Posts by Tony La Bruno
Spotlight on Community: Peninsula Parade of Lights
On the evening of December 7, The City of Rolling Hills Estates joined neighboring cities at El Pollo Inka to commemorate the community while guests enjoyed visits with Santa Claus and a delicious South American buffet dinner. Sponsors of festivities included staffs from UCLA Health, Malaga Bank, Promenade PV, Rolling Hills Dental Group and Waste…
Read MoreSpotlight on Charity: “A Very Gatsby” The Roaring ‘20s Winter Fete
Palos Verdes Junior Women’s Club, celebrating their 67th year of service to the South Bay Community, held their annual holiday luncheon and boutique, themed “A Very Gatsby “on December 8 at the Marriott in Torrance. This special event of shopping, plated luncheon, and fundraising was in true PV Junior style and elegance. The funds raised…
Read MoreSpotlight on Education: Peninsula Education Foundation (PEF) Annual Major Donor Reception
On the evening of November 20th, at a private home on Cape Point in RPV, the PEF joined with their major donors (minimum donation is $2,500) to express their appreciation. Guests were greeted with a selection of specialty cocktails, fine wines and specialty beers. In 1990, the PEF was able to establish with Chuck Miller…
Read MoreSpotlight on Fundraising: Mardi Gras Masquerade Fall Fundraiser
On November 15, Madrecitas hosted a vibrant and festive Mardi Gras-themed fundraiser at the San Pedro Elks Lodge. Guests dressed in their finest purple and gold gilded apparel along with “Colombina” styled half masks decorated with feathers, crystals, gold and silver. Dinner was served followed by a jazz ensemble and dancing. Silent and live auctions…
Read MoreSpotlight on Heritage: Native American Heritage Day, Friends of the Library Event
photos by Tony LaBruno The Peninsula Friends of the Library’s “Celebrating our Similarities” on November 16 featured members of six indigenous California tribes. Heather Askinosie, of Energy Muse, started the afternoon with a prayer taught to her by spiritual healer Bobby Lake-Thom (Karuk & Seneca), with whom she studied. Sheridan Macknight (White Earth Chippewa/Lakota) shared…
Read MoreSpotlight on Books: Black & White Cocktail Party, Significant Donor Party for the Library
On Friday, November 1, the Peninsula Friends of the Library celebrated 128 “Significant Donors” at the Malaga Cove Library Gallery & Garden with an elegant Black & White Cocktail Party. Made By Meg hor d’oeuvres and the Daniel Diercks Jazz Trio highlighted the evening. One donor commented, “Every tiny detail has been addressed, from the…
Read MoreSpotlight on Music: Peninsula Symphony Salon, hosted in Rolling Hills Estate
On the evening of October 24, the Peninsula Symphony featured a performance by the Juilliard-trained violinist Sean Lee, a student of the esteemed Israeli-American violin virtuoso Izthak Perlman. Marion Ruth hosted the salon at her warm Rolling Hills Estates home, affording guests beautiful views of the LA basin. Joining the salon was David Cubek, the…
Read MoreSpotlight on Culture: The Pennyroyals bring back history, The Suffragette Musical
The Pennyroyal Players are a group of approximately ten women who presented the “Suffragette Musical: From Battles to Ballots.” The musical was a tribute to twenty-seven women who dared to fight for their rights, starting in 1591 and extending to 1920 in Tennessee, where the Suffragette fight culminated with the ratification of the 19th Amendment.…
Read MoreSpotlight on PV Open Space: Garden-to Table Dining Experience, Celebrating the Seeds of Growth
On the evening of October 27th, the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy (PVPLC) hosted at Terranea their annual Palos Verdes Pastoral serving the best of California handcrafted local foods and wines to over 200 guests. Upon arrival, guests were met with a signature tequila cocktail and Diana Heffernan-Schrader helped with all of the floral centerpieces…
Read MoreSpotlight on Elegance: Hollywood on the Hill
This classy afternoon of high tea, presented last month by the Palos Verdes Historical Society and the Palos Verdes Art Center, featured a talk and slide show by Marc Wanamaker about the Golden Age of Hollywood and the movie stars who lived in or filmed on the Peninsula. But why aren’t these people smiling? Because…
Read MoreSpotlight on Books: Between the Lines, a Literary Luncheon
On the afternoon of November 1, Las Candalistas hosted a conversation with four local authors at the PV Golf Club. The authors were Ellen Byron, Amber Susa, Tom and Patty Sullivan and the host was Rebecca Forster. Guests were treated to complimentary champagne and hors d’oeuvres upon arrival as they viewed silent auction items. An…
Read MoreSpotlight on Culture: Peninsula Friends of the Library
Celebrating Our Similarities The Peninsula Friends of the Library’s Celebrating Our Similarities event was Sunday, October 27 featuring South Asian Heritage’s Diwali—Festival of Lights: light conquering darkness and spreading light and joy to the world. The community room was elaborately decorated for this jubilant event, cosponsored by the Peninsula Hill Foundation. It featured Kathak dance…
Read MoreSpotlight on Community: Palos Verdes High, We are Brave Together
The biggest fundraiser of the year On the morning of October 20, Palos Verdes High School held the annual We are Brave Together fundraising run, “Rise” 5K. The highly anticipated family event featured vendors such as Special Flavours food truck for specialty coffee, iced teas and lemonades, along with artists such as Bernard Fallon, who…
Read MoreSpotlight on Education: Palos Verdes Peninsula Village, The Upside of Aging Expo
On September 25 PV Village hosted a sold-out event at the PV Golf Club featuring founding board member Helen Dennis, and former Daily Breeze reporter Jean Adelsman as guest speakers. Community resource tables offered information, and a silent auction included Lakers tickets for two at the Crypto Arena and a VIP tour for four of…
Read MoreSpotlight on Education: Toast on the Coast, PVPUSD’s biggest fundraiser of the year!
The Peninsula Education Foundation’s sold out Toast on the Coast on October 5 brought together the community for an unforgettable afternoon of fine wines, gourmet cuisine, and lively entertainment. The event raised a significant amount of funds for vital programs in the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District. Thanks to the generosity of attendees and…
Read MoreSpotlight on Education: “Save Our Schools” SOS! rally at Malaga Cove
On October 11, the local community rallied in favor of Measure SOS, a $297 million Palos Verdes Unified School District bond. The district’s aging classrooms and science laboratories are in need of repair. A power surge at Miraleste Intermediate School recently melted the electrical panel, closing the school for three days. Nearly 50 classrooms and school…
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