TOWN:Guests patch into Glendale Quilt Guild show

Only $9 (free for children 10 and younger) got you into the largest quilt show in Southern California produced by a nonprofit guild over the weekend. Some 2,500 quilt lovers took advantage of that bargain to attend the 28th annual Quilt Show organized by the Glendale Quilt Guild at the Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel and Convention Center.

Dubbed "Fiesta Fantastica," the show featured a Latin theme and Burbank resident Linda Gasson's "Songs of Our Father" quilt fit right in. In fact, it won the top award as Best in Show.

Besides being an avid quilter of more than 20 years, Gasson is also a speech pathologist at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank.

"When you work in a place that's all white, it's fun to have color," Gasson said.

Besides having her quilts on display at the hospital, Gasson has three of her quilts hanging in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's Sacramento office.

Glendale residents attending the quilt show included 10-year-old Julie Geer, her sister, 7-year-old Lauren Geer, and their aunt, Susan Vite. They collected money for the opportunity quilt tickets.

Co-chairwomen Ruth Berkey, of Sierra Madre, immediate past president of the Glendale Quilt Guild, and Glendale residents Pat Golditch and Karen Millman were still in organizing mode as they oversaw the weekend's quilt workshops, classes and various quilt drawings. Melinda Helscher, of Sun Valley, was also a co-chair.

Other Glendale residents visiting the quilt show were Mary Ann Kroening, Jeanne Tan and Donna Hovartos.

Quilt 'N' Things in Montrose had a busy booth. Among visitors were Catherine Hernandez, 10, and her mother, Lori Green, of Glendale.

Catherine will begin a "Kids Can Quilt" class at the popular Montrose quilt store owned by La Crescenta resident Linda Bennett.

Proceeds from the quilt show will fund scholarships for quilting teachers and children's quilting workshops.

The Glendale Quilt Guild meets on the second Wednesday evening each month at the Glendale Central Library.

To mark St. Patrick's Day, members and guests of the Irish Center of Southern California gathered at the La Cañada Flintridge County Club on Saturday night.

More than 300 party-goers celebrated their sold-out 13th annual dinner dance with bagpipe music and Irish dancing by C and C Highlanders and the Cleary School of Irish Dance, Irish music by the Irish Swing band and traditional silent auction.

The 2007 Irish Honoree Awardees recognized for their continuing support of the Irish Center were Tom Nolan, San Fernando Valley; Bridget Hana, La Cañada Flintridge; and Tim and Corinne Murphy, Covina. Irish Center President Tom McConville, of Burbank, helped bestow the awards.

Glendale residents attending were co-owner of Glendale's Conrad's Restaurant Tom Riordan with wife, Mary Anne Riordan. Tom Riordan came to Glendale in 1943 from Iowa.

Other Glendale residents attending were Muriel and Marc Flynn, Jane and Dave Novitski, Mary Snee, Irish Center committee member; and Margaret Steenken, who was born in Ireland.

Proceeds will help build an Irish Center in Los Angeles County.