LC Section One 08 2021

Larchmont Chronicle

VOL. 59, NO. 8

• DELIVERED TO 76,439 READERS IN HANCOCK PARK • WINDSOR SQUARE • FREMONT PLACE • MIRACLE MILE • PARK LA BREA • LARCHMONT •

IN THIS ISSUE

Center for Yoga to open, thanks to a team of locals

Ridley-Thomas, Raman reflect

on their first six months

n Councilmembers give us an update

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MUSICAL campaign.

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WISHES fulfilled for Chevalier’s.

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EVERYTHING coming up Cézanne.

2-5 For Information on Advertising Rates, Please Call Pam Rudy 323-462-2241, x 11 Mailing permit:

By Helene Seifer and Billy Taylor Councilmembers Nithya Raman (CD4) and Mark RidleyThomas (CD10) were part of a slate of new City Council members to be sworn in for a fresh term at the end of last year.

The Chronicle asked both of our new representatives about their first six months on the job.

Nithya Raman Q: What was your biggest surprise since taking office?

A: “I think the biggest surprise for me would be something that I talked about on my campaign — which was made much more clear to me once entering office — how deeply our system for homelessness response is broken. Often city services have departments that will conduct the work at hand with or without a counSee Councilmembers, p 6

Get ready for Back to School

Our annual Back to School section in September will highlight students, faculty and schools! Advertising deadline is Mon., Aug. 16.

For more information contact Pam Rudy, 323-4622241, ext. 11.

n Opening celebration offers free classes

ENJOYING THE SUN IN PUERTO RICO is the Cox family from near Park La Brea, with parents Jessie and Jeremy (rear) and sons Zen (7) and Kingston (9).

By Suzan Filipek The Center for Yoga may be housed in a creaky old building, circa 1925, but to the yoga community it is sacred, holy ground. And to the Larchmont business community — with its hundreds of yogis stopping at shops and restaurants — the Center had been a lifeline.

“This studio has been an iconic studio since the very beginning. It has a spirituality and an energy about it,” said Dinah Buckhantz, an investor and board member of the recently incorporated Center for Yoga, Inc. The longest continually runSee Center for Yoga, p 8

It’s a tale of two summers as On the residents head out of town BOulevard n For some, it’s a better summer than before

By Caroline Tracy The summer of 2020 was dismal for many families in our Larchmont enclave. COVID numbers weren’t at their worst, but that didn’t make up for the fact that vacation plans were squashed, and camps were half-operational.

The dog days, as they say, dragged on.

Next, we entered an apocalyptic autumn, with ash fill-

ing the sky and no in-person school. By Halloween, COVID numbers were ticking up again and, by the holidays, many travel dreams were again deflated.

With the spring came vaccines, the return of school and hope for summer.

Summer 2021 As I write this, I am looking out over the Hudson River.

See Two summers, p 14

Reservoir renamed in honor of Mr. Los Angeles

n ‘He worked with the LADWP, always advocating on behalf of our residents’ needs ...’

By Suzan Filipek Mr. Los Angeles, as the late 4th District Councilmember was called, was honored at the recent dedication of the Tom LaBonge Headworks Water Complex.

“This may be the single best place in Los Angeles to cherish his legacy, and I can’t help but think that Tom would be proud of our efforts to turn this facility into a place that embodies the principles of sustainability and community that defined See Tom LaBonge, p 18

AUGUST 2021

MAYOR Eric Garcetti, Councilmember Nithya Raman, members of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners, LADWP General Manager and Chief Engineer Martin Adams, LADWP staff and members of the LaBonge family pose in front of a banner for the Tom LaBonge Headworks Water Complex.

Larchmont ’21 conversations continue n Parklets add value

By Billy Taylor Last month, the Larchmont 2021 group hosted its second of three planned “community conversations” about the future of Larchmont Boulevard.

The first event, hosted June 28, was focused on retail trends, while the July 12 meeting topic was “Main Street Placemaking,” or how to enhance a street to meet the needs of its neighboring community.

The Larchmont Boulevard Association (LBA) is spearheading the effort through its Larchmont 2021 Committee, headed by LBA board member Patty Lombard, who opened last month’s meeting and welcomed Windsor Village resident John Kaliski as the event’s moderator.

Kaliski, who is an architect and urban designer, said that the goal of the meeting was to “explore means, especially short-term, to support existing — and foster new — neighborhood-oriented retail and enhance Larchmont VilSee Larchmont, p 9

www.larchmontchronicle.com ~ Entire Issue Online!

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Editorial

By John Welborne

Rezoning not required to produce needed “affordable” housing The Larchmont Chronicle and our readers, I hope, are grateful to Hancock Park neighbor Marilyn Wells for contributing six informative columns, over the past six months, dealing with the omnipresent and critical issue of unfortunate people living on the streets and sidewalks. Her final column appears on Page 2 of Section 2, and I commend it to our readers.

I absolutely agree with Wells that affordable housing must be built throughout the City of Los Angeles. However, I take issue with her suggestion that zoning changes are necessary for this to happen.

What really is required is for government, primarily state government, to provide taxpayers’ money to support construction of such affordable (below-market-rate) housing.

Although a particular state senator from San Francisco seemingly has a personal vendetta against owner-occupied, singlefamily homes and neighborhoods, his approach of shoving apartment buildings onto those existing residential streets is totally unnecessary to create needed, additional multi-family housing.

In fact, what most certainly will be shoved into city-center single-family neighborhoods — like those surrounding Larchmont Boulevard — would be high-end duplexes and expensive “big white box” condominiums or small-lot subdivision townhouses.

For-profit developers are not going to build inexpensive housing in an area where land values are so high.

Zoned land exists already The simple fact of the matter is that, throughout the City of Los Angeles, there exists underutilized land along major streets and boulevards (see, for example, many underutilized commercial blocks on Third Street, Beverly Boulevard, La Brea Avenue, Sixth Street, etc.) that already are zoned for commercial or multi-family residential uses. This land already can be (and is being) developed with needed apartments. Without public subsidy, however, these projects will continue to be expensive, market-rate apartments like those our readers have seen arising in recent years.

Anyone can see that Los Angeles has the already-zoned land.

(View all the multi-family and commercial parcels in our area: tinyurl.com/and4jpuv.) There is no need to destroy single-family neighborhoods.

A 2019 McKinsey Global Institute study regarding affordable housing in Los Angeles (tinyurl.com/p28xx5wf) shows that, even for the excessively high growth projections (Regional Housing Needs Assessment — “RHNA”) dictated from Sacramento, every bit of “housing needs“ for our city (tinyurl.com/27mux8y7) can be met without changing any single-family zoning or disrupting any single-family neighborhoods (McKinsey page 28).

Those are the facts. And any astute observer will see that multi-family buildings already are being built, slowly but surely, on underutilized commercial portions of streets such as Third and Sixth.

Sacramento’s latest “bad bills” This year’s bad legislation from Sacramento, seeking to dictate the undoing of single-family streets and neighborhoods, has yet to be approved by the full State Assembly.

SB 9, SB 10 and SB 478 were written by, and are financed by, builders and investors who produce and manage lucrative, not affordable, housing. For the past three years, similar bad bills have been defeated in Sacramento. There still is time (but not much) to stop this year’s greedy and overreaching special-interest legislation that will not result in affordable housing.

Legislature’s recess ending After the State Assembly comes back from recess on Mon., Aug. 16, there will be an opportunity for a majority of those elected Assemblymembers to vote “no” — to reject, once again, this petulantly vindictive and confiscatory legislation emanating from State Sen. Scott Wiener and his allies.

Do not be fooled. These bills are not designed to, nor will they result in, needed affordable housing. These proposed Senate Bills (already adopted in the Senate) will make windfall profits for property owners and developers while markedly decreasing the quality of life on owner-occupied, family-oriented, low-density neighborhood streets throughout the State of California.

And what can we do?

We Mid-Wilshire residents absolutely should make telephone calls to, and request meetings and conversations with, our two local Assemblymembers — while they are back here in their districts until mid-August.

(Please turn to page 4)

Larchmont Chronicle

AUGUST 2021

Calendar Wed., Aug. 11 — Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council board meeting via Zoom.

Check greaterwilshire.org to confirm and for online login.

Mon., Aug. 16 — Los Angeles Unified School District begins new school year.

Thurs., Sept. 2 — Delivery of the September issue of the Larchmont Chronicle.

Mon., Sept. 6 — Labor Day. Tues., Sept. 7 — Rosh Hashanah.

‘What is your favorite summertime memory?’

That’s the question inquiring photographer Talia Abrahamson asked locals along Larchmont Blvd.

Letters to the Editor Joy to see flags waving

My husband joins me in saying how special it is to have the realtors distribute American flags to all of our homes in Hancock Park and Windsor Square in recognition of the 4th of July. We love and appreciate it. It is such a joy to open the door in the morning and see the flag waving at us.

Judith Miller Windsor Square

ner / intermediate.

Lisa Walford and Marla Apt were two of my favorite teachers … but there were so many good ones that I also experienced (Anna DeLury, Carmen Fitzsimmons, Chigusa Saga, Koran Paleman, Hikiru, Tod Nemo, etc.). I can’t wait to reconnect to my yoga community!

Sasha Marcus Beverly Grove

Exciting yoga opening

Rita Moreno: Just a girl

I am so very excited about the re-opening of The Center for Yoga (“Yoga poses for a comeback,” June 2021) and that it will again become independent of YogaWorks or any big brand corporation — where making a big profit far outweighs any true yogic principles.

I first dipped my toe into my yoga education at the Center for Yoga in the early 70s, and I so look forward to returning to the place where my yoga journey first began. I do hope Iyengar yoga will be on the schedule. Pre-pandemic, I was an intermediate / advanced practitioner. Post-pandemic, I would classify myself as begin-

Larchmont Chronicle Founded in 1963 by Jane Gilman and Dawne P. Goodwin .

.

Publisher and Editor John H. Welborne Managing Editor Suzan Filipek Associate Editor Billy Taylor Contributing Editor Jane Gilman Staff Writers Talia Abrahamson Helene Seifer Advertising Director Pam Rudy Advertising Sales Caroline Tracy Art Director Tom Hofer Classified and Circulation Manager Rachel Olivier Accounting Jill Miyamoto 606 N. Larchmont Blvd., #103

Los Angeles, CA 90004 323-462-2241 larchmontchronicle.com

I enjoy receiving your paper and regularly read Tony Medley’s column, “At the Movies,” but his film review in the July 2021 issue really made my blood boil!

I’d often overlooked his comments along the lines of “even though this movie was a ‘chick flick’, I enjoyed it,” just writing him off as another insensitive male, but I was deeply offended by his review of a new documentary entitled “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It.” His review reeked of outright sexism, misogyny and his own right-wing political views.

Not only does he make clear he believes women should not have the right to control their own bodies with his sentence: “One nauseating segment is how Moreno gushes about having an abortion …” but (Please turn to page 19) 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.

CORRECTION In our July 2021 article, “Community was left out of Raman’s housing plan,” there was a typographical error in the second paragraph, which should have read: “Raman filed a motion last month to redevelop the 41-car city parking lot at 728 Cochran Avenue for permanent supportive housing and/or 100 percent affordable housing.” It incorrectly said “permanent affordable” instead of “permanent supportive.”

“I moved from Ithaca, New York, and lived here for 47 years.

The best memories for me are my kids growing up here.”

Diane Sherwood Windsor Square

“I would say going to the beach and surfing when I was younger. I used to live in Huntington Beach. But my favorite activity here is coming down to Larchmont and having a Jeni’s ice cream cone and going to the Farmers Market.”

Lynne Meredith Windsor Square

“One of my favorite summertime memories is going to an amusement park. I grew up in Detroit, Michigan, and it was called Belle Isle. We used to catch a boat, and it was a nice boat ride, and they had music playing and families getting together. We used to go every year, sometimes twice a year with my grandmother, mother, father, brothers and sisters.”

Kenneth Manning Hollywood

“Taking my kids to the beach.

Any beach.”

Paul N. Larchmont Village

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Music and art direction – A local business owner combines talents

By Caroline Tracy Flip through any Larchmont Chronicle of the past few years with a Rhodes School of Music ad in it, and you will be met with a creative photo treatment featuring a child holding his or her instrument. The ads struck me during a recent flipthrough (for research purposes) of past issues of the paper.

Simple yet polished, and many in full-page format, the ads apparently feature actual (and likely local) students. I commenced an investigation and learned that David Rhodes, owner of the school, is creative in more ways than just music, and he is a community champion to boot.

When I spoke to Rhodes, I first wanted to confirm that the children featured in the ads are indeed pupils of Rhodes School of Music and not model stand-ins.

“Yes they are, and, being situated here on Larchmont,

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TAILS WAGGING.

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SCHOOLS YOUTH SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT On the Menu Theater Movies

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Real Estate Libraries, Museums Home & Garden

HERO WANTED.

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THE NIMBY DIARIES 2 HOME GROUND 5 REAL ESTATE SALES 6 ON PRESERVATION 8 LIBRARIES 12 MUSEUMS 12 POLICE BEAT 14 BEEZWAX 15 CLASSIFIED ADS 15

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POKER FOR ALL

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most are hyper-local,” Rhodes shared.

My next question, “was such a great idea the work of an advertising or creative agency?” was quickly answered.

Rhodes himself came up with the idea. So the piano instructor, composer and owner of the school is also a creative director and marketing talent.

“No, I didn’t use a marketing firm or ad agency or anything like that,” Rhodes told me. “I like to be hands-on and design things myself. I played around with a couple of ideas before settling on the concept of the kids with their instruments.

Seeing the kids looking so happy seemed to lend a certain potency. It also conveys a real sense of community when you see the community reflected back from the ad.”

To execute the idea, Rhodes uses photos captured on recital day and obtains permission from parents for usage across

LOCAL musicians are (left to right) Aria Uttamchandani, Halle Benincasa and Luke Villalpando.

all marketing channels.

“I always hire a professional photographer to cover our recitals, and I rent out a cool art space for the occasion, so there’s all sorts of fanfare around the actual concert and the photo shoot,” says Rhodes.

“I offer free family photos in addition to the student por-

traits. The whole atmosphere on that day is celebratory and, again, really touches on the community aspect of the school.”

Speaking of community, Rhodes, in addition to featuring locals who patronize his school, also is an active board member of the Larch-

mont Boulevard Association (LBA). He is a major asset to the group, according to fellow LBA board member Vivian Gueler.

“David is always willing to help out and is a technical wizard,” Gueler remarked.

“He is the first person to solve (Please turn to page 4)

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Britain has a new Consul General in Hancock Park

By Billy Taylor British Consul General Emily Cloke is the latest representative from her country to call the 1928 Wallace Neff house in Hancock Park home.

“I feel privileged to live in a house that has been a symbol of the U.K.-U.S. relationship,” Cloke said of the June Street property purchased by the British Government in 1957.

In fact, Cloke told the Chronicle last month over Zoom, she has come to love the neighborhood.

“Larchmont is incredibly green and welcoming. And as a ‘foodie,’ I have been to Jeni’s Ice Cream and Larchmont Wine and Cheese many times,” she said with a laugh.

“And we’ve spent a lot of time at Chevalier’s Books.

“Larchmont is an amazing place,” said Cloke.

Having arrived in Los Angeles last fall with her husband

Rhodes School (Continued from page 3)

any technological issue we have whether it be with new media we’re using or the website or digitizing something. He’s just great to work with, always pleasant and a true advocate for business on Larchmont.”

Here at the paper, it’s been a delight chronicling the Rhodes story. Also, now I know who to call whenever I have a musical, creative or technological emergency.

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EMILY CLOKE

Tony and a new toddler — Cloke was on maternity leave up until her new assignment began — she admits that getting set up in her new post hasn’t been the easiest due to the pandemic. “There is a different dynamic,” she says of the challenges that come with working around pandemic related restrictions. Still, she’s focused on the work at hand.

“What we do at the consulate is look for partnerships.

We are looking for opportunities. I’m here to represent the U.K. and look for ways to work together,” said Cloke, who has an impressive background in diplomacy, law and trade issues. Having grown up in London, which she describes as “an amazing, global city with lots of multi-cultural influences,” Cloke studied law at Cambridge and started her career as a lawyer in the City of London. Her recent roles include as Deputy CEO for the UK-Africa Investment Summit hosted by the Prime (Please turn to page 19)

Brightman is Ebell’s first ever Executive Director

By Helene Seifer Most organizations are counting their blessings if they survived the pandemic. The Ebell of Los Angeles is emerging from lockdown with renewed vigor and a new executive director, Dr. Stacy Brightman, the first to hold the position in the club’s 125-year history.

Brightman comes to the women’s organization from the Los Angeles Opera where, as vice president of LA Opera Connects, she oversaw four countywide festivals, some of which were presented at The Ebell.

She grew the opera community and education programs and fostered partnership opportunities. She was responsible for expanding the reach of the Opera by hundreds of thousands of constituents.

Brightman believes The Ebell and opera have a lot in common. “Opera is the magical interdisciplinary art,” she muses, as it combines theater, dance, literature, music. “In its own way,” she continues, “The Ebell is quite operatic. It encompasses so much.”

A live theater-lover, she earned her doctorate in dramatic arts and theater research from the University of California, Davis. Coincidentally, Brightman wrote her

AMY FORBES

STACY BRIGHTMAN

dissertation on Los Angeles theater in the 1930s, in which the Wilshire Ebell Theatre played a prominent part. Her career in the arts also includes teaching theatrical history at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandizing and an eight-year stint at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California. She currently is enrolled in a masters degree (Please turn to page 9)

Editorial

(Continued from page 2) Our two representatives are: Richard Bloom, Assembly District 50 (basically Plymouth to the west), local telephone number 310-450-0041; and Miguel Santiago, Assembly District 53 (basically Plymouth to the east), local telephone number 213-6204646.

If you know other Assemblymembers, anywhere in California, call them too!

Ask them to vote NO on SB 9, SB 10 and SB 478.

For additional information,

Amy Forbes heads Center Theatre Group; Ahmanson joins

By John Welborne The Center Theatre Group Board of Directors has elected Amy R. Forbes as its president.

The longtime Windsor Square resident began her new post July 1.

She is a current member of the Windsor Square Association board of directors, and she was an influential leader of the successful effort to make Windsor Square an Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ).

Forbes has spent her legal (Please turn to page 16) take a look at an article in the specialist publication, “The Planning Report,” written recently by Fifth District City Councilmember Paul Koretz.

This excellent, current commentary on the three bad bills also urges us residents to reach out to our Assemblymembers.

See: tinyurl.com/4b5tbwec In addition, many of our local homeowner associations are members of United Neighbors, a Sherman Oaks-based community group opposed to the bad bills and also a repository of excellent explanatory information at: unitedneighbors.net

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Councilmembers

(Continued from page 1) cil office. That’s not the case for homelessness response. I knew some of that coming in, but I was surprised with how broken the coordination is on the issue.”

Q: What has been the biggest challenge?

A: “I took office at the peak of the COVID crisis. My first day was Dec. 14, during a major surge, when it wasn’t safe to come to City Hall. And most difficult, I was not able to engage with constituents in person. That was the biggest challenge of all. In recent weeks, we’ve been able to conduct more meetings, and not only has the job become easier, but also the joy has come back to the work. To me, there’s nothing more joyful than to meet with constituents.”

Q: While in office, what are two accomplishments that you’ve started and finished?

A: “This is a little bit of a cheat, because I technically didn’t start it, but the Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance recently passed. When the ordinance came to the Housing Committee where I am vice chair, I was able to add a number of amendments that strengthened the ordinance with further definitions of behavior that qualifies as tenant harassment, and a ban on raising rent for rent-stabilized units that become vacant as a result of tenant harassment violations.

MARK RIDLEY-THOMAS is dedicated to establishing a Right to Housing.

NITHYA RAMAN speaks at a recent groundbreaking ceremony to restore trees on the upper Vermont median leading into Griffith Park.

“Something else that I’m particularly proud of is my participation in the budget process this year. Thanks to our advocacy, we were able to restore the Dept. of Recreation and Parks operations and maintenance budget to allow for 140 lost positions, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, to be refilled.”

Q: What are two items that you’ve started while in office, but need more time to finish?

A: “The first item is the issue that we’ve talked about so much, homelessness. We have made an incredible amount of progress, and I’m proud of what we’ve done so

far. We have created a twoperson homelessness support team, which is purely devoted to tracking the homelessness response. We are filling the gap by helping to coordinate in our office between city agencies for services in Council District Four. Another item is identifying opportunities for affordable housing construction. That process is very, very long. I’m proud that we’ve identified two sites that are city-owned lots, and we’ve kick-started that process including community engagement. Additionally, we’ve put forward a motion that speeds up the process on how approv-

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al is given that will hopefully put this kind of housing at the front of the line.”

Mark Ridley-Thomas Q: What was your biggest surprise since taking office?

A: “I remain deeply concerned about the impact of COVID-19 on communities of color. To date, only 52 percent of Latino and 43 percent of Black individuals have received at least one dose of the vaccine and, as a result, people of color also represent an outsized share of the cases and deaths from COVID-19.

We must work harder to find effective ways to earn the confidence and cooperation of communities of color, or we will face a prolonged pandemic and more unnecessary deaths, predominantly among people of color.”

Q: What has been the biggest challenge?

A: “There is no greater threat to our city and our moral consciousness than homelessness. Data has shown that more than 41,000 people in Los Angeles on any given night are experiencing homelessness, and roughly four people die on our streets every day.

“This is why fighting homelessness is my highest and

most important priority, and why we must fight to create a Right to Housing for every man, woman and child in our city. I have focused on establishing a framework for establishing this right … [and am working on] putting a plan together on how we may begin to implement this vision, which we anticipate being before the Council this fall.”

Q: While in office, what are two accomplishments that you’ve started and finished?

A: “When I first took office last December, I made a commitment to serve the residents of the 10th District.

“During this short time, I have hit the ground running. My team is working with People Assisting The Homeless (PATH), The People Concern and LAHSA [Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority] to house unsheltered individuals living in Mid-City and Koreatown, including at two Project Roomkey sites.

“I also worked to bring key stakeholders together to complete the Lafayette Bridge Home Site, which now provides interim housing to 72 men and women who experienced homelessness in the (Please turn to page 18)

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Center for Yoga (Continued from page 1)

ning yoga studio in Los Angeles — since 1967 — chanted its last Namaste last year and shuttered its doors.

But yogis of all levels will soon be stretching into sun salutations, cobras and other classic yoga poses when the studio re-opens Tues., Aug. 24 as a community-ownedand-operated center — thanks to a team of locals who have stepped up to the mat.

“It’s a beloved space and a sacred space for a lot of people.

I couldn’t let it vanish for COVID. I had to do something,” said Jae Yoo, executive director, Cushman & Wakefield, and also a board member of the NEW Center for Yoga. He was instrumental in negotiating a 10-year lease for the space at 230 N. Larchmont Blvd.

Re-opening day Aug. 24 To celebrate opening day, the Center for Yoga will offer a full day of free classes Aug. 24, beginning with an all-levels class at 11 a.m., taught by world-class teachers Jeanne Heileman, Joe Kara, Patti Lewis, Andrea Marcum and Lisa Walford.

Center for Yoga former manager Deb Anderson will return as general manager, working alongside consultant Lisa Haase, who was the owner / director of the Center from 2000-2004.

Walford, who began at the Center in 1982 (literally, she used to live in an alcove above the main studio), returns as

Larchmont Chronicle

AUGUST 2021

The video “was about memThe Larchmont Boulevard Association, the Windsor ory and loss,” said Center Square Association and the board member and Hancock Larchmont Village Neigh- Park resident Katharine Deborhood Association threw Shaw, president of Philanthroin their support, and leasing pology. It motivated her to get agent Jordan Wheeler also involved and draw on her explayed a part. When mem- perience running a $388 milbers of the team told him, lion capital campaign for the “‘We don’t have a penny, but new Academy Museum (set we think we can raise a lot of to open Sept. 30 on Wilshire money,’ I thought he would Boulevard at Fairfax Avenue).

Center for Yoga investor and laugh at us,” Barton said. But instead, Wheeler said, “I was entrepreneur Sam Doniger hoping something like this grew up on Beachwood when the only chains on Larchmont would happen.” were banks. He signed on to Storied history MEMBERS Of THE TEAM that saved the Center for Yoga, MiThe building’s storied past help save the center “to keep chael Barton, Katharine DeShaw and Sam Doniger. Not shown began as a Masonic Lodge — Larchmont, Larchmont. are Dinah Buckhantz, Randy Pasqual, Lisa Walford and Jae Yoo. framed photographs of Ma“I think Larchmont is clearsonic leaders are in the alcove. ly in transition, and I hope one of the studio’s four inves- Works in 2004, until the pan- Later, the studio served as a the Center for Yoga will prodemic hit, and the national dance school before yogi pio- vide a unifying force for what tors.

“To be a part of the reopening chain closed the studio. neer Ganja White opened the the Boulevard used to be … a Returning the center to studio in 1967. of the Center is very special,” community-focused establishsays Walford. “The Center’s pre-pandemic numbers, when Two locals — architect Mary ment.” impact extends far beyond its 1,500 students took weekly Pickhardt and designer Bebe Barton is the sole member physical space, into the Larch- classes here, will be a chal- Johnson — are volunteering of the board that is not a yogi, mont Village neighborhood, lenge, said Center for Yoga their services in the upgrade, but he appreciates the center the city of Los Angeles, and board member and Windsor which includes replacing and sees its value. the broader yoga community.” Square resident Michael Bar- 1980s lighting with a 1920s “I love the neighborhood,” ton, managing director of Mi- schoolhouse style.

Local investor and the yoga center “is in the Board president and inves- chael Barton Consulting.

A massive Buddha stone heart of Larchmont. It’s an old Barton wrote the business sculpture that’s been in stor- cranky building that everytor Randy Pasqual, Plymouth Boulevard, didn’t think twice plan for the revamped Center. age at a local’s home will be body loves,” Barton smiles. when he learned neighbors It’s his 27th, and most recent, returned, and a mural will be Buckhantz, who practices start-up. were looking for investors. four to five times a week, “fell painted on the lobby wall.

“This is way more old “I’m all in,” said Pasqual, The maple floors will be in love with yoga, and I fell in who is borrowing on his finan- school,” compared to his other cleaned, and the building’s 22 love with the studio.” cial and management experi- projects. But the same busi- colors of interior paint will be During good times and bad, ence running his family busi- ness rules apply. “A company reduced to one neutral shade. “the practice itself, and the is a company,” said Barton. ness.

A new heating and air condi- community and teachers, kept A modest roster of 60 class- tioning system with COVID- me grounded and strong…

“Our primary goal is to bring back the yoga center to es a week to start is hoped to safe filters will also be ready in and very limber as I age… the community, for ourselves be increased to 120 weekly time for the opening.

“The response from the and everybody else,” Pasqual classes, offering an eclectic apcommunity has been amazBoost the Boulevard proach by experienced teachsaid.

The investors hope the stu- ing, from the associations The Center for Yoga was ers, for which the studio was dio’s reopening will also give a and from the business ownpurchased and run by Yoga known. boost to Larchmont business- ers. We hope it’s a win-win for es, which have suffered from the whole community,” said the pandemic and were hard Buckhantz.

Founding monthly memhit by the studio’s closure.

Upon hearing about the clo- bership starts at $145. More sure, Kim Fisch, who taught information about the Center NEW YEAR at the Center for Yoga for 14 for Yoga, including the class NEW YOU! years, was inspired to launch schedule, instructor informa“Revolving Around the Cen- tion, and special membership can be found at center,” a documentary-style poderase the holiday stresses with… SPA, spin,packages DMH , mani ped terforyogala.com cast.

LARCHMONT IS BACK IN BUSINESS! Come visit us or Go Online: larchmont.com ©LC0721

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Larchmont

(Continued from page 1) lage.” To learn more about best practices and improvement ideas, Kaliski welcomed two guests, Howard Blackson, a San Diego-based urban designer with specific expertise in neighborhood development and advocacy, and Lindsey Wallace, director of strategic projects and design services for the Main Street America Institute.

Blackson told meeting participants about how mixeduse development, a technique popular over the past decade, has helped to energize today’s streets with a variety of uses, such as vehicle traffic, parking, bus stops, parklets, food trucks and more. But with the pandemic, and the need for more outdoor space, a new trend of “curbside management” emerged. Blackson said that residents should keep three things in mind as they con-

Stacy Brightman (Continued from page 4)

program for nonprofit management.

“We are very excited about Stacy,” enthuses Ebell president Patty Lombard. “She has an extraordinary background that perfectly suits our unique operational structure. And, most importantly, she shares our aspirational mission.”

An Ebell member since she toured the club in 2019, Brightman was “bowled over” by the magnificent architecture and the club’s mission to educate and enlighten women and contribute to the community.

“I think an organization for women uplifting other women is needed now more than ever,” she states.

Brightman lives in Claremont, California (near her undergraduate alma mater, Pomona College) with her

PARKLETS may be a streetscape tool useful on Larchmont. The one shown here is in San Francisco.

Photo by Mark Hogan

sider changes for Larchmont: Design at the neighborhood scale, and think about loss of street parking as an opportunity to gain other kinds of spaces; Design for time, not speed, as people spend more money if they’re encouraged to stay longer; and change the

“first come, first served” attitude about parking. According to Blackman, building for social and cultural value will always translate into economic value, but that the reverse does not always work out.

Wallace, who was speaking from Chicago, told the group

husband of 30 years, lawyer John Hochhausler. They have two young adult children, Christian and Gwyneth. However, she grew up at Fourth and Rampart with her mother, Pauline, and a much-older sister. Although her mother only completed the ninth grade, she valued education and believed that the most important thing you could do for a child was to give him or her an education and exposure to the arts.

Her mother believed “The arts rounded your soul,” Brightman recounts, “and those two things together would magically open any door.”

Brightman explains that even with limited funds, her mother was “brilliant at finding any kind of free, low cost, accessible programs. We may have been in the back row, but we were in the room. What she was doing is what The Ebell is trying to do — expand our ho-

rizons.” Brightman continues, “I want The Ebell to be the cultural and scholarly heart of Los Angeles.”

President Lombard summarizes, “Thanks to the leadership of 63 other presidents who preceded me, we are blessed with a treasured historic campus that we hope will become the center for women’s issues, education, art and culture in LA. I know that sounds very aspirational, but we are inspired by Stacy and the significant needs in our community.”

Stacy Brightman considers her Ebell future, working with an active membership, a dedicated board of directors and, as she states, a “worldclass team” on staff: “I hope to bring a real sense of energy and excellence and also joy. It is an extraordinary blessing to do this work. We get to make the world a better place.”

For the food insecure in our area, HopeNet’s network of 13 food pantries and meal programs are a primary source of nourishment. The need for healthy food has only increased during the pandemic.

For 26 years, HopeNet has partnered with the Larchmont community to end hunger for our neighbors at the annual Taste of Larchmont fundraiser. Due to the pandemic, the Taste of Larchmont is canceled for another year. Despite this, HopeNet will insecurity. When you donate, you will not only help HopeNet close its fundraising gap, you will also support the Larchmont community. Qualifying donations will be shared with Larchmont businesses, and you will receive a gift card to a Larchmont eatery as a thank you. Support two great causes today!

Give online at bit.ly/3kc1lEA

that the pandemic has created a great “opportunity phase” as the economy reopens.

As an example of two kinds of streetscape tools that could be useful on Larchmont, Wallace highlighted “parklets” and “pedlets.” A parklet is a small space adjacent to or actually in the street space,

9

to be used for dining, seating or just gathering. A pedlet is an extension of pedestrian space into the street, allowing more space on the sidewalk to be used for dining, retail or other purposes. Wallace explained that cities that have studied the impact of parklets and pedlets have found that economic benefits far outweigh the cost of the lost parking spaces they replace.

To watch a recording of the two-hour meeting, visit youtu.be/Q4UG2Gz7hIA Third session July 26 The final planned conversation, a “Community Listening Session,” was scheduled for July 26 at 7 p.m., a date that falls after deadline for this issue. However, organizers tell the Chronicle that the online and recorded meeting will build off of the two previous sessions with the opportunity for community stakeholders to ask questions and share ideas.

Visit Larchmont2021.com for more information.

325 N. Larchmont Boulevard, #158 Los Angeles, California 90004 www.windsorsquare.org 157 N. Larchmont Boulevard

Act Now To Save Our Neighborhoods!

Senate Bills 9 and 10 will be up for a final vote in Sacramento on or after August 16. It is imperative that we contact our State Assembly Members, Richard Bloom and Miguel Santiago, and urge them to vote NO. Why? The legislators behind SB 9 and 10 (and the many other previous attempts) want to put an end to ALL single-family zoning. SB 9 and 10 would allow developers to build multistory apartment buildings right next door to single-family homes.

The sponsoring legislators are spreading the false narrative that single-family zoning is the cause of our affordable housing crisis, but the fact is that these bills will not help solve that very real problem. These bills will only benefit developers and speculators by increasing housing costs and creating more market-rate housing. Nowhere in these bills are there any provisions for creating affordable housing!

We are not NIMBYs if we oppose SB 9 and 10. We can strongly endorse the creation of more truly affordable housing.

SB 9 and SB 10 are not solutions to our affordable housing crisis.

Current City of Los Angeles zoning provides centrally located land for multi-family construction, without destroying vital, contributing, low-density, owner-occupied neighborhoods. A further concern with what Sacramento is trying to prescribe throughout the state is that it ignores experience: local control of zoning is essential. For one thing, local control and understanding will result in the needed denser housing being built in areas with appropriate infrastructure. If our elected legislators would please just disregard the influence of self-interested developers, and ask the right questions, our representatives then could find a real answer to our affordable housing crisis. SB 9 and SB 10 are not an answer. Go to these websites for more information: www.unitedneighbors.net www.liveablecalifornia.org And most important of all, contact our State Assembly Members before August 16 and urge them to vote NO on Senate Bills 9 and 10.

Assembly Member Assembly Member Richard Bloom Miguel Santiago District 50 District 53 (generally Plymouth to the west) (generally Plymouth to the east) 310-450-0041 213-620-4646

The Windsor Square Association, an all-volunteer group of residents from 1100 households between Beverly and Wilshire and Van Ness and Arden, works to preserve and enhance our beautiful neighborhood. Join with us! Drop us a line at 325 N. Larchmont Blvd., #158, Los Angeles, CA 90004, or visit our website at windsorsquare.org.

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Larchmont Chronicle

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Alumni return to stage a musical July 29 – Aug. 1

The theatrical production “Caroline, or Change,” which was shut down by the pandemic in March 2020, will get its moment on the Immaculate Heart stage thanks to efforts by the school’s alumni.

Former students from the last 10 years will join members of the original cast to tell the story of Caroline Thibodeaux, a Black maid whose world in 1963 Louisiana ripples with change.

“The cast felt very connected to Caroline’s struggle,” said drama teacher Heather Chesley. “We kept thinking we would reopen in two weeks, two months, and we could share this very important story. Now, our cast and alumni will return to present this story that ignites discussion and empathy.”

Recent alumna Khafira Freeman, Class of 2020, who is now a student at New York University, will return to the stage as Caroline, the role she prepared to play before the original production was cancelled.

The show runs from Thurs., July 29 to August 1. Visit immaculateheart.org.

Let the GAMES begin!!

New coach to lead Loyola High team Loyola High School of Los Angeles has tapped Damaine M. Powell to helm its varsity basketball program.

Coach Powell comes from St. Paul High School in Santa Fe Springs, where he was the head coach for the past seven years. “I’m very excited to join one of the best academic institutions in the state of California,” said Coach Powell. “I’m looking forward to joining an elite team of administrators to continue the excellent tradition of boys’ basketball at Loyola.”

At St. Paul’s, his team twice had the best record in school history and clinched the conference championship four times. His 26 years of coaching experience include serving as the coach at Cal State Dominguez Hills for 10 years, winning the conference championship three times, coach at Compton College, winning two state

OAKWOOD SCHOOL

By Scarlett Saldaña 10th Grade

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Larchmont Chronicle

AUGUST 2021

SECTION ONE

.info

As the Oakwood Summer Programs come to an end, orientations will come around to help students prepare for the beginning of their classes on Aug. 31. Since the end of last school year, the administration began to plan for a safe return back to inperson learning, in preparation for this fall. With this in mind, Oakwood hopes to bring both elementary and secondary students back to campus to attend in-person classes, clubs, and even school-wide events, as long as the current COVID situation continues to improve. Including this, Oakwood plans to bring back the 7th, 9th, and 11th grade camping

DAMAINE POWELL

championships, and as an assistant coach at the University of Southern California for three years, helping to lead them to the NCAA tournament.

In addition to his coaching experience, Coach Powell is an educator, who has taught

history and algebra in the past; he will teach Algebra 2 at Loyola.

“The many championships he and his teams have won throughout his career speak for themselves,” said Loyola Athletic Director Chris O’Donnell.

trips. Normally, the 7th graders go to the Kings Canyon National Park, the 9th graders head to Kennedy Meadows, and the 11th graders visit the Russian River.

However, to allow the seniors to make up for their missed junior trip, these excursions will be pushed back a few months into the first semester, instead of occurring at the beginning of the school year. Along with these planned trips, there is also the exciting new addition of the Oakwood Kitchen, which was first proposed almost two years ago.

Now, despite its past construction delays due to the pandemic, the kitchen will soon be ready to serve students fresh, healthy, and delicious meals. With all of this positive change coming our way, I am incredibly excited to begin my junior year, and I look forward to seeing more positive developments as the months go by.

NEW COVENANT ACADEMY

By Dale Lee 10th Grade

We are halfway through summer school and it’s been full of vivacity and excitement. Students enjoyed many different clubs and gardening class has been a student favorite. Huskies have been planting and cultivating vegetables and appreciating firsthand the fruits of harvesting.

Maybe they’ll even learn to cook with these fresh ingredients! As we enter the second month of the summer course, students will have the opportunity to change the electives of their choice. Maybe our outstanding chess players can learn how to play soccer or

(Please turn to page 11)

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Larchmont Chronicle

AUGUST 2021

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Hancock Park student’s ‘Wish’ helps Chevalier’s and students

By Suzan Filipek Dinah Yorkin often strolled to her neighborhood bookshop, Chevalier’s, to buy books and get recommendations for new ones.

So, when the Hancock Park student was granted anything she wanted through Make-AWish Greater Los Angeles, she chose to help out her favorite bookstore.

And she wanted to buy books for local students who could use them.

“My wish had multiple layers,” Dinah, 14, said last month.

The bookstore was struggling during the pandemic, she explained.

“I really wanted to support them, but I also wanted to support children in public schools because they really needed it.”

Challenged since age 4 Dinah, who has been hospitalized and on medication since she was diagnosed at four with kidney disease, was featured along with her father, David Yorkin, on KTLA 5 News June 16.

Recipients of Make-A-Wish usually ask to experience a memorable experience, “and you turned it to help so many more,” the on-air newscaster said to Dinah.

As part of her wish, she selected books from Chevalier’s for each grade level at Hollywood Elementary. In addition, Make-A-Wish gave a check for $3,500 to the school to buy more books to fill empty shelves at its library.

When the pandemic started, the elementary school sent students home with library books not expecting the pandemic to last as long as it has. “Now the library needs a lot more books. Getting this check, they were able to get more books,” Dinah explained.

“It’s so rare, and so wonderful, when a child gives their wish away. She’s so wise for her years,” said Jaya Vadlamudi, vice president, marketing and communications for Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles.

At Marlborough The experience “was all really, really incredible,” said Dinah, who will be a ninth grader this fall at Marlborough.

Receiving many thank-yous from the students at Hollywood Elementary at a book-

New Covenant (Continued from page 10)

even ping-pong.

Our high school students have been working vigorously on their college courses, but have also had their chance to join in on the fun. They can help coordinate and teach our younger Huskies in different clubs or get some exercise by utilizing our school gym.

WISH RECIPIENT Dinah Yorkin (far right) with mom Alix, Dinah’s twin sister Dolores and dad David. Dinah gave books to all the students at Hollywood Elementary School.

giving ceremony at the school was the best part. “It was so sweet, and they were all so nice and so grateful,” said Dinah.

At a luncheon following the event, Make-A-Wish members each gave Dinah a copy of his or her favorite book to read.

“So, I got 11 books that I re-

ally love, and I am now making my way through them.”

When the effort started, her father added, “It was all-hands on-deck because [Make-AWish] wanted to make sure it happened before the end of the school term.

“They couldn’t have been more responsive. It was a wonderful experience for our whole family,” David Yorkin added.

Chevalier’s Books Chevalier’s was also pleasantly surprised.

“It was wonderfully unexpected for Dinah to use her wish in that way to benefit not just us, but an entire elementary school full of kids,” said Chevalier’s manager Katie Orphan.

Book sales dropped during the pandemic, and the bookshop was forced to leave its longtime site, but it quickly found another spot across the

Larchmont Village

11

Boulevard.

“There’s been this nice confluence of events,” said Orphan. The neighborhood continued to support the store during the pandemic, and readers now are returning in person. “Lots of folks are coming to the Boulevard to browse books again for the first time in a year … and we’re having these great restaurants as neighbors” bringing in many first-time customers.

Dinah is doing much better these days, thanks to a new medication, and she’s visited the new bookshop numerous times since it opened earlier this year. She especially likes the wood floors at the new bookstore. “It feels so welcome and opening.”

Visit wish.org/la to donate and learn more about MakeA-Wish Greater Los Angeles, which grants wishes for children with a critical illness.

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Larchmont Chronicle

Multitude of interests contribute to success on the golf course

What six-year-old creates an email address that contains “greenjacket” in it? One who’s been golfing since he was four.

Providence High School’s Hunter Campen, now 17, considers Wilshire Country Club (WCC) his home golf course.

The Campens are members,

and so are some of their family friends. One of them — Bill Johnson — was at WCC with his kids years ago, and they met up with the Campens (Hunter and his parents Chase and Angelique). At the time, Hunter was four, and he had never golfed. The John-

sons owned a set of junior golf clubs, and Hunter was handed one.

“As soon as he swung, it was as if the skies parted and lightning struck,” said Chase.

“It was clear he had ability.”

Multiple sports Hunter Campen is well-

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adjusted, and multi-faceted.

His best sport is golf, but Youth perhaps his success comes because he doesn’t spend all Sports his spare time on the links. by Contacting him for this feaJim ture was a challenge. He likes Kalin to surf, play pickup basketball and lift weights. Hunter was on a two-day surfing squad include Team Captain trip north of Santa Barbara at and MVP, All Prep League Hollister Ranch just prior to First Team, and CIF-SS (Calcompeting in the 2020 WCC ifornia Interscholastic FedJunior Club Championship eration Southern Section) individual qualifier. He’s last year.

“I was a little perplexed that advanced twice to the second surfing was how he was ‘pre- round of the CIF playoffs, but paring’ for the tournament, missed his sophomore season but I don’t intervene,” said entirely after suffering a brohis father. “I golf, and I’m ter- ken arm while snowboarding.

But first he needs to defend rible, but other than encouragement, I stay away from his that WCC Junior Title. That takes place game.”

August 29.

At that “Golf is a game that is Look for him WCC Junior played on a five-inch at the beach Championcourse — the distance the week ship, Hunter before, floatand defending between your ears.”

— Bobby Jones ing on his champ Carter surfboard, Gaede were in a tight battle through the first waiting for choice waves.

For those who like to bet, nine holes. There was a dramatic three-shot swing at the here’s a tip. If Hunter Campen tenth that gave Hunter the eventually competes on the lead. He parred the next six PGA Tour, watch for tournaholes, and even with bogeys ments that take place on a on 17 and 18, he finished with coast, where the surf is big, a 76, and the club champion- and bet on him. Ghost Tree ship. “It’s one thing to have — just off the 18th hole at the talent and the work eth- Pebble Beach — is one such ic, but putting it all together surf spot. Thundering waves, under pressure to win events with tubes that can stretch like that is really tough,” said the length of a nice 3-iron shot.

Hunter’s father.

For Hunter Campen, that’s And maybe surfing as preparation wasn’t such a bad idea. 180 yards.

“I think he has a unique mix of needing to practice to play well, but not practice too much.”

Hunter’s favorite club is a three-iron.

“I love hitting it off the tee,” he said. “I always feel confident with it.”

That may be, but in golf, an individual’s game changes.

Currently, Hunter’s putting is the best part of his game.

Putting “Anything inside ten feet, I can walk up and make.”

He’ll need a complete game for his upcoming senior sea- AFTER WINNING the 2020 son. So far, his accomplish- WCC Junior Club Championments on the Providence golf ship, Hunter Campen smiles.

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HUNTER and Chase Campen on the 18th tee at Pebble Beach.

Larchmont Chronicle

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Tailwaggers celebrates its grand opening on Larchmont

By Caroline Tracy Tailwaggers Larchmont, the new multi-purpose pet boutique, hosted a four-day-long grand opening to celebrate its arrival on the Boulevard. The event featured vendor demonstrations, free samples, gift bags with purchase, daily raffle drawings, and the chance to get to know staff members.

Tailwaggers, which has two other locations, in Hollywood and West Hollywood, first opened its doors on Larchmont this spring with a soft opening. Now, the shop is fully stocked and was ready for its official unveiling.

Tailwaggers owner Todd Warner was on-site, working with customers during the fête, and expressed his excitement about the Larchmont locale.

“I’ve been coming to Larchmont Boulevard for over 30 years,” Warner shared. “I used to live in Brookside on Tremaine, and I’ve always loved this area. It’s just so special and I’m really excited to be here.”

During the opening, patrons and their pets were greeted by Warner, as well as a full staff ready to answer questions about anything related to the shop’s pet products and services. Representatives from many

ful for some pets,” Warner explained. “So our approach is different. Other grooming models take on an assembly line format with the animals seeing multiple technicians.

At Tailwaggers, each pet stays with one groomer for the entire length of the service,

TAILWAGGERS owner Todd Warner, right, and General Manager Brian Boulter, in front of the Larchmont store.

of the product lines came out in support of the opening and offered free samples, tutorials and demonstrations.

Customers who made a purchase of $20 or more over the four-day event were given a goody bag and entered into a raffle. With multiple prizes being raffled off each day, many walked away with curated gift baskets for dogs and cats, designer dog beds, and other indemand products.

In addition to its retail operation, Tailwaggers will offer daycare and grooming later this summer.

“Grooming can be stress-

OVERALL view of customers enjoying the new store.

Sign up for fall soccer season Fall registration is in full swing! The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) fall season starts Sept. 11 for Region 78, which covers Hollywood, Larchmont and Wilshire. Registration is open for ages 3 to 18, said Kurt Muller, regional commissioner. “For the three- to five-yearolds, we will accept registrations into early September and are encouraging families to ‘spread the word’ to get their friends and classmates to join up with them.”

“While a key part of AYSO is meeting new friends, we do get a lot of ‘team requests,’ which is something we have

more flexibility with for these younger age groups. We even accommodate requests up to our ‘2014’ division as long as the family has a referee volunteer (something we always have a desperate need for and that requires no soccer experience).

“We are planning coach and referee volunteer trainings in the second half of August.

Most of the volunteers are parents, grandparents, uncles / aunts and even siblings, which really makes for a fun familyfriendly experience.”

For information, email ayso78registrar@gmail.com or visit ayso78.info.

Pets of Larchmont

“Our loving rescued angels, 14-year-old Bella and 9-month-old Addy, enjoy life at Manhattan Place,” said Mary and Art Fruchtenbaum.

(This entry was sent in after the deadline for our annual July pet issue.)

BELLA, 14, and Addy.

which is better for creating a bond and reducing any potential upset.”

Giving back is important to Warner. To that effect, the upstairs office space will serve as headquarters for his non-profit, Tailwaggers Foundation, which raises money for rescue

13

dogs and cats. He is also committed to giving back in the community.

“I love being a part of the neighborhood, and I’m so excited to get involved and help Larchmont celebrate its upcoming 100th anniversary,” Warner said.

Larchmont Chronicle

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Two summers (Continued from page 1)

We are currently staying at my in-laws’ golf club in Westchester County, N.Y. I used to work here during the summers, but it’s been two years since I’ve written from this terrace.

My 7-year-old daughter is down below on the grounds, participating in a day camp that has her golfing, playing tennis, doing arts and crafts, and swimming the day away.

She is with 12 other kids from the surrounding towns; all new friends. They are not wearing masks. I wonder if they should be.

VIEW of the Hudson from Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.

Meanwhile, my 9-year-old son is at sleepaway camp in Grantham, N.H. We dropped

him off there for a month-long stay (eek!) before heading off on our own adventure.

So far on this trip, we have visited friends and relatives in Boston, Mass.; Harwich Port, Mass.; Katonah, N.Y.; Brooklyn, N.Y.; Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.; and Westport, Conn. It’s exhausting, but we are happy and making up for lost time.

I’m not alone in my pursuit to give my kids (and myself) a better summer than last year.

Many parents I’ve spoken to from the neighborhood had the same mission.

Sleepaway camp seems to be the star of the show. While some sleepaway camps were operational last summer, and the die-hards certainly went (as they should have), there seemed to be a groundswell of interest in the experience for summer 2021 among newbies and converts like me.

For all of us who are enjoying ourselves, though, it’s important to recognize that times are still tough for many.

The Plymouth School Safely Opened for the 2021-2022 School Year!

ELLA Friedman enjoys a dip at Canyon Creek Camp in Lake Hughes, Calif.

lage, told me: “Both of my girls went to camp this summer. Kayla went for two weeks, and Ella went for one week. Everyone was happy and they were out of the house. HUGE contrast to last summer.”

Friedman’s answer is a common refrain. I spoke with families who had sent kids ranging in age from 8 to 14 to camps across the country, including Minnesota, North Carolina and Maine. I am so happy for each and every one of those children (and their parents!).

For all of us who are enjoying ourselves, though, it’s important to recognize that times are still tough for many. Just today, I saw two news stories out of Los Angeles that jolted me back to reality. City pools have closed due to lack of chlorine (caused by the uptick in private pool construction, the article posited), and several Los Angeles-area beaches were closed due to a sewage spill. The threat of COVID looms as well, with the Delta variant causing numbers (among the unvaccinated) to surge, yet again.

Countless families looking for a break have undoubtedly been affected by these strange “man-made” disasters.

So, while some of us sojourn and revel, let us all hope that the summer of 2022 will be enjoyed by all.

Trips away Family vacations are also back on the table, and not just to Santa Barbara for a week.

Alex Andrews, Larchmont Village, took her family to Costa Rica for a memorable experience.

“Costa Rica was wide open, with no mandated quarantine time, so we scooted off there as soon as school let out for my two teenagers,” Andrews said. “We had an amazing time and can’t wait to get out there and do some more traveling.”

Another family went to see extended family in Puerto Rico. Jessie Cox, who resides near Park La Brea, told me: “We are so happy to be able to travel again in 2021. Last year, we had to cancel a family reunion at Disney World and a trip to see my husband’s family in Siesta Key. This summer, we are thrilled to be spending time with family in New York and Puerto Rico. Having our families on the East Coast is difficult, but being able to connect with them this year has been a true blessing.”

Back on the camp front, Nona Fried- KAYLA FRIEDMAN on a “Quest” to Yoman, Larchmont Vil- semite with Camp Tawonga.

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Larchmont Chronicle

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15

A rollicking and fancy Italian dinner in a bleak part of town

I hadn’t ventured downtown since the before times, but recently the lure of our urban environment called me to indulge in a fancy Italian dinner in the fashion district.

It was still light out as we threaded our way past Disney Hall’s gleaming undulating walls and 7th Street’s vibey storefront eateries. Suddenly, civilization gave way to streets filled with discount goods and warehouses, then block after block of tents and dented lawn chairs.

The four of us grew silent as we contemplated the enormity of the bleakness before us.

Minutes later, a valet parking stand incongruously appeared curbside next to a Cognis-

centi coffee. We saw glittering lights and heard rollicking laughter and animated conversation echoing from two large, beautiful restaurants nestled across a plaza from one another. On the left is the Latin DAMA, on the right is Rossoblu, where we had reservations.

It’s no surprise to anyone in Los Angeles that the number of unhoused citizens in every neighborhood has grown exponentially in the last few years, but the largest concentration of people scraping by on the streets must be in downtown, especially on Skid Row and in the various warehouse districts. However,

On the Menu by

Helene Seifer even in the midst of our urban failure, the gentrifiers gentrify and carve out pockets of wealth and privilege, such as this one, where, steps from those who can’t afford a cup of coffee, I can order a $16 martini and a $45 pork chop with braised escarole.

And yet, the minute we handed over our car keys and stepped into the brighter

Play pianos for a cause, outdoors at the Wallis

Tickle the keys on upright pianos placed outdoors at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts and other locales August 5 – September 6, 2021.

The nonprofit Sing for Hope project has partnered with the City of Beverly Hills and the Wallis to bring more than a dozen artist-designed pianos to parks and public spaces for the public’s free use and enjoyment.

Other participating locations include Beverly Hills City Hall, Beverly Gardens Park and Rodeo Drive. After the public installation, the pianos will be moved to underserved local schools, hospitals and community centers.

The program has placed more than 500 artist-designed Sing for Hope Pianos on the streets of New York City (and beyond) since 2010, with instruments created by Julian Schnabel, Diane von Furstenberg and Lance Johnson.

The program was founded in New York City in 2006. For

RESTAURANT & COCKTAILS

world of people celebrating post-pandemic freedom, we happily followed the scent of grilled meats and shaved Parmigiano to our Saturday evening date with food nirvana.

Rossoblu opened to acclaim in 2017, both for its lovely décor and its luscious Italian flavors.

Due to lingering coronavirus concerns, the interior has been stripped down to minimal seating, although an impressive wall mural is still holding court. Most eat on the expansive light-strung patio.

Chef and owner Steve Samson’s cooking is influenced by his Italian mother, and his house-made pastas, grilled fish and meats and impeccably handled vegetables are superb expressions of the simple, fresh tastes found throughout the Bel Paese (the beautiful country).

Once seated outside and sipping our various vodka, mezcal and orgeat cocktails, our waiter recommended the eggplant, so that’s what we ordered to start. Interestingly, we were split on our assessment.

My husband and son-in-law thought it was okay, but not worth the hype. My daughter and I loved the $14 refreshing gossamer discs of marinated eggplant with tomato sugo, basil and shaved Parmigiano Reggiano.

All the antipasti sounded appealing, especially the $14 pork meatballs with fennel pollen and the $21 mixed sea-

food with chili dipping sauce, but we opted to share the $15 erbazzone, a Swiss chard and cucumber, crescenza cheesestuffed grilled sandwich. We all loved the cheesy greens and chewy toasts, but I was the lone holdout who thought the eggplant still won the appetizer wars.

There were six grilled menu dishes on offer the night we visited, from $35 chicken with date jus to $99 28-day dry-aged bone-in Holstein ribeye. My husband and I shared the dry-aged striped bass, $35. This was a spectacular and meaty filet, very sweet and perfectly complemented by a thickened savory tomato broth.

We also shared the $25 tagliatelle al ragù Bolognese.

The wide al dente pasta ribbons were gently swathed in a delicate sauce of ground beef and pork, with just a kiss of tomato. Very authentic and delicious.

Our daughter and son-inlaw ordered the Bolognese and a sweet corn risotto, $25.

I love corn with rice or pasta and this risotto is no exception, but the thick creaminess chef’s tease-out of the rice grains was, in this case, thinner than expected.

A generous square of tiramisu was a dream end to our meal, then we reentered the nightmare of the streets for our drive home.

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Larchmont Chronicle

AUGUST 2021

SECTION ONE

Bozo the Clown stars in these insecure, uncertain times

My on-line physical therapist (which must be an oxymoron) has me doing these balance exercises where I tilt from one side to the other, gradually lifting alternating legs higher and higher until I achieve some sort of balance on one foot, usually for about three seconds. While she convinces me that this will help turn me into an efficient and elegant creature of locomotion, more often than not I feel like one of those rolypoly Bozo the Clown toys of my youth that you could bat, swat or push and it would never fall over.

I mention this because the roly-poly wobbly Bozo is about the best metaphor I have for the state of theater right now.

“Hamilton” is coming back to the Pantages, but “Hamilton” (despite its triple-digit ticket prices) got nearly $50 million

in PPE funds to weather the pandemic. Smaller theaters, even with government support, have not been so lucky (retrofitting HVAC systems are a major cost) and so, many of the 99-seat theaters are going the way of other small businesses and closing for good. The state of the cinema is analogous: “Black Widow” crushes (as the kids say) an $80 million opening weekend, while independent serious films hope for a slot on Netflix or AppleTV. Finances are not the only reason for the wobbling. In my June column, I talked about how theaters “flipped a switch” after the 1918-19 Flu pandemic, and how producers were hoping to do the same now. Well, it turns out that that switch has a dimmer control on it. Rising Delta cases and the fact that, as one po-

TIME FOR A BACKYARD

Theater Review by

Louis Fantasia tential audience member put it, “people can’t be trusted,” has significantly slowed the rush to a theatrical “normal” — new or not. Two well-reviewed off-Broadway shows, Lucas Hnath’s “Dana H.” and Tina Satter’s “Is This A Room,” have hedged their bets on their move to Broadway by splitting the rent on the Lyceum Theater, with each show taking part of a week’s performance schedule.

Culturally, every new play on Broadway this fall, except for the two above by Hnath and Satter, will be by a Black writer (TimeOut/NY, 7/2/21).

That’s a real step forward. The step back is that the seven

Amy Forbes

(Continued from page 4)

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career at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. She is the cochair of the Land Use Practice Group. During a one-year leave of absence from the firm in 1988-89, she worked on land use planning issues at the Crown Property Bureau, the agency of the Thai government that manages the King of Thailand’s property.

Outgoing President Kiki Ramos Gindler, Hancock Park, moves into the position of chairperson of the board, having led the nonprofit organization for more than six years.

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plays, “Pass Over,” “Lackawanna Blues,” “Chicken and Biscuits,” “Thoughts of a Colored Man,” “Trouble in Mind” (a revival from 1955), and “Clyde’s” are all underperforming at the advance box office.

As I write this, The Center Theatre Group lists its season, including Jeremy O. Harris’s “Slave Play,” but tickets are not for sale. The Geffen has announced that its 25th Anniversary season will open on September 14, but the best I could get out of its website was to “notify me” when tickets become available. At the Wallis in Beverly Hills, all shows this month (six of them) continue to be outdoors on the venue’s terrace.

Wobble, wobble. Take a whack! Economists agree on one thing: uncertainty is bad for business. If it is bad for business, uncertainty is worse for a collective and collaborative art like theater, which has more to worry about than a

“fear of jerks” (NYT, 5/26/20) in the audience who won’t follow rules about masking or social distancing.

Producers are now openly talking about a devastating flu season in late fall and the effects of climate change. Is anyone driving up to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival this summer? Other open-air theaters from the Public in New York to theaters in the Midwest have been rained out more often with each passing summer. The smaller the theater, the bigger the impact each of these issues has to the bottom line.

Theater does not happen in a vacuum. These are insecure, uncertain times, and we hunger for clarity and direction.

My fear, if history is an indicator, is that the solutions will come from the wrong place and the wrong people. Perhaps we should get more comfortable with our anxieties... and our lack of balance!

cock Park, Miles Benickes and Gail Berman-Masters as vice presidents, Stanley Iezman as secretary and David Quigg as treasurer. Officers are elected to a term of three years.

“As we move ever closer to a safe reopening of our theaters and embark on a search for our next Artistic Director, I recognize this is both an exciting and important time to take a leadership role at Center Theatre Group,” said Forbes.

Forbes graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering from Princeton University in 1980 and from the USC School of Law in 1984.

From 1990 to 1996, she was on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Conservancy,

serving as President of the organization from 1993-1996.

In 2006, she joined Center Theatre Group’s board and has also served on the Board of the USC School of Architecture Guild and the Los Angeles Free Clinic. She has provided more than 20 years of pro bono real estate advice and other service to Center Theatre Group. She is a member of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers.

Center Theatre Group programs seasons at the 736-seat Mark Taper Forum and the 1600-to-2100-seat Ahmanson Theatre at The Music Center in Downtown Los Angeles, as well as the 317-seat Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City.

Outdoor shows are on the summer program at Wallis It’s not summer in Southern California until you can enjoy Summer @ The Wallis at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 9390 Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills. The program features dance, live music and other performances in an outdoor venue to accommodate a socially distanced audience.

This month, programs include a chamber concert by Salastina, Sat., Aug. 7 and the Heidi Duckler Dance Company performing the world premier of “The Chandelier,” Wed., Aug. 11 to Sun., Aug. 15.

Versa-Style performs “Box of Hope,” Thurs., Aug. 19 to Sat., Aug. 21; Quattrosound string quartet plays Wed., Aug. 25; Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles is Thurs., Aug. 26 and Fri., Aug. 27; and Ty Taylor sings a selection of classic and nouveau stan-

dards Sat., Aug. 28.

Visit thewallis.org or call 310-746-4000.

Road to Stardom on AIDS Walk

AIDS Walk Los Angeles 2021 is taking the “Road to Stardom” with RuPaul’s Ongina hosting. But the 2021 walk will not be en masse.

The walk-a-thon, which was founded in 1985, will have a list of scenic, iconic places around Los Angeles County for participants to use as their “Road to Stardom” map. Participants can also donate and participate from home.

Ongina, who was a contestant on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” TV show, will host first-hand accounts of how the AIDS Walk helped someone. Registration concludes Sun., Oct. 3.

Visit aidswalkla.org.

Larchmont Chronicle

AUGUST 2021

SECTION ONE

17

Mystery thriller keeps you guessing, Bourdain film on menu

No Sudden Move (8/10): 91 Minutes. R. An outstanding cast highlights this mystery/ thriller about a home invasion that seems incongruous and quickly goes wrong. Don Cheadle and Benicio del Toro give sparkling performances as two of the heist men who are involved in something far deeper than they could possibly imagine. But the relationships go much further than originally meets the eye, and it keeps one guessing what is really going on throughout the film. Theaters and HBOMax. Val (8/10): 108 minutes. R. Val Kilmer was the youngest person ever to be admitted to the Juilliard School in New York City. In addition, he was prescient enough to be an early devotee of videotape cameras.

He took his cameras with him wherever he went and kept all the tapes that he made, which added up to thousands and thousands of feet of material.

Along with directors Leo Scott and Ting Poo Day, they sifted through this mass of material and have put together an illuminating autobiography told in his own words and using the films he made throughout his life. I did not know that he suffered from throat cancer and basically lost his voice, speaking now through a hole in his throat. But it has not stopped him, and he still tells his story, although his voice is very rough. His son, Jack, speaks his narration for him sometimes. He had a one-of-a-kind look about him and the persona of a star. If you are a fan, you will like this. If you are not a fan, this might make you one.

The Phantom (8/10): 82 minutes. NR. On the night of Feb. 4, 1983, a young woman working at a gas station in Corpus Christi, Texas, 26-yearold Wanda Lopez, called police to inform them that there was a Hispanic man outside her store that worried her. While still on the phone, he attacked and killed her while the police listened. He ran away, but shortly thereafter police found 20-year-old Carlos DeLuna hiding under a car and eyewitnesses ID’d him as a man running away from the scene.

During the trial DeLuna identified Carlos Hernandez as the killer. In 2012 a Columbia University innocence project investigated and reported that DeLuna was telling the truth, that Hernandez not only performed the murder, but bragged about it. If what is shown here is true, this poor guy DeLuna had a lawyer who was lazy, if not incompetent; the prosecutors were more interested in an easy conviction than finding out who really did it, and DeLuna ended up executed. It took 20 years to find out that there was an almost 100 percent probability

that DeLuna was telling the truth, and it was truth that could have been discovered, especially by the prosecutors, with just a little diligence. This makes a pretty persuasive case for DeLuna’s innocence, but it is basically one-sided. The fact, though, that he turned down a life sentence without possibility of parole is strong evidence that he was innocent. Prime.

Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain (7/10): 118 minutes. NR. It’s mostly the charismatic Bourdain kvetching about his life before he ended it. I came away thinking that he owed everything to his producers Lydia Tenaglia and Chris Collins. It was their idea to make a series out of “The Cook’s Tour,” his second book, and they were really the geniuses behind his TV success.

Lydia says that “life on the road with Tony is not all it’s cracked up to be. The man can be a real pain in the ass some-

At the Movies with

Tony Medley times…” Bourdain would have probably just been a successful author and not a world-famous TV personality without Collins and Tenaglia creating and producing his travel shows. To the film’s discredit, it grossly downplays and barely mentions his bullying and serious drug abuse throughout his life, which probably had more to do with his depression and suicide than being dumped by actress Asia Argento. Theaters and HBO Max. Enemies of the State (7/10): 104 minutes. NR. This is a semi pseudo-documentary. It seems as if we are seeing the real people, but the main

character, Matt DeHart, is an actor, actually two actors, as are the detectives and FBI agents. It’s about a son who purloins incriminating CIA documents and is attacked by the Deep State and deeply involves his parents. Given the abject criminal corruption of the Deep State it is believable, but the feigned scenes, like one where the parents are apparently speaking on a cell phone with Julian Assange (who is a hero in my book) of Wikileaks (maybe it’s true, but it looks staged to me), strain credulity. Worse, halfway through, it certainly appears that they change actors for Matt, with no explanation. They don’t even look alike. That said, it’s otherwise well done, interesting, and worth seeing because it’s probably mostly true.

Jolt (4/10): 91 minutes.

NR. If this isn’t the dumbest movie to come along, it will do for a while. Linda (Kate

Beckinsale) is a psycho with what is defined as a “neurological disorder” that causes her to periodically become extremely violent. She’s treated by Dr. Munchin (Stanley Tucci) who is supposed to be a psychiatrist, but every scene in which he appears he is in what looks to be a rundown office, dressed like a bum and needing a shave. What follows is utter nonsense. There are plotholes galore, characters who don’t make sense, and situations that could only appear on a Hollywood sound stage.

Apparently, its only purpose is to show that a woman can fight man after man, many at the same time, and put them down while barely working up a sweat. Directed by Tanya Wexler from a script by Scott Wascha, advertised as a comedy, it’s not funny. Also advertised as a thriller, it is so absurd and ridiculous that it’s thrill-challenged. Prime.

8/7

8/12-15

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AUG 7 Salastina

AUG 25 Quattrosound

AUG 12-15 Heidi Duckler Dance: The Chandelier

AUG 26-27 Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles

AUG 19-21 Versa-Style Dance Company: Box of Hope

AUG 28 Ty Taylor: A Summer Evening of Classic and Nouveau Standards

8/28

TheWallis.org/Summer

WACPA2021-Summer@TheWallis-LC-FP_F.indd 1

7/20/21 4:41 PM

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Larchmont Chronicle

AUGUST 2021

SECTION ONE

Tom LaBonge (Continued from page 1)

his public service,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti at the July 14 ceremony.

Originally named the “Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power Headworks Reservoir Complex,” it was renamed in May after LaBonge.

A 39-year veteran of City Hall — he also worked for a time at the LADWP as Director of Community Relations — LaBonge served on the City Council from 2001 to 2015. He died in January at 67.

“In Los Angeles — a city with the largest water and electric utility in the country — water has always played an outsized role,” said Councilmember Nithya Raman. “Tom keenly understood this as his legacy reflects. He worked arm-in-arm with the LADWP, always advocating on behalf of our residents’ needs as well as the needs of our landscapes.”

LaBonge left his mark at quintessential Los Angeles landmarks including the Silver Lake Reservoir, Griffith Park and LADWP’s Aqueduct

Centennial Garden in Los Feliz. As part of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners vote in May, the Garden was also renamed as the “Tom LaBonge Aqueduct Centennial Garden.”

“Tom LaBonge was passionate about LADWP’s history, and this dedication rightfully recognizes his contributions to Los Angeles,” said Board of Water and Power President Cynthia McClain-Hill. LaBonge often said throughout his tenure as Councilmember, “Water gives us life!” He was also known for another memorable phrase. “Dad always said, ‘the two most important things in life are water and relationships.’ That is so true,” said Mary-Cate LaBonge, daughter of Tom LaBonge. “What I learned from dad is to talk to people, ask them questions.

Don’t be afraid to raise your hand and speak. Seeing how he made a difference and seeing his name up there is very special to me and my family.”

The banner hung against the western wall of Headworks will remain there until permanent signage is installed once

RENDERING shows landscaped parklands to cover and surround Tom LaBonge Headworks Water Complex.

GIGANTIC HEADWORKS RESERVOIRS, west and east, are bordered by the Los Angeles River, 101 Freeway and Forest Lawn Drive.

Aerial Imagery © 2021 Maxar Technologies, U.S. Geological Survey, USDA Farm Service Agency

the reservoir construction and public trails and gardens are completed.

In 2015, Councilmember LaBonge participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Headworks Reservoir Complex. The two reservoirs at the complex, Headworks East and Headworks West, replace Silver Lake and Ivanhoe Reservoirs for compliance with Federal drinking water regulations.

Headworks is located on a 43-acre site across from the north entrance to the Councilmember’s much-beloved Griffith Park. Public open space atop the reservoirs, that are partially buried underground, is being designed by Olin Studios and Frank Gehry and Associates.

Robert Sacchi March 27, 1932 – June 23, 2021 Actor Robert Sacchi died June 23 after a brief illness. Known for his close resemblance to Humphrey Bogart, Sacchi played the title role in the 1980 feature film THE MAN WITH BOGART’S FACE. Sacchi also appeared in many films, TV shows and commercials playing Bogart, as well as his one man show, BOGEY’S BACK, and touring productions of PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM. He was 89.

Councilmembers (Continued from page 6)

surrounding neighborhood, and we will offer a range of supportive services.

“I have committed an additional $1 million to continue addressing homelessness through ‘Encampment to Home’ initiatives in Mid-City and Koreatown, which will not only deploy more outreach workers to help transition unhoused people off the streets, but also provide resources to engage businesses in detecting signs of homelessness in their communities, and give them resources on how to respond.

“I am also investing funds in job training and employment for the formerly homeless, eviction defense services and launching a universal Basic Income program for lowincome residents. We must build a more equitable system on multiple fronts, including homelessness prevention.

“Next month, I also plan to open the South LA Homeless

Outreach and Coordination Hub on Western Avenue and Washington Boulevard, where outreach teams will be based and be able to provide timely service to those in need.”

Q: What are two items that you’ve started while in office, but need more time to finish?

A: “Over the course of the past year over 22,000 [people have been housed, but] for every 207 people we house each day, 227 people become homeless anew.

“I am dedicated to establishing a Right to Housing within the City of Los Angeles so that addressing this crisis doesn’t just rely on political pressure, but becomes an obligation on government to which it is required to respond. [Additionally,] I have introduced a motion to begin the process of creating an antiracist framework for the City of Los Angeles.

My hope is that this motion will move us forward in identifying solutions to advance racial equity for the longterm.”

Writer/Editor Wanted!

Interested in part-time work chronicling the news of the neighborhood? Beginning immediately, the Larchmont Chronicle has a part-time position available to help us write and edit stories about local news and produce our popular newspaper every month . . . as we celebrate the Larchmont shopping district’s 100th year and we near our own 60th year.

The comedy was released by 20th Century Fox, based on the novel of the same name. Sacchi starred as Sam Marlowe, the lead in a cast that included Michelle Phillips, Franco Nero, Olivia Hussey, Sybil Danning and George Raft. He also had a Top 10 hit in Germany with the hit single “Jungle Queen.” He was also the author of the book Willie Pep Remembers….Friday’s Heroes.

Born in Rome, Italy, on March 27, 1932, Sacchi came to the Bronx, New York, as a young child. He attended Cardinal Hayes High School, where he was first told of his resemblance to Bogart. Prior to embarking on an acting career, he attended Iona College in New Rochelle, where he majored in Business and Finance, followed by earning a Masters at NYU. Though his career remained closely associated to Bogart, he played other characters as well in such films as ACROSS 110th STREET and DIE HARD 2, among others.

Sacchi is survived by his beloved wife of 51 years, Peruvian artist Angela De Hererera. Also surviving are their two children whom they raised in Hancock Park, Trish Bertisch (Cory) and John Sacchi (Suzanne) as well as Robert Sacchi, Jr., Barbara Cohen, Felicia Carroll, Maria Tolstonog, Lisa Osborne and Anthony Sacchi from his first marriage, and his brother Mario Sacchi. He drew tremendous joy from his grandchildren Aden Bertisch, Evan Bertisch and Owen Sacchi. There was not a more charismatic or engaging conversationalist. He will be missed by . all he loved and loved him.

Adv

Writing skills are key. Competence in Adobe InDesign is a plus, but not absolutely necessary. Send a short inquiry, including a maximum 25-word statement of your views about the Oxford Comma, plus your contact information, including telephone number, to: john@larchmontchronicle.com.

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Larchmont Chronicle

British Consul (Continued from page 4)

Minister in 2020, and as a senior leader in the Department for International Trade’s Sectors Group, overseeing export and investment promotion.

When asked how she would like to leave her print on the role, Cloke notes that the U.K. is the second largest investor in Los Angeles. “The start-

Letters

(Continued from page 2) he then goes on to rant about psychology professor Christine Blasey Ford who, in a senate confirmation hearing, accused Justice Brett Kavanaugh of attempted rape: “… watching Christine Blasey Ford, spewing her venomous unsubstantiated accusations against Brett Kavanaugh that were denied not only by Kavanaugh, but by everyone who knew anything about the party where Ford alleges the attack occurred.”

Mr. Medley makes it abundantly clear that, in his opinion, Rita Moreno, Christine Blasey Ford and indeed, all women, are just not as moral or intelligent as he is.

In the end, he dismisses the film as “irrelevant and dishonest” and paints producer Norman Lear and indeed, “all of Hollywood” with the same brush. Referring to the documentary, he writes: “The point of all this is to just reinforce the political POV of Lear, Moreno, and all of Hollywood.”

As a woman who loves living in Hollywood and makes her living in the film industry, I find it particularly offensive and disgraceful that your paper would allow Mr. Medley to air his low opinion of women and his personal political views, especially those including such broad, demeaning generalizations, in a “film review” column. It reflects badly on the Larchmont Chronicle.

I, for one, will no longer be reading his column, and may I suggest that, if he despises “Hollywood” so much, reviewing films might not be the job for him.

Cassandra Pierson Larchmont Village

Insulting review

Your female readers do not appreciate Tony Medley’s hateful comments about women in his review of the Rita Moreno documentary (“At the Movies,” July 2021). He obviously has no respect for women because he pontificates against Moreno’s decision to have an abortion as if it is any of HIS business. He

AUGUST 2021

ing point is good,” said Cloke, adding that she still hopes to make “tangible progress” on several levels. She points to increasing investment into the U.K. film industry and work on climate initiatives as priorities.

As an example of British culture currently on display, Cloke points to her own front lawn, where a 14-foot-high sculpture currently stands.

Sculpted by U.S.-based, British then describes Christine Blasey Ford as a liar and supports Brett Kavanaugh. Do we really need these insults in a movie review? Please edit this guy.

Janet Charlton Hancock Park I was shocked by the selfserving, sexist and deeply irresponsible threads in Tony Medley’s “movie review” of “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It,” July 2021). I read movie reviews to find out whether I should devote two hours of my life to a film, not to be deluged by the writer’s uninformed and baseless political opinions. I started reading eager for an incisive comprehensive review of the film and one of my idols and it devolved into a savage, impulsive laceration of Christine Blasey Ford. In one scene, Rita Moreno is watching the Brett Kavanaugh hearing in the film and Medley opines, “Christine Blasey Ford spewing her venomous unsubstantiated accusations against Brett Kavanaugh that were denied not only by Kavanaugh, but by everyone who knew anything about the party where Ford alleges the attack occurred.” This is unprofessionalism at best and repugnant misogyny by a rape apologist at worst.

Was there an editor on this “review?” Tony Medley should stop reviewing movies and be sequestered for life on an allfemale island in the French Polynesia where a circle of women feast on his bones at a bonfire every night.

Fielding Edlow Hancock Park

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THE ROOK was designed by U.S.-based British artist Andy Scott.

Where’s the editor?

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artist Andy Scott, The Rook is a large-scale equine chess piece made of galvanized and powder-coated steel.

“One thing I am keen to do is increase our outreach with younger generations in Los Angeles,” said Cloke, noting that recent college graduates should consider applying for the Marshall Scholarships, which finance students of high ability to study for a graduate degree in the United Kingdom. Up to 50 students are selected each year. Deadline to apply is Sept. 28. Visit marshallscholarship.org for more information.

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