MATTHEWS ACQUIRES KEYLITE PRODUCTION SERVICES AND ITS AFFILIATES

BURBANK, Calif., May 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Burbank-based Matthews Studio Equipment Group (NASDAQ: MATT) ("Matthews") and its rental subsidiary, Hollywood Rental Co. Inc. ("HRC"), announced the acquisition of Keylite Holdings Inc. and its affiliates, Keylite Production Services Inc., Reel Wheels Inc. and Keylite PSI Phoenix Inc. (collectively "Keylite"), through the exchange of all of the outstanding stock of Keylite Holdings Inc., for 1,400,000 restricted shares of Matthews common stock. Management believes that Keylite and HRC were two of the largest non-studio rental companies in North America. Keylite was one of HRC's most significant competitors in the Los Angeles and Southwest rental markets. HRC's combined rental inventory now consists of approximately 150,000 pieces of equipment plus vehicular equipment and production vans. HRC together with Keylite is able to provide the U.S. production industry with cable and distribution equipment that meets the requirements of the National Electric Code. Matthews management believes that this transaction has made HRC a more prominent rental company with an increased ability to provide quality services to the entertainment production industry. This acquisition will provide HRC with economies of scale and sufficient equipment to enable it to increase its rental customer base. Matthews Studio Equipment Group designs, manufactures, sells and rents grip, camera and lighting support equipment and proprietary electromechanical Cam-Remote(R) Systems for the film, television, commercial photography and theatrical production industries worldwide. -0- 5/26/93 /CONTACT: Gregory Moiseeff or Neil Kaplan of Matthews Studio Equipment Group, 818-843-6715/

Worldwide Board President of Legal Administrators Keynoted Leadership Luncheon

(This article was published in the Century City News on April 17, 2012)

Legal Volunteer of the Year Awards - April 10

The International Board President of the Association of Legal Administrators presented the Volunteer of the Year award to Luci Hamilton, Director of Administration and Finance at Karlin & Peebles in Beverly Hills, at the Leadership Luncheon hosted by the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators (GLA ALA) on April 10, 2012 from 11:30-1:30 at the Omni Hotel located at 251 South Olive Street in downtown Los Angeles.

Keynoting the luncheon was Karen Griggs, CLM, the National President of the Association of Legal Administrators, an organization with over 10,000 members worldwide. Griggs is the Executive Director of Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice, L.L.C., in Kansas City, Missouri, named as a 2012 “Go-To Law Firm.”

As Volunteer of the Year award recipient, Hamilton is recognized for her work with GLA including her life-changing “Members-In-Transition” program chaired by Hamilton. Hamilton held educational and inspiring gatherings for administrators looking for work and for anyone who believes that we all are in transition as we grow as professionals and leaders. Dedicated to the pursuit of continuing education, Hamilton tirelessly shares her knowledge and expertise for those seeking the ALA service mark of a Certified Legal Manager or CLM. Hamilton attended almost all of the CLM classes, teaching several herself. Hamilton was GLA ALA’s 2004-2005 Board President and additionally volunteers in local and national organizations including Pasadena City College, the Veterans’ Affairs Department, the “Women at Work” high school outreach programs and UN Women – The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.
Shaun Morrison, of Glendora, Office Administrator for Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP in Century City, was installed as the 2012 GLA ALA President. Says Morrison of her new role, “GLA has inspired excellence in our profession and I am proud to be President of this compelling organization.”

Cost of the luncheon was $30 for members, $35 for non-members. Event question contact Terri Oppelt, toppelt@strook.com.

For more information, contact:
Shaun Morrison - smorrison@allenmatkins.com - 310-788-2400
Luci Hamilton - lhamilton@karlinpeebles.com - 323-648-4645

ABOUT GLA ALA: The Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators (GLA ALA) is a 350-person nonprofit membership organization that provides opportunities for educational enrichment, professional and personal development, community service, and the exchange of information to improve the quality and professionalism of management in legal services organizations. www.glaala.org

ABOUT KAREN GRIGGS, CLM: Karen Griggs, CLM, is the Executive Director of Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice, L.L.C. in Kansas City, Missouri and the 2012-2013 Association of Legal Administrators National President. Griggs has been a member of ALA since 1984.

ABOUT SHAUN MORRISON: Shaun Morrison is the incoming Board President of GLA ALA. Morrison serves as the Office Administrator for Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP in Century City.

GLA ALA 2012 President Shaun Morrison, Office Administrator for Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP in Century City, with keynote speaker and the National President of the Association of Legal Administrators, Karen Griggs, CLM, and GLA ALA 2011 Past President Jean Jewell, CLM, Administrator of Kelley Drye/White O’Connor, at the Leadership Luncheon hosted by the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators (GLA ALA) on April 10, 2012 at the Omni Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. During the event, Luci Hamilton was presented with the Volunteer of the Year award and Shaun Morrison was installed as the 2012 GLA ALA President. Photo by Jess Block

Cultivating Love Is Like Growing Flowers

(This article was published in the Century City News on April 17, 2012)

No matter who tries to tell you different, love at first sight is a myth. Love is not something that just happens, and building relationships that last a lifetime takes work. They don’t just spring into being, but they do grow like flowers if you give them what they need.

Just as love lies in everyone’s heart, every seed contains the flower it may become when given the right conditions. For a flower, those conditions include water, oxygen, sunlight and nutrients. Give a seed the right proportion of sunlight and dark, the right amount of water and a nutrient-rich growing medium and you’ll be rewarded with a strong, healthy plant that flowers and sets more seed. A plant can grow without the optimal mix of those conditions, but a lack of any one of them will result in a stunted plant, or one that is all stem and no leaves or one that wilts without ever flowering.

Love is no different. It requires specific conditions to blossom and set seed. Those conditions include trust, faith, honesty and respect. If you don’t provide each of those conditions for your relationship, you’ll still have a relationship and you may have something resembling love. But just like a plant deprived of sunlight or water will grow stunted and crooked, so a relationship without faith and respect and trust will never fulfill its potential.

Of the four qualities that help nurture love, the most important is respect. Love cannot exist without respect. It’s a prerequisite. Relationships without respect are unhealthy and harmful to the persons involved in them. When you respect another, you listen to them and consider their needs and desires and work to earn their respect. All of those things are vital to growing health relationships.

Many people exist under the misconception that respect is something that must be earned. In fact, respect is something that should be given freely. Unless you are open to respect, you’ll be shutting out any possibility of allowing love to grow to its fullest potential. If you only respect those who have earned your respect, you could be closing out many possibilities for loving others.

Like love, trust, honesty and faith also depend upon respect to grow strong and health. These four pillars of love lean upon each other and together, they create an arbor on which love can climb and grow and flower.

If you want love to flower in your life, if you want to build relationships that last for a lifetime, practice respect. Learn to respect everyone around you for the simple fact that they are, like you, a person.

About Dr. Jackson:

A veteran of 25 years of business ownership experience. A member of the United States Naval Submarine Service from 1979 to 1985. Founder and Chairman of G.E. Jackson & Associates, Inc., as well as River Eagle Media Group, LLC www.rivereaglemedia.com and The Examples of Excellence Foundation, Inc. www.examplesofexcellence.org And a member of Rotary International. A lover of life, nature, people, and the positive light in each and every one of God’s greatest creation - Humanity!

Century City Real Estate Report

(This article was published in the Century City News on April 17, 2012)

By Bess Hochman

Positive Signs Of Real Estate Recovery On Luxury L.A. Westside

Recently sales from the beach to Bel-Air and Beverly Hills have been seeing a resurgence of activity not seen on the Westside since the height of the real estate bubble five years ago. Some attribute that to the stock market rebound and lower prices attracting the high end buyer. We are even seeing multiple offers!

Case in point, a 5 bedroom post and beam residence in Beverly Hills designed by A. Quincy Jones asking about 6.5 Million Dollars stimulated several offers last month. It was reported to be under contract at over the asking price going out at 6.625 Million Dollars. Real Estate agents from Brentwood, Bel Air, Beverly Hills and the Pacific Palisades are all reporting movement on the high end in their neighborhoods.

Another optimistic sign is houses are on the market for a shorter period of time before selling according to Realtor.com. It reported the median number of days a Westside home sat on the market about a year ago was 115 days compared with only 88 days now. The numbers reflect a 23% decline year over year in the number of days on the market before a home goes under contract.

More signs of a real estate recovery are reflected in reports and comments made by respected real estate tracking services in the last couple of weeks. These reports include studies concerning rent increases, housing affordability and foreclosure rates.

USC’s Lust Center for Real Estate expects rents in Los Angeles will rise by about 8% in 2012 with total growth of 9.6% by the end of 2013. This is more evidence that we are in a real estate upswing. While this is not good news for renters, it is a good incentive to buyers of investment properties. The rise in rents in Los Angeles, Orange County and other areas of Southern Californian reflect a national trend in the apartment sector.

The fact that housing affordability is at its highest level ever is another positive for the market says mortgage tracker CoreLogic. In spite of concern about another wave of foreclosures, Realty Trac which tracks foreclosures, reports foreclosure activity during the first 3 months of the year hit its lowest quarterly total since the last quarter of 2007. While foreclosure activity remains high by historical levels, it is lower than the peak levels over the last few years.

According to Realtor.com data showing the Westside median list price down about 5% from a year ago, reduced prices are attracting more interest. With high end sales on the rise, buyers are no longer assured that the house they saw on the market last week will still be available a few weeks later. Keep in mind the high end market is not reflective of all price spectrums so be sure to consult a real estate expert in your area to provide you with current information about sale trends in your neighborhood.

To find Luxury homes and condos, including short pays and foreclosures in your area or for a free consultation, contact Bess at 310.291.4111. Bess Hochman is a Real Estate Broker & top producer for more than 15 years. Bess is also distinguished by holding a law degree. Her high-end clientele include celebrities, attorneys, and other professionals that understand the value of a real estate broker with legal expertise and experience. A native of Beverly Hills, Bess credits her success to repeat referrals by her satisfied clients.

Contact Bess:310.291.4111.E-mail: Bess.CenturyCityNews@yahoo.com
* The sources of information may or may not have been based on information from the combined /Westside Multiple Listing Service as of 4-13-12. Some listings may not be available as of publication.
c. 2012 Bess Hochman
---------------------------
“Bess is a master negotiator!” says Michael Donaldson, attorney & author of Negotiating For Dummies

Supreme Court decision in Brinker v. Superior Court provides clarity to employees and employers, will reduce costly litigation

(This article was published in the Century City News on April 17, 2012)

In a unanimous ruling, the California Supreme Court determined in Brinker Restaurant v. Superior Court that employers are “not obligated to police meal breaks and ensure no work thereafter is performed.” Among other issues, the court finally answered the question of what it means to “provide” a meal break. The court’s opinion stated that an employer satisfies this obligation if it relieves its employees of all duties, relinquishes control over their activities and permits them a reasonable opportunity to take an uninterrupted 30-minute break and does not impede or discourage them from doing so.

“We commend Brinker for seeing this case through the judicial process to an end that will benefit employers from countless industries,” California Restaurant Association President + CEO Jot Condie said. “Employers have spent millions fighting and settling frivolous lawsuits on these issues and now have some clarity on how to move forward in compliance with the law.”

The court ruled that employers aren’t required to ensure that no work is done during a meal or rest period. The ruling provides much-needed clarity and relief to operators on an issue that has plagued the California courts with countless lawsuits that have been a significant source of costly class-action litigation for numerous industries.

Employers wishing to capitalize on the flexibility that Brinker provides should immediately ensure that they have written policies in place advising employees of their right to take meal and rest breaks, and emphasize the timing of those breaks. The court also made clear that employers may not in any way pressure employees to work through their meal breaks by way of “ridicule or reprimand.”

“It’s more important than ever to train management staff on the proper way to handle these breaks,” said Condie. “The bottom-line from Brinker is that those 30 minutes belong to the employee and they can choose for themselves how to spend that time.

“We’re hopeful that as the second-largest private employer in the state, the restaurant industry can get back to dedicating more time and resources to employing Californians, reducing the state’s nearly 11-percent unemployment rate, and helping the economy recover from the worst recession since the Great Depression,” Condie said.

Social City News by Marci Weiner

(This article was published in the Century City News on April 17, 2012)

By Marci Weiner

GENESIS AWARDS & JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL
Multi-talented Carrie Ann Inaba, best known as one of the three judges on Dancing with the Stars,served as Host for the 28th Genesis Awards. These awards are presented by the Humane Society to honor news and entertainment media for raising public awareness of animal issues.

This year’s recipient of the prestigious Wyler Award was Ian Somerhalder, Star of the TV hit series the Vampire Diaries. He was recognized for his dedication to animal advocacy and spreading the word about such issues as shark fining, fur in fashion and endangered species.

Other awards were presented to Rise of the Planet of the Apes (Outstanding Feature Film) The Colbert Report ) whaling issues) and the Ellen DeGeneres Show for Outstanding Talk Show, which dealt with dog fighting and puppy mills.

Among the celebrity presenters were Bill Maher, Jason Ritter, Sophia Bush, Rose McGowan, Mobyand Cloris Leachman – but the one who received the most applause was adorable Uggie, the show-stealing terrier from The Artist. Everyone wanted to pose with the precocious pup.

Kudos to Beverly Kasky, senior director of Hollywood Outreach Program and producer of the Genesis Awards – which will premiere as a one-hour special on Animal Planet on May 5th.

Another event, which you won’t want to miss, is the 7th Annual LA Jewish Film Festival, which runs from May 5-10th. They kick off their excellent line-up of 26 films with an opening night star-studded red carpet celebration and premiere of the authorized Documentary, Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom. Some of the celebs who are in the film, will participate in a discussion proceeding the film, including Theresa Russel, Mamie Van Doren, Marian Collier and Jill Vandenberg Curtis. Others invited to attend include: Shirley Jones, Theo Bikel, Hugh Hefner, Consul General of Israel, Tia Carrere, and the stars of The Artist, Penelope Ann Miller & Ed Lauter. Wonder if Uggie will be in attendance?

For a full schedule of the films and events being offered, please check out their website www.lajfilmfest.org Remember their motto: “Our films aren’t just selected, They’re Chosen.”

Love Buzz - RECEIVING FROM THE HEART

(This article was published in the Century City News on April 17, 2012)


By Anita De Francesco, MA
Relationship Specialist

Are you a giver or a receiver? It is said that giving is a way to open to the higher power while receiving is a way to connect to the universe. When we receive we allow the positive flow of another’s gifts to circulate through our system. We give ourselves the permission to let someone in. I believe if we can’t receive then we lack a sense of worth, loss and possibly guilt. Some people would rather give because they don’t know how to receive . When we receive there is a warmth in the heart that begins to open up with joy; a warmth that surrounds the chest and heart areas with love and attention and a feeling of love that circulates through the rest of the body. Is this hard to receive? Receiving comes in many forms such as taking a compliment, or a material gift or a smile or even a touch. When we allow ourselves to receive there is a certain love that we show ourselves that no one else experiences but you. Receiving is a way of connecting and opening your heart to your own feelings. You may not like a gift that someone gives you but the question is how well do you receive it? Do you receive it with anger, disappointment, and frustration or with love even if they didn’t know what you needed or wanted. Did it ever occur to you that people are trying their best to please us in any way they can. When you go to a restaurant and you didn’t like the dessert that was homemade from this family owned restaurant; do you label it as being bad food or do you instead say to your heart, they tried their best to please me the customer and they did put effort into it and I should appreciate them for their love; they are doing their best. We forget to look at what other people have available to give from their hearts. We only give what we are able to and what we know. When we receive we teach ourselves and others the real meaning of love and in essence we get smarter and sharper.

Are you a terrible receiver and caught between the heart and the words thank you? Do you over give and forget you have boundaries? Giving and receiving are what connect us to the fundamental experiences of life and interdependence. When we give unconditionally we also long to receive deeply and liberally and to feel the meaning of being touched, nourished and transformed by others. It is others who help us transform into the next dimension of our being.

Let us take it a step further, are you a giver or receiver in the bedroom and do you have a hard time asking for what you want and deserve to receive? This practice of receiving begins in everyday life activities before it can even have affect in the bedroom. Receiving can be challenging as we live in a world of selfishness and when we receive with open heart it can sometimes look like selfishness. To remove the selfish and get away from the “take” requires intention and love. Good intention when giving helps people open to a different level that allows them to feel and appreciate. This can be contagious. If we are cold hearted and hateful then receiving can get lost and become taking. There are takers out there and we need to teach them to appreciate everything even the little things that they are given from others and the universe. The universe gives us so much everyday; and yet we don’t take notice. The old saying is better to give then to receive is not true. It is good to have a balance between the two. When we allow ourselves to receive our levels of dopamine rise which is the hormone of feeling good. Receive with confidence and courage. Anthropologist Marcel Mauss examined gift economics and concluded that there is no such thing as a free gift. He claimed that one has no right to refuse a gift, if so it shows a fear of having to reciprocate. So when you receive do you feel obligated to give back such as in holiday or birthday times? The old tit for tat theory. If you receive with open heart and confidence those false feelings of obligation will dissolve. We give to show love and affection and we should also receive with those same feelings. In China the practice of reciprocity is so profound that it is the basic rule of being a person. They believe in repaying ones gratitude with more than what they received. For example if they honor one arm they repay back in honoring ten arms. Every culture has its own way and values when it comes to giving and receiving. In China they also believe in refusing the gift over and over before finally receiving it. I guess working for it so to speak, climbing the ladder of karma and worth.

Sometimes receivers feel weaker and fear having to let down their ego in order to be humble and kind. Part of receiving is giving up control, resistance, armor and defense. Even when we give advice people reject that because of their frail egos may have to open to the heart of receiving. If we are not a good receiver we can lose respect from others in the sense that they may take advantage. Everyone deserves to receive in many ways which says I can and deserve to receive love.

Receiving is one of the most intimate gifts of life and if you miss this part of it you are not living. My advice is to accept what your partner is giving and find the connection. Receiving can heal your pain and is very empowering so I recommend faking it for a while until that heart opens and connects to the whole experience
Do you feel stuck and in a rut, depressed or anxious or overall sluggish? I practice Reichian, Gestalt, somatic movement, and counseling/bodywork integrative therapies which involves focused breathing to help stimulate the emotions thus re-patterning the nervous system. I help you to focus on the negative voices and thoughts that create the stress and to resolve those unwanted interruptions that get in the way of your life process. Those stiff armored muscles that block sensation and energy flow will eventually soften.

The rage sitting in the muscles will unfold allowing more feelings of pleasure, more creativeness, freeing blocked energies and sexual dysfunction. Modern society has forced the human character to live in unnatural ways holding back basic needs and instincts. This process of breathing deeply sends messages to the brain which is an effective way to release anger, to let go of baggage, and to feel more alive and trusting thus living in a higher self esteem.

Anita De Francesco, M.A.
www.tantrawisdom.com
info@tantrawisdom.com
310-210-1464

THE PONZI BOOK: A LEGAL RESOURCE FOR UNRAVELING PONZI SCHEMES

(This article was published in the Century City News on April 17, 2012)

By: Kathy Bazoian Phelps and Hon. Steven Rhodes


Now Available at www.lexisnexis.com/ponzibook

Electronic versions also available
www.theponzibook.com

“The Ponzi Book is an invaluable resource for lawyers and judges enmeshed in the thicket of Ponzi scheme litigation. Clearly written and accessible, the book provides key insights into Ponzi cases and how they differ from ordinary bankruptcy litigation.”

Kenneth N. Klee
Klee, Tuchin, Bogdanoff & Stern LLP
“The Ponzi Book is one stop shopping for the facts needed to understand the complex fall-out from a collapsed Ponzi scheme as well as the legal strategies that exist and are required to unravel it.”
Irving H. Picard
Trustee of Bernard L. Madoff
Investment Securities, LLC


Sign up for The Ponzi Blog at www.theponzibook.blogspot.com

“There’s little doubt that Charles Ponzi would be proud of how his infamous brainchild has grown and developed over the years, becoming more complex in execution and breadth. Indeed, the perpetuators of his schemes have grown ever more sophisticated in their efforts, making Mr. Ponzi’s modest beginning look almost quaint in retrospect. With the multi-billion dollar Ponzi schemes that have become unearthed since the capital market meltdown of mid-2008, the legal and financial complexities in their unwinding have become a specialty unto themselves in the law.
“Fortunately for the professional faced with the daunting task of unwinding (or defending) the Ponzi scheme, help has finally arrived! The Ponzi Book: A Legal Resource For Unraveling Ponzi Schemes by Kathy Bazoian Phelps, Esq. and Judge Steven Rhodes is a unique, and the definitive, resource in this area. The book is well organized, exhaustively researched, and covers areas well beyond the obvious in such matters, such as privilege issues, litigating against foreign nationals and obtaining discovery from abroad (as we now know, fraud knows no national boundaries), and the tax issues that come with such schemes. It is in all respects the ‘go to source’ in these matters, and my law firm will have copies in all offices where we have bankruptcy professionals. Frankly, I wish I had written it!”

Thomas J. Salerno
Partner, Co-Chair International Insolvency Practice Group,
Squire Sanders

Century City Real Estate Report

(This article originally appeared in the May 1, 2012 edition of the Century City News)

New Projects Planned For Century City Could Impact You

By Bess Hochman

With the resurgence of real estate development, active members of our community are monitoring projects in Century City that are in various stages of development. There has been particular concern about how these projects could negatively impact our infrastructure including our streets and flow of traffic.

Chicago based developer and Landlord JMB has scrapped its plans to build luxury residential high rise units for a high rise office tower instead. It plans to take advantage of the high rents that Century City commands along with vacancy rate stabilization across the office sector.

JMB had received approvals earlier to build 2 high rise towers and one 12 story loft condo building at Constellation and Avenue of the Stars, formerly the site of City National Bank and the Constellation Club. Now JMB is planning a 37 story office tower called “Century City Center.” Given its scale and intensive commercial use, the new project raises significant traffic impact issues.

There is still uncertainty and controversy over the proposed Constellation Boulevard site of the subway line under development. This location for the subway stop in the heart of Century City

is just steps away from the JMB project and from the Westfield Shopping Mall.

There has been a contentious dispute between those who support the Century City subway stop site and the Beverly Hills Unified School District because the location of the proposed Constellation site requires tunneling under the Beverly Hills High School. The school district would prefer the subway stop to be located at Santa Monica Blvd.

Both JMB Realty and Westfield Corporation own real estate properties in Century City which would benefit greatly from the Constellation stop as the Westside extension of the new subway line. The school district is fighting this location raising safety and construction issues like the sinkhole created in Hollywood related to subway tunneling there. There is also the methane gas risk arising out of the oil fields under the high school.

Another developer changing course is the owner of the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel, a landmark site. He has backed down from his original proposal to demolish the Hotel and is instead planning a high rise development next to it.

A third project located at the eastern border of Century City where it adjoins Beverly Hills is progressing. Plans are being finalized with the City for construction of about a 39 story residential 1, 2 and 3 bedroom condo project. The units will range from 1600 to 2000 square feet and start at an average of 1.5 Million Dollars.

To find Luxury homes and condos, including short pays and foreclosures in your area or for a free consultation, contact Bess at 310.291.4111. Bess Hochman is a Real Estate Broker & top producer for more than 15 years. Bess is also distinguished by holding a law degree. Her high-end clientele include celebrities, attorneys, and other professionals that understand the value of a real estate broker with legal expertise and experience. A native of Beverly Hills, Bess credits her success to repeat referrals by her satisfied clients.

Contact Bess:310.291.4111.E-mail: Bess.CenturyCityNews@yahoo.com

* The sources of information may or may not have been based on information from the combined /Westside Multiple Listing Service as of 4-27-12. Some listings may not be available as of publication.
c. 2012 Bess Hochman
---------------------------
“Bess is a master negotiator!” says Michael Donaldson, attorney & author of Negotiating For Dummies

Social City News by Marci Weiner

(This article originally appeared in the May 1, 2012 edition of the Century City News)

ODYSSEY BALL & AMERICAN SPIRIT AWARDS

Dancing With the Stars was well represented at the Odyssey Ball benefiting the John Wayne Cancer Institute. The ballroom of the Beverly Hilton was transformed into Club Disco, and Tony Dovolani, the talented pro from the hit TV series, served as Host, The opening act was a slew of fabulous flash mob dancers from the Calabasas High School Dance Team, which got the SRO audience into a dance frenzy. Later in the show, Grammy Award winning songwriter, producer and singer David Foster, performed with several of his friends, including opera star Katherine Jenkins, arguably the best dancer on DWTS. The blond beauty will no doubt receive the coveted mirror ball trophy. And to add to the mix, her partner, Mark Ballas was on hand to support her, as well as the irrepressible Judge Gino Tonioli, and former contestants Martina Navratilova and Marlee Matlin.

But undeniably the star of the evening was boyishly handsome Dr Lawrence Piro, who received the Duke Award (named in honor ofJohn Wayne) for his outstanding work in cancer research and treatment. Director Wolfgang Petersen (Das Boot – Air Force One) presented the award to Dr. Piro, who is regularly listed as one of the “ Best Doctors in America”. As Patrick Wayne, Chairman of the Board of the Institute stated, “We are privileged to have Dr. Piro as a member of our JWCI family, and publicly recognize his dedication to developing new cancer treatments.

Among the star-studded audience were actor Ryan O’Neil (who is currently battling cancer himself), his daughter Tatum, andAlana Stewart – who was the bff of his late partner, Farrah Fawcett, who died from cancer a few years ago. Unfortunately, like many of us, this dread disease has touched his family. Let’s pray that with the support of organizations like the John Wayne Cancer Institute, all forms of cancer will be eradicated.
The Caucus for Producers, Writers and Director Eight Annual American Spirit Awards were held in the Rodeo Room of the Beverly Hills Hotel. Honored guests included Congressmen Darrell Issa of San Diego, and Howard Berman of the San Fernando Valley, philanthropist Bob Barker and Larry Auerbach, Associate Dean of the USC School of Cinematic Arts.

Each speaker and honoree addressed what the American Spirit means – personally and to the world. The entertainment industry puts an image of America out to the world that is important to the safety and security of our country. It was particularly exciting to meet legendary game show host, Bob Barker, who is also a noted animal activist. He is as handsome and erudite at 89, as he was when he was the host of The Price Is Right from 1972 to 2007. We love what Syd Vinnedge, former Producer of the show said about Barker: “He has done more for animals than anyone since Noah.”

Kudos to Event Chair, Producer Chuck Fries, Chairman Norman Powell, and their hard working committee for a most interesting and inspiring evening.