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Los Angeles Daily News
Feb 2 2014
Snow comes to Glendale at Winter Wonderland festival
By Kelly Goff, Los Angeles Daily News
Posted: 02/01/14, 5:27 PM PST | Updated: 2 hrs ago
Little Aram Melikyan smiled, touching the cold snow. It was just the
first time the 2-year-old had seen it.
But Aram wasn't in Lake Tahoe or Mammoth or any of the other
snow-capped resort towns that dot the state - he was in Glendale.
"He really enjoyed it. He was even throwing some snowballs at mom and
dad," said Aram's mother, Liana.
The family was one of hundreds that turned out Saturday for the first
day of the third annual Winter Wonderland Festival at St. Mary's
Armenian Apostolic Church. With carnival rides, games, homemade
Armenian food, a talent show and, of course, 28 tons of snow, the
event benefits social service programs run by Armenian Relief Society
of Western USA.
"Through this, we are introducing the Armenian community to the
community," said Lena Bozoyan, chairwoman of the organization. The
two-day event is volunteer-run, and much of the event cost was
defrayed by sponsors including Glendale Memorial Hospital, Forest
Lawn, Zerlian Bakery and Porto's Bakery and Cafe.
The Armenian Relief Society works within the Armenian community to
offer language courses, job development and immigration assistance its
five Los Angeles-area service centers. It also operates Saturday
school classes at several local community centers to teach the
Armenian language and cultural history.
"Many people in the community are refugees, so they need assistance to
figure out where to go, how to get things done. Even just reading mail
sometimes," Bozoyan said. "And for the families that cannot afford
private schools, the Saturday schools make it so the children can
learn our language and our traditions."
The group hosted an Armenian Festival for more than a decade at the
church, but three years ago moved toward the Winter Wonderland theme,
marketing the event of local families through schools and social
media.
"Next year we may try to do both events, but space them out through
the year," said Carmen Libaridian, one of the event organizers. "But
when we did this for the first time, it was instantly a hit, and drew
all kinds of people in the community. Especially for some of the
children, who have never seen snow and whose families don't have
enough money to take them up to the mountains to see it there."
Seda Khojayan, chairwoman of the organizing committee, said the event,
also including live entertainment, and both a talent show and fashion
show, is about bringing families together.
"Look," she said, pointing a dozen of people laughing and sledding in
the snow, with a long line of people waiting their turn. "Everybody
loves it. There's the grandparents, the parents, the children. It's
great."
The festival runs on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at St. Mary's
Armenian Apostolic Church at 500 S. Central Ave. in Glendale. A one
day pass is $3, with tickets for the snow area and rides sold
separately.
http://www.dailynews.com/lifestyle/20140201/snow-comes-to-glendale-at-winter-wonderland-festival
From: A. Papazian
Feb 2 2014
Snow comes to Glendale at Winter Wonderland festival
By Kelly Goff, Los Angeles Daily News
Posted: 02/01/14, 5:27 PM PST | Updated: 2 hrs ago
Little Aram Melikyan smiled, touching the cold snow. It was just the
first time the 2-year-old had seen it.
But Aram wasn't in Lake Tahoe or Mammoth or any of the other
snow-capped resort towns that dot the state - he was in Glendale.
"He really enjoyed it. He was even throwing some snowballs at mom and
dad," said Aram's mother, Liana.
The family was one of hundreds that turned out Saturday for the first
day of the third annual Winter Wonderland Festival at St. Mary's
Armenian Apostolic Church. With carnival rides, games, homemade
Armenian food, a talent show and, of course, 28 tons of snow, the
event benefits social service programs run by Armenian Relief Society
of Western USA.
"Through this, we are introducing the Armenian community to the
community," said Lena Bozoyan, chairwoman of the organization. The
two-day event is volunteer-run, and much of the event cost was
defrayed by sponsors including Glendale Memorial Hospital, Forest
Lawn, Zerlian Bakery and Porto's Bakery and Cafe.
The Armenian Relief Society works within the Armenian community to
offer language courses, job development and immigration assistance its
five Los Angeles-area service centers. It also operates Saturday
school classes at several local community centers to teach the
Armenian language and cultural history.
"Many people in the community are refugees, so they need assistance to
figure out where to go, how to get things done. Even just reading mail
sometimes," Bozoyan said. "And for the families that cannot afford
private schools, the Saturday schools make it so the children can
learn our language and our traditions."
The group hosted an Armenian Festival for more than a decade at the
church, but three years ago moved toward the Winter Wonderland theme,
marketing the event of local families through schools and social
media.
"Next year we may try to do both events, but space them out through
the year," said Carmen Libaridian, one of the event organizers. "But
when we did this for the first time, it was instantly a hit, and drew
all kinds of people in the community. Especially for some of the
children, who have never seen snow and whose families don't have
enough money to take them up to the mountains to see it there."
Seda Khojayan, chairwoman of the organizing committee, said the event,
also including live entertainment, and both a talent show and fashion
show, is about bringing families together.
"Look," she said, pointing a dozen of people laughing and sledding in
the snow, with a long line of people waiting their turn. "Everybody
loves it. There's the grandparents, the parents, the children. It's
great."
The festival runs on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at St. Mary's
Armenian Apostolic Church at 500 S. Central Ave. in Glendale. A one
day pass is $3, with tickets for the snow area and rides sold
separately.
http://www.dailynews.com/lifestyle/20140201/snow-comes-to-glendale-at-winter-wonderland-festival
From: A. Papazian