Larchmont Chronicle
VOL. 59, NO. 6
• DELIVERED TO 76,439 READERS IN HANCOCK PARK • WINDSOR SQUARE • FREMONT PLACE • MIRACLE MILE • PARK LA BREA • LARCHMONT •
JUNE 2021
On the BOulevard
IN THIS ISSUE
Summer, warm days lift spirits on Larchmont n Centennial plans underway
GRADUATION 2021
CLASS OF 2021. Area high school students mark the occasion with services and celebrations. See story in Section 3, page 4 BUCOLIC street is at a crossroads.
FORREST GUMPinspired runs?
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BETTER, WILDER tiny forests. 2-7 For Information on Advertising Rates, Please Call Pam Rudy 323-462-2241, x 11 Mailing permit:
Youth sports, schools, city are readying for openings
High school grads are excited to attend on-site classes in their chosen universities in the fall. Also, school board officials have announced that classes will re-open in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Meet our area graduates and read about school news in our special section, Graduation 2021, in Section Three. Wilshire Warriors In sports, Goldie’s Youth Sports is tentatively prepping for an opening soon at St. Brendan School gym (no date yet, though). Soccer season will kick off in September with sign-ups taking place now. See story below.
Wilshire Warriors championships will take place in mid June. “It’s been a really great season,” President Emeritus Tom Eisenhauer of Wilshire Warriors Youth Baseball tells us. See story on p 14
Councilwoman Nithya Raman announced at the La Brea Hancock Homeowners meeting that City Hall would reopen June 15 .... “We have better times ahead, and those are starting now,” Raman said. See La Brea Hancock, p 2-4
Yoga poses for a comeback n Community rallies for longtime Boulevard studio By Suzan Filipek The Center for Yoga — one of the oldest yoga studios in Los Angeles, maybe the oldest — is poised for a comeback at 230 N. Larchmont Blvd. Since the 1960s, students have lifted their arms in sun salutes and have breathed and stretched into other ancient poses in the multi-storied
Registration open for AYSO fall soccer season
Registration is now open for the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) fall soccer season for Region 78, which covers Hollywood, Larchmont and Wilshire. While the program is still in the planning stages, Kurt Muller, regional commissioner, says the season is set to begin in September. The league is open to players five to 17 years old. Health and safety protocols for the soccer program include social distancing. For more information, email ayso78registrar@ gmail.com or visit ayso78. info.
Los Angeles set to re-open June 15!
By Suzan Filipek Sunny skies and a warm breeze mean summer is on its way. The city, county and state rules allowing all of us to function more fully, starting June 15, have also lifted spirits of shoppers and diners on Larchmont Boulevard. Larchmont 100 Looking ahead to the fall, talks continue among Larchmont Boulevard Association (LBA) members who are spearheading the Boulevard’s 100th anniversary celebration for October 2021. Committees are in their early forming stages, and volunteers are being sought from throughout the community to help raise a glass to toast the Boulevard’s first century and See Larchmont 100, p 22
Left: CENTER FOR YOGA on Larchmont Boulevard.
Miracle Mile Chamber meets Councilmember Raman
n Field manager was also introduced to the group By Caroline Tracy The Greater Miracle Mile Chamber of Commerce (GMMCC) featured two special guests at its meeting in May: Council District 4 (CD4) Councilmember Nithya Raman, and her Miracle Mile Field Manager, Tabatha Yelos. The meeting took place over Zoom and allowed members to get acquainted with their new
City Council representative. The lunchtime meeting started with new member introductions and current member updates. Yelos explained her role and shared her contact information before introducing the councilmember. Raman made it clear that she was interested in working with the Miracle Mile Chamber See Mile, p 22
building with views of the street below. Many walked a few blocks from home and up the studio’s steep wooden stairs, carrying rolled yoga mats. Others drove, as the ancient practice took on a modern-day zeal. When COVID-19 hit, as did many shops and businesses on Larchmont and throughout the country, the yoga center saw its last down dog and shuttered its doors. But it’s a new day in the decades of twists and turns at the Larchmont yoga studio, See Yoga, p 22
Pets of Larchmont
Send a photo of your dog, cat, bird or other best friend, to be included in our annual Pets of Larchmont section in the July issue of the Larchmont Chronicle, to suzan@larchmontchronicle.com. For information on advertising contact Pam Rudy, 323-462-2241, ext. 11. Deadline is Mon., June 14.
www.larchmontchronicle.com ~ Entire Issue Online!
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Editorial
Calendar
By John Welborne Wall Street “housing” bills
Local residents should continue being wary of the so-called “housing” bills being proposed in Sacramento. State Senate Bills 9 and 10 are moving through the legislature. These are just the latest versions of the previously-defeated SB 827, SB 50, and SB 1120. Background: tinyurl.com/2bhxvwhh The lobbyists for Wall Street investors and for developers, builders, and brokers just keep on coming. Learn from this website created locally in Sherman Oaks — unitedneighbors. net — how you can protect your home and your block.
Soon-to-Be Commander Shannon K. Paulson
“Congratulations” are in order for LAPD Wilshire Division Commanding Officer Capt. Shannon K. Paulson, who heard last week from Police Chief Michel R. Moore that she is being promoted to Commander. Sometime this summer, she will be moving downtown to be the assistant commanding officer of the LAPD’s Counter-Terrorism & Special Operations Bureau. Since Jan. 2020, Capt. Paulson has been a progressive public safety leader in our Greater Wilshire community. She will be missed in our neighborhoods, but now the entire city will benefit from her commitment to modern policing. Her new challenge is a fitting one based on her wide career experience: tinyurl.com/a9jwzkj8
Help Us to Save Our Neighborhood In a poorly thought-out strategy to address the affordable housing shortage, members of the state legislature have proposed legislation that will allow for the subdivision of R-1 neighborhoods and the construction of multiple multi-story buildings on lots currently containing one house. SB9 and SB10 are promoted as solutions to providing affordable housing near public transit. Unfortunately, this plan will only result in more expensive, empty buildings, over-parking (on streets that have no capacity) and increased use of public utilities. Additionally, there is no requirement that developers contribute to upgrading public utilities or set aside significant numbers of units that are affordable and will remain so. SB9 and SB10 will ultimately destroy neighborhoods and incentivize the construction of unaffordable housing. The United Neighbors volunteer group has put together a video that explains what our city will look like if SB9 and SB10 are passed. You can find the video, titled ‘SB9 and SB10 Will Destroy California’s Neighborhoods,’ on our website. Take a look and then write your state representatives and our Councilmember and tell them what you think. Our current Council Field Deputy, Su Lee, will be transitioned into a new role in the council office. The council office is hiring new field managers and once someone is hired and trained, Su will move to another role. As the weather gets warmer, don’t forget to water your trees. If you need a tree in your parkway, contact the Association at hancockparkhomeownersassociation.org/ o o o If you are planning to make any changes to the streetvisible portion of your house, hardscaping and windows, check with our HPOZ Planner Suki Gershenhorn (suki.gershenhorn@lacity.org) before starting. The HPOZ Preservation Plan can be found at preservation. lacity.org/hpoz/la/hancock-park. Also a form is online at: preservation.lacity.org/hpoz/initial.screening. checklist. Report graffiti sightings by calling 311 or at the City’s Anti-Graffiti Request System: laocb.org/ programs/graffiti-abatement and by calling Hollywood Beautification, 323-463-5180.
Adv.
Wed., June 9 – Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council board meeting via Zoom. Check greaterwilshire.org to confirm and for online login. Sat., June 12 – LA River Cleanup by CD 4 Office and Friends of the LA River, with shifts from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Volunteer: tinyurl.com/ ywaaesa Mon., June 14 – Flag Day. Sun., June 20 – Summer begins. Sun., June 20 – Father’s Day. Thurs., July 1 – Delivery of the July issue of the Larchmont Chronicle.
Letters to the Editor Battle for the soul of Council District Four?
A Letter to the Editor from 30-year Windsor Square resident Jane Usher, a former president of the Windsor Square Association and also a former president of the City of Los Angeles City Planning Commission, states her concerns about proposed State Senate Bills 9 and 10 and Fourth District Councilmember Nithya Raman’s recent statement about this legislation. The letter appears on page 11 of Section 2. — Ed. CORRECTION Cuningham, a Culver Citybased architecture firm, was misidentified in last month’s article, “Art Deco-inspired mixed-use building readies for June opening,” describing the Crescent Capital Partners development, Gillis House, at 5570 Melrose Ave.
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‘How will you celebrate your graduation this year?’
That’s the question inquiring photographer Caroline Tracy asked locals along Larchmont Boulevard.
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Los Angeles, CA 90004 323-462-2241 larchmontchronicle.com
“I’ll probably have a nice dinner with family to celebrate. Also, our school is dedicating two weeks to senior activities such as senior beach day, prom and other fun activities, so I’ll probably hang out with a lot of friends before I leave for college.” Ellie Baron (right) Hancock Park and Kacey Kim (left), both seniors at Harvard Westlake
“I’m graduating from UCB (Upright Citizens Brigade – Improv and Sketch Comedy) this spring. To celebrate, I’m taking a trip to Bolivia.” Harry Galloway Windsor Square
Founded in 1963 by Jane Gilman and Dawne P. Goodwin
606 N. Larchmont Blvd., #103
“My brother is coming home for my graduation, and I haven’t seen him in 10 months. He left in August for school in Canada and hasn’t been able to return yet because of the pandemic — so that’s definitely the most exciting thing for me.”
“I am actually graduating 8th grade from Marlborough. The school is focusing more on the senior celebrations, but I’ll celebrate my middle school graduation with family and friends.” Millie Reich with her dog Bea Arthur Windsor Square
Larchmont Chronicle Publisher and Editor John H. Welborne Managing Editor Suzan Filipek Associate Editor Billy Taylor Contributing Editor Jane Gilman Staff Writers Talia Abrahamson Helene Seifer Advertising Director Pam Rudy Advertising Sales Caroline Tracy Art Director Tom Hofer Classified and Circulation Manager Rachel Olivier Accounting Jill Miyamoto
‘How will you celebrate ... ?’
“A bunch of my friends from 3rd Street are going to Astro Camp for a weekend. We usually do this as a class trip during 5th grade but we couldn’t this year because of COVID. We’ve also had a couple of fun Zooms, such as ‘5th Grade Idol’, and we got goodie bags with 3rd Street commemorative T-shirts and water bottles.” Brooklyn Coscas 3rd Street Elementary
“Our graduating class is having a picnic in the park to celebrate. We don’t know for sure what the actual graduation ceremony will be, but we are practicing and will be performing ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’ on our ukuleles.” Lili Adina Soref 3rd Street Elementary
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SMOKE DAMAGE shows on the windows of the four-story office building at 5724 W. 3rd St. at the corner of Detroit St.
ALL THAT REMAINED on the Sunday morning following the fire.
By John Welborne A fire of unknown origin broke out at a tent encampment on Third Street last Saturday night, May 29. The blaze was on the southeast corner of Detroit St. at 5724 W. Third St. The four-story office building involved is adjacent to the CVS Pharmacy on the southwest corner of La Brea Ave.,
and the building is cater-corner to the elementary and middle school Yeshiva Aharon Yaakov / Ohr Eliyahu on the northwest corner of 3d and Detroit. Due to the rapid response by City of Los Angeles firefighters, no other buildings were involved in the fire. The only apparent damage was to the tent, or tents, and the contents
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Encampment fire on 3rd St. chars wall
thereof, as well as to the exterior walls of the office building. In a timely alert from the office of Councilmember Nithya Raman, specifically an e-mail message from Deputy Chief of Staff and District Director Andrea Conant, neighbors were notified at 11:16 p.m. of the fire. Explained Conant: “[W]e are (Please turn to page 20)
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NATURAL HISTORY. SCHOOLS YOUTH SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT Movies Theater On the Menu HOME GROUND
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Real Estate Libraries, Museums Home & Garden
LARCHMONT TREES. 5 ON PRESERVATION 8 THE NIMBY DIARIES 10 REAL ESTATE SALES 12 LIBRARIES 17 MUSEUMS 17 POLICE BEAT 18 POKER FOR ALL 19 BEEZWAX 19 CLASSIFIED ADS 19
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Dinosaur Ball unveiled green sauropod, welcomed hundreds
By John Welborne This year’s Dinosaur Ball will go down in history — many millions of years of history. More than $900,000 was raised at the National History Museums of Los Angeles County (NHM) biennial event to support its online resources and education programs. The virtual event on May 15, with the theme “Opening New Doors,” welcomed 330 attendees. NHM President and Director Dr. Lori Bettison-Varga thanked museum supporters, who, she said, “were a huge
part of why we have been able to be ‘open’ even when we weren’t and why we could show up in important ways for our county and its people this past year. “Because we serve the second largest school district in the country and the largest in the state, we also play a critical role in educating diverse new generations of scientists who will ask questions from different perspectives that are bound to lead to new solutions,” Bettison-Varga continued. The 2021 Dinosaur Ball honored Jared M. Diamond, a
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“an oasis in the city”
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sPonsored By Larchmont BouLevard association
Photos courtesy of Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County
Pulitzer prize-winning author and professor of geography at UCLA. Bettison-Varga introduced a live conversation between Diamond and journalist Patt Morrison. The evening also debuted the new interactive exhibition of Gnatalie, a recently excavated green sauropod. Gnatalie, soon-to-be-the-first green dinosaur mounted in the world, will be installed in the new Judith Perlstein Welcome Center in NHMLAC Commons, slated to open in summer 2023.
GNATALIE, a recently excavated sauropod and soon to be the first green dinosaur mounted in the world, will be installed in the new Judith Perlstein Welcome Center in NHMLAC Commons, slated to open in summer 2023.
Hancock Park, LADOT collide on Fourth St.
when you visit
www.Larchmont.com
DR. LORI BETTISON-VARGA and journalist Patt Morrison at the Dinosaur Ball.
By Suzan Filipek The city’s vision for safe and bucolic crossings across neighborhood streets for cyclists and pedestrians of all ages and abilities, à la Amsterdam if you will, has hit a roadblock in Hancock Park. While getting people out of their cars is a lofty goal, it is not a realistic one in the here and now, said Cindy ChvatalKeane, president of the Hancock Park Homeowners Association (HPHOA). The homeowner group
heard from representatives of the Los Angeles Dept. of Transportation (LADOT) on their Planning for Stress-Free Connections program at a Zoom meeting May 11. Chief among homeowners’ concerns is a proposal to place bike signal lights and forced vehicle turns on Rossmore and Highland avenues at Fourth Street, which, they say, would cause hazardous back ups and road blocks for commuters and residents alike. Many of the about 50 residents in virtual attendance spoke out against the “fatally flawed” plan. “Your plan is premised on the notion that we need to place, ahead of all of those people that are riding cars on those roads, people who are riding bikes on Fourth Street
STRESS-FREE Connection is proposed on Fourth Street.
because you think it is good policy,” said Rossmore resident George Phillips. “What is the purpose … and the data of cyclists versus driv(Please turn to page 16)
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Larchmont stars in a tale of love, chaos and community in the community. Larchmont Boulevard “Larchmont was like a small town, an island in the midst of the city,” explains the author. “I felt a real connection to the neighborhood. I loved going into stores on Larchmont. It was where my mother socialized when she’d run into friends there.” Haldeman says, “I wanted to bring it to life.” The granddaughter of Goodwin J. Knight, the 31st Governor of California, who she called “Papa,” Haldeman recounts in her new book her grandfather’s great love of
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Larchmont Boulevard. A jovial man, who lived on nearby Arden Boulevard, he was often seen on the boulevard in a beige jumpsuit, doing a little jig when he saw people he knew. His attachment to the street was so strong that, when he died, his second wife, Virginia, directed the funeral procession to drive down the boulevard so the Governor could say a final goodbye. The book teems with local references: buying tennis shoes from The Larchmont Bootery, frequenting The Golden Comb Hair Salon, hanging glass bulb Christmas tree decorations from Landis Department Store and biking to the Boulevard for turkey sandwiches from Jurgensen’s. Haldeman’s memoir is peppered with memory-jogging references to Brylcreem, Slicker Frosted Lipstick and Van de Kamp’s molasses cookies. Her world was populated with people who chain-smoked Larks or unfiltered Pall Malls, drank vodka rocks or bourbon, and frequented Perino’s, Scandia or Hamburger Hamlet. As Haldeman and her sister navigate the chaos engendered by her father abandoning them, her mother’s remarriage to a man with four difficult children, and ongoing financial woes, their 4,500 square foot colonial home at 127 Fremont Place reflected the constant upheaval and neglect they felt. Rooms changed function depending upon how many stepsiblings needed sleeping
HEATHER HALDEMAN wrote a memoir of growing up in Fremont Place. Heather is at left, and her mom, Marilyn Eaton, is at right.
quarters. The pool sparkled, and the backyard was manicured when times were good, ignored when finances were tight. Rugs became threadbare. Window shades faded. The house started to reflect the stress of its inhabitants. Cousin Jonathan That included Haldeman’s cousin Jonathan Weedman, who also had a chaotic home life, and who was usually included in Eaton family events. The author remembers him as “a spoiled brat.” In a memorable Thanksgiving incident (pictured), Jonathan refused to eat the turkey, demanding a peanut butter sandwich. When Marilyn refused to accommodate him, he stormed away from the table, fine linen napkin in hand, and incinerated it in the fireplace. Haldeman emphasizes that Jonathan matured into a man who “has compassion for everything and everyone. He ran the charitable foundation for Wells Fargo for many, many years. I adore him!” She credits him with motivating her to write her story when he
brought her a memento from the Fremont home after her mother married for the third time, sold the property “as is,” and the home was torn down. “Jonathan dashed over to Fremont looking for tangible evidence of where we came from — an actual ‘thing’ that you can hold in your hand,” she explains. Amidst the rubble he rescued a piece of the balustrade from an upstairs balcony and gave it to Haldeman. She placed it on her desk (Please turn to page 21)
AT EATON FAMILY’S former home at 127 Fremont Pl., sisters April Eaton Aubery and Heather Eaton Haldeman flank cousin Jonathan Weedman.
Gia Marakas
Classically trained
Certified Pilates Instructor ©LC1020
By Helene Seifer Larchmont Boulevard, Fremont Place and the surrounding neighborhoods feature prominently in a new memoir by Heather Haldeman, “Kids & Cocktails Don’t Mix.” The mother of three grew up in Fremont Place in the 1960s and ’70s, when women dressed for their men and connived to attain what they wanted. With her indomitable mother, Marilyn Knight Eaton, her philandering lawyer father and April, Heather’s golden-haired, favored older sister, chubby “Heatherbean” sought refuge
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Rediscover La Brea Tar Pits Come see science in action outdoors and indoors in the world’s only urban Ice Age excavation site right here in the heart of L.A. New discoveries happening daily!
Buy your tickets today TARPITS.ORG Members visit for free. Join today!
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AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP runner Stan Cottrell, age 78, briefs friends and the press in May at the Pan Pacific Park Recreation Center, just prior to starting his 100-day, cross-country run to Washington D.C.
STAN COTTRELL and supporter Dan Olsen pose before one of the two RVs that are accompanying the runner as he heads east.
‘Run, Forrest, run!’ — or is it Stan and Seb?
By John Welborne What is it with Forrest Gump and running? In May, our local neighborhoods welcomed not one, but two, self-described Gump-like men who were either embarking upon, or just completing, runs across America (on foot!). I met the first on a cool morning in the parking lot of our own Pan Pacific Park Recreation Center (exterior architecture modeled after the late, lamented Pan Pacific Auditorium of the Auto Shows of my youth). Stan Cottrell had gathered with friends and sponsors for the beginning of his 100day run from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. On foot! And I should mention that he was embarking on this journey on his 78th birthday. Cottrell, a delightful Southern gentleman, was not confronting the challenges of this supreme athletic effort unknowingly. He has done things like this before. As reported on the website for this latest undertaking, Cottrell has run “across 40 different countries and has accumulated more than 250,000 miles of running in his 63-year career. That’s more than 10 times around the earth.” Learn more about him, the 2021 Amazing Friendship Run and the non(Please turn to page 21)
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STAN COTTRELL is 78 years young.
THE REAL FORREST GUMP (actor Tom Hanks, of course) ran back and forth across America in the 1994 movie from Paramount Pictures.
skin
deep by Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald When Will Smith posted a pic of his belly, (aka “COVID cushion”), with a pledge to no more midnight muffins, men across the country decided to turn the page on being in the worst shape of their lives. Whether getting shredded like the Fresh Prince or a less portly dad bod is the goal of a man in your life, this Father’s Day you can gift him with a jump-start to a leaner physique. CoolSculpting is the widely popular alternative to liposuction that freezes fat cells to the point of elimination. Our office offers several uniquely shaped applicators to target every man’s least favorite pockets of fat including the waist, belly, thighs, arms, even under his chin. Within three weeks he’ll begin to notice changes in how he looks and how his clothes fit, and the changes will continue over the next six months. As he simply maintains his typical weight, the results will endure. Now imagine offering your man the benefits of a multitude of workouts without the time, energy and sweat expenditure. CoolTone is the physical equivalent of doing 2,000 sit-ups in 30 minutes - the perfect complement to tighten and tone muscles after his CoolSculpting procedure. Here’s how it works: a paddle-like device placed on targeted zone emits magnetic energy. That energy prompts thousands of involuntary muscle contractions to strengthen muscle fibers. To maintain his new physique, we’ll recommend he come in for a maintenance session every few months. Contact our office and we can help you design the perfect Father’s Day package for your own prince.
Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald is a Board Certified Dermatologist located in Larchmont Village with a special focus on anti-aging technology. She is a member of the Botox Cosmetic National Education Faculty and is an international Training Physician for Dermik, the makers of the injectable Sculptra. She is also among a select group of physicians chosen to teach proper injection techniques for Radiesse, the volumizing filler, around the world. Dr. Fitzgerald is an assistant clinical professor at UCLA. Visit online at www.RebeccaFitzgeraldMD.com or call (323) 464-8046 to schedule an appointment. Adv.
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JVS SoCal turns 90 years, hosts virtual event
AvivaWalks! in person, virtually at Reservoir Trail Join AvivaWalks!, a community walk / run / hike, to raise funds to support services for area children, youth and families. It is the group’s first walk. Participants can join virtually all month long, or in-person on the Hollywood Reservoir Trail on Sat., June 12 from 7 to 11 a.m. Water stations will be available to fill up your own reusable water bottles, and snacks will be provided to replenish energy. Keep track of your steps and send in your results to earn a 5K medal. Tag them on #AvivaWalks@2020. Create a team or join one. Aviva provides supportive housing, crisis intervention, mental health services and foster and adoption programs. Visit aviva.org for more information.
JVS SoCal, which began as the Federated Jewish Employment Bureau in 1931 to help workers and refugees find employment, celebrates its 90th anniversary with a virtual event Thurs., June 17 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. A VIP reception begins at 5 p.m. Honorees include Ronny Bensimon, Founders Award; Adam Abramowitz, Generation Impact Award; Valeria Elizarraraz and Lovely Porter, Inspiration Awards; and Arbi John and Pacific Western Bank for the Corporate Partnership Award. The nonprofit, which now also provides career training programs, helps approximately 50,000 Southern Californians each year. For more information, visit jvs-socal.org.
325 N. Larchmont Boulevard, #158 Los Angeles, California 90004 157 N. Larchmont Boulevard
Neighborly Spirit
Project Angel Food, 922 Vine St., brought volunteers back into their kitchens last month. The program will start slowly, with three volunteers allowed per morning and afternoon shift at first. After an evaluation period, more volunteers will be added over time. Volunteers must have previously volunteered in the kitchen, go through reorientation, be fully vaccinated and follow COVID-19 guidelines such as frequent handwashing, temperature checks and distancing as required. The program, which has been suspended for more than a year due to the pandemic, had 4,700 volunteers per year pre-COVID. At the time, Project Angel Food was feeding
The Windsor Square Association established its Block Captain network as a way of keeping the neighborhood informed about issues that affect us all, and, just as important, bringing neighbors together for our common good. We’d like to share a heartwarming story of how one Block Captain went out of her way to lend a helping hand to her neighbors. Below is an excerpt (lightly edited) from a letter written to the WSA in appreciation: Hello! My name is David Baik and [my elderly parents] reside on South Arden Blvd. I want to commend Alex Marx, the block captain, for helping my parents [on a recent evening] when they locked themselves out of their house after going for a walk. After seeing my parents sitting on the stairs of the front of their house for hours in chilly weather, Alex and other neighbors kept them company and give them hot drinks. Alex also called a locksmith to open the front door so my parents could get back inside. In these trying times, it is unusual to see such a good Samaritan, but she simply said that she did her duty as a good neighbor. Mr. Baik went on to make a donation to the Windsor Square Association, in gratitude for his Block Captain’s kindness. We thank him for that and for sharing this wonderful story. We commend Alex Marx for her exemplary community spirit! We urge you to get to know your own Block Captain, who can be a valuable resource. Among other things, your captain will have contact numbers for your neighbors, as well as emergency service information, which can enhance safety for the entire block. The Block Captain network will update you on local trends, such as newly proposed zoning laws or traffic concerns. Connecting with each other makes Windsor Square an even better place to live, and the Block Captain network is committed to facilitating that. Almost every block in Windsor Square has a Block Captain, but if yours is not represented, consider volunteering. Contact us at wsinfo@windsorsquare.org if you’d like more information.
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Larchmont Sanctuary hosts Bloodmobile
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Unfortunately, we had a relatively dry winter, and by now, we all know what that means — water scarcity. The City of Los Angeles is urging residents to reduce water usage wherever possible, especially in landscapes. Some important tips: • Do not run sprinklers during hot daylight hours, as more than half of the water evaporates before it hits the ground. You pay for that water — make sure you get your money’s worth! • Check your sprinklers to make sure they aren’t wasting water by spraying the sidewalks or street, and that there are no broken heads or leaks. Don’t assume someone else (a gardener?) will monitor your sprinkler system, without specific instructions. • Keep your trees well-watered, even if you skimp on lawns and shrubs, as trees provide cool shade and benefit our entire neighborhood. And that’s neighborly, too! 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. ADV.
APPRECIATION DRIVE Co-Chairs Carlotta Keely (far left) and Mimi Techentin (second from right) led the culmination of a Children’s Chain of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles fundraising effort in May. The drive was held in honor of National Nurse Appreciation Week and included a gift of Polo shirts for the nurses of 6 West. Generous contributions came from patron supporters and a partnership with Ralph Lauren Beverly Hills, which donated a portion of sales to Children’s Chain.
Project Angel Food brings back volunteers to serve 1,000s daily
www.windsorsquare.org
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Children’s Chain honors CHLA nurses
Larchmont Sanctuary Spa, 331 N. Larchmont Blvd., will host the Red Cross Bloodmobile Tues., June 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments to give blood can be made by visiting tinyurl.com/4tt46c3z or call the Red Cross at 1 (800) 733-2767. Other local businesses that are having blood drives in May and June include Anderson Munger Family YMCA, 4301 W. Third St., the Hollywood Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd. and the Los Angeles Police Dept., Olympic Division, 1130 S. Olympic Blvd. For more information, visit redcrossblood.org.
1,500 people daily. Currently, Project Angel Food is feeding 2,300 people per day and has worked with chefs from restaurants in Los Angeles, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills to help fulfill the need. Volunteer delivery drivers are also needed. Volunteers are asked to commit to at least three times in a two-month period to use their own cars to deliver a week’s worth of meals to eight to 10 clients. Project Angel Food delivered its 14 millionth meal on Thurs., June 3 at noon with the help of founder Marianne Williamson. For more information, visit angelfood.org.
Walk and Play for Children’s Hospital
Help raise money for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles at the fifth annual 3K walk and family fun festival, from the comfort of your home, beginning Wed., June 9. After registering and creating fundraising pages, participants are given a map of the 3K walk, which they can complete at their own pace, and they also can take part in the event at the online hub. Get Up and Play sports clinics will be available before the event from Wed., June 9 to Fri., June 11 at 3 p.m. The virtual walking event begins Sat., June 12 at 9 a.m. For more information, visit walkandplayla.com.
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Monitoring the pulse of COVID-19-era sports competitions The pandemic certainly laid waste to youth sports programs. However, after going idle last year, Wilshire Warriors baseball is back — somewhat. Other sports face a more difficult return. Competitions where participants are closer than the mandated 6-foot safety zone more than half the time, have been slow to return. Vaccinations and mask protocols have semi-restored faith in a return to normalcy, though recent outbreaks like the present onslaughts in Nepal and India have resurrected ques-
Youth Sports by
Jim Kalin tions, to some people, about the future safety and necessity of anything extracurricular. Winter’s two traditional school sports, basketball and wrestling, struggled through a second pandemic-trampled season, and next year will likely contain more restrictions
and abbreviated schedules. No trickle down The 2020-21 collegiate basketball season gave hope, although the same format and protocol did not trickle down to high school and youth programs. College basketball enjoyed a complete season of cross-pollination (games played against teams outside their conferences), no masks, conference championships, and, ultimately, the NCAA Tournament. How great to see USC and UCLA progress so deep into the bracket! And that huge gust in March?
That was the collective sigh of ESPN, CBS Sports and the NCAA. In California, the CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) reconfigured the high school basketball and wrestling seasons from winter to winter / spring, with fewer competitions than usual. At the youth level, the season was even more abbreviated. The basketball teams that play at St. Brendan played only six games spread out against just three opponents. Masks were mandatory during practice and competition, and games were played outside. Spectators were permitted but had to maintain distance from one another. The oldest sport Wrestling faces bigger challenges for a return to prepandemic velocity. For competitors, masks are an impossibility, and no sport demands more invasion of personal space. College wrestling and basketball did not share the same freedoms. College wrestling was able to navigate through a shortened season. Teams could only wrestle in-conference at dual meets, though many were cancelled due to competitors testing positive for COVID-19. But college wrestling did succeed in completing its national tournament, and the three-day event was broadcast live on ESPN. California colleges that produced 2021 All Americans included Fresno State, Cal Poly, and Stanford. High schools California high school wrestling took a giant hit this season. Last year’s California state tournament occurred in
late February 2020, just prior to the shutdown. Lucky. States that scheduled their high school championships in March were unable to finish the season or crown individual champions. For the first time since 1973, when the CIF began conducting a state wrestling tournament, California high school wrestlers will not be able to compete for individual titles. “I was informed by my CIF Southern Section advisory board back on April 12 that there would be no individual postseason advancement,” said Beverly Hills High head wrestling coach Ryan Faintich. “That means no CIF, Masters, or state wrestling tournament.” Due to California COVID-19 Public Health Guidance preventing more than one contest per day, and restrictions on multi-team events (only two teams can compete), the CIF cancelled plans for an individual state tournament and will focus on the Team Duals instead. “The playoffs will be spread out over two weeks, with matches taking place at designated home team locations,” explained Faintich. Beverly Hills faces quite a challenge. Due to COVID-19 and other factors, they don’t have a full lineup at the varsity level. Students like team captains Reef Travish and Garrett Volk have experienced a senior year very unlike what they had expected. “Suffice it to say, it will be difficult to improve upon our team’s historic runner-up finish at CIF Duals last year,” said Coach Faintich.
Fall Soccer Returns... Let the GAMES begin!
2021 Fall Soccer Season Registration Opens June 1st (Season Starts in September)
AYSO Region 78 Hollywood-Wilshire...a soccer tradition in LARCHMONT & our neighboring communities since 1976! Register NOW for our 2021 Fall Season...OPEN to all players ages 4-18. We expect a FULL season so please consider volunteering!
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BEVERLY HILLS HIGH senior captains Reef Travish (left) and Garrett Volk.
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Larchmont Village
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Wilshire Warriors head into championship games
month. The Warriors hope to send teams back to Coopertown, next year, however. More than 500 kids between the ages of five and 14 participated this season. Games and practices have been taking place at Pan Pacific Park “thanks to outstanding support from City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks staff,” says president emeritus, Wilshire Warriors, Tom Eisenhauer. The 2021-22 club baseball season, which has a limited number of teams and runs September to August, will hold tryouts in August. The 2022 spring recreational season — which runs March to June — will likely open registration at the beginning of December. For more information, visit wilshirewarriors.com.
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THE 12U WILSHIRE WARRIORS travel team will play in the Nationals this month. Pictured from left to right starting in the back row are Jake Beattie, Gabriel Hart, Holden Scher, Benett Pace, Alex Choi, Jack O’Brien and Coach Roberto Johnson. In the front row are Ethan Juarez, Judah Feldman, Jack Schechter, Henry Fousekis and Chase Rudoy. Not pictured is Matthew Sanchez.
Octavia Butler’s life celebrated at Library
Celebrate the life of Octavia Butler at a series of virtual events hosted by the Los Angeles Public Library and The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens. Born in Pasadena, Butler was a science fiction author, who in her 30-year career wrote 12 books and one collection of short stories. The joint celebration will highlight Butler’s work, legacy and community. All events, which start June 5 and run throughout the month, are free and open to the public. Registration is required. Events include a virtual book club chat, Sat., June 5, from 4 to 5 p.m., on Butler’s “Parable of the Sower” book. Join Albert “Joey” Jefferson virtually from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory on Sat., June 12, from 2 to 3 p.m., to learn about a mountain on Pluto’s largest moon named
for Butler. Take a tour (virtually) of the “Octavia Lab” at the Central Library Fri., June 18, from 4 to 5 p.m., and become inspired by the projects and equipment available in that studio space. Join writer Sabine Maxine for a “make a zine” Juneteenth session on Sat., June 19, from 4 to 5 p.m. Author Lynell George will host a virtual conversation on Fri., June 25,
from 4 to 5 p.m., on her own new book “A Handful of Earth, A Handful of Sky: The World of Octavia E. Butler.” Finally, you may meet the adaptation team for the “Parable of the Sower” graphic novel, John Jennings and Damian Duffy, as they explain on Sat., June 26 from 4 to 5 p.m. how a graphic novel is made. For more information, visit lapl.org/labs/celebration.
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After a year off in 2020, the Wilshire Warriors started up their 2021 recreational baseball league back in March. With the spring season winding down, the league heads into its championship games Sat., June 12 for playoffs for age divisions 9U, 10U and 11/12U. Divisions 8U and younger will have their final games Sun., June 13. While the Warriors will not be going to Cooperstown, N.Y. this year, as they do most years, following the local championship games, the 12U travel team will go to the Youth Baseball Nationals in Lake Tahoe. The Warriors, which are part of the SoCal North Zone of PONY centered at Camarillo, will also send some teams to participate in the PONY AllStars tournament later this
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Students stayed home in the spring, but there’s hope for the fall
By Billy Taylor the idea, noting that about Classrooms (mostly) opened, three-quarters of its members but the students stayed away. were against such an extension, That’s the dismal reality facing Melvoin is hopeful that more many local schools, according families take advantage of the to the “Los Angeles Times,” LAUSD summer learning prowhich found grams. last month “We should have some In fact, the that only sevLAUSD this semblance of normalcy by en percent of summer is fall,” said LAUSD District high school providing all Four Board Member, students and current stuand local resident, Nick about 30 dents with percent of Melvoin. “To me, that in-person and e l e m e n t a r y means a full day of class.” online sumschool chilmer learning dren had returned to a Los opportunities that combine acaAngeles Unified School Dis- demic instruction with virtual trict (LAUSD) campus. activities. Visit achieve.lausd. LAUSD Superintendent net/summer2021 to learn more. Austin Beutner addressed the “We should have some semissue in a May 4 statement, blance of normalcy by fall,” saying: “While we have worked said Melvoin. “To me, that tirelessly to reopen schools, means a full day of class.” many students are not yet To read more from Melvoin, back in school classrooms.” find his guest column in this Looking forward, Buetner month’s special Graduation said that come August, and section. the start of a new school year, things “should be different.” LAUSD board member To learn more, the Chronicle met virtually over Zoom with LAUSD District Four Board Member, and local resident, Nick Melvoin last month to discuss this issue and more. Why aren’t more kids in the classroom? “It’s a good question,” says Melvoin. “I’m disappointed in that more kids should be back in school,” he continued. “But I know that there is still fear out there, and I know that there’s been a lot of talk about how dangerous schools can be during a pandemic.” Melvoin says that he and his fellow LAUSD board members are working to change that perception by sponsoring programs that bring parents and students back to campus: “We are trying to use the infrastructure to get parents back on campus, and to be comfortable to be there.” The LAUSD has put into place a high standard of pandemic safety practices that include upgraded air-filtration systems, extra custodial staff to clean and sanitize schools, adequate supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as a comprehensive system of COVID-19 testing and vaccinations at schools, Melvoin explained. While suggestions to extend the school year were axed after the teacher’s union (United Teachers Los Angeles) opposed
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LADOT
(Continued from page 4)
FOURTH STREET, here at Rossmore Avenue, already is stress free, residents told Department of Transportation officials.
BIKE TURN SIGNALS AND RESTRICTED TURNS were installed at La Brea and Rosewood, a commercial corridor, above.
Institute at San Jose State University. In it, a survey of 800 people found 71 percent
said Severin Martinez, StressFree Connections Project Manager, LADOT. The City of Los Angeles conducted its own surveys of dozens of streets, including 10 “challenging” intersections, three of which are in the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council: St. Andrews Place and Beverly Blvd.; Highland Ave. and Fourth St. and Rossmore Ave. and Fourth St. At the Zoom meeting, Chvatal-Keane questioned the data collected, which she said was from anonymous cyclists who responded to signs posted on neighborhood streets and from bicycle lobbyist groups. “People who live here are not being considered. … You are creating a problem by saying there is stress, and you then are creating a solution for a problem that does not exist,” said Chvatal-Keane. She called for the grant’s allocated funds to be spent to improve the Fourth Street Greenway to benefit all who use the street, such as to paint crosswalks and synchronize the neighborhood’s existing six traffic lights. “We do not believe it is fair to focus on only a small category of users — those who ride bikes.” An HPHOA survey found 400 residents in support versus four opposed to the homeowner’s association-suggested improvements, compared to the ideas being floated by the bicycle lobbyists and the city, i.e. new bike signals. Members of HPHOA questioned the wisdom of impeding car traffic under the StressFree program, which is a part of the city’s Mobility Plan 2035, when many residents already have trouble backing out of their driveways. “What we’re concerned with is when you put a light between
strongly agreed they would like to bike if the journey were safe, pleasant and convenient,
two existing lights you’re going to get back ups,” said Highland Ave. resident Clif Lord. “This isn’t Amsterdam … ” The city’s “green mobility is going to be electric vehicles … this is pie in the sky,” and dangerous, he added, also saying that restricted turns will cause drivers to wiggle down residential streets. Traffic study Attendees asked for a comprehensive traffic study and questioned why Third and Sixth streets were not being studied, which are dangerous, unlike Fourth St. (The portion of Fourth being discussed runs westward 3.5 miles from Hoover Street through Hancock Park to Cochran Ave. at Park La Brea.) According to city reports between 2010 and 2018 (the last year to release findings), while there were no reported fatalities anywhere on Fourth St., there were three on Highland — at Third St., Beverly Blvd. and just south of Melrose Ave. Two more fatalities took place on Beverly Blvd. at S. Hudson Ave. and at Beverly and Rossmore. (See tinyurl.com/ fe873vwc, click Memorial Map.) Another LADOT program, Vision Zero, specifically targets safety conditions, city officials say. The Stress-Free Connections project is charged with reducing cars on the roads, explained Rubina Ghazarian, Stress-Free Connections Project Manager. Enforcing existing speed limits and stop sign laws would be a better first step, meeting attendees argued. “I use Fourth St. all the time, and I don’t have stress crossing the street,” said George Phillips. “When 80 to 90 percent of the neighborhood oppose, you need to listen to this,” said (Please turn to page 17)
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ers?” asked resident Jon Vein. “We all want people to get out of their cars. But if it’s to go shopping it’s not going to happen …” A state grant-funded LADOT study queried cyclists and those on foot who were heading to work, to shop and do other activities in the densely populated area of two million residents, said city Supervising Transportation Planner David Somer. The city’s program follows findings of a study from the 2012 Mineta Transportation
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Angelini’s culinary empire turns 20 in his adopted City of Angels
By John Welborne This year marks the 20th anniversary of Gino Angelini bringing his fine Italian food to our neighborhood. His Angelini Osteria at 7313 Beverly Blvd. is one of the city’s most popular restaurants. Gino Angelini developed his love of food as a child growing up in San Clemente, a small town in the Emilia Romagna region of northern Italy famous for its rich gastronomic tradition. He spent his days cooking with his mother and grandmother, savoring their simple, country meals, deciding to devote his life to food at the age of 14. Gino became the youngest chef in the region’s top hotels and restaurants, where his notoriety continued to rise. He co-founded a popular Italian gourmet magazine, served as president of the Association of Chefs Romagnoli and was appointed the Italian Vice Commissioner of EuroToques International, an organization committed to safeguarding and promoting qual-
LADOT
(Continued from page 16) Alfredo Diaz. “I am flabbergasted that you are not fixing the roads. That’s a great first step. How about fixing the sidewalks, or curb cuts for wheelchairs?” asked Windsor Square resident Jane Usher, a longtime walker in the neighborhood. June Street resident Ira Smedra said, “I have been pleading for years for an overall traffic study of Hancock Park… We have to go out two to three miles to see effects and come up with mitigation.” “We need to see your data. Who’s coming up with these data that says this is a good idea? Because we don’t think it’s a good idea, and we live here. …” said Chvatal-Keane. Ghazarian responded that data collected did not count numbers of cyclists or pedestrians at street corners but rather looked at flows to reach the city’s goal to increase cycling, walking and other non single-occupancy vehicle modes, “because we need to.” “No street treatments of projects have been proposed to date as the program is still in its initial phase,” another LADOT spokesman said. But Chvatal said that the city has presented similar proposals since 2011, also without consulting the residents who will be most impacted. The city’s final draft of its study is expected to be released in the fall. For more information on the Mobility Plan and safe streets, visit stressfreeconnections@lacity.org
ANGELINI OSTERIA and Angelini Alimentari are side-by-side on Beverly Boulevard.
CHEF GINO ANGELINI and his wife and partner Elizabeth.
ity and authentic food within the European network. Gino came to Los Angeles in 1995, and was chef at Mauro Vincenti’s legendary Downtown eatery, Rex Il Ristorante, in Wayne Ratkovich’s Oviatt Building. (The beautiful space is now the Cicada
Club restaurant.) Gino later went west to Vincenti Ristorante in Brentwood. In October 2001, he and his wife, Elizabeth, opened Angelini Osteria on Beverly Boulevard. Over the years, Angelini Osteria has developed a reputation for unassuming and authentic dishes served in an intimate setting. The Osteria has blazed the trail for many Italian dishes in Los Angeles, including its
linguine sea urchin and spaghetti Norcina (with truffles). Since opening Angelini Osteria, the Angelinis have grown their expanding culinary portfolio into the Angelini Restaurant Group with properties that include the adjacent Angelini Alimentari, Angelini Catering, and Gino Angelini Authentic Italian Artisanal Sauces. During the recent pandemic restrictions, Angelini Osteria
has taken full advantage of wide sidewalks and an interior courtyard to provide extremely popular outdoor dining. Gino continues to spend time in Italy, where he participates in culinary exhibitions and teaches master classes at notable institutions such as Casa Artusi, the very first center of gastronomic culture to be established and devoted entirely to Italian home cookery. Learn more at angelinierestaurantgroup.com.
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Mysteries: Canary Islands, Woody in New York, opiates, Nazis’ Axis Sally Hierro (9/10): Eight onehour episodes in the first season. NR. This is another gem on MHz Choice, the streaming service specializing in foreign films/series. It’s a murder mystery set on the Canary Island called Hierro where it was filmed. Candela (Candela Peña) is a magistrate (judge) sent to the small community where everyone knows everyone else, to discover who murdered a potential bridegroom on his wedding day. Everyone thinks that Diaz (Darlo Grandinetti), the father of the bride to be, Pilar (an astonishingly beautiful Kimberley Tell; just looking at her alone makes it worthwhile), is the murderer. And Diaz has a shady reputation, including a prior stint in jail for murder. It is lovingly filmed by cinematographer José Luis Bernal who showcases the beauty of Hierro time and again with picturesque locations. But it’s not just a murder mystery; it’s also a story of relationships and people. The characters are complex, and the acting is uniformly superb. It captivated me. Spanish. MHz Choice. Hacks (9/10): Ten episodes. TV-MA. Jean Smart stars as a standup comedi-
enne on the downside of her career, aided by her reluctant novice aide Hannah Einbinder in this sharp critique of the industry. Both give sparkling performances with fine direction from sharp scripts. A winner. HBO. The Crime of the Century (8/10): Two-part documentary. TV-MA. This is a scathing attack on the pharmaceutical industry in general and two miscreants Purdue Pharma Research & Development and Insys Therapeutics specifically. Living with pain must be horrible. People will do virtually anything to get rid of, or reduce, the pain. That makes them easy victims for sociopathic pharmaceutical entrepreneurs who manufacture synthetic opiates like the Sackler family of Purdue, who made and promoted Oxycontin, and John Kapoor of Insys, who made Subsys, a sublingual liquid form of the massively addictive drug fentanyl, and this film goes after both with a vengeance, although Kapoor gets most of the attention, probably because the Sacklers were wise enough to successfully avoid damaging videos. There is a lot to this documentary and it’s well worth seeing. It will make you wary, however,
At the Movies with
Tony Medley of believing everything doctors prescribe and the government tells you. HBO. Allen v. Farrow (7/10): Four episodes. TV-MA. Ah, advertised as an HBO documentary television miniseries directed by Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering that explores an allegation of sexual abuse made against Woody Allen in 1992, it is so one-sided that it turns out to be more of a propaganda piece than a “documentary.” If watched in a vacuum, it is a damning indictment of Woody Allen, but it only tells one side of the tale. Mia Farrow tells her story, and it is backed up by Daughter Dylan mouthing allegations, actions allegedly performed by Woody. After watching all four episodes, one comes away with the idea of guilt beyond a shadow of a doubt. However, after watching the series and being relatively convinced that Woody was a bad guy, I read Woody’s autobiography, “Apropos of Nothing,”
published in 2020. Woody was not interviewed by Dick and Ziering, nor was anybody presented who told Woody’s side of the case in HBO’s doc. In his book, however, he presents his defense in detail, and it is compelling. Without going through all the allegations in Allen v. Farrow, the most damning part about Allen is daughter Dylan’s personal testimony of what happened. In Allen’s book, he presents evidence that Dylan’s testimony is false. Allen claims, and he is backed up by his son Moses, that Dylan was coached by Mia strenuously to go over the false story time and again, one time when she was stark naked, until she got it to Mia’s satisfaction. He also presents evidence, validated by two of Mia’s children, that Mia was a terrible “Mommy Dearest”type (Christina Crawford’s 1978 exposé of her mother Joan Crawford) mother, and that she abused and neglected her adopted children, especially Soon Yi, who became Woody’s wife. Woody was also exonerated by a trial and a psychological report by Yale University. Woody’s marriage to Soon Yi has been enormously controversial. But he explains it in a
rational, understandable manner that makes perfect sense. And, as an aside, although Woody does not mention this, Charlie Chaplin was 54 years old when he married Eugene O’Neill’s daughter, Oona, when she was only 18 (breaking JD Salinger’s heart in the process). They had a long and successful marriage that produced eight children, living in Switzerland after Chaplin was banned from the United States. Woody and Soon Yi have been married for 24 years without a hint of trouble. It is hard to give this miniseries a rating because I believe it is propaganda. But it is interesting. Frankly, I am astonished that HBO would present such a stunning, one-sided piece of agitprop, if you will, without some sort of warning. It is almost as if HBO is a coconspirator against Woody. However, my recommendation is to also read Woody’s autobiography, which is wellwritten and highly readable aside from the part about Mia Farrow, and make up your own mind. HBO. American Traitor: The Trial of Axis Sally (5/10): 108 minutes. R. Mildred Gillars (Meadow Williams) was (Please turn to page 19)
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Theaters re-open … at the end of the 1919 Spanish flu pandemic!
“It was like you flipped a switch. Businesses and theaters opened up again.” So said a North Carolina patron in 1919, at the end of the “Spanish” flu pandemic (“Theatre and the Last Pandemic,” American Theatre Magazine, 3/24/20). “It was like you flipped a switch. Businesses and theaters opened up again.” Sound familiar? “Hamilton,” “Wicked” and “The Lion King” will all be back on Broadway in September, closely followed by other staples such as “Moulin Rouge,” “Come From Away” and Disney’s “Aladdin.” The “New York Times” and “New York Post” have, for once, been in sync exhorting New Yorkers to go and buy theater tickets and not wait for tourists to save Gotham (the top ticket to “Hamilton” is now only $549 instead of $847!). Producers and Actors Equity are negotiating staggered curtain times and issues of masks, vaccinations and ventilation, as well as the possibility of doing fewer than eight shows a week if demand is soft. During the 1918-19 pandemic, the New York theaters did not shut down, even though theaters elsewhere across the country did, to nation-wide losses that equaled $8-10 mil-
lion in today’s dollars. NYC Health Commissioner Royal S. Copeland determined that by staggering opening times (he did this across all industries) and “eliminating the sneezers and coughers,” forcibly if need be, from public spaces, he could “prevent panic” and maintain the City’s mental as well as physical well being. About 20,000 New Yorkers died under Coleman’s plan (just over 33,000 NYC residents have died from Covid-19), but it is difficult to say if there would have been fewer deaths with a “lockdown.” New York was definitely the outlier in its response to the 1918-19 pandemic. 1919 saw such stars as Harry Houdini and W.C. Fields on Broadway, as well as musical extravaganzas such as the Ziegfeld “Follies.” But the post-War, post-influenza American theater also saw the
by
Louis Fantasia start of a new American drama. In 1920 Eugene O’Neil won the Pulitzer Prize for “Beyond the Horizon,” followed a year later by his “Emperor Jones.” American dream stuff O’Neill had started his playwriting efforts in Provincetown in 1915, then moved to Greenwich Village, where the socialist / communist critique of “this American Dream stuff,” as an O’Neill character says, was supported by friends such as John Reed (“Ten Days that Shook the World”) and Catholic Worker founder Dorothy Day. (See Warren Beatty’s 1981 film “Reds” for a look at
plays of Ibsen and Chekov in America, and helping to establish the American repertory system. 1919 also saw runaway inflation, followed by the depression of 1920-21, as prices and unemployment “self-corrected” (via “laissez-faire” government economic policies) to the twin shocks of the flu and returning WWI vets. The short but painful depression was followed by a roaring decade of growth and good times, encouraged by the same “laissez-faire” economics of subsequent administrations, until the other shoe dropped in 1929. Then somebody “flipped a switch” again — only this time in the opposite direction — and the failure of this “American Dream stuff” that O’Neill and others had criticized became all too clear. The rest is history… hopefully not to be repeated.
SUMMER IS HERE AND LIVE MUSIC IS BACK!
SUMMER SOUNDS
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Movies
(Continued from page 18) a woman who was trapped in Nazi Germany after Pearl Harbor and also didn’t want to leave because her fiancé, John Kelly (Mitch Pileggi), an American who became a naturalized German citizen, said he would not marry if she returned to the States. According to this film, she had been broadcasting some propaganda for Reich Minister of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels (Thomas Kretschmann), and she was faced with a life-ordeath choice: continue, or suffer the consequences (death or concentration camp). The film also posits that Kelly got her the job with Goebbels and that Goebbels wrote all her scripts and abused her. It also shows that Kelly was around all the time. Alas, ’tain’t so, McGee. As near as I can determine, Goebbels wasn’t involved that much. Max Otto Koischwitz (Carston Norgaard), who was program director, wrote all her scripts. Also, her boyfriend, actually named Paul Karlson, was sent to the war front, and he died before she became Axis Sally. The film is interesting, but it is diminished by its unreliability and apparently undeserved sympathetic treatment for a woman who was ostensibly much more cooperative with the Nazis than shown here.
Theater Review
the era. Jack Nicholson plays O’Neill.) Joining O’Neill on the Great White Way was such thoughtful fare as Booth Tarkington’s “Clarence” (“the finest light comedy written by an American,” said one reviewer), Shalom Aleichem’s “It’s Hard to be a Jew” (the basis for “Fiddler on the Roof”), John Galsworthy’s “The Skin Game” (a proto Downton Abbey critique of the failure of the aristocracy after WWI, best known for its line, “Who knows where things end once they begin?”), and Molnar’s “Liliom,” the basis for the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, “Carousel.” “Liliom” had failed in London, but its star, Eva Le Gallienne (1899-1991) was convinced of the play’s strengths. Miss Le Gallienne (as she was referred to even in my graduate school days), was a major theatrical figure, as both actress and translator, popularizing the
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Rooftop pop-up and food truck make great dining options One of my favorite restaurants before the pandemic hit was Broken Spanish, a soulful, modern Mexican place downtown. Unfortunately, it became one of COVID-19’s many casualties’ and I mourned the loss of chef Ray Garcia’s lamb tamales and his signature chicharron, a south-of-the-border pork belly dish similar to porchetta. Lucky for us, we have one more chance to experience chef Garcia’s innovative cooking at a pop-up on the roof at NeueHouse in Hollywood, currently scheduled to remain open through July 31.
Hard to imagine feeling any safer than on a breezy roof with distanced tables. Rugs are scattered about to add charm, leafy greenery abounds, and string lights and candles add a festive garden atmosphere. A soaring clear rain-proof covering and curtains are ready to protect in case of inclement weather. Relaxed with mezcal cocktails in hand, we surveyed the short menu, which includes some of Chef Garcia’s greatest hits, including the deeply flavored, crispy, fatty-in-all-the-rightways chicharron and popular duck meatballs with nopales
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Helene Seifer (cactus paddles) and bacon, $45 and $18, respectively. The $23 aguachile was a spectacular dish, both a visual and flavor treat. Slivered rounds of diver scallops floated in a green lime and chile-infused water bath, topped with avocado, Peruvian pichuberries, sour prickly pear pieces and crunchy, delicious sprigs of ice plant. If I could eat this every day, I’d die happy. Another favorite dish was the vegetarian tamale. The large $17 steamed masa was decorated with coins of serrano chiles and fennel fronds. It sat atop a pumpkin seed sauce and was stuffed with honeynut squash, fennel, mild poblano peppers and pumpkin seeds. Slightly sweet and rich, this was the best meatless tamale I’ve had. My husband’s favorite plate featured meaty roasted oyster mushrooms, $19, with a chile-nut salsa, cactus salad and flour tortillas for a buildit-yourself experience. This is apparently one of the most ordered items on the menu, and it’s easy to see the appeal of chewy, garlic-tinged fungus. I love black cod in all its iterations, from miso cod to butter and vinegar braised versions. Here, the $33 delicate, silky fish was roasted in achiote paste (a
spice mix that includes cumin, annatto seeds and cloves) and served with black beans, a pool of dark charred chile mole and garnished with pickled red onions, avocado cubes and some spring greens. For a sweet finish we opted for the $12 deconstructed Pavlova. A ball of meringue sat in a moat of lemon curd, topped with artistic splashes of passion fruit pearls and candied lemon peel and kumquat halves. Break the meringue with a spoon and crème Anglaise oozes out to finish the dish. A sophisticated ending to a beautiful evening. Broken Spanish at NeueHouse, 6121 Sunset Blvd. 323-337-1420. Myriad food experiences in Los Angeles offer unexpected delights, from classy to déclassé, and the latter is where we chose to spend my birthday lunch. On a nondescript block in East Los Angeles, we gorged curbside on Mexican fare from acclaimed seafood food truck Mariscos Jalisco. Patrons place their orders
at the white truck’s window and then claim a spot on a neighboring low wall. Be forewarned: everything is served on flimsy paper plates and your lap is your table, so don’t come here in your finest attire! Lauded for their shrimp tacos, we ordered two each, $2.50 apiece. Fried taco shells are loaded with minced shrimp and smothered in avocado slices and salsa, with hot sauce on the side. Juicy, drippy, crunchy, a perfect treat. We loved the Poseidon plate, a cold array of spicy mixed seafood, mainly shrimp and octopus, $8. To balance the heat we ordered the mild “mixta,” a tostada topped with a mixed seafood ceviche, chopped onion and cilantro, $7. We added hot sauce to perk this one up. I can’t think of a more quintessentially L.A. birthday celebration than munching happily, on the cheap, chins covered in lime juice and dripping chile-red hot sauce. Mariscos Jalisco food truck, 3040 E. Olympic Blvd, 323528-6701.
TENTS up against the office building and along Third Street’s southern sidewalk — two blocks east of LAFD Fire Station 61.
Fire
(Continued from page 3) aware there was an encampment fire this evening at 3rd and Detroit Street. I visited the site personally to assess the situation first-hand. LAFD Station 29 [in Windsor Square] ended up taking the call since Station 61 was out on another incident.” In response to the Council Office’s immediate request to LA Sanitation, a crew was at the site cleaning up mid-day
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Larchmont Chronicle
Haldeman
(Continued from page 6) in the Pasadena home where she lives with her husband Harry “Hank” Haldeman, also originally from the neighborhood. Hank and his siblings grew up on Muirfield Road in Hancock Park, just two blocks
JUNE 2021
north of Fremont Place. Hank’s family was the opposite of Heather’s, she notes. They were “shockingly normal” and nonjudgmental. This in spite of the fact that her father-inlaw H. R. (Bob) Haldeman was convicted for his involvement in the Watergate scandal when serving as President Nixon’s
RUNNER SEB CAM, from England, and his utility belt in San Francisco prior to ending his cross-country run in Los Angeles in May.
Runners
(Continued from page 8) profit organization that Cottrell founded in 1983 to use runs like these to build international friendships: facebook. com/AmazingFriendshipRun Yet another runner Certainly warranting comparison to the 78-year-old runner who is heading east to Washington, D.C. is 39-yearold Seb Cam, who arrived in Los Angeles in mid-May — after running west across the United States from Miami to Hollywood, basically all alone, for about 600 days. Cam describes himself as an “ultra-running fruitarian athlete.” He is notable for the clear contrast he presents to 78-year-old Cottrell’s entourage that includes two RVs and medical and other support staff. Cam has only a utility belt that carries everything he says he needs! What a difference 40 years can make! Cam left his native England in 2019, arriving in Miami. He has been running ever since, and he says his goal is to run around the world. After enjoying his U.S. visa a bit more by staying with friends in Los Angeles, Cam says his next target may be “Down Under” — possibly Australia or New Zealand. Whether he succeeds in his ‘round-the-world quest will be interesting to learn, but I can attest that he is a very interesting conversationalist. Cam also has managed to generate sufficient publicity, together with the unexpected kindness of strangers, to support him in his quest. He also provides frequent updates about his activities on YouTube channel youtube.com/SebCam. So ... “Run, Stan, Run!” And “Run, Seb, Run!”
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chief of staff. The balustrade that cousin Jonathan recovered inspired an essay, which she later ex-
panded into this memoir. Copies of the book “Kids & Cocktails Don’t Mix” are available through Chevalier’s
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Books on Larchmont, and can be ordered at chevaliersbooks. com, and on BarnesandNoble. com and Amazon.com.
THANKSGIVING DINNER at the Eatons’ Fremont Place home circa 1968, clockwise from left, Marilyn Eaton, April Eaton, Jonathan Weedman, Virginia Knight, Bob Eaton, Carolyn Weedman, Heather Eaton, former California governor Goodwin J. Knight. Photos courtesy of Heather Haldeman
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Larchmont 100 (Continued from page 1)
kick off its next one. In addition to the Sept. 30 publication of the October issue of the Larchmont Chronicle, including a special 100th Anniversary Souvenir Collector’s Edition with a history of the Boulevard from its founding in 1921, tentative dates being discussed for the main events focus on Saturday, Oct. 23 and Sunday, Oct. 24. Under discussion is inviting neighbors from around the community to gather at a Larchmont 100 “Saturday Evening Open House and Street Party” on Oct. 23. It will be a time to greet friends and neighbors — in person — while enjoying Larchmont’s official Centennial Ceremony followed by mingling on the Boulevard with music and beverages. The plan is that
Mile
(Continued from page 1) and getting to know members, perhaps by walking the district on Wilshire and engaging business owners in person. During the Q&A portion, concerns arose about a rumored homeless shelter site on a city public parking lot across from Cathedral Chapel School on
SINCE 1966 (except 2020 because of COVID-19) the annual Larchmont Family Fair has been a neighborhood mainstay.
many Larchmont retailer windows will be decorated to celebrate the Centennial, and restaurants and other eateries will be open for dinner. For information on participating on the Street Party Honorary Committee, contact Daryl Trainor Twerdahl at 323-6971438 prior to July 15. The concept being discussed
for Sunday, Oct. 24 is for neighborhood families to visit the Boulevard the day following the Street Party, between noon and 5:30 p.m., for the annual (except 2020!) Larchmont Family Fair. The traditional family event will include nonprofit organization booths plus rides and other attractions, food for purchase, a
S. Cochran. Raman explained that no such project had been approved yet, but promised to look into the matter and work together with any business affected by future site locations. “The Greater Miracle Mile Chamber of Commerce was delighted to finally meet our Council District 4 representative, Nithya Raman,”
said Meg McComb, executive director, GMMCC. “We all appreciated her focus in hearing what our community’s concerns are. Her enthusiasm was engaging — she hopes to do a ‘Saturday Walk’ of our area to meet the businesses in person and was especially excited about the next Fire Station Pancake Breakfast. So are we!”
Wayne Alan Thomas January 21, 1938 – April 28, 2021 Wayne Alan Thomas was born in Santa Monica, CA to Keith N. and Betty Thomas, and lived in Los Angeles his entire life. He graduated from Dorsey High School, Occidental College, and USC graduate school with honors. After serving as Captain in the Air Force, Wayne began his own business, QC Corporation, developing packaging products and commercial design. Other business endeavors included QC International, co-owner of Kona Properties, HI and Hidden River Ranch, Jolon, CA. Wayne was invited to guest lecture on consumer product marketing, and taught university courses in packaging engineering and graphics. He was active in Boy Scouts of America, Director of Los Angeles Easter Seal Society, a board member of the Wilshire YMCA, and a Past Master of Golden Gavel Lodge, formerly Larchmont Lodge, F&AM. Wayne was honored to be a Larchmont Man of the Year and designed the logo for the Windsor Square-Hancock Park Historical Society. Wayne was president of the Jonathan Club from 1994-1995. One night in 1965 at the Jonathan Club Wayne met Donald, Marilyn, and Virginia McLarnan (in that order), which was the beginning of Wayne and Marilyn’s 55-year adventure. After their marriage in 1966, Marilyn and Wayne moved to their forever home in Windsor Square, around the corner from the McLarnan home, to begin their family.
Soon, with five kids in tow, they were off RVing to National Parks, Mexico, and the Hidden River Ranch. Later travels to Europe, South America and Hawaii brought more memories. In retirement, Wayne and Marilyn toured France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and New Zealand in Wayne’s 1912 Model T Ford and 1932 Model A Ford Deluxe Roadster. Wayne was kind, generous, calm, patient, smart, always a gentleman, strong and tough, he never gave up in his long fight against Parkinson’s. He is loved and missed by his devoted wife, Marilyn and his children and grandchildren: Lisa and Ronan Vance, Ginger, Nathan, Violet; Glen and Jeannette Thomas, Grace, Gavin; Lora and Keith Luczywo, Penelope, Maceo; Lynda and Peter Benoit, Thomas, Jane; and Kyle Thomas; and by his brother Keith and wife Anita Thomas. A celebration of Wayne’s life will take place at a later time.
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LOCAL NONPROFIT GROUPS sponsor booths explaining their schools, goals, programs and more. And sometimes have food for sale!
costume contest and a talent competition! Assuming that the event will take place again this year, as hoped, the person for nonprofit organizations to contact now for more information about having a booth is Anne Loveland at 323-4607606. More good news Good news on the Boulevard includes the possible return of a yoga studio in the former home of the Larchmont Center for Yoga. If that
happens, it will be the result of some hefty community lifting from area residents. See the story starting on Page 1. Finally, there is a new book that shares a young woman’s tales about life on and around the Boulevard in the 1960s and 1970s, when “Larchmont was like a small town, an island in the midst of the city.” Sort of like it is today. The story is on Page 6. And that’s some of the news On the Boulevard!
Yoga
thanks to a substantial initial investment that has been received, according to the email chain. The Chronicle was not able to reach anyone on the email by press time. A bit of legend, history White’s studio gained a following and recognition from its 1967 founding and throughout the ensuing decades for its training school and offering of multiple branches of yoga. Before coming to Larchmont, White, who is now based in Santa Barbara, had opened a yoga studio on Sunset Blvd. He relocated first to a space at 115 N. Larchmont that was being used as a John Birch Society book warehouse. (Today it is A Silver Lining, the picture framing store.) Continuing on the website whitelotus.org: “The Larchmont Blvd. owner [of 230 N. Larchmont] didn’t want to rent it ‘to a group of Hindu hippies,’ but after a favorable front-page article in the “Los Angeles Times” on the Center, he relented. … “They found that the facility had once been a dance hall and uncovered wonderful hardwood floors! They set about knocking out walls and refinishing the floors. A Yoga deck was built on the roof and classes boomed with standing room only. “The Center was the first stopping place of visiting Yoga dignitaries. This was the turbulent sixties! Yoga was exploding and taking root in America. Ganga gave demonstrations at the Human Be-In and the first Love-Ins. He also flew in Swami Vishnu’s peace plane over the War Moratorium demonstration in San Francisco, dropping flowers and peace leaflets. Times were exciting.”
(Continued from page 1) founded in 1967 by yoga pioneer Ganga White. Community support “A group of neighbors in the Larchmont Village, Windsor Square and Hancock Park neighborhoods are forming a corporation to re-open the Center for Yoga on Larchmont,” Vincent Cox, vice president of the Larchmont Village Neighborhood Association, wrote in a letter. “The yoga studio drew hundreds of students each week. We support the effort to return this community asset to our neighborhood,” he added. In 2004, White’s Larchmont yoga studio had been taken over by a national chain, Yoga Works. Plans are to return it to its familial roots, Cox writes. The studio would best be owned and operated by members of the community “remote from the whims and fancies of a franchise operated by a national company. … “Now that we are seeing the beginning of the end of the pandemic, a return of this yoga studio… would be a welcome rebirth,” Cox concluded in the April 30 letter. A similar letter of support was sent by the Windsor Square Association May 14. According to an email chain among the Center for Yoga’s former teachers, managers, owners and the studio’s business start-up expert, the studio is expected to open September 1. The lease is still being finalized, and some improvements, — including replacing the HVAC system and painting — are planned. The studio’s resurrection is
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Matthew Hancock, flaneur of Larchmont Boulevard, 1954-2021
When I did not receive a thank-you note in February for the Valentine I had sent to Matthew Hancock, I knew he was no longer with us. He was a meticulous and faithful writer of thank-you notes, even thank-you notes for thankyou notes. My daughter and I sent a pear tart to him at home in January, when we knew he was terribly ill. A thank-you postcard was dispatched nonetheless. He was a meticulous and faithful friend, too. After my husband Bill died and I left the neighborhood and the city in 2016, he sent gifts from his collection of treasures: a book about the homes of Georgia O’Keeffe; an article from an architectural magazine, circa 1929, about the newly built Bullocks Wilshire (where Matthew worked for about 20 years), and in October 2020, a beautiful piece of sequined embroidery on black silk. Those of you reading this column likely knew Matthew as a hair stylist for many years at Haas & Co. A few years ago, he moved north on the Boulevard to Romi Cortier Design. Larchmont Chronicle former columnist Patty Hill often reported on his doings as a man about town. He was a cook, a gardener, and loved interior design, too — a man with a sharp eye for the telling detail. His text message to clients, announcing his retirement due to ill health, came toward the end of 2020. In about 2007, I was on Larchmont and saw a woman with a great haircut. I stopped her and asked about it. It was Matthew’s precise work, and that’s how we met.
Home Ground by
Paula Panich
We immediately hit it off, both of us unruly Scorpios. We had many adventures over the years — including visiting Robert Irwin’s Getty Garden and the vintage couture store, Paper Bag Princess. He also endured my tireless interrogation regarding his first profession, straight out of high school at age 17: mortician. Matthew’s interest in and involvement with fashion was formidable. He trained for many years with a retired fashion designer, and he became an expert tailor and designer himself. Couture embroidery Matthew spent his summer vacations in Paris, studying couture embroidery at the Ecole de Broderie Lesage. He was involved with FIDM, the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, where he designed the wigs for a “Star Wars” retrospective held there. Matthew had a wonderful, sharp, incisive and ironic sense of humor. It was never more clearly on display than in the writing he did, at my goading, about his adventures in the 1970s, in mortuary school as apprentice and employee at a Los Angeles mortuary. His tales made me laugh so hard I almost fell out of my chair at Haas & Co. You have to write these down, Matthew, I said. You must — and he did. In the 1970s, he
was working at the very end of a business structure that had been in place for decades — that of the live-in mortician. During his 24-hour shifts, Matthew shared a dormitory room with another apprentice, in case they were needed at any hour to pick up the deceased from hospitals or morgues. (“D.B.s,” in the language of the profession.) The guys sometimes snuck out to go to bars. Matthew loved giant old American cars, and this was clearly something in play when he was a 17-year-old.
The mortuary housed three “Cadillac Funeral Coaches (1964, 1968, 1974)” and a Dodge Dart for running errands, which he raced on the freeways of Los Angeles. In 2018, Matthew sent me his handwritten essays. It is impossible to forget his portrait of the mortuary’s accountant, who absconded with something close to a million 1970s dollars. He wrote that he would always remember the pathetic egg salad sandwiches the guy ate every day for lunch.
MATTHEW HANCOCK.
Photo courtesy Romi Cortier
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