We’re truly honored to be named the #1 hospital in California and #2 in the nation on U.S. News & World Report ’s Best Hospitals Honor Roll. Thank you to our physicians, nurses, academic leaders and thousands of others who always bring their best to this organization and to the people we serve.
#1 in California and Los Angeles
#1 in California and Los Angeles #1 in Los Angeles #1 in California and Los Angeles #1 in California and Los Angeles #1 in California and Los Angeles
Display Advertising: Rebecca Bermudez (310) 574-7655 Peter Lymbertos (818) 624-6254 Classified Advertising: Ann Browne (626) 584-8747 abrowne@timespublications.com BUSINESS Associate Publisher: Rebecca Bermudez (310) 574-7655 rbermudez@timespublications.com
Re: ‘Historic Win’ article
Editor:
Regarding your article, “Historic Win” (Dec. 1), you just witnessed a historic recall campaign for Mike Bonin, which resulted in a historic victory for Traci Park, who ran against the city machine backed candidate.
You also saw a historic win for Dan O’Brien for Culver City council –again, who ran against the city machinery’s endorsement of Alex Fisch’s re-election bid.
Behind both of these is a historic mobilizing of Westside voters to stop an intolerable status quo on homelessness and public safety. And this mobilization promises to continue and grow.
There is nothing historic in finding another slice to fill in the intersectional pie, on an otherwise status quo candidate.
Ron Bassilian Los Angeles
Being in print is a lot more meaningful than grouching on Facebook. Send compliments, complaints and insights about local issues to kkirk@timespublications.com
After four tumultuous years under former LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, Robert Luna took office as the 34th LA County Sheriff on Monday, Dec. 5. During his inaugural ceremony, Luna expressed hope for the future of LASD and highlighted the principles he intends to lead with.
“None of us are above criticism… Integrity, accountability, collaboration – If we embrace these three principles, I know we can be in a better place tomorrow than we are today,” said Luna after he was administered the oath of office.
Luna continued to emphasize that he would bring new leadership and accountability to the LA Sheriff’s Department.
During his campaign, Luna promised to turn around the LA County Sheriff’s department by focusing on five priorities,
reducing violent crime, homelessness, restoring public trust, reforming LASD jails, and improving employee
wellness.
“We must fully embrace 21st-century policing strategies that build partnerships with our
community and tackle crime at the root of all the problems. We must think about public safety in broader terms. If our streets are unsafe… if our homeless crisis causes desperation and mystery… then we will never have public safety.
Most importantly, we can’t have public safety without earning the public’s trust,” Luna stated.
Indeed, Luna will be held more accountable than any sheriff before. A lack of public trust and Villanueva’s scandalmarked leadership led voters to overwhelmingly pass Measure A, which amended the LA County Charter to allow the County Board of Supervisors to remove a sitting sheriff.
The need to rebuild public trust between LA County residents and LASD came into sharp relief during Villanueva’s tenure as sheriff. In 2018, Villanueva was the first
candidate to unseat a sitting sheriff in over a century, leaving voters optimistic about reform.
However, Villanueva’s term was plagued by misconduct, abuse of power, and corruption scandals. With questions over Villanueva’s fitness for office, the electorate again spurned a sitting sheriff, electing Luna with 60% of the vote.
“Running for office for the first time in the largest county in the largest county in the country (by population) is absolutely not easy to do,” Luna said.
“But a lot of people came together. People were generous with their time, and they believed in our campaign. They knew this race was extremely important. And I promise I'll work very hard every day to reach our goals and make each and every one of you very proud.”
Pair of Thieves volunteers and founders Alan Stuart, Cash Warren and David Ehrenberg gathered at the Baby2Baby headquarters on Dec. 2 to assemble winter care packages for families in need during the holiday season. Pair of Thieves is a Culver City-based brand that retails men’s socks, underwear and undershirts, offering high-quality basics at an affordable price. Baby2Baby is a nonprofit organization that provides children living in poverty with diapers, clothing and all the basic necessities that every child deserves. Pair of Thieves donated 140,000 pairs of socks to Baby2Baby, which will be distributed to vulnerable families across the country. In addition to socks, the bags included warm necessities and hygiene items.
“Since launching in 2014, Pair of Thieves has donated over 3 million pairs of socks to those in need,” said Pair of Thieves founder Cash Warren.
“We would have never been able to achieve that milestone without partnering with incredible organizations like Baby2Baby. My family has been involved with Baby2Baby since their inception, but this year marked the second anniversary of the partnership with Pair of Thieves, and we couldn’t be more appreciative of their support. This is just the beginning.”
Pair of Thieves pairofthieves.com Baby2Baby baby2baby.org
By Kamala Kirk
The 60th Annual Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade presented by Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital took place on Dec. 10. The boat parade grand marshal was Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, along with celebrity grand marshals David Foster and Katharine McPhee. This year’s judges were Janet Bubar Rich, Jerry Jen, Andrew Harris, Nicole King, Joe Coleman and Sean Moor. The festivities kicked off with fireworks and the boat parade, followed by an awards ceremony at Killer Shrimp.
WINNERS:
Best Music
Boat: Macondo (Skipper: Mike Sudo)
Best Live Band
Boat: Aloha California (Skipper: Capt. Ross Prout)
Best Lights
Boat: Phish Tales (Skipper: John Reese)
Best Animation
Boat: Trinity (Skipper: Perry Karidis)
Best Theme
Boat: Happy Hour (Skipper: Greg Beron)
Best Spirit
Boat: Thats What She Said (Skipper: Brooke Hammond)
Best Charter
Boat: Hotel California (Skipper: M. Sullivan)
Best Individual
Boat: Sanctuary (Skipper: Carlos Protzel)
Best Company
Boat: Arc One (Skipper: Miriam Morris)
Best Organization
Boat: Cassiopeia (Skipper: Brendon Huffman)
Best Yacht Club
Boat: Scyllia (Skipper: Scott Larnay)
Best Power Boat: Let’s Go! (Skipper: Capt Commodore Craig)
Best Sail
Boat: SS Purple Reign (Skipper: Gisele Rebeiro)
Best Overall Boat: Senia Jade (Skipper: Lynn Silverman)
Katelyn Michele has always loved animals, but it was after she rescued her first kitten from the South LA Shelter that she became inspired to start Beach City Kitties, a local nonprofit kitten and cat rescue that serves the Westside, South Bay and surrounding areas.
“Bella was supposed to be euthanized the day I got her because she had a small cold,” Michele said.
“Before this I was unaware that cats are frequently euthanized in Los Angeles County and county shelters, even small kittens. This is completely unacceptable to me, so I’ve made it my mission to get as many cats out of the kill shelters as I can, and spread the word about the situation to the public.”
Aside from Bella, Michele has four other cats that she saved from the euthanasia list — Lil Bit, Jinksie, Willie Jane, and Jem — and a chihuahua named Peanut, who, according to Michele, “also thinks he’s a cat.”
Founded five years ago, Beach City Kitties rescues cats and kittens from the streets and high-kill shelters, rehabilitates them, and provides foster families while finding them forever homes. In addition to finding people to foster the cats and kittens, the rescue also has to gather funds to pay for flea medication, vaccinations, spaying/neutering, chipping, and general resources.
So far, Beach City Kitties has found homes for nearly 600 cats. There are still thousands without homes, but Michele and her team work hard to do everything they can. Some of the cats they rescue are feral so they have implemented TNR (trap, neuter, release) to help decrease the feral cat population.
“In addition to adopting, fostering, volunteering or donating, one of the most important things you can do to help is to promote and practice spay and neuter,” Michele said. “Female cats on the streets can produce up to three litters per year; that’s up to 20 kittens, who in turn can get pregnant as early as four months. There aren’t homes for all of them. This isn’t just a rescue problem, but a community problem. Rescues are very full and volunteer run, and we can’t do it alone. Don’t just get your cats fixed. If you find a stray in your neighborhood, take the initiative. Find a free or low-cost clinic, and take them in to be fixed and vaccinated. Be part of the solution.”
At the end of the day, Michele is grateful for the impact her organization has had on the community and animals in need.
“It would be wonderful to eventually
open up a sanctuary or rescue center so we could take in more cats,” Michele said. “There’s such an overpopulation of cats that many times it takes months to find kitties their forever homes, and we also take in feral or very skittish kitties that are hard to find homes for, so we
would love to have the resources for them to have a safe space to stay as long as needed. I love when adopters send photos of their rescued cats, even years later, and the cat is so happy and living its best life. It’s so good to see after removing them from the streets or a
shelter, they’re happy and their owner is happy too.”
Beach City Kitties beachcitykitties.com
Instagram: @beachcitykittiesrescue
Despite living in a world of unlimited digital connectivity, people are experiencing loneliness, anxiety, and disconnection now more than ever. Humans are social beings, and no amount of virtual life adequately replaces the fact that we need one another to be happy. Judaism is a spirituality of connection.
Judaism frames life around meaningful cycles that bring people together and inspire building a just and worthy civilization. At Mishkon Tephilo, we live a nourishing Judaism that brings people together, physically and with the wisdom of tradition.
Mishkon is a place where Jewish tradition inspires and challenges us to live life with depth. It’s a place to build trusting friendships and a sense of belonging. It’s a place for getting centered, to live with consciousness and conscientiousness.
Please join us as we celebrate Chanukah through contemplative spiritual exploration, learning great recipes, expressing ourselves through art, and enjoying meeting new people, as we bring light to the community with our Menorah on our front steps facing the Pacific Ocean. All healing and change begin with you in community. We’re better together.
www.mishkon.org
The Rotary Club of Westchester, founded in 1950, is one of the Westside’s longest-running service organizations. The motto of Rotary is “Service Above Self” and the Club’s motto this year is to “Imagine a Whole New World.” Our biennial Makeover project in 2023 will be focused on improving the service space at St. Margaret’s Center in nearby Lennox. In addition, we support a number of projects in the Westchester, Venice, and Playa Vista areas such as literacy programs, the SPY program, Airport Marina Counseling Services, and the Westchester Family YMCA. We meet Wednesdays at the Westchester Townhouse and welcome visitors! Our Club is honored to be the sponsoring Club for the causebased Rotarians Fighting Human Trafficking Club that was chartered in our District. The RFHT Club provides educational programs about the issue as well as support to survivors of human trafficking. We do all of this with the help of the community thought our fundraising efforts and volunteering. Are you looking to make a difference in the lives of others – locally, nationally, and globally? Then Rotary may be for you!
We hope you all have safe and happy holidays, and please visit us in the New Year!
rotary-westchester.com
Advertorial
Playa Vista Magazine is the only local magazine mailed directly into every address in 90094. Your advertisement will reach a community with a median income of $121,000! And with so many families staying closer to home, our readers are closely paying attention to each issue.
HEALTH & WELLNESS Ad Space deadline Wednesday, January 18 Publishes January 26
For more information, please call 310.574.7655
Meals on Wheels West heritage program provides hot, nutritious lunch and a light dinner to seniors in Venice, MDR, Del Rey and Santa Monica. The Food & Shelter helps to keep formerly unhoused people in their new homes by providing a friendly visit, resources that help them reintegrate into society in addition to the meals. MOW West clients also receive weekly phone calls from trained volunteers that monitor the clients’ health and wellness. Clients receive referrals to physical and mental health resources and other social service agencies that provide needed programs. MOW West staff make home visits doing Wellness Checks and assisting clients in accessing our partners including Mode and Wise & Healthy Aging. Independence at Home offers 15 hours of mental health counseling.
MOW West delivers to buildings managed by Venice Community Housing, Community Corporation Santa Monica and Step-up. The formerly unhoused are 26% of the total number of people MOW West serves. Over three years the number of formerly unhoused people we serve has grown by 76%. MOW West is proud to be part of the solution to reduce the number of homeless on the street and will continue to provide meals, social interaction and referrals to additional resources.
www.mealsonwheelswest.org
MOW West will deliver more than 210,000 meals in 2022
DELIVERING MORE THAN A MEAL: MOW West’s core, heritage program that delivers a LA County dietitian approved hot lunch and light dinner to homebound seniors. Our Wellness Check monitors the health and wellness of MOW West clients.
FOOD & SHELTER: As formerly homeless people are housed, MOW West delivers healthy meals and referrals to additional social services that help maintain stability, health & wellness and reintegrate into society
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS: Volunteers call clients weekly for friendly conversations that reduce isolation and loneliness The Wellness Check monitors and reports health & wellness with a focus on mental health Referrals are made to other needed social service agencies.
SUPPORTING VETERANS ON THE HOMEFRONT: Meals are delivered to veterans of all ages and their spouses at no cost, reducing the isolation of older veterans and helping younger veterans adjust to civilian life
KEEPING PEOPLE & PETS TOGETHER: Providing pet food and and veterinarian care to clients who have pets living with them at home Studies show pets make people happier and healthier.
www mealsonwheelswest org
(310) 394-5133 501(c)(3) nonprofit
To volunteer and deliver meals & joy this holiday season, please contact: (310) 394-5133, ext. 2 jen@mealsonwheelswest.org
The Westchester/Playa Historical Society was founded in 2019 to gather, study and preserve the history of Playa Vista, Playa del Rey and Westchester. It also provides educational and research opportunities to the community through various exhibitions and events.
“When people of all ages come into the Discovery Center and actually see what we have here, they are fascinated with the history and can’t believe they never knew what came before us,” said Cozette Vergari, chair of the Historical Society.
Vergari grew up in Westchester and lives there with her husband. She left to attend USC, work and travel, but eventually moved back.
“I moved back to Los Angeles to be close to my mom, but also because it’s the best city in the world,” Vergari said. “It is full of diversity and opportunity— two things I wanted my children to be surrounded by while being raised. You get the best of both worlds on the Westside specifically. It’s a small town feel while still living in a big city.”
Some of the projects the Historical Society has worked on this year include its inaugural exhibit, “Aviation,” along with “Celebrating Women” and “Commemorating Our Hometown Veterans.”
In the near future there will be a “Saluting Schools” exhibit as well.
The Historical Society’s goals for the future include resurrecting the walking and driving tours that took place before the pandemic. The guided trips took visitors to a number of stops showcasing rare sightings and locations. There is a map currently available on the website for anyone who is interested in doing a tour on their own in the meantime.
Running the organization is not an easy task, as preserving artifacts and data is challenging on its own in addition to raising funds for exhibits and displays.
Vergari said that volunteering time and donating money are two of the best ways to support the Historical Society.
“The best way to help this nonprofit is through donation,” Vergari said. “We are so grateful for our donors. I never want people to forget how important helping each other is. Our population and community are truly giving people. I work in a group of six hardworking, creative doers and each of us wears multiple hats to run the organization.”
The Discovery Center is open on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and by appointment. It is also available for school field trips.
“I love my interactions within the community,” Vergari said. “Some people
come in and teach me things I didn’t know through their stories and some people I’m able to help expand their knowledge with
the things that I know.”
Westchester/Playa Historical Society 6207 W. 87th Street, Westchester wphistoricalsociety.org
Community Corp of Santa Monica is a non-profit that restores, builds, and manages affordable housing for people of modest means. For four decades, we’ve worked to make Santa Monica and the west side of Los Angeles more inclusive, caring, and environmentally sustainable. Our work improves neighborhoods, changes lives, and contributes to the distinct character of our region.
As a leader in the industry, we know that increasing the supply of affordable housing creates opportunities for working families of modest means to remain housed, contributing to our region’s distinct character and rich tapestry of life.
To learn more about CCSM and our work, head to: https://communitycorp.org/ Advertorial
Marina del Rey Historical Society celebrated its 15 th Anniversary as an established 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Next year our Gallery will celebrate 10 years open to the public.
Reaching these milestones is a great achievement due to the visionaries who started it, the dedicated Board Members and support staff who help to continue its accessibility, and to all our visitors who appreciate learning and supporting the history of Marina del Rey.
Donations and your support are needed to continue the digitization of The Dinghy and Argonaut newspapers, the organization of our Archives, and re-designing our Gallery in Fisherman’s Village.
A special thank you goes out to Kristen Walker Ph.D., Richard Moore Ph.D., and the “Fab 5” students from CSUN – Nazarian School of Business and Marketing whose class project produced a 5-year business model plan for the Historical Society. For their hard work they werenominated for the “SBI Project of the Year Award”. It is now our mission to implement their work.
Your donations will help us achieve our business model, our project goals, improve your gallery experience, and keep our doors open to serve our community.
From everyone at the Marina del Rey Historical Society, be safe and have a wonderful and joyous holiday season.
Afew years ago, Nicole Blaine was trying to think of something to do with her family for New Year’s Eve that was family friendly. As a new parent, she was struggling to find a community of parents in the area with shared values and work schedules.
“I think no one is telling us that it's actually traumatizing to become a new parent,” Nicole said.
Modeled by her mother, Nicole was in search of a support group made of other moms. She hopes her new comedy club, The Crow, will be a gathering place for the Santa Monica community to anchor and grow.
Nicole shares The Crow with her husband, Mickey. Speaking with a focused intensity, Nicole tells her comedic journey, almost like she’s running out of time as Mickey summarizes and clarifies. The couple leapfrogs over each other in conversational improv as the story of their comedic haven unfolds.
The Blaines opened The Crow in June 2022 after Nicole had produced comedy shows for over a decade at a variety of venues. They met in college, drawn together by theater and then found their milieu in comedy.
“I think we decided to switch over to comedy and open up a club because everything is tragic right now,” Mickey said.
“The Crow is an acronym: ‘Comedy Reflects Our World.’ And for us, it's the way in which we look at the world and sort of process it. We thought people getting together in a communal space, laughing together about things going on, and hearing different people's perspectives to look at different issues that are happening and laugh about them to heal and just bring up the ridiculousness of life.”
And in tying healing and storytelling together, one begets a unique spin on the perspective of comedy. Nicole said her
first pivot from theater was to storytelling.
As a "one-woman storyteller," “Storytelling was my thing,” Nicole said. “And making people feel both equally sad, pain and finding the light in it, and the ‘it's going to be OK’ type stuff that I think especially comedy does that. I think it makes you feel like ‘I'm not alone.’”
Another version of this was through the one-woman show Nicole put on acting out the trauma of living with her mother, who for years abused substances, primarily crack. Though there were years of familial struggle, she is now a sober grandparent to their children.
Subsequently, when first starting stand-up, Nicole was pregnant with the Blaine’s second child at the "geriatric" age of 34 with the compelling need to cut the drama out of her act and break into the LA stand-up comedy scene. She did her first stand-up set still pregnant with her son. Doing stand-up while caring for a newborn was an entirely different challenge.
“I had to leave in between breastfeeding, find an open mic that I was going to be able to go to and I was pumping breast milk in the car,” Nicole said. “But I would go to these open mics and sacrifice nursing time to try to tell a proper joke about my vagina that had just been blown up. And nobody laughed. It was the early 2000s and very uncomfortable.”
Fast forward to the Blaines as full-fledged parents and trying to think of something for families to do on New Year’s Eve. Nicole did a 6 p.m. stand-up show years prior and it all lead to the building blocks for their joint venture.
“…Because I'm a mom, I don't want to ditch them [parents],” Nicole said. “I wanted them [parents] to also have access to seeing all the different types of people on stages.”
In starting her own club, Nicole hoped to provide a welcoming environment not
only for new parents, but their offspring, a whole new generation who are looking to redefine what it means to be a person…through comedy.
Current special sets for families include BYOB (Bring Your Own…Bottle? Boob? Buggy? Baby?); ‘Pull My Finger,’ an improv G-rated series targeted toward 2- to 12-year-olds; and an open mic night just for teens.
Of course, creating a comedy set for younger audiences required its own bit of improv.
“At the beginning, it was kind of like, well, yeah, we'll just get a stand-up comic and have them do family-friendly material,” Mickey said. “And they just bombed.”
The Blaines quickly realized for the young kids to sit and listen to a story or a joke, the comedy needed to be sillier and sound almost clown-like. The larger goal being to desensitize children to the stage at a younger age and build upon the theater being a safe space as they became teenagers.
“I wanted them to get comfortable getting on stage so that when they grow up, they don't have a fear of being in front of people whether it's a job interview, or if they are a lawyer,” Nicole said.
“Then the kids see someone their age and they're interested and they want to participate,” Mickey added. “They want to throw out suggestions. It's the silliness. It's the participation. It's all that in bite-size scenes.”
Finally, Nicole and Mickey hope that The Crow is a safe, empathetic and inclusive place, particularly for young people navigating their identities even if they cannot with their own families. One open mic event is specifically for female and nonbinary comedians.
“I’m doing this because parents that are still not ready to hear their children and accept them yet, we're gonna get them there,” Nicole said. “There's something about the artist who shows you something that you relate to, and then you start to heal and let it out. Hopefully, audiences will come and hear it in a different, lighter way. I want to do a comedy club that is going to be ultimately, for this next generation.”
The Crow’s “BYOB” show is the first Saturday of each month at 1 p.m. The “Pull My Finger” shows run on the third
Saturday of each month at 5 p.m., the next one is on Dec.
17. The New Year's Eve edition of “Pull My Finger” will be on Saturday, Dec. 31 at 5 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the website.
The Crow 2525 Michigan Avenue, Unit F4, Santa Monica 424-322-8017 crowcomedy.com
I wish all my neighbors a safe and happy holiday season and the very best in the New Year. It’s a true joy to be part of such a wonderful community.
Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®
The Ballona Wetlands have inspired passionate debate and environmental activism on the Westside for over 40 years. When the California Department of Fish and Wildlife certified their final Environmental Impact Report for the Ballona Wetlands Restoration Project in 2020, one thing seemed clear: Los Angeles' final stretch of coastal wetlands would finally have a centralized plan for restoration. But it has been two years and roughly $1.7 million since the final EIR was approved, and CDFW’s restoration will not begin until February 2024 at the earliest. Although the Ballona Wetlands Restoration Project has been a multilateral effort for over a decade, CDFW is still working to obtain preliminary permits for the first two of 35 points before construction can begin.
Tim Daley, a Public Information Officer from CDFW, says the department expects the planning and permitting process to conclude by 2024. But Walter Lamb from the Ballona Wetlands Land Trust is less optimistic.
“The project agencies have been going in circles on the larger project for almost two decades…It is long past time to shift focus to what can be done right now to improve the ecological health of the reserve
without waiting for a massive engineering effort that is very unlikely to ever materialize,” said Lamb.
Lamb believes that the Ballona Wetlands Restoration Project will never come to fruition and that CDFW is trying to distract from the fact that the project is ostensibly defunct. In his search for answers, Lamb has reached out to CDFW several times to question them about the project's budget and timeline but has been unsuccessful in obtaining any answers.
Planning for the Ballona Wetlands Restoration Project began in 2003 after California purchased 192 acres of the wetlands and accepted another donation of 291 acres from the developers of Playa Vista.
The first thing CDFW did was to create a Scientific Advisory Committee in 2006. According to a staff report published in 2021, the California Coastal Conservancy allocated $6.25 million for environmental review and permitting for the project.
The Conservancy estimated that amount would be sufficient to fund the remainder of the Environmental Impact Report and the permitting process, but in 2014 the Conservancy terminated its contract with ICF International, the firm responsible for writing the EIR. The 2021 staff report states that ICF’s work did not contain sufficient analysis for such a controversial project and that finding a new contractor disrupted the project’s timeline and budget.
CDFW, the California Coastal Commission, the California Coastal Conservancy, and the Annenberg Foundation spent the three finishing a draft EIR for the restoration project which outlined three project alternatives for a committee to choose from.
The Draft EIR was released for public comment in Sept. 2017
and the public had until 2018 to submit letters of support or opposition. In response, the public submitted over 7,500 letters of correspondence regarding 3,000 distinct issues.
Ultimately, Alternative 1, the most restorative of the project proposals, was certified in 2020. This alternative, as opposed No Action and Alternative 2 and 3, importantly includes a phased approach to the restoration that subdivides the project into Phases 1 and 2. Each phase is further broken down, for a total of 35 sequences.
In 2021, the California Coastal Conservancy authorized an additional $1.7 million to CDFW to complete the permitting and design process.
Lamb’s argument that the Ballona Wetlands Restoration Project is defunct comes from his belief that CDFW and other architects of the final EIR intentionally included a “phased approach” in Alternative 1 so that CDFW could delay the project indefinitely as they search for nonexistent funding. Lamb’s assessment is not too different from CDFW’s attestations, which they explain on their website.
CDFW says that Alternative 1 will “allow for restoration to begin without having the entire sum of funding in place. By utilizing a phased approach, CDFW will also be able to monitor and evaluate smaller phases of restoration. This
phasing allows the restoration to pause, or even halt, and evaluate plant and animal resources to ensure appropriate protective actions and implementation of adaptive management.”
Opponents of the restoration project are still fighting against the EIR, further derailing efforts to complete the planning and design process. In 2021, Grassroots Coalition and Ballona Ecosystem Education Project filed a lawsuit trying to overturn the certification because the project falsely advertises itself as a “restoration,” when, in fact, it is nothing of the sort.
Several organizations and individuals expressed similar concerns during the EIR's public comment period. They argued that CDFW's plans to implement sea level rise resiliency and other alterations cannot be considered a restoration of the wetland’s original ecology. Lamb seconded this opinion, citing the project’s plan to encase a historic tidal slough in a 750-foot-long culvert.
The Ballona Wetlands Land Trust is also in litigation with CDFW, marking the second of four lawsuits filed by five local organizations. Judge Chalfant has ordered that the trust, Protect Ballona Wetlands, Defend Ballona Wetlands, Grassroots Coalition, and Ballona Ecosystem Education Project submit their arguments as one case, to be heard in May 2023. The judge has even made special dispensations to allow extended arguments in light of the aggregation.
Litigation of this kind further delays the planning and permitting process, as rulings could impact the ability of CDFW to implement restoration procedures. Lamb denies that litigation could be the factor in project delays and remains resolved that engineering and permitting are the source of any delays on CDFW’s part.
“Even without any litigation,” said Lamb, “the project would be indefinitely stalled because the design is fundamentally flawed, even after 18 years and almost $15 million invested into the planning process.”
The $15 million invested into the planning process Lamb referred to comes from the
summation of money Lamb said CDFW has spent conducting surveys and planning the restoration project.
Despite continued opposition to the plan, the Ballona Wetlands Restoration Project has an equal number of supporters.
Friends of the Ballona Wetlands have been vocal supporters of the project since the beginning. Other supporters include LA Waterkeeper, Trust for Public Land, and the California Audubon Association.
“(One) reason we’re proponents of the project is because we really believe in engaging our diverse community in not only efforts to restore Ballona… but also all of the educational benefits of exploring the wetlands,” said Neysa Frenchete, the Manager of Scientific Programs for Friends of Ballona.
The Friends of Ballona (FWB) has been one of the eminent groups advocating for the restoration of the Ballona Wetlands since the 1980s. Their lawsuit against the developers of Playa Vista was one of the early landmark victories, which expanded the total area of the wetlands excluded from further developments.
Due to Friends of Ballona’s efforts, the Ballona Freshwater Marsh/Riparian Corridor was restored during the Playa Vista era, creating a 51-acre freshwater treatment wetland that supports more than 265 species of birds.
FBW has also been restoring the coastal dunes since the 90s, working to bring back host plants and habitat for the Federally Endangered El Segundo Butterfly. In 2011, the species returned to Ballona. Since 2019, FWB has been working on expanding its dune restoration by another acre.
Despite these other restoration efforts, Lamb is still not content with the progress, method, or budget for these alternative restoration projects. Lamb referred directly to FBW’s work to restore the
coastal dunes and their interest in removing a grouping of palm trees, which the Trust is currently in litigation with FBW over. According to Lamb, CDFW has not allowed Ballona Wetlands Land Trust to conduct community stewardship.
Upon completion of the permitting and design process, CDFW intends to commence the first two of 35 project sequences, which involve restoring a 110-acre tidal, brackish, and freshwater wetland area in the southeast portion of the reserve. As part of these sequences, CDFW will relocate an existing gas line and work to improve tidal circulation and freshwater flows.
Sequences 1 and 2 will also expand 100 acres of habitat for the Belding’s savannah sparrow, Bell’s vireo, and the light-footed Ridgway’s rail, all endangered species.
By all official accounts, CDFW aims to move forward with the first two sequences of the Ballona Wetlands Restoration Project. Although there is no timeline for the construction phase, CDFW is adamant that February 2024 is when they will hire a contractor to begin the restoration.
The Ballona Wetlands has been a source of inspiration and a battleground for public debate for over 40 years. It is unlikely that will ever end. Although the fate of Ballona is still unclear, what is certain is that its 577 acres are the final remnants of a coastal marsh that once covered most of the Westside.
Sea level rise will eventually reach a point where the wetlands disappear entirely. Invasive plants continue to outcompete native species, making it difficult for endangered species to propagate in their natural habitat. One thing both opponents and proponents agree on is that restoration efforts in Ballona must move forward. The question is when.
“BEFORE TEA” BY LAURA EFFINGER-DEAN & CHRISTINA IVERSON
ACROSS
Humidifier output
Ratio phrase
Hubbubs
Angry
Twosome
Fencing implement
Dark beer
Give orders, even while dreaming?
Muse of poetry
Tolkien creature
Contributes
Swiss chocolatier
Light beer
Tanning bed fixtures
Stripped (of)
Bauxite, e.g. 36 “Don’t lose hope!”
Mining engineer who became president in 1929 40 Maine college town
Request from one robot to another in “Futurama”?
In the center of
List unit
Flit
Update, as charts
Vintage ski lift
Davis of “Grumpy Old Men”
2022 World Cup city
“Dune” director Villeneuve 60 Ancient character 61 Small battery 63 Target of some bark beetles 65 Gets there in no time? 67 Rapper will.__ 70 One who starts a fight over the last crustacean at a seafood buffet? 74 “Hip Hop Is Dead” rapper
75 Episodic option in some games 77 Feel crummy 78 Bobs and weaves 80 Put on board 81 Colleague of Sonia and Ketanji 83 Latch (onto) 86 Like Wiccans and Druids 90 Domain 91 Diploma word 93 Monogram pt. 95 Humorist Barry 96 Not as harsh 99 Decorations for a “Bob the Builder” birthday cake? 102 Via ship, e.g. 104 Brewpub handle 105 Large grinders 106 Polite title 108 Face up to 110 Found loathsome 111 Poet who wrote, “The worst enemy to creativity is selfdoubt” 113 __-Roman 114 Darling 116 Narrow inlet 119 Chateau-dotted valley 120 “Oh, you’re not acting so brave now, are you!”? 124 Word with circle and tube 125 Capri, for one 126 Voting no 127 Pizza slice, say 128 Charge (with) 129 Really, really overcook 130 Deli array 131 Introductory course
DOWN 1 Hard-to-describe feeling 2 “East of Eden” brother 3 Old incarnations 4 Extra NFL
periods 5 Outdoor gear giant 6 Old Apple devices 7 Beachfront property? 8 Links 9 RN workplaces 10 Came through 11 First act 12 Swamp grasses 13 Didn’t stray from 14 Razor brand 15 Maintain forest health with a planned fire? 16 Word with space and planet 17 Put away for later 21 Rarely 23 Was out briefly 24 Thin shard 31 Iron deficiency 32 Fall flower, for short 33 Pentagon org. 34 “Mrs. America” political cause, briefly 36 Advertising award 37 Red __: spicy candies 38 Protagonist 39 Available, in a way 41 Drag racer’s fuel, briefly 43 Awful 45 Sleigh driver 46 Lock of hair 50 “Enter Sandman” band 51 Fresh 52 Caplet 55 “Gentle, gentle” 57 Jungfrau, e.g. 59 Germ 62 Sighed line 64 Many an exec 66 Hold (up) 67 Quran faith 68 Breakout gaming company 69 Illustrative tools in a
neuroscience lab? 71 Wallpaper unit 72 Inkling 73 Fix unlawfully 76 Hide-and-seek word 79 Prepare to ride, in a way 82 Ghostery, for one 84 Cleaning up the mess, say 85 Audio jack abbr. 87 Cate Blanchett’s “The Lord of the Rings” role 88 Declare 89 “Queer Eye” expert Jonathan Van __ 92 Prior to today, poetically 94 “The Savages” filmmaker Jenkins 97 Artist known for optical illusions 98 __ Speedwagon 100 Hairy Addams cousin 101 “__ so fast!” 103 Old English 104 Ring of color 106 Go 50-50 on 107 Massey of old films 109 College newbie 110 Sister’s attire 112 Long haul 114 Thoroughly cooked 115 “¿Cómo __ usted?” 117 Ancient Cuzco dweller 118 Like much cheddar 121 Hawaiian-style pizza topping 122 Record collector’s collection 123 Carnival maker
With the arrival of the holidays during the 40th anniversary season of The Actors’ Gang, the Culver City theater is producing a family-friendly show that splits away from traditional holiday fare to present a creative Cirque-inspired immersive experience for their audiences.
“Shambles” is an acrobatic, clown-filled panto, a musically driven show created by Cirque du Soleil’s Stefan Haves and musical director Philip Giffin. It opened on Dec. 8 and is running through Dec. 31, though its creators hint that the run might be extended.
“As a Cirque director committed to building community, joy and connection, the timing could not be more fortuitous to build a huge spectacle of a variety show with Tim Robbins and The Actors’ Gang,” Haves said.
“Shambles is a gift to the city of Los Angeles, a gathering of actors, musicians, and variety artists banding together to lift spirits through comedy and joy.”
The immersive experience takes audiences on a tour of specialty rooms before leading them upstairs to where the main action will take place.
It is a show filled with clowns, not only because The Actors’ Gang frequently uses traditional clowning and commedia del’arte techniques, but because it is Haves’ specialty. He names 2022 as the perfect time to be doing shows with clowns as the world comes out of the pandemic.
“I have the feeling that after the plague comes a renaissance,” Haves said. “So the artists have to come forward and who are the first artists to come forward?
Probably the clowns are the most brave guys to come forward. I can put that into action.”
An artist with a long history of creating shows for Cirque du Soleil, doing so with six of their touring and resident companies, Haves reached out to The Actors’ Gang earlier this year and offered to do clowning workshops with them. It ended up being a natural fit for the company.
“I’m a native Los Angeleno and 40 years ago I was producing shows in LA as a 20-something kid while they were doing ‘Ubu,’” Haves said, referencing the Actors’ Gang’s first show that they reprised to start this season.
“I’ve known about the Gang for a long time. We’ve just been orbiting around one another, but this is really the first merging of Tim and the Actors’ Gang really putting resources toward a really fun event that Phil and I could flesh out.”
Haves describes “Shambles” as Cirque du Soleil in a postage stamp. It starts out as an immersive experience in which the whole audience is abducted by aliens. He says audiences will constantly be surprised by the things that happen, especially during the immersive portion as they visit what the company calls “curated rooms of wonder.”
“They actually walk through a rocket ship through the briny deep in the ocean, a stroll right into the Day of the Dead and upstairs to a 1962 house where they’re getting ready for the NASA holiday party,” Haves said.
While the show is thoroughly modern in design, it is tinged with nostalgia in the way it takes people back through time and the music it is filled with. It is, though, Haves said, very gender fluid with women playing NASA scientists and men playing the scientists’ mad men wives.
“It’s a very naïve, fun, inclusive show which you can bring the kids to but everyone’s going to enjoy it,” Haves said. “That’s one thing about clowns is it really doesn’t work you too hard. You have to stay in the here and now and we plan to take you down
some really fun, fun streets and journeys.”
He compared creating “Shambles” to his Cirque work where for six years he had to create a new show every three months and had only four days to do it. In those shows, he took 10 minutes on the front end to show who everyone was—the good guy, the bad guy, the lovers—and to set up the story. Then the show takes off with an audience who has empathy for the characters. He does the same thing with “Shambles."
Creating the show’s sound is Giffin, who has composed original songs and new arrangements for music that varies from heart-felt to eccentric song and dance numbers, all performed by a live band. The arrangements are of music that everyone knows, but with a special Giffin twist.
“Those are interspersed throughout the show in between variety acts and in between different cast members doing zany wacky things,” Giffin said.
The actors are so amusing that Giffin said he sometimes struggles to get the attention of the band members.
“Hey, look at me because I’m ready to count off the next song,” he claims he has to tell them. “They’re watching the show because they’re completely enamored and they’re cracking up.”
The band, which consists of guitar, bass, keyboards, drums
and two singers (plus the guitarist also doubles as a vocalist), work with intricate harmonies.
“They are just stellar musicians who can turn on a dime,” Giffin said. “We have one arrangement of mine that went through 23 songs within the span of three and a half minutes. It’s kind of the equivalent of a trapeze act because it requires a whole lot of rehearsal. We’re just dipping from one tempo to the next to the next. Interestingly enough, the lyrics all make one sentence. When they’re daisy chained together, it makes sense in a Stefan Haves kind of crazy way.”
These songs are ones that contribute to the feeling of nostalgia as they are popular ones drawn from the '70s or '80s. They move from hard-driving songs like “Renegade” or “Ain’t Nobody” early on to the ending where they perform such songs as “Lorelei” and “Hallelujah.”
Shambles is designed around the performers—17 members of The Actors’ Gang, six variety artists and six musicians in the band. Haves said when he writes a show, he doesn’t look for the perfect person to fulfill a role, he tries to write the perfect role for the people they have. He describes himself as a visual storyteller.
Haves and Giffin have worked together for almost two decades. Giffin is an Emmy-nominated composer, arranger and conductor who has worked on numerous
film features and television programs including the “Die Hard” franchise, “Lethal Weapon I and II,” “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure,” “Muppets Tonight, “The Simpsons” and “Darkwing Duck,” for which Disney gave him a full orchestra every week to score 93 episodes.
Giffin said he loves working with Haves because of the way he trusts him to create for his shows.
“He gives me the parameters and we talk about it,” Giffin said. “Then he trusts me. Stefan gets his vision, but he gets it in a way that there’s not a lot of meddling. I don’t do a lot of rewrites. As a film composer, rewrites are pretty common. I have a joke: I say that I score movies for free, but I charge for changing the score."
He also praises Haves’ creative spirit.
“He is all about community and supporting a performer, finding the best way to present their natural gifts to the audience," Giffin said. "It’s inspiring to watch.”
Haves confirms that he takes a very collaborative approach. He considers his work a shared hallucination. He knows what he cannot do well and trusts others to do it.
“I’m blessed enough to have a genius like Phil Giffin who is that tireless tenacious being that just gets the best out of everything,” Haves said.
It’s a partnership that has created a show that The Actors’ Gang is inviting people to come out and see while wearing their ugliest Christmas sweater. The show will be followed by a party with flowing champagne for those who are of age. Described as “family-friendly, inclusive and irreverent,” Shambles is designed to be the quintessential LA experience and a holiday show that no one will forget.
Shambles, a Cirque-infused holiday extravaganza
WHEN: Now to Dec. 31
WHERE: The Actors’ Gang at The Ivy Substation, 9070 Venice Boulevard, Culver City TICKETS: $35 INFO: theactorsgang.com PHONE: 310-838-4264
In a blink of an eye, winter is upon us, and now more than ever homeowners are looking for easy and affordable ways to maintain their homes as the cost of basic goods and services has increased at a stratospheric rate over the last few months.
Depending on where you may reside, your home can be exposed to some harsh natural elements, ranging from hail, snow, severe wind, or even flooding. The winter season can present itself with all sorts of surprises, so it’s best to be as well-prepared as possible.
According to estimates provided by Fixr.com, a platform that offers cost guides and comparisons related to storm damage, homeowners tend to pay on average between $3,000 and $7,000 to make repairs on their homes after a major natural event.
Though these estimates tend to focus more on stormrelated incidents, such as wind or hail damage, other major events such as tree and soil debris, or even heavy snow can rack up a hefty repair bill of more than $5,000 on average.
While there is the possibility of requesting a professional to assist with home repairs and maintenance, it’s often less expensive, and easier than you may think to get the job done by yourself.
As of 2021, estimates by Thumbtack, a home services website, found that the cost of maintaining a home has risen by 9.3%. What’s more alarming is that some experts predict the cost of home maintenance and repairs to continue climbing in the coming months, even as it looks as if inflation has finally reached its peak.
Whether you have the expertise, or only recently
purchased a home, and want to make sure it’s wellmaintained and secured for the upcoming winter season, here’s a look at some easy winter home maintenance tips for the average homeowner.
Often we expect leaks to come through holes and openings found in roofs, and while this is a possibility, water damage to window and door frames can be an unseen entrance for unwanted water into your home.
Start by conducting an inspection of the windows and doors in and around your home. Consider the condition of the frames, whether it’s constructed out of wood, aluminum, or any other type of material. If you notice that the material has started deteriorating, patch it up as soon as possible with adhesive or material-like silicon.
Look for any cracks or holes that can be present on the sides and at the top of the frame, this will help to give you an overall indication of the condition of your window and door frames.
Right after the last fall leaves have hit the ground, and well before the first snow of the season, try and clear out your gutters and drainage pipes to help the flow of water throughout the winter season.
Often homeowners will leave the gutters and drainage pipes unattended until the start of spring, but dead foliage can easily clog your drains and pipes over the winter. With clogged-up drains or pipes, excess water from melting snow and rain can easily leak into your
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roof or other parts of your home.
The garden may be unused for several months at a time during the winter but doesn’t mean you should be neglecting it to an extent that it can damage your home.
Take care of low-hanging branches and overgrown hedges by cutting or trimming them. Do this well in advance, and see how far back you can cut large trunks or branches to ensure they are out of direct contact with your home.
The best is to always leave a few meters gap between the tree or bush and your home. This gives you a bit of legroom and ensures that in case of severe wind or snow, your home will be out of direct reach.
Often, more than usual, chimneys can become cluttered with dead foliage and debris over the warmer months and during late fall. Make sure that you inspect your chimney well before you use it, as to ensure that no flammable materials are stuck at the top of the chimney outlet.
If you are unable to reach the top outlet part of the chimney, make sure to contact a professional to help and assist you with the removal of any unwanted debris. Never light your chimney before you have not made sure that it’s been properly cleaned and wellmaintained.
Inspect the exterior and interior pipes
Both older and newer homes are prone to leaking pipes due to rust and old age. During the seasonal change, conduct a thorough inspection of all your pipes, both exterior and interior pipes.
For exterior pipes, make sure that any holes or leaks have been fixed with a sealant of silicon that is cold and heat-resistant. Any loose hanging pipes need to be fastened against the wall, and if you notice that your pipes are rusted, consider getting the section replaced well in advance.
The same goes for interior pipes, especially those that run through main living areas. You don’t necessarily want to wake up in the middle of the night with gallons of cold water running through your bedroom.
Homeowners that reside in extreme weather regions may want to research innovative ways through which they can keep their pipes insulated throughout the winter to help keep pipes warmer for longer, helping them to save on electricity.
Preparing your home for the winter may seem like a daunting task, but if you start early, do a thorough inspection of all major components and maintain it throughout the winter season, you’ll end up saving a lot of time and money without having to make any massive replacements.
THIS WEEK’S CONTRIBUTION CAME FROM: REALITY TIMES STAFF realtytimes.com
Have an event for the calendar? Send it to kkirk@timespublications.com
Santa Monica Pier Hosts Locals’ Night: Holiday Cheer Thursday, Dec. 15
Revel in the season’s magic with family and friends while enjoying activities for kids, holiday carolers, hot chocolate, a car show, visits from Santa, and so much more. From the historic Merry Go-Round Building to the spectacular West End of the Pier, activities and entertainment will feature the best things about Santa Monica, including homegrown talent, seasonal storytelling and a couple of endearing nods to the past.
200 Santa Monica Pier, Suite A, Santa Monica, 3 to 9 p.m., santamonicapier.org/ localsnight
“We Tell Our Story”
Dec. 16 to Dec. 18
The Santa Monica College Musical Theatre Workshop will celebrate live theater with performances of “We Tell Our Story” on Dec. 16 at 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 17 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Dec. 18, at 2 p.m. Performances will be held in the Studio Stage at the SMC Theatre Arts Complex, located on the main SMC Campus. The lively, entertaining revue will showcase SMC students—accompanied by SMC pianist Sang Hee Cho performing solos, duets, and group numbers from current and past Broadway hits. A joint program of the SMC Theatre Arts and Music Depart-
The Santa Monica College Musical Theatre Workshop will celebrate live theater with performances of "We Tell Our Story" on Dec. 16, 17 and 18 at the SMC Theatre Arts Complex.
ments, the showcase is directed by SMC Theatre Arts instructor Aric Martin, with music direction by SMC Music instructor Gary Gray. Advance tickets are $10, plus a modest service charge. Tickets are $3 more at the door. Free parking on premises. Seating is on a first-arrival basis. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 310-434-4319.
1900 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, smc.edu/tickets
Holiday Cheer in the Gardens Saturday, Dec. 17
City of Santa Monica’s Community Garden Program invites you to “Pancakes at Ishihara Park Learning Garden Event” - Holiday Cheer in the Gardens! Celebrate with friends
and neighbors, kid’s activities, garden tours, compost demonstrations, coffee and pancakes with garden fixings’ for those looking for some energy! Learn about the Westside Seed Exchange! Sponsored by City of Santa Monica Community Gardens Program with the support of Santa Monica Roots. 2909 Exposition Boulevard, Santa Monica, 9 to 11 a.m., santamonicaroots@gmail.com
Pickleball Charity Cup for a Cause
Saturday, Dec. 17
Sports history will once again be made as Exit 14 Productions crowns its first-ever Pickleball Charity Cup for a Cause champion. 32 teams will compete for pickleball glory at Westchester Tennis Center. While only one team will be crowned Pickleball cup champion, every person who attends this event will be supporting a great cause. They are partnering with UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital to decorate the rooms of children and teens enduring long-term hospital stays. Every single dollar raised will go towards comfortable bedding, posters and games to bring smiles and comfort to every patient.
7000 West Manchester Avenue, Los Angeles, 1 to 4 p.m., bit.ly/3HrQT7L
SANTA Monica Pub Crawl Saturday, Dec. 17
Dust off those antlers and Santa hats, shine up those menorahs and get ready for the 14th annual SANTA Monica
Pub Crawl. Join thousands of crawlers and dozens of Santa Monica’s best bars and restaurants and raise money for the Westside Food Bank to help those in need for the holidays. Choose from multiple routes and get exclusive food and drink specials throughout the city. Tickets also include one free drink, no cover charges, priority entry into the city’s hottest bars, beer gardens, DJs and live entertainment, photo booths, and entry into Santa’s official after-party! Tickets on sale now and start $20 in advance.
Various locations, 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. (check-in from 5 to 9:30 p.m.) santamonicapubcrawl.com
Dec. 18
MIXT has partnered with Tinsel Town to celebrate its newest opening and will be offering complimentary gift wrapping with the purchase of a MIXT scratch-made salad at its Santa Monica location.
401 Santa Monica Boulevard, Santa Monica, Noon to 4 p.m., santamonicapubcrawl.com
Betty’s Place Toy Drive
Drop off your toy donations through Dec. 19 at Betty’s Place. Check their website for store hours.
2314 Lincoln Boulevard, bettysplace.la
Tickets are on sale for the Westchester Mental Health Guild’s third annual Holiday Lights Tour & Contest. For $10, ticket purchasers will get a map of Contest homes to see in Westchester and Playa del Rey from Dec. 10 to 26. Through Dec. 20, tour goers can vote for their favorites, with the winners announced Dec. 21. All proceeds benefit Airport Marina Counseling Service.
2022holidayslightstour. eventbrite.com
