parksRotary Club of Altadena parksOFF THE ROTARY WHEEL SS AN AWARD-WINNING NEWSLETTER March 25, 2010 ThisThis WWeekeek THE Jeff Holder onstruction by Ed Jasnow CREW Independent C for President David Smith Producer and Entertainment People of Influence guess I’m at the age where I look back this the thought that if you want to do Industry Consultant on my life and think of the people who something, do it now because you don’t Program Host: IIhave had an influence on me in terms know how much time you’ll have to do it of thinking and doing things. I’d like to later. And, that’s what I do. I don’t put off Paul Sirois share a couple of those people with you. anything. If I want to do something, go The first was a man named Everett somewhere, whatever, I do it. I’m not sav- Jeff Holder is an independent pro- Besse. Everett was the first contract ne- ing anything for later because I don’t ducer and entertainment industry gotiator I met when I first went to work at know if I’ll have a later. consultant with a background as Di- NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. He The second person of influence for me rector of Children’s Programming for was a fantastic negotiator, holding the was a man named Carl Staton. He was ABC Network TV, VP of Hanna contractors late into the night until he got the hardest working man I had ever met. Barbera, VP of SONY Wonder what he wanted. He’s also the only man I I worked with him at the Department of (children’s line). He has a vast knowl- know who did exactly what he said he the Navy. He was a bear of a man - six edge of kids’ programming and dis- was going to do when he retired. Everett feet two and 350 pounds. We were work- tribution. said he was going to play golf for the rest ing on the latest sea-to-air missile, and the The rapid changes in visual media of his life. He saved his money assiduously, work schedule was brutal. We would work and social media networks are driv- never going anywhere or doing anything until midnight, 2:00 a.m., one time around ing programmers to find new ways so he could retire and play golf forever. the clock - never went home. But, while I of attracting kids. Holder is ManagIng When Everett finally announced he was would collapse into my bed when I got Editor of MOVIEGUIDE which re- going to retire, we gave him a party on home, he would sit down at his kitchen views the latest movies, tv shows, and his last day of work, a Friday, and the next table and work some more. He had a wife DVDs, and he knows the directions day, Saturday, his first day of retirement, Please turn to Crew, p.3 they are taking. Everett Besse got on the golf course. On Come and hear how our kids and the 10th green, Everett had a heart at- grandkids are being impacted by this GreetersGreeters tack and dropped dead. But, he’d done powerful influence, sometimes in- March 25 exactly what he’d said he would do: he structive and beneficial like Sesame Julius Johnson played golf the rest of his life. What he Street (for which Holder was liaison April 01 didn’t know was that the rest of his life with Children’s Television Network), Sterling Louviere was two hours and twenty minutes. but often very detrimental. Bring a April 08 As a young man, this incident had a guest. McCurry profound affect on me. I took away from hairmen’hairmen’ssssss DEBUT Runway Show$ CCCCCornerorner & LA Fashion Gala CCCCC by Mike Noll, Youth Contests & Awards Chair
Fashion Institute Rotary as our very own Zambian fash- tition, came to the USA to become ac- of Design & Mer- ion design student Kapasa Musonda, who quainted with American culture and way chandising (FIDM) earned one of the only 10 coveted Fash- of doing business. proudly presented ion Design Advanced Study the DEBUT 2010 Run- scholarships, absolutely way Show March 11- thrilled the audience with her 13, 2010. The only sensational styles. Though she only show like it on the West Coast, DEBUT started on the dozen outfits last July, annually attracts more than 10,000 people Kapasa’s Rolling Dunes of the Sahara over 3 days and features designs by gradu- collection had been years in the making. ating students in FIDM’s Fashion Design Youth IT Project & and Theatre Costume Design Advanced Citizens’ Exchange Study Programs as well as work from the After a successful World Bank/Rotary Interior Design, Digital Media, and Textile pilot project in Uganda, Ray Carlson (Al- Design Students. tadena) and Tony Bloome (Washington It was a proud moment for Altadena DC) in 2005 submitted a grant proposal to Sparks is published 48 weeks a year and is the US Department of State to teach the official publication of the Rotary Club of youth in Zambia about Information & Altadena. The deadline for submission of ar- Communication Technology, HIV AIDS ticles is Friday at 6p to current editor email, fax, or delivery. awareness, and Entrepreneurship skills Rotary Club of Altadena - #7183 with a Citizens Exchange component. Chartered: February 14, 1949 P.O. Box 414, Altadena, CA 91003 Awarded to Altadena Rotary Charities, www.altadenarotary.com this $130,000 grant would change the lives Meets: Thursday, 12:10p Altadena Town & Country Club of many across the globe. Americans, 2290 Country Club Drive • Altadena, CA some of them Rotarians, traveled to Zam- 626-794-7163 Rotary Int. Pres...... John Kenny bia to assist in implementing the pro- Dist 5300 Gov...... Thomas B. Novotny gram. In turn, Zambian youth, the cho- Officers sen winners from a business plan compe- David Smith, Pres...... Bus. 626-398-2010 Please turn to Corner p. 3 Brian Hayes, Pres. Elec...... Bus. 626-398-6300 John Frykenberg, VPres. . Cell: 323-810-0651 Jim Gorton, Sec...... Bus. 626-793-6215 March Programs Congratulations Mike Noll, Trea...... Bus. 683-0515 Program Chair, Paul Sirois Birthdays Directors Mar 25 - Jeff Holder - Children’s TV Pro- Sue Applegate • Craig Cox • Jim Gorton Birthdays gramming Brian Hayes • Ed Jasnow 03/13 - Regina Bette Tom McCurry • Mike Zoeller Chairmen April Programs 03/14 - Emily Aiken (Wilkes) Brian Hayes ...... Administration Program Chair, Theo Clarke 3/15 - David Smith Craig Cox ...... Foundation. 3/15 Trish Robinson Tom McCurry ...... Public Affairs Apr 01 - Alex Matsumura, Craft Talk Brian Hayes/Ron Morris ...... Publicity Apr 08 - Sheriff Steve McLean, new Cap- 3/24 - Ed Soza Jacque Foreman ...... Sparks/Website tain at the Altadena Sheriff Station 3/26 - Ed Guth Mike Zoeller ...... Service Projects Ed Jasnow ...... Community. Apr 15 - RYLA - This year’s and last year’s 3/31 - Anne Eskijian Hal Yorke ...... International participants tell about their experience Mike Noll ...... Youth Contests/Awards Apr 22 - Voices of Blair IB School for the Tony HIll ...... Vocational/Youth Projects Performing Arts Anniversaries John Guerrini...... Membership Apr 29 - Stephanie Bettman (country west- 03/01 - Etta & Tom McCurry Editor, Design & Typesetting ...... Foreman Graphics ern violinist/singer) and her group 03/30 - Noriko Suzuki & Dennis Mehringer Photography ...... Jacque Foreman
2 Sparks - Altadena Rotary Club Newsletter Corner Continued from p. 2
204 youth in all went through the Youth completion of her 1-year program, Mofya Chairing Style competition. IT Project, coordinated by the Rotary Club was on her way home on that ill-fated The audience was treated to a musi- of Lusaka — the capital of Zambia. MetroLink train that crashed in cal tribute to Judy Garland and Liza Among them was an eager yet soft-spo- Chatsworth on September 12, 2008, result- Minnelli, complete with singers and danc- ken 17-year old high school student ing in extensive burns and some brain ers. The dazzling costumes for each num- Kapasa Musonda whose business plan was damage. Racheal has made a remarkable ber were designed by one of the six, very “self designed and tailored clothing with recovery and is now living with her sister talented Advanced Theatre Costume a mixed culture vibe, Le’ Kay Fashion De- in Minneapolis while continuing her Design students. sign fuses fashion from different parts of therapy. A second special challenge, sponsored Africa with an influence from the Western After her summer break in Zambia, by Guess?, Inc., had the fashion students Style.” Hers was one of the top three busi- Kapasa returned a few weeks after design and create an outfit out of denim ness plans submitted, and I made it a point Racheal’s accident, which really shook and/or leather. Kapasa made pants out to meet her personally during my visit to her emotionally, for the two had become blue denim, plus a blouse and leather Zambia in February 2007. close friends. Even more determined than jacket. The winner of this challenge, an- Kapasa was one of 8 Zambian youth ever, Kapasa pressed on with her studies nounced Saturday evening, was Brittany who participated in the Citizens Exchange and prepared for the competition that Vu, who won a designer position with G program. Accompanied by Rotarian Ghazi would secure her position in the 3rd Year By Guess and who would personally get Hussein (RC Lusaka) in July 2007, the 4 Fashion Design Advanced Study Program. the opportunity to oversee her design men and 4 women visited Washington, DC The rest is history. through production, marketing and to the for one week and Los Angeles for the On the Runway catalog/retail/online stores. week following. As a result of Carlson’s Co-hosted by FIDM Director of Fash- Finally, the long-awaited runway show long-time friendship with Dena Stitt, Ex- ion Design Mary Stephens and FIDM began. However, prior to viewing each ecutive Director of FIDM Productions, he graduate/instructor and Project Runway student’s collection on the runway we got took Kapasa, Racheal Mofya and Esnart star Nick Verrios, Debut 2010 was a night a glimpse inside the student as videos of M’Tonga on a tour of the downtown LA to remember. Several Rotarians were each were broadcast onto the giant, full- campus. Stitt was so impressed with the able to attend the Friday night show in- stage screen. Each fashion student had young women that she introduced them cluding Ray Carlson, Jacque Foreman, been interviewed a month earlier. The to Tonian Hohberg, Founder and Presi- Mike and Carol Zoeller, Craig and Susan Digital Media Advanced Study students dent of FIDM. Hohberg, after studying Cox. Also in attendance were host family creatively assembled video capturing the Kapasa’s sketches and seeing the person- Mike Noll and Wendy Davis plus 10 of their stories, personalities and inspiration that ally designed and hand-made gown she family members and Angela Lockhart, brought each fashion designer to Debut was wearing, immediately recognized the high school friend of the Nolls who de- 2010. Once the first models appeared talent before her, and on the spot offered signed and fabricated all of the jewelry down the runway, imagine our surprise Kapasa a 2-year scholarship in Fashion worn by Kapasa’s models. The program and joy as we immediately recognized Design to begin that October semester. began with Chairing Styles, which was a two “Models of the Runway” stars, Lisa Racheal Mofya was also offered a 1-year collaboration of the Advanced Textile, Blades and Brandise Danesewich. Our 8- scholarship in cosmetics and merchandis- Fashion and Interior Design students. For year old Amesie was beside herself with ing. Kapasa’s team, interior design student excitement! Fashion Forward Rusini Haris designed the chair (named There were three students’ collections These two darlings of the State Depart- “Lady M” and manufactured by A.P. Smiley that were the most memorable, and not ment quickly received their F-1 student & Sons, Inc. and Dan’s Custom Metal, Inc.), surprisingly, the Debut award winners visas upon returning to Zambia, and the textile design student Meaghan Bunney (judged the following Tuesday at FIDM). Rotary Clubs of Altadena and Simi Sun- designed the fuchsia floral fabric, and Winning 1st place in Best Commercial rise stepped up to provide host families Kapasa fashioned a pleated, garden dress (most saleable to the public) was and airfare back to California. Racheal incorporating the brightly designed fab- Meghann Fanara for her collection of little Mofya stayed with Pat and Joan Abruzesse ric and style/lines of the chair. Each mem- girls’ clothing. The little girls walking in Simi Valley while Kapasa lived in our ber of Kapasa’s team came in second or down the runway were just adorable in guest cottage in Sierra Madre. Sadly, upon third place for their respective part in the Please turn to Corner p. 4 Sparks - Altadena Rotary Club Newsletter 3 Corner Continued from p. 3 their colorful outfits. Winning 1st place for to create jobs. First, a job for Kapasa, then on New York City, L.A. may remain her Most Original was Julia Nish for her col- for others as a result of her efforts in the home. She has already received strong lection of knitwear clothing made from fashion industry. Under the F-1 Visa pro- interest from Guess by Marciano, Guess?, custom woven and dyed alpaca hair gram, Kapasa is allowed one year of Oc- Inc.’s haute couture line of women’s wear which she had hand-selected from an al- cupational Practical Training (OPT). She based here in Los Angeles. paca farm. has already applied for and received Wherever Kapasa lands, it will be on Then there was Kapasa’s Rolling Dunes from US Customs and Immigration Ser- both feet running. She will have one year of the Sahara. Fifth in order of appear- vices her OPT work permit, which begins to prove to her employer that she is ance but not in place, hers was simply the May 15 of this year. Kapasa is coordinat- “indispensible,” making her eligible for most stunning, classic, beautiful and wear- ing with the FIDM career counseling of- sponsorship, and eventually a green card. able of all ten collections: winning 1st place fice to assemble her portfolio and build a And who knows? Maybe one day we will for Most Comprehensive Collection (most personal website. Though she has her sites see Kapasa on Project Runway! appropriate for customers and best fab- ric selection); 1st place for Most Cohesive Collection (best design and silhouette and coordination-how everything works to- gether); and 2nd place for Best Commer- cial (hard to beat those cute little girls!). Words cannot express how excited and proud we were to watch all of her hard work come walking down that runway! Creating Jobs, One Person at a Time But after all of the excitement passes and the presentation bouquets of flowers begin to fade, we’re reminded of the main reason for training those 204 youth in Zam- bia and for bringing Kapasa here. That is Rolling Dunes of the Sahara Collection Photos by Mike Noll by Kapasa Musonda
Please turn to p. 5 for more of the Rolling Dunes of the Sahara collection 4 Sparks - Altadena Rotary Club Newsletter Corner Continued from p. 4
Kapasa Musonda, Designer The Lbyast John Guerrini Drop THE OCCASIONAL MUSINGS OF A ROTARIAN OBSESSED WITH FOOD AND WINE Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse (Pasadena, CA)
John and Nick were craving steak one (shocker!) topped with shrimp ($12 supple- Sauvignon, which, at $15 per glass, was a night, and yes — there is a handful of great ment): steal. Seriously, we mean steal. The wine places in Pasadena to get a good steak Nick is apparently not on the normal (including at home!) — but we really ordered wine list here, but it was being of- wanted to just relax with a good martini a filet fered as part of a promotional prix and steak (and perhaps sneak out for a also me- fixe meal. We begged the server to quick cigar). Ruth’s Chris has always dium let us have a glass (ok, two glasses) proven to be dependable in the service rare (an- even though we were not doing the and food categories, and it happens to be other prix fixe meal. She agreed. So a across the street from a great cigar shop/ shocker!): wine that typically sells for at least lounge. Ruth’s Chris has the distinction of As al- $40 a bottle was given to us at $30 broiling its steaks in an oven that is heated ways, the steaks were cooked perfectly. for two glasses. Oh, yeah, we were happy to 1800 degrees F. Rumor has it that the And they were doused with butter. Still, indeed. ovens are specially designed and manu- we ordered even more butter on the side. The Mt. Veeder is a wonderful factured only for Ruth’s Chris’ locations. We were good tonight and ordered only Cabernet. Janet Myers, the winemaker The only seasoning used on the steaks is: one side for Mt. Veeder Winery, sums it up salt, pepper and butter. Oh, yeah, lots of dish — well: “A sip of a Mount Veeder butter. (You can order it without butter, creamed wine transports you to the moun- but seriously, why?) John and Nick order spinach is tain. The wine is dense and con- EXTRA BUTTER. always sat- centrated, which is indicative of Martinis. Let’s talk martinis. Sure, they isfying. the small vines, low yields, and have a list of all the foo foo martinis, and But un- tiny berries of the mountainside all the vodka martini nonsense. But John like the locale. The dark, brambly fruit must have his Hendrick’s martini, very steak, the and sweet herbal notes evoke dry, three olives. And Ruth’s Chris deliv- shrimp the forest and bay trees adjacent ers in this department. They even bring a were horrible. to the vineyards.” shaker to the table, shake it up, and pour. They were tough, mealy Ignor- OK, so it’s a bit theatrical, but it works. and flavorless, even with the ing the (Note to Ruth’s Chris — your olives need seasoning that was grilled on. shrimp, help. Martini olives should be big, fat and We took one bite each and put the meal plump. Ruth’s Chris’ olives are small, weak it down. We told the server our was ex- and sad.) Still, John loves a Ruth’s Chris thoughts, and she immediately ecuted martini while he peruses the wine list. whisked away the shrimp, as- flaw- Ruth’s Chris offers lots of dishes other suring us that she would have lessly. than steak, but really, why would we ven- the kitchen do it again. Though Caveat ture beyond what she returned with — this is they really know more shrimp, and though they not a cheap date. Two martinis, two well? We don’t, were definitely an improve- steaks, two glasses of wine, with tax and and we didn’t to- ment on the last batch (which tip came to two hundred bucks. night — well, ex- tasted like they had been bak- Is it worth the splurge? cept for the ing for an hour), they were nev- Without a doubt. shrimp, but more ertheless not worth the price Until next time. . . . on that later. (or the calories). Ruth’s Chris (Pasadena) is located at John ordered a Our two guys picked a 2006 369 East Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA filet medium rare Mt. Veeder Cabernet 91101. 626-583-8122. 6 Sparks - Altadena Rotary Club Newsletter ONEYby Linda M Wilkes MATTERS
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