Community Connection | Spring 22

City of West Hollywood California 1984

RECREATION SERVICES DIVISION

ommunity C

Connection A QUARTERLY GUIDE TO THRIVE AT ANY AGE | SPRING 2022

IN THIS ISSUE n n n n n n n

OVID-19 Vaccine & C Testing Update Introducing... Pickleball!

Recipe from the Farmers' Market beWell WeHo UCLA Memory Training Finding the Stories Keeping the Memories Craft Corner

Community Connection is published quarterly by the City of West Hollywood's Recreation Services Division for everyone, but especially for people 55 and over in the community to get information about news, programs, and services.

MAKING PUBLIC SAFETY A PRIORITY Public safety is the City of West Hollywood’s number-one priority. The City’s Public Safety Department and the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station are reminding community members that we must all work together to make public safety a community priority.

Here are three tips to help protect yourself and the people around you: Stay Alert – Remain aware of your surroundings and stay attentive. Walk, stand, talk, and carry yourself to demonstrate that you’re alert and aware of your surroundings.

Be Vigilant – Take proactive precautions that reduce your risk. It’s always safer to walk with others. Choose well-lit areas and keep an arm’s length away from strangers.

Take Action – If you see something, say something. Gut feelings or intuition can be one of your best allies in self-protection. Don’t remain complacent, reach out for help when you need it.

In addition to Sheriff’s personnel, the City’s Block by Block Security Ambassador program has a direct positive impact on safety and neighborhood livability.

Block by Block Security Ambassadors are deployed on bicycles along major streets, alleys, City parking lots, and residential neighborhoods, and work in collaboration with Sheriff’s personnel. Security Ambassadors also get to know neighborhoods and assist in providing an extra level of hospitality to visitors and help to address quality of life concerns in the community.

The City of West Hollywood and the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station urge anyone in the community with public safety concerns to reach out to the Sheriff’s Station 24/7 at (310) 855-8850. The Block by Block Security Ambassador Hotline provides access to free 24/7 support by phone or text at (323) 821-8604. In an emergency, always call 911.

EVICTION PREVENTION AND DEFENSE PROGRAM To find our current registration schedule and sign up for recreation activities and classes, visit us at: weho.org/recreation or email: recreation@weho.org

If you are a tenant and receive a three-day notice, unlawful detainer, or other adverse action impacting your housing, then the Eviction Prevention and Defense program, a City partnership with Bet Tzedek Legal Services, can help. The program offers free representation from an attorney who can handle legal matters on behalf of tenants. Services are provided at no cost to West Hollywood residents and are available regardless of immigration status.

Additionally, services are accessible to tenants with physical disabilities and tenants who speak a language other than English. Please call (323) 549-5841 to speak to a representative from Bet Tzedek Legal Services. www.bettzedek.org

COVID-19 VACCINE & TESTING UPDATE Public Health officials are reminding community members about the importance of getting vaccinated, getting boosted, getting tested, and wearing masks. Free COVID-19 testing is available to anyone in LA County. There is an appointmentbased testing site at Plummer Park at 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard. For vaccine information, visit www.VaccinateLACounty.com and for testing information, visit https://covid19.lacounty.gov/testing.

For information by telephone, call toll-free (833) 540-0473.

SUCCULENT WORKSHOP 12913 | Tuesday, March 15 12914 | Tuesday, April 26 12915 | Tuesday, May 10 2:30 pm – 3:45 pm | Cost: $15 Location: Plummer Park, Great Hall Courtyard Staff: Destiny Hernandez | Min: 3 | Max: 8 Make your very own succulent arrangement that you get to decorate and take home! You will learn the basic steps on how to take care of your succulent. Supplies will be provided.

For more info, call (323) 848-6530, and to register, visit www.weho.org/recreation

INTRODUCING...

PICKLEBALL! West Hollywood is happy to announce the opening of our brand new pickleball courts at Plummer Park! Pickleball is a fun, social sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong. The simple rules make this a perfect game for beginners to learn, and a friendly, competitive game for those more experienced!

Plummer Park has four lighted pickleball courts and one multi-use paddle/pickleball court. The courts can be reserved ahead of time by downloading and utilizing the Kourts app on your phone or by visiting www.kourts.com. The pickleball courts can be found in the Kourts app under 'Tennacity at West Hollywood, Plummer Park'.

Come find out why pickleball is all the craze!

2 | VISIT US ONLINE AT WEHO.ORG/RECREATION

Recipe from the Farmers' Market

Spring is an exciting time to be in the kitchen, filled with vibrant seasonal vegetables, and delicious, refreshing recipes! Here's one of our favorites, made with ingredients you can find every Monday at the Helen Albert Certified Farmers' Market:

RICOTTA-FAVA TOASTS

The subtle, milky flavor of fresh ricotta cheese pairs beautifully with the earthy, sweet taste of fava beans atop this mouth-watering toast.

Active Time: 20 mins | Total: 30 mins | Yield: 8

Ingredients: • 3 quart water • 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, divided, plus more to taste • 1 pound unshelled fava beans or 1 cup frozen shelled favas or edamame • 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided • 4 (1/2-inch-thick) rustic bread slices or pain au levain slices, cut from the center of the loaf • 1 cup fresh whole-milk ricotta cheese • 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh tarragon, plus whole tarragon leaves, for garnish • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:

Step 1. Bring 3 quarts water to a boil in a large stockpot over high. Stir in 2 tablespoons salt. Shell fava beans; add beans to boiling water. Cook until tender, about 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, immediately transfer beans to a bowl filled with ice water; let stand 2 minutes. Drain well. If using shelled fresh beans, peel and discard skins from beans. Stir together peeled beans, 1 tablespoon oil, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Set aside.

Step 2. Preheat grill to medium-high (400°F to 450°F).

Brush bread slices evenly on both sides with remaining 1/3 cup oil. Place on unoiled grates; grill, uncovered, until grill marks appear, about 2 minutes per side.

Step 3. Stir together ricotta, chopped tarragon, pepper, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt in a small bowl; spread seasoned ricotta evenly on 1 side of each toast slice; top evenly with dressed favas. Cut toasts in half on an angle; arrange on a serving platter. Season with salt, and sprinkle with tarragon leaves.

Make Ahead Fava beans can be cooked and peeled up to 2 days ahead. Store in an airtight container in refrigerator.

UCLA MEMORY TRAINING

THE MINDFULNESS SERIES Ages: 18+ Years | Cost: Free Must have a smartphone, tablet, or computer and internet to access and download the Zoom Web Conferencing app. Once you have registered for the class, you will receive an email with a Zoom link to access your virtual course.

Instructor: Maggie Thomas is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has a private therapy practice.

She is also a Reiki Master and Shamanic Practitioner.

POWER OF ACCEPTANCE, THE MINDFULNESS SERIES 12879 | Wednesday, March 9 | 3:30 pm – 5 pm Acceptance is the key to moving forward and detaching from the past to eliminate suffering.

During this class, participants will learn how to accept themselves mindfully and joyfully as they are, without giving their power away to others.

POWER OF MINDFUL SELF-TALK, THE MINDFULNESS SERIES 12880 | Wednesday, April 13 | 3:30 pm – 5 pm This workshop will explore the power of words and their unique creative nature. Participants will learn to be mindful of how they talk to themselves and design their internal and external world through that self-talk. They will also learn tools to change their self-talk to change their lives for the better.

THE POWER OF LETTING GO, THE MINDFULNESS SERIES 12881 | Wednesday, May 11 | 3:30 pm – 5 pm Negative feelings such as anger, resentment, and frustration are a part of life. They can keep us from being reasonable and rational and even take away our chances of happiness. By letting go, we can take control! During this workshop, participants will learn how to let go of negative feelings preventing them from experiencing joy in life.

For more info, call (323) 848-6302, and to register, visit www.weho.org/recreation

Must have smartphone, tablet or computer and internet to access and download Zoom Web Conferencing app.

Once you have registered, you will receive an email with a Zoom link to access your virtual class.

Instructor: Monica Dunahee has taught the UCLA Memory Training for more than ten years to a wide variety of audiences of all ages. She has also written and taught a variety of computer classes and served on the American Society on Aging's Lifelong Learning Committee.

12927 | Friday, March 4 – 25 | 11 am – 12:30 pm 12985 | Friday, May 6 – 27 | 1 pm – 2:30 pm Cost: Free (4 weeks) New students may not join after the 2nd session.

This is a four-week class will teach strategies and exercises to improve your long-term memory and ability to retain and recall information. Developed by UCLA, this memory class provides practical ways to help you: Keep track of keys, phones, or other items. Retain and recall dates, phone numbers, addresses. Put names with faces.

It is important that participants have appropriate writing surfaces, since they engage in classroom exercises that include memory checks, handouts, and note taking.

FINDING THE STORIES KEEPING THE MEMORIES Instructor: Monica Dunahee (Please see her bio above.)

12925 | Monday, April 4 – May 9 5 pm – 6:30 pm | Cost: Free (6 weeks) This is a six-week workshop designed to help participants capture their own memories for generations to come. This is not a traditional writing class! Instead, this fun and interactive workshop will help you experiment with a variety of easy methods to identify, save, and share the memories that are important to you - may be a story about your favorite toy, places you traveled, or how you felt when Dr. Martin Luther King was shot?

From the Internet, space travel, and TV to our first black President, marriage equality, and a pandemic, our world has undergone tremendous change – and YOU have lived through it. Individual memories and stories help future generations understand the past in a way history books never could. You may have thought about documenting your own experiences but wondered how to start – and how to find the time. Your experiences and your stories matter! Don't let them be lost!

For more info, call (323) 848-6302, and to register, visit www.weho.org/recreation CONTACT US AT RECREATION@WEHO.ORG | 3

CRAFT CORNER

CITY OF WEST HOLLYWOOD RECREATION SERVICES

NO SEW DIY SACHET

8300 Santa Monica Boulevard West Hollywood, CA 90069 (323) 848-6308 weho.org

What you need:

Plain Cotton or Linen Fabric 10”X 10” Pinking Shears or Scissors n Pen n Ruler n Hot Glue Gun n Dried Lavender or Eucalyptus n

PRESORTED STANDARD

U.S. Postage

PAID

Permit No. 288 Anaheim, CA

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City of West Hollywood California 1984

What to do: 1 M ake sure that your fabric is wrinkle free (if not, give it a quick iron).

2 M easure and cut 2 squares for the sachets.

The squares for this sachet were 4”x4”. We didn't need to be exact, so we weren't.

4 O pen the two pieces of fabric with print facing down. Run a line of hot glue all around the edge of one piece of fabric.

5 P lace a pile of dried lavender or a cut of eucalyptus leaves in the center of one piece of the fabric.

6 P lace the other piece of fabric on top and use your fingers to seal the edges of the sachet. Allow to dry and then enjoy your sweetsmelling sachet!

4 | VISIT US ONLINE AT WEHO.ORG/RECREATION

BRAIN TEASER Answer Key: 1. Silence of the Lambs | 2. Lion King | 3. E.T. | 4. Castaway | 5. Planet of the Apes 6. Three Men and a Baby | 7. Titanic | 8. Life of Pi | 9. Edward Scissorhands 10. The Princess and the Frog | 11. Sleeping Beauty | 12. Kung Fu Panda | 13. Robocop 14. Spiderman | 15. First Wives Club | 16. Four Weddings and a Funeral 17. The Breakfast Club | 18. Psycho | 19. The Princess Bride | 20. Snakes on a Plane

3 I f you have pinking shears, use them to trim the edges of the fabric squares to prevent fraying. If you don’t have pinking shears, you may skip this step. Since the sachet is not going to be worn or washed, you don’t need to worry about a perfectly fray-free seam.