Catastrophic January firestorms spare Mid-Wilshire, other flatland communities
Opportunities to turn grief into action
By Casey Russell
The devastation of the January fires has left many overwhelmed with emotion.
But when calamities hit, communities have the opportunity to rise up and help. Locals came together almost immediately in January to aid those in need. The Hancock Park Home Owners Association circulated donation information and put together a drive the first weekend of the fires. Clothing, hygiene products, childcare and pet supplies, luggage, towels and bedding
By John Welborne
current emergency ends.”
and electronics were collected at a home in Windsor Square.
Brookside residents, led by Sam Karim, collected items for the YMCA fire relief efforts. Gift cards, healthy snacks, water, microwaves, toys for young children and more were gathered. Julie Stromberg, of Brookside, spearheaded an effort to provide meals to firefighters at area stations.
By John Welborne
The conflagrations of early January have been tragic for so many Southern California residents.
As of our press deadline for this February issue of the Larchmont Chronicle, the areas south of the Hollywood Hills and east of the Westside have not seen such fires along our streets.
That said, it’s probably safe to say that everyone in this part of town knows someone, or more likely, many families, that are directly affected by the devastating fires in the Palisades, Altadena and elsewhere.
Shock and sadness can be seen on the faces on Larchmont walkers as the smoke continues to linger long after the damage has been done to neighborhoods throughout the county.
But we also see hope and resilience in the eyes we meet and the friends we greet and the strangers we pass, which tells us our neighbors to the west and the east will persevere, and we will get through this, together.
x 11
Homeless Count put on hold Television City at CBS site gets green light
This year’s Homeless Count had been scheduled for three days in late January, with the local (Mid City West and Greater Wilshire) counts to have taken place on Jan. 21. However, due to the wildfire crisis, this year’s count — throughout Los Angeles County — has been postponed. A Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) spokesperson told us: “We don’t have the new dates yet. I’m not sure when that will be decided. It is, in part, dependent on when the
Our year-round guide to lifestyle, entertainment, residential and business news, “Miracle Mile 2025,” will be published in the March issue. Advertising deadline is Mon., Feb. 10. For more information, contact Pam Rudy, 323462-2241, ext. 11.
Visit count.lahsa.org to learn more and to register when the dates are known.
The Miracle Mile Residential Association started a Go Fund
See Donations, P 15
By Suzan Filipek
The Los Angeles City Council has approved the TVC 2050 Project to develop land surrounding the historic CBS Television City studios at Beverly Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue.
The project is expected to be completed prior to the 2028 Olympics, a spokesperson for the developer said.
The unanimous city council vote on Jan. 7 on the Hackman Capital Partners modernization and expansion project sets the stage for the 1.7-million-square-foot development. It includes sound stages, production support and general office and retail uses. It retains 265,000 square feet of existing buildings on the historic,
52-year-old television studio property.
The approved plan also requires that at least 150,000 square feet of the site’s proposed 1.7 million square feet remain dedicated to sound stages, production support and production
A separate story on this page reports on some of the generous individuals and organizations that have stepped up to help. The story cites opportunities available to those who also wish to assist.
office space in perpetuity, and that general office space be prioritized for entertainment uses. The plan stipulates that a maximum of 500,000 square feet is permitted for office space.
But uncertainty about the development proposal
Longtime Chronicle columnist Patty Hill dies in Mississippi
By Suzan Filipek
Beloved longtime Larchmont Chronicle society
columnist Anne Patricia (Patty) Hill has died. She was 70.
Hill passed away on Aug. 16, 2024, at her home in Mississippi following a longtime illness, her husband, David Hill, told us.
Hill was named a Chronicle Woman of Larchmont in August 2012, shortly after she became president of the Ebell Club of Los Angeles.
She first visited the historic women’s club 13 years before, when a friend invited her to a weekly luncheon.
VIEW NORTHWEST from the 1000 block of Fiske Street in Pacific Palisades toward the rapidly approaching fire, just minutes after the mandatory evacuation order was issued Jan. 7 to residents of
Streets” neighborhood.
Photo by Manfred Hofer
By John Welborne
The envelope, please Editorial
This is our February issue. At the beginning of next month, on Sun., March 2, celebrity presenters will be asking for “the envelope” to announce the winners of the 97th Academy Awards.
But we already know the winners in the world of the Larchmont Chronicle. They are you, our readers and our advertisers who allow this highly local publication to continue in this, our 63rd year. Ever since our founders, Jane Gilman and the late Dawne Goodwin, first published the paper in 1963, the enterprise has continued because of strong community support.
Back to that envelope: Last November, many of you used the small white envelope inserted in that issue of the Chronicle to show your support by sending your checks, many for $30 and quite a few for $50, or $100, or more. The publisher and staff thank you sincerely, especially in this time of serious challenges in reporting the news, printing newspapers and delivering the papers to our readers. The Chronicle remains successful because of the support of our advertisers and readers.
If you missed that envelope in the paper at the end of last year, we are enclosing a second one in this issue! Your support really does make a difference, and we will be happy to receive what you send. Thank you.
The envelope, please!
DEDICATED TO THE PRESERVATION OF HANCOCK PARK
137 N. LARCHMONT BLVD. LOS ANGELES 90004 www.HancockPark.org Est. 1948 HANCOCK PARK HOME OWNERS
Grief and Gratitude in a Difficult Time
The horrific fires that caused thousands of our neighbors in the Los Angeles area to lose their homes and, in some terrible cases, to lose their lives, have made all of us grieve. It’s also made us appreciate our communities and those hardworking people who helped combat the fires, worked to keep everyone informed, organized relief efforts and did everything possible to keep us safe.
First and foremost, we are grief stricken at the loss of precious lives, and at the loss of the homes that contained thousands of our neighbors’ lives and memories. Nothing replaces such loss, and we extend our hearts to all who are suffering.
Second, we thank our incredibly brave and hardworking LAFD firefighters and the firefighters who raced to help LA from around the country, Canada and Mexico. The LAPD, our utility workers and everyone else who fought the fires back, kept public order, helped people evacuate and restored power. An event like this reminds us of how this infrastructure of human effort keeps us safe. Some of these firefighters fought the roaring fires with very little sleep — working double shifts for days. Such dedication inspires all of us and builds our ties stronger.
And we thank our City workers and, particularly, our Councilmember, Katy Yaroslavsky, and her fantastic team for keeping everyone informed, helping coordinate evacuations, marshalling shelter and doing everything possible to care for the community.
The size of such a catastrophe will require a major effort on the part of everyone living in the Los Angeles area.
Resources
The Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation seeks monetary donations to support firefighters on the front lines.
The California Fire Foundation is looking for donations to support surviving families of fallen firefighters, firefighters and the communities they serve.
World Central Kitchen , spearheaded by chef José Andrés, has a relief team in Southern California to assist first responders and families, and is accepting donations to support the ongoing relief effort.
The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is accepting donations and looking for volunteers.
Direct Relief is also accepting donations to support those impacted by the wildfires.
The Red Cross is looking for monetary donations as well as blood and volunteers.
Visit our website to learn more! HancockPark.org
Calendar
Mon., Jan. 27 — International Holocaust Day.
Wed., Jan. 29 — Lunar New Year, Year of the Snake. Sun., Feb. 2 — Groundhog Day.
Tues., Feb. 11 — Mid City West Neighborhood Council board meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Pan Pacific Park, 7600 Beverly Blvd., midcitywest.org.
Wed., Feb. 12 — Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council board meeting via Zoom at 6:30 p.m., greaterwilshire.org.
Fri., Feb. 14 — Valentine’s Day.
Mon., Feb. 17 — Presidents’ Day.
Thurs., Feb. 27 — Delivery of the March issue of the Larchmont Chronicle.
Letter to the Editor
Street people still on Larchmont
I am following up on my Letter to the Editor last month [“Street people on Larchmont,” Jan. 2025]. What I admire about the Chronicle is that you continue to report the news, the facts, along with supporting our amazing community and neighborhood. And you somehow manage to continue a printed edition.
I’m so fortunate to have “landed” here 40-some years ago. I’ve moved twice, about three blocks, from Ridgewood to Rosewood. In fact, I found this place thanks to the Chronicle — back in the era when there used to be some rentals listed in the classified section. The unit already had been rented but the tenant wanted out of her lease, and I stepped up at the right time. A couple was considering getting a divorce and had opted to each rent an apartment
Larchmont Chronicle
in the same building while deciding to get divorced or not. Their plan didn’t work out. He stayed in the nextdoor apartment, and she left. To my benefit.
Regarding the fellow squatting on the sidewalk in front of Starbucks, about which I wrote last month, he has been on and off Larchmont Boulevard since June of 2024. I’m guessing he’s in no hurry to leave even if offered housing. Housing comes with rules; that’s why so many homeless in our city are service resistant. He’s looking worse for wear since I photographed him in June. It really bothers me that this guy is smoking away his drugs of choice while our neighbors and shoppers must stroll through his clouds of smoke. He’s so dirty and obviously in need of help in order to save his life. But no, let’s just pretend he’s not there. It is so unfortunate that we’re allowing folks like him to perish on our sidewalks.
Keith Johnson Larchmont Village
Write us at letters@larchmontchronicle.com. Include your name, contact information and where you live. We reserve the right to edit for space and grammar.
CORRECTIONS
In our January 2025 story, “Loyola’s Father Goethals to move on,” we should have written that Rev. Greg Goethals, as a youth, hung out in Windsor Square, although his family resided in Glendale, where he attended Incarnation Parish School prior to Loyola.
In the “Around the Town” column in that same issue, the caption for a photo showing St. James’ preschool students and parents misspelled Elizabeth Fain LaBombard’s last name.
‘With all of the trauma of the January fires, we are trying to look forward to brighter days in February. So … what are your plans for Valentine’s Day?’
That’s the question inquiring photographer Casey Russell asked locals.
“I usually do a ‘Galentine’s Day’ celebration with my friends. We cook together, make a cake and take pictures.”
“Our kids are both in college. We send them each a Valentine’s care package so they can feel the love from afar.” Mark Goodarzi and Niloo Eskandari Windsor Square
“My wife is allergic to flowers. So every year I get her a bouquet of mozzarella cheese sticks.”
Ish Patel Windsor Village
Grace Hentemann Windsor Square
Pamela and Marat Daukayev’s dance of the heart, step
By Helene Seifer
They say it takes two to tango. For Pamela and Marat Daukayev, it took a pas de deux. Their story is a dance of the heart where, step by step, they built a life together in Windsor Square, with three now grown children (Marat Jr. and twins Emma and Nicholas), two golden retrievers and three birds. Plus, they founded an acclaimed ballet school along the way.
Pamela Van de Velde Daukayev was born in Ohio; her mother was originally from London, England, and her father, who served in the U.S. military, hailed from Ghent, Belgium. They moved frequently, including stints
THE DAUKAYEVS met, fell in love, had three children and founded an acclaimed ballet school along the way.
abroad, before settling in Los Angeles. Pamela studied ballet growing up, but not seriously enough to pursue it professionally. After college, she lived with her mother in the Pico Robertson area and
ran a small fiber optic company that did museum lighting. As an adult, she turned to ballet for exercise.
“It’s a demanding discipline and really great exercise,” says Pamela. “I wanted to improve. I was looking for a serious class.”
Step one: the meet-cute
A friend recommended an adult ballet class at a nearby studio that was taught by a Russian teacher. Intrigued, Pamela went to the class. “He looked younger than I expected a Russian teacher to be,” she remembers. He didn’t speak much English, so she wondered how he would be able to communicate, but once the lesson began, “He walked
down the line [of dancers] and gave me a tap on my kneecap, and I knew exactly what he meant.”
The teacher was Marat Daukayev. He had been a principal dancer with the Kirov Ballet (renamed the Mariinsky Ballet in 1992) and, after retiring from performing, he became the premier teacher for their star dancers. He had taken this temporary teach-
ing position in Los Angeles to have time to decide what to do next in Russia.
Pamela immediately re-
PAMELA AND MARAT DAUKAYEV’S wedding, Aug.10, 1996.
Weekends in Rome sealed the Doerings’ relationship
By Nona Sue Friedman
A romantic rendezvous in Rome is where Bruce and Lynn Doering of Ridgewood Place started their 50-plus years together. They were both students at Stanford University in Palo Alto, where they met — she a sophomore from Las Vegas and he a junior from Montana. Bruce
for a list of LBA merchants & services, go to Larchmont.com
spotted her in their Italian class and, as he says, “She was knockdown gorgeous.”
He asked her out to dinner.
As Lynn puts it, “The date was contentious” because they had differing political views. This was the late 1960s and politics were a hot topic.
Nevertheless, the two continued with Italian class and spent two semesters abroad studying in Florence. Bruce said, “We only went to school four days a week, [so] Lynnie and I would hop on the train to Rome for the weekend.”
The Eternal City was where their conversations about philosophy, history and politics sealed their relationship. Bruce gets a little starry-eyed recounting these special times. They both related an incident to the Larchmont Chronicle: “We went to a pensione in Rome. The guy behind the desk asked ‘One bed or two?’ Before either of us could answer he said, ‘You get one bed. Two beds are for old people.’”
Back at college for his senior year, Bruce moved off campus into a house with five other guys. Although Lynn had housing on campus, she basically lived with all the guys, further cementing her relationship with Bruce.
After graduating in
1970, Bruce moved to the Haight-Ashbury area of San Francisco with the same five guys. Lynn stayed at school.
The lovebirds hatched a plan to live together in San Francisco after Lynn graduated. However, Lynn came from a very conservative Greek Orthodox family. Living together was not an option.
Before Lynn’s mom came for graduation, Lynn’s more progressive Aunt Billie, who lived in San Francisco, had found a place for Lynn and Bruce to live — in sin! Aunt Billie furnished it to appear as though Lynn was the only occupant.
Lynn’s mother came to town
and was never the wiser.
In 1973, the two eloped and were married at San Francisco City Hall, which infuriated Lynn’s mother. It took quite a while and lots of coaxing from Bruce’s father before the bride’s family would throw a reception for the newlyweds. Married and living in San Francisco
While in San Francisco, politically active Bruce unionized a discount store. This inspired Bruce to make further social changes. The Doerings then moved to Chicago.
Bruce became a union organizer at a steel factory on the
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Sponsored by
BRUCE ORCHESTRATED a surprise 50th anniversary party for his wife, Lynn Doering. Top left: at their wedding reception.
Daukayev
(Continued from Page 3) sponded to her new teacher. “He was an incredible dancer. He was a very kind person,” she says. “His talent had been reserved for the most welltrained in Russia. When he worked with us, he was very, very kind and inspiring. He wanted us to get as far as we could.”
“The first class or second
class finished,” Marat remembers, “and [Pamela] sat on the floor, holding her ballet shoes, and she’s crying. It was difficult for me. I would like to help. I asked her what was the matter,” and she answered, “Marat, if I had had a teacher like you, I would have had a chance to be a ballerina.”
Step two: Uncommon language of love They began dating. “In the beginning, we looked in the
dictionary a lot,” Pamela explains. “We went to the ballet, cooked, went to the beach, talked, looked in the dictionary.” They quickly fell in love.
“It’s difficult to explain about love,” Marat states in his Russian-accented English. “You love [a] person, that’s it. It’s how you’re feeling. She didn’t speak Russian. I didn’t speak English, but we had a feeling.” They also had an uncanny way of understanding each
other. Once Pamela accompanied Marat to the dentist, who asked. “Will you translate for him?” She answered that she would. The dentist told Marat to sit in the dental chair and then he would put the bib on him, which Marat did not understand. Then the dentist asked Pamela to say it in Russian. “I don’t speak Russian,” she answered and promptly repeated in English exactly what the dentist had said, whereupon Marat complied. The dentist was baffled. “He understands me,” Pamela explained, “and not you.”
Step three: Marriage and decisions The relationship got serious, and Marat took her to see his homeland. In St. Petersburg, Pamela wanted to see the Mariinsky Ballet performance of “Swan Lake,” but when they went to the theater, it was sold out. Pamela recalls, “A woman in pink came running after him. Marat recognized her. She was an usher.” Pamela could see how upset the woman was that a star of the ballet couldn’t get a ticket. “She ran off and came back with two chairs and put them in a theater box for us!”
When they went to Ufa, his hometown, all the local “babushkas” (older ladies) came to catch a glimpse of Pamela to see the woman from Hollywood who was dating their Russian celebrity. Pamela laughs, “They expected someone like Dolly Parton — voluptuous. One said, ‘She is just a skinny girl!’”
Pamela and Marat married on Aug. 10, 1996, in a friend’s house in Los Angeles. But soon they had some decisions to make. Pamela points out that in Russia, the state takes care of its stars; in America, Marat had to figure it out for himself. He had several offers, including assistant artistic director offers from the Mariinsky Ballet and the Colorado Ballet. They decided to try Colorado, but returned to Los Angeles after their first child was born to be near Pamela’s aging parents.
Pamela encouraged Marat to start a ballet school and, in 2001, they started the Marat Daukayev Ballet School with only two students. That same year, they bought their 1917 Windsor Square house. With Pamela as executive director and Marat as artistic director, the school flourished on La Brea Avenue before moving to Wilshire Boulevard in Wilshire Center (now commonly referred to as Koreatown) just before the pandemic. To date they have trained more than 2,000 students, some of whom
have gone on to dance at such places as the Royal Ballet School, the San Francisco Ballet and the Stuttgart Ballet. Step four: Dance of the heart On Feb. 6, 2023, Marat suffered a heart attack. His classes were covered by the other eight teachers at the school while he underwent operations and recovery, and Pamela kept the school running. He was back at work a month later, having barely skipped a beat.
“Work is life, is movement,” Marat says. “Now I am 72 years old and continue to work. People need me.” And he needs Pamela. “I left Russia, I was 43 years old,” states Marat. “I start life here from zero. I met Pamela. I was lucky. And step by step.”
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Amy Forbes and Andy Murr have proven to be a sure bet for love
By Casey Russell
Amy
Forbes’
mother often said, “Weddings — such a good place to meet people!” It turns out she knew what she was talking about. Forbes and her husband, Andy Murr, met at the wedding of a friend. “It’s always so annoying when mothers end up being right,” said Murr.
The fateful wedding was held in Irvington, New York. Forbes had grown up knowing the family of the groom, and Andy was good friends with Hank, the groom’s brother. During an extended cocktail hour before the reception dinner, Hank introduced Forbes and Murr.
As it happened, quite some time prior to the wedding, Hank and Forbes had made a $50 bet: Forbes betting the friend would get married and Hank betting against that. During the cocktail hour, Forbes asked Hank to pay up. All the betting talk led to a fresh wager between the two new acquaintances, Forbes and Murr. Regarding Hank’s marital prospects, Forbes and Murr put five dollars on the line. Forbes bet that Hank would be married within two years. Murr bet he wouldn’t. Forbes lost that bet, but, the couple told us, “It was the first of many $5 bets we’ve made.”
After the two returned home — Forbes to Los Angeles and Murr to Atlanta — their correspondence began, “On paper … with stamps! Archaic stuff,” said Murr. “Amy had decided Hank should be the ‘escrow’ for our $5 bet.” She sent Murr a copy of the letter she’d sent to Hank regarding the idea, and that was the couple’s first letter.
The two wrote to each other consistently, and they eventually decided to meet up in New Orleans for their first date. It was a success! But because Forbes, a real estate lawyer, had won a yearlong fellowship in Bangkok, the couple’s relationship was kept to paper
interactions during that time, though Murr, a correspondent for Newsweek magazine, did get to visit once.
Transfer west
After Forbes returned to Los Angeles, Murr put in for a transfer. “He arrived in December of 1989 and, by March of 1990, we were engaged,” said Forbes. When asked how Murr popped the question, he said, “Amy was deep into a bed-and-breakfast phase … so she picked a place in Napa. We got there and it was way too cutesy.” There were Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls in the room.
Though that decor did cure Forbes of her bed-and-breakfast phase, being in the room didn’t stop Murr from receiving a “Yes!” when he asked Forbes to marry him. “In the ridiculous room, he asked if I wanted to marry him and presented me with pearls,” said Forbes. Murr knew she felt a ring would mark her as a husband’s chattel, so Murr chose instead to present her with what have come to be known as “the betrothal pearls.”
Windsor Square
The couple has now been together for 34 years. Residents of Windsor Square, they have three grown children, all of whom live within 15 minutes of them. When asked how they kept their relationship strong while both working full-time and raising three kids, Forbes said, “I don’t know! We had a
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really wonderful housekeeper who lived nearby and was with us for nearly 20 years, and we lived close to my family. You just have to accept that sometimes your life is going to be out of control.”
Now that they are empty nesters, the couple likes to go to restaurants, museums and movies with foreign subtitles. They like to explore old historic parts of town, do hikes and stair tours, spend time with their dog, volunteer and travel together. Last year, they went to Guatemala, Vietnam and Italy. Next up is Argentina. Both also serve on boards — Murr on a charter school board for Brightstar Schools and Forbes on the board of the Center Theatre Group (where she is also president) and on the board of The Music Center. Forbes still works part-time in real estate law. “We care about the city and are good civic actors,” said Forbes of herself and Murr. “Where much is given, much is expected.”
At the fateful wedding where they met, Murr says he was attracted to Forbes because she was very lively, pretty and smart. Forbes took a liking
(Please turn to Page 15)
MURR AND FORBES at their wedding in 1990.
THE COUPLE in Umbria, Italy, in October 2024.
By Matt Rauschberg
Troop 10 has been an active part of the Los Angeles community for more than 110 years. In this time, it has provided young men with leadership opportunities and adventure both here in the city and out in the wild.
Last summer, the troop attended two summer camps, one in the forested mountains near Lake Arrowhead and the other by the beach in San Diego Mission Bay, where they learned kayaking, small boat sailing, motorboating, welding and other skills. The troop also embarked on a multiday backpacking trip across the Ansel Adams Wilderness and Yosemite National Park. Surrounded by towering peaks and majestic waterfalls, the Scouts navigated challenging terrain while fostering teamwork and leadership skills and creating memories that will last a lifetime.
In October, the Scouts camped out on Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Park, where they kayaked through sea caves and kelp forests and saw rare birds, scampering island foxes, and huge pods of dolphins. In the past year, the troop has also gone rock climbing in
Joshua Tree, camping by the beach at Point Mugu and hiking on Strawberry Peak, Echo Mountain, and Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park.
Troop 10 continues to serve its community through Eagle projects and service projects in tandem with local charities.
One noteworthy collaboration has been with the Friends of Griffith Park, where the troop has engaged in many handson projects aimed at restoring and preserving the natural beauty of the park. From trail maintenance to tree planting, Scouts exemplify the values of environmental stewardship. Over the holidays, the Scouts volunteered their time with
One Voice, providing holiday meals, toys and other necessities to families in need with small children.
Given that only 4 percent of Scouts ever achieve the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout, Troop 10 is especially proud of its three most recent Eagle Scouts who, as part of their yearslong journey to this prestigious honor, each planned and executed a major service project for the community, including:
Lion Paulson painted a large garden mural and redesigned a covered play area at the Para Los Niños Early Childhood Education Center in Hollywood. Para Los Niños raises children
out of poverty and into brighter futures through positive educational opportunities and wraparound support.
Michael Hanna reupholstered and built movement devices for the historic pews and added safety and control features to the medical services area as part of the homeless outreach program at Silverlake Community Church.
Oliver Payne removed old grass and bushes and installed low-water landscaping at St. James’ Episcopal Church, saving water, money and maintenance time for church staff.
Sponsored by St. James’ Church since 1914, Troop 10 is the oldest continuously chartered Scout Troop in the Western United States. In that
time, 370 Troop 10 Scouts have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. Today, Troop 10 brings together boys ages 11 to 17 from all backgrounds and more than a dozen area schools. In addition, St. James’ is officially launching a new troop for girls, for girls ages 11 to 17. For those wishing to build lasting memories and relationships, boys and girls ages 11 to 17 (and their parents) are invited to visit Troop 10 at their weekly Tuesday night meetings at 6:30 p.m. at St. James’. Lastly, the troop’s annual Pancake Breakfast fundraiser is Sun., Feb. 9. Keep an eye out for the Scouts selling tickets and first aid kits on Larchmont Boulevard over the coming weekends.
TAKING A BREAK at Thousand Island Lake on a backpacking trip in the Ansel Adams Wilderness, Troop 10’s Steve Henrich, Matt Rauchberg, Lucas Henrich, Joe Fiedler, Andy Fiedler, Max Rauchberg and Carter Tsao, Aug, 7, 2024
SCOUTS from Troop 10 paddle into a sea cave on Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Park, Oct. 2024.
By Carolyn Reyes
In such times of unexpected loss and tragedy, it’s uplifting to see our Cub Scouts developing a strong sense of duty to the community.
Pack 16 began the season partnering with TreePeople to care for young trees in the shade-deficient neighborhood of El Monte. Our Arrow of Light Scouts reported for duty at 7 a.m. to water and refresh mulch, ensuring the success of the tender transplants.
Our Webelos paid a visit to seniors at the Alexandria Care Center to decorate Thanksgiving placemats, and our
Arrow of Light (AOL) scouts volunteered with Big Sunday to pack Thanksgiving dinners for many needy families in Los Angeles. AOL is the fifth-grade den, the final level before graduating from Cub Scouts.
We kicked off the Christmas season with our first-ever raffle, which was a huge success and a big fundraiser for us.
The effort was spearheaded by our Bears, who sold many tickets for the highly coveted prize of Salt & Straw Ice Cream for one year and a free iPad donated by Melrose Mac.
masses at St. Brendan Church each month and are looking forward to their first winter camp at Lake Arrowhead this month. Other camping activities planned include overnight stays at the USS Iowa and the Los Angeles Zoo.
We also contributed toys for Wilshire Rotary’s Bring a Gift to Santa event.
Our young Tigers and Wolves are ushering the choir
Pack 10 plays with a purpose and sells popcorn
By Diane Gilmore
Whether it is a day of service with TreePeople or a holiday carnival, Pack 10 Scouts are learning character, citizenship and fitness. It may look like a lot of fun to the kids, but every moment is a teaching opportunity —
a game with a purpose.
This year Pack 10 has gone deep sea fishing, walked the tide pools, cleaned up beaches, planted trees and served the unhoused at St. James’ Soup Kitchen. Many of our big events are held outside at St. James’ School, at the ocean
or on a mountainside. Camping and hiking events are full family adventures. Our Cubs are now stars when it comes to silly skits and wonderful songs useful on campouts.
Glen Lim, our Cubmaster, leads a large group of fully trained leaders. Our families are also grateful to the Larchmont community for its support during popcorn sale season. You will know us by our blue uniforms. Thank you all. Diane Gilmore is charter representative for Scouting America.
In the wake of these devastating fires, our Bear Den is currently organizing to write letters of hope and solidarity to fire victims and to donate their time to relief efforts.
We are so excited for what 2025 will bring and to contin-
BEARS Francesca Sy-Uy and Charlie Gibson sell first aid kits and raffle tickets at the Christmas tree lot on Larchmont.
ARROW OF LIGHT Den Leader Rigo Vazquez (left, in back) and Scouts Julian Hoffman, Astrid Huybrechs and Amalia Vazquez help care for newly planted trees in El Monte.
CUBMASTER Glen Lim took 35 families deep sea fishing, departing from Redondo Pier. Lim is behind the Scout flag on the right in a grey sweatshirt.
Left: PACK 10 members at the annual popcorn fundraiser on Larchmont Boulevard in
Pan Pac athletics is tops in Dept. of Recreation and Parks
Back row, left to right: Pan Pacific Sr. Dir. Eric Calhoun, Coordinator Floyd Thweatt and coaches Clinton Sellers, Jason Ayala and Marcellus Willis.
When I moved to Los Angeles in 1985, the historic Pan-Pacific Auditorium on Beverly Boulevard in the Fairfax District was abandoned and run-down. Weeds shoved through the crumbled pavement, and a rusty chainlink fence ran the perimeter of the Art Deco ruin. I imagined creepy organ music every time I drove by, and the decaying structure reminded me of that haunted pavilion in the horror B-film classic “Carnival of Souls.” It was difficult believing this had once been Los Angeles’ premier events venue, where Elvis Presley performed for two nights and the Ice Capades made yearly stops.
When a fire leveled the auditorium in 1989, it paved the way for the development of the present Pan Pacific Park Recreation Center.
Championships
Eric Calhoun, the senior recreation director for the center, has lots to be proud of. He arrived in 2019 from West Los Angeles’ Stoner Park and immediately began Pan Pacific’s soccer program. Last month, his Minors Division (10 and under) coed team won the Metro Region Championship.
“This was the first region-
Youth Sports by Jim Kalin
al title for soccer in the long history of Pan Pacific,” said Calhoun.
That regional title qualified the team for the City Championships, which they unfortunately lost 1-0 to a tough Van Nuys Delano Park team.
Soccer is not the only sport at which Calhoun’s Pan Pac athletes excel. The Girls Majors Division (11 and 12) volleyball team progressed to the Regional Championships, and, on Dec. 14, lost a nail-biter in three sets. The final set ended just 17-15.
“That was a heartbreaker,” said Calhoun.
Flag football
Is there any better sound than that Velcro rrrrrippp when a flag is yanked from a flag football player’s belt?
Two years ago, the Pan Pacific Park Boys Majors Division Flag Football team won the City of Los Angeles Dept. of Recreation and Parks Flag
Football Championships. The title game against Northridge was a slugfest that emphasized two great defenses. The final score was 9-6.
Pan Pacific’s flag football program has become the one to beat.
“We entered two teams into this year’s post-season tournament,” said Calhoun. “Our Majors lost in the championship game of the Metro Region finals.”
The post-season squads consisted of the best players chosen from Pan Pacific’s six leagues. Each coach nominated players from his team to represent Pan Pac against Los Angeles County’s other All-Star recreation and park teams in the post-season city
(Front row, left to right) Micah Epstein, Cade Quinn, Micah Kim, Clinton Sellers Jr., Jason Ayala, Hugo Payne, Ryan Lopez, James Saltzman, Canaan Willis, Maximillian Fredericks, Sage Mohajer, Jordan Wasserman, and kneeling, Jeremiah Reinholdt.
PAN PACIFIC MINORS DIVISION soccer team won the Metro Region Championship in December.
MICAH EPSTEIN AND MICAH KIM are sixth graders at John Burroughs Middle School.
(Please turn to Page 11)
Promoting confidence, empathy and inclusivity through play
By
Casey
Russell
February is Black History Month. It’s a time when students in our area will be learning about the many contributions of African Americans to the United States. But it’s also a great time for us, as parents, to take stock of what we can do to help our children grow up seeing diversity as a norm.
I feel very fortunate that our neighborhood park is a gathering place for a variety of people. Playing with my daughter in the sand area when she was young, I’d hear at least three different languages and loved that she was part of a rainbow of children playing together on any given afternoon.
But I will say that, though I loved the co-op preschool she attended, there was not a wide variety of cultures or skin tones represented. When choosing where she’d go for elementary school, diversity was a big factor in our decision.
There is power in what children see in their environments every day. It is a big part of what shapes their view of the world and the people in it. In truth, there’s a lot we parents can do at home to encourage a sense of belonging and inclusiveness in our children.
I grew up watching two shows: “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” and “Sesame Street.” Mr. Rogers explored differences and was all about “liking you just the way you are.” And “Sesame Street,” which first aired in 1969, acted on the incredible educational
Youth Sports
(Continued from Page 10) tournament.
“We had three weeks to prepare for the playoffs,” said Marcellus Willis, head coach of the Minors Division team.
Overtime victory
Youth flag football is a seven-against-seven format.
Speed trumps size, and a quarterback who is an accurate passer is tough to beat. Pan Pac had two quarterbacks with deadly arms.
“We stressed that next player,” said Willis.
Pan Pac’s Minors won the Metro Championship by shutting out the first three teams, then defeating Echo Park in the title game 30-6. These games were played with first-string quarterback Canaan Willis. But as the Willis family was out of town for the City Championships, backup quarterback Owen Church stepped in.
“Owen is a wide receiver, which enabled him to understand the role of quarterback.”
With Church leading the team, Pan Pac won their semifinal game over Valley Region champ Sherman Oaks 28-0.
potential of building positive multiracial representation into the children’s show. With puppets of various skin tones, genders and abilities living, playing, working and learning together, “Sesame Street” has continued to educate decades of children using little ones’ favorite language: play.
The tools of play
And that’s where we can make a big difference in teaching our children without words. Ultimately we choose the books, toys, dolls and art supplies that come into our homes. Making sure our little ones have toys that look similar to them can help them know that they matter in the world; they are represented. Ensuring they also have toys that don’t look like them not only reflects the world we actually live in, it also promotes inclusion.
Children spend much of their days playing and using their imaginations. When they immerse themselves in role-playing with figurines and dolls, either during solo play or with others, they are practicing social interactions. This helps develop empathy. It stands to reason that ensuring our children’s dolls reflect the variety of people in our world could play a role in helping them become confident, inclusive people.
Books
The same is true for the books we provide for our children. Books give us a window into the experiences of others. They can help diffuse stereotypes and can
“Our finals opponent was Cheviot Hills,” said Willis. “They had a great pass coverage defense.”
The title game ended in a 28-28 draw, then went into double overtime. On an option play, Church handed off the ball to running back Max Fredericks, who faked a pass before sprinting in for the winning score.
“Movement on the football field is life,” said Willis.
Pan Pac’s Minors moved a lot.
Wilshire Wildcats season starts Feb. 22
Opening games for the Wilshire Wildcats Softball spring season are scheduled for Sat., Feb. 22. Opportunities are available for girls in three age divisions — 10 and under, 12 and under and 14 and under. Practice days for all groups will take place Tuesdays. The first was Jan. 21. The season will run through the end of May. Registration remains open through mid-February. Visit wilshiresoftball.com or email president@wilshiresofball.com.
Tips on Parenting by
Casey Russell
help us see that people are unique, but also have a lot in common. Books can also help our children build positive self-images because they identify with characters they read about. They can imagine themselves in characters’ places. Readingrockets.org is
a great resource for making sure your bookshelf is diverse. Art supplies
Crayola now sells Colors of the World crayons, colored pencils, pens and paints.
There are various brands of multicultural construction paper available, as well. It’s great to be able to supply a variety of skin tones with which our kids can create their masterpieces. And it’s only fair for all kids to be able to see themselves reflected in their art supplies.
As we get into this new year, let’s remember the po-
tential there is to create more love and inclusiveness in the world. Our children’s playthings may seem like a small thing, but sometimes the small things end up making a big difference. Here are some more websites to check out for diverse toys, dolls, books and art supplies: brainsandbeautydolls. com, discountschoolsupply.com (for a Colorations Colors Like Me Supplies Kit), amazon.com (for Colors of the World pencils, pens and crayons) and diversebookfinder.org.
Board-Certified Pediatricians
• We care for children 0-21 years old • Most PPO Insurance plans accepted • Complimentary “meet the doctor” appointments available
. www.larchmontpediatric.com
Lauren Estrada MD, FAAP
Neville Anderson MD, FAAP
Matthew Loh MD, FAAP
Keith Shopa MD, FAAP
New Scout Troop 43 serves youth of Larchmont
By Suzan Filipek
In 2024 American Legion Post 43 launched Scout Troop 43, serving the youth of the Larchmont area. The founding five scouts came from legacy Troop 621. The new post offers dedicated leaders with military back -
grounds and meets at the Legion Hall on Highland Avenue.
New Scoutmaster Glen
Schecter is a member of Post 43, and he is an avid fisherman. Scouts determine their own adventures, and they already have 12 months of
amazing activities scheduled for 2025. They are looking for neighborhood youth — boys and girls, ages 11 to 17 — to join them. This is a terrific opportunity for youth to develop leadership and outdoor skills. Contact this troop online through beascout.org
by contacting Mr. Schecter via email info below.
Formerly Troop 621 Troop 621 was a former Larchmont troop (originally sponsored by Plotke Plumbing on Larchmont). The troop’s charter expired last year.
“I did not want the remaining five boys to leave Scouts, so we enlisted them in a new neighborhood unit. They now have eight boys and three girls. They have had an active year. The post has registered and trained several new leaders. It’s been a win-win,” said Diane Gilmore, charter representative for Scouting America.
Scouting: Area Directory
Cub Scouts: Pack 10
Glen Lim, Cubmaster glenlim416@gmail.com
Pack 16
Jackie Miron, Cubmaster jdmiron@quigleyandmiron. com
Pack 777
Eugene Hong, Cubmaster ceo@eugenehong.com
Boy Scouts: Troop 10
Matt Rauchberg, Scoutmaster matt.rauchberg@gmail.com
Troop 43
Glen Schecter, Scoutmaster mauiglen@icloud.com
Troop 777
Joseph Shin, Scoutmaster troop777bsa@hotmail.com
Girl Scout cookie season is here
By Nona Sue Friedman
The annual in-person sales of Girl Scout cookies begin Fri., Feb. 7. However, if you are lucky enough to know a Girl Scout, digital orders started Jan. 22.
After this, the 2025 cookie season, S’mores will be retired. If these are your favs, stock up this year. Thin Mints, Adventurefuls, Samoas, Tagalongs and many more will also be available for purchase.
And it’s more than just a cookie when you buy from a Girl Scout. These sales help to
build confidence, foster entrepreneurship, teach money management and inspire people skills in the sellers.
SAMOAS are one of the most popular cookies. Photo courtesy of Little Brown Bakers
PLANTING FLAGS on Memorial Day at the National Cemetery are, left to right, Jim Olds, Joshua Lo, Andrew Urner, Connor Kim and Stewart Smith. Olds and Smith are wearing Sons of the American Revolution militia uniforms as part of a reenactment.
THE WILLOWS
By Wren Meltzer 7th Grade
January at The Willows, like at most Los Angeles schools, was unusual and unfortunate.
After winter break, all of The Willows students were excited to be back at school. However, only two days into the start of the new semester, school was cancelled due to the Palisades and Eaton wildfires.
Parents received an email
from the head of school on Jan. 7 that the power had gone out and that school would be closed the following day. As the wildfires continued and the air quality got worse, The Willows decided it was safest to close for the week. School officials sent updates and offers to help those in need. They also kept track of those who had experienced loss.
While this wasn’t the best start to the new year, it makes being back at school all the better. The rest of January at The Willows will be filled with sports games, electives, assemblies, friends and fun.
Additional School Reporters are on Page 4 of Section 2
NEW COVENANT
By Kailey Kim 10th Grade
LARCHMONT CHARTER
LAFAYETTE PARK
By Ella Wolovitch 9th Grade
Recent days at the LFP campus of Larchmont Charter School have been full of ups and downs.
Last week, students reemerged into classrooms as winter break came to a close. They began working on final projects and tests to close out the semester.
But this didn’t last long, as the devastating wildfires resulted in school closing on Jan. 9 and Jan. 10. During these days, the LCS Wilshire Campus was open as a space to provide resources for victims of the fire
and for volunteer opportunities for those who wanted to help. The community came together to support people who lost everything, and we intend to continue doing this throughout the coming weeks. School reopened on Jan. 13, and students are back hard at work, staying cautious of the air quality and aware of the recent tragedies.
Happy New Year! After a refreshing threeweek winter break, NCA students are back at school, pumped and ready for 2025! We hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful holiday season with plenty of rest and festivities.
NCA began the spring semester with a welcoming open house event. Parents had the opportunity to visit the classrooms, where they could admire the remarkable work their children had completed in the initial weeks of school. Additionally, this event served as a great chance for parents and teachers to engage and discuss students’ progress.
The girls’ and boys’ basketball teams have fought so hard this season. Thank you for all your support. We urge you to come out to the last couple of games to help the teams finish strong. Go Huskies!!
IMMACULATE HEART
By Rosie Law 11th Grade
Welcome back, Pandas! Our students are a few weeks into second semester at IH and just getting back into the groove of school.
The most prominent upcoming event is our Junior Class Ring Ceremony on Jan. 31. The annual event brings together family, faculty and the senior class for a liturgy and presentation as the juniors receive
their class rings. This year, my Class of 2026 will welcome our rings and become part of the legacy of more than 11,000 alumni who have received the uniquely designed bands (which feature the heart of Mother Mary, Immaculate Heart’s patroness).
This ceremony will be very special to me because it will make me feel connected with my sister, who experienced her ring ceremony two years ago. The rings reflect our close school community and the sisterhood that make IH the special place that it is.
ST. BRENDAN
By Alyssa Lee 8th Grade
January is the month of the much-awaited Catholic Schools Week, which takes place from the 26th of the month to the 31st of the month.
We will show our school spirit by dressing up in different themes, competing in our faculty versus 8th grade volleyball game, daily class presentations, a classroom feud and a teacher swap.
Our annual Bingo Night with family and friends will take place on Jan. 24. The next day, our 2nd grade Bears receive their First Reconciliation, and the day after that we host our school open house.
We are also excited to have our first ever Lunar New Year celebration on Jan. 31. We hope this brings a lot of good luck going into the month of February.
On behalf of the St. Brendan community, we continue to pray for everyone who has been affected by the devastating and tragic California fires earlier this month. May God bless you and your families, always.
Dentistry for Children and Young Adults
TV City
(Continued from Page 1)
remains because of continuing opposition from a number of neighbors.
“Nine community organizations and local businesses filed appeals against this development. Given the flawed process and spotty administrative record, litigation is both inevitable and likely to be successful,” Shelley Wagers and Danielle Peters, co-founders of Neighbors for Responsible TVC Development, told us in an email after the council vote.
“We reached this point because we have all tried to engage with the developer to address the community’s concerns, but we have been rebuffed at every turn.”
They added that the morning of the city council vote, another 146 pages of new material from the developer was submitted without council or public review. “The city council refused to delay the vote. We are confident that the court will consider the fundamental flaws of the project and process and call for greater definition, meaningful improvements and due process.
“With respect to our next steps, we’re considering our options.” Opponents of the project include Caruso (The Grove), A.F. Gilmore Company (Original Farmers Market) and others. Supporters include Park La Brea Residents Association, Los Angeles Conservancy, Holocaust Museum Los Angeles (and others).
Patty Hill
(Continued from Page 1)
Hill returned with her husband for a dinner dance and was smitten.
She would go on to serve The Ebell in five different volunteer posts before becoming president. She oversaw a 455-person membership, a staff of 37, a commercial rental division and two philanthropies.
In her two-year term, she headed a multi-million dollar budget and the onset of a multiyear preservation and restoration project for the 75,000-square-foot Italian Renaissance-style building at Wilshire and Lucerne boulevards.
A Memphis native and
Doerings
(Continued from Page 4) south side of Chicago. He was instrumental in getting changes to the hazardous factory conditions and even snuck a Chicago Sun reporter onto the premises to reveal the horrific conditions.
Concurrently, Lynn was doing desk work at a South Chicago hospital. Being in this environment, Lynn found that helping people through nursing appealed to her. She got her nursing certification.
In 1977 their daughter Katie was born. The steel mills were closing down and laying people off in droves.
Bruce’s grandfather was a prominent judge in Montana.
Lynn suggested law school as an option for Bruce to pursue. In 1981 he was accepted
former New Yorker, Hill sported cherry red-framed glasses, strings of pearls and a bubbling enthusiasm. She enlivened parties at area events
“Around the Town,” the name of the column she penned for
to the UCLA School of Law. Off to California they went. Life in Los Angeles
In Los Angeles, Lynn continued her nursing career, working at Cedars-Sinai, taking classes at Cal State Los Angeles and eventually being admitted to the School of Nursing at UCLA. She completed her master’s in nursing in 1986.
Upon graduation, she received multiple cash awards totaling $25,000 for her studies. Bruce proudly boasts, “She swept all of the awards, and that was the down payment for our home.”
Bruce had graduated from law school and was clerking at the law firm Taylor, Roth and Bush. In 1985 Jay Roth, a partner in the firm and resident of Norton Avenue, recommended Bruce for a job as the business repre-
Jeanne Marguerite Garcia
September
Jeanne Garcia was a longtime resident of Windsor Square. She was active in the Ebell Club of Los Angeles, and served as Parent Club President for St. Brendan School.
29, 1944 – November 29, 2024
Jeanne was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend. She is survived by her sons Stephen, Mark, Darin, and Christopher, in addition to her seven grandchildren; Kevyn, Jack, Taylor, Alexandra, Wyatt, Myla, and James.
Her creativity and artistic spirit led her to UCLA where she earned an associate’s degree in Design. She specialized in kitchen design, as her abilities were reflected in various neighbors’ homes in Hancock Park and the surrounding area.
Her son Darin related Jeanne’s outreach to others as a beautiful butterfly that touched many lives in a beautiful and meaningful way. She had a gift for
bringing people together while turning her home into a place filled with laughter, love and homecooked meals. She was constantly opening her heart and her home to friends and family.
Jeanne had a great sense of adventure and enjoyed spending quality time with her large extended family in Iowa, Nebraska, and Colorado. She rarely missed a family reunion, wedding, or chance to welcome a new loved one.
Her beautiful smile, sense of humor and impeccable style will be dearly missed but forever remembered.
The Celebration of Life was held on December 21, 2024 at St. Brendan Church with Father Brian Castañeda officiating.
Jeanne was raised in Iowa and was interred next to her mother, Lucille, at Evergreen Cemetery in Red Oak, Iowa on January 3, 2025.
the Chronicle
She was most proud, she told us in a 2012 interview, of her work as a minority arts coordinator of African American works at a repertory theater for the deaf and a dance company that performed Afro-Cuban dance.
She also served on the board of a professional musicians group and on the board of Crossroads School, which her son attended.
In an email last month to the Chronicle, David Hill wrote of their 49 years of marriage: “I wore out a half-dozen tuxedoes escorting her to a thousand balls, galas, opera openings and charity dinners, which she covered for her Around the Town column
sentative at what is now the International Cinematographers Guild, Local 600. He got the job and stayed for 37 years. “It was just what I wanted,” Bruce said. Back to his passion of organizing unions and making work conditions better.
How did they get to the neighborhood?
This young family was ready to put down roots here in the City of Angels. After searching all over the city and not finding any homes that appealed to them, Aunt Billie came through again.
She recommended they reach out to a realtor friend of hers, Cookie Day. Ms. Day showed them their current house on Ridgewood Place, and they fell in love with it. “It was so much better than anything else we’d seen. We loved the area with all the local shops and the charm of
over two decades.
“She left me a heart filled with gratitude and several closets full of clothes.”
Patty Hill suffered multiple fractures from a fall on the stairs of her home in 2020 at the El Royale Apartments in Windsor Square. Her last column for the paper was in November 2020.
She is survived by her son, Lonnie Hill, of Las Vegas, her husband David, and three siblings.
Her fondest wish, David Hill told us, was that any memorials be in the form of a donation to the Ebell of Los Angeles where she served as president and on the board for 16 years. To donate, visit ebellofla.org/ support-us#donate-today.
the older homes,” the Doerings agree. Not to mention how walkable the area is.
With Lynn’s award money as their down payment, they moved in with their daughter in 1986 and have never looked back.
Lynn continued her education at UCLA and got her Ph.D in 1995. She worked her way up the ranks at the university and became associate dean of the School of Nursing. She retired in 2021. Their daughter, Katie, is now married and has a daughter of her own, and her family also lives in the Los Angeles area.
And Bruce’s crew of friends that he lived with off campus in Palo Alto and San Francisco? They remain friends to this day, getting together annually for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and other gatherings throughout the year.
Ecclesia Gnostica Gnostic Christian Church Bishop Dr. Stephan Hoeller
PATTY HILL
Donations
(Continued from Page 1)
Me page and matched donations received (up to $2,000). The association also worked to provide meals to firefighters and police. Through the association’s efforts, Los Angeles Fire Department Station 68 and the Los Angeles Police Department’s Wilshire Division received meals from Met Him at a Bar restaurant, 801 S. La Brea Ave. and Redbird, 114 E. 2nd St., the first weekend of the fire.
Another nearby group that
stepped up immediately was the Hollywood Food Coalition, which focused on meals, masks, water and other essentials. Because the safety and needs of pets are a big concern during catastrophes like these fires, many groups, including Best Friends Animal Society, put their focus on that area of need. There were so many good efforts undertaken that the Chronicle could not begin to catalogue them all. But everyone involved should be proud and be thanked, if known.
As this issue goes to press,
the fires are still burning. Aid and donations are still needed and welcomed. If you are interested in donating, there are many ways to do so. One is through the City of Los Angeles website for this disaster: lacity.gov/lastrong. Another is the comprehensive site of L.A. Works. it lists many ways to help. See: laworks.com/ 2025fires.
Do note that good intentions can often overwhelm fire stations and shelters with more physical goods and donations than they can handle. The soundest advice —
during any catastrophe — is to open our hearts by opening our checkbooks. Vetted organizations can then utilize donated funds in the most effective, efficient ways.
The list of organizations stepping up is long and is constantly evolving. A useful local source that is being updated regularly is Big Sunday, an organization founded in Hancock Park, with its headquarters office now located a bit to our east. Learn more about how one can help or receive help at bigsunday.org/ lafiresresourcelist.
Tips for protecting respiratory health during wildfires
By Elaine Pershing
A matter of serious concern during these local wildfires relates to respiratory and immune wellness. Local doctor Dr. Mao Shing Ni offers detailed suggestions:
“The recent and ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles area can severely impact air quality, posing significant health risks, especially to the respiratory system. Here are practical tips to help safeguard your well-being:
“Stay indoors Keep windows and doors closed, and use weather stripping to seal any gaps.
“Use air purifiers Invest in
a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to reduce indoor air pollution. Ensure your HVAC system is equipped with proper filters, and avoid activities like vacuuming that may stir up particles.
“Wear a proper mask. If you must go outside, wear an N95 or P100 mask to filter out harmful particles.
“Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water to keep your respiratory system hydrated and help your body flush out toxins. Herbal teas with anti-inflammatory properties, such as peppermint, chrysanthemum or Detox Tea, can be soothing.
“Protect vulnerable groups.
Children, older adults and individuals with respiratory conditions like asthma are at greater risk.
“Use a nasal spray. A saline spray can help rinse out particles and keep nasal passages moist, reducing irritation from smoke exposure.
“Eat and take anti-inflammatory foods and herbs. To support your respiratory and immune systems, incorporate foods rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D and quercetin.
“Monitor air quality. Stay updated on air quality lev-
els using apps or websites like airnow.gov.
“Practice breathing exercises. Engage in gentle breathing exercises like diaphragmatic breathing to help your lungs remain healthy. Try self-healing qigong. Avoid strenuous activities that can strain your respiratory system during poor air quality days.”
Dr. Mao concludes, “By taking these steps, you can protect your health and maintain respiratory wellness during wildfire season. If you experience persistent symptoms such as coughing, difficulty breathing or chest pain, seek medical attention promptly.”
Forbes & Murr
(Continued from Page 7) to Murr because he was funny, smart and was wearing a bowtie (which he still has). After more than three decades together, they still see the original attractions, but they also have grown to appreciate additional attributes.
Forbes describes Murr as kind, supportive, stable, smart and very funny. Murr sees Forbes as smart, intense and committed. “Part of her commitment is helping an amazing number of people with pretty complicated stuff. She goes way out of her way — not just with organizations, but with individuals who come to her with problems. She’s got an amazing amount of energy and, once she decides to do something, it’s going to happen,” said Murr.
The couple says all the chapters of their life together have been good. “The best way not to get divorced is to stay married. You power through,” said Forbes. Though there is truth to her somewhat humorous advice, in the case of Forbes and Murr, their “powering through” has clearly been accompanied by a deep appreciation, respect and love for each other.
