Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, December 16, 2017

B2 
Mountain Views-News Saturday, December 16, 2017 
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS NEWS & TRENDS B2 
Mountain Views-News Saturday, December 16, 2017 
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS NEWS & TRENDS 
Jeff’s Book PicsBy Jeff Brown FAMILY MATTERS By Marc Garlett 

Prairie Fires: The American 


would have thought gift-wrap is a

Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder

novelty of the twentieth century?

by Caroline Fraser 

That the first holiday parade was 
The first comprehensive historical

neither at Macy’s, nor even in thebiography of Laura Ingalls Wilder, the

USA?Some things, however, neverbeloved author of the Little House on 

change. The first known gag holidaythe Prairie books.Millions of readers 

gift book, The Boghouse Miscellany,
of Little House on the Prairie believe 

was advertised in the 1760s ‘for gaythey know Laura Ingalls the pioneer

Gallants, and good companions’,
girl who survived blizzards and near-

while in 1805, the leaders of the Lewis 
starvation on the Great Plains, and 

and Clark expedition exchanged –
the woman who wrote the famous 

what else? – presents of underwearautobiographical books. But the true

and socks.Christmas is all things tosaga of her life has never been fully

all people: a religious festival, a familytold. Now, drawing on unpublished

celebration, a period of eating andmanuscripts, letters, diaries, and 

drinking. In Christmas: A Biography,
land and financial records, Caroline 

bestselling author and acclaimedFraser the editor of the Library of

social historian Judith Flanders 
America edition of the Little House 

casts a sharp eye on myths, legendsseries masterfully fills in the gaps in

and history, deftly moving from theWilder’s biography. Revealing the 

origins of the holiday in the Romangrown-up story behind the most

empire, through Christmas trees ininfluential childhood epic of pioneer

central Europe, to what might be thelife, she also chronicles Wilder’s 

first appearance of Santa Claus – intumultuous relationship with her 

Switzerland – to draw a picture ofjournalist daughter, Rose Wilder

the season as it has never been seen 
Lane, setting the record straight

before. 
regarding charges of ghostwritingthat have swirled around the books. 

Nevermoor: The Trials of 

The Little House books, for all the 

Morrigan Crow by Jessica 

hardships they describe, are paeans

Townsend 

to the pioneer spirit, portraying

A breathtaking, enchanting new 
it as triumphant against all odds. 

series by debut author Jessica 
But Wilder’s real life was harder 

Townsend, about a cursed girl whoand grittier than that, a story of

escapes death and finds herself inrelentless struggle, rootlessness, and

a magical world--but is then testedpoverty. It was only in her sixties,

beyond her wildest imagination.
after losing nearly everything in 

Morrigan Crow is cursed. Havingthe Great Depression, that she 

been born on Eventide, the 
turned to children’s books, recasting

unluckiest day for any child toher hardscrabble childhood as a 

be born, she’s blamed for all local 
celebratory vision of homesteading

misfortunes, from hailstorms to 
and achieving fame and fortune

heart attacks--and, worst of all, 
in the process, in one of the most

the curse means that Morrigan isastonishing rags-to-riches episodes

doomed to die at midnighton herin American letters.Spanning nearly

eleventh birthday.But as Morrigana century of epochal change, from

awaits her fate, a strange andthe Indian Wars to the Dust Bowl, 

remarkable man named JupiterWilder’s dramatic life provides a

North appears. Chased by black-
unique perspective on American

smoke hounds and shadowy huntershistory and our national mythology

on horseback, he whisks her away

of self-reliance. With fresh insightsand new discoveries, Prairie Fires reveals the 
complex woman whose classic stories grip us to thisday. 

Christmas: A Biography by Judith Flanders 

A critically acclaimed New York Times bestsellingauthor explores the Christmas holiday, from the 
original festival through present day traditions.
Christmas has always been a magical time. Or has it?
Thirty years after the first recorded Christmas, thePope was already warning that too many people werespending the day, not in worship, but in partyingand eating to excess. By 1616, the playwright BenJonson was nostalgically remembering Christmasin the old days, certain that it had been better then.
Other elements of Christmas are much newer – who 

All Things By Jeff Brown 

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evilis for good men to do nothing by Edmund Burke.

Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like asunless garden when the flowers are dead by OscarWilde 

This above all: to thine own self be true byWilliam Shakespeare

Find a place inside where there’s joy, and the joywill burn out the pain by Joseph Campbell

We must not allow other people’s limitedperceptions to define us by Virginia Satir

Don’t look for society to give you permission tobe yourself by Steve Maraboli 

into the safety of a secret, magicalcity called Nevermoor.It’s then that Morrigandiscovers Jupiter has chosen her to contend for aplace in the city’s most prestigious organization:
the Wundrous Society. In order to join, she mustcompete in four difficult and dangerous trialsagainst hundreds of other children, each boastingan extraordinary talent that sets them apart--anextraordinary talent that Morrigan insists shedoes not have. To stay in the safety of Nevermoorfor good, Morrigan will need to find a way topass the tests--or she’ll have to leave the city toconfront her deadly fate.Perfect for fans of theHarry Potter series and Neil Gaiman, this fast-
paced plot and imaginative world has a fresh newtake on magic that will appeal to a new generationof readers. 

Tension is who you think you should be.
Relaxation is who you are. Chinese Proverb

We are the open, empty, allowing presence ofAwareness, in which the objects of the body, mindand world appear and disappear, with which theyare known and, ultimately, out of which they aremade. Just notice that and be that, knowingly byRupert Spira

Our self – luminous, empty Awareness – knows 
no resistance and is, therefore, Peace itself; it 
seeks nothing and is, thus, happiness itself; itis intimately one with all appearances and is, assuch, pure love by Rupert Spira 


THERE’S NEVER A BETTER 
TIME THAN NOW TO GET 
YOUR AFFAIRS IN ORDER 


The idea of getting your financial and legal house inorder is likely the last thing on your mind during thebusy holiday season. But, getting started is actually mucheasier than you might think. In fact, the end of the yearis a great time to reflect upon the year that has passedand focus on your aspirations for the future. Don’t holdthis task off for later! Some careful thought and a littlebit of work now can go a long way to help you feel 100%
confident about moving forward in the new year.

In preparation for the upcoming tax season, you mayhave already begun gathering paperwork, like yourproperty tax bill, year-end mortgage statement, or finalpay stubs. Although filing your income taxes is differentthan putting your affairs in order, you’re already inpaperwork “mode”, so now is the perfect time to reassessyour legal and financial situation to create a new planor update an existing one that no longer suits yourcircumstances. 

Basic Estate Planning

All you need to do is start with a general list ofeverything you own. You don’t have to completea comprehensive inventory. Think instead aboutcategories of assets, like bank accounts, life insurance,
real estate, vehicles, etc. 

Then, draw out your family tree and think aboutwho you would like to receive what you’ve spent yourlifetime building. If you don’t put your wishes in writing,
your estate - everything you’ve worked so hard to build

- may be liquidated, and will certainly be distributed,
according to the government’s plan, known as intestacy.
The foundation of all estate plans are wills and trusts.
Which one is the best for you depends on your individualcircumstances. 

A will is a written legal declaration of your intentionson how you want your property disposed of upon death.
This document is not legally enforceable until after yourpassing and, therefore, it can be changed at any timebefore you die or lose your mental capacity. A will allowsyou very basic control of what happens after you are 
gone.

A trust, on the other hand, is a legal arrangementwhere a trustee manages property for the beneficiaries.
There are many kinds of trusts, ranging from livingtrusts to complex dynasty trusts. Each type of trusthas its own benefits and drawbacks, so talk with yourtrusted advisor about which one is the best fit for yourcircumstances. 

Although there are many types of trusts, the onemost people need is a living trust. It’s a great alternativeto a will, because it can be changed during your life,
can provide financial protection should you becomeincapacitated, and yet is often easier and less expensivefor your family to handle upon your death. Another 
common type of trust is a testamentary trust, which isone that is contained within the provisions of the will.
But just like a will, a testamentary trust is not operativeuntil your death, making them a little less flexible andmore limited in function. 

Benefits of Estate Planning

Estate planning can help provide financial stabilityfor loved ones, designate a guardian for minor childrenor disabled family members, distribute property tochosen charitable organizations, reduce tax liabilities,
and achieve other personal and family goals. Organizingyour financial and legal affairs is your opportunity tomake impactful decisions on your assets, money, andhealthcare and solidify the legacy you will leave after you 
are gone.

Planning your estate may feel like a daunting task, butdon’t let that be what stops you. We’re here to help. Youdon’t have to do this alone. Contact us today to discussyour options and to get started organizing your future.

Dedicated to empowering your family, building yourwealth and creating your legacy, 


A local attorney and father, Marc Garlett is on a missionto 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 aboutensuring a legacy of love and financial security for yourfamily by calling 626.587.3058 or visit www.GarlettLaw.
com for more information. 

His office is located at 49 S. Baldwin Ave., Ste. G, Sierra 
Madre, CA 91024. Schedule an appointment to sit downand talk about ensuring a legacy of love and financialsecurity for your family by calling 626.587.3058 or visitwww.GarlettLaw.com for more information. 

By La Quetta M. Shamblee, MBA 

BUSINESS TODAY 

The latest on Business News, Trends and 
Techniques 
WINNING WITH COLLABORATIVE COMPETITION 


If you’re in a major city and see the infamous goldenarches in the distance letting you know that a Big Macor other familiar options await you at McDonald’s,
you can guarantee that you will find at least oneor more of their major competitors in very closeproximity. Jack In The Box, Carl’s Jr’s or the heathier 
Subway option are certain to be among your choices.
The big guys understand and embrace the benefits ofa collaborative competition, of sorts.

Modern day malls and shopping centers arenothing more than a contemporary adaptationof the age-old concept of the marketplace datingback to ancient times. These marketplaces weresometimes permanent fixtures in townships, an inother instances, operated similar to weekly farmers’markets and community festivals. Each month across 
America, a robust schedule of traveling trunk shows,
crafts fair and other specialty events appeal to millionswith interests in everything from jewelry making tocollecting antique firearms.

All of these examples point to the powerand profitability of collaborative competition.
Entrepreneurs who understand this concept are betterable to identify and develop opportunities otherwisehidden to those who can view competition only asthreat. The opportunity for more individuals andfamilies to own businesses increased as we made the 
transition from small clusters of townships, separatedby vast rural areas where the majority of Americanlived prior to the Industrial Revolution of the early1800’s. Today’s major urban centers evolved out ofthis economic boom as waves of people moved tobenefit from job opportunities.

With the temporary dismantling of the traditional,
one-stop country store and the cursory one storeper major merchandise category that dictated one-
blacksmith, or one-seamstress, or one-café per town,
the reality of supply and demand made it feasible for

day marketplaces. As the population densityincreased, so did the need for more businesses sellinggoods and services in the same categories.

There was a time in small town USA when openinga similar business close to a competitor would havebeen considered an insult, a frontal assault. We’re 
almost three generations beyond the era when thesuccessful strategy for retail and food businesses wasto maintain a healthy physical distance from one’sdirect competition. Clusters of vendors hockingtheir crafts and wares at community festivals andsimilar venues were the exception and one of the fewplaces where this practice would have been viewed asacceptable.

Take a stroll into the food court area of any regionalmall to see the benefits of collaborative competition.
There was a time when the choice of food outlets 
in these venues was very limited, and it would havebeen thought quite outrageous for them to have beenlocated in adjacent spaces. A brief observation will 
reveal that all of the competitors in this situationbenefit as hungry shoppers, who are undecided whenthey step into this area, gaze across the choice ofeateries. Repeated hundreds of times daily, think ofthis process as the lottery that results in wins for everycompetitor in the food court area over time.

Likewise, small businesses have opportunityto develop collaborative competition models totheir benefit within specific industry categories orgeographic categories. Regions where cities areclustered near major urban centers and accessibletransportation are ripe for establishing shopping 
districts and travel associations. This can create 
opportunities for small businesses to benefit 
from shared marketing and promotional efforts.
Thoughtful and well-planned models for collaborativecompetition can contribute to a significant increase inbusiness at a more favorable cost for all of the small 


competitors to come together to create the modern businesses involved. 
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