NB News 2-24-12

February 24, 2012

Newport Beach Dressage Riders Pursue Olympic Dreams at Oaks Blenheim Dressage Fair And Festival of the Horse

February 24, 2012

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The Only Weekly Newspaper Exclusively for the Newport Area

The Newport News

The Newport News

The Newport News

The Only Weekly Newspaper Exclusively for the Newport Area

February 24, 2012

Dressage Horses: An Overview What Makes a Horse Good for Dressage?

By Rena Sherwood Any horse, pony, donkey or mule can learn to do the maneuvers used in dressage. However, it takes a certain type of horse to be able to win a Grand Prix dressage event (dressage’s highest level). Although many breeds can be found at a Grand Prix dressage event, they are all of a certain type - flexible like an archer’s bow.

The Dressage Silhouette When you watch a Grand Prix dressage competition, it seems that all of the mounts have been cut out from different materials using the same pattern. Their shadows will cast nearly the same silhouette. Only their colors, sizes and thickness of tails tend to be only differing factors.

Even while standing or doing extended gaits, the dressage horse must be well collected. This means that the neck is shaped like a curved bow, with the nose pointing mostly to the ground. The hindquarters should also be collected in that the hind legs are well under the horse and powering him along. By being collected, a horse is in a better position to stay

balanced and to listen to the rider’s silent aids.

If you’ve ever seen a completely relaxed horse, their limbs look as if they’re all over the place. Their heads lower and they loose their roundness and their sense of balance. When they don’t have a rider, this isn’t so important. But with a rider’s weight, being suddenly asked to do a turn could make the horse stumble (at worst) or completely ignore the rider (at best).

When a horse is collected and fits into the dressage silhouette, a rider can use very subtle signals to cue the horse as to what to do. Ideally, it looks as if the rider isn’t doing anything.

This saves on a lot of tugging at a horse’s sensitive mouth.

The Warmbloods The usual breeds in dressage Grand Prix events are warmbloods or sport horses. Warmbloods ride the happy balance between an Arabian’s almost fragile slimness and the sheer brute power of a draft horse. Older Thoroughbreds (while technically hotbloods), if they are trained slowly and allowed for their bodies to put on muscle before being asked to do

strenuous tasks, can make ideal dressage horses.

Many warmblood or sport horse breeds do have Thoroughbred in their parent stock somewhere.

Some even have draft horse or pony blood. There are such creatures as warmblood mules (a cross between a donkey jack and a warmblood mare) that can make excellent dressage competitors.

Grand Prix dressage horse breeds include the Hanoverians, the Trakehner, the Belgian Warmblood, the Dutch Wa r m b l o o d , t h e Selle Francais, the Irish Sport Horse, the become limber enough to perform Lippizanner, the Andalusian and even dressage competitively. Performance the American Saddlebred and the is what counts, not a pedigree.

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February 24, 2012

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France’s Award-Winning Ebène Quartet Makes its Debut at Segerstrom Center for the Arts

One of the most sought-after chamber groups in the world, France’s Ebène Quartet, will perform in Segerstrom Center for the Arts’ Concert Series March 3 in Samueli Theater. For its Segerstrom Center debut, the ensemble’s program will include Mozart’s Quartet in C Major, K. 465, “Dissonance;” Schubert’s Quartet in A minor, Op. 29, No. 1, D. 804, “Rosamunde” and Tchaikovsky’s Quartet No. 1 in D Major, Op. 11, “Accordion.” The quartet is comprised of Pierre Colombet, violin; Gabriel Le Magadure, violin; Mathieu Herzog, viola and Raphaël Merlin, cello.

The New Yorker described the group’s playing as “so secure, alive, rich-toned and profoundly musical… they seem bound for greatness.” Distinguished by its youth, open-mindedness and versatility, the Ebène Quartet has had a meteoric rise to the top. The quartet made its U.S. debut tour in March 2009 to widespread, dazzling critical acclaim. The tour featured performances in Boston, Seattle and Washington, D.C., and at Carnegie Hall.

Tickets to see the Ebène Quartet are $60 and are available now at SCFTA.org, by calling (714) 556-2787 and at the Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa. For inquiries about group ticket discounts, call the Group Services office at (714) 755-0236. The TTY number is (714) 556-2746. A free Preview Talk with

musicologist and author Herbert Glass will take place at 7:15 p.m. in Samueli Theater.

Segerstrom Center applauds the Colburn Foundation for its generous support of this concert. Classical KUSC 91.5 is the Media Sponsor of the 2011-2012 Concert Series.

The Ebène Quartet has studied extensively with the Ysaÿe Quartet in Paris as well as with the eminent Gábor Takács, Eberhard Feltz and György Kurtág.

Since its dramatic 2004 triumph at the prestigious ARD international competition in Munich, where the quartet was also awarded five additional special prizes, the Ebène has gone on to win the ForbergSchneider Foundation’s Belmont Prize in 2005. It has since remained close to the foundation, which has very generously arranged to have the quartet outfitted with several unique Italian instruments, on loan to the quartet members from private owners.

From “promising young ensemble,” the Ebène Quartet has grown to become one of today’s foremost quartets on the international scene. In 2006, the foursome was specially selected to take part in the BBC’s esteemed “New GenerationArtists” scheme and in 2007, became Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award winners. The support of the Borletti-Buitoni Foundation sponsored

its first, critically acclaimed live recording of works by Haydn as well as a second CD entirely devoted to works of Bartók.

The year 2009 marked the beginning of an especially fruitful collaboration with the Virgin Classics label. The quartet’s Debussy, Ravel and Fauré recording was awarded several prizes, including “Chamber Music Record of the Year” by ECHO-Klassik, the fff Télérama award, the “CHOC” Monde de la Musique award and, most notably, “Recording of the Year” by the prestigious magazine Gramophone. There followed a Brahms CD with the pianist Akiko Yamamoto, which demonstrated once again how at ease

the quartet performs in a range of styles.

A jazz and world music album, titled Fiction, was released in Fall 2010. The Ebène received an Echo Award and nearly hit the top of the charts. At the beginning of 20112012 season, Virgin Classics released a live DVD of Fiction, recorded at Folies Bergère in Paris. The quartet’s new CD featuring Mozart’s String Quartets (KV 421, KV 465) and Divertimento KV 138 stays true to its focus on classical music.

The Ebène Quartet has recently begun teaching at the prestigious Colburn in Los Angeles.

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February 24, 2012

The Charm of Oregon’s Wines

Subscription Rates $26.00/year Editorial offices: 23472 Vista Del Verde, Suite 6 Coto de Caza, CA 92679-3930 949-589-9990 To send a press release: newseditorials@yahoo.com

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By David White There’s something special about the wines from Oregon.

The state produces some of the finest Pinot Noir in world. Its Pinot Gris, which generally flies under the radar, is full of character and often offers a tremendous value. Oregon’s top sparkling wines are absolutely stunning. It’s a region well worth exploring.

The modern Oregon wine industry traces its roots to the late 1960s, when a number of young idealists moved to the state.

The trailblazer was David Lett, who purchased a hillside property in the Willamette Valley in 1965, shortly after finishing the winemaking program at the University of California, Davis. Lett’s professors urged him against moving so far north, believing it would be too cold and too wet for wine grapes. But other pioneers soon followed in Lett’s footsteps, and within just a few years, they proved the naysayers wrong.

One of those pioneers was another UC-Davis graduate, Dick Erath. But most of the others -- vintners like Dick and Nancy Ponzi, Bill and Susan Blosser, and David and Ginny Adelsheim -- had little experience farming and knew just the basics of winemaking. The Adelsheims, for example, didn’t even plan on making wine when they purchased a 19-acre parcel in the summer of 1971. They simply wanted to move to the country, where David would build furniture and Ginny would sculpt.

All had a passion for wine and being a part of something new and would soon dedicate all their time to Oregon’s burgeoning wine industry. Their efforts quickly paid off.

In 1979, one of Lett’s wines -- his Eyrie Vineyards “Reserve” -- shocked the world at the Wine Olympics in Paris, where it placed first among Pinot Noirs.

Legendary French winemaker Robert Drouhin called for a rematch, and the very next year in Burgundy, Lett’s Pinot Noir would place second against an allstar lineup of Drouhin’s wines.

Fast-forward to today, and Oregon is regularly producing wines that can compete with the best in the world. And even though the industry has grown dramatically over the past 40 years -- there are now nearly 400 wineries -- Oregon’s winemakers still see themselves as part of something new, making wine together on the edge of viticulture.

Indeed, it’s a struggle to get Oregon’s winemakers to talk about their own wines. Every vintner I’ve met is more interested in promoting the industry as a whole than talking about himself.

While it’s difficult to generalize, Oregon Pinot Noirs are typically more feminine than their California counterparts -- marked by aromas of wild raspberries and strawberries rather than candied cherries and blackberries. If California’s Pinot Noirs are bold and easy to enjoy, Oregon’s are delicate and demand contemplation.

While Oregon Pinot Noir tends to be pricey, there are a number of great examples for less than $25. The Willamette Valley bottlings from Ponzi, Adelsheim, and Rex Hill are wonderfully balanced, with delicate aromas of red fruits, flowers, and slate.

Oregon winemakers love talking about Pinot Noir, but their Pinot Gris can be just as seductive. The best ones are marked by exotic tropical fruit and are simultaneously creamy and crisp.

The Willamette Valley bottlings from Adelsheim and Chehalem are incredibly vibrant and widely available for less than $20.

When it comes to sparkling wines, one could argue that America’s best examples come from Oregon -- thanks

entirely to the efforts of Rollin Soles of Argyle Winery.

Like so many other winemakers, Soles studied enology at UC-Davis. But when he finished his degree, he held off on launching his own project -- instead gaining hands-on experience at wineries across the world. Once he moved to the Willamette Valley in the mid-1980s, Soles set out to make sparkling wines -- believing that the climate was perfect for such an effort, as the grapes would retain high acidity while fully ripe.

History has proven Soles right -- he consistently produces sparklers that are praised by critics and consumers alike.

Argyle’s sparklers range in price from $25 to $60, and they can easily compete with French Champagnes that cost two to three times as much.

David White, a wine writer, is the founder and editor of Terroirist.com.

His columns are housed at Wines. com, the fastest growing wine portal on the Internet.

The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’

-Ronald Reagan The Newport News

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February 24, 2012

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The Basic Dressage Principles

By Stacie Campuzano Dressage, a French term, is fundamentally the schooling or education of the horse. Therefore, dressage principles are for every horse. The primary aim of dressage is to create a riding horse that is a calm, obedient and willing partner athletically capable of meeting the rider’s demands.

It is based on a systematic process of training that began with the ancient Greeks, continued through the Renaissance, and remains today as both a classical art for maximizing the capabilities of all riding horses and as a form of competition in itself.

In 1912 a scale of training was established which has been streamlined into a globally recognized schematic to demonstrate the subsequent stages of development in the training of a horse. The United States Dressage Federation calls it the Pyramid of Training. The steps of the training scale are Rhythm, Suppleness, Contact, Impulsion, Straightness, and Collection. However, these basic dressage principles can be succinctly categorized by the enduring axiom that a horse should be ridden, “calm, forward, and straight.”

This is quintessentially the dressage principle by which all horses are ridden and trained. Without them, no other aspect of the training scale can be effectively developed. Horses performing without adherence to dressage principles are merely performing parlor tricks. Additionally, their physical and mental well-being is not being tended to.

A horse that has been trained and ridden according to basic dressage principles is characterized by a balanced way of going. It will demonstrate cadenced light steps and a relative elevation of the forehand in relation to the haunches which will be more flexed and lowered. Horses that are ridden freely forward will step with the hind legs further under their mass, closer to the center of gravity.

This quality is called engagement. As the horse becomes more engaged, the hind quarters will flex and lower on each step creating an undulating swing to the horse’s back so long as he has been kept calm in the process. Riding transitions and circles in thoughtful patterns allows a rider to both energize and quiet a horse as needed to create engagement without sacrificing the quality of calm while achieving a forward way of going.

Typically, riding bent lines, like circles, figure eights and spirals have a calming effect on a horse. Straight lines on the other hand tend to energize a horse. Mixing them appropriately Page 6

allows a rider to develop the forward motion of the horse needed for good engagement while also keeping the horse relaxed.

However, all horses have a stronger and weaker side much as humans do. For a horse, this means one side of the body is slightly hollow or concave in relation to the other which will feel bulging and stiff to the rider.

This innate crookedness has the effect causing the horse to appear stiff during turns and sideward movements as well as lose its balance. A straightened horse will turn and execute bending and lateral movements with equal grace in both directions.

The remedy is also the cure, and that is to ride bending lines and corners with attention to the horse using its whole body to bend from the poll to the tail as well to the left as it does to the right. Through practice, the horse will become more “straight” or evenly skilled from left to right.

An onlooker watching a horse ridden and trained according to the basic principles of dressage, would see that a horse so well balanced would maintain nearly perfect rhythm and cadence as it performed the compulsory gaits and figures. Further, the horse by compassionate training would trust the rider and feel comfortable in the demands remaining calm. Gentle champing at the bit, a swinging tail, and a soft expression with the ears flicking curiously to the rider are key indicators of a calm horse that enjoys its partnership.

Ultimately, the horse will become more beautiful by being ridden calm, forward, and straight than when it was still untrained and un-ridden.

To this day, dressage tests are judged by criteria which seek to mea-

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sure the degree to which the horse exhibits these qualities. In a dressage test, riders at sequential levels of increasing difficulty, each ride the same compulsory pattern as an individual. A twenty by sixty meter arena is marked with letters in specific locations establishing points where transitions between gaits or geometric figures must be placed. Riders are judged on a scale from zero to ten for each individual movement or transition within the test, with zero reflecting that the movement was not performed and a score of ten declaring that it was excellent. Marks are totaled and divided by the number of possible points should all elements have received a ten. The percentage is figured and this score is used to rank the competitors for the purpose of awards. A score in the range of the sixtieth percentile is considered adequate for the given level; however, riders seek to achieve scores into the seventieth percentile. Scores over 80% are rare and generally seen in freely composed rides to music for which there is an artistic component to the score. Only at the Olympic and World Class level are scores routinely over 80% in the highest placements.

Riders find that paying close attention to the most basic principles of dressage through the whole test, they score higher than focusing on a few flashy movements while losing the quality of their basics in between.

Many riders enjoy the fact that by riding the same compulsory pattern

at a series of events and under different panels of judges, they can see a trend of progression. On any given day, the winner has in reality shown the lesser of evils as a perfect score is virtually impossible. Therefore, the trend of scores an individual receives over a season is more indicative of success than the individual placing at any one event.

Dressage is as much about the process as it is the destination. For many enthusiasts dressage is a path of achieving unity with the horse.

Keeping the essential principles in mind anyone training a horse for any purpose can maximize its potential.

Even a prospect for jumping or endurance racing will be easier to ride, more obedient, and maintain better physical health through the demands of sport if it is trained and ridden according the dressage principles of calm, forward and straight.

The Newport News

The Only Weekly Newspaper Exclusively for the Newport Area

February 24, 2012

THE MUZEO TRASHARTIST CHALLENGE FEATURES HUNDREDS OF EARTH DAY PROJECTS MADE FROM TRASH MUZEO is proud to announce the third annual MUZEO TrashARTist Challenge. This unique environmentally-conscious event connects more than 400,000 Orange County students, grades 3 through 12, administrators, city and business leaders by focusing on a countywide TrashARTist Challenge to teach about conservation and recycling through the arts. The event culminates in a huge Expo at MUZEO in downtown Anaheim April 21 over Earth Day weekend from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The expo includes a Sustainability Showcase, music, food, entertainment and awards. Winning projects will remain on display at MUZEO through May. “The role of a great museum is to educate, inspire and create dialogue to grow mankind. The arts transform communities because of their power to enlighten. Sponsoring an arts education program whose sole focus is on creating change by encouraging participation from businesses and students in a county-wide “green” arts event aligns with our purpose and is very satisfying on every level,” states John Scola, Executive Director of The MUZEO Foundation.

In 2010 MUZEO created the TrashARTist Challenge in collaboration with Hilton Anaheim and Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) to educate students about green initiatives and the impact it will have on their lives and future generations. The idea was to partner students and schools with innovative businesses to create a big impact with this powerful message. Basically, all students, in public, private or home schools grades 3 through 12 throughout Orange County are invited to create a project turning trash into art then submitting a photo to compete for prizes for their class and their school.

If you know of a student or teacher who wishes to create a TrashARTist Challenge project go to www.muzeo.org/ trashartist for more information and to register your project.

This year, Wells Fargo Foundation is the significant sponsor of the MUZEO TrashARTIST Challenge along with OCDE, Disneyland, Real Goods Solar, and MUZEO. MUZEO is a 25,000 square foot museum complex located in the heart of downtown Anaheim since

October, 2007. As a museum of celebration and understanding it is designed to broaden awareness of matters and issues outside of its immediate environment through the presentation of internationally renowned traveling exhibitions, presentations and unique programs designed to appeal to visitors of all ages. In addition to presenting exhibitions as renowned as Imperial Rome, Treasures of Napoleon, Under African Skies and Chocolate: The Exhibition; MUZEO is committed to arts education within the community it resides. www.muzeo.org for more information.

MUZEO’s current exhibition is THE WORD: Ink & Blood. From Dead Sea Scrolls to Gutenberg, explore the written history of our existence – through September 9, 2012. Admission to MUZEO is $13 for adults, $9 for children 12 and under. 3 and under is free. Group tour discounts (for groups of fifteen or more) and senior discounts are also available. Admission allows visitor access to both Ink & Blood and Resonating Fields: Photography by Lois Greenfield located in the adjacent Carnegie Building. Resonating

At the Orange County Great Park Board of Directors Annual Meeting last Thursday, the Board re-elected Chair Beth Krom and Vice-Chair Walkie Ray to serve in their positions for another year. The Board also voted to re-elect Independent Directors Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido and real estate developer and philanthropist Walkie Ray to serve four-year terms on the Great Park Corporation Board of Directors. The Annual Meeting is held each February where Board members elect a Chair and Vice Chair and Independent Directors with expiring terms.

“Mayor Miguel Pulido and Walkie Ray are highly effective members who bring valuable insight and experience to the Great Park Board,” said Beth Krom, Chair of the Orange County Great Park Corporation Board. “Our Board is strengthened by Mayor Pulido’s background as Mayor of the County’s largest city and Chair of the United States Conference of Mayors Energy Committee in addition to Walkie Ray’s experience as a successful businessman, real estate developer and philanthropist.”

Beth Krom was first elected to the Irvine City Council in 2000. She

was elected Mayor in 2004 and 2006 and was elected to the City Council in 2008. Krom is an advocate for balanced communities to ensure a sustainable future for the Great Park.

“It is an honor to continue to serve on the Great Park Corporation Board,” said Walkie Ray, Vice-Chair, Great Park Corporation Board. “The Great Park is a tremendous asset for the entire community. It will truly be a legacy to be enjoyed by generations.”

Miguel Pulido has served as Mayor of Santa Ana since 1986. Director Pulido also served as a member of Orange County Transportation Authority and the State Workforce Investment Committee. He formed the Mayor’s Task Force on Arts and Culture, and was instrumental in the development of the Artist’s Village in Downtown Santa Ana.

“I am proud to continue to serve on the Great Park Corporation Board,” said Director Pulido. “This Board is making history in creating the first great metropolitan park of the 21st Century.”

Walkie Ray is a co-owner of Sanderson J. Ray Development. ViceChair Ray served for eight years as Chairman of the Board for the Discovery Science Center, Chairman of the Building Committee of Sage Hill School and Chairman of the Board

Fields encompasses incomparable images of the precision and power of the human body.

MUZEO is located in the heart of downtown Anaheim, at 241 S. Anaheim Blvd. just two miles from the Disneyland Resort. Validated parking is available in the parking structures on Center Street Promenade.

MUZEO is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets online go to www. muzeo.org , or call 714-956-8936.

Orange County Great Park Corporation Board Re-Elects Officers and Directors

of the Orange County High School of the Arts.

The Great Park Corporation Board is made up of nine members and is comprised of the five members of the Irvine City Council and four Independent Directors from the public at large. In addition to Mayor Pulido and Walkie Ray, Michael Pinto and Bill Kogerman are Independent Directors.

For more information, go to www. ocgp.org

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February 24, 2012

The Only Weekly Newspaper Exclusively for the Newport Area

The Newport News

CHARMING HUMPERDINCK’S OPERA, “HANSEL AND GRETEL” The captivating fairy tale opera, “Hansel and Gretel,” comes to life in full orchestral and vocal color for Pacific Symphony’s Family Musical Mornings’ unique production of Humperdinck’s beloved opera, created just for kids. Kicking off the Symphony’s new opera-vocal initiative—which includes a production of Puccini’s “La Bohème” this April and “Tosca” in February 2013—this 45-minute performance includes original narration and dialogue to introduce children to the beautiful and powerful instrument, the voice. Led by Assistant Conductor Maxim Eshkenazy, the orchestra and singers tell the familiar Brothers Grimm story of two siblings who venture into a magical forest to find a gingerbread house made of candy. But, beware! A wicked witch wants to turn them into a snack! Staged with costumes, props and scenery projected on the big screen. Presented by Farmers and Merchants Bank and underwritten by the Honorable H. Warren and Janet Siegel, “Hansel and Gretel” takes place Saturday, March 3, at 10 and 11:30 a.m., in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.

Tickets are $19-36 and include a Musical Carnival before or after the show (more below). For more information or to purchase tickets call (714) 755-5799 or visit www.PacificSymphony.org.

“The music of ‘Hansel and Gretel’ is luscious, but merry in style,” says Maestro Eshkenazy. “It’s romantic music that accompanies a very special fairytale. To add character to the children on stage, the opera includes folk tunes, children-like songs, but it remains masterfully orchestrated. Overall the whole opera is beautiful, but what grabs my attention is the overture, which starts with just the

horns but then goes into a rich string sound that I just love.”

The Symphony is collaborating with Chapman University to further its educational mission and to allow the young audience at Family concerts to see performers closer to their own age. Additional projects with Chapman include performances in the lobby before upcoming classical concerts and participating in opera outings hosted by the Symphony.

“With our new opera-vocal initiative including a semi-staged production of ‘La Bohème’ on our classical series, it’s important to us to present the same art form to children and their parents as well,” Eshkenazy continues. “It’s very gratifying to work with voice, and the Chapman students are gaining a lot of experience from our collaboration. I’m having a great time.

Differing from most opera productions, the Symphony brings the orchestra out of the pit and onto the stage to deliver the lush, Wagnerian compositions of Humperdinck.

In addition to the concert, children and families are invited to attend the Musical Carnival beginning at 9 a.m. (for the 10 a.m. concert) and 12:15 p.m. (for the 11:30 a.m. concert). The carnival features Chapman singers, a Spotlight on Voice, Ask the Orchestra, Instrument Test Drive, Meet the Musicians, Meet the Young Musicians (from Pacific

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Symphony Youth Ensembles) and a trumpet duo to greet everyone with fanfare.

“I remember reading the Brothers Grimm story as a boy, and I was very afraid of the witch!” says Eshkenazy. “She could chop me into little pieces and throw me in a cooking pot! But this opera is specially designed for children with all of the best parts and is going to be great fun.”

Family Musical Mornings concludes on May 12, for the season’s final concert, “Happily Ever After?” featuring selections from Tchaikovsky’s “Sleeping Beauty.” Children are welcome to come dressed as their favorite fairy tale characters.

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The Newport News

Page 9

February 24, 2012

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The Newport News

Society Scene by

Kelly Bennett Exclusively for the Newport News

Private Yacht Cruise Benefits Red Cross As the sun set in Newport Harbor, around 50 philanthropists, VIP’s and special guests of the American Red Cross were catered to an extraordinary evening of cocktails, dinner and a harbor cruise featuring Retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré, the “category 5 general” of Hurricane Katrina fame as the featured guest speaker.

Climbing aboard the 105 foot custom built multimillion dollar motor yacht; folks were amazed by its beauty. Bill and Sue Johnson, from Johnson Machinery are the proud owners of The “Dulcinea” and hosted this exquisite evening to benefit the American Red Cross. The yacht was built in 1988 and travels from as far as Sitka, Alaska to the Panama Canal. This luxury yacht is equipped with 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms with beautiful exterior teak decks and ripsaw white oak. The inside is just as sleek with top of the line beautiful décor, utilizing granite and marble along with hand laid tile. It takes about three full time crew members to run the boat while traveling; Captain Ron Stephens kept us on track circling the bay at a nice cruising speed that was smooth as glass.

Enjoying the appetizers created by Robert Redmond Catering in Newport Beach, guests dined on caprese salad skewers, vegetable tarts of roasted peppers and eggplant with goat cheese, stuffed artichoke hearts with Lemon Aioli and Focaccia with three cheeses and sun dried tomatoes. Dinner consisted of Field of Greens salad with lemon thyme dressing, California Fresh Asparagus, and Chicken Tetrazzini with mushrooms, almonds and water chestnuts. Dessert guests enjoyed cream puffs with fresh caramel and whip cream, chocolate chip and palmiers cookies.

While everyone was enjoying their delectable desserts, Rick Reiff, host of SoCal Insider on PBS SoCal welcomed and thanked those that were there.

He introduced Stanley Purdue, the CEO of The American Red Cross serving Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Purdue introduced and thanked Bill and Sue Johnson for hosting the intimate affair on their yacht and also recognized them as founding members of the Humanitarian Circle of the American Red Cross. The Humanitarian Circle is an exclusive group of leaders who utilize their collective financial power to change lives and strengthen their communities through their support of the American Red Cross. He also recognized Suzanne Fradette and Ellie McGrew as Founding members of the Tiffany Circle, a society of women leaders and philanthropists that was started two years ago. They are both lifetime members pledging $100,000 over 10 years.

Retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré then came up and spoke to the group. His passion is very evident for the American Red Cross, telling everyone he wants to create a “culture of preparedness” and that he’s committed to spending the second half of his life to this. “Every effort I take, whether it is my website, public speaking/lectures, fundraisers or the books I have written or will write, will be committed to this cause,” he said. He also encouraged everyone to learn first aid and CPR, and especially to be prepared for a disaster. Those who the Red Cross helps are normally those who do not have family or another place to go in case of an emergency. The Red Cross also is there for our military; he spent 37 years, 3 months and 3 days in the Army - 9 ½ of those years were overseas.

He spoke about World War I, how there were 30 million Red Cross volunteers in the United States. That’s twice as many as we have today he announced.

Money needs to be raised to help the organization help America. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donation of time, money and blood to do its work.

So whether it’s a call for a hurricane or a heart attack; a call for blood or a call for help, the American Red Cross is there to help. For more information visit www.oc-redcross.org.

Photos By Ann Chatillon Page 10

The Newport News

Ishell Linares, Ole and Michele Nielsen with Bill Blanning and Bridget Kelly

Bill and Sue Johnson pose outside “The Dulcinea”

Mary Ann Brown with Rick Reiff and Suzanne Fradette

Ret. Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré poses with Courtney and Harald Herrmann

The Newport News

The Only Weekly Newspaper Exclusively for the Newport Area

February 24, 2012

NEWPORT BEACH Dressage Riders Pursue Olympic Dreams at Upcoming Mid-Winter Dressage Fair and Festival of the Horse

Jan Ebeling and Rafalca at the 2011 Festival of the Horse (Photo: Jennier Keeler)

Written by Jennifer Keeler - Yellow Horse Marketing Athletes around the world who compete in sports ranging from archery to weightlifting are dreaming about the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England. Equestrians are no exception, and West Coast dressage riders will begin their quests for a team berth at Cornerstone Event Management’s Mid-Winter Dressage Fair CDI-W and Festival of the Horse CDI 3* competitions in California this spring.

The Mid-Winter Dressage Fair CDIW/Y/J, scheduled for February 23 - 26 in Burbank, CA, will be the first West Coast qualifying competition for the 2012 Olympic Games Dressage Team Selection Trials, and is also one of only two California qualifiers for the 2012 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Finals.

Competitors attending the MidWinter Dressage Fair will experience a whole new look to the Los Angeles

Equestrian Center, as hi-tech and horse-friendly Olympic Mix footing has been installed in the outside large oval ring, including the warm-up area.

Regardless of weather, horses will be able to show off the best of their abilities in this soft, stable, non-slip footing, which is the same high-tech formula used at such prestigious events as the World Cup Finals and the Olympic Games. Officiating for this High Performance competition will be Jean-Michele Roudier (5*) of France, who will serve as a member of the ground jury for this summer’s Olympic Games. Roudier will be joined by esteemed judges Linda Zang (5* USA), Cara Whitham (5* CAN), Eddy de Wolff (4* NED), Jayne Ayers (4* USA), and Brenda Minor (4* CAN).

In addition to High Performance dressage, the Mid-Winter Dressage Fair will also feature five team challenges, adding a new element of competition and excitement for all levels of riders.

The $750 CDI Challenge and $500 Freestyle Challenge will pair riders from the CDI Grand Prix and Prix St.

Oaks Blenheim in San Juan Capistrano

Georges/Intermediaire I divisions, while open show competitors will vie for additional prize money in the ProAm Upper Level Challenge (Third and Fourth Levels); Pro-Am Lower Level Challenge (First and Second Levels); and the All Amateur Training Level Challenge.

In an exciting development for this year’s show calendar, Cornerstone Event Management is working with Blenheim EquiSport to bring their second Olympic Games qualifier, the Festival of the Horse CDI 3*/Y/J, to “The Oaks” in beautiful San Juan Capistrano on March 29 - 31. As the site of the 2004 and 2008 U.S. Dressage Selection Trials for the Olympic Games, it was only natural for this spectacular facility to once again open its doors to North America’s top dressage competitors. Long known for its outstanding footing, “The Oaks” facility includes five sand and fiber arenas, with separate warm-up and lunging rings. The ground jury for this event will also feature a 2012 Olympic Games judge, the USA’s Gary Rock-

well (5*), joined by Mary Seefried (5* AUS), Jane Weatherwax (4* USA), Lorraine MacDonald (4* CAN), and Gabriel Armando (3* ARG). For additional excitement, the Festival of the Horse CDI will be held in conjunction with the Blenheim Spring Classic Hunter/Jumper show, featuring the $40,000 Grand Prix Jumping Event.

“I am very excited about holding the Festival of the Horse CDI 3* in San Juan Capistrano and working with the Blenheim EquiSport team,” said event organizer Glenda McElroy. “They have produced so many top hunter/ jumper events that it’s difficult to count them. Now this facility, with its outstanding footing and atmosphere, will give dressage riders another option for enjoying top competition. I see this as a tremendous opportunity for bigger and better events, more excitement for competitors and spectators, and exposure to a new audience. It should be very positive for dressage.”

The Newport News

Page 11

February 24, 2012

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Page 12

The Newport News

October 28,

2011

The Newport News

The Only Weekly Newspaper Exclusively for the Newport Area

February 24, 2012

newport beach R est aurant AmeliA’s seAfood & itAliAn One of the oldest family-owned & operated restaurants in Orange County. For nearly 45 years, this cozy Balboa Island landmark has offered a distinct menu of delectable Italian and seafood dishes.

311 marine Ave. 949-673-6580 BAck BAy cAfé At newport dunes Al fresco dining with views of the bay.

Enjoy California cuisine in fun, casual setting. Award-winning seafood chowder. Free parking, guest slips available for boaters.

Brunch Saturday and Sunday.

1131 Back Bay drive.

949-729-1144 BAnderA Some of the best and freshest fish in town, cooked over a hot almond wood mesquite.

3201 e. coast Hwy., corona del mar.

949-673-3524 Billy’s At tHe BeAcH Billy’s bayfront restaurant offers a view of the bay and tropical décor. Thick steaks, lobster and fresh Hawaiian seafood such as Ahi and Ono. Polynesian Bar for nightly live entertainment.

2751 w. coast Hwy. 949-722-1100 BluewAter Grill Located at the former site of Sea Shanty and Delany’s on the water in Newport Beach. Fresh mesquite-charbroiled seafood, pastas and oyster bar items, Sunday brunch, kids menu. Dock spaces, catering & boat charters available.

630 lido park drive.

949-675-3265 BrAsserie pAscAl A lively French bistro specializing in Prime American steaks prepared “Parisian style”.

French and American bistro classics including French Onion Soup, Escargot, Sandwiches, Crepes, Fresh Seafood and souffles.

Signature martinis, champagne cocktails, Alsatian beers, French and California wines.

327 newport center drive.

949-640-2700 tHe BunGAlow restAurAnt Specializes in steaks, seafood and claims to have the best martinis in the county. Their award-winning wine list offers more than 20 premium wines by the glass and over 160 bottled wines. Monday-Friday Happy Hour well drinks for $4.75 and house wine for $5 from 4:30 pm to 8 pm daily.

2441 east coast Highway in corona del mar. call for reservations.

949-673-6585 cAnnery restAurAnt & cruises Located at the historic wharfside location in the heart of old Cannery Village for 25 years. Open air dining on the wharf is available day and night. Champagne brunch cruises. Awarded Hospitality Ambassador of the Year, 1997.

3010 lafayette Avenue. cannery@newportbeach.com 949-675-5777

cAfe JArdin At sHermAn GArdens Dine in a “hidden oasis” amongst a serene paradise garden setting featuring a lite French and Mediterranean luncheon fare at Sherman Gardens. The dining area is available for private parties, banquets for up to 230 people.

949-263-9400 cHArt House restAurAnt Sunset & water views combined with outstanding cuisine since 1961. Choose from Snapper Hemingway, Shrimp Fresca & slowroasted Prime Rib. Daily selection of fresh fish, an extensive collection of fine wines & whiskies, & decadent desserts.

949-548-5889 commonweAltH lounGe & Grill Balboa Peninsula’s newest restaurant features a modern day supper club with two levels of antique yet trendy décor. CW offers faves like their Garlic & Parmesan Slow Roasted Prime Rib, the best Monte Cristo sandwich since the 50’s plus a variety of steaks, chops, seafood, salads and sandwiches, 26 beers on tap, boutique wines by the glass, and signature cocktails. Open for lunch, dinner, late night and entertainment seven days a week. For more information:

tHe resort At pelicAn Hill Celebrating the best of Californian lifestyle: deep, sweeping ocean views from the alfresco terrace with granite tabletops and flower baskets overhead. Seafood and steak dishes. Ocean and golf course views.

2270 pelican Hill road south.

949-467-6800 Quiet womAn Since 1965, a favorite spot for generations of locals. Fabulous food, worldly wine, inviting ambiance and seamless service.

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949-640-7440 tHe ritz restAurAnt An award-winning tradition synonymous with elegance, gracious service and a blend of classic and contemporary cuisine creates the perfect atmosphere for any occasion.

Five unique dining rooms, which seat from 20 up to 140, each has its own personality and ambiance. Whether your mood ranges from prime steaks, chops, lamb, seafood or a more traditional faire, The Ritz has it all.

3801 e. coast Hwy., corona del mar.

949-760-0331 mAyur cuisine of indiA Fragrant, pungent spices from all over India are delicately mixed to create a spectacular variety of dishes.

2931 e. coast Hwy. 949-675-6622 newport lAndinG

villA novA Established in 1933, this landmark restaurant located on the water offers classic Italian cuisine and a spectacular view.

Homemade pastas, fresh seafood, veal specialties. Live entertainment nightly.

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The latest restaurant concept from the Tommy Bahama Group, features regional, seasonally fresh cuisine in a casually, elegant setting. Designed for Newport Beach locals and visitors, it is a casually elegant oasis. Please visit www.tommybahama.com/cafe for the most current offerings.

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Daily Grill serves traditional American fare featuring Genuine Angus Steaks and Chops, Fresh Seafood, Classic Cobb and Caesar Salads, Meat Loaf with Mashed Potatoes, Chicken Pot Pie, not-to-be-missed Desserts and Sunday brunch 9am to 2pm. All served in a sophisticated yet casual atmosphere.

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949-675-7829 rusty pelicAn restAurAnt A long Newport Beach tradition for outstanding meals and legendary service.

Breathtaking harbor views and a wide variety menu. Award- winning wine list.

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sAm & HArry’s USDA prime steaks, “jet-fresh” seafood flown in daily from around the world, and an award-winning wine program that showcases a list of hand selected bottles, while highlighting 50 wines by the glass. Private dining rooms provide the perfect ambiance for an evening of business or leisure. Sunday Brunch 6am to 1pm.

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949-675-2373 pAlm terrAce restAurAnt & lounGe From casual to elegant, indoors or out, Island Hotel is famous for its award-winning cuisine directed by world-recognized Executive Chef Bill Bracken. Enjoy a leisurely meal poolside amid lush gardens and graceful palms at the Palm Terrace Restaurant or a refreshing cocktail at the lounge.

949-760-4920

The Newport News

Page 13

February 24, 2012

The Only Weekly Newspaper Exclusively for the Newport Area

The Newport News

Finding Happiness: One Man’s Quest to Beat Depression and Anxiety and—Finally—Let the Sunshine In

by Todd Patkin Don’t Just Survive—Be Happy!: Twelve Reasons Why Your Best Life Can Be Only Three Months Away Many of us simply try to endure each day and avoid unnecessary trouble— happiness rarely enters into our aspirations. Todd Patkin is adamant that it doesn’t have to be this way—and he shares twelve steps that will bring you much closer to your greatest life.

You’re busting your butt at work so that you can snag that coveted promotion, and when you come home each evening, a whole separate pile of responsibilities and chores awaits you.

Whether you’ve accidentally overdrawn your checking account or you were unlucky enough to become your motherin-law’s scapegoat just by answering the phone, you feel like you’re a victim of circumstances on a regular basis.

You’re convinced that the best you can do is to simply try to survive each day without a meltdown. In short, you’re the farthest thing from “happy”—and there’s not a thing you think you can do about it. Sound familiar?

If your answer is “yes,” Todd Patkin has an important message for you: You can start to live a happier life…and believe it or not, the choice is completely up to you.

“Earlier in my life, if you had told me that happiness was a choice, I too would have told you that you were crazy. After all, no one chooses to experience things like the pain of low self-esteem, anxiety, or depression,” points out Patkin, author of the new book Finding Happiness: One Man’s Quest to Beat Depression and Anxiety and—Finally—Let the Sunshine In (StepWise Press, 2011, ISBN: 978-0-9658261-9-8, $18.00, www. toddpatkin.com). “But what I’ve come to realize is that happiness isn’t about leading an obstacle-free life—instead, it’s about learning how to change what you focus on and how you react to circumstances, regardless of whether they’re good or bad.”

Patkin isn’t just a talking head—he speaks from painful personal experience. After dealing with feelings of anxiety and depression throughout his life—despite achieving outward success, wealth, and respect—he suffered a devastating breakdown at the Page 14

age of thirty-six. Finding Happiness chronicles Patkin’s difficult life experiences, as well as his eventual recovery and the lessons he has learned about the true nature of both depression and happiness.

“I can tell you unequivocally that money and success and accolades aren’t going to make you happy,” Patkin says.

“In fact, they have surprisingly little to do with it. Happiness is the culmination of all the little actions, choices, and habits that fill your day. Whether to smile and be cheerful, for example, or whether to instead be more negative and participate in water-cooler gripe fests.”

Learning to choose how you respond to life isn’t always an easy journey, Patkin admits. In fact, he likens building a happier life to strengthening your abs or your biceps—it’s going to take some effort, and you might feel a little sore at first! But, Patkin stresses, the work is worth it—and he has some concrete suggestions to help you get started on strengthening your happiness “muscle.”

“I’ve identified twelve things that will help anyone begin to lead a happier life, especially if they’re added on one at a time to your life and in the order in which they’re given,” Patkin shares.

“You’ll begin to focus more often on the behaviors, people, and things that will enrich and fulfill you, and that will inspire your positive physical, mental, and emotional growth. And conversely, you’ll stop allowing your negative moods and habits to dictate your life.”

Patkin explains his “Twelve Weeks to Living a Happier Life” in Part Two of his book and has also provided free corresponding instructional videos on his website, www.toddpatkin.com. Each video features Patkin, who talks about his own experiences, provides explanations as to why each of the twelve weeks is important, and shares tools for implementing each of the steps into your daily life.

If you’re ready to take control of the stress, anxiety, and negative thoughts that have been running your life so far, then read on to learn about Patkin’s Twelve Weeks to Living a Happier Life…and why they’ll work for you.

Step One: Exercise. Yes, you’ve heard it (a million times) before, but exercise is one small change that yields really big, life-changing benefits.

For starters, it will begin to make you feel more relaxed, stronger, and more capable of handling life’s challenges— also, it will improve your sleep, and it’s a natural anti-depressant that will help your attitude and outlook. And as time passes, you’ll gain the added bonus of being happier with your physical appearance as well.

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“I’ve placed exercise in the number one spot because I think it’s the single most important thing you can do to improve your life right now,” Patkin asserts. “Exercise is a fantastic energizer, and it actually opens you up to future change by invigorating your mind and body. If working out is already a part of your life, great! If it isn’t, commit to walking just twenty minutes every other day to start out. You don’t have to join a gym, sign up for exhausting classes, and completely reorder your life to reap the benefits of this investment!”

Step Two: Take Charge of Your Mind.

Why do you eat breakfast? To give your body the nutrients it needs so that you’ll have the energy to get through the day, of course. And guess what? Your mind is no different. If you want your thoughts and attitudes to be positive, you must fill your brain with encouraging ideas.

For this reason, Patkin recommends making motivational books and audio recordings part of your daily ritual, too.

“I know, I know…this probably sounds incredibly hokey,” Patkin admits. “But trust me, listening to a motivational CD during your morning commute or reading for fifteen minutes as you sip your coffee in the morning can put you in a positive place until you go to sleep in the evening. When you do this each day, you’ll find that your attitude is improved, and that you have learned new tools to eliminate your own self-doubt and self-criticism. By focusing more on all the positive aspects of who you are, what you are doing, and what is great in your life, you’ll find that the whole direction of your life can change. If you’re not sure where to start, I have a recommended reading and listening list on my website.”

Step Three: Learn to Be Easier on Yourself. If you’re like most people, you probably tend to focus a lot of your mental energy on the things you mess up rather than the things you do well.

And as a result of magnifying your failures, you reinforce in your mind just how “subpar” you think you are. No wonder you’re unhappy! It’s time to realize that you’re human—and thus fallible—so you will make mistakes. Instead of beating yourself up, start celebrating your many successes. Until you give yourself permission to break free of the cycle of self-blame and negativity that causes you to be stuck demanding perfection from yourself in every situation, you’ll never have a chance to be a truly relaxed, content, and happy person.

“The really tragic thing about fixating on your screw-ups is that for every one thing most people do wrong in a week, they usually do a hundred things right,” Patkin points out. “It’s not an easy

thing to do, but if you want to be happier, you’ve got to start showing more compassion and love to yourself. This means giving yourself a break when things don’t go perfectly, and giving yourself a pat on the back when they do. For instance, let yourself bask in your family’s compliments when you cook a delicious meal, and savor your boss’s praise when you offer an ingenious solution at a meeting. Basically, extend to yourself the same love and kindness that you would to others you care about!”

Step Four: Play to Your Strengths.

Most of us don’t spend a lot of time doing things we enjoy or are truly good at.

In fact, it sometimes seems like frustration, boredom, and discontentment are the bricks that are used to build the socalled “American Dream.” The fact is, though, we all possess special abilities and unique talents. And if you want to be happy, you need to recognize, use, and share them. When you do, you’ll feel more fulfilled and proud of yourself, and the world will be better off, too.

“If you’ve never done so before, sit down and first make a list of the things you are best at, and second, make a list of the things you enjoy doing the most— often, the same items will appear on both lists,” advises Patkin. “Then, make it a goal to spend more time doing these things. Focusing more on a hobby or personal interest is a good start, even if, like exercise, you do it for only twenty minutes every other day. And if you determine that your career doesn’t utilize your strengths, start looking at online job postings or for local classes in your field of interest. It’s never too early—or too late—to start doing the things that make you happy.”

Step Five: Eliminate Stressors.

Newsflash: Stress is bad! It prevents you from living in and enjoying the moment, and it can also cause negative long-term effects ranging from high blood pressure and insomnia to depression and anxiety. So although it’s easier said than done, it’s smart to eliminate as many stressors as possible. Often, something as simple as a shift in perspective can make all the difference.

“Start by identifying the two or three things that cause you the most stress on a consistent basis—maybe having a messy house is one,” says Patkin.

“Often, you’ll find that there are concrete things you can do to lessen or even eliminate the pressure. For example, you might have a frank discussion with your spouse and kids regarding chores.

Or, you might finally hire a cleaning person to help you once or twice a month if you can now afford it.

“Also, if you can’t eliminate or change

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a stressor, such as a job you hate but can’t afford to quit, challenge yourself to handle it differently. Specifically, decide beforehand how you will react in a more enlightened way when certain stressful situations occur—actually visualize yourself handling them with poise instead of becoming outwardly or inwardly worked up. Having a game plan in place before the ‘beast’ rears its ugly head really can reduce your negative reactions to stressors—big time.”

Step Six: Live in the Present. How often do your thoughts “live” in the present? More to the point, how often are they instead fixated on your disappointing or disturbing past or spent worrying about your future? If you are like most people, your percentage of time not spent in the present is way, way too high, and thus you’re missing out on life itself. If you’re ruminating on what’s already happened or fretting about what might come to pass, you’re not enjoying the blessings all around you. You’re exacerbating your anxiety and unhappiness by choosing (there’s that word again!) to dwell on things you can’t change or control.

“In order to practice being in the present, you’ll have to do a little bit of homework,” Patkin instructs. “Specifically, you’ll need to look at your past and forgive others (and yourself!) for any wrongs you might be holding on to. Also, you’ll need to identify what, exactly, you dread about the future.

First, figure out how likely these things are to actually happen (in most cases, they won’t be very probable), and then plan how you’d deal with the worst-case scenario. Usually, you’ll see that even the worst turn of events would not destroy you and could be handled, albeit with some stress and difficulty.

“Once you have begun to take control of your past- and future-oriented thoughts, you can truly begin to appreciate the present moment. You’ll need to be aware of what your thoughts are ‘doing,’ and please don’t get discouraged when you find yourself going back to your old negative mental habits! In fact, pat yourself on the back because you’re noticing that you’re doing something you don’t want to do anymore. Over time, you’ll start to live the adventurous, wonderful life in the present you were always meant to!”

Step Seven: Spend More Time with Positive People. Have you ever heard of “social proof”? It’s the phenomenon of being influenced more by the people we are around the most. And what does social proof have to do with happiness?

Well, if you spend as much of your time as possible with positive people, the physical and mental improvements you’ve made thus far through week seven will be much more likely to “stick”—and you’ll continually be inspired. However, if most of your friends, family, and coworkers are negative,

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they will inevitably pass their unhealthy attitudes on to you.

“If you’re truly serious about building a happier life for yourself, you need to look at the people with whom you spend most of your time and decide which are positive influencers and which are negative influencers,” Patkin instructs.

“Gradually, you need to gravitate more toward the ‘Positives’ and distance yourself from the ‘Negatives.’ This might mean calling a positive friend and asking to meet up for coffee or a beer, or walking away from the water cooler when your coworkers begin to gripe and complain.

“Over time, your goal is to make a significant shift in terms of the people with whom you surround yourself. I know that it’s hard to put distance between yourself and a person who has been a big part of your life, but the fact is that you’re at a crossroads. Would you rather maintain relationships that are familiar, but built on negativity, or would you rather form new ones that will propel your happiness journey forward?

I strongly recommend you choose the latter.”

Step Eight: Strengthen Close Relationships. Unless a family member or close friend is a truly, irredeemably toxic influence, Patkin insists that it’s always worth putting work into improving close relationships. This is simply because the quality of the relationships you have with the people you are the closest to—your family and friends— can make or break the quality of your life. Loving, supportive relationships will majorly enhance your happiness levels. But fractious, unstable, or even distant relationships with your family members and historically close friends can leave you feeling unappreciated, angry, alone, and anxious.

“So, starting with your immediate family members and the people you see every day, and then working outward, reach out to the people who are meaningful to you and tell them how important they are to you! Also, try to address any unresolved grievances and apologize for the things you may regret,” Patkin advises. “And there’s one relationship you need to focus on in particular: the one with your spouse or significant other. Put more work into this relationship than you do into anything else: your house, your car, or your job, etc. Celebrate your spouse every day. Trust me: This can make such a great difference in your emotional health, your stress levels, and your overall happiness!”

Step Nine: Be Friendlier. Although our society is more and more “connected” by technology, we interact less and less with other people on a meaningful, face-to-face level than ever before. But guess what? Extending simple human kindness to other people can make a huge difference in their lives…and in

yours. This could mean starting up a conversation with the guy beside you on the subway, sincerely thanking a bank teller for her help, or just smiling at coworkers you pass in the hallway.

“Everyone on Earth is carrying some sort of burden,” Patkin points out. “You can’t make their pain, stress, or grief just magically disappear…but you can be what I call a ‘lamp-lighter’—someone who makes others feel just a little bit lighter and happier on their journey, even if only for five seconds. When you make friendliness a habit, you’ll attract kindness and smiles in return…and you’ll feel great about yourself for making a positive difference in the world!”

Step Ten: Help Others. It’s true: It really is better to give than to receive.

You see, humans are by nature social beings, and we find our greatest fulfillment in helping others. Plus, reaching out a helping hand to someone who isn’t as fortunate as you tends to quash selfish impulses and highlight your own blessings. Giving of yourself doesn’t have to involve money, either—remember that your time, talents, and compassion are just as valuable as cash, if not more so.

“To put it simply, givers are happy people,” asserts Patkin. “I know; we’re all busy—but as often as you can, make the effort to do something nice to help another person or organization. This could be visiting a disabled veteran at the VA, or simply rolling your neighbor’s trashcan up the driveway!

And if you have kids, you’ll be setting a wonderful example for them. I promise you, whether you’re giving time, energy, money, or encouragement, being generous will build up your selfesteem, broaden your perspective, keep you anchored in reality, and connect you to your blessings—all components of a happy life.”

Step Eleven: Deepen Your Relationship with Your “Higher Power.”

Yes, spirituality (much like politics) is a touchy subject. But according to Patkin, believing in something bigger than yourself is essential to developing the kind of perspective you need to be happy. Whether you consider your Higher Power to be God, Yahweh, Allah, Buddha, Krishna, the Universe, or even just Nature or another entity, being willing and able to see and feel His (or Her, if you prefer!) presence in your life will enable you to move away from self-centeredness and focus your energy and concerns on the greater community. It’ll also provide solace and give meaning to unfortunate events and troubling life circumstances.

“Personally, I’ve been connected to the Jewish faith for my entire life,” Patkin shares. “My faith has helped me create a strong sense of identity that’s rooted in a heritage I’m proud of—but you don’t need to espouse my beliefs, or even join an organized

February 24, 2012

religion and attend services regularly.

What I do hope you’ll do, though, is make an effort to clarify your thoughts about faith and also make an effort to connect to your Higher Power, whether it’s through prayer, meditation, writing in a journal, doing random acts of kindness, or just spending time in nature.

Eventually, I hope you’ll begin to see your Higher Power as a source of inspiration, renewal, strength, guidance, and aid—as I do.”

Step Twelve: Develop an Attitude of Gratitude. Yes, living with an “attitude of gratitude” is a clichéd concept. But across the board, grateful people are happier and healthier; yes, studies have actually shown that thankful individuals are 25 percent healthier too! And the way Patkin sees it, if you’re reading this, you have a lot to be thankful for already.

“If you live in America, you have access to great education, healthcare, and the freedom to worship and work as you choose,” he points out. “Those are huge things to be thankful for right out of the gate! We take these ‘basics’ and much more for granted, and we often have others—whether it’s an ancestor of ours, a veteran, or a coworker—to thank for them. It’s extremely important to be aware of all of your blessings, and to honor and thank those whom you owe for them. Once you start recording your blessings, you’ll probably be amazed by how long the list of people you have to thank for them is. And the humility that comes from knowing you owe so much to so many others will, in turn, spur you to give back more often to those less fortunate than yourself.”

It’s time to make a choice. Do you want to put in the effort to build a happier life for yourself and your children as well? (Always remember your kids are likely to grow up conforming to the example you set for them.) If so, you’ve got your work cut out for you—but you can also look forward to an enriched future with confidence. Or will you decide to take the path of least resistance and allow life’s unpredictability to continue to dictate your unhappiness?

“I can tell you from experience that happiness is something that’s largely within your control,” concludes Patkin. “No, you’ll never wake up and have the ‘perfect’ day with everything going just the way you’d like it to. But you can choose how you respond to life… and I promise that will make all the difference!”

Finding Happiness: One Man’s Quest to Beat Depression and Anxiety and—Finally—Let the Sunshine In (StepWise Press, 2011, ISBN: 978-0-9658261-9-8, $18.00,

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February 24, 2012

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PACIFIC SYMPHONY SPOTLIGHTS SPELLBINDING VIRTUOSITY OF PIANIST JOYCE YANG PLAYING RACHMANINOFF’S MIGHTY THIRD Seductive melody and inspired genius adorn Pacific Symphony’s concert featuring dynamic young pianist Joyce Yang in a powerful finale of “Rachmaninoff’s Mighty Third.” Heralded as a “poetic and sensitive pianist…capable of hurling thunderbolts” by the Washington Post, Yang captures the intense, swooning Romanticism and solo flourishes of Rachmaninoff’s virtuosic showpiece. At only 25, Yang is the winner of the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant (2010) and the silver medal in the 12th Van Cliburn International Competition.

Led by world-renowned conductor Michael Stern, the opening sparkles with the energy and grace of Rossini’s Overture to “Semiramide,” a deeply rousing Italian opera based on a queen of Babylon. The orchestra then travels to the gritty, urban streets of Eastern Europe in Bartók’s Suite from “The Miraculous Mandarin,” a ballet of swashbuckling orchestration and alluring characters.

The concert takes place ThursdaySaturday, March 1-3, at 8 p.m., in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall; a preview talk with Alan Chapman begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25-110; for more information or to purchase tickets, call (714) 755-5799 or visit www.PacificSymphony.org.

Critically acclaimed as “the most gifted

young pianist of her generation” with a “million-volt stage presence,” pianist Yang captivates audiences around the globe with her stunning virtuosity combined with heartfelt lyricism and interpretive sensitivity. Born in Seoul, Korea, she has established herself as one of the leading artists of her generation through her innovative solo recitals and notable collaborations with the world’s top orchestras.

As the youngest contestant at the 12th Van Cliburn International Competition in 2005, she swept two additional awards as an all-around winner, receiving the Steven De Groote Memorial Award for best performance of chamber music with the Takàcs Quartet and the Beverley Taylor Smith Award for best performance of a new work. Since her spectacular finish, Yang has flourished into an “astonishing artist” (Neue Zürcher Zeitung), and she is continually re-engaged by orchestras across the U.S. and abroad.

Stern is in his seventh season as music director of the Kansas City Symphony, hailed for its remarkable artistic growth and development since his tenure began.

The Symphony and Stern concluded their first year together by making a recording for the Naxos label which was released in 2007. Two additional CDs, “Britten’s Orchestra” and “The Tempest,” were

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recently released to critical acclaim on the Reference Recordings label. Stern is also the founding artistic director and principal conductor of The IRIS Orchestra in Germantown, Tenn., beginning its second decade this season. Other positions include a tenure as the chief conductor of Germany’s Saarbrücken Radio Symphony Orchestra (the first American chief conductor in the orchestra’s history) and as permanent guest conductor of the Or-

chestre National de Lyon in France, and a stint as the principal guest conductor of the Orchestre National de Lille, France.

The Thursday, March 1, concert is sponsored by Symphony 100. Pacific Symphony’s Classical series performances are made possible by the Hal and Jeanette Segerstrom Family Foundation, with additional support from American Airlines, The Westin South Coast Plaza, KUSC and PBS SoCal.

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legal notices Loan No.: 070407 JOBE RESS Order No.:73136 A.P. NUMBER 052-062-14 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE UNDER DEED OF TRUST YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST, DATED July 27, 2007, UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. Notice NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that on 03/02/2012, at 9:00 A.M. of said day, on the front steps to the entrance of the Orange Civic Center, 300 East Chapman Avenue, Orange, CA, RESS Financial Corporation, a California corporation, as duly appointed Trustee under and pursuant to the power of sale conferred in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Shirley A. Jobe, an unmarried woman recorded on 08/02/2007, in Book n/a of Official Records of ORANGE County, at page n/a, Recorder’s Instrument No. 2007000482318 , by reason of a breach or default in payment or performance of the obligations secured thereby, including that breach or default, Notice of which was recorded 09/25/2008 as Recorder’s Instrument No. 2008000450106, in Book n/a, at page n/a, WILL SELL AT PUBLIC AUCTION TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER FOR CASH, lawful money of the United States, evidenced by a Cashier’s Check drawn on a state or national bank, or the equivalent thereof drawn on any other financial institution specified in section 5102 of the California Financial Code, authorized to do business in the State of California, ALL PAYABLE AT THE TIME OF SALE, all right, title and interest held by it as Trustee, in that real property situated in said County and State, described as follows: PORTIONS LOTS 4, 5 & 6, BLOCK 35, PER BOOK 4, PAGE 67, OF MISCELLANEOUS MAPS The street address or other common designation of the real property hereinabove described is purported to be: 2908 OCEAN BOULEVARD, CORONA DEL MAR, CA 92625 . The undersigned disclaims all liability for any incorrectness in said street address or other common designation. Said sale will be made without warranty, express or implied regarding title, possession, or other encumbrances, to satisfy the unpaid obligations secured by said Deed of Trust, with interest and other sums as provided therein; plus advances, if any, thereunder and interest thereon; and plus fees, charges, and expenses of the Trustee and of the trusts created by said Deed of Trust. The total amount of said obligations at the time of initial publication of this Notice is $2,786,784.45. Dated: 02/03/2012 RESS Financial Corporation, a California corporation, as Trustee By: Bruce R. Beasley, President 1780 Town and Country Drive, Suite 105, Norco, CA 92860-3618 (SEAL) Tel.: (951) 270-0164 or (800)343-7377 FAX: (951)270-2673 Trustee’s Sale Information: (714) 573-1965 www. priorityposting.com P921806 2/10, 2/17, 02/24/2012

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Grand Giant Cabbages Encourage Kids To Garden

Nicole Catsouras

CHP Settles Suit Over Leaked Photos of Deceased Orange County Teen nicole catsouras In October of 2006 grisly photographs of an Orange County teen killed in a car accident began spreading online. The photos were leaked by the California Highway Patrol.

The Law Firm of Bremer Whyte filed an immediate lawsuit and coordinated efforts with the family to get the offending photos off of the web.

After five years of legal battling, the young woman’s family has settled the lawsuit against the CHP. The photos from the Halloween 2006 accident graphically show 18-year-old Nicole “Nikki” Catsouras maimed in her father’s mangled Porsche. Lead by Keith Bremer and Tyler Offenhauser, the family filed a lawsuit against the CHP, launching an unprecedented legal discussion. At the time the lawsuit was filed, the law did not recognize the right of family members to sue for invasion of privacy involving photos of the dead on the internet. But that changed in 2010 when the state’s 4th District Court of Appeal established that surviving family members have a right to sue for invasion of privacy in such cases.

“The Catsouras family is pleased that this case established laws to protect against this type of activity going forward, and that it raised significant awareness concerning cyberbullying,” Keith Bremer said in a front page OC Register article on the case. “Public entities throughout the U.S. have now established protocols to ensure photos like these that serve no public benefit remain protected Page 18

so that other families are not subject to the taunting and bullying that still goes on even today.” (Source: OC Register) As part of the settlement, the California Highway Patrol also agreed to cooperate with the family in fighting to remove the images from the Internet.

“No amount of money can compensate for the pain the Catsouras family has suffered,” CHP spokeswoman Fran Clader said in a statement. “We have reached a resolution with the family to save substantial costs of continued litigation and a jury trial.

It is our hope that with this legal issue resolved, the Catsouras family can receive some closure.” (Source: LATimes.com) The family expressed congratulations to Keith G. Bremer and his team of attorneys for their thoughtful and aggressive approach on behalf of the Catsouras family. To speak with Keith directly and for more information regarding the case, please call (949) 221-1000.

Attorneys Nicole Whyte and Keith Bremer

The Newport News

The North American youth is perhaps the future of gardening…

Perhaps no other greenhouse grower is doing more to foster young gardeners than Bonnie Plants of Union Springs, Alabama. The company operates from 65 growing stations, in 48 states and its primary products are vegetable and herb plants offered at garden retailers nationwide (Home Depot, Lowes, Wal-Mart and 3700 independents.) Through the company’s Third Grade Cabbage Program, Bonnie Plants has shared more than 11 million cabbage plants with young students across the nation since 2002. Teachers can sign their classes up (for free) at www.bonnieplants.com. Last season more than 1.5 million kids participated.

The cabbage plants delivered to third grade classrooms by Bonnie Plants are O.S. Cross, (OS stands for oversized) –this variety of cabbage can grow upwards of 40lbs.

Once the cabbage is fully grown students submit their photos of their cabbages to their teacher who picks “best in class”. Statewide “best in class” photos are then entered in a random drawing and State Agricultural Commissioners, state to state, randomly select their state’s winner. Bonnie Plants awards each

state winner $1,000 towards education. “The joy of gardening and the satisfaction of growing healthy food are gifts that kids never outgrow. said Stan Cope, President of Bonnie Plants.

Bonnie Plants recently partnered with Growums, an online company, to promote gardening and healthy eating to kids. Bonnie licensed 8 animated veggie and herb characters that interact with users on www. growums.com Children purchasing these products receive a code on the plant tag that allows them to interact on the website with characters such as Hal E. Peno, Princess Strawberry and Duke the Cuke. Growums character images will be prominently displayed on all Bonnie’s point of purchase materials including the wraps for the company’s biodegradable pots. Children can log on to Growums.com and play with the animated veggies and herb characters in a virtual world.

“With its entertaining characters, engaging videos, games and activities, the Growums brand is a great conduit to reach our next generation of gardeners” Cope said. “This experience-based learning will help inspire and build a love of gardening that will last a lifetime.

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February 24, 2012

Debra Kovacs Ranked #39 Worldwide As a real estate professional who continues to successfully navigate one of the most challenging markets in recent history, Debra Kovacs is constantly asked, “What’s your secret?” She never hesitates in her answer. “There is no secret to success,” she asserts. “ It’s hard work, adaptability and a commitment to meeting your clients’ needs. As our market and industry continue to shift, smart agents are amending their businesses accordingly. Those of us who have remained in the industry are here because this is our career, not a job.”

Debra knows plenty about working beyond the traditional 9-10-5 model. Before dedicating herself to real estate she owned and ran a complete design center for over a decade. From new home interiors and retail schemes to staging and decorating model homes, she worked closely with clients to assist them in creating unique spaces that reflected their lifestyles. And as a real estate professional, she taps into the very skills that helped her build a thriving design business.

“Real estate is a complex industry,” observes Debra. “While incorporating and utilizing technology is essential, this business is still about people, about relationships.” She makes a point of engaging in face-to-face meetings with her clients at the onset of any transaction because, says Debra, “Why would someone entrust me with one of the largest investments in their lives if we can’t actually sit down and talk to each other?”

Building a strong level of communication is critical, she explains, particularly when issues or challenges arise. ‘’I’m direct and straightforward with the information I present to my clients,” Debra notes. “It is important to me that they have the knowledge they need to make the right decisions for themselves and their families.”

As a longtime resident of Coto de Caza, Debra is intimately familiar with the community’s resources and amenities. Her ability to pair clients with neighborhoods that meet their lifestyle criteria adds immeasurable value to the level of service she provides. “ It’s convenient, particularly for individuals who are coming in from other regions, not to have to research every detail of the community,” she explains. A topproducing agent who has ranked #1 within the CENTURY 21 Award system in South County for over 10 years, In 2011 Debra was recently recognized as 39th worldwide from a field of 7600 offices and 71 countries and from a pool of over 112,000 agents. She personally handled over 44 closed transactions. Debra notes that her consistent production belies a deeper understanding of the market trends within the region. “I’m constantly showing and selling homes,” she states. “ I have a strong working knowledge of market values and trends, and use that information to best position my clients in their real estate transactions.”

Achieving status as one of the region’s most successful real estate professionals doesn’t happen without exceptional support. Debra’s assistant has been a part of her business for a decade. “My team is an extension of me,” she offers. “ In every aspect of my business, I work with individuals who offer the utmost in client care. This ensures that my clients’ needs are consistently being met.” Throughout the transaction, she adds, Debra takes the lead on communication and negotiation, utilizing her experience and extensive network of colleagues and industry-related specialists to facilitate a smooth and successful experience.

In order to best meet the diverse needs of her clientele, Debra remains committed to ongoing education and utilizing the vast resources available through CENTURY 21 Award, the brokerage that launched her real estate career. “This company has stood by me for over eleven years, supporting me in building my business and offering my clients the best possible care,” she asserts. “In addition to an in-house marketing department, strong relocation division and the convenience of in-house escrow, I am also privy to the knowledge and experience of an incredible management team. The support and resources available through CENTURY 21 Award have been integral components to my success.

Debra is adept at working with a range of transactions including high-end and luxury home sales, REO and short sales, and relocations. Strong online and print marketing campaigns include beautiful photography designed to showcase each home’s unique beauty. In addition to her top-producer status within her brokerage, she has also earned recognition as one of CENTURY 21’s top-10 agents worldwide.

After over two decades of real estate, Debra reveals that what keeps her energized and enthusiastic is her passion for her work. “Selling houses and helping others is so rewarding,” she enthuses. “When you are passionate about your work, when you enjoy what you do, everything falls into place.”

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