Gathering

DOWNTOWN — In the wake of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s announcement to suspend all efforts to normalize relations with Turkey, hundreds of people gathered at the Alex Theatre to commemorate the first genocide of the 20th century. And while attendees Friday did not bear witness to the start of the mass exterminations, many mourned the losses of aunts and uncles, mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers. On the eve of the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the word “genocide” alone continues to frustrate international relations.

LA CRESCENTA — Hundreds of visitors streamed into Crescenta Valley Park on Saturday to enjoy carnival rides, live performances and pie-eating contests at the fourth annual Hometown Country Fair. The fair, organized by the Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce, had more community participation and involvement than any prior fair, said Jean Maluccio, president of the chamber. “We’re just trying to get the community out,” Maluccio said. The fair was unique this year, not just because it included 70 booths, compared with 50 a year ago, but because it involved the participation of Korean families and organizations for the first time, she said.

More than 1,500 people celebrated Saturday the many accomplishments of migrant farmworker activist Cesar Chavez at the city’s ninth annual event honoring his life. Residents and city officials gathered at Pacific Community Center and Park for the commemorative event held in tribute of Chavez’s tireless fight for labor equality and justice for Latinos. “He is a symbol of peace in intergroup relations,” said Fernando Guerra, director of the Center for the Study of Los Angeles.

BURBANK ? If all goes well for Thousand Oaks resident Dave Grimm, he?ll be one of thousands of expected applicants picked to serve on California?s first-ever citizen?s commission for redrawing voting districts. The independent 14-member Citizens Redistricting Commission was created last year when voters like Grimm passed Proposition 11, which essentially transferred from the Legislature to the public the power to redraw the districts for 40 state Senate seats, 80 in the Assembly districts and four for the State Board of Equalization.

Betty Ross has spent the past few nights with her family and close friends, which has made Hanukkah an already joyous celebration for her. On Friday, the first night of Hanukkah, Ross and her family lit the first candle of their menorah, played with a dreidel, ate potato latkes and opened gifts, she said. But Ross said the highlight of celebrating Hanukkah is being with her daughter and granddaughter. In an effort to extend family time, the Tarzana resident took her granddaughter to the Americana at Brand on Sunday to celebrate Hanukkah, the eight-day Festival of Lights celebrated by Jews around the world.

It was the event that many Glendale readers were looking forward to ? Lisa See, author of ?Shanghai Girls,? spoke to more than 300 readers at the Glendale Central Library Oct. 28. It was the culmination of many months of staff preparation for the Glendale Public Library?s third annual ?One Book, One Glendale? citywide reading event. In fact, the planning began even before the book was published. Once See?s cooperation was obtained, dozens of free lectures throughout the city and at Glendale Community College were organized.

Michael Jackson’s funeral Thursday at Glendale Forest Lawn Memorial Park was, for all its anticipation, a relatively subdued affair — absent of the chaos that poured into streets for his Los Angeles memorial in July. The crowd that amassed outside the cemetery’s South Glendale Avenue wrought-iron gates was largely made up of local and international media, who were confined to the area immediately outside. The funeral service, which was to begin at 7 p.m., started late, with the 26-vehicle Jackson motorcade arriving about 8:30 p.m. Dozens of fans carried signs and cheered as the motorcade passed Los Feliz Road and Glendale Avenue as Jackson’s music played in the background.

  Refreshments offered at center Pacific Outdoor Living is hosting its annual 4th of July celebration at its La Crescenta California Waterscapes Design Center at 2727 Foothill Blvd. in La Crescenta. Throughout the day, the store will be running sales and at 5 p.m. the staff will barbecue hot dogs and offer free refreshments.   Fireworks and carnival planned The Crescenta Valley Fireworks Association is now planning for the third annual fireworks show and carnival being held on July 4 at La Crescenta Elementary School.