heart Walk at the Rose Bowl on Oct. 19. The annual 5K, sponsored nationally by Subway and Jenny Craig and locally by Union Bank and UCLA Health, aims to raise awareness and funds to fight heart disease and stroke while promoting healthy habits, such as walking, as a regular part of life. In addition to Pasadena, there will be Heart Walks in Antelope Valley, Pomona, Downtown L.A., Santa Clarita, Santa Monica and Long Beach. The overall goal in Greater Los Angeles is to raise $1.75 million.

There is no fee to participate. Walkers are eligible to receive a free Heart & Stroke Walk T-shirt when they raise $100 or more.

Visit www.GLACountyHeartWalk.org, email alisha.castro@heart.org or call (213) 291-7094 for more information.

Pasadena Rose Bowl, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena

VAN BLOEM SINGERS HOLDING AUDITIONS
Auditions are being held for the Van Bloem Singers, a volunteer singing group that has completed its 21st season having performed more than 800 shows. The group is looking for those interested in performing Broadway and contemporary music.

Being able to “sight read” is not necessary, but some performing experience is preferred. Men and women who are able to perform between noon and 3 p.m. on weekdays and on an occasional evening, Saturday or Sunday can apply. Rehearsals are Monday evenings from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Chapel of the Burbank Salvation  Army.

The Van Bloem Singers perform more than 30 shows each year for service clubs, volunteer organizations, retiree and church groups, senior residences and  health care facilities, however, singers need not make every performance.

If interested, call Elaine Paonessa, musical director, at (818) 845-6851.

Burbank Salvation Army, 300 E. Angeleno St. (corner of Angeleno and 3rd Street) in Burbank.

TOPS OFFERS LOCAL MEETINGS
T.O.P.S. – Take Off Pounds Sensibly – is a self-accountability group meeting held every Monday. Weigh in is from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

An hour meeting follows in the education building of Center for Spiritual Living, 4845 Dunsmore (at Santa Carlotta). For more information, call and leave a message for T.O.P.S. at (818) 957-8442.

A meeting is also held in Sunland on Thursdays. Weigh-in is at 6:30 p.m.; meeting at 7 p.m. at New Hope Community Church, 10438 Oro Vista St., Sunland. Contact Jeanie Druebert at (818) 353-5015.

GLENDALE ONE TOASTMASTERS
Glendale One Toastmasters meets from 6:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays at Shakers Restaurant in Glendale. Toastmasters is a non-profit organization developing public speaking and leadership skills through practice and feedback in local clubs since 1924.

For more information, call (818) 314-4964.

Shakers Restaurant, 801 N. Central, Glendale

FREE DIABETES COMMUNITY EDUCATION CLASS
The Diabetes Care Center at Glendale Adventist Medical Center invites the community to a free diabetes community education class held every Tuesday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the hospital (Committee Room A).

Participants will learn more about living with diabetes – care and treatment, healthy eating strategies – the importance of blood glucose monitoring and AIC and tools for healthy life style to reduce the risk of complications.

For more information or to RSVP, call (818) 409-8100.

Glendale Adventist Medical Center (Committee Room A – Ground Floor), 1509 Wilson Terrace, Glendale

BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT GROUP AT Y
The Crescenta-Cañada Family YMCA, in partnership with the La Leche League, is hosting a monthly infant lactation and development support group to help support new mothers. This monthly group meets on the third Friday of each month from noon-1 p.m.  This group is free and open to the community and will answer all breastfeeding related questions that new mothers may have.

The Y is also offering a Mindful Parenting Course designed to help parents connect to their children and raise them to thrive. This course is adapted from the work of Dan Siegal, M.D and will focus on reducing daily stress while connecting with your child. The classes meet weekly on Tuesdays. The course is open to all and there is a fee to attend.

For more information, contact the Y at (818) 790-0123.

The Y is located at 1930 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada.