Larchmont Chronicle
VOL. 60, NO. 5
• DELIVERED TO 76,439 READERS IN HANCOCK PARK • WINDSOR SQUARE • FREMONT PLACE • MIRACLE MILE • PARK LA BREA • LARCHMONT •
IN THIS ISSUE
MAY 2022
Rossmore water main replacement underway n Improves water quality
DESIGN FOR LIVING 2-9 to 2-15
CELEBRATING spring at the White House. 3
SHINING A LIGHT far, far away. 2-11
By Wendy Werris In the middle of last month, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) announced and commenced a major construction project to replace the mainline water pipe under Rossmore Avenue between Third Street and Melrose Avenue. The construction will impact street traffic in the area for several months. The goal is to provide a reliable supply of better quality water. The existing pipes were placed in 1921. Project much needed Longtime Rossmore resident John DeSimio says, “I, for one, am overjoyed that this much-needed and delayed project has come to fruition. The technician who services my water filtration system said that the water in this neighborhood is responsible for clogging the filters, requiring replacement at a faster rate See Rossmore, p 8
Giorgio taken for help by County dept. n Larchmont denizen GARDENS will be open on tour. 2-12 For Information on Advertising Rates, Please Call Pam Rudy 323-462-2241, x 11 Mailing permit:
By Helene Seifer On the afternoon of April 20, a Deputy Public Conservator of the Los Angeles County Dept. of Mental Health approached Giorgio on Larchmont Boulevard where he stood, as usual on Wednesday afternoons, with his shopping cart. Giorgio was taken by the County for help, and we can only hope that he gets the services he needs. Privacy concerns limit the sharing of specific information concerning his whereabouts and treatment.
GRAD SALUTE! Our annual section honoring local graduates will be in the June issue of the Larchmont Chronicle. Advertising deadline is Mon., May 16. For more information contact Pam Rudy, 323-4622241, ext. 11.
LARCHMONT VILLAGE corner, at First Street, is featured in Jeff Wall photograph, “Parent child.”
Artist Jeff Wall memorializes Boulevard n Large photograph of Larchmont and First to come permanently to LACMA By Helene Seifer Given how often we shop and dine on Larchmont Boulevard, it might be considered the center of our own small universe. Who would have thought that the corner of First and Larchmont, the Bank of America corner, would become “Parent child,” an image captured by Jeff Wall, a widely collected photographer, and shown around the world? Even more newsworthy, the large (7 foot by 9 foot) color photograph from 2018 will one day become part of the perma-
nent collection of our neighboring Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). Jeff Wall, the 75-year-old Vancouver artist, lives part time in Los Angeles. As reported in the March 9, 2015 “ArtCenter News,” Wall was drawn to the southland by the film industry’s special effects houses. He describes his photographs as “cinematographic” for the slice of life, or movie frame, aspect of his work. “Parent child,” 2018, was staged, as are all of Wall’s recent works. The photograph
reconstructs an event that a friend of Wall’s experienced on Larchmont Boulevard. In a video interview recorded in 2019 when the work first was exhibited in Gagosian gallery’s New York location, Wall explains, “A friend of mine sent me a photograph of himself and his little daughter taken by someone else and said to me, ‘This looks like one of your pictures.’ And I thought, ‘Yes, it does look like one of my pictures,’ and it looks like a picture I’d like to make, beSee Artist, p 7
Nasa Hataoka wins LPGA tournament n At Wilshire Country Club By Jim Kalin The last time Wilshire Country Club allowed spectators to attend the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) tournament was three years ago, in 2019. The impact of COVID-19 was very much felt: the tournament was cancelled in 2020. In 2021, it returned but was closed to everyone but the press. Not this year. The LPGA’s Dio Implant LA Open returned full-force to Wilshire Country Club April 20-24. It was the event’s fourth year, and it featured 144 of the best professional NASA HATAOKA of Japan displays winner’s trolady golfers, including LPGA-at-Wilshire phy received after her 15-under-par LPGA victory at See LPGA, p 8 Wilshire Country Club on Sunday, April 24.
www.larchmontchronicle.com ~ Entire Issue Online!
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Larchmont Chronicle
MAY 2022
SECTION ONE
Editorial
Calendar
By John Welborne
Local primary election is June 7, but vote now! Yes, the June primary election for our top city officials and local city council members is not until June 7. However — soon after you read this — you will receive your ballot in the mail. The current system, newly-instituted by the incumbent elected people during the COVID-19 era, is to do a mass mailing of ballots to seemingly everybody who ever has registered to vote. It’s just like getting a flyer to buy soap (except that you once registered to vote). So, regardless of whether you actually prefer visiting your local polling place and seeing your neighborhood poll workers and maybe some of your neighbors … or whether you actually have difficulty getting out of your home and therefore have requested an official absentee ballot for years … voting by mail is the current “thing.” The Larchmont Chronicle always urges our readers to exercise their franchise. The act of so doing is important. (Compare and contrast with totalitarian states, such as modern Russia.) Citywide This time, we have a dozen people running to replace Mayor Eric Garcetti. At least half of them are serious candidates who are managing campaigns that are getting press and public attention. We also have familiar people and aspiring new people running for the two other citywide political offices, City Attorney and City Controller. Each of those offices is being vacated by someone who is termed out, but who now is running for yet another office. City Attorney Mike Feuer is running to become mayor. City Controller Ron Galperin is running to become the state controller. Council districts Arguably the greatest potential impact to the neighborhoods of our readers, either positive or negative, will result from the two races to become (or remain) a member of the Los Angeles City Council. There is an open seat being sought by four people in Council District Five, where Paul Koretz now sits at the historic 15-seat horseshoe desk in the John Ferraro City Council Chamber. (Term-limited Koretz is running to replace Ron Galperin as city controller.) The other local City Council seat is currently occupied by Mitch O’Farrell, the 13th District incumbent who is running for his third, and final, allowable term. O’Farrell has four challengers. State and federal Remember that we also are having elections for other local officials in the State Assembly, State Senate and United States Congress. Learn a bit more about those races from the map and chart on Page 8 of Section 2 of this issue. In most of these elections on June 7 (with voting beginning in May!), the top two vote-getters will continue to campaign until the November 8 General Election. Whoever sits in any of these local-representative seats, whether in City Hall, Sacramento or Washington D.C., will have an impact on you and your quality of life. So please be sure to vote!
Celebrate All Moms &
Sun., May 1 – Yom HaShoah commemoration livestreamed at 2 p.m. Visit holocaustmuseumla.org to register. Thurs., May 5 – Cinco de Mayo. Sun., May 8 – Mother’s Day. Wed., May 11 – Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council Board of Directors Meeting via Zoom, 6:30 p.m. Check greaterwilshire.org for sign-in information. Mon., May 30 – Memorial Day. Thurs., June 2 – Larchmont Chronicle June issue delivered.
[Your editor] Suzan Filipek wrote, in “GenSpace — a place to engage older adults,” April, 2022, that the new GenSpace building is located at Harvard and Wilshire boulevards in “what has become known as ‘Koreatown.’” I found this phrasing odd because that area has been “known as” Koreatown for nearly 50 years, with the City officially designating it Koreatown in 2010. So, I think you could reference it with a bit more familiarity next time. Jonathan Stulberg Country Club Heights Ed. Note: The commercial area in question actually was long known as “Wilshire Center.” That is the name that goes back more than 50 years. In 1995 (27 years ago), the Wilshire Center Business Improvement District was officially chartered for the area generally bounded by Third Street on the north, Eighth
Larchmont Chronicle Founded in 1963 by Jane Gilman and Dawne P. Goodwin .
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Publisher and Editor John H. Welborne
Graduates
Managing Editor Suzan Filipek Contributing Editor Jane Gilman Staff Writers Talia Abrahamson Helene Seifer Advertising Director Pam Rudy
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LARCHMONT VILLAGE
Advertising Sales including Classifieds Caroline Tracy Art Director Tom Hofer
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Accounting Jill Miyamoto 606 N. Larchmont Blvd., #103
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That’s the question inquiring photographer Caroline Tracy asked locals along Larchmont Boulevard.
Letters to the Editor Koreatown, est. 2010?
Los Angeles, CA 90004 323-462-2241 larchmontchronicle.com
‘How will you celebrate your mom on Mother’s Day?’
Street on the south, Hoover Street on the east and Wilton Place on the west. (Indeed, from 1968 to 2001, this newspaper’s publishers even styled the Chronicle as “Wilshire Center’s Larchmont Chronicle.”) In the city’s 2001 Wilshire Community Plan, Wilshire Center had the above boundaries, and “Koreatown” was described as “generally bounded by Eighth Street on the north, Twelfth Street on the south, Western Avenue on the west, and continues east towards Vermont Avenue.” The block with the Wilshire Boulevard Temple and GenSpace is well north of those 2001 “Koreatown” boundaries. Next, the City of Los Angeles, in 2003 (not quite 20 years ago), certified the first neighborhood council for the area north and south of Wilshire Boulevard between approximately Melrose Avenue and Eleventh Street / Olympic Boulevard. The western and eastern boundaries of this 2003 neighborhood council generally are Western and Vermont Avenues with Wilshire-adjacent extensions west to Wilton Place and east to Hoover Street. The council’s name is (Please turn to page 19)
“I’ll make her a card, and we’ll probably do a school craft for Mother’s Day, too.” “I’m going to make her a card and usually we go out for dinner as a family.” Ali and Evy Callahan Plymouth Blvd.
“I’m going to pick my mom some flowers.” “Last year she actually made me scrambled eggs with basil.” Tria Russell with mom, Casey Windsor Village
“I will probably get my mom flowers and chocolates, and also make her pancakes and waffles.” “I’m going to get my mom a coffee gift card because she can’t live without coffee.”
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.
“Maybe I’ll give my mom the day off. Or not.” Chloe Hawkinson, Larchmont Village, and Noelle and Jude Park Wilshire Park
CORRECTION In last month’s article, “Jane McNealy is back with her songbook, 50 years on,” we incorrectly listed the website. The correct website is loflorecords.com. Also, McNealy worked with Harold Battiste Jr., but did not co-write or co-compose with him, as incorrectly stated in the article. Further, Joyce Dunn was the original vocalist on the 1969 track, which was not an “updated” track as stated in the article.
“We usually make her breakfast but this year she is going out of town to run a half marathon with some other Larchmoms.” Cameron and Tyler Greene Arden Blvd.
Larchmont Chronicle
MAY 2022
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Larchmontians getting out and about even more — on both coasts By John Welborne As COVID-19 fades into history (we hope), there is further evidence of local denizens starting to get “out and about.” After a couple of years of lackluster Easter plans, due to the global pandemic, two local families got the chance to attend the White House Easter Egg Roll in Washington, D.C. last month. The Tracy-Paley family of Hancock Park (including this newspaper’s staffer Caroline Tracy) and the Million family of Ridgewood-Wilton hunted, rolled, dyed, and ate eggs alongside the President and First Lady at the largest event the White House has hosted since the pandemic began. The White House Easter Egg Roll has been a tradition dating back to the administration of Rutherford B. Hayes in 1878. This year’s event, officially titled “The 2022 White House Easter Eggucation Roll,” featured story time with President Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, various educa-
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ODE TO MOMS.
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YOUTH SPORTS SCHOOL NEWS ENTERTAINMENT On the Menu Movies Theater
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SECTION TWO VIEW:
Real Estate Design for Living Libraries Home & Garden
J.B. SCHOOL PILE-UP. 17 HOME GROUND 5 REAL ESTATE SALES 8 DESIGN FOR LIVING 9 ON PRESERVATION 15 LIBRARIES 16 POLICE BEAT 18 POKER FOR ALL 19 BEEZWAX 19
CHILDREN, including Hancock Park’s Anna and Miles Paley, participate in the traditional egg roll portion of the day’s event.
tional activities and exhibits, a talent show and the famed rolling and hunting games. The Tracy-Paley family and the Million family were among
an estimated 30,000 guests, including many military families, who came from all over the country to enjoy the return of the storied event.
THE MILLION family of Ridgewood-Wilton at the White House: from left, Mike, Chloe, Nathan, and Laura.
HANCOCK PARK’S Miles Paley converses with President Joe Biden at the White House 2022 Easter Egg Roll.
LaBonge honored Three days before, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum’s iconic peristyle (“a colonnade or long row of columns that surrounds a building or courtyard”), there was a great celebration. The peristyle at the stadium’s eastern end consists of a large center arch, six flank-
ing arches, and a total of 24 columns. With the awarding of the Games of the Xth Olympiad in 1932, the Olympic Cauldron was added at the top. There also began a tradition of mounting large commemorative plaques that chronicle outstanding people and events, athletic or (Please turn to page 4)
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Larchmont Chronicle
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Out and about (Continued from page 3) otherwise, that have impacted the history, glory and growth of the Memorial Coliseum.
Prior to April 14, 2022, the Memorial Court of Honor located within the peristyle arches was comprised of 61 plaques. But now, there are 62. The 62nd plaque honors
CELEBRANTS honoring the late Tom LaBonge at the Coliseum included, from left, Richard Pink, Brigid LaBonge and former mayor and now Superior Court Judge, Jim Hahn.
Windsor Square ~ Hancock Park Historical Society
presents
A Garden Tour
COLISEUM PERISTYLE is the site of the Court of Honor and a newly mounted wall plaque honoring Tom LaBonge, above and behind his widow, Brigid, and his children Mary Catherine and Charles. Photo by Gary Leonard
former Fourth District Councilman Tom LaBonge, and a flurry of fans, friends and family turned out for the plaque’s unveiling on April 14. Naturally, wife Brigid and children Mary-Cate and Charles were prominent and greeted many
friends, among them Supervisor Janice Hahn and her brother, Superior Court Judge (and former mayor) James Hahn. Said Janice Hahn, “Tom was a cheerleader for Los Angeles. He loved everything about this city. It is fitting that generations to come
will walk around the legends of the Court of Honor, see this plaque, and learn about the one and only Mr. Los Angeles.” Also present was Richard Pink, second-generation proprietor of Pink’s Hot Dogs (where a “Mr. Los Angeles – Tom LaBonge Dog” is on the menu). Pink brought lunch for everyone at the event! All 62 plaques are listed, with an image of each show(Please turn to page 6)
All Gardens Within Windsor Square, Hancock Park and Brookside
Sunday, June 5th 1:00pm to 5:00pm Refreshments Served Enjoy Music, Plant Sale & Raffle Items Members $40 • Non-members $50
For tickets: WSHPHS.com
HISTORICAL SOCIETY president Richard Battaglia interviewed local writer Linda Woolverton at her home. Right: A GARDEN RECEPTION for Windsor Square-Hancock Park Historical Society members and guests concluded the April event at Linda Woolverton’s home.
321 N. Larchmont Blvd. Suite 906 323.464.8046 rebeccafitzgeraldmd.com
AUDIENCE MEMBERS were treated to a lively backand-forth between interviewee Linda Woolverton and interviewer Richard Battaglia, followed by questions and comments from the audience.
CED22-042
Larchmont Chronicle
MAY 2022
When we need a hero, we can always rely on you. Your care and dedication are a comfort to our patients and an inspiration to our community. We celebrate you this week, but we appreciate you every day. #HealthcareHeroes
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Larchmont Chronicle
MAY 2022
SECTION ONE
ASSEMBLY SPEAKER Anthony Rendon, left, examines the Riverly Award presented to him by River LA chair Harry Chandler.
ALICE WATERS was recognized at the event that took place at Lulu, her new restaurant at the Hammer Museum. Photos by Oscar A. Zagal
Out and about (Continued from page 4) ing the full inscription, at: lacoliseum.com/memorialcourt-of-honor The Tom LaBonge plaque concludes with: “No one loved Los Angeles more than Tom LaBonge, truly an angel in the City of Angels.” New judge And speaking of judges, last month saw the swearing-in of new Superior Court Judge Nicholas F. Daum. Judge Daum, the son of Mary Nichols and the late John Daum, grew up in Windsor Square. At an April 22 reception given by his wife, Kathy, and his mother at The California Club, seen in the crowd of well wishers were Windsor Square’s Bert Deixler, Betsy Anderson of Larchmont Village and Brookside’s Lynne and Michael Russell. Ahmanson on-stage Later in the month, local arts supporters were out and about in Downtown Los Angeles, this time actually on the stage of the Ahmanson Theatre. At the on-
stage dinner and performance celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Center Theatre Group (CTG) education and community partnerships program, guests were treated to a performance by Jennifer Holliday — as well as a backstage experience designed to show what it’s like to be an actor on that stage. Among the many local supporters in attendance were Windsor Square’s Amy Forbes and Andy Murr. She is CTG president. Among others spotted dining and/or climbing around the stage house innards, from Windsor Square, were Diana Buckhantz (also a CTG board member), Dan Levin and Michelle Vosko Levin and Sarah Clossey, a new CTG board member. Author talk Back in the neighborhood, on a Saturday at the beginning of last month, a “bookish” event took place in an historic home and its lovely garden. Windsor Square resident and American screenwriter, playwright and novelist Linda Woolverton welcomed members and guests of
the Windsor Square-Hancock Park Historical Society to her home. A quick tour of the interior of the beautiful circa-1915 abode was followed by an interview with Woolverton by WSHPHS president Richard Battaglia. A slide show of drawings and photos from some of the filmed and live productions Woolverton has authored accompanied the interview. Her works include Disney films such as “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Lion King,” “Mulan,” “Alice in Wonderland” and “Maleficent,” as well as liveaction theatrical productions of some of those same titles. Afterward, the gracious hostess visited with guests over Prosecco and pastries in her lovely garden. In addition to Battaglia, WSHPHS organizers included Barbara Coad, Jolin Crofts, Alex Elliott, Juanita Kempe and Judy and Richard Zeller. Given the role of film in our community, the gathering featured a bit of a sequel — that is, the return to the neighbor-
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STEVE ENGLISH, center, who received the Riverly Award in recognition of his decade of service to River LA, sits between former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez and Mayor Garcetti, another Riverly Award recipient.
hood, for the event, of Mollie Qvale Clark and daughter Signe, prominent residents of Fremont Place in previous years. The two were among the several dozen attendees received by Woolverton and captivated by the tales of her writing career, much of which has emphasized strong roles for girls and women. Riverly Awards A week later, there was further evidence of people getting “out and about” — this time to Westwood to celebrate River LA and some of that nonprofit’s best supporters. Attending from Windsor Square (and being honored) was Mayor Eric Garcetti. Locals ventured west to salute him and the three other honorees, Speaker of the Assembly Anthony Rendon, author and founder of Chez Panisse and the
Edible Schoolyard Alice Waters, and philanthropist lawyer and longtime River LA board member Steve English. Applauding those four while enjoying dinner from the kitchen of Lulu, the new restaurant from Waters and chef David Tanis at the Hammer Museum, were Mary and Kevin O’Connell, Jennifer and Bill Fain, former Marlborough head of school Barbara Wagner and husband Judge Charles Palmer and Martha Welborne and this writer. Chair of River LA is artist Harry Chandler, who used to live in Hancock Park. He not only presented the Riverly Awards; he also designed and produced them. Among the tasty dinner items enjoyed in the new Alice Waters (Please turn to page 7)
325 N. Larchmont Boulevard, #158 Los Angeles, California 90004 www.windsorsquare.org 157 N. Larchmont Boulevard
Windsor Square Board Openings
As we discuss each November at our annual Town Hall meeting, there are periodic openings on the board of the Windsor Square Association. Today, there are two openings, including one as a result of the passing of lifelong Windsor Square volunteer Mike Genewick, who also served as our Treasurer. Are you a resident of Windsor Square? Are you willing to play a leadership role in our neighborhood? Attend monthly board meetings and do committee work in between? Might you bring a skill that would be useful? Would you contribute to the geographic and ethnic diversity of the board? If you would like to suggest yourself or another Windsor Square resident for board membership, please send an e-mail to wsinfo@windsorsquare.org. Your suggestions will ensure that Windsor Square continues to be ready to meet the needs of every neighbor. Our Nominating Committee will be delighted to review all suggestions received by May 15th of this year.
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The Windsor Square Association, an all-volunteer group of residents from 1100 households between Beverly and Wilshire and Van Ness and Arden, works to preserve and enhance our beautiful neighborhood. Join with us! Drop us a line at 325 N. Larchmont Blvd., #158, Los Angeles, CA 90004, or visit our website at windsorsquare.org.
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Larchmont Chronicle
Artist Jeff Wall (Continued from page 1) cause the child — his child — was not having a temper tantrum or an argument with her father. She just decided to take
skin
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MAY 2022
a pause, lie down on probably a quite warm sidewalk in a shadow … and the father was doing, as you see here, just pausing and contemplating the decision of his own child. And that gap between the consciousness between the two just seemed to me, ‘Yes, that’s the kind of subject I find interesting.’ I reconstructed the picture, which is something I do frequently.” Wall’s “Parent child” photograph was on view recently at Gagosian in Beverly Hills as part of a 10-photograph exhibit marking Wall’s first Los Angeles show in almost 20 years. Previously, the work had been shown in New York City and London. Permanent collection Now, after achieving widespread fame, our Larchmont corner likeness will be coming to rest in the permanent collection at LACMA, says Michael Govan, the CEO and Wallis Annenberg director. Writing to us about the Larchmont Boulevard piece, Govan said: “Jeff Wall is an artist whose important work is in museums all over the world. We’re thrilled that our trustee Ashley Merrill, and her husband Marc, are offering this gift to LACMA, the first by Jeff Wall in our collection — especially because Wall made the image nearby the museum. Wall’s photographic images have a size and presence that speak to centuries of large-scale paintings that tell stories. “But Wall’s images are more enigmatic; like this one, they can be imposing and monumental, but their subject is the complex psychology of everyday life. A neighborhood street corner we might pass daily becomes, for this artist, a site for contemplation and composition.” Discussing her family’s gift to LACMA, trustee Ashley Merrill told the Chronicle, “I came across this image years ago online, and it really resonated with me as a parent who has had many of those trying yet comical parenting moments like the one in this photograph. “When I saw it full-size at Gagosian Beverly Hills with Mi-
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Out and about (Continued from page 6)
WALL ON THE WALL: “Parent child” at Gagosian Beverly Hills, March 2022.
chael [Govan], that feeling was only amplified. Marc and I are thrilled it will end up at LACMA for future generations of parents and children to connect with.” New LACMA building The exact exhibition debut date at the museum is not set, but it most certainly will not be until the new LACMA building stretching above Wilshire Boulevard opens in or after 2024.
dining space at the Hammer were “Devil-ish eggs,” spinach feta pies and Tunisian meatballs in spiced tomato sauce. The restaurant was given a brief review in the February issue of the Chronicle. See: tinyurl.com/57ekwdhv. Announced at the event was the upcoming Los Angeles County LA River Open House on Tues., May 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Westfield Topanga community center at 21710 Vanowen Street in Canoga Park. River LA CEO Kate Moulene wrote of the upcoming event: “This is the last public / community meeting before the vote on the Master Plan. Teams from Gehry, Olin, GeoSyntec, Supervisor Sheila Kuehl’s
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office and Public Works will all be together to talk about the planned Headwaters Pavilion.” She adds that this “will be one of the first projects along the river connecting the community to the river,” summing up: “It’s a very exciting time as we move from years of planning to action and execution.” Learn more about the May 3 open house at: tinyurl.com/2p96dpn7. Cookbook And a final bit of local news: There soon will be a new occupant for the former Chan Dara building just north of Beverly Boulevard on Larchmont. Work has been underway during recent weeks on what will become the third outpost of Cookbook (cookbookla.com). Hancock Park residents Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo, plus their sommelier partner Helen (Please turn to page 8)
Larchmont Chronicle
MAY 2022
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Out and about
LPGA
(Continued from page 7)
(Continued from page 1)
Johannesen (Jon & Vinny’s and Helen’s on Fairfax Avenue) took over Cookbook Market, long in Echo Park and Highland Park, in 2020. Under the new owners’ tutelage, Cookbook has become even more widely known for its collection of upscale produce, small-producer dry goods and grocery staples like deli meats, wine and sauces. Larchmont Village is a logical extension for this boutique neighborhood green grocer. Just what the Larchmont 2021 survey respondents and so many others want to see. “Thank you,” team Jon, Vinny and Helen!
defending champ Brooke Henderson, Jin Young Ko (ranked No. 1) and 2019 champion Minjee Lee. The golfers played 72 holes while competing for $1.5 million in prize money. The winner’s purse was $225,000. Henderson did not make the cut for the final rounds. Ko finished in a tie for 21st place, and Lee was in a tie for 3rd place with Madelene Sagstrom and Inbee Park, all behind 2nd place finsiher Hannah Green and winner Hataoka, who was 15 under on the par-71 course. Preparation for the event began months before, although the final week saw a whirlwind acceleration in activity. Club members’ final day to play was Easter Sunday, four days before the tournament’s first round. Camera-tower scaffolding and bleachers for spectators were erected, courtesy tents were placed along putting greens, and last-minute landscaping was completed. “We recruit volunteers and members to help get the course ready,” said club general manager Daniel Enzler. The course’s transformation from members-only to world-class event venue was truly fantastic. The experi-
Karen Bass at Ebell May 17 Mayoral candidate Congresswoman Karen Bass will participate in a live interview on Tues., May 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the Ebell Theater in the Mayoral Series co-hosted by the Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall. Dan Schnur, professor of politics at USC, U.C. Berkeley and Pepperdine, is moderator. To register for the free event visit tinyurl.com/2p86jm5f.
ence was worth the one-day ticket price of $28.13 (a fourday pass was $45, and the Macbeth Pass, which included Terrace Viewing and 18th Green Lounge access, was $1,687.50.) The tournament ran from Thursday to Sunday, but the golf began on Wednesday with the Pro-Am. LPGA competition golfers teed off Thursday morning promptly at 7 a.m. The front nine is on the south side of Beverly Boulevard, which bisects the course. The first hole is a 390-yard par 4. Access to the first tee is via a tunnel that runs beneath Beverly Boulevard that’s just wide enough to accommodate a golf cart. In the Dio Implant Open’s four-year history, Canadian Brooke Henderson holds the 72-hole record at 268 (-16.) That was her tournamentwinning score last year. For spectators, the festivities began immediately upon entrance at the Rosewood Avenue gate. Sponsor booths offered giveaways, sign-ups and product demonstrations. Parked along the course were food trucks with accompanying outside dining areas. There also were concessions adjacent to the clubhouse, which flanks the 18th hole. This was the hub of the festivities.
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(Continued from page 1) than other areas.” The age of the pipes alone, DeSimio says, has been the source of other problems. “There have been several failures just on the block between Clinton and Rosewood in the past few years, which completely paralyzes the traffic and imposes a health and hygiene risk to the residents.” Sylvia Beltran works in the DWP’s Community Affairs department. She says that “Residents will have access to their driveways and homes 24/7 during construction, and the streets will be open every evening at 6:30 p.m. We’ve created a website for the Rossmore project, which will be updated and provide current information for the residents. We hope this will help make the transition to the new mainline easier.” The website is: tinyurl.com/jy9ppxs7. Although there have been some complaints about the last-minute nature of the announcement, Beltran assures the Chronicle that press releases went out in advance to the Los Angeles City Council, as well as several neighborhood organizations including the Hancock Park Home Owners Association, whose residents will be most affected by the construction work. No left turns “Occasionally there will be no-left-turn signs prohibiting turns south from Melrose onto Rossmore, and from Third Street for turns north along Rossmore,” Beltran adds. “It’s a small price to pay when you consider that failure ratings are on a scale of ‘A’ to ‘F,’ and Rossmore is rated a ‘D.’ This construction, and the upgrade of the mainline pipes, really couldn’t be put off any longer.”
Daniel Enzler, general manager of the Wilshire Country Club on Rossmore at Beverly, says, “It will have a major impact on traffic here because there will only be one lane for traffic, and our members enter the parking lot from Rossmore.” Still, Enzler will solve that problem by creating another entrance to the club from Rosewood, which is normally used for exiting the parking lot. “I fully agree that the mainline water pipe project is a good idea.” Metro bus service Metro Route 210 bus service on Rossmore, which runs from Beverly Boulevard to Melrose and on up Vine Street, will be re-routed along the way, depending upon the progress of the construction. “We’ll be putting up signs in the area on bus stops to explain the detours,” says Patrick Chandler of the DWP, “which will be in English and Spanish.” The project will be completed in October, if not sooner, according to the DWP.
Yom HaShoah ceremony May 1 Yom HaShoah, also known as Holocaust Remembrance Day, will be commemorated by the Holocaust Museum of Los Angeles on Sun., May 1 at 2 p.m. The entire event will be streamed live. Keynote speaker is local resident Zev Yaroslavsky. The museum is partnering with the Anti-Defamation League of Los Angeles to remember those who perished in the Holocaust, honor survivors and reflect on the devastating war in Ukraine. The program will include a live performance by Ukranian composer Joachim Stutschewsky. Consul Generals of Israel and Poland will be in attendance. To register, visit holocaustmuseumla.org.
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Women find solace sharing memories of mothers they miss By Helene Seifer “Milestone events are hard,” admits Breanne Metcalf, founder of The Betsey Network, a new peer-to-peer conversation group that helps women grieving their mothers find solace among other women in similar situations. Milestones such as: “When I met my husband, Patrick; our marriage; having our baby.” Metcalf continues, “But it’s the little moments I miss the most: When I have a bad day at work; when I see something I like and want to call my mother.” Inspiration for The Betsey Network After Metcalf’s parents divorced, her mother, Betsey Boyd, raised Metcalf and her two older brothers. “Every day after school, she was always there to discuss my day, my friends,” Metcalf remembers.
“I was lucky.” Boyd died of a brain aneurysm when Metcalf was in her senior year of high school. In a coma for four months before she succumbed, Boyd woke up only once, when Metcalf went to see her, dressed for her high school graduation. When Metcalf had an ultrasound during the pregnancy with her now 1-year-old daughter, she acutely felt the loss of her mother. “I wished I could share it with my mom.” That feeling only grew more pronounced when Maeve was born. “I felt what my mom must have felt when she had me.” Metcalf decided to honor her mother by establishing a means to connect with other women who mourned the loss of their own mothers because of death, incarceration, abandonment or illness. The Rossmore Avenue resident spent her last few weeks
THE BETSEY founder Breanne daughter Maeve tograph of her Betsey Boyd.
NETWORK Metcalf with and a pholate mother,
of maternity leave forming goals and guidelines. The Betsey Network was born. Healing through sharing Metcalf, who works at Hulu in human resources, decided
Neville Anderson, MD, FAAP Amaka Priest, MD Courtney Mannino, MD, FAAP
to start small. She didn’t advertise; told a few friends and listed it on LinkedIn. Eight women signed on to the first Zoom meeting of The Betsey Network in December. Some lost their moms in childhood; one as recently as last summer. Metcalf notes that five months later, 30 women “from across the United States, of differing backgrounds, life stages and types of loss” have joined the group. In Metcalf’s experience, women feel it burdens others if they talk about missing their mothers, but that takes a huge emotional toll because, “Even seeing a grandmother at the park with her grandchildren can trigger your grief.” In the virtual meetings, she always asks women to share stories about their moms. “It is cathartic to talk,” Metcalf explains. “It is a relief. People cry.” The loneliness of loss The Betsey Network participant Jacquelyn Arenas from Austin, Texas, reflects that her 4-year-old daughter remembers Arenas’ mother, but her 2-year-old son does not. “When I look at my children and know of the amazing, fun, kind grandmother they won’t get to remember, the heartache is almost too much to comprehend.”
Molly Ernestes of Cincinnati, Ohio, reveals, “My mom was my best friend, and losing her when I was just 9 years old was one of the most difficult things I had ever gone through. I will always miss my mom. It’s difficult to grow up because the older I get, the more my mom fades away.” Kristen Stebbins of Jersey City, New Jersey, offers, “There are lessons to be learned from how others deal with their losses.” Challenge of Mother’s Day For the motherless, there may be no more emotionally difficult time than Mother’s Day, when seemingly everyone is fêting moms. “The Betsey Network has brought together a community of women who lift each other up through shared empathy, which is especially important around challenging days like Mother’s Day,” states Metcalf. “Each one of us carries our loss and holds our mothers close, and the ability to immediately understand one another has brought so much relief and connection.” The Betsey Network meets the first Wednesday of every month. A special virtual gathering in honor of Mother’s Day is planned for May. All sessions are free. For more information, go to TheBetseyNetwork.org.
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in Larchmont Village
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SBBA concludes season, names HERO Award recipients The SBBA (Saint Brendan Basketball Association) 2022 season concluded April 2 with the division playoff semifinals and title games. That was nine games in one day! It doesn’t get any better for youth basketball fans. Champions crowned The tournament had originally been scheduled for two weeks earlier, but several occurrences caused the cancellation of games and practices. The first was a contained COVID case. The second incident was a medical emergency. Longtime official Greg “Blue” Blueford collapsed on the basketball court during a Saturday game in March and was rushed to the hospital, where he remained in critical condition for several weeks. The remaining games that day, and Sunday, were cancelled. The rescheduled playoffs
Youth Sports y
Jim Kalin unfortunately moved Championship Saturday back to the first weekend of Spring Break. Most teams were short players due to families traveling. Championship Saturday began early with the first of two Bobcat Division (ages 8-9) semifinal games. The eventual champions were The Pongs, coached by Adam Cole-Kelly. Their leading scorer for the season was Charlie Cole-Kelly. He ended with 107 points. The Cobra Division (ages 10-11) title game followed next. The champions here were The Firemen, coached by Bryce Hubbard. The team’s leading
THE ACES’ Nicholas Yu, coach Nick Padua and Coltrane Ragsdale.
scorer was Rex First, who ended his season with 133 points. What a workhorse! The Aces, coached by Nick Padua, won the D-League (ages 12, 13, 14) title. Padua and The Firemen’s coach Bryce Hubbard were the only head coaches this season who were not parents of players. Padua, a St. Brendan School graduate, is currently a student at Pasadena City Col-
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GUS DEPPE HERO AWARD presentation, from left to right, Paul Deppe, Cecelia Uribe, Charles Gargantiel, league director Abel Luna, ’ iamond Blueford and yd alin.
lege. The Aces’ leading scorer for the season was Coltrane Ragsdale, who ended with 110 points. Quite a stat, considering the D-League champs played two fewer games than the other division winners. And how about this; Coltrane is 12 and can play for two more years. HERO Award The SBBA doesn’t name division MVPs, but it does present something just as prestigious. August “Gus” Deppe played in the SBBA league. His final season, for basketball and with us, was in 2012. He was 10 years old at the time. Gus was diagnosed with a stage IV neuroblastoma when he was 2. Stem cell transplants coupled with chemo and radiation treatments settled him into remission for the next eight years. Unfortunately, the cancer returned, and he was unable to beat it the second time around. The Gus Deppe HERO Award is given to one player per division every year at the season’s conclusion. HERO is an acronym for Heart Effort Relentlessness Optimism, and the league identifies those players
who embody these traits best. “The award is a recognition and celebration of the recipient’s own spirit,” said Cecelia Uribe, Gus’ mother. The trophy, which is in its ninth year, is an actual cup that goes home with the recipient. That player’s name is engraved on the trophy, and it returns to the league 12 months later to be presented to the next recipient. It’s similar to the NHL Stanley Cup. This year’s HERO Award recipients are G’Diamond Blueford (Alligator Division), Duke Hannah (Bobcat Division), Charles Gargantiel (Cobra Division) and Kyd Kalin (D-League.) Blue recovering Beloved SBBA referee Greg Blueford suffered a heart attack at that March game while officiating. He remained in the intensive care unit for two weeks. After six weeks, Blue was dismissed from the hospital and is now at home. If you would like to support his family’s GoFundMe page to help with Blue’s hospital bills, the link is listed below. https://gofund.me/6b33af8f
MARLBOROUGH SCHOOL By Avery Gough 10th Grade
tions.) Seniors head off to Hawaii for a week prior to graduation, while the rest of the grades finish their final exams. We will miss the the Class of 2022, and hope they have an amazing time in college. On May 24, the rising sophomores will have their Pin Ceremony. This annual tradition is their official welcome into the upper school. During the ceremony, the class president and head of school will give speeches in front of the students and their friends and families. Finally, our Head of School, Dr. Priscilla Sands, will be retiring this month after seven years at Marlbrough. Dr. Sands has led the school with integrity and grace through a tumultuous time in our history. We are grateful for her service and wish her well in her retirement. There will be a celebration with Marlborough families to show our appreciation for Dr. Sands on April 24.
Students will be very busy until summer break begins on May 25th. From May 2 to May 13, students will take advanced placement tests. Subjects include english, U.S. history, biology, chemistry to name a few. In addition to AP tests, Seniors will also be taking their final exams. Their last official day of school is May 12 and they graduate on May 26. It is a school tradition that seniors sleep over at Marlborough on the night of May 11. They usually sleep in the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation or the gymnasium. (The class of 2021 had to sleep on the field because of COVID restric-
Larchmont Chronicle CENTER FOR EARLY EDUCATION By Ren Lisenbery 5th Grade At the Center for Early Education, service-learning is an important component of the curriculum. Recently, we had a whole school day of service that entailed helping our school community and our neighborhood community. Some students went around the community near the school and picked up trash
OAKWOOD SCHOOL By Scarlett Saldaña 11th Grade This month, Oakwood students look forward to this year’s high school musical, “Into the Woods,” as well as the exciting Spring Concert. Staging rehearsals for the musical first began in March, and after returning to school from Spring Break, the cast and crew has continued blocking scenes, practicing songs, and learning choreography. Our production is a more unique staging of the musical, in which we are set in an attic where one of the lead characters, The Baker, finds a storybook, and imagines the characters and
CATHEDRAL CHAPEL SCHOOL By Kennedy del Pozo 5th Grade We have been involved in a number of activities during March and April at CCS. In March, we had a very successful Jogathon which enabled us to purchase iPads for our students in K – 8. We continue to help those who are less fortunate by collecting canned food items for Hope Net and we also participated in
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and collected more than ten full trash bags! Each grade also worked on different projects. For example, the 5th graders helped paint a mural for an elder care center in the hopes of creating an inspiring, colorful place for them to enjoy. In previous years, we had a long tradition of making sandwiches their connections on stage. Most actors in the cast are also playing two to three characters, meaning there will be quick costume changes, making for a hectic, but entertaining show! The week after the musical, Oakwood’s high school vocal ensemble, Choraliers, Middle School (MS) Glee, and MS Music Theater Workshop, will perform in this Spring’s all-vocal concert. They plan to sing “Parade in Town” and “Sunday,” both by Stephen Sondheim, a few songs from the musical “Rent,” and various more. Lastly, Seniors will finish their last classes at the end of this month, but will return to campus to present their Senior projects, as well as attend several beloved student-life events in their upcoming last months at Oakwood.
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for the hungry. However, because of Covid, we were not able to do that. Instead, some of the younger students made hygiene care packages for people who might need supplies. In addition to our day of service, we work to help our community throughout the year. We have charity drives such as donating books and stuffed animals. This year, the school worked with Quarter for Caring, where students had to earn quarters by doing chores at home and donate that money to the children of Ukraine. Coming together and being able to help out the community is one of the most special parts of being at The Center.
HOLLYWOOD SCHOOLHOUSE By Sienna Light 6th Grade There are many things in store for this last trimester of the school year. Hollywood Schoolhouse just held our own musical, “A Million Dreams,” right here on the HSH campus, and everyone went into spring break feeling ready to relax after working hard on sets, dances, and songs. Now that we are back at school, the 6th grade class is
getting ready for graduation and summer, but before that, we get to go to AstroCamp! AstroCamp is an outdoor recreation and science camp trip that the 6th grade gets to take at the end of the year. We will stay for three days and two nights, and in my opinion, I am very excited to go on an overnight trip before we graduate. Other than trips, HSH will not let the war in Ukraine go unnoticed. So, to support refugees, students and teachers have donated clothing, cleanliness products, and various other items that were sent over during spring break. I am very proud of what we have contributed to this cause.
Feet the Homeless, a collection of gently used shoes which are distributed to a variety of homeless shelters in L.A. Student Council sponsored a free dress fundraiser on St. Patrick’s Day for Ukraine. We distributed the funds ($1,100) to Global Giving and UNICEF to aid the children who are suffering in Ukraine. In addition to this very successful fundraiser, the students also contributed over $1,500 to the Missionary Childhood Association for the refugees in Ukraine. You are invited to visit us during our Open House and annual Science Fair on Wednesday, April 27 from 5 to 7 p.m.
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IMMACULATE HEART By Kellyn Lanza 11th Grade Happy Spring from Immaculate Heart! The busy month of April opened with a welcome breakfast for our incoming Class of 2026 and their families. We are so excited to have these new Pandas join us again on cam-
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pus in August! Meanwhile, current IH students recently enjoyed two weeks off for our Easter Break and are now back for the final weeks of the school year. After returning from break, students and faculty continued pre-
paring for our biggest celebration of the year, the tradition of Mary’s Day, which took place on April 29. This year’s Mary’s Day was a great success with amazing decorations and activities coordinated by the entire high school community. For this year’s theme, “Rooted in the Heart of Mary,” students created 3D roots, vegetables, and other plants to deco-
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rate the auditorium. A Mary’s Day garden outside featured words of inspiration from our students and faculty, and our decorated quad is where the crowning of Mary’s statue took place. Following our liturgy, there was more celebration on the quad, including the Great Lawn Dance and a potluck lunch. Now our spring
sports teams are hosting their senior nights to honor their beloved teammates and graduating Panda sisters. Our marine biology classes also took a trip to El Capitan and engaged in fun activities to learn about coastal ecology. May promises to be another busy month, but summer is around the corner!
THIRD STREET
was quite crowded all over the campus. Students were able to visit classrooms that they may be in next year, there were two food trucks, and it was nice to see all the masked faces in person. We have gotten back from spring break and are going to end this year very soon, in June. But before the school year ends, we do have some events around school that will be fun. Walkathon is a fundraiser where we all go out to the yard and are active. Events from prior walkathons included a race to get to the finish line without spilling water from a cup you were given and measuring two classes’ amounts to see who won as well as freeze dance, cup stacking, dodgeball, and more. Don’t forget Mother’s Day (do something nice!), and Memorial Day! That’s all I have for this month. Have a nice day, and goodbye!
By Coco Min 5th Grade
Hello again everyone, this “May” or “May” not be the last time I write to you. I am going to be leaving Third Street and going into middle school next year. Also, we just finished our school Open House. This was an opportunity for parents to see what their students have been doing all year. My classroom was filled with really interesting science projects. My topic was “Which of these four Trident flavors lasts the longest?” One of my classmate’s topics was “What is the most heat resistant gummy?” Welch’s. Another one was “Does being blindfolded affect your opinion on water?” Yes. It
CAMPBELL HALL SCHOOL By Claire Lesher 9th Grade
ST BRENDAN
After two wondrous weeks of spring break, Prom approaches with the theme Prom Possible. It begins with Spirit Week with students dressed in clothes that are fitting for the day’s theme. It ends with the 11th and 12th graders attending Prom. In late April, the Executive Council Elections for next year will be held for High School. The month ends with Middle and High School students signing up for their classes for next year. The middle school will also perform the musical Xanadu. Additionally, Hands 4 Haiti fundraiser will be hosted for our sister schools in Haiti on April 27th. Our Performing Arts department will perform at the event, which includes World Drumming, Jazz Band, Choir, Elementary Dancers, and local and Haitian artists. The GSA/Spectrum Affinity group hosted a bake sale for Rainbow Railroad. On May 14th, for the first time since the pandemic, our entire community will join together at the 66th Annual Bagpiper’s Ball.
Hello Larchmont, I hope you had a great spring break. St. Brendan has been busy, and I can’t wait to share these activities with you! Thrive in Joy Nick Fagnano Foundation visited our school, and we celebrated Nick’s Favorite Lunch as a community to support their goal to help underserved children in the Dominican Republic. Nick’s story helps us build confidence and strength at St. Brendan. To honor his legacy as a Saint Brendan student, we have a day called Crazy Day, where we can wear any crazy, fun accessory to show school spirit! Next we had a beach cleanup day where students, faculty and parents cleaned up trash from the beach. We are also excited to announce that our 8th graders will be attending these schools; Loyola, Harvard Westlake, Immaculate Heart, Marymount, Providence, and Saint Francis. Thanks for tuning into the St. Brendan section of the Larchmont Chronicle!
By Noah Borges 8th Grade
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Larchmont Chronicle NEW COVENANT ACADEMY By Dale Lee 11th Grade Happy Easter! Easter marks the resurrection of Jesus three days after his death on the cross and NCA is remembering his sacrifice
EPISCOPAL SCHOOL OF LOS ANGELES By Hank Bauer 12th Grade Right before the end of every lunch at ESLA, students and faculty stand before the outdoor cafeteria and make lunch announcements to the entire school. One such announcement gave the nineteen seniors much excitement: “The college process has been long and arduous, but now we’re in the final stretch,” said Ms. McCarron, the school’s director of theater. “To celebrate, we have a surprise for you at the end of the day. Puppies are involved.” We were excited for
MELROSE ELEMENTARY By Bella Cho 5th Grade At Melrose Math/Science/ Te c h n o l o g y Magnet, we had an event called Spirit Week from April 4th to 8th. It was a week when the entire school dressed up to show their spirit. First, we had Pajama Day on Monday, when the students were allowed to wear their pajamas to school. Then on Tuesday we had Twin Day when people could dress up with their friends and wear the same clothing and be twins. There was also Sports Day on Wednesday when we dressed up as our favorite sports team. On Decade Day on Thursday we dressed
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with a day full of events including an Easter service, recitals, and performances. Afterward, hopefully, our students can also have a long week of rest during our Spring Break! That’s not the only thing to celebrate. Our 4th-8th grade stua petting zoo, but we got something very different than expected when we walked into that room. Many expressions crossed our faces in that moment: shock, confusion, disappointment, and, on some, amusement. The “puppies” in the petting zoo were actually the seniors from the Advanced Playwriting class dressed in costumes! We had been pranked by our own peers, all in the name of understanding what makes something a play! As I ate the apology donuts which the class’s teacher had bought for all of the victims, I reflected on how fortunate I am to be part of a community where teachers are so cool that they’ll help students prank each other and learning is so hands-on that even tomfoolery can be educational. like we were from a different decade. And finally, we had Character Day on Friday when we dressed up as our favorite characters, similar to what we do in Halloween. Also on Character Day, the 5th graders got to watch the movie, Encanto and everyone enjoyed. We had one week off for Spring Break to relax and take a break from our busy school work. In May, the 5th graders had two weeks of SBAC (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium) testing on math, English, and science, etc. We had been practicing and getting ready every morning as soon as we came to school. We had a couple of questions on different subjects each morning to solve. With the SBAC testing finished, the graduation ceremony is approaching quickly on June 10.
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dents competed in ACSI’s Math Olympics with many passing the first stage and moving on to the regional level. These brilliant minds came back with multiple awards and honors after their memorable competition. It
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was a busy month for our young students as soon afterward, they showcased their masterful learning with our annual Science Fair. All projects were great but our judges chose the top three from each class to move on to the ACSI regional competition and a grand prize winner from all grades! The K-3 graders should make sure to pack their sunscreen as
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they’ll be going on a Universal Studios trip at the end of April. We’ll be sure to hear a lot of screaming from roller coasters and other fun rides! Our Boys Volleyball team has also come to a close after an exciting season. Led by Coach Wade, the team had many eventful and edge-of-the-seat games. We hope the best for our players and another great season next year!
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A new star debuts at Disney Hall: asterid restaurant By Helene Seifer Long-loved Patina, Joachim Splichal’s flagship restaurant in Walt Disney Concert Hall, closed in 2020 during the pandemic. At the end of March, as the performance and entertainment worlds stumbled toward normalcy, Disney Hall opened a new restaurant to excite its concert-goers and other downtown denizens in search of a beautiful room, excellent cocktails and wine list and the intricate flavor combinations for which Chef Ray Garcia is known. asterid (the restaurant spells its name with a lower case “a”) has a haute modern look. The
new look is very different from Patina, although architect Hagy Belzberg is responsible for both of the stunning designs. New black walls and ceiling are cool but comforting. A wood inset in the ceiling brightens the space. There are bare pale wood tables and a dramatic L-shaped bar. The floor is carpeted, presumably to soften the murmur of diners chatting and silverware clanking. However, it didn’t work, since the room was very noisy. Floor-to-ceiling windows separate the interior from the new patio along busy Grand Avenue. We ate inside, but the patio was well-appointed. Framed
BUCKLEY SCHOOL By Jasper Gough 12th Grade
night summer camp. The camp programs activities that encourage bonding and are geared towards creative programming. Also, May 17 will be our Seniors last day on campus before we graduate on the 28th. The 18th will be the last day of classes for all the Upper and Middle School students. The Senior Prom will be held on the 21st at the Avalon in Hollywood. This is my last column before I head off to college and I have really enjoyed my years of writing about Curtis Elementary School and The Buckley School. Have a good summer!
From May 2 to May 6, Buckley’s 3rd through 5th grade students will take the ERBs. Older students will take AP tests through the week of the 13th. On May 7, Upper School students will also have the opportunity to take the SATs. Later, from May 16 to 18, our 5th graders will take an in-person trip to Pali Adventures over-
On the Menu by
Helene Seifer by low hedges, the exterior is divided into a lounge on one side of the restaurant’s entrance and dining on the other. At night the combination of the softly lit stainless steel and pre-cast concrete walls of Disney Hall along with views of the dimpled exterior of the Broad Museum across Second Street feels urban and artsy. ST JAMES’ By Aki Kapur 5th Grade Happy Lunar New Year from St. James’ Episcopal School! For New Year’s, we participated in a Bowing Ceremony, or Sebae, where we wished good fortune to one another. I think it is very important to learn about Lunar New Year and other traditions, especially since a large part of the world is Asian! We are also learning about Black
Equally intriguing are the façades of the new hotel, shops and restaurants soon to open across the street at The Grand. Chef Ray Garcia is celebrated for the innovative Mexican food he featured at his previous downtown restaurants, Broken Spanish and B.S. Taqueria, and the recent pop-up at NeueHouse which further pushed the boundaries of Latin flavors. At asterid, named for a class of flowering plants which includes daisies, sunflowers and coffee, Garcia strays from his Latin roots. Flavors are still complex, but his inspiration is global. We started with drinks, of course. Their wine list is exHistory Month and Civil Rights activists from the past and present. My favorite has been learning about traditional West African dance and African instruments in music class. I think it’s fascinating how connected this music is to jazz, hip hop, and R&B. Other exciting things happening at St. James’ include our Beyond School programs. We are taking accelerated language arts and math, which will help us in middle school. We are also having sports classes like golf and archery; my favorite is basketball and I think I’m getting better at it!
tensive and their cocktail list is intriguing, ranging from $18 vodka with carrot, green apple, orange, ginger and chile to a $13 spritz with Italian bitters, sparkling hops, grapefruit and mint. I enjoyed a $17 slightly sweet, smoky and citrusy mezcal, toasted rice, kumquat vermouth and cacao on the rocks. We began with three appetizers. Cashew muhammara with ancho chile, pomegranate and feta, $16, was a successful twist on the Middle Eastern dip usually made with ground walnuts and without chiles. Dunking flatbread into the sweet-earthy dip was a perfect way to begin the meal. A bowl of chicken liver mousse was an excellent, silky-smooth puree covered with a colorful array of sliced mandarin oranges, pickled pearl onions and nasturtiums. The beautiful $18 dish was served with sourdough slices. Our favorite appetizer was the $15 sunchoke rösti. Hunks of sunchoke were fried in a crunchy batter and served with sunflower crème fraîche and strawberry pepper jam. The combination of savory and sweet with a hint of heat was magnificent. Next we shared $18 cauliflower with Romanesco (Span(Please turn to page 18)
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Larchmont Chronicle
MAY 2022
SECTION ONE
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English ‘Anatomy’ and ‘Scandal;’ slam-bang bank heist Anatomy of a Scandal (10/10): Six one-hour episodes. TV-MA. I prefer to read a good book before I see a good film. Alas, I did not read this book (by Sarah Vaughn), but this is a series I could not turn off. Sienna Miller gives a boffo performance as the wife of a British MP, Rupert Friend. Rupert is accused of rape and put on trial, prosecuted by Michelle Dockery. Friend and Dockery also give fine performances in this brilliantly written series, as this trial winds through their lifetimes, shown in flashbacks, threatening them all, and the British government itself. Six hours and not one slow minute. Netflix. A Very English Scandal (9/10): Three one-hour episodes. TV-14. Unlike “Anatomy…,” supra, this is a true story. Hugh Grant plays notorious Jeremy Thorpe, the leader of the British Liberal Party from 1967-76, who was undone by a homosexual scandal. This is told in a comedic fashion and is a treat to watch. Grant gives his usual charming performance, but the rest of the cast is outstanding, especially Ben Whishaw, playing his gay lover / nemesis, Norman Scott. Prime. Ambulance (8/10): 136 minutes. R. One thing about director Michael Bay — he knows action, even if one must suspend disbelief. This is a slam-bang, nonstop bank heist film with bullets flying everywhere and ridiculous car chases that doesn’t let up until the last five minutes. There’s a saying on Broadway that you should never end a musical with a ballad. You want your audience to exit the theater on a lively, uplifting song that makes them happy and feel good. Bay should have followed this advice because he ends this snappy, involving film with five (approximately; I didn’t actually time it, but it seemed like an eternity) of the slowest minutes one will ever experience in a theater. Up until then, though, it’s silly Hollywood fun. Father Stu (8/10): 125 minutes. R. While this is “based on
a true story,” it gets enough of it right to be a remarkable tale of surprising faith — an uncouth amateur boxer who gets a remarkable vocation (akin to St. Paul on the road to Damascus), only Father Stu was pursuing an enchanting woman (Teresa Ruiz) when the lightning struck. In a normal time, Mark Wahlberg would be an odds-on favorite for an Oscar for his performance, but this is not a normal time, and the movie is a sympathetic tale about a Catholic priest. If you can be that un-woke, this is a surprising tale of a remarkable man, aided by fine supporting performances by Mel Gibson, Jackie Weaver and Malcolm McDowell. The film closes with pictures of the real Father Stu. Aline (7/10): 128 minutes. PG-13. Claiming to be “freely inspired” by the life of Celine Dion, this is a nonetheless en-
At the Movies with
Tony Medley joyable tale of a young woman, the last child of fourteen, born into genteel and happy poverty in Quebec of a musicallyinclined family. Aline Dieu (two-time César Award winner Valérie Lemercier, who also directed and wrote) exhibits unusual ability at an early age. The film tracks her from extreme youth (5 years old), through her meeting with manager GuyClaude Kamar (Sylvain Marcel), to stardom. Along the way Aline falls in love with Kamar, even though he is several decades older. Her mother is in stern opposition, due to the age differential, but Aline knows what
she wants. There isn’t a lot of music. What there is — parts of songs like “My Heart Will Go On,” “River Deep, Mountain High” and “What a Wonderful World,” voiced by award-winning French singer Victoria Sio (not Lemercier, but she does as good a job of lip syncing as Larry Parks did in 1946’s “The Jolson Story”) — is enjoyable. Although the film shows some lows, this is basically a happy, feel-good tale. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (6/10): 105 minutes. R. Sometimes you wonder how some people come to be an actor. Epitomizing that is Nicholas Cage. He is not movie-star handsome; as Dorothy Parker was alleged to have said about Katharine Hepburn, his expression of emotions runs the gamut from A to B. (Parker said it was a joke and that she
admired Hepburn’s acting; further, some allege that the aphorism could be attributed to critic William Winter in the 19th century or to Jonathan Swift in the 18th century.) But I digress. Cage plays himself and also his alter ego in this parody of his career. One has to be a Cage connoisseur to get some of the in-jokes. Fortunately (well, not really, because they were sitting right behind me and that is enormously annoying) my screening was also a sneak preview and had laugh shills who laughed on cue when there were some personal references which most normal people would not get. Still, this is light-hearted nonsense involving the mob that some might find enjoyable. The cinematography of Dubrovnik is gorgeous. Kudos to Cage for being able to poke fun at himself.
In a world ravaged by global warming, pandemics, and natural disaster, King Lear is a man who has brought his country through turmoil, but at what cost?
THE WALLIS PRODUCTION OF
JOE MORTON AS
Family Fun Fest is June 4 at Van Ness The organization Parents at Van Ness Elementary is hosting Family Fun Fest! on Sat., June 4 from noon to 4 p.m. at Van Ness Elementary, 501 N. Van Ness Ave. All the money raised will support the school and its students. The festive afternoon will include games for kids, food, music and karaoke. Food and activities require tickets which can be purchased at the event.
written by
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE directed by
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MAY 10–JUNE 5
TheWallis.org/Lear This production was made possible by generous support from Michael and Meeghan Nemeroff / Vedder Price.
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Larchmont Chronicle
MAY 2022
SECTION ONE
Cancel the Russians, or not? Here’s ‘what to watch for’ (W2W4) “Woke” and “cancel culture” are not terms usually found in theater reviews, but these are interesting times. One of the arguments raging now is whether to “cancel” Russian art and artists as a result of Putin’s war on Ukraine. International stars such as soprano Anna Netrebko and conductor Valery Gergiev have been dismissed from prestigious posts because of their ties to Putin (Netrebko was also, ironically, displaced from a Russian opera house for belatedly lamenting the invasion; Gergiev was rewarded by being named director of both the Mariinsky and Bolshoi theaters). Prima ballerina Olga Smirnova left the Bolshoi Ballet “ashamed of Russia” as she put it (CNN, 3/16/22). Arguments go back and forth as to whether Tchaikovsky and Chekov should be banned. The Met’s Peter Gelb noted that the opera house was still going on with its production of Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin” even as it removed Netrebko and others.
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The Pacific Opera Project (POP) in Los Angeles had its own Russian issues last month when it produced the local premiere of Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta, an operatic fairy tale about a blind Russian princess (ably sung by soprano Cristina Jones, who herself is blind). Tchaikovsky worked on the opera while he was writing “The Nutcracker” and fully expected the opera to be the more successful of the two. Wrong! However, the opera was never out of favor in Soviet days, and the young Netrebko made it her calling card. The work’s final chorus, a hymn to love and truth, would not be out of place over the final credits of “War and Peace” (see: tinyurl.com/u8wrym54). The POP production featured strong young singers in addition to Ms. Jones, especially tenor Ben Werley as Iolanta’s swain and bass Andrew Potter as the king. The small orchestra and chorus were well-led by Isaac Selya. The downsides were the Hobby Lobby-level sets and costumes,
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which undercut the company’s aspirations. POP’s upcoming premiere of Brandon J. Gibson and Leslie Burrs’ I Can’t Breathe, (which tells the stories of six Black Americans whose lives were changed by interactions with police), should have better. At the El Portal, May 13, 14 and 15. El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, elportaltheatre.com. Walt Disney, safe to say, would never consider himself a champion of “the woke,” even as his company now finds itself wrestling with Florida’s legislation that is, depending on who is speaking, either pro-parent or anti LGBTQ+. Lucas Hnath’s A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney, recently presented at the Odyssey Theater, presents Uncle Walt as a bully and schemer (as well as a believer in the life-ever-after possibilities of cryogenics). For me, Mr. Hnath’s writing is, at best, clever and superficial, but I am in the minority. His “A Doll’s House, Part 2” opens at the Donmar in London (it was recently at International
City Theater in Long Beach). Last fall, his “Dana H.,” detailing his mother’s kidnapping, extended its run on Broadway. Plays such as “The Christians” (mega-churches), “Death Tax” (health care), “Hillary and Clinton” (Bill and spouse) and “Isaac’s Eye” (Newton and celebrity), are regional theater staples that claim a theatrical edginess that I’m afraid eludes me. The
Odyssey production was clean and efficient, but I left asking myself what was the point. “W2W4”: Given Larchmont Chronicle deadlines, many plays (like the Hnath “Disney” above) do not run long enough to timely review. I am starting a “W2W4” box (“what to watch for”) to give a heads-up on what might be of interest, even if it doesn’t get covered.
W2W4 May/June:
(1) Francesca Zambello’s production of Verdi’s Aida is at LA Opera, May 21 - June 12. (2) A Noise Within presents a rare revival of Mary Zimmerman’s take on Ovid’s Metamorphoses, May 14 - June 5. (3) Two of Shakespeare’s tragedies grace the boards: King Lear starring Joe Morton at the Wallis, May 10 - June 5; and Hamlet, with Ramón de Ocampo as Hamlet, at Anteus, May 15 - June 20. (4) Two Broadway musicals are also here: Tootsie at the Dolby, to May 15; and Hadestown at the Ahmanson through May 29. (5) Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf is at the Geffen through May 22, featuring Calista Flockhart and Zachary Quinto. Finally, you can make your own judgments on Russian culture when the Pasadena Playhouse presents Chekov’s Uncle Vanya (which featured prominently in “Drive My Car”), June 1-26. Ticket details are on the theaters’ websites.
On the Menu (Continued from page 16) ish red pepper, ground almond and vinegar sauce), vadouvan (a milder French version of Indian curry spice mix), sultanas (a type of dried white grape) and morita chiles (Mexican smoked and dried red jalapeños). Highly seasoned cauliflower is the new Brussels sprouts on menus and this version was very satisfying with complex layers of flavor that reminded me of the exciting seasoning combinations found on Garcia’s menus in the past. Maitake mushrooms were served fried in a tempura-
style batter with turmeric aioli for $21 and were good, if a little bland. Creamy $25 risotto with beets, crème fraîche and dill had a delicious flavor, but the rice was completely overpowered by the beets. It might as well have been a bowl of borscht. There are four protein-rich plates on the menu, including $37 striped bass, $34 half chicken and $67 lamb shank. We chose the $49 short rib with beans, bacon, cactus and chipotle. The meat was fall-off-the-bone tender, but I wish the other ingredients added more zing. asterid. 141 S. Grand Ave. 213-972-3535.
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Larchmont Chronicle
MAY 2022
19
SECTION ONE
George Epstein, 95; he was a winner at poker, and at life By Suzan Filipek I met George Epstein in 2013 when he was teaching his favorite game to a crowded room of poker players at the Claude Pepper Senior Center. He also taught engineering courses at UCLA and for NASA, and he developed military defense systems for the Air Force, Navy and Army. But on this day his poker skills were in play. His gig at the center started after he was invited to give a talk on the merits of the game at the center on La Cienega Boulevard in 2005. “I had no idea it was going to work out like this. It’s just incredible,” the then 86-yearold area resident said of his classes, which had grown to 250 members. “He’s the pioneer behind all of this,” center recreation facility director Gregory Glenn said at the time. Epstein died March 29 after battling a heart condition at the age of 95. In his final years, George “The Engineer” Epstein’s Poker for All column was a regular feature on the back page of the Larchmont Chronicle. And, at City Hall on April 5,
Approximately 100 people attended his funeral April 1 at Hillside Memorial Park, according to his daughter, Sue Epstein. Her father was a caring family man, a pioneer in the aerospace industry and an enthusiastic poker player, but most of all, she stressed, he was a humanitarian GEORGE EPSTEIN, left, in 2013 at the and a “thinker. He Claude Pepper Senior Center, with assiswas always thinking of tants Pat Box and Shirley Tye. ways to help people, to the Los Angeles City Council make the world betadjourned in his honor. ter,” she said. “In the city of Angels, Studies have shown activGeorge certainly earned his ity keeps you young, he told wings, here on Earth and be- me back in 2013. It keeps the yond,” said Councilman Paul brain’s synapses firing. He reKoretz, Fifth District. frained from playing with his “George was a loving, kind poker students, instead traveland absolutely brilliant man ling to area casinos where, he who cared so much about his told me, he tested his luck at family and the city that he Texas hold’em until 2 a.m. lived in. George read a stack “I couldn’t leave. I was winof newspapers every morning ning,” he smiled. and regularly submitted letHe started playing cards as a ters to the editor to local pub- child when he helped his dad lications …” deliver laundry in a Boston The Chronicle was among suburb. He attended Boston those that received his regular Latin School (established in letters, whose subjects ranged 1635, making it the oldest exfrom potholes on local streets isting school in the country), to city politics. the University of Massachu-
Letters
the only reference to possible paid employment would be as founder of the Midtown LA Homeless Coalition, which, according to the IRS and State of California Attorney General websites, is not listed as a nonprofit on either. I, for one, will welcome additional information and transparency related to Mr. Epstein. Toby Horn Miracle Mile North [The CD5 candidate statements were from material provided to the Chronicle by the candidates or their campaigns. –Ed.]
(Continued from page 2) “Wilshire Center-Koreatown Neighborhood Council.” Finally, as letter writer Stulberg correctly notes, the City of Los Angeles named the area bounded roughly by Olympic Boulevard, Vermont Avenue, Third Street, and Western Avenue (with a jut-out north on both sides of Western Avenue from Third Street to Rosewood Avenue) “Koreatown” in 2010, which was 12 years ago, not 50.
Transparency wanted
Forgive me if I missed information about Scott Epstein after reading the article [“Meet the CD 5 candidates,” April 2022] three times. There is no information about Scott’s education or paid professional background. Also,
Did not oppose SB 9
According to the State Legislative Information website, Sen. Hertzberg did NOT oppose SB 9 in the recent legislative session, and in fact voted to support it. (Reference: tinyurl.com/ms6zfd3e).
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The State website shows that he voted YES on SB 9 on three occasions: on 4/27/21 in the Senate Government and Finance Committee, on 5/26/21 on the Senate floor, and then in the 8/30/21 final Senate vote on the measure. While he did vocally oppose SB 50 in an earlier session, he was notably absent from taking a stand to oppose SB 9. (He did oppose SB 10.) The article [“Election 2022 race is on for Board of Supervisors, Third District,” March 2022] should be corrected and either an editorial correction published, or a contact with the candidate made to seek his clarification given the published record. Barbara Broide Coalition for a Scenic Los Angeles
setts at Amherst and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. During World War II, stationed in Virginia on a destroyer, he played cards to pass the time. As head of radar, he became a hero on the ship after he found the cause of recurrent failures. His expertise would follow him throughout his career as an aerospace engineer. He specialized in adhesives and composites — materials and structures used in rockets and spacecraft. He worked for North American Aviation, Aero-Jet General, Ford Aerospace and the Aerospace Corporation, from which he retired in 1991; he remained active as a consultant in the industry. He also worked closely with the Society for the Advancement of Materials and Process Engineering North America. In a statement, SAMPE North America CEO Zane Clark called Epstein “a giant in the composites industry.” “The story of SAMPE would not have been written without
Mr. Epstein and cannot be told without sharing his legacy.” After retirement, his second career flourished. He wrote his first book, “Poker for Winners,” and, following some wrangling at the city, started teaching. Some people think it’s gambling, he explained. He left little to chance, taking notes and sizing up his opponents’ body language. “It gives you an edge,” he explained. He won 70 percent of the time. Starting cards are key, as is the game’s algorithm; he even wrote a book about it. His third book was on the art of the bluff. After the death of his wife of 45 years, Irene, in 1996, SAMPE started a scholarship program in her honor at Fairfax High School. The scholarships were expanded to include the Girls Academic Leadership Academy (GALA) on the Los Angeles High School campus. Poker players still play at the Claude Pepper Senior Center on Fridays at 1 p.m., and until recently, Epstein was a regular.
Evelyn Wadsworth Hoffman (1930 - 2022) Evelyn W. Hoffman, formerly of Hancock Park, died peacefully on March 27, 2022. Born in Oakland, CA on October 10, 1930 to Ralph and Grace Wadsworth, she graduated from Stanford University in 1952 with a degree in International Relations. There she met her husband, Richard, whom she wed in 1952 before moving to Los Angeles. In 1977 she became the founding development director of the Aman Folk Ensemble, and in 1984, the director of corporate giving at the Music Center of Los Angeles County. In 1992 she served as the first executive director of the Library Foundation of Los Angeles until retiring in 2007. She is survived by her four children: Jennifer Essen, Craig Hoffman, Thomas Hoffman, Martha Kauffman; 7 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, please send any donations to your favorite charity in Evelyn’s name. Adv.
Michael Bosko (1966-2022)
ichael Girard Bosko, son of Mr. and Mrs. David Bosko of Lucerne Blvd., recently passed away of a massive heart attack. A native Angeleno, he was born at UCLA Hospital on August 19, 1966, grew up in Windsor Square, and then called Balboa Island, Newport Beach home. He attended Third Street School, Harvard-Westlake Lower School, and Loyola High School. He graduated from Stanford University and Harvard Law School. Following law school, Mike practiced law at O’Melveny & Myers in their Newport Beach and San Francisco offices. He taught at Whittier School of Law and
practiced independently in Newport Beach for the past 20 years, serving as special counsel for several law firms in Orange County, including Green, LLP and Smith Ellison. Mike leaves behind his parents, Carmela and David Bosko; sister Gia Bosko, brother-in-law Dan Harsell, and nephew Connor B. Harsell, of Menlo Park, CA; uncle John Sansone; aunts Maribeth Kay Bosko and Dale Bosko Blunden; and cousin Eden Manseau. Mike’s brilliant intellect, wry wit, calm compassion, and caring will be deeply missed by many friends and family. A celebration of his life will take place in late summer 2022.
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Larchmont Chronicle
