The Valley Line

I say thank you to the Zephyr God. He has been sending us his lovely daughters the, “Zephyrettes,” who have been dispensing cooling breezes over our valley at the end of each day.

Considering this is August, the temperatures have been quite pleasing and moderate. Of course that always worries me because I know the unbearable heat will hit us soon. I would like the expected heat wave to be over soon, after all there are not many more “Dawg Days of Summer” left before we leap into autumn.

Speaking of the Zephyrettes, we applaud them for the delightful job they performed last Saturday evening when Dr. Paul Toffel and his wife Beverly hosted a “Book Launch/Book Signing” party for their son-in-law, George Mastras whose first novel, “Fidali’s Way” is garnering world-wide acclaim and is now on the best-seller list in Holland. George is married to their daughter, Hope.

Beverly Toffel, an extraordinary party — it’s an art form for her — created a lovely ambience for the nearly 60 guests who attended.

The Toffel home, an historic house in the Flintridge Hills built in 1922, was the 2008 Showcase House of Design. The house was designed by architect Henry Harwood Hewitt and is a Spanish Colonial Revival design with strong Moorish detailing.

The Toffels extended the invitation to guests to take their own personal tour of their magnificent home.

It was with pure delight that Paul Toffel showed me the architect’s signature of interlocked Hs that is tucked away overlooking the pool and patio. ’Tis pretty amazing! I’ve never see an architect sign a building they have designed before. It truly is a very special hallmark.

Guests, several of them high school friends of Beverly and Paul, gathered poolside to sip beverages, taste a host of passed hors d’oeuvres and certainly to enjoy the lovely evening as the sun gently set.

The patio dining tables were centered with small wooden boxes filled with beautiful apricot colored roses created by Princess Flowers in La Crescenta.

Marilyn Delanoeye, who is vice president of hospitality and private events at the Skirball Cultural Center and longtime friend of the Toffels, assisted with the coordination of the party and the fabulous food prepared by Kensington Catering.

Paul Toffel acted as master of ceremonies as he introduced each guest and their affiliation with the family. It was a loving gathering of people who had come to celebrate George and Hope and the release of George’s book.