Often times, my clients ask me to write feature stories about their companies.
And while I am happy to oblige my clients’ needs – as their freelance writer and Writer For Hire, it’s important to know what your intention is for having a feature article: Did you visualize it being published in a particular paper or magazine? Are you planning to use it in your marketing materials or on your website? Or did you want me to submit the piece to an Article Directory on the Internet?
Once a feature article is written, you can use it for all these purposes but there is no guarantee that it will be published in the newspaper or magazine of your choice. For that, we would need to first write a ‘pitch letter’ or a press release announcing the story idea and requesting the media do a story. Please talk to me about your ideas for feature articles so you can get the maximum exposure for your article.
The following are examples of feature stories written both for my clients and for publications (as a freelance writer):
Surviving in the Logistics Industry
Hoffman Video: A Family Legacy Lives On
Hybrids: Neither Wolf nor Dog
Bosom Buddies: A Support Group for Breast Cancer Survivors
Baby Let’s Wait (to curtail teenage pregnancy)
Beat the Heat – Tips for Avoiding Heatstroke
Creating a Beat: Music Therapy for Seniors
Poison Plants in the Great Outdoors
Raising Hope for Broken Women
Maintaining a Debt-free Existence
Surviving in the Logistics Industry
Bob Walters, President, Freight Management Inc.
(Pat Kramer editor, March 2008)
While Inbound Logistics Magazine would have us believe that outsourcing started with 3 Party Logistics (3PLs) in 1985, as public and private warehouses became abundant throughout the nation to store and ship their clients’ goods, 3PL’s history actually goes backs to the 1960s - although in a different form and in a much more limited supply.
Since 1969, licensed brokers like Freight Management, Inc. were already operating as (or with) our clients’ traffic departments, managing full time staff onsite. We managed their claims, their audits and were in charge of overseeing their day to day operations.
To really understand the history of 3PLs though, you have to understand the changes that have taken place in our industry and how changes today continue to impact our operations and services.
Freight Management, Inc. was founded in 1969 as a way of providing solutions to carriers and shippers. Since 1932 and up until the late 1960s, the world of trucking and freight had seen rigid regulation with limited entry of new carriers and 3PLs. There were just few carriers available and those that did exist worked just a small slice of the market. Contract carriers were limited to five - seven contracts, if and only if, they overcame objections by other carriers serving the same market. Only twelve Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) freight brokers existed, but if you wanted to buy one, you had to wait until someone died, then purchase the broker’s license from their estate.
One major difference in that era was that a trucker’s value was based upon their authority not the cost of the trucks or gear. Audit companies and major shippers had to employ scores of staff just to file the daily flood of new rates and rules that carriers issued for audits. By today’s rates, it cost shippers about 50% more then to move products. There was no single carrier serving the nation: UPS did not yet have service in all areas, especially the intrastate market, and FedEx did not exist. So a large shipper might have use 40 - 50 carriers to serve all the states.
Given those limitations, we set out to help both shippers and carriers. Common carriers needed shippers that could support them for authority and get more freight in the lanes. Shippers, on the other hand, operated on the assumption that all rates were the same; that you simply chose a carrier by the salesman you liked best.
While rates were rigidly regulated and authorities were limited, there were always alternatives available to shippers for lower rates. They could: master bill with the common carriers, do pool distribution, set up string drops on load carriers; marry two pig trailers on the railroad, or they could also use freight forwarders who offered different rates and could provide volume discounts of up to 15%. These were some of the options available from 1969 - 1978.
When we got started, one of the first things we did was develop back hauls for private fleets - like the large food chains, and then helped them get their authority. We also negotiated freight allowances with the major vendors of Smart & Final, Vons and others, thus reducing landed shipping costs for inbound product.
We also pioneered the concept of palletization in the field, identifying and introducing it as the standard. Prior to this time, all freight was hand - loaded and unloaded.
In addition, we helped shippers by checking the accuracy of their freight bills, which was difficult for them to do unless they owned a huge tariff library. By coming up with these solutions, we were able to grow our company in a challenging environment.
After 1978, a major change came about when limited deregulation hit the market place, first affecting air freight forwarders, then freight brokers. In 1980, the carriers were permitted more rate flexibility as well as easier entry for other motor carriers like Schneider, JB Hunt, and Covenant Trucking. Rail agents could now post rates for single trailer loads. New carriers spring up like mushrooms in the field.
To respond to the overwhelming new competition in brokerage, we had to change our business plan again and take steps to control some of the changes. As one of the founders of the Transportation Brokers Conference of America (now known as Transportation Intermediates of America), we began to offer training and certification for the thousands about to enter this field. Having a licensed broker billing the shippers was a totally new concept; previously, the carriers did all the billing paying a commission to the broker.
The new entrants who flooded the market had different levels of experience: They were truckload operations: exempt brokers, moving van companies, and others who were doing the shipper billing in their field. This rendered a $10,000 broker bond totally ‘inadequate.’ The bond was never meant to cover bankrupt brokers who failed to pay the carriers after receiving payment from the shippers. Rather, it was designed to protect the shippers against losses they might suffer from a broker failing to do what they promised (i.e. leaving the shipper with a specific loss).
In the first year of deregulation, rates dropped 30 - 40% as options increased exponentially. And yet, the increase made it more difficult for shippers to choose the best option. Additionally, since most shippers drastically reduced their traffic departments in the rush to cut middle management, those making these decisions had less experience.
Along with more flexible rates, carriers were also permitted to expand nationwide, even though many did not have the sales staff to sell their programs in all the states they served. We helped fill that gap.
In the chaos this created in transportation, we recognized our new role was to provide order and to refine the choices while also providing cost reductions to shippers. To survive in this business, we had to shift our program 180 degrees to fit this market and serve its new needs.
In 1995, the industry opened further when rate deregulation took hold nationwide accelerating the use of and demand for 3PLs. While warehousing, freight forwarders, brokers, auditors, and management services had been in existence since the 30’s, though not as numerous as now, all had to change to serve the market’s changes.
Even today, our role in logistics or freight management services continues to evolve as a major part of our work requires the use of computerized reports. These include reports from the audit process, EDI transmissions, ASN dispatch and track/trace for inbound or outbound freight. Not all carriers are able to provide this level of service – and yet, it is required if they want to remain competitive. Today only 5% of the common carriers that existed in 1970 still exist and most of those are in some degree of merger.
Who knows what the future can hold for any of us? Software is now so easy to obtain and operate that it could jeopardize our clients’ need to outsource the audits, the brokerage and management of freight programs.
In 1975, we were the only company providing logistics management services. In 1995, there were 20 of us, and now, there are 500. How many remain depends upon what they are willing to do to accommodate the latest change. Most will be gone with the latest tide, I suspect.
In transportation, you must find your role in relationship to what the trends are in the world or face extinction. Just as certain as death and taxes, change will always exist; in fact, it will probably accelerate in the coming years. You either ride it to your success or die in the failure to respond.
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The Family Legacy Lives On at Hoffman Video Systems
By Pat Kramer
While competing in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain sixteen years ago, Pasadena resident and philanthropist Rob Shepherd never imagined the significant role he would play, today, as president of Hoffman Video Systems. Then, a member of the University of Washington’s prized rowing team, his eye was on making history for the U.S. And while his team placed just shy of an Olympic medal, coming in fourth out of the eighteen teams competing, his hard work and discipline is now paying off at Hoffman Video, one of the nation’s leading integrators of audio and video systems for corporate facilities and custom, residential home theaters.
Rob joined the company as a vice president in 1999 during a time of a transition in its leadership. A managing partner had announced his semi-retirement and Chief Executive Officer J. Kris Popovich invited his son – in –law, Rob, the opportunity to buy into the company. In Rob, he saw a young man with a background in finance but more than that, a passion for keeping Hoffman on track with the changes in the marketplace.
For Rob, it was an opportunity he could not refuse. Through his wife’s family, he had become familiar with the fascinating legacy of Hoffman Video Systems whose founder, H. Leslie Hoffman, started this L.A. – based company in 1941 and went from a humble, fluorescent light salesman to one of the foremost technologies innovation companies in the nation.
Known then as the H. L. Hoffman company, it earned its place in history over the next 36 years by constant innovations in technology, introducing the American public to the transistor radio and color television.
Many significant advances followed. In 1960, Hoffman Electronics developed solar cells for the Vangard Satellite, in 1965, they worked with Montgomery Ward for the branding of the color TV, and in 1977, Hoffman provided an airborne navigation system for the space shuttle Enterprise. Through Hoffman Electronics’ contributions, America’s technology grew stronger.
But to stay strong, the company has had to keep changing. In 1977, Hoffman Electronics sold their major divisions to Gould Electronics, a worldwide corporation and leading manufacturer of circuit boards and military products. By then, Hoffman was a diversified, national corporation with seven divisions in multiple states.
In 1978, the spin – off company, Hoffman Video Systems, was born with its focus to provide technological expertise in the installation and integration of sophisticated audio/video equipment to corporate facilities.
In the last three decades, the company has branched out to complete large-scale projects in 33 states, as well as international projects, worldwide.
Hoffman Video’s patented Four-Wall-In (4WISM) service is part of what sets them apart from their competition. Their approach on every project involves not only the electronics themselves, but taking into consideration the surrounding environment and the human factors involved. On the whole, they bring to each project expert consultation, design, custom fabrication, installation, training and ongoing service.
Fast forward to the year 1999 when Rob joined the company. At the time, he was working for a Glendale financial company where he had been building a line of business setting up pension plans and mutual funds for mid to large size companies. When asked by Kris Popovich to join the family business, he jumped at the challenge it provided.
He recalls, “At the time, I didn’t know a tremendous amount about the audio – video business but I did know a lot about selling and marketing. I was also thrilled to be a part of this family legacy contributing ‘new blood’ to the operations and leadership.”
In just two, short years, Rob rose to president of the company where he became involved in the strategic planning of Hoffman’s corporate projects.
With pride he recalls three of their top installations: the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades – a two year project, LAPD’s new Manchester training center and headquarters, and most notably, USC’s Galen Center. The high-impact audio/video system for the Galen Center included a partnership with JBL Professional loudspeakers, providing the most sophisticated sound – and visuals - for the 255,000 square foot, $147 million facility, home to the Trojan’s men’s and women’s basketball teams.
“All of these projects ranged from $1.5 million to $2 million dollars,” notes Rob, “and our clients were extremely savvy end – users with high expectations for the performance of their video and sound systems.”
He adds, “We won these contracts because Hoffman Video has the ability to provide the ‘band-width:’ the installers, project managers, engineers, and on staff resources needed to get the job done. We are second to none in that regard.”
In January, the company launched a brand new custom, residential theater division aimed at providing the same level of expertise and premier services to the consumer market that Hoffman’s corporate clients have enjoyed for the past several decades.
Over the past couple of years, Rob says the requests for high – end home theaters have been increasing, due in part to the affordability of the technology. “We’ve never really focused our expertise on the consumer home theater market but with the sophistication of our clients in the L.A. area – a considerable amount of those entertainment and sports figures – we are now creating a new division to serve their needs.”
Typically, custom home theaters can run from $10,000 on the low end for a Plasma TV system to as much as $500,000 for an entire, home automation system. In the last year, Hoffman Video earned about $1.5 million in revenue from these projects, alone, with actor/director Sylvester Stallone one of their premium clients.
After nearly seven decades of leadership in the electronics industry, Rob says it’s important to stay focused on what has continued to make this company strong. He credits CEO Kris Popovich with keeping the company on its course.
“Kris provides the strong moral compass that maintains the legacy of Hoffman Video and he’s been doing that for over 30 years. Service is one of the company’s core values and that will always be the case as we move into the future.
“Overall, Kris believes in people – the people who make up the company and those whom we serve. He believes in giving back to the community, providing funding for local schools, the L.A.P.D., the L.A. Zoo, Children’s Hospital, and specifically, Kids Space Museum in Pasadena, which Jane Hoffman Popovich helped establish.
As an independent L.A. company, Hoffman Video remains proud of its roots.
Says Rob, “Our clients know that we will always be here to provide the service they need because we are involved in our community and this connection has helped us to prevail all these years.”
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HYBRIDS: NEITHER WOLF NOR DOG, MANY ARE DESTINED TO DIE BY EUTHANASIA
By Pat Kramer
Created by man and sought after by many for their exotic looks, wolf/dog hybrids are the latest breed to be outlawed in L.A. County. Known for their destructive tendencies, their ability to escape from their confines, their resistance to housebreaking and their perchance for howling, hybrids often end up being euthanized by animal authorities because they fail to compare to their cousin, the domestic dog.
The Wildlife Waystation, which rescues wild and exotic animals, last year stopped taking in hybrids after owner Martine Colette says they became overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of hybrids in need of a home. Says Martine. “If they’re so wonderful, why are so many ending up in shelters and being dumped off? When people take it upon themselves to create “designer” animals, something that is not natural, I think there’s a responsibility to ‘first do no harm.’ “It’s a genetic crapshoot” says Martine in regards to the questionable nature of the cross-breed. “They can be exceedingly, painfully shy, they can be fear biters, while others are exceedingly aggressive killing domestic animals on sight. Some send cross signals, growling at one end and wagging their tail at the other. This is not a science.” She adds, it’s often the people who spend $500 or $800 who find themselves out pocket while the animal loses its life.
For those who need help with hybrids, the rescue organization Villalobos is there to help. Started in 1989 for the care of one hybrid, the organization now houses forty in their facility near L.A. Ranging in content from a small percentage to 98% wolf, the hybrids vary greatly in their looks and temperament, according to rescuer Nicole Wilde. “It’s hard to give a blanket statement because there’s no breed standard for hybrids. Some hybrids you can have in the house and obedience train but when you get up to the high content hybrids, they’re difficult to housebreak and they’re really destructive: Not as in ‘I’ll eat your tennis shoe’ but as in ‘I’ll eat through your drywall.’
Due to their high intelligence and ability to problem-solve, she notes, they are also escape artists. “If you’re sitting there fiddling with the lock on a pen, a dog will sit there with its tongue hanging out saying, “Oh boy, am I going?” While a wolf will be looking at you sideways going, “I’m watching what you’re doing.” And he’ll know how to get the latches up next time.”
With their goal to educate people about wolves and hybrids, Villalobos welcomes opportunities to bring them to the public. Says Nicole, “Everybody has so many misconceptions about hybrids. We just want to teach them it’s not the big bad wolf.”
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Bosom Buddies: A Support Group for Breast Cancer Survivors
By Pat Kramer
With the recent death of Linda McCartney and the news that Carly Simon has breast cancer, this widely prevalent malignancy is showing that it knows no boundaries, choosing its victims almost randomly from a large segment of the population. Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for women in the United States with about 180,000 new cases diagnosed each year. There are at least a dozen types of breast cancer and it strikes both men and women. Some forms of breast cancer are easily cured while others are more aggressive and require equally aggressive (and toxic) treatment to combat it. For those afflicted with a diagnosis of breast cancer, it helps to have someone to talk to, somewhere to turn in an hour of need.
“There have been statistics that show that people in support groups do much better than people who are not,” says Carolyn Stultz. Stultz is a founding member of the non-denominational breast cancer support group “Bosom Buddies” which meets once a month in the La Crescenta/La Canada area. “In our group, people come and share how they are doing in their recovery or treatment or whatever stage they’re at. We’re a non-judgmental, all- volunteer group. There are no requirements for membership and everybody’s welcome.”
Bosom Buddies was formed about ten years ago by Jill Robertson, then the interim pastor at La Crescenta Presbyterian Church, to provide a comfortable environment for women with breast cancer to share about their struggles. Originally, there were just four members. Now the group provides a sharing atmosphere for up to 25 people.
Helen Thompson, the 83-year old survivor who heads the group’s telephone committee, is the group’s oldest member. Thirteen years ago, Helen’s treatment required a mastectomy. In recalling that, she says she’s one of the “lucky ones.” “I didn’t have to have chemotherapy, I didn’t take tamoxifen, and I didn’t go through all that these young people are going through. It’s just amazing how they are handling things. They all have ways of coping with this. It’s so comforting to share with everybody else.”
The group allows those who are dealing with breast cancer an opportunity to discuss not only their fears but also their hopes. Says Thompson, “We share all the information that each individual gets from their doctors. Many are currently undergoing chemo and radiation and there are different approaches, depending on their doctors. We also discuss the decision to get second opinions. Many members are very concerned about going down to UCLA or Norris or the City of Hope. Sharing the approaches of different hospitals is always helpful as is knowing what places specialize in what you’re doctor has recommended for you.”
Both Thompson and Stultz agree that it’s helpful to have someone to turn to, particularly when family and friends are overwhelmed by the seriousness of the subject matter. Thompson recalls, “I’ve known a number of people who knew about this [group]. They didn’t feel they needed it but when they had a reoccurrence of cancer, they came to the meeting and said, ‘I just can’t believe I didn’t come before.’ It seems to help them so much - just knowing somebody else is going through this and hearing about how they’ve been able to cope. I really do feel that people find this a really great source of support.”
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“Baby Let’s Wait” Gives Teens a Reality-Check on Parenthood
By Pat Kramer
At Pasadena High School, teenagers are getting a crash course in baby rearing through an intensive high school-based parenthood prevention program called “Baby Let’s Wait.” Administered by MFCC (marriage, family and child counseling) interns from the Lavie Center in Pasadena, 9th - 12th graders get the opportunity to explore the challenges of being a parent without actually undertaking the commitment of a lifetime.
Exclusively offered at Pasadena High School, the course meets twice a week in the health classes of Mrs. Rosemary Hook and Mr. Jim Langley. Funded by a state Community Challenge Grant, “Baby Let’s Wait” has been in existence since 1996 providing teens with a sort of “boot camp” experience of parenthood. One of the ways it does this is through the use of infant simulators which students get to borrow for 48-hours. In the process, Julie Parker, the coordinator of the program says teens are discovering that the responsibilities of parenthood are not to be taken lightly.
“An infant simulator is a life-like doll created to look just like a newborn baby,” says Parker. “It weighs exactly the same as a real baby would; it’s made of sturdy plastic and is extremely authentic looking.” Equipped with an electronic sensing device, the baby is designed to cry at random intervals every two or three hours. The only way to stop the baby from crying is to insert a key into the device and hold it there ten to twenty minutes, simulating the normal feeding time for an infant.
Says Parker, the baby simulators show the teens the reality of parenthood in a very real way: “During the time the kids have the infant simulators, they learn about sleep deprivation and how it affects them. Most of them are not used to this and it’s a real challenge for them. They may be ready, physically, to have a child but they all come in with their tails between their legs saying, ‘We are no where near emotionally-ready to have a child’ so it’s a very powerful deterrent.”
In addition to the experience with the infant simulators, the 9th - 12th graders learn about a variety of other subjects related to the onset of their sexuality. “We talk about falling in love and the stages of that, we examine the dismal teen parent statistics, the tough new welfare laws, new developments in paternity declarations, abusive relationships and sexually-transmitted diseases. We show a lot of films and give them articles on teens that have had a lot of courage,” states Parker.
During the semester that they take this health course, the students also get to work on
their emotional skills by discussing their thoughts and feelings about parenthood. “One of the premises of this program,” notes Parker “is that if you treat a student like an adult, they really appreciate that they’re part of a team; they want terribly to be recognized as adults. We give the students a chance to practice caring behavior as opposed to uncaring behavior, to practice listening skills with no put downs, and we encourage them to talk about what’s going on in their lives.”
Since the program began, in 1986, Parker estimates that 380 students, both boys and girls, have undergone parenthood prevention training. Since that time, only two of the students have reported pregnancies. “Our eventual goal,” says Parker, “is to have a pregnancy-free campus at Pasadena High School.” “Baby Let’s Wait” is funded until June 1999. Right now, they are searching for sponsors to keep the program going as a regular part of the high school curriculum, with the hope of eventually expanding the program to other schools in the district.
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Beat the Heat and Avoid Heatstroke
By Pat Kramer
Summertime can be a hazardous time for many as the temps creep up past 90-degrees, compromising our physical and mental capabilities. The elderly, small children and those who are ill are especially at risk during extreme temps and often need extra help. In particular, there is the danger of ‘heat stroke’ (aka: sun stroke) and ‘heat exhaustion’ says Lisa Derderian, public relations director for the Pasadena office of the American Red Cross.
Heat exhaustion, the less serious of the two, occurs when the body become overheated and can’t properly cool down. Typically, she says this occurs when people are wearing too many layers of clothing or due to excessive activity in warm, humid environment. Symptoms can include pale or flushed skin, headaches, nausea, dizziness, vomiting and exhaustion. By resting in a cool place, removing excess clothing and slowly drinking cool water, the body’s internal temperature can be lowered.
The more serious condition, however, heat stroke, often requires emergency help from paramedics. Heat stroke, says Derderian, is when the body’s cooling system shuts down leading to potential brain damage or death. Symptoms are rapid shallow breathing, a rapid, weak pulse, hot, red and dry skin, and a loss of consciousness.
The Red Cross emphasizes that this is a ‘serious’ condition and should be treated as such.
“Call 911 to get proper help. In the meantime, wrap the person in cool, wet sheets if possible and apply ice packs to their wrists, ankles, armpits and neck to cool the large blood vessels,” she says.
For best results in keeping cool, the Red Cross suggests the following common sense dos and don’ts:
For free literature on beating the heat and other health-related topics, visit the American Red Cross at their headquarters: 430 Madeline Drive or at their field office: 50 N. Hill Avenue, 2nd floor in Pasadena. For better preparedness, the Red Cross suggests taking First Aid courses so you know what to do in an emergency until professional help can arrive. Play it safe this summer: stay cool, think cool thoughts and remember, it won’t last forever. Remember: there’s only 150 more shopping days until Christmas!
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CREATING A BEAT, MUSIC THERAPIST NEIL DORVAL
GIVES RETIREES SOMETHING TO SHOUT ABOUT
By Pat Kramer
“I provide therapy that’s entertaining and entertainment that’s therapeutic.” That’s how certified music therapist Neil Dorval, singer, songwriter and therapist describes his work while frequently takes him to Pasadena and the surrounding areas to work with residents in care programs, hospitals, health facilities and rehabilitation centers.
A certified music therapist, Neil earned his degree in music therapy from Temple University. But his field work began immediately after while completing some 1,000 + hours of internship work in Pennsylvania at the Pennhurst Center, where he discovered that the use of music not only calmed patients’ nerves but also gave them a channel for self expression.
“People can express themselves, reach their goals, develop self awareness, options for self expression, and reinforce many other forms of therapy: respiratory, speech and physical to name a few,” says Dorval, “through the use of structured music activities.” He adds, “Sound is the motivator for people to participate, sound is what keeps their attention.”
Comparing music therapy’s effectiveness to that of psychoanalysis, he says, “Sometimes, in other mediums, when you’re relying on exercising your will, that can be very wearing [for the patient]. It takes a certain inner motivation to try to do what the therapist is asking from you. But when you have sound as part of an activity, you are contributing to the sound in the room.”
Typically, Dorval is hired by the activity or program director of a facility to create programs that residents will enjoy. Dorval’s specialty is in working with senior citizens, Alzheimer patients and those in retirement facilities, where he creates musical programs that stimulate their memories, foster participation and encourage motor skills.
For example, during a program at Alhambra’s Episcopal Home, he had the residents playing hand bells to “When the Saints Come March in’ In.” Other times, he utilizes tambourines, maracas, drums and other percussive instruments to give his audience a chance to participate in the music being created.
Noting that many retirement homes often hire the cheapest, least qualified persons to provide programs for residents, he says, “Often times, the programs are not age appropriate for seniors. And as a result, it fails to serve the purpose of engaging them in interactions one another.”
However, when Dorval performs his original compositions or those of the Grammy award-winning artists he records with [in his other career], people sit up and take notice. “A physical therapist will say, ‘How did you get them to do that? I’ve been working with them for months and they’ve never shown signs of interest.” The answer, says Dorval, “Is I have a tool that other mediums don’t - the tool of sound.”
In addition to Dorval’s talents as a music therapist, he is a singer-songwriter and recording artist. His company, Tenacious Productions, recently released his new CD of sixteen original songs titled, “Underneath the Moon and Stars,” featuring Grammy award-winner Grover Washington Jr. and many other well-known session players.
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Enjoying the “Great” Outdoors
By Pat Kramer
“If you’re lost or stranded in the great outdoors there are a few things you need to remember,” states Suzanne Swedo, director of the wilderness educational organization W.I.L.D. “You can survive for 3 minutes without air, 3 hours without shelter, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food. Therefore, if you aren’t absolutely sure if a plant is poisonous or not, don’t take the chance.” There are no rules for distinguishing an edible plant from a poisonous one. Pointing to a clump of Deadly Nightshade growing along the trail, Suzanne says, “Even a little taste can kill you.”
In her efforts to help city-dwellers learn more about their native plants, Suzanne offers “Edible Plant Walks” in the Angeles National Forest where hundreds of species of both edible and poisonous plants thrive. On a recent weekend visit to Chantry Falls (near the Santa Anita exit off the 210 freeway), Swedo demonstrated her vast knowledge of local flora pointing out, among other things, “Poison Oak,” “Deadly Nightshade,” “Tree Tobacco,” “Wild Cucumber,” “Stinging Nettles,” all considered poisonous or capable of causing great discomfort.
Poison Oak, which flourishes all over Greater L.A., is probably the one most familiar to the public. Causing itchy, oozing rashes to those who are allergic to it, is can easily be identified by its three-leaf formations growing on vines in bushy formations. For those who make contact with Poison Oak, make sure there’s some Mugwort on hand. Also found in the local woods, it is reputed to be handy as an antidote.
Deadly Nightshade is harder to spot. It looks like a beautiful plant with yellow and purple flowers and produces purple berries. Its active, deadly ingredient is belladonna. Tree Tobacco also looks like a harmless flower with tubular like flowers that appear similar to honeysuckle. Wild Cucumber, misnamed to indicate en edible plant, grows spiny fleshy fruit, which at first glance, resembles a spiny blowfish. Native Americans found these fruit useful in fishing: when tossed in the water, they stunned the fish creating “easy pickings” for hungry fishermen.
While these are but a few of the poisonous plants, there are many wild edible and otherwise useful plants in the forest such as: Yucca, Elderberry, Horehound, Sour Grass, Toothwort, and Wild Hyacinth. Yucca, for instance, can be utilized in many ways. Its leaves produce stringy fiber, great for basket weaving and making rope. Yucca flower petals are edible and its pointy leaves can be used as sewing needles.
Berries of the Elderberry plant can be used for tea, wine, jelly or pie, while its flowers are good for soup and its leaves can be used medicinally for a skin wash. Don’t eat the leaves though: they can give you a stomachache!
Sour Grass, the common yellow flower may seem like a useless weed but it, too, is edible. Bite into its stem and you’ll taste a lemon-like flavor. Toothwort, a cruciferous plant with a profusion of white flowers, is supposed to be good for producing anti-oxidants while Wild Hyacinths produce an onion-like bulb which makes good eating too. Gooseberries are wonderful in pies or jam; Bedstraw makes a great mattress stuffing and can also be used as a diuretic when brewed in tea. Stinging Nettles, razor sharp to the touch, can be utilized as tea when prepared properly.
Bay leaves are also abundant in the woods and make great seasonings for cooking pasta. Horehound, when simmered in sugar or honey, keeps the throat clear. Chickweed, Mustard and Miner’s Lettuce make tasty salad greens, while Fennel can be used as a licorice-like spice.
White Sage, a plant used by Native Americans for spiritual cleansing ceremonies, is also a spice and an anti-flatulent, while Fennel’s stems make for good salad greens as well as providing a licorice-like seasoning.
West of the Rockies, there are estimated to be around 14,000 types of plants. Of that amount, Swedo says 2,000 are known to be edible and 2,000 are known to be poisonous. That leaves about 10,000 that fall into the “we don’t know what they are” category.
For those doing a lot of hiking, Swedo suggests learning at least the basics about native plants. Besides making the woods and trails a more interesting place, the added knowledge might come in handy when you least expect it.
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Pasadena Walkathon to Raise Hope for Broken Women
By Pat Kramer
They come from all walks of life and ethnic backgrounds but what all the women of the Walter Having Home, a Pasadena-based drug rehabilitation facility, have in common is the desire to turn their lives around. Drug addiction, alcoholism, prostitution, and other life-controlling problems define these women are when they first cross the threshold of the non-profit facility located at 218 and 210 South Madison Avenue between Cordova Street and Delmar Boulevard They range in age from 18-years up to their ‘60s, but founder Elsie Benton still likes to refer to them as “girls” or “ladies.”
The 63-year old Benton and her 64-year old husband John founded the Walter Hoving Home in Pasadena in December 1983, after already establishing a successful program in New York in 1967. Named after the late Walter Hoving, chairman of Tiffany & Co., who helped the Benton’s establish their original facility, the Walter Hoving Home in Garrison, New York.
However, the Benton’s interest in helping young women and men started even earlier: as foster parents for six kids who shared their New York home with their own three children. It was an experience that Elsie fondly remembers. “It worked out real good, we had no problems. Our children learned to give while the others learned from our children. It was a positive experience on both parts.”
When, in the early ‘80s, they were asked by a representative of evangelist Billy Graham’s Association to start a similar home in Los Angeles, they jumped at the chance. Reflecting on that decision, Elsie states, “Bill Brown from Worldwide Pictures in Burbank told us there was a real need for our help in L.A.” After scouting out the area, the Benson’s tried to start their West Coast rehab program in Pasadena on Hill Street by Cal Tech. However, due to zoning problems at that location, they continued their search which led to their purchase of 218 S. Madison Avenue property, and later, the second building at 210 S. S. Madison.
Once settled in, the Benson’s began the process of finding the “right” candidates for their facility, a process that has led to hundreds of hours, both day and night, on the streets of L.A and in prisons and jails across Southern California reaching out to prostitutes and drug addicts. “We invite them to stay with us for a week as our guest, observing them for a week to see if they can fit in with the rest of the ladies,” says Elsie. With capacity limited to 20 residents, it takes someone who is really committed to growth and change to land a place here.
Those who do stay then partake in the facility’s programs for a length of 12 to 15 months. Those programs include 4 ½ hours a day of schooling which focuses on interpersonal relationship and skills development. The residents also pitch in with the cooking, cleaning and office work. Although the home functions as a school for Christian growth, Elsie says it is non-denominational in that they accept people from all religious faiths.
After the initial 12 - 15 month period, residents of the home are encouraged to stay on for another six months to receive job training and prepare for re-entry into the working world. Sources and Job Training Placement Association (JTPA) are two programs, which offer free skills testing and job training services to those staying at the Walter Hovey Home.
Reflecting on the changes and the magic that’s taken place for those who have given the program a chance, Elsie says that since 1991, 23 of the 25 women who have graduated from their program are now living a drug-free life. “One of our ladies came to us when she was 63; she had been on drugs for 43-years - heroin and alcohol,” she recalls. “She’s now doing quite well and lives in the area. “They find out that they have a lot more potential than they had thought.” One former resident is now an award-winning real estate broker, two others own their own printing companies, one has become a pastor for a church in North Long Beach, while another is a missionary in Paraguay with her husband and children. Other former residents have taken what they’ve learned and planted new seeds for others as directors of other programs for girls while others have become successful Moms.
Describing the need that currently exists for programs of this kind, Elsie notes, “It isn’t a ghetto problem anymore; these problems are worldwide in suburbia. One of our ladies who came from a good home was addicted to money. She’d forge checks and sell drugs because she wanted money. We have a lot who come from very good homes. One is a straight “A” student and has started college but couldn’t stay away from cocaine.”
In order to continue their work, the Walter Hovey Home holds fundraising events every few months. This Saturday, March 28 at 10 a.m., they will be holding their 8th annual Walkathon, which will begin outside their S. Madison facility. The procession will wind its way 50-blocks along Hill Street, Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, Los Robles and Cordova before ending at the Walter Hovey Home where lunch will be served. With the money they raise from this and future events, Benton says they hope to be able to expand from their current two houses to buy the Mira Monte Hotel on El Molino Avenue.
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DEBT: GETTING OUT OF THE HOLE WITHOUT GOING OUT OF YOUR MIND
By Pat Kramer
Debt, Bankruptcy, Foreclosure, and Repossession: It’s a phenomenon that’s happening frequently these days as more people reach for – and miss -- that elusive American Dream. Bankruptcy can take many forms but according to bankruptcy lawyer Bret J. Davis of the Westside firm Davis and Davis, the most common forms of bankruptcy are Chapter 7, Chapter 11 and Chapter 13.
“Chapter 7,” says Davis, “refers to situations where a trustee [debtor] must liquidate all non-exempt assets to pay creditors [those to whom money is owed]. “Chapter 11, on the other hand, is reorganization where part of the debt a corporation owes is paid back to creditors while the company stays in business. With Chapter 13, a percentage of money is allocated from the individual’s salary, like garnishing their wages, for debt repayment.”
While Davis says bankruptcies can be a “nuisance” for the person going through it, it isn’t anything to fall apart over. “There have been a lot of myths perpetuated about this, that you can’t ever have credit cards, that your credit is ruined for 10-years and that it’s morally unethical. People get so worried and scared; they think their world is falling apart when they hear the word ‘bankruptcy.’ In truth, it is a problem but it’s one that can be handled.”
“Not all people who declare bankruptcy are poor people,” says Davis. “Either someone’s been sick or someone’s been out of work or someone’s tried to start up a business and things went slower than they hoped. They’re people who have had credit extended to them, maybe people who were quite affluent at some point. They took a risk, invested in something, and the debt has gotten too big to manage. At 18% interest, that debt doubles every four years and once a person gets more than $10,000 or $20,000 in credit card debt, it’s real hard to work their way out of it.”
Davis frequently files Chapter 7’s for his clients: In 90-days, after filing a petition listing all their creditors, the debt is discharged. For his services, Davis charges between $1,500 and $3,500 plus a $175 filing fee charged by the court. He offers free consultations to those with questions and his fee covers meeting with trustees, negotiating with creditors, court appearances and handling adversary proceedings.
For those on a tighter budget, “We the People,” a paralegal document filing service can file your bankruptcy for just $214.00. Run by paralegal Sandy Lindusky, the office has filed about 100 bankruptcies ranging from $8,000 to $50,000 since opening its doors last April.
“We’re to the legal professional what H&R Block is to accounting,” says Lindusky “We’re much cheaper than attorneys,” although she notes they don’t give advice and don’t represent people in court.
“Most people are up to their ears in credit card debt and would like to have a normal life without creditors [breathing] down their throats. Once we file their bankruptcy in court, it goes into an automatic stay and creditors have to back off.” Thirty days thereafter, she says a “341 creditors meeting” is held in court where the debtor and his or her creditors meet, face to face, to negotiate a settlement.
While this process might be unnerving to some, Lindusky says, “People do it all the time by themselves.” In addition to filing bankruptcy cases, We the People’s 18 franchises in Southern California also provide filing services for uncontested divorces, revocable living trusts, guardianships and business incorporations.
While bankruptcies are one possible outcome of the debt process, another very real one for property owners is the dreaded foreclosure of their home. When that happens, it’s best to have someone like Victor Santos Sy, MBA on your side.
A certified public accountant, Sy specializes in real estate taxation, protecting assets from lawsuits and defending taxpayers against IRS audits. “I represent people before the IRS when their homes are foreclosed: They’re in deep trouble but also they have to pay tax on the debt that was forgiven by the bank. We help them restructure that debt and try to find exclusions to relieve it. When all else fails, we arrange a [workable] payment plan for them with the IRS.”
In 20-years of representing clients before the IRS, Sy says he’s proud of his near-perfect track record noting, “I lost a few cases but I haven’t lost a case in a long time.” Sy says it’s in part because he loves doing battle with the IRS. “When you have a taxpayer in front of you who’s crying, who’s nervous, who just lost their house and had to move into an apartment and now they have to pay tens of thousands of dollars -- if you have a chance to help out - and assuming they pay your bill - it’s really a nice feeling.”
For the past eight years, Sy has been publishing “The Sy Business Reporter,” a newsletter revealing helpful financial tips on debt relief. While he says it’s always best for people to seek out a trusted financial advisor before signing agreements with real estate brokers, banks or escrow companies, often people come to him after they’ve made mistakes. “When have problem with foreclosure or short sales, that’s when I get involved. I have my clients sign a Power of Attorney and then I go to the IRS and work things out for them.” With taxes anywhere from 28% to 49% on properties, Sy has provided his clients debt relief amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
For those who are truly tired of being in debt and ready to change their ways, Pastor G. Rey Isidro of Pasadena’s Evangelical International Church has the solution: It’s called the“Get Completely Out of Debt” seminar and is free to anyone who attends his three hour class. Using a mathematical formula developed by Wisconsin’s Debt-FREE & Prosperous Living, Inc., Pastor Isidro and Green Mountain Real Estate’s Rey Demonteverde teach people to eliminate their debt while building financial independence through wise investment strategies.
Says Isidro, “96% of all Americans will end up dead or dead broke before the age of 65.
Our society has a Madison Avenue sort of mentality where advertisements are designed to get you to spend beyond your means. In our seminar, we teach people to make a paradigm shift, to stop the bleeding, stop using credit cards, and to entirely eliminate their debt, including mortgages, in five to seven years.”
While others charge $49 and $79 for the same course, the Pastor notes, “My goal is not really to make a big business or a big career out of this; it’s really a ministry for my church because a lot of people are in debt and I want to help them break free.”
Prior to his work as a Pastor, Isidro worked in banking and financial investment services yet, despite his know-how, a few years ago he found himself in debt. By working this formula, he now has gotten back on track with his finances.
With bad debt a growing trend in life today, it’s not uncommon that we all may experience it at one time or another. With the proper planning or the right information, today we no longer have to go out of our minds - or take other drastic means - when we fall victim to this temporary misfortune.
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