Glendale Adventist Medical Center

They do things “Filipino-style” at Holy Family Catholic Church. They call Mary by her Filipino name - Our Lady of Perpetual Help - and have a Filipino choir. Seventy percent of the parish's population is Filipino. And it's growing every year, just as it is throughout Glendale. In the past two decades, the city's Filipino population has grown 66% to 13,328, according to recently released 2010 U.S. Census data. Filipino Americans now make up about 7% of Glendale's population, outpacing Koreans, who were once the third-largest minority group in a city of about 192,000.

News that Verdugo Hills Hospital had entered merger talks with at least one other hospital spurred a wave of worry across the greater Glendale area this week, particularly among those who are fearful that the move could end up eroding existing medical services. And whether Verdugo Hills Hospital merges with Glendale Adventist Medical Center or with some other organization, this really is the key point. Not only would foothill-area residents be greatly impacted by the reduction of any services, especially those that are emergency-related, but so would Glendale's two other hospitals - Glendale Memorial and Glendale Adventist.

The prospect that Verdugo Hills Hospital will soon merge with a larger healthcare provider has area business people concerned about the next chapter for the 40-year-old facility. Verdugo Hills officials acknowledged Wednesday that changing economics have spurred them into talks with larger providers about a merger or strategic alliance for the hospital on the border of Glendale and La Cañada Flintridge. Spokeswoman Celine Petrossian declined to name potential partners. But some Glendale business people believe that USC Health Sciences is a suitor.

Glendale Adventist Medical Center was one of nine hospitals in California to earn the "Outstanding Achievement Award" from the Commission on Cancer this month. Glendale Adventist -- one of just two hospitals, including the Cedar-Sinai Medical Center, recognized by the commission in the L.A. region -- received the award for its cancer patient services. In a statement, Boris Bagdasarian, director of cancer services at Glendale Adventist Medical Center, said the honor was yet "another eternal endorsement of our commitment to improve the health care of our patients through quality care based on the best medical evidence available.

The Glendale Educational Foundation did more than “Dancing with Diamonds” Friday evening. It gave them away, honored them and collected them to the tune of $50,000 in expected proceeds. On Friday (Feb. 17), the Glendale Hilton Hotel staff pushed out the dividers into their largest ballroom to accommodate more than 350 supporters in sipping, supping and socializing, all in the name of educating our Glendale youngsters. This 5th Anniversary Gala Dinner & Dance, chaired by Vrejh Hovsepian, saluted three Diamond Award Honorees.

I have to say that I am truly sad to read the Jan. 29 commentary by Barry McComb titled “It's important to save the Alex” - not only for myself, but for all the future generations. How can this happen? How can we allow this? My grandmother moved to Glendale in the late '40s to raise her four daughters. Almost 50 years ago one of her daughters had a child, Cynthia, at Glendale Adventist Medical Center. This child, me, grew up with Grandma Garnet enjoying the arts at the Alex Theatre.

The first baby born in Glendale in the New Year arrived at 4:24 a.m. Jan. 1 to first-time parents and Glendale residents Elina Hovhannisyan and Roubik Rostamloo. Their son David, who was due on Dec. 31, was born at Glendale Adventist Medical Center weighing 6 pounds, 3 ounces. “It is a huge blessing for me,” Rostamloo said. “I'm a lucky guy.” At Verdugo Hills Hospital, Roger and Erica Fajardo, both 29 of Northridge, welcomed Dominic at 6:25 a.m. On Saturday night, the Fajardos hosted a quiet New Year's gathering at their home with family and friends.

A tranquil garden area built by a local teenager in honor of her grandmother, a breast cancer survivor, will serve as a cancer treatment refuge for other patients at Glendale Adventist Medical Center. Kristine Seuylemezian, a junior at La Cañada High School, built the garden area to earn her Gold Award in the Girl Scouts, but the reward has been about much more than a one-time honor, she said. Kristine said she wanted to create something for people to enjoy for years to come.