Society

The Verdugo Hills Sunshine Society was formed in the early 1930s with the goal of operating a home-like boarding home for elderly people of culture and refinement. Charter members James and Effie Fifield helped form the society with the specific intention of donating their home, named Twelve Oaks Lodge, to the group. The Fifields, from Minneapolis, wintered in what was then called Verdugo City for many years. When James Fifield died in 1933, Effie Fifield took over his publishing business.

In its latest ploy to rally public sympathy, the Glendale Humane Society stoops to an all-time low. At the expense of the animals and committed volunteers, the society orchestrates yet another tall tale of deception. According to an article published in the Aug. 15 edition of the News-Press, Paulette Ramsey Wood, the society's spokesperson, stated that the society had not been informed by PETCO that it was no longer welcome to participate in the store's pet adoption events, the most recent held on Aug. 11. In other words, the society claims it was unaware it had lost the support of PETCO.

Alex Coolman SOUTHWEST GLENDALE -- These are rocky times for the Glendale Humane Society, with a determined group of residents launching weekly criticisms of the organization at City Council meetings just as the council is attempting to decide on the society's budget for the next fiscal year. In response to the continually growing list of charges against the society, the city has launched a formal audit of its finances. Council members have also expressed interest in looking at the practices of other cities as a model for changing the way Glendale's society is run. But at the small Ivy Street facility, the society's staff said it stands by its financial practices, the way it conducts business, and the level of service it provides to residents.

Joyce Rudolph The society pages, touting tea parties with photographs of women in hats and gloves, became a thing of the past in the mid-1940s at the Glendale News-Press. Publisher Carroll Parcher set the change in motion by hiring a young journalist named Betty Preston as associate women's editor in 1945. Former City Editor Avery Keener Econome said Preston transformed the traditional society pages into feature sections that appealed to men and women of all ages.

The Society of Motion Picture Still Photographers returns to the Academy's Grand Lobby Gallery with "Take Two," a show of more than 60 new images, most taken on film sets during the last five years by 25 of their members. The society's previous exhibition, "Between Takes," was on display at the academy five years ago. "Take Two" runs from Jan. 7 to April 17. The photographers in this exhibition were all invited to join the society based upon their experience and talent, and most have covered numerous films over lengthy careers.

In the Aug. 28 Community Forum, I read a letter and an opinion that greatly disturbed me. I would urge those who would so quickly want to specify rights for only those whom you are comfortable to rethink your stand against those in our modern society who you believe, perhaps, should be left out. If Michelle Mac Neal of La Crescenta really thinks that a very small sample of our society should be denied access to employment,...

Glendale has become a very hostile city for those who work, play, live, drive, shop or walk in town. I fear people have forgotten the "social contract." It is an understanding that everyone needs to play by the rules to make our society civilized and livable. We have failed to teach our children to obey the laws and labor productively so we may live our lives with safety and stability, because we have become a society of outlaws. Our leaders have failed us by overbuilding housing and high-rise offices.

In reading Will Roger's column June 5, I noted that Glendale Humane Society Executive Director Leslie Eppick recently told the City Council, among other things, that her agency has failed to file financial statements (or maybe they did), that such statements aren't required in any event because the society isn't "a government agency," and that neither she nor her CPA had a clue what it cost to run the agency or how much has been raised from the public.

GLENDALE -- Suzanne McKay, one of Glendale's leading historic preservation advocates, has died. McKay died of cancer Dec. 10 at her Glendale home. She was 54. She was born in Portland, Ore., but spent her childhood and most of her adult life in Glendale. McKay began her professional life as a teacher in Australia. She returned to the United States in 1974, and worked in Sacramento as Gov. Jerry Brown's staff assistant. On her return to Glendale, she spent the remainder of her career at Transamerica Life Insurance.

The world of academia is somewhat of an anomaly. It wouldn?t be an exaggeration if I claimed that it is an independent sphere ? a realm separate but not necessarily equal to the rest of society. When I was in college, certain aspects of higher education baffled me. There seemed to be a disconnect between academicians and the rest of society. Politicians and businesspeople often discount the world of research and academics, claiming that it lacks ?real life? value. Perhaps, to a certain degree, this argument is valid.

"Gifts of the Heart" was the theme of Glendale Soroptimists' Grant Presentation Luncheon. The Glendale Hilton in its holiday splendor was the setting for over 100 members and guests welcomed by President Gayle Craig on Thursday (Dec. 20). At each table setting was a small rounded plastic heart tied with a red bow. Service Grants Committee member Janet Hamilton said the hearts represent "how much we appreciate your [charity] organization and how much we want you to succeed. " Fourteen organizations succeeded in snagging cash awards to the tune of $16,775 in total grants given by the generous Soroptimist ladies.

The Los Angeles chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists this week announced that it will honor Dan Evans - editor of four Times Community News Division titles, including the Glendale News-Press and Burbank Leader - for his leadership, under which two major public records battles were won. In announcing the distinguished journalist award, the organization cited Evans' leadership of the News-Press, Leader and La Cañada Valley Sun, while...

What better way to celebrate some holiday cheer than at a speakeasy? How about one at the Roaring '20s-era Seeley's Furniture Company Building on South Brand? That's just what members and guests of the Glendale Historical Society did. On Sunday (Dec. 16), for one night only, “prohibition punch” flowed freely as some 200 guests also enjoyed Urban Palate-catered hors d'oeuvres and cool jazz. Like in the old days, visitors had to announce the code word “P-s-s-s-t” to the bouncer before they were allowed to enter the tiny first-floor space for reveling.

The Pasadena Humane Society beat its fundraising goal of $300,000 this weekend for the nonprofit's annual Wiggle Waggle Walk at the Rose Bowl. Zahra Nealy, a spokeswoman for the shelter, which provides animal control services for Glendale, said more than $316,000 had been tallied as of Monday. A final figure likely wouldn't be reached until later this week, she added. Roughly 2,000 people participated in the 14th annual Wiggle Waggle Walk on Sunday, raising money among friends, family and co-workers.

The Glendale Historical Society recognized those who have made strides in preserving the treasured past of the city during a summer meeting Aug. 18 at the Alex Theatre. President Greg Grammer presented the awards. The Armenian Consulate in Los Angeles, Seeley's Building and four historic districts received preservation awards while Society Immediate Past President John LoCascio received an award for his accomplishments made during his three-year term. LoCascio played a major role in Glendale's adoption of its Historic District Overlay Zone Ordinance, which established the process for the creation of historic districts.

The perfect respite from the summer heat was a garden dinner potluck on the spacious lawn of the Glendale home of Kathy and Kent Lee. On Thursday about 50 members of the second ward Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathered in the early evening twilight for supping and socializing. Through their Relief Society, members have spent countless hours hand-sewing colorful pillow cases for young patients at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Each patient takes their pillowcase home after their hospital stay.

On a November night in 1994, the Alex Film Society was about to screen “Gone With the Wind” when the sound system failed. The screen had only been propped up two days before, and there had been no time to test the sound before the society's first event. “I had to go out and say, 'We have a problem,'” recalled society founder Brian Ellis, and everyone went home early. Theater management had already predicted that the new group wouldn't attract much of a crowd, so Ellis and society member Randy Carter personally rounded up soda and candy from a local store.

The entrance of 60 Armenian Relief Society honorees clad in tricolor ribbons into the Glendale Hilton Hotel's Grand Ballroom inspired a standing ovation by the more than 500 guests attending the Armenian Relief Society of Western USA's Gala 2012 on April 27. Honorees were selected by their respective chapters in the society's Western USA region to be recognized for their excellence in service in categories including longtime member, financially supportive...

The Verdugo Hills Sunshine Society was formed in the early 1930s with the goal of operating a home-like boarding home for elderly people of culture and refinement. Charter members James and Effie Fifield helped form the society with the specific intention of donating their home, named Twelve Oaks Lodge, to the group. The Fifields, from Minneapolis, wintered in what was then called Verdugo City for many years. When James Fifield died in 1933, Effie Fifield took over his publishing business.

The Armenian Relief Society of Western USA hosted a Christmas luncheon at the Glendale Salvation Army on Dec. 23. Nearly 200 people enjoyed the holiday meal provided by more than 20 ARS members. In Los Angeles and Orange counties, ARS chapters also participated in food drives with local organizations. In early December, the Armenian Relief Society also donated 304 pairs of pajamas to the City of Hope in Duarte to benefit the hospital's 13th annual Pajama Party. The Pajama Party is spearheaded by the Desi Geestman Foundation and serves pediatric cancer patients.