Westchester/Playa HomeTown News March 2019 edition

westchester

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playa del rey

p l a y a v i s t a • m a r i n a d e l re y

NEWS March 2019

Community unites to raise money for education . . . page 9 Local students head for the finish line at last year's Rock Roll & Run at LMU.

WESTCHESTER ROTARY MAKEOVER PROJECT

A crowd of volunteers and youth group representatives eagerly awaited the makeover reveal of the Westchester Townhouse on Sunday, March 3. The more than 70-yearold building was the recipient of the Westchester Rotary Club’s 2019 Makeover Project, and more than 100 volunteers spent the weekend of March 1-3 giving the space some much-needed TLC. The townhouse, located on Emerson Ave. in Westchester next to Kentwood Elementary School, is a meeting space for youth groups like the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, schools and Music West. The club raised

nearly $150,000 in donations and inkind services to renovate the space, leaving visitors who attended the grand re-opening wowed.

“The makeover completely exceeded my expectation. It’s a wonderful gift to the community and we’re so grateful,” said Westchester Townhouse board member AnneMarie Ross. “I’m absolutely surprised by how much this place has changed from top to bottom. I think this is going to bring new life into the Westchester Townhouse and that is really what we hoped.”

During the makeover weekend, volunteers sanded, painted, decorated

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and cleaned, transforming the townhouse from a drab space to a welcoming, bright environment.

The biggest improvements to the townhouse include new doors that replaced the originals, new flooring, ADA compliant bathrooms, new windows, new paint and increased storage space. The townhouse’s 43-year-old deteriorating mural depicting California landscapes was also restored by artists David Russell and Alex Fulop. Other surprises included whimsical hand-painted buddy benches, a faux campsite with tree stump seating and a storage unit.

“I am elated with how the

Photos by Lek Pollard and Allison Knight.

SERVICE ABOVE SELF

makeover turned out. It was a complete transformation from beginning to end,” said Westchester Rotary President Tori Hettinger.

“We couldn’t do this project without our Rotarians and their friends and family that came out. They were on their hands and knees painting, scrubbing, cleaning and redoing the beams. They always come through for us.”

The project was made possible by major funding from the Drollinger Family Charitable Foundation, William H. Hannon Foundation, the Westwood Village Rotary and the Westchester Woman’s Club.

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

This Month Brings You

help you prom help you prom nization or even nization or even A look inside your HTN

Community Spotlight: Playa del Rey resident to receive AMCS’ Champion of Mental Health award 04 Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary special section 11 Bringing art to Westchester/Playa 28 In your hometown with...

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HOMETOWN STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS Stephanie Davis, Publisher, Editor

Jeff Blair, Contributing Writer Fay Craton, Contributing Writer

Kirby Israelson, Graphic Design Consuelo Israelson, Contributing Writer

Advertisers’ Directory

Airport Marina Counseling 21, 26 Cantalini’s Salerno Beach 14 Carousel School 16 Drollinger Properties 10, 31 Food Pantry, LAX 24 Head to Toe Salon 28 Jane St. John 29 LAWA

15, 29 LAX Coastal Chamber 17 Loyola Marymount 04 Marina del Rey Hospital 13, 32 Neighborhood Council 23 Playa Pharmacy 16 Rainbow Acres Washington Blvd. 17 Regatta Capital Group 07 Sarlo Income Tax 07

Sean Story, Inc. Sharon Cooper, Edward Jones SoCalGas SoCalSport Stephanie Younger Group St. Jerome Venice High School Vergari & Napolitano Visitation School Wallis Annenberg PetSpace Westchester Family YMCA Westchester Farmers’ Market Westchester Lutheran School Westchester Town Center BID Westside Pacific Village Zacha Homes

12 18 22 26 19 28 20 27 08 05 24 09 10 03 27 25

act us for rates and act us for rates and hesterhometo 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.

hesterhometo Connect with the HTN:

Mailing Address: 8939 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Ste. 110 #745 Westchester, CA 90045 • Email: westchesterhometown@yahoo.com • Website: thehtn.com • Facebook: facebook.com/thehtn The deadline for submissions is the 22nd of each month.

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March 2019 • Page 3

Community Spotlight: Playa del Rey resident to be honored for her work with mental health, community For Jane St. John, giving back and supporting her community is in her blood. Growing up in the small town of Wasco, near Bakersfield, her father instilled in their family the importance of philanthropy and keeping your dollars local. As superintendent of the Wasco School District, he had such an impact on the community that John L. Prueitt Elementary School was named in his honor.

“He said, ‘You spend your money where you make it.’ There were two suit shops and two car dealerships in town, and that’s where he shopped,” said St. John. “So when I started to sell real estate, I thought, ‘If I’m going to sell homes in this community, I need to give back.’”

It’s her kind and generous spirit that has earned St. John the Champion of Mental Health Award from Westchester’s Airport Marina Counseling Service (AMCS). She will be honored at the nonprofit’s Spring Gala in April, which raises money to support AMCS’ mission of providing affordable mental health services to individuals and groups.

“We’re so honored to be recognizing Jane’s work, not only with AMCS, but throughout the community,” said AMCS CEO Eden Garcia-Balis.

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Jane St. John supports numerous community organizations including the Airport Marina Counseling Service, the LAX Coastal Chamber, the Education Foundation and Helen’s Room.

“Jane has been one of our biggest supporters and is always willing to help our organization and our mission to provide mental health services to those in need.”

St. John first become involved with AMCS in the 1980s as a new real estate agent in Playa del Rey. After agreeing to serve wine and cheese at a house featured on the Holiday Home Tour, she became an ardent supporter of the organization, donating her time as a member of the board and home

tour docent, as well as sponsoring Westchester Mental Health Guild events, the Spring Gala and the Jet to Jetty.

Over the years, she has especially been impressed with the organization’s youth outreach programs that provide individual/group counseling for students and their parents at Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnets, Wright STEAM Magnet and the Boys and Girls Club of Venice.

“A place like AMCS is so important.

Whether kids are bullied at school or dealing with identity challenges, these life transitions are hard to get through without guidance,” said St. John, who also spent over a decade working in education. “I’ve seen how important mental health services can be for students and families. No one should be stopped from getting help due to financial or insurance reasons.”

In addition to her work with AMCS, St. John sponsors numerous community programs and events, including the Rock Roll & Run, the Fourth of July Parade and the Playa del Rey Toy Drive, which she has helped organize for the past decade. As a two-time breast cancer survivor that is almost 20 years cancer-free, she also donates to Helen’s Room, a nonprofit offering positive appearance services and resources for cancer patients.

“It’s so important to support the people and organizations that impact our community,” said St. John. “I’m humbled and touched to be receiving this award from AMCS.” The Airport Marina Counseling Service’s Spring Gala will take place on April 11 at the LAX Marriott Hotel in Westchester. The cost to attend is $150. For more info on AMCS and the event, please visit amcshelps.com.

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

Community Spotlight: Integrative Medicine offers another wellness option at Cedars-Sinai Playa Vista When striving to feel your best, sometimes you need to focus on the whole-person approach to wellness.

With increasing popularity, people are turning to Integrative Medicine to get their health back on track or manage pain. Integrative Medicine combines conventional and alternative therapies to help patients achieve optimal health and healing, and is just one of the many health services offered at Cedars-Sinai Playa Vista.

Dr. Janet White and Stephen Meeneghan, ND, LAc are leading the charge at the Playa Vista offices, helping patients create individualized health plans that focus not only on the body, but also on the mind and spirit.

Dr. White says they see patients for a variety of reasons, but some of the most common conditions they help treat are diabetes, women’s health issues, weight management, high blood pressure, stress management, anxiety, pain of all types, gastrointestinal issues and insomnia. Therapies the team

Dr. Janet White and Stephen Meeneghan, ND, LAc, are leading the way for the Integrative Medicine initiatives at Cedars-Sinai Playa Vista

may suggest include acupuncture, herbal medicine, biofeedback, nutritional counseling and mindfulness techniques.

Meenaghan, a licensed acupuncturist, says patients are seeing success with

acupuncture for a variety of issues, especially when it comes to back pain and headaches. He recommends at least three acupuncture visits to determine how helpful the course of treatment will be for a patient.

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

When asked for three easy steps people can utilize to increase their health and wellness, the health care professionals suggested: 1. Manage your stress. Physical activity can be a great stress relief for most. A simple 30-minute walk can make a big impact when it comes to decreasing stress levels.

2. Get some sleep. People need to be well-rested to have resilience to stress.

Some studies say over fifty percent of people have difficulty with sleeping, so try to limit screen time at least two hours before bed.

3. Try meditation and mindfulness techniques. There are plenty of apps like Headspace and Insight Timer that can help guide you through meditation and help you relax your mind.

Cedars-Sinai Playa Vista is located at 12746 Jefferson Blvd. in Playa Vista. The offices include care for the whole family with an urgent care, adult primary care and pediatric primary care.

For more info, please visit cedars-sinai. edu/About-Us/Playa-Vista.aspx.

March 2019 • Page 5

Business & Nonprofit News

TheHTN.com

Visitation students sing at a February 10 dedication ceremony for the church and school’s new courtyard. As part of Visitation’s “Safe and Beautiful” initiative, the 75-year-old campus has created an improved outdoor space with new fencing, landscaping and seating areas. At the dedication, Father Jim Forsen (left) also announced that the school will be burying a time capsule to be opened in 2069.

Candidates sought for Westchester/Playa NC elections.

Interested in running for the Westchester/Playa Neighborhood Council? The candidate filing period is open now through March 19.

Fourteen of the board’s 31 seats will be up for election on Sunday, June 2nd. The Neighborhood Council is an advisory board made up of stakeholders who live, work or own property in Westchester, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista. The board meets monthly to vote on issues that impact the community and acts as a liaison between the community and the city.

For more information and a list of seats up for election, please visit ncwpdr.org.

Bessie Coleman tribute on display in Westchester.

A new mural and sculpture honoring Bessie Coleman, the first female African American licensed pilot and an aviation pioneer, was unveiled at a ceremony in Westchester on February 21 in celebration of Black History Month.

Artists Patsy Pitts and David Russell created the artwork, which was commissioned by Karen Dial and the Drollinger Family Charitable Foundation. Dial has worked on

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promote cultural diversity,” said Dial. “Our world is changing at a fast pace and it is our common goal to practice peace, love and respect while celebrating our differences.”

The Bessie Coleman installation is on display in the lobby of the La Tijera Centinela office building, located at 6820 S. La Tijera in Westchester.

Artist Patsy Pitts poses next to her sculpture of aviation pioneer and legend Bessie Coleman. At right, David Russell, Karen Dial and Pitts pose in front of Russell’s painting in honor of Coleman.

numerous projects with Russell, including the 5-story “Welcome to Westchester” mural on the Drollinger Properties building.

“I knew immediately that David had a very special quality to understand my vision of community, which would be something surrounded by art, literature, performing arts and music,” said Dial at the event. “That’s my vision for Westchester.”

Pitts created the Coleman statue,

while Russell painted the mural.

The two met at Otis College, and they immediately had a connection that brought them together for the project. Descendants of Coleman were on hand to unveil the sculpture.

“We are celebrating and honoring the people in this community. We hope that this art installation will serve as a reminder of how important it is to learn and honor each other’s histories in order to cultivate and

Floats, entries and community groups wanted for 4th of July Parade.

Applications are now being accepted to participate in the 20th Annual LAX Coastal Chamber Fourth of July Parade. This year’s theme is “America…Better Together,” and entries are encouraged to create floats and entries that celebrate what connects us, while promoting unity, diversity and goodwill.

Those interested in participating in this year’s event can download the application at laxcoastal.com/parade.

Applications are due by May 17.

The Fourth of July Parade committee is also looking for a National Anthem singer to perform at the event. Singers are asked to email info@laxcoastal.com for a chance to audition by Friday, March 29.

Auditions will be held in April.

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

Board members from The Power of a Shower celebrated their first fundraiser in Playa Vista on February 17. At the event, the newly formed nonprofit announced that they would be receiving a donation of a trailer from Lava Mae to provide mobile showers and grooming services to homeless individuals in Los Angeles. Visit powerofashower.org for more information.

Calling all Super Moms!

Nominations are now open for the 2019 Super Moms edition of the HomeTown News. This yearly feature is a chance to highlight moms in the Westchester, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista and Marina del Rey area that are making a difference in the community through their dedication to their families, careers, schools and community.

A committee will select up to four moms to feature in the May edition of the HomeTown News in honor of Mother’s Day. The featured moms will be treated to a professional

photo shoot, have their picture published in the paper and receive a gift bag with gift cards from local businesses.

If you’d like to nominate a Super Mom, please email westchesterhometown@yahoo.com

by Monday, April 8th. Please include your contact information and a write-up to let us know what makes your nominee a Super Mom! We want to hear about your business or nonprofit! Email us at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com for a chance to be featured.

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

March 2019 • Page 7

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

School News

Photo by Joerg Rose.

TheHTN.com

The Rock Roll & Run will take place on Saturday, March 9 starting at 7:30 a.m. on the campus of LMU. The event raises money for 21 participating schools and provides funds for the LAX Coastal Education Foundation to distribute grants.

Community unites to raise money for education at Rock Roll & Run. If you missed online sign-ups, it’s not too late to register for the Rock Roll & Run for Education hosted by the LAX Coastal Education Foundation (LAXCEF) in partnership with Loyola Marymount University.

The event takes place on Saturday, March 9 starting at 7:30 a.m. on the campus of LMU. In-person registration for the race and packet pick-up will take place on Thursday, March 7 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the LAX Coastal Chamber office.

Runners can also sign-up on race day from 7 to 8 a.m. (while registration bibs last). The cost to sign-up is $35 for the adult 5K, $30 for the youth 5K and $25 for the 1K. The chamber office is located at 9100 S. Sepulveda Blvd. Suite 208 in Westchester. This year, runners will also get a swag bag with a workout towel, treats and coupons at packet pick-up.

The Rock Roll & Run is the LAX Coastal Education Foundation’s biggest fundraiser of the year, and thanks to the support of community members, runners, local businesses and schools, the foundation has surpassed this year’s fundraising goal. The proceeds from the event will go to participating schools and also provide funds for the foundation to distribute grants. In February, LAXCEF distributed $15,000 in arts and beautification grants, and will announce the next grant opportunity in the coming months.

“We’re excited to be hosting the second annual Rock Roll & Run in partnership with LMU,” said newly elected LAXCEF President, Andrew Chereck. “This is a great family

friendly event, so even if you aren’t running or walking, we encourage the community to come out to show their support for education and participate in the festivities.”

The event features a 5K, kids’ 1K and an expo. Attendees can enjoy live music courtesy of Ab-soul-ute, more than 40 community booths, a DJ, activities for the family, food, face painting and more. A pancake breakfast will also take place during the event, courtesy of the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club. All food and activities are free.

The kids’ 1K will start at 10 a.m. and every participant will receive a certificate for a free kid’s meal at Tony P’s Dockside Grill. An awards ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. with the top youth runners receiving Power Cards courtesy of Dave & Busters Westchester.

“There’s no other event in our community that brings together so many students, families and educators to celebrate our schools and raise money to support their important programs,” said Chereck.

“We’re proud to support all of our foundation’s schools, whether they’re public, private, charter or parochial, and we look forward to working on more initiatives that help our schools thrive.”

Major sponsors of the Rock Roll & Run include the Drollinger Family Charitable Foundation, Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles World Airports, Loyola Marymount, Fiction Films and the HomeTown News.

For more information, please visit laxcoastaledfoundation.com or email info@laxcoastaledfoundation.com.

Teachers receive $19,000 in grants.

On February 13, principals from 20 local schools packed the dining room at Whiskey Red’s in Marina del Rey to eagerly await the announcement of the 2019 Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Teacher Mini-Grant awardees. Now

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

in its 21st year, the Teacher MiniGrants are a way for the Rotary Club to help fund classroom projects, supplies and activities that teachers often pay for out of their own pockets. (continued on page 10)

March 2019 • Page 9

Twenty principals and administrators pose in Marina del Rey’s Fisherman’s Village after receiving grants to take back to their schools at the Teacher Mini-Grant breakfast hosted by the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club. Also pictured are members of the LAX Coastal Education Foundation and LAUSD board member Nick Melvoin.

(continued from page 9) Thanks to the generosity of the Rotary Club and sponsors, 72 grants totaling just over $19,000 were distributed. The teachers will use the grants to purchase books, musical instruments, fund art projects, buy computer software and more.

Westchester Rotary offers community service scholarships.

Each year the Rotary Club of Westchester, through the Westchester Rotary Foundation, offers a $1,000 scholarship in memory and honor of Jim Hill, a former member who was exemplary in his service to the youth of our community. The scholarship will be awarded to a graduating high school

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senior demonstrating outstanding leadership in community service, who either resides in Westchester, Playa del Rey or Playa Vista and/ or attends Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnets or St. Bernard High School.

The scholarship application is due

by April 15th and may be obtained by emailing cozette@laxlawyers. com. The applicant will be asked to write an essay limited to one page, single-spaced, regarding the student’s history of community service.

Have something to share about your school? We want to hear from you! Email us at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com to be featured.

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

Photo by Glenn Marzano.

PLAYA VENICE SUNRISE ROTARY

We are fun! We are friendly! We help others!

Playa Venice Rocks!

Special 12-page section

LUCK O’ THE IRISH BINGOFEST BRINGS ROTARY AND COMMUNITY TOGETHER FOR NIGHT OF FUN, FRIENDS AND FOOD Join as we Celebrate Community and St. Patrick’s Day!

auction that includes the chance to bid on hotel stays, jewelry and gift cards.

“This event is a great introduction

to what Rotary is all about,” said Gail Goldstein, who attends the event every year. “We’re building camaraderie with community

members, raising money and having fun all at the same time.

We appreciate all our attendees for helping us meet our fundraising goals for the year to support really worthwhile community projects, events and organizations.”

The club hosts numerous fundraising events throughout the year in addition to the Luck O’ the Irish BingoFest, including pancake breakfasts and a Cultural Dinner in October, which fund the club’s community, youth, vocational and international service project. The club is currently working on building homes with Habitat for Humanity in Culver City, collecting school supplies for a special needs school in Mexico, hosting the pancake breakfast at the Rock Roll & Run and sponsoring high school students for arts scholarship competitions.

To purchase tickets for the Luck O’ the Irish BingoFest, please call (310) 963-9494 or visit playavenice.org.

Photos by Glenn Marzano.

What is Rotary?

Photo by Joerg Rose.

The Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club is inviting you to try your luck at their annual St. Patrick’s Day BingoFest on Saturday, March 16. A limited amount of tickets are available for $65 and guests will be treated to dinner, 10 games of Bingo and live entertainment courtesy of an Irish band. Proceeds from the event help support the club’s philanthropic efforts, which include providing grants to teachers, supporting local firefighters and adopting families during the holidays.

“BingoFest is one of my favorite club activities,” says Rotarian Jerry Jen. “The energy is always great, there is the chance to win prizes and you always meet new people. Add in delicious food, Irish music and a table of your friends, you’re looking at a fun evening out, while supporting our club’s programs.”

If you’re lucky enough to call out “BINGO,” games pay out $100, with the final blackout game of bingo paying out $500. There’s also cash door prizes, raffle prizes and a silent

L-R: 1. One of the club’s littlest Rotarians collects tickets at the pancake breakfast at LMU. 2. PVS Rotary members ride in the 4th of July Parade. 3. Rotarians share their fun side at the demotion party.

People ask us all the time, “What is Rotary?” Rotary is a worldwide nonprofit organization of more than 1.2 million business, professional and community leaders. As signified by the motto “Service Above Self,” Rotary’s main objective is service– in the community, the workplace and throughout the world. You will find members in more than 200 countries with more than 34,000 clubs in the world who volunteer in communities at home and abroad to support education and job training, provide clean water, combat hunger,

improve health and sanitation and eradicate polio. Clubs are nonpolitical, nonreligious and open to all.

The Rotary Club of Playa Venice Sunrise is one of 62 clubs in District 5280, which covers the geographic boundaries of the Pacific Ocean to Downtown and Santa Clarita to San Pedro. We represent the areas of Westchester, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista, Marina del Rey, Del Rey and Venice, and we are committed to living the motto of “Service Above Self,” while having a lot of fun in the process! Whether we are passing

out toys to our adopted families, supporting local teachers and schools or making pancakes to support the local fire stations, we always find time to have a little fun, laugh a lot and put smiles on the faces of those around us.

We’re also a diverse club! We have 75 members that range in age from 21 to 70+, our club currently is 50% male and 50% female, we come from diverse backgrounds and careers, and we also have members that hail from as far away as Albania and Germany!

The best part, however, is that we all have a passion for giving back

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

and supporting our community and projects that help make the world a better place!

For more information about Rotary or how you can help support one of our local projects, please visit our website at playavenice.org or send us an email at playavenice@gmail. com so we can invite you to attend one of our weekly breakfast meetings.

The club meets every Wednesday morning at 7:15 a.m. at Whiskey Red’s Restaurant, 13713 Fiji Way in Marina del Rey. We look forward to serving the community with you!

PVS Rotary Special Section

March 2019 • Page 11

PLAYA VENICE SUNRISE ROTARY CLUB PLAYA VENICE SUNRISE ROTARY looking for opportunities to give back to our community and globally.

We keep a full calendar of projects, so whether we’re donating BuildBeing a Rotarian has been one A-Bears to a children’s hospital, of the most rewarding experiences helping students get free glasses of my life. with Vision to Learn, serving food People ask Iusjoined all theRotary time, 27 “What eradicate polio.

Clubs are nonpolitiyears agoRotary to get more involved in at the Midnight Mission orto aiding is Rotary?” is a worldwide cal, nonreligious and open all. in my community, and since then, international cleanof water projects, nonprofit organization of more 1.2 The Rotary Club Playa Venice million business, professional and Sunrise is one of 62 clubs in District I’ve been proud to be part of the there’s never a shortage of activities community leaders.

As signified by 5280, which covers the geographic Rotary family. We all have different for our members to get excited theinterests motto “Service Above of the Pacific Ocean to and talents, butSelf,” what unites boundaries about and put their talents to use.

Rotary’s main objective is service– Downtown and Santa Clarita to San us is our passion for volunteering In addition to our multiple, in the community, the workplace Pedro.

Weservice represent the areas and living the Rotary motto of monthly projects, we’reof and throughout the world. You will Westchester, Playa del Rey, Playa “Service Above Self.” also big on socializing and making find members in more than 200 Vista, Marina del Rey, Del Rey and For the past two years, I’ve friends! We hold a monthly happy Venice, and we are committed to countries with more than 34,000 had the pleasure of serving as hour,the seasonal events,Above hiking living mottosocial of “Service clubs in the world who volunteer in the President of the and Playa Veniceto trips,while bike rides and parties, which Self,” having a lot of fun in the communities at home abroad Sunrise Rotary Club.

Ourtraining, club was has earned our club process!

Whether wethe areunofficial passing out support education and job founded in 2005, we’rehunger, always motto, “We are fun.families, We are friendly. toys to our adopted supportprovide clean water,and combat ing local teachers and schools or improve health and sanitation and

t isWhat Rotary?

What is Rotary? is Rotary?

WHY ROTARY? John Sharpe

Marsha Wietecha

member since 2018

I joined Rotary because I was looking for a platform for me to contribute more to my community; one that allowed me to “tag along” as I chose, to help without having to create or run any event personally.

Working on a Habitat for Humanity build, testing underserved school kids for glasses, serving Thanksgiving Dinner to needy families, providing support for the Westchester Santa Claus Tour and participating in a local blood donation drive are a few of the variety of things I’ve been able to do in the short time I’ve been a Rotarian, so I’ve found what I was looking for.

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We help others!”

Our club meets Wednesdays for a breakfast meeting starting at 7:15 a.m. at Whiskey Red’s in Marina del Rey. We meet for fellowship and to share our current events. We love when guests want totovisit our club, making pancakes support the local sofire if you’re interested in learning stations, we always find time to more the Playa Venice haveabout a little fun, laugh a lotSunrise and put smiles on the faces of those around Rotary Club, please visit us at one of us.

We’re also a diverse club! our weekly breakfast meetings. We have that range in age from Playamembers Venice Sunrise is a special 21 to 70+, our club currently club. We have found a winning is 50% maleof and 50% female, come from blend service, fun andwe friendship diverse backgrounds and careers, and and it doesn’t get any better than we also have members that hail from that. I am thankful and honored to as far away as Albania and Germany! beThe President of such an energetic best part, however, is we all have group of people who are interested a passion for giving back and insupporting making a difference in our and our community community andhelp the make world!the world a projects that better place!

I joined Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary because I was asked to be a part of an organization that has strong core values, including Service Above Self.

I appreciate all the projects I’ve seen from the Christmas support for needy families, supporting the local schools and the Habitat for Humanity house building. There is also a wonderful social side of this group, from hiking clubs to dinners out together. Come check us out! It’s a great way to start your Wednesday morning.

For more information about Rotary or how you can help support one of our local projects, please visit our website at playavenice.org or send us an email at playavenice@gmail.com so we can invite you to attend one of our weekly breakfast meetings. The club meets every Wednesday morning at 7:15 a.m. at Whiskey Red’s Restaurant, 13713 Fiji Way in Marina del Rey. We look forward to serving the community with you!

GWEN VUCHSAS, PRESIDENT

VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT PLAYAVENICE.ORG Howard Pollack

member since 2019

Special 12-page section

Photo by Glenn Marzano.

What is Rotary?

SPECIAL 8-PAGE SECTION

member since 1993

The best thing about Rotary is the fact that you can give back to the community on three levels: locally, nationally and internationally. You can participate as much or as little as you have time for.

My favorite program is the Adopt-A Family at Christmas and sponsoring the Sheriff’s Department and Pacific Division Police Officers into our Rotary Club.

Sean Story member since 2019

We live in one of the most beautiful places on earth. This beauty is not only in the landscapes of the blue ocean meeting the sand, but also in the talented caring people of our community.

Since I joined Rotary, I feel that I am more connected with the members of our vibrant and active community.

Thanks to Rotary, I have an outlet to use my skills to make a difference and give back. May we all work together to ensure that the beauty of our community continues for many generations to come!

are multiple opportunities every month to participate with the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club: Did you know? There attend the weekly meeting, hang out during happy hour, volunteer at one of our projects and more!

PVS Rotary Special Section

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

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

PVS Rotary Special Section

March 2019 • Page 13

PLAYA VENICE SUNRISE ROTARY

Special 12-page section

Photo by Joerg Rose.

PVS Rotary Members Take the Lead in Habitat for Humanity Build Rotarians love hands-on projects, and the chance to help build homes with Habitat for Humanity has been a rewarding experience for the volunteers who have put on a hard hat, grabbed a hammer and got to work on the Culver City build.

Brady Connell, the club’s president-elect, has spearheaded the project and has enlisted the help of three other local Rotary Clubs to reach a fundraising goal of $75,000. Joining forces with Habitat for Humanity was a no-brainer for the club, which is always looking for new projects to take on, especially when so many members can participate.

“Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity was extremely rewarding,” said Juliet Oman, a real estate agent in Westchester. “Purchasing a home is out

THANKTHANK YOU YOU TO OURTO OUR MAJORMAJOR SPONSORS SPONSORS

Page 14 • March 2019

of reach for so many, and it’s wonderful to help families achieve the dream of acquiring a home they can afford here on the Westside. I’m proud to have been a part of this project.”

The club has had three work days so far, with dozens of Rotarians volunteering their time to the project.

“I’ve donated to Habitat and always wanted to work on a build. To actually get to do that was inspiring! We met some of the prospective homeowners, and their stories helped us know why we were there,” said Rotarian Lucy Wegner. “I never thought I could have so much fun painting baseboards! What a great experience and a great cause.”

When the project is completed this summer, 10 new homes will be ready for deserving families to move in.

Cantalini’sCantalini’s Salerno Beach SoCalGasSoCalGas Salerno Beach Playa Pharmacy Playa Pharmacy Drollinger Drollinger CharitableCharitable Trust Residential StephanieStephanie Younger Group Trust Playa Vista/Brookfield Playa Vista/Brookfield Residential Younger Group Los Angeles World Airports Foundation Los Angeles World Airports Plotkin Family Plotkin Family Foundation SuperbTech SuperbTech Loyola Marymount UniversityUniversityRainbow Acres Washington Blvd.

William H.William Hannon Loyola Marymount Rainbow Acres Washington Blvd.

H.Foundation Hannon Foundation Marina delMDR Rey Hospital Cedars-Sinai

PVS Rotary Special Section

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

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

PVS Rotary Special Section

March 2019 • Page 15

Special 12-page section

Playa Venice is a Proud Supporter of Community and Education Photo by Angela Clouse.

Photo by Glenn Marzano.

PLAYA VENICE SUNRISE ROTARY

Rotarians volunteer at the Fourth of July Parade and at the Teacher Eddy Awards.

If there’s a major event or happening in the Westchester/Playa area, there’s a good chance the members of the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary are involved.

With 75 members that are passionate about serving their community, members donate hundreds of hours of their time every year to put on events like the Fourth of July Parade, the Rock Roll & Run, the Westchester Arts & Music Block Party, the Santa Tour, the Teacher Eddy Awards, the Visitation Carnival and more.

“We’re a very active club, but our members commitments to their community go far beyond Rotary,” said President Gwen Vuchsas. “It’s pretty incredible how many organizations and community service efforts our

members support.”

The biggest event PVS Rotary members help support is the LAX Coastal Chamber’s Fourth of July Parade. Almost every member of the event’s committee is a Rotarian, and the club’s support on the day of the parade ensures everything runs smoothly.

Numerous members are also keyvolunteers and organizers when it comes to the Marina del Rey Boat Parade and the Teacher Eddy Awards.

PVS Rotary members serve on a variety of nonprofit boards as well, from Airport Marina Counseling Service and the LAX Coastal Education Foundation to Power of Shower and the Westchester Townhouse!

The Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club is a strong believer in supporting education, teachers and students.

Every year, the club donates tens of thousands of dollars to support efforts in the classroom. In February, the club distributed over $19,000 in grants to local teachers for classroom supplies, and this spring, the club will fund another $10,000 in scholarships to deserving high school seniors.

The club’s long list of projects that support education include: • Supporting the Teacher Eddy Awards • Sponsoring the LAX Coastal Education Foundation’s Rock Roll & Run • Donating books to local schools • Sponsoring Academic Jackets of Excellence at Venice High School • Sponsoring high school students for the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy • Sponsoring Interact Clubs at Venice High School and Animo Venice Charter High school • Supporting Vision to Learn, which provides free eye exams and glasses to students • Sponsoring Pageant of the Arts Scholarship honorees and more…

Donating Books

Pageant of the Arts Scholarships Vision to Learn

Visit our booth at the Rock Roll & Run @ LMU on Saturday, March 9th for a FREE pancake breakfast sponsored by our club!

* Pancakes limited to the first 500 guests.

From supporting our local schools & our firefighters to helping eradicate polio in the world, Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary is a leader in our community!

Thank you and keep up the good work, Rotarians!

PROUD ROTARIAN

Page 16 • March 2019

Free Local Delivery 8131 W. Manchester Ave., Playa del Rey (310) 823-4500 • playapharmacy.com PVS Rotary Special Section

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

Special 12-page section Photo by Glenn Marzano.

PLAYA VENICE SUNRISE ROTARY

COME

VISIT US AT OUR WEEKLY BREAKFAST MEETINGS EVERY WEDNESDAY AT 7:15am @ WHISKEY REDS!

Pictured: Rotarians in costumes pose for a group photo at the annual demotion party. The Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club is a 75+ member strong club with Rotarians of all ages, backgrounds and careers! The club’s 2018-2019 executives and directors include: President Gwen Vuchsas; President Elect Brady Connell; Treasurer Maria Davis; Secretary Lucy Wegner; Club Service/ Social Club Service Stephanie Davis; Club Service/Administrative Travor Moses; Director of Community Service Bobbie Casalino-Lewis; Director of Vocational Service Lindsay Thomas; Director of International Service Joe Chehade; Director of Youth Service Hilton Brown; District Liaison Juliet Oman; Membership Director Jerry Jen; and Sgt. of Arms Jonathan Harris.

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

PVS Rotary Special Section

March 2019 • Page 17

Photo by Joerg Rose.

We Love Volunteering! A Look at Some of our Favorite Projects & Events…

We Love Volunteering! A Look at Some of our Favorite Projects & Events…

Volunteering at Westchester Townhouse Makeover

Supporting SupportingEducation Educationatatthe theRock RockRoll Roll&&Run Run Raising money for Fire Station #5

Competing at the District Picnic

Volunteering at Habitat

Photo by Venice Paparazzi.

Celebrating birthdays at our meeting

Making Build-A-Bears for Children’s Hospital

Having fun supporting AMCS

Page 18 • March 2019

PVS Rotary Special Section

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

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

PVS Rotary Special Section

March 2019 • Page 19

PLAYA VENICE SUNRISE ROTARY

Special 12-page section

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN OUR PLAYA VENICE ROTARY CLUB. WE PROUDLY LIVE THE ROTARY MOTTO OF “Service Above Self” BY DEDICATING OUR EFFORTS TO OUR COMMUNITY, INTERNATIONAL, YOUTH AND VOCATIONAL SERVICES.

Page 20 • March 2019

COMMUNITY SERVICE

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE

• LAX Coastal Fourth of July Parade • Pancake Breakfasts at Fire Station #5 and #63 • Holiday Adopt-a-Family program • Charity Build-A-Bear • Annual Cultural Dinner with presentation of Sunrise Community Service award • Support Airport Marina Counseling Service • Delivering meals with Meals on Wheels West • Feeding the Homeless at Midnight Mission • Rock Roll & Run 5k/1K for Education Pankcake Breakfast • Westchester Arts & Music Block Party • Support Mar Vista Family Center • Random Acts of Kindness

• Sister city in Mexico • International Clean Water Projects • Building Homes for the Poor in Mexico • Support of Schools and Orphanages in Africa • Partnership with LAFD to bring supplies and equipment to firefighters in Lake Chapala, Mexico • Jacaranda Project • Crutches 4 Africa • End Polio Now • Build a Better Benin • District Humanitarian Trips • Collect supplies for special needs school in Oaxaca

YOUTH SERVICE

VOCATIONAL SERVICE

• Support Rotary Interact Clubs at Venice HS and Animo Venice Charter HS • Scholarship Program for High School Seniors • Holiday parties for McBride and Carousel Schools for handicapped children • Academic Jackets of Excellence Program at Venice High School • Sponsorship of HS students to Rotary Youth Leadership Academy • Safe Place for Youth • Rotary Kids • Support of The Boys & Girls Club of Venice • LAPD Cadet Fishing Trip

• Teacher Mini Grants • School Supply Program • Sponsor the Teacher Eddy Awards with LAX Coastal Chamber • Book donations to local area schools • Pageant of the Arts Scholarship Program for high school students • Vision to Learn

PVS Rotary Special Section

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

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

PVS Rotary Special Section

March 2019 • Page 21

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PVS Rotary Special Section

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

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

March 2019 • Page 23

Calendar

TheHTN.com

Even if you’re not lacing up your running shoes for the 5K race, the community is invited to enjoy the festivities at the LAX Coastal Education Foundation’s Rock Roll & Run in partnership with LMU. Attendees can enjoy live music courtesy of Ab-soulute, a free pancake breakfast, an expo with over 40 community booths, family friendly activities and more. Inperson sign-ups to participate in the 5K or 1K kids’ race will take place at the event’s registration booth starting at 7 a.m. while supplies last.

The event takes place on the campus of LMU, located at 1 LMU Drive in Westchester. For more info, please visit laxcoastaledfoundation.com.

2. Westchester Community Pizza Day Saturday, March 9 @ 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

You’re invited to a pizza and bread bake day at Holy Nativity Church!

The church is home to a large earthen wood-fired oven designed and built by volunteers from the neighborhood.

Everyone is welcome to these gatherings that take place on the 2nd Saturday of every month. Bring your own pizza dough and toppings for the 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. pizza bake, where the pies cook-up in 90-seconds.

Serious bread heads have a chance to bake loaves from 2 to 4 p.m.

Holy Nativity is located at 6700 W. 83rd St. in Westchester.

3. Ballona Community Restoration Day Wednesday, March 13 @ 9 a.m. to noon Volunteers are needed for the Bay Foundation’s next Ballona Wetlands Community Restoration Day. Volunteers will focus on removing invasive iceplant and other non-native vegetation that can inhibit and impede the growth of drought-tolerant, native California plants such as pickleweed, salt grass and alkali weed.

For more info and the meeting location, visit santamonicabay.org/ events.

Photo courtesy the Bay Foundation.

1. Rock Roll & Run for Education Saturday, March 9 @ 7:30 to noon

Mayor Eric Garcetti, the office of Councilmember Mike Bonin and L.A. Sanitation will be answering questions and engaging stakeholders at an open house event at Otis College.

The meeting’s goal is to hear from community members to learn what the priorities are for open space along Westchester Pkwy. and its future use.

Otis College is located at 9045 Lincoln Blvd. in Westchester. Please RSVP for the meeting by emailing matthew.tecle@lacity.org.

7. Rotary Club of Inglewood’s Annual Police/Fire Appreciation Luncheon Thurs., March 21 @ 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

A volunteer helps bring weeds to the trash at the Ballona Wetlands Community Restoration Day.

4. St. Paddy’s Day Night Market Friday, March 15 @ 6 to 10 p.m.

Head to Playa Vista’s Runway Retail Center to kick-off your St. Patrick’s Day festivities early. Bring your friends and family to the night market to peruse artisan vendor booths, while enjoying the Irish sounds of Weekend Celebrity. A beer garden presented

by Whole Food Playa Vista, gourmet food trucks, a gift card drawing and the Craft Camper round out the event.

Runway Playa Vista is located at 12775 Millennium Dr. in Playa Vista.

For more information, please visit runwayplayavista.com.

Kentwood Playhouse, located at 8301 Hindry Ave. in Westchester. For more info or to purchase tickets online, visit kentwoodplayers.org.

6. LAX Northside Open House Monday, March 18 @ 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Curious about the plans for the LAX Northside Project and the Argo Drain Sub-Basin Facility under construction at Falmouth Ave. and Westchester Pkwy. in Westchester?

Representatives from Los Angeles World Airports, the office of

Join the Rotary Club of Inglewood at an awards luncheon celebrating the courageous peace officers and firefighters who protect our local communities and LAX. This year the club will also salute the men and women of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Proceeds from the luncheon, held at the Crowne Plaza LAX, go toward the club’s Vocational Scholarship Fund, which supports young people seeking training and certification for trade and vocational jobs.

The cost to attend is $75. For more info, please visit rotaryinglewood.com.

5. Kentwood Players Present Sunday in the Park with George Friday and Saturdays @ 8 p.m. & Sundays @ 2 p.m. March 15 through April 20 RSVP to catch a performance of Sunday in the Park with George presented by the Kentwood Players.

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for drama, the play was inspired by the life of French pointillist, George Seurat. The plot revolves around the creation of his masterpiece, “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.”

Tickets are $27 and can be purchased by calling (310) 645-5156.

Performances take place at the

YOU CAN HELP! FOOD PANTRY, LAX

Emergency Food Distribution to those in need.

Sponsored by the Westchester Clergy Association

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

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

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

Page 24 • March 2019

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

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

March 2019 • Page 25

Random Notes/Opinion

TheHTN.com

Examining a day in your life can lead to a new workout plan

By Jeff Blair Opinion: Up at 6:30 a.m. Maybe I shouldn’t have had that extra glass of wine last night. Kids need to eat before they leave for school. Oh yeah, I need to eat as well. I’ll grab a pastry. Rush to get kids to school.

Fight traffic and finally made it to work. How many unread emails do I have? How can it only be 9 a.m. and I’m behind already? Deep breath.

I’ll try to get some stuff done before lunch, but my cellphone won’t stop ringing. No time for lunch. The afternoon is full of meetings, not really helping me get anything done.

Need to get out of here by 5 p.m. to make my kid’s game. Traffic is worse than I expected. Made it to the game. Now where is the field?

And don’t we have homework review tonight? I don’t even want to think about it right now. I feel tired and not that healthy. Workout? I don’t have the time or energy to workout. I definitely don’t need anyone judging me right now. Maybe tomorrow I’ll start working out.

If this is what your life often looks like, you are not alone. Most people

Page 26 • March 2019

I have worked with during the past 17 years have a variation of this lifestyle. It might not look exactly like this or it might not look like this every day, but many of us are over-connected and over-committed.

Since that is true for so many, why even bring up exercise? Other things take priority, right? Family is first, followed closely by work. With all the energy required for those things, we don’t have the physical and mental energy to workout two hours every day.

If you feel this way, here a few things to consider about starting or re-starting a workout program.

1. You get a great return for a relatively small commitment.

Many people have found working out only two hours per week can make a big difference in their mental and physical energy levels. If you can find one hour on the weekend and one hour during your work week, you can completely change how you feel and think. Numerous clients have told me their perspective on life became much more optimistic once they established a consistent workout program. Such a change can improve

how we feel about ourselves and how we interact with other people.

There aren’t many things you can do two hours per week that have such a profound and positive impact on almost all aspects of your life.

2. Consider changing how you approach fitness.

I have competed in a variety of sports. Many times this participation was enhanced by my weightlifting efforts. I have pushed myself very hard in the weight room.

I judged my workouts by how much weight I could lift, but a few years ago I started to reconsider my weightlifting. I became less interested in how much weight I could lift and more interested in maintaining or even enhancing my quality of life. If you are approaching 50 or past 50, you have probably started to see how lowered strength levels are impacting your life in a very real way. Much of society seems to accept this lower level of function that comes with aging, but most of that is caused by reversible loss of muscle strength. By committing to a consistent weightlifting program, you can continue to do what you

value the most in life. Whether that is hiking a mountain in Colorado, riding your bike on the Strand or just keeping up with your kids, weightlifting can be a dynamic tool for creating or maintaining a great quality of life. This is the most persuasive reason everyone should lift weights.

3. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Sometimes a successful fitness history can actually be a detriment when starting back. You compare yourself with your past self and feel like you don’t measure up. You might even overdo it to kick start things and injure yourself. My advice is to start at a level you feel is sustainable and allow some time to pass before you judge your workout program. If you are consistent, you should feel better within 30 days.

Jeff Blair (MS) is a certified personal trainer, fitness author and fitness expert. He has worked as a personal trainer in Westchester since 2002. Email jeff@socalsport.com for story comments. *Before you start any fitness routine, please consult your doctor.

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

Cultivating a positive frame of mind

By Fay Craton Opinion: I love listening to the rain as I fall to sleep. The sound is soothing and peaceful unless there is also a thunder and lightning storm!

Rain does not always create calming situations. Driving in the rain is not fun. The wet roads make the traffic gridlock even more difficult to navigate, which increases stress and road rage. If you are a gardener, rain in March could mean the seeds you are planting have a better chance of growing into strong plants. The same rain can also nourish weeds, however, and too much rain can cause devastating floods. People’s feelings about rain differs depending on what they are doing and what is happening around them.

Let’s stop and reflect. What are you doing? What is happening around you right now? I notice many people seem to be on edge. Very full lives mean people may not be taking care of their physical and mental health. Adding to a fast pace life, many are being worn down by a constant storm of news reports of people bullying and harming others.

Families are creating their own gridlock and rage because of the emotional climate created by the stresses of life. One word said wrong, or one occurrence of someone not paying enough attention to another, and just like lightning, there is a flash and angry words are exchanged.

If a person in the conflict is not feeling well or the exchange sparks a memory of a past hurt, an emotional storm can rapidly unfold.

Once an emotional storm occurs, it can take significant effort to clean up the resulting damage to people’s relationships. Some damage can be cleaned up, but frequent anger storms and ongoing damage will eventually take their toll. The key to good relationships is to get in front of the problem and stop the conflict before it happens.

It is an individual’s responsibility to take care of their own mind, words and behaviors. No matter what someone else says, people have a choice as to how they will respond. A nasty statement from somebody, does not make someone act in a particular way. If someone retaliates to a nasty statement, it is because they made the decision to respond with something similar.

People make the decision to keep a spiteful cycle going. If they choose to keep unpleasantness going, they are making a choice to harm the relationship.

The choice people make is directly

related to their frame of mind. Are you taking care of yours? One way to do this is to be mindful of your thoughts. Many people have negative mind chatter saying things critical of themselves and others. Do you have mind chatter? If so, it is most likely undermining your ability to flourish. Just like weeds in a garden, the harmful chatter must be cleared out. You do this by cultivating what you choose to plant in your mind.

Consciously shift your focus to thoughts that build a meaningful and satisfying life.

One way to shift your thoughts is to seek out situations, people, events or behaviors for which you can be grateful. Actively practice gratitude by taking time each day to consciously consider what you can be thankful for in your life.

When life is difficult, the process of gratitude may feel forced. However, it is when you are in situations you dislike that considering what you can be grateful for is most important.

Another way to shift your frame of mind is to seek out ways to be of service to another person. This takes your mind away from what is not working and instead applies your energy toward making life better.

A very effective way to quiet mind chatter is to fully listen to a significant person in your life.

Mentally tell your chatter that it is not its turn, and you want to hear what someone else is saying. The high quality listening you experience will have an added bonus of building a bridge toward a better connection with the person.

When it is raining, all good drivers know the importance of paying close attention to slick roads. Shifting your thoughts takes the same level of effort. You must pay attention to what you are thinking. If you have prepared yourself to have a positive frame of mind, when opportunities for conflict arise it will be much easier to place what is unfolding into a healthy perspective and let it go.

What I want is for you to be free of frequent emotional storms and to experience healthy connections with other people in your life. I want you to feel support from yourself and from others.

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, please visit communicationtriangle.com or contact her at (310) 645-6762.

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

March 2019 • Page 27

Bringing more public art to Wes tches t er/Playa If you’ve noticed the colorful mini-murals popping up on utility boxes throughout Westchester/Playa, you can thank the hard work of local artists who are using their colorful designs to help beautify the community. The area’s first Utility Box Mural Project was organized by the Westchester/Playa

Arts Committee with financial support from the Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa, Councilmember Bonin’s office and the Drollinger Family Charitable Foundation. The project also received support from the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club. With the 11 commissioned boxes

expected to beColorful completed soon, a new call for mini murals on utility artists for theboxes nextare round of utility murals popping up allbox over the neighborhood with the goal of bringing will be announced in the spring.

Please email more public art to the community and westchesterplayaart@gmail.com to be added to the helping beautify some of the area’s mailing list for upcoming public art opportunities! busiest thoroughfares.

Read below about this month’s artists!

Noticing other areasfeatured in L.A. that had

Meet the Artists

Head to Toe

artwork on their utility boxes, NCWP President, Cyndi Hench, thought bringing the program to Westchester/ Playa would help beautify the community and be a cool addition to the streetscape. She connected with the newly formed Westchester/Playa Arts Committee for support on the project and a call for artists was put out early last year. The group, which is made up of local residents, business leaders, community group representatives, artists and art enthusiasts, was delighted theartists artwork they received.

Fourby local showed off their

Steve O’Loughlin Valerie Gresham Megan Gloria D. Lee, Leslie Terry Godat-Kelly Hunter Culberson Moberly Lauerbach-Davis, Playa Vista artist, Jawsh Smyth, works Steve O’Loughlin has been a A toy designer by day, artist Valerie Jawsh Smyth

as a graphic designer, but in recent years hasSteve takenO’Loughlin more of an interest in the fine arts.

His colorful, surreal and playful design depicts his alter-ego, Melting Man.

“Melting man is a character that I started developing to address a couple of things on a global level—like climate change and global warming,” said Smyth, who got some help painting from his children. “But Melting Man has sort of became a representation of myself and dealing with the ups and downs of life. It’s sort of this multimeaning character.”

professional artist for more than 25 years, and been creating public art for more than 15. His utility box mural is located on Sepulveda Blvd. at Sepulveda Eastway in Westchester.

A Westchester resident since the early 90s, O’Loughlin’s goal is to use his artistic skills to translate and express the spirit of the community.

His painting, which uses his signature knotwork pattern, is an homage to traffic as it flows smoothly and gets us safely to our destination.

Salon

Gresham loves to draw and paint in her spare time, especially when comes to JawshitSmyth sketching her dog, Sparky.

Gresham used Sparky, a Miniature Pinscher and his friend, Luna, as inspiration for her playful design that depicts the two playing in a local park while planes soar in the background.

Check out Gresham’s design on Westchester Pkwy. at Pershing Dr. in Playa del Rey.

Karen Taka & Marion Wong

“We amazed at the level of del skillswere to complete a box in Playa artwork submitted,”the said committee Rey showcasing Ballona Wetlands. member and LMU Senior Director of Artists Gloria D. Lee, Leslie LauerbachAuxiliary and Business Services, Andy Davis,“The Karen Taka and Marion Wong O’Reilly. selection of the mural artists wasmembers tough! There so many are all of thewere Westchester incredibly uniqueArt interpretations of the Senior Center Class and were what this community represents. The only group submission for this first utility box mural project, and the fact round of utility public box murals.

Lee has that this volunteer art committee beenspeaks teaching thecommunity’s center’s art class in exists, to the commitment tofor public artthan and 20 to our Westchester more years, talented neighborhood artists.”

“It’s a celebration of cooperation and and the painters who submitted the With funding from the Westchester/ watching out for your fellow man and design thought participating in the Playa Neighborhood Council (NCWP), following the rules,” said O’Loughlin. utility box mural project would be a Councilmember Mike Bonin’s office “I’ve used this design before, but never great opportunity to give back to the and the Drollinger Family Charitable Smyth is also the artist behind the 16Foundation (DFCF) with support from in such close proximity to actual traffic. community through art. foot mural, “Oaxacan Dancer,” located (left to right) Marion Wong, Gloria D. Lee, the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club, It gave me a deeper appreciation of whatKaren Taka & Leslie Lauerbach-Davis Gresham at Valerie Westchester’s Cinco. out the box for scenes 11 of Check the designs were selected and of the the piece is about. I’ve worked with this flora and fauna that help make up the approved by the committee, the NCWP Check out Smyth’s box located since on 1985, Terry As a resident of Westchester Westchester resident and recent Otis graduate, Recent Otis graduate, Megan Moberly, created pattern since I moved to L.A., and I and the city, and artists began painting Ballona Wetlands and the bike bath La Tijera Blvd. at Sepulveda Eastway in Godat-Kelly has seen the beautification efforts Hunter Culberson, used his love of the outdoors as a flowy, abstract and colorful design oninthe in mid-January.

With delays theutility thinkon this is a great application for it.” on Pershing Dr. at Manchester Ave. in Westchester. painting due tomater. rain, allThe of the boxes are the community’s streets over the years and wanted for artwork his utility box located in Playa del box across from her del alma Westchester O’Loughlin inspiration has murals and Playa Rey. anticipated to be completed by March. to use her artistic talent to positively enhance Rey. Featuring resident, who has found a career in toy design, all over Westchester, includingaatlarge brown pelican with the city “We’re already hearing great Westchester. Her painting, located on Manchester looming in the background, the piece is a reminder created the complex pattern featuring swirls and Covenant Preschool, Holy Nativity feedback from the community about Ave. at Emerson, features swimming koi fish on a that we should harmonize with the natural world. leaves to represent the beauty in the diversity Church, Wright Middle School and how the boxes are resonating with of the people, making them proud of their light blue background, creating a tranquil depiction It also symbolizes the impact we can have, both community.

Megan has a passion for public art and numerous elementary schools. community and interested in seeing of nature at a bustling intersection. positive andmural negative, helped work on the large “Welcome to Westchester” Check out O’Loughlin’s on on the environment. increased beautification efforts,” said Terry is a member of the Westchester Senior “It’s fun being outside and painting stuff that mural located on the “It’s Drollinger building Sepulveda Blvd. at Sepulveda Eastway.

O’Reilly. great to Properties hear that people Center Art Class and also designed the artwork for excited see the art, and we’d is about promoting environmental awareness,” on Sepulvedaare Blvd. andtoWestchester Pkwy. like toa thank artists who the Ballona Wetlands-themed box at Manchester said Hunter. “When you drive to a certain part of “This has been reallythe funtalented experience,” said have given their time and talent to help Ave. and Pershing Dr. in Playa del Rey. town you kind of know by the artwork what that Megan. “Art beautify is a luxury not everyone can afford ourand community.”

“I love the idea of bringing more art to the town’s vibe is, so it’s cool to be able to do that in it. Having it out in the open people’s day, The committeebrightens hopes to secure community,” said Terry. “I think it gives people a Westchester.” and they canadditional see thingsfunding they normally soon andwouldn’t announceget better mindset when they’re just living, walking the next call for utility box artists in The box is located on Falmouth Ave. at to see.” the spring. If you’re interested on being around and driving. Art is a hobby of mine, but I Manchester Ave. in Playa del Rey. The box ison located on Lincoln Blvd. at Loyola Blvd. the email list for upcoming utility love to bring joy to other people with it.” in Westchester. box mural opportunities, please email

Marisa Cardenas

Stylist 6310 W. 89th St., #A

We’ll complete the map next month when the next boxes are finished!

westchesterplayaarts@gmail.com.

Head to Toe Salon

Los Angeles, CA 90045

Marisa Cardenas

310.338.8689

Stylist 6310 W. 89th St., #A Los Angeles, CA 90045

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Page 28 • March 2019

Making your hair beautiful!

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

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

March 2019 • Page 29

Page 30 • March 2019

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

By Consuelo Israelson Life isn’t perfect, but if you’re willing to pitch in and work at it, you can make it pretty wonderful. That’s what Scott and Becky Cunningham learned while raising a family in Westchester. Over the years, they’ve done a great job of being flexible and adapting to changes that came their way, whether it’s a house that has grown too small, turning a career into a dream job or improving local schools.

Scott and Becky met at a youth hostel in Switzerland while traveling around Europe. To give their long distance relationship a better chance, Becky decided to get her master’s degree from the University of Southern California.

“I was from Indiana and I figured that even if things didn’t work out, I could spend a couple of years in a fun city,” she said.

Apparently, it was a good decision, because the couple married soon after.

When it was time to look for a good neighborhood to raise their family, Scott, a graduate of Loyola Marymount University, suggested Westchester.

“I knew the area and it felt right,” Scott said. “Westchester at that time was still a hidden place on a hill that people drove through and didn’t realize it was really a nice old-fashioned neighborhood.”

Becky was lucky to find work nearby at LMU where she worked for a decade and then at Otis College of Art and Design, and Scott’s work as a line producer for commercials and music videos wasn’t too far from home. While Scott enjoyed his career, he had wanted to be a cinematographer since he got his first camera at 11-years-old, so he decided to follow his dream. Now Scott has an impressive body of work and recently won a Video Music Award in Best Cinematography for the Kendrick Lamar video, “Humble.” He has also worked with other artists like Ariana Grande and Justin Timberlake.

“I knew one of us needed to be home more, since transitioning to a new career often takes long hours and I was working upwards of 60 hours a week, so I looked for a local job,” Becky said.

She now works part-time as a Development Associate for St. Bernard High School. When she’s not at St. Bernard, she volunteers at Katherine Johnson STEM Academy where daughter Allison attends 6th grade.

Becky is a founding member of the Friends of Katherine Johnson STEM Academy, a non-profit fundraising group.

“We have a fundamental belief that the administration has not been given enough money to run the school the way the parents want them to run it, so we do everything we can to help them out and make it happen,” Becky said.

Working to improve and promote local schools is an important part of the Cunninghams’ lives. Westchester schools have a lot to offer, and Becky is hands-on when it comes to improving local education.

“People assume only stay-at-home parents volunteer, but that’s not true.

Everyone has something special to offer.

If you can only do a little bit, then do

it. This is what makes this community so rich; all of us working together,” she said.

Besides Allison, the family includes Robin, a second-grader at Playa Vista Elementary and Buttercup, a twoyear-old Labradoodle, chosen to accommodate Becky’s allergies. Both girls are very involved in community activities. Allison plays softball and has been a Girl Scout for the past seven years. She also is involved with the Kentwood Players and was part of the cast of The Crucible and Our Town.

Robin is very creative and loves crafting and soap-making. She also plays softball, is a Girl Scout and enjoys rock climbing at Sender One Climbing.

As the family has grown, so has their need for more room. Faced with either moving out of the area or expanding their existing home, Scott and Becky knew they wanted to keep Westchester their hometown for many years to come. Their house is currently under construction, with the family eager to enjoy their new space.

“This is a wonderful neighborhood,” said Becky. “The three communities of Westchester, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista are pretty magical. We love it.”

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

October 2003, but Scott lived in the area while attending Loyola Marymount University as an undergrad. LMU has been a very good neighbor and their support to local schools is outstanding!

Spending the day watching both our girls play softball at Mace Field, going to the farmers’ market to pet the animals and dinner at Tower Pizza.

A lot more families! The original residents have turned over and there’s now a big influx of new families, so the local kids’ organizations are getting bigger and stronger.

When our house outgrew our needs and we decided to remodel, we knew we’d have to go with Tim Leigh Construction. We never even considered anyone else because we’ve known him for years from the neighborhood and local events and knew Tim was trustworthy and reliable. He’s going to do his best to do right by us.

March 2019 • Page 31

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