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NCWP Election Information...page 11 A group of candidates pose for a photo in Westchester Park to promote community participation in the NCWP election.
Community encouraged to get out and vote in Neighborhood Council election Twenty-one candidates are running for fifteen seats in the Westchester/ Playa Neighborhood Council (NCWP) election set for Sunday, June 5. While there may only be four contested seats in the election this cycle, NCWP President Cyndi Hench is encouraging the community to head to the Westchester Community Room to vote and show their support for the candidates. The At-Large Community Interest Director seat has four people running for the position, while the
A Look Inside Your
HomeTown
Playa del Rey resident seat, the Playa Vista resident seat and the Youth Organization Director Seat each have two candidates running. “I don’t expect it to reach the same levels as the election turnout of two years ago, but I hope that people will care enough about their community to show up and to participate in the selection of their board members,” said Hench who says that 1,135 ballots were cast in the 2014 election. Candidates not running against
anyone will automatically “win” their seat with at least one vote, and all elected board members will be installed at the NCWP’s Tuesday, August 2 board meeting. Voting will take place at the Westchester Community Room, located at 7166 Manchester Ave. in Westchester on Sunday, June 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is open to stakeholders 18 and older who live, work or own property in the NCWP boundary. All potential voters will be
asked to bring proof of their eligibility to vote, which can include a driver’s license, utility bill or pay stub. Board members will also be on hand at the voting location to answer questions about getting more involved with the neighborhood council. “The NCWP is the voice of the community, so our community is stronger when people get involved, whether that’s through participation in the election or participating in meetings or committees,” said Hench.
A Look at Playa Vista’s New Parks
Bowlero Opens in Westchester
Celebrate Father’s Day with an Easy Brunch Dish
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The Spot
The Lawn
June Movies & Concerts in the Park
June 12: Louie Cruz Beltran 5-6:30 p.m. @ Concert Park
Common Grounds
The Pointe
June 17: Top Gun 8-10 p.m. @ Central Park Bandshell June 24: Star Wars: The Force Awakens 8-10 p.m. @ Concert Park June 26: Hollywood U2 5-6:30 p.m. @ Central Park Bandshell
Bluff Creek Fields
The Lounge
Corner Greens
A Walk in the Park...
Just in time for summer, Playa Vista recently celebrated the opening of eight new parks, each with their own charm and character that are open to the public. In late May, the HTN took a tour of the parks led by Brookfield Residential’s Vice President of Planning and Entitlements, Marc Huffman, and we’re excited to share some photos of the community’s newest open spaces. Whether you’re looking to do a little sunbathing, get
the kids out of the house for some much needed outdoor time, meet with friends over a cup of coffee or want Fido to learn how to fetch, there’s a park to fit your needs. In fact, Playa Vista now boasts 29 parks that comprise a little over 47-acres of open space. While getting around Playa Vista by walking is easy, so is hopping on the free Playa Vista shuttle that has 22 pick-up and drop-off locations throughout the community. Shuttles
run seven-days a week, every 15 to 30 minutes (depending on the time and day), and taking a ride is a great way to explore the community’s open spaces, the shops and restaurants at Runway or enjoy easy-access to a movie or concert in the park (see above left). Huffman says that in April more than 3,000 people took the free shuttle. During the summer months, Playa Vista also partners with L.A. County to offer a free Beach Shuttle, which brings
riders to and from destinations like Playa Vista, Fisherman’s Village, Venice Beach Pier, the Marina del Rey Waterbus and the Waterside Shopping Center during Fridays, weekends and holidays. To view a map of where Playa Vista’s parks are located, please visit playavista.com/interactive-map. Information on the shuttle can be found at playavista.com or beaches. lacounty.gov.
Westchester/Playa Neighborhood Council Candidate
Vote Trevor Candler: Your Candidate for Community Interest • A 22-year resident in the Loyola Village, 20 year home owner on Loyola Blvd. • Interested in protecting the quality of life that brought me to this area. • A vote for me is a vote against LMU encroaching on our private lives by causing students and staff to park on our streets. • I have a high attendance record at the Neighborhood Council meetings having missed only six in the last five years and three of those while in New Zealand. • Interested in promoting responsible redevelopment without changing the character of the areas covered by this council. • An executive level person in the engineering and construction fields for a major entertainment company for the past 17 years. • The owner of several commercial properties in South L.A. providing space to thirteen small businesses at below market rates. • Extensive experience with how the City of Los Angeles works related to property ownership and development with knowledge of current codes. • An advocate for the environment; as a car guy I have switched to 100% electric. • I also conserve water and power with minimal irrigation and LED lighting.
I ask for your vote for “At-Large Community Interest Director” TREVOR CANDLER • kiwitrev@outlook.com
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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
This Month Brings You A look inside your HTN A look at Playa Vista’s new parks 02 Nonprofit gift shop readies to say goodbye 04 Secret recipes from the Inn: Father’s Day brunch 10 NCWP election information 11-14
HOMETOWN STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS Stephanie Davis, Publisher, Editor Jeff Blair, Contributing Writer Fay Craton, Contributing Writer
David “Duke” Dukesherer Sr., Looking Back Rebecca Hill, Secret Recipes of the Inn
Advertisers’ Directory
Airport Marina Counseling 09 CarenetLA 15 ChamberFest LAeXpo 07 Covenant Presbyterian Church 09 Custom Design & Construction 19 Drollinger Properties 08, 10 El Segundo 5-Minute Carwash 19 Food Pantry, LAX 09 Friends of Ballona Wetlands 02 Jane St. John 21 Kentwood South 20 Kevin and Kaz Gallaher 20 Gateway to GO! 15 LA Arts Collective 17
Loyola Marymount 04 Marina del Rey Hospital 24 Neighborhood Council 11-14 Regatta Capital Group 06 Socal Sports and Fitness 22 Trevor Candler 02 Visitation School 16 Westside/Pacific Village 22 Westchester Family YMCA 10 Westchester Lutheran 03 Westchester on Parade 15 Westchester Town Center BID 03 Zacha Homes 23
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
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Celebra Start the New Year lo Start the New Year lo Star theNewYearlo kingintherightdirection. Up! Freedom fromfor doubt. Freedom Are you looking a place where youfrom are fear. accepted, supported, and celebrated? Join us at Westchester Lutheran Church, and embrace the freedom found in a Join our forgiving family of faith at Westchester loving, relationship withLutheran the Church. Ournew Father has setina place for you at His Lord. Join friends a celebration of table. You’ll be embraced by brothers and sisters everything that is possible when you live in harmony the Word. who are eager with to accompany you on your faith journey. Together, we can grow in knowledge, joy, and service.
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After 41 years, little gift shop says goodbye After almost 41 years in business, The Guilded Cage, Westchester’s only nonprofit gift shop, is readying to close its doors. “It’s kind of a sign of the times. I think we’ve seen it coming. We’ve had a reduction in revenue and are down customers and volunteers,” said Westchester Mental Health Guild (WMGH) Co-President Ylla De Leon. “We tried to hold on, but it didn’t make sense to keep the store open when it wasn’t getting the kind of revenue we were hoping to generate.” WMHG volunteers started the boutique, which specializes in home décor, greeting cards and handcrafted items, in 1975 to raise funds to help support the Airport Marina Counseling Service (AMCS), a nonprofit that offers low-cost mental health services to individuals, families and couples. The original shop was located in the Loyola Theater Building, but needing more space, the shop moved again before relocating to its current location in the Ralph’s Shopping Center in the early 1990s. The shop has always been staffed by volunteers who are responsible for all aspects of running the boutique from ordering inventory,
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For the last forty years, The Guilded Cage has been staffed entirely by local volunteers, like the women pictured above.
ringing up sales and decorating. Over the last few years, however, sales have slowed due to what De Leon says is a change in customer’s shopping habits to online retailers, a decrease in people buying and sending greeting cards and an aging volunteerbase. When Chase Bank relocated to another space within the shopping center, a lot of the store’s foot traffic
was lost as well. The WMGH’s approximately 125 members will continue to support AMCS through its signature events like the Holiday Home Tour, scheduled for November 6, and the Garden Tour that is held every other year. “We are going to put our heads together to come up with new ideas to supplement AMCS for the money that
we would get from The Cage,” said De Leon, who thinks a Wine and Cheese Evening could be a great fundraiser. “It will be a difficult task, but I think we will rise to the occasion.” While the some 30 volunteers that staff the shop are sad to see it go, they are pleased that in the last four decades they have been able to donate hundreds of thousands of dollars to support AMCS’ mission. “In addition to the funding, we’ve served as community outreach to let people know AMCS is there and the services they offer,” said De Leon. “The Cage has helped spread the word, and we are very proud of that.” The shop is currently holding a going-out-of-business sale with merchandise discounted at 20% off. The Guilded Cage’s current hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays and Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. The store is closed on Sundays. While no closing date has been announced, the shop’s current lease expires at the end of September. The Guilded Cage is located at 8917B S. Sepulveda Blvd. in Westchester.
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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Business & Nonprofit News
TheHTN.com
Bowlero Los Angeles opened in late May with almost three dozen bowling lanes, an arcade, game tables, a bar and a dining menu that includes the five-pound Behemoth Burger (pictured top right).
Bowlero opens in Westchester. Bowlero Los Angeles, formerly known as AMF El Dorado Lanes, opened on May 21 after receiving a multi-million dollar renovation. The space now has a retro-meets-modern vibe, creating a fun atmosphere for families, a night out with friends or couples. The 34,000-square-foot venue, the largest Bowlero location in the Los Angeles area, includes 32 bowling lanes, a 50 game arcade, foosball, billiards and air hockey. A massive video wall behind the lanes is accompanied by a state-of-the art sound system. For adults, there’s a wrap-around bar located in the middle of the space, which specializes in cocktails like the Endless Summer Sangria and the Moscow Mule available in five varieties. Bowlero’s dining menu includes expected bowling alley fare like sliders, chicken fingers, nachos and wings, but for those with a big appetite looking for Instagram-worthy pics, there’s the Behemoth Burger with a 5-pound patty and the Wonder Dog, a 2-foot-long hot dog covered in a signature Coney sauce and diced onions. Bowlero Los Angeles is located at 8731 Lincoln Boulevard in Westchester. For more info, visit bowlero.com/locations/los-angeles. Westchester readies to welcome second Farmers’ Market. A new Page 6 • June 2016
farmers’ market is poised to open next month in the Westchester Triangle (on 87th Street between Sepulveda Eastway and Truxton Ave.). The new farmers’ market will be a collaboration between the Westchester Town Center BID and Westchester Vitalization and will be open on Sundays. Westchester Vitalization also sponsors a farmers’ market every Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Westchester Park across the street from Otis College of Art and Design. More info on the market’s grand opening will be included in next month’s issue of the HomeTown News. Westchester Family Y offers free memberships for teens this summer. Thanks to a collaboration between the LA Y, the City of Los Angeles, the County and LAUSD, teens 12-17 can join the Westchester Family Y (or any of the 26 LA Y locations) for free for the months of June and July. Teens will have access to all the Y’s amenities, including swimming pools and basketball courts, as well as special programming. Registration forms can also be found online at ymcala. org/westchester. Those interested are invited to fill out the forms before visiting the branch with an authorized guardian to register. The Westchester Family Y is located at 8015 S. Sepulveda Blvd. in Westchester. (continued on page 19)
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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Random Notes/Opinion
TheHTN.com
Six ways to achieve your fat loss goals By Jeff Blair
process is exactly the same. Make a couple small changes per month and build a sustainable lifestyle (see point 1 above). 3. Eat protein with every meal. Fairly recent research shows protein sends a chemical signal to your brain that you are full in a way that doesn’t occur when you eat carbs or fat. Protein also burns more calories during the digestive process (called the Thermal Effect of Food) than fat or carbohydrates. This “one-two punch” makes protein intake with every meal a great strategy for reaching and maintaining a healthy weight. 4. Hydrate. Our muscles are primarily water so hydration allows stronger workouts. Studies have shown even a slight level of dehydration can result in lower physical performance. When you go to the gym hydrated, you are probably going to burn more calories. Over the long-term, this can make a big difference. Another point about weight and water: do you ever “eat unconsciously?” That is, eat because you are bored or anxious or just have nothing else to do? I know I do. By drinking water, you can reduce your unconscious calories. Think about a trip to a restaurant. The server often brings out a bread basket. You might not even want the
Opinion: With summer almost here, exercise and fat loss seem to be on a lot of people’s minds. Try to incorporate these six tips this month to start reaching your fat loss goals. 1. Play the long game. Have you ever heard a trustworthy stock market expert recommend “trying to get rich quickly” as a smart investing strategy? Of course not. They know you can’t get rich in a month and people who take that approach tend to come out worse off than when they started. The same is true of fitness. Crash diets can harm your metabolism over the longterm and rarely produce long-term results. Most people who go on a 30 day diet head immediately to IHOP on Day 31! Make long-term commitments and forget about the crash diet. 2. Start small. Think about anything you have achieved in your life. Were you great at it on the first try? If you played a sport, were you an All-Star on the first day of practice? The answer is always “no” because it takes time to develop skill in anything. Fitness is no exception. Heck, even Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. Even the greatest need time to develop. You might not think of fitness the same way you think of a sport, but the
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bread, but it is there and you have nothing else to do until your food comes out so “oh, why not?” becomes the decision. If you focus on drinking water during these times, you can shave off several pounds per year from this one strategy alone. 5. Get more sleep and rest. When you sleep, a variety of chemical reactions occur that promote healthy weight. Fat burning hormones increase and fat producing hormones decrease when you are sleeping 7-9 hours per night. I have also noticed it is easier to make healthier eating choices when I am well-rested because I am not as likely to make an emotional eating choice. On days when your sleep is not perfect, try to kick your feet up throughout the day and this may also help your body recover from the day’s stresses. 6. Dramatically lessen or eliminate liquid calories. In the 1950s, Coca-Cola came in only one size: 6.5-ounces. I was at the movies last weekend looking at the large soda and my jaw dropped at how gigantic it was. Heck, even the medium soda was enormous. 7-11 has soda serving sizes that look like they are designed to serve a military platoon. If you drink soda, it is so easy to get massive calories with zero nutritional value. Another liquid calorie source to
consider is wine. I am all for relaxing and having fun, but I also like to know the facts. A 5-ounce glass of wine has about 125 calories. That doesn’t sound that bad until you start to think about how that adds up over weeks, months and years. If you drink one 5-ounce glass of wine 300 days per year, that adds up to…get ready for it...almost 11 pounds per year! You don’t have to be a math professor to figure out that is getting near fifty pounds after 4 years or so. Now it may not exactly work out that way, but the point is the same. Contrary to popular belief, alcohol consumption can disrupt healthy sleep and that can cause various problems with weight. Of course, whether you drink wine at night is your choice. Only you can decide whether the trade-off is worth it to you. If I can provided any feedback, please email me. Before you start this or any fitness routine, consult your doctor. JEFF BLAIR (M.S.) owns a personal training studio located in Westchester. He was voted “Best Of” Personal Trainer in the Hometown News’ 2015 Readers’ Poll. Jeff has been featured in “Men’s Fitness” magazine and as a “Fitness Expert” on ABC’s “Everyday Health” TV show. Email jeffblair@jeffblairfitness. com for fitness story ideas or comments.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
People thrive in healthy relationships By Fay Craton
between you and others leads to you having the ability to connect to a healthy, internal place of feeling real and authentic. A solid relationship with another person has within it the quality of valuing yourself and also valuing the other person. With more important relationships there is a commitment to being there for the other person– especially when one or both are experiencing a rough time. Healthy commitment is not about telling the other person what he or she has done wrong or trying to fix the problem. It’s especially not trying to control what the other person is doing. Support may be about: • Simply listening with your heart to the words of another person. • Holding the other person’s hand. • Shifting around your own schedule to be fully present at pivotal moments in another person’s life. • Verbally, reinforcing– to you and to the other person– what is working well right now. • Expanding your understanding about how the world functions to include the possibility of how someone else perceives the world. • If you have not learned how to express your feelings and thoughts, support can be about making the effort to develop the skills so the person you care about can hear and understand your experience of life. • If you are frequently annoyed, perhaps support is about breaking bad habits of exhibiting harsh words and intimidating actions when you have not been able to control another person. Instead, pause, take a breath, calm yourself and remember what does work in your life. Human beings thrive on healthy connection to others. Our bodies and brains work better when we are in thriving relationships. When people are no longer defended from a feeling of being unsafe, it becomes possible to see many situations from fresh vantage points. My wish for you is that you have an experience with at least one other person where you feel worthy and the other person also mirrors back to you his or her personal feelings of being of value. A meaningful life demands making life-enhancing contributions to the world around you. It also takes having the experience of being validated in a good or positive way while you evolve. 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.
AMCS has offered affordable, community-based mental health services for over 50 years. We are here to help.
Opinion: I love watching my students when they grow and change 310.670.1410 • info@airportmarina.org • 7891 La Tijera Blvd. as they learn to become counselors. Evolving is not a mental practice. It Join us for one of these Educational Therapy Groups! takes integrating the “authentic you,” All classes will be held at the AMCS Office found within your body, mind and spirit, into how you express yourself Court Approved Anger Management Group in life. The journey includes listening Parenting Classes Change, Accept, Let Go to your heart, feelings and emotions Starts 6/15 | Wednesdays, 6-7:30pm Sundays, 12:30-1:45pm and finding pathways to integrate $95/person, 10 sessions $18/session, 10 weeks + small material fee what you are discovering within your Call Ext. 150 Call Ext. 174 thinking processes. Along the way you get to pay attention to your own Mindfulness Based Cognitive 10 Steps to Self Esteem values, discover your own skills and Therapy for Depression & Anxiety Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life explore ways to care for yourself and Saturdays, 10:30am-12:30pm Sundays, 10-11:30am others around you. The path leads to $18/session, 10 sessions $18/session, 8 weeks + small material fee + small material fee finding meaning to your life. Call Ext. 176 Call Ext. 222 This type of journey has value to everyone, not just people learning Men’s Support Group Maintaining Mindfulness how to counsel others. The path leads Mindfulness Practice and Discussion Wednesdays, 7:15-8:45pm to many opportunities to connect Wednesdays, 7:15-8:30pm $15/session with people in life sustaining ways. $15/session Call Ext. 218 Call Ext. 227 or 169 With light-hearted smiles, I hear students tell how what is being Groups Supervised by Robert Northcutt, LMFT#51430 or Tejal Yarmand, LMFT#42428 discovered is applied with positive There is currently no wait list for couples and/or families interested in therapy! outcomes to how they interact with family members and friends. What CALL 310.670.1410 to schedule an initial consultation. is happening is that there is a gradual Couples dial ext. 154 | Families dial ext. 149 shift unfolding in behaviors, in All services are on a sliding fee scale based on gross income. communication to others and in how one listens to another person. But here is a secret: this process can only take place when you feel safe enough to let in new ways of perceiving and are supported or validated by at least one other person while you practice new ways of expressing a vulnerable part of you. Over many years I have observed countless ways in which the lack Worship Service 10:30 am of safety happens. For example, insecurity appears when insensitivity Canines@Covenant 5:00 pm Sunday from others is experienced. It can also Covenant is on the corner of 80th and Sepulveda Blvd. happen when the needs of a person or group of people are ignored or not understood. Or you may have been Church School for Young People during Service. told you are limited, unacceptable or We have an Orchestra and Adult, Youth and Children’s Choirs. demeaned in some manner. Another Email: cpoffis@pacbell.net way is when negative judgments Childcare is provided-For more information, Call (310) 670-5750. about you are communicated through body language. There are many causes for the loss of safety. Usually there is something happening where a person feels the loss of personal worth or even feels dispensable. When this happens there is an imbalance in the communication exchange, which can easily lead to Emergency Food Distribution to those in need. resentment, anger, detachment, Sponsored by the Westchester Clergy Association retaliation, damage, brokenness, and/or perhaps an effort to control Open Tuesday & Friday, 10am-12pm what others are doing, none of 355 Beach St., Inglewood which will lead to lasting happiness. Committed couples, families and even Bring donations of non-perishable food to Covenant community members and co-workers, Presbyterian Chuch. Volunteers and money donations also can support one another to be healthy welcomed and encouraged! and happy. Or, through the lack of support, people can spiral downward For more information, please call (310) 677-5597 toward dissatisfaction. Ad donated by the Covenant Presbyterian Church Developing a healthy balance Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News June 2016 • Page 9
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COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
YOU CAN HELP! FOOD PANTRY, LAX
Secret recipes from the Inn: Father’s Day brunch As we get ready to celebrate Father’s Day, the Inncrowd and I were touched by a story we recently heard from our Westchester neighbor, Karen Dial. Karen shared with us, “From about the age of 4, I recall my dad, Howard Drollinger, taking me to help inspect buildings he owned. This task would include checking the restrooms for TP, paper towels and in the day, pink powder soap. He taught me to check the floors and corners for cleanliness and check for lights that were out; sometimes we flushed toilets to make sure they were working properly. Exterior inspection was the same, and he said to pick up trash whenever possible, just to make our community more beautiful– pride of ownership! Little did I realize back then that this training would be part of my life today! Dad also had a good rapport with most tenants, and he would proudly introduce me, which made me feel very special. I loved being part of my dad’s business life and learning about his buildings and meeting tenants. I appreciate my business training, and my dad’s patience and listening abilities. Dad took me under his wing
Photo by Liz Hall.
By Rebecca Hill
Top the chili-cheese puff with Pico de Gallo or a chunky salsa to finish the dish.
and taught me well, always sharing a wonderful story; his stories are with me to this day. I’m extremely grateful to be Howard’s daughter. I love and miss my dad every day and I’m a better person having been raised by him, without a doubt!” The last line of Karen’s story
resonates deeply with me because my dad has passed on too. My dad was a teacher, specifically a mathematician. We called him “Dr. Don.” When I was born, my mom and dad were students so money was tight. Dad saw a secondhand, but really nice, crib advertised in the local newspaper.
The ad said the crib would be sold to the first person who arrived, cash in hand, but that they would not be home until 3 p.m. on Saturday. So Dr. Don took his math books and sat under a tree in the person’s front yard from the early morning on. He wanted to be sure he was first in line so I could have the nice crib. I did get the beautiful crib, and this began a series of him sacrificing his time and personal convenience, always, for me. The Inn’s guest James Inman whom we call “The Colonel” misses his father too. He shared with us that his dad was “the nicest man in the whole world. Though he was an engineer by trade, he really loved to fix things around the house. He taught me that if you approach a problem from a logical angle, and ask questions of those who know more, you will be able to solve any problem.” I like that simple yet profound approach to life. The Inn’s General Manager, Liz Hall, was also taught to problem solve by her dad. Liz is fortunate that she still has her dad to turn to. Whenever Liz asks her dad for advice, he always answers by asking her a series of questions, which has taught her the invaluable art of critical thinking. (continued on page 15)
Doors open at 6 pm
Players: $100 Registration $75 Early Bird by June 10th $35 Spectator (Includes Dinner & 2 drink tickets)
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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Father’s Day (continued) (continued from page 10) This explains why Liz responds as she does when I ask her what we should do about any issue I encounter at the Inn. Our conversations often go like this: Me: We’re having an issue with (fill in the blank).What should we do? Liz: What would Rebecca Hill do? Me: Rebecca Hill would ask Liz Hall what to do! Me: So...what should we do? This Father’s Day, the Inncrowd and I hope you’ll take time to reflect on how your dad helped make you the person you are today. We are grateful for our dads. And in case you plan on making brunch for him, we’d also like to share this recipe, because real men don’t eat quiche–but they do eat Chili-Cheese Puff–and usually request a hotter salsa than the one we serve! Happy Father’s Day! Chili-Cheese Puff Prepare a 9x13” baking dish with cooking spray Ingredients: • 12 eggs • 1/2 cup flour • 1 Tsp. baking powder • 2 cups cottage cheese • 1 cup each Jack and Cheddar
cheese, shredded • 1 Tbsp. melted butter • 1 7-ounce can diced green chiles Directions: 1. In a large bowl, beat the eggs until light and fluffy. 2. Add all remaining ingredients, except the chiles, and mix well. 3. Once all the ingredients are well incorporated, add the chiles. Pour into your prepared 9x13” baking dish. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until top is nicely browned. Serve straight from the oven along with fresh Pico de Gallo or a chunky salsa. “Inn-sider” Tip: This recipe can be made in advance and refrigerated over night before baking in the morning. The Inn’s recipes have been lovingly collected over the past 20 years. Some are original recipes, others are well- known recipes that have been adapted, and some are recipes that have been handed down by our innkeeper’s 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.
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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
School News
Photo Provided by WNS.
TheHTN.com
Westside Neighborhood School’s girls softball team had its first undefeated season and took home the championship title for the second year in a row.
Westchester Lutheran Silent Auction and Carnival. The community is invited to Westchester Lutheran School’s annual Carnival and Silent Auction on Saturday, June 4 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The carnival will include food, rides, games, silent auction, Hawaiian Raffle, chili cookoff, bake sale, photo booth and more! Westchester Lutheran is located at 7831 S. Sepulveda Blvd. in Westchester. Westside Neighborhood School wins championships in girls softball and track & field. Westside Neighborhood School (WNS) is celebrating its spring sports season with its girls track and field team and girls softball team bringing home championship titles in the Pacific Basin League. At the beginning of May, the track and field team, made up of sixth, seventh and eight grade students, competed in their final meet of a nearly three-month long season at West LA College. At the meet, they took home their first championship title. “The WNS girls team was small but mighty this year. With just eleven athletes, we won the championship and earned first or second place in eight of the twelve events,” said coach Heidi Reimann, Assistant Head of School for grades 5-8. At the meet, school records were set by the girls’ team for the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1600m relay. WNS’ girls softball team also brought home the championship title after defeating Windward School 10-9 with a walk-off hit at Mar Vista Park. This was the team’s first undefeated season on its way to
back-to-back championships. WNS trailed 0-5 in the first inning and had to rally three times before being tied 9-9 in the bottom of the seventh. Seventh grader Daryn Siegel led off with a double on a 0-2 pitch followed by eighth grader Piper Neri’s game-winning RBI single. Drew Biernot was fearless in pitching seven tough innings against a very strong Windward team. “This victory was as much about character, perseverance, and resilience as about softball,” said Head of School and coach Brad Zacuto. Westchester Secondary Charter School heads to Horace Mann. After three years in Westchester, Westchester Secondary Charter School (WSCS) will start its fall 2016 semester at a new location. The school, a 6-12 grade charter, has fought for space on a Westchester campus including at Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnets and the Emerson Adult School, but after not receiving an offer from LAUSD for space locally, the school faced a dilemma: close the school or accept space at Horace Mann Middle School Building C and move out of the community. The new location is approximately five miles east of the school’s current location on the campus of First Baptist Church of Westchester, located at 8540 La Tijera Blvd. The school, which focuses on small classes and individualized curriculum, is currently accepting applications for the upcoming school year at westchestercharter.org. Have something to share about your school? Please email us at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com.
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June 2016 • Page 17
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 playasunrise. org or call (310) 429-3808.
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. Michael Genovese, President of the World Policy Institute at Loyola Marymount University, will be the featured speaker at the club’s June 15 meeting. His topic, “Is This Any Way to Elect the Most Powerful Leader in the World?” will provide analysis and commentary on the American election process, as well as the current presidential election. For more information or to reserve a seat at the luncheon, please contact Bob Smith at (310) 643-9350.
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 Interested in writing your life story? The Westchester Life Story Writing Group meets every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The group teaches methods to recall and then write your memories. Since its inception, groups members have written numerous books on their lives. The memoir-writing workshop meets at the YMCA Annex, located at 8020 Alverstone Ave. in Westchester. Attendees are asked to donate $10 Page 18 • June 2016
TheHTN.com to the YMCA per semester. For more information, please contact Mary Sage at (310) 397-3967.
Playa Vista Optimist Club Join the Playa Vista Optimists the first and fourth Mondays of the month from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in Concert Park, located at Pacific Promenade and Sea Bluff Drive in Playa Vista (opposite Coffee Bean). The Optimist Club is a worldwide volunteer organization that helps “make the future brighter by bringing out the best in children, in their communities and in themselves.” For more information, call (310) 415-0196.
June events: Clybourne Park at Westchester Playhouse Clybourne Park is now playing at the Westchester Playhouse through June 18. The play was written as a companion piece to A Raisin in the Sun, which was performed earlier this year at the Westchester Playhouse. Set in Chicago, the play explodes in two biting and satiric acts, 50 years apart. Act I takes place in 1959 (as did A Raisin in the Sun) as nervous white community leaders anxiously try to stop the sale of a middleclass home to a black family. Act II jumps to 2009, in the same house, as the now predominantly AfricanAmerican neighborhood battles to hold its ground in the face of urban renewal by a Caucasian couple. Due to the adult themes, situations and language, the play is not recommended for children. Those under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult in the theater. Performances are held on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. at the Westchester Playhouse, located at 8301 Hindry Ave. in Westchester. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at kentwoodplayers.org.
MarinaFest Weekend Festival Head on down to Marina del Rey for MarinaFest! The event, which is a celebration of Marina del Rey and sailing, will include more than 40 vendors and exhibitors, tall ship rides, food trucks, kids activities, live music, a classic car show and more! MarinaFest will take place on Saturday, June 4 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, June 5 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Burton Chase Park, located at 13650 Mindanao Way. For more information or to buy presale tickets to ride a tall ship, please visit marinadelreymarinafest. com.
Main Dish Salads Cooking
Class
Flag Day Ceremony
Join Fresh Food in a Flash for their next cooking class focusing on Main Dish Salads. The class will take place on Thursday, June 9 at Holy Nativity Church from 6 to 9 p.m. This is a great opportunity to learn how to prepare new dishes perfect for summer cookouts and entertaining. Recipes for easy salad dressings will also be shared. This month’s menu includes crab salad; roasted eggplant and tomato salad with cashew-parsley pesto; potato salad with charred poblano peppers, sweet corn and crema; and French lentil salad with mint, roasted peppers and feta cheese. The cooking class fee is $50 when you reserve by June 6 and $55 thereafter if space is available. To reserve your spot, email Patricia@ FreshFoodinaFlash.com. Holy Nativity Church is located at 6700 West 83rd St. in Westchester.
The Westchester Elks lodge is having their annual Flag Day ceremony on Tuesday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m. The ceremony will be performed by Boy Scout Troop #915 and led by Scoutmaster Joe Apodaca. The community is invited to bring flags that they wish to retire, which will be retired at a later date. Coffee and dessert will be provided after the ceremony by the Ladies of the Westchester Elks. The Elks Lodge is located at 8025 W. Manchester Ave. in Playa del Rey. Free parking and the Elk’s Lodge entrance is located in the back of the building. The event is open to the public and family-friendly.
Community Oven Pizza and Bread Bake The Westchester Community Oven is holding its next pizza and bread baking day on Saturday, June 11 at 12 p.m. The group is planning events every second Saturday of the month for the summer. Those interested are invited to bring pizza dough and toppings from the market or home to bake in the wood-fired community oven, while meeting their neighbors and other baking enthusiasts. Pizza baking will start at noon, with bread baking at 2 p.m. The Westchester Community Oven is located in the garden of Holy Nativity Church at 6700 West 83rd St. in Westchester. If bringing something to bake, please RSVP to westchestercommunityoven@gmail. com.
Historical Society BBQ The Historical Society of Centinela Valley is inviting the community to its 41st Annual Barbecue on Sunday, June 12. The BBQ will take place from noon to 4 p.m. at the Centinela Adobe Complex, located at 7634 Midfield Ave. in Westchester. Visitors can enjoy a lunch of chicken or BBQ beef served with cole slaw, baked beans and cake. Lunch is a requested donation of $14 (children under 6 are $6), which goes to help operate the Centinela Adobe. In addition to the BBQ, guests can tour the 1834 Centinela Adobe with Veterans’ Room, 1888 Daniel Freeman Land Office and the Walter Haskell Research Center. Vintage Cars will also be on display. For more information, please call (310) 649-6272.
Beginner Birding & Creek Clean-up Interested in learning more about the Ballona Wetlands? The Friends of Ballona Wetlands are holding a monthly program that combines community service and bird watching. Geared towards students, families and anyone who is interested in learning more about the birds located in this natural resource, the program will take place every third Saturday of the month with the next meet-up taking place on Saturday, June 18 from 9 to 11 a.m. Gloves, tools and binoculars will be provided, but please bring a reusable water bottle. Attendees are asked to meet at the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve (the main parking lot is behind Alkali Water) at 303 Culver Blvd. in Playa del Rey.
Boeing Centennial Presentation at Flight Path The Boeing Centennial Committee will give a presentation at the Flight Path Museum chronicling the company’s century of aviation and innovation on Tuesday, June 28, at 10 a.m. The Flight Path Museum is located at 6661 W. Imperial Highway in Los Angeles on the southside of LAX. Admission and parking are free. Boeing’s 100 years in business have included the manufacture of both military and civilian aircraft, including the B-247, the first truly modern airliner; the legendary B-17 and B-29 bombers of World War II; the pioneering B-707 jetliner; the iconic B-747 jumbo jet; and most recently, the Dreamliner. The Boeing presentation is part of Flight Path’s Speaker Series. The next talk will take place on September 20 and will feature the memoir of famed World War II pilot Gen. Jimmy Doolittle. For more information, please visit flightpathmuseum.com.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
The Westchester 75th Anniversary celebration will kick-off with the Fourth of July Parade and will include a commemorative event later this year at Loyola Marymount University.
(continued from page 6) Westchester Anniversary Committee looks for Community Partners. Happy Birthday Westchester! This year marks Westchester’s 75th anniversary and to celebrate this milestone achievement, a committee made up of residents, business owners and community leaders has been created to help plan festivities. The anniversary celebration will kick-off with the LAX Coastal Chamber’s Fourth Of July Parade on Monday, July 4 at 11 a.m. along Loyola Blvd. (from Manchester Ave. to LMU). This year’s parade theme is “Our Little Piece of Paradise: Celebrating 75 Years of Westchester.”
To create a year full of anniversary events and activities, the Westchester 75th Anniversary Committee is looking to partner with local organizations, nonprofits and businesses that wish to participate in the celebration. For more information about getting involved, please email westchesteranniversary@gmail.com. More information on Westchester 75th Anniversary events and activities will be printed in the HomeTown News and will be available online at thehtn.com. We want to hear about your business or nonprofit! Email us at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com.
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In Pictures
Photo by Glenn Marzano.
TheHTN.com
Seven new Eagle Scouts announced. Westchester Boy Scout Troop 927 held its annual Court of Honor on May 21 at Westchester Lutheran Church. At the event, seven boys were recognized for reaching the scouts’ highest rank. The newly named Eagle Scouts are Gabriel Andres Biren, Alexander Ricardo Koenig, Richard John Maire III, Zachary William Marks, Noah Haruka Mayeda, Adam Hidetaka Mayeda and Preston H. Simpson. To reach the rank of Eagle Scout, scouts must complete a service project. This year’s projects included building benches and planters for Westchester Lutheran Preschool, designing and building custom book shelves, designing and building goalball goals for the Junior Blind of America, restoring native vegetation at the LAX sand dunes and restoration of the St. Bernard’s High School Library. The award-winning troop has a robust outdoor program and recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. The troop meets at 7 p.m. every Monday night at Covenant Presbyterian Church, located at 6823 Sepulveda Blvd. in Westchester. For more info, please visit troop927.com.
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Teachers honored at education gala. On Tuesday, May 10, twenty-four educators from local schools were honored at the annual Teacher Eddy Awards Gala hosted by the LAX Coastal Chamber. At the event, teacher of the year honorees were presented with crystal eddy awards and had the chance to win prizes including first class airline tickets, gift cards and items donated by local businesses. Three Friend of Education honorees were also surprised with recognition at the gala. Westchester resident and owner of LA Arts Collective, Lisa Hamor, was given the award for her longtime support of local education as a volunteer and advocate for community schools; Sharma Henderson, CEO of CO-OP was recognized for her work in supporting education through her nonprofit and the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club and Gaila Williams was honored for her volunteer work at Cowan Elementary School. Congratulations to the 2016 Teacher Eddy honorees!
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