10+ things to know about Westchester/Playa in 2022

10+ THINGS22+THINGS

A New Year means a new opportunity to get involved with the community, connect with your neighbors and learn more about Westchester/Playa! We love answering our readers’ questions, so we’ve put together a list of some of our most popular queries to help you get a head start on all the things you should know about Westchester/Playa in 2022!

We hope you learn something new, and if there’s a burning question you have about the community, please reach out! Email us at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com, and we’ll do our best to answer it.

TO KNOW ABOUT TO KNOW ABOUT WESTCHESTER WESTCHESTER & PLAYA& PLAYA IN 2022 IN 2022

From left to right: 1. A local band rocks out at the Westchester Arts & Music Block Party. 2. The giant KAWS BFF statue in Playa Vista. 3. Shoppers enjoy the Westchester Farmers’ Market.

Q. What are some local volunteer opportunities? A. People in Westchester/Playa love to give back to their community, so there’s multiple organizations that host regular volunteer opportunities. One of our favorites is Clean UP Westchester. Once a month, community members with a passion for beautification team up for an hour-long cleanup activity. Join this enthusiastic crew at their next meetup on Saturday, January 22 at 9 a.m. Volunteers will meet at 83rd Street and Lincoln, and trash grabbers and bags will be provided. To RSVP and to learn more, email granttfrancis@ gmail.com. In addition to the fun volunteers have trying to see who can pick up the most garbage, attendees are provided with special T-shirts.

Another group that loves working with volunteers is the Friends of Ballona Wetlands. Check out their calendar of events to find ways you can help with their Ballona Creek cleanups and restoring the wetlands.

They’re currently accepting volunteers for their Habitat Restoration event on Friday, January 21 from 3 to 5 p.m. Volunteers should be at least 7-years-old, and kids must be accompanied by an adult. Space is limited, so RSVPs are required. Learn more at ballonafriends.org.

Other community groups that regularly have volunteer opportunities include the Westchester Family YMCA and Playa del Rey’s Grass Roots Neighbors.

Q. Where can I learn more about the history of the area? A. If you’re a history buff or just curious about your community, we recommend visiting the Westchester/ Playa Historical Society’s (WPHS) Discovery Center. The center is open on Sundays during the Westchester Farmers’ Market (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and houses a large digital archive of photos and other artifacts. The center is located in the Westchester Triangle and is staffed by knowledgeable volunteers ready to answer your questions and get nostalgic.

On January 9, WPHS will open its first themed exhibition, which will focus on aviation. If you enjoy your time at the center, consider making a visit to the Flight Path Museum, which also has an aviation-focus. The museum is located on Imperial Highway in Westchester and has wonderful displays focused on all things flight and LAX.

To learn more about the early history of the area, stop by the Ballona Discovery Park in Playa Vista. When visiting this “museum without walls,” you’ll learn about the Gabrielino-Tongva people, discover the different habitats in the Ballona Wetlands and read about the plants and animals that call the area home, thanks to the numerous interpretive signs.

Ballona Discovery Park is located at 13110 Bluff Creek Dr. in Playa Vista. Q. Where are the local farmers’ markets? A. The Playa Vista Farmers’ Market is the largest in the area and runs Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The market is located in Runway Playa Vista, and shoppers can expect to find lots of organic fruit and veggies, as well as a large number of artisanal food vendors and booths selling clothing, jewelry and more. Visit farmermark.com for more info. The Westchester Farmers’ Market runs Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Westchester Triangle. In addition to fruits and veggies (we like the pick three for $5 booth at the end of the market), check out vendors selling bread, pastries, gifts, salsa, tamales and more. Follow the market on Instagram for an update on what’s in season @westchesterfarmersmarket. Each market has different vendors and products, so if you have the time, make sure to visit both to see which one fits your shopping needs. Q. Where can I view art in the community? A. While the community has its fair share of public art (including a painting dedicated to Maya Angelou in the parking lot next to Truxton’s; multiple large-scale murals in the Westchester business district; a giant KAWS BFF statue in Playa Vista and almost a dozen utility box murals), Westchester is also home to two art galleries. On the campus of Otis College of Art and Design, there’s the Ben Maltz Gallery. Loyola Marymount University is home to the Laband Gallery. While right now both locations are closed to the public due to the pandemic, the Laband’s current exhibition is “June Edmonds: Full Spectrum.” Depending on LMU’s visitor policy for the spring semester, reservations may open to community members next month through a preregistration system on the gallery’s website. Learn more about upcoming exhibits by joining their mailing lists at cfa.lmu.edu/ labandgallery and otis.edu/ ben-maltz-gallery. (continued on page 16)

(continued from page 14) Q. What community events should I mark on my calendar? A. After a two-year hiatus, most community events are currently scheduled to take place in person in 2022. Below are the area’s most popular events by month (exact dates for events are TBD unless noted):

January:

• Kids’ March for Equality, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. on January 17

February:

• LMU Wine Classic, to raise money for scholarships on February 6

March:

• Rock Roll & Run, 5K raising money for local schools (canceled this year) • 2nd Annual LAX Coastal Education Foundation Art Show & Contest, showcasing student art in the Westchester Triangle • Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club’s BingoFest, raising money for community projects

May:

• Teacher Eddy Awards, celebrating local teachers and education • Westchester Rotary annual Book Sale, raising money for community projects

July:

• Fourth of July Parade, parade down Loyola Blvd. in Westchester on July 4 • Shakespeare on the Bluff, performances of classic works held at LMU

September:

• WAM, featuring live music, arts and a block party vibe • Elks Car Show & Chili Cook Off, classic cars and a chili competition at the Lodge in Playa del Rey

December:

• Marina del Rey Boat Parade, decorated boats cruise the marina • Santa Tour, Santa and guests tour the community with help of LAPD, LAFD and the Rotary Q. What are the best restaurants in the area? A. We have our favorite local spots, but we always love hearing from community members to get recommendations and suggestions on the best places to eat. Once a year, we ask our readers to vote for their favorites, and we reveal the results in our Best Of issue out in August. You can view the results of our latest poll and get a handy list of reader recommended picks at issuu.com/ westchesterpdrhometownnews. Hopefully you’ll see some of your favorites on the list and get inspired to try some new places. If you’d like to participate in our eleventh annual poll, voting will start in June. Q. How can I get more involved with the community? A. Westchester/Playa is full of community groups and organizations looking for new members and to connect people. Each one is unique and has a different focus, but some of the most active groups include the Westchester Elks, the Women’s Club of Playa del Rey, the Westchester Rotary Club, the Westchester Mental Health Guild and the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary. These groups meet regularly and offer a variety of activities, fundraisers and social events for members. Visit their websites to read about their programs and membership requirements. Q. How can I share my thoughts on proposed developments in the area? A. The Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa (NCWP) has an active Planning, Land Use & Development Committee that meets once a month to discuss proposed projects, hear from developers and get feedback on a variety of issues that impact the areas of Westchester, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista. The meetings are currently held via Zoom on the third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m.

Community members are invited and encouraged to share their opinion during the committee’s public comment period. Any recommendations the committee makes will then go to the NCWP’s full board for a vote. The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 18. While the full agenda has not been released yet, the group is scheduled to discuss the proposed “Dinah’s project,” which would transform the shopping center located at 6501 Sepulveda Blvd. in Westchester into an eight-story building featuring 362 apartments. The existing Dinah’s Restaurant, which has been there since 1959, would be incorporated into the design. Sign up for updates and agendas at ncwpdr.org. Q. Where can I connect with other local business owners? A. Give the LAX Coastal Chamber a call. The chamber is a membership organization made up of more than 500 businesses located in the areas around LAX. There’s a yearly fee to join, but membership has a variety of perks including networking events; a monthly mixer; access to committees focusing on topics like planning and land use, education and construction; and opportunities to meet and connect with fellow business leaders. Reach them at (310) 645-5151 and learn more at laxcoastal.com.

Q. Where can I learn about local schools and education? A. Visit the LAX Coastal Education Foundation’s website at laxcef.org to get an overview of the community’s schools. The NCWP’s Education Committee is also a great place to connect with parents and community members to ask questions and hear from school administrators. The committee meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Sign up to receive their agendas at ncwpdr.org.

Check out more FAQs on our website at thehtn.com!

Stefanie Huber displays her comfy sheets, complete with giant buttons that keep users tucked in all night, at the Playa Vista Farmers’ Market.

Business Spotlight: Playa Vista mom hopes to bring families a restful night’s sleep with Tucked + Covered

As a mom of two, Playa Vista’s Stefanie Huber knows the importance of getting a good night’s sleep. But when her youngest kept waking up in the middle night, she become determined to find out why. That’s when she realized that when the sheets fall off, it often wakes the child, who then wakes their parents. Determined to find a solution, she got to work creating a new type of bedsheet that was comfortable, cozy and kept her kids cocooned all night and Tucked + Covered was born.

Read how this new entrepreneur is hoping her innovative sheets help the whole family feel more rested in this month’s business spotlight! Q. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. A. My name is Stefanie Huber, mom inventor of Tucked + Covered bedsheets for kids. Living in Playa Vista with my supportive hubby, two beautiful children, and fun-filled pups for more than seven years, many of our closest friends reside in Westchester, Playa del Rey and Marina del Rey. The calming seaside landscape coupled with the Ballona wetlands and serene hillside villages breeds positive inner chi, just like my favorite hot yoga class! It’s easy to begin my work day with inspirational ideas amongst the dreamy surroundings we call home. Being an elementary school teacher before starting my own family, I’ve always had an innate soft spot for helping kids build self-esteem. And since my patented stretch and flow button design keeps our little ones comfy covered without a parents’ help, they fall asleep and awake feeling proud. Plus, with my neatly tailored button hold, children succeed in the traditional chore of morning bed making! All they have to do is simply smooth and straighten with no more tucking. Q. When did you start Tucked+ Covered? What was your inspiration for starting this business? A. Living on broken sleep close to a decade ago, my four-yearold son, Max, sparked the start of my innovative kids’ bedding design. Desperate to find the root cause of Max waking up throughout the night, I began searching his bed for clues. Finally, deciding to fasten his messy kicked off twin sheets together stopped his 2 a.m. risings, so I decided to develop my idea for market! Although building my business from the ground up with zero experience is challenging and a slow burn, my motivation fuels daily as I awake comfy covered in my fully functioning adult prototype. Yes, I have successfully ended the nightly tug of war over bedsheets with my hubby! Q. Do you consider yourself a sleep expert? What are some of your best sleep tips for families? A. Since my high-quality kids’ bedding design centers around giving families the very best rest, I guess some would say I’m a child sleep expert. Every week I research, write and post blogs on my website concentrated around getting children to sleep through the night with lots of tips and tricks for parents. Q. What do you love most about what you do and being an entrepreneur? A. Designing, creating and evolving bedsheet designs for all ages is my passion. I have an entire line of designs ready to be manufactured, but the hurdle of funding is still one I need to jump. It’s frustrating to see the same old traditional bed linen designs produced for the masses when they do not fulfill their intended purpose. After all, isn’t the job of bedsheets to keep us comfy and covered all night? Think about the broken sleep and messy morning beds we all experience from wrestling with untucked bed sheets and ask yourself, “Isn’t it time someone changes the face of bedding?” Well, I have! Q. Is there anything else you would like people to know about your business? A. If you would like to see in person how my bed sheet design can help you and your family sleep better, visit me at the Playa Vista Farmers’ Market. I’m there once a month, so email me at hello@tuckedcovered. com for upcoming dates. With my family-first, community approach, I welcome any questions, comments or suggestions. It takes a village to build a solid business foundation! Q. What are some of your favorite local businesses? A. Having a small business, I realize firsthand the heart and soul family business owners feel with their community offerings. During the height of the pandemic, so many could not withstand the financial fall of closed doors. Experiencing this tragedy was heartbreaking since small businesses give our communities a creative hometown feel we crave like a breath of fresh air. Here’s a big shout out to some of my most visited local small businesses: In Westchester: The Book Jewel and Tanner’s Sewing and Vacuum Center. In Playa del Rey: Kinder Alchemy. In Marina del Rey: Hot Yoga Los Angeles and Koyama Chiropractic and Acupuncture. In Playa Vista: See You Monday Marketing Boutique and Brella Child Care Services.

To learn more about Tucked + Covered, visit tuckedcovered.com.

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Take advantage of the Fresh Start Effect for your 2022 goals

By Jeff Blair

Opinion: January means New Year’s Resolutions for millions. Can New Year’s resolutions actually help us improve our lives or do they simply set us up for disappointment? This month, I will consider that question and provide some helpful strategies to improve your chances of making real change in 2022.

Some days of the year stand out more than others. Your birthday is one example. Your favorite holiday might be another. January 1 can feel like the single most important day of the year for many people. Even the first of each month somehow feels more important than the eighth or 17th day. Is the feeling of the added importance of these days meaningful and important? According to Professor Katy Milkman of the University of Pennsylvania, the answer is yes. Special days of the year, which she calls “temporal landmarks,” can increase motivation through what is known as the “Fresh Start Effect.” This “fresh start” can be an important asset to achieving fitness goals.

One problem with fitness goals is many have previously tried and failed to achieve them. After trying and not succeeding several times, many lose confidence. We might even become self-critical and even self-condemning. This creates an obvious vicious cycle and quite a bit of baggage. As a trainer, I see this as one of the biggest obstacles for most people as they try to improve their health. Past difficulties make people hesitant to even try again. The cool thing about the Fresh Start Effect is it allows us to psychologically put those past struggles behind us. As cliche as the “new year, new you” phrase might sound, most of us respond to that idea. This is one reason New Year’s resolutions are so common. The Fresh Start Effect allows us to view ourselves as someone different on January 1 than we did on December 31. This allows us to drop past baggage, gives us a motivational boost and can propel us forward with more confidence. While the Fresh Start Effect can be an effective motivational tool, it is not always enough by itself to allow you to reach your fitness goals. More steps are usually needed. I recommend the following steps to help you achieve your New Year’s goals:

1. Find some social support for

your healthy choices. This could be a workout buddy, personal trainer or a group that supports you. I’m a strong believer in the power of positive peer pressure. It is very difficult to succeed when no other person in our life supports our efforts.

2. Find some physical activity

you don’t hate. You do not have to love your mode of exercise, but look for something you don’t hate. If you hate running but you are considering running because your neighbor started, I would suggest choosing something different to help you achieve your goals. You do not have to feel like you’re at a theme park when exercising, but some level of enjoyment or pleasure should probably be part of the picture.

3. Schedule workouts or have an

appointment to exercise. Calendaring workouts or having a mostly consistent schedule seems about 1,000 times more effective than exercising when the mood hits. Most people who wait to exercise until they feel like it are going to be waiting a long time. Create a personal schedule that includes a realistic amount of exercise for you based on your professional and personal demands. While a schedule is key, do not get discouraged when life interferes with your schedule. Reschedule when necessary and then get back on track. My final suggestion for New Year’s fitness is to keep in mind that many things do not happen immediately. Professor Milkman talks about how the Fresh Start Effect can also boost motivation on the first day of the week, the first day of the month and even the first day of spring or summer. If you drop off after the New Year, look for another fresh start opportunity. Fresh starts are often hiding in plain sight if we look for them.

“How to Change: The Science of Getting From Where You are to Where You Want to Be” (2021) by Katy Milkman is recommended for anyone looking to make lasting changes in fitness or other health-related areas.

Jeff Blair (MS, CSCS) founded the SoCalSport Personal Training Studio in Westchester in 2011. He has been featured in American and international fitness publications. He is a Certified Personal Trainer and fitness author.

Are you frozen in past habits?

By Fay Craton

Opinion: It is winter. It has been rainy, and the temperature outside is cold. This weather requires a warm fuzzy sweater or a puffy jacket. It makes me smile to remember when a client came to my office with her soon-to-be-husband dancing and singing, “Let It Go” while telling me I “have to go see the movie Frozen.”

While life does not include the imaginative fantasy portrayed in Frozen, it can parallel the movie’s story. In the tale, the main character Elsa enjoys her talent of forming and using ice and snow while playing with her younger sister. In one scene, she accidentally injures her sister Anna with her magic because her skills were not fully formed. Elsa is told that fear will be her enemy, and she is encouraged by her parents to hide her special magical skills. She decides to distance herself from other people, especially her sister, to keep them safe, and in doing so loses a source of joy and a big part of herself.

Do you remember a time in your life when you decided to stop expressing yourself fully? It could be you were laughing and having fun and someone said something to you and made you feel wrong. It could be you overheard a mean-spirited comment and applied it to yourself. Or perhaps a bully did something to harm you, and you stopped expressing yourself to protect yourself from further harm. There are many reasons why your joy could have become locked away. At the point of time the decision was made to lock away a part of yourself, a habit was also started. That habit was to hide and function from fear. Quite frankly, the decision might have been the best choice for you to survive what was happening in your life. But years later, with the conditions in your life changed, do you still have the same habits? The emotion of fear is still part of the habit even though you no longer have anything to threaten you. Along with the old fear may be mind chatter undermining your efforts to change.

Habits formed many years ago can derail your happiness, success and your talents, while keeping you from experiencing good relationships and forming healthy behaviors. Your habits may also have impacted the lives of loved ones. In Frozen, Anna’s life was also curtailed. She needed her sister. Their parents had died and both girls were all alone. Anna became “love needy” and ended up falling too rapidly for someone who, it turned out, did not have Anna’s best interests in his plan.

Deeply entrenched habits can be very difficult to change. Frequently, it takes a major “aha” moment to begin the process. For Elsa, that moment was when she became angry, and displayed her talent to control ice and essentially “freeze” her kingdom. Everyone finally

saw what she could do and there was nothing left to hide anymore. At that point in the movie, she had given up what she had been taught to be and started to test what she could do to develop her talent. One of the most memorable parts in the movie is when she declares, “I am never going back. The past is in the past. Let it go!” What do you need to “let go” of in order to release the fear and mind chatter keeping you locked into old habits which no longer serve you? What needs to grow within you for you to experience your joy? While “aha” moments that break the frozen stuck energy holding your ancient habits in place might happen as a burst of anger, you do not need to get mad in order to break free. However, changing a habit does require being ready to disrupt your own perspectives. A simple example of this is when someone makes a New Year’s resolution to take off the pounds gained over the past couple of years. To take off the weight and keep it off requires changing your perspective about how you view food and healthy living. Just saying you want to change usually will not be sufficient. There needs to be enough motivation and support to break through the entrenched old habits and mind chatter. Motivation happens when you have more reason to do something than not to do something. When you make a goal, a very clear image or statement in your mind as to why you wish to achieve the goal is important. Love can be an important motivator. But what is love? One definition is putting someone’s life before yours. Support is important when challenges arise making it difficult to stay on track toward meeting your goal. What are you ready to release in order to fully express your talents? Are you ready to embrace love so you can grow joy? Are you willing to place another person’s needs over your own? Are you willing to embrace connection and support from others? What are your current goals in life? I encourage you to think about all these questions. It is okay not to have immediate answers. While reflecting, also consider your support systems. Do you have support? Where can you obtain it? My wish is for you to experience joy expressed from your heart. You have talent within you waiting to be put into action—all you need to do is to let go of what is no longer needed and allow space in your life for new and life-enhancing expression. I hope you experience love and connection during 2022! 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). She provides video-based counseling and is located in Westchester. If you have any questions, please contact Fay at (310) 645-6762. Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News January 2022 • Page 21

By Sheri Weitz, RDN, CDCES Contributing Columnist

Opinion: Here’s to 2022 bringing the “Roaring 20s” vibe we thought we’d get before the world fell apart after New Year’s Eve two years ago. It’s been a heck of a tumultuous ride, and along the way perhaps you’ve gained some unwanted weight and not been exercising as much as you would like.

Maybe you find yourself vowing to do what you’ve done after the start of other new years: start a diet! Are you vowing to stick to intermittent fasting, paleo, keto or some other diet du jour? Many friends and clients, despite my advice to the contrary, begin diets on January 1 each year. Ninety-five percent of all diets fail, often leading to binge behaviors, feelings of guilt and shame, and unhealthy weight cycling.

Weight loss and healthy eating plans come in and out of fashion like bell bottoms and Calvin Kleins. Low fat diets used to be all the rage, then it was low carb. There was the South Beach diet, the cabbage soup diet, Weight Watchers (now called WW) and so on. Many have healthy components to them, but diets simply don’t work! There are more than 200 peer research studies which show when people go on a diet, they go off it at some point, and the picture isn’t pretty. Many, including my private patients, lose 20 pounds then gain 30 pounds, lose 30 then gain 40, lose 40 then gain 50….you get the idea. What starts as a weight loss journey becomes a weight gain trip that isn’t exactly a pleasure cruise. There are serious health consequences to weight cycling. Research shows it can be more dangerous to our health to lose and then gain than it is to stay at a stable weight, even with a BMI which is considered overweight. If you’re struggling to lose weight, there’s another way: it’s called “intuitive eating,” or the “non-diet approach.” The classic book “Intuitive Eating” was first written 25 years ago by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch, both eating disorder dietitians. I highly recommend this book, along with checking out HAEScommunity. com which stands for “Health at Every Size.” This amazing movement seeks to de-stigmatize weight and has transformed lives with its message about compassionate self-care. There are many excellent books, support groups and podcasts on the topics; a good therapist can also help us make peace with our bodies and food. Intuitive, or mindful, eating involves listening to your hunger and fullness cues, along with gentle goal setting that doesn’t exclude any food groups. If you hear, “Don’t eat any sugar,” how do you feel? How about, “Avoid all high fat foods?” What’s the first thing you think of? For me, it’s “I want a cookie!” I had a patient years ago who lost 100 pounds while eating a candy bar every day. When one of her wellness advisers told them to stop eating it, they gained all the weight back! Focusing on what you do want instead of what you can’t eat is a powerful psychological tool that works for both weight loss and achieving overall improved health. How do you want to feel? Would you like to have more energy? More focus? Less joint pain? Perhaps you have smaller sized clothing you want to fit into again? Many people require the gentle support of a professional who is trained in the non-diet approach. The right professional can help teach you about nutrition and exercise without creating diets or meal plans which can be cheated on or “failed.” Let 2022 be the year when you’re a gentle cheerleader for yourself and your lifestyle goals, without the dreaded “D” word. In my next article, I’ll give helpful tips to put mindful eating into practice. Cheers to a happy and healthy New Year!

Sheri Weitz, RDN, CDE is a Registered Dietitian and functional nutritionist with a private practice in Westchester.

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In 2022, resolve to help yourself and your neighbors

By Jason Ramos, Contributing Columnist

Opinion: It’s always exciting to change the calendar from December to January. A new year is filled with potential and the chance to start fresh. And after the busy holidays filled with celebrations and tables of delicious treats, it’s not surprising that many people make a goal to exercise more in the New Year. But what if your New Year’s resolution could benefit more than just yourself? When you join a community-based organization like the Westchester Family YMCA, you’re committing to more than simply becoming healthier; you’re supporting the values and programs that are here to strengthen the community where you live.

Membership at the Westchester Family YMCA helps provide support for programs such as our youth sports leagues and enrichment classes, swimming lessons, summer sleep- away camps, food insecurity, teen leadership development and mental health programs, just to name a few. The Y doesn’t just strengthen bodies— it strengthens people, families and neighborhoods. When you join the YMCA, you’re not simply joining a gym, you’re joining a community. The Y brings together people from different backgrounds, perspectives and generations and ensures that we all have access to the opportunities, relationships and resources necessary to learn, grow and thrive. In 2022, the Westchester Family YMCA is building on our successful programs and is looking forward to adding to our offerings, especially for kids and teens. When it comes to working out, in addition to our fitness and cardio equipment, we offer group exercise classes (yoga, Pilates, strength training, boot camp, HITT, Sit & Tone, cardio dance and cycle), water aerobics and more. For youth and families, we offer swimming lessons, sports leagues and enrichment classes like ballet and martial arts. Kids interested in basketball? Our girls’ and coed division Clipper Basketball starts January 24th. Kids interested in learning how to shoot a puck? The L.A. Kings Ball Hockey for boys and girls ages 5-12 starts January 10. If you’re looking for quality bonding time based around activities, arts & crafts and giving back, check out one of our most popular programs–Adventure Guides—where fun memories are guaranteed to be made. For teens looking for leadership opportunities and who have an interest in politics, we invite them to participate in Model United Nations and Youth & Government.

As far as community initiatives, our weekly free food distribution event will continue on Wednesdays from 2 to 4 p.m. Blood Drives will occur weekly and COVID testing is available daily in our Annex. Like us at facebook.com/ westchesterfamilyymca to learn about our ongoing volunteer opportunities that include helping care for our 24/7 Community Food Pantry.

As you can see, there’s no shortage of opportunities to get involved with our Y in 2022, whether you’re looking for healthy living, social responsibility or youth development. To help kick off the New Year, here are some tips to start and stick with your healthy habits in 2022 from a YMCA Healthy Lifestyles coach: • Choose a specific goal. Rather than committing to “losing weight” or “getting in shape,” make that goal more specific. For example, commit to losing 15 pounds by regularly attending yoga and strength classes at the Westchester Family YMCA. Be sure to make your goal realistic. Committing to a more specific goal gives you the ability to plan and sets you up for a greater rate of success. • Set one goal at a time. I know we all want to start the new year off with a bang, but when we overload our resolutions and ambitions, we often are unrealistic and expend too much energy by spreading ourselves too thin. Set one goal at a time and commit. You’re always welcome to set new goals throughout the year. Remember, January isn’t the only month to set resolutions. • Start with small steps. Committing yourself to “losing 15 pounds” or “I want to complete a marathon” are both specific and attainable goals. These are, however, goals that require energy, time, commitment and potential lifestyle/habit changes. Goals that require lifestyle changes can be difficult. So, start small. If your resolution was to run a marathon, start by going for brisk walks or jogs two days a week. Slowly build up to runs or longer durations per week. Utilize the fitness facility at the Westchester YMCA to keep on track with your runs. Starting slowly can help make it easier to stick to your new lifestyle habits and increases the likelihood of long-term success.

To learn about the Westchester Y and its programs, call (310) 670-4316 or visit ymcaLA.org/westchester.

Jason Ramos is the Associate Executive Director at the Westchester Family YMCA. MONDAYS 5 pm - 6:30 pm virtually via Zoom $15/session

TO REGISTER CALL 310.670.1410 X179 or X246

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