LC Section One 10 2024

Larchmont Chronicle

By Suzan Filipek

Voting has never been easier as there are myriad ways to make your voice heard, from mail-in ballots to walk-up boxes and centers, in the Tues., Nov. 5, General Election.

SCHOOL turns 25. 19

& HARVEST 14 FALL FEST at Original Farmers Market. 14 RECORD sale, again. 2-2

Ballots will be mailed soon (by Mon., Oct. 7) to all registered voters, and ballot boxes will open by Oct. 7, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.

Ballot drop-off locations open on Tues., Oct. 8.

There’s no time like the present to study up on the measures and the candidates. Choices made now are expected to affect our lives and communities for years to come.

Vote on or before Tues., Nov. 5

See Section 2, Pages 8-10

There are three county ballot measures, seven city measures, and 10 state measures, with topics ranging from higher taxes, school bonds, homelessness and marriage to rent control (again) on the ballot.

Interesting and contentious

n County, city, state and school measures — and candidates For information on advertising in the paper, please call Pam Rudy 323-462-2241, x 11

Mailing permit:

For local readers, the most interesting and contentious races probably are two — the U.S. Congress 30th District seat long held by U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (now running for U.S. Senate) and the Los Angeles County District Attorney race, where Nathan Hochman is challenging incumbent George Gascón.

Turn to Sec. 2, Page 8, for our full election coverage.

Dining & Shopping Guide

Read all about restaurant and entertainment news in the November issue of the Larchmont Chronicle . Advertising deadline is Mon., Oct. 7. For more information, contact Pam Rudy, 323-4622241, ext. 11.

DRESSED TO MATCH THE PUMPKINS, a little human pumpkin gets a ride at the patch.

Hoedown, pumpkins and gourds on Larchmont

By

Nona Sue Friedman

Purchase pumpkins, multicolored squash, gourds, carving kits and more at the Wilshire Rotary Pumpkin Patch, 568 N. Larchmont Blvd. The pumpkin patch opens Thurs., Oct. 10, at 10 a.m. and will be there through Wed., Oct. 30.

Money raised at the pumpkin patch goes to charities, many of them local, such as Big Sunday, HopeNet and Operation School Bell. Rotarian Wendy Clifford, who runs the pumpkin patch, says, “The idea is to keep [the funds] local.”

n Rides, music and more

By Casey Russell

Neighbors will come together for an afternoon of fun during this year’s Larchmont Family Fair on Sun., Oct 27, from noon until 5 p.m. Between Beverly Boulevard and First Street, Larchmont Boulevard will be closed to traffic for this 59th fair event. School and nonprofit booths will line the street, the Larchmont Village Farmers’ Market will be in its usual spot near the clock tower, and local shops will remain open for business during the festivities. There will be a multitude of activities for children to enjoy, including carnival games, rides, bouncers, slides, bungie swings, a rock wall, a train and a children’s costume contest.

Fairgoers will be able to partake of foods from around the world, such as pupusas, Hawaiian chicken and hibachi, by stopping by participating stands and food trucks. Musical entertainment will be provided by The 818’s and Black Canyon Band. Local dance studios will also be per-

Third Street Elementary turns 100!

n Block party, time capsule are planned by students, parents, faculty and alumni

By Casey Russell

Hancock Park’s Third Street Elementary School celebrates its centennial this year, and volunteer parents and staff have been hard at work planning events and digging through archives to mark this milestone in meaningful ways.

Block party

A centennial block party, free and open to the public, will take place on Sun., Nov. 3, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., west of the school on Las Palmas Avenue between Second and Third streets.

It will feature educational activities sponsored by the Natural History Museum, a reptile encounter hosted by

STAR Eco, Got Game games, face painting, arts and crafts, carnival games, pet adoptions and food trucks. Entertainment will be provided by Bob Baker Marionettes, Mista Cookie Jar and Third Street students and parents. The Hancock Park Homeowners Association is partnering with State Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur’s office to have a bicycle safety

booth at the event. Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky of City Council District 5 will be on hand to say a few words and to present Principal Lee with a special certificate from the city.

Time capsule Planners are also working with students to choose artifacts for a centennial time capsule, for which the school

Photo by Wendy Clifford

Third Street, P 20

See Larchmont Fair, P 10

THIRD STREET SCHOOL originally was a grand two-story brick building reminiscent of

Editorial 1

By John Welborne

‘Preposterous’ and the election season

Last month’s editorial mentioned etymology, the “origin and evolution of a word and its meaning.” (In that editorial, the word in question was “volunteers.”)

Now that we are in the final throes of election season, 2024, an important word to remember — when thinking about claims made for and against candidates and ballot measures — is “preposterous.”

Q: What does “preposterous” mean?

A: “Contrary to reason or common sense.”

So, when evaluating what proponents and opponents of candidates or ballot measures are telling you on television or through your mailboxes (or even through dread social media), please be discriminating, in the good sense.

Consider what is being said. Does it seem like a wild claim? Is it something subtle and deceptive, aimed to fool you?

Read arguments from both sides of an issue or from both candidates. Seek out neutral sources. Don’t let preposterous claims lead you to making a choice with consequences for us all. Use reason and common sense. Use your independent, good judgment, and don’t fall for preposterous promises.

Above all, please remember to VOTE by Tues., Nov. 5.

DEDICATED TO THE PRESERVATION OF HANCOCK PARK

• Homeowners •

HANCOCK PARK HOME OWNERS ASSOCIATION ASSOC I ATION

Est. 1948

137 N. LARCHMONT BLVD. LOS ANGELES 90004 www.HancockPark.org

October Events in Hancock Park

October will be a busy month for the Hancock Park HOA, with three major events planned!

1. The Hancock Park Annual Meeting will be held (via Zoom) on Monday, October 21 , at 6:00pm. Our Agenda includes:

• Council Member Yaroslavsky

• Hancock Park LAPD Senior Lead Officer Tyler Shuck

• Candidates for LA County District Attorney

• HPHA Committee Updates

• Board Election Results

Please save the date and join us at: us02web.zoom. us/j/85458121142#success.

2. The Association will also be hosting a Block Captains’ Dinner on October 22nd at Marino Ristorante on Melrose. Our neighborhood has an established block captain program promoting neighbor-to-neighbor communication and neighborhood watch. Our block captains play an important role in creating and maintaining our sense of community in Hancock Park, and we are very grateful for their work.

3. Larchmont Family Fair on October 27th. The Fair is a tradition in our neighborhood and is always a wellattended and fun event! Our booth will have information on Hancock Park, the Association and more. Also, our Board members will be on hand to answer questions. Please be sure to stop by and see us.

See our website for more information: hancockparkhomeownersassociation.org

* Important HPOZ Reminder : Hancock Park is located in an HPOZ (Historic Preservation Overlay Zone). If you’re thinking of making any modifications to your home including any changes to the street-visible front or side façade, demolition of historic garages or porte-cocheres, removal of landscaping or replacement of hardscape, you must contact our HPOZ City Planner, Suki Gershenhorn (Suki.Gershenhorn@lacity.org) and set up an appointment to review your plans with her. Any unapproved changes or unpermitted work within the HPOZ is subject to Stop Work orders and hefty fines from the city.

Calendar

Wed., Oct. 2 — First night of Rosh Hashanah.

Tues., Oct. 8 — Mid City West Neighborhood Council board meeting. midcitywest. org.

Wed., Oct. 9 — Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council board meeting. greaterwilshire.org.

Fri., Oct. 11 — Yom Kippur begins at sundown.

Mon., Oct. 14 — Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

Thurs., Oct. 24 — Delivery of the November issue of the Larchmont Chronicle.

Editorial 2

By John Welborne

Sun., Oct. 27 — Larchmont Family Fair. Thurs., Oct. 31 — Halloween.

Ballot measures to increase taxes

There are 20 ballot measures — county, city, state and school district — asking for “yes” or “no” votes in the coming election. Some relate to issues like redistricting or increasing the number of elected officials in various jurisdictions. Some relate to crime. Any adopted ballot measure has some fiscal impacts. However, some of this year’s ballot measures specifically create new taxes  or  increase existing taxes or significantly increase borrowing — whether the taxes be on income, property or sales. The following six measures involve tax increases and increase spending. If you favor the specific tax or increase, vote “yes.” If you oppose that tax or increase, vote “no.”

LA County Measure A

(50% + 1 to pass)

• A YES vote is to increase sales tax by 1/2 percent indefinitely. (In 2017, Measure H made a 1/4 percent increase — for ten years until 2027 — to support homelessness services, affordable housing and rental assistance.) This Measure A will double the tax and make it permanent.

LA County Measure E

(50% + 1 to pass)

• A YES vote will impose a levy on certain parcel improvements of 6 cents per square foot, limited to a 2% annual adjustment. The money raised would provide upgraded equipment for firefighters and paramedics.

City of Los Angeles Measure US

(55% to pass)

• A YES vote will allow the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) to sell $9 billion of bonds for LAUSD school improvements. Property taxes would rise about $273/year for a median priced home of $1 million.

State Proposition 2

(50% + 1 to pass)

• A YES vote will allow the state to sell $10 billion of bonds to improve K-12 public schools, community colleges and technical schools. This would cost the state $500 million each year for the next 35 years.

‘What

are your Halloween plans?’

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

“I’m going to dress up as a regular magician. I am making a top hat, and I have a black skirt, a wand, a black vest and a stuffed bunny.”

State Proposition 4

(50% + 1 to pass)

• A YES vote will allow the state to sell $10 billion of bonds to fund varius programs promoted as addressing climate risks. This would cost the state $400 million per year for the next 40 years.

State Proposition 5

(50% + 1 to pass)

• A YES vote will make it easier to approve local bonds that will increase property taxes.

Larchmont Chronicle

Founded in 1963 by

Jane Gilman and Dawne P. Goodwin

Publisher and Editor

John H. Welborne

Managing Editor

Suzan Filipek

Assistant Editor

Casey Russell

Contributing Editor

Jane Gilman

Staff Writers

Talia Abrahamson

Helene Seifer

Advertising Director

Pam Rudy

Art Director

Tom Hofer

Circulation Manager

Nona Sue Friedman

Accounting Irene Janas

606 N. Larchmont Blvd., #103 Los Angeles,

“I am going to be a policeman! I have a belt, a baton, a hat and a helmet. I even have walkie-talkies to talk with. I’ll go trick-or-treat with my uncle!”

“We always do horror nights at Universal Studios. This is our first year living in Larchmont, so we are going to stay home for the actual night hoping for trick-or-treaters.”

Kelsey Young and Sinjin Ayat Larchmont Village

“I’m going to be a rat because of the Bubonic Plague. My costume is going to have a mask and a tail.” — Henry

“I’m going to be a half-cat, half-rat ghost! I thought of it because we have two rats and their names are Juniper and Glitter-and-Gold.” — Wisty Henry and Wisty Sandstrom Wilshire Center / Koreatown

Keira Crook with Ruth Crook Larchmont Village

Joseph Barnes Larchmont Village

On Oct. 2 eve, Jewish New Year marks 5,785 years of tradition

By Helene Seifer

It’s almost New Year’s! But before we start singing Auld Lang Syne to kick off 2025, we first will welcome the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, at sundown on Oct. 2. Literally “head of the year,” it marks the start of the year 5785 in the Jewish calendar and is followed on Oct. 11 by Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. These two holy days and the days between them are when Jews examine their lives, ask for forgiveness from those they’ve hurt or wronged and make plans for a better path forward.

Both joyful and introspective, this time “is a celebration,” says Rabbi Mari Chernow, senior rabbi at Temple Israel of Hollywood (TIOH), but it’s also a deep spiritual reckoning. “We think about our life’s direction and reorient ourselves.”

Rabbi Joel Nickerson, senior rabbi at Wilshire Boulevard Temple (WBT), states, “It’s an opportunity for us to not just reflect on the past, but to be reborn and come into the new year with hope to become a positive change in the world around us.”

Food and ritual Holidays around the world generally revolve around food and rituals, and the Jewish holidays, known as the “High Holidays” or “High Holy Days,” are no exception. Apples are dipped in honey for a sweet new year, but their roundness also symbolizes the roundness of the earth and the cyclical nature of the year. It also is traditional to serve bread — a round challah, instead of the usual long braided one — for the same reason. Round pomegranates are often eaten; it is thought that each fruit contains one

seed for each of the 613 commandments in the Torah, the foundational book of Judaism containing the first five books of the Old Testament. Families often feast on brisket, matzo ball soup and kugel (noodle pudding), made from (Please turn to Page 16)

recipes passed down through the generations.

Yom Kippur is a day of fast-

YOM KIPPUR evening service (Kol Nidre) at Wilshire Boulevard Temple.

Britain’s new Consul General now ensconced in Hancock Park

By Helene Seifer

Early in September, British Consul General Paul Rennie moved into Great Britain’s local consular residence, a 1928 Wallace Neff home in Hancock Park. Rennie is here to represent the United Kingdom in Southern California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. After a four-day, cross-country drive from his last post at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., Rennie immediately began hosting events at his home to introduce himself to the community. He’s also made plans to travel to some of the other

states in his purview to talk about British interests.

“I’m here to talk about growth, talk about British industry, British culture, British opportunities,” states Rennie. Additionally, he pursues scientific cooperation, climate change initiatives and creative and educational partnerships. “I talk to governors of states, meet with state legislators, investors or potential British investors. And I also meet with community leaders … all the people who bring the life of a place together.”

Being stationed near Hollywood opens novel doors, Rennie tells us. He notes that

An app among honorees at HMLA’s gala on Dec. 3

An Academy Award-winning technology company, Magnopus, is being honored for an augmented reality app it created in partnership with the Holocaust Museum Los Angeles (HMLA).

Also being honored at HMLA’s 16th annual gala on Tues., Dec. 3, are Amy Conroy and Amanda Markowitz Wizenberg, first cousins and granddaughters of Holocaust survivors, who speak frequently at the museum, founded in 1961 by survivors. The Museum is at 100 The Grove Drive.

The gala will be at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, 9500 Wilshire Blvd., and it begins with a reception at 6 p.m. fol-

lowed by dinner at 7 p.m

Ben Grossmann and Alex Henning, Magnopus coCEOs, created the educational app that shows Sobibor, an extermination camp where more than 1,700,000 people were killed. It was dismantled after the war, but the Magnopus three-dimentional map — created from memories of a survivor of that camp — allows app users to interact and get a feeling for what daily life at the camp may have been like. Learn more about the Sobibor app in the Chronicle’s August issue, Section One, Page 20. Learn about the museum at holocaustmuseumla.org.

“There’s a mystique about Hollywood. It’s the storytelling capital of the world.” Direct flights make it easy for Brits to visit Los Angeles and go to Disneyland and Universal Studios. He observes that Americans are exposed to Britain in numerous television series and feature films, which whets their appetites to visit Great Britain to see, for example, locations from “Baby Reindeer” or “Outlander.” “People who visit a country are almost 30 percent more likely to invest in that country,” he notes. “They see the country. They travel to the country. They experience the country. Then they want to do business with the country. And exchange ideas.”

That’s what he finds thrilling about his job. “We’re part PR agency. We’re part lobbying group. We’re part venture capital firm. We’re part security team to help everyone stay safe.”

Diplomat career

Educated as an economist, the Scottish-born Rennie began his consular career in London after seeing a newspaper ad which stated, “Work as an economist for the British government.” He had recently changed his career goal from making money, to making a difference, and so he applied and passed all the rigorous exams. His career has spanned continents and includes stints in India (for which Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II appointed him as a member

of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire [OBE]), Malaysia, the United Nations, Washington, D.C., and Brazil, where he met his diplomat

wife, with whom he has a daughter.

When asked about his proudest accomplishments,

(Please turn to Page 25)

House of Lebanon 25th: art, film, gala

The House of Lebanon (HOL), 4800 Wilshire Blvd., will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a monthlong program.

The unveiling of Tiles of Heritage, a commemorative bench created by Lebanese American children, will take place Sat., Oct. 5, from 3 to 5 p.m.

An art exhibit and “Dreaming of Lebanon” — a virtual reality experience — follows from 5 to 7 p.m.

The bench and art exhibits can be seen through Sun., Oct. 27, by appointment only. A screening of the film “Memory Box” — nominated for a 2021 Berlinale award — will be Sat., Oct. 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. Popcorn will be served. Tickets are $20.

The anniversary gala is set for Oct. 26. For times and more information on the HOL silver anniversary, visit houseoflebanon.com.

CONSUL GENERAL Paul Rennie inside his new home in Hancock Park

More Olympics, anniversaries, gatherings, tasty tastings and lithe dancing

Excitement and preparation for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles continue! Last month, Mayor Karen Bass made a second trip to Paris to bring back another Olympic flag — this one, the flag for the Paralympic Games

The symbol of the Paralympic Games is made up of three “agitos” in red, blue and green, positioned in a circular formation on a white background. Each agito (Latin for “I move”) symbolizes movement and underlines the role of the International Paralympic Committee to unite athletes from around the world. The Paralympic Symbol, designed in 2003, was officially launched at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games.

There certainly is growing excitement about the Olym-

Around the Town with Sondi Toll Sepenuk

pic Games and Paralympic Games scheduled for our town in July of 2028, just four years away. To show off the two official flags, the city has installed new display cases just outside the mayor‘s suite on the third floor of City Hall. Across the corridor from the flags are fascinating exhibits of memorabilia from the 1932 and 1984 Los Ange-

les Olympic Games.

The flags were on view on Oct. 12, when the mayor welcomed Olympic and Paralympic athletes, civic leaders, and LA28 officials at a celebratory event in the enclosed west courtyard of City Hall. Speeches were made, and there even was a demonstration of wheelchair fencing. That is, with masks and foils, not chain-link!

•

•

•

On Sept. 15 the National Giving Alliance (NGA) began the 2024-2025 year with a Season Kickoff Party at the home of Windsor Square resident Margaret Jacquemin. The late afternoon event was

billed as “Nibbles & Nosh,” and current members were encouraged to bring prospective new members to the event to learn about the organization and to join the historic women’s group.

Inspired by Queen Mary’s London Needlework Guild, NGA was founded as The Needlework Guild of America in 1885 in Philadelphia to provide clothing to children in “hospitals, orphanages, and to individuals and families who were needy.” The organization is now known as the National Giving Alliance and has chapters throughout the country, Los Angeles Hancock Park being the biggest

with over 100 members.

NGA Hancock Park provides linens, clothing and personal care items to disadvantaged people within the community, through eight organizations: Alexandria House, Aviva, Assistance League (Operation School Bell), Good Shepherd, The Los Angeles House of Ruth, Imagine LA, Pacific Clinics (formerly Uplift at Hollygrove) and Sunnyside 5. These are groups that support women, children, teens and families in need. Cynthia Barrios, a representative of The House of Ruth, a shelter for homeless women and children, was on hand to speak to

(Please turn to Page 7)

PARALYMPIC event participants included Mayor Bass and LA28 chair Casey Wasserman in the front row, with councilmembers behind them, left to right: Price, Lee, Yaroslavsky, Rodriguez, Harris-Dawson, Park, Padilla and de León.

PARALYMPIC official flag is now on display in City Hall.

DEMONSTRATION of wheelchair fencing took place in the colonnade at the west entrance to City Hall in a salute to the upcoming 2028 Paralympic Games.

Around the Town

(Continued from Page 6) what it provides. “We never abandon a family … we will open our doors and hearts to assist in whatever is needed. We think of ourselves as becoming families with the families that we are privileged to serve… NGA has supported us a great deal, helping us with bedding, clothes and backpacks for the children, which has been greatly appreciated.”

Also on the 15th, but during the day, an open house at the Ebell of Los Angeles took place, where guests explored the gardens and building, enjoyed local music, dance, theater, and visual arts, including the voices of an all-female mariachi ensemble, Las Colibrí, plus the club’s own all-female Ebell Chorale.

• • •

For those who love to taste everything on the menu, the 32nd annual Taste of Larchmont was tailor-made!

The Sept. 16 event, which took place from 6 to 9 p.m., featured tastings from 21 participating local food venues that donated samples of their wares to the cause.

That cause is HopeNet, a local nonprofit organization that coordinates a dozen local church and temple food pantries which provide free and healthy food to people in need. The $50 Taste of Larchmont “Passport” was, yes, the ticket to gain access to tasty

treats ranging from pasta to sushi to guacamole to cookies to gelato.

Participants started out in the Taste of Larchmont Pavilion, located in the city parking lot (where one park-

er ignored the warning signs and had his car towed just before the event). Participants purchased their “passport to palatable paradise” (my words), which included the (Please turn to Page 12)

DAPHNE BROGDON (right) and her children Vivien and Rex Peel enjoy the dessert offerings from Bacio di Latte.

LOCALS Ethan Ogilby and daughter August are excited to sample all of the food choices at the Taste of Larchmont.

TASTE OF TOW for a parked car whose driver ignored the “No stopping, 11AM TO MIDNIGHT” signs.

EBELL BOARD MEMBERS

J. Lee Braly (left) and Lauralee Gooch served as greeters at The Ebell’s open house.

TASTE VIPS included Roya Milder, Hope Net executive director, at left, and volunteers Patti Carroll and Romi Cortier, right, shown with Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez.

NGA MEMBERS gathering at the Jacquemin home included (left to right) Julie Hoegee, Lora Valoppi, Mary Nelson, NGA Hancock Park Chapter President Danielle Reyes and Erin Garvan.

After 90 years, Vine American’s colorful windows will shutter

By Nona Sue Friedman

After 90 years of serving the community with everything needed to make a fabulous party, Vine American Party Store will be closing by the end of 2024. Owner Leslie Macias has been going to the store at 5969 Melrose Ave. since she was 5.

She started working there in 1979, as a teenager living on Cole Avenue, became co-owner and then transitioned to being the sole owner.

Macias’ favorite feature of the store is “the seasonal changes. I especially like Halloween and fall. Owning the store has been a good ride.”

It is with a heavy heart that she has to close, she tells us. The road has been difficult since the recession of 2008 and was complicated by the time of the COVID-19 shutdowns. Now her landlord has put the building up for sale, forcing the closure.

When the store first opened 90 years ago, it supplied the Windsor Square and Hancock Park areas with party rentals in addition to decorations. Over the years, the store has worked with local clients such as Nickelodeon and Paramount Studios in addition to nearby families.

325 N. Larchmont Boulevard, #158 Los Angeles, California 90004

windsorsquare.org

157 N. Larchmont Boulevard

“Listen! The wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves, We have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!”

—Humbert Wolfe

Updated EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS Flyer:

The WSA has prepared and will be distributing through your Block Captains a simplified version of the Ready Your LA Neighborhood (RYLAN) emergency preparedness guide. It includes what to do in your home in the event of an emergency and how to help organize your neighbors to offer assistance and combine resources. Thank you, WSA board members Steve Kazanjian and Gary Gilbert, for spearheading this effort.

Local LAPD Leadership Changes and Updates: LAPD Olympic Division has a new captain, 35-year law enforcement veteran Brian O’Connor. The WSA welcomes his leadership and looks forward to working with him! Wilshire Division has started the process of interviewing for the new Senior Lead Officer for Windsor Square. Finally, the WSA is happy to report that the LAPD Crime Map which helped communities track crime in their neighborhoods is back online, partly thanks to our lobbying efforts led by WSA board members Tracey Durning, Angie Szentgyorgyi and others.

Wilshire Park Halloween Haunt: Come get the jump on Halloween at our neighbor Wilshire Park’s Halloween Haunt 2024, taking place Saturday, October 26, from 4 to 7 p.m. — on the 600 and 700 blocks of South Bronson Avenue (between Wilshire Boulevard and Eighth Street). There will be trick or treating, costume contests, food, and a silent auction. All proceeds go to the nonprofit Wilshire Park Association.

Larchmont Family Fair: Larchmont Boulevard turns fairground at the annual Larchmont Family Fair taking place Sunday, October 27, from 12 noon to 5 p.m. Area families will be out to promenade among the booths representing local organizations; and kids will enjoy the rides, treats, costume contest, and other traditional features of the Fair — started by the Larchmont Boulevard Association (LBA) in 1967. There will be live music and a reduced version of the regular Sunday Farmers’ Market. o o o

WE NEED BLOCK CAPTAINS! Be the leader of your block and the point person for all that’s going on in the neighborhood. Block Captain positions are open. E-Mail: blockcaptains@windsorsquare.org.

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.

The Chronicle also learned that the iconic, vibrant and colorful windows along Melrose Avenue, which change with the holidays and seasons, used to be actual window displays, similar to Macy’s in New York City. According to Macias, the windows were designed by a local set decorator.

The store has been the go-to destination for every holiday, such as St. Patrick’s Day, New Year’s Eve and Halloween, as well as celebrations such as birthdays, weddings and graduations. Over the years, rentals of tables, chairs and other party equipment disappeared. The store now provides party essentials such as decorations, plates, napkins, favors and, of course, balloons.

In fact, balloons have kept the store afloat. Dakota Macias, Leslie’s son, has worked at the store for the past 10 years. He concurs with

his mom that, “Halloween is still my favorite” time to be in the store. He continues, “New Year’s Eve is chaotic. We have to blow up thousands of balloons. Restaurants order 500 balloons at a time.”

Once the store is closed, his mom is hoping to open a small space in the neighborhood just to sell balloons. She claims there aren’t any other balloon blowers in the Hollywood area. She has a lead for one potential location. Stay tuned.

skin deep

by Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald

Did you know that October is an ideal month for laser treatments? With the northern hemisphere tilted away from the sun, there’s a decreased risk of post-treatment pigmentation. Ah, science!

Fraxel Dual laser treatments on the face, neck and chest address sun damage acquired over the summer. “Dual” indicates two distinct wavelengths: one to stimulate new collagen production, and one to force damaged cells to turn over. Improve everything from pigmentation, pores, lines and wrinkles — even acne scars and precancerous lesions.

New research indicates that Fraxel actually reduces your risk of the most commonly diagnosed types of skin cancer in the U.S. Expect about a week of healing with most patients requiring three to five sessions, two to four weeks apart. For patients who want similar results to Fraxel, but can’t do the downtime, Clear+Brilliant laser treatments spaced four weeks apart are the way to go. With both options, you’ll leave our office with immediate results and see optimal improvement in three months.

Contact our office today to schedule your Fraxel Dual or Clear+Brilliant laser appointment and experience youthful, healthy skin from the inside out. Adv.

Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald is a Board Certified Dermatologist located in Larchmont Village with a special focus on anti-aging technology. She is a member of the Botox Cosmetic National Education Faculty and is an international Training Physician for Dermik, the makers of the injectable Sculptra. She is also among a select group of physicians chosen from around the world to teach proper injection techniques for Radiesse, the volumizing filler. Dr. Fitzgerald is an assistant clinical professor at UCLA. Visit online at www.RebeccaFitzgeraldMD.com or call (323) 464-8046 to schedule an appointment.

SEASONAL AND HOLIDAY items line multiple aisles inside the store.

BALLOON BOUQUETS, ready for delivery, are displayed by Dakota Macias.

OLAF GREETS customers at one of the birthday aisles.

ICONIC PAINTED WINDOWS of Vine American along Melrose Avenue.

New store Flicka Home & Garden to open on Blvd. in October

By Casey Russell

Flicka Home & Garden, at 536 N. Larchmont Blvd., will be open for business this October in a stand-alone, Craftsman home with parking. It is the sister to children’s clothing store Flicka, at 204 N. Larchmont Blvd.

Owner Kristen Sato, who will head both stores, has been hard at work getting the new space ready for the tentative soft opening on Tues., Oct. 1. The grand opening is projected to follow on Fri., Oct 11.

Sato told us she has been getting great feedback from locals. “It’s been quite a confidence booster,” she said. The owner has also been getting requests and recommendations regarding merchandise. It’s starting to feel like a community effort, she said.

The new store’s decor has a vintage feel. It will carry a range of items, from candles,

books and glassware to apparel for adults and host and hostess gifts. Some of the lines customers will see are Baobab, Barefoot Dreams, Hanky Panky, Apothia, Serax, Natalie Martin, Suss Designs and Mud Australia, to name a few. Patrons will also be able to buy flowers at the new shop. Jina Robynn, who had her own women’s clothing store on the Boulevard (where Bluemercury now resides, at 158 N. Larchmont Blvd.) in

the ’80s and ’90s before she began working at Flicka 25 years ago, will be Flicka Home & Garden’s floral designer.

Sato is also looking forward to hosting monthly events, which she sees as opportunities for people to mingle with their neighbors, have a cocktail, do a craft and get some retail therapy. Although she has not yet announced a schedule for the events, many people have already signed up to participate.

Larchmont Pediatrics welcomes Dr. Keith Shopa to the team

By Casey Russell

A new doctor has joined the Larchmont Pediatrics team. In early August, Dr. Keith Shopa joined Dr. Neville Anderson (who grew up in Windsor Square), Dr. Lauren Estrada and Dr. Matthew Loh in the practice located at 321 N. Larchmont Blvd., Ste. 1020.

Born and raised in Florida, Dr. Shopa moved to the West Coast to complete his pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. He finished in June.

“I’m very happy to be at Larchmont Pediatrics. It’s exactly what I was looking for,” Shopa told us. The new doctor was seeking what he calls “the continuity.”

“It’s been amazing to be the established pediatrician for a baby I see every few weeks,” he said. He finds great fulfillment in answering questions from parents, interacting with toddlers during exams and knowing that he will get to work with his patients through their growing-up years.

“He’s great with kids,” said medical assistant Jessica Molina. “I love his energy and his attitude with the kids and parents.”

To contact Larchmont Pediatrics, call 323-960-8500 or visit larchmontpediatric.com.

Larchmont Fair

(Continued from Page 1) forming. And, though not confirmed, last year’s pie baking contest may make a comeback.

For information on how to secure a booth for your organization, contact Larchmont Boulevard Association (LBA) Board President John Winther at john.winther@camoves.com.

DR. KEITH SHOPA

OUTSIDE the new Flicka Home & Garden, Kristen Sato (right) teams up with florist Jina Robynn.

Around the Town

(Continued from Page 7)

names of all participating venues. The users would then stroll the sidewalks of Larchmont Boulevard, having each tasting checked off as they sampled their ways toward the inevitable food coma. The pavilion also housed a silent auction, raffle, plenty of tables and chairs for socializing, music and was a great spot to rendezvous with friends, family and neighbors throughout the evening. Silent auction items included gift certificates to El Coyote, the Original Farmers Market and The Edmon on Melrose, as well as a walking tour of Hancock Park with Jane Gilman, founder of the Larchmont Chronicle and local historian extraordinaire. Raffle items included a case of Pinot Noir from Peake Ranch Winery and dinner at Marino Italian restaurant. If you missed this year’s event, you can check out Larchmont’s wonderful restaurant scene on your own.

•

•

•

Heidi Duckler Dance (HDD) has been creating immersive and site-specific dance performances in Los Angeles since 1985. On Sept. 21, HDD cel-

HEIDI DUCKLER Dance gala featured choreography by Shoji Yamasaki (left) and costumes by Snezana Saraswati Petrovic (right).

ebrated its 39th year with a gala, “Dance in the Light of the Harvest Moon,” at the Loyola Law School campus just across the 110 Freeway from downtown Los Angeles. Duckler told us that she was drawn to the bright space and buildings (created in a 1980 enlargement of the campus with designs by architect Frank Gehry) particularly because of the unique exterior stairwell climbing one of the bright yellow buildings. As with most HDD events, the gala evening included multiple dance performances throughout the campus.

One piece involved dancers ascending and descending an exterior stairway. The last number was conceived by Shoji Yamasaki, a 2023 California Institute of Arts graduate. Yamasaki was a big fan of HDD, but didn’t know Duckler personally. On a

Pumpkin patch

(Continued from Page 1)

In addition to 30,000 pounds of pumpkins, whose colors include white, yellow and the traditional orange, you can also get turban squash and “Wendy” squash, named after the organizer of the lot. “The squash are very popular for decorating the front porch,” comments Clifford.

The pumpkins hail from a farm in Santa Paula. Clifford and a couple of other Rotarians make the annual pilgrimage to handpick the products that are shipped to Los Angeles in two large trucks.

Once pumpkins arrive at the Larchmont lot, numerous helpers, including volunteers from Larchmont Charter High School’s Interact — the student division of Rotary — unload and organize the site. Oct. 19 Hoedown!

This year, the festive lot will host a Halloween Hoedown on Sat., Oct. 19, in the afternoon, featuring music by Larchmont Village resident Rob Faucette & the C Words along with food for sale. There will also be trick or treating on Sat., Oct. 26, from 2 to 3 p.m.

The pumpkin patch will be open weekdays from noon to 6 p.m., and weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pricing this year will be $2 per pound for

whim with nothing to lose, he emailed her an invitation to attend his thesis performance. She accepted, and now he’s collaborating with her. After extensively researching Frank Gehry, Yamasaki found that the architect likes fish and that they have influenced his

pumpkins, mini-pumpkins and gourds cost $2 each. Next up at this location is

work. Yamasaki, along with costume designer Snezana Saraswati Petrovic, fashioned fish heads out of plastic zip ties for six dancers. The zip ties symbolized plastic waste. As Yamasaki said, “a school of fish.” Attendees followed the dancing school of fish up a five-story parking garage, accompanied by a jazzy saxophone and bubble machines the dancers held. The evening concluded with dining on the rooftop with a beautiful view of the lights of downtown to the east.

During the gala, Duckler also introduced Raymond Ejiofor, who will succeed her as HDD artistic director beginning in 2025.

And now you’re in the Larchmont know!

the Christmas

lot,

starts the day after Thanksgiving, Fri., Nov. 29, at 10 a.m.

tree

which

SKELETONS TAKE A spooky ride.

COLORFUL AND BUMPY pumpkins and gourds fill the lot on Larchmont.

Photos by Wendy Clifford

DOWNTOWN SKYLINE was backdrop for the Heidi Duckler Dance dinner held on the top floor of the Loyola Law School parking structure.

Fall Festival to return to The Original Farmers Market Oct. 19-20

By Casey Russell

It’s time for The Original Farmers Market’s Fall Festival! Enjoy celebrating autumn from Sat., Oct. 19, at 11 a.m. to Sun., Oct. 20, at 7 p.m.

Children and families can delight in a pumpkin patch, a petting zoo and fall-themed crafts and games in the market’s Gilmore Lane both days.

On Saturday, from noon until 3 p.m., there will even be a fun slime experience provided by the market-adjacent Sloomoo Institute. On Sunday, from noon until 3 p.m., children can partake in a beaded corn on the cob craft project with The Entertainment Group.

The Fall Festival “is a classic fall event that’s been going

on basically since 1934,” said Maritza Cerrato, senior marketing associate for The Original

Farmers Market. (The Market opened at Third and Fairfax in July 1934.) “It’s just a lot of fun

and is a good lead-off right before Halloween,” she said.

Lively bands are always a key part of the Market’s Fall Festival.

On Saturday, festivalgoers can enjoy music by The Storytellers, June Clivas & the Ditty Boys, The Doohickeys and Dave Stuckey & the Five Hoot Owls.

On Sunday, bands will include The Hollow Trees, Matt Axton, The Doo-wah Riders and Lil Sue & the Cow Tippers.

For more information

Photo opportunities to inspire memorable family moments will, of course, abound.

Zombies and tacos will be at Wilshire Park Halloween Haunt

By Suzan Filipek

Wilshire Park Association is throwing a Halloween Haunt

Sat., Oct. 26, from 4 to 7 p.m., on Bronson Avenue between Wilshire Boulevard and Eighth Street.

“This is our 15th year!” beamed Halloween Haunt Committee Co-Chair Azalea Bruns. “The event has morphed from a simple front-yard get-together into our major social and fundraising event.”

The Association is also celebrating 16 years as a city Historic Preservation Overlay Zone.

Festivities at the Halloween Haunt include old favorites and new ones.

Several homes will be host-

ing yard games and photo ops.  Some will have themes to get you in the mood, including Ghostbusters, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Haunted Mansion.

A fortune teller will be on site to tell you your future — if you dare — and zombies, a crowd favorite, are scheduled to be making a comeback, Bruns tells us.

Human and pup costume contests are planned.

Get a jump on holiday shopping with a silent auction.

Stay tuned to the Wilshire Park website Halloween page for updates and a sneak peek at sale items. This year, a “buy-now” price option will be offered.

A taco truck will be on-site selling a variety of tastes for every palate, from carne asada tacos and quesadillas to veggie items. Korean food and a bake shop also are planned.

Roll in Wilshire Park swag with sweatshirts, baseball T-shirts and tote bags available

for sale on the website.  Members from LAFD Fire Station 29 are expected to be coming by, as are Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky of Council District 5 and LAPD Senior Lead Officer Harry Cho. Visit wilshirepark.org/halloween.

about the Fall Festival at 6333 W. Third St., visit farmersmarketla.com.

ZOMBIES flank Azalea Bruns, who dressed as a kitten in an orange tutu.

PARTYGOERS at last year’s Haunt, left to right: Co-Chair Jennifer Meislohn; President of Wilshire Park Association Lorna Hennington; Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky, CD5, and daughter; Officer Chavez; Co-Chair Azalea Bruns; Officer Mollinedo; and Michelle Flores, CD 5 field deputy.

KIDS enjoy the petting zoo.

Photos by the Original Farmers Market

FESTIVE photo opportunities await visitors at The Original Farmers Market.

Century’s best film tells of model turned WWII photographer

Lee (10/10): 116 minutes. R.

This isn’t just one of the best movies I’ve seen this year, it’s one of the best of the century. Lee Miller (Kate Winslet) was born in 1907 and became a prominent model for many magazines, including Vogue. Because she was a vibrant, ambitious woman, she tired of modeling, moved to Paris, studied surrealist photography and opened her own studio. She hobnobbed with the avant-garde, and the film opens with her vacationing with her libertine friends in 1938 shortly before the start of WWII in the south of France, lunching outside, two of the women topless (including Lee), setting the tone of their milieu.

Thus begins the complex movie that introduces Lee Miller to a world which has never heard of her. This is not just a slice of her life, but a pivotal slice. It’s one of the best war movies ever made. But it’s not about a battle (like 1945’s “A Walk in the Sun,” 1949’s “Battleground” and “Sands of Iwo Jima” and 1998’s “Saving Private Ryan”).

This film shows the results of the devastation caused Parisians by the Nazi occupation, circa 1940-44, which is as effective as showing the war itself. Those scenes brought to mind Oscar Hammerstein’s song (melody by Jerome Kern) “The Last Time I Saw Paris” (1940), which always brings tears to my eyes.

The battle scenes show the lengths to which Lee would go to get the pictures she wanted and the horror of battle as Lee was in personal danger on the war front.

Lee fought to be assigned to photograph the war. When she was finally successful, she met fellow photographer David E. Scherman (Andy Samberg), and they traveled the war zone getting their pictures, including the iconic shot of Lee in Hitler’s bathtub.

Directed by first-timer (an award-winning cinematographer) Ellen Kuras, the stellar cast includes Alexander Skarsgård, Marion Cotillard (in a heartrending performance), and Andrea Riseborough. Although apparently there were problems with the script (whatever happened, I think it is Oscar quality), the writing credits go to Marion Hume, Liz Hannah and John Collee.

The method of telling the story is brilliant. An older Lee (also Winslet) is being interviewed by an unidentified much younger interviewer (Josh O’Connor), and she is telling her story in flashbacks. When it ended, I was sitting there stunned.

This was a pet project of Winslet, and she took pains to concentrate on the part of Lee’s life that would present a

true picture of her character. It gets an R rating probably because of the several topless shots (Winslet has never been shy about displaying her breasts). While I realize why those shots are in the film, I don’t think they are worth having a PG film be converted into an R rating because this is a wonderful film for young people to see.

A Very Royal Scandal (10/10). Three episodes of 60 minutes. Amazon. Tells about the interview of Prince Andrew (Michael Sheen) by Newsnight’s Emily Maitlis (Ruth Wilson) and the machinations leading up to it. The Brits do these things so well, and this is no exception. With outstanding performances by Sheen and Wilson, it is based on Maitlis’ book “Airhead: The Imperfect Art of Making News.”

The Wonderland Massacre & The Secret History of Hol-

At the Movies with Tony Medley

lywood (9/10): Four episodes, MGM+. Produced by and starring crime novelist Michael Connelly, who conducts the interviews, this delves deeply into the ghastly 1981 murders in Laurel Canyon and how the crime involved Liberace, his boy toy lover, Scott Thorson, and suspect Eddie Nash, among many others. Former Los Angeles Police Department homicide detective Mitzi Roberts lays the groundwork in Episode 1, saying “Everything we know about Hollywood; we had a porn star as a suspect; drugs and money and Liberace; Hollywood nightclubs; and ev-

erything we know of what the ‘70s and ‘80s were in Hollywood, this mystery has.”

The Perfect Couple (9/10): Netflix. Six episodes. TV-MA. This is the best streamer I’ve seen since “Big Little Lies,” which also starred Nicole Kidman. In fact, this is referred to as Kidman’s “‘Big Little Lies’ replacement series.” That was a disappointment to me because I was hoping there would be a sequel to that outstanding tale.

This one is about a rich Nantucket family getting together for a wedding when one of the guests is murdered. It delves into the lives of each character as two dogged police detectives try to figure out what happened and whodunnit. Directed by Suzanne Bier with multiple writing credits, it stars Liev Schreiber, along with Kidman and Dakota Fanning and a host of

other equally talented but lesser-known actors. Although the setting is Nantucket, the bulk of the series was shot in Chatham on the southeastern tip of Cape Cod. That doesn’t lessen the excellent cinematography (Roberto De Angelis and Shane Hurlbut) and production design (Sarah Knoles) of the beautiful settings that appear in the series.

This isn’t just about whodunnit, though. Like “Big Little Lies,” it’s mostly about the relationships among all the characters. It’s not as good as “Lies,” but it’s close. Recommended Reading: “The Clifton Chronicles” by Jeffrey Archer, seven unputdownable books that must be read in order. Then you can segue into Archer’s Detective William Warwick series of seven books also to be read in order. That should keep you busy for months.

Rosh Hashanah

(Continued from Page 3)

ing. On the holiday, adults are encouraged to forgo any food or drink from sundown to sundown the next day. According to Rabbi Nickerson, this is “to mirror death and motivate us to dig deep and return to who we really are.” It is traditional to wear white “to emulate the dead,” explains Rabbi Chernow. “It’s like a white burial shroud.” After sundown, when the fast is over, friends and family often gather for a meal made to break the fast. As Rabbi Nickerson notes, “We are a home-based religion. The most powerful place to have community is in the home. You can personalize it.”

Shofar

Periodically throughout the High Holidays, a shofar (ram’s horn) is blown. The mournful sound “is an audible reminder that work is required,” states Rabbi Nickerson. “It’s the spiritual alarm clock of our people.” Rabbi Chernow’s poetic assessment is, “The shofar is like a cry with no words.” In ancient times, the shofar was used to make public announcements; here it heralds different points in the prayer service, including the conclusion of the Yom Kippur fast.

Tashlich

One of the holiday activities many temples offer is a Rosh Hashanah afternoon Tashlich service where the prayers are taken outside to a body of water and participants are

invited to toss breadcrumbs into the water to cast away their sins. This is enormously popular with TIOH congregants, including Lisa Druker, her husband Zach and their two sons. The Plymouth Boulevard residents enjoy sharing a casual dinner on the Santa Monica sand with friends after the brief service, something their sixth grader Dean and second grader Tate adore. “The holidays are a very special time, and this is truly one of my children’s favorite activities,” says Druker.

Families often plan a meal with family or friends prior to the fast as well as the one to break it. “A few of us typically meet for Korean barbecue and then walk to services,” states Windsor Square resident Susan Matloff, WBT member and mother of Isabelle, 18, Daniel, 15, and Evie, 11. Typically, she and her husband Stephen host the break fast at their home. Friends bring side dishes, and she makes

her specialty, salmon wrapped and poached on the top rack of her dishwasher. “It’s more like sous vide,” Matloff clarifies. Instead of dipping apples in honey, the Matloffs favor divvying up chocolate-covered caramel apples. They also have a shofar serenade with shofars passed down from their grandparents. The children love trying to get any sound out of the notoriously difficult instruments, but only Isabelle is adept at coaxing acceptable notes from the horn.

Attending a service

Many High Holiday events are reserved for temple members or those who purchase tickets to attend, but both Temple Israel of Hollywood and Wilshire Boulevard Temple have free options for those who want to experience the spiritual journey, although RSVPs are required. TIOH lists the events that are open to the general public without ticketing at tioh.org, includ-

ing Tashlich and Yizkor. The latter is a service to remember loved ones who have passed away. For WBT public services, email membershipservices@WBTLA.org.

The tragic events of Oct. 7, 2023, amplify the importance of community during the holidays, says Lisa Druker. “The

meaning of being Jewish is more important today than it ever has been,” she told us. “The importance of history, of values of Judaism: family, kindness, treat your neighbor as yourself… It’s about togetherness and holding each other up and being each other’s strength and pillars.”

Activist / actor Theodore Bikel honored Oct. 6

The late Theodore Bikel will be honored on Sun., Oct. 6, at 2 p.m. at a ceremonial unveiling at South Curson Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard. The commemoration will continue at the adjacent SAG-AFTRA building for a reception and musical performance at a small garden area named “Theodore Bikel Square,” approved by the Los Angeles City Council in May 2024, 100 years after Bikel’s birth.

Bikel was an Emmy-, Grammy-, Oscar- and Tony-nominated actor, civil rights activist and labor union leader. He played Capt.

Von Trapp in the Broadway production of “The Sound of Music” and the role of Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof” more than any actor in history. He also co-founded the Newport Folk Festival.

LaBonge beautification day is September 28

The legacy of the city’s greatest fan, the late Tom LaBonge, will be remembered at the annual Day of Service to beautify Los Angeles on Sat., Sept. 28 from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Meet at Council District 10 Field Office, 1819 S. Western Ave., and walk to the nearby cleanup area.

MITCH DORF and son Max blow shofars at High Holiday services at Wilshire Boulevard Temple.

TEMPLE ISRAEL of Hollywood families at Tashlich.

Los Angeles Opera applauded for outreach; fall season mixed

Because of my deadline for this column, I was not able to review the production of Puccini’s “Madame Butterfly” at Los Angeles Opera (Sept. 21-Oct. 13; 213-972-8001; LAOpera@LAOpera.org).

The production comes from Madrid’s Teatro Real and frames the opera as a 1930s film, with the drama happening on and off camera.

What intrigued me about the production is a note on the opera company’s website that reads, “LA Opera acknowledges that many classic works in the operatic repertoire depict racial and gender stereotypes… Our presentation… has been prepared… with care and appropriate input to examine, acknowledge and mitigate potential harm.”

Working with the Asian Opera Alliance, companies such as ours have addressed issues of “yellowface” (white singers singing Asian roles). The issue exists in the theater, but that’s for another day.

Los Angeles Opera has been a leader in addressing this and other issues of casting and production equity, but one thing still bothered me: Mme. Butterfly was being sung by a talented Korean soprano, Karah Son. Was not this its own version of “all-Asianslook-the-same”-ism?

I spoke with Melody Chang Heaton, executive director of the Asian Opera Alliance, who acknowledged the point, but challenged it by stating that the “pipeline” of Asian singers capable of singing the role at a world-class level just wasn’t big enough. More had to be done (as Los Angeles Opera was doing) to provide Asian singers with opportunities to develop. At the same time, Ms. Chang did not want to see Asian performers pigeon-holed into stereotypical roles. There were simply “not enough Asian singers to cast [the opera] completely accurately” at this time.

Conversations the following day with Opera administrators Rupert Hemmings and Paul Hopper confirmed the Opera’s commitment to expand its “pipelines” not only for artists, but also audiences, with its live simulcasts, friendly “newcom-

Comedy night and cocktails Sept. 29

Have a laugh at Bill Devlin’s Comedy & Cocktails on Sun., Sept. 29 at the Hollywood Improv Lab, 8162 Melrose Ave. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Devlin has performed with Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld and David Spade among others. The comedian, actor, writer and producer hosts this long running show, Comedy & Cocktails, which often features surprise guests. Tickets are available at tinyurl. com/y29ccst5.

er” and “classic” subscriptions, community outreach and — most important — arts education, without which there will be no audiences or singers of any ethnicity. I am sometimes, frankly, disappointed with the Opera’s product, but I applaud its outreach to both audiences and artists.

Meanwhile…

The opening of the fall theater season has been (with one exception) less inspiring.

Three Faces of Steve, at the Odyssey, through Sun., Sept. 29, is a pleasant compilation of Sondheim songs, conceived by soprano Angelina Réaux, who performs them with Michael Sokol and Bernardo Bermudez. In addition to well-known numbers, there are some hidden gems and some songs that out of dramatic context just don’t work. The evening is pieced together with reminiscences of Sondheim but lacks a real theme and could

Theater Review by Louis

Fantasia

be shorter with nothing lost (odysseytheatre.com/tickets).

The 24th Street Theater is a great Los Angeles resource; it does good, interesting work and has one of the strongest community outreach programs in the city. So I cannot fathom why it put its resources behind the 45-minute soufflé that is Pascal & Julien, running through Sun., Oct. 27. The tale of a boy who befriends a repressed bachelor and wants him for a surrogate father is touching, with honest performances and clever scenic design, but is instantly forgettable. Maybe a matching one-act to fill out the evening

THE ORIGINAL FARMERS MARKET

FallFestival

SINCE 1934

CELEBRATING 90 YEARS AT 3RD & FAIRFAX!

What to watch for "Crevasse, the story of Leni Riefenstahl in Hollywood,” plays at the Victory Theatre Oct. 4-27; 818-841-5421; thevictorytheatrecenter.org.

Rogue Machine opens "A Good Guy," about a teacher who stops a school shooting, at the Matrix Theater through Oct. 13. Directed by John Perrin Flynn, it is Flynn’s last production as Rogue Machine’s long-serving artistic director. 855-585-5185.

Green Day’s "American Idiot," produced in association with Deaf West Theater, opens the Mark Taper’s new season Oct. 2 and runs through Nov. 10. Snehal Desai, the Center Theatre Group artistic director, directs. 213-972-4400.

would have helped give some weight to it all (24thstreet. org; 213-745-6516).

A Noise Within makes a total hash of Thorton Wilder’s The Skin of Our Teeth (through Sun., Sept 29), with bombastic performances and a total lack of appreciation for, or understanding of, Wilder’s style, wit and timeliness, especially on timely matters of politics and climate change (626-356–3100; anoisewithin.org).

The best production to date was the version of Duel Reality presented by the French-Canadian collective “7 Fingers” at the Ahmanson Theatre. This production of the story of Romeo & Juliet closed Sept. 22. Part Cirque du Soleil, part mosh-pit, part Olympic-level gymnastics, the collective’s Shakespeare retelling (or anything else it does) is not to be missed if 7 Fingers comes back to town!

LIVE MUSIC, PETTING ZOO, PUMPKIN PATCH AND MUCH MORE!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19

PETTING ZOO

PUMPKIN PATCH, GAMES & CRAFTS

SLIMEY FUN WITH SLOOMOO INSTITUTE LA THE STORYTELLERS

PROGRESSIVE BLUEGRASS

JUNE CLIVAS & THE DITTY BOYS

YALL’TERNATIVE COUNTRY

THE DOOHICKEYS

CHEEKY COUNTRY

DAVE STUCKEY & THE FIVE HOOT OWLS

WESTERN SWING

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20

PETTING ZOO

PUMPKIN PATCH, GAMES & CRAFTS

THE HOLLOW TREES

FOLK MUSIC FOR FAMILIES

BEADED CORN ON THE COB CRAFT WITH THE ENTERTAINMENT GROUP

MATT AXTON

MOUNTAIN SOUL - ROCK & ROLL

THE DOO-WAH RIDERS

COUNTRY WITH A CAJUN TWIST

LIL SUE AND THE COWTIPPERS

11AM-7PM 11AM-7PM 12-3PM 12-3PM 2-4PM 4-6PM 5-7PM

CLASSIC COUNTRY & HONKY TONK 11AM-7PM 11AM-7PM 11:30AM & 1PM 12 - 3PM 2-4PM 3:30-5:30PM 5-7PM

GILMORE LANE

GILMORE LANE PLAZA PLAZA

WEST PATIO PLAZA

WEST PATIO

*SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE TIME LOCATION

GILMORE LANE

GILMORE LANE PLAZA PLAZA

WEST PATIO PLAZA WEST PATIO

Ladyhawk’s upscale Lebanese restaurant tastes take flight

There’s no shortage of Middle Eastern restaurants in Southern California. To experience the flavors of the Levant, one needn’t travel to the Little Arabia district in Anaheim, where at least 21 Arabic food establishments dot South Brookhurst Street. We have exemplary restaurants in the Los Angeles area that celebrate all the cuisines of that region, including destination restaurant Bavel Downtown; casual Mizlala in the Sycamore Media District (and on West Adams Boulevard); classic Carousel Restaurant in Hollywood; Open Sesame on Beverly Boulevard; Moishe’s in the Original Farmers Market; all the Persian restaurants in “Tehrangeles” in Westwood; Armenian kabob places in Glendale; and Zankou Chickens everywhere.

Ladyhawk, a new upscale restaurant with Lebanese roots, has recently entered the scene. Executive Chef Charbel Hayek was born in Beirut and studied at the French School of Excellence before moving to Los Angeles and working at the Michelin twostarred Mélisse. He went on to win the “Top Chef Middle East & North Africa” TV program competition in 2022 at the age of 24. The new restaurant’s name was selected to honor his mother, whose nickname was “Ladyhawk,” signifying her strength. In much of the Middle East, hawks are associated with power, courage and a watchful eye.

The restaurant’s moniker and menu reflect Chef Hayek’s background, but little of the decor in the beautiful space announces a Middle Eastern heritage. Although attractive and comfortable, it could be anywhere, including where it happens to be: inside the Kimpton La Peer Hotel in West Hollywood. The space sports neutral beiges, warm lighting, comfortable chairs, banquettes and freestanding tables topped with Carrera marble. Floor-to-ceiling drapery around windows and French doors helps absorb some excess noise, but the place is still lively. There also is a pleasant patio.

The three of us settled in with drinks. Featured cocktails are $21-$22, a price point more and more restaurants are adopting, adding to the immense cost of eating out these days. At least these drinks are excellent. A passion fruit sour with vodka, hibiscus, the titular passion fruit, plus egg white for a characteristic foamy top, is a stunning yellow-orange with red flowery swirl accents, most likely due to the uncredited addition of bitters. Ladyhawk’s version of a Sazerac combines rye and creme de cacao blanc with a rinse of the Lebanese anise-flavored liqueur, razzouk arak. Served in a coupe glass, it’s a beautiful orange color and almost too easy to down. There are three $15 mocktails listed with ingredients such as lychee, pistachio

On the Menu by

Helene Seifer

dust, pressed cucumber, cardamom and rose petals.

Ladyhawk is known for its mezze platter, a shareable $120 assortment of nine or so appetizers plus pita, or a smaller, $65 four-mezze selection. Instead, we chose a few appetizers a la carte. Hummus is prepared plain, $15, or enhanced with spicy chili sambal, $17. The plain is creamy, bright with lemon juice and perfectly balanced, with a few whole chickpeas for texture and an extra glug of olive oil. $16 muhammara, pulverized roasted red peppers and walnuts with cilantro oil, is an unctuous, earthy dip, perfect with the delightfully puffy and warm pita served alongside. Chicken wings, four pieces for $16, get a double dose of zing with North African hot pepper harissa and a drizzle of spicy Yemeni cilantro-based zhoug. The wings are meaty and juicy, and they definitely woke up our mouths.

The $22 fattoush salad is refreshing, but not as crave-worthy as we expected from butter lettuce dressed with mint leaves, pomegranate vinaigrette, fresh minced herbs and crispy pita croutons. The herbs added some

depth, but it’s a lot to spend for an herby bowl of crunch.

All Chef Hayek’s big protein dishes are fired over a wood grill, lending a char and an elemental smoke to the plates. There’s something for every taste, including $44 whole daurade, $62 dry-aged duck, $66 olive-crusted rack of lamb and $61 Australian wagyu sirloin shawarma, which we ordered. The generously sized steak is grilled over the open flame after having been rubbed in traditional shawarma spices, often cinnamon, cardamom, coriander, turmeric, ginger, smoked paprika, cumin, sumac and ground pepper. Expertly sliced, perfectly medium rare, it’s an excellent plate of beef,

however I wish that the spices hit us over the head with their Levantine flavors.

There are numerous after-dinner drinks and three tempting desserts, but we were too full to even try the $12 Lebanese milk pudding with rosewater, pistachio, mango cream and diced fresh mangos.

I will come back to Ladyhawk — the whole fish and $16 charred eggplant are calling — but interestingly, the culinary experience also whet my appetite to try even more of the many Middle Eastern restaurants scattered across our city.

Ladyhawk, 623 N. La Peer Dr., West Hollywood, 213296-3036.

Largest art event is also at Museum Row sites

By Suzan Filipek

Local museums are participating in the largest art event in the United States, PST ART: Art & Science Collide. The program debuted last month, and it includes 70 thematically linked exhibitions over the next five months at venues throughout Southern California, including the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Craft Contemporary, LACMA and the La Brea Tar Pits.

Craft Contemporary looks to sustainable design solutions in its exhibit, “Material Acts, Experimentation in Architecture and Design.” It opens on Sat., Sept 28, and runs until Jan. 5, 2025.

At the Academy Museum, the exhibit “Cyberpunk: Envisioning Possible Futures through Cinema” juxtaposes technological advances with

social disorder. The exhibit opens Oct. 6, 2024, and continues through April 12, 2026. Also at the Academy Museum, “Color in Motion: Chromatic Explorations of Cinema” opens Sun., Oct. 6, and continues through July 13, 2025. In the exhibit, the story of creating cinematic landscapes and the power of color as a tool is told using media from hand-tinted silent films to digital production.

At the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), “Mapping the Infinite: Cosmologies Across Cultures” opens Sun., Oct. 20, 2024, and runs through March 2, 2025. In a related exhibition at

(Please turn to Page 27)

Willows Community School celebrates 30-year anniversary

By Casey Russell

The Willows Community School celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. It opened its doors, at 8509 Higuera St. in Culver City, in September `1994 with 93 students in Developmental Kindergarten through fifth grade. A second building was added in 1998 which became home to the then newly added middle school students in grades six through eight.

Today 479 students attend the school. “We’ve grown, but the heart of the school — the soul — is the same,” said Head of School Lisa Rosenstein. Rosenstein, a resident of Hancock Park who was one of the school’s founders, has served as the school’s head since its inception.

The school was founded by a group of parents and educators intent upon creating a progressive school that would focus on academics, character and compassion, and which aimed to help students become fearless and flexible in their learning.

Things moved quickly. They incorporated in February 1994, broke ground on the site they’d found in Culver City that summer and, by the fall, were holding classes in their new school.

“We have a wonderful board of trustees who have been able to see what the future could hold and then execute it,” said Rosenstein. They’ve been able to develop the school and the programs because there were adjacent properties available for lease (and most, eventually, for sale). Seven pieces of property have been purchased over the years. The latest became a well-manicured athletic field.

For the 30th anniversary, the school’s theater has been remodeled and is expected to open around late September. The Willows provides many opportunities for students to perform. There are choirs for all grade levels. Rock band, drama and dance programs are also offered.

Rosenstein feels great pride that the students are exposed not only to traditional academics and the arts, but to an eclectic variety of activities.

“We’ve always been committed to giving kids the opportunity to discover who they are. You don’t want children pigeonholed,” she said. Students are exposed to athletics such as flag football, tennis, volleyball and golf. Every child learns technology, art and design. Robotics, debate, visual arts, Book Buddy (pairing older and younger students) and Latin programs are also offered.

“We started the kick-off this summer,” said Rosenstein of the anniversary celebration.

Alumni were invited back and will be highlighted throughout the year.

“Our alumni are going to be our artists in residence. They will come and co-teach or be guest speakers. Entrepreneurial alumni will also be invited to participate in the

Shark Tank elective that is being brought back this year. (The elective mimics the popular television show in which entrepreneurs create and pitch business ideas.)

The anniversary will be threaded throughout the school year in small ways. This

year’s School Still Life installment — an annual tradition at the school — will celebrate the school’s beginning, and, at The Taste of Willows, Fri., Oct 18, one of the dessert stations will feature a birthday treat in honor of the 30th.

This May, there will be an Open Mic celebration where

alumni will be among those invited to perform.

While there will be increased alumni interaction this year due to the anniversary, some of the school’s alumni are actually at The Willows daily. According to Rosenstein, a significant (Please turn to Page 22)

HEAD OF SCHOOL Lisa Rosenstein with students at The Willows.

REPRESENTING the partnership between the school and its families, the O sculpture at the heart of the campus honors Lisa Olshansky, the first Willows Parent Association co-chair.

Third Street

(Continued from Page 1) plans a Fri., Jan 17 on-campus unveiling, attended by students, staff, parents, alumni, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) board members and press,. Also expected to attend is Panther, the school mascot.

The time capsule will showcase a mix of historical references to the kindergarten-through-fifth-grade school with cultural favorites

from 2024.  Four categories of items will fill the large cylinder: student favorites (for instance, students voted gymnastics as the favorite Olympic sport of 2024), cultural references (including iPhones, clothing trends and sports teams), historical references (including images of the school and of Los Angeles throughout the ages), and student reflections and letters and examples of student life at the school.

When the capsule is opened in 50 years, members of that Third Street School community will get a multi-faceted glimpse of student experiences at the school during the era.

History

Opened in 1924, Third Street Elementary was originally a grand two-story brick building reminiscent of something one might find on a college campus, or at John Burroughs Junior High — now Middle — School several blocks to the south. Third Street’s orig-

inal building served well until 1961, when the School Board decided to demolish it after building new one-story concrete tilt-up classrooms in the original playground area. Third Street’s new buildings in the early 1960s featured trees and a central landscaped courtyard adjacent to the classrooms. Today, the 4.58acre school has multiple outdoor spaces throughout its campus, and many classrooms have a view of gardens and grassy areas.

But the building wasn’t the only thing that changed during the years. Looking through old photos, one sees a clear shift in attire, for one thing. As was common in decades past, girls in photos into the ’60s wore dresses, and

everyone looked ready for an interview. Currently, a highly eclectic array of student attire is evident at the school every day. Photos also show a clear evolution in demographics as the years go by.

When Dr. Susan Oh took over as principal in 1993, she reshaped many aspects of the school. Oh put a focus on beautification efforts and expanded the library and its programs. She also instituted a Korean dual-language immersion program.

Upon Oh’s retirement in 2016, Daniel Kim took the helm, and under his leadership, a gifted magnet program for grades three through five

was added. Also at that time, the school started piloting a social emotion program, conceived by Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, called Making Caring Common (MCC).

Helen Lee has served as principal since 2022. She has helped grow MCC and prepare for this year’s centennial. Alumni

Some notable alumni include Kym Karath, an actress known for playing the role of Gretl in the beloved classic film “The Sound of Music.” Nat King Cole’s daughter, singer Natalie Cole, attended in the late 1950s and

(Please

CENTENNIAL art by Gary Baseman.

SECOND GRADE classmates pose for a class photo in 1941.

THE SCHOOL ORCHESTRA gets photographed in 1964.

JOHN WELBORNE, publisher of the Larchmont Chronicle and third from left in the top row, joined fellow sixth graders for this class photo. Fellow student Bill Spurgin is third from right in the third row, and teacher Mr. Taylor is at the far right.

Third Street

(Continued from Page 20) early 1960s. Retired professional boxer Laila Ali (daughter of Muhammad Ali) attended the school, as did artist Gary Baseman, who is creating special limited edition artwork in honor of the centennial. Alumnus and Academy Award winner (for co-directing “The Last Repair Shop”) Kris Bowers recently donated a piano for the school’s auditorium and has expressed interest in attending the time capsule event. And our own John Welborne, publisher of the Larchmont Chronicle, attended the school from 1956 to 1959.

Welborne’s sixth grade classmate Bill Spurgin, now a resident in Santa Monica, but who grew up on June Street and married Daisy Brookes from Hudson Place, recently responded to seeing the accompanying 1959 photo with the following story.

“This was Mr. Taylor’s class. I was elected Student Body President but was forced to resign after Lee Barneson, Bobby McLain, Kent Stevens, Jeff Variel, Robert Nicholas, Tommy Ralphs and I dirt clogged Donna Frame’s house and then hid there because she, Nancy Peck, Marsha McKnight, Linda Ralphs, Penny Parkin, and a few oth-

ers had perfumed our fort on a vacant lot on Hudson.

Mr. Gist [school principal] required all of us to report to him after school, and we were released in 15-minute increments once all the girls reported safely from home.

Mr. Taylor was great in handling it.”

Some current teachers also once walked the halls as students. Kindergarten teacher

Amy Genut of Beverly Grove has taught at Third Street for 20 years. She graduated from the school in 1989. “Every time I drove past Third Street School, I hoped I would be able to work there. I know how lucky the students are here,” she said.

Melrose Neighborhood resident Constance Hutchinson, a special education teacher whose mother was a school staff member for more than 30 years, said, “I have the best memories of my formative years at Third Street. It has always fostered a sense of safety and community. I loved being at [the school] — my second home — so much that years later I became a proud Panther teacher.”

Funds and improvements In honor of this big milestone, both the Windsor Square - Hancock Park Historical Society and the Hancock Park Homeowners Association are donating funds that will help the school with

classroom technology, add books to the library and help with campus beautification. Third Street also hopes to raise money to fund auditorium improvements. These funds are separate from the $77 million the LAUSD board recently approved for classroom conversion and modernizations at Third Street. LAUSD improvements are not expected to get underway until 2028, and it is estimated that they will be completed in 2030.

Upon hearing about the modernization project, Cindy Chvatal-Keane, president of the Hancock Park Homeowners Association, met with Rachel Sherman, commu-

nity engagement representative for School Board member Nick Melvoin, to learn more. Chvatal-Keane said that the meeting went well and that she is assured that the community will be kept in the loop.

“Third Street Elementary has been a really good neighbor,” she said. She has lived in the neighborhood for decades and believes the modernization is a good thing. “As we get closer [to construction), we will become more involved [and will work to] minimize the impact on residents. But it’s a good thing for those kids and, I believe, for our neighborhood,” she said.

To find out more, visit thirdstreetschool.com.

DEMOGRAPHICS evolved, as shown in this class photo from 1994.

CURRENT Principal Helen Lee (in rear) with students at the front entrance of Third Street school.

Locals of all ages train at Tiger Boxing Gym on Gardner Street

On a slow weekday morning, walking through the shady Gardner Street neighborhood, I passed an open storefront with a boxing ring inside. This was just off Melrose Avenue.

The proprietors — a married couple — were sitting outside on a bench, and the woman asked if I had ever boxed. I told her I hadn’t, but that it had always interested me. She then suggested I get in the ring and try sparring — that her husband would work with me. That’s when I noticed the pictures and posters on the walls, of him, younger, in boxing robe and gloves, standing with Evander Holyfield and other professional boxers of that era.

I opted for a rain check.

Tiger

Charles Nwokolo, a.k.a. Young Dick Tiger, is a former professional boxer who fought for Nigeria in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. He and his wife Elizabeth Wilson own Tiger Boxing Gym.

The space, which opened in 2006, isn’t large, but it contains the equipment you’d expect to find in a boxing gym — punching bags (heavy and speed), jump ropes, dumbbells and a raised boxing ring. The facility feels authentic, a place where the characters from “Rocky” or “Raging Bull” might have trained.

“I like the personal one-onone you get with Tiger,” said Luis Ulloa, former proprietor of Blackbird Pizza Shop on Melrose. He’s been training

Youth Sports by Jim Kalin

with Tiger for three years. “This is a great scene. Intimate. It feels like my second home.”

That familial atmosphere is immediately noticeable. Tiger and Wilson are involved with every student, and they are completely submerged in local boxing. Wilson, a trained classical musician, is taking over as treasurer of USA Boxing’s SoCal section, and for the students who choose to compete, Tiger always coaches in their corner during fights.

The fighters

Israel and Yoni Kruper moved to Los Angeles from Israel. Their parents opened Bella’s Bread and Butter, a bakery at 7212 Melrose Ave., where the boys help out occasionally. Their grandfather boxed in Russia. Yoni, 12, is a natural fighter.

“The way he moves in the ring,” explained Tiger. “Most people are awkward. Not Yoni. And the first time he came in, he was a natural with his jab.”

Yoni trains several times a week, and his goal is to compete before 2024 ends. Israel is 14 and joined Tiger Boxing Gym after his younger brother.

“It’s very welcoming here,”

he said. “Tiger puts in a lot of time and effort with everyone. It’s such a unique way of training. He trains you to fight, not just to get in shape.”

Denis Olteanu, 15, attends Fairfax High School. His family emigrated from Romania, and he trains after school with Tiger. He has competed in six amateur fights so far.

“Denis always has a good sense of his opponent and knows where to move in the ring,” explained Tiger.

“[Tiger] has helped me so much,” said Denis. “Especially when I first arrived and couldn’t speak English. The workouts are hard, and sometimes Tiger has to help me stay motivated.”

Technique

Boxing’s mental aspect is much more demanding than the brawl part, and that became apparent a week after meeting Tiger and Wilson, when I cashed in that rain

check. In the ring, I immediately became winded. I wasn’t breathing correctly.

“You must learn how to breathe through your nose,” said Tiger. “When a fighter begins breathing through his mouth, he is fatigued.”

In a short documentary on YouTube called “Prove Them Wrong: Behind the Busi-

ness with Tiger,” legendary sports journalist Howard Cosell commentates during the footage of Tiger’s controversial Olympic quarterfinal match. That bout’s outcome is a great story, and one Tiger can tell.

Just ask him.

Tiger Boxing Gym, 708 N. Gardner St., 323-951-9679

GREEN SPACE abounds at The Willows’ current campus. The Willows (Continued from Page 19)

number of the school’s educators were students at the school. Other notable alumni include professional football player Brycen Tremayne, designer Eli Russell Linnetz and actress Hannah Einbinder of the television show “Hacks.”

Thinking of the years ahead, Rosenstein is energetic and optimistic. “The school was founded on hope. We want to build on that and focus on

what we want to do for the future at the school and in the greater world,” she said.

The school is hosting an “Our Ideas @ The Willows Speaker Series” on Tues., Oct. 1, at 7 p.m. on The Willows campus. The free event will feature New York Times bestselling author Michael Thompson. Reservations are required.

For more information about The Willows or to RSVP for the speaker series, visit thewillows.org.

DENIS OLTEANU, center, with Tiger and Elizabeth Wilson, after Denis’ first fight.

TIGER in the ring, flanked by Yoni and Israel Kruper.

Navigating Halloween and the sugary deluge of October

By Casey Russell

Halloween is approaching, and that means parties and events, trick-or-treating and... candy!!!

Growing up, I loved Halloween. I loved figuring out my costume, going out at night and seeing other spookily attired kids. I loved knocking on doors and discovering what surprise would be dropped in my plastic pumpkin pail. And I adored sorting through my huge bucketful of tasty treats!

As a mom, I often look at all the sugar that comes into our house at this time of year, and think, “Yikes!” Knowing I’m most likely not alone in having this thought, I decided to use this month’s column to share some ideas for how to handle Halloween and this year’s candy influx in a balanced, fun way.

Fun fall activities

First of all, it’s great to remember that October provides lots of opportunities for Halloween fun that do not involve candy. Pumpkin patches abound at this time of year. Whether you drive to an actual farm, like Underwood Family Farms, 3370 Sunset Valley Rd. in Moorpark, or head to a local one, like the Wilshire Rotary Pumpkin Patch at 568 N. Larchmont

Blvd., an afternoon spent exploring the patches and choosing a pumpkin or two to take home can be loads of fun.

Going to fall festivals, like the one put on by The Original Farmers Market, 6333 W. Third St., or participating in events such as “Carved” at Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Dr., and seeing glowing pumpkins and an intricate Dia de los Muertos altar there, can bring the family together for unforgettable fall fun. Bob Baker Marionette Theater’s Halloween Spooktacular, 4949 York Blvd., provides another great Halloween experience for little ones.

Kids of all ages can get excited about decorating for Halloween. Go all-out and make your own spooky crafts (Pinterest has lots of great ideas), spice up your home and the neighborhood with outdoor décor or simply gather the family together to carve pumpkins before the big night.

Handling candy

When Oct. 31 finally arrives, making sure that your trickor-treaters get a good healthy dinner before heading out can be a big help in curbing sugar highs and crashes. But, as dietician Malina Malkani says, it’s totally fine to let trick-

Tips on Parenting by

Casey Russell

or-treaters choose how many candies they eat on Halloween night. They won’t get “addicted” to sugar from a night (or a few nights) of splurging, and letting kids experience the natural consequences of eating too much candy at a time can be a much better lesson in self-regulation than micromanaging their sugar consumption.

While it is important to check collected candy for puncture holes, by gently squeezing to make sure there is still air in the wrappers, many dietitians discourage the labeling of candy as “junk food,” “bad for you,” or even “treats.” Instead they recommend just calling candy by its name — a Tootsie Roll, a Snickers bar, M&Ms. This can help ensure that children don’t start vilifying certain categories of foods or, on the flip side, start to crave these foods more because they are seen as the holy grail of tastiness.

In my family, we aren’t big fans of consuming food coloring. So, we let our daughter pick a few “most important” food coloring trick-or-treatitems to keep, and then we use the rest of the candy with food coloring for science experiments or we let her exchange them (and any other candy she’d like to include) for something different. Now that she’s older, we let her sell us seven pieces for $1. In her younger years, we traded her for stickers or, if it was a large amount she was trading, a stuffed animal.

Autonomy

Consider having a conversation with your child to decide upon an appropriate amount of candy for her to have daily in the weeks following Halloween. Then she can take charge

of her consumption within the limits you’ve agreed upon. Maybe you decide three pieces a day seems a fair amount and that it can be enjoyed after she’s had a meal. Great! Now, feeling grown up and trusted, your child can be in charge of choosing what she wants and when she wants to eat it, within those limits. All in all, I like to remind myself how awesome it was to see all the decorations leading up to Halloween night, carve pumpkins, dress up and roam the neighborhood on a crisp, fall night and then come home with a bunch of tasty stuff that was mine… all mine! I love that I get to watch my daughter having her own similar experiences now. Being a parent can be pretty great.

Dentistry for Children and Young Adults

Pediatric

schools.

BUCKLEY

By Max Terr

11th Grade

School is back in session at The Buckley School. The Upper School embarked on its annual outdoor adventure and exploration with the high school going on a pre-class retreat throughout the state.

With classes now officially underway the season of stress has begun. The kids are shaking off of the summer cobwebs and firing up their usual school skills. There is an air of excitement and nervousness filling the campus.

The Middle School stayed at home for the time being, but will head to an outdoor retreat halfway through the year. At the lower school, major renovations are underway knocking down walls to make way for a new and improved environment for the school’s younger grades.

THIRD STREET

By Maya Johnson 5th Grade

The Making Caring Common program kicked off, focused on spreading kindness at school. We had more than 50 parent volunteers attend the planning session.

We came together this month for a successful Family Movie Night, Health and Safety Cleanup Day and the Back to School Breakfast, where parents toured classrooms. And, at the recent middle school information meeting, parents of culminating students learned about middle school options for 6th grade.

In October, we have the Prospective Parents Tour and Meeting scheduled for Wed., Oct. 2. Anyone interested in learning more about attending Third Street School is invited.

Finally, on Sun., Nov. 3, Third Street Elementary celebrates its 100th birthday!

OAKWOOD

By Charlotte Zabel 12th Grade

The high school play, “She Kills Monsters,” just finished the casting process and is set to begin practice very soon. We’re all very excited about the spring musical, “Mean Girls,” and cannot wait for those upcoming auditions, which will happen in a month.

Mock Trial has just begun practicing and prepping for their case, which is about a politically driven kidnapping. Seniors are having fun skipping class for the opt-in, on-campus college visits. At least once a week representatives from colleges and universities come to give a spiel and answer questions about their respective schools.

We’re working on revamping our Halloween event this year by moving it back to the gym like it used to be. Costumes, candy and activities will be included, and the party planning committee is hard at work.

THE WILLOWS

to bond and get to know each other and allowed us time to adjust to days on campus.

Each year at The Willows, a school-wide theme is set to inspire writing prompts, art projects, activities and even classroom decorations. In past years there have been themes like “Dream,” “Reach” and “Strength.” This year the decided upon theme is “Hope.” It’s been a strong start to what I know will be a great year at The Willows

CAMPBELL HALL

Claire “Cal” Lesher 12th Grade

activities. There are also performances, where kids get to show off their talents such as singing and playing instruments. We can hardly wait! Happy (almost) Halloween!

THE OAKS

By Hazel Iha 6th Grade

Hello! I’ve been attending Third Street for four years and have found it to be a kind and caring school with amazing kids and teachers. There are always great programs and fun events to look forward to.

Our Robotics program is back for year two. We are taking our robots to the Lego League Challenge to compete against other

Oakwood has been up and running since the first day of school. Unfortunately, we’ve dealt with some pretty sticky and suffocating weather! Temperatures in the valley were over 100 for several days, with tennis and cross country practices moved to 7 a.m.!! There’s been a bit more yawning on campus recently from our student athletes, but not to worry, since the student council has been on top of providing free ice cream and popsicles all around the school to wake us up.

By Wren Meltzer 7th Grade

Welcome back from a hot summer that I hope was full of adventures, fun and relaxation. Our teachers, staff and school prepared for the students with great energy, and the first day of school on Aug. 29th was a smashing success.

At the start of the year, the students of The Oaks School meet with buddies. Kindergarten is paired with sixth grade, fifth grade is paired with 1st grade and so on. The buddies spend time together every week for the entire year to establish strong connections. This system helps kids feel included and at home within the Oaks community from the very start.

Excitement has filled the air at The Willows Community School as the new school year gets underway and students wonder what the fall will be like. 2024 is special for The Willows because it is the 30th anniversary of the school’s founding in 1994.

The middle school started off with a three-day retreat to incorporate the new 6th graders and to make sure everyone feels welcome. The retreat gave us time

I am a senior this year and my classmates and I are busy writing our college essays. Also, 100 colleges visited my school campus. It was fantastic to continue to learn about different colleges from all over America.

Campbell Hall held auditions for the annual “Nutcracker” and for the school play. The robotics team began meeting, and we are all busy building our robots for the new season.

Our Cultural Connections held their CH family affinity kick off, and we had our annual Back to School Night, during which the teachers welcomed parents.

The girls’ varsity volleyball team is off to a great start. The boys’ beach volleyball team will begin in October.

Homecoming was a smashing success with all the rides and yummy food. It was great seeing all the friendly faces. We look forward to another amazing school year and sports season.

LARCHMONT CHARTER SELMA

By Elsie Mohr 5th Grade

Happy new beginnings!

Larchmont students at every campus are settling into the new school year.

In September, students in fifth through eighth grades at the Selma middle school campus got to try out for sports teams. Cross country, volleyballand and flag football have all started up, and kids are making new friends along the way!

Everyone has been talking about the fun event coming up in October: the Halloween Haunt! Every year, all of the Larchmont families are invited to come to the Selma campus for a spooky surprise! The eighth graders put on a haunted house, and there are food trucks, class booths and festive

This year, I am in sixth grade and I have been looking forward to having kindergarten buddies since I was a kindergartener myself. My class has already had our first buddy time and we have bonded through various activities such as decorating and coloring a banner, playing in the sandbox together and reading to the younger buddies. We also did biography pages about ourselves to get to know one another’s interests and discover what would make buddy time a meaningful experience for each kid.

One of the kindergarteners said, “I like buddy time because I get to play Legos with the 6th graders.” Having the opportunity to be a friend and role model to younger kids who are just starting elementary school is very special to me.

NEW COVENANT ACADEMY

By Sue Jung Park 12th Grade

The excitement of fall is here! NCA is buzzing with anticipation for Huskyween, as the Student Council rolls out a spirit week. Students are encouraged to dress up. Student Council also held a school-wide movie night to enjoy delicious food, watch a movie, and have a time of bonding!

As the girls’ volleyball and cross country and boys’ soccer seasons come to a close soon, they’ve delivered some of the most thrilling games yet, fighting hard in every match. Be sure to come out to support them as they finish their season strong.

While the upperclassmen focused on their studies, the elementary Huskies had their own adventure at the annual pumpkin patch field trip. From winding through the corn maze to picking out their very own pumpkins, they enjoyed a day filled with fun and lasting memories. This fall season is truly one to remember!

DIRECTOR Eric Michaud and musical director Andy Gladbach lead the cast of “Alice!” in rehearsal.

ASSISTANCE LEAGUE has hosted performances since 1938 in the building designed for the League in a New England summer stock theater style by noted architect Stiles O. Clements.

‘Alice!’ to be performed by the Nine O’Clock Players

By Casey Russell

The Nine O’Clock Players are preparing to wow audiences with their latest show, “Alice!” Opening Sun., Nov. 3, the musical version of Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” will bring the wacky, imaginative world of Wonderland to the historic Assistance League Theater, 1367 N. St. Andrews Pl.

Consul General

(Continued from Page 4)

Rennie mentions hosting now King Charles in India and Malaysia and how impactful it was, in addition to how much warmth the local population showed for the Royal Family.

“But to some extent, diplomacy lives in the details,” he offers, describing a visit to a small village in India where the consulate had worked with onion farmers to develop a storage system so the growers wouldn’t have to sell off their whole crop at once, which depresses prices.

“That’s one thing: Diplomacy happens in the details. That small moment of seeing how we are changing people’s lives on the ground.”

While touring the new system, Consul General Rennie was asked if he would mind judging an onion contest, and he agreed. “As I rounded the corner of the building, there were about 50 farmers lined up with piles of onions… These farmers had come from miles and miles away.” He had no idea how to select the best onions, but he was the sole judge, so he made his picks. “I think first went to the onions that were the tightest at the top. Second went to the guy with the biggest onions, and the third went to the shiniest onions, because I had no other mechanism to figure out who should be second and third.

“I love that. It doesn’t involve royalty or celebrities or grand things that will live on for eternity, like treaties we

Built in 1938, the structure was designed by noted architect Stiles O. Clements, who

sign at the United Nations. That’s one thing: Diplomacy happens in the details. That small moment of seeing how we are changing people’s lives on the ground. Seeing how, as a Brit, I matter enough to be the dignitary to judge an onion contest. My wife always says, ‘The greatest miracles always happen with the smallest audiences.’ I think she is dead right in that regard.”

Los Angeles is the seventh city, not including London, which Consul General Rennie will call home as part of the diplomatic corps, and he was immediately taken with the area, specifically the neighborhood surrounding the consular residence in Hancock Park. “The whole place here is fantastic! I like to go for runs, and everyone says ‘Hello’ and ‘Good morning,’ and that’s just cracking! It has a real sense of community.”

He continues, “The shops on Larchmont — there’s a great spread of books and clothing and coffees and cakes and not the big chains. It conveys a sense of community. The way the houses are kept, and the pride people have in looking after their gardens. I love the variation. Every house is different. It’s not the standardized Lego brick.”

Two events Consul General Rennie is focused on for his four-year assignment in Los Angeles are the World Cup in 2026 and the Olympics in 2028. “I don’t think there has ever been a better time for a Consul General to be in Los Angeles. This is the best four years in history to do this job.”

Consul General Rennie was based in D.C. during the last presidential election, and he is looking forward to be-

also designed The Wiltern and the El Capitan Theatre.

As always, the Nine O’Clock Players will bring their own original storytelling wit to their rendition of this classic tale. Children can laugh and commiserate as Alice, fed up

ing in the U.S. again for the Harris-Trump contest in November.

“Whatever comes, America is strongest when it’s united and when it works together and when it works with allies,” he states. “This is America’s journey. Whatever the U.K. can do to support America’s journey … We need America. There isn’t a single problem in the world that doesn’t benefit from American positive involvement.”

with all the rules she needs to follow, throws her math book aside, falls asleep and ends up in a fantasy world like no other.

Beloved characters from

Carroll’s story will befriend or challenge Alice as she finds her way through Wonderland and, eventually, back home.

To purchase tickets, visit assistanceleaguela.org.

Right:

A MODEL of the set of “Alice!” was designed by former Disney imagineer Chris Runco.

LARCHMONT CHARTER WILSHIRE

By Emory Tom Kirkwood and Xavi Mason 3rd Grade

Introducing spooky season!

Before we get to October’s main event, we have parent-teacher conferences coming up October 21 - 25.

First, we asked Domi Miyamoto, our Assistant Principal, what he was looking forward to most. He shared, “My favorite memories from parent-teacher conferences have always been student-centered, like when happy students share about developing friendships that have grown since the start of that school year.” Depending on their grade, students might join the conferences. They have mixed feelings about participating.

However, most students LOVE Halloween.

We excitedly interviewed our principal, Ms. Eva, about LCS’s events for this holiday. She said we will be celebrating Halloween by wearing costumes. Kids will be happy to have the next day off after a late night of getting “candied.”

Halloween Haunt will be celebrated at the Selma campus Nov.

1, from 4 - 7 p.m. Also, the LFP high school campus will be celebrating Dia de los Muertos Nov. 2 from noon until 3 p.m.

We are dressing up as Mike TV and Albert Einstein, while other LCS students will be dressing up as witches, cowgirls, Dorothy and even Ender Dragons! Happy Halloween!

TURNING POINT

By Liam O’Brient 8th Grade

Students in 8th grade worked diligently to plan a Halloween carnival for our community.

During SmartLab class, we used cardboard and wood in innovative ways to build games such as plinko, golf and a ring toss.

First, we drew out our ideas and took note of the materials we needed. Then we began construction. I am excited about this event, which is a tradition at Turning Point School. It allows the older students to show leadership while also bonding with their younger friends.

On the day of the carnival, younger students will approach booths manned by my eighth grade class and play the games.  “I really enjoyed the carnival when I was younger, so I’m hoping to give the mentees the same memories that I was given,” a Turning Point eighth grader said. Adding

to the festive atmosphere, all students, young and old, will wear their Halloween costumes to the carnival.

MELROSE ELEMENTARY

By Evelyn Cho and Isla Lacey 5th Grade

School is off to a great start! Ms. Meza, a first grade teacher, said that this month,  “We are creating spaces on campus to highlight different Latino and Hispanic heritages.” A Mexican band will also come and perform a concert for all the students.

The Harvest Festival and Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month will surely make this school year unforgettable. Shortly after the beginning of October, we have a special event called Harvest Festival.

One activity we do at the festival is the Costume Parade. This never fails to bring the Melrose Community together. A couple hours after school ends is when the true Harvest Festival begins. Parent volunteers come together and organize fun activities for students.

PAGE ACADEMY

By Amanda Argiropoulos 8th Grade

which family and friends joined our students for a special lunch.

Closing out September, we are continuing to enjoy free dress and Fun Fridays on the last Friday of each month. We can’t wait to hear what additional events Student Council will organize this year.

As October approaches, our teachers and staff have planned programs and events for National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, Fire Safety Month, Red Ribbon Week and the Great California Shakeout.

We are also very excited and can’t wait for our Spaghetti Dinner/Talent Show and Page’s Annual Fall Festival celebrating fall and Halloween! My favorite is our haunted house. I can’t wait to see what “tricks” and scares are in store for us, but I am sure the “treats” will also be enjoyed!

I leave you with this from L. M. Montgomery – “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”

ST. JAMES’

By

Oona Macek 6th Grade

day and Sunday masses for the month of October.

After school extracurricular activities are in full swing with a diverse range of offerings. Principal Young and the teachers welcomed parents on Curriculum Night, while the Parent Teacher Board hosted the annual Wish List party at the end of September. October brings more excitement with the Family Movie Night on Oct. 18 and the much anticipated Halloween Parade and Halloween Play on Oct. 31.

IMMACULATE HEART

By Rosie Lay 11th Grade

St. James Episcopal School has gotten off to a thrilling start! Our 6th grade had our blazer ceremony. For those unfamiliar, our blazer ceremony is when the class is officially inaugurated.

Immaculate Heart is back in session! To start off the school year we celebrated our Welcome Day tradition to honor the freshman Class of 2028, as well as transfer students and new faculty. Each grade decorated a poster featuring its theme for the day, and then performed a song, skit and dance.

In addition to our regular class schedules, my schoolmates and I have been participating in swimming classes at our on-site pool two days a week. Our after school programs in dance, soccer, tennis, pickleball and piano are also well underway.

In honor of Grandparent’s Day, we held a special event during

Each of us buys a navy blazer with the St. James crest to don during the ceremony. We recite a solemn oath to guide the younger students and be compassionate and responsible leaders.

Also, our new head of school, Ms. Diane Rich, held a commons assembly, during which she introduced herself and her two dogs! This was the first time this year that the entire school has gotten to meet her. Many heads turned as they beheld the large dogs on the stage. Were they new administrators? As it turns out, no, they were just her dogs. It was a joyful introduction.

The freshmen debuted as the “Fairy-Tale Freshmen” and were joined by the “Saddle-up Sophomores,” the “Just-Add-Water Juniors” (featuring mermaids!) and, last but not least, the “Superbowl Seniors.” Students from each class also competed in Spirit Games to win points for their grade level. After the performances, everybody gathered in the auditorium to escape the heat for a potluck lunch.

Along with new classes, students are already immersed in service projects and clubs. Our Genesians theatre company has started production on the fall musical, “Little Shop of Horrors.” Meanwhile, league competition is underway for our fall sports teams in volleyball, tennis and cross-country. Good luck to all of our Panda athletes!

Club Program

There’s a lot more to tell, so stand by for next month’s column.

ST. BRENDAN

By Alyssa Lee 8th Grade

is up and running

By Casey Russell Wilshire

St. Brendan School kicked off the school year with lots of exciting developments. These included the unveiling of the tile wall with student artwork, the construction of TK and kindergarten playgrounds, the installment of middle school lockers and the distribution of iPads for all students.

New and old faces were welcomed by the community with a back-to-school blessing from Fr. Brian Castaneda. The student council led the inaugural Mass in September, while seventh graders hosted the first Wednes-

Warriors baseball’s Fall Club Program recently started. Eleven teams, made up of boys and girls ages 414, are now competing. More than 100 neighborhood children get a chance to improve their baseball skills with professional coaching through the nonprofit organization, which holds practices at Pan Pacific Park, 7600 Beverly Blvd. Though official tryouts for the Fall Club Program took place in August, a few teams have remaining spots. Wilshire Warriors also has a recreational season, which is for all levels of players. That season begins in March, and early bird registration opens in late December. Contact wilshirewarriorsregistrar@gmail.com to find out more about the Fall Club Program or the spring season.

Marquee to be revealed at Bob Baker Marionette Theater

By Nona Sue Friedman

The marquee at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater (BBMT) will be restored with classic neon, bulb lighting and art deco architectural features. Its unveiling will be a community celebration on Sun., Oct. 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the theater, 4949 York Blvd., Highland Park.

The free event will include puppet meet and greets, caricature artists, face painting and live airbrushing onto shirts by Gentle Thrills. Food trucks will be selling their wares out front. To enhance the community environment, attendees will receive discounts at local vendors on

York Boulevard.

BBMT moved into the York Theater, formerly a silent movie theater, in 2019 after losing its longtime home near Downtown Los Angeles. Since then, BBMT has completed numerous updates to the interior of the historic 1923 building, but this is the first project visible to all passersby.

The marquee restoration will bring the magic and creative spirit of BBMT outside for the entire community to enjoy. According to BBMT, the marquee symbolizes the theater’s resilience and dedication to remain in Los Angeles. Halloween Show

The theater’s current

Largest art

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LACMA, “We Live in Painting: The Nature of Color in Mesoamerican Art” opened last month and continues through Sept. 1, 2025. This exhibit explores the science, art and cosmology of color in Mesoamerica.

At the La Brea Tar Pits, “Mark Dion: Excavations” features the contemporary artist’s 10-foot sculpture of a fossilized pack rat skeleton. It stands atop a mix of trash and debris dating back tens of thousands of years, making it a treasure chest for scientists studying past ecosystems. The exhibit opened last month and continues through Sept. 15, 2025.

Also at the La Brea Tar Pits, there will be a free, out-

production, “Hallowe’en Spooktacular,” is being performed through Sun., Nov. 10. This show is a classic Los Angeles Halloween activity.

The hour-long revue features more than 100 puppets including Frankenstein’s monster, ghouls, witches and

toe-tapping skeletons. Be prepared for the glow-in-thedark sequence. It’s fun for the whole family.

Costumes for attendees are strongly encouraged at every performance. Throughout October, there will be a costume parade before every show. Performances take place Saturdays and Sundays, most Fridays and a few weekdays. Check the website for exact dates and times. Tickets are $28 and can be purchased at bobbakermarionettetheater. com.

door PST ART: Art x Science Family Festival over Veterans Day weekend, from Nov. 9 to 11.

The outdoor festival will offer hands-on workshops, performances and a celebratory atmosphere with music and food. Activities include imagining distant exoplanets with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, practicing traditional adobe building techniques with staff from the Craft Contemporary museum and performing surgery on life-like anatomical dummies.

The Getty, which is supporting and leading PST ART, will join with the Edinburgh Science organization and the La Brea Tar Pits Museum to present the festival.

For more information on upcoming events, visit pst.art.

in

• Over 50 years serving the neighborhood

RENDERING of the new Bob Baker Marionette Theater marquee that soon will be revealed on York Boulevard.

AUTUMN-INSPIRED witch puppet graces the stage of Bob Baker Marionette Theater.

Photos by Bob Baker Marionette Theater

DRACULA rises from his coffin during the Hallowe’en Spooktacular.