LC Real Estate 03 2023

Wilcox Ave. Hancock Park | $950,000

SOLD. Represented Buyer. Charming 2 beds, 2.5 baths remodeled townhouse with private patios & gardens.

Maria Gomez 323.460.7614 CalRE# 01206447

1353 N. Orange Grove Ave. West Hollywood| $12,000

FOR LEASE. 3 beds 5 baths Craftsman bungalow. Formal entry, living rm, beautiful kitchen. Rick Llanos 323.810.0828 CalRE #01123101

641 Wilcox Ave. #2E Hancock Park | $860,000

JUST LISTED. Spacious, updated 1BD + 1.5BA unit in recently renovated, Hancock Park Terrace. 641Wilcox.com

Loveland Carr Group 323.460.7606 CalRE #01467820, #0888374

1645 Vine St. #703 Hollywood | $899,000

Historic loft at Hollywood & Vine, Full service. Rooftop pool/cabanas/firepit. Gym.

Barbara Allen 323.610.1781 CalRE #01487763

585 N. Rossmore Ave. #401 Hancock Park | $822,000

SOLD. Represented Seller. 2 Beds 2 baths condo. Corner unit, living rm with fireplace, private balcony.

Maria Gomez 323.460.7614 CalRE# 01206447

327 S. La Jolla Miracle Mile| $5,000/MO

LEASED. 3 bedrooms, 2 bath townhouse with shared gardens & parking. Close to trendy shops and dining.

Rick Llanos 323.810.0828 CalRE #01123101

COMING SOON Highland | TBD

Contemporary 2 story, renovated 6 beds/ 3 + family room. 3600sq ft. Fabulous kitchen. Close to places of worship. Move-in condition.

Cecille Cohen

213.810.9949 CalRE #00884530

Citrus Square: paradise planned next to Hancock Park

George Allan Hancock was truly one of the great aristocrats of his day. Scion of the Gilded Age, he was the son of Major Henry Hancock (the owner of the Rancho La Brea) and Ida Haraszthy Hancock, the daughter of Hungarian count Agoston Haraszthy, aka “the Father of California Viticulture.”

George Allan Hancock abandoned the life of a rancher in 1900 with the discovery of the Salt Lake Oil Field on his property, much of it leased to be worked by the Gilmore family and later by Hancock himself with the founding of his own oil concern, making the Hancocks very rich. George Allan “Captain” Hancock then pursued a life of cultural philanthropy and oceanographic study, even building three yachts for research and exploration, as well as donating 23 acres for a county park and the protection of the fossil-rich tar pits.

With the rapid decline of oil revenues and the skyrocketing of land prices due to a rapidly expanding Los Angeles, Hancock shifted his attentions to the development of his rancho’s real estate. His ambition was to see a Greater Hancock Park residential neighborhood along Wilshire Boulevard bounded by Fairfax Avenue to

by Brian Curran

the west, Rossmore Avenue to the east and Santa Monica Boulevard to the north. He began with the establishment of the original Hancock Park subdivision along Rossmore Avenue in 1920. He slowly developed west of the Wilshire Country Club. It was not until 1924 that Tract 8320, the main body of Hancock Park, bounded by the Wilshire Country Club on the east and Highland Avenue on the west, would be laid out.

At the same time, however, Hancock began laying out additional streets to the west between Highland and La Brea avenues, bounded by Wilshire Boulevard on the south and Rosewood Avenue on the north. This area, Tract 8498, which we know today as Citrus Square and a portion of Melrose Neighborhood, has been identified by SurveyLA as the Sycamore - Citrus North Multi-Family Residential Historic District. As with Ridgewood Place [see the January 2023 Larchmont Chronicle], a clear hierarchy

of streets, lot sizes and density can be observed.

In Hancock Park, there are large lots and estates to the

east decreasing in size as the neighborhood moves west across Highland Avenue. On Highland, homes and lots are

generous, getting smaller on Citrus Avenue to the west with a mix of one- and two-story (Please turn to page 3)

SYCAMORE-CITRUS NORTH MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT has been identified by the City Planning Department as eligible for designation and is the area highlighted in orange, just west of Hancock Park and its existing HPOZ. Map data © 2022 Imagery © 2022, CNES / Airbus, Maxar Technologies, U.S. Geological Survey, USDA/FPAC/GEO

On Preservation

(Continued from page 2) single-family houses. Density increases further on Mansfield (originally Milton) Avenue, and Orange Drive — with the appearance of large luxurious duplexes — and culminates along Sycamore Avenue with blocks of apartment buildings of various sizes. Hancock clearly designed this street’s density to take advantage of its close proximity to the business district on adjoining La Brea Avenue. The neighborhoods across La Brea to the west were also laid out in 1924, mirroring, to a lesser extent, the patterns established to the east.

Who’s who While ostensibly designed

for different lifestyles, the Citrus Square district was no poor relation to its cousin Hancock Park. Its houses and buildings were designed by a who’s who of residential architects, and the construction of its residences shows significant detail and quality comprising a mix of Spanish Colonial Revival and Tudor Revival styles, with a few in the Mediterranean Revival style. Citrus Square also shared the same cast stone streetlamps, concrete streets and tree canopy as Hancock Park to the east.

Over time, the Citrus Square neighborhood would develop its own personality while still retaining its real estate cachet of being “part” of Hancock Park. As fate, or shall we say

kismet, would have it, the distinctive characteristics of the district have made it attractive to the large and dynamic ultra-Orthodox Jewish community established around La Brea Avenue. The substantial duplexes and houses of Citrus Square are perfect for the large and growing families of the community but, more importantly, they are within walking distances of the area’s synagogues and Jewish schools.

Today, Citrus Square continues to retain its historic character without official historic protections like those of its neighbors in Hancock Park, Windsor Square, Windsor Village, Wilshire Park, Miracle Mile and Miracle Mile North — each of which is designat-

ed as an Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ). There have been relatively few Citrus Square demolitions in recent years, with the most notable being the well-publicized demolition of the beautiful home at 361 North Citrus Ave. by Reuven Gradon in 2019. SurveyLA was able to identify 408 contributors to the potential Citrus Square historic district. But this is still an uneasy peace. La Brea-Hancock to the south of Citrus Square has seen significant demolitions and loss of cohesion as a potential historic district.

To prevent this in Citrus Square and avoid the contentious issues that intersect around land use and preservation in the neighborhood, the

creation of a National Register district would be ideal, allowing for review prior to demolition — but, unfortunately, lacking the layered protection of an HPOZ. While admittedly a heavy lift, a potential Sycamore - Citrus North Multi-Family Residential Historic District would finally help protect, preserve and honor Captain Hancock’s entire planned paradise of Hancock Park.

In November 2022, “On Preservation” columnist Brian Curran began a series of periodic reports on the possible creation of additional historic districts in the Greater Wilshire area — (“Room to Grow?: Preserving not-yet-designated historic districts”).

361 N. CITRUS AVE. was a beautiful Tudor Revival home (tinyurl.com/y57e4a48) that had been lovingly maintained since 1927. It was sold to developer Reuven Gradon and his wife, Shevy, on Sept. 18, 2019, after they praised its “incredibly rich character” and promised to preserve it.

REUVEN GRADON applied for a demolition permit the day he closed the purchase of the historic house, and he did not post required notice of the proposed demolition. Then, 30 days after closing, he demolished the house on Oct. 18, 2019. This photo was taken Oct. 23, 2019.

THE BIG NEW HOUSE of Reuven and Shevy Gradon at 361 N. Citrus Ave. The massive structure definitely is not a contributor to the neighborhood that SurveyLA calls the Sycamore - Citrus North Multi-Family Residential Historic District. This photo was taken on Feb. 21, 2023.

Larchmont area kids take on environmental issues

By Nona Sue Friedman

If you’re ever on Larchmont Boulevard in the early morning on the first Saturday of each month, you might see a gaggle of elementary school kids picking up trash. These are the Future Fighters, 9and 10-year-olds comprising a local organization that wants to make an impact on how we treat our planet.

The group started in the summer of 2021 when Lulu Homer, then 7 years old, came home from a local day-camp upset that they were serving lunch to everyone in multiple

individual plastic containers. She didn’t eat the camp’s lunch that day or any day that summer. That evening, she wrote a letter to the camp director and explained how plastic is bad for people and the environment. She brought the letter to camp the next day with an extra page attached for potential signatures.

Was anyone else disturbed by the plastic and interested in signing her letter?

She finished the day with a page full of signatures.

From this interaction, Homer’s mother, Larissa

Dooley, an environmental psychologist, realized that her daughter and like-minded peers needed an outlet to help them make an impact on their surroundings. And that is how Future Fighters was born.

The group concentrates on environmental activism, interacting with nature and education about climate and the environment.

Dooley, the group’s leader, says members “focus on giving back directly to the local community,” which is one of the reasons they clean up the Boulevard and hold their fundraisers there. They concentrate on solutions, how to be a good citizen of the planet and the different levels of impact people and products have on the environment.

In the short time they’ve been in existence, Future Fighters members were asked to speak in front of hundreds at the Youth Global Climate Strike at Los Angeles City Hall. They planted a garden and composting station in the closed alley behind one of their homes, and their fundraising on Larchmont Boulevard supports agencies that align with their beliefs, such as 4Ocean, Sunrise Movement and Tree People.

The kids come from all different schools but almost all live in the Hancock Park and Windsor Square neighborhoods. Dooley’s goal is to model it like a Girl Scout troop. She plans to apply for grants to further support their projects.

Future Fighters is looking for more eager members. Although it has a mailing

list of about 60 people, all through word of mouth, the average gathering has about

six to 15 participants. To get involved and find out more, check out futurefighters.org.

Real Estate Sales*

Single family homes

FUTURE FIGHTERS Byrdie Howe, Betty Dentler, Jo Thomas, Eve Jacobs, Lulu Homer and Edie Matloff, cleaning up Larchmont Boulevard and its alleyways in February.

Photo courtesy Susan Matloff

SOLD: This home at 122 S. Norton Ave. in Windsor Square was sold in mid-January for $5.4 million.

Laurel Canyon Dog Park gets a new leash on life

By Suzan Filipek

Hot dog!

Laurel Canyon Dog Park, the city’s oldest off-leash dog park, got a makeover thanks to the efforts of the Los Angeles Dept. of Recreation and Parks, the LA Parks Foundation and City National Bank.

District 4 City Councilmember Nithya Raman joined the bank and parks foundation officials at the grand opening celebration and ribbon cutting ceremony last month. The newly renovated park features new benches, a dog wash station and a pergola

that provides shade. The enhancements also feature new wheelchair-accessible seating, making it easier for pet owners with disabilities to enjoy the park.

Prior to the refurbishment, the Laurel Canyon Dog Park, established in 1988, featured

Incredible New Price! | Open Sundays 1-4

limited shade and seating.

415 South June Street, Los Angeles, CA 90020

5 BR | 7 BA | 7,378 SF | 18,988

SF LOT

This breathtaking estate, situated on one of Hancock Park's most beautiful and prestigious streets, takes you back to the Golden Age Hollywood glamour with much modern appeal. The home boasts a magnificent 2 -story foyer, open layout entertaining rooms, sunroom, study, and state-of-the-art remodeled chef's kitchen. Step outside to a very private and verdant garden, with ample room for pool/spa. A guesthouse with 2 rooms, bathroom and kitchenette, and a garage with gated driveway.

Naomi Hartman & Leah Brenner 323.860.4259 / 4245

info@naomiandleah.com

www.naomiandleah.com

CalRE #: 00769979 | 00917665

251 N. Larchmont Blvd. LA 90004

“Supporting our community is a big part of who we are at City National Bank, and we are honored to work with the Los Angeles Parks Foundation to help restore such a historic park,” said Larchmont area resident Debora Vrana, senior

vice president and chief communications officer of City National Bank. She also is a board member of the Los Angeles Parks Foundation, which is overseen by Windsor Square resident Carolyn Ramsay, executive director of the Los Angeles Parks Foundation.

New office building on Upper Larchmont

By John Welborne

Renderings from Plus

Deena Blau 323.533.2212

deena@homesbuydeena.com

CalRE#: 01320286

9000 Sunset Blvd. WH 90069

©2023 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker R eal Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Realogy Brokerage Group LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of th e Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. CalRE #00616212.

Congratulations to The Naomi Hartman & Leah Brenner Team

on receiving the International Diamond Society Award placing them at the Top 2% of all Coldwell Banker Agents Worldwide

JUST SOL

Your passion, dedication, and professionalism continue to win you Top Producer awards and very happy clients

Design Studio show an airy four-story building planned to become the new headquarters of Plus Development Group, Plus Design Studio and Plus Real Estate Group. Plus Development is a partner in the restoration and current marketing of the elegant Windsor Square home at 425 S. Plymouth Blvd.

The design of the proposed 15,000-square-foot Larchmont office building seeks to integrate vegetation

and nature into the workplace. The project’s sponsor describes the building’s front facade as acting “as a filter to shield the workspaces from noise and overexposure, giving way for ambient natural light, and allowing a serene and quiet work environment, while providing a green backdrop for the neighborhood.” The project is in its entitlement phase, with the developer working with city departments to obtain a permit to start construction soon.

Naomi Hartman & Leah Brenner

323.860.4259 / 4245

info@naomiandleah.com

www.naomiandleah.com

CalRE #: 00769979 | 00917665

251 N. Larchmont Blvd. LA 90004

©2023 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker R eal Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Realogy Brokerage G roup LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles o f the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. CalRE #00616212.

BEFORE AND AFTER: A new office building is planned for 523 North Larchmont Boulevard, now the site of a two-story building with the “Starlight Ink & More” pole sign in front, located just north of Muto-Little Costumes. Rendering by Plus Design Studios

HONOREES Debora Vrana and friend at the dog park’s grand opening, where Vrana received a proclamation.

Showcase House preview portends fascination for April and May

By Sondi Toll Sepenuk

Guests were asked to dress warmly to attend the exclusive Empty House Party for 2023’s Pasadena Showcase House of Design preview. Don’t get me wrong; this isn’t your traditional preview. This is the PRE preview. A Georgian staircase and French-inspired walls of the grand 1933 Colonial (built for what now seems like a bargain — $13,000!) beckoned guests into the brightly lit, unheated empty rooms. There, this year’s 32 designers showed off their vision boards and bathed in the excitement of the media attention, plus that of the patrons, members

and other guests.

Two specialty cocktails, the French 75 and the Sidecar, plus an endless array of finger foods, along with Art Deco Entertainment’s live band, helped to warm the attendees as they moved from empty room to empty room, imagining what life must have been like in this 1933 Pasadena architectural gem surrounded by extensive grounds.

World traveler

Many designers wanted to honor the home’s original owner, Ruth Nicholson Stewart, who travelled the world with her husband, Arthur,

to Hawaii, Japan, Tahiti and Italy and returned to Los Angeles with a love of design and a desire to help the community philanthropically. Arthur Stewart was the grandson of Civil War veteran and co-founder of Union Oil Company of California, Lyman Stewart. The house was a wedding present to Arthur and Ruth from his father, William L. Stewart (also CEO of Union Oil). Arthur retired as a vice president and director of the company (now UNOCAL). Designer Dona Dockendorf was ready to transform the grand living room in muted

neutral colors and eye-catching Southeastern Asian patterns, while designer Stephanie Leese geared up to plunge into the pool cabana and its adjoining dressing rooms.

Ashley Marie Design will convert a pass-through space into a boys’ bedroom that will be the envy of every child, while Meredith Green Design will tackle the outdoor upstairs terrace, leaving original blackand-white checkerboard floors intact as she offsets them with an impressive, traffic-stopping, palm tree-shaped brass chandelier.

Lovers of architecture and design should mark their cal-

endars. The Showcase House will be open from April 23 to May 21.

SHOWCASE HOUSE in Pasadena also was on display as the Showcase House 40 years ago.

COLONIAL-style entry to the Showcase House.

Photos by Sondi Sepenuk

DESIGNER Dona Dockendorf presents her vision board for the showcase house living room.

BROOKSIDER Laura Siegel explores the soon-to-be-transformed bathroom of the Pasadena Showcase House of Design.

DESIGNER Stephanie Leese shows off her transformative ideas.

2947 GRACELAND WAY - $2,900,000

Mediterranean Estate in Chevy Chase Canyon Grand Foyer, Lofty Ceilings, Mature Lush Landscaping

Dare Doubles swing victory to advance to Sectionals

Suzan Filipek

For the first time that anyone can remember, the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) Women’s 3.0 team from the Los Angeles Tennis Club (LATC) advanced to Sectional competition.

“After two days of great tennis and close matches in Rancho Mirage that ended in third-set tiebreakers, the Dare Doubles placed fifth in the tournament,” team member Debora Vrana told us.

The local players competed against teams throughout Southern California during the weekend of Jan. 28-29, after having an undefeated record in the fall.

“The LATC could not be prouder of our USTA Women’s 3.0 team, who went a perfect 11-0 in local league play during the fall season to become the Club’s first 3.0 team in recent memory to reach Sectionals,” said Zach Gilbert, tennis director at LATC. “Against the best teams in Southern California, they fought their hearts out and nearly reached the finals of the entire competition. Congrats to captains Karen Chou and Annie Dang and the entire roster. Truly a season to remember!”

Team’s origins

The team came together in the fall of 2015 at the storied 103-year-old Los Angeles Ten-

nis Club in Hancock Park, long considered the showcase for tennis in Southern California.

“The participation of LATC over the past few years in USTA has been great. LATC has become so active with so many teams and players. It is really wonderful for Southern California. You have both men’s and women’s teams going to Nationals and Sectionals,” said Michelle Kramer, USTA Los Angeles Area League Coordinator.

“We all love going to LATC; it is such a beautiful club with so much history. I’ve seen new players who visit there pull out their cameras. We all just go, ‘Wow!’ Everyone there has been so welcoming.”

Team captains Karen Chou and Annie Dang attributed the team’s success to their “fantastic” coach, Godwin Omuta, and the team’s hard work. They also credited support from spouses and higher-level women players who practiced with them and helped them improve.

“What an amazing experience we had,” said Chou. “Now that we have a taste of Sectionals, we need to get back!”

Also on the Dare Doubles team, but who did not go to the Sectionals, are: Betsy Malloy, Alex Dionne, Liz Rosman, Michaela Burschinger, Michele Sanchez, Eleanor DeMartino,

Nicki Jaeger, Lizzie Rosman,  Claudia Walraven, Natasha Kerek, Elena Howell, Michele Sanchez, Lynn Loeb, Corinna Cherian and Keleigh Thomas Morgan.

Dare Doubles team member Debora Vrana contributed to this article.

DARE DOUBLES, clockwise from top left: Stefanie Hall, Hilary Marx, Jenny Foley, Renee Mochkatel, Devin O’Fallon, Kara Smith, Capt. Annie Dang, Janina Morrison, Capt. Karen Chou, Debora Vrana, May Lin Tao and Dorothy Kim.

Ba ck Yard

abounds in this truly special, architecturally designed beauty! Offers warm woods, hardwood floors, large marble fireplaces in the living room, family room and upstairs bedroom, and natural light throughout from an expanse of French doors and windows. The gourmet kitchen has stone floors, marble countertops, coffered ceilings, beveled stained glass windows, with built -in subzero refrigerator, microwave oven, double oven, double dishwashers, double clay sinks and coffee station. The kitchen door leads to the side back yard with built -in BBQ, limestone fireplace and limestone table which seats 12. 3 kingsize master bedroom suites with en -suite full bathrooms, and a library room upstairs. French doors from the second floor and master open to a terrace with circular stairs down to a second patio and lush backyard. The maid's room/office has a bathroom and shower. Laundry inside, breakfast room, dining room, family room leading to the beautiful and expansive backyard with mature trees and swimming pool with jetted spa. Guest house over the garage. Parking spaces available for nearly 20 cars on the private street owned by the subject property.

LIBRARY CALENDAR

Watch a movie, celebrate Women’s Heritage, mess with paint

FAIRFAX LIBRARY

Adults

Movie viewing: Come see a new movie hosted by Friends of the Fairfax Library on Thurs., March 2 at 1 p.m. This month is “The Banshees of Inisherin.”

Adult literacy: Get questions answered about English spelling, pronunciation and conversation. First come, first served, Mondays from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

All ages

Book Sale: Browse used books every Wednesday from noon to 4 p.m. All sales support the library branch.

FREMONT LIBRARY

Babies & Toddlers

Story time: Every Wednesday this month from 10:30 to 11 a.m. listen to stories and sing songs with your friends.

All ages

Book Sale: Find your next great read at this library sale from noon to 4 p.m. on Fri., March 3, and Sat., March 4.

MEMORIAL LIBRARY

Toddlers

Story time in the park: Drop in to listen to stories and sing songs in Memorial Park adjoining the library every

UCLA GLUCK VOCAL Ensemble will give a live performance on Sat., March 11, featuring female composers for Women’s Heritage Month.

Wednesday this month from 10:30 to 11 a.m.

Preschool painters: Budding artists can get messy with paint at 11 a.m. on Mon., March 20.

Kids

Reading to the rescue: Is your child in love with dogs?

Do you want your child to read more? She can read aloud to an adorable rescue dog on Wed., March 8, from 4 to 5 p.m.

Crafts: Celebrate spring with a colorful craft on Sat., March 11, at 1 p.m.

Kids & Teens Drop-in tutoring with

Steve: Need a refresher on some academics? Stop by Thursdays this month from 3 to 5 p.m. for one-on-one assistance with any subject, or drop in to make a future appointment.

Teens

Teen program: Thursdays teens gather to partake in different activities from 4 to 5 p.m. March 2 is craft day, March 9 is anime club, March 16 is tea time and March 23 is game day.

Teen council: Get involved with the community and learn leadership skills on Sat., March 11, from 2 to 3 p.m.

Adults

First Friday book club: Discuss “The Night Ship” by Jess Kidd on Fri., March 3, at 1 p.m. “Big Read” is the book for April, but the group will meet on Fri., March 31, at 1 p.m.

Art class: Color or paint with peers every Wednesday from 3 to 5 p.m.

B.Y.O. needle arts: Bring your own needlecraft to work on while sitting with others every Monday at 1 p.m.

All ages

Chef talk about turmeric: Chef Komal Savaria, who hails from Mumbai and worked at Father’s Office, will talk about turmeric on Sat., March 25, at 1 p.m.

Chess club: Every Friday from 3 to 5 p.m., play chess or learn how.

Book sale: Buy your next favorite read every Tuesday, 12:30 to 5 p.m. and every Saturday from 4 to 5 p.m. All proceeds support the library.

WILSHIRE LIBRARY

Babies, Kids & Teens

Storytelling and reading (STAR): Beloved STAR volunteer Frances will be at the library to read to you or to be

read to every Saturday this month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Babies

Story time: Stories and songs for the littlest ones on Fri., March 10, at 4 p.m.

Toddlers

Story time: Listen to sto(Please turn to page 11)

LIBRARIES

FAIRFAX 161 S. Gardner St. 323-936-6191

JOHN C. FREMONT 6121 Melrose Ave. 323-962-3521

MEMORIAL 4625 W. Olympic Blvd. 323-938-2732

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

HOURS

Mon. and Wed., 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tues. and Thurs., noon to 8 p.m., Fri. and Sat., 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Closed Mon., March 27 for Cesar Chavez day.

Hike April 29 in Park to End Homelessness

A Hollywood Hike to End Homelessness will take place Sat., April 29, at Griffith Park. The annual fundraiser, run by The Center, located in Hollywood behind the Crossroads of the World and Blessed Sacrament Church, aims to raise $60,000 to assist in its work to create safe spaces where people connect to a community fully invested in their physical, emotional and mental health. The focus is on healthcare and housing, plus on friendship and support.

Sponsorship and donation money will go to supporting privately funded programs that were hit hard during the pandemic. These include housing retention case management, primary care at the site’s clinic, day center staffing and mail service for many unhoused people.

Starting at 9 a.m., hikers will walk together up the Griffith Park Boy Scout Trail. Participants will then gather for an after-party at Franklin’s Café in the park.

To register or to find out more about the many levels of sponsorship, visit tinyurl.com/5x89r5md.

Thousands pay tribute to area mountain lion P-22

Thousands celebrated the life of the mountain lion that roamed Griffith Park for a decade at a memorial in his honor Feb. 4 at the Greek Theatre. Fans, politicians and scientists remembered the wild cat during the service. His worldwide fame was sealed when his image was captured prowling by the Hollywood sign, and, ultimately, because of his lasting legacy: a nonprofit foundation to help fund construction of the world’s largest wildlife bridge across the 101 Freeway. While P-22, as he was called — he was the 22nd in an ongoing puma study — reportedly crossed the 405 and 101 freeways before settling in his Los Feliz-area home, most mountain lions who attempt to cross busy highways and freeways are hit by cars. RIP P-22.

Libraries

(Continued from page 10)

ries, sing songs and stretch with Sybil on Fridays, March 3 and 10 at 10:30 a.m.

Kids

North American desert quiz game: Guess desert animals and plant names to get a prize. Additionally, you’ll get a desert plant to take home anytime between Tues., March 21, and Fri., March 31.

Kids & Teens

Make a mask: Emmy Lam will help participants create Mardi Gras-style masks at 4 p.m. on Tues., March 28.

Origami: Guest artist Emmy Lam will teach participants the ancient art of origami using recycled paper on Thurs., March 30, from 4 to 5 p.m. Teens & Adults

Songwriting workshop: Indie musician Kiazi Halpern will discuss the various as-

pects of songwriting and how to craft your own on Wed., March 8, at 6:30 p.m.

CORE Center visits: Staff from Connecting to Opportunities for Recovery and Engagement (CORE) will provide information and resources to help families talk about drug and alcohol abuse. The organization will be here the first and third Tuesday of the month from 2 to 4 p.m. No appointment necessary.

All ages

In-person vocal ensemble: The quartet of UCLA Gluck Vocal Music Ensemble will perform classical and Broadway show tunes on Sat., March 11, from 1 to 2 p.m. Female composers will be featured for Women’s Heritage Month.

DIY St. Patrick’s cards: Swing by on Fri., March 17, to create a holiday card with leprechauns and shamrocks. All supplies provided.

Photo by Gary Leonard

By Nona Sue Friedman

Wilshire Division LAPD hosted Coffee with a Cop outside Peet’s on Larchmont Boulevard in mid-February. The gathering lasted two hours on a chilly morning.

About 20 residents stopped by to meet and talk to representatives of their local

police force.

Wilshire Division covers about 14 1/2 square miles and is divided into nine Senior Lead Officer (SLO) areas. Most of the SLOs along with some detectives from the division attended the coffee.

According to SLO Tim

Estevez, “This is a community event to humanize the badge and ingratiate ourselves into the community.” It’s also an opportunity for neighbors to see old friends, meet new ones or meet some they only know electronically.

This is what happened to Sam Uretsky and Kristin Burr, who have been part of the same neighborhood text chain, but hadn’t met in person until this event.

Residents also had the opportunity to ask questions in a very informal setting. One resident asked an officer the best way to deal with homelessness on sidewalks in his neighborhood.

Another talked about a restaurant trying to get a liquor license to stay open until 2 a.m. And someone else asked if the bulletproof vests were comfortable. They are not!

Vinyl,

a lot cheaper than other stud finders.

“Frog Tape.” The most advanced tape to give you absolutely sharp paint lines with no color bleed. You can use them up to 21 days indoors.

The “Curious Chef” real kitchen tools for kids. There are “Measuring and prepping kits,” “Cupcake and Decorating” kits, “Cookie” kits, even “Pizza” kits. Think of the fun you can have shopping here!

Larchmont customers, be sure to say “Hello!”

LOCAL RESIDENTS Keith Johnson and Sam Uretsky pose with interim CD13 Field Deputy Anais Gonzalez and Senior Lead Officer Tim Estevez.

WEST TRAFFIC OFFICER Ryan Connell and Officer Robert Figueroa greet local residents at Coffee with a Cop.

Neighbors on Lucerne, Arden walk with their local LAPD

By Nona Sue Friedman

About 30 residents from Lucerne and Arden boulevards between Melrose Avenue and Beverly Boulevard walked their streets with officers from the Wilshire Division LAPD in early February. This was the first in-person event for the group informally known as Lucerne Arden United (LAU). According to Sam Uretsky, one of the organizers, it was a very successful event.

The area of six blocks has seen a dramatic uptick in crime during the last year, says Uretsky. The residents have noticed that the criminals are much more aggressive and are using multiple techniques to break into residences. Stopping illegal activity in their neighborhood is why the group started organizing a couple of years ago.

“The best part of the walk was being able to talk to and ask questions to LAPD in a non-emergency situation,” commented Uretsky. He also said that, since the group formed, they have worked hard to nurture a good relationship with Wilshire Division. Uretsky was very complimentary toward the division and said “Its officers and personnel always make themselves available.” Seven LAPD officers participated in the February neighborhood walk.

At present, there are about 130 residents involved in the LAU group, with new inquiries always coming. They communicate via text, email and Google Docs. Because of the group’s popularity, members are looking into alternate ways to keep everyone abreast of situations. One of the nicest

aspects of the group forming is having a closer bond with neighbors, says Uretsky.

Thanksgiving day burglar awaits court hearing

By Nona Sue Friedman

FIRST-IN-FIRE and Miracle Mile Civic Coalition have adopted Fire Station 61 as the model of their Adopt-a-Fire Station program. Here, firefighters show off pies provided by Du-par’s and organic ice cream from Local Ice, both at the Original Farmers Market. Left to right: Firefighters Jesse Gonzalez, Manny Zepeda, Doug Noonan, Jesse Contreras; Lyn MacEwen Cohen, president, First-in Fire Foundation; firefighters Tony Verdecia and Luke Peterman; Greg Martayan, Director of Public Safety, CD5; and firefighter Mike Oeser.

The Thanksgiving Day burglary on the 300 South block of Irving Blvd. is still an ongoing investigation, according to Det. Matthew Burrola of the LAPD Olympic Division. Of the three burglars seen on security videotape, only one has been caught. Anthonee Banks was arrested at the scene. He was arraigned in late December and is currently out on bail. His next court hearing date is set for Thurs., March 30.

RESIDENTS ASSEMBLE to walk their neighborhood with LAPD. Photo courtesy of Keith Johnson

Successful, as well as failed, burglaries reported in area

OLYMPIC DIVISION

According to Senior Lead Officer Pelayo, residential burglaries continue to be the main

crime for the Larchmont Village area and Windsor Square. Olympic Division has added extra patrol cars in this area to

LIPSON Plumbing, Inc.

focus on this crime trend.

BURGLARY: Four male suspects pried open the rear bedroom window of a home on the 700 block of South Gramercy Place on Feb. 3 between 1 and 3:30 p.m. They ransacked the interior and fled out the front door with money and valuable jewelry. The homeowner would not allow the officers inside.

ATTEMPTED BURGLARIES: A suspect forced open the side gate of a home on the 100 block of North Van Ness Avenue on Feb. 7 at 2 a.m. After gaining access to the yard, the suspect attempted to pry open the garage door. The suspect fled on a bicycle.

A suspect smashed the rear door of a home on the 100 block of North Norton Avenue on Feb. 7 at 6:45 p.m. The home’s alarm went off and caused the suspect to flee.

A tool was used to jimmy open a locked door at a home on the 600 block of South Plymouth Boulevard on Feb. 10 between 1 and 6:30 a.m.

GRAND THEFTS AUTO: A white Kia Sol was stolen

from the garage / carport of a home on the 800 block of South St. Andrews Place on Feb. 1 at 10:30 a.m.

On Feb. 5, between 1 and 10 a.m., a black Kia Sol was taken from a parking lot on the 900 block of South Wilton Place.

WILSHIRE DIVISION

BURGLARY: A suspect smashed the rear door of a

residence on the 300 block of South Hudson Avenue on Feb. 1 between 9:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Money was stolen from the home.

BURGLARIES FROM

VEHICLES: Catalytic converters were taken from two different cars on Feb. 1. The first one was taken (Please turn to page 15)

Profanity through the ages has had varied meanings

In January, an employment judge in the United Kingdom presiding over a case of unfair dismissal ruled that using the F-word in the workplace was now “commonplace” and that its use in a particularly “tense” meeting did not “carry the shock value [it] might have done in another time.” Indeed, many have observed this generational gap in the use of profanity — a 2016 Reuters poll found only 14 percent of Americans “never” swear in conversation, while 64 percent of respondents thought that people use swear words “more often” than 20 years ago. The term “profane” comes from the Latin profanus, meaning “outside the temple,” and it was used for centuries simply to describe things of a secular nature. Its synonyms “swear” and “curse” also trace their origins to ideas about evil and impiety, which were the main cultural taboos for god-fearing Europeans during the Middle Ages. It was a time when privacy was a privilege enjoyed only by the upper classes; with the majority of society living in close quarters, it was customary to bathe, sleep and relieve oneself in group settings and often in the nude. Nudity, therefore, was not taboo. It was only un-

Police Beat

(Continued from page 14) from a green Toyota Prius on the 700 block of North Sycamore Avenue around 12:45 p.m. The second one was stolen from the 500 block of North Sycamore Avenue at 7:15 a.m. from a black Toyota Prius. A brown Nissan Pathfinder was broken into on Feb. 2 at 3:45 a.m. on the 600 block of South McCadden Place. The suspect stole a computer, backpack and wallet.

til later, with the emergence of a middle class in Europe, that nudity became a source of embarrassment, and in turn, words that had previously been used inoffensively to describe certain anatomical parts and bodily functions took on the indecent inflections many of them hold today.

Despite it being deemed rude or offensive in certain contexts, even some of the most civil-tongued among us may find cathartic or defiant pleasure in using profanity every now and then. Seductive and dangerous, profane words inspire impish young adults to try out their first words in a foreign language. As intensifiers, they can convey the sheer force of an emotion or opinion. And they’re just what the doctor ordered after stubbing one’s toe. (Quite literally — a 2009 study by researchers Stephens, Atkins and Kingston found that swearing actually helps relieve the effects of physical pain.)

Though the use of profanity is generally not penalized by law, a foulmouthed utterance may cost you fines up to $500 and potentially jail time on the beachfront boardwalks of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The city raked in over $22,000 in 2017 by issuing citations for the use of “lewd, obscene or profane” language in public.

Larchmont Charter School kindergarten teaching assistant (+ sister) seek housing or reduced rent with local family in exchange for after-school / evening / weekend child care.

Claudia (661) 974-3417

One Morning Per Month: Administrative assistance from one person — needed at the Larchmont Chronicle, 606 N. Larchmont Boulevard. Manual Work; Not Digital!  Inquire with John at 323-462-2241, ext. 15.

The concealment of profanity is a considered art unto itself, from a solitary, well-placed asterisk to the instantly recognizable 1 kilohertz “bleep” tone used to replace offensive remarks on radio and TV. Grawlixes are another means to insinuate foul language while staying within the confines of common decency. Predominantly used in cartoons, a grawlix is a combination of typographic symbols — like the at symbol (@), dollar sign ($), amper-

sand (&), percent sign (%) and exclamation point (!) — that form an unpronounceable word or phrase (such as “@$&%!”) used liberally by some of comic books’ more short-tempered characters.

“Minced oaths” are useful proxies to avoid potentially blasphemous language; including euphemistic expressions like “gosh,” “heck” and “darn,” they sanitize some of the most prevalent curses in our lexicon. One of my favorites, “’snails,” was coined in the 14th century by John Hayward to imply the vulgarity “God’s nails,” referring to the nails on Christ’s cross.

Some measures that have been implemented to censor “bad words” are effective to a fault: In 1996, residents of the town of Scunthorpe, England,

were prevented from creating AOL accounts because the internet provider’s indecency filter flagged the obscenity contained in the town’s name. The accidental blocking of innocuous phrases in digital spaces is so common even today that it’s been designated the “Scunthorpe problem.”

With the inherent allure of that which society deems off-limits, some fear what may come to replace our current swear words if they lose their taboo status. Steering clear of derogatory slurs and epithets based on race, gender, disability or economic status, I propose we get creative and sensationalize life’s more quotidian no-nos. With any luck, 20 years from now, “bad tipper” and “parking spot thief” will be spelled with asterisks.

Word Café by Mara Fisher