On The Town:

For all those volunteers who helped keep Glendale clean and beautiful last year, a dinner was held in their honor. The 42nd annual Community Beautification Awards Dinner for the Committee for a Clean & Beautiful Glendale took place Thursday at the Glendale Elk Club.

Committee chairwoman Eleanor Wacker and Neighborhood Services staffer Julie Shermer welcomed 160 volunteers and guests. City greetings were given by Mayor John Drayman, who said Glendale has ranked among the top three cities in the United States in the past five years for its beautification programs.

Drayman also said more than 25,000 volunteer hours were donated last year. Some of those volunteers removed graffiti from 9,000 sites. After Drayman’s remarks, 2008 “I Love My Neighborhood” Poster Contest winner Teni Amadian gave the flag salute with aplomb. While dinner was underway, “A Year in Review” video was screened, showing volunteer efforts. The video was introduced by Neighborhood Services Program Coordinator Noreen Benjaminsen.

The Garrett family was recognized with the Family Civic Pride award for volunteering for several years in a row. Carlos and Susan Garrett and children Camille Garrett, 14, and Aidan Garrett, 12, participate in the Great American Clean-Up Day every year. Susan Garrett said what her kids liked the least about volunteering was picking up cigarette butts on Broadway.

The youngest volunteers recognized with a Civic Pride award were Connor Johnson, 8, and brother Luke Johnson, 5. They set up a lemonade stand on Ethel Street for May’s Great American Clean-Up Day and passed out lemonade and home-made cookies to volunteers. Mom Lauren Johnson said her sons went through seven or eight pitchers of lemonade that day.

Civic Pride awards also went to community organizations. Firefighter Ralph Muzquiz and Battalion Chief Tom Propst accepted an award on behalf of the Glendale Fire Department. The Jewel City Kiwanis Club of Glendale was recognized as the Organization of the Year and represented at the dinner by 22 members.

Committee for a Clean & Beautiful Glendale members present included Marilyn Gunnell, Margaret Hammond, Arnold Milner and Emeritus member Carol Jean Felkel.

The next committee event is the “I Love My Neighborhood” poster contest awards ceremony at the Glendale Civic Auditorium. For more information, call Noreen Benjaminsen at (818) 548-2125.