Vox Pop Influentials - January / February 2009

CENTRAL VALLEY’S VOICE OF THE PEOPLE - INNOVATIVE, INSPIRATIONAL, INSIDE MAGAZINECENTRAL VALLEY’S VOICE OF THE PEOPLE - INNOVATIVE, INSPIRATIONAL, INSIDE MAGAZINEVol. 4 Issue 1 January/February 2009 www.voxpopinfluentials.com US $3.50

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INFL_vltn_cs_JAN09_rev1.pdf 1/16/09 10:22:56 AM

2 VOX POP Influentials

[ From the pUblISher’S deSk ]

the one other time that I can remember the New Year bringing so much uncertainty was the time our nation was on the cusp of the new millennium.

At the end of 1999 everyone was worried. Would our computers crash? Would the energy grid freeze up? Would there be nationwide chaos and disorder? When midnight arrived and 1999 became 2000, none of the doomsday predictions occurred. What did that say about how our society behaves in times of uncertainty?

here we are now in 2009 facing an unprecedented economic challenge, not only in California, but also across the nation and abroad. New home sales are still at record lows and there is further credit tightening in the housing market.

to some this is good news. those with good credit may want to refinance their homes or even purchase a second one — since rates are so low. the stock market is also showing signs of evening out. Note that I said evening out, not bottoming out. You did make some quality stock purchases in Q4-2008 when stock prices were at all time lows, didn’t you?

All the challenges we face ahead will require us to rethink our basic beliefs and assumptions. Gone forever are the days of never ending consumption.

look out new baby boomers! Yes, I said baby boomers. that’s what the experts are saying the next generation will be called.

Apparently, there will be a lot of young men and women coming back from the war over the next few years that will settle down and start having children. this should help grow our economy in addition to our population. I’m looking forward to 2009 because I am confident that things will get better and the strong (businesses) will survive and eventually come out on top.

the character, Clemenza, in the movie The Godfather was talking about the coming of gang warfare to one of his cohorts. What was said was very memorable:

“We need one of these every seven to ten years to clear out the dead wood.”

I think his quote is appropos, in light of the current state of our economy. A writer, whose name escapes me, said it a bit more eloquently:

“Bad times are a formidable challenge to the superficial marketer and a wonderful opportunity for the substantive business.”

either way you look at it, there has to be an end in sight somewhere.

here’s hoping for a major clearing in the woods sometime later this year!

r.J. latronico, publisher

Publisherr.J. latronico

creative DirectorJennifer lingard

contributorsAlana Unger, harvey mackay, kurt eichsteadt,

david hummerickhouse, ddS

contact informationVoX pop Influentials

Volume 4 Issue No. 1 January/February 2009

advertising salesStephanie Avila

[email protected]

www.voxpopinfluentials.com

executive, editorial and Advertising offices at:

100 Willow plaza, Suite 410

Visalia, CA 93291

phone: 559.636.2503

Fax: 559.635.9810

News, projects, Comments & letters

[email protected]

every effort has been made to ensure the information

within this publication is complete and accurate at the

time of publication. VoX pop Influentials does not

warrant such accuracy or the claims of its advertisers.

Vox pop Influentials is published 6 times a year by

latronico Communications

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CENTRAL VALLEY’S VOICE OF THE PEOPLE - INNOVATIVE, INSPIRATIONAL, INSIDE MAGAZINE

it’s time to clear out the Dead wood!

www.voxpopinfluentials.com 3


contEntsJanuarY/fEBruarY 2009

From the publisher’s desk[2] It’s time to clear out the dead wood!

Wealth & Finance[6] harvey mackay tells us how to stay young as the years go by.

[9] rich people Who made It and What they did With It:brooke Astor was some catch. She apparently accepted a $1 million signing bonus for her third marriage. If the marriage lasted a year, she got another $5 million.

health & Wellness [11] do You have a healthy plate? Alana Unger, our registered dietitian gives us a visual trick to eat healthier. Find out how this will help you eat healthier in 2009.

[29] Instead of a New Year’s resolution, david humerickhouse offers some Simple things We Can All do better this year.

entertainment[26] Jane porter, a Visalia native, writes Flirting With Forty. lifetime television recently aired a movie based on the book starring heather locklear and robert buckley. We’ll let you decide if you are more like the character in this novel or in another porter novel entitled The Frog Prince.

[28] kurt eichsteadt shares some good thoughts on a couple of movies, as well as his usual dVd reviews. they will help you get through the winter.

FeAtUre

Exclusive interview: stan carrizosa, Jr. — large and in charge!

Stan is 18 years old. he’s a student at el diamante

high School and he already has a single on the

charts, a couple of hollywood agents at CAA,

and his own manager at entitled entertainment

in los Angeles. to top things off, he also has a

contract with disney.

the secret to Stan’s claim to fame and his humbleness

are revealed in this month’s exclusive interview.

[19]

oN the CoVer


How to Stay Young as the Years Go By

Youth, it has been said, is wasted on the young. That would be a travesty if it were true. Fortunately, youth is not only a time of life; it’s also a state of mind. I stopped counting after my 39th birthday, but I still consider myself young. And I intend to stay that way!

Having a youthful outlook and attitude is possible at any age, just as being an old fogey can start at a very young age. As I said, I choose youth! Want to stay young at heart? Here are some ideas to help you:

Keep only cheerful, positive friends. You can pick your friends. I like to choose those who are positive and who challenge me. They make me feel good. They don’t drag me down or make me angry at the world. Negative people see the difficulty in every opportunity, while positive people see the opportunity in every difficulty.

Keep learning. I think Henry Ford put it best when he said, “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at 20 or 80. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.” I’ve always said that you should be in school all your life – never stop learning.

Enjoy the simple things. Don’t forget to take time to enjoy the things that you like to do – go for a walk or to the movies, read a good book, watch a favorite TV show, spend time with your family. You have to have a good balance in life.

Laugh often. Starting your day with a good laugh, or at least a big smile, is as beneficial to your health as it is to your mood. Scientific studies at Northwestern University and Fordham University concluded that laughter benefits the heart, lungs, stomach and other organs. It relaxes tensions, changes attitude and increases the body’s natural painkillers. And it has no harmful side effects.

Stay in shape. Exercise is good for your mind as well as your body. Studies show that healthy employees have decreased absenteeism, better performance and improved morale. I’ve always felt that a healthy workforce is a productive workforce. The human body is the only machine that wears out faster if it is not used.

Cherish your health. There is nothing more important than your health. Stay in shape so you can improve your chance for good health. If you’re healthy, do what you can to preserve it. If your health is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

Be happy. You are responsible for your own happiness. We sometimes convince ourselves that life will be better after we get a better job, make more money, get married, have a baby, buy a bigger house and so on. Yet the accomplishment of any of those events may not make any difference at all. There is no magic secret to happiness. Happiness starts in your head.

Don’t stress out. You can’t escape stress, but you can avoid creating unnecessary stress. You just need to find a stress reliever. Mine is sports – going to a sporting event, playing golf, swimming or jogging. If the stress just won’t go away, then you have to make some changes in your life that might be more stressful in the short-term but healthier in the long run.

Don’t take guilt trips. Rather, take a trip to some location or maybe just the mall, but escape occasionally. I remember a story about the worry tree. At night an accountant would go home from work and place all his worries on a tree in his front yard. The next morning he would pick up those worries on his way to work, but surprisingly, they weren’t as heavy the next day.

Visualize yourself as youthful and with endless energy. I learned years ago that visualization is the most powerful means of attaining personal goals. Visionary people can achieve whatever they want by determining a plan to attain it and expecting positive results. It doesn’t do the planning and it doesn’t anticipate the obstacles. It gives you a real idea of what is possible, if only you want it bad enough. Vision is not so much what you think as how you think. If you can visualize it, you can make it happen.

Mackay’s Moral: If you want to stay youthful, stay useful. n

Reprinted with permission from nationally syndicated columnist Harvey Mackay, author of the New York Times #1 best seller Swim With the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive.

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Money. Big money, more than $200 million. It could be used for good, but it also brings out the worst in people. This is the story of Brooke Astor.

Part One: Her life, her love, her philanthropy and society. She apparently accepted a $1 million signing bonus for her third marriage, in addition to $5 million if the marriage lasted one year. In terms of philanthropy, her philosophy was “Money is like manure. It should be spread around.” She gave away about $195 million between 1959 and 1997.

Part Two: The sordid tale, which continues even today after her death in 2007. Her only son is being charged with financial chicanery while managing her money: grand larceny, fraud, forgery and more. His trial was set to start in January.

Astor also wrote novels and two volumes of memoirs.

Born in 1902 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, she spent much of her childhood in far-off places such as China, the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Her father, John Henry Russell, Jr., was commandant of the Marine Corps.

Astor married just after her 17th birthday in 1919. It was an abusive marriage. Published reports say she suffered a broken jaw at the hands of her husband while she was six months pregnant with the only child she would ever have, Anthony. He was born in 1924. They were divorced in 1930.

Her second husband was Charles Henry “Buddy” Marshall, a very wealthy man. She wrote that the marriage was “a great love match.” It was during this marriage that she worked for a time as feature editor at House and Garden magazine. They were married in 1932 and he passed away in 1952. During the marriage, son Anthony changed his last name to Marshall.

Just eleven months after Marshall’s death, in 1953, she married Vincent Astor, the last

rich American member of the Astor family and son of John Jacob Astor IV, who died when the Titanic sank, leaving his son Vincent an estimated $200 million.

In the 2007 biography, The Last Mrs. Astor, author Frances Kiernan says that Vincent Astor agreed to divorce his second wife only after she found him a replacement. The first choice turned him down. Brooke apparently accepted with the financial terms mentioned above: $1 million outright and $5 million if the marriage survived more than one year.

Regardless of the circumstances of the marriage, Vincent Astor was determined to do good things with his wealth. In 1948 he created the Vincent Astor Foundation. (He appeared as number 12 on the first list of America’s richest people that appeared in Forbes magazine.) He changed the family image of one who could make money while doing good for others.

Upon Vincent’s death in 1959, Mrs. Astor, then in her mid 50s, took control, in spite of efforts by the foundation’s management and board, to run things. He left her $60 million and the foundation $60 million, which today would be worth $700 million.

During Vincent’s life, the foundation had given away a not-insignificant $175,000 year. In 1960, during Mrs. Astor’s first full year there, the grants totaled more than $3 million.

Mrs. Astor decided that since most of the Astor fortune had been made in New York City, it should be spent in New York. She personally evaluated every organization, traveling in her chauffeur-driven Mercedes. This was significant

because even though it was not the largest foundation, it set the tone for giving: if Brooke Astor contributed, others would follow, knowing that she had personally checked things out.

In addition to boys’ and girls’ clubs, homes for the elderly and other groups, she was on the boards of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Morgan Library & Museum, Rockefeller University, New York Botanical Gardens, Cornell University Medical College, New York Zoological Society (now the Wildlife Conservation Society), the Southtree Seaport and others.

When the foundation closed its doors in 1997, it had distributed almost $195 million.

HigH sociEtY After Vincent’s death, she stepped up her

social life. Well into her 90s, she was spreading the wealth during the day, and going out at night almost every night – to a dinner, live performance,

brooke astor: A life in

rich people Who made It … and What they did With It


kUrt eIChSteAdt coluMnist

John Jacob Astor IVLeft his son, Vincent, $200 million

PHilantHroPY witH anD witHout vincEnt

“Money is like manure. it should be spread around.”

lifE until PHilantHroPY

partstwo


or both, attired in designer dresses with all kinds of jewels – a ring of precious stones, a brooch, a bracelet and earrings.

Among her friends were Henry Kissinger, Nelson Rockefeller, the William F. Buckleys, the Douglas Dillions, the Felix Rohatyns, the Oscar de la Rentas, the Arthur Sulzbergers, the Mike Wallaces, Bill Blass, and oh, yes, Nancy Reagan. Mrs. Astor hosted a party in New York in 1980 to introduce the newly elected president Ronald Regan to New Yorkers. She had one thing in common with those New Yorkers, a great concern for their city.

As a result of her charity work, Astor was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1998. She was named a Living Landmark in 1996 by the New York Conservancy. The New York Public Library research hall is named Astor Hall. The Chinese Courtyard and Scholar’s Room at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is called Astor Court. Astor also contributed to less glamorous things like air conditioning of a staff room. During the 1976 bicentennial celebration, the Municipal Art Society of New York had a bronze medal struck to honor her achievements. The mayor of New York at the time, Abe Beame, said she had done more for New York than any other person.

In 2006, her grandson, Phillip Marshall, sued his father Anthony Marshall (Brooke’s only son), charging him with neglecting her care and taking financial advantage of the situation for himself and his wife. It was a sordid tale, with charges that she was mistreated, stripped of her dignity, had medication withheld and denied contact with her dogs, Boysie and Girlsie.

Anthony, a Broadway producer and former diplomat, denied the charges, but a settlement was reached. He and his wife admitted no wrong doing and gave up their roles as co-executors of Mrs. Astor’s estate. He agreed to withdraw from managing his mother’s finances and rescind transfer of Mrs. Astor’s Maine estate to themselves.

The settlement made Annette de la Renta, (an Astor friend for more than 45 years) and JP Morgan Chase the permanent guardians.

Interestingly enough, the bank also agreed not to pursue litigation to recover millions of dollars

in cash, property and stocks it believed Marshall might have improperly obtained.

Flash forward to November of 2007 when the Manhattan district attorney files criminal charges against Anthony Marshall, and an attorney accusing them of a questionable amendment to Mrs. Astor’s will. The change to Brooke’s 2002 will called for Mrs. Astor’s real estate to be sold and added to the residuary estate. The specific charges were grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, forgery, scheming to defraud, falsifying business records, offering a false instrument for filing and conspiracy in plundering a $198 million estate. The attorney is charged with forging Mrs. Astor’s signature on a 2002 will amendment. The trial was scheduled to begin in January of 2009.

For some people, like Vincent and Brooke, money can be used for worthwhile purposes. For others, like Anthony, it (allegedly) led in the opposite direction of deceit and dishonesty. n


coluMnist kUrt eIChSteAdt

Anthony Marshall, Son of Brooke Astor

BooKs BY BrooKE astor

“Patchwork Child: Early Memories,” an autobiography, 1962 “Footprints,” a second autobiography, 1980“Bluebird is at Home,” a novel, 1965“Last Blossom on the Plum Tree: A Period Piece,” a novel, 1986

lEgacY onE: PHilantHroPY

lEgacY two: frauD, DEcEit, Etc.

“...sHE HaD DonE MorE for nEw YorK tHan anY otHEr PErson.”

It’s a new year, and you’re off and running with your New Year’s Resolutions. One of the most popular resolutions is to eat healthier. To help you succeed, I have a visual trick for you. Tuck this into your memory and pull it out at every meal.

Start your new year with a new plate! This simple “plate method” will help you reassess all your food choices each time you eat. Visualize whether or not your food selections are taking up the right portion of your meal, or plate, as indicated below.

Use the tips provided to help you supplement your diet with healthy choices. For smaller portions overall, use a smaller plate! Good luck and enjoy!

1/4 Full of Grains

“Do You Have a Healthy Plate?

[ heAlth ANd WellNeSS ]

coluMnist AlANA UNGer, reGIStered dIetItIAN

Select whole grains: oats, brown rice, psyllium Select whole grains: oats, brown rice, psyllium •fiber, quinoa, barley, etcTry brown rice + white rice at first, if needed.Try brown rice + white rice at first, if needed.•Replace an amount of white flour with whole Replace an amount of white flour with whole •wheat flour.Choose breads, crackers, cereals, etc. with 3 grams of fiber Choose breads, crackers, cereals, etc. with 3 grams of fiber Choose breads, crackers, cereals, etc. with 3 grams of fiber

Have a fruit or vegetable at every meal and/or snack. Have a fruit or vegetable at every meal and/or snack. Have a fruit or vegetable at every meal and/or snack. •Eat a variety of colors of fruits and vegetables.Eat a variety of colors of fruits and vegetables.Eat a variety of colors of fruits and vegetables.•Make baggies of cut up veggies for quick snacks.Make baggies of cut up veggies for quick snacks.Make baggies of cut up veggies for quick snacks. •Pour salsa on everything.•Add veggies to pastas, soups, casseroles, burritos, etc.Add veggies to pastas, soups, casseroles, burritos, etc.Add veggies to pastas, soups, casseroles, burritos, etc.•Puree mixed veggies and mix into spaghetti Puree mixed veggies and mix into spaghetti •sauce, soup broth, etc. Mix in some flax seed/sauce, soup broth, etc. Mix in some flax seed/sauce, soup broth, etc. Mix in some flax seed/oil also!Make a smoothie. Place frozen fruit in •blender, add flax seed/oil, cover over top blender, add flax seed/oil, cover over top with vanilla soy milk, blend!

Use lowfat (1%) or nonfat dairy products.Use 4% or 5% ground beef or extra lean ground turkey. Use the usual amount of meat when possible.Replace beef with beans, chicken or turkey.Eat fatty fish 2 times weekly (salmon, mackerel, trout, etc.)Choose beans 4 times weekly as main/side dish, in salads. Fill plastic baggies with a cup of nuts for a quick snack.Add soybeans, tofu, soy milk to your diet (try in a smoothie).

Choose breads, crackers, cereals, etc. with 3 grams of fiber Choose breads, crackers, cereals, etc. with 3 grams of fiber Choose breads, crackers, cereals, etc. with 3 grams of fiber •or more and 8 grams or less of sugar.Add flax seed/oil to oatmeal and other items.Add flax seed/oil to oatmeal and other items.•

Use lowfat (1%) or nonfat dairy products.•Use 4% or 5% ground beef or extra lean ground turkey. Use the •usual amount of meat when possible.Replace beef with beans, chicken or turkey.•Eat fatty fish 2 times weekly (salmon, mackerel, trout, etc.)•Choose beans 4 times weekly as main/side dish, in salads. •Fill plastic baggies with a cup of nuts for a quick snack.•Add soybeans, tofu, soy milk to your diet (try in a smoothie).•

1/4 Full of Meat, Bean or Dairy

1/2 Full of Fruits and Vegetables



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THE VERY BEST MOM CONTESTIs Your Mother an Influential? If So, We Want to Know!

CONTEST RULES: Entries received after the above date, or those that are illegible, or in excess of 150 words will not be considered. Please do not enclose any photos, as VPI will not be able to return them. Selection of the Best Mom winner will be based on the essays that are submitted and are in compliance with the contest guidelines as stated herein. Essays must be based on facts that can be verified. Prizes cannot be redeemed for cash. Hotel accommodations and Day Spa prize packages are based on availability. LACO/VPI and its sponsors reserve the right to amend or cancel this contest at any time. Contest end date is March 17, 2009. Contest winner agrees to hold harmless Latronico Communications/Vox Pop Influentials Magazine for any acts or omissions, including, but not limited to, any by the above-mentioned sponsors.

is for the million things she gave meMOTHER

is for the tears she shed to save me

is for her heart of purest gold

is for her eyes, with love-light shining

means right, and right she'll always be

means only that she's growing older

Just about everyone thinks their mom is the best, after all, if it wasn’t for her, none of us would be here, right?

GRAND PRIZE: “The Very Best Mom” Winner chosen will be featured in the March/April edition of VPI magazine, and will also receive:

A day of pampering at CreekSide Day Spa•

Breakfast & Dinner for two at Zhuo Pacific Fresh •restaurant in Visalia

Overnight accommodations at the Vi• salia Marriott

A dozen roses• with a complimentary bottle of champagne

Vox Pop Influentials is looking for a special mom from the Central Valley to feature in our March/April issue, just in time for Mother’s Day. If you’d like your mom to qualify here’s what you need to do:

Write an essay about her that is 150 words or less telling us why 1. your mom is special and should be featured in our magazine.

Submit your article to [email protected] or 2. mail to: 100 Willow Plaza, # 410, Visalia, CA 93291 no later than March 16, 2009.

Submissions must be from a son or daughter (this 3. includes stepchildren).

The (nominee) winning mother must currently reside in Tulare 4. or Kings Counties. (Proof of residency will be required).

is for the million things she gave me



means only that she's growing older

means right, and right she'll always bemeans right, and right she'll always bemeans right, and right she'll always bemeans right, and right she'll always bemeans right, and right she'll always be

is for the million things she gave meM

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H

is for the million things she gave me

H

Outlook on Quality Health Care

Our goal at Tulare District Hospital is to continually provide greater access to healthcare for the entire community. For nearly sixty years we have been dedicated to delivering quality health care to those who seek our services. Our goals today remain focused on the multifaceted expansion of our capacity, capabilities and services.

The first phase of our expansion will feature the construction of an 115,000 square foot four story Medical Tower. We will break ground in early 2010, with construction targeted for completion in 2012.

The availability of quality medical care is a measure of strength for a community.

Rendering of proposed new Medical Tower at Tulare District Hospital

Shawn BoloukiCEO - Tulare District Hospital

The hospital’s expansion will improve not only the health of the people within the local community, but throughout the region. The people of the Tulare Hospital District are to be commended for their vision to invest in the future of quality health care.


Our new birthing center will be located on the third floor and will feature sixteen private labor, delivery and post-partum suites, as well as a nursery.

The centerpiece of the first floor is our new Emergency Department. It will be fully staffed and equipped with the most advanced medical equipment available. Our patient care capacity will increase from six to twenty-four beds. The department will include critical care/trauma capabilities and an adjacent state-of-the-art imaging center.

We will expand our surgical facilities on the second floor with four surgical suites, plus a multi-specialty operating room, complete with robotic surgery capability. All these services are designed to meet the needs of the community for years to come.

The fourth floor will house twenty-seven new private patient rooms.

New Emergency Department Physicians Tulare District Emergency Department Physicians are one of the new physician groups now available to provide the highest level of emergency medical care in any situation.

This new facility will attract talented healthcare professionals – physicians, nurses and medical technicians. People come to Tulare District Hospital for quaility medical services.

New Radiology GroupIn many cases, radiologists provide the foundation for successful patient outcomes. We are pleased to have Tulare Imaging Associates - experienced, trusted radiologists, who are dedicated to our patients at Tulare District Hospital.

Pictured Left to Right: Dr. Paul Loeffler, Dr. Frank Macaluso, Dr. Penny Smith, Dr. Sean Murray (Not Pictured: Dr. Ronald Beggs)

Marco Hernandez, M.D. FACEP, Associate Director

Benny Benzeevi, M.D.FACEP, Medical Director

Val M. Warhaft, M.D.Chief Medical Officer

www.tdhs.org


Our team of staff and physicians remain focused on the best practices available for all patients.


869 Cherry St. • Tulare, CA 93274 • 559.688.0821Physician Referral: 877.TULARE2 (877.885.2732)

www.tdhs.org

While we anxiously await the Medical Tower’s completion, we are very proud of the fact that Tulare District Hospital already outperforms all other hospitals throughout the county in many areas. Specifically, the latest reports on patient care and patient satisfaction show that Tulare District Hospital has the lowest death rates from heart attacks, heart failure and pneumonia in Tulare County.

VisaliaPorterville TulareNational Average

Heart Attack Heart Failure Pneumonia0

4

2

6

8

10

14

12

16

1830-Day Mortality Adjusted Death Rate*

*These percentages were calculated from Medicare data on patients discharged between July 2006 and June 2007. The death rates for each hospital have been Risk-Adjusted.

Quality patient care is our primary objective. We strive daily to ensure overall service satisfaction. Our success is evident in the April 2007 - March 2008 Hospital Comparison Patient Satisfaction Survey. It demonstrates how Tulare District Hospital outperforms other hospitals in Tulare County.

VisaliaPorterville TulareNational Average

Doctors Communicate

Well

20

10

30

40

50

70

60

80

90 Patient Satisfaction**

**These results are from patients who had overnight hospital stays from April 2007 through March 2008.

Helped Quickly Pain Controlled

Quiet At Night Patient’s Hospital Rating


In one life, Stan Carrizosa, Jr. is just another student at El Diamante High School in Visalia. He’s a good kid who sings well and performs in high school musicals. His most recent role was in El Diamante’s production of

“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat.” In that musical he played the lead character, Joseph.

When Stan’s not pumping iron at the gym with friends, he is spending quality, quiet time with his family. His other life are his weekends. They are intense and are usually spent in Los Angeles.

Stan Jr. is our youngest Influential to date. If you don’t know about him or the Carrizosa family, (his father is the Superintendent of the Visalia Unified School District) you probably don’t get out much.

Stan competed in and then won last fall, the best performance in the ABC-TV Reality Show, High School Musical. Don’t worry if you missed it, we’re sure that you will be able to catch Stan Jr. in the near future acting or singing in something really, really big.

(Editor’s Note: “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat” is the same play that our March 2006 Influential, Betsy Wolfe starred in while she was at Golden West High School.)

Publisher R.J. Latronico:What is the origin of the Carrizosa name, is it Italian?

STAN CARRIZoSA, JR.It’s Mexican. on my mom’s side I’m a little bit Korean, as well.It’s pronounced Care a so-sa. It’s a Spanish surname.

Were you born and raised in Visalia?

I was born in Hanford and raised in Dinuba and I now live in Visalia.

You’re dad was also the School Superintendent in Dinuba, right?

Right.

You just turned eighteen. When was your birthday?

My birthday was December 27th.

Did you do anything special for your eighteenth birthday?

It was an eventful day. I was really busy before-hand, so I honestly just wanted to relax that day. I just hung out with my family. We went to see a movie. We

made a cake and had a fire. It was just a relaxing day compared to the busy schedule that I’ve been having during this last school break.

What other local schools did you attend?

In Dinuba I went to two different elementary schools (K through fifth), then when I was in sixth grade we moved to Visalia and I attended Crestwood. From there I went on to La Joya Middle School and now El Diamante High School.

Do you have other brothers or sisters?

I have an older sister who also went to El Diamante. She is three years older than me. She was a senior when I was a freshman. Now she is a Dance Science major at Cal State Long Beach.

It sounds like your life was pretty normal leading up to your Disney deal?

Oh yeah, just local things. I always enjoyed singing but I never actually had gone to any auditions.

Are you like a lot of kids with chores to do around the house? Any part time jobs?

I’m pretty dedicated to the gym. Trust me, the chores around here definitely seem like a job. (Laughter)

What about hobbies?

I really enjoy making music with my friends and recording songs. I enjoy beat boxing and making up raps. I also spend a lot of time at the gym playing sports that aren’t necessarily the same sports we play at school. I like snowboarding, swimming and basketball.

If the Disney deal didn’t happen, where do you think your career would be right now?

I auditioned for the Tulare County office of Education’s (TCoE) summer musical – I planned on doing Les Miserable. Then we went to the Disney audition on a whim and everything changed. I was also making plans to try out for American Idol. I still think I would be doing exactly what I am doing now, but definitely it’s all on a higher scale now.

You said that you did not have any professional voice training, is that right?

I sang in choirs at school. My teachers there taught me as well.

Any teachers in particular that have been a strong influence on you?

My choir director, Mr. John Sorber, has pretty much shaped me into what I am now. And then, of course, there’s Mr. Tackett on the musical theater side.

–Interview by publisher r.J. latronico

Stan Carrizosa, Jr. Large and In Charge!

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You said you enjoy all types of music. Do you have a favorite genre?

I enjoy a lot of the dance music that is on the radio. R&B and Rap songs and contemporary artists like Gavin DeGraw and Jason Mraz, because I like their vocal sound. It’s not what I listen to with my friends, but I like a lot of the music that you can sing to. My friends like the music that you can dance to.

When was the first time that you performed in public?

I think that I was six years old and it was at Lincoln Elementary School in Dinuba. It was a talent show. I had watched a movie where a little boy was singing and thought I can do that. I remember that I didn’t really want to tell my dad that I wanted to be a singer. My sister said that I had to. Eventually, I did sing to my dad and he said, “all right let’s see how you do in this talent show.” It was pretty intense and scary for me, but I remember making it through and realizing that singing was something that I was pretty good at.

When did you realize that it was something that you really wanted to pursue professionally?

I think it was around my sophomore year, I was fifteen years old and I was playing football and running track. I was dedicated to athletics and then I realized that singing just came so much easier to me. I think it is a gift that God has given me. I didn’t really want to try out for the school musical, but both my teachers said you have to try out. Once I did, I fell in love with it. I knew then that this was what I was meant to do. I had a conversation with my dad who was a big football guy. I told him that I wanted to transition all of my time into music. At that point I switched from athletics to singing full time. That’s when I knew what I wanted to do and I was going to do everything that I could do to be the best at it.

In addition to your teachers, was there anyone else that was an influence on you?

My dad, for sure! At first he was surprised because football was my main thing. But then, right away, he said I was old enough to make that decision and that he was going to support me and together we were going to work it. It didn’t matter what I was doing, he just wanted me to work hard and have fun. Dad definitely has always encouraged me to sing and do football, but when I made a choice to focus on one, he said all right let’s do this. As a family we all agreed to focus on this and it turned out well.

Did you know Betsy Wolfe, before you sang with her this past holiday season at the Fox Theater?

I didn’t. I wish that I had seen her in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat when she performed in that play locally. I did get to meet her this winter when we both performed at the Fox Theatre. She seemed really nice.

What advice can you offer someone your age wanting to get into the business? Someone that maybe doesn’t have as supportive a family or one that can’t really help their son or daughter?

This might sound cheesy but follow your heart. You will know if you have a gift. And you will know that this is what you love doing, no matter what. Just go out there and do it. When I’m on stage I’m having the time of my life. That’s what I love to do. So, just go out there and do what makes you happy.

(Stan Sr.) For the kids that don’t have exposure at home, school is a great vehicle to learn about music and drama. All you need to do is get involved in the choir or the drama department. If you have a dream to make it big, take advantage of

the dream while you’re in school, especially if you live in the Visalia area. We’re very big in the arts here.

Do you play any instruments?

I’m actually getting better at the keyboard. I knew after I won the talent competition that in order to be really competitive in this industry, you have to be able to play an instrument. I had played the piano in third and fourth grade. I took lessons then, but it was too hard for me, so I quit. I was young and I just didn’t really want to do it. Now I have a lot of motivation and I’m getting a little better on the piano. I’m excited, but I need more practice. I will get there.

Where do you see yourself five years from now?

I’m hoping by then to have an album or to have gone on tour. Then I’d like to develop as an actor and appear in different roles…maybe as a lead in a TV series or in a movie. Right now I have done so much building up to this point and I know there is a lot of hard work ahead. Five years from now I hope to be a bit more relaxed. Just be a little bit more relieved that I am accomplishing my goals and making it.

Lets talk a little bit about your current production at El Diamante. You play Joseph and your character has eleven brothers in this play. Are some of your other high school buddies in the play?

Oh, yeah! A lot of my friends are in it. And what’s cool is that in the musical my circle of friends is different than my jock friends. These are my drama friends. Everyone is so cool and it’s fun to work with your friends.

Stan Carrizosa, Jr. as the Tin Man, Angelo Soriano as the Lion, Kate Bourne as Dorothy, and kneeling is Cortland Trull as the Scarecrow

(2008 El Diamante musical production of “The Wizard of Oz”)

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Did you find that you were treated differently after winning the Disney competition?

A little bit. Just because of the fact that I was on TV. Everyone’s heard that I have a recording contract and that I have these agents. Since I’m going down to Los Angeles and Visalia’s a smaller city, it is sort of a big deal. I felt the same, but I understood that people would see me differently, so I definitely tried to stay true to myself. Everyone treats me well at school. I still get noticed a bit but I’m really just the same guy I have always been. Little by little people are saying, “Oh, it’s just Stan.” That’s cool.

Do your teachers treat you any differently?

A lot of them joke with me, but they are all really nice and very supportive.

(Stan Sr.) I think Stan’s humility plays a large part in that. Like he mentioned, we still make him take out the trash and do his chores at home.

Tell me a little more about your lead role in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat.” The play begins with you being sold into slavery, right?

It’s based on biblical events. I play Joseph and I have eleven brothers. My brothers hate me because our father likes me the best. He gets me this great coat that all of my brothers want. I’m, of course, clueless to all that. I’m just happy and excited about getting this coat. I think that my brothers are happy for me, as well, but they are not. They plan to beat me up, take my coat and kill me. At first they were just going to throw me in a well and leave me there to die. Then they

realize they can make money off of me, so they sell me into slavery. That’s just the beginning! It’s a fun little story and it’s very entertaining.

Lets talk now about how you came to fame. Tell me about the reality television show on ABC called “High School Musical: Get in the Picture.” How did all of that come about?

My dad heard about the audition through a friend at work. It was about a month before that he told me about it. I was kind of busy, so I said that we’d worry about that when it comes. Auditions were scheduled for a weekend. That’s when I usually hang out with my friends (Laughter).

The night before the audition was a Saturday. My dad said to me, “If you want to go we’ll go.” I said, “all right,” so we made it a father-son road trip. We went and got in line at five o’clock in the morning. We were there until noon. I think it was the hottest day in Long Beach and we were in line out in the sun. There were a lot of people around. At first I wasn’t sure what the audition was about. So I get all of the paperwork filled out and I’m trying to look through the songs. Everyone around me was a High School Musical fanatic.

As it turned out, I went in there and did a little bit of an audition. I was asked to come back the next day. That’s when they cut the number of contestants in half. Once I got to that point my dad said it was worth staying there. As superintendent of our schools he really doesn’t like when I miss school.

At first they cut the group to 500 from 1000. So, we decided to stay until Tuesday, when they would cut the 500 down to 100. That was a separate audition, which was actually taped and sent to one of the judges. At first I thought what ever happens, happens. Then as I progressed I was given a little bit of hope, so we kept going. Then there were a couple more cuts all the way down to a total of 15. I was in complete shock that I was still in it.

Now I was going to be thrown in with the ringers. I was still okay with it all since I did have lots of fun and got to miss a little bit of school. We then did a little bit of a dance audition. I’m not a dancer, but I have a little rhythm, so I made it through the dance audition. I then had to do one more singing audition. Then they cut that group of 30 down to another 12. Then we were asked to do duets. We did that at Disneyland, performing live.

Was there a point in time where you thought that you could actually win the competition? I never thought that I was going to win it at all. The whole time I was just trying to make it to the next round. I wasn’t even thinking about the competition really, because there were a lot of good people surrounding me. I was watching and trying to learn from them as well. These kids had dedicated themselves to performing since they were real young, like four years old. I just started at fifteen. So, there I was competing, learning and performing for the first time in front of a real audience. I was pumped up just being on camera and learning how to become a better performer!

When I made it to the top twelve I learned that they were going to do the same type of casting call and audition on the east coast. I was like wow! It was an emotional roller coaster for me. Just when I thought I was going to make it! - wham! Oh my god! They were bringing in more. So, after a while I decided that I was just going to wait and see and not think about it, because it was so stressful and hectic. I decided I was going to focus on my life and if this worked out then I guess I would keep going.

Stan as Motel the Tailor, with cast member Kelsey Lowe (2007 El Diamante musical production of “Fiddler on the Roof”)


(Stan Sr.) They got the total down to the top 12 on the west coast then they sent the guys home for a week because they were going to find another 12 on the east coast. Then the total was back up to 24. The next cut would be to 12. So, in the end there were really only six kids from the east coast and six kids from the west coast.

(Stan Jr.) In the end there was no one from an open call. All of the others were the scouted kids. When they called me and said that I would be part of the final twelve and that they wanted me to go to Utah, I was in shock. So, I realized that I could be excited now! I was pumped up so I said, “let’s go do this.” Basically my motto became: Soak everything in; try not to be the first one out and to just keep going with it.

At what point did you realize that you were in-deed the winner?

Each week they cut two people - either two boys or two girls. I made it through the first week, and I was excited. Each week they gave out an award for the best performance. Throughout the time I was there I never got it. Then we got down to the top six and that was when I knew that if I turn it on, I could get to about the top four or three for the finale. We had one more week and then they only cut one, so then there was five of us. Then they cut only one and it wasn’t me. I just remember falling to the floor; this meant that I was going to the finale.

When I made it to the finale I invited some of my friends and family. There were over 2000 people in the audience. This was in Pasadena. We trained for two weeks. There was a lot of singing, a lot of dancing and a little bit of acting, too. All four of us had prepared a solo and then we found out the day before that one of us would get cut during the finale and we wouldn’t get to sing the solo. My solo was “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing”, by Aerosmith. We sang the first number as a group, then for the second number it was just the four of us competing.

There was a live audience and it was just a whole different scene. I just went for it. Afterward they critiqued us. I was not the first one cut, so I knew that I was going to sing my solo. At that point it didn’t matter to me who won, or anything. I was just thinking that I’ve gotten this far and I’ve been blessed to have all of this. It didn’t matter to me…I was just so excited. I sang my solo and it was pretty special because I was able to go down and sing it to my sister in the audience. If it weren’t for her I couldn’t have done what I did at that time.

How many finalists where there now?

Three. The three of us sang our solos and then the judges were going to cut it down to the final two. I did not think that I was going to beat out my new friend Isaiah. Throughout the competition all of the judges loved Isaiah. When they sent him to the chorus it was just Tierney and me remaining. I remember walking back stage and thinking all right I’m going to win this now. And I just set my mind on it.

We went out there and did our duet. I don’t think that I’ve ever done anything that full out in my whole life. I honestly knew right there after that duet was over that I had won. I didn’t know for sure, but I thought if I didn’t win it then I knew that there was absolutely nothing that I could have done any better to change it. So, we were sitting there backstage and the producers came over to us and said that they needed to film two endings. They didn’t want the audience to know the results because it would get out and ruin the whole show.

So, they were asking you to fake like you won?

Yes. For the first taping we had to act like the real winner. The second taping was when we actually lost, but had to act like we won. So, I’m walking out there thinking that I would probably cry if I lost, so at least I can pretend like I’m crying for joy. I don’t think that I have ever been that nervous. It was so insane.

Nick Lachey gets the cast list and he announces the first name. I’m like, okay I’m just freaking out. I still get nervous just thinking about it right now. He announced my name but then I really didn’t know. I thought that I won, so it was crazy. The streamers dropped down and all of the chorus came up to me asking who the real winner was. They were all hugging me and saying did you win? Is it you? And I’m like, uh, I don’t know.

Then Kenny Ortega walks up to me, shakes my hand and congratulates me saying he was very proud of me and couldn’t wait to start working with me. Then all of the judges come up and congratulate me as I am hugging Tierney. She was one of the best singers that I’ve ever seen. It was just insane. It didn’t even kick in until later that night that the finale was over and I could be the winner. I was up the whole night asking myself, did I just win this competition?

It was a lot of hard work that I had never done before. I guess my stars were lined up just right at that point in time. Now everything is slowly happening and that’s fine with me. That’s the pace that is best right now. I’m very excited.

What is it like being under contract with Disney?

They take really good care of me and they do have a lot of opportunities open for you. It’s a little bit restrictive, but I think with Disney they like to play it safe. I have met with a lot of different producers and casting directors already and there are a lot of different projects going on. I just recently met with a music producer for Disney, a man named Brian Maloof. They want me to do a second single, so I’ll be recording it in February. It will debut this summer. And depending on how well that does, it might open the door for an album. It’s definitely a process, but my main focus right now is creating a really good single and then working hard from there on. I’m also going to acting school in Los Angeles, the Larry Moss Studio. They are helping me hone my acting skills.

You said that you are now with Creative Artists Agency. Is your dad your manager? (Laughter)

No, my manager is Evan Hainey and he’s with Entitled Entertainment. He also manages Vanessa Hudgens of High School Musical, so he is very familiar with working with Disney.

How often are you in Los Angeles for auditions?

Well my main focus right now is my high school musical, here in Visalia, but I’m in Los Angeles pretty much every Friday, after school through Sunday. I’ll

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(L-R) Stan Carrizosa, Jr., Co-Contestant Christina Brown and celebrity host Nick Lachey


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be in Los Angeles for different classes, auditions and recording sessions. I think that will keep building once I graduate. Then I’ll get a place down there with my sister in Long Beach. I have applied to several different colleges, so I can start my coursework and spend the rest of my time auditioning. (Stan Sr.) Actually, he’ll be in L.A. probably every weekend from February to the end of the year - between acting school and recording the second single.

And going to college is definitely still in the plans?

Definitely. I think that education is the most important thing. My sister graduated from high school and soon she will be graduating from college. Now she is so much more educated, experienced now and more articulate. I don’t want to miss out on the opportunity to keep learning and growing after high school. My manager and agents value the importance of college and will help me balance work and school. My parents are going to be pushing me to achieve, no matter what. I also know the need to continue my education after high school and get the most out of college.

(Stan Sr.) He has applied for colleges and universities that will give him an opportunity to get into a theater arts program as a major.

What are your colleges of choice?

USC, UCLA, Cal State Fullerton, UC Irvine and Long Beach.

(Stan Sr.) His agents have worked very closely with him on this also. I have to say I really appreciate the fact that they are all pro-college. We are going to make sure that you can do this right, Stan. They are all college graduates with kids of their own. If he gets a really significant role, we want to get him admitted to a college and then we will consider a deferral.

Is there a dream role that you would like to play?

I would really love to be in just any role. I have always wanted to play the strong, tough type like Shia LaBeouf in Eagle Eye. In all the musicals that I have done, I always play something other than the tough guy. Like the time I played the Tin

Man in the Wizard of Oz at school. He’s a good guy, but you know, not really tough. And then there’s Joseph in my current role who is just so innocent, but happy. I want to be the guy that’s totally in control, strong and in charge. I am always the happy go lucky guy, and I cannot wait until I get to get a role where I am just large and in charge.

With a gorgeous leading lady, right?

Of course, that’s included.

STAN CARRIZoSA, SR.

What was Stan Jr. like growing up? Did you have any knowledge at all that this kid was musically talented beyond the norm?

Early on we didn’t. His sister did turn out to be a dancer. We have always been a family where sports are kind of legendary. I was never talented but I was always excited about the performing arts. I would do school musicals and plays, not because I was good at it but I did them because I liked it. We know that there are different ways for kids to find their passion, so we gave our kids different kinds of experiences to see what would come out of them. When he watched the movie that inspired Stan, we had the idea for him to audition in the talent show at school. It was his first audition as a first grader.

I laugh at it now, but when his sister made him come and sing for me, it was one of those moments where you go – wow! Maybe we have something here, let’s play with this a little bit. Stan was about six years old. We continued to get him into singing. He learned the old time favorite standards like the National Anthem to get his stage presence established and his confidence. It was always one of those eye-opening experiences for people to watch him come up to the microphone as small boy and just belt out a song. He always sang a cappella.

I think that we knew then that there was something there. The turning point was when he was fifteen. That’s when he came to me with that big father-son conversation. He said he just wanted to concentrate on one thing – music.

Personally, Stan was always a really kind-hearted kid. He is a natural leader – always thinking about the feelings of others. He gets a lot of that from his mom. She’s a very kind-hearted person, as well. So, I just knew that he would be a humble, respectful kid. He’s told me that as he got older he felt that his voice was a little bit like a secret weapon. He would meet people and befriend them and when the opportunity came for him to sing, he used to love to jump up there and do it with no one expecting that it might be really good. Then all of sudden to see the look on everyone’s face, it was amazing. As he got older he actually used that to his advantage. (Laughter). So, I think that it was just a gradual progression for us and we just kind of watched it evolve over time.

Overall then, he was a pretty good kid growing up?

Yes, he and his sister were good kids. They were close to each other and we enjoyed that a lot.

Knowing now what you already know, would you have pursued Estee’s dancing education and career any differently when she was younger?

No, I think that once she identified dancing as her passion we tried to put as many opportunities in front of her, as we did vocally for Stan. Actually her payoff was different, but just as significant. She graduated high school and obtained a full scholarship in the performing arts at Long Beach. She then ended up being

2008 family gathering for Christmas dinner at the Carrizosa home in Visalia. (Stan is in the center wearing a white V-neck T-shirt)

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accepted into the Dance Science program and now I expect having finished that, she will pursue a masters and end up in choreography, maybe even doing back up for Stan. Faith obviously has played a role in where you are today, is that right?

(Stan Jr.) It is the foundation; it’s what keeps me grounded and what helped me make it through the show. God is at the center of my life and I give Him all glory and praise.

STAN CARRIZoSA, JR.

Which church does the family attend?

We are members of Saint Mary’s Catholic Church.

While it seems like dad has taken you under his wing, I’m sure that mom also plays an important role. Does she?

They definitely combine together and balance out perfectly. My dad is the strong and driving force, and he does have love and kindness. But mom has all the love, kindness and support and is always there helping me with all the things that a mom does. She definitely babies me a bit, but she is getting a little better now that I am eighteen.

(Stan Sr.) When he was on location all the cast had to be sequestered during the reality show. Other than being on the set they were isolated twenty-four hours a day. Because he was under eighteen, Stan had to have one parent with him. So, his mom bonded with Stan that summer for those 47 days.

(Stan Jr.) She was helping me with my singing. I think I even taught her how to sing a little bit.

Sequestered for forty-seven days?

Yes. You’re on the set when you are filming and then you go home. You can’t even interact with the cast. So my mom, literally, became my best friend all summer.

(Stan Sr.) We have commented a lot on the importance of humility and hard work. Stan has been blessed to be surrounded by really good people. Stan has some great high school teachers like Michael Tackett, John Sorber and Sarah Elder. It’s also fun for me to watch all the other kids in these high school plays grow and develop. I have had a special opportunity with Stan as father and son. I watch how he works with other kids. As school superintendent I know how both the teachers and our school programs change kids’ lives. Stan’s mom and I have had the privilege of serving as chaperones on several of Stan’s trips. He is going into his senior year musical excited to play Joseph, but also excited to see Joseph’s other brothers, his friends, by his side.

(Stan Jr.) I worked day and night that summer in Utah. When I came back home and started working on this musical with my friends, I see that they also are working hard and are so talented. I would never want our play to be only the Stan Carrizosa show. I want it to be Joseph with his brothers and entire cast and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat.

Honestly, I would love the reviewers to give us good reviews …to praise the talents of the other characters, the chorus and narrator! I don’t want to be the reason why people come and see Joseph. I want everyone to have a fun time, hear great music and celebrate the many talents of our cast. That’s what the musical is all about. And I think that’s going to happen.

Is there anything else coming up that you can tell our readers about?

Well, as I mentioned earlier my second single will debut this summer. I am going to a lot of different auditions, as well, so I’ll let you know if anything gets picked up. Auditions are definitely new for me, but they are fun.

(Stan Sr.) Disney’s plan for Stan is like a training module. I think the most beautiful thing is that the show did get Stan into Tier 2 of the industry. Tier 1 is for those aspiring performers who wait tables and run from one audition to the next, hoping someday that they will get a decent agent. What High School Musical did for Stan was plug him into the upper echelon early, so that he now has good quality management and excellent agents.

Now they’ve got him into a good quality acting school. There’s a lot of skill building and they’re willing to take him through it all. His natural talent is his vocals and I think that’s why Disney is excited about this second single. Brian Maloof is an incredible music producer. They are sorting through tracks right now and are going to get busy in February to record it. It’s going to be an R&B type song and what’s really exciting about this second single is that it is not a High School Musical, it’s mainstream radio and can open up more opportunities.

Any last comments young Influential Stan?

Just that I think it is a big deal to make sure you always stay true to yourself, no matter what you do professionally. With the help of my manager, agent and my family I will be able to do that. n

The Carrizosa family on the Red Carpet at the LA Premier of “High School Musical 3: Senior Year.” (L-R) Stan Jr., Mom Nancy, Sister Estee, Father Stan Sr.


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You may have caught the Lifetime Channel’s broadcast of Flirting with Forty, starring Heather Locklear and Robert Buckley. What you may not have realized, however, is that it was based on a book written by Jane Porter, a Visalia native that has gone on to write many books, including the well known novel The Frog Prince. You may want to pick up a copy of Flirting with Forty at the bookstore, even if you caught it on TV – you know, the book is always better than the movie!

The title of the novel is somewhat self-explanatory – it is, indeed, about a 40 year old woman who throughout the book is flirting with the need for change, the prospect of possible new horizons, and, yes, flirting with a new romance. The beginning of the book sets the tone for Jackie, a middle aged single mother still having a hard time adjusting to life AD (after divorce). A once enjoyable and memorable holiday task of selecting, and more importantly, securing in an upright sturdy position, the family Christmas tree is now, without the strength and tree-stand know-how of her ex-husband, a daunting chore that has lost it’s joyous holiday feel. The fog and fatigue of a daily struggle with a life that is missing its spark will be a familiar feel that you can relate to, or bring you a grateful appreciation for your not-so-bad-after-all situation. Either way, it will lead you to more fully appreciate the significance of Jackie’s need for a change, a new spark.

On her 40th birthday, Jackie sets out to make that change as she heads out for a fresh perspective and new view on life in beautiful Hawaii. She had no idea just how Hawaii would reshape her life and reveal that prospect of possible new horizons she longed for. Join Jackie on her journey as she searches for the new outlook, and new life, she is in need of. Experience the turning point of discovering that life can get better when you need it the most. Or does it, really? You’ll have to read for yourself. Again, even if you caught the TV broadcast, the book is always better than the movie.

Part of the draw to read this novel is out of appreciation and respect for a local girl making her mark on the world. I’ll give this novel a 4 star out of a 5 star rating with chick-appeal. I believe that men most probably would enjoy the movie more than the book (Heather Locklear-appeal) – and the movie reviews online are from women as well as men. Log on and take a look – there’s even a link to view the movie online! For a list of other novels by Jane Porter, visit her site at www.janeporter.com. n

Flirting With Forty By Jane Porter

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BooK rEviEw AlANA UNGer

Influentials

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Influentials28 VOX POP Influentials

Times are tough for just about everyone these days. So, to help you get through the winter, here are some DVD releases for your enjoyment. The big summer movies are coming to DVD, and some are very good. Here I will also review a pair of small, entertaining movies you need to see.

IRON MAN Probably the best big summer movie was Iron Man. Excellent, exciting action, wrapped around a compelling script. Robert Downey, Jr. (not the first actor you think of when you think of an action star) is terrific as the world’s biggest arms dealer. Downey is captured by Middle Eastern Terrorists, who want him to build a Stinger-type missile. Instead, he creates the Iron Man suit, escapes, and uses his powers for good until his evil business partner, Jeff Bridges-tries to eliminate him. Great script and perfectly directed by Jon Favreau. Not to be missed. Rated PG for some intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, and brief suggestive content. 126 Minutes.

DARK KNIGHT The most recent and best of the Batman movies. It was the most successful movie of the year, bringing in more than $200 million in the United States and more $500 million worldwide. Batman, Commissioner Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent must deal with the chaos created by the Joker (Heath Ledger’s last role before his tragic accidental death). This is a very intense movie, but it works on every level. There are magnificent live action stunts (when the giant truck flips over, it’s a real truck) combined with spectacular computer generated effects. The rest of the cast is Christian Bale as Batman, Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent/Two-Face, Gary Oldman as Gordon and the magnificent Michael Caine as Alfred the Butler. Over two and one half hours long, but sure doesn’t feel like it. Rated PG for intense sequences of violence and some menace. 152 minutes.

NICK AND NORA’ S INFINITE PLAYLIST Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist is edgy and gentle at the same time. Kids Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist is edgy and gentle at the same time. Kids Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlistin their early 20s spend a night in the New York club scene. If you’re over 25 you’ll miss the music reference and the style, but it’s charming, funny and really well done. Rated PG-13 for mature theme material including teen drinking, sexuality, language and crude behavior. 90 minutes.

THE VISITOR The Visitor is one of the best pictures of the year. A recently widowed college professor (Richard Jenkins) The Visitor is one of the best pictures of the year. A recently widowed college professor (Richard Jenkins) The Visitortravels to New York for a conference and finds a young couple living in his apartment. He befriends them and when the man is swept up as an illegal immigrant, the movie becomes a deeply moving story of redemption, renewal and change. Not to be missed! Rated PG for brief strong language. 104 minutes.

DVD DO FROM THE VAULT The Day the Earth Stood Still is a 1951 science fiction film that stands up today, in The Day the Earth Stood Still is a 1951 science fiction film that stands up today, in The Day the Earth Stood Stillspite of progress made in the past 50 years in the area of special effects. A spaceship lands on earth, bringing an important message to the citizens of earth. Featuring Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Hugh Marlowe and Aunt Bee herself, Frances Bavier. Avoid the pathetic remake starring Keanu Reeves that was released last fall.

DVD DON’T Here is a DVD to avoid. It’s hard to believe that Robert De Niro and Al Pacino could combine for a really bad movie, but they did, and the result is Righteous Kill. Directed by Jon Avnet, who also combined with Pacino for 2007’s disaster. 88 Minutes.Righteous Kill. Directed by Jon Avnet, who also combined with Pacino for 2007’s disaster. 88 Minutes.Righteous Kill

DvD Diary

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I’m sure that very few of you made any I’m sure that very few of you made any dental New Year’s resolutions. But I’ll bet dental New Year’s resolutions. But I’ll bet many of you quietly resolve each time many of you quietly resolve each time after your periodic dental visit to begin after your periodic dental visit to begin to take better care of your teeth before to take better care of your teeth before the next checkup. Whether it’s brushing the next checkup. Whether it’s brushing longer, daily flossing, or fixing some longer, daily flossing, or fixing some long-standing tooth problems, most long-standing tooth problems, most of us could do a better job. So, I’ll of us could do a better job. So, I’ll give you a few good reasons to help give you a few good reasons to help

improve the health of your mouth and improve the health of your mouth and your smile.your smile.

Most dentists, dental hygienists, and staff Most dentists, dental hygienists, and staff do a pretty good job of taking care of their do a pretty good job of taking care of their own teeth. Now, why do you think that is? It’s their job? Their employer checks up on them routinely? Nah! Actually, most staff simply know more about why good dental health is important to their overall health and in maintaining a great smile. They also understand and see firsthand in the office what happens when teeth and gums are not maintained over time and when treatment is delayed and not completed. So, here are some basic steps to a beautiful smile:

First, take a little extra time to give your teeth the care they deserve. It takes about two to three minutes to adequately brush your teeth. Most people spend less than 30 seconds brushing. Children enjoy watching

toothbrushes also have automatic timers already built in to help you determine when you should be done. Whatever the method, be sure you’re getting an adequate amount of brushing time in. Why is brushing important? It all has to do with bacteria.

Decay (cavities) and periodontal (gum) disease develops when a sticky film of bacteria

The first month or two after the New Year is

that pocket of time when we are all still hopeful that pocket of time when we are all still hopeful for the possibilities of 2009. It is also that point in time when our initial enthusiasm for our New Year’s resolutions has begun to wane and possibly fall by the wayside. You know how it goes – the early morning gym routine has begun to slip away under those nice, warm bed covers – succumbing to a bit more extended sleep time. Or, the diet that was destroyed last week due to a special birthday or celebration that included just a bit too much food. (I know, you didn’t bring the See’s candy, torte, snacks, and desserts, but – it would have been just plain rude not to join in).

Or perhaps the plan to save more money and manage your debt better just isn’t working so far. If you don’t believe in the resolution process each year, then the odds are that you still have something vaguely resembling a resolution rolling around in your brain anyway. We all know there are simple things that we can all do better.

some ome simple things wwe all can Do Better in 2009n 2009

builds up on our teeth from inadequate or improper brushing and flossing. This layer is called plaque. It is a sticky, adhesive secretion from the bacteria that naturally live on our teeth and in our mouth. This plaque is like a city of bacteria living and growing on your teeth. Every time you eat food or drink something with sugar in it, you are feeding those bacteria and they immediately discharge waste products into your mouth and into your gums.

You know what your body does after you feed it. Do you get the point I’m trying to make? It’s not a pleasant thought. These waste products and toxins irritate and cause changes on the surface of the tooth and in the gums beginning with a condition called gingivitis. It is the first stage of periodontal disease.

Second, do a little flossing. It will help save your teeth. OK, so you’ve heard that you need to floss at least once a day. But has anyone ever told you why? Why isn’t a thorough brushing enough? Again, it all has to do with the bacteria but this time it’s the location of the area between the teeth. This is another area where the sneaky little bacteria devils can continue to feed on food residues and spew out cavity causing acids and… you know what – that other bad stuff. Given enough time, and the lack of air, these bacteria can change into some really bad hombres. The bacteria will then invade and destroy gum tissue and the underlying bones and ligaments that support your teeth.

Flossing is like brushing between the teeth. Brushes can’t reach the surfaces where the teeth lie next to each other. Neither can tooth picks. Floss is specifically designed to clean the contact areas between teeth where bacteria can flourish. If you’re just getting started making flossing a habit – don’t worry about the details of waxed, unwaxed, flavored, fluoride, etc. Just use floss.

What’s the best time to floss? It’s probably at night. Just before bedtime. Your mouth is going to be drier when you sleep and the bacteria are going to have the best growing conditions to multiply and do… you know what, in your mouth. So, brushing and flossing reduces the sheer numbers of bacteria, gets some air in between the teeth, and removes any last


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It takes about two to

brushing. Children

causing acids and… you know what – that other bad stuff. Given enough time, and the lack of air, these bacteria can change into some really bad hombres. The bacteria will then invade and destroy gum tissue and the underlying bones and ligaments that support your teeth.

Brushes can’t reach the surfaces where the teeth lie next to each other. Neither can tooth picks. Floss is specifically designed to clean the contact areas between teeth where bacteria can flourish. If you’re just getting started making flossing a habit – don’t worry about the details

enjoy watching the sand in an hourglass sift away. Try using a small three-minute egg timer to mark the brushing time for kids. New electric toothbrushes also have automatic timers already built in to help you determine when you should be done. Whatever the method, be sure you’re getting an adequate amount of brushing time in. Why is brushing important? It all has to do with bacteria.

Decay (cavities) and periodontal (gum) disease develops when a sticky film of bacteria

all do better.Getting off track happens. It happens to me

and to everyone else I know. The key is getting up and getting back on track.

hourglass sift away.

Brush for 3 minutes

Floss

Fix tooth problems


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residual food debris. Now, here are some hints to help make this habit easier to keep.

Try getting a floss handle or holder to make it easier to access your back teeth. There are several styles available in the dental care section of the drug store – try several. Some have changeable floss heads. Find one that works best for you and buy several of them. Set one at home, one at your work, and another in your car or purse. (Compared to the benefit you get, the cost here is minimal.)

If this is a new thing for you, just try to floss all your teeth once by the end of the day. You can floss after breakfast; you can floss in the shower. You can floss on the way to work at stop lights, in the line at Starbucks, or at the bank. Floss at work on the phone while on hold (or… not), floss after lunch, on a break, and after washing your hands at the restroom. Floss when you get in the car to go home. You get the point. It doesn’t matter if you get it all done at one sitting either. Just get it done by the end of the day. OK, all that to avoid tooth decay and gum disease, right? Wrong!

Researchers have found that people with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from coronary (heart) artery disease as those without periodontal disease. Coronary

artery disease is characterized by a thickening of the walls of the coronary arteries due to the buildup of fatty proteins. Blood clots can obstruct normal blood flow, restricting the amount of nutrients and oxygen required for the heart to function properly. This may lead to heart attacks.

Third, fix those tooth problems you’ve been putting off. Just as a misaligned car will develop excessive tire wear and create larger problems if untreated, missing, misaligned, and broken teeth can accelerate the wear of your teeth. Your teeth can be older than your chronological age. Crooked teeth are harder to floss and clean properly. This can lead to gum disease and other physical issues noted previously. The gap left by a missing tooth can affect the positions of other teeth, allowing them to drift out of position, changing your bite and also potentially leading to gum disease.

Fourth, after all that cleaning and maintenance do something nice for yourself. Make your appearance shine by brightening your smile. If you haven’t tried whitening your teeth—give it a try. There are a lot of different whitening products on the market. Crest offers some OTC whitening strips as well as other manufacturers. But the most reliable results,

oral Health Fast Facts50% of all American youth ages 17 and under have had cavities in their permanent teeth. •

75% of the U.S. population has some form of periodontal gum disease. •

50% of Americans do not receive regular oral health care. •

Americans spend upwards of $2 billion a year on dental products – toothpaste, •mouthwash and dental floss.

94% of Americans say they brush nightly; 81% say they do it first thing•

Source: www.adha.org/media/facts/oral_health_fast_facts.htm

dollar for dollar, can be had at your dentist’s office. They usually fabricate custom made trays made from molds of your teeth for a fit that improves the contact of the whitening gel on your teeth resulting in a faster whitening experience. Whitening shouldn’t cost a fortune so, don’t be afraid to shop around. Whitening can make a huge impact on your smile, appearance, and positive attitude. If it’s been a while since you last whitened and your teeth are looking a bit dull, try a touch-up. It’s much quicker and less costly if you still have your original trays.

I hope this helps you to think a bit differently about dental health maintenance. Resolve to try and keep doing better. It’s not just about your teeth and gums anymore. It’s about a whole lot more. n

ral Health Fast Facts50% of all American youth ages 17 and under have had cavities in their permanent teeth.

75% of the U.S. population has some form of periodontal gum disease.

Americans spend upwards of $2 billion a year on dental products – toothpaste,

thing in the morning.



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Vox Pop Influentials - January / February 2009