Westchester/Playa HomeTown News January 2020 edition

Community members pose in their neighborhoods. Clockwise from top left: Michele Cooley-Strickland, John Sharpe, Peter Mikhail and Jennifer Dodez.

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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News

This Month Brings You

help you prom help you prom nization or even nization or even A look inside your HTN

Historical Society plans spring event 04 2019 Neighborhood Heroes recognized by CD11 06 20+ things to know about your community 12 In your hometown with...the Farmer family 16 Neighborhood Council Westchester/Playa update 22

HOMETOWN STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS Stephanie Davis, Publisher

Jeff Blair, Contributing Writer Fay Craton, Contributing Writer

Kirby Israelson, Graphic Design Consuelo Israelson, Contributing Writer

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.

Connect with the HTN:

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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January 2020 • Page 3

Community Spotlight: Westchester/Playa Historical Society plans spring walk through neighborhood

By Cozette Vergari The Westchester/Playa Historical Society is working on creating a new community event this spring featuring a historical walk through the communities of Westchester, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista. The event will most likely take place over a weekend in May between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day.

Strategic historical sites will be mapped out, with a specific timeline to visit them, and the tour will focus on locations that have been acknowledged and recognized in the SurveyLA, Los Angeles Historic Resources Survey. The report was prepared by the city’s Office of Historic Resources in 2013 and is specifically related to our local community. The Historical Society Committee will also consider other research and investigative information supplementing the report as the final walking path for the event is created.

The historical walk is designed to bring to life some of the important time capsules and hidden gems tucked away in the community that often get overlooked due to our busy lifestyles. One of these

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“The Statue” on the IHOP building will be one of the featured stops on the tour.

treasures that will be featured on the tour is “The Statue” on the corner of Sepulveda and Manchester that adorns the IHOP Building. The travertine marble statue has been a fixture in the community since it was erected in the 1960s, first to adorn United Savings Bank and then Campari’s Restaurant. The statue was created by artist Millard Sheets who was commissioned in the 1950s to design United Savings’ buildings and to create pieces of art

that would enhance his work. Most of his artwork for the buildings was in media other than sculpture, so Westchester is home to a rare piece of art, although most people pass by without realizing its significance.

Some of the other locations on the self-guided tour will take participants as far back as 8000 B.C. during the time of the prehistoric “Los Angeles Man.” Traveling forward in time, participants will be encouraged to visit approximately a dozen local

sites, including those that still hold the cultural tapestry of the Gabrielinos, native to the area and arriving circa 2000 B.C. and that pertain to the history of the arrival of the Spanish in the year 1200, seceding to Mexican rule in the early 1800s and California achieving statehood on September 9, 1850.

And no historical tour of the area would be complete without a stop at the Centinela Adobe at the eastern edge of Westchester. Built in 1835, just prior to California statehood, the Adobe is the first home in all the South Bay area from what is now Playa Vista down the coastal communities into Redondo Beach.

The historical walk, or drive if you choose, will also commemorate the visionaries of the last 100 years who contributed to the birth, growth and aesthetics of the Westchester, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista communities.

Some of these visionaries include Mexican Soldier Ygnacio Machado, Scotsman Robert Burnett, Canadian Daniel Freeman, Midwesterners Fritz B. Burns, William Hannon and Harry Culver, New Yorker Henry

(continued on page 26)

Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News

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January 2020 • Page 5

Business & Nonprofit News

Photo by Luis Escobar.

TheHTN.com

2019 Council District 11 Neighborhood Heroes announced.

At the end of every year, Councilmember Mike Bonin recognizes unsung heroes who are working to make the neighborhoods of CD11 great.

He announced the 2019 honorees on December 31, and they include: • Naomi Cooper Hochman for Playa del Rey. Naomi Cooper Hochman is leading the charge to help beautify Playa del Rey through the Playa Stairs Project. The stairs are a hidden gem in the community and connect Culver Boulevard to Little Pershing. With the help of a committee made up of passionate volunteers, she is working to raise money to have a beautiful Playa del Rey-themed mosaic tile mural created on the front of the stairs by nonprofit Piece by Piece. Piece by Piece provides art workshops and a job path in the arts for people experiencing homelessness.

Naomi is the founder and CEO of Doctor Distillery and also a published author. She has lived in Playa del Rey for more than a decade with her husband Noah and their dog Asher.

• Rob DeCou for Westchester.

Rob DeCou uses his passion for ultra endurance athletic events to help raise money for important causes. Some of the events he’s participated in include Race Across America, where he biked for nearly 12 days to raise money for brain cancer research. As a member of the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club, he’s also partnered with Rotary International to help raise $700,000 for polio research and $10,000 for human trafficking prevention. This year, Rob will take on his biggest challenge yet with the Uberman: a 21-mile swim, 400-mile bike ride and 135-mile run that ends Page 6 • January 2020

Photo courtesy Ayara.

Westchester resident Rob DeCou was recently named a Neighborhood Hero for 2019 by Councilmember Mike Bonin’s office. DeCou, an entrepreneur and ultra endurance athlete, was recognized for helping to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity through athletic events. In October, he will be taking on the world’s toughest ultra Ironman, the Uberman, to help raise money for Rotary’s initiative to help stop human trafficking. Here he is pictured with daughter Kalea during a bike ride for charity.

After the December 19 Democratic Presidential Debate at LMU, Bernie Sanders visited Westchester’s Ayara Thai Cuisine for dinner, ordering Tom Yum and Pad Thai. Says owner and chef Vanda Asapahu via the restaurant’s Facebook page, “He could have eaten anywhere but chose to support a local small business, an immigrant family-owned and operated restaurant to be exact! Many candidates say that small businesses are the backbone of America, happy to report that Bernie not just talked the talk, but he definitely walks the walk.”

with a climb to the top of Mt. Whitney to raise $100,000 for human trafficking prevention.

Rob lives in Westchester with his wife, Kristin, and his two children Hudson and Kalea. He is also an entrepreneur and is the founder of Lux Virtual, a creative studio focusing on virtual and augmented reality to tell stories.

Midfield Satellite Concourse readies to open in 2020.

After a groundbreaking in February 2017, the $2 billion Midfield Satellite Concourse (MSC) is expected to be ready to start serving travelers by mid-year. The MSC will add 12 aircraft gates and is connected to the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) by two tunnels, including a 1,000-foot

corridor for passengers. The MSC will help improve the customer experience for travelers by reducing reliance on remote gates that have little to no concessions and will offer greater flexibility in scheduling improvements at other locations at LAX without disruptions. The new concourse will not increase the number of flights or passengers at LAX. More than 6,000 workers have had a role in building the MSC, including 30 percent of workers who live in Los Angeles or surrounding cities.

The project has also included work from 36 graduates of the HireLAX Apprenticeship Readiness Program.

With the goal to represent the best of Los Angeles, the interior of the facility will represent three essential

landscapes of the city—downtown, mid-city and the ocean—through the use of color palettes and sculptural elements. While the concessions have not yet been announced, they are expected to reflect favorite Los Angeles fare and brands. Other amenities passengers can expect are state-of-theart technology like biometric boarding, a modern baggage-handling system that will allow passengers to store their luggage for up to 24 hours between flights and plenty of seating.

For more info on what’s next at LAX, please visit flylax.com/connectinglax.

The BID helps light up Sepulveda.

If you’ve driven down Sepulveda at night lately, you’ll notice that the area is more festive than ever, thanks to the Westchester Town Center Business Improvement District (BID). On December 1, the BID flipped the switch on thousands of twinkle lights wrapped around the trees that illuminate the area for local neighbors and those passing through the community. The lights will be a permanent enhancement to the street.

“Not only did the new lighting add a special touch to the holiday season, but it is also serving the community’s goal of creating walkable and inviting public spaces,” said Executive Director Don Duckworth. “We are excited about brightening up our area for the millions of people who will travel through LAX and see the Westchester Town Center as their first impression of Los Angeles.”

The BID’s mission is to enhance the Westchester business district, which makes up the area along Sepulveda from Lincoln to Manchester and includes the Westchester Triangle.

Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News

LMU students Ben Zazzara, Nicole Castro, Gia Lee and Eliza Wood have raised more than $800 to support Angel City Pit Bulls by selling caps promoting the “Pibble Movement.”

LMU students help spread the “Pibble Movement.”

Students in Loyola Marymount’s Marketing Institution (M-School) are trying to change peoples’ perceptions of pit bulls with the Pibble Movement.

The movement aims to combat pit bull breed bias by rebranding the term pit bull to Pibble, a gentler term free of negative connotation and raising awareness by selling gear to support their cause, according to junior marketing major Eliza Wood.

The project was part of the institute’s yearly “Marketing for Good” project, which this semester focused on the human-animal bond.

Wood and her teammates in the New World of Branding and Advertising team—Ben Zazzara, Nicole Castro and Gia Lee—decided to focus on the issue of breed bias after finding some frightful statistics: 200 pit bulls are killed every day in L.A.; 93 percent of all pit bulls will die from euthanasia and only one in 600 pit bulls will find a forever home.

Through selling their gear, Pibble branded baseball caps, designed by a fellow LMU student and made in DTLA, the students were able to raise more than $800 to support Angel City Pit Bulls, a nonprofit rescue group located in L.A. The Giver opens at the Westchester Playhouse. The Kentwood Players

are kicking off the New Year with performances of The Giver starting Friday, January 17. The play is an adaptation of the Newberry Awardwinning book by Lois Lowry.

The play tells the story of life in an idyllic futuristic community where The Giver and Jonas live.

Designated birth mothers produce new children who are assigned to appropriate family units: one male, one female, to each. Citizens are assigned their partners and their jobs and no one thinks to ask questions.

Everyone obeys. The community is a precisely choreographed world without conflict, inequality, divorce, unemployment, injustice or choice. Join us for this multimedia presentation as we follow Jonas’ journey filled with heightened sensory experiences from a place of sameness to elsewhere.

Tickets are $22 and can be purchased online at kentwoodplayers. org or by calling (310) 645-5156. The play runs through Saturday, February 22 with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Performances are held at the Westchester Playhouse, located at 8301 Hindry Ave. in Westchester.

Opened a business? Celebrating an anniversary? We want to hear about your business or nonprofit! Email us for a chance to be featured at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com.

YOU CAN HELP! FOOD PANTRY, LAX

Emergency Food Distribution to those in need.

Sponsored by the Westchester Clergy Association

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!

For more information, please call (310) 677-5597 Ad donated by the Covenant Presbyterian Church

Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News

January 2020 • Page 7

The community is invited to two performances of St. Anastasia School’s Frozen Jr. at the El Segundo Performing Arts Center.

St. Anastasia students present a magical performance of Frozen Jr. Princesses Elsa and Anna of the mystical kingdom of Arendelle will be singing their way into your hearts in this year’s St. Anastasia Catholic School’s musical performance of Frozen Jr. With a story full of adventure and humor, Frozen Jr. is entertaining for the whole family.

Known for putting on outstanding performances, St. Anastasia students in fifth through eighth grades will “Let It Go” on stage showing attendees “For The First Time in Forever” their version of this magical Disney musical on January 31 at 7 p.m. and February 1 at 4 p.m. The performances will be held at the El Segundo Performing Arts Center on the El Segundo High School campus.

Tickets are $10 each ($8 for children under 15) and may be purchased ahead of time at school.st-anastasia.org or on the day of the performance at the door. The performing arts program is sponsored in part by the Msgr. Royale M. Vadakin Arts & Education Fund and the William H. Hannon Foundation.

For more information, please call St. Anastasia School at (310) 645-8816.

SoCalGas supports WESM’s Academic Decathlon team!

SoCalGas recently provided a grant to Westchester Enriched Sciences Page 8 • January 2020

Magnets’ (WESM) Academic Decathlon team for the purchase of 10 TI-Inspire model calculators the students could not otherwise afford.

The students will use the graphing calculators during the math portion of the upcoming LAUSD annual Academic Decathlon on February 1 at the Edward R. Roybal Learning Center in Los Angeles. If the team qualifies, they will continue to the state decathlon competition in Sacramento in March.

The Academic Decathlon is an educational competition designed for high school students from all academic achievement levels. Teams are comprised of nine students, called decathletes, who compete in 10 areas and an academic relay to demonstrate their knowledge and proficiency of a specific theme.

“SoCalGas is excited to help Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnets be stronger competitors in LAUSD’s annual Academic Decathlon,” said Andy Carrasco, director of regional public affairs at SoCalGas. “We’re committed to helping young people develop their science, technology, engineering and math skills, and we’ll be cheering on the Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnets team during their upcoming competitions.”

The WESM preliminary team is currently comprised of 12 high school

students who meet every day at 7 a.m. for practice, as well as after school and on Saturdays for special workshops.

The team is led by teacher Patricia Prokopidis.

“Our team is truly thankful for the generous donation from SoCalGas,” said Prokopidis. “We truly appreciate the support and are super excited to use these new tools to further our success!”

SoCalGas, which operates a storage facility in Playa del Rey, supports several education initiatives in the community, including awarding STEM grants to local schools with the LAX Coastal Education Foundation and sponsors the Rock Roll & Run, Teacher

Eddy Awards and Teacher Mini Grants.

Adds Dr. Michele Cooley-Strickland, Vice President of the Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa, “Last year’s team reached the state finals without having the same level of tools as their competitors. With this generous SoCalGas grant, the Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnets team can now access advanced technology that helps them succeed on an equal playing field. The sky’s the limit!”

Have news to share about your school? Email us at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com for a chance to be featured!

Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News

Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News

January 2020 • Page 9

Photos by Scott Cunningham and the HTN.

Going for the Goal: U10 Soccer Champs!

The undefeated Smashing Slimers took home the AYSO Region 7 U10 Girls Soccer Regional Championship on Saturday, December 14. The championship game took place at Nielsen Field against The Strikers with a final score of 4-0.

Both teams played their hearts out, hustling across the field for a chance to score a goal and passing to their fellow players, showing great teamwork, persistence and leadership skills. The teams were led by coaches Amy Servidea (Smashing Slimers in green) and Carrie LaPonza (The Strikers in yellow), the division’s only female head coaches!

“This has been an incredible season. Our assistant coach, Oliver Vasquez, and I feel so lucky to be coaching such a great team,” said Servidea who has been coaching for seven seasons. “We’re having a blast. The girls are hungry for the ball, goal hungry and very sweet. That’s a tough combination to achieve. They each bring something vital to the team and they work really well together.”

Due to both teams’ excellent season records, the Smashing Slimers and The Strikers will be heading to the area playoffs starting January 5 in El Segundo.

There, they will battle it out with teams from surrounding cities, including Hawthorne and Manhattan Beach. After playing three games, the teams with the best records will advance to the semifinals later this month.

“It’s rewarding as a coach to see all of the girls’ hard work pay off and to be moving on to play in the area playoffs,” said LaPonza. “We are all very excited to continue playing as a team in this next stage. I think my girls worked extremely hard and each one made huge strides in their development as a player.”

Congratulations to the Smashing Slimers on their championship and to both teams for their great season. Best of luck in the playoffs!

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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

January 2020 • Page 11

As we enter a new decade, we got to thinking about all the great things that make up the Westchester/Playa area. With so much to appreciate about our community, we started compiling a list, but since every month we share what we love about “our small town in a big city” in the pages of the HTN, we decided to reach out to longtime residents, small business owners and Westchester/Playa super fans to learn their go-to spots, favorite hidden gems, tips they share with people new to the area and events and places that can’t be missed. Below are their picks for what everyone should know about Westchester/Playa in 2020!

We hope you learn something new, revisit some old favorites and see some picks you’d put on your own list. If there’s a tip you’d like to share, please email us at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com.

Happy New Year!

John Sharpe

Michele Cooley-Strickland

John Sharpe has lived in Westchester since 1993. A huge fan of music and outdoor events, he created the Westchester Arts & Music Block Party to bring his love of art and community together. John is active with the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club, and when he’s not volunteering with worthwhile causes, he enjoys traveling with his wife, Irene.

Check out the Westchester Family YMCA. I’m a huge fan of the Y, as it provides great programming for kids, families and seniors and services for the entire community. My kids learned to swim there, we participated together in the Guides & Princess programs over eight years, and I’m a regular part of the early morning cardio group now. I was very involved as a volunteer there when my kids were growing up, and through those experiences, made a number of friendships that have lasted over 20 years.

Dr. Michele Cooley-Strickland is Vice President of the NCWP and has lived in Playa del Rey for 15 years. When she’s not working as a Research Psychologist at UCLA, she enjoys being with her family and empowering women by co-hosting the “She Built It Podcast with Melanie & Dr. Michele.”

Head to Playa del Rey for great restaurants. I love great food, ambience and variety. No matter what you’re in the mood for—the price range, feeling totally casual or completely upscale, want a quick bite, a drink or a full meal—you can find it in lower Playa.

There are so many choices...plus you get to top it off with a stroll on our beautiful beach.

Tracy Thrower Conyers Tracy Thrower Conyers and her family have called Kentwood home for almost 18 years. As a Realtor, community activist and early blogger, Tracy has been closely watching our community for a long time and has lots of tips and insights to share. Tracy closely follows local politics and social chatter relevant to Westchester. Join her for more conversation about the community on her Facebook page at facebook.com/living90045.

Join local Facebook groups. The moms’ groups on Facebook have been an invaluable resource for me as I’ve navigated parenthood. We have several super active groups where families can get all kinds of info about schools, kid activities, doctor and Check out Cinemark when you’re in the mood for dentist recommendations and post questions for movies. I’m a fan of going to the movies, and I already specific feedback. Due to their popularity, they are admitted that I love great food. What’s better than mostly hidden on the platform. I belong to all of combining the two? The Cinemark theater at Playa them. Email me for invites at tracy@living90045.

Participate in community events like the WAM Vista has a dine-in service so you can be served a com.

Block Party and the Fourth of July Parade. Block delicious meal while enjoying a good movie, all while parties are a thing here, from low key get-togethers seated in comfortable recliners. My tip: book days in Check out some hidden gems. Two of my favorite to full-on blow-outs that have been going on annually advance since there’s limited seating. The upstairs bar hidden gems in our community are Emerson for decades. Active neighbors make a stronger is great for post-movie discussions and drinks too.

Ave. Community Garden and the Nardian Way community and provide kids with great memories. holiday lights. It was hard to narrow my list of Now we have the WAM Block Party every third Research education options when it’s time for hidden gems, but these are definitely two of my Saturday in September on Emerson Ave. at Wright school. We in Westchester/Playa are blessed with favorites. I’ve never gardened in my life, but on fabulous local schools from preschool through high a whim I signed up for a plot at Emerson. Two STEAM Magnet, a community-wide, community funded and community run day of live performances, school and even college. They are public, charter, years later, I’m growing more zucchini than I can private, parochial and range in price from free to... give away, and I’ve joined the garden’s Board of food trucks, art and commercial vendors, a beer & wine garden and activities for all. And it’s free! well, let’s say definitely expensive. Find the best Directors! I encourage everybody to check out Like the WAM Block Party, the parade brings out fit for your children and your family. Don’t go by the garden’s programs (eacgc.org) and visit. The thousands of people to Loyola Blvd. to celebrate reputation or what you’ve “heard,” but interview holiday lights, my other favorite, come courtesy community and connect with friends and neighbors. and visit schools yourself. My tip: start looking early of a number of houses on Nardian Way that do it It’s a great way to experience the “small town in a big as some schools have wait lists. Check out the LAX up big at Halloween and Christmas. Find them just Coastal Chamber and the NCWP Ed Committee for northwest of Fordham and 83rd. city” vibe Westchester is known for and to kick off your Independence Day celebrations. resources and guidance.

Read more on page 18.

Read more on page 18.

Read more on page 18.

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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

January 2020 • Page 13

Quantrell Wiley

Jennifer Dodez

Peter Mikhail

Quantrell Wiley is a Westchester/ Playa local who has called the area home for more than 25 years.

As the owner of Tarpy Tailors in Westchester, he helps outfit the aviation industry with uniforms. In his free time, he loves hanging with his wife, Brooke, and their dog, Beau.

Jennifer Dodez is a Westchester mom that loves supporting her kids’ school. She balances a demanding career as Executive Director of Revenue Operations for a leading car information website, with supporting Kentwood Elementary School’s PTO and is always ready to watch a Little League game at DRALL field.

Head to The Shack…now! It’s my absolute jam. They’ve got great food and an amazing staff to make sure you have the best experience possible. The Shack has preserved the real feel of beach life and that which I love. They also have the best karaoke in town! Don’t miss the Joey Show on Friday nights!

Take a Hike along the bluffs. I don’t know if it’s necessarily a hidden gem, but the bluffs are such a treat for our community. When you need a taste of the outdoors, the hike along the bluffs and Playa Vista is a quick walk away, and you can spend hours in nature. We are so fortunate to live in a neighborhood where we have easy access to a nature hike.

Order lunch at Olive It. I’ve heard it called a sandwich shop, but it’s way more than that! Leslie and her crew make soups, chili, salads and lasagna from scratch. You can get a full on meal there. They are the absolute best. You really get a slice of home when you walk in the door.

Shop small and shop local. I like supporting all the “Mom & Pop” places in town. Our family has a small business here in Westchester– Tarpy Tailors, located in the historic Paradise Building—so I know the ups and downs that come along with owning a small business. The support of the community, however, makes it all worth it.

Be a good neighbor. I’ve seen Westchester really change over the past 25+ years. My tip is simple: Let’s remember community and let’s remember to say “hello” to our neighbors. And neighbors aren’t just an eye shot from your home, they make up this wonderful community whether they’re around the corner or five blocks over.

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Tour multiple schools. If you have school-age children in Westchester/ Playa, you know the pain that is choosing the right school for your child. We are lucky to have many great options, but it also makes the decision harder. My tip is to tour as many schools as you can and make your own decision. Schools that are a good fit for one, might not be for others–every family is different. I toured more than 5 schools to make an informed decision and am so happy that I ended up at Kentwood Elementary and falling in love with our local school option!

Peter Mikhail is a longtime Westchester resident and has a medical practice on Sepulveda Blvd.

A strong supporter of youth and education, Peter has been active with Wright Middle School, Westchester High and the Westchester Family YMCA. He feels blessed to have found such a great community to raise his family alongside wife, Maria.

Enjoy a morning walk on the beach.

My absolute favorite place is Toes Beach. An early morning walk with my green tea, the sounds of the ocean waves crashing, the birds singing and the sun rising over the horizon is the absolute best!

Take a shortcut. The best tip I can give everybody, when trying to avoid traffic and reach different parts of Westchester, or even gain access to other streets in order to go east/west and then head north or south to other cities, is take Westchester Parkway.

Westchester Parkway will get you from one side of Westchester to the other within three to five minutes with little to no traffic…shhh! Don’t tell anyone.

The community is full of amazing businesses, organizations and people.

The local YMCA is involved in every aspect of children’s lives within the area. I think everybody learned how to swim at the Y. The YMCA’s mission Take advantage of what LMU has of youth development, healthy living to offer. I wish I would have known and social responsibility has given the about all the cool things LMU has to community an added sense of purpose offer sooner. Our family takes regular for each other. The Drollinger Family bike rides to the campus where we Charitable Foundation has been a take in the amazing view, grab a blessing to the entire community. burger at The Habit or a coffee at Their generosity not only helps local Starbucks and enjoy the campus life. children and adults, but has definitely We have lived in Westchester for eight positively affected the entire city of years, and last year was our first time Los Angeles. The local Scouts have at the Holiday Tree Lighting night. It given my children another amazing is such a great community event with experience. These organizations have so much for kids and families. true leaders and continue to support

Read more on page 18. and encourage the young people of our community to be their best!

Read more on page 18.

Gabrielle Zacuto Gabrielle Zacuto loves connecting with her Playa Vista community, where she lives with her family. The Playa Vista mom runs the Silicon Beach Parents’ group, which holds meet-ups and events throughout the year including the Playa Vista Fun Run, Silicon Beach Fashion Show and “Community PlayDates.”

Visit the “hidden restaurants” in Playa Vista. There’s a handful of amazing restaurants nestled in the campus section of Playa Vista that offer breakfast, lunch and dinner.

There’s even a live-entertainment scene at Silicon Beach’s coolest lounge: Conference Room. There’s also Tocaya, which is part of the Madera Group, and offers modern organic Mexican dishes.

Then there’s Hash that offers a brunch menu that’s worth the wait in line!

Rodini Park has fresh Mediterranean fare and is a sister restaurant to both Hash and Conference Room. Big Mango Cafe and Homestate are both known for their high quality and quick cuisine. The community’s food truck line up offers a rotating pick of the best trucks in L.A. on a regular basis as well.

Phase 1 has great pasta. On the westside of Playa Vista, known by the locals as Phase 1, is another one of my go-to spots, Ritrovo. Dishes and classic Italian pastas like Agnolotti Casarecci, gnocchi and spaghetti carbonara bring back childhood memories from being in the kitchen with my Nana D’Addario, who migrated from Italy to America in the 1900s.

Head to the Runway for great eats.

Another one of my longtime favorite restaurants is ROC. Their Taiwanese cuisine is so good, it’s packed every night of the week! If you’re looking for something different, check out other restaurants in Runway, including the upscale burger joint across the way, Hopdoddy, or Da Kikokiko, the Hawaiian Poke restaurant next door, owned by celebrity Chef Brooke Williamson.

Read more on page 18.

Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News

Corrina Murdy + Corrina MurdyCorrina + Tim Murdy + Edwards rina Murdy + Tim Edwards Tim Edwards Edwards Find things that contribute to Corrina Murdy and Tim Edwards love Playa del Rey, where they’ve lived for the past 10 and 22 years respectively. As small business owners, they serve up some of the area’s most delicious subs at the Del Rey Deli on Pershing. Finding it important to give back to the community that supports them, Corrina is active with the PDR Trash Fairies and Tim with the Westchester Elks Lodge.

your sense of community. I like the Elks Lodge, Jungle Clean Up, Tanners Coffee (it’s so central) and the freshwater lagoon in the Ballona Wetlands. It’s so close by, and yet it’s easy to forget it’s there because there isn’t much of a view of it from the street. It’s very quiet and peaceful, and you get these great views of all these birds in their natural environment.

Corrina’s tips: Check out these hidden gems. The Turkish Coffee at Playa Pita is a treat. If you like the outdoors, try watching the sailboat races at Sunset on Wednesdays or watching the airplanes take off from In-N-Out or the overlook in El Segundo. Joining the Elks Lodge with your friends means you have a private bar (mostly) to yourselves.

Support local businesses. Some of my favorites include Playa del Rey Flowers, Tanners, Flowers By Felicia, Cantalini’s and Real Fitness. I got the fastest results I’ve ever had from working out there. The teachers are a lot of fun, too. For pet sitting, contact my friend Sara Kay @tailsoftheaccidentalpetsitter because I like it when my petsitter sends me pics and updates while I’m away!

Take a closer look at the local mini marts. Howe Mart is not a liquor store. It’s a mini grocery store and they have everything, except liquor.

The alcohol they sell is beer and wine, and they have a spectacular selection.

Dales Jr. has an incredible grocery selection as well.

Tim’s tips: Enjoy a trip to Dockweiler. The fire pits at Dockweiler Beach are one of my favorite places in Westchester/ Playa. It’s the only place in L.A. you can have beach bonfires.

Head to the beach at the right time.

Download a tide chart and go watch the sunset when there’s a low tide in Playa del Rey. It gets really flat and glassy and when there’s a pretty sunset there’s also a reflection, which creates an ethereal look. And yes, I can provide great photo examples!

Don’t go to your favorite viewpoint to check it out; go right to the water’s edge or you’ll miss out.

Watch Playa del Rey wake up. Sit on the Jetty in the early morning to watch the sunrise, and you’ll experience Playa del Rey wake up.

For an added treat, go do yoga on the beach on Saturday mornings with @YogaKase. She’s an amazing teacher, and sometimes you get to see dolphins cruise by during class!

When it comes to fireworks, PDR is the place to be. The dirt road from Nicholson to Cabora is the best place to watch the Marina’s Fourth of July fireworks. There’s also Vista Del Mar Park, which is a great park that is usually empty.

Sand berms are lots of fun. With the creation of the sand berms every winter comes the start of berm sledding season! Once they go up, you’ll see people of all ages sledding.

Support cool businesses and organizations. For amazing Playa swag visit Clean Aesthetic. Give a shout out to PDR Trash Fairies for keeping our home clean and nice.

Some of my other favorite businesses to support are Tripel, Bacari, Cantalini’s and Howe Mart.

Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News

January 2020 • Page 15

hotos by

i Steiner

Capturing those special family moments that you live everyday Specializing in photographing families, portraits, children & events.

zsuzsiphotography.com Page 16 • January 2020

Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News

15 years.

By Consuelo Israelson

to sacrifice my family for my job. The Henry, 8 and in second grade at St. most important thing in the world to Anastasia; Thaxton, 6, in kindergarten me is my family,” she said. at St. A’s; and Andrew, 3, commonly The Farmers knew they wanted She now works part-time at the referred to as Drew, who is going to to live in Westchester since they YMCA, teaching a parent-child preschool at Children of our Savior. were students at Loyola Marymount tumbling class for toddlers.

The kids play soccer, basketball and University.

“It’s a safe place for kids to be kids “I knew this was a neighborhood that baseball. Henry also tried flag football and not be told that, ‘No you can’t this past summer. was turning over. There were a lot of jump on that, you can’t run there, you “Even though we’re a sports family, long-time residents that were selling, can’t throw that.’” my kids don’t have to be the fastest or and I knew it was going to be the place She is currently on the board for Del most athletic. The biggest compliment for young families,” Tim said. “This Rey American Little League (DRALL) you can say is that we have good kids. was before we even started thinking in charge of fundraising, coaches And they are. They all have good about having kids, in 2003.” eighth grade girls volleyball and is hearts,” Vickie said.

So the Farmers started looking for a Tim coaches all his sons’ teams when on the PTO at St. A’s, where she has fixer-upper that they could make their he isn’t working at AT&T in El Segundo co-chaired the school’s Parish Ball own.

“I actually found my sister her house as Associate Director of Operations. In fundraising event for two years in a row. fact, most kids in Westchester know first. She lives near us in Westport Vickie excels at her fundraising him as “Coach Tim.” Heights,” Tim said. “When I saw that efforts and is always looking for better “I look at it as a way to spend more house, I told my family that if I don’t ways to combine that with fun. buy it, someone in the family should. It time with my kids and also have a positive influence on other kids,” “We love to host, and we’re usually was perfect for her.”

Tim said. “I try to be positive and the first to throw a party. We’ve had Tim and Vickie met when he try to make sure they have fun while a pumpkin-carving party, cornhole was a senior studying business and knowing how to stay within the parties and adult Olympics,” she she was a freshman with a political boundaries of what they are supposed said. “I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t love science major. Vickie had grown up to be doing. I developed my coaching it. I truly love planning events and in Palmdale and in order to pay for style based on the experience I had making sure everyone has a good college, she worked at three jobs. One as an athlete–what worked and what time. Our biggest challenge is to not of those was doing stats for various didn’t work. You can definitely hear matches for the athletic department. make fundraising an obligation, but an me on the sidelines, but it’s either Being an athlete herself, this was a excuse to have fun. And if we raise a positive or instructional. I’ve never perfect job for her and she eventually lot of money at the same time, then it’s said a bad thing to a kid. At that age it became aware of Tim, who was on the a win-win for everybody.” can scar them forever.” volleyball team.

Tim adds, “I honestly think that Big animal lovers, the Farmer family “I had such a crush on him and he Vickie and I are at our best when we’re also includes Elway, a Shepherd/ was a senior, so I thought he’d never entertaining. We actually get better as Malamute mix, Sweetums Dickens notice me,” she remembered. “We a couple and a team. We know what chatted at a party and after that I called Blue Farmer the cat, Bruce the fish and we’re supposed to do.”

Harry the Hurricane a Leopard Gecko. my sister and said, ‘I just met the guy The Farmers also make spending “I was coaching Henry’s baseball I’m going to marry!’” time with extended family a priority team, the Miami Hurricanes, and we Adds Tim, “I just thought I was and are lucky that a lot of them live p h o t o talking s b y to a cute girl on a couch. But I promised him a pet lizard if he could close enough to make regular Sunday si Steiner hit a fly on the dirt. He was 5-yearsmust have made a good impression!” family dinners a reality. old,” Tim said.

Together since 1999, they got “It’s kind of sacred. It’s important Vickie added, “He finally hit one, married in 2007 and finally found their to make time for family,” Vickie says. and as he was running to first base he dream house in 2008. Then they set “We have an open-door policy here. out to make it theirs with a three-phase yelled out, ‘I got a lizard! Mom, is that Our front door is open to anybody who a lizard ball?’” remodeling plan. It was easy to fall needs to come by, anytime.”

Fly balls are now known as “lizard in love with their neighborhood and And when it comes to Westchester, balls” in the Farmer household. knew it would be a great place to raise there’s no place the Farmers would p h o t o kids. s by Busier now with her kids’ activities rather call home. si Steiner and community involvement, than “There are 14 kids, 8 and under, “The neighbors, the community– when she was doing marketing and on our block. Our kids have built-in there’s no comparison to anything licensing for Activision, Vickie loves buddies. I’m a twin, and we grew up else on the Westside,” Vickie said. her role as a mom. on a street with five boys who played “If you go for a walk down the street, Specializing in photographing families, portraits, children “It was the kind of job where you & events. together every day. I wanted the same you’re sure to see someone you know. had to be there 24-hours a day. After for our kids,” Tim said.

It’s such a great community and it’s zsuzsiphotography.com having children, I realized I didn’t want amazing how involved everyone is.”

The couple have three children:

Opening Day baseball. We love that day. Walking up the street to the fields you see everybody you know getting out of their cars and coming together. All the kids are in their crisp uniforms. It’s a fun day. Also, Fourth of July is very special in Westchester. We’ll walk to the parade as a family, stopping at various friends’ houses who are hosting parties and party hop on the way back. It’s a wonderful day in the neighborhood with a lot of camaraderie and community spirit.

It’s very festive!

There are a lot more families and lots of kids. When we bought our house we were the youngest on our block, but now we’re seeing so many more young families moving into the neighborhood. It’s revitalizing everything. Plus, you see the older houses being redone and revitalized as well. There’s so much community spirit; it’s like a growing wave of community. So many people want to be involved in the community, too. You see people pitching in everywhere.

We love the Westchester Family YMCA. It really is a true community center. And we love DRALL, our Little League. St. Anastasia is amazing, as is Children of Our Savior. Our kids like going to school, which is an awesome thing. Other places we enjoy are Beach Pizza, Taj India Palace, Tower Pizza and Hacienda Del Rey Restaurant.

Capturing those special family moments that you live everyday

Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News

January 2020 • Page 17

From John Sharpe: Shop at “Little Vons.” The Vons store on 80th St. and Emerson Ave. not only provides most of what I need in groceries, supplies and sundries, it is rare that I’m there and I don’t see someone I know!

It’s so close and accessible that I end up there four times a week.

Get a new do at Francisco’s Barber Shop. Tucked into the southern end of the Westchester Square Parking lot at the entrance between Office Depot and Bed Bath & Beyond is a tiny barber shop/ kiosk run by Francisco. He’s been cutting hair for more than 25 years, first in Santa Monica, and now, here. There are two chairs and usually only Francisco, or one other barber. Wait times, if any, are minimal. They are quick, friendly and efficient at their work, and a cut will run you $22.

From Michele Cooley-Strickland: Try exercising outside. Health and fitness are important to me, so I was a gym rat before I moved here from the East Coast. I automatically joined a gym when I moved here. However, I eventually discovered how amazing it is to run outside in the community. I wish I’d done it sooner. The fresh air, hills, Westchester Parkway, neighborhoods and beach help develop a closer connection to nature and our amazing community— but beware of cracked/uneven sidewalks!

Argh!

Get involved with the NCWP. We’re lucky to live in a very civic-minded community with many generous organizations. The Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa (NCWP) for years has represented and advocated for the best interests of the residents and stakeholders of Westchester, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista. The City of Los Angeles created Neighborhood Councils to promote more citizen participation in government and make government more responsive to local needs. There’s much important work being done, so attend a meeting and get involved! Visit ncwpdr. org for more info.

From Tracy Thrower Conyers: Get the warm fuzzies with these local favorites. Four things that give me extra warm fuzzies about my community are the Westchester Arts & Music Block Party (“WAM”), the Fourth of July Parade, the Hometown News and our farmers’ market. All four make me feel like I live in a real community in the middle of our sprawling city. And a special shout out to the BID for the holiday lights this year on Sepulveda! Talk about feeling like I live in a special community!

Support local restaurants. We have Page 18 • January 2020

great food in our community. My hope is that we support these establishments with lines out the door, so more will be attracted to our area. Favorites at my house (in no particular order) are Kanpai, Royal Donut, Ayara, The Ramen Joint, Olive It, Cafe Solar, Alejo’s, Cinco, K.C.’s Crepes and Playa Provisions.

There are others I haven’t even gotten to yet and look forward to trying (looking at you Aliki’s and Courtyard Cafe!).

Check out my favorite tips. Our City Councilman Mike Bonin has a huge district and only two field offices. One of them is right here at Manchester and Lincoln. Stop in and meet our Westchester Field Deputy Matt Tecle!

Another tip is Tanner’s Sewing & Vacuum in the Triangle. It’s a great place for classes and equipment.

From Jennifer Dodez: Support the local restaurants. I try to support all the local restaurants. Most of them also do a great job supporting our local schools. Our family is big supporters of The Good Pizza. Many people don’t know, but Alejo’s has a great weekday happy hour. Hacienda is a lot of fun on Friday nights and you are bound to run into your neighbors. And, of course, Tower Pizza is the place to be after baseball and soccer games.

Enjoy the upgrades at American Field.

I love the DRALL field at the end of Emerson Ave. The DRALL board recently remodeled the field, made it bigger and better with views of the city, umbrellas, and more places to sit and enjoy your child’s baseball games. It has such a community vibe, and we are so lucky to be able to walk to our local baseball field!

From Peter Mikhail: Check out these delicious local restaurants. Cafe Milan in Playa del Rey is a favorite weekend morning breakfast spot for my daughter and I. If you want a great whiskey and cheese platter or other great smaller meals, then the Playa Provisions Whiskey Bar is an amazing date night spot. For Mexican food, my favorite is Hacienda Playa (the one on Pershing) because it is fairly quiet and the food is authentic and amazing! The best thing is many of these places that I enjoy and support, also help and support the local community in many ways!

From Gabrielle Zacuto: Stay tuned for what’s next at Playa Vista. With Playa Vista continuing to gain attention as the hottest zip code for millennial tech families, I’m expecting our dining scene to continue growing with more desirable hot-spots like Bull & Butterfly, which is rumored to open here in late January!

Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News

Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News

January 2020 • Page 19

Random Notes/Opinion

TheHTN.com

A 2020 success blueprint includes getting motivated

By Jeff Blair

Opinion: Happy New Year, Westchester and Silicon Beach!

January brings a flood of fitness resolutions. According to Psychology Today magazine, less than 10 percent of people actually achieve their resolutions, so I want to talk about creating better behavioral change strategies this month.

“MAP” is an acronym for facilitating effective behavioral change. M stands for motivation, A for ability and P for prompt.

Let’s first consider motivation.

The three basic components driving motivation are sensation (seeking pleasure or avoiding pain), anticipation (hope or fear) and belonging (seeking social acceptance or avoiding social rejection). If something gives us pleasure, we tend to pursue it. If it gives us pain, we tend to avoid it. If something provides hope, we tend to pursue it.

If something provides fear, we try to avoid it. If something makes us feel socially accepted, we tend to pursue it.

If it makes us feel socially rejected, we try to avoid it.

While motivation can be complicated, we can explore individual beliefs around sensation, anticipation and belonging to fuel

Page 20 • January 2020

motivation. If the idea of working out twice per week seems painful, take 20 minutes and list ways exercise can bring you long-term pleasure or help you avoid long-term pain. Exercise might increase pleasure by improving self-esteem and improving health or it might lessen pain by helping you avoid the suffering of disease.

Write these on a piece of paper and place it somewhere you will see on a daily basis. Highly motivated people find ways to focus on the long-term benefits of specific behaviors.

Understanding the importance of belonging is crucial to understanding behavioral change. If we surround ourselves with people who live a reasonably healthy life, that rubs off on us and we tend to live healthier. If none of our friends have any healthy habits, we are less likely to make healthy choices. Find social support for your desired behavior and you are more likely to continue the behavior.

Motivation tends to come in waves, so when you feel increased motivation, try to take action immediately.

Ability is a bit more straightforward than motivation. Whatever your longterm goal, focus on your “specific and immediate” ability to progress toward that goal. You might have a goal to run a marathon, but what do you have the specific and immediate ability to do

right now? For example, most people have the specific and immediate ability to walk 20 minutes, but fewer people have the specific and immediate ability to complete a marathon. Try to align today’s specific and immediate ability with the area you are trying to change.

If you are trying to reduce a certain behavior in 2020 (maybe eat less sweets), perhaps take a new approach.

Reduce your ability to perform the behavior by putting barriers between you and it. If I wanted to eat less sweets, I would first remove them from the house. Having them in my house makes it too easy to reach over and grab some. If I hosted a social event where sweets were served, I would give them to people to take home and out of my house when the party ended. If I stopped at a bakery every day on the way to work, I would consider taking a different route.

Prompts can take many forms. An alarm clock prompts you to wake up in the morning. A ringing phone prompts you to answer it. A sign on a hiking trail prompts you to avoid a dangerous area. The little red dot on your Facebook page prompts you to click it and find out who “liked” your latest post. To increase exercise behavior, add prompts such as a calendar reminder on your phone, a reminder post-it note where you

will see it in the morning or even an app that sends you a prompt that “it’s time to exercise.” If something is very important to me, I will create multiple prompts to increase the likelihood that I will actually do it.

Here’s your 2020 success blueprint: first, look for ways to enhance motivation through self-reflection.

Next, increase ability to achieve a desired end behavior through achievable, specific and immediate actions. If you are looking to remove a non-desired behavior, decrease your ability to perform the nondesired behavior by managing your environment. Finally, install multiple prompts in your environment to trigger you toward your desired behavioral changes. When motivation, ability and prompts align, you have effective behavioral change.

If you would like more info on the MAP model, visit Professor BJ Fogg’s behaviorchange.org.

Jeff Blair (MS, CSCS) is a fitness author and has been a certified personal trainer in Westchester for 17 years. He has been featured in numerous national and international fitness publications. Contact him at jeff@socalsport.com for story comments. *Before you start any fitness routine, please consult your doctor.

Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News

Are you living the life you want?

By Fay Craton Opinion: As we begin a new year–and a new decade–it is time to take an inventory to assess what is working in your life and what is not.

It is easy to become stuck in a way of behaving, thinking and perceiving.

It could be that you keep thinking about what another person has done or are struggling with an addiction, or perhaps the way you may be caught is by continuing to work in a job you have outgrown. The possibilities of where you are existing based upon habit and routine are endless. I find when I am frozen into a pattern, I may lose connection with my own sense of purpose and meaning.

Healthy relationships with others require you to first connect with yourself. This includes taking responsibility for your own moods and thoughts. When you are stuck in a stale routine, it is very easy to drift away from personal needs and selfcare. Sadness from the past or stress about the future may interfere with experiencing a good quality life. It is important to remember that living does not happen in the past or the future. Life happens in the present moment of time.

Before you begin the process of determining what is working or not working, it is important to bring your focus into the present. A good way to do this is to start a daily practice of conscious breathing. While in a comfortable position, take yoga style breaths. Count each breath. When your mind drifts to the past or future, gently bring your attention back to your breathing. Start with taking a minute each day while you become accustomed to being fully present with your breath. Slowly increase the length of time until you are doing this practice for five minutes a day.

Counting your breaths will force your attention into the “now.”

Some people have difficulty focusing on the now because what is going on inside feels empty

or uncomfortable. If it is very uncomfortable to keep your thoughts in the present, you may wish to seek a therapist for some assistance.

Immediately after doing the breath work, ask yourself, “If I woke up in the morning and my life was exactly like I want, what would it look like?”

Write down your thoughts. Create a daily journal of your thoughts for several days.

Your next step is to ask yourself what within you keeps you from living the life you want? Write down your answer. In your journal, write down what within you needs to change so you can accept a more desirable existence. Once you have developed your thoughts about what needs to change, explore the opposite viewpoint. Part of having a good quality life is to have a positive outlook. Journal about what is working right now for you. Explore what you can do to support what you would like to continue.

Do not rush your journaling. You may wish to take a full month to bring your thoughts into the present and to write down your reflections.

It is okay to take as long as you need.

There will be time to create a plan to implement what you have learned about yourself after you are clear about what you want, what needs to change and what is good.

My wish is for you to live a life that works for you. It is possible for you to have a positive sense of who you are and have quality relationships with your family and friends. You are worth the effort of doing the internal work to have a contented life of meaning.

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, please visit communicationtriangle.com or contact her at (310) 645-6762.

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January 2020 • Page 21

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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

January 2020 • Page 23

More than 1,400 students were treated to a women’s basketball game at Gersten Pavilion as part of LMU Athletics’ Fifth Annual Education Day on December 4. Students from eight local schools, including WISH and Cowan Elementary, participated in the event, which gives third through sixth graders an opportunity to visit a university–many for the first time–and promotes higher education, leadership skills and healthy lifestyles.

In addition to cheering on the Lions against Cal State Northridge, students had the opportunity to attend a mini-education fair, enjoy a catered lunch, receive a T-shirt and were given tickets to attend a future LMU game.

“When LMU first reached out to me about the Athletics Education Day, I spoke with our third, fourth and fifth grade teachers to see if they were interested and received an immediate ‘yes!’ from all three grades,” said WISH Principal Jessica Leonard. “Some of our classrooms had attended the year before and had a wonderful experience and the teachers were excited to return again. WISH had 230 students attend the game! It is great to have LMU in such close proximity to our school and to be able to partner in so many different ways that benefit our school community.”

LMU Athletics has 22 men’s and women’s sports teams and hosts a variety of promotions and community days throughout the year.

Visit lmulions.com for more info.

Page 24 • January 2020

Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News

Photos courtesy LMU Athletics and Mia Polcyn.

Education Day with LMU Athletics

Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News

January 2020 • Page 25

From left to right: Fritz B. Burns, William H. Hannon and Ella Drollinger are some of the visionaries that will be commemorated by the historical society during the event.

Historical Society Walk (continued) (Continued from page 4) Huntington and Angeleno Ella Drollinger, among others. Further highlights of the weekend will focus on the impact of the oil, motion picture and aviation industries. At the forefront of aviation were such local pioneers as Howard Hughes, Jack Northrop and Donald Douglas, which led to the first homes being built in Westchester, available only to defense industry workers during World War II. Picture highlights of “then and now” and discussions on the changes the once open lands of the area have seen, will round out the Spring Historical Society Walk.

Stay tuned for more details!

To help encourage the next generation of historians, the Historical Society is also readying

Page 26 • January 2020

to sponsor students interested in participating in National History Day California, who will research topics related to this year’s theme of “Breaking Barriers in History.”

This program is open to all students in grades four through twelve, in the elementary, junior and senior categories. For more information, please contact Cozette Vergari at Cozette@LAXLawyers.com.

Cozette is a lifelong resident of Westchester and is leading the charge to reinvigorate the Westchester/Playa Historical Society’s nonprofit status.

Together with a group of dedicated volunteers, the organization is working on creating new programming and events to celebrate the history of the area and engage the community in preserving it for future generations.

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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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News