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Birds in the Moon Intimate opera to take flight in Santa Monica

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ON THE COVER: “Birds in the Moon” is a new chamber opera that marks the return of live performances for The Broad Stage since the pandemic. Photo by Deborah O’Grady. Design by Arman Olivares.

Local News & Culture

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EDITORIAL Executive Editor: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski christina@timespublications.com Editor: Kamala Kirk (310) 574-7654 kkirk@timespublications.com Contributing Writer: Bridgette Redman, Sara Edwards, Andres de Ocampo Editorial Interns: Holly Jenvey, Haley Beyer, Meera Sastry ART Graphic Designers: Arman Olivares Kate Doll Staff Photographer: Luis Chavez

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The Argonaut is distributed every Thursday in Del Rey, Marina del Rey, Mar Vista, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista, Santa Monica, Venice, and Westchester. The Argonaut is available free of charge, limited to one per reader. The Argonaut may be distributed only by authorized distributors. No person may, without prior written permission of The Argonaut, take more than one copy of any issue. The Argonaut is copyrighted 2021 by Times Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part in any form or by any means without prior express written permission by the publisher. An adjudicated Newspaper of General Circulation with a distribution of 30,000.

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Compiled by Kamala Kirk Cases and deaths by neighborhood as of August 15: Culver City: 2,590 (deaths 110); Del Rey: 38 (deaths 1); El Segundo: 905 (deaths 7); Marina del Rey: 569 (deaths 4); Mar Vista: 2,555 (deaths 37); Palms: 3,048 (deaths 61); Playa del Rey: 150 (deaths 1); Playa Vista: 750 (deaths 10); Santa Monica: 5,852 (deaths 183); Venice: 2,292 (deaths 14); Westchester: 3,093 (deaths 51) Total Westside cases: 21,232 Total Westside deaths: 479

Total confirmed cases in LA County: 1,350,370 Total deaths in LA County: 24,900 Total new cases as of August 15: 3,356 Total new deaths: 8 Hospitalizations: 1,650 Positivity rate (seven-day daily average): 4.73% Total number of people tested: 7,716,708 (Source: Los Angeles County Department of Public Health)

Corrections - In the July 1, 2021 issue of The Argonaut, it should have said:

@ArgonautNews for breaking stories and bonus content posted during the week

PAGE 4 THE ARGONAUT AUGUST 19, 2021

“One of the awards presented was the Cultural Resource Award, which went to the Belmar History + Art project. It provides a timeline of how the area developed and the racial impact. In the late 19th century, the first African Americans settled in Santa Monica. By the early 20th century, African Americans lived in the neighborhoods by Philips Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church at 4th and Bay Streets, north of Santa Monica High School and in the Belmar Triangle, which is now occupied by the Civic Auditorium and new park.”

L E T T E R S

Decline of democracy in Mar Vista Editor:

It appears to me that either we have a crisis in democracy in Mar Vista or the community just does not care. Our community council does not seem bothered by the recently elected chair’s reorganization of the committee structure that removes several important committees and reserves committee leadership positions for board members only. The public comment portion of the meetings has been interrupted and stopped twice in as many meetings and was moved to the end of the committee meetings. These unilateral changes continue to diminish the value of this advisory body, as well as tell the community that authoritarianism is alive and well in Mar Vista. Meanwhile the rest of the community council just sits and nods without objection. Should you wish to witness the continued and growing irrelevance of the MVCC tune in by way of marvista.org/calendar. Oh, whoops. The meetings have been changed to the third Wednesday of the month. Did we all get that memo? Robin Doyno Los Angeles

Carrying pepper spray Editor: I recently saw a person protect himself from an attack from a large deranged man using pepper spray. I was impressed at how quickly the use of liquid pepper shot into someone’s face defanged a dangerous predator and promptly ordered a pepper spray myself. And I’m glad I did. Today I boarded a busy West Hollywood bus and found myself sitting near a man holding an open box cutter knife. The man started glaring menacingly at me. I reached into my bag pulled out my pepper sprayer and held it up so he could see it. He quickly averted his gaze and the danger passed. I did not have to use the pepper spray the implication that I would use it was enough to deter a potential unprovoked attack. The reality is there are many unbalanced people on the streets these days. It’s fact. Also potentially dangerous dogs. I would urge anyone who feels unsafe these days to purchase a pepper spray. They are inexpensive, legal and an effective defense against a potential or real

CREDIT: KRIS DAHLIN

Monday’s Article in the LA Times Editor: All the people mentioned in Monday’s LA Times article on the Venice homeless cleanup: • “Robles had been living with her son in San Bernardino until the Hillside fire in 2019 destroyed her home.” • “McKenna, who has been living on the beach, is a truck driver from Chicago but lost his license to a DUI.” (a caption) • Michael Freeman, 19, hummed quietly as he packed up his tent and belongings. Originally from New Orleans,” • Originally from the San Fernando Valley, he has been homeless for three years and on the beach in Venice for the last couple of weeks.” Mike Bonin claims we can’t clear the homeless from Venice to be far from where they were living and away from their family and friends…What city does Bonin work for? Kris Dahlin Venice

Sun setting into the Santa Monica mountains from Venice Beach. threat. I might have been hurt, and badly, by that knife-wielding man had I not shown him I was willing to defend myself. Hopefully I will never have to fill someone’s eyes with burning pepper. But the innocent have to right to self-defense. I know of many these days who carry guns for protection. I feel safe walking the streets and taking public transportation know I have nonlethal but effective protection

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C O M M U N I T Y

Celebration of Venice First annual Venice Beach Summer Sports Day kicks off on Aug. 21 COURTESY OF VENICE PAPARAZZI

By Kamala Kirk In conjunction with City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, Venice Beach Recreation Center, and L.A. City Council District 11, Team Venice Beach and Venice Paparazzi have announced the First Annual Venice Beach Summer Sports Day on Saturday, Aug. 21. The event is fully sponsored by Councilman Mike Bonin and will be held at the newly cleaned and upgraded Venice Beach Recreation Center. It starts at 8 a.m. with a group stretch followed by a community 5k, then on to a full day of sports, fitness and wellness. “I am looking forward to a fun and sun-filled day of folks playing sports in the park, just like it should be,” said Alex Stowell, co-founder of Venice Paparazzi. “The Venice Beach Rec Center has been cleaned and upgraded, and as both a Venetian and an event organizer, I am stoked to be having over 20

The First Annual Venice Beach Summer Sports Day will kick off on Saturday, Aug. 21 at the upgraded Venice Beach Recreation Center. different sports and fitness groups come down and participate in the first annual Venice

PAGE 6 THE ARGONAUT AUGUST 19, 2021

Sports Day. A big fist bump to the staff at LA Rec and Parks, Venice Beach Rec Center and

CD11 for collaborating with me on this!” The full day will feature free

sporting activities, games, contests, clinics, demos and more including skateboarding, roller skating, pickle ball, soccer, arts and crafts, hula hooping, sound bath, food trucks, a Venice Paparazzi photo booth, and more. It is a pet-friendly event. Come early for street parking or park at the South City Parking Lot. “Venice, greater Los Angeles, and beyond will enjoy a free action-packed day of healthy activities, recreation, sports, fitness, community and more,” Stowell said. “And, after all the Covid madness, what a fantastic way to celebrate and enjoy yourself, as well as the great outdoors.” Venice Beach Recreation Center 1800 Ocean Front Walk, Venice 310-396-6764 teamvenicebeach.com

B U S I N E S S

New Branch City National Bank opens location in downtown Santa Monica Santa Monica draws more than 8 million visitors a year, and we’re excited to support our clients as they drive activity in the area.” Jennifer Rueda, senior vice president and group branch manager with City National’s Personal & Business Banking Division, has been chosen to lead both Santa Monica locations. Rueda is based in Santa Monica and works directly with clients and colleagues to deliver personalized service to entrepreneurs, professionals, business owners and their families. The branches are opening in line with the latest state and local pandemic requirements, and all are following health and safety best practices. With $83.4 billion in assets, City National Bank provides banking, investment and trust services through locations in Southern California, the San Francisco Bay Area, Nevada, New York City, Nashville, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Washing-

COURTESY OF CITY NATIONAL BANK

By Kamala Kirk As part of its continued growth in 2021, City National Bank opened a new office in downtown Santa Monica in addition to downtown Los Angeles on Bunker Hill. Since the start of the pandemic, the bank has opened seven new branches, including five on the East Coast in 2020. This marks the bank’s second Santa Monica location. The first, located in the Water Garden on 26th Street, reopened on July 12 after it was remodeled during the pandemic. “It was important for us to have a presence in downtown Santa Monica and be part of the walkable downtown core that the city is developing,” said Erich Klein, senior vice president and head of branch strategy and innovation at City National Bank. “We especially wanted to build our presence there so we could better serve small businesses, entrepreneurs and other professionals as the economy reopens.

City National Bank has opened a new office in downtown Santa Monica to better serve small businesses, entrepreneurs and other professionals. ton, D.C., and Miami. In addition, the company and its investment affiliates manage or administer $93.2 billion in client investment assets. “These new and renovated branches in downtown LA and

Santa Monica are a symbol of City National’s commitment to providing clients with premier banking services and experiences,” said Scott Witter, executive vice president and head of Personal & Business Banking

at City National Bank. “The bank was founded in this community more than 67 years ago, and we remain fully committed to serving the best interests of our clients and colleagues throughout Los Angeles.”

AUGUST 19, 2021 THE ARGONAUT PAGE 7

H E A L T H

Fitness on the Go Celebrity trainer Kit Rich makes working out accessible IMAGES COURTESY OF KIT RICH/KICHGO

By Sara Edwards Celebrity trainer and Santa Monica resident Kit Rich started out as a writer who worked as a waitress to make a living. But when she was waitressing, she wasn’t living a very healthy lifestyle. Because of her inconsistent work hours, she would eat out a lot and was too tired to work out or establish a fitness routine. She reached a point where she felt miserable, burnt out and wanted to change that. “I walked into a Pilates studio feeling like complete crap and the woman was like, ‘Hey, you’re an instructor, right?’” Rich said. “And the thing I learned about myself is that I was really good at (being an instructor).” Rich said it was the fact that she wasn’t a raging fitness fanatic that helped win her over to people looking to start a fitness routine because she could understand them and meet them at the fitness level they were at, something not easily found in

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many personal trainers. “What I have found in my many years of experience is that I make people feel very safe and comfortable, and I don’t make them feel bad for where they are at right now,” Rich said. “I solely focus on the health aspect which is feeling good and what happens to your body is just an added benefit.” As she started her journey to become a personal trainer and fitness professional, she quickly built herself a reputation, working with celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence and Kesha both at home and on international tours. Each time she traveled, she would throw some workout equipment into a bag to make it easier to transport around the world. On top of that, Rich’s clients would say they wished they could take her with them everywhere. “At first I would have to lug around a lot of really heavy equipment and it got really

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ArgonautNews.com challenging so eventually I just started throwing stuff in a bag,” Rich said. This sparked Rich’s idea to start her fitness company KICHGO, a virtual workout program using the equipment in a small twopound bag with the same fitness workouts she uses with her clients. “It was just an extension of me, it was a gym bag that weighs less than two pounds and comes with videos that are tailor made for the contents in the bag,” Kit said. “And the whole purpose of it is that it’s not supposed to be fancy. The best kind of fitness is one where you keep it simple.” Everything needed for Rich’s workouts come in a small white drawstring bag with foot sliders, two resistance bands, handle grips and resistance loops along with a door anchor and a KICHGO ball for Pilates. Customers can also purchase a subscription to KICHGO with workout videos and how to use the equipment for a fulfilling, challenging workout. Rich’s workouts have a multifaceted approach with her classes ranging from Pilates Fusion to stretches and full-body workouts.

“I needed to make sure that every item in the pack made sense so that I didn’t feel limited by it and I wanted to also make sure that I could do Pilates, which is why I put in a door anchor,” Rich said. “I needed these items in the back to be able to be used for any type of discipline and lightweight.” During the pandemic, Rich started uploading free workout videos on YouTube to help people stay fit and active while sheltering at home. She started receiving daily emails from people around the world and across the country thanking her for making her workouts accessible to those who may not have equipment or a place to develop a fitness routine. “YouTube just really put KICHGO out there and it was cool to know that I was actually impacting someone’s life from across the world,” Rich said. “My goal is to keep producing videos either on YouTube or for my website so that people can use them, feel inspired and have me as a part of their daily lives.” kichgo.com

Rich founded her fitness company KICHGO, a virtual workout program using the equipment in a small two-pound bag with the same fitness workouts she uses with her clients.

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By Sara Edwards Lobster is a magic word and ingredient in the culinary industry and it always stirs the creative spirit of chefs and cooks. Chef Marcus Roberto of Sampa’s Pizza Cafe in Marina del Rey had just obtained a liquor license for his business and wanted to find a proper way to celebrate this milestone in his restaurant’s story. Sampa’s Pizza Cafe is having its own Summer Lobster Festival menu items with the debut of its new lobster pizza and pasta dishes. “Lobster is such a great ingredient and people are always curious about it,” Roberto said. “So we decided to do a lobster pizza and pasta for the summer and see how it goes. People are very impressed.”

Sampa’s lobster pizza uses a champagne sauce topped with mozzarella cheese and large chunks of lobster mixed with Italian Gremolata sauce and arugula to balance out the flavors of the lobster. Their summer menu also includes a lobster pasta entree, a fettuccine pasta dish tossed in champagne sauce and topped with large chunks of lobster and Italian gremolata sauce. “The lemon zest, garlic, parsley and lemon juice breaks down the flavor in your palate and the combination is unbelievable,” Roberto said. “Lobster and champagne go really well together so I created this lobster sauce for the pizza and it came out really good.” Roberto is an award-winning pizza chef who won first place

in Best Brazilian Pizza Chef of the World twice and top five Best Overall Pizza Chef of the World in 2019 at the World Pizza Championship in Parma, Italy. He earned his Pizza Chef Diploma from Balisco Academy in Italy and also attended the School of Hospitality and Tourism of Sao Paulo, also known as the “Pizza Capital of the World” because it eats the most pizza next to New York. Sao Paulo also has one of the largest number of Italian immigrants in the world which has earned it the reputation of having the most tasteful pizzas in the world. Roberto wanted to bring those flavors to Los Angeles and opened his first Sampa’s Pizza Cafe in Lomita in 2017. He

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The café is kicking off its Summer Lobster Festival with new handcrafted menu items from world champion pizza chef Marcus Roberto. opened his second location in Marina del Rey opened the same day one year later and was voted best pizza shop by The Argonaut. Roberto fuses the tastes of his Brazilian roots with Italian influences and techniques and a California twist to create pizza’s that burst with flavor and switch up classic pizza flavors. Sampa Pizza Cafe serves traditional pizzas like the Marguerita, meat lovers and Hawaiian, but the real palate-changers are the Brazilian specialty pizzas. The Sao Paulo starts with a layer of fresh tomato sauce and topped with chicken, corn and catupiry — a special blend of cheese imported from Brazil-

and cheese while the Portuguesa is topped with ham, onions, hard-boiled eggs, olives and cheese. Roberto will be competing in a pizzamaking competition from August 17 to 19 in Las Vegas. He competed at this competition previously in 2018 where he won Best Pizza Chef outside of Italy and came in 50th place out of 800 chefs from 42 different countries. “Basically I treat the pizza as a bread and with my ingredients, I want to take this person back to a simpler time and make them happy,” Roberto said. sampaspizza.com

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C O V E R

S T O R Y

Birds in the Moon Intimate opera to take flight in Santa Monica PHOTO CREDITS: DEBORAH O’GRADY

By Bridgette M. Redman Austin Spangler is no stranger to opera, having worked on the world’s biggest outdoor opera festival in Austria, the Royal Opera House and the LA Opera. So, he knows what he speaks of when he says that “Birds in the Moon,” the outdoor chamber opera coming to Santa Monica Sept. 1 to 4, is one of the most groundbreaking pieces of theater and storytelling he’s ever known. “I do not know of any other opera or theater that is as exciting and as accessible, written by some incredibly, incredibly talented people here and now,” Spangler said. “This isn’t an old tale of a bygone era, this is dealing with issues now in a way that is excellently delivered.” “Birds in the Moon” is a mobile, theatrical chamber orchestra getting its West Coast premiere on Santa Monica’s Lot 27, supported by Santa Monica’s Art of Recovery grants. What sets it apart from other operas? There are only two actors and a quartet of musicians. The opera, created by Mark Grey and Julia Canosa i Serra and directed by Elkhanah Pulitzer, is performed in a shipping container, one designed and built by Chad Owens. There is a mix of sung and spoken word and it is done without a conductor.

The story

“Birds in the Moon” is a new chamber opera that marks the return of live performances for The Broad Stage since the pandemic. PAGE 12 THE ARGONAUT AUGUST 19, 2021

Maria Elena Altany said the story and libretto immediately moved her when she was asked to be the Bird Mother. “I get very intense about characters I sing,” Altany said. “This story really hits me hard as a Latinese woman, as a mother. It’s about migration and family separation and climate change and how the harm we inflict on others comes back to us.” Altany is the Bird Mother and Spangler is the Ringmaster and together they tell a story about migration and a search for a better world. It was inspired by a 17th century theory by Charles Morton that birds migrated to the moon, spent their winter there and came back to Earth where they would remain for the season. Some would come back, and others would be lost in space. In this intimate opera, a tired Bird Mother lands in a remote desert location looking for shelter and water for herself and

her child. It is there she meets up with an aging circus Ringmaster and his traveling musicians. The Ringmaster sells fake trips to the moon. The Bird Mother wants to teach her child how to get there, but she’s never been herself. Both want to escape the desert and they make a pact that leaves them forever changed. “Before COVID, Júlia Canosa i Serra and I began to think about developing a song cycle for a mezzo-soprano and a small ensemble that touched on some kind of social and political subject,” Grey said. “The Syrian refugee crisis was in the news, so we were thinking about migration as well as thinking about human trafficking, what happens at our southern border and families trying to send their children to a better place. It is a poignant subject, and we wanted to bring a subtlety to the message.” Pulitzer said they drew from magical realism and the idea of the moon as a utopia. “The spiritual component is not unlike Samuel Beckett, and the Bird Mother takes on resonances with Buddha or Jesus — a shamanistic character providing a deeper promise through her own suffering and sacrifice,” Pulitzer said.

The characters

For Altany, who has been closely following the crisis at the border, the story responds to compelling ethical questions that society struggles with. “I’ve been given the opportunity to sing and voice the mother and not make her a Virgin Mary, but a person and a creature of nature who has her own power and her own voice and makes her own decisions,” Altany said. “She makes these brutal choices and feels the results of them. I told the team it meant a lot to me and would want to do it if we did it with the utmost respect for the people who are really living this situation. Every day we were reflecting on her power and her vulnerability and her choices and really making her real and not just mythic.” Like the Bird Mother, Altany is a new mother, one who has raised her child while isolated at home because of the worldwide pandemic. She understands the intensity, stress and anxiety of a parent trying to do what is best for a child, though she says she can’t imagine what it must be like to face the kind of migrant

ArgonautNews.com literally contains its own sound system so that it is able to tour and move,” Altany said. “The speakers are crazy small. It has been amazing the feedback from the audience. They can hear the picattos, the small, quiet sounds.” When they did their first dress rehearsal in Berkeley in the Meyer Sounds parking lot, it was across from a busy supermarket and the I-80 Freeway. Her parents came to see it and her father was complaining that they wouldn’t be able to hear a single thing. Afterward, he admitted they were able to hear everything. “(Meyer) wanted to test out this smaller touring setup that you can control on a board and two iPads and that is it. It’s really amazing,” Altany said.

An experience The opera, which takes place outdoors in a shipping container, is drawn from a whimsical 17th century theory that birds migrated to the moon, spend their winter there and came back to earth where they would remain for the season. situations people are put through in the U.S. “I know as parents we try to stay as strong as possible in the moment of big decisions and high stress and feel our feelings later, but of course the Bird Mother’s feelings are there every moment, even when she’s just fighting,” Altany said. “I love the moments in our show where she gets to make music and find the joy and agency through that.” Spangler loves the scope and size of the opera. He said it was easy in Austria with hundreds of people on stage to lose connection, but “Birds in the Moon” allows for an intimate connection, one that he said challenges the concept of theater and the fourth wall. The Ringmaster stops short of being evil, but Spangler says he has elements of the nefarious. The character’s realities are grounded in things that Spangler believes many people will relate to: home, making money, the idea of being famous, the idea of success. “He chases so many modern illusions, well, not modern, we’ve had them for thousands of years,” Spangler said of the Ringmaster. “Spoiler alert: Things don’t necessarily go that well for him. He’s a wonderful foil compared to the Bird Mother. She blows me away every time. She’s everything that

I’m not. She’s magical, majestic — all the wonderful adjectives you could use across the board and I’m very much the opposite.” Altany said it’s amazing to work with Spangler. “I get to sing and he has to do all the hard work where he is climbing everything and jumping,” Altany said. “He holds the whole show together so I can just sing.” Both performers praise how the opera’s creators gave their characters complex layers and motivations. Spangler said the Ringmaster asks questions that the audience needs to ask about society in general. “That balance on stage in the storytelling — the male and the female, the Ringmaster and the Bird Mother — is so different,” Spangler said. “It creates energy and excitement. It is beautifully written and the Ringmaster isn’t necessarily the nicest guy.” It’s a character he finds challenging to play and Spangler admitted that he doesn’t always like him. He’s an isolated character dealing with mental health issues from suicide to alcoholism to depression. Many of the struggles have been part of the actor’s personal journey and he brings to the conversation a reality that infuses the character. He said he works with Grey and Owens on how to personify these experiences.

“I have experience in these realms and I can very much live it in that way,” Spangler said. “Sometimes it is not pleasurable and I don’t like it, but it is important to deal with and for us to talk about and have the conversation. What I like is he is created in a way that families can come and hopefully people can talk about what is going on.” He said some people are instantly able to relate to Ringmaster whereas others have no idea what is happening with him but are intrigued and want to find out more.

The stage

The story takes place on a traveling, magic box that Owens created as a fully transformable, self-contained, state-of-the-art shipping container. It opens to create a stage with an LED screen, lights and a Meyer sound system and the top pops up to offer another playing area. They rehearsed in San Francisco and performed in Brooklyn. Altany said the stage allowed for incredible, exhilarating moments. “Looking over the San Francisco Bay and looking over the New York Harbor — there is a moment I stand on the top of the stage and sing to the wind and the water,” Altany said. “Then I’m going to get to do it to the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica.” While COVID-19 sent many

works outdoors, “Birds in the Moon” was always intended to play outside. “Being outside is an intrinsic part of the story,” Spangler said. “The story is set outside. Inside just couldn’t do the story justice.” Pulitzer explained that the shipping container is able to turn into a kind of traveling circus that reaches many different communities and audiences and provides the fantasy of performing in in the desert. Owens, who has worked extensively on Broadway as a designer and for such companies as the Washington National Opera, the Lyric Opera of Kansas City and the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival among others, has a background in custom wood and metal fabrication, fabric work, painting, drawing, and site-specific installations. He’s designed sets and been an art director for major motion pictures and television. They’re all talents he has brought to bear in creating this stage and designing this set. One of the initial sponsors was Meyer Sound and DPA Microphones. Meyer usually works with large arenas, creating speakers for rock bands such as Metallica. But they wanted to experiment with something small and got the opportunity with “Birds in the Moon.” “The shipping container

Both actors are eager to bring the show to Santa Monica, as both now call Los Angeles home. They praise the way the natural environment interacts with the opera. They shared a story of how during one performance, a night heron joined them. It sat on stage with the actors and stayed until after the show was over. “That couldn’t happen indoors,” Spangler said. “We can’t take credit for it, but it is part of the adventure, the experience of storytelling on stage.” The show, which lasts 70 minutes, combines music, spoken characters, and video projections in an innovative manner that the creators designed to be accessible to modern audiences. “People come away feeling a sense of enjoyment or love,” Spangler said. “It’s wonderful to see who turns up — children and people who have never seen opera before. It’s not elitist in any way.” It is a performance they will hope uplifts their audience and instills in them a new commitment to opera as a modern, living art. What: “Birds in the Moon,” a new chamber opera, 70 minutes, in English Where: Outdoors in Santa Monica’s Lot 27, at the corner of Arizona and 5th Street When: 7 p.m. Sept. 1-4 thebroadstage.org 310-434-3200

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Educational Milestone Santa Monica’s Pluralistic School 1 celebrates 50 years

(Continued on page 16)

PHOTO CREDIT: MARISSA ROSEILLIER

By Andres de Ocampo Pluralistic School 1 (PS1), a Santa Monica-based private elementary school, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this fall. The school, which serves grades K-6, offers a unique and impactful approach to education, which they call pluralism. PS1 “nurtures children’s social-emotional development, creativity and interconnectedness using pluralism as both the goal and the method,” according to their website. Joel Pelcyger, PS1’s founder and head of school, explained that the idea of the school was birthed in 1970, in collaboration with Eleanor Coben and Mel Suhd, after questioning the traditional school system in America and wanting to change the way children were schooled. In 1971, PS1 opened with six students and twelve teachers. Twenty-eight students enrolled by 1972 and in 1975 PS1 settled in their permanent location on Euclid Street in Santa Monica. “My path (in education) was to start our Independent K-6 school Pluralistic School 1 (PS1) in Santa Monica is celebrating 50 years in education this fall.

An Education Embracing Discovery, Inspiration, and Innovation By Westside Neighborhood School Westside Neighborhood School is a leading independent school for PS-8th grade students in the heart of Silicon Beach. WNS believes community is the foundation for nurturing innovative and creative thinking. Every day, we create meaningful opportunities for students of diverse backgrounds to collaborate and learn from each other. Our shared future benefits from their informed compassion. The school’s program is built on four pillars: Academic Excellence; Character; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; and Community. Faculty members model what they teach: respect and responsibility, love of teaching and joy of learning, sense of humor, open communication, and teamwork. Students are encouraged to be creative, independent, and self-disciplined. We believe in the importance of fostering resilience in our students and value perseverance, effort, and learning from our mistakes. WNS students understand the importance of community while respecting individual differences. Our goal is to instill in our students a love of learning, cultural sensitivity, and a deep understanding of our world both in and outside the classroom. WNS is getting ready to safely welcome all students back to in-person instruction for the 2021-22 school year in accordance with local guidelines. For more information regarding our Return to School Plan, we invite you to visit our website. To learn more about WNS and the admission process, visit wns-la.org ADVERTORIAL PAGE 14 ARTS & EDUCATION - AUGUST 19, 2021

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EDUCATIONAL MILESTONE (Continued from Page 14)

own school,” he said. “Sometimes schools are named after the street they’re on or the person that started it; ours is based on an idea. With the questions ‘How do you make society a better place?” and ‘How do you make life better for each child?’ in mind… you build on those ideas and out comes the school.” “E pluribus unum,” a Latin phrase and the nation’s motto meaning “out of many, one,” is the inspiration for PS1’s name and, coupled with a vision to change schooling for children, provides a unique cornerstone for the school. Pelcyger explained how the Latin phrase ties into the school’s philosophy of pluralism: “You start realizing everybody’s different. It’s the differences among us that are the most interesting, it’s not how we are the same as everybody else. It’s the uniqueness of each

being, that our backgrounds are different from each other. The idea of pluralism is, ‘Out of many,’ or recognizing our differences, and ‘one,’ what can we build together.” John Waldman, a 26-year PS1 teacher who has the unique experience of teaching both of his children when they were in 5th grade, says that PS1 is about helping with the development of the students alongside teaching them. “When this job became available to me, I thought that this job is what my philosophy of education is, which is speaking to the individual and helping to develop the individual to be a part of the community,” Waldman said. Pelcyger elaborated on how PS1 strives to make an impact on their students, which speaks to their philosophy, by making them feel like they matter. “You have to start by making everyone feel empowered, like they make a

difference,” he said. “If you have that idea in mind and you work towards it, then pluralism can happen.” The idea of pluralism manifests itself in many ways at PS1, according to Pelcyger, in students and the teaching staff. For students, it might be that during circle time they might talk with their classmates about what it means to be different or what they are proud of about themselves. For staff, pluralism shows in their teaching and their evaluations. Before writing an evaluation, all teachers must first discuss what they honor, value and cherish about each student, Pelcyger said. There are no grades given to students at PS1, and from a teacher’s perspective, Waldman explained PS1’s no-grade approach to educatio: “In a graded environment, the grade often becomes the end all or be all. It becomes defining

and, in that environment, a child can perceive themselves to be something, and it can be inhibiting. At PS1, that’s not our perspective.” Though there are metrics for student evaluations from teachers, Pelcyger said he believes that elementary school is more about engagement, expressing yourself, being open to opnions of others and developing critical thinking. Performance and achievement have a place in elementary school, along with meeting academic goals, but it should start later, he said. “It makes you step back and think that it’s more than reading, writing and arithmetic. It’s more than a project that students work on,” Pelcyger said. “Those things are important but, in the end, it’s about who the students are as a person and what they’re going to take from this (Continued on page 18) PHOTOS CREDIT: MARISSA ROSEILLIER

The school offers a unique and impactful approach to education, which they call pluralism, that nurtures children’s social-emotional development, creativity and interconnectedness using pluralism as both the goal and the method. PAGE 16 ARTS & EDUCATION - AUGUST 19, 2021

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At PS1, children grown up in—and help shape—an exceptionally joyful, empathetic, dynamic learning Located in the heart of Santa Monica, PS1 Pluralistic School is a coeducational day school for children in grades K-6. At PS1, pluralism is our highest aspiration—for our children and our world. It also describes our methods for achieving that goal. The school’s name intentionally echoes our nation’s motto, E pluribus unum: Out of many, one. As our students master essential skills and knowledge, we ensure they understand themselves as individual learners and human beings, and as members of numerous larger communities. Why does pluralism matter? By attending to each child as a unique and valued individual, we build a kind, cooperative, dynamic learning community that models the larger world as we think it can and should be: one that considers, honors, and welcomes every person, so all can joyfully contribute their best selves to the greater good. When your child spends their earliest years in this carefully designed educational environment, they step forth prepared and energized to put their values into practice wherever they go. Today, we need such delightful, dedicated, effective thinkers and citizens more than ever.

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EDUCATIONAL MILESTONE PHOTO CREDIT: MARISSA ROSEILLIER

(Continued from Page 16)

school when they go on in life.” Richard Turner, whose daughter attends PS1, recalled a time when everything was academically well with his daughter, but that she was quiet and observant and he wanted her “to advocate for herself. After some discussion with teachers and Pelcyger, they suggested to Turner that his daughter should join the student council to find her voice. “It was out-of-the-box thinking,” Turner said. “She got to meet other friends and she felt like she was doing something to help the school and she found her voice in the process.” The 50th anniversary and upcoming events the school has planned are exciting for everyone involved in the PS1 community, with the biggest events being held in April and May. The plans for the anniversary include bringing alumni back to the school to see their classmates and organizing the events by decade, which coincides with who students might have known during their time at PS1. There will also be a speaker series where PS1 will bring in people from different backgrounds to talk about pluralism in their career field and how pluralism comes together and plays a role in their thinking. Pelcyger encourages

Joel Pelcyger is PS1’s founder and head of school.

people to visit the PS1 website for updates and more information. Coupled with the 50-year anniversary, PS1 will be going through another big change in 2023 when Pelcyger will retire from being the head of the school. “It feels good,” Pelcyger said. “PS1 has always been my baby, but my baby is 50 years old…Something that I’ve been able to give the school through the years is stability and I think that the school will continue to have consistency and stability. The people who will run PS1 will make it better.” Pelcyger said that he is optimistic for the future of PS1 and that he embraces the future changes and evolution that the school will go through. Waldman’s perspective as a teacher is a hopeful one and he has confidence that the PS1 community will carry on the essence of the school navigate changes accordingly. “The essence of the school is not going to change because people are here for of the essence of the school,” he said. “Be excited by the prospect of change. [Joel’s retirement] is not going to change who PS1 is fundamentally but expect that who we become is going to speak to the needs of the children and families in the future.”

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The First 50 Author’s memoir helps to normalize sexuality CREDIT: AZZURRO MALLIN

By Srianthi Perera A therapy cult encouraged Natascia Mallin to erase her personal history. But, to the advantage of those who would benefit from a scintillating and honest read into female sexuality, she did not. She came out of the cult, named The Intimacy Project, after four years. It also initiated just the opposite effect: rather than forgetting her history, she dug into it. The result is her memoir, “The First 50: A Saga of Backseats, Bedrooms, Lookout Points, and Dive Bars,” published by Rare Bird Books and available on Amazon. Mallin, a Jewish ItalianAmerican born and raised on the Westside of Los Angeles who is now a resident of Mexico City, pulls no punches in her debut. It outlines 50 erotic encounters that took place between the ages of 13 and 33. She’s 36. Her writing is daring, engaging and passionate, just like her adventures. The chapters delve into her lovers in chronological order, painting them in broad brushstrokes but containing just enough color to understand them. In chapter one, Mallin describes a foray into a steam shower with her first lover: “Engulfed in clandestine embrace, flexing in discovery, 14-year-old Natascia dissipated into expensive vapor and the newness of passion. There was no age. No time. No law. There was only Ricky and the beating rapture of zest. Hours went by. A lifetime. I don’t know. It could have been forever for all I cared, but eventually the water ran cold, and infinity ended. Ricky wrapped me up in a million-thread count, prerevolution Egyptian cotton towel and ushered me into David’s brother’s room and onto David’s brother’s bed. At the end of the quick sexual act, the teen had a recurring thought: “He didn’t ask.” The intimate happenings with equally fleeting other beaus include the surfer boys of Venice, camp friends, the young men she met in the extravagant parties held in

Mallin is a Jewish Italian-American writer who, after spending four years in a cult, broke ties with the leader and began writing as an experiment to see how much of her past she could still remember.

PAGE 20 THE ARGONAUT AUGUST 19, 2021

ArgonautNews.com

CREDIT: MATEO PIZARRO

Natascia Mallin’s literary debut “The First 50” is about 50 erotic encounters that took place between the ages of 13 and 33 in her native Los Angeles, from the surfer boys of Venice to mansions in Santa Monica. Santa Monica mansions and fellow classmates at college. Mallin, who is a cis-gendered queer female, said she wrote “The First 50” to normalize female sexuality. “I am tired of the current conversation in which women are either hyper-sexualized through advertisements, pornography, and Kardashianesque sensationalism, or else they’re victimized in news stories of exploitation, exposés of sexual abuse, and progressive sociopolitical commentary that focuses on rape culture and survival,” she said. “More than half of the human population is perpetually subjected to this dualistic view of its core erotic nature, and yet, shockingly, we are capable of having myriad experiences as human beings despite our not being male.” The author wants to give voice to little girls growing up in this “false narrative” whose

lives, experiences, feelings and thoughts are relegated to the scenery, discredited as secondary and ignored the moment they are gendered as “other.” The book is aimed toward men as well. “I wrote this book for all the men who categorize stories that don’t have a male protagonist as ‘Chick Lit,’ and thus subject themselves to blind ignorance by limiting their knowledge of the human experience to only those things relatable to their own phallic nature,” she said. Mallin’s frank memoir came into being because of an obsession with documenting life. She wrote down or filed away “every personal emotional epiphany scribbled on a napkin, every vivid dream I woke up with, every love letter I’ve ever stayed up all night to write.” She has journals worth of poems, angry rants and short stories. She has about six years’

worth of daily diaries and countless lists that range from groceries and Christmas presents to people she’s slept with. “I never threw anything away and was obsessed with the notion that one day I would make all of it matter,” Mallin said. Mallin joined The Intimacy Project in 2010. Cult members were encouraged to take a sincere look at how they formed all of their ideas ranging from family, to friendships, to physical health, to power and analyze them in minute detail in order to discover whether they were a reflection of our “authentic self” or were just an idea we had unwittingly adopted through social conditioning. “I was highly encouraged to abandon my constant documentation in order to “erase my personal history” and free myself from the prison of my mind,” she reflected. “Not only did I agree to stop one of the most authentic disciplines of my life, I even went so far as to label each journal, relic, piece of paper, etc. with a brief description of what it was and what symbolic value I’d “idiotically” assigned to it in preparation for a ceremony in which I would systematically burn all of it. Thank God the veil was lifted before I actually did that and I left the cult for good.” One day, Mallin wondered if she had forgotten everyone she had slept with as a result of trying to erase her personal history. “I busted out a piece of paper and wrote “Chapter One” and the rest flowed like honey,” she said. With the encouragement of her lawyer and her father, Mallin changed the names of her lovers. “At first I was stubbornly committed to using everyone’s real name. I have very strong feelings about holding people accountable to their predatory abusive behaviors,” she said. But the ironic injustice of being sued didn’t seem worth it. “I think it would take an inhuman lack of self-awareness for someone not to recognize themself in the stories,” she noted. Mallin moved to Florence, Italy when she was 17, but ran out of money “pretty quickly,” so she returned and enrolled at Santa Monica College. Later,

she moved to Oakland and finished her undergraduate degree at Mills College, “just in time for the Great Recession.” She has some acting chops under her belt, but most of her bills are paid by working in restaurants, as a caterer, private chef and nanny. Her current — and greatest — passions are traveling, food and talking to people. Her dream is to be an Anthony Bourdain, the travel journalist who wandered in many lands meeting people and observing their ways. Mallin plans to follow “The First 50” with an illustrated children’s book for adults that deals with alcoholism and emotional abuse and a novel influenced by her time as a nanny. Just now, her first publication takes center stage. “I would have killed for a book like this growing up,” Mallin said. “A book that

helped me make sense of everything that was happening to me sexually; that I participated in, agreed to and committed. When she was growing up, there were few female narratives that didn’t exalt monogamous “true love” as the ultimate achievement and objective of a fully realized woman. “My greatest hope is that someone who is completely lost in the maelstrom of conditioned romantic relating gets a hold of this book and it offers them a moment of rest and comfort from the abyss of amorous oblivion,” Mallin said. “That and HBO, Netflix, Hulu and FX launch themselves into a bidding war over the rights to it.” “The First 50” published by Rare Bird Books is available as a paperback ($20) and on Kindle ($14.99) on Amazon. com starting August 24.

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Celebrating the Arts The city of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs is accepting applications applicants should forecast matching funds of at least 1:1. Examples of eligible projects include: arts business/networking activities; culture/history presentations; dance concerts or classes; design/visual art exhibitions or museum projects; literature or publishing projects; media activities or presentations; music concerts or classes; outdoor festivals or parades in one public street or public area over one day or one weekend; theatrical workshops or productions; traditional/folk arts activities or presentations; and/ or multi-disciplinary arts activities. “Our cultural grants program supports creative projects that reflect the core values of the Department of Cultural Affairs: inclusion, diversity, equity, excellence and access,” said Danielle Brazell, the department’s general manager. “Through these vital partnerships with local organizations, we deliver world-class arts and cultural experiences throughout the year that activate and engage our residents and visitors in neighborhoods all across Los Angeles.” As a leading progressive arts and cultural agency, the department empowers LA’s vibrant communities by supporting and providing access to quality visual, literary, musical, performing and educational arts programming; managing vital cultural centers; preserving historic sites; creating public art;

COURTESY PHOTO

By Kamala Kirk The city of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs released its 2022-23 Cultural Grants Program Guidelines for nonprofit organizations and festival producers seeking grant support for free and/or low-cost cultural events to take place between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023. All proposed cultural activities should be easily accessible for targeted communities or general audiences of city of Los Angeles residents, visitors and tourists. Eligibility and scoring are described for proposals in various art disciplines with a special emphasis this year on projects in culture/history, design/visual arts, literary arts, media arts, outdoor festivals/ parades, traditional/folk arts, and field advocacy and sector learning. With this request for proposals, the department seeks to invest in a variety of expertly produced, creatively disbursed and socially relevant projects that may take the form of participatory workshops and/or engaged demonstrations; include fulltime, part-time, seasonal or occasional jobs for artists and art-event coordinators; and have both broad marketing and measurable impacts. The proposed projects should be aligned with the applicant’s mission, history and a defined public purpose. Project budgets should be estimated as public/ private partnerships for which

COURTESY PHOTO

The Industry, Carmina Escobar performing “Sweet Land.”

Floricanto Dance Theatre. PAGE 22 THE ARGONAUT AUGUST 19, 2021

and funding services provided by arts organizations and individual artists. Formed in 1925, the department promotes arts and culture as a way to ignite a powerful dialogue, engage LA’s residents and visitors, and ensure LA’s varied cultures are recognized, acknowledged and experienced. The department’s mission is to strengthen the quality of life in LA by stimulating and support-

ing arts and cultural activities, ensuring public access to the arts for residents and visitors. A series of free online webinars and in-person workshops provide assistance to potential applicants. Webinar space is limited to 30 participants and RSVPs are required at least two business days in advance. The calendar of webinars and workshops, and instructions to

register are at bit.ly/DCAgrants. Guidelines and instructions for DCA’s 2022-2023 Cultural Grants Program can be found at culturela.org. The deadline for online submission of application materials is 11:59 p.m. Friday, August 27. For more information, contact DCA’s Grants Administration Division at dca.grants@lacity. org.

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In Escrow 7921 Kentwood Ave, Westchester 5 bed | 5 bath | $2,995,000 Traditional Home With Pool

Just Sold 3307 S. Bentley Ave, Westdale 3 bed | 2 bath | $2,195,000 Mid-Century Pool Home

FIND YOUR PLACE Stephanie Younger Group 310.499.2020 | DRE 01365696 stephanieyounger.com | @stephanieyoungergroup Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01991628. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footage are approximate. If your property is currently listed for sale this is not a solicitation.

AUGUST 19, 2021 AT HOME – THE ARGONAUT’S REAL ESTATE SECTION PAGE 23

Buying or selling beach-front real estate?

Thank You to Everyone Who Nominated Us for “Best Real Estate Team”!

Era Matilla rEalty 225 CulvEr Blvd. Playa dEl rEy

The Argonaut has you covered.

Era Matil 225 Culv Playa

Broker assoc. Manager BrE#01439943 BrE#1323411

TOM CORTE, MANAGER BRE#1323411

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Era Matilla rEalty 225 CulvEr Blvd. Playa dEl rEy

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rE#1323411

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Call Rebecca Bermudez at 310-463-0633 or rebecca@argonautnews.com

Serving the Westside/Beach Home Sellers & Buyers Since 2001

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225 CULVER BLVD., PLAYA DEL REY Era Matilla rEalty 225 CulvEr Blvd. Playa dEl rEy

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THE ARGONAUT REAL ESTATE BUSINESS NEWS

Here’s What to Know Before You Buy a House with a Pool If you’re in the market for a new home, you might think a pool sounds like a great idea. Pools are in high demand right now—so much so that pool contractors have waiting lists and there’s a shortage of maintenance items like chlorine.

lot of fun to look outside and see your pool or have a view of the water from your deck. For many people, the view of water in any form, including a pool, is relaxing.

Is pool ownership all it’s cracked up to be? It can be, but you need to be prepared.

There are a lot of instances where having a pool can increase the value of your home. This is especially true if you live somewhere with a warm climate. In places like Arizona and Florida, having a pool is practically seen as a necessity.

What Are the Pros of Having a Pool? We’ll cover some of the perks of a home with a pool before getting into the downsides. It May Improve Your Quality of Life A pool can be a lot of fun, and having one at home can improve your quality of life. You might use it for exercising, and it gives you a good excuse to get outside more and take in vitamin D and fresh air. Many families with pools find that they enjoy time together, and you might be able to build your social life around having it. A Pool Can be Beautiful When you buy a home with a pool, it might be something you enjoy aesthetically. It’s a

Pools Can Increase Your Home’s Value

If you have a pool and your neighbors don’t and you ever want to sell, your property might be more in-demand or get more money than a nearby home without one. What Are the Cons of Having a Pool? Even if you’re excited about the potential of having a pool at home, there are some possible downsides you need to be well aware of. Are You Ready for the Cleaning and Maintenance? Some people actually like cleaning and maintaining their pool, but if you don’t think you’re going to be one of those people,

PAGE 24 AT HOME – THE ARGONAUT’S REAL ESTATE SECTION AUGUST 19, 2021

rethink buying a home with one. It can take several hours a week if you’re going to maintain your pool yourself. If you hire a pool service company, plan to spend anywhere from $50 to $150 a week.

need liability coverage, and this could increase your insurance rates. It Might Not Always Be a Good Thing for Resale

Safety

Another consideration is the fact that a pool might not always be a plus in the eyes of prospective buyers. It could actually end up limiting you if you wanted to sell your home.

If you buy a house with a pool, you have to make sure it meets existing codes and safety requirements. You might end up having to install a new fence or alarm.

Finally, what condition is the pool in if you’re buying an existing home? Is there a chance that when you move in, you might have to pay for major repairs or upgrades?

If you have children or pets, you also want to think about safety and how having a pool could affect your family in that regard.

Whether or not a pool is right for you is a personal decision, and it’s one you need to think about strategically rather than emotionally.

Along with the work required to clean and maintain a pool, you also have to pay for the supplies.

Your Insurance Costs May Go Up Your homeowner’s insurance will usually cover a pool as part of “other structures” in your policy. However, you could be held liable if someone is injured in a situation relating to your pool. Sometimes, because of that, a pool is referred to as an “attractive nuisance” in an insurance policy. That means you’ll

THIS WEEK’S CONTRIBUTION CAME FROM:

Bob & Cheryl Herrera, Professional Real Estate Services 310-306-5427 DRE: 00910858 DRE: 01332794

COMING SOON

Dramatic architectural designed by Michael Lee Architects

127 Via Marina, Marina Del Rey 4 Bed + 6 Bath + 4,588 Sq.Ft. + 600 Sq.Ft. 3 car garage + 719 Sq.Ft. of deck/patio space $8,999,000 127ViaMarina.com

FOR SALE

7612 Cowan Ave., Westchester 5 Bed | 6 Bath | 3,795 Sq. Ft. $2,799,000 7612Cowan.com

FOR SALE

13700 Marina Pointe Dr. #1503, Marina Del Rey 2 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 1,481 Sq.Ft. $1,699,000

IN ESCROW

6400 Pacific Ave. #311, Playa del Rey 2 Bed | 2 Bath + Den | 1,406 Sq.Ft. $1,350,000 6400Pacific311.com

FOR SALE

4215 Glencoe Ave. #229, Marina Del Rey 2 Bed | 2 Bath | 1,740 Sq. Ft. $1,099,000 4215Glencoe229.com

FOR SALE

2718 Forrester Dr., Cheviot Hills 6 Bed | 10 Bath | 4,874 Sq.Ft. Contemporary new construction $4,899,000

FOR SALE

7133 Ramsgate Ave., Westchester 10 units | 14,000 Sq. Ft. $1,999,000 7133Ramsgate.com

FOR SALE

13700 Marina Pointe Dr. #1404, Marina Del Rey 2 Bed | 2 Bath | 1,240 Sq. Ft. $1,649,000

COMING SOON

13218 Fiji Way #L, Marina Del Rey 3 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 1,582 Sq.Ft. $1,319,000

FOR SALE

13700 Marina Pointe Dr. #314, Marina Del Rey 1 Bed | 1 Bath | 946 Sq. Ft. $899,000 Azzurra314.com

COMING SOON

2026 Walnut Ave., Venice 4 Bed | 4 Bath | 3,100 Sq. Ft. $3,399,000

FOR SALE

7521 W. 89th St., Westchester 5 Bed | 4 Bath | 2,637 Sq.Ft. $1,899,000 752189th.com

FOR SALE

13600 Marina Pointe Dr. #1705, Marina Del Rey 2 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 1,900 Sq. Ft. $1,495,000 Regatta1705.com

COMING SOON

4215 Glencoe Ave. #412, Marina Del Rey 2 Bed | 2 Bath | 1,640 Sq. Ft. $1,169,000

FOR SALE

6400 Crescent Park #416, Playa Vista 2 Bed | 2 Bath | 1,000 Sq. Ft. $835,000 Waterstone416.com

FOR SALE OR LEASE

117 Ketch Mall, Marina Del Rey 4 Bed | 4.5 Bath | 4,010 Sq. Ft. 4 car garage & rooftop deck $3,249,000 or $12,950 /Month 117Ketch.com

FOR SALE

8515 Berger Ave., Playa Del Rey 3 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 2,261 Sq. Ft. $1,699,000 8515Berger.com

IN ESCROW

13078 Mindanao Way #301, Marina Del Rey 2 Bed | 2 Bath + Loft | 2,134 Sq. Ft. $1,425,000 13078Mindanao301.com

COMING SOON

4338 Redwood Ave. #B107, Marina Del Rey 2 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 1,929 Sq. Ft. $1,099,000

IN ESCROW

12963 Runway Rd. #214, Playa Vista 2 Bed | 2 Bath | 986 Sq. Ft. $829,000 Catalina214.com

JESSE WEINBERG AND ASSOCIATES DRE #01435805 This is not intended as a solicitation if your property is currently listed with another broker/agent. All data, including all measurements and calculations of area, is obtained from various sources and has not been, and will not be, verified by broker or MLS. Buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of all information through personal inspection and with appropriate professionals.

AUGUST 19, 2021 AT HOME – THE ARGONAUT’S REAL ESTATE SECTION PAGE 25

2021 Best of the West Nominee / Real Estate Team

Era Matilla rEalty 225 CulvEr Blvd. Playa dEl rEy

Manager BrE#1323411

Broker assoc. BrE#01439943

THE ARGONAUT PRESS RELEASES

NORTH KENTWOOD VIEWS

“Welcome to this 4BD/2.5BA home with an idyllic backyard,” says agent Stephanie Younger. “This pristine traditional home offers original 1950s charm with the updates of modern luxury including an open floor plan. The stunning expansive kitchen features a huge island, marble counters, walk-in pantry, and stainless-steel appliances. The upstairs great room sits at the top of the tree lines with open views of the city and mountains. The private master suite with direct access to the back yard boasts, large windows, and a luxurious spa-style bathroom with stacked stone accents and an oversized shower.” Offered at $1,899,000 Stephanie Younger Compass 310-499-2020

PLAYA DEL REY ENTERTAINER'S DELIGHT

“This 3BD/3BA home is light and bright space,” says agent Jesse Weinberg. “The attention to detail and many upgrades including crown molding, recessed lighting, hardwood floors, and high ceilings shine throughout. The open concept living area is graced by a beautiful stone fireplace and separate dining room perfect for an entertainer. The chef’s kitchen offers granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and breakfast nook. Entertain on a grand scale from your private wrap-around yard. This property also boasts an attached 2-car garage, is fully gated, and offers a large laundry room.” Offered at $1,699,000 Jesse Weinberg Jesse Weinberg & Associates 800-804-9132

Westside Farmers Market

DIRECTORY Where healthy food is always in season TUESDAYS

SATURDAYS

Culver City Farmers Market 2 to 7 p.m.

Marina del Rey 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Santa Monica Pico Farmers Market 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Via Marina at Panay Way, Marina del Rey

Virginia Avenue Park, 2200 Virginia Ave., Santa Monica

Main Street, between Venice and Culver boulevards

culvercity.org

WEDNESDAYS Santa Monica Downtown Farmers Market 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Arizona Avenue, between 4th St. and Ocean Ave.

smgov.net/portals/ farmersmarket

FRIDAYS Venice Farmers Market 7 to 11 a.m. 500 Venice Blvd. (at Venice Way), Venice

venicefarmersmarket.com

beaches.lacounty.gov/ mdrfarmersmarket

smgov.net/portals/farmersmarket

Playa Vista Farmers Market 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Mar Vista Farmers Market 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

12775 W. Millennium Drive, Runway at Playa Vista

Venice and Grand View boulevards

www.farmermark.com/ playavista Santa Monica Downtown Farmers Market 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Arizona Avenue, between 2nd and 4th streets, Santa Monica

smgov.net/portals/ farmersmarket

SUNDAYS

marvistafarmersmarket.org Santa Monica Main Street Farmers Market 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Heritage Square, 2640 Main St., Santa Monica

smgov.net/portals/farmersmarket/ Westchester Farmers Market 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Triangle, 6200 W. 87th St.

westchesterfarmersmkt.com

Farmers markets, essential for the health of local communities, remain open but are making some changes in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Expect to see wider spaces between vendors, no samples, more gloves, possible waiting lines, and other precautions. As always wear a mask and practice social distancing. PAGE 26 AT HOME – THE ARGONAUT’S REAL ESTATE SECTION AUGUST 19, 2021

“A healthy outside starts from the inside.” — Robert Urich

W E S T S I D E

H A P P E N I N G S

Compiled by Kamala Kirk fresco dining, free community activities and other fun experiences when the two blocks between Hill and Kinney streets transform into a car-free space. Visit the “Pop-up Park” near Ashland and Main for live music and free fitness classes! mainstreetsm.com

Friday, August 20 Annenberg Community Beach House Tour, Noon to 2 p.m. Santa Monica Conservancy docents will be on hand to share the rich history of the Beach House site from the 1920s into present day. The free 20-minute docent tours are available on a walk-up basis for individuals and groups of up to six people. Just head to the Marion Davies Guest House where you will be greeted by a docent. Please wear a mask as it is required at City of Santa Monica facilities. 415 Pacific Coast Hwy., Santa Monica Sizzling Summer Jazz Nights at RUNWAY, 5 to 8 p.m. Enjoy live music every Friday all summer long at RUNWAY Playa Vista. Grab a bite from one of their restaurants and enjoy seating at Town Center Drive! Every Friday from 5 to 8 p.m., June through August. 12775 W. Millennium, Playa Vista Marina Drive-In Summer Series, 5 to 10 p.m. Gather with your family and friends to watch movies on the big screen by the sea in Marina del Rey. The Los Angeles County Department of Beaches & Harbors presents Marina Drive-In Movie Nights at Parking Lot #2 Public Boat Launch. $20 per car admission plus service fee. visitmarinadelrey.com

Monday, August 23

Saturday, August 21 Marina del Rey Farmers Market, 8 to 9 a.m. (seniors), 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (general public) This weekly outdoor event allows Westside residents to support local produce sellers and other vendors. Food from a wide variety of businesses is available for purchase. Masks are required and only 40 people are allowed to shop at any one time. Held in parking lot 11 at 14101 Panay Way. More information is available at beaches.lacounty.gov/mdrfarmersmarket Venice Beach Summer Sports Day, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The City of LA Department of COURTESY OF VENICE BEACH PAPARAZZI

On Saturday, Aug. 21 the First Annual Venice Beach Summer Sports Day will kick off at the Venice Beach Recreation Center featuring a full day of free sporting activities, games, contests, clinics, demos and more.

Recreation & Parks, Venice Beach Recreation Center, LA City Council District 11, Team Venice Beach and Venice Paparazzi are excited to host the First Annual Venice Beach Summer Sports Day at the Venice Beach Recreation Center. Bring family and friends out to participate in free sports clinics and fitness activities. This event is fully sponsored by Councilman Mike Bonin. For more information, visit teamvenicebeach.com. 1800 Ocean Front Walk, Venice Sharing an Open Main Street, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Main Street’s Pedestrian Plaza returns for a weekend-long celebration of local businesses, al fresco dining, free community activities and other fun experiences when the two blocks between Hill and Kinney streets transform into a car-free space. Visit the “Pop-up Park” near Ashland and Main for live music and free fitness classes! mainstreetsm.com RUNWAY x Creative Communal Makers Market, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Come to this marvelous outdoor show featuring talented local makers. For the first time ever, Playa Vista resident Nancy Mills will be featuring her energy art! Mills has been referred to as an “emerging talent of color.” Free admission. Easy parking. Live music. Pet-friendly. Delicious local restaurants. A great Saturday adventure. 12775 Millennium Dr., Playa Vista Food Bank, 12:30 p.m. On the corner of West Manchester Avenue and Wiley Post Avenue in Westchester, a church will be giving out free groceries beginning at 12:30 p.m. until all of the groceries have been given

away. Please note, visitors are expected to abide by the rules and procedures regarding preventing the spread of COVID-19, which includes wearing a mask and maintaining their distance from others by remaining in their vehicle. Visitors will be served on a first-come, first-serve basis, therefore it is recommended that visitors arrive early. The food bank operates as a drive-through meaning that volunteers will place items in the vehicles of guests upon their arrival. The food bank asks that guests remain in their vehicles at all times during their visit as a way of upholding social distancing guidelines. 8606 Wiley Post Ave, Los Angeles

Sunday, August 22 Santa Monica Main Street Farmers Market, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Shop for local fresh produce and prepared foods from local restaurants starting at 2640 Main Street. You can also enjoy musical entertainment from featured weekly bands, face painting, balloon designs, and if you catch it on the right week, a cooking demonstration featuring local produce. 2640 Main St., Santa Monica. Mar Vista Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This vibrant, year-round market offers local produce, prepared foods, kids crafts and live events. Located at 12198 Venice Blvd., Grand View at Venice Boulevard. For more information, visit marvistafarmersmarket.org Sharing an Open Main Street, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Main Street’s Pedestrian Plaza returns for a weekend-long celebration of local businesses, al

Blood Drive, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Woman’s Club of Playa del Rey is hosting their second blood drive. The event will be COVIDcompliant, socially distance and mostly outside. Please wear a face covering. For an appointment, download the Blood donor app on your mobile device or visit redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code “WomansClub.” Streamline your donation experience and save up to 15 minutes by visiting redcrossblood. org/rapidpass to complete your pre-donation reading and health history questions on the day of your appointment. For more information, contact Tracy Marks at 310-901-4295 or email tracypmarks@gmail.com. 8039 W. Manchester Ave., Playa del Rey

Wednesday, August 25 The Sounds of Summer Concert Series, 6 to 8 p.m. Shop, stroll and dine while listening to free live music this summer at The Point in El Segundo. After 15 months, The Point is welcoming back the return of its summer concert series, The Sounds of Summer, a family-friendly concert series happening every Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m., July through September. Every week, The Point will feature a new musician and band with tunes ranging from folk rock to reggae. On August 11, The Radio Rebels will be performing hits from the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s. This all-ages, outdoor event is for the whole family to enjoy as guests are welcome to pack a picnic, lawn chairs and relax on the lawn. Restaurants and shops including Mendocino Farms, North Italia and Hopdoddy are also offering special promotions and picnic baskets for guests to purchase in advance and enjoy. 850 S. Pacific Coast Highway, El Segundo

Send event information at least 10 days in advance to kkirk@ timespublications.com

AUGUST 19, 2021 THE ARGONAUT PAGE 27

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING Classifieds / Legals

DEADLINE: Monday at 11am for Thursdays CALL ANN: 626-584-8747 or EMAIL: ann@argonautnews.com

Fic. Business Name FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2021159602 Type of Filing: Original. The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: LTS PUBLIC AFFAIRS. 1631 ½ Lyman Place Los Angeles, CA 90027. COUNTY: Los Angeles. REGISTERED OWNER(S) LTS Public Affairs LLC, 1631 ½ Lyman Place Los Angeles, CA 90027. State of Incorporation or LLC: California. THIS BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED BY a Limited Liability Company. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: N/A. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. /s/ Lindsey Skonik. TITLE: President, Corp or LLC Name: LTS Public Affairs LLC. This statement was filed with the LA County Clerk on: July 15, 2021. NOTICE – in accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a Fictitious Name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to Section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. a new Fictitious Business Name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions code). Publish: The Argonaut Newspaper. Dates: 07/29/21, 08/05/21, 08/12/21, 08/19/21

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2021159551 Type of Filing: Original. The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: NANCY'S FINE JEWELRY. 550 S. Hill St., Ste. 1557 Los Angeles, CA 90013. COUNTY: Los Angeles. Articles of Incorporation or Organization Number: 1792804. REGISTERED OWNER(S) N.F.J. Fine Jewelry, Inc., 550 S. Hill St., Ste. 1557 Los Angeles, CA 90013. State of Incorporation or LLC: California. THIS BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED BY a Corporation. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: N/A. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. /s/ Nancy Mirkof. TITLE: CEO, Corp or LLC Name: N.F.J. Fine Jewelry, Inc.. This statement was filed with the LA County Clerk on: July 15, 2021. NOTICE – in accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a Fictitious Name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to Section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. a new Fictitious Business Name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions code). Publish: The Argonaut Newspaper. Dates: 07/29/21, 08/05/21, 08/12/21, 08/19/21

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2021167468 Type of Filing: Original The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: YOUR TRUTH AT WORK; 11511 Braddock Dr., Culver City, CA 90230. COUNTY: Los Angeles. REGISTERED OWNER(S) Beatriz Garcia, 11511 Braddock Dr., Culver City, CA 90230, Marisa Urrutia Gedney, 1104 Maple Street South Pasadena, CA 91030. THIS BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED BY Copartners. The registrant commenced to transact business under the Fictitious Business Name or names listed above on: 06/2021. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. /s/: Beatriz Garcia. TITLE: Partner. This statement was filed with the LA County Clerk on: July 26, 2021. NOTICE – in accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a Fictitious to Place an Ad in The Argonaut’s Name Statement generally Home & Business Services expires Directory at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to Section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. a new Fictitious Business Name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a Fictitious Business Name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et seq., business and professions code). Publish: The ArPAGE 28 THE ARGONAUTgonaut AUGUST 19, 2021Dates: Newspaper. 08/12/21, 08/19/21, 08/26/21, 09/2/21

Drive Traffic to Your Business with Ads that Work! Call Ann: 626-584-8747

CONDUCTED BY Copartners. The registrant commenced to transact business under the Fictitious Business Name or names listed above on: 06/2021. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. /s/: Beatriz Garcia. TITLE: Partner. This statement was filed with the LA County Clerk on: July 26, 2021. NOTICE – in accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a Fictitious Name Statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to Section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. a new Fictitious Business Name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a Fictitious Business Name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et seq., business and professions code). Publish: The Argonaut Newspaper. Dates: 08/12/21, 08/19/21, 08/26/21, 09/2/21 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2021171845 Type of Filing: Amended. The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: WORKCOMPWIRE. 5864 W. 78th St., Los Angeles, CA 90045, PO Box 1114 Culver City, CA 90232. COUNTY: Los Angeles. Articles of Incorporation or Organization Number: 3958686. REGISTERED OWNER(S) Nextwire Media, Inc., 5864 W. 78th St., Los Angeles, CA 90045. State of Incorporation or LLC: Delaware. THIS BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED BY a Corporation. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 11/2016. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. /s/Stephen Sullivan. TITLE: CEO, Corp or LLC Name: Nextwire Media, Inc.. This statement was filed with the LA County Clerk on: August 2, 2021. NOTICE – in accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a Fictitious Name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to Section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. a new Fictitious Business Name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions code). Publish: The Argonaut Newspaper. Dates: 08/12/21, 08/19/21, 08/26/21, 09/02/21

Look Here For The Argonaut Classifieds

(626) 584-8747 Ann@argonautnews.com

Name Change ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME Case No. 21SMCP00323 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES. Petition of PAUL LEVINE AND CHARLOTTE LEVINE, for Change of Name. TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1.) Petitioner: Paul Levine and Charlotte Levine filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a.) Dezmond Amon Levine to Colin Dezmond Aman Levine 2.) THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: September 24, 2021. Time: 8:30 AM. Dept.: K. The address of the court is 1725 Main St., Santa Monica, CA 90401. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Los Angeles. Original filed: July 12, 2021. Hon. Lawrence Cho, Judge of the Superior Court. PUBLISH: The Argonaut Newspap e r 0 7 / 2 9 / 2 1 , 0 8 / 0 5 / 2 1, 08/12/21, 08/19/21 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME Case No. 21GDCP00336 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES. Petition of TRINH THI AI NGUYEN, for Change of Name. TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1.) Petitioner: Trinh Thi Ai Nguyen filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a.) Trinh Thi Ai Nguyen to Trinh Nguyen Chow 2.) TH E COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: 10/14/21. Time: 8:30 AM. Dept.: E. The address of the court is Glendale Courthouse, 600 East Broadway Glendale, CA 91206. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Los ann@argonautnews.com Angeles. Original filed: July 28, 2021. Darrell Mavis, Judge of the Superior Court. PUBLISH: The Argonaut Newspaper 08/05/21, 08/12/21, 08/19/21, 08/26/21

626-584-8747

of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Los Angeles. Original filed: July 28, 2021. Darrell Mavis, Judge of the Superior Court. PUBLISH: The Argonaut Newspaper 08/05/21, 08/12/21, 08/19/21, 08/26/21 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME Case No. 21TRCP00211 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES. Petition of ABRAELLE MONET SHIRLEY, for Change of Name. TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1.) Petitioner: Abraelle Monet Shirley filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a.) Abraelle Monet Shirley to Abraelle Monet Anderson 2.) THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: 09/10/21. Time: 9:00 AM. Dept.: M Room: 350. The address of the court is 825 Maple Ave., Torrance, CA 90503-Torrance Courthouse. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Los Angeles. Original filed: July 23, 2021. Deirdre Hill, Judge of the Superior Court. PUBLISH: The Argonaut Newspaper 08/12/21, 08/19/21, 08/26/21, 09/02/21 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME Case No. 21SMCP00379 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES. Petition of LYNN SACHI LEM, for Change of Name. TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1.) Petitioner: Lynn Sachi Lem filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a.) Lynn Sachi Lem to Lynn Sachi Nakai 2.) THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: 10/22/21. Time: 8:30 AM. Dept.: K. The address of the court is 1725 Main Street Santa Monica, CA 90401. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Los Angeles. Original filed: August 11, 2021. Hon.

Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Los Angeles. Original filed: August 11, 2021. Hon. Lawrence Cho, Judge of the Superior Court. PUBLISH: The Argonaut Newspaper 08/19/21, 08/26/21, 09/02/21, 09/09/21

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LOS ANGELES TIMES SUNDAY CROSSWORD PUZZLE “SOUNDS FAMILIAR” By MARK FELDMAN ACROSS 1 Only astronaut to fly in the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs 8 Sushi order 11 Short blue person? 14 Exile of 1979 18 Small bits of color 19 Easter lead-in 20 “Xanadu” rock gp. 21 Aqua __: U.K. mineral water brand 22 Place for reading recipes? 24 Fragrant teaflavoring shrubs 26 Quakers in forests? 27 Emailed 28 Ink on a billionaire? 29 Extreme disorder 30 Through 31 Madrid mama bear 33 “The Bald Soprano” playwright 34 City center street performer? 38 Flash __ 39 Third-party accounts 43 Provide with the latest 44 Green stone 45 Where one trying to score may be out 46 U.S. Army medal 48 Classic Pontiac 49 __ pool 50 Like some stockings 51 Congers 53 React to a sprint 55 A montage of them was presented at the 2006 Oscars 56 Native Alaskans 58 Fencing moves 61 Nothing special

62 Bit of carelessness at cocktail hour? 64 Long stretches 66 They’re usually unbeatable 68 Accustoms (to) 69 Storied building material 70 Fit 71 Feds under Ness 72 Current amount 73 Mail ctrs. 75 Stadium cheer 78 Offbeat 79 Eyed impolitely, with “at” 80 Bath buggy 81 Not at all light 83 Corn syrup component 84 Joplin’s “Maple Leaf __” 85 Postal mishap? 89 Legislative group, e.g. 91 Backing-up key 92 Bit in a horse’s mouth 93 Cleaning tools, for short 97 Starter for a noncompetitive race? 99 Deli stock 101 Formed with the tip of the tongue, like the letter L 103 Property receivers, at law 104 Reality TV believer? 106 Axes 107 KC-to-NYC dir. 108 “The Ice Storm” director Lee 109 Acted like 110 Most massive known dwarf planet 111 Rehab hurdle 112 Screening org. 113 Western movie threat DOWN 1 Imagine,

colloquially 2 Horse-and-buggy ride sounds 3 Cod relatives 4 Library vol. ID 5 Letters after pis 6 1906 Runabout, e.g. 7 Shows hospitality toward, as a visitor 8 Before long, to Shakespeare 9 Bird named for its cry 10 Annoy 11 “This seems familiar” word 12 Jubilance 13 University of Idaho city 14 Malice 15 Spider that stalks its prey 16 Opening number? 17 Surely is 18 Con job 23 Bar specification 25 “Death in Venice” author 28 Aspect 30 Bugs with brakes 32 Wrapped in a blanket, say 34 Mosque toppers 35 Due 36 Block off 37 Award-winning Mark Tatulli comic strip 39 Relaxes 40 Apply, as a brake 41 Lawn chair 42 Hanks sobriquet for films like “You’ve Got Mail”? 44 Fashionista dog? 46 Knish sellers 47 Ooze 49 Oxlike antelope 52 Stretch 53 Letters before chi 54 Duchamp contemporary 56 “What about

me?!” 57 Layered Italian dessert 58 General direction 59 Bullfight figure 60 Traps 62 Long-running forensic series 63 First name in an 1857 case 65 Activist Greta Thunberg, e.g. 67 Hosp. units 69 Suspect 72 End of a ball game? 73 Like table salt 74 Composer of solo violin études 75 “Vive le __!” 76 Karen of “Starman” 77 Fashion lines 80 Introduction 81 Portraitist John Singer __ 82 Long-vowel symbols 83 Tatami, e.g. 85 Leave speechless 86 “Thanks, it’s already done” 87 “Stay” singer Lisa seen in GEICO ads 88 “Get a move on!” 90 Salad green 93 Like some popular videos 94 Perceptive 95 Pole tossed by a Scot 96 Downhill traveler 98 Applications 100 Discipline with stretches 101 Lie next to 102 Hide 104 Cricket club 105 Thurman of “Pulp Fiction”

SHIFTY-FIFTY A close friend and I spend a lot of time discussing her issues with her boyfriend. I’m always there for her, even late at night when she’s upset about something. However, when I bring up someone I’m interested in, she’ll cut me off or say she just can’t listen to me talk about the guy. Is it petty to feel hurt and to expect more from her? — Disturbed There are friends you can count on – and friends you can count on to fake their own kidnapping the moment you are the slightest bit in need. This sort of “friend” can be hard to identify because we want to believe their friendship is based on more than seeing us as an easy mark. This isn’t to say we lack the psychological tools to identify and deal appropriately with users posing as friends. As humans began living in groups, we evolved to have a social “loss prevention team” – the psychological version of the squad department stores have to catch crafty shoppers who get nine months pregnant in a matter of minutes, uh, with 26 designer dresses. Our minds are tuned for “cheater detection,” to notice sneaky nonrecip-

rocators – people who intentionally take more than they give – explain evolutionary psychologists Leda Cosmides and John Tooby. The police force of our cheater detection system is our emotions: anger and resentment and other gloom-eristic feelings that rise up when we’re giving and giving and being shafted by somebody who’s all take. That said, friendship isn’t always 50/50, and it’s important to identify when a good friend is temporarily unable to act like one because they’re going through a rough patch. Unless that’s the case here, your emotions are telling you the balance of give and take between you is just not right. Now, maybe she’s just a selfish taker and things will never be right. Then again, you could explain that you feel shorted and give her a chance to right the balance. Even good people sometimes act like crap people. As I see it, one job of a real friend is to put us on notice when we’re falling short. This gives us the chance to make the requisite sacrifices to be a good friend to them – like by dragging our emotional immaturity out back and slaughtering it like a goat on a stone altar (uh, the condo patio).

ON CLOUDY NINE I’m having this undefined thing with this great woman I see just about nightly. She ended a toxic relationship seven months ago, and I’m still recovering from a terrible breakup. We’re great friends, crack each other up, are extremely honest with each other, and have great sex. Should we try to label this? I worry this free love/no-strings-attached approach can’t last. — Troubled Zoos have cages so the lions don’t wander through suburbia, snacking on children and labradoodles. Commitment serves a similar boundary-establishing function, though out of the worry that one’s partner will sneak over to the hot neighbor’s for a nooner, not lunch on them with a side of purse dog. Also, once two people spell out that they’re a “we,” the parameters of decision-making expand accordingly: “What works for us?” instead of “What’s best for me?” But sometimes, people still licking their wounds from their last relationship have the close-to-perfect next partner show up inopportunely early. They could push that person away with “I’m not ready now,” which could turn out to be “goodbye forever.” Or... maybe they could have a “not-quitesure-what-this-is” thing until they feel ready for a relationship again. There’s a challenge to this loosey-

goosey approach, and it’s how disturbed we humans are by uncertainty: a lack of information about what might happen. The murky unknown revs up feelbad emotions like anxiety and dread over our inability to narrow down the various ways things could go toiletward. Different people have varying levels of what psychologist Mark H. Freeston and his colleagues describe as “intolerance of uncertainty.” To decrease yours (and the angsty feelings that come with), spell out what you can – a likely worst-case scenario: for example, a woman you’ve grown attached to tires of you and takes to Tinder like a duck to those little goldfish crackers. Painful, yes. But, as you’ve shown, survivable – if temporarily deadly to the ego. Understanding this should help you avoid any temptation to rush things – possibly blowing up the relationship in an attempt to relieve the tension of uncertainty. To help yourself stay on the straight and ambiguous, keep in mind that this uncertainty-alleviating impulse is the business model for horror movies. Without it, they’d be horrifying bores that fizzle out at the three-minute mark – when the teens hear unearthly growls coming from the basement of the abandoned house and one says to the rest: “Yeah, whatevs. Let’s just stay here upstairs playing strip chess.”

GOT A PROBLEM? Write to Amy Alkon at 171 Pier Ave, Ste. 280, Santa Monica, CA 90405, or email her at AdviceAmy@aol.com. ©2021, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved. Alkon’s latest book is “Unf*ckology: A Field Guide to Living with Guts and Confidence.” Follow @amyalkon on Twitter or visit blogtalkradio.com/amyalkon.

AUGUST 19, 2021 THE ARGONAUT PAGE 29

SPECIAL ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

CA residents scramble to get last Walking Liberty Rolls CALIFORNIA - Once California residents got wind that California State Restricted Bank Rolls filled with Silver Walking Liberties dating back to the early 1900’s were being handed over, there was a mad dash to get them. That’s because some of these U.S. Gov’t issued silver coins are already worth hundreds in collector value. “It’s like a run on the banks. The phones are ringing off the hook. That’s because everyone is trying to get them before they’re all gone,” according to officials at the National Mint and Treasury who say they can barely keep up with all the orders. In fact, they had to impose a strict limit of 4 California State Restricted Bank Rolls. So, if you get the chance to get your hands on these State Restricted Bank Rolls you better hurry because hundreds of California residents already have and you don’t want to miss out. You see, the U.S. Gov’t stopped

minting these Silver Walking Liberties in 1947 and there can never be any more which makes them extremely collectible. And here’s the best part. The rolls are unsearched so there’s no telling how much they could be worth in collector value. That’s why at just the $39 state minimum set by National Mint and Treasury it’s a deal too good to pass up. But you better hurry because these California State Restricted Bank Rolls are the only ones known to exist and California residents are grabbing them up as fast as they can. That’s because they make amazing gifts for children, grandchildren and loved ones. Just imagine the look on their face when you hand them one of the State Restricted Rolls — they’ll tell everyone they know what you did for them.

■ GOT ‘EM: Residents all across California who get their hands on these State Restricted Silver Walking Liberty Bank Rolls are definitely showing them off. That’s because they are the only ones known to exist. And here’s the best part, these Bank Rolls are loaded with U.S. Gov’t issued Silver Walking Liberty coins some dating back to the early 1900’s and worth up to 100 times their face value so everyone wants them.

Last State Restricted Silver Walking Liberty Bank Rolls go to California residents California residents get first dibs on last remaining Bank Rolls loaded with U.S. Gov’t issued Silver Walking Liberties dating back to the early 1900’s some worth up to 100 times their face value for the next 2 days STATE DISTRIBUTION: A strict limit of 4 State Restricted Bank Rolls per CA resident has been imposed

CALIFORNIA - “It’s a miracle these State Restricted Bank Rolls even exist. That’s why Hotline Operators are bracing for the flood of calls,” said Laura Lynne, U.S. Coin and Currency Director for the National Mint and Treasury. For the next 2 days the last remaining State of California Restricted Bank Rolls loaded with rarely seen U.S. Gov’t issued Silver Walking Liberties are actually being handed over to California residents who call the State Toll-Free Hotlines listed in today’s newspaper publication. “I recently spoke with a numismatic expert in United States of America coins and currency who said ‘In all my years as a numismatist I’ve only ever seen a handful of these rarely seen Silver Walking Liberties issued by the U.S. Gov’t back in the early 1900’s. But to actually find them sealed away in State Restricted Bank Rolls still in pristine condition is like finding buried treasure. So anyone lucky enough to get their hands on these Bank Rolls had better hold on to them,’” Lynne said. “Now that the State of California Restricted Bank Rolls are being offered up we won’t be surprised if thousands

(Continued on next page) PAGE 30 THE ARGONAUT AUGUST 19, 2021

SILVER: one of the last silver coins minted for circulation

VALUABLE: minted in philadelphia, denver & san francisco

ENLARGED TO SHOW DETAIL: year varies 1916-1947

RARELY SEEN: minted by the u.s. mint in the early 1900’s R1043R-2

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(Continued from previous page)

of California residents claim the maximum limit allowed of 4 Bank Rolls per resident before they’re all gone,” said Lynne. “That’s because after the Bank Rolls were loaded with 15 rarely seen Silver Walking Liberties, each verified to meet a minimum collector grade of very good or above, the dates and mint marks of the U.S. Gov’t issued Silver Walking Liberty Half Dollars sealed away inside the State of California Restricted Bank Rolls have never been searched. But, we do know that some of these coins date clear back to the early 1900’s and are worth up to 100 times their face value, so there is no telling what California residents will find until they sort through all the coins,” Lynne went on to say. And here’s the best part. If you are a resident of the state of California you cover only the $39 per coin state minimum set by the National Mint and Treasury, that’s fifteen rarely seen U.S. Gov’t issued Silver Walking Liberties worth up to 100 times their face value for just $585 which is a real steal because non state residents must pay $118 per coin which totals $1,770 if any coins remain after the 2-day deadline. The only thing California residents need to do is call the State Toll-Free Hotlines printed in today’s newspaper publication before the 2-day order deadline ends. “Rarely seen U.S. Gov’t issued silver coins like these are highly sought after, but we’ve never seen anything like this before. According to The Official Red Book, a Guide Book of United States Coins many Silver Walking Liberty Half Dollars are now worth $40 - $825 each in collector value,” Lynne said. “We’re guessing thousands of California residents will be taking the maximum limit of 4 Bank Rolls because they make such amazing gifts for any occasion for children, parents, grandparents, friends and loved ones,” Lynne continued. “We know the phones will be ringing off the hook. That’s why hundreds of Hotline Operators are standing by to answer the phones beginning at 8:30 am this morning. We’re going to do our best, but with just 2 days to answer all the calls it won’t be easy. So make sure to tell everyone to keep calling if all lines are busy. We’ll do our best to answer them all.” Lynne said. The only thing readers of today’s newspaper publication need to do is make sure they are a resident of the state of California and call the National Toll-Free Hotlines before the 2-day deadline ends midnight tomorrow. ■

HOW TO CLAIM THE LAST STATE RESTRICTED BANK ROLLS FACTS:

If you are a California State Resident read the important information below about claiming the State Silver Bank Rolls, then call the State Toll-Free Hotline at 8:30 am: 1-800-979-3771 EXT: RWB1789

Are these Silver Walking Liberties worth more than other half dollars:

Yes. These U.S. Gov’t issued Silver Walking Liberties were minted in the early 1900’s and will never be minted again. That makes them extremely collectible. The vast majority of half dollars minted after 1970 have no silver content at all and these Walking Liberties were one of the last silver coins minted for circulation. That’s why many of them now command hundreds in collector value so there’s no telling how much they could be worth in collector value someday.

How much are State Restricted Walking Liberty Silver Bank Rolls worth:

It’s impossible to say, but some of these U.S Gov’t issued Walking Liberties dating back to the early 1900’s are worth up to 100 times the face value and there are 15 in each Bank Roll so you better hurry if you want to get your hands on them. Collector values always fluctuate and there are never any guarantees. But we do know they are the only California State Silver Bank Rolls known to exist and Walking Liberties are highly collectible so anyone lucky enough to get their hands on these Silver Bank Rolls should hold onto them because there’s no telling how much they could be worth in collector value someday.

Why are so many California residents claiming them:

Because they are the only State Restricted Walking Liberty Silver Bank Rolls known to exist and everyone wants their share. Each Bank Roll contains a whopping 15 Silver Walking Liberties dating back to the early 1900’s some worth up to 100 times their face value. Best of all California residents are guaranteed to get them for the state minimum set by the National Mint and Treasury of just $39 per Silver Walking Liberty for the next two days.

How do I get the State Restricted Walking Liberty Silver Bank Rolls:

California residents are authorized to claim up to the limit of 4 State Restricted Walking Liberty Silver Bank Rolls by calling the State Toll Free Hotline at 1-800-979-3771 Ext. RWB1789 starting at precisely 8:30 am this morning. Everyone who does is getting the only State Restricted Walking Liberty Silver Bank Rolls known to exist. That’s a full Bank Roll containing 15 Silver Walking Liberties from the early 1900’s some worth up to 100 times their face value for just the state minimum set by the National Mint and Treasury of just $39 per Silver Walking Liberty, which is just $585 for the full Bank Rolls and that’s a real steal because non state residents are not permitted to call before 5 pm tomorrow and must pay $1,770 for each California State Restricted Walking Liberty Silver Bank Roll if any remain. R1043R-2

NATIONAL MINT AND TREASURY, LLC IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. MINT, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, A BANK OR ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY. IF FOR ANY REASON WITHIN 30 DAYS FROM SHIPMENT YOU ARE DISSATISFIED, RETURN THE PRODUCT FOR A REFUND LESS SHIPPING AND RETURN POSTAGE. THIS SAME OFFER MAY BE MADE AVAILABLE AT A LATER DATE OR IN A DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION. OH RESIDENTS ADD 6.5% SALES TAX. NATIONAL MINT AND TREASURY, PO BOX 35609, CANTON, OH 44735 ©2021 NATIONAL MINT AND TREASURY. AUGUST 19, 2021 THE ARGONAUT PAGE 31

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