LC 03 2022 by Larchmont Chronicle

Larchmont Chronicle

VOL. 60, NO. 3

• DELIVERED TO 76,439 READERS IN HANCOCK PARK • WINDSOR SQUARE • FREMONT PLACE • MIRACLE MILE • PARK LA BREA • LARCHMONT •

IN THIS ISSUE

Scaffolding comes off Larchmont Mercantile

Giorgio, Village regular, still in need of help n Third in a series

By Helene Seifer “I read your article on Giorgio [the Larchmont Chronicle published articles on Giorgio in February and September 2021] and wondered if you could help me.” So began the email I received in mid-January from a concerned Larchmont resident who wishes to remain anonymous.

MIRACLE MILE SECTION THREE

BACK to basketball at St. Brendan.

GIRL POWER on and off the court. 12

A FILM NOIR of faded grandeur. 2-9 For Information on Advertising Rates, Please Call Pam Rudy 323-462-2241, x 11 Mailing permit:

GIORGIO, age 57, has been a fixture of the Larchmont area for nearly a decade.

“He has been sleeping in my driveway every night and we cannot back out of our driveway to go to work every day until he moves,” the writer continues. “It is concerning not only for his safety, but ours, as he uses our driveway as a bathroom as well as a sleeping space.” The email ends, “Any advice, resources or thought are appreciated on how we can get him to a better place.” Finding a better place is part of the problem. Housing is expensive and in pitiful supply. Supportive housing, specifically built for homeless individuals and others in need, has interminable waiting lists. Additionally, the underlying causes of homelessness, such See Giorgio, p 13

Homeless count 2022 is being tallied by LAHSA The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) Point-In-Time Homeless Count is being tallied with results expected as soon as May. The count, which took place Feb. 22 through Feb. 24, was conducted by LAHSA staff and volunteers, who canvassed the region to get an understanding of the number of unhoused — those living in tents, cars or other structures.

MARCH 2022

n New stores announced

ABOUT 80 people attended the first World Affairs Council mayoral candidate town hall at the Ebell of Los Angeles on Feb. 15.

Mayoral candidate town hall kicks off at The Ebell

By Suzan Filipek The “2022 Mayoral Series: Meet the Candidates” kicked off last month with mayoral candidate Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino. About 80 people were in attendance. The Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall is CANDIDATE Councilman Joe Buscaino partnering with The (right) with moderator Dan Schnur. Ebell of Los Angeles to help Angelenos decide the for the series is Dan Schnur, next leader of the second larg- politics professor at USC, UC est city in the United States Berkeley and Pepperdine. with four million residents. The series continues Thurs., The town hall series is host- March 3 with a virtual seging the key frontrunner candi- ment, “Advice from the Outgodates and includes a question- ing Mayor,” with Eric Garcetti. and-answer section. Moderator The remaining programs are all held live at The Ebell. They feature Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer on Tues., March 15, and U.S Congresswoman The elections for Mayor, Coun- Karen Bass on Tues., May 17. cilmembers and more are near- To register, visit lawacth.com ing with the June 7 primary. See our coverage this month for the Board of Supervisors, Third District, in Sec. 2. Next month, we profile candidates for City Controller and City Attorney, followed by City Council candidates in May and Mayoral aspirants in June.

Election 2022: The race is on

By Billy Taylor The scaffolding was removed from the Larchmont Mercantile building last month to reveal the building’s fresh façade, and representatives for the building tell us that one new tenant has been confirmed, with more on the way. Located at 124½ - 148 N. Larchmont Blvd., the Larchmont Mercantile building, previously known as the Lipson Building, has been reimagined by architecture firm Gensler. The project boasts 14 retail boutiques, spanning more than 17,000 square feet of commercial space. Construction work was performed by Del Amo Construction. The building’s new design consists of four unique architectural façades that generate a cohesive vision. The concept maximizes the storefront openings by breaking up the long unassuming exterior into distinct “buildings,” which revive the property’s original 1920s character with a modern reinterpretation, according to building owner Christina. In addition to the two previously announced tenants to open soon in the new space, Holey Grail Donuts and Skin Laundry, a third tenant has now been conSee Mercantile, p 4

Summer Camps & Programs

Read our annual list of spring and summer camp offerings, activities and school programs in the April issue. Advertising deadline is Mon., March 14. For more information, contact Pam Rudy, 323-462-2241, ext. 11.

SHOPPERS walk by the newly renovated Larchmont Mercantile storefronts. Photo by Pavel Bendov / Arch Explorer

www.larchmontchronicle.com ~ Entire Issue Online!

SECTION ONE

Editorial By John Welborne

A second century … of local politics This month, we publish our 35th annual special section about the marvelous Miracle Mile. The Larchmont Chronicle has been saluting annually this stretch of commerce and culture and its surrounding historic neighborhoods for one third of the Mile’s first century — the 100 years that followed the 1921 acquisition by developer A.W. Ross of 18 acres between La Brea and Fairfax avenues alongside a 20-foot-wide dirt road known as Wilshire Boulevard. Within a period of several years in the early- and mid-1920s, construction of elegant buildings housing prominent retailers led some promoter to coin the term, “Miracle Mile.” Elections Also during the Mile’s first century, as well as for the 140 years preceding (ever since the City of Los Angeles was founded in 1781), Angelenos have been choosing some from among us to represent us downtown to govern our city and county. This year, 2022 — as the Miracle Mile embarks upon its second century — once again is time for local elections. Supervisor In our region, there is an election for one of the five powerful Los Angeles County governing officials, Supervisor of the Third District. Following the recent redistricting, residents in parts of our readership area get to vote for a new Supervisor this year. At the moment, there are three well-known candidates running in the four-person race. See our updated chart about local candidates, plus a story about the Third District Supervisor race, beginning on Pages 2 and 3 of Section 2. Our readers also are being asked to choose new leaders for all of the most-local offices affecting the Miracle Mile — as well as all of our nearby residential areas. City Council Los Angeles City Council Districts 5 and 13 have candidates on the ballot for June 7. In CD 5, the seat is open, and someone will replace the current councilmember, Paul Koretz, who will have served in the City Council for more than a dozen years and now is running to be elected City Controller. There are nine candidates running in CD 5. The only local election with an incumbent is for councilmember of District 13. Because of redistricting, Larchmont-area local voters in CD 13 are all new to the district, overseen for the past two terms by Mitchell O’Farrell. As of this writing, he has eight challengers to his re-election. Controller, City Attorney As noted, Councilmember Koretz is running for City Controller, as are five other people. For the open seat of City Attorney, there are seven candidates, several of whom live within walking distance of the Miracle Mile. The biggest local race of all is to become the next Mayor of Los Angeles. Mayor There currently are about 27 people who have thrown their hats into the ring. (The final lists of candidates will not be available until mid-March.) Mayoral candidate, and current City Attorney, Mike Feuer lives near the Miracle Mile. Another candidate, Rick Caruso, owns a big shopping center just north of the Miracle Mile. Candidate Karen Bass has held elected offices representing residents in areas south of the Miracle Mile for many years, and she currently represents the northern half of the Miracle Mile in the U.S. Congress. As you will read on Page 1 of this issue, mayoral candidate and current City Councilmember Joe Buscaino just spoke to an audience of interested attendees right here in our community — in Windsor Village at the first of several free public mayoral forums being held at The Ebell. Rounding out the pack of generally acknowledged frontrunners in the race for mayor are Eastside and Downtown City Councilmember and former state legislator Kevin de Leon and San Fernando Valley real estate broker Mel Wilson. Ballots arrive in May Regardless of whose face will next year fill the frames on the LAX walls welcoming visitors to Los Angeles, we local residents will help make that choice through our ballots that begin arriving in May and are to be cast by mail or in person on June 7. There are other elections coming up for representatives in Sacramento and for members of Congress in Washington, DC. But the biggest impacts on the lives of those who live in and near the Miracle Mile will come from the efforts, successful or otherwise, of the people elected to govern from the most local of political offices.

Larchmont Chronicle

MARCH 2022

Calendar Thurs., March 3 – Miracle Mile Residential Association’s Annual Community Meeting via Zoom, 7 p.m. Register at miraclemilela.com. Wed., March 9 – Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council General Board Meeting via Zoom, 6:30 p.m. Check greaterwilshire.org for sign-in information. Sun., March 13 – Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m. Thurs., March 17 – Saint Patrick’s Day. Sun., March 20 – First day of spring. Thurs., March 31 – April issue of the Larchmont Chronicle delivered, and Cesar

That’s the question inquiring photographer Caroline Tracy asked locals along Larchmont Blvd.

Chavez Day. Fri., April 1 – April Fools’ Day.

Letters to the Editor Concerned Citizen

I am contacting your newspaper since it is the source of communication for the Hancock Park and Windsor Village area where I am a homeowner and resident. As you know, there has been an alarming increase of crime, burglaries, take-overs, street racing and theft within the boundaries of our neighborhood and in the adjacent areas. I would like to ask [the Larchmont Chronicle] to please emphasize and bring attention to all the recent events, namely the murder of a young lady on La Brea Avenue. Hopefully, this will bring more attention to the safety of all the residents, and we can try to come up with solutions to these problems. Since we do not have police presence to speak of, my suggestion would be to possibly

Larchmont Chronicle Founded in 1963 by Jane Gilman and Dawne P. Goodwin .

Publisher and Editor John H. Welborne Managing Editor Suzan Filipek Deputy Managing Editor Billy Taylor Contributing Editor Jane Gilman Staff Writers Talia Abrahamson Helene Seifer Advertising Director Pam Rudy Advertising Sales including Classifieds Caroline Tracy Art Director Tom Hofer Circulation Manager Nona Sue Friedman Accounting Jill Miyamoto 606 N. Larchmont Blvd., #103

Los Angeles, CA 90004 323-462-2241 larchmontchronicle.com

‘What do you think of the new Larchmont Mercantile?’

have private police such as in Beverly Hills that would be funded by residents. So far it seems that our taxes are not being used to our advantage. The above-mentioned crimes are occurring in Mayor Garcetti’s back yard! It is becoming intolerable. Thank you for your consideration. Concerned citizen and homeowner. Anita Artavia Windsor Village [ADT, SSA and other private security patrol services are active in this area; many readers subscribe; and additional customers enable increased patrol frequency for all. —Ed.]

“I think the rents are going to be pretty high, to recoup the investment. Makes me wonder what shops will go in. I imagine not many mom-and-pops, which used to be what Larchmont was all about.” Sharath Cherian Lillian Way

“The building looks nice. I like what they did with the exterior, varying the colors and finishes. They did a good job. I’d love to see some independent shops go in there.” Lindsay Lanzillotta Citrus Square

Comment on Cosby

I was perplexed and then saddened by [Chronicle movie columnist] Tony Medley’s review of “We Need to Talk About Cosby.” He used this platform to denigrate three highly-respected Black commentators because of “bias.” Two of them, Jemele Hill and Marc Lamont Hill, are outright dismissed because they no longer work for ESPN? Why that’s important is not explained in the review, but what is mentioned is something called “white supremacy canard.” I was left to assume he was flirting with the ongoing demonization of Critical Race Theory [CRT], but he thought better for good reason: It could potentially provoke charges about his perceived bias against CRT and possibly even BLM. No one wants that, even if they feel it’s true. This review struck me as tone-deaf, offensive and very naïve in light of what’s happening in today’s world with (Please turn to page 8)

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.

“I’m not sure it fits in with the Larchmont aesthetic. It’s very modern. When I think of Larchmont, I think of an older style of building with more charm.” Peter Aburto Koreatown

“I like how it looks. I wonder if there will be any restaurants. I love restaurants. But if it’s just going to be stores I would want the stores to be very unique or experiential. Maybe a Peloton or a Tesla showroom?” Gulsam Yoon S. Oxford Ave.

Larchmont Chronicle

MARCH 2022

SECTION ONE

Armed with a bulletproof vest, walkie-talkie — to save Larchmont

By Barry M. Greenberg In about 1988, when I began to date my future, now ex-wife, I’d been in Los Angeles for over seven years. When I asked her where she lived, she said, “Larchmont, Windsor Square, near Hancock Park?” I nodded my head and said, “Okay.” She could see the blank expression on my face. “East of La Brea. Past Highland.” I was totally lost. My ignorance made her geographically undesirable in my eyes a decade before the term was created. Also, a decade before GPS. So, when I finally found Larchmont, it was a delightful, isolated island of a community that was frequented by those who knew about it and passed by the millions who didn’t. I was happy that that was the way it was. By 1990 I had gotten married and moved into a Larchmont home that my ex-wife was smart enough to have bought some years before. As a matter of fact, the only

SECTION ONE

LOCAL LEADER.

YOUTH SPORTS SCHOOL NEWS

9 10

SECTION TWO VIEW:

Entertainment Real Estate Libraries Home & Garden

REAL ESTATE SALES 8 HOME GROUND ENTERTAINMENT Theater Movies On the Menu ON PRESERVATION LIBRARIES POLICE BEAT POKER FOR ALL A TINY CHALLENGE BEEZWAX CLASSIFIED ADS

4 5 6 7 9 10 14 15 15 15 15

SECTION THREE MIRACLE MILE

1-32

aggravating thing about my home was that there was no stop sign at the corner of First and Lucerne. So, I made my first mistake. I called the Los Angeles Police Department, where I was introduced to my Senior Lead Officer, the selfdescribed Mayor for our area, a charming young (now retired) guy named Matthew St. Pierre, who shook me down over the phone. “I understand you want a stop sign? No promises, but we don’t have a Neighborhood Watch Block Captain in Windsor Square. If you could do that, I’ll see about getting you a stop sign.” And I believed him. That’s the way it worked back then. I can’t give you the exact chronology, but I became St. Pierre’s block captain. It wasn’t that tough a job, so I found a block captain for the next block south, west to Arden, over to Larchmont until finally we had absconded with

the whole n e i g h b o rhood. Jim Ham, Steve Feller and I were running this “thing,” which of c o u r s e needed a BARRY so GREENBERG name, we called it “Windsor Watch.” It sounded really official. Soon afterwards, “Windsor Watch” magnetic car signs, flashing red dome lights and Windsor Watch badges appeared, which I can talk about openly now because the statute of limitations is probably over. LAPD was more than happy to outfit us with yellow “Community Watch” jackets, and pretty soon there was a little police department in Larchmont. My son was born on April 20, 1992, and the city was ner-

vous about the Rodney King verdict. In anticipation of any civil unrest, we boosted our normal patrol schedule, and I did what any right-minded 40-year-old egomaniacal narcissist would do: I commandeered an empty produce store on the Boulevard to use as our detention center, if necessary. On the day the riots started, I had a nine-day-old, justcircumcised-and-crying son at home. But I knew that for my wife and son to be safe, I needed to be on the streets. It was early in the marriage, and she begged me not to go. My colleague Mark Robert had bought me a bulletproof vest from a costume shop. I had no idea whether it was real, and we’d also been given last-generation walkie-talkies from the LAPD. We were locked and loaded to save Larchmont. No one critiqued this plan because all the real cops were

in Koreatown and at Samy’s Camera. There was a guy, whose name I’ve forgotten, who owned an Asian antiques store on the Boulevard, and he was amazing. He was outfitted like a Navy Seal, armed to the teeth and up on his roof every night. History will record that this went on for six days. I guess my people have a history of fighting six-day wars. The conflict in Los Angeles ended, and the community heaped praise upon our ragtag Windsor Watch crew. Specifically for me, that meant a coveted appointment to the Wilshire Community Police Advisory Board, where I quickly moved on as civilian chairman of the first citywide Community Police Advisory Board. I won’t lie. It was nice having Tom Bradley and Dick Riordan know who I was, and of course (Please turn to page 4)

Mercantile

(Continued from page 1) firmed: Boba The Great.

Larchmont Chronicle

MARCH 2022

SECTION ONE

BY DAY (LEFT) AND BY NIGHT (ABOVE), the Larchmont Mercantile building helps to brighten Larchmont Boulevard. Photos by Pavel Bendov / Arch Explorer

According to a Christina representative, the local concept will be a café that serves made-in-house boba tea,

Thank You

for supporting our Larchmont businesses! “An oasis in the city”

LARCHMONT BOULEVARD ASSOCIATION Representing businesses from 1st Street to Melrose

www.LARCHMONT.com

among other things. A few more leases are expected to execute soon, we were told, so stay tuned. Larchmont 2021 update Results of the Larchmont

2021 survey that closed Jan. 13 likely will be released later this month. “We are preparing a summary of the survey results that we hope to have done this week or early next

week. We invited a third party to review the survey and help us interpret the results,” Larchmont 2021 committee member John Kaliski told us on Feb. 22.

Greenberg

was there for several years as a real, visible crime deterrent on the Boulevard. I hung out there with a treasure trove of devoted citizens, as well as great cops, some of whom went off to become chiefs of police, and one still close friend who was, for a term, the Los Angeles County sheriff. By 2005 I had moved from Larchmont, although my son is still there. The only evidence of my community involvement is that for as long as the obelisk stands at the gateway to Larchmont Boulevard, my name will be on it. But don’t look at it. There’s virtually no way to see it without your risking being run over by a car. I had the good fortune to be on the Boulevard last week, visiting from my home in Portland, Oregon. As I ate a memorable clam and garlic pizza and the world’s best meatball, I listened to the stories of the Boulevard today and surveyed the block. I thought of the very real possibility that some part of Larchmont might have become a casualty in 1992. But there it was, 30 years later. It was at the same time dif-

ferent and the same. Parking was still a nightmare. Yet I’ve never found a neighborhood I was as comfortable with, and I’ve never been prouder of an affiliation. But I was a kid then and had the energy to do battle with my neighbors, with the city, with the LAPD. Every generation will have a different idea of what “Saving Larchmont” is to them. For my generation it was saving it from the very real possibility of arson and theft. I can’t tell what Saving Larchmont would feel like in 2022. But I will tell you that whatever it is takes hard work and dedication. That it can’t be left to the other person. Perhaps a decade after I began my quest we did get a stop sign at the corner of First and Larchmont. Not the four-way stop I had hoped for, but one on the cross street. And there it is in a nutshell — Saving Larchmont 2022 will be all about the art of compromise. Barry M. Greenberg is a talent executive who lived in Los Angeles from 1981 to 2012. He is a former Larchmont Chronicle Man of Larchmont.

(Continued from page 3)

©LC0321

John Ferraro, my greatest hero, and our beloved Tom LaBonge. Ferraro introduced me to everyone as Commissioner Greenberg, which was all the validation I ever needed. I simultaneously served on the Windsor Square Association board and take great pride in Jane Gilman having named me a “Man of Larchmont,” back when a title like that was appropriate. Being a Man of Larchmont meant that I got to judge the Halloween Costume Contest with Raul Rodriguez and his parrot, which, come to think of it, I think was actually a macaw. My dear friend Bob Vacca of Lipson Plumbing generously gave us a storefront to use as an LAPD sub-station, and it

Larchmont Chronicle

MARCH 2022

SECTION ONE

Seven things they didn’t teach you about buying eyewear

By Alex Feldman Your eyewear is an essential used on a daily basis and should fit right, feel right and look good. With so many options online and in-store, it may feel overwhelming to make a choice and feel confident about your decision. Here are seven things to look for to make sure you are fitted properly: 1) Find a frame where your eyes are centered in the lens area, to avoid optical illusions. Oftentimes people buy frames that are too wide. If your eyes are too far in from the center, it creates the illusion that they’re running towards each other due to the negative space on the outside. Conversely, if your eyes are too far out from the center, it will look like they’re darting outwards. 2) Make sure your frame sits in the right place on your nose bridge — not too high, and not too low. The right bridge fit will create the best optic experience for vision, comfort and appearance. The bridge shouldn’t be too tight, but at the same time shouldn’t be so wide that the frame slides down your nose. The key is for the frame to sit with your eyes somewhere between one-half and three-quarters of the way from the bottom to the top of your lens. 3) Opt for digital lenses to experience optimal clarity. Digital lenses are the latest innovation in lens fabrication and provide a sharper image, peripheral vision and improved contrast, especially when paired with anti-reflective (AR) coating, which helps reduce glare. Using advanced technology, they remove aberrations which greatly increases acuity. Also, they have a compensated prescription so, the acting power on your eye is

production facilities that result in lower quality lenses and finishing work. In many boutique settings, opticians use highquality independent labs for the lens fabrication and do the finishing work in-house, facilitated by qualified technicians who use top-of-the-line equipment and, simply said, more TLC.

EYEWEAR STYLISTS Oliver and Kathy.

the correction you need, based on measurements the optician takes. 4) If you’re buying eyewear online, assess if the provider has a process that can take the correct measurements to ensure your frames fit properly and deliver the best health to your eyes. While buying eyewear online has become popular, be cautious as online measurements are challenging to get right, especially for ophthalmic frames. If you have the ability to work directly with an optician, it’s highly recommended to do so in person to take the correct measurements with quality optical equipment. In addition, be careful with cheap online lenses, as these are usually low-grade optical quality, mass produced and – as many reports have shown – don’t pass quality control inspections for proper prescription power or measurements, all of which can hinder the quality of your longterm vision. 5) Look for eyewear produced in boutique labs (which is not mass made), to make sure you have the best quality support for your eye health and vision. Oftentimes when you go innetwork through your vision plan (falsely assumed to be vision “insurance” but actually just a group discount plan), your frames go through mass

R UR OU YYO D D N I N F I F E ME OM CCO D,, O OLLD G G ’ ’ O O T T O PPO & SS,, & K K C C O O R R M M A HA SSH NSS,, U UN A A H H C C E E R LLEEPPR O!! OO TTO

6) Color can help, whether you’re looking for something more subtle or bold. Similar to how makeup can be used to enhance features, exploring colors in eyewear can complement your eyes, skin tone, hair and overall complexion. For example, if you are looking for something

more subdued and have blue eyes, look for a frame that has a highlight of blue to accentuate your eye color through the lens. Or, if you’re looking to go bold, consider frames that are vibrant in color and would generally match your dayto-day wear (or not, if you’re (Please turn to page 13)

O’Farrell campaign HQ opens on Larchmont

COUNCILMAN O’FARRELL with Brigid LaBonge at the Councilman’s new campaign headquarters on Larchmont Blvd. Photo by Gary Leonard

By Nona Sue Friedman Councilman Mitch O’Farrell is showing his interest in the newest part of his district by opening his campaign office right on Larchmont Boulevard. He is running as the incumbent for CD13. After canvassing the area for five hours, a parched O’Farrell met with supporters at his campaign headquarters. There were snacks, beverages and lawn signs for everyone. Phone banking is already underway. The office at 658 N. Larchmont Blvd. is open every day except for Friday.

FINANCIAL PLANNING WITH PURPOSE Feel clear and conﬁdent about your ﬁnancial future

anked by Forbes Magazine as #54 of the Top 250 Financial Security Professionals nationwide, Meagan Phelps, founder and CEO of Empress Investment Group, is passionate about helping women make conﬁdent ﬁnancial decisions. Meagan and her team have decades of experience helping families plan for their future, preserve wealth, and protect their legacy. Utilizing the 4-Step Prosperity Planning Process™, they have successfully designed custom plans for thousands of clients. Areas of expertise include wealth accumulation & management, investment & retirement planning, estate & education planning, and tax reduction strategies.

Call now for your complimentary Strategy Call with a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ • Personalized Favors • Chocolate Coins • Party Paper Goods • Wrapping, Ribbons, Bows & Bags

Vine American Party Store 5969 Melrose Ave. (at Wilcox) 323-467-7124 www.vineamericanparty.com

• Hats & Tiaras • Centerpieces • Shamrocks, Wearables & Much More!

20% Off ALL MERCHANDISE WITH THIS AD (except printing, discounted goods, balloons and balloon delivery)

©LC0322

• Invitations • Decorations & Balloons • Table Covers & Skirts • Napkins, Plates, Cups

310.450.2904

Email: info@empressig.com Located in the Larchmont Medical Building, Suite 800

*Mention our Smart Women, Smart Retirement™ workbook and get a free copy mailed today! Meagan Phelps is a registered representative of and offering securities and advisory services through Madison Avenue Securities, LLC., a Registered Investment Advisor, member FINRA & SIPC. Madison Avenue Securities, LLC is not affiliated with Empress Investment Group. The Forbes rankings of America’s Top Financial Security Professionals, developed by SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative criterion. This is an unpaid acknowledgement. Forbes, SHOOK Research, and MAS are unaffiliated entities.

Larchmont Chronicle

MARCH 2022

SECTION ONE

Event honors women’s rights defender March 6

FAYE WATTLETON, former president of Planned Parenthood, is to be honored by Look What SHE Did!

By Helene Seifer To celebrate Women’s History Month, Look What SHE Did! is partnering with the Ebell of Los Angeles to present a virtual program focused on sharing women’s remarkable achievements. The Sun., March 6, 11 a.m. fundraiser will support Look What SHE Did!’s ongoing effort to preserve women’s often- overlooked accomplishments. Sharon Lawrence, awardwinning stage and television actress currently in the Spectrum series “Joe Pickett,” will host the virtual program.

Barrier-breaking former film studio executive Sherry Lansing will introduce the honoree, women’s rights defender Faye Wattleton. Wattleton is a past president of Planned Parenthood, co-founder of the Center for the Advancement of Women and inductee into the National Women’s Hall of Fame. Other outstanding women’s stories will be presented during the one-hour event. Tickets are $50. Look What SHE Did! will end Women’s History Month on March 27 with a virtual salute to female Olympians and Paralympians. The organization has produced over 120 short films, each featuring a notable woman telling another woman’s inspiring story. Additional information and tickets for either event can be found at lookwhatshedid.com/ events.

House of Lebanon gala is March 19

The Ray R. Irani Pride of Heritage Award will be awarded at the House of Lebanon fundraising gala Sat., March 19 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Yervant Demirjia will accept the award at the black tie event. RSVP by March 10 to event chair Dr. Najwa M. Shammas at najwashammas@ gmail.com. House of Lebanon is located at 4800 Wilshire Blvd. in the Park Mile. Visit houseoflebanon.com for information.

LUCY KATE HUTCHINS

ELEANOR CATHERINE HAWLEY

Windsor Square debutantes presented by Las Madrinas Las Madrinas honored two local families and their daughters in December as part of a larger group of 56 families recognized for their service and commitment to the Southern California community and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). The young women were presented at the annual Debutante Ball at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Eleanor Catherine Hawley and Lucy Kate Hutchins, Class of 2020 graduates from Marlborough School, are the daughters of longtime residents Mr. and Mrs. Victor Follen Hawley and Mr. and Mrs. Mark Robert Hutchins, both of Windsor Square. Diane Hawley is a past president and has been an active member of Las Madrinas since 2007, and the Hutchinses are proud to have a third generation debutante presented at the ball. Las Madrinas president Mrs. Berkeley George Harrison welcomed the families attending the ball in support of the $5 million Las Madrinas Diagnostic Innovation Endowment at CHLA. Las Madrinas was established in 1933 as the first

‘Wonder Women’ moves to May 1

A gala to honor three leading women of Los Angeles — Wonder Women — is being produced by the Jewish Free Loan Association. It had been scheduled for March 6 at the Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel, 11461 Sunset Blvd., but with everyone’s health in mind, it is now set for Sun., May 1 at the same location, outdoors. The event will honor Jacky Dilfer, Deborah Kallick and Jessica Kronstadt. Gala co-chairs are Adeena Bleich and Sam Yebri. Cocktails will be served at 5 p.m., and dinner follows at 6 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit jfla.org, write sara@jfla.org or call 323-7618837.

affiliate group of CHLA and has been supporting pediatric medicine and research there for 89 years. Visit lasmadrinas.org for more information.

skin

deep by Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald

While winter plus Covid variants may equal streaming at home in leggings, it’s also the ideal time to achieve the best skin you’ve experienced in years. Halo Laser Treatment is the very first hybrid fractional laser to marry ablative and non-ablative wavelengths. Stay with me now. What this means for you is that not only can we customize Halo to your precise skincare needs, we can address the dermis to stimulate collagen and elastin, and the epidermis to reduce brown spots and sun damage, minimize pore size and improve texture and tone. You can expect far less downtime compared to other ablative lasers - approximately five days of mild to moderate swelling, redness and flaking. Add mask wearing to this equation and the timing really could not be more ideal. After minimal recovery time, you’ll see the dramatic sloughing of brown spots and sun damage to reveal positively glowing and plumped skin; then reduced crow’s feet, fine lines around your mouth and other creases. We’d all like to emerge from this unprecedented upheaval with some positive takeaways. Add tighter, firmer more youthful skin to your short list. Stay safe. Be well. Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald is a Board Certified 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 to teach proper injection techniques for Radiesse, the volumizing filler, around the world. Dr. Fitzgerald is an assistant clinical professor at UCLA. Visit online at www.RebeccaFitzgeraldMD. com or call (323) 464-8046 to schedule an appointment.

Larchmont Chronicle

MARCH 2022

SECTION ONE

Father Boyle to celebrate Master Chorale ‘Gala 2022’ at Disney March 23 Homeboy’s 34th year March 12 The Los Angeles Master ly arranged for violinist Anne tion will be made by composer ing members of society. What started as a seed of an idea for Boyle’s local parish has become the blueprint for over 400 organizations around the world. Homeboy is the largest gang intervention, rehabilitation and reentry program in the United States. It offers multiple programs and almost a dozen social enterprises to train individuals and create revenue for its organization. That special salsa in the market? It’s the same Homeboy. To attend “Lo Máximo,” visit homeboyindustries.org/ lomaximo2022.

Big Sunday gala to honor locals in garden March 13 Big Sunday’s annual fundraiser will be an outdoor, family-friendly garden party on Sun., March 13, from 3 to 6 p.m. on the playground at Baldwin Hills Elementary School. “We chose this school because, over the years, we’ve done a number of projects here, including painting many murals and planting gardens,” said David Levinson, founder and executive director of Big Sunday. Honored at the event will be locals Charlie Hess and Aliza Lesser, as well as Kendis Wilbourne and Wells Fargo. The Blue Breeze Band will get the crowd dancing, and an

Celebrity tennis in desert supports Imagine LA March 8 Desert Smash, a celebrity charity tennis event, is returning to La Quinta Resort and Club on Tues., March 8. This mash-up of tennis and A-list Hollywood talent benefits Los Angeles-based nonprofit charity Imagine LA. The tennis lineup will include Emma Raducanu, reigning 2021 U.S. Open champion; Casper Ruud, tennis talent from Norway; and the Bryan Brothers, Olympic medalists and Grand Slam winners. Imagine LA’s mission is to end the cycle of family homelessness by creating a support system of mentors. Visit desertsmash.com to purchase tickets.

awesome barbecue is planned, as well as a few hands-on helping projects. The school, at 5421 Obama Blvd., will receive a donation as part of this seventh annual fundraiser. For more information, visit bigsunday.org, write to gala@bigsunday.org or call 323-549-9944.

Chorale Gala 2022 will honor Grant Gershon, the Kiki and David Gindler artistic director, in celebration of his 20th anniversary season. The event is at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Wed., March 23, starting with an outdoor reception at 6 p.m., followed by the concert at 7 p.m. and dinner in the Blue Ribbon Garden at 8 p.m. The event features the world premiere of a new version of Morten Lauridsen’s “O Magnum Mysterium” special-

Akiko Meyers. Other works being performed include a new commission by composer Michael Abels. A tribute and presenta-

and conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen. For tickets and more information, visit lamasterchorale. org/gala-2022.

All Saints’ concert is March 13 All Saints’ Church, 504 N. Camden Dr. in Beverly Hills, is hosting American Soundscapes, a chamber music performance, on Sun., March 13 at 5 p.m. Listen to pieces written by Gershwin/Heifetz, Chick Corea and All Saints’ own

Director of Music Craig Phillips. The hour-long program includes flute, violin, bassoon, piano and organ. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for seniors and students. They can be purchased at the door or online at allsaintsbh.org.

Come by to Check Out Our Many Services!

Tailwaggers Larchmont Village 147 North Larchmont Blvd. COLORFUL GUITARS strum themselves in “It’s a Musical World.”

Photo by Bob Baker Marionettes

Music comes alive with Bob Baker Marionettes

Come see the Bob Baker Marionettes’ new show, where they dance for families every weekend through April 3. The hour-long production, “It’s a Musical World,” is guaranteed to get your toes tapping. Self-strumming guitars, drums that spring to life, and the theater’s famous live organ will be just the start of your enchantment at this unique Los Angeles institution at 4949 York Blvd. in Highland Park. Get your tickets at bobbakermarionettetheater.com.

every Sunday 10:30 am-1 pm

Mon.-Sat. 8am-9pm • Sun. 9am-8pm

323.464.9600 www.tailwaggerspets.com

Locally & Independently Owned Since 2003

Please visit our other two locations

1929 N. Bronson Ave., Hollywood • 801 N. Fairfax Ave., West Hollywood

Your Trusted Neighborhood Vet for Almost Half a Century! COMPLETE CARE FOR ALL STAGES OF YOUR PET’S LIFE

Open 7 Days Hours: Open 12 noon Close 2 a.m.

We carry the finest in Beer • Wine • Spirits • Champagne • Kegs

• BOARD CERTIFIED VETERINARY SPECIALIST ON STAFF • DIGITAL RADIOLOGY • PROFESSIONAL GROOMER • LASER THERAPY • IN-HOUSE PHARMACY • CAT BOARDING • SURGERY

Mon. - Fri. 8 am - 6 pm • Sat. 8 am - 4 pm CONVENIENT FREE PARKING!

©LC0221

Call 323-469-1414

in parking lot

Free Same-Day Local Delivery

A FULL-SERVICE CERTIFIED VETERINARY HOSPITAL

BOGIE’S LIQUOR

5753 Melrose Ave.

Cat & Dog Adoptions

316 N. Larchmont Blvd. • (323) 463-4889 larchmontanimalclinic.com

©LC0222

Homeboy Industries will celebrate its 34th year at awards ceremony “Lo Máximo” on Sat., March 12 at the JW Marriott at L.A. Live downtown. Homeboy Industries is a nonprofit started by Father Greg Boyle, who grew up on Norton Avenue in Windsor Square. Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin will host the event. Homeboy Industries was established in 1988 at Dolores Mission Church serving the east side of Los Angeles. Homeboy provides hope and job training for former gang members and incarcerated citizens to become contribut-

Larchmont Chronicle

MARCH 2022

SECTION ONE

THE PANDEMIC: What happens when we stop? One mother’s tale

ISIS MUSSENDEN

over the country: ditto, “Get out!” Within 24 hours of each other, there we were, sitting on the couch in our living room that neither of us thought we’d see, much less cozy up on, for some time. Mother and son. I had traveled through three international airports; he had been to Mardi Gras. Really? We were the demographic for the likely infected. So, we settled in for an isolation never imposed before in our lifetimes,

325 N. Larchmont Boulevard, #158 Los Angeles, California 90004 www.windsorsquare.org 157 N. Larchmont Boulevard

Larchmont shopping district within Windsor Square

Many local residents remember the days, not that long ago, when the Larchmont shopping district featured, among other things: a hardware store, perfect for when you just needed a certain screw or household item; a beauty parlor; a fish market and a green grocer, so you could avoid a trip to the supermarket; a fancy kitchen wares shop; and a general store. (There was also Chevalier’s, a great independent book store, but luckily we still have that.) Even though most of those shops are history now, it’s safe to say that local residents would like to keep that special character of our shopping district. Since 1992, Larchmont has been governed by a set of restrictions, known as the Q Conditions, created to maintain the walkable, neighborhood feel of the street. The Q Conditions limit the number of full-service restaurants (maximum of 10) and financial institutions, such as banks and real estate offices, between Beverly and First Street, with the goal of keeping an attractive, diverse mix of businesses. The restrictions also limit building heights and size of individual stores, so that a large retailer couldn’t change the character of the street, and prohibits drive-through fast food establishments, all to help maintain Larchmont’s unique, neighborhood character. The Boulevard has changed dramatically in the last two years, partially because of COVID-19. Some retailers have closed down, though the newly renovated shops on the east side of the street offer hope of revitalization. The most significant change has been the creation of outdoor dining spaces, replacing parking spots. Should these become a permanent feature? There are many other issues that will shape the future of Larchmont Village. Because the business district falls within Windsor Square, we hope our neighbors will give careful thought to that future and make their voices heard.

KELLY SANDOVAL and GOMEZ SANDOVAL

just history and hopes. Time to think and dream, to assess and clarify — something the noisy, electronic world of today has never offered our children. I have only a faint memory of those rambling summers as a child; endless warm days, barefoot, my imagination floating, boundless. Those months brought us closer, with a deeper understanding of each other. We have never verbalized it, and I have not put it into words until now, but today the phone calls are more frequent. The exchanges between us possess more respect and patience. Was it the shared experience or was it those hours of nothingness waiting with open arms, begging us to fill them with substance or welcomed silence? Or was it both?

As Omicron emerged, I was awarded a bonus week over this holiday season. This time my beautiful niece joined our bubble — much to the delight of my son, I am sure. Not to mention, board games are better with three! Our trip to Ireland put on the back burner once again, our consolation prize was a local road trip, and a week in isolation at our destination. It was less stressful this time. More stores open and abundant — with vaccinations — once again (check your privilege at the door). We watched movies, cooked, played games and although a book was not read, it was enough time to retrieve the feeling. We were once again present, living in the moment without distraction — a silver lining to all this bedlam. I wonder if, years from now when it is all behind us, we will remember? Not the pandemic — of course we will remember that — but how it felt. Not just the fear or the frustrations, but the pause, the silence and what that delivered. The gift of time, undisrupted, uninterrupted time, to be with our loved ones. Isis Mussenden serves on the Board of Governors at the Academy of Motion Pictures Art and Sciences as an officer representing costume designers and the new Academy Museum Committee.

LETTERS

(Continued from page 2) rising hate crimes, Nazi rallies and the ongoing dismissiveness of the Jan. 6 insurrection by the mainstream. Joe McDonald Wilshire Park

June 7 is Election Day. In addition to the primary election for the Los Angeles Mayor’s race (final vote will be on November 8), local voters will weigh in on our own councilmember. Windsor Square is now in Council District 13, and the incumbent, Mitch O’Farrell, will defend his seat against several hopefuls. The Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council will be presenting a candidate forum beforehand to give residents a chance to learn more about those asking for your votes. Stay tuned for further details.

A note of thanks Thank you for all you do for the community. With love, Laura Dutton Windsor Square

©LC0322

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. Join with us! Drop us a line at 325 N. Larchmont Blvd., #158, Los Angeles, CA 90004, or visit our website at windsorsquare.org. ADV.

save for those first days after birth, when mother and child are in a “bubble” of newbornness. But he was now 20 years old. It had been decades, and yet there we were. The air was heavy, the space around us empty, time suspended. At first it was simply weird. What were we going to do? Void of work, school, friends, other family, dinner plans, social events (special and mundane), nowhere to go, no obligations, no one needing anything from us. A void of everyday life and, even more startling, no semblance of what we thought our lives would look like just days before. It happened slowly. As we absorbed the horrid news and witnessed the devastation, the mood began to transform. Privileged and safe in the cocoon of our home, never was there so much time to do nothing, guilt-free. Days upon days to simply be. Days to watch endless TV shows, to read a book or two or three. Captive in a shared space for not weeks, but months. What happened was just short of a miracle — quality time with an older child. Simple fact: this would never have come to pass, it needed to be imposed. Don’t get me wrong: it was not for a lack of love and desire to be together; we actually like each other. It simply was never going to happen because of the obvious — modern life. The situation was unique, to say the least; a scenario yet written, unpredictable and foreign. Organically, conversations began to emerge out of lingering, unrushed moments between chopping the veggies and baking the salmon, not unlike a good road trip exchange 200 miles into the drive. “When did you meet him?” “I always felt….” “Do you remember when?” “I didn’t know that!” The questions and the stories flowed like words dancing into the night with no sign of last call — not planned, no crisis to address, no conflict to solve,

Love for Kazanjians Cool article. [“It was love at first sight for at least one of the Kazanjians,” Feb. 2022]. I love them. Joseph Levy West Hollywood

RESTAURANT & COCKTAILS

Lunch & Dinner Every Day of the Year

Restaurant Hours: Mon.-Thurs. noon to midnight Fri.-Sat.-Sun. noon to 1:00 a.m. Bar open till 1:00 a.m. Mon.-Thurs. ~ 1:30 a.m. Fri. & Sat. 3357 Wilshire Blvd. • 213-385-7275 • thehmsbounty.com

©LC 0821

By Isis Mussenden “Where were you when the World Health Organization declared the pandemic?” That is a question that will take its place in history along with the towers falling, JFK being shot and, for me, when a classmate read the headline in “The Advocate”: “What is this ‘gay cancer?’” The latter shares a commonality, yet has played out differently. One immediate distinction was the speed; the virus was moving at the speed of light. On March 11, 2020, the earth shifted like tectonic plates deep in our core, an earthquake triggering a tsunami that covered the earth with COVID-19. I was working abroad and told to evacuate. Orders were to get out in 48 hours or stay for what turned out to be six months, not the few weeks we naïvely had imagined. My son was in his college dorm, along with thousands of students all

Larchmont Chronicle

MARCH 2022

SECTION ONE

After absence, SBBA and youth basketball are back

My throat is still sore from yelling yesterday. I haven’t been inside St. Brendan School auditorium and gym for a youth basketball game in two years, and I forgot how loud it can get, even with the limited number of spectators currently permitted. Maybe wearing a mask gives the sensation that it inhibits voice projection, which caused me to yell louder than pre-pandemic, or possibly I was just excited to FINALLY watch a basketball game in person. I woke up unable to do much more than whisper. I don’t think my wife minded at all. In March 2020, the SBBA (St. Brendan Basketball Association) canceled its post-season playoffs due to the pandemic. Every other youth sport would follow. Larchmont Charter School’s middle and senior high school basketball disappeared, and so did local high school wrestling. Next were spring sports like track and baseball. Summer wasn’t any different. Pan Pacific canceled its indoor summer basketball league, and Wilshire Warriors nixed baseball. The seasons start My son presently plays on two basketball teams. One is through CWC (Citizens of the World), his middle school, and the other is the great SBBA league. Both were scheduled to begin earlier this new year, but COVID-19 outbreaks caused a delay to the season’s start. First practices were pushed back, and so were the opening games. “The season will be extended through March 19th,” said SBBA director Abel Luna. “The playoffs and finals will be the weekend of April 2nd.” It has taken a lot to get the machine going again. SBBA hired Scott Taylor, a COVID-19 compliance officer,

Youth Sports by

Jim Kalin to check IDs and vaccination status at the St. Brendan gym entrance before games, and each player is allowed just two spectators. Chairs are positioned courtside in pairs with space between groupings, and masks are mandatory for players and for those watching. “We have to be as compliant as possible,” explained Luna. Positive Test Already, players have tested positive for COVID-19, but that has been limited. After Week Two’s games, an email was sent to parents reporting that one of the boys had tested positive, but a few days after the game. The email was reassuring, and explained that the on-site COVID-19 compliance officer followed all protocol, and that players were monitored at each game to make sure nobody was experiencing symptoms. Through contact tracing, association leaders have been able to contain any further infections and they have not had to shut down.

SBBA players Jack Byrne and Oliver Sobul position beneath the basket.

BLACK STAR BARBERS

Omar Douglas

formerly at Larchmont Barber Shop

House Calls available!

740 Vine Street, 90038 at RA Nails

323.761.9661

Book Online: blackstarbarbers.com

@Larchmontbarber

“It’s this kind of scenario which is why we opted for a vaccination-mandated league, for the protection of all the children and families involved,” read the emailed statement. Basketball Blue Anybody whose child has participated in the SBBA league is familiar with Greg “Blue” Blueford. He’s their lead official. Blueford is retired, but officiates part-time. He worked in three different youth leagues before the pandemic, including SBBA. All were shut down last year. “You know, you miss the kids,” said Blueford. “And the extra money,” he added, laughing. People like Blueford and Luna make the SBBA league a great experience. So do the facility and the team names. In the D-League, which is ages 12,

13 and 14, the team names and logos, which are on their jerseys, are a nod and tribute to the WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association). The six D-league teams are The Aces, The Sparks, The Storm, The Lynx, The Sky and The Mercury. It’s been great reconnecting with parents and grandparents at the games. I hadn’t seen Skip Byrne, the Aults or Greg and Julie Hoegee in almost two years. They still look the same. But like “Blue,” I’ve missed PLAYERS from Larchmont Charter Middle the kids, especially. School include (left to right) Eitan Kim-Levy, And the yelling. Sean Kim and Ronin George.

By Dale Lee 11th Grade

It’s finally March! NCA had a great first two months of the new year and we have many more events to come. NCA elementary students recently had their Math Olympics competition where students were able to prove their academic abilities. The boys’ basketball season is over and they had a great run! There were some speculations around the season after COVID-19, but the team did great, going 6-6 and almost making it to the playoffs. As the basketball season came to a close, the boys’ volleyball season has started. With practices being held every day, get ready for an exciting season to come!

EPISCOPAL SCHOOL OF LOS ANGELES By Hank Bauer 12th Grade

This past month, the Episcopal School of Los Angeles was visited by the violin and cello duo ARKAI. Jonathan and Philip, as the musicians introduced themselves, are pioneers of their instruments as they challenge the idea of the violin and cello as purely classical instruments by using electric ones to produce modern compositions. This was reflected both in the marvelous song they played for

Not only are our high school boys starting a new sport, elementary students can now practice in the little league soccer team. Hosted every Wednesday by some of our past high school soccer players, they can learn the basics of soccer and teamwork. Speaking of sports, our elementary students recently visited the Bart Starr Football Youth Camp in celebration of the Super Bowl. They had an exciting day at the center where students learned more about football and even participated in some games. Maybe it was their luck that helped the Rams in the Super Bowl! Hope you enjoyed Valentine’s Day! Huskies spent the day spreading the love by dressing up for the occasion and gifting each other Valentine-grams, with elementary students joining in on the fun. Parents were excited to receive some “cupid-approved” arts and crafts projects from their kids. us, “Letters from Covid” — which communicates both the triumphs and sorrows of the pandemic through sound — as well as through the message they shared with our community: don’t let shame stop you from pursuing your interests. Even though you may be bad at whatever you want to learn now, you can only get to where you want to be (or even to an incredible place you never expected to be) by getting messy and just going for it. Hearing these words from people who had achieved a one-of-akind success by doing that themselves was uplifting and inspiring, and I am fortunate to attend a school that allows me to meet people such as them.

IMMACULATE HEART By Kellyn Lanza 11th Grade

Immaculate Heart just finished a very busy February, starting with our celebration of Catholic Schools Week! Students got to dress according to each day’s themes, including Monochrome Monday, Take-aNap Tuesday, Western Wednesday, Throwback Thursday and Freefor-All Friday. In addition to dressing up, numerous activities were held on campus to thank faculty, staff and parents. Students also enjoyed an opportunity to celebrate our school community and get to know members of different class years during Panda Family Day. Mixed groups met and played board games, jumped rope and did crafts activities, as well as gathered for conversations during the pleasant activity period. Following Catholic Schools Week, the athletic department and Booster Club held Bingo Night, the biggest athletic fundraiser of the year. The event featured food, beverages, an auction and, of course, bingo! In honor of Black History Month, students engaged in Immaculate Heart’s “Taste of Soul” event with food, music and dancing. Lastly, the Junior Class held its annual Moonlight Rollerway fundraiser to raise money for the 2022 Prom. Now with the arrival of March and the season of spring, Immaculate Heart looks forward to welcoming the new freshman Class of 2026 as acceptances go out to applicants!

Experience Immaculate Heart! Join Us for a Summer of Discovery

By Caroline Tracy Third Street Elementary will send 10 students to the district level round of the National PTA Reflections art competition. The school had a record number of participants, with many receiving certificates in the Honorable Mention and Merit categories. Students who received Certificates of

Excellence will advance to district with hopes of proceeding to state and nationals. The theme for this year’s submissions was “I Will Change the World By….” The National PTA Reﬂections program has been encouraging students to engage with the arts (in a variety of mediums) for over 50 years. For more information, visit pta.org

ST. BRENDAN

ST. JAMES’

Hello, Larchmont! This month has been filled with fun and exciting activities! First, our eighth graders destroyed the faculty in kickball during Catholic Schools Week. We enjoyed our competitive clash with the faculty, and we will dearly miss them when we graduate. Next, our girls’ and boys’ basketball teams have playoffs in a few weeks. Our teams are looking very strong and have a great opportunity to claim the CYO championship! We also celebrated Valentine’s Day and had a day filled with candy, cupcakes and a lot of red, white and pink. Finally, the eighth graders are waiting eagerly for high school acceptance letters and will be working diligently to finish their last few months strong. We hit our 100th day of school, so we’re over halfway there! I can’t wait until next month’s fun activities. Thank you for tuning into the St. Brendan section of the Larchmont Chronicle.

H a p p y Lunar New Year from St. James’ Episcopal School! For New Year’s, we participated in a bowing ceremony, or sebae, where we wished good fortune to one another. I think it is very important to learn about Lunar New Year and other traditions, especially since a large part of the world is Asian! We are also learning about Black History Month and Civil Rights activists from the past and present. My favorite has been learning about traditional West African dance and African instruments in music class. I think it’s fascinating how connected this music is to jazz, hip-hop, and R&B. Other exciting things happening at St. James’ include our Beyond School programs. We are taking accelerated language arts and math, which will help us in middle school. We are also having sports classes like golf and archery; my favorite is basketball and I think I’m getting better at it!

Dentistry for Children and Young Adults

Pediatric Dentistry

P U L ATA S

“Educating the Hearts & Minds of Young Women Since 1906”

5515 Franklin Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90028 ♥ (323) 461-3651 ♥ www.immaculateheart.org

By Aki Kapur 5th Grade

By Noah Borges 8th Grade

1906

Local students advance in national art competition

T RA

Knitters & Knotters Marvelous Math Panda Sports Rad Robotics Readers & Writers Workshop Speech & Debate Stamps & Bookmaking Yoga & Pilates Zumba –and More!

UL A T E H E

EST

CSI/Forensic Science Computer Programming Cooking Classes Crafts & Creativity Drama Workshops Drawing & Design Fibers & Fabrics French & Spanish HSPT Prep

M A RIA

Academics, Enrichment, & Learning Fun!

Middle School Summer Session June 13 — July 8, 2022 One, Two and Four-Week Classes For Girls Entering Grades 4 - 8

STUDENTS honored with Certificates of Excellence from the National PTA Reflections Program from left to right; Rudrani Chatterjee, Sophia Lee, Harper Johnagin, Ashley Jun, William Herbert, Ryan Araujo and Presiana Lucy Petrov (not pictured: August Jewett, Peyton Choi and Rose Araujo).

Randall E. Niederkohr, D.D.S.

Member American Dental Association Diplomat of American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

Orthodontics Available

TV & Video Games

©LC1010

NEW COVENANT ACADEMY

Larchmont Chronicle

MARCH 2022

SECTION ONE

IMM

We have a unique living room atmosphere Children from newborns to 18-year-olds feel comfortable Saturday Appointments Available

(323) 463-8322 • 321 N. Larchmont Blvd, Suite 809

Larchmont Chronicle THIRD STREET By Coco Min 5th Grade

Hi again. We are into the Year of the Tiger, and spring has sprung, along with my allergies. Its a busy time of year here. We just celebrated Valentine’s Day, and I really enjoyed giving out little gifts and receiving them. Along with a lot of other classes, my class did a candy and card exchange. Also, fifth grade was selling candy grams until Feb. 11 to support field trips. On Feb. 8, we actually

OAKWOOD SCHOOL By Scarlett Saldaña 11th Grade

This month, Oakwood’s beloved Immersion Program will make a return, after a year-long hiatus due to the pandemic. Every school year, students always look forward to this program as it enables them to learn different topics that go outside the boundaries of what is normally taught in the school’s usual curriculum. I have had the opportunity to take classes such as Computer Animation, Roller

CENTER FOR EARLY EDUCATION By Ren Lisenbery 5th Grade

The Center for Early Education is a school that really supports sports education. There are a variety of sports teams that students can participate in, such as volleyball, soccer, flag football and basketball. Competitive afterschool athletics begin in 4th grade. The Center’s 6th grade boys’ basketball team won the champi-

MARCH 2022

sold out before fifth grade recess! There was no school on Presidents’ Day, so I got to meet up with my cousins, who were visiting from Seattle. Daylight savings is coming up, so don’t forget to set your clocks forward an hour. For Saint Patrick’s Day, everyone will be wearing green at our school, as that’s really all we do, but I have been asking around, and although most of my friends just wear green, one of them said that some of their traditions are having a four-leaf clover hunt, and looking for a rainbow. That’s all for me. I’ll be back in two months to share more about Third Street. Coasters: Physics In Action, and Passion for Fashion. In each of these classes, I learned how to use Adobe Animate, I analyzed the inner workings of rollercoasters and their psychological effects on humans and I even learned about the fashion design process. In the weeks to come, I will be taking an Immersion class called “Some Things You Should Probably Know.” We plan to learn a variety of skills such as how to plan, shop and cook meals, and we will do this with the help of a professional chef. We will also learn how to ballroom dance and create a professional resume, just to name a few. I look forward to acquiring these new skills! onships and the 6th grade girls’ volleyball team won as well. The school plays games at home and away, so when it’s a home game we treat our opponents as guests and at away games we still use our best manners and kindness. Everyone is very supportive during the games and the Center is all about good sportsmanship. Our core values are caring, honesty, inclusion and responsibility, and we always take that into account when we are playing. We are happy and proud, no matter if we win or lose. At the end of the day it’s the teamwork and effort that we put into our games that should count.

The Plymouth School Safely Opened for the 2021-2022 School Year!

NOW ENROLLING

• Preschool program for children 2 to 5½.

• Experienced teachers devoted to fostering self-esteem in a safe nurturing environment • Over 45 years serving the neighborhood

315 S. Oxford Ave. • 213-387-7381

©LC0321

• Creative activities to encourage cognitive & social development including art, music, movement & play

theplymouthschool.com • theplymouthschool@gmail.com

MARLBOROUGH SCHOOL By Avery Gough 10th Grade

Last month I mentioned that we were looking forward to Spirit Week. I can now report that the seniors were the winners! The sophomores took second place and the seventh graders came in third. The metrics were a dance competition and a fundraising and collection drive. We are looking forward to the Winter Athletics Recognition Ceremony on March 2, honoring soccer, basketball and water polo athletes, among others. On March 4, the class of 2025 will have its Casino Night-themed dance. Members of the ninth grade class are allowed to bring one guest. Casino Night is a themed dance event, which the Class of 2024 was unable to host due to COVID-19, so it is exciting that it is coming back for this year. The performing arts department will put on a dance show called “Mechanical” from March 23 to 25. I love seeing my classmates showcase their talents in the performing arts. March 28 is the official start of Spring Break! Unfortunately, the East Coast college tour for the 2023 and 2024 graduating classes, which normally takes place over Spring Break, was canceled. The class of 2023 was also unable to go last year due to COVID-19, so it is very disappointing that the same thing happened this year. Hopefully, the East Coast tour will resume next year so the class of 2024 can experience it.

SECTION ONE

Local students hear from astronauts in space station

pers in our plant habitat, and By Billy Taylor Students at The Center they grew over a long period of for Early Education (CEE) time,” he said, adding, “and we recently had a chance to con- ate them. They were good.” The NASA astronauts nect with NASA astronauts who were working aboard the answered a range of questions and talked about what daily life International Space Station. Prerecorded questions were is like on the space station, how posed to astronauts Kayla Bar- success is measured on a misron and Mark Vande Hei on sion and how the students can Jan. 24 as they streamed live prepare for a career in space. “The most important thing from the space station while you can do is find things that suspended in zero gravity. “What are you looking for you’re passionate about and in space that will help people keep working at them,” said back here on Earth?” asked Barron. “Astronauts can take so many different paths to one CEE student. “Everything that we’re doing becoming astronauts. The only to live in space will help humans thing that you really have to do live better on Earth,” explained is get a degree in a STEM [SciBarron, who is an aunt of one ence, technology, Engineering, of the students at CEE. Barron and Mathmatics] field.” explained that the astronauts on board the space station conduct a number of experiments to learn how human beings can stay healthy in space as well as to develop new technologies that can be used on Earth, such as water purification. Another student asked about the astronauts’ favorite experiment on the space station. “My favorite experiment on the International Space Station was the one that I got NASA astronaut Kayla Barron in her Exto eat,” said Vande travehicular Mobility Unit during ExpediHei. “It was us grow- tion 66, assisted by NASA astronaut Mark ing hatch chili pep- Vande Hei (at right). Photo by NASA

Larchmont Chronicle

MARCH 2022

SECTION ONE

Larchmont Charter girls take city championship

By Nona Sue Friedman Can you hear the cheers? Those are the adoring fans of high school students of Larchmont Charter School (LCS), which has been capturing athletic championships throughout the fall and winter seasons. Girls’ varsity (GVAR) basketball battled hard for its final league win. There was never more than a four-point spread for the last game of the regular season. The tension on the court and in the bleachers was

palpable. The girls persevered and took the Ocean League championship. Some spectators said it was better than watching ESPN+. Team member Frida Heim, of St. Andrews Sq., said, “The game was incredible, awesome and amazing. I almost cried when we won.” One of her teammates did cry. The girls continued their battles throughout the Division 5 playoffs and made it to the finals, the farthest any

LCS GVAR basketball team has ever come. The Division 5 city championship game took place last Sat., Feb. 26. Although LCS was the visiting team, that slight disadvantage didn’t stop them. The team and spectators went wild at the final buzzer when LCS beat their opponents, capturing the title of Division 5 City Champions. This is the first LCS team to earn that title. Many LCS Winners GVAR soccer also was (al-

BUCKLEY SCHOOL

department will put on its annual musical. This year it’s “Legally Blonde.” Tickets are only available to the Buckley community. Then, the 12th grade will go on their outdoor education trip on March 16. The students will be accompanied by leaders from Fulcrum Adventures, who will guide the students in activities that promote introspection, resilience and self-awareness. In other news, Buckley just recently opened up a Media and Technology Lab. Seniors who have free periods can use the lab for school projects, tests and extracurricular activities. Lastly, Spring Break runs from March 21 to April 3.

MELROSE ELEMENTARY

By Jasper Gough 12th Grade

Buckley’s aspiring writers will participate in the prestigious Iowa Writers’ Workshop on March 3. The students will travel up to Iowa and convene with other students who wish to hone their writing skills. Author Julie Lychott-Haims will give a presentation March 8 and 9 to parents and faculty members on the transition to adulthood. After that, on the 10th through the 12th, the drama

HOLLYWOOD SCHOOLHOUSE By Sienna Light 6th Grade

Welcome back! Last month at HSH, there were many big and exciting events that occurred. First off, the HSH community celebrated Valentine’s Day! Everyone at HSH wore pink, red, or purple. It was a very fun day filled with lots of chocolate and treats. Due to COVID-19, we weren’t able to celebrate the holiday in person last year, so this was very exciting for everyone. Meanwhile, Hollywood School-

house celebrated our 100th Day of School! This is always a fun day, because everyone wears their HSH swag and sometimes even dresses up as if they are 100 years old! Many crafts were involved, and everyone had a very enjoyable time. Lastly, in student council, we had the honor of welcoming the 13th District Councilman, Mitch O’Farrell, to the schoolhouse. He came and spoke to us about his job and his passion for being a part of the city council. I got to meet him in person. He was very nice, and he even answered some of my questions. It was an honor to meet someone that works for the better of Los Angeles. It was inspiring for all of us.

By Bella Cho 5th Grade

At Melrose Math / Science / Technology magnet, we had our schoolwide Spelling Bee final on Feb. 2. The winners and runners-up from each classroom competed in the event. We congratulated the winner, Adam Cho, and runner-up Yoshimi Uemura. The 5th graders have started the BEAM (Building Engineers and Mentors) program again every Thursday. College students from UCLA come to Melrose weekly and perform science experiments and teach us engineering. We appreciate this opportunity to learn more about science and engineering from UCLA students. The 5th graders of Melrose do a program called Genius Hour. The students choose a topic, prepare a presentation and submit a final product. This is our 3rd Genius Hour and in this round, we are supposed to teach the class about a problem in the world and persuade them to help solve it. Examples of problems were COVID-19, climate change, cancer and violence. You can choose any topic. For the final product, you can choose from a video, Ted Talk or a children’s book. We can’t wait to see the presentations and learn from each other.

most) unstoppable. The team went undefeated in the Ocean League, heading off to the citywide playoffs. Although the girls were crushing their opponents throughout the playoffs, in the semi-final game, they only squeaked by with a win by one goal. Avery Owen-Lara of Windsor Square said in advance of the game, “I am thrilled to be part of this team and hope we win” the city championship. However, it was not to be. In the championship soccer game on Sat., Feb. 26, LCS experienced an upset loss of 5-1. Other sports teams at LCS

have also been doing very well. Boys’ varsity (BVAR) basketball was undefeated all season and also became Ocean League champion. The boys went to playoffs, fought hard, but lost in the third round. BVAR soccer followed in the girls’ footsteps. The team also won the Ocean League championship but it was defeated in the first round of city playoffs. And let’s give a shout out to the cross-country team and the GVAR tennis team. Both teams were league champions. Larchmont Charter is becoming quite a Los Angeles athletic powerhouse.

LARCHMONT CHARTER GIRLS’ VARSITY BASKETBALL team poses with its City Champion trophy. Top row, left to right: Naomi Stevens, Frida Heim, Sasha Khomutetsky, Kayla Wolovitch, Tiffany Zarate, Sonya Vitti, Sophia Hayes. Bottom row, left to right: Katherine Pierce, Kira Pinkney, Stephanie Zarate, Coach Karen (“Goldie”) Goldberg, Kyrin Jackson. Photo by Nona Sue Friedman

LARCHMONT CHARTER GIRLS’ VARSITY SOCCER after a win.

Goldie’s is back to shooting hoops

Goldie’s Youth Sports (GYS) is registering girls ages 6 to 15 for spring basketball at St. Brendan School, 238 S. Manhattan Pl. Registration is active through March 5. The league builds confidence and raises self-esteem. Direc-

tor, Karen (Goldie) Goldberg says, “I have set out to pursue equality on the court, on the playground and in sports arenas.” To have your girl become part of this empowering community, register at goldiesyouthsports.com.

Neville Anderson, MD, FAAP Amaka Priest, MD Courtney Mannino, MD, FAAP Board-Certiﬁed Pediatricians • We care for children 0-21 years old • Most PPO Insurance plans accepted

Call Today! 323.960.8500 321 N Larchmont Blvd., Suite 1020 . Los Angeles . CA . 90004 . www.larchmontpediatric.com

©LC0321

• Complimentary “meet the doctor” appointments available BASKETBALL CREW after a rigorous workout, left to right: Wylda Taylor-Johnson of Larchmont Village, Sienna Light of Windsor Square and Evelyn Berger and Coco Scott of Hancock Park. Photo by Karen Goldberg

Larchmont Chronicle

MARCH 2022

GIORGIO FINDS COMFORT in a Larchmont Village driveway.

Photo by Tom Hofer

Giorgio

(Continued from page 1) as mental illness, drug addiction and economic hardship, have to be addressed. We see someone like Giorgio pushing his shopping cart, visiting Larchmont Boulevard every day for food, spare change and conversation, wandering the neighborhood and now, apparently, camping out in private driveways, and we wonder, “How on earth can we help?” The numbing numbers The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s annual homeless count concluded Feb. 24, but the current number of unhoused souls on our streets has not yet been collated. Last year’s count was cancelled because of safety concerns over COVID-19, so the 2020 count is our most recent on record. In 2020, the unsheltered population in the City of Los Angeles totaled 28,852 — 14,000 of whom are considered chronically homeless. In Los Angeles City Council District 13, the southern portion of which now includes Larchmont Village and Windsor Square, there were 3,194 unsheltered homeless, including 1,616 chronically so, in 2020. One of them is Giorgio. It takes a village This newspaper’s guest columnist Marilyn Wells, cofounder of Stories from the Frontline, enlightened our readers about the issues of homelessness in six columns last year. In her April 2021 “The NIMBY Diaries” column, Wells recounted the efforts of several residents of Sunset Square to help an unhoused

Eyewear

(Continued from page 5) more edgy and love to have a diverse color palette). 7) Use your FSA (Flexible Spending Account) dollars on prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses. Based on your company’s fiscal year, the dollars that you contribute tax-free out of your pay expire, so set a calendar alert to make sure you use them and don’t lose them (whether on eyewear or other medi-

man in their neighborhood. Banding together, they located a low-cost apartment for him. Using a well-worn but completely true phrase, Wells wrote regarding their efforts, “It takes a village.” It seems that the village of Larchmont is poised to take on Giorgio. Steps to help Giorgio Due to Wells’ writing and contacts, and the Giorgio articles published in this paper, people started speaking out about their concern for Giorgio, and a connection was made with The Center, a homeless advocacy group. Its outreach team found Giorgio and spoke with him about his needs. But it takes more than one contact to solve the problem, and — with so many homeless in our neighborhood alone — The Center’s resources are stretched thin. After receiving the email about Giorgio’s driveway habitation, I contacted The Center’s regional coordinator, Josh Hoffman. Unable to breach client confidentiality, Hoffman nevertheless promised to work with the outreach team to follow up on Giorgio. I next contacted George Hakopiants, field deputy for 13th District Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell. Coincidentally, Hakopiants had been made aware of Giorgio when on a ride-along with LAPD Olympic Division Senior Lead Officer Joe Pelayo. The Council Office staff wanted to get involved and said they appreciated the Larchmont Chronicle’s efforts to bring light to the subject, which could “help move the dial.” On behalf of Councilmember O’Farrell, Hakopiants in February contacted both The cal expenses). By the way, did you know that all expired FSA dollars go back to the employer? If you have eyewear questions on the “do’s and don’ts,” stop by our shop at 161 N. Larchmont Blvd., or Instagram message us at @alexanderdaas or me directly @alexf519. Alex Feldman is a board member of the Larchmont Boulevard Association and is founder of Alexander Daas Opticians on Larchmont Blvd. and Alexander Daas Eyewear.

Center and a city department tasked with addressing homelessness concerns. All three are now engaging with one another and have made Giorgio a priority. Mission accomplished? Not exactly. When I next saw Giorgio on the Boulevard in front of his usual haunt, Peet’s, last month, he asked me the color of my watch band. I glanced at my wrist. “Brown,” I said. “Hazelnut! It’s hazelnut,” he announces triumphantly. Giorgio has always been proud of his specificity. Then he launches into a political diatribe, starting with President John F. Kennedy and the Cuba missile crisis, President Jimmy Carter and Iran, and then Russia and Ukraine. During a break in his soliloquy, I brought up the subject of help. “I hear that some people came to talk to you about housing?” Giorgio was visibly upset with my query, responding, “I don’t want no help! I don’t need no help! I need a check” (referring to the social security check and / or disability check he believes he is owed). “They can help you with that, too,” I replied. “I don’t need no help from nobody. Never did. Never will.” And with that, he got extremely agitated, cursing and yelling about his right to receive his benefits, and then he backed away from me. It takes a village and a whole lot of patience to build up trust with someone who has had to rely on himself day after day just to stay alive.

SECTION ONE

COLDWELL BANKER agents with their morning mess from left to right are Anne Loveland, Jeannine Yates, Jenny Chow, Bob Day, Barbara Allen and Michelle Hanna.

Coldwell Banker agents are spiffing up the Boulevard Coldwell Banker staff have been helping keep Larchmont Boulevard extra clean for the past few months. Inspired by Anne Loveland, this crew from the Larchmont real estate office has been picking up trash every Friday morning from 8 to 9 a.m. Their motto is “Be the Change. Keep Larchmont Village Clean.” They welcome any volunteers who want to join. They’ll supply the trash bags and a Coldwell Banker shirt for anyone who shows up at the corner of Larchmont and Beverly in front of the Coldwell Banker building. Or

reach out to the crew directly at anne.loveland@camoves. com if you have additional questions.

Larchmont Chronicle

MARCH 2022

SECTION ONE

Windsor Square Association leader, Mike Genewick By Larry Guzin Longtime Windsor Square Association (WSA) board member, treasurer and past president Michael Genewick passed away on Feb. 10. Mike selflessly devoted years of energy to civic involvement. He was generous in supporting projects he felt were a benefit to the neighborhood, and he could always be counted on to step up and volunteer for whatever tasks were in the best interests of Windsor Square. Mike was admired by and had many friends on the WSA

board and in our community. In addition to his years of service on the board of WSA, Mike had served as a director of the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council for years. He will be greatly missed. Mike’s family provided the following message to share with the community: “It is with extreme sadness that we announce the passing of Windsor Square resident Michael Stephen ‘Mike’ Genewick, who passed away at his home on February 10 at the age of 80. He was a

beloved husband, father and grandfather, known as ‘Papa’ to his 12 grandchildren. “Mike was an active member in the community for over 40 years, including as a coach and referee for baseball and Region 78 AYSO soccer to most recently serving on the Windsor Square Association board until this past January. He was devoted to St. Brendan Catholic Church, regularly serving as a lector and as a Eucharistic minister. “He is survived by his wife Katherine, his children: Steve

(Linda) Los Angeles; Andrew (Cathleen) Los Angeles; Michael (Tonya) Wichita Falls, TX; Katie (Andy) Los Angeles; Joanne (Kemmie) St. Peter, MN; and his grandchildren Tucker, Austin, Cailyn, Kiyomi, Joseph, Luke, Thomas, Gavin, Gabriel, James, John Paul, and Jacob. He also is survived by his sister, Carol Riddle of Lockport, NY. “Mike, born on March 8, 1941, grew up in Lockport, where he met his wife Kathi. They were married for 55 years. After graduating from Niagara University, Mike served 10 years in the U.S. Air Force, rising to the rank of captain and flying over 100 combat missions in Vietnam. “After moving to Los Angeles, Mike was an executive at the Watson Land Company until purchasing and operating the Carson Car Wash until his retirement in 2004. “Following his retirement, he continued to play golf, do puzzles, visit his cabin at Hume Lake and spend time with his family. “He was a proud, generous

MIKE GENEWICK is pictured with wife Katherine on Page 3.

man who always wanted to share words of wisdom with others. He did not live forever, but his legacy will continue on through his children, grandchildren and numerous people he coached, loved or otherwise inspired.” A funeral Mass was held Feb. 15 at St. Brendan Church. Memorial contributions may be made to Village for Vets. Condolences for the family and donations to Village for Vets may be offered online at: https://bit.ly/3uRnIo6 Larry Guzin is the Windsor Square Association’s president.

Local resident to lead ﬁnancial literacy program

It’s your time. The new beginnings you have been looking forward to are here! Spend it your way at Kingsley Manor, a thriving four-acre oasis in the heart of Hollywood. Independent Living • Truly Yours Assisted Living • Skilled Nursing NO entrance fee • Multiple floor plans

CALL US TODAY

323- 661-1128

kingsleymanor.org 1055 N. Kingsley Drive Los Angeles, CA 90029

core staff that allows us to engage with more partner agencies and bring our SABRINA financial MARON literacy and mentorship programs to more women across the nation, and pave the way to changing the leadership landscape of the future.” Maron comes to 50/50 Leadership after a career in finance, beginning at Ernst & Young and continuing on as a certified financial planner at City National Bank and boutique financial planning firms in Los Angeles. She holds a bachelor of business administration degree from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, and she has served as a leader in several nonprofits, including most recently at the Village Hub in Woodside, Calif. 50/50 Leadership will be holding its annual “Women’s Equality Summit: Financial Literacy Awareness” on Sat., April 23 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information on this event and the organization, visit 5050Leadership.org or email info@5050leadership. org.

Ecclesia Gnostica Gnostic Christian Church Bishop Dr. Stephan Hoeller

We’re an equal opportunity housing provider. CA License #197608482 307

Sunday Eucharist Eucharist 11:00am 11am Sunday Wednesday Eucharist Eucharist 8:30pm 8 pm Lectures • Fridays • 8• pm Lectures • Fridays 8pm 3363 Glendale Boulevard, Atwater, Los Angeles • 323-467-2685 2560 N. Beachwood Dr., Hollywood • 323-467-2685

©LC0421

Friends ... Community ... HOME

By Suzan Filipek Sabrina Maron of Windsor Square has been named executive director and board chair of 50/50 Leadership, a national nonprofit. She succeeds the group’s founder, Pauline Field. Maron will lead the 17-yearold organization, which provides financial literacy programming for women and engages in ventures to enhance equity in leadership. Maron has been a Money 101 financial literacy program facilitator with 50/50 Leadership since 2020. “50/50 Leadership is extremely fortunate to have Sabrina Maron now at the helm,” said Field. “Her real-world experience from the financial sector, combined with a keen vision for developing and promoting women’s leadership, are an ideal combination for this organization and this moment. I have no doubt that 50/50 Leadership will thrive and grow, expanding the difference it makes for women and society.” Of her new position, Maron said: “I am humbled and thrilled to be entrusted with nurturing and growing this organization. We have a fantastic group of volunteers at 50/50 Leadership. My goal is to enhance this team with a

Larchmont Chronicle

MARCH 2022

Shai Wosner

Rapunzel Alone

Bridge to Everywhere

SECTION ONE

MUSIC THEATER DANCE CINEMA

SPRING @ THE WALLIS Complexions Contemporary Ballet Connie Han

MUSE/IQUE

MAR 3 Bridge to Everywhere MAR 3-6 Reckoning A SHORT PLAY FESTIVAL

DIAVOLO

MAR 5 Shai Wosner, piano MAR 12-19 Rapunzel Alone MAR 12-13 MUSE/IQUE MAR 18-19 DIAVOLO MAR 24-26 Bedtime Stories MAR 27 Hershey Felder presents The Verdi Fiasco

APR 2 Kelli O’Hara with Seth Rudetsky, Host & Pianst APR 8 FIVE MINUTES for Earth® APR 9 Susan Bartal and the Calder Quartet APR 14-16 Complexions Contemporary Ballet presents SNATCHED BACK From the EDGES & STARDUST

FOR THE WALLIS’ CURRENT HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS VISIT

TheWallis.org/Safety

TheWallis.org

wallis2122_Season_ads_Larchmont_fp_1.indd 1

2/4/22 3:38 PM

CMY

2022_GAF_Larchmont_March_MiracleMile_R14_Final_HR.pdf SECTION ONE

2/18/22

4:56 PM

MARCH 2022

Larchmont Chronicle

AT THE MOVIES

WILSHIRE VISTA

Our 16th president strategized a brilliant balancing act to save the Union.

TINY CHALLENGE

This “little gem of a neighborhood is here to stay,” thanks to its new official designation. Page 8

Page 6

Real estate EntErtainmEnt, LibrariEs HomE & GardEn

Simple suggestions to help make our tiny hamlet in a big city a wee bit smaller.

Page 15

VIEW

Section 2

LARCHMONT CHRONICLE

MARCH 2022

HANCOCK PARK • WINDSOR SQUARE • FREMONT PLACE • GREATER WILSHIRE • MIRACLE MILE • PARK LA BREA • LARCHMONT

117 S. Windsor Blvd. | Windsor Square | $5,000,000

146 N. McCadden Pl. | Hancock Park | $4,000,000

JUST SOLD. Beautiful Mediterranean in A+ location. 3 beds + 2.5 baths. Pool. 117Windsor.com

SOLD. Stately Mediterranean on a great blk. 6Bd/5.5 bas+dramatic entry. Needs work but great potential

Loveland Carr Group 323.460.7606 CalRE #01467820, #0888374

Kathy Gless 323.460.7622

Rick Llanos 323.810.0828

552 Wilcox Ave. | Hancock Park | $3,899,000 IN ESCROW. Gorgeous newly remodeled 2 story Spanish. 4 bedrooms 4.5 baths plus beautiful pool area.

4957 Melrose Hill | Hollywood | $2,895,000 Historic Melrose Hill family compound w/ 4 bed, 3 baths, studio & 2 bed guest house. Large lot.

Rick Llanos 323.810.0828 CalRE #01123101

Kathy Gless 323.460.7622 CalRE #00626174

351 N Poinsettia Pl.| Miracle Mile| $2,250,000

6330 Pimrose Ave. | Hollywood Hills | $1,699,000

6550 W. 84th St. | Westchester | $1,465,000

631 Wilcox Ave. #3B| Hancock Park | $935,000

SOLD OVER ASKING. Grand 3/2 Charac. Spanish in prime area. X-lrge frml D.R, Grnte kitc. Fpl, hdwd flrs. Cecille Cohen 213.810.9949 CalRE #00884530

Newer Construction 3 bed, 3 bath modern home w/ beautiful kitchen & baths. Yard with office & spa.

Developer’s dream! Permits ready to issue for apprx. 3,000 total SF. 2-Sty ADU to be delivered completed! Erik Flexner 310-941-FLEX (3539) CalRE #01352476

Gorgeous golf course view from the top floor. Large 1 bed + 2 bath. Pool, spa & 24-hr security. Loveland Carr Group 323.460.7606 CalRE #01467820, #0888374

647 Wilcox Ave. #1H | Hancock Park | $597,000

641 Wilcox Ave. #3D | Hancock Park | $580,000 Here is your opportunity to purchase one of the larger 1 bed + 1.5 baths floorplans at the top floor at HPT. Bob Day 323.821.4820 CalRE #00851770

6151 Orange St. #121 | Hancock Park | $499,000

Move-in ready, large 1 bd, 1.5ba. Central location. Updated mstr bath, custom walk-in closet. W/D in unit. Helena Ortega 310.456.4515 CalRE #02167696

Cecille Cohen 213.810.9949 CalRE #00884530

145 S. Hudson | Hancock Park | $25,000/MO FOR LEASE. Stately English on one of the finest blocks in Hancock Park. 6 bedrooms + 5.5 baths, pool w/ spa. Rick Llanos 323.810.0828 CalRE #01123101

165 N. Las Palmas Ave. | Hancock Park | $23,000/MO

160 N. McCadden Pl. | Hancock Park | $20,000/MO

738 S. Longwood Ave. | Hancock Park | $17,500/MO

6078 Pickford St. | Beverlywood | $2,800/MO

LEASED. Stately English Tudor on a beautiful treelined st. 5Bd / 4.5Bas, covered patio, large pool.

Furnished Lease, short or long term. 4 beds, 4.5 baths w/ a pool and guest house. Great location. Rick Llanos 323.810.0828 CalRE #01123101

Majestic 1920s Tudor Estate in Brookside. 3 beds 5 baths, brick patio w/fireplace, bar & grill. Pool. Benjamin Baylin Edgar Garcia-Gutierrez 323.627.5365 323.597.7396 CalRE #02112321 CalRE #02074263

Amazing opportunity to live in a sunny 2 bedrm & one original bath lower unit of a duplex. Fenced yard.

Rick Llanos 323.810.0828 CalRE #01123101

SOLD. Beautiful 1/1 condo. Frplce, balcony. Pool. Gated garage. Close to LACMA, Grove, Transportation.

COLDWELLBANKERHOMES.COM

Barbara Allen 323.610.1781 CalRE #01487763

Hancock Park 323.464.9272 | 251 N Larchmont Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90004 ©2022 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Realogy Brokerage Group LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. CalRE #00616212

Larchmont Chronicle

MARCH 2022

SECTION TWO

†

Announced and Possible Local Election Candidates in 2022 Mayor Michael A. Alspach Christina M. Bailey Karen Bass Barry Boen Najmah Brown Dr. Cheyenne Bryant Joe Buscaino Rick Caruso Chuck Cho Eden Cristo

Louis De Barraicua Kevin de León Austin Dragon Sean I. Enright Michael “Mike” Feuer Jesse N. Forte Chris Gilmore Craig Greiwe Alex Gruenenfelder Smith Jesseca Harvey

John Samuel Jackson Evan Jasek G. Juan Johnson Andrew Kim Jessica Lall Juanita Lopez Alycia T. Lowery Asher Luzzatto Helan Mahmood Joseph May

Douglas Paul Michaels Brian Morrison William Rodriguez Morrison Dr. Jemiss Nazar DC, JD Gina Viola Peake Toshia Poundstone Jorge Ramirez Ahn Shin-Ae Jamila Sozahdah Joe Taylor

Kat Tuck Jacob (Alestar) Van Mater Michael Vance Ramit Varma Vincent Willis Mel Wilson

Council District 5

Council District 13

City Attorney

Supervisor District 3

City Controller

Danny Bahr Molly Basler Jimmy Biblarz Scott Epstein Dory Frank Kristina Irwin Josh Nadel Katy Young Yaroslavsky Sam Yebri

Albert Corado Carlos H. Flowers Steve Johnson Clarendon “Clay” K. Johnston Dylan Kendall Rachael Rose Luckey Chad Michael Manuel Mitch O’Farrell Kate Pynoos Hugo Soto-Martinez

Sherri Onica Valle Cole Faisal Gill Kevin James Richard Y. Kim Teddy Kapur Hydee Feldstein Soto Marina Torres

Richard Bloom Jeffi Girgenti Bob Hertzberg Lindsey P. Horvath Henry Stern

Stephanie Clements Paul Koretz Reid Lidow Kenneth Mejia James O’Gabhann David T. Vahedi Robert “Rob” Wilcox

2022 Candidate fields narrow down The primaries for this election cycle are on June 7, and a general election, if runoffs are needed, will be on Nov. 8. In just the City of Los Angeles mayor’s race, there were 38 people who told the Ethics Commission that they wanted to run, but those who

actually picked up nominating petitions dropped the number to 27. The chart above lists names of people still in the various races as of press time. A truly final list for city candidates will not be available until after the March 12 deadline for candidates to return their signed petitions.

Potential: Robert “Bob” Iger Austin Beutner

† Registered with City Ethics Commission

Hancock Park CD5 Forum to be held later this month The Hancock Park Homeowners Association (HPHOA) will host a City Council District 5 Candidate Forum this month. At press time, event

details were not confirmed, but residents are encouraged to visit the HPHOA website for updates at hancockpark.org.

The Hottest Market inYears. The Lowest Inventory in History.

Thinking of Selling? We Would Embrace The Opportunity to Meet & Discuss

The Top Selling Real Estate Team In Larchmont Village

www.CoreGroupLA.com Pete Buonocore | 323.762.2561

Larchmont Chronicle

MARCH 2022

SECTION TWO

Election 2022 race is on for Board of Supervisors, Third District By Suzan Filipek, Billy Taylor and John Welborne Four candidates are on the June 7 primary ballot seeking election to the seat of Supervisor of the Third District on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. They are: State Senators Bob Hertzberg and Henry Stern, West Hollywood City Councilmem ber Lindsey Horvath and small business owner Jeffi Girgenti. The Larchmont Chronicle editorial staff interviewed three of the candidates last month via Zoom. Here are

reports on those candidates based on the interviews and other sources. (The fourth candidate, who entered the race late, is also profiled.) Robert Hertzberg, State Senator, 18th District, the central part of the San Fernando Valley Robert “Bob” Hertzberg is California State Senator for District 18. He assumed that office on December 1, 2014. His current term ends on December 5, 2022. He served as Senate Majority Leader from 2019 to 2022, and he previously served in the LOS ANGELES COUNTY

.......

= Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council

BOB HERTZBERG

LINDSEY HORVATH

California Assembly. First elected to the Assembly in 1996, he quickly established himself and moved up the ranks, eventually serving as the 64th Speaker of the California State Assembly after being unanimously elected by both parties in 2000 and 2001. Following his tenure as Speaker, lawyer Hertzberg joined the Downtown Los Angeles office of an international law firm, and he also became a clean energy entrepreneur. The “Los Angeles Times” once described him as “a high velocity wonk; he loves big ideas and will flesh out every one of them if you give him a chance.” That was a description he even endorsed in the Chronicle’s interview. In that Zoom meeting, a question right out of the gate

concerned housing. When asked whether the Legislature — that recently has been passing myriad laws dictating what cities should do to allow more housing development — would allocate state money to help those cities build needed affordable housing, Hertzberg’s answer was direct: “No.” Hertzberg said he agrees that money for affordable housing is critical. He said that the only way that Californians throughout the state can help with funding housing is by passing a housing bond. He is sponsoring such a measure. When the discussion turned to the related issue of homelessness, Hertzberg pointed out that California’s 58 counties are a creation of, and subdivision of, the state. State laws govern what

HENRY STERN

JEFFI GIRGENTI

counties can do. It is the County of Los Angeles that has primary responsibility for providing homelessness services, including mental health services. But, says Hertzberg, that’s obviously not going very well right now. (Please turn to page 10)

Larchmont Chronicle

MARCH 2022

SECTION TWO

A word or two about Meat Loaf (1947-2022) and his mother, Mrs. Aday

Mrs. Wilma Artie Hinkel Aday was my sixth-grade teacher, in a shining new elementary school, F.P. Caillet, in a new suburb in North Dallas. I started at Caillet toward Christmas in third grade, when it was under construction. We students were in the “annexes” then, awaiting the opening of our school. By sixth grade, our final year at Caillet, I was in Mrs. Aday’s

Home Ground by

Paula Panich

class, and her son, M.L. (Marvin Lee), was in a different sixth grade group. (Much later, he changed the Marvin to Mi-

chael.) We sixth-grade students then spent all day in the classroom with one teacher. Mrs. Aday was the definition of sweet, and kind. She loved geography, and so do I. Long ago, I found a photograph, circa 1958, of Mrs. Aday and me. She was sitting at her desk, and I was standing by her side, and we had our arms around each other. She was a

large, heavy woman, and she was holding me tight, with real affection. I look a little abashed, but I loved her. I was wearing a white, twopiece dress with a round neck and puffy sleeves, gold zig-zag rick-rack on the bodice and voluminous skirt. We were square dancers at F.P. Caillet, and we were assigned to “squares” — eight boys and eight girls. The girls, or more precisely, their mothers, were in charge of the square dance outfits. The square dance was once a year, and this is how we spent weeks in P.E., practicing. On the day of the photograph, I was wearing my dress, post-dance festival. The chalkboard was behind Mrs. Aday in the photograph, and on it was written, as a headline, in Mrs. Aday’s perfect, balanced, beautiful, teacher’s Palmer Method hand: China. Under that five-letter word were listed a few characteristics of Chinese culture, but this is the one I recall: Children Obey Parents. One rather fractious day in the classroom, Mrs. Aday was exasperated with us. She said something about how we were just playing around — just like M.L., she said. He would play with anything! At dinner, on his plate, his peas would be at war with his mashed potatoes. We all went on to Cary Junior High in seventh grade; and stayed through ninth; then on to Thomas Jefferson High School. M.L and I were not friends, but I was aware that, at last, M.L. had found

M.L. ADAY, senior photo, Thomas Jefferson High School, Class of 1965.

a place in the world, on the football field. By then he was known as Meat Loaf. I attended Thomas Jefferson High School short of a year before I moved to Phoenix. About 10 years ago, I saw a documentary about Meat Loaf, where it was revealed that M.L.’s father was an abusive, violent drunk. M.L. stayed with his maternal grandmother a good deal, ostensibly to protect him from his father’s rages. My teacher Mrs. Aday was born in 1913, and she died of breast cancer in 1967, when M.L. was about 19. She was 54. M.L. repeated frequently in the press that just after his mother died, his father, raging and drunk, came after M.L. in bed with a knife; the son rolled to the floor just in time. (Please turn to page 5)

Larchmont Chronicle

MARCH 2022

SECTION TWO

Finding hope and comfort in words of a dead, and white, playwright

“The better part of valor is discretion,” claimed Falstaff in Shakespeare’s “Henry IV, Part 1.” I exercised this discretion after reading Charles McNulty’s “Los Angeles Times” review (1/25/22) of “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” at the Ahmanson. Mr. McNulty wrote that he “couldn’t encourage my loved ones to see a show right now,” during the Omicron surge, even though he was enthusiastic about the feelgood British import. So, I retreated to the relatively germ-free security of my den to watch Joel Coen’s adaptation of “The Tragedy of Macbeth” and Patrick Someville’s mini-series adaptation of Emily St. John Mandel’s 2014 novel, “Station Eleven,” which starts with an actor dying on stage playing King Lear, and ends with a post-apocalyptic theater company making the world (or what’s left of it) a better place by performing “Hamlet.” It would be an understatement to say that the theater world is going through a turbulent period of self-examination. The pandemic and social justice movements have prompted radical rethinking in equity and diversity, not only in casting and play

selection, but also artistic management. These challenges are particularly rife in the Shakespeare world, with its issues of white privilege and cultural imperialism. As reported in “The Washington Post” (1/29/22), theater producers at the recent annual conference of the Shakespeare Theater Association (the league of Shakespeareproducing theaters, large and small), voiced such opinions as, “This pedestal we have put [Shakespeare] on should be smacked down to the ﬂoor!” and “Maybe, if white men had not been the predominant culture, Shakespeare wouldn’t be ‘Shakespeare.’” Classic theaters are trying to respond in innovative ways. Theater for a New Audience in New York has cast John Douglas Thomas (best known as the police chief on “Mare of Easttown”) as Shylock. The Public Theater has announced that Danai Gurira (“Black Panther”) will star as Richard III this summer. A Black Shylock or a female (and Black) Richard expand our understanding of the roles, even if we are not quite sure how. Even Oskar Eustis, the Public’s artist director, didn’t seem too certain: “We are not going to re-gender the role, but what

Theater Review by

Louis Fantasia that means exactly we won’t know until we’re doing runthroughs,” he said in a recent “New York Times” interview. “I know where we’re starting, but that doesn’t mean we know where we’re ending” (2/2/22). Which brings us to the Coen film, starring Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand (in theaters and on Apple+). My own view of the film is that it is disappointing. The verse speaking is uninspired, and the blackand-white visuals, which owe much to Orson Welles’ 1948 version and Akira Kurosawa’s 1957 “Throne of Blood,” seem flat and lifeless, neither theater nor cinema. But... More people will probably see this version of the “Scottish play” than will see all the Shakespeare plays produced by all the members of the Shakespeare Theater Association in a given year. The principals are to be commended for taking the artis-

tic risk of doing Shakespeare at this point in their careers. In an interview with Maureen Dowd in the “New York Times” (2/1/22), Mr. Coen said he wanted a “Macbeth” that was “universal” and not “topical,” while Ms. McDormand thought it was “banal” to try and make Shakespeare “politically correct.” Even Mr. Washington wanted viewers to look past Macbeth’s race (and that of the Macduffs, who are also Black in the ﬁlm). “We ought to be at a place where diversity shouldn’t even be mentioned, like it’s something special,” the actor said in an NBC interview (1/14/22). Which is why I am so in

love with the “Station Eleven” miniseries, even though I hated the book. Shakespeare is performed (brilliantly in the final episode) by a truly diverse troupe of misfits — not by the theater-geek kids of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s world, nor a group of woke elitists, but survivors who came through the plague years, and who, though they may be “diverse” in all the ways we claim today, are united in the loss and pain and loneliness and terror they have suffered, and who find comfort, sustenance, and — above all — hope, in the words of a long-dead playwright who just happened to be a white male.

Home Ground

thing good in me came from my mother. I sent the photograph to M.L. 30 years ago. I did not have a response. I’m only sorry I didn’t photocopy it. I do love his greatest hits.

(Continued from page 4)

He said he left the house in a T-shirt and shorts and never returned. Mrs. Aday was 45 when she was my teacher. According to her obituary, she was a member of the Vo-di-o-do Gospel Quartet. To think of the pain and chaos and fear this kind woman suffered at the hands of her husband is unbearable. M.L. was able to sing from the depths of this suffering out into the world. I have read that M.L. said, at one of his concerts: Any-

Art reception at the Loft at Liz’s March 5

An opening reception for “Lost in Colors” is Sat., March 5 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Loft at Liz’s, 453 S. La Brea Ave. The artists featured in the show are Rhea Carmi and Yoella Razili. Ends April 19. Visit theloftatlizs.com.

YOU NEED MORE THAN LUCK TO FIND YOUR POT OF GOLD

4957 WEST MELROSE HILL - $2,895,000

6330 PRIMROSE AVENUE - $1,699,000 Modern and Cool in Hollywood Hills Re-done, Lots of light, Hillside views 3 Bedrooms + 2 Baths

Stately brick Tudor on coveted block Short-term lease, furnished 6 Bedrooms + 5.5 Baths + Guest House + Pool

160 N. MCCADDEN PLACE- $20,000/MO.

552 WILCOX AVENUE - $3,899,000

165 N. LAS PALMAS AVE. - $23,000/MO.

Spacious family compound in historic neighborhood Large lot, City views 5 Bedrooms + 4.5 Baths + Guest house

Beautiful traditional on prime street Short/long term lease, furnished/ unfurnished 5 Bedrooms + 6 Baths + Pool + Guest house

Multiple offers over list price Stunning & spacious Spanish, Totally updated 4 Bedrooms + 4.5 baths + Pool + Gym

145 S. HUDSON AVENUE.- $25,000/MO.

@RICKLLANOSLA CALRE#01123101

Character English on a great block Newly remodeled, 3rd Street School 5 Bedrooms + 4.5 Baths + Pool

Larchmont Chronicle

MARCH 2022

SECTION TWO

Lincoln at his best, chilling tale of Boeing’s 737 Max

Abraham Lincoln (9/10): Three-episode series. Maybe the best and most accurate telling of Lincoln’s life ever made. Graham Sibley is a dead ringer for Honest Abe, and the script uses the actual words of Lincoln and incumbent Sen. Stephen Douglas. It shows the brilliant balancing act Abe undertook to both save the Union and free the slaves. Sibley gives a moving rendition of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. History Channel. Downfall: The Case Against Boeing (8/10): 99 Minutes. PG-13: If you don’t like to ﬂy, this won’t help you. It’s the nuts-and-bolts story of the 2018 crashes of two brand new Boeing 737 Max passenger planes. It explains that the crashes were totally Boeing’s fault because Boeing installed a new system in the plane but never explained it to the pilots who had to ﬂy them. When

the system on the two planes kicked in right after takeoff, the pilots had no idea what to do, and the planes flew into the ground. This is the story of how Boeing stonewalled responsibility. It’s frightening and fascinating. Netflix. Icahn: The Restless Billionaire (8/10): 104 minutes. This is a surprisingly fawning tale of corporate raider / activist investor (take your pick) Carl Icahn who rose from nothing to be worth $20 billion. Told mostly through interviews with Icahn, it’s a no-warts telling of the story of a man with a controversial reputation. Basically, he tells his story himself, and the filmmakers have apparently done little research because — except for his feud with Bill Ackman over Ackman’s decision to short Herbalife — never is heard a discouraging word. Icahn hits the nail on the head, though,

At the Movies with

Tony Medley when he castigates the greedy corporate CEOs who are overpaid and are there mostly to screw their shareholders and make as much money for themselves as they can. (Ray Irani of Occidental Petroleum is the poster child.) HBO. Secrets of Playboy (8/10): Seven one-hour episodes. If you think Hugh Hefner looked like a dissipated creep, that barely scratches the surface of the despicable truth. This blunt documentary interviews intimates like Sondra Theodore, a “Playmate” and Hef’s girlfriend from 1976 to 1981; PJ Master, Los Angeles and

Montelongo and Parsons LA’s Architectural Real Estate Group

Chicago Bunny mother 197282; Mimi Garcia, “Playmate” and head of Promotions 197382; Stefan Telenba, Hefner’s valet 1978-81; and many others, and they let it all hang out, the rapes and suicides, chapter and verse of his depravity and the appalling lifestyle they all lived. For instance, Theodore says that sex with Hef was never enjoyable because he took it too far and she gives some examples. The den of iniquity called The Playboy Mansion in Holmby Hills was a prison for most of these women. A&E. The Tinder Swindler (7/10): 114 minutes. TV-MA. This documentary has three women (29-year-old Cecilie, Swedish woman Pernilla and Dutch woman Ayleen) tell their stories about how they were preyed upon by an Israeli, Simon LeViev, who portrayed himself as an immensely wealthy playboy that they met on dating site Tinder. This is mostly factual, backed up by actual cell phone communications and some recreated scenes, which I guess were necessary. It is enhanced by ﬁne cinematography that includes Oslo, London, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Prague and the Greek Islands. It’s hard to comprehend these ladies’ gullibility, but it’s an intriguing slice of life. Netﬂix. Blacklight (5/10): 104 minutes. PG-13. Liam Neeson’s latest thriller starts out extremely well. Travis Block (Neeson) is an off-the-books covert freelance government

“fixer” for the FBI’s Chief, Gabriel Robinson (Aidan Quinn), who does a lot of dirty stuff like extracting FBI agents out of dangerous situations, but Block wants out. Alas, the Chief won’t let him leave. The first 60 minutes is involving, but the film devolves into another excruciatingly ridiculous Hollywood Shootout, and one of the more hackneyed, anticlimactic endings of recent history. Lincoln’s Dilemma (3/10): four-part series. This is a superficial, revisionist telling of Lincoln fighting the Civil War. Immediately diminished by spuriously equating the Civil War with January 6, the series goes on to make ludicrous speculations, like claiming that Lincoln was a reluctant opponent of slavery and only prevailed in winning the war because of the influence of Frederick Douglass, and almost entirely because of Black Union soldiers. In fact, the Union Army was 90 percent white. Approximately 2,128,000 men served in the Union Army, and 1,940,000 were white. At least 600,000 Union soldiers were killed, wounded, or went missing in the war (probably many more), and 90 percent of them were white, but that fact is ignored in this series. Well, you get the picture. If you watch this biased series you wouldn’t have any idea that white people had much, if anything, to do with freeing the slaves. AppleTV+.

1955 CADILLAC COUPE DE VILLE owned by Willie Wallace (with his car) and shown at a pre-COVID-19 Gilmore Heritage Auto Show.

Leprechauns and Auto Show are in Farmers Market 2022 lineup

Charming 1922 Windsor Village Traditional sold for 24% over asking price within days.

AARON MONTELONGO

BRET PARSONS

Executive Director, Luxury Division

Founder & Executive Director, Architectural Division

310.600.0288 aaronmontelongo@gmail.com DRE 01298036

310.497.5832 bret@bretparsons.com DRE 01418010

Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. DRE 01866771. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate.

By Suzan Filipek The Original Farmers Market kicked off its yearlong lineup of events last month with the return of Mardi Gras. While scaled back from previous years’ celebrations, it was a colorful, fun event with New Orleans-style food and music to match. Another one of the Market’s most iconic events — the Gilmore Heritage Auto Show -— will return in June after taking a brief hiatus in 2020 and making a limited comeback in September 2021.

Also, Summer Music on the Plaza returns with a live performance every Friday evening throughout the summer. The traditional Fall Festival, which includes crafts, performances and picture-perfect moments, is also poised to make a comeback. “We are so pleased to bring back our schedule of favorite Market annual events in 2022,” said Ilysha Buss, director of marketing at the Original Farmers Market. “We are honored to serve as the com(Please turn to page 12)

Larchmont Chronicle

MARCH 2022

SECTION TWO

Charming character and delectable dishes in outdoor spaces

Pity the poor people in frigid climates. Angelenos can escape the COVID-19 breeding grounds of indoor dining with the simple addition of an outdoor heater or two. Back East, even a dozen heaters, a down parka, earmuffs and fur-lined boots won’t keep a lover of al fresco dining warm this winter. In our land of year-round greenery and close-to-perfect weather, we have an abundance of outdoor eating spaces with delectable dishes and charming character. Norah and Terra are two particularly beautiful and tasty options. Norah is a sophisticated restaurant, both in its décor and its presentation of eclectic dishes. The interior features a white marble bar, wood tables, potted trees and soothing beiges and greys, but the back patio is magical. Unlike so many restaurants that scrambled to add outdoor areas by taking over parking spaces, parking lots or sidewalks, Norah has a well-appointed exterior courtyard filled with tall palms, lush potted plants, attractive heating towers, umbrellas and well-spaced tables. Norah’s menu starts in Italy then skips around the globe. There are pizzas, including one with garlic cream, zucchini, preserved lemon and ricot-

ta salata for $28, and pastas including maltagliati, a $30 dish of flat, irregular dough squares sauced with braised lamb. Mexican-style shrimp and halibut aguachile is a refreshing bowl of chopped marinated fish with minced avocado and hibiscus pickled onion for $24. Middle Eastern flavors abound in $22 eggplant and cauliflower tossed with tahini, the pungent herb mixture za’atar and pistachios. $34 crispy hamachi collar is a Japanese treatment of the section of yellowtail just below the head, where shoulders would be if fish had shoulders. Dipped in rice flour batter, the fried hamachi is enhanced by a squid ink caramel and served with spicy slaw. We started with delicious cornbread. Served in the small cast iron pan in which it was baked, and accompanied by a ramekin of rosemary honey butter, the $14 loaf is sweet, crunchy on top and just the right amount of crumbly underneath. Brussels sprouts atop carrot puree and mixed with shallots and puffed black rice made a satisfying side dish for $20. Tagliatelle, a broad ribbon pasta, is served in a mushroom, pea, parmesan and hazelnut sauce. Tasting of

On the Menu by

Helene Seifer springtime, the flavors melded perfectly in this $30 dish. $48 sea bass, often referred to as branzino, but here referred to by its French name, loup de mer, was perfectly cooked with moist, flaky flesh and crisp, flavorful skin. Norah, 8279 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, 310643-5853. ••• Another stunning outside dining option, this one with the added attraction of a view of the hills, is Terra, Eataly’s rooftop Italian restaurant. Many of their menu items are prepared on the custom-made wood-fired grill that takes up most of the indoor space. The expansive outdoor terrace features a bar with a particularly fine collection of gin, a covered section and a large open plaza with scattered tables, a fire pit, numerous plants and ample heaters. It’s a lovely place from which to watch the sky darken and see the hill homes light up

and the stars come out, and a perfect place to enjoy $22 burrata with grilled tomatoes or tiny skewers of chicken, beef or lamb (six for $12), or $15 grilled wild shrimp. A whole branzino is beautifully and simply grilled with garlic, herbs and lemon, $45. The skin has a wonderful crunch and the flesh is succulent and sweet. This dish, although very similar to Norah’s delicious version of the fish, might be just a tad more flavorful. I find pasta irresistible; add

truffles and you completely capture my heart, no matter the price. Luckily, Terra’s tagliolini, a kind of thin tagliatelle, with parmesan and shaved black truffle, is not only delectable but affordable at $30 for a generous, shareable portion. After dinner, pick up some salumi, Italian cheese, dried pasta and a scoop or two of chocolate gelato from Eataly’s marketplace below. Terra, Westfield Century City mall, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., 213-310-8008.

Celebrate Nowruz State-of-the-art March 7 at the resource center Laugh Factory for Autry Museum Midnight Mission is partnering with the Laugh Factory in Hollywood for a comedy night and fundraiser on Mon., March 7 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. The event also celebrates Nowruz, a 3,000-year-old Persian holiday for people of all faiths that honors light symbolically conquering darkness. The Midnight Mission has served the homeless poulation of Los Angeles since 1914. For tickets and more information, visit midnightmission.org/ nowruz or email kaskar@midnightmission.org.

After a six-year fundraising campaign, the Autry Museum of the American West has raised $80 million for a 100,000-square-foot state-ofthe-art research and collections care center for the Autry and the Southwest Museum of the American Indian. “Beyond serving as a site of scholarship and collections care, this facility will help the Autry honor and enhance its ongoing commitments to Native communities across California and the West,” said Autry Board Chair David Cartwright.

Larchmont Chronicle

MARCH 2022

SECTION TWO

Wilshire Vista West now oﬃcially recognized as historic By Jane Galbraith It’s official — Wilshire Vista West is a City of Los Angeles “Historic District.” In early January, residents awoke to see city crews installing the distinctive latte-colored signs on lampposts within the six-block sector of MidCity, which last October was listed on both the National Register of Historic Places and the California Register of Historical Resources. Of the signs, “It’s really satisfying to look out the window and see them,” said Barbara Kroll, co-chairperson

of Save Wilshire Vista West. “We launched Save Wilshire Vista West in May 2019, and COVID-19 changed the timeline for our meeting with the state’s Office of Historic Preservation. But Zoom saved the day; we eventually had a successful hearing, and despite COVID-19, the signs are up and we can finally breathe. Our little gem of a neighborhood is here to stay.” With assistance from Council District 10 and the city’s Department of Transportation, 10 signs were installed demarcating the

historic and architectural distinction of several blocks south of San Vicente Boulevard and east of Fairfax Avenue. The district is entirely multifamily, dating to the 1920s and 1930s. There are 113 buildings in all, 96 percent of which are preserved in their original condition. Most are duplexes and four-plexes, plus a few larger-unit buildings with interior or shared courtyards evocative of certain eras in Los Angeles development, including Spanish Revival, French Normandy, Art Deco and Colonial styles.

Nearby Carthay Square, South Carthay, Carthay Circle and Miracle Mile are now joined by Wilshire Vista West in expanding the number of buildings identified in the city’s “Survey LA” project that are able to be preserved and protected by such designations.

An outdoor celebration for residents and supporters of the historic district, longdelayed due to the pandemic and masking mandates, is planned for the summer. Jane Galbraith served as co-chairperson of Save Wilshire Vista West.

Homes for an Era, Agents for a Lifetime FOR SALE

SOLD OVER-ASKING IN MULTIPLE OFFERS

8019-8021 Blackburn Ave.

3 BR / 2 BA Each Unit Delivered Vacant! Offered at $2,495,000

JUST SOLD OFF MARKET

IN ESCROW

713 N. Orange Dr.

364 N. McCadden Pl. 5 BR / 3 BA Stately Spanish Offered at $3,950,000

CONGRATULATIONS

6 BR / 5 BA Great Opportunity! Offered at $1,869,000

JUST LEASED OFF MARKET

MIRACLE MILE’S tall buildings are visible north of the Wilshire Vista West historic district. Photo by Jane Galbraith

Bob Clippinger:

101 N. Fuller Ave. 4 BR / 3.5 BA Represented Buyer Offered at $2,810,000

"Congratulations to the Naomi and Leah Team on closing the highest sale in the history of Hancock Park. You keep setting the bar high, then jumping over it."

118 S. Mansfield Ave. 3 BR / 2 BA Represented Tenant Offered at $5,900/MO

Naomi Hartman Leah Brenner

323.860.4259 / 4245

nhartman@coldwellbanker.com lbrenner@coldwellbanker.com CalRE #: 00769979 | 00917665

Members ~ Society of Excellence www.naomiandleah.com

©2022 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Realogy Brokerage Group LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. CalRE #00616212.

Hancock Park Market Report The housing market is constantly changing, and this year has certainly brought new challenges. I can help you navigate the landscape of the trends in Hancock Park so you can get the highest possible price for your home! If you’re considering making a change, call me.

Jill Galloway

Estates Director, Sunset Strip 323.842.1980 jill@jillgalloway.com | jillgalloway.com DRE 01357870 Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01991628. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footage are approximate. If your property is currently listed for sale this is not a solicitation.

SOLD: The home at 427 S. Lucerne Blvd. in Windsor Square was sold in January 2022 for $5,027,000.

Real Estate Sales* Single family homes

355 Muirfield Rd. 427 S. Lucerne Blvd. 415 S. Las Palmas Ave. 621 N. Cherokee Ave. 367 N. Van Ness Ave. 215 N. Arden Blvd. 439 N. Gower St. 902 S. Victoria Ave. 307 N. Windsor Blvd. 726 Lorraine Blvd.

Condominiums

652 Wilcox Ave. 859 S. Lucerne Blvd., #110 845 S. Plymouth Blvd., #A 333 Westminster Ave., #204 443 S. Gramercy Pl., #1 444 S. Gramercy Pl., #1 620 S. Gramercy Pl., #105 358 S. Gramercy Pl., #203 *Sale prices for January.

$21,000,000 $5,027,000 $4,179,000 $3,000,000 $2,610,000 $2,450,000 $2,250,000 $2,055,000 $1,900,000 $1,850,000 $1,392,500 $1,060,000 $907,000 $849,000 $730,000 $601,000 $578,000 $508,000

Larchmont Chronicle

MARCH 2022

SECTION TWO

Decline and despair over the Ruin of Ravenswood

By Brian Curran Driving down Rossmore Avenue on any given night I often feel transported into a film noir movie as I pass the faded grandeur of the Ravenswood Apartments, its great neon sign with bright red letters, some dark, others flickering, hovering over the great concrete hulk which was once the haunt of stars and artists. Today, while its Art Deco detailing is still prominent, the Ravenswood’s 96 apartments are largely rent-controlled and home to a loyal coterie of entertainment professionals — some who have resided in the building for decades, but in recent years have witnessed with growing distress the neglect and slow dilapidation which plague the building. ••• While many histories claim the Ravenswood was built by Paramount Studios, it was actually financier Maurice Feigenbaum who obtained the permit for the apartments at 570 N. Rossmore Ave. He hired Max Maltzman, one of the few Jewish architects practicing in Los Angeles at the time, who would also design for Feigenbaum the ill-fated “Beverly-Rossmore” at 410 N. Rossmore Ave. Maltzman’s

On Preservation by

Brian Curran

Ravenswood soon attracted a sophisticated clientele drawn to the lavish apartments, commissary, subterranean garage, sumptuous lounges and tennis courts. ••• Hollywood soon followed, with the likes of “Queen of Vaudeville” Eva Tanguay, actor Clark Gable, bandleader Paul Whiteman and director George Sidney all residing at the Ravenswood. Mae West It was, however, Mae West who would become the Ravenswood’s most famous resident. West moved into the apartments following the signing of her contract with Paramount Studios in 1932. Paramount even decorated the apartment of its treasured sex symbol in a style that her biographer described as “early French candy box.” West bought the Ravenswood outright following an argument with management about allowing visits from

ALONG ROSSMORE AVENUE, Ravenswood Apartments are north of the El Royale.

William “Gorilla” Jones, a Black boxer with whom it was rumored she was having an affair. Mae West would remain at the Ravenswood until her death in 1980. The Ravenswood has remained a draw to Hollywood creatives including those relocating from New York. Patrick Kilpatrick, actor, producer and director, moved to the building in 1998. He said, “The building has many attributes: it is historic, charming and centrally located. Being rent controlled, it also allowed me to send my kids to good colleges.” But, following the building’s purchase in 2005 by Talmadge LLC, a subsidiary of Commer-

cial Property Management run by President David Soufer of Brentwood, Kilpatrick noticed a precipitous decline in maintenance and living standards. Complaints Filed A look through the 100 complaints filed with Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) shows persistent heating and plumbing issues, broken elevators, fire safety and lack of security. The tenants have even offered to fix things such as the pool heater, only to receive no response from management. Mills Act What really galls Kilpatrick is the fact that the owners of the (Please turn to page 10)

OWNERS OF THE BUILDING collect a significant tax abatement through a Mills Act Contract (the Ravenswood was declared Historic Cultural Monument #768 in 2003).

3951 Ingraham St. #503, Los Angeles Represented Tenant / Landlord Leased $3,100/MO

3951 Ingraham St. #602, Los Angeles Represented Tenant / Landlord Leased $2,500/MO

2 Beds 2 baths plus den.

1 Bed 1 bath with high ceilings

1,252 Living SF Balcony: 79 SF

830 Living SF; Balcony: 79 SF

3951 Ingraham St. #501, Los Angeles Represented Tenant / Landlord Leased $2,900/MO

3951 Ingraham St. #302, Los Angeles Represented Tenant / Landlord Leased $2,400/MO

2 Beds 2 baths

1 Bed 1 bath

1,252 Living SF; Balcony: 79 SF

830 Living SF; Balcony: 79 SF

The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service, and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification. Affiliated real estate agents are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. ©2021 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Realogy Brokerage Group LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. CalRE #00616212

Ravenswood

(Continued from page 9) building collect a significant tax abatement through a Mills Act Contract (the Ravenswood was declared Historic Cultural Monument #768 in 2003). “The Ravenswood deserves owners that revere the history, honor the legacy, rise to stewardship – rather than year after year bilking the citizens of the City of Los Angeles of millions from a tax incentive for renovation and maintenance never carried out,” says Kilpatrick. Heidi Bright, a more recent tenant, says that the community of creatives who make up the heart of the Ravenswood’s tenants are at their wits’ end. “I was first introduced to the Ravenswood building about nine years ago when I fell in love with my husband … So I associate romance with the building, and its history of occupants (like Mae West) resounds with the romance of Old Hollywood. … The owners’ neglect baffled, saddened and eventually angered me.” She and other tenants are “exhausted by pursuing every avenue of communication regarding the maintenance, restoration and preservation of The Ravenswood with Talmadge LLC, to no avail. Talmadge refuses to even communicate back.” Kilpatrick and other tenants have made phone calls, written letters, filed complaints and even appealed to the Office of Historic Resources. But it was the tenants’ working with the staff previously at CD4, together with LADBS, that seems to have prodded management into minimal action. During a recent tour of the property, I saw that all of the

Larchmont Chronicle

MARCH 2022

SECTION TWO

lobby furniture had been removed (presumably for reupholstery), dead trees were being cut down in the pool area and the carpets had recently been cleaned. However, an air of general neglect pervades the atmosphere, with dark handprints on the public room walls, broken doors, a garbagestrewn and dirty garage and a forlorn garden and pool. ••• “The community of Ravenswood tenants deserves landlords that don’t ignore wellmeaning pleas, petitions and genial offers of collaboration,” says Kilpatrick. Let’s hope that the tenants’ efforts and perhaps working with new staff at CD5 will get Talmadge LLC’s attention and halt the decline of this treasured icon of our neighborhood.

Supervisor

(Continued from page 3) Hertzberg argues that, with his skills and knowledge from a long and successful career in state government, he is the candidate best positioned to succeed on the Board of Supervisors when it comes to dealing with homelessness. He said he understands well how such tools as joint powers authorities and partnerships with nonprofits can be successful. He says a key is for voters to hold officials accountable. A question arose about protecting single family homes and neighborhoods, and Hertzberg reminded the editors that he was outspoken in his opposition to State Senator Scott Wiener’s proposal to dictate statewide rules to benefit real estate

THE RAVENSWOOD has remained a draw to Hollywood creatives including those relocating from New York.

developers and Wall Street investors while doing nothing to address the need for affordable housing in the state. Hertzberg not only opposed the recently enacted (in 2021) SB 9, he also claims credit for stopping its predecessor, Sen. Wiener’s SB 50, the year before. In the discussion with our editors, Hertzberg emphasized that there are many complicated issues, including water supply and economic development, that are critical to the residents of Los Angeles County. He points to his long experience as a lawyer and legislator who has addressed these matters and who knows the often-tangled histories and issues involved. Hertzberg also made an interesting point that all of us need to look toward the future, “training the next generation,” as he described it. He says he has been involved in multiple initiatives to do just that. He summed up by saying that election to the Board of Supervisors will put him in his “last job.” He wants to use what he knows and has learned — to do an exemplary job for the people of Los Angeles County. See: hertzbergforsupervisor.com Lindsey Horvath, City Councilwoman, West Hollywood Lindsey Horvath comes ready to meet the challenges the county faces, she says, because

she has already tackled the major issues — homelessness and crime — on her home turf, West Hollywood. The route to the solutions would follow a path similar to the one she has blazed since being elected to the WEHO City Council in 2015. “I’ve had an 80-percent success rate getting people off the street,” she told us. Horvath attributes her success to working with leaders and staff at the local and county levels. These are the same people she would be working with if elected supervisor. (The City of West Hollywood’s law enforcement is provided by the County Sheriff, and fire protection is from the County Fire Dept.) Horvath works to make direct contact with the unhoused and “meet them where they are,” the 30-something-year-old candidate said in an oft-heard refrain. She cited the West Hollywood LGBT Center, which provides health and social services, as a model that could be applied and adapted to serve the homeless in other neighborhoods. She also told us that she is “working on creating a homeless navigation center, at least in this time of emergency.” Afterwards, the site could be transformed into a public park. “That’s a winning strategy.” To the “NIMBY naysayers,”

she blames misinformation, and she points to the permanent housing and transit-adjacent housing that she has helped (Please turn to page 11)

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 ASK A LIBRARIAN 213-228-7272 infonow@lapl.org SERVICES Book bundles to-go, browse and borrow, public computers, Wi-Fi, wireless printing and inperson and online programming. HOURS Monday noon to 8 p.m., Tues. noon to 5:30 p.m., Wed. noon to 8 p.m., Thurs., Fri., and Sat. noon to 5:30 p.m.; Closed Mon., March 28.

Clint Lohr

Realtor®, GRI, CNE, SRES 818-730-8635 rholcwl@pacbell.net clintlohr.kw.com

KELLER WILLIAMS® LARCHMONT 118 N. Larchmont Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90004 Each office is independently owned and operated

Donating clothes for the homeless? Please call me!

Larchmont Chronicle

Supervisor

(Continued from page 10) create, that is “architecturally award-winning, appropriately scaled... “Everyone believes there needs to be more housing,” she added. As to where to build that housing, she pointed to “commercial corridors … existing retail buildings” that are going underused. The money is there — from Measure

MARCH 2022

H and Prop HHH — and also from untapped state resources, she told us. As to rising crime, “We need to invest in solutions that make sense,” such as allowing police officers and social service workers to do the jobs for which they are uniquely trained. “We need to set up our law enforcement to succeed” and prioritize early intervention and systems of care, she added. As a former transportation

commissioner, her priorities include building out our transportation infrastructure, in time for the 2028 Olympics. “How wonderful it was to welcome people to Inglewood during the Super Bowl,” she exclaimed. She also said we have to focus on providing everyday trips to get people to their jobs and medical services. The economy is another priority. “It’s good to see businesses back up and running,”

SECTION TWO

she said, and she proudly stated that West Hollywood was named the most businessfriendly city in the county when she served as mayor. If elected, she’d work to create more pockets that are neighborhood-serving and pedestrian-friendly. Judging from a recent visit with Randy Paskal, one of the owners of the recently reopened Center for Yoga, she cited Larchmont, where the energy is also more

2022 state redistricting has many complications

By John Welborne Although the new state maps (for U.S. Congress, and the following state bodies: Senate, Assembly and Board of Equalization) are final, their effective dates present complications. Although you may be voting in June (and, maybe, November) for a candidate in a new district of which you now are a part . . . you will continue to be represented until around the end of the year by the same person who has been representing you before the new districts maps were approved. Confusing? Of course! The California Redistricting Commission (CRC) recently has tried to explain this in layperson’s terms on its website: (bit.ly/3snWbZK). Here is a distillation of that explanation:

• When do new maps go into effect? The state Constitution says that the final maps are deemed to have been “enacted” on the date of their certification to the Secretary of State (12/27/2021). The maps and the new district boundaries don’t actually become “operative” until the 2022 primary and general elections. The new boundaries are used for those elections, but the new districts don’t actually “exist” until after the 2022 general election is completed. • Do I have a new representative? The current boundaries still apply for purposes of determining who are the constituents of the various

elected officials. In other words, until the 2022 general election / inauguration, constituents are still represented by the representative of their old / existing district, and not by the existing representative of the new district in which they might find themselves following the 2022 election. For examples, see the dates when the currentlyserving officials in and around the Miracle Mile no longer will represent their existing districts — listed on Page 18 of the Miracle Mile section (Section 3 of this March issue). • Where can I see final (new) maps? Final maps can be found on the CRC website,

under the “Final Maps” tab: https://www.wedrawthelinesca.org/final_maps Use the map viewer at the bottom of the same page to view your district and zoom in and out of your community. Start by entering an address or ZIP Code in the search box. • Where can I see current maps? The current maps (approved in 2011) can be viewed using the map viewer under the “Data” tab on the CRC website. Once you enter an address or ZIP Code, simply select “current day” maps in the drop-down menu for the preferred map type (Congress, Senate, Assembly, Board of Equalization). https://www.wedrawthelinesca.org/map_viewer

upbeat, she told us. Rather than have state overlords direct us at the local level, she aims to work up close, with neighborhoods. “I am the only local running. I will be the champion for your neighborhood.” She said that is not just a campaign slogan; it’s how she’s managed West Hollywood. “I bring people to the table. I will rely on local leaders …” Building better neighborhoods “is not a one-size-fits-all that disregards what makes our communities unique and special.” While she values responsible development and growth, no one “wants to hear that their neighborhoods will be demolished.” Lindsey Horvath is endorsed by Los Angeles County Supervisors Sheila Kuehl and Janice Hahn and Mayor Eric Garcetti. For a complete list, visit lindseyhorvath.com Henry Stern, State Senator, 27th District, Malibu and the western part of the San Fernando Valley Senator Henry Stern is a sixth-generation Californian who grew up in the greater Los Angeles area and currently represents nearly one million residents of the 27th Senate District — ever since being (Please turn to page 13)

Larchmont Chronicle

MARCH 2022

SECTION TWO

Garden Club to host event on landscapes and climate March 14 By Billy Taylor The Los Angeles Garden Club (LAGC) is hosting a March 14 presentation in Griffith Park on the topic of regenerative landscapes and the climate crisis. The event is free and open to the public. Speakers Shawn Maestretti and Leigh Adams, both from the landscape consultancy firm Studio Petrichor, will challenge attendees to embrace real-life solutions,

accessible to homeowners and garden enthusiasts, in order to combat the growing climate crisis, according to event organizers. Creator of the talk series “Regenerative Landscapes and the Climate Crisis,” Maestretti is the principal of Studio Petrichor and has been designing thoughtful, engaging and environmentally sensible gardens since 2006. Adams is a consultant

LIPSON

of vaccination and will be required to wear masks inside the auditorium. Organizers ask that anyone not feeling well on the day of the event to please stay home. For more information, visit losangelesgardenclub.com

Farmers Market

up your heels, from reggae to rock & roll. Classic Californian cars The Gilmore Heritage Auto Show will be back Sat., June 4 in its full glory, featuring close to 100 cars that exemplify classic California culture. This year’s theme is: A Tribute to American Royalty – a salute to Cadillacs, Imperials, Lincolns, Duesenbergs, Packards and other luxury vehicles. The Market comes alive for one of its oldest and most beloved traditions, the Fall Festival Sat., Oct. 22 and

(Continued from page 6)

Plumbing, Inc.

“Your Neighborhood Plumbers” Celebrating 46 Years on Larchmont

©LC0122

323-469-2395 606 N. Larchmont Blvd., L.A. 90004 5312 Valley Blvd., L.A. 90032 lipsonplumbing@gmail.com LIC.# 481793

and horticultural interpreter at Studio Petrichor and previously worked at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens. The event will be held on Mon., March 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Griffith Park Visitor’s Center Auditorium, 4730 Crystal Springs Dr. (next to the Park Ranger Station). Light refreshments will be served. Attendees must show proof

INSURED

munity’s gathering place for celebrations, from St. Patrick’s Day to Fall Festival, and everything in between and beyond. We have something for everyone and look forward to sharing great times and memories with our customers.” St. Patrick’s Day Don’t forget to wear green on Thurs., March 17 and head over to the Market for its St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, which include feasting on Magee’s corned beef and cabbage and quenching your thirst with green beer from EB’s and Bar 326, while enjoying live music, including a strolling bagpiper. Summer Music on the Plaza will take place on Friday evenings from May 27 to August 26. A wide range of musical genres will inspire you to kick

Right: ARBORIST Shawn Maestretti will present on regenerative landscapes and their impact on climate change.

Sun., Oct. 23. Weekend-long events include live music, a petting zoo, crafts and a pieeating contest. A Hanukkah Celebration and Christmas festivities are planned for December. Additional details on these events and new calendar additions will be available in the coming weeks and months. For more information, visit farmersmarketla.com. (The schedule and events are subject to change and cancellation, Market management reminds us.)

Learn to grow spring vegetables for home gardens March 5 on Zoom Growing spring vegetables is on the menu at a workshop at the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden on Zoom Sat., March 5 from 10 a.m. to noon. To register, visit education@ arboretum.org or call 626-

821-4623. The price for the workshop is $25 for members and $35 for non-members.

ALAKAZAM UPHOLSTERY & DRAPERY

ADT Security Services Let us be your 1st Responder.

©LC1218

• Response • Patrol • Alarm • Monitoring For more details, contact Mike Ball 818-435-3179

Please call now for a special offer for new customers who sign up for patrol or response services. Lic. # PPO 120288

COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL

• Every Style: Sofas, Chairs, Slipcovers • Replace Weather-proof Lining • Broad Selection of Fabrics • Draperies & Roman Shades

HIGHEST QUALITY WORKSMANSHIP Affordable Prices Call Rosie for FREE Estimates 310-491-8409

©LC0720

Four decades serving Mid-Wilshire Los Angeles

MARCH 2022

Supervisor

(Continued from page 11) elected a state legislator in November 2016. Now he is ready to take on the challenges being faced by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, he told us. “We have over-promised, and under-delivered,” Stern says of the current response by the County to address the issue of homelessness. “I’m reticent to give some magic plan to voters,” says Stern. “We have to be a lot more humble during campaign season. “I want to talk a lot less, and do a lot more,” he told us. A former educator and environmental attorney, Stern received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University and earned his law degree at UC Berkeley. Stern’s first job as a lawyer was as a junior staff counsel to Rep. Henry Waxman during Waxman’s chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. From that experience, Stern says that he learned how Waxman’s approach to public service — focused not on power politics, but on smart policy, pursued with determination — can bridge longstanding divides and help people. In the California Senate, Stern has chaired the Natural Resources and Water Committee since 2018, where he has been working to bolster the state’s wildfire preparedness, and where he pushes to have the state address the climate change emergency. There are three big issues that Stern is ready to tackle if elected Supervisor: homelessness, housing and

public safety. “These are the top issues facing residents right now,” he said. On homelessness, Stern explains: “We’ve asked taxpayers to step up, but I don’t think that they’re getting results. People are starting to feel burned and distrustful. “The County has been avoiding accountability,” he added. Stern believes that everyone in Los Angeles has the right to live safely in the community: “But our streets are not safe,” he said. Citing a state auditor report on California’s mental-health system, Stern said that the system has nearly one billion dollars in taxpayer funds bottlenecked and that the problem is compounded by a vicious cycle of hospitalization and incarceration for un-housed Angelenos facing mental illness and addiction. “I don’t think it’s a wise strategy to make the [homelessness] services side wait for permanent supportive housing to be built. We need to deal with mental illness and drug issues on the street,” said Stern. The county also needs to do a better job of coordinating services, he said: “When there’s an issue, there’s no one to call. When you call LAHSA [the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority], for example, there’s nobody there to pick up the phone.” On affordable housing, Stern said that he wants to work towards a “more collective approach” to the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) quota, a state mandate that directs all California local authorities to plan for the housing needs of residents, regardless of income. “There is space to be building, and

Your local roofer at the same location for 95 years.

We Now Offer Solar!

“Experience does make a difference. Customer satisfaction will bring you back to our

323-469-2981 • supremeroofing.net 1015 N. Gower St., 90038

B Gaddy ElEctric since 1978.

Residential • CommeRCial

• Upgrades • Landscape • Pool Lights • Phone & Computer Lines • Security & Emergency Lighting Service & Repairs

Call Bill 323-462-1023 Licensed & Insured

Local References

LIC #700914

©LC1010

Residential & Commercial

Lic.#386172

FULL SERVICE COMPANY.

cheaper land to build on,” said Stern, who noted that “there is a false sense that if Malibu doesn’t find a way out of the housing crisis, then the solution is too hard.” On public safety, Stern believes that Los Angeles has been offered a false choice between safer streets and an anti-racist, restorative justice system. “We have to completely change the conversation in Los Angeles about public safety,” he told us. “There’s no reason that we should be trying to defund the police and the sheriff’s department,” said Stern. He believes that investing in alternatives to incarceration through drug courts, social work and street medicine should not mean that violent crime is without consequence. “There needs to be work done with the District Attorney’s Office,” said Stern, who admits that the current system “is not working.” “I think it’s progressive to not dismiss suspects of criminal misdemeanors, but to take that case up and then get them into treatment, if needed. Actually, compel them into that treatment.” See: stern4supervisor.com Jeffi Girgenti, business owner and equestrian Also in the race is Jeffi Girgenti, owner of a small business and who has lived for several decades in what has become the Third District. Her father was a police officer in the City of San Fernando. Girgenti supports expanding “proven” homeless programs, such as the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s HOST (Homeless Outreach Services Team), as well as reopening and utilizing existing facilities for the mentally ill. The homeless issue should be declared a local state of emergency, and we should end abuse of taxpayer dollars on

SECTION TWO

homeless housing, she states. In addition, criminals should be held accountable, she adds on her website. She advocates working with ﬁrst responders under current laws, and she supports businesses in opposing campers and tents on private and public property. An equestrian and horse owner, she supports property rights, individuals’ rights to maintain their lifestyles,

low taxes and preventing overdevelopment. She is also a dog owner and is a proponent for the humane treatment of animals. Girgenti is endorsed by David Hernandez, chairman of the Los Angeles Hispanic Republican Club, Bishop Juan Carlos Mendez and Roy Burns, past president of the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs. See: jefﬁforsupervisor.com

Koontz

“The hardware STore” formerly “Larchmont Hardware”

Shopping at Koontz Hardware (formerly Larchmont Hardware) is so much fun. It’s like a treasure hunt. Come in and see if you can find these things: The “Stud Buddy,” A new dry wall stud finder that is the world’s simplest and a lot cheaper than other stud finders. “Frog Tape.” The most advanced tape to give you absolutely sharp paint lines with no color bleed. You can use them up to 21 days indoors. The “Curious Chef” real kitchen tools for kids. There are “Measuring and prepping kits,” “Cupcake and Decorating” kits, “Cookie” kits, even “Pizza” kits. Think of the fun you can have shopping here! Larchmont customers be sure to say “Hello.”

310-652-0123 • 8914 Santa Monica Boulevard between San Vicente and Robertson in West Hollywood Weekdays: 8am–7pm, Sat 8am–5:30pm, Sun 10am–5pm ©LC0314

MBG Painting & Remodeling Handyman Services

LIC Class “B” 934284 • Painting LIC #C33 Bonded & Insured

310.430.1808 mbgalfaro@yahoo.com

LC608

Larchmont Chronicle

MARCH 2022

SECTION TWO

POLICE BEAT

Burglaries increase: Lock and secure your home at all times

OLYMPIC DIVISION Senior Lead Officer Joe Pelayo warned the Chronicle last month of an increase in residential burglaries in the Windsor Square and Larchmont Village areas. “Please remind the community to lock and secure their homes and property when they leave for the day,” he told us. ROBBERIES: A victim was sitting on the front steps of his home on the 600 block of S. St. Andrews Pl. when a suspect approached, pointing a handgun, and ordered the victim inside his home, where he was robbed of his wallet and mobile phone on Feb. 9 at 1:20 a.m. A female victim arrived home on the 700 block of S. Gramercy Pl. and pulled her vehicle into her driveway. At the same time, a vehi-

OLYMPIC DIVISION

WILSHIRE DIVISION

Furnished by Senior Lead Officer Joseph Pelayo

Furnished by Senior Lead Officer Dave Cordova

213-793-0709 31762@lapd.lacity.org Twitter: @lapdolympic

213-793-0650 31646@lapd.lacity.org Twitter: @lapdwilshire

cle arrived and two suspects jumped out and approached the victim’s vehicle, pointing a handgun at the victim, who, in fear, quickly reversed her vehicle, causing the two suspects to jump back into their vehicle and flee on Feb. 14 at 12:05 a.m. BURGLARIES: A suspect jumped the fence and entered a home on the 300 block of Lorraine Blvd. while the home was occupied. The female victim, in fear, contacted police, who

found the suspect still located inside the home when they arrived on Feb. 5 at 10:45 p.m. Three bicycles were stolen and a door damaged after a suspect broke into the locked garage door of a home on the 100 block of N. Van Ness Ave. on Feb. 5 between 2:30 and 3 a.m. Jewelry and a mobile phone were stolen from inside a home after a suspect entered through an unlocked front door on the 200 block of N. Wilton Pl. on

Call 818.500.7778 For immediate installation

Guaranteed Excellence

Since 1959 License #768437

LC0509

State Lic. #C-10 556059

Serving All Larchmont Hancock Park & Wilshire Communities

an unlocked window on Feb. 9 between 11:30 a.m and 1 p.m. A suspect pushed in a window AC unit at a home located on the corner of Rosewood and N. St. Andrews Pl. That created access for the suspect to enter the residence and steal jewelry on Feb. 18 at 2:30 p.m. WILSHIRE DIVISION ROBBERIES: A victim was walking on the 100 block of S. Sycamore Ave. when a suspect approached, pointing a handgun and demanding the victim’s belongings, which included a wallet and mobile phone on Feb. 1 at 11 p.m. A suspect approached a victim on the 800 block of Seward St. while pointing a handgun at the victim, demanding his belongings. The victim surrendered his mobile phone, and the suspect fled on Feb. 1 at 8:50 p.m.

Griffith Park lion sparks a movement

ZAVALA ELECTRIC • Complete Electrical • Service and Repair • Residential • Commercial • Bonded Insured

Feb. 5 at 10:20 a.m. More than $30,000 in cash and jewelry was stolen from a home on the 200 block of N. Wilton Pl. after a suspect entered through an unlocked back door. The victim arrived home during the incident and confronted the suspect, who fled, on Feb. 5 at 10:20 a.m. Money was among the items stolen from inside a home in the 200 block of S. Gramercy Pl. after a suspect cut the victim’s side door lock and entered the residence, also removing electrical wiring from a panel in the home between Feb. 8 at 6 p.m. and Feb. 9 at 7 a.m. More than $150,000 in cash and a laptop was stolen from inside a home on the 700 block of S. Norton Ave. after a suspect removed a window screen and entered through

By Suzan Filipek Hollywood’s own mountain lion, P-22, last month celebrated a decade of stardom roaming in the great urban wilderness of Griffith Park. Friends of Griffith Park (FoGP) is celebrating the tenyear anniversary since P-22 was discovered by rolling out a comprehensive chronicle of the mountain lion’s life on the group’s website at friendsofgriffithpark.org/p-22/

PLOTKE

Plumbing

Inc.

Known as the Brad Pitt of mountain lions, P-22 was discovered accidentally as part of the Griffith Park Wildlife Connectivity Study. Cameras were placed around the park to document wildlife such as coyotes, bobcats, mule deer and an occasional gray fox. Reviewing the camera’s SD memory cards was a timeconsuming process, so images were not looked at immediately when memory cards were swapped out of the cameras. Years earlier, there had been a handful of alleged mountain lion sightings in Griffith Park but nothing had been officially documented. Everything changed during the first week of March 2012 when the SD memory card with the now-famous initial image

Family-Run

P-22 IS A POSTER LION for the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing.

of P-22 was reviewed and the mountain lion of Griffith Park was discovered. The image’s date and time stamp: “February 12, 2012, 9:15 p.m.” The photo proved that a mountain lion was living in Griffith Park, one of the largest urban parks in North America, in the center of Los Angeles. (Please turn to page 15)

Over 50 years

Custom Area Rugs to Custom Installations

Carpet • Linoleum • Hardwood • Vinyl

Announcing the Arrival of a New Shipment of Beautiful Sisal and Seagrass Rolls • Ready for Installation or Custom Rugs •

3121 W. Temple St., LA 90026

Custom-made area rugs made to fit your lifestyle & space! Staff Experts Provide Personal Service Selecting Your Ideal Flooring

323 • 934 • 7282 • lestercarpet@aol.com 7815 Beverly Blvd. • Lestercarpet.com

©LC0122

FAX (323) 463-1259

SERVING THE LARCHMONT AREA FOR 60 YEARS!

Mario & Lynn (323) 463-9201

• COMMERCIAL • RESIDENTIAL

Larchmont Chronicle

MARCH 2022

SECTION TWO

Time – it’s important in life and in cards — use it wisely! Out of curiosity, I looked for the definition of the word “time.” Time is defined as the continued progress of events in apparent irreversible succession from the past, through the present, and into the future. Rather confusing, I thought, but we know that time is very important in our lives.

In the game of poker, time is one of our most widely used standing terms alongside many other keywords — such as bet, call, raise, reraise, fold, deception, outs, pot odds, card odds, positive expectation, check-raise, slow-play, money management and tells. Let’s take a quick look at all the ways you may use

Poker for All by

George Epstein your time while playing poker. Starting with your drive

Say ‘Hi!’ in our little neighborhood It’s a brand new month so we’ve got a brand new tiny, easy, zero-calorie challenge to readers of the Larchmont Chronicle. A tiny challenge to make our community just one endorphin-boost better. This month’s challenge: Just say “hi.” Just say “hi” to a neighbor! Don’t worry, introverts — I’m not challenging you to have a whole darn conversation. That would be A Socially Significant Challenge; this is A Tiny Challenge. But just say “hi” to a neighbor when you pass him or her or them on the street or in the lobby of your apartment building. And don’t belabor the moment: just that one noresponse-required word. “Hi” — not “Hi, how are you today?” or “Hi, going shopping, huh?”

P-22

A Tiny Challenge with

Eric Cunningham We’re all private people, but a short greeting is just enough to remind people that we’re all part of a neighborhood, full of people who recognize that other people exist. Yes, the full meaning of the greeting is “Hi, you exist.” Though that is implied, you don’t have to add the “you exist” part. It doesn’t even have to be “hi.” It can be “hey” or “hello” or any of its equivalents. Something a bit more than a smile-and-eyebrow raise combo — but much less than a ’90s “Whazzzaaaaaappp?”

(Save your Whazzzaaaaaappps for close friends and loved ones.) Maybe you’re already a person that says “hi” to neighbors, and you’re thinking this challenge doesn’t apply to you. Fine then. Just say “hi” to someone else! A stranger walking a dog, the USPS deliverer, someone driving the same car as you. Just a little wave through the windshield like, “Yeah, you got a Mini Countryman with an out-ofcharacter racing stripe down the middle; me too!” Los Angeles is a big city in a giant state in a huge country. But Larchmont is a little neighborhood, and saying “hi” to someone could make it feel a bit smaller. And that’s what a Tiny Challenge is for. Just say hi! Hi! Hello! Hey! That’s all. OK. Goodbye!

to the casino, you review in your mind the key strategies and tactics and wish yourself good luck. That all takes time — valuable time, but it’s worth the effort to refresh your skills. At the casino, here are some of the time-related events you are likely to encounter: Signing up to play your favorite game, there are only three other players before you. It won’t be a long wait. Use that waiting time to your benefit: Unobtrusively stand behind a $4 to $8 limit game and observe how they play their hands. What are their traits? Any obvious tells? Who has lots of chips; who is low in chips? Time allowing, you may be able to do the same at one or two other tables. Certainly, using your time to better “know” your opponents will add to your edge over them. While involved in a hand, if you are slow in acting, someone may shout “Time!” at you. If you take too long as you consider the information you have before acting, your hand may be declared dead (out of play) and the chips you had already put into the pot may be lost to you. You can avoid that by calmly announcing “time” and will usually be allowed a bit more time with-

out penalty. You can leave the table at any time for a break to go to the restroom or enjoy a fast meal, but if you are away for too long a time, the floor person may remove your chips and other belongings. You will need to redeem them and then start again at a new table — and have to wait a time. Time is important also to the casino and the dealers. The casino takes a rake after every hand played, and the dealer is usually tipped by the winner. You may find dealers rushing the game along in order to increase the house’s rake and the dealer’s tips — and your cost to play. Time to go home. Cashing in your chips at the cage, you are pleased to be going home a winner — well worth your time. And you look forward to the next time. Life/poker quotes of the month “The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” Leo Tolstoy “War and Peace” “They always say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.” Andy Warhol

(Continued from page 14)

1975 LA Rams

OFFICES FOR LEASE Larchmont Boulevard

606 N. Larchmont Blvd. PH (323) 466-8591

• Newly remodeled suites • Close to Studios & Restaurants • Village Atmosphere, Parking Provided • Very Competitive Rent

“P-22’s story is legendary because it’s a relatable one of survival and resilience. He is an unprecedented case study of puma adaptation to extremely urbanized habitat. None of us expected to find a mountain lion in Griffith Park, which we thought was way too disconnected from the nearest mountain lion populations by freeways and urbanization. We originally assumed maybe he was only passing through, but now, 10 years later, it seems that P-22 is here to stay,” said Miguel Ordeñana, FoGP board member. Like other famous celebrities, P-22 has also become symbolic of a groundbreaking movement. He has been instrumental in the National Wildlife Federation’s (NWF) campaign to build the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing above eight lanes of traffic on the busy 101 Freeway in Agoura, the first such animal overpass in this region. Many other urban areas have similar vegetated freeway overpasses and underpasses that facilitate safe wildlife movement, aiding with genetic mixing of species and permitting larger territories for animals like mountain lions. Critical to the Santa Monica Mountains’ puma survival, the project kicked off in 2014, and it is set to start construction soon and be complete in 2023.

Please call Mike at 323-661-9639

SECTION TWO

WOODWARD REAL ESTATE

MARCH 2022

Larchmont Chronicle

I D 5 3 LE

O TI

Larchmont Chronicle's

Moving Forward into a Second Century

MORE THAN A MUSEUM

For information on tickets, screenings, shopping, and dining go to academymuseum.org/visit.

35TH ANNUAL EDITION

Images from top (left to right): Identity gallery, Stories of Cinema 2, Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Photo by Joshua White, JWPictures/©Academy Museum Foundation; Academy Museum Store; Fanny’s. Photo by Wonho Frank Lee.; David Geffen Theater. ©Academy Museum Foundation.

2 Miracle Mile 2022

Larchmont Chronicle

Miracle Mile 2022 3

35TH ANNUAL EDITION

Plans for Mile’s second century gain momentum

By Suzan Filipek Miracle Mile passed through its 100th year during the pandemic, so now the view is forward-looking to the next 100 years. Plans are picking up speed to celebrate the past and the future. Personal stories — some of which look back to as early as 1921 — are being collected. Also, a colossal block party is in the works. “We are looking towards summer, when we can get together and have a block-style party closing off as many blocks as possible, and come together as a community to kick off our second century,” said Hana

MIRACLE MILE 2022

Published by the Larchmont Chronicle 323-462-2241

larchmontchronicle.com

The annual edition is delivered to residents, businesses and employees in the greater Miracle Mile area. It also is delivered to residents in Hancock Park, Windsor Square, Fremont Place, Park LaBrea and Larchmont Village, bringing the total readership to 100,000.

Kawano, who helped initiate the Second Century Celebration for the Miracle Mile Residential Association (MMRA). She expects “music, speakers and delicious food from our local businesses, as well as historical tours of our Period Revival architecture and more! ... We look forward to inviting all of the wonderful neighbors as well as dedicated leaders and members of the community who have made Miracle Mile so special.” A celebration had been planned for 2021, when MMRA members were to walk door-to-door and reach out to families, from those whose ancestors date back to the area’s beginnings to new families who call the Mile home. The pandemic dampened the mood, but the enthusiasm has returned. Plaques are planned for 100-year era homes, and lawn signs will dot front yards with QR codes that, when read, will tell each owner’s unique story. “We’re going to let them [the residents] tell the story of their own neighborhood and participate by adding their stories to the celebration,” said MMRA President Greg Goldin. “We’ve sputtered getting this thing off the ground,”

added Goldin, but it’s moving forward along with an effort to engage the commercial strips on Wilshire and La Brea, the museums and other cultural centers, as well as smaller merchants. They are, after all, “histori-

the

cally part of the first linear downtown built in the nation,” anchored by department stores fronting Wilshire — Desmond’s, Silverwoods, May Co. and others — with spacious parking lots in the rear. “Crawling out from a two-

year-long pandemic means we need to dust out our cobwebs and get our neighbors to join us in planning this big celebration!” Kawano said. “There are three things we’re looking for: centenarians; (Please turn to page 26)

COver: From Flight to Flights of Fancy

Photo #1: The corner of Fairfax and Wilshire was originally the intersection of several airfields, including those owned by Syd Chaplin (Charlie's brother) and Cecil B. DeMille. In this 1920 photo (looking east) it's DeMille's white "Mercury Aviation Company" building visible at left, and Chaplin's "Airdrome" at far right. Photo courtesy of Stephen and Christy McAvoy Family Trust, hollywoodphotographs.com

Photo #2: The corner grew more "grounded" with the addition of the May Company building seen here under construction in 1939. Photo from waterandpower.org, (Eric Lynxwiler)

Photo #3: The corner looks more familiar in this 1964 photo, with the finished May Co. building and more street traffic.

Photo from University of Southern California Libraries and California Historical Society

Photo #4: 2022: The intersection's history with the film industry comes full circle; the May Co. building is now transformed into the Saban Building at the Academy Museum, with the Petersen Automotive Museum opposite.

4 Miracle Mile 2022

Larchmont Chronicle

35TH ANNUAL EDITION

Partners operate in a spirit of cooperation in the Miracle Mile

By Wally Marks and Lyn MacEwen Cohen With a passion for emergency preparedness and many years of collaboration on public service revitalization in the Miracle Mile, the Miracle Mile Civic Coalition (MMCC) and the First-In Fire Foundation (FIF) are true partners and best friends in a spirit of cooperation. Building on the successes of past efforts, it is extremely rewarding to see so much new activity in the Mile: construction of new residences, museums and even a subway. Purple Line Extension Every day, members of the MMCC cheer on “Elsie” and “Soyeon,” the twin tunnelboring machines that are digging under Wilshire Boulevard to create a path for the Metro Purple Line (“D” Line) subway extension all the way to the edge of Brentwood.

Together as a community, and individually as local business or resident, we have yielded to the needed construction disruption and traffic delays. We know that this is the price of progress and partnership. Street trees Miracle Mile has Metro’s commitment that, as the Purple Line construction comes to completion, the lost sidewalk street trees will be replaced at a two-to-one ratio, finding new homes along many of the side streets and in restored street islands along the Miracle Mile. The locations will bring us shade, make a walk to or along Wilshire more enjoyable and beautify our community. Partnerships Our Civic Coalition thrives on partnerships. We know it from our partnership between MMCC and FIF. Similarly, both organizations partner with others in CERT training and in

METRO SUBWAY work continues under and above ground on Wilshire Boulevard.

our ties to Fire Station 61. We know it from our years of work with the arts and educational institutions that call the Miracle Mile home. We also know it from our commitment to the homeowner groups and neighborhood council. We know that the Miracle Mile will emerge from the subway construction and the pandemic’s rupture

stronger, more resilient and bursting with energy. Just ask Elsie and Soyeon. Firefighters have to eat! For First-In Fire Foundation (FIF), this year and last have never been busier. The pandemic years have been a Herculean challenge, yet we remain undaunted. Extraordinary new programs have been created, piloted and

launched in Battalion 18 in Miracle Mile. We help support local firefighters and local small businesses at the same time. How? FIF was inspired by the call of a local fire captain early in the pandemic. Then, during civil unrest and raging wildfires, we were further reminded that, no matter what danger comes, all of us, firefighters included, have to eat! So, FIF instantly began new programs to help, including “Firehouse Dinners,” which have been a huge, much-appreciated success. More than two tons of wholesome foods — purchased from 24 local small businesses — were delivered to 1,500 firefighters at 31 fire stations. Firefighters eat a lot! And small businesses and restaurants need repeat local business. This synergy between local firefighters and the local community that they so bravely protect stimulates familiarity, friendship and emergency preparedness before and during catastrophes. Friendship is the first step toward preparedness. Partners Key partners in preparedness supporting the work of FIF are: the Los Angeles Emergency Management Dept.; Council Districts 4, 5 (Please turn to page 28)

Chamber to hear from Metro at March 10 Zoom

By Caroline Tracy The Greater Miracle Mile Chamber of Commerce (GMMCC) will feature guest speakers from Metro and their building partner, contractor Skanska-Traylor-Shea at its membership meeting this month. The meeting will take place via Zoom on Thurs., March 10 at 11:30 a.m. Both organizations will update the Miracle Mile business community on Metro’s expansion timelines and restoration plans. Restoring Wilshire Ned Racine, senior construction relations officer for Metro Purple Line Extension, and contractor Skanska-Traylor-Shea’s Scott Donohue will provide the updates, which include plans to restore Wilshire between La Brea and Highland. GMMCC hosts monthly luncheons with speakers in an effort to engage and educate attendees on issues of importance in the Miracle Mile district. The meetings, held over Zoom for the past two years, have recently covered topics such as redistricting and composting and recycling laws that will affect many restaurants and other businesses.

TBD

Larchmont Chronicle

35TH ANNUAL EDITION

Miracle Mile 2022 5

At Cedars-Sinai, we’re right here to support you and your family. Our team is dedicated to making you feel heard, understood, and looked after in every moment. And with over 250 locations in Southern California, our expert care is always within reach. Learn more at cedars-sinai.org/righthere.

RPA

CYAN

6 Miracle Mile 2022

Larchmont Chronicle

35TH ANNUAL EDITION

Development soars to new heights in Miracle Mile reach 655 feet and face Masselin Avenue to the east. The shorter of the two buildings will face Curson Avenue to the west. Interestingly, the very ﬁrst high rise (other than City Hall) to exceed the city’s longtime 13-story height limit also was in the Miracle Mile — the 20-story building at 5455 Wilshire Blvd., opened in 1958 as Lee Tower. A Draft Environmental Impact Report for the project is in the preliminary stages of preparation for the Canadianbased Onni Group complex, at

SC DENTAL HEALTH A S S O C I A T E S

Awarded Clinician of the Year 2012 World Congress of Minimally Invasive Dentistry

New Patient Special * for those without insurance

$99

Dr. Jonathan Engel

Normally a $450 value for the most comprehensive exam you will ever have.

Evening and Weekend Hours Available Call 323•934•3341 or check out our website www.socaldentalhealth.com 5901 West Olympic Blvd., Suite 205, L.A. 90026

©LC0322

For a comprehensive exam Full set of x-rays Velscope oral cancer screening.

Follow our advice, tips and humor at socaldentalhealthfanpage

5700 and 5750 Wilshire Blvd. The towers will stand atop a seven-story parking podium (two floors can be turned into office space in the future, should conditions warrant). Features include “flexible office space,” landscaped bridges, terraces and, at streetlevel, a restaurant, grocery and retail as envisioned by prominent Chicago architecture firm Solomon Cordwell Buenz. The complex more than doubles the one million square feet of office space on the site now, and it preserves the southern sections of the terraced six-story structure, abutting the residential area of this part of the Mile, but razes the Wilshire frontage. The new complex will replace the six-story, two-building office property on almost nine acres built in 1987 by the late Jerry Snyder and which was remodeled recently by previous owner Tishman Speyer. A portion of the existing building’s three subterranean parking levels will be removed, while 2,901 of its parking spots will be retained, for a total of 4,650 auto stalls. The project is expected to break ground in 2025 and complete construction by 2028, pending approvals by the City of Los Angeles, including a zone change and a master conditional use permit. Visit, Scb.com/2020/07/ new-work-in-la/

WILSHIRE COURTYARD will be the tallest building in Los Angeles west of DTLA, if approved.

❏ ❏ ❏ Another proposed standout to start the Mile’s second century is the 42-story Mirabel that will be soaring to 530-feet when the ﬁnished apartment complex is unveiled at 5411 Wilshire Blvd. “We’re in the city environmental review phase. There will be public hearings … [which] will take all of 2022, 2023. It’s a lengthy process,” said Walter Marks III, owner of the property and a thirdgeneration developer. The Mirabel’s Art Decoinspired design by architect Richard Keating features a sleek, curvilinear, 530-foot-tall tower, tweaked in its design to avoid shadows on neighboring streets. The 348-unit building (with 38 affordable units) has 15,000 square feet of ground-ﬂoor retail and 475 total parking spaces, each with an electric charging station.

It promises to be innovative. “We’re on the vanguard,” said Marks. “I’m trying to look ahead to problems 10 to 20 years away and ﬁnd solutions today.” The automated three-level, underground parking garage with 407 slots is modeled after one at Marks’ Helms Bakery property at Venice Boulevard. The Mirabel parking facility will be larger and more advanced but still operate with a basic mechanical system of low-tech gears and belts, items easily found at the hardware store, Marks said. Three vehicle elevators and seven loading bays will keep cars rolling up and down the three levels. The system, which is a labor of love for Marks, provides safety and ease of use, and saves space, a coveted commodity in the Miracle Mile, he tells us. A similar public parking sys(Please turn to page 8)

In Miracle Mile Exquisite Floral Arrangements & Plants for Every Occasion!

323-937-7100 5310 West 8th Street www.urbanflorist.net

©LC0314

By Suzan Filipek As the Miracle Mile commences its second century, several additional development projects are in the works in the heart of the Mile, including a proposed revamped Wilshire Courtyard which, when unveiled, will put Miracle Mile on the map as having the tallest building in Los Angeles — west of Downtown. The planned 2.3-millionsquare-foot complex features two interconnected, glass-clad ofﬁce towers, 35 and 41 stories high. The latter tower will

GAF_LarchmontChronicle's_AnnualMiracleMile_2022Isuue_R9_Final_HR.pdf Larchmont Chronicle

CMY

2/18/22 ANNUAL 3:15 PM 35TH EDITION

Miracle Mile 2022 7

8 Miracle Mile 2022

Larchmont Chronicle

35TH ANNUAL EDITION

Development

(Continued from page 6) tem also is operating in the city of West Hollywood. The 477,000-square-foot building includes two more above-ground parking levels. As for the historic 1936 Streamline Moderne Sontag Drug Store building at the corner of Wilshire and Cloverdale avenues, Marks said, “We are preserving in place the two street-facing façades while we excavate the earth beneath this one building — which becomes part of our underground parking area. “Then, we are reconstituting the former Sontag building as approximately the same one-and-a-half-story building such that, from the vehicular or pedestrian point of view, the building will read the same as it does today. “We’re looking forward to getting community support and holding more community meetings, answering questions,” said Marks. He sees property ownership as a privilege, and one he takes seriously, especially with the 5000 block’s proximity to the new Metro subway station (opening in 2024). Construction with housing, the environment and workability in mind is key, he says. 5411wilshire.com o o o The Town & Country shopping center at the southeast corner of Third St. and Fairfax Ave. is poised for a major uplift with a new eight-story, mixeduse complex of housing units over retail space and with pedestrian walkways and bike paths. Developer Tom Warren, ex-

DEVELOPER WALLY MARKS observes the automated garage already operating at his Helms Bakery property.

ecutive managing director for the Holland Partner Group, hopes to begin demolition of buildings that are east of the Whole Foods market during the summer break for Hancock Park Elementary School. The school is directly south of the project. “We want to align the demolition with their summer break,” he said, adding that he is working closely with

the Friends of Hancock Park School parent group. In 2020, Regency Centers, owners of the property, erected a 10-foot block wall between the school and the service areas of Whole Foods Market and CVS Pharmacy to address noise concerns of the school. The final design is a long way from the original proposal for a 26-story tower, which was (Please turn to page 10)

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW is underway for Mirabel, which proposes 42 stories to house 348 apartments, ground-floor retail and an automated garage.

TOWN AND COUNTRY expansion on Third Street is planned to rise just east of Whole Foods, across from the Farmers Market.

Congratulations to Miracle Mile on entering your Second Century! State Farm is celebrating 100 years this year!

Insurance on Larchmont in Early Days. 500 N. Larchmont Blvd., 90004

(323) 785-4080

Insurance License #OH76832

Insurance on Larchmont Today! www.leishaonlarchmont.com

©LC0322

(1922-2022)

Leisha Willis, CPCU State Farm Larchmont

Larchmont Chronicle

35TH ANNUAL EDITION

FOR INQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT COLLIERS AT 818.325.4139

Miracle Mile 2022 9

10 Miracle Mile 2022

Development

(Continued from page 8) thrown out by the developers after concerns were raised by the community. And there is a possibility of returning a favorite Italian restaurant to the site. “With regard to Andre’s speciﬁcally, Andre’s will be closing as part of the redevelopment, but Regency has been in discussions with the owner and is hopeful that they will be able to bring them back in the new and improved version of Town & Country,” Warren said. What will be demolished? “There is a vacant Payless Shoe Source, a wig store and a few other retailers that have been aware of this upcoming project for several years, “Warren added. The design by architects MVE + Partners consists of a 490,682-square-foot development with 331 studio, one-, twoand three-bedroom units, new commercial space and

Larchmont Chronicle

35TH ANNUAL EDITION

two levels of subterranean parking. There are 996 car spots with 350 above ground. The project includes the existing Whole Foods market and CVS pharmacy on the western portion of the block, which will remain open during construction. The Final Environmental Impact Report for this project was released in December 2021. The city is currently considering the requested land-use entitlements, and a Letter of Determination is expected to be released soon. Once approved, construction is expected to take three years, with a 2025 opening tentatively scheduled. Townandcountryla.com ❏ ❏ ❏ Construction of an eightstory hotel-and-multi-family mixed-use complex (tentative name 639 La Brea) is set to start in the last quarter of 2022. The project from Woodland (Please turn to page 12)

Town and Country chef ‘Andre,’ 99

By Suzan Filipek The longtime chef and proprietor of Andre’s of Town and Country, Domenic Andreone, 99, has died. Born Sept. 5, 1922 as Domenic Giovanni Andreone (Andre) in Brusasco, Italy, he passed away on Jan. 24. As reporter Julie Stier wrote of Andre’s local restaurant in a 2019 Larchmont Chronicle article, “It’s hard to believe that a ‘small’ plate of spaghetti the size of my face could be so reasonably priced. Or so delicious. But that’s what Andre’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria is all about. It is the ultimate hotspot for cheap and cheerful — but it won’t be for long.” However, as of February 2022, Andre’s is still going strong at 6332 West Third Street, just without Andre at the helm. Furthermore, luck may be on the side of local diners. According to landlord Regency

DOMENIC ANDREONE, shown in a framed clipping on the wall at Andre’s.

Centers, the company is hopeful that it will be able to bring the restaurant back in a new and improved version of Town & Country. (See adjacent story on development in and around the Miracle Mile.) World War II Andreone began his culinary adventure in Genova under the tutelage of his uncle. When World War II broke out, Andre was conscripted into the Italian army as a cook for a general. When an officer suggested he may do better on “the other side,” he joined the Italian underground. He and his “band of brothers” fought a guerilla war against the Germans. Andre and his closest friend were seriously wounded by the same bullet on the streets of Brusasco. After the war, he continued his culinary career: first in Genoa, then Switzerland and finally in Paris. He became a chef for an Italian cruise line. On a trip to New York City, Andre conveniently “forgot” to reboard the ship, thus beginning

his life in America. He attended the wedding of his cousin Peter Gallina in Springﬁeld, Mass. where he met Angiolina Gagliarducci, who would become his wife. He opened Andre’s of Great Neck and remained in Long Island until 1958, when Andre, Angie and son Peter took off across country, ending up in Los Angeles. (Please turn to page 12)

ANDRE’S courtyard entrance just east of Whole Foods.

SOLD: The home at 6445 Commodore Sloat Dr. in the Carthay Circle HPOZ was sold for $2,575,000 in January 2022.

Real Estate Sales* Single family homes

160 N. Vista St. 350 N. Edinburgh Ave. 6445 Commodore Sloat Dr. 623 N. Sierra Bonita Ave. 643 N. Edinburgh Ave. 612 N. Mansfield Ave. 623 S. Sycamore Ave. 301 S. Citrus Ave.

$3,100,000 $2,980,000 $2,575,000 $2,550,000 $2,450,000 $2,150,000 $2,000,000 $1,580,000

Condominiums 600 S. Ridgeley Dr., #105 600 S. Ridgeley Dr., #301 *Sale prices for January.

$1,120,000 $740,000

Larchmont Chronicle

35TH ANNUAL EDITION

Miracle Mile 2022 11

Rediscover La Brea Tar Pits Come see science in action outdoors and indoors in the world’s only urban Ice Age excavation site right here in the heart of L.A. New discoveries happening daily!

Buy your tickets today TARPITS.ORG Members visit for free. Join today!

12 Miracle Mile 2022

Development

(Continued from page 10) Hills-based CGI+ Real Estate Strategies is a transit-oriented development that has received full entitlements. The complex is set on nearly half a city block at 623-671 S. La Brea Avenue. It’s immediately

Chef Andre

(Continued from page 10) A friend, Angelo Patrone, suggested that Andre could do well in the Los Angeles restaurant scene. He met Don Medica, who was working at the Desilu Studio’s commissary, and they opened Andre’s of Beverly Hills in April 1959. In 1963, he expanded to the Third Street location (nestled in the courtyard just east of Whole Foods), serving “great Italian food at a reasonable price,” he advertised. As Stier wrote in 2019, he was named Chef of the Year in

Larchmont Chronicle

35TH ANNUAL EDITION

adjacent to Metro’s Wilshire / La Brea subway station for the “D” Line extension currently nearing completion. The eight-story development consists of a podium with three towers that include a 125room boutique-style hotel, 121 residential rental units, 185 parking spaces, 13,000 square 1982, and he remained active in restaurant life into his mid90s. He was influential in the lives of many in the restaurant and business community. Andre was always willing to help someone out. Although he was a shrewd businessman, he had a very tender heart. Andreone is survived by his son, Peter (Berit), grandsons Gian and Michael, and longtime friend Carolyne Anderson and her family. A funeral mass was held Feb. 5 at Saint Ambrose Catholic Church. Portions are excerpted from the “Los Angeles Times,” Feb. 1, 2022.

feet of street-level retail and a rooftop restaurant space. The parking spots are on the ground floor and two underground levels. The project is expected to open during the third quarter of 2023, near the time of completion of the “D” Line extension. New York architecture and interior design firm Morris

Adjmi designed the complex with arched and square window frames to distinguish between the hotel rooms and the apartments. One-, twoand three-bedroom apartments will be offered, with 19 units set aside for extremely low-income households and one for a moderate-income household. (Please turn to page 14)

‘What do you love about the Miracle Mile area?’

That’s the question inquiring photographer Caroline Tracy asked locals along Larchmont Blvd.

“There’s a lot to do in a tight space and there’s great shopping.” Tara and Christian Dooley Culver City

HOTEL AND APARTMENTS will be available at 639 S. La Brea, targeted for a 2023 opening.

Mirabel

“Well, considering my current state and sweet tooth, I love that there is such a heavy concentration of good bakeries.” (Julia)

W I L S H I R E B O U L E VA R D

Respect the histoRy. Rebuild the community. Reimagine the mile.

I love that my friends live close by.” (Leroy) (left to right) Julia and Ethan Wiss, Zoe and Leroy Wilhelm

“I love that the Tar Pits area has all of this green space right in the middle of the city. My son plays soccer here and loves rolling down the hill.” Jennifer and Sterling Hartman Longwood Highland

(323) 813-5101 hello@5411wilshire.com www.5411wilshire.com

“I’m from Newport Beach and love coming into the city to explore. Today we came for the museums and the walkability.” Linda Pontikos Newport Beach

Larchmont Chronicle

35TH ANNUAL EDITION

Diedrick Brackens: heaven is a muddy riverbed January 30 – May 8, 2022

Craft Contemporary 5814 Wilshire Blvd Los Angeles CA craftcontemporary.org This page is generously sponsored by Walter N. Marks, Inc.

Miracle Mile 2022 13

14 Miracle Mile 2022

Larchmont Chronicle

35TH ANNUAL EDITION

Metro’s Wilshire / La Brea decking removal starts next month

By John Welborne Late April marks the scheduled start for weekend street closures and detours (as was the case for decking installation in 2016) related to construction of the Wilshire / La Brea subway station. These street closures will allow the removal of concrete decking on Wilshire Blvd., backfilling the area above the new subway station with dirt, protecting the utility lines in their permanent locations, and resurfacing the road. The weekend activity is scheduled for completion in mid-July. Similar activity will take place later at the Wilshire / Fairfax subway

station construction site.

Subway to Westwood

Design and construction work on the Purple Line (“D” Line) extension from Western Avenue to west of Westwood (the eastern edge of Brentwood) has been underway for about a decade, with physical construction activity in the Miracle Mile commencing about mid-2015. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is in charge, with construction of the first subway segment — from Wilshire and Western to Wilshire and La Cienega — performed by joint venture Skanska-Traylor-Shea.

WILSHIRE / LA BREA station entrance on the northwest corner of the intersection.

This segment of the extension, with stations at La Brea, Fairfax and La Cienega, is scheduled to open for public

service in 2024. The second segment, ending in Century City, is expected to open in 2025, and the third and final segment of the project — extension all the way to the

Development

(Continued from page 12) The complex replaces a grouping of one-story commercial buildings. Due to the city’s Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) housing incentives — granted because of the project’s proximity to the “D” Line — the developer was allowed to build a larger building than allowed by regular city zoning. Even more density was allowed because the developer agreed to set aside

Book your event here. E S TA B L I S H E D I N 1 9 3 6 , T H E E L R E Y I S A N O R I G I N A L A R T D E C O T H E AT R E IN THE THE HEART OF THE MIRACLE MILE, ONE OF LOS ANGELES’ PRESERVED ART DECO DISTRICTS.

H O S T Y O U R N E X T C O R P O R AT E E V E N T, A F T E R PA R T Y, A W A R D S S H O W, R E C E P T I O N , F I L M / T V S H O O T, O R F U N D R A I S E R AT T H E H I S TO R I C E L R E Y T H E AT R E .

BAILEY NAKANO DIRECTOR OF SALES BNAKANO@AEGPRESENTS.COM 7 6 0. 2 0 1 .7 8 1 7

W W W.T H E E L R E Y. C O M

Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital adjacent to Brentwood, with a Westwood / UCLA station as well — is scheduled to open in 2027. The Olympics come to Los Angeles in 2028. The nine-mile route from Western to the VA will allow for travel between Westwood and Downtown Los Angeles to be accomplished in about 25 minutes. Local-voter-approved Measures R and M, together with federal grants, are funding most of the project. Station for Tom LaBonge When the subway station opens at Wilshire / La Brea in 2024, passengers will see signs honoring a former local councilman, also known as “Mr. (Please turn to page 30)

apartments for low- and moderate-income housing. Neighboring residents’ concerns raised during city and community meetings included density, traffic, parking and loading and unloading in the alley. To address some of these concerns, a plaza will connect pedestrians to the Metro station, and property residents will receive Metro TAP cards and have access to onsite car and bike sharing. Cgiplus.com

Larchmont Chronicle

35TH ANNUAL EDITION

Miracle Mile 2022 15

THE LARGEST OFFICIAL BOND CAR DISPLAY!

Produced in collaboration with EON Productions and The Ian Fleming® Foundation, Bond in Motion is the first official exhibition in the United States to feature original vehicles from the James Bond film franchise. The exhibit celebrates the 60th anniversary of the 007 films, since Dr. No was released in 1962.

NOW OPEN Reserve tickets now at petersen.org/bond Delivered by: