CANYON NEWS FEBRUARY 17, 2013 Entertainment & Life Style PAGE FIVE GREGORY ABBOTT: SHAKE YOU DOWN WASN T ENOUGH GOING GREEN HELPS IMPROVE HOME S VALUE By Michael St John ' By David Rosenfeld ' HELLO AMERICA!—I first LOS ANGELES—It sounds and water. if it’s right for you and your not. Whether its greater so - met singer, record pro - funny, but it’s not easy going But do your research before family. cial consciousness on the ducer Gregory Abbott in green, with apologies to Ker - you commit yourself to The upside, besides the im - part of many of us, home - the 70s. He was married to mit the Frog. Using envi - adding solar panels, investing proved value of your proper - buyers see going green as ronmentally-friendly tech - in an low-water irrigation ty, is that once you begin the way to go these days. singer Freda Payne who nologies and practices can system, or adding skylights or using this clean energy, by As it is, a home solar pow - was one of the hottest be expensive and sometimes installing other equipment. law, you’ll be able to sell er system will likely pay for it - singers around for her difficult to adapt to your Solar panels are quite ex - power that you don’t use to self in as little as six years, de - songs "Band of Gold" and home. pensive, for the most part, so your local utility, not to men - pending on its size and cost. "Bring the Boys Home." I Since many of these tech - do the math and consult with tion allow you to receive valu - Ultimately, it will be up to you was impressed with the nologies are still relatively an expert to determine just able rebates from your local whether you want to bear many songs he had written new, they can be costly. But how much it will cost versus government that would net the cost of going green, but not only for Freda, but for with some research and hard the benefit it will provide in you thousands of dollars. it’s definitely something to several other singers as work, you can make use of terms of saving energy and You can also look into in - consider as new technolo - them and improve the over - adding value to your home. stalling skylights to improve gies continue to grow and be - well. He appealed to those all value of your home and re - According to industry the use of natural light, thus come more affordable. of us in the business be - duce your utility cost. But it’s sources, the average cost of a reducing your electricity David Rosenfeld is a Real cause was a quiet, gentle not simply a matter of in - home solar power system costs. Moreover, getting rid of Estate broker and president of kind of guys who made creasing property values, it’s ranges between $15,000 and older appliances for newer, Advantage Real Estate, a Real you feel comfortable. There about improving our lives $40,000, but the good news is energy-efficient machines will Estate and investment firm in were no phony affectations, and that of those around us that the price is dropping, also reduce your energy use, Santa Monica, and a Rotary just a young guy who want - by supporting environmental thanks to recent national but may also provide some Club member. He has more ed to be respected for what issues and awareness of the policies removing barriers to benefit from local govern - than 20 years experience in he might be able to offer as value of going green. deploying the technologies ment in the form energy commercial and residential By supporting clean tech - more widely. credits or rebate. property investments and fi - a creative artist. I liked nologies we are doing our A recent check of some These days, many home - nancial counseling. He can be him then and I still do. part in adding more jobs and companies, solar power sys - buyers have become more reached at 310 450-4488 and MSJ: How was life in Hol - steering us away from fossil tems can be bought and in - aware of energy-efficient at dr@advantage- lywood before your first Gregory Abbott. fuels that damage our envi - stalled for just under $10,000, homes and see them as more realestate.com. hit song "Shake You ferings. I noticed the effect ing married to someone ence. It was pure luck that ronment and pollute our air so do your homework to see attractive than those that are Down"? it had on people, who is so recognized in it happened the way it did. GA: It was very produc - how all types of music the business was definite - A few directors and pro - tive. I got to know a lot of THE CARROT, MY ORANGE LITTLE FRIEND made their lives easier and ly a plus. But I still had to ducers spotted me at a few By LaDale Anderson people in the business, es - better to deal with from day prove myself time and time parties and asked me to UNITED STATES—If you starters for soups and broths. green root at top cut off, as sults in your skin turning or - pecially, singers and they to day. So, I played around again. give them a call, and I did. were to ask me the best veg - The great thing I love about well as peeling the initial ange. It’s also a great source wanted to hear some songs writing lyrics, music that MSJ: Of course, you One never knows how etable in the world nothing carrots is the preparation as - skin off. Those carrots just of folate, phosphorous, cal - I had written. So much of represented the lives of weren't known or recog - things will turn to your ad - tops the carrot! It’s a veggie pect. You can slice then juli - taste so much fresher in my cium and potassium. my time was writing and simple, every day working nized as a singer, but main - vantage in this business. that has a mix of fruit in it. enne style which is great for opinion. In my opinion, the possi - playing my stuff to singers folks. Songs about love, ly a MSJ: What is life for you It’s a vibrant orange color salads or you may decide to Our orange veggie contains bility of coming across a per - at Motown, Capitol and all that pops when you see it. It’s chop them into small squares a lot of beta-carotene which fect shaped carrot will never jealousy, struggle and song writer, isn't that right? now after so many years in shaped like an icicle and is a to use for soups or perhaps is good for Vitamin A which happen. They come in vari - the other companies. At dreams and all the rest of it. GA: Yeah, that's right. the business? the same time it was a terrific treat for adults and you may decide to shred the is good for your eyesight. So ous shapes and sizes all great The bottom line is that I re - Of course, I had always GA: It's beautiful. It's kids. The carrot is a root veggie to use in that tasty car - if your vision is not up to par, for nutrition. Tip of the learning experience, as ally enjoy watching and done some singing through productive. Best of all I vegetable. It’s great to eat rot cake. For most of us, we get some carrots in your diet week: carrots are known to be well. I had to get to know talking to people. You can the years, no matter what have been able to survive as cooked or raw. Like celery, tend to buy baby or mini as they can help strengthen used in sweet, spicy and sour what was hot and what learn so much about your - the circumstances, but I an independent creative the carrot is an essential el - carrots which are found in your sight. I’ve said it before, dishes as the veggie provides was not. I learned very self. found it was easier to hus - product. I've had several hit ement of any mirepoix our produce section at the su - be careful not to over in - the right balance when going quickly that it's not healthy MSJ: When you married tle my music first. There songs, developed my own (onions, celery and carrots), permarket. I prefer the good dulge in the veggie as it can from one extreme to anoth - simply to concentrate only singer "Freda Payne" was a time when I worked production company and staple ingredients used as ole carrot that has to have the cause carotenosis, which re - er. on what you do or create, known for her hit "Band of as an entertainment I've been recognized in dif - understanding marketing Gold," did it make life eas - columnist for "Players Mag - ferent parts of the world as THE BANANA, A FRUIT THAT GETS NO RECOGNITION is invaluable -- the bot - ier for you as an artist? azine" a national publica - a singer, record producer By LaDale Anderson tom line is having a clear GA: No, not really. Of tion. I covered concerts, and composer. I've been UNITED STATES—Why are tain its electrolyte balance. The pesky problem with best to keep them on the view of the business as - course, I met many more shows, and did a lot of in - very lucky and I know it! bananas that one staple fruit The banana contains a bananas is the fruit does not counter at room tempera - pect of the music industry. important, talented peo - terviews with celebrities MSJ: What is the differ - that happens to be in every - ripening agent known as have a long shelf life. You ture. They are the perfect MSJ: What influenced ple in the business -- that in Hollywood. And I en - ence between the Greg Ab - one’s kitchen no matter ethylene that speeds up the want to purchase a bunch snack in the morning or af - your early interest in mu - is to be expected based on joyed it. It was a lot of fun. bott of yesteryear and today what? What is it about the ripening process. They also when the fruit is ripe. In ter a tough workout, but sic, generally? Freda's presence. Howev - MSJ: You also did some -- and do you like it? banana that children literal - produce carbon dioxide. If other words, there should be more importantly it’s versa - GA: While attending col - ly run away from this tasty you ever purchase over-ripe some green, but you want tile. It can be used with ce - er, I still had to hustle and acting in the early days. GA: Well, the Greg Abbott fruit? It could be because bananas place them in a shades of yellow in there as real, granola, yogurt, oat - lege at Berkely and later make things happen on GA:Yes! And it was quite of today is wiser. Takes life Standford, I did a lot of re - while it’s a fruit not too brown paper bag with a well. If you purchase a meal, banana pudding, cakes, my own. a challenge. I had small more serious and looks at many people consider it to be tomato or apple to quicken bunch of green bananas but most importantly it’s a search on musicians, MSJ: And you wrote sev - parts in a few films and I things with a more realis - sweet for the tasting. What the process. Bananas are a there’s no way you can eat must for any fruit smoothie. singers and even those eral songs for one of Fre - even appeared in a soap tic view. And some times a lot of people fail to realize good source of carbohy - them as they’re too starchy The banana is the body of known for musical films. da's albums. opera. All of it was a learn - the act of giving is more re - is that bananas contain a vi - drates, but be sure not to for the body, on top of that the smoothie, for most only And I was fascinated by it GA: Oh, yeah! That was a ing experience. During warding than taking. Yes, I tal nutrient that is beneficial overindulge if you’re not you’ll have trouble removing one banana is used, but if all. I grew to respect the lot of fun and it helped to those days I was open for like who I am today. There to your body: potassium. planning to burn those the husk as well. multiple ingredients are be - classics as well as get some personal notice as anything and everything - is a well of peace around Yes, that’s right the carbs. In addition, they have Bananas on average may ing used throw in another the pop stuff and soul of - boomerang shaped fruit is a generous dose of magne - last about 4-5 days if you get banana to thicken the body a composer. Then too, be - - I just needed the experi - me and it feels good. loaded with potassium which sium and phosphorous in them while ripe. NEVER of the smoothie. is good for the body to main - addition to potassium. PLACE IN THE FRIGDE! It’s PREDICTING THE OSCARS: BEST ACTRESS By LaDale Anderson VEGETABLE GARDENING IS STILL COOL HOLLYWOOD—The Best By Tony Tomeo Actress race is always a UNITED STATES —Last au - grow too slowly to mature be - planted as seedlings, such as If their dormant bulbs were nail-bitter. I can recall so tumn, it was unpleasant to fore spring weather gets too tomatoes, peppers and egg - planted back in October or many past years where the remove warm season veg - warm, so will need to wait plants, can be sown into flats November, ranunculus will race was a toss-up between etable plants to relinquish until next autumn. or cell packs in greenhouses soon be blooming. Those of two actresses: Nicole Kid - space for cool season vegeta - Peas are odd vegetables or cold frames. us who missed the bulbs last man “The Hours” vs. Renee bles, particularly since some that like to grow in autumn Tomato, pepper and egg - autumn can already find Zellwegger “Chicago,” Halle still seemed to be productive. and spring, in between warm plant seed sown directly into blooming plants in nurseries. Berry “Monster’s Ball” vs. Now the cool weather that and cool (or cool and warm) the garden when the weath - The bright yellow, orange, Sissy Spacek “In the Bed - the cool season vegetables season vegetables. The first er gets warmer will be more red, pink or white flowers are crave will soon be getting phase of peas can be sown likely to get eaten by snails or about three inches wide and room,” Annette Benning warmer. It is still too early for now, and followed by subse - succumb to rot as they ger - seem to be outfitted with too “American Beauty” vs. Jennifer Lawrence in “Silver Linings Playbook.” warm season vegetables, but quent phases every two weeks minate than seedlings that many petals. They stand Hillary Swank “Boys Don’t it is time to get ready for or so until the weather gets got an early start in a green - about a foot to a foot and a Cry” and most recently last Southern Wild” where she her work and the Academy the front-runner for her them. too warm for them. house or cold frame (al - half tall, a few inches above year’s race between Meryl portrays a precocious child could sway her away if portrayal of Maya, a CIA If space allows, seed for a Even though it will soon be though snails and rot are the basal foliage that can get Streep “The Iron Lady” and attempting to survive in enough members see the operative in the tense dra - quick last phase of certain getting too warm for cool not problems in every gar - half a foot to a foot deep. The Viola Davis “The Help.” the Bayou of Louisiana af - picture. ma “Zero Dark Thirty.” fast growing cool season veg - season vegetables, it is not yet den). For those who do not light green leaves resemble This year will be no differ - ter a tragic storm. She Jennifer Lawrence is back Hands down Chastain is etables can be sown. Radish - warm enough to sow seed for want to start growing parsley, but are not as finely ent as powerhouses Jessica makes history becoming at the Academy Awards the star of this picture, dis - es, carrots and beets still warm season vegetables di - seedlings at home now, textured. Although perenni - Chastain “Zero Dark Thir - the 10th African-American once again. She was nom - playing the intensity of a have time to mature before rectly into the garden. Fast seedlings will certainly be al, ranunculus are most pop - ty” and Jennifer Lawrence nominated for Best Actress inated in 2010 for her work heroine who rarely displays the weather gets too warm, growing vegetable plants that available in nurseries when it ularly grown as annuals be - although the beets will be the get sown directly, such as is time to put them out into cause they tend to rot soon “Silver Linings Playbook” in the Academy’s history. in “Winter’s Bone,” and is any emotion in her fight to small tender sort. There beans, corn and most squash, the garden. However, the ad - after bloom. They perform She brings a heart to a back again for her feisty capture America’s most will go toe-to-toe for the probably is not enough time will need to wait until the vantage to growing them at best with no more than a bit prize, but there are other character, which while she performance as Tiffany in wanted man: Osama Bin to grow big beets for canning. weather is warm enough for home is that there are many of shade, and rich but very nominees in this race that is young is wise beyond her “Silver Linings Playbook” Laden. There are slight Leafy lettuces can still be them to grow efficiently, and more varieties of seed avail - well drained soil. They are could upset. ages as she does battle with Lawrence takes the audi - moments where a glimmer sown to replace what might the cool season vegetables able from catalogs and online more likely to survive as First up we have Em - her tough loving father. Is ence on a journey with her of emotion emerges from be running out early. Large finish and get out of their than any nursery could stock perennials if allowed to get manuelle Riva who gives a the performance out of this mentally ill character who Maya, but she quickly keeps vegetable plants like broc - way. However, seed for veg - with seedlings. rather dry as their foliage riveting performance as a world, no, but Wallis brings is not afraid to speak her that emotion at bay. coli, cauliflower and cabbage etable plants that can get Highlight: Ranunculus. deteriorates after bloom. Anne Laurent in “Amour.” such a charm to this char - mind, yet has a charm In my honest opinion, Anne is a woman on the acter the audience will be about her that makes her this is a two-person race be - verge of death and fighting unable to turn its eyes away. instantly likable. That scene tween Chastain and “BEAUTIFUL CREATURES” AN ENCHANTING LOVE STORY By LaDale Anderson to stay alive and maintain Naomi Watts picks up her where she gives Pat a Lawrence and the Academy HOLLYWOOD—So many Ethan (Alden Ehrenreich), not a picture about good makes it a pleasure to second Best Actress nomi - tongue lashing for judging can lean either way. If her sanity with so many tweens are still recovering a mortal who is a sensitive witches vs. evil witches, it’s watch; not only does it forces grabbing at her. It is nation for her work in “The her in that restaurant is they’re looking to honor from the “Twilight” fatigue brood attempting to grapple a picture about a teen dis - weave a tantalizing tale of perhaps one of the most Impossible.” She was pre - awesome, not to mention intensity in a performance now that the series has with Lena’s powers and es - covering just who she is. love, but also implements heartfelt performances of all viously nominated in 2003 the emotion on her face hands down Chastain is the completed its run at the cape his mundane life. It’s something we’ve all fantasy element to cater to the nominees in this race. for “21 Grams.” Watts per - after discovering that Pat winner. However, if they are box-office. Well a new pic - As these two teens em - grappled with in our life - all ages, young and old. Riva recently took home formance as Maria Bennett may reunite with his ex; it’s looking to honor a complex ture sure to take over is bark on a romance they time, something that many Oscar-nominee Viola the BAFTA award for Best in this horrific tale about a absolutely heartbreaking in character that brings heart “Beautiful Creatures” based find themselves at the mer - of us are grappling with at Davis also turns up in the Actress and makes history family’s fight for survival in my opinion. It shows to a picture then Lawrence on the young adult novel by cy of two forces, the good this moment. picture as Amma, a local li - by becoming the oldest the aftermath of the 2004 Lawrence’s range as an ac - is the victor. This is a Kami Garcia and Margaret side portrayed by Jeremy I was pleasantly pleased brarian who has a bit of nominee for Best Actress. If Tsunami was incredible to tress to play funny, angry tough one, but I am giving Stohl is a tale of young love Irons and the evil side por - with Emmy Rossum’s per - knowledge about the events involving witches. trayed by Emma Thomp - formance as Ridley, Lena’s taking place in town. The an upset takes place on Os - watch on the screen. It’s and grieving all at once. my vote for Chastain as her Our title character Lena son. Irons portrays Macon, older more adventurous sis - picture also makes use of its perhaps one of the most dif - Jessica Chastain has been performance indeed sticks car Sunday, it’ll be because (Alice Englert) is a witch Lena's overprotective un - ter. One minute she’s an ef - visual effects to draw in of this lady. ficult, yet moving pictures acting for quite some time, with you. She is absolutely who is dealing with family cle, while Thompson por - fervescent spirit, the next those visual effects lovers. On the other hand, an I’ve seen this year. She is a but burst on the big screen exceptional in “Zero Dark issues. When she turns 16, trays Sarafine, driven to second she’s a spiteful witch Its “Twilight” meets “The upset could take place from fighter; just watching that in a big way in 2011 for her Thirty,” but I would not be one of two things will hap - lure Lena to the Dark side. wanting revenge. She Craft,” but a PG-13 version. the youngest person to ever scene where she dives into work in the ensemble piece surprised if Lawrence edged pen: she will either be good It’s always great to see brings a duality to a char - The cast as a whole deliver be nominated for Best Ac - the rampaging waters to “The Help” where she out a win over the compe - of she will be evil. Sounds young love, but the problem acter who is just as con - fine acting for a tale that at tress in nine year-old rescue her eldest son is picked up a Best Supporting tition as “Silver Linings crazy right? Things get with “Beautiful Creatures” flicted as her younger sister. first appears far-fetched, Quvenzhane Wallis for her phenomenal! She is in - Actress nomination for her Playbook” is a huge hit with complicated when she de - is it totes itself to be some - There is a mysticism about but becomes an enthralling brave work in “Beasts of the deed being over looked for work. This time Chastain is audiences right now. velops a relationship with thing that its not. This is “Beautiful Creatures” that story that appeals to all.