‘A Gift from the Heavens’
Sarah Jarosz performed at the John Anson Ford Theatre on August 7. To call her work “music” is to engage in understatement. It is far better than that. There is no word in existence yet for the sort of intoxicating blend of tones, melodies and emotions by which she reaches out to you with her seemingly longing embrace.
She masterfully culls beautifully delicious emanations from stringed instruments such as the guitar, mandolin, octave mandolin and banjo while singing with the powerfully smooth mellow voice of an angel from ethereal heavens. Her bellows incite—her whispers entice. You wonder: Is she really from this earth? Wherever it is she is from, you want to be there … and stay there.
Creator of wonderful heartfelt lyrics that touch the soul and haunt the mind in a delightfully profound way, she weaves personal thoughts and feelings into a magical fabric that transports the spirit on wings of sound.
Equally adept at evoking empathy, warmth and joy from stage or studio, this wondrous muse inspires such serenity, peace and awe that you must listen to her and then you must fall in love … with her … and her music.
If you are doubting these words, consider her four Grammy Awards and 10 Grammy nominations, explore her vast catalogue of six studio albums, numerous live tracks, and a multitude of music videos … and, by all means necessary, see her perform live whenever possible.
Warning: Sarah Jarosz will captivate you—prepare to be enveloped … in euphoric rapture.
Here are some links that can connect you with the marvelous world of Sarah Jarosz:
“Green Lights” (youtube.com/watch?v=r1gPUlO70O8); “Johnny” (youtube.com/watch?v=eu8hn0Qo-XM); and “Gone Too Soon” (youtube.com/watch?v=xo-Uhw6rJI8).
Joe Iacopino
Marquez Knolls
Cacti in the Park
A version of the following letter was sent to the City of Los Angeles Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners and has been reprinted here with permission.
Dear Board Members:
I am a grateful 26-year resident of Pacific Palisades. I am reaching out regarding my concern with the recent planting of prickly pear cactus in George Wolfberg Park at Potrero Canyon.
An article was published some time ago (I believe in the Los Angeles Times), which noted that there is an incurable fungus throughout the Westside of Los Angeles and beyond that is killing well-established prickly pear cactus. There is evidence of this infection/devastation in the cacti on Via de las Olas as well as on Mount Holyoke Street (overlooking Temescal Canyon Road), which are very close to the Friends Street entrance side of the park. Many of the infected cacti have been removed, however, there are numerous diseased cacti which remain and are covered with the fungus.
Although the park landscaping is relatively new and the prickly pear cacti were recently planted in George Wolfberg Park at Potrero Canyon, a number of the plants along Friends Street are already infected. In addition, the prickly pear spikes seem dangerous for users of the park, including children and dogs, which may accidentally brush against the spikes. The following quote is from an LA Times article published in May:
“Prevent future injuries by assessing your yard and surroundings. If you have kids or pets, it may not be worthwhile to have a cactus in your landscaping, especially if it’s a species of prickly pear. Even if you avoid getting pricked by the longer spines, [John] Trager [curator of desert collections at the Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens in San Marino] said, a slight brush against the plant can release the glochids, which will ‘float around and get into your skin and make you itch a little later.’”
While I applaud the planting of drought-tolerant plants in Potrero Canyon Park, the choice of prickly pear at this time seems doomed to fail and create problems for the park. Perhaps the Department of Recreation and Parks will want to remove the cacti before the fungus gets out of control. Also, the removal of more mature cacti is more costly and challenging.
Randi Frisch
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