LC Section One 07 2023

Larchmont Chronicle

Larchmont

By Casey Russell

By John Welborne

The official book launch for Zev Yaroslavsky’s long-awaited memoir, “Zev’s Los Angeles,” gathered a crowd of locals and distinguished friends of Zev from across Southern California. The event took place at Chevalier’s Books on Larchmont Boulevard on May 30.

The full house included the author’s son (and Los Angeles Superior Court Judge) David Yaroslavsky, attending with his wife, Fifth District City Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, their three young children and other family members.

Also in the audience were many longtime former Yaroslavsky staff members well known to constituents who worked with the Yaroslavsky

Zoning considered for TV

offered

By Suzan Filipek

The developer of the proposed expansion of the vast Television City property at Beverly Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue is making a full-court PR press throughout the community surrounding the project directly north of, and adjoining, the Original Farmers Market and The Grove.

n ‘Distiguished Citizen’

By John Welborne

At a recent Rotary Club of Los Angeles (Rotary 5) special luncheon held at the Jonathan Club in Downtown Los Angeles on June 9, Rotary 5 presented Wayne Ratkovich, of Windsor Square, with its Distinguished Citizen Award. The recognition is for an Angeleno who leads the community in the spirit of Rotary’s motto “service above self.”

Following a fascinating and fact-filled introduction of Ratkovich by leading local architect Brenda Levin, FAIA, the honoree finally took the

See Ratkovich, p 12

Tours are being offered of the historic Television City facilities, where the project continues to be mired in controversy.

Developer Hackman Capital Partners seeks adoption of a Specific Plan for the property that it purchased from CBS Corporation in late 2018.

The application for the TVC 2050 Project also seeks city designation of the property as a “regional center.” If approved, the designation would allow buildings with heights

up to approximately 20 stories on the 25-acre site.

The proposed new zoning would also allow 1.9 million square feet of sound stage, office and other uses, plus 1.6 million square feet of additional development.

The developer says the project would create jobs and modernize and expand the aging TV studio, originally de-

See TV City, p 22

The Boulevard will soon have a stylish office supply shop. Shorthand, specializing in beautiful desk paraphernalia, recently signed a lease for one of the last available spots at the Larchmont Mercantile building, according to a spokesperson for the Mercantile, the new multi-shop building that originally was built as the Lipson Building in the 1920s.

Since 2016, Shorthand has brought office goods to the Highland Park area of Los Angeles. Now Larchmontians will get to stop in a new, chic shop to get greeting cards, notebooks, pens, pencils and custom stationery, among other things.

A lease also has been signed for the space previously occupied by POLA at 129 N. Larchmont Blvd. across the street from Shorthand between Le Petit Greek and Village Pizzeria. The new store, Duer, currently has a location at 170 S. La Brea Ave. Duer will sell “stretch performance denim” and lifestyle apparel. Designed for comfortable movement, Duer’s wares are crafted from plants and recycled materials.

Speaking of Village Pizzeria, we understand that the new owners [“Tenant construction underway at Boulevard shops, some opening,” Nov. 2022] and their predecessor are seeking arbitration to try to resolve a dispute con-

Summertime events, fireworks planned

Bursts of color are expected to once again light up the night sky above the Wilshire Country Club and our surrounding neighborhoods on July 4, commencing at 9 p.m. A legal glitch for multiple venues cancelled the program last year, following a brief restart in 2021 after the patriotic program was put on hold due to COVID-19. This year, backyard barbecues, block parties and other summertime activities are expected to be back in all their glory. Enjoy!

ZEV YAROSLAVSKY waits in the front row while Bert Deixler, co-owner of the bookstore and a Windsor Square resident, welcomes guests to the book launch at Chevalier’s Books.

Photo by Gary Leonard

TVC 2050 PROJECT was on display at Tarfest.

Editorial

By John Welborne

Anarchy

What are some synonyms for anarchy? Lawlessness is one. Disorder is another.

Query: Do drivers park illegally in the center of the street on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills or in the middle of any street in Pasadena or Long Beach? Do they run through stop signs, oftentimes at unreasonably high speeds, in those towns? Endangering pedestrians and others there? As they do in the City of Los Angeles? As they do on Larchmont Boulevard? [See Letters to the Editor on this page.]

Such transgressions affect public safety and the quality of life on Larchmont and throughout the City of Los Angeles.

We have lawlessness. Despite adopted laws, city departments do not enforce our laws. And why is that? Because the elected City Council members, Mayor, and City Attorney apparently do not press the city department heads for enforcement of these laws.

It seems obvious, in a city as vast as this one — of 500 square miles — that we have insufficient LAPD traffic officers to pose a threat to the sons and daughters of anarchy now driving on our streets — drivers who think only of themselves and feel that they can do whatever they want when driving a car, with impunity, despite creating danger for others.

If you agree it’s a problem, ask our city’s elected officials to demand that departments enforce the law.

TIME TO SAY GOODBYE TO GAS LEAF BLOWERS!

If you are one of the many dozens of residents who are tired of the loud noise, clouds of dust and smelly fumes generated by gas-powered leaf blowers — a single gas leaf blower can generate the same amount of pollution in one hour as a car being driven more than 1000 miles — the HPHOA has a deal for you!

A new state law , Health and Safety Code section 43018.11, bans the sale of gas-powered leaf blowers starting January 1, 2024 , in order to help achieve 100% zero emissions in California from small off-road engines (SOREs) by 2035. Current City of Los Angeles law, LAMC section 112.04(c), bans the use of gas powered blowers within 500 feet of a residential property. Both the homeowner and its gardener may be fined $100 per each violation for the illegal use of a gas-powered leaf blower! You can request a City supervisor visit to the location of a violation at a specific time by visiting lacity.org/myla311.

The great news — the cost of electric powered blowers is extremely reasonable, so why take the chance of a fine? Our research on what is available told us that you can purchase a kit which includes a powerful electric blower, battery, and power charger for about $250. The cost will be even less if Hancock Park neighbors with the same gardeners share the costs of the equipment. These battery powered blowers (with accessories) are available from Amazon, Ace Hardware, and a number of other websites that sell power equipment.

To help encourage our Hancock Park residents to purchase a battery powered leaf blower, battery, and charger for their gardener to use on their property, we will help share the cost! The HPHOA is offering $100 rebates to the first 100 residents when they show proof of purchase!

Contact Mark Alpers (mdalpers@aol.com) or Cindy Chvatal-Keane (snorekel@gmail.com) for more information.

We hope you will take us up on the offer!

Your Hancock Park HOA

Please visit our website at www.HancockPark.org

Join a Committee!

We are all Volunteers!

Calendar

Tues., July 4 — Independence Day.

Tues., July 11 — Mid City West Neighborhood Council board meeting is 6:30 p.m. at Pan Pacific Park Senior Center, 141 S. Gardner St. See midcitywest.org.

Wed., July 12 — Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council board meeting, 6:30 p.m. at the Ebell of Los Angeles at 743 S. Lucerne Blvd. See greaterwilshire.org.

Thurs., July 27 — Deliv-

‘How did you meet your pet?’

That’s the question inquiring photographer Casey Russell asked locals.

ery of the August issue of the Larchmont Chronicle.

Letters to the Editor

Congratulations

Kudos to the Chronicle — for receiving the California News Publishers Association award. Justly deserved!

I was so impressed by Ms. Seifer’s series and that the Chronicle ran it. What a compass! Hat’s off.

Van Dyke Parks Los Feliz

New NGA name

I just read your terrific article about Sondi [Toll Sepenuk] becoming the new Director of Plymouth School [“Torch will be passed to new director at Plymouth preschool,” June 2023]. It’s exciting!

One correction — NGA of Hancock Park changed its name to National Giving Alliance a few years back. We are no longer known as the Needlework Guild.

Thanks so much!

Kiel FitzGerald, chair National Giving Alliance HP Windsor Square

Meat Loaf’s mom

I was also in Mrs. Aday’s class,

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

probably around the same time [“A Word or Two about Meat Loaf (1947-2022) and his Mother, Mrs. Aday,” March 2022]. I still remember her so fondly. I always say she is the reason I became a teacher! I graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1964. So excited to have found this article about her.

Susan Lawyer Guess San Antonio, Texas

Cars parked in the center lane irk readers

We enjoyed the June issue of the paper that arrived this morning. On Helene Seifer’s recommendation [“On the Menu”], we had a delicious dinner at Colibri tonight. Thanks!

By the way, I think the LAPD or parking police should do a ticketing sweep on Larchmont [“Parking in the center lane on Larchmont is not legal,” June 2023]. I was there at 11 a.m. today, and there were so many cars parked in the center lane it was unbelievable — and ultimately dangerous.

Jennifer Fain Windsor Square

My girlfriend and I live near Larchmont Village. We probably drive or walk to the Village almost every day. We visit a lot of the shops there and eat in a lot of the restaurants. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve seen cars parked in the middle lane, almost every day and especially on Sunday.

What I never see in the Village at all is parking enforcement. It’s funny that parking enforcement can drive up and down and give people tickets for being in a permit area after hours and in the middle of the night. And I have seen cars get tickets if you miss a meter by three seconds. But cars parked forever in the middle lane of Larch-

(Please turn to page 12)

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.

“When I got home one day, he was there! I think I was two or three. We named him after the ‘Cars’ movie character Lightning McQueen.”

Noah Borges and McQueen Windsor Village

“My friend went to rescue a dog and [ended up with two]. He contacted me because he really couldn’t have two dogs. I took my kids to meet him. We did a trial run and decided to keep him! He’s been a really good dog.”

Anthony Azizi and Ziggy Hancock Park

“We met near the Larchmont Boulevard farmers’ market at the pet adoption that often takes place on Sundays. That was when he was a puppy. He’s 13 now. I raised him with my mom, and now he’s mine. It was love at first sight.”

Shea Depmore and Milo Hancock Park

Zev

(Continued from page 1) city and county offices. In addition, former County Chief Executive Officer David E. Janssen came up from San Diego. Also in the audience were former State Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg, former Congressman Howard Berman, former City Councilmember Cindy Miscikowski, current County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and many locals, including Jack Humphreville, Patty Lombard, Bill Simon, Jim Clark, Mary Nichols, Ann Reiss Lane, Jon Vein, Andy Murr, Nick Goldberg, Chevalier’s co-owner Bert Deixler (who introduced Yaroslavsky) and his wife, Judge Leslie Swain, LA Opera Music Director James Conlon and many more.

Conlon was among those who wrote short blurbs for the back of the book, including Mayor Karen Bass, U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, UCLA Jewish history professor David Myers, civil rights lawyer Connie Rice, longtime executive director of the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs (and just-appointed executive director of The John Randolph Haynes and Dora

SECTION ONE

on Larchmont.

Photos by Gary Leonard Haynes Foundation) Raphael J. Sonenshein and Miguel Santana, president and CEO of the Weingart Foundation.

Young when elected

As previewed in this newspaper last month, Yaroslavsky’s book recalls significant events in the lives of a local man and the city and county where he lives.

He became a Los Angeles City Councilmember in 1975 at age 27, with very

little name recognition and confronted with a Westside establishment opponent. The book’s reports on that campaign are fun to read.

The book also recounts the periods prior, including the passage of the author’s antecedents from Belarus and Ukraine to Boyle Heights and, then, the Fairfax District, where Yaroslavsky attended Melrose Avenue Elementary, Bancroft Junior High and

Fairfax High, on his way to study history at UCLA and become an activist who served a stint as executive director of the Southern California Council on Soviet Jewry before running for public office.

A teaching text

Because Yaroslavsky’s book features an actual participant in evolving what today is history, and because the author is a civic actor who shares with readers the actual background behind local history — such as the need for, and adoption of, Proposition U [see accompanying story on page 22] — I strongly commend the book to the newly elected councilmembers who will be overseeing the function of local government as we move forward.

Oft quoted by writers everywhere, in various ways, is the saying attributed to writer and philosopher George Santayana: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Alternatively: “Those who do not read history are

doomed to repeat it.”

Maybe some generous person will buy 20 copies of Yaroslavsky’s book and mail one to each current member of the city council and each county supervisor. That would be a worthy contribution to quality local government (if the recipients actually read the book).

Regardless, the book has been welcomed in the local and national press. Jim Newton’s excellent piece in the (Please turn to page 4)

DAVID E. JANSSEN, former Los Angeles County CEO, came from his retirement home in San Diego for the book launch

CHEVALIER’S BOOKS was the site for launching the new book, “Zev’s Los Angeles.”

Zev

(Continued from page 3)

Los Angeles Times is at tinyurl.com/5x989sza. The New York Times also wrote recently about the book at tinyurl.com/yms8xk48.

Public transit

I have been a public transit advocate and activist for the past 50 years. I smile when Yaroslavsky writes that

erase the holiday stresses with… SPA, spin, DMH , mani ped

every one of us in Los Angeles seems to have his or her own traffic horror story. In the book, he told his story — how long it took, one day, decades ago, for him to drive from Santa Monica to Beverly Hills. My own story involves driving west to UCLA along Santa Monica Boulevard in 1972. The long-ago conclusions for each of us were the same — public transit net-

works, not just streets and freeways, needed improvement.

As a county supervisor and therefore a member of the board of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), Yaroslavsky was in a position to focus his fellow leaders on effective transit improvements. Those improvements should include, as he often recounted over the years, “simple solutions.” The book describes how his consciousness of that approach emanated from his experience as a county supervisor participating in the 1999 visit to Curitiba, Brazil, organized by Martha Welborne (she a private citizen and — full disclosure — this writer’s wife), financed by the W. Alton Jones Foundation, and led by then Mayor Richard Riordan. That trip led to Bus Rapid Transit in Los Angeles and elsewhere in the United States and to the highly successful Orange Line Busway in the San Fernando Valley, the latter largely the result of Yaroslavsky’s leadership and persistence.

The book’s recollections of that visit to South America rekindled memories for me, because I had paid my way to tag along and saw the serious study and analysis in action (including the memorable time when Yaroslavsky held

up the rest of us departing on a bus while he paced the width of the street outside, exploring how the Curitiba street measurements might relate to those of our streets in Los Angeles.

Serious but funny Zev Yaroslavsky is an intensely serious guy, but he also is sentimental and has a sense of humor. The strength of his love for Barbara, sadly taken from him and their children and from so many others of us who loved her, is an underlying leitmotif of the book and Zev’s story because she was such a presence in his life. But also sprinkled throughout the book are bits of evidence of Zev’s sense of

humor.

For example, concerning his first campaign, he describes a mailing he did at the urging of his campaign advisor, leading to the Yaroslavskys receiving back 600 Easter cards “with warm, personal handwritten messages from voters.” He continues, “I was thrilled, because I always believed that anyone who has taken the time to print the name ‘Yaroslavsky’ by hand will never forget the experience.”

“Zev’s Los Angeles: From Boyle Heights to the Halls of Power. A Political Memoir,” Cherry Orchard Books, 388 pages, is available at Chevalier’s Books and elsewhere.

COUNCILMEMBER for CD 5, Katy Yaroslavsky, seated second from left, was present with her husband and children for her father-in-law’s book launch at Chevalier’s. Photo by Gary Leonard

A busy month of June: Brookside, parks, gardens and more

About 40 friends and neighbors dragged blankets, pillows, picnic fixings and even their pets to Brookside’s annual Family Movie Night in the Park, June 11, sponsored by the Brookside Homeowners Association. This year’s feature, Disney’s “Encanto,” was chosen through online polling among several offerings. Perched on a grassy corner of Memorial Library Park, families cooked burgers on the grill, relaxed on the plush green winter-watered carpet, and popped popcorn in a good old-fashioned popcorn machine. This was the first movie night since the pandemic interrupted back in 2020.

“Brookside is very much about community and neighbors, and we are getting back into the swing of things with our events — which were all but shut down with Covid,” said Brookside board member Loren Dunsworth. “Movie night is a fun way to dive into summer.” Neighbors in attendance included Laura and Adam Abramson with son Archie, Gina Rudnick with daughter Pearl, Danny Gibson, and Vivian Gueler with daughter Nikka.

One week prior, another Brookside celebration took place at the home of Pat and

Around the Town with Sondi Toll Sepenuk

Heather Houlihan. Immaculate Heart and Loyola high school graduates and their families from around the Larchmont community gathered to celebrate the end of high school and the beginning of the journey beyond.

Guests enjoyed a taco cart filled with pork, chicken and beef tacos, homemade guacamole, Caesar salad, chips, pico de gallo and plenty of Champagne, beer and wine. Dessert included cookies and

cupcakes, which were quickly gobbled up by the grads before they ran off to another neighborhood party. Typical!

Seen celebrating with the proud grads were Elyse and Gordon Bobb, Roy, Samantha and Merryn Forbes, John and Julie Houlihan and Bridget and Clark Wells.

Alexandria House hosted its annual WomenSpeak luncheon on June 1, welcoming more than 200 supporters to the yearly gathering. The luncheon, which focuses on the transformational power of women’s words, “provides a platform for women of

accomplishment and compassion to speak about their work as well as past residents of Alexandria House to describe their journeys.”

A recorded video message from Mayor Karen Bass welcomed everyone to the

(Please turn to page 6)

NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS enjoy the return of Brookside’s Movie Night in the Park.

RESIDENTS Loren Dunsworth and Archie Abramson get into the movie night spirit.

GRADUATES from Immaculate Heart and Loyola High schools celebrate. From left to right: Natalie Hernandez, Gabby Alfaro, Zoe Houlihan, Chloe Pithie, Maria Andrade, Joseph Drynan, Kellyn Lanza and Natalie Castro-Serpas.

FRIENDS AND FAMILY celebrate local high school graduates at the home of Pat and Heather Houlihan.

Around the Town

(Continued from page 5)

luncheon and recognized the great work of Alexandria House. Since 1996, Alexandria House has provided transitional housing for women and their children while offering them counseling, job training and resources to pursue careers and build futures of their own.

Guests, including Michae-

la Burschinger, Erin Garvan, Pashina Siti, Ima Matul, Beverly Brown, Kiel FitzGerald, Dre Guttag, Danielle Reyes, Mary Woodward and more, enjoyed salad with strawberries, candied pecans and Champagne-Dijon vinaigrette; pan-roasted chicken with sundried tomato, artichoke and olives in a sherry wine manchego cream; gnocchi and an apple tart with caramel sauce.

Speakers included past residents Ima Mattel, Ashly Nufio Mazel and Madisen Williams, while Founding Director Judy Vaughan spoke of the “power of proximity” to those receiving services.

The fundraiser luncheon raised more than $100,000, which will go toward continuing to provide supportive services for residents and families who are moving into

the newly purchased and renovated Kenmore Apartments that adjoin the original house on Alexandria Avenue.

• • •

The Alexandria House event was part of the kickoff to a very busy weekend — just like the pre-pandemic days of old! That same Thurs., June 1, morning, right at our historic Pan Pacific Park, dignitaries showed up in big numbers for the 8 a.m.

ceremony to reopen a park playground facility destroyed by vandalism in the summer of 2022. Mayor Karen Bass joined Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky in cutting the ribbon with the CEO of $236,000-donor Hackman Capital Partners (developer of TV City), Michael Hackman, retired Los Angeles Parks Foundation Executive Director Carolyn Ramsay and various parks officials and supporters.

• • •

The event-filled weekend included no fewer than four exciting activities that drew people from the neighborhood, starting on Sat., June 3, with the Windsor Square Hancock Park Historical Society (WSHPHS) “Secret Garden

Tour” of six lovely local gardens, four in Windsor Square and two in Fremont Place. A large volunteer committee, led by chairs and co-chairs Richard Battaglia, Jane Gilman, Debbie Alpers, June Bilgore and Joanne Osinoff, numbered more than 50 people. Hundreds of visitors supported the event.

• • •

That same evening, lots of locals headed to Griffith Park and the Los Angeles Zoo for the Beastly Ball 2023. Always one of the town’s most-anticipated annual fundraising events, whether you dress in a safari outfit or not, guests enjoy wonderful access to habitats and curators who answer questions and sometimes share an up-close encounter with one of the animals. Entertainment abounds throughout the grounds, and eateries from around the southland, including local favorites such as Pink’s Hot Dogs, El Cholo and Milk Jar Cookies, share samples of their victuals.

(Please turn to page 8)

AT ALEXANDRIA HOUSE: (left to right) Mary Woodward, Beverly Brown, Kiel FitzGerald, Dre Guttag and Danielle Reyes.

WSHPHS garden tourists included, from left, Anne Loveland, Martha Welborne, Janet Loveland and Sue Carr.

TELEVISON CITY’S Michael Hackman speaks at the dedication of a Pan Pacific Park playground replacement funded by Hackman Capital Partners as Mayor Karen Bass and Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky look on.

GARDEN TOUR VOLUNTEERS including (from left) Connie Richey, Alex Elliott, Jolin Crofts, Juanita Kempe, Marlene Zweig and Grace Kaminski welcome Windsor Square Hancock Park Historical Society guests at the Bilgore home in Windsor Square.

BEASTLY BALL treats included El Cholo Green Corn Tamales served by Koah Arellanes and Alma Corona.

Around the Town

(Continued from page 6)

A big feature of this year’s Beastly Ball was its posthumous honor to our former councilmember, the late Tom LaBonge, who was recognized as the Betty White Conservation Hero. Like the late Betty White, LaBonge was a long-time loyal supporter of the Zoo.

• • •

The WSHPHS leaders hardly had time to catch their collective breaths when, the day after the garden tour, they gathered a group at the Hollywood Heritage Museum (nearby at

the Hollywood Bowl) — in the circa-1895 Lasky-DeMille Barn — on Sun., June 4. (This

Providing Advanced

newspaper’s “On Preservation” columnist, Brian Curran, is the president of Hollywood Heritage.) The reason for the gathering was to be thoroughly entertained and informed by the vivacious (still, at age 94) Nancy Olson Livingston, who discussed her life since starring as an ingénue actress in 1950’s classic “Sunset Boulevard.” She also signed copies of her fascinating life tale, “A Front Row Seat.”

• • •

Several hours following the Livingston talk, another cultural institution, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO), was the beneficiary of the hospitality of Hancock Park’s Robert Ronus. As host of a “LACO House Party,” he and about 30 friends, many from the neighborhood, enjoyed music by Mozart and others, presented by three LACO musicians who played clarinet, bassoon and cello. What a busy weekend!

• • •

The following week saw hundreds of people attending the 20th anniversary rendition of Tarfest, held in Pan Pacific Park instead of its regular home in the grassy fields adjacent to the La Brea Tar Pits — this year coping with nextdoor construction activity by both Metro and the County Art Museum. But there was lots of wide open space at Pan Pacific, and Tarfest impresario James Panozzo was everywhere, overseeing musical performances, art installations and creative activities for people of all ages — and all free. Among those exhibiting on the lawn was Television City, explaining its TVC 2050 project with charts and illustrations. The proposed expansion of TV City is right next to Pan Pacific Park.

• • •

And finally, to wrap up the merry month of June, dresses sparkled, shoes glittered, and stylish shirts and ties were the unofficial dress code as supporters showed up en masse to celebrate the second annual “Hollywood Under the Stars” fundraiser for St. Vincent Meals On Wheels (SVMOW) on the Paramount Studios lot on Sat., June 24. The sold-out event kicked off with a glamorous Veuve Clicquot VIP

HONOREE TOM LaBONGE’S family and friends at the Beastly Ball included (from left) Kathleen Maguire, Debra and Charles Lovatelli, Charles LaBonge, Mary-Cate LaBonge, Brigid LaBonge and Ian Guerra.

AT 94-YEARS-YOUNG, Nancy Olson Livingston signs her new book.

SUPPORTING the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra at the home of Robert Ronus were (from left) Jim and Daryl Twerdahl, Carl Anderson, Susana Funsten and Betsy Anderson.

TARFEST 2023 in Pan Pacific Park featured music and art.

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Loida Umipig, Registered Nurse, Mother-Baby department

Around the Town

(Continued from page 8) reception in the Paramount Theatre. Then, the chic Old Hollywood-styled guests segued to tables in front of the famous Bronson Gate arch to eat, drink and enjoy musical notes from the de Bois All Stars, a 10-piece live band whose music filled the

summer air. Nearly a dozen top chefs from all over the city, including Chef Gino Angelini of nearby Angelini Osteria, dished out a wide variety of specialty dinner items for the guests. “Host Angel Chef” Isais Peña, Caruso Regional Executive Chef of Hanks and Qué Padre, served as the event’s first-ever culinary am-

bassador. Co-hosts actor Doug Savant and newscaster Susan Hirasuna introduced guests and presented a video describing the impact that SVMOW continues to have on the lives of the elderly in Los Angeles.

The Daughters of Charity, whose order established St. Vincent Meals On Wheels in 1977, presented its “Vincent’s Heart” Award to actor Mar-

tin Sheen for his “standing in solidarity with those who have been forgotten and discounted.”

Longtime Meals On Wheels supporter and Windsor Square resident Rick Llanos was designated the event’s Honorary Host, and he told the guests about the original mission of the late Sister Alice Marie and her colleagues, saying, “I don’t think they ever, in their wildest dreams, would have thought that their project back in the 1970s would grow to be what it is today — a program that’s delivering to seniors over 100,000 nutritious meals a month. It’s quite amazing what this group has done, and it’s all thanks to people like yourselves, who have come out here tonight to help support this cause.”

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, celebrating 100 years of the iconic Hollywood Sign, collaborated in presenting the event.

And now you’re in the Larchmont know!

CARES helps hospital, patients

By John Welborne

At Los Angeles General Medical Center (formerly Los Angeles County — USC Medical Center), the 40-year-old CARES hospital auxiliary not only distributes clothing, it also has refurbished the Pediatric Emergency Room waiting area as well as the family waiting room in the Pediatric ICU at the Medical Center.

Furthermore, CARES provides a holiday children’s gift giveaway where pediatric patients and other patients’ children receive gifts at holiday time. Since 2019, CARES has partnered with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and holds twice-monthly food distributions at the Medical Center for patients and community members who do not have access to adequate and nutritious food. This effort has benefitted more than 38,000 families to date. CARES also provides nutritional support to the Medical Center’s geriatric clinic patients and provides clothing and shoes for more than 100 in-need patients who are being discharged from the hospital.

Readers interested in helping may reach CARES at lacusccares@gmail.com or call local board member Toby Horn at (323) 409-6941.

by Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald

You know who you are beauty DIY-ers. Let me guess, you jumped on pore strips when they first hit the market. I get it. The ability to wield substantial control over your skincare at home is empowering. Get ready to be thrilled by the slathering and peeling that comes with CO2Lift Carboxy Gel Treatment. But mostly by the results.

You can think of the Carboxy Gel mask as an alternative in the summer to laser treatments for your face, neck and hands. Yes, it’s that effective. Here’s how it works: when you mix the gel before application, CO2 gas is formed. As the CO2 penetrates your skin, your body reacts with a rush of oxygen-rich blood to provide nutrition and hydration (as in an increase of moisture by 117%). Peel off the mask to reveal every good skin-related adjective: bright, plump, firm, tight, smooth, silky and glowing. You’ll see the reduction of dark circles, puffiness around the eyes, and diminished lines and wrinkles, We are offering CO2Lift Carboxy Gel Treatment with our facials, before or after specific procedures, and of course, for home use.

Contact our office to ask about CO2Lift Carboxy Gel Treatments. Clients are loving it before big events or on any day they want to look exceptional.

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 from around the world to teach proper injection techniques for Radiesse, the volumizing filler. Dr. Fitzgerald is an assistant clinical professor at UCLA. Visit online at www.RebeccaFitzgeraldMD.com or call (323) 464-8046 to schedule an appointment.

SVMOW HONORARY HOST Rick Llanos (right) shares a light moment with Martin Sheen, recipient of the evening’s “Vincent’s Heart” Award.

SUPPORTERS of Meals On Wheels attending the party included Kathy and Mike Gless of Windsor Square.

MELROSE area resident Catherine Mann Roseme with actor and Meals On Wheels party co-host Doug Savant.

Larchmont Boulevard Association Directory of Services

LANDIS GIFTS & STATIONERY 584 N. Larchmont, Suite B 323-465-7003

VILLAGE HEIGHTS

122 1/2 N. Larchmont 323-463-9410

HEALTH AND FITNESS / MASSAGE

D R PILATES 5665 Melrose Avenue, #109 323-378-6333

HEALING HANDS WELLNESS CENTER 414 N. Larchmont 323-461-7876

HOMEOWNER GROUPS

HANCOCK PARK HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION. EST. 1948 137 N. Larchmont, #719

LARCHMONT VILLAGE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

WINDSOR SQUARE ASSOCIATION

BHUMI DESAI, D.D.S. - Children’s Dentist 411 N. Larchmont

GOGAN, TIMOTHY C., D.D.S. - General/Cosmetic 321 N. Larchmont, Suite 714

KEZIAN, DR. ARTHUR A., D.D.S.

443 N. Larchmont

323-466-3279

323-469-6269

323-467-2777

LARCHMONT VILLAGE DENTAL SPECIALTY CENTER 321 N. Larchmont, Suite 721

NIEDERKOHR, RANDALL E., D.D.S. - Children

321 N. Larchmont, Suite 809

WONG, ELLIS, D.D.S. 607 N. Larchmont

DERMATOLOGY

FITZGERALD, REBECCA, M.D. 321 N. Larchmont, Suite 906

RITZ DRY CLEANING 306 N. Larchmont

DRY CLEANING

323-465-3116

323-463-8322

323-464-5555

323-464-8046

323-464-4860

Community Resources

J. Mitchell 500 W. Temple St. Rm. 866, LA 90012

Tel 213-974-2222 | HollyJMitchell@bos.lacounty.gov

Third District (N. of Beverly Bl.)

Lindsey Horvath 500 W. Temple St. Rm. 821, LA 90012

Tel 213-974-3333 | lindseyhorvath@lacounty.gov

MAYOR

Karen Bass

City Hall - 200 N. Spring St. LA 90012

Tel 213-978-0600 | mayorhelpdesk@lacity.gov

CITY COUNCILMEMBER

Hugo Soto-Martinez - 13th District

City Hall 200 N. Spring St. Rm 480 LA 90012

Tel 213-473-7013 | councilmember.soto-martinez@lacity.org

POLICE

Olympic Stn. Sr. Lead Officer Joe Pelayo • 213-793-0709

Wilshire Stn. Sr. Lead Officer Dave Cordova • 213-793-0630

Interested in Filming on Larchmont?

Call Larchmont Boulevard Association Filming Coordinator John Winther at 310-704-5885 for more information.

Six-month update on progress in CD5 School’s out — beat the heat with fun activities!

Summer is now in full swing! Just over six months ago, I was sworn in as the Councilwoman for the 5th District. Together, we have made significant progress in key areas that directly impact the lives of our community.

From housing and homelessness to transportation, climate action and quality of life, our accomplishments reflect our commitment to transforming Council District 5 and our city.

Meaningfully addressing our housing and homelessness crisis continues to be our city’s most pressing priority. In the past six months, we have successfully moved 100 individuals off the streets in CD 5, providing them with a chance to rebuild their lives. In so doing, we resolved high-profile encampments at Sixth Street and Fairfax Avenue, along San

Ratkovich

(Continued from page 1) podium.

Homelessness

Although Ratkovich was being saluted for his long career in real estate development, what he wanted to share with the audience was his current eleemosynary activity — working with other private sector leaders to help resolve the problem of rampant and dangerous street dwelling in Los Angeles.

Beginning during his recent term as president of the Jonathan Club, Ratkovich has organized symposia for Jonathan Club members and guests to learn about specific aspects of homelessness and solutions that can be implemented.

In accepting his award, Ratkovich explained that the involvement of the private Jonathan Club in this civic matter evolved because its leaders recognized that the city is in a crisis. “We at the Jonathan Club asked, ‘What can we do?’ We decided that … we have a platform, a facility in the City of Los Angeles … and that it was time for us to step up.”

During the past several months, the club hosted three symposia on homelessness, fully knowing, said Ratkovich, that, “other people around the

CD 5 Council Report

by Katy Young Yaroslavsky

Vicente Boulevard and at Jasmine Avenue, ensuring safer and cleaner neighborhoods for all. Moreover, the city adopted an historic $1.3 billion budget allocation of new funding to tackle homelessness effectively. It is a bold step toward addressing this crisis head-on.

Recognizing the urgency of the housing crisis, I am proud to have supported the largest expansion of tenant rights in four decades. We cannot address homelessness without addressing its causes, and this legislation will help prevent people from

falling into homelessness. In our ongoing efforts to create more affordable housing options, I also introduced legislation to accelerate the development of new, 100 percent affordable housing units, and I led the effort to repeal a costly and unwise city policy that hindered the construction of housing on city-owned parking lots.

We have also made significant progress on transforming our transportation system into one that prioritizes people over cars. I am honored to have been appointed to the Metro Board, as well as the city’s Transportation Committee. So far, we have been able to double the funding for speed humps around elementary schools and implement new traffic safety measures

(Please turn to page 13)

Letters

(Continued from page 2) mont Village? I’ve never seen anyone get a ticket at all.

Michael Huens Hancock Park

I was interested to read the article about the reckless behavior of those who park in the middle lane on Larchmont Boulevard.

School’s out, the days are getting hotter and summer is in full swing. To beat the heat or just to have a great day of family fun, we want to bring you some of the best activities you can find locally this summer.

Cool off at the Hollywood Pool & Recreation Center

The Hollywood Pool at 1122 Cole Ave. is open for the summer. Daily admission is just $4 for adults and $1 for youth. Full season passes for kids up to age 17 are available for as little as $10!

In addition to the Hollywood Recreation Center’s amazing summer programming, the pool has swim lessons for children and adults.

Plus, thanks to investments that our office was able to include in this year’s city budget, the pool will now be open year-round. So if you’re out of town this summer, you can still take advantage of this amazing public amenity in the fall and enjoy the heated pool.

Free activities through the L.A. Public Library

Did you know that your

CD 13 Council Report by

Hugo Soto-Martinez

library card gets you into California state parks for free?

You can also rent free bird watching gear at the library to take with you on your trip!

From museum tickets, to 3D printing, to classes and activities, a simple library card can open up a world of possibilities this summer — all at no cost. Check out more details at lapl.org/services-programs.

Support small businesses

All summer long, we hope you can support some of the many amazing small businesses on Larchmont Boulevard and around local neighborhoods. Small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities. So whether it’s a bite to eat or a tasty treat — we hope you can stop by some of the incredible establishments that make our neighborhoods so special.

city are doing exactly the same thing, and that’s wonderful to hear because the more of us that speak up … the better.”

The symposia featured speakers including those “who are out on the street every day, even homeless people.”

Ratkovich said that, “When we’re finished with [the final] symposium, we’re going to publish a paper. It is a paper that will contain what we think we have learned from the four symposia.” He noted that the shortfall of needed housing is obvious, but that, “For us to succeed on the homeless issue, we need to deal with everything … and that includes alcohol addiction, criminality, mental illness.

“They’re all there. And we’re kidding ourselves if we think we can solve this problem in a simple way. It is a major issue, and it requires the best we have to offer.”

Ratkovich is the founder and CEO of The Ratkovich Company, for 40-plus years a Los Angeles-based development firm often specializing in historic preservation, including of local landmarks like the Wiltern Theater and its surrounding Pellisier Building, The Downtown-based chapter of Rotary International is the fifth oldest group of Rotarians in the United States.

I have been deeply concerned for the last couple of years about this practice.  I have young nephews and elderly parents who frequent Larchmont, and that long line of cars and the drivers who have the chutzpah to take up the critical turning lane really rile me.

I know that people think it’s OK because they are only “parking for a minute,” but that means the rest of us can only make a left turn at the peril of pedestrian traffic. We need that left turn lane to remain open for us to use. What plans are in place for neighborhood police / traffic control to begin ticketing cars?  Please advise.

Julie Goler

South Carthay

[After hearing about the issues on Larchmont Boulevard, LAPD West Traffic plans to survey the area. — Ed.]

Median proposed

With the “glow up” of Larchmont in full swing, it’s time to bring the physical street into 2023. I propose a center median landscaping project along lower Larchmont Boulevard, between First and Beverly. Not only will the project bring some much-needed green space to the street, it also will solve the problem of unsafe u-turns and double parking. At crossing points, we could introduce seating, tables and outdoor common areas. Considering we would be doing construc-

tion on the street, it would be the natural point to install smart parking meters and EV charging infrastructure.

Greg Pearson Hancock Park

Support also provided by CARES

In the Larchmont Chronicle’s May 2023 “Around the Town” report on the “Chic Affaire” event for the Assistance League of Los Angeles, one League member is quoted as emphasizing that the “League is the only local organization that gives clothing and other items to disadvantaged Los Angeles

children and teens on a consistent basis.” The Assistance League is to be commended for its decades of work in this field, but your readers should know that — a bit further away, in Lincoln Heights — a 40-year-old nonprofit, CARES, continuously provides assistance whenever requested to pediatric and teen patients and their families who do not have adequate clothing nor essential basic household necessities.

Toby Horn Miracle Mile North [See more information on CARES on Page 10. — Ed.]

WAYNE RATKOVICH (far left) with (left to right)) Jo Ann Ratkovich, Darryl Holter and Brenda Levin, who introduced Wayne.

Larchmont

(Continued from page 1)

cerning the memorabilia of Village Pizzeria’s founders, the Steve and Nancy Cohen family, and other matters.

Faherty, the men’s and women’s clothing store at 219 N. Larchmont Blvd., opened June 10. Operations Manager Delio Jaramillo told us that locals have been introducing themselves and welcoming the store to the neighborhood.

“It’s been great so far,” said Marsha, the store’s manager. “We love the whole culture of Larchmont.”

This store will be the New Jersey-based company’s 54th

CD 5 Report

(Continued from page 12) around Hancock Park Elementary School in the wake of this April’s tragic traffic death. We also expanded Metro Bike Share in Westwood, began the process for installing a new Bus Priority Lane Project on La Brea Avenue and added bus-only and bike lanes on Venice Boulevard.

As chair of the Energy and Environment Committee, I introduced legislation to provide additional oversight and community safety measures on the Department of Water and Power’s plan to convert the Scattergood power plant to burn green hydrogen. I have pressed to improve LADWP’s customer service, which we know was unacceptable during last year’s rainstorms.

At my first council meeting, I asked LAPD to report on hate crimes, given the rise in antisemitic violence. Only

location. Faherty’s style is beachy, comfortable and bohemian. In addition to clothing, customers will find

months into office, we saw two local men attacked simply for appearing Jewish. In the city’s budget, I was able to secure funds to expand the Jewish Federation’s Community Security Initiative to help make our communities safer.

Finally, my staff and I have focused on improving the quality of life in District 5. We funded a Clean Team that cleans streets and alleys and does minor tree and landscape maintenance and graffiti abatement. Additionally, we completed several alley repair and resurfacing projects, and we planted new street trees in high impact business corridors.

I am proud of our collective accomplishments in just six months. These achievements are a testament to the dedication and collaboration of our community. I look forward to continuing our efforts to create an even better future for District 5. Thank you for your trust and support.

flip-flops, socks and Raen brand sunglasses.

Bacio di Latte also has opened for business. With flavors like limone sorbet, peanut butter gianduja and a classic stracciatella, the store

at 141 1/2 N. Larchmont Blvd. is seeing scores of new customers stopping by for scoops.

Another flavor note: While strolling the Boulevard, keep your olfactory senses in action to catch the scent of baking cookies. Levain

Bakery opened at 227 N. Larchmont Blvd. on June 24 at 8 a.m. with a team ribbon cutting. The first 100 people in line received a Levain Bakery Larchmont Village tote

Philip M. Hawley

July 29, 1925 - May 25, 2023

Longtime local resident Philip Metschan Hawley, 97, died peacefully at his home in Hancock Park on May 25, 2023. He was born in Portland, Oregon on July 29, 1925 to Willard Prescott Hawley, Jr., and Dorothy Eleanor Metschan. A proud Oregonian, he spoke with great admiration of his ancestors and their many sacrifices and accomplishments. He enjoyed a cherished childhood surrounded by loving parents and four siblings, and during his teenage years formed close lifelong friendships.

LEVAIN BAKERY was set to open June 24 after we went to press.

bag with bakery swag, and throughout opening day there were balloon twisting, face painting and other activities. And, of course, cookies were served fresh out of the oven.

The bakery also offers pastries, cakes, breads and rolls.

The proceeds from Levain Bakery Larchmont’s opening day will be donated to Alexandria House, a bakery spokesperson told us.

Phil attended UC Berkeley during World War II, a member of the V-12 Navy College Training Program while earning Phi Beta Kappa honors. Shortly before graduation in 1946 he met a young woman from Alhambra, Calif., Mary Catherine Follen. He knew instantly this vivacious Irish Catholic girl was the perfect match for his evenkeeled Protestant personality, and the two were engaged within six weeks. They were married on May 31, 1947, at St. Gregory Church in Los Angeles. Phil would reflect amusingly on their modest circumstances in those early years, as the young couple returned from their honeymoon with just $1.58 to their name.

Phil and Mary started their own small business, opening the Broadway Ice Cream Bowl in Portland, with the first of many children arriving soon after. In 1958 they moved to Los Angeles, settling in Windsor Square, where they became active members of St. Brendan parish, Loyola High School, and many other civic and charitable organizations. Together they raised a family of eight children while Phil’s retailing career grew, as he ultimately led Broadway Department Stores and oversaw the national expansion of Neiman Marcus, among other accomplishments. His children would marvel at how, despite the demands of his career, he never missed a child’s birthday or family celebration.

Phil enjoyed vacationing in Newport Beach, where he and the family would often embark on sunset cruises from their home in Beacon Bay. He possessed an incredible mind with perfect recall of events from decades earlier, nourished largely on a diet of bacon, donuts, butter, peanut butter sandwiches, more butter, and Dr. Pepper. In his youth he possessed a deadly accurate basketball shot and in his later years he took great pride in his collection of first edition Sherlock Holmes mysteries and was an avid reader of Winston Churchill biographies.

No tribute to Phil would be complete without recognizing his incredible warmth and generosity of spirit. A quintessential gentleman, the true measure of Phil’s life can only be measured in the countless enduring friendships he forged. Phil had a remarkable gift for making each person he met feel truly special and appreciated, and yet he would be the first to tell you it was his life that was most enriched by these experiences.

The deepest range of Phil’s affection was held for his family, who knew nothing but unconditional love from him. In every interaction, his children saw an example of kindness, patience, and support. Even as the many children that followed might have overwhelmed most, Phil’s deep reservoir of love grew in equal measure.

Known affectionately as “Poppy” to his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, it was not an uncommon sight to see them pile into his 1929 Ford Model A for a tour of Hancock Park or join him at his decades-long, all-family weekly Saturday lunch on Larchmont Boulevard at the Gingham Garden and later at the Larchmont Deli. Most especially, Phil was completely devoted to his wife Mary. Their union grew in affection for 71 years, and his love for her manifested itself most tenderly in Mary’s final years.

Phil was predeceased by his wife Mary, his parents, his brother Willard, and his sisters Adele and Barbara. He is survived by his eight children: Diane (Bruce), Willard (Joy), Philip Jr. (Janelle), John (Barbara), Victor (Diane), Ned, Erin (Kevin), and George (Jane); his 24 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; and his sister Dinda.

A requiem mass was held at St. Brendan Church on Monday, June 12, and interment was at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City. Donations in Phil’s honor can be made to Loyola High School (www.loyolahs.edu/giving/) or St. Brendan Catholic Church (stbrendanla.org/give).

OPEN for business, Bacio di Latte serves up scoops.

FAHERTY is now open on the Boulevard.

Ecclesia Gnostica Gnostic Christian Church Bishop Dr. Stephan Hoeller

Tails told and purr-fect pictures of pets from our fair land

By Suzan Filipek

Trixie is the newest member of Sarah Tilley’s busy household on Lucerne Boulevard and Second Street. “She was quite skinny and scared when we got her, but she’s quickly settled in and is a source of great joy for our family… My two kids have fallen in love.”

Besides chasing squirrels and birds, “Her favorite thing in the world is to go into Tailwaggers on Larchmont and get a treat from the employees.”

Read on for more Pets of Larchmont:

Robin Jameson of South Lucerne Boulevard says, “My Dobermans [Josie, 12, and Sonny, 3] are ever vigilant protectors of Windsor Square.”

Miles Chenwald is here dressed in his frog hoodie at Go Get Em Tiger on Larchmont Boulevard. “Miles is a mixed breed and will be 5 in July, we think. He was adopted,” says Lynn Chen, Larchmont Village.

“My cat Yoki likes to sleep under the covers,” Colleen Friend of North Windsor Boulevard tells us.

Callie “was the only black golden doodle in a litter of blondes,” Paul Newman and Mary Pickhardt, Irving Boulevard, tell us. “She recently graduated from puppy school,

earning the ‘most improved’ award… Callie is energetic, quirky and observant and loves to say hi to people on Larchmont,” Paul adds.

Marcello is a ragamuffin — a breed derived from ragdolls — Tamara Blustein of Westchester Place explains.  “They are supposed to be quite large, around 18 pounds or so, but he’s a runt, and stays at a slim 13 pounds.  All my other cats (three) are rescues.”

Mookie “was named after our favorite Dodger, Mookie Betts,” Marsha Goodman and Dan Einstein of Norton Avenue tell us.

Vincent LeVeque and wife Karen Jefchak of Plymouth Boulevard adopted Corro (I run) from Downtown Dog Rescue.  “He is 100% Ameri-

can pit bull terrier,” LeVeque tells us.

Bella and Addy chill at Manhattan Place with Mary Deles.

Olive is a 12-year-old “bloodhound lady,” Paul Hoen of Norton Avenue tells us.

“She has lived here all her life and enjoys barking and howling and saying hello to all the other dogs that pass our house.”

Maddie, 6, is a fashionista Maltipoo whose hobbies include chasing balls and napping, Bill Johnson and H.J. Paik of North Arden Boulevard tell us.

Ron Bran of Plymouth Boulevard tells us his “pandemic” Polish sheep dog, Sunny, “loves going to Larchmont daily for a treat at Tailwaggers.”

David Weidman of North

(Please turn to page 15)

DOBERMANS Josie, 12, and Sonny, 3, stand guard.

MILES CHENWALD dressed in his frog hoodie.

YOKI likes to sleep under the covers.

CALLIE enjoys the view.

MARCELLO in the tub.

SUNNY COOPER

MADDIE in the latest fashions.

MOOKIE is a Dodgers fan.

CORRO enjoys himself on a fine Larchmont Village lawn.

BELLA AND ADDY

Pets

(Continued from page 14)

Rossmore Avenue walks Cooper, an 80-pound golden doodle, around Larchmont Village. “He’s very friendly and loves people and dogs. He rarely barks except when food is involved or when I show up to walk him. He’s very good-natured and a little mischievous.”

Lucy, a 2-year-old poodle mix, was adopted by Sue and George Merlis of Lucerne Boulevard. “Lucy’s favorite walk is along Larchmont, where she takes every open store door as an invitation to enter and sniff around. Next to chasing squirrels up trees, it’s her favorite activity,” George Merlis tells us.

Tishy was named after “my sister who passed away,” Suzanne Wilton tells us. Her other cat, Timmy, was named after her late brother. “They are great company and they love each other,” adds Wilton, who lives on Windsor Boulevard in a house her husband grew up in. “It was actually moved here in the 1920s when they built Bullocks Wilshire. I

also grew up in the neighborhood at 421 Wilton Place. We love living here,” she says.

Willie, 12, and Michael Soriano are regular customers at Go Get Em Tiger. They “love meeting new people and dogs on a daily basis,” Soriano says. “Come by and say hi.”

Gary Private of Gramercy Place and Third Street sent us a photo of his orange tabby, Beany, with a picture of his late brother, Bond T. Pussycat.

Zephyr guesstimates he is roughly 9,100 kilometers from the Veuve Clicquot champagne house in Reims. The miniature schnauzer enjoys the good life at his South Larchmont Boulevard home with John Iglar and Jeremy Braud.

Sophia Lo of North Bronson Avenue sent us a photo of her

“puppy,” Abby, an 11-monthold European English golden retriever.

While Toby hails from Irving Boulevard with Annie O’Rourke and the O’Rourke/ Taormina family, in a previous life she was a street cat and fostered outside (hence the clipped ear).

Two Persians join two dogs in a home in Larchmont Village. “We also have a 7 1/2-year-old daughter, so it is a bit of a zoo at our house!”

explains Melanie Kaplan. Peter, 5, a terrier mix, and Appa, 3, a husky and shepherd mix, join Persians Kiyomi and Schmoopy doopers

Yee haw! Beau, 15, a Havanese, sports his Montana cowboy hat and recently celebrated his birthday with some of his furry neighbors, Adrienne and Stephen Cole of Windsor Square tell us.

Elvis is the king of Bronson Avenue, Linda Sunshine of North Bronson Avenue tells us. “Elvis was born in a ditch behind the Home Depot near Lancaster. The rescue lady told me he was a Chihuahua and wouldn’t be more than 12 pounds. Ha!

“Turns out he is a pit bull / German shepherd mix and now tips the scales at 58 pounds. His friends at Peet’s call him the biggest Chihuahua in Larchmont.”

Elsie, a “purebred poodle and half everything else” lives with the Siegel family near Beachwood Drive and Beverly Boulevard. “We rescued her when she was 10. She’s almost 11! She loves to snuggle and play with her favorite toy, mousie. Elsie is a fierce protector but absolutely loves

(Please turn to page 16)

LUCY TISHY AND TIMMY

ZEPHYR counts the kilometers to his favorite champagne destination.

WILLIE

ABBY

BEANY

KIYOMI and SCHMOOPY DOOPERS (Kiyomi is the allwhite cat).

COWBOY Beau.

PRINCE ALBERT, aka Albie.

SWEET Elsie.

THE KING of Bronson, Elvis.

PETER and APPA (Peter is the smaller dog).

TOBY

Pets

(Continued from page 15)

belly rubs,” Danielle tells us. Prince Albert, aka Albie, lives royally on South Lucerne Boulevard with Judy Zeller.

“Kodak loves to wear daddy’s hat — especially while watching movies on TV,” say Crescenzo Notarile and Carolyn Trampf. Kodak adds, “Mommy takes me on long walks around Larchmont, so I can see all my many friends… Then we go to Tail Waggers for a treat — my favorite shop

on the strip.”

Kashi, a 4-month-old toy golden doodle, lives on Sycamore Avenue. “But we consider Larchmont Village our neighborhood! You’ll find us there often eating at Burger Lounge and Larchmont Wine and Cheese and shopping!” Jessica Replansky and her three sons tell us.

Kathleen Losey’s standard poodle, Francis, and Kramer the Pomeranian join her at home in Windsor Square, where she’s lived 53 years.

Oscar and Emmet are cairn

terriers and Franklin is a Biewer terrier. “They’re all happily settled in Hancock Park,” Peter Golden tells us. Lady Violet is a blue classic torbie with white Maine coon.  “Her favorite activities include balancing on the banister, exploring high places

and splashing in any water she can find. Lady Violet is a character!” the Dalton Family, Fremont Place, tell us.

“Meet one of my wonderful Tonkinese babies, Lavender ,” says Joan Kors of Hancock Park.

“My hamster, Snowball, is cute, furry, energetic and lovable,” Ayin Im tells us. “She was adopted by us last November and even though she is small, she eats a lot and moves very fast. One thing special about her is her amazing power to devour vegetables. She loves any type of fruit, vegetable and more. Her top three favorite foods are: broccoli, apples and cucumbers. She just loves those! I have a picture of her eating broccoli which was so cute! She is one special dish!”

Stella, a border collie on Plymouth Boulevard, “is my son Jake’s dog,” says Iris Petersen. “But I love her so she’s half mine.”

“Jake got Stella in his senior year at University of Michigan,” she adds. “She was the last one in the litter and Jake rescued her. We flew her back to Los Angeles after he graduated.”

Stella and Stanley enjoy life on Beachwood Drive with Melanie and Ron Mulligan.

Franklyn and Eleanor enjoy pasta dinners at the Mary Samuelson and Louis Fantasia home in Windsor Square.

Wilbur lives on North Rossmore with Kim Lemon and Mike Levine.

Our golden gang is Willet, 5, and Orbie, 2, Gabriela Lopez and Tyler Stahl of N. Arden Boulevard, tell us.

Gussie, a 16 1/2 year old pug mix, lives with Judianne and Ken Jaffe and four cats on June Street. “Gussie was res(Please turn to page 17)

LADY VIOLET

KODAK wearing daddy’s hat.

FRANKLIN, Oscar and Emmet.

SNOWBALL “is one special dish!”

WAITING FOR MOM. Kramer and Francis.

LAVENDER

Pets

(Continued from page 16)

cued from the East LA City Shelter when she was 4. She used to have a black face!  She is a precious little sweet heart!” Judianne says.

Rosie, 11, loves her Larchmont Boulevard walks, says Susan Gilig of Beachwood Drive.

Byrdie lives on Lorraine Boulevard with Serena Duff.

“Our cat Gabby passed away in March. She was an outstanding kitty. We took her off the street and enjoyed 11

great years with her,” Annissa Lui and Joshua Tompkins of North Gower tell us.

Betty and Jackson have a cozy life on Citrus Avenue with “mom” Cynthia Markus.

Ethel-Mae loves her walks around the neighborhood and to Larchmont Village.

Honey Dew and Rose Dolly enjoy the good life on South Gramercy Drive with Jonathan Sheldon.

Sophie is living her best life at home and on Larchmont Boulevard, where she can be spotted daily, Susan Goodman tell us. “Sophie makes every day marvelous,” adds Goodman, who has lived on Plymouth Boulevard for 52 years.

And last but certainly not least is the Largemont Dog Club. Its members are mostly Saint Bernard pups, such as Stanley, 1, and Elvin, a mastiff, looks forward to his first birthday. They meet weekly to

bark, cavort and more or less soak one another in drool in a local backyard and on outings to Larchmont, K.T. Wiegman

of Larchmont Village tells us. And there you have them — this year’s adorable, interesting and always fun local pack!

Furry cuddles, purrs await at Melrose Avenue cat café

By Talia Abrahamson

Cat people will get fuzzy feelings from Crumbs & Whiskers, 7924 Melrose Ave. Kittens, all rescued and available for adoption, live in the café, and they are ready for snuggles from friends of felines to forever families.

Crumbs & Whiskers opened in 2016, and it is Los Angeles’ original cat café. Unique within the wildly popular combination of cats and food first tried out in Taiwan in the 1990s is Crumb & Whisker’s local social mission.

All of its cats, with ages ranging from 4 months to 3 years, are rescued from euthanasia by high-risk kill shelters by The Cat’s Meow, the café’s partner

CATS in the café are all rescued through Los Angeles nonprofit The Cat’s Meow.

organization. Many are strays from the neighborhood along streets like Rosewood and Mel-

(Please turn to page 19)

GABBY

BETTY and JACKSON

ETHEL-MAE, 14, is a crème pied Frenchie.

LARGEMONT DOG CLUB, left to right: Saint Bernards Queenie, Huckleberry and Stanley, and Elvin, a mastiff. Not pictured: Toejam.

HONEY DEW, ROSE DOLLY

SOPHIE

GUSSIE

BYRDIE

ROSIE

Pets of Hollywood Forever Cemetery are living a beautiful life

By Casey Russell

A picturesque oasis in the heart of the city, Hollywood Forever Cemetery is home to a surprising variety of wild and cared for animals. The cemetery was founded in 1899 and is the final resting place of Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Mel Blanc and Cecil B. DeMille, to name a few.

Eddie Martinez joined the Hollywood Forever staff in 2015. He told us that he used to visit as a child with his father. “This place was completely different [then],” said Martinez. “Monuments were on their sides, gates were open… it was bad.” As to animals, squirrels were the main residents.

Fortunately, Tyler Cassidy bought Hollywood Forever in 1998. Believing the space could be an area for more than grieving, Cassidy began investing to make it into what it is today.

The cemetery is co-owned by Cassidy and Yogu Kanthiah. With their staff, they’ve created a beautiful space for families of all cultures to celebrate the lives of their departed. But the team also has brought life to the cemetery in a unique way — they’ve welcomed animals.

Peacocks

In 2005, the first pairs of peacocks were brought to Hollywood Forever. By the time Martinez came on in 2015, the peacock population had increased. In an effort to bring variety to the pride, Martinez arranged a trade of birds with a friend who owned an aviary.

There are now 51 resident

peacocks at the cemetery. Until several weeks ago, that number was 48. But Angel, a 4-year-old female, recently became mother to three sweet peachicks. The baby birds will remain in an enclosure until they are a bit older. Then they will roam free — night and day — like their fellow fowls. The birds are only herded into their two-story enclosure at the north end of the cemetery when a large event is taking place. This is done for the safety of the birds.

Martinez, a funeral coordinator at the cemetery, is in charge of all the animals at Hollywood Forever. “I kind of fell into that position because [the owners] saw how dedicated I was to all of them.”

The staff member is used to being around animals.

Growing up, said Martinez, “My house was a zoo.” He had a rooster, a duck, two cats, a dog, two scorpions and a 7-foot-long iguana.

“It’s fun,” Martinez said of

his job. “It’s relaxing, really. And it’s a pleasure to always be around them. There’s so much life.”

The peacocks are just one of the many species people may glimpse while visiting.

Swans

Zeus and Helen are the resident swans. Four years ago, employees got very excited because an egg was produced for the first time. As it turned out, though, Zeus is female. So, although eggs have become a yearly occurrence since then, they are unfertilized. No ugly ducklings will be seen any time soon.

Ducks

There are several Cayuga ducks that stay at the pond year-round. They are black with a metallic green sheen and are, we are told, quite friendly. The mallards and geese come and go. But ducklings and goslings grace the area around the pond every spring.

Felines

Fifty cats live on the

grounds. Of them, Growly is the most famous. He has his own Instagram account. run by Karie Bible, who gives cemetery tours. As soon as Bible shows up, Growly follows her all day, tagging along as she shows people around.

All of the cats are spayed, neutered and up-to-date on their vaccinations. Most were abandoned here. A local woman helps with their care.

Throughout the cemetery, cat boxes provide food and places for the felines to sleep. But it’s not just the cats that take advantage of this food. “It’s so interesting to see all these animals comingle. You’ll see a squirrel, a cat and a peacock eating all from the same bowl,” said Martinez. More

The one large on-site pond is home to 20 koi, along with

ZEUS the swan with fellow fowls at one of the cemetery’s many cat boxes.

a multitude of turtles. Hawks, owls, cormorants and the occasional blue heron visit. A recently abandoned chicken is soon going home with one of the groundskeepers.

Oreo, a black-and-white rabbit, was left at the cemetery four years ago and can be seen mingling with the peacocks.

“We all love these animals so much. We want the best for them,” said Martinez.

Four students awarded $10,000 each by Rotary

By Casey Russell

The Rotary Club of Los Angeles (LA5) recently awarded 25 $10,000 scholarships to students from Los Angeles. Four of these scholarships were bestowed upon students from Larchmont Charter High School: David Lee, Sol Kim, Abbik Ilyasov and Azimjon Sodikov.

A luncheon was held at The California Club in downtown Los Angeles to honor the recipients. LA5 President Malinda Monterrosa joined Wilshire Rotary Club president Joyce Kleifield at the event. The Larchmont Charter students are also members of Wilshire Rotary’s

Interact Club, which engages kids ages 12 to 18 in activities that help them discover the power of “service above self” — the Rotary motto — while developing leadership skills and interacting with Rotary members. “One of the reasons we had four kids chosen from our club is that… they were not only excelling in school, but they were involved in service,” said Kleifield.

With help from the scholarships, David Lee will be attending Yale University; Azimjon Sodikov will pursue studies at the UC Irvine; and Abbik Ilyasov and Sol Kim will both attend Claremont McKenna College.

MALE PEACOCK with Oreo the rabbit.

HELEN the swan sitting on her nest (right) with Zeus guarding.

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS (from left): David Lee and Abbik Ilyasov, and (far right): Azimjon Sodikov and Sol Kim. Wilshire Rotary President Joyce Kleifield and LA5 Rotary President Malinda Monterrosa are center.

Teens plan to be out in the world and the woods this summer

By Casey Russsell

Ridgewood / Wilton resident Sam Terr has exciting plans. The Buckley School student, who recently finished his junior year, will head to New York University on July 7.

Terr will be participating in the Tisch Summer High School Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music program. During four weeks of classes, juniors and seniors can earn college credits and study the aspects of the music business that involve recording, producing and distribution.

Having started playing the guitar at age 6, Terr has always liked music. He aims to become a music producer. When asked what he’ll be doing before heading off to learn about his dream job, Terr said, “I want to see how wide I can grow my wealth of knowledge… just see what I can do and push my limits.”

Another resident of Ridgewood / Wilton, Kayla Wolovitch, has outdoor plans for this summer. Wolovitch will be at Camp Tawonga in Yosemite for four weeks.

Cat café

(Continued from page 17) rose avenues.

“They’re definitely local,” manager Amber Headrick said. “We can say that they’ve always lived in LA or just right down the street.”

This is the second location of Crumbs & Whiskers, the first being in Washington, D.C. Through both locations, approximately 2,100 cats have been adopted.

Windsor Square resident Annie O’Rourke said she often found herself driving by Crumbs & Whiskers and decided to surprise her 8-yearold son, Ronan Taormina, with a visit there last month. He said the experience lived up to his expectations.

“My favorite part was that none of the cats ran away, and they were very playful,” Ronan said.

While there, she will do one week of training, take a white water river trip and serve as a counselor in training for three weeks.

The 17-year-old also has been planning a camping trip with her friend Avery Owen-Lara of Windsor Square. Both young women have experience hiking, backpacking and camping. But this will be the duo’s first camping trip sans parents.

Wolovitch said, “Booking

The family had adopted a cat, Toby, in September. Toby was skittish around Ronan and his younger brother.

O’Rourke thought the café with its more socialized cats would be a fun experience.

“I saw [Ronan] really calm down. It felt almost therapeutic for him to be there,”

O’Rourke said. “It’s nice, clean and white, and all these animals are very sweet. He did not want to leave.”

Crumbs & Whiskers partners with a café offsite to offer a selection of café items with a minimized risk of cat fur in your coffee. With a drink or pastry in hand — like Ronan’s beverage of choice, a “yummy” lemonade –– guests can enjoy their own small nibbles alongside the cats.

O’Rourke said she was upfront about not adopting a cat, but that did not stop Ronan from pleading to take

a campsite was more difficult than anticipated because many sites book up months in advance.” Fortunately, through perseverance and research, the two found a great spot to camp for two nights in La Jolla. They are excited to have some time to hang out and go inner-tubing down the river bisecting the campsite. After her outdoor adventures, Wolovitch says she’ll be doing lots of prep for her college applications.

home his favorite, Banzai. She herself took a special likening to Coco, who had just been voted “Cat of the Week.”

The café has been overall a successful way to market adoptable cats. Adoption takes $225 and about three weeks.

Headrick said half of all guests are looking to adopt, and, since September, she has

Stella Steitz of Melrose Hill will be participating in the Oxbridge Academic Programs this summer. Steitz, who will be a junior this fall, will fly to Oxford, England, for three weeks of classes in a variety of subjects. Then, because she is eager to practice her French language skills, Steitz will be continuing on to Paris. “This is going to be the first time I’ve been out of the country since I went to London in fifth or sixth grade,” Steitz said. She added that she feels lucky to be able to explore the world

seen about 80 adoptions. Most cats end up staying for only a couple of months. Their longest resident called the café home for just nine months. In addition to regular reservations ($25 for 30 minutes, $40 for 70 minutes), guests can sign up to attend monthly cat yoga sessions or themed play time, such as last month’s Pride Night, BTS Night, and

this summer.

When she returns, Steitz said her time will be spent finishing her summer homework for Marlborough, working at Jeni’s Ice Cream (if she gets the call saying she’s hired) and lending an ear with a Cedars-Sinai Medical Center-based hotline, Teen Line. Steitz works year-round with the hotline. Via texts, calls and emails, professionally trained teens support peers who contact the hotline. Steitz is working to pass a Teen Line test, which will promote her to handling phone calls. She encourages teens in need of support to call 800-8528336 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. PST.

At the end of August, Steitz hopes to go with a few friends to San Francisco or Santa Barbara. She said this would be for “some fun teenage stuff after the program.”

Apparently, our local teens have clear and varied ideas of how to spend their weeks off from school. We at the Chronicle wish them, and all of you, a great summer.

Taylor Swift Eras Tour Music Night. Crumbs & Whiskers also hosts birthday parties for children 7 (the minimum age for entry into the café) and up.

“If we were to adopt another cat, I would definitely go,” O’Rourke said. “You can get a sense of the personalities of the cats when you go there, and they’re doing things for a nice cause.”

RONAN TAORMINA, 8, and his mother, Annie O’Rourke, posed with their favorite cats, Banzai and Coco, for the café’s complimentary souvenir Polaroid image.

CAMPING at Ocean Mesa in Santa Barbara are, left to right, Avery Owen-Lara and Kayla Wolovitch.

SAM TERR plans to learn about his dream job.

STELLA STEITZ is ready for European travel.

Larchmont youth named Marlborough School Outstanding

My wife and I were watching the NBA playoffs, and at one point during a game, there seemed to be some confusion about the score. After debate and video-review, the officials finally got it sorted.

“The NBA should hire Rita Wright to keep score,” my wife commented.

That got us both laughing, but her point was valid. Focus

Rita Wright is an eighth grader at Marlborough School and has been the statistician and scorekeeper for the SBBA (St. Brendan Basketball Association) the past two years. There is nobody more focused than Rita when she’s behind the scorer’s table on Saturday and Sunday during basketball season.

“I appreciate her dedication and commitment to our league,” said SBBA director Abel De Luna. “We are proud to have her as part of SBBA.”

Marlborough

Rita attended St. Brendan School before transferring to Marlborough, the local allgirls independent school for grades 7-12. Marlborough offers 12 different sports throughout the school year for its students, and nobody has taken advantage of that athletic opportunity more than Rita Wright. She was recently presented the school’s Outstanding Athlete Award for grades 7-8.

Hoops

Rita’s favorite sport, and the one she’s best at, is basketball.

Youth Sports

by Jim Kalin

“My parents were the ones who influenced the start of my love for basketball,” admitted Rita.

Her mother Pamela — who played basketball in high school — coached Rita when she competed for St. Brendan and Goldie’s All-Girls League.

“We taught Rita the love of sports by shooting around with her, going to live games and having sports on TV at home,” explained Pamela.

“She loves watching March Madness and the NBA playoffs. It was important to her father and me that she felt comfortable watching and talking about sports as a girl.”

Rita will move up to the high school level next year, and Marlborough’s varsity squad, coached by Sixx Johnson, is one of the state’s better teams. This past February, the team was runner-up in the CIFSS (California Interscholastic Federation – Southern Section) Division I Tournament, losing to defending champion Orange Lutheran in the finals.

“I’m looking forward to having Rita up at the high school level,” said Coach Johnson.

“She works hard, and she constantly wants to improve. I’m

excited to see what she does in the next four years.”

Johnson recognizes that Rita is a natural leader, and he’s vigilant about cultivating that trait in her. At his summer basketball clinic, he put her in leadership roles during drills and warm-ups.

“Rita sees the game through so many lenses because she loves the sport and does so much extra.” Lacrosse Rita ran track last spring, but decided to go out for lacrosse this year.

“After one season of track, we quickly discovered that Rita is a team-sport athlete,” explained her mother.

“I had seen clips of lacrosse games, and I figured this would help me in basketball,” said Rita.

There were also a good number of her friends on the team who had previous playing experience, so Rita could

go to them when she had questions about the game.

“She picked it up with lightning speed,” said Marlborough lacrosse Coach Kendall Beeman. “She played defense and brought many of her basketball skills to the lacrosse field. They transferred so well.”

The lacrosse team ended 5-1 for the season and placed second in the league.

THE WILLOWS

Simone Meltzer

8th Grade

The end of the school year is always bittersweet. On June 13, The Willows Community School ended the year with its traditional step-up ceremony. The weeks leading up to step-up are action packed and funfilled, but also bring with them a tinge of sadness. At times, we will miss coming to school.

The list of end-of-year moments is long. There was an inspiring visit from Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientist David Oh, who talked about his work on the Psyche Mission. Many stu-

Rita Wright loves competition, and thrives on camaraderie and family. Her younger brother Nico also competes in basketball.

“Nico and I play one-onone,” laughed Rita. “And I always win. He claims basketball is not his main sport, but he just needs an excuse for me crushing him.”

Did I mention that Rita Wright doesn’t like to lose?

dents participated in Arts Night, which showcased dance pieces, a poetry ensemble, a rock band and the choir. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th grades had their final exhibitions. The 5th grade provided the school with an exhibition that gave a better understanding of life in early America. Our 8th grade students performed their well-rehearsed play, “The Prom.” Later, the 8th graders took a graduation trip to Magic Mountain and also completed the annual climb to the top of Baldwin Hill with their book buddies. The year finished with Spirit Week.

These annual traditions at the end of the year are just a small part of what makes life at The Willows amazing. It is a place that many will miss over the summer, and a place that will live in us forever.

IN THE GAME, from left to right, Rita Wright (#4) with teammates Kasey Chong and Nia Guillemet.

AWARDEE Rita Wright will be a ninth grader next year.

This simple act can have great benefits for kids of all ages

By Casey Russell

Most people are aware that it’s good to read aloud to young children. But this month, I thought I’d write about why this simple act can have such great benefits for kids of all ages.

Starting early

Snuggling up to read your little one a book before sleep is wonderfully bonding. It gives baby her cue that the time for sleep is coming. And — separate from the calm connection time — reading to your child will encourage her curious neurons to begin making language pathways.

Toddlers and preschool-aged children get practice with visual imagery when they are read to. They are also clued into words they don’t yet know

NEW COVENANT ACADEMY

Sue Jung Park

10th Grade

For New Covenant Academy, June and July are full of laughter and fun with the summer enrichment program! Various courses and electives were offered in this program, including public speaking, Esports (electronic sports,) basketball and more!

For high school students, the summer strength and conditioning training program was introduced. It allowed the students to enhance their physical fitness, improve their athletic performance in sports and learn injury prevention techniques. Program participants also made great memories through field trips. One notable day was the annual NCA Summer Festival. Various types of games, delicious food, jumpers and a

through illustrations. We can point as we read — helping reinforce, through pictures, the words our kids are hearing.

Starting around age 3, it’s also helpful to trace your finger under the words as you read. This subtle way of linking the printed word with its sound helps kids learn to read quite quickly.

School-aged kids

When we read aloud, we model how to read punctuation. We can create excitement with our voice inflections and vocally emphasize characters’ personalities. Hearing a story helps kids to comprehend it. Words in their context are understood more easily when children hear them read aloud.

But parents can take this a step further. When you notice

water slide definitely kept the excitement high throughout the day! Through the program, I believe everyone creates closer relationships with their peers and gains knowledge of, and interests in, various areas.

HOLLYWOOD SCHOOLHOUSE

Miles Hoffman

6th Grade

Writing for this newspaper has been a surreal experience for me, and I am sad that this is my last article. I will never forget driving out to get the latest copy and seeing a picture of myself printed out in the Larchmont Chronicle. For all of the readers that have even glanced at my article, I want to say thank you. You all have made my writing hopes come true.

This year marks my graduation from Hollywood Schoolhouse.

The Plymouth School

Tips on Parenting

by Casey Russell

a word that your child may not have encountered before, try this: Directly after you’ve read the unfamiliar word, say a similar word your child knows. Then simply continue on with the text. In the following days and weeks, make a point of using the word a few times in conversation. This technique is an amazing way to easily grow your child’s vocabulary.

Helping struggling readers

Children having extra trou-

Graduates were invited to a recognition dinner with family and friends. It took place at the Roosevelt Hotel. I was for the event, as my class and I have been talking about it since last year.

I remember when I first walked into the Hollywood Schoolhouse at three-years-old. The first thing I did was run into the teepee that was set up in my classroom. I will always remember the feeling I got — excitement; but not just any excitement. I felt excited to be a part of a wonderful, new community.

I hope I get the same feeling when I step into my new school. Goodbye, Hollywood Schoolhouse. Thank you.

ble reading on their own can learn to love stories by hearing them. This love of the story can help them persevere through reading challenges. And all kids will benefit from seeing a parent pause to figure out a word’s meaning. This models the fact that it’s okay to not know something. It also shows kids that stopping for a moment can bring much greater understanding of the whole.

Feelings

Studies have shown that kids who often are read to have an increased ability to put their feelings into words. This can help a lot when we’re trying to understand what our kids are experiencing. And, clearly, it benefits them in social interactions.

Let’s face it: Being out in the world can be hard. Reading to your child can be a way to reconnect with home and family in the child’s safe space. As reading becomes associated with calm, regulated feelings, our children will have another tool to use on their own when they need to get back to stasis.

Older children

The benefits of reading aloud continue far past when kids have begun to read on their own. Children’s comprehension levels surpass their reading abilities for a long while. Reading aloud allows them to experience more advanced books with higher-

level language and concepts.

Continuing to read aloud to older kids also gives us a chance to talk with them about the subjects that come up and how characters treat each other. Sharing a book can start conversations about what’s going on in their own lives. If we know our child is struggling in some way, we can share a book that may subtly help.

As the pre-teen and teenage years are entered, it can feel harder to connect with our kids at times. If your child is still open to it, reading together can serve as another shared experience.

With older kids especially, reading books together allows us to step out of our parent / child roles for a moment. For that space and time, we are simply two people widening our perspectives and experiencing someone else’s world together. Our experience of each other grows, as does our empathy and compassion for people similar to the characters about whom we are reading.

So this summer, no matter what your child’s age happens to be, consider taking some time to pick up a book and read together.

For more parenting tips, check out my book, “The Handbook for Life With Little Ones: Information, ideas and tips for birth to age five,” on Amazon.

children

to 5½. •

activities to encourage cognitive & social development including art, music, movement & play

• Experienced teachers devoted to fostering self-esteem in a safe nurturing environment

• Over 45 years serving the neighborhood

315 S. Oxford Ave. • 213-387-7381

TV City

(Continued from page 1) veloped in 1952.

“We know that the TVC Project will benefit not only studio workers… but local businesses and neighbors,” Zach Sokoloff, senior vice president, Hackman Capital Partners, told us in an earlier statement.

Tours

To better acquaint the public with the plans, the developer is offering free in-person tours of the iconic studio, giving an inside look at the historic site while outlining the plans for modernization and expansion.

“Lunch on the Lot” is offered by day, and “Cocktails and Conversations” takes place in the evenings.

“A studio tour is an intimate opportunity to meet so many of our neighbors, share our proposed project with them, and get their feedback and ideas.  I have loved hearing from visiting community members and

sharing our hopes to protect and uplift our neighborhood together and to keep this iconic studio open long into the future,” said Adeena Bleich, vice president, Community Relations of Television City. To sign up for a tour, visit: tvcstudios.com/get-involved.

“More substance, less smoke”

But opponents of the project are not impressed with

the modernization plan or the new tours.

“Hackman has what looks like a PR / outreach blitz campaign going.  No sign yet of a final EIR with more substance and less smoke,” Danielle Peters, co-chair of Neighbors for Responsible TVC Development, told us in an email.

“Meanwhile, we’re broadening our base of support. Just

say the word ‘traffic,’ and locals get one big piece of the picture. The community is floored by the prospect of something more than twice the size of Staples Center, and Hackman’s bid for a 20-year construction ‘window’ doesn’t play well, either.”

Some 40 neighbors attended a June 4 community meeting to discuss “the threat posed by this massive and ill-defined project,” Wagers said.  The meeting took place at Della Terra Restaurant on Beverly Boulevard at Spaulding Avenue, just across the street from TV City.

“We hear growing concerns that the proposed TVC development will dwarf our community and snarl traffic throughout

the immediate vicinity and in all the freeway-adjacent neighborhoods downstream.”

Meanwhile, representatives for the developer recently have made presentations to residents of Park La Brea and to members of the Greater Miracle Mile Chamber of Commerce.

The City of Los Angeles Planning Dept. staff is reviewing hundreds of letters submitted last fall during the public comment phase of the project’s Environmental Impact Report (EIR) preparation.

The Final Environmental Impact Report is still being prepared with no known release date set, according to the Planning Department.

Yaroslavsky / Braude Prop U is impactful still

By John Welborne

As a new member of the City Council in 1975, Zev Yaroslavsky began to see the impacts of poorly planned highrise office development, and he decided to do something about it. He led a successful initiative election campaign, with his City Council colleague Marvin Braude, to urge city voters to enact Proposition U in 1986.

Prop. U is still locally topical today (for example, with respect to the Television City successor’s TVC proposal for the land abutting Fairfax Avenue and Beverly Boulevard). The Larchmont Chronicle reached out to Yaroslavsky about the continuing impact of his 1986 ballot measure that reduced allowable density along neighborhood-serving commercial streets like Pico and Beverly boulevards, Fairfax Avenue and similar streets throughout the city.

Our conversation was stimulated by a May 12 letter to the editor of the Los Angeles Times in which the writer from South Pasadena commented about a previous article about trucks and air pollution, asserting that, “I don’t get how there is an article talking about California air pollution and it doesn’t mention the main cause, our land-use pattern. In 1986, Los Angeles passed Proposition U. Along with other slow-growth measures in other cities, it significantly decreased the amount of housing that could be built in Los Angeles. Our zoning capacity dropped, possibly by millions of people.

“Those people didn’t just disappear. Instead they were forced to build homes further away from Los Angeles and drive in and out to their jobs daily. This increase in traffic is one of the main reasons we have bad air here.”

I asked Yaroslavsky about that letter, and he responded, “Prop. U was approved by 69 percent of the voters in every one of the city’s 15 council

districts. The law cut development by half on properties zoned for neighborhood commercial uses — streets like York Boulevard, Fairfax Avenue, Ventura Boulevard, etc.

The measure did not reduce development rights on any property that was zoned ‘residential.’”

I asked him to clarify and to respond to the letter writer’s assertion that Prop. U decreased the amount of housing that could be built. He responded: “Our objective was to direct intense commercial development into areas like Downtown, Hollywood, Van Nuys and other centers designated by the city’s general plan.

“Although residential development was (and is) permitted in commercial zones, a developer could make more profit by building a mini-mall than a six-story apartment building there.”

Yaroslavsky added that Prop. U was refined following its 1986 passage. He noted that, “Twenty-five years ago, the city more than doubled Prop. U density for residential development on such thoroughfares. Nevertheless, today, the overwhelming percentage of buildings on such streets remains retail or commercial.”

He concluded: “The letter writer’s additional argument that Prop. U is the ‘main cause’ for L.A.’s air pollution similarly doesn’t meet the fact test. Sprawl is certainly a principal cause for air pollution, but Prop. U’s reducing the size of potential megaprojects, such as the Beverly Center adjacent to residential neighborhoods in the heart of urban L.A., certainly is not.

“In 1986, a Los Angeles Times analysis concluded that Proposition U is a ‘more complex choice about where Los Angeles’ intense commercial development should be allowed to take place, and how to go about it.’ That was true 37 years ago, and it’s true today.”

NEIGHBORS FOR RESPONSIBLE TVC DEVELOPMENT cochairs Danielle Peters, left, and Shelley Wagers, right, address the community at a meeting held at Della Terra restaurant on Beverly Boulevard.