Archives: Portfolio

Talk of The Towne SCC Athletics & Aguatics Complex

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1198″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Until recently, 650 area kids playing in the Tustin NJB (National Junior Basketball Organization) had to practice outdoors wherever they could find an empty court. Thanks to the new Santiago Canyon College Athletics and Aquatics Complex in East Orange, scrambling for practice time is a thing of the past. The 72,200-square-foot Athletics and Aquatics Center can accommodate six of the NJB’s 70 teams every hour, “which ensures on-schedule practice,” says NJB president Dan Fuentes. “Prior to using the Center, we were desperately searching for practice time,” says Fuentes of the volunteer organization that offers local kindergartners through eighth graders the opportunity to play. “We had to work around rain, and many of the courts are not well lit at night. The center allows us to practice indoors in a spacious setting.” The NJB is just one of many community groups that can avail themselves of the multi-functional facility, says Martin Stringer, Athletic Director for Santiago Canyon College, which opened its doors in fall 1985 and currently has 11,000 students. “The Center is open to the general public, including individuals, who for a nominal fee can use the state-of-the-art equipment to benefit their health and fitness needs. We have staff on hand to help, who are all experts in the arena of exercise science.” The facility, which cost $19.5 million, includes a swimming pool, three indoor basketball courts, locker rooms, a fitness center, a strength lab and training facilities. The Center was made possible from funding through the 2002 Measure E bond, says Santiago Canyon College President Juan Vázquez. “In addition to opening our doors wider to the community, the facility will afford us the opportunity to grow the exercise science and kinesiology department for our students,” he says. The Athletics and Aquatics Center, which is expected to open for classes this spring, is a welcome change for the athletics department, which has been operating out of portable buildings for the last 10 years, says Stringer. “The Center will offer a more suitable venue for the college’s eight sports teams, including women’s soccer, which is currently the number two women’s soccer team in the nation.” Students are equally excited about the facility, says Rachel Ann Bulosan, president of the Santiago Canyon College Associated Student Government (ASG). “We have many basketball lovers, gym-goers, swimmers and active students on campus, so the new facility has been a hot topic amongst the students,” she says. “The complex will open the college up to more opportunities for sports teams and promote physical health throughout the student body. It is also good to know that our amazing faculty and staff will have better facilities in which to teach.” For information about using the Athletics and Aquatics Complex, please contact Martin Stringer at Stringer_Martin@sccollege.edu, or 714-628-4816.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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© Julie Bawden-Davis

Plaza Car Show

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When Joe Colombo was in high school, he owned a red and white ’55 Chevy. “I loved that car and was so proud of it,” says the chair of the upcoming 19th Annual Orange Plaza Car Show, who was not surprisingly heartbroken when his girlfriend (now his wife), wrecked it. “For years I searched for another ’55 Chevy, but couldn’t quite afford the car whenever I found it for sale, until about 15 years ago,” says Columbo, a 33-year Orange resident who found the same model at the Pomona Swap meet. “The car looks brand new and runs well,” he says. “The guy I bought the car from built it from scratch and didn’t want to part with it, but I think he needed the cash, because his wife made him sell.” (Thereby taking one wife off the hook and putting another one on it!) “Since that time, I’ve also bought a ’32 Ford Roadster,” he says.
2013 Plaza Car Show

Car buff destination

Each year at the Orange Plaza Car Show, Columbo and the owners of approximately 430 pre-1976 hot rods and custom and classic vehicles display their cars and happily share their stories. The popular show, which is held in the Plaza and hosted by the Orange Sunrise Rotary, attracts auto aficionados from near and far, bringing in 12,000 to 15,000 visitors on this one day. “Visitors to the car show see vehicles from the early 1900s through 1976, comprising anything from original vehicles to highly modified autos, including ratrods,” says Columbo, who explains that the latter vehicles refers to “mutt” cars. “Back in the ’50s, guys like me didn’t have the money to buy a new car, so they pieced together a hotrod with whatever items they found lying around,” he says.

Independent judging

At the festivities, cars, which are driven in early the morning of the event, are judged by independent judges for various classifications. The Rotary Club gives away 34 trophies, including 10 specialty awards, such as Mayor’s choice. For those who plan ahead, Columbo notes that next year in 2014 for the show’s 20th anniversary, they will give away a V8 motor and automatic transmission valued at $5,000 from JMC Performance. “People who invest their time, talent and treasures into an auto want to show it off, and this is the perfect chance to do so and get awarded for their efforts,“ says Howard Glasser, immediate past president of the Orange Sunrise Rotary Club and a longtime Orange resident. “The car owners take their fun seriously. They hang around for the whole day to happily chat with visitors of all ages,“ says Glasser, who notes that the day features pre-1975 music, opportunity drawings for car goodies and auto supply vendors.

Fun for everyone

“The show is a real family event,“ says Columbo, also an Orange Sunrise Rotary Club member. “Cars evoke a pride of ownership and give a sense of history and of place. Kids love to hear stories and find out about the old cars. It’s a kick to see a child sitting in an old dragster while the proud owner tells all about it.“ This year’s event will be held on Sunday, April 21st. Proceeds from the show go to the Orange Sunrise Rotary Club’s many philanthropic endeavors, including serving local homeless and the national Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign. The Rotary is in need for additional sponsors of the event. Current sponsors include Grandpoint Bank and Selman Chevrolet. Select to view 2011 Plaza Car Show article. Select to view Orange Sunrise Rotary Car Show information
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© Julie Bawden-Davis

Building Character Mike Pelly

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1191″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When Mike Pelly took his first job out of college at Chapman University as an admissions counselor in 1986, he never intended staying long. “I’d planned on staying for a couple of years, and I’ve had other job offers, but every time I considered leaving, I looked at the plans for the next five years at the university, and it was too exciting to change jobs,” says Pelly, who moved up through the ranks and is now Vice Chancellor, Dean of Enrollment Management. “Superior leadership at Chapman during the last 30 years has led to many exciting improvements.” Over the past three decades, Pelly has experienced Chapman’s trajectory from a small regional college with 1,500 students, to a bustling university that currently ranks #6 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2016 Best Regional Universities of the West ranking and is consistently ranked first or second in student selectivity. Enrolling and Assisting Students “My department manages the enrollment process, from beginning to end,” says Pelly. “We help with enrolling students, including with financial aid, and guide students in developing their exit strategies, so that they graduate in a timely manner.” Given the high cost of education, Pelly’s job is an important one. “Our financial aid office administers more than $100 million each year, and 82 percent of Chapman students receive and require some form of financial aid in order to attend,” he says. “This makes it imperative that the limited funds are used wisely and judiciously.” Pelly has worked hard to make scholarship funds go as far as possible and dispel the myth that Chapman is unaffordable by creating partnerships with local organizations that match scholarships and by recruiting high caliber students eligible for state and federal funds. Many of these outreach efforts result in attracting first generation and under-represented students who may have otherwise not applied to Chapman. He is particularly proud that since he started at Chapman, the school has gone from a regional learning institution composed primarily of students from Southern California to a perse, national campus with less than 20 percent form Orange County. Marcela Mejia-Martinez is Director of Undergraduate Admission at Chapman University. “Over the 18 years I’ve worked alongside Pel, as we call him, we have morphed into a university that is more geographically perse, medium-sized, with a better and brighter class each year,” she says. “He is a flexible, strong, supportive leader, who has been instrumental in guiding our team to reach goals set by the senior staff and trustees.” Inspired Leadership His style may be informal, yet he brings a strong sense of professionalism to the recruitment, admission and financial aid operations, adds Jerry Price, Dean of Students and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs for Chapman University. “Mike really is an expert in the field and makes decisions only after thoroughly collecting and analyzing the necessary information,” says Price. “His long tenure with Chapman has created an immense network of friends and allies who are immeasurably helpful to us in many ways. He also possesses an unwavering commitment to the university and its students.” Prior to taking the job of Vice Chancellor, Pelly had more direct contact with students. “In my previous position in Admission, I liked helping students navigate college choices,” he says. “It may sound cliché, but I enjoy improving and changing lives.” In his current position, Pelly has the opportunity to create policy that benefits even more students, while still occasionally helping on a more personal level, such as recently when he discovered that a student, who lives in Los Angeles and is on scholarship, had to take two to three buses and a train in order to get to the university. “I found it very satisfying to arrange for her to get affordable on-campus housing,” he says. “She can now devote more time to studying and experiencing college life.” Pelly admits that promoting the school to students and their families is fairly easy, considering the university’s reputation, its beautiful campus and the location. “When families come visit Chapman, they fall in love with Old Towne, with its big-small town feel that offers a sense of community you don’t find on other Southern California college campuses,” says Pelly, who bought his first home in Orange, where he lived for 10 years prior to moving to Villa Park. He enjoys going to the Old Towne Orange Farmers and Artisans Market on Saturdays with his wife, Sara, and their dog, Orvis. Also in education, Sara recently became principal at Fletcher Elementary School in Orange. Giving Back to Orange Pelly enjoys donating his time to the community that he feels has given him much. One organization where he volunteers a great deal is the Community Foundation of Orange (CFO), where he has served on the board since joining the organization in 2011. Dedicated to preserving and enhancing Orange through a variety of programs, such as the Annual Foundation Games Youth Track & Field Meet and the Veterans Day Field of Valor, the organization helps everyone in the community, from kids to older adults. Susie Cunningham is Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Orange. She met Mike when she considered him as a board member for the CFO. “We have always had a strong relationship with Chapman, and we wanted to make sure we had a person on board (a Chapman liaison), who was a good fit,” she says. “Mike has turned out to be an incredibly great fit for the CFO as a very active board member dedicated to making our organization and the community stronger. We hold our annual Gala at Chapman, and Mike was instrumental in introducing us to the Chapman Ambassadors—a terrific group of students who volunteer their time to assist with events. Last year, for our inaugural Field of Valor event, Mike put the call out to several Chapman student groups—the Greek Community, Football, Lacrosse, Basketball and others—to come help us with various aspects of the event, and they were phenomenal. Mike has also recruited students, alums, coaches and professors to help at the Foundation Games. He is a joy to be around and very conscientious.” Pelly learned about the value of community service early on in his career. “When I was an admissions counselor during my early years at Chapman, the woman in my current position required all employees in her pision to get involved by being a mentor or advisor to at least one club or organization on campus,” says Pelly. “I played Lacrosse in high school and college, so I started Chapman’s Lacrosse team, which I coached for five years until I decided to get my Masters of Science and Human Resources from the Argyros School of Business and Economics.” For Pelly, Lacrosse proved pivotal to his career. “I first played Lacrosse at the age of 7 in my neighborhood in Bellevue, Washington, where I grew up. Later, I played in high school and then at Whittier College when I earned my undergraduate degree,” he says. “My Lacrosse coach was also the admissions director for the school, and one day a light bulb went off for me. I really admired him, and I saw from his example that working on a college campus had a lot of advantages. I essentially followed in his footsteps when I came to Chapman, and it’s all worked out better than I could have ever imagined.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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© Julie Bawden-Davis

Building Character Dr. Paul Apodaca

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1188″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In the mid–1950s, when Paul Apodaca opened up his history book at Tustin Elementary school and read that California Indians were extinct, the Native American Indian felt understandably puzzled. Thinking about the Indian reservations he regularly visited with his family throughout California and the Indian friends he played with every day, Apodaca had an epiphany that would shape the rest of his life. “I realized that the history books painted a picture different from the facts,” says Apodaca, Associate Professor of Anthropology and American Studies at Chapman University, who specializes in American Indian studies, Folklore and Mythology and is former Editor of the Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology. “Many pieces of the puzzle that made up Orange County and California were missing from my school history books, including the stories of Indians, Hispanics, blacks, Asians and women,” recalls Apodaca. “The fact is that California and Orange County have always been culturally diverse. This state has the most American Indians in it. There are a total of 104 reservations here, with 32 in Southern California.” Apodaca spent his formative years during a pivotal time in Orange County history when the county clung to its agricultural roots while entering the second half of the 20th century and the technological advances, such as the aerospace industry, that would soon follow at warp speed. Coloring Apodaca’s illustrious career–which spans over 40 years and includes teaching at UCLA and 17 years as curator of the Bower’s Museum California and Orange County History collections as well as their Folk Art and American Indian collections–are his childhood experiences. It was during his early years that Apodaca met the families and individuals who made the county what it is today, encountering names such as Yorba, Nisson, Sepulveda and Griset. “As a kid, while I listened to the growers, ranchers and Indians on the reservations, I came to realize, and was able to document years later as I worked at the Bower’s Museum, how many of those people shaped Orange County as we know it today,” says Apodaca, who also watched Frank Tallman fly out of the Orange County airport and enjoyed informal airshows there by legendary test pilot Paul Mantz. He recalls the history of the airport includes its use by Howard Hughes and Amelia Earhart. Most of Apodaca’s work has focused on ethnography (study and recording of human cultures). He has ferretted out the stories from those who have lived the life and shared his findings through archiving, writing and teaching. His major research work has focused on the Cahuilla Indians in the Coachella Valley. Apodaca, who plays multiple musical instruments, has spent the last thirty years working with the Cahuilla helping them to revitalize their music traditions and record their “Bird Songs,” which are a body of mythical songs that chronicle the tribe’s migration from a place of mythical creation to their present home. Apodaca has successfully saved a substantial number of these songs, which have traditionally been handed down orally and could have been lost forever. A consequential part of Apodaca’s work helped make the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of the American Indian a reality. Apodaca was a founding consultant on the project. He and other interested parties succeeded in facilitating the opening of the museum on the National Mall in Washington D.C. in 2004. Apodaca also wrote and performed the musical score for the 1985 Academy Award–winning documentary, Broken Rainbow, which exposed the U.S. government’s plans to remove Navajo and Hopi Indians from reservations, leading to abandonment of the project. “Paul is an excellent professor and public speaker, who has made a valuable contribution by teaching people what it means to be an American Indian today,” says Ron Steiner, director of graduate programs at Chapman University Law School, who specializes in American Indian law. “He is also a true scholar in the sense that he makes a substantive contribution to our warehouse of knowledge.” For Apodaca, gathering information about folk culture is a moving experience. “I feel privileged to talk to people and record their history, emotions, communities and landscapes,” says Apodaca, who is currently working on two books that share his various findings. While he enjoys studying the past, Apodaca also relishes looking toward the future, which he does as a teacher. “My greatest hopes and legacies are with the students, who are tomorrow’s leaders. My ability to share information and perspective with them will hopefully help them make good decisions for us all,” says Apodaca. No doubt having Apodaca as a teacher, the students are getting a much more complete perspective than they ever would from a textbook.

Roosevelt Hall

Originally part of the Orange High School Campus, Roosevelt Hall is named after James Roosevelt, son of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who served the university throughout the 1970s and 1980s. James Roosevelt’s popular Enterprise Hour program in the late 1970s featured guest speakers addressing cultural views of business concerns of the day. Previously known as Founders’ Hall, the 12,280–square–foot building was completed in 1928 and is listed in the National Registry for Historical Buildings. Today Roosevelt Hall houses the offices of the Dean of Wilkinson College and the Sociology, Political Science and History departments. The building also features a display containing artifacts from the Whitehouse, including a set of pens donated by James Roosevelt’s widow, which were used to sign various legislations passed during the Johnson and Kennedy administrations.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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© Julie Bawden-Davis

Building Character Dean Bob Bassett

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1143″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Today if Bob Bassett were to grade the first film he created, the professor and dean of Chapman University’s renowned Dodge College of Film and Media Arts would have probably given himself a poor mark. “Though at the time I thought the movie was the most brilliant thing I’d ever seen, it went against the advice I always give student filmmakers,” says Bassett. “I tell our kids to avoid making something trivial and look inside themselves to find something deeper. My first film was a western comedy about a boarding school that trained outlaws, which made no sense, but I have to admit that it was some of the most fun I ever had.” Instrumental in creating what has become one of the leading film schools in the nation, Bassett joined the University in 1981 when it was still Chapman College and there was no film department yet. He initially taught filmmaking classes, until 1992 when interest had grown enough to create a separate department. “It was at that point that we got ambitious and decided to really build up the film school,” says Bassett, who met that goal by forming what is now a highly competitive film school of 1,300 students. He accomplished this task by assembling a world–class faculty, harnessing the power of digital technology and overseeing the conception and creation of state–of–the–art facilities. The faculty have a combined filmmography of more than 150 feature films, some award winning, and long before other film programs followed suit, Bassett converted the film school’s entire curriculum to the use of digital technology. For a decade, Bassett worked on the conception and building of the Marion Knott Studios and his ambitious plans led to successfully collecting $42 million dollars. “I really believe in the power of self–fulfilling prophecies and persistence,” says Bassett of the fundraising efforts. “In the beginning, when we were talking about the film school, there was a lot of smoke and mirrors, and I sometimes thought that the task seemed impossible, but we persisted and actually became the vibrant community of filmmakers we had envisioned.” Born and raised in Whittier back when the town had a sleepy, Midwest feel, Bassett took a circuitous route to filmmaking. As a child he was involved in athletics, such as swimming, water polo and wrestling, and he also enjoyed literature. While in college, he thought for a time that he would like to be a philosopher and writer, but soon found that philosophy wouldn’t pay the bills, and he questioned his desire to live the solitary life of an author. Always interested in storytelling, however, he became fascinated by films and people’s reactions to them. “Movies reflect ourselves back to us,” he says. “We see something on the screen that enables us to understand our own lives better; it’s a universal art that is accessible to just about everyone.” Deciding that film would give him an opportunity to express his creativity and offered the social and collaborative aspects of sports, he turned to filmmaking once out of college, doing documentaries on a wide variety of topics,including those that focused on the creative process and highlighted artists. Eventually he became an award–winning producer and director of educational films and video projects for corporate and non–profit clients such as Children’s Hospital of Orange County, the American Cancer Society and John Wayne Airport. Running the film school today takes most of Bassett’s time, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. “When I first came to Chapman, I thought it was the perfect place to build a film school, and we developed the type of school that I would like to attend. Here students have creative freedom, and instead of just theorizing, they actually make films. The program is very production–oriented. We put a camera in students’ hands on day one, and they immediately get used to being in a constant state of film production. The kids love seizing the opportunities and putting their own spin on things. I’m really proud of the school and amazed at what the students accomplish. It’s fun to go to work every day.”

Marion Knott Studios

Those involved in the decade–long planning and creation of Chapman’s Marion Knott Studios anticipated today’s technologically savvy, real–time film students. That’s why the 76,000–square–foot state–of–the–art complex, which houses the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, has all the amenities of a real Hollywood studio. Opened in 2006 at 326 W. Palm Street, the building contains a 500–seat theater with digital cinema and 35 mm projection. There are sound stages and shop facilities, graphics and digital post–production labs, and a wide collection of DVD’s and scripts for study. In keeping with the film school’s hands–on philosophy and the idea that creativity and film students never sleep, the facility is open 24/7 so that students can work on their projects whenever inspiration hits and schedules permit. Construction will soon start on the second phase of building, which will comprise a Hollywood–style back–lot.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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© Julie Bawden-Davis

Dr. Tom Campbell

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1140″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Growing up in Chicago in the 1950s under the watchful eye of seven older siblings, parents and a grandmother, Chapman’s Dean of the Law School, Tom Campbell, counts himself blessed many times over. “My home life consisted of a nurturing environment focused on academics and cooperation, which taught me the importance of studying and working hard and the power of getting along and sharing,” says Campbell, a former California U.S. congressman and state senator, whose father is the late Hon. William Joseph Campbell, an FDR-appointed Chief Judge of the United States District Court. “There was no sense of a lone wolf in my family,” says Campbell, a Harvard Law School magna cum laude graduate, who came to Chapman in January 2009 as a visiting professor and was appointed dean of the law school in February 2011. “If you did well, everyone was proud and happy, and if you had a setback, they would try to cheer you up. This sense of community and the idea that you should use your skills and talents to help those in need was instilled in me by my parents, who came of age during the Great Depression.” View Campbell’s illustrious career in education and politics and you see the mark this spirit of cooperation for the common good left. Prior to joining Chapman, he was the Bank of America Dean and Professor of Business at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. During his time there from 2002 to 2008, the business school moved from 15th to 2nd on The Wall Street Journal’s national ranking. Since joining Chapman, Campbell has forged strong ties between the university and Orange County’s legal community, expanded employment opportunities for law students, increased the size of the school’s LLM program and established the Business Law Emphasis Program. At least once a year, Campbell and his wife Susanne, who also works for Chapman as Assistant to the Chancellor for Special Projects, travel to Africa and volunteer their time teaching university courses in business, international finances and law. And in the political arena, Campbell is known for sticking to his unwavering beliefs. Local philanthropist and Chapman Trustee Doy Henley has known Campbell since his political days, when during his two-year term as state senator he was named “most ethical state senator” by the California Journal. “Tom is an admirable and honorable man. Serving in Congress is a challenge for an individual with such high integrity, but he did a great job,” says Henley. “He also has an extraordinary understanding of finance, which served him well as director of the California Department of Finance for former Governor Schwarzenegger. Sometimes politics and good public policy conflict, but Tom dealt with such issues with style and dignity. As dean of the law school, he’s in the perfect position to influence students to make ethical decisions.” Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Administration at the law school, Jayne Kacer, agrees. “Tom has done a superlative job as dean, setting a standard of civility, thoughtfulness and professionalism that allows him to serve as a positive role model for students, as well as staff and faculty. He is devoted to the well-being and success of the students, which is clear from the town hall meetings he holds every month and the fact that he seems to remember the name of every student he meets.” As an educator, Campbell is able to draw from a rich well of experience, which makes for practical teaching. In order to illustrate how the legislative and administrative branches of government are often more effective than the judicial branch at correcting wrongs, he uses as an example the 1998 Food Bank Relief Act, which he authored. When individuals receiving food from Second Harvest chose to work in exchange for the donations they received, the Department of Labor interpreted an existing law to mean that the amount of groceries the recipients received constituted less than minimum wage and stopped the organization from letting the food recipients work. Initially, Campbell resolved this administratively and then sought a permanent resolution by presenting the issue to Congress. A simple one-sentence bill passed that said that the Fair Labor Standards Act does not apply to those who receive food for volunteering their time at a food distribution center. Also an author, Campbell delves into the various branches of government in his book, Separation of Powers in Practice (Stanford University Press, 2004). In the book he looks at the advantages and disadvantages of each branch of government and the various public policy issues for which each branch is best suited. Chapman’s Chancellor Daniele Struppa comments on how Campbell’s breadth of knowledge benefits the university. “Tom is a well-respected scholar and visible in the community, which elevates Chapman’s reputation. His position on delicate issues is clear, and yet he never comes across as intransigent. While he is strong in his views, he has the rare capacity of understanding why other people may differ, always assuming that their position is the reasonable outcome of a different set of assumptions. He respects both the assumptions and the outcome, while vigorously fighting for his own point of view.” No doubt Campbell’s father, the judge, would be proud.

The Pralle Clock Tower

Known as Pralle Tower, the 90-foot clock tower at Chapman’s Kennedy Hall, is named for Robert and Helga Pralle, longtime supporters of Chapman University. The late Bob Pralle served as a university trustee for 18 years. Opened in 1999, the picturesque tower continues to hold the correct time and serves as a refuge for doves.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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© Julie Bawden-Davis

Talk of The Towne Holocaust Remembrance

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1136″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As time marches into the 21st Century and we recall the cataclysmic event of the Holocaust, memories and individual stories make this increasingly distant history meaningful and real. This wouldn’t be possible, however, without programs that commemorate this history in ways that educate and inspire. Thanks to the work of Chapman University’s Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education under the guidance of the Center’s Director, Marilyn Harran, the Holocaust, its victims and survivors, are remembered through events such as the upcoming “An Evening of Holocaust Remembrance in Words, Music, Dance, and Film” to be held April 20 at the university. “We live in a challenging time in which we’re getting further and further away from the Holocaust. In the process, we’re losing the faces and voices of the people who experienced these events. Our challenge is to find ways to carry memory forward so that we not only remember, but are inspired to live with greater compassion and humanity today,” says Harran, who is also the Stern Chair in Holocaust Education. “At the Center, we seek to study and share survivors’ stories in such a way that history becomes personally meaningful.” This year’s event will pay tribute to Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and 2011-2015 Presidential Fellow at Chapman University. Wiesel, whose memoir, Night, chronicled his experiences during the Holocaust, died on July 2, 2016. “We were honored to have Professor Wiesel speak at the Evening of Holocaust Remembrance in 2012,” says Harran. “With this year’s event, we want to remember him, as well as the other survivors who have passed away within the last year, honor those who continue to witness, and remember those whose lives were taken from them.” The event will offer remembrance from several different perspectives. There will be music performed by pianist Daniel Alfred Wachs, director of orchestral activities in the Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music in Chapman University’s College of Performing Arts, and by violinist Iman Khosrowpour, conductor, Symphony Orchestra and Violin Faculty at Irvine Valley College, as well as reflections by Harran; Dr. Gail Stearns, Dean of Chapman’s Wallace All Faith’s Chapel and Rabbi Elie Spitz of Congregation B’nai Israel in Tustin, who knew Wiesel for many years. Chapman students will perform an original dance choreographed by senior dance major, Cristina McKeever. There will also be a screening of the documentary, “Memory Keepers,” directed by filmmaker Molly Blank. Shot on location in Sighet, Romania, where Wiesel and Blank’s grandfather, Henry Blank, lived, the film tells the story of the once vibrant Jewish community in Sighet devastated in May 1944 when 13,000 residents were sent to Auschwitz. The documentary is centered around 100 descendants who gathered in May 2014 to remember Sighet 70 years after the deportation. “The film uses the lens of this memorial event to reveal the stories of those who perished and those who survived, while considering the impact of the past on the present,” says Blank, who initially thought the documentary would commemorate her family, but it turned out to express a much broader theme. “The idea of memories and how we process trauma and move forward in life turned out to be the most important message, so I made that the focus of the film,” says Blank. “At one point, there’s a scene when the descendants stand on railroad tracks with lit candles while a man who’d been friends with Elie Wiesel, makes a speech in Yiddish. It was a powerful moment for me as a filmmaker and as a descendant of the community. The first time I showed it to a roomful of Holocaust survivors and their descendants, I found the experience to be incredibly powerful.” In the end, it’s memories that bind us to the past and keep us mindful of our present and future, notes third-generation survivor, Daniel Alfred Wachs. “I wouldn’t be here today participating in “An Evening of Holocaust Remembrance” were it not for the bravery and luck of my maternal grandmother,” says Wachs. “Most of the family on my mother’s side was exterminated in the Holocaust, and my grandmother’s tale is a story in its own right. Every year since my arrival at Chapman University 10 years ago, I heed the call to forgive, but not forget.” Wachs and Harran strive to select music that is appropriate and uplifts the occasion. “It’s an overused cliché, but music knows no language–it’s universal,” says Wachs. “We seek music in times of comfort, in times of peril, in times of grief and remembrance. This year, as we remember Dr. Wiesel, we’ve chosen a selection from Beethoven – his favorite composer.” “An Evening of Holocaust Remembrance in Words, Music, Dance, and Film” is April 20 at 7 pm in Chapman University’s Memorial Hall. The event is free and open to the public. Visit www.chapman.edu/research-and-institutions/holocaust-education/rodgers-center/holocaust-remembrance, or call (714) 532-7760 for more information.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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© Julie Bawden-Davis

Talk of The Towne John Fowles

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1132″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In the novel, The French Lieutenant’s Woman, which inspired the movie with the same name, British author John Fowles writes, “We all write poems; it is simply that poets are the ones who write in words.” This idea that we all harbor stories within us to tell and to share those stories is something for which we all yearn, lies at the core of Chapman University’s John Fowles Center for Creative Writing, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Created to give students and the public opportunities to gain greater appreciation of the written word and of writers, the Fowles Center highlights and celebrates all aspects of creative writing, including poetry, fiction, drama, creative nonfiction and screen and playwriting. To accomplish this goal, each spring the Center invites distinguished national and international writers to Chapman University to share their work with students and the Southern California community at large. Literary Legends Come to Chapman Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, the John Fowles Center has hosted such international and national writers as: Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka; Salman Rushdie; Maxine Hong Kingston; Edward Albee; Lawrence Ferlinghetti; Alain Robbe-Grillet; Gioconda Belli; Steve Katz; Pablo Neruda Prize winner, Raúl Zurita; Elias Khoury; II Bienal de Novela winner, Carlos Franz; Pulitzer Prize winner, John Ashbery; David Antin; Willis Barnstone; Nobel Nominees, Claudio Magris and Luisa Valenzuela; Giorgio Pressburger; Giuseppe Conte and Isabel Allende, among others. Exposing students to the persity of writers in the world and their literature has been the intent of Fowles Center Founder and Director Mark Axelrod. An author and professor of Comparative Literature at Chapman, Axelrod has given students and interested members of the public the chance to hear from a wide variety of voices in creative writing. “Earning my PhD in Comparative Literature, I had the wonderful opportunity to read many great writers. I’ve invited to Chapman a perse group of writers, both culturally and artistically, including international authors, who share their work in English and their own languages. Some of the writers are Nobel laureates. Several authors are coming this year to celebrate the 20th anniversary.” (See end of article for details) Fowles Center History The seeds for the Fowles Center were planted in the late 1970s when Axelrod, who shared the same birthday with Fowles, wrote to the author and asked questions about his writing and a correspondence ensued. Twenty years later, in 1996, while on a Leverhulme Fellowship to teach screenwriting at The University of East Anglia in Norwich, England, Axelrod met Christopher Bigsby, director of the Arthur Miller Centre for American Studies, and talked to him about his centre. Since Axelrod was in Norwich, Bigsby suggested he meet with Fowles at his home in Lyme Regis. When they met, he asked the writer if he’d be willing to lend his name to a writing center much like Arthur Miller did with the center in Norwich, and Fowles enthusiastically agreed. The Center began in 1997, and the first writer to visit was the Argentine novelist, Luisa Valenzuela. In 2003, Axelrod invited Fowles and his wife, Sara, to Chapman and the University gave him an honorary degree. “We had a marvelous time, but John was not well,” says Axelrod. “Sadly, he died two years later.” Young Writers’ Workshop In 2011, in order to reach out to the community, the Center began the John Fowles Center for Creative Writing Young Writers’ Workshop in which Orange High School students participate in creative writing workshops mentored by Chapman graduate students. As part of the workshop, the students are invited to each of the distinguished author Literary Forum readings. Jan Osborn, assistant professor of Rhetoric and Writing Studies in Chapman’s English Department, is director of the Chapman University/Orange High School Literacies Partnership and facilitates the Young Writers’ Workshop. Open to interested 9-12th graders, the workshop, held each spring, offers students the opportunity to focus on their own creative writing. “Because of the standardization of K-12 curriculum, students get little chance to be creative in their work,” says Osborn. “The workshop becomes a value-added part of their writing education. They also spend time on a university campus and see themselves as college students one day. And the graduate students who serve as small-group leaders are invaluable. They meet with the students 10 times and help them with their writing and answer questions about college.” At the culmination of the program, there’s an awards ceremony where students can read their work. The program, which began with only five students per workshop, is flourishing with more than 30 students to date. • See renowned authors this winter and spring at Chapman. All readings are free and open to the public and are held in Beckman Hall 404 at 5 pm, except for the Vargas Llosa event, which will be held in Memorial Hall at 7 pm. February 13th, Karen Yamashita; March 13th, Giuseppe Conte; April 24th, Claudio Magris; May 1st, Charles Bernstein; May 8th, Luisa Valenzuela and May 18th, Mario Vargas Llosa. For more information: www.chapman.edu/research-and-institutions/john-fowles-center • The Fowles Center also produces the online journal, Mantissa. See the Spring 2016 edition: https://goo.gl/H6sDe0[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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© Julie Bawden-Davis

Dr. Laura Glynn

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1129″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]While completing a double major in psychology and economics in the early 1990s at the University of California, Davis, Laura Glynn, Ph.D. was unsure which field to pursue for graduate school—until she took a developmental psychology class.
“I can still picture the professor lecturing about children and their development over time,” says Glynn, an associate professor at Chapman University and head of faculty in Psychology in the Schmid College of Science and Technology. “I was in awe of the material and the teacher and knew I was hooked.”
The instructor who inspired Glynn was Dr. Linda Acredolo, who researched infant language development, including symbolic gestures known as baby signs. “I worked in her lab for a year, and that experience greatly influenced my development as a researcher,” says Glynn.

Maternal Programming Research

Over the last 15 years, Glynn’s groundbreaking research, which she refers to as “maternal programming,” has focused on the interplay between biology and psychology during the pregnancy and postpartum period.
“The introduction of hormones during pregnancy leads to profound physiological and psychological changes,” says Glynn. “For instance, women become progressively less responsive to stress during pregnancy, which serves a protective function. However, women who don’t show the expected decline in stress response are at risk for preterm birth.”

Hormones and Postpartum Depression

Glynn also looks at hormones and their effects on postpartum depression. “Prenatal hormones play a big role in priming the maternal brain for the challenges of motherhood,” says Glynn, whose recent findings show that elevated levels of the placental corticotropin-releasing hormone (pCRH) may put woman at a greater risk for postpartum depression. To the relief of women who have been pregnant and become forgetful, Glynn has found that pregnancy hormones have an effect on memory. “Longitudinal studies comparing pregnant and non-pregnant women found minor decrements for pregnant women in specific types of memory, including verbal recall. The research shows these decrements persist into the postpartum period and increase with each pregnancy.”

Prenatal Experience and Childhood Development

Glynn also focuses on how the prenatal experience shapes fetal, infant and child development. She recruits and follows large cohorts of mothers and children from 15 weeks of gestation onward. Over the past 10 years, she and her collaborators have followed a cohort into preadolescence and recently received a grant from the National Institutes of Health to start another cohort. Her mother/child work examines factors such as how the stress hormone cortisol predicts fetus and infant development. One study found that breastfeeding mothers who exhibited high levels of cortisol in their milk had more fearful infants. Given the nature of her research, Glynn, who is married and has two children, is careful about how she presents her findings. “People like the idea of pregnant women becoming immune to stress, but some are alarmed about the loss of memory and the effects of cortisol on infants. Memory decrements are small from a clinical or functional standpoint, and regarding the association between milk cortisol and infant temperment, in some environments, like a stressful home situation, it’s adaptive for a child to be reserved.” One of Glynn’s favorite aspects of her research is the opportunity to collaborate with individuals from a wide variety of disciplines, including neuroscience, clinical psychology, medicine and biochemistry. Curt Sandman has collaborated with Glynn since 1998 when she joined him as a Post-Doctoral Fellow after graduating with a master’s and doctorate from the University of Calif., San Diego. Sandman is Professor Emeritus, Psychiatry & Human Behavior, University of Calif., Irvine College of Medicine.
“Laura’s background and training from UCSD in psychosocial stress fit perfectly with our more biologically-based approach at UCI,” says Sandman. “Our research team has been very productive, and Laura is the longest tenured member (besides me). Diligent about her research and possessing a strong quantitative mind, she has carved a unique niche in an area where most of the work is conducted on animals. Laura stands among very few who have examined the consequences of human pregnancy on the human brain.”

Early Human and Lifespan Development Research Facility

After working at UCI for 10 years, Glynn joined Chapman’s faculty in fall 2008. The university provided a permanent home for the research cohort by restoring the Cypress Street School, which now houses the Early Human and Lifespan Development Research Facility.
“Chapman worked with me to configure the space for research, including state-of-the-art observation rooms with remote control video cameras so we can videotape mother-child interactions,” she says. “There are interview rooms, play areas for siblings and a phlebotomy room where we collect blood from pregnant women to assess hormone levels.”
In addition to research, Glynn teaches undergraduate courses in psychology and supervises undergraduate research, balancing those activities with administrative duties, which are many. The psychology department has more than 300 majors and 300 minors. Christine Brown is a former student of Glynn’s, who is heading to graduate school. “Dr. Glynn is a great instructor,” says Brown. “Initially, I was afraid of asking too many questions, because I thought she might think less of me, but I soon realized she takes every question seriously.” When she teaches, Glynn often remembers that pivotal classroom experience years ago. “I know I don’t reach every student,” she says, “but if I can reach even a couple of students in a profound way, it can make a difference.”

Cypress Street School

Home today to the Chapman University Early Human and Lifespan Development Research Facility, the restored 1928 Cypress Street School in Old Towne is the last-standing Mexican-American segregated schoolhouse in Southern California. For many years it was the administrative offices for the Villa Park Orchards Association’s packing house operations. In addition to housing the research facility, the building features framed photos of students and teachers at the old school and is headquarters for the Orange Barrio Historical Society.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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© Julie Bawden-Davis

Dr. John C. Eastman

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1125″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When Dr. John C. Eastman joined Chapman University in 1999 as a professor of law, he had no intentions of becoming Dean of the University’s School of Law. After the former dean retired and a replacement search began, though, Eastman decided to put his name in the running after reflecting that the strongest outside candidates were not well positioned to be able to connect quickly with the local legal market and aggressively pursue the steep trajectory to prominence that the Law School faculty and the University were seeking. “The law school had fairly aggressive goals they wanted to accomplish-including preparing the next generation of legal practitioners and scholars to become ethical and successful global citizens-which would mean making the program one of the best in the country,” says Eastman, who is considered a prominent conservative constitutional scholar. “It soon became apparent that it would take someone from the inside who knew the history of the school to accomplish those goals.” In June of 2007, Eastman took over as dean. Under his direction, the school continues to gain a reputation as an up-and-coming law school, standing among some of the best in the nation. The school achieved full ABA accreditation in near-record time and became a member of the elite Association of American Law Schools. “Considering how young the school is, it’s extraordinary that we are almost in the top 100 law schools in the nation,” says Eastman, who attributes this status to the school’s approach to learning and its ideological diversity. “Historically, law schools have been set up with a professor lecturing in front of 150 students. While this model has its benefits, we’ve found that other avenues of learning such as admitting students into small clinics where they get to work for actual clients is much more helpful to them in the long run.” Chapman’s personal approach to education has enabled several students to argue before the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals well before graduation. Perhaps even more importantly, the school offers students the opportunity to experience an array of ideologies. “At Chapman we have an ideologically diverse faculty which attracts a wide variety of students and provides them with a much healthier, more varied learning environment,” says Eastman. “This is unusual in many law schools, and is the market niche we’ve been striving to create for ourselves.” Eastman’s illustrious career prepared him well for the deanship. After graduating from the Claremont Graduate School with a degree in government, he then received his law degree from the University of Chicago. From 1996 to 1997, he served as a clerk for Justice Clarence Thomas and after that worked for the national well-known law firm Kirkland & Ellis. He then founded the Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence, a public interest law firm affiliated with the Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship and Political Philosophy. On behalf of the Center, he has been involved in almost 50 Supreme Court cases, many of which hold great constitutional significance. He also has a weekly segment on the nationally-syndicated Hugh Hewitt radio show debating current legal issues with UCI Law School Dean Erwin Chemerinsky and has appeared as an expert legal commentator on numerous television and radio programs. When asked why he became a lawyer, Eastman replies: “I saw that the understanding of the basic structures of our government was so at odds with what our founding fathers wrote and envisioned that I thought it was important to engage in the judicial system and remind the courts of what was originally intended,” he says. “Dedication to the higher aspirations of the law keeps me motivated and moving forward.”

Donald P. Kennedy Hall

The Chapman University School of Law is the first law school in Orange County located on a university campus. It is housed in Donald P. Kennedy Hall, an impressive 133,000-square-foot building named in honor of longtime Chapman trustee and benefactor Donald Kennedy. The $30-million dollar law school complex was dedicated on October 20, 1999, with keynote speaker Justice Clarence Thomas of the United States Supreme Court. A state-of-the-art facility, Kennedy Hall is equipped with a wide variety of classrooms and seminar rooms, an extensive law library and two courtrooms. One courtroom is designed for trials and the other for appellate hearings, providing fully equipped facilities for mock trials and formal hearings from visiting courts. The 37,000-square-foot Harry and Diane Rinker Law Library located in the building is equipped to assist students and practicing attorneys with over 300,000 volumes in print and microform. Built on the site of the Old Orange School District building, Kennedy Hall commemorates the past by retaining the distinctive façade of the earlier building, which was modeled after the eleventh century Romanesque Basilica del Santi Vitale e Agricola in Bologna, Italy.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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© Julie Bawden-Davis

Have You Hugged Your Trees Today?

Arbor Day Hugging Tree

(Davey Tree)

Today’s Arbor Day! Time to hug the trees in your life and thank them. In addition to providing pretty views, soothing shade, and climbing opportunities, trees save our lives and planet.

According to a study focusing on the health benefits of trees conducted by the U.S. Forest Service and the Davey Institute, urban forests save thousands of lives every year and improve many more.

“Trees act as giant filters that clean the air we breathe,” says R.J. Laverne, a board-certified master arborist at The Davey Tree Expert Company. “They intercept airborne particles, cooling the air, and they absorb pollutants such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide, changing those pollutants into less harmful forms.”

Davey Tree

(Davey Tree)

The truth is, we couldn’t exist as we do if there were no trees, says Laverne. “A mature leafy tree produces as much oxygen in a season as 10 people inhale in a year.”

Trees improve overall quality of life, making people happier. They also cut down on hospital visits and days taken off work, and they’ve even been shown to reduce levels of domestic violence and foster more sociable, safer neighborhoods, says Laverne, who has studied the emotional benefits of trees.

“Places with nature and trees may provide settings in which relationships grow stronger and violence is reduced,” he says. “Trees bring people together. Data shows that neighborhoods with shady streets and parks create outdoor spaces that attract people. When people are drawn to spaces with trees, they are more likely to interact with their neighbors and become friends.”

Trees are just as good for the environment—performing incredible services that help ensure the health of our planet. They intercept and conserve rainwater so that it percolates into the ground rather than running off into local waterways. Trees also filter sewage and farm chemicals, reduce the effects of animal wastes, and clean roadside spills. And they help control erosion by binding the soil.

Davey Tree

(Davey Tree)

If those aren’t enough reasons to love your trees, consider your wallet. Trees save you a lot of money—and can even make you a lot of money. Houses with established trees earn homeowners on average three to seven percent more on home sales, and the reduction in energy bills from landscape trees is substantial. Homes without surrounding trees can become heat islands.

So go ahead and hug your trees. They deserve it.

Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of seven books, including Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story Series, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com.

 

Have You Hugged Your Trees Today?

Today’s Arbor Day! Time to hug the trees in your life and thank them. In addition to providing pretty views, soothing shade, and climbing opportunities, trees save our lives and planet.

According to a study focusing on the health benefits of trees conducted by the U.S. Forest Service and the Davey Institute, urban forests save thousands of lives every year and improve many more.“Trees act as giant filters that clean the air we breathe,” says R.J. Laverne, a board-certified master arborist at The Davey Tree Expert Company. “They intercept airborne particles, cooling the air, and they absorb pollutants such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide, changing those pollutants into less harmful forms.”

The truth is, we couldn’t exist as we do if there were no trees, says Laverne. “A mature leafy tree produces as much oxygen in a season as 10 people inhale in a year.”

Trees improve overall quality of life, making people happier. They also cut down on hospital visits and days taken off work, and they’ve even been shown to reduce levels of domestic violence and foster more sociable, safer neighborhoods, says Laverne, who has studied the emotional benefits of trees.

 

“Places with nature and trees may provide settings in which relationships grow stronger and violence is reduced,” he says. “Trees bring people together. Data shows that neighborhoods with shady streets and parks create outdoor spaces that attract people. When people are drawn to spaces with trees, they are more likely to interact with their neighbors and become friends.”

Trees are just as good for the environment—performing incredible services that help ensure the health of our planet. They intercept and conserve rainwater so that it percolates into the ground rather than running off into local waterways. Trees also filter sewage and farm chemicals, reduce the effects of animal wastes, and clean roadside spills. And they help control erosion by binding the soil.

 

If those aren’t enough reasons to love your trees, consider your wallet. Trees save you a lot of money—and can even make you a lot of money. Houses with established trees earn homeowners on average three to seven percent more on home sales, and the reduction in energy bills from landscape trees is substantial. Homes without surrounding trees can become heat islands.

So go ahead and hug your trees. They deserve it.

Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of seven books, including Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story Series, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com.

What 16 Small-Business Owners Love About Running Their Own Companies

This National Small Business Week, entrepreneurs share how the benefits of entrepreneurship outweigh the challenges.

APRIL 28, 2017

Recognized every year since 1963, National Small Business Week (April 30 to May 6) celebrates the many contributions that America’s entrepreneurs and small-business owners make to our economy. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, more than half of Americans work for or own a small business and such companies are responsible for every two out of three American jobs.

Despite the challenges and sacrifices entrepreneurs face when running their own enterprises, a recent survey by Allstate and USA Today of nearly 2,790 small-business owners with an annual revenue of more than $25,000, combined with federal data, found that 91 percent of small-business owners feel that the benefits of owning a business outweigh the challenges.

While the following business owners didn’t participate in the survey, they agree with its findings. Below they share what drives them to run their own businesses.

The Ability to Initiate Positive Change and Inspire…

“I see business as a way to self-actualize and enable the change I want to see in the world. The benefits of personal growth and seeing your efforts make a small dent in the world is absolutely worth it. It’s rewarding to be able to choose to focus my energy on what I think is one of the most fascinating intellectual areas: figuring out the best way to enhance human performance and longevity. Seeing both myself and my employees grow as leaders and operators is tremendously satisfying as we grow and impact more and more people.” —Geoff Woo, CEO, Nootrobox

“It’s always worth it to be your own boss, whether you are freelance or the CEO. The benefits of owning a moving company are that I help people during key transitions in their lives. For instance, students moving to their college dorms, couples moving in together and married people moving into a bigger home. There’s a lot of joy involved with the industry, a lot of smiles.” —Lior Rachmany, CEO, Dumbo Moving

“When you own a business, you get to lead and inspire and affect people’s lives in a positive way, be it customers or staff—it’s a magical thing. There are definitely road bumps, potholes and challenges along the way, but if you’re passionate about what you’re doing, it’s always worth it. It’s so gratifying to see customers happy and pleased with the products we’re creating and selling in the sustainable meat world. It’s also great that my kids grew up around and as a part of the business. They were also able to see the hard work that goes into starting a business, and the success that can come from passion and dedication.” —Ryan Farr, owner, 4505 Meats

…to Strive for Personal Excellence…

“Building your own company gives you the power to bring out the best of you. Your biggest asset is yourself—your creativity, your energy, your capabilities. As an entrepreneur, you call the shots, and this gives you the strength and courage to dig deeper into your inner strengths. Being a business owner helps me build my own assets, so I can pass those on to my family and the world.” —Joel Klein, business coach, angel investor and producer of BizTank

“There’s no doubt there are days when the challenges of owning a business make you question why you do it. But it’s also those challenges that keep stretching and developing you. I’m constantly learning new skill sets from calculating labor efficiency ratios and gross margins to understanding how to infuse culture into the company. Owning a business has pushed me into new realms of possibility I might not have otherwise explored.” —Beth Cochran, co-founder and CEO, Wired PR

“If you can live with the highs and lows of being a small-business owner, it can be greatly rewarding. Learn from your failures and reap the rewards of all the hard work. There will be lots of sacrifices along the way, but in the end, it’s all worth it. There is nothing greater than a little success and being able to stand up and say, ‘I created that! I earned that!’ You don’t get that from being a cog in a bigger system.” —Brook Parker, chief operating officer and owner, Cotton Carrier

“The challenges [of being a small-business owner] are benefits, because you’re constantly growing and learning, and that’s really what being an entrepreneur is all about—growing and learning and solving problems. It’s never boring to take new ideas and implement them. When you see something you think about in your head come to life, it’s like having a baby and watching it grow and thrive.” —Lee Brochstein, co-founder and owner, Intersection M

…to Navigate Your Own Ship…

“My favorite things about owning a business are multifold. I get to be involved with everything, which puts my multidisciplinary education to the test and constantly challenges me [mentally], providing a sense of satisfaction of building a complete product from scratch. I also get to make decisions that matter. When it comes to setting strategy and determining our organization’s direction, I get the final say. That doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of stakeholders who want to weigh in and whose advice I sincerely covet, solicit and respect, but I make the ultimate decisions.” —Ken Staut, co-founder and CEO, GrowthFountain

“For me, owning my own business is about having the freedom to create my own life and the ability to make my own decisions. Nobody is telling me what to do. I can make all of the decisions myself. If something isn’t performing well, I can change it without having to ask permission from anyone. The fast pace from thought to action is one of the most rewarding things about owning your own business, as you have control to do the things you like and therefore do not have to compromise or wait forever to have things done. If something needs to be done, I do it and move on to the next thing.” —Daniel Galle, founder, Nolah Sleep, LLC

“My favorite things about owning a business are the ability to focus on something I’m passionate about and the financial and lifestyle rewards that come of that decision. I love the process of taking a concept from idea to reality and ultimately to customer. There is no better satisfaction than delivering a product that exceeds your customer’s expectations. Financially, I love the challenge of maximizing revenues both for a business, my employees and for myself, which can be hard to do when you work for someone else. Every day is an opportunity to learn from a customer, better a process or innovate to meet a market or customer demand. What’s better and more rewarding than that?” —Luke Brown, founder, Fitness Hardware

…to Give Back and Make a Difference…

“I believe that the real benefit of owning a business is that you get to define and actualize your purpose. As a mother and ‘do-gooder,’ one of my favorite things about owning a business is our ability to contribute to social causes while also teaching kids about how they can have an impact. We instituted a ‘CHOOZE your CAUSE’ business model, allowing our customers to participate in selecting causes in which we, as a business, can contribute. Knowing that we can have a positive impact on the world every day is what motivates me and what makes all of our efforts worth it.” —Sharon Blumberg, chief operating officer and owner, CHOOZE

…to Build Relationships…

“For us, the greatest benefits are all the small things we get to see that come out of all the relationships we get to make. It’s the note we get from an employee who goes off to college letting us know how Clean Juice helped to change his life before he went off into the world. It’s the man who lost 50 pounds as a result of coming to us for lunch every day. It’s the parents who tell us the kids ask for Clean Juice as a treat instead of something potentially less healthy. It’s the personal growth we experience from working closely with our team. All of these little moments and victories are what owning a small business is about…it’s what makes us jump out of bed in the morning excited to start the day.” —Landon and Kat Eckles, founders, Clean Juice

…to Control Schedules and Involve Children

“The most important thing about running my own company is that work is done around life, as opposed to the other way around. I’ve been able to be a part of my sons’ lives so much more because I built the business in a way that team members work around their lives. It’s not about when you start work or when you finish. It’s not about putting in the time. It’s about feeling like you’re part of something and you own your work and then doing that work around what’s important to you. For me, that’s family. My sons have also been involved in the business from a young age.” —Dave Mastovich, author and president and CEO, MASSolutions

“As a working mom, the ability to throttle my schedule and commitments as needed to accommodate my family life has been paramount. Whether it’s being there spontaneously for sick kids or awards and other ceremonies, being able to be there for my children has been a true joy. Also, my children have seen entrepreneurship up close and personal, including the necessary hard work, dedication, creativity, passion and rewards associated with running one’s own business.” —Merilee Kern, owner, Kern Communications

“One of the great joys about owning our business is being able to involve our kids. Every day is take your kids to work day. While they may not be involved in day-to-day operations, they are soaking up entrepreneurship. They get involved in conversations and share ideas. They also get to advise us on tech questions, like should we be implementing Snaphhat in our marketing plan—the answer is yes. Our youngest daughter, who is 9, loves to be in our brainstorming meetings. She calls our ideas ‘light bulbs,’ and she writes them all down for us. Our two older children, ages 23 and 21, are already in the work force, and I believe one of the reasons they are both such great employees is because they understand the side of the owner. They know it’s not all about them.” —Robyn Pomonis, owner, 4everBound

“I see so many of my closest friends and families with a 9-to-5 types of job who aren’t able to have the freedom of time off with family. The flexible schedule of business ownership allows you to spend key moments with your kids and family. Not many people can say that these days. While you often can’t completely disconnect like you may be able to when working for someone else, you have the benefit of creating your own time management. I would encourage anyone with a passion for what they do to find a way to explore that passion, create your own business and create the life you want for yourself. I often remind myself that this is not a rehearsal, this IS the one life we live.”—Will Regan, partner, Cardiff Products

Read more articles on leadership.

Photo: iStock

 

Paradise at the 28th Annual Southern California Spring Garden Show

Table arrangement-Ball Hort-resized (2)

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

LAUNCH GALLERY
7 photos

One of my favorite garden shows of all time—and I’ve been to a lot of them—is the Southern California Spring Garden Show held every spring at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, California. The fact that the show, which began in 1989, takes place at a major global shopping center destination makes it unique enough, but the vendors who come from near and far create a true treasure trove for garden enthusiasts.

With a theme of At Home in The Garden, focused on outdoor living, this year’s show, running from April 27-30th, promises to inspire and delight gardeners of all ages and interests. There are 10 awe-inspiring display gardens, including a 21-foot floral centerpiece, 50 unique garden vendors and more than 60 complimentary seminars. You’re sure to find unusual plants, including specialty orchids, epiphyllum, iris, geranium, bonsai, Japanese maple and garden accessories, such as colorful pottery.

Seminars are many, including on edible landscaping, herb gardening, growing succulents, cultivating fuchsias, gardening with natives and creating cocktails from the garden. There are even children’s activities to inspire budding gardeners and keep them occupied.

 

 

Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, The American Gardener, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of 10 books, including Reader’s Digest Flower Gardening, Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story Series, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com.

 

Paradise at the 28th Annual Southern California Spring Garden Show

One of my favorite garden shows of all time—and I’ve been to a lot of them—is the Southern California Spring Garden Show held every spring at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, California. The fact that the show, which began in 1989, takes place at a major global shopping center destination makes it unique enough, but the vendors who come from near and far create a true treasure trove for garden enthusiasts.

With a theme of At Home in The Garden, focused on outdoor living, this year’s show, running from April 27-30th, promises to inspire and delight gardeners of all ages and interests. There are 10 awe-inspiring display gardens, including a 21-foot floral centerpiece, 50 unique garden vendors and more than 60 complimentary seminars. You’re sure to find unusual plants, including specialty orchids, epiphyllum, iris, geranium, bonsai, Japanese maple and garden accessories, such as colorful pottery.

Seminars are many, including on edible landscaping, herb gardening, growing succulents, cultivating fuchsias, gardening with natives and creating cocktails from the garden. There are even children’s activities to inspire budding gardeners and keep them occupied.

Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, The American Gardener, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of 10 books, including Reader’s Digest Flower Gardening, Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story Series, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com.

Talk of The Towne Celebrating 40 Years at Orangeland RV Park

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”903″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Back in the 1980s when Rob Wimbish was in high school, he worked at Orangeland RV Park where he performed odd jobs. Though the work at the family business wasn’t glamorous, he does have fond memories of his time as an Orangeland employee, especially of the day that the backup freezer went on the fritz.

“There is a store at the park where guests can buy various sundries, including ice cream,” says Wimbish, who is an attorney today. “There wasn’t much we could do with the inventory but eat it. We didn’t eat ice cream the entire day because there was work to do, but we did partake of quite a bit.”

A fixture in Orange since June 1972, Orangeland RV Park was founded by Wimbish’s grandfather, Eldredge “El” Welton and his Grandmother Virginia, who took an educated chance and opened the RV park at the intersection of Struck and Katella on the site of an Orange grove. The popular destination for short and long-term guests still sits on the 8 1/3 acres it started on and has 195 sites. In addition to a store, the facility features a large pool, billiard room, laundry room, barbecue area, miniature golf and shuffleboard.

“Orangeland is just as popular today as it was years ago,” says Cindy Welton Wimbish, Rob’s mother, who ran the park for 26 years until just recently. “We’ve reconfigured some of the sites to fit today’s larger RVs, but otherwise it’s the same. Guests still enjoy picking fruit from the citrus trees.”

When Wimbish’s mother and father put in the park, they conserved a bit of history by building around existing Orange trees on the property. As a result, one of the highlights of staying at the park is the ability to pick oranges and other citrus like lemons and grapefruit.

“Though there have been some cosmetic changes, for the most part the essence of the park has remained unchanged and continues to adhere to the principles of hospitality and cleanliness which my grandfather held dear,” says Wimbish.

The park will celebrate its 40th anniversary on Memorial Day weekend. Over the three-day period there will be food, free gifts and raffle prizes.

For more information, visit OrangeLand.com

Orangeland RV Park

1600 West Struck Avenue, Orange, CA 92867 / 714-633-0414

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Chapman Winterfest Doy’s Tree Lighting

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”899″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Those who attended Chapman University’s first Winterfest and Doy’s Holiday Tree Lighting last year found themselves in a winter wonderland right in the heart of Old Towne.

“The inaugural Chapman Winterfest and Doy’s Holiday Tree Lighting event was a perfect blend of tradition and current celebrations, and there were many magical moments,” says Ming Wright, who attended with her husband, Rod, and their daughter Samantha, who was five at the time.

“The surprise appearance of Santa Claus in a grand sleigh with President Jim Doti as Rudolph brought sparkles to my daughter’s eyes, and she was thrilled by the holiday fireworks display that peppered the sky over the Leatherby Libraries,” says Wright, director of HRIS and Compensation in the Human Resources Office at Chapman. “The night was topped off with snow. Samantha was ecstatic when a blizzard came out of nowhere. She danced and sang and even stuck her tongue out to taste the snow.”

Last year’s Winterfest was the “sleeper hit of the year,” says Guy Hinrichs, Chapman’s Director of Special Events. “People are still talking about the holiday pyrotechnic show, and everyone was truly surprised when St. Nick appeared,” says Hinrichs of the event to be repeated this year on December 5th.

“A grand Santa’s chair will be flown in from the North Pole specifically for the night, and there will be activities for children, including Santa Claus Express Train Rides around campus,” says Hinrichs. “We are also thrilled that Michael Nehring (accomplished actor, director and choreographer) will return as the guest narrator for the holiday reading of The Night Before Christmas.”

This year’s guests can also plan to sip hot cider and shop at the Holiday Market for unique specialty items made by local artisans, such as handmade jams and jellies, jewelry, purses, scarves, holiday ornaments and gourmet chocolates.

Also to be repeated this year will be the holiday fireworks spectacular, tree lighting, and if the weather conditions are right, California snow, says Hinrichs. “The evening will finish with a visit from St. Nicholas and photo opportunities.”

Chapman Trustee Doy Henley played the part of Santa at the first Winterfest and will do so again this year. “The event was great fun, and so was being Santa and seeing all of the children with their great big eyes filled with wonder,” he says.

The free event open to the public will be held on Chapman’s campus on Thursday, December 5th. The Holiday Market opens at 5 pm and the program starts at 6 pm.

Published in the Nov/Dec 2013 edition of the Old Towne Orange Plaza Review

Written by Julie-Bawden Davis, Photograph provided courtesy of Chapman University

Select to view Nov 18, 2013 Chapman Winterfest information
Select to view Nov 15, 2013 Chapman Winterfest and Wassail blog
Select to view Nov/Dec 2012 Chapman Holiday Wassail article[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Inside Art With Judy Schroeder

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”898″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Growing up in Escondido’s countryside during the 1940s and 1950s on an avocado and orange grove, Judy Schroeder kept herself busy with art. She drew clothing for her paper dolls, created small paintings for her room and each month when Ford Times Magazine arrived, she couldn’t wait to see the paintings reproduced in the little magazine. The digest-sized publication featuring watercolor illustrations by well-known artists of the time intrigued the budding artist.

“The publication was the perfect size for a kid,” says the professional watercolorist, who owns Schroeder Studio Gallery in Orange, which specializes in water media. “I didn’t read a word, but I pulled the watercolor illustrations out of the magazine. I especially remember admiring the work of influential California watercolorist Rex Brandt.”

California’s Watercolorists

That early interest in the art of watercolor compelled Schroeder to gain an education in art and forge a career in the craft. She has taken lessons from notable watercolorists, including Brandt, Roger Armstrong, Gerald Brommer, Keith Crown, Millard Sheets, Robert E. Wood and Milford Zornes. Today she is a recognized painter and author and teaches art at the gallery, which she opened in 1998 in Old Towne and runs with her daughter Katie Schroeder, also an artist. The busy gallery, which specializes in watercolors and art glass, represents the work of more than 100 artists from around the country and regularly holds receptions and offers educational workshops from well-known artists.

Schroeder’s work, which also includes integrated collage, has appeared in individual and group exhibitions and is collected. In 2003, she participated as one of 17 artists selected worldwide to write a chapter for the book Work Small, Learn Big: Sketching with Pen & Watercolor. Closer to home, in 2006 the Orange Public Library Foundation commissioned her to create 13 paintings displayed at the main library representing Orange’s history.

Painting on Location

Harkening back to her roots in the country, Schroeder’s subject matter tends to be landscapes, which she prefers to paint on location. Though she has painted in some picturesque spots all over the world, including, France, Italy, Portugal and Western Samoa, she finds equally compelling material in Old Towne.

“I just walk out of the studio and around the corner,” says Schroeder, who has painted Plaza Park many times. The painting in this issue of the Chapman Chapel on Maple and Grand is another example.

Judy Schroeder's Chapman Chapel

Chapman Chapel

Schroeder drew the chapel painting on location using an ink brush and then added watercolor. “The brush creates fine lines that seem to dance on the page,” she says. “With the painting of the church, I put the tree in first and noticed that it was looking a little thin. I thought about filling it in, but decided to leave it as is, and I’m glad I did, because today the tree is gone.”

The painting is not Schroeder’s first of the church, which reminds her of a tiny chapel she attended as a child. She often returns to the same scenes in Old Towne to capture varying perspectives. “When you change a vantage point, you often see something new,” she says. “I enjoy tackling challenges in the scenes I paint. With the chapel, the tower is prominent and can take over the painting if you’re not careful.”

Schroeder also enjoys painting on location in Orange because of the rich history of many of the buildings, including Chapman Chapel, which was originally Trinity Episcopal Church and dates back to 1909. “It was the first church designed by the well-known architect Philip H. Frohman when he was a young man,” she says. “Frohman went on to gain fame working on the Washington National Cathedral.

Even when she is painting the same scene, Schroeder strives to challenge herself. “It’s important to continually give yourself problems to solve, because it’s the only way you’re going to grow as an artist,” she says.

Gerald Brommer at Schroeder Galleries

Renowned California watercolorist Gerald Brommer knows Schroeder and holds art workshops throughout the world, including Schroeder’s Studio Gallery. “Judy selects her subject matter well, and she does an especially good job with those subjects close to home,” he says. “She loves the state, and it comes through in her work. Her California paintings are some of her strongest.”

Working on location is another part of Schroeder’s formula for pushing herself. Painting amid the hustle and bustle of a scene when things could change in a moment’s notice presents its challenges, but Schroeder enjoys getting the full effect of the scene. “It’s exciting to be on location; you can smell things and touch them, and you’re not limited to memory or a photo.”

Schroeder also finds the artist’s community at the gallery, including her many students, to be invigorating and to benefit her art. “Teaching and painting feed one another,” says Schroeder, who has a B.A. with a Special Secondary teaching Credential in art from the University of Redlands. “When students realize that they can actually paint and begin noticing things they never did before, that inspires me. People walk around with blinders on when it comes to the colors and shapes around them, and it’s a privilege to watch them take them off.”

For more information about Schroeder Studio Gallery, visit schroederstudio.com.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Talk of The Towne Your Pass to Summer Fun

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”869″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]While many of his colleagues are decompressing from sitting in traffic, Ted Nguyen arrives in the office every morning refreshed and ready to work. For the last 10 years, Nguyen has commuted via train from his home in Laguna Niguel to Orange.

While traveling by train has its obvious monetary advantages–especially in light of today’s gas prices–for Nguyen taking the train also improves his overall quality of life.

“The time I spend on the train, I consider ’me‘ time,” says the Orange County Transportation Authority’s (OCTA) public relations director. “In the morning during the 30 to 40 minute trip, I respond to emails and make phone calls, and on the way home I catch up with friends and family, chat with fellow passengers, read a book, or even take a nap,” he says. “Over the course of a year, I spend about 288 hours on the train doing something productive or relaxing, rather than behind the wheel.”

Thanks to the OCTA’s recent changes, including evening trains and more affordable weekend passes, public transportation is getting even easier to use, says Kristin Young, web data analyst with the OCTA. “Extended hours allow passengers to stay out later, giving them the chance to explore attractions, such as restaurants in other cities. A new, affordable weekend pass allows you to travel anywhere system–wide all weekend long.”

Expanded Metrolink Weekday Service

As of July 5th, the Metrolink Service is offering extra rail service and longer hours within the Orange County line between the Fullerton and Laguna Niguel / Mission Viejo stations. Along with these changes, the new OCLink Pass lets you ride any local OCTA bus, any Metrolink train, anytime, any weekday, anywhere in Orange County for just $7 – $6 for seniors and persons with disabilities.

Purchase OCLink passes online, by phone or at various locations. Visit OCTA.net/OCLink or call (714) 560–5932.

Expanded Metrolink Weekend Service & Pass

As of July 1st, the OCTA is making weekends more fun with expanded Metrolink routes. The increased weekend service includes a new seasonal trip on the Inland Empire–Orange County Line. In addition to traveling throughout Orange County and to Union Station in Los Angeles every weekend, you can also make your way to communities such as Riverside, Palmdale, Lancaster, East Ventura, Oxnard and San Bernardino. You can also take the seasonal train to San Clemente or Oceanside.

Along with this more frequent weekend service, Metrolink is offering a new Weekend Pass. For an economical price of $10, the Weekend Pass is valid for unlimited travel in the entire Metrolink system after 7 pm Friday until midnight Sunday.

  • For Metrolink weekend schedules and passes, visit OCTA.net and click on “Train.”

Talk of the Towne: OCTA

OC Fair Flyer Express

Take the easy and inexpensive way to the Orange County Fair this summer and ride the OC Fair FlyerExpress–offering direct, non–stop bus service to and from the fair from two Orange County Metrolink stations and four Orange County bus locations. The cost to ride the Express is $1.50 each way, and all OC Fair Express passengers receive a coupon for $2 admission to the fair.

The OC Express runs during the fair from July 15th through August 14th on Fridays from 3 pm to midnight and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to midnight.

For more information on the OC Fair Express, visit OCTA.net/ocflyer9[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Inside Art The Painter Within Kim VanDerHoek

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When Kim VanDerHoek won a poster contest in kindergarten and received art supplies as her reward, she stifled disappointment over not getting a trophy like the second place winner. In retrospect, she realizes the oil pastels and watercolors were an excellent choice for a budding artist. “The world may not give you what you want, but it gives you what you need, and I used those art supplies,” says VanDerHoek, who has won awards for her oil paintings, which are shown at Copperwood Artware Gallery in the Plaza. “I even saved the oil pastels and used them in college.” Although she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from California College of the Arts in 1993, VanDerHoek didn’t discover the painter within until 2005 after leaving her 11-year career as a graphic designer to have her first child. When her son Jordan was 10 months old, she took a plein air (outdoor) painting class as a creative outlet and found more than a hobby. “I’d searched my whole life for the thing I was passionate about, and it was painting all along,” she says.
Kim VanDerHoek
VanDerHoek quickly built a body of work and began marketing her paintings online and in galleries while continuing to study the craft. By 2008 she started entering shows and competitions and at the time painted a series of oil pumps at a location in Anaheim, which attracted attention. “People responded positively to the paintings, and one in particular I titled ”Locally Grown“ turned out really well, so I entered it in competitions and it started winning,” says VanDerHoek, who was a finalist in the 2011 American Artist Magazine’s cover competition. She painted “Rocky Shores of Crystal Cove” pictured in this issue of the Plaza Review, on an overcast day at the beach in June 2011. “A painter looks for a focal point to draw viewers in and then rewards them with eye-candy once they’ve captured their attention,” says VanDerHoek, who also teaches painting classes. “When I initially saw the view in this painting, I knew what to do in terms of painting the rocks and shoreline to create a sense of depth and bring you into the painting, from there drawing the eye to the cottages and people in the background.” While it is difficult to capture movement in a painting, VanDerHoek does so in the “Rocky Shores of Crystal Cove,” says Kimberly Haas, who owns Copperwood Artware Gallery with partner Christine Thompson. “When I look at the painting, I picture a crowd of people standing on the beach behind Kim as she paints.” The gallery will feature VanDerHoek’s work in a solo exhibition from September 14th through October 14th. “Kim’s vision is unique,” says Haas. “She is one of those artists capable of capturing the magic in a square box. It’s been a pleasure to see her evolution as an artist, and we’re excited for her to have her own show.” For more information on the artist, visit KimVanDerHoek.com. Find Copperwood Artware at CopperwoodArtware.com.
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© Julie Bawden-Davis

Huell Howser and the Plaza Review

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”864″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]If there’s one person who knows about the power of local media, it’s Huell Howser. On a recent visit to Old Towne to donate his collected works to Chapman University, the public television legend commented on the compelling nature of “small town” publications like the Plaza Review. “Local media always has the trump card in this day and age,” says the host of the long–running KCET series “California’s Gold,” which highlights towns and their people throughout the state. “Big media is so big that it doesn’t have the time, space or staff to cover things happening in the local community, and as far as I’m concerned, all news is local news. Large newspaper circulations continue to drop, while small newspapers are growing, because everyone wants to read about themselves and their neighbors.” While Howser acknowledges the Internet and its place in today’s world, he insists it’s no replacement for neighborhood news. “The Internet is out there in space somewhere,” says the native Tennessean, who came to Southern California in 1981 as reporter with KCBS–TV Los Angeles and fell in love with the state, eventually transitioning to public television. “The web isn’t something you can touch and grab ahold of,” he says. “People want to reach out and pick up the local paper at the barber shop or beauty salon. This nation’s small towns and neighborhoods within larger towns have retained connections between family and friends, which is vital, and the way this whole country used to be.” In his one–of–a–kind television shows, Howser does his part to highlight the riches within California communities, artfully extracting the nuggets that represent the essence of a place or an event and distilling the experience for his viewers. Over the years, he has done several shows on Orange County cities. “I enjoy watching his earnest and genuine fascination with the people and places he profiles on his shows,” says Anna Farrand, a Political Science major at Chapman and a native to Orange County, who recently heard Howser speak in her history class. “I and many other Chapman students are looking forward to accessing his shows, which offer a great opportunity to look back at the history of California communities.” Howser donated his vast colletion of television programs, including past and future episodes, for digitization to Chapman. The university is putting the entire collection online, making it available to anyone who wants to view Howser’s many television programs and various materials. Howser also donated papers, memorabilia and 1,800 books on California. Read more about Huell Howser.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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© Julie Bawden-Davis

Talk of The Towne Mid-Year Economic Forecast Update

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”861″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In the January/February issue of the Plaza Review, we reported the findings of the 34th annual 2012 Chapman University Economic Forecast Update. The recently-released June 2012 Economic & Business Review covering the U.S., California and Orange County economic forecasts for 2012-13, revealed that for the most part, their predictions have come true. According to the new report, which comes out of the University’s A. Gary Anderson Center for Economic Research, while they did not call for a recession in the December forecast, they did project relatively weak growth between two and three percent through 2012, and that has held steady. They also projected that consumer spending would stay strong enough to keep what they call a lethargic recovery moving along slowly, and that has also happened. As a result, they are not modifying their previous report. Moving into 2013, the forecast is somewhat brighter. They believe that there will be a housing recovery and that the rate of foreclosures will continue to fall and that housing affordability will reach an all-time high. They also believe that housing prices will increase, causing a rise in household net worth. They do say, however, that this nascent recovery of housing will be tempered by what is happening globally in regards to the Eurozone weakness, which will affect the U.S economy. The report also shows a slight decrease in unemployment and a continued rebound in construction, as well as overall job growth, which will lead to personal income growth and increased consumer spending. Select to view Chapman University page. Select to view 2012 Chapman Economic Forecast article.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Talk of The Towne TEDxChapmanU

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”859″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When it comes to exploring the power of ideas, the ideal Old Towne location is Chapman University. The June 4th TEDxChapmanU event, to be held on campus, promises to provide attendees with a plethora of ideas sure to promote conversations and new ways of thinking.
“We had an overwhelming response to last year’s event, which featured some really great speakers,” says Mark Woodland, vice president of marketing at Chapman University. “This year, 13 extraordinary thought leaders and innovators from the local community and across the U.S. have agreed to come and speak.”

Origins of TEDx

Started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to sparking and spreading ideas. The TEDx events consist of local, independently organized programs. The lineup for the 2013 TEDxChapmanU event includes Gwynne Shotwell, president of SpaceX; Kathy Thomson, president of the Los Angeles Times and COO of the Tribune Co.; Michael Goldsby, co-founder and CTO of Jointly; Ken Hertz, top music industry attorney, and many more,” says Woodland.

Chapman TEDx 2012

Last year’s event created a lot of buzz on campus and attracted people from the community and beyond, says Woodland. “Guests included Yossie Hollander, who spoke about fuel freedom and did an outstanding job,” he says. “And Frank Frisch initiated a lot of discussion with his talk on the legitimacy of using steroids in sports.” This year’s June 4th event will be ticketed, and will run from 1 to 6 pm, with doors opening at 11:45 am. Additional information about the event and tickets can be found at www.tedxchapmanu.com. General admission tickets are $60, or $45 for live-stream video at The Lab. ›› Select for more information on TEDxChapmanU[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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© Julie Bawden-Davis

Talk of The Towne Charla and the Chamber

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”857″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Talk to Orange’s new Chamber of Commerce President and CEO and it soon becomes apparent that Charla Lenarth believes in living a purposeful life. With a resume chock full of service, including six years as program director at Make-a-Wish Foundation, Lenarth believes in making every day count. Lenarth moved into the Chamber’s Old Towne offices last August, coming from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, where she served for three years. While she enjoyed the position in Ontario, the opportunity to work for Orange was too tempting to pass up.
“Orange is one-of-a-kind,” says Lenarth. “It’s a big town with a small town feeling. Where else can you find three major hospitals, plenty of retail and industry, as well as a historic area where everyone waves to one another, and an incredible cultural hub like Chapman University?”
A California native, Lenarth was born in Pasadena, relocating to Lake Elsinore when she was nine. There she grew up on 10 acres, later building a house next door to her childhood home, where she lives today. Of the many valuable lessons Lenarth learned from her parents, being a good servant leader has proven a beneficial asset. “I was taught to serve others, and I can’t imagine living a different life,” says Lenarth. “My reward is seeing the end results of my work.” Lenarth’s rewards in the various jobs she’s held have been many. At Make-a-Wish, in six years she oversaw the granting of 1,000 wishes. “Much work goes into making a child’s most heartfelt wish come true, and you only have one chance to do it right, but it’s an incredible privilege to watch a child forget about being sick and get to be a kid again.” Lenarth also worked for the Department of Defense onboard base at Camp Pendleton, where she served marines and their families, including helping them prepare for deployment. From there she joined the Ontario Chamber, pulling the organization out of the red and into the black within 30 days of taking office. While Lenarth has enjoyed all of her positions, she feels working as a Chamber of Commerce executive is her calling. She is so dedicated to being the best Chamber president and CEO possible that she joined the Cal Chamber and the Western Association of Chamber Executives (W.A.C.E.) and recently made a three-year investment to earn the designation of becoming an Accredited Chamber Executive (A.C.E.). “Belonging to such organizations gives me access to many likeminded chamber executives who all have the common goal of providing the best possible service to our respective businesses and communities,” she says. That being said, Lenarth wants businesses in Orange to know she is ready and waiting to serve. “I like to say that I am the Chamber toolbox. Business owners just need to come and choose the tools that work best for them.” Meet Lenarth and learn about Orange’s visions, goals and successes at this year’s annual State of the City luncheon on March 20th at 11:30 am at the Doubletree Hotel, 100 the City Drive, Orange. For information: www.orangechamber.com. Orange Chamber of Commerce 307 East Chapman Ave, Old Towne Orange, CA 92866 / 714-538-3581[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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© Julie Bawden-Davis

Talk of The Towne One Child’s Trip to Africa Changes Lives

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”855″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In spring 2010, we reported how Orange resident and then 7th grader, Hanah Singer, was raising funds to travel to Kenya and help the charitable organization, Graceworks: Hope Network for Children International, with Vacation Bible School. Hanah met her funding goal and visited Kenya with other members of St. John’s Lutheran Church, including her father and mother. Here she shares her life–altering experience. Hanah Singer has a lot of special memories from her summer 2010 missionary trip to Kenya, but by far her most precious is meeting Pauline. “I got to know Pauline, who was six–years–old at the time, on the second day of Vacation Bible School,” says Hanah, 14, now an 8th grader at St. John’s Lutheran School. “Pauline immediately became my little buddy. Even though she doesn’t speak much English, we were able to communicate. I learned that she wants to be a singer when she grows up and that she’s a sweet girl with a beautiful personality.” During the 14–day trip, in addition to sharing her faith with the African children, Singer sampled African cuisine, took cold showers, slept in mosquito netting each night and went on safaris. “Visiting Africa and seeing how little people have there showed me how much I have to be grateful for, and it gave me an even stronger passion for helping people in need,” says Hanah, who took her first mission trip to Mexico at the age of 8. “After the trip, I made a commitment to sponsor Pauline, and I really want to go back to Africa and help some more.” According to Hanah’s father, Chris Singer, Executive Pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church, seeing the stark reality of life in Kenya changed his daughter’s world view for the better. “It was amazing to watch Hanah’s face as she saw the housing in Kenya, and how the African people lack many basics that we take for granted, such as running water. The biggest change we saw in Hanah that will color all of her future activities is the knowledge of what you can accomplish when you help others, and how great it makes you and them feel.“ If the response from Kenya is any indication, Hanah’s visit left a lasting impression with Pauline as well. “The girls definitely connected,” says Hanah’s mother, Jeanette Singer, Minister to Families with Children at St. John’s, who is currently trying to arrange a visit for Graceworks children to Orange County. Jeanette shares a recent letter from Pauline: “Hanah, please come back. I want to see you again and again and again.” If Hanah has anything to do about it, Pauline will get her wish.

Graceworks is a charitable organization based in Anaheim founded by Dr. Susan Njemanze in 2004 to improve the lives of African children, many of whom have been orphaned by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The project strives to keep children in their communities and provides food, school fees, supplies, medical care, and spiritual and emotional support.

For information on sponsoring a Gracework’s child, visit: GraceWorkshopNet.org

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© Julie Bawden-Davis

Talk of The Towne Home Coming Fun For Everyone

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”853″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A number of festivities open to the public are planned for this year’s Chapman Homecoming to take place the weekend of homecoming on October 5th – 7th. “The weekend promises to offer something for everyone,” says Mary Platt, Chapman’s Director of Communications and Media Relations. Activities to take place during the weekend include the homecoming football game, a pep rally, a chili cook-off and alumni reunion day. “We welcome the Orange community and hope they come to join us for activities held on homecoming weekend and all month long, including a wide variety of concerts and lectures,” says Platt. A highlight of homecoming weekend is the annual Chapman University Toyota of Orange 5K Run/Walk to occur on Saturday, October 6th. Known as the “flattest, fastest and ’funnest’ 5K in the world”, the race winds its way through Old Towne and finishes on the Chapman campus. The University’s President Jim Doti, who recently competed in the San Francisco Marathon, will run in Chapman’s 5K as he does each year. Proceeds from funds raised for the race go to Chapman’s Scholarship Fund. Select to View: • Information on the race • Homecoming and Family Weekend Event Schedule • “Break Out Those Running Shoes” article[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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© Julie Bawden-Davis

Talk of The Towne Citizen of the Year Bill Cathcart

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”850″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In 1972, when the City of Orange Parks and Recreation Department came to remove the palm trees in the Old Towne Orange Plaza, a young landscape architect, Bill Cathcart, tied himself to the trees. As onlookers gathered and Channel 2 recorded the events, he attempted to wait out the chainsaws. “Though my protest didn’t save the palm trees on the corners of the Plaza, I did manage to get their attention and spared all of the trees in Plaza Park itself, some of which date back to the 1890s,” says Cathcart, who 28 years later renovated the park in 2000. Spend time in Old Towne and you’re likely to admire and experience the work of Cathcart, whose landscape designs can be seen throughout the area, including prominent gathering spots like Pitcher Park and St. John’s Lutheran Church. For his professional and community service contributions to the City of Orange, the landscape architect was recently named 2012 Orange Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year. “For the last 30 years, Bill has been deeply involved in the City of Orange professionally and in numerous community service capacities,” says former city councilman and chamber officer Mike Spurgeon, who met Cathcart on the golf course in the early 1980s. “He’s a unique person, who has made visible handprints throughout the city.” In addition to running his company Cathcart-Begin Associates, Inc., Cathcart has served in a wide variety of volunteer capacities over the years, including as a member and past president of the Kiwanis and as Lt. Governor for Div. 4, which encompasses California, Nevada and Hawaii. He was also president of the Orange Chamber of Commerce in 1988 and a member of the Old Towne Steering Committee and the Chapman University Athletic Foundation. While his accomplishments are vast, Cathcart is especially proud of a few, including the formation of the city track meet which became Dash For Dare in 1981 and eventually became the popular Foundation Games held each year in the city. He is also involved in the Orange Senior Center and spearheaded the formation of an endowment fund for the organization in 1991, which is now valued at 1.3 million. When it comes to professional achievements, Cathcart is especially proud of his 1990 design of Pitcher Park. “Alice Pitcher donated the land to the City of Orange and wanted her house torn down and a park installed,” says Cathcart. “We designed around the old herb garden and avocado trees that were planted in 1914 and were able to rebuild the old barn and honey house. The result is a successful pocket park that is used for a wide variety of events, including weddings and the persimmon festival.” Local philanthropist and businessman Doy Henley has known Bill Cathcart for many years and comments on his friend’s landscape design work. “Bill’s work is distinctive,” says Henley. “He’s innovative with design and knows how to use the right plant materials so that everything works together.Pitcher Park defines the critical work he does in a small space, although he’s completed very large jobs as well.” In 1995, Cathcart designed the landscape for the law school and parking structure for Chapman University, and the next year he decided to attend law school himself, graduating in 1999 at the age of 55 with his law degree. It is Cathcart’s wit and straight-forward manner that gets people’s attention. “When people meet Bill, they soon find out that he has a great sense of humor and he’s a real straight shooter,” says Spurgeon. “He tells it exactly the way it is and doesn’t sugar coat things. Although he ruffles some feathers, he’s usually right and people appreciate that.” Cathcart grew up in Palm Desert and was a member of the first graduating class of Indio High School in 1962. After high school, he went to Berkeley and then got drafted and did two tours of duty in Vietnam. In between tours in Vietnam, while at the beach, Cathcart met a young lady named Cassie Arnold who lived in the City of Orange. They married six months later and when he returned from overseas they settled in Orange. That was 45 years ago.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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© Julie Bawden-Davis

ALO Boutique Noel

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”848″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]With fall on the horizon, no doubt you’ve at least thought about the end of the year and the holidays. The folks at the  Assistance League® of Orange (ALO) are dedicated to helping you complete your shopping list early, which is why every October they hold the ever popular Boutique Noël. Many of the ALO’s approximately 370 members pitch in to transform their 102-year-old chapter house into a winter wonderland for the event. For five days, shoppers come to Old Towne from near and far to enjoy the high-quality, one-of-a-kind gift items available at the boutique. “Boutique Noël is well-known for unique gift items, many of which are handcrafted,” says Pam Carlson, chairperson of the 2016 Boutique Noel and an ALO member. “In addition to finding great holiday gifts, you get a chance to connect with local artisans. Shopping at the event also helps the Orange community, as all net proceeds go back into ALO philanthropic programs that provide services to those in need.” Products available at the Boutique are distinctive, offering you a chance to impress your family and friends with out of the ordinary gifts they can treasure. To give you an idea of the variety of items to expect at the boutique, here we highlight three merchants. A Room to View Susie Hoertz of A Room to View specializes in home décor, as well as gifts for girls. “My product line is a combination of great finds, as well as my own designs,” says Hoertz. “Most of the embellishments on apparel and accessories are my designs, fine-tuned with the help of my graphic artist.” Products include scarves and holiday shirts for adults, as well as a children’s line focused on accessories, including Wubbanub pacifiers, Lulujo bamboo and cotton muslin swaddlers and bath toys. Hoertz is a big fan of natural products manufactured in the USA. Her stocking stuffer lip balms and skincare products contain no paraben, gluten, petroleum, GMOs or any harmful chemicals. Also made in the USA is the Govino Classic wine series she carries featuring shatterproof, bpa/bps-free recyclable bottles. Hoertz has participated in Boutique Noel since 2008, because she believes in the cause. “The boutique truly helps local families, and the women involved in the ALO are great leaders, who set a strong, charitable example.” Pacific Mountain Woodworks Pacific Mountain Woodworks is a custom woodworking company run by Carol Graupensperger, with her husband, Dan, and their sons, Jacob and Rob. The family operates out of a shop in orange handcrafting items such as cheeseboards and trays, tables, chairs, stools, benches, plant stands, frames, balance boards, cutting boards and serving trays. 2016 is the talented family’s fourth year participating in the event. “The boutique is a great venue to showcase our products and allows us to contri- bute to a well-respected philanthropic organization,” says Graupensperger. Country Stitching Alice Calagna, owner of Country Stitching, enjoys creating and sewing fun pillows, tea towels and other fabric items. “I like to create products that make people feel happy or blessed or remind them of special times and favorite holidays,” says Calagna. “I enjoy trying to find the perfect ribbons to match my fabrics and then finishing the items off with cute buttons or charms.” Calagna has participated in Boutique Noel for about eight years, and it is one of her favorite shows. “I like that ALO members are so hardworking and dedicated to raising money to give back to so many children’s groups that really need our help,” she says. Boutique Noel takes place at the ALO chapter house, 124 S. Orange St. Days and hours are: Oct 19, 4-8 pm; Oct 20-Oct 21, 9 am-6 pm; Oct 22, 9 am to 4 pm and Oct 23 from 11 am – 3 pm. For more information, visit www.alorange.org.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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© Julie Bawden-Davis

Talk of The Towne Principal for a Day

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”845″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When Sheryl Bourgeois acted as Principal for a Day at West Orange Elementary recently, Chapman University’s Executive Vice President found the experience to be especially eye-opening. “They say everything you need to know you learned in kindergarten, and being principal of an elementary school shows you how true that statement is,” she says. “When you see what’s involved in overseeing the handling of all of those little people, keeping them excited and engaged and helping them develop and mature, you realize it’s a calling with immense responsibility.” Showing community leaders like Bourgeois the good work being accomplished at elementary, intermediate and high schools is the goal of the Principal for a Day (PFAD) program, which is held at schools throughout the U.S. The program results in respect and appreciation for principals, teachers and other faculty, and in the case of Bourgeois’s visit, allowed her to show students that a college education is possible. “This was a good opportunity to share with the kids that if they do well in school, college can be in their futures,” says Bourgeois. “Chapman University is here in their backyard and open to anyone who does well in school.” Orange Mayor Tita Smith considers herself honored to have participated in Principal for a Day since 2004. She also enjoys the opportunity to show young people what is possible with a good education. “I think it’s important for children to actually see and meet a real mayor,” says Smith, who was Principal for a Day at El Modena High School this year. “I like students to know that someday they could be on the City Council.” For West Orange Elementary Principal Jennifer Bourgeois, this year’s Principal for a Day experience was a special one, as Sheryl is her aunt. “When it came time to choose someone to invite, the first person that came to mind was my Aunt Sheryl,” says Jennifer. “The fact that she is at Chapman University and well connected to our community makes her able to appreciate our goals and vision at West Orange, and her being my aunt was a bonus,” she says. In addition to showing the high-quality education being offered at her school, Jennifer Bourgeois was able to take the opportunity to share with her aunt her goal of creating concentrated educational career pathways at the school in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). “The career pathway model exists in middle schools and high schools, but it’s a relatively new concept for elementary schools,” says the principal, whose school currently has afterschool programs in engineering and robotics. “I’d like to start here in the elementary school and go all the way up to the university level.” After shadowing her niece, Sheryl Bourgeois has no doubt that good things will continue to happen at West Orange Elementary. “I was impressed to see that Jennifer knows every single student by name and about them personally,” she says. “All of the kids want her attention, which showed me that being a principal is a lot like being a rock star.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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© Julie Bawden-Davis