Great Ararat Home Picnic! Kudos to All
MISSION HILLS: The Ararat Home Annual Picnic on Sunday, September 23, 2012 was a great success. Chairman of the event, Mike Surmeian, said, “As usual, it was a total team effort.” Mike and committee members, William Kevorkian, Galen Petoyan, Shant Dergazarian, Richard Jebejian, Maggie Goshen and Luke Surmeian all did their part as well as an additional 150 volunteers who filled positions on the day of the picnic. While the Los Angeles Chapter of the Triple X Fraternity and the Los Angeles Jr. Triple X did the lion’s share of the food ordering, prep and serving, don’t forget the ladies of the Ararat Home Auxiliary and the Guilds who prepared and sold the much sought after baked goods and desserts… always with a smile.
The day was warm, but that didn’t keep the Najarian Ensemble from playing wonderful music in the courtyard to the delight of those who couldn’t bear to sit still and took the opportunity to get up and dance. The Ara Dance Group, in full costume, was thrilling to see; such attractive young people putting their all into their art. Wonderful! Members of Knights of Vartan Sevan Lodge manned the shuttle vans all day so no one had a long walk to and from the additional parking lots down the hill.
Thirteenth Annual Armenian History Timeline Quiz Bowl Held at Ararat Home
13thAnnual Armenian History Timeline Quiz Bowl was held at Ararat Home in Mission Hills on Sunday April 29, 2012 with the participation of eight graders from the following Armenian schools. Rose and Alex Pilibos School, Vahan and Anoush Chamlian School, Holy Martyrs Ferrahian School, Merdinian Evangelical School, Sahag Mesrob Christian School, AGBU Manoogian-Demirjian School, Sisters Academy, and St. Gregory (Hovsepian) School.
A lively contest developed, revealing the depth of the knowledge of the students, the thorough preparation provided by their teachers, and the absorbed attentiveness of the audience.
Ararat Home Annual Meeting
Mission Hills: On Sunday afternoon, March 25, 2012, members of the Ararat Home of Los Angeles gathered at the Mission Hills campus to elect Board of Trustee members and to receive reports and news of accomplishments for the previous year. Board Chairman, Nazar Ashjian, Jr. presided over the meeting. The tone of all the reports was overwhelmingly positive. Highlights included a progress report on a building project which will add 58 beds to the Ararat Nursing Facility which is scheduled to open in May of 2013. Ararat Home continues to receive highest ratings from State and Federal agencies. The Home, in recognition that the State of California is in a severe budget situation, has planned for and is confident to maintain the highest of standards despite the downturn. Generous donations from the Southern California Armenian community assure success.
Ararat Home Construction Grounds Blessed
Revered clergy from the Southern California Armenian Community came together on Sunday afternoon, October 2, 2011 to bless the ground of Ararat Home Skilled Nursing Facility’s newest construction project. Known as “Phase III,” the project will provide an additional 58 beds to the 198 beds already in service at the Mission Hills campus. Western Diocese Primate, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Western Prelacy Primate, Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Armenian Catholic priest Armenak Bedrosian and Minister to the Armenian Evangelical Union, Rev. Joseph Matossian took part.
Co-Chairmen of the Construction Fund Raising Committee, Ron Nazeley and Berj Shahbazian welcomed the 40 attendees and provided details of the project. Ararat Home Board Chairman, Nazar Ashjian, Jr. who also serves as Co-Chairman of the Construction Committee with Joseph Kanimian, commented, “Ararat Home is for the whole community and is open to everyone.” Following the blessing of the ground, a reception took place in the Trustee’s conference room.
Visitors and Residents Alike Enjoy Annual Ararat Home Picnic
Two things immediately noticeable at this year’s September 25, 2011 Ararat Home Picnic in Mission Hills, CA were the good weather (it wasn’t hot) and the appearance of the new construction project taking shape at the north end of the property. After months of planning, Michael Surmeian led his volunteers with great enthusiasm and energy as he chaired the picnic for the third consecutive year.
Shuttle service from adjoining properties where visitors parked was provided by members of the Knights of Vartan Sevan Lodge. As always, the Triple X and Triple X Juniors worked at food & drink stations, sold tickets, ran children’s games, and barbequed shish kebab. Parking control was assisted by Students of AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School of Canoga Park. The doors were open from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. A few of the older volunteer workers remembered six decades of service to the Home. Others were serving for the first time.
Ararat Convalescent Hospital Celebrates 30th Anniversary
Eagle Rock CA – Celebrating 30 years of service to the “hayrigs” and “mayrigs” of the San Gabriel Valley, Ararat Home Convalescent Hospital in Eagle Rock was host to honored guests and valued staff on May 13, 2010. Administrator Robert Taylor introduced long-time supporters and former administrators who expressed their fond memories of the hospital’s humble beginnings and stellar reputation. In an atmosphere which felt like a family reunion, a delicious meal was shared and an anniversary cake was cut and enjoyed. To cap off the afternoon, certificates of appreciation for specific years of service were presented by Mr. Taylor, Director of Nurses Mrs. Aida Yeghiayan and Chairman of the Ararat Board of Trustees, Mr. Nazar Ashjian, Jr. Special recognition was given to the two longest serving staff members, Mr. Ovanes Bakalian, Cook, and his wife, Janet, Certified Nurse Assistant who have provided loving care for approximately 1800 residents over these 30 years. Chairman Ashjian, speaking for the whole Armenian community, said to the staff members who care for Ararat’s residents, “Your services and hard work are much appreciated by us all.”
Photo Left to Right: Aida Yeghiayan, Director of Nurses, Robert Taylor, Adminstrator, Ovanes and Janet Bakalian, faithful 30-year staff members