ON THE TOWN:

A dazzling fall afternoon at the Oakmont Country Club set the stage for the first luncheon/meeting of the year for the Cabrini Literary Guild on Thursday. More than 40 members and guests enjoyed a poached salmon lunch with all the trimmings and were treated to selections from Irving Berlin and Cole Porter by singer-songwriter Andrea Miller, accompanied by pianist Stephen Boyd.

Alina Kung, 17, from Mayfield Senior School was announced as the first-prize winner in the guild’s annual creative writing contest for Catholic high schools in the Los Angeles Archdiocese. Alina was not present but sent a note of thanks.

New members present were also announced. Taking their bows were Aurora Dottavio-Vega, Kathleen Marsden and Anna Calnan.

Members and guests from Glendale included: Guild President Marie Uruttia, Treasurer Maureen Walsh, Recording Secretary Pat Price, Corresponding Secretary Sarah de la Torre, General Curator Lola Jones, Iva May Carrico, Shirley Darling, Dorothy Giedt, Virginia Holmes, Ruby Hubert, Jan Kubani and mother Rose Kubal, Carmen McClelland, Helen Misik, Teresa Mitchell, Mary Ellen Ulrich, Mary Wight, Jean Zaik and her mother Irene Zaik, Barbara Imfield and Marilyn McDermott.

Founded in 1943, the guild begins its 64th year of philanthropic contributions to the community.

Local philanthropies include the Glendale Library Literacy program, Catholic Charities Loaves and Fishes in Glendale, the YWCA Domestic Violence Shelter and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

The Glendale Memorial Health Foundation held its 20th annual Evening of Wine and Roses in front of the Pavilion building Sunday at Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center.

It was a “Celebration Under the Stars” as more than 700 party-goers donned their finest to stroll among silent-auction tables, a martini bar, 14 wineries and 20 food booths representing, in part, Damon’s Steakhouse, Far Niente Ristorante, Tam O’Shanter Inn and Mignon Chocolate. Rousing big band music from Splash assured that spirits stayed high.

President of the Glendale Memorial Foundation Edward Keh and wife, Martha Keh, greeted guests. The Kehs were joined by Yolanda and Tony Wise, administrator of Leisure Glen in Glendale. More VIPs included Debbie and Vince Hambright, chief executive officer of Healthcare Management Services; and Polita Brown, administrator of Leisure Vale with husband, NBC-TV executive Phil Brown.

Also present was Glendale Memorial Senior Services Manager Elena Mireles, Glendale Memorial Director of Quality Management Donna Hansen and husband Jerry Hansen, and Glendale Community Foundation Executive Director Sharon Collins.

Glendale resident VIPs included Mayor Ara Najarian, Councilman Frank Quintero, Assemblyman Paul Krekorian, Glendale Community College Board of Trustees President Armine Hacopian, former Glendale Community College President/Supt. John Davitt, and vice-chair of the Commission on the Status of Women Paula Devine and husband, Art Devine. The Devines arrived late, having just attended a YWCA panel discussion on domestic violence, followed by a YWCA Candlelight Vigil, honoring victims of domestic violence.

More Glendale residents included: Ruth Charles, Karen Kaigler-Walker, Nicole Gordon, Silvet Abramyan, Annie Banjarian, Karen Au and Stephanie and Robert Bjorklund. Checking out the silent-auction tables were Julie Feind, Sandie Dieny, Howard Cuneo, Adel Luzuriaga, Craig Yaussi and wife, Jean Yaussi, a nurse in Glendale Memorial’s neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

The goal of this year’s wine and roses fundraising event is to raise more than $150,000 to complete equipping Glendale Memorial’s 13 neonatal Intensive Care Unit stations with Giraffe OmniBeds, considered the best of neonatal ICU technology. Glendale Memorial cares for babies from all over Southern California.

 RUTH SOWBY can be reached at ruthsowby@msn.com.