LC 03 2025

Larchmont Chronicle

By A.R. Johnstone

The Academy Awards will be handed out on Sun., March 2, and there have been a lot of ups and downs and controversies surrounding the various nominees. Everyone seems to have an opinion on who, or what film, should win. In some respects, it is a bit absurd to give out awards for art, being that it is very subjective and in the eye of the beholder. Be that as it may, I will go over the bigger nominees, who I think should win, and who will probably win. The Academy doesn’t always see eye to eye with what the general public likes. Let’s face it: There really aren’t any losers at this level.

Third

By the Hutcheson family

By Jessica Meaney

As visitors to Larchmont Village know, well-maintained public spaces matter to the health and well-being of our community. But too many Los Angeles neighborhoods lack them. Instead, decades of neglect and disjointed planning have left much of the city struggling with the basics: safe sidewalks, funcSee Fixed streets, P 16 n Infrastructure matters

Summer Camps & Programs

Read our annual list of spring and summer camp offerings, activities and school programs in the April issue of the Larchmont Chronicle. Advertising deadline is Mon., March 10. For more information on this, or general advertising questions, contact 323462-2241, ext. 13, or email wyatt@larchmontchronicle.com.

It is with great pride and excitement that we have taken the reins of a cherished institution of our neighborhood, the Larchmont Chronicle Recently, a bicoastal friend said to us, “I love when I get back to Los Angeles and I see the Chronicle in my mail; it makes me feel like I’m home.” At the time, the person didn’t know we were in the process of acquiring the paper, but it certainly brought a smile to our faces. Walking into the office and seeing bound copies of the printed paper dating back 63

By Nona Sue Friedman

The sweet sight of Girl Scouts selling cookies is back. As of Feb. 7, the annual tradition of troops “boothing,” which is Girl Scout-speak for selling cookies as a troop at various locations, has started. Troop 02902, which is primarily girls from the Center for Early Education, wasn’t missing a day. They snagged a spot on Larchmont Boulevard that very first day. Nora of Hancock Park says, “Selling cookies is one of my favorite

years was awe-inspiring and a little bit daunting. It is with great care and responsibility that we take on this role.

After Jane Gilman and Dawne Goodwin started the paper in 1963, the O’Connell family continued neighborhood ownership for the last 10 years under the care and management of Editor in Chief John Welborne.

Our family now can continue the legacy, and for that we will forever be grateful. We will be eternally thankful to the O’Connell Family for affording us the opportunity to maintain and expand

By Nona Sue Friedman

A new neighborhood association has formed in the area, Larchmont United Neighborhood Association (LUNA). The group held an open house on Feb. 2 in the parking lot of Hancock Homes at the corner of Larchmont Boulevard and Rosewood Avenue. Anyone from the area was welcome and the lot was

the journey that Jane and Dawne started as owners of the Larchmont Chronicle

Since we moved to this neighborhood 22 years ago, we have seen a lot of changes — stores and restaurants come and go, houses and storefronts get renovated. The one constant has been the Larchmont Chronicle This paper is all of ours — our community, our schools, our places of worship. Our part of Los Angeles is truly, both literally and figuratively, in the heart of the city. Films are made, new restaurants MARCH

FOUNDING MEMBERS AND OFFICERS at the first LUNA event. From left, back row: Chris Shanley, Auriell Spiegel, Dave Cavalier, John Holloway and Sam Uretsky. Front row: Sarita Singh, Annie O’Rourke, Georgea Fenady, Clelia El Adl Clemens (seated), Todd Clemens, Dennis Boyle, Natalie Irby, Maggie Peña and Keith Johnson.

Troop 02902

Larchmont Boulevard. From left to right are troop members Hanna Lou, Sophie, Iris and Nora.

Moving on, not away

By John Welborne

Last year was my 10th year of being steward of the Larchmont Chronicle, and last month’s February issue was my last one in that role.

I am fortunate to have known both founders of the paper, Jane Gilman and the late Dawne Goodwin. I worked with them often on neighborhood matters for nearly 40 years before I succeeded Jane as publisher and editor in 2015.

As Jane wrote in her final editorial in 2015, “When Dawne Goodwin, my former partner, and I began enlisting business people to advertise in 1963, we didn’t realize how lucky we were for selecting these neighborhoods. Residents wanted and appreciated their very own newspaper. We expanded from a distribution of 10,000 in the first few years to 21,000 families, a readership we guesstimate at 75,000.”

And this paper has been appreciated greatly ever since, including during my 10-year tenure as publisher and editor. Since taking over management in 2015, I have had the honor of working with the talented, knowledgeable, kind and truly amazing Larchmont Chronicle columnists and staff (nearly half of the staff members during my tenure also having worked with Jane and Dawne for one to two decades). Together, we at the paper have endeavored to serve our advertisers and readers while keeping this extraordinary local newspaper going during a tough time for journalism.

Because of our advertisers and readers, we have succeeded.

The local residents who made possible the 2015 acquisition of the Larchmont Chronicle from the Gilman family, and who

(Please turn to Page 12)

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

157 N. Larchmont Boulevard

“Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn.”  — Lewis Grizzard

Save The Date: WSA Public Safety Town Hall. Join the WSA at the Wilshire Ebell on Wednesday April 23rd at 7pm to meet LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell as well as Windsor Square’s Senior Lead Officers for an open discussion on public safety in the city and in our neighborhood.

o o o

Windsor Square Hancock Park Historical Society

Annual Tea: This year’s WSHPHS tea will be held on March 9th at 1pm in the Royce Room of the historic Langham Huntington Hotel. Tickets can be purchased at windsorsquarehancockpark.com.

o o o

Larchmont Central Median: The WSA is currently vetting a number of landscape companies to begin a new contract for the care and maintenance of the Larchmont Median following difficulties with a previous contractor. We hope to have the Median back to its beautiful self in time for Summer!

o o o

“ARE YOU PREPARED?” The WSA’s one page sheet on preparing yourself, family and A Guide to Neighborhood Disaster Preparedness is now available online. Download your copy at windsorsquare.org.

o o o

Public Safety: The WSA encourages continued vigilance and robust home security. The WSA will resume outreach with regards to the possible introduction of License Plate Reading Cameras on participating streets. The WSA is contributing $1000 to the first block which moves forward with camera installation.

o o o

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

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

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

Fri., Feb. 28 — First night of Ramadan.

Sun., March 9 — Daylight saving time begins.

Tues., March 11 — Mid City West Neighborhood Council board meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Pan Pacific Park, 7600 Beverly Blvd., midcitywest. org.

Wed., March 12 — Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council board meeting via Zoom at 6:30 p.m., greaterwilshire.org.

Fri., March 14 — Pi Day. Mon., March 17 — St. Patrick’s Day.

Thurs., March 20 — First day of spring.

Thurs., March 27 — Deliv-

ery of the April issue of the Larchmont Chronicle. Mon., March 31 — César Chávez Day.

Letters to the Editor

Hyperlocal journalism

The Chronicle is an important resource. There’s nothing that beats truly responsible and hyperlocal journalism. My husband and I have been in Park La Brea since 1991 and are grateful to find your paper in our mailroom. I spent

Larchmont Chronicle

CORRECTION Calendar

nearly all my professional life as a visual journalist for TV, so this is especially important to me. Our thanks to you all. Nancy LeMay Park La Brea

Chateau is first home

For the first three months of my life, I lived with my parents at Chateau Laurier. [“Chateau Laurier evokes Los Angeles of an earlier era,” Aug. 2012.]

I only discovered the whereabouts of the gorgeous apartment building [at the northwest corner of Fifth Street and Wilton Place] while

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.

‘What are your plans for St. Patrick’s Day?’

That’s the question our inquiring photographer asked locals.

“Corned

TV City, since 1952

Television City, the major development project approved for Beverly Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue, opened as CBS Television City studios in 1952, not 1972 as reported in the Feb. 2025 issue, “Television City at CBS site gets green light.”

“In the morning, after I drop the kids off at school, I stop at Hennessey’s in the South Bay for an Irish Coffee. [After work at Larchmont Village Wine, Spirits & Cheese] I go to Tom Bergin’s [and] hook up with some friends there.” Sergio Boccato Owner of said shop

beef and cabbage.”

Alex Chavez Pico Union

“I’m an Orthodox Jew so I don’t celebrate it, but I wish a happy St. Patrick’s Day to all who do!’”

Sara Newman Hancock Park

instagram @ brigh2terabithia by Brighid Burnes

Unbreakable L.A. spirit shined at aid benefits; NGA kick off

It was a concert we wished didn’t have to happen, but we were grateful that it did.

On Jan. 7, wildfires ripped through the Pacific Palisades and Altadena neighborhoods, destroying 16,000 homes and structures and upending countless lives. The music community, many of whom were directly impacted themselves, immediately stepped up, and two weeks later, on Jan. 30, some of the top names in the music world performed one of the greatest live music events in history. Billed as “an evening of music and solidarity,” the FireAid Benefit Concert, in connection with the Annenberg Foundation, was held simultaneously between Inglewood’s Kia Forum and the Intuit Dome, a mile down the road. All proceeds raised would go to short- and

long-term efforts and initiatives to prevent future fire disasters in Southern California and would be livestreamed around the world on multiple platforms. We were lucky enough to snag nosebleed seats at the Forum. Concertgoers were given a 6 p.m. start time, though it began later, so there was plenty of opportunity to wander the perimeter of the venue, purchasing concert swag (all proceeds going to the benefit), eating and drinking and chatting with other Angelenos (Windsor Square residents Stephen and Susan Matloff were spotted in the mix) there to support the community. Then, at 7 p.m. on the dot, the Kia Forum came alive. Green Day kicked off the event with “Last Night

on Earth,” joined by Billie Eilish in a surprise appearance before heading over to her scheduled performance at the Intuit Dome. Comedian Billy Crystal, whose family lost their home of 46 years in Pacific Palisades, greeted the audience and asked viewers to donate to help recovery efforts. From that point on, it was a who’s who of surprise guests and songs from the heart, many focusing on

New chapter

(Continued from Page 1) are premiered and people still come here to chase dreams. Our neighborhood is multicultural, vibrant and open. And the Larchmont Chronicle will continue to cover all of those stories ... in print.

You will notice some fun and exciting enhancements and a more active social media presence covering the happenings

California. Alanis Morrissette, in her sparkly “I Heart L.A.” T-shirt, reminded everyone why she is still a rock ‘n’ roll goddess. Anderson .Paak thrilled the audience with not one but two surprise guests, Sheila E. and Dr. Dre. Other Forum singers included Joni Mitchell, Dawes (two band members lost their homes and recording studio in the Eaton Fire), Stephen Stills,

(Please turn to Page 4)

around the Boulevard — if you haven’t already, go to the link on the front page to start following. Look at larchmontchronicle.com for a redesigned website with more active and comprehensive coverage in between print editions.

We are interested in YOUR stories. If there is something happening in your world that is important to you, let us know. Don’t be surprised if you are asked to be inter-

viewed for our upcoming Larchmont Talks podcast. We hope to live up to our motto, “A local paper for global lives.” In closing, thank you to our advertisers, who keep this paper free. Thank you to our readers, who patronize those same advertisers. And finally, thank you to our wonderful neighborhood, with all of its history, characters, and happenings. We will do our best to do you justice.

KIA FORUM was packed for the benefit concert.

Around the Town with Sondi Toll Sepenuk MIRACLE

Around the Town

(Continued from Page 3)

Mike Campbell, Graham Nash, Pink, John Mayer, John Fogerty, The Black Crowes, No Doubt, Stevie Nicks and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The biggest surprise of the night was the shock reunion of surviving Nirvana bandmates Dave Grohl, Pat Smear and Krist Novoselic, who played four Nirvana songs fronted by female lead vocalists St. Vincent, Kim Gordon, Joan Jett and Grohl’s 18-yearold daughter, Violet, who sang “All Apologies.” The crowd, a bit confused at first, went nuts once they realized what was happening.

oasis in the city” Thank You for supporting our Larchmont businesses!

“An

Over at the Intuit Dome, Katy Perry, Rod Stewart, Earth, Wind and Fire, Gracie Abrams, Tate McRae, Jelly Roll (joined by Travis Barker), Lil Baby, Olivia Rodrigo, Sting, Billie Eilish, Stevie Wonder and Lady Gaga provided the icing on the cake. Whew! What a lineup! It was truly a night to remember, showing the unbreakable spirit and resilience of Los Angeles, the creative community and the people who call this ocean-adjacent desert community home. The event, produced by the Azoff family, Live Nation and the LA Clippers, raised over $100 million. If you would like to donate, go to fireaidla.org.

• • •

the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation. In all, 93 percent of every dollar donated went to the Foundation.

Representing businesses from 1st Street to Melrose

Representing businesses from 1st Street to Melrose

To reach LBA members, go to www.LARCHMONT.com

To reach LBA members, go to www.LARCHMONT.com

Neighbors Karen Chou, Jenny Foley, Gary Gilbert, Lizzie Schwartz and the Los Angeles Tennis Club hosted a fundraiser to support

The Beauty of Experience

Larchmont 's own Rebecca Fitzgerald MD, a board-certified derma tologic surgeon, brings extensive experience and up-to-the-minute expertise to the convenience of your own neigh borhood

As a community passionate about tennis and pickleball, the hosts showed their support for those affected by the recent wildfires, specifically our firefighters. Chou said, “[we]…recognize the devastation and trauma many have experienced, and believe that rebuilding starts with coming together to help—both financially and emotionally. The funds raised will go toward providing necessary equipment to better prepare the fire department for future challenges by supporting the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation.”

NGA postponed its first meeting of the year due to the wildfires, so the mem-

bers waited until Feb. 6 to reconvene and discuss the year ahead. Members were excited to learn that the fundraiser this year would be a backyard hoe-down on May 17. Ideas were thrown out to include a square dance caller, silent auction and paddle raise. All of NGA’s nonprofit recipients enthusiastically reupped with the organization, including Alexandria House, Assistance League of Los Angeles, Aviva, Good Shepherd, Imagine LA, Los Angeles House of Ruth and Sunnyside 5. The attendees then moved on to lunch, enjoying a light Moroccan feast and homebaked double chocolate and chocolate chip cookies. Keep your eyes and ears open for further details about the upcoming hoedown. And now you’re in the Larchmont know!

LATC PLAYERS Sean Harrington and Andrei Duman.

ATTENDEES Lizzie Schwartz, Karen Chou and Jenny Foley.

NGA MEMBERS meet to discuss the year ahead.

NAVARRA

Breathing in the aftermath: Enduring effects of wildfire smoke

It has been approximately two months since fires swept across the greater Los Angeles area, causing devastating loss and persistent disorientation. As we grapple with the consequences of the fires and navigate our way forward, it is more important than ever to attend to the well-being of ourselves, our loved ones and our greater community.

This month’s piece includes an interview with Dr. Sari Eitches, an internal medicine physician in Los Angeles with an integrative approach to the treatment and prevention of chronic illness. She is board certified by both the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine. In February, I had the chance to ask her a bit about the enduring health effects of the L.A. fires:

In addition to respiratory issues, have you observed any increases in cardiovascular conditions or mental health problems linked to the wildfire smoke?

Yes, exposure to wildfire smoke doesn’t just affect the lungs — it can also strain the heart, increasing the risk of strokes and heart attacks. Beyond the physical effects, many people experience heightened anxiety and stress. Those who have lost their homes, been displaced, or had to evacuate can also experience Acute Stress Disorder, which has similar symptoms to PTSD, such as hypervigilance, trouble with sleep and

Health & Wellness

By Priscilla Duggan

nightmares or flashbacks.

What should L.A. residents know about the potential lingering health effects of wildfire smoke from the past few months or even years?

Now that the literal and proverbial dust has settled and we have had a few cleansing rainy days, we can generally go back to enjoying the outdoors safely. There will always be baseline air pollution in Los Angeles, so pay attention to the local and surrounding Air Quality Index when deciding to exercise outdoors, especially for vulnerable groups. Trust your senses. If you see ash or smell smoke, it is not a good time to exercise outdoors. Ash and toxins settle into the environment and can get kicked back up into the air over time. Indoor air quality can also be affected for weeks or months, so continuing to use air purifiers and being mindful of exposure is important.  In the burn areas and their nearby surroundings, sediment and Volatile Organic Compounds can settle. The monitoring that followed the 2018 Camp Fire showed that these toxins can take around six months to clear from the immediate water supply.

For individuals concerned about the long-term effects of smoke exposure, what tests or screenings would you recommend to monitor

their health over time?

Regular check-ups with your doctor can help monitor for any changes, especially if you have a history of respiratory or heart conditions. Standard lab tests usually include screening for blood, kidney and liver health as well as metabolic and cardiac risk. I am also screening my patients who have been affected for additional inflammatory markers and heavy metal levels. For those with lingering respiratory symptoms, a simple lung function test (spirometry) can be helpful, and some patients might benefit from lung imaging, such as a chest X-ray.

What role does local government and community action play in mitigating the health impacts of poor air quality?

Local government plays a big role in keeping air quality at the forefront — whether through monitoring, public health education or policy changes that reduce emissions. On a community level, we can help by advocating for cleaner air initiatives, supporting emergency preparedness plans and looking out for our more vulnerable neighbors. The government also provides some of our best methods for air quality monitoring such as airnow.gov.

Looking ahead to wildfire seasons in California, what measures can individuals, healthcare providers and communities take to better prepare for and respond to

the health challenges posed by air pollution?

Preparation is key. A high quality indoor air purifier is an excellent investment. I recommend ones with both a HEPA filter (for particulate matter) and a carbon filter (for gases). I have one in each bedroom at home, one in the common area and one in my office. We Angelenos spend a lot of time in our cars and our roads are a major source of baseline air pollution, so don’t forget to check your car’s air filter as well. Clean or change it when needed. Keep N95 or P100 masks handy just in case, and stay informed about air quality. Healthcare providers can guide patients on protective measures and communities can work on emergency response plans to ensure that everyone, especially vulnerable groups, has access to clean air and healthcare when they need it.

What do you foresee in terms of healthcare needs for the Los Angeles area as the region continues to face the effects of climate change and increased wildfire activity?

We’ll likely see more people needing long-term respirato-

ry care, cardiovascular monitoring and mental health support due to ongoing wildfire exposure. Public health efforts will need to focus on prevention, early intervention and making sure our communities are equipped to handle future challenges.

An ending note from Dr. Eitches: There are so many toxins and pollutants in our urban environment that it is easy to feel overwhelmed and fearful. I try to emphasize to my patients practical advice to minimize our toxic exposures, while also accepting the reality that Los Angeles, with all its charm, is a sprawling metropolis with inherently worse than average air pollution. This is a huge public health issue that should be mitigated on the community and public health level. On an individual level, we are empowered to make many decisions every day to optimize our health and resilience. In addition to the air concerns discussed, we can limit further toxins at home by emphasizing whole, unprocessed foods in our diets, exercising regularly, managing sleep and stress, and filtering our drinking water.

SMOKE THAT STICKS. Drawing by Priscilla Duggan

N A T I 0 N DAY A

I

f(fkN

TO OUR DOCTORS

PIH Health extends its deepest gratitude to our outstanding physicians. Every day, these dedicated professionals provide our patients with expert, consistent care. Thank you, doctors, for your dedication to keeping our communities healthy!

PIH Health Downey Hospital

PIH Health Good Samaritan Hospital

PIH Health Whittier Hospital

PIH Health Physicians

Personal safety series: An overall look at Los Angeles now

This is the first in a series on safety. In the coming months we will address protecting ourselves from crime in the physical world and cybercrime in the digital world, as well as personal health safety and transportation safety. We will start with a quick review of the overall situation in Los Angeles and then move in later pieces into small, practical and useful things we can do to protect ourselves.

Los Angeles has always been an innovative place. Film, aviation, freeways and using the word “like” as a discourse marker all evolved here to become worldwide standards. The city and county were among the earliest to create paramedic services; to use helicopters for civil rescue, firefighting and law enforcement; and to develop a SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) team. We live just a few miles east physically of where the digital world started (the internet’s birthplace is UCLA’s Boelter Hall, Room 3420).

Some sociologist in the future will likely have a lot of fun figuring out the interplay between the internet and our sense of safety, but I think we would all agree that WhatsApp, Nextdoor, Watch Duty, ShakeAlert, iMessage and Facebook regularly deliver exciting news of disaster

Personal Safety

By Below the Radar

and mayhem, sometimes on a nightly basis. Several times in the last week I received messages of burglars on the prowl, helicopters in the sky and neighbors on full alert.

In 2024 there were 1,603,258 LAPD service calls, or about one call every 20 seconds. In addition, there were 16,622 traffic collisions reported as the city saw more traffic fatalities (302) than homicides (268). 170 Pedestrians were killed last year and severe injuries in car crashes rose by nearly 60 percent since 2015. About half of these were hit-and-runs. Adding to the immediacy, there is a huge amount of video coming from body-worn cameras, doorbell cameras, in-car video cameras, drones, license plate readers, security cameras, and, of course, mobile phones. We get alerted to things in real time and then get to share and watch the recap on YouTube and Instagram.

In the digital world the numbers get astronomic. According to Cisco, a network equipment provider, in 2024 there were 246 million attempts to steal information and 175 million Trojan attacks designed to hi-

Richard T. Chung, DDS

Cosmetic, Implant & General Dentistry

Member of the American & California Dental Associations. USC Graduate.

Most insurances accepted. Appointments recommended. New patients and emergencies welcome!

321

Los Angeles 90004

jack computers. There were 154 million ransom attacks, and 46 million devices were remotely controlled. It wasn’t long ago that they would make an entire movie about a single ransom attack, but in the time I wrote this paragraph there were five happening per second. It can be truthfully stated that virtually every major company or institution has had personal data on their customers and employees lost to the “darknet.” That data is, of course, about us.

In contrast to data offered by various media and notifications, there has actually been a 60 percent drop in property crimes and 30-40 percent drop in violent crimes across the country since 1990. Traffic fatalities are down historically. These trends have been almost linear over the years except for immediately after the pandemic when there was a period of increased rates. The latest data from LAPD show a 25-30 percent decrease in violent and property crime in the 28-day period of Dec. 29, 2024, to Jan. 25, 2025, compared to the same period each of the last two years. See LAPD COMPSTAT at tinyurl.com/6tm88mvs.

We can look at crime data because LAPD publishes a lot of it. The Crime Data map (above right) shows how the area around us measures in terms of population density (gray, data from 2020) and crime counts (blue, aggregating all of the reported crimes in 2024). The statistics, however, do not make us feel better. I have heard time and again that crime rates are up, personal safety is down and that the world is generally less safe.

Some of this may be that our city’s public safety agencies are under stress. LAPD’s staffing has continued to go

down and is now well below the oft stated goal of having 10,000 uniformed officers; as of last week there are only 8,784 on the payroll.

Similarly, we can see in the LAFD Response Times graph above that response times provided by LAFD have been steadily increasing in the last decade. The graph shows how quickly they respond to calls for emergency medicine (or-

ange), general (blue), and structure fires (green).

The core issue is, of course, that survival rates improve with every minute saved. Studies across multiple countries have shown that 50% more people survive a heart attack if they’re reached within eight minutes (480 seconds), right where LAFD response times have reached.

(Please turn to Page 10)

CRIME DATA population density is grey and crime counts blue.

LAFD Response Times 2016-2024 as measured in seconds.

Domestic violence suspect arrested, phone stolen in meet up POLICE BEAT

OLYMPIC DIVISION

BURGLARIES: A burglar entered a multiunit building on the 300 block of Westminster Avenue by smashing the sliding glass door, taking a purse, money and a firearm on Feb. 1 at 5 p.m.

A victim’s bedroom dresser was ransacked when a burglar entered the multiunit dwelling on the 5000 block of Rosewood Avenue. The burglar gained access through a bedroom window on Feb. 7 at 8 a.m.

A suspect forced entry into a home through the rear screen door on the 800 block of South Bronson Avenue. The

burglar took property and fled on Feb. 8 at 7:45 p.m.

ROBBERY: A victim met up with the suspect they met via a phone app on Feb. 7 at 1 a.m. The suspect refused to return the victim’s phone on the 900 block of South Gramercy Place.

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT:

During a domestic violence argument, a suspect strangled and scratched a victim on Feb. 1 at 11 p.m. on the 300 block of South Manhattan Place. The suspect was arrested.

GRAND THEFT AUTO: A car was stolen from a parking lot on Feb. 1 at 1 a.m. from

OLYMPIC DIVISION

Furnished by Senior Lead Officer Daniel Chavez

213-793-0709

36304@lapd.online

Instagram: @olympic_slo1

the 800 block of South Gramercy Drive.

On. Feb. 8 at noon, a car was stolen from the street on the 500 block of North Van Ness Avenue.

WILSHIRE DIVISION

BURGLARIES: Three sus-

WILSHIRE DIVISION

Furnished by Senior Lead Officer

Tyler Shuck

213-712-3715

40740@lapd.online

Twitter: @lapdwilshire

pects broke the rear window of a home on the 400 block of North McCadden Avenue on Feb. 4. They took property and fled.

On the same day, three suspects entered a home on the 400 block of North Citrus Avenue,

Police officers ride for those fallen: Support their tour

By Nona Sue Friedman

Police officers have to stay in shape so they can go headfirst into dangerous situations. Many do intense exercise and also train for races in their spare time. One such race is the Police Unity Tour (PUT), where 2,600 officers from across the country congregate. The race takes place in May, starts in New Jersey and finishes in Washington, D.C.

The PUT is a three-day, individual bike race to raise money and awareness for fallen officers nationwide. This year, Olympic Community Police Station (LAPD) will be represented with seven officers, including Larchmont’s Senior Lead Officer (SLO) Danny Chavez. In addition to acknowledging fallen officers, riders raise funds for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in

Washington, D.C. The race’s motto is “We ride for those who died.”

This year LAPD lost a very prominent and well-respected SLO from the Hollywood Community Police Station, Paul Jordan. Jordan, 58, was an LAPD officer for 29 years and had worked at the Hollywood station for the last 22 years. He was a participant in this race numerous times. He died on Jan. 22 when he lost

consciousness while driving home from the Palisades Fire. He sustained fatal injuries when his car veered off the road.

SLO Chavez is one of many who are riding to honor Jordan. If you see Chavez in person, you may notice a black and blue band over his badge, indicating the loss of an officer. Referred to as a “mourning band,” it symbol(Please turn to Page 12)

also breaking a rear window with a tool and taking property.

Continuing on the same day, suspects broke the rear window to gain access to a house and take property on the 100 block of South Lucerne Avenue.

A few days later, on Feb. 7, a burglar used the same technique and broke the rear window with a tool, entered and took property from a home on the 100 block of South Citrus Avenue.

GRAND THEFT AUTO: A vehicle was stolen from the corner of Rosewood Avenue and Larchmont Boulevard on Feb. 4.

AFTER FINISHING THE RIDE, Officer Danny Chavez shows his enthusiasm.

March Events Calendar

MARDI GRAS celebration will be at The Original Farmers Market through Sun., March 2, and Fat Tuesday, March 4. Pets will show their stuff in the Mutti Gras Pet Parade and Costume Contest, Gumbo Pot will serve

hot beignets and live music will get visitors in the party mood. Visit farmersmarketla. com for a full schedule.

1 6 7

PST-ART OPEN HOUSE, a free day-to-night exploration of art and science, takes place at The Ebell of Los Angeles, 743 S. Lucerne Blvd., from 1 to 11 p.m. Book fair, salon-style conversations and performances will be featured at this Getty initiative. RSVP at pst.art/en/ events/pst-art-open-house.

MAHLER’S FIFTH WITH DUDAMEL is part of the Mahler Grooves Festival at Walt Disney Con-

cert Hall at 8 p.m. Additional dates are Fri., March 7, and Sat., March 8 at 8 p.m. and Sun., March 9, at 2 p.m. Visit laphil.org.

FIRST FRIDAYS returns to the Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd., with Amplified, from 5 to 10 p.m. This first in the series, called Healing Sounds, explores the science behind sound baths and music therapy for relaxation and meditation. Live music, DJs, art installations and discussion are featured. Free for members; $25 for non-members. Visit nhmlac. org.

MASTERS OF THE AMERICAN WEST: Autry Museum annual exhibition and fundraiser exhibits paintings and sculptures exploring Romanticism in contemporary Western art. View at the Autry in person now. Online bidding has begun and closes Fri., March 7, at 2 p.m. At that time the bidding will switch to the live auction taking place on March 8 at 6 p.m. Reservations are required for auction attendance. For information to attend in person, call 323495-4263.

cent Dr., Beverly Hills, Visit thewallis.org.

13 15 16

HERE THERE ARE BLUEBERRIES, a play based on real events, tells the story behind historical Nazi-era photographs. The Wallis / Tectonic Theater Project is through March 30 at the Bram Goldsmith Theater, at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 450 N. Cres-

Personal Safety

(Continued from Page 8)

Another dimension is that survival rates double if CPR is initiated within that time.

While there are no available statistics yet, it can be surmised that the continuing efforts around the Palisades Fire have consumed large amounts of LAPD and LAFD resources. They have been fighting fires, protecting people and property, staffing command posts, maintaining perimeters and so much more.

As we can see, there is some truth to our fears and sense of danger. While crimes and incidents are down, the available resources are stretched.

This said, there are also many things that we personally can do to pick up the slack.

In following pieces, I will be covering a number of steps that we can take to protect our homes, ourselves and our families against common incidents. I will not be discussing hiring security guards or buying guns. As in healthcare, there are many small and inexpensive ways to significantly improve our safety stance in the physical and digital worlds. Stay tuned.

Below the Radar is the nom de plume of a local resident.

SOUND AND SCIENCE: FROM SIGNAL TO NOISE, a live performance in partnership with UCLA ArtSci Center, is at Nimoy Theater, 1262 Westwood Blvd., at 8 p.m. This curated showcase of sound art performances was created incollaboration with physicists, biologists, astrophysicists and botanists. Visit cap.ucla.edu/ucla-nimoy-theater.

SOCAL MUSEUM FREE-FOR-All features general entry to more than 30 museums from Long Beach to Santa Barbara. Local sites include the Academy Museum, Autry Museum of the American West, Craft Contemporary, La Brea Tar Pits and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Some sites require RSVPs. Visit socalmuseums.org.

(Please turn to Page 11)

skin deep

by Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald

Q: I’m tempted to try a light therapy mask. Are they better for anti-aging than office treatments?

A: Good news…this is not an either/or situation. Red light therapy systems for home use offer the best of both worlds by improving and prolonging those treatment results.

We recently began offering Omnilux Contour Face, the original FDA-cleared mask for a variety of features including providing more LED’s and covering more facial area than its competitors. Omnilux’s benefits are so far-reaching their tag line asks “what’s your skincare goal?” That’s because red light therapy can enhance about every treatment we offer by addressing hyperpigmentation and redness; decreasing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and by stimulating your own collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid production.

Omnilux mask is comfortable and easy to use at home. The recommended treatment protocol is three-five, 10-minute treatments per week for 4-6 weeks. In short, red light therapy improves the health and vitality of your skin cells which makes them function and look better.

The Omnilux Contour Face is available for purchase inoffice or by phone.

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 from around the world to teach proper injection techniques for Radiesse, the volumizing filler. Dr. Fitzgerald is an assistant clinical professor at UCLA. Visit online at www. RebeccaFitzgeraldMD.com or call (323) 464-8046 to schedule an appointment.

MARDI GRAS celebration at The Original Farmers Market will include a pet parade, live music and Southern cuisine.

WORK BY John Moyers in the Autry exhibit “Masters of the American West.”

Academy Awards

(Continued from Page 1)

Best Picture: Emilia Pérez

A Complete Unknown

Conclave

Nickel Boys

I’m Still Here

The Substance

Dune: Part Two

Wicked Anora

The Brutalist

Who should win: Anora — Tender yet harsh and real. Who will probably win: The Brutalist — Harsh and real, but long.

Best Actress Fernanda Torres — I’m Still Here

Demi Moore — The Substance

Karla Sofia Gascón — Emilia Pérez

Cynthia Erivo — Wicked

Larchmont Village Neighborhood Association

Serving the Larchmont community between Beverly and Melrose, Arden to Wilton Place

Hello, Fellow Larchmont Village residents!

When we decided to resume this column in the Chronicle, I don’t think any of us imagined how hectic things would get in our little neighborhood. On our eastern border, we’re dealing with issues surrounding prostitution traffic on Western Avenue, (many thanks to LAPD and particularly SLO Chavez for the task force which is dealing with this every day.)

On Larchmont Blvd two properties (507 N and 531 N) have submitted ED1 proposals to the city for new buildings which are, frankly, horrendous and a blight on our neighborhood. As developers stack state and city benefits to maximize their profits and offload important features on the surrounding community, neighbors are understandably outraged. The LVNA has been front and center in dealing with these developments from Day 1, meeting and negotiating with developers as part of an ad hoc committee, supporting neighborhood activists, hiring a prominent land use law firm to represent our interests and working with our neighboring associations to bring every lever to bear, as we do on every development in the neighborhood.

The objective and purpose of the LVNA has, since 1987, been the preservation and enhancement of our neighborhood, bounded by the south side of Melrose Avenue, the north side of Beverly Blvd, the entirety of Arden Blvd and the west side of Wilton Place. We have always tried to operate by consensus, no matter the differences of opinion as we’re all part of a neighborhood we love. Also, for many years we have supported the establishment of neighborhood specific 501c3 charities as they can intensely focus on specific issues and fundraise in a way we cannot as a nonprofit corporation.

There is a great opportunity to be a leader on issues you care about in our neighborhood. The LVNA operates on a decentralized committee/specialist system whereby residents with a passion for a subject or issue can become experts helping not just themselves but the neighborhood at large. Additionally, our board has become expert in most of the subjects any resident could come up against and is ready, willing and able to be a resource and provide resources to help…

LAPD – We are a neighborhood which is served by two different LAPD divisions – Olympic Division (from Gower to Wilton) and Wilshire Division (from Arden - Gower). If you see a crime happening, call 911. You can report dumping and many other types of illegal activity via the MY311 app. If you need advice or a helping hand reach out to the Senior Lead Officers at your respective division -Senior Lead Officer Tyler Shuck (Wilshire Division) ((213)712-3715) or Officer Daniel Chavez (Olympic Division) (213-793-0787).

Each LAPD division also has Community Police Advisory Boards (C-PAB),

WE NEED YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT. Join the neighborhood association, sign-up for our email list, write to city officials and turn up for city meetings and hearings when asked. If it interests you, participate in our Board. Also, please install the MY311 app, it’s the most effective way to report many issues to the city.

We’re not going anywhere.

You can join or reach out to the Larchmont Village Neighborhood Association at lvna.info. You can write to the LVNA at: Larchmont Village Neighborhood Association 325 North Larchmont, #294 Los Angeles, CA 90004

You can email the general LVNA box at lvna90004@ gmail.com or email me directly at lvgwnc@gmail.com. 2025 Membership Dues Due Now

Mikey Madison — Anora

Who should win: Demi Moore — Courageous and open. Who will probably win: Fernanda Torres — Good performance that doesn’t stand out.

Best Actor

Ralph Fiennes — Conclave

Sebastian Stan — The Apprentice

Timothée Chalamet — A Complete Unknown

Colman Domingo — Sing

Sing

Adrien Brody — The Brutalist

Who should win: Sebastian Stan — Nonjudgmental portrayal of a polarizing character.

Who will probably win: Adrien Brody — Seems like the same role I’ve seen him play.

Best Supporting Actress

Zoe Saldaña — Emilia Pérez

Felicity Jones — The Brutalist

Monica Barbaro — A Complete Unknown

Ariana Grande — Wicked

Isabella Rossellini — Conclave

Who should win: Isabella Rossellini — Very well done in an all-star cast.

Who will probably win — Zoe Saldaña — She is better in Lioness.

Best Supporting Actor Guy Pearce — The Brutalist Yuriy Borisov — Anora Edward Norton — A Complete Unknown

Kieran Culkin — A Real Pain

Jeremy Strong — The Apprentice

Who should win: Yuriy Borisov — Touching portrayal of a fixer with tenderness.

Who will probably win: Kieran Culkin — Played himself again, just not rich.

Best Director Coralie Fargeat — The Substance James Mangold — A Com-

March events

(Continued from Page 10)

20

BEATNIK GIRL . World premiere, play of a young woman and beat poet on New York’s Lower East Side in 1957, at Theatre Forty, 241 S. Moreno Dr., in the Mary Levin Cutler Theatre, on the Beverly Hills High School campus

plete Unknown

Sean Baker — Anora Jacques Audiard — Emilia Pérez

Brady Corbet — The Brutalist Who should win: Sean Baker — Took a difficult subject and made it real and accessible. Who will probably win: Brady Corbet — Far too long and somewhat uninteresting.

through April 20. Visit theatre40.org.

21

ACCORDING TO RAY: Ray Charles’ Message to America” is MUSE / IQUE’S season opener at the Mark Taper Forum at the Music Center. It’s part of “Make Some Noise: Music and Stories of American Defiance and Hope.” “Visit muse-ique.com.

Donald Spuehler

September 28, 1934 - February 17, 2025

“Be grateful for this precious life and use it the best you can,” Donald wrote in a memoir, “Find as many ways to love as you can.”

Donald Spuehler died February 17, peacefully, surrounded by family, just the way he intended. He was 90. Donald was an active member of the Hancock Park community for 53 years, and could regularly be seen in Larchmont Village, whether getting his morning grande dark coffee at Starbucks or enjoying breakfast at Le Pain Quotidian. His kindness, sharp mind and jovial laugh will be missed by all.

Born on a farm near Elgin, Illinois, Donald was raised around his father’s art, and with an appreciation for the sounds from the record player, like Ode to Joy from the 9th symphony of Beethoven. Donald discovered a passion for cello, which he took to Harvard College, where his studies shifted from Science to Economics, ultimately leading to a Masters in Economics at Harvard. After two years of Army service in France, and a return to Harvard Law School, the budding lawyer found his way to O’Melveny and Myers in California, where he would enjoy a 30 year tenure, a cello still by his side.

A 1966 chamber music workshop at Humboldt State blossomed into a marriage to violinist Jane Romm, and life’s priorities shifted to what he described as “much music, much love and support” for 32 years, while raising their two children, Sean Jason and Tracy Ariana. In addition to music and

family, Donald’s spiritual quests were an important and meaningful part of his life, starting with est in 1973 followed by retreats at the Zen Center and a lifelong meditation practice. He also enjoyed his local book club and tennis at Los Angeles Tennis Club to round things out.

Following Jane’s death due to ovarian cancer, it was the magic of Esalen at the beginning of the millennium, that would bring Jill Roth into his life. Jill and Donald would marry and spend the next 25 years together with travel, experiences and a deep and abiding love. Together, they supported Habitat for Humanity, Planned Parenthood and the LA Food Bank, enjoyed rounds of golf at Whitsett, listened to music at Disney Hall, and shared a lifelong love of learning for 19 years as members of Plato Society of Los Angeles.

Philanthropy and work with The Hunger Project and other Nonprofits became a passion throughout Donald’s life, as was his dedicated work with the ACMP (Associated Chamber Music Players), which complemented his life of music.

Donald is survived by his wife, Jill Roth Spuehler, children Sean Spuehler and Tracy Dickerson, and four loving grandchildren, Jones (18), Vivian (18), Jane (16) and Eleanora (15).

Anyone who would like to donate in Donald’s memory may do so either to Planned Parenthood or LA Food Bank.

AN OSCAR WATCH party will be at the Academy Museum. (See story in Section 3, Page 18). Above, a guest at last year’s event.

Letters

(Continued from Page 2)

looking through the book the hospital gave my parents, filled with my vital statistics. That was about 2015. I was born in 1948.

Of course, I have no memory of living at Chateau Laurier. I do make a point of occasionally riding my bike

Moving on

(Continued from Page 2)

four miles from my home in the South Carthay neighborhood, past the building. David Wyman South Carthay [Ed. note: An article on the Chateau Laurier is in Sec. 2, Page 2.]

Importance of paper

I always value learning — about virtually anything

— and was fascinated to read Mara Fisher’s account of paper and its compelling backstory.  [“A paper trail through the ages, from ostraka to pulp fiction,” Feb. 2025]. And again, the Chronicle is a real treasure, in this changing world, with print and local news, seemingly everywhere, taking an increasingly lesser role — to societies’ great disadvantage.

Fritz Kasten Woodside, Calif.

Readers’ comments

oversaw my tenure as publisher and editor, recently selected Hutcheson Publishing Group to be the paper’s next owner. Hedy and Andrew Hutcheson have lived in the Windsor Square neighborhood for decades. They have many friends who live in our wider, Greater Wilshire community, and they know and understand the community. Hedy and Andrew’s stepping up to be the next stewards of the Larchmont Chronicle is a terrific gesture, and I know we all will support them in the coming years.

I am not going anywhere, still living in Windsor Square, as has been the case for me for seven decades. You will still see me around, just as Larchmontians see Jane Gilman nearly everywhere! (I probably will not be able to keep up with Jane’s pace, however.)

“Thank you” to the Chronicle staff and the community for your stalwart support of our special local newspaper.

Thank you for ALL you do for us!

Laura Dutton Larchmont Village

Word Café by Mara Fisher in the February edition was fantastic.

Mary Kelly Windsor Square

Thanks for the wonderful Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles articles!

Carlotta Keely Hancock Park

Catherine Hennessy

Catherine Hennessy, 93, of Los Angeles, passed away February 11 from natural causes.

Catherine was born in Chicago, Illinois, to an IrishAmerican family during the Great Depression. Her father was the sales manager for a book publishing company, and her mother cared for Catherine and her two brothers.

The family moved to Los Angeles in 1944, moving to St. Paul parish on Buckingham Street, before settling in the Larchmont area of central Los Angeles in 1952. She graduated from Immaculate Heart High School in 1949, and earned a degree in English from Immaculate Heart College in 1953.

She connected with her community through regular visits to Chevalier’s bookstore, Lucy’s Mexican Restaurant, and Christ the King Roman Catholic Church, of which she had been a member since 1952. She volunteered at Christ the King for 10 years.

Catherine was devout not just in her religion, but to the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. She relished her visits to the univer-

Bogie’s

sity campus, where she loved visiting the Hesburgh Library and touring the campus.

A fighting Irish in her own right, Cathy was a strong-willed soul, and never hesitated to speak her mind.

Catherine was a longtime employee of a life and health insurance company, rising early and arriving punctually to the downtown office every day for 26 years. Her contributions to her employer were many, but her true passion was spent in volunteer service. Recognizing her countless hours and significant contributions, the Alzheimer’s Association presented Catherine with an award recognizing her 25 years as a volunteer.

Catherine was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers. She is survived by her nephew and other relatives and friends.

As Cathy makes her way to heaven as surely as the road leads there, her Irish eyes are smiling in the minds of those she leaves behind.

A memorial service was held on February 22, 2025, at Christ the King Roman Catholic Church, in Los Angeles. Adv.

Officers ride

(Continued from Page 9) izes respect and grief for the fallen officer. What’s involved

The race takes quite a bit of organizing. First the riders have to break down their bikes and bring them to a warehouse, where they are then shipped to New Jersey. Then 30 motorcycles — which are ridden by the escorts for the bike riders throughout the race — are shipped. Finally, the officers take a charter flight to New Jersey to assemble their bikes and start the ride.

The race starts in Florham Park, New Jersey, on Sat., May 10, and ends on Mon., May 12, at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. The route is about 250 miles, which amounts to about five hours of riding each day.

Each group takes its own route to D.C., but everyone waits for each other at the end.

According to Chavez, “For the

last four miles, the streets of D.C. are lined with families of fallen officers, retired officers and past riders cheering everyone on. It’s quite a site to see.” The race ends at the National Officers Memorial.

The next day, officers dress in their class A uniforms, which is their professional dress consisting of a shirt and tie, for a candlelight vigil at the memorial. There, the fallen officers’ names are read aloud, one by one, and unveiled, etched in stone, at the memorial.

How you can help

In order to ride, officers have to raise at least $2,300; $1,000 is donated to the National Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and $1,300 covers the cost of the race. Anything extra goes to the memorial.

“I appreciate any support,” says SLO Chavez.

If you would like to help Chavez reach his goal for the eighth year in a row, donate to his ride at tinyurl.com/4mb6pu85.

thehmsbounty.com

THE TEAM FOR OLYMPIC Division poses in front of RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. after completing the tour.

‘Sean! Mary! Over here!’ St. Patrick’s Day is 1,000 years strong

By Elaine Pershing

It’s soon time for corned beef, cabbage, green beer and the ohso-common shout throughout parades of “Michael!” St. Patrick’s Day is a U.S. holiday, but how did it start?

St. Patrick, born Maewyn Succat in Scotland to Roman parents around 385, was kidnapped at 16 by Northern Irish Celts and enslaved as

LUNA

(Continued from Page 1)

filled with over 100 people throughout the morning. Neighbors congregated to talk about concerns, meet in person and just enjoy the community under sunny skies. The event was abuzz with excitement and enthusiasm for the new group.

LUNA became a reality in January with Sam Uretsky as its president. Many founding members and board positions are filled by people who were active in their own micro neighborhood organizations, such as Lucerne Arden United, North Plymouth Coalition and various neighborhood watch groups, as well as the Larchmont Village Neighborhood Association (LVNA).

At the get-together, LUNA had sign-up sheets for various committees. According to Uretsky, by the end of the event, “The sign up sheets were full. There is a lot of enthusiasm for this new group; they are eager to build community.”

The LVNA is the original neighborhood association that has represented the area for decades. The two are presently coexisting associations for the same area.

Two associations?

The boundaries for both organizations are Melrose Avenue to the north, Beverly Boulevard to the south, Wilton Place to the east and Arden Boulevard to the west. Additionally, LUNA wants to be involved with Larchmont from Beverly to First Street.

The formation of LUNA came as a surprise to Charlie D’Atri, president of LVNA for the last 20 years. He said, “Uretsky is phenomenal, a wonderful organizer and was on the board [of the LVNA] until December of 2024.”

D’Atri continued, saying he’s disappointed with the way things went down. “I love the energy, but it’s never good for a neighborhood to have two organizations representing the same area.” He specified that it causes confusion when dealing with the council office, city departments and neighbors. D’Atri would like to work things out with LUNA.

Neighbor’s perspective Clelia El Adl Clemens, a

a shepherd. Although Succat’s father was a deacon, his spiritual path came about only during his six years of prayer while being held captive. He escaped, returned to Britain, studied his new faith and returned to Ireland around 432 to actively convert the druid-led pagan Irish to Christianity, establishing monasteries, churches and

GOWER NEIGHBOR Brianna Favazza signs up to participate in LUNA.

founding member of LUNA, moved to Lucerne Boulevard from France in 2013. In France, she knew all her neighbors and wanted the same here. She made it a point to meet them, create community and work to improve her neighborhood. Through her efforts, she met Uretsky.

Suzi Yoonessi, also of Lucerne, is very inspired by the new organization and all that they do for the neighborhood. “I’m very excited for this group, for its spirit and I believe in them as a team,” she said. She’s already become one of the many paying members. When asked about LVNA, Yoonessi replied, “LVNA hasn’t figured out how to activate [the community]. I just don’t know what they’ve done.”

Their differences

Uretsky claims during his four-and-half years on the board of LVNA there was never an election, they have very few members, and, in his opinion, there wasn’t an appropriate amount of money spent on the neighborhood.

He feels strongly that the area “needs an active and proactive neighborhood association. This area deserves better.” He feels LUNA is a better representation of the neighborhood.

In response to Uretsky’s claims, D’Atri says LVNA spent thousands of dollars on lawyers to oppose the initial plans for a building out of scale with the neighborhood at 507 N. Larchmont Blvd. D’Atri also claims the LVNA had elections during Uretsky’s tenure on the board and would have welcomed him becoming more involved.

schools throughout the country. It’s believed he died on March 17, 461.

The most famous legend about St. Patrick is of him standing on a hill and commanding the snakes of Ireland into the ocean. Question: Were there ever snakes in Ireland? There were in ancient Irish mythology…

Ireland has been celebrating their patron saint on March 17 for over 1,000 years. Throughout the country, there are events, entertainment, concerts, and parades. It’s a national holiday celebrated for five days.

In North America we have been celebrating this day of Irish culture for over 425 years. The first parade was held by a Spanish colony in what would today be St. Au-

gustine, Florida. The colony’s Irish vicar, Ricardo Artur, led the parade which included Spaniards, Africans, Native Americans, Portuguese, a French surgeon and a German fifer.

The Boston parade started in 1737, almost 50 years before the Declaration of Independence was signed. New York City followed in 1762, and Chicago in 1843, but it wasn’t until 1962 that Chicago started dyeing their river green. (Fun fact: the environmentally friendly dye is actually orange and turns green in the water.) As famous as these parades are, one of the top five largest parades is in Savannah, Georgia. It started in 1824 and this year will have 250 bands, families, societies, soldiers, public servants

and commercial floats. At the other end of the spectrum, Hot Springs, Arkansas’ bills itself as the shortest parade at 98 feet, but no less energetic. The U.S. has over 100 St. Patrick’s Day parades.

Corned beef and cabbage are not the traditional St. Patrick’s Day foods in Ireland. Poor Irish Americans popularized it in the U.S. because corned beef was affordable. They would boil it three times to get rid of the brine — the last time with cabbage. Around 1914, green beer was added to the meal. In Ireland, popular St. Patrick’s foods are beef stew, soda bread, colcannon (similar to mashed potatoes) and apple tarts, all washed down with Irish stout.

Enjoy your St. Patrick’s Day celebration!

Helga Kasimoff of famed piano store, 93

A familiar figure on Larchmont Boulevard, Helga Kasimoff died Jan. 3. She was 93. “She remained quite alert, cheerful and witty despite her declining health,” her son Kyril Kasimoff wrote in an email. She, as always, shared her love for her family and friends and continued her engagement with the music community. She often expressed graciousness for her long life — thankful for the arts, beauty, her many travels, her family and every person that crossed her path.”

Helga Kasimoff opened the Kasimoff-Blüthner Piano Co. showroom on Larchmont

Boulevard in 1976 with her husband, Bill.

Their pianos were favored by concert pianists and featured on recordings for Stevie Wonder, Henry Mancini and Barbra Streisand. Their customers included John Williams, the LA Philharmonic and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. Famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma dropped in to practice in the quiet, offthe-beaten-path Larchmont showroom.

“We get a lot of enjoyment when musicians play here,” Helga told us in an interview in 2019.

A Germany native, Helga met her future husband af-

ter immigrating to the U.S. in 1952. Bill was a clarinetist with the San Gabriel Symphony and a piano tuner when they first opened their business in Pasadena.

Helga discovered Larchmont was much closer to the studios and their clientele, and so the couple purchased the Larchmont lot. They had the 1921 Tudor-style house that stood there moved to the back and built the 2,500-squarefoot piano showroom at the front. Their three sons have all helped in the family business. Bill died in 1997. Helga is survived by sons Serge, Vanya and Kyril.

Kali crew opens elevated neighborhood seafood restaurant

By Desmond Garvey

“So this is what an elevated fish house looks like,” you might think as you approach the front door of Koast. We have a new seafood restaurant from the people behind Kali, the longstanding onestar Michelin restaurant on Melrose Avenue. All the while, your brain slowly comes to terms with the fact that there is indeed a glass pane over the burbling stream of water coursing over rocks that you need to cross in order to enter the restaurant. The hostess smiles and beckons at you as if to say, “It’s safe.” Despite your trepidation, maybe it’s best you keep your shoes on your feet and unroll your pants, which, by now, are hiked up to your belt line.

Chef Kevin Meehan’s Kali stood the test of the pandemic and has been a Larchmont staple since 2016. When I first caught wind that Meehan, Executive Chef Micheal Kerner, Sommelier Drew Langley and General Manager Jessica Tripp were opening a relaxed California seafood restaurant offering crispy scallop cakes, seasonal seafood chowder and potato chips with a sour cream and onion dip, I did not envision what I walked into. A low-lit dining room joins the surgically sterile kitchen, the low-slung wraparound seating and chairs resembling the ribs of a ship all dressed in indigo cushions. It’s as though Meehan can’t quite shake his addiction to the finer details. Despite the elevated environment, children doodle

on their menus with crayons. The neighborhood has noticed this new spot and they’re here for it.

For the vast majority of diners, the words “interesting’” or ‘“innovative” aren’t at the top of their minds. These days they simply want “good.” What people look for in good casual food in Los Angeles has changed in recent years. Many diners have grown tired of restaurants toting small plates that will pair perfectly with that new California natural pear sparkling wine. The novelty of the California restaurant with locally sourced produce and wines, while cool and noble, has worn off for many. Favor is shifting toward restaurants that ditch the intricate plating (which may get you some kudos from others in the industry, or simply those in the know) and instead focus on a consistency of pumping out fulfilling dishes.

This being said, Meehan balances his loyalty to twee-

zer food with the food that people want to eat.

Starters at Koast are broken down into three sections. The “raw” section is, well … raw. So you’ll find littleneck clams, Morro Bay oysters on the half shell, crudos and the like. The “lightly touched” section is all things cured. Finally, the “cooked” section is, as the name states, proteins, mostly fish, touched by fire.

You order, and yellowtail crudo hits the table. It’s piled high, topped with edible flowers, sorrel and shaved radish and dressed in a buttermilk nage (used to poach seafood). This is more the Meehan I know about. The rich fish serves as a perfect vessel for the tangy buttermilk nage to hitch a ride. You order the scallop ceviche and it comes to you resting in a clamshell, on a pink folded napkin, on a plate. Fried rice puffs, charred lemon, edible flowers, thinly sliced Fresno chilies, chives and microgreens deliver varying flavors that change with each bite — first bright, then sweet, then spicy.

The crispy scallop cake was

perfectly sold to us by our waiter, Chris, who understands the East Coast fish house inspiration behind the dish. “It’s deserving of being served in a damp Styrofoam container surrounded by far too many thick-cut fries,” he said. The dish is plated simply with a lemon wedge on the side and a topping of mustard frills. The fritter looks back at you from its cushion of tartar sauce and capers. The texture is borderline — how can I say it? — slick, unctuous and slimy, but in the very best way imaginable. It mocks you for liking it so much. It pokes fun at you for liking it more than the previous two dishes. “Really?” it says, “Your favorite dish here is the one seasoned with Old Bay?” It calls you on your snobbery! It teases you for ordering another. The batter is simple and provides the right amount of crunch, by way of what appears to be crushed-up cornflakes and the aforementioned Old Bay. The tartar sauce possesses a lexicon of depth and just the right amount of tang.

Continuing the trend of perfecting the simplest things, the chips and dip are the younger sibling to the crispy scallop cake — greaseless, sliced razor-thin, delicately fried and perfectly salted.

While most restaurants take the easy road and serve soggy chips while they’d be better off offering kettle chips right out of the bag, Koast doesn’t and they nail it.

The little gem salad was underwhelming.

Mains range from angel hair pasta with octopus to grilled prawns. There is also the obligatory cheeseburger for the non-fish folk, dry aged of course. The market fish has a delicate beurre blanc, with roe ladled over it for added brightness and is topped with fried spigarello leaves. I won’t go screaming to the rooftops about this dish, but it is a safe choice.

Meehan has been criticized for not letting go of his hyper precision when it comes to larger plates by dressing them with flowers and infused oils as if they were on a tasting menu. At Koast this doesn’t seem to be the case. Of course, smaller plates from the “raw” and “cured” sections come out intricately decorated, but as you move to the larger plates (and as is seen with the market fish) Meehan practices far more restraint.

When thinking of a Larchmont neighborhood restaurant with something for everyone, the mind goes to places such as Great White with its varied menu. Koast takes a more personal and idiosyncratic yet equally satisfying approach. You still want the cool California fine dining experience? Maybe you’re really jonesing for a rich, artery-clogging homage to the classic Americana fish shack of your childhood? Or maybe you just want a burger. Koast does it all, does it with passion and excellence and guarantees you’ll come back for more. Koast is at 6623 Melrose Ave., koastrestaurant.com.

BAY SCALLOP CEVICHE

CRISPY SCALLOP CAKE

LOUP DE MER

What are you reading? We asked Chevalier’s

It’s both a staff favorite and has seen an uptick in popularity in the past few weeks. As we spotlight one of the world’s most beloved writers, we must also visit one of his most seminal works. Since its initial publication in 1970, Gabriel García Márquez’s “100 Years of Solitude” has remained a steadfast classic, reconnecting with readers generation after generation. From its iconic opening line to its emotional and heartwrenching conclusion, 100 Years spins a vast and dynamic story. Its ability to encapsulate the complexities of love, war, revolution and poverty are so much more impactful when shown through the lens of the Buendía family, their lives and deaths refusing to remain in

the abstract due to Márquez’s masterful ability to create rich and compelling characters.

Asha Norman-Hunt

“My Friends” is a retrospective, fictional account of the Libyan revolution from the perspective of one of the country’s exiled sons. Hisham Matar is a man who loves words. It’s clear throughout this book. I loved the short chapters. Learning about Libya from a non-white point of view was enlightening. It holds a place of pride on my bookshelf. I look forward to devouring the rest of the work in Matar’s canon. 4/5 stars. Alex Tuchi, bookseller Let’s be frank. The romance genre has a bad reputation for being fluffy and lacking sub-

stance. “Before I Let Go” by Kennedy Ryan is most assuredly not that. Ryan’s writing is beautiful and poignant, somehow finding ways to make you feel like a raw nerve, exposed and vulnerable. It’s a story about healing from trauma and finding forgiveness in a world that can seem very unforgiving at times. But Ryan manages to draw you in with such humor and melancholy in equal measure that you can’t help but root for Yasmen and Josiah to find their way back to each other.

Carmen DeGiulio, bookseller

Are you part of a book club? Please tell us about a read your group is enjoying. Write to circulation@larchmontchronicle.com with “Books” in the subject line.

Japanese-style café serves Sapporo on tap

A new Japanese-style café in West Hollywood, Takagi Coffee, serves up fluffy millefeuille pancakes and freshly roasted coffee in a warm, welcoming, light-filled space. The food menu features Western-style yoshoku classics like omurice, chicken cutlet and spaghetti Napolitan. It’s that type of Japanese comfort food you might find at some coffee shop tucked away on a sleepy corner in Kyoto. But everyone’s here for the pancakes: a light and airy affair taller than your normal American stack, served up with fresh whipped cream, butter and tableside syrup. If you’re

86’d by Emerson Duggan and Bennett watanabe

feeling a bit more maximalist, order up one of their specialty stacks, like the matcha azuki (red bean), chocolate banana, or caramel apple pancakes. Sit back at the wraparound bar and watch your barista lovingly make a delicious coffee with beans sourced from some faraway land. And lest we forget — there’s Sapporo on tap. Takagi Coffee, 8048 W. 3rd St.

TAKAGI COFFEE’S Simone Brown serves up matcha or your choice of coffee made from beans roasted in-house.

Fixed streets

(Continued from Page 1)

tional streetlights, shade and mobility.

Larchmont Village was named a favorite spot in a survey conducted last fall by Investing in Place, a non-profit organization focused on improving public spaces in

Los Angeles. Larchmont was named by those surveyed as “a spot they visit weekly.” What drew them in? “It has everything we’re looking to have in L.A.” They go there “…to eat, [for] the farmer’s market, [and because it is] a nice area to be outside. The street is clean.” And why is it special to them? “Because

there are so many options.”

Half of L.A.’s sidewalks are broken, with over 50,000 unresolved repair requests and a 10-year wait for fixes or curb ramps. 22,000 empty tree wells sit baking in the sun, missing opportunities for shade, mobility and beauty.

Why? Because more than

The Plymouth School

20 city agencies, departments and bureaus oversee L.A.’s public rights-of-way, each with its own budget, mission and priorities, often working in silos, sometimes at cross-purposes to each other. There is no unified multiyear work plan, comprehensive project list or shared vision. The result? Infrastructure projects are piecemeal, slow and opaque to the public. Sidewalk repairs, tree plantings and street improvements happen inconsistently, if at all, depending on which agency is responsible or if they can coordinate.

Likely, you know this all too well. Maybe you’ve tried to get a crosswalk installed, a streetlight fixed or an access ramp added in your neighborhood. Maybe you’ve made the calls, submitted the requests and are still waiting years for basic improvements.

Public spaces like sidewalks, streets, parks and plazas are more than just infrastructure. They are the connective tissue of our communities, shaping social interaction, public health and economic vitality. Their condition reflects governance. Well-maintained public spaces signal a city that values equity, efficiency and transparency. Crumbling sidewalks, broken streetlights and neglected parks tell a different story: one of fragmented decision-making, poor financial management and a disregard for public well-being.

A simple way to start to fix this is a Capital Infrastructure Plan (CIP). Incredibly, L.A. is the only major city without one. San Francisco, San Jose, San Diego, Boston, New York, Chicago, Houston and Seattle have CIPs. These plans establish a citywide vision and most importantly, a multi-year budget for public space investments, ensuring funding is transparent, coordinated and accessible. L.A.’s lack of a plan isn’t just an oversight, it’s a fundamental

barrier to a functional city.

In October Mayor Karen Bass took a first step toward systemic reform by issuing Executive Directive #9 (ED #9): Streamlining Capital Project Delivery and Equitably Investing in the Public Right-of-Way. This directive lays the groundwork for L.A.’s first-ever comprehensive CIP. However, unless Bass and City Council hear from Angelenos about how important and long overdue this directive is, it risks the status quo of the city spending at least a billion in tax dollars for sidewalks and streets every year without a plan. ED #9 risks becoming another well-intentioned policy that never gets operationalized, or worse, a bureaucratic exercise perpetuating the same fragmented systems responsible for today’s failures.

ED #9 highlights L.A.’s long-standing governance and infrastructure challenges, which will only intensify as the city prepares to host the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics. The devastating recent fires and recovery efforts have exposed the same weaknesses: a lack of coordinated planning, investment and execution. Disasters don’t create problems; they expose and deepen them. Without a CIP, Los Angeles will remain reactive instead of resilient. A CIP isn’t just a bureaucratic tool; it’s a long-term strategy to ensure the city can prepare, recover and build a stronger, more equitable future.

It’s time for Los Angeles to stop managing its public spaces as an afterthought and start treating them as the essential city-building tools they are.

Jessica Meaney is executive director of Investing in Place. For almost two decades Meaney has led efforts in Los Angeles to promote inclusive decision making and equitable resource allocation in public works and transportation funding.

EDZEL PEREZ enjoys the public space at Robert L. Burns Park on Van Ness Avenue.

New cultural space honors the late ‘pop-art nun’ Corita Kent

By Nancy Redford

The Corita Art Center (CAC) will open its new gallery and workshop site in the heart of the Los Angeles Arts District on March 8, 2025, at 811 Traction Ave. This will give visitors a chance to engage with the work of one of Los Angeles’ most significant cultural figures of the ’60s and ’70s — Corita Kent, a nun turned educator, artist and social justice activist.

“Corita was a pioneering artist who challenged societal norms and used her creativity to inspire reflection, connection and change,” said Nellie Scott, CAC executive director.

“We are honored to open our doors to serve others at a time when Los Angeles, the nation and the world need Corita’s artwork, messages and social practice the most.”

The inaugural exhibition at the Center will debut the full suite of Kent’s “heroes and sheroes,” 29 prints that represent a pivotal moment in her artistic journey, made during the social upheaval of the late 1960s.

The gallery will also feature murals inspired by Kent’s artwork, created through collaborations with Los Angeles-based designers, sign painters and community organizations.  These include

a mural of Kent’s iconic “Ten Rules,” a set of guiding principles she co-authored with her students at Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles and murals inspired by her serigraphs In (1964) and Left (1967), which used directional street signs as source material.

Born Frances Elizabeth Kent in 1918, Corita entered the religious order of the Immaculate Heart of Mary as a young woman, taking Sister Mary Corita as her religious name. She became a teacher at Immaculate Heart College, eventually chairing its art department, and there began her path to printmaking in the 1950s.  Her vibrant colors and bold imagery captured the nation’s attention. Her work was acquired by private collectors and numerous institutions, including The Museum of Modern Art in New York City, Museum of Fine Art in Boston, the Ham-

Cookie sales

(Continued from Page 1) things to do in Girl Scouts.” Hanna Lou of Larchmont Village agrees with Nora about selling cookies and adds, “It makes people happy.”

Last year these girls used their cookie money to help families in need through Family to Family, a grassroots nonprofit that, according to their website, “links families with more, to families with profoundly less.” Nora said she really enjoyed the experience of helping people.

Selling cookies allows Girl Scouts to set goals, make decisions, manage money and learn people skills and business ethics. So there’s more to that box of cookies than

mer Museum in Los Angeles and the Library of Congress. In 1968 she took a sabbatical, released her vows and moved to the East Coast, choosing to go by the name of Corita. She was an independent artist until her death in 1986 at age 56 from cancer.

Kent left her unsold works and copyrights to the Immaculate Heart community, which eventually funded the Corita Art Center (CAC) to honor and preserve her legacy for future generations.

In addition to providing a home for the artist’s work, the Center also features an archive and offers opportunities for collaborations with nonprofit and educational organizations. Staying true to Kent’s vision that art should be accessible to all, it will continue to offer free admission to all visitors.

just deliciousness.

This troop members revealed that their favorite cookies are frozen Thin Mints. Nora added that she likes them best in vanilla or chocolate ice cream. And just as a reminder, this is the last year for S’mores, so stock up if those are your favorites.

Throughout the year, troops do activities and have adventures to earn badges. This troop is lucky enough to have a leader who sews their badges onto individual jeans jackets! Iris of Larchmont Village and Sophie said their favorite badge is the one for helping animals. “We went to the Annenberg PetSpace last year and helped adopt and care for pets,” said Iris of the trip to the Playa Vista adoption center.

Sister Corita Kent in her studio, around 1965. Photo courtesy of Corita Art Center

CORITA KENT IN 1970.

Athletes continue to train and compete despite tragic fire

I witnessed something extraordinary while attending an evening of basketball between Palisades and Hamilton high schools at Pierce College. The first game featured the freshmen / sophomore squads, and once that was finished, the players from Palisades removed their jerseys and passed them along to their JV teammates, who were waiting to play in the next game. I didn’t understand until a Palisades parent sitting nearby explained.

“They have to share because most of the jerseys were lost in home fires or are stranded in the school lockers.”

Optimism

“It’s still standing,” said Palisades Charter High School Athletic Director Rocky Montz, who is optimistic about his school.

“The initial reports were too hasty regarding Palisades High being entirely burned down,” explained Montz.

“The original buildings are concrete and brick, so they didn’t burn. About 70 percent of the school is still there.”

The recent wildfires in Los Angeles County haven’t left much hope for communities like Pacific Palisades, and it’s been especially difficult for the youth.

“We’ve had kids on the team lose their homes, and several others are displaced for the time being,” explained Palisades’ head wrestling coach Mike Lawlor.

How does a high school ath-

Youth Sports by Jim Kalin

letic program continue after such a tragedy when it occurs right in the middle of their season?

“So much equipment is at the school,” said Montz. “We’ve been unable to get in to assess what’s salvageable and what needs to be replaced.”

The process of cleaning and disinfecting the school will take months, which means the students aren’t returning this year.

Reboot

So how about practice and competitions?

“We’re lucky to have access to a jiu jitsu space big enough to fit our whole wrestling team,” said Lawlor.

“We’re practicing there for the rest of the season.”

That jiu jitsu business is called The Coop BJJ, and owners Alex Chow and David Telfer have been sympathetic and supportive of the wrestling team.

“It’s all about the kids,” said

Chow.

Other local high schools offered their wrestling rooms to the wrestlers, but that meant juggling schedules for both teams.

“The most important thing is consistent schedules for practices,” said Montz.

The Coop BJJ was the best option.

Palisades’ boys and girls basketball teams have played their home games at various locations. Pierce College made their gym available, but only part-time because their own student athletes require the facilities. Practice locations have been equally challenging.

“We are finalizing practice times at Paul Revere Middle School and University High School, but neither is confirmed yet,” said Montz. “At this point, the teams are still practicing at gyms wherever we can find them.”

Noah Riddell attended Larchmont Charter School Selma and is now a ninth grader at Palisades. He’s on the volleyball team, and their season is just beginning. Unlike the wrestlers, the vol-

leyball players don’t have a permanent practice location.

“Our coach has been asking around and hopes to get a gym,” he said. “So far, we’ve practiced at Pacifica Christian High School and Actyve Volleyball in Santa Monica.”

Rising

Painted on the Palisades wrestling room wall is “Randy’s House: In Loving Memory.” This is a dedication to Randy Aguirre, who founded the wrestling program. He died in 2015. He was only 30 years old.

Aguirre would be proud of these Palisades wrestlers.

They are persevering. They have no idea if their wrestling room or mats are ruined. Most of them left equipment in lockers.

At the start of the season, the team fundraised for new warmups.

“Those arrived just days before the fire and are still in boxes in my office,” said Montz. “Since we haven’t

(Please turn to Page 19)

Government and bakery goods are on the menu

By Jim Kalin

Youth & Government is a national YMCA program that teaches teens about government through firsthand experience. They engage in and debate experiential civic issues that affect citizens in their state and even propose legislation. The program culminates with the teens serving as delegates at their state conference, where they debate bills on the legislature’s floor.

bers recently on Larchmont Boulevard, where fundraising efforts were underway.

We caught up with some mem-

“We were fundraising to help with the food and lodging costs during our trip to Sacramento,” said Everett Mohr. The trip took place the weekend of February 15 -16.

Youth & Government is a

program offered through the local Anderson Munger Family YMCA. Donations can be made directly to the YMCA at cutt.ly/amydonation, but the delegates will continue their weekend bake sales on Larchmont Boulevard. The snickerdoodles were a favorite, we heard.

PALISADES BOYS’ basketball teams have played some of their home games at Pierce College since the Palisades Fire.

LARCHMONT CHARTER students (left to right) Aiden Smith, Audrey Yerrid, Everett Mohr, Hailey Kang and Eunice Moon are members of the Youth & Government program.

What’s the big deal? Money, free agency and more money

By Chase Campen

I’m not originally from here, but it doesn’t take long to know that the rivalry between USC vs. UCLA is a pretty big deal. And sure, UCLA is by far the top dog. But football is king, and on the gridiron, USC is big brother, and they aren’t letting UCLA up for air anytime soon. If you’re a UCLA fan, don’t shoot me. I’m just the messenger. USC has an 11-1 lead in national titles and an 8-1 edge in Heisman trophy winners; the gap isn’t close.

How big is the chasm?

If you were on one of those around-the-world cruises the last four years and missed those changes, allow me to briefly fill you in. Four years ago, it became legal to start paying college players for their performance on the field, and they are now getting paid — handsomely. Also, seven years ago a thing called the Transfer Portal was created, enabling college football players to transfer schools one time in their career for any reason; this was a game changer. However, beginning last season, continuing legislation in the sport caused the Transfer Portal to be open every year. That’s unfettered free agency, and the players are getting paid.

But let’s take a deeper dive on our two local teams. Four years ago, USC, ending the Clay Helton era, hired the hottest coach available on the coaching carousel, Lincoln Riley. Considered an offensive mastermind, his teams won 55 games in five years, won their conference four times and advanced to three playoffs. His hiring was a coup for USC. It’s rumored his contract paid him more than $10 million per year. Or so it seemed.

Meanwhile, when he arrived at USC’s Heritage Hall and prepped for his first season there, UCLA had just

Youth Sports

(Continued from Page 18) been able to enter the school, we have no idea if they survived.”

“We’re selling Pali Strong T-shirts to raise money for families in need,” said Coach Lawlor.

The best way to find the shirts is through the team Instagram page @pali_wrestling.

Donations for all Palisades athletics can also be made at givebutter.com/pchsfund. In the comment section, specify a sport or write “general.” For non-monetary donations, contact Rocky Montz at 310-230-6654 or rmontz@ palihigh.org, or Jim Kalin at jkalin.awn@gmail.com.

completed a fourth season with Chip Kelly at the helm. Kelly himself was basically an older version of Riley; an offensive wunderkind who won 46 games in four years at Oregon University, three conference championships and had a national championship game appearance. By the time Riley got to L.A., Kelly was one game under .500 through four years at UCLA. Today he’s long gone, replaced by a former Bruin who’d never even been a coordinator, Deshaun Foster. Advantage USC, right?

Well, not so fast. Despite arriving with his own uber-talented and eventual Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams, Riley is only 26-14 through three years at USC. Since arriving, his programs have lacked two critical things: defense (easy to measure) and toughness (harder to measure). To address the former, USC lured UCLA’s defensive coordinator (remember, USC IS big brother) to fix their defense beginning in 2024. Considering that USC out-recruits the Bruins every year, you’d think this would tilt the scales significantly in their favor, right? Nope. This year the Bruins, with a first-time head coach, a new defensive coordinator and seemingly lesser talent, finished 39th nation-

Festival of books comes to USC April 26 to 27

The 30th Los Angeles Times Festival of Books is taking place at USC Sat., April 26 and Sun., April 27. This free annual event will host over 600 authors and 300 exhibiters as well as stations with activities for all ages, musical performances and TV and movie screenings. The lineup will be announced soon.

For ticketed portions of the weekend, early bird friend of the festival tickets have gone on sale for the discounted price of $175. Regular tickets will be available starting Wed., March 12. Visit tinyurl. com/mr4chcfm.

ally in total defense. USC, with the Bruins’ old coordinator and seemingly every advantage, finished 77th and trailed UCLA in seemingly every defensive category. Remember that comment about toughness? As for roster turnover, consider this: USC’s last Pac 12 championship came in 2017. That team was led by quarterback Sam Darnold and received key contributions from Michael Pittman, Jack Jones, Ronald Jones and Austin Jackson…players who had long Trojan careers. In fact, Darnold is the last quar-

Chasing Sports by Chase

this fall, and will it matter when they play in November?

Campen

terback to begin AND end his career at USC.

Everything you thought you knew about USC football has changed. They still hold nearly every competitive advantage over UCLA, yet have a mere 4-3 edge over the Bruins in the last seven matches.

In the last recruiting cycle USC finished with the fifth best class in the Big 10; UCLA finished last. Will it matter

Foster is going into his second season, and his quarterback is likely to be a transfer from Appalachian State. Riley heads into his fourth season at USC in a year many suggest could be his last to show true progress. The Trojans have made several important hires in the player personnel side of the sport. It’s yet another edge the program has over the Bruins, but the question remains — will it matter?

MORE MONEY produces better teams?

Inspire your company and stay true to yourself with a tasty and spicy mocktail.

One of the oldest living creatures at the time of her death, Harriet met Darwin on her celebrity path. Page 11

Château Laurier’s French aristocratic charm is recognized

By Suzan Filipek

Kimberly Aboltin always knew her home at Château Laurier was special. Now, the Châteauesque building where she resides really is special. It was named a Historic-Cultural Monument recently by the Cultural Heritage Commission.

Aboltin, as a tenant in the building, took on the task of applying for the designation to help preserve the regal property for years to come.

“I just love the building so much and wanted to make sure it was restored to safety and make sure it would never be demolished for whatever reason and keep as a piece of L.A. history,” Aboltin said.

She connected with James Dastoli, known for his acumen in helping to preserve significant historic properties, and dug deep to research the building’s history — dating back to before it was built in 1929. She also spoke at three City Hall meetings.

The property, at 4353 W. Fifth St., at the corner of Wilton Place, was designed by Leland A. Bryant. A permit was issued for construction of a 63-room apartment and automobile store room. It was later acquired by the Ritz management company who sold it and a neighboring cottage to Seymour, LLC, in 2008.

In 2014, Château Laurier received a Landmark Award from the Windsor Square-Hancock Park Historical Society.

French château style

The Châteauesque multifamily residence is based loosely on the architecture of 16th-century French châteaus in the Loire Valley especially in its roofline and turrets.

This and other castle-like buildings “from the 1920s through 1940s were part of the fantasy image created of Los Angeles,” according to a 58-page report by the L.A.

Dept. of City Planning.

Affluent and famous people were thought to live here, which, like living in a castle, made references to aristocrats in 18th-century Versailles, the report said.

Château Laurier was made of concrete shaped to resemble stone, with a steeply pitched hipped roof clad in composite shingles with chimneys.

“It embodies the distinctive characteristics of a style, type, period or method of construction; or represents a notable work of a master designer, builder, or architect whose individual genius influenced his or her age,” according to the nomination summary.

According to a 1928 Los Angeles Times article, it was built for $260,000 with 17 studio and duplex apartments designed as individual homes. Features included private baths, service by electric elevators and 20-foot ceilings, giving a cathedral effect.

Aboltin estimates her fourth-floor apartment’s arched ceilings are closer to 35-feet high.

“I want to do as much as I can to make Los Angeles beautiful. I think it’s so important,” she said.

Dastoli, who calls himself a local volunteer, stepped up when Aboltin reached out.

“Château Laurier was a building that I had seen on [historic] surveys from years back, so it was already on my radar as one that could be landmarked.

“It’s great to see residents organizing in that part of

Greater Wilshire. The single-family neighborhoods have such a strong sense of community, but the largely multifamily area south of Third [Street] and east of Van Ness [Avenue] doesn’t really have any organization,” Dastoli added.

Diverse and inspiring Women’s History Month is at The Ebell

By Helene Seifer

Congress established Women’s History Month in 1987 after the National Women’s History Project (now the National Women’s History Alliance) petitioned them to do so, followed by President Reagan issuing a proclamation to designate March as a time to celebrate American women’s achievements and contributions to our country’s history.

Of course, women’s organizations around the country were already lauding the accomplishments of women, including The Ebell of Los Angeles, which was established by and for women in 1894. “We have long been a space where women come together to be heard, celebrated and uplifted,” states Ebell Executive Director Stacy Brightman. “And this Women’s History Month is shaping up to be something truly special. We’ve got a lineup that’s as diverse and inspiring as the

women we’re honoring.”

Los Angeles women composers are in the spotlight in Live in the Lounge: HERS — Music Ensemble, Tues., March 4, at 7:30 p.m.

Mezzo-soprano Susan Graham and the Copland House Ensemble perform “A Standing Witness,” a cycle of songs recounting changes in society since 1968, on Sat., March 9, at 4 p.m.

Five storytellers from the local group Strong Words share their truths in the Ebell’s Salon Series: Women in the Muse. Tues., March 18, at 7:30 p.m.

Juried Art Show: A Woman’s Place — Visual Voices is Thurs., March 20, at 6 p.m.

The Ebell Institute annual Women’s Symposium, a free daylong series, is Sat., March 29.

For more information about events, to RSVP or to purchase tickets, go to ebellofla. org/calendar.

LOOKING BACK

The

longtime

and

late

resident

realtor Cookie Day was featured in the March 1979 issue of the Larchmont Chronicle

THE CHâteauESQUE style multifamily residence is based loosely on the architecture of 16th-century French châteaus.

REGAL corner building, Château Laurier was named a Historic Cultural Monument.

Art Deco Society hopes to shine a spotlight on a forgotten gem

“Skyscraper Reveals New Type of Architecture,” announced the Los Angeles Times Real Estate section in 1929 at the release of plans for a new tower set to become the eastern gateway of A.W. Ross’ Miracle Mile. Almost a century later, it is hard to imagine the majesty of the once heralded E. Clem Wilson Building, at 5225 Wilshire Blvd., at the northeast corner of La Brea Avenue. Its unique design is now obscured and its stature reduced amid the construction of a new subway station at that intersection. A new application for Historic-Cultural Monument (HCM) designation submitted by the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles (ADSLA) aims to remind the public — and, hopefully, the property owners — of this forgotten Art Deco gem’s significance and potential.

The building was the late-career project of Mr. Elihu Clem Wilson, who lived at nearby 108 Fremont Pl. and was a millionaire member of the old guard, having made his fortune in the patenting and manufacture of drilling equipment for the oil industry. For his new venture, he chose the firm of Meyer & Holler to design his eponymous office tower, the same firm popu-

by Brian Curran

lar with the Hollywood elite that had designed the Egyptian and Chinese Theatres in Hollywood, as well as Wilson’s own home in Fremont Place, and the Getty House, where the mayor resides today. The commission would prove to be Meyer & Holler’s swan song, however, as the firm went bankrupt soon after, due to the combined pressures of a lawsuit filed by director King Vidor and the onset of the Great Depression.

For a grand finale of the storied firm, the result was nothing short of spectacular. Meyer & Holler had designed a 192-foot “Zigzag Moderne” Art Deco tower with a Greek cross plan and a variety of setbacks and terraces, a feature unheard of in Downtown. It was also the first height-limited building on the Miracle Mile with usable floor space above 150 feet. Its massing was broken up with vertical fluted columns terminating in chevron “zigzag” parapets with Gothic pinnacles. At its summit was the pièce de resistance.

“Whenever we show a his-

toric photo of the building everyone is amazed by its Gothic Deco crown!” exclaimed Steve Luftman, board member of the ADSLA and author of the application. This extraordinary crown was later covered over with a wraparound neon sign in a modernization of the tower by the General Insurance Company around 1950. They also added a beacon on top for good measure. This sign in more recent years became the “blue moon” neon Asahi Beer and later Samsung signs, which went dark in 2015.

“You could say that the real reason we nominated it is that everyone wants the old Asahi/ Samsung beer sign removed!” Luftman quipped.

By 1930 the Wilson Building and two other Art Deco towers, Gilbert Stanley Underwood’s Wilshire Tower, at 5514 Wilshire Blvd. (1929), and Morgan, Walls and Clements’ Dominguez-Wilshire Building, at 5410 Wilshire Blvd. (1930), dominated the skyline of the Miracle Mile and cemented the autocentric retail stretch as an upscale version of Downtown.

Today the E. Clem Wilson Building, an identified historic resource since 1983 and hopefully soon a newly minted

HCM, awaits a revival. Perhaps a combination of historic tax credits and new adaptive reuse and transit-oriented development incentives will encourage a restoration and redevelopment. The building “does not have the problem of other office conversions in that all the offices have windows [and terraces],” explained Luftman, who would like to see the Art Deco tower restored to its former glory and converted to apartments. “It would be a dream!”

E. CLEM WILSON building is on the northeast corner of Wilshire Boulvard and La Brea Avenue. Photo: Downtowngal

On Preservation

Historic house in Pasadena to be on public view this spring

By John Welborne

On the final Friday evening in January, approximately 300 lucky people had the opportunity to preview the 2025 Pasadena Showcase House of Design that soon will be available for public viewing for 25 days beginning on April 20. The “Empty House Party” gave the media and patron donors the opportunity to see the house prior to the remodeling getting underway.

This year’s house is an extraordinary, five-acre estate on Hillcrest Avenue in Pasadena, designed in 1928 by architect Reginald D. Johnson for Harry and Mabel Bauer. Harry J. Bauer was a successful local lawyer who in 1932 became the chief executive officer of the Southern California Edison Company (and its board chairman beginning in 1948). His wife, Mabel J. Bauer, served on the boards of the California Arboretum Foundation, the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens and numerous other charitable organizations.

Arboretum fountain, pool

It was Mabel Bauer who commissioned artist Millard Sheets to design the stunning Bauer Fountain in honor of her husband, Harry, who died in 1960. The fountain, at the entrance to the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens in Arcadia, was completed in 1963. Sheets also designed the Scottish Rite Cathedral, now the Marciano Art Foundation, in Windsor Square, on Wilshire Boulevard between Lucerne and Plymouth boulevards. The entry pool surrounding the Bauer Fountain is the McFie Pool, which was underwritten by pioneer Los Angeles stockbroker Lyman McFie. The family of his wife, Phila Milbank McFie, developed Country Club Park, in our part of town, and various McFie family members also lived in Hancock Park.

But, back to Pasadena and the Bauer House and Gardens!

Architect Johnson designed the house in the Monterey Colonial style, with prominent second-floor balconies on both the front and back sides of the house. Only two families have lived in the house, the Bauers and, later, the late filmmaker Stephen J. Cannell and his family. The building now is in the hands of approximately 30 interior and landscape designers who will update the classic rooms so more than 30,000 visitors may enjoy the estate between April 20 and May 18. On the spacious grounds during that period, there also will be shops offering a variety of boutique and craft items as well as several on-site restaurants.

The setting of the 15,000-square-foot estate is a veritable private park with broad lawns, stately oaks, tropical plantings, rose gardens and Mediterranean terraces. On one side of the house, the ground slopes down to a swimming pool and pool house with a north-south tennis court below that.

Because the fixed-up property undoubtedly will be available for sale after its Showcase period, many of the descriptions from the sponsoring nonprofit organization

them is the very large stepdown living room, where an alcove opens to the southern terrace and the pool below. The living room and dining room, as well as the breakfast room, library and family room, all have fireplaces.” The second floor is not to be overlooked: It “accommodates four family bedrooms and baths, as well as a study and a nanny suite.”

Showcase visits

Marlborough to enter robotic competition

Team Curiosity, a robotics team based out of Marlborough School, designs, fabricates, builds and codes a robot.

sound like a real-estate advertisement:

“The sweeping circular drive extends southward past the home toward a concealed motor court area, where a four-car garage encompasses a guest house, workshop and gardener’s bath. In the lovely home are 18 major rooms of harmonious proportions and a purity of detail; 10 of which feature wood-burning fireplaces. Both wood and plaster moldings make their delicate statements as the flooring shines with random-width wood planks. On the main floor are the gracious reception rooms. Chief among

When the redecorating is complete and the house is available for tours, the property will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (to 6 p.m. on Fridays). Timed-entry tickets are required, and shuttle buses will take visitors from free parking lots to the property. Ticket prices range from $38 to $75.

All proceeds from the tours fund charitable grants for Southern California arts and music organizations. This annual fundraising house tour originated in 1948 when the Pasadena Junior Philharmonic Committee (the sponsoring organization’s previous name) first organized the event. More than $26 million has been raised for charity through the Showcase tours since 1948. Tickets for this year’s Showcase House are now on sale. Ticket and other information is available at pasadenashowcase.org.

This 2024-25 season robot will compete this month in the FIRST Tech Challenge, a global robotics competition, against thousands of teams.

“As we gear up to compete in Regional Championships in early March, we are hoping to expand our reach even more and share our amazing work with our Los Angeles community,” a school spokesperson said.

“Additionally, we work to engage and bring robotics to our greater community, connect with STEM professionals, and collaborate with teams across the world.”

The team won the second highest judged award at the World Championships last year and are back to back Southern California champions.

This season, they’ve reached over 6,000 people through their outreach spreading the message of robotics, along with over 40,000 through our social media collaborating with those across 14 countries and 23 states.

BAUER HOUSE in a Monterey Colonial design of famous architect Reginald D. Johnson.

Photo by Makela Yepez Photography

FRONT ENTRANCE HALL of the Bauer House shows the under-construction aura of the Empty House Party for the 2025 Pasadena Showcase House of Design. Photo by Suzan Pickering

ICE SCULPTURE AND SHRIMP were available at the Empty House Party, just off the living room, in an octagonal room that likely had a Prohibition-era bar hiding behind a secret panel in one wall. Photo by Suzan Pickering

Local Frank Lloyd Wright masterpiece features new photo exhibit

By John Welborne

Right nearby, atop the hill in Barnsdall Park, is the world-famous Hollyhock House. Designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright for oil heiress and theater producer

Aline Barnsdall, the residence was declared the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Los Angeles. It is one of only three such sites in California.

Completed in 1921 and received as a gift from Barnsdall to the City of Los Angeles in 1927, the famous house and surrounding acreage are under the stewardship of the city and are operated by the Department of Cultural Affairs, while being maintained by the Department of Recreation and Parks and the Department of General Services.

Janna Ireland exhibit

If one needs an excuse to visit Hollyhock House (and one should not because it is so special), or if one is seeking a reason to make a repeat visit, a new exhibit of photographs — titled “Janna Ireland: Even by Proxy” — now hanging in the building’s art gallery is the perfect excuse.

Photographer Ireland was selected in the summer of 2024 as part of the celebration of the house’s centennial (interrupted because

of COVID-19) to photograph the interior and exterior of the building, where restoration work continues. With any historic structure by Wright, the maintenance is never-ending.

Ireland’s photo exhibit consists of 21 beautiful images that introduce new perspectives and show the quiet, subtle details of Hollyhock House. They make visible the care and the conservation that protect the site. She has said of these photographs that they are “about light and shadow, wood and concrete, and the labor involved in preserving Wright and Barnsdall’s complicated project for future generations.”

Ireland lives in Los Angeles, where she is an assistant professor in the Department of Art and Art History at Occidental College. She holds

a Master of Fine Arts degree from UCLA and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from New York University.

Hollyhock House underwent an extensive restoration of the public rooms from 2012

to 2015. They are spectacular to see. Hollyhock House is the only Frank Lloyd Wright residence in Los Angeles open to

the public. Visiting hours are Thursdays to Saturdays from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Learn more at hollyhockhouse.org.

HOLLYHOCK HOUSE is site for new photo exhibit.

JANNA IRELAND PHOTOGRAPH emphasizes woodwork in the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed living room.

ART GALLERY originally was two bedrooms. It now also houses scale models of Frank Lloyd Wright-designed structures.

JANNA IRELAND at the January 26 premiere of her photo exhibit, which continues through Sept. 27.

Importance of print newspapers dates back to

By Chronicle staff

Scholars have credited the Romans with the first newspaper, in 59 B.C., called the Acta Diurna or Daily Doings. Even then, the people had a yearning for the news. In 1641, English citizens turned to local papers to hear of the overthrowing of King Charles I by Oliver Cromwell. The first amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791, states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceable to assemble, and to petition the government for a

CAMPBELL HALL

Claire “Cal” Lesher 12th Grade

NEWSPAPERS to trust, touch and feel.

redress of grievances.” In this one sentence, U.S. law formally guaranteed freedom of the press.

There is no doubt that information and access to it is vitally important to human beings. And, with all of the news and information available at our fingertips, why would anyone need to read a

THIRD STREET

Maya Johnson 5th Grade

printed newspaper?

Trust. With decades of reputation built up and earned, readers trust printed newspapers over online news sources known for lax editorial standards and widespread misinformation. Papers have put the time and energy into maintaining high journalistic standards. Ideally, a print newspaper that provides access to online content for someone who can’t get access to the print copy provides the best of both worlds.

Touch and feel. The tactile experience of holding a paper and turning the pages provides a sensory experience that can’t be achieved while scrolling on a screen or look-

BRAWERMAN ELEMENTARY

ing at a computer. The stories are consumed with more focus and the advertisements are trusted and remembered.

Less distracting. Newspapers aren’t flashing pop-up ads and there isn’t a problem with having to pinch or squeeze or squint at a screen. As opposed to a frustrating digital experience, print newspapers can be a time of focus and solitude.

A younger audience . A study by the American Press Institute found that 74 percent of 16- to 40-year-olds get news and information at least weekly from traditional news sources, including print newspapers, for many of the reasons stated above.

the bottle, and a journalistic organization must have a digital presence in order to reach a wide range of readers. Fortunately, the pendulum has started to swing back to a time when people would read their printed newspaper with their coffee, or read their book in the park on a summer day as opposed to listening to it. In a small way these activities can make us feel more connected to our community and the stories that emanate.

Cell phones banned from LAUSD schools

The girls’ varsity basketball will compete in the first round CIFSS Division 2AA Playoffs. The boys’ varsity basketball team will compete in the first round CIFSS Division 1 playoffs. Go teams!

Our annual Hands 4 Haiti student-led benefit helped raise money for our sister school in Haiti with a variety of music performances from our students.

The high school’s Valentine Choral Concert was fantastic. The newest show in the art gallery, Pablove Shutterbugs’ “Photographic Expressions” is incredible.

Lastly, Happy Founder’s Day! Campbell Hall opened its doors 81 years ago!

Hello from Third Street School!

Making Caring Common is teaming up with the YMCA to help victims of the Los Angeles fires. Every class has been assigned a simple self-care item, like toothbrushes, shampoo and soap, and each student is asked to bring one to donate.

The 5th graders attended AstroCamp in the Idyllwild/Pine Cove area and had a blast! We had science lessons daily and participated in activities like zip-lining, hiking, rock climbing and stargazing.

Students have also been invited to attend “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” at the Pantages Theater in March.

Summer Hardt and Ally Kroll 4th Grade

One of our favorite events is the Makers Fair! It happens every year in February. All the families in our school community come together for this special event. Each grade presents projects we’ve worked on in our specialist classes, like art, science and innovation. We also share things we’ve been working on in our homerooms.

In addition to all the amazing projects, there are delicious desserts. You can even make things yourself, like pita bread, pins and more!

During the Makers Fair, a slideshow of pictures from the year plays, showing all the great memories we’ve made. It’s so much fun!

LIBRARIES

FAIRFAX

161 S. Gardner St. 323-936-6191

JOHN C. FREMONT 6121 Melrose Ave. 323-962-3521 (temporarily closed)

MEMORIAL

4625 W. Olympic Blvd. 323-938-2732

WILSHIRE

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

HOURS

Mon. and Wed., 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Tues. and Thurs. noon to 8 p.m.; Fri. and Sat., 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Libraries will be closed Mon., March 31 for César Chávez Day.

Archives. Reading an archival newspaper is like opening a time capsule. The stories and ads in those pages just feel different. They transport one back to another time and place in a way that can’t be done digitally.

Accessible. Printed newspapers can reach a demographic that might not be technically proficient, that might not have the resources to view stories in a digital format or, simply, that have not grown up with phones in their hands and their heads down.

Ultimately, print and digital can and do coexist. The genie of technology is out of

Cell phones, smartwatches and earbuds have been banned from use for students during the day at all Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) schools. The LAUSD Board passed the ban in June 2024. The deadline to comply was Feb. 11. Some schools implemented the ban prior to this date.

How the school enforces the restriction is up to the school. Some purchased magnetic pouches for each student (which limit cellphone access), others have lockers and many are using the honor system where students keep their devices in their backpack throughout the day, including lunch.

This home at 355 S. Rimpau Blvd. in Hancock Park sold for $9,850,000 in January.

Trio teaches climbing to disadvantaged youth

By Nona Sue Friedman

Three high school juniors from the Larchmont Village area turned their passion for rock climbing into helping other kids learn how to climb. Last year, Henry Miller, Grayson Green and Matias Ziperovich created Boulder Buddies.

Boulder Buddies meets the third Friday of each month during the school year. The

LARCHMONT CHARTER WILSHIRE

Xavier Mason and Emory Kirkwood 3rd Grade

We have a jog-a-thon coming up called Larch Radness taking place Sat., March 1. Larch Radness is a fundraiser on the Selma campus where kids run for dollars. We also have an upcoming art show. For it, our grade will make Monet inspired paintings to put on display. Calling all bookworms! March is national reading month, and Larchmont has a tradition called, “Drop Everything and Read.”

founding trio, along with other climber volunteers, teach disadvantaged kids ages 5 to 13 the basics of climbing. Buddies teamed up with the Sheriff’s Youth Foundation to help the communities surrounding their Downtown gym.

It’s a donation-based organization. If you are interested in helping them reach more underprivileged kids, check out boulderbuddies.org.

CATHEDRAL CHAPEL SCHOOL

Nina Norwood 11th Grade

Right:

PASSIONATE ABOUT rock climbing are, from left, Henry Miller, Matias Ziperovich, Jamielyn Flores of the Sheriff’s Youth Foundation, Sgt. Juan Martinez from the County of Los Angeles Sheriff’s Dept., and Grayson Green.

FAIRFAX HIGH SCHOOL

Hillary Tong 12th Grade

IMMACULATE HEART

Rosie Lay 11th Grade

LARCHMONT CHARTER LAFAYETTE PARK

Ella Wolovitch 9th Grade

We hosted our annual Multi-Cultural fair to show love and appreciation to our diverse student population. Ballet Folklórico performed Mexican folk dance, Filipino dancers gave a show and Korean food was served along with various other cuisines from around the globe.

Our Junior High Decathlon team placed 4th overall at the Quizbowl and won several individual medals. A big thank you to everyone who participated in our coat drive for a women’s domestic violence shelter. CCS is praying for those affected by the fires.

The Academic Decathlon team competed in the LAUSD regional competitions, while the robotics teams competed in the Interleague Tournament at Monrovia High School. The Computer Science Honor Society hosted the last round of the VEX IQ Robotics Competition, ending with an award ceremony to recognize the teams advancing to state championships.

Black history month was celebrated with events such as the Black College Expo and the Black Excellence Showcase.

To support families impacted by the fires, we contributed to a food drive.

February was eventful as students honored Black History Month, staged our annual talent show and participated in the Close Up program in Washington, D.C.

For this year’s Close Up trip, 24 juniors and their faculty chaperones spent one week touring the nation’s capital. Students got a unique opportunity to see how government works “up close.”

Another highlight was when the program brought our students together with peers from around the country to discuss current events and debate the most pressing issues facing the nation.

There’s been a lot of holi day spirit! For Lunar New Year, we had an engaging assembly filled with a ramen noodle eating competition, trivia game, a performance from our own VIVID dance team and a traditional dance performance.

With love in the air, students bought Valentine’s Day grams, which are gifts you buy for your friends.

We’ve had a plethora of extra days off due to President’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Lunar New Year. These holidays gave us the opportunity to enjoy the cultural and historical significance behind these special days.

Serve tasty beet mocktails and inspire your guests

By Robyn Randolph

Instead of red wine or a dehydrating, liver-taxing

juice. Chill some glasses in the freezer, turn them upside down and dip the rims in some Trader Joe’s Chili Lime spice (or Tajin), like you would if you were making margaritas. Mocktails are fun to serve as an alternative to cocktails, so you can stay true to you and your goals while inspiring company.

Each of the four ingredients lower inflamation by supporting liver health. Make food your medicine! The contrasting flavors form a delicious drink.

Ingredients: 1 lime, the whole shebang (skin and all)

1 large knob ginger thumb size

1 beet

3 apples

Chili lime spice (optional)

Blend in your juicer. Serve in a glass dipped in chili lime spice.

Do you have a seasonal recipe for the Chronicle? Write to circulation@larchmontchronicle.com with “Recipe” in the subject line.

at Descanso Gardens

By Chronicle staff

Enjoy Japanese immigrant Francis Miyosaku Uyematsu’s camellia blooms at the Descanso Gardens and learn about the history he and his plants endured during the Japanese Garden History talk and tour Sat., March 8, from 3 to 5 p.m.

Other blooms include daffodils, tulips, peach blossoms and magnolias. The magnolia trees, a frequent sight we see in and around our neighborhood as well, are, according to the Descanso website, … “one of the earliest flowering plants on Earth… Their fossils date back over 100 mil-

lion years.” Magnolia trees rely on beetles for pollination, as they formed before the existence of bees.

Visitors can also stroll through the California coast live oak grove and learn about the Tongva people and their relation to this native species and its gift of acorns. Maybe your neighborhood could welcome a magnificent Quercus agrifolia for the next 200 years.

“Daphne‘s Wardrobe Metamorphosis into Nature,” a study in interdisciplinary artworks by women combining plants and the human form, is on view from Sat., March 1, through Sun., June 1.

CAMELLIA BLOOMS at Descanso Gardens are both fragrant and exquisite.

DIP THE RIM in chili lime spice, as you would a margarita.

LEXI CAPRI enjoys her beet anti-inflammation mocktail — a spring cleaning drink for the body.

VERA LEHNDORFF / HOLGER TRULZSCH’S art piece from “Daphne’s Wardrobe Metamorphosis into Nature” is on view at Descanso Gardens.

California Sycamores that line our parkways are in danger

By Adam G. Schiller

Growing up on McCadden

Place launched my fascination with our native tree, Platanus racemosa, often called the California sycamore. Though not colorful, the gnarled trunks, white bark and soft leaves of these trees tower over sidewalks of our streets here in the neigborhood with gentle grandeur.

But the California sycamore is increasingly in danger of widespread death due to disease and the genetic hybridization with trees foreign to the region.

Several illnesses pose serious threats. The most pervasive is a fungus caused by an invasive beetle species that harmed a California sycamore in front of my home years ago. Since appearing in the U.S. in the 2010s, the insect has increasingly threatened native sycamores, and therefore the many species that rely on them as well. We treated that fungus, and the tree survived.

The California sycamore is more than a majestic tree. It

is a foundational component of the ecosystem that continues to coexist with us after more than a century of development in the Mid-Wilshire area. If we allow it to disappear, so will the creatures that rely on this species and enrich our neighborhoods. In order to preserve this ecosystem, we need to protect the California sycamore. The process starts on our sidewalks.

Genetic issue

Another issue is genetic, as I learned from my mother, a molecular biologist of plants. The dominant genes of other sycamore varieties, such as the London plane, can spread to nearby local trees through airborne pollination to produce variants that lack the critical California sycamore properties local species depend on for survival.

Genetic hybridization becomes relevant locally when considering how sycamores in Mid-Wilshire are replaced. The Hancock Park Home Owners Association is offering to replace sick or dead native syc-

amores with non-native trees such as jacarandas and elms. This has been encouraged by claims that the California sycamore has high water needs, though its demands are equal to each of these options in the local climate conditions of Los Angeles. If one were to receive approval to plant a California sycamore, the tree that a homeowner might receive could be hybridized such that it would not support the local ecosystem. Admittedly, there is little res-

idents can do to directly stop the hybridization of the California sycamore beyond raising awareness. This challenge to its survival may be addressed through greater care on the part of the wildlife restoration groups and local government organizations that impact breeding of the species.

But protecting the California sycamores that tower over our streets is an effort that anyone can pursue. Checking for disease symptoms and beetle infestation is the first step. Residents may then enlist treatment for those on parkways adjacent to their properties. Though not inexpensive, it is a worthy investment, in that mature trees contribute to increasing property values; reduce energy costs; and require less water than saplings. The lifespan of California sycamores, upwards of 400 years, provides benefits far into the future. Additionally, saving existing trees avoids the need to plant non-native trees or hybridized sycamores.

Leafy alternatives to stately sycamore can grow, thrive here

By Chronicle staff

Chris Shogren, an environmental horticulture advisor for UC Cooperative Extension, told us the Sycamore is still recovering from the beetle that came about 10 years ago.

“They are looking better, but last year a resurgence of the beetle population occurred. Many of the sycamores are just aging out as they’ve been in the landscape for 60 years or so.”

When asked about what trees he thought would be good for our sidewalk areas, he said it’s a difficult choice because people like big trees with large canopies, but they demand a larger space around them.

“Crape Myrtle, the most common planted tree in parkways right now, is hardy, and has fewer root issues than sycamores.”

It’s also smaller, with colorful

and long-lasting flowers in summer. Shogren explained, “The coast live oak, a Los Angeles native, needs a big, wide area and doesn’t like to be watered much in the summer (when Angelenos water most).”

Being a native, it follows our normal weather system where it receives most of its water in winter. Casual summer watering nearby for other landscape is not healthy.

Another interesting point Shogren shared: “There is another tree — the native island oak, which comes from the islands off Southern and Baja California” — which Shogren suggested to the city of Santa Monica “to try because it’s a little bit smaller than an oak, and being in a city near the coast with similar moisture, it might fare well.”

In our area, with less

moisture, he spoke of the southwest oak; “It’s smaller and has a much less invasive root system. It is commonly seen in Arizona, which does get some summer rain, so it works with the way we tend to water in our landscapes here in Southern California.”

For recommendations in choosing trees and what sort of space they ought to be in, visit Selectree.calpoly.edu.

NON-NATIVE TREES grace the 200 S. block of Irving Boulevard.

Feeding firefighters continues even after flames are extinguished

By Helene Seifer

On Jan. 22 I climbed into a tricked-out truck stuffed with potatoes, squirt bottles of chimichurri and horseradish sauce, butternut squash salad, giant chocolate chip cookies, a traveling sous vide stuffed with rib eye and porterhouse steaks, two electric barbecues and The Grill Dads, Ryan Fey and Mark Anderson, Food Network personalities and regulars on the “Today” show.

We headed to South Central L.A., to Fire Station 33, the busiest fire station in Los Angeles, to thank the firefighters stationed there with food.

And thus began my adventure giving back to firefighters, who give so much to us every day, but never more

LE LYCEE FRANCAIS DE

LOS ANGELES

Aydin Hammoudeh 8th Grade

so than during the horrific January fires.

Brookside resident Julie Stromberg has been posting

to the coaches and players. Go lions!

on social media about her effort to bring meals to firefighters, and that’s why I got involved. When both the Pal-

isades and Eaton fires broke out Jan. 7, 2025, unleashing their fury and ravaging the neighborhoods, Stromberg

wanted to do something to help, so she called a young firefighter she knew to ask what would be appreciated. He said they needed good meals. She thought, “That’s simple. Anyone can do that.”  On Feb. 9, the first fire station dinner was delivered.  Meals come from many sources. “I got connected to the Independent Hospitality Coalition LA [an organization of Los Angeles hospitality operators, advocates and workers]. A friend owns Ronan [a pizzeria on Melrose].” Stromberg notes that both Ronan and Tsuri (sushi bar on Melrose) got donations from clientele and community members to subsidize

(Please turn to Page 11)

The middle school girls volleyball team won the FIYA division 1A championship. The boys varsity soccer team is Independence League Champions and has entered the divisional playoffs. Bravo

Chinese is one of the seven languages you can learn at our school. An important tradition is celebrating the Lunar New Year with a dragon dance, games, traditional food, fieldtrips in Chinatown and fun activities led by students.

Additionally, our school celebrated Black history month with a “Stepping” demonstration from Alpha Phi Alpha for elementary students and various art

contests. The high school held a fantastic winter formal, transforming the gym into Casino Royale, while our middle school delved into reading and author visits for the annual Read-AThon.

MARYMOUNT

Valentina Aquino 10th Grade

and could learn more about other cultures and identities.

PAGE SCHOOL

Amanda Argiropoulos 8th Grade

Hello Larchmont friends!

100-year olds and wore things with 100 items.

Valentine’s Day was a sea of pink, red and white with treats passed around to our friends.

YULA HIGH SCHOOL

February was a festive month here at Marymount! As part of our Conservatory Arts Program, student performers took the stage at Cabaret Night, dazzling the audience with their incredible singing and dancing. It was a night filled with energy, creativity, and talent!

The next evening, students dressed up for the highly anticipated Father-Daughter Dinner Dance. This annual event is always a special time for students to bond with their dads while competing in the lively dance contest. Each year, a new father-daughter duo steals the spotlight on the dance floor!  February truly showcased the heart and spirit of Marymount!

OAKWOOD SCHOOL

Charlotte Zabel 12th Grade

Valentine’s Day began with sweet start at our annual pancake breakfast with our students decked out in red, pink and purple.

Although February is known for splurging on sweets, it’s also Dental Health Month. We held a special dental health presentation for our preschoolers and first graders.

In March, we will celebrate Read Across America Day with a day spent in our cozy pajamas reading some of our favorite books.

Our students will also be working on their Science Fair projects – what thought provoking experiments will win this years’ coveted prizes?

I leave you with this thought“Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.”

ST.

— The Dalai Lama

Eitan Gershov 11th Grade

On the last day of the first semester at YULA, we have a special tradition: Impact Day. On this day, the whole school heads out to perform acts of kindness. Seniors go to soup kitchens, juniors visit old age homes, sophomores spend time with individuals with special needs and freshmen visit hospitals. Impact Day is important because it reminds us that, kindness and good values always come first. Having participated in three Impact Days myself and speaking with many peers, I believe that we, the students, gain just as much from this day as those we are helping. It’s a meaningful way to give back and grow at the same time.

The school musical, “Mean Girls,” is finishing its run on March 1. It’s going fabulously! The songs are difficult to sing and the logistics of the show are equally challenging, but we are making it happen!

BRENDAN Alyssa Lee 8th Grade

The IDEAS Summit took place in the middle of February. This is a week of dialogue and discussion about different world events, issues and subjects of debate. This year we took a new approach and limited the speakers to being inside the Oakwood community rather than bringing people in. During the IDEAS Summit, we had affinity group meetings

Fun is in the air at St. Brendan! The last week of January we celebrated all of the wonderful people in our community during Catholic Schools week. The theme each day was appreciation. The week culminated with an exciting win by our teachers in the faculty verse eighth grade annual volleyball game.

We had our first Lunar New Year party. The memorable evening included delicious food, dancing and Korean performances.  On February 12th, we celebrated our 100th day of school. Students dressed up as

SAL MARINO delivers a delicious Italian meal from his eponymous restaurant to Fire Station 11 in Westlake / MacArthur Park.

DAPHNE BROGDEN and son Rez delivered her homemade dinner to Hancock Park Station 29.

A word history of Helvetica and more sifted through spare change

While sorting through some change in my wallet, I noticed that one coin stood out among the rest. Smaller and lighter than any of my U.S. currency and notably gold in color, the coin bore on one side the number 5 encircled by a wreath of grapes illustrated in minute detail. The reverse side showed the profile of a stately woman, her hair tied with a ribbon and crowned with a diadem. The words “Confœderatio Helvetica” appeared in an arc surrounding her. “Helvetica...” I wondered to myself. “Like the font?”

The font known as Helvetica — long prized for its neutrality and clarity — is near ubiquitous. It graces the logos of Verizon and Target, the signage of the New York

Feeding firefighters

(Continued from Page 10) or outright pay for meals. Friends of friends got involved and that’s how Marino Restaurant on Melrose provided two meals. Rocco’s Pizza on Wilshire also joined the effort. Friends of Wilshire Park Neighborhood Association got their whole community involved, with some delivering home-cooked meals to their local Station 29 (Hancock Park). Daphne Brogdon, the late chef Mark Peel’s exwife and a blogger and food personality in her own right, cooked a feast for the cause. United Neighbors worked on funding and delivering meals. Miracle Mile Residential Association adopted Mid-City Station 68. A student at Immaculate Heart adopted Station 82 for a week. Other restaurants contributed, such as Larchmont’s Great White, Genghis Cohen (Fairfax), Kismet (Los Feliz) and Jaragua (Salvadoran restaurant on Beverly Boulevard at Western Avenue) and La Brea Avenue’s Met Him At a Bar.    The number of firefighters varies from station to station. On average there are 10-20 firefighters on duty at a time, but Station 108 (Franklin Canyon) has four

City Subway and, of course, the headlines of this paper. It’s so simple and unassuming it often goes undetected. It’s simply “in the water;” something we always see but rarely perceive.

The typeface was first introduced in 1957 by designers Max Miedinger and Eduard Hoffmann of Switzerland, which, I learned, was also the country of origin of my small gold-colored coin, undoubtedly a stowaway from my trip there a couple years prior.

Originally called “Neue Haas Grotesk” — more on that later — the family of letters was renamed “Helvetica,” after the Latin phrase for Switzerland, “Confœderatio Helvetica” (literally “Swiss Confederation”). The Latin term originated

and Station 90 (near Van Nuys airport) has 50.

Station 33, where I went with the Grill Dads, had 15 firefighters the night we went. While the steaks were grilling, their ambulance went out on a medical emergency and their two remaining fire trucks were called out for structure fires (their third truck was at the Palisades Fire). Shortly after the food was ready and set out, though, Capt. Raul Cabrera and the crew returned and were very appreciative of a delicious hot meal that they didn’t have to cook themselves for a change.

The Grill Dads are no strangers to cooking for first responders, having teamed with Food Network star Guy Fieri to cook during the devastating 2018 fire in Paradise, California. They also grilled in South Carolina during the double whammy of last year’s hurricanes Helene and Milton. Food people care, we have seen over and over.

The fires might be out, but showing support for our first responders is still needed. The other week, after all the fires were extinguished, I walked to Melrose Hill Station 52 with Andrew Lawson, the owner of Café Telegrama (on Western), with lunch for Captain Rorden and his crew. It’s a small station — only five firefighters were there — but

from “Helvetii,” the Gaulish tribe that, before the Roman era, occupied what is now the northern part of Switzerland.

The typeface’s original name, Neue Haas Grotesk, stood to be questioned. How could anyone describe the graceful, well-proportioned letterforms of Helvetica as “grotesque?” I descended further into the coin-incited rabbit hole.

The word “grotesque” has shape-shifted in meaning, branching into various inflections — from neutral to pejorative and noun to adjective — before landing in they were one of the primary stations sent to the Sunset Fire along Runyon Canyon, the fire that could have threatened the Larchmont area had the winds risen to the force seen in the Palisades and Eaton fires.

Lawson and his partners in Café Telegrama and the attached Italian restaurant Ètra, had already served over 100 free meals to first responders and those displaced by the fires and they continue to do so, as many other eating establishments are doing. They also held a fundraiser with La Morra Pizzeria that raised $4,000 for GoFundMe’s Wildfire Relief Fund.

But it’s especially poignant to walk into a station with a meal and meet the firefighters who did — and do — so much.

the present day as a word used to describe that which is “absurdly incongruous,” according to Merriam-Webster. What was “incongruous” to 19th- and early-20th-century design critics about the newly developed grouping of typefaces that came to be known as “grotesque” was their lack of serifs, the short strokes that cap the ends of the lines that made up letters in most fonts up until that point (including Clearface, the circa 1907 one you’re reading now). These early “sans-serif” designs were deemed crude when compared to their more ornate predecessors.

“Grotesque,” from the Italian “grottesca,” meaning “of a cave,” was first assigned to paintings found on the walls of excavated Roman chambers discovered during the Renaissance. It later evolved into the name of a genre of art populated with fantastical human and animal figures,

typically arranged in an intricate and decorative manner. Mythical creatures carved from stone and affixed to Gothic cathedrals also came to be called “grotesques,” a renaming from the Middle Age term “babewyns,” from the Italian “babunio,” meaning “baboon.” If the stone grotesque was designed to divert water away from a building, it was called a “gargoyle,” from the Old French “gargoule” (meaning “throat”), a word that also begets the English word “gargle.”

My questions now answered, I walked over to my “everything” drawer, where paper clips, rubber bands and matchbooks go to lie in wait. Filing my 5 centimes Swiss coin away, I wondered when I might need it again in the future — for a trip back to its place of origin, or perhaps simply another journey through the annals of design history.

FUN FACT: Harriet dates to Darwin

Harriet, a tortoise, was born around 1830 in the Galapagos Islands, where she met British naturalist Charles Darwin. He took her to England when she was merely 5 years old and the size of a dinner plate.

Several years later, she was taken to Australia and named Harry by the Brisbane Botanical Gardens, who believed she was a he.

Eventually, her keeper found she was a female and

changed her name. She continued her somewhat celebrity life until 2006, when she died at 175 years old. She was one of the oldest living creatures in the world. Her favorite treat was red hibiscus flowers.

HARRIET. Photo by Fritz Geller-Grimm

Word Café by Mara Fisher

Father and creator of Miracle Mile is innovative A.W. Ross

By Nona Sue Friedman

If you blink you’ll miss the bust of A.W. Ross at 5799 Wilshire Blvd., located in a grassy little triangle facing the stretch of boulevard he created, Miracle Mile. Without him, who knows what would have happened to Wilshire.

It was 1920. The heart of Los Angeles was Downtown. Streetcars were the primary form of transportation. The automobile was just coming into vogue. Wilshire was only paved for one-and-ahalf miles west of Downtown to MacArthur Park and the wealthy Westlake neighborhood. The remaining stretch of Wilshire consisted of a dirt road passing through barley fields, pastures, oil fields and

even a small airstrip.

About four miles west of Downtown, Ross had a goal to build a new retail destination. With that thought in mind, he bought 18 acres, from what is now approximately La Brea to Fairfax avenues, for $54,000.

Ross’ friends and associates thought he was crazy for wanting to build a shopping district several miles from the bustling Downtown, in an area that didn’t even have an electric streetcar. As a visionary, he believed this new form of transportation, the automobile, was the way of the future. He wanted to change the retail landscape.

Miracle Mile is built

Ross’ idea was to erect a shopping district that catered to cars, not pedestrians. This

would mean simpler, larger, bolder signs oriented toward the street and easily viewed through a windshield. Each store needed larger frontage along the boulevard, as vehicles move faster than walkers. Buildings needed rear parking lots to accommodate shoppers and mitigate traffic even then. Large window displays were added along sidewalks as well as the rear entrances for those parking there. This was all new, revolutionary retail thinking.

Even the street itself was created differently. More and wider lanes were installed. Wilshire was the first road in the western U.S. to have dedicated left-turn lanes and synchronized traffic lights.

Ross lured businesses to

Wilshire by offering very inexpensive rents, sometimes as little as $100 per foot frontage.

In 1924, the first structures of Miracle Mile starting appearing. But what sealed the success of the area was when Desmond’s, a wellknown Los Angeles-based department store with three locations Downtown, in 1929 opened a fourth location in the Wilshire Tower at 5514 Wilshire Blvd., between Dunsmuir and Cochran avenues. What’s in a name?

Ross originally named the area Wilshire Boulevard Center. However, there had been numerous nicknames over the years, such as Fifth Avenue of the West and America’s Champs Élysées. It wasn’t until a friend of Ross heard him talking about his development and described it as a “miracle,” that the name took hold.

The area has had its ups and downs over the decades, but has persevered as a destination. It’s still referred to as the

Miracle Mile, with numerous signs declaring its name, but it’s also known as Los Angeles’ Museum Row.

Many of the original Art Deco buildings remain, but the only attribution to Ross’ impact on the area, and possibly all of Los Angeles, is that bust on a pedestal looking over his creation. The inscription reads, “Founder and developer of the Miracle Mile. Vision to see, wisdom to know, courage to do.” And that sums him up.

STATUE OF MIRACLE MILE developer A.W. Ross was dedicated on March 16, 1964.

La Brea Tar Pits passes major hurdle; green space, birds at risk

By Suzan Filipek

Plans to reshape the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum came closer to reality last month, when the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) on Feb. 4.

The master plan for the project offers a new vision and expansion of the Ice Age fossil site — the world’s largest active paleontological dig in an urban center.

The new design will accommodate an additional 800,000 visitors annually — up from the 400,000 students, tourists and others who visit the 13-acre La Brea Tar Pits today. It rests on the 23-acre park donated to the community by George Allan Hancock in 1924.

So far, a total of $22 million has been allotted for the proposed project, and fundraising is underway at the site at 5801 Wilshire Blvd.

“The certification of the EIR was a significant step forward for the project, and we hope to be able to share a concrete timeline for construction soon,” said museum spokesperson Amy Hood. “La Brea Tar Pits is one of L.A.’s most iconic destinations, and we plan to be able to welcome visitors to L.A. during the 2028 Olympics. Construction timing will take this into consideration.”

New York-based Weiss / Manfredi’s design includes renovating the existing museum, built in 1977 as the George C. Page Museum, and construction of a two-story, 40,000-square-foot building with two theaters.

When the La Brea Tar Pits Loops and Lenses, Master Plan and Concept Design opens, scientists and visitors of all ages will be able to step back in time — way back — to learn about the last major episode of global climate change and to consider possible solutions for our own time, museum officials say.

But much of what people like about the expansive park — open green space, its many trees and serving as a migratory stop for birds — will be removed, according to opponents of the project.

The Miracle Mile Residential Association (MMRA) has been in lock step with the Audubon Society in opposition of the new design since it was first presented for its endangerment to birds and other wildlife, demolition of 200 trees and loss of open space.

“The city is starved for open space, and [people] don’t need to be hectored with [climate change or] any kind of message,” said Greg Goldin, MMRA president.

Travis Longcore, president of the Los Angeles Audubon

RENDERING shows a view from the land bridge.

Society, added, “The final EIR corrected some factual deficiencies in response to our comments. Walls of glass, glass railings and extensive night lighting, all of which would be lethal for birds, would not be in the final design.

“But they have not backed off their unfortunate plans to cut a large number of the trees remaining in the park,

Courtesy of NHMLAC

which is made even worse by the tree losses from other projects in the last decade.”

Some 330 trees are rooted in the park site. Under the proposal, 200 would be removed and replaced.

“We plan to replace more trees than the number removed, and the new trees will be native species better suited to the climate,” said Hood.

Many of the public comments during the environmental review process were about the trees, said Ann Rubin, a Carthay Circle resident who has long worked to save the open-space park and its beloved trees.

She questions who is looking at the overall development of the block and the Mile as a whole, with several high-rise developments in the works.

(Please turn to Page 10)

WILSHIRE BOULEVARD

TAR PITS are located behind the May Co. department store, as seen in this 1940 photo. Photo courtesy of Ann Rubin

Community unites to focus on resilience and preparedness

By John Welborne

The 39th annual community meeting of the Miracle Mile Residential Association (MMRA) took place on Jan. 25 in the sunny penthouse on the roof of the Petersen Automotive Museum. After the meeting, MMRA members and guests mixed in with the crowds of families and automobile aficionados exploring the three-story museum with its hundreds of shiny cars.

The prime purpose of this year’s meeting was to focus on creating a “Resilient Miracle Mile Through Preparedness and Community.”

That was not a surprise, given January’s fire tragedies and widespread evacuations of homes throughout Southern California. MMRA Vice President Kari Garcia was the discussion leader, and she had four public safety experts on the dais with her. They were LAPD Wilshire Division Senior Lead Officer (SLO) Tim Estevez; Terrence Gomes, a Council District 10 constituent services deputy, and MMRA Block Captains Ben Skerker and Scott Boyett. There subsequently were

community meeting.

remarks from both Skerker and Boyett, both of whom have been trained to be disaster first responders as part of the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) program Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). The disasters for which CERT volunteers are trained include fire, earthquake, flood or public health emergency. CD 10’s Gomes also is CERT coordinator. Learn more at lafd.org/ join/volunteer/cert.

Representatives from Los Angeles City Councilmembers Heather Hutt and Katy Yaroslavsky (Council Districts 10 and 5, respectively) spoke

Runners ready for Marathon

This is the 40th year for the Los Angeles Marathon. The sold out race covers 26.2 mile with a 932 foot elevation gain. The course begins at Dodgers Stadium and finishes in Century City. Runners will wind through Silverlake, Hollywood,

West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Brentwood and then double back to the finish line.

The race takes place on Sun., March 16, starts at 7 a.m. and lasts for six and a half hours after the last person crosses the starting line.

and responded to questions.

Prior to a general question and answer session, association President Greg Goldin gave an update about the previous year’s MMRA activities. For the coming year, Goldin said that the volunteer organization will continue to focus on the quality of life in the Miracle Mile and will put a special emphasis on increasing the neighborhood’s disaster preparedness and resilience.

After the meeting, Goldin told the Chronicle that the MMRA board members were very impressed by the large turnout of residents at the meeting. In the two weeks preceding the long-scheduled event, there had been discussion of cancelling it because of the fires. Goldin recounts, “There was an active debate, but we eventually decided not to cancel.” He said that turned out to be the right decision because so many neighbors had become interested in learning about

I’m proud to represent this community and serve as Democratic Caucus Chair in the California Assembly, where we are taking bold action to defend our democracy, rebuild and prevent future fires, address home insurance concerns, build affordable housing, keep California’s film industry strong, combat climate change, fight against hate, protect civil rights, create safer communities, and invest in good-paying jobs.

emergency preparedness on account of the fires.

Goldin told us, “It was especially so after people in the Miracle Mile had seen flames starting to leap up Runyon Canyon, not so very far way. People really needed, and wanted, to be together.”

Goldin repeated his thanks to the sponsors and food donors for the meeting, and he offered special appreciation

to the Petersen Automotive Museum and its executive director, Terry Karges. Goldin explained that the museum made available its meeting room and onsite parking, plus the option for attendees to explore the museum after the meeting, all at no cost. Of Karges, Goldin says, “He is, head and shoulders, the best neighbor we could have.”

PENTHOUSE of the Petersen Automotive Museum welcomed a standing-room-only group of neighbors gathered for the MMRA annual

KARI GARCIA, vice president of the Miracle Mile Residential Association, describes what is needed to have a resilient Miracle Mile. With her, from left, are: SLO Tim Estevez, CD 10 staffer Terrence Gomes, MMRA block captains Ben Skerker and Scott Boyett.

MOVIE CARS are part of the Petersen collection in the Miracle Mile museum on the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue.

VISIT THE ACADEMY MUSEUM

Discover the magic of moviemaking at the Academy Museum—where film history, artistry, and education come to life. Explore iconic exhibitions, watch exclusive screenings, and go behind the scenes of Hollywood’s greatest stories at the ultimate destination for people who love movies.

by: Joshua White/JWPictures, Bottom Image: ©Academy Museum Foundation, Photo by: Andy Boyle

Food delivery robots have arrived to the neighborhood

By Bridget Smith

Delivery robots showed up in the Larchmont area last year, but have been making short-trip deliveries near The Grove and in the Arts District in Downtown L.A. for much longer. According to the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT), these cute little guys have made more than 10,000 deliveries in the area so far. LADOT monitors autonomous vehicles in Los Angeles, including delivery robots. Using advanced digital tools, LADOT collects information on where delivery robots travel to ensure that sidewalks remain accessible and safe.

There are two companies with delivery robots in our area: Serve and Coco. In Los Angeles, Serve has been delivering UberEats on demand since last May. Coco users use the Coco app to

arrange delivery.

These all-electric robots take cars off the road and reduce traffic and emissions. Serve robots have a maximum speed of 11 mph, which is about the same

as a beginner bike rider. However, they are generally observed at walking speeds. Coco robots use both AI and human operators to ensure great service. Serve robots can generally travel

for about 14 hours or 48 miles before needing to be recharged. They can hold the equivalent of four pizzas in their 13-gallon cargo spaces.

Sweetfin on Larchmont uses Coco for deliveries.

Owner Seth Cohen says Coco “offers consumers a faster, cheaper delivery experience with a higher-quality end product. The moment our product is ready to leave our kitchens there is a Coco waiting to fulfill the delivery right outside our front doors.”

However, unlike their human counterparts, they cannot leave your items at your doorstep. The robots cannot climb stairs, so most customers need to meet them on the sidewalk. They also only discharge their cargo when a human unlocks their insulated compartments using their app.

‘Do you like Coco, the food delivery robot, or not?’

That is the question our inquiring photographer asked people in the Miracle Mile.

“I used to live in this neighborhood, and they are like little cars driving around. We saw them a lot. I like them! We don’t have them in the South Bay yet.”

Urban florist

Crossword: A Look at Art

“I’d rather have a person do that.”

“I think it’s great ... I mean they’re not hurting anything. I see them more in West Hollywood than here. You either love something or hate something … that’s the climate we’re in…everybody just needs to calm down.”

Douglas Vanlaningham (not photo ready, he told us) Miracle Mile

of nature

Can-Can 1891

Islamic calligraphy art form

SAMO

Celebrity portraits on silkscreen

The school of classical learning and Renaissance art

Eccentric artist, largest collection housed in St. Petersburg, Florida

Dean (left) with friends Hancock Park La Brea

Coco crossing the street en route to deliver food. Photo courtesy of Coco staff

Anjini and Urmi Subramanian Visiting from Dallas

Join us at craft contemporary as we celebrate 60 years of crafting a brighter cultural landscape in Los Angeles County! This special Benefit & Art Auction honors the visionary legacy of our founder Edith R. Wyle (1918-1999), The Egg and The Eye, and the exceptional contributions of contemporary artist Bari Ziperstein. located at 5814 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036. more info at craftcontemporary.org/benefit2025/

This page was generously sponsored by Wally N. Marks, Inc.

Five museums, lots of homes: Miracle Mile by the numbers

By Helene Seifer

development on the boulevard between La Brea and Fairfax avenues miraculously

lured shoppers from Downtown. What isn’t generally known, though, is that our Miracle Mile is one of many, with at least nine more scattered across the country, from Coral Gables, Florida, to Long Island, New York, to Chicago, Illinois. California has at least two other Miracle Miles — in the Santa Rosa area and in Stockton.

What is miraculous about these miles is that most of them were named to celebrate the great American pastime of shopping, including the onemile-long string of stores in the Miracle Mile shopping mall in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tucson, Arizona’s Mile is a bit classier than most, as its Mid-century Modern architecture is honored in the National Register of Historic Places. The closest thing to a true miracle is the Miracle Mile in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, also known as “the

luckiest place in America.”

Since the 1990s, convenience stores along one stretch of this road sold lottery tickets totaling over $300 million in payouts.

Our Miracle Mile is more than a shopping street or a place to buy Powerball tickets. It is a walkable neighborhood crammed with dozens of restaurants, five museums and 4,694 homes and apartment buildings. It boasts a low crime score of 4 out of a high of 10.

There are many ways to define a place; numbers are as good as any.

The numbers

20,463 — People live in the Miracle Mile neighborhood 25 — Countries of family origin are represented in the populace

31 — Different languages spoken at home

3,000,000+ — Bones retrieved from the La Brea Tar Pits to date

3,000,000+ — Cars clogging Wilshire Blvd. every day (or so it seems)

300 — Number of cars in Petersen Automotive Museum’s permanent collection

2 — Average number of people per household

2 — Subway stops being excavated in the neighborhood

5 — Main architecture styles: Art Deco, Mediterranean Revival, Spanish Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival and Streamline Moderne

14 — Los Angeles Conservancy-designated historic Wilshire Boulevard buildings in Miracle Mile, including the Academy of Motion Pictures / May Company building, El Rey Theatre, the Darkroom building and IHOP

Median price

$1,554,750 — Median price of a Miracle Mile home

$17 — Average price of a cocktail in Miracle Mile

2,259 sq. ft. — Average size of a single-family home

78 sq. ft. — Size of a Barbie Dream House, adjusted for a real person

39 — Median age of residents in Miracle Mile

$70,000 — Median household income

73.6% — Population in workforce

71% —Workforce employed in management, executive and professional occupations

61.1% — College graduates

22% — Have advanced degrees

150,000+ — Objects in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, including the 202 street lights in “Urban Light” by Chris Burden #urbanlight

65,000 — The number of times the hashtag #urbanlight has been used on Instagram.

The Miracle Mile neighborhood in Los Angeles is defined by its backbone, Wilshire Boulevard, which acquired the moniker to denote how

TURTLE PARK: Several turtles live in Wilshire Green Park, more commonly referred to as “Turtle Park” for those in the know. The park centers around this pond with the many turtles and colorful koi. There is also a children’s play area nestled behind Wilshire Courtyard between Masselin and South Curson avenues.

La Brea Tar Pits

(Continued from Page 3)

These include the 42-story Mirabel; Onni Group’s 708 Cloverdale Projects set to reach 43-stories; Onni’s Wilshire Courtyard’s two buildings, (35- and 41-stories); and the Metro construction of two subway stops along Wilshire Boulevard. There is also expansion underway at the Holocaust Museum LA and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), and the new Academy Museum opened a few years ago.

“That’s the real concern for us. The daily grind of outof-scale developments. We’re overwhelmed,” said Goldin. “The MMRA has always welcomed the general notion of the park and museum expanding to accommodate the people who visit. It’s a big attraction. People love the museum. We’ve always wanted to see the museum thrive.”

Built over seven years

The La Brea Tar Pits project is expected to be built in phases over seven years. It’s next door to the David Geffen Galleries at LACMA, expected to open in 2026.

In a 2023 letter to the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County, Longcore wrote, “The La Brea Tar Pits and Page Museum are important cultural and scientific institutions that educate the public about the history of the region. The insights from the excavations and associated research are vitally important and inform much of what we

SITE PLAN of the La Brea Tar Pits Loops and Lenses, Master Plan and Concept Design. Renderings courtesy of NHMLAC

know about the paleohistory of birds in this region. The park and museum complex is also a unique site in that it has areas that have never been developed to urban uses, including vegetation that could well be over 100 years old.

“This project, in combination with the overdevelopment of the remainder of the site by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, represents one more step toward the total replacement of the remaining bits of open, undeveloped space with buildings, active programming and sterilized landscape. Where will the nature persist after cutting down 200 trees? How will the ecological contiguity of land be maintained? People and wildlife need parks with fewer buildings, not more.”

Plan elements

Besides renovation of the existing museum and construction of a new two-story, 40,000-square-foot building, other key elements of the plan

include a new pedestrian bridge to take visitors across Lake Pit, where iconic mammoth sculptures have lounged for decades. In addition, 7.3 acres of renovated park space will feature picnic and play areas.

Inside, visitors will be able to peek into a glass-enclosed Fossil Lab to see ongoing discoveries and the extensive collections. Exhibition space will increase by 20 percent. Animal images will be projected at night on the new building’s windows.

Fossil remains of saber-tooth cats, giant sloths, dire wolves and other Ice Age animals who walked the grounds here millenia ago — before being pulled into the sticky tar below — will be featured in the new exhibition building.

Shade will be added at the existing outdoor classroom and fossil dig at Pit 91, where visitors will be able to see sticky asphalt oozing up from the ground below while watching scientists work in real time.

More shade is planned to welcome visitors at the entry plaza at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Curson Avenue, which also will feature an Ice Age-era Pleistocene garden. A second entryway on Sixth Street will be for school groups. Native plantings that support local wildlife and birdwatching areas will be in the park. A rooftop café and “Tar Bar” will offer refreshments and views.

“The site is a gateway to the Ice Age, and it is right on our doorstep,” Lori Bettison-Varga, president of the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County, told us when the project was first announced in 2023. “It gives us a very good glimpse into the last global climate change episode — understanding what happened back then, 10,000 to 50,000 years ago.”

Visit tarpits.org/reimagine.

Troop 10 celebrates 111 years with pancakes

By Matt Rauchberg Scoutmaster

As Scouts around the country celebrated Scout Sunday and the 115th anniversary of the founding of Scouting in America, Troop 10 was celebrating their 111th anniversary as the oldest continuously chartered Scout troop in the Western United States with their annual pancake breakfast fundraiser.

The Scouts spend several weeks selling tickets for the event, as well as first aid kits, raising awareness about emergency preparedness.  On the day of the event, Feb. 9, the Scouts cooked up pancakes and sausages along with coffee and hot chocolate for over 100 hungry guests, who enjoyed browsing the 100 years of photos and history that adorn the walls of the Troop 10 Scout Room at St. James’.

Based at St. James’ Episcopal Church since 1914, Troop 10 today brings together over 35 boys ages 11-17 from a

dozen area schools to camp, hike, kayak, fish and perform conservation and community service projects.  New members are always welcome to come by our meetings on Tuesday nights at 6:30 p.m. and check it out for a few weeks before deciding to join.  For more information, or to support the troop by purchasing a first aid kit, visit tinyurl. com/3dzua6a5.

AERIAL VIEW rendering of the central lawn during the evening at the La Brea Tar Pits site.

SCOUTS Ben Gregory, Matthew Angulo, Wyatt Moen, Zeke Capper-Goss, Ajax Voukydis and James Cooper at the ticket booth for the Troop 10 Pancake Breakfast.

TROOP 10 Scouts Asher Levy and Lucas Henrich serve up pancakes and sausages at the annual Pancake Breakfast Feb. 9.

Descanso’s Mexican flair fills a dining void on Wilshire Blvd.

Ever since Marie Callender’s restaurant closed in 2018 after nearly 40 years on the Miracle Mile, there’s been a culinary void on Wilshire Boulevard. The fussy Victorian-esque edifice that housed Callender’s sat empty for seven years before Descanso arrived to much fanfare with a fresh take on Mexican cuisine, perfected at their original restaurant in Costa Mesa.

Descanso was welcomed at their grand opening on Jan. 23 with a city proclamation presented by Thao Tan, field deputy for District 5 City Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky. The restaurant co-owner and creator Rob Arellano expressed how excited he was to bring his childhood memories of Mexican street food to the Miracle Mile. Standing beside co-owner Rick Warren, Arellano wielded the scissors for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Invited guests and the public enjoyed cocktails and small bites while wandering the 9,000-square-foot taqueria.

Although I was in the crowd, the best way to try a restaurant is on a normal business day, so four of us walked over for dinner after spending a few hours at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Descanso means “rest” or “relax,” and it’s a perfect place to relax and refuel after

On the Menu

by Helene Seifer

visiting Museum Row.

The largely untouched exterior still shouts “chicken pot pie!” for those who frequented the late homey Marie Callender’s, but Descanso’s interior sports a beautiful modern redo. Those entering from Wilshire pass through impressive brick arches, which lead to a large moody dining room wrapped around a towering bar. There is also a private party room, an agave spirit private locker room, outdoor patios and a mural-splashed plancha room where diners sit around a flat top where eight different grilled-to-order, three-course meals are prepared.

We settled into the main room and, fortified with very good margaritas, perused the menu. Starters ranged from the quotidian ($5 chips and salsa; $14 grilled white corn with aioli, Cotija cheese and chile lime seasoning) to the sublime ($15 short rib corn empanada). We began with $15 creamy and lightly spiced guacamole with piquant salsa and fresh tortilla chips, because, after all, is there any other way to start a Mexican meal? We also shared a gen-

erous plate of 10 fiery and flavorful peel-and-eat, headon shrimp, $20. Dosed in what was described as “volcano” salsa, sprinkled with salty Cotija cheese crumbles and spritzed with lime, this is a dish to be enjoyed with gusto — rip off the heads, slurp their juices, peel the shells and dig into the plump, spicy crustaceans while red chile oil marinade drips down your hands and stains your lips (or clothes!). Fantastico!

There are three soups, three salads, 12 taco choices and a dozen entrees, such as $25 crispy carnitas (slow-cooked pork) and $44 sea bass with vegetables and huitlacoche (umami-rich corn fungus). It was a chilly night, so soup was appealing. Fideo (cup $8, bowl $12) offered a tangle of skinny noodles in tomato broth with avocado slices and crema. It was lukewarm and not especially interesting. The red pozole was better. Hominy (alkali-soaked dried corn kernels) and chunks of pulled pork float in a chile broth with

radishes and cilantro (cup $9, bowl $15). I added a spoonful of salsa to jazz it up. Descanso’s cups are the smallest we’d ever seen.

We chose not to try the entrees since the variety of tacos sounded wonderful and this is a taqueria, after all. Generously stuffed, they range from $8 for achiote marinated chicken to $18 for lobster with slaw and mango salsa. They are mostly served on blue corn tortillas, made be-

hind glass in a corner of the restaurant where patrons can watch. A spicy $15 surf-andturf taco mixed steak with agave-glazed shrimp, topped with cheese, serrano chiles, habanero-pickled red onion and fiery salsa. The overflowing filling nestled in a griddled pairing of both flour and blue corn tortillas. Although the combination worked, I think I would have enjoyed it even more if the proteins were separated into two tacos. Their $8 crispy tilapia taco was too heavy-handed on the breading and the frying, completely losing the sweet flesh of the fish. The two tacos that won the night were the steak with salsa, grilled onions and poblano peppers, $9.50, which allowed the beefiness to shine, and the chile-rubbed mahi-mahi with pickled fruit sauce and a cabbage and jalapeño slaw. The sauce enhanced the mild fish and the slaw added a satisfying snap and hint of heat. Although not the same as the barrel-fried fish tacos we experienced on the docks in Baja, it tasted just as authentic and delicious.

Next time we’ll save room for $13 mango crème brûlée or Mexican brownie, $14. Or perhaps we’ll try the plancha room for a completely different experience.

Decanso, descansorestaurantla.com, 5773 Wilshire Blvd., 213-672-2444.

People of Action "doing good and having fun."

Serving our community since 1932

LA PLANCHA ROOM: Eight different grilled-to-order, threecourse meals can be prepared here.

FRESHLY MADE TORTILLAS at the new Descanso restaurant.

CO-OWNER AND CREATOR Rob Arellano accepts city proclomation from Council District 5 Field Deputy Thao Tran.

Be prepared for disaster with CERT training and a go bag

By Nona Sue Friedman

As Benjamin Franklin said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” With the recent fires that devastated parts of Los Angeles, residents were reminded, once again, that this is a disaster-prone city. Readiness, go bags and some training are essential tools to live in Los Angeles.

What is a go bag?

A go bag is a pre-prepared bag that holds essential items one can easily carry in case of an emergency. The last thing you want when faced with

a catastrophic situation is to start looking for important documents, sentimental items or the basic necessities needed to survive for a few days.

A backpack is a good carrier for a go bag. Inside, put enough food and water for three days, along with necessary prescriptions and over- the-counter medication, such as aspirin. Include a first aid kit, copies of important documents, a flashlight and a battery-powered radio. Extra batteries, single or $5 bills, masks and wipes or hand san-

itizer are also needed. A warm jacket and change of clothes are helpful to include. So is a charger for your phone.

One bag should be kept in your house and another in your car, since Angelenos spend so much time on the road. For the car, don’t forget an extra pair of shoes. You don’t want to be out for the night in heels and not have a sensible alternative.

If you have a furry friend, pack food for them as well.

If putting together a bag seems too overwhelming,

there are plenty of pre-packaged varieties available online and at hardware stores. Don’t forget to refresh your bag every year.

Training for a disaster Community Emergency Response Team, also known as CERT, is a free program sponsored by the Los Angeles Fire Department. It’s a seven-week course that meets once a week.

Participants learn how to take care of themselves and their neighbors, put out small fires, perform basic first aid,

organize neighbors and make sure areas are safe for shelter. In an emergency, civilians will need to be competent and resourceful, because the majority of emergency personnel will be busy taking care of the disaster or results of the disaster.

Classes take place all over the city at many different days and times, but they tend to fill up fast. The next course with available spots close to this area starts Tues., May 6, at Fire Station 82, 1792 Bronson Ave. Visit cert-la.com to enroll.

‘Sweetheart’ statue is part of Art Deco revitalization

By Nona Sue Friedman

The statue of a carefree-looking girl from a bygone era stands holding flowers in Wilshire Green Park. She could easily go unnoticed, located in the center of a roundabout behind the Wilshire Courtyard office complex. The building and the park were erected in the late 1980s.

Lyn MacEwen Cohen, president of the Miracle Mile Residential Association at the time, saw a smaller version of the statue in an art gallery window in New York City. It spoke to her and she thought it would be the perfect addition to the newly erected park.

Cohen entered the art gallery and it was kismet. The artist, Corrine Weinberg, happened to be there. She and Cohen started talking about making a larger version of the statue and a deal was sealed for $12,000. The statue is named, “Sweetheart of the Miracle Mile.”

(Please turn to Page 16)

STATUE OF a young girl, sculpted by Corrine Weinberg, sits in the center of Wilshire Green Park.

Police run and play to let off steam with coworkers after hours

By Nona Sue Friedman

Not only do officers of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) work hard, but they play hard. Being a police officer can be a draining job. To let off steam and build camaraderie, they participate in a multitude of extracurricular activities.

Baker to Vegas

The Baker to Vegas foot race is a 120-mile relay for law enforcement around the world. It starts in Baker, California and finishes in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sat., April 5, and Sun., April 6. The race’s

motto is “Where runners go to compete.”

Each team of 20 runners takes a leg of the course, which can vary in length from just under 5 miles to 13. The race starts in the afternoon with the Mojave Desert sun blasting down and continues overnight.

This year, Wilshire Community Police Station is sending a team to compete. Senior Lead Officer (SLO) Tyler Shuck, who covers Windsor Village, is one of the captains and will be running for his sixth time.

Officer Andrew Jones, who oversees Miracle Mile, will be participating for his second time.

“It’s hard to do the race and you get humbled very quickly,” according to Jones. But he also says, “It’s nice to let loose, relax, have a good time with your co-workers and enjoy the accomplishment.”

Participants run for pride, honor and the possibility of winning one of the coveted mugs as a trophy.

• Compassionate & Caring

• Biocompatible Dentistry

• State of the Art Dentistry for over 35 Years

• Dental Emergencies Welcome

• In-Office Teeth Whitening

• Cosmetic Dentistry, Veneers, and Clear Aligners

It’s one of the most unique and prestigious running races for police officers, says SLO Danny Chavez.

Softball

In addition to running, the officers at Wilshire have a championship softball team. After returning from Las Vegas this year they start practicing softball. Under the helm of Jones as captain, this team has won three out of the last four seasons. These officers can’t get enough of each other!

‘Sweetheart’

(Continued from Page 14)

“Since Art Deco was the building style for the original Miracle Mile, we wanted to have the park styled similarly for historic preservation,” said Cohen. The Art Deco elements of the park include the statue, a footbridge and a gazebo. It was the first of many projects the MMRA implemented to make the area greener.

The bronze statue is

by a small playground on one side and a pond with turtles and koi on the other. The plaques on its base display quotes for visitors to ponder while meandering through the area. One says, “These gardens are dedicated to the spirit of cooperation,” another, “As you play well together, thrive together … here in this garden,” and lastly, “Preserve today for tomorrow.” Enjoy your stroll.

Coffee with a Cop lets residents stroll in for a visit

By Nona Sue Friedman

The Larchmont Chronicle caught up with Senior Lead Officer (SLO) Andrew Jones at a Coffee with a Cop community get-together in the grassy area in the middle of Park La Brea on Feb. 11. LAPD was asked to come by the security patrol of the apartment complex.

Claire Mintz, 96, a 20-year resident of Park La Brea, said, “I feel pretty safe here. But I do wish they had more activities for seniors like they used to.” Her sage advice: “Enjoy yourself and have fun.”

The park setting enabled residents to trickle in throughout the morning and talk to officers and security staff in a relaxed manner.

Two Metro stations

Jones said soon there will be two Metro subway stations in his area. Construction is still ongoing at Wilshire Boulevard and La Brea Avenue

and another at the station planned for Wilshire and Fairfax Avenue.

Since Metro has its own security team and LAPD has a detail devoted exclusively to Metro, he hopes when the stations open, most likely later this year, there won’t be any issues. “The two departments work hand in

hand,” according to Jones.

LAPD checks for TAP cards, which is a passenger’s entrance ticket, on the platforms. If the passenger doesn’t have one, that’s considered trespassing.

“Overall things are good in the Miracle Mile,” says Jones, who just returned from his honeymoon in the Bahamas.

WILSHIRE DIVISION’S championship softball team. Photos courtesy of Officer Andrew Jones

PASSING THE BATON in the dark is Officer Drew Penner, left. Receiving it is Officer Lisa Jimenez. Both officers are with Wilshire LAPD.

SOLO RUNNER Officer Tearso Torrento of Wilshire LAPD runs through the Mojave Desert.

PARK LA BREA resident Claire Mintz is surrounded by (from left) Dora Magana from Park La Brea’s security patrol and Officers Hector Marquez, Andrew Jones and Michael Soliman.

flanked

Toast the Oscars, celebrate a new era in crafts on Museum Row

By Suzan Filipek

Watch the Oscars live from the comfort of a world-class theater, see new works by emerging and established artists and immerse yourself in car culture, all from the comfort of our neighborhood on Museum Row.

The 97th Oscars will be streamed live on Hulu and ABC, as well as on the big screen in the David Geffen Theater at the Academy Museum on Sun., March 2. Guests can nibble on hors d’oeuvres and have their photos snapped on the Walt Disney Company Piazza. The event is from 3 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $75 for members and $100 for non-members.

Fanny’s restaurant inside the Academy Museum will serve cocktails inspired by this year’s best picture nominees. Fanny’s will also host its own Oscars Watch Party with a prix fixe menu from 3 to 8 p.m. on the celebrated night.

The festivities will continue with a month-long schedule of screenings, tours and exhibits.

Exhibitions coming up include “Director’s Inspiration: Bong Joon Ho,” opening Sun., March 23, and “Barbie to Anna Karenina: The Cinematic Worlds of Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer,” opening Fri., May 23.

Academy Museum, 6067 Wilshire Blvd., academymuseum.org.

The Craft Contemporary celebrates its 60th anniversary with a tribute Sat., May 10. The benefit and art auction will honor artist Bari Ziperstein. Museum founder, the

late Edith Wyle, will also be honored, as well as The Egg & The Eye — the former beloved brunch spot which served art along with omelets.

Then, a new storytelling era will be unveiled.

“We are ushering in a new curatorial vision for the museum that prioritizes storytelling, accessibility, sustainability and the natural world,” Rody Lopez, museum executive director told us. Exhibitions and a maker-in-residence program will create a cohesive narrative in upcoming exhibits, Lopez said.

Senior curator Frida Cano envisions exhibitions and programming at the museum as a story in which “Craft” is the protagonist who embarks on a journey to rebuild the connection between nature and humanity. “Our exhibiting artists produce work that combines tradition with innovation and tell a story that will encourage our audience

to consider how craft can heal and redeem the relationship between humanity and the earth,” Lopez told us.

The first in the series, “Book 1: On Healing,” will open Sat., June 7.

Craft Contemporary, 5814 Wilshire Blvd., craftcontemporary.org.

A monumental collage, “Die Plage,” by visual artist and minimalist composer, the late Harley Gaber, is at Holocaust Museum LA through June. The work includes 600 canvases covering six walls, that shed light on World War II Germany. Gaber (1943-2011) combed archives, explored historical sites and visited former concentration camps to create arresting images that include perpetrators and victims.

Author Pamela D. Toler will discuss her new book, “The Dragon from Chicago: The Untold Story of an American Reporter in Nazi Germany,” on Sun., March 16, at 3 p.m. Holocaust Museum LA, 100 The Grove Dr., holocaustmuseumla.org.

Watch paleontologists at

work at the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum, the only actively excavated Ice Age fossil site in the middle of a city in the world! The site — where animals, plants and insects were trapped in sticky asphalt, perserving them to today — has fascinated visitors for more than a century.

Experience the Ice Age up close with a life-size saber-toothed cat puppet in Ice Age Encounters. Show times are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. “Titans of the Ice Age” showcases in 3D the giant mammoths and other mammals that ruled the area 10,000 to 50,000 years ago. Screenings are every half hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. La Brea Tar Pits, 5801 Wilshire Blvd., tarpits.org.

Vivid colors and patterns adorn textiles, clothing and headwear from more than 20 cultures in “Ritual Expressions: African Adornment from the Permanent Collection.” The exhibit continues at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) through Sun., July 6.

“Zheng Chongbin: Golden State” opens Sun., March 23. The artist’s works combine the Light and Space movement and East Asia’s tradition of ink painting. Ends Sun., Jan. 4, 2026.

LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., lacma.org.

Petersen Automotive Museum recently opened “People’s Champ: The Impact of Ken Block,” celebrating the iconic motorsport figure.

Adventurous car enthusiasts might consider the Road to Eccellenza. The international rally will take drivers

(Please turn to Page 20)

CHIMERIC LANDSCAPE by Zheng Chongin is coming to LACMA.

“DIE PLAGE,” by the late visual artist and minimalist composer Harley Gaber, is at the Holocaust Museum LA. Photo: Al Seib

THE EGG & THE EYE, circa 1971.

FOUNDER OF the Craft Contemporary, Edith Wyle, at left.

COCKTAILS will celebrate Best Picture nominees at Fanny’s.

WALK THE RED CARPET on Oscar night at the Academy Museum. Above: last year’s party.

Streaming: Hollywood’s creative and economic landscape

By Philip Alberstat

The entertainment industry is experiencing its most dramatic transformation since the advent of television, as streaming platforms revolutionize how content is produced, distributed and consumed in Los Angeles and beyond.

Netflix’s evolution from DVD rentals to streaming giant sparked an industry-wide shift that has upended traditional Hollywood business models. The success of early Netflix originals like “House of Cards” and “Orange is the New Black” demonstrated streaming’s potential to rival traditional television. This catalyst prompted tech giants Amazon and Apple to invest billions in their own platforms, while legacy studios launched services like Disney+, Paramount+ and Peacock.

The streaming revolution has fundamentally altered viewing habits. Gone are the days when hit shows like “Friends” or “Seinfeld” commanded massive live audiences. Instead, series like “Stranger Things” and “The Last of Us” release entire seasons at once, enabling binge-watching and transforming how audiences engage with content. This shift has led to shorter theatrical windows – “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” arrived on streaming platforms just months after their box office success, compared to the traditional six-month wait.

The streaming boom has

brought mixed fortunes to Los Angeles’ entertainment workforce. While demand for content has created new opportunities, with streaming giants like Netflix establishing permanent production hubs on Sunset Boulevard and Amazon taking over Culver Studios, production increasingly moves to other locations. Georgia’s generous tax incentives have attracted major productions like “Stranger Things” and Marvel’s upcoming projects, while Vancouver hosts numerous streaming series including “The Night Agent” and “Percy Jackson.”

The rise of virtual production technology, exemplified by Industrial Light & Magic’s StageCraft facility in Manhattan Beach, where “The Mandalorian” is filmed, represents both innovation and disruption. While this technology keeps high-end production in Los Angeles, it also enables more work to be performed remotely. Visual effects for shows like “House of the Dragon” can now be completed by artists working worldwide.

Production compensation

Recent labor disputes highlighted streaming’s impact on compensation. The 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes centered on establishing fair payment structures in an era where viewership data remains closely guarded by platforms. Writers of successful streaming shows like “Wednesday” and “Ted Lasso” argued for residuals comparable to traditional television, where hits like “The Office” generated substantial ongoing revenue for creators.

Production economics have also transformed. While Netflix once offered generous budgets — reportedly spending $200 million on “The Gray Man” and $160 million on “The Crown’s” final season — streaming services have begun tightening spending. Amazon’s “Citadel” and Apple’s “The Morning Show,” despite their high budgets, face increased scrutiny as platforms seek sustainable business models. This shift has particularly affected mid-budget films, with stu-

dios focusing investment on proven intellectual property like Marvel series and Star Wars spin-offs.

Industry experts anticipate further changes ahead. Market consolidation appears likely, as evidenced by Warner Bros. Discovery’s merger and the Disney-Hulu integration. Meanwhile, theatrical releases show resilience — “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Avatar: The Way of Water” demonstrated audiences will still attend theaters for major releases, prompting streaming services like Amazon (with “Air”) and Apple (with “Killers of the Flower Moon”) to embrace theatrical runs.

The integration of AI and virtual production technology promises to further revolutionize content creation, while streaming services expand aggressively into international markets.

Netflix’s “Squid Game” from South Korea and “Money Heist” from Spain proved global content can achieve worldwide success, leading to increased investment in international productions like “3 Body Problem” and “Berlin.”

Despite these challenges, Los Angeles maintains its position as an entertainment hub. Major streaming services continue to lease studio space across the city, from Netflix’s expansion at Sunset Bronson Studios to Amazon’s presence at Culver Studios.

The city’s deep talent pool and production infrastructure, combined with initiatives like the expanded California Film & Television Tax Credit Program, help retain productions even as the industry evolves.

As streaming platforms mature and business models evolve, the industry’s foundation remains unchanged: delivering compelling stories to audiences worldwide. The next chapter in Hollywood’s history is being written in pixels and data streams, but Los Angeles continues to adapt as it has throughout previous industry transformations.

Philip Alberstat is an Emmy Award-winning producer and content creator.

Museums

(Continued from Page 18) through the South of France and into Italy on Fri., May 16 to Sat., May 24.

Back home, the Junior Concours program calls on all innovators under 18 to create a scale car model or design a sketch. To enter, fill out an entry form by Sat., March 1. Petersen Automotive Museum, 6060 Wilshire Blvd., Petersen.org.

DETAIL OF a royal ceremonial robe from Nigeria is at LACMA.

“TITANS OF THE ICE AGE” is in 3D at the La Brea Tar Pits.

ICONIC VEHICLES are featured in “Legacy of Ken Block” at the Petersen Museum.

Farce, satire and dose of tragedy make for interesting theater

Farce is nothing to laugh about. Despite the Oxford English Dictionary’s (OED) definition of it as a “comic dramatic piece that uses highly improbable situations, stereotyped characters, extravagant exaggeration and violent horseplay,” farce really is, as the English Romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote, “nearer tragedy in its essence than comedy.”

In other words, if you slow down the philandering husband diving under the bed while the maid dashes into the closet as the wife (who’s having her own affair) strides into the bedroom, then you have painful betrayal and broken hearts: tragedy. It’s the pacing of the direction and the elegance of the performances that allow us to safely laugh at the pain as others slip on their emotional banana peels. Or so I was taught.

There are two farces running that put that lesson to the test. The first is Michael Frayn’s 1982 chestnut, Noises Off, at the Geffen through Sun., March 9; 310-2085454; geffenplayhouse.com).

The second is the world premiere of Larissa FastHorse’s long-delayed Fake It Till You

Theater Review by Louis Fantasia

Make It, also through Sun., March 9, at the Mark Taper; 213-628-2772; centertheatregroup.org.

First the chestnut. “Noises Off” is a co-production with Chicago’s famed Steppenwolf Theater, directed by Tony winner Anna D. Shapiro. One would be forgiven for expecting a modernist “take” on the play, given Steppenwolf’s stellar reputation, but this is just regional theater at its sturdiest. The unit set appears to be an Agatha Christie-style country house, but is in reality the set of an Agatha Christie-style country house.

Frayn’s conceit is that we see a play about a play from the front of the house first, then from backstage, and then, sped-up, from the front again.

The slamming doors and flying dishes of sardines (and other bits of slapstick) are supposed to hide the hurt: the stage manager is pregnant by the director, who is also having an affair with the ingenue; the old character actor is drinking too much; the

rest of the cast is engaged in heated backstage romances and rivalries. Human fallibility, the essence of farce, is absent from the production. The gags are all there, but it’s a production lacking soul, which didn’t keep the opening night audience from roaring with laughter. I just couldn’t figure out why.

The problem with Larissa FastHorse’s farce, “Fake It Till You Make It,” is much simpler. It’s not a farce, it’s a satire. And a dated one.

Satire, again referencing the OED, is a genre “which uses humor, irony, exaggeration or ridicule to expose and criticize prevailing immorality or foolishness, esp. as a form of social or political commentary.” A classic example was David Levine’s 1966 political cartoon mocking Lyndon Johnson showing his scar to reporters after gallbladder surgery. The scar in the cartoon was the shape of Vietnam.

Ms. FastHorse’s subjects seem to be diversity and “well-meaning white people,” as she herself put it. “I’m really grateful … because I keep writing plays that make fun of [theater audiences], and you

What to watch for

“Four Women in Red,” by playwright Laura Shamas, a citizen of Chickasaw Nation, premieres at the Victory Theater through Sun., March 23; 818-841-5421; thevictorytheatrecenter.org.

“These Shining Lives,” about 1920s striking female factory workers, is at the Actors Co-op through Sun., March 30; 323-462-8460; actorscoop.org.

Megan Gogerty’s “Feast,” a solo retelling of “Beowulf” runs Sat., March 8 through Sun., April 6, at The Count’s Den, DTLA; leonixtheatre.org.

The world premiere of “The Camp,” about the Japanese American internment, has its final two performances at the Aratani Theater in Little Tokyo, Sat., March 1, and Sun., March 2; jaccc.org/events/the-campan-opera-in-two-acts.

keep coming” (CTG Performances, 2/25).

The plot revolves around who has greater claim to grant money: Indigenous groups trying to do good, or white groups trying to do good for them? The fact that the women who lead the two nonprofits squabble over a shared cat only shows how desperately the play tries for laughs. It’s hard to tell whether the one-dimensionality of the production comes from its writing, acting or directing. It was opening night and perhaps things will fill out as the run progresses.

I hope so. Like the Geffen and

CROSSWORD

Steppenwolf, this is a co-production between the Taper and Washington, D.C.’s Arena Stage, where it plays next.