With music in her soul, Signal Hill resident Willonna Green has put her passion to work on her debut album So Special, but as a new artist awaiting her big break, the jazz-and-blues artist spends her days as a heavy-equipment operator for a construction company. Yet with a song in her heart, Green combines her two worlds in her music to tell the story of her “construction blues.”
Born in Pontiac, Michigan, Green states that she has always had an interest in music. She studied and practiced the saxophone and flute and also took voice lessons at the Detroit Community Music School.
“It was just in my heart to play music,” said Green.
Though her love of music convinced her to play professionally, she realized that she still had to pay the bills. So the self-proclaimed tomboy worked as an auto mechanic until the late 1980s, when she decided to pack up her bags and head off to California to further pursue her dreams.
After moving to “the land of opportunity” in 1987, Green made musical connections and also a career change, moving from auto repair to construction. As a heavy-equipment operator, she felt that she could handle “hanging with the boys” whilst maneuvering a Caterpillar, bulldozer or forklift.
Green has experienced significant milestones in both her music career and in her construction work, from playing alongside established artists to forming the all-girl group Hangin’ With the Girls to helping build the Getty Center Museum, during which time she was inspired to write “Construction Blues,” a song she felt said what no other woman would openly say to men about men.
“I helped build the Getty Museum from 1994 through 1996. I was a forklift operator, and I ran one of the bigger forklifts called the skytrack forklift that has the outriggers, the extended boom. On that job there’s very few women and there was about 2,000 men or more during the time it was being built but I had seen over 500 or 600 from the time I was working every day,” she said. “When I would see them I would start smiling and thinking about them, then I thought, ‘I should write a song about this.’”
So she did, and when Green let those on the job hear her original track, she said that they fell in love with it. She is very proud of her track and recommends that all who pick up her album listen to “Construction Blues.” “It’s among the songs that come from a lot of situations. I like to think of a lot of different things when I write,” she said.
So Special can be found online at www.cdbaby.com for $11.95. For more information on Willonna Green, visit www.willonna.com.

For those in the mood for love, wedding officiant Alan Katz wants to bring lovebirds together.
A performer and entrepreneur, Katz has made a business marrying couples throughout southern California and being a part of what he calls “the best show in town.”
Since 2003, Katz has brought brides and grooms together, beginning with a couple rather close to him.
“I did my first wedding for a friend. We couldn’t decide which one of us would be his best man, me or one of our other friends. So I said, jokingly, ‘well, why don’t I get ordained and perform your ceremony?’ So I did.”
After getting ordained online, Katz performed his first ceremony, and the positive reaction from wedding guests and the several offers that succeeded the celebration convinced Katz to continue officiating, so he decided to make a small business venture out of it.
One Web site and 1,000 weddings later, Katz and his partners at SoCalOfficiant.com have made a name for themselves as the go-to guys for “Fun and romantic weddings.”
“I like situations where people want to have fun. I mean I’ve been to weddings where people are somber and just sitting there, it’s almost like a funeral,” said Katz. “My best thing is being able to do it in an environment where people want to have fun and laugh and be ready to party after the ceremony’s over and make the ceremony part of the party.”
As certified wedding officiants, Katz and his colleagues represent no religious viewpoint in regard to the ceremony and make no judgments based on beliefs, race, creed, color or sexual orientation.
According to the So Cal Officiant Web site, “If you have the desire to be joined together, we will be happy to help you put a ceremony together that meets your needs.”
“I prefer to call myself an officiant, rather than a minister or a rabbi because it’s what I’m doing, I’m officiating a wedding,” said Katz. “And how I’m officiating that wedding is dependent upon what the people want. Whether they want a religious wedding, a non-religious wedding, whether they want a themed wedding, those are the different types of weddings. So depending on what they want will be what I provide them.”
What the couple wants, though, can be hard to decipher. Katz claims that when a bride or groom contacts him, they often are unsure about what to say when screening officiants.
“Lots of people say ‘hi, I need someone to perform a wedding but I’m not sure what to ask,’ so I ask them about what they want,” he said. “Whether they want a religious or nonreligious ceremony, that’s the first thing. And also whether they want it fun or boring. If they want it boring, I tell them to look somewhere else.”
A lifelong actor and performer, Katz likes to make a production out of his wedding ceremonies, especially when it comes to his themed weddings.
“When I do a wedding, it’s not such a boring thing, it’s a celebration. It’s a fun celebration of getting two people who are in love together, and that’s how I look at it,” said Katz. “We’re kind of putting on a play for everybody out there.”
In his five years as a wedding officiant, Katz has married people while dressed in Renaissance attire and as Cupid, Santa and his personal favorite, Elvis. Also, since he is certified to issue marriage licenses and domestic partnership agreements, he frequently is called to do impromptu weddings at unorthodox locations.
“I’ve done a ceremony at Denny’s. A lot of times since I can do things spur–of–the–moment, I can issue licenses and do everything. People call me at the last minute to do weddings, so who knows where it is going to be,” he said.
Whether standing in a church or along the beach at sunset, it doesn’t matter to Katz, because to him it’s all about doing what he loves to make others happy.
“The reason I do this is when you go to a wedding and you see the bride and the groom look at each other, it’s such an intense love. Any time I am seeing that look between two people, I know I’m doing the right thing.”
For more information on Alan Katz and the So Cal Officiants, call (562) 799-1206 or visit www.socalofficiant.com.

A woman’s pregnancy can be an emotionally and physically intense time for any and all involved. But for those looking for a nurturing alternative to traditional childbirth methods, local birthing instructor Andrea Gamble gives mothers and fathers-to-be a helping hand.
For nearly one year, Gamble has been an independent, certified instructor of the Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth, a system of natural labor techniques. With this system, a woman and her coach play an active part through increasing self-awareness, nutrition, exercise and educational classes.
“It relies on nature and teaches the mother to stay fit and relaxed and just focuses on natural childbirth,” said Gamble.
A true believer of the Bradley Method, Gamble stumbled upon the birthing alternative in a prenatal yoga class and found its intimate nature comforting for her first pregnancy.
“It’s very natural, and they talked about interventions, and it’s 12 weeks of classes so it made me feel very comfortable,” she said.
After her second pregnancy, she decided to take her interest one step further, helping other expecting moms during their time of need.
“Lots of people don’t know there’s a lot of alternatives out there,” said Gamble. “Natural childbirth is beautiful and natural and I wanted to share that with other women.”
Unlike popular childbirth classes offered in hospitals and clinics, Gamble’s classes are a 12-week-long series taught out of her own home in Long Beach. Her courses include videos, a workbook, and nutrition information, as well as breathing and relaxation techniques.
“From what I know, most of the Lamaze and hospital classes are stereotyped with breathing exercises for when you’re in labor. They don’t offer any coping techniques for when you’re actually about to have the baby,” she said. “We do abdominal breathing exercises and visualization and rely on the husband or coach for emotional support.”
Many of Gamble’s students are couples who claim that after taking the classes they feel not only empowered by their newfound knowledge, but also confidence and a closeness with their spouse or partner.
“People are unaware of all of the feelings and actions that occur during childbirth, but the information gives them knowledge and a lot of men feel no fear going into it because of what they learned,” said Gamble.
And according to www .bradleybirth.com, nearly 90 percent of moms who use the Bradley Method had natural vaginal births without using any form of pain medication. Gamble hopes that more women will turn to natural childbirth and see the beauty in the experience.
“It’s a beautiful thing and something our body was made to do.”
The cost of Gamble’s 12-week birthing class series is $300 and includes an informative workbook for students. For more information, contact Andrea Gamble at (562) 208-4383 or visit www.bradleybirth.com.

When Jeannie Bork was just a small-town girl, she loved to dress up and play with her dolls, as so many young girls do. Now, she has developed a bargain brand that brings back her childhood memories for future generations to enjoy.
According to Bork, her inspiration to create and sell doll clothes wasn’t one that she attempted, but rather was an inexpensive way of helping her daughter with her doll collection.
“My daughter who is 18 now got her first American Girl doll when she was about 7 or 8,” said Bork. “The clothes for that type of doll were so expensive, nearly $25 a piece, so every once in a while we used to visit my mother in Iowa, and we would go design an outfit to bring back to my daughter.”
Born and raised in the Midwest, Bork learned to sew at an early age and found many fabrics and design ideas by rummaging around her mother’s and grandmother’s attics. Soon the clothes found their way to local church bazaars under the name Angels in the Attic, appropriately named after the source of their hometown influence.
Bork states that she and her daughter both liked the idea of selling the clothes at a low price, not to beat the competition, but so that it would be affordable for young girls who wouldn’t otherwise be able to get their dolls new clothes.
“We started designing petticoats and pantaloons, using Midwestern patterns and designs to give it that old-fashioned, prairie-type of look,” said Bork. “Little by little, they have become valuable, and I had to call in more people to help due to its popularity.”
Angels in the Attic has had such demand that Bork claims she has even been approached by major doll companies looking to buy the clothes and designs off of her. She states though that she has refused because she wants to maintain the reasoning behind the product.
“The goal is to keep prices down so girls can pay for it on their own,” she said. “We just want little girls to have their own doll wardrobe off their own allowance.”
Angels in the Attic doll clothes range from $8 to $12 dollars. According to Bork, the most expensive piece is only $14 for her signature heirloom dress, which includes a petticoat, bonnet, and pantaloons. She has also expanded her line to include party dresses, Halloween clothes and even matching sleeping bags.
“We are now working with a few Amish craftsmen to design a trunk for girls to store their dolls and their clothes.”
So, from going through her grandmother’s trunk to building a trunk for hundreds of other girls, Angels in the Attic works to incorporate the past into the present and, she hopes, the future.
For additional information on Angels in the Attic, contact Jeannie Bork by calling (562) 426-9225.

The Alpert Jewish Community Center (AJCC) has a new sensei for their martial arts classes and, with over 35 years of experience, Mac McKinney is teaching warriors of all ages self defense and skill.
A fifth-degree black belt, McKinney has achieved the expert level of training in various disciplines.
“I have studied 17 different forms of martial arts, including Tae Kwon Do, Kickboxing and Jiu Jitsu,” he said.
Combining his combat skills with a practical approach, McKinney has trained professional boxers, grapplers, wrestlers and champion kickboxers. And with each year he has seen the demand for his expertise grow.
“There was a slow period, but the Ultimate Fighting Championship brought a renewed interest and people started getting into it again and made me want to teach again.”
McKinney soon went from professional fighters to the youth of Long Beach when he took on the position of martial arts instructor earlier this year at the AJCC. His classes, which take place every Wednesday at the center, teaches students Shotaikenjitsu Martial Arts Reality Training (SMART), a form of self defense which McKinney co-founded.
“It’s a very realistic style,” he said. “It shows you what to do if someone grabs you or tries to attack you.”
According to McKinney, SMART breaks the martial arts stereotypes by teaching to not immediately strike back, but to start with self reliance, self respect and autonomy.
“People think that it’s all Karate Kid and Chuck Norris fighting, but when they see how hard it is they give up,” said McKinney. “It’s a lot of hard work and I love teaching people who love to learn.”
And with students ranging from preschoolers to teens, he has a range of students interested in learning the skill.
“I love watching them get better and seeing that they know now how to defend themselves.”
McKinney’s youth martial arts classes are on Wednesday afternoons starting at 2:45 with ages 3-5 and each class is one hour long. The winter session has already begun, but students are welcome to join anytime. The cost is $65 for AJCC members and $85 for nonmembers.
The Alpert Jewish Community Center is located at 3801 East Willow Street in Long Beach. For more information, call Cindy Jarvis at (562) 426-7601.

Long Beach being among the top 10 most dog-friendly cities in the country, it’s no surprise that there are a variety of businesses here that cater to man’s best friend. Still the city has moved one step further by reaching out to the uniquely untapped market that deal with the messy responsibilities of owning a pet and three people in particular who are willing to do just that.

Dan The Doo-Doo Man
“I heard about a guy making a living picking up after animals, and I couldn’t believe it,” said Dan Madrid, who four months ago made the decision to become Dan “The Doo-Doo Man,” a one-man pet mess clean-up and care business. “I looked and saw there wasn’t really anyone doing that around here, so I came up with the idea to go into business.”
Pooper scooper and antibacterial solution spray in hand, he arrives to client’s homes once a week or more for an additional cost, picking up after animals around his California Heights neighborhood and spraying down their yard with the mint-scented spray. He also brings treats to give to the dogs.
“Anything to make the customer happy,” he said.
Though Madrid has a small amount of regular clients, he does not expect to make a living off of what he calls his “service to the neighborhood.”
“I’m not doing it for the money,” said Madrid. “I’m doing it for my neighbor.”
The cost to hire Dan “The Doo-Doo Man” is $40 a month to come once a week and pick up after one dog. The cost is $20 extra for each additional dog. Discounts are given for the handicapped, pregnant women and assistance dogs.
Dan “The Doo-Doo Man can be reached at (562) 572-7698.

At Your Disposal
Another animal specialist that is all about number two is At Your Disposal, a new business venture started by former pet sitter and entrepreneur Susie Grimes. The seasoned veteran has more than 16 years experience in animal care and owned a pet/house sitting company when she lived in Florida earlier this year.
“This service is wonderful,” said Grimes. “It frees up my life and the lives of customers to spend time with their pets. Leave the unpleasant job to us.”
Licensed by the city of Long Beach and insured for general liability, At Your Disposal is a proud member of aPaws (Association of Professional Animal Waste Specialists). The company requires no contracts and covers Long Beach, Signal Hill, Bellflower, Paramount, Lakewood and surrounding areas.
At your disposal charges $12 and up per visit depending on the size of the area and the number of pets, and those with physical challenges receive a discount. According to Grimes, clean-up time takes on average about 20 minutes.
“Anyone with a busy schedule can benefit from this, and you decide how often you need it,” said Grimes.
For more information about At Your Disposal, visit www.apaws.org or call (562) 353-9298.

Critter Care
And for those who need more than a pick-up pro, Critter Care offers not only waste removal, but full animal caretaking services. Started one year ago by owner Rich Anderson, Critter Care states their commitment as being the next best thing when you can’t be there for them.
“I provide the same love and care I give my own pets,” said Anderson. “We [at Critter Care] are committed to building a relationship that nurtures credibility and trust with out clients.”
Though the Critter Care motto says “they poop, we scoop,” the business is a registered member of Pet Sitters International and services include feeding, changing water, picking up after the dogs and/or cats as well as standard house-sitting services such as bringing in mail, taking out trash cans for pickup, and picking up papers.
“My services are designed to provide the owner with the peace of mind that their pet [and home] is being well cared for and free from stress and anxiety,” Anderson said.
Anderson considers taking care of his “four-legged nieces and nephews” more than a full-time job and is also available for pet sitting and overnight stay during the upcoming holidays.
Prices for critter care are $18 for one visit per day for up to two pets and $30 for two visits per day. For more than two pets, an additional fee of $2 will apply and full payment is required prior to service. Additional services of dog walking, “pet taxi” to vet or groomer, house check, and in-home overnight stays are available.
For more information, call (562) 824-3212 or e-mail Rich Anderson at crittercare1@yahoo.com

Ever wondered why people have the jobs they have, or how they found that out-of-the-ordinary job? Margaret Platt is no ordinary florist. Owner of Margaret Rose Floral Design, a home-based business, she creates custom décor for the home.
A self-taught florist, Platt was the co-owner of Rainbows in the Market Place, established in 1980 and later the owner/manager of AuntieQuarian’s Cottage in Bixby Knolls. Being one who works “out of the box,” she is always looking for new ideas.
Platt’s latest venture is teaching floral classes through the Long Beach Park and Recreation Department. Her students watch Margaret transform trash into treasure within minutes—using flowers, twigs, fruit, vegetables and bits of ribbon or fabric.
According to Platt, helping the average Joe or Josephine design flower creations that they can later recreate on their own is her joy. No matter who asks Platt why she chose this job, they will always get the same answer. “I love flowers. It’s my art and showing people who did not know they could do a thing with flowers on their own that they can.”
A creative Jill of all trades, Platt, with her patience and guidance, has all of her students walking away with their own personal centerpiece. Thanks to Margaret’s bohemian outlook and off-the-wall teaching methods, they have the confidence to try some of what they learned on their own.
Whether students are interested in floral arranging and home décor or just in the mood for something new, Platt will not disappoint them.
Her classes can be found in the Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine Fall 2007 catalog. Classes taught by Platt include floral design for $115, a bridal workshop, which costs $110, a Halloween workshop for $45, a harvest décor workshop for $75, her “It’s A Good Thing” holiday workshop, which costs $55 and Christmas décor 1&2 for $75 each.
For more information about Platt and Margaret Rose Floral Design call (562) 477-7762.