Volume 5, Issue 8 A Non-profit -- Serving the Foothills Communities August 2014 Summer Fest Coming August 8-10 Watermelon Festival by Dana Stangel a Smashing Hit I'm very excited to announce that this will be an all-star blues jam at the end of We'd love to have a facility where we by ERIC OWENS summer the very first annual Summerfest the night. could: house and rehab local wildlife, have On July 19-20, the Sunland-Tujunga is coming to Sunland Park! August 8, 9 and Why the hooplah? Two reasons. The educational displays about local flora and Lions Club presented their 53rd annual 10, you can look forward to a carnival from first is that our fauna, host weekly nature hikes Watermelon Festival at Santa Anita Kemsley Shows, live bands each evening, community of various skill levels, offer daily Race Track for the very first time to over arts and crafts vendors, a classic car show needs a fieldtrips to local schools (for 20,000 people. The Festival included: put on by the Early Rodders (Saturday. summertime free), have a mobile unit that the crowning of the queen / king and 3 p.m.-7:30 p.m.), a visit from "Ronald festival! goes out to schools, host monthly appearances from American Idol finalist McDonald" (Sunday 3 p.m.), family We need an guest speakers, ETC. We strongly Elliott Yamin and Melissa Jimenez from activities at the stage during the day, the opportunity believe this is one of the things NBC’s the Voice. Wildlife Waystation, LA Animal Services for our local this community is missing. So we Every Watermelon Festival starts & Best Friends will both be there with merchants to are working to raise the money to with the crowning of the queen / king and puppies and kittens for adoption, there show off who build it. their court and this year was no exception. will be other various local animal rescue they are and Find out more on the Teranga Verdugo Hills junior drama student Calista groups, the DWP and MORE! what they do, Ranch Facebook page, on the Yakhaman won the title of queen after Friday and Saturday nights you'll a place for our Summerfest event page on selling 1,100 raffle tickets. This isn’t the hear some rock and some acoustic music local artists to Facebook, on the Summerfest first time Miss Yakhaman has been on the from all kinds of great local bands: The display and website: summerfest14.com or watermelon court, she had a very successful Locke Brothers, Lion's Den, ThunderTap, sell their work, a community stage for local email [email protected] . run when it was held at Sunland Recreation No Convention, Seth Freeman, BadTown musicians to play, and a park full rides and I really hope you will find a way Center for the last time two years ago when Boys, Dead Lazlo's Place, Stereo Love, games for our kids. to be involved in our first annual event. she sold 500 tickets. Senior-2-be Ruben Evans & Rogers, Jeb Lipson, Charley There is a second reason, too... Especially if what that means for you is Mendez of Verdugo Hills football became & Jesi, The Brave Ones, Travis Creeps. Teranga Ranch is the 501c3 organization coming out, getting some cotton candy, the fourth king overall in the festival’s 53 Sunday night (August 10) is for the that is bringing you Summerfest this year. playing some games, riding some rides, year history. blues..... you'll hear from Old Not Dead, We are hoping to raise funds to build a and listening to some amazing music. Other Melon Court members include: Billy's Night Out, Kandy Blue, Toni Dodd local nature center. One of the things we Hanging out in the community is Princesses Taylor Monet Hanes (JROTC), & Southbound Blues, 210 East and there do in this community is wildlife education. REALLY important to the community! Shelby Haas (Color Guard Orchestra), Emely Callejas (Color Guard), Karina Valencia (Cheer), Erin Timmins (Dons Soccer) and Desiree Marquez (Dons New Summer Arts and Dance Classes in Sunland-Tujunga Softball), while for the Princes we have Our small valley has a secret jewel at the Sunland Park Recreations and Senior Center, that is, an affordable arts and dance Carter ‘Big Shot’ Otte (Dons Basketball), program that has been active for several years. Art classes include drawing and painting, folk art, and mixed media. The dance program Christian Aghakhanian (Dons Baseball), incorporates Folk Dance, with a focus on Hula this summer, Belly Dance and Country Western Line Dance. These classes are open to William ‘RJ’ Torres (Marching Band) and teens and adults ages 16 and older. my brother, Jonathan Owens. Members A dedicated group of adults attend these classes faithfully and there exists a special camaraderie built upon common interests, of the Court raised funds for the Sunland- experience and support, learning and sharing. The classes attract people from La Cañada, La Crescenta, Pacoima, Glendale and, of Tujunga Food Bank – which is located in course, from Sunland and Tujunga. All of the students enter the classes with different levels of talent and over the years a community has developed and grown along with the artistic abilities of the participants. the S-T City Hall at 7747 Foothill Blvd. The reigning 23 year-old National Many or our works of art are displayed at the Senior Center. We present a rotating exhibition, changing the pieces as new ones are Queen Brandi Harrison from Newberry, completed. Folks who come to the center comment on the quality of the work exhibited. They are surprised to learn that such a talented Florida and reigning Sunland-Tujunga community of artists exists locally. The Adult folk dance classes have performed dance shows at the community parties. Dances Queen Erika Cunningham were present, as include a Hula for the Luau; American, Irish and Mexican dances for the Harvest Festival; and dances from Germany, Africa, and Israel well as special guests National Watermelon during the winter holidays. Promotion Board members Gordon Hunt Kat Skraba, our dedicated teacher is a M.F. A. graduate. She is a professional visual artist and ethnic dancer who has performed, and Juliemar Rosado, Western United exhibited, curated and taught visual arts and dance for many years in Los Angeles and beyond. In addition to the art classes she States Representative Kenton Kidd conducts the dance and yoga classes. (Continued on page four) and Celebrity Chef Joseph Poon from Philadelphia. All were on hand for the coronation of the new king and queen. 32nd Annual July 4 Parade and Fireworks Court mother Julie Cuddihy introduced the court, while S-T Lions Club President Enjoyed by Thousands Brenda Fortune welcomed the crowd. by ERIC OWENS (Continued on page five) Thousands lined Foothill Boulevard last month, and Verdugo Hills High was well represented in the 32nd annual Sunland-Tujunga Fourth of July parade that cruised down the Boulevard from Mount Gleason to Sunland Park. This reporter, a 2013 Melon prince, rode in his 2nd parade on board the S-T Lions Club float with some of the candidates of the 2014 Watermelon Festival: Jon Owens, Christian Aghakhanian, Erin Timmins, Karina Valencia, Ruben Mendez and Taylor Monet Hanes while some of the Sunland-Tujunga others walked it with their groups. William Torres, Shelby Haas and Emely Callejas walked with Gateway to the Marching Band and Color Guard; while Verdugo Hills Voices - Glee, baseball team, Junior ROTC (including All-City Col. Courtney Gregoire Angeles and All-City Deputy / reigning melon queen Erika Cunningham) and the football team all participated in the parade. National Other participates in the parade, just to name a couple, were Miss Tujunga Gissele Tohom, Honorary Mayor and Verdugo Hills alumni Forest Thomas Smoker and the Oldest Rock of Sunland-Tujunga. The celebration of our nation’s birthday concluded with live music and fireworks at the Community Funds’ Family Fireworks Festival, which was held again this year at Verdugo Hills High School.
Page 2 Voice of the Village August 2014 GROWING UP IN SUNLAND Obituary years later in 1987 when Dodger General VERDUGO HIGH'S FIRST BLACK STUDENT: Manager Al Campanis made his infamous JUANITA BAUGHMAN A Missed Opportunity For Kindness remark about black athletes not being 1918—2014 I don’t know what I was thinking as they were talked about at all, were the good swimmers because of their lack of Juanita I walked over and became part of a small objects of derision, or perhaps the butt of buoyancy. Beatrice crowd of students watching a lonely a racially-charged joke or two. It followed This then was part of the school (Crawford) black girl walking across campus. I mean, that discourse on campus would reflect culture the black girl had stepped into as Baughman, remembering the details of something that these same attitudes. This was also true on she continued her cross-campus walk. 95 years, went happened 65 years ago is hard enough the school’s athletic teams, which were of Soon the small crowd of curious students to be with the without trying to recall what was going on course all white just like the student body. drifting along with her began to grow. Lord early in your head at the time. But I suspect I As best I recall, the other teams we played By the time she reached the cafeteria it Wednesday, was just curious like everyone else. As best in conference competition were also all had grown so large that it was impeding July 9, 2014 I recall, I gave no thought at all to how white. her progress. Finally, she became pinned in Tujunga, frightened she must have been. So it was a big deal when one day coach against the cafeteria wall and couldn’t California It was mid-semester, 1948. None of the told us we were going to be playing a game move at all. She just stood there leaning after a five year battle with Alzheimer’s/ students knew she was coming. One day against a team that had black players. I was against the wall with her big, frightened dementia. She was married for 69 years to George Baughman, who proceeded her on Verdugo’s B football team at the time brown eyes staring out at everyone. she just showed up out of left field on the in death in 2009, and is survived by her Roscoe bus. She had no friends. No teacher and, just like everyone else on the team, And that’s when some of the real two sons, Spencer and Frederick (Rick) ugliness began. Acting like cheerleaders, or administrator met her to tell her where I was inexperienced in such matters and Baughman. to go or what to do. Other kids who arrived didn’t know what to expect. What special a couple of the school’s more popular Juanita was born on December on the same bus told the rest us she lived preparations were going to be required to boys, including a good pal of mine, began 20, 1918 in Spencer, Oklahoma to Elmer alone with her father on a chicken farm in deal with these mysterious people none of pointing their fingers and hooting and and Isabelle (Kennedy) Crawford and Roscoe, and indeed she looked the part. She us knew anything about? hollering, “Go home nigger, we don’t want attended K-8 there; she attended High was terribly overweight, not well dressed We all listened intently as coach told us any niggers in our school.” When the poor School and graduated in 1936 while living and quite disheveled in overall appearance. most of them were damn fast, and that they girl began to cry it just seemed to egg them with her father’s sister Stella Hivick in She definitely was not someone carefully could probably on. The sad thing is, I Ardmore, Oklahoma. She studied to be a chosen to break the color barrier at our outrun anybody doubt that it would have legal secretary, taking courses in shorthand high school as Jackie Robinson had been on our team, continued if the rest of and business accounting at Oklahoma for major league baseball the year before. except maybe us hadn’t been standing A&M (now Oklahoma State University). I was reminded of this long ago day by Guy Lucas, our there laughing. There’s In 1938 she moved to Southern California two graduation speeches given at Syracuse fastest player. no other way to explain to join her parents Elmer and Belle, and Princeton Universities. Remarkably Then he gave what was going on brothers Mark and Don, and sister Betty similar in content, both speeches spoke to us a tip: we other than to admit that Jo. She worked for various individuals as the need for kindness in our daily lives. could offset this many students were a secretary in the Los Angeles area during Although admittedly a subject that can get advantage by being entertained at the this time. While roller-skating with her father in San Fernando, California, she a little corny, there was something about kicking them expense of this poor, was introduced to George Baughman and the heartfelt simplicity of both speeches in the shins. He suffering girl. they began dating. On December 14, 1940 As I said before, that caused them to go viral on the internet, said everyone they were married at Forest Lawn in the with both receiving millions of hits. knew that they it’s hard to remember Wee Kirk o’ the Heather, followed by a The speaker at Princeton, Jeff Bezos, had weak shins what was going on honey moon in Santa Barbara, California. the multi-billionaire founder of Amazon, and that the inside my head that In 1942 they welcomed their first son, predicted that when the graduating seniors great equalizer long ago. But I don’t Spencer Baughman, and in 1945 they reached their eighties and looked back on was to slow have to guess or have welcomed their second son, Frederick their lives, it will not be the wealth they them down my memory jogged to (Rick) Baughman. accumulate or how successful they had bykicking them know that many of us After WWII, the Baughmans been in their careers that will be the most where they knew what we were relocated to Harrison, Arkansas, George’s important things to them. Rather, he said, it were the most witnessing was wrong. hometown, and then returned to Southern will be the decisions you make about such vulnerable. Just But it took more than an California in 1952 to settle in the town things as kindness. exactly how we instinct for kindness for of Sunland. Primarily a home-maker RACHEL JOHNS while raising her sons, Juanita was active Prof. George Saunders, one of our were supposed Rachel Johns was elected Class Ephebian someone to act against in the PTA and was a Sunday School nation’s best writers, and the speaker at to do this and for the Verdugo winter graduating class what most of our fellow teacher at the local Foursquare Church. Syracuse, told students pretty much the stay within the of 1950. Ephebians are selected on the students seemed to be She re-entered the workforce after her same thing. He put it this way, “ What rules he never basis of outstanding character, leadership, enjoying. It also took a I regret most in my life are failures of explained. I little courage, and that sons graduated High School, beginning a demonstrated service, and high scholastic new career in 1965 with the Los Angeles kindness. Those moments when another guess we were was something in pretty achievement. Unified School District, and retired in human being was there, in front of me, just supposed to short supply on this 1980 from her position as a personnel long ago school day. That is, it was until suffering, and I responded . . . sensibly. figure that out for ourselves. Coach went clerk specialist. She and George traveled Reservedly. Mildly.” on to say that it wouldn't do any good to one brave student finally stepped forward. the U.S. in cars and motorcoaches, Well, I suppose you can tell where hit one in the head as everyone knew they It was my classmate Rachel Johns. always returning to Sunland. In 1986 I’m going with this, but the two speeches have harder heads than whites. "Just the Disregarding what such action might do they moved to Porterville, California did strike a responsive chord. Sometimes shins" he said, "go for the shins." to her own popularity on campus, she just near Lake Success, where they would though, being kind requires courage and I can't honestly say I specifically recall wasn’t going to put up with it any more. host large family holidays that many peer pressure, especially when you’re the team’s reaction to this kind of a pep talk, At the very height of all the ugliness she times involved boating and skiing at the a teenager, is a powerful thing. Let me nor, for that matter, can I recall anything pushed everyone out of the way, stepped Lake. In Porterville Juanita was active provide some more background to better that happened in the game that followed. forward and put her arm around the crying in the Women’s Ministries of the local set the stage. I refer to the talk now only as an example girl. She sneered at my pal, one of the Assembly of God Church, working on When I entered Verdugo in 1944 it was of the kinds of things that were being worst of the offenders, and yelled, “What hand-made quilts as a fundraising tool. an all-white school and discourse about said to us at the time. For those of today's is wrong with you?” adding for the benefit Juanita lived in Porterville until George’s blacks pretty much reflected the attitudes generation of students who may find it hard of the rest of us, “What’s wrong with ALL passing in 2009, then went to live with and mores of the larger white community to believe that otherwise competent adults of you?”. She then strode away in the her son Rick in Tujunga, California for from which we came. Most of us came from actually thought and talked this way in the direction of the principal’s office with the two years. In 2011 she moved to a local assisted living facility where she battled homes where black people, to the extent 1940s, may I remind them that it was forty girl in tow. The rest of us just stood there with our tails between our legs. her physical ailments until her passing I don’t know what ever happened to last week. She is survived by her sister, the black girl. I only know she never came Betty Jo; two sons, Spencer and Rick; back again and that I and my classmates four grandchildren, Spencer, Shawn, were to graduate in the winter of 1950 Kimberly, and Kelci; and many great without ever having another black student and great-great grandchildren, nieces, on campus. nephews, and other family members. Although this had not been my Alma Juanita was the beloved matriarch of the Mater’s finest hour, we can all be thankful Baughman family, operating as a prayer for the few Rachels of the world … and warrior and spreading the joy of her for their brave acts of kindness. As for gifts of cooking, baking, and sewing to me, I am that person now in his eighties all in the family. She was renowned for looking back on his own share of missed her mayonnaise chocolate cake, fruit opportunities for kindness. And, I can cobblers, breakfast biscuits and dinner assure you, none are regretted more than rolls. She is remembered and celebrated the failure to act on the day that black girl as a woman of great faith, generosity, and got off the bus from Roscoe. humility, who acted as a spiritual role [email protected] model to many.
August 2014 Voice of the Village Page 3 ADA Workshop August Community Calendar for Small Tuesday Table Talk On Tuesday, August 5, Bethel Church, 10725 Penrose St., Sun Valley, 818-767-4488, will offer a showing of the film “The Sandlot.” Eager Businesses to make friends, new-kid-in-town Scotty heads for the neighborhood sandlot, hoping Learn how to make your business to join a pickup baseball game. When he launches a ball signed by Babe Ruth into ADA compliant and reduce your the junkyard of a crotchety neighbor with a menacing dog, the frightened boys test chances of being hit by a drive- their mettle when they scheme to retrieve the ball. A great film for the whole family. by lawsuit. The video will be preceded by a potluck supper. The potluck starts at 6:30 PM, the video presentation starts at 7:15 PM, followed by desert and discussion at about 8:45 Date: Friday, August 8, 2014 Location: PM. Free. Westfield Fashion Square Food Court (2nd Floor) 14006 Riverside Drive Family Festival at Bethel Church, 10725 Penrose St., Sun Valley, 818- Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 767-4488, is hosting a family festival on the grounds on Saturday, August 2nd, from Time: 7:30 a.m. 2:00pm-6:00pm. There will be face painting, petting zoo, games, prizes, information booths on church and community center programs, bouncers, snack and food stands. Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian and the Civil Justice Association of California, a Dinner will be served from 5pm - 6pm. All free, and all are welcome! nonprofit advocacy organization fighting for fairness in our civil justice system, offers a free 90-minute workshop (in English and Spanish) on how to make your business ADA compliant. In order to reduce your chances of being hit by “drive-by” lawsuits and to improve Look at the Elks access for the disabled, learn about the ADA, California law, Certified Access Specialists Saturday, August 2 and steps you can take to reduce your chances of being sued. SEPULVEDA VA 9:00 a.m. food prep 11:00 a.m. - visit and bingo at Sepulveda RSVP to Steven Butcher, Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian’s District Office, at steven. VA [email protected] or 818-376-4246. Free parking available. Refreshments will be served. Monday, August 4 Special thanks to the Sherman Oaks Chamber of Commerce and the Valley Donations needed by August 4th for the Funky Fashion Show which will be held on Economic Alliance. August 22. To fit our large-size models, we need formalwear, pantsuits, sportswear, bathing outfits, and nightwear. Models may sign up in the Elbow Room. For more info, contact: Bill Andrew, (818) 352-5864. Thursday, August 7 6:30 p.m. - dinner 8:00 p.m. - meeting and initiation (Officers to wear tuxes if there are initiations) Friday, August 8 6:30 p.m. - Friday night dinner
Sunday, August 10 Donations needed by August 10th for Christmas Baskets which will be raffled at The Beach Bash on Saturday, September 20th. Donated items need to be received at the Lodge by August 10th. Themes for the baskets include: automotive/guy stuff, baby, bar-b-que, bath/beauty, entertainment/movie, kitchen, pet, wines. If you prefer to donate money instead, please enclose in an envelope. Address to Ann Kuh or Kathy Anthony, mark "For Christmas Baskets," and leave at The Elbow Room. Whether items or cash, please make a note of who donated. For more info, contact: Ann Kuh, (818) 335-3610 or Kathy Anthony, (818) 645-2430. Sunday, August 17 9:00 a.m. - Omelet Bar
Thursday, August 21 8:00 p.m. - general meeting
Friday, August 22 - Funky Fashion Show & Dinner Funky Fashion Show (need clothing donations & models by August 4) 6:30 p.m. - Friday night dinner
Saturday, September 20 - Beach Bash 6:00 p.m. - Celebrate the end of summer BBQ with friends and family. Lots of fun, entertainment, and food! As a fundraiser, all proceeds go to the Christmas Landscaping & Maintenance Basket Program. Included are entertainment, great food, door prizes, and baskets to be raffled. Tickets: $15.00 presale, or $17.50 at the door. Music by: Sound Waves. Center For more information contact: S-T Elks, (818) 352-2098. • Planting Manuel SHOP • New Lawns (818) 307-1672 • The Gateway to the Sprinklers • Clean Ups Esteban Angeles National • Palms (818) 968-8652 Forest • Tree Trimming
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Page 4 Voice of the Village August 2014 Arts & Entertainment WWII Book of Poems S-T Summer Arts What a Torrid Affair What a torrid affair is this love of mine Soon to be Published and Dance Class So vicious like the rays of piercing Finishing Line Press will soon publish "Slicing the Bread" by Maja Trochimczyk, (Continued from page one) thunder based on WWII memories of children from her family. "Slicing the Bread," Children’s This program offers our communities Yet so gentle like a silken feather Survival Manual in 25 Poems will appear on October 25, 2014. This collection, based on high quality art and dance instruction by a So like a tempestuous storm raging traumatic war memories of my family and the long shadow of the Holocaust and war over dedicated professional at a very affordable Though as serene as the wind flowing my Polish childhood, is Ms Trochimczyk’s third poetry book and can be ordered now price. Those over 50 years of age are asked Coursing through to be shipped in October. The limited edition’s pre-publication sales will determine the to pay $1 per class and those between 18 & rouged cherry blossoms glistening under press run, so, please, reserve your copy now. 49 pay $5 per class. This summer the Park the eye of the smiling sun The books cost $14 each plus $2.99 for shipping for the first book in a package currently offers three visual art classes; Bringing beauty magnificent to a tree and $1.99 for each additional book. You can order your copy of "Slicing the Bread" on Drawing & Painting on Tuesday from 2-4, ancient Finishing Line Press website at www.finishinglinepress.com: look for new releases. Folk Art & Collage Thursday 11;30-1;00, Ms Trochimczyk noted that this book came "out of nowhere" after her mother died and Mixed Media Thursday 2:30-4:30. I am an erroneous fool to bow under its and she suddenly realized that she was forgetting the sad war stories her mother told her. Yoga is Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00- lethal arrow "If six million Jews and three million non-Jewish Poles were killed by Germans in 11:00, Hula is Tuesday 11:15-12:15 and A lucky though tormented slave am I Poland, don’t they each deserve at least one poem, one story?" she said. Can poetry help? Belly Dance is Tuesday evening 6:30-7:30. To its leering presence Can sharing the sorrow enlighten? Read the book and judge for yourself. The pre-sale Stop by the Senior Center located at Smirking at my misfortune
8640 Fenwick Street, Sunland. See our period ends on September 25, 2014. What a cruel curse is it to endure exhibition, pick up a schedule and then The loss of one's beloved come join us in this casual, nonjudgmental The deprivation of his tender arms friendly affordable environment. Hone Aching and pining your skills, learn new ways to express Cursing and pleading Dracula's Revenge IV your artistic talents, explore new avenues Grasping and yanking by MD Rafique Islam of entertainment, expand your imagination Suffering a thousand thrusts of cold and make new friends in the Sunland Park “Monsieur,” said my mother, “what grim darkness of the night rendered his poisoned knives Arts and Recreation classes for teens and hast happened?” Her voice was barely eyes blood red and his pallor exceedingly Not a kind soul glimpsing her sorrow above a whisper. Monsieur Arkana pale with crimson lips shading what looked adults. More information is available by seemed to hesitate, weighing the situation like fangs. The time passed slowly in a calling the park, dropping by to speak Give me back my beloved in his mind, hesitating, deciding whether blur. The very ground was spinning like with the director or by viewing the web Thou wretched fate the situation should be kept secret. “Thou a totem pole. I descended into a state of site at www.laparks.org/dos/reccenter/pdf/ Ill boding misfortune sunland/brochure.pdf canst confide in us,” I managed to mumble. euphoria, and all the while the beast urged That ever didst rob me Strangely, as Monsieur Arkana got me to come closer. He bared his fangs and Give me back my beloved up to a sitting position, I noticed that his an acute pain is all I recollect." Crown with laurel leaves his fair brow scar had healed and only an imperceptible Poor Monsieur Arkana broke down Slide over his arched face the feather of sign remained. Madame Claudia observed sobbing as Mother held his hands in an Poet and Writer, beauty this too and threw me a foreboding look. affectionate manner and opened her arms. Sharpen his chivalry until it shall glint "Master Edward and Madame Claudia, I He let his head rest on her comforting Jack Cooper with silver shall recount to thee all that hast happened." shoulder and fell to sobbing. An involuntary to Feature on Until I his lady shall gasp at his Drawing a shaky breath he commenced. shudder coursed through my veins. How magnificence "Here I was standing," he pointed at can this be? He had described the same August 24th O' restore him to me! by Dorothy Skiles the window, "encasing my hands in gloves beast who terrorized the train. Was it I to pick up thee, Master Edward. Suddenly, losing my sanity and sound judgment? The Village Poets of Sunland- the screech of an animal resembling a bat Or was it all a frightful dream and after Tujunga are pleased to announce that poet and writer, Jack Cooper, will feature at their reverberated around the room. I stood up to the night should pass, I should wake with next Monthly Reading Series slated for Sunday, August 24, 2014, from 4:30-6:30 p.m., at investigate and then…” With a cry he put the easy assurance of reality. “Madame, Bolton Hall, 10110 Commerce Ave., Sunland, CA 91042. his hands up to his face and covered it. I fear I am losing my reason. My dreams Jack Cooper earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Redlands, Mother walked up to him and took are becoming fused into reality." Madame a teaching credential in adult education from Cal State University, Dominguez Hills and his hand, her eyes twinkling with the Claudia stroked his hair, as if he were but briefly attended graduate school in alpine botany at the University of Colorado. He light of sapphires resembling motherly a simple child and replied, “No Monsieur, lived in Norway for a time and received a degree in English and Psychology. Upon his compassion. The look that is there to bless there are things beyond the understanding return, he taught basic education and ESL in the L.A. Unified School District and various the needy, rendered all the more sublime of simple mortals. I fear that what you private schools. He also pursued a career in publishing, communications and marketing. by devotion. "Continue Monsieur." witnessed is no dream." There was a Cooper’s works include: “Across My Silence” (poems), “That Perfect Moment” (play), This seemed to give him courage and he gleam of understanding and mystery in her “Men in the Company of Women” (anthology of poetry, short stories and memoir). His continued. dazzling eyes. It suddenly dawned on me works have also appeared in numerous journals. "The bat flew in. A great onrush of that I had not recounted my experience. As In his first round of college, he “…studied biology instead of literature. Somehow I wind shook the room like a tornado and if reading my thoughts Madame Claudia grasped, however unconsciously, that I needed to understand more about the earth and our froze my heart to stone. The room seemed gave an imperceptible shake of the head. place on it as human beings before I could write anything with integrity and relevance.” to take an unnatural aura of grimness for Her blue grey eyes blazed like flames upon Poets are welcome to sign-up for the open reading. Come and enjoy an early evening of poetry, light refreshments and eclectic conversation. A $3.00 donation is appreciated. all the lights became at once extinguished. a torch bidding me silence. Her lips half Fearfully, I turned around, for it seemed as parted and her eyes traveled to my room, Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga: www.villagepoets.blogspot.com though something cold and hellish passed exquisitely profound in their movement through my frame. Then, I could scarce and beauty. She rose with a gracious believe my eyes. Right before me was a flourish and escorted Monsieur Arkana beastly fiend who seemed to have come to his room. With a look she bade me the straight through the fires of hell. In the same… To be continued. semblance of a man, but not quite so. The Suzuki Music Program of Los Angeles – Parent Orientation The Suzuki Music Program of Los Angeles (SMPLA) will hold its fall Parent Orientation on Monday, August 26th at 7:30 p.m. at the studio of its Co-Director, Melodie Zide, 8802 Delco Avenue, Winnetka, CA 91306. The Suzuki Method is Ruby Davidian-Realtor Since 1994 renowned for helping children develop musically, especially CRS, ABR, SFR, IHLMS from a young age. Broker Associate Early musical education significantly enhances a child’s RE/MAX Tri-City Realty brain development, motor coordination and speech, and also 811 N. Central Avenue increases a child’s level of discipline and self-esteem. The Suzuki Method of music instruction is important for children Glendale, CA 91203 of all ages. 818-355-0370 The Suzuki Method, child development issues, and the SMPLA program will rdavidian@aol.com be discussed in detail at this Parent Orientation. All adults are invited to attend. For www.rubydavidian.com more information and to RSVP, contact [email protected]. Also visit www. DRE# 01178637 SuzukiMusicofLA.org.
August 2014 Voice of the Village Page 5 Watermelon Festival Elsa Fausto’s WALKING AROUND (Continued from page one) Community- I've been thinking about this word, how often it's repeated in all kinds This year’s entertainment of contexts. We speak of it, write about it and sometimes it seems we need to make headliners included: Verdugo ourselves believe such a world could exist. Voices, Ronald McDonald, Radio Community, commune, communicate, common, unity, and I'm not looking in the Disney Road Crew, Tropical dictionary, just letting the root and suffix of the word flow out to make sense on its own, Punch, Evans & Rogers, Henry to grow wings and take off. Turner Jr. & Flavor, Landia Band, The U.S. is still a country of immigrants and we arrive, if mature, with a set of Grammy Award winning Rose cultural norms- language, food, trust or lack of it of our surroundings and authority. Some Royce, Upstream, Rock Theatre, will never leave their comfort zone and, as a member of an immigrant family ( moving Bull Dawg Blues Band, Michael more than once), I know this happens in all countries. My grandmother learned just Fell and His So Called Friends, enough Spanish to get by when she emigrated from Eastern Europe to Argentina. But she and concluded with Jack Mack & caught the habit of drinking mate very fast! People feel more comfortable among their the Heart Attacks Horns featuring kin. This doesn't have to mean exclusion of others or never assimilating. reality TV finalists Elliott Yamin It happens regardless and the children of immigrants are the best example. They may and Melissa ‘MJ’ Jimenez. 2014 Watermelon Court and Guests keep the language spoken at home but English will be more dominant, they will eat the After the crowd sang happy ethnic dishes abuelita / tatik make for Christmas and go out for Chinese food later, they birthday to Yamin, yours truly (aka Prince Eric) asked Elliott what he liked about may travel back to the “old country” now as tourists. watermelon and he responded with this: “Its juicy, its sweet – It reminds me of summer.” Walking around I see different gardens. Tomatoes growing in the front yard alongside Attendees also enjoyed spitting the fig and pomegranate trees, water fountains gurgling in a language none of us speak, watermelon seeds to see if they families sitting on front porches drinking tea or playing cards. could break the national spit record If I stay long enough, I'll be invited to a glass. of 69 feet. The longest spit at the festival was just around 47 feet mid-Saturday of the event. The ever-popular watermelon-eating contests were held from the little ones. The LA Kings Ice Crew and LA Galaxy Star Squad faced off against each other to see who could eat watermelon the fastest. Of course the La Kings Ice Crew won. The newly updated watermelon Jack Mack and the Heart Attack Horns with wheel never stopped spinning – Elliott Yamin and Melissa Mimenez making everyone a winner at the festival. Prizes featured on the wheel included: a free raffle ticket, pony or carnival ride, mystery prize, a whole watermelon or a bottle of water. The Trompers of Eagle Rock classic car show of hot rods and muscle cars wowed the crowd, as well as the animals from the Wildlife Waystation and food carts offering an array of watermelon- related items such as glazed turkey legs, funnel cakes, popcorn, cotton candy, Turkish delights, lemonade, margaritas and coolers. In the watermelon pavilion, the Verdugo Hills football team - featuring new quarterback Gage 2014 Watermelon Queen Calista Yakhaman Van Kempen – passed out hundreds and two Watermelon Princesses BUILDING A FOUNDATION FOR YOUR FAMILY! of slices of watermelon. Chef Poon as well as Jim Morey and Miss Harrison were on hand to carve watermelons for the crowd. Culinary Demo’s were offered from Chef Lisa Thompson.
Johny Carpenter Film Festival Great Success by Krystee Clark, STNC Entertainment Industry Representative I attended the first annual “Johny artifacts, with many special items donated Carpenter” Film Festival that was held to Little Landers for future showings. Ed Friday June 27th and Saturday June 28th, Novy and the STNC were both festival 2014 at the historic Bolton Hall Museum sponsors. Richard Stewart also helped in Tujunga. Hosted by the Little Landers promote the event. Halper Fine Arts Historical Society, four vintage films donated two family portrait sittings that starring or featuring Johny Carpenter were are still up for silent auction, Little Landers shown. I loved donated two photos JANA ACE WUNDERLICH hearing the lore of of Slim Vaughan Realtor®, CRS, GRI, ABR, SRES, EcoBroker the great Johnny who was one of the Carpenter who got first “characters” many stuntmen into of the Foothills the Screen Actor's who participated Residential and Senior Guild back in the in many of the old Relocation Specialist day! He was a local Pioneer Days stellar horseman and ETI Corral 20 Cell > 818.472.3131 and a charming donated a hand personality who crafted necklace, Office> 818.583.1208 gave back to his The film community for many years. We are lucky festival was sponsored by New “Heaven on Email > [email protected] to have him as a part of our local heritage. Earth” Ranch to benefit NHOER including WWW.JANAACEWUNDERLICH.COM The Friday night show screened “Sons the “Randy Horton” Riding Program. The of the Renegade” and my favorite of the festival was created to continue keeping BRE #01438712 festival “Cattle Queen.” The Saturday the legacy of Johny Carpenter alive and for matinee had “I Killed Wild Bill Hickok” all those whose lives he changed forever. and “Colorado Serenade.” There was also New “Heaven on Earth” Ranch is a CA a Friday pre show reception which featured based 501 c(3) public charity, located in the Johny Carpenter Heaven on Earth Lake View Terrace, Ca. ID# 27-2613489. Ranch documentary shown in its entirety. 818 [email protected]. www. There was a movie style snack bar with NHOER.org. Please like them on Facebook items donated by the Sunland Tujunga at “New Heaven on Earth Ranch.” and plan Neighborhood Council (STNC). on attending the festival next year. follow me online! There was a display of Johny Carpenter
Page 6 Voice of the Village August 2014 Arts & Entertainment CELEBRATE LOCAL BEAUTY! Community Art & Chocolate Party on Aug 8 Happy Art Day 2014! Again this year, Sunland residents Becky and Randy Mate open up their front yard to “celebrate local beauty” with their annual Community Art & Chocolate Party, from 4 to 9pm, Friday, August 8. It is a chance for artist to bring paintings to show, a poem, a song, a scene, a short story to this 2014 celebration of International Art Day, at 7862 Apperson St, Sunland. This informal family event, in recognition of artists of all disciplines, is free. Remodel Fresh Aire Duct Cleaning of La Crescenta is sponsoring the Kids Art Table. Local contractor New Castle Additions Remodeling will provide hotdogs and hamburgers. Attendees are encouraged Decks to bring a potluck item. Dan Murnan As proclaimed by Los Angeles City Deck Repair Councilmember Felipe Fuentes, and the Construction entire City Council, on Art Day 2013, Sunland is the home of the Art Day Termite Damage Games, like the Olympics, but for the Repair arts. Participants play for the country Becky Mate and Dry Rot Repair 818-517-1560 where they live, where they were Gold Script Winner Noel Wills born or where a parent was born. This [email protected] year features the Photography Competition sponsored by www.artistsforabetterworld. org. Those wishing California Contractors License #592570 to enter the free contest, email up to 4 photos on the theme “Celebrating Local Beauty,” along with OLD FASHION which country you are playing for, and your BARBER SHOP address to artday@ earthlink.net. The (818) 352-0141 goal is to give at least a small gift to each MON.—FRI. 9AM TO 7 PM person who enters, and Gold, Silver and SATURDAY 9AM TO 6 PM Painting Fun at the Kids’ Table Bronze status to three SUNDAY 9 AM TO 3 PM winners. It is not required to attend, but prizes will be awarded around 7:00pm at the Mate's Art Day 7635 FOOTHILL BLVD. TUJUNGA CA 91042 celebration. Last year, Ireland (Noel Wills) took the Gold for the Short Script Competition. In the “Get High on Art, Say No to Drugs” Visual Art Competition, USA took the Gold for both the adult competition (Sonia Weatherall) and the kid/teen competition (Kristin Dungan). “I was hoping to include a Music Competition of some sort this year, but the logistics proved to be challenging, and it is being postponed,” said Art Day Founder, Becky Mate, “This doesn’t preclude anyone from posting their song about international Art Day (second Friday in August) on YouTube or InstaGram (#Happy Art Day). If you do, let me know about it.” Art Day, celebrated each year, touches many people, some who have remarked upon it years later. At the last poetry reading at Bolton Hall sponsored by the Village Poets, Mate bought a book from a poet, who wrote in it "Happy Local Artist Art Day," signed and dated it. This is Mina Prieto a tradition Mate has, of collecting up works of fiction or poetry by artists, then giving them away on Art Day. So there are little trickles of "Happy Art Day!" being wished by various artists being sent out along artistic lines. Who knows where they will end up? It's a little like sending out a message in a bottle on a body of water. Except this message is a celebration of the arts traveling on aesthetic lines. “One of my favorite things is to see children who have attended Art Day celebrations who are now moving forward in their artistic careers,” said Mate, “All it takes is someone to say, ‘Your voice as an artist is welcome and important to our culture,’ and a seed is planted.” To RSVP or for more information email [email protected].
We, at the Voice of the Village, wish you and yours a Happy Art Day!!!
August 2014 Voice of the Village Page 7
Donate $10 Intro Offer – Be Among the First to Wear the Swag! Get a Refrigerator Magnet Sunland-Tujunga Gateway to the Angeles National Forest™ Donate $20 & Get a T-Shirt Sunland-Tujunga Gateway to the Angeles National Forest™
A – Color on white t-shirt
B – B/W on white t-shirt
A – Blonde Wood Backing B – Darker Wood Backing C – B/W on black t-shirt
Step One: Go to the YouCaring.com Fundraising Site:
http://www.youcaring.com/other/the-town-where-e-t-was-filmed-needs-help-getting-back- home/191276
Step Two: Donate a minimum of $10 Step One: Go to the YouCaring.com Fundraising Site: Every $10 donation will be entitled to one refrigerator magnet featuring the Sunland-Tujunga logo etched into a solid wood base (CHOOSE A or B – as shown above). http://www.youcaring.com/other/the-town-where-e-t-was-filmed-needs-help-getting-back- home/191276 For every $10 donation, $5 will be applied to the branding/marketing of Sunland-Tujunga (see YouCaring.com site for details on what the funds will be used for). Step Two: Donate a minimum of $20 Step Three: On the COMMENT section of your donation, Every $20 donation will be entitled to one t-shirt (size S, M, L, XL); (for larger sizes (2XL, 3XL, 4XL), Indicate the Color Chosen – (Version A = Blonde/Lighter Wood Backing; Version minimum donation is $25 to cover costs). B=Darker Wood Backing – both affixed with magnet on reverse) For every $20 donation, $10 will be applied to the branding/marketing of Sunland-Tujunga; for every $25 Step Four: Upon confirmation, we’ll send you a notice and tell you when your Sunland-Tujunga donation, $12.50 will be applied to the branding/marketing of Sunland-Tujunga (see YouCaring.com site refrigerator magnet will be ready for pick-up and where. Thank you to OK Trophies & Awards for being for details on what the funds will be used for). our refrigerator magnet provider. Step Three: On the COMMENT section of your donation, Sunland/Tujunga "Hometown Heroes" : Indicate the SIZE - S, M, L, XL (for $20 donation min. ea.) - or 2XL, 3XL, 4XL (for $25 donation min. ea.); and Second Tour Indicate the version (A, B, or C) you want (see options above). We are certain you have noticed on Foothill Blvd., that the Sunland/Tujunga Hometown Heroes Banners have Step Four: Upon confirmation, we’ll send you a notice and tell you when your t-shirt(s) will be ready for pick-up at Sunland Printing. Thank you Sunland Printing for being our t-shirt provider. returned to show our community pride in the men and women who have and continue to serve our country. Last year, our community was able to honor 52 military service LCWC Sponsors VHHS Student men and women on these banners. We were able to recover 26 of the 52 banners now to HOBY Three-Day Program posted on the street lamps of Sunland/Tujunga, as of July Every year, The La Crescenta Woman’s programs to promote critical thinking, 4, 2014. Club helps to sponsor a student from one mentoring and goal-setting. If you are in possession of a "Hometown Heroes" of the local High Schools to attend HOBY. HOBY is the HUGH banner and would like to have it displayed again, please This year they were very proud to sponsor O’BRIAN YOUTH LEADERSHIP take your banner to the McGroarty Arts Center(7570 Dimitrios Aguilar, ORGANIZATION. McGroarty Terrace, Tujunga), Monday - Friday from a sophomore at Their Mission 10am to 6pm and Saturday 10 am - 6pm). Verdugo High Statement is to inspire For information on having a "Hometown Hero" School. Several and develop our banner made for your military service Sunland/Tujunga of the club global community of resident, and/or other information regarding this project, members attended youth and volunteers please contact by e-mail. the closing to a life dedicated to The Rotary Club: [email protected] OR American ceremony to leadership, service Legion Post 377: [email protected] support Dimitrios. and innovation. The three- The La day leadership Crescenta Woman’s program takes Club has been a long place at Loyola time member of the Marymount University and teaches the community. They raise funds to support students leadership techniques. The event scholarships and many other community takes place over a three day period, with needs on a yearly basis. If you are approximately 100 students from across interested in joining this worthy group, the country. The students learn individual please contact Cindy Charles at (818) 249- leadership styles and have hands-on 2374.
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Page 8 Voice of the Village August 2014
Almost all toothpastes will do the job. toothbrush is an excellent aid. Use one you like the taste. Toothpaste In addition to brushing after every time Dental Bits and Bites with fluoride helps to prevent dental decay, you eat, avoiding soft drinks and snacks BACK TO BASICS –TOOTH BRUSHING particularly in children’s toothpaste. If you high in sugar contact will help avoid dental by Dr. James Mertzel, DDS have some root surfaces that are sensitive, cavities. there are desensitizing toothpastes. If As far back as most of us can remember, we have been Dr. Mertzel is a member of the you are very prone to dental decay, as brushing our teeth. We can still hear our mother’s voice, American Dental Association, The “Remember to brush your teeth!!” are older patients with insufficient saliva California Dental Association and the In addition, your dentist probably reminds you, on your flow, or patients who have had radiation San Fernando Valley Dental Society. semi-annual visits, that you should brush your teeth. therapy, than there are special pastes such He has been awarded a Fellowship It occurred to me this week that many people, although as Prevident 5000. Also MI and MI Plus in the Academy of General Dentistry and is a Graduate of the USC School reminded to brush their teeth, have not been given proper pastes, which can be purchased from your dentist, have shown to be effective, in not of Dentistry. He serves on the Board instruction as to how and how often to brush. Several of Directors of the San Fernando years ago, after I had given my tooth brushing lecture to my only diminishing sensitivity, but actually beneficial is helping to recalcify decalcified Valley Dental Society as Legislative patient, the patient said to me, “Doc, I am totally confused. Chairman. He maintains a Family areas of tooth structure. One person tells me to brush back and forth, another says and a Cosmetic Dentistry practice in Electric toothbrushes are effective. brush up and down, another in a circular manner. I find Sunland. He and his wife, Marianne, myself standing in front of the mirror so confused, my hand totally immobile, for fear that I feel the most effective part about the serve on the Executive Board of the I will be moving in the wrong direction” electric brush is that if you spend a lot of Presidents Associates and on the Last week a new patient said to me that the reason for the excessive recession money on the device you are more prone Deans Council of the Dept. of Health to use it to get your monies worth. If you and Human Services at California of his gums is that he had been brushing too hard. At first I was reluctant to believe State University, Northridge. that explanation. He stated that he always brushed with a very stiff toothbrush, very have some physical limitations regarding vigorously, three or four times a day. I examined his mouth, noting that he was relatively mobility of your hands, than an electric free of cavities, but that he had excessive recession and severe abrasion of the roots of his teeth. The gums looked healthy, no bleeding. very minimal pocket depth. Ordinarily when there is severe gum recession, there is some gum pathology present. This was not the case with this patient. He had been brushing too hard for many years. I advocate that you should brush your teeth after every time you eat. Brush, not in the morning when you get up, but after breakfast. Not before you go to bed, but after dinner. Of course, if you are like most of us, and are inclined to snack a few times a day between meals, than you should brush after every time food touches your teeth. Brushing should be performed with a medium bristle brush, with the bristles starting on the gums. Thus you should brush from the upper teeth down and the lower teeth up, starting on the gums, not at the junction of the teeth and gums. You should have a pattern of brushing. Start all the way back on the last molar, brushing 10 times in one area, overlapping and continuing all the way around to the other side. Then repeat the same pattern on the palate or the tongue side. Areas most commonly missed are: (1) the outside of the upper molars. (If you open too wide, it is often difficult to fit a toothbrush between the tooth and the cheek), and (2) the lip side of the lower front teeth. (In many cases you have to push your lower lip away from the teeth in order to get the toothbrush on the gums below the teeth) Be sure to turn the toothbrush perpendicular to the tongue side of the lower front teeth, as that is where the most accumulation of calcified deposits collects. In fact it is a good idea to take a few extra strokes to brush the tongue side of the lower front teeth to keep the calcified deposit to a minimum. If you brush horizontally on the sides of your teeth, there is a very good chance that you will not only cause a recession of the gums, but will cause an abrasion of the root surface of the teeth starting where the enamel of the crown of the tooth stops and where the cementum of the root surface begins. In addition to brushing, there are some areas where a toothbrush can not clean. The area where the adjacent teeth contact each other is an area quite prone to decay. That area COPIES# COLOR BLACK INK • 20 WHITE • 8 1/2 X 11 • 1 SIDE must be cleaned using dental floss. In addition, as people get older, the gums naturally recede leaving a triangular space between where teeth contact each other and where the receding gums are positioned. That triangular space can best be cleaned with a small little FLYERS# Christmas tree looking brush, called a proxabrush. The brush is moved from outside of 100 WHITE BOOK • 8 1/2 X 11 • 1 SIDE the tooth to the inside of the tooth wherever there is an existing triangular space. between (PRINTED WITHIN 5 WORKING DAYS) the teeth. +T¢AX
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August 2014 Voice of the Village Page 9
CHURCH DIRECTORY
Center for Spiritual Living – La Crescenta 4845 Dunsmore Avenue, La Crescenta, CA 91214 (818) 249-1045 www.lacrescentacsl.org ______
Church of Scientology – Montrose 2254 Honolulu Avenue, Montrose, CA 91020 (entrance in back of the building) (818) 957-1500 ______
Church of Scientology – Pa sadena 35 S. Raymond Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105 (626) 792-7532 ______
Faith Lutheran Church 7749 Apperson Street, Tujunga, CA 91042 (818) 352-4444 www.faithlutherantujunga.org ______
First Baptist Church at La Crescenta 4441 La Crescenta Avenue, La Crescenta, CA 91214 (818) 249-5832 www.fbcic.org ______
The Hub, a Vineyard Church 8263 Foothill Boulevard., Sunland, CA 91040 Sundays @ 9:30 a.m. Worship & Gathering Pastor Aaron Peters on (818) 419-5758 www.thehubcommunity.com ______
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witne sses 7662 Apperson Street, Tujunga, CA 91042 (818) 353-5611 ______
Mt. Olive Lutheran Church 3561 Foothill Boulevard, c/w Dunsmore La Crescenta, CA 91214 (818) 248-4253 www.molc.org ______
New Hope Community Church 10438 Oro Vista Avenue, Sunland, CA 91040 (818) 353-8555 www.newhopesunland.com ______
Our Lady of Lourde s Catholic Church 7315 Apperson Street, Tujunga, CA 91042 (818) 352-3218 www.ourladyoflourdes.us ______
Shadow Hills Presbyterian Church 10158 Johanna Avenue (at Sunland Blvd.), Sunland, CA 91040 (818) 353-2500 www.shadowhillschurch.org ______
St. James Church 10614 Leolang Avenue, Sunland, CA 91040 www.stjamessyriac.org ______
Sunland Neighborhood Church 10632 Oro Vista Avenue, Sunland, CA 91040 (818) 352-3186 www.snchurch.com ______
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Sunland Ward and Tujunga Ward (Spanish) 7955 Hillrose Street, Sunland, CA 91040 Retirement Planning Associates (818) 352-6360 ______Stocks Tel (818) 781-7721 Ext. 25 Verdugo Hills Church Municipal Bonds Fax (818) 787-2232 Efax (847) 628-0426 10027 Commerce Avenue, Tujunga, CA 91042 Closed-End Funds (818) 353-6500 www.verdugohillschurch.com [email protected] Mutual Funds James A. Ellis Retirement 7145 Woodley Avenue For revisions and additions, contact Voice of the Village Ad Sales Sunland-Tujunga Employer Plans Van Nuys, CA 91406-3932 (818) 397-3835 or e-mail: [email protected] Lions Club Registered Representative of, and securities offered through, J.K.R. & Co. Inc. Member NASD, SIPC
Page 10 Voice of the Village August 2014 Opinion Are You a Candidate for Bankruptcy? You're Ready for Retirement by Gerald McNally, Esq. With the current challenging economic but Your Savings Aren't to reorganize and create more stability for By Working Until You're 70, You'll Maximize Your Social Security Payout climate, bankruptcies are on the rise and the future. by Jonathan Clements there are many common signs that indicate People who have Filed Bankruptcy Here's a grim statistic: Half of workers age 55 and older have less than $50,000 one may be heading in that direction. The Even the rich and famous can get into in savings, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute's 2014 Retirement history of bankruptcy goes back to biblical trouble and just because one is either rich Confidence Survey. times and is not a new concept for relieving or famous does not make them exempt Some of these folks have traditional defined-benefit pensions, so they're in better debt. from life’s financial difficulties. Amazingly shape than it seems. But most don't. That means their retirement will be built on modest Warning Signs of the Need for enough, the following people all filed savings, Social Security and maybe some home equity. Bankruptcy bankruptcy: Does that describe someone you know--or perhaps your financial situation? If so, Following are some of the common Mickey Rooney, Burt Reynolds, how can you retire in at least moderate comfort? My advice: Try mightily to keep pulling warning signs that filing bankruptcy may Donald Trump, Marvin Gaye, Walt Disney, in a paycheck until at least age 70, at which point you would claim delayed Social Security be an option that you need to consider: P.T. Barnum, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Dorothy retirement benefits. • You have a high amount of credit Hammil, Willie Nelson, Abraham Lincoln, Toughing it out in the workforce won't be easy. Many people are forced to retire card debts or other unsecured debt Jerry Lee Lewis, Wayne Newton, Larry earlier than they had hoped to. According to the 2014 Retirement Confidence Survey, • You are behind on your car payments King, Don Johnson, Mark Twain, Oscar workers typically say they expect to retire at age 65--but it turns out the median retirement and are afraid it may get repossessed Wilde and Cyndi Lauper. age is actually 62. • Your property is being foreclosed Get Help with Filing Anything That Pays • Creditors are calling you at work If you feel overwhelmed with debt and What happens if you get forced out of your job earlier than you'd like? Try to find a and/or at home are considering filing bankruptcy, McNally job that will cover the bills, so you can put off claiming Social Security. That might mean • You have difficulty paying medical & Associates can help. The actions in filing taking work for which you're overqualified and that pays less than the job you were forced bills bankruptcy are very precise and need to be out of. But collecting some sort of paycheck, so you can delay Social Security, could be • You have problems with the IRS done correctly and within specific time the key to a modest retirement. • One or more judgments have been tables. Our firm is highly experienced in Most retirees, of course, don't delay Social Security. In fact, in 2012, 45% of men and filed against you handling bankruptcy cases and can walk 51% of women claiming Social Security retirement benefits were age 62, the youngest • You seem unable to cut down on you through the steps to ensure it comes possible age. (These figures ignore those on Social Security disability benefits who were your debt & it keeps increasing out correctly. We treat our clients with then swapped over to receive retirement benefits.) Claiming at 62 might be the right • You have trouble sleeping at night dignity and respect, realizing that personal decision if you and, if married, your spouse are both in poor health. thinking about money problems financial matters can be a sensitive issue But for most folks, it's likely a mistake, because taking benefits early means accepting • You are behind on rent or mortgage and we maintain confidentiality. We are a permanently shrunken monthly check. Let's say your full Social Security retirement payments here to help you lessen the burden and start age is 66, at which point you could get $1,400 a month, equal to $16,800 a year. This is • You are fighting with your spouse creating a brighter and more stable future. roughly the average amount that Social Security recipients are entitled to. about financial difficulties If you claim at 62, you would take a 25% hit, leaving you with $1,050 a month, or • You are paying off credit cards with Gerald McNally is an attorney $12,600 a year. By contrast, if you delayed benefits from 66 to 70, you would get 32% other credit cards licensed to practice law in the state more. That would mean $1,848 a month, equal to $22,176 a year. This doesn't reflect any Filing bankruptcy is like taking some of California and is located in the increases because of inflation. time out; it gives you a chance to breathe city of Glendale CA. Call McNally and push the re-set button so a better future & Associates at 818-507-5100 to A Good Deal arrange a free consultation. www. True, $22,176 at age 70 won't pay for a lavish retirement. But unless you have a lot can be created and you can gain some geraldmcnally.com of other income, you shouldn't have to pay taxes on your Social Security benefit. Indeed, peace of mind. Actions can then be taken Social Security is perhaps the best income stream available to retirees. It's indexed to inflation, backed by the federal government, at least partially tax-free, and you know you'll get it for as long as you live. Moreover, your spouse may receive your benefit as a A Tale of Two Scandals: Part I survivor benefit, assuming you die first. by Peggy Noonan Does waiting until 70 seem too long? If you are married and you were the main Forty-one years ago, during a small and largely ignored government scandal, a great breadwinner, you might "file and suspend" once you reach your full Social Security mystery occurred. A group of determined congressional investigators, who had learned retirement age of 66 or 67. That will allow your husband or wife to claim spousal benefits, the president of the United States was running a voice-activated taping system in the Oval so you have some extra money coming in, while you continue to delay your benefit until Office, pressed to get their hands on the tapes. The courts ruled in their favor. The White age 70. House had to hand over a number of tapes. But it turned out one of them, which was That spousal benefit can be worth as much as half your benefit as of yourfull understood by the timeline to potentially be the key one, the one that might reveal exactly retirement age. For instance, if your full retirement age benefit is $1,400 a month, your how the scandal began, turned out to have an 18½-minute gap. spouse could receive $700. It came to pass that the longtime personal secretary of the president, Rose Mary Even as you postpone Social Security, try to save what you can. Also look to slash your Woods, who had been transcribing the tapes in preparation for turning them over, said she cost of living. That might mean trading down to a less-expensive home and making a big had made “a terrible mistake.” She had been listening to the tape when the phone rang; push to get all debts paid off before you retire. she turned, picked it up, meant to hit the stop button on the tape recorder but hit the record Don't like the idea of postponing retirement until age 70? Keep in mind that, even at 70, button instead, spoke on the phone for five minutes and when the conversation was over median life expectancy is 15 years for men and 17 years for women, and you could live found that five minutes of the tape had been recorded over. Later, and doubly mysterious, longer than average. it turned out that a total of 18½ minutes of the tape had been erased. No one knows to A Sense of Purpose this day how that happened. The president’s chief of staff, Alexander Haig, once mused it Moreover, continuing to work late in life isn't all bad. We all need a sense of purpose might have been the work of some “sinister force.” to our lives -- which is why many retirees volunteer, take up hobbies, help at local schools A few members of Congress went mad with fury, but nobody else really noticed or and take college courses. cared. It was a time of such drama—Vietnam, student demonstrations, a cascade of other Admittedly, these are things retirees choose to do, while your financial situation is scandals to distract the attention of the press. So everyone ignored what happened with forcing you to work. Still, working until age 70 could give you the social, intellectual and the tape, and the Watergate scandal, as it was called, did not end in the impeachment of a physical stimulation that we all need. president. It just went away, in time became “old news.” Well, the president had said there was “not even a smidgen” of corruption in the story, so there you are. Ha, wait, that’s not what happened. fact that when it broke, when Lois Lerner last year made her admission, with a planted The 18½ minutes of destroyed evidence had a galvanizing effect on an already question at an American Bar Association gathering, that the IRS had made some mistakes galvanized national scandal. Rose Mary Woods was hauled before a grand jury, questioned, with conservative groups, and disingenuously suggested the blame lay with incompetents derided, called a pawn in a criminal coverup. She endured for the rest of her life what the in a field office far from the Beltway, conservatives and partisans jumped. The mainstream press was inclined to believe Lerner, or believe at least that a series of mistakes had New York Times in its obituary called a “hideous, disfiguring fame.” And Richard Nixon’s government of course came crashing down, as did he. produced a small if embarrassing so-called scandal. Some conservatives, activists and Why is this pertinent? partisans, not all of them sincere and not all of them serious, viewed the story primarily Because the Obama administration is experiencing what appears to be its own as another cudgel to use against the president and his party. Some no doubt viewed it as a Eighteen-and-a-Half Minute moment. In a truly stunning development in the Internal fundraising opportunity. Revenue Service scandal, the agency last week informed Congress that more than two The press viewed it not as a story but as a partisan political drama. And in partisan years’ of Lois Lerner’s email communications with those outside that agency—from 2009 political dramas they are very rarely on the Republican side. to 2011, meaning the key years at the heart of the targeting-of-conservatives scandal— I haven’t ever met a reporter or producer who wasn’t a conservative who didn’t have gone missing. Quite strangely. The IRS says it cannot locate them. The reason is that believe the IRS scandal was the result of the bureaucratic confusion and incompetence of Lerner’s computer crashed. some office workers in Cincinnati who made a mistake. What are the implications of this claim? It means no one can see any emails Lerner But the IRS scandal is a scandal, and if you can’t see the relation between a strangely sent to or received from other agencies and individuals, including the White House and destroyed key piece of evidence in an ongoing scandal and what happened 41 years ago members of Congress. with a strangely destroyed key piece of evidence in an ongoing scandal, something is And what is amazing—not surprising, but amazing—is that if my experience of wrong not with the story but with your news judgment. (We won’t even go into the normal human conversation the past few days is any guide, very few people are talking second story last week, that the IRS sent a big database full of confidential taxpayer about it and almost no one cares. information to the FBI.) The IRS scandal as a news story carries a stigma, and the stigma is in part due to the It would be very good to see the mainstream press call for a special prosecutor, fully armed with the powers to get to the bottom of the case.
August 2014 Voice of the Village Page 11 Foothills Music Academy Holds Summer Recital Foothills Music Academy held its “All of Me” performed by Juliana Hussion the school. Third place winner was Jennifer Oops! We Goofed In the July issue of Voice of the 2014 Summer Recital on Sunday the 20th and “Lullaby for a Princess” performed Thompson, Second place winner was Anna Village, we ran a story about the of July. Several members of the community by Jennifer Thompson. There were two Toomey and First place winner was Juliana VHHS Jr. Football & Cheer Camp. We gathered at Open Bible Church in Tujunga adorable 4 year olds, Malaya Glaze & Cobb. All the students who performed also inadvertently omitted a final paragraph to watch the very talented FMA students Viviana Olea who were in their very first received a certificate for their participation regarding Ms. Julie Cuddihy, author of perform musical pieces by many different recital and were so brave to get up on and hard work. the article and assistant to the campers artists and composers. Students ranging stage in front of so many people and work It was great to see so many young from four years of age to adult people muster the courage to walk for the last five years. Below is reprinted what was omitted: performed and they all did a up on stage and perform in front My name is Julie Cuddihy and this spectacular job. There were too of such a large audience and then many notable performances to be acknowledged for their talent. is my favorite week of the year! - The Coaches and I start planning and mention them all but I would like They are all learning some great to give you an idea of what kind life lessons and building great promoting this event a few months prior to camp so we can make it a of talent these students possess. confidence for the future. All the Huge "Success". This will be my 5th The show started off with smiles on the faces of those young year helping with the Jr. Cheer Camp a bang while the crowd stood performers as well as their loving and 3rd year helping with the Jr. from their seats, took off their and supportive family members hats, placed their hands over were proof enough of the event’s Football Camp. I love watching the their hearts and listened to a success. Foothills Music Academy campers, coaches and students having fun and that's what this week is all very talented 10 year old, Zander offers private music lessons to Schachtel, who played “The the local community and even about!! Please look for our banners and Star Spangled Banner” on the trumpet. on playing their songs. Lastly, 9 year old offers a free introductory lesson to anyone There were performances on the guitar and Juliana Cobb stunned the audience once interested in learning a musical instrument. fliers next year as we get ready for another fun Jr. Football & Cheer drums along with the piano from several again and played the piano in addition to They have two locations to serve the students. Nine year old Sevag Aghajanian singing “Count on Me” by Bruno Mars. It community. 8337 Foothill Blvd, Suite D Camp! We look forward to seeing your kids and meeting the parents of our impressed the audience with two songs that was another amazing set of performances in Sunland and 3210 Honolulu Avenue he composed himself on the saxophone. and the school could not be prouder of the in La Crescenta. For more information "Future" VHHS Students. Thank you! Additionally, we omitted several There were several vocal performances students. or to view additional photos of this pictures of the campers for lack of that rang through the halls like “Talkin In addition to the performances, recital please visit their website at www. space. Sadly, again, we do not have to the Moon” performed by Jessica Vega, awards were given out to students who FoothillsMusicAcademy.net or contact “Little Talks” performed by Rowan Fill, worked very hard and practiced the most at them by phone at (818) 951-5077. sufficient space to display them.
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8337 Foothill Blvd, Suite D, Sunland www.FoothillsMusicAcademy.net Woodcraft Rangers Annual Gala Celebrates Excellence Mountain View Elementary Students Part of Showcase Entertainments Woodcraft Rangers hosted its annual Gala on July 31, 2014 at the Japanese Cultural & Community Center in Downtown Los Angeles. The Gala offered a thrilling evening of fine fare and entertainment. Included in the evening’s program were Woodcraft’s Awards of Distinction given to individuals who emboded the spirit of WR programs and enabled children to envision a future full of promise. It was also a fundraiser to help fund the NVision Programs of Woodcraft Rangers that develop experiences that engage imagination, stimulate thinking, uncover talents, and reveal potential. These programs include traditional and non-traditional offerings in a variety of categories, including science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), sports, skateboarding, visual and performing arts. According to CEO Chris Johnson, “This has been a great year for Woodcraft Rangers. We have empowered and inspired many youth through our NVision Programs and we continue to do it at such a high Mountain View Woodcraft Rangers quality. This past year we exceeded one million youth served by Woodcraft Rangers since its inception. We relish our partnerships with many organizations in developing programs which help enrich youth and look forward to celebrating everyone in the Los Angeles area who have influenced and shared a part in our success.” Carla Singer, LA’s Best CEO adds, “LA's BEST is proud of our 26 year association with Woodcraft Rangers. The greatest honor of all is to be recognized by one's colleagues who continue to energize and motivate the after school field to become more relevant to kids and their communities.” Celebrities in attendance consisted of Lisa Vidal, who is best known for her role in Being Mary Jane, Jaime Brewer from American Horror Story, Helen Slater from The Legend of Billie Jean, and Actress, Singer, and Composer, Erica Gimpel. The event was emceed by Samm Levine from Freaks and Geeks, and catered by award winning food network star Chef Aaron J Perez. The evening’s true highlight was the youth performers from all over the schools that Woodcraft serves, including some from our local Mountain View Elementary. Among some of the performances was a cultural folkloric group, drama performers, a mariachi group, urban dance performers and many others. For further information contact, (213) 249-9293 or [email protected]. To learn more about Woodcraft Rangers go to www.woodcraftrangers.org
Page 12 Voice of the Village August 2014
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