Former Incline resident crowned Ms. Senior Nevada

"It's never too late," former Incline Village resident Barbara Glotzer said in December 2000, after producing her first CD, "Young At Heart."

That attitude resonated with the audience and judges last month when Glotzer, 69, won the Ms. Senior Nevada Pageant at Sammy's Showroom in Harrah's Reno.

"I thought I wouldn't win anything," she said about waiting with the 11 other contestants. Master of ceremonies Bob Carroll had called out several winners in categories such as talent and congeniality.

"When he said, 'Sometimes diamonds are a girl's best friend,' I knew I won," Glotzer said.

The contestants were judged on talent, personal interviews, poise and philosophy of life.

"I thought I would be in trouble with my philosophy-of-life statement," Glotzer said. "No dream is too small, and no diamond is too big."

She said she was relieved to hear the audience's appreciative laughter.

Glotzer said she was nervous before performing in the talent segment, when she sang Sophie Tucker's "Some of These Days." But a couple of contestants reassured her.

"Our relationship was wonderful; they helped me relax," she said.

Glotzer, who now co-owns East West Jewelry Co., moved to Reno several years ago after living in Incline Village for 30 years.

Glotzer grew up on Long Island, N.Y., and began singing professionally at the age of 18. She went back to her musical roots in 2000, when she recorded "Young At Heart" for her children and grandchildren.

Friends began asking how much the CD was, so she began small-scale marketing.

She recorded the cover song as well as "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" and a few other older, romantic tunes - the kind she crooned with big bands.

She took the professional name of Barbara Mann, and was known as "the Long Island Deb" during those debutante years.

She said she's been encouraged to sing "Some of These Days" for the national pageant in November in Las Vegas.

"I wore a white, sequined gown," she said. "They liked it so much they want me to sing that again."

Glotzer said a friend from Los Angeles will coach her for the national competition. In the meantime, she awaits word of her official duties.

But Glotzer said making chicken soup for her grandson Jesse Tenenbaum and baby-sitting are still her top priorities.

Merry Thomas can be reached at 831-4666, ext. 112, or by e-mail at mthomas@tahoebonanza.com