On The Town:

“Scouting for Gold” was the theme for the 35th annual Big Strike Auction presented by the Verdugo Hills Council Boy Scouts of America on Saturday at the Glendale Civic Auditorium. And several hundred supporters decided to do just that — in the form of silent and live auctions and, literally, panning for gold.

Council Executive Director Jon Maeda and event Chairwomen Linda Fors and Jenny Schwing chose a Western-theme, with corresponding dress encouraged.

Featured were a delicious chuck-wagon meal of beef ribs and corn from Los Gringos Locos and cowboy-themed, musical entertainment.

Glendale residents who pulled on their boots and grabbed their hats included Glady and Jack Kabateck, Joan and Bob Nellis, glamorous daughter Debbie Koach, Elizabeth and Greg Manassarian, Linda and Matt Sheffield, Debbie and Bruce Hinckley, Carol and Phil Mutchnik, Shela Anderson, and Glendale school board members Greg Krikorian, Joylene Wagner and Mary Boger. Scouts Justin Potter, 16, and Lucas Yepez, 18, greeted guests with gusto.

Kaye and Ron Smith of Burbank dropped by, taking time from their missionary duties as public affairs representatives for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Burbank Scouts Chris Davis, 13, Dellon Soderstrom, 17, and Daniel Marbach, 14, joined their Glendale counterparts in greeting guests at the front of the auditorium.

Large-print name labels, readable by the youngest Scout to the oldest senior citizen, were handed out at the reception desk, as were auction paddles and the Big Strike Bugle listing auction items. Silent auction items included hundreds of baskets brimming with items, restaurant certificates and event tickets.

Live auction items included gourmet dinners and vacation getaways. Favorites were a visit to a taping of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” and a Browning 12-gauge shotgun worth $1,000 — ammunition not included.

According to Maeda, the “Big Strike Auction” will raise funds to support year-round Learning for Life experiences and in-depth training required to attain the highest ranks in scouting. The scouting opportunities will benefit young men from Glendale, Burbank, La Crescenta, La Cañada Flintridge, Tujunga, Sunland, Eagle Rock and large sections of Los Angeles County.