Larchmont Chronicle
vol. 52, no. 7
• delivered to 76,439 readers in hancock park • windsor square • fremont place • Miracle Mile • Park La Brea • Larchmont •
IN THIS ISSUE Senior Outlook Larchmont chronicLe
JuLY 2015
July 2015
Bungalow civil case dismissed Five-year limit had passed
THE BARITONE AND THE DIVA at home on Lucerne.
A cANcER survivor.
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mARkING a milestone. 12
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BRIDGE anyone?
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Special section. 11-19
PRESERVATION comes to Brookside. 5
CARNIVAL at St. Brendan.
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The city won a civil lawsuit brought on by the Larchmont Bungalow when L.A. Superior Court Judge Stephanie Bowick dismissed the case on June 1. It was dismissed “with prejudice,” meaning the case cannot be refiled. The Bungalow failed to bring the matter to trial within five years as required by city code, said Rob Wilcox, director, community engagement and outreach office for the L.A. City Attorney. Judge Bowick also ordered the Bungalow to pay the city’s court costs. After Bungalow owner Albert Mizrahi opened the eatery as a licensed take-out in 2009 with tables and chairs, the city pulled his certificate of occupancy. In 2010 the city attorney’s office filed three criminal counts against him: failing to comply with orders from a city agency, providing false information and continuing to operate without a certificate of occupancy. See Bungalow, p 6
GOING down a floor on Windsor. 2-4 For Information on Advertising Rates, Please Call Pam Rudy 323-462-2241, x 11 Mailing permit:
ONE OF MANY artist’s renderings to be unveiled at the July 8 meeting. This one shows the existing Farmers tower on Wilshire and Rimpau, with proposed new residences in the foreground.
Update on Farmers project at Ebell Developer to address neighborhood concerns at July 8 meeting The public is invited to see revised plans for the new residential development proposed for the former Farmers Insurance property along Wilshire Blvd. between Rimpau and Muirfield. The site includes the existing seven-story tower and two large parking lots. The meeting is at The Ebell, 743 S. Lucerne, on Wed., July 8, at 8 p.m. Density being reduced The new plans reduce the number of units by 25 percent – from 119 units to 89 or fewer. CIM Group, the property’s owner, is presenting its
Houses razed on Arden for Marlborough pool and field $24 million project By Billy Taylor Demolition of five houses on Arden Blvd. north of Third St. was completed last month
as Marlborough School begins the final phase of its growth and development project. Razing of the houses was See Arden, p 24
MARLBOROUGH houses on Arden were 90 percent demolished in just over an hour on June 22.
revised plans at the invitation of the Brookside Homeowners Association and Hancock Park Homeowners Association. According to Shaul Kuba, CIM co-founder and principal, the developers have been working diligently to address views expressed by Brookside residents at a January meeting and subsequently redesigned much of the proposed new development, which includes about 50 new residential units in the existing tower, plus 35 new homes on the parking lots between the tower and Muirfield. These units will include 15 single-family homes
and nine triplex homes, each with its own two-car garage (plus 11 town homes immediately adjacent to the tower). Opportunities to downsize Although the new homes and condos will range in size from about 1,500 to 3,600 square feet, these units are considerably smaller than many nearby homes in Hancock Park and elsewhere in Greater Wilshire, Kuba noted. “We believe that our new homes and condominiums also will appeal to seniors who own extremely large houses See Update on Farmers, p 28
Homes on Wilton to be torn down for apartments Modern style, traffic among concerns By Suzan Filipek A modern-looking apartment building is in the works to replace nine bungalows on the 500 block of N. Wilton Pl. Developer Frost/Chaddock seeks to build 88 apartments in four wings after demolishing the 1920s homes that line the western side of the block, between Clinton St. and Maplewood Ave. The new building’s “four residential wings” will be connected by bridges and covered walkways, and flanked by open green space and courtyards, said JakeLaJoie, director of acquisitions for Frost/Chaddock. Architect John G. Reed’s
exterior design features floorto-ceiling windows, large balconies, painted stucco and corrugated metal. The property has three, 15-foot front yards—on Clinton, Wilton and Maplewood— See Homes on Wilton, p 4
Women of Larchmont Our annual section will be in the August issue. Advertising deadline is Wed., July 15. For more information contact Pam Rudy, at pam@larchmontchronicle.com.
www.larchmontchronicle.com ~ Entire Issue Online!
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SECTION ONE
Community Platform By Jane Gilman Hello and goodbye We welcome David Ryu as our new city councilmember. He will bring fresh ideas and enthusiasm to his new position. And we bid Tom LaBonge success in his new endeavor (to be announced). Tom has been a special friend to Larchmont Village, instituting everything from the height limitation, threelevel underground parking lot, stop signs, two landscaped medians and tree planting, to name a few. We will miss him.
Time to get involved Don’t complain if you don’t get involved. That’s why neighbors should attend a July 8 meeting (see page one) on the CIM development on the Farmers Insurance property to see what the plans are for the Brookside–based property. The addition of an estimated 35 homes and triplexes along Wilshire Blvd. and Eighth St. is a major development for the area. It’s important to get in on the ground floor to see plans for traffic mitigation, landscaping, community facilities and other issues. The word “transparency” is getting a lot of mileage these days. We are pleased that CIM representatives are presenting their plans to the community, listening to cmments and making adjustments according to concerns from a previous meeting.
Thanks to Jane Gilman Jane Gilman, the longtime editor and publisher of the Larchmont Chronicle, has decided to step down and sell the Larchmont Chronicle. Fortunately for all her readers the new publisher is John Welborne, a long-time community activist. And, fortunately, for the community, Jane will remain on the staff of the Chronicle, editing and helping keep the Chronicle’s focus on the neighborhood. We wish John the best of luck in continuing the great community tradition created by Jane and we thank Jane for her tireless support of our community. The Chronicle has been and is a vital part of our neighborhood; one of the threads in the fabric that is our community. The Association and Hancock Park thank Jane and her staff from the bottoms of our hearts for all she and they have done. It’s institutions like the Chronicle that help keep our community healthy. The Association has put together a list of our top priorities for our new Councilman, David Ryu: 1) Communication and Transparency between the Council Office and the community; 2) Development/Land Use, monitoring compliance with the Conditional Use Permits (CUPs) in Hancock Park and Supporting our HPOZ; 3) Improving our infrastructureparticularly streets, sidewalks and water pipes; 4) Traffic mitigation and parking; 4) Modifying the City’s Mobility Plan so that changes in traffic design do not just dump commuter cars on our streets; 5) Supporting Hancock Park’s trees, and addressing the drought; and 6) Crime and Security. There is some good news about repairs to our damaged streets. The failed portions of the intersections at Clinton St. and Cahuenga Blvd., Clinton St. and Wilcox Ave., 1st St. and June St., 4th St. and June St. and 4th St. and McCadden Pl. have been repaired. If you’re considering any changes to the street visible portion of your house, contact our City Planner, Kimberly Henry (kimberly.henry@lacity.org) and fill out the online form - http://preservation.lacity.org/ hpoz/initial.screening.checklist to start the process. The Preservation Plan for Hancock Park can be found at: http://www.hancockparkhomeownersassociation. org/ or http://preservation.lacity.org/hpoz/la/hancockpark ). And don’t forget to water your trees. Report graffiti sightings by calling 311 or at the City’s AntiGraffiti Request System - http://anti-graffiti.lacity.org/ welcome.cfm?CFID=1007&CFTOKEN=411CDB4F-0FC34EE1-89DE58DCCB435538 and by calling Hollywood Beautification, 323-463-5180 Adv.
JULY 2015
Calendar Sat., July 4 — Independence Day. Sat., July 4 — Lillian, Cahuenga and Wilcox Fourth of July block party, 5 p.m. Wed., July 8 — Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council meeting, Ebell Club, 743 S. Lucerne Blvd., 7 p.m. greaterwilshire.org. Wed., July 8 — Community meeting on status of Farmers insurance plans (following Greater Wilshire meeting). Sun, July 12 — Annual meeting of the Windsor Square-Hancock Park Historical Society, Wilshire Country Club, 301 N. Rossmore Ave., 2 p.m. Thurs., July 16 — Metro update on Purple Line extension, SAG-AFTRA building, 5757 Wilshire Blvd., 5:30 p.m. Thurs., July 30 — Delivery of the August issue of the
Larchmont Chronicle
'Will police body cameras reduce crime?' That's the question
inquiring photographer Billy Taylor asked people along Larchmont Blvd.
Larchmont Chronicle. Tues., Aug. 4 — National Night Out Against Crime. Mon., Aug. 24 — Taste of Larchmont Village, fundraiser for Hope-Net, 6 p.m. Larchmont Blvd.
"If people want to commit crime they're going to do it. But it will make politicans and their constituents feel better." Anne Loveland Hancock Park
July 4 fireworks to light up downtown at Grand Park Grand Park will be the scene of The Music Center’s July 4th celebration from 3 to 9 p.m. The celebration will be held over eight city blocks from Temple to Second St., and from Grand Ave. to Main St. The free event features music, art and art-making, dancing, food, and more. It will be capped off by a new, first-ever rooftop fireworks display that promises to light up the civic center skyline. The block party features giant picnic areas and two dedicated stages to showcase a diverse line-up of LA-based musicians, dancers, jump rope experts and spoken-word artists. In addition, two iconic mobile stages will feature live
Larchmont Chronicle Founded in 1963 by Dawne P. Goodwin and Jane Gilman Publisher John H. Welborne Editor Jane Gilman Associate Editor Suzan Filipek Assistant Editor Billy Taylor Advertising Director Pam Rudy Art Director Dina Nicholaou Classified and Circulation Manager Rachel Olivier Accounting Jill Miyamoto 542 1/2 N. Larchmont Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90004 323-462-2241 larchmontchronicle.com
DJs spinning the sounds of an LA summer. Revelers can also paint giant murals at the Mobile Mural Lab and view a glowing 30-foot-tall stars and stripes tower. Guests can bring picnics or enjoy fare provided by onsite food vendors.
"I'm not informed enough to comment on the efficiency of the program, but it seems like a great idea to me." Dylan Hostetter Silver Lake
Metro updates Purple Line status July 16 The community is invited to the Metro meeting on the Purple Line extension on Thurs., July 16 at 5:30 p.m. at the SAG-AFTRA building, James Cagney boardroom, 5757 Wilshire Blvd. Metro spokesmen will cover landscaping plans and tree selection for Wilshire Blvd. parkways and medians. There also will be an update on utility relocation and building demolitions of the service building at the intersection of Wilshire and La Brea. Officials will also discuss the shopping promotions for those businesses affected by the construction.
"People might feel more safe, but what about privacy? There are cameras everywhere now, it's starting to feel like 'Big Brother' is watching us." Nikki Yumul Larchmont Village
Correction The photo caption in the article on Kingsley Manor should have read as follows: Serving the homeless were President of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Claire Padama; a Vincentian volunteer, Rose Jana; and director of marketing for Kingsley Manor Jeannie Weber.
"No, I think people are going to keep doing what they want, regardless of cameras. It probably won't change police behavior either." Shatora Yrby North Hollywood
Larchmont Chronicle
JULY 2015
SECTION One
Sarah Dusseault joins Councilman as chief of staff
Just Off the Press 2015-2016 Larchmont Boulevard Association Directory
CHANGING OF THE GUARD. Outgoing Fourth District City Councilman Tom LaBonge introduced his successor, David Ryu, during a recent visit to the Larchmont Chronicle offices.
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Fourth District City Councilman David Ryu has appointed Sarah Dusseault as his chief of staff. Most recently, Dusseault served as the campaign manager and senior advisor for Bobby Shriver for Supervisor 2014. Dusseault also developed Mayor Garcetti’s campaign policy agenda for his 2013 mayoral race. Previously, she led the mayor’s efforts to revitalize downtown Los Angeles and oversaw the creation of L.A.’s affordable housing trust fund, said to be the largest of its kind in America. “I am excited to welcome Sarah to my team,” Ryu said. “Sarah has an innovative spirit and the City Hall experience necessary to help me chart an effective new course for the neighborhoods of CD4."
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SECTION ONE
BUG BOY the musical. 22 AROUND the Town SCHOOL NEWS
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SENIOR OUTLOOK 11-19 ENTERTAINMENT At the Movies 25 Theater Review 26 On the Menu 27
SECTION TWO Real Estate
Anna Wang, Real Estate
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July 2015
SECTION One
Larchmont Chronicle
RENDERING shows the modern design of large windows, many balconies.
BUNGALOWS wait to be demolished on the 500 block of Wilton Pl. The homes were originally built in the 1920s. 70 Years of Focusing on You.
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HOMES ON WILTON PLACE (Continued from page 1) creating “a huge park-like environment,” LaJoie added. In addition, Wilton has another 15 feet of dedicated space, (assessed by the city for future street widening). The top four of its five floors will house the apartments, with one and a third levels of partially subterranean parking for 142 cars and 88 bicycles. The two driveways are on Maplewood and Clinton. Want "exceptional" “This isn’t the worst development to come down the pike... It’s not exceptional. We would like it to be exceptional,” said Charles D’Atri, president of the Larchmont Village Neighborhood Association. While traffic mitigation and a setback on Wilton are the “two most important issues,” the modern design also does not sit well with the neighborhood, which, while not an historic preservation overlay zone, “we would like it to feel conceptual… and not some-
thing plopped in from Manhattan Beach,” D’Atri said. The developer has met with city Planning Dept. officials and the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council Land Use Committee. Rendering revisions are in the works and will be reviewed by community and city officials, LaJoie said. Properties bought in 2014 The developer began acquiring the properties in 2014 from between $650,000 and $1 million each and met with Council District Four last fall, whose representatives said parking, landscape and architecture would be key neighborhood concerns. The developer is renting the properties, and once demolished and the new complex is built, Frost/Chaddock will continue to manage. The fullservice company also built Versailles in Koreatown and M Lofts in Palms. The Wilton area was upzoned to R-3 in the 1980s and is surrounded by apartment buildings, including a fourstory building just to the west of the proposed site. The 97,145 square foot Wilton project includes eight “very affordable” housing units, which permitted extra units under state and city law. “It allows us to break up
ON LARCHMONT Jake LaJoie shows the renderings.
the density… and put massing in the back. We were trying to put forth a building that looked good… “We really tried to do a reasonable project and put our best foot forward, and we’re hoping people will recognize that,” said LaJoie.
Assemblyman opens area office State Assemblyman Richard Bloom is holding office hours on the fourth Monday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Hollywood Community Center, 6501 Fountain Ave. Bloom’s district office staff can assist with constituent and legislative services. These include veteran’s affairs, taxes and insurance. For more information contact Sean MacNeil, chief of staff, at 916319-2050.
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Larchmont Chronicle
July 2015
Patriotism on display in first annual parade in Miracle Mile
The
Maven arketing
by Pam Rudy
Points to Make Your Ad More Readable This month I am including a few reminders to make your ad read well and stand out in the newspaper. • Even if you don’t have a lot of text in your ad, you don’t need to make the type huge. Remember that we all read groups of words. The larger the text, the more difficult it is to read comfortably. Rather than make the type larger, use a graphic device as an attention-getter. Images or graphics break up the text and make it easier to read. • The thicker the border, the more space you need between it and the text. The eye will “drift” into the border area if the text comes too close to the border. • Sometimes a distinctive font can act as a form of artwork. Play it up … especially if your headline is short. • Keep your font and point size consistent in your ad. Your information will flow better. Too many fonts or changes in type size add “visual clutter” to your ad.
Contact Pam at The Larchmont Chronicle 323-462-2241 ext. 11
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Remember you need to MARKET, MARKET, MARKET your business … especially now!
First-In Fire Foundation, parade organizers included Lyn MacEwen Cohen, Melody Kanschat, Tim Deegan, Randy Murphy and Steve Kramer.
Locals awarded by Garden Club of America At a recent meeting, the Hancock Park Garden Club honored local residents, business owners and some of its own members with Garden Club of America Awards. Founded in 1913, the Garden Club of America is a nonprofit organization comprised of 200 member clubs and approximately 18,000 club members throughout the country. Local members receiving awards included Jennifer Fain for outstanding service to conservation, Gina Brandt for dedicated, sustained participation in activities and a Medal of Merit to Judy Kirschner for exceptional contribution in horticulture. Windsor Square resident, Scott Goldstein, was given a Club Horticulture Commendation for his tireless work to protect the street tree canopy and his encouragement to homeowners to use native plants in their residential gardens. Los Angeles Metro’s Chief Planning Officer and local resident Martha Welborne accepted her Club Conservation Commendation from Hancock Park Garden Club president PJ Clark. Welborne was honored for her work to improve the quality of life in Los Angeles through innovative public transit solutions and creative urban planning.
For one night only, on Tues., July 14, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., 50 Farmers Market restaurants will offer small tastings of their diverse menus. Beer and wine samples, endless food options, live music, merchandise specials and free parking are all included in the ticket price. The tastings will include New Orleans shrimp from Tusquellas Seafoods, a waffle shot with espresso from Zia Valentina and truffle mac & cheese from Planet Dailies. More participating food booths are Singapore’s Banana Leaf featuring its chicken rending and chopped barbeque from Bryan’s Pit Barbecue. It’s a strolling, gastronomic, fun-filled event for all members of the family that allows you to taste food from restaurants you’ve always wondered about as well as getting your food fixes from those you already love. Farmers Market, 6333 W. 3rd St., is at the corner of 3rd and Fairfax Ave. Tickets are $40, $45 at the door. For information or to buy tickets, go to farmersmarketla.com.
FAMILIES ENJOYED samples from one of the 50 food vendors participating in last year’s “Taste of Famers Market.”
Academy Museum gets final okay; MMRA readies to sue A $300-million Academy Museum of Motion Pictures got rave reviews from the City Council June 24. A 13-0 vote paved the way for construction to begin as early as this summer. The Renzo Piano design includes a glass-domed 1,000seat cinema to rise behind the Art Deco May Co. The building will be restored to its 1939 glory and will include an Oscar silhouette on its gold
perfume bottle-shape at the corner of Wilshire Blvd. and Fairfax Ave. A lawsuit threatens the project, as nearby residents fear added traffic, inadequate parking and digital signs will disturb the neighborhood. “We will go to court if there’s still a sign district, and, they have to verify there’s not an intrusion of cars, and, there’s enough parking,” said (Please turn to page 24)
Albert’s serves Mexican cuisine Lilly’s Larchmont Café has been transformed into Albert’s Mexican Grill, located at 5210 Beverly Blvd. The restaurant serves a full Mexican-inspired menu, including an enchilada and bean tostada combination plate ($8.25) and fish tacos with all the works ($9.85). Fans of the Lilly’s Café will still find the same espresso-style coffees and freshsqueezed juices available. Open everyday for breakfast, lunch and dinner from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information call 323-466-1193.
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Local heroes and community volunteers marched down Museum Row on the Miracle Mile to honor cooperation and the public spirit on June 29. The Miracle Mile Patriotic Parade celebrated community, businesses, museums and first responders joining together to change a community for the better. The parade—which started at the Grove and traveled east to west down Main St. to the Farmers Market—included civic, cultural, residential and governmental leaders, with firefighters, police officers and military personnel in attendance. Tom “Shotgun” Kelly from K-EARTH 101 served as grand marshall. Local scout troops were also participants. Sponsored by the Miracle Mile Civic Coalition and the
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July 2015
SECTION One
Larchmont Chronicle
Good Sam donors at dinner; CHLA gains from shopping
ANTHONY MANSOUR wore his souvenir from Bethlehem.
Learn Plans for Farmers Insurance Property The July 8 Board meeting will feature a major informational presentation by the CIM Group on its plans for the Farmers Insurance building and surrounding property. This will follow the monthly board meeting that begins at 7 p.m. at The Ebell. Enter through the west parking lot. Committee meetings are also open to the public: Land Use Committee - Fourth Tuesday of the month at Wilshire United Methodist Church, 4350 Wilshire Blvd. 7 p.m. Transportation Committee - First Monday of even-numbered months, 7 p.m., Wilshire United Methodist Church. Outreach Committee – Last Saturday of the month, Bricks & Scones, 403 N. Larchmont Blvd., 9 a.m.
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For more information, please contact info@ greaterwilshire.org
Andrews, the John Brownings, Barbara Bundy, Missy Crahan and daughter Hilary, Margo Dennis, Catherine and Dan Florek, Steve Griffiths and Richard Lawtons. *** The following evening, actress and philanthropist Melanie Griffith hosted a most elegant event of both cocktails and shopping to benefit the Epilepsy Surgery Program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. In celebration of the Ralph Lauren Spring 2015 Collection, guests had the opportunity to purchase fine jewelry, timepieces and a unique sampling from the Home Collection. Fifteen percent of the evening’s sales will help CHLA provide the latest, most promising treatments to help children lead seizure-free lives. Among the guests were some very generous ladies like Manuela Herzer, Alana Stewart, Jennifer Widerstrom, Tina Knowles and Kris Jenner. *** Michele and Scott McMullin kicked off the summer season with the ultimate “Hamptons White Party” at their Fremont Place home on May 30. Arrivees walked on a cloud of white shag fur to the garden where white floating globes bobbed in the pool and iridescent bars served white signature cocktails. Tiny tacos ensconced in limes and chicken pau in white paper headlined the offerings catered by George Marinos’s TGIS/Sofia. Among the 200 guests wearing white feathers, patent leathers, beads and buttons and bows were: Jenny and Milan Ratkovich, Amanda and Anthony Mansour, (who topped his Thawb tunic with a keffiyeh purchased in Bethlehem), Sue and Eddie Cunningham, Michaela and Joe Burchinger, Jill and John Duerler, Mary and Bernie Jaworsky, Megan and Chris Drynan, Susan and Sean Kneafsey, Jackie and Jordan Kruse, Amy and Kent Savagian, Shelah Callahan, Melanie Boettcher, Laura and Craig Collins, Keil FitzGerald and Paul Ruben, Bebe Flynn, Oona and Don Kanner, Lisa and Roger Morrison, Donna and Greg Econn, Mary and Michael Nelson, Beverly and Humberto Gatica, Dounia and Michael Turrill, Marta and Tarek Adra, Angelique and Chase Campen, Shar and Robert Penfold, Beverly and Jason Brown and a soon-to-be-missed neighbor Cassie Nelson. And that’s the chat!
GOOD SAM supporters Jack and Susan Blumenthal with son Thomas and Laurie Stoneman.
MELANIE GRIFFITH, center, with Kris Jenner, Deborah Sawaf, and Brent Polk, head of pediatrics, Children’s Hospital LA.
COPING WITH COYOTES IN WINDSOR SQUARE Windsor Square Association is concerned with continued coyote sightings in our neighborhood. Coyotes living in an urban setting are becoming increasingly more common across the United States. For example, Greater Chicago is home to an estimated 2,000 coyotes. Many residents have requested information about how to cope with coyotes in Windsor Square. Below are some basic facts about coyotes: * Coyotes typically weigh between 25 and 35 lbs., though they can grow to over 40 lbs. * Coyotes are mostly nocturnal animals. * Coyotes are opportunistic predators. They will eat all forms of small animals: squirrels, mice, birds and insects. Coyotes will also eat fruits, berries, vegetables and plants. In our urban setting, similar to bears, coyotes will forage through garbage. Windsor Square residents should take the following preventative steps to create a less-welcoming environment for coyotes: * Secure all gates and entrances to backyards. * Never leave food outside for cats, dogs, and squirrels. * Pick all fruit from fruit trees as it ripens and never leave discarded fruit on the ground. * Secure and close all garbage can lids. * Remove and clear all excess brush in secluded, hidden areas in the front and back of your residence. * Install motion lights in strategic locations around your residence. * Eliminate easy access to drinking water sources, which coyotes seek in the drought. In addition to creating a less-welcoming coyote environment, these preventive steps also help to generally create a more secure residence. Windsor Square residents should take the following actions when walking around the neighborhood: * If dog walking in the evening or early morning, bring a flashlight and carry a large walking stick. * Avoid distractions such as headphone and cell phone use while walking. * Upon encountering a coyote, the conventional wisdom is to make loud noises, use the walking stick to ward off the coyote and slowly retreat to a safer environment. For assistance regarding coyotes, call 911 and/or the following government and proprietary agencies, provided by Windsor Square Association for informational purposes only: * City of Los Angeles Animal Services: 888-452-7381 or www.laanimalservices.com * Animal Advocates: A non-profit animal rescue and education organization providing coyote consultants and trapping of ill, injured coyotes. Contact by email to mmmaryinla@aol.com or view its website at www.animaladvocates. us/coyote.com.
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 157 N. Larchmont Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90004, or visit our website at windsorsquare.org. ADV.
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A WHITE SUMMER theme for Michele and Scott McMullin.
The Good Samaritan Hospital Auxiliary invited members and guests for cocktails and a lecture by two premier physicians specializing in cardiology. Christina Econo Dr. mides and Dr. Katrine Zhiroff addressed the decorous gathering at Around the California the Club on May Town 6. Among with the supportPatty Hill ers attending were Susan and Jack Blumenthal and their son Tom, Carol Pantages, Laurie and George Stoneman, Collette Witt, Kathleen Whooley, Edie and Christian Frere, June Bilgore, Grace Fritzinger and Sarane Van Dyke. Also enjoying the evening were Adrianna and Robert
Larchmont Chronicle
July 2015
SECTION One
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Be a better, more effective Prevent crime by being a block captain vention strategy, noting it's “one once your block is organized. Billy Taylor advocate for social change The ByNeighborhood Watch of the most effective and least “The start-up is the hardest The National Council of Jewish Women of Los Angeles is hosting a series of workshops on advocacy techniques at its headquarters at 543 N. Fairfax Ave.
Play round of 'Back 2 School' bingo July 8
Ilissa Gold, president of the Miracle Mile Democratic Club, kicked off the series in June. She taught participants how to use a social media platform for their causes in a technologically evolving world. The series continues on Sun., July 12 with “How to Advocate for Legislation,” which will show how to reach out to your government representatives and proficiently present your issues. “Getting Appointed to a Board or Commission,” is Sun., Aug. 2. Workshops are held between 2 and 5 p.m. $15 per course. Space is limited to 30 people; open to people of all genders. Visit ncjwla.org/ advocacytraining.
Join the National Council of Jewish Women of L.A. as they raise money for the Human Trafficking Outreach Program and the Back 2 School Store with a lively round of bingo on Wed., July 8. The event will be hosted by West Hollywood Drag Queens at Hamburger Mary’s, 8288 Santa Monica Blvd. Prizes include a $300 membership to Cinefamily, and gift certificates Artwork removal to the Farmers Market, Café at Metro center Marmalade, LAshX and more. Money raised for the Back Metro is removing artwork 2 School Store will fund an at the former Metro Customer initiative to provide more than Service Center, 5301 Wilshire 250 local children in need with Blvd., at La Brea Ave. new clothing, shoes and school The work consists of removsupplies. The NCJW creates a ing the art panels designed by department store atmosphere Jim Isermann. They will be for children to “shop” for their preserved in specially made favorite color and style. storage boxes for two years RSVP to maya@ncjwla.org, at on offsite location while or just show up. $20 suggest- Metro prepares a new home Conveniently located 5 for minutes ed donation. them. from Larchmont
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program was established to fight crime by building bonds among residents. But for at least one neighborhood association, more volunteers are needed. “There is a definite need for more neighbor participation as block captains,” says Stuart Melvin, the block captain coordinator for the Larchmont Village Neighborhood Association (LVNA). “It’s absolutely necessary for neighbors to know and recognize each other, and take notice of strangers,” says Melvin, who believes an active Neighborhood Watch program helps to discourage crime. He is not alone. The Los Angeles Police Dept. calls the Neighborhood Watch program the “cornerstone” of its crime pre-
part, which includes organizcostly ways to prevent crime.” This effectiveness, however, ing a block party where resihinges on one thing: block cap- dents can meet each other and tain volunteers. They act as a create a contact list.” liaison between residents and There is no official trainpolice, passing along vital infor- ing needed for volunteers, and Melvin notes that the LAPD mation to their neighbors. Melvin estimates that out will even send an officer to party to give local crime of the 38 designated blocks in your LARCHMONT CHRONICLE Larchmont Village, 24 have patterns and provide training July 2015 active block captains. He is to residents. For more inforseeking volunteers for the mation email Stuart Melvin at stuartsmelvin@gmail.com or remaining 14 blocks. According to Melvin, it’s easy visit lvna.info.
stars, stripes, &
diamonds
Larchmont on Broadway ‘Taste’ benefits Hope-Net
Residents are invited to sample cuisine from area restaurants while listening to music at the 23rd annual Taste of Larchmont on Mon., Aug. 24 from 6 to 9 p.m. The culinary event includes sample foods from over 20 local restaurants under the theme of “Broadway.” There will be live music, a raffle and a silent auction to entertain guests. Proceeds for the Taste will be donated to Hope-Net, a charitable foundation dedicated to feeding the poor and homeless at 13 local churches and synagogues. The organization serves over three million people in Hollywood, Silverlake, Los Feliz, and Koreatown. Tickets are $40; raffle tickets are $5 each or $20 for 5 tickets. For more information, visit hopenetla.org.
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POLICE BEAT
Suspects target vehicle airbags; coordinated distraction continues WILSHIRE DIVISION
Furnished by Senior Lead Officer Dave Cordova 213-793-0650 31646@lapd.lacity.org Twitter: lapdwilshire 1 from 3 to 5 p.m. An airbag was removed from a 2015 Honda Civic on the corner of Second St. and Alta Vista Bl. between June 18 and June 19 at 8:30a.m. A suspect punched a keyhole into a 2015 Honda Civic and removed the vehicle’s airbag on the corner of Mansfield and Oakwood Ave. between June 18 and June 19 at 8 a.m. 911 is for emergencies only. To report non-emergencies, call 877-275-5273.
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OLYMPIC DIVISION ROBBERIES: A victim was walking near Western and Beverly on June 1 at 11:55 p.m. when he was struck from behind with a blunt object. The victim suffered bruising and cuts to his face. A victim was attacked walking down the 400 block of St. Andrews Pl. on June 16 at 11:15 p.m. The suspects chased the victim and robbed him at gunpoint. BURGLARIES: A coordi-
OLYMPIC DIVISION
Furnished by Senior Lead Officer Joseph Pelayo 213-793-0709 31762@lapd.lacity.org Twitter: lapdolympic nated distraction burglary took place on the 800 block of S. Bronson Ave. on June 1 at 9:28 a.m. A suspect knocked
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on the front door and when the victim answered, the suspect telephoned an accomplice who broke a rear glass door and ransacked the interior. An apartment was ransacked and money stolen on the 800 block of Gramercy Pl. on May 29 between 5 and 8:30 p.m. A suspect attempted to pry open the rear screen before fleeing on the 700 block of S. Norton Ave. on June 3 between 12:15 to 7:30 a.m.
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WILSHIRE DIVISION ROBBERIES: A victim was robbed on the corner of Wilshire and Muirfield Ave. on May 26 at 9:30 a.m. The suspect grabbed the victim’s cell phone and credit cards from her hands and fled in a waiting metallic Buick sedan. BURGLARIES: A suspect pried open the side window and entered an apartment on the 800 block of Alandele Ave. The suspect fled with unknown property on June 12 at 2:30 p.m. GRAND THEFTS AUTO: A black 2010 Ford F150 was stolen from the 400 block of S. Curson Ave. between May 24 and May 25 at 8:30 a.m. A green 1996 Honda Accord was stolen from the 100 block of S. Detroit St. between June 4 and June 5 at 10 a.m. THEFTS BURGLARY FROM VEHICLE: A cell phone was stolen from a vehicle on the 800 block of S. Orange Dr. on May 28 at 9:20 a.m. Suspect fled location. Headlights and taillights were removed from a 2008 Mercedes G500 on the 300 block of N. Ogden Dr. on June
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WE PROUDLY PRESENT OUR STUDENTS’ UNIvERSITY ACCEPTANCES* FOR THE CLASS OF 2015. CONGRATULATIONS SENIORS! American University (3) Arizona State University Babson College (2) Bard College (3) Boston University (3) California Institute of the Arts California State University at: Chico, Dominguez Hills, Humboldt, Long Beach, Monterey Bay (2), Northridge, Sacramento, and San Francisco (3) Chapman University (6) Cornell University (2) Davenport University DePaul University (3) Drew University Emerson College (2) Emory University Fordham University Harvey Mudd University Hult International Business School (San Francisco) (2)
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA University of California at: Kenyon College Berkeley, Davis (6), Irvine (3), Los Loyola Marymount University (7) Angeles (2), Riverside (3), San Diego, Marquette University Santa Barbara (5), and Santa Cruz (8) Michigan State University University of Colorado New Jersey Institute of Technology University of Florida New York University (5) University of Indiana Northeastern University (5) University of Kansas (2) Ohio State University (3) University of Kentucky Pace University University of Missouri (2) Pennsylvania State University University of Montana Pepperdine University University of Oregon (6) Pace University University of Puget Sound Reed College University of San Diego (3) San Diego State (2) University of San Francisco (5) Santa Clara University University of Southern California (4) Sarah Lawrence University University of the Pacific Seattle University University of Washington Skidmore College University of Wisconsin Southern Methodist University Washington State University Stony Brook University (2) Wesleyan University (2) Syracuse University (3) Whittier College (2) University of Arizona
*Universities in France have not posted all of their acceptances as of the date of this printing.
CANADA Concordia University, Montréal (6) McGill University (6) Sciences Po & University of British Columbia (UBC) Dual Program University of British Columbia (3) University of Montreal (2) UNITED KINGDOM Birkbeck, University of London Hult International Business School (3) Kings College Kingston College Oxford Brookes University Queen’s University Regents University Richmond University University of Essex University of Reading University of St. Andrews, Scotland (3) University of Westminster (2) EUROPE* American University of Paris Cardenal Herrera University (Spain) Sciences Po & UBC
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Senior Outlook Larchmont Chronicle
JuLY 2015
THE BARITONE AND THE DIVA at home on Lucerne.
A cANCER survivor. 12
marking a milestone. 12
11
BRIDGE anyone?
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Local woman shares her story of long-term cancer survival By Gail Boskovich and Sondi Toll Sepenuk Windsor Square resident Sarane Van Dyke was diagnosed with esophageal cancer 20 years ago. Doctors were not hopeful. At the time, several prominent oncologists and surgeons told her that her only chance for survival was to perform an esophagectomy (removal of the esophagus), but that she would only live two years at best. The surgery is a diffi-
cult one, so Van Dyke instead chose to go to the USC Norris Cancer Center for treatment and to participate in a clinical trial, which consisted of two types of chemotherapy, followed by radiation. Now, 20 years on, Van Dyke recently celebrated her rare victory against this type of cancer at Stories to Save Lives, a fundraiser on May 2 at the Hilton Hotel in Universal City. Volunteers rappelled 24 stories down the façade of the
hotel in memory of esophageal cancer patients who have lost their lives to the disease, and to esophageal cancer survivors, who are few and far between. In honor of Van Dyke, 16-year-old Harvard Westlake High School student Sam Peacock descended down the hotel wall. Peacock lost his own father to esophageal cancer two years ago. The Esophageal Cancer Action Network, ECAN, sponsored the event. ECAN is the only national organization dedicated to raising awareness about the link between reflux disease and esophageal cancer. By sharing her story, Van Dyke and her family hope to raise awareness within her own community. For more information, go to ecan.org.
Movie poster, lobby art auction Bonhams and Turner Classic Movies (TCM) are auctioning movie posters on Mon., July 20 at Bonhams’, 7601 Sunset Blvd. The auction, titled “Picture Perfect: the Art of Movie Posters,” features more than 200 vintage movie posters, pieces of original poster art and lobby art. Pieces range from the earliest days of cinema, through the Golden Age and to the modern blockbuster.
AT FUNDRAISER. Sarane Van Dyke and her daughter Gall Boskovich shared the success story.
‘Brain Ball’ gives double workout Sharpen your brain and your muscles at the same time. That’s the goal of “brain ball,” a class taught at the Westside Jewish Community Center on Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:30 a.m. Patrick LoSasso, leader, incorporates memory retention and low-impact aerobics that students can perform at their own pace. Part of his class focuses on old-age related falls which he
says are due to the inflexible hip joint and its associated gluteus muscles. LoSasso teaches training of the hip to stimulate muscular function and to increase flexibility. He combines memory retention and exercise by having students repeat certain poems or numbers while exercising. For more information on the class, go to westsidewjcc. org or patricklosasso.com.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY wishes went to Margaret Sowma on her 100th birthday recently. Her relatives, friends and neighbors were on hand to convey wishes to the former Windsor Square resident. Sowma was one of the founders of the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council, and she was active with the Windsor Square Association.
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Larchmont Chronicle
July 2015
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Senior outlook
Breathe, stretch, move in viniyoga By Suzan Filipek Think you can’t do yoga? Take a deep breathe, stretch and think again in Fred Miller’s viniyoga classes at Yogaworks Larchmont. The yoga style—named after a Sanskrit term—is “more challenging for the mind than the body,” explains Miller. “It takes a few weeks to master this… Come along and have fun,” he tells a group of 12 at the beginning of a recent afternoon class in a THE PRACTICE appeals to all ages. sunlit studio overlooking as a metaphor, turn your head Larchmont Blvd. His students include a mix the other way, releasing years of young and old. There are of built-up stress. recovering hip-replacement The hands-on seasoned patients and an 84-year old re- teacher who has been guidtired dentist who brought his ing students here for 30-plus 82-year-old wife to her first years, stumbled into the practice pretty much against his yoga class last month. Leon Prochnik, a Holocaust will. survivor, likes Miller's slow An assistant director in teletechnique. "Very few teachers vision, his boss stayed calm concentrate on the small detials like The yoga style—named after a breathing," he says. Sanskrit term—is “more challenging Twenty some- for the mind than the body.” things also gravitate to the slower, more con- under pressure, leading Miller scious form of movement than to figure it was either tai chi the strenuous grit of faster or drugs. Turned out to be the former slow-paced exercise, power-type workouts. But you do move. “Breathe which Miller took up, followed in for four, hold two, release by aikido, all-the-while avoidfor four,” Miller says as in a ing “do-nothing yoga classes.” sitting pose, you twist your When a friend asked him swine, and using a “corkscrew” to attend a workshop at the
Larchmont yoga studio he agreed to come along to support her. After surviving some strenuous poses, and standing in a puddle of his own sweat, he started to rethink the whole yoga thing. The studio director at the time suggested he take the teacher training course. “I don’t want to teach,” he said. “It doesn’t matter,” said the director, “It will strengthen your practice.” He took the course, and the rest is ancient history.
Easier yoga options for everyone Fred Miller’s viniyoga classes are on Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2:45 p.m. and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. *** Urban Zen is on Mondays at 2:30 p.m. with Amy Rose Stabley, an integrative therapist. The class includes restorative poses, healing oils and meditation. Michele Rappaport offers a free HIV course on Tuesdays at 11 a.m. Yogaworks Larchmont, 230 N. Larchmont Blvd.
DON’T WAIT UNTIL IT’S TOO LATE! When we buy a car, it is an automatic decision to purchase auto insurance to protect ourselves from financial consequences should we have an accident involving property damage or personal injury. That is only smart………correct? What if you choose NOT to purchase the insurance to help maintain your financial integrity should you suffer an unexpected illness or disability? Your home equity, personal savings and financial investments can be seriously drained! The Johnsons, a middle-income family, had taken care to insure their mortgage was paid down, there was a comfortable amount of savings and investment monies available to them but one fateful day Ben had a paralyzing stroke. Soon thereafter Helen, his wife of 45 years, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Both Ben and Helen now needed in-home care for their routine custodial services such as mobility, toileting, bathing, dressing, eating etc. How to finance this unplanned expense? Well ... Medicare of course since they both had qualified age-wise! They also had supplemental health insurance that would assist with this new household expense … right? WRONG! Neither Medicare nor most health insurance plans will cover long-term care expenses! This is an expense that is currently $50,000+ per year, per person and accelerating annually. The Johnson’s dilemma deepened upon learning that they’d be “out of pocket” for this new expense. Their existing insurance broker was contacted and they were told that all insurance products must be purchased BEFORE there is a need for them. Long-term care insurance is only good if you have it before you need it! The Johnsons suffered the “folly of assumption” that most share: “Wait, and get it when you need it, or rely on your Medicare or Medicare supplemental insurance to cover the added expenses.”
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CONSIDERING CREMATION?
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Senior outlook
Couple share opera, music, laughs some 50-plus years By Suzan Filipek Irina was a young pianist when she fell in love with opera and a dashing fellow USC student, who, as it so happened, also fell in love with her. “It was the Puccini opera ‘Manon Lescaut’ where I fell hopelessly in love with the soprano lead…” said Jim Gibbons. The baritone and his future wife sang the leads to many operas under the direction of Dr. Walter Ducloux, who had been invited to the school by none other than music legend Toscanini. Wearing a Mickey Mouse tie with a Donald Duck clip one day last month, Jim is not one to take himself too seriously. Larchmont’s children’s dentist fills his office with toys, talking parrots and trains.
Skeletons and ghosts fill a Pirates of the Carribbean room. “Kids like him. He knows how to relate to them,” says his partner on stage and in life, Irina. After Jim sang solos in Handel’s “Messiah” backed by a 200-voice choir at Brigham Young University, he won a full music scholarship to the University of Indiana. Instead, he chose to follow his dad’s advice: “Get your dental degree and sing as much or as little as you wish.” And, go to USC, his dad added. It was his alma mater, and, where, “dad prevailed on me, I might be able to get two birds with one stone.” So, he entered USC dental school at 18, the youngest of his class. He got his jump start thanks
to his Mormon parents’ twoyear missionary stint in Uruguay. His education there was so exemplary he skipped three years of high school when he returned to the states. He opened his dental office in 1965 in the Larchmont Medical Building, the year it was built, and later moved to his current site at 411 N. Larchmont. (Drs. Kathleen Siu and Thomas Tanbonliong share the space with him today.) He was the ethics chairman for the L.A. Dental Society and a member of the Southern Calif. Society of Pediatric Dentists, among other posts in his long career. Early years were difficult establishing himself, he recalls, yet he brightened smiles of some of the rich and famous’
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AT HOME with their shepherd Ginger.
children’s smiles, including Nat King Cole’s and Muhammad Ali’s. Irina was also a hard worker. Born in Tehran of Armenian and Russian immigrants, she fled Iran with her family during the revolution to the U.S., where her father was able to reestablish his physician practice. She attended USC on a scholarship and also won a Fulbright Scholarship to the Vienna Academy of Music; James performed “Othello” excerpts with her in the Schubert Hall of the Vienna Koncert Haus. She went on to win first place in national auditions for the San Francisco Opera. A painting of the city’s famously crooked Lombard Street hangs near a grand piano. The petite, blonde is fluent in Russian and can play Chopin with ease. “I was a piano major the first four years, then my love of opera took over,” she explains of her two degrees. She also sang arias with opera companies in Rome, Seattle and Ojai, and she was a judge for the Metropolitan and Pavoroti auditions. “Our lives were completely intertwined from the beginning by music,” Jim says at their S. Lucerne Blvd. home, which is decorated with chandeliers and Persian carpets, and which they share with their rescue German shepherd mix Ginger. Having seen firsthand the commitment a music career “required to succeed as well as the countless sets of circumstances over which you have absolutely no control,” James father’s sage advice from years earlier resonates more than ever. “I am eternally grateful for his love, wisdom and guidance.” He’s had a lot of fun along the way judging from a sleigh he holds with Mickey at the reins and Goofy hanging on in the rear. “It’s a marvelous piece. Goofy steals the show,” laughs Jim.
Photos by Bill Devlin.
“You can see why kids like him,” smiles Irina, passing her husband an Armenian pastry.
skin
deep by Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald
Q: Is there anything new I can try to treat my fine lines? A: We’ve stumbled upon a powerful duo. The Eclipse Micropen followed by Exilis on the face and neck team up to stimulate collagen and elastin in a big way. Our patients are noticing smoother, firmer skin, and yes fewer lines and wrinkles. Twelve tiny sterile needles attached to the The Micropen’s tip create controlled minuscule injuries to stimulate that coveted collagen and elastin and in turn treat fine lines, acne scars, and improve skin’s overall texture and tone. The tiny channels also allow your topical gels, creams, and serums to absorb more effectively. In the same appointment we’ll follow up with Exilis. The skin-tightening device uses radio frequency waves to stimulate collagen production so effectively that we are seeing very real results after a single treatment. We’ve created a treatment package of three sessions for $2300 (a savings of $2300). As always, we are incredibly excited to offer you yet another nonsurgical option with such immediate, visible results. 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 Adv. an appointment.
Larchmont Chronicle
July 2015
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Senior outlook
Services bring groceries, hot meals to your door
Ask Dr. Dr. Richard H. Katz. DDS
Dear Dr. Katz, I have had a problem with my teeth FOREVER . My parents could not afford braces when I was younger and now I see the effects. My teeth are crooked and overlapping . Not only does it look horrific in photos but my gums are starting to bleed. I am not going to have braces at 45. I’ve heard of Invisalign .Does it work ? How long does it take ? Is it expensive ? I am sooo embarrassed . Signed Horrified and Embarrassed in La Puente Dear H.E.L.P. Yes, there is help. Invisalign was invented by a group of orthodontists a few years ago and the results are AMAZING. The reason why your gums are bleeding is the difficulty to floss and clean the overlapping and crowded teeth. Our Invisalign specialist, Dr Gabe Rosenthal, who is listed as a Premier Invisalign specialist, will answer all of your questions with a complimentary Invisalign consultation. $1000 off for all Larchmont readers!! Dr. Richard Katz Also specializing in: Halitosis and Founder of California Breath Center COMPLIMENTARY INVISALIGN AND IMPLANT CONSULTATIONS Our group of 3 General Dentists, Periodontist , Oral Surgeon , Pedodontist and Endodontist are here to treat your dental needs OPEN SUNDAY !!!!! REGAIN YOUR SMILE -- REGAIN YOUR CONFIDENCE CALL 1-888-SMILE-70 • 1-310-556-5600 • 1-800-9NEWBREATH VISIT us on WWW.KATZDENTALGROUP or Email Dr. Katz BREATHDDS@AOL.COM
DESSERT courtesy of FLUC online service. for the sick or elderly. It removes the hazards of carrying groceries, and provides a hot meal when they otherwise couldn’t cook,” Olivier says. Who to call? In the past few years, the market for grocery/hot food delivery has become crowded with everyone from Amazon to Uber testing services nationwide. With so many options, finding a local service can feel overwhelming, so we asked Olivier to give us her favorites. Amazon Fresh delivers grocery and household products from local shops and restaurants. If you place a grocery order by 10 a.m., Amazon will have it to you by dinner. Service requires Amazon Prime membership. More information at fresh.amazon.com. Blue Apron aims to make a chef out of everyone. The concept is simple: after subscrib-
ing to the service, you can pick several weekly recipes, and indicate how many people you’ll be cooking for. The Blue Apron team will provide all the ingredients and a step-by-step recipe card. The service runs $9.99 a person. More information at blueapron.com. FLUC (Food Lovers United Corps) uses technology to make ordering easier than ever. Enter your zip code and select a restaurant, after you place your order, a delivery
person from FLUC will head to the restaurant and pick up your order. The company aims to get food to you in under 45 minutes, and you can track your driver in real-time. More information at fluc.com. Grub Hub is an online platform that connects users with local takeout restaurants. Using your zip code, the site will list those places that deliver to the neighborhood. You can order online or by phone for free. More informa-
tion at grubhub.com. Yummy.com delivers groceries, deli sandwiches, cigarettes, alcohol or even Advil at the touch of a button. Plus, the service has both a catalogue and online platform to order from. The delivery fee is $3.99, free for orders over $100. Farmbox L.A. cultivates relationships with area farmers. It’s a farmers market straight to your door. Visit farmbox.com.
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By Billy Taylor The list of companies that will deliver food to your door is growing. However, because these services are largely online, they are often unknown to less tech-savvy residents, until now. We asked longtime Larchmont Village resident, Rachel Olivier, to give us the lowdown on what services are available. “It can be a great resource
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Exercise brain and body, be social around the neighborhood Claude Pepper Senior Citizens Center 1762 S. La Cienega Blvd. 310-559-9677 laparks.org
Barbecues, field trips to Palm Springs, a Dodgers’ game and Laughlin, social poker and a mature drivers course, are some of the activi-
St. Barnabas Senior Services 675 Carondelet St. 213-388-4444; 323-957-2222 (Hollywood) sbssla.org Photography, strength training, memory class, computer class, acting, card making and art club are some of the courses at St. Barnabas. Other activities include tai chi, X-box Kinect, Zumba, a cyber café, fall prevention and movies. A Facebook class helps seniors stay connected to family and friends safely. Field trips are also scheduled to destinations such as Dodgers’ games and California Science Center.
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Relocating? Redecorating? Downsizing? C
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www.ncjwla.org 800-400-6259
ties at Claude Pepper Senior Center. Others include acting, line dancing, yoga, a computer lab, chair yoga and tai chi. Call or drop by for a schedule. Open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Las Palmas Senior Center 1820 N. Las Palmas Ave. 323-465-7787 lacity.org Brain and body are cultivated at Las Palmas. Free films are screened Wednesdays and Fridays at noon. Once a month there are events such as talent shows, opera discussion groups and field trips. Weekly classes include watercolor painting, knitting, exercise, yoga, bridge, computer, board games, acting and auditioning, karaoke and bingo. Open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Freda Mohr Senior Center 330 N. Fairfax Ave. 323-937-5900 jfsla.org Storytelling for memory loss, a computer lab, gait and balance classes, movies,
chronic pain workshops, knitting, bridge and arthritis exercise sessions are offered. Knitting group meets on Mondays at 10 a.m. Gait and balance workshops are Mondays and Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m. Arthritis exercise is offered Mondays at 3 p.m. and Thursdays at 12:30 p.m. Movies are screened Wednesdays at 2 p.m. Silver Sneakers exercise classes are Fridays at 9:30, followed by Energy Explosion at 10:30 a.m. Shabbat parties are every Friday at 1 p.m. Westside Jewish Community Center 5870 W. Olympic Blvd. 323-556-5201 westsidejcc.org Brain ball, art workshops aerobics and water aerobics are available here. Senior water aerobics take place Monday through Friday at 9 a.m. Strengthen and stretch classes meet Mondays and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. Balance challenge workshops are Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. Brain ball classes are Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:30 a.m. There are also occasional dances and a discussion group for those with physical or cognitive challenges. Call for dates and times. Pan Pacific Senior Activity Center 141 S. Gardner St. 323-935-5705 laparks.org Tai chi, strength training, bingo and folk dancing are some of the activities at this center, which also has a gym and computer lab. Fitness classes are Mondays at 10:30 a.m. Yoga is Tuesdays (Please turn to page 17) Through July 31!!
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A field trip to a Dodgers’ game, poker, chair exercises and Zumba are some of the activities available in our area for the silver set.
Larchmont Chronicle
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Senior outlook A tai chi class meets Fridays at 10 a.m. L.I.F.E. at Park La Brea 535 S. Curson Ave. 323-936-0859 Living Independently in a Friendly Environment (L.I.F.E.), sponsored by the Jewish Family Services of Los Angeles, offers a wide range of activities and events for older adults in the Park La Brea community. Clubs and classes include a knitting and crochet club,
a chess club, aqua aerobics, gentle yoga, poolside yoga and gait and balance classes. Call for updated schedules as they may vary. Anderson Munger YMCA 4301 W. 3rd St. 213-427-9622 www.ymcala.org Chair exercises, yoga, tai chi, Zumba and water flexibility classes are available at Anderson Munger YMCA among their other offerings. Chair exercises are Mondays
and Wednesdays at 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. Water exercises are Monday through Thursday and Saturday mornings, with some lunchtime classes. Stretch and relax with yoga on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Tai chi sessions are Tuesday mornings and Saturday afternoons. Zumba dance classes are Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Contact the main office for more information as the schedules may vary.
CHAIR EXERCISES at St. Barnabas keep seniors active.
EXERCISE BRAIN AND BODY (Continued from page 16) at 11 a.m. Bingo is Wednesdays at 1 p.m. Tai Chi is Thursdays at 9 a.m. followed by folk dancing at 10:15 a.m. Friday is Zumba at 11 a.m. Schedules may vary so call or drop by for a calendar. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Hollywood Wilshire YMCA 1553 N. Schrader Blvd. 323-467-4161 ymcala.org/hw Zumba, several different
forms of yoga, chair exercises, stretches, tai chi and water exercises are some of the classes offered at the Hollywood Wilshire YMCA. Water exercise classes are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 10 a.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 a.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. Chair exercises are Tuesdays and Fridays at 9 a.m. Stretch class is Wednesdays and Fridays at 9 a.m. Zumba dance is Wednesdays at 10 a.m. and Thursdays at 9:30 a.m.
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Larchmont Chronicle
Senior outlook
Reeves seeks to recruit bridge players to Las Palmas Center What began as a hobby during graduate school at Wesleyan College in Connecticut has become a weekly bridge game for Robert Reeves.
Today, the Wilton Drive resident bemoans the lack of bridge players among younger people. “Bridge is a great game, no
matter if you are young or old,” said Reeves. He would like to rev up attendance at the Las Palmas Senior Center at 1818 N. Las Palmas Ave.
The HOLLYWOOD YMCA Offers Classes for Active Older Adults
•Volunteer •Learn Yoga •Exercise •Swim •Mentor •Teach •Be healthy •Get involved
•Zumba & Dance
BRIDGE GAMES draws Robert Reeves to senior center.
where he plays bridge once a week. A former teacher of computer sciences at Marlborough School, he currently is a consultant and programmer. He and his late wife DeeHarmon played party bridge, but, unfortunately, he hasn’t
Weekday opportunities to volunteer for local projects
Exercise can increase range of motion bone density and pain relief.
Local charity Big Sunday has made it easy for residents with free time in the summer months to volunteer on weekdays. The program is called TM@10, and it’s held each Thursday morning at 10 a.m. (get it?). And Big Sunday says it’s a great way for people to get together to meet new people, and work together while helping someone else. Each week, Big Sunday picks a special service project for one of its non-profit partners. Their July schedule includes: decorating cookies for Cal Vet West on July 2; assembling alumni gifts for A Place Called Home on July 9; visiting seniors at Beverly Carmel (this is an off-site project with a special 11 a.m. start time); putting together athletic bags for Coach Art on July 23; and building PB&J
Come by for a visit: HOLLYWOOD WILSHIRE YMCA 1553 N Schrader Boulevard Hollywood, CA 90028 or call 323 467 4161
Bluffing lessons at senior center No Minimums
been able to interest their son, R. J., in the game. The games are on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 10:30 a.m. All levels of players are welcome. Free parking is available.
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The Claude Pepper Seniors Poker Group is offering a new five-week class on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. in addition to its regular Friday afternoon sessions of Texas Hold’em and Omaha poker games. Main focus of the class will be on the art of bluffing and will be taught by local poker expert George Epstein. The Claude Pepper Sr. Citizens Center is at 1762 So. La Cienega Blvd., phone: 310559-9677.
sandwiches for St. Francis Center on July 30. All projects are at 6111 Melrose Ave., and there is no charge to participate. For more information or to sign up to volunteer, contact Rob at rob@bigsunday.org.
Like animals, children? Zoo could use a hand Docent slots are available at the L.A. Zoo for people who love animals and children and are looking for a rewarding volunteer opportunity. The Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA) docent training program information meeting is on Sat., July 18, from 10 a.m. to noon, at the Zoo’s Witherbee Auditorium. Open to ages 18 and up, the program provides comprehensive training, with no previous experience necessary. “All you need is willingness to learn and commitment to the welfare of our animals,” says Kirin Daugharty, manager of volunteers, adding, “Docents are an essential part of the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, creating a better environment for our animals and our visitors.” GLAZA’s volunteers, topping 800 people, contributed more than 74,000 hours last year to the Zoo. Applications are accepted online. For more information, call 323-644-4702 or email docents@lazoo.org.
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Senior outlook
Healthy aging calls on vision, balance and little help from friends The following excerpt— from Karen Perterson, founder of Move With Balance— details eye-brain-body therapy for seniors. More information is available at movewithbalance.org. Two major areas connected to overall health that are too frequently overlooked, particularly for those ages 65 and older, are visual capability and social connectedness, says Karen Peterson. “Physical and mental attributes are intimately connected, and what many do not realize is that balance is 20 percent based in vision. There are multiple ways of testing this, but perhaps the most simple is to stand on one leg, and then try to do so with your eyes closed. When your eyes are closed, your vestibular system, which controls your body’s balance, begins to work overtime,” says Peterson. “Seniors of all ages, 55 to 105, need to continually work on improving their balance, coordination, strength, vision and cognitive skills,” says Peterson, who has been teaching vision, brain and kinesiological modalities to children, businesspeople, athletes, classroom teachers and adults of all ages since 1987. “When they do, they’re less likely to fall and more able to enjoy life.” In 2005, she expanded her program to focus on elders; specifically, to encourage active and younger seniors
TIME IS ON OUR SIDE. Our bodies’ ability to balance evolved over millennia, according to the author’s website.
to buddy up with frail elder seniors for exercising eyebrain-body connections. “Some folks reach a milestone age and recognize that they need to get active and, after only a short while, they actually feel younger. It’s these folks who we’ve encouraged to mentor other seniors who haven’t taken that step,” Peterson says. “Members from different generations have partnered in training, and it’s an interesting learning experience for both parties.” Peterson says eye-brainbody exercises can help the elderly with healthy aging, and believes studies show they are best done with a buddy. • Independent study: Performed by Dr. Lorrin Pang, director of the Maui District Health Office, has provided plenty of positive data on
the topic. The objective is to reduce the number of falls in elderly who are institutionalized, many with cognitive deficits. The study was designed to compare the number of falls in the group doing exercises. While the multiyear study is in the peer-review process, data shows a statistically significant reduction in falls in the target group—38 percent. • The importance of vision exercise: Vision gives the nervous system updated information about the position of body parts in relation to each other and the environment. With that information we judge distances, avoid obstacles and control our balance. Visual information goes directly to the mid-
brain, where it becomes part of the sensory motor pathway. This information lets us know and control where we are in space. When people get old, they tend to lose their control of this seeing-based system that provides spatial orientation. With one in three seniors experiencing a significant fall this year, visual-spatial exercises are an important measure for prevention. • One example of a visual integration exercise—the arrow chart: With a partner holding the chart, look at the arrows and call out the direction indicated by each individual symbol. Then, thrust your arms in that direction; in other words, say and do what the arrow indicates. A partner can verify or correct move-
Now on View
File of Life helps elderly prepare for the unexpected The Los Angeles Dept. of Aging is offering residents 60 years or older a free way to keep critical medical information at hand during an emergency. The File of Life is a red plastic magnetic file folder that attaches to your refrigerator. The file contains important information about you to provide for more accurate medical treatment, including medications that you are taking, allergies, medical problems, blood type, emergency contact persons, physicians’ and hospital names, as well as pet information. Elderly residents can apply to receive two bright red and white File of Life stickers that may be placed in your front window at home and car to alert emergency personnel of the presence of the File of Life place on the refrigerator, in case of emergency. Also available is a personal size file, which you can carry in a wallet or purse for life-saving information outside the home. To request your free File of Life call 800-510-2020 or visit aging.lacity.org.
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ments. For an additional challenge, do the opposite of what the arrow indicates. • Help from your friends: Working with a partner is tremendously beneficial for many of these exercises. Not only does it help with structure, consistency of schedule and morale, many of Peterson’s exercises call for coordinated movements and fast reaction times, including ball tosses. Partners can help cue and coach, and they provide security for seniors afraid to challenge themselves for fear of falling. Successfully executing these exercises indicates good brain processing ability, which is necessary for cognitive skills and balance, Peterson says. So find a buddy and start moving!
EXHIBITION SPONSORED IN PART BY
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Larchmont Chronicle
SCHOOL NEWS Marlborough takes second place in poll Marlborough School is rated number two out of the top 100 best all-girls high schools in America, according to the 2015 Niche Poll.
The ranking uses data sourced from various government and public data sets, Niche’s own proprietary data, and 123,218 opinion-based
survey responses across a variety of topics from 16,688 current students, recent alumni, and parents. See the full list at k12.niche.com.
PAGE PRIVATE SCHOOL
Celebrating Our 107 th Year Latest Technologies Small Class Sizes/Ages 2 - Grade 6 Extended Hours 6:30am to 6:30pm Music, Art and Spanish Classes
BREAKING GROUND on Pilgrim School's new Field of Dreams was David Ryu, Councilmember District 4, Laurence Brown, Thomas Strickler, David Ikegami, Mark Brooks, Dr R. Scott Colglazier and Mitch O'Farrell, Councilmember District 13.
Visit pageschool.com for Open House Promotions
323.463.5118 Hancock Park 565 N. Larchmont Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90004
Clothing, school supplies at new NCJW store July 19 323.272.3429 Beverly Hills
419 S. Robertson Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211
OPEN HOUSE
July 20-24 at 9am-11am
A Back-2-School store to be open Sun., July 19, is the newest project of The National Council of Jewish Women Los Angeles Section. The store will provide opportunities for children to “shop” for brand new clothing and supplies to start the school year at NCJW/LA’s Council House at 543 N. Fairfax Ave. Participants are invited, in advance, through various community organizations to shop.
Peggy Shapiro, project cochair, said adult volunteers are needed to help kids select the items they need to succeed in the school year to come. Each child is escorted throughout the department-store-like space to select pants, shirts, sneakers, undergarments, a sweatshirt, and a backpack in their favorite colors and styles. Each child also receives school supplies. For more information, visit ncjwla.org.
BUG BOY
Summer fun, music series, at the LA Zoo
(Continued from page 22)
DISCOVER THE SPIRIT OF BRAWERMAN EAST! Newly renovated classrooms and facilities opening Fall 2015
Prospective Parent Tours: Thursday, October 15, 2015 Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Thursday, November 19, 2015 Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Tours begin at 9:30 a.m. and last approximately two hours. To visit us and experience our vibrant community, contact Peggy Davis, pdavis@brawerman.org
Brawerman Elementary School East W I L S H I R E B O U L E VA R D T E M P L E
Erika J. Glazer Family Campus * 3663 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90010
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children since the merger of Van Ness and its neighbor, the Frances Blend School for the Blind in 2013. The integration works both ways, with sighted students receiving Braille instruction starting in third grade. Katy Iriarte, principle at Van Ness, talks about how they focus on integrating select subjects, such as dance and music, and are always trying to “find opportunities where integration is natural.” Van Ness has more than 40 visually impaired and blind students on campus, with the largest such population in L.A. “They have given us more than we could ever give them,” says Iriarte, who is looking to expand the level of integration over the coming years.
Camp Tar Pits
Bring your tents to sleep outside among the asphalt seeps and learn about the La Brea Tar Pits at Overnight Adventures. Boys and girls can attend Camp Tar Pits Friday to Saturday, July 31 to August 1. For more information please visit nhm.org. To register, call 213-763-3499 or e-mail info@nhm.org.
Bands, food trucks and animals will be at events for young and old this summer at the L.A. Zoo & Botanical Gardens. A Family Jam takes place after hours on Sat., July 11 at 6 p.m., with entertainment and up-close (smaller) animal encounters. Roaring Nights Summer Music Series are on Fridays July 24 and Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. Open to guests ages 18 and up included are a live band, DJ dance party, food trucks, fullservice bars, pop-up zookeeper talks, animal encounters and visits to animal habitats. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for children (ages 2-12); tickets for Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association members are $17 and $13 respectively. Children under two years of age are free. The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens is located in Griffith Park at the junction of the Ventura (134) and Golden State (5) freeways. 5333 Zoo Dr. Free parking. For additional information, call 323- 644 -6042 or visit lazoo.org.
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SCHOOL NEWS SCORE CARD
Vikings volleyball on top; Marlborough rowers place By Daniel Frankel Sports Columnist Former Campbell Hall swingman, Justin Holiday, was part of the Golden State Warriors team that won this year’s NBA Championship. As a senior in 2007, Holiday averaged 19.1 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game as he led Campbell Hall to a 33-1 record and the state Class IV Southern Section championship. Meanwhile, Vikings tennis player, Sabrina Sanataria, (class of 2011) finished her storied USC career ranked as one of the top 16 women’s tennis player. The Vikings sixth grade girls’ volleyball team won their league championship, sending retiring Coach Patti McCoy off in style after 40 years of teaching and coaching at Campbell Hall. Marlborough School rowers Nicki Schindler and Bridget O’Callahan took third place in doubles and sixth place in Quad at the U.S. Rowing National Championships in Sarasota, FL. After a spectacular regular season, Harvard Westlake boys tennis singles players Jaird Meyer and Adam Sraberg each suffered straightset defeats in the Round of 32, abruptly exiting the CIFSouthern Section Individual Tennis Tournament. In other Harvard Westlake competition, Ezra Steinberg’s RBI single capped a thrilling 11-10 comeback victory over Mater Dei in the CIF Southern
Section 1 baseball playoffs on May 19. Coach Dan Turner’s Twins edged out Danny Corwin’s Orioles, 7-5, to finish with a perfect 11-0 season and win the 9U division championship for the Wilshire Warriors PONY Baseball recreational league on June 6. “It was a total team effort,” said Turner, a lawyer known to his rival Warriors coaches as the “Mel Kiper of Youth Baseball” for his uncanny ability to scout 9-year-old players. “The kids on the team did what we asked them to do, even if it meant not playing the position they wanted or not batting where they wanted to. They all did whatever it took to win.” Other Warriors recreation division winners included Coach Scott Disheroon’s Rays, which edged the Royals to take the 11-12U championship. In Warriors club baseball play, the 11U Blue Team finished with a 9-2-1 record and won the Mid-Valley League championship. Highlights included pitcher Kenneth Chung’s sevenstrikeout performance in the June 7 playoff semi-final, with the Warriors defeating the Rockstars 10-2. Later, in the championship game, Connor Rice knocked in Nick Grajeda for the final go-ahead run, as the Warriors edged out the Toluca Thunder, 7-5, which was a nail-biter that featured a California Tiebreaker.
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ST. BRENDAN CHURCH celebrated its 100th anniversary May 31 with a Mass with Archbishop Jose Gomez and Msgr. Terry Fleming. Celebrations continued at St. Brendan School with a carnival featuring food, games and rides. Boys attending were, from left, Aidan Turrill, Oscar Trevino, Ty Malloy and Morgan McDonough. Right are: Sue Blando, Grace Interiano and Catherine McDonough.
st. james’ episcopal school Engaging heart, mind, and spirit From our STEM program to our aquaponics garden, visit sjsla.org to learn how St. James’ is innovating in the classroom to engage 21st century learners.
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625 S. St. Andrews Place Los Angeles • sjsla.org
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SCHOOL NEWS
Debutantes honored at tea party Twenty-seven debutantes named for the 2015 Las Madrinas Ball were recognized at an event with their mother’s and grandmother’s in attendance on June 10. The young women—selected for their family’s service to Southern California and Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles—were honored at a tea given at the home of Mrs. Robert Craig Baker. Among the local members greeting guests were debutante chairman, Mrs. Wayne Martin Brandt, and Ball chairman, Mrs. Phil John Montoya, Jr.
GRANT-FINANCED "Bug Boy" debuts at Van Ness School.
DEBUTANTES honored at tea include (from left to right) Pilar Mae Hoye, Karalyn Ahmanson, Kathryn Ahmanson, Elizabeth Shoemaker, Sarane Caratan, Emma MacEachern.
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Blend students create and perform in musical ters they were already familiar By Georgia Dolenz with in class with their own Contributing writer An original production of interests and talents as inspi“Bug Boy: The Musical” was ration for each role. performed in the Van Ness The character of Bug Boy, Elementary School auditori- played by Mark Lopez, was um on May 27. The 30-minute born from his interest in entoshow was directed by teach- mology, while Natalie Fuener Anne Bell and performed tes’ character of Song Girl by students from the Visually was inspired by her love of the piano, which she played Impaired Resource Room. Earlier this year, Van Ness during the opening. Throughreceived a grant from the John out the show, characters such F. Kennedy Center for the Per- as Word Girl (Kaehly Estraforming Arts for a song-writ- da), Rovamzalyab (Avi Shadi), ing class, which was used to Spunky Punks (Wendy Lorenti), and Nature Girl (Hizela create the musical. Martinez) sang “We’re so proud of their "They have given us new lyrics set to hit songs. work,” says more than we could The words to Bell, express- ever give them." The Beatles ing how great classic “All You it is to “have something of their own that’s Need Is Love” were rewritten such a hit.” Bell works at Van to “All You Need Are Hugs,” Ness as a teacher for the blind and sung by Hug Boy (Sebasand visually impaired, and tian Espino). The bugs in the described how the children show were played by sighted were involved at every stage of students (Jasmine Contreras, the production, from writing Diego Flores, J’adore Miller the songs, to creating the sto- and Justin Pelovell), who also helped the cast during scene ry and the characters. The story follows Bug Boy changes. and his friends as they resur- There are a total of seven rect good bugs, take out the classes at Van Ness that serve poison from plants and teach students with visual impaireach other why bugs and ments. The sighted students plants are useful. Bell explains have been integrated with the how the children created the visually impaired and blind (Please turn to page 20) story by combining charac-
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SCHOOL NEWS
Students use spare time during summer to pursue internships By Gabrielle Sharfman Summer intern When the weather begins to warm, students grow excited and restless for summertime. With finals over and done, they start their summer activities, programs, jobs, and especially internships to gain experience and wisdom to take with them to or from college and beyond. There is an internship or program for every person based on his or her interests and fields they wish to pursue. After graduating from the Fashion Institute for Design and Marketing this year, Ari-
anna Sharfman has an internship for Simply Stylist, photographing various combinations of fashions, foods and household items for the company’s social media. She also works for Jouer Cosmetics, photographing makeup for their social media. Sarah Frieman, a senior at YULA Girls High School, is participating in a program with Girls Who Code, an organization that educates and inspires
Turning Point School Steven Haker Level 7 This has been a very busy time at Turning Point School. Students recently returned from their class trips and have many exciting stories to tell. Level 4 spent one night at the Lazy W Ranch, which specializes in early Californian history. Level 5 went to Riley Farm for two nights where they learned about the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. Level 6 traveled to the Grand Canyon for five days. Level 7 spent eight days on an environmental studies trip to the Dominican Republic, where they worked at an environmental school. The students farmed, removed invasive plant species, and even built a bridge. Level 8 traveled to Italy and Spain for twelve days. The trip tied into the Turning Point’s language pro-
gram, which offers Spanish and Latin. The students traveled to many different places, such as Madrid, Barcelona, Vatican City, Rome, and the ancient city of Pompeii. In each of these places they saw amazing things – and ate too much gelato! During the last month of the school year at Turning Point School, students finished their last projects and got ready for summer to begin. Level 8 successfully completed their graduation ceremony with the wonderful help of the Level 7 class. Only four days earlier, the Level 5 students had their Candle Lighting Ceremony. Although we will miss our Level 8 friends, we are happy for them and hope they will do well and enjoy themselves in high school. As students prepare for the summer and say goodbye to their classmates, everyone is hopeful that next year will be as educational, interesting, globally-aware, and fun as the last. We hope that everyone enjoys summer and we will see you in the fall!
Marymount offers girls STEM camp
Marymount High School held an all-girls STEM (science, technology, education and math) summer camp at its Alexa Cafe. The camp is open to girls ages 10 to 15 to help them develop a passion for technology and innovation. Whether developing wearable electron-
ics that light up your clothes, designing a webpage, producing a short movie, or learning to code creatively, technology shouldn’t be intimidating. Weeklong day and overnight sessions included personalized instruction with a maximum of just eight students per instructor.
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high school girls to pursue careers in computer science. The seven-week program is run in conjunction with the media company, Saban, and teaches participants the basic skills to work at a software company. Near the end of the summer,
the girls will work in teams on a project to create apps, robots, and websites. A senior at Marlborough School, Emily Kim will be going to Penn University for a five-week rowing program. The program, Penn AC Gold, is an opportunity to practice and compete in a few races over the summer since the club season is over. Your reporter, a senior at
YULA, has an internship at the Larchmont Chronicle. Later in the summer, I will go to Barnard College for a one-week program called Page to Stage, where we will read plays, discuss the staging and directing of them, and go to see a play together as a class. All of these students are thrilled with the opportunities available to them and are enjoying summer immensely.
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ACADEMY MUSEUM GETS OK
(Continued from page 7) Jim O’Sullivan, president of the Miracle Mile Residential Association. Nighttime parking is not an issue, as the Academy has secured long-term leases from neighboring tenants. Daytime parking might be arranged
with limited viewing, such as museums do with major exhibits. “If they did something like that, that could be interesting… we’ll see if it’s enough to make a deal,” O’Sullivan said. Signage, however, is pro-
Larchmont Chronicle
hibited under a 1999 development agreement, O’Sullivan added. Museum officials said signage overall was reduced by 95 percent from the original proposal. The Planning Commission okayed the Environmental Impact Report. The museum is expected to open in 2017.
MARLBOROUGH'S house at the corner of Third and Arden came down quickly.
HOUSES RAZED ON ARDEN
(Continued from page 1) part of the $24 million Arden Project to improve the private, all-girls school in Hancock Park. The expansion will add a new garden, an expanded soccer field, a fitness facility and a new state-of-the-art aquatics center. Project began in 1990s The project began in the late 1990s after Marlborough tore down several houses to create an athletic field and parking lot. Since then, the school has acquired the remaining properties necessary for the project’s completion, which will double the size of the original campus. An historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ) was put into place for the neighborhood in 2005, but City Planning and the Office of Historic Resources determined the construction was grandfathered in following a 1999
Marat Daukayev School of Ballet Ages 9 & up • Boys & Girls
Sunne Lane, known as Meme to those who loved her, born July 27, 1921, Mother of Clyde (Sandra) and Grandmother of Sarah Ferguson (Scott) and Rachel, died at Cedars Sinai hospital on Saturday, April 25th. Born in Denver, Colorado, she was a long time resident of San Diego and Los Angeles. She attended the Bishop School in La Jolla. She was a member of St. James Episcopal Church, helping with the children’s choir where her Granddaughters were members.
www.maratdaukayev.com
The focus of her life was her family, especially her Granddaughters. She had a wide array of close and caring friends. She is also survived by her sister, Charlene Schmit, of La Mesa, California. A memorial service will be held on July 27, 2015 at St. James Episcopal Church at 3903 Wilshire Blvd.
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Sunne was a former “Miss Wyoming” and, blessed with a beautiful voice, sang live on the radio in San Diego before and during World War II. Her Grandfather was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and her great Grandmother’s brothers served in the Union Army. She spent most of her career working in the medical field but also worked as an executive assistant to San Diego Mayor Frank Curran during his tenure.
June 29-August 7 To registor or for more information, call (323) 965-0333 Intermediate to Pre-Professional Training in Classical Russian Style Ballet at Dance Arts Academy, 731 s. La Brea Ave. (S. of Wilshire)
conditional use permit for the expansion. “We’ve worked on it for many years with the neighbors,” said Barbara Wagner, former head of school, in a 2014 interview with the Larchmont Chronicle, adding: “I think they feel like it’s been an interactive process and has worked out well. It’s a good situation for everyone.” Will this development make traffic and parking worse in the neighborhood? Officials at Marlborough say “no.” The school’s parking lot will be reconfigured to provide a turnaround area that will significantly improve functionality and safety and allow for valet parking. Complete 2016-17 Officials expect construction to be completed for the opening of the 2016-17 school year. For more information on the Arden Project, visit arden. marlborough.org.
SUNNE LANE July 27, 1921 - April 25, 2015
Summer IntenSIve 2015
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Larchmont Chronicle
July 2015
SECTION One
25
ENTERTAINMENT
Whales, Beach Boy share remarkable comeback tales
S “BE
T BITE S”
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that he represents the worst of Hollywood. In this film he presents one stomach-churning crudity after another and represents them as comedy. Ted2, is an unfunny low class, vulgar sequel to the unfunny low class, vulgar original that appeals to the lowest common
denominator, and it says a lot about the people who participated, among them actors I have heretofore admired like Mark Wahlberg and Amanda Seyfried, not to mention the already terribly damaged, good-looking, clean cut Tom Brady.
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sky comes to write of the awful films of 2015, Entourage will be near the top of the list. Perhaps the worst part of this deplorable film is the appearance of Ronda Rousey, the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s undefeated bantamweight champion and Olympic medalist in judo. She should stick to fighting. Every time she grunts a line it’s clear that she belongs in the ring, grunting with each punch. Ted2 (1/10): One would think that good-looking, clean cut personable writer/director Seth MacFarlane, was a person with good values. But here’s what he said on national TV to Bill Maher, “I like a good A—F--- as much as the next guy.” He is a vulgarian who shows in this film
the woefully weak story, director Cameron Crowe has such washed out scenes of Hawaii it might as well have been filmed in Needles. The best performance in the film is by Danielle Rose Russell, who plays Grace, McAdams’ daughter. Her short performance at the end of the film (totally unconnected to the story) is Oscar®-nomination quality. Alas, even with the three gorgeous stars, that’s not enough to justify the price of admission. Entourage (2/10): When that great scorekeeper in the
3875 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1401
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Humpback Whales (10/10): This film tells the story of the Humpback Whales’ comeback from a population 200 years ago of 250,000 to where there were only 12,500 left. Their comeback has been remarkable as now At the there are apMovies proximately with 100,000. As Tony usual with Medley the work of f a t h e r- a n d son team Greg and Shaun McGillivray, the IMAX photography is mind-boggling. Because of the size of the film, 10 times larger than normal 35mm film, it has 10 times the clarity. When you add 3-D to the IMAX, the result is a visual experience you will never forget. Love and Mercy (9/10): Although there are snippets of lots of Beach Boys songs, this is far from a musical. Instead it’s the story of groundbreaking writer/singer/guitarist Dennis Wilson and his battle back from drugs and mental illness, along with the battle of his wife-to-be, Melinda (Elizabeth Banks), to rescue him from the grasp of Los Angeles psychotherapist Dr. Eugene Landy (Paul Giamatti), who had made Dennis a virtual prisoner. The film is comprised of tandem tales of Dennis (Paul Dano) as a young man, and then a couple of decades later (John Cusack) fighting his demons. I’d give lots of Oscar nominations to this film, especially to Dano, Cusack, Giamatti, and Banks, as well as director Bill Pohland. Jurassic World (9/10): This is as good a monster thriller as you will ever see. The special effects are mind-boggling, the 3D doesn’t dilute the color and is ever-present, and the story is good enough to hold interest for over two hours. When you’re dealing with an island full of dinosaurs created from DNA, you don’t expect crushing reality. Big Game (5/10): The cast in this, Samuel L. Jackson, Felicity Huffman, and Jim Broadbent, led me to believe that it might be something worthwhile seeing. This is an interesting idea, but it needs a better story, a better script, more believable situations, and better music. Aloha (5/10): How could you go wrong with a film that has Rachel McAdams and Emma Stone for the guys and Bradley Cooper for the gals, set in Hawaii? This answers that question. Exacerbating
7TH ANNUAL
TUESDAY, JULY 14 • 5 –9 pm Join us for a “full” evening of mouth-watering tastes from The Original Farmers Market. This year, we’re celebrating the Market’s “Best Bites” featuring the most popular tastes from our renowned restaurants, grocers and eateries. Price includes beer and wine samples, two drink tickets (good for non-alcoholic beverages), live music and free parking for the event.
TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW! $40 $45 AT THE DOOR. 10% GROUP DISCOUNT ON 10 OR MORE TICKETS
A SAMPLING OF THIS EVENING’S DELICACIES...
Learn more about the Annual Taste of Farmers Market. Use the QR app on your smartphone to view the video.
Truffle Mac & Cheese – Planet Dailies Nutella Crepes – The French Crepe Company Tuna Tartare – Marmalade Cafe New Orleans Shrimp – Tusquellas Seafoods Chicken Rendang – Singapore’s Banana Leaf Chopped BBQ Beef Sandwich – Bryan’s Pit Barbecue Waffle Shot w/ Espresso – Zia Valentina Orange Chicken– Peking Kitchen Fruit Smoothies – The Salad Bar Handmade Ice Cream – Bennett’s Ice Cream
... Plus much, much more!
BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY AT THE FARMERS MARKET OFFICE (upstairs, above Gate One until 7pm daily) OR ONLINE AT FARMERSMARKETLA.COM 6333 W. THIRD ST. • LOS ANGELES • 323.933.9211 / FARMERSMARKETLA Insta
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July 2015
SECTION One
Larchmont Chronicle
entertainment
Over-the-top comedy infuses spoof of murder-mystery musical Stage and screen has had a long tradition of spoofing the murder-mystery genre, especially the Christie-QueenDoyle literature. Never has the genre been so cleverly turned on its proverbial head as in Murder For Two, A New Musical Comedy. The book and music is by Joe Kinosian and lyrics by Kellen Blair. All of which results in a lot of laughter. Arthur Theater Whitney, the Review famous novby elist has been Patricia shot. Brett Foster Rye Ryback plays Marcus the earnest-wanna-be-detective plus a few other characters, and Jeff Blumenkrantz plays all the suspects. Our favorites are Miss Lewis, the ballerina with a perfect fifth position and Stef, the Valley Girl. Not only are these two actors zany comedians, good dancers and singers but they accompany each other on a grand piano. A-Chorus-Linelike mirror reflects the keyboard and proves their musical proficiency. Director Scott Schwartz keeps the comedic pace frenetic. There are songs, dances, audience interaction, inside jokes, all of which adds up to one over-the-top highly entertaining evening at the theatre. Through Sun., Aug. 2, Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse 10886 Le Conte Ave. 310-2085454 geffenplayhouse.com 4 Stars *** Be prepared! These are not your usual Disney-type moppets. Roald Dahl’s Matilda, The Musical has arrived. And she has in tow eight quadruple threat, intense, super talented show-biz kids. The book by Dennis Kelly, music and lyrics is by Tim Minchin, adapted from the book by the same name by Roald Dahl. The show’s creative team has
kept true to Mr. Dahl’s dark view of adults and their relationships with kids. All the familiar characters are there: Miss Trunchbull (a terrific Bryce Ryness), the discusthrowing villain, Miss Honey, (Jennifer Blood) Matilda’s friend, really a terrific cast of wonderful adult performers. Three actresses play Matilda. The night we saw it Mia Sinclair Jenness tackled the role with a great singing voice and a moving pensiveness. The in-your-face choreography by Peter Darling fits perfectly with the dark atmosphere of the piece. Through July 12 Ahmanson Theatre at the Music Center 136 N. Grand Ave. 213-6282772. Centertheatregroup.org 4 Stars *** In a town where actors are being attacked by their own union (Actors Equity Association versus 99-seat theatres) it’s a valid reminder of the quality we could lose when you see three actors at the top of their game making the most of a play that meanders in pursuit of a thru-line. Billed as a comedy, A Permanent Image by Samuel D. Hunter centers on a family as they gather for the funeral of the family patriarch Martin (Mark L. Taylor) who only appears on a series of homemade videotapes explaining his fascination with quantum physics. The clever video projection design is by Nicholas Santiago. Carol, his widow, (brilliantly played Anne Gee Byrd) has not taken her husband’s death well (she’s embarked on a unique approach to redecorating, among other things). Son Bo (Ned Mochel) and daughter Ally (Tracie Lockwood) arrive, each with their
Come Enjoy a Taste of Greece! Your Hosts Dimitris & Thomas Houndalas
Reservations Recommended Call 323.464.5160
127 North Larchmont Boulevard
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We’re Open for Lunch & Dinner 7 Days A Week
own set of baggage, to help their mother as she prepares for the funeral. Finally, secrets are revealed and motivations
explored as this one-act examines the interrelations of this broken family. Through Mon., July 20.
Rogue Machine Theatre, 5041 Pico Blvd. 855-585-5185. roguemachinetheatre.com 3 Stars
Jazz at LACMA Enjoy prime seating as you experience Chef Viet Pham’s three or four-course dinner that changes weekly, highlighting variety and the freshest in season, some picked right from our own backyard.
HIGHLIGHTS Antipasto Angolotti Waldorf Salad Wood-Grilled Hanger Steak
VIEW MENUS AND RESERVE AT RAYSANDSTARKBAR.COM
Jazz + Picnic = Fun Or, pre-order a picnic basket for pick-up in just 4 easy steps. VIEW MENU AND PRE-ORDER AT patinagroup.com/LACMACAFE
LACMA I 5905 WILSHIRE BLVD, LOS ANGELES, CA 90036 I 323 857 6180 RAYSANDSTARKBAR.COM
FIRST COURSE Purée of Carrot/Ginger Soup
SECOND COURSE
Larchmont Chronicle
July 2015
Off Vine Salad
DESSERT COURSE
SECTION One
Choice of
Mixed Field Greens with Roasted Pecans & Bleu Cheese tossed with a Balsamic Vinaigrette
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Home-made Pumpkin Pie
with Cinnamon Gelato entertainment Beglian Chocolate Flourless Torte
ENTREE COURSE Choice of
with hazelnut sauce & fresh whipped cream
Free-Range Turkey Fresh Seasonal Berries Hatfield’s churrascoRoast grill at Wa Sushi with and Traditional Stuffing & Gravy a winner,withharmony creme Anglaise topped with skinny onion Vine’s“Wa” Famous Souffles means “harmony” La Cienega Blvd. #201, West Prime Rib rings of Beef silky salmon, spritzed withOfffish. and served with horseradish Chocolate • Raspberry • Grand-Marnier • Pumpkin lemon and sprinkled with flaky in Japanese—which this dish Hollywood. 310-854-7285. with a Portobello mushroom-horseradish sauce cream for $20. For dessert, salt was the essence of cold exemplifies. Dinner only. Beer, wine, sake Seatings are from 2:00p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sauteed Karen’s $9 brown butter Filet crepeof Wild watersSalmon and lovingly prepared Wa Sushi & Bistro. 1106 N. and soju are served. withblackberries a Pomegranate Cabernet Sauce tart with roasted Call Today for reservations and lemon verbena icewith cream All served mashed potatoes, yams, and roasted seasonal $50.00 per person was terrific. Itvegetables sounded the not including tax, gratuity and beverages perfect end note to our dinner. Odys+Penelope. 127 S. La Brea Ave. 323-939-1033. Dinner nightly. Full bar. 6263 Leland Way *** Hollywood CA. 90028 Wa Sushi & Bistro, an unas323-962-1900 suming sushi bar with a surwww.offvine.com prisingly dramatic view, has offvinerestaurant@sbcglobal.net resided on the second floor of a mini-mall for over a decade. Founded by former Matsuhisa chefs, the master’s proclivity for fusion cooking is in evidence here, too. The sweet $16 seabass with eggIs now serving Breakfast plant was beautifully presented in an eggplant skin “bowl,” Monday through Friday but the similarly textured fish starting at 10 a.m. and pliant vegetable begged for crunch to break the chewing monotony. The texture was Pancakes, Eggs Benedict, Smoked Salmon, off in the $16 lobster tempura Scrambles, Quesadillas in creamy spicy sauce, and I and so much more…. found myself pining for battered shrimp and yam instead. Spicy tuna crispy rice present6263 LeLand Way, ed six rectangles of crusty rice topped with lovely, mildly pepWWW.offvine.com pered chopped raw tuna for 323-962-1900 $12. Even better was the $16 earthy and delicious pan of sizzling shiitake, enoki and shimoji mushrooms. We tried both pesto- and uni-cloaked halibut sashimi, both very good. What made the meal for me, though, was a single piece of $4 sushi. That simple little nugget of rice topped with
DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND
RESTAURANT
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It was a sad day for fine dining when Karen and Quinn Hatfield closed their eponymous restaurant in 2014. Odys+Penelope, their new churrasco and grill, is totally different: casual, buzzy and nary a white tablecloth in sight. My husband and I had spent so many wonderful evenings at Hatfield’s that we were eager to try this place. We headed over one night without reservations and were offered seats at the counter overlooking the glassed-in kitchen or at the On the bar, where we perched. GreekMenu style columns, by left from the Helene previous purSeifer veyors, accent the front wall and inspired the restaurant’s Homerian name, but the room is more hearth than Hellenic. Brick walls, soaring wood ceiling, and a magnificent display of logs lend an air of rusticity and reinforces the fact that smoke and fire are used to coax deep flavors out of nearly everything here. We started with rather ordinary $6 warm cheese biscuits with Romesco, but the $16 Australian blue prawns provided a flavor explosion. Four large grilled prawns basked on a bed of unctuous, garlicky potato slices. The $6 sugar snap peas with pea tendrils and chimichurri sauce were delicious; their jolt of acidity balanced the prawn’s richness. Of course, we wanted a hunk of meat, so we ordered the dry-aged sirloin cap. Three beautifully rosy slices of the profoundly flavorful beef were
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July 2015
SECTION One
Larchmont Chronicle
Update on Farmers project at Ebell
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(Continued from page 1) and would like to downsize but still reside in this wonderful residential neighborhood,” he said. Private two-car garages A preliminary rendering provided by CIM (on page one) shows the view southwest from the center of Wilshire and Muirfield. In the background is the existing Farmers tower on Rimpau, and in the foreground are the three triplex buildings with three homes each, for a total of nine units. These three buildings fill the Wilshire frontage of the entire block between Muirfield and Mullen. By contrast, said Kuba, another developer’s new condominium project now commencing sales across Wilshire, on the northeast corner of Rimpau, has 12 units on a parcel with less frontage than CIM allots for its nine units.
FARMERS insurance building on Wilshire.
Complies with Park Mile Kuba says that CIM asked both its original residential architects at Van Tilburg, Banvard & Soderbergh of Santa Monica and its added architects at Bassenian Lagoni of Newport Beach to address the concerns of neighbors and to make an even more attractive project completely compliant
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with restrictions of the Park Mile Specific Plan. Kuba says that a dialogue with attendees will follow the July 8 presentation to get neighbors’ reactions to the changes made since January. Early neighbor concerns After a June 18 meeting where CIM previewed its inprogress drawings for several neighbors, Jan Wieringa, who lives across Eighth St. from the existing Farmers parking lots, expressed concern over the proposed new designs. Wieringa said, “It is my opinion that we must make sure Brookside’s friendly neighborhood character is preserved.” She added: “neighbors should turn out for the meeting on July 8 and decide for themselves what they want and how they want to engage with CIM.” Also attending the June 18 preview was Owen Smith, Brookside president. Smith observed that “one neighbor who saw the preliminary revised plans has concerns about the park proposed for Eighth St. at Mullen Avenue, and I think those concerns are very legitimate. Perhaps that area could be added to the swimming pool area so that it is not available to Brookside residents or be redesigned to not encourage vagrant campouts.” Another concern, says Smith, is the garage design for the seven proposed large single-family residences along Eighth St. “The old plan, from January, had the garage openings in the back, with cars entering and exiting either on Mullen or via two driveways on Muirfield. At the January meeting, some of the Muirfield residents said they thought that there should be only the northern driveway.” Smith continued that “CIM revised its plans accordingly. But now there is objection from a neighbor across Eighth. This is a detail to review." The CIM presentation to neighbors will take place immediately following the regularly scheduled July 8 Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council meeting, also at The Ebell.