In Memoriam – One Year Later – Claudia Laffranchi – Hollywood Foreign Correspondent

IN MEMORIAM
JOIN THE FACEBOOK GROUP REMEMBERING OUR DEAR FRIEND

Click to watch this YouTube selection of
some of Claudia’s work - Thank You Alberto Engeli, drzoom.com

We love and miss you, Claudia!

Claudia Laffranchi (IMDB - fb - tw), 49, Angelena-Ticinese, Foreign Correspondent, journalist and emcee of the International Film Festival in Locarno, was found dead in her Los Angeles apartment, last year in the early afternoon of May 22nd, 2012. The cause of death is uncertain at this time, but it appears foulplay is ruled out – the body was discovered by a personal friend after not having heard from Claudia for a few days.

Claudia was in very close contact with her Homeland Ticino in southern Switzerland, where she regularly collaborated with local television stations and newspapers as their Los Angeles entertainment correspondent. For the past seven years she was also the multi-talented, multi-lingual live presenter at the Piazza Grande during the Locarno International Film Festival.

Living in Hollywood and having extensive first-hand exposure to the World of cinema and television, enticed her to also produce and direct. Last year, Claudia was welcomed to the elite circle of influential journalists by winning the prestigious 53rd journalism award given by her peers of the Los Angeles Press Club.

She graced thousands of people with her presence, her beautiful smile, her wit and sense of humor – and was a great cheerleader for the Angeleno-Swiss/Ticinese community, who encouraged many creative projects and actively promoted young talent, and mingled among the great Hollywood Stars with her usual poise, class, style and grace.

We were so much looking forward to growing old together – either in LA, in Ticino, or enjoying the Best of both Worlds – but she left us way too early. Our hearts are aching and our sincere condolences go to her loved ones in Ticino. 

Per Claudia’s Family wishes, her friends in Los Angeles had the chance to gather in a private ceremony Wednesday, June 6th to pay respects, celebrate her life, and say “arrivederci” to our dearest friend. 

In Memory of Claudia: Festival del Film Locarno, Erich Maria Remarque & Paulette Goddard Foundation

Media:
(Italian Corriere del Ticino, tio.ch, Ticinonews, Giornale del Ticino, InfoInsubria, RSI-Quotidiano - video)
(German: Blick / GMX / Tages Anzeiger )
(English: LA Observer / ScreenDaily )

Previous Helvetic.LA stories of everyone’s best friend, our eternally beautiful Claudia 

Go Green To Speed Up Your Energy

Drinking a Green Smoothie is a great way to incorporate tremendous amounts of greens into your diet – far more than just eating your veggies. A glass contains more vegetables than many people get in a week!

In our home, my wife is the expert when it comes to smoothies. So, I asked her to share her smoothie secrets with us:

About the author
Rene von Gunten NTP CPT is certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine, the Nutritional Therapy Association and holds a diploma in Balancing Nutritional Science from the Westbrook University. He is a Los Angeles-based Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and Holistic Nutritionist serving clients locally and internationally via personal or phone/skype consultations. You can find him on Google+ and his website is www.swissnutritioneer.com

#SwissBizLA: See you at Swiss Mixer LA every 2nd Thursday at Locanda del Lago in Santa Monica: Be there!

Upcoming dates: May 9th & June 13th, 2013

6pm – 8pm
Ristorante Locanda Del Lago
231 Arizona Avenue (3rd Street Promenade) Santa Monica, CA 90401

We are pleased to invite you and your friends/guests to the Swiss Mixer Happy Hour at Ristorante Locanda Del Lago at the 3rd St Promenade in Santa Monica.

Everybody is welcome! No RSVP or membership required.

Join our casual Swiss Mixer and enjoy some half-priced great drinks and food at this intimate networking event. Meet new people and make friends! Increase your business-to-business relationships by making contacts, giving and receiving referrals and expanding your network through participation in our fledgling Swiss Mixer.

Please help to grow the mixer! - If you want to add anybody to our mailing list please email us the contact info.

Swiss Mixer Happy Hour
- Half Price on Great Drinks, Appetizers, Salads & Soups, Pizza & Sandwiches
- Great Restaurant – cozy and intimate
- Easy/free parking on 2nd St – enter before 6pm – download PDF parking guide

Your Swiss Mixer Team
Eddie Stocker, Franz Gehrig, Monica Baier, Marco Rohrer

swissmixerla@gmail.com

#SwissBizLA – Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce to honor Consul General Bruno Ryff, LA County Sheriff Lee Baca and Las Vegas Entertainer Francis Dey

A Night To Celebrate and Salute our Swiss Diplomat, the LA Sheriff and
the Son of the Rat Pack

Chairman Roger Wacker Invites You to join the Dinner Program

Thursday, May 23, 2013 

The Beverly Hills Hotel
9641 Sunset Boulevard
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

6:15 p.m. Reception / 7:00 p.m. Dinner

Honoring Consul General Bruno Ryff,
Sheriff Lee Baca and
Las Vegas Entertainer Francis Dey

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Honoree Sheriff Lee Baca

Sheriff Leroy “Lee” Baca was born in East Los Angeles, California, and attended Franklin High School, East Los Angeles College, California State University Los Angeles and graduated from the University of Southern California with Master of Public Administration and Doctor of Public Administration Degrees.  He attended California State University Los Angeles and acquired a permanent teaching credential K-14 from the California Board of Education.  Lee joined the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1964 and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in 1965.  Lee worked and promoted through the ranks of the Sheriff’s Department, attaining the rank of Chief.  In 1998, he was elected Sheriff of the County of Los Angeles.  He leads nearly 18,000 sworn and professional staff who provides law enforcement services throughout Los Angeles County to forty-two incorporated cities, 140 unincorporated communities, nine community colleges, and thousands of Metropolitan Transit Authority and Rapid Rail Transit District daily commuters.  Lee lives in San Marino with his wife and is an avid runner.

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The Honorable Consul General of Switzerland in Los Angeles, Bruno Ryff

Ryff was born and raised in Berne, Switzerland.  Having earned a Federal Diploma in Trade and Commerce he first occupied a position in a Swiss trading company before working at the Swiss Federal Office for Statistics on a pension plan survey project. In 1980 he joined the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.

After consular training in Bern and Montreal, Mr. Ryff’s consular career took him to the Swiss consular and diplomatic representations in Florence, Rome and Istanbul. From 1988 to 1996 he was heading the consular and administrative sections of the Consulate General of Switzerland in Chicago and the Swiss Embassy in Santiago de Chile before serving as Consul at the Swiss Embassies in Lima and Tokyo. In 2003 Mr. Ryff became Head of the Trade Section at the Embassy of Switzerland in Berlin and was put in charge of bilateral issues in agriculture as well as land, sea and rail transportation.

In February 2007 Mr. Ryff was named Consul General of Switzerland in Toronto, where he focused strongly on trade and investment promotion, established a forum for bilateral dialogue on financial issues and actively promoted the intensification of the academic exchanges between Switzerland and the Canadian provinces of Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Since October 2009 Bruno Ryff is Consul General of Switzerland in Los Angeles charged with safeguarding, together with his team, Swiss interests and promoting the economic, cultural and academic dialogue between Switzerland and the consular territories of Southern California, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico.

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Francis Dey, Son of the Rat Pack – Las Vegas Entertainer

Francis Dey is the epitome of a “Crooner Extraordinaire.”  Dey delivers the authentic, passion-filled vocal phrasings of a legendary saloon singer.  His electrifying stage presence, and “born-toperform personality,” rivals the very best in the business.  Francis Dey personifies great crooners like: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jr. and Bobby Darin.  His 2012 album, “Sincerely Yours,” is a testament to the authenticity of what crooning is really about.  The album features a genuine, New Orleans based, horn section, carefully selected classics, and an original, “Kill Me Kindly,” written by Eric Chesher, (formerly of Capitol Records).  The album is available through Infrared Records, and on iTunes.  Dey’s second album, on Infrared Records and set for release in 2013, is on track to be his finest work, featuring new, original music.  A lifelong entertainer, Dey’s landmark career is reaching new heights.  Dey’s superb talent, and intense passion for the art of live performance, have kept him in demand, and on tour.

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Music and Entertainment: Milstein Music by Alec Milstein

Milstein Music was founded by Grammy nominated musician Alec Milstein. With more than twenty years in the music business, Alec has performed or recorded with Diana Ross, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Chaka Khan, Bette Midler, Air Supply, The Manhattan Transfer, Joel Grey, Stephen Bishop, New Shooz, The New Edition and many others. After being on the road for more than ten years, he decided to focus his attention on bringing the highest caliber of live music to private events in Los Angeles. Since then, Alec and Milstein Music have been providing the highest standard of live music and entertainment available along with personalized service for corporate events, exclusive weddings, dazzling theme parties and everything in between.

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Click here for RSVP info on www.amchamla.com

About Making Better Choices

Hiya,

I really have no complaints here in Los Angeles. The weather is nice. The waves are rarely better than they are right now. The only critique I have is the fact that I’ve already broken 2 pairs of flip flops since January. I know, bummer.

Now I have 2 options:

• continue to buy $5 models and complain again later
• or being aware of the sign and invest a little more in better quality

It’s kind of the same thing with food. Should you ignore your symptoms and continue to complain, or react and finally feel better by choosing the foods you are supposed to eat?

The great thing about food is: everyone has it in his or her hands, respectively on the fork. 3 times a day.

For those who want to get started and need a little help in the beginning, I have updated my website with many great tools:

Get started
Listed as good or bad are the most consumed foods. Divided into 3 different approaches, depending on how healthy someone is feeling at the time. Everything is ready so you can get started today.

Videos
Especially for you I was at the hairdresser 2 months ago so that I could now start the Swiss Nutritioneer YouTube channel somewhat videogenic. The project is great fun although I still feel embarrassed watching myself.

• How to better to start your day instead of muesli, coffee and orange juice. Watch my secret morning elixir
• Eating meat, becoming vegetarian or following a raw food diet? My view on this. Watch what to eat and why

Special: Snapshot Package $149 (reg. $199)
And to you as loyal Helvetic.LA readers, I’d like to offer my snapshot package with a 25% discount.
The package is perfect to give you a basic overview of your current health situation. It gives you the answer to questions like what nutrient deficiencies you might have, why you find it much harder to reach your top performance and why it takes more time to recover than a few years ago.
» Claim the Snapshot Package for a reduced price of $149 (Offer expires April 30, 2013)
or go over to my website to check out my other services.

Today, I will invest in a better pair of flip flops.
What will be your decision?

Thanks for reading. Ride on.
Rene
(Deutsche Version herunterladen als PDF)

About the author
Rene von Gunten NTP CPT is certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine, the Nutritional Therapy Association and holds a diploma in Balancing Nutritional Science from the Westbrook University. He is a Los Angeles-based Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and Holistic Nutritionist serving clients locally and internationally via personal or phone/skype consultations. You can find him on Google+ and his website is www.swissnutritioneer.com

“Team Swiss” – Cycling 545 Miles to save Lives – from San Francisco to LA, June 2-8, 2013

Remember last year’s “Team Swiss” fundraising effort?

They are back in the saddle and riding this year with a team THREE TIMES as large! (facebook)

Team Leader, LA’s celebrity private chef Raphael Gamon, with fellow “TEAM SWISS” teammates are (almost) ready to participate in this year’s AIDS/Lifecycle, (#ALC12) the 12th edition of the largest fundraiser benefiting the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Jeffrey Goodman Care Clinic at the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center, two organizations providing life-saving services to those with HIV/AIDS, regardless of their ability to pay.

Please consider supporting their effort and DONATE HERE

Want to f0llow their journey, or better yet, cheer TEAM SWISS on arrival day, June 8th?

Join HELVETIC.LA at the traditional “Swiss Chocolate Stop” starting early and all morning atop Zuma Hill past the ARCO station on PCH/Highway One. Welcome all riders home, meet TEAM SWISS, refill water bottles and pamper them with Chocolate for some extra energy on the stretch home.  Got Questions? Helvetic.LosAngeles@gmail.com

Bravissimi, TEAM SWISS!
HOPP SCHWIIZ!

THE PERFECT gift idea for every Swiss-American Family and Business…

THE PERFECT gift idea for every Swiss-American family AND a creative B2B or B2C corporate gift for every Swiss company doing business in America: a true “Swiss-American friendship” game to celebrate and learn about the historic accomplishments of the Swiss in the United States.

From New Glarus, to New Bern, from Vevay to Sacramento, more than a million Americans of Swiss descent have left their mark on the United States. To honor this rich heritage, the Swiss Center Los Angeles in partnership with Lausanne- based RedCut has released Swiss-American version of the popular Swiss trivia game HelvetIQ.

The object of the game is to follow the annual summer ascent route of Swiss cows and arrive at the top first.

You make your ascent with every right answer about the history and culture of the Swiss in America. The game contains 240 trivia questions on diverse topics with attractive companion images. The Helvetiq Swiss-American edition is a game destined to enliven Swiss club gatherings, Swiss-themed functions and family events and is a perfect giveaway to celebrate Swiss-American friendship.

ORDER YOUR GAME TODAY