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Snow comes to Glendale at Winter Wonderland festival

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  • Snow comes to Glendale at Winter Wonderland festival

    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
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