FREE
Nominate a Star of the Neighborhood, more info page 24
HOMETOWN
NEWS
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista
April
your community newspaper • your community • WESTCHESTER • PLAYA DEL REY • MARINA DEL REY • PLAYA VISTA • your community newspaper • your community
Police to start crackdown on overnight parking at Westchester Park “No overnight parking” signs have been put up in the parking lot behind the Westchester-Loyola Village Library and Councilman Bill Rosendahl’s office at Westchester Park. The move comes after the increase in recent months in the number of homeless living at the park and the increase in the number of police calls to the area as well. The Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa’s (NCWP) Homelessness and Vehicular Living Committee held two meetings in March, which brought together
representatives from PATH (People Assisting the Homeless), the Park Advisory Board, Councilman Bill Rosendahl’s office, and the community to discuss solutions for the homeless currently living the park. According to Pacific Division Senior Lead Officer Tony Ramos, during the period between January 2011 to February 28, 2012 police were called to the park 117 times with more than 70 calls described as being for “disturbing the peace,” which can include drunkenness and fighting.
“As we know, there has been an increase in activity at the park. I’ve got up to a hundred complaints from various people...This is not all the homeless. I am talking about the ones that cause problems with the alcohol, the drugs and the fights,” said Officer Ramos. In the past, Ramos claims there has been a “hands-off policy with the park, especially the parking lot behind the councilman’s office.” However, in recent months with the increase in calls to the police department and
community members voicing their concerns to the Councilman’s office and to Park Advisory board members, the department had to come up with a plan to take action. Said Councilman Rosendahl’s Westchester/Playa Deputy, Nate Kaplan, “It [problems] seems to have escalated since the winter shelters opened. Hearsay is that there are a lot of non-usual Westchester residents. People from Venice are coming in and other people who usually aren’t at that (continued on page 4)
Westchester Y honors local heroes at event Choosing this year’s honorees for the Westchester YMCA’s Kids Need Heroes event was an easy decision. The Friday, March 30 event held at Westchester’s Crowne Plaza LAX Hotel, saluted longtime Westchester residents and YMCA supporters Mary Ellen and Alan Cassman with the Heroes of the Year Award and Gateway to L.A.’s Laurie Hughes with the Community Pillar Award. Said Y Board of Managers Chair Jack Davis at the event, “They [kids] need heroes like the Cassmans whose strong commitment, financial aid and earned sweat equity over the decade serves as a great example. And they need a pillar like Laurie Hughes, who knows that it is essential that kids learn leadership skills, as they are the leaders of tomorrow.” The Cassmans have a long history with the Westchester Family YMCA going all the way back to its inception. After moving to Westchester in the early 1950s, the Cassmans became involved in numerous community groups and activities. When fundraising for the Westchester Swim Club proved insufficient, the money that had been raised became the start-up funds to help
the building campaign for the YMCA. The Cassmans continued to raise money for the at the time state-of-theart building and first “family” YMCA. The Westchester Family YMCA quickly became the example for other Y’s in Los Angeles. The Cassmans have dedicated their time in numerous capacities to the Y over the years, including serving as group leaders, committee chairs and Chairs of the Board of Managers. They have also participated in camping trips, Indian Guides and swimming. “There are few people I know who better exemplify the virtues of kindness, compassion and generosity than Mary Ellen and Alan Cassman,” said the event’s Master of ceremonies David Herbst. Gateway to L.A. Executive Director, Laurie Hughes was honored with the Community Pillar Award for “strengthening the foundation of the community” through her commitment to cultivating new leaders through her and her organization’s support of the chamber’s Leadership Academy and the Westchester Rotary Club’s Progressive Dinner. The event, which takes place in (continued on page 5)
At left: Longtime Y supporters, Mary Ellen and Alan Cassman were honored at this year’s Kids Need Heroes event. PHOTO BY GLENN MARZANO.
A look inside your
HomeTown
7 Volunteers help transform community garden 13 Chamber celebrates honorees at City of Angels Awards