Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, September 25, 2021

10 Mountain View News Saturday, September 25, 2021 10 Mountain View News Saturday, September 25, 2021 
LOCAL STUDENTS AMONG NATIONAL MERIT 
SCHOLARSHIP SEMIFINALISTS 

Officials of National Merit Scholarship Corporation 

(NMSC®) announced the names of approximately 

16,000 Semifinalists in the 67th annual National Me


rit Scholarship Program. These academically talented 

high school seniors have an opportunity to continue 

in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Sc


holarships worth nearly $30 million that will be off

ered next spring.

 Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be 

offered in the spring of 2022. Every Finalist will com


pete for one of 2,500 National Merit® $2500 Scholars


hips that will be awarded on a state representational 

basis. About 1,000 corporate sponsored Merit Scho


larship awards will be provided by approximately 220 

corporations and business organizations. These sc


holarship recipients will join more than 362,000 other 

distinguished young people who have earned the Me-

Sierra Madre resident and PHS senior Tosten 
Pearson is among the local NHS Semifinalists 


rit Scholar title. 

LOCAL SEMI-FINALISTS: 
ARCADIA H. S. 

Berkun, Ruth H. 
Koh, Stella H. 
Liu, KailinLou, AndreaMenon, Sanjith A. 
Segimoto, Nelly R. 
Sun, Ryan Q. 
Tandoc, Jose A. 
Wong, EthanZhang, Sonia K. 
Zhao, Ashley LT 

CALIFORNIA SCHOOL OF THE ARTS 
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY 

Ho, Alyssa S.
Luti, Leya Elaine 

LA CANADA 
FLINTRIDGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL 

Baxter Mercado, Loran L. 000 Chia, Liam K.
Chung, IsaacDesjarlais, Elise C.
Freedman, Aaron L.
Jang, LoriKim, EthanKreinberg, Timothy M. 
Mirzaian, Nicole A.
Ng, Colin K.
Porcu, MartinoSivakumar, Ashwin H. 
Sussman, Owen W.
Tai, Trinity 

FLINTRIDGE SACRED HEART ACADEMY 

Kelley, Adele M. 

LA CANADA H. S. 

Branda, GeorgeGarland, David R.
Hubler, Benjamin F.
Jeffries, Eliza C.
Jensen, Adam S.
Konakov, AlexKornfeld, Leon M.
Lam, Ashly S.
Lee, Connor M.
Luo, PhoebeMealey, Sean D.
Robinson, Aidan L.
Samudrala, Kamran C. 999 Silva, Ryan M.
Snow, Lillian M.
Wang, Colin A.
Yun, Seojin 

ST. FRANCIS H. S. 
Deitch, Quinn C.
Gottheim, Gabriel J. 

THEME: SCARY MOVIES 

ACROSS 

1. Shenanigan
6. “Losing My Religion” band
9. Kind of learning
13. Capital of Egypt
14. Nest egg acronym
15. Cupid’s target
16. Bar, legally
17. Indian restaurant staple
18. Kind of committee, two words
19. *Hedge maze, dull boy, redrum, with The
21. *Pretend girlfriend, surgery, body parts
23. Monkey ____, monkey do
24. Post-it message
25. It makes a guitar louder
28. Royal Indian
30. Perfumes 
35. Glorify
37. Freeway exit
39. Like today’s cell phones?
40. Keen on 
41. Like a confection 
43. At any time
44. One of the large keys on the right
46. Greek portico
47. Common workday start
48. Former President of Egypt
50. Ancient eternal life symbol
52. *Bathtub, hacksaws, Jigsaw
53. Euphemism for “darn”
55. *Blind violinist, transplant surgery, sees 
ghosts, with The
57. *Hotel, mother, shower
60. *Count, bite, cross
64. Hot winter drink 
65. Aye’s opposite
67. Financial benefactor 
68. Seize a throne 
69. Headquartered in Langley
70. Exclude or omit 
71. Done on a Smith Corona 
72. Old age, archaic73. 6666... 
LA SALLE H. S PASADENA 

Chilukuri, Sreya 

MARANATHA H. S. 

Gan, Phillip N. 
Tzou, Harper K. 

MAYFIELD SCHOOL 

Marick, Chloe G. 
Sherman, Hannah M. 

PASADENA H. S. 

Drake, Jaimyn M. 
Pearson, Tosten N. 

POLYTECHNIC SCHOOL 

Konjoyan, Edward P. 
Thein, Andrew J. 

WESTRIDGE SCHOOL 

Kleindorfer, Clara 000 Knuth, GraceSwift, Claire L.
Wu, XintongZhang, Charlotte 

SOUTH PASADENA H. S.

 Broderick, Joseph O. 
Lachica, Alyssandra B. 
Liu, Ja-sonLiu, Miranda X.
Qi, XiangboWhang, Mason H. 
Xie, Ethan B. 

SAN MARINO H. S. 

An, Chelsea Z.
Cai, RandyChen, Lucas B. 
Chua, MarcusKetelaar, Marlene E. 
Lin, DaoQu, ZiyuanSund, Conner J. 
Tang, Amber N. 
Tang, Anya J.
Wang, ZihaoWu, Camdyn M. 
Yao, Sophia L.
Yao, Victor L.
Zhang, Yuxiang 

SOUTH PASADENA H. S. 

Broderick, Joseph O. 

Lachica, Alyssandra B. 
Liu, JasonLiu, Miranda X.
Qi, XiangboWhang, Mason H. 
Xie, Ethan B. 

DOWN 

1. Single pip cards
2. Crosby, Stills, ____ & Young
3. South American monkey
4. Actor Jeremy
5. Xerox machine 
6. *Videotape, stone well, seven days, with The
7. Paleozoic one 
8. Tropical smoothie flavor
9. Make over 
10. Hawaiian island 
11. Ragtime turkey dance
12. And so on, abbr.
15. Bias crime perpetrators
20. Closes in on 
22. Pilot’s announcement, acr.
24. ID badge, two words
25. *Sigourney Weaver, outer space
26. Old Testament miracle food 
27. Hits while on the green
29. *Beachgoers, police chief, need for bigger boat
31. *Boy, shadows in photographs, three sixes, 
with The 
32. “Transylvania” daughter
33. Entertainment complex
34. Scatter 
36. “Nobody ____ It Better”
38. Low-ranking worker
42. One who accepts the offer
45. Porter’s head gear
49. U Rah ____! 
51. Seven daughters of Atlas
54. Present 
56. Food-borne bacteria 
57. One in a pocketful, according to Mother 
Goose 
58. Fish a.k.a. porgy
59. Bygone era
60. Two of a kind 
61. Type of operating system
62. Prospector’s mother?
63. God of war, son of Zeus
64. Director’s cry
66. Be ill 
SCHOOL DIRECTORY 

Alverno Heights Academy

200 N. Michillinda Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-3463 Head of School: Julia V. FanaraE-mail address: jfanara@alvernoheights.org 
Arcadia Christian School 

1900 S. Santa Anita Avenue Arcadia, CA 91006Preschool - and TK - 8th Grade 
626-574-8229/626-574-0805Email: inquiry@acslions.comPrincipal: Cindy Harmonwebsite: www.acslions.com 

Arcadia High School

180 Campus Drive Arcadia, CA 91007Phone: (626) 821-8370, Principal: Brent Forseebforsee@ausd.net 

Arroyo Pacific Academy

41 W. Santa Clara St. Arcadia, Ca,

(626) 294-0661 Principal: Phil ClarkeE-mail address: pclarke@arroyopacific.org 
Barnhart School 

240 W. Colorado Blvd Arcadia, Ca. 91007 
(626) 446-5588Head of School: Tonya BeilsteinKindergarten - 8th gradewebsite: www.barnhartschool.org 

Bethany Christian School

93 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 
(626) 355-3527Preschool-TK-8th Grade 
Principal: Dr. William Walnerwebsite: www. bcslions.org 

Clairbourn School 

8400 Huntington DriveSan Gabriel, CA 91775Phone: 626-286-3108 ext. 172 
FAX: 626-286-1528 
E-mail: jhawes@clairbourn.org 

Holy Family Catholic School

1301 Rollin Street South Pasadena Ca 91030 
(626) 799-4354 •
Transitional Kindergarten - 8th GradePrincipal: Mrs. Jennifer GarziaWebsite: www.school.holyfamily.orgEmail: info@holyfamily.orgFacebook & Instagram @HFSKnights 

Foothill Oaks Academy

822 E. Bradbourne Ave., Duarte, CA 91010(626) 301-9809Principal: Nancy Lopezwww.foothilloaksacademy.orgoffice@foothilloaksacademy.org 

Frostig School

971 N. Altadena Drive Pasadena, CA 91107 
(626) 791-1255Head of School: Jenny Janetzke 
Email: jenny@frostig.org 

The Gooden School 

192 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 
(626) 355-2410

Head of School, Jo-Anne Woolner 

website: www.goodenschool.org 

High Point Academy

1720 Kinneloa Canyon RoadPasadena, Ca. 91107 
Head of School: Gary Stern 626-798-8989 
website: www.highpointacademy.org 

La Salle College Preparatory

3880 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Pasadena, Ca. 

(626) 351-8951 website: www.lasallehs.org 
Principal Jamal Adams 
Monrovia High School

325 East Huntington Drive, Monrovia, CA 91016

(626) 471-2800 Principal Darvin JacksonEmail: schools@monrovia.k12.ca.us 
Odyssey Charter School

725 W. Altadena Dr. Altadena, Ca. 91001

(626) 229-0993 Head of School: Lauren O’Neillwebsite: www.odysseycharterschool.org 
Pasadena High School

2925 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Pasadena, Ca.

(626) 396-5880 Principal: Roberto Hernandezwebsite: http://phs.pusd.us 
St. Rita Catholic School 

322 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024Principal: Adela Solis (626) 355-6114solis@st-ritaschool.orgWebsite: www.st-ritaschool.org 

Sierra Madre Elementary School

141 W. Highland Ave, Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-1428 Principal: Lindsay LUISE-mail address: LUIS.lindsay@pusd.us 
Sierra Madre Middle School 

160 N. Canon Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 836-2947 Principal: Garrett NewsomE-mail address: newsom.garrett@pusd.us 
Walden School 

74 S San Gabriel Blvd 
Pasadena, CA 91107 (626) 792-6166www.waldenschool.net 

Weizmann Day School

1434 N. Altadena Dr. Pasadena, Ca. 91107(626) 797-0204Lisa Feldman: Head of School 

Wilson Middle School 

300 S. Madre St. Pasadena, Ca. 91107

(626) 449-7390 Principal: Ruth EsselnE-mail address: resseln@pusd.us 
Pasadena Unified School District 

351 S. Hudson Ave., Pasadena, Ca. 91109

(626) 396-3600 Website: www.pusd@pusd.us 
Arcadia Unified School District 

234 Campus Dr., Arcadia, Ca. 91007 

(626) 821-8300 Website: www.ausd.net 
Monrovia Unified School District 

325 E. Huntington Dr., Monrovia, Ca. 91016 
(626) 471-2000Website: www.monroviaschools.net 

Duarte Unified School District 

1620 Huntington Dr., Duarte, Ca. 91010 
(626)599-5000Website: www.duarte.k12.ca.us 


FAMILY MATTERS By Marc Garlett 


A NOT-SO-HAPPY ACCIDENT: BOB ROSS’S 
ESTATE PLANNING FAILURES LEAVE HIS SON 
WITH NEXT TO NOTHING 

As the host of the wildly 

popular The Joy of Painting 

TV series on PBS, Bob Ross 

became a pop-culture icon, 

who was just as famous 

for his giant head of hair, 

soothing baritone voice, 
and folksy demeanor as he was for his iconic landscape 
paintings. And like so many other artists, Bob’s artwork 
and image would become even more popular following 
his death in 1995. 

Bob’s philosophy in both painting and life was that there 
were “no mistakes… just happy little accidents.” Sadly, 
as detailed in the recent Netflix documentary Bob Ross: 
Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed, Bob’s failure to 
coordinate his business agreements with his estate plan 
was anything but happy, leaving his only son largely 
unable to benefit from his father’s fame and fortune. 

Bob’s planning failures led to an ugly court battle 
between his former business partners and his family, in 
a fight for control of the lucrative intellectual property 
rights to the Bob Ross brand. And while Bob’s son Steve 
ultimately lost his fight to benefit from the business 
empire built on his father’s persona and painting skills, 
you can use Bob’s planning mistakes take to ensure that 
your loved ones don’t suffer the same fate and are able 
to fully benefit from all your business assets following 
your death. 

Building Bob RossAfter meeting Bob at one of his early in-person painting 
classes, husband and wife duo Walter and Annette 
Kowalski convinced Bob to go into business with them, 
launching Bob Ross Inc. (BRI) in 1985. The corporation 
initially consisted of four equal partners: Bob Ross and 
his wife Jane Ross, along with Walter and Annette. 

From 1986 through 1994, BRI registered several 
trademarks using Bob Ross’ name and likeness, and 
the company also signed several licensing agreements 
with third parties, all with Bob’s consent. All four 
individuals—Bob, Jane, Walter, and Annette—were 
technically equal partners in the corporation, but it was 
widely acknowledged that Bob was the one in charge, as 
well as the one with the talent and the face of the brand. 

In fact, when The Joy of Painting became one of PBS’s 
top-ranked shows at the close of the 1980s, the frizzy-
headed artist grew into a bona-fide celebrity. The 
success of the show and Bob’s fame boosted sales of 
Bob Ross art supplies, which branched out to include 
books and videos in addition to the paints and brushes 
adorned with Bob’s name and likeness. 

All of this translated to significant financial success for 
the company. Based on records made public during the 
lawsuits over Bob’s estate, BRI was bringing in roughly 
a half-million dollars each year for the four partners to 
share. But the good times wouldn’t last. 

Things Fall Apart 
Things started to go downhill in 1992 when Bob’s wife 
Jane passed away from cancer. Following her death, 
the structure of BRI required that Jane’s share in the 
company be divided equally among the surviving 
three partners. As a result, Bob was reduced to owning 
just one-third of the company that bore his name and 
likeness. This was likely not understood by the Ross’s 
when they signed their partnership agreements. 

Shortly after Jane’s death, Bob developed lymphoma 
while fending off the Kowalskis’ attempt to squeeze him 
out of future profits of the company entirely. In an effort 
to protect his rights to his business and intellectual 
property assets, Bob amended his trust shortly before his 
death to include a clause specifying that all intellectual 
property rights to Bob’s “name, likeness, voice, and 
visual, written, or otherwise recorded work” would pass 
to his son, Steve, and Bob’s half-brother, Jimmie Cox. 

Grand Theft Bob 
Bob Ross died on July 4, 1995, at age 52. Upon his 
death, his estate was valued at $1.3 million, half of 
which was his one-third share in BRI. Unable to gain 
full control over Bob’s share of BRI while Bob was 
alive, the Kowalski’s decided to sue Bob’s estate after 
his death. In addition to seeking all his intellectual 
property rights in their lawsuit, the Kowalski’s also 
wanted all of Bob’s finished paintings—and even all of 
Bob’s art tools and paints down to his easel and brushes. 

Without the financial means to sustain a prolonged 
legal battle, the estate’s executor, Jimmie Cox, settled 
with the Kowalskis in 1997. But as the years went by, 
more and more people would discover the iconic artist’s 
work and persona via the Internet. When Annette and 
Walt Kowalski handed control of BRI to their daughter 
Joan in 2012, the Bob Ross brand was more popular 
than ever and by 2017, Bob Ross-branded products 
were bringing more than a million dollars in licensing 
fees to BRI each year. 

Steve Sues BRI 
Steve then sued BRI, alleging that all the licensing deals 
and products that used his father’s name and likeness 
were unauthorized. In his lawsuit, Steve demanded 
compensation for the years of unauthorized use of the 
intellectual property rights Steve claims to own based 
on his father’s estate plan. 

Sadly, for Steve, the court didn’t agree with his claim. 
In 2019, the court ruled that Bob Ross’s trust could not 
have assigned the intellectual property rights to Steve 
and Jimmie because the Trust did not own those rights 
to begin with. Therefore, the amendment to Bob’s trust 
was irrelevant since Bob Ross had already given all the 
rights to his intellectual property to BRI. 

Learn From Bob’s Mistakes 
Fortunately, you can prevent your loved ones from 
suffering the same fate as Steve using proper planning. 
If you own a business, it’s crucial that your business 
agreements address the ownership rights to all your 
business assets, including any intellectual property, and 
incorporate those ownership rights into your company’s 
governing documents.

 If your business has multiple owners, you’ll want to 
make specific agreements with your partners, and not 
just rely on form documents, or sign documents you 
have not fully understood. And be sure to consider what 
happens to your share of the company, and its assets, 
upon a sale, death, or disability of each owner of the 
company and coordinate that with your estate plan. 


A local attorney and father, MarcGarlett is on a mission to help 
parents protect what they love 
most. Schedule an appointment 

to sit down and talk about 
ensuring a legacy of love and financial security for yourfamily by calling 626.355.4000 or visit www.CaliLaw. 
com for more information. 

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