Larchmont Chronicle
VOL. 60, NO. 6
• DELIVERED TO 76,439 READERS IN HANCOCK PARK • WINDSOR SQUARE • FREMONT PLACE • MIRACLE MILE • PARK LA BREA • LARCHMONT •
IN THIS ISSUE
It took a village, but Giorgio is finally getting some help
Pomp and circumstance
GRADUATION 2022 Section 3
DODGERS find a home on Beachwood. 3
CHARITY goes for gold.
8
MINI-FOREST one year later. 2-9 For Information on Advertising Rates, Please Call Pam Rudy 323-462-2241, x 11 Mailing permit:
Pets of Larchmont
Our annual Pets of Larchmont will be featured in the July issue of the Larchmont Chronicle. To be included, send a photo of your furry, scaly or feathered friends to suzan@larchmontchronicle.com by Wed., June 15.
Summer Fun!
Summertime is another theme in our July issue. We welcome photos and very short stories about vacations and all things summer at the email above. The same deadline applies.
Out and about: Locals gather for good causes and good times n Gatherings continue
n Fourth in a series
By Helene Seifer Driving down Larchmont Boulevard, I can’t help but glance in the direction of the newsstand and Peet’s Coffee, places where unhoused Larchmont regular Giorgio used to stand with his shopping cart, waiting for gifts of money, food and Advil. However, as the Larchmont Chronicle reported in the May 2022 issue, the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health picked him up to get him help. According to eyewitness accounts, he did not go willingly. I like to imagine Giorgio washed, shorn, well-fed and sitting in a garden sipping tea while waiting to move into his new home. Although no gardens are involved — and in spite of privacy concerns — bit by bit, email by email, phone call by phone call, more has been revealed about what actually is happening with Giorgio since he left Larchmont. Where is Giorgio? According to Isidro Alvarez, the deputy public conservator/ administrator of the Los Angeles Dept. of Mental Health, who picked up Giorgio on Larchmont, he was taken to an undisclosed hospital (all Alvarez would reveal about the location is that it is not in Hollywood). Giorgio is still there. “He is still getting mental health treatment,” Alvarez See Giorgio, p 23
JUNE 2022
CONGRATULATIONS, CLASS OF 2022! Area high school graduates mark the occasion live and in person. Read about their celebrations, plans for the future and party venues in our special section. See Section 3
Local forums abound as June 7 election deadline looms
n At homes, gardens, The Ebell and on Zoom been full of candidate panels By John Welborne, and debates. Nona Sue Friedman and Ebell mayoral interview Wendy Werris U.S. Congressmember KarAs the primary campaigns for City of Los Angeles elect- en Bass was the third and final ed offices — Mayor, City At- candidate for mayor to appear torney, Controller and local See Election, p 10 Council Districts 5 and 13 (plus County Supervisorial Vote District 3) — begin to wrap up on or before prior to the June 7 deadline to Tues., June 7 return ballots, the Larchmont Chronicle readership area has
By John Welborne and Suzan Filipek Nonprofit and social organizations are feeling the freedom of gathering again in person, and more and more of that has been happening. For example, Larchmont local Katie Buckland was awarded the prestigious designation of Chevalier in L’Ordre National des Arts et des Lettres by French Consul General Julie Duhaut-Bedos on April 28 at the Résidence de France in Beverly Hills. Buckland was honored for her accomplishments with the Cultural Services of the French Embassy office and for her work as executive director of the Writers Guild Foundation. Buckland is a lawyer who, before joining the Writers Guild Foundation, worked at the California Women’s Law Center, as well as on Bill Clinton’s presidential campaigns and for the Democratic National Committee. She also created the Neighborhood Prosecutor Project for the city of Los Angeles. A day later, friends and supSee Out and About, p 4
Fabulous flora flourishes on WSHPHS tour n Backyards to open June 5 for rare viewing
By Helene Seifer A home spans a brook surrounded by greenery. Drought-tolerant perennials bedazzle a driveway. Wisteria vines drape colorful blooms above a backyard fireplace. These are just three of the five beautiful gardens awaiting those who attend the Windsor Square-Hancock Park Historical Society’s Garden Tour on Sun., June 5 from 1 to 5 p.m. The five inspiring gardens on view are in Windsor Square, Hancock Park and Brookside. As a special treat, the brook-spanning Bridge House, a modern architectural gem designed by owner Dan Brunn, will be open to tour, as well as its garden. Historical Society President See WSHPHS tour, p 6
GARDEN TOUR CO-CHAIRS (left to right) Jane Gilman and Jolin Crofts with silent auction co-chair June Bilgore. (Co-chair Joanne Osinoff is not pictured). Photo by Richard Battaglia
www.larchmontchronicle.com ~ Entire Issue Online!
2
Larchmont Chronicle
JUNE 2022
SECTION ONE
Editorial
Calendar
By John Welborne
Vote by Tues., June 7 As the Larchmont Chronicle writes regularly during election seasons (which somehow seem more frequent lately), we urge our readers to exercise their franchise. This June, we have 10 people running to replace Mayor Eric Garcetti, which is two fewer than when we published in May. Candidates Mike Feuer and Joe Buscaino dropped out of the contest several weeks ago, with the former endorsing Karen Bass and the latter endorsing Rick Caruso. All contested elections are important, including the ones for City Attorney and Controller. Same for the Board of Education election and the ones for County Supervisors and Superior Court judges . . . plus seats in the State Assembly, State Senate and United States Congress. See the chart on Page 11 of this issue. As we often have stated previously, what arguably is of the greatest potential impact to the neighborhoods of our readers are the two races to become (or remain) a member of the Los Angeles City Council. Four people seek to fill the open Council District 5 seat being vacated by Paul Koretz. The other City Council seat is currently occupied by Mitch O’Farrell, the 13th District incumbent who is running for his third, and final, allowable term against four challengers. Please be sure to vote by the June 7 deadline!
Celebrate All DaDs &
Grads
when you visit
LArChmont ViLLAge Shops & eateries
“an oasis in the city”
Sun., June 5 – Windsor Square Hancock Park Historical Society Garden Tour from 1 to 5 p.m. Tues., June 7 – Election Day. Don’t forget to vote. Wed., June 8 – Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council Board of Directors Meeting via Zoom, 6:30 p.m. Check greaterwilshire.org for sign-in information. Sun., June 19 – Father’s Day. Mon., June 20 – Hancock Park Homeowners Association Board Meeting at 6 p.m. via Zoom. Check hancockparkhomeownersassociation.org to join meeting. Thurs., June 30 – Larchmont Chronicle July issue delivered.
Early this afternoon [May 24], a burglary occurred at a home on the 300 block of North Lucerne Avenue. Burglar(s) went through the rear of the home avoiding the front doorbell camera. LAPD responded. Once again our neighborhood is feeling unsafe. Recently, a homeowner on this block had a car burglarized while parked behind their gate in the early morning hours. Another Lucerne neighbor had their car cover stolen overnight (possibly related to the other car burglary) and, last Thursday, a man was overheard harassing a neighbor while he (the harasser) sat on the sidewalk across from the home smoking a cigarette. The harasser was not a neighbor. An LAPD officer who
Larchmont BouLevard association
©LC0617
sPonsored By
www.Larchmont.com
That’s the question inquiring photographer Caroline Tracy asked locals.
Letters to the Editor Public safety, upcoming elections
Larchmont Chronicle Founded in 1963 by Jane Gilman and Dawne P. Goodwin .
.
Publisher and Editor John H. Welborne Managing Editor Suzan Filipek Contributing Editor Jane Gilman Staff Writers Talia Abrahamson Casey Russell Helene Seifer Advertising Director Pam Rudy Advertising Sales including Classifieds Caroline Tracy Art Director Tom Hofer Circulation Manager Nona Sue Friedman Accounting Jill Miyamoto 606 N. Larchmont Blvd., #103
Los Angeles, CA 90004 323-462-2241 larchmontchronicle.com
‘How will you celebrate your graduation?’
responded to the burglary today emphasized the need for all of us to be aware and especially aware of individuals that we don’t recognize as neighbors and that appear to be casing homes or are acting in any way suspicious. If you see something that concerns you, report it to LAPD — 911 for emergencies; 877-275-5273 for non-emergencies. Keep this in mind as you go to vote in the upcoming elections. We need to act in the best interests of our neighbors and vote for candidates who will take crime seriously and support the LAPD. Sam Uretsky Larchmont Village
“I’m going to celebrate by hanging out with my family and my brother who is also graduating from John Burroughs.” (Yuna) “I’ll hang out with family to celebrate and hopefully get a dog. I love dogs.” (Ellie) “I’m going to hang out with my family.” (Sophie) I plan to hang out with my friends when I graduate.” (Woorin) Yuna Cho, Ellie Kim, Sophia Lee and Woorin Park 5th graders at Third Street Elementary in Hancock Park
Burroughs car jam
Steven Rosenthal is 100 percent correct about the dangerous situation that Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has created around John Burroughs (“Perils of student drop-offs and pick-ups at Burroughs,” May 2022). I live on the 600 block of South June Street, and we also experience the same issues as he has described. My driveway is regularly blocked, and the number of near misses in auto accidents or children being hit are far too many to count. The school
“I went on a senior trip to the Dominican Republic to visit a school friend, so I would say that was a major way I’ve already celebrated. My family will be flying out to see my graduation. Then, I’m going to Hawaii to stay with my godmother and work for the summer. Charlotte Andrews Larchmont Village Senior at The Kent School
(Please turn to page 22) Write us at letters@larchmontchronicle.com. Include your name, contact information and where you live. We reserve the right to edit for space and grammar.
CORRECTIONS ‘Parent child’ credit
The caption for the “Parent child” image on the front page of the May issue omitted proper credit: ©Jeff Wall, courtesy Gagosian.
It’s the ‘2021’ survey
The headline in last month’s article on the Larchmont 2021 survey incorrectly said, “Larchmont 2001.”
“This year I am celebrating my graduation from Larchmont Charter by spending time with my school friends, my mom and my sister Natalee. Then, I’ll hit the baseball field hard and heavy.” Noah Torres-Clifford Park La Brea 8th grader at LCS
Larchmont Chronicle
JUNE 2022
SECTION ONE
3
A little piece of the Dodgers lives on Beachwood Drive By Nona Sue Friedman The Los Angeles Dodgers season is in full swing, and fans regularly are heading to the stadium. A family on South Beachwood Drive has taken being a Dodgers fan to a new level. They’ve recently embedded a beautiful, locally crafted custom brass home plate in their driveway. It tells you exactly how far you are from home plate at Dodger Stadium: 24,816 feet. Windsor Square homeowner Noel Maxam figured the exact distance himself using the longitude and latitude of both locations via Google. Maxam got the idea after noticing a home in the neighborhood with embedded pennies in its driveway spelling out “walk in peace.” He then thought of all the multiple signs at Dodger Stadium that inform you of your distance from home
SECTION ONE
‘
CHAMPS.
14
YOUTH SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT On the Menu Theater Movies
15 18 19 20
SECTION TWO VIEW:
Real Estate Libraries, Museums Home & Garden
‘CALM’ AT ACADEMY. 13 ON PRESERVATION 5 REAL ESTATE SALES 8 LIBRARIES 10 HOME GROUND 11 MUSEUMS 12 POLICE BEAT 14 BEEZWAX 15
SECTION THREE GRAD SALUTE SCHOOL NEWS
1-16 12
had it laid in the driveway while his wife was out of town. However, he said, “My wife loves it.” Baseball has been a big bonding activity for their family. They were active members of Wilshire Warriors baseball league with their son, Edward, for eight years. The experiBRASS HOME PLATE states the distance to ence, accordDodger Stadium’s home plate in Chavez Raing to Maxam, vine. “allowed me to give my son a childhood.” plate. The combination For now and for many birthed the plaque placed in years to come, baseball will the family driveway. Not entirely certain how his be remembered by these famwife would react to installing ily members whenever pulling the permanent plaque, Maxam into their driveway.
THE LONG view.
Photos by Nona Sue Friedman
4
Larchmont Chronicle
JUNE 2022
SECTION ONE
Out and about (Continued from page 1)
porters of Sycamores and the Pasadena Tournament of Roses joined together in a tree planting ceremony to honor Sycamores’ 120th anniversary. Hancock Park resident and Sycamores board chair John Drinker welcomed guests to the event on April 29, Arbor Day, at the Tournament House in Pasadena. Sycamores president and CEO Debra Manners spoke of the two Southern California organizations’ shared history, dating back to the creation of Sycamores as Pasadena’s first orphanage in 1902. The Pasadena Children’s Training Society, later named Sycamores, was established by Fannie Rowland, the wife of Dr. Francis F. Rowland, a founder of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses and the Grand Marshal of the first Rose Parade in 1890. More recently, Sycamores has partnered with the Tournament of Roses by providing wellness support to members of the 2022 Royal Court. According to Manners, “Planting a sycamore tree at the Tournament House symbolizes both our shared past and our new growth into the future.” Today, Sycamores is a behavioral health and child welfare agency based in Pasadena. Learn more at Sycamores.org. May 4 marked the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Jeffrey Foundation by Alyce Morris Winston. A festive celebration was held, and participants included Beverly Cohen,
RÉSIDENCE DE FRANCE ceremony attendees included Tina Pomerance (left) and Jill Bauman.
AWARDEE Katie Buckland (left) and French Consul Julie Duhaut-Bedos.
chair of the Circle of Love support group, and Barbara Berg, Veronica Solano, David Kinnoin, Larry Covin, Niloo Bahadori and Winston’s husband, Edgar. Winston opened the doors of the Jeffrey Foundation in 1972 with the desire to give her son, Jeffrey, who had muscular dystrophy, a better life. After quitting her job as a model for Max Factor, Alyce began to develop a grassroots program to provide to special needs children activities and outings they could enjoy. These outings, which instill a sense of pride and accomplishment in the young people, also provide their families with much-needed companionship and support. Learn more at: thejeffreyfoundation.org A few days later, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the Commission for Women gathered people at downtown’s Omni Hotel at a May 9 luncheon to honor Dr. Barbara Ferrer with the commission’s
President’s Award. Ferrer heads the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. It was the commission’s 37th annual fundraiser, and it was themed “A Time of Reverence, Hope and Action.” The luncheon also recognized a host of other women who work to bring about social and economic change and promote equality. Then, closer to home (at Raleigh Studios at the northeast corner of the Larchmont Village Neighborhood Association community), there was a mini film festival over the May 14-15 weekend. The inaugural Mexican-American Film and Television Festival & Awards showcased new films, short films and TV pilots produced and featuring Mexican-American filmmakers and actors. The award ceremony for best director, best film, actor and actress, and other categories featured Edward James Olmos presenting the Lifetime
PRESIDENT OF THE 2023 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Amy Wainscott (left), with Sycamores president and CEO Debra Manners and board chair John Drinker.
Achievement Award 2022 to producer Moctesuma Esparza. A few days later, under an amazing, historic oak tree in the beautiful backyard garden of Kristen and Jeff Jaeger in Hancock Park, Imagine LA gathered several score concerned and interested neighbors and others who are anxious about ending the homelessness crisis. The topic of what is and isn’t working, along with the best strategy for moving forward, was the subject of a compelling presentation by Sarah Dusseault. She is the co-chair of the Los Angeles County Blue Ribbon Commission on Homelesess, which just released a report on the current state of addressing the vexing problem. Dusseault’s presentation and other material about the event is on the Imagine LA website at: tinyurl.com/yybyjc2f Dusseault, former chair of the joint city-county Los Angeles Homelessness Services Authority (LAHSA) — and one-time chief of staff for Fourth Council District Councilmember David Ryu — was
JEFFREY FOUNDATION Circle of Love chair Beverly Cohen (left) and foundation founder and CEO Alyce Morris Winston cut the 50-year anniversary cake.
introduced, and later questioned, by event hosts Jill Bauman, Imagine LA president, and Teddy Kapur, the organization’s board chair. The local organization is focused on addressing family poverty and homelessness. As the month wrapped up, the Windsor Square Hancock (Please turn to page 6)
TBD
Larchmont Chronicle
JUNE 2022
At Cedars-Sinai, we’re right here to support you and your family. Our team is dedicated to making you feel heard, understood, and looked after in every moment. And with over 250 locations in Southern California, our expert care is always within reach. Learn more at cedars-sinai.org/righthere.
RPA
SECTION ONE
5
6
Larchmont Chronicle
JUNE 2022
SECTION ONE
IMAGINE LA held a “spring salon” in the lovely Hancock Park garden of Kristen and Jeff Jaeger, where Sarah Dusseault (right) answered questions about homelessness policy from Imagine LA’s president Jill Bauman and board chair Teddy Kapur.
MANICURED BACKYARD leads to edible garden at Hudson Avenue home. Photo by Richard Battaglia
Out and about
WSHPHS
Park Historical Society gathered together a crowd of interested neighbors on May 22. They came to hear veteran costume designer Daniel Orlandi (who started his career as assistant to Bob Mackie for eight years) talk about his costume work in numerous films with very familiar names. The event took place at a restored and rarely-seen 102-year-old home on Van Ness Avenue. The property’s owners, new Historical Society members Clare Sebenius and Kevin Cohen, were the gracious hosts. It is so great to see people once again getting out and about — in support of good causes, community progress or even just to have fun together in the same place!
Richard Battaglia explains that this is the first garden tour of area backyards in 10 years, and the first to be officially organized by the WSHPHS, which only offered home tours prior to the pandemic. Home tours will return this October. It wasn’t difficult to excite the executive committee about planning a garden tour. “People love gardens!” enthuses Battaglia. “We are fortunate to have some great ones in our own back yard.” Larchmont Chronicle co-founder Jane Gilman and Jolin Crofts are co-chairing the event. There will be music, snacks and a plant sale. June Bilgore and Joanne Osinoff are co-chairing a silent auction. Crofts notes that she and Gilman visited each garden several times to prepare for the tour. “I’m always amazed at how gracious people are to open their homes to people. This is such a … kind neighborhood.” She continues, “We are really touched.” Battaglia would like to use the tour proceeds as seed money to tackle greening for the concrete islands at Beverly Boulevard and Rossmore Avenue. “The islands of Wilton Place were done beautifully over 10 years ago, and if that could be done, Rossmore and Beverly certainly could get done,” Battaglia notes. “We are just starting to form that committee. Hopefully, we will be able to reach out to the Wilshire Country Club, the councilmember and area residents for help with the project.” “Post-COVID, let’s get out there and bring energy to the community,” Crofts requests. “Each garden has its own personality. Let’s see these beautiful gardens!” Tickets are $40 for Historical Society members; $50 for non-members. Advance tick-
(Continued from page 4)
VAN NESS AVENUE home of Clare Sebenius (center), standing with Robert Fitch and Karlene Taylor, was the setting of a Windsor Square Hancock Park Historical Society gathering.
Photo by Richard Battaglia
(Continued from page 1)
ets can be ordered at wshphs. com. Same-day tickets can be purchased on June 5 at 166 S. Plymouth Blvd.
skin
deep by Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald If 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. Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald is a Board Certified Dermatologist located in Larchmont Village with a special focus on anti-aging technology. She is a member of the Botox Cosmetic National Education Faculty and is an international Training Physician for Dermik, the makers of the injectable Sculptra. She is also among a select group of physicians chosen to teach proper injection techniques for Radiesse, the volumizing filler, around the world. Dr. Fitzgerald is an assistant clinical professor at UCLA. Visit online at www.RebeccaFitzgeraldMD. com or call (323) 464-8046 to schedule Adv. an appointment.
Larchmont Chronicle
JUNE 2022
SECTION ONE
Now Seeking
Superhero
RNs
Join the CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center dream team at our new state-of-the-art facilities. The best women’s hospital in Los Angeles is looking for current RN candidates to staff Emergency Department, Labor & Delivery and Mother-Baby Care, and Operating Room units to be housed in our expanding new patient tower facility scheduled to open this year. Positions in additional departments are also available.
Now Hiring! Apply Today! • Online Application: https://careers-hpmedcenter.icims.com • Questions: adriana.venegas@hpmedcenter.com patricia.pineda@hpmedcenter.com • Generous sign-on bonuses, competitive benefits and perks available!
New Patient Tower Coming Soon
KOREA
US
JAPAN VIETNAM SINGAPORE
INDONESIA AUSTRALIA
CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion as an employer representing a global healthcare network of 14,000 staff members across 74 organizations in seven countries worldwide.
1300 N. Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90027
7
8
JUNE 2022
SECTION ONE
Larchmont Chronicle
NGA brings home the gold for local charities
By Sondi Toll Sepenuk Skiers, gymnasts, sprinters, lugers, a rollerblader and even two Olympic torches (one real and one most definitely not) all showed up to support the Hancock Park NGA (National Giving Alliance) annual fundraiser at the Wilshire Country Club on May 14. The theme of this year’s gala, “The NGA Hancock Park Olympics,” was inspired by the need to highlight the members’ resilience and hope that guided them through the pandemic together. Special guest and Canadian bobsledder Alecia BeckfordStewart (PyeongChang 2018) brought authenticity and support to the room, and she received a raucous ovation from all in attendance. The Saturday night fundraiser, which raised $54,850 in sponsorships and another $62,000 in silent auction, live auction, paddle raises and raffle tickets, was the first time the group of 107 members and their friends and spouses had been able to celebrate in person since the beginning of the pandemic. Attendees enjoyed salad, steak, salmon and various desserts while they were entertained by local residents and auctioneers Olivia and Steve Kazanjian. The night ended with members hitting the dance floor to a live DJ who provided the laughter and the beat. Throughout the year, the group of women who belong to NGA spend their time collecting, buying and distributing clothing and hygienic products
AT THE FIRST NGA GALA, post-pandemic, are, left to right: Kathleen Macomber, Beth Esrey, Stephanie Sourapas, Olivia Kazanjian, Marion Plato, Jennifer Kim and Kiel FitzGerald.
to local agencies Alexandria House, Imagine LA, Uplift Family Services (Hollygrove), Good Shepherd Shelter, McIntyre House, Operation School Bell (Assistance League of Los Angeles) and Aviva. Board members and event organizers, including Event Chairs Kiel FitzGerald and Megan Derry, Auction Chair Kathleen Macomber, Treasurer Shelagh Callahan, President Beverly Brown, Membership
Chair Alexandria Dionne, CoProject Chair Robin Chehrazi, Secretary Stephanie Johnson and Hospitality Chairs Stephanie Sourapas and Danielle Reyes, were all on hand to welcome members back to inperson celebrating. Spotted in the crowd were local residents and members Lisa O’Malley, Jennifer Kim, Jan Daley, Megan Drynan, Erin Garvan, Michaela Burschinger, Donna Econn, Julie Hoegee and Marion Plato.
LIVE AUCTIONEER Steve Kazanjian commands the room while helping NGA raise funds during its 2022 Olympics-themed gala.
325 N. Larchmont Boulevard, #158 Los Angeles, California 90004 windsorsquare.org 157 N. Larchmont Boulevard
Rising to the Challenge — of Lower Water Use
Because of ongoing drought conditions, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) has instituted the following residential outdoor water restrictions, beginning June 1: • Residents are permitted only two watering days a week — Monday and Friday for odd numbered addresses; Thursday and Sunday for even. • Watering is limited to eight minutes per zone, or 15 minutes for water-conserving nozzles. • No watering is permitted between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Violators may be subject to fines.
NGA MEMBERS Sondi Toll Sepenuk, Julie Hoegee, Lisa O’Malley and Alex Dionne sport costumes that show their Olympics spirit.
CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE MUNICIPAL BOND
RANCHO CORDOVA COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT
MONTELENA NO. 2014-1 | SPECIAL TAX BONDS 4.315% FEDERAL AND STATE TAX-FREE COUPON 4.00 PRICED AT $96.50 MATURING 09/01/2037 MOODY’S NR / S&P NR CALLABLE 09/01/28 @103, 09/01/2031 @PAR YIELD TO CALL 4.315% YIELD TO MATURITY 4.315% Call today to place your order!
Elan Hiutin, Managing Director Investments (213) 688-4536
Securities Offered are subject to prior sale and/or change in price. These bonds are not subject to Alternative Minimum Tax. Bonds liquidated prior to maturity are subject to price fluctuations. You may receive more or less than you originally paid. Bond prices generally decrease as interest rates rise. State Tax-Free applies to California residents. An investor should consider the investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses associated with municipal fund securities before investing. More information about municipal fund securities is available in the issuer’s official statement. The official statement should be read carefully before investing. https://emma.msrb.org/P11512129-P11170359-P11586057.pdf
1 0 0 0 W i l s h i re B l v d . | Lo s A n ge l e s , C A 9 0 0 1 7 | ( 2 1 3 ) 6 8 8 - 8 0 0 0 | M e m b e r N FA / N YS E / F I N R A / S I P C
But we are lucky — many districts are going to one-dayper-week limits right away. LADWP is trusting residents to reduce our water usage voluntarily, so that stricter measures will not be necessary. Windsor Square (and surrounding neighborhoods) must rise to this challenge, and here are a few simple tips to help us achieve that goal. First, follow DWP’s rules and NEVER water during the day. Hot sun and heat can cause as much as 60 percent of your water to evaporate before it touches the ground! If you have gardeners, make sure they are aware of this and set your irrigation controls properly. Second, check your sprinklers. Don’t let them spew water in gutters or geyser up from broken heads. Test-run your sprinklers every month (and if you cannot do this yourself, supervise someone doing it). It is especially easy to be unaware of irrigation problems if you are watering at night, as you are supposed to. Careful control of your sprinkler systems could save you hundreds of gallons of water a month. Third, even if you decide to let your lawn go brown (a move many people are recommending), don’t forget to water your valuable trees — including parkway trees. Lawns are easy to replace, while trees take years to establish and can provide many benefits, such as reductions in heat and pollution. Run a soaker hose around the tree, at a very slow drip, in the evening, for several hours once a month, or use Treegator drip bags for smaller trees. Fourth, do not install new landscaping now. Even drought-tolerant plants need water to get established. Also, do not prune trees now, as they are stressed by the drought already. Wait until late fall for both of these. Bewaterwise.com is a useful website for more information on water saving techniques for the garden. Of course, it’s also important to research ways to conserve water indoors, such as taking shorter showers or exchanging old washing machines for newer, more efficient models. Let’s work together to make a significant dent in our water usage, so that we can avoid more stringent restrictions in the future. 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.
Larchmont Chronicle
JUNE 2022
SECTION ONE
LA’s Health and Wellness Partner PIH Health is a nonprofit, regional healthcare network that serves Los Angeles County, Orange County and the San Gabriel Valley. Our fully integrated network includes 3 hospitals, 35 outpatient facilities, 7 urgent care centers, home healthcare services and more–all focused on providing you with world-class, award-winning care.
PIH HEALTH GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL
CARING FOR THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 135 YEARS
PIHHealth.org
9
10
Larchmont Chronicle
JUNE 2022
SECTION ONE
Election
(Continued from page 1) for a pre-primary interview with Dan Schnur at The Ebell of Los Angeles. The program on May 24 was part of The Ebell’s series of mayoral debates cosponsored by the Los Angeles World Affairs Council and Town Hall. The two candidates to appear previously were Mike Feuer and Joe Buscaino. Both subsequently withdrew from the race, with Feuer endorsing Bass and Buscaino endorsing Rick Caruso. At this most recent Ebell event, there were about 100 attendees. Schnur asked Bass questions for about 45 minutes, with the first question being about the shooting that day at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Subsequent topics of their discussion included transportation issues, homelessness, crime, the size of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)
H
CANDIDATE KAREN BASS is interviewed on May 24 by Dan Schnur as part of The Ebell’s series of mayoral debates co-sponsored with the Los Angeles World Affairs Council and Town Hall. Photo by Casey Russell
and policing, generally. The second half of the program was devoted to questions from the audience. A majority of those questions concerned homelessness and housing. The evening ended at about 7:45 p.m. with Bass leaving to fly back to Washington D.C.
BLACK STAR BARBERS
Omar Douglas
formerly at Larchmont Barber Shop
H
House Calls available!
740 Vine Street, 90038 at RA Nails
323.761.9661
Book Online: blackstarbarbers.com
@Larchmontbarber
to be with President Biden on May 25 when he signed an executive order on policing and criminal justice practices that Bass and Senators Cory Booker and Tim Scott were instrumental in getting drafted. City Council contests A bit to the west and the week prior, there was a candidate gathering for the four CD 5 candidates, and there also had been a previous nearby forum for the contestants running in CD 13. This newspaper already reported on the Windsor Square Association panel with the five CD 13 candidates moderated by political expert and local resident Michael Murphy. That full program was recorded and is available online at: tinyurl.com/ y3n2t69a More recent was the forum for CD 5 candidates at Park La Brea, organized by the Park La Brea Residents Association (PLBRA), as well as a visit to the semi-annual meeting of the Larchmont Village Neighborhood Association (LVNA) by CD 13 incumbent councilmember Mitch O’Farrell. Park La Brea All four candidates for the CD 5 seat — that soon will
PARK LA BREA Residents Association (PLBRA) sponsored a live CD 5 candidates’ forum. Moderator and PLBRA board member Nicole Duquette is at right, and the four candidates, from the left, are Jimmy Biblarz, Scott Epstein, Sam Yebri and Katy Young Yaroslavsky.
be vacated by Paul Koretz — participated in the forum in the Park La Brea recreation center auditorium on May 15, drawing about 100 residents. Presenting their different visions for the council district’s large area (Bel Air to Palms to Wilshire Park via Mid-City, Hancock Park and more) were Jimmy Biblarz, Scott Epstein, Katy Young Yaroslavsky and Sam Yebri, all of whom are attorneys. “Career politicians broke this city,” said Yebri, “and the Council needs fresh new ideas.” Epstein, who is a longtime renter in the district, said the district must address the issue of affordable housing, the homeless and climate change. “The new councilperson must have ‘lived-in’ experience, as I do,” he said. Regarding the homeless population, Biblarz said he believes the city has only touched the tip of the iceberg. “We’re basically treading water,” he said. Also addressing homelessness, Yaroslavsky mentioned the many office buildings that sit empty as a result of the pandemic and which could house the homeless. Public safety, crime and renters’ rights were among the other topics discussed. Angela Gyetvan, vice-president of the PLBRA, called the forum a success. “We were delighted with the strong turnout from Park La Brea residents and that we have four great candidates running
KATY YOUNG YAROSLAVSKY joined neighbors celebrating the 100th anniversary of the original Larchmont Village shopping district last October.
Photo by Gary Leonard.
for CD 5 this year. Our residents are becoming more and more engaged in the political process, and given that there are nearly 10,000 of us, we’re happy to speak up and vote to make sure we have the kind of representation we expect on the City Council,” Gyetvan added. Yebri and Yaroslavsky Just as the mayor’s race at this point seems to be focused primarily on two candidates — Bass and Caruso — the main contenders to become the next CD 5 councilmember are said by most seasoned political observers to be Sam Yebri and Katy Young Yaroslavsky. Both candidates have been receiving attention at gatherings at homes in Han(Please turn to page 12)
SAM YEBRI talks with interested potential voters in the Hancock Park backyard of Susana and Peter Funsten.
Larchmont Chronicle
JUNE 2022
SECTION ONE
11
City and County of Los Angeles Candidates for June 7, 2022 Primary Election Mayor Karen Bass Rick Caruso Kevin de León
Craig Greiwe John “JSamuel” Jackson Andrew Kim
Gina Viola Peake Alex Gruenenfelder Smith Ramit Varma
Mel Wilson * Mayoral write-in candidates
* The following is a list of mayoral write-in candidates as of May 24, 2022, according to the office of the City Clerk: Jesse Nathaniel Forte, Raul Aguiar, Douglas Paul Nichols, Michael Estrada, G. Juan Johnson, Messiah Truth, William “Rodriguez” Morrison.
City Council District 5
City Council District 13
City Attorney
City Controller
County Supervisor District 3
Jimmy Biblarz Scott Epstein Katy Young Yaroslavsky Sam Yebri
Albert Corado Steve Johnson Mitch O’Farrell Kate Pynoos Hugo Soto-Martinez
Sherri Onica Valle Cole Faisal Gill Kevin James Teddy Kapur Richard Y. Kim Hydee Feldstein Soto Marina Torres
Stephanie Clements Paul Koretz Reid Lidow Kenneth Mejia James O’Gabhann David T. Vahedi
Craig A. Brill Jeffi Girgenti Bob Hertzberg Roxanne Beckford Hoge Lindsey P. Horvath Henry Stern
Congressional and State Candidates for June 7, 2022 Primary Election U.S. Representative— District 30 Sal Genovese
William “Gunner” Meurer
Tony Rodriguez
Patrick Lee Gipson
Johnny J. Nalbandian
Adam B. Schiff
Ronda Kennedy
G “Maebe A. Girl” Pudlo
Paloma Zuniga
U.S. Representative — District 34 Jimmy Gomez
David Kim
Clifton Rio Torrado VonBuck
State Assembly Member — District 51 Louis Abramson
Rick Chavez Zbur
State Assembly Member — District 54 Miguel Santiago
State Assembly Member — District 55 Isaac G. Bryan
Keith Girolamo Cascio
State Senate — District 26
Vote
on or before Tues., June 7
Maria Elena Durazo
State Senate — District 28 Jamaal A. Gulledge Kamilah Victoria Moore Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Cheryl C. Turner Joe Lisuzzo
12
Larchmont Chronicle
JUNE 2022
SECTION ONE
Election
(Continued from page 10) cock Park, sometimes on the same day. That was the case on that same, busy, Sunday, May 15, when Yaroslavsky met neighbors in the morning at the home of Janet and Michael Soffer, at a gathering co-sponsored by Nancy Berman and Alan Bloch. Later that same Sunday, the meetand-greet was for Sam Yebri at the home of Susana and Peter Funsten, where Cindy Chvatal and Martin Beck introduced the candidate. Larchmont Village At the May 10 semi-annual meeting of the Larchmont Village Neighborhood Association (via Zoom), Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell (the CD 13 incumbent) was the featured speaker. O’Farrell, who has his campaign office on Larchmont Boulevard just south of Melrose Avenue, also took questions from residents about the state of their neighborhood. Resident Maggie Pena brought up the issue of homelessness in the area, which continues to be on the rise. “We’ve opened more shelters,” responded O’Farrell, “and we are continuing with safe streetside sweeps. The
MITCH O’FARRELL discusses the neighborhood with constituents on the February day when he opened his re-election campaign office on the Boulevard in Larchmont Village.
Photo by Gary Leonard
number of oversized vehicles lining our blocks where many homeless people live will be addressed again at an upcoming Council meeting.” O’Farrell said that these efforts are showing positive results, particularly in the Hollywood area, although the problem persists. LVNA board member Sam Uretsky focused on Senate Bill 9, adopted by the state legislature last year. SB 9 allows single-family residential properties to be split and increased
in density to contain four, or even six, residential units. There is no requirement that such added dwellings be rented at affordable rates. “What concerns me is how this could affect our historic neighborhoods,” Uretsky said. “It would become harder to create more HPOZ (Historic Preservation Overlay Zone) designations.” O’Farrell agreed with him. Greater Wilshire The big finale of local city council primary election campaign forums took place May
THE DINING ROOM of the Ebell Club was the setting for “A Night of Candidate Forums” that featured candidates for both Council District 5 and Council District 13. Shown are the candidates for CD 13, from left: Albert Corado, Steve Johnson, Mitch O’Farrell, (Moderator Patty Lombard), Kate Pynoos and Hugo Soto-Martinez.
26, also at The Ebell. There, four neighborhood councils from different portions of CDs 5 and 13 — specifically, Echo Park (CD 13), Greater Wilshire (CD 5 and CD 13), Mid City West (CD 5) and Palms (CD 5) — co-sponsored “A Night of Candidate Forums.” Presented both in-person at The Ebell and via live stream, the event was organized to allow attendees to “better understand candidate policies and platforms.” For each portion, the first for
CD 5 being moderated by Elex Michaelson of Fox 11 News, and the second for CD 13 being moderated by Patty Lombard of The Ebell and the “Larchmont Buzz,” each candidate gave responses of up to two minutes to the same question. The audience numbered approximately 60 to 70 people for each session. On YouTube, the CD 5 portion is recorded at: tinyurl.com/4p7ybt22, and the CD 13 portion is recorded at: tinyurl.com/yckzakws.
Further information about the candidates for the most-local elections is available at: City Council District 5 Jimmy Biblarz jimmybiblarz.com Scott Epstein scottforla.com Katy Young Yaroslavsky katyforla.com Sam Yebri samforla.com
Your Trusted Neighborhood Vet for Almost Half a Century! A FULL-SERVICE CERTIFIED VETERINARY HOSPITAL COMPLETE CARE FOR ALL STAGES OF YOUR PET’S LIFE
• BOARD CERTIFIED VETERINARY SPECIALIST ON STAFF • DIGITAL RADIOLOGY • PROFESSIONAL GROOMER • IN-HOUSE PHARMACY • CAT BOARDING
City Council District 13 Albert Corado alforla.com Steve Johnson stevejohnsoncd13.com Mitch O’Farrell mitchofarrell2022.com Kate Pynoos kateforcouncil.la Hugo Soto-Martinez hugo2022.com
• LASER THERAPY • SURGERY
Mon. - Fri. 8 am - 6 pm • Sat. 8 am - 4 pm
larchmontanimalclinic.com
Leisha Willis, CPCU, Agent Insurance License #OH76832 500 N. Larchmont Blvd 323 785 4080 www.leishaonlarchmont.com leisha@leishawillis.com
Providing Insurance and Financial Services
Congratulations,
!
©LC0616
316 N. Larchmont Blvd. • (323) 463-4889
©LC0222
CONVENIENT FREE PARKING!
Larchmont Chronicle
JUNE 2022
S E D O H R HOOLIC SC MUS OF
SECTION ONE
WH E
SA $10 VE 0
NY JU OU EN NE 15T ROLL BY H!*
SUMMER
ALL AGE S!
MUSIC LESSONS
SIC THIS SUMM U M E ER! MAK Offering lessons on piano, guitar, voice, drums, strings, woodwinds, brass, audio production, and mini-music (for kids 3-5)
CALL OR TEXT 323-522-4888 TO GET STARTED! 215 N. LARCHMONT BLVD. UNIT C, LOS ANGELES,CA 90004
*NEW STUDENTS ONLY.
Www.rhodesschoolofmusic.com
13
14
Larchmont Chronicle
JUNE 2022
SECTION ONE
Pan Pacific All Stars basketball team wins City Championship
THE PAN PAC ALL STARS, from left to right: Jackson Majomi-Gorman, Van Moczydlowski, Alex Floyd, Coltrane Ragsdale, Max Santamaria, Coach Fred Ragsdale, Jayden Garibay and Bronson Berschneider. Not pictured: John Jones-Boyd.
By Jim Kalin It’s been a long 14 years. The last time a Pan Pacific All Star basketball team won the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks City Championship was in 2008. None of the boys on this 2022 Major Division (ages 11 to 12) championship team was even alive then. More than 100 parks throughout greater Los Angeles and the surrounding areas participated in the tournament. There were four regions: Metro, West, Pacific and Valley. Pan Pac’s All Stars won the Metro Region Tournament, which moved them on to the Final Four Weekend. The four-team championship was played on April 23. Pan Pac’s All Stars defeated Valley in the semis, and then beat Westwood Park, which had won the West Region, in the championship game. “This was a great group of boys,” said Head Coach Fred Ragsdale. “They’re good bud-
dies, and the parent support was outstanding.” Pan Pac’s All Stars averaged 65 points per game, and four players averaged double-digit points throughout the tournament. They also held their opponents to 35 points per game. “Our league was fantastic,” said Eric Calhoun, director of Pan Pacific Park. “We had 64 kids, eight teams and two divisions.” In 2020, this group of boys had competed in the same tournament, but in the minor division (ages 9-10), however those playoffs were derailed by COVID-19. “It’s great for them,” said Coach Ragsdale. “They stuck together and came back and won it.” The leading scorer for the Pan Pac All Stars was Alex Floyd, who averaged 18 points per game. Coltrane Ragsdale averaged a triple-double throughout the tournament, and Max Santamaria led the team in three-pointers.
Minor Pan Pacific Basketball team wins Metro championship
By Caroline Tracy In addition to the All Stars Majors’ (ages 11 to 12) big win this season, the Minors Pan Pacific basketball team also had a reason to celebrate. This team of 10- and 11-yearolds, helmed by Coach Dreymon Jones, won the Metro Regional Championships. In the city-wide tournament, they came in second place, only losing in overtime to North Hollywood. The players and their families acknowledged basketball coordinator Brian Orellana (aka Shortee) and Director Eric Calhoun for their support in guiding the team.
2022 Fall Soccer Season (Season Opens in September)
AYSO Region 78 Hollywood-Wilshire...a soccer tradition in LARCHMONT & our neighboring communities since 1976. Register NOW for our 2022 Fall Season...OPEN to all BOYS & GIRLS ages 4-18. AYSO is all-volunteer so please consider being a coach and/or referee....training is provided!
Everyone Plays * BalancED Teams * Open Registration * Positive Coaching * Good Sportsmanship * Player Development
Summer Riding Camps For over 20 years we have offered a safe, fun-filled program
Fun family fair is June 4 from noon to 4 p.m. at Van Ness Elementary
June 6 - September 12 (weekly)
9am to 3:30pm - Applications accepted May 1 — first come, first served - Beginner to Advanced - Ages 6 and up - Patient instructors, gentle school horses - Limited group size - Health precautions observed - Arts & Crafts
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 a petting zoo with a
bearded dragon and games for kids such as ping pong, trike races and a ring toss, along with face painting and balloon figures. There will also be food trucks, snacks for purchase and a shaved ice truck to keep you cool. Entrance cost is $5 for individuals and $20 for families.
Family shows, jewelry at Autry June 11-12 located at the Paddock Riding Club 3919 Rigali Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90039
Tel: 323-665-8977
www.EnterpriseFarms.com
©LC0422
Limited Openings in July, Aug. & Sept.
THE WINNING MINORS team from left to right: Mikah Williams, Ali Callahan, Parker Bernstein, Miles Henderson, Oscar Millar, Dorian Goodin, Jayden Smith and Princeton Monteiro. Not visible: Jack Garrigan, Tyler Greene.
The Wild Horse Singers & Dancers are among performers at the American Indian Arts Marketplace at Griffith Park, 4700 Western Heritage Way, on Sat., June 11 and Sun., June 12. The show is
both days during family stage performances from 1 to 4:30 p.m. More than 100 artists will be selling Native American jewelry, pottery, sculpture, basketry and beadwork at the event. Visit theautry.org.
Larchmont Chronicle
JUNE 2022
SECTION ONE
15
Cooperstown-bound Wilshire Warriors need our support Youth Sports by
Jim Kalin cutoff date is May 1 the year of attendance in Cooperstown. So, how do the Warriors stack up? Their ace pitcher, Aaron Shin, has a stingy 1.50 ERA (earned run average). Going the opposite direction, slugger Dillanger Sanchez-Sykes wields a spanking .412 batting average. Impressive, considering that’s against other programs’ all-star pitchers. Gabriel Hart leads the team in RBIs (runs batted in) with 32, and the player who has benefitted most from that is Teddy Barringer. He’s scored 24 times this season. The team captains are Daniel Matloff and Reece Luna. This is a wellrounded squad that expects to go deep in the tournament. Fundraising The approximate cost per player is about $3,000, which includes travel, lodging, meals, uniforms and that seven-game guarantee, as well as incidentals like laundry, snacks and team pins, which the boys trade with other players throughout the week. Because of COVID-19, this will be the first Wilshire Warrior squad to visit Cooperstown since before the start of the pandemic. It’s been too long. There will be a Carnival for Cooperstown fundraiser at Pan Pacific Park in June with food, games and a home run derby. If you’d like to help with donations, or if you have more questions, reach out by email to the team manager and cocoach Stephen Matloff at stephen.matloff@gmail.com. You may donate via Venmo to the account dedicated to the Cooperstown 12U team (@Stephen-Matloff - last 4 of mobile # = 9940) using this link: https:// bit.ly/Warriors12U. Finally, donations may be made by check payable to “Wilshire Warriors” and mailed to Stephen Matloff, 511 S. Lucerne Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90020.
THE TEAM. Back row, (left to right), Coaches Stephen Sykes, Steve Matloff, Fred Ragsdale, Rick Luna and Steven Shin. Middle row (l to r): Coltrane Ragsdale, Gabriel Hart, Raphael Gray, Reece Luna, Dillanger Sanchez-Sykes and Aaron Shin. Front row (l to r): Nathaniel Palmer, Ryan Seeley, Daniel Matloff, Keiran Andersen, Nate Schechter, Brandon Phan and Teddy Barringer.
Experience Immaculate Heart! Join Us for a Summer of Discovery
Speech & Debate Stamps & Bookmaking Yoga & Pilates Zumba
T RA
1906
OS
Filmmaking French & Spanish HSPT Prep Marvelous Math Panda Sports Rad Robotics Readers & Writers Workshop
EST
IM
CSI/Forensic Science Cooking Classes Crafts & Creativity Creative Choreography Drama Workshops Drawing & Design Fibers & Fabrics
UL A T E H E
M
N
Academics, Enrichment, & Learning Fun!
AC
T
Middle School Summer Session For Girls Entering Grades 4 - 8 June 13 — July 8, 2022 One, Two and Four-Week Classes
AR
Our annual Pets of Larchmont will be featured in the July issue of the Larchmont Chronicle. To be included, send a photo of your furry, scaly or feathered friends to suzan@larchmontchronicle. com by Wed., June 15.
IMM
Pets of Larchmont
M A RIA
Wilshire Warrior baseball General Manager Stephen Matloff and Head Coach Fred Ragsdale expect their travel team to play 11 games in Cooperstown, New York, this summer. “If we make it to the championship game, we already will have played 10 games,” said Ragsdale. That doesn’t include the pick-up games, sometimes two or three in a day, that the team will play that week leading up to the trip’s culmination, an event that Dreams Park Cooperstown calls The Greatest Tournament in America. Li’l League Abner Baseball’s origins are speculative. The most popular myth is that Abner Doubleday invented the game in Cooperstown in 1839, but there’s much debate and doubt surrounding that version. What isn’t debatable is that Cooperstown has become youth baseball’s mecca, and how could it not be? That’s where the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is located. The best of our local 12-yearold Wilshire Warriors are headed to Dreams Park Cooperstown to participate in a baseball summer camp where 64-100 teams attend per week. The players and coaches room in barracks, and during the day when they’re not at clinics or competing, they roam the grounds, watching other teams play and meeting boys from all over the country. Dreams Park was founded and constructed in 1996. There are 22 grass playing fields and 104 barracks in the 165-acre Baseball Village. The fields have lights, so the boys play night games, too. And there are plenty of spectators. Cooperstown is a family destination, with parents and siblings encouraged to attend games when not on Otsego Lake or touring the Baseball Hall of Fame; there are plenty of hotels and Airbnbs to accommodate families. The experience for the players mirrors big league ball as much as possible. The infields are groomed, and the fields have short porches, meaning the fences are not that far back. “We’re expecting a lot of home runs,” said Ragsdale. Interesting comment, especially when Ragsdale’s son Coltrane leads the team in home runs this season with seven. The lineup In the tournament, each team is guaranteed seven games (weather permitting – after all, this is baseball, where rain is often the 10th man) through round-robin pool play, then a double-elimination bracket. This is where the 10 games Ragsdale referred to come into play. All players must be 12 or under to participate. The birthday
AC
P U L ATA S
ES
....and More!
“Educating the Hearts & Minds of Young Women Since 1906” 5515 Franklin Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90028 ♥ (323) 461-3651 ♥ www.immaculateheart.org
16
Larchmont Chronicle
JUNE 2022
SECTION ONE
Goldie’s Sports season finishes with tacos, awards and a video the court with Goldie’s Youth Sports (GSY) at St. Brendan School. The league starts with weekly practices and then incorporates weekly games. GSY will be closing its
GIRLS CHARGE toward the basket in hopes of scoring.
Photos by Nona Sue Friedman
The Plymouth School Safely Opened for the 2021-2022 School Year!
NOW ENROLLING
• Preschool program for children 2 to 5½.
• Over 45 years serving the neighborhood
315 S. Oxford Ave. • 213-387-7381
©LC0321
• Creative activities to encourage cognitive & social development including art, music, movement & play • Experienced teachers devoted to fostering self-esteem in a safe nurturing environment
spring season on Sun., June 5. Players and families will celebrate with tacos, division awards and a highlight video. The girls will have to wait for fall to play with GSY again.
theplymouthschool.com • theplymouthschool@gmail.com
GOING FOR a shot is Addie Feuerstein of Windsor Square.
North Carolina group visits prized horses
By Suzan Filipek Don’t let their size fool you. Caspians have a centuries-old pedigree and a pleasant personality. “They are very special. They are perfectly proportioned. I like to say they are a horse who went through the dryer,” says Gene Gilbert, vice president of the Caspian Horse Society of the Americas. Besides their diminutive size — they are perfect for riders under five feet and 100 pounds — they are as beautiful as any stallion. Gilbert has 11 Caspians at Enterprise Farms, her summer camp and riding school in Atwater Village. Alison Martin and Karina Elliott of North Carolinabased Livestock Conservancy recently paid a visit to the stables to see the rare breed.
A PRIZED Caspian horse with (left to right) Karina Elliott, Gene Gilbert and Alison Martin at Enterprise Farms. The Caspian, named “MCCS Javeneh,” is dame (mother) of three of the 11 Caspians at Enterprise Farms.
The nonprofit Livestock Conservancy is dedicated to saving rare breeds. “They are critically endangered,” Gilbert explains, as there are only 750 Caspians trotting the planet. Still, that’s a big boost from when American Louise Firouz rediscovered the vanishing breed in 1965 after she married into Iran’s royal family and moved to Iran. She started a breeding program — the Duke of Edinburgh cared for two of the horses and more were exported abroad. Later, breeding programs sprang up elsewhere. The Caspian is believed to be descended from the old-
est horse breeds in the world. “The king would use them to hunt lions, pulling a chariot,” said Gilbert. But by 1300 they were believed to be extinct. Besides its riding school and summer camp, the 22-yearold Enterprise Farms features Caspian horses in its special needs programs. The breed is known for the horses’ calm temperament. Enterprise Farms, 3919 Rigali Ave., has weekly camps from June 5 to Sept. 12, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. While the June camps are full, there are openings in July and August. For more information, call Gene Gilbert at 323-665-8977.
Dentistry for Children and Young Adults
Pediatric Dentistry Randall E. Niederkohr, D.D.S.
Member American Dental Association Diplomat of American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
Orthodontics Available
TV & Video Games
©LC1010
By Nona Sue Friedman For the past two months, girls aged 6 to 15 years old have been learning basketball skills and teamwork while sweating and having fun on
We have a unique living room atmosphere Children from newborns to 18-year-olds feel comfortable Saturday Appointments Available
(323) 463-8322 • 321 N. Larchmont Blvd, Suite 809
Larchmont Chronicle
JUNE 2022
SECTION ONE
17
Beloved coach to retire from Pilgrim after 40-year run
By Suzan Filipek A much-loved sports coach at Pilgrim School, Mike Sarafian, is retiring after 46 years at the kindergarten-through12th-grade school. He will be celebrated at the Alumni Reunion Celebration Aug. 20 at 4 p.m. on the campus. Alumni, students, faculty, parents, friends and family are invited. Tickets will go on sale on the school website in July: pilgrim-school.org. In the school’s 64-year history, Mike Sarafian “is one of our most beloved faculty members,” Head of School Patricia Kong said in the announcement of his retirement. “His warmth, passion for all things sports, and dedication to Pilgrim has enriched each and every community mem-
ber’s experience for decades, whether it be in our hallways, on the field, or traveling to away games with his teams. It is with mixed emotions that I share with you that Coach Sarafian will retire at the end of this school year,” Kong said. Coach Sarafian’s mark on Pilgrim went beyond sports to every corner of the school. “Whether it’s at morning drop-off or at an after-school practice, Coach’s booming voice and positive energy puts a smile on everyone’s face and inspires excitement in our students. He is one of the first people our visiting alumni seek out, and someone they mention time and time again while reflecting on their time here. It always amazes me how, despite teaching hun-
COACH Mike Sarafian will be honored at the school’s Alumni Reunion Aug. 20.
Get your ‘early bird’ discount for AYSO fall season through June 21 The AYSO 2022 fall season is open now with “early bird” discount through Tues., June 21. “We are encouraging everyone to register ASAP and consider volunteering as a coach and/or referee,” said Kurt Muller, volunteer, regional commission, AYSO 78 Hollywood. “The level of interest in soccer is at an all-time high, especially in Los Angeles, home to the LA Galaxy, LAFC, and the brand-new women’s team, An-
gel City FC. “With so many opportunities to see stadium soccer, we will likely have some AYSO Hollywood group seat purchases later this summer. These games always make for a fun family outing. “ The fall season kicks off in September in the team’s primary fields located at Fairfax High School. Boys and girls ages 3 to 18 are wecome. Visit ayso78.info.
Laugh it up for Alexandria House June 9 Five comedians will be performing with Comics Without Borders to raise money for Alexandria House Thurs., June 9 at 7 p.m. The three-hour event is hosted and sponsored by Flame International and will take place at 11330 Santa Monica Blvd. Alexandria House provides
safe and supportive housing for women and children experiencing homelessness and holds a place in the hearts of many Larchmont community residents. For more information about joining this night of fun and laughter, please visit alexandriahouse.org.
dreds of students since 1982, Coach Sarafian never fails to remember a former student, their accomplishments, and even the accomplishments of their family members.” Upon reflection on his “second home, Pilgrim School,”
Coach Sarafian said he’s been asked many times why he’s stayed all these years. “My answer has always been because Pilgrim keeps asking me back. “I have so many people for whom I am eternally thankful… How great is it to come
to school with your family every day! All of these people, and countless others, made coming back to Pilgrim year after year an easy choice,” said the “Pilgrim Patriot for Life,” who is also a husband, father and grandfather.
18
Larchmont Chronicle
JUNE 2022
SECTION ONE
Yucatan-style Mexican and pan-global vegetarian surprise
While driving to dinner in Hollywood a few weeks ago, I noticed anew how dreary the side streets are. Yet on further inspection it became clear that when I wasn’t looking, dozens of boutique hotels, many with restaurants or rooftop bars, popped up among otherwise unappealing buildings. We headed to one such place, the Tommie Hotel, an elegant but informal and hip boutique on Selma Avenue in Hollywood with a stunning, mainly outdoor restaurant, Ka’teen, on the ground floor. Entering from the street through a bent-reed tunnel, we were greeted by 5,000 square feet of lush greenery with a large welcoming bar, tall, arced, modern heat lamps and blankets piled near each table in case anyone was still chilly. Chef Wes Avila, known for establishing Guerilla Tacos downtown and the Angry Egret Dinette in Chinatown, here pays homage to the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico both in the food and the foliage. Our son noted that it looked exactly like Tulum, a popular vacation destination south of Cancun. Cocktails, $18, are fruity and refreshing. The house margarita comes in a choice of passionfruit, guava or mango. The Gypsy Fever is a mezcal drink with passionfruit, guava, lime, agave and fire water (hot cinnamon-flavored whiskey). The Witchdoctor combines peach, lime and sage with
mezcal. We started with $18 kanpachi crudo and $19 striped bass ceviche. Refreshing, but I’ve had more ethereal raw fish elsewhere. Another starter, $10 potato taquitos, were delicious. The homey spuds with the crunchy fried tortilla wrapper and the pungent avocado salsa were a flavorful way to start our meal. Conchita pibil, $42, a typical Yucatan dish, was fall-off-thebone pork cooked in a banana leaf. A sauce of dry chiles and bitter orange added depth of flavor, $42. A whole grilled branzino was served with two salsas (one fiery hot), spicy carrots and charred lime. This dish is sold at “market price,” depending on the type and size of the fish being featured that evening. We paid $72 for a giant plate of fish deliciousness, enough for four with some left to take home. Both entrees were served with soft corn tortillas. The $8 whole small potatoes with umeboshi aioli, a mayonnaise base mixed with Japanese spicy pickled plum paste, were a pleasant starchy side for both of our mains, but not as special as the ingredients suggested and the décor demanded. Ka’teen at the Tommie Hotel, 6516 Selma Ave., 323410-6360. I’m an omnivore, but I’ve enjoyed some vegetarian and vegan restaurants in the past few years, now that they’ve moved beyond the mainly
On the Menu by
Helene Seifer
mushy bean-based dishes that filled menus at the start of the plant-based eating trend. Olivia, a new vegetarian place with vegan options, exemplifies this trend. It’s a casual, friendly and tasty spot for those in the neighborhood and beyond. The attractive little storefront restaurant belies its depressing Koreatown strip mall location. Surrounded by multiple vacancies and a burnt-out building next door, it’s not an ideal site, but Executive Chefowner Mario Alberto, who lives nearby, made the most of it. There are pale peach walls, simple seating, the most cheerful staff I’ve ever met and an ambitious menu. Chef Alberto rose through the ranks at some of the most interesting restaurants in Los Angeles, including Ysabel, Laurel Hardware, Mo-Chica and the late, great Lazy Ox Canteen that, in its time, was a revelatory taste experience. They don’t have a wine license, but we were very happy with a house-made Farmers Market Strawberry Lemonade, $8, and $6 fresh melonflavored water with slivered cantaloupe. Olivia opened in March
and Yelpers immediately declared their signature dish: fried olives. The $13 crusted briny olives sit atop whipped macadamia nut ricotta with truffle honey. I didn’t care for the grainy texture of the ricotta, but the flavored honey smoothed out the otherwise delightful dish. The $16 crispy “chicken” presents breaded and fried meaty oyster mushrooms with mustard greens. I wasn’t fooled, but who needs poultry when these were so satisfying? There’s $15 pumpkin seed hummus, $13 baby heirloom tomatoes with miso feta and focaccia, Japanese noodles with shiitake and wood ear mushrooms and braised greens in mushroom broth for $18.50. Olivia also features shishito peppers, $16, with
chili, cilantro and grapefruit from the Larchmont Farmer’s Market, one of three local farmer’s markets the chef frequents. Olivia has both vegetarian and vegan pizzas for $16 - $18, most with unusual toppings such as chili soy sausage with feta and pea tendrils with pesto and oat cream sauce. We enjoyed a pizza with potato, kimchee, gruyere, gouda and jalapeño. Our favorite dish of the night was a complex $16 salad of kale, napa cabbage, cucumber and Asian pear, also from the Larchmont Farmer’s Market, tossed in a dressing made with gochugaru, a smoky and spicy blend of Korean pepper flakes. Olivia, 205 S. Vermont Ave., 213-277-1723.
SVMOW Hollywood Under the Stars at Paramount June 25 St. Vincent Meals on Wheels (SVMOW) will be recreating the feel of old Hollywood glamour with its comeback fundraising gala, “Hollywood Under the Stars,” Sat., June 25 at 6:30 p.m. at Paramount Studios, 5515 Melrose Ave. Proceeds will go toward SVMOWs senior nutrition program that prepares and delivers meals to homebound, vulnerable residents. This gala is the first event since the beginning of COVID-19 and also commemorates 45 years of the organization. “The Paramount Studios lot is in the heart of our delivery area and is the perfect location to celebrate our own long history and to support the expanding program needs as we continue to serve the increasing numbers of seniors who rely on us daily,” said Veronica Dover, SVMOW executive director. The evening will consist of a VIP champagne recep-
tion, gourmet dishes crafted by noted Los Angeles chefs, a behind-the-scenes video presentation starring Martin Sheen and High Rize, a 10-piece band guaranteed to get attendees on their feet. Chefs featured Among the chefs is Kevin Meehan, co-founder of Kali Restaurant on Melrose Avenue. He will be presenting culinary creations made from local California farms on a menu that is 90 percent organic and sustainable. Meehan cooks with local and hyper-seasonal ingredients to put a sustainable twist on the Californian palette. Other chefs include Edgar Ramos of Wood & Vine, a new American restaurant and cocktail bar at the W Hotel in Hollywood, and Vicky Escalante of Etoile Filante Patisserie, making her culinary debut. For tickets and more information, visit svmow.org/Hollywood
‘Walk & Play’ with CHLA June 25 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
We are available to cater your graduation parties, weddings, showers and all types of events. Mention We also have private dining rooms and areas private events. this adfor for a special treat!
Ask about our private dining spaces & catering options!
7313 – 7317 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles,|90036 | 323.297.0070 7313-7321 Beverly Blvd 323.297.0070 www.angelinirestaurantgroup.com www.angelinirestaurantgroup.com Open for Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner – Catering
©LC0522
Call us at 323.297.0070 ext 27 or e-mail catering@angeliniosteria.com
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) will be hosting Walk & Play L.A. on Sat., June 25 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. This event is not just a walk, but it includes a family festival, a sports clinic and live performances. Boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard and radio personality Ellen K will be hosting the event. This community event helps to promote the well-being of children while simultaneously raising funds to support CHLA and their mission of building a better future for the youth of Los Angeles through providing patients with world-class health care. To register for the event, vis-
it WalkandPlayLA.org or email walk@chla.usc.edu for more information.
Share Your Summer Fun!
Summertime will be the featured theme in our July issue. Send your photos and short, short stories (200 words max.) about vacations and all things summer to suzan@larchmontchronicle.com by Wed., June 15.
Larchmont Chronicle
JUNE 2022
SECTION ONE
19
Juneteenth joins June holidays, and horizons continue to expand
State attorney general Bonta at HoL June 5
The House of Lebanon (HoL) is hosting a speaker series event with Calif. Attorney General Rob Bonta on Sun., June 5. The event will take place from 3:45 to 5 p.m. at 4800 Wilshire Blvd. Bonta is the first person of Filipino descent to serve as attorney general. His priorities mostly concern instilling justice and fairness in government and other institutions. At the speaker series, he will discuss hate crimes, small businesses, immigration, housing and other issues the community faces. HoL is the first Lebanese Cultural Center in Los Angeles. They help to preserve, promote and celebrate Lebanese culture. People of all backgrounds are invited to learn about Lebanese culture through different programs and events. RSVP at tinyurl. com/2p9ckns. Free.
sionally as possible, but there is a lot of finger-pointing at the moment about “lived experience.” Can a white author tell a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) story? By extension, can a white critic review a Black play? Pamela Paul, in her debut column for the “New York Times” (“The Limits of Lived Experience,” 4/24/22) tries to put some of these objections to rest, not completely successfully. I have issues with the idea that we need to see only “ourselves” on stage. The purpose of theater — if it needs one — is to expand our horizons and show us worlds that are not our own. Imagination and insight into the human condition play a greater part in drama than biology. I confess I was relieved when the two Black men next to me at “Slave Play” muttered their frustrated anger at points in
Theater Review by
Louis Fantasia through the last 50 years. The diversity of Black voices can generally (perhaps simplistically) be grouped into two broad categories: the traditional “well-made play” that goes back to Lorraine Hansberry and August Wilson, and includes Pearl Cleage, Alice Childress, Lynn Nottage and Dominque Morisseau; and a more radical / avant-garde line reaching back to Amiri Baraka (LeRoi Jones) and Adrienne Kennedy, encompassing Mr. Harris, Mr. Jackson and Keenan Scott II, among others. One tries to review any play as dispassionately and profes-
the play at the same time I did, just as I was reassured by the head-nodding “uh-uhs” from a row of Black women behind me at “Alabama Sky” who caught the playwright’s Ibsenesque points well in advance. Their responses seemed to confirm that my own critical instincts were not some display of “white privilege” but rather good theatrical sense.
This is the audience I want to have in the theater — engaged, involved, listening. To limit them, or myself, to only a single slice of the dramatic pie because we do not have the “lived experience” to bake the rest of it is both foolish and dangerous. And Lord knows, the times are foolish and dangerous enough.
W2W4 June:
Wakings continues at the Odyssey through Sun., June 5. Stand out performances by Ron Bottitta, Diana Cignoni, C.J. O’Toole and Darrell Larson only underline the dated nature of the one-acts by Pinter, Robert Coover and a passage from Hermann Hesse that make up the evening. Shakespeare’s Merry Wives of Windsor opens at The Will Geer Theatricum, Sat., June 11 and runs, along with “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” through the summer. Come From Away, about immigrants and Canadian kindness, is at the Ahmanson until Sun., June 12. Finally, nearly 240 shows — everything from one-person shows to world premieres — will find their way on stage as part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival, June 9-26. Check out the website hollywoodfringe.org and go!
26T H ANNUAL GILMORE HERI TAGE AU T O SHOW
AMERICAN
ROYALTY
Celebr ating Cadill acs, Imperials, Lincolns, Pack ards and long-forgotten Duesenbergs.
SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2022 11 A .M. - 5 P.M. From the famous to the notorious, owners of American luxury vehicles traveled like kings and queens, and treated their vehicles like royalty. On June 4th, we will roll out the red carpet for America’s only royalty, along with dozens of other classics, customs, hot rods and trucks. Free Admission.
0
Harry Truman declared Flag Day a national holiday in 1949, the year I was born. When I was a kid at school, parades and assemblies celebrated the date that Congress, in 1777, declared Old Glory our national banner. When I came to California, I learned that June 14 is also Bear Flag Republic Day, commemorating the 1846 conquest of California over Mexico. Those were the only June holidays I knew until Juneteenth permeated the nation’s consciousness — and my own. In 2021, President Biden declared June 19 a national holiday, officially commemorating the 1865 end of slavery in America. Juneteenth is also the only new national holiday since Martin Luther King Day was established in 1983. Why wasn’t Juneteenth celebrated earlier? Why didn’t I know about it as a kid? Was this an indicator of systemic racism, or a flaw in my education? The question is more than theoretical if you grow up to be a white male critic. Broadway was abuzz last fall as seven Black plays debuted, yet most of those shows struggled to find audiences. While the revival of Notzake Shange’s “For Colored Girls…” and Michael R. Jackson’s “A Strange Loop” are strong Black voices on Broadway this spring, the Great White Way is dominated by comfort-food throwbacks like “The Music Man,” “Funny Girl” and “Plaza Suite.” Were it not — thankfully — for the long-overdue presence of actors, singers, dancers and directors of color in such plays, audiences might be forgiven for thinking they had slept
6333 W. THIRD ST. LOS ANGELES 323.933.9211
•
0 FARMERSMARKETLA.COM @FARMERSMARKETLA
90 MINUTES FREE PARKING IN FARMERS MARKET LOTS WITH MERCHANT PURCHASE VALIDATION.
20
Larchmont Chronicle
JUNE 2022
SECTION ONE
Recalculating pitchers, Abbey’s gorgeous new era, chutzpah! Facing Nolan (10/10): 102 minutes. Who is the best pitcher of all time? I never saw Walter Johnson or Cy Young or Christy Mathewson or Grover Cleveland Alexander, so won’t opine on them. But I have seen those from the ’40s on. The best I ever saw was Sandy Koufax, but Sandy only had six good years (1961-66). Before catcher Norm Sherry gave him the tip during a spring training game in 1960 that changed his life, he was a wild man. Warren Spahn is #2. Maybe Bob Gibson is #3 of those I’ve seen. Bob Feller is up there, but I didn’t really see him pitch. Today’s pitchers who can’t even complete a game aren’t in the picture. Now this documentary about Nolan Ryan has me recalculating. One of the best docs I’ve seen about anything, it tells the story mostly through interviews with people who should know: batters who have faced him. Included are George Brett, Rod Carew, Cal Ripken, Jr., Craig Biggio and many more, along with, of course, Ryan himself and his movie-star-gorgeous wife and their children and lots of clips of him in action. As an aside, he has a beautiful family. He blew away lots of records, sev-
en no-hitters and a fastball timed at 107 mph, pitching effectively until he was 47. Maybe he should be near the top of my list? Downton Abbey: A New Era (9/10): 124 minutes. PG-13. Apparently struggling to find a plot device, director Simon Curtis and writer Julian Fellowes stole one from the iconic 1952 MGM musical “Singin’ in the Rain.” The minute I heard the voice of actress Myrna Dalgleish (Laura Haddock) it was clear that she was mimicking Jean Hagen, who played Lina Lamont in “Rain.” Hagen won an Oscar nomination for her performance as the voice-challenged silent star beauty. There’s a lot more to this than the takeoff from the classic film, of course. As has become emblematic from the TV series and the first movie, the production values are outstanding. The locations (including the French Riviera) are gorgeous, the color mesmerizing and the recreation of the post-Edwardian era of the 1920s superb. The movie-filming plot is a good setup for the gang to resolve what becomes a big family mystery. Spoiler alert: Everything about this film is
At the Movies with
Tony Medley top notch…until the ending. I don’t know what Curtis and Fellowes were thinking but it was a bad idea to end this uplifting, happy film on such a downer. Had it ended 10 minutes earlier, I would have rated it 10/10. As a footnote, the movie stands on its own and does not rely on having seen the TV series as a required prelude. Diamond Hands: The Legend of WallStreetBets (9/10): 89 minutes. How a group of irreverent youngsters took on the Wall Street pros and ran a short squeeze on the stock of Gamestop is told by the whippersnappers themselves and it’s a fascinating tale of risk and reward, ups and downs, gains and losses … and Chutzpah! Bravo.tv and MSNBC. The Offer (8/10): 10-Episode series. TV-MA. This series is told from the POV of 42-year-old Al Ruddy (Miles Teller). It shows deep mob involvement, especially Joe
Colombo (Giovanni Ribisi), boss of the Colombo crime family. Paramount boss Bob Evans (Matthew Goode in a splendid performance), who post production claimed credit for severely editing writer/ director Francis Ford Coppola’s “Godfather,” is shown as a crazed, drug-addled over-thetop studio exec who greenlighted the film but fought Ruddy on just about every decision, from picking Coppola (Dan Fogler) to casting Marlon Brando (Justin Chambers, who does a fine job) and Al Pacino (Anthony Ippolito, who captures Pacino’s insecurities). Gulf and Western CEO Charles Bludhorn (Burn Gorman) is the boss of everyone. In real life, he was a unique person. Whether he was as bizarre as Gorman plays him would be difficult to believe, although anything is possible. As to casting, Fogler captures Coppola’s challenged height (5 feet 4 inches) and Goode shows Evans to be probably the way he was and is. The series shows how Ruddy bent over backwards to kiss up to the Mob and he continues that posture with this movie, just a bunch of regular guys who happen to kill people for a living. Unjustly minimized is
Peter Bart (Josh Zuckerman), who first optioned Puzo’s book for Paramount, and is a far stronger personality than shown here. Notwithstanding, this series is entertaining and enjoyable. Paramount+ The Most Reluctant Convert: The Untold Story of C. S. Lewis (8/10) 73 minutes. Max McLean stars in a play he wrote as C. S. Lewis, the creator of “The Chronicles of Narnia.” Lewis is probably equally well-known as a convert from strict atheism to devout Christianity. Lewis (Please turn to page 21)
American soprano sings at All Saints’ in Beverly Hills
Melissa Givens, an American soprano, will be performing at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Beverly Hills on Sun., June 12 at 5 p.m. She has been described as “a pleasure to hear” with a rich and powerful tone. Givens will be accompanied on piano during the hour-long concert. No reservations are needed. Donations requested at the door are $20 for adults and $10 for students and seniors.
Celebrate Grads & Dads with our June Dinners! Grilled Salmon Tapenade Grilled Atlantic Salmon served on creamed spinach with creamy mashed potatoes.
Almond Chicken Breast of chicken dusted with flour and almonds served with steamed broccoli and creamy mashed potatoes.
Gourmet Meatloaf Choice chuck and pork ground together to create this old-time favorite! Topped with mushrooms and gravy. Served with creamy mashed potatoes.
Hotcakes for Dinner Open til 7:30 Nightly for Dine-in, Patio, Take-out Delivery
6333 W. 3rd St. In the Original Farmers Market
Open Weekdays 6:30 am - 7:30 pm, Weekends 6 am - 7:30 pm
•
(323) 933-8446
©LC0621
One Buttermilk Hotcake, one egg, choice of one turkey link or bacon. Served with maple syrup and butter.
Larchmont Chronicle
JUNE 2022
SECTION ONE
21
Beastly Ball is back, in person and wild as ever
GEORGE SARAH ENSEMBLE perform “Min and Elsa” from 29:36 to 34:51 on the 55-minute Tarfest Festival Video.
Music and art festival Tarfest returns virtually
By Caroline Tracy Tarfest 2022 is live. The annual music and art festival, usually held on the grounds surrounding the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum, moved this year to a virtual presentation due to COVID-19. The festival, featuring musical and dance performances, can be viewed entirely online via the Tarfest website. “In its 19th year, and — everyone hopes — in the final stages of this pandemic, Tarfest provides meaningful opportunities for artists to perform and viewers to enjoy those performances,” said James Panazzo of Launch LA and Tarfest co-founder and director. “This celebration of culture and music was made possible by the years of experience in producing this event and the amazing collaborators who helped to make it possible.” Tarfest is a presentation of
Movies
(Continued from page 20) narrates his story himself and it’s a special journey, indeed. It starts with him as a boy and shows how he lost his beloved mother when he was nine and was brought up by his relatively cold father. It takes us through his experiences in the World War I trenches, to his time at Oxford with friends like J.R.R. Tolkien, who greatly influenced his religious beliefs. It’s based on Lewis’ memoir, “Surprised by Joy.” Prime Top Gun Maverick (7/10): 124 minutes. PG-13. This is not your grandfather’s “Top Gun” (1986; yes, it’s been 36 years since the first one!), which was apparently good enough to become seminal. The first hour setup is clichéd; a weak imitation of Robert Conrad’s wisecracking “Black Sheep Squadron” (1976-78). But after all that folderol, it gets entertaining when the flying and dogfights start. The special effects are spectacular and probably worth the morethan-two-hour sit.
Launch LA, a nonprofit arts organization. This year’s program showcases dance routines by two contemporary dance companies and seven musical performances featuring more than 40 musicians. It can be viewed online at tarfest.com.
The late Betty White will be honored at the 2022 Beastly Ball, Los Angeles’ wildest fundraiser, on Sat., June 4. A white-carpet reception and tribute with announcement of the recipient of the Betty White Conservation Hero Award will be featured, and comedian Joel McHale will host the event, which will be in person for the first time in two years. The event also includes food, libations entertainment and after-hours access to the Zoo. Animal feeding and keeper talks as well as a silent auction also will be featured. The impact that the Zoo has on conservation will be showcased by honoring Dr. B. Natterson-Horowitz and animal behaviorist and science writer Kathryn Bowers. “This event is critical to … ongoing support of the Zoo’s work in wildlife conservation … public education programs and the latest advancements in animal care and veterinary medicine,” said Tom Jacobson, president of the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association. The 2022 recipient of the Hero Award is Stephen Badger, former chairman of Mars, Incorporated and great-grandson of Mars’ founder; he was central to driving the company’s corporate social and environmental responsibility initiatives to combat climate change.
ZOO SUPPORTER, the late Betty White (with one of her friends at the Zoo) will be honored.
Photo by Jamie Pham
Tickets are $1,500 per person and support the Los Angeles Zoo’s mission to save wildlife and serve the community. The Zoo is at 5333 Zoo Drive in Griffith Park. Visit lazoo.org/ beastlyball, or call 323-486-4253.
C I S U M T H G I N SDAY Market
• 6-8pm io t a P t s e W ust 25 ug June 2 - A
R e Original Farmers U H T at Th
Enjoy delicious eats, dynamic beats and cool evening breezes as we present live music every Thursday all summer long! 6/2 Louie Cruz Beltran Latin Jazz/Salsa
6/9 Pretty
NEW New Wave
6/16 Hukilau Hotshots
Hawaiian 30s/40s Radio Sound
e 30 Dynaflos: Jun Lil Mo & The
6/23 Larry O. Williams and Friends Jazz/R&B/Funk
6/30 Lil Mo & The Dynaflos 50/60s Doo Wop/R&B
7/7 Carbe and Durand from Incendio Modern World Guitar
7/14 The Jazz Cartel
28 arangoa: July Orquesta Ch
60s Jazz/Pop/Swing
7/21 Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys Rockabilly/Western Swing
7/28 Orquesta Charangoa Cuban Charanga
ust 25 re Makers: Aug Guilty Pleasu AND, ROCK & ROLL TRIBUTE BANDS EVERY FRIDAY.
8/4 Ernie Watts Quartet Straight Ahead Jazz & Bebop
8/11 Jumpin’ Joz Swing
8/18 Paul Val
Texas Blues Rock
8/25 Guilty Pleasure Makers Top Covers
SCHEDULE AND LOCATION SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
SCAN FOR SCHEDULE
•
•
6333 W. THIRD ST. LOS ANGELES 323.933.9211 @ FARMERSMARKETLA FARMERSMARKETLA.COM
•
90 MINUTES FREE PARKING IN FARMERS MARKET LOTS WITH MERCHANT PURCHASE VALIDATION.
22
Larchmont Chronicle
JUNE 2022
SECTION ONE
See films under the stars at Hollywood Forever
A 1960 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL will be at the Gilmore Heritage Auto Show.
‘American Royalty’ autos will be on display June 4
Cadillacs, Imperials and Lincolns will be paraded at the 26th annual Gilmore Heritage Auto Show on Sat., June 4 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Original Farmers Market, 6333 W. Third St. This year’s theme is “American Royalty” in honor of American luxury vehicles of yesteryear, when their owners traveled like kings and queens.
Also featured will be Packards, Duesenbergs and dozens of other classics, hot rods and trucks. The Auto Show promises to roll out the red carpet after the show was scaled back last year and cancelled altogether in 2020 because of the pandemic. The event is free to the public, with the regular Market parking rate of 90 minutes free with merchant purchase validation.
Sit back and enjoy summer nights under the stars at the historic Hollywood Forever Cemetery while watching some classic films hosted by Cinespia. Not for the faint of heart, “American Psycho” screens on Sat., June 4. Celebrate Judy Garland’s 100th birthday and benefit Project Angel Food on Sun., June 12, when “The Wizard of Oz” follows the Yellow Brick Road. It’s a showdown between humans and the extraterrestrials in “Aliens,” screening on Sat., June 18. A DJ and dance floor light up the night when “But I’m a Cheerleader” screens on Sat., June 25. Doors open at 7:15 p.m., and the shows start at 9 p.m. Attendees are invited to bring a picnic or pick up something at the concession stand as the event is set up for lawn-style seating. Hollywood Forever Cemetery is at 6000 Santa Monica Boulevard. Tickets are $20 to $30, plus parking. Visit cinespia.org.
HISTORIC cemetery hosts summer films outdoors this month.
Verdi’s ‘Aida’ is performed with modern art flair through June 21 Verdi’s epic love story continues at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion through June 21 with a lavish production by L.A. Opera, featuring a chorus, orchestra, ballet and designs by local contemporary artist RETNA. Latonia Moore makes her company debut as Aida, her signature role. Tenor Rus-
sell Thomas plays Radames, a military captain and prisoner of war in love with ancient Egypt’s most powerful woman. The secret lovers are from rival kingdoms in this production, new to Los Angeles, directed by Francesca Zambello and conducted by James Conlon. For tickets and more information, visit laopera.org.
Larchmont values explored in Arts Weekend, play Weekend, June 10 to 12 at Atwater Village Theatre, 3269 Casitas Ave. “We know it will resonate powerfully with the women
Everything for your
CELEBRATIONS! Yard Decorations, Banners, Balloons Car Decorations and Window Markers 20% Off ALL MERCHANDISE
WITH THIS AD (except printing, discounted goods, balloons and balloon delivery)
5969 Melrose Ave. (at Wilcox) • 323-467-7124 www.vineamericanparty.com
RESTAURANT & COCKTAILS
©LC0622
Vine American Party Store
ANCIENT EGYPT and high drama are featured in “Aida.” Soprano Latonia Moore makes her company debut in the title role.
Letters
(Continued from page 2) administration has not addressed this problem in years. The construction project has significantly worsened the problem. Currently serving 1,471 middle school students, LAUSD is expanding John Burroughs to accommodate 1,800 despite data showing a pre-pandemic 5.4 percent drop in the total district middle school population (135,553 to 128,581 from now until 2023) and five underutilized LAUSD middle schools within three miles. Students come from over 64 different ZIP codes traveling past numerous schools with parents sitting in carpool lanes, idling their cars often 30-45
BOGIE’S LIQUOR
Lunch & Dinner Every Day of the Year
Open 7 Days Hours: Open 12 noon Close 2 a.m.
We carry the finest in Beer • Wine • Spirits • Champagne • Kegs ©LC 0821
Restaurant Hours: Mon.-Thurs. noon to midnight Fri.-Sat.-Sun. noon to 1:00 a.m. Bar open till 1:00 a.m. Mon.-Thurs. ~ 1:30 a.m. Fri. & Sat. 3357 Wilshire Blvd. • 213-385-7275 • thehmsbounty.com
in our neighborhood who are grateful, conflicted, or inspired by how family-centric our haven has always been,” actor and local resident Sharon Lawrence told us. Lawrence is a member of the IAMA Theatre Company, which is hosting the weekend event and recently launched its world premiere of “Untitled Baby Play,” which continues through June 27. “The reason that I was so drawn to join the IAMA Theatre Company is its origins in female leadership,” Lawrence continued. “I’ve watched these young women who created this company, right out of college as they were building their careers and their artistic community. I’ve also watched them build their families through triumphs and struggles always relying on the community they nurtured into being. The Untitled Baby Play is born of those experiences and will speak to so many women (people) in Larchmont because we are a community devoted to families.” Visit iamatheatre.com.
5753 Melrose Ave.
Call 323-469-1414
©LC0221
Take a deep dive into a discussion on themes of friendship, family, fertility and the work/life conundrum during an in-person Arts Immersion
minutes, twice daily, adversely impacting air pollution, traffic and their own family wellbeing. Tens of millions of dollars have already been spent over the past 10 years with consultants and bureaucrats being handsomely paid, yet still out of touch with the city’s or our community’s needs. The budget has already ballooned to over $220 million, and one can only predict what the final cost will be when finally complete six years from now. A properly sized school of 1,200 would meet the needs of both LAUSD as well as the local community — saving construction time and millions of dollars — yet LAUSD always cries poverty when sitting on well over $2.5 billion in reserves. Dr. Martinez is not being truthful when he says that he was “unfamiliar with the situation.” The neighbors on McCadden and June have been complaining for two decades. LAUSD completely ignored our community’s concerns regarding traffic and safety in their renovation plans for John Burroughs. Dr. Howard C. Mandel President, Los Angeles City Health Commission June Street, Hancock Park
Larchmont Chronicle
Giorgio
(Continued from page 1) confirmed. “Currently the team’s goal is getting him assistance. Connect him to services. Help him obtain Social Security or other benefits he’s entitled to. Get him into permanent housing near the neighborhood he was from.” Larchmont, one supposes. Notwithstanding Giorgio’s protestations in the past about not wanting help, it sounds as though he is cooperating with his care. “He seems fine thus far,” said Alvarez. “But he’s actually going to be in the hospital for at least another month.” It is likely we will see Giorgio again. As Alvarez explains, “We understand the community was involved with him. We will take him back [to Larchmont Boulevard] so they see he’s doing well.” “Most often when homeless people are picked up for evaluation, they are brought to a hospital,” explained Nathan Sheets, executive director of The Center, a nonprofit that helps the homeless. In our area and throughout Hollywood, there is a usually-designated hospital that is not popular with Sheets. “That’s the worst hospital,” said Sheets. “They’re quick to discharge.” In fact, according to Sheets, it’s common that a psychiatrist’s evaluation there consists of a single question, “How are you?” If the answer given is “Fine. Why am I here?” the patient will be released. Outreach workers from The Center have reported finding their homeless clients, posthospital evaluation, on a bus bench at Vermont Avenue and Sunset Boulevard still in hospital gowns. To know that Giorgio was not released back into the wild and may soon have a permanent bed and roof over his head is astounding. How, after so many years on the street, did Giorgio finally get help? How homeless are helped Josh Hoffman, Coordinated Entry System (CES) regional coordinator of The Center, explained that it takes time to win someone’s trust enough to accept help. According to Christine Stellino, director of programs at The Center, the number of people who accept help versus those who turn help down is 50/50. Giorgio always turned help down. Nathan Sheets tells the story of a homeless multiple amputee who stayed on a corner in Hollywood. It took nearly 10 years to gain his trust and get him into a conservatorship, which is when someone else becomes responsible for
JUNE 2022
the client’s decisions. Now that man is in housing in the Valley and is doing very well. Places such as The Center are usually the first to establish contact with a homeless person. Generally, once help is accepted, the person is pointed in the direction of particular services, which involve a labyrinth of interconnected organizations, both nonprofit and governmental, which the homeless person must visit for, say, help with benefits or addiction. In the Larchmont and Hollywood areas, only the Salvation Army has the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) contract for housing. Giorgio went straight from the Boulevard to getting connected while in the hospital. Why? A plan was hatched Giorgio was particularly recalcitrant when approached by outreach workers. Only those who are deemed a danger to themselves or others can be held against their will, and I heard months ago that a plan was being hatched that would allow Giorgio to be helped in spite of himself. The Chronicle learned that Giorgio was deemed undernourished and therefore a danger to himself. By that measure, every homeless soul we see at stop lights with signs asking for help, sitting in tents stationed in front of empty storefronts or huddled in sleeping bags in the middle of busy sidewalks is undernourished. So why was Giorgio labeled malnourished and scooped up, rather than any of them? Squeaky wheel gets the grease This is a neighborhood that isn’t afraid to call attention to its problems and demand solutions. In the November 20, 2019 article, “Who complains the most about homelessness in LA?” published in the “Crosstown LA” online neighborhood newspaper, writer Gabriel Kahn cross-referenced numbers by neighborhood from the 2019 homeless count with the number of homeless-related complaints called in to the city’s 311 line. As Kahn reported, the number of unsheltered homeless individuals in Larchmont Village was 3.21. The number of neighborhood-originated 311 calls received in the first months of 2019 was 147, for a calls-per-homeless ratio of 45.69, second only to Bel Air. By way of comparison, Hollywood, with one of the highest concentrations of homeless in Los Angeles, had a ratio of 1.62 for an unsheltered homeless population of 1,191.33. Giorgio was helped because we demanded it. We did it
Ecclesia Gnostica Gnostic Christian Church Sunday Eucharist Eucharist 11:00am 11am Sunday Eucharist 8:30pm 8 pm Lectures • Fridays • 8• pm Wednesday Eucharist Lectures • Fridays 8pm 307
3363 Glendale Boulevard, Atwater, Los Angeles • 323-467-2685 2560 N. Beachwood Dr., Hollywood • 323-467-2685
©LC0421
Bishop Dr. Stephan Hoeller
together with articles about him in the Chronicle and with Marilyn Wells’ 2021 six-part homelessness column, “The NIMBY Diaries,” also in this paper, and with her contacting The Center to put Giorgio on its homeless outreach radar. We did it when a woman emailed me about Giorgio sleeping in her driveway and when other neighbors both complained about Giorgio and worried about him. It was the serendipity of my calling Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell’s office the day after his field deputy, George Hakopiants, had seen Giorgio while
SECTION ONE
23
on a ride-along with LAPD Olympic Divison Officer Joseph Pelayo. Hakopiants wanted to help Giorgio, too, and O’Farrell and his team helped make the county aware of Giorgio. We all kept GIORGIO and his cart, circa early 2021. the attention on Giorgio. It’s the principle of example of what should hapthe squeaky wheel at work. pen,” notes Sheets. “Being “What happened in Larch- embraced by the community mont [for Giorgio] is an made the difference.”
Friends ... Community ... HOME It’s your time. The new beginnings you have been looking forward to are here! Spend it your way at Kingsley Manor, a thriving four-acre oasis in the heart of Hollywood. Independent Living • Truly Yours Assisted Living • Skilled Nursing NO entrance fee • Multiple floor plans
CALL US TODAY
323- 661-1128
kingsleymanor.org 1055 N. Kingsley Drive Los Angeles, CA 90029 We’re an equal opportunity housing provider. CA License #197608482
24
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
2022_GAF_LarchmontChronicle_JUNE_Graduation_HR-Print.pdf SECTION ONE
1
5/13/22
11:06 AM
JUNE 2022
Larchmont Chronicle
