Long Beach Public Library Foundation
The Long Beach Public Library Foundation raised more than $350,000 to support its work to enhance programs, technology, and resources at the city’s 12 public libraries on Sept. 18 at the 19 th annual Grape Expectations gala at Hotel Maya.
400 guests gathered on the Vista del Mar terrace overlooking Queensway Bay to indulge in fine wines from six distinguished wine distributors led by Randy Kemner of The Wine Country and gourmet appetizers and mocktails donated by celebrated local caterers and restaurants, all as they were swept away by music from Trio del Alma. Following the wine tasting reception, guests enjoyed a fabulous four-course dinner with wine pairings and commentary by Randy Kemner.
Guests were greeted by Library Foundation Executive Director and CEO Veronica Garcia Dávalos, Board President Ryan Ballard, and Long Beach Mayor and Honorary Library Foundation Director Dr. Robert Garcia. Library Foundation Vice President of Fund Development Joan Van Hooten paid tribute to the memories of champions of literacy Kay and Tony Tortorice and Janis Krantz.
First Vice President and Corporate Real Estate Manager Farmers and Merchants Bank Christine Walker-Bowman accepted the Library Leadership Award recognizing F&M’s sponsorship of the Library Foundation’s 19th annual Dictionary Days program, giving every third-grade student in the Long Beach Unified School District a dictionary/thesaurus of their very own. F&M has supported the Foundation since 2005, enhancing Library programming including Black History and Latino Heritage Months.
Margaret and Charles Durnin presented the Durnin Family Award to Foundation Directors Emeriti Mary Hancock Hinds and Rick Alsagoff for their longtime service and leadership of a campaign that raised over $1 million to enhance the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library.
Honorees were featured in inspirational short films produced and donated by Digital Revolution and presented with proclamations from Supervisor Janice Hahn and Mayor Robert Garcia.
Guests stirred on by auctioneer Randy Gordon raised their paddles to contribute more than $115,000 during the live auction and live ask, with auction items donated by the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative, Taylor’s Cigar Lounge, Port of Long Beach, McCarty’s Jewelry, and Margaret Smith and Rob Bellevue. The crowd was charmed by Cordelia Howard, Director of Library Services from 1983 to 1998, who raised her paddle repeatedly during the live ask until she had contributed $20,000. To close out an evening to remember, Board President-elect and Special Events Committee Chair Sean Reilly drew the names of Anthony Puente and Randy Mizer as 1 st and 2 nd place raffle prize winners.
Distinguished guests included Long Beach Mayor Dr. Robert Garcia; Vice Mayor Rex Richardson; Councilmembers Stacy Mungo Flanigan, Suzie Price, and Roberto Uranga; LBUSD Board of Education President Megan Kerr and Board member Doug Otto, LBCC Board of Trustees President Uduak-Joe Ntuk and Trustees Vivian Malauulu and Sunny Zia; Long Beach Harbor Commission President Sharon L. Weissman and Secretary Bonnie Lowenthal; CSULB President Jane Close Conoley; representing the Hon. Janice Hahn, 4 th District Supervisor, County of Los Angeles, Daritza Gonzalez; President of the Friends of the Long Beach Public Library Barbara Sosa; Grape Expectations Chair Sean Reilly; Co-chairs Barbara Long and M. Lissette Flores; and committee volunteers Diane Anglin, Cheryl Avirom, Ryan Ballard, Charlyn Bender, Celine Cordero, Mary Hancock Hinds, Mary Lamo-Putnam, Liz Munzer, Carmen O. Perez, Desiree Rew, Barbara Schwerin, Jeff Toelsin, and Joan Van Hooten.
Over the past 26 years, the Library Foundation has raised more than $26 million to support the city’s public libraries. Lead event sponsors included the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative, Port of Long Beach, Lisa and Frank Chapman, Clark Construction, Margaret and Charley Durnin, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, and the Shadden Group at Morgan Stanley.
Article tags: Champions of Literacy, Grape Expectations
Announcing the Library Foundation’s 2022 Honorees – Celebrate at Grape Expectations
The Library Foundation is thrilled to announce the 19th annual Grape Expectations gala honorees:
Rick Alsagoff and Mary Hancock Hinds,
DURNIN FAMILY AWARD
Farmers & Merchants Bank,
LIBRARY LEADERSHIP AWARD
Rick Alsagoff and Mary Hancock Hinds are proud North Long Beach residents who co-chaired the Library Foundation’s campaign for the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library, which raised more than $1 million for programs, technology, and resources at the new library. Longtime supporters of literacy and education, Rick served on the Library Foundation Board of Directors for nine years and Mary for 19 years.
Farmers & Merchants Bank has supported the Library Foundation since 2005, generously funding our work at the 12 public libraries. This year, Farmers & Merchants Bank was the lead sponsor of the Library Foundation’s Dictionary Days program, which provides a new dictionary/thesaurus to every LBUSD third-grade student. 5,000 books were provided this year to students thanks to F&M’s generous support.
Sponsorships, tables, and tickets are available for Grape Expectations! Learn more and preview the evening’s four-course gourmet dinner menu with fine wine pairings at the link below. Proceeds support the Library Foundation’s work to fund programs, technology, and more at the 12 Long Beach public libraries.
This $10 Brush Is the Safest and Easiest Way to Hand-Wash Precious Stemware
Whiskey and bourbon aficionados say it’s a must-have.
Nina Huang has been a lifestyle writer for Dotdash Meredith publications since 2019. With a strong passion in all things related to beauty, fashion, entertainment, food, and home topics, she has reported on these lifestyle fields for PEOPLE, InStyle, Real Simple, Entertainment Weekly, Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, and more. The lifestyle writer researches the latest trends and shopper-loved products you should know. Nina graduated from New York University with a double major in journalism and politics and contributed to the student newspaper, Washington Square News. She has lived in New York, London, Paris, Taiwan, and Pebble Beach, California, and speaks English, Mandarin, French, Taiwanese, and conversational Japanese.
Published on October 4, 2021
Once you’ve found your ideal glass for whiskey, cocktails, champagne, and wine, try not to break it. Delicate glassware like this is prone to shattering when it’s hand-washed, either by a slip of the hand or by an accidental nudge against the sink. That’s when something like the CairnCleaner Whiskey Tasting Glass Brush comes in handy, according to Amazon shoppers.
Although it’s called a “whiskey tasting glass brush,” CairnCleaner’s tool is absolutely useful for all delicate barware, like wine glasses, champagne flutes, margarita glasses, and cocktail coupes. Its pointed brush head will reach hard-to-clean areas (like the bottom of long Collins glasses) and keep your fingers out of fragile stemware. Its soft bristles will clean nooks and crannies in intricately designed art deco-style whiskey glasses, and the loop allows you to hang the brush up when it’s done its duty.
To buy: CairnCleaner Glass Brush, $10 at amazon.com
Whiskey aficionados with precious collections of Baccarat crystal and Glencairn whiskey glasses say CairnCleaner’s brush is the best for fine wares. “This brush is absolutely perfect in every way,” said a shopper in their Amazon review. “Great design and durability. Lightweight, yet sturdy and well made. The sizing couldn’t be better for all sizes of my stemware from the tiny apéritifs to the large water goblets. The material of the brush is strong yet very soft and delicate. I no longer worry about potential surface scratches to my treasured collection.”
Another shopper even said the brush sped up the process of hand-washing glasses. “I bought this primarily to hand wash special types of bourbon and scotch glasses,” wrote the reviewer, who continued, “I have also used the brush to hand wash cups, mugs, wine glasses, and a lightly soiled plate. The brush has done a great cleaning job each time. The brush is very good at reaching hard to reach areas such as the point at which a side connects to the bottom of a glass or mug. In my opinion, the brush makes the hand washing faster because of the ease with which I can get to the hard to reach places.”
Bourbon lovers say it’s an essential, too. “I had been looking for something like this for a while to clean my GlenCairn glassware,” wrote a reviewer. “Prior to getting this, I was using my fingers or a rolled up paper towel. Not a very convenient way to clean glasses. This works perfectly to get the entire bulb of the glass, especially to the bottom where residue can collect after drinking. To all my fellow bourbon aficionados out there, this is a must-have.”
No need to worry about smashing precious glasses or risking cuts the next time you’re cleaning fine stemware with CairnCleaner’s brush. Shop one on Amazon for $10 or a three-pack for $23 below.
To buy: CairnCleaner Glass Brush 3-Pack, $23 at amazon.com
