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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista
February
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Westchester could be divided in redistricting proposal There will be a public meeting held Thursday, February 2 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the redistricting maps released January 25. The meeting will be one of seven taking place in February held by the Redistricting Commission and will take place at the Westchester Park Gym, located at 7000 W. Manchester Ave. in Westchester. The recently released maps have come under fire from politicians and community members. In the proposed maps a large portion of Westchester, would move from
Councilman Bill Rosendahl’s 11th District into Councilman Bernard Parks’ 8th District. Playa del Rey and Playa Vista would remain in the 11th District, as well as Loyola Marymount University. LAX would fall outside the 11th District boundary lines. Said Councilman Bill Rosendahl in an email sent out to constituents, “...Instead of trimming along the edges, the commission is considering amputating the bulk of Westchester and part of Playa Vista from the rest of our district. Doing so would divide
communities that share a neighborhood council, a chamber of commerce, and a community plan area. And it makes no sense to tear Westchester from Los Angeles International Airport, which dramatically impacts its quality of life and economic activity. Moreover, the proposed boundaries would shatter the wonderful partnership we have forged over the past seven years with the wonderful communities and organizations in CD11.” Rosendahl is currently circulating an online petition asking the Redistricting
Commission to not divide the 11th District as it currently stands. As of press time, the petition, which can be found at change.org or by visiting the HomeTown News’ or Bill Rosendahl’s Facebook page, had 725 signatures. (continued on page 20)
Attend the redistricting meeting and make your voice heard! Date: Thursday, February 2nd Time: 6:30 p.m. Location: Westchester Park Gym, 7000 W. Manchester Ave., Westchester
Westchester charter school making headway By Michelle Weiss Efforts to institute a charter sixth through twelfth grade school in the Westchester area still under way as parents, teachers and community members work with LAUSD to get its approval. Documents, such as a proposition 39 application, which would allow the already named Westchester Secondary Charter School (WSCS) space on an established school in Westchester, are currently being reviewed by school district board members. In the meantime, WSCS founders and supporters are continuing to raise funds and spread awareness about the school. The mission of WSCS is to “provide students in grades 6-12 with a challenging and comprehensive college preparatory education in a public school setting employing the technology of the 21st century. [WSCS] will inspire students to strive for academic and creative achievement and excellence. [Its] vision is to develop in students a sense of personal and civic responsibility, as well as the skills and knowledge to think critically, communicate effectively,
and successfully engage in the global community.” Though the proposed school has successfully been gaining support, the WSCS board is still hard at work trying to secure the $250,000 in start-up funds that are required when opening a new charter school. Leading the charge are lead petitioners Janet Landon (who is also acting principal) and Ann Wexler. The board is looking to work with a company that buys receivables and will provide the school funds for a fee. This would allow WSCS to not only receive the $250,000 needed for the opening of the school, but also enough capital to help with the purchase of books and other necessary materials for students. Another benefit of this method of financing is that the money would become available to the WSCS board in July, which would put the school on track for its proposed opening in September of this year. The board is also still fundraising, as every penny counts in a project such as this one, but they are no longer counting on fundraising dollars to comprise a large portion of their start-up funds as they were in the past. However, until all of (continued on page 5)
At left: Ann Wexler speaks to the WSCS board at a recent a meeting.
A look inside your
HomeTown
5 Cricket team looking to go abroad 7 Community garden looking for help to grow
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Happy New Year! In 2012, let’s focus on what makes our community great and support our neighbors and local businesses. Working together, we can accomplish great things!
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T h i s M o n t h B r i n g s Yo u February Features Charter school makes strides Orville’s Cricket team looking to go abroad Non-profit Spotlight: Wings of Love International Community garden looking for help to grow Looking back with Duke... Looking back with pictures
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Monthly Features Community Random Notes/Opinion Looking Back... To Do
Calendar Happenings Pictures Business and Professional
Submit Submit articles, pictures and letters to the editor at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com. Be sure to include your name and contact information (phone number, address and e-mail) and correctly spell names of all those involved. All materials must be submitted no later than 12 noon on the 22nd of each month. The HomeTown News reserves the right to edit all submissions for content and length.
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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
“Whether it’s spring rolls at Ayara Thai Cuisine, a quick
Hannah Levy, Contributing Writer Mishele Viera, Contributing Writer Michelle Weiss, Contributing Writer Jack Younger, Contributing Cartoonist
Advertisers’ Directory Business and Professional Christina Angelina Gallery Covenant Presbyterian Church Food Pantry, LAX H.B. Drollinger Co. Nora Lee Neighborhood Council Otis College of Art and Design Patrick Davis, CLU South Bay Brokers
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t a t i d n u o If ! r e t n e C n w o T r e t s e Westch sandwich at Togo’s or a business meeting at Truxton’s, I try to encourage everyone in our law office to patronize the businesses in Westchester Town Center.
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“Shop local” isn’t just a slogan for us. We shop local every day because it’s important to our community!”
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The HomeTown News, Your Friendly Local Newspaper The HomeTown News is a monthly 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. If you are interested in submitting an article or information for review, please email us at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com. Please submit the information as a Microsoft Word attachment. Mailing Address: 8939 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Ste. 110 #745 Westchester, CA 90045 (310) 641-1016 • westchesterhometown@yahoo.com • www.thehtn.com
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Community
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Westchester Secondary Charter School (continued) (continued from page 1) the proposed charter school’s paper work is approved by LAUSD, many decisions remain in limbo, including where the school’s campus will ultimately be located, when the WSCS board can start hiring staff and the actual date of the school’s opening. “It’s not just a matter of dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s. We have to make sure the plan is solid and open, and be successful,” said Wexler. More than just Wexler and the board are relying on the school’s success, however, as local families continue to join the initiative to open the community’s first charter middle and high school; Westchester is already home to such elementary school charters such as WISH and Open Magnet. Westchester residents Lyle and Cynthia Weldon are one of the families that are on board to help make the school a reality. Like many in the community, the Weldons have become increasingly disappointed with LAUSD and have first hand experience with the problems many families have faced dealing with the district. With the disbandment of iDesign, budget cuts and the recent conversion of Westchester High School into a science magnet, the Weldons felt the need to become more active in the quest for better education in Westchester. The Weldons have two daughters; one recently finished 6th grade at Cowan Elementary School and is now attending Palms Middle school, which at more than 7 miles away from Westchester has created an unpleasant morning commute for the family.
They also have a third grader whom they felt the need to pull from Cowan and is now attending Loyola Village Elementary School. “LAUSD has failed Westchester at the elementary level, certainly with Cowan, and now they are failing us at the high school level,” Lyle said. Rather than having the diverse range of families that make up Westchester spread out to different schools when their children reach high school age, the Weldons would like to see unity within local students’ educational paths, which is common in most other school districts. “A lot of families in Westchester go to private schools and we’d like to see a viable public school option available to Westchester and the surrounding communities,” said Cynthia. The Weldons along with other local families have been making a point to support the start-up charter in its initial phases and to help raise awareness throughout the community. Before its first enrollment period, WSCS is accepting new members into its “Founding Families program.” Founding Families are those who have volunteered at least 50 hours of board approved work activities prior to the end of WSCS’s first open enrollment period, which is April 16, 2012. Founding Families will receive the benefit of preference in enrollment for their children should a lottery be required for school attendance. Membership in the Founding Families program is closed after the school’s first open enrollment period ends. However, being a member of the Founding Families program does not
Group looking to reunite former Girl Scouts for event Do the words Tasting Bee, Breveho, Triple Bee and swaps bring back memories? Do you miss the friends you had back when you were in Girl Scouting? Local residents Margaret Emmons, Katrina Fusco, Angela Gayton, Kathy Klein, Janet Kinsella and Sue Skaggs are working to change that. The woman are working with Westchester and Playa del Rey neighborhood Girl Scouts to look for former leaders and adult former girl scouts to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouting. The woman are planning an event set to take place this summer, but are
looking for help from the community. Specifically they are looking for missing contact information for former leaders and scouts. If you or someone you know would enjoy a reunion, the woman are asking you to comment them. A Facebook page has been set up or people can email westchgs100thanniv@yahoo.com. They are also looking for photos and souvenirs from past neighborhood events, to display at the reunion. For more information, please call (310) 670-5726.
We want to hear from you! Contact us at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com February 2012
guarantee admission and preferences cannot exceed more than 10% of enrollment. A program that will guide students from 6th-12th grade through a comprehensive college preparatory curriculum and the ability to accelerate or decelerate in subjects as necessary, are just a few aspects that Westchester Charter School will offer that appeals to the couple for their children. While insistent that it isn’t specifically the charter school that they are excited about but rather the idea of higher quality education for their children, the Weldons are focused on bettering academic experiences for the community as a whole. “We think, in Westchester, that we need another option that will take us from elementary to high school, and the charter school looks like a good option,” said Lyle. For more information on Westchester Second Charter School and its progress,
community members can visit its website at westchestersecondarycharter school.org. Those interested in becoming more active in the process can “like” the charter school on its Facebook page, or join its mailing list, which can be accessed from the school’s website. The board has also set up a paypal account for all community members who choose to donate to the cause. Wexler is optimistic that her Westchester Secondary Charter School will be a viable choice for students and their families. “We look forward to being an option for this community and being part of the solution that seems to be a pretty serious problem,” Wexler said.
Westchester Secondary Charter School Proposed Timeline to Opening Although there are many variables, documents and money issues that need to be resolved before the charter school can open, below is a proposed timeline: January: • Capacity interview with LAUSD Prop 39 negotiations begin • Tier Two donor campaign begins February: • Formal campaign for enrollment begins March: • LAUSD School Board approval (contingent on LAUSD staff recommendation and sufficient startup funds in place) • Principal hiring • Tier Three donor campaign begins April: • Lottery for enrollment (4/30) • Faculty recruited
May: • Faculty hired June: • Handbooks written, instructional materials ordered July: • Fiscal and academic year begins • $250,000 raised for start-up funds – pledges due • Administration in place • School moves into LAUSD campus August: • Faculty training September 4, 2012 • School begins
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Let ’s Play
Crrrickeet!
Orville’s Cricket team looking to head abroad
Visitors to the LAX Flight Path Learning Center and Museum during 2012 will experience not only the sights that have made the facility so popular since it opened eight years ago but also several important additions or improvements. Exhibits and programming are updated on a continuing basis at Flight Path’s facility in the LAX Imperial Terminal, 6661 W. Imperial Highway, Los Angeles. DC-3 Gets New Lease on Life An old favorite given a handsome new look is the DC-3 on exhibit adjacent to the main gallery. The California Science Center, legal owner of the historic aircraft, recently signed an agreement to keep the DC-3 at Flight Path. Following the lease renewal, a refurbishment crew was brought in to thoroughly wash and polish the aircraft and its two auxiliary ground vehicles, a tug and fuel truck. “The DC-3 is our most popular exhibit,” said Flight Path President Rowena Ake. “We do whatever it takes to keep it in tip-top shape for the education and enjoyment of our visitors.” The DC-3 was the mainstay of civil air transportation in the propeller era before World War II. Flight Path’s DC-3 was manufactured at the Douglas Aircraft Co. plant in Santa Monica in 1941. After many years with Trans World Airlines, it was purchased by the Union Oil Company of California and used to transport the firm’s executives. In “retirement,” the DC-3 was acquired
February 2012
Above: Orville Wright’s Cricket class poses with Peter’s Procedures founder, Genevieve Peters (left) and Cricket coach and mentor Ted Hayes (back center). Below: Students play Cricket during their morning PE class.
by the California Science Center and displayed first at Hawthorne Airport before finding a home at Flight Path. Visitors to the LAX Flight Path Learning Center and Museum during 2012 will experience not only the sights that have made the facility so popular since it opened eight years ago but also several important additions or improvements. Exhibits and programming are updated on a continuing basis at Flight Path’s facility in the LAX Imperial Terminal, 6661 W. Imperial Highway, Los Angeles. DC-3 Gets New Lease on Life An old favorite given a handsome new look is the DC-3 on exhibit adjacent to the main gallery. The California Science Center, legal owner of the historic aircraft, recently signed an agreement to keep the DC3 at Flight Path. Following the lease renewal, a refurbishment crew was brought in to thoroughly wVisitors to the LAX Flight Path
DC-3 Gets New Lease on Life An old favorite given a handsome new look is the DC-3 on exhibit adjacent to the main gallery. The California Science Center, legal owner of the historic aircraft, recently signed an agreement to keep the DC3 at Flight Path. Following the lease renewal, a refurbishment crew was brought in to thoroughly wVisitors to the LAX Flight Path Learning Center and Museum during 2012 will experience not only the sights that have made the facility so popular since it opened eigh DC-3 Gets New Lease on Life An old favorite given a handsome new look is the DC-3 on exhibit adjacent to the main gallery. The California Science Center, legal owner of the historic aircraft, recently signed an agreement to keep the DC-3 at Flight Path. Following the lease renewal, a refurbishment crew was brought in to thoroughly wVisitors to the LAX Flight Path Learning Center and Museum during
2012 will experience not only the sights that have made the facility so popular since it opened eight years ago but also several important additions or improvements. Exhibits and programming are updated on a continuing basis at Flight Path’s facility in the LAX Imperial Terminal, 6661 W. Imperial Highway, Los Angeles. DC-3 Gets New Lease on Life An old favorite given a handsome new look is the DC-3 on exhibit adjacent to the main gallery. The California Science Center, legal owner of the historic aircraft, recently signed an agreement to keep the DC-3 at Flight Path. Following the lease renewal, a refurbishment crew was brought in to thoroughly w
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
Page 6
Non-pr ofit Spotlight
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Wings of Love International: giving hope to victims of violence The HomeTown News’ area is full of great people doing extraordinary things, who dedicate their loves to local organizations and non-profits that make up our community. This month we are spotlighting Westchester’s Wings of Love International, Inc. (WOLI) a non-profit dedicated to help and hope to victims of domestic violence. Below is an interview with WOLI Founder and Executive Director, Denise O’Brien. HTN: Can you tell the HomeTown News readers a little bit about your organization? O’Brien: Wings of Love International, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation located in Westchester at 8632 S. Sepulveda Blvd, Suite 204. We are comprised of dedicated men and women committed to improving the lives of thousands of individuals around the world. We serve individuals and families and are dedicated to helping those affected by abuse and domestic violence to live safe, selfsufficient lives. The primary goal of our nonprofit is to provide education and awareness that will help prevent the cycle of abuse. Through our international speakers’ bureaus, available in cities throughout the world, and local self-
esteem workshops and our Circle of Compassion Leadership Program, we offer free classes, seminars and workshops to help men, women and children of all ages to learn how to avoid becoming a victim, or to recognize the signs of abusive relationships. We are passionate about breaking the cycle of violence that occurs undetected in the homes of so many. Our goal is to take away the shame and the guilt of violence and abuse so that victims can be free! HTN: How did it get started? Why is this your particular passion? O’Brien: I founded WOLI on January 29, 2010, my oldest daughter’s 18th birthday, after life-changing events within our family changed the course of my life’s mission forever. I was inspired by God to start Wings of Love on the altar of my church that day, when I heard Him say “Today you will start Wings of Love!” but the foundation was laid many years ago due to my life experiences and those of many friends and family around me. As a single mother of three children 20, 17, and 8, I found there was a need to educate families about the causes and trauma of domestic abuse. I wanted families to have resources that I didn’t feel existed at the time for people
“
Denise O’Brien, Dave Reichard, Lynnette Love, Jasmine Hailey, Beth Barry, Jenn Krosp and Joe Curran pose in front of WOLI’s new headquarters on Sepulveda.
who were traumatized by abuse, mental health challenges, and difficult economic circumstances. I wanted to create an organization that would allow people from every socio-economic class to have access to services that would help them when confronted with any type of abuse
or domestic violence issue. So many families are hurting because of the struggling economy, which creates more stress and violence in homes. As a local business owner living in Los Angeles, I knew I could make a difference, as I had already been have (continued on page 8)
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Cindy Nelson demonstrates how to plant seedlings to Orville Wright Middle School Students in the mandala garden on Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. PHOTO COURTESY CHRISTINE TOPE.
Community garden looking for help to grow Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has chosen the Emerson Avenue Community Garden (EACG) at Orville Wright Middle School as a location for one of his Mayor’s Day of Service projects, which will take place Saturday, March 31. Only 30 community service projects across the city where chosen for this distinction. This year’s theme for the Day of Service is “Good Food Day” and with the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables that can grow on the approximately one acre of land, the garden is a perfect choice for this event. EACG had its official groundbreaking on January 17, 2011 and since then volunteers have held monthly construction and maintenance days on the site. The land is owned by LAUSD and was previously used as Orville Wright’s horticultural activities before it was left vacant for more than a decade. Wanting to utilize the land, however, Orville, the Westchester/ Playa Education Foundation, the Environmental Change-Makers, the City of L.A. and community members came together with the idea to
February 2012
turn the empty space into a garden that could be used by students and neighbors alike. The garden is a work in progress and has come a long way since being overgrown by weeds. Ultimate plans for the garden include 34 plots allocated for Orville Wright classes, 38 plots allocated for community members to use, a butterfly garden with California native plants, a fruit tree mini-orchard, circular seating, a 1/5 mile walking path and a botanic garden of edible plants. Applications to participate in the lottery to potentially receive a community plot are currently being accepted via the group’s website at sites.google.com/site/emersonavecom munitygarden. Those chosen will be expected to use organic growing techniques and their gardens will be required to be 90% edible. Plot holders will also be required to pay a fee to help cover the cost of water and insurance and volunteer at least 24-hour a year to help with maintaining the overall garden. The application process will close when the community (continued on page 15)
Important Community Resource Numbers Office of Councilman Bill Rosendahl (Council District No. 11) • Westchester Office: (310) 568-8772 • LA City Hall Office: (213) 473-7011 Los Angeles World Airports • General Information: (310) 646-5252 • LAX Noise Complaints: (424) 64-Noise (646–6473) City Council • Metro: (213) 621-CITY • Westside: (310) 471-CITY Los Angeles Police Department • Life Threatening Emergencies: 911 • Non-Emergency Police Response: (877) 275-5273 • 24-Hour Anonymous Tip Line: (877) 529-3855 • Noise Enforcement: (213) 473-7840 • Report Terrorist Threat: (877) 284-7328 • LAPD Senior Lead Officers: West of Sepulveda, Tony Ramos: (310) 622-3978 East of Sepulveda, Ruben Garcia: (310) 622-3976 Playa Vista, Greg Jacobus: (310) 622-3971 Libraries • Playa Vista Library Branch: (310) 437-6680 • Westchester-Loyola Village Library: (310) 348-1096 Fire Department • Reporting Emergences: 911 • Fire Station 5 (Westchester): (213) 485-6205 • Fire Station 67 (Playa Vista): (310) 862-2844
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Non-profit Spotlight: Wings of Love International (continued from page 6) wide variety of civic and social service organizations here in Los Angeles since I moved here in 1982. In my vast experience working on behalf of many nonprofits, including my work at a battered women’s crisis center for four years in San Jose, and my 25 years of training women in Mary Kay, I found that there was a lot of shame and guilt associated with being a victim of abuse. I founded Wings of Love so that we could help raise awareness to what is going on behind closed doors in every neighborhood. I had witnessed over the years so many terrible tragedies, and heard so many personal stories from survivors. I saw so many families just ravaged by abuse. My friends, myself, my family members, all victims with no place they felt they could turn. I founded WOLI with the intention to empower, educate, and inspire a pathway from abuse to emotional health, wholeness and abundance.
and goals in front of our volunteers. It is a delicate balance to focus on fundraising and administrative, as well as to keep an eye on the many programs we are running, including self-esteem workshops, educational programs for children, reaching out to teens, referrals to a variety of support systems for victims, including shelter and counseling. I also focus on community outreach, often speaking at a local Rotary International, Soroptimist International, or city chamber of commerce meetings. I also travel extensively and fundraise and promote WOLI in other cities, with a big focus on the Atlanta, Georgia, area. Atlanta has one of the highest rates of abuse in the country and we have growing volunteer base there that I communicate with daily. I also motivate volunteers, train speakers, and continue to search for more people willing to support our cause with their time, talent and treasure!
HTN: What does your day-to-day look like when working with Wings of Love? O’Brien: Hah! There is never a day that is similar to any other. Even though we just celebrated our two year anniversary, we are still running with 100% volunteers. My main function is to be the visionary for the organization, constantly keeping the bigger picture
HTN: How important is your organization to the people you serve? O’Brien: There are many organizations that help victims of abuse, from the local DV shelters to homeless shelters, to government funded and private organizations. However, one of the problems is that victims of abuse are so exhausted, stressed out and mixed up due to a
February 2012
lifetime of challenges, that once they decide to leave or make a move, they don’t know where to start. They also sometimes try to leave 6-11 times on average, before they finally make the choice to leave their abuser permanently. Having the support of one of our volunteers at WOLI gives them first of all, an ear to listen, and second of all, a check list of things to do, places to go, people to see, and action items to take to make a quick, and sometimes life-saving transition . We support these survivors in whatever stages they are currently living. One day it may be a phone call to strategize. The next day it may be a trip to court, standing by a woman’s side to get a restraining order. And the next day, it may be to help someone find an inexpensive counselor or attorney to help move his or her case forward. HTN: What would most people be surprised to learn about domestic violence? O’Brien: I think most people would be surprised that it happens in every zip code, from the very richest areas, to the very poorest. Families with more resources seem to find a way to hide it more easily. Domestic abuse has NO zip code. Emergency rooms treat more women for injuries caused by domestic violence than rapes, muggings, and auto accidents combined, and less than 20% of victims seek medical treatment
following their assaults. The statistics are very under reported. They would be surprised that the woman in front of them in the grocery store, or the man sitting behind them at church has been abused and never told anyone. HTN: What is your primary goal for Wings Of Love? O’Brien: Our primary goal is to empower, educate, and inspire a pathway from abuse to emotional health, wholeness and abundance. We know that abuse exists in many forms such as Physical, Sexual, Emotional, Verbal, Financial, Spiritual, Geographical, and Social. Our goal is to educate both victims of abuse and other community members that it exists in many forms and that there are many different solutions and support systems in place in which to refer those in need. HTN: What does your organization have planned for 2012? O’Brien: We at WOLI have a goal to raise awareness in our local community of Westchester as well as nationally and internationally. We are partnering with many private groups, schools, businesses, and even government agencies to show people that there is hope beyond abuse. We have big dreams. My vision is that someday there will be a (continued on next page)
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Looking Back... By David J. “Duke” Dukesherer, Sr.
Motorcycles in Playa del Rey...
(This column filed from Newark, New Jersey). Famous for many things, including great surfing beaches, alien and UFO sightings and the palatial home of Fritz Burns, Playa del Rey was thrust to the top of the national news, when the first wooden board track for automobile and motorcycle racing, opened here in 1909. The track opened (grand opening) as the Los Angeles Coliseum Motordome (sometimes called the motordrome) in Playa del Rey at the intersection of Jefferson and Culver Boulevards on April 8, 1909. Based on and utilizing the same technology as the French velodromes used for bicycle races, the track and others like it, were created with 2-inch (51 mm) by 4-inch (100 mm) boards, and banked up to 45 degrees. Some venues, such as Fulfordby-the-Sea and nearby Culver City, boasted unconfirmed higher bankings of 50 degrees or more. Promoters Fred Moskovics and Walter Hemple had taken notice of the success of automobile races involving now-legendary driver Barney Oldfield at Los Angeles tracks in the early 1900s and hired velodrome designer Jack Prince to design a raised wooden track designed specifically for motorized racing. Construction on the one-mile round-banked track began in Feb. 1909. According to Prince, more than 2 million square feet of lumber and 30 tons of nails were used in its construction. The Los Angeles Pacific Railway
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built a special spur to bring fans to the track, which held 12,000 spectators. Sportswriters immediately began referring to the structure as a “pie pan” due to its circular shape and banked track. The site was huge and included many concession stands, automotive garages and outbuildings. Several early aviation meets were also held there. In November 1909, one driver, Robert Lawson, was impaled when one of the boards popped loose and entered his body above the knee and exited near the base of his spine. Miraculously, he recovered but walked on a peg leg for the rest of his days. Many others drivers and riders were less fortunate and dozens of fatalities mounted at the track. Of all the great motorcycle racers, perhaps none was greater than Eddy Hasha who rode an eight-valve Indian motorcycle. He was known as the “Texas Cyclone.” In May 1911, Hasha attained a speed of 95 miles per hour (153 kilometers per hour) at the Playa del Rey motordrome, setting a record for the mile. In 1912, Hasha beat all of the established stars at the Los Angeles Coliseum Motordome and set professional records in the process. He then headed from the Western United States to the East. On September 8th, Hasha spent the day racing at the Newark, New Jersey Motordrome. In the last event of the day, he began a five-mile handicap race with five other riders. At the start, Eddie was in the lead, but on the third lap his machine developed engine trouble. Dropping one hand, he adjusted something and at once picked up enough speed to close on the single rider who had slipped past him. The next instant Hasha shot up the track at a sharp angle and struck the rail. He rode the railing for about a hundred
The Texas Cyclone: Eddie Hasha aboard his 8 valve 61CI V-Twin Indian Motorcycle, 1912. COURTESY DUKESHERER’S NEW BOOK, THE DAY THE CIRCUS CAME TO TOWN; SILENT SCREEN STAR MAE MURRAY AT PLAYA DEL REY, 1925.
feet, crushing out the lives of four boys who had been watching the race with their heads stuck out and injuring about ten others. The machine continued along the rail until it struck a large post, which threw Hasha to his death in the grandstand. After hitting the post, the rider-less machine tore along the railing for a few more feet and then dropped down on the track in the path of another rider, Johnny Albright. The wrecked machine struck the Denver rider in the shoulder and Albright went down with terrific force. Then, mixed up with two machines, he slid along the track for about 240 feet. Albright was unconscious when picked up and five hours later died in the hospital without regaining consciousness. It was one of the few cases in the history of the New York Times that motorcycling was front-page news. Subsequently, the authorities closed down the New Jersey track and
it was never reopened. The grim reality of Newark and the resultant publicity (which compared short-track motordrome racing to barbaric Roman gladiator sports) marked the beginning of the decline for the short (1/4 to 1/3 mile) motordromes or “murderdromes” as they began to be labeled by the press. On the afternoon of August 11, 1913, a fire broke out under the wooden track in Playa del Rey. Though it did not fully destroy it, the damage was severe enough that rebuilding it wasn’t feasible. A Los Angeles Times news story detailing the fire blamed it on vagrants sleeping beneath the track who were careless with matches. The tidal marsh and Ballona Wetlands reclaimed the land, and there is no trace and little memory, of the great Los Angeles Coliseum Motordome at Playa Del Rey. Comments: dukepdr@gmail.com
Non-profit Spotlight: Wings of Love International (continued) (continued from previous page) a representative of Wings of Love International in EVERY CITY in the world. Our goal is to continue to raise funds to help pay for all the behind the scenes work already being done at our International Headquarters. We would like to have more volunteers willing to help with data entry, networking, speaking at events and raising awareness. Our biggest dream is to build Wings of Love Nests. WOLI is raising funds now so that we can start operating a separate, secret shelter that will serve the middle to upper class abuse victim that may not be able to qualify for services in other shelters in the area. Due to the current economic crunch, there are a lot more abuse situations happening at an alarming pace. State budget cuts have lessened the readily available beds and services typically seen in the past. It is becoming increasingly obvious that this economy
February 2012
brings out more domestic violence, more crime, and more victimization. We are planning a huge Annual Gala fundraiser at the California Yacht Club, Marina Del Rey, to coincide with Domestic Violence Awareness month in October 2012, and we need many volunteers to be on the planning committee! HTN: How can the community get involved with your organization? O’Brien: Wow! We are excited that you asked this question, and that you will share with your readers that there is room for EVERYONE to do their part to help victims of abuse. We need support on both the program side and the administrative side. Whether someone wants to help out at the International Headquarters right here in Westchester, or become a Cozy Crew member or leader, or they want to support our teachers of the Circle of Compassion Leadership program, or help fundraise, there is a home for you at WOLI.
The easiest way to get started volunteering is to contact our office at (424) 224-WINGS (9464) and we will make an appointment to meet with you at our HQ and find a place for your talent.We need good nonprofit attorneys to give us solid legal advice. We are constantly fundraising and financial donations are always welcome. To donate, you can mail checks written out to Wings of Love International, Inc. to 8632 So. Sepulveda Blvd, Suite 204, Westchester, CA 90045, or make an online donation by visiting our website and clicking the “Donate” tab to donate via Pay Pal: www.wingofloveintl. org/donate. HTN: Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about your organization? O’Brien: Yes. Let them know that no matter where we go in the world, I tell everyone that Wings of Love International started in Westchester, CA
and will always be headquartered here. This is something we can ALL be proud of in Westchester. Let your readers know that they can truly make a difference, even if they are not ready to volunteer with WOLI. Just having read this article and learned a little more about what victims of abuse go through is a place to start. Your HTN readers can help right now by just being aware: Look for signs of abuse; Listen to people’s stories; Refer the parties to appropriate services: Individual therapy, family therapy, shelter for victims, batterer’s interventions; Create a Safety Plan with the Primary Victim, usually the mother; Don’t be afraid to ask for help; CARE, even though it may be uncomfortable for you; Model healthy relationships to your friends, loved ones, family, clients, colleagues. Together we can all make a difference! For more information about Wings of Love, visit WingsOfLoveIntl.org.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
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Friends of Ballona elect new president Dr. David Kay has been elected the new president of the Friends of Ballona Wetlands environmental organization. He takes over the post from Catherine Tyrrell, who has held the office since 2010. Kay is the Manager of Environmental Projects at Southern California Edison Company, one of the world’s largest electric utility companies, and secondlargest in the state of California. Kay’s organization performs the siting, environmental analysis, permitting and compliance management for all of Edison’s generation and transmission projects. A graduate of UCLA, he has been with Edison’s environmental department for over 27 years. Prior to joining Edison, Kay briefly taught general science in the Los Angeles Unified School District. He has served on the Friends of Ballona Wetlands Board of Directors since 2008. His most notable works include construction of the 174-acre Wheeler North Artificial Giant Kelp Reef near San Clemente, the largest of its kind in the world, and restoration of the 440acre San Dieguito Wetlands near Del Mar. Both projects satisfy mitigation requirements of the California Coastal Commission for marine environmental impacts from Edison’s San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. Kay’s organization is currently managing environmental compliance during construction of the Tehachapi
Renewables Transmission Project, a network of over 250 miles of new and upgraded electric transmission lines designed to carry clean, renewable wind energy from the Tehachapi Mountains to Edison’s customers in the greater Los Angeles region. Edison’s service territory includes the Ballona watershed cities of Santa Monica, Culver City, El Segundo, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood and Inglewood, as well as Marina Del Rey and all other South Bay cities. Catherine Tyrrell, outgoing President of the Friends, calls Kay, “a natural choice to lead the organization in its next phase of development.” “David’s knowledge and experience with wetlands restoration in the context of California’s numerous environmental laws and regulations positions the Friends to effectively advocate our community’s interests during the state’s upcoming restoration of the Ballona Wetlands,” she notes. Lisa Fimiani, Executive Director adds, “He is extremely knowledgeable about the public’s environmental review process, and will help ensure that the Friends’ members and broader community interests are incorporated into the Ballona restoration plan.” “I am humbled by the confidence the Friends’s Board has shown in me to lead the organization going forward,” Kay said. “Friends of Ballona Wetlands are beginning a new and exciting era,
with our dual missions of restoring and defending the wetlands, and expanding our community educational programs. The opening of Discovery Park as an added launching point for community programs, and our partnership with Loyola Marymount University’s Center for Urban Resilience and Ecological Solutions will help the Friends accomplish its most important strategic goals; to strengthen community citizen science’s partnerships and be the wetlands experts and voice for the Ballona Watershed region. Kay was very complimentary of outgoing President Tyrrell. “Sustainable living is a hip trend these days, but Catherine has been in the forefront of sustainability science, policy and implementation for many years. Her leadership on green infrastructure and stormwater management, most recently at RMC Water and Environment in Santa Monica, has been an important resource to the Friends,” Kay said. “As Vice President and then President of the Board, Catherine was instrumental in Board expansion and fundraising. She also actively guided the completion of the new Ballona Discovery Park soon to be open to the public. We will continue to be inspired by Catherine’s knowledge, enthusiasm and hard work, and look to her continuing leadership on the Executive Committee and in developing a Friends presence at our new Ballona Discovery
David Kay and Catherine Tyrell. PHOTO BY CHRISTA MAE.
Park in Playa Vista.” The mission of the non-profit Friends of Ballona Wetlands is to champion the restoration and protection of the Wetlands, involving and educating the public as advocates and stewards. Each year, the Friends host more than 7,000 visitors for interpretive wetlands tours and hands-on dunes restoration. For more information, visit http:// www.ballonafriends.org
OPEN PUBLIC to the
Exhibition
Doin’ It in Public: Feminism and Art at the Woman’s Building October 1, 2011 – February 26, 2012 Doin’ It in Public documents, contextualizes and pays tribute to the groundbreaking work of feminist artist and art collectives that were centered at the Los Angeles Woman’s Building in the 1970s and 1980s.
For a list of all public programs related to this exhibition visit www.otis.edu/benmaltzgallery
Doin’ It in Public is part of Pacific Standard Time: Art in LA 1945-1980, an unprecedented collaboration initiated by the Getty that brought together more than sixty cultural institutions from across Southern California for six months beginning October 2011 to tell the story of the birth of the L.A. art scene. Pacific Standard Time is an initiative of the Getty. Presenting sponsor is Bank of America.
BEN MALTZ GALLERY
otis.edu
Otis College of Art and Design 9045 Lincoln Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045 Free Parking & Admission
February 2012
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
Doin’ it in public continues through February 26 Due to popular demand, the highly regarded exhibition Doin’ It in Public: Feminism and Art at the Woman’s Building, has been extended through February 26 at the Ben Maltz Gallery on the main campus of Otis College of Art and Design. Along with historical ephemera and documentation, the show surveys the work of groundbreaking feminist artists, designers and artist collectives who gathered together at the Los Angeles Woman’s Building from 1973 through 1991. \Doin’ It in Public is part of Pacific Standard Time: Art in L.A. 1945-1980. This unprecedented collaboration, initiated by the Getty, brings together more than sixty cultural institutions from across Southern California to tell the story of the birth of the L.A. art scene. Otis College has organized multiple Doin’ It in Public programs and events for the exhibition’s final month, including: • Show and yells will occur most Thursdays at noon throughout the run of the exhibition at the Ben Maltz Gallery. A case in the exhibition is opened by curatorial staff, offering a closer look at some of the artists’ books, graphic materials and historical artifacts on display. • Updates and additions to an extensive website with an ongoing oral ‘herstory’ project linking to YouTube
and Facebook. Currently there are over 40 videos including interviews with artists Judy Chicago and Rachel Rosenthal, and footage of 1970s era feminist art performances. • The closing ceremony by artist Linda Vallejo on Sunday, February 26 will pay homage to the elements of earth, water, fire, and air, the four cardinal directions, mother earth, father sky and the great spirit. An altar, built for the opening ceremony of the exhibition, will be dismantled and momentos given to visitors as a remembrance of the Woman’s Building community, sharing renewed creative energy with a younger generation. The full events calendar can be viewed at www.otis.edu/ benmaltzgallery The feminist art movement of the 1970s set off an explosion of artmaking and analysis that continues to reverberate in the art world today, and the Woman’s Building (WB) in Los Angeles was one of its epicenters. In 1973, artist Judy Chicago, graphic designer Sheila Levrant de Bretteville, and art historian Arlene Raven founded the WB and for over two decades it helped shape the regional and international cultural landscapes. Through extensive public performances, site-specific work, networking with political activists, and collaborations, the feminist art movement at the
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A look inside the Doin’ It in Public: Feminism and Art at the Woman’s Building now showing in the Ben Maltz gallery at Otis College of Art and Design. This Pacific Standard Time show has been extended until February 26. PHOTO PROVIDED BY OTIS.
WB raised consciousness, invited dialogue, and transformed culture. The WB handed women their rightful claim to the role of “artist.” It inspired and allowed members to create a community of women who saw art as a powerful tool for social change, and shared this vision with the public. A listing of the artists featured in Doin’ It in Public, including Miriam Schapiro, Faith Wilding, Betye Saar, and Suzanne Lacy, can be found at www.otis.edu/ benmaltzgallery. The major focus of Doin’ It in
Public is revealing the WB’s emphasis on developing, teaching, and executing collaboration. The work of collaborative groups such as Ariadne: A Social Art Network, Chrysalis Magazine, Feminist Art Workers, Feminist Studio Workshop, The L.A. Women’s Video Center, Madre Tierra Press, Mother Art, Sisters Of Survival, The Waitresses, and the Women’s Graphic Center is presented and contextualized through the exhibition, programs, and publications.
Come Join Your Friends At
COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Worship Service 10:30 am Canines@Covenant 5:00 pm Sunday Covenant on the Corner 80th and Sepulveda Blvd.
Church School for Young People during Service
Pastor: Rev. Cathy Chisholm
We have an Orchestra and Adult, Youth and Children’s Choirs E-mail: cpoffis@pacbell.net Childcare is provided- For more information, Call (310) 670-5750
FOOD PANTRY, LAX Emergency Food Distribution to those in need Sponsored by Westchester Clergy Association
Open Tuesdayand andFriday Friday •• 11:00 a.m.toto12 12:30 Open Tuesday 10 a.m. p.m.p.m. (noon) 355 Beach Street, Inglewood
If you have Food to donate, take to Covenant Presbyterian Church or bring to location from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Volunteers and money donations also welcomed and encouraged. For further information, please call (310) 677-5597
Ad donated by Covenant Presbyterian Church
February 2012
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
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Looking Back in Pictures...
• your community newspaper • your community
Looking Back... Needless to say, the community has changed a lot over the years and we have come a long way since the days of bean fields. Our community is also rich in history, and the stories and pictures of the past are a true community resource. Groups like the Westchester Historical Society and the Marina del Rey Historical Society and local historians like our own Dukesherer, do a great job in keeping the present connected with the past. A lot of the time, however, these pictures and stories of days gone by are forgotten or tucked away somewhere just waiting to be uncovered. So it is with these photos, which have been kept for years in a box in the
February 2012
storage room at the LAX Coastal Area Chamber of Commerce’s Westchester office. Since the chamber has been around since 1953, they have acquired a wealth of photos that help tell the story of the area. With the new year here, and the HomeTown News celebrating its ten-year anniversary, we thought it would be a good idea to publish a few of these pictures to share with our neighbors. If you have any stories or memories regarding any of these photos or those published in the months ahead, please let us know by emailing us at westchesterhometown@yahoo. com. All pictures appear courtesy of the LAX Coastal Area Chamber.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
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February 2012
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
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February 2012
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
Garden (continued)
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Games
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Hometown News 2/12 Crossword
garden plots have been completed. Organizers will hold a public lottery to choose the plot holders. The lottery system is weighted and will give priority to families that live/work in the 90045 zip code and do not have their own land to grow food on. Those who have volunteered their time helping with the garden for 20 hours or more may be eligible for a second entry into the lottery. EACG volunteers are looking for community support for their day of service. On the day of the event, their mission is to have participants actively involved in continuing to build out of the garden, planting and harvesting. Volunteers will also be able to sample fruits and vegetables so that they may become inspired to think about the taste, freshness and overall quality that locally grown food provides and feel empowered to learn to grow their own food at home or feel inspired to incorporate more fresh produce in their diets.
Specific plans for the day of service include installing four communal garden beds in the community garden area, planting edible plants and installing additional landscape in the student mandala-shaped garden. Volunteers can also assist in helping to work on or complete construction on the circular seating area/outdoor classroom, building a compost pile, caring for the existing native garden and potentially harvesting plants (lettuces, radishes, etc.). Community members of all ages are invited to participate in the Mayor’s Day of Service project and organizers are hoping for 150 volunteers. The mayor may be making a special appearance at the site the day of the event. For more information, please email emersonavenuegardenclub@gmail. com or visit the EACG at sites.google. com/site/emersonavecommunitygard en.
Want to help? The Emerson Avenue Community Garden at Orville Wright Middle School is seeking donations of the following items:
PuzzleJunction.com
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Soduku To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.
Valentine’s Day is Near, Love is in the Air and so are Great Interest Rates If You Want to Fall in Love With A New Home or Sell Your Old One...Call Me!
In Real Estate, Experience Matters, So Call Me!
Nora Lee Owens at the Real Estate Consultants For real estate answers, call 310/846-0029
Have an idea for a story? Contact us! westchesterhometown@yahoo.com www.thehtn.com February 2012
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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
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Random Notes/Opinion 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 Medical Office Building Chase Bank The Coffee Co. Paradise Building Lucky Cleaner Ayara Thai Cuisine Ted’s Hair Design Truxton’s American Bistro Soundsations Needlepoints West Westchester Watch Works Bill Rosendahl’s Office Loyola Village Library Senior Center Loyola Village Library Elks Lodge Ralph’s Westchester Watch Works Kentwood Playhouse 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 Dinah’s Restaurant Lucky Cleaners Family First Playa Vista Urgent Care Coffee Bean Cantalini’s Emerson Pharmacy Howe Liquor Del Rey Liquor Ace Cleaners Coin Laundry Felicia’s Coffee Garden Outlaws The Shack Prince of Wales Tanner’s Coffee Holy Nativity Westchester United Methodist Westchester Christian Church Zacha Homes Airport Marina Counseling Service Lloyd Taber Library *partial list of drop-offs
To make your business a drop-off location, please email westchesterhometown @ yahoo.com February 2012
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Non-traditional values? By Nora Lee Owens I finally heard, as if for the first time, a politician say that he was for returning America to its “traditional values.” How, I wondered, would one define those. Or would they be the traditional values of not allowing women to vote or, except in very rare cases, attend college? Or maybe they would be the traditional value of burning young women at the stake because they were thought to be heretics (okay, that happened while we were still British subjects). All of those perfectly fine values, I guess, if you are morally bankrupt. Oh, but maybe he really meant the traditional value of having a cohesive family unit, much like the Cleavers of early television fame. Two handsome parents, one a woman who stayed home all day wearing a dress with an apron over it, testifying to the fact that she worked all day scrubbing sinks and vacuuming and didn’t want to soil her dress – which was sort of redundant, because she always changed into something fresh when her handsome male husband came home for the evening. Doesn’t that sound great?
Who wouldn’t want a handsome man to come home and enjoy cocktails and a leisure dinner with you and your well-behaved and adorable children. Of course this family is white, or black or Asian or Hispanic, but never of mixed race. And they go to church every Sunday. If they practice one of those religions that worships on another day of the week, that wouldn’t be very traditional, would it? You know, as it turns out, careful study of our Founding Fathers will turn up that Jefferson was a Deist, someone who believes God created the universe and abandoned it, or someone who at least doesn’t believe in the supernatural.. He was great and brilliant and wrote a wonderful Declaration of Independence, but, hmmm, having traditional values? And how about Benjamin Franklin? Wow! What a great and adorable guy he was. He experimented with electricity, wrote all those fun sayings in Poor Richard’s Almanac, was ambassador at large to both France and England during the Revolution, and reputedly was very fond of ladies to whom he was not married. He lived alone and away from the U.S. for many years, so he
was unable to come home to the little woman who changed clothes for him in the evening so they could share a glass of chardonnay. Values evolve, thank goodness. For the past 70 years plus we have had Social Security to give our elderly some promise of stability; for nearly 100 years, women have been a part of the electorate; since World War II, women have been part of the work force in this nation, even if sometimes not a welcome one; medicine has lengthened our lifespan; Medicare has eliminated the need for retired people and the handicapped to apply for medical insurance they would not qualify for; and, yes, the look of families has changed. So I must ask, what really is a traditional value? And do all of us have to live by that same standard? I hope not, because I don’t wear dresses while I clean and I don’t attend services on Sunday. I do, however, think the Founding Fathers were a bunch of really smart, really focused guys who did us a huge favor by creating this very wonderful and currently paranoid country.
Containing the Cupboards By Mishele Vieira, Certified Professional Organizer® Have you ever opened a cupboard to grab something in a hurry and then had half the contents come spilling out? You quickly shove everything back in and slam the door and race out of the house hoping that the next person to open the cupboard doesn’t get hurt by the impending avalanche. This is a good indicator that the cupboard has gotten too full and it’s time for a “reorg.” Here’s an easy way to restore the order. Empty out the entire contents of the cupboard. Sort the like items based on the categories that you use them. Using a food cupboard as an example, a few categories might be canned foods, snacks, lunchbox items, extra items for backup, etc. Evaluate and eliminate.Discard the stale and expired items. Let go of the things that aren’t being eaten, like those cans of chili that were on sale that your family doesn’t like.Perhaps these items can be donated to a food pantry. While the cupboard is empty, give it a little sweep of the crumbs and spray the shelves with a food safe cleaner to
remove any sticky spills. Put Away the remaining items back in the cupboard by category in a way that will be easy to find and easy to access. Store the things used most frequently in the easiest to see and reach locations. Extra items for backup can go in the harder to reach areas of the cupboard. “Containerize” when possible. For example, snack bars or trail mixes can store in a basket so the whole container can be removed, reviewed and then easily put back where it came from. Baskets are also handy in those hard to reach corner areas. You may want to tape a list on the inside door of the cupboard so you don’t forget about those seldom used but super important items like cupcake sprinkles and pastel marshmallows. Turntables (also known as Lazy Susans )can be useful in a cupboard for items such as oils and cooking sprays. The two tier version works well for spices and small items that can get lost. To maximize the space in a cupboard think vertical. Cupboard shelves also known as shelf doublers create a shelf within a shelf. These are now available in other materials such as stainless steel in addition to
the standard white vinyl coated wired version. The style that is supported by four straight legs is the easiest to remove and replace the items stored underneath. Another product to help maximize the vertical space is a mini set of steps that allows you to see the items in the back of the cupboard. This expandable device is useful for cans and spices and can eliminate overcrowding and waste caused by purchasing multiples of the same items that were not previously visible. Always measure the space and take a measuring tape with you to the store or check measurements on line before purchasing any organizing product for storage. Check the cupboard before you go shopping. You can do a quick inventory of what you already have in there, and find out what you need, and you can do a quick straighten up to make sure your newly organized cupboard stays that way. Mishele Vieira, CPO®, owner of Away With Chaos helps overwhelmed, overscheduled and under-organized people make room for what matters most in their home, work and life. Contact her at mishele@awaywithchaos.com.
Have a point of view you’d like to share with the community? The HTN is looking for a new columnist! Have an interesting take on the area? Passionate about Playa del Rey? Email us your proposal at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
Letting go of fear to live the life you want! By Fay Craton, MA, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist The other day, while I was having dinner in a restaurant there was a server shift change. The new person came over to my table with a big, happy, smile on her face. Immediately I liked her and my sense of comfort in the restaurant increased. It was a tremendous change over the indifference of the person she replaced. Attitude makes a difference. Whether in our homes, on our jobs, or as we mingle in the neighborhood, a big key to success is our attitude. When looking at types of hurdles to having a successful marriage, many of the challenges are about the attitudes of the two people who wish to navigate their life together. Research about marriage has proven negative communication and poorly handled disagreement leads to stress and effects children negatively. Attitude has a direct impact on how we communicate, as well as on the quality of marital relationship and on commitment. One of the areas of unpleasant attitude in marriages stems from disagreement around finances, which leads to looking at one of the places we obtain money: our jobs. In a tough economy, holding onto, and succeeding on our jobs is especially important. To hold onto a job and get raises it takes more than having a knack for the work. It takes having a positive attitude. Research
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table in order to ensure we had a good dining experience. Attitudes are reflections of the thoughts and feelings we hold within us. To understand your attitude it takes a willingness to look at what you are thinking and feeling; as well as your expectations about yourself, others, and conditions. To change your attitude, it takes a willingness to make changes within you. A good starting place is to look at your expectations. For example, in your marriage, ask yourself, “What do I want in a spouse?” Another path may be to look at your job and ask yourself, “What do I want in my career?” Think about your expectation. Is it based in fact? Would what you are expecting make you happy? How would your life change if you woke up tomorrow morning and what you expected happened? If the expectation happened, how would you have to be different? If your expectation is about your marriage, have you shared it with your partner? Each one of these questions is important. For example, do you expect that no matter what you do, something from your past is so shameful that you do not deserve to be happy? Then the belief that you do not deserve to be happy becomes a “self-fulfilling prophesy.” Your attitude will say you are not happy. This is a belief, not the truth! It is not based in fact. The thoughts and feelings to be “worked with” relate to changing the false
belief. For you to have an attitude of happiness, you must first believe you have the right to be happy. Let us look at another question: Have you shared your life and partnership expectations with your spouse? Marriage is a life partnership. If the two of you do not agree about your combined expectations, your chance of obtaining what you expect is greatly decreased. If when you communicate with your partner, you are unhappy because you are not getting what you want; your attitude may be bad tempered. In this case, the path to change your attitude begins with identifying what you expect, learning how to communicate it, while at the same time learning how to listen to what your partner expects. My wish for you is happiness, success and for you to thrive in your relationships. How you relate to others around you depends on your willingness to look within. You have an opportunity to regain internal joy, which shows up in your attitude. 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. If you have any questions, please visit Fay’s website at: www. communicationtriangle.com or contact her at (310) 645-6762.
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Short Sales The Mortgage Debt Relief Act of 2007 was passed to allow home owners to, under certain circumstances, waive the income tax detriments of the forgiven debt during the shortsale process. This legislation covered a span of 6 years from 2007-2012. At the beginning of 2013, if this legislation is not reinstated, then any short sales closing will suffer the tax ramifications of forgiven debt. As to the option of beginning the short sale process now, many home owners are unaware that you do not need to be behind on your mortgage to do a short sale. In fact, doing a short sale has many benefits if you are not behind on any of your debts. One key benefit is you may be eligible to get a new FHA loan after your sale is completed, although there are rules and stipulations regarding doing this. Another key point to beginning the short sale process now is that if this legislation is left unchanged and a shortsale does seem necessary, then waiting may only leave you with unwanted tax ramifications that may have been avoidable. The short sale process can be a long and difficult one. but it may be a better choice than a foreclosure or filling bankruptcy. Always
February 2012
done by a consulting firm, Leadership IQ, indicates 89% of people hired who do not succeed in their new positions (and often lose their jobs) is the result of the person’s poor attitude and not the quality of the person’s skills. Your attitude filters throughout every aspect of your life. Your happiness and success in life depends upon your attitude. Your attitude shows up in the way you relate to the people around you. It could be you have a great attitude! This means you are consistently happy. Relationships with people in your life constantly function well. If you have children, they are probably thriving. In addition, you are flourishing in your career. If so, please keep on doing what works! However, for many people this is not the case. It may be time to examine your attitude. We convey our attitude primarily by our body language and tone of voice. You might think,“I did not say anything to get her angry.” However, what was heard was much more than what your words said. While words have a role in communication, our behaviors have a much greater role. Let us think about the server in the restaurant, as she approached the table her body language was upbeat. She had a real smile on her face. When she spoke, the tone of her voice indicated she likes people and sounded friendly. In combination with her brief words, the message was she wished to establish a connection with those of us at the
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seek professional counsel when considering these options in order to make the best choice. An important side note is, if you feel this Relief Act should be extended, then write your local political representatives and let them know how you feel. Always know that the information on all of this is freely available on the web. Down Payment Assistance Many of my clients, friends and readers have been asking me the same question: is there any 100% financing left or are there any programs for down payment assistance? Today, I am happy to share a few answers with you. For all you veterans out there, I want you to know that 100% financing is a very real option up to the $729,000 loan limits. For my buyers in need of down payment assistance, there are programs like CALHFA which provide down payment assistance of up to $30,000. I recently met with a very informative Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Consultant, Mr. Joseph Guzman, whom updated me on many of the new programs and rules needed to qualify a buyer for these programs. Now most of these programs are geared toward helping low to moderate income level families, except the veterans loans. Another important factor to these programs is that you are required to be purchasing in certain areas or cities. The first weekend in February, there is an all day seminar being hosted by Wells Fargo that will help prospective homeowners find out their eligibility to these programs as well as their current loan approval possibilities. Much of the information on these programs can also be pulled of the internet with a simple search of city, state, or area of interest and “down payment assistance.” It is best to seek professional counsel, however, to find the most desirable option for yourself. As always, if you have any questions, we are happy to help in any and all ways possible. Thank you for reading.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
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To Do Greyhound Show and Tell Every first Sunday of every month, greyhounds and volunteers from Fastfriends, a nonprofit rescue group, will have a Greyhound Show and Tell from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Petco, located at 8801 S. Sepulveda in Westchester. Greyhounds are health checked, neutered, and tested for cat/small animal compatibility and they make great companions and pets. For more information, please call Jim Higgins at (310) 645-8143 or go to www.fastfriends.org to see the many dogs. 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/ or become our friend (Westchester Rotary) on Facebook. Playa Vista Farmers’ Market Come out to the Playa Vista Farmers’ Market. Open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and showcasing the freshest fruits, vegetables and flowers direct from the best local farmers’ California has to offer as well as other traditional market fare. This is a Certified Farmers’ Market sponsored by Sprouts of Promise Foundation, a 501(c) 3 non-profit focused on the education of healthy eating habits. Visit www.playavistaFM.com for more information. Enjoy this great weekend option destination, good for the whole family and conveniently located on the corner of Lincoln and Jefferson (look for the signs directing you into the Playa Vista community). Lots of parking too! Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club Join the Rotary club of Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club at its Wednesday morning meeting at 7:15 a.m. at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel, located at 13480 Maxella Avenue 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, www. playasunrise.org or call (310) 4293808. New Toastmasters Club A new Toastmasters Club is forming. They meet Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at the Westchester Masonic Center, located at 7726 W. Manchester Ave. in Playa del Rey. Email Knarph777@yahoo.com for more information or you may text or call John at (310) 963-9377 for more info.
February 2012
• your community newspaper • your community newspaper • your community newspaper • LMU Leband Gallery Loyola Marymount University’s Laband Art Gallery is currently showing the second installment of its Art 100 series, Art 100: LMU Faculty Artists. Curated by Claudia Bohn-Spector, the exhibition highlights the work of eleven full-time faculty members of the Studio Arts Department at Loyola Marymount University. Titled “Remnants of the Real,” this exhibition features artworks that reflect the dynamic range of contemporary artistic practice today, from straightforward painting and graphic design to conceptual photography and multimedia installations, creating works that resonate deeply with the myriad representational demands of our digital age. The Gallery is in the Fritz B. Burns Fine Arts Center on the LMU campus. Enter the campus at Lincoln and LMU Drive. Kiosk attendant will direct you to parking and the gallery. For more info, please call all (310) 338-2880 or visit cfa.lmu.edu/laband. Westchester First Fridays Head on down to the 6200 Block of 87th Street for Westchester First Fridays on February 3 from 4 to 9 pm. Every first Friday of the month, the best gourmet food trucks from around Los Angeles line the streets of 87th Street. Businesses along the street also stay open late, encouraging the community to check out their wares. The February lineup includes Ragin Cajun, Grilled Cheese Truck, Yummy One, Border Grill, CPK Mobile, Tango Mango, Me So Hungry, White Rabbit, Crepes Bonaparte, Temaki, Greasy Wiener and Westchester’s own B Sweets! Toastmaster’s group Speakers by the Sea You can help improve your public speaking skills by attending “Speakers by the Sea” every Wednesday. Visitors are always welcome and no advance notice is needed. The group meets Wednesdays at 11 a.m. at the Pregerson Technical Facility, located at 12000 Vista Del Mar, 2nd Floor Conf. Rm. 230A in Playa del Rey. The topics for February are: • February 8– Boy Scout Day • February 15– Valentine’s Day • February 22– George Washington • February 29– Leap Year Garage Sale A “huge” garage sale, carwash and bake sale will take place on Saturday, February 4 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. rain or shine at Covenant Presbyterian Church, located at 6323 W. 80th St., Westchester. Lots of great items like clothes, electronics, household items, tools, books, artwork, jewelry, furniture and more will be available. Proceeds go to support neighborhood Scout Troop 927. See you there!
Westchester Neighborhood Association Meeting The next Westchester Neighborhood Association (WNA) meeting will take place on Monday, February 6 from 7 to 9 p.m. The meeting will take place at the La Tijera United Methodist Church, located at 7400 Osage Ave. in Westchester. February’s meeting topics include: 74th and La Tijera redevelopment; WNA Committee to monitor growth and planning in Westchester; Redistricting; City budget survey; Airport update; and the WNA Board Election. Reiki at LiveYoga Wellness Every second Friday of the month join LiveYoga Wellness for a Group Reiki Healing night Eleanor Koury, a Reiki Master Teacher. The event will take place February 10 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The cost is $15 in advance and $20 at the door. This event is open to both newcomers and Reiki practitioners. LiveYoga Wellness is located at 6700 W. 83rd Street in Westchester. For more information or to RSVP, please call (310) 835-6700. WNS Hosts Dr. Susan Linn Westside Neighborhood School announced its hosting a presentation by Dr. Susan Linn on February 8, 2012. Linn is an instructor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and has written extensively about the effects of media and commercial marketing on children. Brad Zacuto, Head of School at WNS, believes “Susan Linn is a leader in educational research. In addition to academic excellence, WNS focuses on the social and emotional growth of each child, and Dr. Linn’s work is strongly aligned with our goals and beliefs in creating a school environment steeped in imaginative play.” Dr. Linn is a co-founder and director of the national coalition Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. In 2000, she was appointed to the American Psychological Association’s Task Force on Advertising to Children. She has been featured on 60 Minutes, Now with Bill Moyers, World News Tonight, Dateline, and in the acclaimed film The Corporation. In 2006, Dr. Linn received the American Psychological Association’s Presidential Citation for her work on behalf of children. Dr. Linn will sign books at 6:30 PM on February 8, 2012, at Westside Neighborhood School, 5401 Beethoven Street, Los Angeles, CA 90066. Her presentation is from 7 to 9 p.m. This free event is open to the public. Elks Lodge Food Truck Night The Westchester Elks Lodge will be having “Food Truck Sundays” every second Sunday of the month. The trucks will be parked in the back parking lot on Sunday, February 12
from 4 to 7 p.m. This event is open to the public and all ages are welcome to come. The Elks lodge is located at 8025 W. Manchester Avenue in Playa del Rey, For more information, call (310) 8213005. Holy Nativity celebrates Black History Month On February 15 at 6 p.m,. Holy Nativity will host a free evening program of soul food and thoughtprovoking talk featuring Dr. Raelinda Brown, Vice President of Undergraduate Education and Professor of Music at Loyola Marymount University. Dr. Brown will speak on the life of Florence Price, the first Black woman recognized as a symphonic composer, and discuss her own efforts to preserve and publish Price’s many symphonic work and will be followed by a question-and-answer session. Holy Nativity Episcopal Church is a welcoming community to people of all faiths – and those of no faith. In addition, as is the custom at Holy Nativity, we ask that you bring a can, bag, box of food to support Food Pantry LAX and those struggling in these tough economic times. For more information, visit the website at holynativityparish.org.. Spring Bridal Boutique at the Turners Center A Spring Bridal Boutique will be held on Sunday, February 25 from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Los Angeles Turner Center. For the newly engaged it’s a place to begin planning. The Los Angeles Turner Center is located at 8946 Sepulveda Eastway and ample parking is available directly across from the center. Among those companies scheduled to exhibit will be caterers, party planners, tux rentals, photographers, bakeries and florists. For additional information email info@LATurners.org , call: 562-2083445 or 310-926-7699.
How to submit a listing for the To Do/Calendar section 1. Write-up your event in paragraph format (no abbreviations please!) 2. Submissions must be received by the 22nd of the month to be considered 3. Please include contact information and the cost for your event, if there is one 4. Email us the event * Due to the volume of submissions received, we can not include all events or respond to requests of event inclusion. Events must be $25 or under to be considered for inclusion.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
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COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS
February Sunday
Monday
Tuesday Tuesday
Wednesday Wednesday Speakers by the Sea @ Playa del Rey “Rabbit Hole” @ Kentwood Playhouse (through February 18)
Thursday Thursday
Friday Friday
Saturday Saturday
Redistricting Commission Meeting @ Westchester Park Gym
First Friday @ 87th Street & Truxton Ave.
Playa Vista Farmers’ Market @ Playa Vista Garage Sale @ Covenant Presbyterian Church
Doin’ It in Public Exhibit @ Otis (through February 26)
1 Westchester Neighborhood Association Meeting @ La Tijera Methodist Church
NCWP Meeting @ Westchester Municipal Building Gateway to Go @ Crowne Plaza LAX
Westchester Farmers’ Market @ Westchester Park
2 Playa Vista Farmers’ Market @ Playa Vista
3 Reiki @ LiveYoga Wellness
4 Playa Vista Farmers’ Market @ Playa Vista
Speakers by the Sea @ Playa del Rey Dr. Linn @ WNS
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Food Truck Sundays @ Elks Lodge
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Valentine’s Day
Westchester Farmers’ Market @ Westchester Park
Gateway to Go @ Crowne Plaza LAX
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14 Gateway to Go @ Crowne Plaza LAX
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Playa Vista Farmers’ Market @ Playa Vista
Speakers by the Sea @ Playa del Rey Black History Month Speaker @ Holy Nativity
15 Westchester Farmers’ Market @ Westchester Park
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Working Together in the Garden Day @ Holy Nativity
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18 Playa Vista Farmers’ Market @ Playa Vista Bridal Boutique @ Turner’s Center
Speakers by the Sea @ Playa del Rey
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Gateway to Go @ Crowne Plaza LAX
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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
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Review: “Rabbit Hole” pulls through at Playhouse By Hannah Levy Emotional turbulence is the order of the day in the Kentwood Players’ rendition of David Lindsay-Abaire’s Pulitzer Prize winning “Rabbit Hole”, playing now through February 18th at the Westchester Playhouse. The play is centered on couple Becca and Howie, whose average lives are put on hold in the aftermath of their young son’s tragic death. Their struggle to rediscover a life together in the wake of the accident unfolds through a tangle of fights and fits within the couple’s shaky interpretation of everyday life. Becca’s pregnant younger sister Izzy and mother Nat – both damaged in their own right – only serve to irritate the couple further. They poke and prod at open wounds while attempting to help an increasingly angry Howie and withdrawn Becca face their troubles. The family dynamics are twisted for the audience’s sake, purposefully creating stark contrast between the three women. Where Becca is stoic, Izzy is brash and Nat is rather pathetically candid. “Rabbit Hole” is ultimately a story about life’s tragedies, and the difficult journey inherent in finding meaning in their wake. It is, as Nat would put it, the embodiment of the “Kennedy curse,” that “people want things to make sense” even in the darkest of situations. To say that the play as written by Lindsay-Abaire pulls at the heart strings is a tremendous understatement. If executed artfully the work has the potential to bring the audience to their knees with grief. The dialogue is sharp, poignant and at times necessarily comedic, and the characters are imbued to their gills with the humanity which allows an audience to relate to and withstand two hours’ worth of
mourning. “Rabbit Hole” is surely not an easy text to perform. It is empty of frills and zingers and traditional dramatic crescendo – it instead relies entirely on the steady portrayals of the melancholy foursome, a characteristic which did not necessarily bode well for the cast. Actress Alison Mattiza demonstrates perhaps the most noticeable signs of struggle. Mattiza’s Becca falls flat, giving no indication of the woman’s previous life and relying instead on a steady monotone of anger - drawing from the viewer not even the slightest hint of sympathy. Becca’s barking anger comes off as dismissive rather than depressed. Harold Dershimer’s Howie is more easily empathized with, despite the occasional pang of flailing overemphasis. Dershimer occasionally falls into the stances of a foot-stomping adolescent, losing his hold on the character’s adulthood. In calmer moments, however, Dershimer finds his way, navigating through rocky emotional waters with the character intact. Lois Bostwick does justice to character Nat, as does Tara Tyson, selfassured and comfortable in her role as Izzy – although both performances are stunted by the limited scope of director Sheridan Crawford’s unimaginative staging. The characters would have been more judiciously served by fewer round trips to the fridge and more fluidly staged scenes, especially those incorporating the entire cast. This often makes the play feel stagnant in spite of the cleverness of both the set and the lighting. The surprise of the night is surely Kenny Allen, playing Jason, the teenage boy responsible for the accident which killed Becca and Howie’s sixyear old son. Allen’s Jason is just the
As Howie and Becca drift apart, their lives are further complicated by Becca’s mother and sister. From left to right: Harold Dershimer, Alison Mattiza, Tara Tyson and Lois Bostwick. PHOTO BY SHARI BARRETT.
correct mixture of shock, guilt, and innocence. Jason seeks to understand the full extent of the damage he has done, to apologize for it, to mourn for it, and at the same time to escape from the permanency of it. In a high school composition he writes about alternate dimensions where the world is whatever it wishes to be, and where Becca reasons that their current dimension is “just the sad version of us.” Allen nails the duplicity of the role, playing out moments of shocking adulthood before retreating
into typically shy adolescence. The performance is there on all sides, and it is truly moving. All in all “Rabbit Hole” is worth the ticket. Despite the occasional shakes by both actor and director, the community theatre pulls through to present a production which does respect to the material at hand. Just be sure to venture on over to the Westchester Playhouse with Kleenex, for even if it isn’t stellar “Rabbit Hole” is sure to get the tear ducts flowing.
Redistricting (continued) (continued from page 1) The Los Angeles City Charter requires that the City be redistricted at least once every 10 years. A twenty-one member Redistricting Commission, has the authority to make recommendations on a redistricting plan, which then makes recommendations to the City Council, which sets boundaries for City Council districts. The Commission allowed the public to submit redistricting maps for consideration. The commission will accept comments until Thursday, March 1 on the maps. The City Council has until July to vote on the maps. Comments can be submitted by speaking at a public meeting, by fax, on the Redistricting Commissions’ website, by by emailing them at redistricting.LACity@lacity.org. For more information, please visit redistricting2011.lacity.org/LACITY/ default.html. Other meetings taking place in February are as follows:
February 2012
• Saturday, February 4 @ 11 a.m. Pierce College The Great Hall 6201 Winnetka Ave. Woodland Hills, CA 91367 • Monday, February 6 @ 6:30 p.m. Occidental College, Thorne Hall 1600 Campus Road Los Angeles, CA 90041 • Wednesday, February 8 @ 6:30 p.m. LA City Hall, John Ferraro Chambers 200 North Spring Street Los Angeles, CA 90012 • Thursday, February 9 @ 6:30PM Walter Reed Middle School, 4525 Irvine Avenue Studio City, CA 91602 • Saturday, February 11 @ 11 a.m. West Angeles Church Of God In Christ 3045 South Crenshaw Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90016.
At right: In the proposed redistricting map, Westchester is split into two different council districts.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
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February 2012
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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
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Pictures
••your community news • and box yourpuzzle, community newspaper • your community newspaper • your community newspaper • To solve the Sudoku each row, column must contain the numbers 1 to 9.
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National Anthem Singers. St. Anastasia School students had the opportunity to sing the National Anthem at Loyola Marymount University’s January 5th basketball game. LMU played Brigham Young University and lost 65-73. Pictured with
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• your community news 2/12 Sudoku Solution E P O S
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February 2012
LMU’s mascot Iggy are Adriana H., Matiana H., Sunny S., Jack S., Alexandra H., Jessica Y., Valerie M., Jennifer E., Margaret H., Hannah P., Thalia R., Megan W. and Katharine J.
Senator Dianne Feinstein addresses community. On Wednesday, January 18, the LAX Coastal Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a Washington Report debriefing with keynote speaker U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein. This luncheon was open to the public and attracted business leaders and community members, alike including representatives from Boeing, Gateway to LA and Playa
Vista. Senator Feinstein spoke on what is going on in Washington D.C. and how the actions of congress impact our personal and professional lives locally and beyond. Topics included recent legislation, job creation, and potential ways to stimulate the economy. The event was held at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel LAX.
Have a photo you’d like to share with the community? We want to see you in “Pictures!”
Email us at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com. The deadline for submissions is the 22nd of the month. Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
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In 2012, look for the B Sweet Dessert Truck at local events like Westchester’s First Friday.
Teacher mini-grant give much needed aid to cash-strapped classes On Friday, January 13, 2012, the Westchester Rotary Club and the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club awarded grants to 90 teachers from 16 local schools. Known as the Teacher MiniGrant Program, teachers received checks ranging from $50 to $200, for total support exceeding $20,000. The awards ceremony took place this morning in the Community Room of LAFD Fire Station No. 5. Club President Cindy Williams said, “Begun 15 years ago by the Westchester Rotary Club, these grants represent the clubs’ commitment our local schools and communities.” Teachers submitted summaries of the proposed projects’ goals and benefits to students, and a team of Rotarians evaluated those submissions. Teacher names and school identification were removed so as not to influence the outcome. “Reflecting the changing face of technology and classroom instruction, grants will fund an array of needed classroom items, from software and document cameras to atlases and books,” Williams said. “One teacher will even use her funds to set up a hermit crab home to teach kindergarten children observation skills, responsibility, and number recognition skills.”
February 2012
The Westchester Rotary Club meets every Wednesday for lunch at the Crowne Plaza LAX at 12:10 p.m. Rotary is an international service organization boasting over 1.2 million members dedicated to Service Above Self. To learn more, please visit www. rotary-westchester.org. �
We want to hear from you! Contact us at
westchesterhometown@yahoo.com Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
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At its January 3 board meeting, the Neighborhood Council of Westchester Playa heard from Los Angeles Mayoral candidate Kevin James about his plans for the future of the city. The Febrary meeting will include a presentation from another mayoral candidate – Councilwoman an Jan Perry.
Budget and Finance First Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. 7166 W Manchester Ave., Community Room
The Neighborhood Council also voted unanimously to support ousted Orville Wright Principal Dr. Curtis Pride. In a letter to LAUSD Board Member Steven Zimmer, the NCWP wrote, “Dr. Pride was hired for Orville Wright following a thorough vetting with the school’s stakeholders. This comprehensive process resulted in buy-in and support for his vision, goals and strategic direction. The community has been very pleased with the results to date; through Dr. Pride’s leadership, we are finally seeing a transformation in culture and a steady improvement in performance at the school ... we ask that you conduct a direct and thorough investigation into the process that resulted in Dr.. Pride’s reassignment and report back urgently and candidly to our community.”
Education Fourth Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Westchester Loyola Village Library
The Neighborhood Council also approved the appointment of two new board members: former Del Rey Neighborhood Council President and Playa del Rey resident Mark Redick will take over the At-Large Affirmation seat, and Westchester resident David Hoisman will take over the Residential District 10 seat.
Airport Relations Third Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Clifton Moore Administration Building, LAX
Government Affairs/City Services Meets as needed Please check website for time and location
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Homelessness & Vehicular Living Meets as needed Please check website for time and location
By Alex Eychis, NCWP Treasurer The Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa – along with every other Neighborhood Council in Los Angeles – have taken a 10% cut for its 2011/2012 fiscal year. This cut was due to budgetary constraints within the city.
Outreach Meets as needed Please check website for time and location Planning & Land Use Third Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Westchester Loyola Village Library Public Safety Meets as needed Please check website for time and location BOARD MEETING First Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Community Room @ Westchester Municipal Building
Furthermore, the city no longer allows Neighborhood Councils to rollover leftover funds from previous fiscal year budgets into current budgets. These cuts have had huge implications in the way we conduct business. As a response to these measures, the Budget and Finance Committee of the NCWP has decided to place a cap of $1,500 on all requests for Neighborhood Purposes Grants and Community Improvement Projects. The Committee also decided to set a February 1, 2012 deadline for all
organizations to submit their completed applications to the Budget and Finance Committee for consideration of funding before the end of our fiscal year on June 30, 2012. Applications are accepted and reviewed on a firstcome, first-served basis. Please go to the NCWP website at www.ncwpdr.org to download the funding application and to read filing instructions. The Budget and Finance Committee meets at 5:30 pm on the first Tuesday of every month at the Westchester Community Room at 7166 Manchester Ave. (at Lincoln) in Westchester. For more information or questions about apllying for grants, please contact NCWP Treasurer Alex Eychis at aeychis@gmail.com or (310) 930-8535.
www.ncwpdr.org February 2012
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News