LAUSD GRANT WILL HELP ARTS PROGRAM.

Byline: DIANA PEYTON Community Columnist

San Fernando Middle School has been awarded a $60,000 expansion grant from the LAUSD for the new Falcon Fine Arts Conservancy, presented by Judy Burton, Superintendent for District B.

The announcement was made Dec. 13, at the final performance of an adaptation of ``A Christmas Carol,'' which included the school's mariachi group and folklorico dancers.

``We are extremely proud of our children - they are the best in the world,'' director and drama teacher Steven J. McCarthy said.

It was the first performance in the school's auditorium in 19 years. The production was an interdepartmental project.

The grant is an exciting accomplishment for the drama teacher. ``Last year was my first year here at the school,'' McCarthy said. ``We are all very excited and all work so well together. You should see us in action.''

Other teachers who worked on the production and whose students will benefit from the grant are music teacher Rudy Vasquez and visual arts instructor Elizabeth Hanzlik.

Faculty members who performed are: James Powell, Leonides Tarca, Linda Wirtzer and Susana Martinez. Other actors are: Alan Acedo, Kristell Gonzalez, Gaby Arellano, Juan Onofre, Marc Wise, Jesse Garcia, Lydia Vargas, Ellen Lambert, Sophia Martinez, Richie Gonzalez, Shantelle Maya and Miguel Rodriguez.

Other performers are: Steve Jaramillo, Veronica Salmeron, Chalsie Maya, Ivan Rangel, Claudia Nunez, Guadalupe Aguilar, David Esparza and Cristina Leon.

Folklorico dancers are: Daniel Godina, Maria Magana, Silvia Ramos, Maria Gonzalez, Lucero Pelayo, Ana Rodriguez, Samantha Guerra, Sean Peterson and Cynthia Vasquez.

Attorneys, employees and families of the Greenberg & Bass law firm in Encino gave a holiday party Dec. 14 for families staying at Ronald McDonald House in Los Angeles.

The group donates $5,000 a year to maintain a saltwater fish tank previously given to the house by the firm, satisfying a request by Mike Elias, the house manager, in the hopes that it would bring comfort to the families facing serious childhood illnesses. ``All of our families are under stress, and of course the fish tank really helps to reduce that,'' Elias said.

In the beginning Arthur Greenberg and his wife Debra took their three small children to the house, providing gifts for families.

The tradition has continued for the last 15 years, held in lieu of an office party and complete with gifts and the participation of the law firm's staff and clients. Elias said the house accommodates 32 families.

The Charles ``Chuck'' R. Anderson Memorial Scholarship in Music will be established next year at California State University, Northridge, in memory of the musician who brought a new element to mariachi arrangements.

His idea - writing different chords for the guitar and five-string vihuela and recording them simultaneously, then double-tracking the recording - changed the sound of mariachi music.

Students from a local school will dance in ``The Nutcracker'' today, and several educators have helped their students academically and through some hands-on fund raising.

Pacoima Middle School students Dylan Gutierrez, Ayla Kell, RayAn and Esa Michaels and Tory Trowbridge are dancing with the American Ballet Theatre in ``The Nutcracker'' at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

Speech professor Margie Long was recognized by the Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society (AGS) of Los Angeles Mission College for her outstanding contributions to students. Charles Dirks, professor of political science on the Sylmar campus, was given the same recognition by the AGS.

And teachers and principals from 24 local schools took orders, greeted customers and helped in food preparations at McDonald's McTeachers Night in early November, raising $125,000 for Southern California schools during American Education Week. A portion of the funds were allocated to the participating schools.