An American in Verona; Italy 2014 Off To Fastest Start Ever

The Italy MMXIV extravaganza got off to a blistering start as the intrepid duo of chef Nancy Silverton and driver Michael Krikorian zoomed around northern Italy in a nearly frenzied fashion, dining at six restaurants in the first 57 hours and amassing seven Pirelli stars in the process. 

Rebounding from last year's Italy adventure, where, in the first three days,  the two came close to being banned by the International Dining Federation, Group Formula One for disastrous restaurant and menu selections, this year's saw the couple deftly weave a blazing trail of dining satisfaction.

The First Report:

The first lunch, haphazardly selected as we rented a red Factory Fiat at Milan's Malpensa airport was a place we had never heard of until it was vigorously promoted by fabric mogul - and friend - Jason Asch as the "best of the best" in this entire region.  Me, I'm thinking what the heck does the fabric guy know about the "best of the best'? Turns out, he was right. 

Located in Brusaporto, a few kilometers east of our home base of Bergamo, Da Vittorio is one of the most celebrated restaurants in Italy, one of 11 in the nation with three Pirelli stars. 

But, even while seated in Da Vittorio's charming garden and handed menus we still don't know this. However, it soon dawns on us we are somewhere special. The impeccable service, the bread tray, the amuse, all have us baffled. 

"Is this a three star?" Nancy asks.

"I don't know. It sure seems like it, right?"

Then my pasta comes and it's all over. A half of lobster nestled against some long strands of pasta that is so good I close my eyes for over three seconds.

We split a main course of lamb loin that is of a rarefied quality.

At the table next to ours, a family of four are just about giddy as the youngest,  a girl of 14, 15 or so, gets her main; a wooden platter about two feet by two feet mostly covered with Da Vittorio's salivating take of veal Milanese.  Her family takes a picture of her with chef Enrico Cerea and the platter topped with lemon wedges. I even  take a picture of her and the chef. Later, when another platter appears I say "Enrico, it's for the girl." Everyone laughs.  It's that type of three star. 

We leave,  just a few hours after landing in Italy, thinking we mighta already had the meal of the trip.

** 

Four of our next five meals are at Pirelli one stars. They're all very good. Here, briefly, are some highlights. 

Our first dinner was Osteria della Brughiera in Villa d'Alme, highly recommend by Philly chef Jeff Michaud.  We dined outside again, this time with thunder and lightening putting on a dazzling performance. Milk-cooked pork loin was a highlight.

The next night was at another Jeff Michaud joint called  Frosio in Alme. It was superb. A report on a single bite might be coming soon. But, maybe not. so I'll just say it was a quail with mashed potatoes porcini and foie gras.

By the way, if you ever go to Bergamo, we very highly recommend staying at the Hotel Petronilla in the old city. The room was tight - even had a leather love seat that resembled a Mel Ott glove  - and the manger, Uta, a charmer. About 140 euro a night.

The next day, we drive on in the red Factory Fiat - by now called the "Crimson Glide" - about 90 minutes east to the city Verona, which, to my delight - and surprise - is named after a server at Pizzeria Mozza.   

We go to another one star called, Osteria Fontanina which on this day did two covers for lunch, both who you probably know. I had a "cappuccino" of peas and cod, which as bad as that sounds, well, if you're out that way, give it a shot. 

The last one star was a place outside of Bologna called Amerigo 1934 in Savigno where we went twice last year and might go back this year. That satisfying. Nancy had goat,  I had rabbit, but the highlight, as it was last year,  was a simple dish or tortellini with cream, Parmesan and prosciutto. So good.  We spent the night at one of their five delightful rooms. 80 euro a night.

***

But, back to Verona.  I gotta tell you about this rain storm there. .Nancy is at a clothing store, some high-end little boutique and she's buying a particularly lovely  dress, and a scarf.  So they need her passport to get this special tax deal at the airport. Don't ask. They just need the passport. Thing is the passport is in the Crimson Glide parked underground about 3/4 of a kilometer away.

How much you save with the passport? After some computer digging, turns out 55 euro. 

"I'll go get it."

I start walking, get about 50 meters and a monsoon not dropped since the Second Crusades hurls down from the skies. It's like Zeus has hired 10,000 day laborers to spill buckets of water on downtown Verona. The throngs on the narrow main, pedestrian-only street rush to the meager awnings of the stores like they are avoiding a drone strike. Pakistanis mysteriously appear selling five-euro umbrellas. I walk on, determined to get that passport, determined to do what no human being would do for Nancy under these conditions.  Tourist stare at me. They'll have a story for the folks back in Dusseldorf. "This man, had to be an American. was happily walking through the deluge like he was Gene Kelly."

Past Verona's Coliseum, (a very nice one, indeed, if a bit rustic), past the main square, past some arch that's gotta be famous, I make it  to the parking structure, three, four kilos of rains attached to my dark sports coat. I find the passport and begin the journey back. I buy a five-euro umbrella from a guy from Karachi. Yeah, I asked, 'Where you from?"

I open it, but it's so flimsy, I fear it might be ripped to shreds before I can hold it for Nancy on the walk back so I close and walk in the rain holding a closed blue-plaid umbrella. .

By now, no one see this as the streets are abandoned.  The place has an eerie feeling, like East St. Louis on a dreary Sunday morning.  With all the water attached to my sopping clothes. I must be nearly 97 kilos.

The rains ease off. It's still coming down, but it's not as angry. I make it to this boutique. The workers look at me like I just emerged from a lagoon. We do the paper work. We leave. 

On the walk back to the car, I hold the umbrella for the lady. I tell her my tale of the walk to get the passport. She says "I know you're the only one who would have done that for me."

A girl and her 3 Star Milanese with chef Enrico Cerea

Man Acted in Self Defense in Shootings That Killed 3, D.A. Says

Saying he acted in "self defense", the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office rejected the murder case of a 25--year-old man who had been arrested in connection with the shootings on Figueroa Street last Friday that left three adults dead.

Anthony Alonzo Cudger, who was wounded in the car-to-car shooting that killed two of his friends and the alleged attacker, was released from custody Tuesday evening after being arrested Saturday morning and held on $1 million bail. 

Wednesday afternoon the District Attorney's office released the following statement: "Regarding Anthony Alonzo Cudger, a case was reviewed for filing consideration yesterday, but was declined because the investigation found that Cudger acted in self defense."  

Street sources said Cudger, Aveion Curtis Bolden, Jacinta Walker, and an unidentified female driver were parked in a silver Toyota Camry  on Figueroa and 87th Street, about to head out to the movies, when a red Nissan Altima pulled up and the passenger started shooting.

Bolden, 20, and his girlfriend Walker, 18 were killed in the backseat and Cudger, sitting in the front passenger seat, was wounded in the shoulder. Cudger returned fire, striking the shooter, Trevor Andre Williams, 33. 

The driver of the Nissan sped away and either he or another person took Williams to the L.A. City Fire Department Station #64 on 108th and Main streets to seek medical attention.. Williams either died en route or at the fire station.

The shootings are part of the ongoing street war between the Hoover Street Criminals and the Main Street Crips.

The LAPD was disappointed Cudger was not charged.

"Of course it upsets us," said Det. Sal LaBarbera of LAPD' South Bureau Criminal Gang Homicide Division. "It tells the gang members it's OK to be armed,  it's OK to shoot it out with each other and there are no consequences. They are back on the street to do it again, to be either suspects or victims., let alone have an innocent person caught up in this."

LaBarbera said the LAPD is "Seeking everyone and anyone involved in this."

Thursday afternoon, the Figueroa Street sidewalk near were Jacinta and Aveion died was covered in memorial candles, known around these parts as murder candles. Their funeral is set for next week. 

To read more:

March 7, 2014 "Hoover vs. Main Street Shootings Recall "Bad Old Days" 

http://krikorianwrites.com/blog/2014/3/7/71qr762ua9cb0gbv3auv67id1gwk4t

March 11, 2014  "LAPD Tactics Working: No Hoover Vs. Main Street Paybacks"    (NOTE: Accurate at the time)

http://krikorianwrites.com/blog/2014/3/11/lapd-tactics-working-no-hoover-vs-main-street-paybacks

March 20, 2014  "Eight Trey Hoover Dies 2 Week After Being Shot"

http://krikorianwrites.com/blog/2014/3/20/hoover-street-shooting-victim-dies

June, 2, 2014    "Nut" From Main Street Gunned Down Monday Morning"

http://krikorianwrites.com/blog/2014/6/2/nut-from-main-street-gunned-d own-monday-morning

June 14, 2014  "Stop This Madness" A Mother Pleads As 3 More Are KIilled in South L.A."

 http://krikorianwrites.com/blog/2014/6/14/stop-this-madness-a-mother-pleads-as-3-more-are-killed-in-south-la

Couple on right, Aveion Bolden, 20, and Jacinta Walker, 18, were shot to death Friday night on Figueroa and 87th

D.A, Says Man Acted in Self Defense in Hoover- Main Killings

Saying he acted in "self defense", the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office rejected the murder case of a 25--year-old man who had been arrested in connection with the shootings on Figueroa Street last Friday that left three adults dead.

Anthony Alonzo Cudger, who was wounded in the car-to-car shooting that killed two of his friends and the alleged attacker, was released from custody Tuesday evening after being arrested Saturday morning and held on $1 million bail. 

Wednesday afternoon the District Attorney's office released the following statement: "Regarding Anthony Alonzo Cudger, a case was reviewed for filing consideration yesterday, but was declined because the investigation found that Cudger acted in self defense."  

Street sources said Cudger, Aveion Curtis Bolden, Jacinta Walker, and an unidentified female driver were parked in a silver Toyota Camry  on Figueroa and 87th Street, about to head out to the movies, when a red Nissan Altima pulled up and the passenger started shooting.

Bolden, 20, and his girlfriend Walker, 18 were killed in the backseat and Cudger, sitting in the front passenger seat, was wounded in the shoulder. Cudger returned fire, striking the shooter, Trevor Andre Williams, 33. 

The driver of the Nissan sped away and either he or another person took Williams to the L.A. City Fire Department Station #64 on 108th and Main streets to seek medical attention.. Williams either died en route or at the fire station.

The shootings are part of the ongoing street war between the Hoover Street Criminals and the Main Street Crips.

The LAPD was disappointed Cudger was not charged.

"Of course it upsets us," said Det. Sal LaBarbera of LAPD' South Bureau Criminal Gang Homicide Division. "It tells the gang members it's OK to be armed,  it's OK to shoot it out with each other and there are no consequences. They are back on the street to do it again, to be either suspects or victims., let alone have an innocent person caught up in this."

LaBarbera said the LAPD is "Seeking everyone and anyone involved in this."

To read more:

March 7, 2014 "Hoover vs. Main Street Shootings Recall "Bad Old Days" 

http://krikorianwrites.com/blog/2014/3/7/71qr762ua9cb0gbv3auv67id1gwk4t

March 11, 2014  "LAPD Tactics Working: No Hoover Vs. Main Street Paybacks"    (NOTE: Accurate at the time)

http://krikorianwrites.com/blog/2014/3/11/lapd-tactics-working-no-hoover-vs-main-street-paybacks

March 20, 2014  "Eight Trey Hoover Dies 2 Week After Being Shot"

http://krikorianwrites.com/blog/2014/3/20/hoover-street-shooting-victim-dies

June, 2, 2014    "Nut" From Main Street Gunned Down Monday Morning"

http://krikorianwrites.com/blog/2014/6/2/nut-from-main-street-gunned-d own-monday-morning

June 14, 2014  "Stop This Madness" A Mother Pleads As 3 More Are KIilled in South L.A."

 http://krikorianwrites.com/blog/2014/6/14/stop-this-madness-a-mother-pleads-as-3-more-are-killed-in-south-la

Couple on the right, Jacinta Walker, 18, and Aveion Bolden, 20 were shot to death last Friday on Figueroa and 87th 

"Sound of Redemption: The Frank Morgan Story", Spellbound

For about 45 years,  my two all-time favorite movies have been "On the Waterfront" and "Casablanca".  As for documentary films, now topping my all time list is one I just saw Saturday, "Sound of Redemption: The Frank Morgan Story,"

"Sound of Redemption" which opened the L.A. Film Festival and, as of yesterday, has yet to get a distributor, tells the life story of the legendary, in-and-out-of-San Quentin jazz alto saxophonist Frank Morgan who died in 2007 at age age of 73.. So for me, a big fan of jazz who has a fascination with San Quentin. this doc was out of the blocks fast.

Here's a shoddy bio of Frank Morgan, who, by the way, shares a name with the actor who played the title character in "The Wizard of Oz". Morgan was born in 1933 in Minneapolis to a 14-year-old mother and Stanley Morgan, a guitarist who played for the Ink Spots among others.. Stanley taught Frank to play guitar, but when Frank heard Charlie "Bird" Parker blow the saxophone, that was it. He idolized Bird. So much so that when Parker got hooked on heroin, Morgan, like so many other jazz musicians, got addicted, too.  He also got into crime. He got into San Quentin.  But, damn, could Frank Morgan could play the sax beautifully. 

There were so many good musicians - such as Art Pepper - at San Quentin, that the warden let them form a big band, the San Quentin All Stars. Jazz lovers from around the Bay Area came to see them perform .

So the backbone of Sound of Redemption, directed by N.C. Heikin, is a 2012 concert played before inmates at San Quentin. The band features.Ron Carter on bass, George Cables on piano, Roy McCurdy on drums,  Mark Gross on alto sax and a 22-year-old Korean American woman curiously named Grace Kelly, also on alto sax. From this riveting show, the story of Frank Morgan is told in jams, old clips and new interviews. .  

There are  two moments in "Sound of Redemption" that when i tried to describe them later with a superlative, I came up lacking. What was I going to say? "That scene was 'amazing"? Fuck, I've heard people describe donuts as amazing. The closest I got to how I felt when I was viewing these scenes was "spellbound".

The first of these is about halfway through the movie during that concert for the inmates. This Grace Kelly, who Morgan discovered about 10 years ago as a prodigy and helped mentor,  plays a version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", that had the inmates mesmerized and me bound in a spell. I like to think anyone on the planet who had time to sit and watch this scene would think it was a wonder-filled moment captured on film.

The other scene that got me is toward the end of the documentary.  This actress something Flemming is talking about a concert not too far away from the end of Morgan's life. It was at Lincoln Center. As she begins the story, Frank Morgan plays the sax solo - most famously played by John Coltrane - on the lovely ballad. "My One and Only Love."

As the solo plays, the actress tells how she saw a man freeze in wonder of the music as he was putting down a glass of wine.  She talks about others listening who are transfixed. "The bartender stopped making drinks," she says and goes on to proclaim something like Frank Morgan had captured their souls.

The makers of Sound of Redemption, which was executive produced by Michael Connelly, a writer and a friend, are trying to get a distributor so the film can be widely seen.

I hope you get to see this film.  When those two scenes come on, you'll know what I was talking about. 

Check this link - http://www.thefrankmorganproject.com/

One of the many albums Frank Morgan made after he got out of prison. He made his first one, in 1955, the year he went in. His second album came out 30 years later.

*The last time I wrote about a movie was a 1969 (glowing)  review of "Midnight Cowboy" for the Gardena High School paper. Forty five years later, I'm compelled to write about a movie again.

"Stop This Madness", A Mother Pleads As 3 More Are Killed in South L.A.

The city's deadliest street gang war escalated Friday night when three more people were killed in the ongoing conflict between the Hoover Street Criminals and the Main Street Crips.

"Oh, my god, please stop this violence," said Janet Sanders Bolden,  mother of Aveion Bolden, 20, who was shot and killed with his girlfriend Jacinta Walker, 18, Friday night as they sat in a car on Figueroa Street near 87th Street. "This is crazy.  This is hurting too many families. Destroying families. Oh, my god! I can't believe this. Please stop this violence. Stop this madness."

Aveion and Jacinta were in the back seat of a car and were about to head out to see the movie "22 Jump Street", when another vehicle approached. One or more occupants of that car, suspected Main Street Crips, starting shooting.  Either someone on the street or in the two victims' car returned fire and wounded one of the assailants. That man, Trevor Williams, 33, died. His body, sources said, was dropped off at the L.A. City Fire Dept. Station 64, on 108th and Main streets, across the street from LAPD's Southeast Division.

Jacinta's 17-year-old cousin Kharyel Taylor, walked in a near-trance on Figueroa Street as friends and family mourned the deaths.

"Cousin, I love you , I love you," Kharyel said. "She was just going to the movies with her boyfriend, I saw her and 10 minutes later, they called me and said she was dead."

The shooting is the latest in a long time battle between two old and powerful southside gangs, The most recent killing was June, 2, when Tijuan "Nut" Folks was shot and killed on 98th Street near Main Street.

Saturday morning as friends and family of the slain couple removed their belongings from a Figueroa Street apartment across the street from where they died, mother Janet recalled how earlier in the day she urged a group of Hoovers not to retaliated.

"I told them not to  retaliate," she said.  "They looked at me and said,'Janet, are you serious?'"

Nut's killing -  http://krikorianwrites.com/blog/2014/6/2/nut-from-main-street-gunned-down-monday-morning

Janet Sanders Bolden holds photo of her slain son Aveion and his girlfriend Jacinta, killed Friday on Figueroa and 87th.

Michael Hastings Crash Investigation Still Not Complete

Nearly a year after Michael Hastings died in a Hancock Park car crash so explosive it set off widespread conspiracy chatter, the investigation into his death is still not complete.

However, the LAPD detective in charge of the case maintains there was nothing sinister about the crash that killed the investigative reporter on June 18, 2013 and she is simply awaiting reports to officially close the investigation. 

“I am still waiting on some reports that have taken awhile," said an annoyed-sounding LAPD Det. Connie White, who has maintained - almost since the morning of the crash - that Hastings' death was accidental and not the fiery result of a "black ops" plot to silence the investigative reporter. Hastings was said to be working on a expose of CIA Director John O. Brennan at the time of the crash and told friends he was going off the radar for awhile.

Hastings was best known as the reporter of a Rolling Stone Magazine profile of General Stanley McChrystal in which the then-general and his staff mocked President Obama and Vice President Biden. Largely because of the article, McChrystal was fired.  

In more current light, Hastings filed the first extensive report on recently-freed POW Bowe Bergdahl back in June, 2012 that includes, among its roughly 10,000 words, the line "He decided to walk away". Here's that article. http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/americas-last-prisoner-of-war-20120607 

According to Det. White, because it is not a criminal investigation - and  crashes that are criminal investigations get higher priority - Hastings' report is often lowered in the priority rankings as new criminal cases are so frequently assigned to LAPD traffic detectives.

White says Hastings was speeding, lost control and hit a large palm tree on Highland Avenue.  Det. White said  "In the fight between car and tree, tree wins." 

Michael Hastings

Oct. 2013, Krikorian Writes' final report on Hastings crash

http://krikorianwrites.com/blog/2013/10/2/hastings

A video tape, copied off of a  security camera by someone's cell phone, is seen here  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzWHZngfONo

This is the first story I wrote on the crash, it was for Who What Why website.

http://krikorianwrites.com/blog/2013/7/16/x9pujjqlzq6bbc0kvdkm1ff9f1mhjl

Cleamon "Big Evil" Johnson Charged With Three More Murders

Cleamon "Big Evil" Johnson, whose guilty conviction for a 1991 double homicide was overturned by the California Supreme Court in 2011 and who is scheduled to be retried for those crimes later this year, has been charged with three additional single murders. 

Johnson, 46, who was convicted - with another man - of the two killings in 1997 and served more than 13 years on San Quentin's death row before winning the appeal, casually told a visitor at the Men's Central Jail that three more murders were being added to his upcoming trial. A preliminary hearing* is set for July 28.

One of his lawyers, Victor Salerno, confirmed the additional charges, but declined further comment. 

The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office alleges Georgia Denise "Nece" Jones, Albert Sutton and Tyrone Mosley were all killed or ordered killed by Johnson, a member of the 89 Family Bloods.  While Johnson was in Ironwood State Prison, Nece Jones was shot and killed June 12, 1994 at 87th Place and Wadsworth Avenue in the 89 Family neighborhood. Sutton was also killed in that neighborhood. Mosley was shot and killed in September 15, 1991 on 97th Street and McKinley Avenue, a 97 East Coast Crip neighborhood.

"It's just more bullshit to keep me locked up, keep a trial going," said Johnson who is back in the regular high power section of the jail, after nearly a year in a special segregated cell.  "They think when if I get out, I'm going to go on so,me rampage. And the police tell people that.  I am not the same person I was when I went in here. Man, I just want to be free."

Johnson and co-defendant Michael "Fat Rat" Allen were convicted in 1997 of the August 5, 1991  killings of Donald Ray Loggins and Payton Beroit at a car wash on 88th Street and Central Avenue. Prosecutors contended that Johnson ordered Allen to kill the two men who were from the "other side" (east) of Central Avenue.  

In a 1998 Los Angeles Times Magazine article, Johnson, then 30  - and considerably different in attitude and character - seemed unconcerned that he was headed for death row. "I'm not worried at all about going to San Quentin," he said. "I been in worse places."

Such as?

"In an alley, with a .45 pointed at me. Too many times. But I'm a survivor. I just turned 30. I never thought I'd make it to 20. After I got the death penalty, I celebrated in jail with some homemade brew. I know I'm gonna be around at least 10 more years with all the appeals."

That article ended with a memorable quote by Big Evil; "Getting the death penalty saved my life."

It did. 

If these charges don't result in conviction, Johnson's new kicker might be "Getting those extra murder charges saved my life."

###

1998 L.A. Times Article -  http://krikorianwrites.com/blog/2014/6/8/1998-la-times-magazine-article-big-evils-ride-to-death-row

1997 L.A. Times Article -  http://krikorianwrites.com/blog/2014/6/8/1997-la-times-article-big-evils-reign-appears-over-for-good

* A preliminary hearing is described as a "trial before the trial" at which the judge decides, not whether the defendant is "guilty" or "not guilty," but whether there is enough evidence to force the defendant to stand trial -from www.criminal.findlaw.com

Old photo of Johnson

Suspected "Serial Stabber" Arrested In Watts

A "serial stabber", suspected - but not charged - in at least two killings - and three non-fatal knife attacks in Watts this year, was arrested over the weekend in Nickerson Gardens.

Among the possible victims, according to street sources,  is said to be Samuel Lee Benton, Jr., known here as the "I'm Blessed Man", who was stabbed to death February 14 across the street from the Nickersons.

Early Saturday morning, an Asian man, about 30 years-old, was fatally stabbed on Imperial Highway near the gates of the projects and across the street from Hawkins House of Burgers. The man was described by Watts residents as a "homeless and harmless."   

The arrested man, who went by the moniker "OB", is fairly well-known in Nickerson Gardens and, according to several residents, seemed to have "lost it" about five years ago. He, too,  is about 30 years old, they said. 

"He was born in the projects, raised in the projects and went mad in the projects," said a Watts man who knows the suspect's family and spoke on the condition of anonymity. 

A family member of Samuel  Benton, who also did not want to be identified, said he was glad to hear of the arrest.

"Even if they don't convict him of Sam's murder, then I hope they get him on one of the other ones."  

##

Here is the original story on the death of the "I'm Blessed Man"

http://krikorianwrites.com/blog/2014/2/15/the-ignominious-death-of-the-im-blessed-man-in-watts

Here's a report on the funeral of the "I'm Blessed Man"

http://krikorianwrites.com/blog/2014/2/20/sam-he-was-like-an-uncle-to-us

View fullsize

Sam Benton. the "I'm Blessed Man" may have been a victim of a serial stabber

Suspected Serial Stabber Arressted in Nickerson Gardens

A "serial stabber", suspected in at least two killings and three non-fatal knife attacks in Watts this year, was arrested over the weekend in Nickerson Gardens.

Among the victims is said to be Samuel Lee Benton, Jr., known here as the "I'm Blessed Man", who was stabbed to death February 14 across the street from the Nickersons.

Early Saturday morning, an Asian man, about 30 years-old, was fatally stabbed on Imperial Highway near the gates of the projects and across the street from Hawkins House of Burgers. The man was described by Watts residents as a "homeless, Asian smoker", (Around here, a "smoker" is a crack smoker.)    

The arrested man, who went by the moniker "OB", is fairly well-known in Nickerson Gardens and, according to several residents, seemed to have "lost it" about five years ago. He, too,  is about 30 years old, they said. 

"He was born in the projects, raised in the projects and went mad in the projects," said a Watts man who knows the suspect's family and spoke on the condition of anonymity. 

A family member of Samuel  Benton, who also did not want to be identified, said he was glad to hear of the arrest.

"Even if they don't convict him of Sam's murder, then I hope they get him on one of the other ones."  

##

Here is the original story on the death of the "I'm Blessed Man"

http://krikorianwrites.com/blog/2014/2/15/the-ignominious-death-of-the-im-blessed-man-in-watts

Here's a report on the funeral of the "I'm Blessed Man"

http://krikorianwrites.com/blog/2014/2/20/sam-he-was-like-an-uncle-to-us

Samuel Benton, the "I'm Blessed Man"   A suspect in his stabbing death was arrested over the weekend