On The Town:

The Verdugo Hills Council of the Boy Scouts of America convened for their annual board installation and awards dinner at La Cañada Country Club this past week. Welcomed by Council President Thomas McLurkinThomas McLurkin, the evening saluted the achievements of Scouts, leaders and volunteers who have been dedicated to scouting in Burbank, Glendale and throughout the Verdugo Hills region.

Emceed by the organization’s Council Advancement Chairman Dan Humfreville, the event included the presentation of four Silver Beaver awards that are bestowed upon adult leaders who have made an impact on the lives of youth and have a history of community service and dedication to scouting.

The honorees included Varooj Mirzaians of Glendale, who has been instrumental in aligning the Armenian and United States-based scouting programs. Other Silver Beaver recipients included MaryAnn Bauer, Dave Lear and Larry Widdis.

Among the highlights of the evening was the installation of the organization’s 2010 executive board that included Burbank City Atty. Dennis Barlow who will serve as the council’s treasurer, and the organization’s first female president, Rahla Lindsey.

The evening also included the induction of Glendale attorney Pat Liddell to the Verdugo Hills Chapter’s Wall of Excellence, and the recognition of 67 young men who earned Eagle Scout status in 2009.

Included in the list of new Eagle Scouts was Jack Cotrel of Burbank Troop 204 who was honored with a commendation by Burbank Vice Mayor Anja Reinke during a ceremony prior to this event. A senior at Burroughs High School and the son of Thomas and Melody Cotrel, Jack’s Eagle Service project was the refurbishment of the outdoor amphitheater in Devil’s Punchbowl Park outside of Palmdale.

Last week’s event was made possible by Jon Maeda, the council’s scout executive, who was assisted by his staff that included Steve Smith, Paul Reyes, Georgiann Tamai, Cecilia Nazarian, Heidi Davenport, Guadalupe Schubert and Terry Hall.

Others who enjoyed the evening included Bob and Catherine Hutt, Mitchell Thomas, Dellon Soderstrom, Walt, Beth and Sean Sturrock, Pam Liddell, Charmaine McLurkin, Annell Barlow, Kevin Bates, Jim Rabe, Jack Kabateck, Marika Mirzaians, Tom Lindsey, Russell Frandsen, Ross Kelsey, Edward Malouf, Bernie Snider, Lou Schwing, Emil Dergevorkian, Gary Swaner, Keith Sorem, Dennis Fors, Bruce Hinckley, Bill O’Leary, David Potter, and Glendale school board member Greg Krikorian, who received the district’s Award of Merit.