Local Photographer Captures ‘Quirky’ Small Town Life

August 2011

What makes a small town like Sierra Madre a great place to live? Surely, a number of things come to mind. But in the end, most of these reasons are essentially derived from being a part of a close-knit community. It’s something that tends to get lost in bigger cities.

Walking down the streets, being greeted by friends, family and neighbors alike has a certain feeling; a feeling of camaraderie. Meeting for BBQs, parades and picnics in the park are some of the things that truly make a small town special.

With that in mind, it’s easy to see how, for a photographer, Sierra Madre just may be the perfect town.

Just ask Gina Long, who says she lives for bringing out those extraordinary small town moments: the unexpected glimpses of joy in the lives of her subjects, the surprises, and the simple beauty of a town that prides itself on its uniqueness and splendor.

Long moved to Sierra Madre, along with her husband Steven, because she was happy with the educational choices for her son Nolan, now 7-years-old. Her family has since found their niche here. And now, Long is the first photographer to ever have an exhibit on display at Sierra Madre City Hall.

Her photography, on display until Aug. 19, is collection of “life’s moments and quirky things,” she says.

While Long says she does shoot traditional portraits, it’s the quirky shots she enjoys capturing the most.

“I’d like to make the quirky more common and the common more quirky,” she said. “I would also like to draw attention to some unusual subjects and show the world that you can find beauty in everything when you seek it. I especially love taking striking and interesting photos of people who don’t like to be photographed.”

Long’s portfolio features some beautiful family shots, intriguing neighborhoods, curious pets and children photos that are so cute they might bring a tear to your eye.

So why call the show “The Unexpected Portrait”?

“I’m not traditional and I wanted my name to speak to that,” Long said. “It would be horrible for clients who hire me to be disappointed by the results of their shoot and I look for adventurous, out of the box type subjects.”

At Home in Sierra Madre

Sierra Madre, and the audience she has found here, are very meaningful to her work, Long says.

“With a nudge here and a bravo there, I gathered enough self-belief to bring my photography to others. It has been really fulfilling.”

Long was greeted by many art-loving attendees during her show’s official opening on July 22 at City Hall. And Long is quick to thank Community and Personnel Services Deputy Director, Kristi McClure and the members of the Arts Committee for putting together the event.

“I think it was really successful. I love having my work at City Hall,” Long said in an interview following the reception.

Some Favorites

One photo Long featured, “Comfortably Numb,” was snapped outside of Sierra Madre and is one of her favorites. “I love “Comfortably Numb” because it juxtaposes the timeless beauty of a restored old train sitting at the Santa Barbara station with the reality of the life in a cart position of the homeless man who is basically living there un-restored and watching the trains come and go in this beautiful place from a place most people can’t and don’t understand,” Long said. “I feel I was able to convey a sense of how every person, place and thing has many sides, some that you see and some that you don’t. It’s truly an “Unexpected Portrait.”

Another favorite is a picture of her son bringing in the mail entitled “On Arrival.”

“I took it the weekend we moved into our house in Sierra Madre in a very innocent and cute moment when he was gathering our mail for the first time from the post box and bringing it into the house,” Long said.

“It’s also an “unexpected portrait” and, in fact, the “Unexpected Portrait” which inspired the name of my business and is on my business cards. It truly represents my work.”

For those who take a serious interest in photography of their own, Long offers some advice.

“Take your camera out with you and shoot,” Long said. “Make up a story in your mind and shoot the photos that tell it. Use your eye. We are all photographers and we each have a unique way of seeing the world, find the parts or patterns or activities you love to translate through the lens and shoot, shoot, shoot!”

Long says aspiring new artists should remember one thing, “Art is so subjective. Take both praise and criticism open-mindedly and make what moves you. It will move others.”

Try to catch Long’s display during City Hall’s normal business hours and, who knows, you might come away inspired.

And for those who like what they see, Long offers her photography services on her websitewww.theunexpectedportrait.com, and is available to visit your home to snap those special moments during birthday parities, holidays and other special events.

Local to the San Gabriel Valley, Tortelvis is still a rockin’

January 2011

Penny Marshall’s character on the classic TV show Laverne & Shirley use to enjoy a refreshing combo of milk and Pepsi. Yum! Or how about the combination of baseball and basketball in the movie BASEketball? Some combinations are not fondly remembered, but one that has stood the test of time is the combo of Led Zeppelin classics to the tune of Reggae music, with a sprinkle of Elvis Presley style to top it off. What you get is Dread Zeppelin.

In 2009, the band, (Tortelvis, Butt-Boy, Spice, Bob Knarley, Ziggy Knarley and Charlie Haj) celebrated their 20^th anniversary. They have local ties to the area, but have seen the world while performing material from 15 albums including Un-Lead-Ed released in 1990 and their latest Bar Coda, a take on Led Zeppelin’s Coda. They have also released a greatest hits collection from their IRS years which includes fan favorites such as “Black Dog” and “Your Time is Gonna Come.”

I had a chance to talk to front man and Elvis impersonator Greg Tortell (Tortelvis) about the band’s success.

KM: Dread Zeppelin has been together with various members for over 20 years now. What are your feelings on that, and is it something you envisioned back in ’89 when the band formed?

Tortelvis: Someone said “Dread Zeppelin” Wow, what a moment! We all started as friends getting together in a garage and messing with Zeppelin songs and Reggae. I tried to sing like Robert Plant, but too high. So I went with the Tortelvis persona, but without the outrageous costume, and hot dang, it fit. Zeppelin, Elvis, Reggae.It was always about friendship. Still to this day. You lose some members along the way due to various reasons. But it’s just the way. We’ve had pretty much the same core guys playing in the band for the last 15 years.

KM: What has kept the band going for so long?

Tortelvis: It’s all about friendship and musicianship. These guys are like my family and killer players (with the exception of myself of course). It’s a goofy idea that caught on and even spawned other similar groups, but without the great playing, it could not have lasted this long.

KM: Tell me how Tortelvis came about. Were you performing as an impersonator before Dread Zeppelin?

Tortelvis: I performed as Tortelvis in another band a few years before Dread Zeppelin was created called “Pete The Butcher.”Our motto was “we suck, but were fun to watch.” At least we got one of those right. I had two names back then, Tortelvis, and Gregelbert Torteldink. Pete the Butcher still plays now and then. Torteldink still gets to put on his graduation gown and fake beard and play Partridge Family songs until they just can’t take it anymore.

KM: Robert Plant was quoted as saying that Dread Zeppelin was “one of his favorite bands” and that you guys did a better job on “Your Time is Gonna Come” than Led Zeppelin did. What are your thoughts on that and has the band had the chance to meet original Led Zeppelin members? If so, how did that go?

Tortelvis: It was surely a great endorsement from Robert Plant, as there were a lot of diehard Zep fans who thought we were making fun of Led Zeppelin. I was a bit worried that the Elvis fans would be a bit ticked. But no, come to find out that some Zeppelin fans didn’t have much of a sense of humor about it. But Robert Plant got it! It quieted up some of the dissenting voices, that’s fer sure. We met Jimmy Page in England in 1990. I don’t think he knew who the heck we were. And I had a chance to speak with Robert Plant on a Rockline interview in 1991. I was so nervous to speak to him my low Elvis drawl sounded more like a twelve year old Justin Bieber [voice]. Robert thanked me for giving him “months of entertainment.”

KM: Any comments from Pricilla or Lisa Marie Presley on Dread Zeppelin?

Tortelvis: We met, or should I say saw Lisa Marie in a dressing room in the early ’90s as her husbands’ band was opening for us at the UC Irvine Auditorium. She was probably used to all the goofy impersonators so didn’t pay much attention to us. Until we rocked the Zeppelin and Reggae!

KM: Are you surprised by the success of the band and having the chance to play, not just in your home town, but across America and the world?

Tortelvis: Surprised yes. Once we started playing in other countries we started seeing that the reactions were the same no matter where we went. Japan, Europe, South America. Wild nutty fans. What the hack man? Maybe it’s the Elvis…or the Zeppelin…Or the Reggae.

KM: Many of the members are right from the Pasadena/Sierra Madre area. Where did you attend high school? Give me some thoughts on how you feel about this area and why you stay.

Tortelvis: I attended Arcadia Schools, and have lived in Sierra Madre for over 10 years. Sierra Madre is just a great town for friends, family and kids. Plus it’s home to Graceland West, an exact replica of Graceland here in town where I live, which also houses the man who hands me my water and towels on stage…Mr. Charlie Haj! (don’t mind me if I slip in and out of character).

KM: Tell me about the Annual Fund Show at Sierra Madre School. What will the proceeds go to? What is the importance of the event? Are you looking forward to seeing some of the local school talent that will be performing as an opening act?

Tortelvis: This is year three of the event for us and we just love doing it. Benefits go to Sierra Madre Elementary. And when you play to screaming 3^rd graders, it almost sounds like a Beatles concert. Except in a Reggae style.

KM: What is coming up next for Dread Zeppelin?

Tortelvis: A new CD this year and two days at Zep Fest in Washington D.C. in May. Some shows planned for the Midwest this year. And a local show at T. Boyles tavern on February 19^th. Let’s get it on!

KM: What advice can you give to local kids who are playing in their parent’s garage and hoping to make it big someday?

Tortelvis: Put towels on the drums or your mom is gonna come running out and shut it down! But seriously folks… Keep on singing and strumming. Do it every day. Learn from the great musicians but don’t copy them. Think outside the box. Practice, practice, practice. Slap on those sideburns and wiggle them hips. Sing it baby, sing it! P.S. Remember to wear earplugs.

Still chalking up the losses

September 2010

 

The Biggest Loser on NBC, Now in its 10th Season is still going strong and Jillian—even stronger.

She has been on the forefront of the fitness/gaming craze with her release of “Jillian Michaels’ Fitness Ultimatum 2010” for the Nintendo Wii system. In addition, Jillian launched her own TV show in June 2010, Losing It With Jillian, where she moves in with a family and not only motivates them to get in shape, but to make difficult lifestyle changes as well. Jillian influences families on what to buy, what to get rid of and yes, invades their refrigerators too. Not an easy task. Says the world’s toughest trainer, “It’s intense. Seriously intense. Honestly, it’s impossible to describe. You have to see it with your own eyes.” In one episode, Jillian has her adopted family working out on a football field and later clearing out their cluttered home of junk that they seem determined not to part with—but it’s all part of a lifestyle change.

Accepting the Truth and Willing to Change

Jillian has experienced situations time and again where persons have had multiple failed attempts at weight loss. “They lack self-esteem and they are uninformed about the facts [regarding] weight loss,” says Jillian. Changing eating habits for many is a tough pill to swallow and is different in each scenario. There are many factors to consider: Metabolism varies from person to person, as well as blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels. Each diet plan has to take these (and other) factors into consideration. Yet some people seem to eat anything they want and not gain an ounce. “[It’s] because of genetics,” Jillian explains. “While some of us are predisposed to gain weight, it doesn’t mean it’s a sentence. Genetics are static, not dynamic, so if we eat right and exercise regularly we can maintain a healthy body weight.”

In Jillian’s experience she has worked with some tough clients including persons with hormonal disorders such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and lipodema, which causes people to be heavier from the waste down to the ankles. When it’s unclear why clients are overweight, or when they are holding back from revealing their true reasons for overeating, Jillian finds a different approach to get them to open up. “I ask a series of questions when they are fatigued from exercise and their defenses are down,” she says. “I help them uncover the roots of their self-destructive behaviors.”

Mind Over Matter

Lack of motivation can be a major issue when it comes to breaking old habits and starting new, healthy ones, but Jillian points out another prime factor—willpower. “Willpower is like a muscle. It can be built and it can also be fatigued,” she says. “You can build willpower by shifting the part of your brain you use to think. You can literally go from impulse to reason, by stopping and asking yourself a series of questions before each choice you make.” Jillian believes this is a good way for clients to rethink their food choices. “So the next time your client wants to reach for the donut, tell them to think the whole choice through. They eat the donut—then how do they feel 10 minutes after? What is it going to do to their body? How is that going to make them feel? And so on.”

Smart Eating

Speaking of food choices, the typical approaches to weight loss include portion control and calorie counting. For many, it just doesn’t work. Jillian believes in calorie counting in conjunction with exercise. “The truth is that weight loss is an energy equation [and] you have to exercise to utilize stored energy—a.k.a. fat,” she says. As for Jillian’s own diet? “Ezekial English muffin with almond butter for breakfast, grilled fish tacos on corn tortillas with black beans, apple with raw nuts…grilled fish and greens for dinner,” she says. But is there room in the toughest trainer’s diet for a snack? “Only between lunch and dinner,” Jillian clarifies. “Snacking throughout the day is terrible for weight loss and weight management. My snack is about 15 percent of my calorie allowance. I will have [a] protein and carb combo like fruit and raw nuts or hummus and veggies. Baked chips and salsa with yogurt instead of sour cream.”

Success Doesn’t Come Easy

Jillian’s own success took a lot of motivation and willpower on her own part. She was overweight as a teen, about 50 pounds, and was motivated by her mother to take up martial arts, then on to working with her own personal trainers. So who trained the trainer? “I fell into fitness training at 17 while training for my black belt. People would see me training in the gym and they approached me to train them. Fate took its course.” And training doesn’t stop now that Jillian has found success. “I have many trainers. I believe a good teacher is a good student,” she says. “I work with an MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) and kettlebell guy named Steve Lee in L.A., a Capoira guy named Brett Hoebel in N.Y., and a yoga woman named Heidi Rhoades in L.A.”

But being where she is today wasn’t always Jillian’s dream. She says, “I fell into it and loved it. I switched careers at [age] 24 to 27 and went to work as an agent in Hollywood. I hated it. Then I went to work at a sports medicine facility as a PT aid. Fell back in love with this type of work and the rest is history.” So for the trainer who pushes people to be the best they can be and find that inner strength that drives them, what drives her? “I am driven by my own feelings of helplessness. I wrestle with those emotions by trying to help other people. It makes me feel less helpless.” Hard to believe while watching Jillian’s tough as nails exterior on TV, that she is indeed only as human as the rest of us.

March 2010

Motivating the online masses to Tone It Up!

When it comes to being fitness professionals, keeping abreast of the latest and greatest trends is of vital importance. Performing the same old routines, in the same old way just doesn’t cut it in this business. Clients want new and exiting programs, featuring the latest in fitness apparatus, apparel and techniques. In this age of instant information, if you snooze, you loose. AFAA member Katrina Hodgson has not missed a beat with her own series of very popular video shorts along with her counterpart, Karena Dawn, on the video sharing phenomenon known as YouTube.

Fitness became a huge part of Hodgson’s life at a young age. “When I was 12, I was overweight and was teased by the other kids,” she said. “I became serious about sports and fitness in high school…and would put together fun routines for myself.” Hodgson then went off to study exercise science at Keene State College in New Hampshire and became certified through AFAA, which made visits to the campus. Soon after, she was teaching her “Abs and Core” classes at the school gym. After college she moved on to the Boston Sports Club as a master trainer and group fitness instructor. “I taught classes of over 40 and loved every minute of them,” said Hodgson. “I was able to learn so much about different people, what motivates them and take that knowledge to my videos.”

Multi-media—A New Direction

In the summer of 2008, Hodgson moved to California and joined the team at Equinox Fitness. It was there she met Karena Dawn. The two found they had a lot in common and had both done their share of sports modeling, fitness product work and DVD production. They both felt they needed a new direction in their careers, so they partnered up and created their Web site http://toneitup.com/ “We both recognized that we were a great dynamic and complemented each other’s goals and backgrounds,” Hodgson said. “We started filming videos together in February [2009]. Our first video was on the beach with the little HD camera. Little did we know what the future would hold for us. We now film videos regularly for three channels: fitness, healthy cooking and lifestyle.”

But has the advent of YouTube hurt the fitness industry? Hodgson does not see this as the case. “I think YouTube actually helps instructors and fitness professionals,” she said. “I am huge on visualization. I have to picture things before I do them…especially if it is out of my ‘comfort box.’ If you see it…it will happen. If you can’t see it, then you probably won’t end up doing it.” Being a YouTube instructor hasn’t hampered Hodgson’s career. In fact, she is in more demand than she ever was. She is recognized as receiving more views on YouTube than any other certified or degreed trainer, receiving over 13 million views. “If no one was talking about fitness, showing workouts online, or putting together fitness DVDs, then fitness classes would probably go down in business. The more people see fitness, the more they can imagine themselves doing it. The next time they pass a health club they will feel comfortable going in because it is not foreign to them anymore,” said Hodgson.

A Senior Fitness Boom

In one area of her expertise, senior fitness, Hodgson explained the importance of having a fitness assessment every six weeks. “Ask them to take your blood pressure, resting heart rate, to do a squat assessment, a strength assessment, and some kind of walking or cardiovascular test,” Hodgson said. “If you can’t work with a trainer regularly, then just ask them to meet you every month or so to do a program. This way you will be able to see measurable results and it will motivate you to keep it up.”   Hodgson encourages seniors to make fitness fun and try new things. She emphasizes that going to the gym is not the only option. “Sign up for salsa classes once a week or get outside. I have seen people in their 70s go from needing eight medications, barely being able to get out of a chair without assisting themselves up, to jogging five miles, ditching the medications, and looking and feeling like they did 20 years prior,” she said. “I always tell people…‘You will never regret a workout.’ Get dressed, get outside and get moving. Let yourself be fit and healthy. It is the best thing you can do for your family, too.”

On the other end of the spectrum, with the current childhood obesity epidemic, Hodgson recommends that parents use the right approach and make exercise and eating right fun, and not hard work. “Kids need more programs based on sports, fun games and activities,” she said. “They don’t want to do sit-ups. They also don’t want to eat ‘healthy food.’ I notice that if I set out wheat pitas, chopped veggies, cheese and colorful toppings, kids will actually make their own pizza and choose more toppings than if I made it for them. It is hard to get children to eat healthy…especially with all of the garbage [advertised] on TV.” But Hodgson feels that the government needs to do their part also. “We spend over 100 billion dollars on obesity issues each year when we could actually prevent obesity and type 2 diabetes,” Hogdson pointed out. “Imagine if every state received 20 million dollars a year to put toward PE programs in schools, build parks, farms for fresh produce and education for parents. I like the idea of taxing junk food. That would equal up to more than 10 billion dollars a year to help with health programs,” she said.

Tone it Up with a Sound Eating Plan

Speaking of nutrition, Hodgson and Dawn are always creating healthy recipes in their videos. After taking nutrition courses in college, Hodgson stopped consuming foods that are sugar-filled and use chemical additives, and chose more healthy alternatives for snacking. “It is better to have a hand full of almonds, than to have a diet [soda],” said Hodgson. “The less ingredients the better…especially if you can pronounce them.” Hodgson creates her own healthy snacks that include ingredients such as peanut butter, dried fruit, agave and oats. For a great pre-workout meal, Hodgson suggests a banana, flaxseed muffin or dried fruits, and a good bit of water. “I drink water all day…always more than 80 ounces, especially if I’m training for a race,” Hodgson said.

As motivation is the hardest thing to attain when beginning a workout routine, Hodgson believes you have to dig deep into how clients feel to find their motivation. “My usual quotes are ‘This is 30 minutes of your life…make it count’ and ‘Push harder and show me WHY you are here.’” Hodgson believes clients need to visualize where they want to be in four weeks and push themselves as they are the only ones, and no one else, that can control their health and bodies.

What the Future Will Bring

As far as her own motivation, Hodgson is inspired by the way workouts make her feel and also by the success stories of her clients and fans. She receives cards thanking her for motivating them and family members to get up and get moving. In the future, Hodgson would love for Tone It Up to take off and reach more of the masses and to get more involved in educating people on health topics and to do more charity work. “We recently did a triathlon to raise money for ovarian cancer. We would like to do more events to educate about heart disease, cancers and diabetes,” she said. But, for now, be sure to catch Katrina on her Web site or on YouTube. Just key in “Tone It Up” in the search engine and you’ll find her—motivated and ready to motivate you!

March 2009

Anne Mahlum motivates homeless to run and overcome

Philadelphia is called “The City of Brotherly Love” and is known as the home of the  Liberty Bell, signing of the Declaration of Independence, and the cheesesteak. But with high statistics of murder and crime reported daily on local news, it is tough to notice the people working hard to make a positive difference in this historic city. Anne Mahlum has emerged to bring the feeling of “brotherly love” back to Philadelphia and is expanding that sentiment nationally.

A native of Bismarck, N.D., Mahlum moved to Philadelphia four years ago. An athlete for as long as she can remember, Mahlum frequently hit the streets at 5:30 a.m. for her daily run. “I have always found running to be a stress reliever,” she said. “Each step reminds me that there are no unachievable dreams or unsolvable problems.” Along her route she would pass homeless people standing outside a shelter, and as the days went by, Mahlum developed a good rapport with them. “They would smile and wave, as they became comfortable with me passing by. I started wondering why I was passing them.” One day, Mahlum decided to take a chance and went into the shelter with the idea to get homeless people involved in running. “They thought I was crazy at first,” she said. But when the director at the shelter proposed the idea, nine people were on board and “Back on My Feet” (BOMF) was born. Wearing new donated shoes and clothing, the original nine, along with Mahlum and volunteers, ran their first mile through the streets of Philadelphia.

Following the motto, “Moving the homeless forward one step at a time,” BOMF members have since completed numerous marathons, including the Philadelphia 8K. BOMF has motivated more than 80 homeless people from five shelters to try and better their lives.

How does running motivate? “Running helps build confidence and self-esteem,” Mahlum said. “When we run, we are a team…a family. This helps them get back on a positive road in their lives. But it doesn’t happen overnight—it takes dedication and hard work.” As BOMF has expanded, so has the interest. With more than 400 volunteers (some also participating runners), BOMF has made national news and is sponsored by Nike, which donates running shoes and clothing to the cause of this nonprofit organization. “We have all different kinds of people participating in our marathons,” said Mahlum. “Running is the great equalizer. You can’t tell who is a doctor and who is homeless when we’re out there running together.” Those who stick with the program have the chance to win $1,000 in a contest.

But, BOMF is not about running only. The program has included bowling nights, practice with the Philadelphia 76ers on the basketball court and the BOMF bashes, which feature inspirational speeches and dinner. The success that has come from BOMF includes stories of nine homeless persons who have found employment and a new place to live. Individual stories, such as Vernon’s—who overcame drug addiction, now has a full-time job and has reconnected with his family—are what fuels motivation for others to do the same. “People need to understand that addiction can cause someone to lose everything including their home and families,” said Mahlum.

As for her own life: “I feel more alive than ever,” Mahlum said. “I have found my purpose in life.” Mahlum’s personal goal is to run in a marathon on every continent by the time she is 30. At 27, she only has two more to go—Australia and Antarctica. On the national level, Mahlum has received great exposure on ABC and CNN, where she was featured as one of the top 10 “Heroes of the Year,” in 2008 (out of 4,000 entries), a title which Mahlum is grateful for, but humble about. “It is a little overwhelming,” she said. “I feel they [the homeless] are the real heroes.” When it comes to goals for BOMF, Mahlum hopes interest will continue to grow and programs will expand nationwide. “I really believe there is a hunger for human decency,” she says.

 

Sidebar: Getting involved

You can make donations to Back on My Feet through the United Way at their Web site http://www.backonmyfeet.org. Those in the Philadelphia area interested in becoming a member or attending an event, can take part in an orientation held on the first and third Wednesday of each month. For more information, visit http://www.backonmyfeet.com