The Valley Line: Playing catch-up before the New Year speeds away

January 01, 2014|By Jane Napier Neely

Los Altos Auxiliary members of the Hathaway-Sycamores… (Courtesy of Suzanne…)

Happy New Year! I want to know where 2013 went. It passed by in a flash, just like a speeding bullet. Isn’t there some way that we can slow down this train?

My grandchildren are bemoaning the fact that they have to wait for an entire year before Santa Claus comes again and it takes forever to do that. At the rate that 2013 passed by, maybe I should start my Christmas shopping now!

I’m writing this column a few days before the new year actually arrived, so I can’t babble about how our adorable Rose Parade float “Dog Gone!” looked Wednesday. I did wander over Pasadena way on Saturday and the crowd was already beginning to gather. Of course the weather is showing off its best side. The air is so clear that you can see forever! We love to show off for the millions of television viewers who tune in to watch the parade, don’t we?

Anyway, I hope all of you have a healthy new year ahead of you.

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As usual I’m playing catch-up on the social news. This has been a very busy holiday party season so I want to tell you all about it.

Los Altos Auxiliary of Hathaway-Sycamores Children and Family Services members, Sandi Mellin and Karen Sellergren, sisters who have a beautiful home in La Cañada Flintridge, recently hosted the Auxiliary’s annual Christmas party.

With all the decor, both inside and out of the house, in full splendor, it was a very festive place to hold a party. A life-size statue of Kris Kringle greeted guests in the foyer before they entered this Christmas wonderland.

Also greeting the more than 50 guests were Pam MacDonald, chair of the event, and co-presidents Laurie Rodli and Jennifer Herzer.

Gourmet A Go Go catered the party and guests sampled beef brisket sliders, crab cakes, crudities with mango chutney torta, coconut Macadamia nut crusted chicken skewers and a variety of desserts. Of course there was plenty of liquid Christmas cheer to sample also.

Members of Los Altos are wonderful women who work throughout the year to bring extra help for Hathaway-Sycamores children on the El Nido campus in Altadena. Later in the month, Los Altos members personally delivered holiday gifts and homemade treats to the youngsters who reside there.

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More than 300 guests, all festively dressed, gathered at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel’s stunningly beautiful Crystal Room to take part in the 27th annual Charles Dickens Dinner presented by the USC Thornton School of Music.

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