Close to 200 people came to the newly-opened Sunnyside Conservatory on Monterey on Saturday, Feb. 8 for a make-your-own-Valentine party. The 11:00 to 2:00 event brought families from all over the neighborhood and the City to create that special card for that special Someone.
Friends of the Sunnyside Conservatory, with the help of Rec. & Park staff, organized the event. Monica Lee, an artist brought many scrap papers, bottle caps, calendars, designs, scissors, ribbons etc. Sally Ross and others showed participants how to make items such as woven valentine’s hearts and stylish envelopes.
The children had a great time as they could run safely around the grounds and make friends. Mothers and fathers connected and networked as they sat at their creative tasks, helping their children, and many instances of children helping their parents and other inept adults. Every type of color/shape/design of valentine was made with the recycled materials.
District 11 Supervisor John Avalos came with his family to participate and Kelenia Olsen from State Assemblywoman Fiona Ma’s office came.
Stacy Garfinkel, co-chair of Sunnyside Conservatory thanked everyone for coming near the end and warned everyone they had 15 minutes left, if she hadn’t nobody would have gone at 2pm!
The Friends of Sunnyside Conservatory say this will become an annual event, the last Saturday before Valentine’s Day. They add “We are meeting with Rec. & Park staff next week to discuss future events and activities.”
Photos: Bill Wilson