"Autism is Awesome" Benefit Concert Jack Black & Stephen Stills

far right: Lexy Aaron, Wyatt Issacs & Rio Wyles

On October 4, 2011, The Miracle Project present- ed a free “Autism is Awesome” benefit concert at The Grove in Los Angeles to bring greater awareness to the miracles and possibili- ties for children with autism.
 
Autism the Musical, an HBO Emmy-Award win- ning documentary, (2008) introduced the world to The Miracle Project’s amazing work with autistic children. The Miracle Project, founded in 2004 by Elaine Hall and Diane Issacs, is a multi-platform socialization program that enables children and teens with autism and other special needs, to express themselves through music, dance, acting, story, and writing.

The Tree Ceremony – Honoring a Landmark of the SFV

Ceremony honoring Aleppo

On October 12, 2011, twenty neighbors on Kittridge Street in Van Nuys gathered together to honor and celebrate the life of one of the oldest native tree spirits of the San Fernando Valley – that of a 300-year-old Aleppo Pine – standing 150 feet tall.

When news of the sale of this beautiful Van Nuys property brought with it word that the tree that gave shade to more than half the block was too tall to insure, the new owners were devastated – as were all the neighbors. Under great pressure from the mortgage and insurance companies – that would not complete the sale, or insure the property if the tree stayed – the owners gave in. Who would have thought that liability fears of mega companies would one day take the life of this beautiful historic landmark?

Kathy's Favorite Finds At Natural Products Expo 2011

Every year I embark on a new adventure when attending the Natural Products Expo in Anaheim CA. My mission – to have a good time, connect with old friends, meet new ones, and find Kathy's Favorite Products that truly are healthy and sustainable. 

For me (and hundreds of others) the weekend always starts off with the Organic Farmers Research Foundation's (OFRF) meet and greet luncheon on Thursday. The OFRF is a non-profit organization that sponsors organic farming research and education projects, disseminates the results, and educates the public and policymakers about organic farming issues. 

This year the incredible cuisine was once again orchestrated by chef Donna Prizgintas, along with her team of equally remarkable chef's including Akasha Richmond, Jesse Cool and Beth Miller. Fabulously delicious. To see my favorite finds ...

MTV Movie Awards Eco Lounge

MTV Movie Awards Eco Lounge Gift Suite

I recently had the pleasure of attending Debbie Durkin’s MTV Movie Awards Eco Lounge two-day event held in a gated community at the famed mansion of the hit TV show 90210. I arrived at the event early to help my friends with Fabe’s All Natural Bakery (healthy gourmet desserts without refined sugar) set up for the weekend when suddenly there was a thundering sound overhead – a helicopter – along with plenty of emergency sirens. It was obvious that something big was happening and we were smack dab in the middle of it all. Without going into the situation in this blog here is a link to the media coverage that followed – http://tinyurl.com/3lsq5ht – Interestingly enough, I happened to be the only media source in the prestigious locked down estate community and began interviewing the sponsors of the event as the swat teams surrounded the area. 

Learning How To Meditate - From A Man In Jeans And A T-Shirt?

Being a student of life, I find myself continuously open to exploring new ways of learning, both about myself, and the world around me. Last December I was at Marianne Williamson’s Tuesday night lecture in Los Angeles, and as usual the message was exactly what I needed to hear. During one of her interludes she announced a friend of hers, actor/author Jeff Kober, was presenting a free introduction to Vedic Meditation the following Sunday, and so I decided to go.