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Want to get involved? Volunteer in the New Year.... page 14 Westchester YMCA staff members try out the equipment in the specialized fitness studio.
Page 2 • January 2018
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
This Month Brings You A look inside your HTN Community Spotlight: Cedars-Sinai Playa Vista Westchester YMCA works to be more than just a gym Volunteer opportunities in the New Year You’re invited to the NCWP Community Dinner
04 12 14 17
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 Socal Sports and Fitness 11 Body & Brain Yoga 13 St. Anastasia 07 Drollinger Properties 13, 22 Utility Box Mural Project 10 Food Pantry, LAX 15 Vergari & Napolitano 20 Gateway to LA 11 Visitation School 08 Historical Society 18 Westchester Family YMCA 15 Jane St. John 19 Westchester Farmers’ Market 22 Loyola Marymount 04 Westchester Lutheran School 03, 05 Marina del Rey Hospital 24 Westchester Town Center BID 03 Neighborhood Council 17 Westside Pacific Village 20 Pageant of the Arts 18 Zacha Homes 23 Rock, Roll and Run 02
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.
Freedom! StartYou’re theCelebrate NewInvited Year looking looking in the theAll right direction...Up! Start the New Year in right to Any or ofdirection...Up! These Start the theCelebrate New Year Year looking lookingFreedom! in the the right right direction...Up! direction...Up! Start New in
January Activities at Westchester Lutheran
Celebra Start the New Year Year lo lo Start the New
StaSrtar theNewYearlo kingintherightdirection.nU.p!Up! Freedom from doubt. Freedom from • Worship every Sunday at 10:00 am from Freedom from doubt. Freedom fear.fear. • Mass Choir Rehearsal– Join at Westchester Church, Joinus us January at Westchester Church, Saturday, 6th and 13thLutheran atLutheran 11 am for Martin and embrace the freedom found in a and embrace the freedom found in Luther King Jr. Commemoration Celebration. a loving,needed forgiving relationship thethe loving, forgiving relationship with Singers in every section. with Lord. Join new friends in a celebration of of th Lord. Join new in a celebration • Sunday, January 14isfriends at 3:00 pm everything that possible when you live everything that is possible when you live Commemoration Celebration in honor of Dr. in harmony with the Word. in harmony with the Word. Martin Luther King, Jr. All are welcome. • Sunday, January 21st from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm Open House for our Preschool, Elementary and All are welcome. Middle School. All are welcome. Come celebrate with us! • School Tours available January 9, 11, 16, 18 at 10 am– Come celebrate with us! CallCome for appointment. Come look up with us. look up with us. • Screening for new begins January 22nd Come look upstudents with us. us. Come look up with Weekly Worship Sundays at 10 a.m.
All are welcome.
Summer Choir Rehearsal Vacation Bible School
Weekly Worship Summer Choir Rehearsal Vacation Bible School
Sundays at 9 a.m. July 29-August 2
Sundays at 10 a.m. Sundays at 9 a.m. July 29-August 2 7831 S. Sepulveda Blvd. Westchester, CA 90045
310.670.5422 7831 S. Sepulveda Blvd. www.wlcs.org
School Tours Available •
Enrolling
Westchester, CA 90045 310.670.5422 Please call 310.670.5422 www.wlcs.org
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
January 2018 • Page 3
Community Spotlight: Playa Vista’s Cedars-Sinai Primary Care offices offer care for the whole family Whether a particularly brutal cold and flu season or updated insurance has you looking for a new doctor, CedarsSinai Playa Vista is now offering one more choice when it comes to your health care. Located in Playa Vista’s Runway Development, Cedars-Sinai Playa Vista is now accepting new primary care patients and walk-ins to its urgent care. The 32,000-square-foot medical offices, spread across three floors– urgent care second floor, primary care third floor and pediatrics fourth floor–were carefully designed to be modern, sophisticated and calming for an improved patient experience. The new offices are another investment that Cedars-Sinai, a nonprofit healthcare organization that serves more than 1 million people a year in over 40 locations, is making in the local community after acquiring the 133-bed Marina del Rey Hospital in 2015. The hospital currently operates as a Cedars-Sinai affiliate. For Cedars-Sinai Playa Vista’s family medicine doctors, Shawn Chaikin and Benjamin Gilmore, the opportunity to be in a new facility and serve a diverse population of people of all ages and backgrounds has been an exciting opportunity. As family medicine doctors, Chaikin and Gilmore treat all ages–from
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Family medicine doctors, Benjamin Gilmore and Shawn Chaikin, are now seeing patients at the Cedars-Sinai Primary and Urgent Care offices in Playa Vista.
newborns to seniors–allowing them the chance to care for all members of a family and follow a patient throughout their lifetime. Having a good and long relationship with a doctor can make a huge difference in a person’s health, especially when the doctor can easily track health changes over the years because they’re familiar with their patient. “We’re able to establish a long-term relationship with our patients and get to know them, their situation and their family,” said Chaikin. “That way we can help diagnosis conditions more easily or monitor their health conditions over
time.” The doctors also focus on women’s health and are able to do small procedures (think trigger point injections, skin biopsies, toe nail removals, etc.) in the office, sometimes saving their patients the need to make another appointment to see a specialist. Saving patients’ time and improving access to appointments is a hallmark of the new offices, and all vitals, labs, vaccines and tests are done in one room, adding convenience for busy patients and streamlining office visits. Currently the office is seeing a lot of patients for chest colds, the flu, sinus
infections and sore throats, and the doctors note that it’s not too late to get a flu shot. When asked for their tips for kicking-off a healthy New Year, Chaikin and Gilmore offered the following advice: • Wash your hands. It may seem simple, but washing your hands is the best way to protect yourself from getting sick. Make sure to lather with soap and scrub for at least 20 seconds. • Consider quitting smoking as a New Year’s Resolution. It’s never too late to quit smoking. Quitting helps reduce the risks of heart disease, cancer and other smoking-related illnesses. Visit cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking for tips on how to quit. • Start an exercise routine. Aim for walking 10,000 steps a day. Fitness trackers like Pacer or Google Fit make it easy to track your steps. Even short walks can help improve your blood pressure. Cedars-Sinai Playa Vista is located in the Runway Shopping Development at 12746 W. Jefferson Blvd. in Playa Vista. The Urgent Care office is open for walk-in visits weekdays from noon to 9 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Appointments are needed for a primary care visit. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit cedarssinai.edu/About-Us/Playa-Vista.aspx.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
January 2018 • Page 5
Business & Nonprofit News
TheHTN.com
Westchester’s newest mural, “Welcome to Westchester,” was recently completed and can be viewed on the Drollinger Properties building located on Westchester Parkway and Sepulveda Westway.
LMU Wine Classic set for January 28. The community is invited to attend LMU’s 37th Annual Wine Classic on Sunday, January 28. The event is a fundraiser to support LMU student scholarships and features more than Page 6 • January 2018
40 wineries from California. More than 150 wines will be available to sample, with wine experts on hand to share their knowledge. The event is open to those 21 and older and will take place on Sunday, January 28 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Albert Gersten Pavilion on the campus of LMU. Tickets include entry, a souvenir wine glass and appetizers. The cost to attend is $90 until January 21 and $115 after. To purchase a ticket, please visit lmu.edu/wineclassic.
Artist David Russell addresses the crowd, with his completed mural in the background, at a dedication ceremony on December 18. Photos by Glenn Marzano.
Welcome to Westchester dedication. After more than a month of painting and months of planning, artist and Otis professor, David Russell, completed his five-story “Welcome to Westchester” mural in early December. On December 18, the mural was officially dedicated at a ceremony in Westchester. Commissioned by Drollinger Properties in partnership with Otis College of Art and Design, the mural depicts Westchester landmarks including the Loyola Theater, the Otis building and the LMU Bluffs. The mural also pays homage to the Space Shuttle Endeavour’s flight through Westchester and the majestic snowy egrets that call the area home. Unique to the painting is the word “welcome” written in numerous languages throughout the mural that appear when the sun hits it at a certain angle. This is the second mural commissioned by Drollinger Properties to help beautify and bring more art to Westchester. The first mural, “You are Beautiful,” which is located in the Ralph’s/CVS Parking lot off of Sepulveda in Westchester, was completed in 2014.
Jane St. John (left) and Mary Ellen Cassman were named 2017 Neighborhood Heroes by Councilmember Bonin for their work in Playa del Rey and Westchester.
Councilmember Bonin names 2017 Neighborhood Heroes. At the end of each year, CD11 Councilmember Mike Bonin recognizes amazing individuals who have made a difference in their communities with the “Neighborhood Heroes” award. The 2017 honorees include: • Jane St. John. St. John is a dedicated community volunteer who organizes the annual Playa del Rey Toy Drive, which benefits Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. The event draws dozens of neighbors to Playa del Rey’s Triangle Park for community spirit, to swap stories and collect carloads of toys and gifts for donation. St. John, a popular real estate agent with RE/MAX Estate Properties, is also active with the Westchester
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
With the influx of development in the area, including the new apartment building going up at La Tijera and Sepulveda Eastway, community members are encouraged to attend NCWP Planning and Land Use meetings to make their voices heard.
Mental Health Guild, the Airport Marina Counseling Service, the Holiday Home Tour, women’s cancer support group Helen’s Room and the LAX Coastal Chamber. • Mary Ellen Cassman. Cassman has been a pillar of the Westchester/ Playa community for nearly six decades. She was integral in the founding of the Westchester Family YMCA and the Airport Marina Counseling Service. Even in her 90s, Cassman is still active with the community groups that she holds dear. • Anthony Iglesias. Iglesias, a Playa Vista resident, was recognized for community organizing and advocacy for educational equality. Now working for EverFi, he is able to help teachers and school districts in underserved communities with free technology tools. • Gregg Aniolek. Aniolek, a member of the Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa, was recognized for his passion for public safety and emergency preparedness. Aniolek is now the CERT coordinator for an area that includes Westchester and Playa del Rey, and he recently helped with CERT activities during the Creek Fire and Skirball Fire. Wondering about development in the area? 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. 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. NCWP now accepting grant applications. The Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa is now accepting grant applications from groups looking to make a difference in Westchester, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista. Applicants that are interested in enhancing the neighborhood through improving education, safety or beautification projects are encouraged to apply. Eligible organizations must be either a public school located in Westchester, Playa del Rey or Playa Vista or a nonprofit that supports those areas. For more information and to download an application, please visit ncwpdr.org/finance. Chamber offers Workforce Improvement Training. The LAX Coastal Chamber is helping educate employers on the new laws and regulations for 2018 with its new Workforce Improvement Training (WIT) courses. The first 8-hour course will take place on Wednesday, January 17 from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and will discuss the essentials of HR, employment law updates, changes that will impact your business in 2018 and more. The class will be led by Woodhill Solutions and an expert panel on employee relations. The cost to attend is $199 and rebates may be available. For more information or to sign-up, please visit laxcoastal.com. Opened a new business? Celebrating an anniversary? We want to hear about your business or nonprofit! Email us at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
January 2018 • Page 7
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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Westchester Lutheran’s cross country team poses in Kenneth Hahn Park after their Pacific Basin League championship win. Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnet students celebrate receiving a $13,000 grant to help fund STEM projects at the Westchester high school.
SoCalGas awards grants. Four local schools recently received grants from SoCalGas to help with their STEM programs and initiatives. New Middle School Pathway received $4,800; Wright STEAM Magnet received $2,134; Westport Heights Elementary School received $4,075 and Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnet School received $13,000. Westchester and Playa schools were given the opportunity to apply for the grants after a presentation by SoCalGas at the Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa’s Education Committee. SoCalGas has a natural gas storage facility in Playa del Rey and plans to offer other opportunities for grants in the future.
mtecle@otis.edu or (310) 846-2617.
SoCalGas Public Affairs Manager, Mike Harriel (left) and LAX Coastal Education Foundation
Rotary Clubs offer arts scholarships. President, Matthew Swanlund (second from left), present a check to New Middle School The Westchester and Playa Venice Pathway students and faculty. Sunrise Rotary Clubs are now accepting applications from high school students that excel in the arts to participate in the Pageant of the Arts competition. Those with a talent in the fine arts, dance, music and speech are encouraged to apply by Friday, January 26. Those that are selected will participate in a local competition on Saturday, February 3 at LA Arts Collective. Two winners in each category will have the chance to head to the district competition on March 10 at LMU. There students will compete for scholarships ranging from $250 to $1,000. For more info or an application, please visit playavenice.org or rotarywestchester.com. Questions can also Westport Heights Elementary School students react to the news about their STEM grant. be directed to Matthew Tecle at Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Private schools offer open houses. Interested in learning about the private school options in Westchester? Three private schools will be holding open houses this month. Westchester Lutheran will hold an open house on Sunday, January 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Westchester Lutheran is located at 7831 S. Sepulveda Blvd. in Westchester. For more info, please call (310) 670-5422 or visit wlcs.org. Visitation Catholic School will hold its open house on Wednesday, January 31 at 7 p.m. Visitation is located at 8740 S. Emerson Ave. in Westchester. For more info, please visit visitationschool.org. St. Anastasia Catholic School is hosting an open house on Sunday, January 28 from 10 a.m. to noon. St. Anastasia is located at 8631 Stanmoor Dr. in Westchester. For more info, please visit school.st-anastasia.org. Save the date! The inaugural Rock, Roll and Run 5k for Education, presented by the LAX Coastal Education Foundation in partnership with Loyola Marymount University, is schedule for Saturday, March 10 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the campus at LMU. Sponsors are currently being sought to support the race, which provides funds to local participating schools. For more information about the race or for sponsorship opportunities, please call (310) 645-5151 or email info@laxcoastaledfoundation.com. January 2018 • Page 9
DEADLINE EXTENDED!
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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Recipes from the Inn: easy peanut butter bars All of us here at the Inn at Playa del Rey enjoyed welcoming our guests who came to town to see friends and family for the holidays! We also enjoyed spending time with guests who used the Inn as a sanctuary to retreat from the hustle and bustle of the season. Most guests expressed the joy of the season, while also saying they were a bit worn out by the festivities. Given how much was going on in December, we want you to start the New Year with this easy, no bake 5 ingredient snack, that’s sure to satisfy your sweet tooth and still allow plenty of downtime for rest and relaxation. In the New Year, we wish for you peace, love, good health, prosperity, and, of course, a yummy snack or two! Happy New Year and happy baking from all of us to all of you!
Photo by Tom Caufield.
By Rebecca Hill, Innkeeper
Try adding white chocolate chips, marshmallows or dark chocolate to the bars for a special treat.
Easy Peanut Butter Oat Bars • 1 1/4 cup chunky peanut butter • 3 cups rolled oats • 1 tablespoon sugar • ½ cup honey
• 1 cup chocolate chips Directions: 1. Take a small pan and coat with non-stick cooking spray. 2. Combine peanut butter and
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
honey. Over the stove top or in the microwave, melt slightly and mix together. 3. Add oats and 1/2 cup of chocolate chips and mix together. Add more peanut butter or oats if needed. 4. Take mixture and press into pan. 5. Sprinkle with sugar and remaining chocolate chips. 6. Put in refrigerator until the bars have had a chance to chill and set. (We let ours sit for at least two hours). 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.
January 2018 • Page 11
Westchester Family YMCA staff (from left to right) Robert Higgins, Matthew Brown, Rae Jin, John Loussararian, Danny O’Neill and Jade Fackler have fun demonstrating the variety of workouts and equipment available at the gym.
Westchester Family YMCA offers members chance to get healthy while building sense of community Many people will be hitting the gym this month, some for the first time, in a bid to shed pounds, get healthy and gain muscle. For those looking for a new health club to join in 2018, the Westchester Family YMCA is encouraging the community to come check out their programs and offerings that can benefit the health of the whole family. “What makes us different is that we target the entire family instead of individuals,” says Westchester Family YMCA Executive Director John Loussararian. “At the Y, everyone can get their health and fitness needs met at the same time, instead of having to split up to different places.” At the Y, the goal is to give families a one-stop option, where everyone can show up together and find their exercise niche. While most gyms just cater to adults, the YMCA offers programs for members of all ages– from kids to seniors. While adults are taking advantage of the weight room, ellipticals or classes, including indoor cycling and water aerobics, kids can participate in the “Itty Bitty Sports” league, youth gymnastics, martial arts, soccer, swim lessons and more. When kids learn about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle at an early age it provides a good foundation for making healthy choices through adulthood according to Matthew Brown, the Y’s Page 12 • January 2018
Director of Sports and Recreation. “Kids are getting a base of physical literacy at the Y,” said Brown. “That helps them make better, healthier choices later on in their lives because they already have these behaviors.” Activities that the whole family can participate in include a yearly family camping trip to Camp Whittle. There’s also the Adventure Guides, which helps parents and children bond through group activities like crafts, weekend events, camping, pine wood derbies, hiking and more. Groups meet once a month for weekend activities, allowing busy parents a special chance to pause and create lasting memories with their families. Brown says that the experience people have at the Y as kids–whether it’s in sports or camps–often have them returning as adults to help volunteer and mentor others. Another thing that sets the Westchester Family YMCA apart from other gyms is the sense of community built between members, according to Associate Executive Director Rae Jin. “The community built between our members is great. Members are a fantastic support system for each other and lifelong relationships are formed here,” said Jin. “People aren’t just walking in and getting on a treadmill, and coming in and out of the facility. They’re also building relationships.”
For many, the Y becomes a second home, says Healthy Lifestyles Director Jade Fackler, with members and staff supporting each other, championing each other’s causes and becoming like an extended family. “At the Y, people support each other, laugh together and cry together,” said Fackler. “They even raise their kids together. People create deep and meaningful relationships here. Some of our members have been here for decades. It’s inspiring to see.” The closeness of members and staff allows them to make introductions and connections that might not otherwise be made. For example, when Fackler heard a member was interested in training for a triathlon, she was able to introduce them to a member that is a successful triathlete for tips and support. Loussararian, who just celebrated 25 years of working for the YMCA, even met his wife at the Y. “The Y is an environment for likeminded individuals. People join for different reasons, but end up staying for common goals and purpose. Many find a sense of community at the Y.” Not content to just stay within its four walls, some of the Y’s most successful programs happen outside of the Westchester building. The Y’s P.L.A.Y. (Physical Learning Activities for Youth) Program brings a traditional PE program to 12 local schools and
more than 1,300 students with the goal of preventing childhood obesity and diabetes, all while teaching about fitness and having fun. “Some kids think that sports are only for athletes,” said Brown. “We work to show that all kids can enjoy PE and become engaged.” By having an all-inclusive strategy, where kids are picked for teams at random and a premium is put on character development, the program is having a positive impact on the students P.L.A.Y. serves. Brown says students who previously didn’t like sports are excelling and finding activities they enjoy. Unique to the Westchester YMCA is its partnership with the Drollinger Family Charitable Foundation, which has brought yoga to 9 local schools– Visitation, St. Anastasia, Wright STEAM Magnet, WISH, Westport Heights, Playa del Rey, Paseo, Kentwood and Cowan. Now in its fourth year, the yoga program is having a big impact on students. Loussararian says a common theme he hears from administrators is that students–even kindergarteners–are more stressed out than ever, and the yoga classes are teaching them skills to remain calm, centered and in control of their actions and feelings. “There is the reoccurring theme of mindfulness in the classes and
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Visitation Catholic School is the latest school added to the YMCA’s and the Drollinger Family Charitable Foundation’s yoga program. Above: Students demonstrate a yoga pose, mindfulness and music therapy with yoga instructors Melvin Boyce and Liberty Bradford.
students are becoming self-aware,” said Loussararian. “They are gaining the ability to cope with life’s pressures. Yoga has brought a safe environment to schools where students are comfortable in their own skin and are able to work through their emotions and handle stress better.” He says that teachers and administrators are noticing a positive difference in student behavior since yoga has started. One told him about a situation where two students had a conflict and the situation became heated. One of the students remembered what he had learned from yoga and was able to walk away from the situation, collect himself and reenter the situation to solve the problem. The students were then able to talk
through their issues instead of resorting to fighting. Instructors Melvin Boyce and Liberty Bradford modify the classes at each school to fit the needs of the students, but each class starts with a check-in to see where students are emotionally that often involves music. Then, the classes often practices poses and quiet time, where students are encouraged to be present and reflect on how they want their day to go. At the end of class, students are given a positive message to leave with. During a recent yoga class at Visitation School, third grade students gleefully left their yoga class repeating “I’m so successful!” “Some kids would never have the chance to take yoga,” said Jin. “But it’s
making a world of difference that they can take these classes and behavior is improving in the classroom.” In 2018, the Westchester Family YMCA is focusing on offering more holistic wellness options to their members, realizing that well-being and good health is more than just physical progress, but also mental and spiritual. They are hoping to grow their partnerships with the Airport Marina Counseling Service and Westside Pacific Village, which provides services to seniors. Loussararian says he is always looking for strategic partnerships with local organizations to help provide even more benefits to the Y’s members and the community. “We are so appreciative of the community’s continued support of
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
the YMCA. The Y is built on the backs of volunteers, members, donors, our staff and all those that have come before to help bring us to where we are today,” said Loussararian. “It has been inspiring that the Y has been supported all of these years. The Y is stronger with the community’s support and our community is stronger with our Y.” Through January 15, the YMCA is waiving its membership fee for new members. Thanks to donors and fundraising, no one is turned away at the YMCA for inability to pay. For more information about the YMCA, its programs or joining, please visit ymcala.org/westchester. The Westchester Family YMCA is located at 8015 S. Sepulveda Blvd. in Westchester.
January 2018 • Page 13
Westchester Rotary Club volunteers, including President Elect Tori Hettinger, help paint a wall at Safe Place for Youth during last year’s Makeover Project. Joining or participating in a Rotary Club event is just one of the many ways volunteers can donate their time, talent or treasure to enhancing the community.
Want to get involved? Local groups offer opportunities to give back, enhance community For many of us, the new year creates an opportunity to make plans and goals to accomplish in the next twelve months. For those looking to get more involved in their neighborhood, January is a fresh start to give your time, talent or treasure to the myriad of local groups that are always looking for new, enthusiastic people interested in joining their organizations. Here is a short list of local groups that can help you accomplish your goal of getting involved and giving back to your neighborhood in 2018: • Love having a voice in the community? The Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa (NCWP) is an advisory board to the City Council that meets monthly to hear and vote on pressing issues that impact Westchester, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista. Board meetings regularly involve discussing development projects, airport issues, public safety and more. The volunteer board is made up of 31 members that live, work, volunteer or own property in the community. Currently, there are three residential seats and two business seats that are vacant. The NCWP also has 9 committees that meet regularly (or as needed) that the community is invited to participate in Page 14 • January 2018
and attend. The NCWP monthly board meeting takes place on the first Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. Due to the holidays, the NCWP is holding its January meeting on Tuesday, January 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Westchester Community Room, located at 7166 Manchester Ave. in Westchester. To celebrate the New Year, in lieu of a regular meeting, the January meeting is a community dinner. At the dinner, guests will have the opportunity to hear from board leadership about ways to get involved. For more info, please visit ncwpdr. org. • Love animals? Since opening in June of last year, the Wallis Annenberg PetSpace has been a hub for animal lovers looking to learn more about their four-legged companions, those looking to adopt a new family member and people interested in workshops on a variety of helpful pet-related topics. The center, with a mission to strengthen the human animal bond, has a variety of opportunities for dedicated volunteers in areas including animal adoption assistance, animal enrichment, cat and dog care, guest experience, photography, education and more. Prospective volunteers must attend a volunteer information
session, which includes a tour of the facility and an overview of PetSpace’s policies. The center also offers volunteer opportunities for youth 1517 with a parents’ approval. New volunteer orientations take place monthly with the next two shifts taking place on Saturday, January 6 and Saturday, February 3 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. For those with limited time and looking for a kid-friendly activity, PetSpace also offers weekly opportunities to help adoptable pets with its Paw & Pages program. Taking place on Sundays at noon, guests are invited to sign-up online or check-in at the reception desk for the opportunity to read to the center’s animals or listen to a story. The Wallis Annenberg PetSpace is located at 12005 Bluff Creek Dr. in Playa Vista. To learn more about the center’s volunteer opportunities or to sign-up for an orientation, please visit annenbergpetspace.org/about/jobsvolunteer. • Love meeting new people? Traveling at the airport can be stressful, so Los Angeles World Airport’s Volunteer Information Professionals (VIPs) program works to make the experience at LAX a positive one. VIPs assist passengers by providing directions, finding
transportation, offering sightseeing suggestions and facilitating communications between passengers and airlines. While most of the time VIPs are stationed at information booths, they also are assigned to roam the baggage claim area. Volunteers work four-hour shifts in pairs between 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. during the weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the weekends. For those who own therapy dogs, there’s also the Pets Unstressing Passengers (PUP) program, where volunteers and their dogs help relieve passengers’ stress and anxiety while offering assistance. PUP volunteers must have a registered therapy dog with at least one year of experience working with a dog therapy organization to be considered. As a bonus for being part of the VIP program, volunteers are invited to LAWA events, are eligible to apply for human resource training courses like CPR and Spanish and are invited to an annual recognition event. For more info please visit lawa.org/ VIP or lawa.org/pup. • Love working with seniors? Seniors can often feel isolated and alone due to limited mobility, families with busy schedules and lack of transportation. Since Westside Pacific Villages (WPV) was formed in
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
2009, however, the organization has worked hard to help seniors stay active, engaged and independent in their homes as long as possible by pairing them with volunteers. WPV is a nonprofit membership organization that provides its members with help and companionship with the aid of volunteers. With a commitment as little as an hour a week, volunteers can help seniors with a variety of needs including transportation to doctors appointments, errands or grocery shopping; simple handyman tasks like fixing a door knob or changing a light bulb; help with household chores; taking dogs for walks and teaching members how to use email, cell phones or computers. A big component of the program is also offering friendship to seniors, whose social circles inevitably begin to shrink as they get older. A “friendly visitor” volunteer opportunity can mean becoming a walking buddy, sharing a meal with a WPV member, playing a game, watching a movie or attending a social outing together. To learn more about volunteering at WPV, please visit thewpv.clubexpress. com.
dollars in grants to local teachers and supports local education through sponsoring scholarships and events like the Teacher Eddy Awards. The club also hosts pancake breakfasts at local fire stations, the Santa Tour, a holiday adopt-a-family program and is integral in providing support to the Fourth of July Parade. The club meets Wednesday mornings at Whiskey Red’s in Marina del Rey. Both clubs also participate in international projects and are always looking for new members that are enthusiastic about Rotary’s mission of “Service Above Self” and living by the Four Way Test: “Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?” While there’s yearly membership dues associated with joining to help support the clubs’ activities, the wealth of projects both clubs participate in each year make joining Rotary a worthwhile choice for those looking for volunteer opportunities. For more info about joining the Westchester Rotary Club, please visit rotary-westchester.com. For info about joining the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary, please visit playavenice.org.
• Love doing community service? Westchester/Playa is home to two thriving Rotary Clubs that work hard each year to give back to the community. Rotary Clubs are made up of a diverse group of professional leaders that look to effect positive change in their local community and beyond. The Rotary Club of Westchester was founded in 1950 and is known locally for its signature events including the annual book sale in Westchester and its Makeover Project, which has helped make over people’s homes, the Westchester Senior Center and the Venice nonprofit Safe Place for Youth. The club meets every Wednesday afternoon at the Crowne Plaza Hotel LAX for fellowship, lunch and sharing. The Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club offers club members numerous ways to get involved with the community. This month, the club will be distributing thousands of
• Love special events? The LAX Coastal Chamber is a business membership organization with more than 500 members made up of large and small businesses. The chamber hosts monthly networking opportunities for its members (visitors can also attend for a fee) where guests can collect business cards, exchange ideas and build synergy with other business owners and representatives. More than just a business organization, however, the chamber also hosts numerous community events throughout the year where volunteers are appreciated, including the Fourth of July Parade, the Protectors’ Luncheon and the Teacher Eddy Awards. For more information about joining the chamber or volunteer opportunities, please visit laxcoastal. com. (continued on page 18)
YOU CAN HELP! FOOD PANTRY, LAX
Emergency Food Distribution to those in need. Sponsored by the Westchester Clergy Association
Open Tuesday & Friday, 10am-12pm 355 Beach St., Inglewood
Bring donations of non-perishable food to Covenant Presbyterian Chuch. Volunteers and money donations also welcomed and encouraged!
For more information, please call (310) 677-5597 Ad donated by the Covenant Presbyterian Church
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
January 2018 • Page 15
Calendar January events: Westchester Senior Center Membership Drive Interested in joining the Westchester Senior Center Club? The club’s 2018 membership drive is currently underway from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. every Tuesday in January and membership is $12 a year. Seniors (50 years or older) are invited to see what programs the center offers, including morning coffee and donuts (free), daily lunch ($1.75), special holiday luncheons (Spring Tea, Luau, Thanksgiving and Christmas), exercise classes, bingo, garden club, karaoke, card games, entertainment, special seminars, trips/tours and more! With all of its social events, the club is a great place to make new friends. The Westchester Senior Center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and is located at 8740 Lincoln Blvd. in Westchester. For more info, please call (310) 649-3317.
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.
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
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TheHTN.com 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, January 7. For more information, please contact Jim or Sharon Higgins at (310) 645-8143 or go to Fastfriends. org.
soup, shrimp bisque, rosemary French baguettes and more. The fee to attend is $55 when you reserve your spot by January 8 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.
Otis College Extension Program Open House
Westside Voices Concert
Otis College of Art and Design’s extension program is hosting an open house on Sunday, January 7. The college offers courses for all ages– from children to adults–ranging from beginning to advanced. At the open house, guests can register for courses and receive a $50 early bird discount, participate in a drawing for a free extension course, attend digital media arts and graphic design presentations and meet with instructors and college representatives. The open house will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. on the Otis campus, located at 9045 Lincoln Blvd. in Westchester. For more information or to RSVP, please visit otis.edu.
NCWP Annual Community Dinner Join the Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa (NCWP) for its annual community dinner on Tuesday, January 9 at 6:30 p.m. Community members are invited to attend the event for dinner, camaraderie, to talk about local issues and to meet their NCWP representatives. At the event, awards will be presented to two community members for their dedication and commitment to the Westchester/ Playa neighborhood. The dinner will take place at the Westchester Community Room, located at 7166 Manchester Ave. in Westchester.
Soup, Stews and Bread Class Join Fresh Food in a Flash for a class to help kick-off the new year with new light, healthy recipes at their Soup, Stews and Bread Class. The class is led by Patricia K. Rose and will take place on Thursday, January 11 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Attendees will learn how to make fresh-made vegetable stock, tomato
The Westside Voices, a local a cappella group, will hold a Post Holiday Potpourri performance on Sunday, January 14 at 3:30 p.m. The group will play a mix of holiday classics and contemporary favorites at the unique concert, which will be held at the Westchester United Methodist Church at 8065 Emerson Ave. in Westchester. The cost to attend is a suggested $10 donation. For reservations, please call Penny at (310) 670-3777.
Events at the Annenberg PetSpace Playa Vista’s Wallis Annenberg PetSpace is offering numerous events this month to help strengthen the relationship that people have with their animals. On Saturday, January 20, Clive Wynne, Ph.D., will discuss the dynamic of adopting pets, how science can be utilized to help more shelter animals find forever homes, why rescue dogs make great pets and what to look for when adopting dogs and cats from a rescue or shelter. The talk will run from noon to 1 p.m. The event is free, but space is limited. RSVP at annenbergpetspace.org. Every Wednesday in January at noon, PetSpace visitors can learn tips on leash manners so walks can become a better experience for both owner and pet. “Walking Wednesdays” are free, informal talks that last about 15 minutes and reservations are not required. 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.
New Threads opens at Laband Art Gallery New Threads: Perspectives in Contemporary Art opens at LMU’s Laband Art gallery on Saturday,
January 27 from 2 to 5 p.m. when the studio reopens from winter break. The show is a group exhibition featuring 18 artists whose textilebased work centers on gender roles, the body, technology and traditions. To compliment the show, the campus’ Dunning Courtyard will also be transformed by Yarn Bombing Los Angeles. The show is co-curated by Karen Rapp and Sam Lee. 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.
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 runs through 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.
Little League Sign-ups It’s little league season sign-up time and local leagues are now open for registration. Check out the leagues’ websites for registration details and league boundaries: • Westchester Little League Baseball sign-ups can be made at westchesterll.org/Registration. Registration will need to be made before evaluations and tryouts begin on January 13. • Del Rey American Little League (DRALL) is accepting sign-ups at drall.org. DRALL little league baseball serves boys and girls ages 5 to 12 in Westchester and Playa del Rey • Sign-up for Westchester Del Rey Little League at wdrll.org. The league is open to girls ages 6-14, and also offers tee-ball for boys and girls ages 4-6.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
January 2018 • Page 17
Volunteering (continued) (continued from page 15) • Love the environment? The area is home to one of the last remaining wetlands in South California and local nonprofit, the Friends of Ballona Wetlands, has made it their mission to help restore and protect the roughly 600-acres along Culver Blvd. For those with limited time, the Friends of Ballona offers habitat restoration and creek clean-up days where volunteers put in a few hours of work helping clean and restore the wetlands. For those looking for a bigger commitment, the group has opportunities for helping in the office, at community events, at educational programs, photography and at special events. For more info about volunteering, please visit ballonafriends.org/ volunteer.html. • Love gardening? Over the years, the volunteers at the Emerson Avenue Community Garden have transformed an empty plot of land on the campus of Wright STEAM Magnet into a thriving organic garden, green space and a community hub. Run by a group of enthusiastic volunteers, the space is more than just a place to grow fruits and vegetables, and you don’t need to have a plot to participate in the nonprofit’s activities. Those looking to volunteer can help at community work days in the garden, staff a booth at community events
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or assist at one of the group’s special events including a pancake breakfast, movie nights and the popular Westchester Arts and Music (WAM) Block Party. For more information about volunteering, please visit eacgc.org/take-action. • Love history? Since opening the storefront “Westchester’s Jewel and Playa’s Treasures presented by the Westchester/Playa Historical Society” in June of last year, local volunteers with a love of history have been helping catalogue and organize the historical society’s archives. The archives, which include pictures, newspaper articles, memorabilia and yearbooks, have been in storage for years, and the goal is to offer these treasures from year’s past for public viewing. Volunteers are currently being sought to help organize the collection, as well as serve as docents for the historical society room, which is located in the Westchester Triangle and open on Sundays during the Farmers’ Market. For more information about volunteering, please call (310) 6455151 or visit facebook.com/ westchesterplayahistory.
Open to Area High School Students
LA Arts Collective 8939 S. Sepulveda Blvd. Ste 105 Los Angeles, CA 90045
Loyola Marymount University 1 LMU Drive Los Angeles, CA 90045
.com
What ways do you like to get involved in the community? Let us know at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
January 2018 • Page 19
Random Notes/Opinion
The 2018 guide to your fitness success By Jeff Blair
Opinion: By the time you read this, millions of Americans will have begun their New Year’s resolutions. While many fitness professionals discourage New Year’s resolutions since they often don’t work, I encourage you to set one. The missing ingredient for most resolutions is follow-up. I am going to help you with that in four tips. 1. Set three different levels of goals. Most people set one big goal (e.g., lose 30 pounds). Continue to set a big goal, but also set two smaller goals. If you would love to lose 30 pounds, set smaller goals of 10 and 20 pound losses. Some call these “realistic” (10 pounds), “stretch” (20 pounds) and “moon shot” (30 pounds) goals. We would all love to reach our “moon shot” goal, but setting smaller goals can encourage you and help you maintain the larger goals. If your goal is to lose 30 pounds in 2018 and you lose 20, you will have made great strides. While you may not be exactly where you want to be, your life will be changed for the better. For many, the “moon shot” goal seems too far away
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and can even be discouraging if you feel you will never reach it. Achieve your smaller goals and they can psychologically power you to greater success. 2. You may already have enough knowledge to succeed. We often feel we need to learn about a great new diet breakthrough or workout program to achieve our resolutions. I am a big believer in education, but I have never met anyone who thought a potato chip was healthier than broccoli. Yet, people often choose chips over broccoli even when they really want to lose weight. We know vegetables are better than chips, but we choose the chips anyway. We know exercise is good for us, but we may go weeks without breaking a sweat. Why is this? I believe it is because more knowledge is often not the solution. Changing behavior is the solution, and behavior change can be tough for many people for a variety of reasons. Yes, knowledge plays an important role (especially when it comes to understanding how many calories our bodies burn daily and how many calories we eat), but I believe fitness changes are usually 20% knowledge
and 80% behavior. 3. Find your “why.” “Finding your why” is a trendy idea right now, and I believe it can really help you succeed. “Finding your why” comes down to asking yourself why you want to increase your fitness level (or lose weight or whatever the goal might be). My original “why” came when I saw my dad’s life destroyed by poor health, and I was going down the same path at around 30-years-old. Rather than simply keep doing what I was doing, I made a lifestyle shift and eventually lost 25 pounds. I have kept that off for most of the past 20 years (with a little fluctuation). Whenever I would think about experiencing health problems due to poor choices, I would feel motivated to try and improve my diet and exercise consistently. This is still my primary “why” 20 years later. I do my best to live a healthy life since I want to be active and disease free as long as I can. 4. Get started. Procrastination hits almost everyone in one form or another. Someone may look like they are on top of everything while procrastinating about their most precious asset: their health. Beating yourself up over past procrastination
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is a waste of time. Give yourself a break and move on. If you would like to improve your fitness level, start by doing something: walking, bike riding, jumping jacks or whatever else you can muster. The first step is always the most difficult and then each later step becomes easier. I encourage you to ignore the media fitness model images when you start. Just try to do a little something each day and you will gradually want to do more. Definitely seek out a professional if you need accountability and instruction, but you can start by walking out your front door for 15minutes and then returning back to your house for a 30-minute exercise session. Go slow, go fast, stop, don’t stop, honestly, none of that matters too much when you are beginning. Just start. All the best for a healthy and happy 2018! Before you start any fitness routine, please consult your doctor. Jeff Blair (M.S., CSCS) is five-time winner of the Hometown News “Best Personal Trainer” Award. Email him at jeffblair@jeffblairfitness.com for story ideas or comments.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Controlling your own life can bring contentment By Fay Craton Opinion: During a recent trip, I was on a flight where a man sitting close to me was watching the latest Spiderman movie. When it was finished, he rewound it repeatedly watching specific sections of the movie multiple times. Eventually he stopped rewatching sections of the movie and began watching something else. I wondered what he was seeking while watching the rewound parts of the movie. It could have been many things such as admiring the special effects, or reliving the action scenes, or even thinking about what it would be like to swing between buildings. Only he knew what he was reliving from the repeated segments. Sometimes life is lived the same way the man watched Spiderman: by continuously playing in our minds experiences from the past. It is terrific if a replayed memory brings laughter and happiness. However, frequently replayed memories generate unhappiness or fear, bringing sadness, anger or frustration to your current life experience. Everything can be great, until something–perhaps a word– triggers an unhappy or frightening occurrence from the past. Suddenly instead of experiencing contentment, you are plunged into emotions completely unrelated to what is actually happening in your life. The people around you probably have no idea you have been triggered; for the other person everything may still be great. If you act upon how you are feeling when triggered, the outcome can result in: • arguments with people around you, or • inappropriate attempting to control the actions of others, or • engaging in self-destructive actions, or • misusing substances or food, or • being side-tracked from accomplishing a task, or • experiencing emotional pain unrelated to what was happening prior to being triggered. Your actions when you are triggered can change a peaceful situation into antagonism, which can possibly damage supportive relationships with important people in your life. In some cases, the triggering starts a spiral of obsessive thoughts and actions. In a few cases, the triggering can lead to disconnection of awareness of your current situation. Sometimes, the triggering can be serious enough that seeking counseling is very appropriate. It is important to learn how to not let the triggers control your life. How do you change the experience from your triggers controlling your life to you consciously being in control of your life? You start with making a decision to stay present and to live your life based upon what you are experiencing today. In making this decision, you can use information from your past, but you must
remember to not keep reliving the past. You can still have goals for the future, you just will not obsess over the goals. Triggers can sneak up on you when you least expect them. This means taking control away from the triggers starts before you are actually triggered. Ask yourself, “What experience do you want in life?” Do you want a life with meaningful relationships, or to be healthy, or to be energized, or to be self-directed, or something else? Take some time to really think about this question. This is not about what you want somebody else to do. This question is only about you and the experience you wish to have in life. Write down what you desire. Place what you wrote somewhere where you can see it every day. This is information you want to be in the front of your mind where you are consciously accessing it on a regular basis. Next ask yourself, “What are your past memories leading you to believe you are not able to have your desired life experiences?” This can be a very tough question to answer. Events may have unfolded which placed you on a different path than towards the life you desire. For others, while you were growing up there could have been strong family messages about failure to comply with certain behaviors or achieve certain outcomes. Memories may also come from abusive behavior or statements directed toward you. It is from your history that negative mind chatter is formed. Healing is required to stop the mental chatter and memories from blocking your experience of a happy life today. Healing does not mean pretending the experience did not happen. Healing rarely happens immediately. It requires taking your life energy away from the memory and consciously placing your attention towards creating a pleasant life today. Healing is not about what another person does, it is about what you do. Ultimately, for healing to happen, you must make a choice to no longer dwell on the past. Letting go of a memory can be like watching a rerun video of a show. The first time the show is watched it is a fresh experience. After watching it several times you may know the script by heart. Eventually, you choose to either keep watching the same old show or you can choose to watch something new. My wish is for you to be in control of your own life instead of your past controlling you. I want you to have a contented life where you make healthy choices. 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
January 2018 • Page 21
In Pictures Photo by Shari Barrett.
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“The Crucible” opens at Westchester Playhouse. Friday, January 12 is opening night for Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” at the Westchester Playhouse. 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 January 28, 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. Pictured from left: Daniel Kruger, Caitlin Barry, Harold Dershimer, Jennifer Sperry, Brad Halvorsen and Sydney Holliday star in “The Crucible.”
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Students take home medals at Inaugural STEM Quiz Bowl. This winter, three teams from Westchester Lutheran Middle School attended the inaugural STEM Quiz Bowl hosted by St. Bernard High School (SBHS). Lead by SBHS faculty and students, middle schoolers from neighboring communities participated in an academic decathlon-type competition that focused on the subjects of math, science and engineering. The event consisted of three parts: a written test in either science or math, a team challenge to build a tower out of provided supplies and a lightning round of questions asked to each team. Westchester Lutheran teams included “Team Two” with members Claire Gerold, Adeline Hoisman, Abby Penny, Hailey Smith and Kate Sussman, who won gold and bronze medals in quiz bowl events and placed silver overall. “Team Three” included members Kabeer Nayyar, Mitchell Saqui, Griffin Salerno and Samuel Ye. The team won gold and bronze event medals and placed first place overall. “Team One” members included Bella Giammalvo, Natalie Lim, JinJin Mayberry and Cate Necessary. Individual medals were also presented to Saqui (1st place in science), Ye (2nd place in science), Giammalvo (3rd place in science), Lim and Nayyar (2nd place in math) and Salerno (3rd place in math).
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News