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Los Angeles Daily News, CA
Jan 15 2012
Children enjoy 20 tons of snowy fun in Glendale
By Dakota Smith, Staff Writer
It was a balmy 60 degrees in Glendale Saturday -- and 20 tons of snow
covered the ground of a church parking lot off Central Avenue.
For mitten-clad youngsters, the snow banks were magical, an apparition
of Southern California, home of film fantasies.
"Cold," declared 6-year-old Ani Navasardyan, watching as a group of
children scampered up a small hill of snow.
The white stuff arrived courtesy of the first annual Armenian Relief
Society Festival, a two-day charity event. The international group,
which works in 52 countries, provides humanitarian assistance for
disasters like the Japanese tsunami and Horn of Africa famine.
Ticket holders paid $3 for entry to the event, held at St. Marys
Armenian Apostolic Church. By noon, a crowd of nearly 200 filled the
parking lot.
While the festival offered Ferris Wheel rides, hot dogs, and jewelry
vendors, the snow was the main attraction.
The only regret for members of the Armenian Relief Society: They
should have ordered more of it.
"More snow is coming tomorrow," promised Carmen Libaridian, vice chair
of the Armenian Relief Society Festival.
Delivered by Union Ice Corp., the snow arrived via a blower, which
shaves finely ground flakes from 300-pound blocks of ice, according to
Richard Anderson, a dispatcher at the company.
This is the busiest time of year for the company, which makes snow for
commercials, film shoots and videos.
In keeping with the wintery theme, festival organizers sold hats and
snowgloves at Saturday's event. A steady line of children stood
patiently behind a gate, awaiting their turns for 15-minute intervals
to sled down the slope.
Adults reminisced about the first time they saw snow.
"When I was four years old, my parents took me to Lake Arrowhead,"
said Nyree Derderian, chair of the local chapter of the Armenian
Relief Society Festival.
The date of the last big snow fall in Glendale was debated, too. Was
it 1986 or `87? But everyone remembered last year's light snowfall,
when a February storm left a dusting on some houses and lawns.
"It's fun even as an adult," Derderian said.
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_19745197
Jan 15 2012
Children enjoy 20 tons of snowy fun in Glendale
By Dakota Smith, Staff Writer
It was a balmy 60 degrees in Glendale Saturday -- and 20 tons of snow
covered the ground of a church parking lot off Central Avenue.
For mitten-clad youngsters, the snow banks were magical, an apparition
of Southern California, home of film fantasies.
"Cold," declared 6-year-old Ani Navasardyan, watching as a group of
children scampered up a small hill of snow.
The white stuff arrived courtesy of the first annual Armenian Relief
Society Festival, a two-day charity event. The international group,
which works in 52 countries, provides humanitarian assistance for
disasters like the Japanese tsunami and Horn of Africa famine.
Ticket holders paid $3 for entry to the event, held at St. Marys
Armenian Apostolic Church. By noon, a crowd of nearly 200 filled the
parking lot.
While the festival offered Ferris Wheel rides, hot dogs, and jewelry
vendors, the snow was the main attraction.
The only regret for members of the Armenian Relief Society: They
should have ordered more of it.
"More snow is coming tomorrow," promised Carmen Libaridian, vice chair
of the Armenian Relief Society Festival.
Delivered by Union Ice Corp., the snow arrived via a blower, which
shaves finely ground flakes from 300-pound blocks of ice, according to
Richard Anderson, a dispatcher at the company.
This is the busiest time of year for the company, which makes snow for
commercials, film shoots and videos.
In keeping with the wintery theme, festival organizers sold hats and
snowgloves at Saturday's event. A steady line of children stood
patiently behind a gate, awaiting their turns for 15-minute intervals
to sled down the slope.
Adults reminisced about the first time they saw snow.
"When I was four years old, my parents took me to Lake Arrowhead,"
said Nyree Derderian, chair of the local chapter of the Armenian
Relief Society Festival.
The date of the last big snow fall in Glendale was debated, too. Was
it 1986 or `87? But everyone remembered last year's light snowfall,
when a February storm left a dusting on some houses and lawns.
"It's fun even as an adult," Derderian said.
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_19745197