LC 06 2023

By John Welborne

The California News Publishers Association (founded in 1888) has recognized the Larchmont Chronicle and staff writer Helene Seifer as winners of the 2022 California Journalism Award.

Last month, Seifer’s twoyear “Giorgio” homeless series was awarded the second place prize in the Public Service Journalism category for larger weekly and monthly newspapers. The first place award went to the San Francisco Examiner for a story about a troubled skilled nursing facility in that city.

By Nona Sue Friedman

Recently, there has been much talk and annoyance about people parking in the center (turning) lane on Larchmont Boulevard, especially between Beverly

Sweet Lady Jane joining Boulevard businesses

By Casey Russell

A retail take-out location, just south of the Larchmont clock and surface parking lot, has been leased, and it soon will be another location for Sweet Lady Jane, a decadent dessert bakery. The lease for Sweet Lady Jane’s newest location at 203 N. Larchmont Blvd. has been signed, and construction has already begun. Look for the shop to open in the fall or winter of this year. The former tenant at that location, Tacos Tu Madre, is moving to 660 N.

Boulevard and First Street. The Larchmont Chronicle decided to find out if it’s legal.

The short answer is “no.” Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) West Traffic Sgt. Jeremy Duncan, who has about 20 years of service, says, “by definition, the center lane [on Larchmont] is a two-way

See Parking, p 9

The publishers association’s salute to Seifer and the Chronicle is for the in-depth investigative reporting that began in early 2021, when Seifer first introduced herself to the former Larchmont Boulevard regular, “Giorgio.” The man and his shopping cart were on the Boulevard almost every day. He spent about a decade of overnights on or near the bus bench on the north side of Beverly Boulevard at Rossmore Avenue.

Giorgio’s real name is Pio

See CNPA award, p 2

By John Welborne

A large gathering of family, friends, neighbors and parishioners took place at the Parish Center (and indoor basketball court) of St. Brendan School on Sun., May 28 to celebrate with Msgr. Terrance Fleming his 50th year since being ordained a priest in the Roman Catholic Church. He

See Msgr. Fleming, p 17

LPGA golf a big success

By John Welborne

Last month’s tournament at Wilshire Country Club, that saw Hannah Green become champion in a dramatic playoff, is in the record books. [See Page 16 for related coverage.]

Ride free: New DTLA Metro link opens June 16

By Talia Abrahamson

Metro’s ambitious Regional Connector light-rail transit project is set to open on Fri., June 16, following 10 years of construction. The project’s completion enables seamless trips across Los Angeles County. To celebrate, Metro will offer free rides everywhere on its entire transit

‘Secret Garden Tour’ is June 3

Enjoy the flowers and a summer breeze when A Secret Garden Tour features neighborhood homes on Sat., June 3, from 1 to 5 p.m. Beautiful gardens in Windsor Square and Fremont Place will be open to visitors at the annual fundraiser for the Windsor Square Hancock Park Historical Society.

This year’s proceeds will help fund the design and landscaping of the “Islands of Rossmore and Beverly,” a proposed remake for two triangular pedestrian islands at the southwest and northeast corners of the busy intersection. Live music, refreshments, a plant sale and a silent auction will be included in the garden tour. For tickets, visit wshphs. com.

about vacations and all things summer at the email above. The same deadline as above applies.

The club’s general manager, Daniel Enzler, told the Chronicle that thanks are due to both neighbors and the city, thanking especially Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky and her field deputy Jarrett Thompson for their assistance in accommodating the early morning schedules of employees supporting the tournament’s seven days.

SHOPPERS AND ERRAND-DOERS illegally park in the center lane on Larchmont Boulevard.

Photo by Alan Wolovitch

Editorial

By John Welborne

Parking nonsense

Following a Larchmont Chronicle investigation conducted by writer Nona Sue Friedman, and as reported on Page 1 of this issue, it absolutely IS illegal to park in a center turning lane, such as the one on Larchmont Boulevard between First Street and Beverly Boulevard.

That turning lane has been there for many years now, but it only is in the past few years that people have started parking there.

It strains credulity for someone issued a California driver’s license to say that he or she didn’t know it is against the law to park in the center of the street.

Even more incredible (and amusing) is the quoted comment from a parker in the middle of the street who claims she thought it was OK to park for a short period of time to take a package in to FedEx, adding that she also “thought the store should have a short-term parking space in front.” Well, the store actually has more than 100 short-term (legal) parking spaces right in back!

Congratulations

As noted elsewhere in this issue, lots of people (unlike the bad drivers on and around the Boulevard) deserve congratulations. We salute the graduates featured in our special section, and we recognize (on Page 8) the 66 local people elected last month to serve on our two neighborhood councils.

Congratulations!

New Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council Representatives!

The Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council election results are in! All five Hancock Park residents who ran were elected! Association President Cindy Chvatal-Keane is now the director for the “At-Large Seat” which represents all neighborhoods within the Greater Wilshire area. Hancock Park will be represented by Jennifer DeVore and David Trainer as her alternate. Benny Rosenberg will represent Religious Institutions within the GWNC area, and Mark Alpers will be the alternate representative for the “Other Nonprofit” seat representing all nonprofits in Greater Wilshire. A huge thank you to everyone who voted!

The Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council speaks to city government on behalf of all the diverse groups that make up our local community — geographic areas, homeowners, renters, educators, and business, religious and nonprofit interests. GWNC is the organization that tells the city what we want and need, and it thrives on strong, competing visions of how we can influence City Council offices and municipal departments. GWNC directors are elected every two years by the people who live and work here. Members are the voice of the public. They have a vision for our neighborhoods and want to make a difference in land use, transportation, sustainability, and emergency preparedness. We are here and want to hear from you!

To get more involved and find out what’s going on, go to: https://greaterwilshire.org.

If you need a tree in your parkway, contact the Association at: https://www.hancockparkhomeownersassociation.org.

If you’re planning to make any changes to the streetvisible portion of your house, hardscaping and windows, check with our HPOZ Planner Suki Gershenhorn (suki. gershenhorn@lacity.org) before starting. The HPOZ Preservation Plan, which regulates our HPOZ, can be found at: preservation.lacity.org/hpoz/la/hancock-park. There is also an online form available: preservation.lacity.org/ hpoz/initial.screening.checklist. Report graffiti sightings by calling 311 or at the city’s Anti-Graffiti Request System: laocb.org/programs/graffiti-abatement and by calling Hollywood Beautification, 323-463-5180.

Calendar

Tues., June 6 — World War II: D-Day.

Tues., June 13 — Mid City West Neighborhood Council board meeting is 6:30 p.m. at Pan Pacific Park Senior Center, 141 S. Gardner St. See midcitywest.org.

Wed., June 14 — Flag Day. Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council board meeting, 6:30 p.m. at the Ebell of Los Angeles at 743 S. Lucerne Blvd. See greaterwilshire.org.

Sun., June 18 — Father’s Day.

Mon., June 19 — Juneteenth.

Wed., June 21 — First day of summer.

‘How do you plan to celebrate graduation?’

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

Thurs., June 29 — Delivery of the July issue of the Larchmont Chronicle

Letters to the Editor

Chronicle is a gift

Always look forward to my Larchmont Chronicle . It’s like a nice surprise gift every time I see it at my door!

Barbara Jayne

Hancock Park

Thanks for Showcase

Thank you very much for visiting the Showcase House and supporting the arts [“Be a looky-loo for a good cause — see the Showcase House,” May 2023].

Christopher Grant Ward Glendale, Calif.

Knowing Mr. Behymer

I began my career as a lawyer working for Glen Behymer. My mother Ester Dempsey Hunt was an attorney who worked for Mr. Behymer [“The Behymer Family in Hancock Park, Brookside and Windsor Square,” May 2019]. When I came to the firm, it consisted of Mr. Behymer, Ralph Hoffman and myself. It was on the

Larchmont Chronicle

Founded in 1963 by Jane Gilman and Dawne P. Goodwin

Publisher and Editor

John H. Welborne

Managing Editor

Suzan Filipek

Contributing Editor

Jane Gilman

Staff Writers

Talia Abrahamson

Casey Russell

Helene Seifer

Advertising Director

Pam Rudy

Advertising Sales including Classifieds

Caroline Tracy

Art Director

Tom Hofer

Circulation Manager

Nona Sue Friedman

Accounting

Jill Miyamoto

606 N. Larchmont Blvd., #103 Los Angeles, CA 90004 323-462-2241

larchmontchronicle.com

fifth floor of the Philharmonic office building. It was the office of Behymer and Hoffman and then Behymer, Hoffman and Hunt. When Mr. Behymer passed away, I handled his estate. Then, Ralph Hoffman and I formed a partnership. My final firm was Hunt Ortmann, currently located in Pasadena. I specialized in construction law. I went to parties at Mr. Behymer’s house on June Street. I also visited Ralph at his house on Citrus. So I was fortunate to have been very close to the Behymer and Hoffman families. Diane Dixon is one of Ralph’s daughters. I retired in 2010.

Gordon Hunt Huntington Beach

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.

CNPA award

(Continued from page 1)

Franco Iervolino, and he now is a sheltered resident of a senior care facility near Olympic Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue. Links to all of the stories (19 pages) are at tinyurl.com/5fbjf75f.

The judging journalist for the CNPA awards wrote of the series: “This extended occasional series about the homeless man ‘Giorgio’ (which turns out not to be his real name) is an involving and close-in look at one particular homeless person and how he interacts with society and agencies. The evolving articles bring what often seems a generic problem into the level of the personal, and brings some understanding and empathy to it.”

These days, Mr. Iervolino sometimes visits Larchmont for coffee with Seifer and his acquaintances at Peet’s. This summer, Seifer and the Chronicle will be following up on the care he now is receiving through the county’s conservatorship, now in its second year.

“To celebrate, I’d like to go to Noshi Sushi. I’m also looking forward to having everyone sign my yearbook so I don’t forget them.”

Beatrix Bates, fourth grade Larchmont Village

“I am graduating from the John Thomas Dye School (JTD), and I’m excited to be going to Marlborough next year. My whole class is celebrating our graduation with a party at my friend’s house. We will commemorate our years together at JTD with a video that the parents are making. We’re so excited to see it!”

Evie Shallman, sixth grade Windsor Square

“I asked my family if we could celebrate my graduation by taking a vacation for all of my hard work. My mom said ‘yes!’”

Thaddeus Thompson, sixth grade Windsor Village

Parties, nonprofit fundraisers, LBA mixer, police memorial

Butter, the Labrador retriever, stood guard at the front door, welcoming new and veteran moms from Larchmont Charter School to the return of the annual “Sisters of the Grape” wine tasting event at the home of chef, television personality and local Longwood Highlands mom Daphne Brogdon. The annual event hosted by Daphne, Julie Johnson and Kim Huffman Cary — put on ice when COVID-19 hit — was a welcome return to socializing and friendships old and new.

Guests on April 28 enjoyed three homemade tarts: bacon and onion mascarpone, onion, and Hubert Keller’s iconic onion, bacon, milk and egg recipe. An assortment of Alsatian cheeses plus fruits, nuts and breads, lined the kitchen’s center island, along

SECTION ONE

Around the Town with Sondi Toll Sepenuk

with handheld salads and lemon cake bites. Three Alsatian wines were drained, including a 2018 Crémant d’Alsace from the Emile Boec Kel Winery, a 2020 Midelberg Riesling from Boeckel Winery and a 2021 Rouquin de Jardin Pinot Noir from the J. Mouret Winery.

To avoid the usual “moms talking about their children” conversation, each attendee was asked to write down an area of great interest to her. Answers ranged from baking cakes to attending live concerts to world travel. The conversation starter did the trick, and the hosts final-

ly had to kick everyone out as the night descended into pumpkin territory. Moms in attendance included Jennifer Enani, Tara Timpone, Eileen Lanza, Juliet Burton, Cory Pohlman, Jenna Flexner, Jane Stuecken and Lily Icarangal. • • •

Amber Rivas, the new president and CEO of Aviva Family

and Children’s Services, who hit the ground running on Jan. 4, was welcomed to the community at the “Sip & Snack” high tea at the home of Windsor Square’s June Bilgore. The April 27 backyard presentation was attended by local residents, Aviva repre-

sentatives and several NGA members, including Jennifer Kim and Susan Kneafsey. Aviva and NGA have worked in partnership through the years and were delighted to come together for one beautiful, sunny afternoon to learn

(Please turn to page 4)

SISTERS OF THE GRAPE WINDSOR SQUARE BACKYARD of June Bilgore was a venue for new Aviva president and CEO Amber Rivas to introduce herself to the community.

Around the Town

(Continued from page 3) more about Aviva’s future plans and to enjoy tuna, egg salad, smoked salmon, ham and cucumber tea sandwiches and scones, fruits, cookies and an array of English-themed bites.

Rivas, who spent 17 years at St. Anne’s Family Services (six of which as COO), told the attendees how thrilled she is about Aviva’s mission and future growth.

“Aviva’s programs are near and dear to my heart. It has a phenomenal reputation, and I’m excited to support the next chapter and its legacy,” said Rivas. The organization focuses on mental health services, foster housing and adoption, supportive housing for women and children (through Wallis House) and crisis intervention. The tea attendees were

especially excited about the upcoming June 3 “Lifting Up LA” gala at the Avalon Hollywood, which will honor actor and philanthropists Jon Cryer and Lisa Joyner, former Mayor Eric Garcetti and First Lady Amy Wakeland, former Aviva Board Chair Bruce Anderson and former Wallis House resident Amber McCline.

“I instantly felt a connection with this organization,” Rivas shared. “It’s important to me to work with people who care about our mission first and foremost.”

• • •

The local La Brea Tar Pits is not a dinosaur site. Its specialty is Ice Age flora and fauna trapped in the local goo within the last 50,000 years. But the Tar Pits Museum is a part of the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County, and learning and sharing information about

SINKS were the perfect shape and height for ice-filled offerings of cold beverages at the Larchmont Boulevard Association’s May mixer at Romi Cortier’s.

dinosaurs long has been a part of the mission of the Natural History Museum (NHM). Dinosaurs definitely were on center stage April 29 at the NHM in Exposition Park, when the beloved Dinosaur Ball returned in-person for the first time since 2019, raising $1.4 million for NHM educational programs. Tar Pit aficionados were among the 450 people attending, including excavation site director Dr. Emily L. Lindsey, the co-curator of the La Brea Tar Pits. [Learn more about Dr. Lindsey in the Chronicle’s March 2023 issue in “Science and community come together at La Brea Tar Pits” and in the March 2018 issue in “Misconceptions about La Brea Tar Pits, Ice Age animals, climate change.”—Ed.]

• • •

Also on the 29th, locals gathered to greet a group of visitors traveling with Historic New England’s president and CEO, Vin Cipolla, on a one-week

trip titled “California Modern: Mid-Century Masterpieces of Palm Springs and Los Angeles.” The group’s final evening was in Los Angeles and included a mini-bus tour of DTLA, Mid-Wilshire, Museum Row, Hancock Park, Larchmont and Windsor Square, guided by John Welborne and Brian Curran. The travelers ended up at the Windsor Square home of Curran and Kevin MacLellan (1908, hardly Modernism!), where Bret Parsons joined them, and everyone talked about architecture and history over drinks and dinner.

• • •

In early May, local Larchmont merchants reconnected at their first post-COVID-19 mixer. Sponsored by the Larchmont Boulevard Association (LBA) and held at the Romi Cortier Design / Art Gallery, the invitation advertised “drinks and small bites.” There

was an extensive array — hardly “small” — of delicious appetizers filling up every flat space in the half-dozen rooms of the studio, courtesy of LBA board member Melissa Farwell of Larchmont Village Farmers’ Market. Hair-washing sinks provided perfect vessels when filled with ice and cans and bottles of cold drinks. In addition to LBA board members Cortier and Farwell, board members Bob Day, Mel Miyamoto, Edie Frère, Patti Carroll, Sharon Sweeney, John Welborne and Patty Lombard greeted fellow Larchmont business people and guests, including 13th District Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez and his field deputy for the Larchmont and Windsor Square areas, Karla Martinez.

• • •

After a seemingly unbearable two-year COVID-19 (Please turn to page 6)

AMBER RIVAS is the new president and CEO at Aviva.

LOCAL WOMEN, including Goldie D’Annunzio, Melissa Disharoon and Juliet Burton, enjoy “shopping” and socializing.

HUGO Soto-Martinez, at left, discusses neighborhood issues at the May 10 LBA mixer held at the studio of Romi Cortier, center, with Leila Kenzle, Sharon Sweeney and Bob Day.

HISTORIC NEW ENGLAND visitors enjoyed a farewell dinner at the Windsor Square home of Brian Curran and Kevin MacLellan (front row, from right). At left in the front row is HNE president and CEO Vin Cipolla.

EMILY LINDSEY, co-curator of La Brea Tar Pits, and Heather de Roos, President of the Board of Trustees of the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County, at the 2023 Dinosaur Ball.

Photo by Gina Cholick

Around the Town

(Continued from page 4) hiatus, about 50 women from all over the Larchmont area descended on the home of the La Brea-Hancock neighborhood’s Wendy Burg for the beloved Semi-Annual Clothing Swap, started years ago by a few intrepid moms looking for a way to socialize, “shop” for free, eat, drink and be merry. Billed as “a fashion-filled, recycle-minded charity event,” the idea behind the May 20 swap was for each person to bring her “gently used” unwanted clothing items, offer them up to others for the taking, then return home with a fabulous new “free” wardrobe of her own. Any leftover items were donated to Goodwill.

The “shopping” event was also a potluck, and participants came in strong, bearing dips,

cheeses, fruits, salads, main courses, wine and beer. The freebie fashionistas commented that this swap had more clothes than usual, probably due to pent-up post-COVID-19 demand. Several women showed up with college-bound daughters in tow, eager to fiveand-dime some new summer and fall college wardrobes. Seen heading home with alternatively lighter closets yet new wardrobe additions were Anita Saunders, Goldie D’Annunzio, Catherine Mann, Jane Stuecken, Jen Enani, Julie Vlasak, Loretta Fox, Melissa Disharoon, Juliet Burton and Susan Hoen

The weekend of May 19 to 21 saw lots of tributes to local (and formerly local) patrons of music. A large turnout of people from throughout Southern California came to event center Vibiana, the former Catholic cathedral in Downtown Los Angeles, to salute Carol Henry while raising a half-million dollars for Camer-

ata Pacifica, one of the favorite music groups (among about a dozen favorites) of her and her late husband, Warner. Two generations of Henrys lived on Plymouth Boulevard, with Warner and Carol raising their three children, Will, Katie and Michael there. Katie was out of the country on May 19th, but she sent a touching video tribute to her mom, who over the years has provided volunteer leadership to about a dozen important nonprofit boards including the Los Angeles Opera since 1985, serving as president from 2005 to 2010.

Local fans of Carol’s who helped fill Vibiana while listening to an exciting concert of Baroque chamber music and then drinking and toasting the honoree included Janet Ciriello, Robert Ronus, Hilary Crahan and James Conlon. • • •

Two nights later, it was Robert Ronus who was the honoree –– this time of the Opera League of Los Angeles,

which presented the Hancock Park resident with its Peter Hemmings Award. Named for the beloved first general director of Los Angeles Opera, the award recognizes prominent supporters of the institution. Among previous winners in attendance to honor Ronus were Carol Henry and LA Opera music director James Conlon, who had to depart early to catch a red-eye to Cincinnati, Ohio, to conduct at the historic May Festival in that city.

Other locals honoring Ronus at the Sunday dinner and performance in the elegant, high-ceiling main dining room of Downtown’s Jonathan Club were Jennifer Fain, Gill and John Wagner, Julie Levtow, Carlotta Keely, John Welborne and Janet Ciriello.

Sun., May 21, was busy in the afternoon, as well. At the headquarters of the Wilshire Division of LAPD, locals joined police officers for the groundbreaking of the Fallen Police Officers Memorial and Garden. Drawings were on display showing the proposed memorial that will honor local police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty while serving the Wilshire area.

After the guests and participants were welcomed by Capt. Sonia Monico, commanding officer of the Wilshire Division, numerous speakers solemnly remembered these eight public employees who, beginning in 1958, had made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting and serving the residents of Los Angeles. The memorial project was described by its manager, First-In Fire Foundation president, Lyn MacEwen Cohen. In addition, Richard Battaglia, president of the Windsor Square Hancock Park Historical Society, a major funder of the memorial and garden, spoke. The Society also hosted a reception following the ceremony.

Beverly Hills’ Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts

setting for the inaugural event of Off The Chart, an initiative undertaken by the Simms / Mann Family Foundation to identify and reward nursing (Please turn to page 8)

by Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald

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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.

was the May 22

SALUTING ROBERT RONUS (center) for his Opera League recognition are (from left) Carol Henry, Jennifer Fain and Carlotta Keely.

Photo by Greg Grudt

POLICE OFFICERS and community members remember fallen officers at memorial groundbreaking. WSHPHS president Richard Battaglia is at center, with hand over heart.

CAMERATA PACIFICA was the beneficary of the outpouring of admiration for Carol Henry, shown here with sons Michael (at left) and Will.

RAISING AWARENESS for nurses: Ronald Simms, Victoria Mann Simms and Rachel Barchie.

Around the Town

(Continued from page 6)

greatness. Thirty well-deserving nurses were carefully handpicked from City of Hope, UCLA Health and Keck Medicine of USC (10 from each) to receive a $10,000 gift each, no strings attached.

COUNCILMEMBER Hugo Soto-Martinez recognized former Windsor Square Association board member Caroline Labiner Moser for many and varied contributions to her community.

Attendees were ushered into the Wallis’ Lovelace Center to listen to journalist and author Sarah DiGregorio share personal stories of how greatly the nursing world affected and assisted her own family throughout her life. Victoria Mann Simms, co-founder and president of the foundation and the Simms / Mann Institute, then shared the origins

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

Rising to the Challenge — of Lower Water Use

Because of ongoing drought conditions, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) instituted the following residential outdoor water restrictions, beginning June 1, 2022, and they still are in effect:

• Residents are permitted only two watering days a week — Monday and Friday for odd numbered addresses; Thursday and Sunday for even.

• Watering is limited to eight minutes per zone, or 15 minutes for water-conserving nozzles.

• No watering is permitted between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Violators may be subject to fines.

But we are lucky — many municipalties went to one-dayper-week limits. LADWP is trusting residents to reduce our water usage voluntarily, so that stricter measures will not be necessary. Windsor Square (and surrounding neighborhoods) must rise to this challenge, and here are a few simple tips to help us achieve that goal.

First, NEVER water during the day. Hot sun and heat can cause as much as 60 percent of your water to evaporate before it touches the ground! Make sure to set your irrigation controls properly.

Second, check your sprinklers. Don’t let them spew water in gutters or geyser up from broken heads. Test-run your sprinklers every month. Careful control of your sprinkler systems could save you hundreds of gallons of water a month.

Third, even if you decide to let your lawn go brown (a move many people are recommending), don’t forget to water your valuable trees — including parkway trees. Lawns are easy to replace, while trees take years to establish and can provide many benefits, such as reductions in heat and pollution.

Fourth, wait to install new landscaping until late fall. Even drought-tolerant plants need water to get established. Also, trees are stressed by the drought already, so wait until late fall to trim them as well.

Bewaterwise.com is a useful website for more information on water saving techniques for the garden. Researching ways to conserve water indoors also is important. Let’s work together to make a significant dent in our water usage so that we can avoid stringent restrictions in the future.

The Windsor Square Association, an all-volunteer group of residents from 1100 households between Beverly and Wilshire and Van Ness and Arden, works to preserve and enhance our beautiful neighborhood. Join with us! Drop us a line at 325 N. Larchmont Blvd., #158, Los Angeles, CA 90004, or visit our website at windsorsquare.org.

of the idea for Off The Chart. “I had great concern about the nurses during COVID-19,” Simms shared. “Off The Chart wasn’t a strategic initiative… this came from a place of deep appreciation.”

Wilton-Ridgewood resident and foundation executive director Rachel Barchie emphasized, “Hopefully, we will be a model for other companies to emulate in their own communities and health systems.” After the discussion, guests were treated to an outdoor reception featuring dinner and an ice cream bar.

• • •

Another post-COVID-19, in-person get-together saw Windsor Square Association block captains and directors assemble with local officials — including Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez, LAPD officers including Wilshire Capt. Sonia Monico and LAFD Station 29 firefighters including Capt. Josh Morehouse for dinner and a pep talk about the benefits of organizing residential neighborhoods block-by-block. Approximately 80 people attended the May 24th gathering that featured a buffet of Mexican food. All of the planning was done by Windsor Square Association board members June Bilgore, Angie Szentgyorgyi and Tracey Durning, the latter two serving as moderators and introducing several block captains who told stories of what has worked for organizing their blocks. Durning said that her

magic trick is serving margaritas, while Scott Abrahamson, Niloo Eskandari and Marcelo Ziperovich told of other ways they kept residents of their blocks involved for mutual benefit.

• • •

Okay, shhhhhhh… I usually don’t do this, but I’m going to give you a little sneak peek at an upcoming event, Sat., June 24, when St. Vincent Meals On Wheels will be throwing its annual mega fundraiser at Paramount Studios featuring Los Angeles’ top celebrity chefs and restaurants, this year dubbed “Hollywood Under The Stars.” I was lucky enough to get an advance tasting of some of the yumminess that will be featured at this year’s extravaganza, including gumbo by Chef Nika Shoemaker-Machado of Georgia’s

Restaurant, wagyu aburi nigiri and an hamachi shot of yellowtail, dashi, avocado and radish by Chef Richard Archuleta of Alexander’s Steakhouse; Maryland crab cake by 2023 Host Chef and Culinary Angel Isaias Peña; and two tasty desserts, a carrot cake cupcake by John Hensley of Lark Cake Shop and an obscene amount of deliciousness from Läderach Chocolatier Suisse.

Newscaster and host Susan Hirasuna and actor and host Doug Savant reminded the sneak previewers that Meals on Wheels serves 800,000 meals to homebound seniors each year. So if you want to attend an important and memorable fundraiser in the neighborhood, mark June 24 on your calendar!

And now you’re in the Larchmont know!

Neighborhood council directors elected

By John Welborne

The Los Angeles City Clerk has certified the winners of the April 30 election of directors for the boards of two local neighborhood councils for the coming two years.

For Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council , the following are the new Directors and Alternates. (The two people with asterisks are in a tie for the Windsor Village seat, with the Director and Alternate to be determined by the drawing of straws.) Those elected are: Mark Alpers, MJ Anderson, Scott Appel, Tommy Atlee, Selene Betancourt, Jeffry Carpenter, Patricia (Patti) Carroll, Cindy ChvatalKeane, Romi Cortier, Vincent Cox, Brian Curran, Charles D’Atri, Jennifer DeVore, Gary Gilbert, John Gresham, Jesseca Harvey, Julie Kim*, Suzana Kim, David Meister, Mark McQueen, Alex Nava, Tess Page, Lucy Pinkwater, Bianca Sparks Rojas*, Benjamin Rosenberg, Sixto J. Sicilia, Owen Smith, Conrad Starr, David Trainer and John Winther.

For Mid City West Neighborhood Council, these are the new Directors: Cindy Bitterman, Shem Bitterman, Shelby Blecker, Lauren

Borchard, Craig Brill, Hunter Burgarella, Ramiro Castro, Jr., Tedd Cittadine, Chris Dower, Aimee Garcia, Amy Goldenberg, Ellie D. Goralnick, Sara Griebe, Dre Guttag, Brent Kidwell, Benjamin Kram, Christian La Mont, Lynda La Rose, David Mann, Henry Mantel, Ava Marinel-

li, Christina Mondy, Terence Mylonas, Matthew Peskay, Clark Raustiala, Danielle Rodriguez-Donovan, Sam Roseme, Michael Schneider, Bob Shore, Nick Starr, Sandra Sims, Julian Stern, J. Keith Van Straaten, Valerie Jaffee Washburn, Don Whitehead and Xcevio Zuluaga.

157 N. Larchmont Boulevard

WINDSOR SQUARE Block Captain gathering included, from left, Jason Greenman, Jeanne Williams, Randy Esada, Andy Murr, Amy Forbes, Steve Tator and Dorothy Schouten.

Approving the budget for Los Angeles Important fight for the future of all of Hollywood

Last month, the Los Angeles City Council voted to pass the city’s budget for the next fiscal year, which begins on July 1. I have the honor of sitting on the Council’s Budget, Finance and Innovation Committee, which is responsible for reviewing the mayor’s proposed budget before it is sent to the full Council for approval. During that review, my colleagues and I made several changes to the budget to add or remove funding for programs based on our shared priorities.

You might have read that this year’s budget contains a record $1.3 billion to combat our homelessness crisis. This funding will help us acquire hotels and other properties to turn into interim and permanent housing — which will help us both end homelessness for more of our neighbors and improve our ability to transition individuals through the rehousing system. The funding will also scale our efforts to quickly move more Angelenos off the streets through the mayor’s Inside Safe program by adding $250 million to the program. My office also added $1 million to fund more therapeutic vans for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. On the prevention side, millions more will go to stem the tide of people falling into homelessness with rental assistance and a “right to counsel” program for tenants.

I’m also very proud that my team was able to double the amount of funding for speed humps, particularly around elementary schools, to $6 million. We also added funding to speed up sidewalk repair and to make it easier to request ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) street parking in front of your home. Also included in this budget is additional funding to cre-

CD 5 Council Report by

Katy Young Yaroslavsky

ate four new family resource centers. These are community hubs that offer residents a host of city services, including parenting classes and childcare referral services, rental assistance, tutoring, financial education and coaching, and pre-employment and employment services, to name a few.

We were also able to fund an expansion of the Jewish Federation’s Community Security Initiative. You might remember that I requested this funding back in February when two Jewish men were attacked in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood after leaving shul.

Jews, like all Angelenos, deserve to feel safe in Los Angeles.

I am hopeful that this funding will help redouble our efforts to increase security around our Jewish institutions.

Parking

(Continued from page 1) left turn lane.” The lane can be utilized to make left turns, not U-turns. So if you see a parking space on the opposite side of the street or you want to pull into a parking lot, use the turning lane. But parking in the center lane is illegal. LAPD works in tandem with Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) parking enforcement officers. According to LADOT clerk Aldo Andrade, who has worked for Los Angeles parking enforcement for 15 years, “Parking in the center lane is a hazardous technique; the lane is not for any kind of parking.” This

Also included was new money for addressing climate change, including funding for building decarbonization efforts and for clean vehicles. Los Angeles has established very aggressive climate change goals, so we need funding to implement the policies and programs to achieve these goals.

Finally, we added two new positions in the Recreation and Parks Department to help establish more community parks. This is a partnership between the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and the city to turn schools into parks during after-school hours. It is an incredible program that helps add open space to communities where it is more difficult to identify new parkland.

I’ll be honest; bringing this budget across the finish line was hard work. We had to make decisions on what to prioritize, knowing that there simply isn’t enough money to fund every single worthy project or program. But what we were able to accomplish will help us move the ball forward on creating a more livable city.

includes delivery trucks.

Armando Vegas, a FedEx driver for one year, says he knows it’s illegal, and he does it anyway. He parks in the center lane daily. “I’ve gotten tickets and been bothered by the parking attendants, but there aren’t any other options. Also, I don’t pay for the tickets.”

The fine for parking in the center lane is $63. It’s considered double parking. Sgt. Duncan commented that LAPD can have a vehicle towed and impounded if parked in the center lane.

Windsor Square resident Julie Kim comes to Larchmont frequently. She was parked in the center lane when I spoke with her. She didn’t realize it was against the law to park there. She thought that — if it was just for a few minutes, especially if she waited in the car — it was okay. She said she does it because “Every time I come to town it’s difficult to park.”

In actuality, by staying in the car, you could receive a moving violation from LAPD “for impeding traffic, minimum speed law” according to Sgt. Duncan. This ticket can also come with a point on your license.

Another woman, who was parked in the center lane, also said she didn’t know it was illegal. She works nearby and was dropping a package off at FedEx. She thought the store would have a short-term parking space in front.

Many people who visit the Boulevard find the cars in the center lane to be annoying and dangerous. Heidi, of

As I write this in late May, over 11,000 writers are on strike, facing the largest assault on compensation and working conditions they’ve seen in a generation.

Writers are doing more work for less pay with less job security. They are fighting for a future where all the workers who make Hollywood run can earn a stable, living wage. This fight is so important, and it’s about more than just writers. It affects stagehands, actors, truck drivers and more. The studios have the money to pay these workers what they deserve, but instead, they are leaving the entire industry behind to prioritize their already soaring profits.

Here are some stats about the current situation:

Studios have brought in over $30 billion in profit over the past few years, yet they refuse to share those profits with the workers.

This isn’t about the money. The studios lost nearly $10

Larchmont Village, said the worst part about having the cars parked in the middle is when pedestrians walk in between the cars and then pop out into the lane while you’re driving. She finds it alarming and disconcerting to suddenly see someone in the middle of the street.

Many proclaim that parking is difficult on Larchmont Boulevard, especially when the Farmers’ Market takes up one of the city lots. Trucks from vendors and cars from customers are perpetually parked in the center lane.

If you are lucky enough to score a metered spot along the Boulevard, of course you should take it. Brian Terr of

CD 13 Council Report

by Hugo Soto-Martinez

billion in value on the first day of the strike alone. That’s enough to fund every single ask the writers made for 25 years.

Median weekly writer-producer pay has declined 4 percent over the last decade. Adjusting for inflation, the decline is 23 percent.

Last year, the combined salary of just eight major Hollywood studio CEOs was $773 million. Meanwhile, many writers can’t even afford to pay their rent.

As the councilmember who represents Hollywood, I wholeheartedly support these workers, and I will be on the picket line standing in solidarity with them until they win a fair contract.

Ridgewood-Wilton says, “I don’t begrudge the people waiting for spots, you just need to be able to get around them.” If the turning lane is filled with parked cars, Terr continues, “You can never get around the cars waiting for a spot.”

Polly Estabrook, of Windsor Square, said cars parked in the middle don’t bother her. But then added, “I rarely drive to the Boulevard because parking is such a nightmare and driving on the street is so slow, which it should be.” She walks or bikes.

Seems like this short stretch of the Boulevard has some traffic issues. Will knowing what’s lawful change drivers’ behavior?

“an oasis in the city”

New lounge-style jewelry store coming to the Boulevard

By Casey Russell Larchmont

Boulevard will become home to a new kind of jewelry store this fall. Emulating some European retail experiences, Larchmont Jewelers aims to provide clients with a relaxed, high-end lounge-type environment.

Visiting Hing Wa Lee Jeweler’s newest retail store, customers will get a very Soho House vibe, according to the Boulevard’s new retailer.

The Hing Wa Lee business started in Hong Hong in the 1960s. Master gem carver Hing Wa Lee, father of current company CEO David Lee, quickly became recognized worldwide for his talents. He was asked to venture to America to restore some of the Smithsonian Museum’s artifacts.

Noticing that there was an appreciation for Chinese arts in America, Lee opened a business in Bethesda, Maryland, in

the 1970s and then moved his family to Los Angeles, where he opened his first West Coast wholesale operation in 1980.

When the gem carver’s eldest son, David Lee, graduated from USC Marshall School of Business in 1992, he joined the family firm and helped it evolve into the retail powerhouse it is today.

The luxury retail chain has

multiple locations and caters to customers looking for fine jewelry and timepieces. The company is one of the few certified Rolex dealers in Southern California and will carry five brands of superior quality watches. At the new store, 70 percent of merchandise space will be allocated for watches, and 30 percent for jewelry.

Rolex approved

When we spoke with David Lee recently, he said Rolex had asked him to find a location to represent its product in Koreatown. “I was looking for more than a year,” said Lee. He found various places, but they were not approved. Rolex is very particular that the surroundings of stores selling its products be suitable for the brand.

“I remember the day I looked at the map and [on the fringe of Koreatown] saw the Larchmont area,” said Lee. He had never been to Larchmont before. When walking down the Boulevard to check it out, the CEO said, “In my mind I was saying, ‘This is the place.’ And Rolex agreed.”

This newest shop will be in the building at 119 N. Larchmont Blvd. that recently housed the corporate office of Buck Mason and, for many previous years, was the lo-

cation of Coldwell Banker’s southern office on the Boulevard. This is a passion project for Lee, and he plans to be very hands-on. “We were looking into leasing at the Mercantile,” [the renovated former Lipson Building across the street] said Lee. But as the businessman prefers to own the real estate where he operates, he was pleased to be able to purchase the building at 119 N. Larchmont. It is now in the renovation process.

Vice President of Marketing Caren Ho told us that all construction plans are in the city’s hands for review and she said that the team hopes to open for business in October.

“Club” feel

It is intended that the bottom floor will house the retail store, which will be designed to feel like a club lounge and look like a chic, posh living room. There will be minimal merchandise displayed. Most will be tucked away. “It’s our job to find out from you what you want… helping you discover what you need. Then we try to present it to you,” said Lee.

Half of the second floor will be used as a VIP lounge. After clients have selected their purchases, they can go up to the lounge, enjoy a drink from the bar and stay for as long as they want, says Lee. Associ-

ates will join them upstairs to size their watch or jewelry and complete the sale. The current second-floor tenant will remain in the other half of the upper level.

A rooftop garden deck is also planned. “It’s not just about selling jewelry anymore. It’s about giving the customer an experience,” said Lee.

The CEO said he believes the client base will be vast and thinks the store will draw high-profile clients from all over the world. He said, “They can’t even experience this on Rodeo Drive.”

David Lee has passions outside of the jewelry business. The family has a large real estate portfolio and Lee himself is a lover of cars. He said that Jay Leno is a good buddy because the two collectors both like to drive all of their cars. Lee, a Ferrari collector, went on to say, “I would like to do car events on Larchmont.”

When asked about the parking situation for his clients, Lee said there are 10 parking spaces in the back of his new building, which will allow clients to come and go quickly, easily and inconspicuously.

Lee believes that being on the Boulevard will open his business up to everyone, and he is glad to have found a space on a street that he described as “independent.”

Above: INTERIOR rendering of Larchmont Jewelers.

Left: EXTERIOR perspective view of Larchmont Jewelers.

New neighborhood mural appearing on the Boulevard

By Casey Russell

Popular East Coast bakery

Levain is planning to open its first West Coast site at 227 N. Larchmont Blvd. sometime before July 4. And in preparation for its debut here in Los Angeles, work is being done not just on the inside, but on the outside of this new Boulevard business.

Incorporated into the design at many of Levain’s locations is a large mural map illustration representing the local store’s neighborhood. Larchmont will not be an exception. But in a way, it will be a first.

Pam Lewy, vice president of marketing and communications for Levain, told us that this new location will be the first to have its mural outside rather than inside. Kirstin Bunger, project manager for Levain Larchmont, told us this is due to the design of this particular shop’s space. There wasn’t an appropriate wall for an inside mural.

The team was pleased to realize that a perfect wall for the mural existed on an outside wall of their store, which faces the Wells Fargo parking lot. Meeting dates were scheduled to present and discuss the proposed artwork. Bunger said, “We had people call in who were really excited about this blank, big wall having something on it that has to do with the community. So it’s been really well received.”

Reviewed by Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council

The mural was reviewed by the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council (GWNC) Land Use Committee at a recent Zoom meeting. Revisions were made by artist Janice Chang to remove the bakery’s name from the mural to comply with city regulations, and the project was officially approved by the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs.

It was important to bakery owners Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald to choose a mural artist who was familiar with the area and could tie the artwork into the community and its local history. They saw Chang, a Los Angeles native who is currently based in Brooklyn, New York, as having a style unique to Los Angeles. “Her vibrant and whimsical work does a wonderful job of highlighting some of the best and [most] iconic things about Larchmont Village, as well as the city of Los Angeles,” said McDonald. Village Clock

These include the Village Clock, Larchmont shuttle and the median monument at Third Street.

Of course, power washing, patching and priming were

needed to prepare for Chang and her team to begin the painting in late May.

Lewy told us that when Weekes and McDonald were looking for a West Coast neighborhood in which to expand their business, the fact that the Boulevard is such a walkable street held great appeal. “We love that Larchmont Village felt like a place where we could be a

part of a close community and really get to know our neighbors,” said Weekes. The East Coast residents are looking forward to visiting as often as they can.

TVC: 70 YEARS AND COUNTING

Television City has been a studio for 70 yea rs. The TVC Plan ensures that this community landmark will remain a studio by modernizing production fa cilities to meet the needs of today's content creators.

Right:

MURAL ARTIST Janice Chang (at left, in lift) and her colleagues begin laying out the painting to cover the wall facing the Wells Fargo parking lot on Larchmont Boulevard.

MURAL RENDERING approved for outer wall of Levain Bakery facing Wells Fargo.

Two faith-based schools build community and share pizza

By Casey Russell

Students from St. Brendan Catholic and New Horizon Los Angeles schools recently gathered for an afternoon of pizza, play and interfaith learning. The day built on a relationship between the two schools that began in 2016.

Stacey Herman, the kindergarten teacher at St. Brendan’s, reached out to Jolanda Hussein, principal of New Horizon School – Los Angeles, and suggested the kindergarten classes get together for a playdate with pizza. There had been a recent

rise in anti-Muslim incidents and the very day Herman called, New Horizon and the Islamic Center of Southern California had received a bomb threat. Hussein said “yes” to the kindergarten teacher’s idea right away.

“I think I wanted to teach the kids at our school that you don’t have to be afraid of people who are different. And I wanted the [New Horizon] kids to know that not everybody was against them, and that there were a lot of people who were glad they were here,” said Herman.

Since then, with a slight hiccup in visits due to the pandemic in 2020, the two schools have continued to meet at one school or the other. Said Herman, “Jolanda and I became friends, and we’d get together and have tea. She mentioned the older kids were jealous [of the younger kids].” Therefore, in 2019, the play date was expanded to include the schools’ entire student bodies. This year’s day of connection included the singing of salam alaikum (“peace to you”), the Islamic call to prayer, a pizza and balloon party and outside

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June 20-August 11, 2023

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fun with sidewalk chalk, ice cream and bubbles.

Anna Nemoianu, a fourth grade student at St. Brendan, said, “It was a lot of fun! I loved getting to know about another culture. I know a lot about being Catholic, so it was interesting getting to know about another faith.”

When asked if she thought this idea could spread to other schools, Herman answered in the affirmative. “It’s not hard to do. Kids just want to play together.” The teacher, who has been at St. Brendan’s for 28 years, said, “I think prejudices and fears are instilled when you don’t know people…. [But we can] teach [kids] early on to be tolerant and that you can be friends with a variety of people.”

The schools have not only come together for play dates, they’ve also worked jointly to support others in various ways. Last year, the

two schools collected supplies for Afghan refugees, and New Horizon students donated offerings to the St. Brendan Christmas Toy Drive, which benefits Alexandria House, a transitional residence for women and children.

Herman plans to continue fostering the two schools’ bonds and said, “The kids know about this [now] so they’re excited about it. They remember kids they’ve met before and were seeking them out when they came this time.”

Star chefs at St. Vincent Meals on Wheels ‘Tasting’

By Suzan Filipek

St. Vincent Meals on Wheels (SVMOW), the largest, privately funded senior nutrition program in the country, will stage its second annual “Hollywood Under the Stars” fundraiser on the Paramount Studios lot on Sat., June 24. The event gets underway at 6:30 p.m., with a VIP reception commencing in the Paramount Theatre at 5:30 pm.

Longtime supporter and area local Rick Llanos will serve as honorary host.

“Growing up in Windsor Square, I was lucky enough to stay close to my family and eventually start a career in real estate,” noted Llanos, adding, “I’ve long been involved, originally as a Junior Adviso-

HOST Rick Llanos.

ry Board member, where we created new, inventive ways to expand SVMOW’s reach.”

Llanos says he continues to participate in SVMOW events and “spread the word on all the amazing work SVMOW does.”

Angeleno chefs, tastings, live music

The organization will partner with nearly a dozen Angeleno chefs and pâtissiers for an evening of tastings complemented by a 10-piece band for dancing under the night sky.

The event will pay tribute to actor Martin Sheen in recognition of his standing in solidarity with those who have been forgotten and dis-

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SMILING fourth graders (left to right) Zoya Kadri and Anna Nemoianu at the inter-school play date.

HONORARY

ACTOR Martin Sheen will receive the Vincent’s Heart Award.

Torch will be passed to a new director at Plymouth preschool

By Suzan Filipek

Sondi Toll Sepenuk has been named the new director of much-loved Plymouth School.

When the Brookside resident takes the reins in September, she will be the third director in the preschool’s 52-year history.

“I’m thrilled and honored to be taking over. Plymouth is such an important part of my family life and many families in the community,” Sepenuk told us.

In her new post, Sepenuk will oversee the faculty and curriculum at the school, located at 315 S. Oxford Ave. on the property of the Wilshire Presbyterian Church at Third Street and Western Avenue.

Multiple generations

The school counts multiple generations of local families among its alumni. Sepenuk’s family is among them, which is one of the reasons the school board offered her the position.

“Her two kids went to school here, and she’s been a teacher here for five years. She represents the nonprofit school culture. She’s awesome,” current school Director Megan Drynan told us.

Drynan, who grew up in the area, is retiring from the post after nine years to spend more time with her family. (Her siblings and three children plus nieces and nephews all attended Plymouth.)

“The original director, Penny Cox, asked me to be director nine years ago,” she said, “and I have been blessed with an amazing staff and community to support me through the many transitions and growth of the school.

“I knew that Sondi would be a perfect fit.  She has been a teacher here for five years, and her strong sense of community and love of the school made it clear to us that she would be perfect.

“I am happy to pass the torch of director to Sondi knowing she has the support of our community.   She will protect our traditions while creating a loving environment to help nurture and stimulate our young children.”

Drynan, who will remain on the four-member school board, added: “[The school] is a gem in our neighborhood that has many important traditions. Soup Day, holiday parties and Fourth of July parades have been going on for 50 years.”

Another favorite is the festive 100th day of school, when the “100-year-old man” talks to students about what life was like a century ago. Sondi’s husband, Pete Sepenuk, an actor and producer, dons a beard and dresses for the role and explains to eager listeners

what life was like when everyone drove the same model car.

“They believe it. They believe he’s 100 years old,” Sondi beams.

Sondi, a Seattle native, has a bachelor’s degree in English from Loyola Marymount University. She continued her studies in early childhood education at Los Angeles City College and UCLA, and she was a founding parent of Larchmont Charter School. She has held various leadership positions as a manager, TV writer and producer.

She also is the Around The Town columnist for the Larchmont Chronicle, and she is a member of NGA (Needlework Guild of America) Hancock Park.

At Plymouth, where classes have names such as Hippopotamus and Giraffe, Sepenuk has taught the Bear class, which is made up of the oldest children at the school.

Children between the ages of 2 and 5-and-a-half years old are enrolled at the 60-pupil school.

Both of her children, Hazel and Gus, attended the school. (Hazel is currently a sophomore at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, and Gus is a high school sophomore at Larchmont Charter School.)

Founded in 1972

The preschool was co-founded in 1972 by Cox, who died in 2020 at 87. Dissatisfied with the preschool where they were teaching, Penny and three other teachers and a neighbor opened Plymouth in 1972 in a space in the Wilshire Methodist Church on Plymouth Boulevard. In 1992, the non-denominational preschool moved to its current location.

“There aren’t many places like Plymouth,” said Sepenuk.

The play-based school features pre-reading and premath for the oldest children.

“We work it in a way where they don’t even know they’re doing it,” Sepenuk adds. “The school is more like a family, like home, with longtime teachers on staff [some who attended the preschool as children themselves].

“We aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel. We know what children need — to feel

Academy to host free ‘Summer Jam’

The Academy Museum is holding a “Summer Jam” party on Fri., June 2, 2 to 8 p.m. Attendees can partake in free art, photo and music activities and, beginning at 4 p.m., free access to galleries. This June, the museum is also hosting Pride Month events, a “Summer of Music: Concert Films

1959-2020” series, and “A New Wave of K-Cinema: Korean Women Directors” series.

safe and be in a space where they can grow and learn and socialize and learn to be kind people and open up their minds to exploration and curiosity.

“I’m really excited about it, about meeting new families and helping them to guide their child forward.”

She added, “I look forward to continuing the legacies of Founding Director Penny Cox and now Megan Drynan, who have built the school into the warm, friendly, welcoming environment that we all know today.”

NEW HEAD of Plymouth School Sondi Toll Sepenuk.

Hot off the presses: Third graders’ Hollygrove Chronicle

By Casey Russell

Four Larchmont Charter Hollygrove third graders recently started a school newspaper called the Hollygrove Chronicle. The TK through fourth grade elementary school hasn’t had a school paper in years.

Tanvi Kanimerakala originated the project because she felt there wasn’t a place to circulate her ideas. She said, “I realized that, by starting a school newspaper, I could inspire kids to share their ideas and show their true colors.”

Classmates Lola Kessler and Elsie Mohr saw her working on the paper and asked if they could help. “I’ve really liked writing ever since kindergarten. So, I wanted to join,” said Mohr. Maxine Smith is the newest member. “She really improved our editing,” said Kanimerakala.

The girls’ teacher is Erik Amundson. “He knows more about writing than we do,” said Kessler. “We thought,

‘Oh! He should help us!’”

Amundson has been very supportive of the foursome’s endeavor. “It’s always cool to see students take on their own passions and find interest in applying the things we learn in class,” said Amundson. “It’s also been fun to see what their idea of a newspaper is and the things they find important to include and write about.”

The newspaper is currently seven pages long, and Hollygrove Chronicle staff is working on the third issue. The girls handwrite and draw all content, which includes short articles, movie reviews, greetings from newspaper staff and games such as crossword puzzles, word searches and find-the-difference challenges. A parent volunteer types the articles and formats the work. After Amundson prints the paper, the girls compile, staple and put the issue out for students to take.

When asked what each of their specialties are, Smith

said, “I think I’m good at final drafts.” Kanimerakala said she enjoys writing and describing what is happening.

Mohr said, “I come up with problems, and Lola develops them into ideas for the newspaper.” Kessler agreed and said she also helps with editing and is in charge of games.

Mohr revises and edits and said, “I do all the scheduling to make sure we’re organized because it gets really messy

without me.”

So what kind of response has the paper received? People seem to like it. The foursome has been hearing that readers would like the paper to be a little longer. They told us there are a lot of students wanting to contribute drawings and comics. Mohr believes the paper has inspired students to write more. “Before, more people were drawing. Now, more people are actually writ-

ing. I think they are going to submit [their writing] to the newspaper because now we have a submissions bin,” she said.

The girls said that if they get a lot of submissions they’ll just include the best ones. “Our goal isn’t to have the biggest newspaper, we just want it to be quality,” said Kanimerakala.

“We’re starting to collect data on what different grades like. We know what third grade is talking about, but [our data] can make [the paper] more interesting for other grades,” said Mohr.

Hollygrove Chronicle staff told us there will be at least one more issue coming out this year. The team plans to start up again when school starts in the fall.

We at the Larchmont Chronicle applaud these young writers for recognizing the importance of local news! We wish them great luck in their continued endeavors.

Actor helps launch ‘Lots of Compassion’

By Vivian Gueler

Third Street Elementary was selected to partner with the company that makes Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day products to help launch the “Lots Of Compassion” initiative.

Actor Tyler James Williams of television’s “Abbott Elementary” was in attendance at Third Street, helping to kick off the campaign in the school’s garden. The initia-

tive calls on people to use the power of the garden to inspire change. Specifically, the program focuses on untended and vacant spaces that can be transformed into a community garden. Think vacant lots and lots of compassion. A YouTube video on the nationwide project is at mrsmeyers. com/compassion.

Third Street was put forward as a contender to help launch the campaign by KidsGardening, a national nonprofit whose mission is to create opportunities for kids to play, learn and grow

through gardening. The organization supports educators and families with grant funding, educational resources and inspiration.

Noel Nicholas, education content manager for KidsGardening, says, “What Mrs. Meyer’s is doing through the ‘Lots of Compassion’ project is incredible. I’ve seen the magic of garden-based learning and am thrilled they’re extending the opportunity to more communities.”

Williams, whose television character has an aptitude

(Please turn to page 19)

NEWSPAPER copies are available outside the classroom.

THE NEWSPAPER TEAM: (left to right) Tanvi Kanimerakala, Lola Kessler, Elsie Mohr and Maxine Smith.

DIGGING IN THE GARDEN at Third Street Elementary are (left to right) Tyler James Williams, Sul Lee from Third Street and Noel Nicholas. Photo by Jordyn Levine

Loopers don’t have to be 18 to begin learning the craft

Anyone who saw Australian Hannah Green win the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro at Wilshire Country Club (WCC) April 30 had to notice her looper, Nate Blasko. Immediately after sinking the winning putt of the two-hole sudden death playoff, Green walked over and hugged the grinning Blasko.

Of course he was happy; he’s been her caddie since 2018, and the last LPGA event she won was in 2019. Blasko was one of 144 loopers to work the tournament, and his earnings topped those of his fellow caddies that weekend.

As an unspoken rule, a looper receives 10 percent of the winning golfer’s prize money. The victory at Wilshire Country Club earned Green $450,000. No wonder Blasko was smiling.

Loop de loop

Like most sports, golf has its own jargon, and the caddie subdivision culture is no different.

The word “loop” can be a verb or noun. As a noun, it’s a caddie’s round of golf service. Makes sense; the round begins and ends at the clubhouse, so the route golfers and caddies traverse is basically a loop. As a verb, “loop” means to lug a player’s bag around a golf course. Consequently, “looper” is slang for caddie.

Most caddies begin looping in their teens. Some do it strictly as an occupation, and some for

Youth Sports

by Jim Kalin

the experience and proximity to golfers and the game because they want to eventually play professional golf themselves.

Arnold Palmer began looping in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, when he was just 10. Lee Trevino started even earlier; he began at age 8 in Dallas, Texas. Nate Blasko, Hannah Green’s caddie, was a junior golfer living in Kingston, Ontario, trying to elevate his game before his golf coach suggested he loop for Augusta James, a Kingston-area professional golfer.

Family affair

Name a famous pair of brothers who were loopers when they were teenagers. Need a hint? They starred in the most famous movie about caddies ever made.

Way before appearing in the classic film “Caddsyshack,” Bill Murray and his brother Brian Doyle-Murray looped at Indian Hill Club in Winnetka, Illinois, along with their three brothers. Apparently, looping ran in the family. Their father had been a caddie in the 1930s in Chicago.

At the JM Eagle Championship last month, the event ended in regulation with a three-way tie among Hannah Green, Xiyu Lin and Aditi

Ashok. Ashok is from India, and her father looped for her at WCC on the recent weekend. He also was her caddie at the 2016 Rio Olympics, although in Tokyo four years later, it was Ashok’s mother who carried her bag. Another competitor at the JM Eagle Championship was South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai. When she initially played on the LPGA, her boyfriend David looped for her. That went on until just before their marriage, when they decided it was best if he caddied for someone else. Made sense; life can be difficult when a couple’s income comes down to how just one of them performs on the golf course. David now loops for Sweden’s Madelene Sag-

strom, and Ashleigh’s caddie is Tanya Paterson. At the JM Eagle Championship, Sagstrom ended in a tie for 17th and collected $35,608. Buhai finished lower, tied at 33rd, and earned $17,562.

Chill

Golf legend Ben Hogan, who was known as the Wee

Ice Man, was a caddie as a teenager in Fort Worth, Texas. The first time he ever played Wilshire Country Club, someone jokingly challenged him to hit the Hollywood sign — which can be seen from the ninth hole — with his drive. Without missing a beat, Hogan replied, “Which letter?”

Panthers make history on court

By Suzan Filipek

Pilgrim School made history recently when the Pilgrim Panthers Varsity Volleyball Team won the Omega League Championship.

“This season was monumental for the school. We were the best team in school history,” team captain and high school senior Lucas George-Ghobrial told us.

It was the first time in 30 years that the team earned the league championship when Pilgrim beat Newbury Park Adventist High School April 20.

With Head Coach Joshua Manly and assistant coaches Joe Concialdi and Loki Woo, the 17 players competed against five schools (two games each) and only took one loss.

“This has been history in the making for us considering that we lost the league by one game last year — to Newbury Park Adventist, the team we beat to win it this year,” Lucas said.

The team advanced to the quarterfinals, but didn’t make it to the playoffs.

GOLFERS AND LOOPERS prepare for the tee off at the first hole at Wilshire Country Club during the JM Eagle Championship.

GOLFER Hyo Joon Jang (right) with looper Ryan Smith at the first tee off during the JM Eagle Championship at Wilshire Country Club.

Ideas for keeping some of summer’s stresses in check

By Casey Russell

Summer is upon us, and area kids are ready to revel in the freedom of the school-free weeks ahead.

For parents, this time of year can be stressful. People working away from home scramble to find childcare or camps for kids. Parents who work from home may feel pangs of guilt listening to the words “I’m bored” being uttered multiple times a day. Guilt can also raise its unproductive head when we realize our kids would love our attention, but we have stuff we need

to get done.

So how can we make the summer months less stressful and more fun for everyone?

Boredom can be good

First of all, boredom is not a bad thing for kids to feel or to learn to deal with. Rather than feeling the need to rescue kids from the b-word, see what happens if you give them screen-free space to find a way to fill their own time. Your kid may pull out an old art set and get busy. Maybe you’ll notice a fort getting made. Without being given something to entertain them, kids often come

Tips on Parenting

by Casey Russell

up with amazingly creative ideas to entertain themselves. Special summer fun

But while we parents do have things we need to get done, and while it is good for kids to practice entertaining themselves, it’s important to also make time for summer family fun.

Msgr. Fleming

(Continued from page 1) has served the Archdiocese of Los Angeles since 1973. The pastor at St. Brendan Church from 2005 until his retirement in 2016, the mon-

signor subsequently has been the executive director of the archdiocese’s Mission Office that coordinates local efforts to support Catholic charity organizations. In March of 2022, Archbishop José H. Gomez appointed Msgr. Fleming as

episcopal vicar for the Our Lady of the Angels Pastoral Region to oversee temporarily the administration of the most populous of the archdiocese’s five pastoral regions. The monsignor’s Central Los Angeles region includes 77 parishes, 12 high schools, 48 elementary schools, two hospitals and four parochial missions. Msgr. Fleming previously served as a theology professor at St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo (1982-1989), pastor of St. Vibiana’s Cathedral (1990-1994), and vicar general of the archdiocese (1997-2002).

Public pools are open and make for great places to spend a day together. Summer camping trips full of sleeping bags and s’mores can be awesome adventures. But really, just making sure to connect in small ways throughout the day can make a big difference in keeping these months a bit less stressful.

Simple moments

Consider taking a long lunch break to take the kids for a picnic at the park. Feeling frazzled because your little one has interrupted the email you’re trying to write every five minutes for the past hour? Choose to lift her in the air and take her outside for 20 minutes of bubble-fun before getting focused again.

These simple moments of connection can remind kids they are seen and loved even though we also have other things we need to do. They can improve how everyone experiences the out-of-school weeks.

Managing messes

Another thing that can be stressful for many parents is that, with everybody home more, everybody’s messes take over the living spaces.

Instead of gritting your teeth while picking up after everyone, be honest. Take a minute to explain that, when the place is a mess and things are everywhere, it’s easy for you, and maybe for them, to feel frazzled and get irritated more easily. Remind them of how nice it is to be able to find whatever one is looking

for because it’s in the spot it’s meant to be. For some kids, just understanding the “why” can make a big difference.

For those for whom avoiding messes doesn’t work, here are some other ideas: Young kids enjoy a good game. Maybe you race your child to see who can finish faster: Dad finishing the dishes or Charlie putting his toys away. For elementary school kids, perhaps remembering to put their stuff away means they get to stay up a bit later. For teens, maybe consistently remembering to pitch in earns them a little spending money for an outing with a friend. Different techniques work for different families, but a technique I try to avoid is:

Parent cleans up.

Remembering

While these summer months of less structure and routine can be tough on parents, it’s good to remember how awesome they were when we were kids. The freedom from homework, the chance to not have to rush to school every day, the moments to sit in a sunbeam and just daydream — these are important. Summer is a time for kids to get away from all that comes with school. I remember loving summer for the time I got to just “be.” So while claiming our own need for less stress, let’s also keep in mind that summer is the time for our kids to let go of some of their stress, too. Maybe it will make it easier to smile at them as they take the time to just “be.”

The Plymouth School

• Preschool program for children 2 to 5½.

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

• Experienced teachers devoted to fostering self-esteem in a safe nurturing environment

• Over 45 years serving the neighborhood

315 S. Oxford Ave. • 213-387-7381

TOM PATTERSON, Msgr. Fleming and Kelly Martin.

RECEPTION at St. Brendan School. Shown are Jane Hawley, Patricia McKeever, Msgr. Fleming and Iris Craddock.

MSGR. FLEMING and Cardinal Roger Mahony.

MONSIGNOR Fleming and Marge Graf.

Businesses

(Continued from page 1)

Larchmont Blvd., on the corner of Melrose Avenue, where it will be a sit-down restaurant.

Another new Boulevard shop opened — with a party — on May 12. Beyond Yoga, a female founded and led company selling activewear and athleisure (owned by Levi Strauss & Co.) has its newest home at 152 N. Larchmont Blvd. (the site of the missed-by-many former real hardware store). Beyond Yoga is committed to manufacturing locally, and the company prides itself on selling soft, comfortable, inclusively sized clothes for men and women.

Niccole Ferraro, retail operations manager, told us, “It’s going great! We’re excited to be part of the community.”

Ferraro added that having representation in a community area in Los Angeles was something store owners were looking for. Beyond Yoga’s other locations are mainly in malls. “This seemed like the perfect spot,” she said.

Bacio di Latte was scheduled to open right as this June issue was being distributed. The gelato store is between clothing and accessories stores Corridor and Res Ipsa at 141 1/2 N. Larchmont Blvd.

A new jewelry store will grace the Boulevard this fall when Larchmont Jewelers opens for business at 119 N. Larchmont, the former home of Coldwell Banker’s south office. The new retailer will be the latest in the Hing Wa

Lee Jewelers family of stores. Read the story on page 10 of this issue to learn more.

Another store coming to Larchmont, this one located in the Larchmont Mercantile (formerly Lipson) building, is Sua, another Boulevard take-out food store. We recently spoke with Chef Jing Gao, founder of the Fly By Jing condiment brand. She and her partner, Stephanie Liu Hjelmeseth, a lifestyle content creator and entrepreneur, plan to open Sua at the end of July or beginning of August. The store at 144 N. Larchmont Blvd. will offer pre-packaged meals, pantry items, beverages and some artfully crafted home goods.

As reported previously, Terroni is coming to Larchmont, taking over the original Girasole space expanded and developed by Steve and Joanna Vernetti, who ran their popular restaurant at 225 N. Larchmont Blvd. for nearly 10 years, until Vernetti closed at the end of May. Joanna Vernetti recently applied to the City of Los Angeles for permission to sell a full line of alcoholic beverages for onsite consumption, and she announced at the restaurant’s

SWEET LADY JANE has signed up for Taco Tu Madre’s previous location.

May 25 closing party that the city had approved. The Vernetti application was under the city’s newly adopted restaurant beverage program that allows for expedited issuance of such licenses without neighborhood review. This will be the first time in memory for any Larchmont restaurant to be licensed to sell a full line of alcoholic beverages, and the license presumably was obtained to benefit Terroni and its operator, Hancock Park resident Shereen Arazm.

One of the other stores to open recently on the Boulevard is Thirteen Lune. It opened May 9, and assistant store manager Khepri De Walt told us business has been booming. “We’re so happy and so lucky to be here,” said De Walt.

Patrons can find more than skin care and makeup at the 90 percent BIPOC founded store. Damone Roberts’ eyebrow studio is located in the back and enables customers to get their brows done by

(Please turn to page 19)

Cooperstown-bound Warriors need support

By Jim Kalin Wilshire Warrior Coach-

es Pat Garrigan and Victor Smallwood have been getting their team ready for what’s become an annual trip to Cooperstown, New York, every summer. The best of our local 12-year-old Wilshire Warriors will head to Dreams Park Cooperstown to participate in a baseball summer camp where 64 to 100 teams attend per week.

Dreams Park was constructed in 1996. There are 22 grass playing fields and 104 barracks in the 165-acre Baseball Village. The fields have lights, so the boys play night games, too. Cooperstown is a family destination, with parents and siblings encouraged to attend games when not on Otsego Lake or touring the Baseball Hall of Fame. The experience for the players mirrors big league ball as much as possible.

“The place is magical,” said Tom Seeley, whose son Ryan

plays catcher and first base on the Warriors team. “It’s Disneyland for baseball fanatics.”

The team is actively fundraising over the next two months. The approximate cost per player is about $3,000, which includes travel, lodging, meals, uniforms and a seven-game guarantee during the tournament as well as incidentals like laundry, snacks and team pins, which the boys trade with other players throughout the week.

If you’d like to help with donations, or if you have questions, reach out by email to General Manager Melissa Perrot at mlperrot@mac.com.

You may donate via Venmo to the account dedicated to the Cooperstown 12U team (@Melissa-Perrot – last 4 of mobile # = 4038).

Donations also may be made by check payable to “Melissa Perrot” and mailed to Melissa Perrot, 3325 Wood Terrace, Los Angeles, CA 90027.

HEADING TO DREAMS PARK. Front row (L to R): Adi Litten, Nicolas Coppola, David Velador, Leo Russell, Ryan Seeley. Second row: Hans Smallwood, Malcolm Rudulph, Matthew Campos, Jack Garrigan, Leo Roddy, Miles Kwon. Back row: Coaches Victor Smallwood, Antonio Andrade, John Coppola, Pat Garrigan. Not pictured: Jackson Sims.

BEYOND YOGA’S grand opening was well attended.

Metro

(Continued from page 1) system during opening weekend.

The Regional Connector is composed of three new underground stations and 1.9 miles of track running beneath Downtown Los Angeles. It links the L (Gold) line with the A (Blue) line, and it also links the former southern part of the

Businesses

(Continued from page 18)

celebrity eyebrow artist Sarah Abikzer or by Roberts himself. The store is at 120 N. Larchmont Blvd.

As to the still vacant storefront at 129 N. Larchmont Blvd., between Le Petit Creek and Village Pizzeria, which briefly was the shop Pola, the

Third Street

(Continued from page 14) for gardening on “Abbott Elementary,” notes, “I believe every school, neighborhood and community should be able to benefit from those who are willing to roll up their sleeves and put in the care to grow something greater for tomorrow.”

Sul Lee, Third Street Elementary’s garden chair, says, “Third Street is flattered to partner with Mrs. Meyer’s and KidsGardening.org to help foster local garden initiatives here in Los Angeles and nationally.”

To support Third Street’s garden community, the cleaning products company has made a $5,000 donation to Third Street Elementary, which will,

L (Gold) line to the E (Expo) line. This creates two lines, A and E, and a one-seat journey from Azusa to Long Beach (A Line) and East Los Angeles to Santa Monica (E Line). A cross-county trip should take little more than an hour.

The three new stations will open as Little Tokyo/Arts District, Historic Broadway and Grand Av Arts/Bunker Hill. The latter features a station

space has been leased. Broker Ryan Gurman, who specializes in commercial real estate, told us that the space has been taken by an international retail brand that has another location in Los Angeles. The name of the brand is, as of yet, a mystery. We shall update readers as soon as more information becomes available.

in part, be used to replace aging raised planting beds.

People can support the program by purchasing the nationally available Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Compassion Flower products. One dollar from each product sold on mrsmeyers. com and grove.com benefits community garden efforts throughout the country. Mrs. Meyer’s is pledging to provide up to $1 million from Compassion Flower product sales to support community garden transformations over the next five years.

July 29, 1925

May 25, 2023

Kathryn Ann Meihaus

May 18, 1921 - May 14, 2023

On May 14, 2023, Kathryn Ann Meihaus, “Kay,” wife and life-long sweetheart to John Edward Meihaus, MD, “Jack,”(deceased 2000), passed away peacefully at her home in Napa, CA. She was born in Indianapolis, IN to Louis and Linda Bernatz.

Kay was a devoted mother to eight children: John Jr., David, Anne, Barbara, Paul, Carol, Mark and Maureen. She was a beloved grandmother to 28 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

She and Jack married in 1945, and then moved to the Los Angeles area when Jack began his WWII naval service. Kay spent her final years in Napa, California, living happily in the loving care of her daughter, Barbara, and son-in-law, Bryan.

A celebration of her life will be held on Friday, June 2, 2023, 11 am at Holy Family Church, 1527 Fremont Ave., South Pasadena, CA. Viewing will be from 10 to 10:30 am at Holy Family Church. Burial following the celebration of life will be at 1:30 pm at Holy Cross Cemetery, 5835 West Slauson Ave., Culver City, CA. Adv.

100 feet underground, the deepest of all Metro stations. Collectively, the stations feature art by more than 180 local artists.

More information about the Regional Connector is available at Metro’s “The Source,” at tinyurl.com/4t7dtm4z.

Right:

TWO LINES instead of the present four will commence service on June 16 because the Regional Connector allows for a single line from Azusa to Long Beach (the A Line) and a single line from East Los Angeles to Santa Monica (the E Line).

Ecclesia Gnostica Gnostic Christian Church

Bishop Dr. Stephan Hoeller

Wednesday

Sunday Eucharist 11:00am

Sunday Eucharist 11am

Wednesday Eucharist 8:30pm Lectures

Glendale Boulevard, Atwater, Los Angeles

8pm

323-467-2685

323-467-2685

Philip Metschan Hawley

Tarfest returns Saturday, June 10, this year at Pan Pacific Park

By John Welborne

As was tradition pre-pandemic, members and friends of the Greater Miracle Mile Chamber of Commerce gathered for an al fresco luncheon on the plaza at LACMA — to hear the plans for Museum Row’s annual free music and

art festival — Tarfest. Because of LACMA construction, this year’s 20th anniversary version of Tarfest is taking place at Pan Pacific Park, 7600 Beverly Boulevard, from 2 to 7 p.m. on Sat., June 10.

At the luncheon, LACMA’s Michael Govan, the museum’s

Zoo hosts Beastly Ball on June 3

The late Councilman Tom LaBonge will posthumously receive an award at the Beastly Ball Sat., June 3, at the Greater Los Angeles Zoo.

The party will start “Down Under” in the Australia section and make its way through the lush grounds. Participating eateries include Pink’s Hot Dogs, Little Sister, El Cholo and more. Actor Joel McHale will host the fundraising gala. Trustee Diann Kim also will be honored, and LaBonge will receive the Betty White Conservation Hero Award. visit

CEO and Wallis Annenberg Director, welcomed the guests and fellow speakers. Chief among the latter were City of Los Angeles general manager of the Department of Cultural Affairs, Daniel Tarica, and executive director of the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, Kristin Sakoda. Eric Calhoun, Pan Pacific Park’s director, said how much he and his staff are looking forward to Tarfest locating there this year.

Finishing up among the scheduled speakers was the Tarfest impresario himself, the founder of both Tarfest and Launch LA, James Panozzo, who told of the amazing musical performances, art installations, and creative activities planned for the June 10th afternoon for people of all ages, and for free. Additional information is available at tarfest.com. lazoo.org/beastlyball or call 323-486-4253.

Liven up your summer nights at Jazz program

While museum construction adjoining and over Wilshire Boulevard continues to the east, the music plays on at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). (The museum’s David Geffen Galleries are planned for a late 2024 completion.)

Bring a picnic or enjoy open seating at the free outdoors Jazz at LACMA program, which recently began their 32nd season on the Smidt Welcome Plaza, 5905 Wilshire Blvd.

Concerts are on Fridays through November beginning at 6 p.m.

Saxophonist Keschia Potter, who’s toured with Beyoncé, Bruno Mars and others, performs with her quartet on June 2.

Pianist, composer and arranger Theo Saunders takes a break from his 55-year international career with his quintet on June 9.

Katalyst plays an eclectic mix of experimental contemporary jazz on June 16.

A group of seasoned local musicians, the Highland Park House Band, performs on June 23.

Free admission

As a part of the music series, museum admission is free to Los Angeles County residents from 3 to 8 p.m. on Fridays. Advance online reservations are recommended.

The free open seating is limited and is on a first come, first served basis. For more information, visit lacma.org/ music.

Food and drinks are available for purchase until 8 p.m. at Ray’s & Stark Bar, C+M and LACMA Café.

HONORED posthumously will be Tom LaBonge, here with Betty White.

SUPPORTING TARFEST, and present at the Chamber lunch at LACMA, are, from left, Daniel Tarica, Kristin Sakoda, James Panozzo, Eric Calhoun and Michael Govan.

Bands to play summer tunes on plaza area

The plaza area near the Clock Tower of the Original Farmers Market will be transformed this summer into a concert stage every Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. From June 1 to Aug. 31, visitors can enjoy free performances of rock, alternative R&B, folk fusion and everything in between.

‘Blue Whales’ to amaze at California Science Center

“Blue Whales: Return of the Giants 3D” is at the California Science Center. Narrated by actor Andy Serkis (“Lord of the Rings,” “Star Wars”), the IMAX documentary is an inspirational story of the world’s largest animal’s journey to recovery.

By following two expeditions, the film gives viewers a glimpse into the feeding hab-

its, impressive long-distance communication and family bonds of these ocean giants. Audiences will gain insight into what scientists are doing to learn about these amazing mammals and their role in the health of our oceans.

“Blue Whales” is slated to screen through Mon., Sept. 4. Visit californiasciencecenter. org.

Orchestra for all ages to play opera tunes on June 10

By Talia Abrahamson

The Eisner Intergenerational Orchestra will perform timeless opera classics for its spring 2023 concert. Playing pieces from “Turandot,” “Carmen,” “Tosca” and more, the orchestra under the direction of opera singer Daniel Suk is set to present its “Opera Gala Spectacular” on Sat., June 10, at 5 p.m. at the Berendo Street Baptist Church, 975 S. Berendo St.

The orchestra was founded in 2021 by Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA), the youth-serving nonprofit that, since 1989, has

been providing after-school programs to underserved children, primarily in central and south Los Angeles.

The Eisner Intergenerational Orchestra brings together teens and adults of every age to share in a multigenerational and multicultural celebration of music. Since its inception, the orchestra has grown to more than 150 members. Its official home is the Wilshire Ebell Theatre. Larchmont Chronicle theater columnist Louis Fantasia plays the double bass in the orchestra.

Kicking off the summer music series on June 1 is Paperback Writer, a Beatles tribute band, which will be taking the audience through the Fab Four’s top hits. Turning to big band for the following week, The Jazz Cartel is set to perform Sinatra-style swing music.

For the rest of June, the Farmers Market stage will be taken over by rock music, first by Tom Kenny & The HiSeas and then the Crown City Bombers.

July will see a wide variety of musical performances, starting on July 6 with Dave Stuckey & The Hot House Gang, which will perform Fats Waller stomp and swing music. The month of August is dedicated to emerging artists.

Celebrate the open road with an homage to the great American classics that took us to deserts and national parks and other marvelous places from coast to coast.

“Wonderful Wagons: A Tribute to Woodies, Lowriders and All the Great Family Haulers” will be on display at the Gilmore Heritage Auto Show on Sat., June 3, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Original Farmers Market, 6333 W. Third St. More than 70 wagons and a variety of American classics will be parked outside at the

Holocaust

Museum LA offers teen programs

Interactive workshops are being offered to students in grades seven through 12 this summer at the Holocaust Museum LA.

Kids interested in film can work with Holocaust survivors to create a short film in a workshop taking place Mon., June 19, through Thurs., June 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuition is $200.

Art lovers can work with Holocaust survivors to create a reflective art piece Mon., July 24, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Tuition is $75.

Those with interest in the culinary arts can approach history through food on Thurs., July 27, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Learning about cultures of different Jewish communities, participants will make recipes from each, and they will leave with a personal recipe book. Tuition is $75.

Full scholarships are available for all workshops. Email rachel@hmla.org or call 323-651-3716 for more information.

Donate blood on June 14, 15 at Farmers Market

In celebration of World Blood Donor Day, a bloodmobile will be parked outside the historic Gilmore gas station at the Original Farmers Market from June 14 to June 15. The mobile blood donation center, operated by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, will be open each day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Donors will receive free

parking for the day. To be eligible, individuals must be at least 17 years old, 110 pounds and in good health. Also, 16-year-olds who weigh more than 136 pounds are eligible if they have a signed parental consent form.

Walk-ins are welcome. Advanced registration is also available at donatebloodcedars.org.

CLASSIC AUTO is Phillip and Helen Albright’s 1950 Chrysler Woodie Royal Wagon. Photo provided by owner

BLUE WHALE mom and calf swimming underwater.

Photo by SK Films

Bard’s ‘Folio’ marks 400th year with works on stage to June 4

This year, 2023, marks the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s “First Folio,” the tome that contains 36 of the Bard’s plays. Seven years after Shakespeare’s death, two members of his acting company decided that Will’s work needed rescuing from oblivion. With help from rival poet Ben Jonson (plus an eager editor and a vaguely sleazy printer and his son), actors John Heminges and Henry Condell coaxed the volume into existence. Without them, we would never have full texts of 17 plays including “As You Like It,” “Julius Caesar” and “The Tempest.” “King Lear” and “Hamlet” (to name but two) would exist only in earlier Quarto versions.

There still is time in the days following the publication of the June 1 issue of the Larchmont Chronicle — but only a few days — to see the following three productions.

The “Folio’s” saga is the theme of Laura Gunderson’s “Book of Will,” running at A Noise Within through June 4. The production staged by Geoff Elliot and Julia Rodriguez-Elliot rings with all the Shakespearean bardolatry of a romping, summer festival production: the language is muscular, the design sol-

Theater Review by Louis

Fantasia

id, the staging sweeping.

“Once more into the text, dear friends! Once more!” Elliot and Jeremy Raab outdo Hope and Crosby as pals on the road to publication. Ms. Gunderson dips her quill too often into melodrama and speculation, but it is all done from the heart, and it is refreshing to see the work of a Dead White Male celebrated with this much conviction. anoisewithin.org; 626-3563100. For more on the Folio see: folger.edu/explore/shakespeare-in-print/first-folio.

“Othello” is one of Shakespeare’s plays that exists in both Quarto and Folio. (The latter toned down the sex and cursing to please the censors.) Yet I am hard-pressed to believe that anyone involved with the LA Opera’s staging of Verdi’s “Otello” (at the Music Center, also through June 4) read the play in either version.

The singing is fine: Russell Thomas’ elegant Moor is more victim than protag-

onist (Igor Golovantenko’s Iago drives the action). Rachel Willis-Sørensen makes a promising debut as Desdemona (especially by the final act), and James Conlon gets appropriate Verdian thunder from the cast, chorus and orchestra. But how can you have either an “Othello” or “Otello” that manages, despite Shakespeare’s verse and Verdi’s libretto, to end not only without a bed to die on, but without a kiss before dying? If there was any sexual jealousy, envy or racial tension in the acting or staging of the evening, I missed it… sorely missed it. laopera.org; 213-972-8001.

The Road Theatre in Burbank presents Academy Award nominee Alessandro Camon’s “Scintilla” (through June 4). The play is a passionate statement about the survival of the environment and the right to exit life on one’s own terms. There are, perhaps, too many issues and too much information tossed in, but the cast, under Ann Hearn Tobolowsky’s direction, gets it out with aplomb — especially Taylor Gilbert, who, as the dying matriarch of a combustible family, demands a death with dignity. boxoffice@roguetheatre.org; 818-761-8838.

What to watch for

“A Soldier’s Play,” the 1982 Pulitzer Prize winner on race in the military, is at the Ahmanson through June 25 (213-628-2772; centertheatregroup.org).

The Will Geer Theatricum opens its season with “MacBeth,” through Sept. 23 (310-455-3723; theatricum.com).

The Fountain Theatre revives the Jane Chambers 1974 groundbreaking lesbian drama “Last Summer at the Bluefish Cove” through Aug. 27 (323-663-1525; fountaintheatre.com).

The Hollywood Fringe Festival runs June 8 - 25 in various locations. A list of plays and workshop is at: hollywoodfringe.org/shows.

Songstress ranked at top of chart, added to Hall of Fame

Jan Daley, a longtime local resident, is being inducted into The Women Songwriters Hall of Fame, Sat., June 24, in Washington, D.C. Daley’s song “Way of a Woman” is the official single of the event and is featured as Billboard magazine’s No. 1 Traditional Jazz album of the same name.

Currently, Daley is ranked as No. 1 Independent Artist and No. 25 on the Adult Contemporary chart (Taylor Swift is No. 24 and Lady Gaga is No. 26). “My single, ‘Way of a Woman,’ has been shooting up the adult contemporary charts alongside Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift! I am amazed and over the moon with the news,” Daley told us in an

email. An actress as well as a vocalist, Daley began her writing career composing a song a week in 2017. “To be inducted into this Hall of Fame is a dream I never even considered,” she said, “but [I] feel blessed to be included with such great women songwriters!”

Celebrate Grads & Dads with our June Dinners!

Grilled Salmon Tapenade

Grilled Atlantic Salmon served on creamed spinach with creamy mashed potatoes.

Almond Chicken

Breast of chicken dusted with flour and almonds served with steamed broccoli and creamy mashed potatoes.

Gourmet Meatloaf

Choice chuck and pork ground together to create this old-time favorite!

Topped with mushrooms and gravy. Served with creamy mashed potatoes.

Hotcakes for Dinner

One Buttermilk Hotcake, one egg, choice of one turkey link or bacon. Served with maple syrup and butter.

JAN DALEY

Back in the glory days of vinyl; winning ‘Master Gardener’

Squaring the Circle (The Story of Hipgnosis) (9/10): 96 minutes before credits. NR. Back in the day (’60s and ’70s), music was primarily sold on vinyl records as albums. Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey “Po” Powell became the “go-to” people to design the album covers. They named their company Hipgnosis, “Hip” to designate “cool and groovy” and “gnosis” to designate “wise.”

This is their story told in interviews, mostly by Po, but with others like Paul McCartney, David Gilmour and Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel and more. It is a fascinating tale of little-known influencers.

Thorgerson was, in the words of several people interviewed, rude and cantankerous. One says, “He wouldn’t take yes for an answer.” Paul McCartney says, “He could be really crappy.” But they also desribe him as “highly intelligent,” “full of ideas” and “one in a million.”

Po describes how many of the album covers were made and the immense work and planning involved. He says that the album cover for Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon” “changed the course of history for us…suddenly we started to earn real money. Things were never the same again.”

Directed by famed photographer Anton Corbijn and written by Trish D Chetty, this is a captivating, behind-the-scenes, esoteric tale of rock music to which most people don’t give a second thought. It all disappeared when vinyl albums lost their appeal in the digital age. I was enthralled. Opens June 16 at the Laemmle Royal. Master Gardener (9/10):

111 minutes. R. Five seconds after the first scenes flashed on the screen, I said to my assistant, “I’m gonna really like this movie.” Sometimes you just know. Writer / director Paul Schrader bases his movies on “triads.” Here the triad is a character triad of Narvel Roth (Joel Edgerton), his wealthy dowager employer, Mrs. Haverhill (Sigourney Weaver), and her great-niece, 20-something emotionally scarred Maya (Quintessa Swindell). The film shows, however, that they are all emotionally scarred. Roth is a quiet outsider who is horticulturist of Gracewood Gardens, Mrs. Haverhill’s historic estate. The movie slowly develops the characters and their troubled pasts as Roth, who is in his mid 40s, finds himself caught in between the two women. Exceptional acting and a good script make this a winner.

MH370: The Plane that Disappeared (8/10): Threepart miniseries. Netflix.

TV-14. The Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777 disappeared in March 2014 during a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. The plane was never found; nobody knows what happened. This involving documentary follows various possible answers, examines leads and gives differing, competing POVs alongside interviews with the relatives of the passenger victims.

Love and Death (8/10): Seven-episode mini-series. TV-MA. Max. This comes right out and says it’s a true story, although it is fictionalized for cinematic presentation. Candy Montgomery (Elizabeth Olsen) seduces Alan Gore (Jesse Plemons), the husband of her good friend

Betty Gore (Lily Rabe), in a short-lived relationship which results in a bloody murder and trial. Well-paced and acted, this is a “can’t-wait-until-the-nextepisode” production.

Call Me Kate (8/10): 86 minutes. NR. Netflix. An informative documentary with Katharine Hepburn telling her story herself with recently discovered footage and audio tapes and occasional

Meals on Wheels

(Continued from page 12) counted. Besides St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, Sheen has supported St. Joseph Center, St. Francis Center and Malibu Labor Exchange.

He will be awarded the Vincent’s Heart Award, named after St. Vincent de Paul, founder of The Daughters of Charity, whose order established St. Vincent Meals.

New this year will be the designation of a Host Chef / Culinary Angel to serve as the event’s culinary ambassador.

Chef Isaias Peña, Rick Caruso’s regional executive chef of Hank’s and Qué Padre in Palisades Village, is Host Chef for the 2023 event.

narration by Kat Kramer. Kate solidifies her reputation as an iconic free speaker who stood alone for her independence at a time when most actors and actresses were slaves to major studio contracts.

The Night of the 12th (7/10): 115 Minutes. NR. A police procedural adapted from 30 pages of Pauline Guéna’s 500-page nonfiction book, “18.3 - une année à la PJ” (18.3 - A Year with the Crime Squad), this is the examination of a case involving the cold-blooded murder of a beautiful young woman. It follows the police inspectors as they diligently try to track down the killer, showing their anxiety and clashes as they go from clue to clue. It won seven

In addition to Peña, the chefs and restaurateurs who will be on hand preparing some of their signature savory dishes include Chef Gino Angelini of Angelini Osteria, Chef Richard Archuleta of Alexander’s Steakhouse and Chef / owner Nika Shoemaker-Machado of Georgia’s Restaurant. Rounding out the gustatory line-up will be select desserts such as Etoile Filante Patisserie’s one-of-a-kind macarons, John Hensley of Lark Cake Shop’s handcrafted baked goods and Läderach Chocolatier Suisse.

“Despite the challenging circumstances over the past couple of years and a growing list of clients who need meals, we have been able to fulfill our mission and increase the

2023 César awards, including Best Film and Best Director (Dominik Moll). In French. Laemmle Royal, June 9. Hypnotic (3/10): 85 minutes. R. “Last Year at Marienbad” (1961) is the quintessential incomprehensible movie. This one isn’t even close enough to qualify as a pale imitation; it’s just silly. Danny Rourke (Ben Affleck) is a policeman looking for his daughter who was stolen from him on a playground. From that point on he encounters people who are apparently controlled by a master hypnotist, Dellrayne (William Fichtner), who appears and disappears magically.

Written (with Max Borenstein) and directed by Robert

number of hungry, isolated neighbors we serve thanks to the generosity of our supporters, as well as the volunteers who assist us in carrying it out,” noted SVMOW Executive Director Veronica Dover. She added, “This night is a celebration of our community and the local chefs who help us shine.”

Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman (CD-4), who has supported the organization and has constituents who are SVMOW meal clients, will also attend the event.

For more information on “Hollywood Under the Stars” or to support St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, please visit www.svmow.org.

Flavors pop at star chef’s latest pop-up Peruvian restaurant

By Helene Seifer

Chef Ricardo Zarate has always popped from one Peruvian-concept restaurant to another, earning accolades at each stop, including achieving a 2011 Best New Chef designation from Food & Wine magazine for now closed Mo-Chica, a food stall in the Mercado La Paloma near Exposition Park. “Now closed” is a familiar refrain to those who have followed the chef’s journey around the Los Angeles food scene, with stops at Picca, Paiche, Causita, Rosaliné and Short Stories (on Fairfax Avenue). They’ve all either closed, such as Picca, Paiche and Causita, or he is no longer associated with them. Of late, he has mainly been consulting in the industry.

Well, he’s back with two interesting pop-ups: a marvelous take on traditional

Peruvian cuisine, Colibrí Pop-Up at Los Balcones in Hollywood, and Colibri West Hollywood, an Italo-Peruvian pop-up on La Cienega Boulevard.

What is a pop-up?

A pop-up restaurant can be open for a one-night event to several months. It’s in a temporary space and is designed to showcase culinary talents and edgier cuisine, fundraise or provide other offerings not typically associated with traditional restaurants.

We dined at the Colibrí Popup at Los Balcones, which is scheduled to stay open through the end of the year when the building is slated to be demolished in the name of gentrification.

Los Balcones is the restaurant on the east side of Vine Street decorated with a living wall of potted plants high on its dark exterior wall, cater-

corner from the McDonald’s adjoining Arclight.

Colibrí offers many of the familiar dishes previously served at Los Balcones, such as lomo saltado, $26, and arroz con pollo, $23, all greatly enhanced by Zarate’s considerable skill. I always enjoyed Los Balcones, but I want to come back to Colibrí with everyone I know.

The restaurant has a warm and welcoming air, with a landscaped small front patio under the wall of plants and with wood tables of various shapes and sizes inside. There is an attrac-

tive bar running along the back wall, and soaring white wood beams are draped with foliage. Colibrí means “hummingbird” in Spanish, and the side wall is festooned with three-dimensional versions of the bird. Long blue curtains loosely frame the open French doors, adding a dash of color. It’s all very casual and very charming.

Colibrí’s cocktail list includes, fittingly, one called The Hummingbird, made from mezcal, cognac, grapefruit, aperol and lemon, $18. One of my dinner companions got the $14 spicy pineapple margarita; two of us claimed authenticity and ordered pisco sours. The $15 cocktail features pisco (a Peruvian brandy distilled from grapes), lime, simple syrup, egg white foam and angostura bitters. We shared the food, starting with ceviche classico,

$25, considered Peru’s national dish. Slices of sea bass are soaked in leche de tigre. Translated to “tiger’s milk,” it is a citrus and spice-based marinade used to cure fish. The sea bass is tossed with pieces of sweet potato (potatoes of all kinds are a thing in Peru, as is corn), cancha corn (toasted large corn kernels) and choclo (fresh giant corn kernels). The mix of ingredients provides a feast of textures and the flavors popped.

Beef tamal, $22, surprised us. Instead of masa stuffed with shredded beef as we expected, the corn meal was topped with a large cube of estofado beef (stewed meat), accompanied by a boiled egg and salsa criolla (red onion relish). The distinct flavors of all the components made for an interesting bite.

One of my favorite dishes at Los Balcones was their arroz con mariscos (rice with seafood) and Calibrí’s is even better. Squid ink rice lends an earthiness to the sea-centric dish. Large shrimp and tiny scallops are nestled in the rice and fried calamari is scattered on top. A red seafood sauce forms the base and smoked rocoto aioli (chili pepper aioli, not particularly spicy) is dolloped on top.

Zarate’s short rib dish, $22, presents tender beer-braised boneless ribs on a plate of quinoa cooked in the style of grits for extra creaminess and flavored with huacatay, a black mint sauce.

We couldn’t resist ordering churro balls stuffed with caramel on a pool of blueberry sauce for $9. Four little spheres for the three of us made a satisfying sweet end to a very enjoyable meal.

Colibrí Pop-Up at Los Balcones, 1360 Vine St., 323871-9600.

At the Movies

(Continued from page 25)

Rodriguez, the movie makes no sense as it goes from one thing to another as Danny teams up with Diana Cruz (Alice Braga), who is also a mind-controlling hypnotist with the apparent power to control people’s actions at will, trying to find his daughter and keep away from Dellrayne and his hypnotized cohorts. It’s full of tension and adds garish violence. Nothing is as it seems, which was also the case in ‘Marienbad.’ But ‘Marienbad’ became a classic. There is no worry about this achieving that status. My reaction when it ended was, “Why did you waste my time?”

Recommended Reading: “The Marriage Lie” by Kimberly Belle. I could not put it down.

On the Menu by Helene Seifer

MICRO FOREST

Two-year update on the Miyawaki forest in Griffith Park and its local contributors. Page 2

PRESERVATION

Los Angeles Conservancy announces this year’s award winners.

Page 4

LARCHMONT Community raises money for Alexandria House and has a great block party doing it.

Page 8

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Micro-forest’s macro accomplishments in Griffith Park

By Helene Seifer

In a little corner of Griffith Park, known as the Bette Davis picnic area, a bushy green micro-forest teems with life. This 1,000-square-foot circular forest has grown from tiny seedlings planted June 19, 2021, to a towering 18- to 20-foot canopy only two years later, and fauna have noticed. The coast live oaks, hollyleaf redberries, toyons, California wild roses and other native species are home to burrowing squirrels, Western toads, lizards, lots of insects and myriad birds.

“Birders have discovered the forest,” says Los Angeles Parks Foundation Nursery Manager Cameron De Anda, who over-

sees maintenance of the new forest. “They come here all the time to observe the birds.”

The project was born when Carolyn Ramsay, executive director of the Los Angeles Parks

Foundation, heard about a method of planting that encourages rapid growth, pioneered by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki in various sites in Asia and parts of Europe. Using only indigenous seeds and dense heterogenous planting groups, this novel method allowed small spaces to quickly achieve macro results in terms of absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, releasing oxygen in exchanges and increasing the biodiversity of an area. Especially important in cement-centric urban areas, these Miyawaki-method forests can fit in backyards and pocket parks to clean the air and lower temperatures. Micro-forests typically achieve self-sustainability within two

to three years.

Ramsay wanted to try it in the Mediterranean climate of Los Angeles.

Hancock Park Garden Club

Concurrently, the Hancock Park Garden Club had decided to help increase the green canopy in Los Angeles not just in our neighborhood, but citywide. Club members joined forces with the Parks Foundation to pilot the micro-forest plan, providing a $15,000 grant to cover planting and maintenance of the Miyawaki-method forest. Seeds from existing plants in Griffith Park were collected and grown and supplemented with purchased indigenous seedlings. Volunteers did the planting. De Anda oversees watering, weeding and any other work needed.

“Because of the rains, we only watered two times recently,” notes De Anda, continuing, “I believe that the forest can self-sustain if we were to stop watering. The

(Please turn to page 7)

FOREST at the time of June 2021 planting.

Photo by John Hughes

BUSHY green micro-forest teems with flora and fauna.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR of the Los Angeles Parks Foundation, Carolyn Ramsay, kickstarted the project.

Photos by Zach Grossman

Chateaux in the sky: Amazing apartments of Greater Wilshire

I always have to laugh a little when I hear pro-development YIMBYs refer to the neighborhoods of Greater Wilshire as “segregationist,” a term that in their parlance refers to anti-density or anti-apartment buildings, as if Hancock Park, Windsor Square, etc. were strictly single-family zones. Any resident who travels the paths of our bucolic communities knows, however, the truth — that we are a community of exceptional architectural and housing diversity with duplexes, quads and other multi-family residences. And often overlooked, other than thinking about the storied towers of the Rossmore canyon, is that we also possess a collection of some of Los Angeles’ finest historic apartment buildings (three stories and above) on streets beyond Rossmore Avenue. In other articles, I have covered the grand dames of Rossmore: The El Royale, the Ravenswood, Country Club Manor and the truncated 410 N. Rossmore Avenue. These apartment towers represented the pinnacle of architectural ambition within our communities at the time of their design and construction, their illuminated signs bringing a bit of Hollywood to the heart

of Greater Wilshire. But, even on Rossmore, there are overlooked architectural gems of note, including The Hermoyne at 569 N. Rossmore Ave., designed by architect Leonard Jones in 1929 and sister to his Castle Argyle in Hollywood. There also is the humble neo-Venetian 649 N. Rossmore Ave. near the corner of Rossmore and Melrose avenues by Frank Rasche, which appeared in Buster Keaton’s “Seven Chances” one year after it was built in 1925 and, finally, the Elizabethan revival style 601 N. Rossmore Ave. by William Allen, designer of Burbank City Hall. Allen was a member of the team that designed the Stanley Mosk Courthouse downtown.

An overlooked local street with spectacular period apartment buildings is Sycamore Avenue. Located close to the commercial corridor of La Brea Avenue, to the west, Sycamore Avenue was ideal for the construction of apartment buildings with short walks to shops. The developers of the late 1920s took ample opportunity to utilize the corner lots of Sycamore Avenue to add density and grandeur while maintaining the scale of the overall neighborhood. The finest of these is on the

by Brian Curran

northeast corner of Beverly Boulevard, the elegant, Chateauesque-style Faubourg St. Denis at 308 N. Sycamore Ave. Originally named the Beverly Sycamore, the building was designed in 1928 by James N. Conway to provide seven- and eight-room apartments and duplexes.

On another corner a block to the south, at First Street and Sycamore Avenue, is the 1928 Renaissance Revival Warwick Apartments (109 N. Sycamore Ave.) by Ernest H. Gates. Just across the street from that is the Art Deco Tower of 100 N. Sycamore Ave. designed in 1929 by the Arthur G. Wright Company. Further south is another 1929 construction, The El Pazar at 152 S. Sycamore Ave. Designed by Russell Long, it is a striking Art Deco tower with Spanish detailing, oddly built mid-block, which is a rarity for the multi-family buildings higher than two stories on this street.

The next set of notable apart-

ment buildings is sprinkled throughout Greater Wilshire, outliers in their respective surrounding communities. Included are buildings such as the brick Renaissance Revival 800 N. Las Palmas Ave., a late arrival, built in 1932. On North Larchmont Boulevard, there are smaller apartment buildings including Leonard Jones’ second commission in the area, the 1929 Larchmoyne Apartments at 515 N. Larchmont Blvd.

At 562 N. Larchmont Blvd., there is Rudolph Frankenrath Jr.’s quirky façade reputedly designed to serve as different backdrops for silent films.

The last selection presented here is a trio of grand dames starting with E.B. Rust’s. (Rust also was the architect of the Van de Kamp Bakery windmills.)

Rust designed the legendary 1925 Las Altos Apartments at 4121 Wilshire Blvd., home to the famous two-story, four-bedroom apartment of William Randolph Heart’s lifelong mistress Marion Davies (as well as home to stars such as Bette Davis and Douglas Fairbanks). Not far away, in the Oakwood / Maplewood / St. Andrews neighborhood, is The Dover Apartments at 4649 Beverly Blvd. That building’s majestic form and monumen-

tal painted sign are punctuated by a lone palm tree whose forlorn silhouette is straight out of a Raymond Chandler novel. The Dover even has an auto turntable to rotate cars for parking in its slender garage. Finally, take a look at the Chateau Laurier, the elegantly detailed apartment building at 4357 West Fifth Street, on the corner of Wilton Place. This development was named after the famed Grand Trunk Railway hotel, the Chateau Laurier, in Ottawa, Canada (now the Fairmont Hotel), which had been named for Sir Wilfred Laurier, Prime Minister of Canada from 1896-1911. This gem in our midst was designed by Leland A. Bryant, architect extraordinaire of the Sunset Tower, the Trianon Apartments in Hollywood, and Chateau La Fontaine in West Hollywood. And — back to Rossmore Avenue — Bryant also was the architect of Country Club Manor.

There is a noteworthy final cluster of historic apartment buildings, right here in Greater Wilshire, that is concentrated in the communities between Wilton Place and Western Avenue, from Melrose Avenue to Olympic Boulevard, but those deserve a study of their own. Watch for Part Two!

Celebrating preservation in Los Angeles at historic TV City

By Suzan Filipek

Los Angeles has a reputation for tearing down the old in its quest to move forward, fast. Yet every year, buildings, projects and even entire historic districts are bestowed awards by the Los Angeles Conservancy for exceptional historic preservation.

This years’ Project Award winners include the local former Firestone building on La Brea Avenue and the architecturally rich Carthay Neighborhoods Historic District.

The awards will be presented at the Preservation Awards at Television City on Thurs., July 27, with a VIP reception beginning at 3 p.m.

UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO OWN EXTREMELY CHARMING BUNGALOW WITH

These days you can enjoy a cocktail or beer and a choice of tacos at the All Seasons Brewing Company. But in its former life, as the Firestone Tire and Service Center, Angelenos would pull up in gas-guzzling vehicles to order up new tires.

An example of Streamline Moderne architecture, the Service Center opened at the corner of Eighth Street and La Brea Avenue in 1937. Its Machine Age design features horizontal lines and curved edges, a cantilevered overhang and rounded corners, adding to an illusion of speed.

The site was designated a Historic-Cultural Monument in 2012. After the tire business closed in 2015, the building’s new owners found period materials and fixtures to preserve the vintage atmosphere of the former service center as part of an adaptive reuse project.

Another Project Award winner — the Carthay Neighborhoods Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places — came about after two years of hard work by area residents.

bedroom & ½ bath) are currently a professional working, sound proofed and copper lined Recording Studio. Detached updated Guest House with separate entrance has 2 Beds + 1 Bath + Kitchenette. The beautiful property is gated and hedged for privacy with front and back yards, 3zone central AC, fully solar, gated parking for 3 cars + 1 closed garage space & view of the Hollywood sign outside the property!

The nationally recognized Carthay Square area — a cohesive, intact collection of 1,171 buildings — contains what are considered the three most architecturally significant historic preservation overlay zones in the city, reflecting the ambition and prosperity of 1920s Los Angeles.

Period Revival homes — Spanish Colonial, Tudor, Storybook and others — in the Carthay area were built by renowned architects of

the day, including Paul R. Williams.

The Hollywood Sign, which turns 100 this year, is another Project Award winner. Thanks to the preservation and maintenance efforts of the Hollywood Sign Trust, established in 1978, the giant letters on the south-facing slope of the Hollywood Hills continue to stand as a symbol of hope and dreams for many.

Speaking of a classic Los Angeles icon, Tail o’ the Pup, (featured in the Larchmont Chronicle in October 2022), opened in 1946 a few blocks from its current location at 8512 Santa Monica Blvd. Drawing celebrities and becoming something of a star

(Please turn to page 5)

CARTHAY Neighborhoods was among award winners.

Photo courtesy of Architectural Resources Group

HOLLYWOOD SIGN is recognized.

Photo by Pallo Gallo

SPORTING its original 1937 Machine Age design, All Seasons Brewing Company is among this year’s Project Award winners.

Photo by John Bare

PRESENTED

Classic films to screen at historic theaters at Last Remaining Seats

Watch classic movies in historic settings with the Los Angeles Conservancy’s popular Last Remaining Seats film series. “Metropolis” (1927) screens on Sat., June 3, at 2 p.m. at the Orpheum Theatre. The 1973 film “Enter the Dragon” with Bruce Lee is at the Orpheum later the same day at 8 p.m.

“Planet of the Apes” (1968) is at the Los Angeles Theatre Sat., June 10, at 2 p.m. “The Philadelphia Story” (1940) screens at the Los Angeles

Ingenue in ‘Sunset Boulevard’ to talk June 4

By Suzan Filipek

When Nancy Olson Livingston was just 22 she had the good fortune to join the allstar cast featuring William Holden and Gloria Swanson for the legendary film “Sunset Boulevard.”

Olson was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for that role, and she went on to star in more films as well as on TV and Broadway. The 94-yearold will give a talk on her life and career on Sun., June 4, at 2 p.m. at the Hollywood Heritage Museum, 2100 N. Highland Ave.

Olson also will sign copies

of her 2022 book, “A Front Row Seat,” at the Windsor Square Hancock Park Histor-

Project Awards

(Continued from page 4) itself, the hot dog stand operates out of a whimsical replica of a huge hot dog encased in a bun. Other Project Award winners this year are: Downtown L.A. Proper Hotel, First Congregational Church of Long Beach and Long Beach Suburbanization and Race Historic Context Statement. Bungalow Court Edinburgh Bungalow Court in West Hollywood is the re-

ical Society (WSHPHS) event

“An Afternoon with Nancy Ol-

(Please turn to page 10)

cipient of the Chair’s Award. Built in 1923, the Spanish Colonial Revival one-story residential building has been rehabilitated and will provide housing once again (unlike other local bungalow courts — 410 of them, to be exact — that remain “endangered” throughout the city).

The Preservation Awards celebration is from 5 to 7 p.m. in Studio 46 at Television City, 7800 Beverly Blvd. For tickets and more information visit laconservancy.org.

Theatre June 10 at 8 p.m. “Auntie Mame,” a 1958 comedy, brings Rosalind Russell to the Million Dollar Theatre Sat., June 17, at 2 p.m.

The same day, James Stewart and Kim Novak star in Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” (1958) at 8 p.m. at the Million Dollar. Visit laconservancy.org.

THE PHILADELPHIA STORY stars Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn.

Photo Warner Bros

Zev Yaroslavsky debuts book at Chevalier’s

By John Welborne

Two days before distribution of the June issue of the Larchmont Chronicle, Larchmont Boulevard was the scene of the launch for the long-awaited memoir by local resident and resilient elected official Zev Yaroslavsky. “Zev’s Los

Angeles” made its debut at a talk and signing at Chevalier’s Books on May 30.

The book is an informative recollection that anyone familiar with the local political scene for the past fifty years will find fascinating reading that reminds us of the evolu-

tion of our city and takes us behind the scenes in City Hall, the County Hall of Administration and other seats of power. In Yaroslavsky’s case, he consistently used his increasing power for the public good. Now a faculty member at his college alma mater,

UCLA, the author is a product of this community, having attended Melrose Avenue Elementary, Bancroft Junior High and Fairfax High. The book’s 23 chapters chart the passage of Yaroslavsky’s family from Belarus to Boyle Heights to the Fairfax area, and they chart the route of the future city councilman and county supervisor to UCLA and beyond.

To local news junkies (this writer included) those 23 chapters — and the touching Dedication and informative Epilogue, Acknowledgments, Endnotes and Index — chronicle Yaroslavsky’s advocacy for his constituents. Described is his growing attention to residential neighborhoods after experiencing the pressures for high-rise development in Century City and along the Wilshire Corridor in Westwood. That experience led him to successfully urge city voters to enact Proposition U in 1986 — to reduce commercial (not residential) zoning and density along neighbor-

hood-serving commercial streets like Pico Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue.

Also being a transit junkie, I relished his Chapter 16, The Transit Revolution. He describes his trip as a County Supervisor to Curitiba, Brazil in 1999. Organized by Martha Welborne and financed by a nonprofit she created, that visit (and the tenaciousness of Yaroslavsky, described in detail in the book) led to construction of the Orange Line in the Valley.

The book is available at Chevalier’s and elsewhere.

Father Gregory Boyle signed latest tome at Chevalier’s Books

By John Welborne

Discussing his latest book

“The Whole Language,” Father Gregory Boyle related to an audience at Chevalier’s Books the power of tenderness. The talk and book signing event took place on May 26. The book, his third and now available in paperback, is for sale at the store

Micro-forest

(Continued from page 2)

rainfall we got at the beginning of this year really helped out a lot in getting water deeper into the ground so our native plants can reach deep down with those taproots and survive the dry summer.” In the fall, he would like to plant more undergrowth and muskweed to attract butterflies. He continues, “We have lost quite a few plants. It’s the survival of the fittest.”

De Anda explains that the smaller plants that die fertilize the growth of other stronger plants. Also part of the natural process is that nearby park plants encroach on the planned forest, and birds drop seeds from other

parts of the park. Those indigenous plants then form part of the ecosystem.

Now that it is proven that a Miyawaki forest can flourish in a Mediterranean climate, Ramsay reports that the Los Angeles Parks Foundation would like to plant more micro-forests. De Anda is already gathering seeds and taking cuttings from this forest to begin another one. They just need money and a site.

The Miyawaki forest is surrounded by a wire fence for protection, but those who would like to walk the 40-foot path through the forest should contact the Parks Foundation at info@LAParksFoundation. org or call 310-472-1990.

The one-year update appeared in the June 2022 issue.

and elsewhere.

Rev. Gregory J. Boyle, S.J. is the founder and executive director of Homeboy Industries, which grew out of the original, pioneering Homeboy Bakery.

In “The Whole Language,” Boyle draws on personal stories from Homeboy Industries, and he describes how poverty-stricken communities can

overcome systemic violence and find hope. His new book returns to the theme of his two previous books, “Tattoos on the Heart” and “Barking to the Choir.”

Boyle grew up on Norton Avenue in Windsor Square and attended St. Brendan church and school and Loyola High School.

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CHEVALIER’S BOOKS gathered readers to hear Father Greg Boyle discuss his latest book, “The Whole Language.”

Larchmont-wide block party raised money for Alexandria House

By Casey Russell

Hundreds of residents and friends attended the Larchmont Spring Block Party. Locals performed live music, which was a big hit, and kids enjoyed bikes, arts and crafts, water play and a scavenger hunt. Families got involved in the water balloon toss competition, and local dogs had a little extra excitement on their daily walks. The neighbors on Bronson Avenue and Irving Boulevard who planned the April 29 event — including Andy Deemer, Cathy Gellert, Cyndi Jabr, Claire Kosloff, Annie O’Rourke and Maggie Peña (Bronson Avenue block captain), already are looking to

plan a similar block party for April or May of next year.

Among the many event attendees were Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez and LAPD

Olympic Division’s senior lead officer for the area, Joe Pelayo. Local folk artist Rob Faucette and Turkish jazz husband-and-wife duo the Cocos provided entertainment, as did local student bands including Ella Jay Basco and the Sibs, Smash

Record and Drop the Mic. After covering event costs for the Larchmont-wide event, $2,800 was raised through the GoFundMe page that organizers set up. The proceeds were donated to Alexandria House, a transitional home for women and children.

LARCHMONT BLOCK PARTY attendees included, from left, Karen Gilman, Charlie D’Atri, Maggie Peña, Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez, George D’Atri, Vince Cox, Sam Uretsky and Barbara Resnick.

Photo by Keith Johnson

PUMP & SPLASH fascinates future hydraulic engineers.

NORTH BRONSON AVENUE was closed for the block party.

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES

Photo by Keith Johnson

ELLA JAY BASCO AND THE SIBS from Larchmont Charter played for the party.

Photo by Keith Johnson

PRESENTATION of block party proceeds from planning committee members to Alexandria House’s director. Left to right, Andy Deemer, Cyndi Jabr, Maggie Peña, Cathy Gellert, Alexandria House development director Judy Vaughn, Michele Richards, Ronan Taormina, Alexandra Kosloff, Annie O’Rourke and Claire Kosloff.

LIBRARY CALENDAR

Summer reading challenge, make a Japanese-style gift for dad

FAIRFAX LIBRARY Adults

Walk-in tutoring: Every Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. come for help with job resumes, searching the internet, applications and filling out forms.

FREMONT LIBRARY Kids

Bubblemania: Watch a pro-

LIBRARIES

FAIRFAX

161 S. Gardner St. 323-936-6191

JOHN C. FREMONT

6121 Melrose Ave. 323-962-3521

MEMORIAL

4625 W. Olympic Blvd. 323-938-2732

WILSHIRE

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

HOURS

Mon. and Wed., 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tues. and Thurs., noon to 8 p.m., Fri. and Sat., 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Closed Mon., June 19, for Juneteenth.

fessional bubble-maker create sensational bubbles on Mon., June 5, at 4 p.m.

Thor’s reptile family: Learn about and touch reptiles on Sat., June 17, at 10:30 a.m.

MEMORIAL LIBRARY

Toddlers

Story time in the park: Listen to stories and sing songs in Memorial Park each Wednesday in June at 10:30 a.m.

Preschool painters: Mon., June 26, at 11 a.m. visit the library for possibly messy painting.

Kids

Magic show: Cards, disappearing balls and silk scarves are all part of the show on Mon., June 12, at 3 p.m.

Reading to the rescue: Let your child read aloud to an adorable rescue dog on Wed., June 14, at 4 p.m.

Puppet workshop: Swing by to create puppets with recycled materials on Thurs., June 22, at 1.p.m.

Teens

Henna tattoos: Kick off the summer reading challenge with a henna tattoo from Henna Hopes Thurs., June 8, from 4 to 5 p.m.

YA author talk: Brandy Colbert talks about her books

and how to write. Limited free copies will be available on Thurs., June 29 at 4 p.m.

Adults

B.Y.O. needle arts: Work on needlecrafts while sitting with others Mondays at 1 p.m.

Art class: Color or paint with peers on Wednesdays at 3 p.m.

Book club: Meet on Fri., June 2, at 1 p.m. to discuss “Empty Theatre” by Jac Jemc. The title for the July meeting is “The Nightingale Affair” by Tim Mason.

All ages

Family board games: Play your favorite games with friends and family on Thurs., June 29, at 1 p.m.

Chess club: Play chess or learn how each Friday in June from 3 to 5 p.m.

Book sale: Buy your next favorite read every Tuesday from 12:30 to 5 p.m., every Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m. and Wed., June 28, from 11 to 12 p.m. All proceeds support the library.

WILSHIRE LIBRARY

Babies

Story time: The littlest ones listen to stories in the library at 4 p.m. on Fri., June 9.

Toddlers

Story time: Listen to stories, sing songs and stretch with Sybil on Fridays, June 2 and 9, at 10:30 a.m.

Kids & Teens

Summer reading challenge: Keep kids engaged in reading this summer. Each Tuesday activity from 4 to 5 p.m. includes a slide show and an art project. On June 6, sign up for the program and pick a book to read; June 13, learn about historical and artful postcards; June 20 is orange crate art; June 27 is wacky architecture in Los Angeles.

Tweens & Teens

Washi tape notebooks: Make a gift for yourself or your dad by decorating a notebook with Japanese paper

tape on Thurs., June 8, from 4 to 5 p.m.

Make paper beads: Learn this craft that started in the early 1800s and is currently made in many African nations and is a wonderful use for recycled paper on Thurs., June 22, from 4 to 5 p.m.

Adults

String Trio: The UCLA Gluck String Trio performs classical pieces on Sat., June 3, from 1 to 2 p.m. Mozart and Haydn are a few of the composers whose works will be performed.

Intro to Opera: Steve Moore from LA Opera will speak about what areas of daily life the art form infuses on Sat., June 10, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Argument escalates into an arrest, boy hit with a skateboard

OLYMPIC DIVISION

Senior Lead Officer Joseph Pelayo would like to remind the community to report all suspicious persons and activity to 911.

AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS: A couple were arguing on May 3 at 4:30 a.m. on the 100 block of North Manhattan Place. The argument escalated. The boyfriend strong-armed his girlfriend and left visible injuries on her. The boyfriend was arrested.

A 12-year-old boy was struck on the face with a skateboard while walking down the sidewalk on the 300 block of South Manhattan Place on May 5 at 6 p.m. The suspect was arrested.

BURGLARIES: The rear glass bedroom door of a home

OLYMPIC DIVISION

Furnished by Senior Lead Officer

Joseph Pelayo

213-793-0709

31762@lapd.online

Twitter: @lapdolympic

on the 500 block of North Norton Avenue was smashed on May 3 at 5:30 p.m. The suspect entered the home; unknown items were stolen.

A suspect pried open the dining room window of a home on the 500 block of North Saint Andrews Place on May 4 at 2 p.m. The victim’s dog confronted the suspect who sprayed the dog with an unknown substance. The sus-

WILSHIRE DIVISION

Furnished by Senior Lead Officer

Dave Cordova

213-793-0650

31646@lapd.online

North Gower Street. The suspect pried open the rear door, ransacked the home’s interior, stole property and left in a car that was waiting for the suspect out front.

stolen from the 500 block of South Saint Andrews Place at 10 p.m. on May 9.

A 2012 blue Hyundai Sonata was taken near the intersection of Rosewood Avenue and Saint Andrews Place between 10 p.m. on May 12 and 7 a.m. on May 13.

Twitter: @lapdwilshire

pect fled the home.

At noon on May 9, a suspect smashed a window of a home on the 100 block of

BURGLARY FROM VEHICLE: A suspect used a tool to cut the passenger window of a vehicle. He stole property from the car on the 400 block of South Gramercy Place on May 3 at 7 p.m.

GRAND THEFTS AUTO: A 2019 silver Nissan Sentra was

School safety prompted by tragic accident

By Nona Sue Friedman

Mayor Karen Bass’s alma

mater, Hancock Park Elementary, was the site of a tragic accident at the end of April.

A mother was killed walking her 6-year–old daughter to school. The accident occurred at the intersection of Ogden Drive and Colgate Avenue, adjacent to Park La Brea. This tragic accident prompted a Zoom meeting to

Date for Irving burglary pushed

The court date for Anthonee Banks, the accused burglar (the one of three who was captured) of a home on the 300 block of South Irving Boulevard, has been pushed to June 9.

The well-videoed burglary took place on Thanksgiving Day, 2022.

Banks has been out on bail since Dec. 8 and has secured private counsel. According to LAPD, the investigation is ongoing.

Ingenue

(Continued from page 5)

For tickets, visit wshphs. com. Member price is $25; nonmember is $45. Space is limited to 35 people.

Home was at Crenshaw, Wilshire boulevards

“Sunset Boulevard” is a film that has been near and dear to longtime residents of Windsor Square because it was filmed in a large home once located at the intersection of Crenshaw and Wilshire boulevards.

The home, at 641 S. Irving Blvd., was demolished in 1957 to become part of the new headquarters proposed as a high-rise for Getty Oil Company, but that is another story. Following that controversy, the building height was limited to six stories.

The building now has various commercial tenants, with prominent signage facing south, down Crenshaw Boulevard, saying “Harbor.”

address ongoing safety issues surrounding the school.

Invited participants included Park La Brea residents, Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, Deputy Mayor Randall Winston, Los Angeles Unified School District board member Nick Melvoin and the Hancock Park Elementary school parents and administration.

During the meeting, it was noted that the city moved quickly to make minor modifications to the streets surrounding the

school — such as restriping the crosswalks and repainting the red zones — after the accident. The city is also expediting other safety improvements to the area like hiring more crossing guards. According to parents and administrators on the call, the school has been asking for years for major changes to be implemented to make the area surrounding the campus safer. Unfortunately, bureaucracy and cost had previously been the stumbling blocks for change.

THEFT: A suspect took property from a shared carport on May 17 at 8:30 a.m. on the 300 block of South Norton Avenue. The suspect fled in a car. son.”

“Experience

Historic Old Mill reveals pomegranates’ rich, ruby red past

In San Marino there lies a garden. No, not that one with the roses and afternoon tea. In this lush enclosure set against a 200-year-old adobe, flowering orange, lemon and lime trees perfume the air while olive trees, salvias and enormous tangles of rosemary add verdant texture. The crown jewel of this hideaway tucked along a winding street in the small city south of Pasadena is a thicket of pomegranate trees which, come fall, bring forth ruby red fruits that give way to san-

guine, many-seeded interiors.

I’m speaking, of course, of El Molino Viejo, or The Old Mill. Built in 1816, this former grist mill provided grain for the nearby Mission San Gabriel and is today one of the oldest buildings in California.

The bond between this historic grain mill and its socalled Pomegranate Patio is one crystallized in the annals of etymology. The juicy pucehued pomegranate receives its name from the Medieval Latin pomum granatum, translat-

Crime, upper Larchmont were on LVNA agenda

By Helene Seifer

The Larchmont Village Neighborhood Association (LVNA) semi-annual meeting was attended by 47 stakeholders eager to discuss issues of import for the neighborhood.

Speakers included LAPD Wilshire Division Senior Lead Officer (SLO) De’Antraye Danzler, Olympic Division SLO Harry Cho (covering for SLO Joe Pelayo who was not available), SSA Security’s Terry M. Segraves, City Council District 13 Field Deputy Karla Martinez and Jane Usher, past president of the Los Angeles City Planning Commission.

Immediately after LVNA President Charles D’Atri called the May 9 meeting to order, a resident announced that his neighbor’s house on North Gower Street had been broken into and ransacked that afternoon, with the crime caught on his security camera. This led perfectly into a serious discussion of area crime, the first item on the meeting agenda.

Catalytic converter thefts and a continuing problem of party houses were discussed. LVNA member Sam Uretsky, who

had been involved in shutting down one such party house in the neighborhood, said to keep calling authorities and complaining until something is done. He assured everyone that “Persistence works!”

Numerous residents complained about homeless encampments. Council District 13 Field Deputy Martinez promised to follow up on these sites but had no answer yet for what could be done to permanently remove unhoused individuals who were demonstrably violent.

There was an extended presentation on plans for upper Larchmont Boulevard. Jane Usher is leading a steering committee associated with the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council’s Land Use Committee to gather support for making North Larchmont a walkable street with large setbacks and numerous cafés and street-level stores with housing above, including a fair percentage of low-cost apartments.

The street is already zoned for denser development, but the committee hopes to retain the character of the neighborhood. Usher asked people to send photographs of existing buildings that capture the spirit of what upper Larchmont could become to LVNA90004@gmail.com.

ing to “apple with many seeds,” from the word pome, meaning “apple” or “fruit,” and grenate, which means “having grains.”

A fruit rich in historic symbolism across mythology, art and religion, the pomegranate was the literal forbidden fruit to Persephone in the underworld, and it denotes themes of resurrection and immortality in Christian imagery. Its abundance of seeds — called “arils” — have made it a symbol of fertility and an attribute of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and procreation, who is said to have planted the first pomegranate tree in her birthplace of Cyprus.

The pomegranate has particular significance in the city of Granada in Spain. Some

chroniclers have suggested that the name of the Andalusian city originated from the same Latin root as the pomegranate, granatum, an association formed either from the tree grown in the region or through a derived sense of the fruit’s red color, which may refer to the shade of the city’s soil and its buildings. Though this origin isn’t universally accepted, the crowned — some may say “regal” — silhouette of the pomegranate fruit appears to this day emblazoned on the city’s coat of arms, hand-painted on ornate ceramic street signs and imprinted in the city’s manhole covers.

The pomegranate’s crimson hue also lends itself to the word origin for “garnet,” a deep red mineral that has been prized as a gemstone since the Bronze Age. The term arises from the 12th-century Old French grenate, which is believed to have been abstracted from the Medieval Latin or Old French words for pomegranate.

“Grenade” is yet another

bough that branches from the pomegranate’s etymological tree. The small-yet-lethal weapon is related to the modern French grenade (itself a descendant of the aforementioned Old French grenate), and its earliest designs bore an uncanny resemblance to the fruit. Grenade also provides the basis for “grenadine,” the Shirley Temple hero ingredient made from the juice of the pomegranate fruit.

In these early weeks of summer, the pomegranate trees at The Old Mill burst with fiery orange-red blooms — a premonition of the fall display yet to come. The pomegranate is more than the sum of its tough, protective husk and sweet-tart fleshy kernels — majestic in form, it is ripe with narrative, a microcosm contained within blushing contours.

The Old Mill is located at 1120 Old Mill Road, San Marino. Open Tues.-Sun. from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free. Visit old-mill.org or call 626-449-5458.

Word Café by Mara Fisher

LOVE WHERE YOU LIVE

WE SALUTE THE GRADUATES OF 2023

Caps thrown, tassels moved at graduation ceremonies

By Nona Sue Friedman

Senioritis abounds as high schools prepare for graduation ceremonies. Seniors take a big sigh of relief for this bittersweet moment as they cross the stage, take their diplomas and move their tassels across their brims.

Following are some of the ceremonies where students from the area are graduating.

Immaculate Heart High School had one of its alums, actress and activist Yara Shahidi, executive producer and lead actor of “Grown-ish,” and a recent Harvard University graduate, speak at its ceremony. The event took place at the Hollywood Bowl with 115 girls graduating on May 30. It is the school’s 117th graduating class.

Larchmont Charter High School will witness 102 students leave their campus on Wed., June 14 at 5:30 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles. The guest speaker is Myrna Castrejón, president and CEO of California Charter Schools Association.

The entire class of 69 girls will graduate from Girls Academic Leadership Academy

member Holly Mitchell will address the audience as the keynote speaker. This is GALA’s

Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles

Private, international preschool-12th grade - English and French programs

We proudly present our students’ university acceptances for the Class of 2023

Adelphi University

American University of Paris (FR)

Babson College

Boston University

Brown University

Cal Poly Pomona

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

California State University, Chico

California State University, Fullerton

California State University, Long Beach

California State University, Los Angeles

California State University, Sacramento

Carnegie Mellon University

Case Western Reserve University

Chapman University

Clark Atlanta University

Columbia University

DePaul University

Drexel University

EHL Hospitality Business School (CH)

ESSEC Global BBA (FR)

Elon University

Fisk University

Georgetown University

Hampton University

IE Business School (SP)

Lewis & Clark College

LIM College

Loyola Marymount University

McGill University (CAN)

Mount Holyoke College

New School - Parsons

Pennsylvania State University

Pepperdine University

Reed College

Rhodes College

St. Mary's College of California

San Diego State University

San Francisco State University

San Jose State University

Sarah Lawrence College

The George Washington University

Tuskegee University

University of California, Berkeley

UC Berkeley - Science Po Dual BA

University of California, Davis

University of California, Los Angeles

University of California, San Diego

University of California, Santa Barbara

University of California, Santa Cruz

University of Colorado, Boulder

University of Delaware

University of Denver

Congratulations Seniors!

University of Illinois Urbana

University of Kansas

University of Mass, Amherst

University of Mass, Dartmouth

University of Michigan

University of NC - Chapel Hill

University of Notre Dame

University of Oregon

University of Pennsylvania

University of Rochester

University of San Diego

University of San Francisco

University of Southern California

University of Washington

Vassar College

William and Mary

Williams College

(Please turn to page 3)

GALA GRADUATES pose on their college signing day.

(GALA) on Thurs., June 8 at 5:30 p.m. at the USC Bovard Auditorium. Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors

LARCHMONT CHARTER seniors enjoy a class picnic.

SENIORS AT IMMACULATE HEART pose in sweatshirts indicating their college destinations.

WE SALUTE THE GRADUATES OF 2023

Ceremonies

(Continued from page 2)

first graduation of students who started at the school in sixth grade in the school’s opening year. Of the 69 grad-

uates, 40 have been at the school for all seven years.

Pilgrim School will graduate 20 students for its class of 2023 in the school sanctuary on Mon., June 5 at 6 p.m.

Le Lycée Français de Los

Angeles has 40 students graduating on Sat., June 10. Novelist and filmmaker Amanda Sthers, a Paris native currently living in Los Angeles, will speak at the ceremony.

Loyola High School will graduate 302 students on Sat., June 3 at 9 a.m. at Hayden Circle on campus. Principal Frank Kozakowski is the key-

note speaker. Marymount High School graduated 78 seniors on May 26 on the grounds of the high (Please turn to page 4)

LOYOLA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES pose on athlete signing day; left to right are Carson Chavez for baseball, Harrison Lavery for cross country, Holmes Wormald for football and Ryan Espinoza for volleyball.

MARLBOROUGH SCHOOL seniors take pride in their future schools.

SENIORS AT LE LYCÉE are dressed in their caps and gowns, ready to walk across the stage.

MARYMOUNT HIGH SCHOOL seniors sport their college sweatshirts.

WE SALUTE THE GRADUATES OF 2023

Ceremonies

(Continued from page 3) school. Marina Salinas, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of

Commerce, spoke to the girls as their keynote speaker.

The 88 seniors at Oakwood School voted on what they wanted at their graduation ceremony. In lieu of a keynote speaker, they chose to have 10 student performances and 12 student speeches at their ceremony on June 8.

The 112 seniors at Marlborough School graduated in a ceremony on May 25. They took their final steps as high school seniors in matching white dresses as they accepted their diplomas.

SENIORS AT MARLBOROUGH enjoy the water after taking their well-earned rite of passage pool plunge on the last day of classes. First, they run across the school field chanting “2023,” wait for a countdown at the pool’s edge and then they all jump in!

Los Angeles High School, whose mascot is the Romans, will watch their seniors take diplomas and graduate on Fri., June 9.

The Chronicle would like to congratulate all of the graduating seniors of 2023.

We wish you all the best in your future endeavors. Don’t forget to keep us in mind for when you do something remarkable and newsworthy. We always like to highlight our residents near and far.

CLASSMATES AT PILGRIM SCHOOL assemble for one of their last pictures before graduating.

2023 GRADUATES at Immaculate Heart spell out their year.

SENIORS AT OAKWOOD SCHOOL gather with classmates on campus.

WE SALUTE THE GRADUATES OF 2023

Graduates share their choices, aspirations, plans

By Casey Russell

Marlborough graduating senior Ondine Corsmeier said she has loved the allgirls aspect of her school. “I feel like it made me a more confident and comfortable person,” said Corsmeier. She recognizes that she is unafraid to speak up and say how she feels and recognizes the fact that this will serve her well as she steps into her next chapter.

Corsmeier played water polo, was an editor of the yearbook and has been involved with Alexandria House through the social justice Capstone project. The Capstone elective partners students with organizations. Girls spend the summer and first semester volunteering and making connections. During the second semester, students create and implement a project with the organization. Corsmeier worked with the preteen group at Alexandria House and feels like her experience at the nonprofit solidified her interest in becoming a therapist.

In the fall, the graduating senior will attend Colgate University. “I’ve lived in the same house my whole life and gone to two schools. I’ve known my friends for so long,” said Corsmeier. “I wanted a big change.”

The East Coast can deliver on that.

“One thing I’m nervous about is the weather,” said the Ridgewood / Wilton resident. Corsmeier said she is excited for the liberal arts experience because, in her words, “I’m 18 and I might change my mind.” She is looking forward to trying

new things and discovering more about herself, what she wants to do and how she wants to spend her life.

The only child said her grandparents live in Wisconsin on a horse farm. She stayed there for six months during the pandemic and plans to visit them for the shorter school breaks.

When asked if there was a certain teacher who had a big impact on her, Corsmeier said, “Ms. Wright was my advisor for my social justice Capstone and she is the nicest person I’ve ever met… she definitely shaped my senior year and my potential future career.”

This summer, the graduate will be traveling to Europe for a month with one of her best friends, Alix Erlij. “We wanted to go to places we thought we might not get the chance to go back to,” said Corsmeier. The duo will explore Berlin, Amsterdam, Prague, Budapest, Athens and the Greek island Paros. “We planned the trip ourselves. I worked at the Marlborough summer camp for the past two summers to save up for the trip.”

Heading to UCLA for life experience and education

Oakwood Secondary School

graduate Gavin Gardner has attended his soon-to-be alma mater since seventh grade. During his time at the school, he has been involved with volleyball; Oakwood Students for Progressive Reform (OSPR), a student-led club which discusses current events; and AIDS Walks Los Angeles, an organization that focuses on fundraising money to donate to different organizations that help people affected by AIDS.

Gardner is proud that Oakwood has raised approximately $15,000 for the past two years. The school’s fundraising efforts have broken $40,000, rivaling the donation amounts of companies like Starbucks and Paramount.

One of the reasons Gardner loved Oakwood so much was because the school focuses on fostering one-onone relationships between teachers and students. One teacher that really changed

the way that Gardner thinks and influenced the kind of student he is is Mickey Morgan, a longtime Oakwood teacher in his 80s. Morgan was connected with OSPR and AIDS Walk LA. “I think he really embodies what a teacher should be,” said Gardner.

In the fall, Gardner will be attending UCLA. The graduate likes that UCLA has a lot of school spirit and said, “I ultimately chose UCLA because it is a large school in a large city. [That will] give me a chance to meet a bunch of (Please turn to page 7)

Ondine Corsmeier

Gavin Gardner

WE SALUTE THE GRADUATES OF 2023

Graduates

(Continued from page 6) interesting people. It also has a business economics course.” Gardner is hoping to gain a great education while learning to live and experience life on his own.

When asked how school has shaped him, Gardner said it has taught him “the importance of critical thinking and voicing my opinions.”

When asked what he’ll do this summer before heading off to UCLA, the Windsor Square resident told us that his mom’s plans for him differ from his own. “I plan on hanging out with my friends and traveling, but my mom plans that I get a job.”

Gardner is going to work on juggling those three things.

Graduate will give back before attending UCSB

Miracle Mile resident Ella Harrington will soon graduate from Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies (LACES), a school she has attended since sixth grade. Harrington said that, because the pandemic hit when she was a freshman, her favorite years of high school were her junior and senior years. “It was just fun to be out in the world again,” she said. According to Harrington, having lived through attending school online made her realize how much stu-

dents had taken for granted.

Harrington describes herself as very social. One of the activities she has participated in throughout high school is Students Run Los Angeles, a nonprofit that trains kids to run the Los Angeles Marathon, which she has run three times. She is a cabinet member and historian for the student-run class, which offers counseling and support through one-on-one interactions. Harrington was trained during her junior year and currently counsels seven students.

When asked if her work as a peer counselor has influenced her future aspirations, she said, “I’ve always been characterized as the thera-

pist friend.” For a long time, Harrington wanted to go into a therapy field, but she has since realized that she wants to be a gynecologist. “I think

it’s important for there to be women gynecologists. We need doctors who are emotionally intelligent, friendly and kind — who can create an environment that will make people feel welcome. I’m also interested in how the female body works.”

The LACES senior is currently committed to UC Santa Barbara in the psychological and brain sciences on a premed track. She will be the first person in her family to attend college in the U.S. Harrington loves that UCSB is part of the UC system because of the internship opportunities it can provide. She said she also feels like it’s a school at which people “work hard, play hard.”

(Please turn to page 8)

Ella Harrington

WE SALUTE THE GRADUATES OF 2023

Graduates

(Continued from page 7)

As for next year, Harrington is applying for a deferral at UCSB because she plans to do a gap year in Israel where she will be working on a farm and teaching English to people in the neighboring communities. Born in Israel, Harrington moved to the U.S. when she was 2, and it’s important to her to do a year of service there.

The senior has received several grants, but in the short term plans to keep working at Trader Joe’s and babysitting until she leaves for her year in Israel.

Charlie Hoge is graduating from Larchmont Charter High School this year after having attended LCS schools since kindergarten. The Windsor Square resident recently attended his sister Annabella’s graduation from Georgetown College. Clearly, this is a year of change and celebration for the Hoge family.

During high school, Hoge played varsity baseball, soccer, tennis and volleyball and was named captain of both the soccer and volleyball teams.

When he’s not playing sports, the graduating senior told us he has a variety of interests, including reading comics, throwing pottery, playing video games, editing videos, building things and hanging out with friends.

With all of these myriad interests, Hoge is looking forward to college. “I’m excited to take a broad range of classes and learn about ways to be a ‘maker.’ Plus, I want the opportunity to meet lots of different people, explore clubs and activities and learn more about myself.”

Hoge is still deciding among three universities: UC Santa Barbara, the University of Oregon and the Universi-

ty of Washington. These are his top choices because they are large schools with great outdoor cultures and diverse student populations. But before the new graduate heads off to the school of his choice, Hoge will be going on a school art study trip to Europe, getting his driver’s license and “searching for summer jobs to earn some extra cash for college.”

When asked what his aspirations for the future are, Hoge said, “My number one goal in life is to be happy.” He feels like the key to that is surrounding himself with the right people and, over the next four years, learning how he can be a “maker” and combine his interests in physics, art and technology.

Though Hoge says he will miss his friends and family and is a bit nervous about whether or not he’s making the right choice, he is not fearful or nervous about the changes that are coming. “My parents taught me the importance of doing the right thing and being a good person. I’m grateful for that.” Hoge is also thankful for his teachers at LCS and his best friend Zander, who, Hoge said, “has shared more laughs with me than I can count.”

The launch and promise of Prop 28: arts in public schools

By Helene Seifer

The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at The Music Center was the venue for last month’s presentation on the implementation of the adopted California initiative measure to provide arts funding in public schools, known as Prop 28. The legislation earmarks a slice of the California school budget for arts and music education, and it passed with 65 percent of the vote in November 2022. Resources will begin reaching schools by the fall.

To set the stage for an arts-fueled discussion on May 22, the Orchid Quartet, an all-female string quartet, welcomed guests with classical music and the theme from the TV series “Bridgerton.”

Hancock Park resident Jason Alexander, best known for his role on “Seinfeld,” served with wit and charm as the Master of Ceremonies.

Featured participants included: Austin Beutner, Proposition 28 author and former Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent; rapper will.i.am; State Superintendent of Public In-

struction Tony Thurmond; president-elect of the California Teachers Association David Goldberg; Max Arias, executive director of SEIU Local 99, the union representing teaching assistants, custodians and bus drivers, among other personnel; Rachel Moore, president and CEO of The Music Center; Alison Yoshimoto-Towery, executive director of the UC-CSU California Collaborative for Neurodiversity and Learning; and president and CEO of the California Community Foundation, Antonia Hernandez.

Beutner started his address with some impressive statis(Please turn to page 14)

HOST Jason Alexander.

Goal number one: happiness

Charlie Hoge

Marymount LOS ANGELE S Congratulations,Class of 2023!

We are incredibly proud of our Class of 2023 graduates who have all been accepted to a four-year collegiate program and gained admission to 155 colleges and/or universities. Please note that all institutions with one or more graduates attending are denoted in bold, and that schools with an * indicate multiple enrollees.

Arizona State University

Barnard College

Bates College

Baylor University

Boston College*

Boston University

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo*

Case Western Reserve University

Chapman University*

College of the Holy Cross

Connecticut College

Duke University

Fordham University*

George Washington University*

Georgetown University*

Hampton University

Harvey Mudd College

Howard University

Indiana University

Johns Hopkins University

Kenyon College

King’s College

Lehigh University

Loyola Marymount University*

McGill University

New York University*

Northeastern University

Northwestern University

Parsons School of Design at The New School

Purdue University

Rice University

Santa Clara University*

Santa Monica College*

Scripps College

Skidmore College

Southern Methodist University*

Spelman College

Swarthmore College

Syracuse University

Texas Christian University*

The University of Texas at Austin

Trinity College*

Tufts University

Tulane University*

University of California - Berkeley*

University of California - Davis

University of California - Los Angeles*

University of California - San Diego

University of California - Santa Barbara

University of California - Santa Cruz

University of Colorado Boulder

University of Georgia

University of Maryland

University of Miami

University of Michigan

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of Notre Dame*

University of Oregon*

University of Pittsburgh

University of Richmond

University of San Diego

University of Southern California*

University of St. Andrews

University of Virginia

University of Washington

University of Wisconsin

Vanderbilt University

Villanova University*

Wake Forest University*

For more information on this outstanding group of young women, please scan the QR code:

WE SALUTE THE GRADUATES OF 2023

OFF TO COLLEGE: Comedy writer’s book relays lessons learned in a college bar

By Nona Sue Friedman

While attending college at Syracuse University, Adam Lorenzo became the owner of one of the infamous bars in the college town in Upstate New York. First he just worked there. Then he found out the owner was selling it. Being the industrious guy that he is, he worked a deal, purchased the bar and continued going to school.

He spent every day at the bar. He typed his school papers, bartended, studied and slept there. He considered the bar “a cathedral of knowledge.” He found that the setting and interactions with patrons and employees taught him a lot about life. Always wanting to be a writer, he saved his thoughts and pearls of wisdom on scrap paper in a fishbowl at the bar. Perhaps it could be a book someday?

Fast-forward 20 years. Lorenzo sold his bar, spontaneously moved to the Larchmont area with his fishbowl full of miscellaneous knowledge and achieved his dream of becoming a comedy writer by working for David

Letterman, “Saturday Night Live” and “Everybody Hates Chris,” among others.

The Larchmont area gave him a sense of community he needed after moving across the country. He frequented many of the shops along the Boulevard and was a regular at the Larchmont Barber Shop (now relocated to Fairfax Avenue at Fourth Street).

As Lorenzo says, “I owe my career in sitcoms to the late barber Jerry Cottone.” Cottone had faith in Lorenzo and passed one of his scripts to another of his customers, the producer of “Everybody Loves Raymond.” This was Lorenzo’s break into sitcoms.

Then the pandemic hit in 2020. Lorenzo still had the fishbowl filled with kernels

of knowledge. Writing a book was his quarantine project.

The book, “All I Need To Know I Learned From My College Bar,” is the result. Much like owning the bar and becoming a writer, Lorenzo took a chance and was not afraid to fail.

At 110 pages with 100 illustrations by Antonio Giovanni Pinna, the book is chock-full of useful insights about life and how to be a good, thoughtful person and make the most out of life’s opportunities.

(Please turn to page 11)

COMEDY WRITER Adam Lorenzo displays his first book on Larchmont Boulevard.

ONE PAGE from Adam Lorenzo’s book.

WE SALUTE THE GRADUATES OF 2023

Scholarships awarded for excellence in math and engineering

The George and Irene Epstein Memorial Scholarship awards were given May 16 to the 2023 award recipients by the board of directors of the Los Angeles Chapter of the international Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE).

This is the 27th year for Fairfax High School and the third time for Girls Academic Leadership Academy (GALA) students to receive these awards.

As the education chairman of the Los Angeles Chap-

Starfest 2023 is

June 4 at Ebell

ter of SAMPE, Dr. Howard Katzman, senior scientist at The Aerospace Corporation, congratulated Paulina Chavira, a Fairfax High School senior, and Natalia Castillo, Emely Amador-Menzie and Kana DeCoste, three seniors from GALA.

Three other GALA seniors (Ella Salim, Jillian King and Carlee-Rae Deveaux) received book awards.

Councilmember Heather Hutt’s office sent each scholarship recipient a certificate of congratulations, and Evette Kim, her deputy for constituent

Adam Lorenzo

(Continued from page 10)

Starfest 2023 Student Variety Show and fundraiser is this Sun., June 4 at 1 p.m. at The Ebell of Los Angeles, 743 S. Lucerne Blvd. The show will benefit the city’s L.A.C.E.R. Afterschool Programs (Literacy, Arts, Culture, Education, Recreation). Hosted by L.A.C.E.R. co-founder Will Seymour of Windsor Village and actor Richard Montoya, the show will feature student performances and a raffle including Laker and Dodger tickets.     Visit lacerafterschool.org.

Each page has a phrase or a couple of sentences with clever illustrations, such as “If you’re not making mistakes, you’re not trying hard enough.” It’s not a long read; it’s short, sweet and to the point and filled with insightful, witty phrases for a more purposeful life.

Lorenzo’s book was published in the spring and is available locally at Chevalier’s, Barnes & Noble and Kitson, as well as online. The cost is $14.99.

services and special programs, represented the councilmember at the ceremony.

The Irene Epstein Memorial Scholarship program was initiated in 1996 shortly after the death of Irene Epstein to

recognize her strong desire to assist financially needy, academically deserving students to attend college to study engineering, science, mathematics or medicine. Last year, with the passing of

Irene’s husband (and former Larchmont Chronicle columnist), George, SAMPE voted to change the name of the scholarship to the George and Irene Epstein Memorial Scholarship.

Councilmember Heather Hutt; Sheyla (Emely Amador-Menzie’s mother) and Vanessa Arredondo, SAMPE board member, student chapter liaison.

SAMPE SCHOLARSHIP Committee member Sue Epstein, top left; Alma Saiya, Los Angeles SAMPE board president; Ryoko (Kana DeCoste’s mother), Dr. Howard Katzman; GALA students: Emely Amador-Menzie, Natalia Castillo and Kana DeCoste; Alan Hiken, SAMPE board member; Paulina Chavira, Fairfax High; Evette Kim, deputy for Constituent Services and Special Programs for

GRADUATES OF 2023

Traveling students discover Japan's strong sense of community

By Kellyn Lanza

In April, I was fortunate to be among 81 Immaculate Heart High School students and 13 adult chaperones touring in two groups throughout Japan. It was the trip of a lifetime. Over the course of a week, I made many new memories as we explored a new country and culture.

After a 13-hour flight from Los Angeles, we landed in Tokyo and spent three days exploring Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, parks and shopping districts, and, of course, enjoying delicious food! From Tokyo, we traveled to the mountainous area of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu region, stopping in Kamakura and Enoshima on the way. In Kamakura, we saw the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine and the Buddhist temple Kōtokuin, home to an 11.4-meter-tall Buddha statue.

That night, my tour group stayed in the New Hakkeien resort in Hakone, where students and chaperones donned casual kimonos called yukatas for a traditional hot pot meal of meat and vegetables. We entertained each other with karaoke and lounged in the hot springs, also known as

onsens. The next day, we visited the area’s volcanic region, where we took a boat ride on Lake Ashi, explored Owakudani and rode a cable car to Mount Komagatake.

That afternoon, we experienced the bullet train as we traveled to the ancient city of Kyoto. The next day featured a full day of exploring, including a walk through the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Next, we went to the beautiful historic landmark known as the Golden Pavilion and later toured Nijō Castle.

On our last full day, we explored Nara and the Kasu-

ga-tashi shrine, where we fed friendly deer that have lived in the area for generations. For our final evening, we traveled to Osaka and spent time exploring Dotonbori Canal Street. Japan is one of the most peaceful, clean and safe countries I have ever visited. For example, we witnessed many children walking alone or with other youngsters. From (Please turn to page 19)

Fairfax High School

JUNIOR AVA BLUE VEITH inhales the scent of cherry blossoms.

Photo by Callie Webb

Congratulates its 2023 Graduates as they prepare to enter the Colleges and Universities of their choice.

Best wishes to our students as they embark on their next journey. Fairfax High Lions are academically and culturally prepared for lifelong learning experiences, leadership opportunities, and careers in a changing multicultural world. Their journey will now begin!

IN HAKONE, (left to right) Kellyn Lanza, Camila Deras and Gaby Rubalcava enjoying a traditional hot pot meal.

Photo by Callie Webb

Right: IMMACULATE HEART High School students and their chaperones visiting the Great Buddha of Kamakura.

Photo by Kevin Turcotte

WE SALUTE THE GRADUATES OF 2023

GALA team wins top prize at Get Lit’s Classic Poetry Slam

By Casey Russell

Get Lit’s 12th annual Classic Slam recently took place and, for the third year in a row, the middle school team from Girls Academic Leadership Academy (GALA) took home their age group’s top prize. They competed at the Los Angeles Theatre Center.

GALA’s high school team also excelled at the event, which was attended by hundreds of Southern California’s young student poets. The team was one of four that made it to the high school finals, which took place at the Theatre at Ace Hotel.

The competition is the largest Classic Poetry Slam in the world. Participants recite poems from Get Lit’s yearly anthology. Each participant also writes an original poem that responds to what he or she recited. The two pieces are performed live at the competition, and students are judged on the quality of their writing and performance.

Rachel Knopfler, a teacher at GALA, founded the poetry teams four years ago and brought the Get Lit curriculum to her English classes. She credits Liz Hicks, GALA’s

principal, for agreeing to offer a Slam Poetry elective. “I think implementing the curriculum into our classes helped us win. I also think the fact that we are an all-girls school helps the girls feel safe and empowered to use their voices.” Slam poetry can touch on vulnerable topics.

Knopfler said the teams met at lunch to be coached. Though they swapped groups periodically, Knopfler worked mainly with GALA’s high

(Please turn to page 19)

GALA moving to new campus in 2024

The Girls Academic Leadership Academy (GALA) has been granted its own campus. No more co-locating on the Los Angeles High School campus at West Boulevard south of Olympic Boulevard.

In the fall of 2024, the single-sex school will take over surplus Los Angeles Unified School District facilities at 2328 St. James Pl. near USC

and next to Mount St. Mary’s University (MSMU) Doheny campus.

GALA is very excited to have its own campus, as stated in a YouTube video about the move. An inside source revealed that the school leaders believe this move will enable the school to reach its full potential.

They are also looking for-

ward to being neighbors with MSMU, a women’s college with which they already have a relationship. Their new home has lots of classrooms, office and counseling space, a large multi-purpose room with a stage and a big field. GALA plans to move there in time for the start of the 2024 –2025 school year.

WINNING TEAM (left to right) Raquel Luna (11th grade, coach), Jay Montes, Ella Small, Ferris Young, Teddy Wachs, Isabella Suarez and Zoe O’Brien.

HIGH SCHOOL team on stage at The Ace Theater before the finals. Left to right: Katie Gomez, Maya Henry, Sierra Leone Anderson, Estie Kung and Ollie Mitchell.

WE SALUTE THE GRADUATES OF 2023

Charter School Collaborative created during COVID-19

By Helene Seifer

In at least one case, positive strides came out of our years of COVID-19 isolation: the forming of the Los Angeles Public Charter School Collaborative (LAPCSC), an informal information-sharing group that has already helped best practices in education flourish.

“It is an unexpected silver lining of the horror of COVID that this group came together,” says Amy Held, executive director of Larchmont Charter School.

The Collaborative was founded mid-March 2020, right when the pandemic was beginning to hit and educators were struggling to understand what was expected of schools. Five or so charter school executive directors, including Held, jumped on a Zoom call to compare notes. The conversation was so helpful they decided to Zoom-meet every Wednesday morning. Now, three years later, executives from 31 charter schools regularly participate in the weekly video calls, including the three Larchmont Charter Schools. Held explains that there is no leader and no agenda for

the calls. During the pandemic, school executive directors would bring up such topics as “Do you understand the latest health guidelines?” or “What are you hearing from parents?”

Their conversations led to direct actions, including one that changed how Larchmont Charter communicated with parents. “Larchmont would send out a weekly eblast,” notes Held, but she kept hearing about something called Parents Square, a platform that stores all announcements and letters and that links to the school calendar and parent directory. Larchmont Charter switched. Held emphasizes, “I’m a big believer in the wisdom of crowds.”

Other programs discussed and adopted by many are i-Ready Diagnostic, to assess the need for student interventions in various subjects, and Care Solace, a concierge service to help connect students, families and staff to mental health services.

A newer initiative created by the group is a program to send teachers and school leaders to visit other excellent schools, including private schools, to directly observe

ideas in action. Held says that the reason that the LAPCSC is successful is that charter schools are in a unique position to implement changes since they have their own school boards and are smaller than LAUSD-run schools. Held explains, “As small schools, a part of our

Prop 28

(Continued from page 8) tics, noting that “Barely one in five public schools in California currently has full-time arts teachers.” Passage of Proposition 28 is expected to generate close to $1 billion, which would make it “the largest investment in arts education in the history of the country,” creating an additional “15,000 good-paying arts jobs.”

A highlight of the afternoon was the personal story of rapper will.i.am. In an interview with Beutner, the performer talked about growing up in the projects in Boyle Heights. He traveled to a magnet school in Pacific Palisades, where he began playing beats on the lunchroom tables.

“Music changed my life,” he explained. “Even though I was poor, my currency was my

secret sauce, our super power, is our ability to be nimble. We really know our students and our families.” Held tells a story about being able to think out of the box to help a particular student. “We had a student who was really struggling. He had a lot of behavior issues. We hired an alum [who had

also felt the pull of gangs] to provide one-on-one support. The alum called the student every day and drove him to school.” With that help, that student graduated. Information about the Los Angeles Public Charter School Collaborative is at www.lapubliccharters.org.

creativity. I could cash it in for social currency.”

That concept that the arts bring confidence and belonging to young people was a common thread throughout the event. Beutner moderated the first panel, which addressed, “the promise of

Prop 28,” and all the panelists mentioned the importance of the arts when they were young, including Tony Thurmond, who said, “I grew up on food stamps and government cheese. School was everything. Music helped me find my voice.”

PANELISTS (left to right) Max Arias, executive director SEIU local 99; David Goldberg, president-elect of California Teachers Association; Tony Thurmond, state superintendent of public instruction; and Austin Beutner, Proposition 28 author and former Los Angeles Unified School District superintendent.

WE SALUTE THE GRADUATES OF 2023

Nurses and patients benefit when we all step up to help

By Suzan Filipek

Elected leaders and community members vocally applauded nurses during the pandemic. Groups sang their praises from outdoor balconies. Others made handmade cards thanking them for their care.

While those were touching tributes, the nursing workforce was already burnt out before COVID-19 hit.

Once the pandemic struck and the hospitals were full and beds were scarce, the level of stress rose, which only increased an exodus among the nursing workforce which continues to this day.

Longtime Larchmont commercial property owner Ronald Simms and his wife, Victoria Mann Simms, hope to stem that exodus, and they hope others will join the effort to make a sea change in health care.

“It behooves all of us to do something. We’re all going to need [nurses] sometime,” said Victoria, co-founder and president of the Simms / Mann Institute & Foundation.

Ronald Simms is founding donor and vice president of the foundation, which recently honored 30 nurses with

a no-strings gift of $10,000 each as part of the “Off the Chart: Rewarding Nursing Greatness” project.

“I think nursing is a science, but it’s also an art. Nurses really have great knowledge and understand science… and they are compassionate,” Mann Simms told us last month on Zoom.

“[People] are not seeing the depth and breadth of what [nurses] do. Now we’re in a national and global crisis… [Nurses] are leaving, retiring and burning out. Our health and safety depends on nurses,” said Rachel Barchie, executive director of the foundation and a Ridgewood-Wilton resident.

“People lack understanding of nurses. They are experts in

hematology, pediatric care, in ICU. They are scientists,” she added.

Off the Chart is a threeyear, $2-million campaign that aims to shine a light on the nursing profession and is an urgent call to action as more than a third of nurses are considering leaving the profession and only 20 percent report feeling valued. (According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 100,000 nurses left the workforce during the pandemic, and by 2027, almost 900,000, or almost one-fifth of 4.5 million total registered nurses, intend to leave the workforce.)

Recognition

Award recipients come from

City of Hope, UCLA Health and Keck Medicine of USC and were chosen for their leadership skills, ingenuity and expertise in caring for others. The awards program is modeled after the MacArthur Foundation — applications are not accepted, nominations are anonymous and a strict review process is followed.

“It was a big surprise to all the nurses. It wasn’t something any of them expected,” Barchie said.

The gift can be used for self-care, such as a vacation. One nurse plans to fix her old car, while another will pay for childcare, said Simms.

Lisa Johnson, a nurse of 25 years, will probably add the $10,000 to her savings, for now.

Johnson had planned to be a doctor but switched to nursing when she realized she would spend more time with patients. “It’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” Johnson said.

Receiving the gift was “so extraordinary. It makes you stop dead in your tracks that someone could go so far beyond the norm and provide you with this recognition. I still am in awe,” said John-

son, executive administrator of quality, patient safety and outcomes management at Keck Hospital of USC. She established a groundbreaking approach to mortality review which lessens medical errors and patient harm.

Mann Simms, who is on the board of several hospitals, was inspired to take action to address the plight of nurses last year during National Nurses Week. (The week ends annually on May 12 — Florence Nightingale’s birthday.)

Simms, a psychologist and child development specialist, said she already was alarmed by the level of stress she saw during the pandemic. Her interest in the nursing field was sparked 20 years earlier when she saw firsthand the benefits of integrative care of mind, body and spirit alongside medical treatments — a program that her father (Ted Mann of the Mann Theatres chain) received during treatment for lymphoma at the end of his life.

Three-year program

Going forward, following last month’s awards event held at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing (Please turn to page 19)

Rachel Barchie Executive Director

Victoria Mann Simms Co-founder, President

WE SALUTE THE GRADUATES OF 2023

CAMPBELL HALL Claire “Cal” Lesher

10th Grade

As the school year draws to a close, CH is jampacked with lots of fun events. The Junior Curators have an open reception of the Senior Show and The Arts Festival Exhibition. The festival will display paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, ceramics, sculptures, films and animations made by 7th through 12th graders in the biggest exhibition of the year.

Our annual CH Community Sunday — Shine Your Light will bring the CH community together for a day of service and outreach. We will bring in donations and raise money for places such as Hillsides, Hands for Haiti and St. Anne’s Family service.

The Secondary Spring Music Concert Series is in full swing! It includes the Spring Sing Choral, Evening of Jazz and Popular Music. Orchestra concerts will be held throughout rest of the school year. The CH annual Dance Company Spring Concert, featuring dancers in grades 5-12, will also soon take place.

Lastly, we wish the class of 2023 the best. May you all have a summer of adventures! See you in the fall.

CATHEDRAL CHAPEL

By Olivia Sherman

6th Grade

We began our month with Teacher Appreciation week and ended it with Spirit Week. On Spirit Day, students participated in relay races and class competitions. Our kindergarteners and 1st graders read at our Spirit Week Mass.

We have had a successful sports season. Our softball team made the playoffs. They were undefeated in league play! Our A, B and C track teams placed in regionals, as well.

We had our inaugural Spring Fling / Art Show and Silent Auction in May. It was a really cool even. We displayed student art and host an outdoor dinner.

Student Council elections will take place in June and we will bid farewell to our 8th graders on June 9. We will also honor and celebrate our principal, Miss Tina K. Kipp. She is retiring after 20 years of dedicated service to our school. There will be a 12 p.m. Mass on June 11, followed by a reception in the school auditorium.

THE CENTER FOR EARLY EDUCATION Eloise Cotteleer 5th Grade

In May, 5th grade students present their Fifthsonian projects to the entire school. Fifthsonian gets its name from the Smithsonian. The purpose of Fifthso is to create a museum where people can learn about important events and figures of the 19th and 20th centuries. In addition to doing a research paper on the subject they select, students have to create an artifact that is connected to their topic for the museum.

For my Fifthso project I chose to explore Pop Art. My artifact was a replica of one of Roy Lichtenstein’s most famous pieces of work. It was a collage of the word ‘Pop!’ done in his iconic comic book style.

It was fun to explore what everyone researched and to see the artifacts they made. There was everything from a detailed diorama depicting D-day to a replica of the Titanic. Fifthso projects are the culmination of many different learning experiences we have had throughout the year, and based on the museum the fifth grade class created, it’s been a very busy and productive year!

CHRIST THE KING Joshua Lo 8th Grade

The month of May began with the 8th grade retreat to Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center. The class of 2023 learned more about God, and took steps toward becoming more devout followers. Shortly after, the whole school participated in the annual May Procession.

The Fun Run in May was a chance for students to raise money for the school while running as many laps as they could. And, families and friends had a fun afternoon at the school’s Hoe Down on May 13. All students performed dances to country and western music and then everyone enjoyed a delicious barbeque dinner. Our school was entertained again at the end of May when our drama club performed “Beauty and the Beast.”

Members of the class of 2023 are looking forward to their graduation and will be celebrating at Disneyland.

A sports night will soon be held to reward students who performed well in sports throughout the year and council elections are swiftly approaching.

E.S.L.A Isabel Viola 12th Grade

As the days begin to warm and the dampness of rain retreats, we find ourselves needing to shed a few items of clothing from our winter wardrobes. For this reason, and because of the environmental injustice caused by fabric waste, ESLA’s Environmental Club decided to host a Clothing Swap.

The very first of its kind, the swap was such an enormous success that another is already planned. Students and staff throughout the community participated in the event.

This week, ESLA is proud to present the playwriting elective’s stories during the Play Festival. Screenplays and directorial guidelines written by students will be showcased to community members and their families.

Following these exciting performances is ESLA’s art fair, CoachESLA. This annual event is a chance for family and friends to celebrate the art that students have worked all year to create. Music performances and visual arts from both middle and upper school students will be on display, and we cannot wait to see everyone’s artistic side!

WE SALUTE THE GRADUATES OF 2023

HOLLYWOOD SCHOOLHOUSE Miles Hoffman 6th Grade

My class and I got to have our ditch day at the end of May.

We missed school for a day to go bowling, play games at Dave and Busters and try to get out of an escape room.

We even rode in a limousine! Talk about a way to end a year! Am I right?

During this final month of school, we have a lot on our minds.

Many of us have been at Hollywood Schoolhouse most of our lives. I personally have attended Hollywood Schoolhouse for nine years!

Now, we’re getting ready to graduate. We’re sad to leave, but are all also excited for our secondary school experiences. We feel ready and prepared to embark on this new journey.

Speaking of journeys, we recently got to go on a walking field trip to Congregation Kol Ami Synagogue on La Brea Avenue.

It was amazing for me to learn about some of the customs, traditions and to even see artifacts at the site.

IMMACULATE HEART Kellyn Lanza 12th Grade

Happy Summer Break from Immaculate Heart! After a month filled with sports playoffs, art shows, testing and more, Immaculate Heart High School concluded the 2022-23 school year on May 26 with Class Day. After four days of our Cumulative Assessment Period, we gathered in the auditorium to commemorate the year and say our goodbyes to the seniors and many beloved teachers.

In the evening on Class Day, the Class of 2023 gathered together for the Baccalaureate Mass, a final event on the Immaculate Heart campus. On May 30, I was among the 115 seniors who received diplomas on the Hollywood Bowl stage before friends and family. It was an unforgettable evening.

While I will be moving on to the next chapter of my life at Northeastern University, I am grateful to have been the voice of my school for the Larchmont community these past two years.

I will always miss Immaculate Heart, but I am eager to see what the future holds.

LARCHMONT CHARTER Yena Rhee and Alastair Ayandele 4th Grade

will be a fun and full month! Have a nice summer, and we look forward to reading reports from next year’s student reporters!

NEW COVENANT ACADEMY Sue Jung Park 10th Grade

THE OAKS Amelia Goldberg 6th Grade

With summer near, this article will be our last! We’re about to become 5th graders, and we’ll tell you about the traditions taking place this month.

First, 4th graders will vote on songs to perform during Morning Sing. June 9 we will have a special sashing ceremony. Third graders present each 4th grader with a personalized sash. A special fabric mural, created by the 4th graders, along with our garden and art teachers, will be displayed at the ceremony and later, at the new school site on Wilshire.

Later this same day is the Step Up Ceremony. Each class sings a song and each teacher gives a speech. Then we celebrate together by eating popsicles and playing on the Hollygrove field one last time during a family picnic.

Another highly anticipated event is field day on June 12. Students get to compete in athletic contests for prizes.

With all that’s happening, June

As the season of summer is rolling around, it’s time to put on sunscreen and have fun under the sun! To kick off summer, the eight-week summer enrichment program was offered to all students at New Covenant Academy.

Kinder through 7th graders were able to review what they have learned the last year and get a preview of what to expect for their upcoming school year. In addition, various electives were provided so they could learn more about their interests.

Students in 8th through 12th grades were offered UC Scout Courses to take over the summer! UC Scout Courses are online UC-approved courses that allow students to earn college credit and a boost in their GPA. More summer fun awaits we huskies, and I hope you are excited to see what NCA’s next chapter holds as much as I am!

This time of year, as we near the start of the summer season, at The Oaks it is always buzzing.

When we recently returned from our allschool campout, students started practicing for the circus, another enormous Oaks tradition. With the 1st and 2nd graders using pogo sticks, 3rd to 6th graders are performing on unicycles and even a diablo (a juggling or circus prop with circling discs and balanced on sticks).

The circus has many acts.

This year, I am doing one of the most terrifying acts, the fivefoot unicycle.

To do the five-footers, you have to first ride forwards across the gym and then backwards. A 5-foot unicycle is obviously five feet tall. But, in reality, our feet are only three feet above the ground and our heads are about eight feet above the ground. At the circus, every student has an opportunity to display the skills they’ve been learning for two months.

This is my last year and everyone in my class is determined to do their best.

THE GRADUATES OF 2023

OAKWOOD Scarlett Saldaña 12th Grade

With three minutes left on the clock until 3:30 p.m., seniors slowly started trickling into the center of campus, the Old Senior Lot. We rushed to form a circle. As the circle connected, I started to tear up even more.

Since the start of my academic career, I’ve built long-lasting bonds with my classmates, and having continued to do this through high school has made it even harder to leave. Even though we’d see each other the next day at prom, it still felt bittersweet knowing we wouldn’t be in the same classes again.

“Three… two… one!” Seniors bolted toward the center of the circle, initiating a tight hug for the Class of 2023. As I embraced my classmates, I couldn’t help but think about how much we’ve all changed. From rambunctious kids to teenagers preparing for their next step in life, Oakwood has been supportive through our journey. Without my academic opportunities, I would not be the person I am today, and I have St. Brendan and Oakwood to thank for my growth into a more confident, mature person.

PAGE ACADEMY Isabella Argiropoulos 7th Grade

May went by pretty quickly!

We started off the month with Teacher Appreciation Week during which we celebrated our amazing teachers and all that they do for us.

On May 12, we had our amazing Spring Show, called “Dancing Through the Decades.” Our students gave spectacular musical dance performances in front of a huge crowd of family, friends and faculty! The show was followed by a special Mother’s Day barbeque.

The week of May 15 was Page Spirit Week. Students dressed up for the themed days.

The last day of our school year is June 9 with the junior kindergarten and kindergarten graduation ceremony on June 13, and the remaining grades graduation ceremony on June 14. Page Summer Camp will start on June 19.

I want to thank all of you for reading my column this year. I have enjoyed sharing the events of the Page Academy school year with you! Happy early Father’s Day and I hope you all have a fantastic summer!

PILGRIM SCHOOL Allison Pak 9th Grade

The last months of school are the busiest and richest months at Pilgrim. We had the school musical, “Matilda,” the dance show, the sports banquet and Arts Fest (our film, visual arts and performing arts festival).

The boys’ varsity volleyball team won the Omega League Championship and made it to the California Interscholastic Federation semi-quarter finals. Way to go Panthers! It’s been a great sports season at Pilgrim.

Pilgrim School celebrated Asian Heritage Month on May 12, with an event on Festival Plaza. People set up food with tasting stands of ramen and fried rice. We had dragons and martial arts at the beginning of the month, too! Pilgrim School has been invited to the Consulate of China to celebrate Asian Heritage Month and we are honored and excited.

Seniors and juniors also had their Prom. It was held in downtown Los Angeles and was a blast! The seniors are graduating on June 5 and we can’t wait to celebrate them!

ST. BRENDAN Jack Byrne 8th Grade

St. Brendan had a great month with lots of events. On May 17, we celebrated Nick’s Favorite Lunch.

Continuing the spirit of giving back that former SBS student Nick Fagnano exemplified, students paid a small fee to eat a delicious lunch made by Jay Fagnano, Nick’s father.

The money raised was donated to the Thrive in Joy Nick Fagnano Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to encouraging young people to discover their character strengths and the joy of service.

The next event at St. Brendan is the Mini Carnival. At the Mini Carnival, 8th graders host games for the whole school. It’s so fun!

The 8th grade will finish the year with the Baccalaureate Mass. Graduates will be blessed, and afterwards we will enjoy a luncheon. St. Brendan will hold the 8th grade graduation on June 2.

We will prepare to leave St. Brendan School and take everything we have learned with us to high school.

ST. JAMES’ Evan Listi 6th Grade

One of June’s most exciting events is the 6th Grade Commencement Ceremony. This year it will take place on June 13 in the beautiful St. James’ Church, with a graduation dinner to follow at the Wilshire Country Club.

There are many meaningful events leading up to graduation. One of my absolute favorite traditions is the Letter Ceremony. Teachers selected by students for their positive impact present their personalized letters to 6th graders.

Another event is the Graduation Parade. I am looking forward to this, as I remember being younger and watching the 6th graders wave goodbye. Other events include: the Candlelight Chapel, Huzzah, at the Head of School’s house, and the Gratitude Breakfast. They are all so special.

Though this is a bittersweet time for 6th graders, we are all looking forward to our middle school adventures. Thank you so much for reading my articles this year.  I hope you all have a great summer!

Aadyn Chan-Lopez

Kaden Choi

William Choi

Nikcolas Delos Reyes

Pablo Espinoza

Mark Francis

Roberto Gonzales

Alexa Hernandez

Keisha Hicban

Ashley In Rhian Kim

William Kim

Chloe Lee

Samantha Lira

Joshua Lo

Dimitri Paredes

Adrian Peraza

Isabelle Rosales

Uriel Tellez

Jacob Uy

Matthew Valencia

Ryder Williams

Max Yaghoubian

WE SALUTE THE GRADUATES OF 2023

THIRD STREET Nikka Gueler 5th Grade

May was a busy month at Third Street. We had lots of preparations for graduation, which takes place on June 9, and also for Third Street’s Got Talent, on June 2, which shows off our students’ many skills. I will be doing a ventriloquism skit with my puppet Gertrude. Fifth-grade students also had a special dance party at the beautiful Carondelet House, close to downtown Los Angeles.

Our school’s garden received a generous $5,000 donation from Mrs. Meyer’s cleaning products as part of its “Lots of Compassion” initiative, calling on people to use the power of the garden to inspire change.

I’m sad to say this is my last writing assignment for Third Street Elementary. Writing for The Larchmont Chronicle has been a great experience, and I would like to thank everyone who helped me along the way, with a special thanks to Laurie Brown (Ren’s grandmother who volunteered her time,) and Principal Helen Lee. On behalf of my co-reporter Ren Stoppani Brown and myself, best wishes to everyone.

THE WILLOWS Simone Meltzer 8th Grade

The annual Willows “Party on The Pier,” which is one of the most anticipated nights of the school year, took place recently. Our school took over the Santa Monica Pier, and it was packed with staff, students and other members of The Willows community.

Our incredible DJ Lumpee Li, who is a member of the Willows tech support team, provided the music for the night. We all got to enjoy a popular ride dubbed “the dragon ride,” which had recently been taken out, repaired and replaced.

Willows kids are sure to treasure the memories of nights spent running around with friends, going on rides and eating junk food. Even though we 8th graders will be graduating this year, most likely this will not be our last Pier Party, as many of us plan to return as alumni.

In addition to teachers, staff, and kids, Willows alumni and former students are also invited. It’s always a great way to reconnect with old friends. The Pier Party never disappoints.

Japan trip

(Continued from page 12) my experience growing up in Los Angeles, most people do not feel comfortable walking alone until high school or later.

Every town also had hundreds of vending machines and shops with special treats like matcha floats, glazed strawberries, frozen grapes and candies. For our meals, we enjoyed sushi, ramen, hot pot and more!

Coming from the car-oriented city of Los Angeles, it was interesting to witness

GALA

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school team while 11th grader, Raquel Luna, coached the middle school girls.

“Raquel has been an amazing mentor to them. She helped coach them through the whole process and made them feel so safe,” Knopfler said.

The teacher told us that, when the slam poetry comopetition was over, the girls were feeling ecstatic and proud of their performance.

“They really came together and it was beautiful to see,” Knopfler added.

Cathedral Chapel School

2023 AJHD 1st Place L.A. Archdiocese & 3rd Place NCEA National Champions

hundreds of people taking the subway, biking and walking. In a way, these modes of transportation highlighted the community of Japan because people were constantly together, even when traveling.

Japan is also home to innovative technologies including trains that go 200 miles per hour and vending machines with actual meals. Accompanying my tour group was our friendly and informative tour director, Tomo-san, who was also joined by three other local daily guides, each of whom spent a day showing us

Nurses

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Arts in Beverly Hills, the program aims to add two more hospitals to the program for a total of five, granting $10,000 to 10 nurses at each site in each of the next two years.

The underlying hope is that other foundations, philanthropists and individuals will step up and work on similar nurse recognition programs with their own hospitals and organizations.

“We think everybody can do their part. We’re trying to raise awareness,” Mann Simms continued. “We’re

their favorite sites and telling us about Japan’s history. Everyone we met was passionate about the country and excited to share its beauty and culture with us.

While I have enjoyed my experience growing up in Los Angeles, visiting Japan showed me how much peace, cleanliness, safety and community my city lacks. I hope that one day Los Angeles, and the rest of the U.S., will have a peaceful, clean and safe environment that heightens our own sense of community.

Senior Kellyn Lanza graduated May 30.

trying to broaden the understanding.”

She hopes the protocols and guidelines developed this past year can help others get started on their own paths.

The foundation, founded in 1984, has also developed the Simms Mann — UCLA Center for Integrated Oncology and other programs.

This most recent project has been uplifting, especially coming out of a pandemic. “It has been such a joyful experince for all of us,” Mann Simms said.

To learn more, visit offthechart.simmsmannfoundation.org.

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