Random Acts of Kindness, Generosity Making a Resurgence

George Bush may be gone and nearly forgotten, but remember his “kinder, gentler world?”

The idea may still be a hard sell--what with arsonists, ATM bandits and the like--but take a look around the Valley and then try to convince yourself that it can’t happen here.

Possibly because of hard times, old-fashioned hope, charity and random acts of kindness appear to be breaking out everywhere. People helping people is not a new idea, but there seems to be a generosity of spirit--seen in sometimes small, but significant ways--taking hold.

Last Saturday, as an army of mutual-assistance firetrucks headed to their home bases somewhere up the Ventura Freeway, people honked, gave the victory sign and waved their thanks to the departing firemen.

One blond-haired, bare-chested surfer type, looking over at them from the back of a pickup, heaved a great sigh and then put his head in his hands and cried while the girl in the back with him put her arm around him and watched him quietly.

That same day, 6-year-old Jenifer McNeil sold lemonade to her Calabasas neighbors. Her sign said: “Small glass 25 cents, Large glass 50 cents.” But she told people that if they lost a home in the fire and didn’t have any money, they could pay her some other time.

When the CareAmericans Chorus and CareAmeriKids musical groups perform under the direction of Johnny Mann Dec. 5 at Glendale High School in Glendale, the 2 p.m. concert is free, but people are asked to bring a donation of non-perishable food for the Casa Maravilla Senior Citizens Nutrition Center.

It is a scenario being played out all over Southern California as people, maybe with less than they have ever had, are being asked, and seem willing, to share what’s there.

For several years, Canoga Park chiropractor Seth Goldstein has donated some of his time to a charity. This year he and his partners, Harold Wexler and Joo Kang Lee, will turn over an estimated $1,500 to the Laurie Myles Memorial Fund after offering free chiropractic services on Saturday for a donation of $10 to the charity.

On Sept. 15, Laurie Myles was picking up her daughter from a Bible study class when she was killed by a robber in front of her horrified 9-year-old son.

The fund has been set up to help the woman’s family, including her three children. Goldstein says, “When I think about the emotional trauma those children will have to endure for the rest of their lives, I decided I had to do something.”

And he did.

For the $10 donation, he and his partners provided a chiropractic adjustment for established patients, and a chiropractic examination and X-rays valued at $125 for all newcomers.

What began as a community-spirited way to bring in new business for Goldstein has become a way for him to give back, he says.

Douglas LaMarche is another willing giver. He was among those reading poetry at Saturday’s Healing the Wound program at the Agoura Hills Lose Your Blues coffee shop.

LaMarche, a paraplegic, hopes his art and poetry will help inspire and heal the hearts and minds of others who may be in any way challenged.

And last Monday at Holy Cross Medical Center’s Regional Cancer Center in Mission Hills, about 100 people, many of them former cancer patients, planted 500 daffodil bulbs at the top of a hillside garden.

The hill should be a beautiful sight in April or May.

The daffodil, one of the first flowers of spring, symbolizes the American Cancer Society’s hope for a cancer-free future.

It was also, as pointed out by some of the dignitaries, including the Most Rev. Stephen Blaire, bishop of the Los Angeles Archdiocese, a sign of hope for area residents.

Maybe we’ve gotten so down that anything seems like up to us these days, but then, maybe this is the start of something good.

Joe Furie Is a Guy Who Knows How to Party

People passing the corner of Ventura Boulevard and Wilbur Avenue in Tarzana last Sunday must have wondered why there was all the movie premiere-like hoopla.

The invitation-only event was a sort of multi-class reunion for a hairdressing shop.

Joe Furie realized recently that the 25th anniversary of his Michael Joseph Furie hair salon was upcoming, so he decided to celebrate with a party for his past and present employees.

“What with the economy the way it is, I thought everyone could use a party, I just had no idea how emotionally affecting it would be for all of us,” Furie says.

Furie, 57, had gotten on the horn and invited everyone he could track down. About 300 people, including families of celebrants, answered the partying call.

Furie laid on outdoor spotlights, a disc jockey and food catered by El Cholo. He had the parking lot tented and removed the chairs inside so he could display pictures of his employees that dated back to 1968.

“People seemed willing to set their egos aside and just get into the spirit of the thing,” says Furie, “even some who work in Beverly Hills and only do movie stars’ and celebrities’ hair.”

Celebrants came from all over, including Furie’s original partner, Michael Joseph, who flew in from Utah with his wife, Rona.

Lennie Flaum, 34, flew in from Honolulu for the festivities and afterward proposed to a former girlfriend, who lives in Malibu. No word on where the reunited lovebirds will live.

The only expected guest to no-show was Marie Augustine, who lives in Malibu. “She had a good excuse,” says Furie. Her house had just burned down.

The genial hairdresser says he figures the party set him back about $12,000, but he regrets nothing.

“It was something I just couldn’t afford not to do,” he says.

Hands Up, And Write This Down

There was an armed robbery at a recent meeting of the Chatsworth Chamber of Commerce, terrifying many of the assembled guests. Among those in attendance were Los Angeles Police Devonshire Division leader Jim Dellinger and Detective Ken Crocker.

Actually, Dellinger and Crocker were in on the burglary, staged by actors from the Granada Theater group.

The object of the exercise was for those assembled to learn what to do in an actual robbery situation, including ways to minimize the chances of someone getting shot, as well as instructions on how to immediately and correctly write down a description of the criminal or criminals.

One newcomer to the chamber group was said to have told her host for the occasion, “You people really know how to liven up a meal.”

Overheard

“It doesn’t matter if you understand what I am telling you, just so you remember it.”

Frustrated teacher to students at a North Hollywood high school.