Hobby

'Videographer' needs another hobby Self-proclaimed "videographer" Peter Musurlian needs to get a life ("Library boots videographer," July 28). I understand that he may be angry that a non-Armenian (Mike Gatto) won our local Assembly seat. But that does not justify following Gatto around and creating a scene at public meetings. Arpi Kevorkian Glendale City has a lot to learn from Bell debacle In a July 25 article published in the Los Angeles Times titled "Ripple effect of Bell deals," columnist Steve Lopez reported on pension expert Marcia Kelly's opinions that Glendale would indeed have a relatively increased liability for Adams' pension — albeit, according to her, stemming from its membership in some sort of an apparent consortium of 140 similar-sized cities.

Upon first glance, the block of wood looked like it had been covered with tangled pieces of plastic. But upon closer observation, the intricate grapes and graceful vines take form. And when the artist lifts back the top, an empty compartment is revealed. The pear wood jewelry box was created by Glendale woodcarver Nairi Safaryan and won top honors in the Woodcraft and Pfeil Carving Artistry Contest in April. The prize was a four-day, three-night trip to Brienz, Switzerland, and private carving training with master carver Paul Fuchs at the Kantonale Schnizlerschule Brienz woodcarving school.

Karen S. Kim DOWNTOWN -- Tucked into a corner of the Glendale Galleria and guarded by a 7-foot armored space Marine figure lies a fantasy world of superhumans, alien creatures, carnage and conquest. Games Workshop offers shoppers a plethora of fantasy and science-fiction games played with miniature figurines. But the figurines, scenes and props for the games are all assembled and painted by the players themselves. "It's a hobby as well as a game," said Shad Keatinge, 29, manager of Glendale's Games Workshop.

A carving tool, a table and time is what John Sertich needs when he works to shape and mold a piece of discarded wood into a work of art. The 70-year-old La Crescenta resident spends his time making animals and other decorative items from wood. His latest work in progress is a dragon and a giraffe. And their carving takes precision and a steady hand, he said. Sertich started woodworking in the 1970s when he dabbled in furniture. He built functional pieces of furniture for his home, but after building several tables he quit because of the lack of space he needed to store his pieces.

GLENDALE — A postage stamp is far more than just a way to represent the cost of postage. It also represents a rich and diverse history fitting on about two square inches of paper, relating stories about the image etched on the front, the person who licked it and pressed it to the envelope and the person who ran to the mailbox to pick it up. "L.L. Bean in Maine could mail a canoe if you put a stamp on it," said Glendale resident Sy Porter, an 83-year-old stamp collector from Glendale with an affinity for aviation stamps circa World War I. October is National Stamp Collecting Month, and Glendale Stamp Club member Don Schilling created a display — of stamps, stamp-collecting equipment and publications in honor of his lifelong hobby — at the Montrose-Crescenta Library, where the club meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Monday of every month.

Sandra Kraisirideja, Enjoy! BURBANK -- When Michael S. Patterson began writing "The Family Man" nine years ago, he didn't expect to finish it or even have it published. "Writing was just a hobby, something I enjoyed doing," he said. "I had started a couple novels before but never finished them." While working as a litigator, Patterson said he continued writing to balance out the monotony of preparing legal briefs. "I really needed to keep my creativity going," he said.

A fire that broke out in a hobby shop Tuesday afternoon caused $100,000 damage, a fire captain said. Smoke pouring out of the storefront was reported at 4:26 p.m. Tuesday, Glendale Fire spokesman Capt. Tom Marchant said. Robin Hambley, owner of Robin's Hobbies at 1844 W. Glenoaks Blvd., said he tried to put the fire out with a fire extinguisher but was unsuccessful. Seven Glendale Fire companies had the fire under control within 22 minutes, Marchant said.

Retired maintenance worker Jay Fragoso works part-time to earn money so he can pay for his favorite hobby — skydiving. Fragoso, 67, has been skydiving for more than 20 years and has 2,010 jumps to his name. And he is not ready to give it up any time soon. Since retiring six years ago, Fragoso got a custodial job at Sparr Heights Community Center in Glendale to earn extra money so he can go skydiving every two weeks. He spends about $250 a month on skydiving and he doesn't always jump out of an airplane alone.

Whether he’s building a jewelry box or a miniature car, Elmer Art is always looking for creative ways to work with wood. The 74-year-old Montrose resident builds wooden objects using hand tools and other equipment in his garage. Ever since Art picked up woodworking as a hobby when he was a teenager, working with wood has felt natural, even though he’s never had formal training. His wood pieces are a big hit with friends and family. Art gives his pieces to relatives as gifts.

Members of the Glendale Model Railroad Club are in locomotion mode this weekend as they kick off their 60th anniversary celebration and share their love of trains with the public. The group is having its spring open house today through Monday at the clubhouse, which is tucked in a corner of Fremont Park in Glendale. The public will be able to watch trains as they make their way through 1,500 feet of track and landscape set up inside the clubhouse, said Paul C. Koehler, club member and past president.

Shirley S. Tautkus Passed away on January 29,2012 at home in Sedona, Az. after being ill for a while. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, & friend. Shirley was born in Ohio, June 1939 to Walter & Susie Beatty. The family moved to Tujunga, Ca. in 1954, where she attended Verdugo Hills High School. Shirley met Donald Tautkus at church & got married in 1956. They lived in Tujunga, then La Crescenta, then moved to La Canada in 1968 with their 3 children.

Walking through the Sparr Heights Community Center in Glendale on Thursday, Jay Fragoso was interrupted mid-stride. “Jumping Jay,” a guest called out, beckoning him over for a handshake. It is an appropriate moniker for a man who, at 72, is as comfortable interacting with his peers at the senior center as he is hurtling through the air at 120 mph. On Jan. 18, Fragoso was part of a 15-person free-fall formation that set a world record for the largest skydiving formation of jumpers over the age of 70. “What I enjoy is the free-fall,” the veteran skydiver and Highland Park resident said.

Upon first glance, the block of wood looked like it had been covered with tangled pieces of plastic. But upon closer observation, the intricate grapes and graceful vines take form. And when the artist lifts back the top, an empty compartment is revealed. The pear wood jewelry box was created by Glendale woodcarver Nairi Safaryan and won top honors in the Woodcraft and Pfeil Carving Artistry Contest in April. The prize was a four-day, three-night trip to Brienz, Switzerland, and private carving training with master carver Paul Fuchs at the Kantonale Schnizlerschule Brienz woodcarving school.

'Videographer' needs another hobby Self-proclaimed "videographer" Peter Musurlian needs to get a life ("Library boots videographer," July 28). I understand that he may be angry that a non-Armenian (Mike Gatto) won our local Assembly seat. But that does not justify following Gatto around and creating a scene at public meetings. Arpi Kevorkian Glendale City has a lot to learn from Bell debacle In a July 25 article published in the Los Angeles Times titled "Ripple effect of Bell deals," columnist Steve Lopez reported on pension expert Marcia Kelly's opinions that Glendale would indeed have a relatively increased liability for Adams' pension — albeit, according to her, stemming from its membership in some sort of an apparent consortium of 140 similar-sized cities.

Last December at a luncheon for the Glendale Assn. of Realtors, as the award for Realtor of the Year was being announced, Glendale Realtor Keith Sorem sat listening, wondering, “Who is it going to be?” The announcer began describing a Western State University graduate. Sorem, a graduate of the University of Washington, thought nothing of it until the announcer described the recipient’s philanthropic work at the Rotary Club of Glendale Sunrise, Glendale public schools, Verdugo Hills Council of Boy Scouts and Montrose Church.

GLENDALE — Sitting side by side at the Five-Star Saturday Glendale Stamp Show, the pair who call themselves the “muscle” and the “motivator” epitomize the future and past of the stamp-dealing business. There’s 23-year-old Garrett Williams, part of a generation chided by stamp collectors as having little interest in anything that can’t be plugged into an electrical socket. And then there’s his grandpa, Ralph West, whose decades in Southern California have done little to mask his Brooklyn accent.

Before entering Glendale’s Youth and Family Services house, observers can already see the dedication and hard work of Glendale High School seniors Jennifer and Michelle Regalado in the recently planted front garden. The twins spent the last semester sprucing up the front of the building at 815 E. Harvard St. But their service to the nonprofit doesn’t end there. The Regalados joined the Youth and Family Services Program during the summer of their junior year because they wanted to make a difference in their community.

When Bill James retired in 2005 after 35 years of running Glendale Printing Center, he assumed he would have more free time. But as current president of the West Glendale Kiwanis Club, board member of Glendale Crime Stoppers and a former president of the Verdugo Hills Council, Boy Scouts of America, James’ days have been no lighter than when he was still part of the workforce. When he isn’t busy giving his time to the community, James tends to his 35-year-old car restoration hobby.

In 1989, Sam Engel was interviewed to be the city’s first Neighborhood Services administrator. Two hours after getting hired, he left his post at the city of Covina and rolled his sleeves up in 100-degree heat for a committee meeting at John Muir Elementary School. Nineteen years later, Engel hasn’t slowed down — on land, at least. Up until having to sell his boat a year and a half ago, Engel took breaks from his fast-paced career by sailing.   How long did you sail before selling your boat?

Members have racked up double-digit years singing with the Verdugo Hills Showtime Chorus, and some say they wished they hadn’t waited so long to join. One of those is baritone Jeannine Marvin, of La Crescenta, who has been singing with the a cappella, barbershop-style, four-part harmony chorus for 21 years. “My regret is that I didn’t join sooner,” said Marvin, who grew up in Glendale. “I sang throughout high school and college and then didn’t sing again until I was 50.” The brain gets quite a workout, she said, adding that four-part harmony takes time — learning the parts and the words, when to take breaths, timing and the choreography.