37 minute read
Westchester Pioneer Series: Howard Drollinger
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Howard B. Drollinger
By Cozette Vergari
I have already written about the courageous visionary, Ella Drollinger, taking the risk in 1944 of building the first commercial property in Westchester at a time when the area was beginning to evolve and take shape out of the wheat fields surrounding the small Los Angeles Air Port. And, no that is not a typo. Initially, on March 17, 1928, the headline for The Daily Californian read “Air Port Here Chosen.” Shortly after on July 26, 1928, the Los Angeles Examiner’s front page headline read, “Council Votes To Lease Mines Field For City Air Port.” The land was owned by rancher Andrew Bennett and comprised of acres of wheatfields. The original terminal built in 1928 still exists at the eastern end of LAX. Will Rogers and Charles Lindbergh landed in the first passenger plane at Mines Field. Commercial aviation was developing its foundation with an eye to the future.
And, as the future unfolded, Ella’s vision of a commercial district to support the community of Westchester and its new stakeholders working in the aerospace and defense industries following WWII, was shared, embraced and carried on by her son, Howard B. Drollinger. After returning from serving his country in WWII in the Army Airforce and having been awarded the Purple Heart, four air medals and two Presidential Unit Citations, Howard joined Ella to grow Westchester’s commercial district. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at USC, and would go on to build and manage much of the area along Sepulveda. During the expansion of LAX in the 60s and 70s, more than 3,500 homes were taken by the airport and approximately 10,000 residents were displaced. That, coupled with the opening of Culver City’s Fox Hills Mall (now Westfield Culver City), hit the retail and business district of Westchester hard. Howard fought back even harder, and for nearly 20 years bought up the real estate that was being abandoned and left behind by major retail companies who were moving to the malls.
Single screen movie theaters could not compete with the new multi-screen cinemas that were attached to those same malls. Along with those who fought for the preservation of the Loyola Theater as a historic landmark, Howard battled for decades on many levels to preserve the Paradise Building at the southeast corner of Sepulveda Boulevard and Westchester Parkway. The theater had been the site of many star-studded movie premieres in the 1950s with searchlights lighting up the evening skies over Westchester as it hosted many Hollywood celebrities of the day. When it opened on August 23, 1950, its proximity to the Los Angeles Airport made the Paradise Theater the ideal place to host celebrities traveling from afar. His redevelopment of the Sepulveda commercial district culminated in 1995 with the opening of the Ralphs Supermarket Center and attracting other large retail businesses to take up shop in downtown Westchester. It was exciting to see new businesses opening in the location of the first building constructed by his mother on the southeast corner of Sepulveda Boulevard and La Tijera, which opened as a Thrifty Drug Store in 1945.
More than 25 years later, the Ralphs Supermarket Center, now known as Westchester Village, is still the hub of the commercial district and is bordered on the south by Howard Drollinger Way. Today, the center is home to numerous eateries, a CVS, Chase Bank, Starbucks and a Petco. Howard was a not just a developer, however. He was also a philanthropist, who gave back to his community and to the region at large. Raising his family in the Westchester/ Playa del Rey community with his wife Jewel, he appreciated the concept of giving back and established the Drollinger Family Charitable Foundation. The foundation continues to give, through his legacy, to countless local charitable and educational causes.
On November 15, 2017, the Rotary Club of Westchester honored Howard and the Drollinger Family Charitable Foundation, by installing the Rotary International Clock that sits at the west end of Howard Drollinger Way, in the Westchester Village shopping center. The clock is a tribute to Howard and his family for all the years of dedication to the community of Westchester/ Playa, past, present and future. Since Howard was a member of the club for nearly 50 years after joining in 1952, the dedication was even more special. During his decades with the organization, he donated hundreds of thousands to support its efforts. If you read the panels on the clock, you will also notice another dedication to the business community of Westchester. This serves as a symbol of the close partnership between the Drollinger Family Charitable Foundation and the Westchester Rotary Foundation to support the community and its citizens, as well as maintain a thriving business area.
Cozette is an attorney and lifelong resident of Westchester. She is the President of the Westchester/Playa Historical Society. 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.
Top: Howard Drollinger. Bottom. Drollinger’s daughter, Karen Dial (left), and Cozette Vergari pose at the clock dedication.
Student spotlight: For St. Bernard senior, it’s important to make a difference and lead by example
Chloe Jackson has been giving back to her community for as long as she can remember. The St. Bernard High School senior had not yet begun school when she learned that helping others was something everyone was expected to do. “I got it from my grandma,” said Jackson. “We helped the neighbors, helped the church, donated clothes and canned goods. We brought coats to shelters. It was little stuff, but she taught us to help the neighbors whenever we could. Grandma had a really caring heart.”
A heart that is obviously hereditary.
Jackson’s time at St. Bernard has been filled with a long list of extracurricular activities. She is a member of the school’s Viking Ambassadors, Associate Student Body, Black Student Union and yearbook staff. She mentors middle school students by participating in TAKS Leadership group as well as teaching them math and science in her role as a STEM Summit Leader. For several years, Chloe has also been a serious athlete, devoting time to soccer, volleyball and track and field, all while achieving top grades in the classroom.
She said she takes pleasure in serving others and sharing her experience at St. Bernard’s with the community at large, volunteering with Mothers In Action (MIA), One Incredible Family and My Friends House L.A. along with being a camp counselor for Westchester Girl Scouts.
And that is her true passion–Girl Scouts. She began as a Daisy, and the community service aspect of the organization hooked her for good. She did the obligatory selling of Girl Scout cookies, but even there she excelled, selling more than 500 boxes for six consecutive years!
She has served for two years on the Girls Advisory Board, representing the Brownie Girl Scouts in the Tournament of Roses Parade and earned the Silver Award in eighth grade.
But in true Jackson fashion, she went one step further. Earlier this year, she earned Scouting’s Gold Award–the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a Girl Scout.
According to the Girl Scouts, “Gold Award Girl Scouts are the dreamers and the doers who take ‘make the world a better place’ to the next level. The Girl Scout Gold Award is the mark of the truly remarkable–proof that not Page 12 • June 2021
Jackson teaches a virtual art class to help kids express themselves during the pandemic. only can she make a difference, but that she already has.”
That is certainly true in Jackson’s case. Working through MIA, Jackson spent countless hours assembling packages and boxes of school supplies for students who otherwise would have none. “It’s so important to give back, lead by example and be a light for those who can’t help themselves,” she said. “I love [MIA’s] Back to School Health Fair. It is one of my favorite events that I look forward to each year. To see the smiles on the children’s faces when I hand out school supplies is simply priceless.”
Jackson’s proudest moments, though, are working directly with kids to help them understand themselves and the world around them. Working with MIA mentees, who are ages 8 through 14, Jackson recently conducted virtual art sessions, teaching them about everything from portraits to landscapes and urging them to use their creativity to push back against the stresses of a world in lockdown. “I have done a lot, but I’m proudest of the work I have done with kids,” she said. “I taught an art class during a pandemic that I hope brought kids energy and gave them hope. I wanted them to use art to express themselves. I love art myself, so that was an easy thing for me.” Candace Hardy, whose 8-year-old son, Braylen, was one of Jackson’s students said she was incredibly impressed with Jackson’s class. “For her to be so young and so [helpful] was amazing,” Hardy said. “She was very informative, and she connected with all the kids.” Hardy said before the class Braylen never showed an interest in art and was often shy. “But he gravitated toward Chloe very quickly, even on Zoom, and he loved it,” she said. “He was so proud of his little masterpieces. She encouraged him to interact and be creative and use his imagination.” Her engagement with her virtual students did not stop there. Jackson provided all of the art supplies, made beautiful hand-painted aprons and gave them an art kit with all the trimmings to continue their self-expression at the end of the program–a little bit of extra effort that would make grandma proud. Hardy said the experience has already made a lasting impact on Braylen. “His level of excitement about art was surprising to me,” she said, adding that he has already convinced her to continue supporting his new passion. “I went to Michael’s and got big canvases and easels and he’s painting outside now. It’s really therapeutic for him.” In the fall, Jackson will attend Clark Atlanta University in Georgia and major in Architecture/Interior Design with the hope of one day opening her own business in the field. Not surprisingly, she wants her success to be the success of everyone around her.
She said she wants to “enhance the standard of living and improve the quality of life in my community” and help “address the inequalities of women in an industry where we are the minority.”
Of course, St. Bernard will always have a special place in her heart. “From the first time I visited and had my Shadow Day, this just felt like home,” she said. “I’m certainly going to miss all the activities because I did everything here.”
Still, Jackson is ready to blaze a new path and serve as an example for her fellow students just as her grandmother did for her.
“My generation needs to take time out of our day to give back to the community,” she said. “We need to take that time and effort because we can make a difference.”
Congratulations to Joan O. and Judith O. for taking home the People’s Choice awards in the LAX Coastal Ed Foundation Art Show and Competition.
Hosted by the Emerson Avenue Community Garden
September 18, 2021
11am-9pm Emerson Ave. at W. 80th St. wamblockparty.org ARTS MUSIC DANCE FOOD DRINKS FUN
A road map for stress-free vacation eating
By Sheri Weitz, RDN, Contributing Columnist
Opinion: Have you made your travel plans yet? If you’re lucky enough to get a rental car, you just might be on your way to an awesome summer vacay. Or perhaps you’re even flying to parts unknown, feeling brave and adventurous as the world opens up.
Vacation eating can pose the same challenges as before, and many of my clients have gained weight during the pandemic. Perhaps this time you’d like to take “only photos and memories” away from your trip, not unwanted pounds and inflammation. Here are some nutritional strategies to help with your next sojourn:
1. Treat most days of vacation
eating as if you’re home. Would you eat two rolls, an entire plate of pasta and dessert? Most likely no. So why not eat as if you’re home six out of seven days per week during your trip? You can still order your favorite foods, while watching portion sizes and avoiding overeating during most meals. 2. Take a veggie vacay. What better way to experience the local produce and culture than to visit a farmers’ market? Or if you’re not able to get your usual intake of fruits and veggies at markets or restaurants, look for a local juice bar and order a vegetable juice. If you can’t stand one without any sweetness (OK, I admit it; it’s often hard for me, too!) ask the juice bar to add just a quarter of an apple or other fruit to your veggie juice. If you’re drinking bottled vegetable juice, look for one with less than 10 grams of sugar per serving. Check serving sizes: is it half the bottle or the entire bottle? 3. Pack snacks. If you can’t stop for a meal, bring portable snacks with you to prevent the “overly hungry dinner binge.” Examples of travel worthy snacks: ¼ cup dried fruit and a small handful of raw almonds or walnuts; a protein bar which doesn’t contain any Sucralose (an artificial sweetener which can damage your healthy gut bacteria); a piece of fruit with yogurt, string cheese or nuts; chips made from garbanzo beans or lentils (they have some protein) and add fruit. Or maybe this is the opportunity to drink that fresh veggie juice. Pair it with some nuts for protein, and you’ll be good to go until dinner. If we enter that restaurant slightly hungry, but not starving, it’s much easier to make deliberate menu choices.
4. Remember that restaurants often serve very large portions–especially
of carbs. Rice and pasta are cheap and plentiful, and some establishments will serve up to 10 servings instead of the ½ cup, or palmful, most bodies need.
5. Have a strategy for boredom.
If you find yourself eating in the car due to boredom, a lollipop or roasted sunflower seeds in the shell will provide satisfaction with some damage control. Since they take longer to consume, you’ll eat less. 6. Stay well hydrated. We sometimes overeat due to being thirsty. Try and drink close to half your body weight in ounces of water every day. Keep in mind that thirst can trick our bodies into thinking we’re hungry. Being dehydrated can also cause fatigue, which can be a trigger to overeat. 7. Eat slowly at restaurants. It takes 20 minutes for your head to know your stomach is full. 8. Mind the bread basket. Unless you’re really craving it, say “no” to the bread basket or just take one roll and ask the server to remove the rest in order to avoid mindless consumption. If you avoid being overly hungry prior to dinner, you won’t need to eat rolls to keep your stomach from singing a pre-dinner solo. 9. Treat yourself. If you really truly want to eat something while you’re on vacation, eat it! Deprivation will make things far worse and you’ll end up eating everything else, including the kitchen table, until you finally get what you’re craving. Give yourself what you
Weitz is a local dietitian and enjoys teaching Zumba at local spots. want, eat mindfully and try and stop when you’re no longer enjoying each bite. 10. Have fun. Enjoy your vacation and try not to stress about your health or weight. It is a break from your routine, after all.
Bon Voyage!
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.
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Photo courtesy the YMCA.
Swim lessons are back at the Y and the next session starts June 21.
(continued from page 5)
Caravan Swim Club at Hotel June
Various dates
As we all know, the restaurant industry was hit extremely hard by the pandemic, so supporting local eateries has been a mainstay of Safer At Home life. Caravan Swim Club is one of those restaurants that is so excited to be open and getting back to normal.
On June 15, all parts of this hidden gem of Westchester will be up and running and ready to welcome guests. The breezy Baja-inspired Caravan Swim Club has poolside gathering options and a beautiful, elevated terrace.
Right now, poolside dining is only available for guests of the hotel on the weekends, but soon will be fully open for dining and for relaxing at the bar while enjoying your favorite cocktails. Enjoy the view on the elevated terrace with house favorites like locally caught grilled fish, organic steak, seasonal salads, oysters from the raw bar, and shareable snacks paired with drinks like biodynamic wines, craft beers and small-batch tequilas.
Chef Angie Lee is the culinary force behind dining at Hotel June. She is a Le Cordon Bleu graduate with more than a decade of experience in restaurants around the world, including a Michelin star-rated restaurant in La Sarte, Spain. In Los Angeles, she has led kitchens at the Peninsula Beverly Hills Hotel and the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons.
The Caravan Swim Club is located at 8639 Lincoln Blvd in Westchester. Learn more at thehoteljune.com/ caravan-swim-club.
YMCA Swim Lessons
Starting June 21 The Westchester Family YMCA is another organization that has been hit hard by the pandemic. With the government mandating the closure of all gyms over the last year, the YMCA made a major pivot. While being closed for workouts, they opened up a shower program for the unhoused, launched a community food pantry, hosted multiple food drives, and even sponsored a few drive-through events. During this time, the Westchester YMCA has been a true community hero!
Now, as things slowly creep towards normalcy, the Y recently opened for swim lessons, just in time for summer.
Swim lessons at the YMCA are a rite of passage for most families, so don’t miss an opportunity to participate in this fun tradition. The next sessions start June 21. Member registration opens on June 7 and non-members can register beginning June 14.
The YMCA is located at 8015 S. Sepulveda Blvd. in Westchester. Visit ymcala.org/locations/westchesterfamily-ymca for more details.
Pride event at The Book Jewel
Saturday, June 26 at 8 p.m.
The Book Jewel is truly a community treasure. In addition to their many events and book club meetings, this summer, the bookstore will host its first LGBTQ Pride and evening event on June 26.
The evening will feature Liz Brown, the author of “Twilight Man.” Brown will read from her newly released biography about her great-grand uncle, William Andrews Clark Jr. and his secret relationship with another man named Harrison Post in Los Angeles during the 1920s–a tumultuous time for LGBTQ folks who had to hide their truth or risk economic and social ruin. Clark is known for launching the LA Philharmonic and helped establish the Hollywood Bowl. The book focuses on Post’s life after the tragic and unexpected death of Clark, and the legal battles that would shape the rest of his life.
The event will also feature a short poetry reading, followed by a drag variety show! This will be a ticketed event and will include a copy of “Twilight Man” with the price of admission.
RSVP at thebookjewel.com. The Book Jewel is located in the Westchester Triangle at 6259 W. 87th St. in Westchester. (continued on page 25)
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Design your workout routine around your preferences
By Jeff Blair
Opinion: I am currently taking a “Human Centered Design” (HCD) course. HCD is a problem-solving approach that considers human needs as a crucial part of any problem. For example, while a HCD hospital would offer traditional medical treatments, it would also attempt to address the anxiety people experience when they go to the hospital. The hospital could hire patient care coordinators, provide employees with more empathy training or even use soothing colors to make hospitalizations less stressful for patients.
Understanding individual preferences is always our HCD starting point. We all have different preferences and one person’s is not necessarily better than another’s–they are just different. When we understand someone’s preferences, we can design in a way that matches those preferences. This should produce higher levels of satisfaction for each user.
Constraints (or limits) are always considered in HCD. When we acknowledge constraints, we check into reality. For example, hospitals have budget constraints. Budgets may limit the number of employees who can be hired as patient care coordinators. Recruiting volunteers to provide patient emotional support could be one way to design around those budget constraints and not have the hospital incur additional expense. HCD tries to align with someone’s preferences and “design around” their constraints.
This got me thinking how constraints impact fitness success. Two of the most common fitness constraints are time and energy. Rather than acting like the constraints are not real, can we find a way to design around them? We can then create innovative solutions and design something that might actually work for you rather than for your spouse or neighbor who might not have the same constraints.
Let’s consider an example. A popular home fitness program may require 90-minute workouts six times per week. If you are a busy working professional, you might feel lucky if you can even get two hours per week. HCD says we should design your workouts in a way that fits your schedule rather than simply give the same one-size-fits-all recommendation to everyone. HCD would modify that six days per week, 90-minute workout schedule to something more realistic for you. Finding the energy to get started is another powerful constraint. People often feel they do not have energy to exercise, but lack of physical movement actually decreases energy levels. It is a bit of a vicious cycle. How can we design around this energy dilemma?
Scheduling exercise when you have the most energy during the day is one strategy. If you are a morning person and your schedule allows, try to exercise in the morning. If you have more physical energy in the evening, consider exercising at night. If you seem to have more energy on the weekend, put exercise on your weekend schedule.
When it comes to strength training, unreliable information is another common constraint. Many think they need to work out two hours per day, six days per week to see any results. Meanwhile, almost every major medical organization in the world recommends just two sessions per week of 30 to 60 minutes per session. That is two hours per week or less.
Constraints are usually the first thing I consider when designing workout programs. If someone only has a couple hours per week to work out, I know that can really improve their quality of life without overwhelming their schedule. That means they are more likely to continue exercising over the long-term. I am confident they will experience greater strength, increased energy and might even become happier.
Not wanting to work out by yourself can be another constraint. Recruiting a workout partner or hiring a personal trainer are a couple ways to design around this issue. A workout partner can make all the difference when it comes to long-term exercise adherence. No one likes to let someone down by no-showing. If the partner is emotionally supportive, that is even better. Determine your preferences. Try not to compare yourself to others. Design an approach that works for you. By considering your preferences and designing around real-world constraints, you increase your chances for success. You can then make fitness work on your terms.
Jeff Blair (M.S., CSCS) has been a certified personal trainer in Westchester since 2002. He is in the process of completing his second fitness book and has been featured in national and international fitness magazines. He founded the SoCalSport Personal Training Studio in Westchester in 2011. Reach out at jeff@socalsport.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
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Do you want solid long-term relationships?
By Fay Craton
Opinion: As a result of the pandemic, for more than a year we have all been living through what once was unimaginable. Your life may have changed drastically. Changes and loss can easily cause a shift in your sense of self. As people steadily become vaccinated and COVID rates continue to fall, you should be able to regain some normalcy in your life. But, after so much loss and change, what is normal? In thinking about normal, common questions for many people are: • Who am I? • What do I want? • How do I control my life?
Questions are natural when your life has been radically impacted, such as during the pandemic shut down.
Now that shutdowns in our area are lifting, change is again happening. Do the changes make you happy or uncomfortable? Some people enjoyed the togetherness caused by families quarantining together. Many people enjoyed–even flourished–working from home. Other people experienced a loss of work, or felt trapped, frustrated and struggled to hold onto involvement with people outside their immediate family. Some who worked from home found it was difficult due to lack of space, childcare needs and difficulty maintaining enough emotional space. In some homes, tension developed with part of the family thriving and part of the family feeling trapped. When people you care about experience the uncertainty you are living through differently, conflict can easily happen.
When change happens, it ripples throughout how you live, experience events and connect with the world. The changes during the pandemic have been like an earthquake with the ground shaking under your feet for over a year. For many, maintaining personal balance, family balance and work or occupational balance has been difficult while the world continued to tremble. How do I control my life? Reflecting on the common questions, some people jump right to the last one. In answering this question, do you think the answer is in controlling what is happening around you? Do you believe you can keep your life from changing by keeping track of loved ones to ensure they are doing what you want? Are you forcing your will onto others? Do you expect conversations to be primarily about your life? If you are answering “yes” to these questions, chances are you are losing opportunities to retain and build quality relationships with important people in your life.
When uncertainty lasts for an extended period of time, such as with the pandemic, the desire to eliminate as much change around you as possible is understandable. However, you can only control your own life. When you attempt to control another person’s life, you end up creating resentment. The likelihood of problems within the relationship increases. What do I want? Consider the first two common questions. Do you want solid long-term relationships? Do you want a lasting life partnership? Good relationships are necessary for a sense of trust and emotional well-being. A life partnership in which you feel supported (not forced) to grow contributes to a healthy and not paralyzing sense of safety. Who am I? Understanding your own strengths, weaknesses and activities that resonate deep within your soul requires continual exploration. Emotionally secure partners are able to support each other for the long haul. Sometimes, this means experiencing differences at some points during your life’s journey. Sometimes, it could mean expectations and agreements must be renegotiated and changed. Marriages and life partnerships take effort by both people in the relationship. They require being fully present for each other even when experiences of the same event are different.
My wish is for you to have the peace of knowing who you are while experiencing long-term healthy, relationships. A healthy relationship includes times of discomfort, as well as times of contentment. I wish for you to have the strength to stay the course, to be present for the significant people in your life and to know love.
Fay Craton, M.A. is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (mfc40011), which is the psychology license specializing in relationships (with ourselves or with others). She provides video-based counseling and is located in Westchester. If you have any questions, please contact Fay at (310) 645-6762. Incredible opportunity for retail, storage or specialty uses in basement space below existing Petco in popular center with high traffic volumes. Located on Sepulveda Boulevard just a stone’s throw from LAX, the space offers free, adjacent parking, lots of foot traffic and signage.
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P R O P E R T I E S
Business spotlight: Husband and wife team behind Bughouse get creative in Westchester
Westchester residents Rebecca Johnson and Jeff Klarin are the creative duo behind art and design studio, Bughouse. Both native Angelenos, the married couple love to create art in a variety of media and find inspiration everywhere, especially when it comes to the natural beauty of the area. From fun paintings and graphic design work to custom furniture and photography, the two enjoy challenging themselves with new projects and hope to help bring more public art to the community.
Get the scoop on this month’s spotlight by reading below!
Q. Please tell us a little bit about
yourself. A. Rebecca: I was born in Santa Monica and raised in Westchester. My husband and I recently moved back to Westchester after living in Northeast L.A. for the past 20 years. Jeff and I are partners in our art and design business, Bughouse. We spent many years working in television graphics and eventually transitioned to making art full time and graphic design part time. We have two mutts, Finn and Jones; they excel at barking, eating and sleeping. One of my favorite ways to unwind is tending to our native California garden. During the long lockdown of 2020, I immersed myself in Zoom classes on native gardening and had an epiphany about how individual action can influence the environment on a macro and micro level.
Jeff: We’re both native Angelenos, and we moved to Westchester four years ago. Since Rebecca grew up here, it is a dream to be back.
We’ve traveled quite a bit, but we truly believe that Los Angeles is as good as any major city in the world. With so many distinct cultures and styles, being artists and designers here is a constant inspiration.
Q. Please tell us a little bit about your business A. Jeff: Bughouse is a design studio owned and operated by both of us. Over the years, we have designed business systems for small businesses, done promotional animations for numerous entertainment companies, designed a series of wine labels and created physical awards for the Grammy Museum and the Woody Guthrie Center. We always like to challenge ourselves by working in new areas, while hopefully retaining a unique outlook on the product at hand. The name Bughouse is British slang for crazy house or mental institution. Page 22 • June 2021
Jeff Klarin and Rebecca Johnson pose in Jeff’s art studio in Westchester.
Q. What is your favorite medium to work with? What are some of your favorite subjects? A. Rebecca:I spent decades as a photographer, but my favorite medium is oil painting. My first–and ongoing–series of oil paintings is based on rescue dogs I photographed to help them get adopted. I’ve just started a new series, “Southland,” based on photographs and impressions of Southern California, ranging from fire-influenced sunsets to sea lions bobbing in the ocean.
Jeff: I have used many traditional medias such as acrylic, oils, casein and watercolor. Currently, I am very excited by spray paint, which has such vibrant colors. It is so immediate. You can lay down an area and go over it immediately with another color, weton-wet, creating a fluid mix.
My favorite subjects are things like plants, ocean waves and clouds, as well as food. There is an intensity to the shapes and colors of food, especially ice creams, cakes, popsicles and pies. The colors are crazy rich.
Q. What do you love most about what you do? A. Rebecca: What I enjoy about painting is also what I find challenging: the problem-solving, the unknown, the image you have in your head and what emerges once the paint starts moving around the canvas. Watching the image come to life is its own sort of magical alchemy. makes it exciting. It is the moments that are unplanned that create details and shapes–the accidents that are better than the things that are carefully planned.
Q. Anything else you’d like people to know about your business or share? A. Jeff:During the pandemic, we were in the middle of a massive renovation of our house. We had very little room to work. I had to keep it simple and quick, so I looked around to see what materials I had on hand. I had scrap lumber, cardboard and spray paint. So for the first time, I worked exclusively with spray paint and acrylic markers using chip board to cut out stencils. Because COVID was so stressful for everyone, I wanted to make small pieces that were happy and made you smile, so I started painting popsicles, ice cream cones, cakes and chocolate bars. That was how the ‘Sweet Things’ series was born. [You can view the painting “4 Stack Cone” on this month’s cover.]
Rebecca: We’re looking forward to meeting our neighbors, getting involved in the creative community of Westchester and Playa del Rey, and bringing more art to the neighborhood through public projects. We’re also up for private commissions!
Q. What are some of your favorite local businesses or things you enjoy most about the neighborhood? A. Rebecca: We have so many great, local food options that I can’t list them all! This is our short list (haha): In Westchester, we most often visit Cafe Solar, The Manchester and Caravan Swim Club. In Playa del Rey, we love Playa Provisions, The Shack and Señor G’s. Our Playa Vista faves are Loqui, Ritrovo, SOL, Dan Modern and Urban Plates. In Marina del Rey, we love Sugarfish and recently had a beautiful anniversary meal at Cast & Plow. We are over the moon with the opening of our local bookstore, The Book Jewel. Kudos to them for planting a California native garden in their parking lot and hosting regular readings and performances!
Jeff: What inspires us is all this natural beauty in our own backyard. We love the Ballona Wetlands, Dockweiler Beach, the Marina and the coastal beach cities for cruising with our bikes. For us, rejuvenation comes from either making art or interacting with the beauty and power of nature.
Visit bughouse.com to learn more and view the art available for purchase.
At right: A sampling of some of Jeff and Rebecca’s work. Jeff’s work includes the block art (top left), whale sculpture (top right) and “Sweet Things” collection (bottom row). Rebecca’s work includes the seabirds and portraits of “Merry,” “Astra” and “Lucky” (second row from the bottom).
We love learning about local, small businesses and sharing that info with our readers to help promote shopping locally and to support community members! Email us your suggestions on who to feature next at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com.
Stop by the Westchester Farmers’ Market every Sunday to stock up on fruits and veggies.
(Continued from page 18)
Westchester Farmers’ Market
Every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is hard to think about June and July without picturing all of the abundant offerings at the farmers’ market: from peaches and nectarines to watermelon and all the squashes, heirloom tomatoes and summer corn. The Westchester Farmers’ Market takes place every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and summer is a great time to check out all their vendors and fresh produce. Follow them on Instagram @westchesterfarmersmarket to view what’s in season and get the scoop on the week’s schedule as they start to welcome back live music and kids’ activities this summer!
The market is located in the 6200 block of 87th Street in Westchester.
Westchester Arts & Music Block Party
Saturday, September 18
WAM is back! After going virtual last year, the Sixth Annual Westchester Arts & Music Block Party will return just in time to say “goodbye” to summer! This free, day-long event is a community favorite and although it may look a little different this year depending on county guidelines, be prepared for fabulous live music, local artisans, vendors, community booths and a wine/beer garden. Save the date, and get ready to party in the street as Emerson Ave. between 80th St. and 80th Pl. is shut down for the ultimate Westchester block party! Stay tuned for more details at wamblockparty.org.
What’s on your summer activity list? Send us a message at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com or at facebook.com/thehtn.com!
WPV is a member of the national Village to Village Network and Statewide Village Movement California. The “Village Movement” started with the idea of people assisting aging citizens in their own neighborhoods with everyday tasks, prioritizing aging as a central focus for the community at large–ultimately to improve the quality of longer lives with continual growth, development, purpose, engagement, and enrichment.
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