LC 01 2025

Larchmont Chronicle

By Suzan Filipek

On her first day as mayor, Karen Bass declared the city’s homeless crisis a state of emergency, and she and her team got to work.

As part of her two-year anniversary report to the city last month, she talked about the results of those efforts.

To date, in the mayor’s first two years in office, she reports that more than 23,000 Angelenos have moved into temporary housing, while the number of people moving into permanent housing has nearly doubled compared to when she was sworn into office in Dec. 2022.

“Last year we had our first decline in homelessness in six years and a 10 percent reduction in street homelessness,” she added.

And, while there is still a lot more work to be done, “the days of managing the prob-

See Mayor Bass, P 13

TVC Project expected at City Council this

month

By Suzan Filipek

The Los Angeles City Council is expected to vote as early as the first week of this month on the TVC 2050 Project proposed at the historic CBS Television City property at Beverly Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue.

The upcoming vote would be the final step in a five-year entitlement and approval

See TVC

, P 8

—

and “Scouts” will be featured in our February issue. To reserve advertising space, contact Pam Rudy, 323-462-2241, ext. 11. Deadline to reserve space is Mon., Jan. 6.

Become a candidate for your neighborhood council

By Nona Sue Friedman

Want to become more involved in your neighborhood? Being a volunteer board member on your neighborhood council allows you the opportunity to have input on decisions that affect your quality of life and the services you receive from the City of Los Angeles. Neighborhood councils are the most local form of government.

To become a candidate in the 2025 election, you must file an application online at tinyurl.com/5b5uuwy3

By Casey Russell

Loyola High School’s president of nearly 20 years, the Rev. Greg Goethals, will step down Tues., July 1. Goethals, who turns 70 this month, has a long history with the school and told us that this has been a dream job.

Like his father and his three brothers, Goethals graduated from the all-boys Jesuit Catholic college-preparatory school (he, in 1973). His family resided in Windsor Square, and he attended St. Brendan School prior to Loyola. Goethals received his bachelor’s degree from Santa Clara University and went on to study law for one year at Loyola Law School.

Goethals had been thinking about becoming a Jesuit priest for a long time. Realizing that

(where you will need to create an account). Candidate filing began Dec. 13, and it continues through Mon., Jan. 27. It’s a free, straightforward, five-step process. There’s also an easy-to-follow video with instructions. The two neighborhood councils in the Larchmont Chronicle distribution area are the Greater Wilshire (GWNC) and the Mid-West City (MCWNC) Neighborhood Councils. The qualifications to vote and to run for office differ for the

Candidates, P

By Casey Russell

A plethora of holiday activities on the Boulevard brought the community together in December.

Tailwaggers’ Santa Paws and Mrs. Claws pet photo event took place on Dec. 7 and was very popular this year. Smiling people and dressedup pets waited in line to get their photos taken. Then, dogs rolled and played in the 10,000 pounds of snow that store owner Todd Warner brought to the Boulevard. A multitude of booths pro-

he hated law school, he decided to try his heart’s desire and see if becoming a Jesuit priest would be a good fit. That was 40 years ago, so apparently, it was. “It is who I am. It’s deep in my bones and in my soul,” he said. The Jesuit priest added, “It gives me direction, hope in myself and hope for the world. It’s what makes me happy . . . I think it saved my life and made it into something it wouldn’t otherwise have been.”

WINTER WONDERLAND. Gift baskets, snow and romping dogs transformed the parking lot of Tailwaggers.

n Snowfall, photo ops with Santa, Mrs. Claus

n Principal Adams to take helm July 1

PRINCIPAL Jamal Adams with Father Greg Goethals at a Mass celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Photo by Jordan Ball

HOLIDAY-CLAD PETS await their photos with Santa Paws and Mrs. Claws.

Editorial

By John Welborne

New year, new leaders, two years later

Two years ago, at just this time of year, I opined about local political change — specifically the changes in our fellow residents who are elected to represent us. I urged that we all should support the efforts of the then-new mayor, city attorney, city controller and new and old members of the city council.

Our local community has two of the then-new members of the council, Katy Yaroslavsky in District 5 and Hugo Soto-Martinez in District 13.

At the time when I wrote, on the cusp of 2023, I echoed the hope of almost everyone I knew . . . that the new leaders would have success in dealing with the homelessness crisis.

Both of “our” members of the city council, two years into their four-year terms, claim progress in providing some new inside housing as an alternative for the street-dwellers in their districts. Also, as recounted by Mayor Bass in her report to her constituents last month (as detailed on Page 1 of this issue) she has had success in moving street-dwellers into both temporary and permanent housing, citywide.

More is needed. We constituents must support our elected officials in their efforts to create the needed new housing, including in appropriate areas near where we live.

DEDICATED TO THE PRESERVATION OF HANCOCK PARK

137 N. LARCHMONT BLVD. LOS ANGELES 90004 www.HancockPark.org

A Few HPHOA 2024 Highlights!

Sharing some of our 2024 HPHOA accomplishments! From participating in local activities like the Larchmont Family Fair and Third Street School’s 100th Anniversary, maintaining our neighborhood communication and Block Captain network, to keeping our neighborhood updated on important city and statewide legislation . . . it’s been a very eventful year. Here are some highlights:

Housing Element 2021-2029

— Protecting HPOZs and Neighborhoods — Your Association worked closely with our Councilwoman, Katy Yaroslavsky, other council members, LA City Planning, Mayor Bass’s deputies, United Neighbors, associations, organizations and communities across Los Angeles to help draft and pass the Citywide Housing Incentive Program (CHIP) 2021-2029 that creates new affordable housing incentives and protects R1 zones and Historic Districts / HPOZ’s.

Advocating for a Permanent LAPD Senior Lead Officer

Working with our Councilwoman, we lobbied on behalf of our neighborhood for funding for a permanent full-time SLO / Senior Lead Officer for Wilshire Division’s Basic Car Area 7A17. In October 2024, we were successful, and Officer Tyler Shuck is now the full-time permanent SLO for our area!

Pawn Shop Sports Bar Final Permit — Our Neighborhood Voices Made All the Difference —

The final permit for Pawn Shop Sports Bar, 5901 Melrose Ave., includes neighborhood requested guidelines. Hours of Operation: Sun-Wed 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Thurs-Sat 9 a.m. to 12 a.m. Limited expanded special events, maximum of 24 per year, 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Live music ends at 10 p.m. Establishment must provide valet service and LADBS- and LADOT-approved parking plan. There must be an annual meeting with the HPHOA and adjacent HOAs, and there are specific provisions for managing any complaints.

Hancock Park Tree Trimming in the Parkways

We tested a new program this year to help fund trimming for our parkway trees using annual membership dues and donations. For the past decade, the HPHOA has purchased, planted and cared for all new parkway trees.

Reuniting Lost and Found Pets

Every year our HP neighborhood email network helps dozens of lost furry family members find their way back home!

Please remember to send in your HPHOA Annual Dues!

Visit our website to learn more! hancockparkhomeownersassociation.org

Wed., Jan. 8 — Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council board meeting via Zoom at 6:30 p.m., greaterwilshire.

org.

Tues., Jan. 14 — Mid City West Neighborhood Council board meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Pan Pacific Park Senior Center, 7600 Beverly Blvd., midcitywest.org.

Mon., Jan. 20 — Presidential Inauguration Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Thurs., Jan. 23 — Delivery of the February issue of the Larchmont Chronicle

Letter to the Editor

Street people on Larchmont

Not sure how we approach this important topic of homelessness. Yes, the easy out is that we continue walking by and pretending we don’t see them. But I’ve been informed by staff at Starbucks [on Larchmont Boulevard] that the fellow squatting on the sidewalk in front of their business, who openly smokes narcotics, has been doing so for three

Candidates

(Continued from Page 1) two councils and are set forth in their bylaws.

GWNC has a total of 21

Larchmont Chronicle

months now. Another nearby business says the fellow also gets loud. I will reach out to our council district homeless team to let them know.

Anyone can watch the families with children walking by while this fellow openly smokes his drugs of choice — with clouds of whatever he’s smoking wafting by. In my opinion, how we’re handling our homelessness crisis isn’t working out well for the homeless nor for our community and businesses.

There are a couple of other such Larchmont homeless as well.

Keith Johnson Larchmont Village

Write us at letters@larchmontchronicle.com. Include your name, contact information and where you live. We reserve the right to edit for space and grammar.

positions to fill, one for each of 15 geographic areas within the council boundaries and one each for these categories: business, education, nonprofit, religion and renter, plus one member at large. The runner-up for each seat becomes the alternate. GWNC meets monthly and, if you also serve on a committee, those meet separately.

MCWNC has 36 seats to fill including a youth position for ages 14 to 17.

Neighborhood councils were established in 1999, and there now are 99 throughout the city. Although it’s a voluntary position, council members are elected public officials.

‘What are your hopes for the new year?’

That’s the question inquiring photographer Casey Russell asked locals.

“We are hoping to travel more [and] go to Japan. And we are hoping for world peace!”

“My hope is for a happier, safer and more peaceful world for all of us.”

“We are hoping the terrible twos are not so terrible!”

Hunter Elbourn and Ellen Wanecke with Edie Hancock Park

Suzanne and Hugh Wilton Windsor Village

Neethu Patel with Niam Windsor Village

Activities

(Continued from Page 1)

vided free samples of some of the store’s products, and baskets of pet fare were raffled. It was a day of fun and an opportunity for dogs and people alike to play in the snow in our sunny city.

The following day, Page Academy’s parking lot was transformed by the Wilshire Rotary into a jolly area for families to bring gift donations benefitting the Red Shield Commu-

nity Center, Ronald McDonald House and The Boys & Girls Club of Hollywood.

There were activities for children including cookie and cupcake decorating, a bounce house and opportunities to win prizes playing carnival games. A three-piece band serenaded visitors, and Santa sat in a red, wooden sleigh, available for families to get a free photo.

while sampling owner John Duerler’s homemade Texas chili and cornbread. Mimosas, sweet treats and beautiful complimentary ornaments were also provided.

On the same day, Hancock Homes Realty’s “A Chili Christmas” was an opportunity for neighbors to mingle

Duerler started hosting this event almost a decade ago because he remembered his uncle, who had an electric company, doing something similar during the holiday season.

“So many people would come, and it really became part of the community,” he said. Duerler has clearly succeeded in replicating that neighborhood feeling his uncle sought to provide.

“We’ve been coming here for six years,” said Jody Uyechi and Cynthia Takano of Larchmont Village.

turn to Page 4)

(Please

OPAL rolls in the snow at Tailwaggers’ Santa Paws and Mrs. Claws holiday pet photo event.

SANTA IN HIS SLEIGH provided photo opportunities for those who donated toys at the Wilshire Rotary’s toy collection event.

CHILDREN decorate cupcakes and cookies at the Wilshire Rotary’s toy collection event.

Activities

(Continued from Page 3)

Using his sister’s chili recipe, Duerler cooks up 70 pounds of chili each year. His secret ingredient is fire-roasted tomatoes, which add a flavor punch that makes the chili so popular.

Santa came to Levain Bakery on Dec. 12. A photo booth was set up, and a Third Street Elementary School choir performed. The school benefitted from sales of the bakery’s dark chocolate peppermint cookies that day.

Adding to the spirit of the season, two eighth grade

Marlborough students who founded the school’s Community Cleanup Crew decorated all the village’s parking meters. Thank you, Tristan Bom-

marito and Gily Hynes!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Larchmont Beautification Committee Chair Romi Cortier designed a holiday banner that he mounted near the city parking lot exit. He also installed some Douglas Fir trees from the Wilshire Rotary Christmas lot to add more festive cheer on the Boulevard. With the Wilshire Rotary tree lot bringing the scent of fresh pine to the Boulevard together with Larchmont Boulevard’s bright décor, poinsettias and Christmas trees, December felt quite festive this holiday season.

Good Goose Café restaurant closed

By Casey

Russell

Good Goose Cafe, 5210 Beverly Blvd., served its last fried rice and egg rolls in mid-December. Owner Jake Sriwongsajan learned in July 2024 that the property owner did not plan on renewing the Good Goose lease. Sriwongsajan and his wife, Oh, tried to negotiate, but, the restaurateur told us, the owner wants the location back for his family.

The café owners plan to reopen Good Goose elsewhere. When asked if they hope to find a location in the same general vicinity, Sriwongsajan spoke of high lease and tax costs, but said, “We will try, if we can afford it.”

Good Goose was the first restaurant that the couple had run. They had been at their Beverly Boulevard location for six years, serving uniquely modern Thai dishes.

“Business was OK; we were above the water and had a lot of regular customers,” said Sriwongsajan. Though the couple plans to take a bit of a break, they are actively looking for a new location.

To stay up to date on new

Good Goose developments, visit instagram.com/goodgoosecafe.

OWNER Jake Sriwongsajan inside Good Goose.

SANTA VISITED Third Street Elementary choir when they performed at Levain Bakery.

Left: JOHN DUERLER greeted guests at Hancock Homes Realty’s chili event a ove .

Health and beauty businesses are nearby on the Boulevard

By Casey Russell

This is our Health and Beauty issue, and our neighborhood has a plethora of spas and aestheticians to help you maintain both.

Lu Yusuk, owner of Radiance of Life Mini Day Spa, 215 N. Larchmont Blvd., never planned to live in the U.S. She came here from Thailand to attend film school at UCLA. In her native country, she had been a writer and director of television and documentaries.

“I traveled all over my country and made documentaries about whatever I wanted to,” said the Larchmont Village resident.

“Nature is number one for me. But humans are important too, so I made documentaries about both,” she said. Yusuk completed two years of film school. Then, life took her in another direction.

After the filmmaker got married, she needed to figure

out what she would do to earn money and decided she’d like to open a business. As her siblings in Thailand worked in massage, Yusuk chose to follow suit.

Originally, Yusuk didn’t plan to be one of the business’s practitioners. “But running a small business, you have to do everything,” she said. Determined to know the ins and outs of the business she would own, Yusuk went to school and got her massage and aesthetician licenses.

The tiny-framed woman told us,

“Most people don’t realize what hard work massage is.” It takes a lot of strength and energy.

Radiance of Life opened its doors in 2007 and, for the first four years, occupied the space now leased by Bellacures, at 205 N. Larchmont Blvd. When her lease was up, Yusuk looked for a less expensive location and learned that her current second-floor spot was available at half the rent of her former street-level location. She’s been in the space ever since.

Radiance of Life gets most of its business from word of mouth, and Yusuk has several clients who have been coming to her since the spa opened.

This location is the only one at which Yusuk practices, but she owns two similar businesses — one in Redondo Beach and one in the San Fernando Valley. She previously owned another, as well as a nail salon, in Brentwood. At one time, she employed 50 people.

But when COVID-19 hit, business slowed way down. Radiance of Life on Larchmont had several employees prior to the pandemic. Now, just one other practitioner works at the mini day spa.

The four-room spa is less

full of practitioners these days. But Yusuk’s 19-year-old dog, Ziggy, recently began accompanying the owner, and he sleeps while she works.

When we spoke during Yusuk’s break, her blind and deaf canine companion climbed into her lap for one of his many daily massages. “That [must be] why he lives

so long,” Yusuk laughed. “He gets massages and love all the time!”

“I love what I do. I love to see and talk to clients because we are friends, most of us,” she said.

Yusuk thinks the best thing about running her own business is the knowledge she has (Please turn to Page 6)

OWNER LU YUSUK with her dog, Ziggy, at Radiance of Life Mini Day Spa.

JLA executive director retires after 20 successful years

By Helene Seifer

On January 9, the community will say Shalom to Brian Greene, the retiring longtime executive director of J Los Angeles, on Olympic Boulevard (also known as JLA, formerly the Westside Jewish Community Center).

“I’m very much going to miss the day-to-day interactions with the wonderful people who are part of this community,” says the soft-spoken Greene as he reflects on his upcoming retirement from the 70-year-old institution. “I’ve loved every minute of it.”

Greene came to JLA in 2004, during tough financial times, and now leaves the community center thriving 20 years later.

“Brian took an organization that had potential and zero money and created a vibrant, exciting community center that is fiscally solvent,” states Janis Barquist, 25-year JLA board member, past president and member of the search committee for Greene’s re-

Spas

(Continued from Page 5)

gained. “You have to learn so much and deal with so many employees. When people ask me something, I can answer right away because I know the answer,” she said.

With her strong, joyfully calm energy, it’s no wonder Yusuk’s businesses have been a success. To book an appointment for massage, facial or waxing at Radiance of Life between the hours of 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. daily, call 323-467-4641 or visit radianceoflife.com.

• • •

Radiance Spa is not the only option for massage and aes-

placement. “He built a record of successful programs for our diverse Jewish community.”

Some of the many exceptional programs developed under Greene’s leadership are establishing the Diller Teen Fellowship program at JLA (a global yearlong leadership program for high schoolers); opening the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Aquatic Center, home to SwimRight Academy, led by Olympic gold medalist Lenny Krayzelburg; sending, in 2007, JLA’s first teen delegation (and nearly 2,000 teens to date) to the Maccabi Games, an interna-

Kassin Award for Professional Achievement from the Jewish Communal Professionals of Southern California.

“Brian is a really excellent leader,” states JLA Board President Tony Regenstreif, who is also president of the search committee. “He inspires people to be their best. His stewardship has been a guiding light.”

thetician services. A plethora of choices is available.

Larchmont Sanctuary Spa, at 331 N. Larchmont Blvd., offers massages and facials that cater to specific skin needs, as well as LED light therapy, waxing and body spa treatments. When visiting the spa, massages can be given inside, outside in the garden bungalow or in side-by-side cabañas for couple treatments. Visit larchmontsanctuary.com for more information or to book an appointment Wed. through Sun. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Just up the street and founded in 2003, Healing Hands, 414 N. Larchmont Blvd., offers massage therapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture

tional program for Jewish and Israeli athletes; establishing JCamp, an accredited summer day camp; and adding “The Hive,” a program for infant and toddler care, to the JLA’s early childhood education offerings.

“Everything we do for children fills up,” notes the

and skin care from independent business owners. Each practitioner has his or her own business, but provides services at the Healing Hands facility. Healing Hands is open daily. Visit healinghandswc. com or call 323-461-7876.

Thai massage is offered at Awe Spa, 578 N. Larchmont Blvd., open Wed. through Mon. from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Call 323-466-0066 or visit awespawellness.com.

Skin Laundry, at 132 N. Larchmont Blvd., is open daily for laser facials — non-surgical treatments that use lasers to improve the skin’s appearance. Visit skinlaundry.com or call 985-401-6545.

For more involved skin

married father of three adult children. “There’s a need for it.” In fact, the state of California awarded JLA $1.5 million to fund four more preschool classrooms in the coming year, another accomplishment for the executive, who in 2012 received the Alan J.

treatments, Bliss Point Medical Spa at 419 3/4 N. Larchmont Blvd. provides injectable fillers, laser treatments, brow thread lifts, radio frequency micro needling and hair restoration. Open every day except Wed. and Sun. For appointments or information call 310-923-8451 or visit blisspointmedspa.com.

Rebecca Fitzgerald, MD Cosmetic Dermatology, 321 N. Larchmont Blvd., Ste. 906, has been helping Angelenos for more than 20 years. Aesthetic facials, facial contouring and anti-aging skin care are among the many services offered with the goal of aiding clients in feeling good in their skin. Hours are 9

JLA is not ready to announce a new executive director as of this writing, but Greene has some words of advice for his successor. “I’m leaving with my head held high,” explains Greene. “I’ll hand it off saying, ‘It’s in good financial shape. Don’t mess it up!’” Brian Greene’s retirement celebration is Thurs., Jan. 9, at Temple Beth Am. Those who wish to honor him are invited to donate to J Los Angeles’ teen programming. For more information call 323938-2531.

In the interest of full disclosure, Helene Seifer was on the search committee that hired Mr. Greene.

a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon. through Fri. Visit rebeccafitzgeraldmd.com or call 323-553-4817 to book.

A bit east of Larchmont, Beverly Hot Springs, at 308 N. Oxford Ave., offers body treatments, massage, facials, spray tanning and hair removal. In addition to these traditional spa services, this unique location is also home to a natural hot spring. Patrons can spend two hours inside the spa area, which includes a hot springs pool, a cold pool plunge area, a eucalyptus steam room and a dry sauna. Open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wed. through Mon. Visit beverlyhotsprings.com or call 323-734-7000.

JLA GOLD MEDAL-WINNING basketball team, 13-14-year-old division, at the JCC Maccabi Games in Houston, August 2024. JLA Executive Director Brian Greene is second from right.

TVC Project

(Continued from Page 1) process. It follows the recent unanimous vote of the Council’s Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) Committee on Dec. 3.

“The project is critical to the future viability of the entertainment industry in Los Angeles … ”

— Katy Yaroslavsky

The Hackman Capital Partners modernization and expansion project was approved by PLUM on that day after several “substantial modifications were made at the request of my office,” said Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, a member of PLUM.

“The project is critical to the future viability of the entertainment industry in Los Angeles as we face increasing competition from

cities around the world for these jobs,” Yaroslavsky wrote in a Dec. 8 newsletter, explaining her support for the 1.7-million-square-foot project. It includes sound stages, production support and general office and retail uses, and it retains 265,000 square feet of existing space on the historic, 52-year-old television studio property at 7800 Beverly Blvd., originally designed by architects William Pereira and Charles Luckman. The property’s iconic “Television City” entrance and logo facing Beverly Boulevard will remain under the Hackman proposal.

The PLUM committee heard comments from supporters of the project and from members of the opposition — including attorneys for six groups that appealed the previous Planning Commission approval of the development.

PLUM also denied the appeals and unanimously

approved the project. Joining Yaroslavsky in providing the needed votes on PLUM were committee chair John Lee, 12th District, and Councilmember Kevin de Leon, 14th District. Committee members Heather Hutt and Imelda Padilla were absent.

In a statement following the PLUM hearing, Zach Sokoloff, senior vice president for Hackman Capital Partners, said, “This investment in Television City will ensure the studio remains a premier production facility and continues to employ thousands of Angelenos whose livelihood relies on the entertainment industry.”

Yaroslavsky said that her support of the project, with modifications, came down to the studio jobs it would net.

While the adopted amendments offered by Yaroslavsky ensure the site is used as a studio in perpetuity, opponents of the project were not pleased.

“The real news coming out of the TVC hearing at PLUM … was a bombshell from [Councilmember] Yaroslavsky,” said Shelley Wagers, co-founder of Neighbors for Responsible TVC Development.

“We have said from day one that TVC was bogus, an office park disguised as a studio expansion. New conditions set by Yaroslavsky and announced at the hearing proved our point,” Wagers added in a statement following the PLUM hearing.

“Requiring just 150,000 square feet is not a studio expansion. It’s a studio contraction.”

— Shelley Wagers

“The Specific Plan, which determines the use of the site in perpetuity, requires just 150,000 square feet of the development be used for sound stage, production support and production offices. The

project overall is 1.7 million square feet. Does anyone seriously think that reserving just 150,000 square feet of it for production will revitalize an industry that’s in a tailspin?

“Television City currently has nearly 600,000 square feet devoted to soundstages, production support, and production offices. Requiring just 150,000 square feet is not a studio expansion. It’s a studio contraction.”

Wagers and her fellow Neighbors for Responsible TVC Development founder, Danielle Peters, added that — based on the number of appeals filed earlier — litigation is likely to follow.

Opponents of the project include Caruso (The Grove), A.F. Gilmore Company (Original Farmers Market) and others. Supporters include Park La Brea Residents Association, Los Angeles Conservancy, Holocaust Museum Los Angeles and more.

skin deep

by Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald

Q:What do you recommend for the sagging that’s going on around my mouth and jaw?

A:This is definitely an aging woe that many people are under the impression can only be addressed by a face lift. Yet we always on the search for non-surgical options that achieve the kind of results made for before and after photos. The Ellacor System is firmly in that category.

Ellacor relies on neither surgery nor thermal energy to remove excess skin. Yet it does noticeably tighten skin. Here’s how this state-of theart technology works: hollow needles remove micro circles of skin which immediately close to contract the area addressed, with no potential for scarring.

The ouch-factor and downtime are less than one would imagine for these results. Depending on your level of treatment, you can opt for topical or injected anesthetic to maintain your comfort. Patients are averaging three days to a week of downtime form social activities, and most elect for three treatments about 30 days apart.

Contact our office for a consultation and let’s welcome back your defined cheeks and jawline. Happy New Year to you! Adv.

Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald is a Board Certifed Dermatologist located in Larchmont Village with a special focus on anti-aging technology. She is a member of the Botox Cosmetic National Education Faculty and is an international Training Physician for Dermik, the makers of the injectable Sculptra. She is also among a select group of physicians chosen from around the world to teach proper injection techniques for Radiesse, the volumizing fller. Dr. Fitzgerald is an assistant clinical professor at UCLA. Visit online at www.RebeccaFitzgeraldMD.com or call (323) 464-8046 to schedule an appointment.

Cape Gown Gala honored im isney at aste beneft

On Dec. 8, the sixth annual Children’s Institute Cape & Gown Gala was held in grand fashion at the Skirball Cultural Center, taking over the Guerin Pavilion and its surrounding spaces. The “Taste for a Cause” evening event, which raised more than $820,000, started off with music, cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvre. The tastings were created by award-winning chefs who give back to their local communities, including Sandra Cordero of Xuntos and Keith Corbin and Daniel Patterson of LocoL. Small bites included tostadita de mongos made of mushroom conserva, cremini crema and manchego cheese, and barbecue brisket with slaw and toasted bread. Guests mingled and enjoyed the festive atmosphere before going into the Guerin Pavilion’s vaulted dining space. There they enjoyed more music by the Cal Arts ensemble Sirena in an evening emceed by actor and comedian Lil Rel Howery which also included a live auction, honoree presentations and dinner. The latter featured a menu of Belgian Chimay ale-braised short ribs, grilled portobello mushrooms, chocolate-dipped strawberries and spiced apple tarte tatin.

Around the Town with Sondi Toll Sepenuk

pist who formerly officed on Larchmont Boulevard, and Erin Westerman, co-president of the Motion Picture Group at Lionsgate. The Community Champion Award went to LAPD Deputy Chief Emada Tingirides and retired LAPD Deputy Chief Philip Tingirides for their community-based policing advocacy.

The Children’s Institute (CII), founded in 1906, employs “teachers, therapists and care coordinators to partner with 30,000 family members across Los Angeles at critical stages of their lives to create real, sustainable change.” This type of collaboration and impact requires relationships to exist between local leaders, community organizations and volunteers, several of whom were honored at the event.

Children’s Champion Award honorees for the evening included Tim Disney, an entrepreneur and philanthro-

Emmy-winning broadcaster Liam Mayclem hosted the live auction with an energy and flair that brought in much-needed dollars to help support the organization. Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Gene Straub, a Larchmont local, emphasized, “It’s important for people to understand what we do — that we connect people to critical services that change lives.” A very grateful Tim Disney highlighted, “The most important metric of success is self-reported happiness, and people who build deep relationships with community and who learn how to apply themselves are happier people … and what more could we want for our young people? It’s what I want for my kids and that’s what I want for everyone.”

• • •

In the middle of the busy month of December, the Marciano Art Foundation (MAF) premiered Doug Aitken’s “Lightscape” multi-media artwork that is installed in the vast Theater Gallery of the art collection building at Wilshire and Lucerne boulevards. Among the other media that

make the artwork “multi” are music performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and voices from the Los Angeles Master Chorale.

At the Dec. 14 premiere, singers from the Chorale serenaded the partygoers from the mezzanine surrounding the lobby. Players and singers from the Phil and the Chorale will be performing at selected times during the “Lightscape” run that continues to March 15. Among the many arts aficionados enjoying the opening reception were Hancock Park’s Robert Ronus, Master Chorale board chair Susan Erburu Reardon and her husband, George, and Pasadena’s Mimi and Warren Techentin. [More about the

CHILDREN’S INSTITUTE supporters enjoy dinner, drinks, honoree awards and a live auction at the Skirball Cultural Center.

LARCHMONT LOCAL and CII Executive Vice President and COO Gene Straub with CII President and CEO Martine Singer.

HONOREE TIM DISNEY addressed the CII supporters.

LIGHTSCAPE premiere

attendees

Around the Town

(Continued from Page 10)

new MAF exhibitions is on Page 8 of Section 2. — Ed.]

•

• •

The same Dec. 14 evening, there undoubtedly were lots of holiday parties underway all around our town. One of the prettiest was at the Hancock Park home of Mary and Kevin O’Connell. The party has been an annual tradition for the O’Connell family and friends, and attendees said it felt just like last year, when they had been in that same, pretty setting (a Paul Williams house). But, they then had to agree with Mary when she said it was hard to believe that, because of the pandemic, the party last was held five years ago! But that did not matter for old friends in attendance, including Hancock Park’s Steve and Melanie Guise, former Han-

cock Park-er Louise Brinsley, and John and Martha Welborne, from Windsor Square. Mary’s two siblings and their spouses, Aileen Adams and Geoff Cowan and Peter and Elaine Adams, were there to continue the beautiful but interrupted, tradition.

•

On a bright, shiny Dec. 17 morning, there were three score and more bright and shiny preschoolers dancing and cavorting to holiday music of all kinds in the assembly room at St. James’ School on St. Andrews Place. The 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. event drew parents and grandparents to

watch the youngest of the St. James’ students show the dance routines they had practiced to perform in this year’s “Jolly Jamboree.” Almost all of the children are from the neighborhoods surrounding St. James’ Church. Some local dancers were Windsor Square’s George and Phoebe Kemper, with their parents, Scout and Billy; Windsor Village’s Robby Persson with his mom, Helen Howe Persson and grandparents Kathryn and Con Howe; and Gloria LaBombard with her mother, Elizabeth Fain LaBombard. The children were colorfully costumed and totally adorable

– of course!

•

The next day saw a California State Senator also in costume. Well, a Santa Claus hat, anyway, as Sen. Ben Al-

len greeted constituents and spoke at his annual Holiday Legislative Event and Toy Drive, held this year at the Original Farmers Market at (Please turn to Page 12)

MEETING IN THE MIDDLE (at the O’Connell home in Hancock Park) for a holiday dinner party were siblings and spouses, from left, Geoff Cowan and Aileen Adams, Brentwood; Kevin and Mary Adams O’Connell; and Peter and Elaine Adams, Pasadena.

ST. JAMES’ preschool Jolly Jamboree-ers posed with some parents, from left, Scout and Billy Kemper, Windsor Square, with George and Phoebe; Elizabeth Fain LaBomberd, Windsor Square, with Gloria; and Helen Howe Persson, Windsor Village, with Robby.

included (from left) Warren Techentin, George and Susan Erburu Reardon, Mimi Techentin, and Robert Ronus.

PRESCHOOL CHILDREN cavorted before an audience of parents, grandparents and friends at the St. James’ Episcopal School Jolly Jamboree at the school.

Around the Town

(Continued from Page 11)

Third and Fairfax. The senator and his office partnered with My Stuff Bags Foundation and the Assistance league of Los Angeles for a holiday toy drive to help local families and kids in need.

Music was provided by Elemental Choir, from Santa Monica, and the Fairfax High School Chamber Strings.

Lots of people discussed legislative and district issues with the senator, many of them enjoying the generous supply of donuts offered near the check-in table!

• • •

On the crystal-clear evening of Dec. 19, the annual Windsor Square Hancock Park caroling party saw a spontaneous amateur choir, numbering more than 100, starting out in front of Le

325 N. Larchmont Boulevard, #158 Los Angeles, California 90004 windsorsquare.org

157 N. Larchmont Boulevard

“January, the first month of the year. A perfect time to start all over again, changing energies and deserting old moods, new beginnings, new attitudes.”

— Charmaine J. Forde Happy New Year from the Windsor Square Association! We hope your holidays were joyous and healthy, and we look forward to serving you in the new year.

Join the Windsor Square Association! If you are a Windsor Square homeowner or resident, please consider joining the WSA to stay connected and informed about public safety, land use and quality of life issues as well as neighborhood events and news. Your participation is important in preserving the character and community of Windsor Square. You can join or pay your dues at www. windsorsquare.org.

CHIP Ordinances Pass: The City Council in December unanimously passed the Citywide Housing Incentive Program (CHIP) ordinances — designed to streamline development project review and to up-zone specific areas of the city to encourage housing construction. The WSA supported successful efforts by United Neighbors Los Angeles to exclude single-family zones and historic districts from up-zoning in the final ordinance.

Public Safety: As the wave of local residential breakins continues, the WSA encourages continued vigilance and robust home security. The WSA will resume outreach with regard to the possible introduction of License Plate Reading Cameras on participating streets. The WSA is contributing $1,000 to the first block that moves forward with camera installation.

Lunar New Year 2025: January 29th is Seollal (the Lunar New Year in Korean). Celebrate the Year of the Snake with many Asian cultures and countries. The Snake is associated with wisdom, charm, elegance and transformation.

WE NEED BLOCK CAPTAINS! Be a leader of your block and point person for all that’s going on in the neighborhood. The WSA has numerous block captain positions open. It is a great opportunity to engage with neighbors and community leaders. Contact: blockcaptains@ windsorsquare.org.

The Windsor Square Association, an all-volunteer group of residents from 1100 households between Beverly and Wilshire and Van Ness and Arden, works to preserve and enhance our beautiful neighborhood.

325 N. Larchmont Blvd., #158, Los Angeles, CA 90004, or windsorsquare.org.

Pain Quotidien on Larchmont Boulevard, then following a live six-piece brass band up and down the streets of Windsor Square. The crooners stopped off at several houses, singing songs and partaking in holiday beverages, including Kahlua shots served on a ski!

Then, two nights later, the Brookside annual caroling party featured a horse-drawn carriage, Santa Claus, Fire Station 61 and plenty of sweet treats and libations. Children clambered aboard the sleigh and journeyed around the streets of Brookside, singing all the way. Attendees were asked to donate toys to the

CAROLING REFESHMENTS

local fire station, which resulted in overflowing bags of presents. Many of the older

children remember this event as one of their first formative memories, and they were happy to see the tradition continue!

And now you’re in the Larchmont know!

Beverly Hills’ new Rolex Boutique Gearys

By Suzan Filipek

Thomas Blumenthal, who grew up in Hancock Park and is the third generation to run the family business — Gearys

Beverly Hills, the luxury home goods store — opened his latest venture last month: Rolex Boutique Gearys on Rodeo Drive.

Blumenthal initially opened a small Rolex store in Beverly Hills in 2004. But, five years ago, a new spark was lit, a smiling Blumenthal said at a pre-opening reception Dec. 3 on the boutique’s rooftop level at 312 N. Rodeo Dr.

“Rolex wanted a bigger presence… and we’re entrenched in the community,” he explained. Discussions about design and location followed, “and here we are,” Blumenthal said.

It’s the first multi-level Rolex boutique in the U.S., said Carla Uzel, who traveled from the Rolex Manhattan headquarters for the store’s unveiling.

A spiral staircase takes customers to the second floor showroom, where several styles of the iconic watch are on display. A seating area with

plush green chairs and an elaborate marble bar beckon. Technicians can be seen at work in a watch repair station.

“A client can have the full 360-degree experience here,”

(Please turn to Page 14)

FAIRFAX High School musicians performed at Sen. Ben Allen’s (in Santa hat) holiday event at Farmers Market.

include Kahlua shots on a ski.

FESTIVE FANS of Brookside caroling include Bianca Trester, Luke Trester, Taylor Louden, Jan Wieringa, Jordan Trester and Kes Trester.

PRE-OPENING of new Rolex Boutique Gearys on Rodeo Drive, above.

THIRD GENERATION executive to run the family business, Thomas Blumenthal.

‘Mattress’ is a raucous romp based on a classic fairy tale

The year 1959 was great year for musicals: “Fiorello!,” “Destry Rides Again,” “Gypsy,” “Redhead,” “Take Me Along,” “The Sound of Music” and “The Most Happy Fella” all opened that year (along with a dozen “straight” plays, including “A Raisin in the Sun,” Paddy Chayefsky’s “The Tenth Man” and revivals of Shaw’s “Heartbreak House” and Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing”). None had the average up-front cost of $13.5 million, nor the average weekly running cost of more than $950,000 that musicals have today (The Economist 11/18/24). Is it any wonder that theater tickets have risen 15 percent year-on-year since the end of the pandemic, while audiences stubbornly refuse to break 80-85 percent of pre-pandemic attendance levels?

One composer had two musicals on Broadway in 1959.

Mayor Bass

(Continued from Page 1)

lem are behind us. We are focused on putting an end to the humanitarian crisis on our streets,” she said.

The mayor’s efforts include historic changes to policies and laws, cutting red tape, building housing cheaper and faster and bringing people off the streets quicker, according to materials distributed by her office.

“You can see the results with more people inside, more clear sidewalks, and new, innovative housing. We are breaking through past regulations that allowed people to languish on the streets and refusing to tolerate inaction. This progress is fuel for the future — we will not slow down.”

Bass made her announcement at The Eaves, on nearby South Gramercy Place. The Eaves is the first project of LA4LA, which operates under the nonprofit umbrella of the California Community Foundation. This is LA4LA’s first affordable housing project undertaken in collaboration with Mayor Bass. The Eaves houses nearly 60 formerly homeless people through Bass’ Inside Safe program. The housing project was on the brink of being sold as market-rate housing before LA4LA, acting as a public-private partnership, worked with developers and secured grant funding and a low-interest loan from philanthropic partners.

Running up to her anniversary date of Dec. 12, Bass crisscrossed the city to highlight key issues, from reducing homelessness and homicides — the latter by 25 percent — to attracting a record number of LAPD applicants.

Theater Review by

Louis Fantasia

Mary Rodgers (daughter of Richard) had both “Once Upon a Mattress” and “Davy Jones’ Locker,” both successful family fare. “Davy Jones” starred Bill Baird’s Marionettes. “Mattress” rocket-launched the career of a then unknown Carol Burnett.

The current revival of the princess-and-the-pea tale

Once Upon a Mattress (at the Ahmanson to Sun., Jan. 5) stars the irrepressible Sutton Foster as the insomnia-suffering, uncouth swamp princess who foils the evil queen (Ana Gasteyer) to win the charming, but not so bright, prince (Michael Urie). The pro-

duction is directed by Lear deBessonet, who staged the original “Encores!” revival, and “Mattress” shows all the hallmarks of her staging of last year’s “Into the Woods:” orchestra on stage, a unit set of pillars and platforms, a few simple set pieces, budget costuming, unfussy choreography … and great singing.

Ms. Foster’s above-the-title performance is a raucous, noholds-barred romp, while the entire production has an energy level just short of camp (some audience members were dressed in their pajamas). A quick YouTube search confirmed my memory of the original (a 1962 black-andwhite broadcast I saw as a kid) as somewhat kinder and gentler in tone; more innocent at heart. The difference may be “Gilmore Girls” writer Amy Sherman-Palladino’s spicedup script or just my nostalgia. Still, it’s an evening of laughs

What to watch for

Theater 40 presents the world premiere of Russell Brown’s “Listing,” about the Los Angeles real estate scene gone wrong. Jan. 16 through Feb. 16; 310-364-0535. Anton Chekov’s “The Seagull” runs at the Odyssey Jan. 16 through Feb. 9; 310-477-2055; odysseytheatre. com.

The Mark Taper Forum presents the long-delayed premiere of Larissa FastHorse’s “Fake It Till You Make It,” Jan. 2 through March 9; 213-628-2772; www.centertheatregroup.org.

and catchy — if immediately forgettable — tunes, just when we need it most. Take the kids! 213-972-4400; musiccenter.org.

• • •

Not all the theater world is singing and dancing today: Ukrainian theater companies struggle to present plays in subway shelters as missiles fall, and, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s last surviving ensemble struggles to produce a season reflecting its country’s violence. “Life is a theater. I am a

theater. We are a theater. The world is a theater,” said one of the company’s actors before shots rang out in an interview. (The Guardian, 12/6/24).

We — obviously — are not anywhere near that level of despair, but the coming years will be difficult for American theaters (indeed, for all arts organizations). In his first term, President Trump tried to eliminate funding for both the National Endowment for the Arts and the Humanities, and

Stars align at Bar Etoile, Melrose Hill’s newest eatery

It appears one can’t blink without something new popping up on Melrose Hill. This time it’s a French-inflected, wine-centric restaurant — Bar Etoile. What had been an unexciting commercial building has been converted into a welcoming façade fronting a gracious dining room with high ceilings, an architectural feature typical of this corner of Los Angeles.

The casually elegant eatery puts its drink program front and center. The large U-shaped bar is smack in the middle of the room. On the right, white-topped tables rim a white wall scattered with an eccentric array of small pictures. Pale blue clamshell booths line the wood-paneled wall to the left of the bar. Although there are five premixed $17 cocktails on offer (I highly recommend the tequila gimlet), well drinks and beer, Bar Etoile’s beverage program concentrates on wine, unsurprising given that Bar Etoile co-owner Jill Bernheimer also owns the Melrose Avenue natural wine shop Domaine LA.

Partner Julian Kurland, formerly the manager and buyer at Domaine LA, is a Certified Cicerone, a professional with proven skill in selecting and serving beer. The third partner in Bar Etoile is Executive Chef Tavis Hayden, a former music executive, who learned to cook at Rustic Canyon, then created the food program at wine bar Voodoo Vin.

Small dishes

Chef Hayden has crafted an appealing menu for the restaurant. In keeping with the eating etiquette of the times, plates are meant to be shared. Unusually, even the small plates are, in fact, shareable. There are seven small dishes on the menu, including $6 rosemary marcona almonds, $19 homemade mortadella with sprouting cauliflower and sardine tonnato (a sardine version of the more common tuna sauce), and an $18 cheese tart. The small tart slice has big flavor. A thin crust holds a filling made with creamy semi-firm briana cheese, an artisanal raw milk cheese from grassfed cows in Indiana. It has a lovely texture and sweet, slightly funky taste. The tart is dusted with powdered chives and comes with a spoonful of a fruity dipping sauce. Very rich, very pretty, very good.

Medium plates

Medium plates include salads, vegetables and a $22 kampachi crudo in ajo blanco (an almond gazpacho). We tried an $18 endive salad because it comes with shards of savory meringue, which sounds irresistible, and they are. The endive leaves sit on a base of two dressings; caramelized yeast, which gives a toasted cheese flavor, and pear cremeux (pear and chocolate custard). Chef Hayden double sauces several of his dishes, which can add an exciting layering of flavor. Although the

On the Menu

by Helene Seifer

taste and textures were good, it was difficult to get a forkful of all the flavors at once. It also would have been nice to jazz up the salad’s monotonous color scheme of mainly white and palest yellow on a white plate. Some baby kale or arugula or even parsley would perk up the visual element of the dish. Another dish in the designated medium category, $22 yams, are deeply seasoned with a luscious, spicy Guajillo pepper sabayon (egg yolk and wine sauce, here spiced with peppers) and liberally sprinkled with black sesame seeds. This is a very satisfying dish, although the yam wedges would have been even better if they were less al dente.

Mains

There were four main courses available the night we were there — a $24 vegetarian leek and polenta dish, a $38 rotisserie chicken with persimmon béarnaise sauce, which sounds delightful, and the two dishes that we shared. We had the $34 rockfish and it was wellcooked and flaky, with almost sweet flesh, topped with salsa macha (made from dried chiles, garlic, nuts and seeds) and resting on a mound of braised

fennel. Under it all was a silky sunchoke puree. The salsa added a textural counterpoint to the soft elements of the terrific dish. We also shared steak frites, a beloved and common dish in French gastronomy. Bar Etoile’s $44 dish presents delicious skinny fries and a perfectly medium rare pre-cut skirt steak with a dollop of Montpellier butter, a sweet butter mixed with minced fresh herbs (such as tarragon, chives, dill and parsley), chopped capers and garlic. The butter was superb and helped amp up the steak’s flavor, which on its own was lacking je ne sais quoi.

Gearys Rolex

(Continued from Page 12) said Uzel.

The iconic watch brand is the 1908 brainchild of Hans Wilsdorf, a Brit, who would move the operation to Switzerland. When asked how the Rolex name came to be, he reportedly said he wanted something short and easily understood in multiple languages that would look good on a dial.

Also, as legend has it, a genie allegedly whispered the word in his ear.

Whether that latter part of the story is true, the staff on Rodeo Drive likes to tell it.

While the luxury watch shop on Rodeo is new, Rolex’s partnership with Blumenthal began nearly 25 years ago, leading to Blumenthal’s opening his original Beverly Hills Rolex store.

For dessert, we passed on the $10 strawberry sorbet and $11 buttermilk vanilla affogato and instead shared the $12 chocolate tart. The dense chocolatey tart had just the right level of sweetness and was delicious with the double dollop of Chantilly cream and passion fruit sauce. I’ve been to eateries that feel more exciting or more like home, which I prefer. Next time I’ll sit at the bar, which truly is the heart of the room, sip a glass of red from Burgundy, dig into a Caesar beef tartare and feel très français. Bar Etoile, 632 N. Western Ave., 323-380-5040.

mains, at age 95, the oldest existing store in Beverly Hills.

“My family has owned Gearys 60 of its 95 years,” said Blumenthal, whose grandparents lived on McCadden Place. Blumenthal attended local schools while growing up on June Street with his parents, who still are residents.

Rooftop toast

At the pre-opening, Blumenthal offered a rooftop toast on what was “a beautiful California day.” A wall showcasing stucco art reminiscent of a California sunset is among decorative elements of the store. A green-glass and blue-marble façade and wave motif are nods to the Rolex Oyster, known as the world’s first waterproof wristwatch.

Newer model watches glisten in their cases. On their dials, a five-point crown stands above the legendary name.

Gearys Beverly Hills, the luxury home goods and jewelry store, is at 351 N. Beverly Drive.

Today, there are three Gearys Rolex stores, with the other two being at Santa Monica Place and Westfield Mall Century City.

The flagship for Gearys re-

Rolex Boutique Gearys is at 312 N. Rodeo Drive.

Classic tale of revenge and a massacre that changed the world

The Count of Monte Cristo (9/10): 178 minutes. NR. Alexandre Dumas’ 1,200-page book has been filmed at least 12 times. It is such a terrific story of revenge that all the ones I have seen have been entertaining. This one could be the best. Written and directed by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de La Patellière, it stars Pierre Niney as Edmond Dantès, who is arrested on his wedding day to Mércedès (Anaïs Demoustier); framed by Danglars (Patrick Mille), Fernand de Morcef (Bastien Bouillon) and devious magistrate Villefort (Laurent Lafitte); and sentenced without trial to life imprisonment at the horrible island prison Château d’If.

The story is undoubtedly familiar to just about everyone. This is a long movie, but it’s worth every second, as Dantès escapes, obtains the fortune described to him by a fellow inmate and devotes

his enormous wealth to making everyone involved in what happened to him pay dearly. The locations are beautiful and the cinematography absorbing. In French.

The Day of the Jackal (8/10): 10 episodes. TV-MA. Streaming on Peacock. Like “Monte Cristo,” supra, Frederick Forsyth’s wildly popular bestseller has been filmed many times; never as well as the first in 1973, starring Edward Fox. This one has a different slant and presents the “Jackal” (Eddie Redmayne), a cold-blooded killer, as a man hopelessly in love with his wife. The Jackal is hired to assassinate a captain of industry, and he travels all over to try to get the job done. This adds a needless B story about The Jackal and his unknowing wife (who didn’t exist in the book and the first movie) that weakens the story, if it hadn’t been weakened enough by the casting of ineffective Lasha-

At the Movies with Tony Medley

na Lynch as Bianca Pullman, the British intelligence officer pursuing him, and involving her marital relationships as an equally needless C story. But maybe they needed these unnecessary distractions to fill out 10 episodes, when the Fox film told it in 143 minutes. Some of the shots made by the Jackal are impossible, taken from a rocking boat in the ocean, no matter how masterful a shot he might be. Even so, this is a compelling thriller, and Redmayne gives a fine performance as the sociopathic killer.

September 5 (8/10): 95 minutes. R. On Sept. 5, 1972, ABC was televising the Munich

Summer Olympics. That was the day that Islamic terrorists invaded the Israeli compound, took the athletes hostage, and turned the Olympic Games upside down. This film follows the maturation of the ABC sportscasting crew led by young producer Geoff Mason (John Magaro), who found himself put in charge of this fast-breaking live news story by the legendary Roone Arledge (Peter Sarsgaard). It’s a minute-by-minute telling, enhanced by archival audio of sportscaster Jim McKay, who gave a performance for the ages, and newsman Peter Jennings. It shows the unprecedented decisions that had to be made on the spur of the moment by the inexperienced Mason with time at its essence. It was an event that changed media coverage of news forever.

Don Ohlmeyer, who became president of NBC’s West Coast Division, was working for ABC in the control room the entire

time. (His name is only mentioned in passing by Roone Arledge in the movie.) Many years ago, he told me about his reaction which captures the tension they were all under:

“It changed my life, and it changed me as a person … I remember it was about 2:45 in the morning when we first knew that all the Israelis were dead. Here you’d been living with these people all day long for 15 hours and we’d gotten background information, and you really felt like you knew them. You almost, you loved them, and then when they died it was like somebody in your family died. I was in the control room and I just, when I knew they died, I just started crying. I told Roone I had to leave and I went back to the hotel. I went through a severe depression that lasted almost a year.”

This film memorializes the tense, behind-the-scenes action admirably.

Many ways to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day

By Nona Sue Friedman

Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister and social activist in the South who was a driving force behind the

Civil Rights Movement, starting in the 1950s until his assassination in 1968.

He is being honored many ways nationwide in January.

Here are two local events:

Holocaust Museum LA (HMLA) is screening “Ain’t No Back to a Merry-Go-Round” at the AMC The Grove 14 on Sun., Jan. 19, at 6 p.m. at 189

The Grove Dr.

The documentary is about the first interracial civil rights protest in America. It started with a segregated carousel in Maryland where, in 1960, five Black college students were arrested. Members of the nearby Jewish community joined

in, and history-making interracial demonstrations ensued.

Tickets are $15 for non-HMLA members, free for members. Reserve a ticket at tinyurl.com/yc6za72z.

Big Sunday community breakfast, clothing drive

Big Sunday will hold its 13th annual MLK Day clothing drive and community breakfast from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Cienega Elementary School, 2611 S. Orange Dr., on Mon., Jan. 20.

In the weeks leading up to

the event, you can organize a used clothing drive or make cards that will be sent with bags of clothing.

Volunteers will be needed on Jan. 20 to sort new and gently used clothing, assemble clothing kits and help beautify the school, among other opportunities. Of course, a giant breakfast will be served simultaneously to all.

To help with sponsorship or volunteer for the day, visit bigsunday.org.

FILM TELLS of frst interracial civil rights protest. It screens at the AMC The Grove, Jan. 19.

Becoming aware of how we are seeing children in each moment

By Casey Russell

While in Chevalier’s Books the other day, I picked up actress Selma Blair’s book, “Mean Baby: A Memoir of Growing Up.” It was interesting that I happened to choose that book to read while my daughter immersed herself in a book be-

cause I had been planning to write this month’s parenting column on the idea that our children often end up seeing themselves as we see them. Blair’s narrative exemplified this idea, and it illustrated the power that we parents — with or without knowing it — have

over our offspring. Labeling our children I’ve long been averse to hearing children being told to “be a good girl.” Why should a series of choices a child makes, or a mood he happens to be in one day, determine who he is at his core — good or bad? Obvious-

ly it shouldn’t. And it’s easy to see that, when we verbally label our children with words such as good, bad, smart, rude, clumsy, mean, disruptive or beautiful, they will begin to see themselves as exactly how we’ve labeled them.

They will also, most likely, continue to live up to our labeling of them. Or, especially in the case of the positive labels, put a lot of pressure on themselves to live up to that which we’ve labeled them.

Not just words

But it is not only our words that children pick up. They see how we look at them. They also sense the energy we bring to our interactions with them. They can tell when we are disappointed, frustrated or annoyed; when we are expecting them to do “that thing.” And often they will mirror the emotional state with which we have greeted them.

Imagine this: You’ve been working in another room for an hour and then enter the living room to find the floor covered in cardboard scraps, pens, tape, little pieces of paper and, well, stuff, everywhere. You now have a choice.

Option 1: You can follow your thoughts: “Oh my freakin’ goodness, this place looks like the recycling truck threw up. Why is my child so messy? I’m constantly having to clean up or remind her to clean up!” And then you can spill that annoyance and tension onto her as you huffily push things aside and tell her she needs to clean up quickly, because she needs to take a shower before dinner.

Option 2: You can take a breath and get curious about what she’s been doing. You can choose to be thankful that she entertained herself with something creative and got totally immersed in whatever artistic thing she was doing while you were able to get some work done.

If you choose Option 1, you will likely see your child as messy, disorganized, unable to pick up after herself and possibly even a bother. You may angrily tell her to clean up her mess without really taking in what she’s trying to show you she has made. You will both leave the situation with unpleasant feelings and will feel disconnected from each other.

If you choose Option 2, you will see your child as creative, artistic and capable of entertaining herself. You will take the time to look at what she’s made and appreciate it. Then, let her know (without anger) that it’s almost shower time and ask her to find good spots for her awesome creations and all the things that she used to make them. You will both leave the situation with pleasant feelings and will feel

Tips on Parenting by

Casey Russell

connected to each other.

Becoming aware

It really comes down to becoming aware of the feelings arising within ourselves and taking a few moments to notice the thoughts that result from these feelings. If we can start to recognize our own patterns in certain situations, we can mentally choose to reframe our thoughts in tough moments. By doing this, we can change our feelings and, subsequently, the energy we bring to our interactions.

Our feelings in each moment determine how we are seeing and treating our children. And the thing is, our children internalize the feelings we have about them.

We all get frustrated sometimes, and we cannot possibly handle every situation with the grace we’d wish to. But if we find ourselves falling into patterns of negative feelings around or about our children, it’s good to take a little look inside ourselves.

If we are objectively honest and observant for a few days, we may find we’ve got into the habit of expecting our child to behave certain ways. This is called predictive processing. We are seeing a situation not just with what our senses are bringing us in the moment, but also by what our brains expect us to see and hear.

Doing this can cause us to enter an interaction ready for a problem. And what do we often then get? Exactly that.

But our children are not problems. They are just people, like we are, responding to the moment and to what they are feeling from us.

My goal is to let that be love, as often as possible.

Register now for Wilshire Wildcats spring softball

The Wilshire Wildcats Softball Spring Season is open for registration. The season, which offers programs for 8U, 10U, 12U and 14U, will run from the end of January through the middle of May, with the first practice being held the week of Jan. 21. (The “U” in the program levels stands for “under.”)

Practices will take place at the Lemon Grove Recreation Center once a week.

Questions can be directed to president@wilshiresoftball. com or to Coach Keith at 323383-5954.

It may be cold outside, but it’s time to

By Nona Sue Friedman

Summer camp is a kid’s rite of passage to swim, get dirty, sit around a campfire, play sports all day, create arts and crafts and make new friends. But getting into popular camps takes some planning on the part of the parent. Now is the time to research and reserve a spot for your child.

Los Angeles is filled with options — appealing to different interests in various locations and from one-day adventures to spending a week or more away from home.

Day camps

Many schools and even some colleges morph over the summer into camps. The fields, auditoriums and classrooms transform into play areas. Kids spend the day doing sports, dance, music, ceramics, horseback riding, surf, photography, drama —

you name it! And your child doesn’t have to be a student at the school to participate.

Museums, gardens, local parks and even the Los Angeles Zoo host summer camps. If your child loves fossils, what better place to learn and explore than at the Natural History Museum.

Participation can be by the day or the week, depending on the organization.

Overnight camps

Sending your child away to camp for a week or more gives everyone in your family a break. Children acquire a great sense of independence while they are away. It also gives city kids a chance to live in nature for a time and not have to listen to the constant cacophony of Los Angeles.

Just as with day camps, a plethora of choices awaits within a drive of one to two

book summer camp

hours. Many camps are nestled in the forest, alongside a lake or near the ocean. Kids learn to live with bunkmates day and night. And they will likely learn or try a new sport or activity.

Start a conversation with your child now. Check out a comprehensive list of camps on Page 14 of the April 2024 Larchmont Chronicle at tinyurl.com/4cwdfxvr.

LPGA tournament honor, Wilshire Country Club course re-do

By Suzan Filipek

The JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro was named “2024 Tournament of the Year.”

The national recognition for Los Angeles’ signature Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) event was announced last month by the LPGA.

To celebrate its third year in 2025 — the championship first took place at the historic Wilshire Country Club during the past two years —

the tournament will move to El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana. It will be held April 14-20, while Wilshire Country Club undergoes a multi-million-dollar course renovation and upgrade project that began last fall.

Walter and Shirley Wang, CEOs, respectively, of tournament sponsors JM Eagle, the world’s largest plastic pipe manufacturer, and Plastpro, a leading manufacturer of fiberglass entry doors, doubled

the previous purse from $1.5 to $3 million in the tournament’s first year — making the tournament the first LPGA Tour event outside of the major championships to feature a $3 million purse. Hannah Green successfully defended her title in 2024 to become the two-time defending champion at the JM Eagle LA Championship. “I look forward to teeing it up in Los Angeles in April and going after a three-peat,” said Green.

Marlborough girls’ golf team: winning championships and breaking records

By Casey Russell Finishing off its 2024 season, the Marlborough Mustangs Varsity Golf team claimed the title of Angelus League champion for the first time and has been ranked number 19 in the country. The team was one to be reckoned with, as all players were determined and performed well.

Three individuals had especially impressive stats this season. Senior Kaila Elsayegh now holds the record for lowest single-season stroke average in the history of the school. This season she came

in at 34.65, a new record. Elsayegh also received MVP honors for the third time in a row. With a 36.06 single-season stroke average, sophomore Zoey Kim was not far behind Elsayegh’s stats. She claimed the school’s second-place slot. And Elisha Park, a freshman, follows Kim with a third place ranking in Marlborough’s all-time single-season stroke average listing. Park played in every match and was a medalist at the CIF Team / Individual Regional Finals at Los Serranos Golf Course.

MARLBOROUGH MUSTANGS 2024 Varsity Golf team (minus four members) proudly poses. Left to right: Sydney Karlan, Avery Ma, Elisha Park, Kaila Elsayegh, Zoey Kim, Olivia Ohr, Jocelyn Weinstock and Jean Lee.

THREE BOYS run and enjoy the sunshine at Camp Wildfolk on the Larchmont Charter Fairfax campus.

Photo courtesy of Camp Wildfolk

ONE, TWO, THREE and into the pool to cool off at Canyon Creek Summer Camp.

Photo courtesy of Canyon Creek Summer Camp

Marking 50 columns: I love writing about your young athletes

I’m celebrating an anniversary. This will be the 50th time my Youth Sports column has appeared in the Larchmont Chronicle. That’s over four years of interviewing coaches, athletes, communication directors and parents; attending athletic events; securing photographs; and meeting a monthly deadline applied by this newspaper’s enthusiastic (and understanding, especially when I request an extension) publisher, John Welborne. 2020

In the summer of 2020, I reached out to the Larchmont Chronicle about a writing position. I was offered the opportunity to begin a Youth Sports column. I accepted, but generating a monthly column that focused on local athletes in the middle of the COVID-19 shutdown posed an immediate challenge because athletic competitions were on hold. Summer baseball, soccer, swimming and volleyball leagues had been cancelled, so there were no championship events to cover. High school football practice traditionally got underway in August, but the CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) wasn’t allowing student athletes to do much more than weight train. The players were banned from

physical contact, and no decision had been reached about if and when official competition might resume.

What a first assignment: Writing about what wasn’t there.

Thankfully, cross-country takes place outdoors and is not a contact sport. The pandemic restrictions limited the number of times a coach could meet with his or her team to three times per week, but the runners were still permitted to train independently as much as they wanted. I learned this when I encountered Loyola High’s Dylan Bissell and several of his cross-country teammates waiting to continue their run at a Melrose Avenue traffic light.

That brush with Bissell, who now competes for UC Berkeley, gave me my first column, and I realized there’s always a story out there. What followed during the next few months were features on skateboarding, equestrianism

and snowboarding.

Change

Following the recent pandemic, a normalcy was gradually restored. But, in athletics, all things did not return to pre-2020.

The biggest change, and biggest news story, had to be the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 2021 agreement allowing college athletes to earn NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) money. That, combined with the transfer portal (that facilitates college athletes transferring to new schools), is changing college athletics quickly. It’s understandable why so many

dislike what’s happening, but there’s no way to stop it. The quality of high school and college athletes won’t diminish.

In fact, NIL money likely will force them to become better and even more competitive.

I’m happy to go along for the ride. Without change, performance doesn’t improve, and records don’t get broken.

Highlights

I’ve tried to give girls and boys equal space in my column. There is still more opportunity for males when it comes to sports, but it continues to improve for female athletes.

Two of my favorite columns featured girls. My wife and I

ran across Andrew and Pamela Wright during a morning walk near Larchmont Village, and they told us about their daughter, Rita, at the time an eighth grader at Marlborough School. She played basketball and lacrosse, and she had just been named her grade’s Outstanding Athlete. I needed an assignment at the time, and they provided a great one. I welcome story ideas from coaches and parents.

The most unique and fun feature to write was about Mojo Mayhem, a jammer for the Los Angeles-based Junior Derby Dolls All-Star (Please turn to Page 23)

LARCHMONT CHRONICLE Youth Sports columnist Jim Kalin with his son, Kyd, in Venice, August 2020. DUO AGAIN in November of 2024.

Youth Sports by Jim Kalin

Fr. Goethals

(Continued from Page 1)

Goethals’ favorite part of the job has been its complexity. “There’s always something new popping up, and I love that the school is a community. The students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni, donors — those are my colleagues and the family that makes Loyola function.” His trek to work hasn’t been bad either. Both his office and his home have been on campus since he took up the position. “My commute is an elevator ride,” he said with a smile.

The president’s job requires

the regular saying of Mass, and it allows him to get out to see the students — there are 1,200-plus — but it also encompasses interacting with the wider Los Angeles community.

Really, Goethals has been the face of Loyola for the past 20 years. He has been the school’s presence in the city, making sure the school is at the table for philanthropy and donations. During his time, Goethals has led campaigns to raise money for the modernization and construction of multiple halls, has overseen the acquisition of land (increasing Loyola’s footprint to 22 acres)

and has increased the school’s endowment.

Pondering how he’ll feel on his last day, Goethals told us there will be sadness but that he will also likely feel some of the same things he felt on his first day: Blessed, elated, loved, grateful, and in awe that his dream actually came true. Goethals’ parents are the people who most shaped him, though he doesn’t believe he would have said that when he was a teenager. “They were smart, elegant and non-judgmental, but people of values and faith. They were all-embracing,” he said. From his parents, Goethals learned to

never think of anyone as less than he was. He was taught to give back and to be a good person.

Now, he would like to impart three pieces of advice to all Loyola students: Be who God created you to be — a man of gifts, talent, strengths and weaknesses — and balance all those to the best of your ability. Give back to the world and love openly. And always have hope. “We are going to survive together. And, no matter how dark it gets, there is always hope,” he told us.

Goethals was quite clear on the fact that, by stepping down, he is not actually retiring. He will be taking a yearlong sabbatical, giving himself space to let go of this job and process what the past 20 years have been like. He will talk to his Provincial (a kind of leader among the brotherhood who works with members to decide their placements) to see what his next assignment will be.

Though he hopes his next assignment keeps him in California, Goethals doesn’t think he wants to be a president again. He has a great affinity for higher education and loves institutional work and the community that comes with it, but he isn’t sure exactly what he’s hoping to do following his sabbatical.

Goethals hopes he can “let go easily. I hope the transition can be smooth. When I go, I want none to notice I’m gone, because I want the school to be better 10 years from now than it is now,” he said. When Goethals graduated 50 years ago, he thought Loyola was the best school in Southern California. “And we were! But we are better now. I want to be one of the many marks that makes this school grow and be better,” he said. As difficult as the past 20 years have been at times because of the complexity of the job, Goethals sees them as the greatest years of his life. “I’m grateful to Loyola and to God. Any success is attributable to everybody, and I’m grateful to be a part of that,” he said.

Theater

(Continued from Page 13)

(according to National Public Radio, 11/22/24) they are again targets for elimination.

Production costs (and therefore ticket prices) will continue to rise, putting pressure on theaters — especially smaller ones — to produce safer, more audience-friendly fare. University theater programs are turning out fewer graduates as students opt for career-friendly degrees. Prop. 28 promised a billion dollars in arts education funding to California schools. However, much of that money (according to arts advocacy group Create CA) is being used by schools to “backfill” shortages in other areas, even though less than 20 percent of California public schools have a full-time arts teacher (calmatters.org 5/31/24).

In the very first column I wrote for this paper, at the height of the pandemic, I quoted Bertolt Brecht in regard to theater’s challenges. The pandemic may be over, but his words still apply: In the dark times

Current Loyola Principal Jamal Adams, also a graduate of the school and a 16-year faculty member and head basketball coach, will be taking over from Goethals, who is very pleased about the choice. “He’s ready and great,” said Goethals. The advice the longtime holder of the job has for Adams is to take it slow. His advice is to remember that when one is in a position of leadership, there may be a lot of people who have some sort of agenda while talking with you. Goethals thinks it’s important to remember that, although a president’s choices may not always be popular, that is part of the job. “You can trust yourself. Remember you need to love everybody. You’re here for everybody,” he said.

Will there also be singing? Yes, there will also be singing.

About the dark times.

Dentistry for Children and Young Adults

Lauren Estrada MD, FAAP Neville Anderson MD, FAAP Matthew Loh MD, FAAP Keith Shopa MD, FAAP

LARCHMONT CHARTER WILSHIRE

By Emory Tom Kirkwood and Xavi Mason 3rd Grade

Welcome to the New Year! It’s 2025 and for many people, it’s a time for resolutions.

“When returning from the winter break, my class will go over their growth during the beginning of the year. From there we will talk about resolutions and goals. I will have students create their own goals for the remainder of the year,” said Ms. Cindy, a 1st grade teacher.

Mr. Domi, our assistant principal, told us that his resolutions were to smile more often and to chit-chat a little more.

Our school will observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a national holiday, of course. But we will also celebrate by learning about who Martin Luther King Jr. was and about what he did. We hope to have a morning sing with songs about him!

As for the Lunar New Year on Jan. 29, we’ll celebrate by inviting The Music Center’s Korean Classical Music and Dance Company to perform on Feb. 1. The

year of the Snake, 2025, is a year of fresh starts!

We’re slowly slithering into February. Bye!

MARYMOUNT HIGH

By Valentina Aquino 10th Grade

At Marymount, December was all about celebrating our community and spreading holiday cheer.

To kick off the holiday season, we organized some cozy activities for students and alumnae. Marymount parents even transformed our campus into a festive Christmas wonderland.

To help us ease back into school from Thanksgiving break, we celebrated with Winter Week. Students showed off their holiday spirit by wearing festive sweaters, dressing up as Christmas characters and rocking fun accessories. The highlight of the week was the Cookies and Cocoa event, where we enjoyed comforting hot cocoa after watching an incredible performance by The Citrus Singers from Citrus College. Their amazing vocals and energy earned them a well-deserved standing ovation!

Our alumnae also joined in on the holiday fun at the Making Spirits Bright event. Former students and their families par-

ticipated in hands-on service projects while enjoying cocoa and pastries. At the event, toys were collected for A Place Called Home in South Central Los Angeles.

HOLLYWOOD SCHOOLHOUSE

By Alice Markus 6th Grade

very lucky to have had two such talented teachers.

Let’s celebrate the really important things this season! I hope everyone has a wonderful winter break. Happy New Year! See you in 2025.

OAKWOOD

coming speakers from all across the world to speak about their unique experiences with gender inequality in their respective homes. Overall, it’s looking like an exciting new year ahead.

THE WILLOWS

By Wren Meltzer 7th Grade

The holidays have been a festive time at Hollywood Schoolhouse. We had a fun Community Circle, in which my grade performed the song “White Winter Hymnal.” I was very excited because we had been practicing for this performance for such a long time!

In the spirit of generosity, HSH partnered with Al Barro Foundation to sponsor children in Managua, Nicaragua. The Al Barro Foundation has a long history of delivering holiday gifts to underprivileged children in Central America. HSH aimed to sponsor 1-2 children per grade level. We wrote the children personal cards and created gift packages for each child. Closer to home, we were excited to welcome back from maternity leave our beloved English teacher, Miss Elizabeth. Her return also marks the departure of our equally beloved substitute, Miss Naomi. I feel

By Charlotte Zabel 12th Grade

Happy New Year! Winter break was a much-needed oasis away from the crazy activity of school. Now we’re ready for fun things like Immersion and Arts Fest, which will happen in the spring.

Speaking of the arts, Oakwood ended 2024 with jazz, vocal and dance performances spaced out through finals week to keep students entertained. The school musical, “Mean Girls,” is set to run from Feb. 26 to Mar. 1, and we’re so excited about it!

The college submission deadline for most schools is Jan. 1, and we seniors are all thrilled to be nearing the end of this journey. The boys’ and girls’ soccer teams have been practicing hard and have already had some league games, as well as weekend tournaments away.

The Gender Justice Summit is coming up in February. As in years past, we will be wel-

December at The Willows Community School was full of excited students awaiting the holidays. Everyone was festive, a little goofy and busy! There were end of the year projects, final grades and, at the same time, second semester electives began with new units to look forward to.

Before break, classes participate in a secret snowman tradition. Students pulled names from a hat and brought gifts for each other on a designated day. This tradition gives each student an opportunity to think about a classmate he or she may not know well and get that person a thoughtful gift.

It was also a busy time of year because many students were preparing for the Winter Showcase. We all worked very hard to show our parents and teachers what we are capable of. The performance included rock band, choir and middle school dance.

TURNING POINT

By Liam O’Brient 8th Grade

In the New Year at Turning Point, we look forward to our exciting spring trips. Each grade will explore a unique destination with educational and adventurous activities.

The 5th graders will visit Catalina Island, where they will learn about local wildlife and participate in activities such as night snorkeling and hiking. Sixth grade students will travel to Joshua Tree National Park, studying geological formations while enjoying rock climbing and exploring caves. The 7th grade will journey to Vancouver, Canada, where they will learn about native peoples and enjoy activities like tubing and snowshoeing. Eighth grade students will explore the coastline and forests in Puerto Rico. Highlights of this trip include snorkeling, night kayaking, hiking in the rainforest and learning to dance.

We are all excited to travel together in 2025!

NEW COVENANT ACADEMY

By Kailey Kim 10th Grade

Christ. It was a joyous gathering where everyone enjoyed the performances of elementary and middle school students, as well as staff members. Parents were also invited to the festivities, making it a truly memorable event with a heartfelt message on the season’s true meaning.

Additionally, as the semester drew to a close, students finished the semester strong by tackling their final exams. Although it was a stressful time for the students, the staff kept everyone’s spirits high with a delicious breakfast every morning.

The semester ended on a high note, with people in a festive mood and excited for the upcoming year.

Coming up is NCA’s Back-toSchool Night. We are excited to invite students and parents to come out and reconnect with our school community.

THIRD STREET

By Maya Johnson 5th Grade

and 5th grade students will be seeing the musical “Wicked” in early January. Mid-month, a time capsule event will take place at the school, and former students will be visiting campus to join in on the fun. And on Jan. 24 we will have an Asian Lunar New Year celebration, which will include a Tae Kwon Do demonstration and Korean traditional dance and musical performances.

Our winter break was a nice chance to spend time with family and friends, and now we are ready for the New Year.

MELROSE ELEMENTARY

By Isla Lacey and Evelyn Cho 5th Grade

come to Melrose on a Saturday to help make the school look its best. According to Danielle Tenner, a Melrose parent, “The purpose of Beautification Day is to help Melrose be as beautiful as it can. This includes planting flowers, picking up trash and many more helpful actions.”

These new events will light up Melrose 2025 with a fresh start.

PILGRIM By Allison Pak 12th Grade

students coming dressed up as stylish centurions and a day full of fun activities!

I wish all of you and our Page families, teachers and staff a 2025 full of good fortune, health and much joy! I leave you with this thought: “If you can dream it, you can do it.”

LE LYCÉE FRANCAIS DE LOS ANGELES

By Aydin Hammoudeh

8th Grade

It’s that exciting time of year — admissions season is in full swing! We had a fantastic turnout for our open houses, and it was wonderful to see so many friendly faces. Our play, “Almost Maine,” directed by talented junior Lake A., was performed. It was impressive!

Before diving into the much-anticipated winter break, New Covenant Academy hosted a spectacular Christmas service to honor the birth of Jesus

Greetings from Third Street Elementary School! 2024 ended with fun activities. In early December, we had our annual book fair, Winter Family Appreciation Night and a toy drive where we collected toys for the children of The Korean Youth + Community Center. Last but not least, all 5th grade classes went on a field trip to the Griffith Observatory!

Great events are also planned for January 2025! The 3rd, 4th

Winter break has passed and the new year has come. 2025 has brought along tons of new tech tools that students are going to have lots of fun with. There are VR headsets, a 360-degree camera, a laser cutter and a 3D printer! These tools are used as a fun learning experience for students.

Melrose Elementary Math / Science / Technology Magnet is hosting new after school classes free of charge. These classes include yearbook graphic design, theater, math kangaroo, bodies and mind class and activism through art.

Melrose also has Beautification Day, where students and parents

The Plymouth School

Our Fall Sports Banquet took place in early December, and it was so much fun celebrating all the athletes! We hosted another fun admissions event in December during which prospective families learned all about what makes Pilgrim special.

Winter Fest was a hit with fun, games and delicious food. And of course, Winter Break started on the 21st.

Happy New Year to all of you. If you’d like to know more about Pilgrim School, feel free to reach out to us at admissions@pilgrim-school.org. We’d love to hear from you!

PAGE ACADEMY

By Amanda Argiropoulos 8th Grade

December was full of festivities. Our Mexican Dinner, Silent Basket Auction and Movie Night took place on Dec. 7. The food was delicious, the bidding was fierce and “Despicable Me 2” was heartwarming!

The theme this year for our annual Holiday Show on Dec. 12 was “Voices from Around the World.” It was a lovely afternoon of music, dance and joy! Our Page families also came out in full support of Student Council’s toy and holiday fundraisers. Right before going on academic break on Dec. 20, we held our class holiday parties, with a Secret Santa gift exchange, a special lunch, treats and a visit from Santa (thanks Principal Rodriguez)!

We will be resuming classes on Jan. 6 and will have our second quarter Honor Assembly that week. Leading up to Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 20, out students will be learning about and preparing projects on this great civil rights leader and the civil rights movement.

We will also be celebrating the 100th Day of School with our

December is always so much fun and festive at Le Lycée. From fundraising to drinking hot cocoa, students stayed busy while having a great time throughout the entire month.

This year, each of our campuses raised funds and held toy drives for two different charities: the “I Have a Dream Foundation” and “Spark of Love”. The middle schoolers welcomed the “dreamers” to their campus and engaged in fun and artistic activities with them.

On Dec. 13, the 8th through 12th graders spent the whole day exploring and learning about potential careers at the high school campus during the annual Career Day, which welcomed more than 50 professionals. Students selected four of the panels, followed by a fifth session presented by keynote speakers Philippe and Ashlan Cousteau. This year, our theme was “un océan de savoirs” or “an ocean of knowledge,” to raise awareness about the importance of protecting our oceans.

LARCHMONT CHARTER

SELMA

By Elsie Mohr 5th Grade

Happy New Year! I hope you had a fun and restful winter break! Students at the Selma campus are excited to return from the holidays to our new library. Parents pitched in to organize the library that is open to students at recess.

Just before winter break, we had an exciting grand opening. Now students can check out books, read and even play board games with friends during their recess time.

Speaking of exciting news, “SpongeBob the Musical” is coming to Larchmont Charter School. Kids in 4th and 5th grade will put on an awesome performance in May. Jenn Proske (mother of Ava, an LCS sstudent) and her mom, Linda, are directing the show. A couple of Larchmont high school students will volunteer to help, too. Everyone is looking forward to practicing the songs and creating sets after school. Maybe we will see you there on opening night!

THE BUCKLEY SCHOOL

By Max Terr 11th Grade

pated and joined initiatives in all these activities.

Back with The Buckley School, as the New Year approached, seniors started to receive early action college acceptances. With many being elated that the wait was over, many still have more colleges to hear from.

The Lower School facility has opened up with the finishing touches being added and students are anticipating the New Year proceeding with a completed lower school.

The lead-up to Christmas break, however, came with many tests and quizzes before the finish line. In the end it was all worth it for the two weeks off. That’s all from The Buckley School!

YULA

By Eitan Gershov 11th Grade

Health Week kicked things off with a visit from “Fruitman,” healthy snack options and valuable tips for improving wellness habits.

The following week was the Club Fair, where 20+ clubs run by students showcased activities, ranging from drama and music to investing, culinary arts and journalism. The diverse clubs ensured something for everyone to explore.

The month concluded with the Chessed Fair, which welcomed seven local charities seeking student volunteers. Opportunities ranged from preparing meals for the underprivileged to providing free tutoring and assisting individuals with special needs. Students were encouraged to commit to at least one organization.

From promoting healthier lifestyles to fostering creativity and community involvement, YULA High School had an extraordinary month filled with growth and meaningful action.

applications with support from programs like Upward Bound and UCLA’s Early Academic Outreach Program. Many of us participated in Winter Academy, L.A. Unified’s three-day enrichment program over the winter break.

Outside of the classroom, the Greenway Arts Alliance partnered with Fairfax thespians to present “Monsters & Mistletoe” on Dec. 6 as part of the Winter Showcase. Students enjoyed the festive spirit further with Winter Grams — gift boxes curated by the Associated Student Body’s junior class.

The season brimmed with activity and accolades for our Robotics and E-sports Programs. Fairfax hosted another VEX IQ Robotics Competition on Dec. 12 and the Cyberpatriots competed in the state round of their cybersecurity competition. The E-sports team meanwhile showcased their skills by competing in Rocket League at the LA Car Showcase.

CATHEDRAL CHAPEL

By Nina Norwood 8th Grade

with their retreat to Pali.

To ensure everyone at CCS is ready to let Jesus in during Advent, we had a Penance and Reconciliation service for 3rd through 8th grade students.

The last day before break was a pajama day and every class had a Christmas party. We’re wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

IMMACULATE HEART

By Rosie Lay 11th Grade

result of their collective power, lift up those in need. Joining together to make a positive difference is what makes us proud to be Pandas.

Students will return to campus on Jan. 14th. As a reminder for all prospective students, our application deadline is rapidly approaching. Immaculate Heart High School’s application deadline is Jan. 10. The middle school’s application deadline is Jan. 15. Visit immaculateheart. org for more information.

Many Immaculate Heart students have remained immersed in school activities during winter break, especially our Panda athletes. Our winter sports teams for soccer and basketball are well into their seasons. Meanwhile, spring sports teams have already started conditioning, and our fencing team is preparing for its next competition.

ST. BRENDAN

By Alyssa Lee 8th Grade

And just like that, 2024 has come to an end.

This month, YULA High School was packed with fun, gratitude and opportunities. Each week had a different theme, with students engaging in Health Week, the Club Fair and the Chessed (Kindness and Charity) presentations. Students not only learned about each of these topics but actually partici-

FAIRFAX HIGH

By Hillary Tong 12th Grade

It has been a busy, productive and rigorous winter at Fairfax High School. Academically, many seniors celebrated an important milestone by completing their UC and CSU

NASA opportunity open to students; apply by Jan. 31

By Casey Russell

NASA’s Power to Explore Student Challenge is accepting entries until Fri., Jan. 31. Open to kindergarten through 12th-grade students, this science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) challenge invites students to learn about radioisotope power systems (RPS), a kind of nuclear battery that NASA uses to power its vehicles that explore our solar system. Entrants create their own missions, writing a short essay about how they would explore a moon using RPS.

Last year’s challenge saw Nikhil Gaddam of Hancock Park Elementary as one of 16 semifinalists in his age group.

A trip for two to NASA’s Glenn

Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, is the grand prize for one winner from each grade category. To learn more, visit nasa. gov/power-to-explore.

Youth Sports

(Continued from Page 19) travel team. Mojo, or Harper Lawrence, attended CWC (Citizens of the World) with my son, and she had been competing in Roller Derby since she was 7. Lawrence now attends the University of Portland, though I doubt the Pilots have a roller derby team. These first 50 features have been great because your athletes are extraordinary. And so, here’s to the next 50.

Richard T. Chung, DDS

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At the end of November, our school collected meal items for HopeNet, a nonprofit food distributor, to help families experience a nice Thanksgiving. Now, we are gearing up for the Christmas season by decorating the school, holding our annual concert and getting ready for the start of Advent.

Our Christmas Concert depicts the story of the Nativity and showcases dances and singing. Our 8th graders also had fun

Before break, IH students also organized and participated in service projects to support those in need in our Los Angeles community. Middle School students donated items to the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels’ Adopt-a-Family program to help families living on Skid Row.

High school students collected items for the Annual Christmas Carnival, run by Homeboy Industries. For that effort, 9th and 10th graders donated toys, 11th graders brought in card and board games and the 12th graders donated sports equipment.

It was amazing to watch students come together and, as a

St. Brendan School finished the year strong with a fun and festive December. On Dec. 6, we gathered at our annual Christmas fair which featured a European market and an iceless skating rink. On the 18th, we sang carols at our Christmas Program, a beloved school tradition. On the 20th, we honored our teachers with a faculty lunch before heading off for the holiday break.

Students will report back to school on Jan. 6. We look forward to more exciting events — including our Family Bingo Night on the 24th and First Reconciliation (for our 2nd graders) the next day. We are also excited for Catholic Schools Week (Jan. 27 – Jan. 31), during which we get to show our school spirit through fun school traditions. We are ready for you, 2025!

BEAUTIFICATION

New benches and new bins are coming soon to Larchmont, thanks to the LBA and LVBID.

Page 2

PARK LA BREA

Sprawling apartment complex, with garden and tower units, turned 80. Page 6

GROCER & CAFE

New grocery and cafe replace a neighborhood staple from the 1930s. Page 11

New blue benches and bins coming soon to the Boulevard

By Casey Russell

With phase one of the Larchmont Boulevard Association (LBA) Beautification Committee’s plan well underway, people strolling the Boulevard will soon notice phase two being put into action.

The Boulevard’s aesthetic improvements are being led with grace and gusto by LBA board member Romi Cortier, chair of the committee and business representative for the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council. Cortier is the owner of Romi Cortier Design, 425 N. Larchmont Blvd. The LBA has partnered with the Larchmont Village Business Improvement District (LVBID) on this project.

The first improvements got underway in August 2024 and were directed at the Boulevard’s four median strips adjoining mid-block crosswalks between First Street and Beverly Boulevard, originally promoted by the late Councilmember Tom La Bonge. There also was focus on the 10 existing concrete planter pots that adorn the sidewalks. This holiday season, it was also hard to miss the medians’ seasonal poinsettias and hot pink flowers in the planter pots, paid for by the LVBID.

In February, the first three

of 11 new blue “legacy benches” will be placed on the west side of the Boulevard. Sourced from DuMor.com, each bench costs $3,200. This includes shipping and installation. Cortier is grateful for the donors who have come through so far, and he hopes more people are inspired to contribute when they see how the improvements add to the Boulevard’s charm.

A plaque with the donor’s name will adorn each bench. These first three were made possible by the Llanos family of Coldwell Banker, Hollywoodland Realty (which bench president Patricia Carroll is dedicating to her father, Ed Carroll) and

Swanson’s Dentistry, which has had three generations of dentists on the Boulevard for the past 90 years. One more bench has already been reserved, but it is a surprise for the donor’s family.

Cortier hopes also to eventually install backless benches in a lighter shade of blue on the east side of the Boulevard, but he told us that that side of the street is a bit trickier due to building owner preferences.

Along with the new benches, Cortier and LVBID Executive Director Heather Duffy Boylston have worked together to bring 12 new blue trash cans to the Boulevard — dark blue will be for garbage, lighter blue for recycling. Cortier believes the style of these receptacles will be a big improvement from the somewhat difficult to open Big Belly receptacles that are in place now.

Furthering the landscaping improvements, Cortier has $1,000 of donations in hand and hopes to raise an additional $5,000 to plant flowers on the grounds of the city parking area. He plans to plant a couple of crape myrtle trees (replacing the agave plants), and to flesh out the area with a palette of white and light-col-

ored plants to contrast with the dark blue benches that will soon add to the area’s decor.

Cortier has kept in mind the possibility that a parklet could one day come to this area of the Boulevard, including a seating area near the clock tower and parking lot. “These new assets are not set in con-

crete,” he said. “They can be moved. The improvements dovetail beautifully with [the idea of a parklet] while we wait for the money to be raised,” he said.

Central Park(let) advances Initial concepts for the “Larchmont Central Park(let)” idea

HOLIDAY poinsettias adorn the medians on Larchmont Boulevard.

Photos by Romi Cortier

NEWLY PLANTED hot pink owers add a pop of color to a Boulevard planter.

CENTRAL PARK(LET) concept continues to evolve. The LBA board saw this drawing of bin and bench placements last month.

Benches

(Continued from Page 2) (shared in illustrations and stories in the Larchmont Buzz [February 2024], and in several 2024 issues of the Larchmont Chronicle ) have continued to be discussed by the LBA board of directors. Last month, the board saw some refined drawings that offer paving pattern suggestions and possible shade tree locations, all consistent with the bench and trash can installations being moved forward by Cortier.

When the city parking lot area plantings are complete, Cortier hopes to take the improvements further north toward Page Academy and the strip mall close to his salon. “North Larchmont could be next,” he said. For a project that began last year when Cortier noticed that the Boulevard’s concrete planters were full of trash and dead succulents, there has been a lot done in a short amount of time. Anyone wanting to support the LBA’s beautification efforts can visit larchmont.com/ beautification.php.

OVERHEAD PLAN VIEW shows details of possible park(let) improvement along Larchmont’s western sidewalk.

REFINEMENT of Central Park(let) concept shows suggestions for paving pattern, bollard installations and shade tree locations.

Hermoyne Apartments nominated for monument status

The historic apartments of Greater Wilshire are having a moment. Fresh off last month’s declaration of the Clinton Manor Apartments as a Historic-Cultural Monument comes another HCM nomination for the Hermoyne Apartments at 569 N. Rossmore Ave., submitted by local preservationist James Dastoli. Set at the gateway of Rossmore’s curvaceous procession of multi-family buildings,

The Hermoyne is among the “sensational six” of historic apartment projects that line the avenue.

Built on the eve of the Great Depression, in 1929, the Hermoyne apartments were the speculative project of tycoon Herbert “H.B.” Squires, whose eponymous electronics outlets in San Francisco, Seattle and Los Angeles provided technical equipment to the motion picture and oth-

On Preservation by Brian Curran

er major industries. Squires hired architect Leonard L. Jones to design his apartment / hotel, which would offer residents the most modern and luxurious amenities and the touch of class of an address in Hancock Park.

It is likely that Squires chose the architect upon seeing the Castle Argyle Arms, “the finest address in Hollywood,” designed by Jones the previous year. In fact, Squires must have liked the design so much that the Hermoyne was designed as a “twin,” with an almost identical façade and shape. Designed ostensibly

in a hybrid Spanish / Mediterranean Revival Style, the Hermoyne’s composition was actually quite modern, eschewing much of the historicism and frippery of more pure revival designs. With minimal ornament, smooth stucco walls, meticulous linear placement of steel casement windows, projecting bay windows, and recessed loggia balconies at its corners, Jones references the past while placing the Hermoyne in the modern age. The building required 190,000 tons of steel, costing Squires the handsome sum of $425,000.

The origins of the name Hermoyne have evaded historians, being a combination of Herbert and moyne, which comes from the Anglo-French for monk or even moon. There is an Irish town called Moyne which means “little plain.” Could Hermoyne signify “Herbert’s Land?” Whatever its origins, the Hermoyne was clearly a building on which Squires meant to put his own stamp, through the offering of modern amenities rare even in other luxury apartment housing of the time. When finished, the Hermoyne offered 54 units with subterranean parking, a heated indoor pool, private gym, tennis courts and sundeck on the roof. Services included daily maid service, with a cook, butler and chauffeur on call. Residents could utilize catering services for entertaining in the Hermoyne’s private dining and club rooms. As one brochure put it, “The Hermoyne is a truly distinctive residential apartment of unusual charm … thoroughly attuned to present day requirements for gracious living, yet every detail is consonant with the spirit of home … .” Indeed!

Located in close proximity to Hollywood studios, the Hermoyne immediately catered to a celebrity crowd, with Al Jolson, Estelle Taylor, Conchita Montenegro and Ruth

Etting residing there throughout the 1930s. While the apartment hotel was a resounding success, Squires woefully fell into financial difficulties during the Depression, losing the Hermoyne to Pacific States Savings and Loan by 1932. Nearly a century later, the Hermoyne remains a choice address, having survived changing hands, scandal and even a murder in the building. Now under consideration by the Cultural Heritage Commission, the Hermoyne’s nomination will next be reviewed in April.

A new dawn for 215 S. Wilton Pl. It is my distinct pleasure to inform my readers that 215 S. Wilton Pl. has been sold. I covered the tragic and long saga of the wanton destruction of the property’s interior following its sale in 2021 to the family of Korean popstar Samuel Arrendondo. That triggered a public outcry and one of the most robust City of Los

Angeles enforcement actions by the Office of Historic Resources. The result was that the interiors were meticulously restored under the guidance of preservation architect Michele McDonough. We can only hope that the new owners have been made well aware of their obligations under the terms of their Mills Act contract and will cherish the home as much as did its former longtime owner and champion Marita Geraghty.

HERMOYNE APARTMENTS on Rossmore date back to 1929 but have all of today’s modern amenities.

LOBBY of Hermoyne Apartments reflects its luxury origins.

215 S. WILTON PLACE damage was repaired, and the historic Craftsman house from 1909 was passed to new owners in November.

Park La Brea: historic development has been a local landmark

By Helene Seifer

Every neighborhood has its share of quirky residents and bizarre occurrences that make for interesting gossip, but not many can claim a loping Roman charioteer, a ghostly apparition and a parade of elephants. Park La Brea can.

Over its 80-year history, almost anything could happen and usually did. The charioteer was Charlton Heston, who, while living in Park La Brea (PLB) in the 1950s, was cast as Judah Ben-Hur in the eponymous film. He apparently delighted his neighbors by periodically marching around the grounds in his costume.

The ghost? Park La Brea has at least two. One, a barefoot little girl, dressed in diaphanous white, lives in one tower’s basement. In another spirited example, Eve Lauricella, PLB’s leasing manager, was working in the complex’s storage area and heard highheel shoes clacking behind her, but no one was there. “I ran out!” she says. “I won’t go in there anymore.”

And the elephants? Rumor has it that circus animals, including elephants, used to be part of Park La Brea’s Halloween festivities.

Park La Brea is known for its activities that regularly bring people together. To name a few, there are popular summer outdoor movie nights, coffee with a cop, and an Earth Day event with local environmentally friendly vendors. In fact, conservation has become a unifying interest of PLB renters and management. The complex won an Innovation Award in March 2023 from the Better Buildings Challenge of the U.S. Department of Energy for utilizing a moisture sensor to control watering according to need, resulting in a savings of 23 million gallons of water per year.

From the 1940s Construction on Parklabrea,

as it was originally spelled, began in 1941. From the beginning, the gardens and grassy areas were designed to encourage shared use. Over the years, other amenities were added in the interest of building community, including a fitness center, lap pool, recreational pool, cafe, dry cleaner and activity center. In the late 1980s, PLB was gated to eliminate the danger of speeding cars cutting through the complex.

The first renters moved into two-story garden apartments built along the Fairfax border of the property in 1944, a bit more than 80 years ago. Apartment towers were added in response to the critical need for housing after World War II. The development was completed in 1952 with the opening of the 18th 13-story tower, the maximum building height allowed in Los Angeles at that time, other than City Hall.

The public and the press lauded PLB’s mid-century take on Colonial Revivalism and modern, spacious interiors that lent themselves to gracious décor. One-bedroom tower apartments in 1952 rented for $115 to $140 per month; now the same (upgraded) apartments are $2,400 to $3,100. More than 10,000 people live in 4,250 units, making it the largest housing development west of the Mississippi River. The garden apartments and towers are spread over 150 landscaped acres; its footprint is about the size of the original Disneyland.

Multiple architects

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company developed PLB, as one of several of its apartment communities built across the United States, including Parkfairfax in Alexandria, Va., which was built to house Pentagon personnel, and Parkmerced in San Francisco.

The Los Angeles Conservancy credits PLB’s design to architects Earl Heitschmidt (also

known for designing the Wrigley Mansion in Phoenix, Arizona) and Leonard Schultze (architect of the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles). Records from the Herald Examiner collection at the Los Angeles Public Library credit Gordon Kaufmann (who worked on Hoover Dam and who designed the Times Mirror Square / Los Angeles Times building and Santa Anita Park) and J. E. Stanton (architect of the Stanley Mosk Courthouse). Union Station’s landscape architect, Tommy Tomson, designed PLB’s grounds.

Rancho La Brea

Park La Brea’s land was part of Rancho La Brea, a 4,439acre, 1828 Mexican land grant to Antonio Jose Rocha. Rocha allowed anyone who needed it to take tar from his land. After the Mexican-American War, the jurisdiction wasn’t Mexican anymore, but land grants were supposed to be honored if ownership could be proved. Rocha’s rights were proven in court, but his high legal fees led him to sell most of his land to his attorney, Henry Han-

CONTEMPORARY photo above shows re-painted Park La Brea tower, activity center, cafe and theater and garden apartment townhouses.

Photo by Bill Devlin

POSTCARD VIEW of Park La Brea, from the west, shows garden apartments, tower apartments and open spaces.

for more than 80 years

cock, in 1860. The Hancock family initially mined asphalt and later leased land to oil companies. In 1924, when the oil was depleted, Henry Hancock’s son George donated land to Los Angeles County for what is now Hancock Park (the park, not the residential subdivision slightly to the northeast!) that now contains the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum. In 1940, Metropolitan Life bought 178 acres of the Hancock land north of the park, and Park La Brea was born. Current owner Prime Residential purchased PLB in 1995.

Today Park La Brea buzzes with a diverse group of residents. There are families, seniors (a dozen or so have lived in PLB since the 1950s), college students on semester-in-Los Angeles programs (for Boston University, for example) and young professionals. Several people who work for PLB’s management company or for Prime Residential prefer to reside where they work, some of them having lived at PLB for decades.

An astonishing array of celebrities also has lived in Park La Brea. In addition to Charlton Heston, other celebrities who joined the community

include K-Earth’s “Shotgun Tom” Kelly, Michael J. Pollard (best known as the getaway driver in “Bonnie and Clyde”), Broadway actress Patricia Morison (“Kiss Me Kate,” “The King and I”) and “Moonstruck” actress Olympia Dukakis (who lived in PLB when filming in Los Angeles). Albert Von Tilzer, the composer of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” was a resident. Park La Brea has formed the backdrop to many a Hollywood scene, including for the television series “Bosch,” which used a two-bedroom garden apartment in some episodes. With studios and one-tofour-bedroom apartments, two-story garden apartments and rooms with a view in the

towers, plus all the greenery and upgraded amenities, Park La Brea continues to be relevant into its ninth decade.

As Vice President, Property Management, for Prime Residential Aryn Thomez notes, “One of the great things about

Park La Brea is there are so many options. There’s a home for anyone. Find your place at Park La Brea.”

Single-family home zones preserved under new CHIP law

By Suzan Filipek

The Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved last month the Citywide Housing Incentive Program (CHIP), a huge step in meeting the state mandate to plan for 255,000 new homes in our city by 2029.

According to local homeowner association leaders, the new law and its two companion ordinances also mark a victory for single-family neighborhoods.

The Council also approved the Citywide Adaptive Reuse Ordinance and the Housing Element Sites and Minimum Density Ordinance — key components of the city’s rezoning program required by the state legislature to be in place by February 2025.

The Hancock Park Homeowners Association thanked local residents and United

Neighbors — a statewide coalition of residential groups — for working with the City Planning Dept. and elected officials, including Mayor Bass and Councilmembers Katy Yaroslavsky and Hugo Soto-Martinez, the past two years.

The residential associations’ goal was to find housing solutions that meet the city’s needs and state requirements while protecting

single-family neighborhoods and historic districts. According to Cindy Chvatal-Keene of Hancock Park, these ordinances meet the goal.

CHIP is designed to provide developers with incentives to build 100-percent affordable and mixed-income housing, focusing increased density along commercial corridors, near transit, job centers and public transportation.

LANDSCAPED GARDENS are a prominent part of Park La Brea.

of

Cinema and music merge in ‘Lightscape’ at Marciano

By Suzan Filipek

A large-scale, multi-screen installation by artist Doug Aitken is accompanied by music by the Los Angeles Master Chorale and the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a new exhibit at the Marciano Art Foundation (MAF).

The exhibition, Lightscape, features cinematic images of Southern California and the American West in the MAF’s giant Theater Gallery on the

first floor. On the third floor is an exhibit of varied works from the Marciano collection.

Weekly performances accompanying Lightscape will begin Sat., Jan. 11, at 2 p.m., with eight singers from the

Master Chorale. Music from the cinematic artwork’s soundtrack by minimalists Philip Glass, Meredith Monk and Steve Reich will be featured.

The LA Phil New Music Group will present its first onsite performance Sat., Jan. 18.

Opening concurrently at MAF, inside the Marciano Library, is Quaternion, by artists Kristen Wentrcek and Andrew Zebulon.

The exhibit features newly commissioned comfortable furniture made of foam to encourage reading and conversation.

The furniture ensemble draws on materials and the history of the MAF building designed in 1961 by Millard Sheets as a large Masonic theater and lodge rooms. The building was reconceived by

CINEMATIC IMAGES

Southern California and the American West are portrayed on large-scale screens in the exhibit “Lightscape” at the Marciano Art Foundation Theater Gallery.

WEEKLY MUSICAL performances will be featured in the exhibit.

OPENING CONCURRENTLY with Landscape is the exhibit Quaternion in the Marciano Library.

Marciano

(Continued from Page 8)

Kulapat Yantrasast of wHY architects as a contemporary art space that opened in 2017.

The exhibit’s title, Quaternion, comes from the double-headed Quaternion Eagle, a symbol of Scottish Rite Freemasonry.

To view the exhibits and attend weekly programs, visit marcianoartfoundation.org.

Attendance is free but reservations are required. Lights-

cape continues through Sat., March 15. The Quaternion exhibit is ongoing.

Marciano Art Foundation is at 4357 Wilshire Blvd., with free parking available at the Lucerne Boulevard entrance.

For more on Lightscape, visit lightscapeart.org.

Miracle Mile annual meeting is set for Jan. 25

By Nona Sue Friedman

The Miracle Mile Residential Association (MMRA) will hold its annual community meeting on Sat., Jan. 25, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Petersen Automotive Museum, 744 S. Fairfax Ave. Councilmembers Katy Yaroslavsky of Council District 5 and Heather Hutt of Council District 10 will speak, along with an officer from the Los Angeles Police Department. The MMRA board has invited represen-

tatives from the Los Angeles Olympics 2028 Committee and Metro to address residents.

All neighbors within the Miracle Mile are welcome to bring their input and questions pertinent to the neighborhood and to become members of MMRA for an annual fee of $25. Refreshments will be served at the meeting.

MMRA was established in 1983 to preserve the quality of life in the neighborhood.

NEWLY COMMISSIONED FURNITURE and aterials drawn fro the uilding’s Masonic history are featured in the uaternion e hi it. Millard Sheets painting is on the wall.

EXHIBIT continues at the Marciano rt oundation through Sat. March .

LIGHTSCAPE is a multimedia artwork.

ocal soccer players ad ance to January league playo s

The 2024 fall soccer season concluded on a winning streak last month for AYSO Region 78 Hollywood-Wilshire at Fairfax High with championship matches for Divisions 10U (10 years old or younger), 12U and 14U.

Winners advance to the Area 1P League Champion playoffs taking place Jan. 1112, Regional Commissioner Kurt Muller told us.

Championship teams will be playing against teams from Beverly Hills, Culver City, Los Feliz, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, South Los Angeles and West Los Angeles.

Looking ahead, the area AllStar playoffs will take place in the two weekends that follow the champion playoffs, Muller said.

SBBA basketball season set to start

The St. Brendan Basketball Association (SBBA) spring 2025 season runs from Sat., Jan. 11, through Sat., March 22. Practices for the Bobcats, Cobras and D-League divisions begin the week of Mon., Jan. 6.

The neighborhood recreational basketball league serves boys ages 6 to 14, and games are played in the Fleming Family Center at St. Brendan School.

For information, visit sbba. sportngin.com.

10U CHAMPIONS, the

BOYS

to right): Coaches Stefan Ernberg and Jim Young, Regional Commissioner Kurt Muller and referee David Wiater.

Warriors sign-ups remain open

Sign-ups for Wilshire Warriors Pony Baseball spring season are open. Boys and girls ages 4 through 14 can register for the spring season, which tentatively begins Mon., March 10, and ends

LIBRARIES

FAIRFAX

161 S. Gardner St. 323-936-6191

JOHN C. FREMONT 6121 Melrose Ave. 323-962-3521

MEMORIAL

4625 W. Olympic Blvd. 323-938-2732

WILSHIRE

149 N. St. Andrews Pl. 323-957-4550

HOURS

Mon. and Wed., 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Tues. and Thurs. noon to 8 p.m.; Fri. and Sat., 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Libraries will be closed Mon., Jan. 20, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Sun., June 8, at wilshirewarriors.com.

The community-based nonprofit organization holds its weekly practices at Pan Pacific Park, 7600 Beverly Blvd.

Park La Brea to hold election at Jan.

12 meeting

By Nona Sue Friedman

The Park La Brea Residents Association (PLBRA) is hosting its annual meeting on Sun., Jan. 12, at 2 p.m. at The Theater, 475 S. Curson Ave. All residents are encouraged to attend.

Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky of Council District 5 will address the meeting and an election will be held for the PLBRA board.

PLBRA’s mission is to inform and advocate for the residents of Park La Brea. The association is independent of the Park La Brea management.

In order to vote at meetings, you must be a paying member. Memberships are $20 for individuals and $30 for families annually. Visit plbra.org/join-now to join.

BOYS 12U CHAMPIONS, the Grizzlies. Back row: Coaches Jonathan Kalinski (left) and Rudy Bijleveld.

Above: GIRLS 12U CHAMPIONSHIP teams. Referee Rebecca Weinreich is center.

Right:

10U CHAMPIONS, the Green Goats. Back row (left

GIRLS 12U CHAMPIONS, the Pythons. Back row: Coaches Michael Wright (left) and Cesar Cervera.

GIRLS

Highlighters. Back row: Coaches John Perroni (left) and David Kline.

L.A. Grocery & Café: a fresh shopping experience on Melrose

By Casey Russell

Not far from Larchmont Boulevard, at Melrose Avenue and Manhattan Place, is a beautifully thought-out market and café. Owned and operated by Caitlin Sullivan and Theresa Ruzumna, L.A. Grocery & Café, 5059 Melrose Ave., opened six months ago in a space that previously had been a grocery store since the 1930s — Produce for Less, most recently.

There is a welcoming air about the market and café. The bow truss ceilings make the space feel large, clean and inviting. The night we visited, Sullivan told us that exposing this beautiful wood was a request of the building’s owner and developer, Zach Lasry.

“Business has been great and steadily building,” said café employee Joe Shaffer. “It’s growing through word of mouth,” he said.

Sullivan told us that, so far, the grocery area brings in more people than the café. She and Ruzumna find this interesting because both women came from restaurant backgrounds. (Sullivan was co-owner of Echo Park’s Honey Hi, and Ruzumna had worked in the restaurant business for decades.) “People were so into the idea of a grocery store,” said Sullivan. “The café has

been popular, but people have come for the grocery more.”

With a dozen pasture-raised eggs priced at $4.99, it’s no wonder the store has been growing in popularity. “We want to be an accessible place in the neighborhood for people to find what they need every day,” said Sullivan.

The duo put thought into where items in the store would be placed. “We have inverted the grocery layout,” she said. The women have items that should be at the center of a healthy diet in the center of the store. Colorful produce is the first thing one sees upon entering. “Every-

thing else around the outside helps you build your meal,” said Sullivan.

The shelf-stable items are mostly local, but to ensure items that can’t be sourced locally (like bananas) can be found, the grocery doesn’t stick to this exclusively. Local farmers’ markets provide 85 percent of the produce, and the duo has learned how much to buy in order to mitigate waste.

“We really try to watch what’s going on with produce to utilize it in the café,” Sullivan said. The cafe items I tried — including a Columbia River steelhead salad with fennel, shallot, preserved lemon, dill, parsley and olive oil; a marinated beet salad with tarragon vinaigrette, French feta and California pistachios; and a farro salad with apples, dates, California almonds, kale, radicchio, parmesan and apple cider vinaigrette — were fresh and delicious.

With a seasonally driven menu, pastries, specialty and staple grocery items, hand-selected flowers, beer and wine and a large parking lot, L.A. Grocery & Café truly is the full-basket shop the owners envisioned.

To learn more or to place an order, visit lagroceryandcafe. com.

Grifth ark scenic run k eb. 2 are open to all

Registration is open for the Griffith Park Run Half-Marathon and 5K on Sun., Feb. 2, at 4730 Crystal Springs Dr. The event is open to runners and walkers of all ages and abilities, as well as pets.

Enjoy the scenic trails of Griffith Park while supporting the Los Angeles Parks Foundation and Los Angeles city parks.

The event is the only half-marathon that covers all the main trails in Griffith Park.

Participants can enjoy the backdrop of iconic landmarks such as the Merry-Go-Round, Travel Town, Los Angeles Zoo and Autry Museum.

The 5K route will be flat, scenic and shaded. Awards will be given to the first male and female runners at the finish line. All finishers will be awarded medals designed by Los Angeles-based artist Beatriz Mojarro.

Promising a great family day out, the half-marathon will begin at 7:30 a.m. The 5K race starts at 10 a.m. Registration fees include raffle items, a commemorative die-cast medal and a T-shirt. Parking will be located off of Crystal Springs Road. For prices, more information and to register, visit rungpr.com.

OWNERS Caitlin Sullivan (left) and Theresa Ruzumna (right). hoto by scar Mendo a

PRODUCE is invitingly placed at L.A. Grocery and Café.

Beverly at Larchmont gets a new left-turn signal, bus shelter

By Nona Sue Friedman

Beverly Boulevard now has a left-turn arrow for drivers heading north and south onto Larchmont Boulevard. A request to study the intersection and possibly install the signal came from Council District 4 in 2017.

Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) studied the intersection, noting that, for it to qualify for such a signal, certain criteria needed to be met. “Collision patterns, visibility of oncoming traffic and vehicular volume,” are examined, according to Colin Sweeney, public information director at LADOT. Sweeney further told us, “The study showed the intersection met these criteria to justify a protected turn signal for east and westbound traffic.”

The cost for this new equipment was approximately $175,000. It was installed in November.

Bus shelter

In addition to the new signal, the intersection received an updated bus shelter on the northwest corner of Beverly Boulevard, in front of Chipotle Mexican Grill. It’s a crisp white modern structure with three individual seats and a large shade canopy.

The shelter is one of six in the area. The other locations are: Melrose Avenue and Larchmont, Melrose and Van Ness Avenue, Fairfax Avenue at First Street, Western Avenue and Beverly Boulevard and Third at La Brea Avenue. More are planned for the area, and a total of 3,000 are expect to be installed throughout the city.

StreetsLA Sidewalk and Transit Amenities Program

It’s part of the StreetsLA Sidewalk and Transit Amenities Program, known as STAP, aimed at providing safety,

shade and comfort to bus riders. Transit officials hope the new additions will improve bus riders’ experiences and

increase ridership. Currently, many bus stops lack shade and seating.

The shelters feature a digital display board that can announce bus arrivals in real time and can display emergency alerts and public announcements. There is also a push-to-talk button for the visually impaired. In the future, LADOT might install phone charging stations as well as Wi-Fi in the shelters.

New Bob Baker Marionette show to start Jan. 18

By Nona Sue Friedman

“Something to Crow About” is the next performance at Bob Baker Marionette Theater (BBMT), 4949 York Blvd. in Highland Park. The first show is Sat., Jan. 18.

Imagine a glamorous hen, Miss Clarissa, retires from Broadway. Instead of spending her golden years as a sophisticate in the city, she ends up laying eggs on a farm. Then, add musical numbers to the performance.

The BBMT website states,

‘Da Vinci’ exhibit closes January 5

Da Vinci: Inventor. Artist. Dreamer,” currently at the California Science Center, 700 Explosition Park, will close Sun., Jan. 5. The exhibit features 30 of Da Vinci’s inventions, including a flying bicycle built by Italian artisans according to Da Vinci’s drawings. Digitally restored reproductions of his artwork include the “Last Supper” and “Lady with an Ermine.” For more information, visit californiasciencecenter.org.

“It’s both a satirical comedy and a fantastic world of make-believe.” It’s one of Bob Baker’s original creations that debuted in 1959 and has been revitalized.

The show is performed Friday, Saturday and Sundays, through Sun., March 30. Tickets are $25 and are available at bobbakermarionettetheater.com.

“Leonardo

LEFT-TURN SIGNAL helps drivers turn onto Larchmont Boulevard. View is to the east on Beverly Boulevard.

BUS RIDERS WAIT in the new shelter on the northwest corner of Beverly and Larchmont boulevards.

ONIONS DANCE and sing ehind the lonely little petunia singing the song ’ a onely ittle Petunia.”

Photo by Chloe Rice courtesy Bob Baker Marionette Theater

Prostitution is on an uptick on Western Ave.; LAPD’s

By Nona Sue Friedman

Last month, the Larchmont Chronicle reported about the prostitution problem plaguing the area along Western Avenue and its adjoining residential streets. The Chronicle relayed how the situation is adversely affecting the quality of life for residents throughout the area as well as impacting elementary and middle school students who are forced to see barely clad women every morning en route to school. Many of the women in the area are victims of sex trafficking.

Affected residents have contacted the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) as well as Council District 13 to address the issue.

LAPD’s response

Sex trafficking is a multipronged problem. LAPD has many different ways of approaching it, according to: Lt. Robert McDonald, LAPD Operations, West Bureau Vice Coordinator, Human Trafficking Task Force; Capt. Rachel Rodriguez of Olympic Community Police Station; and Olympic Division’s local Senior Lead Officer (SLO) Daniel Chavez.

Chavez’s primary focus is the streets closest to the schools – St. Brendan School and Charles Kim Elementary School. He wants to assure safe passage of the kids to their classes and hopefully curtail their seeing the half-naked women on the sidewalks.

To accomplish this, Chavez and other SLOs have shifted their hours to start patrolling at 5 a.m. This ensures they are on duty before the kids go to school.

Capt. Rodriguez said, “We have moved funds around to have additional task force units go out more often.” The station created a brand new team, the Prostitution Enforcement Detail (PED), that started going out into the division areas Dec. 15. It is made up of uniformed officers who work in conjunction with the undercover vice unit.

Dear John Letters

Lt. McDonald told the

Chronicle that LAPD is piloting a program called Dear John Letters. With this program, undercover officers watch for vehicle drivers circling particular blocks and engaging in conversations with scantily clad girls. The officers clandestinely take a picture of the interactions and note license plate numbers.

Back at the station, the officers run the license plates and then send a letter and picture to the registered owner of the vehicle. The letter is a reminder that engaging in prostitution is illegal and “you’ve been spotted.” LAPD hopes that the letter, which could end up in the hands of a spouse, is a deterrent.

Legislation

Since the repeal of California Penal Code Section 653.22 (PC 653.22) on Jan. 1, 2023, by legislation sponsored by San Francisco’s state Senator Scott Wiener, police officers can no longer arrest individuals for loitering with the intent of prostitution.

The officers have to catch people literally in the act. However, the police have a couple of work-arounds.

One is citing individuals for standing in the middle of a roadway. Another is pulling over drivers who make illegal turns, and another is for car windows that are illegally tinted.

The Chronicle heard from SLO Chavez right before

going to press, that — with the increased police presence — LAPD has issued 40 citations and made seven arrests for prostitution.

Western is lined with “no turning” signs, forbidding turns onto residential streets at certain nighttime hours, thanks to the late Councilmember Tom LaBonge. Citations for such infractions have been issued.

As always, LAPD has several undercover vice units, with both male and female officers who pose as sex workers and as their clients, “Johns.”

These units go out twice a month under LAPD’s West Bureau jurisdiction and more frequently with Olympic Division.

Additionally, Western is highly patrolled, day and night, with uniformed officers in black and whites for high visibility. What about indecent exposure?

When talking to Caroline Chiles of Larchmont Village, whose child goes to St. Brendan School, Chiles told us she was mortified to find out from SLO Chavez that “as long as their private parts are covered, the girls cannot be arrested for indecent exposure.” Chiles told us, “the rules right now are ludicrous.”

Chiles believes that Los Angeles Municipal Code 41.18, which prohibits people from living on the streets within 500 feet of a school, should be expanded to include prostitution and drugs. “Kids don’t deserve to see this, this isn’t reasonable,” she concludes.

Another local resident who lives in St. Andrews Square residential neighborhood, just west of Western Avenue, told us: “It is terrible when kids are walking to school and they have to see several naked

women on the streets.”

She continues, “I’ve picked up so many used condoms and wrappers on the sidewalk, street and alley. I’m trying to keep the streets clean for my kids and the kids in our neighborhood. We have three elementary schools right next to each other: St. Brendan School, Charles Kim and Cahuenga Elementary School. It’s getting worse!”

“This is an ongoing problem. It starts as early as 10 p.m. [and continues] until [about] 8 a.m. some mornings.” Driving up and down Western, she says, “You can see a prostitute or two on every other block. I’ve seen condoms at the curbside and on the street at our local library (Wilshire Branch Library).”

Prostitution in Los Angeles

Lt. McDonald, who has worked for LAPD for 37 years, and Capt. Rodriguez concur that there are three main areas in Los Angeles where prostitution takes place: Sepulveda Boulevard corridor in the San Fernando Valley, Figueroa Street in the south end of Los Angeles and here on Western Avenue.

For Western, a majority of the girls are local to Los Angeles, and many are underage and being trafficked. The activity in this area is primarily controlled by gangs. The Johns are also mostly local and are often going to or coming from work. The activity happens primarily from 11 p.m. until 8 or 9 a.m.

More about sex trafficking Journey Out, a Los Angeles nonprofit that helps victims of sex trafficking, states on its website that the average age for entrance into the commercial sex industry is between 12 to 14 years old. More than 85 percent of the youth are victims of childhood molestation. Human trafficking is the world’s third largest crime industry, generating $32 billion per year.

‘Creative Minds’ on exhibit, Italian style

The Jacuzzi and the telephone are among creations by Italian Americans. Learn about them in the exhibit “Creative Minds: Italian American Inventors and Innovators” at the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles through October 2025. Visit IAMALA.org.

Police have been cracking down hard on sex trafficking in the other two areas, according to Lt. McDonald, making it harder for prostitutes to work in those areas.

It’s one of the reasons there has been an uptick in activity here.

Burglaries, knife-wielding driver, multiple crimes on Western POLICE BEAT

WILSHIRE DIVISION

SLO Tyler Shuck told the Larchmont Chronicle that burglary numbers for the division have been leveling off recently. Shuck attributes this to the extra resources Wilshire Division has received from Council District 5 Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky.

According to CD5, $200,000 was approved by the Los Angeles City Council in September 2024 and given to Wilshire “primarily to combat burglaries and property crimes and ensure proper staffing of patrol officers.”

Even with the static number of burglaries, Shuck cautions that officers continue to see suspects casing properties, sometimes on foot, waiting for residents to leave. Once they have left, two to four suspects enter the property through a rear window and go straight for the master bedroom. Once there, they grab safes, go through closets and flee the location in a vehicle that’s waiting. He recommends moving safes from the master bedroom closet to a hidden location somewhere else in your home.

He also wants to remind readers to have working vid-

eo surveillance and alarm systems, good lighting and trimmed landscaping.

ASSAULT WITH A DEAD-

LY WEAPON: An argument started between two drivers at the corner of Larchmont Boulevard and Third Street on Dec. 9. The suspect exited the vehicle waving a knife, struck the victim’s side window and slashed tires on the victim’s car. The suspect fled eastbound on Third.

ATTEMPTED ROBBERY:

Suspects broke a rear window of a home on the 200 block of South McCadden Place on Dec. 6. The suspects fled before entering the home when they noticed a witness.

BURGLARY: A suspect opened the front lobby of a building, entered the manager’s office and removed property on the 300 block of South Cloverdale Avenue on Dec. 5.

OLYMPIC DIVISION

BURGLARIES: A suspect removed a window screen and forced entry into a locked and secured room in a home on Dec. 7 at 4:30 a.m. on the 500 block of North Bronson Avenue.

A burglar shattered a sliding glass door of a home on

WILSHIRE DIVISION

Furnished by Senior Lead Officer

Tyler Shuck

213-712-3715

40740@lapd.online

Twitter: @lapdwilshire

the 700 Block of South Bronson Avenue, entered and took property on Dec. 7 at 9 p.m.

Three suspects broke a glass door to a home on the 800 block of Third Avenue. They ransacked the residence and took property on Dec. 7 at 8 p.m.

THEFT: A passerby opened a car door and snatched a purse on the 800 block of South Western Avenue on Dec. 6 at 2:30 p.m.

ROBBERY: A suspect exited a black Mercedes and approached a victim. The suspect had given the victim a necklace and then forcibly took it back at Western Avenue and First Street at 1 a.m. on Dec. 8.

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT:

At the corner of Western Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard, there was an argument that led to a suspect punching a victim. The assailant then brandished a knife and chased the victim. The suspect was arrested on Dec. 1 just after midnight.

Approximately three to as many as seven Hispanic males approached another group walking on Western Avenue and asked where they were from, using a racial slur. Shots were fired, hitting the victims, on Dec. 7 at 1 a.m. on Fourth Street near Western Avenue.

OLYMPIC DIVISION

Furnished by Senior Lead Officer

Daniel Chavez

213-793-0709

36304@lapd.online

Instagram: @olympic_slo1

ADDITIONAL CRIMES:

The Windsor Square Association informed its constituents via email that several more homes were burglarized in early Decem-

ber. These include homes in: the 500 block of South Plymouth Boulevard on Dec. 5; the 100 block of South Windsor Boulevard on Dec. 13; the 300 block of South Windsor Boulevard on Dec. 14; and the 100 block of South Norton Avenue on Dec. 15.

There also were two attempted burglaries; one on the 500 block of South Plymouth, on Dec. 5, where the burglar’s first attempt was unsuccessful but the second was successful, and another, on the 300 block of South Windsor, on Dec. 10.

Criminologist seeks help with Beachwood cold case

By Nona Sue Friedman

It’s been 10 years since the stabbing of Antonia (Toni) Yager at her home on the 100 block of North Beachwood Drive. Yager, a well-known woman in the neighborhood, was married to Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Thomas Yager, whose career was marred by the disappearance of his first wife days after they were married in 1965.

The Larchmont Chronicle recently was contacted by volunteer criminologist and retired social worker Clark Williams, looking for help with this cold case murder. He is interested in talking with anyone who knew Yager and spent time with her. He works collaboratively with the Los Angeles Police Department.

Williams builds his cases by gathering information about victims that police officers might not have had the time and resources for. Williams was instrumental in uncov-

ering key information in the 32-year-old West Hollywood cold case murder of gay porn star William (Billy) Newton. Williams’ discoveries led to a suspect’s confession. Because of this, Williams is now working on 10 other cold cases across the country.

History of Yager’s home

While researching Yager’s murder, Williams discovered that the home where the crime took place had a more sordid history, being formerly occupied by the notorious Walburga Oesterreich, nicknamed the “Queen of Los Angeles,” in the 1930s. Oesterreich moved into the home after the murder of her husband, Fred William Oesterreich, a wealthy textile merchant, by her lover and sex slave, Otto Sanhuber. Sanhuber, who had been living in the attic of the married couple’s previous home for years — hidden away by

(Please turn to Page 15)

No bones about it: Our skeletons remain long after death

Just past the wooden doors of an unassuming church on Via Veneto in Rome lie the bones of 3,700 Capuchin friars. Their remains are not buried, but rather arranged in ornate compositions that line almost every inch of the crypt’s six rooms. The amount of skeletal matter is staggering; the bones’ use as an art medium is a visceral reminder that in the end we’re all reduced to rubble. A sign in one of the crypt’s alcoves spells out a message from the long-gone friars that one feels deep in one’s marrow: “What you are now we used to be; what we are now you will be.”

Marquis de Sade, the French nobleman known — and imprisoned — for his writings rife with perversions of the flesh, visited the crypt in 1775 and wrote, “I have never seen anything more striking.”

In his 1869 book “The Innocents Abroad,” Mark Twain mused, “The reflection that [the Capuchin friar] must someday be taken apart like an engine or a clock ... and worked up into arches and pyramids and hideous frescoes, did not distress this monk in the least. I thought he even looked as if he were thinking, with complacent

Costume designs from ‘A Complete Unknown’ at FIDM Jan. 6 to Jan. 17

A new exhibition will highlight costume designs by Academy Award-nominated designer Arianne Phillips from the new Bob Dylan biopic, “A Complete Unknown.”

The exhibit, “Design Behind the Scenes,” is at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) Museum Mon., Jan. 6 to Fri., Jan. 17.

FIDM has partnered with Searchlight Pictures for this immersive exhibit, which showcases fashions from the early 1960s and Dylan’s evolving style from the precise cut of his Levi’s to the jackets he wore.

FIDM is at 919 S. Grand Ave., in Downtown Los Angeles.

Cold case

(Continued from Page 14) Walburga while their affair carried on — also lived in the attic of this new Beachwood home, even though Fred was out of the picture. The crime was the inspiration for the 1968 film “The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom” and the madefor-TV movies “The Man in the Attic” and “Lover in the Attic.” Please contact Williams at clarkwilliams@ hotmail.com if you have relevant information.

vanity, that his own skull would look well on top of the heap and his own ribs add a charm to the frescoes which possibly they lacked at present.”

When I made the trip to the catacombs in 2019, I texted my mom, simply, “Blew my mind.”

A bone to pick

The word “skeleton” originates from the Greek “skeletos,” meaning “dried up,” part of a seemingly universal notion that bones are especially dry (as per the phrase “bone-dry”). Indeed, outside the body and aged over time, bones may achieve a profoundly desiccated state, though when in our bodies and out of sight, I’d argue they’re anything but. And more bones

Many of the bones in the human skeleton are named for the worldly objects they resemble. The flat, rounded patella — the kneecap — is so named for the Latin word meaning “small pan.” Also found in mice, birds, cats and dogs, the patella is the largest of the “sesamoid” bones — those which are embedded within a tendon or muscle. Most sesamoids are very small, hence their

Be a leader in the arts with a free program

Arts for LA is offering artists a free advocacy training and leadership development program. The program, named ACTIVATE, is a nine- month, stipend program.

The goal of the training sessions is to give artists a voice to advocate for issues affecting the community. It also enables artists to connect with and support each other.

Applications are being accepted through Thurs., Jan. 9. Visit artsforla.org to access the application.

Word

Café by Mara Fisher

name, which arrives from the Greek word for sesame seed. Another sesamoid located on the inside of the knee is an anatomical variation present in only 39 percent of humans — the fabella, from the Latin “faba,” meaning “bean.”

Appearing in the 1670s, “fibula” was the word for a brooch used to fasten clothing, from the Latin “figere,” or “to drive in, insert, fasten.” Just several decades later, in 1706, an unnamed figure

noticed the resemblance of safety pin-like fibulas to the smaller of the two bones in the shin, leading to the appellation for this bone still used today.

The collarbone — called the “clavicle” — shares a root with the spice known as clove (See Word Café, November 2024).

The Proto-Indo-European “klau,” translating to “hook,” is the antecedent of both the Latin “clavis,” or “key,” and “clavus,” meaning “nail.”

While cloves were thought to resemble nails, the clavicle — the most commonly fractured bone — is named because it rotates along its axis like a key turning in a lock. The vertebrae that make up our spinal column are also famed for making moves. Their name is

thought to have arrived from the Latin “vertere” (“to turn”).

The “funny bone” isn’t actually a bone, but rather the ulnar nerve in our forearm that, when impacted, creates a “funny,” tingling sensation. That’s not to say the bones in the arm don’t possess a certain wit, however. The “funny bone” is conspicuously close to the bone that runs from the shoulder to the elbow — the “humerus.”

A bone-rattling end

How did the supporting framework within us become the stuff of nightmares? Long after death, the bones are what remain. They’re an unwanted mirror, a memento mori, reminding us that, like taxes, death can be said to be certain — no bones about it.

The Beverly Fairfax Community

To our Neighbors and Friends:

We wanted to share an update on the Television City project.

First and foremost, thank you to everyone who took the time and effort to attend the LA City Council Planning and Land Use Management Committee hearing on December 3, 2024. Your presence and thoughtful comments on downsizing and improving the project demonstrated our community's commitment to responsible development.

Unfortunately, despite our collective efforts, Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky and the PLUM Committee voted to recommend the project. The next step is a City Council vote in early January 2025.

The real news was Councilmember Yaroslavsky’s last-minute condition of approval which punctured the illusion of a “studio expansion,” as the developer touted.

Of the 1.7 million square feet, Yaroslavsky’s new condition requires as little as 150,000 square feet to be designated for sound stage, production support, and production offices combined. Television City currently has nearly 600,000 square feet for studio production, so the new zoning allows the developer to reduce the production capacity by 74 percent.

Calling this a studio expansion is downright Orwellian.

We have said from day one that this project was bogus, a blank check to the developer, with just a small fraction of the new square footage for production.

Alarmingly, the project is twice the size of Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center) –wildly out of scale and character with surrounding neighborhoods. Traffic will only become worse. And with a 20-year construction timeline, the new Television City will give us two decades of disruption.

Over the last two years, thousands of community members raised serious concerns about the project and the process. Nine appeals – perhaps a record number - laid out substantial, well-supported arguments against approval.

The full Council vote is coming up in early January. We will provide more information on www.FixTVC.org when the exact date is known, so you can make your views heard.

Thank you for standing with us to help protect our community. And, we wish you and your family a happy new year!

Neighbors for Responsible TVC Development