Fresno Bee (California)
June 3, 2005, Friday FINAL EDITION
Armenian home sweet home Fresno landmark to host Armenian-American
Citizens League convention.
by Vanessa Col n The Fresno Bee
More than fifty years ago, a tile-roofed Mediterranean-style building
surrounded by a flowing fountain and lush trees was built on a dusty
stretch of farmland east of Fresno.
As years passed, more buildings and wings were added, creating room
for about 130 residents in the California Armenian Home on East Kings
Canyon Road.
On Saturday, the Armenian-American Citizens League, the group that
founded the Fresno landmark, will celebrate its 72nd convention with
a banquet at the home.
“My father’s generation saw it was hard to take care of the elderly.
Our future is to support the Armenian community,” said Penny
Mirigian-Emerzian, secretary and former state president of the
Armenian-American Citizens League.
The group raises money to keep the home running and also for
scholarships to help college-bound students.
The league hosts the annual Moonlight Picnic, which features sizzling
shish kebabs or peda burger dinners, made with a blend of ground beef
and lamb. It’s done outside of its social hall, a few feet away from
the home.
Saturday’s event will feature an Elvis Presley impersonator and
dancing.
Armenian immigrants helped found the league to help the community
despite ethnic prejudice. The league decided to build the home for
the elderly after witnessing many of its older residents living alone
and with illnesses.
It purchased about 40 acres of farmland in 1950 for $35,000,
according to league archives. The home opened in 1952.
The home maintains a reputation as a quality place for the elderly to
receive assisted-living and nursing care.
“This is unique. It’s independent and a nonprofit home. … There
will be more demands for homes like this,” said Matthew Demchuk,
administrator of the home.
Most of the residents at the home are on Medi-Cal, Demchuk said.
About 135 employees, mostly nurses, work there, caring for about 130
residents who pay $120 to $152 a day.
Residents say they enjoy the attention they get at the home.
“The nurses are working all over the place. They have it nice and
clean,” said 87-year-old Ann Garabedian.
She said she especially likes eating lamb dishes served during summer
barbecues put on by churches or community groups.
The home is not just for Armenians; other residents said they chose
to live there because of its reputation.
“It’s one of the best I’ve heard about in Fresno County. The rooms
are fairly large,” said Harriet McEwen, 82.
“We get too much to eat,” added 87-year-old Marjorie Pettey. “Some
places starve you.”
Residents can sign up to go on nature walks or take a bus to Table
Mountain Casino. Sometimes, like on Saturday, entertainment comes to
the home.
Broadway legend and actress Carol Channing, star of “Hello, Dolly!,”
visited the home last year.
The reporter can be reached at vcolon@fresnobee.com or (559)
441-6313.
INFOBOX
If you go
What: Armenian-American Citizens League banquet
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: California Armenian Home, 6720 E. Kings Canyon Road, Fresno
Details: (559) 224-3561
GRAPHIC: PHOTOS BY DARRELL WONG/THE FRESNO BEE California Armenian
Home resident Harriet McEwen, left, talks with her sister Shirley
Harold in a visiting room Thursday. Harold visits her sister at the
home every week.
The home, on East Kings Canyon Road east of Fresno, has housed the
elderly for more than 50 years. Its founder, the Armenian-American
Citizens League, will celebrate its 72nd convention Saturday with a
banquet dinner at the home.
THE FRESNO BEE MAP — California Armenian Home See microfilm or PDF
page for complete details.
DARRELL WONG/THE FRESNO BEE California Armenian Home residents Lucy
Jamgotchian, left, and Rose Graham dance in the yard Thursday.