Westchester/Playa HomeTown News July 2020 edition by Westchester/Playa del Rey HomeTown News

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Felicia St. Denis poses in front of her new flower shop location on Culver Blvd. in Playa del Rey.

July 2020 T h e H T N .c o m

Photo by Zsuzsi Steiner.

westchester

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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

Flowers by Felicia readies to bloom in new location Westchester teen starts nonprofit during quarantine Fourth of July Spirit Week Festivities In your hometown with...the Westerfield Family Neighborhood Council Update

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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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After running a business for more than 31 years in the same location, Felicia St. Denis is ready for a new beginning. As owner of Flowers by Felicia, St. Denis has played an important role in many people’s lives in Playa del Rey and beyond by creating beautiful floral arrangements for life’s most important moments. “There’s a lot of emotions behind what I do,” said St. Denis. “I’ve done people’s weddings, anniversaries, funerals, proms, baby showers, and I’ve seen kids go from coming in with their parents, to now being adults and buying their own coffee and flowers from me.” So, it’s no surprise when word started to spread on social media in mid-June that she had received an eviction notice from her new landlord that the community rallied to show her support and let her know how much her shop meant to them. On Nextdoor and Facebook, customers promised free legal services, offered to raise funds, suggested alternative locations, and pledged to buy more flowers. Unfortunately, the news reached St. Denis’ adult children, Spencer and Sophie, who read about it online before she had a chance to tell them. There’s no hard feelings for the original poster, however. “They ripped the Band-Aid off,” said St. Denis. “When I received the notice, I went home and couldn’t process it or knew what to say. In a way, it helped make things move faster by letting people know.” St. Denis says that like many small business owners in the area, she was on a month-to-month lease for her location. With a new landlord often comes increased rent, construction and changes, something she wasn’t interested in negotiating after three months of grueling nonstop work to keep her business afloat as COVID-19 and Safer at Home has devastated many mom and pops. With her phone ringing off the hook, longtime customers, friends, fellow business owners and community leaders called to make sure she was OK and help her find a new place to set up shop. “The outpouring of support was amazing. Hearing that a small business

Felicia holds a bouquet of peonies in the doorway of her new location at 200 Culver Blvd. in Playa del Rey. Her new flower shop will open this month next to Tanner’s, an exciting move for Felicia who has been at the same spot for 31 years.

got an eviction notice during the pandemic hit a nerve with a lot of people,” said St. Denis. “I’ve pretty much felt every emotion and have talked to so many people. Owning a flower and coffee shop, you see people day after day, and they let you into their lives. When a newly married couple comes in and all of a sudden they switch their order to decaf, you know it’s time to congratulate them. Then, they order flowers when the baby comes.” St. Denis arrived in Playa del Rey from Seattle in the 80s looking for a change of scenery and some purpose. Landing a job as a flight attendant with Western Airlines, she wasn’t allowed to live too far from LAX and found an apartment on Pershing and Manchester. With much of her time spent on call, the L.A. transplant was lonely and began seeking jobs in the neighborhood to meet new people. When a hostess at White Feathers called out sick at the precise moment

St. Denis stepped inside to inquire about a position, fate would set her on a new course. She enjoyed working there and eventually started making flower arrangements for not only that restaurant, but others in Playa del Rey. Soon patrons began to take notice and encouraged her to pursue the natural gift she had. The first time she headed to the flower market in downtown she was amazed. “I’d never seen so many flowers in my life. I thought ‘Oh my gosh, this is my calling,’” she remembers. “When I saw all the gladiolas in every color it made my jaw drop.” Drawing motivation from her childhood spent enjoying nature with her grandfather, her mother and grandmother’s love for flowers and her father’s entrepreneurial spirit, she decided it was time to move from making arrangements in her garage to a real location. A “for lease” sign on a storefront on Pershing close to

Photo by Zsuzsi Steiner.

Flowers by Felicia readies to bloom in new Playa del Rey location

her apartment seemed like a great opportunity. “When I walked in to inquire about the lease, I was laughed at,” she says. “I was in my early 20s and totally clueless about running a business. I didn’t have a plan or know how to negotiate a lease. I was flying by the seat of my pants. “ Good fortune would lead St. Denis to work with talented and knowledgeable flower designers in those early days that helped her hone her talent and teach her about the floral business. In three decades, she’s seen a lot of changes in the industry, from what people want—right now it’s more abstract arrangements that are free form—and increased competitiveness. “One thing I never thought would make a comeback is dried flowers, but they have,” she says with a laugh. A bunch of women along the way have also supported her, from helping her buy her first condo to making her their official florist for every big life event. “I’m blessed beyond belief,” she said. “I’m a lucky girl that along the way I’ve received so much support. I’ve ended up with a sisterhood of fellow women that I didn’t plan on.” With the backing of so many and not ready to retire or leave her longtime neighborhood, St. Denis has found a new location with help from Legado, which owns the historic building at 200 Culver Blvd. Sometime this month, she will be saying goodbye to the storefront she has worked at for more than three decades on Pershing and reopen in her new spot. “I was always hoping to stay in Playa because this is where my heart is,” said St. Denis. “It’s been a whirlwind and who has this happen to them—losing their location and then a nearly perfect one pops up a few days later?” While the new space is smaller and she won’t be serving coffee—Tanner’s is right next door—St. Denis sees this as an opportunity to embrace the next leg of her journey and open a Flowers by Felicia 2.0, “less country mouse and more modern.” “This is a really positive next step,” she says. “A lot of people don’t land on their feet like this. It’s seriously amazing.”

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Westchester’s Sophia Scott has used the time while Safer at Home to start a new nonprofit that helps students through providing free tutoring services.

Westchester teen creates nonprofit to help students succeed By Consuelo Israelson

Marymount High School, created Quaranteens, a pending nonprofit organization established to reduce socioeconomic disparities in education. “The transition to online learning was pretty smooth for me. My teachers made themselves readily available and it was such an easy switch. But

The world may be crazy right now, but teens like Westchester resident Sophia Scott have stepped up to the challenge and are seamlessly adapting to create solutions. Sophia, a 16-year old senior at

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I started hearing from a lot of other students that they were falling behind and weren’t necessarily retaining things as well through distance learning. I realized that it must be a lot more difficult for those students who lack access to a lot of the same resources I had,” said Sophia. Sophia then built a website and recruited several of her friends and their siblings as tutors. “I came to them with the idea of starting a nonprofit to help kids get back on track since I know quarantine was hard for a lot of kids. My parents were super supportive of my idea. They let me take the reins and run with it,” she said. Most of her colleagues have experience as writing tutors in high school, but all of it was person-toperson, so they weren’t quite sure how successful they would be on a computer. “At first, we were a little nervous about how tutoring would work through Zoom. But it’s been so helpful to use a lot of the features that Zoom has, like screen sharing. When writing an essay, we can see exactly what the student has written and we can annotate that right on the screen so they know exactly what we’re looking at,” Sophia said. Quaranteens offers tutoring and test prep in all subjects, for students from kindergarten to 12th grade, at no cost. After getting exposure on social media and local news, their services have

expanded from Westchester and the local area to throughout the U.S. “Our program is really targeted toward children from low income communities who lack access, but we’re definitely open to serving anyone who needs help,” Sophia said. Sophia and her all-female team of tutors are planning to continue Quaranteens even after the quarantine has lifted and kids can go back into the classroom. “We’re committed to distance sessions because we find it’s a lot better to reach people across the country,” she said. “I think the virtual learning aspect is what we’re really focused on. The name will continue as a remembrance of how we originated.” As news spreads about the tutors, more people have reached out to offer their services. “We’re planning on adding more tutors as we expand. Once we feel like we’re getting a little overwhelmed, then we’re going to branch out so we can serve more kids in need at the same time,” she said. Besides running Quaranteens and maintaining their website, Sophia is also editor-in-chief of The Anchor, her school newspaper, Secretary-General (President) of the school’s Model United Nations program, and head of the Diversity Board at Marymount. Learn and sign-up for tutoring at sophiacscott.wixsite.com/ quaranteens-tutoring.

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

Rotary Club of Westchester

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

We’re All in This Together

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Right about now, the LAX Coastal Chamber would be putting the final touches on the Fourth of July Parade, making sure all the volunteers were assigned, picking up extra flags (because we never have enough) and finalizing our musical playlist. But this year, we had to make the difficult decision to cancel this important event that means so much to all of us. During this pandemic, keeping our community safe and healthy is our primary concern, and while we can’t join together as we usually do, we can still celebrate and show our community spirit! The Chamber has deep roots in Westchester, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista, Del Rey and Marina del Rey. The organization began more than 67 years ago to promote business and enhance the vitality of the community. A lot has changed in our area since 1953, but some things remain the same, like our organization’s unwavering dedication to the communities we serve. We will continue to be here to help our businesses get through these unprecedented times. We will continue to be a pillar in the community and support the organizations that make up the fabric of our wonderful neighborhoods. We will continue to

be thoughtful advocates who weigh-in on issues that affect business and the quality of life in our area. We will continue to be the champions of the community and leaders of our neighborhoods. That’s just what we do. We are all in this together! Please make sure you support local businesses to help in the recovery process. We look forward to a time when we can all gather together again, but until then, be safe, be kind and be well (and remember to wash those hands)! We invite you to learn more about what we do at the Chamber at laxcoastal.com. We’ll see you at the 2021 Fourth of July Parade! Ways the Chamber supports community: • Hosting the Fourth of July Parade • Supporting education through the monthly Education Committee, hosting the Teacher Eddy Awards and volunteering with the LAX Coastal Education Foundation • Serving as a resource for businesses and community members looking to engage • Volunteering our time with organizations like Rotary, WPV, Kiwanis and more • Helping our business members network and connect

The new chamber year starts July 1, and we’re excited to welcome our new board of directors, led by Board Chair Jonathan Lonner and Honorary Mayor Charles Basset! Lonner is a founder at Burns & Bouchard, a boutique development, planning and government affairs firm specializing in planning and municipal issues. Bassett is the Chief Strategic Development Officer at L&R Companies, which oversees Wallypark. He has also been active with the LAX Kiwanis Club for more than 22 years and has been a part of the LAX/Westchester business community for more than 25 years. While the next year will be a challenging time for many

businesses, the chamber is dedicated to being innovative, proactive and a leader when it comes to helping our members navigate this new normal. We’ve had great success with our Zoom networking meetings, online seminars on a variety of topics, and we even held one of the community’s first virtual events–The Teacher Eddy Awards. We were able to share what we learned from hosting this event–and there was a lot–with our local schools to help them with their graduation ceremonies. We’re all in this together and the best way forward is connecting, collaborating and unifying to support each other. Learn more at laxcoastal.com.

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We’re All in This Together

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

We’re All in This Together

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This year, the LAX Coastal Chamber decided to start a new tradition with its 1st Annual Decorating Contest! Asking the community to bring the Spirit of the Parade to their homes, neighbors decorated their front yards with red, white and blue, streamers, balloons, flags and more! Even four-legged friends got into the parade spirit, with Fourth of July-themed gear. Volunteers from the Rotary Club of Westchester took the lead in placing flags along Loyola Blvd. (the parade’s usual route) and creating chalk messages to thank residents for all the years they’ve hosted the event on their block. Westside Pacific Villages helped local seniors decorate by tying bows to their doors. If you drive by locations like the Westchester Family YMCA, St. Anastasia, Westchester Park, Westchester Lutheran, WISH or the Emerson Avenue Community Garden, you’ll see the work volunteers from throughout Westchester/ Playa put into making the community looking festive! Thank you to everyone who participated this year in bringing the Spirit of the Parade–fun, community and neighborhood pride–to their street. We look forward to growing this new tradition into part of our 4th of July festivities. Congratulations to Deborah Christian who was selected by sponsors as this year’s Decorating Contest winner!

We’re All in This Together

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

We’re All in This Together

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Drollinger Family Charitable Foundation

Drollinger Properties is grateful to have served Westchester for more than 70 years. Now through the Drollinger Family Charitable Foundation (DFCF), they support numerous organizations, events and activities in the community, including the Sunday Westchester Farmers’ Market. Come and check out the festive banners in downtown Westchester funded by DFCF, with the support of the Westchester Town Center BID. These spirited banners are part of the inaugural 4th of July Decorating Contest to encourage support of community and our local businesses. Coming soon to the Triangle is the new independent book store, The Book Jewel. DFCF wishes everyone a wonderful summer! We’re all in this together: Westchester Strong!

Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club

Cedars-Sinai MDR Hospital

Decron Properties

Cedars-Sinai’s mission of improving the health of the community is as relevant today as it was at the time of the hospital’s founding. In the last few years, we have been thrilled to be able to expand our provision of expert Cedars-Sinai care to communities in the south coastal area and the San Fernando Valley as two examples––closer to home for many of our loyal patients.

Playa del Oro Apartments is the Gateway to Silicon Beach. Featuring 665 luxury apartment homes, with resort-style amenities and a commitment to customer service. Managed by Decron Properties, the company has shaped the Southern California real estate landscape for nearly 60 years. In the Westchester area, Decron has three apartment communities—Playa del Oro, Playa Marina, and Playa Pacifica—and two retail locations—Shops at Del Oro and The Hub. Decron is proud to support the community through its work with the LAX Coastal Chamber and groups like the Rotary Club. Happy Fourth of July!

Moreover, Cedars-Sinai fulfills its vital mission to the community by investing in programs and services to improve the health status of the community. We work closely with schools, FQHC’s (federally qualified health centers), local government, senior centers, civic and business organizations; and other agencies to improve community health, better meet community needs, and to expand the capacity of other organizations to serve those who are most vulnerablemaximizing the impact of joint efforts to improve lives. We pride ourselves in our health education, our core community benefit programs that deliver vital health services in the Los Angeles area. We seek to leverage our world-class expertise in prevention, patient care and education to make the greatest impact in the community. Cedars-Sinai also proudly engages in strategic, high-impact philanthropy focused on improving access to care, addressing social determinants of health and promoting civic engagement to help Los Angeles’ most vulnerable residents.

SoCalGas SoCalGas is a proud sponsor of the LAX Coastal community. The company is dedicated to giving back to support the communities they serve with an emphasis on education. For the past three years, SoCalGas has partnered with the LAX Coastal Education Foundation to provide STEM Grants for our schools. To date, more than $110,000 has been donated to support students in K-12. From everyone at SoCalGas, we wish you a happy and safe 4th of July.

The Rotary Club of Playa Venice Sunrise is a vibrant and diverse community service organization that is dedicated to the motto “Service Above Self.” Playa Venice Sunrise Rotarians have been at the forefront of serving the needs of the local, regional and international community. Local service projects include adopting families during Christmas, providing teachers with grants, awarding scholarships to deserving students and partnerships with Midnight Mission, Habitat for Humanity, and other nonprofits. On behalf of the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club, we wish everyone a very happy Fourth of July. Visit us at playavenice.org.

Kaiser Permanente Kaiser Permanente is committed to shaping the future of health care and building healthy communities while focusing on individual health and wellness. This is achieved thanks to our expert and caring medical teams who are empowered to impact the lives of our members through state-of-the-art technology and industry-leading research. Kaiser Permanente works hand-in-hand with community organizations to make continuous improvements to local neighborhoods. We do this through partnerships, sponsorships, in-kind donations, and active volunteerism. As a result, we are creating numerous ways to strengthen the connection between where people get care and where they live, work, and play. The efforts of our organization are endless with the care of our members and local communities at the forefront. For more info, please visit kp.org/westlosangeles.

STEPHANIE YOUNGER GROUP

Stephanie Younger Group | Compass has been a longtime supporter of the 4th of July parade. Her love for the parade began 15 years ago when she decided to distribute water along the parade route to the spectators. Now, Stephanie and her team make it a point of sharing water, sunglasses and other surprises to parade-goers. Stephanie is a huge community supporter and gives to local schools, the Teacher Mini-Grant program, and so much more. Visit Stephanie and her team at stephanieyounger.com or at their office on Rayford and Manchester. Happy 4th of July! Page 12 • July 2020

We’re All in This Together

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

Happy 4th of July!

DECRON PROPERTIES We Are All In This Together! PLAYA PACIFICA

PLAYA DEL ORO

SHOPS AT DEL ORO

PLAYA DEL ORO

D EC RO N .CO M Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News

We’re All in This Together

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Photos by Zsuzsi Steiner, Glenn Marzano and Angela Clouse.

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We’re All in This Together

9. It takes the whole community coming together to put on the Fourth of July Parade ever year. It starts in February with the LAX Coastal Chamber picking a theme (with suggestions from the community of course) and then putting out a call for entries. From there, community groups start planning their float design, bands start rehearsing their musical sets, dance groups learn their routines and volunteers sign up to help on the big day. Holding the community’s largest event also involves pulling permits for street closures and rerouting buses. By the time the morning of the 4th of July comes around, the effort of so many groups working together is evident and so is the spirit of the day. It’s always about togetherness, friendship, families, community spirit and celebrating. Save the date for the 21st Annual Fourth of July Parade on Sunday, July 4th, 2021, but until then take a look back at some of things that

make our parade special, and that we look forward to seeing again: 1. Schools and students showing their spirit 2. Kids happy to celebrate 3. Zacha Homes handing out balloons 4. Rooting for the home team–the LMU Lions 5. Girl Scouts volunteering as banner carriers 6. Spectators lining the streets with red, white and blue and copies of the HTN 7. Great marching bands 8. Friends walking together 9. Spectators cheering on the entries 10. Athletes promoting their team pride 11.Volunteers who help make sure the event is a success like the announcers and their crews 12. Community groups that spend time and talent making floats 13. The Stephanie Younger Group passing out water and swag

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

By Cozette Vergari As we celebrate the 4th of July, we think of American Independence Day. However, how much do we really know about the historic date, July 4, 1776, the day the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, which would become the day representing the birth of the United States of America as an independent nation? When the Revolutionary War broke out in April of 1775, those colonists who desired complete independence from Great Britain were few and considered radicals. However, by the middle of 1776, the tide had turned due to a bestselling pamphlet “Common Sense,” published by Thomas Paine earlier that year. The growing hostility against Britain had gained momentum. By June 7, 1776, when the Continental Congress met at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, Virginia Delegate Richard Henry Lee called for the colonies’ independence by introducing a motion that was aggressively debated. Congress tabled the motion and formed a five-man committee, which

included Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Robert Livingston of New York, charging the five with the task of creating a formal statement, justifying such a break with Great Britain. On July 2, 1776, the 13 Colonies of the Continental Congress finalized the debate and voted to claim independence from Great Britain. Two days later, the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence. Philadelphia held the first annual commemorative celebration of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1777, while the Continental Congress was still occupied with the ongoing American War of Independence, later to be known as the American Revolutionary War that lasted from April 19, 1775 through September 3, 1783. The tradition of setting off fireworks began in Philadelphia on July 4, 1777, during the first organized Independence Day celebration. A ship’s cannon fired a 13-gun salute in honor of the 13 colonies. On the same

Photos by Zsuzsi Steiner.

Westchester/Playa Historical Society: celebrating on the Fourth of July

Westchester/Playa Historical Society volunteers and guests ride on a float in the Fourth of July Parade last year.

night, the Sons of Liberty, founded by Samuel Adams and John Hancock, set off fireworks over Boston Common. The patriotic tradition became more widespread after the War of 1812, after again facing Great Britain in battle. By 1870, the United States Congress proclaimed the 4th of July a federal holiday. Independence Day remains an important symbol of patriotism, reflected in the tradition of displaying the American flag. John Adams always believed July 2nd should have been the date dedicated to celebrating American independence and, in protest, repeatedly turned down invitations to appear at 4th of July events. Coincidentally, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, our second and third presidents of the United States,

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

respectively, both died on the 50th Anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1826. On the 244th Anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, we will miss our community’s annual 4th of July Parade. However, we are given time to pause, to think of this holiday’s historical significance, past, present and future. 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.

We’re All in This Together

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Photo by Jee Hyun Lee.

She was married on Valentine’s Day in the middle of World War II, when neighborhood lights were turned off to minimize the risk of bombing. After successfully raising seven children, while also providing care to her mother, Eileen eventually moved to Westchester. When Ed’s health began to worsen in retirement, Eileen became his primary caregiver, learning how to drive at the age of 70! While his passing was extremely difficult, she found purpose and joy again, joining a line dancing group which took her on trips across the USA. She danced for 27 years, until she began losing her vision. Fortunately, Eileen discovered Westside Pacific Villages, which continues to help her age-inplace by giving her resources to stay connected, engaged, and supported by neighbors to live independently. It turns out the organization is run by the daughter-in-law of a line-dancing friend! As Eileen reminisces about her long life, she is most proud of her family’s prosperity, success and happiness. When asked about advice for future generations, she encourages young people to “keep on trying” and stay persistent! Submitted by WPV.

Eileen poses in front of her home with Westside Pacific Village Volunteer Timothy Roberts. Every day, Eileen puts out her flag in the morning and retires it at night.

Westchester resident readies to celebrate 100 grandchildren, a group of nearly 50 people! Born and raised in South L.A., Eileen remembers growing up with people from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. After losing

Westchester resident Eileen LaCasse isn’t sure what is more amazing: celebrating nearly 100 years, or the fact that she shares her life with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great

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her father at an early age, she was inspired by her mother’s hard work raising a family of five as a dressmaker. Eileen began working at Barker Brothers after high school since many working men left for war; she recalls transporting information through pneumatic tubes. Eventually, Eileen would meet her husband Ed through church and go on dates to see shows which were only 10 cents.

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

Since February 2015.

By Consuelo Israelson

truly like winning the lottery, but we didn’t realize at the time just how lucky It’s hard not to notice the Westerfield we truly were,” Carey said. “Because of WISH, we found this wonderful family in Westchester. First off, they community and it’s like winning have four children, which is a bit unusual these days. Then there’s the fact another lottery. I couldn’t have foreseen at the time that just by applying there, that all four of the children are within how much our lives would change for 37 months of each other in age. Oh, the better.” and they have twin girls adopted from While it has been challenging to find Ethiopia. “We’re obviously a family that stands interesting family activities during the COVID-19 quarantine, Carey out,” Carey Westerfield laughed. said they’ve managed to do day trips The family has lived in Westchester to see the poppies, another to see since 2015, but in some ways, Carey the bioluminescent waves and they said it’s like they’ve lived here forever. occasionally cook together. “It feels like a cohesive community. “The kids have been great, knock on Yes, there are different neighborhoods wood! Virtual learning was seamless at within the community, but we’re all so our school. It’s amazing. Their routine connected. It’s true what they say that pretty much stayed the same, which was we’re a small town in a big city,” she good for them. I’m lucky to say that the said. quarantine has not been a hardship for The family relocated to Westchester my family, but I know that’s not always after living in the Rancho Park area for the case for other families,” she said. 13 years. Realizing this is what prompted the “We knew we didn’t want to live Westerfields to volunteer with Grass there forever. It definitely felt like we Roots Neighbors. A friend of Carey’s lived in a big city, and we didn’t know reached out to her for help because our neighbors. Since we moved here, we’ve been very lucky to have met some of her role as an administrator for the Parenting in Westchester, PDR, and PV wonderful people.” Carey considers herself a Californian, Facebook group. “We came up with the idea of getting but she grew up moving from coast to a group of moms as volunteers to go coast, depending on where the Navy to people’s houses and pick up food posted her father. She was working at donations,” she said. “It makes me feel Westchester Parents Nursery School good that we’re getting food to people until recently, when she accepted the in need just as fast as we’re getting the position of Director at Rancho Co-Op food in. It’s an amazing thing to see. Nursery School. And it’s all for the local community. Husband Scott is a Vice President, Director of Technology at an advertising Some of our neighbors need help during this quarantine. If you have the means agency in Santa Monica. and can buy extra groceries or cleaning “He is a very involved parent and products–the same things you buy for partner and is a large part of what makes our family special,” Carey noted. your family–then we can get it to those families in need.” Their four children are Jack, 15, Carey added, “That’s what moms do. Logan, 14, and Des and Bri, 12. All love We grab a couple other moms and get attending WISH Charter School. stuff done! We really feel like we’re part “Getting four kids into WISH was

of the community. We have roots here now. We never felt like we had that in our last neighborhood.” Something else the family has been involved in recently are the Black Lives Matter demonstrations. Carey participates every weekend, and the rest of the family attends as they are able. “These demonstrations have grown out of necessity because of what is happening right now. It has been very powerful to be out there every Sunday and see so much support from the local community,” she said. “It’s been a great community-builder.” The local demonstrations take place at the intersection of Sepulveda and La Tijera, so there’s plenty of room for social distancing and masks are required for all participants. The Westerfields got involved after helping with the Kids March For Equality. “Before we adopted our daughters, we did a lot of research and took classes about transracial adoption, but they don’t really prepare you,” Carey said. “I grew up believing I was color blind and all we need is love. If that were true, there wouldn’t be racism anymore and things would be magically perfect. So we did a lot of introspection, research, a lot of listening and feeling uncomfortable.” Thankfully, the tight-knit group of friends that she has made in Westchester/Playa have helped make parenting and being an involved, passionate member of the community easy. “No community is perfect, but Westchester has a lot of amazing things about it. There are a lot of people who are trying to make positive changes. To be able to love your community, even though it’s not perfect, and work with other people to make it better–that’s a very powerful thing,” she said.

Our perfect day would be a combination of a community event like volunteering or a demonstration, going out to eat as a family, and then enjoying time at the beach.

Moms have been getting very active in different activities: local political campaigns, volunteer organizations or standing up for civil rights. I don’t believe any of that was necessarily happening when we moved in. Even before the murder of George Floyd, which caused an awakening in this country, there had been an awakening here in Westchester. I was in another Facebook group and race was not allowed to be talked about, as though it was somehow controversial. So one of the reasons I help admin the Facebook group I’m in is so we could have conversations. We don’t all have to agree with each other, but we can all be civil. We all bring something to the table. I think that those types of conversations are fairly new. They weren’t here when we first moved in five-and-a-half years ago.

All the moms working daily to make our community and world a better place including Sylvia Wilson, Haan-Fawn Chau, Ahmanise Sanati Morgan, Heather Tuttle, Stephanie Popescu, and too many others to count!

photos by

si Steiner

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

July 2020 • Page 19

Clockwise from top: 1. The Westchester Rotary Club awarded $14,000 in scholarships and grants for teachers at a drive-through ceremony parade on June 25. 2. Children of Our Savior students celebrate their graduation. 3. Westchester Lutheran held a drive through graduation, complete with giant float to recognize its Class of 2020.

Top students recognized at drive-through ceremony at the YMCA. The Rotary Club of Westchester presented a variety of scholarship awards to some of the area’s best and brightest high school students from St. Bernard and Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnets during a ceremony and Rotarian-led car parade on June 24 at the Westchester Family YMCA Annex. The event also honored local teachers with $3,500 in mini grants. Congratulations to scholarship recipients: Rickey McGregor, St. Bernard High School; Madison Brown,

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St. Bernard High School; Elon Morris, Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnet; Dere Je Assefa, Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnet; Ashanti Salazar, St. Bernard High School and Lenny Marquez, Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnet. “These students are an amazing example of the incredible future leaders that come from right here in our community,” said Westchester Rotary President Darlene Fukuji. “We are very proud to help them get their college careers off to a good start with these Rotary scholarships.”

COOS celebrates preschool graduation with balloons and smiles. Children of Our Savior Preschool (COOS) held a drive-through graduation for 39 graduates on June 5. The preschoolers, who hadn’t seen each other in person since the Safer at Home order, were thrilled to say “hi” to their friends again, even if was at a distance, says preschool director, Beverly Charsha, who delighted in giving students their diplomas and goodie bags with the help of other teachers. While the school has remained

open to care for essential workers’ children during Safer At Home, COOS recently expanded its operation for all students with a limited capacity. WLS cheers on Class of 2020. Westchester Lutheran’s last day of school culminated in a special drive-through ceremony led by teachers and staff for its 27 students. Eighth grade graduates and families were wowed by the impressive graduation float created by WLS parent Dan Garr, which served as a backdrop for the event.

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

Kellie Fell demonstrates an exercise move to her morning workout class.

Business spotlight:

Fit4Mom offers moms workouts and community Everyone’s business could use a little help these days, so we’re featuring some companies owned by local residents or located in Westchester/Playa to help promote shopping locally and supporting community members. Here’s the scoop on FIT4MOM Westside, owned by Westchester resident Kellie Fell.

Q. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. A. My name is Kellie Fell, and I’m a born-and-raised SoCal gal. I grew up mostly in the mountains in Wrightwood, went to college at UCSD and moved to Westchester about 12 years ago. I currently live with my husband, two kids (my son, five and my daughter two), and our loveable Labrador. I

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

we started right up with online classes by Monday! It was a grueling weekend figuring it out, but I was proud we didn’t skip a beat and have been able to keep people moving from the safety of their homes. Our six-days-a-week schedule has remained nearly the same except classes are done via Zoom call. We created a special virtual online class pack and have continued doing crafts and storytimes via Zoom as well. Q. Anything else you’d like people to know about your business? A. Motherhood can feel lonely and taking the first step to try out a new class can be intimidating. That’s how I felt five years ago when I tried Stroller Strides for the first time. Nearly all my mom friends have come from this great program, and we’d love to meet anyone looking for a way to get active and meet more moms. Plus, your first class is free so what’s there to lose? Q, What are some of your favorite local businesses? A. I absolutely love our community, and we have some boss moms who seriously rock. From my estate planner Bahar Geslin of Geslin Law, to my financial planner Wendy Wan Turk of Gerber Kawasaki, to my accountant Veronica Frausto of Frausto Management Group, and most importantly my wine-provider, Nicole Torrence of Chap4, there’s probably a mom in our neighborhood for everything!

Photo courtesy Kellie Fell.

worked in television for about seven years and then decided to stay home when I had my son. I began taking Stroller Strides classes with FIT4MOM Westside when he was 6-months-old and never really stopped! At that time I was dabbling in some freelance writing, but when the opportunity to purchase the fitness franchise arose, I seized it and have been the owner, operator and an instructor for FIT4MOM Westside for about two years. When I’m not teaching or running the biz, I enjoy baking, eating delicious food and watching TV. Q. Please tell us a little bit about your business? A. We welcome mothers in every stage of motherhood! From prenatal to postpartum, moms from all levels and fitness backgrounds can join us. During pre-COVID times we held our Stroller Strides classes at the park, so moms get to work out with their kids in tow, and then hang out together afterward and enjoy community with each other while the kids play. We also have playgroups, crafts, and Moms Night Outs throughout the month. In addition to our stroller-based workouts, we have programs specifically tailored for moms without their kids who are looking for a higher intensity workout and nutrition accountability, but with the same sense of camaraderie. Our moms come for the workout and stay for the community! Q. How have you shifted your business since COVID-19? A. Our last in-person class was on a Friday and

Visit westside.fit4mom.com for more info.

July 2020 • Page 21

Random Notes/Opinion

TheHTN.com

Six tips to get your exercise program back on track By Jeff Blair

started, things came easier. I lengthened my walks, added pushups and established some physical and psychological momentum. 2. Consider starting with something you enjoy. As most try to get back into the fitness swing, some part of us resists and says “it will be too unpleasant.” Flip that emotion by looking for enjoyable activities. If you enjoy gardening, think about starting with that rather than some hardcore workout. If you mix pleasure with physical activity, starting becomes easier. You might even look forward to it as a break from at-times depressing daily news reports. I made the “start with something you enjoy” recommendation to a friend and she was soon gardening several hours per day. Her spirits and energy level quickly improved. The sunshine and fresh air were a welcome change from quarantine and bad news. 3. Consistency before intensity. Most people who struggle with fitness struggle most with consistency. They have started a hundred different workout programs but they cannot seem to keep them going. They might even work out very hard when they do work out, but they always quit

Opinion: While the partial reopening of our Westchester gym contains uncertainty, some things seem to be trending back to normal. No one knows exactly what the future holds but many are looking to develop more regular routines. Since exercise provides great physical, psychological and emotional benefits, please consider getting back to normal there as well. Here are six tips to get back on track this month. 1. It’s okay to ease back into things. We seem programmed to view things in “all or nothing” terms when the best answer might actually be somewhere in the middle. Start the fitness ball rolling even if you must start small. Commit to just a couple workouts per week if more feels overwhelming. Don’t debate whether you want to or not–just schedule some exercise. Bike riding, hiking, or walking are a few easier ways to begin. During the lockdown, there were strings of days when I didn’t feel like doing anything and didn’t. I got back on track by committing to a short walk. Once the momentum

after a few week or months. Try to first establish a consistent workout routine and then consider upping the intensity. Calendaring your workouts can increase your consistency. Consider it an appointment with yourself. I even encourage clients to write the workout in your date book or calendar app. It might seem silly but it works. Finding a workout partner or personal trainer can also improve consistency. Try and view your workout schedule as being mostly non-negotiable. It’s a commitment to you, your health, your happiness and your well-being. Remember, if you don’t take care of yourself no one is going to do it for you. Life is not totally predictable, and there will be times when you must reschedule, but I’ve found people who commit are dramatically more likely to achieve fitness success. 4. Don’t compare. Fixating on how someone else is doing is usually completely demotivating. If they are doing better than you, you will be discouraged to start. If you are doing better than they are, you might not be as motivated to improve. Focus on your goals and how you feel after a workout versus trying to keep up with

the Joneses. 5. Limit social media time. I found myself spending more time than usual on social media during the shutdown. That was pretty predictable in a time of limited human interaction. I found it negatively impacted my mood and motivation levels. While I have not eliminated social media, I have created a structure where I only view it after I accomplish my daily tasks. Consider using a similar guideline that works for your individual preferences and personal schedule. Both your mood and fitness level are likely to improve. 6. Personal health is more important than ever. Regular exercise is an important part of immune function and overall health. Make time for it because it’s super important. That is more true today than it has ever been. Please observe social distancing and follow other local and state safety guidelines while exercising outdoors. Jeff Blair (MS, CSCS) has been a certified personal trainer in Westchester since 2002. Contact him at jeff@socalsport.com. *Before you start any fitness routine, please consult your doctor.

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!

We’re open! Call to learn more about our virtual and in-person programs.

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

Page 22 • July 2020

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

You can choose healthy and supportive relationships By Fay Craton Opinion: “During the past four months the earth seems to have tilted.” I have heard many variations of this statement. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the daily pulse of life. At the start of this year most of us had very different plans than what we are encountering. Many people are change weary. We have grieved and finally adapted our rituals and traditions. New ways of celebrating school graduations were created. Weddings, funerals, and family gatherings are happening on Zoom. Even television has adapted to using online platforms. Here we are in July, a time when we celebrate Independence Day. Again, we are not able to participate in the customs we normally celebrate because of the need to stay home to stay safe. As with other traditions, the Fourth of July community event is creatively shifting. Instead of the annual Fourth of July parade there is

a home decoration contest with the theme, “We’re all in this together.” Even while COVID-19 shattered our life rhythms, another shocking happening occurred. Video caught the murder of a man by police officers. The images of the atrocity resulted in Black Americans speaking out about other deaths and the ongoing racism they experience. This time, finally, white Americans began to hear. Together, Americans of all races, genders, and religions protested. There are moments in time when our understanding of the world changes so dramatically we have a much better than normal opportunity to learn, grow and become better people. When the world tilts, cracks occur in the mental framework about the way we believe things must be done. It is a unique opportunity to hit a reset button and begin to be more loving, compassionate, and empathetic. It is an opportunity to see what you have missed and

to listen. Right now, you have the opportunity to be kinder to family members, form better relationships, and become better community members. It is important for your new awareness to be part of your new framework guiding how you do things. In the same moments of time, it is also possible to resist learning and growing. You can become angry and/or cynical over the changes, becoming entrenched in hanging onto aspects of life which are no longer available to you. You can live your life from a self-centered perspective. You can make your comfort more important than the needs of other people, emotionally distancing family members and others with whom you could have supportive relationships. This path leads to broken relationships. It leads to becoming a bitter and hard person. This year, Independence Day can be about your independent choices. You can choose growth, movement,

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

love, and healthy supportive relationships. Another choice is to try to stay as you are, resisting changes and leading a stagnant life. You always have a choice. My wish is for you to embrace learning and growth. A meaningful life is more than hanging onto past status or former ways of living. For life to have meaning it is important to make a contribution to this world in a way that enhances life. It involves having a healthy connection with significant others. I know we are all in this together. I hope you also know it. 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.

July 2020 • Page 23

Local moms lead the charge to rally for justice and unity at weekly demonstration For the last five weeks, people of all ages have gathered along Sepulveda Blvd. and La Tijera for a peaceful demonstration for justice and equality. Led by a group of Westchester/Playa moms, the hour-long Sunday demonstration has largely been attended by families looking to show solidarity for those affected by racial inequality and is helping open the doors for important conversations in the neighborhood. For Vonda McNeil, a mother of two, attending the demonstrations and displaying a “Hate has no home here” sign in her yard has started dialogues with both her teens and neighbors interested in learning more about history and injustice. It has also led the family to enroll in an online seminar teaching about anti-racism. “I’m proud of the women that are organizing these events on Sunday afternoon. It has been a great way to raise awareness in a peaceful way,” said McNeil. “We’re now actively having conversations with our kids and neighbors about what’s going on in the world and how we can do better. I’m proud to be part of this community where we can stand up and have our voices heard in a meaningful way.”

While the number of demonstrators has changed each week—with a high of 500 and an average of 75 according to organizers, they’ll continue to meet each week on the busy Westchester thoroughfare. “We’re going to keep coming out here until we see movement or justice for Elijah McClain. We didn’t even know about his murder for a whole year, so I feel like us being visible is making a lot of these things that we didn’t know about come to the forefront so there can be some kind of action. Breonna Taylor, we want justice for her…” said co-organizer Sylvia Wilson. “What matters is that people are seeing that we care. We know that Black Lives Matter and that other people that have been oppressed that their lives matter.” Echoes co-organizer, Shachar Lavi, “We are hoping that people come and show their support. We also want to have a conversation and help people grow. This is a long process of education. Just standing on a street, just wearing a shirt, just one thing isn’t going to be enough. It’s going to take more work than that. Moms have the power to change the world and hopefully, we will do just that.”

Pictured: Local moms, their kids and community members demonstrate on Sepulveda Blvd. on Sunday afternoons in June.

Page 24 • July 2020

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

July 2020 • Page 25

Nutritional tips for when you return to dining out By Sheri Weitz, RDN, CDE, Contributing Columnist

handful of nuts can do wonders to prevent lack of control when dining out. Showing up not starving helps you to make more deliberate menu selections, and even turn down the bread bowl. • Overeating won’t solve world hunger. Some of my clients have a tough time not cleaning their plates, usually due to messages and rules from their childhoods. This can leave a lasting imprint, and as adults we can feel guilty wasting food or not finishing our meal. Others feel the need to finish their food due to a diet mentality. But if your diet never starts tomorrow, then there’s no need to overeat today. It’s OK to stop eating when you feel satisfied. If you’re not sure when you’re satisfied, imagine your stomach as a sandwichsized Ziploc bag that’s two-thirds full. Instead of overeating, ask for your leftovers to be bagged up and eat them as a meal the next day. • Most restaurants serve large portions, especially in America. Many customers have come to expect large portions when they shell out their hard-earned bucks, so there’s even a lot of pressure for restaurants

Opinion: Restaurants are open! How wonderful to once again sit at a table, enjoy a delicious meal, and take in the wonderful ambience. But even before COVID, many of us already saw restaurant eating as d-a-n-g-e-ro-u-s. Dining in a restaurant can be a license to overeat, stress about what to order, or to obsess or feel guilty about food choices. For those who eat in restaurants more than once a week due to busy schedules or work travel, dining out can have a profound impact on our health. Here are some tips to minimize the risks of restaurant eating, besides the obvious ones like wearing your mask, socially distancing or asking to be seated outside: • Avoid going out to eat when you’re overly hungry. This is similar to the adage, “Never shop when you’re hungry.” Showing up at a restaurant when you’re starving can be a huge invitation to overeat. If you skipped lunch, or are just super hungry, eat a small snack before leaving. A carton of yogurt or a small

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to provide big portions to achieve rave reviews and customer loyalty. Ask the restaurant if they have a “Light Menu.” Any restaurant chain with more than 20 restaurants is required by law to list the calories per meal. • Treat frequent restaurant dining like eating at home. Once a week restaurant dining means you can splurge, but more often than this requires some discipline. What would a healthy balanced meal at home look like, and how can you achieve this, despite ordering off a restaurant menu? Keep in mind the “Plate Method:” one-quarter of your plate is animal or plant-based protein, one-quarter carbs and onehalf non-starchy vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, etc. Sometimes this requires creativity at a restaurant. Perhaps you’ll need to order a side of vegetables to go with your meal or ask if they can make a menu substitution. Your health is worth it, especially if restaurant eating is a common occurrence for you. • If you only dine out occasionally, then go ahead and treat yourself. Order dessert if you want. Indulge to your heart’s content. But if you’re eating in restaurants more than once per week, these tips will help you maintain your health while enjoying dining out once again. If you’re watching your weight, suffer from food allergies or diabetes, or are just trying to eat more healthfully,

Weitz is a local dietitian and enjoys teaching Zumba at the Westchester Family YMCA and other local spots.

restaurant eating can prove to be challenging. Hopefully, utilizing these tips will allow you to experience the pleasure of going out to eat–without the stress. Bon Appetit! Sheri Weitz, RDN, CDE is a Registered Dietitian with a private practice in Westchester, and she provides clinical nutrition services for Manchester Medical. Sheri also teaches Zumba classes… her “happy pill.” To find out more about her services or for a free consultation, go to MovetoWellness.net.

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

July 2020 • Page 27

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