Page 8 February 23, 2017 EL SEGUNDO HERALD Entertainment Film Review Check It Out Every 40 Years Tells a Father’s Rock Star Past By Morgan Rojas for www.cinemacy.com Film festivals are showcases for new movies that are hoping to get picked up for distribution. One that premiered at this year’s Santa Barbara International Film Festival is Every 40 Years (for our exclusive interview with the film’s directors, visit www.cinemacy.com) Many people cringe at the thought of their parents’ wild and crazy antics as young adults, during the years of pre-children responsibility. Director Eric Goldrich was so infatuated with his dad’s unknown past life--a man whose title, as far as he was concerned, was only that of “father,”--that he set out to investigate his family’s history. What he discovered about the identity of his unassuming dad turned out to be a giant surprise in the form of an underground rock and roll icon of the 1970s. This is the premise of the documentary Every 40 Years– an enjoyable journey of discovery and second chances. Goldrich, along with co-director Ben Friedberg, takes audiences down memory lane as he explores his dad’s involvement in the band Gunhill Road, 40 years after the group broke into the Billboard Top 40 charts. His father Steve Goldrich, (Piano/Vocals) and his bandmates Glenn Leopold (Guitar/Vocals), Gil Roman (Original Bass/Vocals) and Paul Reisch (Bass/ Vocals), recount their days as an up-and-coming band, playing shows at the legendary venue The Bitter End in New York City. While they seemed to have a promising career after the release of their first and second records (the latter of which Kenny Rogers produced), shady deals and other external factors caused the group to go their separate ways. Intimate interviews capture the heartache felt by the members at that time. Even 40 years later, the raw emotions are still there. However, when an opportunity arises to reunite for one final show, the former bandmates jump at the chance, much to the delight of their fans and the guys themselves. The title is a bit misleading to me. For some reason the phrase “Every 40 Years” conjures up feelings of heaviness and dramatic longing. But after watching this film, one thing’s for sure. If these guys weren’t musicians, they would have made a killing as stand-up comics. Aside from being funny, it is obvious that those who are fans of Gunhill Road will get a kick out of seeing them back in the spotlight. Whether or not you’re a Gunhill Road fan, the universal theme of passionate living and believing in second chances will no doubt resonate with audiences. A balanced blend of thoughtfulness and boogie, Every 40 Years is as humble a film as the band members themselves. Once described as “The Best Opening Act” during a residency at The Bitter End, the film mimics the gravitas of an opening act band. It’s fun, not too serious and, above all else, entertaining. • Members of Gunhill Road in Every 40 Years. Photo Courtesy of SBIFF. Cooking for Picasso By Camille Aubray Reviewed by Kristina Kora-Beckman, Librarian I, El Segundo Public Library What better way to spend a rainy afternoon then curled up with a book you can’t put down? With all the rain we’ve been getting this year, we’ve had plenty of opportunities to do just that. If you’re looking for titles to add to your to-read list, give Camille Aubray’s Cooking for Picasso a try. The novel opens in the French Riviera, spring 1936, with a 17-year-old Ondine delivering lunch from her parents’ café to a mysterious new customer at a nearby villa. The patron turns out to be Pablo Picasso, and they embark on a heated summer of discovery and shared passions. Fast-forward to present day, when makeup artist Celine discovers that her grandmother Ondine once cooked for Picasso. With the hint of more family secrets to uncover, Celine embarks on a journey to the small French town where Ondine and Picasso met. While there, Celine unravels the mystery of her family’s heritage, while also discovering her own passions. Told in alternating perspectives, the book includes lush descriptions of authentic French dishes, picturesque Cote d’Azur countryside and the prolific chaos of Picasso’s painting and personal life. It also includes heartbreak, family drama, and how characters make the best of difficult situations. All in all, an engaging escape of historical fiction. The El Segundo Public Library offers access to its collection of titles in a variety of formats, including traditional hardback, e-books and books on CD. To check out Camille Aubray’s Cooking for Picasso or any other title on your to-read list, please visit the library to apply for your library card, or please contact the reference staff for further assistance. • Kristina Kora-Beckman. Real Sweet: More than 80 Crave-Worthy Treats Made with Natural Sugars by Shauna Sever. Rainy-Day from front page to climb on a wet roof, and hiring somebody to do it is costly too. Property owners understandably get nervous when they see leaky roofs, windows and doors. However, dishonest and unlicensed repair companies come out of the woodwork too when rain batters South Bay homes and businesses. Seniors are most vulnerable to sales pitches for storm repairs from construction companies, promoting a consumer alert from the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office. “Advertisements on social media sites, flyers and other publications promising low-cost work such as roofing repair or flood protection may sound especially appealing to a senior on a fixed income,” DA Jackie Lacey warned. “Sometimes the workmanship is so poor that the job has to be redone later. In some cases, contractors will require a very large payment before getting started and, once they get paid, the work is never finished.” Before hiring for storm repairs, ask family and friends to refer reputable contractors who are licensed and carry proper insurance. A homeowner can be liable for a slip-and-fall accident from a ladder or roof if a contractor doesn’t carry workers’ comp insurance, authorities say. Remember to ask contractors if they’re licensed, then verify it at the state Contractors State License Board (http://cslb.ca.gov). Tips from the Contractors Licensing board about storm damage repairs include: • Ask to see a contractor’s license. • Call 800-321-2752 to verify the license. • Don’t rush into decisions. • Don’t hire the first contractor who comes along. • Get three bids, check references and get a written contract. • Don’t pay more than 10 percent down or $1,000—whichever is less. • Don’t pay cash, and don’t let the payments get ahead of the work. • Contact CSLB if you have a complaint against a contractor. Scams by unlicensed contractors and dishonest repairmen succeed when homeowners feel rushed to make a decision. If a contractor is applying pressure to sign a contract on the spot, then that can be a tipoff that he or she is a fraud. Reputable construction businesses give a homeowner time to compare bids before making a decision, the State Contracting Licensing Board says. A downpour is no exception. A Southern California winter storm may huff and puff, but it won’t blow down the house. “Most of us overreact,” said South Bay roofing contractor John Ramey. Rainwater dripping from a ceiling is a good bet there’s a roof leak. It doesn’t always require the immediate attention of a roofing professional, according to Ramey. Climbing a roof in a storm is dangerous for a roofer, and costly for a homeowner for whom water damage is a huge concern. “Unless it’s a major leak, don’t panic. It’s just water,” Ramey said. “It’s hot up in an attic, so mold isn’t an issue with a roof leak. That water’s going to dry out in minutes or hours.” Reputable roofing contractors--those with licenses, general liability and workers’ compensation insurance, and references--are in heavy demand during a rainstorm. Riding out the storm can be a better option than hiring any available roof repair company on an inclement day. “All of the good roofers are super busy. So, you have to ask yourself, ‘Hey, how come this guy can come out right now?’” Ramey asked. Local companies charge between $300 and $500 for an emergency repair or to tarp the roof. California does not have a “handyman” license. All construction work that costs over $500 in combined labor and materials must be performed by a contractor with a CSLBissued license. One of the Contractors State License Board’s best tools to catch unlicensed contractors is an undercover sting operation. CSLB conducts stings around the state on a regular basis, including one in December in San Fernando. Investigators each year arrest hundreds of unlicensed contractors who walk into undercover operations to bid on home-improvement jobs. The CSLB is looking for residential and commercial properties in the South Bay to stage one- or two-day sting operations. Call 562-345-7600 or email SWIFTSouth@cslb. ca.gov to help protect consumers from suspected unlicensed contractors and shoddy repair crews who target seniors and use the weather as a ruse to take their money, and then blow out of town. • Like Us on Facebook
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