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Nominate a local Super Mom!....page 10 Clean Aesthetic owners and friends pose in front of the shop’s “Downtown Playa” mural. From left to right: Co-owner Aaron Rosenstock, artist Mark Andrew Allen, co-owner Matt Rheault and employee Nancy Chan.
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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
This Month Brings You A look inside your HTN Community Spotlight: Entries sought for 4th of July Parade Four places to check out this April Locals Only art show highlights best of Playa del Rey In Pictures: Rock Roll & Run 5K
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HOMETOWN STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS Stephanie Davis, Publisher, Editor Jeff Blair, Contributing Writer Fay Craton, Contributing Writer
Rebecca Hill, Secret Recipes of the Inn Kirby Israelson, Graphic Design
Advertisers’ Directory Airport Marina Counseling 14, 21 SoCalGas Body & Brain Yoga 12 SoCalGas Pipeline Safety Drollinger Properties 12, 17 SoCal Sports and Fitness Food Pantry, LAX 11 Visitation School Jane St. John 18 Westchester Family YMCA Kevin and Kaz 02 Westchester Farmers’ Market Loyola Marymount 04 Westchester Lutheran School Marina del Rey Hospital 24 Westchester Town Center BID Neighborhood Council 15 Westchester Townhouse Project Scientist 13 Westside Pacific Village Sarlo Income Tax 07 Zacha Homes
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About The HomeTown News (HTN) The HomeTown News is a monthly community newspaper dedicated to providing information about the people, events and happenings of Westchester, Playa del Rey, Marina del Rey and Playa Vista. Look for the HomeTown News the first Thursday of the month at your home or at one of our drop-off locations.
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Mailing Address: 8939 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Ste. 110 #745 Westchester, CA 90045 • Email: westchesterhometown@yahoo.com • Website: thehtn.com • Facebook: facebook.com/thehtn The deadline for submissions is the 22nd of each month.
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April 2018 • Page 3
Community Spotlight: “Cities Across America” floats, marching groups, entries sought for Fourth of July Parade
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Photo by Glenn Marzano.
Planning for the 19th annual LAX Coastal Fourth of July Parade is underway and applications for participants are now available at laxcoastal.com/parade. The parade committee is looking for 50 entries made up of floats, community groups, local sports teams, marching groups and school bands, to participate in the hometown event on Wednesday, July 4. While attendees love parade mainstays like the Great Pyrenees, the LAFD bandwagon and the Hogs motorcycle group, the committee is always interested in attracting a few new entries and floats each year to wow the crowd. “We love and appreciate seeing all of our parade favorites year after year, but we always enjoy adding in a few entries that people have never seen before,” said Parade Chair Gwen Vuchsas. “For any group that has considered participating in the past, we’d love to have you submit an application and become part of the rich tradition of celebrating the Fourth of July in Westchester.” If anyone has an idea for a float or entry they’d like to see in the parade, the committee is always open for suggestions as well, says Vuchsas.
Community groups are encouraged to turn in their applications early to reserve the city they’d like to represent in the parade.
For the third year in a row, parade organizers held a contest inviting community members to submit a theme for the event. The winning theme, “Cities Across America,” was submitted by LMU’s Director of Community Relations, Andrew O’Reilly, who will have the opportunity to ride in a convertible in
the parade with his family. The parade committee is encouraging applicants to pick a great American city and design their entry to pay tribute to its landmarks, famous people, ambiance and anything else that makes the city special. Each city can only be represented once during the parade,
so participants are encouraged to submit their applications early with their location of choice. “We’re really excited to see what cities our entries will choose to represent,” said LAX Coastal Chamber Board Chair and committee member, Liz Hall. “We’re looking forward to seeing a snapshot of the unique and diverse great cities of America and how our entries decide to portray them at the parade. ” The Fourth of July Parade Committee is also accepting audition videos for those interested in singing the National Anthem at the event. Audition videos can be posted to facebook.com/laxcoastal or emailed to laxcoastalonparade@gmail.com by Friday, April 13. While everyone is encouraged to submit audition videos, preference is given to students who live or attend school in Westchester, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista, Marina del Rey and Del Rey. For more info on participating in this year’s parade or sponsorship opportunities, please call the chamber office at (310) 645-5151. Applications to participate can also be found at laxcoastal.com/parade or via email at laxcoastalonparade@gmail.com.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
April 2018 • Page 5
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Sir Richard Branson addresses the crowd at his Flight Path Aviation Walk of Fame induction ceremony on the LAX tarmac. Branson is the 54th inductee to the Aviation Walk of Fame, which is located on Sepulveda Blvd. in Westchester.
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Photo courtesy Friends of Ballona.
Flight Path welcomes newest member to Walk of Fame. Sir Richard Branson is the newest member of the Flight Path Aviation Walk of Fame after being inducted on Wednesday, March 28 at a ceremony at the Westchester museum. An entrepreneur and philanthropist, Branson has had a role in creating or managing more than 400 businesses, including Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia and Virgin American airlines. “I’ve been fascinated by flight ever since I was a little boy looking up to the skies,” said Branson during the ceremony. “I’ve had the privilege of meeting and often working with many of the geniuses of flight, the inventors, the adventurers, the daredevils and the dreamers. What they all have in common is the desire to make the world a better place and see it from a different angle.” Branson, 67, is the 54th inductee in the Aviation Walk of Fame, which was created in 1995. Bronze plaques featuring heroes of aviation line Sepulveda Blvd. in Westchester. Branson’s plaque will be located on the corner of Sepulveda Blvd. and Westchester Parkway, in front of the Paradise Building, when it is installed later this month. Other distinguished inductees include the first man to break the sound barrier, retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager; entrepreneur, pilot and airline founder Howard Hughes; Apollo 12 astronaut Pete Conrad; Orville and Wilbur Wright; Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart.
Migration Celebration attendees check out the outdoor science lab at last year’s event.
“He is an adventurer, a dynamic businessman, and, what I believe, is one of the original disrupters throughout industries,” said Deborah Flint, Chief Executive Officer of Los Angeles World Airports. “You make dreams and realities very possible through the work that you have done. Indeed, Virgin and Sir Richard Branson are an indelible part of our story and our history here at LAX.” LAX is the only airport in the world served by the three Virgin airlines. Branson’s latest endeavor is Virgin Galactic and Virgin Orbit, which is developing the orbital launch vehicle LauncherOne. Migration Celebration offers family fun and chance to learn about wetlands. The community is invited to the Friends of Ballona Wetland’s annual Migration Celebration on Saturday, April 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is free and gives attendees of all ages the chance to learn about the Ballona Wetlands and the birds that call the area home. The event will feature an art gallery, live music, hawk and owl demonstrations, food trucks and guided bird tours. Kids’ activities include face painting, an outdoor science lab, a scavenger hunt and arts & crafts. One-hour bird tours will also be offered. Space is limited, and there is a suggested donation of $5 per person. The event will take place at the Ballona Discovery Park, located at 13110 Bluff Creek Dr. in Playa Vista. For more info and to RSVP for a bird tour, please visit ballonafriends.org.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Photo courtesy HHLA.
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More than 24 pieces of artwork are now on display at Westchester’s HHLA to help beautify the center during construction.
HHLA displays public art during renovations. HHLA (formerly the Howard Hughes Center), which is currently in the midst of a $30 million renovation, recently announced a new, temporary art installation at the center. More than two dozen works from the Kline Academy of Fine Art are now on display, including landscapes, still lifes and portraits. The artwork, reproductions of oil and water colors from Kline faculty and students, is available for visitors to explore on their own while visiting the entertainment and dining destination. “Our goal with the new HHLA is to be a gathering place for the community,” said HHLA General Manager Belinda Jacobs. “This partnership with Kline Academy is our first step in identifying local partners whose talent and artistry can be appreciated by a wider audience.” HHLA’s upgrades, led by awardwinning architecture firm The Jerde Partnership, will create easier access for nearby residents and office workers to experience the inviting layout with more indoor-outdoor connections, enhanced landscaping and updated interior design throughout the six-acre property. The property will also be more accessible throughout, including better connectivity between the retail, dining, community gathering and parking areas. Dave & Busters and Cinemark will remain as anchor tenants with additional restaurants, entertainment options and retailers to join. The courtyard adjacent to Cinemark will become the new heart of HHLA, with an added outdoor screening area and fire pit, as well as new restaurants, food venues and outdoor lounge space. The center’s current Art Deco retail facade will
also be updated to reflect a more modern aesthetic. Construction at HHLA is expected to be complete by the end of 2018. City of Angels Gala to celebrate Playa Vista’s 25th Anniversary. The LAX Coastal Chamber will recognize the leaders that helped make Playa Vista a reality at its annual City of Angels Awards Gala. The event will take place on Thursday, April 12 at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott and will honor Peter Denniston, Ruth Galanter, Doug Gardner, Marc Huffman, Randy Johnson and Steve Soboroff. 2018 marks the 25th anniversary of Playa Vista’s first entitlement approval. Playa Vista is now one of the most desirable communities in Los Angeles, thanks in part to its “live, work, play” philosophy. For more info or to purchase tickets, please visit laxcoastal.com. Help Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary collect mobility devices. During the month of April, the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club is collecting canes, crutches and other mobility devices–think wheelchairs, walkers, braces, baby joggers, walking boots, etc.– to send to Africa to distribute for free to people with physical challenges, in the hopes of improving their mobility. Mobility devices are being collected at Playa Pharmacy, located at 8131 W. Manchester Ave. in Playa del Rey. Items can also be arranged to be picked up. For more information, please visit playavenice.org/page/ crutches4africa or call Joe Chehade at (310) 902-6182. Opened a business? Celebrating an anniversary? We want to hear about your business or nonprofit! Email us at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com.
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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Photo by Lek Pollard.
Rotary Clubs award Pageant of the Arts scholarships. The Westchester and Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Clubs recently joined forces to recognize high school students talented in the arts at the Pageant of the Arts competition. A local competition was held in February with each club picking a winner in the categories of music, art, dance and speech. These eight students received scholarships and then moved on to the district-level competition held on March 10 at LMU. The Westchester Rotary club scholarship recipients included: Alex Lopez for art (Santa Monica High School), Sophia Matthews for dance (Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnets School), Kathy Syta for music (Notre Dame Academy) and Deven Matthews for speech (Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnets School). Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary scholarship recipients included: Kiev Morales for music (Venice High School), Angela Wade for dance (St. Bernard High School), Destiny Clark for speech (Venice High School) and Allie Irwin (Inspire High School) for art. Irwin went on to place second in the art category at the district-level competition. Westchester Lutheran launches “Girl Up” club. Westchester Lutheran School has a new club on its campus. This year,
Photo by Lek Pollard.
Pageant of the Arts participants pose for a photo at LA Arts Collective during the scholarship competition. High school students competed in the areas of art, music, speech and dance for the chance to win scholarships.
Pageant of the Arts winners, Allie Irwin and Alex Lopez, pose in front of their artwork.
nearly 30 middle-school students established their own chapter of Girl Up. Girl Up, the United Nations Foundation’s adolescent girl campaign, engages students to take action. This international community includes nearly half a million young advocates looking to raise both awareness and funds to help girls living in places where it is hardest to be a girl. Westchester Lutheran School’s club had an initial fundraising goal of $500 for the year. During their kick-off bake sale at the end of January, they raised over $640, surpassing their goal. The club also recently hosted a pizza and movie night featuring the documentary, “He Named Me Malala,” followed
by an interactive discussion. Thanks to a generous donation of pizzas from La Rocco’s Pizzeria, the club was able to raise an additional $135 for the cause. Beyond fundraising, the school’s Girl Up club hopes to empower students at their school and within the community and bring awareness to the issues that girls face in other parts of the world. Lili Sosa, the chapter’s president, notes that this organization is unique because it is purely student-run. The other members of the club are excited to promote education, advocacy and the empowerment of future leaders and girls all around the world. They are excited to see their school’s chapter grow and to take the initiative with them
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
when they go to high school. Applications being accepted for community service scholarships. Each year, the Rotary Club of Westchester, through the Westchester Rotary Foundation, offers a $750 scholarship in memory and honor of Jim Hill, a former member who was exemplary in his service to the youth of the community. The scholarship will be awarded to a graduating high school senior demonstrating outstanding leadership in community service, who either resides in Westchester or Playa del Rey and/or attends Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnets or St. Bernard High School. Applications are due by April 23 and may be obtained by emailing cozette@ laxlawyers.com. The applicant will be asked to write an essay limited to one page, single-spaced, regarding the applicant’s history of community service. St. Jerome hosts casino night. St. Jerome School is hosting a casino night on Saturday, April 28. The event will be held in the Parish Hall, located at 5550 Thornburn St. in Westchester. The event will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. The cost to attend is $50, and includes dinner, 2 drink tickets and $50 in “funny money” to play casino games. For more information or to RSVP, please call (310) 703-2519.
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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Curious about your community? Four local spots you should check out in April Our neighborhood is full of gems, some obvious and some hidden, that help make our community unique and a cool place to call home. We love stumbling across new additions to the area, learning interesting facts and rediscovering local favorites, almost as much as we love sharing the info about these places with our readers! This month, we’re highlighting four local spots in Westchester and Playa
Check out the... KAWS Statue in Playa Vista Playa Vista is home to some awesome public art, and the enormous BFF Blue sculpture that went up in March by Brooklyn-based artist, KAWS, might be our favorite installation yet. KAWS is known for his limited edition toy line and product design, while also exhibiting paintings and sculptures in museums and galleries worldwide. Some of his most famous pieces are reimagined versions of iconic cartoon characters including Mickey Mouse, Peanuts and The Simpsons. The BFF sculpture is located in a business park off of Bluff Creek Dr. between Wayne’s Way and S. Campus Center Dr. As an added bonus, after you take your selfie with the statue, you’re just steps away from breakfast/lunch spot, Hash, and the hip and friendly, modern Mexican eatery, Tocaya Organica.
Check out the... Flight Path Museum in Westchester Located on the south side of LAX, the Flight Path Museum is definitely worth paying a visit. Dedicated to pioneers of flight and the importance of Southern California to aviation and aerospace history, the museum is home to memorabilia from the golden years of aviation, as well as one of the largest collections of vintage flight attendant uniforms. The museum also boasts a panoramic mural saluting the 100th anniversary of flight and an impressive biplane model collection. One of the coolest aspects of the museum is that it provides a prime viewing location to watch planes take off and land. Admission to Flight Path is free, and it’s open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. They also offer school and group tours. For more info, visit flightpathmuseum.com.
Vista that you might not have had a chance to visit yet, but are definitely worth checking out. We’re always curious to learn more about our community, so email us at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com to let us know some of your favorite local gems that deserve to be highlighted. We may feature them in a future issue of the HTN!
Check out... Westchester’s Jewel and Playa’s Treasure in Westchester Westchester and Playa del Rey have a rich history, and Westchester’s Jewel and Playa’s Treasure presented by the Westchester/Playa Historical Society creates a snapshot into the past and invites visitors to take a stroll down memory lane. The room, filled with photos, yearbooks, newspaper clippings and memorabilia, is open during the Sunday Westchester Farmers’ Market from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Currently on display are photos showing Westchester in the 1940s and 1950s and an LAX-themed slide show. Donations of photos and memorabilia are currently being sought for the Westchester/Playa Historical Society collection. For more info, please visit facebook.com/WestchesterPlayaHistory. The historical society room is located at 6205 W. 87th St. in Westchester.
YOU CAN HELP!
Westchester Townhouse
Fun-Raising Festival Saturday, April 14, 2018, 2 - 4 pm
FOOD PANTRY, LAX
Emergency Food Distribution to those in need. Sponsored by the Westchester Clergy Association
8501 Emerson Avenue, Westchester
Bouncy House, Food, Face-Painting & a Magic Show by Jersey Jim! Fun for the whole family!
Open Tuesday & Friday, 10am-12pm 355 Beach St., Inglewood
Bring donations of non-perishable food to Covenant Presbyterian Chuch. Volunteers and money donations also welcomed and encouraged!
Come join the fun & support a great cause!
Admission is free but please RSVP here:
For more information, please call (310) 677-5597
http://bit.ly/2FuzPhQ
Ad donated by the Covenant Presbyterian Church
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Check out the... Horse Statue in Westchester Ever wondered why there’s a horse statue next to IHOP on Sepulveda Blvd. and Manchester Ave.? The travertine marble statue has been a community fixture since the 1960s when it was installed to decorate a bank. In the 1950s, California artist Millard Sheets, was commissioned by Home Savings Bank to not only provide the design for their buildings, but also create art to compliment his work. Sheets, who is known for his architecture, murals, sculptures, mosaics and paintings, created works for more than 45 banks throughout SoCal. Since Sheets worked in a variety of mediums, Westchester is one of the few locations to have a sculpture, leaving a unique piece of local history that is often overlooked. Sheets was also responsible for creating the County Seal for Los Angeles.
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Charlie Carroll’s “Playa Watercolor” and other original artwork depicting Playa del Rey will be available for purchase at the “Locals Only” art show on Saturday, April 28.
Clean Aesthetic’s Locals Only art show celebrates best of Playa del Rey Culver Boulevard’s Clean Aesthetic might be the hippest shop on the block due to the hard work and creative sensibilities of co-owners Aaron Rosenstock, Matt Rheault and Charlie Carroll. Once a traditional surf and skate shop known for selling t-shirts with original designs, the shop is now attracting the attention of people, both locally and citywide, looking to buy one-of-a-kind pieces of art and prints that celebrate life, Los Angeles and the community of Playa del Rey.
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“We have used t-shirts as a medium to showcase our artwork,” said Rosenstock. “This used to be just a skate shop, but now it’s turning into what we had hoped for: a gallery showcasing art by us and our friends.” While the shop still stocks skate gear and clothing, Rosenstock is proud that they are getting to a point where the artwork and prints are selling almost as much as their t-shirt designs. “It used to take awhile for people to pull the trigger to buy artwork, but now they’re coming in and buying it
right away,” said Rosenstock. “We’ve become a reputable place to shop for art.” On any given day, original paintings and prints line the walls of the boutique shop, located close to The Tripel and the Prince O’ Whales. On a recent visit, more than a dozen neon pop art prints of Twin Peak’s heroine, Laura Palmer, adorned one wall and digital prints of Carroll’s “Playa Stacked” were ready for purchase. That piece of artwork, featuring local landmarks and homes stacked
on top of each other, has become a favorite for visitors to the shop. Its popularity also led the shop’s co-owners to one of their biggest epiphanies: people love seeing artwork that depicts their own neighborhood, especially when that neighborhood is Playa del Rey. While the shop always displays Playa themed art, the trio also holds a yearly “Locals Only” spring art exhibit that exclusively features artwork that celebrates Playa del Rey’s laid-back beach vibe, its landmarks, its people
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
and its charm. “People have a lot of pride in this community. People really do get excited when they see the local neighborhood in art,” said Rosenstock. “It’s a cool looking neighborhood—there are cool buildings, cool imaginary and with the beach, it all works. A lot of people who live in Playa see their house or their neighbor’s house or a memory they associate with the art, and they get excited. They connect to it on an emotional level.” Now in its third year, the “Locals Only” show not only features art from members of the Clean Aesthetic “collective”---a group of friends and associates that often collaborate on creative projects--but also from local artists that heard about the show and wanted to participate. “We have more than 20 artists participating, showing their version of what they see Playa as,” said Rosenstock. “Every year the art keeps getting better and better.” For Westchester artist Mark Andrew Allen, the chance to have a local place to showcase artwork and the creative hub that Clean Aesthetic provides is invaluable. “I think it’s great to have a community of artists. Artists typically work by themselves, but to have the opportunity to collaborate with others is very valuable because there’s not a lot of places that fulfill that need,” said Allen, who is one of the artists featured in the show.
A recent collaboration between Carroll, Rosenstock and another artist has led to Playa del Rey’s newest mural, finished last month, entitled “Downtown Playa.” The mural, located on Clean Aesthetic’s west-facing wall, features some of Culver Blvd.’s most popular businesses, including Playa Provisions and Mo’s Place, making it an Instagram-worthy stop for those visiting the area. Clean Aesthetic is also looking to collaborate with local artists to create a public art piece on the stairs located across from the shop that provide a shortcut from Pershing Drive to Culver Blvd. While an art show entitled “Locals Only” might evoke the idea of an exclusive event, when it comes to Playa’s neighborhood art gallery, everyone is welcome, says Rosenstock. “The doors are open. You don’t have to be on the list, just come on in,” he says. “We love Playa del Rey and that everyone seems to know each other. What makes this spot so cool is that we get to know the people who come into our shop. We love the local vibe.” The “Locals Only” art show will take place on Saturday, April 28 from 2 to 8 p.m. Original artwork featured in the show, as well as digital prints, will be available for purchase. Originals start around $400 with small prints starting at $20. Clean Aesthetic is located at 323 Culver Blvd. in Playa del Rey. For more info, please visit facebook. com/cleanaesthetic.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
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Calendar Ongoing monthly events: Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club Join the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club every Wednesday morning at 7:15 a.m. for its weekly meeting. The club meets at Whiskey Red’s, located at 13813 Fiji Way in Marina del Rey. The cost of the meeting is $25, which includes breakfast. Guests are welcome and reservations are not required. For more info, visit playavenice.org.
Rotary Club of Westchester The Rotary Club of Westchester meets every Wednesday at 12 noon for lunch at the Crowne Plaza LAX Hotel, located at 5985 W. Century Blvd. in Westchester. The cost of lunch is $25 and validated self parking is free. Guests are most welcome! Reservations are not required. For more information or to reserve a seat at the luncheon, please visit rotary-westchester.com.
LAX Kiwanis Club The LAX Kiwanis Club is looking for new members. The club meets every Thursday at 12:30 p.m. at the Renaissance Hotel, located at 9620 Airport Blvd. in Westchester. Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world, one child and one community at a time. The LAX Kiwanis raise money every year for such causes as providing scholarships, holiday baskets for needy families and back to school shopping sprees. For more information about the club or to RSVP to attend one of their meetings, please email laxkiwanisclub@gmail.com.
Life Story Writing Class
TheHTN.com in 1978, where disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder and is put in protective custody in a convent. Disguised as a nun, she finds herself at odds with the rigid lifestyle imposed by Mother Superior, but Deloris breathes new life into the church and community through her musical talent. After her cover is blown and she is found out by the gang that is after her, they find themselves up against Deloris and the power of her newlyfound sisterhood. Filled with uplifting gospel music, outrageous dancing and a truly moving story, “Sister Act” is a sparkling musical tribute to the universal power of friendship. Reserved seat tickets are $25 with a $2 discount for seniors and students. To purchase tickets, please call (310) 645-5156 during box office hours or visit kentwoodplayers.org. The Westchester Playhouse is located at 8301 Hindry Ave. in Westchester.
Dementia Caregivers Workshop Alzheimer’s Greater Los Angeles is hosting a workshop for caregivers of family members with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia-related illnesses. The workshop, “Savvy Caregiver Express,” is a 3-session class that will cover understanding Alzheimer’s and dementia, how to respond to difficult behavior and how to reduce stress. The workshops will take place on Thursday, April 12, 19 and 26 at 6 p.m. The classes will be held at Covenant Presbyterian Church, located at 6323 W. 80th St. in Westchester. To RSVP or for more information, please call Kimiko Kelly at (323) 9306257 or email kkelly@alzgla.org.
healthy and safe. These Wednesday “happenings” are free, informal talks and demonstrations that last about 15 minutes. Reservations are not required. The Wallis Annenberg PetSpace is located at 12005 Bluff Creek Dr. in Playa Vista. For more info and a full event calendar, please visit annenbergpetspace. org.
Westchester Townhouse Fun-Raising Festival Come support the Westchester Townhouse at its Fun-Raising Festival on Saturday, April 14 from 2 to 4 p.m. For more than 70 years, the Westchester Townhouse has served the youth of the community by hosting meetings for Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, schools and other youth organizations, but now the building is in need of some TLC. The event will help raise funds for needed repairs to the townhouse’s floors, doors and landscaping. The family-friendly event will feature a bounce house, face-painting, games and a magic show. RSVPs are requested. For more info and the link to RSVP, please visit facebook.com/ WestchesterTownhouseLA. The Westchester Townhouse is located at 8501 Emerson Ave. in Westchester.
YMCA Healthy Kids Day Stop by the Westchester Family YMCA on Saturday, April 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for their annual Healthy Kids Day event. Healthy Kids Day is the Y’s national initiative to improve the health and well-being of kids. The event will feature games, activities and arts & crafts. Families will also receive healthful tips from the Y’s community vendors. The event will be held at the Westchester Family YMCA Annex, located at 8020 Alverstone Ave. in Westchester. The event is free to attend.
Tickets to the event are $55 and space is limited. For more info or to buy tickets, please visit sauceoff.com.
Master the Art of Amazing Media Content LAX Coworking is holding its next “Lunch and Learn” on Monday, April 23 on the topic of “Mastering the Art of Amazing Media Content.” Join Zoe Nauman of Media Content Guru as she shares her tips on how to make your business a social media success, get more clients and write engaging posts. The event starts with networking at 11:45 a.m. and the presentation runs from noon to 1 p.m. The event is free and held at the LAX Coastal Chamber office, located at 9100 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Ste. 210 in Westchester. To RSVP or for more info, please call (424) 290-8745 or visit laxcoastal. com.
Afternoon Tea at Emerson Avenue Garden Join the Emerson Avenue Community Garden for an afternoon tea on Saturday, April 28 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. For $20 per adult and $10 per child under 12, guests will enjoy an assortment of treats including: scones with double cream and strawberry jam, finger sandwiches, tarts, biscuits and tea. The Emerson Avenue Community Garden is located on the campus of Wright STEAM Magnet, on Emerson Ave. between 80th Pl. and 80th St. in Westchester. Seating is limited, so RSVPs are required. Please RSVP at eacgc.org.
NCWP Planning and Land Use Meeting
Interested in learning more about development in the area? The Who will tell your great-grand kids April events at Annenberg community is encouraged to attend about your life growing up? Why PetSpace the monthly Neighborhood Council not you? Join the life story writing Playa Vista’s Wallis Annenberg of Westchester/Playa’s (NCWP) class and learn techniques to make PetSpace is offering numerous events Planning and Land Use Committee memories come alive. this month to help strengthen the (PLUC) meetings. The life story writing group meets relationship that people have with The committee meets the third every Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. their animals. Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in to 12:30 p.m., in the YMCA Annex, On Saturday, April 14 from 3 to 4 Sauce Angeles 2018 the Westchester Community Room, located at 8020 Alverstone Ave. in p.m., join Dr. Tamerin Scott from the Get ready for a sauce off! On located at 7166 Manchester Ave. in Westchester. Veterinary Public Health Program Saturday, April 21, starting at 3 Westchester. The April meeting is The cost to participate is $10 a year. of the L.A. County Department of p.m., guests and chefs will head to scheduled for Tuesday, April 17. For more information, please email Public Health for a talk on “Healthy the Westchester YMCA’s Annex for Every month, the committee hears Sonni at sonnihelmer@sbcglobal.net. Pets, Healthy Families.” Dr. Scott Sauce Angeles 2018. Local chefs will a variety of presentations ranging Please indicate “Life Stories” as the will provide information on a county compete to see who makes the best from city employees informing PLUC subject. initiative to monitor local animal sauce, while attendees get to sample on hot topic issues like the homehealth trends to create goals and the sauces and enjoy pizza, wine, beer sharing ordinance, developers looking April events: initiatives to improve the health of and more. The funds raised at the to build in Westchester/Playa or new “Sister Act” at Westchester animals and humans. Reservations are event will go towards the community’s businesses looking to open in the area. Playhouse Agendas for upcoming meetings are Now through April 21, “Sister Act” is recommended, but not required. RSVP newest pocket park, located on the at annenbergpetspace.org. property of Holy Nativity Church. available at ncwpdr.org/pluc when playing at the Westchester Playhouse. Every Wednesday in April at noon, The park opened in December of last ready. Those interested can also Performances take place on Fridays PetSpace visitors can learn tips on year, and the money raised will go sign-up to receive the PLUC agendas and Saturdays at 8 p.m., with a Sunday how to protect their pets from disease. towards adding seating and more play automatically at ncwpdr.org/user/ matinée at 2 p.m. “Sister Act” is an Guests can learn about disease risks equipment, as well as landscaping and register by creating a user account and uplifting musical comedy hit based on for cats and dogs, information on maintenance. The park is located at subscribing to email alerts from any the 1992 film. 6700 W. 83rd St. in Westchester. NCWP committee. The story takes place in Philadelphia vaccines and tips on how to keep pets Page 16 • April 2018 Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Recipes from the Inn: extra tart lemon cake With everyone hoping to win the big lottery, all of us ladies here at the Inn at Playa del Rey started daydreaming about what we’d do if we unexpectedly won $100,000! Our newest employee, Madison, is an innkeeper and an artist at heart. Madison has been innkeeping in Asheville, North Carolina, and we feel fortunate to have her join our team here in Los Angeles! In addition to being a wonderful innkeeper, Madison is also a visual artist who specializes in photography and collage. Madison said if she unexpectedly won $100,000, she would use it to buy a piece of land in San Louis Obispo where she’d like to create a property that serves as a revolving artist’s residency. Madison dreams of giving artists the time and space they need to create. As for our General Manager, Liz, here’s a little known fact: Liz is a HUGE Garth Brooks fan! Remember the band The Grateful Dead and how “Dead Heads” would follow the band from state to state and go to concert after concert? Well, Liz is like that with Garth! She has flown to various states, specifically for his concerts, and she has seen him in concert 10 times–twice in one day in Philadelphia and twice in one week when he was here at the Forum! If Liz unexpectedly won $100,000, she would like to take an extensive road trip throughout the USA and plan the route in accordance to where Garth is performing. Wow, that’s dedication!
Photo by Liz Hall.
By Rebecca Hill, Innkeeper
Garnish the cake with some candied lemon peel for an extra splash of color and lemon flavor.
As for me, my niece was born in Madagascar last month, so if I were to unexpectedly win $100,000, I would travel to Madagascar to meet her! This would be an unusual trip for me because (with the exception of border countries like Canada, Mexico and the Bahamas) I’ve never traveled outside of the USA. I have an (expired) passport, but I never went anywhere so it has no stamps and I have no idea what “going through customs” actually means. The Inn’s guests come from all over the world and tell me of the beauty of their countries. I’m always enriched by our guests and intrigued by their homelands, but I’m such a homebody, I’ve never dared to pack my bags and explore...until now! With or without winning the lottery, it is my plan to be at my niece’s first birthday party in Madagascar… but until then, I’ll keep enjoying the
comfort and familiarity of the Inn–the roaring fireplaces, the gentle breezes floating over the wetlands and the smell of homemade cookies and breakfast breads baking in the oven. If you’re looking for something new to bake in your oven this spring, consider this tasty, tart cake, a great treat for breakfast, afternoon tea or even a garden party. Which reminds me, I need to go check on the breakfast bread we’re baking for the guests right now. Smells like it’s almost done! Extra Tart Lemon Cake Ingredients: • 3/4 cup butter, softened • 2 cups sugar • 4 eggs • 3/4 cup sour cream • 2 Tbs. grated lemon rind • 1/2 cup milk
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
• 1/3 cup lemon juice • 3 cups flour • 2 Tsp. baking powder • 1 cup blueberries or raspberries Lemon Butter Icing: • 1 Tbs. butter (room temperature) • 1 Tbs. lemon juice • 3/4 cup powdered sugar Directions for Lemon Cake: 1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. 2. Liberally spray a 10” Bundt pan with non-stick cooking spray. 3. Cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs, sour cream, milk and lemon rind. 4. Combine lemon juice, flour, baking powder and blueberries. Add to butter mixture and stir until just blended. Do not over mix. 5. Spoon batter into prepared pan and bake for 55-65 minutes, or until cake tester comes out clean. Directions for Glaze: Stir together all the ingredients until blended. Add a little more sugar or cream until icing is a good consistency for brushing on the cake. Brush the icing on the cooled cake. Enjoy! The Inn’s recipes have been lovingly collected over the past 20 years. Some are original recipes, others are well-known recipes that have been adapted and some are recipes that have been handed down by our innkeepers’ mothers and grandmothers over the years. Rebecca Hill is an innkeeper at the Inn at Playa del Rey and a published writer. Her stories have appeared in Redbook magazine and in over a dozen Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies.
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Random Notes/Opinion
TheHTN.com
How to become a fitness black belt in nine steps By Jeff Blair
the next stage. Enjoy the ride! 1. Consistently workout once per week. If you exercise at least 20 minutes once per week, you are in this stage. Do whatever you enjoy; all exercise counts. Getting started can be tough for people so give yourself a hand if you reach this stage. 2. Consistently workout twice per week. Simply add another day of any type of exercise to your week. Focus on what you enjoy most (or maybe dislike least). Twenty to thirty minutes twice per week is the goal here. Go longer if you prefer and have the time. If you have gone from doing nothing to exercising twice per week, you have achieved a lot. Note, this is not dominating your life or requiring a massive commitment. Many people start to feel much better in this stage. 3. Workout three times per week with at least one day being a strength training day. Add another day of 20-30 minutes of exercise to your schedule. At this point, add in strength training if you are not yet doing it. A strength session can take 30-50 minutes. Strength training’s benefits include a higher metabolism, greater strength and increased bone density. Find a certified personal trainer to learn
Opinion: A belt system demonstrates stages in martial arts. Almost everyone knows what it means to reach black belt status. It means you have progressed through a series of lower belts to reach an expert level. Of course, no one expects to become a black belt overnight. As the saying goes, “Rome was not built in day.” Stages work in fitness too. Rather than trying to change your entire lifestyle at once, consider this nine stage approach to reaching your fitness black belt. One stage builds on another. There is no specific time limit on staying in one stage or moving to the next. You could stay in a stage for a month or two or proceed faster--that is totally up to you. Focus on consistency and keep trying. As you move through to each stage, you will continue the actions of the previous stages. For example, when you reach stage 6, you will be continuing all the actions from stages 1-5. When you reach stage 9, you will continue all the actions from stages 1-8. Along your journey, try not to compare yourself to others; just focus on your current stage and try to reach
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proper form. 4. Consider and develop nutritional habits. Continue your workouts and start to consider your nutritional habits. There are many different eating approaches and commercial options, so consider consulting a dietitian to get some informed help. Try to be patient with yourself as nutrition should be a lifelong commitment. 5. Consider and develop good sleep habits. At this stage, begin to consider your sleep habits. Most experts recommend 7-9 hours per night, so start there. If sleep is a consistent problem, consider seeing your doctor for medical options. Sleepfoundation. org is another helpful resource. 6. Incorporate stretching for 10 minutes at least once per week. Stretching can feel good and help muscles function better. Add ten minutes to the end of one of your workouts during this stage. 7. At least two of the workouts will be strength workouts and incorporate stretching at least twice per week. At this point, you have developed an incredible fitness regimen. Add a second day of strength training and add 10 minutes of stretching at the end. You may do more than two days of strength training and stretching, but
do at least two. 8. Follow healthy nutrition habits 80% of the time. Getting to this stage can take months or longer. Don’t give up. Try to read nutritional information and talk with knowledgeable people. You always want some flexibility in your nutritional approach, which is why this stage suggests 80% adherence. 9. Follow healthy nutrition and sleep habits 80% of the time. If you reach this point, you have achieved your fitness black belt! You have created a true fitness lifestyle. You will be consistently working out 4 times per week, with at least 2 of the workouts being strength workouts and you will be stretching at least twice per week. You will be following healthy sleep and nutrition habits at least 80% of the time. You will reap the rewards 24 hours per day, seven days per week, 365 days per year. Before you start any fitness routine, consult your doctor. Jeff Blair (MS, CSCS) has been featured in numerous fitness magazines and has worked as a personal trainer in Westchester for 15 years. He has won the Hometown News “Best Of” Personal Trainer five times. Reach him at jeff@ socalsport.com for story comments or questions.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Good relationships start with self-care By Fay Craton Opinion: At the marina, I enjoy walking at the breakwater while watching crafts make their way up the channel. The sea breeze catches sails, propelling boats forward. Watching the wind blow the sails can be beautiful. However, if the wind is too strong it can create storms, or if there is no breeze, the air can become stagnant. The wind flow needed for sailboats is not different from much of life. We need a healthy flow of energy. Without energy, it becomes difficult to maintain a meaningful, contented life or experience good relationships. I have recently noticed that many people appear to be depleted of energy, which is causing frustration and strain. You have the ability to renew your energy, however. You have the power to change what is happening within you and increase your resiliency. As you cultivate your resiliency, it is very likely your experience of frustration will decrease. Whether anyone else changes their behaviors or not, it is very likely you will experience increased happiness. Building and maintaining your resilience is about nurturing and cultivating your energy resources. It starts with taking care of yourself. Consider this self-care activity list: • Do you get enough sleep and exercise? • Do you eat healthy foods? • Do you have good support systems around you? • Do you take time to connect with a spiritual presence? • Do you regularly practice gratitude? • Do you cultivate a positive, lifeenhancing attitude within yourself? • Do your words and actions reflect that you care about people around you? • If you have a history of substance misuse, are you maintaining your recovery? • Are you able to accept your own strengths and share those strengths with others? When you take care of yourself, you have internal resources to form and maintain healthy, nurturing relationships with others. As part of the process of building resilience, take another look at
the list of what it takes to care for yourself. While in the past, you might have been practicing good self-care, it’s important to check in with yourself to see if you are skipping or forgetting any items. It is very understandable if something has been skipped; after all, we have demanding lives with limited time! What would it take to re-engage in an area you have forgotten to nurture? If items on the list are new to you, are you willing to consider that you may find benefit from attempting to incorporate the activities into your life? Choose one item on the list and consider what the risks and benefits might be in engaging in it. To help you reflect, you may wish to create two lists. One list can include the risks in taking the action and the other list can name the benefits in taking the action. Place a value on the list for each item from 1-10, with 10 being the highest score. Add up the total values on each list. In this way, you can evaluate whether or not you feel taking the action is beneficial to you. If you need help making the change, it is okay to ask for help. Sources of help could be a trusted friend, a self-help group or a counselor. I have found that when parts of self-care are missed, energy is stagnant. This is when life becomes dull, and I feel drained. This might be your experience, too. I also find that when life is going great, it becomes easy to forget or discount the value of one or more of the selfcare activities. I compare this to a disruptive storm. It is important to remember that after a storm, clean up and re-establishing healthy habits is important. My wish is for you to be resilient and have healthy relationships. You are valuable and deserve to take the time to care for you. Not only will this benefit your life, but it will benefit those around you. 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. For more info, visit communicationtriangle.com or contact her at (310) 645-6762.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
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Inaugural Rock Roll & Run for Education March 10 at LMU
More than 1,300 runners braved a forecast of rain and headed to Loyola Marymount University on Saturday, March 10 to raise money for local education at the inaugural Rock Roll & Run 5K. Hosted by the LAX Coastal Education Foundation in partnership with LMU, the event continued the tradition of the Race for Success, and brought 18 K-12 schools, community groups and local businesses together for a fun morning of exercise, rock and roll music and a little friendly competition. Page 22 • April 2018
have a little fun at the same time. In Thanks to 5K/1K runners, virtual our first year we learned a lot, and runners and sponsorships, more we look forward to raising even more than $65,000 was raised. At the event, Playa Vista Elementary School money for our schools at next year’s run.” was recognized for having the most In addition to the 5K, attendees runner sign-ups, WISH Charter was were treated to live music by Ab-Soulrecognized for best costumes and St. Ute and Nocona, a pancake breakfast Mark’s was recognized for most spirit. served by the Playa Venice Sunrise “We want to thank everyone for Rotary and an expo featuring local participating and supporting the Rock Roll & Run,” said event chair Liz Hall. businesses providing family activities, “This event is an unparalleled chance giveaways and treats. for all of our local school families to Major sponsors of this year’s event come out to support education and included Los Angeles World Airports, Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del
Drollinger Properties, the HomeTown News, LAX Coastal Chamber, Plotkin Family Foundation, Stephanie Younger Group, William H. Hannon Foundation, Alex & Kate Real Estate, Rainbow Acres Washington Blvd. and Fineman Suarez. Next up for the ed foundation is a partnership with SoCalGas to distribute STEM grants, the Teacher Eddy Awards in May and a Community Connections Academy in the fall. For more information, please visit laxcef.org. Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Photos by Joerg Rose.
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