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Get ready to Rock, Roll and Run for Education....page 9 Clockwise from top left: The “Welcome to Westchester” mural, a view of Playa Vista, the beach at Playa del Rey, a mural in the Runway Shopping Center, a picturesque walkway in Campus Central Park and the bluffs at LMU.
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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 encouraged to help pick parade theme Get ready to Rock, Roll and Run for Education WPNS looks for a new home in Westchester We love Westchester/Playa!
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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 21 Neighborhood Council Body & Brain Yoga 12 Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Cantalini’s Salerno Beach 13 Regatta Capital Group Drollinger Properties 13, 22 Rock, Roll and Run Food Pantry, LAX 12 Sarlo Income Tax Gateway to LA 18 SoCalGas Historical Society 17 Socal Sports and Fitness Kevin and Kaz 11 Visitation School Jane St. John 23 Westchester Farmers’ Market Just Kirby 17 Westchester Lutheran School Loyola Marymount 04 Westchester Town Center BID Mamai Wellness 18 Westside Pacific Village Marina del Rey Hospital 24 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 • Phone: (310) 641-1016 • Website: thehtn.com • Facebook: facebook.com/thehtn The deadline for submissions is the 22nd of each month.
Start the theCelebrate New Year Year looking lookingFreedom! in the the right right direction...Up! direction...Up! Start New in Start the theCelebrate New Year Year looking in the the right right direction...Up! direction...Up! Start New in Join us forlooking a Freedom! School Tour
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StaSrtar theNewYearlo kingintherightdirection.nU.p!Up! Now is the doubt. time to enroll for the Freedom Freedom from Freedom from from doubt. Freedom from fear.fear. 2018-2019 school year at Join Westchester Lutheran Church, Joinus us at atWestchester Westchester Lutheran Church, Lutheran– andembrace embrace the freedom found in ain a and the freedom found Preschool through Eighth Grade. loving, forgiving relationship with thethe loving, forgiving relationship with Lord. Join new friends in a celebration of of Lord. Join new friends in a celebration everything that is possible when you live Tours inthat February will bewhen available everything is possible you live in harmony with the thWord. th nd in harmony with the Word. on February 8 , 15 , and 22 . Call for an appointment.
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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
February 2018 • Page 3
It’s not easy for the LAX Coastal Fourth of July Parade committee to come up with a new parade theme, year after year, to help celebrate Independence Day. In the last eighteen years there have been tributes to America’s pastimes, songs, icons, heroes, patriotism and adventures, often leaving the volunteer-based committee scratching their heads when it comes to picking a new theme that will encourage participants to come up with creative, inspiring entries and floats. To help solve this issue, the parade committee is reaching out to the community to ask for their suggestions for this year’s event. “This is the third year we’ve reached out to the community for help to choose the theme, and we think it’s a fun way to encourage participation and get new, fresh perspectives,” said LAX Coastal Chamber President/CEO, Christina Davis. “We’ve received some great suggestions over the last few years, and we appreciate the feedback on what people want to see at the parade.” The Fourth of July Parade is hosted by the LAX Coastal Chamber and participants rely on the theme to help shape their ideas and the direction of their entries, which range from floats, marching bands and walking groups. When participants really like
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Photo by Glenn Marzano.
Community encouraged to submit ideas for Fourth of July parade theme, audition for National Anthem
LMU students march down Loyola Blvd. at the 2017 Fourth of July Parade. Last year’s parade theme was “An American Adventure.”
a theme, it shows on parade day, according to event chair, Gwen Vuchsas. “We never know ahead of time what theme will resonate with our entries, but it’s evident on the Fourth of July which groups really loved the theme,” said Vuchsas, who has chaired the event since its inception. “A good
theme helps create a great parade. The committee loves to see how the entries interpret it, and we know the parade attendees do too.” Those interested in participating in this year’s parade theme contest are asked to email the parade committee at laxcoastalonparade@gmail.com by Friday, February 23 with contact info,
a parade theme and a short paragraph explaining their suggestion. All submissions will be reviewed by the committee, and the winner will receive a gift bag with parade swag and the opportunity for a family of four to ride in the 2018 LAX Coastal Fourth of July Parade (conditions apply), taking place on Wednesday, July 4. The committee is also accepting audition videos for those interested in singing the National Anthem at the event. It is a tradition to select a local singer to help kick-off the parade. Audition videos can be posted to the chamber’s Facebook page at facebook.com/laxcoastal or emailed to laxcoastalonparade@gmail.com by Friday, April 6. While everyone is encouraged to submit audition videos, preference is given to students who live or attend school in the LAX Coastal area, which includes Westchester, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista, Marina del Rey and Del Rey. For more info on the parade or sponsorship opportunities, please call the chamber office at (310) 645-5151, email laxcoastalonparade@gmail.com or visit laxcoastal.com/parade. For those interested in receiving information about participating in the 2018 Fourth of July Parade, applications will be available in March.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
February 2018 • Page 5
Business & Nonprofit News
Photo by Robert Macaisa/Loyola Marymount University.
TheHTN.com
Yarn takes over LMU’s courtyard. On January 20, Yarn Bombing Los Angeles (YBLA) headed to LMU to create an outdoor installation featuring artwork made by knitting, crocheting, sewing, weaving and felting. The installation, A Piece of Me, located in LMU’s George A.V. Dunning Courtyard, was created in conjunction with the university’s Laband Art Gallery’s latest show, New Threads: Perspectives in Contemporary Fiber Art. The show, a group exhibition featuring 18 artists whose textile-based work centers on gender roles, the body, technology and traditions, opened on Saturday, January 27 and runs through March 17. YBLA will be back at LMU on Saturday, February 17 from noon to 3 p.m. for another “yarnbombing” event. The community is invited to participate in creating art to help enhance the courtyard, and tools and materials will be provided by YBLA. All ages and skill levels are welcome to participate. On Wednesday, February 7 and Wednesday, February 14 from noon to 1 p.m., “Iggy’s Yarnsters” will teach visitors how to knit or crochet hand warmers. Supplies will be provided. The Laband Art Gallery is located in the Fritz B. Burns Fine Arts Center on the campus of LMU at 1 LMU Drive in Westchester. Admission to the gallery is free, and it is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Thursdays from 2 to 7 p.m. For more info, please visit cfa.lmu. edu/labandgallery. Page 6 • February 2018
Photos by Robert Macaisa/Loyola Marymount University.
LMU’s Dunning Courtyard has been transformed into an art installation to complement the exhibition New Threads: Perspectives in Contemporary Fiber Art now on display at the university’s Laband Art Gallery.
Artists work on creating the art installation, A Piece of Me, with the use of knitting, crocheting and sewing at LMU. The installation was facilitated by Yarn Bombing Los Angeles.
Visitation Church turns 75. On February 18, Visitation Catholic Church will be celebrating its 75th year as a parish. The church, which opened in 1943, counts many of its parishioners as being members for decades. To celebrate the anniversary, the community is invited to attend a special mass on Sunday, February 18 at 10:30 a.m. with Archbishop Gomez. Following the mass, the Visitation campus will host a celebration with music, food and games. Tours will be offered, and alumni are especially encouraged to attend for the chance to explore their old stomping grounds, see how things have changed and learn about plans for Visitation’s future. “Westchester, thank you for making Visitation such a welcomed part of your community. Thank you for joining us in welcoming others, from newcomers to the neighborhood to travelers with layovers,” said Visitation’s Father Jim Forsen. “And thank you for letting us support you in your spirituality. We look forward to the next 75 years as a parish.” Visitation Church is located at 6561 W. 88th St. in Westchester. Follow them at facebook.com/ ChurchoftheVisitation for more details. – hosts Super Bowl party. Ayara Luk On Sunday, February 4, Westchester’s – will be hosting a game day Ayara Luk viewing party starting at 3 p.m. The Thai restaurant will be serving up unlimited food and bottomless
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Photo courtesy Visitation.
Visitation will celebrate its 75th anniversary on Sunday, February 18 with a special church service and a party featuring music, food and games.
Singha beer to guests, and the menu includes Muay Thai Wings, Chicken Satay Flatbread, Pad Thai Nachos, Spicy Thai Lobster Rolls and more. Tailgate games and halftime raffles round out the event. The cost to attend is $60 in advance and $75 at the door. Kids 5 and under are free. – is located at 8740 S. Ayara Luk Sepulveda Blvd. in Westchester. Tickets can be purchased at ayaragamedayparty2018.eventbrite. com. WPV names new executive director. Westside Pacific Villages (WPV), a Westchester nonprofit that helps seniors stay independent in their homes through pairing them with volunteers, recently announced that they have named a new executive director. Elizabeth Cundiff will replace Carol Kitabayashi, who has led the organization since 2012. Kitabayashi will remain active with WPV, but has decided to step down from the role of executive director to spend more time with her family. Cundiff, who has worked in the nonprofit and technology industries, looks forward to using her skills in the areas of program development, volunteer management, communications and fundraising to continue the important work that WPV does for seniors in the community. For more info about WPV, please visit thewpv.org. Councilmember Bonin announces addition of more patrol officers. One year after proposing a “Back to Basic Car” plan, Councilmember Mike Bonin has announced that 12 more officers have been assigned to the CD11 area, which includes Westchester, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista. More officers are expected to be added in the coming months. The Back to Basic Car plan, called for the LAPD to refocus on community policing by moving more police offers to neighborhood patrols and hiring civilians to take
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Elizabeth Cundiff was recently named the new executive director of Westside Pacific Villages.
over administrative and desk duties previously handled by the officers. Westchester Rotary names 2018 Citizen of the Year. The Westchester Rotary will honor Kathleen Hannon Aikenhead and the William H. Hannon Foundation with the 2018 Citizen of the Year award at a gala event on Saturday, March 17. The foundation, led by Aikenhead, is a supporter of numerous programs, schools, events and local community organizations, including the Rotary Club, Airport Marina Counseling Service and the Westchester Family YMCA. The event, with “An Evening in Casablanca” theme, will be held at the Annenberg Community Beach House, and tickets are $125 or $135 after February 28. The funds raised at the event support the organization’s service projects, which include scholarships, Vision to Learn, Safe Place for Youth, the Home Makeover Project and End Polio Now. For more info or to purchase tickets, visit casablancarotary.com.
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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
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February 2018 • Page 7
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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Principals and administrators pose with the mini grant checks they received from the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary. The grants were awarded to 70 local teachers to help fund classroom projects. Photo courtesy WHES.
Get ready to Rock, Roll and Run for Education! The LAX Coastal Education Foundation, in partnership with Loyola Marymount University, is hosting the inaugural Rock, Roll and Run 5K/1K run/walk for Education on the campus of LMU on Saturday, March 10. After Race for Success organizers announced that their annual 5K at LMU would not be happening in 2018, the newly formed foundation decided to create the Rock, Roll and Run for Education to help continue the tradition of a run that brings local schools and the community together for a day of fun to raise money for education. The race will have a rock and Westport Heights students learn from newly purchased Dash and Dot Robots. roll theme, with live music at two locations along the course. Teams Thanks to donations from local Charitable Foundation, the Hannon are encouraged to come in costumes, businesses, the club was able to award Foundation, the HomeTown News, especially those that are music70 grants totaling $17,033. Some of the Rainbow Acres Washington Blvd. and related (think 80s metal band, famous grants will be used to purchase STEM the Stephanie Younger Group. musicians, disco, etc). After the race, kits, new books, field trips, musical For more information and to attendees are encouraged to stay instruments, computer equipment, art sign-up to run, please visit laxcef. for the expo featuring businesses supplies, enhance school gardens and com. If you are interested in having and community groups, a pancake create classroom meditation areas. a booth at the event or sponsorship breakfast, live music and familyopportunities, please email info@ friendly activities. Westport Heights celebrates new year laxcoastaledfoundation.com or call The event runs 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. with new programs and awards. (310) 645-5151. with the 5K at 8 a.m. and the 1K at Westport Heights Elementary 10 a.m. The cost to participate is $30 School (WHES) is enjoying a Rotary Club distributes mini grants. for the 5K and $20 for the kids’ 1K. successful 2017-2018 school year On January 17, the Playa Venice A pancake breakfast is $5 per person thanks to receiving two grants and the Sunrise Rotary Club announced the (while supplies last). If you can’t make recipients of their annual Teacher implementation of a new afterschool it on race day but would still like to program. Mini Grant Awards at a breakfast at support local education, you can signSoCalGas recently awarded Whiskey Reds in Marina del Rey. up as a “virtual runner” for $10. Westport Heights a STEAM-focused Every year, the club invites local Proceeds from the race will go back grant to support and increase the Westchester/Playa teachers to apply to participating local schools. Major coding and robotics curriculum at for grants for classroom projects or event sponsors include Los Angeles the school. The purchase of Dash and supplies, and for 2018, the service World Airports, the Drollinger Family Dot Robotic Equipment has enabled club received 152 grant applications. Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
WHES students to learn about a new technology. The entire student body, from TK through 5th grade, will now be able to engage in coding and learn how to program and work with robotic machinery. Another win for Westport was enjoyed by the Early Language Learning Program (ELLP). Principal Jacqueline Hughes says the implementation of ELLP has been quite successful in increasing reading, comprehension and fluency in the school’s students. The International Dyslexia Association of Los Angeles recently awarded the school with a literacy grant to fund materials to support the program. WHES is also pleased to announce the addition of its new afterschool program, Drama Club Jr., for students in grades K through second. Drama Club Jr. will focus on teaching important communication skills, while building confidence and instilling creativity. Later this year, Drama Club Jr. will perform at the school’s Multicultural Festival. St. Jerome hosts Mardi Gras dinner. The community is invited to attend St. Jerome’s Mardi Gras dinner on Saturday, February 10 from 7 to 11 p.m. The event will be held in the St. Jerome Church Hall, located at 5580 Thornburn St. in Westchester. Tickets are $25 or two for $45, and proceeds will fund school programs. The event will feature a chicken dinner, live entertainment from the Zydeco Mudbugs Band and dancing. For more information or to purchase tickets, please call (310) 670-1678. February 2018 • Page 9
Westchester Parents’ Nursery School looks to the community for help to find new location For almost 70 years, Westchester Parents’ Nursery School (WPNS) has been an integral part of the community for many local families. A cooperative, parent participation preschool, WPNS unites students, parents and teachers together in the classroom, providing an environment that encourages a love of learning, respectful communication and community. As a play-based preschool, importance is placed on creativity and flexibility, where playing and exploring are just as important as learning the ABCs and the learning environment is structured around the unique needs of each individual child. “The way we work with kids is all very individualized and childcentered,” says Joyce Woodruff, director of WPNS. “Each kid doesn’t fit in one philosophy.” But now, the year ahead for WPNS is uncertain: by the end of this coming June, WPNS will have to leave their space at the Congregational Church of the Messiah on Manchester Avenue, which has housed the school for almost 40 years. Their landlords plan to repurpose the space, having chosen not to renew their lease. Though a new location has not yet been established, members of the school are determined to band together to find a new home, and the tight-knit nature of the WPNS community makes the goal promising. Part of that tight-knit nature springs from the parent involvement at WPNS. As a co-op, parents are required to work at the preschool up to four days per month. Parents help lead activities, assist the teachers and supervise projects. Parents are also required to attend at least two parent education meetings a year, fulfill 25 service hours to help with campus upkeep and attend a monthly membership meeting. The robust parent involvement has families often making lifelong friendships with one another and helps lead to a sense of “ownership” in WPNS. However, as a co-op, the preschool is not “owned” by anyone in particular, but is instead held in trust by the members of the WPNS community who decide how the school will operate. “A co-op school is as much a school
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Photos courtesy WPNS.
By Sarah Ahern
Westchester Parents’ Nursery School preschoolers help paint a sign during play time.
for your child as it is for you. You work in it, it belongs to you, you give it energy and your ideas,” said Woodruff. “You, the parent, help to shape it into whatever it becomes.” With the help of parents working in the classroom, WPNS has historically been able to maintain lower tuition rates than any other preschool in the area. The school has also been able to offer classes to the community at no cost, which include specialized parent education classes that offer techniques and insights into parenting and a kindergarten forum for families to learn about school choices in the community. Approximately 6,000 families have come through WPNS since opening in 1950, and for many, participating in the classroom feels more like a joy than a requirement. For Fiona Godschalk, who moved to California
from Belgium a decade ago, her involvement with her three children at WPNS from 2007-2015 cultivated an extended family. “It was my first village when I moved to California,” Godschalk says. “I had the benefit of being very involved, and it was fun for us and made it so the kids had the family we didn’t have.” The term “village” is encapsulating of the community that the school has fostered over the years, where parents and children remain close and connected years after their time at WPNS. “[WPNS] is not a ‘drop-off’ type place,” says Sue Gwin, a recently retired WPNS teacher and parent, whose two sons attended WPNS in the 90s. “My sons have made lifelong friends from starting at WPNS. They learned so much as a
play-based school being able to play and experiment, and I made lifelong friends with the parents because it’s such a family-oriented school.” Woodruff wants the community to know that although WPNS will no longer be at its current location after June, it will continue to thrive in one form or another. Members of the community can help by providing any viable leads for a new location. There is also a Gofundme.com page where people can donate to help the school secure a new home, help with any necessary construction costs and to help offset the increased rent prices in the neighborhood that are making it difficult to find a new facility in the Westchester area. To operate, the school needs a space that is approximately 1,250 square feet inside and 3,750 square feet outside. Their wish list includes lots of parking and room for a garden. So far, WPNS has reached out to Emerson Adult School seeking rental space, as well as approached Councilmember Mike Bonin’s office. “We have a trickle effect,” Woodruff explains. “Everything we do here goes into a child’s next journey of where they’re going to land in elementary school. This is where parents learn to work— teachers can’t do it on their own.” Woodruff sees the challenge of finding a new home as a positive next chapter for WPNS rather than a setback from all the work they’ve accomplished so far in their 60-plus years of instilling a love of learning in children and working with families. She hopes that when the school does find its new home, they can expand their parent education classes and make parent involvement even more flexible and attainable. She says everything will eventually fall into place, but the tight bond of the WPNS community and the philosophy of the school will remain intact regardless of where the new physical space is. “We’re hopeful that with the help of the community we’ve lovingly served for decades, that we’ll find the perfect place for Westchester Parents’ Nursery School to continue to help local families thrive,” said Woodruff. “This school is tiny, but it’s mighty.” For more information, please visit gofundme.com/wpns-coop-needsyour-help or wpns.org.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
February 2018 • Page 11
It’s February, the month of love, and in honor of Valentine’s Day, we decided to highlight some of the things we love the most about Westchester, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista. While each is unique, these communities share a strong sense of community pride, a neighborhood council and passionate residents and business owners that work hard to make Westchester/Playa a great place to live, work and play. If you love Westchester/Playa like we do, head over to our Facebook page at facebook.com/thehtn to download an “I love Westchester/Playa” icon that you can use as your profile picture to help show your love for our awesome community!
We love... that the community is getting more public art!
Locally, Playa Vista has led the way to show how public art can seamlessly fit into a community to both beautify the area and help create a sense of place. Westchester recently gained a five-story mural, “Welcome to Westchester,” thanks to Drollinger Properties in partnership with Otis, and there’s more coming: expect the first utility box murals to be unveiled in Westchester and Playa del Rey in the upcoming months.
Pictured left to right: Westchester’s newest mural, “Welcome to Westchester” by David Russell, was completed in December, complementing the “You are Beautiful” mural located in the Ralph’s shopping center. Playa Vista is home to a few public art installations, including the mural “Extinción” by DourONE.
We love... that we’re a college town!
90045 is home to Loyola Marymount University and Otis College of Art and Design. Besides the positive economic impacts this has on the area, the colleges offer a wealth of perks that locals should take advantage of. Both have art galleries open to the public with exhibitions that change regularly and both host events on campus. LMU has an especially robust events’ schedule that includes concerts, sports, a speaker series and special events like the Wine Classic.
Pictured left to right: Visit Playa Vista’s Runway development to view the iconic letters spelling out “LMU” on the bluffs. Otis College of Art and Design is home to the Ben Maltz Art Gallery and is celebrating its centennial this year.
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 12 • February 2018
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Photo by Greg Dina-Pham.
We love... all of our community events!
In any given month, there is no shortage of local groups that are hosting unique events for the community to enjoy. Next month, there’s the Rock Roll and Run 5K & expo and the Luck O’ the Irish BingoFest, and then Otis’ Kite Festival and the Y’s Healthy Kids’ Day take place in April. Some of our other favorite events include the Fourth of July Parade, the WAM Block Party, Playa Vista Movies & Concerts in the Park and the Elks Lodge Car Show.
Pictured left to right: Students from Otis College of Art and Design march down Loyola Blvd. after their entry won the “Mayor’s Choice Award” at the 18th annual Fourth of July Parade. Westchester Arts and Music (WAM) Block Party attendees check out the food trucks at the summer festival.
We love... community groups and businesses that give back!
Westchester/Playa is home to some very philanthropic organizations and very generous businesses that are always looking for ways to give back. Thanks to their support, events are sponsored, schools are given grants, money is raised for good causes and nonprofits are able to fulfill their missions. Whenever possible, we like to shop, dine, donate to and patronize the businesses and groups that give back to our community.
Pictured left to right: A Visitation kindergartner plays at the after race expo at LMU with sponsor booths in the background. The Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club presents a grant to Playa Vista Elementary School principal, Rebecca Johnson, to help fund classroom programs.
We love... we have 4 farmers’ markets!
This community loves its fruits, veggies and artisan goods, so thankfully there’s four chances a week to shop at local farmers’ markets. On Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., there’s a market in Westchester Park and on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., there’s one in the Westchester Triangle. Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Howard Hughes Center also hosts a market. For a fun weekend activity, head to Playa Vista on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to check-out the biggest local farmers’ market.
Pictured left to right: Shoppers show off their farmers’ market picks at the Sunday Westchester Farmers’ Market in the Westchester Triangle. Stop by any of the area’s four farmers’ markets to peruse an assortment of berries, fresh fruit, veggies and artisan goods.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
February 2018 • Page 13
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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
February 2018 • Page 15
Calendar Ongoing monthly events: Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club Join the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club every Wednesday morning at 7:15 a.m. for its weekly meeting. The club meets at Whiskey Red’s, located at 13813 Fiji Way in Marina del Rey. The cost of the meeting is $25, which includes breakfast. Guests are welcome and reservations are not required. For more info, visit playavenice. org.
Rotary Club of Westchester The Rotary Club of Westchester meets every Wednesday at 12 noon for lunch at the Crowne Plaza LAX Hotel, located at 5985 W. Century Blvd. in Westchester. The cost of lunch is $25 and validated self parking is free. Guests are most welcome! Reservations are not required. For more information or to reserve a seat at the luncheon, please visit rotary-westchester.com.
LAX Kiwanis Club The LAX Kiwanis Club is looking for new members. The club meets every Thursday at 12:30 p.m. at the Renaissance Hotel, located at 9620 Airport Blvd. in Westchester. Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world, one child and one community at a time. The LAX Kiwanis raise money every year for such causes as providing scholarships, holiday baskets for needy families and back to school shopping sprees. For more information about the club or to RSVP to attend one of their meetings, please email laxkiwanisclub@gmail.com.
Life Story Writing Class Who will tell your great-grand kids about your life growing up? Why not you? Join the life story writing class and learn techniques to make memories come alive. The life story writing group meets every Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., in the YMCA Annex, located at 8020 Alverstone Ave. in Westchester. The class will teach simple methods to recall your past and new ways to write your memories. The cost to participate is $10 a year. For more info, please call Bernie Horst at (310) 670-3796.
February events: Crucible at Westchester Playhouse Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” is now playing at the Westchester Playhouse through February 17. Page 16 • February 2018
TheHTN.com Using the historical and controversial subject of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials, “The Crucible” presents an allegory of events from the McCarthy Hearings of the 1950s. Performances are held on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and on Sundays at 2 p.m. After the Sunday matinée performances on February 4 and February 11, there will be a post-show Q&A with the cast and crew. Reserved seat tickets are $20 with a $2 discount for seniors and students. To purchase tickets, please call (310) 645-5156 during box office hours or visit kentwoodplayers.org. The Westchester Playhouse is located at 8301 Hindry Ave. in Westchester.
Greyhound Show and Tell The first Sunday of the month from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. join Fast Friends for their Greyhound Show and Tell. Visitors will have the chance to meet retired racing greyhounds that will melt your heart. Fast Friends rescues about 1520 dogs per month so there are many of these gentle, mellow, sweet greyhounds available for adoption. Not requiring a lot of exercise, quiet, non-shedding, socialized and ready for apartments, condos or homes, the majority of greyhounds like cats and other small pets making them great family members. The Greyhound Show and Tell takes place at PETCO Westchester, located at 8801 S. Sepulveda Blvd. in Westchester. The next event takes place on Sunday, February 4. For more information, please contact Jim or Sharon Higgins at (310) 645-8143 or go to Fastfriends. org.
Bingo at the Westchester Elks Lodge The Westchester Elks Lodge is hosting Bingo on Sunday, February 4 with doors opening at noon. There will be no early bird games at the February event. Games will run from 1:30 to 4 p.m. The cost to play is $25 a pack. The Super Bowl will be shown during Bingo and refreshments will be offered for purchase. Bingo is open to the public. The Westchester Elks Lodge is located at 8025 W. Manchester Ave. in Westchester. There is free parking in the back of the lodge. For more info, please call (310) 821-3005.
Comment Period for Ballona Draft EIR The comment period for the more than 1,200 page Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed Ballona Wetlands Restoration Project
ends on Monday, February 5 at 5 p.m. The Draft EIR and other documents can be viewed at wildlife.ca.gov/ Regions/5/Ballona-EIR. Comments can be emailed to BWERcomments@wildlife.ca.gov or mailed to: Richard Brody, CDFW c/o ESA (jas) 550 Kearny Street, Suite 800 San Francisco, CA 94108.
and avocado bowl and more. The fee to attend is $55 when you reserve your spot by February 12 and $65 thereafter if space is available. RSVPs can be made by emailing Patricia@FreshFoodinaFlash.com. The class is held at the Holy Nativity Community Hall, located at 6700 W. 83rd St. in Westchester.
Flight Path Speaker Series Event
Playa Vista’s Wallis Annenberg PetSpace is offering numerous events this month to help strengthen the relationship that people have with their animals. On Friday, February 16, celebrate the Lunar New Year with a Year of the Dog Craft Day from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Guests can make pet-themed lanterns, fans, slat books and more at the event. The craft fee is $5, and all materials are provided by PetSpace. Reservations are not required, but you can sign-up at annenbergpetspace.org. Every Saturday in February at noon, PetSpace visitors can learn tips on how to help their pet have the best dental health possible. These Saturday “happenings” are free, informal talks and demonstrations that last about 15 minutes, and reservations are not required. PetSpace adoptable pets are featured during the presentations. The Wallis Annenberg PetSpace is located at 12005 Bluff Creek Dr. in Playa Vista. For more info and a full event calendar, please visit annenbergpetspace.org.
Join the Flight Path Museum for their Second Saturday Speaker Series on Saturday, February 10 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The series features free one hour presentations on inspiring and engaging aviation and aerospace related topics. February’s featured speaker will be Stu Mundell, an aerial reporter and photojournalist for Los Angeles’ KCBS2 and KCAL9 News. Mundell will talk about how he was able to combine his passion for aviation and reporting news into a successful and thrilling career. He is the eye in the sky for breaking news in and around Los Angeles. The event will be held at the Flight Path Museum, located at 6661 W. Imperial Highway in Westchester. Admission and parking are free. For more info, visit flightpathmuseum.com.
Community Pizza Bake Head on down to Holy Nativity on Saturday, February 10 for the monthly free pizza and bread bake at Westchester’s wood-fired community oven. Now in its second year of operation in the garden of the Westchester church, community members are invited to bring pizza dough from home or the store, roll them out, add your favorite toppings and watch them cook to bubbly perfection in a minute and a half in the earthen oven. Pizza will be cooked from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and then the oven will be ready to bake bread loaves at 2 p.m. The oven is fired up on the second Saturday of every month. Stop by to share food, conversation, cooking and community-building. Holy Nativity Church is located at 6700 W. 83rd St. in Westchester.
Dinner Bowls Cooking Class Join Fresh Food in a Flash for a class on how to make easy, healthy dinner bowls. The class is led by Patricia K. Rose and will take place on Thursday, February 15 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Attendees will learn how to make a variety of bowls including a cauliflower bowl, coconut curry rice and veggie bowl, a California chicken
February events at Annenberg PetSpace
NCWP Planning and Land Use Meeting Interested in learning more about development in the area? The community is encouraged to attend the monthly Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa’s (NCWP) Planning and Land Use Committee (PLUC) meetings. The committee meets the third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the Westchester Community Room, located at 7166 Manchester Ave. in Westchester. The February meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 20. Every month, the committee hears a variety of presentations ranging from city employees informing PLUC on hot topic issues like the home sharing ordinance, developers looking to build in Westchester/Playa or new businesses looking to open in the area. Agendas for upcoming meetings are available at ncwpdr.org/pluc when ready. Those interested can also sign-up to receive the PLUC agendas automatically at ncwpdr.org/user/ register by creating a user account and subscribing to email alerts from any NCWP committee.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
February 2018 • Page 17
Recipes from the Inn: citrus poppy seed bread Dolly Parton always says, “When I’m inspired, I get excited because I can’t wait to see what I’ll come up with next!” Working with our innkeeper, Kristin, is a little like working with Dolly. Kristin is very creative and is always switching things up a little. This month, Kristin started with our sweet bread recipe and ended up creating this Sweet Citrus Poppy Seed Breakfast Bread. That’s the fun part of being a great baker like Kristin– you can start with something as your “base recipe” then get creative and put your own twist on it! I hope that’s what 2018 is like for all of us: we’re able to come across inspiring things in the world and then add our own preferences to infuse each thing we make, bake or do with personal flair. Do things your own way. Be creative and switch things up! And for starters, here’s Kristin’s twist on breakfast bread. Feel free to give it
Photo by Kristin Guinn.
By Rebecca Hill, Innkeeper
Add candied orange peel to your breakfast bread for an extra citrus kick.
another twist to make it your own! Sweet Citrus Poppy Seed Bread Ingredients: • 2 eggs • 2 cups milk • 2/3 cups vegetable oil • 2 Tsp. orange extract
• 1 zest of lemon • 2 cups sugar • 4 cups flour • 2 Tbs. baking powder • 1 Tsp. salt • 3 tablespoons poppy seeds
Glaze:* • 2 cups powdered sugar • 2-3 Tbs. orange juice • 2-3 Tbs. Half & Half • 1 zest of lemon *Mix to a thick glaze. 1. Mix wet ingredients together and then add dry ingredients. Mix. 2. Pour into 2 loaf pans or 1 Bundt cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 3040 minutes. 3. Once breakfast bread has cooled, glaze the top. If desired, top with candied orange peel. 4. Cut, serve and enjoy! The Inn’s recipes have been lovingly collected over the past 20 years. Some are original recipes, others are wellknown recipes that have been adapted and some are recipes that have been handed down by our innkeepers’ mothers and grandmothers over the years. 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.
Mamai Grand Opening HOSTED BY MAMAI WELLNESS Join us for Fun, Music & Yummy Juice! SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH, 2018 1:00PM - 4:00PM MAMAI WELLNESS 6607 W 80TH ST LOS ANGELES, CA 90045 Page 18 • February 2018
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
February 2018 • Page 19
Random Notes/Opinion
TheHTN.com
Shift your focus to the process of achieving your goals By Jeff Blair Opinion: The jokes are flowing on social media and around the water cooler: another year of failed resolutions, the gyms have already cleared out, etc. I think it is good to have a sense of humor about everything, but I think there is also a lot of frustration, and even pain, in some cases behind the joking. What I see for many hard-working people in our community is a dual life: “side 1” and “side 2.” People have some great things going on “side 1.” Their career is going well. Family life is pretty good, and the kids are doing well in school. The economy seems stable at the moment. The stock market is off the charts, and your 401k looks great right now. “Side 2” is another story. “Side 2” is where you have gained twenty pounds in the past 10 years. Stress feels nearly constant here. There is no energy to do anything except get through the day and crash in front of the television at night. You may not even want to spend your evenings zoning out, but that seems to be all the energy you can muster. “Side 2” is where much of the joy of life is gone, and you wonder if it will
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ever return. In “side 2,” we look to our friends and neighbors and see the same pattern. In “side 2,” you tried that ninetyminute infomercial workout, but the kids’ games and recitals, work commitments and life just interfered. You lasted nine days. You followed a running program for six weeks, but eventually you dropped off, and you cannot even remember why. While you feel proud for all the good things in “side 1,” “side 2” is full of anxiety, worry and maybe even fear. You almost feel guilty wanting more, but sometimes you wonder with all the downside from “side 2,” if “side 1” is even worth it. The dream is maintaining all the great stuff from “side 1” and eliminating all the bad stuff from “side 2.” I have seen it happen many times, and often people don’t believe it is possible until they have achieved it. Most of us just don’t know how to get there, and we have limited time and energy to find reliable information. What is the bridge between “side 2” and “the dream?” Goal setting is the first step, but it is not enough. Implementing a process to achieve those
goals is where the rubber meets the road. If I could give only one piece of advice to achieve the dream, it would be: shift your daily and weekly focus from the end goal to the process of achieving the goal. While every motivational book ever written has a goal setting chapter, the process of reaching those goals is not discussed nearly as much. You set a goal…great. Now how are you going to achieve it? I can set a goal to go to China in 2018, but setting that goal does little. The process is what gets me there: searching for flights, searching for hotels, scheduling my vacation, buying the ticket, booking the hotel, getting to the airport on time and getting on the plane. The goal was a start, but meant nothing without the process. If you want to be more active in 2018, print out a checklist each Sunday with a box for each day of the week. Each day you exercise, check the box. At the end of each week, look at your results. Did you check 4 days? If you were at zero days or 2 days before, congratulate yourself. You made progress. What is the next step? If you want to become even more active, repeat
the same process. Print out the paper, check a box each day you exercise and try to increase your weekly checks from four to five or six. The great thing about this process approach is that you can use it to achieve any goal. As you become more advanced, the details might change, but the basic structure remains the same. The challenge for many is that the process for achieving the goals is not super exciting. Setting a goal to lose 20 pounds is exciting because it conjures images of what success would look and feel like. The daily process goals don’t have that same emotional hook, so human nature tends to discount them. Like many things in life, our intuition can be misleading. Shift your approach to focusing on the process and tell me how it goes. In fact, email me as soon as you do it at the address below. You deserve to keep all the good stuff from “side 1” and drop “side 2” in the dumpster. Before you start any fitness routine, consult your doctor. Jeff Blair (M.S.) is five-time Trainer of the Year, a published author and a former member of the Mens’ Fitness magazine Advisory Board. Reach him at jeffblair@jeffblairfitness.com for comments.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Does hanging on to a point of view make you happy? By Fay Craton Opinion: Do you want to be right or do you want to be happy? Have you heard this saying before and simply laughed it off while proceeding to behave in a way to demonstrate you have the correct point of view? Often in the battle to be the “most correct” people fling hateful or negative judgments. The battle may become so entrenched that serious damage is done to a relationship with someone that is usually supportive of you, your personality, your life goals and your happiness. Often times in this type of a fight, neither person is more right than the other. If you look at the same situation from different points of view, you may find there are many truths. There is a picture created in the late 1800s depicting both an old woman and a young woman. When looking at the picture, some people only see the old woman, while others only see the young woman. When a different way of looking at the picture is pointed out, the two ways of viewing the picture becomes clear. People cling to a specific point of view out of fear, an attempt to get needs met, jealousy or arrogance. An arrogant person only wants to be right and never wants to admit another person has a valid point. When someone places his/her own importance over others, there frequently is abuse: intimidation, belittling, isolation, attempts to control and/or cause fear in others. A person who needs to put you down because he/she is jealous of you, may also tend to have abusive traits. Chances are that you will not have a happy relationship with someone who only cares about his or herself and does not care about you. If you are in an abusive relationship, it is time to explore whether or not staying in the relationship is appropriate. However, if a person is clinging to a point of view out of fear or a desire to get needs met, that person might still care a lot about you. The fear is just paralyzing his/her thinking and the point of view is clung to as a life raft. When fear or attempts to get needs met are causing the conflict, it is much more likely solutions can be found. If you care about the other person, consider how you can change your own thinking and behaviors to calm battles between you. It is always best to start with yourself and not expect the other person to change just because you want them to. Without confrontation, ask the person what
he or she is needing. Find out if the person you care about is afraid. As you listen to the other person, attempt to understand what is being said from their point of view. This may take several conversations. The person you care about might be reluctant–even afraid–to explain. Sometimes people may have difficulty finding the words to express. Be patient with the person you care about and with yourself as you explore the points of contention. Patience is needed to avoid becoming defensive while listening. As you gain understanding, ask yourself if there is an action you can take to soothe your loved one’s fear or meet a need. The action could be doing a task or sharing information about yourself. Are you willing to take the action? If you are willing, do it! If you are not willing, explore within you why you are not willing. Is it a preconceived idea that “because you are a man” or “because you are a woman” you should not have to do what your loved one wants? Or perhaps you see it as a threat to your independence. While considering why you do not wish to take the action, reflect upon whether the cost of not taking the action is worth the loss of happiness. Is it worth harming the relationship and possibly causing the relationship to end? Journaling your thoughts could be helpful. The written words will mirror back to you what you are thinking. In the mirroring process, half-formed thoughts can increase in clarity. If the reflection is difficult, you may wish to explore your thoughts with a professional counselor. Can you love yourself and important people around you enough to broaden your perceptions and your understanding of what is unfolding? Appreciating another point of view does not invalidate you. Being able to take in more possibilities increases your chances of thriving. My wish is for you to be happy. Let’s look again at the question: do you want to be right or do you want to be happy? As you reflect upon your own thoughts, you might find “being right” is not very important. 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
February 2018 • Page 21
In Pictures Photo by Michele Sylvester.
TheHTN.com
Get ready for Sauce Angeles 2018. The community is invited to participate in a sauce off to raise money for a newly opened pocket park in Westchester. Organized by Westchester parents, Eli and Brent Wagner, Sauce Angeles pits community members acting as chefs against each other to see who can make the best pasta sauce. Attendees get to sample and judge the sauces, while enjoying pizza, pasta, dessert and beverages. Sauce Angeles will take place on Saturday, April 21 at 3 p.m. at the Westchester YMCA Annex, located at 8020 Alverstone Ave. in Westchester. The cost to attend is $45 through February 9 and $55 thereafter. All of the proceeds will benefit the community park, which is located on the property of Holy Nativity Church at 6700 W. 83rd St. in Westchester. Tickets can be purchased at sauceoff.com. Pictured: Sauce Angeles chefs pose for a photo at the last Sauce Angeles event. Eli (fourth from left) and Brent Wagner (fifth from left) are organizing the event to raise money to add more play equipment, seating and landscaping to the park.
Page 22 • February 2018
NCWP honors community leaders. Westchester resident, Julie Zaller, and Edward Lofton were presented with Community Leadership Awards at the Tuesday, January 9 Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa (NCWP) Community Dinner. Councilmember Mike Bonin and NCWP president, Cyndi Hench, were on hand to present the two with certificates in front of a packed audience in the Westchester Community Room. Zaller was recognized for her work founding and moderating the Moms of Westchester/Playa Facebook Group, as well as helping facilitate fundraisers and community engagement. Lofton was recognized for his work in helping beautify Westchester and Playa del Rey through clean-up efforts along streets surrounding the airport. Pictured: Neighborhood Council Outreach Committee Chair, Garrett Smith, and NCWP president, Cyndi Hench, pose with Councilmember Mike Bonin and honorees Julie Zaller and Edward Lofton.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
February 2018 • Page 23
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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News