Childrens Hospital Los Angeles

Childrens Hospital Los Angeles recently recognized the work of La Crescenta resident Dr. Vesa M. Kaartinen by presenting him with the prestigious 2006 H. Russell Smith Award. Kaartinen was one of two recipients of the award that was presented during a dinner on May 17 at the hospital. Kaartinen was lauded as making major discoveries in craniofacial malformations and heart defects. He is a principal investigator in the Developmental Biology Program of The Saban Research Institute of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, and an assistant professor of pathology and surgery at the Keck School of Medicine.

The La Canada Flintridge Valley Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Club will begin a new year of meetings and philanthropic work at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday with a continental breakfast at the home of Sue Stauffer. Most club members are Pi Phis from La Canada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose and Sunland-Tujunga, but all Pi Phis are welcome. Members provide books to patients at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and provide funds for undergraduate scholarships and national Pi Beta Phi philanthropies.

Janice Marie Spore March 23, 1940-May 20, 2011 Janice passed away at her home in Burbank, surrounded by family. She is survived by her husband, Donald, of 51 years; daughter, Wendy Vecchiarelli (James); son, Donald Spore (Liza); sister, Doris Farrell (Donald); four grandchildren, Tyla and Aliza Vecchiarelli, Melanie and Aimee Spore;  two nephews, Robert Farrell and Michael Farrell (Michael preceded Janice in death).  Jan was a surgical nurse at Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles for 40 years.

Mary Jo and John Hjelmstrom Mary Jo and John Hjelmstrom of Burbank celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at The Castaway's Mountain View Room. The couple was married by the Rev. James W. Brougher on Sept. 18, 1953, at the First Baptist Church of Glendale. Brougher performed the ceremony for the bride's parents in 1932 and later married John and Mary Jo's daughter, Karen, to Randy Haney in 1994. Mary Jo and John have owned and operated Thrifty Appliance Repair in Burbank since 1958.

American Girl fashion shows benefit Childrens Hospital Flintridge Guild of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles will host the sixth annual American Girl Fashion Show on March 23, 24 and 25 at Brookside Golf Club in Pasadena. The event highlights the American Girl collector dolls. Daughters and granddaughters of members model historical outfits matching the dolls they carry. There is a dinner show on Friday, March 23, and three tea shows, at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, March 24 and 25. The cost is $30 for the Friday gala and $25 for the tea shows.

Alex Coolman LOS ANGELES -- A 2-year-old boy injured in a fall Saturday was still in serious condition Monday. The boy, who fell from a third-story window Saturday, had stable vital signs but was still being kept under sedation and was breathing will the help of a respirator, said Steve Rutledge, a spokesman for Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. The child apparently pushed through a screen before falling Saturday afternoon from the window of a home in the 200 block of West Lomita Avenue.

Assistance League Glendale installed Alma Tycer as president for the 2011-2012 year at the group’s annual meeting at Oakmont Country Club. She is a founding member of Assistance League’s auxiliary, Las Caritas, founded in 1982. After more than 25 years working for the Glendale Unified School District, Tycer retired and became an active member as well as a member of Las Caritas. She has 30 years of experience with Assistance League, serving as chairwoman of Las Caritas and chairing several committees for the active chapter as well as serving on committees with National Assistance League.

As you drive up Rosemont Avenue toward Two Strike Park keep your eyes open for very energetic little girls jumping and waving a sign that says "lemonade." Elizabeth Hakes and Danielle Lynch, Monte Vista third-graders, want drivers to stop and buy their lemonade for a good cause. In January 2004 a Hakes family friend died of leukemia at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. "Riley was 4 years old when she died," said Elizabeth's mother, Beth Hakes. The friend's death made quite an impact on Elizabeth, who knew there were other children needing help and support at the hospital.

Chamberlin released from hospital Glendale High football player Jason Chamberlin, who collapsed during an Aug. 21 practice and was rushed to the hospital with a 107-degree fever, was released from Childrens Hospital Los Angeles on Wednesday afternoon, according to hospital spokesman Steve Rutledge. The 15-year-old sophomore, who weighs more than 280 pounds, was in critical condition and unconscious for much of the day after the collapse, but began showing slow signs of improvement within the past week.

Benefit helps Childrens Hospital More than 100 guests attended the Friends of Childrens Hospital's annual benefit. This year's theme was a festive evening on the shore with the event at The Beach Club in Santa Monica. Friends of Childrens Hospital was founded in 1999 by Katie Hult to support children fighting and surviving cancer. The group raises funds and awareness for the Childrens Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, one of the top pediatric facilities in the nation.