On The Town:

Glendale Healthy Kids’ Leadership Circle Brunch on Saturday at Palate Food & Wine featured awards and scintillating speeches, not the least of which was the one given by keynote speaker state Sen. Carol LiuCarol Liu.

But it was the announcement of honorees that all were waiting for. Volunteer of the Year was given to Gina Stifter for her continuing leadership in putting together free dental services for Glendale Healthy Kids’ Give Kids a Smile program.

Organization of the Year went to the Glendale Assn. of Realtors. Association President Judy Schlegel accepted the award, representing the role of the association in community services. The Ruth Charles Legacy Society Award went to Debbie and Bruce Hinckley for starting planned giving via endowments to Glendale Healthy Kids.

Glendale Healthy Kids President Elizabeth Manasserian introduced Liu to the close to 40 supporters present. Liu updated her audience with Sacramento happenings and her own platform, centering on women in prisons. To that end, Liu spent a voluntary night in prison in order to experience the conditions of the 10,000 women incarcerated in California.

“The mattresses were hard and the pillows were grungy,” she said.

At the end of the brunch, Glendale Healthy Kids’ Executive Director Camille Levee reminded all to mark their calendars for the organization’s annual Taste of Glendale on May 12.

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Sunday’s Downtown Dash 5K might have inspired some die-hards to train for the L.A. Marathon. Watching their weight and eating well are Glendale residents Marc Stirdivant and Annette Vartanian.

Both engaged in some friendly competition between city departments March 9 at Parcher Plaza at City Hall.

Stirdivant, in boxing regalia, weighed in as a member of the Parks Department, while the theme song from “Rocky” played on the loudspeaker.

Representing the Redevelopment Department was Vartanian. She will be mighty competition to Stirdivant who said, “Annette is half my weight, half my age and has actual athletic ability.”

Both were to be judged on who raised the most money from sponsors and who finished the Dash first. Between the two, Stirdivant raised the most money ($1,600), but Vartanian won the foot race.

Hosts of the Dash, the Downtown Merchant’s Assn., will donate proceeds to Glendale Adventist Medical Center to help fund public awareness for stroke services.