Westchester/Playa HomeTown News December 2018 edition

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Tompkins says goodbye

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Ballerina, Elway and Lotus pose for their “pawliday” portrait at Playa Vista’s Wallis Annenberg PetSpace. The pets are currently available for adoption and waiting for their forever homes.

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

This Month Brings You A look inside your HTN Community Spotlight: SOFESA helps families in need NCWP News Tompkins Square Bar and Grill says goodbye Your guide to the best local holiday events In Pictures GatewayLA Holiday Concert

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HOMETOWN STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS Stephanie Davis, Publisher, Editor Jeff Blair, Contributing Writer Fay Craton, Contributing Writer

Rebecca Hill, Secret Recipes of the Inn Kirby Israelson, Graphic Design

Advertisers’ Directory

Airport Marina Counseling 07, 21 Drollinger Properties 08, 20 Food Pantry, LAX 16 Gary’s Pit Stop 07 GatewayLA 22 Jane St. John 17 Kevin and Kaz 11 Los Angeles World Airports 13 Loyola Marymount 04 Marina del Rey Boat Parade 19 Marina del Rey Hospital 24 Nanci Edwards 18 Neighborhood Council 09

SoCal Sports and Fitness Stephanie Younger Group The Real Estate Consultants Venice Paparazzi Visitation School Vistamar Westchester Farmers’ Market Westchester Lutheran School Westchester/Playa Historical Society Westchester Town Center BID Westside Pacific Village Zacha Homes

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About The HomeTown News (HTN)

The HomeTown News is a monthly community newspaper dedicated to providing information about the people, events and happenings of Westchester, Playa del Rey, Marina del Rey and Playa Vista. Look for the HomeTown News the first Thursday of the month at your home or at one of our drop-off locations.

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.

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

December 2018 • Page 3

Community Spotlight: Westchester’s SOFESA works to help homeless families and children in need

By Sarah Ahern Jess Echeverry is no stranger to a life of transience. Now a mother of five, living with her family in Westchester, she spent much of her youth on the streets in and out of motels and homeless shelters in her hometown of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She endured her parents’ divorces at a young age, sexual abuse as a child, and at 16, she was pregnant and homeless, and eventually forced to give up her baby.

But by 25, her life had changed dramatically for the better: She was married and ready for a new adventure in California. In her new city, Echeverry and her husband began taking notice of the large homeless population in West Los Angeles, particularly on the streets of Santa Monica. The hardships and tribulations Echeverry had endured growing up made her very empathetic towards the homeless she witnessed there, so she began volunteering her time to give back to a community she felt a connection with.

Soon, Echeverry and a group of volunteers would start distributing socks and food to the homeless in local parks. Over time, they discovered that the homeless preferred socks over food, as their feet were sore

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Echeverry poses with some of the donated toys and items that have been collected for her organization’s Christmas of Hope celebration on December 17.

and painful from a lack of proper footwear and constantly being on the move, so they named their group the Sore Feet Saviors. As the group became more organized over the years, they eventually attained 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and formed a board.

Earlier this year, they renamed their organization SOFESA by taking the

first two letters of each word in Sore Feet Saviors.

Today, Echeverry is the Executive Director of SOFESA, a nonprofit dedicated to serving homeless and low income families and children in West Los Angeles.

“We had a lot of people thinking we were podiatrists,” Echeverry said. “We

wanted to keep the spirit of Sore Feet Saviors because we’d had it for so long, but we wanted to create our own name, and our own meaning for the name.”

Families weren’t always the prime focus of the organization, but a pivotal moment in 2006 would see Echeverry narrow the group’s mission. While visiting the hospital with her two-yearold son who had fallen, she witnessed an encounter between a doctor and a woman named Briana* that left her shocked: The doctor stormed out of a room and screamed at her for wasting his time rather than going to a pharmacy for medicine for her son.

Watching Briana walk down the hall holding a small child with tears in her eyes at the treatment she’d received, Echeverry inquired about her situation to a woman that was accompanying her. That woman was Ana*, a member of a local church, who had been contacted by a nearby hotel that had noticed a homeless mother and her baby sleeping in their alley.

Wanting to help, Echeverry asked Ana to bring Briana and her son to her home so she could give them a bag of emergency supplies. When she got home, she set the supplies next to the front door, and a few hours later, the

(continued on page 8) * names have been changed to protect identity

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

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

December 2018 • Page 5

Business & Nonprofit News

TheHTN.com

The Express Employment Professional Clydesdales made a special appearance at the Wednesday Westchester Farmers’ Market on November 14. The majestic horses, which weigh an average of 1,800 to 2,300 pounds, delighted everyone in attendance, especially those who waited in line for a chance for a ride through the park in the 1880 replica stagecoach or posed for a picture.

Hannon Foundation ends year with donations to Westchester nonprofits.

The William H. Hannon Foundation has ended the year with donations of $60,000 in grants to three Westchester organizations: Airport Marina Counseling Service (AMCS), the Rotary Club of Westchester and the Westchester Family YMCA. “My late uncle, our foundation’s founder, William Hannon, considered Westchester his second home—from the days he attended then Loyola University to having his office in Westchester until his passing in 1999.

Our Board of Directors carries on his support of those organizations that make Westchester a great place to live and work,” said Kathleen Hannon Aikenhead, President of the William H. Hannon Foundation.

AMCS received $20,000 in funding for the Hannon Immediate Intervention Program, which helps remove barriers to mental health care for people facing difficult times.

The Rotary Club of Westchester received $15,000 for their “Home Makeover” project to improve the nonprofit Westchester Townhouse on Emerson Ave. For more than 70 years, the Westchester Townhouse has been a community hub for local schools, Girls Scouts, Boy Scouts, community meetings, performance groups and

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Staff from Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital collected thousands of cans, stuffing boxes and other food items to benefit the St. Joseph Center’s annual Thanksgiving food drive. On Monday, November 19th, volunteers from the hospital assembled 300 bags to be distributed to the center’s clients for Thanksgiving meals. Keen on giving back, hospital staff hold collection drives throughout the year to benefit charities and are always on the lookout for volunteering opportunities.

other youth organizations. The aging building is in need of TLC and the Rotary Club plans a makeover of the facility later this year. The Rotary’s “Home Makeover” projects began in 2006, and the William H. Hannon Foundation has been a supporter from the beginning.

The Westchester Family YMCA received $38,500 to fund two programs: Youth & Government, as well as the renovation of the Youth Enrichment Studio. The foundation has been a longtime Youth & Government supporter, which

provides teen leadership programs to 100 diverse teens representing 14 different middle and high schools in the area. The Youth Enrichment Studio will allow the YMCA to expand youth programs to include more dance, martial arts, gymnastics and sports.

“Together, AMCS, the Rotary Club and the YMCA are pillars of the Westchester community. They are without a doubt what make the 90045 zip code a true hometown,” said Aikenhead.

WLCS collects items for Operation Gratitude.

Westchester Lutheran Church and School (WLCS) recently collected hundreds of items as part of a church and school-wide campaign to help Operation Gratitude fulfill their mission of sending care packages to U.S. service members and their families, veterans and first responders. This is the fifth year the school has collected items to donate, and thanks to WLCS’ efforts, about 175 scarves were knitted, almost 300 survival bracelets were made and well over 100 wonderful heartfelt letters and drawings from both children and adults thanking our military for protecting our freedom were created.

The collection efforts from the classrooms were also amazing as students donated more than 250 Beanie Babies to be delivered to Operation Gratitude. The toys are important in the care packages in that they either offer comfort to a deployed troop member, or the toy is often given to establish a friendship with a young child where our troops are deployed.

The classroom efforts resulted in all classes coming to a special pizza and dessert luncheon last month to celebrate their efforts and to see all of the items they were able to collect over the last few months.

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

John Ruhlen walks down Sepulveda Boulevard admiring the beautification efforts that have taken place over the years.

Think Sepulveda looks great?

You can thank John Ruhlen For more than five decades, John Ruhlen has been a fixture in the Westchester community. He has been involved with Westchester Vitalization Corporation, the local chamber of commerce and the Westchester Town Center Business Improvement District, but more than anything, his name has become synonymous with the incredible beautification efforts along Sepulveda Boulevard.

On December 4, the Westchester Streetscape Improvement Association and the BID honored Ruhlen with a plaque that will be placed along the street to commemorate his efforts that have helped transform the street into what it looks like today.

“No one has done more to change the face of this street than John Ruhlen,” said the BID’s Executive Director Don Duckworth. “He has poured his blood, sweat and tears into making this happen, and I am confident that without his leadership and resolve we wouldn’t have any of this.”

Ruhlen was instrumental in the beautification efforts of the Westchester Landscape Entry Project, which began in 2014, and saw the removal of 50-plus-yearold Ficus trees, many of which were diseased or structurally unstable to allow for sidewalk, curb and gutter repairs along the busy Westchester thoroughfare.

While Sepulveda is now a pedestrian-friendly street with meandering sidewalks and attractive landscaping, it once had little landscaping, mismatched fences and was almost impossible to ride a bike, skateboard or push a stroller down the sidewalk, which buckled in numerous areas.

“Our goal was to create a much more walkable streetscape that would enable pedestrians, especially children and the elderly, to safely connect with the schools, churches

and the YMCA, which are located on Sepulveda,” said Ruhlen.

Approximately 100 new trees and vegetation, including New Zealand Flax, Fountain Grass and Pink Trumpet Trees, were planted during the project. The new trees will not have the same problems inherent with the Ficus trees whose root systems destroyed the street and sidewalk.

The $2.85-million project was funded through a variety of sources.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters secured a $1 million federal grant for improvements along the west side of the street, while then Councilmember Bill Rosendahl worked with Equity Office Partners, the former owners of the Howard Hughes Center, to secure a $1.85 million contribution to handle improvements on the east side of Sepulveda. A plaque dedicated to Congresswoman Waters has already been installed.

“We spent a lot of time, sought ideas and support from the community, and it is exciting to know that, after all that collaboration, we can now walk along this beautiful boulevard,” said Ruhlen.

Ruhlen and his wife, Gail, have lived in Westchester since 1967.

They have two grown sons and one grandson. In 1978, John Ruhlen & Associates, Inc., a space planning and commercial interior design firm, was established in Westchester. In the 80s, Ruhlen began volunteering his time and talents by serving on the boards of many key local organizations, especially those involving beautification, business, arts and transportation, and he still remains active in a variety of groups today. Ruhlen also spearheaded the formation of the Westchester Town Center Business Improvement District along with property owner, Howard Drollinger, and has served on the Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa.

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

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December 2018 • Page 7

SOFESA (continued) (continued from page 4) women showed up, but Briana would not get out of the car-- she was afraid Echeverry may hurt her. That’s when she learned Briana’s story. She had fled an abusive husband in Northern California, and later ended up in L.A., where she befriended someone who led her to a job cleaning office buildings at night to help keep her afloat.

Two weeks later, she was horrifically assaulted on the job in front of her nine-month-old.

“The child was in post-traumatic stress,” Echeverry explained. “And the mother couldn’t look up at me, she was so battered and broken.”

Echeverry was shocked at the situation, but Ana explained that Briana and her son were just one of many homeless families who encounter harrowing situations every day in Los Angeles.

After this experience, Echeverry asked Ana to take her around to different parts of the city to meet some of these families. During these trips, she would meet parents and their children living in horrible conditions including in abandoned apartment buildings for shelter.

“My heart just broke,” Echeverry said. “We had been just serving adults, but after that I told my husband I want to focus on children and families.”

Since then, SOFESA has served more than 1,500 homeless children and families in need.

Briana and her son eventually warmed up to Echeverry and stayed with SOFESA, where they were guided with resources through the organization’s Emergency Outreach Program, which provides up to three nights of shelter, food, clothing, personal items and emergency gas needs. Once a family is sheltered, SOFESA then guides them to the resources available to obtain transitional housing. Families or pregnant women without shelter are able to reach out to this service online or via phone by calling 2-1-1.

“SOFESA allows the family to escape survival mode even if just for a second--to feel like a ‘normal’ person who is loved and cared for. Many of the homeless we encounter are estranged from or lost contact with their family

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for whatever reason,” said Echeverry.

“We become like family to them and them to us, and in those relationships, we help to build them up and help them to heal.”

As for Briana and her son, they’re doing well. With the help of a mentor, she was able to reconcile with family and move back home to NorCal. She still makes the trek down to L.A. every December with her son to attend SOFESA’s annual Christmas event.

This year marks the 12th anniversary of their Christmas of Hope Celebration party, SOFESA’s biggest event of the year for the families they serve.

The December 17 event includes a full dinner with dessert, live entertainment, a Christmas gift, a stocking stuffed with treats, a visit and photo from Santa Claus and more.

SOFESA is still accepting donations and toys to help fulfill the wish list of each child that will attend. Those interested can sponsor a child for a tax-deductible donation of $99 or purchase a toy from the wish list SOFESA compiles directly from the children they serve.

Volunteers are also needed for a pre-event wrapping party taking place on Sunday, December 16. People can help with a variety of tasks, including gift-wrapping, cooking, stocking stuffing and decorating. Families are welcome to sign up to help as well.

On the day of the Christmas of Hope celebration, SOFESA will send out four vans to pick up their families and bring them to the party where they can let their guard down, have fun and just be kids without worries for a few hours.

For these families, the event provides a sense of normalcy, warmth and unity that they don’t get to experience every day.

“I saw the dire situation that these families were in,” Echeverry says.

“Now that we’re serving these families, I want to do something great for them.

We want to share with them the magic of Christmas--the hope that things will get better and the feeling that they are not alone in this world and they are loved.”

To sign up to volunteer, purchase a toy or donate, please visit sofesa.org.

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

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

December 2018 • Page 9

Tompkins says goodbye to Westchester Tompkins Square Bar & Grill co-owner, Billy Tompkins, and his wife, Kena Liggins, toast goodbye to their customers on the bar’s closing night.

The last beer was poured and the final burger was served at Tompkins Square Bar & Grill on Saturday, November 17 when the bar closed after 14 years of being a popular Westchester hangout.

“I have to say there has been a river of love from this community the last few weeks that I’ll take to my grave.

It’s surreal,” said Billy Tompkins who owned the bar along with his brother Jeffrey. “You don’t know until you know. It just lets me know that we did it right, and we’re leaving Westchester better than how we found it. We’re so proud of what we’ve done here.”

When news of Tompkins’ closing began to circulate, it was hard to believe; after all, the place was regularly packed and topped Best Of lists as a favorite neighborhood bar, but for the brothers it was time to close this chapter and focus on family and new opportunities.

After years of working as a DJ in Rosarito Beach, Mexico, Billy Tompkins would make his way back to L.A. After successfully owning and operating a handful of bars, he set his sights on the Fireside, a once busy dive bar that had seen better days. Tompkins would call the bar once a month for a year to see if it was for sale before the owner finally said “yes.” In those early years, the bar faced every problem in the industry and statistically should have failed, according to Tompkins, but the two brothers worked hard to build up their clientele and make the place a neighborhood destination once again.

By the time Tompkins acquired the bar, the kitchen had been closed for a while and the place wasn’t known for its food. When hungry patrons started inquiring about snacks to accompany their drinks his first night as new owner, he managed to whip up some chips and salsa to the delight of his new guests. He knew a large part of the success of the place would be serving Page 10 • December 2018

great food, and he did not disappoint.

Before Tompkins closed, they were serving more than 200 plates a day, a tremendous feat for a small bar, and became known for such dishes as the Monster Burger and braised short ribs.

“We wanted a reputation built on beers and burgers. Ninety-five percent of people ask for a menu and say, ‘I heard the food is great here.’ We’re a restaurant that looks like a bar. It’s really been about the food. It’s been my signature here,” said Tompkins who loves to cook and personally shopped for all the food that was served.

“Thank you for a whole lot of dirty dishes and support. I truly will take the love this community has given me to my last breath.”

When the time was right, the Fireside would close for a month while superstar bar builder, Greg Stewart, would come in with a team working nearly 24-hours a day for 30 days straight to relaunch the bar as Tompkins Square and the rest is history.

“I’m eternally grateful for what they did,” said Tompkins.

While he is proud of the reputation that the bar has built over the last 14 years as a favorite watering hole, a great spot to buy a beer and a burger and the place to be for trivia night, he may be most proud of his work in giving back to the community, often under the radar and without fanfare.

“It’s important to recognize what they’ve done for the community,” said long-time patron Eileen Tennant-Grant.

“The amount of effort they’ve put in

doesn’t just stop at the door. There is so much community work they’ve all done, which is part of why we love them.”

For the last nine years, Tompkins has helped feed the volunteers at the LAPD Winter Wonderland Toy Drive, and on what will be his ten year anniversary of helping this month, he has vowed to feed everyone in attendance as a way of giving thanks. Then there’s his volunteer work helping feed veterans and first responders, as well as working with local organizations like the Elks Lodge, where he’s a member, and the Airport Marina Counseling Service (AMCS).

“I don’t know any other way to say ‘thank you’ to the community than through community service. There’s no other way to tell a community how much you love them than to serve them,” said Tompkins. “It’s our way of expressing how much this community means to us. We’ve gone above and beyond what a tiny little restaurant can do.”

One particularly memorable night for Tompkins was the AMCS Spring Gala held in April. He donated a paella dinner party, that he would cook for, for the live auction. Much to his delight, the bidding got heated and his donation became one of the most prized items of the night.

“To watch $10,000 get raised in seconds is something I’ll never forget.

Giving back is at the core of what we do everyday,” said Tompkins. “Service to the community should be mandatory.”

So with all that success and the fond memories, why is Tompkins closing?

The answer lives back in Rosarito Beach. With the dream of always heading back to Mexico, an offer from the Cinco Group, which owns the hip bar serving Oaxacan-style food across the street, was too good to pass up.

Now Tompkins is readying for a new adventure, albeit one that he has a lot

of experience with: opening Tompkins Square Rosarito Beach, hopefully in time for Spring Break 2019. The new bar and restaurant will be located in the Festival Plaza Hotel a block from the beach, which he calls a “Times Square location.”

“We’re going to be doing what we’re most proud of--selling our American culture of burgers, French fries and beer,” said Tompkins. “We’re going to be slinging a whole lot of burgers and everyone in Westchester is invited to the grand opening.”

Tompkins is confident that the new restaurant/bar concept that pops up in his old place will be fantastic.

“We’re elated for these guys. We really feel they’re going to do great here. We’re asking our fan base to give them a look,” said Tompkins. “They have big shoes to fill, but we wish them all the success in the world. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be chasing my Baja dream.”

While excited about the next chapter in his life, it’s still a bittersweet experience to shutter a popular business that has been part of your life for over a decade and meant a lot to the people who call it their neighborhood bar.

“Thank you for a whole lot of dirty dishes and support. I truly will take the love this community has given me to my last breath, as well as my brother Jeffrey,” said Tompkins choking back tears. “We are eternally grateful.”

WHAT’S NEXT? The Cinco Group hopes to open The Manchester in mid-2019 with a focus on refined American food and cocktails in a hospitality-driven, innovative, yet approachable, neighborhood joint.

Stay tuned for more details!

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

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

December 2018 • Page 11

Santa and his elves will be heading out on the LAPD sleigh to spread holiday cheer at numerous spots in the neighborhood this month.

Our picks for the best local holiday events It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and we can all be thankful that there are tons of events and activities this month to help celebrate!

Santa will be making special appearances all over town, so we’re confident that this year, Westchester/Playa is on the good list! And the Marina will once again be hosting some of the area’s most festive events full of lights, music, wonder and even (literal) tons of snow!

Whether you get your photo taken with jolly old St. Nick, enjoy carolers, make holiday crafts or take in a holiday movie, this month you’ll have plenty of chances to enjoy the magic of the season!

Mark your calendars for this month’s best holiday happenings:

56th Annual Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade, Dec. 8th If you’ve never had a chance to attend the Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade, we recommend checking out this magical event! Fifty boats and yachts bedazzled with lights, decorations and holiday spirit participate in the two-hour parade taking place on

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Saturday, December 8. The parade will kick-off at 5:55 p.m. with a five-minute firework display.

Get to popular viewing spots, Burton Chace Park (13650 Mindanao Way) or Fisherman’s Village (13755 Fiji Way) early to stake out your perfect viewing location to catch the boats sail by with the other approximately 25,000 people who make their way to the Marina for the event.

This year’s theme is “Holiday Water Wonderland” and grand marshal, County Supervisor Janice Hahn, will be helping judge the entries in categories including “Best Spirit,” “Best Live Music,” and “Best Lights.”

Ride sharing or taking the Beach Shuttle is recommended, but event parking is also available in county lots around the Marina for $5 to $15.

For more info, please visit mdrboatparade.org.

Snow Wonder, Dec. 8th

The Department of Beaches and Harbors will make your winter wonderland dreams come true with Snow Wonder on Saturday, December 8th from 12 to

6 p.m. in Burton Chace Park (13650 Mindanao Way, MDR).

At the event, kids can enjoy tons of real snow, sledding, arts & crafts, face painting, live music and more. The event is free, and attendees will need to fill out a liability waiver before they enjoy the activities.

To view the waiver or for more info, visit beaches.lacounty.gov.

Marina Lights, various dates

Burton Chace Park is merry and bright throughout the month of December thanks to festive light displays glowing every night from 4 to 10 p.m.

On select Saturdays in December, there will also be special entertainment, a warming station, refreshments for purchase and the chance to get your photo taken in a giant snow globe photo booth (4 to 8 p.m.)!

On Saturday, December 15 from 4 to 6 p.m., the Voices of Christmas will stroll through the park dressed in Dickensian costumes and delight guests with a capella holiday classics.

Afterwards, stay for an outdoor movie screening of “The Santa Clause.”

On Saturday, December 22 from 4 to 6 p.m., The Wonderelles will perform holiday music in a throwback style.

Then at 6 p.m., there’s a screening of “A Nightmare Before Christmas.”

Marina Lights wraps up on Saturday, December 29th with a final performance from Voices of Christmas from 4 to 6 p.m. and a “Frozen” sing-along starting at 6 p.m.

For more information, please visit mdrholidays.com.

Stephanie Younger Group Holiday Party, Dec. 9th

The Stephanie Younger Group (SYG) is inviting the community to celebrate the holidays and the first anniversary in their new offices with a holiday open house on Sunday, December 9 from 12 to 5 p.m. Get your photo taken with Santa, enjoy the music from carolers, seasonal treats, champagne, coffee, arts & crafts, raffles and more! RSVPs are encouraged at syghoh2018.eventbrite. com.

The event will take place at the SYG offices, located at 7296 W. Manchester Ave. in Westchester.

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

Photo courtesy visitmarinadelrey.com.

Visitation Sings, Dec. 9th

All are invited to Visitation Parish’s Family Christmas Sing-Along on Sunday, December 9 from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Guests will enjoy music, crafting, food, fun and a chance to sing their favorite Christmas songs.

For more information, please email Religiouseducationvc@gmail.com. Visitation is located at 8740 Emerson Ave. in Westchester.

Santa in Playa Vista, Dec. 11th Santa Claus is coming to town on the LAPD sleigh! He’ll be making a special stop at Playa Vista’s Concert Park on Tuesday, December 11 from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. where he’ll pose for pictures and collect Christmas lists.

In the event of rain, the sleigh will be canceled. Concert Park is located at Concert Park Drive and Pacific Promenade in Playa Vista.

Above: The Marina del Rey Boat Parade will feature 50 boats and yachts, decked out for the holidays, that will make a two-hour loop around the marina to wow spectators. Below: Avalon enjoys breakfast and sharing her Christmas list with Santa at last year’s Troop 716 event.

Breakfast with Santa, Dec. 15th Pancakes with Santa? Count us in!

Boy Scout Troop 716 is back this year hosting Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, December 15 from 8 to 11 a.m. Enjoy a pancake breakfast, fun activities and get your picture taken with St. Nick for $5 or a donation of a new unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots.

RSVPs at troop716bsa@gmail.com are appreciated.

The breakfast will take place at the Westchester United Methodist Church, located at 8065 Emerson Ave. in Westchester.

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

Rotary Santa Tour, Dec. 17

Santa will be making his merry way through Westchester and Playa del Rey on Monday, December 17. With the help of volunteers from the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club, Santa and his elves will be handing out candy canes and posing for photos at a variety of stops.

Look for the “Santa Stop” signs at each location where hosts will be passing out cookies and drinks, while patiently waiting for the arrival of the LAPD sleigh!

In the case of rain, Santa will be at Fire Station 5 between 5 and 7 p.m.

This year’s Santa route is: • 1st stop at 5:15 p.m., 79th St. and Berger Ave. in Playa del Rey • 2nd stop at 5:45 p.m., 7901 Chase Ave. in Westchester • 3rd stop at 6:15 p.m., 8368 Stewart Ave. in Westchester • 4th stop at 6:45 p.m., 8818 De Haviland Ave. in Westchester • 5th stop at 7:15 p.m., 5600 W. 79th St. in Westchester.

For more info, call (310) 963-9494.

Winter Fest, Dec. 19th

The Wednesday Westchester Farmers’ Market will be hosting a Winter Festival on Wednesday, December 19th from 2 to 7 p.m. Grab your local produce and join in the festivities that include photos with Santa, a holiday egg nog and craft beer garden, activities for the family, gift wrapping, live music and more!

The market is located at 7000 Manchester Ave. in Westchester (corner of Manchester Ave. and Lincoln).

December 2018 • Page 13

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

Looking to give back this season? Check out these local groups

Left to right: 1. St. Margaret’s Center is collecting toys to distribute at their annual Christmas Program on December 15. 2. Rachel Sunday is launching a nonprofit to help those without a home have a safe place to shower with dignity. 3. NCWP President, Cyndi Hench (right), and other volunteers help assemble kits to distribute to the homeless in the area.

Interested in donating to a collection drive or giving back this holiday season? Consider checking out these local groups that are working to make a positive impact in the lives of others: St. Margaret’s Center Just a stone’s throw away from Westchester, St. Margaret’s Center is collecting toys for its annual Christmas program. Every year, the center distributes thousands of toys to children in need. Locally, there are two drop-off locations. Head to Toe Salon, located at 6310 W. 89th St. in Westchester, is collecting toys through December 10 during regular business hours. Miss Haircut Salon, located at 8733 La Tijera Blvd. in Westchester, is collecting toys

through noon on Friday, December 14.

Toys can be dropped off Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Interested in donating online? Visit amazon.com, choose “Find a List or Registry,” type in St. Margaret’s Center and browse their wish list. Purchased items will be sent directly to the center.

St. Margaret’s Christmas Program will take place on Saturday, December 15 at Lennox Middle School.

For more questions or to arrange a pick-up, please call Terry O’Connor at (310) 994-9904.

The Power of A Shower Feeling inspired to do good in the world, but unsure where to start, West-

chester’s Rachel Sunday, took a shower to wash away the day’s stresses and had an epiphany. The simple act of taking a shower had the power to help her feel renewed, but is something that thousands of homeless people across L.A. don’t have access to. Using the nonprofit Lava Mae as a model, Sunday is hard at work to launch a new charity, The Power of a Shower, which will build mobile trailers that will provide clean, safe places for people to bathe, get haircuts and put on clean clothes. The group is currently fundraising to help reach their goal of $200,000 to purchase and build their first mobile showering unit.

For more information, please visit powerofashower.org.

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

The People Project The Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa’s Homeless Committee has recently launched The People Project to help assist homeless families and people in the community.

Earlier this month, the group assembled more than 250 care packages with personal care items, food, warm garments and more, all donated from the community, to distribute during the holiday season.

As this is an ongoing project, the group will continue to collect items like soap, toothpaste, wet wipes and socks throughout the year. For more info on getting involved, please email info@ ncwpdr.org.

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Photo by Liz Hall.

Recipes from the Inn: submit your best recipe contest

One of our favorite holiday recipes is our baked French toast featuring pears and cranberries.

By Rebecca Hill, Innkeeper The Inn at Playa del Rey is delighted to announce our second annual Holiday Recipe Contest for HomeTown News readers!

Last year’s winner was John “JB” Brown of Westchester. JB submitted his wife Lourdes’ famous “Tortilla de Patata Española” recipe and it was terrific!

When we taste tested it in our kitchen last year, one innkeeper said she loved it because, “It’s simple to make and really tasty!” Housekeeper, Alba, also taste tested this recipe and proclaimed it, “Delicioso!” Alba particularly liked the pisto side dish JB suggested. She loved all the fresh vegetables and thought garlic made the dish. We were not surprised, when JB told us his children ask for it almost as often as they ask for pancakes!

This year’s Holiday Recipe Contest winner could be you! All you have to do is email your favorite cake, cookie, muffin or baked egg dish recipe to us at info@innatplayadelrey.com by Monday, December 17, 2018.

Please put “Holiday Recipe Contest”

in the subject line. We also ask that you include a short write-up telling us why you love this recipe. Is it because it’s easy? Is it because one of your parents taught you how to bake it? How did you come up with it? Is it a well-known recipe or something you invented yourself? Don’t stress yourself out--just give us a few lines or paragraphs telling us why you love this recipe!

Also, please include your name and telephone number so we can contact you if your recipe is chosen as the winner!

We’ll take your recipes and bake them for our guests in December, and then we’ll kick off the new year by announcing the winning recipe in the January issue of the HomeTown News!

The winner will receive a gift certificate for a one-night stay at the Inn at Playa del Rey, excluding holidays. Good luck, everyone. Happy Holidays and happy baking!

Rebecca Hill is an innkeeper at the Inn at Playa del Rey and a published writer.

Her stories have appeared in Redbook magazine and in over a dozen Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies.

YOU CAN HELP! FOOD PANTRY, LAX

Emergency Food Distribution to those in need.

Sponsored by the Westchester Clergy Association

Open Tuesday & Friday, 10am-12pm 355 Beach St., Inglewood

Bring donations of non-perishable food to Covenant Presbyterian Chuch. Volunteers and money donations also welcomed and encouraged!

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

Page 16 • December 2018

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

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

December 2018 • Page 17

Calendar December events: The Little Mermaid at Westchester Playhouse The Kentwood Players will bring a Disney classic (based on the Hans Christian Andersen story) to life with performances of The Little Mermaid.

The play runs Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through December 15. Tickets are $27 and performances are held at the Westchester Playhouse located at 8301 Hindry Ave. in Westchester. Tickets can be purchased at kentwoodplayers.org or by calling (310) 645-5156.

During the run of the play, the theater group will hold its 6th annual Kentwood Kares Coat Drive. Those interested can donate a new or gently-used coat, sweater or jacket for a man, woman or child when they come to see the show. All items will be donated to the Los Angeles Mission.

Ceramic Sale at LMU Join the Department of Art and Art History for their annual ceramic holiday sale. Works designed and created by ceramic students in the Studio Arts Program will be on sale during this twoday event featuring ceramic art, as well as unique everyday items.

The sale runs Friday, December 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, December 8 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The

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TheHTN.com sale takes place on the campus of LMU in the Thomas P. Kelly Student Art Gallery in the Burns Fine Arts Center.

LMU is located at 1 LMU Dr. in Westchester.

“Caroling, Caroling” by the Concert Singers The Concert Singers, the oldest choral group in Los Angeles, will present their annual holiday concert, “Caroling, Caroling” on Sunday, December 9. The concert starts at 4 p.m. and will be held at the Westchester United Methodist Church, located at 8065 Emerson Ave. in Westchester.

Under the direction of conductor, Colleen Cronin, and accompanied

by Dr. Stephanie Hutchinson, this Westchester based group invites you to enjoy a great selection of songs, from sacred to secular and classical to popular. A string quartet will help set the mood.

The cost to attend is a suggested donation of $17 at the door, and $15 in advance or with a food donation benefiting the St. Joseph Center Food Pantry.

For more info, please visit theconcertsingers.com.

Holiday Cooking Class Join Fresh Food in a Flash this month for their annual holiday cookie class!

The class will whip up hundreds of

cookies, ensuring you’ll bring home a plate of treats and recipes to help celebrate the season! This year’s cookies include tart shaped lemon cookies, chai chocolate chunk cookies, sugar cookies, salted chocolate caramel bars and more!

The cost to attend is $55 if you RSVP

by December 10 and $65 after, if space is available. Each paying adult can bring one child (5-11) for no additional cost; a second child can attend at half price.

The class will take place on Saturday, December 15 from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Holy Nativity Community Hall, located at 6700 W. 83rd St. in Westchester. RSVP by emailing Patricia@FreshFoodinaFlash.com.

Beach Winter Wonderland Real snow at the beach? It’s happening at the Beach Winter Wonderland event hosted by the Dockweiler Youth Center on Saturday, December 15 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

During the event, guests can enjoy bouncers, winter activities and even trying to build a snow man!

Beach Winter Wonderland is free and open to the public, but everyone will be required to sign a liability waiver to participate in the event.

The Dockweiler Youth Center is located at 12505 Vista del Mar in Playa del Rey. For more information or to sign the

waiver prior to attending the event, please visit beaches.lacounty.gov.

Bingo at the Elks Lodge The Westchester Elks Lodge is hosting its last bingo event of 2018 on Sunday, December 16. Doors open at 12 p.m. with early bird games starting at 1:30 p.m. for $5 a pack. Regular bingo begins at 2 p.m. for $25 a pack.

Refreshments will also be offered for purchase and all those 18 and older are welcome to play. The Westchester Elks Lodge is located at 8025 W. Manchester Ave. in Westchester. Parking is available in the back of the lodge.

For more information, please call (310) 821-3005.

LAX Coastal Chamber Holiday Party Mix and mingle this month with your local business community at the LAX Coastal Chamber’s holiday party. The event will take place on Wednesday, December 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the California Yacht Club, located at 4469 Admiralty Way in Marina del Rey. Guests will enjoy a DJ, appetizers, holiday desserts, raffles, networking and more. The cost to attend is $30 for non-chamber members.

To RSVP, please visit laxcoastal.com or call (310) 645-5151.

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

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

December 2018 • Page 19

Random Notes/Opinion

TheHTN.com

Surviving holiday weight gain may be easier than you think

By Jeff Blair

Opinion: First the good news: the amount of weight people gain over the holidays is very exaggerated. The urban myth has always been “people gain an average of 7 pounds during the holidays.” The reality is the average person gains closer to one pound over the holidays. Some will gain more than a pound, but the average is a mere pound.

Now the bad news: while people don’t gain nearly as much as many claim, they also don’t lose that pound over the other eleven months of the year. In fact, most never lose it. Year after year, people gain one pound over the holidays. The pound that people gain over the holidays will produce about twenty extra pounds over a twenty-year period.

Gaining ten pounds over ten years or twenty pounds over twenty years can elevate blood pressure, increase joint stress and negatively impact quality of life. It can increase risk for Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke and certain types of cancers.

Sleep apnea and kidney disease risk

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also increase with weight gain. While some might first think about the impact on appearance, and weight gain can negatively impact self-esteem for some, there is an almost endless number of negative health issues that arise from weight gain.

Back to the good news: if you can manage to not gain weight over the holidays, you put yourself in a good position to not gain weight all year.

Even if you typically gain more than a pound during the holidays, if you prevent that gain, you will have a better chance of maintaining a stable weight long-term.

Here are some practical tips to make it through the holidays without gaining weight: 1. Celebrate your holiday(s)–not the entire season. I try to maintain my normal eating patterns throughout the holidays as much as possible. I definitely celebrate on Thanksgiving and Christmas, but I try to avoid turning these six weeks into one long rationalization for eating nutrientpoor, calorically dense foods.

Frankly, some years I do better than others. Interestingly to me, I find I

better enjoy the season if I exercise discipline with my eating than if I overindulge for six weeks. I avoid the sluggish feelings that always seem to come after overeating and I seem to enjoy the holiday dinners more.

2. Try to maintain your workout schedule. This might sound impossible, but regular workouts help us manage the various stresses of the season. Many of our clients tell us being active also makes it easier to make better eating choices during the holidays. Most people are going to eat a few extra calories over the holiday season between family dinners and work parties. By maintaining your exercise schedule, you can burn a few extra calories and maybe give yourself a little buffer for the various temptations of the season.

3. Keep a water bottle with you. I keep a water bottle with me as much as possible during the holidays. Rather than mindlessly snack (which I am very prone to do), I try to drink H2O whenever possible. Water can help fill you up and also hydrate your body.

Since our muscles are almost 80% water, this can make a big difference

in how you feel and can improve your workouts. Yes, you will probably make more trips to the restroom, but think of the calories you will burn in the process (that’s some personal trainer humor right there).

Like many things in life, striking a balance is the key to surviving the holidays with your fitness intact.

While the idea of losing weight during the holidays might seem ludicrous to some, I encourage you to do what you can to avoid weight gain for the reasons previously listed. By making a few small changes, you can celebrate the season with loved ones without the “holiday hangover” of weight gain and decreased health. You will also be feeling great as you head into 2019.

Have a wonderful holiday season and a healthy and happy New Year!

Jeff Blair (MS, CSCS) has been a personal trainer in Westchester since 2002. He has been featured in numerous fitness magazines and has tens of thousands of hours of personal training experience. Email him (jeff@ socalsport. Com) for story ideas or comments.

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

Improving your holiday season experience

By Fay Craton Opinion: Happy Holidays! It is the time of year when many people frantically search for gifts, participate in numerous holiday gatherings and share meals with close friends and family members. There is a cultural golden myth about the holiday season. Within the myth is a perception that all the gatherings are fun events with lots of prosperous people who love and support you. The myth also implies your life is perfect. Many people during this time of year put on a positive smiling face so others will not discover their pain from loss or from family dysfunction. After all, the myth does not include a feeling of shame for being less than perfect.

This mythical mirage says that the holiday season is a time to spend money, make merry and have fun!

The illusion around the holiday season is incongruent with what many people experience. The fiction of what people are “supposed to be experiencing or feeling” versus what is actually unfolding can create a sense of being separate and alone. The “supposed to be” concept refutes honest, authentic feelings and emotions. The result is invalidation of your humanness and a deepening of your pain, sadness and stress. Denying what you authentically are experiencing just buries your thoughts and feelings. They do not disappear, but will instead reappear in unhealthy ways. The stress of the season intensifies as you try to pretend.

How can you navigate the holidays from a place where the pain and stress are not increased? A good place to start is to let go of the myth. It simply is not true for many people. Stop trying to compare your life to the illusion. Here are examples of how to stop living a myth and instead live a healthy life.

• Have you experienced loss this year from the fires, a death, a family difficulty or a career setback? If so, it is important to give yourself time to grieve. The pain of loss does not just disappear. Do not go to events pretending everything is great when you are still in pain from a bad experience or loss. Everyone does not need to be constantly high energy positive about life. This does not mean you need to repeat the cause of your pain to everyone you see. What I am suggesting is to just stop acting like everything is good when it is not true. Instead of pretending life is perfect, you might try to actively look for little things for which you can be grateful. Looking for opportunities to be grateful does not imply everything is wonderful. The

attitude of quiet gratitude is a great way to shift your pain to something more bearable.

• When you go to family gatherings, is there a person who is obnoxious and who likes to belittle others? Give yourself permission to limit your time with that person. The bully is trying to make you feel inadequate. You are adequate, and you do not need to have someone damaging your self-esteem.

• Sometimes the obnoxious person is a real constant bully. If you know there is an event where there is usually a person who makes you feel unsafe or unhappy, it is okay to not go to the event. It is important to take care of yourself. If you have people dependent upon you, it is also important you keep them safe. Going to a get-together where you end up being scared and stressed will not create a good experience for you or anyone else at the event. Instead, consider getting together with other people with whom you feel safe. Life happens in the present time frame. It is today when you create memories for tomorrow. It is better to create a supportive memory than a traumatic one.

Another great way to help change the myth within our culture is to help other people cope better through the holidays.

You do this by connecting with them in a way that makes them feel not alone, or frightened. For example, sit down with someone and deeply listen. Being empathetic and simply allowing another person to speak can be very healing.

It not only helps the other person, but it can also inspire you through seeing how well someone else is coping. The myth can also be broken through doing acts of kindness. Seek out a way to help someone who is struggling this year.

Acts of kindness tend to expand, helping you and others.

What I want is for you to have a holiday season in which you can renew instead of becoming more stressed. Trying to live an illusion of what holidays are supposed to be is living a fake life. Renewal comes from being authentic and actively seeking ways to see and experience life from a perspective which does not keep you locked in pain. It happens in small steps and it takes time. My wish is for you to live a healthy and satisfying life.

Fay Craton, M.A. is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (mfc40011), which is the psychology license specializing in relationships (with ourselves or with others), and she has an office in Westchester. For more info, visit communicationtriangle.com or contact her at (310) 645-6762.

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

December 2018 • Page 21

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

Photos by Venice Paparazzi/venicepaparazzi.com.

GatewayLA kicked off the holiday season on November 20th with a festive concert featuring the 50-plus person Angel City Chorale, a semi-finalist in the latest season of “America’s Got Talent.”

More than 400 guests were in attendance at the concert held at the Marriott Los Angeles Airport, and were wowed with the group’s renditions of traditional Christmas and Hanukkah songs, as well as contemporary hits.

The yearly concert, hosted by the business improvement district that oversees properties along Century Blvd., doubles as a fundraiser for Westchester nonprofits, Airport Marina Counseling Service, EmpowerTech, the Westchester Family YMCA and Badge of Heart, who all received donations at the event.

Thanks to the generosity of attendees, hundreds of items for the LAPD Pacific Division’s Winter Wonderland Toy Drive were also collected.

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

December 2018 • Page 23

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