Coming Up Next: LaFern speaks with Oscar ® nominated actor James Cromwell about the "The Einstein Plan," Brad Spellberg, MD on his new book "Rising Plague" and more community leaders!

Airing this Sunday, March 21, 2010
-710 ESPN Los Angeles - 5am-6am (PST)
-Radio Disney AM1110 - 6:30am-7am (PST)

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James Cromwell Stars As The Exile in "The Einstein Plan" by Donald Freed on stage March 27 & 28 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center.
The Einstein Plan is an interactive play by Donald Freed that asks, How can we change America? There's big power in small numbers when the audience answers together. Albert Einstein figured out that if only 2% of our population engages in non-violent protests, change will happen.  Tickets are available for purchase by calling 213-489-0994 ext. 107 or online at http://www.theeinsteinplan.com/

James Cromwell
Born in Los Angeles, actor and activist James Cromwell is the son of actress Kay Johnson and John Cromwell, a blacklisted director who served as one of the first presidents of the Director's Guild. His stepmother, Ruth Nelson was a noted stage and film actress and a founding member of the New York Group Theater. He followed in the family footsteps, heading to the south after the Freedom Rides to join the Free Southern Theater; an integrated company that toured the south. He was also a member of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee and in the seventies, joined the Committee to Defend the Panthers, an organization set up to defend The Panther 13. James has directed at resident theatres across the country and was the founder and Artistic Director of his own company, Stage West, in Springfield, Massachusetts. He also co-directed a short film, which was shown at the London Film Festival. After returning to Hollywood, James received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar ® nomination for his memorable performance as Farmer Hoggett in the smash-hit, “Babe.” Cromwell's recent motion picture work includes “L.A. Confidential,” “Space Cowboys,” Frank Darabont's critically acclaimed “The Green Mile,” “The General's Daughter,” “Snow Falling on Cedars,” “The Bachelor,” “The Sum of All Fears”, DreamWorks SKG's “Spirit: Stallion of The Cimarron,” Stephen Fears' Oscar ® nominated film “The Queen,” and Oliver Stone's “W.” He has earned Emmy nominations for his work on the HBO original series, “Six Feet Under,” the HBO movie, “RKO 281,” and the NBC drama, “ER.” Cromwell has also performed in many revered plays, including “Hamlet,” “The Iceman Cometh,” “Devil's Disciple,” “All's Well That Ends Well,” “Beckett” and “Othello” in many of the country's most distinguished theatres, including the South Coast Repertory, the Goodman Theatre, the Mark Taper Forum, the American Shakespeare Festival, Center Stage, the Long Wharf Theatre and the Old Globe. He recently played A. E. Houseman in the American premiere of Tom Stoppard's “The Invention of Love” at A.C.T. in San Francisco.
In addition to his work with countless charities, and initiatives, James has served as a board member for both S.A.G. and A.F.T.R.A. and as Secretary Treasurer of S.A.G. He has been collaborating on "The Einstein Plan" since its inception.

The Latino Theatre Company
The Los Angeles Theatre Center is a facility of the Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department and is operated by the Latino Theater Company.  The Latino Theater Company has demonstrated over 23 years of commitment to creating and producing some of the most exciting main stage theater in the Los Angeles area. Founded in 1985 by current Artistic Director, Jose Luis Valenzuela, under the auspices of the former Los Angeles Theatre Center, and known then as the Latino Theater Lab, the company began its legacy of producing memorable work.
Los Angeles Theatre Center (LATC), provides a world-class arts center for those pursuing artistic excellence; a laboratory where both tradition and innovation are honored and honed; a place where the convergence of people, cultures, and ideas contribute to the future.  For tickets or more information: http://thelatc.org/

Brad Spellberg, MD  discusses his new book "Rising Plague,"  the global threat from deadly bacteria, "dirty hospitals" and the virtual collapse of antibiotic research and development.
Brad Spellberg, MD (Los Angeles, CA) is associate professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and is based in the Divisions of General Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases at the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. He was featured on an Emmy-award- winning episode of NOVA called "Rise of the Superbugs." He is the author (with Carlos Ayala, MD) of the popular Boards and Wards series of medical review books (Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins).

Synopsis: Foreword by David Gilbert, MDPast President of the Infectious Diseases Society of America-
Antibiotic-resistant microbes infect more than 2 million Americans and kill over 100,000 each year. They spread rapidly, even in such seemingly harmless places as high school locker rooms, where they infect young athletes. And throughout the world, many more people are dying from these infections. Astoundingly, at the same time that antibiotic resistant infections are skyrocketing in incidence-creating a critical need for new antibiotics-research and development of new antibiotics has ground to a screeching halt!

In Rising Plague, Dr. Brad Spellberg-an infectious diseases specialist and member of a national task force charged with attacking antibiotic resistant infections-tells the story of this potentially grave public health crisis. The author shares true and very moving patient stories to emphasize the terrible frustration he and his colleagues have experienced while attempting to treat untreatable infections, not to mention the heart-break and tragedy that many of these patients' families had to endure.

Dr. Spellberg corrects the nearly universal misperception that physician misuse of antibiotics and "dirty hospitals" are responsible for causing antibiotic-resistant infections. He explains the true causes of antibiotic resistance and of the virtual collapse of antibiotic research and development. Most important, he advocates ways to reverse this dire trend and instead bolster the production of desperately needed new and effective antibiotics.

He also warns against complacency induced by the decades-old assumption that some miracle drug will always be available to ensurethe continuation of our "antibiotic era." If we do nothing, we run the risk of inviting a bleak future when infectious diseases will once again reign supreme. Then many of the medical breakthroughs that we now take for granted-from routine surgery and organ transplants to intensive care and battlefield medicine-might all be threatened.

This crucial and timely book is lucidly written in terms that everyone can understand. It issues a call to action, explaining how, through a strong and concerted effort, we can all help prevent this nightmare scenario from happening. By following this courageous doctor's recommendations, we can assure that magic bullets will be there for our families and us in the future.

How can you help stop antibiotic-resistant infections, like MRSA? 
Urge Congress to: Support Antibiotic Discover and Enact Antimicrobial Resistance Legislation

Spike Dolomite Ward, Tenth Annual Valley Wide Student Art Show, Sunday, March 21, at the Chatsworth Train Depot from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. 
Arts in Education Aid Council has been producing a valley wide art show every year in March to commemorate National Youth Art Month and to give the talented children of the San Fernando Valley a chance to be seen and appreciated by the public.

This single event has grown from a small, neighborhood show into an all day family arts festival featuring over 600 kids from throughout the Valley and attracting over 3,000 attendants. The Ninth Annual Valley Wide Student Art Show was held in March last year at the Chatsworth Train Depot. It was the most successful show to date. Local businesses, city council members, neighborhood councils, colleges, nonprofit groups, and school PTAs sponsor the show every year. This year (the Tenth Annual Valley Wide Student Art Show and Family Arts Festival) will be on Sunday, March 21, at the Chatsworth Train Depot from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Arts in Education Aid Council mission is to restore a complete arts education program to the public schools of the San Fernando Valley by developing and implementing curriculum, and supporting and celebrating activities and events, in art, music, dance, and theatre for all students. Arts in Education Aid Council will always remain independent of Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). http://www.aieac.org/

Airing on Radio Disney AM1110 - 6:30am-7am (PST)

Enrique C. Zaldivar, Director and Salvador Miranda, Division Mgr, Bureau of Sanitation City of Los AngelesThe City collects refuse, recyclables, yard trimmings, and bulky items from more than 750,000 homes. That's an average of 6,652 tons per day. The City of Los Angeles provides residents, including those who live in apartments, townhomes, condominiums & other multi-family homes, with FREE bulky item pickup. Bulky items are discarded items that are too large to fit into a regular trash container. They include furniture such as mattresses, sofas, cabinets; blinds, carpets, toilets, bundled wood, refrigerators, BBQs, stoves, microwaves, washers/dryers, water heaters, computers, computer monitors, laptops, stereos, TV sets, etc. It is illegal to abandon bulky items on the sidewalk, street or other public property. The fine for illegal dumping is $1,000. Anyone can call to report abandoned bulky items in the neighborhood. . http://www.lacitysan.org/

How Can You Help?
Each day, millions of people in Los Angeles contribute to the problem of pollution in our watershed. If we all pitch in, we can make a difference.
Use Environmentally Safe Products: Many pesticides have safe, chemically-free organic alternatives. By using non-toxic methods, you reduce the amount of dangerous chemicals that flows off of lawns and into storm drains.

Recycle Your Used Motor Oil and Filters: Used motor oil is extremely toxic to the environment if disposed improperly and there are literally hundreds of collection centers located throughout the city.

Compost Yard Trimmings: Dispose of yard clippings and waste in a compost bin or in your City issued green container. You can also log on to the City's Smart-Gardening web site for more information.

Report Illegal Dumping: Illegal dumping of trash, paint products, motor oil and other chemicals into storm drains is against the law! Call (800) 974-9794 to report incidents of illegal dumping.

Pick up After Your Pets: Animal waste that runs off of lawns and sidewalks sends harmful bacteria into the storm drain system and out into the ocean, creating problems for swimmers and fish.

Dispose of Trash Properly: Separate items into plastics, glass and paper products, and discard only what is non-recyclable. For information on the City's Curbside Recycling Program, call (800) 773-2489.

Use Water Based Paints: Oil based paints are extremely toxic and much more problematic in disposing of than water based paint. Oil based paints are also not allowed to be disposed of in the City's sewer system and dumping it into storm drains is ILLEGAL.

Recycle Everything You Can! Landfill space (where all our trash goes) is rapidly filling up and we can greatly reduce the need for having to find precious, open land for additional capacity. Open land can be better suited for parks or natural habitat for wildlife and much of what we throw away can easily be reycled! FACT: It is estimated that, of the 40 tons of trash that washes onto our beaches every year, over 80% of it could've been recycled!

Take Your Residential Special Materials to a City of Los Angeles S.A.F.E. Center: Residential Special Materials are typical household products that should not be disposed of by merely throwing in the trash. These items include unused or leftover paint, pesticides, cleaners and other chemicals. There are several permanent locations throughout the City of Los Angeles where residents can take these items where they can be safely disposed of.

Don't Litter! Simple enough? Everything dropped, tossed, spilled or discarded onto streets and gutters will eventually make its way into the storm drain system--and out to the ocean! FACT: Every year, at least 800,000 cigarette butts are picked up from our beaches by Coastal Cleanup Volunteers.

Wash Your Car On the Lawn: Most detergents and other car washing ingredients contain chemicals that when washed into the street and enters the storm drain system, can harm sea life once it reaches the ocean. Also, the water runs over pavement or streets and washes chemicals, oil and other pollutants into the storm drains.Consider using an environmentally-friendly soap or take your car to a commercial car wash that recycles its water.

For more information about the Bureau of Sanitation City of Los Angeles: http://www.lacitysan.org/

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LaFern Cusack currently produces and hosts 710 ESPN's Experience (Sun. 5a-6a) and Radio Disney AM1110 Playground (Sun 6:30a-7a). With these shows LaFern delivers an inspiring, dynamic and insightful experience to listeners. She brings her humor, warmth and talent for tackling topical community issues with her unique style connecting with every aspect of the show.