Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, April 15, 2017

B2

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Mountain Views-News Saturday, April 15, 2017 


BUSINESS NEWS & TRENDS

FAMILY MATTERS By Marc Garlett


DO IT NOW: NAME A 
GUARDIAN FOR YOUR 
MINOR CHILD(REN)

I know it’s hard. Thinking about someone else 
raising our children stops us all in our tracks. 
But we must. If we don’t, and something happens 
to us, a stranger will determine who raises our 
children – and your child’s guardian could be a 
relative you despise or even a stranger you’ve 
never met. It happens.

No one will ever be you or parent exactly like 
you, but you can’t let that stop you from naming 
a guardian. In fact the guardian of your children 
would easily become the most important person 
in their lives and could be the difference between 
them surviving the tragedy of losing you and going 
on to be happy, healthy, and successful or not. And 
while the likelihood of your guardian actually 
having to take over is slim, the consequences of 
having a stranger make that incredibly important 
decision could be dire.

If you have not named a guardian and something 
happens to you - a stranger who does not know 
you, your child, or your relatives and friends - will 
determine who will raise your child. Anyone can 
ask to be considered, and the judge will have the 
authority to decide. Keep in mind, too, families 
tend to fight over children, especially if there’s 
money involved. And fights can lead judges to 
order the child into foster care until the matter 
is resolved. On the other hand, if you name a 
guardian, all of that can be avoided.

How to Choose a Guardian

Your child’s guardian can be a relative or friend. 
Here are some of the factors to consider when 
selecting guardians (and don’t forget to select 
back up guardians, too). 

. How well the child and potential guardian 
know and enjoy each other


. Parenting style, moral values, educational 
level, health practices, religious/spiritual beliefs 


. Location - if the guardian lives far away, 
your child would have to move from a familiar 
school, friends, and neighborhood


. The child’s age and the age and health of 
the guardian-candidates: 


. Grandparents may have the time, but 
they may or may not have the energy to keep up 
with a toddler or teenager. 


. An older guardian may become ill and/or 
even die before the child is grown, so there would 
be a double loss. 


. A younger guardian, especially a sibling, 
may be concentrating on finishing college or 
starting a career.


Remember, it Doesn’t Count if You Don’t 
Document it

I know it’s not easy, but don’t let that stop you. I’m 
happy to talk this through with you and legally 
document your wishes. And know that you can 
change your mind and select a different guardian 
anytime you’d like - also - the chances of needing 
the guardian you’ve named are small; but, you’re 
a parent and your job is to provide for and protect 
your children no matter what, so if you haven’t 
taken care of naming legal guardians yet, stop 
procrastinating and get it done.

Dedicated to empowering your family, building 
your wealth and securing your legacy,

A local attorney and father, 
Marc Garlett is on a mission to 
help parents protect what they 
love most. His office is located at 49 S. Baldwin 
Ave., Ste. G, Sierra Madre, CA 91024. Schedule 
an appointment to sit down and talk about 
ensuring a legacy of love and financial security for 
your family by calling 626.587.3058 or visit www.
GarlettLaw.com for more information.

Jeff’s Book Pics By Jeff Brown

The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

The dazzling new novel from the #1 New York Times 
bestselling author of Everything, Everything will have you 
falling in love with Natasha and Daniel as they fall in love 
with each other!Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science 
and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never 
come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a 
cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love 
with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from 
being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t 
be my story.Daniel: I’ve always been the good son, the good 
student, living up to my parents’ high expectations. Never 
the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about 
all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate 
has something much more extraordinary in store—for both 
of us.The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought 
us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. 
Which one will come true? A National Book Award Finalist.

Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict 
Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution 
by Nathaniel Philbrick 

From the bestselling author of In The Heart of the Sea and 
Mayflower comes a surprising account of the middle years 
of the American Revolution, and the tragic relationship 
between George Washington and Benedict Arnold.In 
September 1776, the vulnerable Continental Army under an 
unsure George Washington (who had never commanded a 
large force in battle) evacuates New York after a devastating 
defeat by the British Army. Three weeks later, near the 
Canadian border, one of his favorite generals, Benedict 
Arnold, miraculously succeeds in postponing the British 
naval advance down Lake Champlain that might have ended 
the war. Four years later, as the book ends, Washington has 
vanquished his demons and Arnold has fled to the enemy 
after a foiled attempt to surrender the American fortress at 
West Point to the British. After four years of war, America is 
forced to realize that the real threat to its liberties might not 
come from without but from within. Valiant Ambition is a 
complex, controversial, and dramatic portrait of a people in 
crisis and the war that gave birth to a nation. The focus is 
on loyalty and personal integrity, evoking a Shakespearean 
tragedy that unfolds in the key relationship of Washington 
and Arnold, who is an impulsive but sympathetic hero 
whose misfortunes at the hands of self-serving politicians 
fatally destroy his faith in the legitimacy of the rebellion. As 
a country wary of tyrants suddenly must figure out how it 
should be led, Washington’s unmatched ability to rise above 
the petty politics of his time enables him to win the war that 
really matters.

City of Dreams: The 400-Year Epic History of 
Immigrant New York by Tyler Anbinder

A defining American story of millions of immigrants, 
hundreds of languages, and one great city.New York has 
been America’s city of immigrants for nearly four centuries. 
Growing from Peter Minuit’s tiny settlement of 1626 to one 
with more than three million immigrants today, the city 
has always been a magnet for transplants from all over the 
globe. It is only fitting that the United States, a “nation of 
immigrants,” is home to the only world city built primarily 
by immigration. More immigrants have entered the United 
States through New York than through all other entry 
points combined, making New York’s immigrant saga a 
quintessentially American story.City of Dreams is the long-
overdue, inspiring, and defining account of New York’s both 
famous and forgotten immigrants: the young man from 
the Caribbean who relocated to New York and became a 
Founding Father; an Italian immigrant who toiled for years 
at railroad track maintenance before achieving his dream 
of becoming a nationally renowned poet; Russian-born 
Emma Goldman, who condoned the murder of American 
industrialists as a means of aiding downtrodden workers; 
Dominican immigrant Oscar de la Renta, who dressed first 
ladies from Jackie Kennedy to Michelle Obama. Over ten 
years in the making, Anbinder’s story is one of innovators 
and artists, revolutionaries and rioters, staggering 
deprivation and soaring triumphs. Today’s immigrants are 
really no different from those who have come to America in 
centuries past—and their story has never before been told 
with such breadth of scope, lavish research, and resounding 
spirit.


REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: ROTATING 

PUBLIC ART EXHIBITION PROGRAM III

The City of Pasadena is seeking proposals from 
artists, artist teams and galleries for the selection 
or commission of artworks as a part of the citywide 
Rotating Public Art Exhibition Program. Loaned 
artworks or site specific artworks will placed for 
a period of 3 years at various highly visible, key 
locations within the City in every Council district. 
Honorariums range from $6,000 (for loaned 
works) to $12,000 (commissioned site specific 
works).

 The Rotating Public Art Exhibition Program 
was established in 2011 to enliven neighborhoods, 
engage community and expand access to public 
art. The deadline for submissions is Monday, May 
15, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. PST. A Community Meeting 
will be held to review the Request for Proposal on 
Monday, April 17, 2017 at the Permit Center (175 
N. Garfield Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101) at 6:00 
p.m. Applicants need not attend the Community 
Meeting to apply.

 For more information, please see the attached 
Request for Proposals or visit the Cultural 
Affairs Division webpage: www.cityofpasadena.
net/arts 


SEAN’S SHAMELESS REVIEWS: 

All Things By Jeff Brown

By Sean Kayden

FUTURE ISLANDS TRAVEL VASTLY 
THROUGH “THE FAR FIELD”

YOUR NATURAL SELF

“Recognise the naturalness that you are--pure, all 
pervasive, space like, ever expressing, spontaneous 
presence-awareness, with no reference point (self 
nature) having any substance or independent 
existence. Failing to recognise naturalness (the 
unity of appearance and emptiness, space and its 
content), delusion happens and there is a grasping 
of or fixation on appearance--me and the other-
-a seeming duality. Without that fixation there is 
freedom as naturalness, delusion dissolves and 
evenness (non-duality) remains--the natural state-
-simply this, nothing else. Naturally remaining as 
naturalness (equanimity) is the natural (effortless) 
meditation of no one to meditate and nothing to 
meditate on--no trying to get or trying to avoid, 
just effortless being which is always already 
so. Recognise this again and again”.Sailor Bob 
Adamson

Without any sheer doubt in 
anyone’s mind, Future Islands 
broke through to the masses 
in the later part of 2014. The 
band’s exhilaratingly wild 
performance of “Seasons 
(Waiting On You)” on The Late Night with David 
Letterman went viral in that summer as well. It turned the 
Baltimore synth-pop trio into an over night sensation. 
They formed in 2006 and had been touring incessantly. 
From playing small gigs in front of a few hundred people 
to selling out venues holding thousands and having their 
name near the top of the list at major music festivals’ 
posters across the world, it was without question these 
were the hardest and most deserving musicians of all 
of indie rock. Singles was the band’s fourth full-length 
record when released in 2014 via 4AD. Like all the band’s 
albums beforehand, it was well received. Up until that 
release, they garnered a small, but devoted legion of 
supporters. That album showcased a transformed sense 
of enthusiasm coated upon their trademark heavy dark-
synth sound. Singer/songwriter Samuel Herring had 
sung affectively about the future that lies ahead. Their 
previous albums embraced themes about looking back 
and reflecting on those particular times in one’s own 
existence. Such with earlier songs, questions were raised, 
but answers are seldom found, for both past and future 
situations. Now three years later, we have the follow-up 
to Singles entitled The Far Field. The major difference 
now is that many people are anticipating the record and 
are fully aware of what this band is capable of creating. 
Rest assure, Future Islands build upon Singles in many 
ways yet remain fairly faithful to that record’s core sound. 

 The new tracks are constructed around Gerrit Welmers’ 
swelling synths and William Cashion’s sweeping bass 
lines. Herring is still unwavering in cultivating all of his 
raw emotions into delicate, beautifully composed lyrics. 
“Aladdin,” the opaque opening track doesn’t feel instant 
like when you first put on Singles. However, there’s 
something innately understated here. With bizarre lyrics 
such as “We were the candles that lit up the snow on 
dusty roads / We were the animals breathing life into 
June just to see faith / Blessed by the cannibal moon 
and the spoon dipping deep to your nose / Stressed 
by the distance of shoes & the bridges too far to be 
named,” one may have to scratch their head at what it 
all means. Yet the mystified significance draws you in 
ever so deeper with each careful listen. “Time On Her 
Side” features the trio’s cavernous trademark synths 
along with the quivers commonly found from Herring. 
The arrangements dazzle and flourish throughout yet are 
distinctively familiar for Future Islands. There is comfort 
knowing what you are in store for on the musical front, 
but the lyrics, per usual, are gripping, transcendent, and 
enlightening. 

 “Ran,” the band’s first single astonishes with absolute 
elegance and fluency. It is as majestic and instantly 
gratifying as the band’s immense single several years ago, 
“Seasons.” My favorite track is “Beauty Of The Road.” It 
flows with grace and a deep contemplation of moments 
in one’s (former) life. I love Herring’s conviction here as 
he carries his tone with true passion and sensitivity. This 
time around the crooning and harsh vocals are light as 
Herring sings in much a sleeker delivery. Here we have 
lyrics such as, “Cuz in a darkened space, we watched our 
souls replace / And said our ‘goodbyes’ / But we didn’t 
know the shape” and my favorite lines off the record, 
“You spend your whole life searching and find the thing 
you’re looking is what you lost so long ago.” The song 
may put things in perspective for the listener with much 
to deliberate deep within one’s self. 

 Future Islands delivers true artistry on “Through The 
Roses”. Let it seep inside and you’ll find the inner strength 
just like Herring does. A darker tale is originated within 
the lyrics yet the truth is there, hidden in plain sight. 
Once again, Herring speaks truth and cuts deep with 
every line. “Through The Roses,” like many of the band’s 
songs is pure poetry disguised in a snyth-pop song. The 
lyrics and the way they are conveyed are never hammy 
or pretentious but poured out with the most undeniable 
amount of emotions. “Shadows,” another highlight 
features the duet vocals of Debbie Harry from Blondie. 
The dichotomy of vocals from these two lead singers 
works exceedingly well and is a welcoming addition to 
the 12-track record. The endeavor clocks in at forty-six 
minutes and like any voyage, there are sights and sounds 
you’ll forever remember. 

 The conclusion is brought to you by the way of “Black 
Rose.” It resembles much of what you heard leading up 
to the finale. In that case, you’ll favor it just as much as 
the ones before it. The consumption of The Far Field 
for the listener will feel like a spiritual emergence. It’s a 
remarkably satisfying expedition that will move you in 
many ways. If you have your sights set on a road trip, this 
is your go-to record this year. If you are getting over loss 
or dealing with dissolved love or just starting all over in 
life, this is the record for you. The album carries its heart 
on its sleeve and this heart is open, empathetic, and 
most of all generous. The conquest of life and love bleed 
through the veins of “The Far Field,” but there’s much 
to be said and discovered about everything in between. 
Future Islands show that mind, body, and soul are all 
connected and to feel complete, they must work work in 
concord to each other.

Grade: 9 out of 10


NUTS AND BOLTS OF ACTING TECHNIQUE 

A FOUR MONTH INTENSIVE 

Sundays, January 15 - May 7 (No class Easter, April 16) 

2:00pm - 4:00pm 

Zydeco Casting Studios 

626-355-4572 

Nuts and Bolts begins at the beginning and proceeds in a clear and detailed step by step manner... clarifying 
your understanding of the process of acting... giving you a “tool kit” to own and use... providing you with a solid 
foundation from which to work. This will always be the most important step an actor can take on the path to a 
rewarding career.

Career Launching Pad

ZERO TO SPEED...in 6 weeks 

LEARN THE PROCESS

 ..step by step 

COMMERCIAL AUDITION TECHNIQUES... 

CAMERA TECHNIQUE... 

PROFESSIONAL TOOLS... 

CAREER ADMININSTRATION 

Be completely ready and... 

LAUNCH AT THE AGENT SHOWCASE! 

Can we brag? Over 80% of our graduates have signed with top industry 
agents. If working as an actor is your goal...this class was designed to meet 
it!

COMMERCIALS A-Z 

Sundays, January 8 - Febuary 12 

5:00pm to 9:00pm 

Zydeco Casting Studios 

Call: 626-355-4572


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com