Voice of the Village 1 ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ the good news newspaper Volume 2, Issue 3 online at voiceofthevillage.org January 1 2011 FEATURES: BUSINESS ARTS A New Years Wish for you Beware of Ransomware Keep your Artistic Purpose Alive Flourish and Prosper – page 4 New Computer Threat – page 12 Play with your audience – page 27 Verdugo High Band just keeps getting better The leader of the band Kresse Armour Editors Note: As an alumnus of high school marching bands, I have wondered how, in an era of shrinking and now no budget, the Verdugo High Band just keeps getting better – so I asked Kresse to find out. She found a treasure… She may be a petite 4-foot, 11-inches, but in the eyes of her students, she is 10 feet tall and in this community, in this time, Victoria Lopez is a giant. A fixture on the athletic field at Verdugo Hills High, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving found the di- rector of the school’s award winning marching band standing bundled on a podium under a brooding November sky. A winter rainstorm had chilled the air and soaked the ground, but heedless of the 55-de- gree temperatures, some fifty energetic students, all members of the band and the color guard, were out continued on page 2 Sunland angler Mike Livingston breaks world record tuna catch David Romley When Sunland resident and lifelong fisherman sonally made with a Penn International 30SW reel Mike Livingston set sail out of Pt. Loma Sportfishing wound with 800 yards of either 80 or 100-pound test in San Diego aboard the Vagabond in late Novem- line – he doesn’t recall which. He baited a 9/0 Owner ber for a 10-day ocean fishing trip, he had no idea Ringed Super Mutu hook with a live sardine, and he would soon become world famous. Livingston, then what happened is one for the record books. a retired public school administrator, had been on As Livingston tells the story, his bait was hit pret- many long-range fishing trips over the years and had ty close to the boat. The giant tuna took him back caught his share of nice fish. But, little did he realize and forth off the stern for about 30 minutes and then he was destined to hook into and land a world record started to run, ripping off hundreds of yards of line. 405.2-pound yellow fin tuna. In these days of the 24- He fought the fish in the harness for 2 hours and 40 hour news cycle, Livingston became an instant inter- minutes, all the while realizing he had to keep the national celebrity. drag set exactly right and had to keep the behemoth It was around 11:30 a.m. on November 30. The fish away from the anchor rope. T he tuna finally sur- Vagabond was anchored at the Lower Bank, also faced off the port corner. It took 6 deckhands with known as “Cow Town,” about 700 miles south of gaffs to pull the fish through the gate and onto the the Mexican border and about 50 miles out from deck. Magdalena Bay. Few fish had been caught in several Livingston’s impressive catch is not only said to days. Livingston rigged up a custom rod that he per- be the largest yellowfin tuna ever caught on a rod continued on page 4 Index: Staff Acknowledgements: News ................................................... page 2 Editor in Chief Liaison/Journalism Advisor Section Editors Web Address Features ............................................. page 7 Bob Georgius David W. Riemer Isabella Carpio www.voiceofthevillage.org Business ............................................. page 11 818-523-5494 Layout Advisor Josh Esquivel Service Clubs ..................................... page 13 Jeannine Crowley Lina Hwang P.O. Box 4323 Ad Sales – Sonia Tatulian Christy Kim Sunland, CA 91041 School News ...................................... page 17 818-397-3835 Supervising Co-Editors Connor Newell Who We Are ....................................... page 19 [email protected] Samantha Willson Irene Penn The Arts ............................................. page 24 Travis Pierce Amy Hwang Announcements ................................. page 28 Church News ..................................... page 31 2 Voice of the Village Leader of the Band continued from page 1 so that they have a better chance to win things happen.” competitions, but I’d rather challenge Many of Lopez’s students have the students. They can do it. Every been “at-risk” kids, getting into trouble time, they rise to the challenge.” and contemplating gang membership. A music teacher for twenty years, Standing at a critical crossroad in their the past 12 at Verdugo, Lopez main- lives, she has offered them direction tains high expectations for her stu- and guidance. Time and again, they dents and acknowledges that band is have proved deserving of her efforts. a serious commitment. She said, “A lot Students must maintain minimum of students who try out don’t last the grade point averages to stay in the first week, but those who stick it out band. And many of its members are get ‘hooked on music’.” Many go on to ESL (English as a second language) stu- play multiple instruments and there is dents, who bear the additional respon- a large crossover - band members also sibility of learning a new language. But playing in the orchestra or jazz band. the camaraderie they find in the band, Having found their niche, most of the along with the chance to perform both students stay with the marching band at competitions and halftime at foot- all four years of high school. ball games provides a lot of incentive The students’ enthusiasm is im- to master English. pressive, Lopez said, and by way “Music is universal,” Lopez said. of example recalled one young man “When these students join the band who’d wound up in the hospital for they’re with English speakers and find- on the field with her rehearsing and is a very special group. There are no an appendectomy, and even he didn’t ing that it’s not as hard as they think. perfecting a complex choreography of complainers, just students with a lot miss band. With fresh stitches in place They’re excited to learn.” synchronized steps. They were prepar- of drive. I’m really enjoying the group he not only showed up to rehearsal, he It’s not all rigor and no return. ing for a regional competition at East this year.” made it to the performance. Lopez gets results. The rewards for her Los Angeles College that would pit Rehearsing nights and weekends, Under her tutelage, students from students’ hard work are great. With them against marching bands from 35 the band is always last in line for use of all walks of life have internalized a many stops in between, she has taken other Southern California schools. the field, having to wait for the athletic solid work ethic and a “show must go the marching band to competitions Following a full morning’s prac- programs to finish practice before the on” attitude that also serves as a meta- as far north as Vancouver, Canada; as tice, Lopez had to insist the students field is finally theirs. Then its hours of phor for life. “My goal for my students far south as San Diego; as far east as break for lunch – they wanted to con- rigorous drill. is not just a trophy,” she said. “They Las Vegas and as far west as Hawaii. tinue. But afternoon, she promised, “There’s a lot of technicality in- all have challenges, but they’re learn- Together just four months, but improv- would find them right back on the volved,” Lopez said. “And they’re ab- ing that whatever situation they find ing with each contest, this year’s band field – likely rehearsing until sundown. solutely determined. If we don’t have themselves in, maybe one that they has gone from 10th place, to third, to “And they’re here on their vacation,” it together, we’ll crash and burn. Other think is impossible, they can still make second – with the drum line bringing she said. That’s dedication. This year directors do much easier choreography continued on page 2 Christmas lighting winners announced Fran Loiselle On the evening of December 23rd, prizewinner last year, has once again under clear skies, Doug Kopf with outdone himself and the decorations Fran and Ray drove the designat- this year were spectacular including ed area to judge the Christmas lights. a Santa with sleigh, reindeer and Ru- The Figueroa Family on Plateau added dolph the red-nosed reindeer leading several more lights to their decorations the flight. Chris remains our first place from last year, including the cactus in winner again this year and received front of the house, garnering them the $200 (which will probably help pay the third place prize of $50. Robert Pen- electric bill.) man on Hillrose, our 3rd place winner We want to thank everyone who last year, also added some extra light- participated in our lighting contest this ing and sound to his display this year, year and who continue to add to the earning him the 2nd place prize of Holiday spirit each year. Special thanks $100. Chris Shaw on Franlie, our first continued on page 3 Fine Dining in Sunland-Tujunga RESTAURANT Lunch • Dinner • Cocktails 10504 Mount Gleason Ave, Tujunga (At the corner of Mt. Gleason and Summitrose across from Vons) 818-353-9070 Voice of the Village 3 Leader of the Band continued from page 2 home a first-place prize from the recent go, many of these ‘feeder’ students are Join the fun, help the cause – Granada Hills competition. already enrolled in music and dance At present, the band is planning classes to help sharpen their perform- The American Cancer Society’s another trip to Hawaii.