Picnic

GLENDALE ? Parents with autistic children can enjoy an opportunity to spend quality time with them in a safe and sympathetic environment at the Foothill Autism Alliance's annual Spring Picnic and Fun Festival on Saturday. More than 150 people, including siblings and family friends, are expected to attend the afternoon event at Lower Scholl Canyon Park, which organizers chose because of its small size and seclusion, said alliance president Yudi Bennett. The spring picnic, now in its eighth year, offers families in Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank, La Crescenta and La Cañada Flintridge some welcome respite from the difficulties of caring for their autistic children, who often find it difficult to socialize in schools and the wider community, Bennett said.

Glendale Old Timers' picnic invites people with ties to the city. City's birthday street festival on Saturday.GLENDALE -- Doris Biggs would never leave the Jewel City. "I'm familiar with everything in Glendale," she said. "I've got a nice house on the hill with a view, and it's all I know." Biggs, secretary of the Glendale Old Timers Assn. -- which turns 100 this year -- has spent all 82 years of her life in the city. She was born at the Glendale Sanitarium -- now Glendale Adventist Medical Center -- went to school in the city, worked for Glendale High School for 17 years and when she got married, she and her husband built a home down the street from her parent's house, in the hills near Forest Lawn.

I was in my early 20s, when some of my friends and I were involved in organizing an annual picnic commemorating Armenian Independence on May 28th (since then, Armenia has recorded a new independence day in September). The event fell on the Memorial Day weekend, and notwithstanding the inconsistent spring weather, we often had a decent turnout from the local Armenian community. Young and old enjoyed a day with their family and friends, and paid tribute to their heritage. The program often included game booths for kids, kebobs, as well as live Armenian music to entertain the attendees.

FYI WHAT: "Picnic" by William Inge, produced by A Noise Within WHEN: Plays in repertory with "Othello" with through Nov. 27. WHERE: 234 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale TICKETS: $32 to $36 with discounts for students, groups and seniors CONTACT: (818) 240-0910, Ext. 1 {LDQUO}Picnic" is not an easy play to direct. There are complicated entrances and exits and many players on stage at once. To make conversations natural, one character must interrupt others, talk over one another and play to an audience in the semi-round.

Since 1906 the Glendale Old-Timer's Assn. has been hosting its yearly picnic on Labor Day to provide local people with a chance to see old friends and celebrate the community. And while a drop-off in attendance over the years worries some participants, association members at the 99th annual picnic Monday had hopes for a strong future for the event. "It's important because these are the men and women who made Glendale into one of the finest cities in the county," said Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, who attends the event every year.

Amanda Anderson has become a well-known presence in her Rancho Santa Margarita neighborhood. Every year, the 14-year-old posts fliers around the block, asking neighbors to donate backpacks, which she in turn passes on to charities. To build the stash in her garage, Amanda also goes door to door for contributions. "A lot of people in our neighborhood are expecting it, because this is the sixth summer she's done it," said her mother, Sheri Anderson.

"The Sandlot" comes to Verdugo Park The Glendale Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department will screen the children's classic "The Sandlot" at dusk Friday in Verdugo Park, 1621 Canada Blvd., as part of its Summer Moonlight Movies program. Families are invited to arrive early and bring a picnic dinner. For more information, call (818) 548-3785. Zarian to host local reform advocates Local residents B. Ritchie Payne and Richard Seeley will discuss City Council districts, voting by mail and campaign finance reform on the "Larry Zarian Forum" at 7 p.m. today on Charter Communications Channel 26. The live call-in program's phone number is (818)

Darleene Barrientos Donning tennis shoes instead of hiking boots and trading bottled water for cantaloupe, several members of the Crescenta Valley group of the Sierra Club gathered Thursday evening for its annual picnic. The group's annual July picnic brought the members and their families together at Dunsmore Park, in full view of the dusky Verdugo Mountains, a favorite haunt for local hikers. The group meets about once a month, except in July, August and December.

The Monte Vista Elementary School community enjoyed games, food and each other's company at last Friday's annual picnic sponsored by the school's PTA. From 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 24, friends, teachers and families gathered on the school's lower field, many bringing a picnic dinner and dessert to be shared. The event was emceed by Monte Vista parents Mark Miller and Vito Palazzolo. Brightly colored blankets were scattered on the lawn as children whizzed by on scooters loaned out by the school.

Darleene Barrientos Laying large chunks of meat to roast over a picnic grill at Verdugo Park was just the beginning for Hagop Zolyan and his family and friends. Zolyan, of Pasadena, his best friend Kevork Ohannessian, also of Pasadena, and Ohannessian's brother-in-law, Gregory Tatulyan, of North Hollywood, all brought their families to enjoy the entire day at the park, for the sixth annual Armenian Independence Day Festival. Thousands of Armenian Americans descended on Verdugo Park, 1621 Canada Blvd.