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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista
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Community looks to Neighborhood Watch and predictive policing to help drive down crime There may be more than a decade in crime reduction in the Pacific Division, which includes the Westchester/Playa area, but local residents are on high alert when it comes to the rash of burglaries and thefts that have occurred in the community. In response to the outrage over recent crimes, Councilman Mike Bonin in collaboration with LAPD Deputy Chief Terry Hara, LAPD Pacific Area Captain Brian Johnson and NCWP public safety chair Cyndi Hench, held a Public Safety meeting on March 24 at the LAPD Ahmanson Recruit Training
81st Street residents stroll down the street during their daily Neighborhood Watch patrol. Police are urging the community to start a NW on each block to help reduce crime in the Westchester/ Playa area.
Center in Westchester. More than 300 residents of Westchester, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista packed the meeting room to hear from the speakers on how to keep the community safe and to learn what the LAPD is doing to help thwart crime and capture the criminals who are breaking into homes and vehicles. For the panelists, the use of predictive policing and the strength of local Neighborhood Watch programs are key to helping reduce crime in the community. (continued on page 4)
Candidates hope to help make difference in area Deadline for NCWP candidate filing is midnight April 3 Local residents, business leaders and property owners interested in serving on the Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa (NCWP) board are throwing their hats in the ring for one of the fifteen seats up for grabs in the Sunday, May 18 election. Founded in 2001, the NCWP was one of the first neighborhood councils in the city. Today, there are 95 councils that serve as advisory boards to inform council members and other city officials how the community stands on such issues as planning and land use, education, public safety and public policy. At the Saturday, March 29 candidate information meeting held at the Westchester Community Room, (continued on page 10) At left: Candidates and potential candidates attended the NCWP’s election information meeting to learn more about running for a council seat and the expectations for board members.
A look inside your
HomeTown
05 Local mom raises money for “Woman of the Year” campaign 06
Otis celebrates Spring Fest with exhibitions and Kite Festival
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Your Neighborhood. Your News. In Your Hand and Now on Facebook. HomeTown News (310) 641-1016 westchesterhometown@yahoo.com thehtn.com
April 2014
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T h i s M o n t h B r i n g s Yo u April Features Westchester mom seeks to raise money for research 05 Otis celebrates spring with exhibitions, Kite Festival 06 07 Don’t be fooled by crimes of deception and trickery 08 BID celebrates upgrades to business district Parade committee looks for National Anthem singer 11 To Do/Calendar 16-17 26-27 In Pictures
Monthly Features Community Random Notes/Opinion Looking Back... To Do
Calendar Happenings Pictures Business and Professional
Connect with the HTN Mailing Address: 8939 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Ste. 110 #745 Westchester, CA 90045 Phone: (310) 641-1016 Email: westchesterhometown@yahoo.com or htn@thehtn.com Website: http://www.thehtn.com Facebook: facebook.com/thehtn
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HOMETOWN STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS Stephanie Davis, Publisher, Editor Fay Craton, Contributing Writer David “Duke” Dukesherer Sr., Looking Back
Nora Lee Owens, Humor Jeff Blair, Contributing Writer Jack Younger, Contributing Cartoonist
Advertisers’ Directory Airport Marina Counseling 08 Amy & Adam A-Team Realtors 07 Business & Professional 21 California Mentor 12 Carenet LA 06 Covenant Presbyterian Church 09 Custom Design & Construction 13 Daily Grill 10 Drollinger Properties 10 Father/Daughter Prom 07 Food Pantry, LAX 09 Guilded Cage 14 Kevin and Kaz Gallaher 18 LA Arts Collective 23 LAX Airfield Tour 08 Loyola Marymount 04, 05
Matilla Realty 27 METRO 25 Neighborhood Council 28 Nora Lee Owens 18 REAL | LA 14 Socal Sports and Fitness 13 South Bay Brokers 20 St. Anastasia School 11 Vergari & Napolitano 22 Westchester Family YMCA 23 Westchester Farmers’ Market 12 Westchester First Fridays 09 Westchester Lutheran 22, 26 Westchester Town Center BID 03 Westchester/Playa Village 26 Zacha Homes 19
I picked up a gift at The Guilded Cage, stopped for some healthy snacks at Trader Joe’s and had Lori do my hair at HeadQuarters Salon in the Triangle. Mission accomplished!”
About The HomeTown News (HTN) The HomeTown News is a monthly community newspaper, dedicated to providing information about the people, events and happenings of Westchester, Playa del Rey, Marina del Rey and Playa Vista. Look for the HomeTown News the first Thursday of the month at your home or at one of our drop-off locations.
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Mailing Address: 8939 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Ste. 110 #745 Westchester, CA 90045 Phone: (310) 641-1016 Email: westchesterhometown@yahoo.com or htn@thehtn.com Website: http://www.thehtn.com Facebook: facebook.com/thehtn
The deadline for submissions is the 22nd of the month. April 2014
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Community looks to Neighborhood Watch (cont’d)
(continued from page 1) Captain Johnson explained that after looking at the best practices throughout LAPD and the region, Pacific Division recently decided to take an “all in” approach to predictive policing. Using a model based on property crimes (burglaries, grand theft auto and burglary and theft from autos), predictive policing looks at all of the crime in the area and uses a complicated mathematical algorithm to predict where the highest probability of crime is likely to occur. “What I am impressed about Pacific [division]…is their ability, through their crime analysis, to analyze our crime and put our cops where we need to put them,” said Captain Johnson. “What predictive policing has done for us is really illustrate that we were on target, but now we are going to be that much more laser focused.” Johnson explained that every morning predictive policing sends crime maps out with twenty “boxes” or areas to let officers know where crimes are most likely happening that day. The captain can then allocate resources accordingly. Although crime has been down overall for the last eleven years, this has been a “tough first quarter” for the Pacific Division with part 1 crime up 8% (ending the week of March 24), which equates to 20 burglaries in Pacific Division. Thefts are up 37% percent, although Johnson says these crimes are largely preventable. More than 30% are thefts from open garages and stolen bikes, cell phones and other property that was left unattended. Since going “all in” with predictive policing, however, and leading the city’s predicative policing hours in March, Johnson has seen a decrease in part 1 crimes
April 2014
Public Safety meeting attendees look at a map of the area to see if their block has an active Neighborhood Watch.
and “so far believes that it is working.” In the first three weeks of February, there were 362 part 1 crimes in the Pacific Division, but since implanting the “all in” approach to predictive policing, in the first three weeks of March crimes totaled 280. Johnson added that they would be making the information about where the twenty predictive policing boxes are available to the public. While Johnson and other speakers emphasized that they were working hard to keep people and their homes safe, they stressed that they cannot do their job without the involvement of the community. They touted the importance of creating Neighborhood Watches on each block, calling in suspicious behavior to either 911 or 877-Ask-LAPD and equipping homes with burglar alarms and surveillance cameras. “When we have a problems such as
property crime that is occurring in the Westchester area, we want to find out, and we need the help of identifying license numbers, vehicles that come in and out that have no reason to be in the neighborhood,” said Captain Johnson. “It’s all those little parts of the puzzle that help build that picture so that we can have more information to focus on individuals, and that can only happen with your help. With technology that you might have at your residence, the type of security system that you have, the cameras that are very reasonable today and are very good high definition, those all help in our investigation when things occur.” Since the beginning of the year, Hench says there has been an increase in Neighborhood Watches being formed, but the majority of blocks in the area still do not have an active group. Blocks like the 6500 block of 81st Street
in Westchester, however, are making their presence known in the hopes of keeping would-be burglars away and protecting their homes. Their neighborhood watch, led by block captain Mary McFarland, has started the “Doggie Patrol.” The group of seven dedicated volunteers don red vests and take turns patrolling their street from Dunbarton to Alverstone, looking out for suspicious activity. Learning that her neighbor’s car had been stolen spurred retired nurse Patty Ichimura to get involved with the Neighborhood Watch and join the Doggie Patrol with her husband, Richard, and their two dogs. “You get out of your neighborhood what you put into it. I think being the eyes and ears of the block does a lot,” said Ichimura who added that her neighbors often cheer the group on when they see them walking. “This is neighbors being neighborly and it’s a win-win situation. It creates confidence and trust among neighbors.” Other successful Neighborhood Watch groups are combining camaraderie with a focus on preventing crime with “Yappy Hour” where neighbors meet at the park with their pets to discuss what’s going on in the neighborhood and happy hour mixers. “Neighborhood Watch really at its core is about neighbors knowing neighbors and caring enough to pay attention to what’s going on in their neighborhood,” said Hench. “We all take a lot of ownership for our own homes, but when you have a Neighborhood Watch, that ownership and that pride balloons and it covers your block. It’s not enough to just know that there is stuff going on in the neighborhood. We really need Neighborhood Watch groups on every block, because we serve as the eyes and ears of our community. “
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
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Westchester mom strives to reach fundraising goal for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s “Woman of the Year” title Almost twenty years after her son was diagnosed with leukemia, Westchester mom Cindy Barnes is hard at work trying to raise $50,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), an organization that was a godsend for her and her family during her son’s illness. When Barnes son, Matt Whitaker, was just four-years-old, he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) after visiting the hospital for a stomachache. Barnes and her husband Jim were devastated to learn about their son’s diagnosis, but vowed to take on the blood cancer head on. If there was any good news to be had from the situation, it was the doctor’s assertion that they were lucky that Matt had the “best” leukemia a child could have, at the best possible age. “When we were first told it was leukemia, we were just devastated. We couldn’t imagine anything worse happening to us. The doctors said ‘yes it’s horrible. It’s very sad and it’s upsetting, but you need to deal with it,’” said Barnes. “The next morning he was in surgery getting a Broviac tube inserted into his chest to start the chemo. You don’t really have a chance to be upset; you have to really just learn to start dealing with it. Yes, this has happened and this is horrible, but now you have to start
Cindy Barnes and her son, Matt Whitaker, are on a quest to raise $50,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
looking for a cure and how you’re going to get there.” Over the next few years, the family endured Matt’s multiple surgeries, blood tests, spinal taps and harsh medications. Back before the Internet, the family relied on the support and
information made available by the non-profit Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to help cope with the diagnosis and connect with other families facing similar battles. Barnes recalls one Christmas where Matt was so sick from his medications
that he couldn’t get off the couch to open his presents. A professional drum kit made for kids his grandmother had given him had to be pushed over to the couch for him to even attempt to use his drumsticks to bang on one of its (continued on page 21)
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Otis celebrates spring with exhibitions and Kite Festival
By Meg Linton The 2014 Spring Fest at Otis College of Art and Design will take place on Saturday and Sunday, April 12 and 13. The event is free to the public all weekend long and the festivities include receptions for three new exhibitions on the main campus in Westchester; an open house at the Otis Graduate Studios in Culver City with a three-hour public workshop with renowned artist Gary Geraths; and the 3rd Annual Kite Festival on the beach in Santa Monica. The Kite Festival, Spring Fest’s premier event, will take place on Sunday, April 13 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. directly north of the Santa Monica Pier (parking is available at the pier for $6). The Kite Festival was developed by Otis’s Creative Action Program to bring families and communities throughout Los Angeles together for a fun-filled day of learning, craft making and kite flying. This year, with generous support from the Drachen Foundation, Art4Moore, the Tides Foundation and the California State Coastal Conservancy, Otis is able to host this free community event. Headlining a day of flying kites and other inflatables are worldrenowned kite makers Tom Van Sant, Tyrus Wong, George Peters, Melanie Walker, Jose Sainz, Ali
More than 2,000 kites were handed out at last year’s Kite Festival. PHOTO BY ALLISON KNIGHT.
Fujino, Ron Gibian and Bobby Stanfield. A special free workshop for kids focused on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math), which integrates California Common
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Core requirements in science with instruction in art and design will also be offered. Kids will have a chance to learn about the physics of flight while designing, decorating and flying their own individual kites. “This is a fantastic event for the whole family,” says Richard Shelton, Director of Creative Action at Otis. “Kids will have the opportunity to learn about the physics of flight, work on their own creations and watch some truly inspiring kites take to the skies.” Other Spring Fest events include opening receptions on Saturday, April 12, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., for three exhibitions in the Bronya and Andy Galef Fine Arts Center on the college’s main campus, located at 9045 Lincoln Blvd. in Westchester. The Ben Maltz Gallery will open “Freeway Studies #2: Inside the Quad,” a large group exhibition featuring sculpture, video, drawing and painting by artists who have studios in Inglewood, Baldwin Hills, West Adams, Culver City and other areas located in between the four major freeways: I-405; 110; 10 and 105. Banda Filarmonica Alma del Valle will provide the music for the afternoon. In the student-run Helen and Abraham Bolsky Gallery, Master of Fine Arts candidate David Del Francia will present his thesis exhibition featuring new mixed media wall works. The undergraduate Fine Arts juniors are hosting a one-day juried exhibition in gallery RM 107. Award winning artist Marc Trujillo, known for his oil paintings that depict Target, Costco and fast-food restaurant interiors and exteriors, is this year’s juror. He is charged with selecting a range of student work for this display. While the Kite Festival is in high gear on Sunday April 13, there are two additional events happening
in Santa Monica and Culver City. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the bluffs above the Santa Monica Pier near the Camera Obscura, Otis’ Continuing Education department in collaboration with the City of Santa Monica’s 1450 Ocean Boulevard, is hosting a free “plein air” drawing workshop (first-come, first-served) with faculty member Gary Geraths. Geraths recently published the book “Drawing Animals” and was the primary art consultant on the United Artists film “Art School Confidential.” He has also worked with Sony, DreamWorks and Disney Animation. “This workshop,” says Amy Gantman, Dean of Continuing Education and Pre-College Programs at Otis, “offers people of all ages a chance to draw the beautiful So-Cal coastline with tips and tricks from a talented and inspiring local artist!” Later on Sunday, the graduate students in the Fine Arts and Social Practice programs are opening up their studios to the public from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Otis Graduate Studios are located at 10455 Jefferson Boulevard in Culver City. This newly renovated facility comprises 38 artists’ studios and spaces for special programming, including artists in residence, exhibitions and lectures. Live music and performance are scheduled throughout the afternoon along with tasty refreshments. Meeting the artists in their work environments is a valuable way to learn about contemporary art and a great way to start a collection. For more information about Otis’ 2014 Spring Fest activities, please visit www.otis.edu/calendar or call (310) 665-6800. Meg Linton is the Director of Galleries and Exhibitions at Otis College of Art and Design and is a contributing columnist on the arts in the community.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
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Hench was a panelist at the public safety meeting held in March. Pictured from left to right: Pacific Division Captain Brian Johnson, LAPD Deputy Chief Terry Hara, Councilman Mike Bonin and NCWP President and Public Safety Chair Cindy Hench promote Neighborhood Watch.
Don’t be fooled by crimes of deception and trickery By Cyndi Hench Distraction burglary is a crime in which elderly persons are often the targets. The perpetrator seeks to draw a resident out of their home on a pretext. While the resident is occupied, an accomplice enters the home and picks up valuables such as money and jewelry. Thieves may also pick up papers with the intent of committing identity theft. In a variation, the accomplice enters the dwelling by a second door, while the resident is occupied at the other door. To prevent distraction burglary, be suspicious of anyone who comes to your door under any of these guises: • Utility worker (e.g., DWP, Gas Company) • Public official • Police officer • Firefighter • Door-to-door salesperson • Person asking about a lost pet • Lost person asking for directions • Person asking about working on the property • Surveyor • Those asking for a drink of water or to use the restroom Be especially suspicious of anyone who wants access to your home or your yard. In the case of someone claiming to be on official business, always ask for identification, but be mindful that it can be faked. It is highly recommended that you verify that they are legitimate workers by contacting the agency that they claim to represent. While conducting your due diligence, have the worker remain outside of your home and lock the door. Contact your neighbor using your Neighborhood Watch roster if workers claim to be doing work for a neighbor and need access to your property. It is further suggested that you do not solely rely on contacting the phone number that you are given by the workers to verify; instead look up the agency, and call the main or toll free number. For City of Los Angeles departments, call 311 to get connected to the appropriate department. If someone represents
April 2014
him or herself as a public worker, they should have an official-looking public works truck parked in front of or near your residence. If the worker leaves suddenly, rather than waiting for your return, that gives rise to a suspicious situation. In this instance, you should contact your local police department and provide them with detailed information of the encounter. A legitimate worker will always stand by until your return. In addition, follow these other practices: • Do not leave your purse or wallet out in the open. • Keep jewelry and small valuables in a safe. Use jewelry boxes only for costume jewelry. • Keep all doors locked. If you believe a caller has a legitimate reason to get you out of the house, pick up your key and lock the house behind you. • If a legitimate worker is in your house, stay within eyesight to allay temptation of an “opportunist,” who might take your property. Elderly individuals may be targeted for the following reasons: • They are more likely to live alone. • They may need help in maintaining their property, and may be especially vulnerable to those wanting to do yard work, trim trees, maintain fencing and similar tasks. • They may suffer from impaired cognition or judgment. • They are often conscientious individuals who want to be cooperative. This year, there have been two such incidents in all of the LAPD Pacific area: In February, a resident received a knock at the door and the suspect introduced himself as a government employee, who was there to trim her trees. The suspect insisted that he was sent by the City of Los Angeles to trim trees in order to meet City code requirements. The victim took the suspect to the backyard through a side gate to look at the trees, but while (continued on page 25)
Westchester• Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
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BID meeting celebrates upgrades to business district On March 20, the Westchester Town Center Business Improvement District (BID) held its annual meeting at Truxton’s American Bistro in the Westchester Triangle. The event included the unveiling of the BID’s new video, which features the BID’s core programs, including everything from repairing sidewalks and maintenance to beautification. The video can be viewed on the BID’s website at www. westchestertowncenter.org. The meeting highlighted the BID’s accomplishments over the past 12 months, including: • Provided year-around, 40-hour per week Ambassador patrol services throughout the business district. Over 81% of 294 business district patrons randomly surveyed in March and April of 2013 said:“I feel more comfortable knowing that someone is looking out for me in the parking lots.” • Provided weekly streetscape services including street sweeping, pressure washing, trash collection and graffiti and sticker removal throughout the business district. Over 95% of 294 business district patrons randomly surveyed in March and April of 2013 said: “The district is “very clean” or “clean” today. • Added new tree lighting to Sepulveda Boulevard broadleaf and palm trees. • Worked with LAPD to manage aggressive solicitors, customer
April 2014
harassment problems and offered homeless services. • Sponsored on-going PATH (People Assisting the Homeless) services for the business district; and coordination of services to reduce homelessness. • Trimmed all broadleaf and palm trees within the business district. • Facilitated commercial property owner tree planting and sidewalk repair projects on Sepulveda Westway (“Kohl’s” Shopping Center frontage), Sepulveda Eastway (Office Depot frontage), and Citi Bank parking lot (Drollinger Properties). • Planted about 100 new trees to beautify the business district that were donated by the California Science Center with 2 years subsidized maintenance. This was a joint project with the Westchester Streetscape Improvement Association and the City Council Office. Another 100 “Science Center trees” were planted just outside the business district. “We are excited to be making a real difference in the community we serve,” said Don Duckworth, executive director of the BID, who added that BID member businesses are closely tied to all parts of the Westchester community. “Whether it’s working cooperatively with groups like the Westchester Streetscape Improvement Association to beautify Sepulveda Boulevard or sponsoring our local Little Leagues, the BID is connecting with its customers and those who live,
Councilman Mike Bonin was recognized at the meeting by BID president Karen Dial for his work in helping improve Westchester.
work and shop in our area.” During the annual meeting, BID President Karen Dial of Drollinger Properties thanked Councilman Mike Bonin, his staff and other city employees for their hard work and cooperation as the BID has pursued a variety of projects. Duckworth said much is in the works for the BID area during 2014. The area recently welcomed REAL Creative Space to a location on 87th Street in the Triangle, and the Ross Dress for Less store on Sepulveda
is expected to open later this year. Meanwhile, he said the BID is continuing to push the City of Los Angeles to move more quickly on the Westchester Landscape Entry project, which will see new trees planted along Sepulveda Boulevard and repair the broken sidewalks on both sides of the street. “2014 will be a big year, and we’re looking forward to do even more great things for the property owners, businesses and patrons of the BID area,” he said.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
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A lo o k back at We s tch es ter/ P l ay a. . . • your community newspaper • your community By David J. “Duke” Dukesherer, Sr.
Duck Hunting in Playa del Rey I recently came across a Winchester Model 1890, .22-caliber rifle. This was the first repeating .22-caliber rifle classically designed by John Moses Browning for the Winchester Repeating Arms Company and was sold beginning in 1895. Nearly one million of these rifles were made between 1890 and 1932. They still rival any modern .22 rifle. This gun shares a little local history. My rifle, often called a “gallery gun,” was used beginning in 1925 at the Pike Amusement Park Shooting Gallery in Long Beach. It was shortly thereafter retired and put into storage. Legend has it that the shooting gallery owner, a married man, was shot by his mistress with it. She was pretending to shoot at targets, and when he wasn’t looking, she shot off most of his ear. It was a close shave. He survived, as did the gun. His marriage did not. When I was in school at Saint Bernard in Playa del Rey in the 1970’s, a small group of us would pack up our rifles and shotguns on weekends and make the trek to the Frazier Park area near Gorman. Along with a more recent and borrowed Winchester Model 61 (1949), I learned to shoot
Duck hunting in Playa del Rey, 1890. This photo was taken near where the Ballona Creek emptied into the Pacific Ocean. Courtesy of the Los Angeles Public Library’s Photo Collection.
on a Model 90 and grew to appreciate the unbelievably good craftsmanship of what was then a nearly 90-yearold rifle. We spent wonderful days exploring the back woods in Kern County and target shooting with our rifles. If you are looking for a great place to explore, the Mt. Pinos and the Frazier Mountain area are full of surprises. It is close to the California Historical Landmark (#129) Fort Tejón, which has a modern reproduction fort
and interpretive center. The United States Army established this military post on June 24, 1854, to suppress stock rustling and “protect” the Native Americans in the San Joaquin Valley. Camels for transportation were introduced here in 1858. As regimental headquarters of the First Dragoons, Fort Tejón was an important military, social and political center, but it was abandoned September 11, 1864. Camp Latham, the Civil War camp at Rancho La Ballona, was garrisoned with troops
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from Tejón. Both Forts were involved a few years earlier in the Owens Valley Indian War. About the time John Browning began designing guns for Winchester, a group called the Recreation Gun Club owned a very large tract of Playa del Rey land. In the late 1800’s, the La Ballona area was teeming with ducks, geese and other waterfowl. Large groups of hunters made their way on horseback to the region from Downtown Los Angeles and Santa Monica and would camp near the shores of Ballona Creek and the Del Rey Lagoon. In those days, no bird of any kind was safe (nor was a barrel of brandy), and the club promptly shot-out the place. In May 1905, the gun club sold their land to “developers” for a whopping $135,000, and the sale included nearly 5,000 feet of ocean frontage. Several members of the club called foul, claiming the land was worth more, but their efforts to stop the transaction failed. The next month, the Guaranty Trust Company purchased the same land for $300,000, and 1 day later, dozens of lots, a small percentage of the tract, were sold for a total of $308,000! You can draw your own conclusions here.
Please email comments to: dukepdr@gmail.com
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Page 10
Candidates hope to help make a difference in NCWP (continued)
(continued from page 1) stakeholders interested in running for the NCWP board were invited to hear from other neighborhood council members and learn what serving on the board entails. Venice Neighborhood Council member Ivan Spiegel was on hand to discuss the amount of time and dedication it takes to serve on the council. According to Spiegel, board members can expect to spend up to 4 hours a week on neighborhood council issues, including attending board and committee meetings, researching agenda items and testifying downtown to let city officials know the position that the neighborhood council has taken on important issues. For officers
on the board, Spiegel cautioned that the time commitment can be up to twenty hours a week. “The role of the neighborhood council is to listen to your stakeholders, engage your stakeholders and represent them to the city,” said Spiegel. Although according to Spiegel there is an excitement that accompanies serving as a board member, it’s not without its difficulties, especially in regards to taking positions on controversial issues like planning and land use. “You must develop thick skin,” said Spiegel. “Half the people are going to hate you and you have to be ready for it. You will get phone calls and emails.” Current NCWP president Cyndi
Hench said that although serving on the board is rewarding, people often have a misconception about the role the board plays. Said Hench, “I don’t want to downplay the responsibilities and the importance of neighborhood council, but this point about that we are advisory, we are not authoritative, I think it’s a really important misconception. The folks come in and yell at us about state law SB1818, but they don’t realize that we don’t have anything to do with it other than to live within its means. I think that there is a misconception that we have more authority than we do. I think it’s importance not to downplay, but to reemphasize that it is an advisory
board.” She said board members should expect to spend 2-3 hours a week on NCWP related issues and are also required to serve on at least one committee. Those interested in running for the NCWP have until midnight on Thursday, April 3 to file. Candidates can file to run in the election by visiting empowerla.org/ncwp/westchesterplayanc-2014-elections. Candidates are required to select the seat they are interested in running for and provide documentation to prove they are eligible. Candidates are also asked to submit a photo and a statement. (continued on page 12)
We a s ke d t h r e e c a n d i d ates, “W hat do you think yo u c a n ad d to t he NC WP? ” Sibyl Buchanan, running for Business Director 90094
“Having served on a wide array of boards throughout the community for many years, I come to the board with an understanding about the many different viewpoints and needs in our community. I am committed to working together with everyone to do what is best for Westchester, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista, because I know that cooperation and teamwork will allow us to solve the critical issues of public safety, development, and the things that impact our quality of life every day.”
April 2014
Kathryn Evans, running for Residential 13 Director seat
“I think I add a unique perspective to the NCWP Board. My husband and I moved to Westchester about 5 years ago and rented an apartment before becoming first-time homeowners in the area. We love this neighborhood and want to start and raise a family here. That viewpoint, of the young, growing, working family is a perspective I think needs to be present in the decisions of the NCWP and I bring that to the table.”
Booker Pearson, running for Senior Citizen seat
“I very much want to continue and build on the successful efforts that we’ve had in addressing the homeless in Westchester Park. As the Senior representative on the NC, I have concentrated on making the seniors feel safer and more comfortable when accessing the Senior Center. It’s a valuable facility with a variety of programs that enhances their lives and we have worked to make certain that they’re not threatened or harassed when using the center.”
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
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St. Anastasia CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Applications being accepted for Grades 1, 2, and 4! Call today for a tour.
The National Anthem singer will have the opportunity to sing in front of thousands of parade goers. Pictured: AYSO members get ready to march in last year’s parade. PHOTO BY GLENN MARZANO.
Committee holding auditions for National Anthem singer The Fourth of July Parade Committee is now hard at work planning the community’s largest celebration in honor of our country’s Independence Day. This year’s event will take place on Friday, July 4 beginning at 11 a.m. down Loyola Blvd. to LMU. The parade committee is putting out a call for a local vocalist to sing the National Anthem at this year’s event. A runner-up will be offered the opportunity to sing at the annual Teacher Eddy Awards, which will be held in May. The committee will be holding auditions on Wednesday, April 9 at 3:30 p.m. Auditions are open to all, but preference will be given to those that live or work in the Westchester, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista or Marina del Rey area and are students. Singers must be confident enough to sing in front of a large crowd. This year’s parade theme is “Love My America” and is a celebration of all things that are great and that we love about our country. Applications to participate in the annual Fourth of July Parade are now being accepted. Potential entries are asked to fill out an application that highlights their
ideas for a float, sign a liability waiver and agree to provide a banner for their group. To help offset city street closure fees, there is a $25 entry fee required for participants. The parade committee will only accept up to 50 entries in the 2014 parade, and they are encouraging entries to set the bar high for their floats. Floats will be judged in the Best Overall and Best Theme categories on the day of the event. The committee encourages all participants to work with the “Love my America” theme and develop interesting and interactive floats/entries that include musical entertainment, moving parts and an increased number of participants. All selected participants are required to attend a mandatory parade meeting, which will be held in June at the LAX Coastal Area Chamber office. The chamber is the organization that puts on the parade each year. Fourth of July Parade entry forms and appointments for auditions can be obtained by calling (310) 6455151. Sponsorships are also available. The HomeTown News is a proud sponsor of the annual Fourth of July Parade.
We w a nt t o hea r fr o m yo u! Hav e a n idea for a sto r y? C u r i o u s a bout your c o mmunity? Em a il us at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com a nd like us at Fa c e book .com /the htn April 2014
WE SALUTE
St. Anastasia Decathletes! St. Anastasia Parish and School salute the members of our academic decathlon team and congratulate them on a successful competition. We are very proud of you. Go Panthers! Special thanks to our decathlon team sponsor, Michael's Uniforms. To find out more about St. Anastasia, or to schedule a tour, visit us online at school.st-anastasia.org.
St. Anastasia Catholic School 8631 S. Stanmoor Drive Los Angeles, CA 90045 310.645.8816 school.st-anastasia.org
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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
Page 12
Playhouse starts Kickstarter campaign for theatre’s renovations
Candidates hope to make difference in NCWP (cont’d)
If you’ve ever had a chance to catch a play or musical at the Westchester Playhouse, then you know what a gem having a community theatre in the neighborhood can be. Now celebrating its 64th year, the 112-seat theatre is asking for the community’s help in continuing being able to provide quality entertainment to members of the community and beyond. The Kentwood Players are currently raising money to purchase a new heater/air conditioning system and new theatre seats, as well as make infrastructure improvements to the roof and bathroom. The group has started a Kickstarter campaign to help reach its $10,000 goal. In an email sent out to supporters, Kentwood Players president Susan Weisbarth asked for help in helping the theatre make needed improvements. “As many of you may know, we have recently begun a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to renovate the Westchester Playhouse as we need a new heating/air conditioning system and theater seats. Our goal is to raise $10,000 by May 5, and if we
(continued from page 10) The four-year term seats up for election in May include: • Two at-large seats that are open to stakeholders that are at least 18 years-of-age and who live, work or own property in the NCWP community (Westchester, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista). The two candidates with the most votes will win the seats. • Eight residential director seats that are open to stakeholders that are at least 18 years of age and live within the boundary of the residential district they are running for. • A business director seat for Playa Vista (90094) that is open to a business owner or manager of a business located within Playa Vista. • An income property owner seat that is open to an owner of a residential or commercial property or their representative that rents or leases to others within the NCWP community. • A Los Angels World Airports director seat that is open to a stakeholder who is an employee of LAWA or is involved in the
C elebrating 20 years i
reach our goal or better yet, exceed it, we are entitled to keep all of the monies pledged. However, if we do not meet our goal, we must return all pledges back to the donors,” said Weisbarth in the email. “While there are certainly many charities needing our support, the one nearest to my heart right now is our very own theatre. We need to repair, replace and renovate much of the theatre including our air conditioning units, auditorium seats, our bathrooms, roof and so much more. We can’t repair or replace these items without specific fundraising as ticket sales alone are not enough.” The campaign runs through May 5. As of press time, the theater had reached 25% of its goal and raised more than $2,500. To donate, visit kickstarter.com and search “Kentwood Players.”
operations of LAX. • A religious director seat that is open to a spiritual leader of a religious group located within the NCWP community. • A senior citizen director seat that is open to a stakeholder who lives within the NCWP community that is at least 60 years of age. The NCWP will hold a candidate forum on Thursday, May 15 so the community has a chance to meet and hear from all of the potential board members and voting will take place Sunday, May 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Westchester Community Room, located at 7166 W. Manchester Ave. Voters must bring proof that they are eligible to vote in the election by living, working or owning property in either Westchester, Playa del Rey or Playa Vista. The results will be tallied immediately following the close of the voting poll and will be available on the empowerla.org website. Check out our May edition for more information regarding the election and the candidates.
te n Westchestil r... And S l Growing!
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Page 13
A LAWA police officer addresses the crowd at last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event. PHOTO BY GLENN MARZANO.
Protectors honored at annual luncheon The LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce will honor the men and women who work to protect the community at their annual Protectors Appreciation Luncheon to be held on Thursday, April 3 at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport. Representatives from the Sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Department, the Los Angeles County Fire Department, the Los Angeles County Lifeguards, the LAPD, the LAFD, the Los Angeles Airport Police Department, the California Highway Patrol and the U.S. Coast Guard are invited as guests of the chamber and are hosted by local businesses. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s supporting businesses include Gateway to LA, the Promenade at
Howard Hughes, Rainbow Acres Marina del Rey, Playa Vista/Brookfield, LMU and Marina del Rey Hospital. The officers will be treated to lunch and entertainment by comedian Cash Levy who has performed on Comedy Central and the Late Show with Craig Ferguson. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are so deeply appreciative of our local law enforcement and everyday heroes for their work,â&#x20AC;? said chamber president/CEO Christina Davis. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Putting this event together with the help of our amazing business community is just a small token of appreciation for keeping our area safe.â&#x20AC;?
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Random Notes/Opinion
A case of the Dodger blues By Nora Lee Owens Opinion: I’m going to miss watching Opening Day. Not only that, I may miss watching the 2014 Season and beyond. Buy a new TV you say; I need one, but that’s not the problem. Nay, the Dodgers have deserted their fans in their greed for $8 Billion (yes, that’s with a “B”)-- or at least those of us who don’t have and don’t want Time Warner Cable, including poor, elderly and other varieties of people (maybe just stubborn?) who either have satellite or some other magical means of getting all the channels or who have an antenna on their roof and are limited to the local channels. One of the Dodgers owners was quoted recently as saying “almost everybody has cable TV these days.” Or maybe he said, “Let them eat cake.” One of those. A few years ago, I finally succumbed to branching out from the local stations
in my quest, truthfully, to get more baseball games into my life. To my surprise then, I had to get more than just the basic cable channels to get the Dodgers; I had to get something called the “West Coast Sports Package,” which, by the way, is of utter non-use to me between November and April. But I digress. I did that; I have enjoyed watching most of the games played by our Boys in Blue, and I was really looking forward to seeing our local team stretch themselves enough to make it to the last week of October. But maybe I’ll take a trip to Europe instead...or anywhere. Rumor has it that when the Lakers went to Time Warner a year ago, most other TV access companies were able to get a last minute deal with Time Warner to pass on to their customers. Everyone, I’m told, except Dish. Guess which carrier lives at my house? Given that scenario, I’m not too optimistic about
getting to see the start of the season, or even any of the season. Sure, I could switch to one of those other carriers, and I might. But one thing is for certain and sure, I will not do the obvious, desired thing, and switch to Time Warner Cable. I’m not just being bitter about this (not just). When I did decide a few years back to improve my popularity with friends and have more to watch at my house than Jeopardy, I first put in my call to the local cable carrier, Time Warner. That one. The installer guy (for lack of a better name for him) came to my house, summarily walked through it to look at the yard and then informed me in a grumpy manner that he would have to run a cable from the telephone line to my house and then into the crawl space. I sweetly asked him what was involved with putting in satellite TV, and he said, “Oh, they put a receiver on your roof and that’s it.”
“Thank you for coming,” I sweetly continued, “but that’s what I am going to do.” He was happy because he didn’t have to do all that work; and I was happy because I didn’t have to have another power line across my yard to fall down in the wind and I didn’t have to have something else under my house to worry about. Spiders are enough, thank you. Bottom line: I’m looking for an easy way to watch the New York Yankees on a regular basis, and I’m planning to fall in love with the ESPN announcers and learn to tolerate the ones on Fox Channel 11. Unfortunately, there is nobody like Scully, and I’ll not hear him except in my car and I don’t think I’ll even bother to find out where they are on the local radio. They’re probably only on Sirius anyway. Go Yankees!
Senior Health: Caregivers need caregiving support By Freddi Segal-Gidan Opinion: Roslyn Carter said, “There only four kinds of people in the world; those who have been caregivers, those who currently are caregivers, those who will be caregivers and those who will need caregivers.” Which one, or more, are you, and which will you be? Today, 43.5 million adult family caregivers care for someone 50+ years of age and almost 15 million of these individuals care for someone who has Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia. A caregiver is an unpaid individual involved in assisting others with activities of daily living and/ or medical tasks. Formal caregivers are paid care providers who provide assistance in one’s home or in a care setting (daycare, residential, care facility, etc). Two-thirds of caregivers are women, and the majority of unpaid caregiving is provided by wives, daughters and daughter-inlaws. One-third (34%) of caregivers take care of two or more people. The
April 2014
average female caregiver is 48 years old, often working and many times has adolescent or young adult children still at home. Caring for a family member can be a difficult and consuming task, but it can also be extremely rewarding. Family caregivers report a sense of accomplishment, of repayment for care provided to them as children and spiritual fulfillment. Many caregivers, especially older adults caring for either an adult child or an older spouse, tend to neglect their own health and medical needs because they are solely focused on their dependent family member. Family caregivers have increased levels of depression and anxiety, get fewer hours of sleep, less exercise and have higher use of psychoactive medications, report poorer physical health and experience increased mortality. If you are a caregiver, it is important that you take time for yourself. Accept offers of help from other family members and friends and
be wise to ask for help before you feel overwhelmed or get ill. Many caregivers may feel frustrated, depressed and isolated at times. Support groups (both in-person and via computer), as well as one-onone counseling can help. There are community organizations that offer help with meals, transportation, companionship and much more. Members of the Westchester Playa Village have access to volunteers who provide a wide range of services that can supplement and support family caregivers in our community. If you are caring for someone who served in the armed services, the Veterans Administration (http://www.caregiver. va.gov/) offers a number of services to support family caregivers for vets. Additional information on caregiving is available through the Family Caregiver Alliance (www.caregiver.org/) and the Medicare “I’m a Caregiver” site (www. medicare.gov/campaigns/caregiver). Finally, there are two free caregiver support programs being offered this
month in Westchester. First, starting on April 8, a six week program, “Savvy Caregiver,” will be offered at the Westchester United Methodist Church, located at 8065 Emerson Ave. The class is for Alzheimer’s disease family caregivers and will meet on Tuesdays from 3 to 5 p.m. from April 8 through May 13. For more information and to sign up for the Savvy Caregiver Class, please contact Westchester Playa Village at (310) 645-7030. Then, the Silver Seminar Series topic for April is “Care Aware: Facing the New Role of Being a Caregiver for a Loved One,” which will be held on Tuesday, April 29 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Westchester YMCA Annex located at 8020 Alverstone St. Please see the “To Do” section on page 16 for details about these free programs. Freddi Segal-Gidan, PA, PhD is a Physician Associate and Gerontologist. She is also a member of the board of directors for Westchester-Playa Village.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
Springtime workouts help to “turn block the clocks” By Jeff Blair Opinion: Spring is a time for new beginnings, and it can be a great time to improve your well being by committing to a fitness program. As early as our late 20’s, we begin what has been called the “long, slow fall forward:” strength decreases, the body tightens up, shoulders sag and many just begin to feel unwell physically at this point in life. Add an extra 10-20 lbs. (or more) and is it any wonder we do not feel well as we age? Many things we accept as inevitable “problems of aging” are simply the result of less physical activity and decreasing strength. Do not accept the aging excuse. When you blame “just getting old” for your health issues, you take a passive rather than proactive approach to health and fitness. Rapid physical decline is not inevitable with age. There are mountains of studies showing people of any age can increase strength and improve quality of life by starting an exercise program. Better quality of life means a happier and more fulfilling life with more chances for fun adventures such as travel, hiking and sports participation. While finding time to workout may be a challenge, the average American spends almost five hours per day watching television. The program listed below takes hours per week
(not including the optional workout). Make a commitment and you can find the time. The following blueprint can make your own new beginning a reality. 1. Power walk (or run) 3 times per week for 30 minutes. After a ten-minute warm-up, speed up for 1 minute then drop down to a slower pace (but keep moving) for 1 minute. Alternate this fasterslower cycle for 10 cycles. Perform a 5 minute easy walking cool-down at the end. This alternating speeding up/slowing down cycle is called an “interval workout” and is a great way to burn calories quickly and reduce stress levels. The great thing about a walk or a run is you can step out your front door and get started. No special equipment is needed, and you never need to stray far from your house. 2. Weight training 3 times per week for 50 minutes. Every credible medical and health organization in the world encourages and advocates weight lifting and evidence in support of weight lifting is simply overwhelming. Weight lifting can help you maintain a healthy weight, improve sleep quality and even improve mental outlook. In fact, weight training can provide anti-depression benefits
comparable to anti-depressant medications (United States Center of Disease and Control website). While aerobic exercise provides many benefits, it does not usually increase strength like weight-lifting does. While weight lifting offers incredible potential to all, it should be tailored for you. Some people see workout programs in fitness magazines and copy these. Or a well-meaning friend may tell you about a workout they saw on television and then you might try to follow an identical program. This imitation approach is usually a mistake. Workouts should be custom-fitted for individual “issues” (back, shoulder, knee issues, etc.) and most adults need a “hybrid” program that emphasizes mobility, strength and increased metabolism. For example, someone with a history of shoulder issues will want to be careful (or maybe even eliminate) exercises such as the chest press. The chest press can be excessively stressful on the shoulder-especially when done improperly. In these cases, it may be better to first stabilize and strengthen the shoulder before trying chest press moves. The numbers of available variations and adaptations to develop a program perfect for you are practically endless. 3. Weekend fun workout (optional).
Page 15
Find something you really like to do (hike, walk on the beach, easy bike ride, etc) and do that at least once per week. This workout is longer (60-90 minutes), but done at an easy pace. Make it fun-meet a friend before and make it a social event. I recently spent a Sunday morning hiking through Griffith Park. Traffic was minimal and plenty of parking was available. It was very relaxing and pleasant. “Fun workouts” can be great for mental rejuvenation and relaxation. I love my “fun workouts” and try to do at least one per week. Before beginning a program or increasing intensity of your current program, always check with your doctor. Almost all doctors encourage greater physical activity but it is good to check in advance. Incorporate interval training, weighttraining and fun workouts to transform yourself and turn back the clock. Baby step by baby step, you can make great progress and feel great again. Before starting this or any fitness routine, consult your doctor. JEFF BLAIR (M.S.) owns a personal training studio located in Westchester. He was voted “Best Of” Personal Trainer in the Hometown News 2013 Readers’ Poll. Jeff has been featured in “Men’s Fitness” and as a “Fitness Expert” on ABC’s “Everyday Health.” Email jeffblair@jeffblairfitness.com for fitness story ideas or comments.
Resiliency can keep you from breaking By Fay Craton Opinion: It can be hard when someone or something you value leaves or changes. Change can happen in many ways. It can happen suddenly or be expected for a long period. We know life shifts, but sometimes it can be really hard to cope with it. Sometimes people have such a difficult time coping that they need to seek help. You can help prepare yourself for change by building your personal resiliency. Resiliency is the ability to adjust when life becomes difficult. According to dictionary.com, the word, resilience, “comes from the latin word resilire, which means to spring back or rebound.”Rebounding is a natural part of life, but sometimes change is so great you may feel like a stretched rubber band ready to break. You can build more elasticity into your life by preparing for change to happen. The first step is to acknowledge life is not stagnant. All of life cannot be controlled. People and circumstances will change around you, no matter how much you attempt to manage them. Stop resisting shifts or changes desired by those close to you. In fact, when life does not alter it becomes stagnant– like a dead pond. When life is stagnant, life becomes boring. Your mind is trapped and does not easily flow. Happiness and contentment are
April 2014
not found in stagnant conditions. Set your expectations that “change will happen.” In fact, it not only happens– small shifts happen every week, perhaps every day, of your life. Stop complaining when something is different. Instead, actively engage in a positive manner in the variations happening within your life. Simply stepping up with a good attitude and taking on the prospect of change will go a long way toward building resilience in your life. Consciously build within your mind the ability to see and enjoy life’s small differences. This can be done by consciously looking for change and when you see it, note what it is about the change for which you can be thankful. Keep a gratitude journal specifically about what are the new sights you are seeing and what you are thinking about them. If you are not seeing changes, deliberately create small shifts in your life. Many years ago, it was suggested to me to take different routes when driving to and from work. I discovered by doing this I saw different homes, streets and parts of town. I discovered new stores and easier routes. Most of all, sometimes the drive was an adventure, instead of a rote habit. Here are some more ideas: • If you do not have a garden, create a small one in the corner of your yard or balcony.
• Join the community garden or other civic activity and make new friends. • If you are not exercising, begin taking a short walk each day. There are many ways to create small life modifications. Think about what is not in your life that you might enjoy. This can be much like going to an ice cream store and sampling the different flavors. Sample something you do not currently have in your life. If you do not like it, seek a different flavor. Everyone is different and what works for one person, may not be successful for another. Keep exploring ways to create a different experience than living a stagnant life. Not all changes are small and not all change is by your choice. The benefit of embracing small changes is it builds into your habits, thinking, and your brain’s neural pathways the ability to look at situations with a lower experience of stress and/or grief. Your thinking starts to be more fluid. If you are feeling like a rubber band about to break, embracing the idea of change will help keep you from snapping. If a change is looming over you that is frightening, avoiding thinking about the possibility will not keep it from happening. You cannot prevent change but you can prepare for it. Therapy can be very helpful in helping you to prepare for an inevitable circumstance. It can help you to
evaluate whether or not the specific change is actually inevitable or not. It can also help you come to terms with the fear the possibility is creating within you. Another way to prepare is to establish and maintain quality connections with others. Good relationships with family and friends can help support you during major change. Talking about your experience with another person can help shift the angst within you. Having a good friend to talk with can also help keep hope alive. As you prepare for change and form good relationships, your confidence to navigate life increases. My wish for you is for you to experience changes as growth opportunities, instead of shock. A positive attitude infused with gratitude will help you embrace the richness of life variations. An optimistic perspective may help to keep anticipated change in proportion to facts and to soothe fears. When you build resiliency, living through change can become easier. Fay Craton, M.A. is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (mfc40011), which is the psychology license specializing in relationships (with ourselves or with others) and she has an office in Westchester. Contact her at (310) 645-6762.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
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To Do
• your community newspaper • your community news • your community newspaper • your community news
Ongoing monthly events: Rotary Club of Westchester The Rotary Club of Westchester meets every Wednesday at 12 noon for lunch at the Crowne Plaza LAX Hotel, 5985 W. Century Blvd. in Westchester. The cost of lunch is $20 and validated self parking is free. Guests are most welcome! Reservations are not required. For information regarding the upcoming luncheon programs, visit www.rotary-westchester.org. Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club Join the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club at its Wednesday morning meeting at 7:15 a.m. at the Marina Club Restaurant, located at 4333 Admiralty Way, Center Tower, 3rd Floor in Marina del Rey. The cost of the meeting is $25, which includes breakfast and a guest speaker. Guests are welcome and reservations are not required. For more information, visit www. playasunrise.org or call (310) 4293808. Community Garden Days Volunteers are welcome at Community Days at the Emerson Ave. Community Garden! Join the garden the first Saturday of every month from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Orville Wright Middle School, located at 6550 W. Emerson Ave. in Westchester. Join the group for exercise, camaraderie and helping make a positive impact in Westchester. Harvest Westchester Looks for partners Holy Nativity, in partnership with Food Forward, is re-energizing and revitalizing its Harvest Westchester program and is looking for local residents interested in donating to the program. Harvest Westchester is designed to help ensure the extra fruit on your backyard trees does not go to waste while donating to a good cause. While many with fruit trees or that grow vegetables often have a surplus that is given to family and friends or left unpicked and eventually rots, Harvest Westchester will help pick your excess fruit and deliver it to local food pantries to help feed those who do not have enough to eat. Harvest Westchester will send a team of volunteer pickers to your yard to harvest your fruit trees, and 100% of the fruit will be delivered to the local Food Pantry LAX or, if there is more fruit than they can use, it will be delivered to other food distribution centers nearby. If you have fruit trees and want to donate the excess, please call the church office at (310) 670-4777 or visit holynativityparish.org and leave your name and a call-back number. Rotary offers scholarship opportunities to high school seniors Each year, the Rotary Club of Westchester, through the Westchester
April 2014
Rotary Foundation, offers a $500 scholarship in memory and honor of Jim Hill, a former member who was exemplary in his service to the youth of our community. The scholarship will be awarded to a graduating high school senior demonstrating outstanding leadership in community service, who either resides in Westchester or Playa del Rey and/or attends one of the Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnets or St. Bernard High School. The application is due by April 30th and may be obtained by emailing Cozette@laxlawyers.com. The applicant will be asked to write a one page essay. April events: Westchester Playa Village Events Westchester Playa Village (WPV) and LMU’s Department of Health and Human Sciences is offering a series of fall risk reduction exercise sessions in April. Classes will be held on April 3, 8, 24 and May 1. Classes will take place at Covenant Presbyterian Church, located at 6323 W. 80th St. in Westchester. WPV in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association is offering a class on caring and helping a family member living with the disease. The six-week course runs April 8 through May 13 from 3 to 5 p.m. at 8065 Emerson Ave. in Westchester. Space is limited so RSVP is required. For more information, please contact WPV at (310) 695-7033. Events at REAL|LA Space Interested in reconnecting with your creative side? Join REAL|LA for a free Spring Camp Preview and Wine Tasting on April 4 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the new REAL Creative Space, located at 6207 W. 87th Street in Westchester. Preview the Spring Camps offered April 14-18 for children aged 5-18 and meet teachers, Julianna Ostrovsky and David Walega. Attendees can also catch a sneak peek of our upcoming Wine Basics 101 workshops offered by Boisset Wine Ambassador Nancie Hemminger. The event will take place during the Westchester First Friday Food Truck event, so plenty of food will be available for purchase. You can also stop by the gallery and view 19 one-of-a-kind landscapes created by local artists Nicolas Koles. A portion of the proceeds of the sales will go back to Westchester schools. The art can be viewed at www.reallosangeles.com/painting-sale.html. For more info, please visit www. REALCreativeSpace.com. Kentwood Players Present “Fiddler on the Roof” Kentwood Players will present the Tony Award winning musical “Fiddler on the Roof” through April 19. Performances will be held on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Thursday performances will be held April 3, April 10 and April 17. The Westchester Playhouse is located
at 8301 Hindry Ave. in Westchester. Tickets are $23. To purchase tickets, please call (310) 645-5156 or visit www.kentwoodplayers.org. Community Star Party You’re invited to share in an evening of astronomy as neighbors point highpowered telescopes at planet Jupiter, the stars and the Moon. The community star party will take place Saturday, April 5 from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. This is Global Star Party Night, when people all over the world will be looking through telescopes, often for the first time in their lives. The event will take place in the parking lot of the Christian Science Church, located at 7855 Alverstone Ave. in Westchester. The church is also hosting the event. There is no charge to attend and refreshments will be served. Attendees will have the opportunity to point telescopes to the Moon with its spectacular craters, high in the twilight sky just after sunset. As the sky darkens, we’ll be able to see the bright planet Jupiter, and then stars and nebulae. Learn all about the night sky from our volunteer amateur astronomers! And if you have a telescope of your own, you’re welcome to bring it. For more info, please contact star party host Bob Eklund at (310) 2165947 or beklund@sprynet.com. “Love has many Faces” Concert Join the Westside Voices for their next concert “Love has many Faces.” The concert will celebrate love songs throughout the ages and there will be a sing-a-long tribute to Phil Everly. The concert will take place on Sunday, April 6 at 3:30 p.m. at the Westchester United Methodist Church, located at 8065 Emerson Ave. in Westchester. There is a suggested donation of $10 and a dessert reception will follow the concert. For reservations, please call Penny at (310) 670-3777. Spring Entertaining Cooking Class Patricia K. Rose of Fresh Food in a Flash will lead a hands-on cooking class on Thursday, April 10, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Holy Nativity Community Hall in Westchester. This month’s theme is focused around springtime entertaining and will include tips on plating food and how to throw a successful dinner party. Items on this month’s menu include cheese puffs; salmon with balsamic and pesto drizzles; and red velvet layer cake. The dinner the class made will be served after the class. The class fee is $40 when you reserve by April 7 and $45 at the door. To reserve your spot, please email Patricia@FreshFoodinaFlash.com. Holy Nativity Episcopal Church is located at 6700 W. 83rd Street in Westchester.
Republican Women on Tuesday, April 15 at 11 a.m. for their lunch meeting at KJ’s Diner. Kris Vosburgh, Exec, Dir. of Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assoc. will speak on the battle to save Prop. 13 on behalf of homeowners. The diner is located at 8731 Lincoln Blvd. in Westchester. The cost of the luncheon is $17.50. Reservations are not required. Plenty of parking is available. For more information, please contact Carol at (310) 641-9726. Celebrate Earth Day at the Ballona Wetlands Celebrate Earth Day with the Friends of Ballona Wetlands on Saturday, April 19 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The group will be celebrating Earth Day by removing invasive species and cleaning Ballona Creek. Gloves, tools, water and refreshments will be provided and tickets for a free prize drawing will be given to all those who volunteer. Volunteers can meet in the main parking lot behind Alka Water at 303 Culver Blvd. in Playa del Rey. For more info or to register, please contact Friends of Ballona Wetlands at (310) 306-5994. Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnets Fundraiser at Daily Grill Enjoy Daily Grill’s Easter Brunch Buffet and support Westchester High School! Bring in the ad found on page 10 and 10% of your check will go back to The Comets. The Easter Brunch Buffet will be available 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 20. Two hour complimentary valet and self parking available. For more information and reservations, please call (310) 6650149. Care Aware Seminar Learn how to handle the role of being a caregiver for a loved one by attending the April Silver Seminar Series workshop “Care Aware: facing the new role of being a caregiver for a loved one.” The Silver Seminar Series is for community members age 50 and above and is free for attendees. If you’re like most family caregivers, you are not trained for the responsibility you now face when providing care for a loved one like a spouse or aging parent. The good news is that you don’t have to be a nursing expert or a superhero in order to be a good caregiver. Come join Diana Hoffman, Ph.D., clinical director of Airport Marina Counseling Service, for a discussion about how to manage the practical and emotional challenges you face as a caregiver for a loved one. The workshop takes place on Tuesday, April 29 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Westchester Family YMCA Annex, located at 8020 Alverstone St. in Westchester. For more info, call Westchester Playa Village at (310) 695-7030.
Women’s Republican Club Meeting Join the Westchester-Del Rey
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
Page 17
COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS
April Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Deadline to file to run for the NCWP election
1 Westside Voices Concert @ Westchester United Methodist Church
“Fiddler on the Roof” @ Westchester Playhouse
3
Westchester Farmers’ Market @ Westchester Park
Spring entertaining cooking class @ Holy Nativity
Savvy Caregiver @ Westchester United Methodist Church
Speakers by the Sea @ Playa del Rey
“Fiddler on the Roof” @ Westchester Playhouse
7
8 Republican Woman’s Club @ KJ’s Diner
Spring Fest @ Otis
First Friday @ 6200 87th Street
4
Westchester Farmers’ Market @ Westchester Park
Secrets to a Successful Remodel @ Custom Design & Construction
10 “Fiddler on the Roof” @ Westchester Playhouse
11
12
“Fiddler on the Roof” Closing night @ Westchester “Fiddler on the Roof”@ Playhouse Westchester Playhouse Earth Day Celebration @ Ballona Wetlands
Speakers by the Sea @ Playa del Rey
Otis’ Kite Festival @ Santa Monica Pier
13
5
“Fiddler on the Roof” “Fiddler on the Roof”@ @ Westchester Westchester Playhouse Playhouse Spring Fest @ Otis Book sale @ LMU Book sale @ LMU
Life story writing class @ YMCA Annex
9
Community Shred event @ B&J Services
Fall Risk Reduction Spring camp preview Class Series @ @ REAL|LA “Fiddler on the Roof” Covenant Presbyterian @ Westchester Church “Fiddler on the Roof” Playhouse @ Westchester “Fiddler on the Roof” Playhouse Community Star @ Westchester Party @ First Church Playhouse of Christ, Scientist
Fall Risk Reduction Class Series @ Covenant Presbyterian Church
Sheriff’s debate @ LMU
6
2
Saturday
Easter Egg Hunt @ Westchester Lutheran
14
Easter
15 Earth Day
16 Westchester Farmers’ Market @ Westchester Park
Westchester High Fundraiser @ Daily Grill
Speakers by the Sea @ Playa del Rey
17
18
19 YMCA Health Kids Day @ Westfield Culver City
Fall Risk Reduction Class Series @ Covenant Presbyterian Church
Life story writing class @ YMCA Annex
20
21
YMCA Health Kids Day @ Westfield Culver City
27
April 2014
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24
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Silver Seminar Series “Care Aware” @ YMCA Annex
28
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30 Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
Page 18
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April 2014
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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
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Westchester mom strives to reach fundraising goal (cont’d) (continued from page 5) cymbals. When three years after the initial diagnosis the family was told Matt’s leukemia was finally in remission, it was one of the best days of their lives. While over the years the family has given back to LLS through participating in walks and bone marrow drives, on the twentieth anniversary of Matt’s diagnosis, Barnes has decided to give back to the organization in a big way by accepting LLS’s nominations for the “Man and Woman of the Year” campaign. Every year, LLS nominates men and women who are passionate about finding the cure for blood cancers to participate in the “Man and Woman of the Year” campaign. The candidates compete in a spirited 10-week competition, where each dollar raised
counts as one vote. At the end of the competition, the man and woman with the most votes are awarded the local title Man or Woman of the Year. The top fundraisers in the country are awarded national titles. All of the money raised helps support the non-profit’s mission to find a cure for leukemia and lymphoma, as well as to provide financial assistance to patients and their families and provide them with access to support groups. “I was very flattered [to be nominated], but I was also very nervous because this is a huge undertaking. Your friends and your family you know you can count on, but you have to go beyond that,” said Barnes. “We have a good story to tell I think, but it’s still a little intimidating to ask people for donations. It’s also exciting in a way and there’s a little
competitiveness that comes out in you.” In addition to working at LMU, Barnes is now making achieving her campaign goal her full-time job and is busy planning garage sales, selling Dodger tickets for LLS night at the stadium, setting up fundraising nights at local restaurants and reaching out to her network and the community in hopes they will support her cause with a donation. As for the little boy who was once so sick he couldn’t move off the couch, he has been in remission ever since. He graduated from Visitation and then went on to finish high school at Loyola. Although as a kid he could barely muster enough energy to bang on his drum set, Matt is now a professional drummer in the band Acidic and tours across the country. At
the age of only 23, he has managed to visit 48 states and play in 47. His band is set to play dates on the Vans Warped Tour this summer. Although the fundraising numbers are kept a secret until the competition is over, Barnes is hopeful that she will reach her goal to help assist LLS find a cure for a disease that almost 150,000 Americans were diagnosed with last year. The results of Barnes’ fundraising efforts will be revealed on May 31 at the Man and Woman of the Year Gala at the Skirball Center. “My ultimate goal is to put the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society out of business,” said Barnes. “We want to find a cure.” For more info on Barnes’ efforts or to donate, please visit drumminupacure. org.
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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
Page 22
St. Bernard takes home 20 Model UN awards
VERGARI & NAPOLITANO attorneys at law
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Hopes were high for this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s St. Bernard (SBHS) Model United Nations (UN) team and the group proved up to their challenge. The team, composed of 8 members and under the leadership of faculty member John Caulfield, won 20 awards at five conferences in Santa Margarita, Tustin and Mission Viejo, and, most recently the prestigious gathering at UC Berkeley. At each conference there were between 1,500 and 1,800 participants and at the UC Berkeley event, participants came from all over the state. A number of milestones were achieved by the group during the season. Team captain and junior Joshua Mussman became St. Bernardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top all-time UN Model winner, with 7 awards. Junior Andres Arroyo won five awards in his first year of competition, which tied the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s previous record set in 2011. Arroyo and sophomore Andres Duarte won a joint research award at UC Berkeley marking the first time a St. Bernard student had captured a prize at this prestigious conference. At the Mission Viejo conference, sophomore Alexandria Davis was named best delegate in her committee, another first as a Viking. The other members of the team included senior Nia Walker
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and juniors Everett Harvey, Elise McClelland and Sary Perdomo. All in all, the 2013-2014 season proved to be very fruitful for the Viking 8. The team hopes to use these accomplishments as a building block for greater achievements in the ensuing years. Caulfield is in his tenth year at SBHS in the History and Social Studies Department and has taught AP US Government, AP US History and AP European History. Caulfield has degrees in History, Political Science and Education from Cal State Long Beach, Brown University and USC. At SBHS he is the moderator of the Model UN program, as well as the adviser to â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Odyssey,â&#x20AC;? the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newspaper.
Westchester Lutheran Church Easter Celebrations Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, April 19th t 2:00 pm Easter Sunday Festival Worship Services
Sunday, April 20th t BOE BN 7:30 am Easter Breakfast 8:30 am Festival Worship Service 10:00 am Festival Worship Service
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Westchester â&#x20AC;˘ Playa del Rey â&#x20AC;˘ Marina del Reyâ&#x20AC;˘ Playa Vista HomeTown News
Page 23
Get ready for Food Truck Friday Nights and caption this photo! Get ready to kick-off the summer food truck season with Visitation School’s Food Truck Friday Nights (FTFN). In order to help celebrate and get the fun going, Visitation School and the HomeTown News are asking our readers to participate in the “Summer of the Selfie” Food Truck Friday caption contest! This “group selfie” was taken at Visitation School’s last Food Truck Friday Night of the 2013 season. Can you come up with an original, fun, witty caption for this photo? If so, please email your caption to Terry
April 2014
O’Connor at terry_oconnor2012@ yahoo.com by Friday, April 25 to be considered. You must be 18 years or older to participate or have your parents’ permission. The winning caption writer will receive four gourmet food truck dinners for this year’s first event of the season, the May 23 “Fiesta en Mayo.” At the event, look for photographer Anna Cody to get your photo taken for a chance to have your picture featured in next month’s contest. If your photo is selected, you will receive 2 free dinners to an upcoming FTFN event.
Yoga & Adult Fitness classes now available!
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
Page 24
April 2014
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
Page 25
Crimes of trickery and deception (cont’d)
Pick up the HTN at any of the following locations:* Drollinger Building Lobby (8929 and 8939 Sepulveda building) Westchester Family YMCA Covenant Presbyterian Church The Guilded Cage Airport Office Center Chase Bank The Coffee Co. Lucky Cleaner Ayara Thai Cuisine Ted’s Hair Design Truxton’s American Bistro Soundsations Needlepoints West Councilman Mike Bonin’s Office Loyola Village Library Senior Center Loyola Village Library Elks Lodge Westchester Lutheran Kentwood Elementary School Orville Wright Middle School Visitation School The Real Estate Consultants Office Dario’s Carpet Tower Pizza Chase Bank Paradise Building LAX Coastal Area Chamber of Commerce Wells Fargo Westchester CenterPointe Club Playa Vista Library Picnik Dinah’s Restaurant Playa Vista Urgent Care Coffee Bean Cantalini’s Howe’s Liquor Ace Cleaners Coin Laundry Felicia’s Coffee Garden The Shack Prince of Wales Tanner’s Coffee Holy Nativity Westchester United Methodist Zacha Homes AMCS *partial list of drop-offs
April 2014
resident allowed the suspect to enter the backyard through a side gate. The suspect instructed the victim to look over the fence to see if there was a broken pipe in her neighbor’s yard, but she did not see one. The suspect used a walkietalkie to communicate to someone to “Pick up the PSI pressure.” The victim noted that there was no response on the radio. The victim got suspicious and went into the house to get her husband. While the victim was being distracted in the backyard with the “plumber,” her husband (“male victim”) was in the house with the “plumber’s” accomplice. The accomplice was working with the male victim inside the house. The accomplice explained that they were looking for a leaking pipe and asked the
male victim to go into the bathroom to watch the water flow from the faucet. As the male victim was watching the water, he realized that the accomplice was rummaging through the closet. The male victim left the bathroom to confront the accomplice and said “What are you doing in my closet?,” to which the accomplice replied, “Didn’t I tell you to watch the water?” The male victim returned to the bathroom to watch the water. When the suspects left, the victims found that their bedrooms had been ransacked. You can do your part to foil distraction burglars by passing on this information to others who may be targeted. If a suspicious incident occurs, report it immediately to the LAPD by calling
911 or 877-ASK-LAPD to prevent others in the area from being victimized. It is especially important that victims do not let their embarrassment about falling for a ruse keep them from reporting the crimes. Do not let down your guard even if the person knocking on your door is female or has children in tow. This is another strategy for getting residents to relax their guard. In summation, always remain vigilant, be aware of your surroundings and always follow your gut instinct. If anything is “too good to be true” or is “suspicious,” follow your gut instinct. Cyndi Hench is the chair of the Neighborhood Council’s Public Safety Committee and Neighborhood Watch advocate.
Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project
metro.net/projects
Spring 2014 Project Update As construction progresses on the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project, Metro and Walsh-Shea Corridor Constructors (WSCC) are committed to providing the most up-to-date information on construction activities being performed along the 8.5-mile project route. Running from the Expo Line to the Green Line, the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project has eight stations and will serve the Crenshaw District, Inglewood, Westchester and the surrounding LAX area with stations at Crenshaw/ Exposition, Crenshaw/Martin Luther King Bl, Crenshaw/ Vernon (Leimert Park), Crenshaw/Slauson, Florence/West, Florence/La Brea, Florence/Hindry and Aviation/Century.
Current Construction Construction on the underground stations is anticipated to begin in late April with pile installation at Crenshaw Bl/ Exposition Bl and Crenshaw Bl/Martin Luther King Bl. Concurrently, demolition work is slated to begin on the Florence construction yard located at Florence Av/LaBrea Av. As the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project is a design-build project, project design continues while construction begins. Properties located at the future Expo construction yard have been cleared, and work on a 16-foot sound wall surrounding the yard has begun. Along the route, geographical boring (obtaining soil samples) and potholing (checking for underground utilities), as well as railroad track removal along Florence Av and utility relocation continue.
Community Updates Metro held a January 2014 groundbreaking ceremony to kick o= the start of construction. More recently, the project held its >rst community construction update meeting, an Open House at its new Airport Project O;ce at 9323 Bellanca Av. The event saw hundreds in attendance. Metro now provides daily project updates via Facebook (facebook.com/crenshawrail), Twitter (@crenshawrail) and emails. Several project factsheets pertaining to trees, work permits and environmental standards have been distributed. Metro will also continue to meet with community stakeholders to provide project updates. Other activities include partnering with community organizations to coordinate events promoting careers in construction. This has included appearances at Career Day at Crenshaw and Inglewood High Schools and mentoring two Morningside High School students for the day at Metro headquarters. Further, outreach to local artists has begun regarding the process of submitting art for Metro stations. The project team has also expanded with the addition of new members to WSCC and Metro. Moreover, the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project and WSCC have contracted with several local vendors to provide a myriad of services to the project. WSCC is a joint venture between Walsh Construction and J.F. Shea Company. Together, they have collaborated on many rail projects in the United States, including systems in Dallas, Phoenix, Charlotte and Chicago. In addition to its October Business Opportunities Summit, WSCC has made an immediate impact in the Crenshaw/LAX community by hosting two food drives and a toy drive for the 2013 holiday season.
213.922.2736 crenshawcorridor@metro.net metro.net/crenshaw @crenshawrail facebook.com/crenshawrail
14-1774ps ©2014 lacmta
(continued from page 7) they were in the backyard, the suspect called “his supervisor” and told him that they were in the backyard. About 15 minutes passed when the suspect then received a call, and he told the victim that he needed to leave. When the victim returned to her home, she found that her bedrooms were ransacked and money had been taken. While the suspect was distracting the victim, his accomplice entered the house through the unlocked front door and scored. In March, another resident was outside of her home when a man who claimed to be a plumber working on a neighbor’s plumbing problem approached her. He explained that he needed to go into her backyard to work on the sewer. The
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
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In Pictur es
â&#x20AC;˘ your community newspaper â&#x20AC;˘ your community â&#x20AC;˘ your community newspaper â&#x20AC;˘ your community â&#x20AC;˘
Come claim your prize. Jesus has won eternal life for you: Come claim it. Freedom reedom from doubt. Freedom from fear fear.
Join oin us with at Westchester Lutheran Church, Church Journey us through Lent, to the joy and and of embrace the freedom found a â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in glory Easter. Stay to celebrate withinus lo oving, forgiving relationship worship, in fellowship, in classeswith andthe activities Lord. ord. Join new friends in a celebration of for all ages. everything verything that is possible when you live in n harmony with the Word.
All are welcome in His grace and at Westchester Lutheran Church.
Come join All us. are Yourwelcome. prize is waiting. Come celebrate with us!
Lenten Drama Series, April 2 and 9 at 7:00 p.m. Maundy Thursday communion service, April 17, at 7:30 p.m. Weekly Worship Sundays at 10 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt, Saturday, April 19 at 2:00 p.m. Summer Choir Rehearsal Sundays at 9 a.m. Easter Sunday, April 20: breakfast at 7:30 a.m., services at 8:30 a.m. Vacation Bible School July 29-August 2 and 10 a.m.
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Poster contest winner. Eighth grader Lydia Dawson was the winner of Visitation Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Shakespeare Fest Poster Contest. Dawsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s poster will be used for the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s upcoming junior high presentation of Shakespeareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s A Midsummer Nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dream. Visitationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 3rd Annual and
first nine day â&#x20AC;&#x153;Celebration of the Arts Festivalâ&#x20AC;? to be held in May, will culminate with a performance of the play on Friday, May 23 at 7 p.m. The play will take place in the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s auditorium during the seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first Gourmet Food Truck Friday Night. PHOTO BY ANNA CODY.
Westchester boys represent lacrosse for the West Coast. Five Westchester boys from the 6th, 7th and 8th grades will travel to Baltimore Maryland on April 12 to 14 to represent the West Coast in lacrosse. The boys were chosen from hundreds of competitors in each grade to play on a roster of only 25 players. Tryouts were held in early January in Southern California at Whittier College, as well as Washington, Utah and Nevada. The boys will compete against other all-star teams from New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, Texas and Colorado. Lacrosse is often considered one of the fastest sports on two feet and has taken off in Southern California in the last 5 years. All of the boys began their careers at the Westchester Recreation Center, which began
offering the sport in the fall of 2008. Along with the support and guidance of the LMU Lionsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Lacrosse Club, the sport has grown exponentially. Since then, the young athletes have played for club teams that have been formed in the area such as the Westchester Wave, South Bay Lacrosse Club and Factory Lacrosse. The players are (from left to right) Gage Rowland, defense, an 8th grader at Westside Neighborhood School; Weston Priestley, midfielder, 8th grader at Westchester Lutheran School; Hart Swan, defense, 8th grader at Westside Neighborhood School; Jack Carolan, attack, 7th grader at Westside Neighborhood School; and Birk Swan, midfielder, 6th grader from Westside Neighborhood Neighborhood school. Good luck! PHOTO BY DREW CAROLAN.
Part of the NaĆ&#x;onal
Movement
MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY Members enjoy being part of a special, growing community, and can receive assistance from wonderful volunteers. x Programs and social events x TransportaĆ&#x;on x Help with grocery shopping/errands x Trash bins put out/in x Help around the home x Friendly visits/walking buddies
Call Today! Voted Best Place to Volunteer!
Our senior populaĆ&#x;on deserves to stay in their homes and engaged in the neighborhoods they love. Volunteers make it all happen!
Volunteers play a special role in the lives of our members and their families. Less than an hour a week makes a big diďŹ&#x20AC;erence. Become a WPV Volunteer! Call us: 310-695-7030
Website: www.thewpv.org â&#x20AC;&#x153;Likeâ&#x20AC;? us on facebook: .com/WestchesterPlayaVillage
WPV sends a heartfelt thank you to our fabulous volunteers! We celebrate each of you and greatly appreciate the valuable time and many talents you share with our members and the organization! April 2014
Westchester â&#x20AC;˘ Playa del Rey â&#x20AC;˘ Marina del Reyâ&#x20AC;˘ Playa Vista HomeTown News
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Aspiring poets. Saint Anastasia Church recently held a poetry contest that was open to the entire parish. Aspiring poets were asked to create a poem with the theme,“Making A Difference.” More than a dozen students from St. Anastasia, the school attached to the parish, were recognized for their poems and each received a monetary prize funded by the Msgr. Royale M. Vadakin Arts and Education Fund. According to the school, the contest is a way to help encourage creative writing and being recognized is a much sought after prize. One of the winning poems was “Lemonade Stand” written by a third grade St. Anastasia student: Church welcomes new pastor. Following his ordination to the ministry in February, Rev. Moegagogo Solomona was installed as the new pastor of the Congregational Church of the Messiah in Westchester. Dr. David Gray, pastor emeritus, served as the presiding minister at the ordination. The new minister’s father, Rev. Fa’afouina Solomona of the First Samoan Congregational Church in San Diego, presented his son the ministerial stole he had received at his own ordination. Ten other ministers participated in the service, as well as the 30-member youth choir from the San Diego church. A reception hosted by the minister’s parents was held following the installation. Rev. Solomona was formerly employed by BRE Properties, where
his wife, Nina, is a community manager. They will live in the newlyrenovated church parsonage in Westchester. Dr. Gray, who served as pastor of Messiah for 17 years and as a minister for more than 50 years, retired in late January. Well-known in the Westchester community as active in the YMCA and the Westchester/ Playa Clergy Association, Dr. Gray plans to make his home in Squantum, Massachusetts after spending time visiting relatives and friends in various parts of the country. Messiah Church members are pleased to have this young man as their pastor and invite people in the community to attend their services at 10 a.m. on Sunday mornings.
In ter es t ed i n r ea c h in g ne w cu s t om er s a n d c lie n t s? Ad v er t i s e w i t h u s t o d a y! Em a i l u s at westchesterhometown @y ahoo.com April 2014
“Lemonade Stand” One cup of lemonade a kitty is saved. Two cups saves a pup. Do you know how hard I try to save a little one that just might die! So please oh please don’t pass me by! 50 cents can go a long way to help save a pup for one more day. So remember the shelters are full of love and little ones hoping today is not their last day. That tomorrow when they wake up they will be going home with you to stay! And I bet they pray every day!
Is it time for a change? Property Management Solutions Offered by: The Matilla Group operty Owner,, havee seen our real estate signs around the commun commu Realty. Ourr family has been doing business in this are area since 1959. One segment of our business ss is property management. You may have seen our signs as wel Matilla Group Property Management Management. W We want to o management solutions...If tions...If...you ...you are tired of the day da to day management of your building(s)...If...you .you aare ttired of phone calls from tenants....If...you just w less disturbances urbances and mo more free time for yourself. If this is you – please – think about out us! u We can professionally professio sio handle the stresses that go with ownership a management. management. We manage 31 pro properties in this local area. Our occupancy rati ratios are near 100%. Most of our units are rented ted in less than 2 we Ourr landlords are very pleased with our performance. Is the time right for you to make a change? nge? Would you like more information? Then, please, go to our website’s home page at www.matillareal w.matillarealty.com and click on the property management tab. If you prefer to speak with h me directly, dire please call (310) 306-9005 or (310) 748-0574. I hope we can be of service. ice. Sincerly, Steven Matilla Broker/Owner DRE Lic#: 00398688 225 Culver Blvd. • Playa del Rey, CA 90293 • Office (310) 305-8000 • www.MatillaRealty.com
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
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NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL OF WESTCHESTER / PLAYA Neighborhood Council Election Set â&#x20AC;&#x201C; May, 2014 On Sunday, May 18, 2014, the Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa will hold its board elections along with a number of other Neighborhood Councils on the Westside. This is your opportunity to get involved, select those candidates who will serve on your Neighborhood Council and make a difference in your community. Think of your Neighborhood Council as a group of local residents and representatives of local businesses, churches and schools, etc., working together to address important issues in our neighborhood. As part of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Charter, Neighborhood Councils are an integral part of KRZ ORFDO JRYHUQPHQW RSHUDWHV SURYLGLQJ HOHFWHG RIÂżFLDOV ZLWK a direct line to the community and how it stands on all issues. The election for the Neighborhood Council of Westchester/ Playa board of directors will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Westchester Municipal Building Community Room at 7166 West Manchester Avenue in Westchester. The election is open to any member of the community who is at least 18 years of age on the date of the election and lives, works or owns property in Zip Codes 90293, 90045 or 90094.
Nominate A Star of the Neighborhood The Stars of the Neighborhood Award is sponsored by the Neighborhood Council of Westchester/ Playa, and its purpose is to identify and honor those unsung heroes of our community who quietly, persistently and without fanfare voluntarily perform good deeds that serve the needs of their neighbors and/or the community. <RX DUH LQYLWHG WR QRPLQDWH D SHUVRQ ZKRVH HIIRUWV ÂżW WKLV FULWHULD 7KH QRPLQHH PXVW OLYH LQ Westchester, Playa del Rey or Playa Vista. Nominations will be evaluated by an ad hoc committee of the Neighborhood Council, and the winning honoree(s) will be honored at Westchesterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Annual Fourth of July Parade. Please provide the following informaton to nominate a Star of the Neighborhood (PLEASE PRINT NEATLY)
Nomineeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Name ______________________________________________________________ Nomineeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Address ____________________________________________________________ Nomineeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Phone Number _______________________________________________________ A brief description of what makes this person a Star of the Neighborhood:
Information about candidates who will appear on the ballot is available at: www.empowerla.org/ncwp/westchesterplaya-nc-2014-elections/
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Are You Ready for â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Big One?â&#x20AC;? Get Trained Today
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The Los Angeles Fire Departmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) in Westchester is always a sellout; and given the recent earthquakes centered right here in our back yard, it might be the right time for you and your neighbors to learn about what you should do in an emergency. The class LV IUHH DQG WKH VHDWV DUH ÂżOOHG Q D ÂżUVW FRPH ÂżUVW VHUYHG basis. The next seven-week session will begin on Thursday, May 22, and will run for six consecutive weeks from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Thursdays at Fire Station No. 5, 8900 S. Emerson Avenue, in Westchester. The lessons from this class are priceless â&#x20AC;&#x201C; designed to equip citizens with basic training to HIIHFWLYHO\ VHUYH DV ÂżUVW UHVSRQGHUV WR GLVDVWHU RU HPHUJHQF\ situations. Taught by highly-experienced Los Angeles City ÂżUHÂżJKWHUV &(57 WUDLQLQJ LQFOXGHV WUDLQLQJ LQ HDUWKTXDNH SUHSDUHGQHVV OLJKW ÂżUHÂżJKWLQJ WULDJH ÂżUVW DLG OLJKW VHDUFK DQG rescue, disaster psychology and team organization. Please FRQWDFW &(57 LQVWUXFWRU )LUHĂ&#x20AC;JKWHU ´%XEEDÂľ :LOOLV DW 756-9674 to sign up. For more information, please visit www.cert-la.com or to download a class syllabus, please visit www.cert-la.com/cert-syllabus.pdf
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Your Name ___________________________________________________________________ Your Address _________________________________________________________________ Your Phone Number ___________________ Email _____________________________________ Nominations must be received by no later than June 14, 2014 Please mail / fax to: Stars of the Neighborhood 8726 S. Sepulveda Blvd PMB 191A Westchester, CA 90045 (310) 821-9429 (fax) Form available on-line at www.ncwpdr.org or email the information above to: starneighbors@aol.com
www.ncwpdr.org April 2014
Westchester â&#x20AC;˘ Playa del Rey â&#x20AC;˘ Marina del Reyâ&#x20AC;˘ Playa Vista HomeTown News