The Argonaut Newspaper - December 29, 2022

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Contributing Writers: Bridgette Redman, Morgan Owen, Michele Robinson, Leah Schwartz, Marin Heinritz

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VICE PRESIDENT: Michael Hiatt PRESIDENT: Steve Strickbine

Rising interest rates

Editor:

As I understand economics, prices inflate because the demand for things exceeds the supply. So, how to increase the supply of goods? Get investors to invest in more production, and hire more workers. How to incentivize investors? Lower interest rates so they can borrow affordably.

Why is the Federal Reserve raising interest rates? Aren't they doing the exact opposite to cure inflation? Some believe that lowering interest rates enables consumers to buy more stuff which increases demand over supply. So, lowering interest rates must be targeted exclusively to increasing production, not increasing consumption. Banks can do that, if they get directed to from the Federal Reserve. The Fed must tie lower interest rates to investments in farms, factories, and businesses.

If the Fed can't do that, then Congress must step in. The interest rate hikes are leading us toward recession.

Bruce Joffe Piedmont

Re: Ballona Wetlands article

Editor:

I appreciate The Argonaut's contributions to community news, but the 12/15 article "What Happened to the Ballona

Wetlands Restoration Project?" does a disservice to our beautiful Ballona Wetlands by trying to encapsulate a complex issue into a few short paragraphs with multiple incorrect statements and omissions.

The article omits the need for Federal agency permits so that numerous federal laws are complied with. And, the Army Corps of Engineers dropped the project from its list when it revealed that the state used incorrect flood calculations. The article does not mention the plight of the animals that rely on this wetlands ecosystem. Migratory birds and the great monarch butterfly cannot go somewhere else while CDFW "restores" their habitat for several years.

And, the article glosses over the enormity of the SoCalGas facility by saying the project will "relocate an existing gas line." The area (even outside of the wetlands) is pocked with wells and crisscrossed with pipelines. Our community deserves better than a poorly summarized "update" for one of SoCal's last remaining coastal wetlands.

Mary Beth Trautwein Los Angeles

Re: Ballona Wetlands article

Editor:

Our New Normal Is Hurting Us

By Maria Nazarian, Ph.D.

Aclient said that they stopped covering their mouth while yawning in public and it took some awareness and effort to reestablish that habit once the mask mandates went away. Yawning without covering and without a mask was impolite, but it didn’t hurt anyone.

What hurt was when this client canceled Mother’s Day brunch at the last minute, because they felt too overwhelmed with reintegrating, meaning returning to in-person social and professional meetings. This problematic behavior of avoiding social gatherings required substantial effort to change, and the endeavor ultimately benefited the client and their loved ones.

We all engaged in out-of-theordinary behaviors during the peak of the pandemic that were excusable at the time. Are we still engaging in habits that may be hurting others, and ultimately hurting us? Yes.

Over the past nearly three years, I’ve watched how our new normal is hurting us. The “normal” we had before the lockdown was already challenging, as we struggled to find balance in our personal, occupational, and social responsibilities. But the most

concerning things with our new approach to life are our fearbased choices, our loss of pre-pandemic sense of social obligation, and our lack of skills in regulating our emotions in this ever changing landscape of uncertainty.

1. Fear inevitably drove most of our decisions during the peak of the pandemic. I believe that fear continues to impact our choices unintentionally and unconsciously, more than it did pre-pandemic. Though Covid numbers are considerably lower, we’re still in a pandemic, and we’re still naturally experiencing underlying fear and worry. Fear is also involved in our continued heightened social anxiety, which increases our likelihood to avoid future social situations, which validates our fear of rejection or of being judged, and exacerbates our tendency to isolate. This, in turn, increases our feelings of loneliness and depression, making it more likely for us to have physical illness, suicidal thoughts, and substance use problems. This new normal standard of fear-based decisions is keeping us stuck in a cyclical pattern of social, emotional, and physical factors that continue to affect us in unhealthy ways.

2. While socially isolated, we might have become more and more self-focused than otherfocused without the guilt of neglecting social obligations. During this time, we also were out of practice of our social skills as we were hiding behind our masks with the comfort of perceived anonymity, and perhaps as a result of blurred boundaries and expectations in our interpersonal relationships. As we found relationships in which we didn’t want to invest or that didn’t work, we neglected or ended them; these actions were much easier while we were social distancing as we didn’t have to face anyone and had a good reason to pass on in-person gatherings. This new normal approach to social interactions seems to have caused an overall breakdown of our social networks that may not yet be repaired or replaced, which is hurting us and perpetuating difficult emotions and

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR DOCK 55 MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

The Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors is issuing this Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit proposals for an agreement with an entity (Manager) to provide management services for charter boat operations at Dock 55 in Marina del Rey. Selection of a Manager will be based on the qualifications of the applicant, with an emphasis on safety standards, professional experience operating similar recreational programs, operating plans, community service, financial capability, and remuneration.

Applicants must meet the minimum safety requirements as specified by the County. Applicants that do not demonstrate the ability to meet the minimum safety requirements will not be considered.

Applications and instructions are available for download. Visit http://beaches.lacounty.gov and click the Dock 55 Management Agreement RFP.

The deadline for submitting applications will be January 30, 2023 at 11:59 a.m.

The Department also reserves the right to revise the submittal instructions and to modify any and all terms and conditions of the RFP, including minimum requirements. For further information, email atadros@bh.lacounty.gov.

Happy holidays, neighbors.

I wish all my neighbors a safe and happy

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

mental health challenges.

3. During the peak of the pandemic, it was expected that we’d experience uncertainty, worry, grief, anxiety and fear. However, it is harmful to experience these emotions intensely over a long period of time and detrimental to normalize this severity rather than developing skills to regulate them. It seems that, due to the chronic nature of this pandemic, we are sensitized to feeling uncertain such that we react with more discomfort and fear than is helpful. This new “normal” baseline for our emotions continues to have a negative impact on our mental health and overall functioning.

What can we do? When we learn ways to regulate our fear and other difficult emotions, we’ll be more likely to participate with appropriate graciousness in social settings and to practice setting healthier boundaries that strengthen our interpersonal relationships. Regulating emotions could begin with mindfulness training,

as in becoming aware of our experience of these emotions and noticing their impact on our thoughts, sensations and interactions. Just as being mindful of yawning without a mask helped a client adapt their behavior to bring comfort in those situations.

You are not alone in this new normal. We can all work on making changes in our emotional well-being and mental health professionals can help. A therapist could personalize your treatment based on how you prioritize your needs/goals. Together, you can find realistic ways to implement behavioral changes and to address unhelpful thought processes, while learning to better regulate your emotions.

We don’t know what our next normal will be, but as we learn and apply techniques to stop hurting now, we’ll be better equipped for our future life’s challenges.

Maria Nazarian is a Santa Monica-based psychotherapist. Visit beachtherapist.com for more information.

I don’t understand why we need to bulldoze nature to make it better. Please do some research and report on the restoration of the Malibu Lagoon and it’s complete ineptitude and destruction of animal species and wildlife.

It’s not the same, the waters around it are green and mildew like, and it ruined the surf line for surfers that enjoyed that area for many years. It’s gone.

Maybe do an in-depth article to research what has been done before. Whenever the state fights nature, they destroy it.

Same with the Oxford Lagoon in Marina del Rey. Hardly any wild birds go there anymore. Monarch butterflies that are now endangered don’t flock in the 50-year-old trees that they chain sawed down (at the protest of many people).

This is always about a money train and it’s simply disgusting and wrong.

Please send someone to report what went wrong with these other projects…that is the truth that needs to be told out there.

Thank you. Beth Holden-Garland Los Angeles

Re: “Historical Win”

Editor: Can someone please explain the letter to the editor that appeared on 12/15 (“Historical Win” by Ron Bassilian)? It was about the recent local election, but celebrates the defeat of Mike Bonin, who wasn’t on the ballot. (The last time he was on a ballot, he beat a recall vote).

It then extols the winner Traci Park for beating Erin Darling, defining it as a defeat of the “city machine backed candidate.” Now, I looked everywhere; I can’t find this machine. The County Board and the City Council are at odds. The City Council is chaotic and disorganized. We have a new mayor who doesn’t have a machine.

Here’s my confusion: Park was almost entirely financed by the real estate, corporate landlord, and developer industries who run this city, as well as the non-resident, right-wing Police Union. As a lawyer, her clients were various governments, aka

political machines.

Darling was, well, as you could have seen, not really financed by anyone! And his campaign signs disappeared as soon as they were put up. As a lawyer, his clients at Legal Aid and as an indigent criminal defender, were poor and middle-class people in trouble. Darling pulled in $83,700. Park raised $387,000. According to Ethics Commission filings, approximately 100 contributions to Park came from people or entities involved in the real estate or development sector. Darling counted a single “real estate investor” in his donor rolls.

So, which CD11 candidate was the favorite of the establishment moneyed machine which has run Los Angeles for decades and left it in the condition it is currently in?

Jack Schwartz Venice

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Passion for Taekwondo

Local family earns black belts together

By Michele Robinson

One thing that runs strong in the Newton family is their shared passion for taekwondo. Not only have all four family members earned their black belts, but what is even more remarkable is they are all doing it together.

Nov. 5, 2022, was a memorable day in the Newton household. On this day, Marybeth and her 13-year-old son, Sammy, earned their 4th-degree black belts while her husband, Damien, and their 10-year-old daughter, Mary Leigh, earned their 3rd-degree black belts.

“I never thought I would get a 4th-degree black belt in taekwondo,” Marybeth said.

The Newtons practice taekwondo with Grand Master Jun Kim. Kim is a 9th-degree black belt and was the head coach for the Argentina Olympic team in 2000. His repertoire also

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includes teaching well-known action stars like Chuck Norris.

Currently, Kim owns and teaches at the Chung Do studio in West Los Angeles. What sets his studio apart from others is that he offers multi-generational classes which encourage all levels to practice together.

“There are 3-year-olds and 60-year-olds together in the same class,” Marybeth said. “All levels are together, so black belts can help work with the colored belts. This encourages teamwork and mentoring of the next generation.”

Marybeth and Sammy have been practicing with Grand Master Kim for nine years, ever since Sammy was about 4 years old. They began with the classes because Sammy wanted to learn how to fly.

“It was part of his ‘superhero’ training,” Marybeth said. “He wanted to be a superhero, so we started him with martial arts classes.”

In the beginning there were three boys, and the moms were sitting and watching. Marybeth wondered why the moms weren’t participating. She decided she wanted to join and became the first adult Grand Master that Kim worked within these classes. She started slow and began by working on her white belt.

“I learned bit by bit and built upon the skills,” Marybeth said. “I learned kicking combinations, sparring, breaking boards and form.”

From this unlikely beginning, Marybeth realized she enjoyed the classes. She began using them to reduce the stress she encountered from work in Non-Destructive Testing and running two successful businesses.

What she likes about taekwondo is that she can do it at any age. Also her participation is inspirational and serves as a good role model for young girls,

•

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All four members of the Norman family including Marybeth, her husband Damien, their 13-year-old son, Sammy, and their 10-year-old daughter, Mary Leigh, have earned their black belts in taekwondo together.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARYBETH NORMAN

like her daughter.

“It is important for girls to see women doing this,” Marybeth said. “It gives them the power to feel strong.”

Her daughter, Mary Leigh, grew up watching her mother and older brother practice. By the time she was 3 years old, she was ready to start training too. That was seven years ago.

“I like to do it,” Mary Leigh said. “I like flying through the air when doing a kick.”

Damien was inspired to begin training due to Mary Leigh’s determination to join her mother and brother.

“I never thought I would do this,” Damien said. “She was ready to go in diapers. She wanted to do it and I did it because of her.”

Like his wife, once Damien started the classes, he discovered the training brought him joy.

“It’s been great, I enjoy doing it and it is the defining experience of my family life,” he said.

What is different about Damien’s training is who is teaching him. In a role reversal, he is learning from his son

Sammy. This is because Sammy is a 4th-degree black belt while Damien is a 3rd-degree.

“Sammy is in charge of teaching and he’s really good at it,” Damien said. “He can move in a way that I can’t. He corrects me and it’s pretty cool.”

For Sammy, teaching is one of the best parts of being a black belt. Not only does he teach his father, but he teaches other students.

“I like teaching,” Sammy said. “Being at the level I am, I get to teach people. Some black belts even.”

Sammy’s future plans include continuing taekwondo and becoming a Master. His goal is to open his own studio to teach others. He believes that practicing this discipline is good for his academics and helps him to focus.

“It's helped me in school to

pay closer attention and not get distracted,” Sammy said.

To keep their skills fresh, the Newtons practice three to four times a week. They also give back to the community by teaching classes to the kids’ classmates. They teach white, yellow, and purple belts.

After school on Wednesdays, all four family members can be found at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church on National Boulevard, offering classes for students at Richland Avenue Elementary School. For a nominal fee, the classes are open for all grades (ages 5 to 11) plus parents and teachers. The money they earn is donated to St. Andrew’s for the use of their space and the Richland Booster Club.

For those that need extra help, they also offer a free class on Saturdays in St. Andrew’s courtyard.

“The relationships that this helps us make are invaluable,” Marybeth said.

For more information about Chung Do studio, visit taekwondochungdo.com.

The Newtons practice taekwondo with Grand Master Jun Kim, a 9th-degree black belt who was the head coach for the Argentina Olympic team in 2000.

Dedicated to Helping Animals

Local girl scout makes a difference in the lives of shelter and rescue pets

By Michele Robinson

Ariela Robinson is bringing cheer to shelter and rescue pets this holiday season. From a young age, she demonstrated a tremendous love for animals by volunteering her time, fostering the most vulnerable, and adopting four pets of her own. Now she is combining her passion for helping shelter and rescue pets live happier lives with her enjoyment of scouting by turning her life’s mission into a Girl Scout Gold Award.

“For my project, I am working to improve the experiences of animals in shelters and rescue groups by reducing the stress and boredom they face,” Robinson said. “I was inspired to do this project because I love animals and want to help make their lives better. I also hope to get more animals adopted by decreasing their behavioral issues caused by stress.”

Introduced in 1980, the Girl Scout Gold Award is the organization’s highest award. Requiring strong commitment and perseverance, this prestigious achievement is earned by only about 5.4% of all eligible Girl Scouts. Candidates must commit to volunteering at least 80 hours on their chosen project. In Robinson’s case, she has more than doubled that amount. Logging over 160 hours, she is also striving to earn the Gold for the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA).

Fifteen-year-old Robinson is a longtime West Los Angeles resident and Girl Scout. Involved with this organization since second grade, she successfully earned her Bronze and Silver Awards. For both the Bronze and Silver Awards, her service projects centered around helping animals.

For the Bronze Award, she, along with two other Scouts, organized a pet donation drive. They collected 45 items of dog food, pet supplies, and sheets from the 2018 fifth-grade class of Clover Avenue Elementary School. The items were donated to Wags and Walks, a local West Los Angeles animal rescue group.

For her Silver Award, she and another Scout worked with several rescue groups to organize

and host local pet adoption events. They also made adoption kits to increase adoption and help reduce costs for new owners.

Going solo for her Gold Award, Robinson came up with the idea for this service project after talking to staff at the West Los Angeles Shelter. They expressed a specific need for cat privacy screens, food puzzles, hideaway houses and warm fuzzy blankets to help reduce the stress of pets in cages. Unfortunately, many caged pets experience either anxiety or boredom. This can lead to behavioral issues and may reduce their chances of adoption.

“Most shelter animals spend most of their time in cages, which leads to boredom and stress,” Robinson said. “Some of the main stress triggers include loud noises, unfamiliar smells, unfamiliar feelings such as cold floors and not feeling safe, and seeing lots of people and animals. This can result in even worse issues, such as sickness and more behavioral issues, such as pulling out their fur and spinning around in their cages. All of those factors can decrease their chances of getting adopted.”

During the summer, Robinson organized a pet donation drive drop-off at the Cheviot Hills Recreation Park. While this drive lasted only a few weeks, the donations continued to pour in throughout the duration of her project. She collected a total of 892 items like pet beds, blankets, towels, cat houses, and toys from the community. The Lange Foundation generously donated more than 100 toys to Robinson. These toys were given to the West Los Angeles Shelter to implement a new toy rotation program, an idea that Robinson came up with.

“I came up with an idea to do a toy rotation program at the West Los Angeles Animal Shelter, where toys will be rotated between animals (after washing/ sanitizing) so that they do not get bored of playing with the same toys for a long amount of time,” Robinson said. “I’ve noticed with my own animals that after playing with the same few toys over and over again, they get bored and uninterested. Something as simple as giving them a different toy can make them much happier.”

A key component of her Gold Award project is to educate and inspire others to continue this

mission. During the fall, her project shifted gears to focus on making enrichment/de-stressing items and educating others. Although Robinson made many of the items herself, she still needed assistance in producing more donatable items. To address this, Robinson created several presentations/workshops at local venues including the PalmsRancho Library, Cheviot Hills Recreation Park, and Motor Avenue Farmers Market. She also presented workshops to neighborhood Girl Scout Troops. The workshops consisted of a brief presentation about the importance of pet enrichment and de-stressing pets. Then the participants were invited to choose which enrichment items they wanted to make. There were several options and she provided detailed instructions and pictures. The success of the workshops was evident with 130 participants making 316 homemade enrichment items to donate.

Working with a limited budget and an eye toward the environment, most of the items were made out of recycled household materials.

“One of the main reasons I did the workshops was to inspire

others to help their local animal shelters and rescue groups,” Robinson said. “All of the items we made at the workshops were simple and could be done with common household objects, such as toilet paper/paper towel rolls, old t-shirts, tennis balls, and socks. I also provided everyone with a take-home packet so that they could continue to make more items to donate to animal shelters and rescue groups.”

Robinson also relied on the generosity of businesses to support this project. She received a large donation of used tennis balls from a tennis instructor at the Griffin Club. The balls were used to make sock toys, and tug toys, and the remainder was donated to shelters and rescues.

Also, Anthony Irrazabal from Carpet Plus donated a large piece of new carpet. The carpet was cut up and used to make cat hideaway houses and scratching posts, and then the remainder was donated to Stray Cat Alliance. Centinela Feed, located on Pico Boulevard in West Los Angeles, generously donated a large bag of hay which was used to make toilet paper and paper towel roll toys for rabbits and guinea pigs, with North Central Animal Services receiving the remainder.

All of the 1,208 homemade and collected items were donated to 18 shelters and rescue groups. To distribute all of the donations, Robinson made close to 30 trips, with several organizations receiving two visits from her.

Some of the additional shelters/ rescues benefitting included: Beach City Kitties, CatCafe Lounge, Chesterfield Square Animal Shelter, Feline and Friends, Forte Animal Rescue, NKLA, Pet Pride Cat Shelter, and Westside German Shepherd Rescue of Los Angeles.

Since a key component of the Gold Award is sustainability, Robinson worked with different organizations to offer long-term solutions in order to continue the positive effects of this service project well beyond its completion. One of these long-term donations is the customized donation bin. In the middle of December, Robinson presented a permanent donation bin to the West Los Angeles Shelter. The purpose of this bin is to encour-

Fifteen-year-old Ariela Robinson is combining her passion for helping shelter and rescue pets live happier lives with her enjoyment of scouting by turning her life’s mission into a Girl Scout Gold Award.

PHOTO CREDIT: ANASTASIYA TSYMBAREVICH

In addition to organizing a pet donation drive, Robinson worked with different organizations to offer long-term solutions, including this donation bin at the West Los Angeles Shelter.

age people to continue donating needed de-stressing items to the shelter for years to come, long after this project is completed.

“Previously, the donations were put on the floor, but now there is a large bin that can hold them securely,” Robinson said.

Aimee Rousey, Animal Care Technician-Volunteer Liaison, added, “Staff are thrilled about the donation bin and people who regularly drop items off mentioned how nice it is too. It's a great aesthetic improvement to the shelter. Ariela has done such a great job with collecting donations for the animals and communicating with us about other ways to help.”

Another notable aspect of this Gold Award service project included Robinson connecting Kitty Bungalow with the Stern Memorial Trust Foundation. Due to this association, Kitty Bungalow applied for and won a $1,500 grant in November.

"We were extremely touched to

learn that Kitty Bungalow was an awardee of the Sidney Stern Memorial Trust grant,” said Dr. Melanie Wagner, executive director of Kitty Bungalow. “Further, we are honored by Ariela's and her family's recommendation for this grant. Our staff and volunteers work to alleviate animal stress, so we are thrilled to collaborate with Ariela to provide toys and puzzles at our South LA location. These items keep cats' brains and bodies occupied and can reduce the time before being adopted, making the animal's transition to a home much easier.”

Additionally, the Santa Monica Animal Shelter expressed a need for an agility course to help de-stress the dogs at the shelter. Robinson worked with Animal Control officer Martin Hernandez to select the perfect agility course fitting the shelter’s needs. Now the dogs are thrilled to go outside and try out their new equipment.

To help homeless pets de-stress while they wait for their forever homes, Robinson worked diligently to make sure all the organizations received the items just in time for the holidays. During December, she made the rounds again, dropping off all of the collected and homemade enrichment items to local shelters and rescue groups.

“I am glad to help the animals, and hope the items I donated benefit the animal shelters and rescue groups greatly,” Robinson said.

For more information about Robinson’s project, visit her YouTube Channel (called Reducing Animal Stress) that has videos on how to make some of the animal items. She also created Instagram and Pinterest accounts (@reducinganimalstress) and a website (reducinganimalstre.wixsite.com/goldaward) to educate, inform, and inspire others to help the animals in their community.

Citizen Assemblies

Reforming LA’s democratic process

By Morgan Owen

When the LA City Council leak went public, concerns about the racist tenor of the conversation dominated the conversation, but underneath the shock of Nury Martinez’s words was the more complex issue of gerrymandering and redistricting. Indeed, the topic which sparked Martinez’s words regarded how certain councilmembers might gain political advantage though the redistricting process.

Now, the Berggruen Institute, a Los Angeles-based think tank whose mission is to develop ways social and political systems can be reshaped, is looking at how the political process in LA can be reformed in the wake of growing public distrust.

“When the (leak) happened just a few months ago…there was a lot of discussion about how we can make sure the redistricting process can't be manipulated by our politicians.

In light of that, the (institute)… thought this might be a good time to see if folks in or around City Hall would be interested in pursuing citizens assemblies,” said Dawn Nakagawa, the executive vice president of the Berggruen Institute.

A citizen assembly is a panel of public citizens called together to inform the democratic process by deliberating on specific issues. The assembly’s goal is to render recommendations that the government, ideally, has guaranteed they will follow. In the case of redistricting, that insurance might include a promise of instituting a permanent p ng or at least putting the option on the next election ballot.

In LA, some other examples of issues a citizen assembly might address are homelessness, water policy, or amending the city charter. Likewise, on an even larger scale, citizen assemblies could address social and political issues statewide.

Citizen assemblies have been very successful in Europe and work best when focused on divisive issues that are politically precarious to address. For example, Ireland used a citizen assembly to determine if gay

marriage would become legal. In a highly Catholic country, the issue was stalled in the conventional political process, but through forming a citizen assembly, everyday Irish citizens, both conservative and not, decided to legalize samesex marriage.

“Citizen assemblies are particularly effective in times of great controversy (because) policymakers feel a certain level of pressure to do something

differently,” Nakagawa said.

The Berggruen Institute has studied a multitude of successful citizen assemblies from California to Paris to see why cities formed them and what conditions produce the best results. Based on the trends, the institute believes citizen assemblies can be a tool to create less partisan politics with better public governance.

One way citizen assemblies accomplish this is by creating a

more accurate representation of a city's demographics, leading to a more proportionate crosssection of public opinion. Although participants can be selected through appointment or an election, according to the Berggruen Institute, the best results come from processes that randomly identify potential participants.

On some level, however, our society isn’t arranged in a way that makes citizen assemblies

easy to form. Barriers to participation, which can also skew results, include child care, elder care, transportation, inability to take time off work, lack of translation services, and ready access to the postal system. All these factors ultimately impact who can participate in citizen assemblies and who is not.

One way to combat this is by providing adequate funding, either through impartial sponsors or governmental budgets, to provide an hourly wage and services to those who wish to participate in the citizen assembly. In examples studied by the Berggruen Institute, average wage compensation for participants typically ranges from $20 to $50 per hour.

Despite these barriers, the Berggruen Institute has already assessed significant interest from the LA public to begin approaching local politicians and institutions in search of a sponsor. Sponsors are typically public officials, such as a city council member, who would act as a coordinator and ensure the decision brought forward by the assembly is fairly considered and actioned upon.

Following a public teach this December, Nakagawa said the institute expects to begin approaching city council members in January.

“(We plan to) approach folks that are entering the city council for the first time or folks that have been there before, and see if we can convince them that this is a good moment and a good approach for solving some of the distrust we’re seeing,” Nakagawa said.

For those who want to become involved in the process, the best way is to reach out to the Berggruen Institute. In the coming months, Nakagawa expects there will be several opportunities for canvassing.

“It's time for democracy to live up to the promise of being a government for people,” Nakagawa concluded. “And the current form of democracy we have–our electoral representative democracy–doesn't effectively do that. It hasn't for a long time.”

Citizens assembly participants working together to determine the fate of fair grounds property in Petaluma County, California.

COURTESY PHOTOS OF PETALUMA BY HEALTHY DEMOCRACY

Home Away From Home

Social coffee bar opens in Santa Monica

By Morgan Owen

Jared Meisler is on his third cup of coffee this morning.

“I guess that’s an industry hazard, drinking a lot more coffee than I used to,” he said.

In October, Meisler opened Please Enjoy, a social coffee bar in Santa Monica, with his longtime business partner, Marius Markevicius. According to Meisler, the goal of the coffee bar is to create a comfortable environment for customers to work and socialize.

The centerpiece of the coffee shop is a long bar behind which baristas serve the coffee. With free Wi-Fi, plenty of outlets, and abundant seating, Meisler said he hopes Please Enjoy will bring people together.

The concept for Please Enjoy was not only inspired by Meisler’s work in the restaurant and bar industry, but the experiences his friends and family shared about feeling isolated in a post-pandemic work from home environment.

“I wanted a place that was a good hang,” Meisler said. “I really love the idea of a coffee shop being someone’s office or home away from home. The goal was to create a space (for people) to spend their day. I know a lot of (businesses) complain when people camp out, and I love it.”

Meisler started his career in the eatery business somewhat by mistake. As a younger man, he was an aspiring musician, and like many artists, he said, he also had a job in a restaurant bar.

Eventually, Meisler earned opportunities to open his own establishments, growing from there. While music is an integral part of all his businesses, he has found that creating a space for people to connect is rewarding.

“A lot of momentous occasions are celebrated in restaurants, bars, and cafes,” Meisler said. “I love hearing about couples that met at one of my places, had their first date, or even got engaged.”

But Please Enjoy isn’t just about good company. It’s also about good coffee and drinks. All of Please Enjoy’s syrups and specialty items are made in-house, including the horchata for one of their house lattes.

The Matcha Cubano, one of the coffee bar’s specialty drinks, embodies Please Enjoy’s “playful” and experimental menu, Meisler said. The drink is served over ice and is a mix of matcha, coconut milk, and lime. They also have a Strawberry Mochi Latte and a Matcha Lemon Cupcake Latte, which Meisler said “tastes like a slice of lemon cake.”

Please Enjoy focuses primarily on its drinks and coffee menu, but they do serve an assortment of pastries and in-house sandwiches for lunch. They also serve overnight oats, breakfast sandwiches, and avocado toast for customers to get their day started with.

“I’m really proud of the offerings, and I’m really proud of the room. It sounds corny, but it’s a great place to get your

drinks,” were Meisler’s parting words. He hopes that people see Please Enjoy for what he intended it—as a home away from home with good drinks and good food.

Please Enjoy Coffee Bar

3008 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite A, Santa Monica 310-396-9333

Please Enjoy’s coffee bar behind which their coffee and drinks are served.

Mocha Slushi, Strawberry Mochi Latte and Honey Lavender Latte.

Avocado toast with prosciutto.

PHOTO CREDITS: ANNE FISHBEIN

Holiday Cheer on the Pier

Santa and Mrs. Claus visit Santa Monica

By Kamala Kirk

The Santa Monica Pier recently hosted the first annual Locals’ Night: Holiday Cheer on the Pier Edition on Dec. 15. Art, music, dance, cars, Marionettes, and Santa Claus were all featured at the special event. Activities and festivities include musical performances by McCabe’s Hootenanny; children’s crafts, story time and face painting followed by evening performances by the Bob Baker Marionettes; dance performances by Arthur Murray Dance Studio and Santa Monica Ballet Folklorico; interactive art and a performance by Sea Change Lab, the Westside dream car show, live music by The Strands, roaming carolers from Santa

Monica High School choral department, and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Santa Monica Pier’s Locals Nights take place on the third Thursday of every month from September through May with all entertainment and activity programming provided by Santa Monica organizations and Pier businesses offering specials specifically to Santa Monicans, all upon the world-famous Santa Monica Pier. While the event is not exclusive to Santa Monica residents, this is the Pier’s way of giving back to the community that has supported the Pier for over 113 years. For a complete detailed schedule, visit santamonicapier. org/localsnight.com.

Santa Claus shows off his prize.

Santa and Mrs. Claus pose next to the Pacific Park entrance.

Kashish Kaushik spins for her chance to win a prize.

Miho Hiramatsu painted faces for guests at Locals' Night.

Santa and Mrs. Claus say hello to Jimmy Li.

PHOTO CREDITS: CHRIS MORTENSON

Members of McCabe’s Hootenanny Collective perform for guests during Santa Monica Pier Locals' Night.

Attendees enjoyed live music from McCabe’s Hootenanny Collective.

David and Donny Fair show off their '63 Impala.

Chudney Ross from Books and Cookies tells stories inside the merry-go-round.

A pair of dancers performs for the crowd.

Armando and Irma Aguirre stand next to their '59 Mercury.

Dreaming of the Open Ocean

Naos Yachts hosts biannual open house and sale

By Leah Schwartz

Naos Yachts held its biannual open house and sale at the Marina del Rey Harbor on Saturday, Dec. 10. Twice a year, the premium sailboats and powerboats dealer props selected boats up on shore to display for prospective buyers.

“We try to organize little boat shows because, unfortunately, on the West Coast, we don’t have many here in this part of the United States,” said Christine Pernin, Naos’ director of marketing and communication.

The show displayed five cruising boats from French sailboat and motorboat manufacturer Beneteau’s Oceanis range: model 30.1, 38.1, 40.1, 46.1, and 51.1.

“They’re beautiful, quite luxurious, brand new boats built in France,” Pernin said. “They’ve been sailing in oceans around the world for years and years, they’re very safe. So that’s why we are showcasing them today.”

Naos Yachts was founded in Los Angeles in 2009 by offshore racer Charles-Etienne Devanneau, known as “Charly,” who races professionally and has been sailing since he was a little boy in Brittany, France.

Naos is the leading sailboat brokerage and dealership on the West Coast, with four offices throughout California and one in Hawaii. Last month, Naos opened its newest office in the San Francisco Bay Area.

In addition to the boats on display during the open house, Naos offers a selection of luxury sailboats from Beneteau sailboats’ First & Oceanis lines, and power boats from Beneteau’s power line, Antares & Flyers. Naos is also the exclusive Californian dealer for Amel Yachts, Wellcraft, Four Winns, Lagoon Catamarans, and Neel Trimarans.

For those who are interested in purchasing a boat but aren’t confident in their sailing skills, Naos has a sailing school with an internationally recognized ASA curriculum. They also offer a membership program in partnership with Sailtime that lets patrons take out boats from Marina del Rey, Channel

Islands, and San Pedro Harbors. Naos doesn’t just sell boats, but the promise of adventure. Pernin chronicled the voyages of a few customers.

“They might be in Panama, crossing to the Caribbean, or going around the Pacific,” she said. “It’s the dream, right? I know some people who go every winter to Mexico, to the Sea of Cortez or even La Paz, which is nice and warm when it’s cold in the Sea of Cortez. So a lot of people do that in the winter.”

Naos Yachts

13555 Fiji Way, Marina del Rey 310-821-8446 naosyachts.com

Naos Yachts hosted its winter Open House on Dec. 10 in Marina del Rey to preview the Beneteau Oceanis Range of boats.

Naos Yachts was founded in Los Angeles in 2009 by offshore racer Charles-Etienne Devanneau and is the leading sailboat brokerage and dealership on the West Coast.

Expect the Unexpected

‘MasterChef’ champion shares food, passion and knowledge

By Marin Heinritz

When she was just 3 years old at her mom’s 40th birthday party at the Santa Monica Airport’s pan-Asian restaurant, Typhoon, “MasterChef” Season 12 champion Dara Yu exuberantly chowed down on crickets. Everyone at the party laughed and feigned disgust, but it was the first public display of the young foodie’s commitment to adventurous eating.

“My passion for cooking comes from my love of eating and I’ve always been an adventurous eater,” Yu said. “It was very encouraged and my mom was always having me try new things.”

At 12, Yu was runner-up on Season One of “MasterChef Junior,” and she took home the $250,000 MasterChef prize last season at the age of 21. Clearly, her commitment has taken her far—and has only just begun.

The Culver City High School alumna is also a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, and a chef instructor and kitchen assistant at the Gourmandise School of Sweets and

Savories in Santa Monica.

Yu’s love of food is rooted in family, education, and Los Angeles – her other passions.

“I grew up around a lot of good food,” Yu said, adding that her food aesthetic is inspired in large part by her grandparents, Chinese immigrants from New Zealand.

Her grandmother taught traditional Chinese cooking classes at a community college in South Bend, Indiana in the 1960s when Yu’s grandfather was a math professor at Notre Dame.

“It was a rarity,” Yu said. “I’ve been very influenced by her. My mother learned from her and that was passed down to me.”

Her family encouraged her and inspired her aesthetic with their cultural foodways, but Yu also credits her lineage of educators with shaping her desire to help inspire others and share what she knows and loves.

“It’s always also been an important mission in my family to just share your passion share knowledge,” she said. “The thing I love about food is the

community aspect of it and sharing a meal together. I love being in the kitchen and knowing those people could go on and share that knowledge further.”

From offering a savory pies class inspired by her family’s New Zealand heritage to working as a Hershey’s Holiday Recipe Developer to being a contributing food writer for Girls Life Magazine, Yu is certainly sharing her knowledge and expertise that emerges from nine years in the restaurant industry and five years working professionally more specifically in pastry, though she acknowledges her work is continuously evolving.

“I’m 21, so I still have so much learning to do,” Yu said.

“Going back onto ‘MasterChef’ made me rethink my voice in food and it’s something I’ll still and forever will be figuring out.”

But one thing she knows for sure is that Los Angeles is home and will always be central to her style.

“I was born and raised in LA and it has a very strong

influence,” she said. “LA is reflective of California cuisine and this mixing pot of cultures. I can merge and combine flavors and techniques from all sorts of influences, it’s a fusion.”

Yu said it’s been very important to her to understand where her food is coming from and that she’s “worked over the last year building relationship with farmers at the Santa Monica farmers market.” She also loves going to local markets, finding new ingredients in places such as Koreatown and the Persian grocery stores in Westwood to come up with new recipes. She recently experimented with some new chiles and shiitake mushrooms to create a new pozole.

“The diversity is so great,” she said. “You can get any food you really want depending on traffic within a 20 to 30-minute drive and then be at the beach… Growing up here, it’s a very unique experience and it’s something I think is just ingrained.”

Which is why even though she plans to travel widely with her

MasterChef winnings to explore food cultures of the world as well as develop some new businesses, including “collaborations and pop ups with some chefs in LA,” she said Los Angeles will always be her home base. “Too much of my life is in West LA,” she said, citing “the beach, the weather, the food” as axiomatic reasons to never leave home for good.

And ultimately, she aims to give others, especially those like her, hope in what’s possible.

“I want to inspire anyone who loves food . . . to go after it. I think that the industry can be scary and intimidating, especially for young females, especially being an AsianAmerican as well, but the industry is changing and very diverse and accepting now,” she said, adding that what has served her well is “to expect the unexpected at times but go into it with an open mind and have fun.”

To catch up on previous episodes of “MasterChef,” check out Hulu and FOX Now.

Chef Dara Yu is a Culver City High School alumna and “MasterChef” Season 12 champion.

Recently The Gourmandise School hosted a MasterChef “Back to Win” viewing party at Santa Monica Place to cheer on Yu, along with fellow contestants.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FOX/COURTESY OF SANTA MONICA

Movie Club

Venice Beach rock duo performs at Beyond Baroque

By Kamala Kirk

Venice Beach rock duo Movie Club recently performed for the crowd at Beyond Baroque. The instrumental psych rock band’s music video for their single “Trap Door” off of their EP “Fangtooth” was selected for this year’s Other Venice Film Festival. The music video calls upon the 1950s classic “The Red Balloon” but entirely in reverse, with different colored balloons that match the wildly different locations from the murky shores of Bombay Beach to bizarre art structures that speckle the

small desert town by the Salton Sea. Movie Club’s fifth studio record “Fangtooth” was recorded at Fonogenic Studios by Jeff Thompson and mixed by Mark Rains. “Trap Door” features Tim Lefebvre on bass and David Ralicke on flute. The album was mastered by Brian Lucey and was released on Aug. 10. “Here’s to another year of keeping Venice Beach rock ‘n’ roll!” said Jessamyn Violet, drummer for Movie Club and author of the forthcoming novel "Secret Rules to Being a Rockstar."

Movie Club is an instrumental psych rock band that performed at Beyond Baroque.

PHOTO CREDITS: CHRIS MORTENSON

Barb Lonsdale served drinks to the guests at the performance.

Chris Hall did some live painting during the Other Venice Film Festival.

Don Nardini, Elena Nardini, Luis Tovar and David Holt from the independent film “Lapse” pose for a group photo.

Movie Club's single "Trap Door" was selected for this year's Other Venice Film Festival.

Movie Club set the afternoon vibes with their catchy riffs and authentic rock 'n' roll style.

Danny Reys, Reuben De La Casas and Rodney Connors pose for a photo.

Rodney Connors from the short comedy “He Ain’t Up.”

Safe and Sound Capital Cities rings in New Year with hometown show

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

Sebu Simonian and Ryan Merchant have played plenty of New Year’s Eve concerts as Capital Cities.

Simonian is hoping that this year will rank among the most memorable when Capital Cities plays The Venice West on Saturday, Dec. 31.

“They can expect what we typically bring, which is a great show with lots of dance music, celebratory melodies and fun times,” Simonian said.

“It’s going to be a New Year’s Eve bash. We’re going to count down and celebrate life.”

Best known for their 2011 Top 10 hit “Safe and Sound,” Merchant and Simonian count The Venice West show as a hometown gig. Simonian lives in Altadena, while Merchant resides in Venice Beach.

Born in Syria to ArmenianLebanese parents who fled

Beirut due to civil war, Simonian graduated from Glendale High School and California State University, Northridge, where he studied music. Simonian loves the area.

“I just discovered a cool restaurant called Fox’s on the lake,” Simonian said. “That’s my go-to brunch spot now. Bacchus’ Kitchen on Washington, that’s another great one. Living here is peaceful and serene. It’s good for the kids.”

Simonian and Merchant met through Craigslist and quickly started writing jingles. After three years of collaborations, they formed Capital Cities. The band released its debut, self-titled EP in June 2011 via their label, Lazy Hooks.

In 2012, the band signed with Capitol Records. Its debut album, “In a Tidal Wave of Mystery,” hit stores in June

2013 and spawned “Safe and Sound.” The song’s video was nominated for the Best Music Video Grammy.

They kicked off their first North American tour with Gold Fields in April 2013 at Phoenix’s Crescent Ballroom, and later jaunted with Katy Perry. In the summer of 2018, Capital Cities released “Solarize.”

When he’s not with his kids, Simonian is writing material for the third Capital Cities album. He’s also producing and writing for several other projects.

“The new material is all over the place, which is how we like it,” Simonian said. “We are always experimenting. Generally, we’re a pop-rock act with a dance orientation. Sometimes, we slow it down. Sometimes, we speed it up. Our main focus is writing good lyrics and melodies that could

stand the test of time and could be played on an acoustic guitar. We’re just in the experimental stage at the moment.”

The COVID-19 pandemic made Simonian think about his craft. He found solace in the importance of his work.

“I think, in general, as an artist, we all got a little bit of a scare from the pandemic,” he said. “It made me personally want to be more productive and put out stuff that had been shelved and sitting in hard drives.

“Life is short, and I think the more material you put out as an artist, the better — even if they’re not typical or mainstream. That spurred me to create more and release more music. It also allowed us to be more creative and more productive in the studio. That was a good thing.”

One of his side projects is Mended Mind with producer Jonah Walsh. The band will release music in 2023. In addition to that, he is writing vocals for Sarkis Mikael, an electronic dance music artist from LA.

“I love dance music, but I also love rock music,” he said. “It’s fun to try all kinds of styles and genres. You can be expressive in different ways."

Capital Cities w/ Spencer Ludwig and Moon Cougar

WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31

WHERE: The Venice West, 1717 Lincoln Boulevard, Venice COST: $75 in advance; $100 at the door; 21 and older INFO: thevenicewest.com

Capital Cities’ Sebu Simonian and Ryan Merchant live in Altadena and Venice Beach, respectively.

WESTSIDE HAPPENINGS

Compiled by Kamala Kirk

Have an event for the calendar? Send it to kkirk@timespublications.com

Fireworks in Marina del Rey

Saturday, Dec. 31

Head to Fisherman’s Village or anywhere near the South Jetty to enjoy the annual fireworks display and countdown to the New year with fireworks at 8:59 p.m. and again at 11:59 p.m. Plus, the family-friendly Glow Party returns to Chace Park from 7 p.m. to midnight with DJ music, dancing, food trucks and more. Free admission.

Marina del Rey, 8:59 & 11:59 p.m.

Marina Lights at Burton Chace Park

Through Dec. 31

Enjoy Christmas lights in Marina del Rey’s Burton Chace Park from 4 to 10 p.m. every night with free entertainment on Saturday evenings.

13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey, 4 to 10 p.m.

Camp Cayton at Santa Monica Place

Jan. 2 to 6

The Cayton Children’s Museum at Santa Monica Place has decided kids camp isn’t just for summer anymore and is hosting Camp Winter Wonder. This winter edition of Camp Cayton brings an entire week’s worth of immersive adventure to children ages 4 to 8 years old. This full-day winter camp aims to melt away any winter blues by having children build, create and

On Jan. 5 from 8 to 10 a.m., join instructor

explore during this wondrous season with different daily themed activities. Camp Winter Wonder will balance art making and discover-based learning through play, and is facilitated by Museum Program staff with extensive background in art and childhood education. For more information and to register, visit caytonmuseum.org/camp.

395 Santa Monica Place, #374, Santa Monica

Ice Yoga Class Thursday, Jan. 5

Instructor Austin Hollingshead will host a full-body ice yoga

class open to the public. Participants can expect a morning of healing yoga as the class will start with a focus on the core and progress to fullbody movements to keep the blood flowing. Yoga mats will be provided. Ice yoga is proven to have man health benefits, from building muscle to improving focus and boosting the immune system. When the body is exposed to low temperatures, it releases endorphins and allows the body to burn more calories as it works to maintain its internal temperature. With over eight years of teaching

experience, Austin is a seasoned yoga instructor who has worked for brands such as Equinox and Alo, in addition to special events at Coachella.

1324 Fifth Street, Santa Monica, 8 to 10 a.m.

3rd Unity Skateboard Championship Saturday, Jan. 7

Come check out the 3rd Annual Unity Skateboard Championship at Stoner Plaza from Cosmic Demise and City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation & Parks. In addition to a skateboard contest there will be food

and music. $5 contest entry fee, ages 5 and up. For more information, email: ali.cosmicdemise@gmail.com. 1835 Stoner Avenue, Los Angeles, 1 p.m.

On Dec. 31, head to Fisherman’s Village or anywhere near the South Jetty in Marina del Rey to enjoy the annual fireworks display and countdown to the New Year with fireworks at 8:59 p.m. and again at 11:59 p.m.

The Cayton Children’s Museum at Santa Monica Place has decided kids camp isn’t just for summer anymore and is hosting Camp Winter Wonder, an entire week’s worth of immersive adventure to children ages 4 to 8 years old from Jan. 2 to 6.

Austin Hollingshead for a full-body ice yoga class in Santa Monica.

COURTESY

PHOTO

PHOTO CREDIT: DOWNTOWN SANTA MONICA, INC.

THE ARGONAUT PRESS RELEASES

WESTCHESTER

Completely updated, this crisp and clean three-bedroom Westchester home shines with remarkable attention to detail including hardwood flooring throughout, new paint and windows and welcoming landscaping. The spacious floor plan is ideal for hosting and has French doors to the back porch for that SoCal indoor-outdoor touch. The generous kitchen offers ample workspace, sunlight, Professional Series DCS cooktop with ceiling hood, cooking triangle for appliances and exposed bulb pendant chandelier illuminating the expansive dining area. The primary bedroom delivers a calm space with French door access to the remote controlled spa and covered patio while the two guest bedrooms include large closets, plenty of natural light and a fully remodeled bathroom. Curated with the finest landscaping, the backyard features a gazebo-style covered sitting area with natural gas tap and remote controlled lighting. Enjoy nearby ocean beaches, shops and restaurants, easy freeway access, or the serene privacy of relaxing in this stellar home.

Seven Steps to Take to Prepare Your House to Sell in the New Year

The holidays are a wrap, and with the coming of the new year, many people are starting to make their new year’s resolutions. If selling your home is one of those resolutions, it’s beneficial to take steps now to prepare your house to sell in the new year. Getting a jump start on this preparation can help your home be ready for the spring/ summer homebuying season, an annual tradition that typically sees an increase in buyer demand.

Preparing a house for sale in the new year involves more than taking down the holiday decorations. Some of the key steps to take before putting your home on the market in the new year include:

1. Decide on a listing date

One of the first steps is to decide when you want to put your house on the market and create a timeline for all the tasks that need to be completed before this happens. Work backward from the listing date to establish deadlines for each task. Establishing these deadlines can be a great motivator for getting all of the to dos done in order to showcase your house to its best advantage.

2. Hire a REALTOR®

A REALTOR® will guide you through the selling process and provide a plan for attracting potential buyers to get your house sold for the best possible price. REALTORS® have reams of data and calculators at their fingertips to help you make the most strategic choices when selling your house.

3. Give the house a deep clean

Deep cleaning goes beyond vacuuming and dusting. Giving your home a deep clean means getting carpets steam cleaned, mopping floors, cleaning windows inside and out, washing walls to remove stains and scrubbing bathrooms. Consider using professional carpet cleaning and maid services to really make your house sparkle and shine.

4. Get rid of all the clutter

De-cluttering will make your house seem more spacious and make it easier for potential buyers to envision themselves in the house. Start the de-cluttering process by cleaning out closets, cabinets, and garages. Donate clothing and other items of use and throw out items that are broken or cannot be used.

5. Make needed repairs and updates

Leaky faucets, chipped paint, running toilets, and squeaky doors may seem minor but really signal to potential buyers that your home has not been well maintained. To help attract buyers and get top dollar for your home, take the time to make needed minor repairs and consider updates such as repainting rooms with neutral paint colors, replacing worn carpeting, and modernizing bathroom and lighting fixtures.

6. Spruce up curb appeal

Sprucing up the curb appeal of your home is an important step to take before putting it on the market. In fact, among REALTORS®, 94% have suggested sellers improve their curb appeal before listing a home for sale. This recommendation is so common simply because the outside of your home is the first thing buyers see when they pull up to the curb and as the saying goes - you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Painting or replacing the front door, keeping the lawn mowed and weeded, trimming overgrown shrubs and trees, and repairing cracked walkways are just a few things that can go a long way to sprucing up the curb

appeal of your home.

7. Stage it to sell

Staging your home can show it in its best light. The National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Staging found that 40% of buyers’ agents cited that home staging had an effect on most buyers’ view of the home, and 83% of buyers’ agents said staging a home made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as a future home. Staging a house can involve things like adjusting furniture layouts to make rooms appear larger, repainting rooms, opening curtains and blinds to let light in and adding extras like fresh flowers in vases, a bowl of fruit in the kitchen and folded towels in the bathrooms.

If selling your house is on your list of New Year’s resolutions, make sure to take the steps outlined above to get it ready to sell. This preparation can help your house stand out among the millions of homes nationwide projected to sell in the new year.

TUESDAYS

Culver City Farmers Market — 2 to 7 p.m. 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

SATURDAYS

Marina del Rey — 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Via Marina at Panay Way, Marina del Rey beaches.lacounty.gov/mdrfarmersmarket

Playa Vista Farmers Market — 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 12775 W. Millennium Drive, Runway at Playa Vista 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

Santa Monica Pico Farmers Market

8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Virginia Avenue Park, 2200 Virginia Ave. smgov.net/portals/farmersmarket

SUNDAYS

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

Venice and Grand View boulevards 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 1 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.

12/24, e.g.

Past due

Viral social media posts

Place to retire

City with a view of Vesuvius

__-friendly 89 Cal. neighbor 90 *Charmed, e.g. 92 Actress Plimpton 94 __ colada: tropical mocktail

Strip on a bench

Small jazz combo

“Pitch Perfect” actress __ Mae Lee

Snoop (around)

Snoop (around)

*Ramen from a restaurant 111 Small 34-Down 114 Central Florida city 115 Square one? 116 Hoodwink 117 Noisy insect 119 Generous 121 “I want nothing to do with this!,” and how to make the six starred clues match their answers 124 Jerk 125 Loser to the tortoise 126 Part of Q.E.D. 127 Small building block 128 Actress Dahl who is Lorenzo Lamas’s mother 129 “Ah” 130 Oxen harness 131 Scottish caps DOWN 1 Fairy-tale bear 2 Switch positions? 3 Pascal of “The Mandalorian”

4 Curse 5 Oaf 6 Tee-__

App with pics

Origami need 9 “Abbott Elementary” network

Quit working suddenly, as an engine

Emphatic refusal

Longtime Chicago Symphony conductor

Covertly add to an email 14 Oakland’s county 15 Tom Wolfe coinage for frivolous activism 16 One making jerky, perhaps 17 “Skyfall” singer 18 Pedometer button 24 __ bean 25 Corn servings 30 “Monsters, __” 33 Crescent on Pakistan’s flag 34 Apple tablet 35 “Totally horrible” 37 Painter’s layer

Workplace safety org.

“Enough!”

Taffy type

__ Grand: Las Vegas casino

Penny prez

Dev of “The Newsroom”

Reef explorer

Willing partner

Thom __ shoes

Welling up

Enters, as data

Disputes 60 Loch resident, familiarly

Carry a balance 65 Winona of

“Stranger Things” 67 Chapter in history 68 Pear-shaped instrument 70 Too far 71 Saudi Arabia neighbor 72 The Grand __ Opry 73 Serenaded 74 Blue 75 Tabula __ 79 “__, vidi, vici” 80 International gas brand 82 Disney heroine voiced by Auli’i Cravalho 84 “Montero” singer Lil __ X 85 Pro Bowl org. 87 Frilly underskirt 90 Go on 91 Lawn party site 93 Was connected 95 San __ Fault 96 “Is it worth the risk?” 100 Novelist Patchett 102 __ homo 104 Fail to mention 105 Steadfast belief 106 More slick 107 Maritime 108 Yamuna River city 109 Comfortably familiar 110 First month of el año 112 Commerce pact until 2020 113 Figure of speech 117 Meet-__: romcom device 118 Cash dispensers 120 “__ willikers!” 122 Flying formation 123 Connecticut’s Charter __

SANTA MONICA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Susan