JANUARY 2015
Historic Coronado Motor Hotel Yuma's Destination Hotel Celebrating Over 75 Years of Tradition Where The Past Makes History
Ideal Location Close to Shopping, Restaurants, Attractions & Activities Over 120 Clean & Comfortable Guest Rooms Full Cooked Breakfast at Yuma Landing Bar & Grill Free Hi-Speed Internet & WiFi ~ Work Desk Flat Screen TV & DVD Player Fridge ~ Microwave ~ Coffee Maker Iron & Ironing Board ~ Hair Dryer ~ In-Room Safe Two Swimming Pools ~ 1 Fitness Center 2 Business Centers ~ Guest Laundry Facilities Free Parking for Cars, Boats, Buses, RVs & Trucks Group Rates & Government Per Diem Rates
Click to see Video!
233 4th Avenue, Yuma, AZ 85364 Toll Free: (877) 234-5567 Local: (928) 783-4453 www.CoronadoMotorHotel.com PAGE 2
Contents‌ 5. Editors Block
6. YOUNG ADULT NOVEL: Amazon Burning 7. The GONG Show! 8. The Illustrated Dog 10. EXHIBITS: DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun
12. SOUP IT UP! 7 Soup Recipes & Tips! 13. Quick Chicken Noodle Soup 14. Mushroom Soup & Tips 15. Garden Carrot Soup With Scallion Dressing 16. Bonfire Soup 17. Sweet Potato Soup 18. Celery Root Soup
20. Jump Start the Organizing Process
Big Blend Bonanza Giveaway 23. New Prizes - One Winner Takes All
24. Fur Fashion Facts
PAGE 3
Contents continued… 25. Winter Herbal Elixirs 26. Creating Ritual In 7 Easy Steps
28. Success Starts with Setting Goals
30. New Calfiornia Labor Laws for 2015 32. Honing Your Writing Skills 34. Pilot Insider 35. 7 Reasons to Start Your Own e-Newsletter
36. Aiyee! Lake Charles / Southwest Louisiana 40. It’s All Happening in Yuma, AZ 46. Get a Taste of Tuolumne County 48. Winter Fun in California’s Sequoia Country
52. Norfolk’s Ecclesiastical Heritage
54. The Slave Dwelling Project 58. Born Under a Sign - January
60. Jan. 4 & 5: Big Blend Radio 8th Anniversary Party! 62. Jan. 11: France, Asia, Arizona, Travel, Food and Books 62. Jan. 18: Writing, Travel, Art & Cooking 63. Jan. 25 & 26: Quality of Life Radio Expo : 64. Watch Big Blend TV on Vimeo! PAGE 4
A Word from The Editors Be sure to subscribe to our Big Blend e-Newsletter to not only get your free Big Blend Radio & TV Magazine and Spirit of America Magazine in your email, It’s also that time of year when we typically regroup but so you can also enter our Big Blend on life and career, and we have some pointers on Bonanza Giveaway goal setting, creating rituals, organizing, better writing skills, and new California labor laws. To take where one winner wins all the prizes we add to the winter chill off we have some delicious soup the prize pot throughout recipes to try along with winter herbal remedies, the year. We’re at the and tips on how to choose faux fur instead of real beginning of the fur in clothing. giveaway with last entry being accepted on Nov. 10, 2015, and current prizes include a 3 day / 2 It may be cold, but that doesn’t mean we stop night stay for two at Three Rivers B&B near getting out and about. Read our travel feature on Sequoia National Park, and a $75 gift certificate to Lake Charles and southwest Louisiana, find out spend at DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun in Tucson. what it’s like to be a pilot, and check out all the winter activities and event news for California’s Happy New Year! May it be a prosperous, Sequoia and Yosemite area, along with Yuma, healthy and fun one for you all! Arizona – the sunniest place in the country! We celebrate the arts with the history of the illustrated Nancy J. Reid and Lisa D. Smith – Big Blend’s dog, Hollywood history, and a new young adult mother-daughter publishing, radio and travel team; novel. A new year is upon us, and we’re kicking it off with a 2-day Big Blend Radio Birthday Bash! Join us for the party on Jan. 4 and 5, as we celebrate 8 years of online radio history by broadcasting live from the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun and Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Arizona.
We also take a step back in time with a feature on preserving and sleeping overnight in extant slave dwellings, and learn about the historic churches and cathedrals of Norfolk, England. Have fun with our ‘Born Under a Sign’ article that compares the characteristics of historic and noteworthy people born in the month of January.
along with Priscilla - Big Blend’s pink sock monkey travel mascot! On The Front Cover: Alligator and Southwest Louisiana Cuisine (photos courtesy of Lake Charles CVB & Mounsour Photography), and Sam Houston Jones State Park in Lake Charles, La. This site developed by Big Blend Magazine™. copyrighted since 1998. No part of it may be reproduced for any reason, without written permission from Big Blend Magazine, P.O. Box 6201, North Hollywood, CA 91603. Opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily that of this publication or any of its staff. We reserve the right to edit submittals. All subject matter is intended for general information only and not to be take as personal advice in any matter. Although every effort is made to be accurate, we cannot be held responsible for inaccuracies or plagiarized copy submitted to us by advertisers or contributors.
PAGE 5
Amazon Burning Thrilling New Young Adult Novel by Victoria Griffith Published by Astor + Blue Editions, Amazon Burning is a thrilling page-turner, centered on coming of age in a tangled web of romance, mystery, and chaos in the Amazon jungle. When 22-year-old aspiring journalist, Emma Cohen, is forced to flee the comforts of her NYU student life, she maneuvers an internship from her father at his newspaper in Rio de Janeiro. There, Emma is immediately swept into a major news story--and a life-threatening situation--when a famous jungle environmentalist, Milton Silva, is mysteriously murdered. Emma must now enter the Amazon rainforest with her father to investigate; both awed by the enormity and beauty of the Amazon, and appalled by its reckless destruction. Not only will Emma have to brave the primal world of the Amazon, she must fight to survive the kidnappers, villains, corrupt activists, and indigenous tribes that lay in wait along the ever-twisting trail of the murder case. Stretched to the brink, it’s up to Emma, her father and the dreamy news photographer, Jimmy, to unravel the mystery and live to tell the tale. Before becoming a full-time author, Victoria spent twenty years as an international journalist, fifteen of those years as foreign correspondent for the UK’s Financial Times. During that time, she had fun writing on a wide range of topics, including Brazil’s Yanomami Indians, architecture, space exploration, the human genome, and the growth of the Internet.
CLICK TO WATCH VIDEO!
Listen!
Listen to the Big Blend Radio interview with author Victoria Griffith, who talks about the environmental activism, Brazil, and Amazon Burning.
PAGE 6
The GONG Show! Listen to Steve Schneickert’s Big Blend Radio segment, where he recalls the Hollywood History of The Gong Show! The Gong Show was first broadcast on NBC's daytime schedule, on June 14, 1976. The show was produced by Chuck Barris, who served as host. Promoted as being an amateur talent contest, The Gong Show is best remembered for its absurdist humor and style, dubious talent, and amateur performances. The program's frequent judges, included Jay P. Morgan, Jamie Farr, Arte Johnson, Rip Taylor, Phyllis Diller, Anson Williams, and Rex Reed. If any judge considered an act to be particularly bad, he or she could force it to stop by striking a large gong! When the act was on the verge of being gonged, the laughter and anticipation from the audience escalated as the judges patiently waited to deliver the strike. Top prize to the winning act was $716.32, which was the Screen Actors Guild's minimum pay for a days work at the time. There was also an award for 'Most Outrageous Act of the Week'. The winner of that award would receive a dirty tube sock and a check for $516.32.
Listen!
The show had many running gags and characters who appeared as regular performers: The Unknown Comic, Gene Gene The Dancing Machine, Scarlett and Rhett, the Whispers, to name a few! There was some legitimate and true talent that graced the show's stage: 12 year-old Andrea McArdle who went on to star in the Broadway musical 'Annie', Singer Boxcar Willie, comic Paul Reubens, musician Danny Elfman, Oscar nominated actress Mare Winningham, and, Dancer Danny Lockin who played Barnaby Tucker in the film, 'Hello, Dolly!' Unfortunately, Danny Lockin was murdered tragically, hours after winning on August 21, 1977.
PAGE 7
By Victoria Chick Few examples of dogs exist in the early history of art. Anubis, an Egyptian god, had canine attributes of a jackal’s head on a man’s body and was associated with preparing the dead for the afterlife. Cerberus was a Greek mythical dog, depicted sometimes with more than one head, who guarded the gate of hell. Both creatures were represented sculpturally and Anubis was often painted in Egyptian frescos. The first fine artist to make dogs the sole of the subject of a painting was the English artist George Stubbs. He was a painter in the last part of the 18th century. Stubbs studied the anatomy of many animals using dissection. His knowledge of how animals were put together made his painted animals lively and believable. But dogs, as a subject in art, really came into their own during the 19th century.
George Stubbs - ‘Poodle in a Punt’
Queen Victoria loved her dogs and asked Sir Edwin Landseer to paint portraits of them. This set a fashion for lesser British royalty to have their dogs painted too. And, as England’s trade increased, newly wealthy manufacturers, bankers, and investors had paintings done of their dogs as well. However, the big blossoming of “dog art” somewhat coincides with the founding of both the Westminster Kennel Club in New York in 1876 and the British Kennel Club in London 1873. These two groups fostered an interest in wellbred dogs, not only among dog owners, but also among the general public through the clubs’ sponsorship of dog shows. As breeds developed more standardized characteristics, artists were used to paint pictures of perfect examples of various breeds. Proud kennel owners wanted their prize winning dogs immortalized in oil paintings. So, dog portraiture became a very specific vocation for many artists. This artist’s niche continues to the present time as you can see by doing an internet search of dog artists. The British Royal Art Collection includes numerous paintings of and with dogs done by first rank painters of the 18th and 19th centuries. However, specialists in dog art are, for the most part, not well known outside the professional dog world. Within that group are serious collectors. Besides dog portraits, the most common type of dog painting or print in the 19th century showed hunting dogs, usually pointers or setters, in the field. Sometimes paintings or prints of hounds were shown with riders on horseback as part of a fox hunt. There are some paintings that stress the nobility and loyalty of dogs in scenes where they have rescued someone. Dogs as pets, painted with their child owners, were also a popular subject. PAGE 8
Sir Edwin Landseer - ‘Dignity and Impudence’
19th Century British Hunting Print
A few artists who painted dog subjects or included them in compositions with people, are recognized as major painters. These include the British painters, Stubbs and Landseer, and the American painter, Thomas Eakins. Two very good, but lesser known American dog artists, are Theodore Robinson who studied with Monet, and Percy Sanborn, an artist from Maine. Some of the best dog art has been viewed by people who may not even have considered they were looking at “art”. Book illustrators in the late 19th and the early 20th century produced outstanding artwork for some very famous books about dogs. Two such illustrators are Morgan Dennis and Marguerite Kirmse. Morgan Dennis was an etcher, illustrator, easel painter, and muralist, born in Boston in 1892. Dennis was a dog lover who worked 10 years for newspapers in Boston until drawing dogs became his overpowering interest. He became an illustrator for dog stories in magazines and books. Morgan Dennis: ‘Schools Out’ He wrote and did the illustrations for Pup Himself, Burlap, and The Morgan Dennis Dog Book, an explanation of the characteristics of various breeds. Dennis also illustrated a series for the Ladies’ Home Journal entitled, Every Dog Has His Say, in which a different breed was featured each month.
He also did lively label and advertising illustrations for the products, Pard Dog Food and Black and White Scotch. B&W Scotch became wholly identified with his duo of Black and White Scottie dogs. Morgan Dennis also painted a dog themed mural for the Sheraton Russell Hotel in New York. Unfortunately, it was removed when the hotel was renovated. Born in England in 1885, Marguerite Kimse pursued a pioneer music career. She was the first woman graduate of the Royal Academy of Music where she studied the harp. There are conflicting reports about whether she came to the U.S. as a visitor and stayed, or arrived at the invitation of a U.S. orchestra to become their harpist. But it was in the U.S. she began to draw dogs. This hobby led to an interest in etching. She drew her dog pictures by scratching through the asphaltum on etching plates. These she took to a commercial printing company that completed the acid bath and printing under her supervision. Eventually, she produced two print editions a year of 5 or 6 etchings and achieved professional success in selling her work during her lifetime. Marguerite Kirmse had no lack of dog models. She and her husband raised many breeds of dogs and operated a professional kennel. She was partial to Scottish Terriers and was president of the Scottish Terrier Club of America for awhile. In addition to producing original art, she illustrated books by Rudyard Kipling and Albert Payson Terhune. Several limited edition books featuring her dog etchings were published by Derrydale Press and are now collectors’ items. The contemporary artist, William Wegman, uses photography to take shots of his Weimaraner dogs in human situations and often wearing items of clothing that anthropomorphize the dogs. These are often parodies, or just plain humorous.
Listen!
Victoria Chick is the founder of the Cow Trail Art Studio and received a B.A. in Art from the University of Missouri at Kansas City and awarded an M.F.A. in Painting from Kent State University in Ohio. Visit her website at www.ArtistVictoriaChick.com
PAGE 9
Winter Exhibits at the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun 10-acre historic landmark in Tucson, Arizona Opened in 1965, this gallery is home to over 15,000 originals of Ted DeGrazia art pieces. The gallery displays six permanent collections and several rotating exhibitions each year. A limited number of DeGrazia originals are available for purchase, while the gift shop and online store offers a wide variety of popular DeGrazia reproductions. The Little Gallery hosts visiting artists during the winter months. The DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun is Open Daily from 10 am – 4pm. There is no admission charge.
Listen to the Big Blend Radio Interview with Lance Laber, Executive Director of DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, who talks about the new exhibit ‘Enamel on Copper Paintings by southwestern artist Ted DeGrazia’.
WINTER EXHIBITS 2015 For up-to-date event and exhibit information, call (520) 299-9191 or (800) 545-2185, or visit www.DeGrazia.org. “DeGrazia’s Greatest Hits” - From limited edition stone lithographs to refrigerator magnets and everything between, the popularity of artist Ted DeGrazia’s images made him one of the most reproduced artists of the twentieth century. More than fifty of his most popular oils are celebrated in the exhibit “DeGrazia’s Greatest Hits”. This exhibit runs until January 28, 2015. “Signs of the Zodiac” In a nod to popular culture in the early 1970’s, Ted DeGrazia created a series of astrological paintings, drawings, and essays. Infused with the artist’s regional perspective and imagery from native cultures, these works are featured in “DeGrazia Paints the Signs of the Zodiac”. This exhibit runs until January 28, 2015
Listen!
"Enamel on Copper Paintings of Ted DeGrazia" - Fired enamels are glass-based pigments that melt and fuse to metal when heated to high temperatures. Between 1972 and 1974, Ted DeGrazia’s focus on this technique led to the creation of hundreds of enameled copper and silver objects including jewelry, sculpture, and enamel on copper paintings. The 1975 book DeGrazia Creates Enamels reproduced selected images from thirteen limited edition enamel on copper painting series. This exhibit features full and partial editions of those paintings along with a selection of DeGrazia’s enameled jewelry, sculpture, and additional individual paintings. An opening reception will be held from 5- 7 pm on January 30, with the exhibit running until Aug. 15, 2015.
Little Gallery Exhibitions Dec. 28-Jan. 9: Jimmy Descant, Assemblage Art Jan. 11-23: Gay Thorson, Painted Terra Cotta Clay Jan. 25- Feb. 6: Pat Doughty, Mixed Media
PAGE 10
Yuma Landing Bar & Grill Come Eat, Drink & Be Merry where the First Airplane Landed in Arizona! Hangar Sports Bar 24 Beers on Tap ~ Daily Drink Specials Appetizers & Entrees Televised Sports Events ~ Live Music & Entertainment
Captain’s Lounge Top-shelf Cocktails ~ Fine Wines ~ Specialty Coffees
Yuma Landing Restaurant American & South-of-the-Border Cuisine Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Click to see Video!
Win! Win! Win! Sign up on YumaLanding.com for our Captain’s Log e-Newsletter and you will be entered into our monthly drawing for a $25 Yuma Landing Gift Certificate, plus you'll get news on other great giveaways, specials, Yuma Landing recipes, events news & more! Located on the same property as the Historic Coronado Motor Hotel, the Yuma Landing Bar & Grill is the site where the first airplane landed in Arizona, and features a state monument, historic photos and memorabilia.
Groups of 15 or more diners get a 15% discount on breakfast, lunch and dinner. All Military Personnel Receive a 20% Discount on Meals!
195 S. 4th Avenue, Yuma, ArizonaTel: (928) 782-7427
www.YumaLanding.com PAGE 11
Soups are one of the most popular dishes to serve, especially in the colder weather. Not only are they soul-warming, but they offer the cook the utmost in creativity, are usually better made well ahead of serving time, and are a great way to use left-overs. Enjoy 7 great recipes! Chef Ivan Flowers shares his Quick Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe and talks about making the basis of all soups, a good, tasty stock. Cookbook author Ruth Milstein shares tips on making soups and hearty stews, and her husband Howard, a wine expert, suggests some wine pairings. Glynn Burrows, our English correspondent offers Bonfire Soup, an easy no-fuss recipe just right for cold, windy weather. Innkeeper Leah Launey from Three Rivers Bed and Breakfast shares her thick, creamy Sweet Potato Soup and Chef Thomas Wright from the Yuma Landing Bar & Grill gives us a recipe for Celery Root Soup.
Taste as you go is a good rule, adding your seasoning a bit at a time, so you don’t overdo it. It’s always fun to experiment, but here are some known combinations of herbs and spice that work together well. Bean Soups like Cumin, Dill Seed, Summer Savory, Tarragon, and sometimes Mint. Chicken Soups like Cumin, Ginger, Marjoram, Rosemary, Tarragon and Sage. Beef Soups like Bay Leaves, Chervil, and Parsley. Clam Chowders and Fish based soups like Marjoram, Thyme, Caraway Seeds and Green Dill. Fruit Soups like Allspice, Cardamom, Cinnamon, and Mace. Cold Soups like Celery Seed, Chives, Garlic, Green Dill, and a splash of Tabasco Sauce. Vegetable Soups like Basil, Chervil, Oregano, Sage, Summer Savory, Thyme, Bay Leaves, Tarragon and Marjoram.
Toasted, crusty bread topped with a bit of cheese and garlic butter, sets the soup off, and it is important to garnish your soup with fresh herbs, freshly-ground pepper, and some crunchy croutons to add flavor and texture.
Pea Soups like Cardamom Seed, Basil, Coriander, Cumin, Curry Powder, Mint, Rosemary, Sage, Tarragon and Thyme.
Some great garnishes for soup include chervil, chives, fennel seeds, paprika, parsley, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, a dollop of sour cream or unsweetened whipped cream.
Mushroom Soups like Oregano and Tarragon.
Potato Soups just love Mustard Seed, Rosemary and Sage.
PAGE 12
Quick Chicken Noodle Soup By Chef Ivan Flowers
Listen!
Serves 6 1 Cooked Rotisserie Chicken 1 ½ Quarts Low Sodium Chicken Stock 2 Shallots, thinly sliced 4 Garlic Cloves, peeled 2 Carrots, thinly sliced 3 Celery Stalks, thinly sliced ½ Cup Cilantro, finely chopped Juice of 1 Lemon ½ Pound Pasta (noodle of choice), cooked slightly under al dente 2 Tbsp. Olive Oil Salt Pepper Remove skin from chicken and shred all meat into a bowl. Set aside. Cook the pasta in salted water until slightly under al dente. Drain and set aside. In a large stock pot combine the oil, shallots and garlic cloves. Cook over medium heat until shallots are translucent. Once shallots are translucent, remove garlic cloves & discard.
Chef Ivan Flowers is the 5 Star Executive Chef of Top of the Market in San Diego, California. See www.TheFishMarket.com
Now add the carrots, celery, lemon and cilantro. Cover and simmer for five minutes. Next stir in the pasta and cook covered for two more minutes. Check for seasoning and add salt and pepper to taste. Want it spicy? Add in a sliced jalapeno and a few drops of hot sauce.
Add chicken meat and stock into pot. Cover and Serve with freshly grated Parmesan and crusty bring to a simmer. Once it comes to a simmer, remove any foam floating on top. Skim it off using a bread. large spoon. PAGE 13
Soups & Stews Tips and Mushroom Soup Recipe Ruth Milstein, author of recipe book 'Cooking with Love: Ventures into the New Israeli Cuisine' gives her tips for cooking healthy soups and stews that are full flavor, and a shares her tasty Mushroom Soup Recipe!
Mushroom Soup
Soup and Stew Tips ● Prepare soup and stew the day before, and refrigerate to chill. Before cooking, scrape all the fat off the top. ● Soup and stew tastes better if made a day or two in advance to let the flavor seep in. ● Thicken the soup with shredded vegetables instead of corn flour. ● The best soups are made with a base of homemade stock and fresh ingredients. ● Herbs will have a more intense flavor if added at the end of the long cooking process. ● Wine and beer is a great flavor addition to soup and stew. When using wine, use less salt as the wine tends to intensify the salty flavor.
A hearty, rustic soup that is deep and woodsy in flavor and texture. Caramelize the onions first in oil for an even deeper, richer flavor. Makes 6 servings. Ingredients 1 lb. fresh mushrooms 1 oz. dry mushrooms, soaked in water for 1/2 hour 4 medium size onions 1/2 cup olive oil or 4 ounces butter 2 1/2 cups water 1 cube chicken flavor bouillon 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon white pepper Heavy cream to taste 1 Tablespoon minced dill, for garnish Method Slice all the mushrooms and mince the onions. Put the oil or the butter in a large pot; sauté the onion until it turns translucent. Add the mushrooms and continue to cook a few more minutes. Add the water and the chicken flavor bouillon, cook until the mushrooms become soft, or about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Pour into serving bowls.
Listen!
Add heavy cream, as per taste; then sprinkle with minced dill. Serve hot with fresh whole wheat bread.
PAGE 14
Garden Carrot Soup Garnished with a little Jalapeño and a Green Onion “Scallion” Dressing, this delicious soup recipe is from Chef Jeremy Manley, who is known for his fresh, seasonal, organic, healthy, and local cuisine that is served at Jeremy's on the Hill, a California Style Bistro located up in Julian, San Diego's historic gold rush town. Ingredients ¼ cup Grape seed oil or other oil (grape seed oil rocks because of its neutral flavor and high smoke point) 4 T Butter ¼ cup of rice 15 Garden Carrots or 10 Jumbo Horse carrots peeled and chopped into one inch pieces 1 Onion medium diced (the size of your whole pinky nail) 1 Jalapeno with a couple seeds removed - if you take all them out you won’t really taste the pepper Pinch or so of Salt Chicken stock or water (enough to cover your ingredients - remember you can always add more) Blender Mesh net strainer Directions Place your oil and butter in a large bowling pot and let the oil-butter blend together on medium heat. Add your rice and carrots and let cook for about 5 minutes. Then add your onion and jalapeno with a pinch of salt. Let this cook on medium low heat for an additional 8 minutes. Add your stock OR water and slowly bring to a light bowl for about twelve minutes. Caution! Do not bring to a rolling bowl otherwise you will lose flavor and potency. Remove from heat and let sit for five minutes.
Scallion Dressing Ingredients Olive Oil 1 bunch of green onions, chopped 1 clove of garlic, chopped Small pinch of cayenne pepper Pinch of Salt 1 T Cilantro (minced- chopped super fine) 2 T or so of Heavy Cream ¼ Chicken stock or water (reserve more if necessary to thin out your dressing) Directions Combine the first five ingredients in a pan over medium low heat and let the flavors emulsify together for about ten minutes. If you start seeing a darker color appear then you need to stop the cooking process and you may have to start over. The darker the color the more bitter flavor you are imparting to our creation. Remove from the heat and add your cilantro. Place in a blender with heavy cream and ¼ cup of chicken stock (or water). Turn your blender on to low and let the flavors perfume the air. Add a splash of lime juice. You can also try a variation of this dressing by adding ¼ of an avocado. The lime juice will help prevent oxidation from occurring. After ladling the soup into a bowl place a dollop of your scallion dressing on top! Get creative and put it in a squeeze bottle and throw a design on top. Bon appetite!
Set your blender up and slowly ladle your hot soup into the blender only ½ way full. Place a towel over the top in place of a lid because the heat will expand and cause a hot air balloon effect and explode all over your kitchen. Blend on low and gradually increase speed to high. Turn off and pass the strainer. This will remove the rice and any impurities in the soup. If you do not have a strainer then ignore this step-it is not a crucial one. PAGE 15
Owner of Jeremy’s on the Hill, Chef Jeremy Manley serves fresh, seasonal, organic, healthy, local and outstanding cuisine. Visit www.JeremysOnTheHill.com
Method:
Bonfire Soup This has to be the easiest soup recipe you can ever wish for. The ingredients are what vegetables you have in your store and the method is simply put it all in a slow cooker and leave it for the day! Ingredients: Carrots, Onions, Leeks, Cauliflower, Swede, Turnips, Garlic, Celery, Parsnips, Peppers, etc. Salt, Pepper, Stock Cubes, Water. If you eat meat, use meat stock, if not, use vegetable stock.
Peel and roughly chop all vegetables. Put them in the slow cooker. Season with salt and pepper and add a couple of stock cubes. Add enough water to come up about two inches in the pot. Turn pot on, put lid on and leave for the day. Stir the pot after about 30 mins and then every hour or so, checking the water level hasn’t dropped too much. Before serving, liquidize with a hand-held liquidizer and adjust the consistency by adding more water. Keep the soup quite thick. Taste and season if required. Serve with crusty bread & croutons if eating at the table or in mugs beside the bonfire!
This hearty soup recipe is from Glynn Burrows, a historian and owner of Norfolk Tours in England. Visit our website at: www.norfolk-tours.co.uk
PAGE 16
Sweet Potato Soup
While you are baking the sweet potatoes or pumpkin or squash, fill 1 1/2 Dutch ovens (I always have too many vegetables for 1 Dutch oven) with the other ingredients, chopping the vegetables up Ingredients: somewhat, and letting them simmer on top of the 5-6 small sweet potatoes (or the equivalent amount stove in a small amount of water for 30 minutes. Cool down (30 minutes or less), add the baked of pumpkin or squash) sweet potatoes or pumpkin, then ladle the mixture 1 1/2 small jars local preserves (any kind; I've used into a blender and buzz away - a little at a time, of quince, spiced pear, and many other kinds) course. Pour blended mixture into a crockpot and heat on low setting until ready to serve. Add 1 1/2 onions soymilk, or nonfat cow's milk, if you like a creamier 8-10 cloves of garlic soup. Very tasty, with or without the milk. No need for salt and pepper. Cabbage (any kind) 3-4 red potatoes 2 heads broccoli Some late zucchini 6 tomatoes 2 jalapenos (just adds flavor; use more if you like it hot) 1 bay leaf (CA bay laurel) Water to simmer
This tasty soup recipe is from Leah Launey, who along with her husband Peter Sodhy, is the innkeeper of Three Rivers Bed & Breakfast, located just 8 miles from the entrance to Sequoia National Park, in central California.
Learn more at Plain organic soymilk or nonfat cow's milk (if you www.ThreeRiversBedandBreakfast.com like a creamier soup) PAGE 17
Celery Root Soup By Thomas Wright, Executive Chef of Yuma Landing Bar & Grill in Yuma, Arizona Ingredients:
Directions
4 Tbsp. butter 2 Tbsp. Extra virgin olive oil 2 Medium onions, chopped 2 Garlic cloves, minced 2 lbs. Celery root peeled, cut into 1" pieces 4 Tbsp. All-purpose flour 5 cups chicken or vegetable stock 1/3 cup whipping cream Celery leaves for garnish Extra virgin olive oil for garnish
Melt butter in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add onions. Sprinkle with salt. Cook until tender, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and let cook for about 1 minute. Add flour and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add stock and celery root. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are very tender, about 15 minutes. Puree soup in blender, in batches, until smooth.
Listen!
Return to saucepan. Add cream. Simmer until thickened to desired consistency, about 5 minutes. Ladle into bowl, garnish with a few celery leaves and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
PAGE 18
PAGE 19
By Regina Leeds 'The Zen Organizer' & Author of the 'One Year to An Organized Life' An essential tenet of ‘Zen Organizing’ is the understanding that we live in a cause and effect world. If you don’t like what you see in your physical environment, take heart. You created it. You can create something else that will nurture and support you. You needn’t ever feel guilty. You should in fact feel powerful.
We can cultivate little actions that have huge reactions in our environment. They can become a natural part of how we express ourselves. The following build your self esteem and give you confidence in your quest to get and stay organized. Here are five of my favorites: - Put your keys in the same place the minute you enter your home. I like to say that the drama ‘Where are my keys?’ is more popular than any soap opera. Give your body and nervous system a rest: eliminate this waste of time and energy from your experience. By the way if you are of ‘a certain age,’ be sure you leave your reading glasses in the same spot!
Jump Start the Organizing Process! Does the very idea of getting organized leave you feeling overwhelmed? Let me introduce the power of journal writing. It helps you uncover the issues from the past that caused the current - Take the garbage out daily (if you are part of a predicament. There is another tool you can large family and generate full bags). Remember employ to jump start your organized lifestyle: to check all the garbage containers in the home. create positive habits. Psychologists say it takes Your kitchen garbage can might get full every three 21 consecutive days of repeating an action before days while the one in the bathroom is full by night it becomes a habit. Think about all the wonderful fall. Trash is never an uplifting visual! If you have habits you have cultivated to date. You brush the space, you can try a home composter. And your teeth before you leave the house, right? I’ll don’t forget to recycle! bet you also comb your hair. I’d even put money on clean underwear and regular bathing. Do you buckle up the minute you’re in your car? What would you add from your personal list? PAGE 20
- Make your bed every day. You don’t need to make military corners or use 20 decorative pillows. Just pull back the top sheet and fluff the pillows and the comforter. Entering a room with an unmade bed makes you feel instantly sleepy. By the way, is it time for some new bedding? - Wash your dirty dishes. A pile of dirty dishes in the sink will make you feel depressed the second you enter the kitchen. Do you have any cracked, chipped or broken plates and cups that need to be eliminated? Now is a great time to take that step. - Put clean dishes away. Stacks of clean dishes on the drain board will remind you that you have unfinished business. I’m going to bet your home is littered with unfinished projects.
- One trick when it comes to maintenance is to assign chores to all family members. You are after all a family unit. You are not a maid catering to your slave owners. Children need to learn how to manage a home. You don’t want to send them off to college without a clue how laundry is done or how often to dust and vacuum, do you? Be sure your assignments are age appropriate and be a good teacher.
- ‘Some day I might need that!’ A little journal work may help you trace the origin of this fear. After all, unless you move to Buckingham Palace, you won’t ever have enough space to save absolutely everything that comes into your life. I’m not suggesting you trash things without care. Let your creativity run wild. For example, what if your children are grown and you have boxes and boxes of their art work? Why not photograph the pieces and create a digital scrapbook? You’ll be able to toss the originals and gain more space in your home. At the same time everyone in the family can share in the fun of your child’s evolving creativity. - My childhood home was chaotic. This may mean that chaos is comforting for you because it’s the known and familiar. Read a book like “One Year to an Organized Life” or work with a professional organizer like myself. “One Year” helps readers move through every room in the home and covers every conceivable project in detail. When we work slowly and methodically, change is gradual and we can embrace the benefits over time. One day ‘chaos’ is replaced by ‘calm.’ Moreover you will be able to teach organizing to your children. You will give them the gift no one knew how to provide for you.
Let’s examine some of the cures for possible causes of clutter. - Lack of Storage: Take a good look at your space and see if you can find areas that can be altered slightly to provide more storage. For example, most closets have one shelf. But if you look up, you’ll see more than enough space to install a second one. This is great for out of season clothing. You’ll find an array of great containers at The Container Store. Do you have deep cabinets in the kitchen? You can install a sliding shelf that will eliminate the ‘dead zone’ in the back. This is an easy to find item. I like the one found in the Solutions Catalogue. What about that dresser that Aunt Rita left you in her will? You want to honor her wishes but it doesn’t fit into your décor. What about a face lift? Gift it a coat of paint in a bright color. Use it for clothing, office supplies or even children’s art supplies. Let your imagination be your guide.
Listen!
Regina Leeds ‘The Zen Organizer’, has organized homes and offices across America for more than 25 years. She is the author of 9 books including New York Times best seller ‘One Year to an Organized Life’. Listen to her Big Blend Radio interview and visit her website – www.ReginaLeeds.com . PAGE 21
PAGE 22
ON TA E WI KE NN S A ER LL !
NER N I L! EW ON ES AL TAK
Enter to Win the Year-Long Big Blend Bonanza Giveaway! ONE WINNER TAKES ALL! Every few weeks we add new prizes to the giveaway. These are announced in our Big Blend e-Newsletter, the monthly Big Blend Radio & TV Magazine and quarterly Spirit of America Magazine.
HOW DO YOU ENTER? Subscribe to the Big Blend e-Newsletter to get the monthly prize update, monthly question, and entry form. Maximize your chances of winning by answering as many questions as possible. Last entry will be accepted on November 10, 2015. Winner will be announced in the December 2015 issue of Big Blend Radio & TV Magazine.
e re H ck Cli to be! i scr b Su
Click Here to Subscribe to Big Blend e-News to Enter the Big Blend Bonanza!
Big Blend Bonanza Giveaway Prizes Include: Three Rivers Bed & Breakfast – 2 Night Stay for Two, at Three Rivers Bed & Breakfast – Located in Three Rivers, California this Riverhouse is only 8 miles from the entrance to Sequoia National Park. Guest rooms feature a high ceiling, tiled floors, queen-sized bed, TV/VCR, Wi Fi, woodburning fireplace, A/C and heat, small private verandah, private access to Kaweah River, private bathroom, wine and chocolates. Watch the video and learn more at www.ThreeRiversBedandBreakfast.com. $75 Gift Certificate at DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun – Located in Tucson, Arizona, this 10-acre historic landmark is home to over 15,000 originals of famous Arizona artist Ted DeGrazia’s art pieces. A limited number of DeGrazia originals are available for purchase, while the gift shop offers a wide variety of popular DeGrazia reproductions. This certificate is for in-store use only. Watch the video about the gallery or visit www.DeGrazia.org.
RULES & FINE PRINT: - Big Blend clients, colleagues, friends or family are not allowed to enter. - Must be 18 years or older to enter. - Must live in the USA to enter. - No transportation is provided to travel destinations that offer gift certificates in the giveaway. - Big Blend is not responsible for gift certificates that cannot be utilized due to business closure, change of ownership etc. - Gift certificates in prize package are not redeemable for cash, and cannot be utilized by someone other than the winner. - You must subscribe to the Big Blend Newsletter in order to obtain the the entry forms and answer the questions.
PAGE 23
Fur Facts!
“Every year, more than 50 million animals are violently killed in the name of "fashion." Some fall victim to barbaric traps. Others spend the entirety of their lives in grim conditions in fur farms across the globe before being slaughtered.” Born Free USA If you, like many others, detest the idea of wearing real fur, especially with so many alternatives, you can feel confident that you are not duped into buying real fur disguised as faux fur, just read below.
Listen to Adam Roberts, CEO of BornFree USA, share some facts and thoughts about the fur fashion industry and trapping.
Here’s how to tell the difference. First, check the feel of the fur by rolling the hairs between your finger and thumb. If it rolls easily between your fore finger and thumb, feels soft and smooth–watch out! Fake fur feels coarse. Blow on the hairs so they divide and look at the base. Real fur has several layers of thin, sometimes different colored, curly hairs that form a dense under-wool, with longer hairs that stick out. They are attached to the leather, while with fake fur, hairs tend to be all the same color and length. If you have a fur at home, you can stick a pin through the base. If it resists, it is most likely real. If it penetrates easily, it is probably fake fur. You can also pull a few hairs out and carefully hold them to a flame. If it smells like human hair, it is real–if it smells like plastic and melts into small balls at the ends, it is faux fur. If you inherited or were given a fur, a great use for it is donating it to Born Free USA where it will be used to comfort a lonely, misplaced animal that needs it way more than a human does. If you have trouble making up your mind, just click over and watch this video on how animals are trapped. It is graphic, but worth knowing what you can prevent by not purchasing fur. PAGE 24
Listen!
By Cynthia Johnston, herbalist and owner of MoonMaid Botanicals When I think ‘elixir,’ I think vanilla, cinnamon, carob, and cloves. Elixirs are a tasty method of using herbs and spices that can be fun or medicinal, or both. I create mine with a good quality honey and an herbal tincture blend. Since it is winter and cooling off, I have chosen some immune boosting herbs to keep us healthy through the season, as well as a few things to spice it up. Put 1/8 cup each (dried) into a 1 quart jar • Dandelion root • Echinacea root • Licorice root Add – • A thumb of fresh ginger, chopped • A vanilla bean • A tablespoon or two of cloves • 1 cinnamon stick • 1 fresh orange, cut into wedges
Listen!
Listen to Cynthia Johnston on Big Blend Radio
Fill the jar 2/3 full with some type of alcohol – vodka, rum or brandy – depending on your taste preference. Fill the jar the rest of the way with water. Let this mixture “infuse” or set for one month. • Strain the liquid from the herbs into a pan. This herbal liquid is a “tincture.” • Add one cup honey and warm, VERY GENTLY, on a low heat stirring well to combine completely the herbal mixture with the honey. • Cook down until it has a “syrupy” consistency and is well blended. Store in sealed bottles in the refrigerator. This syrup is an excellent daily tonic that will boost your immune system, and it tastes yummy too! All ingredients are suggestions. Be creative, have fun and enjoy your herbs! Cynthia Johnston is an herbalist and founder of MoonMaid Botanicals, a small herb company that is dedicated to providing high quality herbal products that are free of chemical preservatives, propylparabens or synthetics of any kind. Products include remedies for menopause, PMS, yeast infections, common women’s health issues, and herbal products for the family. Learn more or shop online at www.MoonMaidBotanicals.com PAGE 25
By Janet Bray Attwood and Chris Attwood, excerpted from their bestselling book ‘Your Hidden Riches Unleashing the Power of Ritual to Create a Life of Meaning’
Do you know that there's a unique design to your life? There is. Your mission in this lifetime is to discover that design and get aligned with it. When you do, life becomes fun, things flow easily, the inevitable challenges of life are only temporary setbacks, and you feel that your life has real meaning. Your Hidden Riches are what surfaces when your rituals help you both discover and stay aligned with your life's unique design. Rituals can help you manage your time, your energy and your thinking. Only 25% of life can be experienced with the senses. Rituals allow you to connect with and tap into the power of the other 75%.
• Relationships: Attracting your ideal partner and forming a loving bond between you. • Health, Diet & Beauty: Bringing your body into harmony at every level so that it becomes your strongest ally in reaching a state of optimal wellbeing. • Money & Wealth: Matching your inner riches with external abundance. Many people think that rituals are religious • Ceremonial Rituals: Creating a sacred space practices or superstitions. Yet rituals are the "secret and entering it for healing and renewal. weapons" of the world's most accomplished • Family: Bringing parents and children into a people-from sports stars to corporate executives to closer circle of security, understanding, and love. world-class performers. What most people have missed is that rituals are essential tools in today's There are 7 aspects to creating your own rituals world to improve performance, to stay calm in that create a special feeling and experience stressful situations, and to maintain balance in an when they are performed: over-busy life. 1. Intention - Read out loud the intention you are But what's the difference between a habit and a setting. ritual? We all have good habits and bad habits. In contrast, rituals are conscious, intentional 2. Preparation and Purification - Create a special acts we choose to make habitual. Rituals focus spot where you keep the elements for your ritual. attention in a very practical way, and can be Also, take a few moments before you start each tailored to the major needs we all share: time to clean up and wipe off your ritual space. PAGE 26
3. Use of Symbols - Place symbols in your ritual space that are meaningful to you and will inspire you. These could include photos of your family, special mentors or teachers you value, mementos, and anything else that will give personal meaning to your ritual. 4. Activating the Senses - By incorporating fruit, flowers, scented oils or candles, your ritual will have a deeper and more profound effect. 5. Prescribed Performance - Create a specific order to what you'll do during your ritual. An example would be: - Prepare the space: take a moment to clean the area, light some incense, arrange your fresh flowers, your fruit or healthy snack, and put your scarf or cloth on. - Sit quietly in silence for 30 seconds. - Open your eyes and read your intention out loud. - If you're beginning your day write out 3 things you'd like to accomplish today; If you're ending, list 3 things you accomplished. - Read a quote or passage from a book that is inspiring to you and reminds you of why you're focusing on this ritual. - Quietly speak out one thing you're grateful for-find something you have not expressed on previous days. - Speak out one thing you appreciate about yourself - again find something you have not expressed before. - Put out the incense and begin working on your project.
7. Invoking the Unseen - This can be as simple as acknowledging that you need help to achieve the goals you've set for yourself and you're willing to accept that help from wherever it may come. Using these 7 aspects of ritual as a guide (no need to follow a particular order) you will create specialness in your day and in your life. You'll find you're more focused when you're working, and you don't obsess over your work when you're not. There is a design to your life. You were born with it. Uncovering your unique role and purpose in the world lies in covering that Life Design through ritual. Our world is at a turning point. It needs you doing what you came here to do. When you achieve that, you will be living your ideal life, reaping the inner riches that are your birthright. Listen to Chris Attwood on Big Blend Radio!
Listen!
6. Repetition - Repeating your ritual over and over will help to ground your intention and create new neural pathways so that your day will always be connected to the intention you set.
Janet Bray Attwood and Chris Attwood are the co-authors of ‘YOUR HIDDEN RICHES: Unleashing the Power of Ritual to Create a Life of Meaning and Purpose’ (Harmony Books). They are known globally for their New York Times bestseller The Passion Test, the #1 tool used worldwide to help people discover their passions and connect with meaning. They are founding members of the Transformational Leadership Council, and have shared the stage with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Sir Richard Branson, Nobel Laureate F. W. deKlerk, Tony Hsieh, and many others. The Attwoods were supported in creating Your Hidden Riches by co-author, Sylva Dvorak, Ph.D, whose diverse background in the science and practice of ritual, along with her degree in Psychoneurology and Integrative Healing, helped provide the depth and breadth of this powerful book. For more information, go to: www.TheHiddenRiches.com . PAGE 27
By Bobbi DePorter, Co-Founder of SuperCamp and President of Quantum Learning Network How do teens and pre-teens learn to become successful? While part of it is simple trial and error – failing, learning from it, and trying again until they succeed – another component of the success model for young people is understanding how to set goals and follow through on them. At this time of year, with a new year here, it’s a good opportunity to think about how you can help build an awareness in your kids about the concept of goals. The Best Goals Relate to Our Passions Our passions and dreams are the real motivators in our lives: the things we want deep down. Young people are no different. When we know what we want, nothing stops us. Passion enables us to look at the obstacles that are keeping us from our goals as things to be overcome, rather than as barriers. No dream ever comes true, no obstacle is ever overcome, no goal is ever reached without focused action. Yet young people are seldom specifically taught how to set and pursue goals. They may not have a strong sense of what a goal really is or what comes after a goal is set.
A helpful way to frame the concept of goals to your son or daughter is to ask them what ideas they have concerning what they’d like to accomplish. These ideas, in effect, are goals and they likely relate to something your son or daughter is passionate about. If your kids are a little older and more self-aware, ask them to ponder these questions: "Who am I?" "Where can I see myself going in life?" "What's the most incredible life I can think of living?" They should find that, with a little introspection, a few goals will come to the surface. And while we want our kids to reach for the stars, it does make sense to point out that there are practical goals and those that are long shots. Creating a Plan The next step in the process is talking with your kids about creating a specific plan to make their ideas (goals) a reality. To achieve a goal, one must know what it takes to get there. A good place to start is by noticing what others have done who are where you want to be.
PAGE 28
You also can brainstorm together on different ways to reach each goal and the anticipated areas of assistance and resistance. Through this exercise, the clearest path to achieving each goal should present itself. What most young people discover is that they're capable of setting goals in several areas of their lives: personal, school, career, family, social, and others. At this stage, it helps to sort goals into short, medium, and long-term time frames, which will give them more focus on the near-term goals in their lives. Also, challenge your son or daughter to be clear on the purpose for going after each goal. If the goal is to ace AP Chemistry, is it in order to get a good grade, or is it to make it into Stanford's chemistry program? Getting the A is a happy byproduct of doing great in class, but it's not the main objective. Going After a Goal One of the most powerful of our 8 Keys of Excellence is Commitment. Something incredible happens when we commit. We lock ourselves into a course of action. Once we make a commitment, we discover all kinds of resources we didn't know were available. It's powerful stuff. Making a commitment to achieve a goal, no matter what it takes, means people have to become the masters of their own internal dialogue. This one's tough, even for adults, because we're often not even conscious of the things we say to ourselves. Often, we've gotten so accustomed to telling ourselves certain things that we're barely aware we're doing it. But our brains believe the things we tell them, so when we're trying to replace old behaviors with new ones, we have to be ready to counter those old messages. Just as negative habits can limit a person's ability to overcome challenges, positive habits can expand them. Explain to your kids that they can flip their negative self-talk by adding "up until now" to a negative phrase whenever it accidentally pops out. If a student is used to saying, "I stink at math," he or she should quickly add, "– up until now." This phrase forces the past back where it belongs: in the past. In other words: "I can't do it – YET! But I will soon!"
When they feel themselves giving in to fears and doubts, they sometimes find it helpful to do a redirect. Instead of giving any more thought to the negatives, let them know they can focus all their thoughts and energies on the very next step toward their goal. It's all about action. Instead of wasting time internally, they can focus on doing whatever it takes to grab that next rung on the ladder. Another Key that comes into play when going after and attaining goals is the Key of Flexibility. After taking action, we get feedback on the results of our action. Sometimes that feedback will require us to reassess the steps we’re taking, which can lead to new strategies and tactics in order to achieve the goal. For example, your son or daughter may have a goal of getting a score of 2000 on the SAT. The plan may entail studying online tutorials. However, the feedback of low scores from practice tests could lead to the decision that signing up for an in-person SAT class is needed in order to help reach the desired score. In summary, if you have teens or pre-teens, it’s not too early for them to begin to formulate a specific vision and goals for life. This awareness of even possessing a vision and writing down goals helps young people tap into their greatness and start believing in themselves. Bobbi DePorter is the President of SuperCamp and Quantum Learning Network, a U.S.-based educational firm producing programs for students, teachers, schools, and organizations across the United States and worldwide. With over 64,000 graduates, SuperCamp is the leading academic summer camp in the world. Visit www.SuperCamp.com
When a negative thought creeps up, tell your kids that they can overcome it with a positive one. They can replace "I'll never run a mile in five minutes" with "I know I can do this." PAGE 29
Live Your Ultimate Life! Watch Quality of Life TV
New 2015 California Labor Laws By S. Ward Heinrichs, Esq., Backstrom & Heinrichs, Attorneys at Law, APC
The California legislature has had another busy year. They have passed new laws that employers must implement in 2015. Below are some of the most important of those new laws, but there are many other new employment laws that might be important to any given employer. Unless otherwise stated, all the new laws discussed go into effect on January 1, 2015.
Paid Sick Leave All employers must give employees who work for them in California at least 3 days paid sick leave. The sick leave accrues at the rate of 1 hour for every 30 hours worked. The employer may limit the use of sick leave to only 24 hours (3 days) per year and may cap the total accrual of sick leave to 48 hours (6 days). Employees can begin to use accrued sick leave after 90 days of employment. Very few employees are not covered under this new law. The following are not covered: (1) Certain union employees, (2) State in home care workers, (3) Some air carrier employees.
This law becomes effective on July 1, 2015. Anti-discrimination Protection for Unpaid Interns and Volunteers under FEHA
The Fair Employment and Housing Act antidiscrimination laws that protect classes of people from discrimination now protect unpaid interns. The authorities have been cracking down on the use of unpaid interns. Interns have filed many large class actions for unpaid wages. Some of Employers will need to track accumulated sick leave on employee wage statements. However, an those cases have settled because the interns appeared to be doing work for the employer rather employer can avoid the tracking headache by than receiving an education about the working creating a policy in which employees receive at world. Similarly, California has decided that interns least 24 hours of sick leave at the beginning of and volunteers also need protection from each year. In that case, the only thing to track is the amount that the employee uses during the year. discrimination at the hands of employers. They are now a protected class with the same rights that Generally, sick leave is not considered a wage and have been traditionally given to other protected classes for discrimination, harassment, and an employer need not pay out any remaining retaliation. balance to a terminated employee, unless sick leave is lumped together with PTO or vacation. If Anti-discrimination against they are lumped together, then the sick leave will Undocumented Aliens Expanded become a wage and will need to be paid out as wages at the time of termination. An employer will now violate the law for false claims reported to any governmental agency about Sick leave may be used for an employee’s, or a an undocumented aliens. Before, only false claims family member’s, health condition or for preventive reported to the police were illegal. Also, an care. Family is defined very broadly: Child, Parent, employer may not report legal changes to names, Spouse or registered domestic partner, social security numbers, or federal employment Grandparent, Grandchild, and Sibling. An documents. employee can also use sick leave for domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. This new law has stiff fines associated with it. An employee can collect $50 for each violation up to a maximum of $4,000. In addition, the state can assess civil penalties of $50 per day with no cap on the maximum. The Private Attorney General Act will allow collective penalties to accumulate. PAGE 30
Harassment Prevention Training must Include Training on Abusive Conduct Employers with 50 or more employees must provide sexual harassment training every two years. Now, that training must include a section about preventing abuse toward employees. California law does not make it illegal for an employer to be abusive, unless the employer is abusive toward an employee because that employee is in a protected class under FEHA. Presumably, anti-abuse laws against abusive conduct in general will be passed in the not too distant future.
Employers who use Temp Agencies and other Employee Contracting Agencies are Now Liable for Wage and Hour Violations of the Temp/Contracting Agency Employers who use temp/employment agencies to provide labor, will now be on the hook for wage and hour violations of the temp/employment agency. An employer cannot now simply say it is the agencies fault. The new law holds them equally responsible. However, your contract with the agency may provide for indemnity if drafted properly.
Big Blend Radio Expos & Festivals 2015 Mark Your Calendars and Tune In for these special 2-Day Radio Expos and Festivals! All shows air live on BlogTalkRadio.com from 11am PST / 2pm EST and are available on iTunes. January 4 & 5: Big Blend Radio Birthday Bash January 25 & 26: Quality of Life Radio Expo
Listen!
February 8 & 9: Home & Garden Radio Expo March 8 & 9: Spring & Summer Radio Party April 19 & 20: Nature Connection Radio Fest
Big Blend Radio talks Labor Laws with Ward Heinrichs.
May 17 & 18: Travel & Tourism Radio Expo June 14 & 15: Business & Career Radio Expo July 26 & 27: A Toast to The Arts Radio Fest August 23 & 24: History & Heritage Radio Fest
Ward Heinrichs is a shareholder and named partner of the employment law firm, Backstrom & Heinrichs, Attorneys at Law, APC. The firm represents both employers and employees in almost all areas of labor law. Based in San Diego, California, he and his firm litigate cases that have been filed in many different parts of the state. Visit www.BestEmploymentAttorneySanDiego.com
September 20 & 21: Food & Drink Radio Fest October 25 & 26: Rants, Raves & Rock Fest November 8 & 9: Fall & Winter Radio Party
PAGE 31
Click to Watch Success Express TV!
By Lynn Wiese Sneyd “The Book Biz Whiz”
“A good book should leave you... slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading it.” ~ William Styron, interview, Writers at Work, 1958
- Join a critique group. This might be a group of 5-10 writers who convene regularly in order to share and critique work. Find writers from whom you can learn.
So what makes a book good? In a novel, is it the characters, the plot, setting, point-of-view, or dialogue? Is it the use of metaphor and imagery? What about non-fiction? Is it the topic, organization, data, photos?
- Read books on writing. Hang out at your local bookstore and page through the books about writing. Study these books. So many are filled with advice, exercises, and examples. One of my favorites is Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave.
We could sit here all day, refilling our coffee cups, and analyze these questions down to the last period and semi-colon.
- Read well-written books with the eye of a writer. Again, this is a way to learn. Note how the writer develops character, places backstory, In the end, however, the answer is simple. After a employs foreshadowing, and appeals to the reader turns the last page and mourns the fact that senses. So many would-be authors have created the inspiring, exhilarating journey has concluded, intriguing plots and sketched out unique characters, the question of “what makes a book good” boils but their writing lacks texture and pacing. Francine down to one thing: the writing. It’s the writing that Prose’s book, Reading a Writer, offers invaluable made the book. The writing embraces all those ele- suggestions on what to glean from others’ writing. ments mentioned above –character, imagery, orga- Work with an editor. A good editor is nization, and it is the skilled writer who can indispensable. Look for a professional with assemble those elements and produce an exquiexperience in your genre. site, memorable tome. It is this writer who has honed her craft of writing. - Practice. Practice, practice, practice. Pianists, Indeed, the best writers take the time to learn and pitchers, public speakers, poets – these and others develop their craft -- to learn their trade, just as excel, because they practice every day. painters, musicians, graphic designers, architects and others learn the technicalities of their profes- Attend writing conferences and workshops. sion. While it may be helpful to earn an MFA in cre- They abound. Keep your eye on writing events ative writing or a degree in journalism, there are a sponsored by community colleges and universities, number of ways that you can hone your skill as a by local writing groups, by bookstores. Poets writer without having to ante up such concentrated Writers magazine always includes a list of amounts of time or money. conferences being hosted around the country. PAGE 32
CLICK TO WATCH VIDEO!
Lynn Wiese Sneyd 'The Book Biz Whiz', is a Writer, Literary Expert, PR Consultant and Owner of LWS Literary Services where she assists authors in book publicity campaigns, agent searches, book proposal writing, and editing. Learn more at: www.LWSLiteraryServices.com
AUTHORS & WRITERS RADIO SHOWCASE Don’t miss Big Blend Radio’s special AUTHORS & WRITERS RADIO SHOWS featuring publishing, marketing and writing experts and author interviews. Join us on February 22 & October 18, 2015. Both shows air live on BlogTalkRadio.com from 11am PST / 2pm EST and are available on iTunes.
PAGE 33
PILOT INSIDER Have you ever wondered what it is like to be a pilot? What kind of decisions they have to make every day? What kind of challenges do they have to overcome? We asked these questions and more of Henry Biernacki, a.k.a. ‘The Global Henry,’ a successful airline captain, line check airman, world traveler to over 130 countries, and the author of the novel ‘No More Heroes’. Henry Biernacki, Pilot, Author & World Traveler 1. What attributes do you have that makes you a good fit for the profession you have chosen? Being flexible and keeping things simple with “routines” is a crucial key to being safe in the sky. Having patience, adapting to constantly altering situations, and truly being able to accept change are also important traits needed to be a pilot. 2. Who or what inspires you? Intelligent people find a way out of doing things and disciplined people find solutions from experiences that build character. Education offers opportunities, allowing humans to choose alternatives. 3. What is your favorite airplane to fly and favorite airport? It is an inspiring sensation when you are on top of the world, flying. To fly in one of the largest airplanes built, is a reminder to remain humble. Realizing the mass and momentum we control is an awe-inspiring experience. Maneuvering an object that weighs 875,000 pounds (takeoff weight of the Boeing 747-400) with grace, takes not only training; it takes the ability to process information from various sources: dispatchers, other crew, inflight, ATC controllers, and others within an airline. The pilots are the ones flying, and ultimately, they make the decisions that keep their passengers safe. I have been fortunate enough to fly all over the world in different airline transport category aircraft (Boeing 747-400/757/767, Airbus 320). The B747400 is elegant. Flying is a constant ceremony of putting your training to work, correlating the process of learning directly to hands-on work, and finally ending with the parking brake set safely.
Lukla Airport in Nepal and Kuala Lumpur Airport are the best airports I have been able to visit. 4. What is your pet peeve in regards to your business? Those that are unwilling to adapt and learn another way to fly an approach into an airport. We are professionals, but some do not learn new ways of doing anything and this is a large negative. We have such a dynamic industry that we certainly need to continuously learn new procedures and new ways to adapting to our Standard Operating Procedures. I dislike complainers a lot, they rarely come forward with solutions. 5. What personal changes have you had to make in order to get ahead in your industry? A good percentage of civilian pilots obtain their ratings/ licenses and then they become a Certified Flight Instructor. They may go to one or two airlines, but normally they would like to stay with one and gain seniority. I began taking flight lessons at Sunrise Aviation at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, CA, in the 1990’s. I obtained my Airbus 319/320, Boeing 747400/757/767 type ratings and have 10,000 plus flight hours-half of those hours are flown internationally. Once I had my commercial multiengine rating, I left the United States and flew to the West Indies. I went from island to island to see if I could get hired to fly. I met Tony Ottley in St. Kitt’s and stayed there for a few years. I continued to get job after job after job (Shuttle America (SF340), then Air Wisconsin (CL-65), Omin Air International (B757/ 767), China Airlines (B7474400), and now A320), to gain more experience so I would be a safer and more knowledgeable, professional pilot.
PAGE 34
6. What do you consider your biggest challenge? Reminding myself of the value of a second is not really a challenge, but is a value I respect. I remind myself of the idea, “what if?� It could come down to something as simple as what if I could not breathe anymore and is that how I would like my life to end? No, then I get up and go.
9. What is the most important tip you would pass on to another person just getting started in the same career? Exposing yourself to the widest possible range of experiences, will allow you to learn to adapt more readily. Reminding yourself to stay orientated on learning, and not becoming fixated on one idea.
7. If you could have a dinner party with three people (alive or passed), who would they be? I would like to sit down and share a conversation with Marco Polo, Alexander the Great, and Aristotle.
We have become too fixated on destinations rather than the journey of life. To learn more about Henry Biernacki including his world travels and writing, visit www.TheGlobalHenry.com.
8. If you could switch careers for a day, what would you choose? I went to university for languages and I used to translate, but I love to cook and being a Chef somewhere in the world interests me. I like the creativity it takes to become a top chef.
7 Great Reasons to Start Your Own e-Newsletter by Nancy J. Reid 1. If you have knowledge to share, this is an economical way to help those looking for information while building yourself as a trusted expert, which of course, if done consistently, builds your brand.
3. Newsletters help you call attention to changes in your business and your website as well as let you announce special savings or promotions for your readers. A good newsletter that shares information will drive traffic to your website or blog.
4. Newsletters or email marketing is the most costeffective solution that allows you to stay in front of those who are interested in you, your company or your product or service. Brochures, business cards, direct mail, pay-per-click or 2. People like to do business or purchase from other means of promotion have their place, but people they like. A newsletter helps you connect they are far more expensive. with people in their homes. This builds familiarity and trust. 5. If you write articles, you can announce them, and place links from your newsletter to your website or to wherever your articles have been published. This builds your credibility. 6. Newsletters let you ask for feedback from your readers. You can ask them to take action, to comment, and give their opinions. This information helps you fine tune your products or service. 7. Ask your subscribers to pass it on. Word of mouth is a powerful viral technique that works great with email marketing. If your subscribers find your content interesting, amusing or informative, they'll probably share it with their friends. This can be a great source of new customers, so make sure to remind them to 'pass it on'. PAGE 35
Let the Good Times Roll! Lake Charles / Southwest, Louisiana by Lisa D. Smith
For most of us, whether it’s a week or a weekend, the perfect getaway is made up of exhilarating new experiences along with relaxing moments that transport us away from the ordinary. It’s a time for the business brain to take a breather and let the wandering spirit take the helm. It’s about letting go of the gadgets and sharing a real experience. Of course, we still get to brag about our adventures on Facebook and Instagram! Just a two hour drive east of Houston and three hours west of New Orleans, Lake Charles and southwest Louisiana is a destination that appeals to nature enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers, history buffs, music and art lovers, foodies, and those of us who just want to relax poolside with a cocktail or enjoy a day at the beach. From drive-through daiquiris and casino action to birding, gator spotting, gumbo and boudin – here are five different Lake Charles and southwest Louisiana adventures to whet your travel appetite and have you hollering ‘Aiyee!’
CHECK IN and PLAY! Popular as a casino getaway, Lake Charles has four casino resorts to play and stay in. Check in at the Isle of Capri Casino & Hotel and stay in one of their contemporary remodeled Tower Hotel suites. Start your day with a hearty buffet breakfast at the Farmer’s Pick Buffet, and after a full day of exploring, wind down with a glass of wine and delicious steak, chicken or seafood dinner at Otis & Henry’s Bar and Grill. Kick your heels up with live music at Caribbean Cove or get your gaming action on with a choice of 1,250 slot machines and 45 table games. Photo Monsours Photography
PAGE 36
BOUDIN, GUMBO and PO-BOYS Part of the Seafood Sensations Culinary Trail, southwest Louisiana is a culinary adventure that serves up traditional Cajun dishes like gumbo and jambalaya, along with fresh seafood favorites. The area is known for boudin (pronounced ‘boo-dan’), a meat and rice finger food that can look like a meat ball or sausage, and draws its roots from Canada by way of France. From smoked boudin to shrimp or alligator boudin, there’s a variety of flavors to try for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The Southwest Louisiana Boudin Trail features over 25 kitchens, stores and even gas stations that sell boudin. Be sure to stop by B&O Kitchen and Grocery in Sulphur, and Hackett’s Cajun Kitchen in Lake Charles. Lake Charles has a diverse selection of restaurants. Voted the Best Po-Boy twenty years in a row, Darrell’s Po-Boys is a local hang out known for the Darrell’s Special, their signature roast beef po-boy. Botsky’s Premium Hotdogs is a newer addition to the historic downtown district, and serves phenomenal specialty dogs like their Chili-MAC-Daddy loaded with mac-n-cheese, homemade chili, bacon and onions. Wash it down with a cold Abita, a full-flavored and handcrafted Louisiana brew. Voted as one of the Top 20 Restaurants, Pat’s of Henderson is known for their Cajun cuisine, with crawfish being their specialty. They also serve an outstanding chicken and sausage gumbo, and killer bread pudding and pecan pie. Known for their Luna Tuna Salad with Cosmic Dressing, and also voted one of the Top 20 Restaurants, Luna Bar & Grill is an upbeat live music venue that serves cool cocktails, fabulous sandwiches, burgers, salads, seafood and poultry dishes. If you’re in the area on a Tuesday, stop by the Farmers Market in the beautifully restored historic Cash & Carry building in downtown Lake Charles. You’ll see vendors selling fresh and locally grown produce, honey and preserves, baked goods, plus, live local entertainment.
RUM and DAIQUIRIS The new Louisiana Spirits Distillery in Lacassine is the largest privately-owned rum distillery in America. Take a distillery tour, then enjoy a tasting of smooth Bayou Rum which is handcrafted on-site in a traditional copper pot using 100% natural refined Louisiana cane sugar and molasses. Their Bayou Satsuma Rum Liqueur is a refreshing citrus experience, and the Silver Bayou Rum and Spiced Bayou Rum are great to sip neat or to enjoy in cocktails. If you live in an area that does not have a drive-through daiquiri shop, this is your opportunity to experience this fun specialty that packs a punch whether it be in a small, medium or large cup - or in gallon jugs! Flavors run the gamut from Jungle Juice and Cajun Cooler, to Monkeyshine and Buccaneer Punch. It’s a fun drink for a hot summer day, but watch out for brain freeze! PAGE 37
BIRDS, GATORS and NATURE TRAILS Boasting miles of coastal wetland and woodland, and 26 miles of natural Gulf beaches, southwest Louisiana is a paradise for nature lovers looking to view birds, alligators and marsh wildlife. The area is one of the top 10 birding areas in the US. From ibis to spoonbills and plovers, over 400 different bird species are spotted annually, along with Neotropical migrants such as flycatchers and vireos, plus, migrating waterfowl, hawks and ospreys in the fall and winter seasons. There are also beautiful butterflies including monarchs, and marsh flowers to view in season.
With access to over 50,000 acres of private land including fresh and salt water marshes, cypress swamps, coastal prairies, pine forest plantations and agricultural lands, Grosse Savanne Eco-Tours provides marsh boat tours, and birding and nature tours. Not only are the guides knowledgeable, but they also have photography blinds set up within the bustling bird rookeries. Their eco-tours are customized according to your interest.
Explore one of America’s ‘Last Great Wildernesses’ by following the Creole Nature Trail through Louisiana’s outback. One of the oldest scenic byways in the country, this 180 mile All-American Road leads you through bayous, prairies, lush marshlands, and along the Gulf coastline. It takes 10 hours to drive the entire trail. Providing exhibits, birding and wildlife watching opportunities as well as protecting natural habitats, there are federal and state wildlife refuges and sanctuaries to visit on the trail including Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge & Visitors Center, Pintail Wildlife Drive, Peveto Woods Bird & Butterfly Sanctuary, and Lacassine, Rockerfeller, and Sabine National Wildlife Refuges. There is a free personal tour app you can download for your iPhone or smartphone, or check-out a GPS Explorer® handheld unit at the Lake Charles Visitors Bureau. For details visit CreoleNatureTrail.org. Located at the confluence of the Houston and Calcasieu Rivers, Sam Houston Jones State Park is another great birding spot, with almost 200 different migratory species arriving in the spring and fall. Abundant wildlife inhabits this 1,087-acre park that features tree-filled lagoons, a mixed pine and hardwood forest, hiking and nature trails, campgrounds, cabin rentals, and picnic sites. PAGE 38
HISTORIC HOMES, ART and MARDI GRAS Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the Charpentier Historic District covers 40 blocks of downtown Lake Charles. Take a driving tour or a self-guided walking tour to view one of the finest collections of Victoria architecture in Louisiana. These turn-of-the century homes reflect the styles of the architect-carpenters who freely designed the homes as they built them. To view southern mansions, Greek revival estates, Victorian raised cottages, and bungalows, visit the Historic Margaret Place District and Shell Beach Drive on the southeastern side of the lake. The Calcasieu Historical Preservation Society hosts an Annual Palm Sunday Tour of Homes. Originally built in 1903, the City Hall in Lake Charles was destroyed in the Great Fire in 1910. The current building opened in 1911, and served as the seat of city government for 90 years. Today, the 1911 Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and features three floors of art that includes worldclass exhibitions on national tour, and the Charlestown Farmers Market on Saturdays.
CLICK HERE to Listen to Big Blend Radio interviews featuring Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana Birds & Nature, Food & Drink, and Historic Homes.
Located in the Historic Central School Arts & Humanities Center in Lake Charles, the Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu boasts the largest display of Mardi Gras costumes in the world. Exhibits feature the history of Mardi Gras including king cakes, costume design and parade floats. Climb aboard the parade float and enjoy the animatronic displays!
Lake Charles and southwest Louisiana is a destination for everyone, any time of year. Known as the Festival Capital of Louisiana, the area is host to over 75 fairs, festivals and special events throughout the year. To plan your Lake Charles and southwest Louisiana adventure, go to www.VisitLakeCharles.org. Aiyee!
CLICK TO WATCH VIDEO! PAGE 39
It’s All Happening in Yuma, AZ ‘Gateway to the Great Southwest’
Located in the southwest corner of Arizona and home to the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area and the Colorado River, Yuma is a popular winter destination for those seeking sunny skies and a warmer climate. From shows and performances, to expos, golf tournaments and athletic activities, along with foodie tours and family-friendly festivals celebrating Yuma's rich southwestern history and cultural traditions, there's always happening in Yuma, the world’s sunniest destination! Make your travel plans now! For up-to-date event information please call the Yuma Visitors Bureau at (800) 293.0071 or visit their website www.VisitYuma.com, or contact the City of Yuma Parks & Recreation Department at (928) 373-5243 or visit www.YumaAZ.gov for their downloadable Winter Activities Guide.
FOOD, FARM & GARDEN Sunrise Farmers Market: Sundays, 9am- 2pm. Quartermaster Depot. Info: (928) 782-0062 Historic Downtown Yuma Farmers Market: Tuesdays, 10am-3pm through April 1, except holidays. Tel: (425) 941-5030 Yuma Palms Regional Center Farmers Market: Saturdays, 10am -3pm, through end of March, except holidays. Info: (425) 941-5030
FOOD, FARM & GARDEN Continued Savor Yuma Culinary Tours: Progressive dinner tour where you’ll sample field-fresh Yuma bounty and fare prepared with border flair. Advance reservations required, for info and tickets call 800293-0071 or 928-783-0071. Dates: Jan. 6 & 21, Feb. 3 & 18, Mar. 3 & 11. Farmer to Farmer: An in-depth tour for those with agriculture backgrounds who want to go beyond the basics. Departs from the Quartermaster Depot. Advance reservations required, for info and tickets call 800-293-0071 or 928-783-0071. Dates: Jan. 13, Feb. 10, Mar. 3.
Field to Feast Tours: Get down – and a little dirty – with a hands-on farming lesson! This hands-on ag tour departs from Quartermaster Depot. Advance reservations required, for info and tickets call 800-293-0071 or 928-783-0071. Dates: January 7 & 8, 14 & 15, 21 & 22, 24, 28 & 29, 31; Feb. 4 & 5, 7, 11 & 12, 18 & 19, 21; March 4 & 5
Click to Watch Yuma TV! PAGE 40
FOOD, FARM & GARDEN continued. Date Night Dinners: Multi-course gourmet dinner served under the stars in a lush Yuma date grove! Menu features Medjool dates, which are grown in Yuma. Advance reservations required, for info and tickets call 800-293-0071 or 928-783-0071. Dates: Jan. 16, Feb. 13, Mar. 13 Jan. 17: Annual 4H BBQ: Yuma County Fairgrounds. Tel: 928-726-4420 Jan. 23-25: Yuma Home & Garden Show: Yuma Civic Center. Tel: 928-373-5040. Feb. 15: Yuma Masonic Lodge Annual Barbecue: Yuma Civic Center. Tel: 928-373-5040. Feb. 28 & Mar. 1: Yuma Lettuce Days Festival goes “down on the farm” on the UA research farm with live cooking demonstrations and contests, product samples, farm and equipment displays, fun for kids, music, entertainment and lots of food and drink. University of Arizona Yuma Ag Center. For more info, go to www.YumaLettuceDays.com.
Linda Morgan, Executive Director of Yuma Visitors Bureau, chats with Big Blend Radio about Yuma’s Behind the Big Guns Tours, Farm and Food Tours, and Yuma Lettuce Days.
PAGE 41
Listen!
It’s All Happening in Yuma, AZ ‘Gateway to the Great Southwest’ Rex Ijams – Yuma Art Center and Historic Theatre, Carrie Ring – Yuma Civic Center and Yuma Parks & Recreation, and Bruce Brown – Desert Hills Golf Course, discuss winter events in Yuma.
Listen!
CELEBRATE THE ARTS Jan. 2: Squeeze Box - Mollie B Polka Party! Join the fun with a good old fashioned Polka Party! Historic Yuma Theatre. Tel: 928-373-5202. Jan. 6: Class of ’65: Highlighting Billboard’s Top 100 from fifty years ago, this Class of ’65 show features all the top hits from the year 1965! Historic CELEBRATE THE ARTS continued Yuma Theatre. Tel: 928-373-5202. Jan. 16-17: Desert Lily Quilters Annual Quilt Show. Displays featuring quilts made by members Jan. 9-11: Yuma Jaycee’s 39th Annual Worthen of the Desert Lily Quilt Guild along with Memorial Old Time Fiddle Contest: Jaycee demonstrations, drawing, prizes, and vendors. Clubhouse. Tel: 928-344-5451. Yuma Civic Center. Tel: 928-373-5040. Jan. 11: New Christy Minstrels: An original folk band of the sixties – Randy Sparks and other members brought back the folksy side of music. Historic Yuma Theatre. Tel: 928-373-5202. Jan. 13: Blues and Soul Explosion: A Salute to the Music of the Blues Brothers! You’ll be dancing in the aisles to such favorites as Soul Man, Sweet Home Chicago and many more! Historic Yuma Theatre. Tel: 928-373-5202. Jan. 14: Puttin’ on the Ritz: Irving Berlin’s music defined 20th century America. Join us for an evening of remembrance and reverence – sit Cheek to Cheek with your sweetie because we’ll definitely be Puttin’ on the Ritz! Historic Yuma Theatre. Tel: 928-373-5202. Jan. 16: Hot August Night: The Ultimate Neil Diamond Tribute! Historic Yuma Theatre. Tel: 928-373-5202.
Jan. 18 & Feb. 8: Classical Concerts: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Tel: 928-782-0166 or 928-782-5155. Jan. 22-24: Oh Fudge! Dinner Theatre in the Galleries at the Yuma Art Center. Tel: 928-373-5202. Jan. 23-25: Potpourri Arts & Crafts Show: Yuma County Fairgrounds. Tel: 928-726-4420. Jan. 28: Acrobats of China: This acrobatic troupe originally from Beijing is coming from Branson, MO, where they perform 6 months out of the year in their own “Chinese Palace” Theater. Historic Yuma Theatre. Tel: 928-373-5202. Jan. 29: Doo-Wop Divas: You’ll fall head-overheels for these four knock-outs as they re-live the golden years of doo-wop and early Rock and Roll. Historic Yuma Theatre. Tel: 928-373-5202.
Jan. 16-17: 10th Annual Woodcarving Expo: Jan. 29-31: Mountain Shadows Artists Demonstrations, raffles, local and out-of-town Association Annual Art Show. Foothills Library. vendors. Yuma Readiness & Community Center. Tel: 928-345-9503. Tel: 928-373-5000. PAGE 42
CELEBRATE THE ARTS continued
CELEBRATE THE ARTS continued
Jan. 30-Feb. 1: Anderson’s Americana Indian Art & Jewelry Show. Yuma Civic Center. Tel: 928-373-5040.
Feb. 12: Surf Rock Beach Party! This half concert/half party will feature your favorite summertime hits – from the Beach Boys and Dick Dale to Jimmy Buffett and the Ventures. Historic Yuma Theatre. Tel: 928-373-5202.
Jan. 30: The Neil Sedaka Legacy: A tribute to the music of Neil Sedaka! Historic Yuma Theatre. Tel: 928-373-5202. Feb. 7: Yuma Boogie, Brews & Blues Festival: Featuring Eric Sardinas and Big Motor Trouble, Dennis Jones Band, Alan Iglesias, Laurie Morvan Band, Jo Hell Band, Chet and the Committee. Arts and crafts, vendors and food booths. 11am-7pm, Gateway Park. Tickets and info, call: 928-373-5020 Pioneers. Historic Yuma Theatre. Tel: 928-373-5202. Feb. 10: Tumblin’ Tumbleweeds – A Salute to Gunfighter Ballads and Songs of the West: A show that captures the essence of Arizona and the Old West through classic Country-Western music and old-fashioned storytelling. Join our cowboy crooners as they play and sing hits from Mary Robbins, Gene Autry and the Sons of the Pioneers. Historic Yuma Theatre. Tel: 928-373-5202.
Feb. 13: A Tribute to Shania Twain and Tim McGraw: An amazing tribute to Shania Twain and Tim McGraw, direct from Vegas! Historic Yuma Theatre. Tel: 928-373-5202 Feb.13-15: Yuma Square & Round Dance Festival: Features cuers and callers from around the region. Yuma Civic Center. Tel: 928-373-5040. Feb. 14: Potpourri Artists Arts and Crafts Show: Art demonstration, food, music and prizes. Foothills Library. Tel: 928-329-6659.
PAGE 43
Click to Watch Yuma TV!
It’s All Happening in Yuma, AZ ‘Gateway to the Great Southwest’
GET ACTIVE Jan. 9 – Feb. 26: 31st Annual Senior Games: Hundreds of active seniors will participate in the over 30 scheduled events that encourage people over 50 years of age to continue fitness opportunities and to compete and interact with their peers. The Senior Games will commence with a colorful opening ceremony and a pledge to the City of Yuma Canoe guide spirit of competition and friendship in which the Ken Conway and Ralph chat games are based. Info: (928) 373-5243 with Big Blend Radio hosts Nancy Reid & Lisa Smith, Jan. 10: New Year’s Resolution 5K/10K Run & during a canoe trip down the 5K Fun Walk: Whether you are an avid runner, Colorado River. jogger or walker, the 5K and 10K Run and Fun Walk Series is great fun! Join us after the run for the Family Fitness Fest! West Wetlands Park. Tel: GET ACTIVE (928) 373-5243 Jan. 31: New Year Canoe Trip: Try something new this year! A quick trip down river is a great way Jan. 10, Feb. 7, Mar. 7: Desert Hills Men’s Club to start 2015. Whether you paddle fast or relax and Association Tournament: 9:00am at Desert Hills float, join us on this super fun New Year's canoe Golf Course. Tel: (928) 373-5220. trip. Info: (928) 373-5243 or (928) 373-5202.
Listen!
Jan. 17: North End Classic Criterium Bike Race. Jan. 31: Yuma Territorial Marathon and Half Historic North End. Tel: 928-920-8482. Marathon: This certified, chip-timed race is a good bet for fast times because it's a flat, low-altitude, Jan. 17: Hiking In Yuma: The winter season is the out-and-back course. Cocopah Casino Resort. Tel: best time to explore Yuma's surrounding areas. 928-343-1715 Discover various plants and animals that have adapted to this harsh ecology. Learn map and Feb. 14: Great Yuma Road Race (5K/10K Run compass reading, practice use of GPS, and look for and 5K Fun Walk): Get ready to trek, jog or walk scat, tracks, wildflowers, ancient petro glyphs, and across Yuma in the Great Yuma Road Race! Tel: morteros. Bring your camera on these half day (928) 373-5243 hikes that cover 2-5 miles. Info: (928) 373-5243 or (928) 373-5202. Jan. 17: City of Yuma Volksmarch: Join the first annual City of Yuma Volksmarch (people's march) 5K! Starts and ends near the Das Bratwurst Haus German Fest on Madison! The first 100 participants ages 21+ to register and complete the Volksmarch will receive a 1/2 liter Weihenstephan Glass Bier Stein provided by Weihenstephan Brewery! (the oldest Brewery in the world). Info and registration: (928) 373-5243
REV YOUR ENGINE! Jan. 10: Gear Head Car Show: Yuma County Fairgrounds. Tel: 928-726-4420. Jan. 17: Wellton Tractor Rodeo: Benefits Yuma Regional Medical Foundation. Breakfast, BBQ beef dinner, entertainment, tractor rodeo games, antique tractor pull, food and demonstration booths, games and rides. Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation & Drainage District. Tel: 928-344-2000.
PAGE 44
HISTORY & CULTURE
HISTORY & CULTURE
Historic Walking Tours of downtown & the riverfront with Steve Cook, sponsored by Yuma County Historical Society. Every Tuesday and Thursday plus, the first Saturday of the month. Cost is $10, call 928-231-6433.
Jan. 31-Feb. 1: Civil War Days: Experience living history with two re-enactment battles each day. Quartermaster Depot. Tel: 928-373-5198.
Jan. 10-11: Gathering of the Gunfighters: Old West re-enactment groups from around the Southwest come to the Yuma Territorial Prison for two days of fun competition—and lots of shootin’, hollerin’ and actin’! Tel: 928-783-4771
Feb. 6-8: Two Rivers Renaissance Faire. Experience the 16th century with merriment for all, including fire dancers, jugglers, musicians & singers performing bawdy songs & more! Yuma County Fairgrounds. Tel: 928-257-2056.
Feb. 7: Redondo Days: Gala fundraising dinner and auction to benefit Yuma County Historical Jan. 17: German Fest on Madison Street: Annual Society. Historic North End. Tel: 928-782-1841 German Fest at Das Bratwurst Haus, from 10 am 8 pm. Entertainment, beer tasting, kids attractions and more! Tel: 928-329-4777. MILITARY SALUTE! Jan. 10: City of Yuma’s Annual Military Jan. 18: Mexicali Expo. This "Real Mexican Appreciation Day: 10am-5pm, Historic Downtown Fiesta" celebrates the vibrant culture and gracious Yuma. Honors active and retired service personnel hospitality of Mexicali, Los Algodones, and San and features historic photographs, speakers, and Felipe. Come for the food, entertainment, prizes presentations plus vendors of all varieties. and give-a-ways! Yuma Civic Center. Tel: 928-373-5028. Tel: 928-373-5040. Jan. 13, Feb. 10, Mar. 18: Behind the Big Guns Jan. 31: Dining With the Dead: The 13th Annual Tour: Here's a rare chance to get a "behind the walking tour will be at the Yuma Pioneer Cemetery, scenes" look at the U. S. Army Yuma Proving and will feature dinner with Colorado River Riders Ground, one of the largest military facilities (by land re-enactment group portraying early citizens of area) in the world. Advance reservations required, Yuma. Dinner catered and served by Texas for info and tickets call 800-293-0071 or Roadhouse. All proceeds benefit Saddles of Joy. 928-783-0071. Dinner and Tour = $25; Tour Only = $15. Tel: 928-247-3924.
Casa de Coronado Museum Click to see Video!
Free Tours by Appointment Tel: (928) 783-4453 On site at the Historic Coronado Motor Hotel, Yuma, AZ
CasaDeCoronadoMuseum.com PAGE 45
Explore California’s Yosemite Gold Country during the 3rd Annual Tuolumne County Restaurant Week, January 18-24, 2015.
Big Blend Radio chats about the 3rd Annual Tuolumne County Restaurant Week with Lisa Mayo – Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau, Hetty Booth - Caffe Blossom, and Roger Stevens - The Willow Steakhouse & Saloon
The front door to Yosemite National Park, and just a few hours from the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles, Tuolumne County makes for a wonderful winter escape. Showcasing the area’s diverse dining options, the perfect way to ‘Get a Taste of Tuolumne County’ is during the 3rd Annual Tuolumne County Restaurant Week where participating restaurants offer discounts or a special menu throughout the week. In between bites, explore the charming gold rush towns and picturesque mountain communities, pack in some snow play, enjoy a little wine tasting and boutique shopping. To keep up with the growing list of restaurants along with their specials and menus click here.
JAMESTOWN - Spend time at Railtown 1897 State Historic Park, known as ‘The Movie Railroad’, then enjoy the afternoon wine tasting and antique shopping in the historic downtown. The 1859 Historic National Hotel is offering a special three course dinner menu, and The Willow Steakhouse & Saloon is celebrating its 150th year with a brand new renovation and the same old ghost!
Listen!
SCENIC SONORA PASS - From Sonora, Highway 108 is a scenic drive that runs through mountain towns and into Stanislaus National Forest. Have fun ice skating at Long Barn Lodge, cross-country skiing in the forest, or get some snow play action at Dodge Ridge Winter Sports Area and Leland High Sierra Snow Play. In Twain Harte, start your day with Caffè Blossom’s special breakfast menu, or enjoy a meal fireside or at the pub at The Rock of Twain Harte. Have dinner and local wine at The Steam Donkey Restaurant & Bar, up in Pinecrest.
SONORA - Spend the day shopping and exploring the historic downtown district, then enjoy dinner and wine at Christopher’s Ristorante known for their fine southern Italian cuisine and California contemporary dishes. For a different view, visit Mountain Springs Golf Course and dine at Banny’s Café, where they put a California twist on traditional Mediterranean cuisine.
GROVELAND - Just 26 miles from the northern Highway 120 entrance to Yosemite National Park, Groveland is a historic gold rush town and home to Pine Mountain Lake. Enjoy a traditional English tea luncheon at Dori’s Tea Cottage & Café, and have dinner and wine at The Cellar Door Restaurant at the Groveland Hotel.
COLUMBIA - Visit Columbia State Historic Park, California’s best preserved Gold Rush town with historic sites, shops, restaurants, and activities. Have lunch at Columbia Kate’s Teahouse, where they are serving a special menu that includes tea, scones, soup, savory bread
From romantic Bed & Breakfast Inns, to hotels, mountain cabins and lakeside vacation home rentals, there are plenty of lodging options to choose from. To plan your Yosemite Gold Country escape visit www.YosemiteGoldCountry.com.
PAGE 46
PAGE 47
Winter Fun in California’s Sequoia Country Snow Play, World Ag Expo, Music & Theatre, and Hero Appreciation Months Tulare County in central California is home to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Giant Sequoia National Monument and Sequoia National Forest, agricultural communities, art and historic downtown destinations including Visalia, Exeter, Porterville, Three Rivers, Dinuba, Lindsay, Springville, and Tulare. Winter features snow play in the parks and forests, specialty shopping in the historic downtowns, wine tasting, art and theatre productions, and special events. To plan your Winter Sequoia Adventure, visit www.DiscoverTheSequoias.com.
Big Blend Radio discusses Winter in the Sequoias with Michelle Fiddler - Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, Denise Alonzo – Sequoia National Forest, Sandy Blankenship – Exeter Chamber of Commerce, and Gail Zurek Visalia Chamber of Commerce.
PAGE 48
Listen!
Art Walks and Theatre in Porterville Jan. 2, Feb. 6, Mar. 6: Porterville Art Walk: Monthly festival held the first Friday in downtown Porterville, featuring the work of local artists, live musicians, food and drink vendors, and children’s activities. Tel: (559) 776-7675 Jan. 16-Feb. 1: Lilies of the Field: This Barn Theatre performance is a story of a group of Catholic nuns who escape from the Communist held portion of Berlin and come to the United States. They have a small holding in a southwestern state where they are attempting to set up a school, hospital and chapel to serve the people of the area whose only place of worship is a mobile field chapel serviced by a priest who travels to the many small towns in the area providing masses, christenings and other services. Info, Barn Theatre: (559) 310-7046
Visalia Fox Theatre Jan. 10: "Pictures at an Exhibition": The Tulare County Symphony will feature the well-known "Pictures at an Exhibition" and pianist Steven Lin playing Shostakovich's Piano Concert No. 3 at 7:30 p.m. Come early at 6:45 and hear a preconcert talk by music director Bruce Kiesling. Tel: (559) 732-8600. Jan. 17: Cirque Viva Golden Dragon Acrobats: The amazing Chinese acrobatic company will perform their unique feats of athleticism and daring heart-stopping stunts. 7:30 p.m. The troupe arrives in Visalia fresh off their seven-week run OffBroadway. Tel: (559) 625-1369. Feb. 13: Betsy Wolfe Sings: Betsy Wolfe is a hometown girl made good. She was last seen on Broadway in "Everyday Rapture" with Sherie Rene Scott, a show she also performed off-Broadway in 2009. Other Broadway includes "110 in the Shade" at Studio 54, "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," and "Wonderful Life." Tel: (559) 625-1369
World Ag Expo in Tulare Feb. 10-12: 48th Annual World Ag Expo 2015: The world's largest annual agricultural exposition with over 1,400 exhibitors displaying the latest in farm equipment, communications and technology on 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space. Free seminars focus on a variety of topics important to dairy producers, farmers, ranchers and agribusiness professionals. Held at the International Agri-Center in Tulare, CA. Info: (800) 999-9186 or (559) 688-1030 PAGE 49
Hero Appreciation Months in Three Rivers This annual program runs January through March, and is hosted by Three Rivers’ allvolunteer Sequoia Foothills Chamber. During Heroes Months, participating members honor our military along with our firefighters and first responders with discounts, free celebrations honoring individual Heroes, and free familyfriendly events. For a list of this year's participants and more information, contact Leah Launey or Peter Sodhy at 559-561-4270, or go to www.ThreeRivers.com.
Listen!
Leah Launey chats with Big Blend Radio about Hero Appreciation Months.
Hero Months
Hero Months continued
Jan. 17: Snowman Contest in Sequoia National Park - Free family-friendly annual event held in a snowy meadow next to Wuksachi Lodge, weather permitting. Free hot spiced apple cider is provided and prizes are awarded for the best entries. This event is free, but there is a Park entrance fee.
Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26: Three Rivers Learn to Square Dance Parties – Every Thursday night in February, a professional caller provides free ‘Learn to Square Dance Parties’ from 7-9 pm at the Three Rivers Arts Center. Light refreshments are provided at no cost, and there is a Pie Social on February 26.
Jan. 30: Firefighters Celebration in Three Rivers - Honoring firefighters at the Three Rivers Historical Museum with free wine, hot soup, homemade bread, and desserts. Individuals being honored tell us stories, and each goes home with a unique piece of art from a Three Rivers artist. Free. Open to the public. 7 to 9 pm.
Feb. 27: Law Enforcement Celebration in Three Rivers: Honoring law enforcement personnel at the Three Rivers Historical Museum with free wine, hot soup, homemade bread, and desserts. Individuals being honored tell us stories, and each goes home with a unique piece of art from a Three Rivers artist. Free. Open to the public. 7 to 9 pm.
PAGE 50
Hero Months continued Mar. 27: Armed Forces Celebration in Three Rivers: Honoring those who've served in the military at the Three Rivers Historical Museum with free wine, hot soup, homemade bread, and desserts. Individuals being honored tell us stories, and each goes home with a unique piece of art from a Three Rivers artist. Free. Open to the public. 7 to 9 pm. Mar. 28: Bathtub Race for Charity at Lake Kaweah: This free family-friendly annual event is held at Lake Kaweah's "Kaweah Recreation Area". Pack a picnic lunch, gaze at spring wildflowers, and watch teams turn cast-iron bathtubs into floatable steerable boats and race across Lake Kaweah for charity. Or, form a team and join the race! $200 per team. Free for spectators. Free rides and free water safety lessons for children on Frank Root's big blue raft.
Click to Watch Sequoia TV!
PAGE 51
Norfolk’s Ecclesiastical Heritage By Glynn G. Burrows - English Historian, Family History Buff & Owner of Norfolk Tours in England
The fantastic thing about touring England, if you get off the motorways, is that you will go through lots of villages and small towns. Most of these settlements, no matter how small, will have a Church or a ruined Church and some will have more than one. A Church, in England, will often date from Medieval times and some date back over a thousand years. The Church where I married, is Saxo/Norman and, as the area had a lot of Roman activity, it has Roman Bricks in it too. The people who built the Church made use of the ruins in the fields around the village.
Listen!
Glynn is an English Historian, Family History Buff & Owner of Norfolk Tours in England.
When we visit some of these ruins, it is very difficult to imagine how they could have been destroyed so wantonly as, even the remnants are so beautiful but people did as they were told in those days and if the King said “Jump”, the only question to ask was “How high your Majesty?” After the initial destruction of the building and the removal of anything of value, it was left to the elements and, with the help of the locals, much of the good, usable stone soon disappeared.
Parish Churches are just one part of our Religious Heritage. In Medieval times, we had a large number When one visits the city of Norwich, the sheer volume of medieval buildings is awe-inspiring; of Monastic Houses, Abbeys, Priories and not only do we have the Castle and the Cathedrals. Some of these magnificent buildings, magnificent Cathedral but the number of were demolished during the time of Henry VIII and beautiful Churches, (there are often three or the split from Rome, but many survive in part, due four within a hundred yards of where you are to their continued use as Parish Churches and standing,) is just mind-blowing! Cathedrals. Henry VIII destroyed a lot of the buildings associated with the Monks, Priors and Abbots but his men often left the Church itself standing. PAGE 52
The Cathedral, which was started in 1096, took several generations to complete and, along with many of the other religious houses in England, the Cathedral Priory was partially destroyed in the C16th. The Cathedral Church and some of the buildings remain as it was later reformed as a Priory again but, as with many sites in England, what we see today, although spectacular, is only a fraction of what was once here. The city Churches are many and varied, from tiny Saxon & Norman buildings with round towers to magnificent, lofty later Medieval examples, showing the craftsmanship of the mason at its best. Some of the Churches in the city are now used for other purposes as there are so many of them. A day of quiet relaxation at one of the most important shrines in England is definitely something not to be missed. Walsingham has been a place of pilgrimage for nearly a thousand years and has been visited by many of the most important and well-known figures of history. It is quite inspiring to walk in their footsteps as we walk the Holy Mile but we can wear our shoes if we want! (In the past, it was the practice to do this walk barefoot.) The best part of visiting rural England, is the number of opportunities there are to stop and look at ancient buildings every few miles. On my journey to visit my parents, who live just seven miles from us, I pass close by five Medieval Churches. Within Norfolk, there are around 700 Churches, some are ruins, some have been rebuilt and some have been “renovated� but there remains hundreds of fantastic examples of English Church Architecture from Saxon times, right up to today. If you are a student in Architecture, Church Furnishings, Art, Building methods, Carpentry, Masonry, Glass, Bell-Founding, Carving, etc., there is enough to keep you busy for years!
PAGE 53
The Slave Dwelling Project Preserving an Important Piece of American History By Joseph McGill, Founder of The Slave Dwelling Project
Many antebellum buildings that have been preserved are usually architecturally significant and assist us in interpreting the stories of past heroes. While these iconic buildings are essential to the American built environment, they do not tell the whole story of this nation because the stories that these buildings tell are usually associated with White men, some of whom were slave owners or were indirectly connected to that institution. This nation has a history that is deeply rooted in the institution of slavery. There are hundreds of extant buildings that once housed the enslaved of this nation, but because of their often meager composition and the history associated with them, their presence often remains obscure. Recognizing this void in preservation and the interpretation of history that should be inclusive of all, in May of 2010, I started the Slave Dwelling Project with the goal of bringing much needed attention to these dwellings by spending a night in them. In my attempt to spend nights in extant slave dwellings throughout the United States, there is no number that I can place on the amount of places that I would like to make a part of my portfolio. This is because for the first three years of the Project, I was a one man operation and became a clearinghouse for all matters pertaining to extant slave dwellings. This Project has armed me with enough information to know that many of these structures still dot the landscape of this nation.
While the tendency is to think that most of these dwellings would be found on plantations in southern states, the reality is that we must also consider urban slavery and the slavery that existed in northern states. I can only say that I will lay my head in these places as long as the stewards continue to allow me access, and this body is capable of absorbing and enduring all of the inconveniences these structures have to throw my way.
PAGE 54
Just as there are inconveniences, there are also amenities that are associated with some of these structures for I have capitulated that it should be the owners who should dictate for what purpose these structures should currently be used. In other words, we should let these buildings evolve because they cannot all be museums. There are not enough interested patrons to support that concept. My request is that the interpretation of the spaces include their history as former slave dwellings.
After the Revolutionary War, many northern states abolished slavery legislatively but they still have extant slave dwellings within their boundaries. At the onset of the Civil War, fifteen states and the District of Columbia still had slavery within their boundaries.
The 1860 census revealed that there were approximately four million enslaved people in these United States, they lived somewhere. While there are many existing buildings that interpret the stories of those who enslaved, it is a challenge to find Call my method of honoring the enslaved Ancestors those buildings that can tell the stories of the enslaved. extreme, but it is imperative that we preserve, interpret, maintain and sustain the dwellings that Many of these buildings are not on the landscape once housed them. Extreme yes, but I cannot fix in for legitimate reasons: they were not built with the my life time, what we as a nation has gotten wrong most durable material(s); some were torn down to for the past 150 plus years. When the dwellings avoid paying taxes on them; Mother Nature don’t exist, it is easier to deny that the enslaved (hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.) took some out; and who once inhabited them existed. This simple but demolition by neglect. Those reasons are extreme method has been covered by National excusable. What is not excusable is demolishing or Public Radio, Smithsonian Magazine, the Boston neglecting these buildings in an attempt to get rid of Globe and many other news outlets. or erase that part of our American history. Luckily there are still enough of these buildings left for this So how did we get here? Twelve of our former Project to be applied effectively. Presidents owned slaves and eight of them owned slaves while serving as President, but how common Continued on next page‌. is that knowledge.
CLICK TO WATCH VIDEO!
PAGE 55
Many have been lulled into a desire to seek those iconic antebellum buildings that Hollywood has had a hand in portraying as the south of old. These would be the stately mansions usually associated with plantations. While there is nothing wrong with seeking out those structures, it is important to know that the history associated with those places is more than just mint juleps and hoop skirts. Preserving the slave dwellings and the stories of the people who lived in them helps to complete that story. The concept of the Slave Dwelling Project is simple, find these extant slave dwellings and ask the owners to spend a night in them. Over sixty stays later in the states of Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia the project is bringing much needed attention to these often neglected dwellings. These buildings exist in many forms such as museums, primary residences, rental space, man caves, garages, storage spaces and pool houses. With the public trying to figure out my intent, I spent the first few nights in those places alone. Those nights alone in those places helped me to realize that I was doing the right thing by honoring the Ancestors in this unorthodox fashion. Those nights alone I thought about; enslaved mothers giving birth to children they could not own; enslaved men not being able to provide for or defend their family; the best time to escape; enslavers having their way with enslaved women; the regimented work that had to be done from sun up to sun down; and most importantly, what kind of slave would I have been. Would I have acquiesced like most for survival, or would I have been more like Frederick Douglas. It is better that I do not sleep in these places alone anymore because those kind of thoughts tend to make me angry and I cannot carry on with this project in that mode. Now that the value of the overnight stays have been proven, people now stand in line to join me. I have been joined by descendants of slaves and slave owners in these overnight stays, imagine those conversations. A developing trend that I now encourage is youth groups and their chaperones to join me in the overnight stays. In addition to the stays, my hosts usually plan other activities around the Project’s presence such as lectures, panel discussions, school visits, living history programs, etc.
With the past successes, there is still much work to be done. There are still some entities and individuals that are not yet convinced that I come in peace. I always have to make it clear that that this project is not about reparations, ghost hunting or artifact hunting. Breaking through bureaucracies has come at a slow pace but within those sixty plus stays the National Park Service, state, county and local governments are represented. Private owners and non for profit entities have been the most cooperative to work with. There are still some entities and individuals out there that are still not ready to get out of their comfort zones and go beyond the stories that they are currently telling about these resources. Their focus is still on the big house, their architectural significance, their owners and the content therein. Additionally, I occasionally hear from some African Americans who would much rather have those structures go away.
Learn more about The Slave Dwelling Project and get involved by visiting www.SlaveDwellingProject.org.
PAGE 56
Four years into the project and I still have no clue of how many extant slave dwellings are in this nation. A $25,000 matching grant from the South Carolina Department of Archives and History will help us answer that question at least within the state of South Carolina. The grant has allowed us to hire a structural engineer to assist in assessing 50 extant slave dwellings within the state of South Carolina. Although like many historic cities, I could easily find 50 or more extant slave dwellings well within the city limits of Charleston, SC, it will be much more effective to assess the dwellings in other parts of the state. The result of this assessment will be used as an example for other states to do the same. In honor of the Ancestors, I bring my heart and desire to this project. Recently the project obtained its nonprofit status. Because of that we are now in a position to raise the funds necessary to assist in carrying out the mission of the Slave Dwelling Project. I invite you to get involved by becoming a member of the organization; helping us to identify extant slave dwellings; or organizing and participating in future sleepovers in extant slave dwellings. PAGE 57
Listen to Joseph McGill, Founder of The Slave Dwelling Project, on Big Blend Radio!
Listen!
By Nancy J. Reid People born in January are said to be smart, ambitious, productive, diligent and productive. Patient, hard-working, and tolerant, these people persevere and are self-motivated. Because they are thoughtful, they tend to be reserved and quiet, especially when meeting people new to them. Those born later in the month embrace creativity and the inquisitiveness that comes with being artistic. They have a sense of play, but can be very critical of others at times. They stand up for their rights and those of the people they love. People born from December 23 - January 20 are Capricorns, and those born from January 21 through February 19 are Aquarians. Capricorns are practical, prudent, ambitious, disciplined, patient, careful, humorous and reserved. They can be pessimistic, fatalistic, miserly and hold grudges for a long time. Aquarians are friendly, humanitarian, honest, loyal, original, inventive, independent and intellectual. They can also be intractable, contrary, perverse, unpredictable, unemotional and detached. Looking at the traits of the January Capricorns, it is interesting that Joan of Arc, (born 1-6-1412) willingly fought for France until captured and burned at the stake by the British led such a tumultuous life and died so early whereas Khalil Gibran, born on the same day, 471 years later, became the third best-selling poet of all time. His book, The Prophet, gained mass popularity at the beginning of the peace movement of the 1960s. Another strange comparison is that of Benjamin Franklin who belongs in almost every category-scientist, inventor, politician, statesmen, one of the founding fathers of our nation, shares the birth date of January 17 with crime boss and gangster, Al Capone. On the musical scene, Janis Joplin and Dolly Parton share the same birth date of January 19 while Giuseppe Verdi and Wolfgang Mozart share January 27. Radio announcers Rush Limbaugh and Howard Stern also share a January 12 as a birthday. Even though born years apart, the same traits are said to apply to these individuals. Take some time to check our list and find other interesting comparisons.
Artists - Cacpricorn January 19, 1839 - Paul Cezanne Artists - Aquarius January 23, 1832 - Edouard Manet Astronauts - Capricorn January 20, 1930 - Buzz Aldrin Entrepreneurs - Capricorn January 6, 1925 - John Delorean January 15, 1906 - Aristotle Onassis January 19, 1918 - John H. Johnson Entrepreneurs - Aquarius January 21, 1953 - Paul Allen January 21, 1905 - Christian Dior January 29, 1874 - John D. Rockefeller Jr.
Visit our On This Date section on Big Blend Network to see important dates in history and birthdays of famous people, just click here. PAGE 58
Inventors/Scientists - Capricorn January 1, 1864 - George Washington Carver January 4, 1643 - Isaac Newton January 14, 1875 - Albert Schweitzer January 19, 1736 - James Watt Military - Capricorn January 12, 1893 - Hermann Goering January 19, 1807 - Robert E. Lee Military - Aquarius January 26, 1880 - Douglas MacArthur Musicians - Capricorn January 1, 1900 - Xavier Cugat January 3, 1909 - Victor Borge January 5, 1969 - Marilyn Manson January 8, 1947 - David Bowie January 8, 1935 - Elvis Presley January 9, 1914 - Gypsy Rose Lee January 9, 1941 - Joan Baez January 10, 1945 - Rod Stewart Janis Joplin January 10, 1953 - Pat Benetar January 11, 1946 - Naomi Judd January 14, 1969 - Dave Grohl January 16, 1908 - Ethel Merman January 17, 1971 - Kid Rock January 17, 1927 - Eartha Kitt January 19, 1943 - Janis Joplin January 19, 1946 - Dolly Parton Musicians - Aquarius January 21, 1941 - Placido Domingo January 27, 1901 - Giuseppe Verdi January 27, 1756 - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart January 31, 1981 - Justin Randall Timberlake January 31, 1797 - Franz Schubert - Composer January 31, 1921 - Mario Lanza - Singer Naturalists - Capricorn January 11, 1897 - Aldo Leopold Performers - Capricorn January 3, 1950 - Victoria Principle January 3, 1956 - Mel Gibson January 4, 1937 - Dyan Cannon January 5, 1931 - Robert Duvall January 5, 1912 - Danny Thomas January 5, 1946 - Diane Keaton January 12, 1951 - Rush Limbaugh January 12, 1951 - Kirstie Alley Howard Stern January 12, 1954 - Howard Stern Photo: Bill Norton January 13, 1919 - Robert Stack January 14, 1919 - Andy Rooney January 14, 1941 - Faye Dunaway January 15, 1913 - Lloyd Bridges January 17, 1933 - Shari Lewis January 17, 1931 - James Earl Jones January 17, 1949 - Andy Kaufman January 18, 1892 - Oliver Hardy January 18, 1904 - Cary Grant January 18, 1955 - Kevin Costner January 20, 1946 - David Lynch January 20, 1956 - Bill Maher
Performers - Aquarius January 21, 1914 - Benny Hill January 21, 1922 - Telly Savalas January 22, 1959 - Linda Blair January 23, 1964 - Mariska Hargitay January 24, 1949 - John Belushi Carol Channing January 26, 1925 - Paul Newman January 28, 1936 - Alan Alda January 29, 1954 - Oprah Winfrey January 29, 1945 - Tom Selleck January 28, 1880 - W. C. Fields January 30, 1974 - Christian Bale January 30, 1922 - Dick Martin January 30, 1937 - Vanessa Redgrave January 31, 1902 - Tallulah Bankhead January 31, 1921 - Carol Channing Philosophers/Activists - Capricorn January 3, 0106 - Cicero January 12, 1918 - Maharishi Mahesh Yogi January 15, 1929 - Martin Luther King Jr Philosophers/Activists - Aquarius January 26, 1944 - Angela Davis January 29, 1939 - Germaine Greer Politicians/Statesmen - Capricorn January 2, 1909 - Barry Goldwater January 9, 1913 - Richard Nixon January 17, 1706 - Benjamin Franklin Politicians/Statesmen - Aquarius January 23, 1737 - John Hancock January 30, 1862 - F D Roosevelt Benjamin Franklin Sports - Capricorn January 12, 1944 - Joe Frazier January 15, 1949 - George Foreman January 17, 1942 - Muhammad Ali 1-17-1942 Sports - Aquarius January 21, 1940 - Jack Nicklaus January 26, 1961 - Wayne Gretsky January 31, 1919 - Jackie Robinson
World Leaders - Capricorn January 5, 1876 - Konrad Adenauer - Chancellor January 6, 1412 - Joan of Arc - Saint January 15, 1906 - Gamal Abdel Nasser January 16, 1901 - Fulgencio. Batista Writers - Capricorn January 1, 1919 - J. D. Salinger January 3, 1892 - J.R. Tolkien January 6, 1878 - Carl Sandburg January 6, 1883 - Khalil Gibran January 18, 1782 - Daniel Webster January 19, 1809 - Edgar Allan Poe Writers - Aquarius January 25, 1759 - Robert Burns January 25, 1882 - Virginia Woolf January 27, 1832 - Lewis Carroll January 29, 1860 - Anton Chekov January 29, 1737 - Thomas Paine January 31, 1923 - Norman Mailer
PAGE 59
Edgar Allen Poe
Big Blend Radio Shows in January 2015 Join co-hosts Nancy J. Reid and Lisa D. Smith, the crazy mother-daughter travel team and publishers of Big Blend Radio & TV Magazine and Spirit of America Magazine, for Big Blend Radio’s Champagne Sundays show, special 2day Big Blend Radio Birthday Bash, and Quality of Life Radio Expo. All shows air from 11am PST / 12pm MST / 1pm CST / 2pm EST. Listen live or to the archive on BlogTalkRadio.com, or download the podcasts from iTunes.
Jan. 4: Big Blend Radio 8th Anniversary Party! Special anniversary episode of Big Blend Radio’s Champagne Sundays variety show, airing live with Lance Laber & Domingo Grazia, at the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, in Tucson, Arizona. Featured Segments - Champagne Cocktails with Howard & Ruth Milstein, author of ‘Cooking with Love: Ventures into the New Israeli Cuisine’ - The Pocono Mountains with travel writer Linda Kissam ‘Food, Wine & Shopping Diva’ - Strengthening Family Relationships with Bobbi DePorter – President of Quantum Learning Network & Co-Founder of SuperCamp - Leona’s Sister, alternative rock band from Toronto, Canada - Plus, Hollywood History with Steve Schneickert! PAGE 60
Jan. 5: Big Blend Radio Birthday Bash – Day 2! Join Nancy Reid & Lisa Smith – publishers of Big Blend Radio & TV Magazine, for day two of Big Blend Radio’s Birthday Bash, streaming live from Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, in Tucson Arizona, as part of Big Blend’s Spirit of America Tour of all 408 National Park units. We’re Talking About Tucson, Arizona - Plus: - National Park System Expansion & Funding – John Garder & Elise Russell Liguori - National Parks Conservation Association - Yuma Arizona Events & Canoe Trips with Carrie Ring – Yuma Civic Center, Rex Ijams – Yuma Art Center & Historic Yuma Theatre, Bruce Brown – Desert Hills Golf Course, Ken Conway & Ralph - Canoe Guides - Cooking Soup with Chef Thomas Wright – Executive Chef of Yuma Landing Bar & Grill in Yuma, Arizona - Restaurant Week in Yosemite Gold Country – Lisa Mayo – Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau, Hetty Booth - Caffe Blossom, and Roger Stevens - The Willow Steakhouse & Saloon - 2015 California Labor Laws - S. Ward Heinrichs, Esq., Partner at Backstrom & Heinrichs Attorneys at Law in San Diego, CA
PAGE 61
Big Blend Radio Shows in January 2015 Jan. 11: France, Asia, Arizona, Travel, Food and Books - Piu Marie Eatwell – Awarding winning author of ‘THEY EAT HORSES, DON’T THEY?: The Truth About the French’ - Chef David Gilbert – Author KITCHEN VAGABOND and Executive Chef of Tuk Tuk Taproom in San Antonio, TX - Roger Naylor – Arizona Journalist and author of ‘BOOTS & BURGERS: An Arizona Handbook for Hungry Hikers’ - Linda Jordan – Executive Director of Yuma Visitors Bureau will discuss the annual Yuma Lettuce Days Festival - Dave Mansheim – Bard Date Company in Yuma, AZ - Donna George – The Peanut Patch in Yuma, Arizona
Jan. 18: Writing, Travel, Art & Cooking – This episode airs live from the historic Coronado Motor Hotel in Yuma, Arizona. - How to Write a Memoir – Lynn Wiese Sneyd ‘The Book Biz Whiz’, LWS Literary Services - Food, Wine & Travel Writing – Linda Kissam, President of International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association - Rock Art & Petroglyphs – Victoria Chick, artist and collector of early 19th & 20th century prints - Tubac, Arizona – Patti Todd, Tubac Golf Resort & Spa and Tubac Chamber of Commerce - Valentine’s Day Recipe – 5-Star Chef Ivan Flowers, Top of the Market in San Diego
PAGE 62
Jan. 25: Quality of Life Radio Expo – Day 1: This show airs live from the historic Coronado Motor Hotel in Yuma, Arizona. - Meg Blackburn Losey, PhD – Author ‘THE CHILDREN OF NOW...EVOLUTION: How We Can Support the FastForward Evolution of Our Children and All of Humanity’ - Mae Edwards – Singer-songwriter, violinist, recording artist, and author 'Starlette & Saint: A Memoir On Dualism’ - Asher Fox, C.Ht, .Sc.B. – Author ‘Fat to Fearless: Enjoy Permanent Weight Loss and End Emotional Eating...For Good!’ - Aggie Garcia – Fashion designer and owner of Illusions by Aggie discusses Sewing History. - Glynn Burrows - Norfolk Tours in England explains ‘Why Buy Local?’
Jan. 26: Quality of Life Radio Expo – Day 2: This show airs live from the historic Coronado Motor Hotel in Yuma, Arizona - Janice Lennard – Yoga and Pilates Instructor - Cynthia Johnston – Herbalist, MoonMaid Botanicals - Chalky White – Ski instructor, keynotes, author of best-seller ‘The 7 Secrets of Skiing’ - Dennis Yang – Founder of Papa Didos Ideals Foundation, author and endurance athlete on an 11,000 mile run around the US - S. Ward Heinrichs Esq. - Partner at Backstrom & Heinrichs Attorneys at Law in San Diego PAGE 63
Check out our new Vimeo Channels. As we cross the country on our Big Blend Spirit of America Tour of all 408 National Parks, we film and produce videos of all kinds. Here are just some of our Channels - enjoy! Click on the banners below!
PAGE 64
PAGE 65
PAGE 66