January 2009 - North Valley Community Connection

Transcription

Briefly Noted...
After-School Programs
at Granada Hills
Recreation Center
Running through June 2009,
the bus pick-up program offers
young students help with homework, and activities such as crafts
and games after school, from 2:30
pm - 6 pm at the Granada Hills
Recreation
Center,
16730
Chatsworth St. in Granada Hills.
For more info call Dwayne Finley
(818) 363-3556
Youth Field Trip at the
Getty Center on
January 17th
This youth field trip offers a
chance to visit the Getty Center, one
of the nation's great cultural centers,
to see the world-class art exhibitions, architecture, spectacular
views of the City and more. $15 fee
includes round trip transportation.
The bus departs from Northridge
Recreation Center at 10 am, 18300
Lemarsh St. in Northridge. Call
(818) 349-0535 for more information and reservations.
Christmas Tree
Recycling
Residents can recycle Christmas
trees at Recreation & Parks sites
and Fire Stations throughout the
City on Saturday, Jan. 3 and
Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009, from 9:00
a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Recreation &
Parks sites also accept bulky gift
packaging for recycling. To see all
drop-off locations and instructions
on how to recycle your tree in your
green bin at home, visit www.
ci.la.ca.us/san/tree-recycle.htm.
Recreation & Parks sites will give a
free green gift to every person who
drops off a tree!
www.NVCN.org
Vol. 6, No. 2
January 2009
Serving the Communities of Northridge
•
Granada Hills
By JERRY ASKEW
Granada Hills South Neighborhood Council is leading the fight to
prevent AT&T and other utilities
from placing pole-mounted equip-
ment cabinets on telephone poles.
For many, the boxes are an eyesore and an inconvenience – for
others, the boxes are downright
deadly. Backup batteries have
Chaminade Middle School Girls Volleyball
Team Wins Championship Meet
The Chaminade Middle School Girls Delphic Volleyball team captured its first ever Delphic League volleyball championship, beating
Harvard-Westlake in two close games; 28-26 and 27-25. Coached by
13-year Chaminade veteran volleyball coach and assistant athletic
director Mike Anderson, the team was anchored by its captains and 3year varsity starters, Rio Morigi (setter) and Reagan Clark (outside
hitter). They faced tough competition from a Harvard-Westlake team
led by its captain and hitter, Madison McAndrews. Morigi and
McAndrews are club teammates with SCVA division 1 ranked
Sunshine Volleyball Club in Santa Monica and Clark recently played
for division 1 ranked Santa Monica Beach Volleyball Club.
Contributing to Chaminade’s recording breaking season were
Achieve Volleyball Club players Sophia Adcock, Jasmine Burton,
Lauren Donohue, Hailey Hunter, Tara Edrisavi, Ava Rezai, and co-captain and Elite Volleyball Club player Laurel Weaver. The team was
rounded out by athletes Robyn Brown, Laurie Lebrock, Brittany Solis
(voted the school’s “most athletic 8th grader”), and Jessica-Rey Talavera.
Free Sand and Bags
Available
Granada Hills Women’s Club &
30 Seconds to Curtain Present “The
Life of Riley” and “The Aldrich
Family,” special afternoon of oldtime entertainment on Sunday, Jan.
11. Doors open at 1:30 pm
Show starts at 2:00 pm Granada Hills Women’s Club,
10666 White Oak Ave. in Granada
Hills.Tickets: $10 for adults, free
for kids under 12. For more info and
reservations call Janet Garwood at
(818) 886-2577.
SPECIAL SECTION
Planning for the
Senior Years
Starts on page 9
•
North Hills
Neighborhood Council Leads Opposition
to Telephone Pole Mounted Equipment
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health offers
free flu vaccine shots at various
locations. Call the LA County's
information line at 211 to find the
nearest location to receive a free flu
vaccination.
You can also find locations
online at www.FindaFluShot.com.
An Afternoon of Old
Time Radio
•
Porter Ranch
Granada Hills South Neighborhood Council
Free Flu Shots
All City Fire Stations have
burlap bags and several have sand,
that residents can pick up for free.
The LAFD website lists all locations where free sand is available, as
well as instructions on properly
using sandbags at http://lafd.
blogspot.com/2008/11/lafd-provides-sandbags-for-homeowners.
html
•
Chatsworth
exploded violently in incidents
across the USA, leaving the metal
boxes splayed and nearby homes
destroyed.
The City of Los Angeles
addressed the proliferation of boxes
by enacting the Above Ground
Facilities (AGF) ordinance. The
ordinance deals with boxes placed
directly on the ground and provides
for public notice and environmental reviews. Unfortunately, the ordinance carves out an exception for
“Pole Mounted Facilities” or
PMFs. The exception was intended to ensure that the ordinance was
Continued on page 17
Northridge Middle School A.M.P.
Family/Parent Center Opens
Cutting the ribbon and
celebrating the opening of
the A.M.P. Family/ Parent
Center at Northridge Middle
School are Mitchell Englander, Chief of Staff for
Greig Smith; Leah Brackins,
Parent Community Facilitator, Local District 1; Marilu
Pigliapoco, Assistant Principal; Martha Sandoval, Parent Community
Facilitator; Pilar Rios, Parent Center Director; Judi Greenberg,
Coordinator; Cornelia Romey, Assistant Principal, and Deborah Wiltz,
Principal.
The center, which will be open to parents for classes and assistance was named for three exceptional family-oriented teachers
who left us too soon. Sue Ackermann was a math teacher who
passed away in 2006 at the age of 32. Poppy Macias was an English
teacher who just passed away in August at the age of 37 and Tom
Parker was a Physical Education teacher who died in 2007 at the
age of 59. Their last names combine for A.M.P. which also stands
for “Achievement Minded Parents.”
Opposes Housing Facility
North Hills Neighborhood
Council Says “No” to Vets
NVCN Discovery
CSUN Radio Station Has
Something for Everyone
By CRAIG STRAZZERI
Whether you knew it or not,
Cal Sate Northridge has had an
award winning radio station for
over 45 years now.
KCSN-FM 88.5 is the home
of CSUN’s very own radio station that is the only station in Los
Angeles that offers an innovative
format of classical art and
authentic folk-based Americana
music. The station can be heard
throughout the San Fernando
Valley.
“People may not know this, but
Continued on page 5
By THOM SENZEE
A local neighborhood council
has voted against supporting the
building of a new housing facility for veterans in North Hills, because of fear that homeless nonveterans might be housed in their
community.
As one war rages and another
promises to wind down with the
coming of a new administration in
the White House, thousands of
American soldiers now serving in
two Middle Eastern countries will
soon be coming home to the U.S.
In response, two nonprofit veterans-housing groups say they want to
make the transition from active-duty
to veteran status as stress-free as
possible to those disabled during the
wars by providing them affordable
housing options in the North Valley.
“There is currently no option in
Continued on page 6
A Community Service Publication of the North Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce • (818) 349-5676 • www.nvrcc.com
North Valley Community News
(818) 534-1797
Email: info@NVCN.org
Web site:
www.NVCN.org
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PAGE 2
NORTH VALLEY COMMUNITY NEWS
JANUARY 2009
RonKayeLA.com
What’s Missing From the
Neighborhood Council Movement?
Support our Advertisers…
They make North Valley Community News possible!
By RON KAYE
Spawned by the City Charter reform
nearly a decade ago, the network of some
85 Neighborhood Councils has a long way
to go to achieve the empowerment of local
communities that advocates had hope for.
Progress has been hampered by changes
in leadership in the Department of
Neighborhood Empowerment which has
often been perceived as obstructionist and
divisive, by the lack of commitment from
City Hall and by the charter itself which
gave them only an advisory role.
But most all the NCs have too often
become bogged down in ego wars among
its members and their inexperience in government -- symptoms that are common to
people who for too long were treated like
powerless colonials.
Many effective people who got in initially have dropped out and pursued their
activism through homeowner and resident
groups or other organizations that have
more dynamism and are not hamstrung by
city rules.
Too much talk, not enough action -- that
is the most common complaint about NCs.
There are, of course, many exceptions.
In areas where the business community has
joined with community activists and found
support from their City Council member,
the record of solving neighborhood problems and getting city bureaucrats to provide
help is excellent.
But the various coalitions of NCs in the
Valley and elsewhere have become discussion groups and have rarely banded together and become an effective force for
change.
More than 70 recommendations have
been put forward to change the system but
from what I've seen in my
seven months as an
activist more than a journalist, the problem isn't
going to solved by tinkering with the rules of governance.
What's missing from the NC movement
is the will to challenge City Hall head-on
and exercise the latent power vested in NC
members as government officials.
Since I helped found the Saving L.A.
Project as a loose coalition of all types of
activist groups all across the city, I've met
hundreds of NC members and hundreds of
others involved in service clubs, issue-oriented groups and other local organizations
engaged in business or volunteerism.
L.A. is at a critical turning point, the
point of no return.
The nation's economic crisis and the fiscal crisis facing the city combined with
long-term failures of City Hall and the
school system have combined to create a
dangerous situation where too many good
jobs have left the city and the too many
middle class residents along with them.
Every challenge provides creative
opportunity and I think that the moment for
action has come.
In every neighborhood, across the
Valley and the city, there are thousands of
people involved in working hard for the
betterment of the community. They may
hold different beliefs and may be focused
on different goals but they share a fundament commitment to public service.
It's that commitment to serving others
for the common good that Neighborhood
Councils are uniquely positions to tap into,
Continued on page 5
JANUARY 2009
On the “Lighter” Side
The Expiration Date
By Barry Pascal, Pharm.D.
Humorist, Satirist, and All-Around Nice Guy
Even though we are starting a brand new year,
2009, with a brand new government, we still
have many of the same old problems -- too many
of our troops are in harms way, our stock markets
are quite shaky, we continue to experience a
falling dollar, our current economic crisis is
resulting in a deepening recession and high
unemployment, the housing crisis is accelerating,
our domestic car companies are in big trouble,
and the post office is talking about raising the
price of stamps. So let’s forget about the New
Year right now; how do we bury the old one?
When I was a practicing pharmacist we had
to worry about expiration dates on the medicines.
We would send the drugs back to the manufacturer and get a brand new replacement package. We
see these dates on food products also; items that
have “no good after (this date)” need to be
removed from shelves or refrigerators all the
time. Now, we all know that it doesn’t exactly
happen that way – that whatever is in the package
is good on Tuesday but is not good on
Wednesday and needs to be thrown out.
However, in my opinion, it sure would be
great if we could do that with last year – throw
it out -- and really have a brand new year free
of last year’s mess. So, why can’t “years”
have expiration dates? This year, soon to be
last year, expires on December 31st and we
have to throw it out and start all over again on
January 1st. Every New Year we would not
just be celebrating a new year, but we would
observe the end of the old year.
And our current year, crummy 2008, is such
a year. Let it expire and let’s get rid of it! Have
Bernie Maddoff return all of the $50B he lost on
the way home from the office. Let OJ Simpson
tell Barbara Walters that he really did “do it” and
he wants to spend more time in jail. Have all the
banks reveal where all the money is hidden so
that someone can start lending it. And let all our
troops come home. Just let
last year expire!
My mom grew up in the
depression era. That is another way of saying that she
never throws anything away.
Her medicine chest is a drug museum with medicines from the 60’s and 70’s, as well as over-thecounter products that are no longer made. My
father passed away in 1987 and she still has an
entire bottle of his heart medication. To her, expiration dates are just guidelines – give or take a
decade or two. Throwing away a year would
drive her into double menopause! However, considering what happened this year, I’d bet that
even my mom would want to discard 2008.
Now, I know everything is not that simple - buttermilk, for example. How do you know
if it has gone bad, with or without an expiration
date? Almost everyone I know has taken or
used something that has expired. So, even if
we let 2008 expire, some of the mess will
linger just like that smell that stays in the house
after you cook brussel sprouts.
Here’s wishing all of us an end to 2008. I
sure hope 2009 is such a good year that we will
be asking each other if we can keep it even
after it has expired. Happy New Year, everyone, and good riddance, 2008!
About the Author - Barry Pascal, our
recently deposed Honorary Sheriff and formerly overthrown Honorary Mayor, owned
Northridge Pharmacy for 32 years and is now
retired. He has written seven comedy books
and writes a humorous column for the
California Pharmacists Association Journal.
He is currently at home trying to find the best
anti-anxiety medication for each type of anxiety – unemployment, war, stock decline, subprime bailout, and Laker playoffs.
© Barry Pascal December 2008
PAGE 3
Family Matters
Will Your Child Make
the Right Choices in Life?
By NANCY CARTWRIGHT
My daughter recently got married. She
and her high school sweetheart tied the knot
in August and are working together and making their own decisions now on a daily basis.
My son, at 17, is still in high school and living at home and I continue to guide him,
although I let him make most of his decisions
based on “the greatest good for all,” and this
has been an operating basis for me in raising
them all along. So far he hasn’t held me to
ransom and he hasn’t used the fact that I am
the voice of Bart Simpson against me for
which I am very grateful, however it does
bring up the question: “What is the measurement of a parent’s success when it comes to
raising a child?”
I think we can all agree that if your child
grows up to be happy, successful and knows
how to make the right choices in life, you
will have adequately fulfilled your role as a
parent. Surely your child will make a few
wrong decisions and choices along the
rugged path of life, but if he has been taught
well, he will make more positive and constructive choices than destructive and his
happiness will be your measuring stick. We
as parents are the guideposts, but at the same
time, must allow our children to be selfdetermined, able to think for themselves and
make their own decisions. Children do not
do well if controlled like dogs. End of story.
Woof.
Ask yourself these questions in terms of
how well you are educating your child on
common sense values: 1) “Will my child be
able to avoid the temptations of drugs and
alcohol and withstand the peer pressure of
“fitting in” or will he fall prey to those pressures and wind up being an addict or possibly brain damaged due to experimenting
with dangerous drugs?” 2) “Will he be wor-
thy of trust, and keep his
word with others or will
he be deceitful and dishonest, disrupting relationships at every turn?”
3) “Will he treat others with respect, and handle them as he would like to be treated or will
he carelessly hurt others feelings placing little importance or thought toward the ill
effects he might create in others’ lives?” 4)
“Will he be competent and create better conditions for himself and others or will he create disasters at every turn, littering his life
with ineffectiveness and destruction?” and
5) “Will he be faithful to his marital partner
and express love and devotion or will he
betray his partner’s trust and destroy the relationship without remorse?”
I have found that no matter what trouble
my child gets into, there is something that I
failed to teach him/her. It always boils down
to “What could I have taught my child that
would have prevented this from happening
in the first place?” In other words, the level
of success and happiness your child attains in
life will largely be determined by the responsibility you have and the knowledge you
teach him today.
It will be because of your efforts to treat
him with respect and love, despite numerous
inevitable invitations to want to do otherwise, that he will choose not to mistreat his
own children or abuse them.
It will be because of your patient & gentle insistence that he not accept mediocrity in
life, but strive for professionalism and competence, that he succeeds.
It will be because of your worthy advice
that he seeks to live with the truth and be
worthy of respect, that he lives a life of
integrity and honor.
Northridge East
Neighborhood Council
The next meeting of the
Northridge East
Neighborhood Council
will be held on
Wednesday, January 13, 2009
7:00 p.m.
Andasol Elementary School
10126 Encino Ave.
Northridge, CA 91325
For questions call 800-772-9132 or
E-mail Admin@nenc-la.org.
Visit our web site to view the
January 12, 2009 Agenda
7 p.m. – January 12, 2009
PAGE 4
JANUARY 2009
First Presbyterian Weekday School
where faith and knowledge meet
Prospective Student Open House
Preschool – Fifth Grade
Sunday, January 25th ~ 1:30-3:30 p.m.
New
Year’s Sale
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JANUARY 2009
A Bail-Out Program Just for You!
By JAMES LANZA, CPFI
Happy New Year everyone! It’s 2009
and do we have a stimulus program just for
you! We will not only stimulate you but
we’ll bail you out! Yes indeed. It’s a new
year, a new economy, a new president. Well,
two out of three ain’t bad.
But why, do you ask, should I work out?
And how can your stimulus package help
me? Let me tell you about Martha. Martha
had gotten so out of shape she couldn’t
climb stairs. So she got permission from her
doctor to work out. She joined a fitness club
and decided to take one of their aerobic
classes. She bent, twisted, gyrated, jumped
up and down and perspired for an hour. By
the time she got her leotards on, the class
was over!
So she came here to Lanza Fitness where
we motivate, educate and stimulate. We
made it fun. We made it safe. And we made
it effective. Now Martha can get her leotards on in time for that aerobics class!
I got a call from a young lady the other
day. She set up her first appointment. I told
her to wear loose fitting clothing. She said if
she had loose fitting clothing she wouldn’t
need me!
Let me tell you about Phil. He’s had two
bypass surgeries, a hip replacement, new
knees, fought prostate cancer and diabetes,
he’s half blind, can’t hear anything quieter
than a jet engine. He takes 40 different medications that make him dizzy, winded, subject to blackouts. He has bouts with dementia. He has poor circulation. He can hardly
feel his hands and feet. He can’t remember if
he’s 85 or 92. He’s lost all of his friends. But
thank God he still has his drivers’ license! So
all of those things don’t matter because he’s
working out here at Lanza Fitness and he’s
having fun! And you can, too!
So here’s how we’re going to stimulate
you and bail you out. Come in for a free
evaluation. We’ll talk
about your eating habits.
We’ll take your blood
pressure. We’ll measure
your body fat and lean
body mass and tell what
it all means. We’ll tell
you how many calories
your body needs per day. James Lanza
And if you decide to train with us we’ll add
twenty percent more onto any package!
How’s that for a bail out?
So call us or stop by. Let us show you
how WE CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
ONE POUND AT A TIME.
One more thing. I asked one of our
clients “what do you think is the best thing
about being 104 years old? She replied “No
peer pressure!”
Now on to reality. These stories and people don’t really exist. I’m trying to make a
point in the most fun possible way. But I
hope you get my point. Your health is a very
serious matter. And we take it serious here
at our facility. But we will make it fun, safe
and effective. So give us a call. You’ll be
happy you did.
Thanks for listening and have a healthy
day!
James Lanza is certified by the National
Academy of Sports Medicine and the
International Sports Sciences Association.
He has been in the fitness industry for over
twenty years. James and his wife, Sherry,
own Lanza Fitness Personal Training, a
premiere private training studio conveniently located in Northridge at 9149
Reseda Blvd. on the corner of Nordhoff and
Reseda in the VONS shopping center. His
clients range from celebrities to athletes to
housewives. James can be reached at his
studio by calling 818-718-1937 or
www.Lanzafitness.com
ADVERTORIAL
Measure R Passage Puts County
Transportation Projects on Fast Track
By DAVE SOTERO
Measure R, the half-cent sales tax
increase for comprehensive county transportation improvements, officially passed
last month with a more than two-thirds
voter majority. It is now expected to fasttrack new transportation projects throughout L.A. County, including the possible
extension of the Valley’s own Metro Orange
Line to Chatsworth.
Countervailing the lack of recent transportation investments at the state and federal levels, Measure R is a local sales tax that
will be generated and invested locally. It is
expected to bring in $40 billion over the
next 30 years to fund badly needed transit
and highway projects and support transit
operations.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan
Transportation Authority (Metro) has
vowed to put funds to work quickly and
help create construction jobs that will stimulate the local economy now being hammered by the current economic crisis. At
least 210,000 new jobs and $32 billion in
new economic activity could be generated
over the 30-year period, according to projections by the Los Angeles Economic
Development Corporation.
Sales taxes will start being collected July
1, 2009. During the first full year, it is estimated that over $650 million will be collected, and that revenue stream will grow as
the economy expands.
Some of the most immediate financial
returns derived from Measure R will go
directly to cities. Metro’s expenditure plan
ensures that all 88 cities will receive a 15
percent local return of taxpayer funds based
on yearly city population figures. In the
first full year, local jurisdictions are expected to collectively receive over $100 million
for their transportation needs. Over the 30year sales tax period, the local return is
anticipated to be almost $6 billion. These
funds may be used by cities to directly fund
their own projects such as bikeways, pothole repairs, major street resurfacing, leftturn signals, pedestrian improvements,
PAGE 5
Non-Profit Spotlight
Haven Hills: Rebuilding Lives
Haven Hills’ programs supBy HOLLY RASEY
port women, teens and children,
“I left with barely more than
primarily from the San Fernando
the shirt on my back, driving
Valley. Last year, they received
away from my middle-class life
over 1000 calls from battered
into instant and total poverty. I
women to their crisis phone line
had to disappear from my
and over 13,000 calls on behalf
home, leave my job, my son’s
of abused women. More than
school, our friends and the
100 women and 1300 children
lifestyle we had known. As I
were sheltered in their 30 day
went through the gate into the
Holly S. Rasey
center program. 19 women and
shelter, I was overcome by a
sense of safety I hadn’t realized had been 42 children resided at Haven Two. 99 atmissing from my life for a long time. That risk young adults took part in the Haven
was the moment when, without asking for Hills Teen Program, an art-based violence
anything in return, Haven Hills gave me prevention program that encourages healthy
and my son what turned out to be the begin- teen relationships.
The Teen Program is an ongoing success
ning of a new life.”
– Sandy
Rebuilding lives and breaking the cycle story. Teens, who have either been victims of
of domestic violence has been the mission violence, teen dating violence, or have witof Haven Hills for over thirty years. The nessed domestic violence in their own homes,
nonprofit agency, founded as a community use art and creative expression to gain a sense
service project of the Canoga Park of renewal and empowerment. The Teen
Women’s Club in 1977, has assisted more Program provides an environment that prothan 600,000 people over the years through motes healing and a renewed sense of hope.
“Our 7th Annual Teen Summit will be
its network of services, including: a crisis
phone line which operates 24/7; a crisis held on April 4 at CSUN. The summit will
shelter, providing a 30 day program with 36 be planned by the teens themselves and will
beds; Haven Two, an 18 month transitional include workshops on art, media, theater,
living/employment program; outreach sup- dance and poetry based on a theme. Last
port groups; volunteer training; children’s year’s summit was themed “Who am I?”
programs and the Haven Hills Teen and was very successful. We have found
that using art to engage teens is an effective
Program.
Domestic violence is defined as a pattern way to teach them about healthy relationof physical, sexual, psychological, and/or ships” says Sara Berdine, Executive
economic assaultive and coercive behaviors Director of Haven Hills.
While domestic abuse is a topic that we
used against intimate partners. It does not
need to be physical abuse. Haven Hills’ don’t like to discuss or hear about, we are
span of services responds to the grim, but fortunate as a community that Haven Hills
is committed to breaking the cycle through
real statistics of domestic violence:
• Nearly 1.5 million women are physi- support services and educating young peocally assaulted by their intimate partner ple. For more information on Haven Hills,
visit their website at www.havenhills.org or
each year.
• More than 500,000 women each year call the office at 818-887-7481. If you are
a victim of domestic violence, call 911 if
require medical treatment due to abuse.
• More than 3 women are murdered by you are in immediate danger, or contact the
their husband or boyfriend in this country Haven Hills Crisis Line at (818) 887-6589.
Holly Rasey is the Director of
everyday.
• 3.3-10 million children witness domes- Development at New Horizons, a center for
adults with special needs. Contact Holly at
tic violence.
• 2/3 of residents of battered women’s HRasey@newhorizons-sfv.org or 818-8949301 ext. 334.
shelters are children.
RonKayeLA.com
(Continued from page 2)
to organize and to mobilize.
NC members are the government at the
grassroots level. If they reached out and
brought the civic community around them
together and reached across neighborhood
lines to create a citywide force, nothing
could stop them.
The power special interests hold over
our elected officials would diminish in the
face of people power. We don't need structural changes in the rules of governance as
much as we need to assert ourselves and
remind the people who hold elective office
that they are our servants -- not our masters.
Ron Kaye is the driving force behind the
Saving L.A. Project. Make it appoint to
check out his blog at ronkayela.com.
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we have been running since November of
1963,” said Fred Johnson, general manager of
the station. “We offer 12 hour blocks of classical music every weekday.”
The station is run by both full time employees as well as Journalism students from
CSUN. The student-run news portion of the
station has won several Golden Mike Awards,
edging out many professionally run stations
across Los Angeles.
While the foundation for KCSN is classical
music, the station does not neglect its college
audience. They offer Adult Album Alternative
music in the evenings and on weekends, also
known as the “Triple A”. This helps keep a
younger audience interested in the station.
On Saturday morning’s KCSN has Mike
Mahaney on the air presenting an “American
Weekend” the newest Americana music on
the charts. The playlist is created from the
influence of the Americana Music
Association chart. The weekend music consists of artists such as: Sheryl Crow, Rodney
Crowell, The Derailers, Milton, and much
more.
So, set your car radio to KCSN-FM 88.5
and discover your local radio station
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PAGE 6
Method Fest Independent Film Festival
Welcomes Submissions From Young Film Makers
The 11th annual The Method Fest independent film festival, scheduled for March 26 April 2, 2009 in Calabasas, is looking for character and story-driven films featuring strong
acting performances.
The Method Fest features American and foreign feature films and short films and is named
after "The Method" school of acting, which revolutionized the approach in acting, particularly in film.
Filmmakers must submit their films before
January 31, 2009 (postmarked).
Entry fees are: $60 for features; $45 for
short films; student entries are $25. For film
submission information call (310) 535-9230
or visit the festival web site at www.methodfest.com Filmmakers are encouraged to register
through www.withoutabox.com
The Method Fest takes great pride in being a
discovery festival, looking to help launch the works
of young fresh filmmakers and to discover breakthrough performances by young, bold new actors.
More than 110 films that have premiered or played
at The Method Fest have received distribution.
The Method Fest has also taken great
delight in sharing career-defining performances
100
Y E A R S
.
of established performers and in showcasing a
few chosen well-known directors to screen at
the festival. "We've prided ourselves on not just
following other festivals’ lineups. We screen
world premieres and true discoveries, mixed
with a few larger films, " said Don Franken,
executive director of the Method Fest.
A variety of other activities will complement
the Method Fest screenings - filmmaking seminars,
daily/nightly parties and receptions, industry
events, a variety of Indie Music events, Lifetime
Achievement Tribute, and the Awards Ceremony.
The Method fest’s Youth Outreach program
include a short film and screenplay competition for
middle school and high school students.
The Method Fest is sponsored by the City
of Calabasas and presenting media partners,
Time Warner Cable, Charter Communications
and the L.A. Daily News / LA.com. Lead sponsors include Prudential California Realty, the
Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley
/ Valley of the Stars, Sony, Christie, JetBlue,
Country Inn & Suites by Carlson, Modern
VideoFilm, FilmFinders, Enterprise Rent-ACar, Final Draft, and Barefoot Winery.
MILLIONS
O F
DREAMS.
JANUARY 2009
Notes from Behind the Badge
Change is Hard
By Senior Lead Officer
KATHY BENNETT
“There is nothing wrong with change if
it’s in the right direction.”
– Winston Churchill
As many of you know, the Los Angeles
Police Department opened the new
Topanga Community Police Station on
January 4, 2009. Located at 21501
Schoenborn Street in Canoga Park, the new
station is a welcome addition to the community. But what does that mean to those of
you who live in Devonshire Area?
For one thing, it means Devonshire Area
loses some geography on the west side of
the division. We also gain a Basic Car Area
– so instead of having five Basic Cars in
Devonshire Area we will now have six. By
adding another Basic Car, we also add more
officers to our station to staff that car. But
before you get too excited, I have to tell you
we also gained geography on the east side
of the division. I had hoped to have a map
to accompany this story, but at the time of
this writing, one is not available.
Most people don’t like change and a
number of you will be shifted into new
Basic Cars with a different Senior Lead
Officer. You may not like that idea. But I
urge you to give it a try. Everyone has
something positive to offer and your Senior
Lead Officers are no different. We all have
unique personalities and talents. You may
find you’re more “in tune” with your new
Senior Lead Officer than your old one.
Many of you probably don’t care who your
Senior Lead Officer is as long as when you
call the police someone responds in a timely manner. That’s okay too and know that
we do our best to live up to our motto of “to
protect and to serve”.
All of the Devonshire Basic Cars have
changed – including the Basic Car names. I
will try to give you a generalization of the
Basic Cars and their boundaries. Please
understand I’m going to
give you an indication of
the boundaries … there
are some abnormalities
that I won’t be able to list
here.
BASIC CAR 17A23
– The Name Stays the
Same
Senior Lead Officer Kathy Bennett
Danny Del Valle
City/county line on the west, Limekin
Canyon & Tampa Avenue on the east,
City/county line on the north, Lassen Street
on the south
BASIC CAR 17A27 – NOW
CALLED 17A35
Senior Lead Officer Dario Del Core
Limekin Canyon & Tampa Avenue on
the west, Balboa Blvd on the east (except
east of Balboa Blvd between Rinaldi Street
and Chatsworth where the eastern boundary
is the flood control channel), City/county
line on the north (except east of Balboa
Blvd where the northern boundary is the
118 Freeway), Lassen Street on the south
(except east of Zelzah where the southern
boundary is Chatsworth Street)
BASIC CAR 17A49 – THE NEW
BASIC CAR IN DEVONSHIRE
Senior Lead Officer Janine Angeles
Balboa Blvd on the west , the 405 (San
Diego) Freeway on the east, the 5 (Golden
State) Freeway on the north, Lassen Street
on the south
CALLED 17A81
Senior Lead Officer Sue Herold
The flood control channel west of De
Soto Blvd on the west, Tampa Avenue on
the east, Lassen Street on the north, Roscoe
Boulevard on the south
CALLED 17A67
Senior Lead Officer Kathy Bennett
Tampa Avenue on the west, White Oak
Continued on page 7
Veterans Housing Opposed
the V.A. system for permanent housing for
veterans,” said Dora Gallo, CEO of
Community of Friends, an organization that is
helping fellow vet-services development
organization, New Directions, with advance
work on building permanent, or long-term
housing on the Veterans Administration’s
Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center campus.
“Other current options offer only two-year
housing for veterans and then they have to
leave no matter their circumstances,” Gallo
told North Valley Community News.
But Community of Friends and New
Directions have run into some obstacles in
their joint mission to bring housing solutions
to some of the estimated 20,000 to 24,000
homeless veterans estimated to be living in
Even after 100 years,
the excitement never wears off.
Even after 100 years, the excitement of moving in has never gotten old for
us. And we’re always finding newer, better ways to help people buy and sell
their homes. Because even after all this time, for us, there’s no such thing as
“business as usual.”
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Los Angeles County, as well as some of the
men an women in uniform who will be
returning home in 2009 and 2010.
The main hurdle for the proposed 150-unit
apartment project intended to house veterans
with disabilities without time limits on their
residency, has been political groups—most
pressingly, North Hills West Neighborhood
Council (NHWNC).
NHWNC says it supports, in principle, the
idea of providing new housing for veterans at
the facility located on Plummer Street near the
I-405 Freeway.
“But we won’t be here in 75 years. Some
of our folks have been in business and real
estate and know what a contract means,” said
Lewis Brown, the council’s president, in
Continued on page 7
JANUARY 2009
PAGE 7
Porter Ranch Neighborhood
Cracking Down On Consultant Contracts Council Needs You
Our Schools
funds. I voted against millions of
By TAMAR GALATZAN
dollars of contracts this year, but
As many of you know, we are
unfortunately, most were approved
currently facing a budget crisis of
over my strong objection.
historic proportions. According to
It is for this reason that at the
the latest information, the District
Board’s December 9th meeting, I
will be facing up to $400million
introduced a resolution calling for
of budget cuts come January.
the Superintendent to provide
Now, more than ever is the
time for the District to be effi- Tamar Galatzan detailed and complete information on the hiring of consultants,
cient and frugal.
We can no longer afford to be spending $6 regardless of dollar amounts, for all future
million to wash some gym towels, or having personal service contracts. The motion is
the Board approve professional development set for vote January 13th.
It is unacceptable to the Board and the taxcontracts with no measure of success. And we
certainly can ' t be frittering away our money payers that a public agency would hire conon expensive consultants - as has been the sultants without providing even basic information regarding their purpose and function.
case too many times in the past.
For example, this year the district has accu- Acting in this manner is offensive to tax paymulated $175 million in consulting contracts ers and any constituency that LAUSD serves.
with outside firms. Some of these services are I am already working with the Superintendent
no doubt essential to the district 's success; ' s office and the Business Service s Division
others, however, are highly questionable. I to ensure that this resolution will enable the
challenged the Superintendent?s office about Board to make fully- informed decisions
awarding $4.7 million in outstanding personal when hiring consultants in the future.
My intent is not to micromanage hiring
service consulting contracts, but to date I have
decisions, but to develop a relationship based
not received a satisfactory response.
Of that money $74,000 was allotted for on trust and accountability. The size of the
computer related duties for the superin- District makes it not only impossible but also
tendent and $30,000 was spent on an 11- inefficient to examine every consultant hired
month contract for media interview and either at the school sites or Beaudry. But in
the case of high-priced consultants who are
presentation training.
Periodically throughout the year, I asked brought on board to assist the Superintendent,
to review the list of these contracts and obtain Facilities, Information Technology, Comdetails of the deals and services provided. To munications and other departments, we have
this day my office has not received an to exercise more control over the process.
Given the fiscal situation in which the
accounting of what goals LAUSD had hoped
to achieve by hiring these people. The lack of District currently finds itself, we must
such information represents a failure on the tighten the system by which we monitor
part of District to maintain its fiduciary and these contracts. Failure to do so will cause
moral responsibility to keep taxpayers fully the District’s reputation to sink even lower
informed regarding expenditures of public in the eyes of the public.
Veterans Housing Opposed
response to questions from an L.A. Times
reporter last summer.
“If you don’t write [specific restrictions] in
the lease and someone chooses not to do it,
you’re pretty stuck.”
The restriction that is so important to
Lewis and all but two of his colleagues on the
NHWNC board of directors is a written,
black-and-white stipulation that only veterans
be housed at the facility.
However, doing so in no-uncertain terms
puts the effort in direct opposition to longstanding federal housing rules, which would
preclude New Directions from receiving federal funding if it formally discriminates
against non-veterans.
“Sure; on the surface that sounds like we
can’t say that only veterans will be housed in
at Sepulveda,” Gallo said. “However, in practice, we’ve already proven that is what will
happen, simply by operating under a ‘preference’ for veterans model.”
In fact, the courts have ruled that giving preferential consideration to veterans, while not officially barring non-vets from residency is legal.
New Directions already runs temporaryhousing facilities, populated solely by veterans, under that model.
“It works because there is no shortage of
homeless veterans,” Gallo said.
Forcing a contractual stipulation barring
non-veterans from the facility would effectively
force New Directions and the V.A. to find private funding for the Sepulveda project at a time
when charitable giving is way down, she added.
“I think we will prevail in the end, but the
worst case scenario of the lack of support
from the neighborhood council is that we will
be delayed at a time when soldiers with a lot
of needs will be coming back from the wars,”
Gallo said. “We’re seeing young veterans
with all kinds of disabilities who will need our
support.”
The record shows Community of Friends’
top leaders, as well as those of New
Directions have been doing community outreach by attending meetings of the North Hills
West Neighborhood Council as well as its
subcommittee meetings for more than a year.
Councilman Greig Smith, in whose district both NHWNC and the Sepulveda V.A.
Ambulatory Care Center are located, has said
he supports the idea of housing disabled veterans locally, but also has said he supports the
council’s concern that non-veterans might be
housed there.
“If we had guarantees that only veterans
would be housed there, we could get behind
it,” said NHWNC board member and
Outreach Committee chair, David Hyman.
However, Mr. Hyman made clear that he
was speaking as an individual board member,
and not for the board per se.
“We are award that they do good work,”
he said in regard to New Directions. “That’s
not the issue. It’s a 75-year lease we want to
make sure it’s for veterans only. We support
veterans in our community.”
On January 6 the Porter Ranch
Neighborhood Council gets a running start
on the year with two great speakers: Mr. Joe
Avila, Executive Assistant to the DWP
General Manager will be speaking on the
Solar Initiative which will be on the March
ballot. And John Dierking, Tax Compliance
Officer for the City of Los Angeles Office
of Finance will be speaking on business tax
renewal issues.
Start the year off right and resolve to
make a difference in Porter Ranch! Come to
PRNC meetings, usually on the first
Tuesday of the month to learn how you can
Help Make Porter Ranch a Better Place to
Live, Work and Grow. We also have room
on our committees for you to make a difference: Beautification, Education, Go Green,
Land Use, Outreach, Police/Fire/Safety,
Speaker’s Bureau, and Transportation. The
PRNC made a difference in 2008 by
addressing the proposed Las Lomas development, sponsoring community events and
promoting public safety.
Come to our next meetings on January 6,
February 3, and March 10, 6pm Shepherd
of the Hills Church.
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Behind Badge
Avenue on the east,, Lassen Street on the
north, Roscoe Boulevard on the south
CALLED 17A95
Senior Lead Officer Ken Cioffi
White Oak Avenue on the west, the 405
(San Diego) Freeway on the east, Lassen Street
on the north, Roscoe Boulevard on the south
So there you have it. We’ve changed
right here - right now…and I think we’re
heading in the right direction.
Kathy Bennett has been a Los Angeles
Police Officer for 18 years and currently is
assigned as the Senior Lead Officer for
Basic Car 17A67 in Devonshire Area. She
can be reached at (818) 634-0495 or
27437@lapd.lacity.org.
Founded in 2002
Dr. Bruce Powell, Head of School
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PAGE 8
JANUARY 2009
New Year’s Resolutions: We Make Them and Then Break Them
hopes for a better future only to break As the ball drops in Time Square and floats
By CRAIG STRAZZERI
parade down Colorado Boulevard, we are
The new year is here and with that before the blink of an eye.
January 1st is a day of new beginnings. filled with the optimism that the new year
comes empty resolutions that we make in
brings. Ready to take on the world, we look
to channel our new found hope and
renewed faith in humanity.
No obstacle is too big on January 1st,
and every year we decide to hit a grand
slam. We tell ourselves that losing weight
Physical Therapy
this year will be different. "McDonald's cut
Dedicated to Returning You to Your Highest Level of Function
the trans-fat from their fries, Dan Marino
lost 50 pounds on Nutrisystem, and I just
Therapists Rick Katz,
joined a runners club." The first week is a
Anne Katz, Larry Cummings
breeze. No carbs, no calories, no fats, just
& Robert Bradbury,
tons of exercise and the pounds fall off. But
have been a part of the
then comes a curveball: Our aunt's
Northridge community for
Christmas gift arrives late and we have a
decades. Trusted neighbors,
box of chocolates staring us in the face.
neighborhood close.
Strike one. We try to recover, but then get
Why travel?
the news that we'll be missing a week of
runners club to go skiing. Strike two.
You Have a Choice for
Finally, as we are clinging to the last ounce
Physical Therapy Services!
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We Are Your Neighborhood Pediatricians!
Physicals and Same Say Appointments Readily Available
of optimism of maintaining our New Year's
resolution, we are swamped at work, staying late to finish assignments and it's pizza
for dinner six days in a row. Just like that,
our grand slam turned into a strike-out and
this year begins like all the others.
“Every year I tell myself I am going to
go on a diet and lose some weight,” said
Granada Hills resident Fern Elaine. “But
then the leftover holiday treats become
tempting and the plans for a diet go out the
window.”
“I am going to keep my resolutions simple
this year,” said Michael Glenn of Chatsworth.
“I am going to try to save an extra $100 each
month by not eating out so often.”
If we all made simple goals like Glenn,
maybe we could start a new tradition of not
breaking our resolutions. With more reachable goals, our hopes to be a better person
would be more noticeable as the new year
progresses.
New Year’s Resolutions: Last Year/This Year
Christian Hayes
Last year’s resolution: Stay
fit
Did he keep it? He now
works out on a regular basis
This year’s resolution:
Expand his business, get more family time
and reduce debt
Stephanie Stewart
Last year’s resolution:
Lose some weight
Did she keep it? Lost 5
pounds
Continue her education
Yorke Fryer
Didn’t make one
Educate myself about business, wealth and do things for my career.
Kevin Walheim
Open up my own insurance
agency, and become a top
producer
Did he keep it? Opened his
own Allstate Agency in April
and ended out the year as a top 5 commercial producer
This year’s resolution: Grow the business and become #1
Andrew Schneider
Become more active as a
community volunteer
Did he keep it? Yes.
Among other activities,
worked with Hope For L.A. to build a
health clinic in Watts and headed Boxes
of Love which donate Thanksgiving
boxed meals to 170 families.
This year’s resolution: Find a girlfriend, maybe even a wife (inquiries welcome)
Dennis DeYoung
Last year’s resolution: Go
on a diet and exercise
Did he keep it? No
Exercise more, avoid sugar and soda,
spend more time with the family
Joyce Sipes
Stand firm on my beliefs
and values and to speak uip
and call it as I see it!
Did she keep it? Yes, and she “…went
through hell, but it was worth it.”
This year’s resolution: Develop and
pursue a plan of attack to pursue things I
have put on hold
YMCA Provides Free Memberships for
Active Duty Military Families
The North Valley Family YMCA is providing free one year, YMCA memberships
to families with a spouse or parent called to
active duty in the U.S. National Guard or in
the military Reserves.
The program is sponsored by the YMCA
of the USA and the U.S. Department of
Defense to address the needs deployed military personnel family members who live
far from a military installation. The North
Valley YMCA (www.ymcala.org/nv), at
11336 Corbin Avenue, began offering the
free memberships October 1, 2008, for military families residing within the branch’s
service area.
“This program will help families of military personnel during their separation from
their loved ones,” said North Family Valley
YMCA Executive Director, Jane Stanton.
“We are happy to provide a place where
families can be active together and find support within the YMCA. This is another way
we fulfill our mission to build strong kids,
strong families and strong communities.”
Military families who take advantage of
the free North Valley YMCA membership
can participate in a variety of activities
including youth classes, adult fitness classes, aquatics programs and family swim
time. The YMCA also offers a Childwatch
program at the facility which cares for children while parents are working out at the
YMCA. The membership is free, but special programs such as youth sports programs, swim lessons and karate incur an
extra cost.
Families seeking to enroll should contact
Nicole Casper, Program Director, 818-3683231, NicoleCasper@ymcala.org and have
a military ID or deployment paperwork.
To Advertise call Decision Publications at (818) 534-1797
The Senior Years
Planning and Caring for Seniors
Why this special section addressing issues
associated with senior citizens? Our society is
aging in part due to the large number of seniors that are a product of the baby boom that
followed WWII and advances in medicine
that has increased our lifespan. Unfortunately,
with our lengthened lifespan there are no
assurances that we will be physically and
mentally capable of coping with the consequences of a prolonged life, a lifespan that in
most cases will leave many of us facing
diminished physical and mental capabilities.
Whether you are currently in the class of
individuals we refer to as senior citizens, or
are middle aged adults commonly referred to
as the “Sandwich Generation” on the verge of
becoming senior citizens themselves, or
caught between meeting the needs of aging
parents and their children, this supplement is
designed to stimulate you to start thinking and
planning for the senior years, for yourself and
your parents.
So, here are some of the issues you need to
consider both as an aging person in your “golden years” or as the caregiver of an aged parent.
Care Giving
While we welcome longevity we know all
to well that it brings stress to the elderly and
their caregivers – usually family members.
For the caregiver there are new challenges and
issues to address as they slowly realize the
reversal of roles between child and parent,
with the child assuming the caring and nurturing role. It is a functional and emotional
dilemma that challenges all of us.
Most of us never thought about the obvi-
Aging Parents: Warning Signs of Health Problems
By Joy Fruth, MSW
Caring for aging parents can be frustrating and exhausting. Aging parents are often
resistant to being told what to do by their
children, no matter how successful those
children have been in their adult lives. As an
adult child of an aging parent, the first thing
to remember is not to take it personally.
Parents are adults and from a generation that
has always “picked themselves up by their
bootstraps” and made their own way during
difficult times. Aging parents may not freely
tell you when they need more help. Here are
some warning signs to look for:
• Bruising and Falls. Bruises could be
an indicator that your parent has fallen or
lost their balance and bumped into a wall or
furniture. One fall or a “near fall” is the single greatest predictor of subsequent falls.
Even one fall can prove devastating if an
individual breaks a hip or worse. Don’t dismiss falls or near-falls.
• Forgetfulness. Memory loss is NOT a
normal part of aging. It is typical for older
adults to think more slowly and have difficulty concentrating on new information, but
it is not normal for an individual to lose
memory. Forgetting the names of family
members or old friends, the inability to
name everyday household objects, getting
lost when away from home—these can be
signs of serious memory disorders.
• Difficulty managing affairs. You
may notice that your parent is neglecting
bills or ignoring mail and it is piling up.
• Changes in personality and hygiene
habits. Any sudden changes are cause for
concern. Infection or stroke could be the
culprit. See a geriatrician immediately if
you notice sudden changes in ability, behavior, or attitude.
• Difficulty with bladder control.
Though this is a typical sign of aging, there
are treatments available: from medication
to bladder retraining.
• Depression. This is NOT a normal
part of aging. Most individuals are able to
cope with the inevitable losses of aging.
Depression is treatable and curable.
Aging is inevitable, but these problems
do not have to be with proper medical treatment from a Geriatrician. A Geriatrician is a
medical doctor who is specially trained to
Continued on “Senior Years” page 6
ous issues we will have to address - recognizing when our parent is “getting old” and planning for it, when and how to tell your parent
they can no longer drive, finding transportation options for them, monitoring their medications, participating in their healthcare planning and doctors visits, legal and financial
issues, and more. And of course, if your parent reaches a point where they cannot live on
their own, exploring the options – day care, a
nursing home, or an assisted living facility.
These are the issues that will be the most
challenging and difficult. And, unfortunately,
there will be financial considerations and
“responsibility sharing” issues between you
and your siblings or other family members.
The responsibility thrust upon you will be
Depression Among Seniors
Usually Goes Untreated
According to the National Institutes of Health,
approximately 2 million Americans over the age of 65
suffer from serious depression, and another 5 million
suffer from less severe forms of the illness.
The causes of depression among the elderly can
vary widely. Some seniors have had a long history of
depression. Others face depression because of a
change in their personal circumstances: failing health,
the death of a spouse, lack of mobility, isolation from
friends and family, and a reduced or limited income.
Although depression in the elderly is quite common, according to experts only a small percentage of
seniors seek treatment for their depression. Many
people assume that depression is just part of getting
older and may not recognize depression as a problem.
Elderly adults are often isolated, so their depression may go unnoticed. Physicians can
miss the signs of depression in the elderly because they are focused on their physical
condition. Seniors themselves may be reluctant to talk about it.
The experts at Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services have been providing quality
mental health care throughout Los Angeles County for more than 60 years. They understand the challenge of depression, and have developed recommendations for physicians, mental health professionals and family members to help seniors who may be at
risk for or are dealing with depression:
• Recommend that they keep a daily journal of experiences, and that they discuss
these experiences with a family member or doctor. Encourage them to include at least
one positive statement regarding himself or herself.
• Recommend that they engage in age-appropriate physical exercise.
• Encourage them to increase social involvement with family and friends and help
them develop a plan to participate in recreational activities.
• Recommend and provide books and other reading material that will bring enjoyment and satisfaction, and engage their intellectual curiosity.
• Identify community resource(s) that may be used as support systems when help
is needed.
• Assist them in developing a structured schedule of daily activities.
• Develop a list of personal messages that can make him or her feel stronger in
moments of sadness or fear.
Finally, it is important for family, friends, and seniors themselves to know the signs
of depression, and to seek professional help when needed. Red flags can include prolonged sadness, abandoning long-time hobbies or interests, social withdrawal and isolation, loss of interest in personal care (skipping meals, sleep disturbances, neglecting
personal hygiene), feelings of worthlessness, increased use of alcohol or other drugs,
and a fixation on thoughts of death.
Since 1942, Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services has been providing quality mental health and substance abuse treatment in the Southern California area. With nine
centers throughout Los Angeles County, the agency serves more than 44,000 individuals a year and provides a variety of services, including services for seniors. For additional information on the services Didi Hirsch provides, please visit
www.didihirsch.org.
PLANNING FOR THE SENIOR YEARS PAGE 2
Med-Alert
Med-Alert provides medical emergency response when seniors experience life threatening events.
Med-Alert features amplified two-way voice communication between the senior and our emergency
operators who will contact family, caregivers, paramedics, police or fire department as needed.
NO cost for equipment
NO installation or setup fees
NO long term contracts
CAREGIVER BENEFITS
SUBSCRIBER BENEFITS
I
Provides peace of mind and security
I
Enhances safety
I
Notifies family and providers in case of
an emergency
I
Promotes secure, independent living
I
Provides immediate access to
assistance, 24 hours a day
365 days a year
I
Supports recovery at home
I
Early intervention in an emergency
improves health outcomes
I
Can postpone the need for more costly
living assistance options
I
Provides safer transition from hospital
to home
I
Shows you care even when you can’t
be there
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
I
I
Alarms
Video Surveillance
I
I
I
Makes it easier to maintain your independence
by keeping you in contact at all times (by
the simple press of a button).
I
Activator button can be worn in the shower
so you can have it with you always (all
transmitters are completely waterproof).
I
Connects you to familiar people in your
life, during an emergency, helping to
give you peace of mind.
I
May contribute to a more comfortable,
confident in-home recovery after a
hospital stay.
Access Control
Med-Alert
866.359.6555
www.ProtectionAlarms.com
I
ACO-6360
PROVIDING PEACE OF MIND FOR YOUR HOME AND BUSINESS!
PAGE 3 PLANNING FOR THE SENIOR YEARS
Home Care Concerns
You Should Know About
By Jeanette Meyer
I have been the patient coordinator at
AAA T.L.C. Healthcare, Inc for almost
eight years and have had the pleasure of
meeting many wonderful clients and their
family members. It has given me great satisfaction to provide our clients with top
quality caregivers so that they may remain
comfortably in their homes, no matter what
their medical condition is.
AAA T.L.C.. Healthcare is a licensed,
bonded and insured agency having over
5,000 caregivers consisting of RNs, LVNs,
CNA’s, Home Health Aids and companions. We are able to provide services within hours of being called, at affordable rates.
We do feel that “one-on-one” care for
patients at home is the best option whenever possible.
I am very well aware that having a caregiver for the first time can be a difficult
adjustment. It is quite understandable that a
client would not want a “stranger” in their
homes. There is a feeling of being intruded
upon, not to mention that the whole process
of needing a caregiver gives the client a
sense of losing their independence. As the
wonderful actress Bette Davis once said,
“Getting old is not for sissies” which is so
very true.
To alleviate some of these fears, I try to
meet ahead of time with both clients and
their family members, if possible, to discuss their needs and also what they expect
in their caregiver. I also try to assess the
personality of the clients so that I can provide the most compatible caregiver possible.
Jeanette Meyer is Patient Coordinator
at AAA TLC Healthcare, Inc. She can be
reached at 818-380-6585 or 310-271-1887.
Advertorial
Afflicts more than 60% of those over age 65
Fungal Nails in Senior Population
Requires Podiatric Care
By Dr. Arthur Fass, Podiatrist
It seems that there is an increasing attention on the development of fungus nails. It
may be due to an increase in concern for
cosmetic appearance as well as greater
advertising for new cures. Fungal nails are
very common and get more common with
age. Over 60% of people over 65 have fungus in their nails. Older patients tend to
have decreased circulation in their feet and
thickened nails can cause wounds and
infections in the toes. It becomes important
to have these nails treated and improved.
When patients have circulation problems as
well as diabetes or take coumadin as a
blood thinner, medicare covers the cost of
regular nail care. There are scores of products and methods that have been used over
the years to cure this condition which is
proof that no one treatment has been very
effective.
Fungus is a microorganism that generally lives in soil but can grow in dark moist
places. It is prone to grow under a toenail
because the foot can perspire up to a pint of
sweat per day when in shoes long hours.
The nail is usually firmly attached to the
underlying skin of the nail bed. When
something causes the nail to lift up away
from the skin, it can allow a fungus to grow
from the tip of the nail and slowly spread
back to the base. Many factors can cause
the nail to lift up including injury, aggressive pedicures, aging, and intermittent pres-
sure in shoes. Athletic
activities
including Dr. Arthur Fass
walking can cause pressure on the toenails as well as wearing high
heeled, pointy toe shoes. The fungus often
looks like yellow streaks under the nail but
the entire nail can be severely lifted with
yellow thick debris beneath.
Treatment requires podiatric care. The
podiatrist will evaluate the patient’s general
health and other possible conditions such as
diabetes. Treatment may include testing a
sample of the nail for fungus as well as
trimming back and grinding down the
thickened nails. The medication used often
depends on the severity or the amount of the
nail that is infected. Milder forms can be
treated with a good topical agent and good
follow-up care. More advanced cases often
require oral therapy. I usually use Lamisil,
which is usually taken 1 time per day for 3
months. The patient needs a test of their
liver function before they start and is usually repeated before they finish. There are
usually no side effects if one has a healthy
liver, but the drug should not be used if
there is evidence of liver disease. Followup care involves trimming the nail down
further and removing the superficial fungal
debris. Although fungal nails are difficult to
cure because they are resistant to treatments, good results can be achieved.
Dr. Arthur Fass can be reached at 818701-5088.
Worry-Free Home Care
for Seniors is a Must-Have
By Christine Rogers
Helping Hands for Seniors is a non-medical home care company that takes the
worry out of home care. “Reach Out For Life” is its slogan. It has all the components in place to enable seniors to keep there independence, stay at home and get
the finest home care assistance available.
But what components are critical to worry-free, non-medical home care? The
home care company should be licensed, bonded and insured. Their caregivers
should be employees of the company which means that all taxes are paid including
social security. The caregivers should be covered under the company’s workers’
compensation policy, eliminating the seniors’ liability of being an employer. Also,
the company must do background/criminal checks, driving records and insurance
verification (if the caregiver will be driving the client).
How about a “free” in-home assessment by a senior home care representative to
evaluate your needs? You bet! Having somebody who understands what you are
faced with is refreshing and critical.
An assessment also provides you with a chance to meet the agency. These are the
people you will be relying on. Once they know your particular needs, they can carefully select the right, highly-qualified caregiver that is totally committed to you.
Plus, you want someone that regularly checks in on you and the caregiver, and is
there for you when you need them—24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Knowing the home care company has solid roots in the community is comforting to seniors. Being a member in good standing in the Chamber of Commerce,
involvement with local charities, and a presence with senior centers are significant
pluses. Should you have other needs, they probably know other professionals that
specifically help seniors.
Make sure their caregivers are experienced and highly-qualified, and are committed to doing their job to provide the best care possible for their senior clients.
They should be respectful, caring, dependable and on-time, every time they visit
you.
Caregivers can help seniors in a multitude of ways. Meal planning and preparation, assistance in hygiene, medication reminders, light housekeeping, errands and
shopping are fairly standard. Need help with bill paying, incidental transportation,
and relief for family caregivers? Helping Hands for Seniors can handle it and many
other options too.
Your caregiver should provide you with joyful companionship. Make sure it is
someone you feel good being with. Don’t settle for less.
Remember, few people want anyone to come into their home. But if it is necessary, go through the process, utilize some of the criteria listed above, and enjoy your
life. You worked hard and deserve the best!
Christine Rogers is President of Helping Hands for Seniors, and is a member of
many organizations in the San Fernando Valley. Helping Hands for Seniors is also
a member of North Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce and Senior Services
Business Council, and the Better Business Bureau. Call her anytime at
818.886.8088, or visit her online at www.helpinghandsforseniors.org
George’s idea of fun
is different. Coincidentally, so is
our idea of retirement.
Ideal for the Aged and Those Undergoing Recovery
New Technology Makes Recovering
at Home a Better Option
By Scott Porter
Most Americans say that they would prefer to recover or die at home rather than in a
hospital. A lingering death away from familiar surroundings is one of the biggest fears of
the elderly. But what are you to do if the
physical challenges preclude the “home”
option?
Now there is a way to help you keep your
loved one at home. Thanks to new technology, physical conditions that precluded at
home care are now a thing of the past in many
circumstances. This is particularly so for a
bed ridden loved-one who is subject to urinary infection, indignity associated with the
use of bed pan, falling during bed-to-chair
transfers, pressure sores, weight which precludes assistance from another, and other
physical maladies that would otherwise
require out-of-home care.
Soma Mobility System
This new technology is the Soma Mobility
System (SMS), a unique hospital bed that will
enable a single caregiver to transfer your
loved one from the bed to either a wheelchair
or a commode, with the push of a button, in
just over one minute—with no lifting. So,
whatever the weight, be it 100 pounds or 600
pounds, the SMS is the answer. And the bed’s
air support system prevents bed sores.
Soma Safe Enclosure
Another technological development is the
Soma Safe Enclosure (SSE) which provides a
secure, safe environment. The SSE is a manual or electric hospital bed that includes netting on all sides. The netting can be removed
or zipped in place, as required. It allows total
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Seniors Need to Get
Their Finances in Order
By Thomas Christopher, Esq.
It has been well established since biblical times that people should get their houses in order. Simply stated, getting your
house in order requires that you take personal responsibility for getting your affairs
and the affairs of your family and loved
ones in order. We all want to live long, productive lives, but we fail to plan for them.
The fact is that a little preparation now can
avoid unexpected financial disasters. This
is true for seniors, their adult children, family caregivers and loved ones.
In California, if you have an estate that
exceeds $100,000 in value and you don’t
have a Living Trust, your family, your loved
ones, will be at the mercy of the Probate
System. A probate proceeding requires the
filing of numerous legal documents, will
result in costs averaging 15% of your estate
(if no contests) and takes approximately 1-2
years. Probate fees for attorneys and executors are based on Gross Estate Value. In
most cases, avoiding the Probate System
will save tens of thousands of dollars, avoid
a 1-2 year delay in distributing your estate
and allow you to determine whom you want
to receive your property rather than the
California Probate Code.
Effective estate planning will include the
use of Power of Attorney documents. Many
seniors and their families also have not
planned for the possibility of long term disability brought on by accidents, or medical
conditions. In California, you must name
the person who will make medical decisions and financial decisions for you if you
become incapacitated (mentally or physi-
cally). Your personal
and financial responsibilities don’t stop
because you are in the
hospital.
Someone
Thomas P.
must be able to make Christopher, Esq.
health care related
decisions if you can’t. Someone must be
able to pay your bills if you can’t.
Creating an Estate Plan using a Living
Trust and Power of Attorney documents is a
process that will allow you to get your
house in order, with as little cost, formality
and time as possible. Yes, you still have to
make an appointment with an attorney and
talk about what you want when you pass
away. The process, from start to finish,
should take about 30 days. The cost will
probably be less or equivalent to what you
pay for car insurance or home owners insurance in 1year. This is minimal when you
compare it to the value of transferring your
entire estate informally.
You can get your house in order today! I
founded Christopher Law Group, Inc. to
provide an easy, comfortable and convenient way to create an estate plan. My office
is conveniently located in Porter Ranch. An
attorney will meet you in your home at no
cost to discuss your estate planning options.
We will do the same for you if you have a
plan already but want it reviewed amended
or updated.
Thomas
P.
Christopher,
Esq.,
Christopher Law Group, Inc., (818) 3609500, 11260 Wilbur Ave., Suite 100, Porter
Ranch, California 91326. www.christopherlawgroup.com.
Planning and Caring for Seniors
(Continued from “Senior Years” page 1)
emotionally and physically draining. And,
you may find yourself in the position of having to make choices between the needs of
your spouse and children, or your aging parent. To deal with this, the “guilt factor,” you
may very well need to seek professional help
to cope.
End of Life Issues
There can be no subject more difficult to
talk about than death. We all know that it is
the ultimate outcome of our life, but acknowledging it when we are young and vital is different than when we are getting older and
really cognizant of its impending reality.
Nevertheless, end of life issues have to be
addressed by both the aging parent and their
children. It may not be an easy subject to talk
about, but one that can’t be ignored. And
don’t assume that your parent is oblivious or
unwilling to address these issues with you.
You will need to address hospice care, inhome options, funeral plans and expenses,
your parent’s wishes, and your financial capability, if in fact your parent has not already
made arrangements.
Remember, this is a very emotional time
and the more planning and decision making
made in advance will make the process easier, notwithstanding the emotional trauma that
comes with the loss of a loved one.
Financial Matters
When it comes to aging, finances is a
major issue to be addressed. No one likes to
discuss their personal finances, but there are
important matters to be ascertained. As we
get older we may become incapable or simply
uninterested in dealing with financial matters.
Decisions have to be made as to who will control the finances, who will have custody of all
financial documents, who will have access
rights to checking and savings accounts and
the safe-deposit box.
As a caregiver, you will want to fully
understand their assets, including pension
programs, social security and other benefits,
and, their investments.
Mobility
Imagine the frustration a loved one goes
through when they can’t do the simple things
we take for granted – getting in or out of bed,
buttoning a blouse, tying a shoe, bending over
to pick-up the newspaper, walking upstairs,
turning a door knob or walking. Yet, these are
everyday challenges for many seniors. There
are numerous devices in the marketplace that
make life just a little easier. Be it a walker, a
wheelchair or scooter, walk-in bathtub, a
chairlift, handrail or a device that grips an
item on the floor, there is more than likely a
device that will make life a little easier.
Take the time to explore all the options. If
your Senior is better able to manage their
daily activities, even with the assistance of a
device, they will suffer less frustration and be
happier. As a caregiver, this will make your
life a little simpler.
Elder Health
If you are the caregiver for an older adult,
you need to know their health status, both
physical and mental. Talk to their primary
healthcare physician. Be sure find out and
monitor the medications they are using.
Often times we do not fully understand
what we are hearing, and this is especially true
for seniors. You may want to consider going
with them on their doctor visits and asking the
questions you need to know for yourself, as it
pertains to the person you are caring for.
Above all, make sure your senior understands
what is being said, particularly as it relates to
diagnosis and treatment.
Government and insurance bureaucracies
can be daunting, especially for a senior. Find
out what insurance or health plans they have
and call the provider to learn exactly what the
policy provides. Be sure to call the local
Social Security office to ascertain their
medicare and social security benefits.
These are but a few of the issues that you
will need to address when you assume the role
of a caregiver. We hope that the articles within this section will help you prepare for the
future.
Remembered Forever, Across Time
Developing a “Prescription List” Be“I must
do this before I die”
How often have you heard this said, or
Can make the Difference Between said it yourself and yet have done nothing?
It is a sad fact of life that most people procrastinate and generally forget about their
Life and Death for Senior
responsibility of leaving behind a personal
By Don Wright, D.C.
Everyone has their “laundry list” of things to accomplish. Common ones include
the shopping list and the
daily “to do’s”. The point of
these lists is to help you
remember. You go through
them everyday, week, month
or year and clean them out as
the items are taken care of, or
no longer are important. Quite possibly the
most important of these lists is…The Medical
Laundry List! Despite the importance of this
list, it is disturbing to know that it is quite often
ignored or forgotten. Without it, you are putting
yourself in a potentially very hazardous situation. With a little effort and maybe some help
from friends and family, this can be completely
avoided.
Does this sound familiar? You go to see a
doctor for chronic headaches and receive a prescription…and it works like a charm. It works
great so you stay with your prescription like a
good patient and no longer suffer from
headaches. You later suffer from acid reflux
problems and go to another doctor because you
changed insurance plans or maybe you or your
doctor moved. You receive a prescription and
your stomach feels better. Then you see the
orthopedist because you fracture your leg. He
gives you another prescription for pain and
inflammation. This process can continue on as
the list of life’s events happen to you and the list
of doctors can grow… as does the list of medications you are taking. The potential hazard is
that some medications and types of treatments
are contradicted when taken with certain others
and can cause anything from minor irritations
to a medical emergency.
To carry on with the example, one day you
might have a serious event and have to be
rushed to the emergency.
This is where the “LIST”
can keep you safe. The ER
doctors will ask you questions about your health history…like “what medications are you taking?” If
you’re unable to remember,
your neat and up to date
Medical Laundry List will
save you. You pull out your
list when the doctors ask for it, or if you are
unable to, your emergency contact or your primary doctor should have a copy.
A good Medical Laundry List can be as
simple or as complex as you’d like. However,
you need to keep in mind that someone will
have to read it so it needs to be neat and organized. On the minimalist end, you should alphabetize your list by the name of each drug you
are currently taking, what you’re taking it for.
You may add any important health challenges
including allergies or surgeries that might be
significant for the doctor to know. You may
also want to add the dosage you are taking and
the generic name of it.
Your list should be updated every time start
a new regimen (supplement or drug) and every
time you finish one. This way the list won’t
become inordinately long and will be up to
date. It is also a very good idea to have this list
on your person, with a close friend or relative
(your emergency contact person) and with your
primary doctor, should anything untoward happen. A sample list can be found below.
There are several different simple guides to
follow to get your list in order, and they are listed below. Remember to keep it current (fresh
and clean like your laundry) and to be sure that
your loved one’s lists are current as well, especially those that aren’t able to keep their own
current.
message for loved ones. They leave behind
a Will and/or Living Trust, but these are
really only about material possessions. But,
what about your life and the personal
“you”? Leaving behind a personal message
is singly the most important responsibility
you have, to those who dearly love you.
Why do I need to do this?
Think about your own parents and
grandparents. What tangible memories do
you have of them? A few photos, and memories perhaps? Imagine if you could see
and listen to them all over again, now, talking to you personally! What a treasured gift
this would have been, for not only you, but
for your children and their children, and
future generations to come. Leaving behind
a personal message not only brings “peace
of mind”, but also, eases many of life’s LLC now. They are a new local company
regrets.
dedicated to helping people put their life
“Seeing and Listening” …how is this
possible?
As valuable as they are, personal
diaries, written histories and photographs
are now considered obsolete when compared to new exciting DVD video technology that enables a person to be seen and
heard in a vivid and realistic life-like format. If we accept that “a picture is worth a
thousand words”, then a DVD video is
worth a billion! Photographs and documents are often impersonal, difficult to
share, and easily damaged or lost.
What type of message, when and
where?
Some people prefer an individual message for each of their loved ones. Others
prefer a broader life story as “one message
for all”. Either way, this can be left on
DVD as part of the Living Trust, and/or utilized as your memorial message.
Where do I begin?
Call Northridge based Across Time
The New Face of Memory Care
By Mitch Leichter
As more Seniors are in need of specialized
Memory Care Assisted Living, new improvements are being implemented with positive
results. These programs include: Aging in
Place; Specialized Staffing; Memory Trained
Nursing; Ongoing Daily Activities, and
Sensory Integration.
Aging in Place is the ability to care for persons at every stage of memory loss, mild cognitive impairment to end stage dementia into
Hospice care. This requires a specialized staff
who maintain professional, appropriate memory
care at every level of need. This single focus goes
well beyond daily personal care. It incorporates
proper responses and redirection for all types of
memory impairment, dysfunction and behavior
with minimum medication intervention.
Also necessary are Nurses who have specific training in general aging, diagnosis, and
dementia mediations, including psychiatric
drugs and their interaction with other medications. Activity programs for all levels of
dementia are most effective if provided every
day, all day long. Each level of memory
requires its own specialized program of activity, provided by activity directors trained for
each group of residents.
Those who are active and interactive need
activities that are fun, stimulating and hands
on. Those who are no longer interactive require
stimulation around them and simple participation encouragement. Even Hospice level residents need appropriate activities.
Sensory Integration incorporates the recognition of the power of our senses to positively
stimulate the brain. Maintaining an atmosphere of tranquil sights, sounds and odors
improves the sense of well being, alleviates
stress and may trigger reminiscence. Music,
beauty, laughter and
fun should be an
everyday experience!
Memory
Care
Assisted
Living
strives to maintain the
independence, dignity
and optimum well
being of our loved
ones with dementia
by providing social
Mitch Leichter
opportunities and on
going activities in a safe, warm, stimulating
atmosphere. Our Seniors deserve nothing less!
This is our business. This is our goal!
Come and visit us. It would be our privilege to
serve you! Seasons at Northridge islocated at
8700 Lindley Ave. in Northridge, 818-8865181.
NORTHRIDGE GOLDEN NEST
A Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly
A beautiful three facilities for 6 special seniors that are seeking comfort
and security. Aplace for seniors who need help with their daily
routine but stil maintain their independence and dignity.
license #197604051
license #197605610
license #197606829
9314 Tampa Ave., Northridge CA 91324
19127, 19240 Prairie St., Northridge CA 91324
Telephone: 818-886-5856 Fax 818-886-1230
Nurit Eigler / Administrator 818-324-2744
Galit Peled / Administrator 818-472-2366
Magnolia Gardens
“Commitment To Excellence”
A skilled nursing facility located on six acres in the heart of Granada Hills. We provide short term and long term care. We have an excellent rehabilitation team and
loving and compassionate nurses and staff.
Joji Gervacio, MBA/HCM
Administrator
17922 San Fernando Mission Boulevard, Granada Hills CA 91344
(818) 360-1864 • Fax (818) 831-0599
E-Mail Address jgervacio@longwoodmgmt.com
OLD TRUST?
NO TRUST?
WRONG TRUST?
We Fix Trusts™
• Was your Trust drafted correctly? • How do you know?
• Would you like a second opinion?
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Old Trust, No Trust, Wrong Trust?
Don’t Lose Money Unnecessarily
By Martha Jo Patterson
Old Trust? Laws change, families
change, and you change. 80% of Trusts fail
and end up in Court. A Trust should be
reviewed every three to five years to make
sure that it incorporates the most recent
laws. When families change due to death or
divorce a Trust needs to be revised. If your
memory or health are failing your Trust
needs to be updated. What happens when
Trusts Fail? Families lose money on attorney fees, and court proceedings required
when the Trust does not work like it should.
Wrong Trust? If you or a loved one
uses Medi-Cal to pay for medical or nursing
home care the state will require that you pay
back every dime spent. The State can and
will require the beneficiaries of a “Living
Trust”, and Wills. If a loved one is in a
skilled nursing home a special “Medi-Cal”
Trust will protect all the assets from the
State. Medi-Cal planning can save thousands. Veterans can use a trust similar to the
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Attendance benefits. If
a loved one is disabled,
a “Special Needs
Trust” is necessary to
provide
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care, while not causing
the loved one to lose Martha Patterson
valuable benefits.
No Trust? No Trust guarantees Probate
(average cost $25,000). No Trust guarantees that when your memory fails and you
can’t remember to pay your bills you will be
under Conservatorship which is the proceeding to allow someone to care for you
and your money when you are alive (average cost over $100,000). No Trust, no Will
and no Plan your assets will go to whomever the law dictates, some one you love may
be left out.
If you have an Old Trust, No Trust or the
Wrong Trust, call the Law Offices of Martha
Jo Patterson (866)452-9657 for a
Complimentary Trust Review, and find out
how you can save money.
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and a really bad knee. He is pretty stubborn,
so when I started my mother on Nutrazon I
really didn't think he would take some. My
mom had a real hard time with her arthritis
and has a steel plate in her leg. I told her the
first dose to take 3 ounces and the next
morning she was walking up her drive way
at 5:30 in the morning, when usually it takes
her an hour just to get up and get around.
She could open and close her hands all the
way for the first time in years.
When my dad saw what it was doing for
her he thought he would try some. So, mom
gave him 3 ounces for 3 days and he got out
of bed that third morning and told me he felt
like he could do back flips. He went to the
doctor about 5 days after taking the product,
his blood sugar used to run 289. The doctor
was shocked when he tested his sugar. It
was 114!!! His doctor took him off his shots
and he is now on pills. With Nutrazon and
his pill his blood sugar is 104. He said he
hasn't felt this good in 18 years, that was
Aging Parents
treat the syndromes that typically come
with age. These include: Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, gait and balance
disorders, and urinary incontinence.
S+AGE™ is an outpatient medical clinic that specializes in medical care for the
aging and their concerned adult children.
At S+AGE™, we have Geriatricians,
Neuropsychologists, and a Social Worker,
all experts in geriatrics. Our services are
Be Remembered
stories, or a personal message to loved
ones, on DVD video. Across Time has the
expertise to work with you on a personal
level to prepare and record your message
or story in the comfort of your own home.
Across Time has a unique process for help-
New Technology
patient protection when needed, and yet
allows the caregiver to let patients have
egress ability when they are ready by using
the SSE as a “low bed”. Patient security can
be managed by bed height as well as the
number of sides that are zipped, giving
patients the opportunity to be as safe and
comfortable as their condition allows. SSE is
a viable option for those dealing with falling,
when he found out he had diabetes and
nothing has been able to regulate his blood
sugar, til now.
– Crystal F, MO
“My symptoms have improved”
Diagnosed with fibromyalgia May 2002, I
had so much pain and soreness in my arms
and wrists I could hardly bathe myself and get
dressed. The Rheumatology Doctor told me
there is no medical cure for Fibro. Then I started taking Nutrazon and was starting to sleep
better, and having less digestive problems.
After taking Nutrazon for 3 1/2 months the
fibro symptoms have improved about 90%.
– Ruth G, AR
“Lost 23 lbs in 30 days”
I’ve lost 23 lbs in 30 days, and have
much more energy and feel better than ever!
I'm a mother of 3, and have a renewed lease
on life, thanks to Nutrazon,
– Carol F, CA
These are just a few proven testimonials of how Nutrazon has changed the lives
of ordinary people. For more info please
contact call: (818) 613-1623 or
TheMiracleDrink.com.
covered by Medicare
and most secondary
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Call S+AGE™ today
at (818) 341-7243 to
find out how our
Geriatricians can
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aging parents. Or
check us out on the
web at www.sagecares.com.
Joy Fruth, MSW
ing you to effectively communicate, and be
at ease in front of a camera. Their approach
is highly affordable. A full range of their
products and services can be seen on
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any longer on your biggest responsibility.
Act now - Call John Petersen at (818) 3574700 or Brian Jamieson at (818) 419-5334
for a free consultation.
wandering, dementia, aggression, delirium
and seizures.
When patients need complete protection,
the SSE allows them to do everything that
they would be able to do in a standard hospital bed except fall out. The enclosure canopy
allows complete patient interaction with his
or her environment, while keeping them safe.
For more information on the Soma
Mobility System or the Soma Safe Enclosure,
call RDI Systems at 818-366-7779.
Another day.
ANOTHER FINE DINING, WINE TASTING,
SHOPPING, BACKSTROKE, BOCCE BALL
adventure.
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(and whims) are indulged. Get pampered in a day at the spa. Laugh more often. Discover a new passion.
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COMING SUMMER 2009.
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JANUARY 2009
PAGE 17
20th, a community meet- Life is What Happens When You’re
Granada Hills South ingOnwasNovember
held with members of the commu(Continued from page 1)
nity and representatives from Verizon (the Busy Making Other Plans
not construed to apply to the small splitters or owner of the low mounted boxes). The
other devices which are frequently found on
telephone poles. The exception created a latent
loophole that would later be exploited by utility companies looking for free and unregulated space for their distribution equipment.
You may have noticed the new addition to
our public space – metal boxes about the size
of a large ice-chest, mounted two to three feet
off the ground. The boxes interfere with
pedestrian use of sidewalks, intrude on residents’ front yards and attract graffiti. Worse
yet, the boxes present an eye-level hazard to
children on bicycles or skateboards and present an attractive climbing opportunity.
The Granada Hills South Neighborhood
Council (GHSNC) has led the effort to
address the hazards and annoyances caused
by these boxes. At the October board meeting, the council passed a resolution calling
for the boxes to be raised to a height of eight
feet. Further, the resolution calls on the City
Council to enact an ordinance requiring Pole
Mounted Facilities to be mounted at least
eight feet up the pole. The Council has
worked diligently to raise awareness of this
issue with neighboring councils and to promote a solution through the Department of
Public Works. At the following meeting on
November 13th, an Ad-Hoc committee on
Pole Mounted Facilities was formed.
meeting was productive. Verizon spoke
about their new FiOS network and explained
the purpose of, and the need for the boxes.
Community members expressed concern
over a number of issues including graffiti,
blocked visibility of traffic from driveways,
streets blocked by maintenance vehicles and
litter left by installation contractors.
The consensus of the community was
that the boxes must be raised to a height that
is out of reach and out of the way. It was also
noted that the boxes are visited frequently,
and that the higher boxes could intrude on
residents’ privacy – much more so than the
occasional visit to poles that do not contain
these boxes. In recognition of this, poles that
overlook backyards or other non-public
areas should be avoided. Additionally, notification and discussion with adjoining property owners prior to installation would allow
Verizon to choose an agreeable location and
avoid future problems with the community
that they are trying to serve.
The Granada Hills South Neighborhood
Council can be reached via their website at
www.ghsnc.org, or via telephone at 818668-5969. The Ad-Hoc Committee on Pole
Mounted Facilities is headed by board member Jerry Askew, who can be contacted at
jaskew@ghsnc.org.
Measure R Passage
the Canoga Park Station and extending
north to the Chatsworth Metrolink Station
along existing Metro-owned right-of-way.
The Metro Board is expected to decide
whether to approve the agency’s Final
Environmental Impact Report early next
year. If approved, the project would move
into its final design phase, and groundbreaking could begin in 2009. Measure R funds
could accelerate the completion of the project by as much as three years, with a new
possible opening date of 2013.
streetscapes, traffic signal synchronization
and local transit services. The remaining 85
percent of funding will be divided among
critical new transit and highway projects
and for transit operations countywide.
Projects that are already in development
can now be accelerated, including the Metro
Orange Line Extension, a four-mile continuation of the existing busway beginning at
By SANDY RIEBACK
It wasn’t part of my plan - it wasn’t even
a secret dream. My plate was full - a housewife (and all that goes with it), the mother of
a 7 year old daughter and a 12 year old son
who has cerebral palsy and autism, teaching
fitness classes, doing personal training and
leading the marriage ministry with my husband at my church…. Got the picture? Well
God had another plan in mind.... and what a
great plan it was! On Sept. 1st, 2008, I
opened the newly remodeled, 3,550 sq. ft
TIME 4 CLASS Dance and Fitness Studio.
It's personal and intimate, challenging and
fun. It's truly something special!
Dance - SO YOU THINK YOU CAN’T
DANCE? We’ll fix that. Whether you’re 4
or 64, whether you’ve never danced before
or been dancing for 20 years, T4C Studio
has something for you. We offer Ballet, Tap,
Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical and Jazz Funk and
all with cutting edge choreography. When
Tymme and Aury Reitz, founders of Word
In Motion Dance Co., agreed to come on
board, I knew this venture was a match
made in heaven. Their dance company is
highly respected in the dance industry and
has worked with artists
such as Madonna,
Missy Elliot, Natasha
Beddingfield,
Justin
Timberlake
and
Christina Aguilera, to
name a few.
Fitness - DID YOU Sandy Rieback
MAKE SOME NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS, AGAIN?! Are your work-outs boring? Do you need something new to inspire
you? At T4C you’ll find classes you’ve
never experienced anywhere else. The
instructors are exciting, motivating and
innovative! Whether it’s Zumba, PilateBarre, Boxing on the Bags, Yoga, Hip Hop
Pump or Cardio Party, you will enjoy exercising! We have something for everyone!
If you‘re tired of the same old gym scene,
just know that here, you’re not a bar code,
you’re a person.
Sandy Rieback is owner of Time 4 Class
Dance & Fitness Studio located at 9713
Lurline Ave. Chatsworth, CA 91311. You
can reach her at (818) 700-1756 or look us
up at www.t4cstudio
ADVERTORIAL
Northridge Resident to Lead American Cancer Society
The California Division of the American
Cancer Society appointed Charles G. Smith,
Esq., chair of the Board of Directors. As chair,
Smith will guide objectives that assist the
Division with reaching its Vision 2015 goals,
which include reducing cancer incidence 25
percent, reducing cancer mortality 50 percent,
and improving the quality of life for cancer
patients and their families.
Smith has been a leading force in all aspects
of the Society’s legislative and grassroots advocacy in Los Angeles and at the California
Division for 14 years. He chaired the Society’s
Monique Bryher, Broker-Associate/Realtor
Commercial and Residential Real Estate
Charles G. Smith, Esq.
Distressed Homeowners:
Watch Out for Scams!
Homeowners who are behind in their payments
should be on the alert for scams. You may be contacted by companies or individuals offering to help
you work out a loan modification with your
lender(s) or to provide other services to prevent a
foreclosure on your home.
If a Notice of Default (NOD) has been recorded
“5% of my net commissions are donated to local non-profits”
against your property, DO NOT PAY anyone an
advance fee to assist you. California Civil Code
Section 2945 forbids a real estate licensee or anyone
falling under the definition of a “foreclosure consultant” from collecting advance fees under these
circumstances.
One version of a violation of CCC 2945 has been
that some unethical real estate agents are charging
upfront fees - almost always demanded in cash from homeowners with an NOD before listing their
property as a “short sale”. If you are presented with
RESEDA
$154,900 TARZANA
$684,900 such a situation, find yourself a different agent.
The second area of potential violation comes
REO - Bank-owned Condo ! – 1 BR / 1 BA, 660 Two Houses on One Big Lot! Main house 2 BR / 1.5
sq.ft. Great for first time buyer. Ground floor condo BA w/detached 960 sq. ft. guest house on a 17k lot in from attorneys, real estate agents or “foreclosure
with a granite counter kitchen & bath and beautiful College Acres (Candy Cane Lane). New paint, roof, living consultants” who are offering loan modification
wood floors. Spacious floor plan features an open room, formal dining room, 2 car garage.Guest house has counseling, loan negotiation or similar services.
kitchen, dining area and living room. Community vaulted ceiling, fireplace, full kitchen. Great for multi- Again, if an NOD has been recorded against your
property, advance fees are prohibited by CCC 2945.
pool, security building, private patio.
generational family or for rental/income property.
On the other hand, if you are behind in your
mortgage payments but an NOD has not yet been
recorded, you may definitely ask a real estate agent,
broker or an attorney to help negotiate a loan modification or other resolution to your property. In this
case, that professional must have you first sign an
agreement that outlines what services are going to
be performed, when they will be performed and
what the fees are. Before the agent has you sign the
agreement, it must have been submitted to the
California Department of Real Estate for review; if
$299,950 approved, the broker may then use the agreement to
CHATSWORTH
$489,900 CHATSWORTH
Park-like setting. Well maintained, move-in ready tra- Open, Airy Townhome! – 2 BR / 3 BA on 1,178 sq. collect an advance fee. Make sure you ask them!
ditional – seller is motivated. Granite countertops and ft. Tri-level, vaulted ceiling w/newer appliances, overFor free housing counseling, contact the Federal
newer appliances in kitchen, polished wood floors, inte- sized master bedroom, large balcony, indoor laundry Housing Administration or the non-profit Hope
rior French doors, huge cedar-lined walk-in closet in room, direct access to 2 car attached garage. Alliance at http://www.995hope.org/.
master bedroom. Plantation shutters, paver tiles in patio. Community pool. Close to schools and shopping.
www.MoniqueBryher.com & www.SFValleyHorseProperties.com
818-430-6705
SANTA CLARITA
$8,990,000
A Ranch for Kings 249 acres private ranch with
reservoir and National Forest views. Has main house,
entertainment lodge, 2 guest houses, 2 pools. Main
ranch house has been restored and kitchen updated;
newer roof. 45 minutes north of L.A. Has potential as
vineyard or equestrian estates or vacation resort.
SYLMAR
$642,500
Horse Property Near Trails – 3 BR / 2.75 BA,
1,971 sq. ft. home on a 27,300 sq. ft. lot. Large pool,
rec room, covered patio, new windows, new A/C and
new heat; 2 BR guest house.Good for contractor or
landscaper, plenty of room to park.
Above real estate information, which has not been independently verified by this agent or broker, does not guarantee the accuracy of square footage,
lot size or boundary lines provided by the seller or obtained from other sources. Buyer to verify all information. Independent Member Broker.
Properties above are not necessarily the exclusive listings of Monique Bryher of Keller Williams Realty
Monique Bryher, Realtor
Ca. Lic. #01766461
818-430-6705
Independent Consulting and Economic
Analysis of San Fernando Valley Neighborhoods
PAGE 18
JANUARY 2009
(Almost) Everything You Wanted to Know About Bonds
Provided by MARTY LAFF, ChFC,
Edward Jones Financial Advisor
In the financial world, stocks tend to get
most of the attention. But if you're going to
make progress toward all your long-term
goals, you need to be aware of all types of
investments - and bonds can be an important part of your portfolio.
Many people, however, don't fully
understand how bonds work. So, before you
invest in them, familiarize yourself with the
"bond basics." Here are a few of them:
Bonds are "debt" instruments. When you
buy shares of stock, you're actually becoming an owner - although one of a great many
- of a company. But when you purchase
bonds, you are, in effect, loaning money to
whomever issues the bond - a business or
the government. If you hold the bond until
it matures, you'll get your principal, or "par
value," back (provided the issuer doesn't
default) and, along the way, you'll receive
regular interest payments. A bond's interest
rate is known as the "coupon."
Bond prices will fluctuate. Your bond's
interest rate will not change over the life of
the bond. However, the price of your bond
can fluctuate, an important factor to keep in
mind if you plan on selling your bond
before it matures. A bond's price will move
in response to several variables, chief
among which is interest rates Bond invest-
TAKING AN INTEREST IN BONDS
MAY HELP PROVIDE INTEREST
FOR YOUR FUTURE
You’re Invited ...
Owning investments that may provide you with a regular income can
be a smart decision. That’s why it’s a good idea to learn how fixed-income
investments such as bonds may help you to reach your financial goals. Join us for
our free Focus on Fixed Income seminar. You’ll learn more about:
Bond characteristics and features
The relationship between interest rates and bond prices
Tax advantages of municipal bonds
How bonds may help you weather fluctuating markets
•
•
•
•
Seating is limited, so reserve your place today.
Date: January 10, 2009 Time: 10am-11am
Location: 9677 Reseda Blvd., Northridge, RSVP: 818-886-4670
Marty Laff, Financial Advisor
www.edwardjones.com
Member SIPC
ments are subject to interest rate risk such
that when interest rates rise, the prices of
bonds can decrease and the investor can
lose principal value. For example, suppose
you own a $1,000 bond that pays a 4 percent interest rate. If new bonds are issued at
5 percent, no one will pay you the full
$1,000 for your 4 percent bond, so, if you
wish to sell, you will have to offer it at a discount. Conversely, if market rates fall to 3
percent, your 4 percent bond will become
highly desirable, so you could sell it for
more than the $1,000 par value.
Different bonds have different "ratings."
If you buy a corporate bond, you'll have a
choice between investment grade bonds those receiving the higher "grades" issued
by rating agencies, such as Moody's or
Standard & Poors - and "junk" bonds those getting the lowest grades. The higherquality bonds carry less risk of default but
pay a lower interest rate than the "junk"
bonds, which must offer the higher rates to
attract investors who may be worried about
default risk. Generally speaking, you're
probably better off by sticking with "investment grade" bonds and staying away from
the "junk."
Some bonds can be "called." A callable
bond is a bond that can be redeemed - or
"called" - by the
issue before its
maturity. If interest
rates have declined
since the bond was
originally issued,
companies will call
bonds and reissue
them at the lower,
Marty Laff
prevailing interest
rate, thereby saving money on interest payments. As an investor, this could be cause
for concern, because if your bond is called,
and you wanted to reinvest the proceeds in
a new bond, you'd likely have to accept a
lower coupon rate.
Consequently, you
may want to look for a bond that offers "call
protection" - a promise that a bond can't be
called before a certain time.
To determine if bonds are appropriate for
your individual situation - and, if so, what
type of bonds - see your financial advisor.
By adding bonds to your portfolio, you may
well give yourself a broader platform for
success.
This article was written by Edward
Jones for use by your local Edward Jones
financial advisor. To contact Marty Laff,
call 818-886-4670.
ADVERTORIAL
Tired of Headaches? Just Read This
By Dr. JOSEPH CHUN
Did you know that having headaches with
any regularity is NOT normal? And yet it is
very common. Many people suffer day in and
day out living with this annoying, painful, or
sometimes debilitating problem. If you are
like most people, you’ve tried all kinds of
pills; you may have even sought professional
help. Some of you may have found a temporary solution. Some might have simply been
told to live with it. Most have just resigned to
the sad idea that for them, living with
headaches is normal for them and taking pills
is the only solution they have.
More than 85% of our patients get relief
from their headaches permanently. What’s
more amazing is that they are getting that
relief without medication and without pills.
Some have experienced relief for the first time
after 20+ years of just “living with it.”
So how do we achieve such remarkable
results? We start by recognizing that the
headache itself is not the problem. It is a
symptom of the problem. Headaches are your
body’s way of alerting
you that there is a problem. Simply turning that
alarm off will not fix the
problem and therefore,
the ignored problem will
only continue to worsen
and the headaches will
come back again and
again. We have found
that if you correctly
identify the cause of the Dr. Joseph Chun
headache you stand a
significantly better chance of getting rid of
them for good.
If you or a loved one is suffering needlessly, there is a wonderful solution. You can
make the decision that millions of people
around the world and many here in the San
Fernando Valley are making every month. It
all begins with a thorough history and consultation, including a complete spinal exam, vital
nerve testing and specific weight bearing x-
Inside the Law
Do You Have Counsel on Retainer?
By Rich Miller Esq.
Every now and then, it would be extremely convenient to have an
attorney “on call” to ask a question about actual or potential legal issues.
Suppose you receive a threatening letter – or you want to send an adversarial letter to protect your rights. Suppose you have a contract you want
Rich Miller
reviewed. Maybe you have some estate planning questions you would
like answered. Perhaps you would like an attorney nearby for all this, but do not want to
pay a high hourly rate. If so, you can easily have an attorney on retainer at a modest cost of
$325.00 for the first 3 hours and then 20%off regular rates for the remainder of the year.
Please check out our ad and/or website or give us a call for further details, (818) 895-8234.
ADVERTORIAL
JANUARY 2009
Does Your Business Keep You Up At Night?
How To End Those Sleepless Nights
Provided By: TONI SPEYER,
Northwestern Mutual
Financial Network
Whether you are an entrepreneur in the
startup phase or an established business
owner looking to sell or transfer your business, today’s business world provides plenty of worries. Take a few moments to think
about the business issues that have you staring at the ceiling at 3 a.m. If you are like
most business owners your stay-awake
issues probably include:
• Rising cost of health insurance/benefits
• Recruiting and retaining employees
• Safety and security of the business
• Having enough money to retire
To address these and other issues, it’s
important that you take the time to develop
an integrated approach to creating a strategic financial plan for both you and your
business. The challenge is that each financial area is interdependent with the other,
and the success of your business is dependent upon how you manage and plan for your
own personal financial needs.
Developing An Integrated Approach:
What You Need To Consider
There are four basic areas of your business to consider and frankly, to protect.
1. Risk Management
Are you protecting your business assets
(physical and people) from loss? Is your
liability insurance up-to-date? Is your intellectual property protected? How will business expenses be paid if you become disabled? What if a key employee died or
became disabled?
2. Employee Benefits
Do you want and need to attract, retain,
or reward key employees? Are you providing the right employee benefits (group
health, life, long-term care and executive
benefits); not only for your employees, but
for you, too?
3. Estate and Business Succession
In the best of situations, you plan to
someday retire from your business; either
by passing it on to a family member, a partner, an employee or maybe you plan on selling it or even liquidating it. When do you
want to exit the business? Who will be your
successor? What is the value of the business?
4. Personal Goals
Your business is the economic and emotional driver for you and your family, allowing you to maintain a standard of living. It
is your primary investment. In many ways,
the business is a mirror reflection of who
you are and what you want to be. It is difficult to separate financial goals of the business from personal financial goals. Do you
have the flexibility to grow your business,
while also providing for your family?
Don’t Go At It Alone
To help address all of these areas successfully, it’s important that you work with
the right person or people that understand
your personal and business goals to make
sure all bases are covered. Many business
owners turn to an individual or board to
help in this area, which can consist of your
accountant, financial representative, or
lawyer. Of those using an advisor, 66% pre-
fer one advisor for both
personal and business
needs.
Every business and
industry has unique
issues and challenges,
which lead to unique
financial needs and concerns, based on the parToni Speyer
ticular size and type of
business and the stage
of development relative to business life
cycles. It’s important that you be cautious
in working with anyone who uses a one
size, one product approach for addressing
your business and/or personal needs,
because the reality is there is no one size fits
all solution to running a successful business.
To find a financial professional you are
comfortable with, tap into your network of
friends, business associates or other professionals for recommendations. When interviewing a financial professional, consider if
they have done their homework and truly
understand your specific business needs.
Do they ask specific questions or just make
assumptions? Can they provide you with
personal and business advice? Does the
individual have access to other specialists
outside of their area of expertise that can
bring value to your business?
No one financial professional, on their
own, can possibly do an appropriate job of
attending to and properly addressing the
variety of complex issues facing today's
business owner. And because of this, it is
increasingly important to select and work
with professionals that have affiliations
with other licensed professionals who specialize in the specific areas that you foresee
becoming concerns in your business.
At the end of the day, the financial professional or team is one that listens to your
needs and then steps back and acts as your
guide to bring the appropriate resources and
experts to fit your needs. He or she can help
you end those sleepless nights.
To contact Toni Speyer, please call
818-426-6340, e-mail her at toni.speyer@nmfn.com or visit her Web site at
www.nmfn.com/toni.speyer.
ADVERTORIAL
PAGE 19
PAGE 20
JANUARY 2009
JANUARY 2009
Minimally Invasive Techniques
The Mid Face Rejuvenation
By Dr. Raffi Dishakjian M.D.
The mid face is traditionally
one of the most overlooked
areas in facial aesthetic rejuvenation. While traditional
facelifts correct gross laxity of
facial structures (skin, muscles
and ligaments), they do not
address the underlying volume loss that the
aging face suffers, specially in people who
maintain their ideal body weights in their
40’s, 50”s and beyond. Not only is a facelift
associated with high cost, downtime, risk of
scarring and nerve damage, it also often
result in a “hollow” look if volume loss of
the mid face is a significant underlying
problem.
Fat is perceived as aesthetically undesirable in the popular culture, yet it has a critical role in the appearance of the youthful
face, including not only the cheeks, but also
the temples, chin, lips and forehead. In the
youthful face the high cheek fat pads give
the face its oval shape. As we age, the cheek
fat pads shrink in size and migrate down
with gravity, resulting in early jowling and
exposing the lower eyelid fat margin. Thus
the aging face often loses its oval shape to
appear empty in the mid-face and square in
the lower face. The aesthetic importance of
the cheek fat pad volume is most readily
appreciated by noting the improvement of
the mid face contours while smiling.
In some patients, simple volume augmentation of the mid face alone will make a
huge difference in rejuvenation. In others,
additional procedures (like invasive and
non-invasive facelift procedures, laser
resurfacing, Botox ® and or photofacials)
may be needed for optimal results.
There are a variety of techniques for mid
face augmentation including fat grafting,
facial implants and injectable fillers. While
fat grafting with one’s own fat may offer the
longest lasting correction, it has its downsides, like significant downtime (about 2
weeks or more) and the need for repeat procedures (~50 % of implanted fat may not
survive). The longevity and efficacy of this
procedure is also very technique dependent.
Facial implants, on the other hand, are
made of surgical grade silicone rubber and
placed through the mouth right over the
bony structure of the cheek. While they may
give the patient a long term volume correc-
tion, these implants may have
significant downsides. These
include a prolonged recovery
time (~2 weeks downtime), prolonged swelling and numbness,
bleeding, infection, over/under
correction and migration/movement of the implant and may
need to be changed or removed.
Needle based injectable fillers are an
attractive alternative to the above discussed
options. The two main FDA approved products that are useful for this purpose are
Sculptra® and Radiesse ®. Both are considered relatively long lasting particle based
BEFORE
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these fillers stimulate the collagen producing cells of the body to deposit a matrix of
new collagen fibers around these particles,
leading to long lasting volume correction.
Experience has shown these fillers to be
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To learn more, visit us at www.nuvelaesthetica.com
PAGE 21
Smokers Should “Whiten Up”
After Kicking the Habit
By DR. BERNIE VILLADIEGO, DDS
With the Great American Smoke Out
quickly approaching, the American
Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) is
joining the efforts in encouraging smokers
to kick the habit in 2009 and reward themselves with a teeth whitening treatment
from an AACD member cosmetic dentist.
“Tobacco users place themselves at an
increased risk of oral, lung, and throat cancer,” said AACD member cosmetic dentist
Dr. Bernie B. Villadiego. “In addition to the
well-documented health benefits associated
with quitting smoking, those who give
up tobacco products
can
dramatically
improve their smile
by undergoing teeth
whitening procedures. Plus, a bright
smile is always more Bernie Villadiego, DDS
appealing when it is
accompanied with fresh breath.”
According to the American Cancer
PAGE 22
JANUARY 2009
Northridge Resident to Lead American Cancer Society Is a Power of Attorney Really Necessary
Los Angeles Regional Council from
2005-2007 and headed its public issues
committee and elected officials constituent team for many years as a Council
member. Smith served on the Division’s
legislative advocacy workgroup while
serving as a Division board member and
is a legislative ambassador. He recruited
advocacy volunteers, collected tobacco
tax signatures and conducted countless
advocacy and tobacco tax trainings and
media interviews locally and nationally.
On behalf of the American Cancer
Society, he served as president of the
Coalition for Healthy California and was
presented with the American Cancer
Society’s Capitol Dome Award by the
organization’s national board of directors
in 2006.
An attorney with Towle, Denison,
Smith & Tavera, LLP he has provided
invaluable guidance to staff and outside
counsel in preparing the Division’s amicus briefs in the RJR/Lorillard lawsuit
against the Proposition 99 campaign.
Smith’s ongoing counsel was instrumental in helping the Society track and
respond to court action.
The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major
health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing cancer
through research, education, advocacy
and service. Founded in 1913 and with
national headquarters in Atlanta, the
Society has 13 regional Divisions and
local offices in 3,400 communities,
involving millions of volunteers across
the United States. For more information
anytime, call toll free 1-800-ACS-2345 or
visit www.cancer.org.
By THOMAS CHRISTOPHER, ESQ.
The answer to this question is YES!!!...and
I’ll tell you why. An effective Power of
Attorney document can avoid the necessity of
petitioning a Court to place a Conservatorship
and save you THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
in court costs and attorney’s fees.
Comparatively, the cost of Power of Attorney
documents usually range from $100 to $300.
Under California law, another person, your
“Agent” can be given the power to transact
financial matters, make a Will or Trust, transfer
property to and from a Trust, go to the bank,
buy or sell property, file tax returns or make
necessary medical decisions for you under a
Power of Attorney document. These powers
can be effective immediately or only upon
becoming incapacitated.
If you already have a Power of Attorney,
you must make sure that your documents are
effective. That “great deal” you got on your
Power of Attorney Documents online, or from
the paralegal service, may be no deal at all.
The fact is that Power of Attorney documents are only as effective as the powers they
specifically set forth. Most people that have a
Power of Attorney document have a “Short
Form” document that
fails to list specifically
the powers you wish to
give to your Agent. As a
general rule, if your
Power of Attorney document does not specifically state that your
Agent
has
a
power…..your Agent
Thomas P.
probably doesn’t have Christopher, Esq.
the power. Most people
find out that their own documents are ineffective after it’s too late and are faced with having
to file a Conservatorship proceeding.
Because of the important nature of the powers
given to your Agent, you must carefully decide
who will be your agent and under what circumstances they will be able to act on your behalf.
If you or your family members have questions regarding a Power of Attorney document,
please call or e-mail my office today at (818)
360-9500 to schedule a free consultation.
Thomas P. Christopher, Esq., Christopher
Law Group, Inc., 11260 Wilbur Ave., Suite 100,
Porter Ranch, California 91326, tc@christopherlawgroup.com.
Your E-mail Faux Pas Affects Your Bottom Line
By ROBIN KELLOGG
Have you ever received a business e-mail
composed in all capital letters or one that
seems to use texting language instead of
English? You wonder what these business
owners are thinking when they allow an email with misspellings and other errors to go
out online.
Remember: E-mail’s are not private. You
are sending them over the Internet. Your recipient can easily forward them to someone else.
Everything that leaves your office or has your
logo on it reflects positively or negatively on
your business. Unfortunately, e-mails have
become electronic sticky notes written in short
hand without any consideration for how they
may be received.
To start off the new year right, here are
some suggestions on how to produce more
business appropriate e-mails.
• Never use all capital letters. In emailese this translates into screaming or
yelling. Not a good way to impress a client
or business partner.
• When addressing an e-mail to several
recipients, always use BCC (blind carbon
copy). Your recipient will know it is from you to
them, but will not be able to see the e-mail
addresses of the other recipients. This is your
way of protecting your clients’ information.
• Use a type font and size that is easy to
read. It is easier on the eyes.
• If you are going to use abbreviations keep
them to commonly accepted ones like Inc., Co.,
etc., ASAP. Avoid using text language. It is not
universal and may not be understood by some
of your recipients.
• Read the e-mail before you send it. We’ve
all made this error. Take a few extra moments to
make certain the e-mail says what you want it to
say.
• Add a disclaimer. Depending on your
type of business or company size, you may
find it useful to add a disclaimer to the bottom of your e-mail. For instance, your disclaimer might say that you take not legal
responsibility for what your employees state
in an e-mail. It’s a way to protect yourself
from legal action.
• Avoid using e-mail to
discuss confidential information. Phone calls, letters or personal meetings
are much better and safer
ways to impart this information.
• Keep your sentences
and paragraphs short
and to the point.
Robin Kellog
These are only a few of
the many ways to improve your e-mail correspondence. Think of e-mails as online business
letters. Whatever you would not print on your
company letterhead, do not send in an e-mail.
Robin Kellogg, owner of R. Kellogg
Associates provides companies of all sizes
with text for their websites, brochures, sales
letters and other marketing materials. She
can be reached at 818-993-5468.
Dr. Joseph Chun
rays. Normally, this evaluation would cost
$250. However, through this special community awareness offer, you can receive this
complete evaluation for just $39.
Because of the response expected from
this incredible opportunity, we can only guarantee availability for the first 39 people who
call and schedule an appointment. Don’t wait
to call us before spreading the word to another family member or friend who may be
ready to take advantage of such a generous
offer. Call (818) 280-2486 today! We are
located at 21039 Devonshire St. between
Bank of America and IHOP, across from the
Burrito Factory in Chatsworth, CA.
We look forward to helping you back to
health!
(818) 280-2486
ADVERTORIAL
JANUARY 2009
Give Yourself a New Years Gift of
Health – Detox Your Body
By FRANI LEVINSON, R.E.
We have so much going on, even after
the Holidays, and now is not the time to forget about ourselves… We need to keep positive. We need to keep on striving for what
we stand for and what our goals are. We
need to believe in ourselves. We need to
keep our health up so that we can function
properly - physically and mentally.
In my quaint little clinical office located
in Granada Hills near Chatsworth Street lies
a wonderful experience a-waiting you! We
are talking Body Detox. It is a simple
method. You step into a warm, soothing
foot bath and for 30 minutes you relax in a
comfortable chair and just zone out if you
want. Relax. Read a book…read one of my
wonderful magazines! The process will take
care of you and you will not feel a thing!
Just relaxation.
Toxins are everywhere. They enter our
bodies from foods sprayed with pesticides,
our water, the air we breath, etc We ingest
many loaded chemicals. My Detox machine
can help you feel better and clean your system
up. This Detox
machine purifies the
body through electrolysis of the water,
removing toxins and
balancing pH through
regular use. Even
with just one session
Frani Levinson
your body will experience a difference.
There is so much to talk about regarding this
Detox system, but I strongly recommend you
make a point to come on in and try it!
I will fill you in on more details upon
your Detox treatment. I will be able to
detect what you possibly need to quit doing
to your body, and even what you may want
to change. The machine does not lie. Come
in and try it. By appointment only please.
Oh, and by the way, my office DOES have
many wonderful magazines to read, ask anyone who has been there for a visit! I’m conveniently located at 10718 White Oak Ave.
#6A in Granada Hills, 818-366-6643.
ADVERTORIAL
PAGE 23
Family Matters
Your influence as a parent is far greater
than you probably have ever stopped to realize. I began teaching my two children common sense values when they were pre-school
age. As a result of doing so, I have witnessed
them grow into happy, successful young
adults.
You could liken it to an investment. Take
the time and effort now to make continual
deposits into your child’s “bank account” of
wisdom, and within time, little bits of wealth
will accumulate. And by the time your child
reaches the age where he/she really understands the concepts of “giving back” and
“contribution”, you could even consider that
these efforts are “interest” that you have
accumulated!—a little bonus, not only for
him/her but you and your whole family and
even the community in which you live.
I guess it comes down to asking ourselves
an important question: “What do I want for
my child-- a happy, successful life based on
right choices or a morally bankrupt one
based on unhappiness and failure? Our
answers and actions will determine the
result.
As for me, I feel I am one of the wealthiest moms on the planet, and I like to make
daily “withdrawals” from my kids—hugs
and kisses for doing a good job!
Nancy Cartwright is a mother of two, the
Honorary Mayor of the San Fernando
Valley, voice-artist and co-founder of Happy
House, a non-profit whose purpose is
“Building Better Families”. You can find out
more by visiting her website at www.nancy
cartwright.com or www.happyhouse.org.
Dr. Raffi
remarkably safe over the long term, with
the effects lasting from 1-4 years, depending on the product and the patient. Since
these particles are eventually completely
absorbed, there is little concern of long
term effects and migration of the product
with aging. In addition, the minimally invasive nature of the procedure decreases the
associated swelling, bruising and downtime. The volume correction can also be
done in stages so as to avoid overcorrection
or to address any imperfections.
When addressing mid facial aging and
volume loss, volume augmentation recap-
tures the fuller, more youthful version of
one’s face without the unnatural look that
results from a surgical facelift procedure.
Raffi Dishakjian M.D. specializes in
minimally invasive facial rejuvenation techniques at Nu Vela Esthetica in Porter
Ranch, CA. He is a Board Certified physician and a member of the American
Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and has
extensive experience with needle based
fillers for facial rejeuvenation. To learn
more visit nuvelaesthetica.com or call 818832-4500 for a free consultation to discuss
you facial rejuvenation needs.
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Support our Advertisers…They make North Valley Community News possible!
PAGE 24
JANUARY 2009
Villadiego
Society Cigarette Calculator, a tobacco user
that smokes an average of two packs of cigarettes per week will spend over $600 a
year on tobacco – money that could be put
toward a teeth whitening treatment instead!
Dentist-supervised teeth whitening
products remain the best method to help
patients erase the nasty stains of tobacco
products. AACD recommends all patients
consult with their local AACD member
cosmetic dentist to review their options for
brightening their smile through teeth
whitening procedures. The three most common teeth whitening options include:
At-Home Dentist-Supervised Treatments - Patients wear a custom-fitted
mouth tray containing whitening gel for a
few hours each day or night. Trays can be
adjusted to lighten individual teeth. The
average patient wears the tray for one to
two weeks. Severe tobacco stains can often
be removed with extended use of an athome whitening system prescribed by an
AACD member cosmetic dentist.
In-Office Power Whitening - A whitening gel containing a high concentration of
hydrogen peroxide is applied to the teeth.
Desired results can often be achieved in just
one visit to an AACD member cosmetic
dentist. Often, at-home treatments, as
described above, may be recommended to
enhance the effects.
Over-the-Counter Kits - While numer-
ous over-the-counter (OTC) kits are now
available, dentist-supervised treatments
remain the safest way to remove tobacco
stains. OTC trays often fit improperly and
can release whitening gel that results in irritated gums and less effective results. A key
point to note: dentists can monitor each
patient's sensitivity in supervised treatments, but not with OTC kits.
About the AACD
Comprised of nearly 8,000 cosmetic
dental professional in 70 countries around
the globe, the AACD is the world’s largest
non-profit membership organization dedicated to advancing excellence in cosmetic
dentistry (comprehensive oral care that
combines art and science to optimally
improve dental health, esthetics and function). The AACD fulfills its mission by
offering superior educational opportunities;
promoting and supporting a respected
Accreditation credential; serving as a userfriendly and inviting forum for the creative
exchange of knowledge and ideas; and providing accurate and useful information to
the public and the profession. To learn more
about
cosmetic
dentistry
visit
www.aacd.com or call 800.543.9220.
Dr. Bernie Villadiego is an Accredited
AACD member cosmetic dentist practicing
at 20933 Devonshire St., Chatsworth, CA
91311. For patient consultations, contact
the doctor at 818-341-1345.
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January 2009 - North Valley Community Connection

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