HOLIDAY MASKS

By Caroline Tracy

Halloween is one of this community’s, and all of greater Los Angeles’, most beloved holidays. Maybe it’s our residents’ penchant for set and costume design or our balmy late October nights? Either way, the celebrations usually begin well before Oct. 31.

As with all aspects of life in the COVID-19 era, things are a bit different this year. In fact, a set of guidelines handed down by the Los Angeles County Dept. of Public Health on Sept. 9 essentially banned

THIRD STREET By Sofia Kirilov 5th Grade

Like many other schools in California and across the country, the start of this school year at Third Street Elementary has been very different. Due to the coronavirus and school closures, we cannot meet our teachers and school friends in person. Instead, all our students, teachers, and families have had to adapt to online learning. We now login to Schoology in the morning and interact with our teachers through daily Zoom meetings. I miss school as it was before the coronavirus, but I feel lucky to be at Third Street virtual school.

Even though a lot of things have changed because of distance learning, some things are still the same. Most importantly, we are still learning! Through synchronous class activities over Zoom, as well as asynchronous assignments we complete on our own, everyday we are learning something new. Over Zoom, we also still have extracurricular activities like physical education, mindfulness practice, and technology lab. Our school even has virtual assemblies! For Hispanic Heritage Month, at school assemblies our principal and student volunteers had presentations on important Hispanic Americans.

Our Third Street community is as strong as ever! We had a “Back to School Drive-Thru Celebration” to pick up our school materials. Our annual giving drive was a great start to our school’s fundraising activities. We also had a “Family Takeout Night” on Larchmont, with a portion of the proceeds from the Burger Lounge, Jeni’s Ice Cream and Chipotle being donated to our school. In addition to funding many key programs at Third Street, these donations now also help our school support athome learning.

I look forward to reporting more positive news from Third Street Elementary throughout this challenging school year! the holiday (listing any social gatherings, parades and door-to-door trick-or-treating as “not permitted”). The next day, however, officials released revised guidelines, upgrading trick-or-treating from “not permitted” to “not recommended.” Local Response

I happened to be on the sidelines at my son’s soccer pod on the evening of the first announcement, and the reactions (on the part of four other moms) were of dismay.

“They’ve suffered/endured so much loss already,” one mom lamented, speaking on behalf of the children.

Of course, we adults love Halloween too and, luckily, we’ve all had a chance to sharpen our creative thinking and problem-solving skills as of late (thanks, COVID).

I’ve spoken to a number of families in the area about their plans, and many are moving forward with aspects of the holiday that involve little-tono risk. Costumes, decorations and, YES, candy “My kids will dress up as characters from Disney’s ‘The Mandalorian’ and we’ll decorate according to that theme as well,” said Nicky Coscas, Cloverdale and Third.

“We are also doing a piñata smash. Even though it will just be us this year, the kids are still excited. They got to pick out the candy to fill the piñata, so there will be no ‘bad’ candy.”

Neenu Uttamchandani, of Las Palmas and Third, is looking forward to decorating, both for her family and the benefit of any ogling neighbors.

“We will probably make a big deal of it since it’s the kids’ favorite holiday. So, we’ll dress up, but instead of going trick-or-treating, we’ll decorate the house in a big way for people driving by. For candy, we’ll do our own little scavenger hunt,” says Uttamchandani.

The news hasn’t deterred

THE ORIGINAL FARMERS

MARKET will be dressed up for fall. some from getting into the spirit early. As of the writing of this piece, Sycamore and Olympic resident April O’Brien, a self-proclaimed Halloween nut, had her house decorated for two weeks already.

Pumpkin patch, fall décor at Original Farmers Market

Get into the spirit of the fall season with a visit to a pumpkin patch and to see the Original Farmers Market, 6333 W. Third St., decked out in autumnal splendor, Sat., Oct. 10 and Sun., Oct. 11. A limited number of visitors at a time may enjoy the pumpkin patch, with social distancing strictly enforced, and the decorations can be enjoyed all month.

For more information, go to farmersmarketla.com.

online M U S I C L E S S O N s MUSIC LESSON s

Neighborhood memorializes troubadour King Swami, 74

By Patricia Lombard she was a student at Hollywood

He was known throughout High School, because he would the neighborhood as a kind and often play his music nearby. gentle, peace-loving man who She and her staff helped King was also quite a talented mucelebrate his 74th birthday a sician with a very good voice. few weeks ago with a cake. King Swami, as he was known, a beloved figure on Larchmont, was introduced to the neighborhood nearly 20 years ago playing reggae and calypso “I miss seeing him everyday,” Samano told the Buzz. His legal name was Oscar Lee Lingo, but his stage name was King Swami. Friends told TRIBUTE posted in front of Noah’s NY Bagels Larchmont. King Swami passed Sept. 11. KING SWAMI on Larchmont. years ago when she and her daughter would see him at the Larchmont Farmers Market. FORMER COUNCILMAN Tom LaBonge greets King Swami. Steve Cohen told the Buzz. “I saw him everyday for nearly music, first at the Larchmont the Buzz that King started as Photo by Talia Abrahamson “King would go where he felt 24 years. He preached unity Farmers Market and then later a vendor at the Larchmont loved,” said Lewis, who lived in and love and always gave you across the street. For the last Farmers Market when the monica and drums. the Ridgewood-Wilton neigha greeting of ‘one love.’” 10 years, King would stop by market started. He could be “He was entirely self-taught,” borhood when she met King. King has no family in the Noah’s Bagels every morning. found surrounded by chilKyril Kasimoff of KasimoffThere are people all over Larcharea so neighbors are trying Manager Maria Samano told us dren listening to him play the Bluthner Piano Co. on North mont Blvd. that loved him.” to piece together how they can that she first met King when guitar, the keyboard, the harLarchmont Blvd. told the Buzz. “I had no idea what his life honor his passing. We will keep “His music is really quite good. was like until I got to know readers posted and invite you He was very popular with famihim,” Lewis told the Buzz. to share photos or stories you

John Kreis and Cathy Roe of Brookside lies in the neighborhood and Once she got to know him she might have of King Swami, the are pleased to announce the marriage occasionally would be hired to perform at children’s birthday realized he wasn’t really able to take care of himself. minstrel of Larchmont. Reprinted with minor edits of their daughter, Alexandra Kreis, parties. He was very good with Lewis, a designer of handfrom the Larchmont Buzz, children. He was a living mincrafted handbags and advocate where the story first appeared to Amanda Fish of Chestertown, MD. strel of Larchmont Blvd.” for homeless women at the on Sept. 15. Patricia Lombard Kasimoff got to know King Downtown Women’s Center, is co-editor and publisher at over the years through their used her connections in the larchmontbuzz.com shared love of music and mucity to help King get cataract sical instruments. He told the surgery. But first she had to Village musical Buzz that King was born in Montgomery, Alabama on Aufind him permanent housing. It seems that King mostly voice lives on gust 29, 1946 and was raised in lived in his van and would Generations have heard and Hawaii by his mother. At some travel around earning whatplayed along with King Swapoint he made his way to Los ever he could playing music at mi’s smile and his cool, rich Angeles. Kasimoff, like sevvarious farmers’ markets. happy music. Always a drum, eral others on the boulevard, Thanks to Lewis, King found rattler, tambourine and kids on looked out for King and tried housing, had the surgery, and toys accompanied him, Kyril to help out when they could. recovered, but then decided Kasimoff of Kasimoff Bluthner

Alexandra graduated from St. Brendan’s School ‘02 and Marlborough School ‘06. She also attended the University of Washington and earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Cal State Northridge in 2012. Amanda obtained a bachelor’s degree in print journalism from the University of Maryland in 2008. The couple was married in a private ceremony in Boulder, CO on September 19. The newlyweds reside in Denver, CO while Alex completes her clinical rotations for medical school; Amanda works in the tech industry. We heard stories about how Larchmont’s Ritz Dry Cleaners welcomed King when he needed space. Steve Vernetti, of Vernetti restaurant, told us how his children loved King and they purchased his music. Levena Lewis met King to move on from the housing. Lewis told the Buzz that it’s not uncommon for someone who has been unhoused for as long as King to prefer to live in his van. “He was a man of peace and joy and great spirituality,” (Please turn to page 29) Piano Co. told the Chronicle. In the tradition of reggae artist Bob Marley, King delivered a message of spirit, love, oneness, peace and God, said Kasimoff. Soon after his death, Next

BRAWERMAN EAST WHERE LOVE OF LEARNING LIVES

BRAWERMAN ELEMENTARY KINDERGARTEN-GRADE 6

FALL VIRTUAL VISITS: Tuesday, October 20 Tuesday, October 27; Thursday, November 12

Join us for a Virtual Visit this fall to hear from parents, teachers, administrators and see students engaged in our state of the art classrooms and labs. Each visit lasts approximately one hour and runs from 10:00-11:00 a.m. We look forward to meeting with you then!

Gia Marakas

Classically trained Certified Pilates Instructor COVID-friendly one-on-one instruction