The new Tu Madre location at Melrose and Larchmont is open for business, and the high-end jewelry and Rolex retailer at 119 N. Larchmont Blvd. is nearing completion.
Larchmont Jewelers told us that an official opening day is not yet set, but the store will begin doing business Aug. 1. Apparently, completion of installation of the building’s new elevator will be the final step leading to a grand opening.
Client services manager Eva Tong said special events marking the long-awaited opening will be held, but plans were still being made as of the Larchmont Chronicle’s press deadline. In the meantime, passersby can peek in to see the swanky hanging lights and get a sense of the store’s elevated style.
Update: Larchmont Central Park(let) — the discussion continues...
By John Welborne and Dinah Yorkin
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AWARDED Down Under. 2-13 BLOCK PARTY lights up Lillian Way. 2-4
O’Malley to be Dodgers’ 15th Ring of Honor
n Ceremony is Alumni Weekend, Aug. 9-11
By Suzan Filipek
The late Walter F. O’Malley (1903-1979), who was a longtime resident of Hancock Park and who brought major league baseball to the West Coast, will become the 15th person recognized on the Ring of Honor at Dodger Stadium.
The recognition ceremony will take place on Sat., Aug. 10, before the Dodgers’ 6:10 p.m. game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Peter O’Malley, Dodgers president from 1970 to 1998, will accept the honor on his father’s behalf.
The elder O’Malley created a new home for baseball, Dodger Stadium, after bringing the
Back to School
Our annual Back to School section in September will highlight students, faculties and schools! Advertising deadline is Mon., Aug. 12. For more information, contact Pam Rudy, 323462-2241, ext. 11.
So what is happening with the concept being discussed by the Larchmont Boulevard Association (LBA) for improving the Boulevard with some permanent, generally available outdoor meeting and dining space — a Larchmont Central Park(let)?
The concept has been under discussion since the beginning of the year. It initially was detailed publicly in March in the Larchmont Buzz and in a Larchmont Chronicle story available at tinyurl.com/
This idea — if it has community interest and support — is a multi-year undertaking, for sure. Discussion continues. LBA board members spoke about the matter again at their meeting in early July. The LBA seeks to stimulate public discussion of both the parklet idea and the conceptual preliminary design approaches that might be used. Accompanying this brief update are some of the images that have been circulated in the past. Readers are encouraged to share their
thoughts with the LBA, care of its Beautification Committee chair, Romi Cortier, at romicortier@me.com.
Comments pro
As has been reported previously, there have been enthusiastic comments expressing support, often with helpful caveats, such as when Nora Houndalas, Windsor Square resident and former Boulevard proprietor of Le Petit Greek for decades (and now running Greek Eats LA on Third Street), wrote: “I’ve always thought it
Olympics come to ‘Taste’ 2024
By Suzan Filipek
This year’s Taste of Larchmont will have an Olympics theme when it takes place on Mon., Sept. 16, from 6 to 9 p.m. on Larchmont Boulevard.
The 2024 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony takes place Fri., July 26, in Paris. With television coverage on NBC, the games will continue through Sun., Aug. 11.
On Larchmont, at the Sept. 16 HopeNet event, walkers will dine al fresco and meet old friends and neighbors and new ones at the annual benefit that helps fund 12 nearby food pantries.
Several local eateries will open their doors, and a live raffle will be featured at the 32nd annual event.
Participants check in at the
city surface parking lot near the Rotary clock at 209 N. Larchmont Blvd. to pick up or buy tickets and receive a “passport” to participating eateries.
The printed passport will be your ticket to sample food from restaurants and sidewalk booths and to enjoy desserts and coffee offered under canopies at the parking lot.
HopeNet provides free, accessible and healthy food to anyone who wants or needs it, HopeNet Executive Director, and local resident, Roya Milder told us.
“We have not received any federal funding this year and are looking for additional sponsors to help support the
A BALLOON ARCH entryway greets patrons to the pavilions at last year’s Taste
By John Welborne
Summer reading Editorial
For some, the summer of 2024 is about conventions: the one just past for the Republican Party in Milwaukee; the one coming up for the Democratic Party in Chicago.
But there is another convention of summertime: Reading a book!
Whether it’s a waterside vacation read, or just the continuation of a voracious reading habit, the hot days of August are a great time to curl up in the shade with a good book.
Here are several I recommend. Except for the Goodwin book, they were random picks that I read last month, but I soon realized that they have a connected theme relating to activity in this country and elsewhere in the world before and after the 1700s.
John Grisham has released the third book in his Camino Island series, and it is particularly attractive to readers who love bookstores, writers and publishing. But this enjoyable piece of fiction also has an aura of mystery, hence, the title Camino Ghosts. Highly recommended.
Not fiction, but a very personal account of the tumultuous politics and evolution of this nation in the 1960s, is the latest book by Doris Kearns Goodwin — An Unfinished Love Story
DEDICATED TO THE PRESERVATION OF HANCOCK PARK
• Homeowners •
ASSOC I ATION
HANCOCK PARK HOME OWNERS ASSOCIATION
Est. 1948
137 N. LARCHMONT BLVD. LOS ANGELES 90004 www.HancockPark.org
Enforcing Our HPOZ
Our HPOZ is defined by law, and the rules can be found in the Hancock Park HPOZ Preservation Plan — online at tinyurl.com/2d34yr4n. Anyone planning changes to the visible façade of their property should consult City Planning to determine if the work needs HPOZ review. If property owners change their property without review when review is required, they can be cited, and a STOP WORK ORDER can be issued until the problem is resolved.
There have been an increasing number of homeowners who either don’t know the rules or don’t care, and the number of violations reported has been increasing. The Association is now working with the Council Office to make sure violations are not only reported but are resolved.
Because enforcement has been lagging, and unpermitted construction has increased, the Association will request that the Council Office have a STOP WORK ORDER issued when unpermitted construction is suspected.
The steps leading to issuance of a citation and order to stop work are:
1. Unpermitted construction in an HPOZ is suspected.
2. Work underway is reported to the LA City Building and Safety Department ( ladbs.org/reportviolations ). A report can be made by a city employee or by a private citizen.
3. Building and Safety inspector is dispatched and, if the building is in violation, a citation is issued.
4. The homeowners then work with the City’s Office of Historic Resources, and the homeowners may have to appear before the HPOZ Board to obtain permission for the changes. If the changes are not allowed, the work completed must be taken out.
Construction is expensive and time-consuming, and nobody wants to be issued a citation, have to pay a fine, and then take out the new construction. Before you plan construction, contact our City Planner, Suki Gershenhorn — suki.gershenhorn@lacity.org. Follow the legal process, and save yourself a lot of money and grief.
ADUs: Many realtors will tell homeowners they can build an ADU by converting their garage and that they don’t need HPOZ review. While ADUs are allowed in Hancock Park, they still must be approved by the City, and any changes to a garage must be reviewed by the HPOZ Board.
Our HPOZ protects the beauty and quality of our neighborhood, making Hancock Park one of the most desirable areas to live in Los Angeles. Help us keep it that way.
Volunteers: We welcome volunteers! We’re also asking every homeowner to become a dues-paying member. See our website for more specific information about how you can participate: hancockparkhomeownersassociation.org.
Calendar
Wed., Aug 10 — Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council board meeting, 6:30 p.m. at the Ebell of Los Angeles, 743 S. Lucerne Blvd., greaterwilshire.org.
Tues., Aug. 13 — Mid City West Neighborhood Council board meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Pan Pacific Park Senior Center, 141 S. Gardner St., midcitywest.org.
Thurs., Aug. 29 — Delivery of the September issue of the Larchmont Chronicle
She and her husband, Dick Goodwin, were front-row (actually, on the stage) observers of the campaigns and administrations and advocacy of JFK, Martin Luther King, RFK, Lyndon Johnson, and more. Highly recommended as well.
Also dealing with politics and U.S. history is The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson. The portion of our history in question involves the divisive debate between North and South, before and during the United States Civil War.
All three books touch on the tumult surrounding this nation’s original sin of slavery. They also offer worthwhile ways to spend your days in August 2024.
Letters to the Editor
Missing SLO Pelayo
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your beautiful tribute to my friend, Senior Lead Officer Joseph Pelayo. Your words mean more than I can say during this incredibly difficult time. Joseph was not just our SLO, but a cherished friend. We will miss him beyond measure.
Thank you for honoring his memory in such a heartfelt way. Your kindness and support are deeply appreciated as we navigate this loss.
Joseph, please take care of yourself and cherish every moment with your loved ones. You will always hold a
Larchmont
special place in our hearts. Michael Soriano Larchmont Village
Hops in Hancock Park
I am mad that you put no bunnies in the pets article [“Pets of Larchmont,” July 2024]. Because there are bunny pets on Larchmont and they are cute. My bunny is Domino the bunny, he lives in Hancock Park.
Zelda Kim Varet, 7 years old, Hancock Park
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.
CORRECTION
In July’s At the Movies column, an error in our proofreading of the columnist’s review of “The Nature of Love” was found after publication. The initial sentence of the review should have read as written by the columnist: “This is apparently intended to be a rom-com, but director / scriptwriter Monia Chokri has a much different definition of both comedy and romance than I.”
‘What are your summer travel plans?’
That’s the question inquiring photographer Casey Russell asked locals.
“We went to Carmel and played at Pebble Beach. Then we did Disneyland! We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel.”
Winnie, Daniella, Claire, Mia and Matt Berkowitz Larchmont Village
“We are going to Tokyo, Japan, to visit grandpa and some friends. We’ll be going to Tokyo Disney Resort while we are there, too!”
Constance Pruitt, John Pruitt, Kaia and Erina Sako Melrose Neighborhood
“We are going to Hawaii! It will be the kids’ first time there. But, we just went to Boston for a week to visit friends.”
Louis, Josh and Ellory S. Hancock Park
“We are travelling to Minnesota and are going to a music festival where Alanis Morissette, The Black Crowes and Gwen Stefani are headlining. We are going to see friends and family, and will pretty much play on the lake the whole time.”
Stella and Charlie Schneiderman Windsor Village
FORGOTTEN PET of Hancock Park: Domino.
Summer Bowl series is stunning; JLLA celebrates Centennial
The annual opening night for the Hollywood Bowl’s Tuesday and Thursday classical music series is another mark of the return of summer. Alfresco dining and visiting with friends before the concert and at intermission are traditions for longtime box holders and newcomers alike. This year, the thousands of attendees on July 9 enjoyed a stunning performance by violinist Augustin Hadelich of Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2. The classical musician returned to the stage to perform a resounding encore, where he turned his instrument into an extraordinary fiddle for a foot-stomping piece that was greeted with cheers and a standing ovation from the audience, plus huge applause from the members of the orchestra.
The main event of the evening was Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade,” adeptly conducted by Elim Chan. She
Around the Town with Sondi Toll Sepenuk
is a sought-after conductor around the world and also participated in the Philharmonic’s Dudamel Fellowship program when she was younger. Just a few of those from the neighborhood who were spotted in and around the garden boxes at opening night were Daryl and Jim Twerdahl, Nina Gregory and Kemper Bates, Patti Carroll and her husband, Mark, Martha and John Welborne, Marilyn Wells, Allison Schallert, Brian Brady and many more. The Bowl is “just up the road” (Highland Avenue), after all!
(Please turn to Page 4)
VIOLIN SOLOIST Augustin Hadelich kicked off the Hollywood Bowl’s 2024 summer season with a superb rendition of Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2, followed by a rousing fiddle music encore.
Around the Town
(Continued from Page 3)
The Original Farmers Market — longtime former home of the Junior League of Los Angeles (JLLA), prior to the League’s occupying its own home, Rainey House — almost next door to the Larchmont Chronicle on the Boulevard — was the setting on June 30 for the public kick-off of the JLLA’s “Centennial: Legacy of Impact” fundraising campaign.
Among the beneficiaries of the sums being raised by the campaign is a series of marquee training events and Community Improvement
Projects (CIP) presented through the League’s partnership with the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.
At the June 30 event, League leaders made the happy announcement that the campaign goal is $2 million … and that $1,040,653 of that already had been secured.
A number of JLLA leaders spoke at the event, including current 2024-25 president Cristina Rivard and 2025-26 president-elect Dawn Eash.
The speakers explained that the local Junior League members also see this 100-year Los Angeles historic milestone as an opportunity to celebrate
the generations of women leaders who were League members before them and who helped pave the way for local communities to thrive.
A lot more information about the plans for the celebration, to be focused between June 2025 and the spring of 2026, will be shared soon. The Chronicle plans to be among the first to report on our nextdoor Larchmont neighbor’s exciting plans!
Local Jack Lancaster is playing Orlando in “As You Like It” in Shakespeare in the Park. Shakespeare in the Park is one of Los Angeles’ best kept secrets. Although, happily, it’s actually not all that secret!
Every summer, nearly 40,000 Angelenos trek to Griffith Park, near the Old Zoo, to witness some of the best live theater the city has to offer, put on by the Independent
Shakespeare Company, and it’s absolutely, beautifully free. This year’s offering, which is presented in the round, is the comedy “As You Like It,” which I attended on a warm summer’s night on Sat., July 20, with nearly 1,000 other Angelenos and Larchmont locals in attendance.
Larchmont’s own Jack Lancaster plays one of the play’s title roles, Orlando, while another Larchmont local, Ethan Remez-Cott, serves mightily as a musician, lord and courtier. Locals in the audience included Elizabeth Dennehy (an Independent Shakespeare Co. board member), Chris Calcote and Edward Blum. Performances, which run from July 10 to September 1, take place Wednesday through Sunday at 7 p.m., with an immersive prologue beginning
Taste
(Continued from Page 1) event and HopeNet’s Food Pantry Program,” Milder said. “Also, we are looking to add to the HopeNet Board so that we may continue our mission for many more years to come.”
Passports for the Taste of Larchmont are $50 each. Raffle tickets are $20 for five and $5 for one ticket. Passports usually sell out before the event. Get yours at hope-net.org.
at 6 p.m. Learn details at iscla. org/plan-your-visit-2024 And now you’re in the Larchmont know!
YMCA hosts a Summer Soiree on August 23
Support your community by going to the Anderson Munger Family YMCA’s Summer Soiree on Fri., Aug. 23 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the “Y” at 4301 W. Third St.
The Anderson Munger Family YMCA will be celebrating its 10 years of service since opening the new facility’s doors in 2014. The evening will include awards and recognitions, silent auctions, food and fun, said Rae Jin, executive director of the Anderson Munger Family YMCA. Funds raised will support the Y’s numerous programs, such as summer camp, swimming and youth sports.
The Y continues to play an integral part in providing parents child care, young adults job training, seniors a way to connect and children a safe place to grow.
Individual tickets for the Aug. 23 event are $125, and sponsorships are still available. Visit ymcala.org/ summersoiree.
Sponsored by
SHAKESPEARE in the Park featured Jack Lancaster as Orlando.
JUNIOR LEAGUE of Los Angeles 2024-25 President Cristina Rivard describes Centennial celebration plans.
PRESIDENT-ELECT Dawn Eash will preside during the JLLA Centennial events. To her right is Sarah Christian, Centennial co-chair and past president.
O’Malley
(Continued from Page 1) team from Brooklyn to Los Angeles.
He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008, after his death.
O’Malley will be the team’s 15th member to join its Ring of Honor. The Ring of Honor can be seen down the left-field line at Chavez Ravine and includes all retired player numbers in Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers franchise history, as well as managers Walter Alston and Tommy Lasorda and legendary broadcasters Vin Scully and Jaime Jarrín.
O’Malley became a part-owner of the Dodgers in 1947, and his family owned the team until 1998.
When he died, O’Malley was survived by his son, Peter, a daughter, Terry Seidler, and 12 grandchildren. His wife, Kay, had predeceased Walter in July of 1979.
The elder O’Malley joined the Dodgers in 1943 as vice president and legal counsel before becoming a co-owner the following year and majority owner in 1950, according to the official Walter O’Malley website, walteromalley.com.
The Dodgers would go on to win four National League pennants the next six seasons and, in 1955, their first World Series. They would go on to win three more World Series
WALTER O’MALLEY seated in his office on the Club Level at Dodger Stadium, which he designed, privately financed and built. During his presidency, the Dodgers won four World Championships. O’Malley will become the 15th person on the Dodgers’ Ring of Honor on Aug. 10.
within their first eight years in Los Angeles.
O’Malley directed the building of Dodger Stadium after the Dodgers made their legendary and controversial move to the West Coast from Brooklyn.
“Designing, financing and building a stadium for the Dodgers was my dad’s goal for many years,” said Peter O’Malley on the walteromalley.com website. “After 62 seasons, he would be very happy with how Dodger Stadium accommodates millions of fans today
Photo courtesy walteromalley.com
thanks to the enhancements by current ownership.”
Dodgers Alumni Weekend will take place Fri., Aug. 9, through Sun., Aug 11, at Dodger Stadium. Visit dodgers.com.
By Dinah Yorkin
Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi will speak about her new book on Thurs., Aug. 15, at 7:30 p.m. at the Ebell Theatre at 4401 W. Eighth St.
The 352-page book, “The Art of Power: My Story as America’s First Woman Speaker of the House,” will be published on Tues., Aug 6, by Simon & Schuster. A moderator has yet to be named for the conversation
As the longest-serving member of California’s Congressional delegation and the first woman to reach the powerful legislative position,
Shop, run, walk in Miracle Mile this summer
Back by popular demand, the Miracle Mile Wednesday Walks connects the Miracle Mile Run Club and the Wilshire Courtyard Farmers Market for a fun set of community-centric summer activities.
Wednesday Walks, an easy 45-minute stroll around the neighborhood, are Wednesdays until Sept. 4. Leashed dogs are welcome. The Miracle Mile Run Club meets every Tuesday. Both excursions start at 6:30 p.m. at the Wilshire Green, also known as Turtle Park, at 802 S. Sierra Bonita Ave. Grocers set up stalls at the Farmers Market on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Wilshire Courtyard. Pupusas to a gluten-free and dairy-free bakery, plus fruits and vegetables, are among offerings. Visit miraclemilela.com.
By Casey Russell
Fairfax High School continues to celebrate its centennial with events in August and September. An all-alumni picnic dubbed “A Family Affair” will take place in Cheviot Hills / Rancho Park on Sat., Aug. 17.
During the Centennial Weekend, which kicks off Fri., Sept. 6, the 24-acre campus at the corner of Fairfax and Melrose avenues will be teeming with activities and nostalgia. Guided tours of today’s school grounds will take place on Friday afternoon and an alumni flag football game will precede the current team’s football game against Los Angeles High School. During halftime, alumni athletes, cheerleaders, mascots and others will be honored. Fireworks and an alumni dance will bring the evening’s festivities to an end.
Class reunions and alumni basketball games will take place during the day on Sat., Sept 7. Attendees can take advantage
the memoir follows Pelosi’s journey from housewife to volunteer for the Democratic Party, all the way to Congress.
The event is organized by the Ebell of Los Angeles and Writers Bloc. Tickets are ei-
of a photo booth for memories of the weekend and enjoy food from local restaurants, carnival games and children’s craft activities provided by Craft Contemporary museum.
An exhibit highlighting 100 years of Fairfax High School, and “The Yearbook Project,” a video documentary made for the centennial, will be viewable in the school’s rotunda.
An Alumni Hall of Fame Brunch featuring an induction ceremony will conclude the weekend’s events on Sun., Sept. 8.
For more information, visit fairfaxhigh100.org or email fhsaa.1924@gmail.com.
main/nancy-pelosi/.
SPEAKER EMERITA Nancy Pelosi. Photo by Jackson Boaz
Blvd.
(Continued from Page 1)
Longtime Boulevard children’s store Flicka celebrates its 32nd anniversary this year. The boutique, located at 204 N. Larchmont Blvd., is a local favorite for birthday gifts, clothes and toys and offers a fun place to browse amidst the more sugary options lining the Boulevard.
Tu Madre has opened its newest location for taco dining at the corner of Melrose Avenue and Larchmont Boulevard. Patrons of the eatery’s earlier small window takeout location will be pleased to know the tacos are back and that the new, larger upper Larchmont location features indoor and outdoor dining. The decor is colorful and inviting and features
325 N. Larchmont Boulevard, #158 Los Angeles, California 90004 windsorsquare.org
157 N. Larchmont Boulevard
August is the slow, gentle month that stretches out the longest across the span of the year, It yawns and lingers on with the light of its palms. Victoria Erikson
Windsor Square is now well into the “dog days of summer” with humid mornings and hot afternoons, summer holidays and backyard BBQs! Here’s what’s happening in the neighborhood!
o o o
Windsor Square’s New Senior Lead Officer: Officer Joe Pelayo, the lead officer for Windsor Square at LAPD Olympic Division retired in June 30. The Windsor Square Association offers a warm welcome to his successor, Senior Lead Officer Daniel Chavez!
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Oppose AB 2580. The WSA has written an official letter to state lawmakers in opposition to Assembly Bill 2580, which seeks to treat HPOZs and other historic districts as hinderances to development in future Housing Elements.
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Streetlight Outages: The WSA is investigating ways to ensure the city takes action with regard to the ongoing streetlight outages in our community. One issue compounding this is the theft of copper wiring, which is a citywide problem that authorities have yet to get a grip on.
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Historic Properties Honored: The Windsor Square Hancock Park Historical Society is honoring two historic properties in Windsor Square with its Landmark Award at the group’s Annual Meeting and BBQ on Saturday, August 3. Awards go to 119 North Larchmont Boulevard, the future home of Larchmont Jewelers, and 553 South Windsor Boulevard, the home of Brad and Roger Perry and family.
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WE NEED BLOCK CAPTAINS! Be the leader of your block and the point person for all that’s going on in the neighborhood. The WSA has numerous block captain positions open. This is a great opportunity to engage with neighbors and community leaders. Contact blockcaptains@ windsorsquare.org.
The Windsor Square Association, an all-volunteer group of residents from 1100 households between Beverly and Wilshire and Van Ness and Arden, works to preserve and enhance our beautiful neighborhood. Join with us! Drop us a line at 325 N. Larchmont Blvd., #158, Los Angeles, CA 90004, or visit our website at windsorsquare.org.
a sleek indoor bar and cute blue-and-white patio chairs. Stop by for a classic margarita, tacos with exciting twists and burritos and bowls that include many plant-based options.
Village Pizzeria at 131 N. Larchmont Blvd., which was sold by local Steve Cohen in July 2022, is for sale again. BizBuySell.com recently listed the pizzeria, which has been a staple on the Boulevard for the past 28 years. The Chronicle has reported on the ongoing dispute between founder Cohen and the restaurant’s current owners regarding memorabilia collected by Cohen. When we inquired as to the reason for the sale listing, co-owner Amy Saxon declined to answer.
‘Really Big Shoe’ comedy benefit is Aug. 24
Help the Assistance League of Los Angeles (ALLA) provide thousands of new shoes for children going back to school at “The Really Big Shoe.” The event takes place on Sat., Aug. 24, beginning at 7 p.m.
A silent auction and cocktail hour start the evening at The Preserve LA, 1370 N. St. Andrews Pl.
Laughter is on the menu across the street, when the comedy show begins at 8:30 p.m. at the Assistance League Theatre, 1367 N. St. Andrews Pl.
ALLA’s Anne Banning Auxiliary and Nine O’Clock Players are benefactors of the Operation School Bell pro-
ALLA opens doors to welcome new CEO August 2
The Assistance League of Los Angeles (ALLA) is having an open house to welcome and meet its incoming CEO, Greg Kovacs. He brings more than 15 years of executive nonprofit experience to the position. The event takes place Fri., Aug. 2, from noon to 4 p.m. at ALLA headquarters, 6640 W. Sunset Blvd.
At the open house, attendees will also have the opportunity to say farewell to the current CEO, Melanie Merians. She has been leading ALLA for almost 10 years.
gram, which plans to provide 10,000 pairs of new shoes to needy Los Angeles children. For tickets, visit reallybigshoe.givesmart.com.
Preserve LA is the former ALLA headquarters. The building was originally designed by famed architect Paul R. Williams, FAIA. The Colonial Revival building was reimagined as a contemporary office campus by the architect firm SelgasCano.
TU MADRE adds color to the Boulevard in new location.
FLICKA celebrates 32 years.
LARCHMONT JEWELERS is nearing its opening day. Above, decor inside the store.
Delores Shine Kerr
Annie O’Rourke
Lois Sprague
Barbara Pflaumer
Women of Larchmont
By John Welborne
We first published the annual Women of Larchmont special section during the third year of the Larchmont Chronicle, the enterprise that Jane Gilman and Dawne Goodwin founded in 1963. On the cover of its first Women of Larchmont section, the paper stated: “This annual section is a tribute to these women, who, through their gifts of time, money, ideas and talent, have enriched our city.” Noble and accurate thoughts then — and now!
So, here we are in 2024, still sharing proudly the stories of amazing local women and what they do for the community. (In our 2020 special section, we sought to list all of the “Women of Larchmont” for the first 55 years. Visit that issue here: tinyurl.com/5nrk7ens.)
Cover photos by Bill Devlin
Growing community everywhere she goes
By Helene Seifer
During the pandemic, neighbors in Larchmont Village planned a local Halloween so families and children could enjoy the holiday safely, complete with one home rigging a shoot that blasted contact-free candy at the trick-or-treaters. In 2023, the Bronson Avenue block party was reinvigorated when COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. It attracted roughly 1,500 people and raised $1,800 for Alexandria House, the transitional home for women and children. The 2024 Block Party in April was even bigger, with an estimated 2,500 attendees, food trucks and more community partners, such as the Rotary Club sponsoring a carnival game and kitten adoptions from Tailwaggers.
More than $5,130 was raised for Alexandria House. Although it took a group of committed neighbors to plan,
the success of those events was due in large part to Annie O’Rourke, a Larchmont Village resident who shouldered the marketing, branding and sponsorships. Through her involvement, O’Rourke sought community and connection in her new home.
O’Rourke is an enthusiastic organizer. As a freelance producer, mainly working in online marketing content for Netflix and major retailers, she understands how to get things done. However, she credits her extended family for learning how to plan events.
Her Irish-born father was the eldest of eight and the only one to emigrate to the U.S., so she didn’t see her 15 Irish cousins that often, but her mother, born to an Irish family in the U.S., was also one of eight children, creating an instant community of aunts, uncles and 18 cousins for O’Rourke and her sister while growing up in New Jersey.
“My organizational ability comes from being with so many cousins and organizing activities,” she explains. “As the oldest girl, everyone looked to me to plan things.”
O’Rourke graduated from Cornell University and moved
first to New York City, then to San Francisco to work in advertising. “I would have bet you a million dollars that I would not have ended up in L.A.,” she states, but in 2011, after three years of long-distance dating, she joined her then boyfriend, now husband, Marcus Taormina, a film visual special effects supervisor.
Los Angeles can be a tough transition, and it wasn’t until the 2019 July 4 weekend, when they bought a house in Larchmont Village, that O’Rourke felt at home.
“We immediately got a flier for a Bronson block party. It was quaint, but lovely,” O’Rourke remembers. Their sons Ronan, 9, and Harvey, 7, enjoyed the music and activities. She made some friends and soon got involved in the life of the neighborhood.
When the coronavirus hit and shut everything down, that’s when O’Rourke and her neighbor Kelly McAdams began planning another way to foster connection during what had become an isolating time, resulting in the 2020, 2021 and 2022 safe Halloween events.
Five years after moving into the Larchmont Village neighborhood, O’Rourke states, “I feel so much more rooted. I love the community, [and] that my kids feel safe.”
Annie O’Rourke is equally involved in her children’s school, Larchmont Charter School - Wilshire, and says, “As a charter school it relies on a lot of parent involvement.” She explains, “I often have flexibility in my work, so I can manage a volunteer sign-up form for our school. I work on tent pole events, campus-specific events and communications. I am head of LOOP [Larchmont Organization Of Parents] at our
campus.”
This year the school moved campuses, from its Hollygrove campus to Wilshire Boulevard, necessitating even more parent involvement. “We built a new library from scratch. This summer we have a big campaign plan for parents to come paint and plant or garden,” O’Rourke states.
(Please turn to Page 16)
skin deep
by Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald
Q: I know sunscreen is the best way to protect my skin from aging. How can I make sure I’m getting the maximum benefits?
A: I can’t tell you how often I hear patients say, ‘I’m never in the sun.’ Even if you don’t lay out by a pool or on the beach, if you live on the planet Earth, especially in the city of Los Angeles, you’re getting sun. I see the effects of underestimated sun accumulation on people’s faces every day.
Here are the most common mistakes people tend to make when it comes to using sunscreen:
#1. Relying on the SPF in your makeup or moisturizer. There often simply is not enough sun protection in these products to do the job. #2. Not applying enough sunscreen. That dollop intended for your face should be at least the size of a quarter.
#3. Habitually skipping certain areas such as your chest, neck - front and sides, your ears, and the backs of your hands.
#4. Forgetting to reapply. This is easy enough to correct - simply smooth on more sunscreen at lunch. But if ruining your makeup is preventing you from reapplying, clear mineral powders with SPF, such as Colorescience Sunforgettable BrushOn Powder Sunscreen, use the portable brush to dust lightweight powder over your skin (makeup and all).
Choose your sunscreen wisely. As a reminder, chemical sunscreens work like a sponge to absorb those rays, while mineral (also called physical) sunscreens use minerals as their active ingredient to provide a physical barrier between you and the sun. We find patients will all skin types, even sensitive, tolerate mineral sunscreen the best. Some of our favorites include: SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion, Skinbetter TONE SMART, Skin Medica Total Defense + Repair, Alastin HydraTint Pro Mineral, Tizo Mineral SPF, and Isdin Eryfotana Actinica.
Either way you go, choose broad spectrum with a high SPF (60 or greater if you plan to be outside). Pssst…from bucket to floppy, a fabulous variety of hat silhouettes are back!
Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald is a Board Certified Dermatologist located in Larchmont Village with a special focus on anti-aging technology. She is a member of the Botox Cosmetic National Education Faculty and is an international Training Physician for Dermik, the makers of the injectable Sculptra. She is also among a select group of physicians chosen to teach proper injection techniques for Radiesse, the volumizing filler, around the world. Dr. Fitzgerald is an assistant clinical professor at UCLA. Visit online at www.RebeccaFitzgeraldMD.com or call (323) 464-8046 to schedule an appointment.
ANNIE O’ROURKE
Barbara Pflaumer brings neighbors together in Windsor Village
By Casey Russell
Barbara
Pflaumer
is the friendly neighbor everyone seems to know. With her ready smile and community-minded spirit, she was destined to become the heart of Windsor Village that she is today. But really, it was her dogs that helped her meet people when she moved to the area 30 years ago.
Her first dog, Kaiser, was a big hunting dog and, right away, he was very popular in the neighborhood. Pflaumer would take him to Harold Henry Park and throw a tennis ball high in the air, and he’d jump and get it. “The kids loved him and would line up to throw the ball. It was really how I got to know people,” she said. After Kaiser’s long, happy life, Murphy, the dog lover’s next dog, kept up the tradition of being a friendly, neighborhood mainstay. “I do love dogs and children,” she said.
Pflaumer never planned to move to the West Coast. She grew up in Philadelphia, as one of four children born to parents who had a great love affair for their entire 40-year marriage. After triple majoring in art history, pre-law and English at New York’s Elmira College and the University of Pennsylvania, she found a job as a municipal bond trader. “I made a lot, but didn’t like it,” she said. Fortunately, six years later, she made a change and was hired to work the Xerox machine at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The go-getter worked her way up to doing directed research and, after three years, was hired to work in the press office, where she stayed for 10 years.
In 1994, Pflaumer was scouted for a job at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). She headed the communications and marketing team for three years before leaving to start a business called Museums Without Walls with a business partner. The two helped small- to medium-sized museums deal with crisis management. Pflaumer returned to LACMA as the vice president of communications and marketing when her business partner moved home to the U.K.
Pflaumer said goodbye to LACMA in 2011. But before retiring, she served for six months as the interim vice president of The Music Center.
Ten years ago, Pflaumer joined the board of the Windsor Village Association. Laughing, she told us that at the first meeting she attended, she went to the bathroom, and when she came back, she learned they had elected her president. “We do it very differently now,” she said of
her informal candidacy. This November will mark a full decade of Pflaumer serving as president of the Windsor Village Association.
When asked how the neighborhood has changed, Pflaumer surprised us. “I think the sense of community has expanded a bit in a good way. People are much more interested in participating
than they used to be,” she said. And the board has made a real effort to be involved with the neighbors. Block parties, potlucks and movies in the park, which are hosted three times a year, have done a lot to foster a sense of community. “It’s been wonderful for people to get together and [to provide opportunities for them to] really get to know each other.”
With Pflaumer at the helm, the board also organizes two park cleanups yearly and an annual gathering in the park to provide residents a chance to meet, hear from and speak with the area’s police captain. City representative Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky came to the most recent gathering in June.
Pflaumer’s major disappointment has been losing the fight against the residential 800 Lorraine project. The concern is that the re-
cently approved seven-story building is not in line with the character of Windsor Village and is not in compliance with its Historic Preservation Overlay Zone.
“I’ve been to three city meetings voicing our concerns. If the building was not so tall and if it included underground parking for its tenants, it would not be an issue,” she said.
Pflaumer is working hard
to help the area she loves retain its neighborhood feel. “It’s such a wonderful community. People love this neighborhood — with good reason,” she said. The crown jewel of Windsor Village, in Pflaumer’s opinion, is Harold Henry Park. She walks there daily, especially because, now that she’s retired, she has lots of “side hustles,” as she calls them.
KRISTIN
MAKI
BARBARA PFLAUMER
(Please turn to Page 16)
The following organizations involve many Larchmont Chronicle neighbors. The organizations run the gamut of interests. Perhaps one will inspire you to become more involved in your community. If your group is not listed or if some information needs to be updated, please write to circulation@ larchmontchronicle.com or call 323-4622241, ext. 13.
Philanthropic
ALEXANDRIA HOUSE
A transitional residence for women and children who are in the process of moving from homelessness to permanent housing. Marissa Espinoza serves as the executive director. Sr. Judy Vaughan as the founding director. Contact: 213-381-2649. Website: alexandriahouse.org.
ANDERSON-MUNGER YMCA
Helping to strengthen the community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Rae Jin is the executive director. Contact: 213-427-9622. Website: ymcala.org/anderson-munger.
ARCS FOUNDATION, INC.
LOS ANGELES FOUNDER CHAPTER
Advances research in America by raising scholar awards for the best undergraduates, graduates, medical students and postdoctoral fellows in the fields of science, math, engineering and medical research. Contact: 310-375-1936 or losangeles@arcsfoundation.org. Website: los-angeles.arcsfoundation.org.
ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF LOS ANGELES
Improves the quality of life of at-risk children and their families. Programs include: accredited preschool, two clothing and school supplies groups for homeless and foster youth, a theater for children and a scholarship for graduating high school seniors who are homeless or in foster care. Sue Thalken is the board president and Melanie Merians is outgoing CEO, Greg Kovacs is incoming CEO. There are more than 500 members. Their auxiliaries include: Anne Banning Auxiliary (Operation School Bell program), Hilltoppers Auxiliary (Foster Children’s Resource Center), Nine O’Clock Players Auxiliary (Theatre for Children Program), Preschool Auxiliary (Preschool Learning Center), Founder Assisteens, College Alumnae Auxiliary, Mannequins Auxiliary - Assistance League of Los Angeles College Scholarship program and League at Large - Family Membership and Young Professionals group. Contact 323-469-1973 or info@assistanceleaguela.org. Website: assistanceleaguela.org.
AVIVA
Provides support and services to at-risk women, children and families through mental health service, interim and supportive housing and foster and adoption programs. Amber Rivas is President / CEO. Contact: 323-876-0550 or info@aviva.org. Website: aviva.org.
BIG SUNDAY
Connects people by providing a huge variety of volunteer opportunities to improve lives and build community. David Levinson is the founder and executive director. Contact: 323-549-9944 or david@bigsunday. org. Website: bigsunday.org.
BLIND CHILDREN’S CENTER
Provides family-centered early intervention and education services for children from birth to kindergarten who are visually impaired. L. Alan Boring is board president and Sarah Orth is CEO. Contact: 323-6642153 or info@blindchildrenscenter.org. Website: blindchildrenscenter.org.
CALIFORNIA WOMEN’S LAW CENTER
Their mission is to create a more just and equitable society by breaking down barriers and advancing the potential of women and
girls through transformative litigation, policy, advocacy and education. Betsy Butler is executive director. Contact: 323-951-1041 or cwlc@cwlc.org. Website: cwlc.org.
CHILDHELP
Addresses the physical, emotional, educational and spiritual needs of abused, neglected and at-risk children, focusing efforts and resources on advocacy, intervention, prevention, treatment and community outreach. Colleen Knerr is the Los Angeles chapter president. Contact: 323-465-4016 or CAChapters@childhelp.org. Website: childhelp.org/chapters.
THE COLLEAGUES
Supports children affected by community and family violence, abuse and other trauma. “Philanthropy through fashion” is their motto and fundraising through The Colleagues Room, a designer resale and vintage clothing store at 3312 Pico Blvd., is open every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and some Tuesdays. Contact: 310-396-7349 or info@thecolleagues.org. Website: thecolleagues.org.
COLLEAGUE HELPERS IN PHILANTHROPIC SERVICE
(CHIPS)
A group of 50 volunteers that provide programming and fundraise to support local charities that help women and children who have been traumatized by violence, abuse and neglect. Contact: thechips1966@ gmail.com. Website: thechips.org.
CUISINE Á ROULETTES for
ST. VINCENT
MEALS
ON WHEELS
Fulfills the mission to fundraise and provide volunteer support for St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, which was founded in 1983. Veronica Dover is the CEO / executive director. Contact: Sonia Sanchez at 213-484-7775 or ssanchez@svmow.org. Website: svmow.org/ get-involved.
DIDI HIRSCH
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Provides mental health, substance abuse and suicide prevention services where stigma or poverty limits access in the Los Angeles and Orange counties area. Will Lippincott and Melissa Rivers are co-chairs of the board, and Lyn Morris is the CEO. Contact: 888-807-7250. Website: didihirsch.org.
EBELL OF LOS ANGELES
A women’s club with philanthropic, cultural and educational programs that support 20 charities that help women and children.
The club, founded in 1894, also grants more than 50 college scholarships each year. It holds lunches with guest speakers, wineand-dine dinners, barbecues, art receptions, dances, holiday events, plays, readings, film screenings, book clubs and craft workshops in a National Register historic Italian Renaissance building. Meredith Deighton is the director of membership and programs. Laurie Schecter is the president. Contact: 323-931-1277. Website: ebellofla.com.
FREEDOMS FOUNDATION AT VALLEY FORGE
Educates students and teachers about the rights and responsibilities of American citizenry. Inspires them to preserve and advance freedoms and love their country. Raises funds to provide scholarships to students and accredited teachers to participate in the Foundation’s educational programs. Trish Bowe is president of the Los Angeles chapter. Contact: 310-968-3163 or trishbowe9@gmail.com. Website: freedomsfoundation.org/chapters.
FRIENDLY HOUSE
The first residential program for women re-
covering from alcohol and drug addiction. Founded in 1951, it continues to provide opportunities for women to recover physically, spiritually and emotionally through love, compassion and support. Morgan Mallory is board president and Christina Simos is executive director. Contact: 213-3899964 or info@friendlyhousela.org. Website: friendlyhousela.org.
FRIENDS OF BANNING MUSEUM
Supports educational and cultural programs and restoration and conservation of Banning Residence Museum. Contact: 310548-7777or info@banningmuseum.org. Website: thebanningmuseum.org.
GOOD SHEPHERD CENTER
Raises funds to help women and children move from homelessness to self-sufficiency. Sr. Maria Jennifer Nguyen is the center director. Contact: 213-318-5779. Website: gschomeless.org.
HOLLYWOOD YMCA
Newly renovated and recently opened. The Y strengthens community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Contact: 323-467-4161. Website: ymcala.org.
HOPENET
Provides direct services to families and individuals in the Metro Los Angeles area to break the cycles of food and housing insecurity. The food pantry program is a network of 12 food pantries that are run in collaboration with interfaith agencies spanning 20 miles and providing free, accessible and healthy food to anyone that needs it. Taste of Larchmont, which occurs in the fall, is one of its fundraisers. Contact: 213389-9949 or rmilder@hopenetla.org. Website: hope-net.org.
JEFFREY FOUNDATION
Provides in-person programs and activities for special needs children, ages 14 to 22 years, and their families. Alyce Morris Winston is the founder and CEO. Contact: 323-965-7536. Website: thejeffreyfoundation.org.
JUNIOR LEAGUE OF LOS ANGELES
An organization of women devoted to developing women’s leadership and promoting volunteerism to improve the community through effective action of trained volunteers. It was founded in 1926. Cristina Rivard is president. Contact: 323-957-4280 or info@jlla.org. Website: jlla.org.
KARSH CENTER at WILSHIRE BOULEVARD TEMPLE
An organization guided by Jewish values that improves the lives of the underserved population by providing critical and accessible social services through direct service or collaboration with other providers. Contact: 213-401-4651 or info@karshcenter. org. Website: karshcenter.org.
LAS FLORISTAS
Helps the special needs of children with exceptional physical or cognitive challenges at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center. Programs include wheelchair sports, scholarships, recreational therapy, adolescent support and pediatric art therapy. They host a spring gala, holiday luncheon and scholarship and awards dinner. Mercedes Noonan is executive director. Contact: 562-298-3508 or mercedes@lasfloristas.org. Website: lasfloristas.org.
LES AMIES
Through fundraising, it supports Children’s Institute, Inc. to transform the lives of children exposed to adversity, trauma, community violence and poverty in Los Angeles. Nancy Derian is the contact person. Website: lesamiesinc.com.
LOS ANGELES MARYVALE GUILD
An organization of women dedicated to raising funds and awareness for Maryvale, Los Angeles’ oldest charity founded in 1856. Maryvale offers wraparound services for unhoused mothers and their young children. Website: lamaryvaleguild.com.
NATIONAL CHARITY LEAGUE
LOS ANGELES CHAPTER
Mother-daughter philanthropy organization that helps provide opportunites to develop this special relationship through social, cultural and philanthropic events. They have their own thrift store, Timeless Treasures Thrift Shop, at 9441 Culver Blvd., Culver City. Contact: membership@nclla. org. Website: nclla.org. Thrift Shop: 310559-8338.
NATIONAL CHARITY LEAGUE CORONET DEBUTANTE BALL BOARD
The Annual Coronet Debutante Ball honors young women involved in the National Charity League as they have dedicated themselves to their community through volunteering. The event supports the philanthropic projects of National Charity League, Los Angeles. Contact: 310-2455545 or juliebarker@att.net. Website: coronetdebutanteball.org.
NATIONAL SOCIETY DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
A nonprofit, non-political volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history and securing America’s future through better education. It was founded in 1890 and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. There is a Los Angeles–Eschscholtzia chapter and a Hollywood chapter. Website: dar.org.
NATIONAL GIVING ALLIANCE HANCOCK PARK
An all-volunteer women’s nonprofit, the Los Angeles chapter was founded in 1895 (as a branch of the Needlework Guild of America) and provides new clothes, linens and personal care items to economically disadvantaged individuals through local charities. They hold a gala fundraiser annually. Website: ngahancockpark.org.
PACIFIC CLINICS
They offer whatever services are needed to help individuals and families bounce back from traumatic experiences. Contact: 877722-2737. Website: pacificclinics.org.
PROJECT ANGEL FOOD
Founded in 1989 by Marianne Williamson and a group of volunteers to provide food to those impacted by serious illness. Project Angel Food serves the critically ill, providing more than 120,000 free meals per month, along with love and support, to men, women and children. Richard Ayoub is the CEO. Contact: 323-845-1800 or info@angelfood. org. Website: angelfood.org.
SISTERS OF SOCIAL SERVICE
Works with people on the margins through direct service and contemporary social action for change. Contact: 818-285-3358. Website: sssla.org.
Civic
FRIENDS OF THE FAIRFAX LIBRARY
Supports the library acquisition fund and various in-branch programs. Book sale every Wednesday from 12 to 4 p.m. Contact: 323-936-6191. Website: lapl.org/branches/ fairfax.
FRIENDS OF THE JOHN C. FREMONT LIBRARY
Fundraises to support the library’s pro-
gramming for the community. Contact: 323-962-3521. Website: lapl.org/branches/ john-c-fremont.
FRIENDS OF THE MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Supports the library through various programs. Book sale is every Tuesday from 12:30 to 5 p.m. and every Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m. Contact: 323-938-2732. Website: lapl.org/branches/memorial.
FRIENDS OF THE WILSHIRE LIBRARY
Supports the library by purchasing supplemental books, equipment and items that assist library staff, enhances community programming and maintains the thriving garden. In addition to fundraising through book and bake sales and donations, they have set up shelves inside the library dedicated to selling used books year-round. Contact: 323-957-4550. Website: lapl.org/ branches/wilshire.
HOLLYWOOD BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WOMEN
Achieves equity for working women in all phases of their lives and promotes personal empowerment and professional development. The organization was founded in 1920. Marjory Hopper is president. Contact 562-699-6288 or mjhop63345@aol.com. Website: bpwcal.org/hollywood-club.
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS of LOS ANGELES
A non-partisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government and increased understanding of major public policy issues. Contact: 213-368-1616 or info@lwvlosangeles. org. Website: my.lwv.org/california/greater-los-angeles.
LOS ANGELES GARDEN CLUB
Increase knowledge and love of gardening, educates and supports philanthropic causes and promotes an understanding of the necessity for civic beautification. Three horticultural scholarships are given to horticulture students at Mt. San Antonio College annually. Contact: info@losangelesgardenclub.org. Website: losangelesgardenclub.org.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS, LOS ANGELES
Helps women business owners grow their business, network and wealth through education, connection and events. Nationally there are over 10 million members. Contact: 213-622-3200. Website: nawbola.org.
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN, LOS ANGELES
Offers an economic safety net for women and their families in Los Angeles. Operates seven thrift stores in Los Angeles and an e-commerce site to raise funds. Offers scholarships, free clothing and rental assistance. Pamela Brown is board president, and Marjorie Gilberg is CEO. Contact 323852-8500. Website: ncjwla.org.
WILSHIRE ROTARY CLUB OF LOS ANGELES
People taking action in our community to help our community. Josh Rudoy is president. Website: wilshirerotary.org.
WINDSOR SQUARE-HANCOCK PARK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Researches and preserves historical information about Windsor Square, Hancock Park and Greater Rancho La Brea. Arranges historical tours, social events and annual Homes / Gardens tour. Richard Battaglia is president. Contact: wshphs@gmail.com. Website: wshphs.com.
WOMEN AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE
Prevents gun violence by educating the public, policymakers and the media about the human, financial and public health consequences and dangers of firearms. Margot Bennett is executive director. Contact: 310-204-2348 or wagv@wagv.org. Website: wagv.org.
WOMEN LAWYERS ASSOCIATION OF LOS ANGELES
Promotes participation in the legal profession of women lawyers and judges from diverse perspectives and racial and ethnic backgrounds, maintains the integrity of the legal system by advocating fairness and equality and improves the status of women by supporting their exercise of equal rights, equal representation and reproductive choice. Jeannine Taylor is president. Contact: 213-892-8982 or info@wlala.org. Website: wlala.org.
Hospital-Medical
WOMEN’S GUILD CEDARS-SINAI
Aids Cedars-Sinai Medical Center primarily through fundraising, support programs, research and education. Contact: 323-9044400 or womensguild@cshs.org. Website: womensguildcs.org.
CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL LOS ANGELES
ASSOCIATES & AFFILIATES
Money is raised by 37 guilds and auxiliaries to fund projects designed to enhance vital services for children and for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Contact: 323-3612367 or associates&affiliates@chla.usc.edu. Website: chla.org.
LAS MADRINAS
Philanthropic organization dedicated to a tradition of supporting pediatric care and research at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles by honoring families who have shown exceptional commitment to the Southern California community. Sheridan Russell Link is president. Contact: correspondingsecretary@lasmadrinas.org. Website: lasmadrinas.org.
LOS ANGELES GENERAL MEDICAL CENTER - CARES AUXILIARY
Supports Los Angeles County+USC by providing financial support and volunteer services to benefit patients by adding comfort to their hospital stay and providing services that help patients access quality health care. Contact: 323-409-6941 or lacusccares@gmail.com. Website: lacusccares.org.
LUMINAIRES, FOUNDER CHAPTER
Supports vision research at Doheny Eye Institute, now affiliated with UCLA’s Stein Eye Institute. Contact: 323-342-7100 or info@ doheny.org. Website: doheny.org.
LUSKIN ORTHOPAEDIC INSTITUTE FOR CHILDREN
Ensures access to pediatric orthopaedic care to children. Contact 213-742-1500 or mperrine@mednet.ucla.edu Website: lunsinoic.org.
SISTERS SERVANTS OF MARY
Fundraises to assist Sisters who are RNs, LVNs and CNAs in carrying out their mission to care for patients in the patient’s home, regardless of illness, race or religion. Contact: 323-731-5747. Website: sisterservantsofmary.org.
ST. ANNE’S GUILD
A social service agency offering an array of services that promote the safety, resilience and ongoing achievement of young moth-
ers, their children and their families. Contact: 213-381-2931 or contact@stannes. org. Website: stannes.org.
HELPER’S CLUB OF ST. JOHN OF GOD ST. JOHN OF GOD’S WOMEN’S LEAGUE
Both organizations raise money for St. John of God Retirement and Care Center. Contact: 323-731-7141 or info@hospitallerfoundation.org. Website: sjghcs.com/ auxiliaries.
Art-Music
THE BLUE RIBBON
The Music Center’s premier women’s support organization commited to arts education, volunteerism and fundraising for educational programs and resident companies. Rachel S. Moore is president. Contact: 213972-7211. Website: musiccenter.org.
BARNSDALL ART PARK FOUNDATION
Provides funding to ensure Barnsdall Art Park is a vibrant, inclusive space for creativity and cultural expression, civic conversation and social empowerment. Contact: connect@barnsdall.org. Website: barnsdall. org.
BARNSDALL ARTS
Provides quality art education and exhibits that nurture creativity, artistic skills and aesthetic appreciation of art. Contact: 323-363-4629 or barnsdallarts@gmail.com. Website: barnsdallarts.org.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART COSTUME COUNCIL
Council members enjoy six to eight fashion-centric programs annually. Acquisitions and special projects support the Costume and Textile Curatorial Department of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Contact: 323-857-6558 or costumecouncil@lacma.org. Website: lacma.org.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART DOCENT COUNCIL Volunteer educational services for students and adults in the form of tours, lectures and informal conversations. Contact: 323-8576109. Website: lacma.org.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART (LACMA)
Become involved with LACMA through monetary donations or art donations, or support their education and outreach fund. Contact Diana Veach at dveach@lacma.org or 323-857-6207. Website: lacma.org.
LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC (LA PHIL) AFFILIATES
Supports the mission of the LA Phil through volunteer service, community engagement and fundraising; be ambassadors for music and connect communities. Contact 213972-3530 or volunteer@laphil.org. Website: laphil.org/support.
MUSES OF THE CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER FOUNDATION
Supports and promotes the California Science Center and its education programs for youth. Contact: 213-744-2035 or themuses@californiascience.org. Website: californiasciencecenter.org/volunteer.
Education
BUCKLEY SCHOOL
PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION
Supports the school; assists in social, cultural and fundraising activities; and fosters good relationships among the school, the students, and the parents. Contact: pa@
Plans fundraising events for Cathedral Chapel School and general support of the school. Contact: 323-938-9976. Website: cathedralchapelpto.org.
FRIENDS OF HANCOCK PARK ELEMENTARY
Fundraises and implements projects to enrich education and social experiences. Contact: 323-935-5272. Website: hancockparkschool.com.
FRIENDS OF THIRD STREET
A parent volunteer group which supports students, teachers and faculty through community building initiatives, classroom support and funding of enrichment programs. Contact: info@friendsofthird.org. Website: friendsofthird.org.
HARVARD-WESTLAKE SCHOOL PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION
Creates opportunities for families to connect with — and support — one another and the school to create a warm, inclusive and joyful community. Website: hw.com/ parents/parents-association.
LARCHMONT ORGANIZATION OF PARENTS (LOOP)
Fundraises to enrich education, support teachers and staff and create a sense of community among Larchmont Charter School families. Contact: 323-380-7893 ext. 301. Website: larchmontcharter.org.
LOYOLA HIGH MOTHERS’ GUILD
Community of mothers who support the students and school through hospitality, service and fundraising. Contact: 213-3815121 or marjani@loyolahs.edu. Website: loyolahs.edu/mothers-guild.
MARLBOROUGH PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION
Provides leadership and supports the school and its activities and staff. Contact: 323935-1147. Website: marlborough.org.
ST. BRENDAN SCHOOL
PARENT TEACHER BOARD
Welcomes new families and provides fundraising, a communication forum, and support of co-curricular activities. Contact: 213-382-7401 or info@stbrendanschoolla. org. Website: stbrendanschoolla.org/parent-board.
ST. JAMES’ EPISCOPAL SCHOOL PARENT ASSOCIATION
Organizes and coordinates parent involvement and helps build a sense of community. Contact: 213-382-2315. Website: sjsla.org/ community-life/parent-involvment.
TOWN AND GOWN OF USC
Philanthropic organization that was established in 1904. It supports USC through scholarships for students, building and campus enhancements and cultural programs. Beth Petak-Aaron is president. Contact: 213-626-9070 or parentboardsbs@ gmail.com. Website: townandgownofusc. org.
WILSHIRE CREST PTA
Fundraises and provides support for school and student needs. Contact: 323-938-5291 or info@wilshirecrestpta.org. Website: wilshirecrestes.lausd.org.
WILTON PLACE SCHOOL PTA
Fundraises for and supports teachers and staff. Contact: 213-389-1181. Website: wiltones.lausd.org.
By Helene Seifer Nurse, educator, philanthropist, model and singer — the multi-hyphenate Delores Shine Kerr never met a task she couldn’t tackle. Trained as a nurse educator, she broadened her reach beyond her professional work to help others through volunteering.
The Brookside resident received her bachelor’s degree in nursing in 1957 from Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University), where she met her late husband of 66 years, Ben Kerr, an aerospace engineer. They had two children, Mark Steven Kerr (d. 2018) and Karen Benae, who graced them with a granddaughter, Jade James.
After moving to Los Angeles shortly after graduation, she earned her teaching credential at UCLA and worked in numerous medical capacities, including as an emergency room nurse, assistant director of nursing, psychiatric treatment instructor, a nursing education instructor and as a health consultant for the State of California.
Never one to trod a narrow
path, Kerr has also been a singer and model. She sang with church choirs, choral groups and the Ebell Chorale. Always impeccably dressed, in 2015 Delores and Ben Kerr attracted the attention of a representative from American Apparel, who selected them as American Apparel Sweethearts, featuring them in an advertising campaign. She continued modeling on runways in department stores in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, on the Queen Mary and at fashion show luncheons in Texas and Colorado. She even had the opportunity to design clothes that American Apparel manufactured and sold.
Although Kerr is only 5 feet, 5 inches tall, she attributes her modeling success to lying. “I said I was 5 feet, 6 1/2 inches and wore my hair piled high and wore heels as high as I could!”
Volunteering is a true passion, and the breadth of her involvements is extraordinary, from work in science and medicine to the arts. She and her husband were founding members of African Americans for LA Opera and
regularly hosted Opera League musical events in their home. She is an honorary trustee of the California Science Center. She was the first Black docent at the Music Center, and she volunteered with Reach Out, an initiative for outreach to ethnic communities. She founded and chaired the mentorship program Mentors for Youth and Adults Worldwide. As an executive board member of Family Planning Centers of Greater Los Angeles, Kerr founded the People for Family Planning support organization and the Rubella Clinic for free testing. As part of the Los Angeles Medical Association’s 100th anniversary celebration in 1992, Kerr was president of an international humanitarian development effort for hospital technical training in Vietnam. She was an ambassador for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. The list is endless.
Patricia Carroll President Hollywoodland Realty
Patricia Carroll grew up in the real estate business as the daughter of Hollywoodland owner Ed Carroll. She is now president of the firm her late father operated in two offices since the 1940s on Larchmont Boulevard and Beachwood Drive.
Patti actively works for preservation and is the Treasurer for the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council, where she also serves on the Land Use and Outreach committees. She is a member of the Ebell Club, SASNA and Friends of Hope-Net and is on the boards of the Anderson-Munger YMCA and the Larchmont Boulevard Association.
Her address is in both the Hollywoodland Realty office at 584 N. Larchmont Blvd. and the original 1923 Hollywoodland Realty office at 2700 N. Beachwood Dr., the latter of which was the tract office and first building constructed in Hollywoodland. Fun fact: the Hollywoodland (Hollywood) Sign was originally built to promote the office and the development. Currently, Carroll is in the process of preparing for the 100th Anniversary of Hollywoodland, archiving her extensive collection of historical documents. (323) 469-3171 • Cell: (213) 268-3171
Careylyn Clifford
Manager
I continue my native routes in Larchmont & Park La Brea. I am a blessed DV survivor and single mother of two teenage all-stars, Noah and Natalee Carey. As a licensed general contractor / woman-owned business, I look forward to using my experience towards growth and pursuing new career avenues. My career in the roofing industry started in 2004 with Doug Ratliff at Supreme Roofing. With 20 years of hard work and dedication to Supreme, we are celebrating 99 years and a transition of new ownership to the Rameys. I am most appreciative of, and admire, Doug at Supreme Roofing for being a monumental mentor and positive influence in my life and my children’s. I would not be the woman I am today without my roofing experience. I continue to provide mentorship to other women in the industry with National Women in Roofing & women in trades, while supporting Alexandria House and coaching.
speed through the streets.
“My dad was a hot head,” she reports. “He got run out of two towns.” One of those times he had been threatened with lynching.
In spite of his temper, Kerr learned compassion from him. He later owned a coal and ice business and she observed him pulling invoices out of the pile, explaining, “These people cannot pay, so I don’t bill them.”
From her mother, Delores Shine Kerr learned a love of words. She remembers seeing her mother reading the paper with a dictionary by her side since her lack of a high school education left holes in her vocabulary. It made a big impression on Kerr, who learned to read, with her father’s help, from the Sunday comics in the Birmingham News before she was old enough to start her formal education.
“If you read well, that’s one of the greatest necessities,” states Kerr. “[As a reader] I can accomplish anything!”
Indeed, Kerr accumulated accomplishments, awards and honors throughout her long life, starting with her 1947
award for “The Neatest Student” in elementary school and continuing through her becoming Miss Tuskegee in college and being included in Who’s Who in America in 1957 and Who’s Who in Black Los Angeles in 2008. The NAACP designated her as a 1994 Black Woman Achievement Honoree, and she received a certificate of appreciation from Pope John Paul II and a Service Award from the United States Olympic Organizing Committee in 1985. Gov. George Deukmejian awarded Kerr the Outstanding Record of Achievement and Notable Contributions to Health Care in our Nation in 1990, and Congressman Adam Schiff designated Kerr as a 30th Congressional District Woman of the Year in 2023. That’s just a fraction of the more than 100 awards and special recognitions received by Delores Shine Kerr over her 89-year lifetime.
“Some people work hard and aren’t successful,” Kerr notes. “We were mainly successful. Made some ‘blobs’ and ‘bloops,’ but kept walking.” We are lucky she did.
Noting the many philanthropic activities she and her husband engaged in together, she states, “A lot of it was saying ‘Yes.’ If we don’t do it, they won’t see a Black face. If we don’t do it, no one’s going to do it.” She continues, “Many places, we were the only two Black people there.”
Kerr came from modest means in Pleasant Hill, Alabama. Her mother, Ardenia Shine, who was 17 when Kerr was born, worked as a maid before becoming a stay-athome mom. Kerr states, “On my birth certificate it said my dad was a house boy.” In fact, her father, Paul Shine, was initially a chauffeur for a wealthy physician. He would
Amelia Earhart remembered Amelia Earhart’s 127th anniversary of her birth was celebrated July 24 at The Ebell of Los Angeles with Lloyd Romeo, project manager of the Deep Sea Vision company, and Ebell board member Rosa Bravo. They discussed the continuing exploration of Earhart’s disappearance in 1937. The Ebell Theatre is believed to be where she delivered her final public address in 1937.
Director of Operations
Tricia, the Director of Operations for Core Group LA, a real estate group based in Larchmont Village, has been a pivotal part of the business for the past 22 years.
As a licensed Realtor for over 30 years, Tricia handles all aspects of the Real Estate transaction, focusing meticulously on keeping every ball in the air. No matter how challenging things get, Tricia has the greatest attitude in the world and brings a smile to everyone she comes into contact with.
Born in the Philippines, Tricia speaks fluent Tagolog and English, even though the family rule was to never speak English at home. Tricia has lived the majority of her life here in California.
Most importantly, Tricia has a beautiful family, and her pride and joy are her two children — Jesse, who is 22, and Lola, who is 16. 443 N. Larchmont Blvd. • (323) 762-2600
Tricia Garalde
DELORES SHINE KERR
Dr. Lois Sprague works to make life better for others every day
By Suzan Filipek
As president of The Guibord Center – Religion Inside Out, Dr. Lois Sprague works to unite people of all faiths and to help bridge division among people everywhere.
She learned the art of working with others growing up in Hancock Park.
Almost immediately after moving into their new family home on Hudson Avenue and Fourth Street in the late 1950s, her parents opened the home’s tennis court to the community.
“All the kids were invited to come and get tennis lessons for free,” said Dr. Lo, as she likes to be called.
Her community-minded parents also threw parties for Dr. Lo’s Marlborough School classmates and for those of her brother Bill at Black-Foxe Military Institute (now closed and replaced with condos on both sides of Wilcox Avenue, next to the Los Angeles Tennis Club).
These were not your typical low-key kids’ parties of the time, but lavish affairs with dinner and dancing.
“To this day, classmates say that was the best day at Marl-
borough,” Dr. Lo hears from former classmates.
Another memory from her youth was driving down Vermont Avenue. She saw a forlorn-looking girl standing in front of a ramshackle house with a broken lawnmower in sweltering heat.
The young Dr. Lo wondered why this little girl lived on this busy, dusty street while she lived on idyllic Hudson.
“I really questioned as a little kid, why did I get the winning ticket? What is life asking of me?”
She knew also, from then on, “My job was to get to know [that little girl] and do something about the injustice.”
She did go on to help people like that little girl. She taught teens to read in Willowbrook, near Watts, and worked at the country’s poorest Indian reservation, Pine Ridge in South Dakota.
“Those of us born into good circumstances have a responsibility to get to know and reach out and share opportunities,” says Dr. Lo, who turns 76 in September.
“I don’t know what retirement means — as long as I
DR. LOIS SPRAGUE
can do something for a greater good. We can all do something that makes life a little better for someone every day.”
As a young woman, she attended UCLA, where she majored in psychology, minored in sociology and went on to get a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. She retired from her Jungian-oriented psychotherapy practice to join The Guibord Center at its inception, more than 20 years ago.
The Center partners with a host of faith and spiritual communities and holds events at synagogues, mosques and churches.
It was founded by Dr. Lo’s spiritual and life partner, the late Rev. Dr. Gwynne Guibord, a retired Episcopal priest.
During their 40-year relationship, Dr. Lo and Guibord opened their Beachwood Avenue home in Windsor Square to friends for weddings and held fundraisers for rescue animals and other causes.
Dr. Neville Anderson
Dr. Anderson grew up in the Windsor Square area. She attended St. James’ School and Marlborough School. After graduating from Stanford University, she was an assistant teacher at Bing Nursery School. She received her medical degree from the University of Rochester. She completed her internship and residency at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. There she received the Victor E. Stork Award for Continued Excellence and Future Promise in the Care of Children. For seven years, she practiced in La Cañada at Descanso Pediatrics. In 2014 she followed her dreams and opened her own practice on Larchmont Boulevard. She was named a Top Doctor in Pasadena magazine and a Top Rising Super Doctor in Los Angeles magazine for multiple years. Dr. Anderson is one of the founding members of the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Health Network, is on its Board of Managers and is the Chair for its Finance Committee. She is also an attending physician at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and is on the Board of the Los Angeles Pediatric Society. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, hiking, going to the beach, reading and playing tennis.
Dr. Lauren Estrada recently joined the practice at Larchmont Pediatrics, 321 N. Larchmont Blvd., Ste. 1020. The doctor, who completed her pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, has been practicing privately in general pediatrics in the Los Angeles area.
Dr. Estrada finds joy in working with children and is constantly inspired by their strength and resilience, according to Dr. Neville Anderson, who founded the wellrespected Larchmont practice in 2014.
gion… they have a kind of optimism that is a kind of natural resistance to despair and addiction. This is especially true in children and young people.”
A devout Christian grandmother taught Dr. Lo Jesus’ teachings of the Sermon on the Mount. The discourses in the Gospel of Matthew “shaped my life,” she said.
“As a little kid I really liked this guy [Jesus], and I still do, because of his kindness, because of his love, because of the world he would try to
create for us to care for one another.”
Talks with an older brother who studied Hinduism and Gandhi would further cement her spiritual side, which is in full swing at the Center.
“It’s been crazy busy” preparing the fall program, she told us.
A recent program held at St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral in Los Angeles drew 20 faith leaders. The event, “Every Child’s Life is Sacred,”
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Dr. Lo continues in that mission. She was recently honored with the Lord Houghton Award — one of the U.K.’s highest accolades for animal rights — for her work with Animal Defenders International (ADI). She spent a month this past spring in South Africa at The ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, where the Jean Warner Sprague Educational Center is named after her mother.
The group rescues lions and a host of other animals and is working to eliminate bull fighting in Colombia and other animal abuses.
She also works closely with educators, and she shares a short film she produced, “Anima: Animals. Faith. Compassion,” accessible at the Guibord Center’s website, theguibordcenter.org.
Sprague believes having a spiritual base is important at any time, but especially now. “These are dark times, and there is a lot of violence out there, but there are also thousands of people working for peace in spite of the risks and danger.
“We now know unequivocally that when you help people get in touch with their spiritual core… not necessarily reli-
Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald
When I branched out on my own 20 years ago, I knew that Larchmont would be the perfect location for my practice. I was drawn to it’s small town neighborliness and strong sense of community. I gravitated toward cosmetic dermatology because it blends art and science. Years in practice has confirmed for me that this field is also really about empowerment. The ability to help people of all ages and backgrounds feel a bit more confident at all stages of life has been a gift for which I am truly grateful. I work to stay ahead of the curve in order to offer the “latest and greatest” as well as the “tried and true”. As a lifelong learner, I continue to speak at national and international conferences, as well as publish in textbooks and peer reviewed journals. I’m also grateful to be included as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor, as well a Los Angeles magazine Super Doc, for the last decade. As always, thank you to the Larchmont community for your continued support.
Dr. Helen Fincher
I always welcome the opportunity to reflect on the past year for the Women of Larchmont issue.
I’m grateful for the chance to pause and consider all we’ve accomplished.
One of my favorite updates this year is the Softwave device. Softwave uses ultrasound technology to stimulate the production of new collagen which tightens and lifts the skin. There is very little downtime and patients are loving their results.
I’m also busy as ever with our popular devices such as Thermage, Vbeam, and Fraxel + Halo BBL. Their ability to address multiple skin concerns such as brightening dull skin, improving scars, texture, fine lines and wrinkles over small and large areas is exceptional. Customizing treatments and combining our many lasers and devices is what I enjoy most in my practice. Thank you to the staff, patients and community of Larchmont. As you all know, I will never tire of getting to work in the neighborhood where I live!
Angela Sarff Nurse Practitioner
I can’t believe I’ve been with the practice for over 10 years. I started as a Registered Nurse, working closely with the doctors, but shortly thereafter completed my master’s degree in nursing. As a Nurse Practitioner, I’m busy offering patients Clear+Brilliant laser, Laser Hair Removal, Fraxel, Thermage and Softwave skin tightening, Ulthera non-surgical lifting, and Vbeam for removal of red spots, brown spots and even acne spots, among other treatments. I’m also looking forward to offering a new laser and comprehensive system for hair re-growth this summer.
On a few personal notes, my son Finn will be starting kindergarten this year and my daughter Maddie will be returning to preschool, and we’re looking forward to visiting family in Iowa City in August. Once again thank you to the one-of-a-kind community of Larchmont for your ongoing support.
I started working with Dr. Fitzgerald in 2018 as a medical assistant. In 2023, I decided to return to school at Santa Monica College, pursuing a passion to become a Licensed Esthetician. As a trained and experienced skin care specialist, I have developed expertise in a range of treatments. My services include Diamond Glow, Oxygen Facial, Hydrafacial, Dermaplaning,
Dr. Lauren Estrada
Leslie Montenegro Aesthetician
Cedars-Sinai’s first female chair of surgery has big plans
By Casey Russell
Recruited by Cedars-Sinai to be the new chair of surgery, Dr. Cristina R. Ferrone moved from Boston to Windsor Square a year and a half ago. She spent her main growing-up years in Scarsdale, right near (fittingly) Larchmont, New York. Ferrone is the first female chair of surgery at Cedars.
Ferrone graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and received her medical degree from Washington Uni-
versity School of Medicine in St. Louis. Her schooling continued with a general surgery residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and was followed by a surgical oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. From the Harvard / MIT Investigator Training Program, Ferrone also earned a master’s degree in clinical trial design. Though Ferrone wanted to be a veterinarian when she was younger, she realized in
high school that she’d rather take care of people. And, as her father, aunt, grandfather and husband are all physicians or surgeons, she seems to have chosen the family field.
The surgical oncologist focuses on pancreas, liver and bile duct cancer, both clinically and in her research lab. Ferrone brought the lab and three research fellows with her from Boston and is currently running the largest pancreatic cancer trial in North America. Though she has a lot of administrative work running the department and overseeing the 90 faculty surgeons and doctors, the chair still performs operations every week. “I love it,” she said of her job.
Rabbi Leah Lewis is a gifted Jewish leader with extensive experience as a rabbi and Jewish educator.
She joins the clergy of Wilshire Boulevard Temple from Temple Menorah in Redondo Beach, where she was Senior Rabbi since 2017. Rabbi Lewis is based on the Glazer Campus where her portfolio includes extensive involvement with Wilshire Boulevard Temple Schools, adult community, and the Karsh Family Social Service Center. Prior to Temple Menorah, she served as Rabbi and Director of Lifelong Learning at Congregation Shir HaMa’alot in Irvine, as Director of Jewish Studies at Tarbut v’Torah Community Day School in Irvine, and as Associate Rabbi at Leo Baeck Temple in Los Angeles. She was ordained from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 2002.
3663 Wilshire Blvd • (213) 835-2170
Laura Prangley
Laura Prangley, the accomplished producer and creative director based in Brookside, just released her sequel to Archer — the critically-acclaimed debut of Walker, born on July 7th. Laura displayed her signature strength and humor during delivery, and the family of four is settling in happily.
When not birthing adorable humans, Laura runs her company Spirit Chair, where she creates scripted and unscripted TV/film originals with rising voices at the center of all projects. She recently Executive Produced a female-driven prank show for Netflix.
Laura has been hosting and producing comedy in NYC and LA for over a decade, with recent shows including her ongoing hit series “Laugh to Keep From Crying.” She has appeared on TruTV’s “Friends of the People,” Comedy Central’s “Inside Amy Schumer,” SELF Magazine’s “Girl vs. Sweat,” and more. Throughout her comedy career, Laura has also been developing and producing in the new media landscape for companies including Gunpowder & Sky, HouseParty, and Condé Nast Entertainment.
She is a strong connector of incredible women — as friends and fans of Laura we hope she sees this in the tender postpartum days and feels uplifted and loved because we are rooting for her!
lauraprangley.com • (240) 687-4974
Ferrone feels privileged to be in a position to help not only patients, but also medical professionals working to explore their career options. “I get to work with a lot of young people — residents, medical students, fellows. Seeing how they grow is
Pflaumer
(Continued from Page 11) Pflaumer dogsits for many local families; so she’s out and about at Harold Henry Park and on Larchmont Boulevard. “I love that I can’t walk around without running into half a dozen people I know,” she said. And the people she knows are grateful to have her in their lives. Multiple young couples in Windsor Village have been able to go on date nights because of Pflaumer. “I am very sympathetic to young families. Childcare is so expensive, and I think it’s important that couples get a chance to get out with-
amazing,” she said. The oncologist also spends a lot of time thinking about her lab and what she wants to accomplish with it. As far as Cedars goes, she has a goal of making an impact on the faculty and on the care provided to the residents of Los Angeles.
“Our hope is to be the best possible place, not only in Los Angeles, but in the United States. It’s already a fantastic place, but you can always aim higher,” she said.
One thing that Dr. Ferrone believes is important for making progress in disease and medical care is collaboration. “We have a great multidisciplinary approach to cancer patients,” she said. Pancreas cancer patients, for example, are seen by medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology, a social worker and a nutritionist — all in one day. “We decrease the time from the clinic visit to the first treatment to seven days. The national average is over a month.” Ferrone’s belief in collaboration also extends to patients and their families.
“Ideally, patients would never come to appointments alone, because it’s a lot of information. There’s no question that patients that have family support do better. They have less anxiety and are better able to tolerate treatments. It helps patients have the best possible outcome.”
In her spare time, the mother of three middle-tohigh-school students said she
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out having to worry about the cost of a babysitter. And, I like kids, so it’s nice for me,” she said. In her free time, Barbara participates in two book clubs, cooks for friends and is currently organizing her high school’s upcoming reunion. She’s like the energizer bunny. And Windsor Village is fortunate she happened upon this area when fate brought her out west.
O’Rourke
(Continued from Page 10) “We rely on parents to do the literal and figurative heavy lifting.”
Noting that there is more diversity in public school options and in the city at large than what she experienced in New Jersey, O’Rourke marvels, “I found a beautiful community quite different from what I grew up with.
There’s top to bottom diversity and I’m very grateful for it — that I can raise my kids in a city that offers that.” Annie O’Rourke reflects on her own journey and what is important to her and summarizes, “You have to grow your own community and to grow where you’re planted. I grew up in a big family and I’m trying to create that for my kids. That is what’s important to me.”
Julie Stromberg Attorney, Activist
and
Advocate
An active community member, Julie is an education and civil rights attorney with Stromberg Law Group, P.C. She represents children with a wide range of disabilities and learning differences at IEP meetings, mediation, due process hearings, and in state and federal courts. Julie also specializes in representing students in public and private education institutions, from pre-school to higher education, by protecting the interests of students facing discrimination, abuse and disciplinary actions, including, but not limited to suspension, expulsion, academic and grading disputes. Her experience includes representing complainants and respondents in Title IX and UCP matters, including related appeals. Her practice has a public interest orientation directed at positively impacting young people and their communities as a whole. Julie was recognized as a “Woman of Larchmont” in 2015, “Wonder Woman of Council District 4” in 2019, and is a member of the City of Los Angeles’ Central Area Planning Commission. A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley and Loyola Law School, Julie resides in Brookside with her family. www.stromberglawgroup.com julie@stromberglawgroup.com • (323) 348-8709
Dr. Cristina R. Ferrone Courtesy of Cedars-Sinai
Rabbi Leah Lewis Wilshire Boulevard Temple
The art of consistently following through on what you say
Being a parent can be hard. It’s a big responsibility to be in charge, not only of another human’s basic needs, but to also need to keep that human safe; teach him morals, respect, discipline; help him grow his self-esteem; and make sure he learns all his curious mind needs to know in this world. It’s especially hard when our kids seem not to listen to what we say. Why, we wonder, is my child whining for more when I’ve already told him that’s all he can have? Why is he not getting off the swing when I’ve already counted to 10 in my “I’m serious” voice?
The answer to these queries can often be found in a simple question we need to ask ourselves: “Have I been following through on what I say to my child?” Young humans are smart. They are learning all the time by observing us. They notice when we say one thing and do another. Picture this: You are running errands with your child. He asks for a toy. You say, “No, we can’t
buy a toy today.” He starts to whine. You tell him no again. He continues to whine and keeps asking for the toy while you are attempting to concentrate on getting the things on your list. He gets louder. You grab the toy and say, “Fine, but we’re not doing this every time we come to the store.” If this scenario sounds at all familiar, now is the time to ask the question: “Have I been following through on what I say to my child?” And, the answer will most often be... “No.” When we don’t follow through with what we say to our children, we are teaching them to ignore our words and keep asking until we give in. This is not only frustrating, it can also be dangerous. If they learn to ignore our words in situations like these, they will also be less likely to “Stop!” when we need them to for safety reasons. They are learning, too, that they do not need to respect the fact that someone has said, “No.” We do not want our kids to do this to us, and we definitely don’t want
Pediatric Dentistry
Randall E. Niederkohr, D.D.S.
Tips on Parenting by
Casey Russell
them to do it as adults. It seems so much easier in the moment to give in. It gets the child to stop whining and we can focus on what we need to do. But, by accepting the temptation of peace in this moment, we are inviting years of arguments, whining and battles of will.
A Solution
Luckily, there is a solution. Starting now, we can work to follow through on what we say. If we tell our child he can have one more cracker, we give only one more. We don’t give in when he cries. We teach him, through our actions, that we mean what we say. If he starts to whine, we can gently say, “Oh, you know you don’t get what you want when you whine. Those crackers are really good, but we’re done with them for now. What should we go play?” None of this needs to be said loudly or meanly. We just need to make a small shift to a more serious tone. Our child will quickly learn there’s no use in arguing because it’s not going to get him what he wants. With that said, we do need to make a point of saying things we are willing to follow through on. For example,
if a child starts acting up at the airport, we wouldn’t say, “If you don’t stop screaming, we are going home.” The truth is, we are not going to go home — even if he keeps screaming. We are going to get on the plane. If we’ve said something we are unwilling to follow through on, our child will have learned we don’t always mean what we say. If our 3-year-old is running away from us at bedtime instead of letting us help him brush his teeth, we don’t need to threaten or be mean: “If you don’t come to me right now, you are not going to sleep with your teddy bear.” Following through on something like that could emotionally wound our child and hearing a parent threaten something like this can instill fear and make a child feel unsafe. Children often need a comfort toy to go to sleep. We can choose instead to let our child know what will naturally happen if he doesn’t come to us. We can say something like, “Right now we have time to read two bedtime books. I am giving you one more chance to come to me so that I can brush your teeth. If you don’t, we will only have time for one bedtime book.” This is a natural consequence that will matter to him, but is not mean-spirited.
We can let our children know the limits and allow them to take control of remembering where they are. When boundaries are clear, children will most often cooperate because they don’t have to test the limits. And we can make sure to give positive reinforcement when the hoped-for choices are made. Following through on what we say means also consistently upholding promises we’ve made to our children. If we’ve said our little one can help bake cookies after his nap, we can’t poop out and let time get away from us. We need to bake the freakin’ cookies! If we’ve said we will go to the park after we get done paying bills, but it is raining when we get done, it’s important to put on the raincoats and go to the park. If we do this, our child’s trust in us — and his sense of security in the world — will grow.
If we haven’t been following through and decide we’re ready to make a change, there will be some tough initial moments. But, as our children learn that we are going to stick to what we say, the whining and begging will quickly decline. Our children will learn that we are consistent, but fair. And we will find that we’ve made the hard job of parenting a lot easier.
Soccer season to start Sept. 7
Registration is open for AYSO Region 78 Hollywood-Wilshire, with space open in every division for girls and boys born in the years 2011 to 2020, Regional Commissioner Kurt Muller said. Player evaluations for players born in 2016 and older start in mid-August. The season opening is on Sat.,
Sept. 7. For younger divisions, the season starts the following Saturday, Sept. 14. The home field for practices and games will be Fairfax High School. “We encourage everyone to register ASAP, since we need to coordinate volunteer coach and referee training in early August,” Muller said. Visit ayso78.info.
Mountain biking offers camaraderie and physical challenge
On Loyola High’s website, under Athletics, mountain biking is not listed, but golf and baseball are. I played baseball every summer when I was young, and I can still golf.
I was on a mountain bike once. On a steep decline, going much too fast, I rolled over some “baby heads” (round rocks imbedded in a trail that resemble... well... baby heads) and was pitched 10 feet into the brush below. Never again.
Club status
At Loyola, the mountain bikers are not considered an athletic team because the CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) does not govern mountain biking, although there are schools that do recognize it as an official sport. Loyola’s mountain bike club is supervised by the activities director, not the athletic department, and the coach, Jon Tanklage, is a volunteer.
“Some of the assistant coaches are parents,” explained Tanklage. “None of us are Loyola employees.”
Cycling at Loyola began in 2015, when students Liam Lischak and Patrick Liddy realized they both raced in the same So Cal High School Cycling League. The boys wanted to start a team at
Youth Sports by Jim Kalin
Loyola and were put in contact with Tanklage, whose own son was enrolled there at the time. Tanklage was one of the organizers of the league Liddy and Lischak raced in, so he was the perfect choice to head Loyola’s club.
Riding, racing
Sebastian Lira and Rafael Kelly are seniors. Both race in the JV2 category, which is the most advanced of the JV classes.
“Rafael can really flip a switch in races and get the best out of himself,” said Tanklage.
Sebastian Lira is the club’s most powerful rider and likes to “bomb” (ride extremely fast) trails, especially downhill. He began mountain biking when he was a freshman, after football season ended.
“I joined because they gave you a free donut at the club fair if you did,” admitted Lira.
“Seb can make anyone laugh,” said Tanklage.
Jack Musitano, a junior, had mountain biking experience prior to joining Loyola’s club.
“He’s a smaller rider who rides bigger than he is. That’s one of the things you look for in a good cross-country racer,” said Tanklage. Musitano also plays soccer and runs track, which have helped his stamina for mountain biking.
The view
The aesthetic side of mountain biking is location, which means wilderness and scenic rides.
“I’m a firm believer that everywhere looks better from a bike,” said Musitano.
Rocks, roots and scree are not the only challenges a biker confronts. Wildlife is encountered, including coyotes, hawks, lizards, tarantulas, deer and less welcome critters like ticks and “danger noodles” (snakes).
Preferred local trails are found in the Santa Monica and San Bernardino Mountains.
“My favorite ride is Backbone Trail because it has some of the best downhill trails and greatest sights,” said Sebastian Lira. Backbone Trail is a 67-mile dirt pathway in the Santa Monica Mountains that features breathtaking views of
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• Experienced teachers devoted to fostering self-esteem in a safe nurturing environment
• Over 50 years serving the neighborhood
LOYOLA MOUNTAIN BIKE CLUB: Front row, left to right: Coach Frank Lira, Rafael Kelly, Sebastian Lira, Brad Kelley, Noah Morales, Marco Georgian (’24 graduate), Lukas Genewick (’24 graduate), Coach Andy Genewick. Back row, left to right: Jack Musitano, Jon Tanklage, Coach Peter O’Neil.
RAFAEL KELLY leading some of the competition. NOAH MORALES pedaling through a water obstacle.
Larchmont Charter students fundraise for a trip to Japan
By Jim Kalin
If you happen to see three Larchmont students selling baked goods from a sidewalk setup on Larchmont Boulevard, stop and purchase some. It’s for a great cause, and the homemade treats are tasty. Organizer and student Everett Mohr and fellow students Joshua Jung and Luke Flexner will be ninth graders at Larchmont Charter at Lafayette Park this fall. They have been invited to travel next April as chaperones for younger students who attend Larchmont Charter at Selma on their trip to Japan.
“The cost comes out to around $4,900 per chaperone,” said Mohr. “As supervisors of younger students, we’ll have the responsibility of watching over them and enhancing our leadership skills, which will set us up for future opportunities.”
The nine-day trip will begin in Osaka with a visit to the Osaka Castle, a legendary landmark surrounded by moats and gardens and filled with samurai history. They will also visit the world-famous Game Center, the most iconic place to experience arcade games.
Youth Sports
(Continued from Page 19) the Pacific Ocean.
Noah Morales was Loyola’s top freshman racer last year.
“He has shown his toughness and probably loves the competition of racing more than anyone,” said Tanklage. Toughness
In a race at Castaic Lake, Morales collided with another cyclist and went OTB (over the bars), severely skinning his leg and elbow and rendering him a “corndog” (rider covered in silt and dirt).
“I hate talking about injuries, but they do happen,” said Tanklage. All coaches are trained in wilderness first aid, which is a special two-day class for situations when emergency services are over an hour away.
“The best way to avoid accidents is to keep the trail difficulty within the riders’ skill level.”
That, in addition to always wearing a “brain bucket” (helmet).
NEW COVENANT ACADEMY
By Sue Jung Park 12th Grade
After four days in Osaka, the students will travel on the bullet train to Tokyo, where they’ll visit the peaceful Hamarikyu Gardens in the city center and the ancient Asakusa Kannon Temple.
For anyone wishing to donate directly, visit gofund.me/ a67b8eff
Sprague
(Continued from Page 15) was held to show support for the people of both sides in the conflict in the Middle East.
“We wanted to do something healing between Jewish and Muslim communities,” said Dr. Lo.
At the event, she told attendees, “When we’re asked to say which child should live and which shouldn’t, which child deserves medication and which doesn’t…
“The question needs to be: What do we have to do so there’s enough, so children can be safe?”
The Center’s next interfaith program, “Healing our Hearts Through Indigenous Wisdom, Music and Story-telling,” will take place on Sat., Sept. 28 from 7 to 9 p.m. at St. John’s Cathedral.
A weekly online program, “Spiritual Conversations from the Heart,” to help viewers with the stress of the November election, will begin on Mon., Sept 9.
Events are free and open to everyone, just like The Guibord Center.
Dr. Ferrone
Welcome back, Huskies! Be excited for the upcoming school year as teachers and staff worked hard over the summer to make this school year the best one yet! This year is special, as New Covenant Academy is officially opening its second campus. Students in grades Kindergarten through 7th grade will now be studying in new, wellequipped classrooms.
Our school has also decided to allow 8th grade students to be part of the high school rotation schedule. This implementation will better prepare 8th grade students for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program.
NCA will hold its annual Convocation service for everyone to lead us into the school year with prayers.
The girls’ volleyball season is starting soon, so come to future games to cheer the team on!
(Continued from Page 16) loves to spend time with her family. “I’m a runner and a skier. I love those two things,” she said. Though she hasn’t had a lot of time to try all that the area has to offer, Ferrone, who was born in Italy, is a fan of Larchmont Boulevard’s gelato shop, Bacio di Latte. “It’s an authentic, super-nice treat to have within walking distance,” she said.
This local woman has a big job that takes up a lot of hours. When asked how she manages all her roles, she said, “It’s like everything in life — you figure out ways to balance things.” More than a year into her new position, Ferrone is happy to be exactly where she is. “We love the neighborhood feel of Larchmont. It feels safe and is really such a beautiful area,” she said.
Family workshops at LACMA
Drop-in workshops this month include Fiber Maker’s Circle and Ed Ruscha Loves L.A., both on Sundays Aug. 4 and Aug 11 at 12:30 p.m. Visit lacma.org for more information.
LUKE FLEXNER AND JOSHUA JUNG on Larchmont Boulevard, manning their bake sale.
Local teens seek out part-time summer jobs with vigor
By Dinah Yorkin
While some feel painfully accurate, coming-of-age films generally are overdramatized and exaggerated. Yet, as a teen myself, there is one staple of films such as “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” or “Mystic Pizza” that holds true: the proverbial summer job.
While the pandemic may have temporarily hit the pause button on teen employment, Los Angeles teens have flocked to hubs of commerce with their résumés in hand seeking employment and have subsequently occupied the part-time job market in full force.
Original Farmers Market
Considering that the Original Farmers Market has been quintessential to Los Angeles for 90 years, it’s only natural that such a staple would become a staple of jobs for teens.
Jade Coleridge, a senior at Marlborough and longtime resident of Hancock Park, works part-time at the new bakery Gone Bananas Bread. After browsing the internet and cold calling stores, Coleridge looked on the Farmers Market website, where she saw a notice that Gone Bananas Bread was hiring. She then interviewed and learned she got the job a few days later. Aside from the many benefits that come from having her own income, Coleridge’s favorite part of the job is being able to meet and interact with new people.
Annie Wells, also a senior at Marlborough and resident of Hancock Park, is another part-time employee at the Original Farmers Market. After simply walking up to them and asking if they were hiring, Wells was eventually hired to work at Bennett’s Ice Cream. Her favorite part of the job is serving customers at the register, while tasks such as washing dishes and machines are not as enjoyable.
Larchmont Boulevard
Another hot spot for teen employment is Larchmont Boulevard. From three ice cream shops to four coffee shops, the job options are bountiful, but highly sought-after.
Eli Catlin, a senior at Campbell Hall and longtime resident of Arden Boulevard, and Isabel Margolis, a senior
at Marlborough, are two teenagers able to secure one of those highly sought-after jobs. They are employees at Levain Bakery. Catlin began working there just this summer, while Margolis, after walking in and handing the manager her résumé, became employed at Levain last summer. Aside from manning the register and packing up cookies, they also help with online orders, prepare drinks and help to clean and close the store. The most pleasant part of their job is bonding with their coworkers behind the register and satisfying their customers, which sometimes can be difficult but is rewarding.
Zoe Goor, a senior at Harvard-Westlake and resident of Miracle Mile, is another teen employed on Larchmont, having worked as a part-time
bookseller at Chevalier’s Books since she was 14 years old. Her hours increase over the summer. Goor loves to read and be surrounded by books, so naturally, Chevalier’s was a perfect fit. As a result, she loves every aspect of her job.
Generation Z
While millennials are typecast as lazy, Generation Z has proved to be the opposite. Their voracious search for and accumulation of summer employment have demonstrated not only their strong work ethic but also that, in
the wake of the pandemic, the summer job is back and better than ever.
The author is an employed teenager, having worked at Chevalier’s Books for almost three years (before working this summer at the Larchmont Chronicle).
ANNIE WELLS hands out samples at Bennett’s Ice Cream.
Photo by Sasha Barnow
BAKERY EMPLOYEE Isabel
Margolis takes a break from her duties at Levain.
Photo by Dinah Yorkin
Park(let)
(Continued from Page 1)
would be a great idea to have a parklet. I love the drawings. Biggest difficulties will be in keeping it clean (maybe local school kids for community service rotate washing it down and picking up litter weekly) and, sadly, how will you keep homeless from camping there? But I absolutely love it.
“The trend for lunch over the past 15 years has been more grab and go — but let’s get people out of their offices or work-from-home life and under the open sky and trees — listen to the birds in those beautiful trees. Imagine board game days there and Rubik’s Cube or old-fashioned Yoyo contests and lessons. Mahjong summer nights or chess day in the parklet. A quartet evening. Meet your neighbors coffee hour. The list is endless. It’s a great idea! And it’ll leave al fresco for restaurants and not take-out places.”
Movie nights?
Recently, Larchmont Village Neighborhood resident Nina Gregory wrote to the Chronicle about another community programming idea that could relate to the parking lot: “I’d like to offer an idea of the Boulevard reviving movie-going as a neighborhood activity and the LBA sponsoring a movie night where people can come, sit together and watch a film relevant to the time and place. Could be for Halloween and we watch Halloween 3, which has scenes filmed on Larchmont Boulevard. Maybe we could even invite director
John Carpenter!”
Certainly, the large blank wall on the Rhodes School of Music building on the surface parking lot’s north side could serve as a temporary movie screen, just as the asphalt parking area doubled successfully as courts for a pickleball tournament in August of last year.
Comments con
There also have been additional concerns expressed about a possible Larchmont Central Park(let). Reader Chris Black wrote to Romi Cortier recently with this observation:
“As a lifelong resident of the area... I grew up on Keniston Avenue and currently reside on South St. Andrews Place... I have seen the many transitions the Blvd. has gone through from the late 1960s to the present. I will forever mourn the demise of Jurgensen’s, revel in the closure of Safeway... the worst grocery store in history... and feel pride in the community com-
ing together to throw The Bungalow off the street!
“Larchmont is such a wonderful resource for the entire community and has become a destination for many from elsewhere; it is diverse, interesting and crowded all the time. So the idea of adding a parklet, which will remove some parking, impede the sellers at the farmers market and, inevitably, become an encampment for one or several homeless, is just not an idea I can support.
“Adding community space is a great concept, but in its current configuration, I do not think it a wise one. I would love Larchmont to become a walk street, but the issue of parking is, I believe, just too big of a problem to solve. Massive underground or above-ground parking lots just do not seem viable. Little by little, parking spaces have been eliminated to allow for more outside seating at the restaurants (which I greatly support), and to lose even one more space in favor
of building this parklet, which comes with so many other negatives, is an idea which should be scrapped. Count my vote firmly as a ‘no.’” Responses
A possible park(let) would remove far fewer parking spaces (probably only three) than the 27 spaces (22.5 percent of the 120 spaces on the street) still lost because of the dining platforms or traffic barriers placed in the street during the COVID-19 lockdowns. (And, of course, a number of those dining platforms are only utilized during certain hours of the day, whereas the platforms claim the parking
spaces all day and night.) The possible park(let) project will not proceed, according to its advocates, unless the farmers’ market managers deem it complementary, and not an impediment, to the sellers there. Finally, neither the LBA nor anyone who has opined to date will be supportive without a security component to prevent this possible community improvement being taken over by vagrants.
Again, the LBA seeks comments submitted care of: romicortier@me.com.
Writer Dinah Yorkin will be a senior at Marlborough School this year.
REAL-LIFE EXAMPLE of reclaiming bits of the street for public seating and dining comes from the town of Healdsburg in the Sonoma County wine country.
PARKLET concept shown in a sidewalk view of the city’s central surface parking lot.
SUNDAY Farmers’ Market and the possible Central Park(let). Renderings by JMS Design Associate
‘Every woman housed’ is the goal of DWC’s upcoming gala
By Helene Seifer
The 2024 Homeless Count in Los Angeles County documented a 2.2 percent decline in the overall homeless population in the City of Los Angeles, but this achievement is tempered by the fact that the number of women experiencing homelessness has risen by 16 percent this past year. This underscores a need to expand services for unhoused women, a goal the Downtown Women’s Center (DWC) is racing to meet.
Established in 1978, the Downtown Women’s Center finished a strategic plan in February, renewing their commitment to tackling women’s homelessness and expanding inclusivity. According to Lorena Sanchez, DWC chief communications officer, their new ambitious goal is “ending homelessness for women and gender-diverse individuals.”
In 2023, states Sanchez, “We reached 5,067 women countywide with daily services, rapid rehousing, workforce development programs, housing, wellness and advocacy programs.” She continues, “We serve about a quarter of women homelessness in L.A.”
Many women in need use their drop-in facilities, but they also offer 159 apartments in subsidized permanent supportive housing between their two Skid Row buildings and their newest facility in North Hollywood, which opened in May 2024 and specializes in working with trauma survivors. Two temporary buildings are currently operating in South Los Angeles, in partnership with Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). A new facility in Van Nuys will open spring 2025 and bring their total unit capacity to more than 300. A third building
on Skid Row, where there is the highest concentration of homeless individuals in Los Angeles County, will soon break ground.
Individualized plans for the women and gender-diverse individuals who come to DWC include mental health care, a transitional work program, a computer learning center, occupational therapy, a case worker to determine priorities for each person and access to a medical clinic. Maintaining support personnel is expensive, and one of their biggest fundraising efforts is their yearly gala, where “we are aiming to raise $1 million for our general fund,” Sanchez states. “We’ve already raised $487,500.”
Scheduled for Sun., Oct. 6, 2024, the Every Woman Housed Gala is named for a Downtown Women’s Center initiative aimed specifically at women and families on Skid Row that has successfully placed 400 women in housing since launching in 2021. The event will honor Andrea Van de Kamp, a member of the DWC Advisory Council and a philanthropist who is credited with spearheading the fundraising campaign to build Disney Hall. Gala Chair and DWC Board Member Sara Sugarman, founder and CEO of home decor e-commerce site Lulu and Georgia, the Gala Presenting Sponsor, expects 400-500 community leaders and other supporters to attend. The sit-down dinner, catered by Pez Cantina, will feature a live and silent auction and musical entertainment at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes, a Mexican American museum and cultural center near Olvera Street Downtown. Tickets are $500.
in part by volunteers and financial supporters including Hancock Park resident, co-founder of Stories from the Frontline and occasional Larchmont Chronicle commentary contributor Marilyn Wells, whose John and Marilyn Wells Family Foundation has provided DWC with yearly grants.
For more information, visit downtownwomenscenter.org/ gala2024.
Right:
DOWNTOWN
WOMEN’S CENTER Gala 2023 live auction contributed to $850,000 total raised.
The gala is supported
BARNSDALL
Historic center returns with a grand celebration and full arts program. Page 2
TURNING 90
Original Farmers Market celebrates a milestone with music and pop-ups. Page 6
DANCING
Two decades of dance will be celebrated at The Music Center Sat., Aug. 24. Page 7
Mayor revamps ED1, protects single-family neighborhoods
By Suzan Filipek
Local homeowner groups voiced their approval of the mayor’s recent revamping of her Executive Directive 1 (ED1) to protect single-family neighborhoods.
Issued shortly after she came to office in December 2022, ED1 was set in motion to expedite review of 100 percent affordable housing projects to help curb the city’s homelessness crisis.
Unfortunately, the directive unleashed a spate of loopholes that allowed developers to build projects not in character with the neighborhoods.
Local homeowners soon “learned the directive needed guidelines,” according to the Hancock Park Homeowners Association (HPHOA), one of many groups appealing to the mayor.
While the directive was modified last year, more was needed.
Out-of-scale projects
According to a July 9 email from the Miracle Mile Residential Association, “the Directive caused developers to propose out-of-scale projects, without setbacks, side and backyards or greenery, and warrens of apartments with less footage per person than permitted in State prisons —
some even without windows in bedrooms! It also permitted rent-controlled tenants to be evicted, virtually overnight, and the destruction of existing affordable housing. The directive needed effective, humane guidelines.”
Luckily, that scenario changed last month, when Mayor Bass revised ED1 again with the new guidelines that took effect immediately.
“This latest update addresses nearly all the concerns raised by United Neighbors, a coalition of neighborhood groups advocating for better housing solutions for communities,” the HPHOA said in its July 3 email to homeowners following the revision.
Hundreds of communities and neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles are part of the United Neighbors coalition and helped get the word out on what kinds of amendments were needed, the local homeowner group added.
The latest revision will protect single-family neighborhoods, Historic Preservation Overlay Zones and Historic Districts in their entirety, as well as rent control units. It also prevents the “bait and switch” tactic used by developers to convert spaces such as recreation,
community or fitness rooms into market-rate units at a later time. Instead, these spaces will have to be provided as covenanted affordable units like the rest of the project.
The new guidelines limit projects to no more than five density bonus incentives and one waiver, consistent with state law. Projects in residential neighborhoods seeking expedited review on ED1 can add 33 feet or three stories. They must also have a rear yard setback of 8 feet with a side yard setback of 5 feet. Additional setbacks are required for buildings seeking a height increase of three stories or more.
In addition, the new rules require the City Planning Department to, within 45 days, create a public dashboard of projects seeking City Planning approval under this directive.
Unfortunately, existing ED 1 projects are not affected by the new revision. “We will have to fight against them individually,” the HPHOA said. Concerns in Larchmont
Not everyone was as optimistic.
“While this revision of ED1 is extremely helpful to some neighborhoods in Los Angeles, any new benefits for our Larchmont neighborhood
are limited and several of our most pressing concerns remain,” local resident Sam Uretsky wrote.
“One change we can take a good deal of credit for is that our advocacy was very instrumental in stopping ‘bait and switch’ tactics,” he added in a July 3 email.
Uretsky’s concerns include the fact that height bonuses on Upper Larchmont remain vulnerable at 78 feet or six stories, the setback minimums of 8 feet for rear yards and 5 feet for side yards are not enough, and parking has
not been addressed.
As it stands, “100 percent affordable housing built within a half-mile of a Major Transit Stop (MTS) is not required to provide parking. All of Upper Larchmont is affected by one intersection, Melrose and Gower, deemed an MTS by the City... We continue to dispute its validity,” Uretsky added.
“The best case scenario coming out of this revised directive… was [that] the combined constraints on developers... may make it less profitable to build ED1 projects” in the first place.
Barnsdall opens its crafty doors
By Nona Sue Friedman Barnsdall
Arts, which includes the adult arts center and the junior arts center and gallery, is a creative treasure trove situated high on Olive Hill. Its closure during
ATOP OLIVE HILL is the Barnsdall Junior Arts Center.
Landmark Awards feature a love match and a high-end jeweler
It’s Landmark Awards season again!
The Windsor Square Hancock Park Historical Society will present on Sat., Aug. 3 its annual Landmark Awards for historic properties — residential and commercial — which are of architectural or historic significance in the community or in the boundaries of historic Rancho LaBrea. This year the awards went to two properties: 553 S. Windsor Blvd. and 119 N. Larchmont Blvd.
The winners are...
The 553 S. Windsor Blvd. home was built in 1914 by the design and construction firm The Milwaukee Building Company, operated by Mendel Meyer and Gabriel Holler (who would later change the firm to become Meyer and Holler, best known as the architects of Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard). Their clients Mr. John F. and Mrs. Nellie Powers, who had moved to Los Angeles to invest in real estate, and later became the owners of the minor league Los Angeles Angels baseball team.
Described as a “Palatial Dwelling of the English Manor Type,” the house was an early Tudor, a hybrid of Craftsman and Tudor design. It combined brick and half
On Preservation
by Brian Curran
timbering, but utilized simple and solid detailing more typical of Craftsman than the studied and delicate carving and architectural elements of later Tudors. Among the home’s most notable features are its massive doorway, which sits beneath an exceptionally wide brick archway and opens into an expansive hall with a monumental bifurcated staircase.
The house’s recent history was featured in the Wall Street Journal article entitled, “This Los Angeles Love Story Begins Inside a Rundown Tudor Revival.” It described the chance meeting of Bradley and Roger Perry at the house during an estate sale in 2013.
The couple soon fell in love and moved into the house, surviving a grueling six-year restoration, and now share the property with their two children.
The other award-winner is Larchmont Jewelers, scheduled to open this month at 119
N. Larchmont Blvd. — one of the few historic buildings on Larchmont Boulevard which retains its original façade. Built in 1923 on the west side of Larchmont Boulevard near the corner of First Street, the building was designed by architect High Barton Saunders for owner Albert B. Stephens. Designed in what has been described as “commercial vernacular,” the property was to have ground floor storefronts with five apartments above. There was originally a three-car garage building in the rear.
The Larchmont façade was faced in brick, with two large plate glass windows flanking a central door with a fan light above. The second floor continued the symmetry with evenly matched windows, Juliette balconies and arches. While the color, storefront designs and window treat-
ments changed over time and tenants, the overall historic façade remained unchanged when David Lee of Hing Wa Lee Jewelers decided to open his third retail store at the location (see story Section 1, Page 1).
Historic façade
Local preservationist James Dastoli, concerned that the historic façade would be lost in the renovations, submitted an application for Historic Cultural Monument designa-
tion, which the building was awarded earlier this year.
To Dastoli’s delight and that of the community, Mr. Lee embraced the recognition of the building as historic and proposed a design which preserves the historic façade while adapting the building to its new use as a destination jewelry and watch emporium. Congratulations to the winners for being chosen this year’s Landmark Awards recipients!
AWARDEE. This home on South Windsor Boulevard was built in 1914 by the same architects that designed the famed Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre.
Photo by Dinah Yorkin
‘Meet the Hollywoods’ without a car at CicLAvia on August 18
By Nona Sue Friedman
CicLAvia closes streets for a day to cars, creating a “pop-up park.” CicLAvia’s 54th creation is a route named “Meet the Hollywoods” on Sun., Aug. 18, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
During this Metro-sponsored free event, bike, skate, blade or walk along Santa Monica Boulevard, starting at San Vicente Boulevard, head north on Highland Avenue, then travel east on Hollywood Boulevard until the route’s end at Hillhurst Avenue. Join the fun at any point.
This route allows participants to explore the Hollywoods — West Hollywood, Hollywood and East Hollywood — with people-powered modes of
transportation.
Along the way, there are five hubs (where you must dismount and walk) to refill your water bottle for free, participate in a family friendly activity, learn about local civic organizations, get a basic bike repair or grab some food. Occasionally there is music or a performance as well.
Along the more than 6 1/2 miles of asphalt, explore local businesses and see architectural gems up close. It’s a great way to learn about a new neighborhood or explore a familiar one from a different vantage point.
More information can be found at ciclavia.org.
Hundreds of locals gathered on Lillian Way for July 4 holiday
By Monica Corcoran Harel
It was 1997. “Men in Black” topped the box office, and Lilith Fair was the new Lollapalooza. On Lillian Way in Hancock Park, another defining moment would change history forever: “A few of us dragged our barbecues into the street for the 4th of July and grilled hot dogs for each other,” recalls resident Evan Corday, now a mom of twin teen boys.
Twenty-seven years later, the annual Fourth of July Block Party attracts hundreds of locals, a taco vendor, fire trucks, bouncers, a bike parade and face painters. Local businesses help underwrite
the event.
Corday, along with a trusty cohort of Lillian Way neighbors like me, have kept this traditional celebration alive every year — even during COVID-19. (In 2020, a handful of us, wearing masks, gathered to eat cupcakes at a safe distance from each other.)
This year, the tight team of organizers, including Jordana Brown, Edward Didlock, Michelle Newell, Alden Oreck, Jeffrey Yates and Jessica DiCicco, came together in May at Corday’s dining room table to restore the block party to its former, pre-pandemic glory. The street, a block west of Ross-
the spectacle at the nearby Wilshire Country Club.
“We need community now more than ever,” says Lillian Way resident and block party co-planner Meaghan Curcio, who festooned her lawn with dozens of flags and hosted friends. Clearly, locals agreed: At 5 p.m. that day, dozens of families arrived to check in and let their kids taste independence. (“Go play!” said a chorus of parents.) The street was blocked off to cars — thanks to city permits — so it was a safe zone reminiscent of a Norman Rockwell painting.
Kids savored their freedom too. They dashed off to an inflated obstacle course, as adults feasted on carnitas tacos at rented tables and chairs. Around 7 p.m., it was time for the bike parade, musical chairs and a water balloon toss. This year, a watermelon-eating contest rivaled the Olympics in competitiveness. “I might barf,” moaned one dad.
For the first time ever, local businesses pitched in to add financial support. After the sun set, the party shuffled to the end of the block for fireworks. “I can’t wait until next year,” one kid whispered to another
a
beneath
pyrotechnic rainbow in the night sky.
FELIX NEWELL-PAPAZIAN (3 1/2 years old) and his dad, Steve Papazian, watch the fireworks.
NEIGHBORS enjoy the day.
CLIVE CURCIO, right, won second place in the watermelon-eating contest.
DYLAN YATES leads a bike parade.
FINN DIDLOCK gets his face painted.
more Avenue, comes with its own fireworks, courtesy of
Right: MAP OF ROUTE for “Meet the Hollywoods.”
Revival theaters across Los Angeles are revived this summer
By Dinah Yorkin
With climate change making the Los Angeles heat more unbearable than ever, a new activity to fill these long summer days has risen in prominence: seeing movies in revival theaters.
Dotted all across the city, revival theaters are exactly what they sound like: they screen classic, under-appreciated or forgotten films, essentially “reviving” them. As large corporate theaters seem to be full of endless sequels, never-ending trailers and audiences that can’t put their phones away, it seems that the allure of seeing films in those theaters has waned.
However, that glamor has been renewed in revival theaters: they always feature a visually, dramatically or stylistically captivating film; there are very few trailers or none at all; and employees at these theaters are not at all daunted by the prospect of kicking someone out for checking his or her phone. Moreover, tickets are much more affordable.
This renaissance has certainly been aided by new technology, specifically
the app Letterboxd. Letterboxd allows its users to log and review each film they see and connect with other film lovers. In the past year, Letterboxd’s popularity has grown exponentially, with filmmakers like Martin Scorsese and Michael Mann joining the app. This popularity has helped to spawn a resurgence of film fanatics — or film appreciators, at the very least — that have begun to frequent revival theaters in increased numbers.
With plenty of revival theaters available, the one I find myself at the most is not a theater at all, but an organization called the American Cinematheque, which plays in three theaters across Los Angeles: the newly renovated Egyptian Theatre at 6712 Hollywood Blvd., a theater in the Los Feliz Theater at 1822 N. Vermont Ave. and the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica at 1328 Montana Ave. With three theaters available to the organization, their dai-
ly programming, combined with their summer festivals such as “Bleak Week” (featuring grim films like “Make Way for Tomorrow” and “Sorcerer”) and “Ultra Cinematheque 70 Fest” (featuring 70mm prints of a wide range of films from “The Remains of the Day” to “Inception”), ensures that, any day of the week, you can find a film that will strike your fancy.
Not heralded for its fantastic design, New Beverly Cinema (owned by Quentin Tarantino) at 7615 Beverly Blvd. is heralded (at least by me) for its fantastic lineup of films. From cult classics like “Harold and Maude” to pulpy thrillers like “Race with the Devil” to Tarantino’s own beloved movies, the New Beverly is a fantastic place with great vibes to pass summer nights. Finally, I would be remiss if I did not mention the Academy Museum at 6067 Wilshire Blvd. Its two theaters play
far fewer films than the New Beverly and the American Cinematheque. Also, with screenings of films like “Rebel Without a Cause” or “The Red Shoes,” the films they play are less eclectic but still powerful. However, the true draw of the Academy Museum is the two state-of-the-art theaters, which feature plush seats and excellent sightlines. Unfortunately, the one drawback is that no snacks are allowed. For a perfect summer night, my friends and I grab a bite to eat at a classic diner, such as Swingers Diner, the Clark Street Diner or Fred 62 (which is coincidentally and conveniently right across the street from the Los Feliz Theater, which plays classic films in Theater 1), before heading out to one of the many revival theaters across Los Angeles. For a complete list of programming in each revival theater, visit revivalhubla. com.
Night Market tops off 90 years at Third and Fairfax
By Nona Sue Friedman
The Original Farmers Market turned 90 in July and held a party on July 18.
The Market, at 6333 W. Third St., took the opportunity to honor this milestone with its first Night Market.
The evening commenced with a dynamic DJ and drummer team, Ricky Rocks, spinning 90s tunes in the plaza, inspiring the crowd to dance and sing. While energized onlookers watched the DJ, other visitors strolled the plaza shopping for wares, such as jewelry, retro-inspired clothing and beautifully knit flowers, from online vendors. Of course, delicious food was readily available.
This Night Market pop-up honors the Markets’ tradition and history of celebrating Los Angeles’s diverse small businesses and vibrant culture. Here’s to another 90 years!
A SHOPPER BROWSES the adorable knit flowers of Yoho Florist, a shop that normally only sells online.
THE CROWD congregates to listen to DJ and drummer duo Ricky Rocks.
EVEN THE YOUNGSTERS danced to the ’90s tunes.
GEORGIA GRAY, Norton Avenue resident, waits in line at the New Beverly Cinema. Photo by Dinah Yorkin
Summer sounds of jazz, Latin music at LACMA
By Suzan Filipek
Enjoy the sounds of summer at two free music series underway at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd.
Hear jazz on Fridays beginning at 6 p.m. on the Smidt Welcome Plaza. The 33rd annual program kicked off in May. Upcoming, Joshua White Quintet plays Aug. 2. Clayton Cameron Sextet performs Aug. 9, followed by 6 Beats Apart on Aug. 16 and Benn Clatworthy & System 6 on Aug. 23.
The Latin Sounds program features Central and South American Indigenous and modern music from Argentina, Cuba, Mexico and Los Angeles. The concerts are Saturdays from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Dorothy Collins Brown Amphitheater on the Sixth Street side of the LACMA campus.
Las Chikas take the stage on Aug. 3. Nobresil performs Aug. 10, Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca on Aug. 17 and Luis Conte Band on Aug. 24. Son Mayor performs Aug. 31.
Visitors can enjoy open seating and picnicking on the grounds for both programs. Food and beverage options are available.
Admission to the museum
buildings is free to Los Angeles County residents with valid IDs Monday to Friday, after 5 p.m. For Los Angeles County youth 17 and under, admission is free at all times. The buildings are open until 8 p.m. on Fridays and are closed on Wednesdays.
The jazz series continues through October. Latin Sounds ends in September. For more information, visit lacma.org.
Summer Night Music plays on at Farmers Market
Salsa, reggae and hip-hop fire up summer nights on the Market Plaza at the Original Farmers Market on Thursdays, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., through Aug. 29.
Raul Val and his Texas Blues Rock Trio rock the night Aug. 8. Larry O. Williams & Friends bring smooth jazz and serious funk on Aug. 15, followed by Jahgun & The Justifyah Band’s blend of reggae, hiphop and world beat on Aug. 22. Sangre Nueva serves up some salsa on Aug. 29.
For more information, visit farmersmarketla.com.
The Farmers Market is at 6333 W. Third St.
Waltz into Dance DTLA’s massive birthday party
By Dinah Yorkin
Be sure to swing by the Music Center’s Dance DTLA Birthday Bash on Sat., Aug. 24, from 7 to 10 p.m., on the Jerry Moss Plaza at 135 N. Grand Ave. to celebrate 20 years of Dance DTLA.
Three Los Angeles-based DJs will usher partygoers through a journey of dance and highlight genres from past Dance DTLAs. Dance instructors will be on hand during the three-hour club under the stars. A champagne toast will start the night, and in between dances, cakes and other light fare will be served.
Tickets for the celebration are $60 and can be purchased at musiccenter.org/birthday. All proceeds go to The Music Center’s free and low-cost programs.
Dance party is
Aug. 18, Sept. 15
Swing by Gloria Molina Grand Park at 200 N. Grand Ave. on Sun., Aug. 18, or Sun., Sept. 15, from 3 to 8 p.m. for a night of dance, music, cocktails and food trucks. Local DJs will spin tunes and partygoers can enjoy the vibrant artistic scene of Los Angeles as they picnic at the park. The event is free. Visit grandparkla.org for more information.
‘As
You Like It’ under the stars
Brush up on your Shakespeare, grab a picnic blanket and then head over to the dell at the top of the Old Los Angeles Zoo at 4801 Griffith Park Dr. for a free night of Shakespeare under the stars. Performances are Wednesdays through Sundays until Sun., Sept. 1, with an immersive prologue beginning at 6 p.m. and the performance beginning at 7 p.m.
Having put on free performances of Shakespeare since 2003, the Independent Shake-
speare Co. is performing “As You Like It” this year. With songs inspired by the 1930s singer Al Bowlly, a prologue that allows the audience to interact with the cast, and Norton Avenue resident Jack Lancaster as Orlando, to go or not to go — there really is no question!
See “Around the Town,” Section 1, Page 4, to read more about Lancaster. Although the event is free, registration is required. Visit iscla.org/festival-2024.
DANCE DTLA birthday bash at The Music Center is Aug. 24. Shown are festive partygoers from a previous year.
Photo courtesy of The Music Center
Learning and fun abound at Tar Pits
By Casey Russell Summer of Sloths continues at the La Brea Tar Pits through Tues., Sept. 3. Learn about these slow-moving mammals at your own pace or with guided tours.
Don’t miss Sloths Summer Night, Fri., July 26, from 5 to 8 p.m. With free admission to
the museum and a chance to meet a living tree sloth, courtesy of the Wildlife Learning Center, this will be a night to remember. Tar Bar will be selling cold drinks, and food trucks will be close by so that visitors can picnic while listening to tunes presented by Mike C. Music.
By Casey Russell
A little-known perk of being the proud owner of a Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) library card (in good standing) is a program called Discover & Go.
Available to Los Angeles residents 18 and older, the program enables participants to reserve free tickets for each participating Explore L.A. museum and attraction.
Library card holders can log on to lapl.org, click on services and programs and choose “Explore L.A.” to reserve passes.
Participating institutions include: Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Aquarium of the Pacific, The Broad, California Botanic Garden, Chinese American Museum,
Recording Academy Grammy Museum L.A. Live, Hammer Museum, Japanese American National Museum, La Brea Tar Pits & Museum, LA Galaxy, LA Opera, LA Plaza de Cultura Y Artes, Los Angeles Conservancy, Los Angeles Zoo, The Museum of Jurassic Technology, Museum of Tolerance, Natural History Museum and Skirball Cultural Center.
This ongoing program allows card holders to reserve the first come, first served passes up to three months in advance. Some participating institutions give family passes; others offer tickets for individuals.
For more information or to take advantage of the free opportunities, visit lapl.org.
There will be Excavator Tours of the Fossil Lab, where you can watch paleontologists at work and peruse historic excavation sites and Project 23, where live excavations can be viewed. These tours are offered at 1 p.m. weekdays and 10:30 and 1 p.m. weekends.
Experience the museum’s 15-minute show, “Ice Age Encounters,” for $6 per person (in addition to admission), Thursdays and Fridays at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Admission to the museum
is $18 for adults, $14 for seniors and students, $7 for children 3-12 and free for
children 2 and under. Visit tarpits.org for more information.
Crafts workshops to feature clay, masks
By Dinah Yorkin
Embrace your creative side and learn a fun new skill in a series of workshops this summer at the Craft Contemporary at 5814 Wilshire Blvd.
“Open Clay Time,” which is an opportunity for participants to experiment with air dry clay, is every Friday from 3 to 5 p.m. through Sept. 6. With no RSVP required, participants can be inspired by works on view and will learn simple techniques to bring their ideas to fruition. Admission is the price of a museum ticket plus $7 for materials.
Make Korean ceramic Jesa plates on Thurs., Aug. 1, from 6 to 8 p.m. These plates are used during traditional ceremonies. Participants will learn how to craft them by hand and decorate them with painted underglaze imagery.
Visit River Fest to celebrate the Los Angeles River
Make sure to slather on some sunblock and stop by the free River Fest on Sun., Aug. 11, from 3 to 9 p.m. at the scenic Los Angeles State Historic Park at 1245 N. Spring St.
The Friends of the LA River (FoLAR) is hosting River Fest, a celebration of the Los Angeles River and its rich history and culture. The open-air and free community-based festival will feature interactive environmental activities, a variety of food trucks and a wide range of local artists and their work. Live performances, a visual art gallery and a marketplace will be facilitated by the artists.
Debuting this year is the Lewis Lounge, a tribute to FoLAR founder and poet Lewis MacAdams. All poetry submissions will be displayed, with some read live during a curated poetry jam, hosted by Mike “The Poet” Sonksen. The event is free; registration is required. Visit folar.org/riverfest to secure your spot.
Tickets are $12. Learn to craft masks inspired by traditional mask-making practices in Mexico on Sun., Aug. 11, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Participants will create symbolic masks using cardboard, paper and other materials. Tickets are required for the event and cost $10.
Registration is required for the Jesa plate workshop and mask-making workshop. Visit craftcontemporary.org/ programs.
Bronson Ave. in Larchmont
Four luscious brunch spots to enjoy lazy summer weekends
What better time than the dog days of summer for a lazy, luscious brunch? Sitting on a sun-sparkled patio or in a climate-controlled lounge, loading up on some version of sweet carbs or fluffy eggs (or both), sipping a mimosa or anything else that will make you fall into a deep siesta as soon as you return home … If that’s not perfection, what is?
Luckily for us, there are ample nearby options for splendid summer weekend brunches. Here are four to try.
Lemon Grove, a rooftop restaurant at the Aster Hotel, has both a lovely indoor space with tables and a bar and an outdoor area with retractable shade. There is also a lounge area and bar with more direct views of the Hollywood skyline. Be forewarned that the hotel’s front door is kept locked to discourage random Hollywood denizens from entering, and to date there is no signage directing visitors to enter through the garage.
Most importantly, though, the brunch was wonderful.
My $19 rolled French omelet with Boursin and spinach was beautifully cooked; the accompanying roasted potatoes had wonderfully crispy bits. My husband’s $22 salm-
on Benedict was spectacular. Generous pieces of lightly smoked salmon were bathed in a lemony hollandaise over English muffins. $16 cocktails were delightful. The Bloody Mary was well-seasoned, but the star drink of the morning was a gorgeous take on a gin and tonic made with lavender-infused gin, elderflower liqueur and tonic water. The only brunch hiccup was that the $15 cinnamon buns were grossly underbaked, but they promptly took them off our bill. Other options include $20 bananas Foster pancakes, $18 biscuits and gravy and $26 fried chicken and waffles.
Lemon Grove, 1717 Vine St., 6th floor of Aster Hotel, 323-962-1717.
Another hotel brunch option, this one at street level, is The Bar at Short Stories Hotel. A lovely patio just off the lobby provides a relaxing respite from the bustle of Fairfax Avenue just steps away. There is limited shade, so on stifling days, try their adjacent room with tables and bar seating. A DJ provides a mellow music backdrop.
Brunch entrees include a $16 broccolini and cheddar omelet, $15 waffle with berries and maple syrup, and a $20 cheeseburger with fried
On the Menu by Helene Seifer
egg. Smoked salmon toast ($14) makes a flavorful light meal. Sturdy Danish-style bread is spread with dill cream cheese and topped with lox, thin-sliced cucumbers and sprinkles of everything-but-the-bagel spice. French toast with grilled peaches and puddles of vanilla custard ($17) is a sweet and creamy choice. A $6 side of wild mushrooms and spinach added an umami-laden, satisfyingly salty counterpoint to the rich French toast. There is a full bar, but they lean toward the typical brunch beverages. A $22 Bloody Mary, made table-side with house-made rosemary-infused vodka, is topped with a green olive, a cornichon and a rasher of bacon. $30 bottomless mimosas come in three juice choices: orange, pomegranate or passion fruit.
The Bar at Short Stories Hotel, 115 S. Fairfax Ave., 323-937-3930.
Superba Food + Bread has a lovely indoor restaurant, but ask to be seated in their beautiful courtyard, where lush plantings and umbrellas offer shade. Given that bread is in their name, all their bakery items are particularly worthy, from an $11 warm cinnamon bun redolent with orange zest to $17 croissant French toast with candied pecans and vanilla crème fraîche. The extensive menu includes: a $22 “big boy” breakfast of eggs, bacon, potatoes, toast and kale; $21 eggs Benedict with roasted tomatoes and smoked hollandaise; $19 chilaquiles with fried eggs, salsa verde, charred poblano peppers and cotija cheese; $25.50 salmon bowl with roasted vegetables; and $29 garlic-rubbed half chicken.
Superba Food + Bread, 6530 Sunset Blvd., 323-364-9844. Also in Venice and Pasadena. There are only a few outside tables at Salt’s Cure, so count on sitting inside their rustic, wood-lined restaurant with floor-to-ceiling open windows. Known for their oatmeal griddle cakes, we ordered the $10 plate as a side to share — two large pancakes awash in cinnamon butter were sweet, chewy, robust and wonderful. We each
also ordered their $15 SoCal breakfast: two eggs (we chose scrambled), sourdough toast and half an avocado. The eggs were fluffy and buttery with an intensely eggy flavor — possibly the best scrambled eggs I’ve tasted. The toast was delicious, and the avocado perfectly ripe. Simple things done simply right.
Their Bloody Mary is house-made from heirloom tomatoes, cooked with spices and pickle juice. It was seasoned perfectly, with just the right amount of heat. They have other interesting cocktail options including a mixture of bourbon and beet juice and a chamomile-infused gin blended with cucumber and basil.
Other brunch options include biscuits and gravy with sunny-side up eggs and pork sausage ($17), a pork chop with apple sauce and braised greens ($36) and a plate with two sausages, bacon rashers, eggs and oatmeal griddle cakes ($23).
Salt’s Cure, 1155 Highland Ave., 323-380-7148. Their breakfast- and lunch-only restaurant, Breakfast by Salt’s Cure, is located at 7494 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, and in Brentwood and New York City.
Sordid underbelly of show business told; rom-com
Sorry / Not Sorry (9/10): 98 minutes. NR. Streaming and available everywhere you can rent / buy movies. Louis C.K. was an immensely successful comedian / producer whose perversion was masturbating in front of women. It was a not-so-closely-held secret until it became a scandal. He made a 35mm film in 2017 called “I Love You Daddy” that was so disgusting it wasn’t released. Although I saw it, I did not write a review because the scandal broke almost immediately after my viewing, and I thought it would not see the light of day.
This illuminating documentary is based on the New York Times article “Louis C.K. is Accused by 5 Women of Sexual Misconduct” by Melena Ryzlik, Cara Buckley and Jodi Kantor and is directed by Caroline Suh and Cara Mones.
Up-and-coming comediennes Jen Kirkman and Megan Koestler are interviewed at length about their experiences, which shattered their lives. Also interviewed, Dana Min Goodman and Julia Willow were two female emerging comics whom he invited to his room where he
asked if he could masturbate in front of them. When they were stunned into silence, he took off his clothes and, naked, did it. Their promising careers virtually died aborning as a result of this experience, and they explain why.
These stories are shocking, but equally shocking are the hypocritical people who defend Louis C.K. and diminish the women making the accusations, like Jon Stewart, Bill Maher (“There’s a litany of things that are a lot worse than [masturbating] in front of a few people.”), Dave Chappelle and Luis J Gomez (“What did he do, he [masturbated] in front of a few women…who hasn’t?”).
The film concludes with Louis C.K.’s comeback and a few comments from people like Michael Ian Black, a comedian, who asks “How do we welcome people back and how do we not welcome people back?”
Louis C.K.’s victims have some comments about his comeback, too. This important film highlights the sordid underbelly of show business.
Joe Pickett (8/10): Two-season series of 10 50-minute
episodes each, streaming on Paramount+. TV-14. Based on C.J. Box novels about a game warden, Joe Pickett (Michael Dornan) and his wife, Marybeth (Julianna Gill), and their children. In the opening season, Pickett is new to the job, and the story includes flashbacks to explain his character. Joe is up against some bad characters who do everything to thwart his efforts to clean things up, all the while putting his family in dire danger. The scenery is beautiful, and
By Dinah Yorkin
Stop by the showing of the documentary “Edo Avant Garde” on Sat., Aug. 3 at 11 a.m. at the Japan Foundation at 5700 Wilshire Blvd.
In conjunction with the art exhibition “Inspired by Edo,” the showing will begin with an introduction by Linda Hoaglund, the film’s director and exhibit’s program director.
“Edo Avant Garde,” made in 2019, explores Japanese art during the Edo era (16031868). In that time, artists sought to bring the natural world and creatures to life. To animate trees, puppies, waves and more, they incorporated asymmetry, abstraction and empty space.
Hoaglund explored these techniques — which greatly influenced modern art in the West — by filming close-guarded art pieces in museums and private collections.
Cinematography by award-winning Norimichi Kasamatsu and an original soundtrack by Shoko Nagai are also featured in the film. Admission is free, but registration is required.
The exhibit “Inspired by
the tension builds to a crescendo.
Fly Me to the Moon (7/10): 132 minutes. PG-13. I was inclined not to like this, mainly due to its star, Channing Tatum, who is of the Kevin Costner school of acting — a good-looking guy who just recites his lines and hits his marks. So I was surprised to find that, while frivolous, it was entertaining.
It seems to be germinated from a documentary made by writer / producer Craig Titley’s “Conspiracy Theory: Did We Land on the Moon?” (2001), in which Titley postulated that the entire moon landing was a big scam telecast from a studio, and presented evidence to document the theory.
Although Titley’s film is uncredited, in this iteration, directed by Greg Berlan-
ti from a script by Keenan Flynn, Rose Gilroy and Bill Kirstein (multiple writers, generally a bad sign), Cole Davis (Tatum) is Apollo 11’s launch director. Foisted upon him by a White House PR guy, Moe Berkus (Woody Harrelson), is marketing whiz Kelly Jones (Scarlett Johansson), who is an aggressive overachiever with a mysterious past.
This is a rom-com, so there is a romantic attraction between Kelly and Cole, even though he fights her throughout the film. The best performance in the film is by Harrelson as the typical political dirty tricks guy.
Even though — like most undisciplined movies today — it goes on too long, it’s enjoyable, and there are some impressive special effects.
Cinematographer receives honors
Crescenzo Notarile, a longtime Windsor Square resident, was inducted into the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Class of 2024 in July.
The director of photography has also won a Peabody Award for his cinematography in the “Star Trek” universe, having photographed “Star Trek: Picard” and “Star Trek: Discovery.”
An Emmy Award winner, Notarile has worked on a wide range of projects, most recently on the Netflix series “Your Honor” with Bryan Cranston.
Notarile was featured in the Larchmont Chronicle’s May 2022 issue, in the article “Notarile’s commute takes him to galaxies far, far away” (tinyurl. com/534nkwb3).
Art exhibition and soiree August 9
Stop by an exhibition and soiree at TAG Gallery, at 5458 Wilshire Blvd., on Fri., Aug. 9, from 6 to 9 p.m. The artHYPE and SHE IS HOPE LA event will feature a collection of diverse works. Tickets are free and can be reserved at tinyurl.com/2vbzmpna.
Edo” opens Mon., Aug. 5, with a reception at 7 p.m. The ex-
hibit continues through Sat., Sept. 28. Visit jflalc.org.
“PUPPIES,” by Maruyama Ōkyo, 1781; ink and color on paper, Mary Griggs Burke Collection, Gift of the Mary and Jackson Burke Foundation, Minneapolis Institute of Art.
Multiple ways of silencing commenters on culture are everywhere
I wanted to review “Finist, The Brave Falcon” for this column, but, of course, that is impossible. The play, which was once financed by the Russian government and won Russia’s equivalent of a Tony award, is banned for “justifying” terrorism. Its author, Svetlana Petriychuk, and director, Zhenya Berkovich, both in their 30s, have been sentenced to six-year prison terms on terrorism charges.
Since Russia’s Ukraine invasion, a steady stream of intellectuals, artists, writers, and journalists have been arrested on a variety of terrorism, treason and “foreign agent” charges, eliminating any dissent or critique.
There are other ways of silencing cultural critics and observers.
Last month, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida used his veto to eliminate all of the state’s $32 million arts funding. Our own Gavin Newsom planned a 58 percent cut in statewide arts funding, which would have had a serious impact on the nearly 850,000 arts-related jobs statewide. Only after a vigorous campaign by arts advocates did the legislature restore 75 percent of the cuts. Since 2018, state general fund support for the arts has
averaged 67 cents (67 cents!) per person per year. With the cut, California drops from 36th to 45th in state arts funding. There are half as many 99-seat theaters in Los Angeles as there were eight years ago. COVID-19, Assembly Bill 5, inflation, and changes in the tax code on charitable deductions all have played a part. The big arts entities will manage. It’s the marginal venues, where voices struggle to be heard and seeds of resistance are planted that are being shuttered.
Which leads me to pornography — which is not something I usually write about!
However you may feel about the Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025” document, just five pages into the foreword, “the proposal stakes out an uncompromising position that porn should be banned, porn producers and distributors should be sent to prison, and tech companies that circulate it should be shut down” (MSNBC 7/12/24). But nowhere is “porn” defined. In 1964, Justice Potter Stewart threw up his hands with his “I know it when I see it” opinion, deciding that Louis Malle’s film, “The Lovers,” was not pornographic, despite a graphic (for the times) sex scene.
Theater Review by Louis Fantasia
But what about the recently closed, full-bore cross-dressing “Psycho Beach Party” at the Matrix Theatre (a sort of “Gidget” meets John Waters meets “Mommie, Dearest”)? It was a romp and a hoot, and very gay, and…? What about “Strange Loop” at the Ahmanson last month? Vulgar, perhaps, but porn?
Or even the Will Geer’s delightful Wendy’s Peter Pan, Ellen Geer’s more politically correct take on J.M. Barrie’s play (through Oct. 4; 310455-3723). Does having the energetic Gabbi Beauvais play Peter (women usually do play the part) violate gender norms for impressionable youth?
Who decides?
This is the issue implicit in the revival of Jon Robin Baitz’s The Substance of Fire, at the Ruskin Group Theater in Santa Monica through Sept. 1 (310-397-3244). Isaac (Rob Morrow) is the patriarch of a boutique publishing house
What to watch for
“Clue,” the board game-based mystery, is at the Ahmanson through Aug. 25; 213-628-2772; centertheatregroup.org
Agatha Christie’s “Murder After Hours” runs at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in North Hollywood from Aug. 2 through Sept. 8; thegrouprep.com or 818-763-5990.
The Independent Shakespeare Company presents “As You Like It” at the Old Zoo in Griffith Park through Sept. 1; iscla.org, or 818-710-6306.
who battles for the right to publish high-quality books that nobody buys. His three adult children band together to take the company from him, leaving him isolated in the face of “progress.” The play, one of Baitz’s earliest, is uneven at best. Mr. Morrow and Marcia Cross, as a social worker looking in on Isaac, have a great scene together in Act II, which only renders the rest of the play less memorable. But still the issue is there:
who decides what gets published or produced or banned? The state? The economy? The Heritage Foudation?
If you think I am being dramatic, remember that Will Geer and his wife, Herta Ware (parents of Ellen), began giving performances in Topanga in the 1950s to help out writers and artists whose careers were ruined by blacklists and Communist witch hunts. Don’t say it can’t happen here. It already has.
Speed dating at bookstore is a hit
Make sure that your confidence is all good and boosted, and then head over to Chevalier’s Books at 133 N. Larchmont Blvd. for two speed dating events in August. After partnering with Love in LA for the first event in late July, Chevalier’s will once again partner with them
to help run the next two. The first speed dating event was a surprise sell out. Dates have not yet been announced for August, but one will be for a 40-plus age group, and the other will be for queer-identifying people. Tickets are $30. Registration is required. Visit chevaliersbooks.com.
Local Edwin Raquel starred in Filipino opera at The Ebell
PLOTKE Plumbing Inc.
By Jane Gilman
The performance of the Filipino opera “Karim and Jasmin” at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in June featured local resident Edwin Raquel. He had a lead role in the opera as the general, and his wife, Dr. Lani Raquel, played a priestess.
Written and composed by Dr. Ramon Sison Geluz, the opera blends song, dance and storytelling and is performed by a cast of 30, including several internationally known singers. Edwin was
approached to take the role in January, and rehearsals began in April. A repeat performance of the opera is being planned. Singing has always been Edwin Raquel’s avocation, dating back to his roles in school musicals and the TransAmerica chorus, which performed concerts four times a year. Years later, Raquel starred as Capt. Von Trapp in a stage version of “The Sound of Music.” He took on this role in addition to his real-life responsibilities as the chief actuary for Sun
America.
Edwin now is the owner of Gr8 Care, a post-acute rehabilitation center. He and his wife, an OB-GYN doctor, moved 31 years ago to Fremont Place, where they raised their four daughters. Dr. Raquel is a member of the University of the Philippines Singing Ambassadors. At their wedding 31 years ago, they sang their wedding vows. Today, Edwin continues his love of music by singing at weddings and other occasions for friends.
Dog parade; reptiles; make a firefly!
FAIRFAX LIBRARY
Teens, Adults & Seniors
Fun and relaxation with watercolors: Embark on an artistic journey led by artist and illustrator Roxsy Lin. Unlock your inner artist on Sat., Aug. 10, at noon.
Kids
Thor’s reptile family: Enjoy hands-on entertainment and education with live anthropods, amphibians and reptiles of all sizes. Go on safari around the world Tues., Aug. 6, at 4 p.m.
All ages
Book sale: Browse used books every Wednesday, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. All sales support the library branch.
FREMONT LIBRARY
Kids
Light up firefly craft: Make your own illuminated firefly with an LED light bulb, lithium battery and copper tape Tues., July 30, at 4 p.m.
Live music with the Ben Band: Come listen to Ben Urwant perform family-friendly songs about animals from Australia. The wacky musical entertainment takes place Wed., July 31, at 2 p.m.
MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Kids
LA Zoo goes to the library: Learn the importance of pollination with a story and craft from the Los Angeles Zoo on Wed., Aug. 7, at 11:30 a.m.
Teens
Outdoor games: Giant Jenga, Connect Four and more on the lawn, Thurs., Aug. 8, at 4 p.m.
Adults
First Friday book club:
Discuss “Lady Tan’s Circle of Women” by Lisa See on Fri., Aug. 2, at 1 p.m. The title for September is “End of Story,” by AJ Finn.
Pickling workshop: Learn about fermentation and vinegar pickling you can do at home on Sat., Aug. 3, at 1 p.m.
All ages
Chess club: Play chess or learn how each Friday, from 3 to 5 p.m.
Book sale: Support your library by purchasing your next favorite read every Tuesday from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m., every Saturday, from 3 to 5 p.m.
WILSHIRE LIBRARY
Kids
LEGO day: BuildUp for Kids is bringing hundreds of LEGO bricks to build and create on Tues., July 30, at 3 p.m. Storytime with Bailey and
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.
the LA Kings ice crew: Join LA Kings ice crew and meet their mascot, Bailey, for a special reading of “B is for Bailey” on Thurs., Aug. 1, at 1 p.m. All ages Dog parade: Register your dog in advance to participate in a parade through and around the library and compete in the best dressed or best trick contest on Thurs., Aug. 8, from 3 to 5 p.m.
Cocktails, boat rides and more with the Art Deco Society
The Art Deco Society of Los Angeles is hosting a series of events to fill these long, hot summer days and nights. Put on your dancing shoes and stop by three cocktail events in historical locations – the Roosevelt Hotel on Thurs., July 25, from 6 to 9 p.m., the Queen Mary Bar on Tues., Aug. 13, from 4 to 8 p.m. and the Hotel Figueroa on Wed., Aug. 14, from 6 to 9 p.m.
Participants will experience live dance music, cocktails and lively conversation in classic Los Angeles locales. Boat ride is July 27 Put on some bug spray, sunblock and a baseball cap, and go on a swan boat ride and tour of Echo Park on Sat., July 27, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Led by a guide from the Echo Park Historical Society, the ride will include communing with the park’s wildlife, such as geese, turtles and fish, and learning about the history and importance of Echo Park. Tickets are $30.
For more information and to register, visit artdecola.org/ events-calendar.
A CAST OF 30 performed in the opera “Karim and Jasmin,” starring Edwin Raquel.
Order of Australia awarded to Fremont Place resident
By Casey Russell Television reporter
and journalist Robert Penfold of Fremont Place was honored with The Order of Australia in 2021. But, because the pandemic was in full swing when the award was announced, ceremonies were delayed. Penfold just recently traveled to the country of his birth to receive the great honor in person.
The Order of Australia was instituted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1975 and is the main way Australians “recognize the achievements which benefit or bring honor to the Australian community,” according to the Order of Australia Handbook.
Penfold was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his long career in journalism and, in particular, for his role as the United States correspondent for Australia’s main television outlet, the Nine Network.
During his time with the
Nine Network, Penfold covered such events as the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Gulf War and Nelson Mandela being freed from prison.
He and his wife, Shar, traveled to Sydney and joined other recipients at Government House, where awardees
were presented the prestigious award by the governor.
The Penfolds moved from Australia to Los Angeles in 1985, when the reporter was appointed as the U.S. correspondent for the Nine Network. They lived on Lucerne Boulevard, where their first child was born. When Penfold was posted in Europe, the family left Los Angeles for several years. They returned in 1997 (as a family of five) when the journalist was appointed senior Nine Network U.S. correspondent and bureau chief.
Visionaries sparked city’s early growth
By Dinah Yorkin
Author and historian Paul Haddad has a new book where he tells the stories of Phineas Banning, Harry Chandler, Harrison Gray Otis, Henry Huntington, William Mulholland and Moses Sherman. Haddad posits that these were the six key players behind the growth of Los Angeles at the start of the 20th century.
The new book is “Inventing Paradise: The Power Brokers Who Created the Dream of Los Angeles.”
Through research and storytelling, the book chronicles the growth of the city from a violent, dusty and desolate pueblo in 1870, with very little change since its founding in 1781, to its incredible growth by 1930, when the city had a population of 1.2 million and went from 29 square miles to 489, which is roughly the size it is today.
Haddad believes the visionaries at the helm of this growth were a “Gilded Age-reared oligarchy” and “voracious capitalists.” He depicts them as complex, as are their contributions to the city’s monumental growth.
Harrison Gray Otis became involved with the Los Angeles Times in 1882 and had full control as publisher of the
paper in 1886. His son-in-law, Harry Chandler, was the next publisher and was a powerful real estate investor. He helped to fund the Los Angeles Coliseum, Biltmore Hotel and much more.
Haddad writes not only of Chandler’s influence on the build-up of Los Angeles, but also of his and others’ involvement in discussions of eugenics.
Descendants of Harry Chandler who have lived in the Larchmont Chronicle distribution area include his son, Norman, who also was the Los Angeles Times publisher. He and his wife, Dorothy Buffum Chandler, lived on Lorraine
Boulevard in Windsor Square. At a later point in the life of their son, also Times publisher, Otis Chandler, he lived in Hancock Park, as did their grandson — Harry Chandler’s namesake, Harry B. Chandler. That contemporary Harry Chandler is chair of RiverLA, a nonprofit helping to transform the Los Angeles River.
William Mulholland was an engineer responsible for the aqueduct that provided the
(Please turn to Page 14)
Penfold retired from the Nine Network two years ago and currently serves as the Global Media Relations Manager for Meridian Rapid Defense Group. “He’s not a foreign correspondent anymore, so he’s here, which is nice,” said Shar Penfold.
“INVENTING PARADISE” by Paul Haddad.
ROBERT PENFOLD is awarded the Order of Australia medal by Gov. Margaret Beazley at Government House, Sydney.
AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE in Sydney, Australia, are (left to right) Dennis Wilson (Gov. Beazley’s husband), Gov. Margaret Beazley, Robert and Shar Penfold.
POLICE BEAT
Armed suspect takes property; business on Larchmont burglarized
WILSHIRE DIVISION
ROBBERY: A suspect armed with a handgun approached a victim and demanded property. The suspect took the property and fled the scene on the 500 block of South Hudson Avenue on July 5.
BURGLARIES: A suspect used a code to enter a business, found keys to the safe, opened the safe and fled with money on the 200 block of North Larchmont Boulevard on July 3.
A suspect gained access to a victim’s garage, then removed property and fled the location on the 300 block of North Highland Avenue on July 1.
WILSHIRE DIVISION
(these officers are interim)
Furnished by
Senior Lead Officer
Andrew Jones
Text: (213) 793-0782
41719@lapd.online
Senior Lead Officer
Ryan Ty
Text: (213) 590-5407
37555@lapd.online
OLYMPIC DIVISION
Furnished by Senior Lead Officer
Daniel Chavez
213-793-0709
36304@lapd.online
Instagram: @olympic_slo1
suspects. Property was taken from the 400 block of South Las Palmas Avenue.
BURGLARY FROM A
VEHICLE: A suspect smashed the victim’s vehicle window and ransacked the auto on the 400 block of South McCadden Place on July 14.
Detroit Street on July 1, a 2024 Trek e-bike was taken from the 400 block of North Rossmore Avenue on July 4, and a 2018 Kia Sol was taken from the 100 block of South Mansfield Avenue on July 10.
OLYMPIC DIVISION
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT: Domestic violence between a suspect and a victim broke out. The encounter started with a verbal argument and escalated to physical injury on July 3 on the 600 block of North Beachwood Drive.
any property was taken on July 11 on the 500 block of North Gramercy Place.
GRAND THEFT AUTO: A car parked on the street on the 5100 block of Clinton Street was stolen on July 10.
A suspect entered a side gate, then a rear kitchen door, to enter a home on July 1. The victim was home and, out of fear, escorted the suspect out of the home. The suspect fled with property to a neighbor’s home and then left the area on the 200 block of South Alta Vista Boulevard. Suspects smashed the rear glass door to gain entrance to a victim’s home on July 6. The perpetrators took property and fled the 300 block of South Orange Drive.
GRAND THEFT AUTO:
Three vehicles were stolen this month; a 2023 Nissan Altima from the 100 block of South
A locked and secured residence was entered July 14 by
BURGLARIES: A suspect broke a rear window of a home, ransacked the interior and fled on July 4 on the 800 block of Third Avenue. A suspect entered a victim’s apartment while the victim was asleep. It is unknown if
A NOTE FROM SLO: New to the neighborhood, SLO Daniel Chavez reminds residents that even with the high temperatures, lock and secure doors and windows when you leave your home. Burglaries are in issue. Also, if you are going out of town for a few days, inform your neighbors and ask them to keep an eye on your home and collect any mail or packages from the porch. And finally, please be aware of your surroundings and who is driving through the neighborhood.
New captain comes to Olympic Division
By Nona Sue Friedman
Capt. Rachel Rodriguez is the newest command staff member at the Olympic Community Police Station.
Rodriguez is a second-generation officer with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) who began her career with LAPD in 2005. Her father retired from the force about five years ago, and her brother currently works as an officer as well. “LAPD is in my blood,” she says.
She started her second tour of duty with Olympic Division in June. Her first was in 2012 as a vice officer. When asked how she feels being back at the station, the smiling and happy captain said, “Being at Olympic has been a
Inventing Paradise
(Continued from Page 13)
water to raise Los Angeles’s population from 250,000 to 2.5 million but whose repu-
blessing… everyone wants to work toward a common goal of increasing safety… positive community programming and making the local area a place to live, work and enjoy.”
tation was destroyed when at least 431 people died when the St. Francis Dam collapsed. Henry Huntington’s and Moses Sherman’s trolley systems utilized extortion-type practices to expand, according to Haddad.
The author lists the costs of building a “paradise” in a single half-century: rampant car dependency, environmental problems and systemic inequities. These are costs that are felt today, he says.
Over the years, she has been a patrol officer, on a criminal surveillance team and a field training officer, to name just a few positions. In 2022, she served as executive officer to then Chief of Police Michel Moore and, in 2023, was promoted to captain.
She earned her bachelor of arts in political science, bachelor of science in criminal justice and master’s degree of science in criminal justice — all from Cal. State Long Beach.
What’s her favorite part of being an LAPD officer? “I find the greatest joy in developing the next generation of LAPD personnel so that we can continue the good work done daily and strengthen the bonds that we share with so many.” She can be reached at 37455@lapd.online.
While arguing that Los Angeles was not a product of manifest destiny but of the ardent manifestations and ambitions of six men, “Inventing Paradise” still recounts Los Angeles’ rich and complicated history, as well as its dark side, and how the city was willed into existence by (according to Haddad) these six tycoons. Published by the Santa Monica Press, the 404-page non-fiction book became available on June 18.
CAPT. RODRIGUEZ
Mix of words, meat and dash of poetry make for a hearty stew
What makes a stew? Usually it starts with browning onions and garlic in a pot with some root vegetables thrown in for texture. A meat may be incorporated, or perhaps fish or crustaceans. Add a splash of wine, more spices to taste and the most important ingredient of all — time.
The word “stew” is simple, monosyllabic, easy to pronounce. It lands with a thud, heavier than the heartiest goulash. Its synonyms, on the other hand, couldn’t be more different. Like a lineup of oddball cousins, each is a jumble of letters and sounds whose meanings evoke a flurry of confusion, medley and mixture.
“Gallimaufry,” meaning “assortment” or “jumble,” is the descendant of a French medley dish. It’s unclear what exactly a 16th-century
Barnsdall
(Continued from Page 2)
COVID-19 was an opportunity for the city-owned property to have some much-needed repairs. Now, four long years later, it’s fully open, again. And they had a party to celebrate!
The much anticipated and festive event on July 20 included a ribbon cutting ceremony, performances, tours of the newly renovated studios, guided art programs, refreshments and ice cream and an opening reception in Barnsdall Junior Arts Center’s Gallery.
Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez addressed the crowd saying how grateful he is that Barnsdall again is open and available to the people of the City of Los Angeles.
Young artists sought for HOL tile contest
To commemorate its 25th anniversary, the House of Lebanon (HOL), at 4800 Wilshire Blvd. in Brookside, is seeking young artists to submit designs before Sat., Aug. 24 for a tile-making contest.
To be eligible, participants must be under 18 and of Lebanese descent. The design must be a six-inch square featuring bright colors in any medium. Participants are encouraged to highlight Lebanese culture. Forty artists will be picked to paint their designs onto tiles at the HOL.
Of the 40, 24 tiles will be placed on a commemorative bench to celebrate the HOL’s 25th anniversary.
Art work can be submitted to community.houseoflebanon.com/tiles-of-heritage.
galimafrée recipe consisted of. It may have been similar to a hash or ragout; a sauce of mustard, ginger and vinegar; or, according to one source, a stew of carp. This irresistible tangle of a word, which may have originated from the Old French “galer” (or “to have a good time”), is a quick trick to spice up a sentence.
Further afield, “salmagundi” is primarily known as a cold dish of chopped meat, seafood, eggs and vegetables, described as “the British answer to salad Niçoise.” The name in fact originates from the same root as “salad,” the Proto-Indo-European “sal,” or “salt.” Its flamboyant latter syllables may come from the Latin “condire” — “to season.” In 1761, the word began to transcend its culinary origins, and today you can have a “salmagundi” — a mixture
Barnsdall, located at 4800 Hollywood Blvd., first opened in 1946. It has become a premiere art center in Los Angeles dedicated to providing affordable art programs that educate and enrich the community. The center has classes for kids, teens and adults that include ceramics, life drawing, collage, jewelry and drawing. And that’s just the beginning.
In addition to being a creative haven, the area has a lush green lawn where Friday night wine tastings occur through Aug. 30, as well as a forest-feel with the multiple pine trees throughout the hilltop. The land and its buildings, including the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Hollyhock House, were donated to the city in 1927 by Aline Barnsdall to be an active arts center.
In-studio classes begin Tues., Sept. 10 and run through Sun., Nov. 2 for kids and adults. Registration is required and starts August 10 at linktr.ee/DCABarnsdallArtsCenter.
Word Café by
Mara Fisher
of any kind — without even breaking out your cutting board.
“Smorgasbord” and “jambalaya” are more delicious culinary collages whose “mixed up” definitions expand beyond the dining table. “Farrago,” from the Latin “far,” or “grain,” was a blend of grains for animal feed before losing its material sense, simply becoming “a confused mixture.”
“Hodgepodge,” from the Old French “hocher,” or “to shake,” was a word for stew or
soup whose meaning became more general in the early 15th century. And the Spanish “olla podrida” — translating not-so-appetizingly to “rotten pot” — is a savory concoction of beans, pork, vegetables and spices. When kept on the proverbial stove for too long, “olla podrida” forms an etymological “reduction” — “olio,” a word for “a miscellaneous collection.”
The French translation of “olla podrida” may sound familiar. Beginning in the early 1600s, the French “pot-pourri” was a meat and vegetable stew, morphing in 1749 to name the sachets of fragrant dried flowers, herbs and spices used today to scent powder rooms and drawers of unmentionables. Its figurative sense — “a miscellaneous collec-
tion” — evolved a century later.
Me-Stew
But where does the humble “stew” come from? Tracing back to the Old French “estuver,” meaning “to have a hot bath,” its origins are more about the soaking of bodies than beans. One wonders whether Shel Silverstein had the same idea when he wrote the poem “Me-Stew,” from his 1974 compilation “Where the Sidewalk Ends”: I have nothing to put in my stew, you see, Not a bone or a bean or a black-eyed pea, So I’ll just climb in the pot to see
